Chapter 50

Brocade Gray

As dusk fell, the New Year’s banquet finally began.

In Xie Que Shan’s plan, he intended to put the drug in the last sweet soup that Song Mu Chuan would drink. When Song Mu Chuan left the banquet, he would only think that he had drunk too much wine and was feeling dizzy, and the servants would help him onto the carriage to send him home... When he woke up again, he would find himself on a ship heading toward Jinling.

But no one expected that, just as people were beginning to take their seats in pairs, and before the dishes could even be served, a luxurious and elaborate carriage stopped at the entrance of Wang Xue Wu.

Before long, a servant rushed in, panting and almost out of breath, reporting urgently: “It’s... it’s... Lord Wan Yan has arrived!”

The faces of the guests darkened, unsure of the purpose of this uninvited visitor.

“And he’s brought the Lingfu Princess with him!”

At this, the usually composed Lady Gantang’s expression immediately changed.

She had only just arrived and hadn’t had a chance to hear about the Lingfu Princess.

Lady Gantang’s husband, the Marquis of Pingnan, was the Lingfu Princess’s uncle. She had once lived in the palace for a time and was close to the Lingfu Princess.

She had thought that Xu Kouyue and the royal family had been captured together, but she didn’t expect that the Lingfu Princess had been brought to Lidu. The moment she thought of her beloved niece, her steps faltered, and without paying attention to anyone else, she immediately made her way toward the outer courtyard.

Xie Que Shan maintained a stern expression as he followed behind. What a coincidence that Wan Yan Jun arrived to visit the Xie family for the New Year precisely when Song Mu Chuan was here. This had to be planned.

As soon as he stepped outside, he ran into Wan Yan Jun and his entourage. Two rows of servants stood in formation, holding New Year’s gifts. A quick glance showed that even the boxes were intricately carved, clearly showing they were here to make formal New Year’s greetings.

Wan Yan Jun was tall and imposing, not as coarse-looking as most Qi people. His attire and bearing were refined, almost scholarly, and his appearance could be considered handsome. Yet his gaze held a sharp, cruel edge. Anyone caught by his eyes would feel a chill run down their spine.

Xu Kouyue walked behind him, her head lowered, dressed in fine clothes, but as she moved, the clinking sound of iron chains echoed from beneath her feet.

She made no attempt to hide her identity as a golden-fettered prisoner, exposing it to everyone without shame.

Lady Gantang inhaled sharply at the sight, unable to speak, nearly stumbling, but was steadied by one of her female attendants.

Xu Kouyue raised her head and looked at her aunt from a distance, gently shaking her head as a signal not to do anything.

Wan Yan Jun, however, maintained his usual composure. As soon as he saw Xie Que Shan, he greeted him with a familiar and warm tone: “Que Shan, Happy New Year! The noble families celebrate in grand style compared to the outside world. Your home is so lively today. You didn’t invite me, how could that be?”

“Lord Wan Yan, Princess Lingfu,” Xie Que Shan cupped his hands, not showing any disrespect to Princess Lingfu, and even performed a formal bow to her. “Today is just a casual gathering for the ladies of the household. I was planning to properly host both of you another time—”

These polite words were easy for Xie Que Shan to deliver. He then turned to Lady Gantang, saying, “Second sister, please prepare seats for Lord Wan Yan and Princess Lingfu.”

As he spoke, Xie Que Shan glanced in the direction of Song Mu Chuan, signaling Lady Gantang to take him away. Although Lady Gantang was in a state of extreme shock, she quickly snapped back to reality and managed to compose herself.

Just as she was about to turn away, Wan Yan Jun spoke up: “Oh, who is this young man?”

Wan Yan Jun’s gaze fell upon Song Mu Chuan.

At that moment, Xie Que Shan immediately understood. Wan Yan Jun wouldn’t show any special interest in just any Han person unless he already knew who he was.

Wan Yan Jun had his eyes on Song Mu Chuan’s talents and wanted him to work at the shipbuilding bureau for him.

Taking advantage of the Xie family’s banquet, today was the perfect opportunity to bring his intentions to the surface, catching Xie Que Shan off guard. No matter what his plans were, he couldn’t make any small moves now—he had to go along with Wan Yan Jun’s wishes and push Song Mu Chuan into a difficult position.

Even though Xie Que Shan had planned to send Song Mu Chuan away, it was happening at this very moment!

Xie Que Shan paused for a moment. Wan Yan Jun looked at him with a smile that was not quite a smile, seemingly watching his reaction.

When Zhang Yuehui sold him information about Song Mu Chuan, he had kindly warned: “Sir, if you insist on pushing this, I wonder if it will make Lord Que Shan uncomfortable? After all, he was once a close friend of his.”

