133 — Kabedon

Qi Yan could barely walk after his nauseous encounter and had been sent home earlier in the day. Wen Yuansi had a meeting he had to attend and couldn’t get away, so Zhao Zhi and Song Caitang were the only ones headed for the flower boats.

It was the 21st day of the 7th month, and because it was the later half of the month, the moon rose later as well. When Song Caitang walked outside with Zhao Zhi, the sky was pitch black and she couldn’t even see her own fingers.

She had to walk especially close to him to make sure she didn’t get lost.

Zhao Zhi slowed down to match her speed.

This was one very long journey.

The faint light from the stars fell on their shoulders. The night wind caressed their faces.

The night was silent.

Song Caitang counted her footsteps as they walked out of the quiet alleys to the streets lit with nothing but candles, then to the bright and lively riverside.

And because she always had this tall and broad back in front of her, she didn’t feel afraid at all. Her heart rate didn’t even go up by half a beat.

When she took a deep breath, she could smell the jasmine flowers in bloom by the roadside.

The sweet and refreshing smell wafted slowly through the air.

“It’s so pretty.”

Without any light from the moon, the lanterns lit the river clearly. The boats were decorated with flowers and red cloth that danced in the wind, the hundreds of lit lamps bobbed up and down with the water. The boats looked like a celestial palace floating on the Qingling River – mysterious and ethereal, yet alluring at the same time.

Song Caitang stood at the edge of the river, the ripples reflecting in her eyes, the fresh smell of water in her face, the fragrance of flowers that carried some dampness… she couldn’t suppress her excitement.

Zhao Zhi, on the other hand, pulled a long face. He glared at the river, as though it were his greatest foe.

“A mirage looks like that too.”

Song Caitang knew why he was behaving like this. There was water here.

She looked worriedly at him, “Are you sure you’re okay with getting on a boat?”

“Of course.” There was no way Zhao Zhi was going to show any sign of weakness. He nodded slightly at Song Caitang and made himself look like he was calm, steady and reliable. “Let’s go.”

If he were not walking so quickly and if his arms weren’t so stiff and unnatural, Song Caitang might have been convinced.

---

The flower boats on the river were all waiting for customers. Miaoyin Court was famous, so it took up a huge space and was very easy to find.

Before long, Song Caitang and Zhao Zhi arrived at Miaoyin Court and got onto the boat.

The pimp had a nasty look on her face when she saw Zhao Zhi. “Oh, so it’s you. Thanks to you, my daughter’s body was finally found…”

She dabbed her cheeks with a handkerchief and pretended to cry while glaring furiously at Zhao Zhi as though she wished she could kill the man. She seemed rather indignant.

But Song Caitang could understand where she was coming from.

There were simply too many boat courtesans working along the river. Their lives weren’t worth much, and the pimps only wanted money. This one must have gotten very anxious when Wenxiang went missing and must have tried searching for her. Whether she could find Wenxiang or not didn’t matter. She still had to earn a living. The boat courtesan competition was almost coming to an end and Wenxiang could very well win it. She couldn’t bear to give up just like that.

It had taken her so much effort to fend off anyone who asked for Wenxiang and she had managed to cover up Wenxiang’s disappearance perfectly. But today, Zhao Zhi came and asked to see Wenxiang, and when he didn’t get to see her, he got Qi Yan to come and turned the place upside down. The body found on the island was also confirmed to be Wenxiang’s as a result…

Of course she was hateful.

If all this happened just a little later, if Zhao Zhi did not insist on pursuing this matter and she could brush him off for just two more days, she would have earned all that money!

But there was no way the pimp was going to put that as the reason why she was so angry.

“You men are all the same… when you’re in the midst of passionate love making you put my daughter on a pedestal, you call her your sweetheart, your precious baby, you’re willing to say anything to win her heart and you’re even willing to offer a huge amount of money. But once you no longer like her, you treat her like an old shoe that’s broken, so you just leave her there and never ask about her, and you only come knocking on my door when she’s dead…”

It wasn’t very late at night yet, so business was nowhere near full swing. The pimp did not have to worry about other customers overhearing her and could be as dramatic as she liked.

