Capture the Jade - Chapter 1

Du Tinglan looked out the window. It was getting late and Maid Hong had been gone for more than half an hour. Why hasn’t she come back yet?

Who knows if this maid had seen Lu Zhaoan or not. The Jinshi (scholar in the civil service examination) banquet is about to start. If this keeps on dragging on, let alone confronting Lu Zhaoan in person, even meeting him once is a delusion.

At the thought of Lu Zhaoan, Du Tinglan felt deeply saddened in her heart. He avoided seeing her for half a month, which made her depressed. Even if he wanted to break his oath, he should still clearly say it to her in person.

She can not waste any more time waiting. She got up and quietly looked around her surroundings. Her mother was watching the acrobatics performances at the Xiyuan theater. Most of the ladies went to the garden to admire the flowers. There was no one around so it was a good time to leave.

She bit her lip and just as she was about to put down the embroidery scissors in her hand, a sudden laughter was heard coming from the corridor.

“This year, the Mingjing Division has recruited more than 100 people, but the Jinshi Division only had at most 20 people. They are not young, and most of them are married. The oldest person is said to be more than 50, and their children are older than A Wan.” A lady madam said.

“That’s right”. The other madam chuckled, “I never thought that the Wang family put their idea on the old man’s head in order to choose a husband for their daughter.”

“In fact, I don’t blame the Wang family for being so persistent these past years. You have been in Dongdu for the past few days. Didn’t know that the best member of the Jinshi Division would be a young master in his early twenties. His name is Lu Zhaoan and not only is he good at poetry, but is also known to have a beautiful and handsome face. Not only are the Wang family interested in him for marriage, but also many big officials were inquiring about this, Lu Zhaoan.”

Across the half-rolled beaded curtains, the words “Lu Zhaoan” were pierced into her ears. Du Tinglan’s heart seemed to stir up a surge of waves. She had forgotten that she was still holding the embroidery scissor in her hands.

“But yesterday night, I heard from my Erlang that Zheng Pushe, from the Shangshu province, said that Lu Zhaoan is from Yangzhou. He has already been called in for questioning. The Lu family has always been asked about marriage. His meaning is to have his daughter be betrothed to him. If Young Master Lu has been married in Yangzhou, then Zhang Pushe would have to delay the marriage.”

These words were quite surprising. Another madam said: “Young Master Lu is now famous all over the world. The Zheng family in Xingyang has been a reputable family for a century now. Speaking of it, it would be a good marriage. When the prime minister asked the question, how did Young Master Lu respond?”

“Young Master Lu said that he lost his parents when he was a child. In order to revive his family’s name, he has only been studying hard day and night for the past years. He has not been married yet.”

The reddened color on Du Tinglan’s face was completely cleared from her face. Speculating it was one thing, but actually hearing it was another. However, in a few months, this person has already completely cut off ties with her. The oath was still ringing in her ears. When she first heard it, her heart was moved and excited, now it felt ironic.

The beaded curtain made a sound and it could be seen that someone was coming in. Du Tinglan raised her arms and forced herself to stand up, but suddenly her palms felt damp and hot. When she lowered her head, she

found that there was a cut made by the scissors. Dots of blood were gushing out and it was so red that it was shocking.

She looked at the vague blood with despair. Now she only regrets coming to the outing without permission. If there has not been another chance to encounter the peach blossom trees, how could she have experienced this disgrace!

“Lady!” The wound was tightly held down by someone with a handkerchief, and Du Tinglan raised her head, and saw Maid Hong looking at her in panic. Just now, she only hoped that the maid would bring the words to Lu Zhaoan, but now she would feel sick if she thought of that person.

The servant hurriedly inspected the wound and took out an item: “Young Master Lu asked this servant to give this to the lady. He said that my lady can go to the bamboo forest outside the Moon Lantern Pavilion to meet him.”

Du Tinglan sneered and snatched it. Her fingers trembled and wanted to tear it to pieces, but was not successful in doing so. In the end, she caused the wound on her hand to burst open again.

***

Teng Yuyi lifted the curtain and stepped into the room, she was surprised and said “eh, why is my biao jie (cousin) not here?”

The little novice nun was also surprised. Just now, all the rich ladies went to the Xiyuan theater to watch the acrobatics performances. The young lady of the Du family agreed to stay to help cut the ribbons. There were still several gold pieces of foil on the table, but no one was here.

