Qiqian’er found Gu Hongyun’s staring thoroughly uncomfortable, so she shot him a glare.

Feeling guilty, Gu Hongyun lowered his head sheepishly, though he kept his ears alert and wary.

Qiqian’er walked a wide circle around him. In her simple way of thinking, the people of this world could only be sorted into two kinds — those good to her were good people, and those not good to her, like this man who’d thrown blades at her, were undeniably bad people.

She stepped slowly toward the covered cart to look, and her heart ached as if pricked by needles. In this world, the most sinful thing wasn’t that some families produced wicked children — after all, most parents had four or five children, and like a gamble, even if one turned out ungrateful, chances were at least one would turn out well, like fishing for a good catch.

But look at this.

In the deep autumn chill, the two little ones’ tender feet were covered in scrapes and blood, their filthy little feet caked in layers of black mud — and this so-called mother hadn’t given it a thought, only knowing to wrap them tightly in the middle of a quilt.

Illness enters through the feet, cold enters through the soles — yet their backsides, which don’t fear the cold, she’d wrapped up tight and snug.

And you’d say — can you even give these children good food and drink, good fun and enjoyment? Poor children, born into your family already lesser than others, and now made to serve as human pack-mules on top of it…

Ugh… why was she thinking of such sad things again? Qiqian’er pinched her own face, startling the people across from her.

Seeing their fear, Qiqian’er tried to force a smile, doing her best to sound gentle: “Don’t be afraid, don’t be afraid. You — could you at least wrap some cloth strips around those children’s feet?”

She simply couldn’t stand seeing children cared for so poorly.

The woman looked at Qiqian’er, then at the children’s feet. Perhaps out of fear, she nodded immediately, reached out and tore the cotton lining from inside the cart, working hard to wrap the children’s feet.

Her heart ached… what a pity for her cart.

A poor household’s steward-woman always cherished her belongings dearly — this fine covered cart had already been turned upside down and rummaged through, and now even the cotton curtain covering the window had been torn off by this troublesome intruder to bind her chest wound.

The fine lambskin cushion laid beneath had also been taken by this troublesome intruder and spread on the ground, now stained with blood — completely ruined, unusable.

Qiqian’er had originally been calculating in her mind how this cart could serve the family for over a decade — now, well, it seemed fate had decided: what wasn’t hers was never going to be hers.

Though Qiqian’er had seen that filth beneath the temple idol, at the time she’d been drunk, and besides, she couldn’t imagine what kind of wealth such things could buy. In her previous life, she’d moved in third-tier official circles, and even within the inner household circles at that — even with money in hand, she’d never bought anything truly extravagant.

The biggest expense she’d ever made was purchasing a household servant and a donkey cart for travel.

In short, she’d never seen real money, had no concept of its scale.

Watching this young mistress fumble unfamiliarly at the task, Qiqian’er now noticed the fabric of her sleeve cuff — huh~ that was top-grade palace-made embroidered brocade with golden pheasant patterns.

…Hmm, that seemed about right. In the twenty-seventh year of Yong’an, the family across from Quanqian Street had married off the eldest legitimate daughter of a Ministry of Personnel official, and among the first several trunks of her dowry had been palace-bestowed items of honor — but among them were two bolts of agarwood-dyed silk, and by the look and craftsmanship, it resembled this material closely — except this kind of thing wasn’t something you could buy; it was strictly for internal palace use.

And this woman was using it as an inner garment?

Qiqian’er turned to look back at the well, but was drawn back by the soft sobbing of one of the children. Only now did she see clearly — the one facing away, curled up, was actually a little girl with her hair done in twin buns, with delicate brows and large eyes, quite pretty.

Once their feet were wrapped, the little boy inside the brocade quilt met Qiqian’er’s gaze. Perhaps sensing a child’s intuition that there was no ill will, he spoke up to Qiqian’er: “Auntie, I’m hungry.”

This was clearly a child from a good family — the kind raised deep within an inner household who’d never had a stranger appear beside him before; he didn’t know how to be wary of strangers.

Auntie? I’m no auntie — who is he calling “auntie”? She had no idea if it was a blood aunt, or a close personal attendant addressed that way.

Qiqian’er smiled gently, and reaching into her clothes, took out the dried taro the old madam had wrapped for her and handed it to the child.

The little boy, quite well-mannered, seeing it was food, thanked her politely, both small hands clasped together in a bow toward Qiqian’er. Seeing that she was gentle with him, he broke off a piece and gave it to the little girl first, then handed a piece to the woman, saying: “Auntie, eat.”

So indeed, this was that kind of “auntie.”

