spoiled brat

Chapter 161, Section 160: Startling Frost (Part 10)

Little prostitute, I know you don't believe it. You don't believe that the person who killed your mother had a noble heart, that he was ruthless yet ambitious.

You little prostitute, look at you. I told you the truth, and you just sneered and got angry.

Little prostitute, don't talk about your grudges yet. You're so young, what do you know?
There's always a saying in this world, and another in practice. You're so foolish that you actually took the one-sided story seriously.

You say your mother died unjustly, but she was of lowly status and insignificant in the life of any hero or outlaw.

You are literate and have read books, so how could you not know the ancient stories of Shi Chong cutting off a beautiful woman to persuade someone to drink wine, and Yan Dan sending a concubine's arm to recruit a worthy man?
Later generations praised them for their respect for the virtuous and their heroic spirit, saying that the women's deaths were justified and their evil deeds were understandable.

Are you dissatisfied?
What makes you think you can disagree?

You managed to sneak into the Prince's mansion using underhanded tricks?

How can a mere maidservant compare to my second master?

He is a talented official, a compassionate bodhisattva who cares for the weak and needy, and is praised by all the people. He has a bright future ahead of him... Do you deserve to hate him or kill him?
Even if you succeed in the future, no one will cheer for your revenge; instead, countless voices will emerge to defend Erlang.

You say your mother is sincere and devoted, giving you both money and affection, but people say she's clingy and opportunistic, trying to take advantage of your kindness.

You say that Erlang has committed many evils and deserves to die ten thousand times, but people say that he was an honest official who benefited the region.

You say you have overcome countless difficulties and achieved success, but the world says you have ulterior motives and plot against officials.

People fawn over their superiors and bully their inferiors, caring nothing for the truth. If you are strong, you are white; if you are weak, you are black.

...Little prostitute, if you understand this principle, how can you still laugh?
“Old sir.” Zhao Zhao chuckled and clapped her hands, her tone appreciative: “Great minds think alike, we’ve come to the same conclusion.”

"Oh?"

“Your precious Erlang is a fraud, how can you just kill him so easily?” Zhao Zhao smiled. “So I will ruin his reputation and then slowly kill him piece by piece.”

As Zhao Zhao left the cell, the jailer bowed and scraped as he approached, offering her a handkerchief to wipe her hands.

She dusted off the dust from her cuffs and asked casually, "This old man is too old to endure torture or exile. What do you suggest we do?"

Zhao Zhao walked quickly, and the jailer followed closely behind, pondering, "...He is old and poor, and must have been desperate to have resorted to theft. If you have pity on him, young lady, I can release him."

Zhao Zhao glanced sideways: "You?"

The jailer respected her as someone from the Prince Ning's residence: "He committed theft, and the stolen goods have been recovered. Releasing him shouldn't be difficult... This is a trivial matter, and I can handle it."

The two had already walked out of the prison passage, and a cool night breeze was blowing in their faces.

Just as Zhao Zhao was about to take out her silver pouch to bribe officials and lock the old man in her private residence for future use, she suddenly smelled a faint fragrance in the wind.

Her eyelids twitched, and she suddenly released her hand from her sleeve, her gaze fixed on the direction from which the night wind was blowing.

There was a banyan tree with lush branches and leaves. The moonlight was cut into countless fine pieces of silver frost, which drifted and fell on the hem of the tall and elegant man standing under the tree.

Xiu Yi slowly stepped out of the shadows, his expression revealing a clear understanding of the situation. It was hard to tell whether he had been waiting for a long time or was simply waiting for a prey to come to him.

"...Your Highness!" The jailer said in a trembling voice, "This humble servant greets Your Highness!"

"Go down," Xiu Yi said.

The jailer withdrew upon hearing the noise.

The two remained silent, gazing at each other from a distance that was neither too close nor too far.

Finally, Zhao Zhao spoke up: "I helped the police catch a thief earlier, and today I felt like taking a look... Young Master, you're dressed in plain clothes, why didn't you bring your 'Hebi'? What are you doing here?"

