Nevertheless, he had planned everything carefully for her sake — even this final matter had been properly arranged.
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Ch. 9.1
It was only nine in the morning but the Tao mansion was already extremely lively because of the birthday feast. A Russian band was playing music outside the gate to welcome guests. Third Mistress was in charge of the reception overall while a steward from the military governor’s residence was overseeing matters outside. By ten o’clock, the road outside the gate was lined with cars while itinerant pedlars hawking baked flatbreads and fruits weaved their way in between the cars as they sold food to the chauffeurs. Along half the street, the tooting of car horns, laughter, voices, and firecrackers could be heard — such a hubbub was causing passers-by to gather round and gawk. The steward, leading guards from the Tao mansion, was supervising the parking of cars, welcoming of guests and the hospitality extended… they worked frantically until some semblance of order was imposed on the dense, snaking traffic.
Jingwan got dressed and came out to greet the guests. The womenfolk of the Cheng military officers came streaming in one after another.
Madam Chang saw Jingwan and gushed, ‘You look positively radiant with happiness, Miss Yin. My goodness, and your necklace…’ She continued in this effusive vein. There was nothing these womenfolk, married or unmarried, loved more than jewellery and thus they clustered admiringly around Jingwan like a host of lesser lights around a leading one¹. The necklace consisted of three layers, each one boasting an inlaid yellow diamond of bird’s nest cut surrounded by gemstones the size of a fingernail. Although there were no lights shining directly on the diamonds, the necklace was still resplendent around her neck.
¹ 眾星拱月 zhòng xīng gǒng yuè. If you’re not reading this chapter at hiding in plain sight, it has been stolen and reproduced by novelscraping sites.
Madam Xu remarked, ‘Miss Yin is so beautiful that only such a necklace can do her justice.’
Jingwan asked smilingly, ‘How come I don’t see Commander Xu? We’ve invited Maestro Lu, Lu Yushuang, to perform today. Commander Xu enjoys opera so much that it would be a shame if he were to miss it.’
Madam Xu replied, ‘He said that Sixth Marshal wanted a meeting with them.’
Jingwan appeared to recall that this was the case as she replied, ‘Oh yes, Sixth Marshal was just saying this morning that he was afraid he might be late in coming over this afternoon.’
After hearing this passing remark, Madam Xu couldn’t resist directing an arch smile at Third Mistress Murong meant to convey ‘See what good terms these two are on — they’ve already seen each other so early in the morning.’
Most of the guests had already arrived by the time it was past eleven. Although she had been circulating among the guests and listening to the sound of voices and laughter, Jingwan’s heart was pounding hard as though she were being submerged in hot water.
Third Mistress, who was entirely in the dark, walked over to suggest to her, ‘The banquet will begin in about twenty minutes. If Sixth Marshal can’t make it here by then, let’s wait a while longer for him.’
For all her composure, after hearing that it only wanted twenty minutes to twelve, coupled with the babel of guests talking and laughing everywhere in the big hall, not to mention the noise the band out front was making, Jingwan found herself saying, ‘I’ll go powder my nose. It’s so hot in here.’
Third Mistress scrutinised her appearance and agreed, saying, ‘Hurry up then. Better touch up your rouge too since today’s a major occasion.’
Jingwan thus made her way back to her own quarters. Bunting and ribbons festooned the building and a beautiful archway of evergreen leaves with silk flowers pinned all over it had been erected. However, it was very quiet here as most of the servants had gone out front to the main house to wait upon the guests there. When she came in, only Lan Qin was following her and they were just about to go upstairs when a voice suddenly called out, ‘Miss Yin.’ She recognised the man: it was one of Murong Feng’s trusted subordinates, Hé/həʳ/ Xu’an.
She asked hastily, ‘Has Sixth Marshal returned?’
He requested in a low voice, ‘Please come this way, Miss Yin.’
Jingwan then instructed Lan Qin, ‘Go upstairs and bring my make-up case down. Also, find that pink handkerchief for me.’ She followed Hé/həʳ/ Xu’an as they cut across a corridor and made their way towards a very small reception room at the back. All the curtains had been drawn and the lights were not turned on, so the room was dim. Two people were standing in the room, but even in the semi-darkness one figure was instantly recognisable. There was a buzzing sound in her ears and tears welled up in her eyes as she instinctively rushed forward and that person embraced her, saying, ‘Jingwan.’
Smiling through her tears, she lifted her face. ‘Jianzhang, I really can’t believe that it’s you.’
Xu Jianzhang held her tightly as he responded, ‘It feels like a dream to me too… Jingwan, you’re really here.’
Hé/həʳ/ Xu’an gave a soft cough and said, ‘Miss Yin, Sixth Marshal already left instructions that if he still had not telephoned before half past eleven, we were to get Mr Xu released and escort him to you.’ He then handed her a train ticket, one for the same train that she was going to take.
Jingwan’s heart sped up: although that train ticket was as light as a feather, it felt like a hundredweight when she received it. She remembered how he had bid her farewell in this room just that very morning. Her figure had been reflected in the depths of his eyes which had been full of the deepest affection, yet that day when he had downed the wine after they had become sworn siblings, how a trace² of pain had flashed across his eyes as if the wine had been some kind of corrosive poison. Nevertheless, he had planned everything carefully for her sake — even this final matter had been properly arranged. Her heart as well her thoughts were in such turmoil that she actually had no idea what she was thinking.
