“Lust is the root of all evil!”

His words crashed like thunder. Following this shout, a sharp flash of lightning split the pitch-black sky, causing several timid guests to immediately cover their ears.

After the autumn equinox, while crickets in the capital were still chirping incessantly under the blazing afternoon sun, beyond Shanhai Pass the north wind had already begun howling before lantern-lighting time. The cold wind whirled in gusts, and every evening would bring gathering dark clouds, followed shortly by lightning, thunder, and torrential rain. At such times, few pedestrians remained on the streets – those with homes returned to huddle on their warm kangs, while traveling merchants, peddlers, and porters all gathered in inn common rooms to chat idly and pass the time.

These travelers from north and south surrounded three or five tables, with a pot of warmed old wine, a plate of stir-fried bean sprouts, and a dish of crispy fried peanuts – enough to sustain their idle chatter for an entire evening. If someone particularly talkative shared one or two personally experienced strange tales, it could immediately enliven the entire atmosphere.

Those who wandered the rivers and lakes conducting business naturally loved to boast before crowds. With two cups of old wine in their bellies and flushed faces, they were eager to win applause from everyone present. However, there was one thing – if the stories they told in public were dull and uninteresting, the surrounding crowd wouldn’t give them any face. Though they wouldn’t necessarily boo, each person would talk among themselves, leaving the storyteller stranded in the middle like a fool – quite a sight to behold.

Currently at the Guo Family Old Inn in Linghai Town, not far from the counter, a man in dark robes sat steadily at a table, speaking eloquently. The entire hall was silent as a grave. Occasionally there were whispered conversations, but voices were kept extremely low. This wasn’t because the dark-robed man’s story was particularly captivating – he had only just begun speaking – but his clothing alone was enough to intimidate everyone.

An all-black outfit with red trim, sleeves embroidered with tiger and leopard patterns, black boots on his feet, hands with thick bones, and a short official staff leaning beside him. One didn’t need to be an old hand – anyone who had traveled these roads a few times could recognize that this man was a yamen runner. Yamen runners weren’t officials, but while officials were rarely seen, yamen runners were everywhere on the streets. Common people feared yamen runners even more than officials, especially when traveling away from home in unfamiliar territory, unable to even find local guarantors. If you truly angered an official runner, one sentence of “arrest him for questioning” could land you in jail for ten days to half a month. By the time you were released, you’d be half-dead.

No one wanted such trouble, so everyone maintained three parts respect and fear toward this yamen runner, and wouldn’t dare interrupt randomly while he spoke.

This man swept his gaze across the entire hall. Seeing that everyone had stopped drinking and eating, putting down their cups and chopsticks in silence, all eyes focused on him, he nodded slightly in satisfaction, then looked toward the southeast corner. There sat a single square table that could accommodate four people, but now held only a pot-bellied, dark-faced fat man. Among all present, only he paid no attention to the speaking yamen runner, continuing to eat his pig’s head meat and drink his millet liquor, a cold smile playing at the corners of his mouth.

“Captain Gu, please drink slowly and speak at your leisure.” The third-generation sole heir innkeeper, Old Man Guo, approached the yamen runner’s table with a cup of warmed rice wine, presenting it with a beaming smile. Only then did everyone learn this man’s surname was Gu, and from the conversation, Innkeeper Guo was apparently acquainted with him.

“Much obliged,” said Captain Gu expressionlessly. Innkeeper Guo placed the wine cup on the table and stepped back several paces. Innkeepers feared trouble most and were extremely sensitive. He always felt something wasn’t quite right tonight, hoping only to “safely see the Buddha out the door” and count himself lucky. Seeing him step aside, a regular customer quietly asked, “Innkeeper Guo, what’s the background of this ‘Captain Gu’?”

Innkeeper Guo didn’t dare speak, only quietly waved his hand.

“Lust is the root of all evil!” This time Captain Gu repeated it heavily in the direction of the dark fat man. The fat man wasn’t to be outdone – he slammed down his chopsticks with a “snap,” stopped drinking, stared straight ahead with bulging eyes, and glared viciously at Captain Gu.

Old Man Guo’s heart immediately flipped. Others might not recognize them, but he knew the details. This speaking “Captain Gu” was a squad leader from Wanping County in Shuntian Prefecture. In his youth, he frequently traveled this route between the passes, and was a regular customer of the Guo Family Old Inn. In recent years, having become a squad leader, he assigned long-distance escort duties to his subordinates. It had been several years since his figure was last seen on this route.

Wanping County bordered the capital closely. Beijing had many government offices, and as the saying went, “Capital officials outrank by three levels” – any minor clerk who picked up door curtains could become a seventh-rank county magistrate or fifth-rank prefect when sent out. Capital officials, regardless of rank, were experienced and worldly, naturally not taking outsiders seriously. No wonder this Captain Gu had such an arrogant air – he indeed had capital for arrogance. If he got serious about enforcing the law, even first and second-rank high officials might have matters requiring his assistance.

As for the dark fat man sitting in the corner, Old Man Guo dared not offend him even unto death. Linghai Town lay beyond Shanhai Pass, administratively under Fengtian Prefecture’s jurisdiction, but regarding who held the greatest official power in this area, it was still the Shengjing General of the Fengtian Great Camp. This dark fat man was a battalion officer surnamed Xu under the Shengjing General, stationed at Fengtian’s Shangyang Fort. He came here annually to receive military horses, acting arrogantly and tyrannically with a pack of fierce soldiers under his command – no one dared provoke him. Only today, for some unknown reason, Battalion Officer Xu had come to Linghai Town alone.

If a yamen squad leader and a military camp officer started fighting in his establishment, never mind a century-old business – even a thousand-year-old shop sign would be completely demolished. Old Man Guo groaned inwardly. He originally didn’t want to say much, but now couldn’t care less. He’d try to smooth things over first: “Captain Gu, you mentioned ‘lust is the root of all evil’ – I’ve heard this saying. I’m told that when criminals enter prison, flower thieves are the most despised. At night, they sleep closest to the chamber pot – is this true or false?”

“That’s quite true,” Captain Gu smiled faintly. “When flower thieves reach prison, they first receive an ‘opening barrage’ – it’s not finished until several ribs are broken.”

“That severe?”

“Who told them to be despised? Even among prisoners there are heroes and good men who naturally won’t spare such shameless scoundrels. But this isn’t the worst – we constables all know the worst is heavenly retribution.”

Constables all had bellies full of strange secrets. When Captain Gu spoke thus, everyone present pricked up their ears to listen, and the hall became even more silent.

Captain Gu continued unhurriedly: “I also heard this from a colleague. He said there was a wealthy household surnamed Lu in Tianjin, with an only son who was spoiled beyond all bounds from childhood…”

This Young Master Lu, relying on his family’s ill-gotten wealth, befriended a gang of young scoundrels. Not content with merely bullying the neighborhood, they specialized in ambushing sparsely traveled roads, waiting for lone young ladies or wives to pass by. They’d swarm forward to kidnap them, and by the time they released their victims, their chastity was naturally lost. These women either swallowed their bitter water to protect their reputations, not daring to tell anyone, or simply hanged themselves with rope. The few who reported to authorities found no witnesses in those desolate wilderness areas, and with the Lu family’s wealth, they hired litigation masters for lawsuits while using gleaming silver to smooth things over above and below. In the end, everything was left unresolved. The common people despised them thoroughly, secretly nicknaming Young Master Lu “Lu the Dog,” saying he was a mad dog in heat.

“Ah, that’s the old Lu family who runs the oil mill…” someone spoke up quietly upon hearing the nickname “Lu the Dog” – the accent was from Tianjin, a local who had naturally heard rumors.

“Right, their family runs an oil mill,” Captain Gu continued. “Last summer’s end, on an evening just like this, these young scoundrels were loitering idly at the earth god temple at the town entrance when suddenly thunder rumbled, a huge black cloud covered the sky, and violent wind and rain came suddenly, turning bright day into pitch-black night where you couldn’t see your hand before your face.”

The scoundrels took shelter from rain in the earth god temple. Lu the Dog looked out from the temple entrance when a lightning flash revealed a young woman covering her head with her hands, hurrying urgently toward town.

Lu the Dog was overjoyed. He called his companions to rush out, drag the woman back, and without explanation, they took turns violating her. Then they scattered, leaving the woman abandoned in the temple. Anyway, it was pitch black with continuous thunder – nothing could be seen or heard clearly, so this woman was definitely stuck eating this bitter loss.

Lu the Dog and several others went drinking. That night, returning home drunk, the wind had stopped and rain had ceased. Before reaching his front door, he heard continuous crying. When he asked what was happening, he immediately sobered up and collapsed on the spot.

Reaching this point, Captain Gu stopped speaking and gestured with his chin toward the Tianjin merchant who had spoken earlier: “Since you’ve heard of Lu the Dog’s name, you must know about this affair. Tell everyone about it?”

The merchant shook his head, his face full of fear: “Alas, truly karmic retribution. Can you guess who that woman Lu the Dog and his companions violated at the earth god temple was? Ha! It was his own daughter-in-law!”

Once these words were spoken, the entire room was shocked. Everyone felt their hair standing on end, staring at Captain Gu in stunned silence.

“That’s why they say heaven’s net is vast – sparse but nothing escapes,” Captain Gu tilted his neck back and drained the wine Innkeeper Guo had brought in one gulp.

It turned out Lu the Dog’s daughter-in-law had visited the neighboring village’s market and was returning when she encountered heavy rain. Hurrying past the earth god temple, she was seized by those scoundrels and gang-raped inside.

