Chapter Ten: The Eldest Miss of the Wen Estate
In Wei Shiqi’s eyes, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau was like a master diviner—only appearing during rituals and prayers. Whenever there was a severe drought or flood, the emperor would summon him to the palace, though most of what he said was incomprehensible. More importantly, whenever the emperor had matters to attend to, he preferred to visit Jiming Temple to seek out that black-robed monk.
Lu Chenzhou cautiously inquired, “Has the emperor summoned you to the palace these past few days?”
“The emperor hasn’t summoned me; it was the Crown Prince who sought me out.”
Wei Shiqi thought to himself that the emperor was busy with affairs in the north and had no time to bother with him.
Li Rong added, “The Crown Prince insists this matter is not about superstition or the supernatural. While he’s right, in my opinion, this incident does affect the feng shui of the imperial tomb.”
“And so?”
“So, you must find the head of the corpse as soon as possible, so I can set up the formation.”
Lu Chenzhou turned his head aside, unwilling to listen to Li Rong’s nagging any longer.
“By the way, Brother Li, if I introduced you to someone, could you discern that person’s fate or fortune?”
Li Rong, who usually hated being compared to fortune-tellers, frowned and said, “I’m not a fortune-teller. The Astronomical Bureau studies celestial phenomena and calendar calculations.”
Lu Chenzhou smiled mysteriously. “What if that person is not ordinary? Recently, I met someone who can communicate with ghosts and spirits. Isn’t that fascinating?”
Li Rong was stunned.
“Yes, I witnessed it myself yesterday.”
Wei Shiqi fanned the flames of curiosity. While he couldn’t vouch for the others, the Astronomical Bureau had always been obsessed with spirits and the supernatural—how could he miss such an opportunity?
Grabbing Lu Chenzhou’s arm, Li Rong pressed, “Where is that person now?”
“Here’s the plan: you guard the imperial tomb for now. We’ll fetch her immediately, and then you can take a look.”
Li Rong nodded eagerly and reminded them to bring the person quickly so he could see for himself.
“Brother Lu, I need to return briefly to the Northern Town Patrol Office.”
Wei Shiqi rose to bid farewell.
Lu Chenzhou nodded. “I should go back too—I haven’t washed in days.” He sniffed his clothes with a look of disdain.
“Well... see you tomorrow.”
“Tomorrow? Didn’t we agree to go to the imperial tomb tonight?”
Wei Shiqi smiled mischievously. “You’re the lead on this case; I’m just an assistant. Let me get some rest, and I’ll come find you at the Ministry of Justice first thing in the morning.”
Without waiting for Lu Chenzhou’s protest, he took off running.
Watching Wei Shiqi disappear, Lu Chenzhou got up and headed toward the home he hadn’t been to in days. On the way back, he stopped by a pastry shop to buy some mung bean cakes and sweet pastries that his daughter loved.
“Daddy, daddy, play with me for a while!”
A childish voice rang in Lu Chenzhou’s ear.
Back at the residence, Lu Chenzhou took a hot bath before lying down on his soft bed and falling asleep. When he opened his eyes, night had fallen, and a four-year-old girl sat beside the bed.
“Lu Susu, your father hasn’t slept for two days.”
Lu Chenzhou got up and pinched his daughter’s cheek.
Pouting, Lu Susu said, “Grandmother sent me to wake you for dinner.”
Very well.
After washing his face and changing into clean clothes, Lu Chenzhou picked up his daughter and went to dinner. At the table, the matriarch suddenly spoke, “After dinner, go to the Wen residence.”
Lu Chenzhou looked puzzled.
The matriarch fed his granddaughter a bite and said, “Yesterday was her mother’s memorial day. Since you were busy with official business, no one said anything. Now that you have time, visit your father-in-law at the Wen residence. I’ve already prepared a gift for the formal visit. Go after dinner—don’t delay.”
