Forced Marriage

Shen Zhiyao had not originally been part of yesterday's outing for food and drink in the Yan Capital. Wen Yan was a practiced wastrel and a regular at the Red Sleeve House. How would he have dared bring Shen Zhiyao along!

Two days earlier, Shen Zhiyao had sought out Zhao Huiluan of her own accord.

"Your Highness, are you going to the Red Sleeve House tomorrow? Might you take me with you?"

"Why?"

At that, Shen Zhiyao solemnly cupped her hands and bowed to her.

"Your Highness is astute. I imagine you have already guessed who I am. I would not dare deceive you. I wish to accompany you to the Red Sleeve House this time because of a case."

Shen Zhiyao told her that in recent years, women had gone missing from time to time in Great Yin, including many daughters of official families. The traffickers were extremely shrewd, selling those from the south in the north and ferrying girls from the north down south.

"Ordinary women are sent to pleasure houses, while the daughters of officials can be given to high officials and nobles as concubines."

"Aren't you a young lady raised in the inner chambers? How do you know about this?"

"I have always enjoyed studying tales of wandering heroes and investigations. Back home, I often slipped out to travel while my nursemaid wasn't looking. Since my father passed away, I have continued investigating this case."

"You think that person is connected to the case?"

"Yes."

"There are risks in going."

"I'm not afraid."

"Very well. I'll let Wen Nihe know you're coming along."

"A wise decision, Your Highness."

The Wen family did not want Shen Zhiyao as their granddaughter-in-law. Given their usual high-handed methods, they could not bear to lay a hand on Wen Yan, so they would surely go after Shen Zhiyao.

If Shen Zhiyao became caught up in the trafficking case after the trip to the Red Sleeve House, it would prove that the Wen family could not be disentangled from it. Shen Zhiyao wanted to use this to bring the Wen family down.

If Shen Zhiyao did not become caught up in the trafficking case, she could still use it to drive a wedge between Wen Yan and his grandmother.

"Xichun, contact the Eastern Depot and have them secretly look for traces of Shen Zhiyao. If they find any clues, quietly leave them for..."

Zhao Huiluan paused. She had meant to say Wen Yan, but changed her mind. "Leave them for Vice Director Rong."

With Shen Zhiyao missing, Rong An would surely use his position as vice director of the Imperial College to take part in the search for his own student.

Wen Yan would surely be there too.

Then she would have someone lead Wen Yan there to see the sins his Wen family had committed with his own eyes.

"Yes." Xichun accepted the order. After escorting her back to Jade Balance Palace, she went out again.

Zhao Huiluan also asked Lianqiu, "How did Xiao Qinglan come to be transferred to the Imperial Weaving Bureau in Jiangnan?"

Before heading south, Xiao Qinglan had made a special trip to the Imperial College to bid her farewell. She had not had a chance to ask him about it in detail then, only telling him to go south without worry.

"It was Huang Ying, the Eastern Depot's director, again."

Zhao Huiluan understood.

Huang Ying was the palace attendant who had led the group beating of Xiao Qinglan in the side hall back then, and he had done rather well for himself in the palace over the years. The friction between him and Xiao Qinglan went back a long way.

Lianqiu said, "Huang Ying is Seal-Bearer Duan of the Directorate of Ceremonial's godson. He's shrewd, clever, filial, and obedient, and Seal-Bearer Duan dotes on him. Huang Ying and Xiao Qinglan don't get along, but out of consideration for Celestial Jade Palace and Jade Balance Palace, Seal-Bearer Duan didn't dare mistreat Xiao Qinglan, so he sent him to fill a vacancy at the Imperial Weaving Bureau."

"That's fine too. Let him stay in the south."

Zhao Huiluan was not worried. Before Xiao Qinglan left, he had told her that even if he was no longer in the Yan Capital, he still had people in the Eastern Depot.

Chapter 31: Forced Marriage

In a daze, Shen Zhiyao heard someone speaking.

"Force the medicine down their throats."

Medicine? What medicine?

"First, get a batch of virgins' blood. We have to do this once with every batch anyway. Move quickly! Once it's done, get the boat away before dark!"

Virgins' blood?

Shen Zhiyao felt someone grip her jaw and force her to drink the medicine. She could not open her eyes, but she clenched her teeth tight, giving them no chance to force it down her throat.

"Stinking bitch!"

A slap landed on her face, filling Shen Zhiyao's mouth with the metallic sweetness of blood.

"Forget this one. The higher-ups gave special instructions about her. There are plenty of virgins; we won't miss one."

The person threw her hard onto the ground.

Only when the footsteps had faded did she struggle to open her eyes and look around.

She was in a filthy, disorderly warehouse. A dozen or so girls huddled together in a corner, trembling, their eyes full of terror.

"Are you hurt?"

Shen Zhiyao asked the girls, looking straight at their wrists. There were no signs of injury.

A few of the bolder girls shook their heads at her.

"What did they mean by virgins' blood?"

"It's... it's virgins' menstrual blood."

"They force medicine down our throats every day. They said it would nourish us for three days, then bring on our courses over the next two. Today's the fifth day."

Shen Zhiyun stared in bewilderment. "What is it for?"

"We... we don't know."

"I think... it's to treat some noble person's illness."

"Bad news! Someone's found us! Get on the boat now!"

A clamor erupted outside. Then someone opened the door, tied all the girls to a single hemp rope, and led them out.

"Move!"

Someone kept urging them on.

As Shen Zhiyao passed through the doorway, a burly man with a full beard stopped her. Gripping her chin, he turned her face from side to side and asked the underling beside him, "This is her?"

The underling nodded.

The burly man spat. "Damn my luck!"

He shoved Shen Zhiyao hard, then turned and instructed his underling, "Go tell them that if this little bitch brings me down, they'd better remember what they promised me and take good care of my mother. Otherwise, once I'm in prison, not one of them will get away!"

"Move it!" Shen Zhiyao was shoved again.

Shen Zhiyao walked at a crawl. She thought there must be people searching for her all over the imperial capital by now. She absolutely could not get on that boat. If she were taken far from the capital, this would be hard to settle!

"Boss! Bad news! The ferry crossing's crawling with soldiers!"

Shen Zhiyao's gaze flickered. She thought, Princess Zhenning must be helping me.

The bearded man cursed and swore as he ordered his men to drive the girls to a desolate, ruined temple.

Thunder crashed outside the temple as rain poured down in sheets.

The girls huddled in a corner. The temple was dark and eerie, and every so often a flash of lightning lit up the dilapidated, fearsome statue of a deity, frightening them into cries of alarm.