The Crown Prince refused to wait comfortably in the carriage alone but rather stayed in a tent with Yu Pin Yan. They took out some dry rations wrapped in oil paper and slowly ate.
"When Fang Wei returns, we must continue with our journey in haste. I'm sure many would blame me should they have to lie in the rain water for a night." The Crown Prince squinted his eyes and jested.
Yu Pin Yan nodded his head, "Caution is the parent of safety. As we are guarding eight million silvers, one would have to sleep with one eye open; let alone having to transport such a consignment. As this is your first time handling such a crucial assignment, there must not be the least bit of carelessness."
"At the end of the month, second younger brother, third younger brother and fourth younger brother will proceed to attend the royal court and participate in political affairs. I do not know how many people are waiting to dwell on my mistake this time. Do rest assured, I will avoid any." The Crown Prince patted Yu Pin Yan's shoulder. They shared a glance and smiled.
An hour had unexpectedly passed while they nibbled on the rations and chatted. They heard a burst of rapidly advancing hoof beats. Before the Crown Prince could draw back the tent's curtain, he heard Fang Wei shout loudly, "Crown Prince, it's not good. There was a landslide up front!"
The Crown Prince was startled and promptly walked out to ask about the details.
The ration Yu Wen Tao was holding dropped into the turbid muddy water.
Everyone was frightened, their faces pallid and were drenched in cold sweat. Yu Pin Yan, however, felt incredibly relieved.
"Landslide? What is the situation?" The Crown Prince ducked through the rain and quickly strode forward to face them.
"After travelling for a quarter hour, this subordinate heard a loud rumbling sound from the mountain top. Rainwater, mud and rocks were gushing down violently. The pathway was shattered and swept into the river. Luckily, this subordinate was alert and retreated swiftly, or else this subordinate wouldn't have been able to make it back." Fang Wei's heart was still thundering with fear. He patted his chest to calm himself down.
As he was explaining, a loud noise thundered out ahead. Everyone had thought it was just the rumbling of the thunderstorm, but now, they finally realized it was actually the landslide. If the Crown Prince had not stopped but rather rushed ahead, they definitely would have barged into the landslide and been smothered to death with no remains found. Losing the disaster relief of eight million silver liang would not only compromise the lives of millions victims, but their reputation would have also been badly reflected upon their death.
The more Yu Wen Tao pondered over this, the more perturbed he felt. He cupped his hands and bowed repeatedly, then spoke in a trembling voice, "Crown Prince is indeed of the Emperor's true lineage who carries heaven's blessings. The Crown Prince is truly wise. The Crown Prince is truly wise!"
Everyone immediately recovered from the shock and echoed the proclamation. Their eyes were now filled with reverence.
The Crown Prince's heart still thrummed with fears, but none was shown on his face. He calmly declared, "This place is not safe. Move the camp to an open and spacious field. We will wait till the rain stops and then make a long detour to Sanmen Gorge. Start moving quickly."
No one dared to dispute this time.
Finally, the crafty old fox Yu Wen Tao was subdued, the Crown Prince breathed a sigh of relief. After the lingering fear dispersed, he could not contain his excitement and vigorously patted Yu Pin Yan's shoulder. "Pin Yan, thank you for your timely obstruction; otherwise, not even my complete remains could be salvaged!" Not only that; who knows how many people were waiting to tarnish his reputation if he was to lose the disaster relief? He felt bitterly disappointed when he thought of those circumstances.
"Crown Prince, you exaggerated. You were aware of the situation too, otherwise my warnings would have been useless no matter how much I urged." Yu Pin Yan did not claim the credit or even mention his younger sister's dream. The Imperial family was oversuspicious by nature and should it be revealed, this would certainly be regarded as a calamity and not a blessing for Xiang'er.
"I do indeed have a definite idea. Pin Yan, but many thanks." The Crown Prince gave Pin Yan's shoulder a tight squeeze, expressing his feelings of debt.
Both of them clasped their hands firmly. Soon after, everyone mounted their steeds and hurriedly circled back. As the detour would delay the journey for at least two days, the Crown Prince sent a messenger to deliver a letter to the Emperor, explaining the reason.
Early next morning, Marquis Yongle manor also received Yu Pin Yan's letter. After reading the letter, Old Madam's complexion turned ghastly pale, and she repeatedly cried out, "Its Buddha's blessings!"
"Old Madam, what's the matter? Did the Young Marquis..." Ma Momo dared not finish the sentence - her words trailed off.
