Chapter 28: Auntie Comes to Deliver Money

Jiang Yi heard faint footsteps outside the house, which immediately put him on high alert. He picked up the knife by his bedside, drew it from its scabbard, and walked to the door of the main room. The door was shut; he decided to wait for the person to get closer and then catch them off guard with a surprise attack. Through a crack in the door, Jiang Yi saw a tall woman approaching with a shoulder bag.

The woman reached the door and knocked gently a few times. She then took off her bag, placed it by the door, and turned as if to leave. Jiang Yi threw the door open and held his blade to her throat.

"Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"I am delivering something to you. The delivery is made, so I shall be on my way."

"You haven't answered my question. I cannot let you leave just yet."

Jiang Yi held the knife against her neck with his right hand while his left hand gripped her shoulder, dragging her inside. Shen Rong picked up the bag and quickly latched the door.

"My name is Wu Shimiao. I am your aunt."

Jiang Yi, finding her face unfamiliar, was uncertain if she truly was his aunt. He looked at her with a skeptical gaze. "Are you really my aunt? I have never met you before."

"Your mother's name was Wu Cailing, nicknamed Cuier. She was ten years my senior. If she were still alive, she would be thirty-five this year."

Jiang Yi had heard his mother mention her childhood nickname; very few people knew it.

"I spent a long time tracking you down after you were exiled here. You have suffered these past few months. I have brought money for you and your wife today so that you might live a little more comfortably."

Shen Rong opened the bag to find ten gold bars and ten silver cakes inside.

"There are one hundred taels of gold and one hundred taels of silver in this bag. Use this for now, and I will bring more in a while."

"Aunt, you haven't eaten, have you? Let me cook something for you to tide you over."

There was still roe deer meat and dumplings in the house. Shen Rong took the frozen dumplings and placed them in a pot on the stove, then warmed up the meat to ensure Wu Shimiao had a full meal.

"I cannot stay here too long, lest I bring trouble upon you."

"Aunt, tell me the truth: have you joined the Fire Lotus Sect?"

Wu Shimiao’s family was not well-off; it was impossible for her to produce so much money at once. It was highly likely that the Fire Lotus Sect had looted these riches from wealthy families, and she had taken some to support the couple.

"Do not ask too much. I cannot linger here. Do not wander about during this time; the area around Hanyang is not peaceful."

"You should stay here instead. I will find a way to secure a proper identity for you. If you are part of the Fire Lotus Sect, you ought to cut ties with that organization as soon as possible."

Jiang Yi resolved that when he grew strong enough, he would eradicate the Fire Lotus Sect entirely. "I, too, plan to accomplish great things in the future. Stay and help me."

Regardless of the cost, he had to keep his aunt here and force her to make a clean break from the Fire Lotus Sect. Wu Shimiao was somewhat moved by Jiang Yi's words, seeing that the young couple truly stood alone. However, she knew that if she were to defect from the sect so casually, it might bring danger to them.

"I will help you from the shadows, but I cannot stay. You two must live your lives well."

Wu Shimiao rose to leave, but Jiang Yi pressed his hand onto her shoulder.

"Aunt, I know you mean well, but staying in the Fire Lotus Sect is not a wise move. If the sect becomes my enemy in the future, will you be my enemy as well?"

Wu Shimiao did not want to be his adversary; she wished to look after him for her sister's sake. Currently, government offices everywhere were hunting down members of the sect, and anyone found harboring them would face the same punishment.

"I will never be your enemy, but I cannot stay by your side for long. It is getting late; you two should get some sleep."

"Aunt, at least eat before you go."

Seeing her resolve, Jiang Yi decided to wait until she had finished her meal. Shen Rong moved the copper tea kettle off the stove, placed a small pot on the heat, and poured in hot water.

"Wait just a moment, Aunt. The delicious dumplings will be ready soon, and I will heat up the roe deer meat as well."

Shen Rong had Jiang Yi watch the pot while she went to the kitchen to heat the meat. Hanzhou was currently a gathering point for various factions, each seemingly intent on seizing control of the region. The Liao Kingdom to the north was also watching like a predator. Jiang Yi hoped his plans would proceed smoothly.

"The seemingly unremarkable Hanzhou is about to face a storm. I wonder what the situation is like around Haojing?"

Jiang Yi had a premonition that the Great Liang would fracture in the coming years. He had no desire to be the Emperor of Liang, for the empire was already rotten to the core.

"Once the Fire Lotus Sect grows stronger in the Liang, and my own standing improves, I will be able to help you much more."

Wu Shimiao was a minor leader in the sect, commanding several hundred people. After a while, the dumplings and the roe deer meat were ready. Shen Rong brought out plates of tofu, bean sprouts, and pickled cabbage to ensure Wu Shimiao had a hearty meal.

"Aunt, try the dumplings first; they are delicious."

Wu Shimiao picked one up and took a bite. The flavor was indeed exquisite. It was her first time eating such a delicacy, and she was truly impressed.

"This is truly delicious!"

The couple remained silent, not wanting to disturb her meal. Shen Rong ladled a bowl of dumpling broth for her to enjoy afterward. Once satiated, Wu Shimiao stood up to depart.

"I have eaten my fill. Stay home for the time being; I will bring you money from time to time."

Shen Rong chased after her with a paper packet. "Aunt, these are hawthorn slices my husband made. Please take them and snack on them."

Wu Shimiao turned, accepted the package, and offered a faint smile.

"Then I shall accept them. Take care of yourselves."

The money remained behind, and the hawthorn slices were tucked into her bag. Wu Shimiao donned her conical hat and straw raincoat, vanishing into the wind and snow. The couple worried deeply that she might one day be caught by the authorities and humiliated to death.

"Aunt is young, beautiful, and so capable. I truly worry she will meet with danger, yet she refuses to stay."

It was Shen Rong’s first time meeting Jiang Yi’s aunt, and she had left a very good impression.

"The fact that she dared to come alone shows she has great skill. She is a stubborn person; there is no keeping her here."

Though the Fire Lotus Sect was currently at the height of its power, Jiang Yi knew it would not last long. The influence of the great noble families could not be underestimated, and the sect was no match for them. He predicted that internal discord would plague the sect, and the imperial court would eventually unite with these families to dismantle it piece by piece. He cared little for the fate of the sect, fearing only that his aunt would fall into the hands of the officials. They would surely subject her to brutal torture to extract intelligence.

Jiang Yi, currently without power or influence, could do nothing to help her.

"I hope the meeting with the village head tomorrow regarding the purchase of land goes smoothly. In a few days, we shall buy the land from Uncle Chang, and then we will finally have a home and fields of our own."

If Zhao Shengkui did not sell his land to the Wang family, he might sell it to the Zhao family. In that case, Jiang Yi would have to negotiate with them to secure a few acres. Shen Rong felt that her husband's future plans carried high risks, but she was willing to weather the storm with him.

"If you are not sleepy, I will teach you ten more characters tonight, and then we can practice our calligraphy."

Every night, Jiang Yi insisted on teaching Shen Rong ten characters, and if he had time during the day, he would explain their meanings. Shen Rong retrieved her practice book from the vanity drawer, ready to learn. She started with the simplest strokes, characters used in daily life.

"Husband, I have learned all the numbers from one to ten, and I can write them all now."

She pulled out a sheet of yellow paper, dipped her brush in ink, and wrote the numbers one through ten. While the characters were not perfect, they were neat. As a child, she had longed to study, but circumstances had never allowed it. Now that she had the chance, she studied with great diligence.