Walking through the empty gardens and long corridors, Qin Jiuye took a deep breath, yet the stifling sensation in her chest refused to fade.
She suddenly felt that the rumors of the entire household following Old Madam Su in her vegetarian fast were utterly absurd. This place didn't just abstain from vegetarianism; it drank human blood and ate human flesh. This sprawling Su Manor was no place for the living; it was a cavern where the mountain spirits and demons of legend cultivated their power. Only such monsters would drag a person into the abyss to be devoured whole; only monsters would harm others without a shred of remorse; only monsters could be so terrifying that the mere memory of the details left one cold and dizzy.
The sound of footsteps drifted from the depths of a quiet path. Qin Jiuye looked up to see Su Muhe, dressed in pale yellow, approaching with a gentle gait, followed by her maid, Shang Qu.
The path was neither long nor short; there was still time to avoid her if she wished. But remembering her other objective for coming to the Su Manor today, Qin Jiuye knew this encounter was unavoidable.
She stood her ground and waited for Su Muhe to draw near.
Su Muhe looked different from the day she had burst into the Commandery Governor’s office. Though she wore the same light-colored clothing, the contours of her features seemed deeper, and the misty quality in her eyes had receded slightly, like the sky clearing after today's rain.
"Greetings, Second Miss."
Qin Jiuye bowed. Su Muhe returned the gesture quietly and got straight to the point upon straightening up.
"Miss Qin, thank you for lending me a hand at the docks that day."
Qin Jiuye paused, then waved it off.
"It was a small matter, Second Miss. No need for thanks." She truly did not want to discuss that unlucky incident that had earned her a slap. Her gaze fell upon the familiar oil-paper umbrella in the other woman's hand, and she quickly changed the subject. "That umbrella is..."
Su Muhe watched her silently for a moment before holding the umbrella out.
"I heard Miss Qin had come to the manor with General Lu, so I came to find you. It is time this umbrella was returned to you."
Qin Jiuye looked at the umbrella but did not reach for it.
"It is just an old umbrella. If you find it useful, Second Miss, you may keep it."
Su Muhe did not withdraw her hand, insisting quietly, "Though it is an old umbrella, it can still shield one from wind and rain. Besides, it is an old object; there must be some sentiment attached to it. I rarely leave the manor and almost never carry an umbrella. Thanks to this old thing, I managed to avoid a bedraggled state in the rain. But now that the sky has cleared, I naturally have no further need of it."
Qin Jiuye was no fool; she could hear the subtext in the other woman's words. She no longer refused, reaching out to take the umbrella, and then spoke with equal directness.
"The five cargo ships that set sail from Yinma Shoal—you were on one of them, weren't you, Second Miss?"
The atmosphere shifted subtly. Shang Qu’s eyes instinctively flickered toward her mistress, only to see Su Muhe answer after a brief pause.
"My elder sister told me to board, so I did. She has always been the final authority in this house; I did not dare disobey her. I was feeling despondent, so I drank some wine and fell asleep. I only learned what had happened once the ship docked."
*Drinking? You didn't drink earlier or later, so why then? The cargo ships caught fire—with such a massive commotion, how many jars of wine did you have to drink to sleep through that? If you were truly that drunk, how is it that when Su Muzhi was making a scene at the docks later, you didn't look the least bit intoxicated?*
Qin Jiuye recalled Li Qiao’s words and suddenly began to understand his inexplicable hostility toward Su Muhe.
"It is fortunate that the Second Miss did not witness the events on the ship personally." Qin Jiuye shifted the topic elsewhere. "I wonder if the Second Miss has heard? When that night watchman died, half his body was torn to shreds. Blood flowed down half the street; even with the rain washing it away, the stains haven't fully vanished to this day."
As her words fell, Shang Qu’s expression instantly tightened.
But Su Muhe only paused, eventually shaking her head quietly.
"I have been confined to the manor for a long time. No one ever speaks of such things to me."
True, as an overlooked daughter of a concubine, Su Muhe likely had few opportunities to leave the manor back then, and she certainly wouldn't have known the gruesome details of the murders circulating in the streets.
But if that were the case, she shouldn't be this calm upon hearing such a horrifying description.
The doubt in Qin Jiuye’s heart did not dissipate; instead, it deepened. She stared intently at Su Muhe’s face and spoke slowly.
