Now it was said that A’Xiu, implicated by Hu Zhengtang’s troubles, had been confined for a full month or so. It was rare for him to get out with the steward, so wouldn’t he make good use of this chance to breathe freely?
Naturally, he escaped from the training ground and wandered carefree and lively, slipping into the streets of Beijing. Seeing that it was still early, he figured that as long as he could return home before dark, he could surely get Uncle Steward to cover for him, so he needn’t worry about being strung up by Father for a vicious beating.
He played from the east gate to the west gate, strolled from the south gate to the north gate, and finally returned to the school to find a group of children he was friendly with to gamble playing marbles. Just as they were gambling and having fun, he suddenly noticed his shadow had grown long, making the marbles somewhat blurry and unclear. He cried out in alarm and turned to look at Grandfather Sun, only to see this red-faced old man closing shop and going home, his round face almost completely hidden from view. A’Xiu panicked, his hands and feet going weak, saying: “It’s over! It’s over! Weren’t you supposed to remind me to go home early? How come no one paid attention to me!” A snotty-nosed child said blankly: “Sister Moon hasn’t come out yet, what should we remind you of?”
A’Xiu remembered Father’s cold smile and couldn’t help panicking: “No good! No good! I must go home. If I’m even a step later than Father, you might have to come burn incense and pay respects tomorrow.” He didn’t even have time to collect his marbles and fled in haste. Behind him, the group of children were still calling: “Brother Xiu! Your stone marbles!” A’Xiu’s feet flew like the wind, not looking back as he said: “I’m giving them to you!”
A’Xiu panicked and ran along Qipan Street without choosing his path. His mind was confused and his feet urgent, so he took shortcuts through small alleys. After passing through Prince’s Hutong, the road ahead looked unfamiliar—he had actually gotten lost. The sun was setting in the west, its light reflecting blindingly off the white snow. Looking at the street, uncles and aunties were coming and going, but he didn’t recognize a single one.
An ordinary child encountering such a dire situation would surely burst into tears, but A’Xiu was a natural rogue. He sighed, slowed his pace, scratched his head, and thought: “Forget it, if I can’t get back, I’ll just run away from home.”
Just as he was thinking about his future days wandering in the wilderness, a young man and woman turned from the street corner. Both were richly dressed with handsome appearances. The man was holding a folding fan, his face fair and gentle, while the woman beside him had dimples on her face and a long sword hanging at her waist—it was Concubine Juan.
Meeting an old friend in a foreign land—yet when he encountered this acquaintance, A’Xiu was not pleased but alarmed: “It’s over! Father’s spy has come, I mustn’t be captured.”
Seeing a fruit stall nearby, not caring whether he’d be scolded, he quickly crouched down beside the vendor, constantly smiling apologetically.
The vendor was actually a good person. Seeing a child burrow beside his feet with a small face full of smiles, he didn’t drive him away but instead handed him a plum, smiling: “Little friend, playing hide and seek?”
A’Xiu gave a dry laugh twice, lying under the fruit stall noncommittally, just waiting for the plague gods to pass. Suddenly he heard the vendor calling out: “Customer, today’s plums are sweet and fragrant with fresh bright colors. Would you like to try some?”
There was a crisp crunching sound, as if someone had bitten into a fresh plum. He heard a woman say: “This fruit flesh isn’t bad, I’ll buy a few pounds to take back.” The speaker was indeed Concubine Juan, who then began picking and choosing. He heard her chatting casually with her companion: “Losing to Senior Sister Zhe’er Dan this time, I don’t know how long she’ll nag about it. Just thinking about it is annoying.”
A tender voice came from beside the stall, apparently from the young master seen earlier, saying: “Victory and defeat are common in warfare. Doesn’t the saying go, ‘you don’t gain wisdom without experiencing something’? Look at that Zhu Kang, such a weakling, but isn’t he fine now like nothing happened?” Concubine Juan laughed: “You’re right. Anyway, I defeated Prince Wuye Ming, so I won at least one match and can finally report back to Senior Sister.” A’Xiu’s face went pale, thinking: “Concubine Juan can report back, but I can’t. Buddha preserve me, please leave quickly.”
Concubine Juan picked for a long time but decided not to buy. He heard her clap her hands and say coquettishly: “These plums are too sour, not tasty. I won’t buy them.” The vendor said mournfully: “How are they sour? They’re sweet, very sweet.”
A’Xiu hid under the fruit stall, waiting for the two to pass, but who knew that young master would stop again, saying: “This year’s dates are big, red, and bright—very auspicious. We could buy some to take back.”
