The Great Zhou had no curfew.
So, even in remote Tongzhou, the nights remained lively. Lanterns hung high on both sides of the streets, dyeing the night a shade of orange-red. Vendors selling sugar figurines and rouge lined the streets, along with all sorts of other stalls. Peddlers carrying their wares on poles weaved through the streets and alleys, hawking their goods.
Pei Shaoqing and Xie Qingwu walked side-by-side, weaving through the crowd, while Ye Hanshuang, who was a good deal taller than either of them, followed unhurriedly behind them, cradling her sword.
"I never thought a small place like this could be so lively at night," Xie Qingwu marveled.
Pei Shaoqing said, "If you get bored at home by yourself, you should come out and walk around more often."
"You're letting me go out?" Xie Qingwu asked in surprise.
"We're husband and wife, after all. I can't keep you under lock and key forever, can I?" Pei Shaoqing glanced at her and said with a faint smile. "It's fine, as long as General Li is with you."
The light in Xie Qingwu's eyes shifted, betraying nothing of her inner thoughts. She pursed her lips, but her eyes crinkled into an enchanting smile. "Alright," she replied sweetly.
"Cute, isn't it? It's for you." Pei Shaoqing picked a rabbit-shaped figurine from a roadside stall and handed it to her.
"Oh! It's so cute." Xie Qingwu looked delighted, but inwardly she was scornful. 'I'm a grown woman. Why would I like a children's toy?' But after one bite, her eyes lit up, and her smile became sweeter than the candy itself. "So yummy!"
Ye Hanshuang found the pair a bit of an eyesore.
When they passed a stall selling bejeweled hairpins, Xie Qingwu stopped in her tracks. Seeing this, Pei Shaoqing said casually, "See one you like? Pick any one you want. My treat."
"How much is this?" Xie Qingwu picked up a hairpin with a butterfly-shaped head and two dangling jade pendants.
A flash of disdain crossed Ye Hanshuang's eyes. 'Flashy, delicate women like her always love these useless trinkets. They have no practical value. If you wore that in a fight, it would just swing around and hinder your performance.'
'You'd be better off spending the money on a decent weapon for self-defense.'
She clutched the sword in her arms a little tighter.
The stall owner beamed. "Miss, you have excellent taste! This hairpin was brought in from the State Mansion—it's the only one of its kind. If you'd like it, it's two taels of silver."
Pei Shaoqing was just about to take out his money pouch, but Xie Qingwu said she would pay and took out her own purse to settle the bill.
Then she turned to Ye Hanshuang and, with a bright smile, dangled the hairpin. "This is for you."
"It's for me?" Ye Hanshuang froze on the spot.
Xie Qingwu blinked. "That's right. I noticed you don't wear any hair ornaments; it's a little plain. Even someone as beautiful as you should learn how to dress up a bit."
'She had always been one to repay kindness and hold a grudge. This was mainly to thank Ye Hanshuang for catching her when she'd fallen from the swing earlier today. It was also a way to get on her good side. After accepting a gift, she couldn't very well hit me again, could she?'
'Since I'm at their mercy, I should do my best to get along with the people around me. At least it'll make my life a little easier.'
'The same logic applied to weaving the decorative cord for General Li.'
"I don't want it," Ye Hanshuang said coldly.
Xie Qingwu turned her head to look at Pei Shaoqing.
At this moment, Pei Shaoqing was happy to play along and help persuade her. "She's your sister-in-law. If she's giving you a gift, you should take it."
"Quickly now, let me put it on for you," Xie Qingwu urged, turning back to Ye Hanshuang with a radiant smile.
Ye Hanshuang pursed her red lips and finally squatted slowly in front of Xie Qingwu, allowing her to put on the hairpin. Even squatting, she was only about a foot shorter than Xie Qingwu, and her frame was nearly half-again as large.
The crowd surged around them. A tall, graceful beauty placing a hairpin in the hair of a beautiful, squatting giantess. A wisp of night wind swept by, lifting the dark tresses of both women at once. It was a rather beautiful scene.
"All done!" Xie Qingwu said cheerfully.
Ye Hanshuang stood up. She glanced at Pei Shaoqing, nervous and constrained, not daring to meet his eyes directly.
"It's beautiful," Pei Shaoqing praised with a smile.
Ye Hanshuang's cheeks flushed slightly. She glanced at Xie Qingwu and, as if every word was precious, said, "Thanks."