Zhao Zhi’s expression instantly darkened and he threw a piece of gold to her.

The pimp caught the piece of gold and immediately broke into a smile. She stopped dabbing her face with her handkerchief and stopped pretending to cry. Her eyes were completely dry.

With money in hand, the pimp knew exactly what to do. “I know you wanted to ask Wenxiang about some matters, but she’s dead and that’s no longer possible. How about I get you someone who was close to her to answer your questions?”

Zhao Zhi’s expression was tense as he nodded. “Fetch that person.”

After the pimp turned and walked away, Zhao Zhi immediately turned to Song Caitang and said quietly, “I’ve never met with Wenxiang at all.”

Song Caitang looked at him puzzledly.

Zhao Zhi let out a tsk and raised an eyebrow as he whispered a little more anxiously, “Can’t you tell why she did that?”

He glanced at the pimp and Song Caitang finally understood what he was talking about.

The pimp had said all that on purpose, of course. How else could she have earned money?

Song Caitang suspected that the pimp knew immediately that she was a woman. The pimp had a strange twinkle in her eye earlier when she took a little too long to glance at her.

The pimp knew exactly what she was doing. All men loved to look good in front of others, and they would definitely not want to embarrass themselves in front of a woman. So, she purposely agitated Zhao Zhi and made him give her money to stop her from talking.

Song Caitang felt bad for Zhao Zhi for falling for this.

Zhao Zhi and Wenxiang didn’t have anything to do with one another besides this case. That was very obvious. Why was Zhao Zhi worried that she would actually believe the pimp? Did he think she was that stupid?

“And so?”

She met his stare with her clear and unaffected gaze, and he suddenly had no idea how to respond. He turned sharply and vented his anger on the pimp instead, “If you dare to try anything funny, you know what’s going to happen to you!”

The pimp laughed ingratiatingly, “Oh no, no, I wouldn’t dare to do anything like that… head down the corridor and wait in the room labeled Hongfo. I’ll get someone to sing and play the zither while you wait.”

Zhao Zhi furrowed his brows, “No singing. She can play the zither at a distance.”

“Got it, got it! I failed to understand what you really wanted, I’m so sorry! I’ll arrange everything according to what you’ve said!”

The pimp covered her mouth with her handkerchief as she glanced at Song Caitang, then glanced at Zhao Zhi, then giggled before walking off again.

Song Caitang didn’t know what to say.

This pimp had been in the business for a long time, alright. She could switch tactics really quickly.

She looked toward Zhao Zhi with a respectful look in her eyes.

Zhao Zhi rubbed his nose and cleared his throat awkwardly. “Let’s go.”

As they walked along the corridor, neither said anything. The atmosphere became more and more depressive, and even their footsteps seemed heavier than usual.

Just then, a tipsy middle-aged man stumbled toward them and was about to crash into Song Caitang.

“Watch out!”

Zhao Zhi pulled Song Caitang in front of him, spun a few rounds away from the drunk man and gave the man a kick while he was at it.

When they stopped spinning, the two of them were standing very close to one another. Song Caitang was pretty much caught in his embrace and his arms were still around her waist.

As he felt her soft body in his arms and her warm fragrance hit his nose, he stiffened instantly.

But he was gentlemanly and let go of her quickly.

Song Caitang didn’t think this was anything to shout about.

Someone had merely pulled her away from impending danger, and this person happened to be a man. This wasn’t anything strange to anybody from the era she had come from and it didn’t mean anything to her. She smiled and said, “Thanks.”

Her nonchalance successfully converted Zhao Zhi’s awkward stiffness into frustration.

“Song Caitang, are you a woman or not?!”

