The Concubine of the Main Wife - Chapter 31

The stars shifted, and time flew like a fleeting steed.

 

Unbeknownst to them, A’lian and her companions had been on the move for over three years.

 

During this time, they had painstakingly managed to fully bring the Dark Oriole Faction’s headquarters under control. However, the faction’s reputation was truly tarnished, so A’lian strongly advocated for its reorganization. She frequently wrote to Lord Han, even detailing specific practical measures, and soon received his approval.

 

From then on, the Dark Oriole Faction, once infamous throughout Ning Country, truly became a grassroots organization where women supported and helped one another.

 

With their mission accomplished, A’lian and Zhen Yao were ready to retire with their achievements.

 

Their journey home from south to north was no longer as fraught with urgency as their initial trip had been, now carrying a more leisurely and relaxed air.

 

One day, after hurrying along, they arrived at Ziyang.

 

By the time they reached the city, dusk had already fallen, forcing them to seek lodging in the distant outskirts.

 

The remote village was sparsely lit.

 

As strangers approached, the occasional barks of three or five dogs echoed along the country road.

 

A’lian, long famished, couldn’t help but feel disheartened by the situation: “Such a poor, backward place. I doubt we’ll find decent lodging.”

 

Zhen Yao, who was leading the donkey ahead, quickly soothed her in a gentle voice: “Don’t worry. I see smoke rising from a chimney up ahead. Perhaps we can stay there tonight.”

 

“Let’s hope so!”

 

Under the dim moonlight and sparse stars, Zhen Yao swiftly tidied her appearance before knocking on the door with the reins in hand.

 

Thud, thud, thud…

 

Yet despite knocking for a long time, no one answered.

 

The scene only deepened A’lian’s frustration: “Such small villages are conservative, they likely won’t take in strangers.”

 

“Don’t worry, I’ll plead kindly.”

 

As she spoke, Zhen Yao gently smoothed A’lian’s hair before pressing close to the door and calling softly, “Is anyone there? We’re willing to pay to stay the night.”

 

“See? I told you, no one’s answering.”

 

Before she even finished speaking, A’lian’s emotions surged, and she couldn’t help but turn aside to wipe her tears.

 

“Perhaps my voice was too soft, maybe an elderly person lives inside!”

 

With that, Zhen Yao took a deep breath and shouted, “The journey has been truly arduous. We beg for your kindness. My wife and I only need one night, and the price is yours to name.”

 

“Yes, yes! Elder, you must understand. I am with child…”

 

A’lian blinked at Zhen Yao and, under her disapproving gaze, calmly spun a pitiful and tragic backstory.

 

Sure enough, Zhen Yao’s polite appeals had gone unanswered, but A’lian’s exaggerated sobs quickly caught the attention of someone inside.

 

Before long, a white-haired old woman emerged from behind the wooden gate, holding a lantern.

 

“Where have you come from, and where are you headed?”

 

“To answer you, Elder, my wife and I hail from Pingxi in Qingzhou Prefecture and are now returning to our hometown,” Zhen Yao replied earnestly, her delicate face brimming with sincerity.

 

The old woman nodded thoughtfully, then glanced at A’lian, who was supporting her waist. Her tone grew even kinder: “Come in, quickly!”

 

And so, the two women and their donkey entered the home of the unfamiliar old woman.

 

The thatched cottage had only two rooms. The low-ceilinged kitchen was unsuitable for sleeping, so they had no choice but to share the old woman’s quarters.

 

“Truth be told, this old woman really didn’t want to host outsiders. It’s just my little granddaughter and I living here, and if not for your wife’s condition, I wouldn’t have opened the door no matter what,” the old woman explained as she led them inside.

 

The next moment, a little girl with dimpled cheeks suddenly ran out from behind the door. She appeared to be only two or three years old and looked particularly frail.

 

For some reason, the moment A’lian saw the child, her tears began to flow uncontrollably.

 

“Ah, old granny, why is this little girl so thin and small?”

 

“To tell you the truth, her parents died young, and an old woman like me has no means. How could I provide enough food for the child?” The old woman choked back a sob as she hugged her granddaughter tightly.

 

Zhen Yao sighed softly and turned to fetch her bundle.

 

The little girl peeked left and right, then cautiously stuck her head out from behind her grandmother. Though her face was sallow and thin, her eyes were lively and bright, and she bit her lip mischievously as she stared at A’Lian.

 

“Good child, come here and tell your auntie, what’s your name?”

 

Though timid, the little girl carefully stepped forward, her small hands fidgeting nervously near her mouth as she answered with unusual shyness, “Granny never gave me a name.”

 

Hearing this, the old woman gave a bitter smile. “What’s the use of a name for a country girl? We’ve always just called her ‘little girl.’”

 

A’Lian’s heart melted entirely. Forgetting her usual fastidiousness, she didn’t care at all about the child’s dirty face as she bent down and gathered her into a loving embrace.

 

“A girl must have a name when she grows up.”

 

“Then tomorrow, you can give her one.”

 

The old woman replied while racking her brains to prepare a meal.