His daughter-in-law, clothes torn and disheveled, finally begged two passing farmers to lend her clothing before crying all the way home. People had seen her along the way, and given Lu the Dog’s reputation, the common people naturally wouldn’t help conceal it. Word spread from one to ten, ten to a hundred – within days it had spread throughout dozens of villages…

Old Man Guo also listened with his mouth agape, unable to help asking: “What happened afterward?”

“Afterward, his daughter-in-law became pregnant, not knowing whose evil seed was in her belly. She was pointed at and gossiped about daily, finally unable to bear the shame, so she also hanged herself – one corpse, two lives. His father died of anger over this matter. Lu the Dog also felt too ashamed to face people, hiding in opium dens puffing madly on opium pipes. In less than a year, the family fortune was squandered by eight or nine tenths, and he became thin as a skeleton, clearly not far from the Grim Reaper calling his soul.”

“So I say ‘lust is the root of all evil.’ Heaven most cannot bear those who ruin others’ reputations – what goes around comes around, it’s only a matter of time. Why bring such suffering upon oneself?” Captain Gu finished speaking, concluding his tale, while his peripheral vision intentionally or unintentionally glanced toward the corner, only to discover Battalion Officer Xu had vanished, immediately furrowing his brow.

His words had actually only one purpose: half-threatening, half-persuading, hoping Battalion Officer Xu wouldn’t set his sights on Chang Yu’er.

Wang Tiangui, former manager of the Shanxi merchant “Taiyufeng” money house, had witnessed Gu Pingyuan’s triumph in the capital, taking the crown from various tea merchants and winning the title “World’s First Tea.” Being most vindictive, old hatred stirred in his heart, so he secretly informed Fengtian Great Camp that the exile Gu Pingyuan had escaped into the pass and now appeared in the capital. Gu Pingyuan had originally escaped from under Battalion Officer Xu’s watch. When an exile escaped, the responsible battalion officer bore liability – though this was a minor matter. Battalion Officer Xu had originally planned to pin all the bad accounts from receiving military horses from capital merchants on Gu Pingyuan, so throughout the journey he had Gu Pingyuan keep the books. When Gu Pingyuan escaped, though Battalion Officer Xu reluctantly claimed he fled in fear of guilt, Gu Pingyuan was meticulous and had deliberately left many loopholes and traces in those accounts. When the camp’s clerks reviewed them, they questioned everything one by one, leaving Battalion Officer Xu speechless and bewildered. The Shengjing General was furious – not only did he order military stick beatings, but he demoted Battalion Officer Xu two ranks to guard the horse grounds.

Battalion Officer Xu lost his wife and broke his troops, barely managing to spend a huge sum of silver to restore his original position. Watching as battalion officers of his former rank were all promoted while he had gone in circles without moving, having lost a large sum of silver instead, every time he thought of Gu Pingyuan, he wanted to capture him for flaying.

Wang Tiangui, still worried Fengtian Great Camp wouldn’t take it seriously, specifically took out five hundred taels of silver to give Battalion Officer Xu as reward. With both revenge and silver available, Battalion Officer Xu immediately set out for the capital, specifically choosing Gu Pingyuan’s wedding day to turn his joyous occasion into disaster by arresting him on the spot.

According to Battalion Officer Xu’s plan, he would make Gu Pingyuan suffer in the capital’s great prison, but Adviser Hao had long been prepared for him. He brought out silver to smooth things over above and below – from the prison’s head jailer and guards to Shuntian Prefecture and Wanping County’s criminal clerks and three squad runners, everyone received their share of silver. Though Battalion Officer Xu was fierce, in the capital it wasn’t his own territory after all. Until the escort day, he never even saw Gu Pingyuan’s face, enraging him to explosive fury. He stayed at the inn cursing everyone in Shuntian Prefecture up and down.

Adviser Hao knew that during Gu Pingyuan’s escort journey, it would likely be like Lin Chong entering Wild Boar Forest – to arrive safely at the frontier, the escort officers definitely needed proper handling. He also knew some constables were black-hearted and might not accomplish tasks even after taking money, so he specifically had people investigate thoroughly. Captain Gu was relatively upright – at minimum, after taking people’s money, he would help resolve their disasters. So he prepared generous gifts and personally requested assistance.

Captain Gu also agreed to make the trip beyond the passes only for the silver’s sake. It was clearly stated beforehand – he’d only deliver Gu Pingyuan to Fengtian Great Camp. Once the prisoner was handed over, whatever happened in the camp was the battalion officers’ business – Captain Gu couldn’t and wouldn’t manage it.

Thus Captain Gu set out eastward with Gu Pingyuan, while Chang Yu’er followed along as the prisoner’s family member accompanying him beyond the passes – the authorities weren’t responsible for her travel and lodging. Chang Yu’er was clever and capable, not only requiring no care from Captain Gu but actually thinking of everything in advance. Originally when escorting exiled criminals, escorts and prisoners had fixed daily expenses, but Chang Yu’er simply paid all accounts, arranging for Captain Gu to stay in the inn’s clean upper rooms, eating at least three meat and two vegetable dishes plus aged wine with every meal. Moreover, she specifically hired a porter to help carry luggage – if not for Captain Gu fearing criticism and investigation, Chang Yu’er would have hired a sedan chair to carry him beyond the passes. Eating well, sleeping well, and traveling easily, Captain Gu felt this prisoner escort was actually the most pleasant journey of his life.

Gu Pingyuan also knew Battalion Officer Xu’s murderous intent toward him was undying. Now following along the route, he certainly had schemes, so to ensure safety on the road, he still needed Captain Gu’s strong protection. Therefore he also intentionally cultivated their relationship. Gu Pingyuan’s handling of human relations was far superior to Chang Yu’er’s. Unlike ordinary prisoners who constantly claimed “injustice,” he simply treated Captain Gu as an ordinary close friend. During leisure time they discussed merchant anecdotes and local customs, never mentioning his own case. Later it was actually Captain Gu who opened his heart in friendship and actively inquired. Only then did Gu Pingyuan completely tell how he had originally gone to the capital for imperial examinations, was framed and exiled, then heard Anhui had fallen into war and thought of his parents, thus taking desperate risks.

Both a filial son and bearing injustice, Captain Gu sighed deeply after hearing this. But as a squad leader with duties and responsibilities, no matter how much he sympathized with Gu Pingyuan, he couldn’t simply release him. He could only conscientiously follow his original agreement with Adviser Hao – if he could let Gu Pingyuan safely reach Fengtian Great Camp, his conscience would be clear. As for what happened afterward, that would depend on Gu Pingyuan’s own fate.

Now he chose this occasion to tell a case he’d heard because in these few days approaching Shanhai Pass, Battalion Officer Xu saw Gu Pingyuan about to fall into his hands and couldn’t help being triumphant, his glances at Chang Yu’er also carrying several parts lustful fascination. Captain Gu had handled so many cases – one look told him Battalion Officer Xu harbored evil intentions toward Chang Yu’er. He also knew that once they reached the great camp, the Gu Pingyuan couple would be at Battalion Officer Xu’s mercy, and Chang Yu’er might truly find it difficult to preserve her chastity. Captain Gu knew his own power couldn’t protect Gu Pingyuan, so he could only speak of heaven’s justice and karmic retribution, perhaps frightening Battalion Officer Xu. Now it seemed his efforts were likely wasted.

He beckoned Innkeeper Guo over: “Where did that person sitting at the southeast corner table go?”

Old Man Guo grimaced, thinking “what you fear comes to pass.” He didn’t dare not answer, only steeling himself: “I saw that gentleman head toward the west courtyard where you’re staying.”

Captain Gu said nothing, rose, and strode to the west courtyard entrance. Just as he was about to step inside, he heard someone speaking within. Listening carefully, it was indeed Battalion Officer Xu’s coarse, hoarse voice.

“I tell you, girl surnamed Chang, you’d better understand clearly – now we’ve reached beyond the passes, this is my territory. That surnamed Gu is just a dog from the Six Boards – he can’t protect you. Don’t you care about your husband? Easy to handle! Just listen to me, obey me, and I’ll spare your husband’s life.”

He waited a long while without hearing a reply, then coldly laughed: “I suppose you’re still thinking of using silver to clear the way, to spare your husband those hundred intimidation beatings at the great camp, right? Let me tell you – stop dreaming! In the great camp, I rule the roost. That surnamed Gu has offended me – no matter how much silver you produce, it’s useless. I’ll personally administer punishment! Have you seen duck egg-thick copper-headed jujube wood clubs? Three strikes break legs, ten strikes kill – the remaining ninety strikes are whipping a corpse. In the end, if I return you a jar of meat sauce, that’s not bad.”

Captain Gu didn’t need to look to know Chang Yu’er’s face must be deathly pale at this moment. After another interval, he heard her speak: “What do you mean by ‘listen to you, obey you’?”

“What do I mean? Good question!” Battalion Officer Xu’s originally vicious voice carried several parts lewdness. “You think I want to make you suffer? I can’t bear to! I want you to enjoy good fortune. You’ll live at my house as my concubine. I’ll not only provide your food and clothing but also spare Gu Pingyuan, letting him work at my house too, carrying water for us to wash our feet at night, watching me enjoy you in bed. How about that… hehe!” Battalion Officer Xu amused himself first when reaching the satisfying part.

Captain Gu, listening outside, felt anger rising from nowhere. He stepped forward, about to enter, when someone suddenly tugged his sleeve from behind. Captain Gu, being someone who observed in all directions and listened to all sides, had been absorbed in listening and hadn’t noticed someone approaching from behind. Startled, he turned around.

