Chapter 16: Setting Out for the Capital (Part One)

The next morning.

Xue Jin returned Xue Pan from the Jiangning Military Governor’s office.

Just one day in prison had transformed Xue Pan’s appearance drastically; his hair was disheveled, his face smeared with grime, and his clothes filthy, making him look like a beggar.

Upon returning home and seeing Aunt Xue and Xue Baochai, a mixture of fear, grievance, and shame welled up inside him. His voice trembled as he called out, “Mother, sister...”

Aunt Xue called out softly, “Pan’er,” and hurried forward. Seeing her spoiled son in such a ragged, pitiful state tore her heart apart. She thought of her daughter Baochai, who had suffered such great injustice, and tears streamed down her face uncontrollably.

Baochai’s heart ached deeply as well. Tears brimmed in her eyes, and crystal-clear drops slid down her fair cheeks. She hastily wiped them away with her embroidered handkerchief.

Seeing Aunt Xue weep openly, Baochai stifled her own sorrow and, with tears in her eyes, gently urged, “Mother, please stop crying. It’s better to calm down.”

Aunt Xue nodded, her tear-filled eyes fixed on Xue Pan, her tone a mix of reproach and helplessness. “You ungrateful troublemaker! I warned you many times not to act rashly and stir up trouble, but you always ignored me. Even when your sister and I earnestly advised you not to provoke that Jiang family brat, you wouldn’t listen. And look now, what disaster you’ve brought upon us!”

Xue Pan looked wronged and said, “How was I to know that that prisoner... that Jiang fellow had such influence and was so close to the Jiangning Military Governor?”

He dared not utter the insult “prisoner” fully, quickly correcting himself out of fear. His nature was to bully the weak and fear the strong.

Turning towards Baochai, his face full of guilt, he whispered, “Because of me, the family had to pay ten thousand taels of silver, and I even dragged my sister into apologizing to that Jiang fellow, causing her such great humiliation. I... sigh.”

Hearing this, Aunt Xue’s anger flared uncontrollably as she spat out, “You foolish wretch! And you still have the nerve to bring this up? Enough! Your sister suffered terribly yesterday over this; today, we have kept silent, but you just have to poke at the wound!”

Xue Pan’s face burned with shame, and he had no words to defend himself.

Baochai sighed and said to Xue Pan, “The matter is settled now, and we’re about to go to the capital. From now on, let no one speak of this again. I only advise you to cause less trouble outside. If you stir up more trouble even after reaching the capital, where many influential people reside, it could spell disaster for you.”

Xue Pan quickly asked Aunt Xue, “I heard from uncle that mother is eager to go to the capital?”

Aunt Xue replied, “It’s all because of your mess! We had intended to go to the capital this year but hadn’t fixed a date yet. Now, your sister has suffered so much, and that Jiang fellow has taken a liking to her. It’s best for your sister to stay far away from him. You should avoid him, too, lest he keeps stirring trouble for you.”

Xue Pan pondered inwardly, “Mother speaks reasonably. Besides, I’ve lost face this time and it’s hard to show my face. Going to the capital will at least let me hide my shame.”

With this thought, Xue Pan nodded. “Very well, let’s go to the capital. We’ll leave Jiangning today.”

Aunt Xue said, “How can we leave today? This time we’re moving permanently, like relocating. There’s much to pack, gifts to prepare for friends and relatives in the capital, and household affairs to entrust to trustworthy clan members and servants. But we should move quickly and not delay. Let’s prepare over the next two days and set off on the third.”

Xue Pan and Baochai both nodded.

Unbeknownst to the three of them, the Jiang fellow they wished to avoid was also preparing to go to the capital...

***

The next day.

Qiu Fu and He Zhong, who had been to Dazhou on business, returned exhausted, bringing with them Xiangling’s mother, Madam Feng.

Jiang Nian was seated in his study, with Xiangling standing beside him, nervously and expectantly twisting the edges of her garment.

At that moment, He Yun, Qiu Fu, and He Zhong entered, leading Madam Feng inside.

Qiu Fu and He Zhong looked weary, their clothes dust-streaked from the long journey.

Madam Feng had been in her thirties when she gave birth to Xiangling; now nearing fifty, her face was gaunt, her figure stooped, and her hair streaked with gray—worn down by both age and relentless misfortunes.

Upon crossing the threshold, Madam Feng’s gaze immediately fell on Xiangling. Seeing the tiny rouge mole the size of a grain of rice between Xiangling’s brows and the remnants of her childhood features, Madam Feng instantly recognized this striking young maid as her precious daughter, Zhen Yinglian, who had been abducted seven years ago.

Her heart jolted, and her eyes instantly filled with tears.

Xiangling could no longer recall her mother’s face from before. Madam Feng looked much older than seven years ago, but as Xiangling studied her carefully, she felt a familiar warmth and affection.

“Yinglian... is it really you?” Madam Feng’s voice trembled, tears welling in her eyes.

At that call, Xiangling’s heart leapt violently. Tears poured uncontrollably as she stepped forward and gazed at Madam Feng with tearful eyes, her lashes trembling slightly.

“Yinglian, my child, you have suffered so much!” Madam Feng was overcome with grief, her sobs uncontrollable.

“Mother!” Xiangling choked out the long-lost name and collapsed into Madam Feng’s arms.

The mother and daughter embraced and wept, their tears mingling as if to pour out seven years of longing.

Seven years of separation, seven years of anguish, finally culminating in this reunion.

Jiang Nian’s lips curved into a slight smile, a sense of accomplishment blossoming within him.

He relished this feeling—the satisfaction born of a good deed.

Yet he knew that his path would be one filled with power struggles and bloodshed, for he had already set his sights on seizing the throne...

“To reunite this mother and daughter, it was worth my staying longer in Jiangning. Besides, it was because of my extended stay that I met Xue Baochai and received ten thousand taels of silver from the Xue family,” Jiang Nian reflected quietly.

He Yun, a burly and strong man, was also moved by the touching scene before him. His eyes glistened with moisture, and perhaps embarrassed by his tears, he hastily wiped them away with his rough hand.

Qiu Fu, noticing Madam Feng and Xiangling lost in their tears, gently reminded Madam Feng, “Sister Feng, don’t just cry—shouldn’t you thank our master?”

Awakened from her reverie, Madam Feng and Xiangling quickly composed themselves.

Xiangling hurried to Jiang Nian’s side, bent her knees, and knelt, her voice choked but sincere. “Thank you, master, for bringing my mother to me. I... I kowtow to you!”

With that, she bowed deeply, her forehead striking the ground with a resounding thud.

Madam Feng promptly followed suit, kneeling with her hands on the floor, kowtowing repeatedly. “Thank you, master! Thank you so much!”