39. First information from the marquis

The journey to the border took a total of six days, it was the fastest Yan had dared to go with his pregnant wife. Seated on his horse Yan contemplated these last days, which had been complicated by his own brother. The emperor, who had on the morning that the Pei carriage was drawn to the front gate, decided to not just send Xin's letter but to deliver it himself, dressed as Pei Zhu. Yan had immediately protested, but the emperor had simply ordered Yan to take him with them to the border. Zihou, who had accompanied the emperor, without his regalia, had been no help to Yan, who had sighed and then told Pei Zhu to get in the carriage quickly. Because they'd decided to leave very early Su was asleep in the carriage, but Yan knew she wouldn't have been able to persuade the emperor to remain in the capital. So now Yan had a very good motive for getting to the border and solving the case as quickly as could be done, so he could get his brother and his dear wife back to the capital, where they were much safer. When they reached the mansion of the marquis, the marquis was already stood at the gate to welcome them. He quickly had his staff show them their rooms, which were the same ones they'd used last time. It was early in the evening, Su rested for a while and at dinner they discussed what had happened.

"I've send some of my soldiers to discreetly search for miss Tong and see about her home." The marquis started the conversation.

"We'll meet the Mingjing Office guards at the town tomorrow, they've gone to county court first. Pei wished to reach your mansion first. Tomorrow we'll hear what they've discovered at the county court." Su said, then she turned to the marquis and asked what his soldiers had discovered.

"They haven't found miss Tong yet, but they have seen the remains of the house. The soldiers confirmed that the Tong home has been burned down completely. We know the fire was put down by the villagers and one of them went to report the fire and deaths to court. However that person hasn't returned and there is fear amongst the villagers that he might have met an accident. Two soldiers are following his trail, if they found a report wasn't made they'll do the report themselves. I'm expecting them back tomorrow, you might meet them when you travel there. Show them my token, they'll help you." The marquis handed his token to Pei.

"We will look out for them. You seem worried." Pei commented taking in the appearance, noting more grey in his hair, more wrinkles in his face and fatigue on his face. The marquis sighed: "I am greatly worried. The rebel groups we are fighting have become much stronger, they attack when we have only just fought another group. My soldiers are becoming fatigued and are despairing. The troops his majesty send from the capital are very welcome, but I fear we will soon need more troops. And now we have this case of the Tong family for which there is no explanation. Also my soldiers have reported the villagers seem to be afraid of something. The soldiers said it is like a spirit has come to the town which strikes great fear in the hearts of the villagers, they dare not speak of it. In the few days the soldiers have stayed amongst the villagers they have heard of many accidents. And yet some villagers seem to have been able to gain greater wealth, those do not share the fear of the others. Now there is also a maiden missing, a maiden that does a lot for the villagers, they fear for her safety, but dare not search for her in the forest, where according the villagers ghosts roam. It feels like we are on an ever building wave, which is shortly to break, but I don't want to see what lies in the abys that lies beneath our feet… Your majesty, I fear for your safety. I would urge you to return to the capital."

"Not until we've found Xin. Nobody here knows wo I am, except the people in this room. I will help search for her, when she is found I'll return to the capital immediately." Zhu said decisively, Pei watched his brother, he wondered if he himself understood what Xin meant to him. Su felt the unease fill the room, she knew no one wanted the emperor here, but it said much that he wanted, or maybe needed, to be here. "Is there more that your soldiers have found?" Su asked in order to break the silence.

"No, the soldiers have visited some of the cabins, but according to them there was no sign that anyone had stayed there. The villagers have said that miss Tong knows the forest very well, so it might be difficult to find her. However my soldiers also heard rumors of villagers wondering whether she killed her parents and is on the run to avoid getting caught. Detective Su it is very important to discover what happened and who has killed the family Tong."

"I shall investigate the case. We will leave for the border town tomorrow." Su said, shortly thereafter everyone got up to go to sleep.

"Brother, I would like to speak with you." Pei said when they both walked to their rooms, Zhu nodded and followed Pei and Su to their room. Pei carefully closed the door when they had stepped in the room. Then he turned to his brother: "Brother, promise me this: if things get to be to dangerous for Su to remain here, you'll escort her to the capital yourself. I need you to protect her and our child, the safety of our family should be assured. I can entrust them only to you." The narrowing of his eyes told Yan exactly what his brother thought of this move of him. "You would go against a royal decree?" Zhu asked, Pei was unmoved: "I've done so before in order to keep Su safe and I will do it again for Su's sake and our child." Silence reigned, but in time Zhu said: "Alright." Zhu then left for his own room.

"He didn't like that." Su said as she sat down on the small vanity table. She carefully got her hair accessories out of her hair, sighing slightly at the release of the tension on her head. She had grown to like the hair accessories and how they made her hair so much more elegant, but the pins sometimes pulled the hair tighter which at the end of the day could cause some headache. Then she picked up a cloth, dipping it in the bowl of water, that a maid had placed there earlier. "Let me." Pei knelt down and took the cloth from Su. Gratefully Su closed her eyes, while Pei softly cleaned her face and neck. "I know he doesn't like it and neither do you, but it is my duty to protect my family and the emperor. This way I can. As always I'll let you and my brother do what you, both of you, need to do, but I'll step in if your safety can't be guaranteed." Su opened her eyes and looked at Pei, she loved him for what he had always done and would continue to do. He let her do what is important for her and she knew other men would not have done that. "I love you, my dear husband. I thank you for your trust in me." She placed her hand on his cheek stroking it with her thumb, slowly she slid her hand to his neck and pulled him to her to kiss him. A little while later, when Pei laid down next to Su, he took her in his arms, gently placing his hand on her abdomen, Su said: "Zhu is very worried about Xin, what will he do when we've found her?"

"I don't know, I think it will depend on what the situation is in the town."

"If the situation is as dangerous as you and the marquis claim, surely he won't want her remaining here, while he goes back to the capital. Just see how he reacted when he got her message."

"I don't know dear. Let's find her first, we'll see what happens after that. Come, you need to res, we've had a long journey." He pulled her closer and closed his eyes. Su smiled and placed her hand on his shoulder, trying to find a comfortable position to sleep.