42. Yunchuan's story

Pei held out his hand to help Su step down from the carriage. While Zhu jumped down Pei saw Zihou walk towards them, he seemed a bit agitated. "I know who the Beirong lady, who visited the Tong family, is. She is still here and fervently wishes to speak with you." Zihou said. Pei saw the tension in his jaw and wondered why there was tension. "Can you show her to our room?"

"Yes, I'll get her." Zihou turned to find Yunchuan. Pei, Su, Zhu and Fei Yuan made their way to the room Fei Yuan had arranged. Pei had ordered captain Lui to take care of the carriage and then find some soldiers. Within their room Fei Yuan quickly arranged tea and refreshments. When Zhu saw the refreshments he lifted his head in question to Fei Yuan, who heaved a deep sigh, flicked his eyes to Su and held his finger to his lips. Recalling the conversation he'd had with his brother concerning Su's pregnancy Zhu understood this was one of those instances when she wanted to eat something weird. Pei came to sit down and also noticed the refreshments, Zhu saw the quick lifting of the eyebrows and smirk a clear sign that his brother was amused. Then Pei made sure his expression was again neutral, because Su had also joined them. They were just about to sit down when Zihou opened the doors, let a woman in and immediately closed the doors again.

"Princess Yunchuan?" the surprise was visible on the faces of Pei, Su , Zhu and Fei Yuan. That surprise was mirrored in Yunchuan's face, when she recognized who Zhu was. In that moment Pei was grateful that Zihou had already closed the door. "Don't stand on ceremony." Zhu declared when he saw Yunchuan preparing to bow. Pei motioned for Yunchuan and Zihou to join them. While everybody sat down, Fei Yuan poured the tea after which Pei asked him to request a detailed map of the forest and the mountain. Fei Yuan excused himself and left.

"How come you are here?" Su started while Pei placed some food on her plate. The men kept quiet but Yunchuan couldn't: "How can you eat that?" Looking down on her plate Su shrugged: "Carrying a child is interesting. Why are you here?"

"A good friend of the empress and a lady of the court, madam Luan, liked this necklace." Yunchuan pointed to her necklace. "She asked me if I could ask the one who made it to make one for her. I'd gotten it from Mrs. Tong, the wife of Mr. Tong who conducts business in specialized metals. I traveled here to aske Mrs. Tong to make a necklace for madam Luan. I spoke with Mrs. Tong about seven days ago. On the night after I spoke with Mrs. Tong their house burned down. I've stayed in the inn, hoping miss. Tong, whom I've also met, would come back. She seems to be missing. Tong Xin and I have developed a friendship and I wanted to be here for her to comfort her. Are you here to investigate this case?"

"Yes, we are investigating the case. Why did madam Luan ask you to come here personally? Surely she could have sent a messenger?" Su asked, just before she took another bite.

"Madam Luan had heard that the Tong family usually don't do business during this time of the year they always travel around Beirong and Liang for business. She'd hoped they would make an exception for a royal princess."

"But why does she need the jewelry now? Couldn't she wait?"

"She wishes to wear it during the birthday of the empress. It would be a good addition to her Bai Liang dress, according to her. She even helped convince my brother to let me come." Yunchuan explained.

"Prince Shuomo knows you're here?" Pei asked, surprised, but also glad. If Shuomo knew of this trip, that could help in making sure Yunchuan wouldn't be implicated in this case. Pei had already considered the implications of a Beirong lady who was implicated in a murder case in the border town. With the growing tension between Beirong and Liang, they could do without the added stress of a murder case where both countries were part of. Yunchuan nodded: "Yes, I did have to bring little Yue and four guards, but he did agree. Maybe because madam Luan is close to the empress and she often comes to keep me company since I started living with my brother."

"Can you tell us what happened when you went to Mrs. Tong?" Su asked, she saw Pei watching Zihou, she wondered why, but now was not the time to question their silent communication.

"I came here a day earlier, but decided to visit in the morning the following day. I took Yue with me, but left the guards here. I traveled under another name. When I came to the house I asked to see Xin. I met her a few years ago at the market in the capital of Beirong. That's when I got this necklace. Xin recognized me and she let me in to talk to her mother. Unfortunately Xin had to leave to gather herbs in the forest, she wasn't there when I left."

"Did you notice anything strange when you were there or when you left?"