"The night watchman was attacked on Sangma Street. That is quite a distance from the Su Manor. General Lu has been investigating why the Old Madam would appear there in the middle of the night, and how she returned to the manor after the killing. Given her age, she would always need someone to look after her when going out. Besides servants, someone close to her would likely have to follow. Given her state when the illness strikes, if an ordinary servant had seen her, rumors would have surely spread. The manor couldn't have maintained this peace for so long. So, after she killed that man, who was it that found her and brought her back to the manor under the cover of night?"
As Qin Jiuye spoke, her gaze was locked onto Su Muhe’s eyes. She hoped to see some clue in them, but she found that Su Muhe’s gaze remained gentle and peaceful from beginning to end.
The courtyard, which had been brushed by a light breeze, suddenly fell into a dead silence. The petals and leaves that should have swayed with the wind became motionless in an instant.
The flowers and plants of the garden were reflected in the depths of Su Muhe’s eyes, like a silent garden hidden beneath the surface of a lake.
Only Su Muhe herself knew that she was simply born with such eyes. Even when she was just dazing off, she appeared to be gazing innocently; even when she was panicked and lost, she appeared to be filled with a faint melancholy.
And at this moment, she was sincerely grateful for the deceptive eyes her short-lived mother had left her. It was these eyes that allowed her to don a flawless disguise at every moment of crisis.
Yes. Not only did she know everything this woman spoke of, she had seen it with her own eyes. But what of it?
She had practiced for the most terrifying things she had experienced over and over again. Even if she remembered them in the dead of night, she could simply turn over and fall back to sleep.
Since childhood, although she often accompanied her grandmother in meditation and prayer within the manor, the moment they stepped out of the Buddhist hall, the position by her grandmother's side never belonged to her. The day of the incident was the first time in her life she had accompanied her grandmother to an opera. That task was supposed to have fallen to her brother, Su Peiyuan, but for some reason, it had suddenly landed on her.
She still remembered the look her "dear" brother had given her before they left—a flickering gaze tinged with a hint of relief, as if he knew something was going to happen.
The opera that night was poorly performed. She never liked opera to begin with and had grown drowsy halfway through. When she woke, she found the stage empty and the audience gone; she was the only one left.
No one knew when her grandmother had departed. The negligent maids and servants didn't respect her, or perhaps they were waiting to see her make a fool of herself. As the night deepened and the streets grew empty of pedestrians, save for the occasional passing carriage, there was no other sound. She sent all the servants, maids, and even Shang Qu out to find her grandmother, while she herself looked around the streets in a panic, but to no avail. She could almost imagine the consequences if she returned to the manor like this. Her heart was in her throat and her hands began to shake, until she turned a corner and saw a figure deep within a long, dark alley.
The person seemed to be wearing her grandmother's clothes, but was crouched on all fours on the ground, hair disheveled. She called out from a distance, but the person did not react. Filled with worry and unease, she walked into the alley.
Then, she stopped three or five paces away from the figure.
She thought she should step forward and pat the other's shoulder, but an instinct told her: *It is best not to do that.* A moment later, the person crouching on the ground seemed to finally hear the movement and turned her head under the moonlight.
In truth, she rarely had the chance to look closely at her grandmother's face. Even when they met, it was only a hurried glance during a bow, or a view through the beaded curtains of the Buddhist hall or across a garden corridor. She never dared to stare boldly like her elder sister. Now that she was finally this close to her grandmother, what she saw was such a terrifying visage. A face covered in blood, eyes hollow, red liquid trickling down the wrinkles, soaking half of the blue-and-gold silk jacket she had worn to the opera.
She couldn't make a sound. Her entire body collapsed to the ground until the purple-clad maid from the manor arrived, bringing several strong footmen to stuff that blood-covered "monster" back into the carriage.
A monster.
From that day on, her impression of the grandmother who had accompanied her for years was reduced to those two words.
All the past was but a flash of smoke.
A soft breeze rose again in the garden. Su Muhe blinked, and that misty quality returned to her eyes.
"Grandmother was always closer to my brother. Even when choosing fabrics or listening to opera, she was accustomed to calling for my sister or Miss Xin Yu. She never took me. Therefore, I truly cannot answer Miss Qin's questions."
Qin Jiuye said nothing, merely watching Su Muhe quietly, clearly not believing a word she said.
The two stood in a stalemate, neither speaking for a time.
After an unknown duration, Su Muhe frowned slightly and decided to take a step back.
"The matters of the Su family have implicated your family, Miss Qin. I know you harbor resentment, and for the things my sister did before... I am truly sorry. I apologize to you on her behalf. She is ill now and can no longer leave her courtyard. I hope you will not hold it against her."
Qin Jiuye did not dodge the gesture, accepting the bow openly, before speaking leisurely once more.