A’Xiu heard that after the plums came dates, and his heart groaned, wondering just how many kinds of fruit this place sold. He heard another crisp crunch—Concubine Juan had apparently bitten into another fruit. She said with her mouth full: “Not bad. Shopkeeper, prepare two pounds.”
Finally making a sale, the shopkeeper hurriedly took the scoop to weigh them, but the young master called out: “No need to weigh them. I want your entire cart of dates. Please have them delivered to the Imperial Medical Academy later.” Saying this, he took out gold leaves and stuffed them into the shopkeeper’s hands. This young master was generous with money—not only was the shopkeeper greatly surprised, even A’Xiu was amazed. Concubine Juan said hurriedly: “Why do you want so many dates? We’re only three or four people, how could we finish them all?”
The young master laughed: “Song Tongming fought so hard, won’t you invite him? Zhu Kang cried his eyes out, won’t you invite him? Prince Wuye Ming took three sword cuts from you and survived great danger, won’t you invite him? There are so many mouths in Mount Hua, won’t you invite them?” A’Xiu heard her eloquent speech, clear and smooth, and thought to himself: “This young master’s stomach is very hungry, won’t you invite me?”
Seeing a date protruding from the stall, he was about to reach out and take it when he suddenly remembered his mother’s daily teachings and reluctantly withdrew his hand.
The vendor was very busy, his feet moving back and forth. A’Xiu desperately dodged around while hearing Concubine Juan laugh: “You’re just so thoughtful. You can manage external affairs and internal ones too. Whoever marries you as a wife in the future must have cultivated great fortune in their previous life.” The young master smiled slightly: “A virtuous wife and good mother should manage internal affairs—how can one excel at both internal and external? If someone is willing to marry a tigress like me, I should be eternally grateful, let alone talk about fortune.”
This young master was clearly dressed as a man but was thinking about being someone’s wife. A’Xiu’s expression changed and he fell to the ground, shaking the entire cart so that dates came rolling down with thumping sounds. He cried out “Aiya!” several times, then suddenly saw an oval face lean over, saying strangely: “Isn’t this little A’Xiu? How did you pop up here?”
A’Xiu gave a dry laugh: “What a coincidence! Beijing really isn’t big. I run into Concubine Juan everywhere.” The young master, hearing the words “A’Xiu,” quickly leaned over and asked with a smile: “A’Xiu? You’re Young Master Yang Wu Fu’s son?”
Both beauties crouched down. The young master deliberately teased the child, smiling: “Little friend, I’m Qiong Fang. Who are you?”
This young master had already called out his own name but now came asking again, apparently taking him for an ignorant child. A’Xiu secretly laughed but put on an innocent expression, saying naively: “Big brother, hello! I’m A’Xiu.” The young master played with him, immediately laughing: “So you’re A’Xiu, I’ve long admired you.” A’Xiu couldn’t be bothered with her, cupping his hands: “Oh my, oh my, pleasure to meet you, pleasure to meet you, goodbye, goodbye.” In an instant, he greased his feet and was about to slip away.
As soon as he moved, a figure flashed before him—Concubine Juan had already blocked his path with a smile, saying coquettishly: “There’s a bad child who ran off without a trace, making Uncle Steward search frantically. Little A’Xiu, who do you think that is?”
How could A’Xiu not know she was talking about him? He immediately sighed three times: “Sigh, sigh, sigh… Another child running away from home? Where there are unfilial parents, there are such pitiful children. They must have been beaten too harshly by their parents and had no fruit to eat at home, so they fled without a trace…” After sighing twice, he suddenly crouched down, turned around, and tried to escape, but with a muffled grunt, he collided with someone.
This collision wasn’t painful at all, but rather soft and yielding. Looking up, it was Qiong Fang in front of him.
A’Xiu took a deep breath, his nose filling with fragrance. His heart jumped in alarm. Looking carefully at this young master, he saw willow eyebrows with a smile, a delicate nose and cherry lips—truly a beautiful person. He stared stupidly, thinking: “This young master is so fair and tender, probably no worse than Mother.” Then he thought again: “If Mother is as beautiful as a man, should I cry or laugh?” While thinking wildly, he saw Qiong Fang’s pair of intelligent eyes staring straight at him, and he actually felt his face flush and heart race.
Seeing his cheeks burning red, Qiong Fang couldn’t help pinching his dark face and laughing: “Little rascal, staring blankly—do you think Aunt Fang is beautiful?” A’Xiu thought: “So it’s a woman disguised as a man. The private school teacher was right—the world truly has all kinds of wonders.”
Seeing him tilting his little face, apparently having strange thoughts, Qiong Fang immediately took his hand and passed it to Juan’er, laughing: “It’s several li from here to Chang’an Street. I think this child is lost. Let’s take him back to Wu Fu’s house.”