She approached step by step, smiling as she asked, "Will you follow me wherever I go?"

Xiu Yi said calmly, "Don't flatter yourself."

"Am I just imagining things?" Zhao Zhao paced back and forth, circling him again and again. "You always appear by my side out of nowhere, it's so strange... Don't you train your troops? Don't you have your own things to do? You're such a busy person, why do you keep coming to see me? What mistake have I made, what oversight have I caused, that you're so wary of me?"

"I'll only ask you one question, answer honestly."

Zhao Zhao nodded: "Okay."

What do you think of Li Qingwen as a person?

Zhao Zhao was stunned. This person suddenly appeared and said this. Could it be that he had noticed something?
"Does it matter what kind of person I think he is?" Zhao Zhao's smile faded. "If I said he was virtuous and talented and an honest official, would you appreciate him? If I said he was heartless and wicked, would you kill him?"

She did have her hopes, hoping that a pair of powerful hands would descend from the sky and obediently serve her.

After waiting for a long time, Xiu Yi only said, "Is this your answer?"

“Yes. I’m just a maidservant, my words carry no weight.” Zhao Zhao scoffed. “If that’s the case, why bother gossiping behind my back?”

As she said these words, she stared intently at Xiu Yi, wishing she could peel back every part of his face to see if he meant to refute her.

But there was nothing there. He stared intently at her, waiting for the truth.

Both of them were exactly the same—cold-hearted, suspicious, cautious, and defensive. Since that's the case… Zhao Zhao chuckled and poked Xiu Yi's chest with her finger:

"Young Master, please have some self-respect and don't follow me anymore. As for the master and servant relationship, I respect you, and it would be best if you could just order me around."

Don't ask a single question about anything else.

Zhao Zhao turned and left, as if as long as she was carefree enough and left Xiu Yi behind, the disappointment she felt earlier was just a facade.

Stepping out of the government office, the streets were deserted, but not far away, there was a bustling scene with bright lights and lively conversation.

Zhao Zhao followed the sound and entered a bustling night market.

Tonight felt like a festival; the crowds were dense, and beaming faces collided with Zhao Zhao's. Enveloped in the warmth of everyday life, she felt a sudden pang of loneliness and regret.

I shouldn't have spoken so definitively just now.

If Xiu Yi could always follow her, wherever she went, that would be good too.

She could easily lure him to the training ground's storeroom, arrest Li Qingwen and the group of eunuchs, and catch them red-handed. Wouldn't that be a win-win situation?
As I pondered, a young girl approached, carrying a bamboo basket filled with beautifully pruned branches and woven flower wreaths.

"Sister, do you want to buy flowers?" The little girl had made quite a bit of money today, and her face was flushed.

Zhao Zhao wasn't actually that much older than the little girl, but her outfit as a maid with a sword and her high, neat ponytail made her seem completely unrelated to flowers with water droplets hanging from them.

She used to love flowers too. There was a cluster of damp red flowers in the building, their centers sweet. When they couldn't afford candy, Xiao Duo would often secretly pick a large bunch for her to eat…

Coming to her senses, Zhao Zhao found the familiar safflowers in the bamboo basket full of red, pink, and green flowers. She handed over the money, bought a large bunch, and asked, "What festival is it today?"

"The Flower Goddess Festival!" the little girl answered with a smile, pointing in the direction the crowd was heading. "There's a Flower Goddess Temple at the other end of the street. It blesses people with peace and wealth. After praying, you can also draw lots and ask for divination. Nothing could be more auspicious!" Zhao Zhao paused for a moment. It seemed like just last year at this time, she and Xiao Duo walked hand in hand on the street, jumping from one stall to the next, with a naive yet fervent curiosity about everything in the world.

At that time, they thought the future was bright and life was limitless, but they never expected that the ordinary day would be the end of their peaceful life.

