That night, all manner of thoughts cycled through her mind like a spinning lantern, as Pu Zhu repeatedly analyzed the gains and losses of her previous life and the lessons she had drawn from them. She lay awake like this until nearly the fourth watch of the night, when at last a wave of drowsiness began to wash over her. Yet she had only drifted into a hazy half-sleep for a short while before she was woken by a dim, distant commotion.

The sound seemed to be coming from the direction of the post station.

She listened for a moment, then draped on a garment and climbed out of bed, tiptoeing out. She cracked the door open and peered through the gap.

It was approximately the fifth watch, but the sky was still pitch black. The lantern above the main gate of the post station swayed back and forth in the night wind. From a distance she saw the gate standing wide open, with several horses stopped outside; Xu Chong had already come out with the post station attendants to wait at the entrance, and a figure was walking out through the gate.

Although the surroundings were dim, the deep blue cloak and black fur robe, the tall and slender silhouette — it was unmistakably Li Xuandu.

He mounted his horse, and the scarfaced man along with a few other attendants followed. The party did not linger, but spurred their horses westward, their silhouettes growing smaller and smaller, and quickly vanishing into the heavy darkness before dawn.

After the riders galloped away, the town soon returned to its original quiet.

Pu Zhu closed the door, went back inside, and returned to bed to sleep.

The following days in the Yang household were a scene of chaotic disorder that left no one at peace.

Zhang Shi’s illness showed no improvement; calling for the doctor and obtaining medicine cost money the household simply did not have, and misfortunes came in pairs — the little boy, sleeping with Old Lin Shi last night, must have had his quilt come loose, and by morning had come down with diarrhea. The medicinal stove never had a moment’s rest, and on top of it all, they were anxious about the money lenders coming to collect the debt. A few days later, more news arrived: though Yang Hong had been extremely diligent this year, conscientious and hardworking, managing the dozen-odd beacon towers under his charge without a single mishap, his performance record had nonetheless been flagged for several irregularities in the format of his posted logbook, and so his performance review had earned only a middle rating. Although he kept the position of post commander, he was transferred laterally to a more distant posting; once he went there, he would likely only be able to come back once every month or two.

That evening Yang Hong returned home, took one look at the household in utter disarray, the wailing infant, and Zhang Shi weeping her eyes out, and felt deeply troubled.

Zhang Shi braced herself and said: “This time I know the fault is entirely mine. I should not have hidden it from you and borrowed money at such high interest. But at the time, I truly had only the family’s interests at heart. The little boy is small now, and that’s all right for the moment — even if you lost your position and were sent to do farmwork you wouldn’t starve. But he’s growing up day by day. What of his future prospects? You’re stuck here your whole life — do you want your son to suffer the same hardship as you, stuck here for his whole life too?”

Yang Hong said nothing.

Zhang Shi cast a glance at her husband and cautiously said: “The path I found is truly reliable. I know you are upright and wouldn’t stoop to this sort of thing, but think about it — if you don’t take this route, someone else will! I’ve heard that a former subordinate of yours, who has no ability whatsoever, is now serving as an official in the prefectural city, living a glorious and comfortable life, and when you meet him you still have to bow to him. How did he get there? Was it through true combat against the Di, as you did? He simply bought his way in through connections, yet why can’t you see reason? You’ve worked so hard — what have you gotten for it? I beg you, just give me a nod, and I’ll find a way to get the money. Don’t we still have some ancestral farmland back home…”

“Don’t even think about touching the ancestral farmland!” Yang Hong immediately cut her off.

Zhang Shi’s eyes filled with tears: “The repayment starts next month. Things have already come to this point — if we just let it go, where will we find money to repay them? Sell me and it’d be enough, I’d be perfectly willing, only I’m afraid I wouldn’t be worth much. Add this house on top and it still wouldn’t be enough. If the house is gone, I deserve that fate, but the little boy…”

She paused.

“And also the Pu girl — what will they do? Are you going to let them wander the roads with you, without even a pillow to lay their heads on at night? The money you borrowed the other day and put with A’Ju is almost gone, and today the money for the little boy’s medicine was even advanced by A’Ju herself…”

When she finished, she bowed her head and began to sob softly, the sound low and quiet, one long breath and one short, like a sharpened awl, piercing the ears one jab after another.

