Volume One: The Carefree Journey Through Indistinguishable Mulberry Leaves Chapter Six: Lady Hua

Night fell quietly, the moon chilled the autumn air. The Lane of the Dead was cold and dim; Yang Ning pressed himself against the wall, treading softly as he moved deeper within. Soon, he glimpsed a flicker of firelight ahead, prompting him to be even more cautious.

By that glow, Yang Ning could vaguely make out the carriage halted in the lane. Approaching carefully, he saw it was parked before a house's gate. They had previously mentioned that the Lane of the Dead housed only a single family, the Hua residence. This affirmed that the carriage was indeed bound for the Hua household.

Constable Feng had already alighted and stood beside the carriage. Atop the steps stood a burly man dressed in black, holding a red lantern aloft—the source of the lane’s illumination.

Yang Ning mused: at such an hour, with Constable Feng arriving by carriage, could he truly be seeking Lady Hua, who’d married for scraps, for a clandestine tryst? If so, it was oddly conspicuous; if one sought fleeting pleasures, why drive a carriage? This was not a visit to a brothel, but a secret assignation. The carriage drew too much attention, and seemed rather ostentatious.

As he pondered, suddenly another lantern emerged from within the gate. Soon, he saw it was carried by a young woman dressed in a skirt. The distance was too great for Yang Ning’s sharp eyes to discern her features, only her silhouette.

Trailing behind the girl was a woman—Yang Ning could vaguely see she was plump, her attire sumptuous, her demeanor alluring. Even at a distance, the sway of her walk exuded a certain charm.

The voluptuous woman sashayed to the carriage. Constable Feng opened its rear door, and three or four girls emerged, all young and delicate. Their clothing was shabby and worn; after disembarking, Constable Feng made a couple of gestures and the girls, meek as lambs, lined up behind the carriage.

The plump woman walked past each girl, occasionally touching their faces, as if inspecting merchandise.

Soon, she turned and headed back into the house. The lantern-bearing man beckoned, and the four girls followed her inside in single file.

Yang Ning’s suspicion deepened. He still could not fathom what Lady Hua and Constable Feng were plotting. He expected Constable Feng to follow them in, but instead, the man returned to the driver’s seat. Seeing his departure, Yang Ning prepared to leave the lane, lest the carriage pass and spot him. Yet the carriage did not turn toward him, but continued down the Lane of the Dead, vanishing swiftly into the darkness.

From beginning to end, not a word was spoken among them; their movements were practiced, silent, and efficient.

The lantern man glanced about cautiously but failed to notice Yang Ning, then ascended the steps and returned to the house. Soon the sound of the gate closing echoed through the lane.

Yang Ning waited a moment, then approached. It was indeed a grand residence: tall walls and tightly shut gates offered no easy entry.

A puzzle gnawed at him. According to Old Tree Bark, Xiaodie had slipped out at midnight to the Earth God Temple. If she’d snuck away, she could not have left by the main gate. How had she gotten out?

Days had passed without word from Xiaodie, and Yang Ning, knowing Lady Hua’s sordid dealings, was already uneasy. The strange scene he’d just witnessed made him suspect there were deeper secrets within the Hua residence.

Regardless of Xiaodie’s whereabouts, the bizarre events compelled Yang Ning to investigate the household’s mysteries.

The night was tranquil. Yang Ning circled the property, seeking a weakness, and discovered a narrow alley behind the house. It was so cramped that even two burly men would struggle to walk side by side, let alone a carriage.

A sour, fetid odor pervaded the alley. Yang Ning’s slim frame allowed him to navigate it deftly, but the stench forced him to cover his nose.

The alley’s narrowness was compounded by a small ditch dug along the wall—source of the foul smell.

After a while, Yang Ning halted and crouched by the ditch. There, he found a small hole at the base of the wall—not large, but just big enough for a person to crawl through. Its rim was caked with thick filth.

“So this is it!” Yang Ning realized.

He surmised that if Xiaodie had managed to slip out, there must be a flaw in the house’s defenses, though he hadn’t expected it to be here.

Though reluctant to enter through such a filthy opening, climbing the wall would require tools and precious time. Necessity prevailed. Yang Ning cautiously crawled inside; the wall was high but not thick, and on the other side a stone slab blocked the exit. He pushed it aside—it was clearly meant to conceal the passage.

Emerging from the hole, he found himself amidst foliage—a flowerbed behind the wall. It was September, and the scene was bleak, with none of the vibrant blossoms of spring.

He had scarcely risen when he heard a coquettish laugh nearby. Yang Ning’s heart raced. Peering through the branches, he saw a small courtyard.

It was simple: at its center stood an octagonal pavilion, complete with stone table and stools. Beside it was a small oval pond, clearly man-made. It wasn’t large, but a rockery occupied its center, lending the place a touch of grace.

Several lanterns hung from the pavilion’s posts, illuminating it like daylight. On the stone table, wine and dishes were set. A man sat in the pavilion, drinking leisurely.

Not far away, a figure approached. Bathed in moonlight, Yang Ning recognized the voluptuous woman he’d seen earlier—Lady Hua.

