Chapter 3: Do A Favor

Tang Wanning sighed deeply at her bad luck. She had thought she could easily ride the current to avoid the marriage and ditch that scumbag, but it turned out there was a tiger ahead and a wolf on the other path! Her luck really was something else.

She thought quickly.

The encirclement was closing in on the manor, so it was clear the pursued person was fleeing this way. With so many torches and such a large force mobilized, the pursued clearly had some ability, at least some martial skill. The villagers in the manor were honest farmers who likely couldn’t resist. If they weren’t exploited they’d be bullied, and most likely… they’d be dragged into the matter.

She didn’t know who was chasing and who was being chased, or what grudge lay between them, and she didn’t care. She thought that if those carrying torches were soldiers, things could be negotiated. After all this was the estate of Earl Xuanning and she was a lady of that house. Showing her identity would earn some respect. But if they were bandits… nothing would help. Even if they ran now they’d be caught soon. Better to defend firmly, sit down and negotiate terms. People always act with motives. If she was a bit shrewd and exchanged some words, as long as it didn’t come to mutual destruction, it wouldn’t become a disaster…

“No, it’s not a fire, it’s people carrying torches!”

“People are rushing toward us… a lot, a lot of people!”

The pursuers drew closer, so by now the villagers understood what was going on and were even more frightened. “A-are we going to die?”

Tang Wanning assessed the situation and quickly made calculations. She climbed down the ladder and stood in the courtyard. “Everyone can see what’s going on. You can’t run out. Scared or not, it’s all death either way.”

Everyone was at a loss.

Tang Wanning suddenly raised her voice, “But if anyone’s not afraid, I will respect them as a real man!”

Everyone instinctively straightened up. Who wanted to be looked down upon? Who didn’t want to be a man, a hero admired by others? If they were to die, they would die standing!

Tang Wanning scanned the courtyard and said, “Some of you here know me and some do not, so I’ll say it again: I am the daughter of the late Earl Xuanning, General Tang. My father fought on the battlefield with great merits. No exaggeration: every inch of the borderlands bears my father’s blood and sweat. Facing any peril or any formidable enemy, my father never retreated. I am a daughter and do not claim my father’s full abilities, but I will not dishonor his name. When danger comes, I shall stand with you, advance and retreat together with all of you. Whether those outside are men or ghosts, whether the road ahead leads to life or death, I, Tang Wanning, will not flee or retreat! If we must die, I will be the first to step forward and die before you!”

What courage and backbone for a frail young girl to speak so! Her wrists were so thin, her life so delicate, yet she straightened her spine and showed no fear. Were they, a group of grown men, any less than this young girl?

The crowd immediately raised their arms and replied, “We are not afraid! We will advance and retreat with Young Mistress!”

“But please instruct us, Young Mistress. We promise to not desert! We will protect you and protect the manor!”

“Rest assured, General Tang watches from the heavens. Even in death we will not let villains harm a single hair on your head!”

The men were stirred to heroics and the womenfolk found a rallying point, clustering around Tang Wanning.

Tang Wanning exhaled and her almond-shaped eyes shone clearer in the night. “Listen up! The manor is too large and we are short-handed, so we can’t cover everything. Immediately shut and bolt the main gate, do the same at the back gate. Assign two teams of capable brothers to guard them. Everyone else, from outside to inside, arm yourselves with handy weapons, refine the defense, and move toward my direction!”

“Yes, Young Mistress!”

“Womenfolk, hear me: change out of your skirts and put on trousers that make movement easier, remove your jewelry, smear soot from the bottom of a pot on your faces. Don’t worry about looking ugly, life is what matters. Families should stay together as much as possible!”

“Got it!”

Everyone moved quickly. The heavy night took on a tense edge from the footsteps, and the torches inside and out offered no comfort.

Tang Wanning went nowhere. She had a chair brought and sat in the courtyard.

Soon a man guarding the gate came to report, “Young Mistress, they’re about to surround us. Two hundred paces away!”

