Chapter Eighteen: A Performance

"Did you give them the silver?" Su Yang glanced at Plum Blossom's elder brother, sitting on the bed. A twinge of regret struck him; that day, he shouldn't have just castrated the man—he should have slit his throat.

"No!"

"How much was your sister, Little Mei, supposed to fetch?"

"Twelve taels."

"I have fifteen taels here. I’m taking Little Mei with me." He pulled a silver ingot from his breast and tossed it onto the bed beside Plum Blossom’s brother, his tone grave. That money was meant to buy salt; now he’d have to ask his mother-in-law for more.

"Yes, yes, of course!" Plum Blossom’s brother’s eyes went wide at the sight of the silver, and he lunged forward, hugging it to his chest in excitement. "From this day on, Little Mei is your servant. Let's put it in writing."

"Let this serve as your tea money," Su Yang said as he turned, stuffing some silver into Doggie’s palm. Only Doggie would know how much, and how it would be split with the two thugs depended on his own conscience.

Doggie was a pander, the madam’s right hand; their real master was the county magistrate. With a fixed monthly wage, any extra silver was a windfall. Su Yang was only eighth rank in martial strength; though these three were no match for him, the bouncers at the Verdant Green Brothel were also eighth rank. Even if the brothel couldn’t handle him, the magistrate could.

There was no need to escalate conflicts if they could be avoided. If silver could resolve the trouble, all the better. Harmony is precious; when he grew stronger, all would be well.

"Let’s go," Doggie said, and the ninth-rank martialist hefted the injured bouncer onto his shoulder and left. Clearly, life as a live-in son-in-law was suiting Su Yang; in such a short time, he’d acquired a personal maid—the little beauty called Plum Blossom, most likely.

The Wang family's eldest daughter had been lame for years, which might affect her fertility. It was normal, even proper, to have a maid bear a child and then raise the baby in the main household. There was also the practice of wife-pawning—some poor families, if the wife couldn’t bear children, would sell her to a wealthy household for three or five years to bear a child, after which she could return home.

Sister-in-law!

Inside the room, not only Little Mei but even Plum Blossom lying on the floor wore expressions of shock and confusion. Once she understood, a trace of sweetness welled up in her heart. Yet she knew it was only a ruse by her master-in-law.

If only it were real.

...

"Doggie, is that really it?" the ninth-rank martialist asked, unwilling.

"We’ll tell it straight when we return. We failed, and for the brothel’s reputation, we’ll need to call upon that eighth-rank expert."

"And if they say the girl isn’t for sale, well, we came for nothing and got some tea money. Isn’t that nice?"

"Remember this, nephew: we work for the Verdant Green Brothel, not for our lives. In the future, take a step back in trouble; don’t just charge ahead, understand?" Doggie’s hunched figure gleamed with shrewdness.

"Uncle, did he hear you say that? Won’t he tell the madam?" the martialist asked, nodding at the injured man on his shoulder.

"Doggie, Doggie... I didn’t hear a thing! Nothing at all!" the man said, flustered.

"Am I right?"

"What? I don’t know anything!"

"Good. Since I said it in front of you, I’m not afraid you’ll snitch. It’s not just my thinking—the madam of Verdant Green is also just a worker. Why die for someone else’s business? We’re not assassins or deathsworn."

"Of course, if you blab, you’ll end up in the gutter."

...

"Sign it," Su Yang said, placing the contract before Plum Blossom’s brother. "If you can’t write, a fingerprint will do."

"Scholar Su, you just said Little Mei was your sister-in-law? Then I’m your elder brother-in-law, aren’t I?" Plum Blossom’s brother didn’t sign, his eyes sly, clearly scheming for more money, since Plum Blossom was now Su Yang’s maid.

"Don’t push your luck. I just said that to save face in front of them," Su Yang replied, his tone cold and hard. Plum Blossom’s brother shivered, then obediently signed, pressing his and Little Mei’s handprints.

With the death contract sealed, Little Mei was no longer tied to her old life. As for the fifteen taels, he’d retrieve them in a few days.

