The news of the attempt on Jinyi's life spread through the entirety of Longcheng in half a day.
Outrage swept the city.
Many people feared for Jinyi's safety, though officials connected to the government all let it be known that District Chief Jinyi's life was not in danger. But the district chief's seat had changed hands — how could anyone believe Jinyi was truly all right?
Mingcheng had been appointed by Zhao Baihui to serve as acting district chief.
The security office was being raked over the coals from top to bottom. In recent days, the men of the security office had seemed to lose their minds entirely, eyeing everyone from the highest rank to the lowest as a potential spy or assassin. They had even taken to asking a man caught relieving himself in public whether he happened to be an assassin.
Because of all this, what should have been a joyful New Year felt hollow and diminished. In years past, great red lanterns hung high, the streets flowed with people like a river, the noise went on past midnight, and every face broke into smiles. Not this year. Most people stayed quietly at home, praying for Jinyi, beseeching every god and spirit in the heavens to open their eyes and come to the aid of their Jinyi.
The Zhao Residence.
Jinyi lay with her brow deeply furrowed. She had dreamed again of being ten years old — of how small and helpless she had been. Her father, a beast in human form, had sold her into a brothel. She had been beaten and cursed at, had run for her life and been dragged back, beaten and cursed at again, until her eyes were nearly blind from weeping. In the end she had thrown herself from an upper floor, badly wounded but still alive, and an old woman had taken her in. When the old woman died, she was cast back onto the streets, only to be found again by that same monstrous father and sold once more to a trafficker. Then the master had bought her.
Jinyi woke. She lay still for a while, staring at nothing, flat on her back in the bed. When she raised her eyes she could see through the window the branches of a small tree swaying in a light breeze, and in the courtyard beyond, a little deer and a few birds. Zhao Baihui had paid someone to catch these creatures for her — harmless animals, every one. Watching them live their carefree lives gave her a quiet sense of peace.
"Jinyi, time for your medicine." Zhao Baihui stepped carefully through the door carrying a bowl of medicine.
"Master, let me do it myself."
"It's nothing. You've looked after me all these years — let me look after you for once. Call it even."
How could it ever be even? What she owed him, three lifetimes could not repay.
She watched him blow on the medicine until it cooled, then lift the spoon to her lips. A warmth spread through her heart, and the medicine didn't taste quite so bitter.
"Rest a while longer after you finish this. You gave me a terrible fright. If anything happened to you, what on earth would I do?"
Zhao Baihui pressed his hand to her forehead as he spoke. "Good — not nearly as hot. Those wretched people, to use poison on top of everything else. Thank heaven I had antibiotics."
"You lost a great deal of strength from this injury. Rest and recover for a time. I've asked Mingcheng to handle the government work while you're getting better."
Jinyi understood. The master was afraid she might worry — he knew how much she valued her position. It was what made her feel safe.
"Thank you, Master."
"No need for thanks between us."
"Master, I want to hear you sing. Those songs of yours are so beautiful — would you sing one for me?"
Jinyi reached out and caught hold of Zhao Baihui's hand, a rare girlish shyness stealing over her face.
"Of course. Little Jinyi wants a song, so the master will sing. Ahem — here we go: *I love to watch you knit your brows so tight, you call me a coward…*"
Jinxiu had been listening outside the door for a moment before she pushed it open and stepped in. "Master, come here — there's something you need to know."
The two of them stepped out and moved far enough away that Jinyi could not catch their words. Only then did Zhao Baihui ask, "What is it that has to be kept from Jinyi? She isn't a fool, you know."
"Sister Jinyi's father is here. He says his daughter is hurt and he's been worried sick. Heh." Jinxiu gave a short, humorless laugh.
"So he's been lurking about for some time but didn't dare show his face before Jinyi. Now that he sees Jinyi is injured — perhaps at her most vulnerable — he's come to see if there's a fortune to be won."
"That's more or less how I read it."
"Once, twice — but I will not allow the same person to hurt Jinyi a third time."
"Have someone else take care of it. Two conditions: he lives, and he suffers — suffers for the rest of his life. Let him spend every remaining day in repentance."
"Ha ha! As you wish, Master — and it's exactly what I had in mind! To think there are fathers so utterly heartless in this world! Despicable!"
"Jinxiu, not everyone has a heart."
---
On the great river, several enormous warships lay moored at the northern bank. A thousand fully armed cavalry rode their horses down the gangways and onto shore. The moment they landed, they split into dozens of small teams of thirty-odd riders each and swept off in every direction. The remaining thousand men set to work at once throwing up defensive fortifications nearby and unloading supplies from the ships.
And this was only the first wave.
---
The Imperial Capital. The Hall of Supreme Harmony.
"Your Majesty, the Wolf Soldiers have come! They have struck many of our towns and settlements!"
"Let them come. Have we anything to fear from a rabble of Wolf Soldiers? Talimu — I give you ten thousand men. Go and wipe out that so-called Wolf Army, every last one of them."
---
Liujing.
"Your Majesty, wonderful news."
"What news?"
"The chief of that Longcheng has been assassinated by the northern barbarians, and the Wolf Soldiers have already crossed the Yellow River!"
"Ha ha — now that truly is cause for celebration! Let those two savage dogs tear each other to pieces."
"By the way — is the Longcheng chief dead?"
"Word is she most likely perished. They've installed a new chief."
"Right. We sent our own people there as well. Issue the order: observe and wait for now. See how things unfold."
"Your Majesty, our agents there have sent no word back for quite some time."
"Wait — something isn't right. Everything south of the great river and north of the Yangtze is our territory! The Wolf Soldiers crossed it without a sound, came to blows with the barbarians, and only now do you bring me the news? What exactly are you good for?!"
---
"The Wolf Soldiers and the barbarians have gone to war? The Wolf Soldiers have to cover such a vast distance — supplies alone will be a nightmare. This does not bode well for them."
"If only they had turned on the Ming traitors instead. With the Wolf Soldiers' strength, crushing the Ming remnants would have been child's play. That would have given the court the opening to reclaim the lands south of the Yangtze."
"A pity. A great pity."
---
"It's confirmed — the ones who tried to kill District Chief Jinyi were the barbarians. Our Wolf Soldiers have already struck back!"
"But we don't have that many Wolf Soldiers, do we? Can they really beat the barbarians? Word is the barbarians have a hundred thousand troops!"
"A hundred thousand? What do we do if our Wolf Soldiers can't hold? To hell with it — I'm signing up!"
"Same here — let's go kill some barbarians!"
"Well, um, I'm not exactly the bravest soul… but can I donate money instead?"