Zhao Estate · Rainy Night
Rain pattered without cease. Washed by the downpour, the plaque grew ever clearer.
Yet the hanging lanterns swayed in the night wind, as though foretelling that something ill-omened was about to happen.
An ox-cart came to a halt. Someone hurriedly climbed down, took the steps three at a time, mounted the stairs, and slapped the gate with utter disregard. Slap! Slap! Slap!
Such frantic pounding drew displeasure from within.
It was already deep into the night. What was this person doing here at such an hour? Who was so blind to propriety?
Hearing the commotion, the retainer inside darkened further.
He had assumed the person outside would stop after knocking a few times without receiving an answer. Instead, the pounding went on and on. Left with no choice, the retainer braved the rain and called through the gate, "Go back! Prime Minister Zhao has already retired for the night and will receive no guests!"
In truth, it was not merely because it was late that Zhao Xu would receive no visitors. Even in the daytime, the gates of Zhao Estate remained tightly shut, and its master rarely saw guests.
Since the previous incident, although Zhao Xu had not been dismissed as prime minister, he had secluded himself and seldom went out, virtually cutting off contact with court officials.
Those in the know also had the good sense not to disturb Zhao Xu. It was an unspoken understanding.
Hearing the retainer's reply, the person outside called directly, "It's me. Open the gate, quickly!"
The voice sounded somewhat familiar. Was that Qian Wei, Lord Qian, who often visited the estate?
The retainer halted mid-turn, hurried back in a few quick steps, and peered through the crack in the gate. That single look let him clearly see the