"Come on."

"Mm." Young Little Mei nodded obediently, her delicate face showing the budding beauty that in a few years would rival her sister’s. Still, she was only fourteen or fifteen—though girls could marry at fifteen or sixteen, childbirth at this age was perilous, a misstep could be fatal for both mother and child.

Her clothes were patched and worn but clean; her figure was slender, yet more shapely than her elder sister’s. One wondered how such a destitute life could yield such a promising girl.

Plum Blossom’s eyes brimmed with helpless tears. Her whole body ached, her slender hands red and swollen, her steps faltering from the beating she’d taken from the thug.

No woman could endure such pain.

Su Yang frowned. Once the heat died down, he’d deal with those men—especially the one who struck Plum Blossom. That one had to die.

If Plum Blossom knew, she’d be even more loyal; surely, after today, her heart was filled with gratitude.

Peach Blossom was pregnant, but his duty to continue the family line could not be neglected.

"Can you still walk?"

"Let me." He scooped up the aching Plum Blossom in his arms and, with Little Mei following, carried her out. There was medicine at home; no need for a physician.

"Ah... Master, you mustn’t... Men and women shouldn’t be so close... If the young mistress finds out, what will we do?"

"Master..." Plum Blossom’s shy protest made Su Yang all the more reluctant to let go. He cradled her gently. "Be quiet. You’re now part of the Wang family—our property."

"If you’re hurt, it’s the Wang family’s loss."

"Rest for a couple of days. As for your sister, I’ll speak to my mother-in-law when we get home."

Plum Blossom wriggled, trying to stand, but seeing Su Yang’s determination, she sank into his arms with a small, aggrieved pout—yet the corners of her lips curled into a sweet smile.

Her heart fluttered. Her mind was filled with the image of Su Yang bursting in and kicking away the thug who beat her. For the first time, the figure of a man was etched into the girl’s heart.

A hero saving a beauty—a bit of a cliché, but compelling. In desperate times, when a hand reaches out to save you, you’ll devote your life in gratitude.

Besides, her master-in-law was handsome and cultured, gentle in speech, never overbearing—a gentle scholar straight out of the storybooks. A woman’s dream.

If only he weren’t already the young mistress’s husband. This feeling, she must keep hidden; if revealed, the mistress would not spare her, nor would she forgive Su Yang.

He had already been so good to her—she must never let him come to harm on her account.

At that thought, Plum Blossom held him tighter.

Little Mei trailed behind, eyes red, clutching Su Yang’s hem. As long as she stayed close to this big brother, nothing could harm her.

In her young heart, Su Yang had become her haven.

A seed was planted, rooting in her tender soul. Her gaze toward Su Yang grew more resolute.

When I grow up, I’ll be your bride.

...

The rebellion in Qinghe County had thrown Yanggu County into tension. If Qinghe fell, Yanggu would be next. The streets were empty, the few passersby hurrying along, so no one noticed Su Yang.

That alone spared him much trouble.

Nearing the Wang estate, Su Yang set Plum Blossom down and supported her inside, settling her in a side room.

Li Douchou, meanwhile, had been hiding in the inner chamber as instructed. She was quite obedient—perhaps out of fear, or maybe a touch of fondness, or a wish to get released quickly.

No matter. Let her stay for now. When he broke through to fourth rank and could subdue the whole county, he would let her go.

"Master, what happened to Plum Blossom?" Peach Blossom hurried over, concern in her eyes.

"Fetch the medicine for bruises and help Plum Blossom. Little Mei, come with me to see my mother-in-law."

After settling Plum Blossom, Su Yang led Little Mei to Liu Wenxiang’s courtyard and explained the situation.

Liu Wenxiang, freshly awakened from her nap, lay swathed in soft silk, her voluptuous figure reminiscent of a blooming peony. She studied Little Mei. "Fifteen taels is rather steep."

"Little Mei, wait outside," Su Yang said.

"Yes." Little Mei nodded meekly and slipped out.

