Chapter 38: Not Worth a Damn

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Shen Tubai’s footsteps did not falter as she hurried to the courtyard of Madam Feng’s residence. Today, Commander Feng was hosting a banquet for guests, and many of Madam Feng’s servants had been called away to assist. Shen Tubai avoided the remaining servants and deliberately took a detour to the back of the courtyard.

Before she could even knock, loud voices erupted from within.

“...The woman was sent by the prince. If she’s handed over to the Zheng family, and the prince later blames us...”

Madam Feng’s words were cut off by Commander Feng’s furious roar: “Woman’s mercy! The prince sent several pregnant women to various households. She’s been living here for over half a year, and you never noticed the calluses on her belly? Those are clearly marks left from practicing the pipa.”

“She’s clearly just a pipa player sent to confuse matters. How could the child she carries be the prince’s?”

Madam Feng kept pleading, “But if by chance—”

“No ‘if’s.” Commander Feng interrupted sharply. “Even if it’s true, so what? Young Master Zheng only likes the charm of women; he won’t cause a scandal. She’s pregnant now, so no need to worry about future illegitimate children. After all this, do you think she’d dare tell the prince?”

Only Madam Feng’s soft sobbing remained inside. Shen Tubai clutched her chest, a wave of nausea washing over her.

Spring Cicada’s eyes widened in disbelief as she listened in, finally realizing where she had gone wrong.

“The eldest daughter is seven years old this year. Tonight, she will serve the patriarch of the Zheng family,” Commander Feng said as casually as if discussing dinner plans, so much so that Shen Tubai momentarily couldn’t grasp what she had heard.

Madam Feng suddenly shouted loudly, “Are you crazy? The patriarch of the Zheng family is over sixty. You want to send a seven-year-old girl to serve him?”

Slaps rang out inside, followed by women’s anguished cries and the sounds of belts and porcelain hitting flesh.

Shen Tubai clenched her fists until her nails dug into her skin. She realized she was trembling — no, it wasn’t her, but Spring Cicada trembling.

The usually bold maid now looked like a frightened little animal, biting her lips hard as tears streamed down her cheeks.

Inside, Commander Feng continued to curse, “If it weren’t for you, woman, I would have long been the perfect son-in-law of the Zheng family in Xingyang. Now my son studies with the Zhengs, and you won’t even give up a son. You’re truly venomous! Bah!”

His footsteps faded away. Shen Tubai tightly covered Spring Cicada’s hand to keep her from crying out.

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“Da Lang is your blood, but isn’t Da Niang as well? How can you be so heartless?” Madam Feng sobbed loudly.

But the answer she got chilled her to the bone: “If she’s not a biological daughter, how can we show sincerity to the Zheng family? We’re only a small commander’s household, but our daughter can be a concubine to the Zheng patriarch. You should be happy!”

Shen Tubai’s stomach churned violently. She pressed a hand to her mouth to keep from vomiting on the spot.

Once she was sure the men had left, Shen Tubai led Spring Cicada inside. “Madam Feng.”

Seeing Shen Tubai, Madam Feng hastily sat up, wiping the tears from her face and quickly composing herself into her usual poised and graceful demeanor. Yet the disheveled hair and the wounds on her body betrayed the violence she had just endured.

Shen Tubai controlled her gaze and looked away.

Madam Feng’s tone sharpened as she questioned, “Lady Shen, you come unannounced without sending a maid to notify me?”

Shen Tubai was straightforward. “I won’t waste words. I heard everything you just said.”

Madam Feng stepped back, instantly alert, her hands behind her back searching for a weapon, though she said, “I don’t know what you mean.”

Shen Tubai produced a dagger from her sleeve, solemnly placing it in Madam Feng’s hand. “I’m here to help you, and to ask for your help.”

She pulled a jade token shaped like a peony from her sleeve. “This is the palace insignia. I am the Imperial Consort personally appointed by His Majesty. I carry the only heir of the Prince of Yan.”

Madam Feng studied the peony jade, her demeanor gradually calming. “What do you want me to do?”

“Kill Commander Feng,” Shen Tubai said with unwavering resolve.

The dagger clattered to the floor.

Madam Feng slumped to the ground as well. “You’re insane! He is my husband.”

“But now he wants to send your daughter to a man over sixty, trading her for the chance for his son to study with the Zheng family,” Shen Tubai picked the dagger back up.

“I already know you want to send me to the Zheng family. Now you only have two choices: do as he says and wait for the prince’s reckoning, or listen to me and secure a future for your daughters.”

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Madam Feng gave a bitter laugh. “You want me to kill my husband? Even if such a mother lives, what future do her daughters have?”

Shen Tubai took her hand and placed it on her belly. “The Empress Dowager promised me this child, once born, could be taken to the palace to be raised. I have a feeling this baby will be a girl.”

“If you kill Commander Feng, I will take your three daughters with me. They will be companions to my daughter, and when they grow up, I will personally recommend them to His Majesty as court ladies. Is there a better future than that in the world?”

Shen Tubai never looked away from Madam Feng’s eyes, causing her to begin to believe what she said was achievable.

Madam Feng wavered but still trembled with fear. She had been beaten into submission by Commander Feng but reluctantly gripped the dagger in Shen Tubai’s hand.

Shen Tubai reassured her, “According to Daye law, a wife who kills her husband receives a heavier sentence, while a husband who kills his wife is punished less severely. Her Majesty the Empress wants to amend this law in court. If you’re lucky, you might live to see that day.”

Madam Feng picked up the dagger and put it down again, tears streaming down her cheeks.

Shen Tubai’s voice was persuasive. “Kill him, and you can give your daughters a good future. Even if one life is exchanged for another, you won’t lose out.”

Madam Feng’s gaze finally hardened as she grasped the dagger firmly. “What do you want me to do?”

The Feng household was no longer safe for her. Beyond that, she did not trust the so-called reinforcements promised by the Prince of Yan. She had to escape tonight with Li Tinghan.

From Madam Feng, Shen Tubai learned that after noon, there would be a small evening banquet, a private affair hosted by Commander Feng for the Zheng family alone.

If Madam Feng killed Commander Feng, she would have to continue hosting the banquet, while Shen Tubai would take her three children out through the back gate.

Though the Zheng family wielded influence in Lingzhou, it was still the Li family’s domain. Shen Tubai only needed to travel north along the official road for a night to escape Lingzhou’s jurisdiction safely.

The waystations along the route were manned by government officials who would escort them back to Chang’an once their identities were confirmed. Shen Tubai only hoped for a smooth journey without incident.