“You…”

The person behind wore a sky-blue cloth robe. Though his appearance was calm, his face was tense – it was none other than the exile being escorted beyond the passes, Gu Pingyuan. Captain Gu knew Gu Pingyuan was no river-and-lake desperado. If he wanted to escape, capturing him would require no effort, and having also taken substantial silver benefits from him, once they left the capital, he had removed all the shackles from Gu Pingyuan.

“Captain Gu, might as well let him finish speaking,” Gu Pingyuan’s face was iron-blue, but his voice showed no anger, only calm as water.

Since the husband himself didn’t interfere, why should he meddle? Captain Gu continued standing outside the door, listening to the conversation within.

Chang Yu’er made no more sound. For some reason Battalion Officer Xu suddenly flew into rage, shouting loudly: “Don’t refuse a toast only to be forced to drink a forfeit! Since you’ve reached beyond the passes, you’ve fallen into my hands. Everyone in the great camp is under me – if I want to get my hands on you, no matter how you flee you can’t escape! When the time comes I’ll have people hold you down and do it right in front of Gu Pingyuan, then kill him afterward, letting him die wearing a cuckold’s hat, never able to close his eyes!”

This was too vicious. Captain Gu had served as a constable his entire life and had seen all kinds of treacherous villains, but rarely encountered someone as cruel and brutal as Battalion Officer Xu, listening with secret alarm. He looked up at Gu Pingyuan again – Gu Pingyuan’s face twitched twice, then quickly returned to calm.

Captain Gu lowered his voice: “Do you have any acquaintances in Fengtian Great Camp who could provide temporary protection?”

Gu Pingyuan shook his head: “Even if acquainted, who would offend a battalion officer for an exile?”

“This…” Captain Gu was also troubled.

Gu Pingyuan said nothing more. Captain Gu feared Battalion Officer Xu’s violent nature might erupt and harm Chang Yu’er, so he entered the courtyard. When Battalion Officer Xu saw him arrive, knowing this official had taken the Gu family’s silver and wouldn’t buy his account, he found it boring and also flicked his sleeve and left.

Captain Gu knew the Gu Pingyuan couple must have words to say, so he also made excuses to leave. Gu Pingyuan walked heavily to Chang Yu’er’s side. Just as he was about to speak, Chang Yu’er suddenly covered her face and wept.

“Yu’er…”

Chang Yu’er suddenly threw herself into Gu Pingyuan’s embrace. Though not crying aloud, she wept with her body convulsing, unable to control herself.

Though these two outwardly called each other husband and wife, they hadn’t yet bowed to heaven and earth or entered the bridal chamber. Though Chang Yu’er had once used her own body as medicine to save Gu Pingyuan, at that time Gu Pingyuan was unconscious and unaware. For them to embrace so tightly like now was still Gu Pingyuan’s first time in life. At first his body stiffened, then gradually feeling Chang Yu’er’s body warmth, infinite emotion suddenly arose in his heart, and he also extended his arms to gently embrace his wife.

“Were you frightened?” Gu Pingyuan asked Chang Yu’er softly.

Chang Yu’er was too shy to raise her head to look at him, but Gu Pingyuan could feel her slowly shaking her head in his embrace.

“I’m not for myself – I feel that once you enter the great camp, it’s truly very dangerous. That Battalion Officer Xu absolutely won’t spare you. I can see it – he absolutely won’t spare you!” Chang Yu’er’s voice carried despair.

“Perhaps. But no matter what, Yu’er, you absolutely cannot agree to his conditions.” Gu Pingyuan stepped back half a pace, grasping Chang Yu’er’s soft shoulders and looking into her eyes.

“Elder Brother Gu, set your mind at ease.” Chang Yu’er’s form of address for Gu Pingyuan never changed. She seemed to have long made her decision: “I won’t let you suffer such humiliation while living. Living like that would be worse than both of us dying together.” This time she didn’t avoid Gu Pingyuan’s gaze at all.

Gu Pingyuan silently nodded. By this time the sky had completely darkened, the thunder had stopped sometime unknown, and the noisy clamor from the front courtyard could be faintly heard through the night. Gu Pingyuan cast his gaze toward the pitch-black night outside, saying nothing for a long time, as if thinking about something.

Chang Yu’er didn’t disturb him, just nestled against Gu Pingyuan like this. For some reason, as long as she was beside Gu Pingyuan, her heart could quickly calm down, as if she had some kind of support that could face ten thousand enemies.

After an unknown time, Chang Yu’er heard Gu Pingyuan let out a long sigh: “Yu’er, how much silver notes do you still have?”

“Over three hundred taels.”

“Give them all to me.” Gu Pingyuan’s voice was resolute.

“Alright.” Chang Yu’er turned back into the room, retrieved the silver notes from the luggage, and handed them to Gu Pingyuan.

But Gu Pingyuan didn’t immediately take them, instead gazing deeply at Chang Yu’er.

“Elder Brother Gu, what… what are you looking at me for?” Though he was her own husband, Chang Yu’er still felt very bashful.

“We’ve spent quite a bit along the way, and there are still seven or eight days to Fengtian Great Camp. Aren’t you going to ask what I’m taking all this silver for?”

“I won’t ask.” Chang Yu’er shook her head.

“Why won’t you ask?”

“Because…” Chang Yu’er was also stumped by this question. She only felt that hearing Gu Pingyuan’s resolute voice made her very happy, just like being back at Black Water Marsh’s banks. At that time she had no other thoughts – she simply felt that following this man, though she couldn’t see the road’s end, she would certainly be able to walk out. Now she had the same feeling, so whatever Gu Pingyuan wanted to do, she wouldn’t ask, because she would definitely walk together with him anyway.

“Yu’er, Yu’er…” Hearing this, Gu Pingyuan’s eyes unconsciously became somewhat moist. He once again gently embraced his wife, murmuring in a voice only the two of them could hear: “No matter what, I will never fail you.”

Chang Yu’er didn’t speak after hearing this, only held Gu Pingyuan tighter.

As the saying goes “seven li inside, eight li outside” – with Shanhai Pass as the boundary, it’s eight hundred li to Fengtian, seven hundred li to the capital. Setting out from Linghai Town, traveling quickly would take about seven or eight days to reach the Yong’an Stone Bridge built for Emperor Kangxi’s ancestral worship procession – then they wouldn’t be far from Fengtian Great Camp. Battalion Officer Xu rode a horse, following triumphantly behind Gu Pingyuan’s group, constantly urging them on, wishing they could immediately reach the camp and receive the prisoner from Captain Gu.

At first Captain Gu pretended not to hear, but later seeing Battalion Officer Xu was truly too arrogant, and since they weren’t in the same chain of command, he really couldn’t bear that commanding tone, so he deliberately opposed him. Either claiming bad weather required rest, or saying difficult roads required detours, stretching one day’s journey into two days.

Gu Pingyuan was even more reluctant to arrive at the military camp early. He could delay one day at a time anyway. Whenever he spotted tea stalls or restaurants along the road, he absolutely insisted on inviting Chief Constable Gu inside to rest and drink tea. Already walking slowly, with all this dawdling, by the seventh day they had only reached Panshan Station northeast of Jinzhou Prefecture, which made Battalion Commander Xu so angry his eyeballs nearly popped out.

He was furious but helpless. According to national law, Gu Pingyuan was not currently under Battalion Commander Xu’s jurisdiction but was still a prisoner of Shuntian Prefecture. As long as he didn’t escape, Battalion Commander Xu could only watch Chief Constable Gu and Gu Pingyuan eat and drink leisurely all the way.

“Eat, eat more! Once you reach the military camp, I’ll make you eat horse dung and drink horse piss!” All Battalion Commander Xu could do when Gu Pingyuan was treating them to meals was shout curses for him to hear. “After Panshan Station there’s only one official road straight to Fengtian. Let’s see how you dawdle then!”

Panshan Station was the last major market town before reaching Fengtian. It wasn’t far from Niuzhuang port, one of the ten treaty ports. The British had recently opened a consulate in Niuzhuang too. Native and foreign goods arriving by waterway from various places were transported from Niuzhuang to Panshan Station, where they had to be sorted by different carts according to travel distance, so the streets bustled with people coming and going. After cursing for a while, Battalion Commander Xu’s eyes were caught by a pretty young woman in floral cloth clothing walking down the main street. He watched for a short time, and when he shifted his gaze back, he was startled. With a “swoosh” he drew his saber and rushed to Chief Constable Gu’s table in two quick steps.

“Where’s that fellow Gu? Did you let him escape!”

Chief Constable Gu sat alone at his table – Gu Pingyuan, who had been seated there moments ago, had now vanished without a trace.

“Damn it, you little bastard don’t want to live, do you? Daring to take bribes and let a serious criminal escape – believe it or not, I’ll chop you down!” With that, Battalion Commander Xu raised his saber as if to strike.

There were quite a few people in the teahouse. His commotion didn’t matter much to him, but several tables of customers cried out in alarm and scrambled to avoid him. The teahouse owner hurried over to see what was happening. Chief Constable Gu waved at the owner, then looked at Battalion Commander Xu with disgust and said, “Look across the street.”

Battalion Commander Xu turned to look, and wasn’t that precisely Gu Pingyuan and Chang Yu’er emerging from the shop with the signboard “Tianzhuang Herbal Medicine Store”?

“He’s a scholar by birth, traveling with a woman, and has no relatives or friends beyond the pass. Even if you let him go, where could he escape to?” Chief Constable Gu said mockingly. “The saying ‘seeing enemies in every blade of grass’ probably describes you perfectly. Is this how you lead troops?”

