Chapter 13 - Retribution (1/2)

Chapter 13: Retribution

Translator: Jacquelin

“We live fare apart. The grasses are tall and the orioles are flying in the air. I have travelled throughout Jiangnan but never met you again.

I once escaped into dreams but woke with a sense of deep sorrow and depressing loss. Flocks of honking wild geese flew past and I hope they can bring my love letters to you.

Life is cruel. Since you left, I have sunk into depression…”

In Nima’s dream, Ci was singing the song that she had often sung. Suddenly, Nima woke up and muttered, “Ci…” The letter slipped out of his grasp, as tears welled up in his eyes and streamed down his face.

The servants were preparing the table for dinner outside. The maid, Yan, shouted, “Third Madam, the dinner is ready.”

Nima’s thought was suddenly interrupted by her loud voice.

‘Third Madam. Madam Yang Zhen. Third sister…’

Nima had a moment of enlightenment and yelled like crazy, “Yang Zhen, come here at once!”

Yang Zhen was looking at herself in the mirror. She had rosy lips and pretty white teeth. A maid was combing Yang Zhen’s hair. “Madam, Master wants to see you.”

“He can’t live without me. What a sweet burden!” Yang Zhen put on a short padded coat and walked out of her bedroom.

Nima stood in the middle of Ci’s bedroom with a sharp knife in his hand.

“Master! What do you want to do?” Yang Zhen knelt down before him.

“Where is Ci?” Nima held the knife to Yang Zhen’s stomach and continued, “If you don’t tell me the truth, I will kill you.”

“Master, I don’t know. I really don’t know,” she replied in a trembling voice.

The sharp blade nicked Yang Zhen’s clothes and Nima said, “Ci has told me everything in the letter. You’d better tell me the truth.”

There were four lines on Ci’s letter:

“In autumn, I sit at the window with the lute in my arms. The third day after you left, a lute string broke.

The things are still there, but you are no longer by my side. My sister tells me that you will come back soon.