The woman looked at Qiqian’er, then shrank back and shook her head: “Young master should eat it. This servant… isn’t hungry.”

So the little boy gnawed on the shriveled dried taro with his baby teeth.

Qiqian’er watched him with a smile the whole time.

An’er, before he’d lost his baby teeth, had been just the same — a single hard stove-baked flatbread could keep him occupied half the morning.

The little boy, feeling shy under her gaze, raised the dried taro up to Qiqian’er’s mouth and said eagerly, trying to please her: “Auntie? You eat?”

Qiqian’er shook her head, reaching out to flick the child’s nose: “You eat it, good boy, Auntie’s not hungry.”

Leaning against the cart wheel, Gu Hongyun, seeing how Qiqian’er handled this, felt his guard drop entirely, and then began to feel ashamed.

When Qiqian’er turned to look at him, he sat up straighter, hands clasped together: “My actions just now were reckless — I offer my apologies to you, miss.”

Hearing this, Qiqian’er sneered a few times, pointing at him: “That wasn’t recklessness! You’re simply bad! You already had intent to harm me just now!” After finishing, she looked him up and down mockingly and said: “Such a tall grown man, yet acting so despicably! Scoundrel!”

Gu Hongyun clutched his chest, breathing hard.

The woman in the cart glanced nervously at Gu Hongyun, then at Qiqian’er, mouth murmuring as if wanting to say something, but ultimately not daring to.

Gu Hongyun thought, indeed, there was no mistake — his own actions just now had been thoroughly despicable! He felt ashamed, but had no intention of explaining himself, nor was there any way to explain. He had, in fact, ambushed someone — yet she, acting with such open integrity, hadn’t retaliated against them, and had instead taken pity on the young children and stepped in to help.

Eyes closing briefly, Gu Hongyun opened them again and clasped his hands once more: “The young lady is right, I acted basely and despicably. Everything today was my fault. If fate allows me to escape danger someday, I will certainly find a time to return and kneel before you in apology, whether I live or die by then…”

Qiqian’er hated hearing this kind of talk most — someday, later, from now on — all nonsense!

She cut him off: “Just shut your mouth already! What my own eyes haven’t seen, I simply don’t believe. Also, you don’t need to come back and apologize — I don’t even know who you are, and you don’t need to ask who I am either!

And you! Don’t need to spout any more of this pointless nonsense — whether you live or die is your own business, but right now, even if you want to die, you’ll have to wait two years. Look at the cart…” she pointed to the two children in the cart, her eyes reddening slightly, “at least raise them up first! Once they can fend for themselves, can take care of themselves, then you’re all free to go ahead and die, it won’t be too late!”

Qiqian’er had picked up the old madam’s habit of nagging — once she caught someone’s shortcomings, she couldn’t help but go on and on to her heart’s content.

Gu Hongyun silently protested his innocence, but pitifully, at his age, being pointed at and scolded so thoroughly by a mere slip of a girl — and worse, since he did have this fault, he didn’t dare argue back. In truth, the people in this cart were the surviving descendants of a loyal, righteous family from the previous dynasty, and he had genuinely come to save their lives.

“And another thing about you people — constantly killing and fighting over things that have nothing to do with anyone! If you all want to die, go ahead and die, along the great rivers and shores, swing your blades and spears and hack at each other all you like, winners jump in the well, losers jump in the river — kill yourselves however you please, who’s going to stop you!

Only these children~ they’ve only just come into this world, what do they even understand? Just because in some past life they didn’t accumulate enough merit and were reborn into a family like yours, now suffering for it, and even their very lives can’t be guaranteed…”

Unable to bear it any longer, the woman in the cart carefully spoke up to explain: “Miss, we~ we’re not these children’s parents…”

Hearing this, Qiqian’er grew even angrier, turning to scold: “That’s even worse! You shut up! This kind of thing… this is even more infuriating — can’t even accompany them growing up, can’t even watch over and protect them… then why give birth to them at all? Huh!!”

Hearing this, the woman’s face instantly went pale, and she burst into tears again: “How was this servant to know? How was I to know? Sleeping peacefully at home, and then suddenly… I woke up and… and I was here.”

Qiqian’er looked down at Gu Hongyun. Gu Hongyun had no way to explain himself, and could only keep his head down and stay silent.

Qiqian’er stepped back: “You~ are you a villain?”

Gu Hongyun quickly raised his head to explain: “No! I was entrusted by the general to protect a bloodline of the Sima family.”

Qiqian’er looked to the woman again, and the woman nodded like she was pounding garlic. Once done nodding, she began sobbing again.