But this was normal. Today is the Double Third Festival and the common people would go out to have a feast. Because their Jingfu Temple is adjacent to Qujiang Lake, it was also crowded with horse carriages in the early morning. The temple is so large that it can’t not be easily looked after all the time.

“This novice nun also does not know where Du Tinglan has gone, but the Hu people have gone to watch the acrobatics performances. Whether Du Tinglan had gone to the theater or not, I don’t know. Teng Yuyi, do you want this novice nun to lead the way for you?”

The little novice nun looked at Teng Yuyi as she spoke, wearing a veil on her head and her jade wrists shining under the muslin. Although her face could not clearly be seen, she was a beauty in her own charming manner. The ladies in the nunnery were beautiful like clouds in the sky. To see such an outstanding woman, it is rare. It was heard that Du Tinglan is the cousin of the second aunt. Don’t know what urgent matter there is, but as soon as she arrived at the nunnery, she went to look for the Du household.

Teng Yuyi smiled and said: “No need, my biao jie (cousin) does not like to watch the acrobatics performances. Maybe she is enjoying the flowers in the garden. Master, please stay behind. I will go search for her myself.”

Having already taken two steps, Teng Yuyi suddenly turned back and pointed to the table: “Master, is my biao jie (cousin) the one who had cut these colorful ribbons?”

The little novice nun was stunned for a bit: “yes.”

“It happened to be that I am going to look for my biao jie (cousin). Can the master let me take these colorful ribbons?”

“It was originally some no use of a thing, not to mention that it was not made of the nunnery’s gold foils and jade pieces. The little novice nun hurriedly said, “Feel free to.”

At this moment, another little novice nun came over and said: “The Majesty wants to have a drink feast and there is no curfew in Chang’an tonight. Near the river, the Moon Lantern Pavilion is going to hold the Jinshi banquet. The abbot said to look after the novice nuns, not to let anyone go near the Moon Lantern Pavilion.”

The little novice respectfully listened. No wonder, there were many young men with silver saddles and white horses passing by the entrance of the nunnery just now. They came here for the annual Jinshi banquet.

“This disciple knows.” She turned her head, only to see that Teng Yuyi had already collected the colorful ribbons and left.

Teng Yuyi looked at the Moon Lantern Pavilion not far away as she walked. The red roofs and blue tiles were hidden in the thin twilight. The glittering glazed lamps were lit under the eaves.

In the previous life, Du biao jie (cousin) died on the night of Double Third Festival and Maid Hong was poisoned to death. It was supposed to be just a simple worship of the Buddha with yi mu (aunt), but for some reason, she secretly left the nunnery without permission.

When she was found, the corpses of the girl and maid were unexpectedly found in the bamboo forest, not far away from the Moonlight Pavilion.

When the accident happened, Teng Yuyi was in Yangzhou, but found that the death of her biao jie (cousin) was suspicious.

Biao jie (cousin) has always been obedient and filial. Even if she doesn’t like to have fun, she will still stay by yi mu’s side. Why is it that when yi mu goes to Xiyuan theater to watch the acrobatic performance, biao jie (cousin) would be quietly staying at Yunhui Hall.

These colorful ribbons were even more inexplicable. Today is not “people’s day”, why would my biao jie (cousin) think of cutting this. Even if biao jie (cousin) intends to arrange an opportunity to be alone, who does the colorful ribbon serve to pass a message to?

Teng Yuyi quickly flipped through the gold foil in her hands, but was unable to find a word or two. She did not find it unusual. Although my sister cousin is naturally weak, she always acted very carefully in doing things. In the previous life, my aunts and uncles had already searched for so long, but they could not find out the person who led my biao jie (cousin) outside of the nunnery.

Thinking of the tragic situation with biao jie (cousin) being strangled to death, Teng Yuyi looked up at the sky with hatred. It was getting late and she originally wanted to go with her aunt to find biao jie, but now there was not enough time.

“Bi Luo, you and Qing Gui go to Xiyuan theater to find my yi mu (aunt). I will take Bai Zhi to the bamboo forest outside the nunnery. If biao jie (cousin) and I don’t come back when my aunt comes, tell her to bring people to the bamboo forest outside the Moonlight Pavilion to find us. Remember to be fast.”

