“Changsun Tang is betrothed to someone else?” Zhong Li was surprised to uncover this fact.
Madam Qian nodded and said, “It happened when they were children. Our Changsun family and the Zhao family from the north of the city have been close for generations. Tang’er was betrothed to their eldest son, Zhao Min. Zhao Min is a gifted child. Ten years ago, he went to Jincheng for the imperial examinations and promised Tang’er that he would marry her after he succeeded.
Unexpectedly, Zhao Min became the second-ranked scholar, but Tang’er ended up marrying the Marquis of Anping. Alas…”
“The second-ranked scholar was named Zhao?” Zhong Li frowned slightly. She couldn’t recall any official in the court with the surname Zhao who held that rank.
As she thought, she glanced at Lu Wuxie beside her.
Seeing him shake his head, she knew her memory was not mistaken.
“Yes, surnamed Zhao,” Madam Qian repeated.
Zhong Li said, “Madam, perhaps you are mistaken. There is no such person in the court.”
Madam Qian shook her head and said, “I am not clear about that. Ever since Tang’er married the Marquis of Anping, we broke off the engagement with the Zhao family. From then on, the Changsun and Zhao families became estranged, and we had no further contact with the Zhao family. We don’t know why the son of the Zhao family did not take up his post in the court afterward.”
“Even so, I have something I wish to ask you, Madam. Please do not get agitated,” Zhong Li said.
Madam Qian nodded. Her emotions had calmed down, and nothing else could agitate her.
“After Changsun Tang married the Marquis of Anping, did you still have contact with her?”
Madam Qian closed her eyes, a hint of embarrassment appearing on her lips. “To be honest, the Marquis of Anping is a good person.”
Upon hearing this, Zhong Li exchanged a look with Lu Wuxie. She was astonished by Madam Qian’s evaluation of Changji.
Madam Qian opened her eyes and her gaze lingered on Zhong Li’s face. She gave a sorrowful smile and said, “Perhaps you, Assistant Temple Master Zhong, think of me as just a commoner, but judging him fairly, the Marquis is a good man, at least he was at the beginning.
On the day Tang’er got married, the Marquis of Anping sent many betrothal gifts to our home. All the neighbors were envious. It’s impossible to say that my husband and I are not swayed by wealth; we are all mortals, after all.
Moreover, the Marquis of Anping personally promised me that he would treat Tang’er well. I also asked Tang’er, and she agreed willingly.
For some time after Tang’er married the Marquis of Anping, the Marquis’s residence often sent many accessories and food to our home. I even thought at one point that Tang’er had found a good marriage, as people of our background could not be extravagant enough to expect a primary wife’s position.
However, less than a month later, the items sent from the Marquis’s residence suddenly stopped. At first, I thought it was normal; a family cannot always depend on others for sustenance.
But as time went on, I realized something was wrong. Tang’er loved to read and practice calligraphy, and she would write to us every few days. Her letters were interrupted for a long time during that period. I felt something was amiss, so I entrusted someone to deliver a letter to Tang’er.
Who would have thought… not only was the letter not delivered, but we received news of Tang’er’s death. My husband and I fainted several times. My husband, in pursuit of the truth, even went to Jincheng to seek an explanation. At the very least, we should have seen her alive or her body if she was dead.
But… my husband went to Jincheng and changed. He took up gambling and became indifferent to Tang’er’s affairs, constantly telling me not to investigate anymore.
Without the truth, I was unwilling to give up at first, until…”
At this point, Madam Qian shivered involuntarily, as if she was afraid of something.
Zhong Li asked, “Until what.”
“The day before I was preparing to go to Jincheng, a group of ruffians broke into our home, robbed us of everything valuable, and warned me not to investigate Tang’er’s matter anymore. They even threatened my life.
It was then I realized that my husband had also been beaten by these people in Jincheng. Since then, my husband and I have not mentioned Tang’er’s matter again, as if… we never had such a daughter.” Madam Qian said, lowering her gaze as if ashamed.