Yang Hong remained silent for a long time, then slowly stood up.

“The ancestral farmland cannot be touched. Let me think on it some more…”

His voice was low and heavy. Setting Zhang Shi aside, he turned and walked out of the room.

A look of joy appeared in Zhang Shi’s eyes.

She knew her husband too well. If he still disagreed, he would have refused outright. The way he spoke now, he had surely taken it to heart.

Outside the door, Pu Zhu quickly turned around and pretended to be sweeping the courtyard. When Yang Hong came out, she called to him: “Uncle.”

Yang Hong gave a nod and, his mind preoccupied, did not stop but walked toward the entrance, his footsteps heavy.

Pu Zhu had already heard their exchange inside the room and knew Yang Hong had likely been persuaded by Zhang Shi.

Indeed, money was a stumbling block even for heroes. Zhang Shi’s words were not entirely without reason in ordinary times, but knowing full well of the possible consequences this affair could bring, she could not — if nothing else, then out of gratitude for his years of sheltering her — allow him to walk down the same path as in her previous life.

She hesitated for a moment, set down her broom, and went after him.

Yang Hong had already walked to the head of the town. Hearing Pu Zhu calling after him, he stopped and turned.

“Uncle Yang, where are you going? It’s nearly time to eat.” Pu Zhu smiled.

Yang Hong forced a smile and told her to go home and wait for dinner, saying he had something to do and would be back shortly.

Pu Zhu said: “Uncle Yang, you know Cui Xuan, don’t you? He says he has nothing to do and has been wandering around all day with nothing to show for it, and now he knows he was wrong and wants to find some honest work to do. Doesn’t Uncle still need a deputy post commander? He can read and write, and his skills are outstanding. Could Uncle help out and let him come work under you?”

Yang Hong had never liked these young men who called themselves wandering heroes and refused to do honest work, and Cui Xuan in particular — he had seen the young man had some talent and thought it a pity. And now that it was Pu Zhu speaking up, he naturally agreed without hesitation: “Tell him to come find me himself tomorrow.”

“Then I’ll thank Uncle on his behalf first!” she said happily.

Yang Hong nodded haphazardly and told her to go home, and was about to set off when he heard her say again: “Uncle Yang, I heard everything you and Auntie were saying in the room just now. Are you thinking of borrowing money to let Auntie work through those connections?”

Yang Hong had indeed been thinking of swallowing his pride and asking friends if there was any way to help scrape together a sum of money. He had felt uncomfortable enough already, and now that the Pu girl had overheard him and was asking like this, he was even more embarrassed and could not find words to answer.

Pu Zhu immediately said: “Uncle, don’t think too much of it — it’s nothing. Someone else in your position would have done this long ago. This matter is not really mine to speak about, but these years I’ve always been under your care, and in my heart I’ve long thought of you as my own family. May I say a few words?”

Her tone was sincere, and Yang Hong’s embarrassment eased somewhat. He quickly nodded.

Pu Zhu then said: “That Liu Duhu has always had a poor reputation. Uncle, you should know this better than I do…”

She glanced around and lowered her voice: “Uncle Yang, if you follow Auntie’s plan and become one of his confidants, what if he comes to grief someday? Wouldn’t that implicate you?”

Yang Hong was silent.

Pu Zhu continued: “Uncle, do you know why I was eavesdropping on you and Auntie just now? I’m not usually that sort of person. I won’t hide it from Uncle — last night I had a dream. I dreamed that Liu Duhu lost his head. I woke up frightened and couldn’t sleep, and that’s why I ran after you to tell you…”

Yang Hong was startled: “Don’t go saying this around! You’ll bring trouble on yourself!”

Pu Zhu nodded earnestly: “I’ll only tell Uncle. A dream is a groundless thing, but one must guard against every possibility. What if it really is an ill omen?”

Yang Hong had already been wavering, and with Pu Zhu speaking like this, he felt it was an inauspicious sign, and his half-formed intention vanished at once. He let out a sigh, nodded, and said: “Uncle understands. You go on home. Uncle will go borrow some money for household expenses, and think of something else more slowly. I’m just sorry you’re here and haven’t had a good life with us.”

Pu Zhu shook her head: “Uncle, you don’t need to go borrow. I have money here — I can lend it to you first.”