Bi Luo and Qing Gui responded and Teng Yuyi touched the invitation card in her sleeve. Fortunately, she had already prepared before coming.

The gate outside the nunnery was colder and quieter than before. Tourists all flocked to the Xiyuan theater next door to watch the performance. On the tall stage, the Brahmin people were performing magic tricks. As soon as the music was turned on, the Kangguo women danced the enchanting garnet dance while twisting their waist.

The sound of metal stone instruments entered the ear. Teng Yuyi sat on the small carriage and lifted the curtain to look outside. It was the Double Third Festival. There was no curfew and not to mention the common people (citizens), even the wealthy children of the nobility came here to have fun today.

Walk along the edge of the water to the Moon Lantern Pavilion, where the expensively dressed young masters and beauties could be seen everywhere.

Teng Yuyi and Bai Zhi looked around and could not find Du Tinglan in the crowd.

Halfway through the road, the carriage suddenly stopped and a servant named Duan Fu stopped in front of the carriage and said: “There are too many people here. This servant has asked around and the only person who has seen Lady Du is a vendor selling porridge. He said that Lady Du was with a maid and went to the southeast direction of the riverbank.”

Teng Yuyi looked in the direction and it was indeed the bamboo forest. She hurriedly said: “follow behind the carriage”.

It was getting late and the accident was only a moment away. The driver whips up the speed of the carriage.

It was the largest bamboo forest in Chang’an, stretching for a hundred meters back and forth. If people were inside, it would be very easy to get lost. In the previous life, that person came into the forest and quietly killed her biao jie (cousin) and the maid. Then quietly left.

In the previous life, when Teng Yuyi arrived in Chang’an, Du Tinglan was already in a coffin. While she was crying and helping her yi mu (aunt) sort out her belongings, she then realized that the day the accident happened, Du Tinglan was wearing an elegant gold skirt, which was her birthday gift to her biao jie (cousin).

The skirt cost a lot of money, sewn one stitch by one stitch at a time by an embroidery lady in Yangzhou. The color is a warm gold and was luxurious like the clouds. Even in Chang’an, it was rare to be seen.

Today, she came prepared and the first thing she did since her arrival in the Jingfu nunnery, was to send Duan Fu to look for biao jie (cousin) around, using the gold dress as a clue. Sure enough, she quickly found out about the whereabouts of her biao jie (cousin).

The bamboo forest was not far and the further you go ahead, the less people there are.

***

With a calm face, Teng Yuyi felt something in her arms. The maid, Bai Zhi, sighed worriedly.

A few days ago, on the way from Yangzhou to Chang’an, the young lady accidentally fell into the water and felt seriously ill. When she woke up, she began to play with a strange sword.

It was a small jadeite sword, with a green base and was about one foot long. Don’t know where the lady got it from, but these days she often takes it out to play with. From her point of view, it seemed a little strange. A sword is the world’s strongest and toughest thing. Where is the logic behind making a sword out of jadeite?

Moreover, since the death of madam, the young lady had never played with the weapons in the mansion. As the daughter of a famous general, she was raised more delicately than a thousand gold (honorable daughter) in a Confucian Official’s household. This time, she went straight to the Jingfu nunnery as soon as she got off the boat and also hid that small jadeite sword in her sleeve.

Bai Zhi often served Teng Yuyi and knew that she had a pretty and sweet face, but had a lot of evil tricks behind her back. As a daughter of a noble family who communicated with the Teng Mansion on the weekdays, she also secretly suffered the lady’s pain openly and secretly.

The old master had no time to discipline his daughter for many years. Seeing that the lady’s temperament was becoming more and more cunning, he had no choice, but to send the lady to Yangzhou Du Mansion, where she was supervised by his sister-in-law, Madam Du.

The Du family is upright and clean. Madam Du treats the lady like her own flesh and blood. The elder daughter of the Du family, Du Tinglan, also puts her biao mei (younger cousin) at importance.

Over the past few years, the lady has already regarded yi mu (aunt) and biao jie (cousin) as her own close relatives, but her temperament was far more awkward than the ordinary people. She won’t say it, but the people who the lady cares about the most are Madam Du and the Du family’s young lady.

Bai Zhi could not guess why her master was so anxious, but it could be seen from the stern look in Teng Yuyi’s eyes that if Du Tinglan could not be found soon, Teng Yuyi would definitely do something unexpected.

