Chapter 58: Water Dragon Song (Part 3) -1
The Yin Ye Si officers quickly arrived to clean up the corpses by Yong’an Lake. Zhou Ting brought Ni Su back to her clinic on Nan Huai Street. A subordinate reported, “Young Master Zhou, we’ve examined them. They all have sword wounds.”
Ni Su, a frail woman with no martial arts training, how could she use a sword? But Zhou Ting remembered seeing another figure in the dim, rainy night. Yet, inexplicably, as he approached on horseback, only Ni Su remained.
The wound beneath his robes had split open, the blood sticking uncomfortably to the fabric. Zhou Ting remained composed, turning to look at the young woman inside, wrapped in a cloak, lighting a lamp.
Her legs seemed still weak, her steps slow, and she appeared somewhat dazed. After lighting the lamp, she sat at the table, head bowed, motionless.
Zhou Ting entered, poured a cup of hot tea and placed it in front of her. He then took two steps back and bowed with clasped hands. “Miss Ni, I apologize. This incident has implicated you because of me.”
Ni Su finally regained her senses, recalling what the assassins had said by Yong’an Lake. “Young Master Zhou, I don’t understand. Why did they think capturing me would lure you?”
Zhou Ting paused for a moment before answering, “My mother came to see you today. Coupled with the rumors Wu Dai deliberately spread about us, they assumed that you and I…”
The words “have feelings” lingered unspoken. Zhou Ting looked at the woman before him, her hair damp, her lips pale. His grip on his sword hilt tightened involuntarily. He suddenly remembered his mother’s question.
When Ni Su heard the first part of his sentence, she immediately thought of the woman who had visited her earlier. So, that was Young Master Zhou’s mother.
“But why did your mother come to see me?”
Zhou Ting hesitated, concealing his mother’s intentions. “She heard about you and wanted to meet you. Miss Ni, this incident was an unexpected disaster for you. From today onwards, I will assign people to protect you nearby. If you have any problems, please don’t hesitate to ask me. As long as it doesn’t violate the law, I will certainly help.”
“There’s no need, Young Master Zhou.”
Ni Su shook her head. If the Yin Ye Si people came to guard her again, how could she conveniently go out with Xu Zi Ling, light lamps for him, and guide his way?
Zhou Ting hadn’t expected her refusal. He was taken aback, then said, “If we don’t do this, I’m worried they will try the same trick again. I was a step too late today. I wonder, who was the person who saved you?”
The mere silhouette in the rainy night remained on Zhou Ting’s mind.
“I don’t know.”
Ni Su picked up the teacup but didn’t drink. “I didn’t even see him clearly.”
She didn’t know if Zhou Ting believed her. After a moment, he said, “In that case, leave the investigation to me. Please rest assured, Miss Ni, I won’t let these people go.”
Since she said she didn’t know, Zhou Ting couldn’t press further. After all, this incident stemmed from him. He wouldn’t demand a definite answer from her like he would when interrogating officials at the Yin Ye Si.
As he was about to leave, Zhou Ting noticed Ni Su’s soaked clothes. “Miss Ni, be careful not to catch a cold. Also, this is medicine for injuries, bestowed by the palace upon the Yin Ye Si.”
He took a porcelain bottle from his pocket. It was stained with blood. He wiped it with his fingertips and placed the bottle on the table. He glanced down and saw the bloody gash on her palm. “If it’s inconvenient, I…”
“I can manage it myself. Thank you, Young Master Zhou.”
Ni Su looked up at him.
The lamplight in the room reflected in her clear eyes. Zhou Ting looked at her, then quickly averted his gaze. “Alright.”
Such a deep wound, yet she only had slightly reddened eyes, no tears. Just like the first time Zhou Ting saw her at the Yin Ye Si, she wasn’t a woman without fear, but her fear never made her weak.
After Zhou Ting left, Ni Su changed into clean clothes and applied the medicine to her wound, wrapping it simply with a thin cloth. After finishing, she didn’t leave the room.
This was Xu Zi Ling’s room. On the desk were several books he often read. His brushes, ink, paper, and inkstone were neatly arranged. A faint, comforting fragrance lingered in the room.
Ni Su took off her shoes and wrapped herself in his quilt, her eyes fixed on the flickering candle flame. The night rain continued. She called out, “Xu Zi Ling.”
Faint mist swirled, but it couldn’t coalesce into his form.
As dawn approached, the clouds dispersed, and the rain stopped. Ni Su fell into a deep sleep on the bed. Cold wind blew in through the slightly open lattice window, extinguishing the last candle in the room.
The faint mist condensed into a pale figure. His pallid fingers closed the lattice window, stilling the light green curtains.
He walked to the bed. The young woman’s dark hair was disheveled, a few strands clinging to her pale cheeks. Half her face was pressed against the edge of the quilt, the pillow now nestled in her arms.
The thin cloth wrapped around her outstretched hand was very loose, revealing the wound on her palm, crusted with bright red blood.