Going home meant being strung up, and being strung up meant getting beaten. A’Xiu cried out in alarm: “Don’t! Don’t! If I get home late, Father will beat me to death!” Juan’er laughed: “Who told you to play around? In a while, Aunt Juan will help plead with Father to let you get a few less lashes, okay?”
A’Xiu said frantically: “It won’t work! My family’s master will appease you on the surface, but once you turn your head and leave, he’ll be ten times harsher! Brutal beatings! He’s like a great fierce god. If you take me home, you’ll have to come pay respects to me tomorrow.” The two beauties burst into laughter. Juan’er said: “Nonsense, your father is a fair-faced scholar and Grand Secretary. How could he be so fierce?” A’Xiu said hurriedly: “You’re really ignorant! Dark faces beat wives, white faces beat children. The whiter the face, the crueler the heart. You can’t harm me!”
The three were still haggling when suddenly they heard gongs sounding in the street, as if some official procession was coming. From the sound of those gongs and drums, the person coming must surely be a high official. A’Xiu’s face turned bitter, thinking: “When it rains, it pours. Don’t let me run into Father, or this little brother will surely die.” For a moment he desperately wanted to escape, but Concubine Juan held him firmly, leaving him with no way to avoid it. Seeing that he was doomed, he could only put on a bitter face and wait for Father to come take him home.
Horse hooves struck the ground, making crisp sounds all along the road. A’Xiu’s heart was also pounding. Just as he was getting scared, he heard someone call out loudly: “Make way… step aside…” A’Xiu squinted and peeked. He saw a majestic military officer riding on horseback, with about a hundred officials following around him. Two large wooden plaques displayed majestically—the left reading “Duke of Protecting the Nation and Defending Borders, Bestowed by the Four Directions, Mighty Marquis,” the right saying “Benefiting the People and Bringing Peace, Imperially Granted Grand Commander of Five Armies.” Although A’Xiu had studied for a long time, he forgot what he read immediately. Of the twenty-six characters, he didn’t recognize half, but he still laughed heartily, patting his chest and laughing loudly: “It’s not Father! It’s not Father! It’s Aunt Wu who loves to wave at the people!”
Seeing Juan’er’s face looking embarrassed as she turned her head away, Qiong Fang couldn’t help asking strangely: “What do you mean by ‘loves to wave at the people’? Explain clearly.”
A’Xiu laughed: “Waving at the people means using your hand to wave at the people! Look, it’s like this.” Saying this, he puffed out his cheeks, showed his teeth in a smile, and strangely raised his right hand, swaying it back and forth in a bizarre manner. Juan’er, seeing this monkey-like performance, immediately said angrily: “So ugly! Stop it quickly.” A’Xiu pretended to be dull, pointing into the distance and saying in a ghostly voice: “Miss told me to stop… why don’t you tell her to stop…”
The two beauties looked back to see the road filled with commotion. A large group of military officers led the way, escorting a procession slowly forward through the crowd.
A delicate hand lifted the pearl curtain, and a beautiful woman sat in the large carriage, waving to the people lining the streets. Looking at her starry eyes turning back with shy smiles, precious stones sparkling brilliantly on her fingers—it was the Commander’s wife arriving.
The fruit vendor was greatly excited and quickly climbed onto his cart to get a good look at the beauty. The leading military officer didn’t disperse the crowd but allowed everyone to gather along the roadside. Gongs and drums resounded, elders cheered along the way, children jumped and played, firecrackers burst in strings—it was just like a bride going to her wedding. Qiong Fang covered her mouth and smiled charmingly, while A’Xiu also grinned mischievously. Seeing this Aunt Wu had always been conceited about her flower-like beauty and loved flattery, during New Year’s he would compose couplets and ride fast horses to give her a good flattering. This way he could get more red envelopes.
The Commander’s wife wore phoenix hairpins and jade crown, her skin whiter than snow. In her light frowns and smiling countenance, she truly was a proud beauty of her generation. The fruit vendor, seeing such heavenly fragrance and beauty, naturally gave a thumbs up and praised loudly: “The capital’s first famous flower, truly loving the people like her own children, living up to her reputation!”
When a beauty parades through the streets, there are bound to be lustful men. Someone laughed: “Loving the people like children is so boring. Look at her white, tender little hands—with just a few waves like that, our souls have already floated over. If such a beauty loved the people like a husband, this old man would be overjoyed…”
That person was chattering excitedly when suddenly his forehead hurt severely, as if someone had struck him hard. He angrily turned around and shouted: “Who was it?” He saw everyone staring at him, their eyes very strange. Following everyone’s gaze, he was shocked to see his lower half was bare—his belt had somehow mysteriously broken. He immediately screamed and tried to flee but was tripped by his own cotton pants, and could only roll and crawl away.