People around pointed and whispered. Battalion Commander Xu felt somewhat embarrassed, sheathed his sword, and seeing Gu Pingyuan walking over with a package of medicine in his hands, said viciously, “What medicine can cure broken bones and torn tendons, bleeding from seven orifices, and death by suffocation? Give me a couple packages of that good medicine too.”

Gu Pingyuan smiled slightly. Rather than retorting sharply, he replied as if making casual conversation, “It’s just ordinary medicine for treating wind and cold. Winter is approaching, and the military camp will be bitterly cold with piercing winds. It’s better to prepare some of this medicine.”

“Hahaha…” Battalion Commander Xu burst into wild laughter as if he’d heard some hilarious joke. After a while he moved closer to Gu Pingyuan, craned his neck and stared at him for a moment like looking at a fool, then squeezed out a sentence through his teeth.

“You think you’ll live to see winter?”

Though the official road was smooth, Gu Pingyuan sprained his ankle not far from Panshan Station on flat ground and walked extremely slowly with a pronounced limp. Chang Yu’er supported him as they struggled forward step by step. In two hours they covered less than ten li, making Battalion Commander Xu’s eyes blaze with anger.

“Chief Constable Gu, this criminal is clearly afraid of punishment and deliberately delaying time. As head of the constable squad, are you just going to let him toy with you like this!”

Chief Constable Gu couldn’t be bothered with him and simply rested by the roadside, waiting for Gu Pingyuan to walk far ahead before catching up. Battalion Commander Xu simply jumped off his horse and pointed with his whip, “You there, Gu, come ride this horse.”

“That’s not appropriate,” Chief Constable Gu finally spoke leisurely. “If the prisoner mounts the horse and gallops away, who would bear the blame for negligence of duty and unauthorized release of a criminal – you or me?”

“This…” Battalion Commander Xu was struck speechless. After a long pause he said, “Tie him to the horse.”

“No good. Mistreating prisoners violates regulations. As a constable chief, I cannot knowingly break the law.”

“Gu, are you deliberately opposing me?” Battalion Commander Xu furrowed his brows and glared at Chief Constable Gu.

Chief Constable Gu had long served at the foot of the emperor and had seen many high officials. A garrison battalion commander from beyond the pass was nothing in his eyes, so he immediately shot back, “Battalion Commander Xu, I haven’t asked all along this journey, but today I must ask something. What exactly do you mean by following us around and giving orders all the time! Did the Ministry of Justice send you to escort the prisoner? Did the Ministry of War send you for protection? Or is this an assignment from the Grand Council?” He extended his hand toward Battalion Commander Xu. “Where are the official documents? The credentials? The imperial orders?”

Battalion Commander Xu was at most a witness and actually had no authority to command Chief Constable Gu. When confronted so directly, he became red-faced and thick-necked. Being a military ruffian, he immediately turned vicious. Seeing the area was deserted, his hand secretly felt for his sword hilt, and he harbored murderous intent. But then he reconsidered – killing Chief Constable Gu wouldn’t be difficult, but then he’d have to immediately kill Gu Pingyuan and Chang Yu’er to silence them. First, he was unwilling to let Gu Pingyuan die so easily; second, he still coveted Chang Yu’er’s body. He gritted his back teeth and forcibly swallowed this anger.

“Otherwise, let’s return to Panshan Station and find a doctor to examine you. For injuries from falls, applying medicinal oil might heal it overnight,” Chief Constable Gu said to Gu Pingyuan.

“Bullshit!” Battalion Commander Xu’s eyeballs bulged out when he heard about going back.

Chief Constable Gu hadn’t realized he’d just walked along the edge of death’s door, but Gu Pingyuan had sharp eyes. Having dealt with Battalion Commander Xu for several years, he was extremely familiar with his character. When he saw Battalion Commander Xu’s hand gripping his sword hilt earlier, his heart had jumped with alarm. Now seeing the two about to argue again, he waved his hands repeatedly, “I’ve traveled this official road many times too. Though it’s a royal road built for imperial ancestral worship, with no villages or residents allowed within three li on either side, every crossroad connects to villages not far away.” He pointed toward a path through the sorghum fields. “Let my wife go buy medicine.”

“What nonsense! Let this little woman go buy medicine?” Battalion Commander Xu pointed at Chang Yu’er with his horsewhip. “How long would we have to wait for her to go and return? I don’t have that patience!”

“Then what do you suggest?” Chief Constable Gu impatiently retorted.

Battalion Commander Xu paced around irritably twice, then nodded at Gu Pingyuan, “Fine, I’ll humor you, you turtle’s grandson. When we reach the camp we’ll settle accounts slowly.” With that, he mounted his horse, spurred it into the sorghum fields.

“We’ll go our own way. His horse is fast – he’ll catch up in a moment,” Chief Constable Gu spat heavily toward the sorghum fields.

Sure enough, after walking a short distance, Battalion Commander Xu caught up and threw a package of herbs on the ground.

“For both external and internal use!”

Who knew if this herbal medicine was effective or not? Anyway, after Gu Pingyuan used the medicine, sometimes he said his foot pain was better, sometimes he said it wasn’t improving. For three days, while Battalion Commander Xu and Chang Yu’er paid no attention, Chief Constable Gu, being an experienced case investigator, made some mental calculations, took out the map to look, and couldn’t help feeling suspicious.

“Exactly twenty li every day, no more, no less. Walking like this is indeed too slow. Starting tomorrow we’ll hire a cart from a nearby village.” They still couldn’t reach the next station for rest that night. Though Chief Constable Gu’s tone was gentle, it brooked no argument.

“Should have done this long ago!” Battalion Commander Xu snorted coldly.

“Very well,” Gu Pingyuan replied blandly, his eyes only watching a streak of sunset over distant mountains, his expression unchanged.

“Could I be overthinking this?” Chief Constable Gu felt puzzled.

“Chief Gu, here’s your water, with locust flower honey added.” Chang Yu’er had been serving Chief Constable Gu tea and water all along, like a neighbor girl caring for her big brother. Over time, Chief Constable Gu developed great fondness for this girl – otherwise he wouldn’t have gone to such lengths at the Guo family inn to lecture about karmic retribution to protect her. Now seeing her holding a water bowl in one hand and a leather bag of locust honey in the other, appearing somewhat overwhelmed by the weight, he quickly reached over to take them.

“I don’t deserve such kindness. Thank you, Miss Chang.”

Chang Yu’er smiled slightly, “We should be thanking Chief Gu for taking care of us along the way.”

“Where’s all this chatter coming from? Let me have a taste too,” Battalion Commander Xu seized the leather bag from beside them.

This locust flower honey was premium Beijing locust honey that Chang Yu’er had specially bought when departing from the capital to nourish Gu Pingyuan’s health. She couldn’t bear to eat it herself. Seeing Battalion Commander Xu open the bag opening to pour it into his mouth, Chang Yu’er’s accumulated humiliation from recent days suddenly erupted. Like someone who didn’t care about her life, she pounced forward and grabbed one end of the leather bag to pull it away.

“Yu’er!” Gu Pingyuan quickly turned and rose, but it was already too late. How could such a fierce and brave military officer as Battalion Commander Xu take a woman like Chang Yu’er seriously? He grabbed her wrist, pulled her into his arms, and held Chang Yu’er’s entire body in his embrace.

Chang Yu’er couldn’t break free and cried out in alarm. Gu Pingyuan’s eyes blazed with fury as he grabbed Chief Constable Gu’s official seal baton, ready to fight Battalion Commander Xu desperately. Battalion Commander Xu held Chang Yu’er in his arms while his other hand dropped the leather bag and pressed down on his saber, his eyes fixed deadly on Gu Pingyuan.

Chief Constable Gu saw trouble brewing. This Battalion Commander Xu clearly wanted to enrage Gu Pingyuan, then take the opportunity for revenge – perhaps killing Gu Pingyuan, but more likely cutting off his hands and feet to make him a cripple.

Chief Constable Gu blocked Gu Pingyuan with his body and said to Battalion Commander Xu, “Battalion Commander, is this still the Great Qing’s imperial territory or not?”

“Hmm!” Battalion Commander Xu was caught off guard by this question. “What are you saying?”

“I am a constable chief of the third rank. In my presence you first forcibly robbed others’ property, then molested a respectable woman. Do you still respect the law of the land? Could it be that officers and soldiers of Fengtian camp can disregard national law – are you rebelling!”

“Hmph! Trying to intimidate people, but look where you are – this is beyond the pass, not a place for your Shuntian Prefecture to run wild.” Though he said this, Battalion Commander Xu still released Chang Yu’er. Chief Constable Gu had guessed correctly – he indeed wanted to use his blade to cut Gu Pingyuan’s hand and foot tendons the moment Gu Pingyuan couldn’t bear it anymore and lunged forward, for no other reason than to watch this couple’s pain and sorrow. Now that Chief Constable Gu had forcibly blocked Gu Pingyuan, Battalion Commander Xu knew the moment was lost. He picked up the leather bag from the ground. “You call this property? Even at the military camp, I wouldn’t eat it if offered.” With that, he tilted his head back to pour it into his mouth.

Chang Yu’er had been pushed to sit by the roadside. She raised her eyes to look at Battalion Commander Xu, her gaze full of unwilling resentment and anger.

A bag of locust flower honey really wasn’t worth much. Chief Constable Gu also didn’t want to provoke Battalion Commander Xu further over this. He was just about to offer kind words to comfort the Gu couple when his gaze swept over and his heart suddenly skipped a beat.

Chang Yu’er’s expression!

Chief Constable Gu was indeed a veteran constable of decades. His ability to read people’s expressions and behavior was sharp as an awl. At one glance at Chang Yu’er, he discovered that though this woman appeared furious on the surface, her eyes also revealed a strange excitement.