Yang Hong would not agree: “That won’t do, that won’t do. Your A’mu has worked so hard — whatever little she’s saved should be kept for your dowry someday.”

Pu Zhu smiled: “I’m in no hurry to marry. Uncle’s household affairs are urgent. What if the money lenders come to collect and you can’t repay them?”

Yang Hong thought she was still too young and didn’t know the full picture — she probably imagined Zhang Shi had borrowed only a small sum, and that A’mu’s savings would be enough to cover it. He smiled bitterly: “She borrowed a great deal — A’mu’s small savings are nowhere near enough.”

Pu Zhu said: “Uncle, come home, and let me show you whether it’s enough.”

Yang Hong had no choice but to follow her back. Pu Zhu led him into the room and took out the money. Besides what had been taken from Cui Xuan, there was also what Li Xuandu had given a few days ago — piled together in a single heap, all of it laid out on the table.

Yang Hong was astonished and looked at her in surprise: “How did you come to have this much?”

Pu Zhu said: “A few days ago, a distinguished person came to stay at the post station. He had an old connection to my family and, knowing I had ended up here, felt very sorry for me. He was generous with his giving and gave me all of this. Do you think it’s enough?”

What Cui Xuan had taken back that day was only eleven, and combined with what Li Xuandu had given, even without Yang Hong saying so, Pu Zhu knew that it would certainly be enough to repay the debt, interest and all.

Indeed, Yang Hong nodded again and again: “More than enough!” Coming back to himself, his face took on a look of shame, and he murmured: “Only, how could I…”

Pu Zhu cut him off: “It’s just sitting there doing nothing for me — let me lend it to Uncle first as emergency funds. When Uncle has money later, paying me back slowly will be fine.”

Yang Hong, whose brows had been furrowed into knots for many days, finally relaxed, and said with heartfelt gratitude: “Rest assured, Uncle will repay you as quickly as he can.”

The door was suddenly pushed open by someone. Pu Zhu turned to look and saw Zhang Shi appear in the doorway, eyes full of delight at the sight of the money on the table: “What generous soul could be so kind-hearted! Wonderful — this is a great help. Young lady, rest easy — once Uncle’s fortunes rise, the money will be returned to you!”

Yang Hong’s expression darkened, and he scooped up all the money in one go.

Zhang Shi grabbed his arm with one hand: “What are you doing? Now that there’s money, shouldn’t we hurry and make a plan? Tomorrow first thing we go to the prefectural city — this time maybe you should go yourself, then nothing can go wrong…”

“Go where! Don’t even think about it. This money the young lady lent me is for repaying the debt. I’m telling you plainly: drop this matter from here on out, and if you dare breathe another word about it, I will truly put you aside! I’m going to repay the debt now!”

Yang Hong’s voice was firm as nails being driven in. When he had finished, he took the money pouch and walked out.

That evening he returned home and said he had cleared all the debt, with a little left over, which he returned to Pu Zhu.

Pu Zhu could not very well explain the details, so she took it back.

That storm in the Yang household had finally blown over. Yang Hong was deeply grateful to Pu Zhu, while Zhang Shi harbored resentment in her heart.

Her husband had clearly been persuaded by her own arguments, and had then changed his mind again so suddenly. According to Old Lin Shi’s account, the Pu girl had chased after him at the time and furtively spoken with him for quite a while — it must have been her interference.

She had lent money, yet she also couldn’t keep her mouth shut, and had cost her husband a perfectly fine opportunity for advancement.

A few days later Yang Hong set out again to inspect his new, more distant beacon station, and this time he would be away for at least a month. Once her husband had gone, Zhang Shi herself did not dare put on airs, but she allowed Old Lin Shi to chase chickens and dogs around the yard every day and to scold the household’s dog with thinly veiled insults: things like “All that food, given for nothing to someone so ungrateful — doesn’t know how to protect the home, only knows how to be a busybody and drive wedges between people.”

Pu Zhu could not be bothered to quarrel with them.

Truth be told, the only things that weighed on her mind now were the matters connected to her own future.

Although she was confident that things would unfold in the direction she knew, she still lacked a decisive piece of proof.

This was an opportunity for just that proof. But until the day the event she foreknew actually occurred, a faint unease still lingered in the deepest reaches of her heart. Lately she had been quietly waiting each day for Liu Chong to rebel, and with one day after another passing, she felt time moved too slowly, and it was somewhat hard to endure.