"No. The household was working to make preparations to travel again…That night the house burned down. I went to see, but I couldn't help. They say everyone who was in the house died. Later in the day they noticed Xin wasn't amongst the dead. As she was out herb gathering it was expected she would return shortly, but it's been seven days I'm getting worried. Also…" here Yunchuan hesitated, which was unusual for Yunchuan. It wasn't Su who urged he, but Zihou who leaned towards Yunchuan as if he would to support her. Yunchuan looked up, clearly appreciative: "Also… the morning after the fire I went to the house to see what had happened and I saw four men standing a little distance away, they seemed to be discussing something. I don't know why, but I didn't like what I saw. So I tried to get closer to hear what they were saying."

"You did what?!" Zihou exclaimed, wondering why she would take a risk like that and resolving to speak on another moment with her about avoiding such situations and keeping herself save. At the same time Su asked: "Did you hear something?" Hearing Su's response Zihou turned to Pei with an incredulous look. Pei remained silent and shook his head a clear signal to Zihou not to interrupt.

"I couldn't hear exactly and not all, but they said something like: 'if she saw us, we need to find her. We can't risk her telling someone. When you find her make sure she meets with an accident.' I decided to wait for someone from county court to investigate the fire but as far as I know no one has come from court yet. Isn't that strange? In Beirong someone from county court would have come within two days after the report has been made." This time Pei did respond: "The same goes for Liang, which suggests the report has never been made. We're expecting Mingjing Office guards tomorrow, they had been sent to the county court to inquire about this case." Yunchuan nodded.

"I've been in this village for nine days I spoke to a lot of people. They seem afraid, some have mentioned a Ghost Army. Do you also have a Ghost Army legend or is it still the Army related to Xuan?"

"The Ghost Amy was mentioned here before, we have also found the sign of Xuan here. So it's most likely the same. It would be good to talk to the villagers about this. I believe there will be a market in two days' time, we'll go there and talk to the villagers. Hopefully Rushuang is with us at that time." Su said to Yunchuan, who was surprised to hear that Rushuang wasn't with them. Su then explained that Rushuang and brother Xie were working somewhere else in Liang, but that they were expected to join them after they've finished their business. Then all turned to the door that opened and closed behind them. "I've found the map of the forest and mountain. Captain Liu has gone to find the soldiers. He'll be here soon." Fei Yuan handed the scroll to Pei. Quickly the others emptied the table and Pei spread the map. Then he pointed out the different locations: the village, Tong mansion, the mine, the mansion of the marquis and where some of the cabins where. "So based on what we found in the house and workshop, Xin is most likely in the mine. She has either traveled on into the mountain or stayed in the nearby cave. She might not have heard us, which is why she didn't open the doors, or she is injured, disabling her from opening the door." Su rattled off, purposefully keeping the last option unsaid. She quickly explained to Yunchuan why the forest seemed an unlikely place for Xin to be. After this Fei Yuan opened the door, as someone knocked. It was a maid from the inn, to deliver their dinner. The entire group sat down for dinner. After dinner captain Liu came to announce he had met and brought the soldiers. Pei turned to Su: "Dear, let us organize the search, why don't you go and sleep. Tomorrow will be a busy day. Princess Yunchuan, it would be best if the soldiers didn't see you. Please enjoy a good sleep. Tomorrow we'll discuss who does what. Zihou, can we meet the soldiers in your room, so we won't disturb Su?" The ladies nodded and Zihou said: "I'll show Yunchuan to her room and then get the soldiers. We'll wait for you." They got up and went to their different rooms.

In their room Pei brushed Su's hair, he liked to feel her soft hair and often brushed Su's hair before going to bed. When Su had laid down on the bed he carefully placed the blanket over her and knelt down next to her: "Dear, I don't want you to join our search. Please remain in the village. If your observations and what Yunchuan told us are correct, there are others behind this accident. We've got to be careful. I'll write Shuomo after the conversation with the soldiers."

"All right." Pei narrowed his eyes slightly and said: "You must be tired to comply with my request." Su lifted her hand to stroke Pei's cheek. "I know it wasn't a request, it sounded more like an order. But I know we've got to be careful. I won't do anything which could be a risk to our child."

"Thank you. Now sleep." Pei kissed her forehead and left to discuss the search of Xin with the other men.