Qiong Fang lightly waved her folding fan, covering her mouth and laughing: “Master Juan, what excellent swordsmanship.” Juan’er’s eyes were half-open and half-closed, saying solemnly: “You flatter me. This is what happens to those who lightly insult my senior sister.” Saying this, she glanced at A’Xiu and smiled coldly: “Raise your hands and wave properly for me.” A’Xiu was frightened, holding his belt with one hand and waving at the procession with the other, truly like summoning souls.
Just as he was waving weakly, he suddenly received two embarrassed glances from the carriage window. Looking at the girl shrinking her face and lowering her hands, hiding in her mother’s arms in embarrassment—who else could it be but Hua Mei? A’Xiu’s heart leaped with joy, and he couldn’t help cupping his mouth and calling loudly: “Hua Mei, wave at the people quickly! Otherwise Mother will slap your ears when you get home!” Hua Mei had already seen him. She stuck her head out of the carriage and called: “A’Xiu! Where did you run off to! Your steward is looking for you everywhere!”
A’Xiu had brought trouble upon himself. Sure enough, when the Commander’s wife heard he was there, she immediately ordered the carriage officers to stop the procession. A’Xiu was deeply afraid of being caught and quickly shouted to Juan’er: “Aunt Juan, let’s go quickly! Otherwise you’ll also be dragged onto the carriage to wave at the people together!” Juan’er coughed and quickly said to Qiong Fang: “It’s getting… getting rather late, and your husband is waiting for dinner. We should go.” Qiong Fang blinked and smiled: “Afraid your hands will get sore?” Juan’er, hearing her mockery, stamped her foot in anger: “If you keep making fun of my senior sister, I won’t be friends with you anymore.” Saying this, she turned around and squeezed into the crowd.
Everyone pushed and shoved their way out of the crowd. After passing several street corners, Juan’er finally stopped. She was still pouting, apparently still displeased. Qiong Fang suppressed her laughter and bowed: “I’m sorry, I’m sorry. My aunt is the same way, always making ceremonial parades through the streets for public viewing. I laugh every time I see it.” Juan’er glared at her: “Your aunt is the Empress, the nation’s mother. If she doesn’t parade through the streets, who else can the people look at?”
Just as they were talking, they suddenly heard a voice from the ground saying: “Alright, everyone gets to parade through the streets, so stop arguing. But this young master’s stomach is really hungry—won’t you take me to eat?” The two beauties looked down to see it was A’Xiu speaking. Juan’er scolded: “Little rascal, if you mock the adults again, don’t blame me for spanking you!” A’Xiu, seeing her expression, quickly put on a guilty look, lowering his voice tearfully: “I’m just really hungry, why is Aunt Juan so fierce…” Putting on a real show, A’Xiu’s eyes turned red, and when he spoke of his sadness, he seemed to cry like rain.
Juan’er was softhearted and quickly said: “I’m sorry, stop crying. Aunt Juan will sing songs for you.” Several children’s songs were sung in turn. A’Xiu listened to little tigers and little goats bouncing around, and soon burst into laughter, giggling. But in his heart he thought: “Boring and stupid. This young master refused to listen to such ridiculous things when he was four. This woman is truly childish and pitiful.” Thinking that eating was important, he squeezed some sounds from his throat, bending his waist for five pecks of rice.
The three walked hand in hand. Juan’er hummed little tunes while Qiong Fang’s smooth palm reached out in front. A’Xiu accepted all comers, holding Qiong Fang’s hand on the left and Juan’er’s on the right, enjoying the fortune of having beauties on both sides, while also listening to songs in his ears. He was somewhat complacent and said solemnly: “Let me say first, for dinner I like hot pot mutton, osmanthus cakes, I don’t like vegetables and fresh fruit—you must remember…”
As he was talking to himself, he heard Juan’er say: “Wu Fu’s house is in the suburbs. We’ll pass by Baisui Tower in a while, just right to send this child back.” Qiong Fang also said: “Exactly. His family can’t see him anywhere right now, they must be searching anxiously…”
A’Xiu said miserably: “Didn’t you say we were going to eat? You… you’re betraying me…” In his panic, he just wanted to escape, but with a master on each side holding him, their skills forcing him with no way to escape. Dragged and carried like a prisoner.