And so another ten-odd days went by. On this evening, Old Lin Shi came back from outside with a bruised and swollen face — both eyes blackened, one front tooth knocked out, her mouth full of blood, speaking in a muffled, painful mumble without cease.

Zhang Shi was startled by her appearance and asked what had happened. She learned that just now, while Lin Shi was washing the little boy’s clothes at the river outside town and heading back, she had spotted a copper coin on the ground behind her not far away, and a few steps further, another, then a few more steps, another still — as though someone’s money pouch had torn open and spilled coins in a trail along the road.

Old Lin Shi, thinking her lucky day had come, was overjoyed, and followed the trail of coins with her eyes fixed on the ground, out of town and into the wilderness, where she picked up several dozen coins in total. She was just feeling thrilled when suddenly, from out of nowhere, someone threw a torn sack over her head and gave her a thorough beating. When it was over they scattered in all directions, and by the time Lin Shi struggled to pull the sack off her head, the surroundings were deserted — not even a ghost in sight.

The most infuriating part was that the coins she had just collected had been taken as well.

Zhang Shi raged and cursed; Old Lin Shi was in agony, her mouth so swollen she could not eat, groaning without end.

After dark, Pu Zhu accompanied A’Ju to the post station as usual. A’Ju naturally wouldn’t let her do any work, so with nothing to do, she went to the stables to put out hay for the station horses. She was in the middle of this when suddenly a voice from mid-air above said: “What have you been up to lately?”

Pu Zhu turned her head.

A young man lay draped across the top of the wall, propping his head up with one arm, peering down at her. He had a stalk of wild grass between his teeth and wore a look of total boredom. He had clearly been there a while.

It was Cui Xuan — whom she hadn’t run into for half a month — dressed in the garb of a border soldier.

Seeing Pu Zhu ignore him, he jumped down from the wall, walked up behind her, and said: “I took your advice and am working under Uncle Yang now. I’m not slacking off today — he sent me back for something, and I go back at dawn tomorrow. I’m hungry! Last time you promised to bring me food. Where’s the food? I’ve come to collect.” He stretched out his hand toward her with the look of someone collecting a debt.

Pu Zhu ignored him and continued portioning out the horse feed into the troughs: “Old Lin Shi was beaten, had her front tooth knocked out — was that you?”

“It wasn’t me…”

He denied it, then, seeing her turn to look at him, scratched his nose.

“It was me. I came back today and heard from Fei Wan that this old woman gives you grief every day. I had some people teach her a casual lesson, to let off some steam for you.”

His tone was very casual. Having said it, he saw her staring at him without speaking and grew slowly tense.

“Are you angry?”

He watched her expression and asked with some care.

Pu Zhu thought of the sight of Old Lin Shi’s two black eyes, and though it was not very virtuous of her, she couldn’t help it — a laugh slipped out.

“Forget it — don’t do this sort of thing again!”

Cui Xuan exhaled with relief and immediately said: “Fine, I’ll do as you say.”

Pu Zhu told him to wait, then went back to the kitchen.

A’Ju and Zhang Ao were all at the front serving food and had not yet returned. She took two flatbreads, spread some sauce on them, thought for a moment, then took two more and rolled them all together, and poured a bowl of water as well, taking everything back with her.

Cui Xuan looked genuinely very hungry; he took the food and wolfed down the better part of it in no time. Pu Zhu offered him the water, and he drained it in one go, set down the bowl, and then saw her extend something else toward him — it was actually the hairpin box he had given her that day. He was taken aback.

Pu Zhu smiled: “I had a look when I got home. The hairpin is gold — for one thing, it’s too valuable, and for another, I genuinely have no occasion to wear it in daily life. I’ve received your good intentions; you’d better take it back…”

Before she had finished speaking, the smile vanished from Cui Xuan’s face, and he said: “Are you disgusted by how it was obtained? It wasn’t bought with money from highway robbery, and it’s not protection money I collected — I split all of that with the brothers. I sold my sword to buy it. Nothing else to it — I just thought you’d look good wearing it.”

Old Lin Shi had been beaten by persons unknown today, and Pu Zhu had guessed it was connected to Cui Xuan, and thought he might have come back. He might come looking for her in the evening, so she had brought the hairpin along, intending to find an opportunity to return it to him.