After saying goodbye to the little girl, Zhao Zhao didn't go to the Flower Goddess Temple. Instead, she carried a bouquet of flowers that didn't suit her status and wandered aimlessly, like a fallen leaf drifting with the current, not knowing where it would go.

Gradually, the number of people around dwindled and the noise became quieter. In addition to the sound of the wind, there was also a faint melody in my ears.

Zhao Zhao listened carefully and realized it was a moon lute, with a clear and beautiful singing voice interspersed throughout.

She followed the sound of the moon lute, wandering through streets and alleys, initially assuming the player was a courtesan from a brothel, but it turned out to be a street performer singing—

...Then I returned, and all the events of my life were unbearable to recall! The journey is long and arduous, who will comfort me? My mother is old, my family is poor, and my children are young. I can't remember the wine I once shared; I've seen countless demons and monsters lurking around, but I always lost to them, their hands capable of turning the world upside down, their ice and snow, their battles long and drawn out.

This wasn't a piece with auspicious connotations, and the surroundings weren't lively enough; not a single person stopped to listen. She continued playing with great emotion, while Zhao Zhao listened quietly. Only after the piece ended did she gently clap her hands: "A beautiful piece."

The singer, her face weathered by time, said, "You flatter me, young lady."

Zhao Zhao handed over a piece of silver: "May I borrow your zither to play a tune? I lost my zither and can never find it again."

The singer shook her head and handed the zither to Zhao Zhao: "Music is not about gold or silver." She then looked behind Zhao Zhao: "This young master who came with you probably also wants to listen."

Should we follow her?
Zhao Zhao paused in tuning the strings, turned around blankly, and saw Xiu Yi's serene face under the moonlight, like a beautiful and ethereal shadow.

What are you doing here?

"It's a holiday tonight, and it's too lively outside," Xiu Yi said casually. "Some people are all alone and might overthink things, feeling like they don't have a home."

That's not me.

Zhao Zhao sat cross-legged on the stone steps, her fingers lightly brushing the strings of the zither, producing a soft sound: "I used to hate playing the zither and singing, but my mother said it was my specialty. I was unwilling to be a prostitute who used my looks to serve others, so I threw away the zither that had bound me for more than ten years and vowed never to touch it again until I died... Since you have followed me so far, I will make an exception for you. Would you like to hear me play a piece?"

"If you're willing to play, I'll listen."

Zhao Zhao laughed, mocking herself, "In the past, people would pay twenty coins for a piece of music I played. Now I don't want any money. After you listen, don't ask me anything again... Not only that, you also have to do something with me."

"what's up."

Zhao Zhao tried a few notes: "Come with me to see the stars outside the city tomorrow night."

She was certain he would agree, and after saying that, she gently plucked the strings.

Having experienced life and death, her zither playing was no longer as melodious and moving as before; it became clear and resonant, like a spring shrouded in mist, with birds roosting on a lonely tree by the spring, their wings fluttering and startling the tree full of cold dew.

Zhao Zhao recalled the lyrics she had learned since elementary school, hummed a few notes, and then realized that her singing was completely off-key. Her hands had also become rough and stiff, with thick calluses on her fingers, making it difficult for her to pluck the strings skillfully, and she often played the wrong notes.

Whatever.

She smiled awkwardly, mimicking the tone of Xiao Duo's storytelling, and said softly, accompanied by the sound of the zither:
“When I was a child, I heard a story at a storytelling stall—it was about a person who was determined to go to a certain place and do something, but unfortunately, she was walking at night when a fox ripped out her heart. Even though she was already dead, her body, driven by her obsession, remained in the same place and refused to decompose.”

"The fox was moved by her stubbornness, but since he couldn't bring her back to life, he could only use his magic to create a lamp and place it in her empty heart."

"And so she lived on, in a state of ambiguity. The fox told her that in order for the lamp to burn longer, she should not tell people the truth, nor should she laugh loudly; she should remember to use an umbrella on rainy days, and she should stay far away from anyone she liked..."

"Why?" Xiu Yi asked.

