Volume One: The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter Seventeen: Little Lotus

On the second day, as the eastern sky began to pale with the first light of dawn, the new sun spilled through wispy clouds, bathing the world in a gentle radiance. Night had ended; morning had arrived. When Chen Chang’an awoke, Su Wanqiu was already gone from the room, likely up early to pack in preparation for their move.

Despite his blindness, he instinctively reached up to rub his eyes as he did every morning—and to his astonishment, discovered that his vision had partially returned. The outlines of objects emerged before him, blurred and shrouded as if veiled by a fine mist.

Mosaic-like…

“The peach blossom didn’t deceive me, after two more treatments my eyes should fully recover. Then I’ll finally see whether my little wife is as pretty as they say.”

“Ha! What’s the point—Su Wanqiu already divorced me yesterday. There’s nothing left between us. I’d best take the five taels of silver she gave me and leave obediently.”

Muttering to himself, Chen Chang’an began to pack his belongings, bundling up everything he needed. Once finished, he slung the bundle over his shoulder and stepped outside, only to be greeted by the sound of Qin Fulou’s weeping in the courtyard.

“Oh, today we must leave the Inner City—boo hoo! The finest cosmetics, silks, and fabrics are all here. What does the Outer City have to offer?”

She had seemed fine yesterday, but now that the move was upon them, real reluctance set in, as if her heart were being sliced apart, the pain almost unbearable.

Her second son-in-law, Zhu Jiawen, closed his book and tiptoed over, head spinning with ideas as he tried to comfort her. “Mother-in-law, as the old saying goes: riches cannot corrupt, force cannot subdue, poverty cannot sway the virtuous. Inner City or Outer—”

“Oh, hush!” Qin Fulou swatted him away with a slap so hard he nearly fell flat on his face.

Su Qingtang watched helplessly, shaking his head. He tried to reassure his wife, “Now, now, don’t worry. We’re only moving to the Outer City for a while. We’ll find a way to come back. And as for cosmetics and silks, we’ll buy them all, don’t fret.”

Qin Fulou continued to dab her tears and complain, “Come back, you say? Easy for you! You don’t even hold an official post anymore—how are we supposed to move back?”

Her younger daughter, Su Wanqing, patted her chest and bounced on her toes, “Don’t worry, Mom and Dad! As soon as Jiawen passes the examinations and wins his honors, we’ll return to the Inner City, for sure!”

No one replied. Everyone knew the truth about Zhu Jiawen—three years running and not a single success in the exams. Among scholars he’d earned the nickname “Three Failures Zhu.” If not for his father’s position as registrar in Qingzhou, the Su family would never have tolerated his idle days spent reading.

“Ha, ha, Jiawen’s got a good heart, that’s what matters!” Su Qingtang coughed awkwardly, then turned to comfort his wife, “Come, let’s go buy whatever cosmetics you want, anything at all!”

If nothing else, he was known throughout the neighborhood for doting on his wife.

Qin Fulou stamped her foot. “Oh, I’ve been packing things up since dawn—I haven’t the strength to shop, and besides, we’ve so much already! Where would we put anything new? I’m not going, hmph!”

“Well—” Su Qingtang faltered, then grinned. “Let’s wait a bit. Three days from now is Her Majesty’s birthday. The Inner City gates will open, prices will drop, and we’ll buy whatever you like then.”

At this, Qin Fulou’s eyes lit up and she agreed sweetly, “Alright, thank you, darling! You’re the best!”

Now content, she stopped making a fuss and hurried to direct the remaining servants and hired carters.

Preparations complete, they were ready to depart. Chen Chang’an, hoping to hitch a ride, leaned in and whispered to Su Wanqiu, “I’ll leave once we’re outside the Outer City.”

She simply nodded, saying nothing.

Just then, Su Wanqing dashed over and grabbed at his bundle. “Hey, brother-in-law, what have you got in here? Why not put it on the wagon? Let me see.”

She tugged one way, Chen Chang’an pulled the other. The opposing forces tore the fabric open, and five bright silver taels clattered to the ground, ringing loudly.

Su Qingtang and Qin Fulou turned to him with a mix of shock and anger, exclaiming in unison, “Chen Chang’an, you worthless son-in-law, where did you get all that silver?”