And she had indeed guessed correctly.

She was experienced. The faint, unspoken fondness of a young man toward her — how could she fail to notice?

She simply had not expected that he would actually sell that family heirloom sword he had never parted with.

A touch of emotion moved through her heart, but she knew there was no possibility, and so she must not give him any hope.

She hesitated for a moment, then kept her smile and said: “I don’t despise it — it’s just that I don’t think it’s suitable for me to accept…”

The young man’s expression darkened. He suddenly flung the half-eaten flatbread in his hand to the ground, turned, and strode away.

Pu Zhu had not expected such a strong reaction from him. She stood there, still holding the box with the hairpin in it, feeling awkward and helpless, when she saw him turn around and come straight back, as though nothing had happened at all. He walked up to her, picked up the flatbread he had thrown on the ground himself, brushed off the dirt casually, and ate the rest in a few bites. Then he took the hairpin box back from her hand, gave it a little shake, and smiled — a row of even, white teeth — and fixed his gaze on her, eyes bright and steady.

“Just you wait! One day you’ll accept it!”

He tucked it back into his breast.

What a youthful nature — quick to come, quick to go — and rather endearing.

Seeing that he was no longer upset, Pu Zhu breathed a sigh of relief and was smiling as she shook her head, about to ask if he had eaten his fill, when suddenly at that moment, a faint clamor came drifting from the front of the post station, as though something had happened.

The two exchanged a glance and hurried to the front. They saw that all the people inside the post station were crowded at the doorway, talking in a buzz.

Cui Xuan pushed through the crowd and went out, then came back shortly and said that just now a large contingent of troops had passed through the town, as if something had happened.

Soon after, the head man of Fulu Town was beating a gong and drum and announced that he had just received orders from above: everyone was to immediately return home; those at the post station were not to come out either; tonight the whole town was under curfew.

The crowd buzzed with talk, worried that the Di people had attacked. Xu Chong urged the town residents who had gathered there to disperse and go home one by one, and the station would be closing its doors as well.

Pu Zhu followed A’Ju and hurried back to the Yang household.

A’Ju was very worried, and so were Zhang Shi and her household, anxious to summon Yang Hong home — all of them thinking the Di had come to attack. Only Pu Zhu was calm and composed, and actually felt a slow ease come over her.

If she was not mistaken, this must be Liu Chong’s matter coming to light.

And indeed, two days later, around noon, she was in the kitchen helping A’Ju tend the fire when Old Lin Shi came gasping into the courtyard and, through the gap left by her missing front tooth, called out loudly: “Terrible news! Terrible news!”

Zhang Shi had just coaxed the little boy to sleep inside; startled out of her senses, she rushed out: “What is it? What is it? Have the Di attacked?”

Old Lin Shi’s expression was animated: “It’s that Liu Duhu — Liu Chong — he’s rebelled! A fast horse courier from the prefectural city just arrived, and it’s posted on the gate of the post station! They say ten or so military commanders all had their heads cut off along with that Liu man, and their heads are hanging on the city gate! Good heavens! And all the officials in Liu Chong’s household, big and small, have been arrested! And that’s not all!”

Old Lin Shi’s eyes went wide with excitement: “I hear they’re even arresting everyone on the list of those who sent gifts for Liu Chong’s birthday, one name after another — not a single one left out! All charged as accomplices! A whole string of arrests! They’ll likely all have their heads cut off! Thank goodness! The day I was robbed on the way there and never got to deliver my gift — otherwise, the little boy’s father would’ve been implicated badly this time!”

Her tone sounded as though she herself were the great savior of Yang Hong, and there was even a faint note of self-satisfaction in her voice.

Pu Zhu stood in the kitchen doorway, watching Old Lin Shi’s animated performance, then looked over at Zhang Shi. Her face had gone white, her mouth slightly open, motionless, her expression a mix of relief and lingering fear. Suddenly, as if remembering something, she abruptly turned her head and looked at Pu Zhu. Seeing that Pu Zhu was also looking at her, her expression grew awkward.

Pu Zhu turned back and continued helping A’Ju tend the fire, outwardly composed, though her heart was beating a little faster.

It had finally happened! This was it!

Very soon, she was going to return to the capital!