Chapter 102: Chapter 94: Master Zheng Is Out of Prison

Morning finally came.

Zheng Xiu awoke with an aching back.

He had managed a rare four hours of sleep.

He had "battled" Feng Bei until midnight, at which point she had proactively ended their date, listlessly saying she had business back in the city.

At the time, Zheng Xiu knew perfectly well what "business" Feng Bei was talking about, but he played dumb and asked a few questions, trying his best to distance himself from any direct connection to Zheng Xiu.

Seeing Feng Bei’s reluctant expression, Zheng Xiu wondered inwardly, ’Are you really so put out about having to protect Master Zheng?’

The sky brightened, and the roosters crowed for the Sunrise.

Early in the morning, Scarface Liu came charging up to Heaven-Gazing Prison, excitedly clutching a scroll.

"Good news! Fantastic news! Master, you’ve been granted a special pardon by the Holy Emperor!"

Zheng Xiu cut him off irritably. "Did you actually read the pardon document carefully?"

Scarface Liu paused. "There were a few characters I didn’t understand."

"It’s a temporary pardon. Only for three days. I’ll be back sooner or later."

"Ah, this!" Scarface Liu was shocked. When he first saw the words "temporary pardon," he thought the master’s name had been cleared and he was about to go out and start a new life.

"Aren’t the higher-ups just bullying an honest man!"

Scarface Liu was indignant on Zheng Xiu’s behalf. Sixth Brother didn’t see anything wrong with what he’d said; he was just a straightforward man who spoke his mind.

Zheng Xiu pointed to his own face with a strange look. "Be honest. Do I look like an honest man to you?"

Scarface Liu was dumbfounded. After a moment of silence, he decided to tell the truth. "Not really."

"There you have it."

But what Scarface Liu didn’t know was that Zheng Xiu had orchestrated all of this himself. Zheng Xiu rolled up his sleeves. "I’ll have to trouble you, Sixth Brother. A basin of clean water to wash my face and a tub of hot water for a bath."

He had been here for nearly two months. Although he could leave anytime using his Incarnation, the significance of this official, temporary release was not as simple as it appeared.

Zheng Xiu had always been particular about details. If he was going out, even for just three days, he had to do it with dignity. He absolutely could not bring shame upon the Zheng Family’s name.

"I, Zheng Xiu, will show them. When I want to enter this Heaven-Gazing Prison, no one can stop me. And when I want to leave, you can’t stop me either."

...

Today was the thirtieth of the Twelfth Moon.

It was the day of the New Year’s Vigil, also known as "Seeing the Year Out."

According to tradition, the common folk should have been bustling through the streets, visiting friends, family, and neighbors, cooking up a great feast, and watching a night of fireworks to welcome the new year.

But at this hour, the streets that should have been noisy and crowded were unusually dead silent.

The street Actors had vanished.

The street stalls had signs out: "Closed for a joyous occasion."

The Storyteller in the teahouse pavilion, fan in hand, stepped out into the swirling snow.

Goldsmiths and artisan shops were closed for the day.

Restaurants and taverns had shut their doors to customers.

The street Physiognomists hung out small flags that read: "Inauspicious for all matters today."

The Wandering rickshaw pullers left their vehicles by the roadside and, in groups of two or three, headed in the same direction with grins on their faces.

Some bewildered townsfolk went to the familiar Old Zhang’s Noodle Stall, only to see Old Zhang himself rushing out the door with a rolling pin hanging from his waist. They grabbed him and asked, "Hey, Old Zhang, how come you’re not open for business today?"

Old Zhang turned and pointed to his own sign. "See what’s written on the side of my Old Zhang’s Noodle Stall plaque?"

The customer followed his finger and looked up. Next to "Old Zhang’s Noodle Stall," there was a red seal, imprinted with an inconspicuous character: "Zheng."

"So this is one of Master Zheng’s businesses too! But what does that have to do with you being closed?"