Bai Zhi looked out the window and froze: “Lady, look.”

Teng Yuyi put the jadeite sword in her sleeve and at the entrance of the bamboo forest, a carriage embroidered in jade and gold stopped.

It seemed that it had arrived for not so long as the servants were busy setting up a tent in the outskirts of the bamboo forest. Looking at the luxurious and extravagance, it would be not an ordinary young master.

Bai Zhi’s face showed hesitation, but Teng Yuyi took care of herself, putting on the veil and got off the carriage. Ignoring all the servants as if they were nobody and walked straight into the bamboo forest.

A servant saw Teng Yuyi and immediately stepped forward: “Young lady, please stop here”.

Teng Yuyi slightly bowed and smiled: “This place is not forbidden. For what reason can I not pass?”

The servant said: “My young master wants to go to the riverside and this one has already set up a tent. Once he comes out of the forest, naturally one can pass.”

Bai Zhi’s expression changed slightly. Those words were extremely domineering. In such a large bamboo forest, saying that one can not pass, really meant that one can not pass.

Teng Yuyi remained calm and nodded with a smile: “Coincidentally, I also want to take a shortcut to the riverside for the banquet.”

The servants all looked at each other, their faces showed a look of surprise. There was not more than one feast banquet near the riverbank and the people attending were all high-ranked officials and nobles. This lady looked soft and quiet, not being able to tell her background.

“Since it is a banquet, presumably there would be an invitation note.”

“Invitation?”

At this time, a middle-aged maid who wore a headcovering stood in front of the carriage and said: Tonight, in addition to the banquet, the Majesty will also be in the Ziyun building to watch the big feast. There are also quite a lot of noble young masters there. Once this was spread out, it attracted many foolish young ladies.”

Teng Yuyi looked over and groaned in her heart. It was really the grievance in her previous life that she actually met this pair of master and maid here.

The maid also looked at Teng Yiyu, wearing a veil on her head. One could not see the appearance of her clearly. But the maid was very sure that she had never seen such a person in Chang’an before. Saying that she wanted to take the shortcut road to the riverbank, but could not even show the invitation. She did not think much of her identity, but along the way, one doesn’t even know how many young ladies with no sense of importance were driven away.

With a look of contempt on the woman’s face, she spoke to the servants: “Most of them came because of your young master again. Young lady, this old one advises you. Their young master is not to be messed with, so leave as soon as possible to save yourself from being bored.”

These words directly hit Teng Yuyi with the idea of trying to climb one’s status up by clinging onto the nobles. Bai Zhi’s face was flushed red. This person clearly could not dare to often the person in the forest so she also had to wait here. Originally, they should have been in the same position, but unexpectedly, she came to look for trouble with them.

“Really?” Teng Yuyi sneered, “What if I insisted on going in?”

She took something out of her sleeve and said to the servants who were blocking the way: “It is getting late, please ask your young master to make things easy.”

Everyone’s complexion changed slightly. It was a light yellow colored invitation notice that was commonly used in the king’s palace. The upper section was Teng Shao, the military governor of Huainan and the Yangzhou governor. The lower section was a signature of the King of Chun’an.

They normally deal with the King of Chun’an on the weekdays. The King’s signature can instantly be recognized at a glance.

The King of Chun’an is the imperial clan of this dynasty and the cousin of the current emperor. Teng Shao, the envoy of Huainan, was a famous general with great prestige. It was heard that many years ago, the King of Chun’an went down to Li Mountain and accidently encountered danger and was saved by Teng Shao.

These two figures are the seniors of their masters. If their masters were here and saw them, they would have to salute and greet them.

The servants did not dare to block her, but left the woman and the carriage to block the outside of the forest.

The middle-aged maid half-opened her mouth when she heard someone in the carriage cough sternly. Listening to the voice, it belonged to a very young lady.

The woman regained her senses and quickly changed into a respectful smile to make amends with Teng Yuyi.

Teng Yuyi glanced at her, took Duan Fu and Bai Zhi and went into the forest. As they walked, she said to the old coachman: “You wait here for any news. If yi mu (aunt) comes, immediately bring them into the forest to find us.”

The author has something to say: The female lead is a pseudo-rebirth and it will be clarified later on.