Xu He Xue turned and saw the porcelain bottle on the table. His spectral body was fragile, burdened by the punishments he had endured. He moved slowly, from retrieving the medicine to returning to the bedside.
He sprinkled the medicine powder on her palm and found a clean cloth to carefully bandage the wound. His movements were gentle throughout.
Listening to her shallow breathing, Xu He Xue finished tending to her wound and placed his hands on his knees, unable to help but gaze at her face.
Her brow suddenly furrowed.
Xu He Xue heard her mumble in her sleep, her lips moving slightly, her voice indistinct. He leaned closer, and her warm breath brushed against him as she murmured, “Xu Zi Ling…”
Xu He Xue stiffened, then sat up straight.
Sunlight gradually brightened, slanting in through the lattice window. He sat quietly in the light, his features as cold as snow-covered pine branches, his mind occupied by her dream.
The dream she was having now, about him.
Suddenly, Xu He Xue heard the rustling of fabric. He looked up and saw Ni Su, who had been asleep just moments ago, now awake, looking at her newly bandaged hand.
“I dreamt of you.”
Ni Su’s voice was hoarse with sleep.
Xu He Xue’s Adam’s apple bobbed. “Yes.”
“Why didn’t you ask me what I dreamt about you?” Ni Su looked at him. His form was still somewhat faint, the sunlight falling on him appearing thin and cold.
“What?” he asked.
“I dreamt of what happened last night at Yong’an Lake. The only difference was that you turned into mist and disappeared,” Ni Su hugged his pillow. “Fortunately, I saw you as soon as I woke up.”
Water droplets remaining in the crevices of the eaves dripped, gently tapping on Xu He Xue’s mind. After a while, he said, “When that day comes, I won’t leave without saying goodbye.”
His voice was controlled and calm.
Ni Su remained silent for a long time, instinctively avoiding the word “goodbye.” She looked at the closed lattice window. “It seems like the rain has stopped.”
But the kite wasn’t finished yet.
With the clear sky, Xu He Xue, whose spectral body was weak, used the little time he could maintain his form to make the kite or look at the ledger. He memorized the official promotions and transfers of the dozen officials from the Jiang residence over the past fifteen years. The only connection between these names was the route between Daizhou and Yongzhou fifteen years ago.
Fifteen years ago, they were all officials along the route from Daizhou to Yongzhou.
Understanding this wasn’t difficult. The difficulty lay in the fact that these officials, despite their promotions over the fifteen years, were not in the capital. To investigate, they had to go to Daizhou.
“Neither of us needs to go to Daizhou. Among these people, there’s one who was demoted to Fengzhou two years ago, named Qian Wei Yin. He was my classmate, and we exchanged letters during festivals. But last year, he suddenly disappeared from his post, his whereabouts unknown. Last night, however, I received a handwritten letter from him, saying he’s here and asking me to come, saying he has something to confess.”
Jiang Xian Ming stood in front of a dilapidated house, speaking softly to the young man and woman beside him.
The old steward held a lamp for him, while Ni Su and Xu He Xue each carried a glazed lamp. Under their veiled hats, their eyes were fixed on the crooked, almost collapsing courtyard gate.
“I don’t have any skilled martial artists around me, that’s why I asked you to come, Young Master.” After the previous assassination attempt, Jiang Xian Ming had become much more cautious.
Xu He Xue said nothing, using his scabbard to push open the courtyard gate. Inside was pitch black. Only after they entered did some light fill the courtyard.
It was a long-neglected, dilapidated courtyard, weeds growing between the bricks, the ground covered in thick dust.
“Old Qian, it’s Jiang Xian Ming. Where are you?”
Jiang Xian Ming looked around, but saw no one. He raised his voice.
After waiting for a while, Ni Su didn’t hear any movement. The lamplight illuminated the cobwebs hanging under the eaves, swaying slightly in the night breeze.
“Old Qian?” Jiang Xian Ming frowned, suspecting he had been tricked.
But the handwriting on the letter was indeed Qian Wei Yin’s. He shouldn’t have mistaken it.
Xu He Xue suddenly turned his head, his eyes fixed on the dark main hall. He keenly detected a slight sound and quickly climbed the steps. The warm yellow lamplight followed him into the hall. Ni Su saw him draw his sword. Soon, a figure rose from the shadows amidst a pile of debris.
He was dressed in rags, his hair disheveled, his beard covering half his face. He looked utterly dishevelled and defeated.
“Jiang Xian Ming, I trusted you, that’s why I risked contacting you. But why did you bring these people!” The man’s neck was stiff, his voice tinged with anger.
“You’ve been missing for a year. I suddenly received your letter, how could I not be suspicious? Old Qian, these are trustworthy people. You don’t need to be afraid.”
Jiang Xian Ming followed Ni Su into the hall, lifting his robe. He looked Qian Wei Yin over before saying, “Why don’t we talk about why you asked me to meet you?”
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