Chapter 46: Wine Maiden? Saintess?

Zhang Chi stood beneath the pear blossom tree, silently mourning Miss Wang, and did not notice how the evening had crept in, the sky already darkening. Ding Yizhi, unable to bear seeing Zhang Chi so deeply grieved, stepped forward and said, “Brother, it is late. Your sorrow now serves no purpose. Better to recover your strength, resolve the affairs in the city, and hasten your journey to Shu. That would not betray the kindness Miss Wang held for you in life.”

What Ding Yizhi said made sense, and Zhang Chi nodded, mounting his horse in dejection. The others followed in silence, their faces solemn, not a word spoken as they descended from Stony Ridge onto the main road leading to Jiankang.

When they were still several miles from Jiankang’s southern gate, Santong, riding ahead, suddenly saw a mass of people and horses coming toward them. “Brother Zhang, look! Up ahead, it looks like the remnants of the Five Bushels of Rice Sect fleeing south!”

Zhang Chi had been lost in his grief, but Santong’s cry made him look up. Indeed, he saw a crowd fleeing along the road toward them. Though the Five Bushels of Rice Sect had many followers, they posed no real threat; with Che Yin in the city, Jiankang’s situation was likely stabilized, and the remaining sect members were being driven out, fleeing south in disorder.

“Why not slaughter these scattered rebels, let Brother Zhang vent his anger?” Santong suggested, recalling that it was the Five Bushels of Rice Sect’s attack on Jiankang that had led to Miss Wang’s death. Zhang Chi must surely hate them.

The fleeing sect members, desperate to escape, had abandoned their banners and were in no formation at all. They looked less like soldiers and more like refugees driven from their homes.

Seeing this, Zhang Chi shook his head. “Let it be. They are but poor commoners, misled into rebellion. There’s no need to wipe them out. We’ll just force our way through.”

With Du Ximing absent, Santong took over leading the troops. In truth, “leading” was little more than shouting and charging forward, but Santong felt grand and heroic. He shouted, “Charge!” and led the soldiers straight at the fleeing crowd.

The remnants of the Five Bushels of Rice Sect, seeing Santong and his men racing toward them, had no will to resist, and simply parted, scattering to either side. Zhang Chi intended to ride straight through and return to Jiankang quickly, but as he passed through the throng, he caught sight of a familiar face among the chaos.

“Wait,” Zhang Chi called to Santong, pointing to someone amidst the fleeing crowd. “Bring that man to me.”

Santong looked in the direction Zhang Chi indicated and saw an elderly man fleeing with the sect. “Brother Zhang, why do you want him?”

“It’s hard to explain now. Just do as I ask,” Zhang Chi replied.

Santong had been training with Daoxuan for some time and had learned a thing or two. Seeing Zhang Chi wanted only an old man, he didn’t call others, but rode alone into the crowd, grabbed the old man by the collar like an eagle snatching a chick, hauled him onto his horse, and turned back, dropping the old man before Zhang Chi.

The old man was terrified, begging for mercy as he knelt, “Please spare me, sir, please spare me!”

“Manager Wu, why have you joined the Five Bushels of Rice Sect?” Zhang Chi asked.

This old man was none other than Wu, the foster father of Wine Maiden, who had once sold her to Young Master Pei. Wu was a man who only cared for influence and profit. If it were Young Master Pei questioning him, he would surely remember, but Zhang Chi wore plain clothes and had never caught Wu’s eye—how could he recognize him now?

Yet hearing Zhang Chi call him “Manager Wu,” Wu was puzzled, stopped kowtowing, and looked up but saw no familiar face. “Sir, do you know me?”

“I do. Aren’t you Manager Wu from the tavern in Jiankang?”

Seeing Zhang Chi’s amiable manner, Wu relaxed, stood, and laughed, “So you know me, sir. That makes things easier…”

But Zhang Chi interrupted, serious: “Knowing you is one thing. But you joined the sect and rebelled—an offense punishable by death. I cannot help you.”

Wu’s legs gave out and he collapsed again, wailing, “Please spare me, sir, I did not rebel, please see the truth!”

“If you did not join, why are you fleeing with them?” Zhang Chi pressed.

Wu could not answer immediately, stammered for a while, and finally said, “I was forced, yes, forced.”

Zhang Chi saw through his lie and asked Santong, “When you saw Manager Wu in the crowd, was anyone forcing him?”