"There is no need for that with me. If you truly have the heart, Second Miss, you would do better to properly settle the family of that vegetable delivery boy from the manor. Is his family still waiting for him to return? Or have they already prepared a coffin but have no bones to put in it?"
If Qin Jiuye had only been suspicious before meeting Su Muhe today, she was now almost certain that Su Muhe knew far more than they imagined. She just couldn't quite read the Second Miss's mind, unsure if her concealment was for self-preservation or some other motive.
To test Su Muhe’s true colors, she spoke harsh words.
But Su Muhe showed no sign of anger or grievance, maintaining her faint, calm expression. Instead, it was the sharp-tongued little maid beside her who grew indignant. Before her mistress could speak, she jumped forward.
"The things you speak of are not my mistress's fault! How can you be so aggressive? Do you think my mistress is easy to bully? If not for my mistress's kindness in protecting the women of this household..."
Shang Qu’s words were cut short by a look from Su Muhe.
But Qin Jiuye had already confirmed her previous guess: Guo Rengui had switched allegiances to a new master, and his words and actions were all directed by Su Muhe from behind the scenes.
Only...
Qin Jiuye looked at the young girl's indignant face and didn't even bother to argue.
Even as a servant serving a master, even having worked in the same manor, even though that man had done nothing wrong yet lost his life, this maid still felt in her heart: her mistress, who had now taken charge, was more aggrieved, more deserving of sympathy and pity than the dead man, and could not endure even a speck of criticism.
The Su Manor was exceptionally sweltering today. There wasn't a hint of wind between the buildings, and the shadows of the trees were clumped on the ground, motionless and irritating.
Qin Jiuye didn't want to stay a moment longer, but she had one last thing to confirm.
"Miss Shang Qu need not worry. My coming here today, aside from this old umbrella, was never intended to settle scores with your mistress." She spoke as if she were about to leave, but her feet didn't move. She suddenly added, "Oh, right. I heard my younger brother mention before that the Second Miss accidentally injured her hand."
As she spoke, her eyes observed the other's expression. But whether hearing about Li Qiao or the hand injury, Su Muhe seemed to have no reaction.
*Has this Second Miss Su mastered some Formless Divine Art? How can she be so leak-proof?* Qin Jiuye grumbled internally, while maintaining a polite smile on her face.
"I am only asking on behalf of my brother—has the injury on your hand healed properly? I have some ointment here for removing scars and regenerating skin; it works quite well. If you are willing..."
Before she could finish, she was interrupted.
"Did Li Qiao truly ask?"
Qin Jiuye paused, then intentionally spoke vaguely.
"He naturally keeps you in his thoughts, Miss. But if the Second Miss finds it inconvenient, then consider it a small concern of mine after our previous consultation..."
Su Muhe smiled soundlessly. Without waiting for Qin Jiuye to finish, she reached out and took the ointment.
She was now certain that this woman had no idea what Li Qiao had said to her by the river that day.
If she had been somewhat concerned about the relationship between the two before, she was now at peace.
That youth was like a dagger hidden beneath soft brocade; the day he bared his edge, he would surely wound those beside him. That she had already extricated herself was not necessarily a bad thing.
Su Muhe fingered the ointment jar, intentionally looking at Qin Jiuye with a face full of sincerity.
"Miss Qin's brother is truly a meticulous and interesting person. I wonder if there will be a chance to meet again in the future; I must thank him properly."
Hearing this, Qin Jiuye’s expression stiffened, and alarm bells rang in her mind. *Could it be that this Second Miss Su is still lingering on him, unable to let go?* Given Li Qiao’s temperament, she absolutely could not play matchmaker again and commit a grave error.
"That... he will be returning to his rural hometown in a while. It is a trivial matter; the Second Miss need not take it to heart."
Su Muhe looked at Qin Jiuye’s face for a long time before giving a shallow smile. She then pulled back her sleeve slightly, revealing a faint scar on her wrist.
"Indeed. It was actually just a scrape from before; it is no longer an issue. I had almost forgotten it. See for yourself?"
Qin Jiuye quickly glanced at the injury.
The scab had fallen off, leaving only a circular mark, but it was still discernibly not a bite or a scratch.
She breathed a small sigh of relief, finally able to leave in peace.
"In that case, please take care, Second Miss. I have other matters to attend to, so I shall take my leave."
"The manor's affairs are complicated, and I must look after them all alone, so I will not see you out personally."
Having said that, Su Muhe stood quietly in place, watching Qin Jiuye’s thin back disappear completely from her sight.
Once the woman was far away, the pink-clad maid immediately showed a look of unease.