Lu Chenzhou stood and bowed. “Mother, you are always so thoughtful. I will go at once.”
“Susu is coming too.”
“Susu will stay home and behave.”
Mrs. Lu held back Susu as the little girl feigned sadness, then coaxed Lu Chenzhou, “Okay, please say hello to grandpa and auntie for me.”
Lu Chenzhou responded with a nod.
At the Wen estate, a sedan chair was parked by the gate. A man dressed in red official robes, with a peacock embroidered on his rank badge shining vividly in the moonlight, stepped down.
“Master, you’re back. Your son-in-law is waiting in the front hall,” the steward said, taking Wen Lun’s official hat.
Wen Lun’s face soured. “What’s he here for?”
Probably because of the eldest lady’s matter.
“Let him wait a little longer. I haven’t eaten all day.”
As Vice Minister of Personnel, Wen Lun entered the palace at dawn and sometimes got so busy he skipped meals. After his daily duties, he checked if all matters were in order.
Upstairs in the Wen family’s backyard pavilion, Wen Yingxue was about to go downstairs holding a handmade little rabbit doll, her maid Zhu’er following closely behind. Pausing, she asked, “Zhu’er, does this water-blue dress look good on me today?”
Zhu’er nodded perfunctorily, then sighed, “Miss, Master doesn’t want you to meet your son-in-law.”
“That’s why I brought this!” Wen Yingxue shook the cloth rabbit with a smile.
Zhu’er whispered, “That person will be here soon. We must hurry.”
Wen Yingxue smiled. “I won’t keep him waiting.”
In the front hall, Lu Chenzhou had already drunk two pots of tea. The steward had just left, so he guessed Wen Lun had returned but was delaying meeting him—likely still upset about yesterday’s missed visit. Suddenly, light footsteps sounded outside; he guessed it wasn’t his father-in-law.
A servant outside saw Wen Yingxue and quietly greeted her, “Second Miss.”
“Is Master inside?” she asked.
“Only the son-in-law is here.”
Wen Yingxue pursed her lips, smiled, and entered.
“Yingxue greets brother-in-law.”
Lu Chenzhou returned the greeting with a bow, then sat back down to sip his tea.
“Susu wanted to visit auntie today, but she’s been coughing, so I didn’t bring her.”
Lu Chenzhou steered the conversation toward his daughter to avoid awkwardness.
Wen Yingxue looked up at him, her face blossoming with a rosy glow. She smiled, “I’ll visit Susu at the Lu residence in a few days.”
Zhu’er handed Wen Yingxue the cloth rabbit and gave her a look to remind her of the matter at hand. Wen Yingxue’s gaze shifted back from Lu Chenzhou.
“Oh, brother-in-law, this is the little rabbit I promised Susu last time. Please take it back for her.”
Lu Chenzhou stood and accepted the doll with one hand before sitting again.
“Yingxue, why are you in the front hall? Have you finished copying the female code Father asked you to?”
Just then, Wen Lun entered the hall, witnessing the scene and growing even more displeased.
Wen Yingxue replied meekly, “I gave brother-in-law the item I promised Susu a few days ago.”
“If you’ve given it, why are you still here?”
Wen Lun’s gaze flicked over Lu Chenzhou as he spoke.
Though Wen Yingxue felt wronged, she bowed to both Wen Lun and Lu Chenzhou before leaving. The steward came in with a fresh pot of tea for Lu Chenzhou, who politely declined. Wen Lun sat in the main seat; a cup of tea after a meal was a common habit among officials.
“How is the case at the imperial tomb progressing?” Wen Lun asked coldly.
Lu Chenzhou was surprised. His father-in-law was nicknamed “Iron Mouth Wen” in court and never cared about his work at the Ministry of Justice.
“There are some clues,” Lu Chenzhou replied.
Night deepened. The night watchman struck his bamboo clappers, calling out: “First watch—dry weather, beware of fire.” Shivering, he wrapped his coat tighter and muttered, “Such ghostly weather, so cold after the rain.”