The owner of the Guikaitang was someone who enjoyed a good spectacle but didn’t want to get entangled with Xie Que Shan. However, a subtle thorn was planted here, and now he was curious about where the traitor’s loyalties lay upon returning to his homeland.

Xie Que Shan understood very well that, at any time, his primary task was to protect his own position.

He smiled indifferently and calmly introduced, “This is my old friend, Song Mu Chuan.”

Wan Yan Jun feigned surprise: “Mr. Song, I’ve heard so much about you. I’ve heard you come from a family of craftsmen and are a rare talent!”

Song Mu Chuan respectfully raised his hand and responded, “Lord Wan Yan, you flatter me.”

“Que Shan, this is where you’ve been negligent. With a friend of such talent, how could you not introduce him to me earlier?” Wan Yan Jun said with a playful tone.

Xie Que Shan smiled tightly, his heart tense. He knew very well that he was in a passive position now. Any contradiction with Wan Yan Jun’s words would make him suspicious.

He was good at reading the situation and maintaining his composure at all times.

Thus, he went along with it: “Today is indeed a good opportunity. My lord, Princess, please, come inside.”

The gong sounded, and the Spring Feast began.

Everyone wore their new clothes, and before the banquet filled their eyes with delicacies, their smiles disappeared. They were all on edge, too afraid to even breathe deeply.

The women’s seats were set in the inner hall, and everyone expected that Wan Yan Jun would allow Xu Kouyue to join the women at the table. But after he sat down, he did not allow her to join them. Instead, he kept her by his side.

He had her pour tea, serve wine, bring water, and even feed him with her chopsticks. Wan Yan Jun was brazen in his actions, sometimes holding her waist or placing his hand on her skirt. His movements were crude and inappropriate, leaving nothing to be admired.

It was as though he treated the dignified princess as a mere servant, lower even than the attendants, a concubine with no dignity.

Even Xie Que Shan felt his smile become stiff.

Even Lady Gantang, with her immense composure, couldn’t hide her displeasure.

Beside her, Ah Fu, a young girl, mischievously reached for the food on the table, knocking over a bone dish. It wasn’t a big deal, but it caused Lady Gantang to scold her harshly.

The little girl, who didn’t understand the situation, burst into tears.

Her loud sobs could be heard faintly from the men’s banquet outside, and the already icy atmosphere grew even more somber.

Song Mu Chuan and Wan Yan Jun had no common ground for conversation. He didn’t even drink the wine that was offered, and he showed no interest in Wan Yan Jun’s enthusiastic invitations.

“I appreciate Lord Wan Yan’s kindness, but I am a disgraced commoner, not worthy of taking on an important role at the shipbuilding bureau,” Song Mu Chuan said, though he didn’t break the facade completely, “Lord Xie has honored me with a gathering at his home, so I shall not impose.”

He actually stood up, as though preparing to leave.

At that moment, a sense of despair grew in Xie Que Shan’s heart. He desperately wanted Song Mu Chuan to leave. As soon as he stepped out the door, his men would knock him unconscious and take him aboard a ship, and by the next day, he would disappear from Lidu. But he knew full well that Wan Yan Jun would never let him go so easily.

He could not walk out of this door, and as for Xie Que-shan, he could not waver in the least.

Sure enough, the look in Wan Yan Jun’s eyes darkened by several shades: “It seems my face is not enough to convince Mr. Song.”

“Xu Kouyue, this was once your subject; you go and speak with him. If you can convince him, there will be a great reward for you.”

Xu Kouyue, who had been kneeling silently beside Wan Yan Jun, suddenly had her name called and looked up in fear.

The others hadn’t yet processed what this meant, but Xu Kouyue, accustomed to torment, already understood.

Wan Yan Jun looked at Xu Kouyue with amusement: “Think carefully, how will you persuade Mr. Song?”

Behind the screen, the women fell completely silent, sensing the atmosphere thickening with tension.

Among the women of the Lidu family, at least they were fortunate—not captives, no matter their status. But this former imperial princess, once shining like a jewel, was now in such a degraded state.

Everyone knew, though, that nothing could be done.

Even Xie Que-shan had no way to act.

Because of the immense disparity of power, the current situation had come to be. In such a context, everyone was forced to forfeit their dignity.

Xu Kouyue, her eyes full of desperation, cast a helpless glance at Xie Que-shan. The moment their eyes met, she knew he would not help her.