Seeing the woman cry, the little girl started to wail too, forcing the woman to cover her mouth again.

Seeing the whole scene descending into chaos, Gu Hongyun, realizing an explanation would take too long, felt compelled to change the subject: “Miss, that, um~ hm! Cough! Protecting the realm’s pillar, three sticks of incense before the North-South Hall, long robes or short robes with round collars — I wonder which robe the miss wears, and which stick of incense do you burn? And to whose household altar?”

Hearing this, Qiqian’er’s neck stiffened, making a cracking sound — what was he even talking about? She glanced downward, thinking, had she gone too far just now? This man didn’t seem like someone petty-hearted — had she actually driven him mad?

Seeing Qiqian’er’s odd expression, Gu Hongyun, thinking she hadn’t understood, repeated himself, finishing with: “I only wonder, miss, which direction does your household altar face? What incense do you burn? Tomorrow I will make proper arrangements, surely…”

Qiqian’er, only half-understanding, quickly waved her hands: “No arrangements needed, none needed! Hey, big brother? Have you gone mad, what are you even saying? I can’t understand a word! What altar, what incense? This is the Plague God’s sacred hall, don’t you dare talk nonsense here! You’ve already coughed up blood, and you’re still babbling nonsense? Standing right in the old lord’s own courtyard, saying such improper things? Just shut your mouth already.”

Hearing Qiqian’er say this, Gu Hongyun was baffled. After pondering for quite a while, he said: “Miss~ are you truly not someone of the martial world?”

Martial world? Qiqian’er looked at him as if he were a fool: “What are you even talking about? Some kind of paste? Do I look like I do mounting and framing work to you?”

Gu Hongyun felt exhausted, sensing an impossibly vast gap between himself and this girl, like the distance across the Milky Way. After a long pause, he murmured: “Your elders… did they truly never tell you anything?”

Qiqian’er blinked: “Tell me what? My family’s elders are all dead.”

So that explained it — no wonder this girl knew nothing at all.

Gu Hongyun looked Qiqian’er over and, seeing her sturdy bone structure (built up from household labor) and her meridians completely open and unobstructed, said with a touch of envy: “So that’s how it is. So there truly wasn’t even time to explain anything to you before… miss, have you noticed anything unusual about your body lately?”

Qiqian’er paused for a moment, then reached up and pulled another handful of hair from the top of her head to show him. Ah, truly, she couldn’t take much more of this hair-pulling.

She said: “My strength feels a bit off sometimes, and I keep losing hair — does that count as unusual?”

Gu Hongyun looked at it and nodded with a smile: “That certainly counts. So it started from the crown of your head — your elders truly did cherish you deeply.”

His own family elders had once said that if this method of opening meridians were used, the crown of the head was the most dangerous point; the safest method was to channel through the weapon-hand side instead.

Qiqian’er naturally had no idea what he meant, but she didn’t want to go bald either, so she sat right down in front of him and said: “I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying. My family elders are all dead too, but you, bad man, seem to actually know something — explain it to me in detail, in detail.”

Hearing this, Gu Hongyun gave a bitter laugh: “Miss, I am not a bad person.”

“You threw blades at me.”

“I truly am not a bad person!”

“You threw them at me!!”

Gu Hongyun thought helplessly to himself — just where did this strange girl come from? Why was reasoning with her so impossible?

But one thing he could be certain of — this young lady’s elders must surely have been masters of the former dynasty’s Northern internal-energy school. Seeing the current North-South standoff and the martial world’s turmoil, they must have resolved to sacrifice themselves for the cause, and yet, cherishing their descendant, chose to channel energy through the crown… hmm, perhaps something dangerous had happened in between, preventing them from properly arranging matters afterward. Thinking of this, Gu Hongyun’s mind stirred with covetous thoughts, and he looked at Qiqian’er and said:

“Miss, your elders forcibly opened your meridians with their own energy. Now your body’s primal energy has been forcibly connected throughout, and though your meridians flow smoothly, that energy moves without proper method. If the miss doesn’t mind, and trusts me, when you return home tomorrow, I will certainly report this to my own elders, and then…”

“I’m not willing!!” Qiqian’er cut him off: “What good idea are you scheming now? You old scoundrel, your eyes kept darting around when you looked at me earlier, and you just threw blades at me — you’re clearly a bad person! How could I trust you! Besides, this martial world you speak of, I don’t know it, and I don’t want to know it either. I’m only asking you — what exactly is wrong with my body?”