"It has everything to do with it!" Old Zhang chuckled mysteriously. "Today, we all have to go welcome the master back!"

...

The Zheng Residence.

A group of rickshaw pullers was already waiting outside.

The retired "chaser-swordsman," Qing Shisan, was among them, looking like any other ordinary member of the group.

Pei Gaoya arrived late and flustered. "Ah, sorry, sorry! My old lady..."

A lazy, seductive voice interrupted Pei Gaoya. "Could you please stop mentioning your ’old lady’ in front of us? We all know how lovey-dovey you two are, alright? Stop flaunting it all day. It gets on one’s nerves, so irritating!"

Qing Shisan looked up at the sound of the voice and saw a figure in a high-slit red dress atop the Zheng Family wall. His eyes lit up. "Well, if it isn’t Hong’ou! Didn’t you say a few days ago that your man wasn’t feeling well and you’d be resting today?"

Ji Hong’ou leaped gracefully down from the wall, clapping the dust from her hands with a smile. "It’s fine. I knocked my man out. He’s sleeping like a log."

A dead silence fell before the gate.

CREAK—

The main gate of the Zheng Clan estate swung open. Zheng Erniang emerged, beaming, dressed in a thick Cotton-padded jacket and carrying a large chest. Behind her followed a flock of dazzlingly dressed, chattering women.

Zizi, Pingping, Bobo, and Lily stood out from the crowd of beauties like cranes among chickens, each radiant and with her own unique, stunning makeup.

"By the way, where’s the little young master? The master getting out of prison is a huge celebration, so how come we don’t see him?"

Lily asked curiously, her voice as melodious as a songbird’s.

Zizi pouted. "He must have been spirited away by that alluring crow from Ye Weiyang again! It’s not like you don’t know. The young master must have been fed some love potion; he’s been fooling around with that Feng Bei day and night, not even coming home."

The fact that the little young master was fooling around with Feng Bei was no longer a secret in the Zheng Family; everyone knew about it.

"Tsk." Pingping puffed out her exaggerated chest defiantly. "Who the young master chooses as his stepmother is still up in the air!"

Jing Xuemei, who had been exceptionally quiet in the crowd, smiled faintly. "If you really want to be his stepmother, you should go ask the master."

Everyone knew what she meant. If they couldn’t win over the young master, couldn’t they just win over the master himself?

Zheng Xiu’s release from prison had everyone putting in their utmost effort.

Listening to the women bickering behind her, Zheng Erniang, who knew everything, didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. She couldn’t take a side, and she certainly couldn’t reveal the master’s greatest secret. She could only clear her throat and put on a stern face. "What is all this chirping? Have you no decorum? Don’t forget, we are going to welcome the master today. You were all once from renowned families, ladies of high society. Do not forget your true station."

Hearing this, the four women behind her immediately straightened their expressions. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

The four, who had just been showing off their seductive charms, in the blink of an eye transformed their demeanor to that of well-bred young ladies. Their smiles were proper—some aloof, some lively, some proud, some reserved, each with her own unique grace. Having become so demure in an instant, who could tell they were the top Geishas renowned throughout the city?

No, it would be more accurate to say their reputations were well-deserved.

"Ladies, get in the rickshaws!"

Qing Shisan shouted to the Zheng Family household, and Second Lady and the others climbed into the rickshaws.

Ji Hong’ou’s red figure darted like a butterfly, and she planted a foot on Qing Shisan’s rickshaw. "You’re taking me today."

Qing Shisan’s face soured. "My lady, you’re not exactly young anymore. Are you still trying to pass as one of the Zheng Family’s young madams?"

"None of your business," Ji Hong’ou said with a smile in her narrowed eyes, her hand moving to a pouch of scented powder at her waist. "Are you going or not?"

Qing Shisan sighed in resignation. "The usual fee?"

Ji Hong’ou huffily threw a piece of silver, hitting Qing Shisan in the face.

SNAP!