In the oppressive silence, Xu Kouyue slowly moved her knee, the iron chains making a soft rattling sound. She turned her body, still kneeling, and with a trembling voice that almost broke, she said, “Mr. Song, please…”

The rest of the words choked in her throat, and she could not say them.

She could only let Wan Yan Jun twist and humiliate her, but she knew that the scholars still held onto the old kingdom in their hearts, still saw her as the imperial princess.

How could she ask them to serve the Qidi people?

She bit her lip, unwilling to say another word.

Song Mu-chuan clenched his fists so tightly that his knuckles whitened. He stood there, unwilling to leave but too humiliated to sit again.

“Tsk,” Wan Yan Jun sighed regretfully, shaking his head. “Seems it’s still not working. Not enough to move Mr. Song. I wonder if Mr. Song has any particular likes?”

No one responded, and Wan Yan Jun spoke to himself: “—How about beauty? Mr. Song, you don’t speak, so I know you scholars care about face. Speaking of which, Princess Lingfu should be the most beautiful jewel of your Great Yu Dynasty.”

Wan Yan Jun suddenly grabbed Xu Kouyue’s outer robe: “Why don’t you take off your clothes, one piece at a time, until Mr. Song speaks?”

From behind the screen, the sound of a desk being overturned was heard. Xie Sui’an had kicked the screen down, and his sword was already drawn.

“Wan Yan Jun, don’t go too far!”

With the screen knocked down, the once concealed view of the inner and outer tables was instantly revealed, exposing this humiliating scene to everyone.

“Xie Xiao-liu—” Xie Que-shan’s tone had never been this stern. “Sit down!”

His reprimand was all show, sharp and forceful on the outside, but it betrayed a sense of helplessness underneath.

Xie Sui’an, not willing to submit, was immediately restrained by Nan Yi, who pulled her back with force.

“Xiao-liu, don’t be like this.” Nan Yi looked at Xie Sui’an with pleading eyes.

Tears of helplessness suddenly welled up in Xie Sui’an’s eyes, but after several tugs from Nan Yi, she stubbornly sat down.

Nan Yi understood this better than anyone. What good was it to be a hero and throw a tantrum? Could she save the princess? Could she kill Wan Yan Jun? She couldn’t do anything, and it might endanger them further, losing everything in the process.

Wan Yan Jun sighed: “You’re still not satisfied—then should I kill the princess? Don’t you Han people like to say, a gentleman can be killed but not humiliated?”

Xu Kouyue gave in. Her hands trembling, she reached up to her collar and removed the first light green robe. Then she unbuttoned the hidden clasps, slowly pulling her arms out of the robe.

That was the second piece. Beneath it, she only wore a dark-colored bodice, her shoulders and neck exposed.

The straps of the bodice were behind her, and she tried to reach behind to undo them. Perhaps because her hands were shaking too much, she could not reach them.

Time dragged on, unbearably long.

Nan Yi clenched her fists, her nails almost digging into her flesh.

In her heart, she cried out in desperation: Do something, do something, but what can be done?

Suddenly, she saw Xie Que-shan give her a glance. He looked toward the window, then casually glanced at the candleholder.

That glance was so swift it seemed like it never happened.

In a flash, Nan Yi understood! She quietly pulled out a sleeve arrow and shot it at the nearest window.

With a clang, the sleeve arrow lodged into the window frame, and the force of the shot pushed open the half-closed window. Cold wind howled in and blew out the candles.

The room was instantly plunged into darkness.

The darkness gave everyone a moment of reprieve and left Xu Kouyue with some remaining dignity.

After a long pause, Song Mu-chuan’s voice, weary and defeated, came through: “I will agree.”

Xie Que-shan closed his eyes, a sigh hidden in the darkness. He rarely felt powerless, but now it was as if an invisible net was pulling him forward.

The cold wind struck everyone’s face, sharp as if slowly cutting them.

Before the candles could be relit, there was the sound of metal clanking, perhaps Xu Kouyue running.

Everyone quickly realized what had happened.

She was no longer someone worth saving. How could the scholars bow to her? She didn’t want to be the sword that cut away their integrity. If she didn’t, then the humiliation she had suffered would truly become a stain on her.

This grand Spring Feast, which was supposed to carry good tidings, had become clear to everyone. No matter how the year turned, nothing would change. The most filthy, unbearable things were now laid bare before all eyes, like a beautiful room of brocade that had turned to ash in an instant.

Lady Gantang screamed in agony: “Yao Yao!”

Yao Yao was Xu Kouyue’s nickname, known only to those who were extremely close to her. But even with that call, it still couldn’t restore her resolve.

With a determined posture, she charged straight into the pillar.

All she could see was darkness, and every sound seemed particularly deafening and heart-stopping.