Xie Qingwu smiled without a word, then suddenly ran toward a stall. "Wow, look! They're having a painting contest! Let's go, let's go! We'll see who's a better artist."
"Your painting is terrible," Pei Shaoqing said bluntly after a while. 'He'd assumed a well-bred lady like her would be skilled in the four classical arts, but it seemed that wasn't the case.'
Xie Qingwu, flushed with anger and embarrassment, whipped her head around to glare at him. "Hmph! Did I ask you to look?"
"But I really do want to look at this."
***
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK. Gongsun Yi raised his hand to knock on the door.
"Come in," Zhao Zilan called from her bedroom.
"Lan'Er." Gongsun Yi pushed the door open and entered.
Zhao Zilan immediately stood up. "Master."
"Sit." Gongsun Yi closed the door and gestured for her to sit, then walked over and took a seat himself. "I saw your light on, so I knew you were still awake."
"Master, is there something you need?" Zhao Zilan poured him a cup of tea, sat down, and asked obediently.
Gongsun Yi didn't touch the teacup. Instead, he asked pensively, "What are your thoughts on Young Master Pei?"
"He's a scoundrel! A lecher! A despicable official!" Zhao Zilan cursed through gritted teeth. Then, a sudden realization dawned on her. "Master, why are you asking about this?"
Gongsun Yi sighed and said, "Actually, I've noticed it as well. It seems Young Master Pei is interested in you."
"Impossible! Master! There's no way it could ever work between us! My heart belongs to Senior Brother, and him alone!" Zhao Zilan reacted vehemently.
"I know. Just listen to me first." Gongsun Yi rubbed the bridge of his nose, his face contorted in pain. "I raised both you and Yebai. Of course I want to see you two happy together. But reality is often disappointing. If you had been interested, it would have been a great opportunity for the Iron Sword Sect. When you think about it, Young Master Pei comes from a noble house of dukes and marquises. It would be you marrying up to him, Lan'Er."
"Master!" Zhao Zilan cried, her face a mask of disbelief.
"Let me finish." Gongsun Yi raised a hand to cut her off, then let out a long breath. "However, since you're so repulsed by him, I can't just push you into a fiery pit. You shouldn't stay here any longer; we can't give him any opportunities to exploit. I'll go to him now. Even if I have to get on my knees and beg, I will take you with me when it's time to return to the sect."
With that, he rose and started for the door.
"Master… wait!" Zhao Zilan called out.
'This time, to save her and her Senior Brother, her Master had already placed the entire Iron Sword Sect at that villain's mercy. The thought of her Master having to kneel before that scoundrel, stripped of all dignity, just for her… it was like a knife to her heart.'
'Her recent imprisonment had forced her to mature a great deal.'
Gongsun Yi stopped. "What is it?"
"I… I'm willing," Zhao Zilan stammered, "but please, don't let Senior Brother know yet…" Her voice broke, and she collapsed onto the table, sobbing, tears streaming down her face.
Gongsun Yi felt a pang of guilt, but his gaze quickly hardened. 'Everyone in the Iron Sword Sect has a duty to sacrifice themselves for its revival!' Out loud, he continued, "No, Lan'Er. I won't allow you to debase yourself like this. I'm going to find him right now."
"No!" Zhao Zilan shot up and grabbed Gongsun Yi's arm. She forced a heartbreaking smile onto her beautiful, tear-streaked face. "I grew up under the care of you, our Mistress, and all my senior brothers in the Iron Sword Sect. You are all making sacrifices for our Sect. I want to do something for the Sect too—for you and for Mistress. Besides, you're right. It would be an honor for me to be with Young Master Pei."
'Senior Brother… for the sake of the Sect, I am so sorry.'
"Lan'Er!" Gongsun Yi cried, tears streaming down his aged face as he grasped her hand. "It's all my fault. I'm incompetent… useless."
"No! Master, in my eyes, you are the best master in the world." Zhao Zilan hugged him.
Gongsun Yi gently stroked her head, his expression turning calm. "Sigh… This is hard on you, my child. Don't let your Mistress know about what happened tonight. It's for the best if one less person in the Iron Sword Sect has to suffer over this."
"I understand, Master." With tear tracks still on her face, Zhao Zilan managed an understanding smile. "Just as you always keep your grievances and pain to yourself, I will make Mistress believe that I fell for him on my own."