Chapter 31: Firefly
Humming a little tune, Yu Xiazhi swept the pastry crumbs from the counter, wiped the surface clean, and then leaned against it, eating a piece of fruit as she watched the people come and go on the street. After a good while, she finished her fruit, clapped her hands, and headed into the back room.
"Third Lady, things should be quiet now. Are you leaving?" she asked Song Wan, who was inside.
"Sister Xiazhi, you're a distant relative from my mother's side. There's no need to be so formal." Song Wan was still sitting where she was, her feet tucked ungracefully onto the chair. She hugged her knees with both arms, curling herself into a small ball. Hearing Yu Xiazhi's question, she tilted her head and first tried once more to correct the way Xiazhi addressed her. When that failed, she said, "Let's wait a bit longer. We can't afford any mistakes at the final step."
As if she hadn't heard the first part of Song Wan's sentence, Yu Xiazhi continued on her own, "Third Lady, how do you know that official can be trusted?"
"How would I know? It's just a gamble," Song Wan said with a bitter smile. "We've been observing them ever since they entered Qinzhou. They're young, sharp, and upright. And they've been thoroughly angered by that pack of fools, so there's no way they'd sink to their level. That's enough."
She paused for a moment before adding, "I wonder if Her Majesty intended it, but the three imperial envoys and the guard commander are all women. There probably isn't a single female official in the realm who could stand this pack of fools. In their fury, they must wish they could overturn all of Zhuo County. It's truly wonderful."
"If you had the chance, Third Lady, you wouldn't be any less capable than those officials."
"Sister Xiazhi, you always see the best in me," Song Wan said, relaxing into a smile.
"But the Third Lady is good," Yu Xiazhi said earnestly, cupping Song Wan's face and looking her in the eye.
Song Wan rested her head in Yu Xiazhi's warm palms, giggling softly. After a moment, she said, "I'll have to trouble you to inform our other sisters, Sister. If Lord Fang keeps her word, our own battlefield won't be far off. It's time to start planning."
"Alright, I'll send someone right away."
Song Wan didn't return home until nearly dusk. As was custom, she went to her parents' quarters to pay her respects.
Her father frowned as he looked at her. "A'wan, you've reached a marriageable age. You shouldn't always be running about outside. It's time to settle your heart."
"Yes, Father," Song Wan replied softly, her head bowed.
"Where did you go today?"
"I went to check the accounts at the shops Mother gave me. They will be part of my dowry, after all, so I must be diligent."
Her father's expression softened slightly. He waved a hand. "Go on, then. Try not to go out so much in the future. The imperial envoys are in Zhuo County, and there's been nothing but trouble. You should steer clear of it."
"Imperial envoys? What's happened?" Song Wan's ears perked up, and she asked tentatively.
"I don't know yet, but my men said there was a big commotion at the county yamen today." Her father sounded weary. With a show of perceptiveness, Song Wan went over to knead his shoulders and neck, playing the part of a devoted daughter. Her father, for his part, was willing to enjoy this moment of paternal affection and filial piety. His voice softened. "Why am I even telling you this? Alright, I understand your sentiment. Go on and amuse yourself."
Song Wan obediently took her leave. Her courtyard was on the eastern side of the estate. She passed through covered walkways and gardens—the same scenery she had looked upon for more than a decade. When she passed a particular courtyard, she paused. Its gate was shut tight, and no light shone from within.
That had been her elder sister's courtyard. Her sister was a gentle, virtuous woman, and as a child, Song Wan had loved nothing more than to cling to her. Her sister had played with her, taught her the qin, and was the most talented person she had ever known. That year, her sister had been about the same age as Song Wan was now when their parents arranged her marriage to the eldest son of the Chen Family.
The night the engagement was settled, her sister held her and wept silently through the night.
"Do you know, A'wan? In our dynasty, women can take the examinations to become officials or join the army. They can hold the highest ranks, be enfeoffed as marquises, or serve as chancellors. Even common women can establish their own households, become the family head, and make their own decisions. Why is it that you and I, who are clothed in silk and fed on jade, enjoying such splendor, cannot move a single inch on our own? Is it a punishment for our idleness?"
