Chapter 124
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“I said it before—Brother Chongwen has a broad and magnanimous heart.”
“Indeed. Now that you’ve attained the Juren title, you may well gain high office and riches at next spring’s imperial examinations.”
“When that time comes, we’ll be counting on you to lend us a hand, Brother Chongwen.”
As the idle chatter continued, the five of them hurried down the street. Suddenly, Wang Chongwen came to a halt. He glanced around, then turned his head slightly.
“Did any of you hear a woman crying?”
The four scholars flanking him stopped as well, exchanging glances with one another.
“Did you hear it?” “Brother Chongwen doesn’t mishear things.”
“Mn, perhaps there truly is a woman weeping.”
One of the scholars holding a lantern stepped forward a few paces. Lifting his arm, he stretched it out, casting the light of the paper lantern about. But on either side of the alley, there was not a shadow in sight.
“No one’s here… Could it have been a mistake?”
Wuuu~
Wuuuuu~~~
The scholar who had spoken froze mid-sentence. Across from him, Wang Chongwen and the other three all stiffened. There really was someone crying.
Following the intermittent sobs, Wang Chongwen furrowed his brows and pointed toward a nearby alleyway.
“It seems to be coming from over there.”
With that, he lifted the hem of his robe and jogged ahead. The other four scholars had no choice but to hasten after him, calling out softly as they did.
“Brother Chongwen, slow down! You’ll trip!”
The mouth of the alley was dim and hard to see into. When Wang Chongwen saw the four behind him catch up, he took the lantern from them and shone it inward.
“Young lady, are you in there?”
The flickering yellow light swayed and scattered the darkness. As it pushed back the shadows, the five of them faintly saw the outline of a figure leaning against the wall, knees drawn up, seated on the ground.
Wuuu~~
“Young lady?” Wang Chongwen called out again.
“Brother Chongwen…”
The four scholars behind him swallowed hard. Staring at the graceful figure in the depths of the alley, they couldn’t help but recall that incident in the forest one night. A shiver ran down their spines, sobering them up completely.
Forcing themselves to speak, one of them called out cautiously to Wang Chongwen ahead.
“Brother Chongwen, I think we should just leave.”
“Yes, yes, for a woman to suddenly appear in the dead of night like this—it can’t be a good omen.”
“That’s right! What the two of them said—Brother Chongwen, it’s the middle of the night! What woman would be crying at this hour? And even if there was such a case, why would we be the ones to come across it? Those strange tales and bizarre records, don’t they say… Wait, I brought the book with me—let me find it and check…”
But Wang Chongwen ignored their muttering. He yanked a sleeve free from one of them, raised the lantern high, and his gaze turned stern.
“A scholar reveres the sages and upholds their teachings—what nonsense are you speaking of ghosts and spirits? If she truly is a helpless young woman in need, would we not be in the wrong to turn away? What a disgrace to all our years of study!”
With that, he lifted the lantern and strode into the dark alley. The four others were left uncertain what to do, standing at the entrance, shivering and calling out in low voices:
“Brother Chongwen, you go on ahead—we’ll, uh, we’ll keep watch from back here!”
Within the alley, the lantern flame flickered and danced, sweeping away the darkness. The sound of the woman’s sobs grew clearer and sharper. Wang Chongwen leaned forward, lifting the lantern for a better look.
There, curled up against the wall, was a young woman clutching a bundle. She wore plain white garments, and her head and back were draped in a coarse mourning veil. Sensing the light, the woman timidly lifted her face from behind the bundle. But the moment her eyes met Wang Chongwen’s, her body trembled violently. She quickly buried her face again and shook her head over and over.
“Don’t take me back… don’t take me back…”
“Young lady, I mean you no harm—please, don’t be afraid.”
Setting the lantern down beside her, Wang Chongwen offered a cupped-fist salute and crouched beside her.
“I am a local scholar of Shunyuan. You need not fear me. If you’re in difficulty, might you tell me what has happened?”
Now that he was closer, Wang Chongwen’s expression shifted slightly. He noticed the white mourning garments and the hemp veil—this was burial attire.
Had someone in her household recently passed?
At that moment, the young woman slowly lifted her face into the dim golden light. Red lips, willow brows, skin like flawless jade—paired with her mourning clothes, her sorrowful beauty was deeply moving.
“Good…”
Realizing he had misspoken, Wang Chongwen quickly tried to amend his words.
“That wasn’t my intention at all…”
Pfft.