"Where there are lovers, there are tears of sorrow. Who knows which tear will fall into her heart, extinguishing the light and turning her to ashes in an instant—"

瓮。

After the story was told, the music fell silent.

-

It was late at night again, and it was in the warehouse.

Several drunken eunuchs kicked open the door and waved to the laborers behind them, saying, "Hurry up! Get it done quickly, don't keep me from going home to hug my wife!"

"Yes!"

The laborers rolled up their sleeves and got to work, their methods of exchanging and stealing grain practiced with practiced ease. The eunuchs huddled in a corner, taking a break. One of them chuckled, "I heard your new concubine is only fourteen or fifteen? So tender she'd drip with moisture if you pinched her. Where did you get her?"

The eunuch being questioned chuckled and said, "She wouldn't have originally fallen into my hands... She was brought here by Lord Li as a gift for our grandfather. She's very beautiful and a real treasure."

"Then why did Grandpa give her to you?"

"Don't tell anyone else about this..." the eunuch lowered his voice, "Grandpa's wary of that Li fellow. He might be willing to take money and grain from those who have no ears or mouths, but how could he dare put a living woman next to him? He couldn't refuse Lord Li's request, so he sent her to me. Sigh, that's the good thing about us eunuchs who've been stabbed; we don't get carried away and chase after women like dogs..."

Behind the pile of rice, Xie Xiaoqing spat, "That Li guy looks respectable, but he's always up to these dirty tricks in private!"

Xiao Duo pulled him inside and asked cautiously, "Young Master Xie, can we really catch them tonight? They are from the Imperial Horse Administration, which involves the palace... I'm afraid we can't control ordinary officials and nobles."

"Don't worry." Xie Xiaoqing pointed to the top of the warehouse, "The person up there has connections that reach the heavens. They can crush any demons and monsters! It's already arranged; she'll bring her men to kill us soon!"

Xiao Duo was stunned: "So ruthless?"

Xie Xiaoqing nodded solemnly, but inwardly he was extremely anxious: these eunuchs were about to leave, and if Zhaozhao didn't come soon to catch the thief and adulterer, it would be too late!

Dozens of sacks of grain were loaded onto a row of oxcarts. The eunuchs gave a few instructions as usual, then mounted their horses and prepared to leave.

Xiao Duo frowned and said, "Young Master Xie, why hasn't your boss shown up yet?"

Xie Xiaoqing, with unwavering confidence, replied, "She doesn't play by the rules; she's probably lying in wait outside. Let's go, follow her and see."

The oxcart and the eunuchs circled out of the warehouse area and set off together on the dirt road.

Xie Xiaoqing followed with Xiao Duo, and seeing that the two groups were about to part ways, he broke out in a cold sweat... Why hasn't Zhao Zhao come yet, as we agreed?

Xiao Duo was also very suspicious: "Young Master Xie, this area is all wooded. Your boss only caught a few castrated dogs, so it doesn't seem necessary for him to hide in the shadows and ambush us... Has she really come?"

No sooner had he finished speaking than the group of eunuchs in front suddenly started cursing: "Which blind fool dares to block our way?"

They shouted and yelled a few times, then suddenly fell silent, as if they had encountered a ghost while walking in the dark. They all knelt down, kowtowed, and slapped themselves in the face.

Needless to say, it must be Zhao Zhao leading her people!
Xie Xiaoqing was overjoyed and looked in the direction where the eunuchs were kneeling, but what he saw that intimidating the eunuchs was not the large army of the Prince of Ning's mansion, but two figures riding side by side.

It was Xiuyi and Zhaozhao. The two had agreed to go out of the city to see the stars. They were dressed simply, without any air of grandeur, and instead looked like a young couple on a spring outing.

Xie Xiaoqing was stunned; this was far from the boast he had told Xiao Duo.

He glanced sideways awkwardly, only to see Xiao Duo standing there blankly, her eyes glazed over, pointing at Zhao Zhao next to Xiu Yi, and asking incredulously, "...Young Master Xie, who is that?"

(End of this chapter)