 

But her home was truly without provisions, only a basket of wild vegetables meant for the next day’s meal. With guests in the house now, she didn’t hesitate to start a fire and cook a pot of vegetable soup. Yet just as she bent to light the kindling, the narrow kitchen suddenly filled with the presence of that jade-faced gentleman.

 

“Old granny, let me do it.”

 

Zhen Yao held several dry, hard flatbreads and two fragrant pieces of dried meat in her hands.

 

Seeing this, the old woman no longer insisted, swallowing her hunger as she resolved to assist instead.

 

“Young master, with such noble bearing, you must come from a distinguished family.”

 

“Our circumstances are passable.”

 

“Are you and your wife here to visit relatives, or—”

 

Faced with the old woman’s questions, Zhen Yao answered each one with utmost respect: “We were traveling south to visit a friend, but now that my wife is with child, we must hurry back north. Truly, we are endlessly grateful for your hospitality.”

 

“It’s nothing!”

 

Seeing Zhen Yao bow, the old woman hastily reached out to stop her.

 

“When the food is ready, we’ll eat together.”

 

But Zhen Yao’s kindness was met with firm refusal. “No, no, we’ve already eaten.”

 

Zhen Yao knew this was mere politeness, so she said no more and silently set about stewing all the ingredients together. Her cooking skills were excellent, and soon the kitchen was filled with a rich aroma.

 

The old woman sat by the stove tending the fire, her kind eyes gradually darkening as time passed. When Zhen Yao turned her back to busy herself, the old woman’s gaze lingered greedily on the pouch at her waist.

 

“Young master, are you a scholar?”

 

The sudden question made Zhen Yao pause. Frowning, she mimicked A’Lian’s earlier lie: “Indeed.”

 

“Do you hold any official rank?”

 

“I am but an ordinary man, weak in letters and without any achievements.”

 

“Is that so?”

 

Staring into the crackling flames, the old woman murmured indistinctly.

 

At the time, Zhen Yao was too preoccupied to notice anything amiss.

 

When the food was ready and the bread warmed, she reached for a ladle—only for a wooden club to come swinging down at her from behind.

 

Fortunately, her martial training since childhood had sharpened her reflexes beyond the ordinary. Catching the shadow’s movement on the wall, she dodged just in time.

 

“What a vicious mountain crone, with a heart blacker than poison!”

 

The old woman lunged again, but within moments, the club was wrested from her grasp.

 

“You, you, you’re no frail scholar.”

 

“Hmph, and are you still the kind old granny?”

 

Zhen Yao retorted sharply before dragging the old woman into the bedroom.

 

At that moment, A’Lian was playing with the little girl. Startled by the scene, she immediately stood up.

 

“What on earth is going on?”

 

“Let her explain herself!”

 

Though Zhen Yao’s words were harsh, her movements remained gentle.

 

The old woman hung her head helplessly, standing under the lamplight in despair. Seeing her grandmother in such a state, the little girl burst into loud sobs.

 

“You’re bad people, really bad! Let my grandma go right now.”

 

“Run, child, run!”

 

The old woman, ashamed to face them yet fearing they might be villains, had no choice but to urge her granddaughter to flee.

 

“I won’t leave you, Grandma!” The little girl trembled as she clung to her grandmother.

 

“Things wouldn’t have come to this if you hadn’t done something wrong!”

 

A’Lian glared at the old woman, instinctively siding with Zhen Yao. After all, her mistress was one of the kindest people in the world. If not for this wolf in sheep’s clothing, her mistress would never have treated her so harshly.

 

The old woman flushed crimson with shame. She had intended to stay silent, but when she saw A’Lian roughly pulling the little girl away, she panicked and begged in desperation.

 

“I’ll talk, I’ll talk! This old woman has her own unspeakable troubles, and in a moment of folly, I made a terrible mistake. You two kind souls, do with me as you will. Kill me, punish me, whatever you see fit just spare the child.”

 

Zhen Yao couldn’t hide her disappointment, but she refrained from further harsh words.

 

A’Lian, however, was furious. “Then speak plainly! What kind of ‘unspeakable troubles’ could drive an old woman like you to such wickedness?”

 

The old woman’s eyes reddened, her gnarled hands wiping away tears.

 

“It’s a long story. The reason I lost my senses was because I saw the young master’s jade pendant. You don’t understand. Tomorrow, the village chief’s men are coming to take my granddaughter away. Last year, I scraped together everything I had to save her from their clutches, but this year  I’m truly powerless.”

 

“But that doesn’t mean you could—ugh!” A’Lian clenched and unclenched her fists in frustration.

 

“So, you have a conflict with the village chief? Or is there some underhanded deal?” Zhen Yao pressed calmly.

 

Under her scrutinizing gaze, the old woman covered her face and wailed, “It’s all because of the ‘Guanyin Maidens’! Every well-off family in our village with daughters has already moved away. Only us wretched folk are left behind.”

 

“‘Guanyin Maidens’?” Zhen Yao frowned in confusion.