Santong, honest by nature, replied, “No one forced him. I saw nothing of the sort.”

Zhang Chi turned back, “Manager Wu, the general saw no one forcing you. If you won’t tell me the truth, I cannot help you. Rebellion is punishable by death.”

Wu realized the two were playing a game, but had no way to refute, and kept begging for mercy.

A man without profit never rises early; surely Wu had some motive for fleeing with the sect. Seeing Wu still unwilling to speak, Zhang Chi continued to threaten him, “I wish to spare you, but the law will not. Tell me the truth—why are you fleeing south with them? If you’re honest, I will find a way to clear you of the charge.”

Wu hesitated, refusing to speak. Zhang Chi, seeing this, declared, “If that’s so, Manager Wu will have to endure some hardship.” He called to his men, “Bind him and send him to the Golden Hall for judgment.”

“Spare me, sir, spare me—I’ll tell you, I’ll tell you!” Wu panicked and confessed, “Please see the truth, sir, I truly did not rebel. My daughter was taken by the sect, to be made their Saint Maiden. That priest told me to go to Kuaiji, promising riches. I was greedy and wanted to see what fortune awaited, but I did nothing rebellious, sir, please believe me!”

Watching Wu kowtow so desperately, Zhang Chi found it amusing, but was puzzled—when did Wu have a daughter? “Don’t lie to me. Where did you get a daughter?”

At this point, Wu dared not deceive, and quickly said, “I wouldn’t dare, sir. I do have a foster daughter, sold her as a concubine some days ago, but now, somehow, she’s been chosen as their Saint Maiden, and they want me to go to Kuaiji for a reward.”

“Your foster daughter—could it be Wine Maiden?” Zhang Chi was shocked. Wu had no other foster daughter, only Wine Maiden.

“So you know Wine Maiden, sir?” Wu was astonished now. He did not recognize the horseman before him, yet the man seemed to know everything.

Wu was ever mercenary; when Zhang Chi and Young Master Pei had visited his tavern, he only remembered the finely dressed Pei, and never noticed Zhang Chi in plain clothes. Later, Zhang Chi had drunk there with Zhan Taiqi, master of the Gate of Secrets, but both were poorly dressed and ordered only cheap wine. Wu’s eyes only followed money, caring nothing for those without it.

Back then, Zhang Chi had brought Wine Maiden to General Canghuai’s camp, leaving her behind to go to battle. Since then, he had heard no news of her. Now, by chance, he learned she had been taken by the sect.

This was not too surprising; General Canghuai was of the Five Bushels of Rice Sect, so Wine Maiden’s capture was not unexpected. But how had she become their Saint Maiden?

Zhang Chi had long wished to rescue Wine Maiden. Now, hearing news of her, he pressed, “Is this true? How did Wine Maiden become the Saint Maiden?”

Wu shook his head, helpless. “I truly don’t know, sir. After I sold Wine Maiden, I had no word of her. Yesterday, a priest came to me, saying Wine Maiden was their Saint Maiden, lost for many years, and thanked me for raising her, even giving me money. He said Wine Maiden had been sent to Kuaiji, and wanted me to go there for a reward.”

This tale struck Zhang Chi as strange—how had Wine Maiden become the sect’s Saint Maiden? He wondered if Wu was simply lying to him.

Wu, seeing Zhang Chi silent, grew anxious. “I only wanted a bit of wealth, sir, never meant to rebel. Please see the truth, please see the truth!”

Zhang Chi pondered for a long time, unable to grasp the reason, but if it were true, he was determined to rescue Wine Maiden. Her life had been full of hardship, and he could not bear for her to suffer more.

He told Wu, “Enough kneeling. Come with me back to Jiankang.”

“Sir, I truly did not rebel! I’m telling you the truth, please spare me!” Wu cried, thinking Zhang Chi meant to bring him to Jiankang for execution, tears streaming as he begged for mercy.

“Don’t worry, I won’t have you executed,” Zhang Chi said. “I still have matters in Jiankang. When I finish, I’ll go with you to Kuaiji to find Wine Maiden. Your riches await.”

Wu was half-convinced, but Zhang Chi had at least promised not to execute him. With no other hope, Wu could only rise trembling.

Zhang Chi turned to Santong, “Find two men to keep a close watch on this old man. Don’t let him escape.”