All the way they dragged him past Daming Gate. Snow was thick everywhere, looking like a sheet of silver and white. Juan’er and Qiong Fang ignored the dragging marks on the ground and praised the beautiful winter scenery. A’Xiu just desperately looked for chances to escape for his life. He cried out several times about stomach pain, but it was no use. Suddenly, passing through a small alley, he looked deep into the alley and suddenly cried out with great joy: “Wait! I want to find Mother!”
At wit’s end, Juan’er paid no attention and said dismissively: “Your mother is at home. If you want to find her, go home.” A’Xiu resisted to the death, crouching on the ground and crying miserably: “Really! I want to find Mother! You two demons let me go!” Saying this, he screamed: “Kidnapping babies! Demanding ransom in broad daylight!” He cried out like a pig being slaughtered. Passersby all turned to look. Juan’er sneered coldly and was about to seal his mute acupuncture point when Qiong Fang blocked her, crouched down, and asked A’Xiu with a smile: “Good child, where is your mother? You’re not allowed to lie to Aunt Fang.”
A’Xiu said seriously, pointing to the small alley: “My mother is really in the alley. I saw the lights on.” The two beauties felt slightly puzzled. They turned to look and indeed saw snow throughout the alley, with a small house deep inside. Light was showing through the window lattice, looking especially warm in the winter day. Qiong Fang smiled: “I’ll trust you this once. Let’s go.” She then released him. A’Xiu, as if receiving a great pardon, took off running frantically. White snow flew up, leaving two lines of small footprints on the ground.
The two beauties gazed together at that dwelling—small in layout with no courtyard, inside and outside separated only by a thin wooden door. A’Xiu was from an official family—how could his mother possibly be in this humble dwelling? Qiong Fang was puzzled and couldn’t help asking Juan’er: “Is this child lying?”
Juan’er shrugged: “Who knows? This little rascal has always been mischievous, leading children in troublemaking all day. He’s famous throughout the capital.”
Both young ladies were skilled in martial arts. Catching a child in a small alley would be as easy as taking something from a bag. They weren’t afraid of him running far, so they just followed slowly behind.
The snow on the ground was slippery. After A’Xiu ran for a while, he arrived at the small house’s entrance. He planted both feet firmly and whooshed toward the door, bracing himself against the wall with both hands—quite a dashing pose indeed. Seeing him standing at the door, Qiong Fang figured the child was lying and said: “Had enough fun? Time to go home.” But A’Xiu paid her no attention, only clearing his throat, arranging his clothes, patting off the mud and snow from top to bottom, and tightening his belt. Only after straightening his appearance did he reach out to gently knock on the door, saying softly: “Mother, are you inside?”
The two beauties were slightly startled seeing him act this way, never expecting A’Xiu’s mother to really be here. Looking again at A’Xiu’s gentle and tender expression, they couldn’t help staring in amazement. Who would have thought this little boy, usually as wild as a bull, would speak in such soft and gentle tones when talking to his mother.
After A’Xiu spoke, a gentle voice came from inside: “Is that A’Xiu? How did you know Mother was here?” The voice was tender and refined, without a trace of anger—the speaker must be extremely elegant. The sound of light footsteps was heard, and with a creak, the wooden door opened.
The dwelling had no outer courtyard, separated only by a thin door. Qiong Fang looked up to see a woman leaning shyly in the doorway. She had gentle phoenix eyes, slightly flushed fragrant cheeks, beautiful curved eyebrows, wearing a plain lotus-green cotton jacket. About thirty years old, though without makeup, she had an elegant and graceful bearing that was quite charming. She looked down at A’Xiu with a smile: “It really is you.”
A’Xiu looked up with a joyful expression, hugging the beautiful woman’s legs and laughing: “Mother!” Seeing this boy who was usually mischievous and unruly, yet showed such childlike attachment and devotion upon meeting his mother, it was clear she was very different to him.
The beautiful woman glanced back at the alley entrance. Seeing Qiong Fang and Juan’er waiting there, she immediately understood. She pulled A’Xiu along and bowed apologetically: “This child is always causing trouble. Thank you for your trouble.” Juan’er laughed: “A little rascal is just a little rascal, always depending on Mother…” Saying this, she walked forward to talk with the beautiful woman. The two spoke intimately, clearly they must know each other.
The weather was cold, so the beautiful woman led Juan’er into the house. Seeing Qiong Fang still standing at the alley entrance without moving, she curtsied to her with a smile: “If Miss doesn’t mind, please come in and sit.” Qiong Fang was dressed as a scholar, but since her identity had been exposed, she couldn’t very well continue pretending.
She immediately bowed gracefully and smiled warmly: “I’m being presumptuous then.”