Just like… just like a murderer about to strike!

“Wait!” Chief Constable Gu almost instinctively cried out strangely, startling even Battalion Commander Xu.

“What the hell are you yelling about…” Battalion Commander Xu was halfway through his words when he saw Chief Constable Gu turn around, pick up his own bowl of honey water, sniff it, then dip two fingers in the water and lightly lick his tongue tip. He immediately spat and faced Chang Yu’er, saying, “Miss Chang, did you put sleeping drug in the water?”

Once these words were spoken, everyone was shocked. Battalion Commander Xu’s hand froze in mid-air. Chief Constable Gu quickly glanced at Gu Pingyuan and immediately understood from that surprised expression that he had no prior knowledge – it seemed the drugging was entirely Chang Yu’er’s own idea.

“Where did the drug come from? Oh right, you went to a medicine shop in Panshan Station. You must have bought it there.” Chief Constable Gu paced a few steps, as if conducting an on-the-spot investigation, each sentence more pressing than the last. “Miss Chang, what heavy scheming you have, and what a fine performance you put on. If you hadn’t lost composure and become overly nervous at the end, you would probably have escaped with Gu Pingyuan by now.”

With a “crack,” Battalion Commander Xu threw the leather bag on the ground. “Damn it, an eighty-year-old woman carrying a baby upside down – I was nearly tricked by you. Daring to drug me, you don’t want to live!” With that, he drew his sword with one hand.

“Hold on!” Gu Pingyuan spoke loudly. “I was the one who put in the drug. My wife knew nothing about it, otherwise why would she try to grab the leather bag from Battalion Commander Xu!”

Chang Yu’er’s grabbing of the leather bag was an act, deliberately angering Battalion Commander Xu so he would drink more honey. However, Gu Pingyuan turned the story around, intending to protect Chang Yu’er. Since he was already a criminal, adding one more charge didn’t matter. As Battalion Commander Xu said, ten rod blows would kill him anyway – adding a few hundred more wouldn’t make much difference.

Chief Constable Gu understood this point and didn’t expose it, only looking toward Battalion Commander Xu to see how he would react.

Battalion Commander Xu unexpectedly sheathed his sword and smiled coldly at Gu Pingyuan, “Gu Pingyuan, you want to die quickly, but it won’t be that cheap.” He pointed at Chang Yu’er again. “Your wife – I’ve claimed her!”

“If you don’t want me to pursue this matter, we travel through the night tonight!” Battalion Commander Xu dropped this statement, mounted his horse, and rode off with clip-clopping hooves.

“A wise man doesn’t fight when outnumbered. Let’s listen to him.” Chief Constable Gu sighed silently and came to Chang Yu’er sitting on the ground, extending his hand.

“Where’s the drug?”

Chang Yu’er hesitated, then took a small paper packet from her pouch and handed it to Chief Constable Gu.

Chief Constable Gu took it, but extended his other hand, “What about the drug you put in the leather bag of locust honey?”

Hearing this, Chang Yu’er’s face immediately turned pale. She looked up at Chief Constable Gu, mumbled once, but couldn’t say a word.

“She…” Gu Pingyuan looked at Chang Yu’er in surprise, then at Chief Constable Gu.

Chief Constable Gu shook his head, “That’s right. You only put sleeping drug masked by locust honey taste in my water, but you put poison in the honey that Battalion Commander Xu was going to drink. I knew from your expression – that was the look of someone about to kill. I didn’t expose you on the spot, otherwise that Xu fellow definitely wouldn’t have let it go.”

He paused and continued, “Miss Chang, I’m helping you, but you cannot harm me. Think about it – I’m a constable escorting a prisoner. Not only did the prisoner escape, but a military officer also died by my side. Where could I possibly clear up such a case! You’re trying to destroy my family!”

“Yu’er!” Hearing this, Gu Pingyuan walked to Chang Yu’er’s side and also extended his hand. “Give it to me.”

This time Chang Yu’er didn’t hesitate. She took out another small package wrapped in cotton paper and handed it to Gu Pingyuan.

In front of Chief Constable Gu, Gu Pingyuan unwrapped and scattered the paper package, “Chief Gu, I’m sorry.”

“Forget it. This is understandable. After all these years as a constable, what don’t I understand? If that Xu fellow hadn’t pushed you to desperation, how could Miss Chang have… Sigh!” Chief Constable Gu sighed heavily and stepped forward.

“Yu’er, were you really going to kill him?” Gu Pingyuan looked into Chang Yu’er’s eyes. Even at this moment, he still found it hard to believe.

“Yes. Who told him he wanted to kill you?” Chang Yu’er frankly met Gu Pingyuan’s gaze, answering decisively.

“You, a woman, would kill for me?”

“Whoever wants to kill my husband, I’ll kill them!”

“Yu’er…” Since the trouble began, Gu Pingyuan’s expression had remained calm, as if awaiting a long-expected outcome. However, at this moment, he suddenly became emotional. His eyes reddened and tears flowed down.

“Big Brother Gu, don’t cry. You… what’s wrong?” Chang Yu’er looked at Gu Pingyuan anxiously.

“Your father entrusted you to me, yet I’ve let you suffer so much and even made you want to kill for me. I really, I really…” Gu Pingyuan’s face was full of pain, nearly unable to speak coherently.

“No, no, it’s not like that. I did it willingly. Big Brother Gu, don’t be like this, please don’t say such things.” Chang Yu’er also began crying, tightly embracing Gu Pingyuan. “At worst we’ll die together. I’m not afraid.”

After a while, Gu Pingyuan let out a long breath, cupped Chang Yu’er’s face, and gazed at her for a long time. Suddenly he smiled brightly, “Let’s not think so negatively. Perhaps… perhaps we husband and wife still have some good fortune ahead. In the future we’ll build a small house by the military camp. I’ll go hunting and digging ginseng while you weave cloth and cook. I’ll catch a few roe deer and build a wooden fence to raise them. Have you heard of roe deer?”

Chang Yu’er shook her head.

“They say ‘silly roe deer, silly roe deer’ – those creatures are really silly. If you tap an empty tree trunk, they’ll run over. If you cover their eyes with cloth, they’ll obediently follow you.”

“Really?” Chang Yu’er began to smile as she listened.

“Really. There are many other interesting things in the forests beyond the pass.”

“Then tell me about them.”

“I’ll tell you slowly. We’ll have plenty of time in the future.” Gu Pingyuan said with a smile.

“In the future…” Chang Yu’er murmured. She unconsciously looked eastward, and a trace of fear appeared in her eyes. That was the direction of Fengtian military camp. She wasn’t afraid of death, only reluctant to part with the “future” Gu Pingyuan spoke of.

Battalion Commander Xu kept urging them from horseback. Gu Pingyuan and the others had no choice but to travel through the night, going a whole night without sleep. When the sun was high the next day, Chief Constable Gu really couldn’t bear it anymore.

“Rushing like this, if someone falls ill, it will actually delay our journey,” he said half-negotiating, half-threatening.

Battalion Commander Xu, having ridden all night, also felt weary. He knew this official road well and knew that not far ahead was a riverside area with a fish market and a tea stall beside it for rest.

It was now midday rest time. Fishermen and fish vendors who caught fish and cut reeds all gathered in the tea stall. They couldn’t afford good tea – the tea stall owner only kept coarse-leaf tea in large bowls and tea dust commonly called “dirt tea.”

“Finish your tea and leave immediately, understand!” Battalion Commander Xu didn’t even dismount his horse, directly ordering a large bowl of tea and gulping it down.

Originally just to quench thirst and rest, but Gu Pingyuan frowned as soon as he picked up his tea bowl.

“How can anyone drink such tea?” With that, he splashed the tea water on the ground with a “whoosh.”

Such arrogant behavior naturally annoyed people. Someone said sarcastically, “Well well, who would have thought there’s a rich man sitting in this tea stall. According to you then, what good tea is drinkable?”

“Good tea?” Gu Pingyuan immediately looked at that person, his eyes full of provocation and contempt. “Have you ever drunk the finest Keemun black tea? Have you tasted premium Maofeng? Da Hong Pao that produces only four or five taels a year and can be found nowhere except the imperial palace, and Taiwan’s Dong Ding Oolong from overseas – hmph! You peasant, have you ever drunk real tea in your life? This stuff…” Gu Pingyuan pointed at the tea water on the ground, “is only slightly better than cow piss and horse urine. Only poor beggars like you would drink it with such relish.”

One sentence enraged the crowd. Every fisherman present glared angrily, slapping tables and cursing. If it weren’t for seeing that Gu Pingyuan traveled with government officials, they would have already swarmed over to surround him.

Chang Yu’er looked at Gu Pingyuan in surprise. He had never been such a sharp-tongued person. Could it be that last night’s incident had affected him so much that he suddenly became cynical and bitter toward the world?

“Gu Pingyuan, don’t cause trouble. Drink your tea and let’s go quickly,” Chief Constable Gu said in a low voice.

“Sir, sir.” The tea stall owner was an honest, simple woman who was frightened and trembling, hurriedly brewing a bowl of tea to bring over. “Our small shop has no good tea and has truly been remiss in service. This is jasmine tea scented beyond the pass – nothing more fragrant. Please try it as our gift.”

“Is that so?” Gu Pingyuan didn’t even look at the crowd around him, unhurriedly turning the coarse porcelain covered bowl in his hands. “This tea does have some fragrance, but unfortunately your bowl isn’t good.”

“Ah…” The tea shop owner didn’t understand.