…

The summer sun blazed, and the courtyard was heavy with heat.

Princess Changning, dressed in a simple white robe with narrow sleeves for ease of movement, stood in the front courtyard, occasionally rising on tiptoe as if waiting for someone.

Before long, Hua Mulan, her short hair swept aside and twin blades at her waist, strode in and greeted her with a fist-and-palm salute. “Good morning, Your Highness.”

Princess Changning, untroubled by rules and etiquette, grabbed Hua Mulan’s hand and bounced with excitement. “Sister Mulan, thanks to your Three Bureaus, I managed to escape those bandits!”

Hua Mulan answered formally, “Rest assured, Princess. We are already seeking the criminals’ whereabouts—they’ll be brought to justice soon.”

“Oh, don’t be so stiff! I called you here today to play polo with me—come on, let’s go!”

No sooner had she spoken than an old woman, her hair streaked with black and white and her figure plump, came panting from the rear courtyard and fell to her knees.

Princess Changning frowned, “Nanny Wang, what’s the matter? Why are you so flustered? Speak properly!”

But Nanny Wang only grew more anxious, bobbing her head frantically. “Princess… Your Highness, your maid Xiao Lian has been… has been killed!”

“What did you say?” Princess Changning stared in shock and gripped the old woman’s shoulders.

Nanny Wang’s breath came in short gasps as she repeated, “Xiao Lian… Xiao Lian is dead! The maids who went to fetch water this morning found her body at the well.”

“Quickly, take me there!”

Ordinarily boisterous and unladylike, Princess Changning was nonetheless deeply loyal; the death of a maid could not go ignored, especially after five years of close service.

Hua Mulan’s brow arched, her hands falling by habit to her twin swords. She followed at once, dispatching a messenger to Wu Yuanheng of the Inspectorate Bureau, for the fat man’s talents lay in investigation.

By the well, the maid’s corpse lay sprawled—Xiao Lian, her face pale and swollen from the water, a clear slash wound on her neck. Nanny Wang had rightly deduced murder, not suicide.

Princess Changning averted her eyes; for all her wildness, she was still a young woman. When she regained her composure, her anger erupted. “What kind of villain dares commit murder in my household? Outrageous! Simply outrageous!”

Hua Mulan crouched to examine the body. “Do not worry, Princess. I have sent word to the Inspectorate. They’ll be here at once. With the Three Bureaus combined, we will certainly bring the killer to justice.”

Before long, the rhythmic tramp of feet announced the arrival of Wu Yuanheng from the Inspectorate and Li Shu of the Execution Bureau, each with their respective officers.

“Your Highness!” Both men bowed.

Princess Changning waved her hands impatiently. “No need for that. Just promise me you’ll find the murderer and avenge Xiao Lian—hurry!”

“Yes, Your Highness!” they replied in unison.

Hua Mulan glanced over casually. “Hey, what brings you here?”

Li Shu lifted her chin, prideful. “Hmph, the Three Bureaus always handle cases together. Why shouldn’t I be here?”

While the two bantered, the ever-professional Wu Yuanheng issued orders. “Begin examining the victim. I want a detailed report on the time and cause of death!”

“Yes, sir!” The officers moved at once.

Within five or six minutes, the coroner presented his notes. Li Shu and Hua Mulan leaned in to read: death occurred at dawn, in the well, a single fatal slash to the throat.

The handwriting was crooked and the account brief.

Wu Yuanheng scowled. “Is that it?”

The coroner winced. “Sir, based on the body and the scene, that’s all we can determine for now.”

“Useless!” Wu Yuanheng flung the paper aside.

Li Shu and Hua Mulan were likewise unimpressed; there was little of value, and their own search for clues proved fruitless. Their frustration grew as the investigation stalled.

Just as the mood hit its lowest ebb, Li Shu slapped the well’s edge. “I have an idea—one that will surely reveal the murderer.”

“What is it?”

“Let’s hear it!”

Wu Yuanheng and Hua Mulan fixed her with hopeful eyes, even Princess Changning squeezed her fists in anticipation.

Li Shu straightened her back, savoring the moment. “Chen Chang’an!”