At that moment, a figure in black with a hood passed by unexpectedly. The watchman stopped and looked back, but the figure had vanished. Wrapping his coat again, he muttered, “It’s almost curfew—why are people still wandering? Better not get caught by the constables or you’ll end up in jail.”
Upstairs in the Wen estate’s backyard pavilion, Wen Yingxue sat restlessly, whispering, “It’s already the hour of the dog. Why hasn’t he come yet?”
The door creaked open, but it wasn’t Zhu’er entering. Wen Yingxue’s worry eased slightly when she saw it was Shen Hua, the woman she had been waiting for.
“I thought you wouldn’t come,” Wen Yingxue said.
Shen Hua coldly replied, “The room is too bright. Put out the lamps, leaving only one candle. Close the door and don’t let anyone in.”
Wen Yingxue obeyed. Just as she was about to close the door, Zhu’er returned. Shen Hua instructed her to stand guard outside and not let anyone discover them.
“Five taels of silver,” Shen Hua said, glancing around the room and then at Wen Yingxue.
Wen Yingxue handed over the prepared silver coins.
Shen Hua asked, “What is your relationship with that woman?”
“Huh?” Wen Yingxue was surprised. She hadn’t mentioned to Shen Hua yesterday at the clinic that the person she wished to see today was her elder sister.
“She’s my elder sister. Can you really see her...?”
Wen Yingxue wanted to confirm whether the woman before her, who looked scarcely five years older, was truly as rumored.
Shen Hua didn’t answer but seemed to wait for something. When the candle flickered, she quickly shook a bronze bell three times. The room grew suddenly cooler, and a faint breeze brushed past them. Wen Yingxue nervously clutched her hands and hid behind Shen Hua.
“She’s here,” Shen Hua announced.
“Who?”
Wen Yingxue knew who Shen Hua meant but asked instinctively.
Facing the dignified woman before her, exuding scholarly elegance but with lips and skin tinged purple-blue, Shen Hua sighed softly, stepped aside, and said to Wen Yingxue, “She’s right beside you. You can talk to her.”
Following Shen Hua’s gaze, Wen Yingxue looked at the empty space beside her, stunned, then slowly said, “Eldest sister, Yingwan.”
Wen Yingwan was the daughter of Wen Lun and his late wife, the eldest of the Wen family. Wen Yingxue was the child of the second wife. Though half-sisters, Wen Yingwan was gentle and well-read, loving her eight-years-younger sister dearly. Wen Yingwan also had a younger brother who left Nanjing at nineteen to guard the frontier.
Seeing her sister, Wen Yingwan’s face brightened with joy. She reached out to touch Wen Yingxue’s face but found nothing but air. She withdrew her hand, eyes full of pity.
“Eldest sister, I miss you so much. After you left, no one bought me candy cakes or urged me to study.”
Wen Yingxue’s eyes reddened as she spoke.
“Xue’er has grown up. Take good care of Father for me. Though he seems strict with you, it’s just to protect you. I came today with a favor to ask.”
Shen Hua relayed Wen Yingwan’s words carefully to the blind Wen Yingxue.
“Do everything you can to bring Susu to the Wen residence—Lu’s house is unsafe.”
Shen Hua sensed resentment emanating from Wen Yingwan.
Wen Yingwan added, “Stay away from Lu Chenzhou.”
“Lu Chenzhou!” Shen Hua thought to herself, “So this is the connection between the Wen family and Lu Chenzhou.”
Then Wen Yingxue spoke up, “Eldest sister, did you really die in childbirth? Four years ago, when we went to the Lu residence to mourn, they sealed the coffin immediately. Neither Father nor I got to see your last moments.”
Shen Hua stared at Wen Yingwan, waiting for her reply, but instead, Wen Yingwan’s figure gradually blurred. The bronze bell jingled again, filling the room with a chilling aura.