Though this was a humble dwelling, seeing this woman’s natural elegance, the interior must surely be refined. Indeed, upon entering the room, she saw bright windows and clean tables, with calligraphy and paintings hanging on all four walls—scenes of Jiangnan spring that made the room feel bathed in warm spring air. Qiong Fang smiled: “Madam’s wonderful brushwork truly makes this young lady admire you.”
A’Xiu giggled: “Aunt Qiong is being fake, opening her mouth to flatter. Mother hates it most when people are hypocritical.”
Suddenly a sharp rap came down on his head. A’Xiu naturally cried “Ow!” and held his head, shouting about the pain. The beautiful woman covered her mouth and laughed lightly, then asked Juan’er: “This young lady is quite beautiful yet dressed as a young man. How should I address you?”
Without waiting for Juan’er to reply, Qiong Fang immediately gave her name: “Ziyun Pavilion’s Qiong Fang pays respects to Madam.” She usually opened her folding fan first before stating her title, but such behavior would be too rude, so in front of this beautiful woman she actually restrained herself.
The woman smiled: “So it’s Miss Qiong. I failed to welcome you from afar, how truly discourteous.” Though her tone was polite, she didn’t address her as Young Pavilion Master, apparently having never heard of Qiong Fang before.
Qiong Wuchuan’s health had declined in recent years, and he had long entrusted all matters of Ziyun Pavilion to his granddaughter Qiong Fang to carry on the family legacy. Her reputation was quite resounding and she had considerable fame in the capital, yet this beautiful woman seemed not to know her. Juan’er knew her friend cared about status and was about to explain, but Qiong Fang pulled her back and shook her head, indicating it didn’t matter.
The beautiful woman arranged cups and plates, saying warmly: “Please sit comfortably and have some hot tea to warm yourselves.” Juan’er said quickly: “Don’t trouble yourself! We’re just passing through, leaving A’Xiu here for a moment before we go…” The woman didn’t agree and had already gone to the back kitchen. Juan’er saw A’Xiu still lazily yawning and immediately glared at him sternly: “Little lazybones, why don’t you go help?” A’Xiu rubbed his legs and pleaded pitifully, apparently exhausted from playing all day.
Qiong Fang looked around at the furnishings. The room was simply decorated—a wooden table near the entrance with calligraphy and paintings on it, the ink still wet. Apparently this beautiful woman was skilled in painting and came to this small dwelling to pass time with calligraphy and painting.
Qiong Fang walked to the painting and looked down to see a picture of fish.
On the water surface, a bright moon was reflected. A fisherman sat on the shore fishing. A golden carp swam leisurely in the water. Sparse lotus flowers scattered across the water’s surface. Qiong Fang looked carefully—the moon’s reflection on the water created colorful ripples that trembled and spread into a streak of silver and gold. The red golden carp looked carefree and content, its face seemingly wearing a smile, appearing childlike and adorable.
Qiong Fang came from a prominent Beijing family and had also studied painting. Though not very skilled, she had good judgment. She saw the ink was sometimes light, sometimes heavy, with varied pauses and strokes, yet conveyed a sense of quiet elegance. She smiled as she appreciated and read the inscription, saying softly: “Little fish passes the hook, West River Moon on a cool boat, leisurely and slow, catching the clear wind, laughing at the blue waves without disturbance, leaves accompany frog friends, flowers fill the pond, gaining freedom.” The calligraphy was round and vigorous, half cursive and half regular script, the ink still fresh. Qiong Fang pondered the meaning, thinking: “The fish passes the hook without biting. Though in a small pond, it can be free. The painter compares herself to a foolish fish—this is the style of a hermit.”
She stood there in a daze, just about to ask when she suddenly noticed the table surface was worm-eaten and decayed, but the table legs were quite new and bright, as if newly nailed and repaired. Qiong Fang was greatly puzzled: “This table should have been thrown away long ago. Why would a dignified official’s wife be so frugal?” She had never heard of even thrifty official families acting this way, so she was very curious and probed A’Xiu: “Does your mother come here often?”
A’Xiu had already lain down on the kang. He boldly wrapped himself in a blanket, pillowing his head on Juan’er’s thigh and laughing: “Often! About four or five times a month.” Juan’er pinched his little nose and spat: “No manners! Sit up straight when talking to adults.” The kang faced the door directly and was covered with warm mats. A’Xiu spread his legs wide, facing Qiong Fang directly in an extremely unseemly manner. He stuck up his nose and laughed: “Who cares about who? Aunt Juan is also a child, la la, come sing children’s songs.”