Her preoccupied expression and his own uncertainty compelled Xu Jianzhang to question, ‘Jingwan, how come they’ve let me out? What strings did you pull to get me out?’ He added, ‘Where is this place?’
She was unable to answer any of his questions nor was she in a position to do so, hence she replied briefly, ‘I’ll tell you in more detail after we’ve left this place.’ She then turned her head and asked Hé/həʳ/ Xu’an, ‘Where’s Sixth Marshal? Is he still at the commander-in-chief’s residence?’
Hé/həʳ/ Xu’an shook his head and explained, ‘I’m only in charge of this matter and don’t know anything else.’
Xu Jianzhang couldn’t help interrupting to question Jingwan, ‘Sixth Marshal? Sixth Marshal Murong? Why are you asking about him?’
Jingwan answered, ‘I owe Sixth Marshal a favour.’ It was not possible to clearly explain the ins and outs of the matter.
Xu Jianzhang went ‘oh’ and appeared to have a vague idea for he said, ‘So it’s him.’ During his arrest, a prison guard had told him, ‘You’re very lucky to have someone so high up looking after you.’ His sudden release today had left him wholly puzzled and the way Jingwan was hemming and hawing² now caused him to have even more secret misgivings.
² 吞吞吐吐 tūntūn-tǔtǔ. Translation belongs to theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com.
Just at that moment, the tall grandfather clock began to chime. Jingwan seemed badly startled by this sound as she turned her head and when she saw that both the hour and minute hands were aligned, she stood staring into space.
Xu Jianzhang called her name, but she seemed not to hear him and after a few moments murmured to herself, ‘It’s twelve o’clock already.’
He took the train ticket from her, glanced at it and was astounded. ‘This train leaves in half an hour. We’ll have to hurry if we want to catch it.’
Jingwan made an assenting noise but then heard the faint sound of music and voices from the front of the house. Shortly after that, there was a sound of approaching footsteps coming nearer and nearer. She only felt as if her heart were pounding hard enough to leap out of her chest but those footsteps were light and quick, not the sound of leather boots.
The person came straight into the reception room and only then did she recognise her: it was Zhou Ma from the main house. The latter said, ‘Our Madam sent me to inform you that it’s time for the banquet to start but Sixth Marshal hasn’t arrived yet — probably because his meeting is still going on — so she’s thinking of pushing it back by a quarter of an hour.’
Jingwan’s heart skipped a beat. Words deserted her and she could only nod briefly. Seeing that Zhou Ma was looking Xu Jianzhang up and down, she hastily interposed, ‘This is my maternal cousin. Tell Madam that I’ll be out shortly.’
Hearing her dub him her cousin, Xu Jianzhang was even more puzzled and his lips parted but he managed to restrain himself from speaking. After Zhou Ma left, he questioned, ‘What on earth is this place and what are you doing here?’
Jingwan replied, ‘This is the Tao mansion. I’ve been putting up here because of what happened to you.’
Xu Jianzhang responded, ‘Then since my problem’s already settled, let’s go and let the host know so that we can take our leave instead of imposing on them.’
Jingwan set her jaw briefly before saying, ‘You leave first. I’ll take the next train.’
Xu Jianzhang, who had not anticipated that she would say such a thing, asked, ‘Why?’
Jingwan replied, ‘I can’t tell you right now. You’ll understand tomorrow. I owe Sixth Marshal a favour for securing your release and must thank him in person.’
Xu Jianzhang finally burst out, ‘Sixth Marshal this and Sixth Marshal that, just how on earth did you get to know him and why was he willing to have me released?’
The suspicion in his tone inflamed Jingwan and she snapped indignantly, ‘Meaning you don’t trust me?’
Xu Jianzhang countered, ‘Of course I trust you, but you should at least let me know what’s going on.’
Jingwan shot back hotly, ‘How do you expect me to explain anything right now? He’s secured your release from prison but instead of being grateful³, you’re so suspicious instead.’
³ 承情 chéng//qíng. Please consider reading from theresanother(DOT)wordpress(DOT)com rather than from novelscraping sites.
Hé/həʳ/ Xu’an tried to persuade her by saying quietly, ‘Miss Yin, it would be better to discuss this on the way out. Sixth Marshal specially ordered me to ensure that you board the train.’
Jingwan raised her chin stubbornly and stated, ‘How can I just walk away when Sixth Marshal has done so much for me? Please send Jianzhang to the station. I’ll follow by the next train.’
Although good-tempered by nature, Xu Jianzhang was finally provoked into declaring coldly, ‘I’m not leaving if you aren’t.’
Jingwan stamped her foot and snapped, ‘If you don’t trust me, then forget it.’
To Hé/həʳ/ Xu’an she requested, ‘Kindly take me to see Sixth Marshal.’
Hé/həʳ/ Xu’an was astonished and Xu Jianzhang demanded, ‘What do you want to see him for?’
Jingwan stated flatly, ‘He saved your life so I have to thank him.’
(Approx. 1878 words)
12’s notes:
Edited after post was published.
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