Still unwilling to give up, Gu Hongyun glanced back at the covered cart: “Miss, do you know who these two children are descended from? They are entirely loyal and…”

“Enough of that!” Qiqian’er cut him off again, her face full of disdain: “Down south, four dan of rice counted as tax equals two dan up north for grain conversion, and the common people’s household taxes and labor levies — no one dared skip them, who dared pay less in money or grain? And still the state fell! A court that raised such useless officials, and you dare call them loyal and righteous? Don’t tell such jokes. I’m talking about your whole lot — don’t say such things. I’m only helping because of the children’s sake, you think I care about you people? Throwing two whole blades at me like that!!”

The matter of the blades still wasn’t over, apparently.

Gu Hongyun wanted to keep arguing, but Qiqian’er had had enough. She suddenly stood up, reached out and grabbed Gu Hongyun by the shoulder, and dragged him straight to the courtyard wall of the Plague God Temple.

Poor Gu Hongyun — a renowned hero of the martial world, a grandmaster of the Southern internal-energy school — being dragged around like a chicken by a young girl, hauled to the wall and then lifted one-armed clean over it.

Gu Hongyun squeezed his eyes shut in humiliated despair, only to hear the girl below say: “You! Open your eyes.”

Gu Hongyun slowly opened his eyes, and the first thing he saw, two hundred paces away, was a squad of new-dynasty soldiers waiting on horseback.

“See that?”

Gu Hongyun nodded helplessly, cold sweat beading on his forehead.

Only then did Qiqian’er set him down, watching him slide slowly down against the courtyard wall.

She pointed outside, then pointed to her own nose: “Did you think I was bluffing you? That man out there is His Majesty’s newly appointed rank-five Wandering Cavalry General! He calls me sister-in-law! Who do you think I am? You want to play games with me?”

Once we’re back at the temple, I’ll finish you off, and you’ll still thank me for it, believe it or not!

Gu Hongyun, utterly disheartened, said with a bitter laugh: “So the miss is actually with the new dynasty?”

Qiqian’er was thoroughly exasperated by this fool. She grabbed his collar with both hands and said: “Look at you, dressed like a proper person, yet you can’t understand plain speech? I already told you! I don’t care what you people are, loyal remnants or not, previous dynasty or new dynasty! Back when the previous dynasty built city walls — five zhang high, two zhang five chi wide at the base, one zhang two chi five cun wide at the top — even half a cun short, they’d chop off the heads of the laborers and corvée workers for it!

Did the previous dynasty never conscript labor, never work people to death year after year? Will the new dynasty really be any different going forward? Will they stop conscripting labor? Stop harming anyone? I think they’re all the same. You people are just born bad by nature — I’m telling you, don’t try to talk circles around me, no one here is a saint! Just answer me! What’s wrong with me?! Explain properly, or I’ll throw you right back out there, believe it or not! Huh!”

This time Gu Hongyun behaved. He answered crisply and honestly: “Miss, your elders forcibly opened your meridians but never passed on the method for circulating your energy properly — that’s why your body’s energy has been moving erratically, causing these symptoms.”

Qiqian’er pointed at her own head: “And this is because there’s no proper method?”

Gu Hongyun nodded readily.

Qiqian’er pursed her lips, reaching out to pat Gu Hongyun’s cheek: “Good! Should’ve said so from the start, look how fussy you were being!”

She finally recalled those two books, and that dream… so it hadn’t been a dream at all.

She turned to look at the collapsed old well again, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

She, Huo Qiqian, across two lifetimes, had never had any great ambitions — she only wanted to watch over her child and see him grow up, see him succeed, see him build his own family. Who knew that the moment things settled down, all this trouble would come pouring out — now she couldn’t even keep her own hair, her own life still wasn’t sorted out, and now there was this thing called the “martial world” popping up too?

I want nothing to do with any of you!!

From outside the wall came the distant sound of a horse neighing. Qiqian’er sniffled and turned back to the covered cart. At the driver’s seat she found a small compartment board and lifted it open — underneath was the loose silver Eunuch Liao had mentioned.

Eunuch Liao had also said: Girl, our family still has over three hundred taels of loose silver stashed away, that money is clean, saved up bit by bit by our own hands… you, if you end up with enough to eat someday, think kindly of us a little~ someday~ could you help scatter this silver as alms?

Wherever you send it, whichever temple gate, whatever pitiful souls you help, it’s~ it’s all fine… consider it buying myself a smoother path for my next life.

Helping these few people counted as charity too, didn’t it? Either way, it wouldn’t leave the bounds of Qingfeng City — besides, she’d already left that grain and those books beneath the idol’s feet anyway. As for this donkey cart… forget it, for the children’s sake, she’d let it go.