He leaned toward her as his large palm whooshed past her ear and slammed heavily into the wall of the boat with loud PAK! The reverberation was so bad, it hurt her ears.

She instinctively took a few steps back until her back hit the wall.

How… how had she offended this guy again?!

“You don’t care about the distance between men and women at all? You’re not afraid someone would take advantage of you? Hmm?”

Zhao Zhi had a threatening look in his eye, and it was as though he was saying, “You’re not afraid? I’m going to come real close and see if you’re afraid.” It finally hit her. She wasn’t in her era. She was in ancient China.

She was in an era where patriarchy ruled and women had barely any rights.

She could believe in anything she wanted, but outwardly, she had to conform to the norms of this society.

That was something she ought to remember at all times, even if she was with a most trusted friend. She should not have ignored the cultural and societal norms the people around her had grown up with.

“It’s my fault. I’ll remember not to do it again.”

The way she admitted to her mistake was so proper and so sincere.

Zhao Zhi was stunned.

Another flower boat had a customer and swayed gently as it was rowed away. The rippling water caused the other boats to sway too.

The candlelight illuminated the thin chiffon around the boat, and shone on the waters, which were reflected by the ripples and sent light ripples through the boat.

Song Caitang’s handsome, long brows and intelligent, alert gaze suddenly looked much gentler because of the dim light. Her brows were not so defined, her eyes were watery, her expression earnest, and even her lips… seemed plumper and softer than usual.

Perhaps the boat was swaying a little too much and it was hard to stand still. Zhao Zhi’s head was bent and it came closer and closer to Song Caitang’s.

Song Caitang had already admitted her mistake but didn’t get any reply after a long time, so she couldn’t help but ask, “Zhao Zhi?”

Zhao Zhi suddenly snapped out of his daze and glared at her as he slammed his other palm into the wall as well.

His two arms and his large body made sure there was only a small space for Song Caitang to stand and she couldn’t go anywhere.

Song Caitang was even more confused. What in the world was wrong with him…

“Wen Yuansi.”

That was the first thing Zhao Zhi said.

Song Caitang looked up at him.

“Doesn’t suit you.”

Song Caitang blinked. “Huh?”

Was he dreaming or something? How did the conversation topic suddenly leap like that?!

Her confused expression made Zhao Zhi’s teeth chatter angrily, “Are you a woman or not?! Can’t you tell how he feels about you?!”

Song Caitang shook her head honestly. “I really have no idea.”

Zhao Zhi shut his eyes, then continued glaring at her after he opened them again. “The Wen family has a very clean record all these years and is known for their scholarly descendants, and they are even known within the capital. Wen Yuansi’s parents have passed on and he has no other siblings. Old Madam Li is getting on in age, so she would definitely want to find him a wife who would be able to manage the household, manage their assets, carry on the family bloodline and take care of the children – no matter how much Old Madam Li likes you, she will never choose you to be her granddaughter-in-law!”

The topic had been brought up very randomly, but it developed extremely quickly and with greater and greater seriousness as he went on, as though this was something Zhao Zhi had wanted to say for a long time.

“I know that.”

Song Caitang never thought about becoming Old Madam Li’s granddaughter-in-law. She knew the priorities of the era she was in and the norms of the society she was in. She did not dream of becoming someone of high status or anything like that and was mentally prepared to live life just like this. And so, she had no plans to get together with anyone either.

“Magistrate Wen is a good friend.”

And that was all he could be.

Zhao Zhi frowned. “Since you know that, why do you…”

Song Caitang became a little unhappy now. From the time she got to know Wen Yuansi, she had behaved properly around him and did not purposely lead him on. “What did I do?”

“Just… just keep your distance from him!”

Zhao Zhi’s tone was overly domineering and he sounded like he was berating her for doing something she hadn’t. That made her really angry now.

It was fine to misjudge her, but how could he do that to Wen Yuansi?

Wen Yuansi was a gentleman. Besides helping her with cracking cases, he would be extra nice and concerned about her because he was just used to doing that for other women. He never tried to contact her unnecessarily or do anything that crossed the line. He clearly wasn’t interested in her!