“Bowls used by these peasants already reek so badly that the stench has covered the fragrance. Even the finest tea couldn’t produce a tea aroma.” Before Chief Constable Gu could react, Gu Pingyuan raised his hand and splashed the entire bowl of tea water on the people in front of him.

Now he had really stirred up a hornet’s nest. The people in the tea stall were so angry their eyes turned red. Everyone shouted curses and pushed tables aside to lunge at Gu Pingyuan.

Battalion Commander Xu saw trouble brewing and spurred his horse into the tea stall. Using his height and the horse’s size, he blocked those people behind him. Chief Constable Gu held his short baton, batting away wooden stools and stones thrown by the crowd. Exasperated, he said, “Gu Pingyuan, have you lost your mind? Why provoke these rough people for no reason?”

Chang Yu’er was initially very surprised, but gradually calmed down. Looking at Gu Pingyuan standing in front holding his bundle to protect her, her eyes held half curiosity and half anticipation.

Constable Gu, with his broad experience, knew that the easiest people to provoke in the world were the poor, but they were also the most dangerous to offend. If truly angered, they had nothing to lose and could kill someone then flee far away. Now that Gu Pingyuan had enraged these twenty or thirty people, how could he escape?

Officer Xu didn’t actually care about Gu Pingyuan’s fate. He only wanted to bring this fugitive back to the military camp to kill him personally in front of his colleagues, reclaiming the face he had lost. Otherwise, he would have already thrown Gu Pingyuan out to be dealt with by the mob.

Though these fishermen were all strong and muscular, they had no proper weapons and were wary of Officer Xu and Constable Gu’s swords and clubs. They shouted loudly but struggled to advance. Taking advantage of the cramped space in the tea stall, Gu Pingyuan and his companions managed to hold them off for nearly half an hour. Several times, someone tried to set fire to the place, but each attempt was blocked by the wailing female owner of the tea shop.

“Use the fishing nets! Trap these sons of turtles and sink them in the river!” someone suddenly shouted. Constable Gu knew they were in serious trouble. If fishing nets were cast over them, there would be nowhere to hide in the small tea stall, and they would have no choice but to surrender.

Strangely, after this shout, there was no further commotion outside. Officer Xu was puzzled and peered outside, immediately shocked by what he saw.

A group of horsemen had appeared outside the tea stall, each with black cloth covering their faces and weapons in hand. Two of them were holding short firearms. The fishermen outside had spotted this group first and fell silent, exchanging glances with one another.

“Let me introduce myself first. This master is from Sha Tuo Ridge in Liaozhong, known as ‘Mountain Dragon.’ I’m passing through on business. Whatever gold or silver treasures you’re fighting over, since I’ve stumbled upon this scene, I definitely need a share,” announced the leader of the bandits. He rode a black-headed horse and was short but sturdy, and was one of those holding a short firearm.

At the mention of bandits, who wouldn’t be frightened? The common people’s legs trembled with fear. Officer Xu was also alarmed. Bandits and government troops were mortal enemies—soldiers would skin bandits alive if they caught them, while bandits would bury soldiers alive. If these bandits discovered a lone military officer in the tea stall, they would surely execute him in the most horrific way.

“The best strategy is to retreat.” Officer Xu prioritized saving his own life and no longer cared about Gu Pingyuan. Before the bandits noticed him, he suddenly mounted his horse, whipped it hard, and the horse neighed loudly as it charged out of the tea stall toward the main road. Fearing the bandits might shoot at him, he kept his body low and didn’t dare look back even once.

With his departure, the tea stall was completely exposed. The bandit leader stopped his men from giving chase and pointed at Chang Yu’er inside: “I said there would be fish to catch today! Hey, this girl is three times prettier than the mountain wife from Qingma Kan. Come! Take her back to our mountain!”

Several men pounced like wolves and tigers, dragging Chang Yu’er from behind Gu Pingyuan. Gu Pingyuan grabbed a wooden stool to fight desperately but was no match for them. He was dragged outside while clutching one of the bandits, and the leader aimed his gun at Gu’s head about to fire, but changed his mind at the last moment. Instead, he knocked Gu Pingyuan unconscious with the gun handle and ordered his men to tie him to a horse.

“He looks too fine-skinned to be a farmer. Our gang is taking this prize. If anyone knows him, spread the word: one hundred taels of silver to exchange for the person at our mountain, with a ten-day deadline. After that, come to the foot of the mountain to collect the corpse!”

After the bandits left, the common people scattered quickly, leaving only Constable Gu standing there woodenly, unsure whether to return to the capital to report the bad news or to seek the local authorities to capture the criminals.

“Hurry up and untie them, you bunch of villains! Did you have to be so rough?” Gu Pingyuan hazily heard a woman’s voice shouting. He opened his eyes slightly, feeling dizzy, and realized the ropes binding him had been loosened. He was half-lying, half-sitting in an open space, with Chang Yu’er supporting him at his side.

He shook his head, and his vision gradually cleared. He saw a nimble woman with a long braid tied with a red string standing not far in front of him. The complaint he had just heard came from her.

“Fourth Sister Tian, it’s been a long time,” Gu Pingyuan stood up and grinned at her.

The woman stared at Gu Pingyuan for a while, then suddenly took out a bank note and angrily threw it at him.

“You know it’s been a long time since we’ve met, so why would you slap me in the face before even seeing me?”

“Fourth Sister, what are you talking about?” Gu Pingyuan picked up the bank note. Chang Yu’er, with her sharp eyes, had already recognized it as the three-hundred-tael note she had given to Gu Pingyuan in Linghai Town.

“So you don’t consider us from Tian Village as friends? Otherwise, why would you send someone with this bank note to humiliate me!” Fourth Sister Tian grew increasingly angry, tears suddenly welling in her eyes.

Fearing she might cry on the spot, Gu Pingyuan waved his hands repeatedly: “That’s not what I meant, not at all, Fourth Sister. The favor I asked of you was truly enormous, and this was meant for hiring people and horses…”

“Pah! As if my Tian family lacks such a small amount of silver,” Fourth Sister Tian said resentfully. Then her tone suddenly changed, “Master Gu, if it weren’t for you, I’m afraid none of the Tian family would still be alive today. You even avenged the murder of my father and sister. Saving you is only right and proper. Never mind using silver—I wouldn’t hesitate to risk my life.” As she spoke, she suddenly knelt down.

“Fourth Sister…”

“Master Gu, I should have kowtowed to you at my father’s spirit tablet years ago. It’s not too late now.” With that, Fourth Sister Tian knocked her head heavily on the ground.

“Yu’er,” Gu Pingyuan called out quickly. Men and women should maintain proper distance, and although he had received Fourth Sister Tian’s kowtow, he couldn’t help her up himself. Fortunately, his wife was beside him.

Chang Yu’er was quick-witted. Before Fourth Sister Tian could kowtow a second time, she also knelt down and held her, refusing to let her continue. Finally, the two women supported each other and stood up.

Gu Pingyuan breathed a sigh of relief and looked around. There were quite a few people surrounding them—men and women, young and old—all with grateful expressions on their faces. He now recognized that he was standing at the entrance to Tian Village.

“Master Gu, this must be your sister-in-law? She’s truly a good match for you,” Fourth Sister Tian broke into a smile through her tears, holding Chang Yu’er’s hand affectionately and refusing to let go. “Mrs. Gu, you can call me Fourth Sister Tian. Everyone in this village is an old acquaintance of Master Gu.”

“Yes, we were only recently married. It’s hard on her to accompany me on this journey to face death thousands of miles away.”

“There you go again, saying such things,” Chang Yu’er scolded gently.

“You two are truly a couple bound together through hardship,” Fourth Sister Tian said, pointing toward the village. “Master Gu, please come this way. A feast has been prepared in our family’s courtyard, both to calm your nerves and welcome you. We’ll also share in your wedding celebration, so our village can partake in your joy.”

“I’ve offended the military and am facing exile. What joy is there to speak of? And Fourth Sister, I’ve been feeling uneasy hearing you call me ‘Master.’ If you truly consider me a friend, calling me ‘Elder Brother’ is enough.”

“Very well, Elder Brother Gu, please.”

The feast began at dusk and lasted until the moon was high in the sky. Everyone from Tian Village came to toast Gu Pingyuan. Though his alcohol tolerance wasn’t good, Fourth Sister Tian had a great capacity for drink and actively helped intercept toasts, drinking nearly half a jar of Northeastern distilled liquor herself, amazing Chang Yu’er.

“Mrs. Gu, I must seem amusing to you. I’m just a country girl who used to steal sips from my father’s liquor since childhood. I haven’t learned much else, but when it comes to drinking capacity, no man within ten villages can match me.”

“I’m not laughing at you. I’m just reminded of my elder brother, who also drinks liquor as if it were water.”

“Really? Someday I should have a drinking contest with him to see who’s better.” Fourth Sister Tian was from the Northeast region, where people raised in the White Mountains and Black Waters didn’t observe as many formalities as those from Jiangnan. Her straightforward boldness also won Chang Yu’er’s heart.

“Elder Brother Gu, what do you plan to do now? It’s not that I don’t want to keep you here, but Tian Village is too close to the main road. If your enemies from the military camp find out…” Fourth Sister Tian was direct.

Gu Pingyuan nodded in agreement: “I want to go somewhere remote to hide for a few years. For example, the Oroqen people in the Greater Khingan Mountains have no dealings with the government and aren’t under local jurisdiction. I could build a small house there and hunt with the Oroqen hunters, maybe even catch some roe deer to raise.” He glanced at Chang Yu’er with a smile, and she returned a joyful look. “Or if I’m lucky, I might dig up some wild ginseng in the mountains. When that happens, you, the female shopkeeper of the Tian Village herbal medicine shop, must give me a good price.”