Qing Shisan whipped his head, catching the silver coin firmly in his mouth. "Moving out!" he shouted.

"Let’s go!"

The massive procession of rickshaw pullers moved along the main road like a great dragon, kicking up a cloud of snow dust as they rushed toward the Heaven-Gazing Platform Prison Camp.

Along the way, Qing Shisan asked, feigning nonchalance, "Your man, is his sickness any better?"

Ji Hong’ou’s expression changed slightly at his words, but she clearly didn’t want to talk about it. She looked down and toyed with the hem of her dress. "Don’t ask what you shouldn’t."

"For the sake of repaying a debt of gratitude, you’ve been playing the part of a fake couple for ten years..."

Qing Shisan wanted to say more.

"Don’t ask! What business is it of yours!"

Qing Shisan immediately shut his mouth.

The Zheng Family procession traveled on, and bewildered commoners lined the streets to watch.

In the crowd, a Storyteller who had long been planted among the people began to speak in a leisurely tone.

"The Great Emperor is wise and benevolent. In memory of General Zheng, he has granted a special pardon to the Zheng Family’s sole heir."

"So it’s a special pardon!"

"How could there be any bad people in the Zheng Family!"

"It must have been a mistake!"

"The Holy Emperor is wise!"

"The Holy Emperor is wise!"

It is Human nature to enjoy a spectacle.

The news of Zheng Xiu’s release from prison spread from person to person, from mouth to mouth, gradually reaching every street and alley.

By the time Qing Shisan and his band of Wandering pullers arrived at the Heaven-Gazing Prison Camp with the family, the news of Zheng Xiu’s release was already known throughout the city.

Surrounded by Prison Guards, a haggard-looking Zheng Xiu, dressed in magnificent brocade robes and a formal cap, stepped out of the Prison Camp.

Scarface Liu followed behind him. As the Prison Director, he was responsible for monitoring Zheng Xiu during the pardon to make sure he didn’t escape.

This monitoring was obviously just a formality, as everyone knew.

"Master!"

Even though she knew Zheng Xiu was safe and sound.

Even though she knew he had long been visiting the Zheng Residence in his child-like guise as "Zheng Er."

But when Zheng Erniang saw Zheng Xiu himself walk out of the Prison Camp with her own eyes, two months of anxiety and unease instantly burst forth as a torrent of tears. She scrambled down from the rickshaw and stumbled toward Zheng Xiu, clutching the chest.

Zheng Xiu hurried forward to support the Second Lady, his heart aching. "It’s no big deal, what’s the rush?"

He winked at Zheng Erniang, as if to say, ’It’s one thing for the others not to know, but you’re in on it. Don’t make such a fuss.’

The Second Lady wiped the tears from the corners of her eyes and shook her head with a smile. "It’s nothing. I’m just... happy."

Zheng Xiu looked up and took a deep breath.

’Do other people, the ones locked up for ten or twenty years, feel this way when they walk out of prison?’

’The air outside feels exceptionally fresh, the sky seems exceptionally blue, and the world outside feels exceptionally vibrant.’

"Master, your new clothes."

Zheng Erniang opened the festive brocade chest she had been carrying all this way. Neatly folded inside was a magnificent cloak made of pure white mink fur.

Every single stitch had been sewn by Zheng Erniang’s own hands.

Zheng Xiu stared at the white fur cloak in the chest, slightly stunned. ’I’ve been going back to the Zheng Family home every day. How did I not know Zheng Erniang was secretly making new clothes for me?’

He looked back at Zheng Erniang, only to see her wink back at him, as if to say, ’This is what you get for not coming home at night, completely clueless about what’s happening in your own house.’

The two of them looked at each other and smiled, a complete understanding passing between them without a word.

He shook out the luxurious mink cloak, draping it over his shoulders and brushing away the wind and frost. Two hundred paces away stood a six-story restaurant. Zheng Xiu gazed at the sixth floor as if looking at something specific, and a carefree smile touched his lips.

"Let’s go. Home."