The woman opposite him, seeing his flustered expression, let out a soft laugh through her tears, then quickly pursed her lips again and lowered her gaze with a sorrowful air.
“I am not a native of this place. I was sold to a wealthy man in the neighboring county and became his concubine. The official wife was jealous and often beat and scolded me. A few days ago, the master of the house passed away. Fearing for my life, I fled in the dead of night…”
Sigh…
Wang Chongwen let out a long breath and asked again: “Then do you have any family you can return to?”
Tears welled up in her eyes. The woman raised her head, her voice choked with grief.
“I did, but now, I fear I have none left. With nowhere to go, I could only sit here and weep. I’ve disturbed you all—young masters, I truly apologize. I will take my leave.”
Clutching her bundle, the woman slowly rose with the support of the wall, turned around, and lowered her head as she walked toward the other end of the alley.
“Miss—”
Just as Wang Chongwen called out, the four scholars behind him hurried forward and grabbed his arms.
“Brother Chongwen, if she’s leaving, she must have another place to go. We should just leave this matter be.”
“Yes, yes. If your wife were to find out how could that end well?”
Wang Chongwen looked at the woman’s swaying, frail figure ahead. He hesitated.
“Sigh… it seems there’s nothing more I can do.”
Up ahead, the figure leaning against the wall suddenly paused.
Then, with a sharp cry, “Aiya—!” she stumbled and fell to the ground, clutching her ankle as tears streamed down once more.
“Miss!”
Wang Chongwen, having just resolved to stay uninvolved, hurried over again. Seeing her tear-streaked face, delicate as a blossom caught in the rain, something inside him trembled.
“…Perhaps, for the time being, you could stay at my residence. It’s too dangerous for a lone woman to be out on her own.”
“There’s no other choice, really.”
The woman reached out her hand, letting it naturally rest in his. As she was helped to her feet, she suddenly gave another soft cry of pain and leaned fully against him. Her red lips parted slightly, and she whispered into his ear with a breath of warm air.
“This young master would bring me to his home but would your lady wife not mind?”
As she spoke, her gaze slid to the side, eyes cutting toward the four scholars at the alley’s entrance—glaring fiercely at them.
The four of them shivered in unison.
In the alley, Wang Chongwen was already supporting the woman as they walked forward.
“Won’t mind. Besides, I’ve a study that’s rarely visited—my wife seldom comes near it.”
As he stepped out of the alleyway, Wang Chongwen didn’t forget to call out sternly to the four scholars behind him.
“Hurry up. Follow me home. We still have studying to do come morning.”
The four of them exchanged glances.
“Go?” “Let’s just go, what if she isn’t some kind of monster after all?”
“We’ve no money on us anyway…”
The first scholar who had spoken picked up the lantern from the ground and quickly caught up. The others, with no better option, steeled themselves and followed.
Wang Chongwen’s home was modest in size. His study was situated in the side wing, set up for the purpose of preparing for the imperial exams, and rarely visited by maids or servants.
Now that four fellow scholars were staying as well, Mrs. Wang felt even more at ease—there was no fear of hiding some “beauty in a golden house.”
Creak…
The back door of the side wing opened softly. Wang Chongwen, carrying the bundle, peeked inside, then beckoned the woman following him to enter.
“That room ahead is my study. There’s a bed inside—do forgive its humble state.”
The four scholars crept in behind, clearly uneasy. Once inside, Wang Chongwen struck a fire starter and lit the candle.
“Please wait a moment, miss. It’s a bit messy—I’ll tidy it up.”
Saying so, he went over to make the bed. The four scholars stood watching the woman in the flickering candlelight—wanting to leave but too nervous to do so.
In the end, one couldn’t help but speak.
“Uh… Brother Chongwen… it’s getting late. The four of us will just return to our rooms to rest.”
From across the room, Wang Chongwen, now smoothing out the bedding, turned and smiled.
“No rush. Stay a while and chat with the lady—I’ll head to the front hall to fetch some refreshments.”
He turned and bowed slightly toward the woman.
“Please rest easy, miss. These four are upright and decent men. I’ll be back shortly.”
“Brother Wang…”
“Brother Chongwen!”
Thunk—
The door shut firmly. The four scholars slowly lowered their outstretched hands and stood side by side, tense, staring at the figure across the room.
On the desk, the candle flickered; the woman stood in the shadows, her expression shifting in and out of view.
Outside, the night wind whispered against the lattice windows, carrying the occasional sound of distant dogs barking.
Gulp~
All four gulped simultaneously.