“Ah!” Chang Yu’er exclaimed in surprise, looking at Fourth Sister Tian, then at her husband. “The Tian Village herbal medicine shop we visited at Panshan Relay Station belongs to Fourth Sister?”

“Actually, it should be my father’s, but now that he’s gone, I suppose it’s mine,” Fourth Sister Tian’s expression became somewhat melancholy. “Elder Brother Gu, do you remember? Opening the largest herbal medicine shop in the province at Panshan Relay Station was my father’s greatest wish. Now that Niuzhuang has opened a foreign port, Panshan Relay Station has become highly valuable, and the herbal medicine shop’s business is even better than my father had anticipated.”

“Of course I remember. Your father mentioned it to me many times. He had hoped to hire me as the shop manager once my sentence was served.” Gu Pingyuan reflected on the past with deep emotion. “I know you’re capable and will surely fulfill your father’s wish. So…”

“So even before you arrived at Panshan Relay Station, you knew there would definitely be a Tian Village herbal medicine shop there.” Fourth Sister Tian’s face showed her emotion.

Gu Pingyuan slowly nodded.

“Elder Brother Gu, I must criticize you now. How could you bear to let someone as delicate as your wife suffer in the ice and snow of the Greater Khingan Mountains?” Fourth Sister Tian drained another cup of liquor and said to Gu Pingyuan.

“Then what do you suggest? I can’t think of a better place to go,” Gu Pingyuan spread his hands.

“Go home!”

“Home?”

“Yes, isn’t your home in Huizhou? If you need to hide, one place is as good as another. Go back first and then decide. What issues couldn’t be resolved in your native place? Besides, our act was convincing enough. When Officer Xu inquires later, he’ll surely think you two were captured by bandits and taken to the mountains. He would never imagine you’ve returned to Huizhou.”

“You make it sound easy.” Gu Pingyuan pulled up his trouser leg, revealing a large scar on his ankle where a fugitive mark had been branded with a hot iron. “Wouldn’t this raise suspicion? I don’t have wings—how could I get past Shanhaiguan Pass? Last time I escaped was pure luck, and I nearly lost my life to a serious illness. This time, with my wife accompanying me, there’s no way we could get through that checkpoint.”

“Who said anything about Shanhaiguan Pass?” Fourth Sister Tian widened her eyes. “If you trust me, you’ll be in Huizhou in five days.”

Gu Pingyuan thought Fourth Sister Tian was drunk and just smiled at her without speaking.

“Really! Hasn’t Niuzhuang opened a foreign port? The British have also established a consulate in Yingkou. They frequently travel between north and south, transporting people, goods, and exchanging letters. Their small steamships run every three days—first to Yantai, then to Zhenjiang. You can disembark at Zhenjiang, and in a few days, you’ll be home.”

Gu Pingyuan was stunned. After thinking for a moment, he asked, “Can anyone just board a British steamship?”

“Of course not. Those foreign devils never carry people from our Qing Empire.”

“Then it’s impossible.”

“Money makes the devil turn the millstone, and the same applies to foreign devils.” As she spoke, Fourth Sister Tian took out a small package from under the table. Inside was a box. She opened it with a smile, revealing a bank note and a ginseng root with a thick body and full beard. Gu Pingyuan’s keen eye immediately recognized it as a one-thousand-tael note, and the ginseng weighed at least seven or eight taels, worth even more than the bank note.

“I don’t believe these two items can’t buy two ship tickets, unless the British are fools who don’t recognize money,” Fourth Sister Tian said with a smile.

“Fourth Sister!” Gu Pingyuan was so moved he wanted to say something, but in the end, he just smiled and nodded. When friendship reaches this level, I know you would do this for me, and you know I would do the same for you—anything more would be superfluous.

“Elder Brother Gu, I didn’t know you had so many good friends in the Northeast,” Chang Yu’er understood that impersonating bandits to rescue a prisoner was a serious crime, and several thousand taels was a substantial sum. For Fourth Sister Tian to do this showed the depth of her friendship with Gu Pingyuan.

“Oh, Mrs. Gu, I was just wondering about something. How is it that you also call him ‘Elder Brother Gu’ like I do?” Fourth Sister Tian asked curiously.

“Well…” Chang Yu’er originally didn’t want to explain, but Fourth Sister Tian, somewhat tipsy, insisted on knowing the details. Left with no choice, she whispered a few words in her ear.

Fourth Sister Tian’s eyes widened: “So you and Elder Brother Gu haven’t consummated your marriage yet!”

Chang Yu’er nearly fainted. Fourth Sister Tian was truly bold—how could she say such a thing in public, especially as an unmarried woman herself?

But what followed was even more shocking—”No matter, no matter! I was just regretting not being able to drink to Elder Brother Gu’s wedding. Tonight is perfect! You can consummate your marriage in my home, stay for three days before leaving, and consider it Tian Village’s wedding gift to you both.”

Chang Yu’er blushed all the way to her neck, wishing she could find a crack in the ground to hide in. Gu Pingyuan was also left speechless by Fourth Sister Tian’s successive remarks. Before he could respond, Fourth Sister Tian, moving like the wind, had already directed people to prepare the largest bedroom, laying out a complete set of new red bedding, placing large red candles on the table, and hanging two red lanterns depicting mandarin ducks playing in water by the door.

“Now everything is ready. Elder Brother Gu, Mrs. Gu, please enter your bridal chamber.” Whether Fourth Sister Tian was truly drunk or just using alcohol as an excuse, she pulled Gu Pingyuan with her left hand and Chang Yu’er with her right, pushing them both into the room before closing the door behind them.

The room was quiet, with only the sound of Fourth Sister Tian driving away the villagers who had come to watch the excitement. Chang Yu’er was so flustered she didn’t know where to put her hands and feet. She sat down only to realize she was on the bed, then hurriedly stood up and walked a few steps to the window, fidgeting with the corner of her clothes in silence.

Gu Pingyuan also felt awkward. The two had become husband and wife only because of a single sentence from Chang Si’s father before his death. Not only had Chang Yu’er not ridden in a bridal sedan chair, they hadn’t even performed the ceremony of bowing to heaven and earth. And now they were expected to consummate their marriage? Although circumstances demanded flexibility, this matter wasn’t so urgent. “It’s all because of Fourth Sister Tian’s impulsive nature,” Gu Pingyuan complained inwardly. He cleared his throat and said, “Yu’er, we’ll leave early tomorrow morning.”

Once he spoke, the awkward silence was broken. Chang Yu’er took the brass poker to brighten the lamp, giving herself something to do with her hands, and said softly, “Didn’t Fourth Sister Tian want us to stay for a few more days?”

“This place is too close to the main road, and too many people know about my situation. It’s hard to guarantee that word won’t leak to the authorities. The sooner we leave, the sooner we’ll be safe.”

“Hmm.” Chang Yu’er seemed unconcerned about this matter. She asked, “Elder Brother Gu, does this mean you had already contacted the people from Tian Village when we were at Panshan Relay Station?”

Gu Pingyuan smiled: “Yes, the outcome was still uncertain, and I didn’t want to worry you, so I didn’t dare mention it.” After a pause, he continued, “Constable Gu was right. That man surnamed Xu is truly vicious. If he were just after me, that would be one thing, but I couldn’t tolerate his ill intentions toward you. So I had no choice but to fight to the bitter end.”

“But Yu’er, I noticed you weren’t afraid. When the ‘bandits’ captured you, you didn’t panic. Could it be that you had already figured out they were imposters?” Gu Pingyuan couldn’t help being curious.

Chang Yu’er shook her head: “I’ve never seen real bandits, so how would I know what they’re like? But I knew you’re not the type of person who would start a quarrel over a cup of tea. You deliberately angered everyone in the tea stall, so you must have had a plan. I was just waiting to see what would happen next. If it was something you had arranged beforehand, why should I be afraid?”

Gu Pingyuan couldn’t help but look deeply at Chang Yu’er. She truly impressed him. When they first met in Taigu County, Chang Yu’er was purely childlike. But after venturing through Mongolia, battling in Shanxi, and then going to the capital, this girl had experienced so many changes and had become so deeply resourceful. This level of courage and insight was rare even among ordinary men.

“What is it?” Chang Yu’er saw her husband staring at her and lowered her head slightly in embarrassment.

“Oh, nothing.” Gu Pingyuan came back to his senses and let out a light sigh. “I was just thinking about myself. When I first went to the capital for the imperial examination, I was simply an unworldly scholar. In less than ten years—being a prisoner, doing hard labor, running a business—looking in the mirror, there’s no trace left of that candidate who only knew how to write eight-part essays.” He smiled bitterly. “Life is unpredictable. Who knows what else awaits me in the future?”

“Awaits us!” Chang Yu’er stood before Gu Pingyuan, looking at him.

Gu Pingyuan was startled, then smiled: “Yes, us.” He took Yu’er’s hand, feeling her delicate fingers in his grasp. His heart stirred, and his eyes involuntarily glanced at the wedding bed adorned with red silk and green satin. Just as he was about to lift his wife into his arms, Chang Yu’er suddenly said, “Elder Brother Gu, can we not return to Huizhou?”

These words came out urgently, clearly blurted out without forethought. Gu Pingyuan was stunned upon hearing them and repeated, “Not return to Huizhou?”

Having spoken so abruptly, Chang Yu’er seemed somewhat regretful, as if there was something difficult to express. She looked tentatively at Gu Pingyuan, and seeing his confusion, stammered, “I-I was just talking nonsense. Of course, wherever you go, I’ll go.”