"Yan'er is fine." Old Madam rose unsteadily to her feet. Dashing to the Buddha's statue on the altar, she bowed three times. She then passed the letter to Ma Momo. Heart still fluttering with fear and said, "It was extremely hair-raising. I was already scared stiff and covered in cold sweat just by reading the letter!"
Ma Momo quickly finished reading the letter. She shuddered suddenly, then leaned in close to Old Madam's ear and whispered, "Old Madam, do you still remember the words Second Young Miss cried out before Young Marquis' departure? Cui Xi said that Second Young Miss dreamt that Young Marquis had been flushed away by mud and rocks, thus she refused to let Young Marquis leave. Look. Doesn't it coincide with the contents of the letter?"
"Elder brother, if it is raining heavily, immediately stop. You must not hasten on with the journey! Please remember, you must not hasten on with the journey!" Those words kept echoing in Old Madam's mind and her eyes widened.
"Si." Old Madam sucked in a breath of cold air. She raised her legs and walked out, "Go find Xiang'er and ask what she had dream about yesterday."
Yu Xiang could not sleep the whole night, afraid of closing her eyes and dreaming of the scene of Yu Pin Yan's death while repeatedly mulling over in the case of Yu Pin Yan's death; how would she continue to survive and feel frigidly cold the more she pondered. The pillar of Marquis Yongle manor was condemned to death by her, thus Lin Shi and Old Madam would undoubtedly not be able to tolerate her. In this era, women that were exiled from their family clan would have no means of subsistence, let alone someone paralyzed like her. She would probably starve to death on the street within two days leaving the manor.
When Old Madam arrived and saw her, she was half leaning on the divan and moping listlessly. Her complexion was sallow, hair dishevelled and sunken bloodshot eyes. From her appearance, it was obvious she had not slept at all. When she heard their footsteps, she stiffly turned her head and asked hoarsely, "How's my elder brother? Is there any news?"
Though she was not of the Marquis' bloodline, she did grow up with Yan'er. Her affection towards him was unabashedly sincere. Why else would she have risked her life to save him or be this plagued with worries?
After much deliberation, the prejudice and misunderstanding Old Madam harboured towards Yu Xiang partially diminished in an instant.
"Yan'er is fine," Old Madam spoke gently. "You had a nightmare yesterday and would not let Yan'er leave no matter what. What did you see in the dream? Do tell Grandmother."
Yu Xiang's deeply troubled heart was immediately settled down. Under Old Madam closely questioning, she described everything in detail. Yu Pin Yan's nominal age was sixteen this year and he'd just embarked on an official career. He was ruthless and vicious thus, would antagonize many people. As the one he pledged his loyalty to was the reigning Crown Prince, he would perhaps come across innumerable calamities in the future. If the Yu household did not take her words seriously, and merely regarded her as an annoying troublemaker who deliberately being provocative, then Yu Pin Yan would certainly not have such good luck next time.
After listening to the whole narration, Old Madam deliberated for quite a while before she finally asked, "You really saw a lot of silver ingots plunging into the river?"
Yu Xiang nodded her head with conviction.
Old Madam was dazed for a quarter of an hour. When she finally came around again, she caressed the corner of Yu Xiang's reddened eye and said in a soft voice, "Good child. Did you not close your eyes the whole night because you worried so much about your elder brother? Have you taken your medicine and your meals yet?"
Yu Xiang shook her head. "Without knowing about my elder brother's safety, I don't want to drink the medicine and can't eat."
"Good child. Good child..." Old Madam had completely changed her disposition. She patted the top of Yu Xiang's head repeatedly to comfort her. "Drink your medicine and have your meals, then go to sleep. You must be tired."
Ma Momo personally went to the kitchen to decoct the medicinal herbs and prepare a meal for Second Young Miss.
Old Madam accompanied Yu Xiang until she had finished her meals. Seeing how she kept yawning, Old Madam got up to leave. When she arrived at the doorway, she turned around and exhorted seriously, "Xiang'er, if you have a similar dream next time, do tell Grandmother. Don't keep it to yourself."
Yu Xiang nodded her head in response. She naturally would not keep it to herself as Yu Pin Yan was her only protective talisman.
Old Madam left the room in total contentment. She then caught sight of Cui Ping and Cui Xi standing behind her, and briefed them prudently, "Take proper care of Young Miss. Just look for Ma Momo if there is anything lacking. If Young Miss refuses to drink medicine or eat, you must persuade her. Should you disregard her again like today, you will not be needed in the manor anymore."
