Chapter Twelve: The Course of the Crime

She realized that her longing for him had deeply affected her, and more than once she had joyfully opened the door only to see the empty corridor and weep alone. She wouldn't let herself be deceived anymore!

Feeling somewhat lost, she walked toward her inner chamber, having finally convinced herself, only to be undone by a sudden knock at the door. She rushed to the entrance with all speed, opened it with a bright smile, and upon seeing the waiting maid, fell silent.

Seeing the door open, Xinru gently held a tea tray and said, “Miss Begonia, this is calming tea brewed by Sister Yubing before she left. She instructed me to deliver it to you, saying that you’d be busy tonight. Drink some and rest well, so you’ll have energy for the performance.”

“Yubing is so thoughtful!” Hearing the tea was prepared by Yubing, Begonia had no suspicion and allowed Xinru into the room. “Since you’ve brought it, just leave it on the table.”

“Yes, Miss Begonia!” Xinru placed the teacup on the outer table, then hesitated as if wanting to say something. At last, she spoke softly, “The tea has been delivered, so I’ll take my leave now.”

“Alright, go ahead.” Begonia nodded, her mind restless and failing to notice Xinru’s unusual demeanor. Once Xinru crossed the threshold, Begonia picked up the teacup and gently brushed the floating leaves aside with the lid, intending to drink, but before she could lift the lid, she heard a familiar call by her ear—“Xin’er!”

“Xin’er!” With that voice, so familiar it could not be mistaken, the person she had longed for appeared at the doorway.

“Brother Tian!” The teacup in her hand trembled, spilling tea over her hand, but she didn’t even notice—Brother Tian was here! Begonia placed the cup on the table and, overflowing with joy, rushed into Ma Tian’s arms. “Is it really you? Am I not dreaming?”

“Xin’er?” Ma Tian looked at the woman in his arms with some confusion. “What’s wrong?”

“Brother Tian, I thought…” Begonia raised her tear-streaked face, her voice thick with sobs, “I thought you didn’t care about me anymore!”

“How could that be?” Ma Tian gently patted her trembling back, his voice tender. “You must know, Brother Tian cares for you most dearly. How could I bear not to care for you?”

“Really?” Begonia sniffled, her pretty face still marked by tears, and asked uncertainly.

“Of course it’s true!” Ma Tian, heart aching for her, wiped the tears from her face and teased, “Are you not going to let me in?”

“Who says so? Brother Tian, please come in!” Begonia laughed through her tears, ushered Ma Tian inside, gently closed the door, and followed him into the inner room.

Ma Tian casually picked up the teacup from the table, looked at Begonia with playful amusement, and said, “What’s this? You knew I was coming and brewed tea in advance—just right, I am indeed a bit thirsty.” With a raised cup to indicate, he drained the tea in one gulp, leaving Begonia stunned.

“Ah, that…” Looking at the now empty cup, Begonia’s face flushed crimson to her ears. This intimate gesture swept away all her previous doubts and anxieties.

“Silly girl! You didn’t go imagining things just because you saw me at her place, did you?” He looked at her with amusement, as she hung her head low like a child who’d done wrong, her fingers twisting her handkerchief.

“But…but…but…” Before she could finish, Ma Tian silenced her incessant chatter with a kiss. She stared wide-eyed in shock.

“What’s wrong, startled?” Seeing her adorable expression, he couldn’t help but laugh.

“W-we’re not married yet…isn’t this improper?” She touched her lips, still red from his stolen kiss, flustered and uncertain.

“Heaven and earth know, you know, I know—if you don’t say, who will know?” Seeing her like a naughty child, he couldn’t resist gently brushing the lips he’d kissed, speaking softly to her.

“Is that so?” Though she felt his closeness, her heart couldn’t help but feel uneasy.

“It’s nothing.” Seeing fatigue written on his face, she felt puzzled but didn’t ask further. Suddenly dizzy, she rubbed her forehead hard; how strange, why did she feel so faint? Was she too nervous? Surely not—she’d been in such situations before. Why now?

“What’s wrong?” Seeing her rubbing her head, face pale, he reached out to massage her temples, hoping to ease her discomfort. But the next moment, she lost consciousness and collapsed into his arms!

“Until I was awakened on the hall, splashed with cold water!” Begonia, tears streaming down her face, recounted, unable to understand why she’d fainted. The coroner said there was no trace of any sedative.