She appeared in her early thirties, with fair skin, a generous figure, and striking beauty. The sway of her hips and her walk exuded mature allure; the laughter was unmistakably hers.

Yang Ning understood: this woman was Lady Hua, and by her bearing, she was indeed a woman of remarkable charm.

Yet what shocked Yang Ning was not Lady Hua’s sudden appearance, but the man in the pavilion. He recognized him: Xiao Yishui, the head constable of Huize County, whom he’d seen recently before the Ten Mile Fragrance tavern.

Yang Ning never forgot a face; those he’d seen, he remembered with ease—a talent he prized.

He had never imagined finding Xiao Yishui here. Concealed behind the flowerbed, Yang Ning steadied his breath.

The night was serene; a gentle breeze stirred. Xiao Yishui spoke to Lady Hua as she entered the pavilion: “Is everything arranged?”

Lady Hua replied, her voice seductive yet tinged with roughness, soft as silk: “Do you distrust my abilities? Have I faltered these past two years?”

Xiao Yishui set down his cup, reached out, and pulled Lady Hua into his arms. Her laughter was brazen, and Xiao Yishui’s hands roamed her body, eliciting a series of exquisite, bone-melting moans.

Those intoxicating sounds made Yang Ning’s heart pound. He thought: this woman is truly a master of pleasure; though past thirty, her allure remains undiminished. No wonder Xiao Yishui is entangled with her.

Now Yang Ning understood why Lady Hua was said to be untouchable in this town, and why the Lane of the Dead was avoided. He had suspected Lady Hua had powerful backing.

He just hadn’t realized her protector was none other than Xiao Yishui, the man who dominated Huize County.

Xiao Yishui swirled his cup. “Come, drink with me. Fine wine and beauty, what pleasure without drink? A few more cups, and we’ll enjoy ourselves even more.” He pressed the cup to Lady Hua’s lips.

Lady Hua snorted softly. “Fine wine and beauty? If I were truly your beauty, would you visit only once every ten days or half a month? You leave me here, alone and cold, longing for you day and night. I’m old and faded, and you come only when you wish, leaving me behind otherwise.”

Xiao Yishui laughed. “Don’t you know that absence makes the heart grow fonder? And every time, do I not leave you bedridden for days? You need time to recover.” His hand wandered over her body. Lady Hua rested her head on his shoulder, her whole body limp, her black hair cascading and shrouding half his face.

Yang Ning cursed the pair—shameless, frolicking in the courtyard. But he supposed no one else would dare enter, so their boldness was unsurprising.

Soon, Lady Hua was clad only in a thin veil, revealing her snowy neck and the red silk edge of her bodice. The lantern’s crimson glow caressed her pale cheeks, enhancing her mature beauty.

“By the way, after matters here are settled, I’m heading to the capital,” Xiao Yishui suddenly said. “Will you come with me?”

“The capital?” Lady Hua asked in surprise. “Why go there? Aren’t you powerful enough here?”

Xiao Yishui smiled. “You lack ambition. What future is there in a small county? That lord has promised me a good post in the capital. To rise in the world, I can’t stay here. Besides, the war is over, refugees will soon return home, and our business won’t last long.” He pinched Lady Hua’s cheek. “I’ve spent years toiling in this backwater; it’s time I made my mark.”

Lady Hua cooed, “I’ve long been yours. As long as you don’t mind my age, I’ll follow you wherever you go.”

Xiao Yishui laughed. “You’re a rare treasure—I’d never leave you behind. In the capital, you’ll still manage my affairs... How many people do you still have?”

“About thirty,” Lady Hua replied.

“We’ve earned all we can,” Xiao Yishui said. “Select a few to keep. We’ll need our own in the capital.”

“Oh, I thought you weren’t interested in those young girls, but now...” Lady Hua’s tone was tinged with jealousy.

Xiao Yishui laughed. “Where is your mind wandering? With a beauty like you, I care nothing for other women.” His voice dropped, whispering something in Lady Hua’s ear. Yang Ning, already straining to hear, could not make out Xiao Yishui’s words.

At this, Lady Hua’s laughter grew even more seductive. She asked, “This lord you mentioned, who is he? Can he really get you a government post so easily?”

Xiao Yishui smiled without answering. He swept the dishes aside, lifted Lady Hua onto the stone table, and reached for her sash.

Yang Ning watched, wondering if they would couple right there—was he to witness a live erotic tableau?

Lady Hua hurriedly protested, “Good man, it’s too chilly tonight. I’ve prepared everything inside. Let’s go to the room—so you can fully enjoy yourself...!”

Xiao Yishui laughed, taking Lady Hua in his arms and swiftly carrying her out of the pavilion and away.

Yang Ning waited until they’d gone, then emerged from behind the flowerbed. The courtyard was cold and silent, but Yang Ning’s heart was anything but calm.

Lady Hua’s protector was Xiao Yishui, and Xiao Yishui himself had a greater patron—a figure of influence in the capital. Though Xiao Yishui ruled over Huize County, feared by all, he was nothing compared to the capital’s mighty—merely a worm.