Cui Ping and Cui Xi softly complied. When the group was a distance away, they wiped away the cold sweat beading their foreheads and looked at each other in dismay. How did the Old Madam's attitude completely change in just one night?
Once Old Madam returned to the main courtyard, she knelt in front of the Buddha statue and recited some scriptures which helped to soothe her tensed emotions.
Ma Momo helped Old Madam onto her feet and carried over a cup of hot tea. After Old Madam was seated, Ma Momo moved closer to ask, "Old Madam, what exactly did Young Miss dream about?"
"This is Buddha's warning to Xiang'er." Old Madam casually skimmed the floating tea froth with the cup's lid in a trance, "If Yan'er...if they did not stop but continued charging ahead, the scene from the dream would have become reality. Those silver ingots are likely the disaster relief that the Crown Prince had brought along. It could be at least this amount..." She extended her palm.
"Fifty thousand liang?" Ma Momo's jaw dropped.
"Five million liang or maybe more." Old Madam's forehead was beaded with cold sweat as she said this. Heaving a deep sigh, she continued, "Fortunately, Xiang'er had warned, so Yan'er did not rush ahead. Otherwise, not only would he have lost his life, the entire Marquis manor would have to take the brunt. Even the confiscation of the entirety of the family's accumulated resources would not be able to compensate that five million liang!"
Yu Xiang was just an unworldly little girl. How could she have known of Yan'er's mission or even aware that the Crown Prince carried silver for the disaster relief? She must have truly dreamt about it and the description was meticulously detailed, as if she had personally been at the scene. Old Madam was not the least bit doubtful of her words this moment.
Ma Momo sucked up a mouthful of cold air and trembled with fear. "Five...five million liang?" she stammered. "Oh my mother! Thank you Buddha for your blessing. Thank you Buddha for your blessing!" If the Marquis had died and the manor confiscated, they, being the bond servants, would also not be able to survive. This was truly a narrow escape. A narrow escape!
Ma Momo dashed towards the Buddha statue and gave a bow. She then softly murmured, "The Marquis is right. Young Miss is not a jinx, but obviously his lucky star. Old Madam, you see. In just one month, Young Miss has helped the Marquis evade two deadly calamities. This is too fantastic. If it's not someone with profound good fortune, how would Buddha warn them through a dream..."
Old Madam went silent for a while and beckoned her hand, "Deliver the two bolts of silk muslin gauze and the stem of the hundred-year-old ginseng from my storeroom to Xiang'er. She is a good child." She indeed has a good heart. This matter was thoroughly strange in all aspects. Whether it was a blessing or misfortune, they could only wait and see for the time being.
"Ai. Laonu will go now." Ma Momo did not order anyone but went to handle it herself. These two items were gifts bestowed by the Emperor and were priceless. Old Madam was even reluctant to use them herself, and now she had given them completely to Young Miss. It was evidently she was truly scared this time.
Cui Ping and Cui Xi noticed that Old Madam was paying more attention to Yu Xiang. Though they were indignant, they dared not be as presumptuous as before.
**********
The original version of the past event:
The Crown Prince proceeded to Sanmen Gorge to deliver the disaster relief. However, he met with the landslide halfway through the journey. He was lucky to have escaped death but he lost the eight million liang of the disaster relief and returned in a sorry state. The Imperial Censor censured the Crown Prince as someone not benevolent, thus enraged and was punished by the Heaven which implicated millions of the flooding victims. The Emperor was furious and sent the Crown Prince to the Imperial Mausoleum for penitence and barred the Crown Prince from attending the Royal Court for three years. He then commanded the Fourth Prince to raise more silver liang and proceeded to Sanmen Gorge. The Fourth Prince conducted the mission with unsurpassed capability and handled the disaster relief affairs flawlessly without any mistakes. By the end of the ninth month, the Fourth Prince returned to the Capital bearing the Wanmin Umbrella (an umbrella presented to a popular official as a token of respect and gratitude) and his reputation was greatly boosted, while the Crown Prince was quiescent with each passing day.
Marquis Yongle was severely injured in the landslide and recuperated at home for months. The Emperor vented out his anger on the Marquis. Although he did not strip the Marquis of his nobility rank, he did scrape out all of the Marquis' duties and relinquished him. Old Madam sold off all the family properties as the compliance punishment and in the end, she was not able to restore the Marquis manor's prestige again. Marquis Yongle had no choice but to enlist in the army, using his life to try gaining an opportunity for advancement