Tang Wanning narrowed her eyes slightly. “Keep watching!”

“One hundred paces left!”

“Continue!”

“They’ve stopped and have knocked on our door!”

“Oh? Knocked on our door?” Tang Wanning was intrigued. “In what way? Did they get physical?”

The man replied, “No, they only shot an arrow into the main gate, saying evil bandits have entered and telling us to be sensible and cooperate for everyone’s sake, otherwise don’t blame them for using force…”

It was only a threat, they hadn’t struck.

Tang Wanning mulled it over. “Do they seem anxious?”

The man thought a moment. “They seem a bit. The horses are hard to control, restless.”

Tang Wanning asked, “Their clothing? Could you make out what they’re wearing?”

The man replied, “They’re all wearing black night travelling clothes, I couldn’t see the exact style clearly but it’s kind of like Daoist attire, of the Daoist order…”

Tang Wanning formed her conclusion: if they were unreasonable bandits they wouldn’t bother knocking on a door or speak of rules, they’d just barge in. These people were either soldiers or a disciplined clandestine group. Their bluster was because they were in a hurry…

“What about that arrow? Bring it to me.”

The man promptly took the arrow embedded in the gate board and handed it over.

Tang Wanning wasn’t an expert in ancient weapons, but she had read this book. Since the original owner of this body’s father was a general, the book described military systems. She couldn’t identify most things, but this arrow was cast of dark iron, its shaft had two barbs at the tail hiding within the fletching… This was military-issue equipment!

But if they were soldiers carrying out arrests, why weren’t they in official uniforms?

Tang Wanning felt she couldn’t be careless. Whether they were real soldiers or bandits in disguise, the danger would differ. She’d have to test it. She had the man come closer and gave him a few instructions.

The man walked to the gate. The black-clad torch party outside, frustrated by the gate not opening, had pressed forward as if ready to force entry.

“What to do? What to do? What did the Young Mistress say?”

“Everyone move aside! There’s no time!”

The man hurried to stand at the gate, grounded his breath, and shouted loudly, “The daughter of the late Earl Xuanning, General Tang, is here. Who dares make a move!”

The black-clad group outside abruptly halted and there was complete silence.

But they did not withdraw.

The man thought of his Young Mistress’ words, sweat beading on his brow, and continued to shout, “Her meritorious father has passed away, what fault has the orphaned daughter committed? If anything goes wrong, who among you can bear the responsibility!”

The black-clad group still did not move.

Having no choice, the man followed script given to him by Tang Wanning and shouted the final line, “The Xuanning household is grateful for imperial favor; the orphan has nothing to repay and will not disgrace her father’s honor. If faced with peril, better to be shattered jade than an intact tile!”

The black-clad group finally stepped back ten paces. Where no one could see, a rider on a black horse quickly left the formation and rode westward uphill toward a nearby mountainside.

The night was deep and the mountain path difficult, but approaching the mid-slope the path turned secluded and winding, branches thick and leaves lush. At the bend’s end sat an exquisite residence built halfway up the mountain, beside a cliff. It was majestic and ornate, quietly elegant.

Beside a warm pavilion, a youth in dark robes sat in a wheelchair, holding a black piece as if pondering his next move. The board was more than half played, the fighting fierce, yet no one sat across from him… he was playing against himself.

His left ear twitched slightly. Before the broad-browed burly man reached him, he had already placed a piece. “By my estimation, you shouldn’t have returned so quickly.”

“Yes, there were some small troubles…” The broad-browed man dared not delay and quickly reported the matter.

The dark-robed youth pressed some mechanism and the chessboard spun rapidly, reversing the positions of the black and white pieces. With long fingers he deftly picked up a white piece. “The daughter of Earl Xuanning?”

“Yes, the daughter of the late Earl Xuanning, orphaned daughter of General Tang.”

“…Troublesome.”