Just as he was getting carried away, a cough came from the back kitchen: “A’Xiu, come here.” The voice was refined and elegant, but to A’Xiu it was like lightning and thunder. His mouth trembled, he immediately put his legs together, stuffed his boogers back into his nose, pretended to be an innocent good child, and tiptoed away.
Qiong Fang was puzzled. If this beautiful woman from an official family wanted to compose poetry and paint, why wouldn’t she do it in her home study but come to this common marketplace? She saw the wooden table had a drawer but couldn’t rashly open it. As her beautiful eyes wandered, she suddenly saw some miscellaneous items under the table. She slightly extended her jade foot to kick over the items under the table, pretended to cry out in surprise, and bent down to look while pretending to pick them up.
On the ground were boxes of movable type, old books and classics, bundles tied up neatly and orderly, placed under the table but scattered by her kick. Looking at the book spines, the titles varied, but all had five small characters printed below: “Printed by Shulin Studio.” Qiong Fang remembered the beautiful woman’s family background and nodded slightly: “These are her father’s things.” She quietly put the books back in place, but while moving them, she saw a sword under the table.
She lowered her phoenix eyes and focused on the sword. The blade was about four feet long, entirely dark like a piece of black wood. The scabbard had no carved patterns and didn’t look like an antique. Looking at the items under the table, they were all covered with dust, but this sword tucked inside didn’t have a speck of dust—very incongruous indeed.
Qiong Fang secretly became suspicious. This beautiful woman was gentle and refined, absolutely impossible to possess martial arts skills. How could there be such a murderous thing in the room? If it were a decorative fake, it didn’t seem like it either. The more she looked, the stranger it seemed, so she picked up the long sword.
As the sword handle touched her hand, her jade arm involuntarily drooped down. Qiong Fang was greatly shocked: “This sword is so heavy!” Unable to restrain herself any longer, she drew the precious sword with a swish.
The blade left its sheath, brilliant and gleaming. For a moment the flowing light was dazzling, as if a large pond had appeared in the small room, reflecting rippling waves of light. In her hand was not only a real sword, but an incomparably sharp precious sword. Qiong Fang stared in amazement, not knowing the origin of this weapon that was so wondrously exceptional. Just as she was examining it, she heard a startled cry: “Aunt Fang! Put down that sword!”
Before Qiong Fang could respond, A’Xiu had already rushed out from the back kitchen. He ran straight over and pushed against Qiong Fang, shouting loudly: “Put down this sword! Mother doesn’t like people touching it!” A’Xiu shouted loudly, making Qiong Fang embarrassed. Just as she was panicking, a gentle voice came from behind: “A’Xiu, don’t be rude to our guest.” Qiong Fang came to her senses—the beautiful woman had finished brewing fragrant tea and returned to the room. Juan’er, seeing Qiong Fang had caused trouble, quickly stood up and took the long sword from her hands, sheathing it.
The beautiful woman saw Juan’er holding the sword with both hands, her eyes looking around as if not knowing where to put it. She immediately reached out with a smile: “Here, give me the sword.” Juan’er knew Qiong Fang was thin-skinned and apologized for her: “I’m truly sorry for this offense.”
The beautiful woman smiled slightly, not seeming angry, and just took the long sword from Juan’er’s hands. She held up the long sword, and in an instant, her arms encircled it, hugging the sword tightly to her chest. Qiong Fang saw clearly that in that moment, the beautiful woman’s eyes seemed to turn red and moist.
Qiong Fang secretly groaned, knowing this sword must have significant origins. She realized she had caused trouble and quickly stuck out her tongue, looking at the ground apologetically. “A’Xiu, come here,” Aunt Fang said, deliberately changing the subject. Little A’Xiu immediately understood her intention to divert everyone’s attention and immediately did a somersault, shouting: “Yahoo! Is Aunt Fang summoning this humble person to give a reward?”
Qiong Fang was quite grateful and kissed his cheek: “That’s right! I’m going to beat you and reward you.” A’Xiu pretended to be shocked: “Strange, strange, strange! I’ve been bitten by a poisonous snake and need an antidote!” Saying this, he ran to his mother, shouting: “Mother! Give me a kiss to cure the poison!”
Everyone laughed at his antics. Seeing the beautiful woman hugging her son, Qiong Fang breathed a sigh of relief. If not now, when? She quickly looked at Juan’er and blinked.
Just as the two women were about to get up, suddenly there was a knocking at the door—another guest had arrived. Since there were no men here, it wouldn’t be proper to let the beautiful woman answer the door. Qiong Fang coughed and was about to take the initiative when A’Xiu had already jumped out, saying roughly: “Who’s outside! State your name!” Just as he was feeling proud, his ear was already grabbed by his mother. As he cried out in pain, he heard someone outside gasping breathlessly: “Please… please ask if Master Zi is… is here…”
A’Xiu’s ear hurt and he cried: “Here… here…” Qiong Fang heard someone looking for her and quickly got up to open the door. She saw a man at the entrance with a panicked expression—it was Mount Hua disciple Chen Defu. Qiong Fang asked strangely: “Why is it you?”