Truly, once the money’s gone, peace of mind follows — Qiqian’er tossed the pouch of silver at Gu Hongyun.

Gu Hongyun caught it, and from the weight alone could tell what it was. Thinking of how this cart and donkey had originally belonged to this family too, he felt his lifetime’s reputation crumble — from now on, he’d have no face to show anyone.

What a devilish thought that had been — why had he kept scheming to lure this family’s children back to the Pavilion? He didn’t deserve it!

This young lady had been so generous, holding nothing against them — compared to her, he himself had truly been… blinded by greed.

Qiqian’er looked at the withered well and thought: “Old man, see that? We’re people of our word. Even though you wronged me, look, I’m not holding it against you — I even used your silver to help people! Two innocent children, no less… may you be reborn into a wealthy family in your next life, safe and whole, and live as a proper person again.”

Having finished muttering this to herself, Qiqian’er said to Gu Hongyun: “This cart is yours now too. Take the silver and go, quickly — while there’s still something to eat at Qingfeng’s gates, this donkey of yours can still push through the crowds and make the journey. Once the food runs out tomorrow, and the cold sets in, and the snow falls, it’ll be hell on earth around here…”

She finished speaking and walked briskly toward the exit. At the door, she suddenly remembered something and turned back to ask: “That method you mentioned — the meridians, sinews, acupoints and all that — do you actually know it?”

Gu Hongyun answered readily: “That’s simple. Tomorrow, miss, just find a physician’s clinic, and get hold of a bronze acupuncture practice figure. If your family has its own tradition, use that; if not, that’s fine too — ordinary escort agencies often have a tael or two’s worth of general methods available. As for whether the method is good or bad, I imagine the miss won’t mind either way.”

This time Qiqian’er nodded: “Right, I don’t mind.”

As long as she stopped losing her hair.

Gu Hongyun braced against the wall and stood, hands clasped together with effort: “Just follow the bronze figure and practice according to the method in the right places, and you’ll be fine. The miss is different from ordinary people now — any method, once in your hands, becomes easy. Great achievement is only a matter of days away, and with your kind heart and heaven’s blessing, surely tomorrow…”

He clearly wanted to keep talking, but Qiqian’er had already left the courtyard. By the time she reached the gate, all he heard was her saying: “After today, let’s just say we never met.”

Gu Hongyun stood stunned for a long while. Listening carefully again, he realized the sound of the mounted troops had already faded into the distance.

Neither of the two adults noticed that the child sitting in the covered cart had kept his eyes fixed on Qiqian’er the whole time, both hands clutching his dried taro. Only once she’d shut the door and left did he slowly lower his head, and after a long while, looking at the food in his hands, softly murmured: “Auntie…”

Qiqian’er sat in the cart utterly mortified — she’d been gone at least half an hour, and for that kind of excuse besides. Thinking it over, she thought, might as well just die of shame!

Now returning empty-handed only proved… ah, there’d be no living this down, no showing her face to anyone!

Riding ahead to lead the way, Chang Lianfang kept his expression composed, but inwardly thought: this sister-in-law of mine, well, she’s fine… a bit thin on hair, perhaps, well, who doesn’t have some flaw? Just~ hm~ well~ that trip to relieve herself sure took a while…

A full half hour!

Poor Chang Lianfang, always thinking the best of others.

But Qiqian’er, giving vague and roundabout directions, ended up leading him zigzagging all the way to a graveyard outside a nearby manor.

This manor, being close to Qingfeng City, had originally been overrun with displaced refugees, but now that a group of soldiers had arrived, they all scrambled up and retreated to a distance, standing on higher ground to watch.

Qiqian’er got down from the cart, her face lighting up with joy as she headed straight for her destination, while a thoroughly bewildered Chang Lianfang, his soul practically floating away in confusion, followed after her looking around in disbelief.

This is a graveyard, isn’t it? Didn’t she say she was going home to get her dowry? The hair on his neck stood on end as he glanced at Qiqian’er’s shadow — yes, there was a shadow, at least, she wasn’t a ghost.

He wanted to wail again — what was he supposed to do about this?

Qiqian’er had no idea what he was thinking. She walked straight to the spot, pointing excitedly at a few fresh graves: “Right here! Dig!”

Chang Lianfang’s face twisted, his mouth opening to suck in cold air, half-laughing from sheer disbelief: “Sis— sister-in-law? Do you realize that grave-robbing has been a serious crime throughout every dynasty in history!”

Qiqian’er, utterly unconcerned, said: “It’s fine, it’s all… it’s all my own family’s graves! Go on and dig!”