"Mother-in-law, the times are chaotic. Even if Qinghe County survives this rebellion, there’ll be a second, a third, a fourth... When officials drive the people to revolt, unless the authorities change course, such cycles never end. The rules are set; change threatens vested interests. The nation is caught in a death spiral, and unless someone can stem the tide, there’s no hope in sight."

"If Qinghe falls, Yanggu is next. We won’t be able to keep all these people; we’ll have to send half our servants away, keep only the most loyal."

"Those we keep must be completely reliable. Even if the silver was a lot, fifteen taels for Little Mei and her sister’s loyalty is a bargain."

"Money can be earned again; loyalty can’t be bought. Mother-in-law, you must weigh what matters most. Broaden your view, broaden your heart..."

"And your mind—think big..."

With his silver tongue, Su Yang persuaded Liu Wenxiang to keep Little Mei as a servant and made up for the silver.

Back in the courtyard, Su Yang told Plum Blossom and Little Mei the news. The two girls were moved, considering the Wang family and Su Yang their benefactors, vowing loyal service forever.

When Wang Chunxiao, the eldest young lady, heard, she immediately went to her mother, Liu Wenxiang, and transferred Plum Blossom to her own room as a servant, keeping her close at hand.

Wang Chunxiao had seen Plum Blossom’s beauty—it was easy to see why her husband would be captivated. Why else would a master worry so much about a servant’s family?

Why else go to such lengths to help with her family troubles?

Wang Chunxiao’s jealousy flared once more.

"Let her recover before she goes," Su Yang said, shaking his head. That woman’s mind was truly twisted. Was it necessary?

Besides, they were husband and wife in name only, without any real marital bond. He sought true love; she could do the same. Why begrudge him?

In the days that followed, the Wang household finally found some peace.

Once healed, Plum Blossom joined Wang Chunxiao as a maid; Little Mei, still young, served Wang Xiahe. Both girls were loyal and would be kept when the household was downsized, as would Xi Liu, Xi Chun, and Xi Xia, the maids always by Su Yang’s side.

The raw salt supplies were nearly processed. After a day’s work, over a hundred catties of refined salt sat ready, easily carried in a sack.

Qinghe County had fallen to the rebels. The thousand-strong loyalist force of Great Qian was fighting the rebels. Grain prices in Yanggu soared, already fivefold, and Liu Wenxiang could barely stop praising her son-in-law for his foresight.

In those days, Su Yang spent his free time buying coarse grain and digging a cellar in Liu Wenxiang’s room. Only he, his mother-in-law, and the three loyal maids knew. One thousand five hundred bushels of grain were secretly stored, protected from damp.

This would be the Wang family’s greatest secret.

The old granary, meanwhile, was filled with sawdust, straw, and chaff.

That night, disaster struck—the Wang estate burned, one thousand five hundred bushels of grain gone. Liu Wenxiang wept bitterly; Wang Chunxiao had to be restrained from running into the flames. It was the family’s entire fortune, all gone.

At dawn, Liu Wenxiang, heartbroken, began dismissing servants.

In the vast Wang household, only Su Yang remained as a master.

Martial experts: Wang Han and Ma Chao.

Male servants: two.

Total: five.

Mistresses: Liu Wenxiang, Wang Chunxiao, Wang Xiahe.

Personal maids: Xi Liu, Xi Chun, Xi Xia, and Peach Blossom—four.

Coarse maids: Snow Swallow, Plum Blossom, Little Mei, two others, and an old woman.

Total: thirteen.

Eighteen people in all, with fourteen servants apart from the masters.

Before the dismissals, the Wang family had twenty-three or twenty-four maids and old women, eight male servants, three martial experts—a household of thirty-four.

They dismissed twenty people.

The other wealthy families in Yanggu sighed. The Wang family, once so shrewd in hoarding grain, had brought about its own ruin.

Especially the main branch of the Wang family, who cursed Liu Wenxiang as useless. All that fortune should have been theirs. Now, thanks to a single fire, it was all ash.