 

A’Lian, however, seemed to grasp something. “I think I understand now. But let’s eat first, or the food will get cold.”

 

“Fine. I’ll ask the old woman a few more questions. You go ahead and bring the food for the child.”

 

Once A’Lian had disappeared, Zhen Yao lowered her voice. “The village chief’s men are definitely coming tomorrow?”

 

The old woman nodded fearfully, then trembled as she pleaded, “Young master, have mercy on us. Please lend us your aid.”

 

“I know what you’re thinking,” Zhen Yao cut her off coldly.

 

“Y-you—”

 

“Right now, you’re pretending to submit, but come morning, you’ll likely rally the villagers to surround us. Outsiders like us can never truly understand local affairs. But if you genuinely want our help, you must be completely honest, no more hidden agendas.”

 

Zhen Yao mixed truth with intimidation. Though she sensed the old woman’s fear, she had to consider every possible angle to prevent future trouble.

 

“Young master, you have my word. This old woman won’t dare play any tricks.”

 

“Then speak.”

 

With no other choice, the old woman began to recount everything, her teeth chattering with fear.

 

Originally, Ziyang was situated at the border of two prefectures, belonging to Qian Prefecture. However, for some reason, the emperor had suddenly reassigned it to Han Prefecture several years ago.

 

Han Prefecture was separated from here by towering mountains and rugged terrain, making governance difficult, let alone managing local customs. As a result, whenever the higher officials were busy, they would completely forget about this place.

 

People often spoke of the simplicity and honesty of the countryside, but failed to see how, in a place so remote from imperial authority, petty tyrants could reign unchecked.

 

The magistrate of Ziyang had long held absolute power, and for hundreds of miles around, no one dared to oppose him.

 

Five years ago, he claimed that Ziyang had too little tax revenue and, after consulting divination, came up with an absurd conclusion. He declared that the lack of young girls offered to Guanyin Bodhisattva had angered the heavens, causing calamities on earth. Thus, he began ordering village heads to search for suitable young girls to be sacrificed.

 

Each village took turns, but those with money could secretly bribe their way out of it. Those without the means would face ruin if they refused to offer a daughter…

 

Zhen Yao’s expression grew increasingly grim as she listened. Suppressing her fury, she gently reassured the old woman, “Don’t be afraid. Since it’s your turn this time, I’ll stay and get to the bottom of this.”

 

“You staying won’t help unless you’re willing to bribe your way out of it. Only then can you save the girl’s life.”

 

Tears streamed down the old woman’s deeply wrinkled face as she beat her chest in despair.

 

Zhen Yao understood her pain and softly reiterated her stance, “Money won’t solve this disaster. Even if we save the girl tomorrow, what about the day after?”

 

Moreover, young girls would continue to die because of this. Such a harmful and ignorant practice had to be stopped once and for all.

 

“What does the young master plan to do?”

 

Zhen Yao bent down to answer but heard A’Lian’s footsteps approaching outside. With a serious expression, she cautioned, “I’ll handle this matter. Just follow my lead. My wife isn’t feeling well, so I’d appreciate it if you didn’t mention this to her.”

 

A’Lian was too straightforward and lacked any martial skills to protect herself. Knowing that remote places often bred ruthless folk, Zhen Yao had carefully considered and firmly decided that A’Lian must not be dragged into this.

 

Unfortunately, the old woman seemed cooperative but didn’t truly grasp the gravity of the situation, treating it lightly.

 

As night deepened, they finished their meal and retired for the evening.

 

The next morning, the clamor outside confirmed Zhen Yao’s expectations. The village head had come to demand the girl. With a cold expression, she stepped out first to confront him.

 

Upon seeing an unfamiliar face, the village head grew wary. “Isn’t this Old Lady Xia’s home? Who are you, young master?”

 

Zhen Yao cupped her hands in a distant greeting. “I am Old Lady Xia’s distant nephew, recently arrived to visit. And who might you be?”

 

“Hmph, I’m the village head here. If you’re Old Lady Xia’s guest, then I’ve nothing to say to you.” With that, he tried to push past Zhen Yao to find the old woman.

 

“Hold on. I know why you’re here.”

 

Zhen Yao’s tone was sharp, her gaze unflinching.

 

“Good. Then where’s the girl?” The village head dropped all pretense, cutting straight to the point.

 

But Zhen Yao had a plan. She asked him to wait a moment, then brought out the girl alone.

 

“This child is too young. Could we use a family heirloom jade pendant instead.”

 

“Too late. You should’ve thought of that earlier. The magistrate is in no mood for leniency now. Even money won’t work this time.” The village head snarled, reaching to snatch the child.

 

“Fine. I’ll personally escort the girl. Besides, perhaps I can persuade the magistrate myself.”

 

The village chief waved his hand impatiently, then watched as they boarded the carriage before issuing a disgusted order: “Drive quickly, don’t miss the auspicious hour.”

 

Even if the Emperor of Heaven himself descended at this moment, what could he do? Whoever came would have to obediently kowtow three times to the magistrate of Ziyang County.