It was unclear whether that “troublesome” referred to the deadlocked game on the board or to the orphaned girl.

The broad-browed man hesitated for a moment. “She’s only a young girl, us rough men barging in would be inappropriate… it wouldn’t be good for her reputation either.”

The dark-robed youth twirled the white piece between his fingers. He considered this move for some time.

The broad-browed man cautiously reminded him, “That thief has already mixed himself into the Tang family manor. If we don’t capture him tonight, it may be too late…”

“Very well, have Eunuch Tian tidy up the west annex and let her stay there one night.”

“Got it!”

…

The manor of Earl Xuanning was lit with torches everywhere, the silence frightening. Some were so scared they could hardly stand, then glancing at their Young Mistress… They told themselves: No, I can do it! If the Young Mistress isn’t afraid, neither can we be!

They waited a long time, so long many nearly couldn’t hold out, until finally a broad-browed burly man rode forward. “I am Fang Jiwu, Assistant Commissioner of the Privy Council, acting under orders from above to apprehend an imperially-designated criminal. This person has hidden themselves inside your manor, so we must enter to search. Earlier things were urgent. I did not know the lady of the house was present, so pardon any offense. Please cooperate and open the gate.”

“Wait, wait, I’ll go pass the message!”

Not long after, the gate opened and a pretty young girl stood within. Her face fresh and dewy, like a ripe peach. Her dark brows slightly arched into her temples, lively and heroic-looking.

Tang Wanning slightly inclined her body. “This young woman here has been rude. Assistant Commissioner, what you said earlier… is it only to search for someone and not to destroy property?”

Fang Jiwu smiled. “We are not bandits, so why would we destroy others’ property? Miss Tang, rest assured, we only seize the imperial criminal. To avoid excessive disturbance, we’ve also prepared a temporary resting place for you—”

As he spoke he displayed his authority staff, finely made and impossible to fake.

At another time Tang Wanning would have agreed, but she was now in an ancient time. A woman’s life was not easy, especially an unmarried woman. She had to consider reputation first in every decision she made. “No need, I’ll wait here.”

Fang Jiwu understood. Not just a noble daughter or orphan of loyal heroes, even a virtuous girl from an ordinary family wouldn’t go off with men casually. “Miss Tang may designate two people to accompany you.”

“I’ve troubled you, sir,” Tang Wanning thought and casually pointed to two people. “You two accompany me to spare the official any awkwardness.”

She wasn’t familiar with the manor’s people and had no close relations, so she chose the two by outward appearance: a girl of about ten, extremely short and skinny, a waist so small one could circle it with one hand; and a woman in her forties with a round bun and a full figure. Both displaying obvious female characteristics that could not be faked by a man in disguise.

Then she turned and ordered the men in the manor, “The Assistant Commissioner has said it, they are only searching for the imperial criminal, not destroying property. Cooperate with the search. If we’re in the clear there’ll be no trouble. If anyone acts up, I won’t spare them when I return!”

She was admonishing her own people: if you have nothing to hide, you don’t have to be scared over nothing. If anyone tries anything funny, don’t blame me for being ruthless. It was also a warning to the officials: you can search for an imperial criminal and take the person you’re looking for, but if you don’t keep your word and abuse your power, I won’t let it go!

How could the people of the manor not be moved?

“Yes! We’ll follow the Young Mistress’ orders! The night is dark and the road dangerous, so Young Mistress, go slowly!”

After reminding her servants, as she was being led onto the carriage Tang Wanning whispered to Fang Jiwu, “Sir, please thoroughly search near the west corner gate.”

That was the gap she had deliberately left in her earlier arrangement. If someone was going to slip in and hide themselves in the house, she might as well choose where that person would hide. At any time, being the proactive party meant being able to control any negotiation. And now…why not use this chance to do an important person a favor?

Fang Jiwu was slightly surprised. “Miss, do you mean…”

Tang Wanning smiled faintly. “Sir, feel free to search as you please.”