Chen Defu gasped: “I heard from Miss Wu that Master Wu Fu’s son was with you, so I ran to the Wu Fu house to find that Master Yang. He said the child had slipped away and wasn’t home, then pointed me to this dwelling. I was really urgent and didn’t wait for him to come lead the way, so I… I…”
Qiong Fang heard his incoherent speech and couldn’t help frowning: “So you searched here? This is someone else’s home. Is there some urgent matter?” Chen Defu took a long breath and gasped: “Something happened at the Imperial Medical Academy… You… you must go quickly…”
Juan’er laughed: “Is Song Tongming drunk? Is that it?” The two beauties smiled at each other. The masters from Mongolia and Han were mostly crude types who spoke coarsely while drinking and eating, and if their words didn’t agree, they inevitably fought. But they heard Chen Defu say: “No, no, it has nothing to do with Young Master Song. A strange person broke in from outside and fought his way in…”
Juan’er and Qiong Fang looked at each other, both feeling puzzled, asking in unison: “A strange person?” Chen Defu gasped: “That strange person is very formidable. He killed his way in from the main gate—no one could stop him with even half a move. First he knocked down Daoist Chi Chuan, then Young Master Song also had his wrist broken by him…”
Hearing this, the two young ladies were already greatly shocked. With Song Tongming’s heroic courage and brute strength, there was actually someone in the world who could break this big bear’s paw? Juan’er didn’t wait to hear the rest and said frantically: “We must hurry!” Without even saying goodbye to the beautiful woman, she was about to rush out directly. Qiong Fang grabbed her and said in a low voice: “Don’t rush.” Her large pupils turned as she thought—if the opponent’s martial arts were so superior, even if she and Juan’er rushed there urgently, they wouldn’t be of much use. After thinking briefly, she immediately asked: “How many people came from the other side?”
Chen Defu’s face was pale as he said in a low voice: “One person.”
Juan’er was terrified and stood there speechless. Qiong Fang just nodded and said in a low voice: “The assassin has arrived. It seems that letter was real.” Juan’er realized what she meant and couldn’t help being greatly alarmed: “You mean… you mean… this person came for the Hu family’s young master?”
Qiong Fang said no more, only took out a jade pendant from her bosom and handed it to Chen Defu, instructing: “Master Song and General Gao Tian are guests at my home. Take this jade pendant to Ziyun Pavilion to find Uncle Fu—he will arrange for assistance.” The situation was truly urgent with flames burning eyebrows. Chen Defu hurriedly accepted the order and rushed out the door. Qiong Fang suddenly remembered something and quickly called: “Wait.”
Chen Defu said frantically: “What… what else?” Qiong Fang instructed: “Don’t make any noise, and don’t let my grandfather know about this.”
Watching Chen Defu fly away, Qiong Fang looked at Juan’er and said in a low voice: “Is your brother-in-law in the capital?” Juan’er hadn’t seen her brother-in-law for a long time and didn’t know his whereabouts either, so she could only frown and shake her head. But the beautiful woman said: “Dingyuan is at the Xiangyang front lines. He’ll only return during New Year.”
Qiong Fang was extremely frustrated. Juan’er’s brother-in-law had a magnificent reputation—he had once charged alone and defeated ten thousand troops, protecting the Emperor’s life. Whether killing on battlefields or in single combat, he was called the greatest martial hero of the present age. But this supreme master was not in the capital at this moment, so it was useless to think about it. She immediately said: “Time is of the essence. Let’s go check first, and make sure Minister Hu and his wife don’t have any mishaps.”
Juan’er nodded and was the first to rush out. Qiong Fang appeared calmer—she first thanked the beautiful woman and said goodbye to A’Xiu. The beautiful woman showed great concern, saying: “What exactly happened? Do you need my help with anything?” Qiong Fang smiled: “Please don’t worry, Madam. Though the world is vast, there’s still nothing that can stump the Qiong family.”
These were words of soaring heroic spirit, and indeed Qiong Fang had this confidence. She looked down at the precious sword in the beautiful woman’s arms, suddenly having a strange feeling in her heart. It seemed that at the moment she drew that sword, she had unknowingly opened the mysterious gates of heaven and earth… Those towering giant waves were about to surge toward Beijing, ready to submerge everything she knew…