"Miss, what do you think she really came for? And the things she said just now..."
Su Muhe’s expression was much calmer as she looked down, fiddling with the medicine bottle the woman had left.
"What is there to panic about? Are you afraid of her?"
Shang Qu’s face reddened, and she quickly shook her head in denial.
Su Muhe sighed softly.
"She is indeed sharp, but unfortunately, her background is lacking; without the Protector-General, it would be hard for her to maneuver. Moreover, she is far from being as heartless, cold, and profit-driven as she appears. She will not drive the Su family to total ruin."
Su Muhe brought the bottle to her nose and sniffed gently. Amidst the light medicinal scent was an unignorable hint of mint, seventy or eighty percent similar to the scent on that youth.
She slowly lowered her hand, a self-mocking smile touching her lips, but it quickly faded into calm.
"But do not underestimate her either. She is a clever person who knows how to find a balance between investigation and self-preservation. Besides..."
*Besides, if she were truly a fool, how could she have tamed a youth like that?*
Shang Qu did not know Su Muhe’s thoughts and was still worrying about other things.
"Then what about the Protector-General’s side? I’m afraid the whole city is laughing at us now. Are we just going to let them keep coming in and out of the manor like this?"
"The Protector-General sent people to the manor to investigate today instead of throwing us all into prison; that means he will not implicate the entire Su family. He should also know that Father was merely a forward pawn in a game. As a pawn, if one wishes to survive, one must have some utility. The Su family's value has far from been exhausted."
Shang Qu nodded as if she understood, but then a new worry arose.
"But I heard her tell the Protector-General that the Old Madam's illness might be a plague, something contagious. Just now, someone took away all those who had contact with the Old Madam and locked them up. Who knows when they will be released? Do you think she noticed something..."
"What if she did? If she could truly do something directly to me, she wouldn't have gone through the trouble of testing me today."
Shang Qu was still uneasy. She took her mistress's hand and inspected it carefully.
There was only a faint scar there now, hard to notice if one didn't look closely.
"Fortunately, Miss only scraped her skin on the stone floor back then. Otherwise, we would truly be living in fear now."
"She must have deduced something, which is why she came to find me. But everything is just a deduction; she isn't entirely certain." Su Muhe withdrew her hand, looking thoughtfully into the distance. "However... she did remind me of one thing. Has someone been found to check on Grandmother?"
Shang Qu nodded and reported truthfully.
"I was worried Manager Guo wouldn't be reliable, so I specifically found a master the Su family was familiar with before. He will go personally late at night, using the name of Dabe Temple to see the Old Madam. He will say that since the Old Madam has performed many acts of charity over the years, he has come specifically to chant sutras to eliminate her karmic obstacles. Though I don't know if it will work, it certainly won't arouse suspicion. Speaking of which, ever since Miss took over the household, these people can finally be ordered around. If you need anything else in the future, just tell me..."
She finished speaking, but after a long time without a response from her mistress, she looked up to find the woman standing under the flowers, lost in thought.
The pink and white hydrangeas had passed their peak and were beginning to wither. Su Muhe’s gaze did not fall on any of the fallen blossoms. After a long while, she finally turned around, leaned close to her maid's ear, and whispered something. Shang Qu’s eyes instantly widened.
"Miss, what do you want that for..."
"Shh."
Su Muhe’s voice remained very soft, but the intent in her eyes was resolute.
"Do not tell anyone. Just do as I commanded. Do not ask too much."
Shang Qu bit her lip, looking up at her mistress's face, which was still gentle and refined. Suddenly, she felt it was a face she didn't quite recognize.
But she hesitated for only a moment before nodding in agreement.
"Yes. This servant will go and handle it personally."
She hurried through the fallen petals. Just as she was about to leave the courtyard, she heard Su Muhe call her from behind.
"Shang Qu."
The pink-clad maid stopped and turned around. Su Muhe was watching her quietly from a distance. After a long pause, she spoke.
"Rest assured. I will not become the next Father."
***
**Glossary**
Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation
---|---|---
商曲 | Shang Qu | Su Muhe's personal maid.
饮马滩 | Yinma Shoal | A location (Yinma Tan), likely a dock or beach area.
苏培远 | Su Peiyuan | The son of the Su family, Su Muhe's brother.
大悲寺 | Dabe Temple | A Buddhist temple mentioned by Shang Qu.
无相神功 | Formless Divine Art | A fictional high-level martial arts technique, used here metaphorically for being unreadable.
木绣球 | Hydrangea | Specifically the Chinese snowball viburnum/hydrangea.