Zhong Li looked at her for a long time. After a while, she got up, walked to Madam Qian, and placed her money bag around her waist into Madam Qian’s hands. “Madam, if Changsun Tang is still alive, she certainly wouldn’t want to see her mother aged overnight and her home impoverished.”
“This…” Madam Qian was startled and tried to return the money bag to Zhong Li.
Zhong Li shook her head and said, “Please take it, Madam. Consider it… my filial piety on behalf of Changsun Tang.”
“This is not appropriate…” Madam Qian lowered her gaze to the money bag in her hand, unsure of what to do.
Zhong Li smoothly pushed her hand towards her chest and said, “Madam, the Marquis’s case may have little to do with your daughter, but please rest assured, I promise you that the truth your husband failed to give you eight years ago, I will provide.”
“Assistant Temple Master Zhong!” Madam Qian exclaimed, becoming emotional upon hearing this.
Zhong Li smiled and, pulling Lu Wuxie along, prepared to leave.
Madam Qian turned and watched the woman’s figure gradually disappear into the courtyard.
She lowered her gaze to the money bag in her hand, which carried a faint scent of herbs. As if struck by a thought, she quickly pulled open a cabinet behind her, took out an item, and rushed out.
“Assistant Temple Master Zhong!”
Zhong Li turned back and looked at the woman rushing anxiously out of the courtyard.
“Madam!” she replied.
“Take this. It’s not worth much, consider it compensation for clearing my mind.” With that, Madam Qian thrust the item into Zhong Li’s hand and, without lingering, quickly ran back home.
Zhong Li watched Madam Qian disappear, then slowly opened her palm. It was a wooden hairpin, extremely simple in style. At the end of the hairpin, several lifelike begonia flowers were carved. Upon closer inspection, a character ‘Tang’ was carved at the center of the flower, and a character ‘Min’ was carved on the leaves.
This was actually a token of affection that Zhao Min had given to Changsun Tang.
In the carriage, Zhong Li held the wooden hairpin and examined it carefully. She then brought it to her nose and sniffed, “What kind of wood is this? It carries a subtle fragrance?”
Lu Wuxie took it from her hand, rubbed it, and also sniffed it. “A faint scent of roses. It’s rosewood.”
“What kind of wood is this? I’ve never heard of it?” Zhong Li asked.
“It’s normal that you haven’t heard of it, Li’er. This wood is not produced in the southern Yue. Most of it is imported from Jinzhou,” Lu Wuxie said.
“So, it’s very expensive?” Zhong Li asked again.
Lu Wuxie smiled at her and said, “It’s passable. Most of this wood is transported to the palace for furniture. Only a small portion makes its way to the common folk, and some scraps are bought by people to carve into small items like hairpins.
This wood has a characteristic: new wood is reddish-purple. The longer it is kept, the deeper the heartwood becomes. However, if it is polished with clear wine, it will turn purple again.”
“So that’s how it is. I understand why Zhao Min would carve this wood into a hairpin to give to Changsun Tang,” Zhong Li said.
“Oh?” Lu Wuxie waited curiously for her explanation.
“He probably wanted Changsun Tang to know that his heart for her is unwavering,” Zhong Li said.
“It’s possible,” Lu Wuxie nodded.
“So, Changsun Tang broke off the engagement, and Zhao Min couldn’t accept it, which is why he didn’t go to Jincheng to take up his post?” Zhong Li asked again.
Lu Wuxie shook his head. He truly didn’t know about Zhao Min. On one hand, this matter happened ten years ago, and no one could remember it so clearly. On the other hand, among so many people who went to the imperial city for examinations, if he had taken up a post, he might have remembered. But for someone who never appeared in court, how could he possibly know?
“It’s alright. We’ll go to the Zhao family in the north of Anding County right now. We’ll know the truth soon enough.”
Zhong Li nodded, lifted the carriage curtain, and looked at the scenery outside.