“Zhao Zhi, do you find misinterpreting the actions of others very fun?”

Zhao Zhi narrowed his eyes and bent his head slightly to stare into her eyes at a very close distance, as if to exert more pressure on her, “What did you just say? Say that again?”

“I’m saying that you’re overthinking all this!” Song Caitang stared straight into his eyes. “Before this, you said Qi Yan isn’t suitable for me, and now, you’re saying Wen Yuansi isn’t suitable for me. Zhao Zhi, who do you think you are? Who are you to me? Don’t you think you’re interfering a bit too much?!”

Zhao Zhi gnashed his teeth. His eyes reflected the color of the river and he glared frostily at her. “Song Caitang! You will get taken advantage of if you take men too lightly!”

“Including yourself?”

“That’s right, including myself!”

They were hissing at each other quietly, but the exchanges were quick and angry, making the air around them tense and on the verge of exploding.

Song Caitang should have been very angry, but when she realized that despite how fiercely Zhao Zhi was glaring at her and how furious he seemed, he didn’t dare to hurt her at all. He only dared to press his palms hard against the boat walls so that she couldn’t walk away. Or perhaps… he was afraid that she would get angry and walk away?

A paper tiger.

Song Caitang instantly recalled an art piece made from paper she had seen some time ago. It was a small paper tiger with large paws, but with round eyes, a round body and a silly tail. It had its mouth open wide, but it didn’t look scary anymore because it was small, made from paper and very cute.

She suddenly didn’t feel angry anymore.

Some people said men were from Mars, so trying to reason with them was impossible.

She gave up her intention to argue with him and tried not to laugh instead.

“If you’re going to interfere so much, then… are you going to help me find someone suitable for me?”

Her eyes curved as she smiled genuinely. The rippling reddish candlelight made her pretty eyes shine.

Zhao Zhi suppressed all his anger as he glared at Song Caitang and did not say anything for a long time.

“Hey, Zhao Zhi,” Song Caitang tiptoed and raised her head to look closely into his eyes, “we’re friends, right? It’s just a small favor – would you be willing to help?”

Her voice was soft and gentle, like the slightly annoying night breeze. “This concerns the rest of my life, so I ought to choose very carefully. Since you’re such a particular person, I’m sure you’d be able to find someone for me.”

She moved backward earlier on and tried to dodge, so Zhao Zhi felt the urge to move closer to her. But now, she was tiptoeing and coming closer to him, so…

Zhao Zhi seemed taken aback. He did not remove his hands from the wall, but he leaned backward a little.

“Are you going to help me or not?”

Song Caitang seemed to want an answer from him and leaned forward some more.

“I’ll help!” Zhao Zhi raised his head arrogantly, “I know a lot of people and I know how to do this. I’ve got plenty of contacts in the capital, so helping you with this isn’t a problem.”

“Thank you so much, Surveillance Commissioner Zhao.” Song Caitang smiled. “In that case… do you think you could let go of me?”

Zhao Zhi suddenly realized they were standing extremely close to one another.

He was leaning backward, but he didn’t remove his hands from the wall. She was leaning forward, so it looked like…

…He was hugging her.

“I’m sorry.”

Zhao Zhi moved away immediately.

But he moved a little too quickly and seemed to have forgotten that he was still on a boat. If he moved with such large steps, he might fall into the water.

“Watch out!”

Song Caitang stopped being cheeky and quickly took a few steps forward to cling onto his waist.

This time, she was really hugging him.

It couldn’t be helped. Zhao Zhi was much larger than her, so if she didn’t use all her strength, not only would she fail to stop him from falling into the water, but she would also fall in with him.

The shadows on the boat flickered as the boat itself swayed slightly.

Zhao Zhi stiffened for a moment before accepting what just happened with gritted teeth.

“Song Caitang. Let go of me.”