The young Song Wan didn't understand, nor did she know how to answer. She could only hug her sister and wipe away her tears.
After that night, her sister never spoke those words again. She grew more dignified and composed, and also more silent—but she became exactly what their parents were most pleased with. And so she was married, and she rarely returned home after that. Song Wan missed her terribly and would cling to her to play whenever she visited. It was during one of these times that she discovered the bruises on her sister's body.
"Did that bastard hit you?" Song Wan trembled with rage.
"No, he didn't." Her sister pulled down her sleeve, hiding the mark. "I was just careless and bumped into something."
"I'm going to tell Father and Mother!"
Her sister grabbed her, pulling her into an embrace. "Don't. I'm just an object used to bind the Chen and Song families. Father won't do anything. Heh, so much for the amity between two families. A'wan, my life is already over, but you absolutely cannot end up like me."
Her sister introduced her to the Second Lady of the Chen Family and had her join their poetry society. They showed her a wider world—the incomparably free world that existed beyond the four-cornered sky of the Song estate.
Taking advantage of her youth, she would pry information from her father, secretly read the Capital Gazettes and documents on his desk, and commit them to memory. At the next poetry society gathering, she would share what she'd learned with her sisters, pooling their intelligence, and then listen as they explained the principles behind it all.
This was how she grew up. She thought that things would eventually get better.
But then her sister died. She died in childbirth, taking her child with her.
Song Wan was filled with a terrible hatred, but there was nothing she could do. She wasn't even allowed to see her sister one last time. After the funeral, she went to the poetry society and wept in the arms of the Chen Family's Second Lady.
Her sister had said that A'wan must not end up like her. Song Wan remembered. She would live well, for her sister's sake as well as her own. She would become the person they had both dreamed of being.
"Third Lady?" a maidservant prompted softly from behind her.
Song Wan returned to the present. She cast one last look at her sister's courtyard, then strode away with determination. "It's nothing. Let's go."
Fang Jian and the other two first secured the physical evidence, then tried once more to interrogate Ye Ze. He just stammered and hawed. It was clear someone had coached him, as he refused to say a word, preventing them from obtaining a confession. The three discussed the matter. Since all the accused would ultimately be taken back to the Capital City for a joint trial by the three judicial agencies, they decided to simply seal the evidence and take everyone back with them: Ye Ze and his family, Magistrate Song, and the Song Family steward to whom Ye Ze had commended his land.
Fang Jian had intended to aim her spear at the head of the Song Family, but they were as slippery as an eel. They pushed forward a steward, who declared with great righteousness that he had been deceived by his subordinates. Upon hearing that the imperial envoys were investigating, the Song Family had cooperated fully, "sacrificing family for the sake of justice," and the family head had personally delivered the man. Song Wan's father had an upright and dignified appearance and spoke with an air of integrity, but Fang Jian and the others knew he was the one fanning the flames behind Ye Ze. Naturally, they gave him a cold reception. He didn't seem to mind, however, and simply smiled, offered a salute with cupped hands, and departed.
"These people are masters of pretense. Do they really think we don't know who was obstructing us in the shadows?" Han Jiwei scoffed, watching his retreating figure.
"Don't let your guard down. This is their territory, after all. We don't want to corner them into doing something desperate," Chi Fei reminded her, patting her on the shoulder.
Fang Jian stood with them, her hands tucked in her sleeves. "But he showed no sign of defeat," she said with a frown. "It was as if he was still certain of victory."
Han Jiwei gave a cold laugh. "He's pushed all the blame onto a steward, leaving himself completely untouched. Later, he'll build a bridge or pave a road, and the villagers will still revere him. What has he really lost?"
"Alright, let's not worry about him for now. The key is to make Ye Ze talk. The longer we delay, the more complications can arise. Returning to the Capital City as soon as possible is the right course of action."
Author's Notes
An ensemble story isn't about a single protagonist dominating the scene. It's about the silent efforts of countless, seemingly insignificant people, who, like fireflies, can come together to start a blaze that sweeps the plains.
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