“It’s alright, Miss. I know what to do. Trust me! I will get you out and reveal the truth, the culprit will not escape justice!” With that, Yubing lightly touched her sleeping acupoint with a silver needle. “Miss, you’re too exhausted! Rest well, and tomorrow you will wake as a free woman.” Gently settling Begonia down, she reluctantly left the women’s cell.

On the rooftop outside the cell, Yubing watched the guards below, now alert and scurrying about, and said to Yun Feiyang, “I can handle the rest myself. Thank you for tonight!”

“Don’t!” Placing his jade flute between them, Yun Feiyang looked at the vagabond before him—how could this rough figure be the delicate lady? “If you want to thank me, next time I look forward to seeing you in women’s dress!” With a laugh, he disappeared into the moonlight.

I too look forward to our next encounter, Brother Yun!

Outside the cursed woods, at the mouth of the cave where Zhang Huai was recovering.

“Here! I’ve found everything you wanted!” As soon as they met, Zhang Huai tossed over a bundle, its contents clearly jars and pots.

“Hey! These were hard to find! Careful not to break them all!” Yubing caught them deftly, rolling her eyes. Was it such trouble just to make him run an errand?

“You know how hard these things are to find!” He grumbled, plopping down on the ground. “I went to the blacksmith, then the pharmacy, left the fabric shop for the rice shop. Don’t underestimate Qinghe Town—even a master like me spent the whole night running about!”

Listening to his complaints, Yubing looked at him in confusion. “Um, I only asked you to buy some sedative at the pharmacy and flour at the rice shop. Why…”

Why did you scour the whole town?

“You think I wanted to? I don’t know my way around here! Had to ask at every shop!”

“……….”

“Hey, since I’ve trudged across Qinghe Town, done all the hard work, can’t you give me a little hint?”

“……”

Qinghe Town, county hall.

“She could have been a courtesan, or a bride! How could she dare to kill?”

“Oh, she’s so pretty, but so cruel!”

“I finally understand what it means to be a femme fatale!”

“The most poisonous thing is a woman’s heart!”

Clad in blood-stained, tattered garments, though she’d been locked up for days and looked disheveled, Begonia’s grace remained undiminished. She neither spoke nor acknowledged the suspicions swirling at the courthouse entrance, kneeling quietly, her hollow gaze fixed on the county magistrate high above.

“This case happened less than a day ago, yet I have already investigated it thoroughly!” The magistrate, unsettled by her lifeless stare, glanced around the hall. Feeling somewhat reassured, he barked, “Begonia Qiu, whether you confess or not, the Ministry of Justice has issued its verdict—execution after autumn! Your fate is sealed!” With that, he flung the written order onto the floor before the desk. “Guards! Take her to the death cell at once!”

Before the bailiffs could act, a commotion at the courthouse entrance drew their attention.

“Who’s making such a racket? Don’t you know what place this is?” The constable slammed his wooden club, shouting, “Keep it up, and you’ll taste the lash!”

At his rebuke, everyone turned to look outside. Not wanting trouble, the crowd parted to reveal three men still arguing. Two were together—one younger in coarse linen, the other older and patched all over. Both were held left and right by a handsome, neatly dressed youth.

“I’ve told you, we didn’t steal your things, just bumped into you by accident. We didn’t hurt you! Please be magnanimous and let us go!” The older of the two repeatedly pleaded, somewhat sly.

“Let go of me, let go!” The younger, less seasoned, squirmed vigorously, protesting loudly. “You bastard, let go!”

“So many people here today?” The handsome youth ignored his two troublemakers, strode up to the hall as the crowd parted, and, seeing the magistrate, threw the two down, bowing respectfully. “Sir, these two petty thieves are clearly repeat offenders—such cunning! They ought to suffer all ten tortures, let’s see if they dare steal again!”

“Sir, you must judge fairly!” Hearing mention of the ten tortures, the older one grabbed the younger, glared warningly, and wailed, “Dongzi and I were just walking along, when he”—pointing at the handsome youth—“bumped into us, then wouldn’t let us go, insisting we stole from him! Please, magistrate, ask him what he lost, search our bodies and see if we really have what he claims! We’re poor, can’t shoulder or carry, living off begging. We may not have enough to eat or wear, but we’d never stoop to stealing! We may be poor, but we have dignity!”