“Yu’er, is it because we haven’t told my mother about our marriage that you don’t want to return to Huizhou? Are you worried that she…”

“No, that’s not what I’m thinking. Your mother must be a reasonable person. I married you, and returning to serve your mother and care for your siblings is my filial duty. Besides, I’ve been motherless since childhood and can’t wait to meet her, to bring her joy in her old age.”

“Then why did you say you don’t want to return to Huizhou?”

Chang Yu’er bit her lower lip, her eyes darting left and right. After a long moment, she said, “I just really liked what you said about finding a remote place in the Greater Khingan Mountains, with only you and me, in a small cabin. I’ve been imagining that scenario throughout our journey. When you suddenly mentioned returning to Huizhou, my heart felt like it dropped into an empty space.”

Gu Pingyuan was usually very good at reading people, but from Chang Yu’er’s demeanor and tone, he found it difficult to discern whether she was speaking her true feelings. Moreover, in her eyes, he saw a deeply hidden fear.

Just as Gu Pingyuan was about to inquire further, suddenly a tremendous noise erupted outside. A loud “BANG” like thunder shook the house three times, causing dust to fall from the beams and even knocking the pair of vases on the table to the ground, shattering them to pieces.

Such a sound in the dead of night was truly terrifying. In an instant, the village was thrown into chaos, with panicked shouts filling the streets outside.

Gu Pingyuan was startled, and Chang Yu’er was so frightened that she trembled, feeling her heart leap into her throat. After finally recovering, she saw her husband’s face change drastically and asked, “What was that sound? How could it be louder than thunder?”

“It’s a cannon…” Gu Pingyuan murmured absently, then suddenly turned and rushed out. At the doorway, he stopped abruptly, turned back to Chang Yu’er, and waved his hand, “Yu’er, stay in the room. I’ll go see what’s happening.” With that, he took three steps in two and ran all the way to the village entrance.

A large crowd had already gathered at the village entrance, with almost all the residents of Tian Village congregated in the open area in front of the village. Looking across the crowd, Gu Pingyuan saw Fourth Sister Tian wearing a purple cloak, standing at the front of the crowd with several village elders. Looking further ahead was an alarming sight—about a hundred paces away, there was a large group of soldiers, each holding torches, with bright pine torches stuck in the ground, illuminating the area around the village entrance like daylight.

Leading them was a Green Standard Army officer in military uniform. Gu Pingyuan had seen this man today—it was none other than Officer Xu!

Since the death of Fourth Sister Tian’s father, who was the old patriarch of Tian Village, Fourth Sister Tian had inherited the family business. She was bold and outspoken, decisive and quick in her actions, and the young and old of Tian Village were all willing to let her take charge. Although she had never met Officer Xu, she was quick-witted. Seeing these soldiers surrounding Tian Village in the middle of the night, she immediately thought of Gu Pingyuan and couldn’t help but inwardly groan.

She had to step forward to speak, even reluctantly, and she couldn’t show weakness. Fourth Sister Tian took two steps forward and asked, “May I ask which officer is in command? Our village is home to law-abiding citizens. We have never evaded taxes or gathered for rebellion. Why have you surrounded our village in the middle of the night?”

“Hmph! Law-abiding citizens? I doubt it.” The fleshy part of Officer Xu’s face quivered. He urged his horse forward two steps, swung his whip, and shouted loudly, “If you’re smart, hand over Gu Pingyuan quickly, otherwise…” He waved his hand backward, and the sound of wheels was heard as several large cannons were pushed out from behind the soldiers, their black muzzles pointed directly at the villagers. The crowd immediately became agitated.

“Officer, what crime have we committed that you would use cannons against us? Are we bandits?” Fourth Sister Tian was anxious.

“You are bandits!” Officer Xu said viciously. “I haven’t wasted my years at the horse farm. I can still tell where hoofprints lead. Gu Pingyuan!” he suddenly shouted, his voice carrying far in the quiet night. “It’s fine if you don’t come out, but you can’t hide. I’ve brought two companies of soldiers and five cannons from the garrison, surrounding this place so tightly that not even an ant could escape. If I have to search you out, this village will be accused of harboring bandits, and everyone will be imprisoned!”

The crowd fell silent; the common people were terrified. No one had expected that trouble would fall from the sky while they were sitting peacefully at home. With government troops at their doorstep, one misstep could mean Tian Village would be reduced to ashes.

“Come, let’s start by blasting the houses on the outskirts. I don’t believe we can’t blast Gu Pingyuan out!” Officer Xu was determined, his hand raised high, about to order the cannons to fire.

“Wait! I’m here.” As the words fell, Gu Pingyuan pushed through the crowd and emerged.

“You!” Fourth Sister Tian stamped her foot in anxiety. Gu Pingyuan gave a resolute smile and walked straight toward Officer Xu.

As soon as he had heard the sound, he knew it was a cannon, and the noise was so loud that it couldn’t be a local cannon but must be an explosive shell from the Qing army’s main camp. While in the camp, to serve as a substitute marksman for the officers, he had read much military strategy and was familiar with the weapons and firearms in the camp. He knew that cannons were difficult to transport, and once they were fired, it meant the enemy had surrounded them, following the principle of “surround and annihilate, then use barbarian cannons.”

So before Officer Xu spoke, Gu Pingyuan already knew he couldn’t escape. Even if he could run, how could he abandon the people of Tian Village?

“Gu Pingyuan, you’ve wasted your efforts.” Upon seeing him emerge, Officer Xu smiled smugly. “Did you think that finding people to pose as bandits and staging your own kidnapping would let you off scot-free? Bandits covering their faces with cloth—that’s the first I’ve seen. Besides, that little slut surnamed Chang has such a fiery temperament that she would rather kill herself than be captured by bandits. I caught and questioned several fishermen on my way back—she didn’t scream or shout but was docilely taken away. Isn’t there something fishy about that? It’s not so easy to fool me!”

Unexpectedly, despite their careful planning, Chang Yu’er’s courage became the loophole that Officer Xu used to see through their scheme. There was truly nothing more to say. Gu Pingyuan sighed inwardly: “Time, fate, destiny—it seems I cannot escape dying in the Northeast. I’ll accept it, but I won’t implicate these good friends.”

With this thought, his expression darkened, and he called out loudly: “Officer Xu, there’s something you’ve got wrong. I don’t know any bandits. I escaped midway and hid in this farming village. This has nothing to do with these people. Don’t falsely implicate them. I’ll return to the camp with you.”

Officer Xu knew Gu Pingyuan was deliberately trying to exonerate these people. He snorted: “What about your wife? She must come back too.”

Just as Gu Pingyuan was about to speak, someone behind him suddenly shouted: “Fine, I’ll go too.”

It was Chang Yu’er. Her face was deathly pale, but her steps were steady and quick as she walked toward Gu Pingyuan.

“Stop!” Gu Pingyuan unexpectedly barked harshly. Chang Yu’er involuntarily halted, staring blankly at her husband.

“Fourth Sister, hold her back, don’t let her come forward.” Gu Pingyuan’s voice was firm as iron.

“Yu’er, if you still consider me your husband, if you don’t want me to die with regrets, don’t follow me. In the future—in the future, don’t even come to collect my corpse.” Gu Pingyuan rarely spoke with urgency, but now his voice was stern. He looked at Fourth Sister Tian again. “Fourth Sister, now that Yu’er has reached here safely, I can rest easy. As for my situation, you don’t need to concern yourself with it anymore.”

Fourth Sister Tian’s eyebrows were knotted so tightly they almost formed a rope. She repeatedly assessed the situation but ultimately could only close her eyes in despair. In this scenario, rescuing Gu Pingyuan would be harder than ascending to heaven. Not only were the villagers of Tian Village not trained for battle, but even if it were two armies facing each other, with one surrounded by the other and several cannons pointed at them, surrender would be the only option.

“Don’t worry,” Fourth Sister Tian said straightforwardly. Gu Pingyuan nodded gratefully.

“No!” Chang Yu’er struggled forward but was firmly held back by Fourth Sister Tian.

Seeing this, Officer Xu roared angrily: “She must come along too, or I’ll order the cannons to fire.”

“You wouldn’t dare!” Gu Pingyuan had nothing left to lose and shouted at Officer Xu. “You have reason to arrest me, but what grounds do you have for arresting her? She’s just a woman, unarmed—is she a fugitive? Is she a bandit?” Gu Pingyuan took a big step forward and loudly addressed the soldiers present: “I’ve already surrendered myself. Your soldiers have seen and heard this. If you still dare to order the destruction of this village, you would have to kill everyone present. Otherwise, if even one soldier speaks out, or if any villager escapes with half a life, you can expect the imperial court to execute your entire family!”

Gu Pingyuan had hit the mark. Not only was massacring a village without authorization a serious offense, but even mobilizing these two companies of soldiers and five cannons had required Officer Xu to persuade a fellow officer he knew, using both soft and hard tactics. He didn’t have the Shengjing General’s troop deployment token, so what he was doing already violated military law. After hearing Gu Pingyuan’s words, he became even more concerned that someone might leak the information.

Though he was brutal, he wasn’t without calculation. He realized that forcibly taking Chang Yu’er might cause a major disturbance. He had many rivals in the camp, and if they seized this opportunity to make a big issue of it and reported to the Shengjing General, he would be in serious trouble.

“Yu’er, you must listen. Whatever happens, don’t come to the camp.” Before being taken away, Gu Pingyuan repeatedly urged her. How could Chang Yu’er have imagined that in just one day, they would go from hell to heaven and back to hell again? Her husband, in the end, couldn’t be saved. She wept bitterly, her voice hoarse with grief. If not for Fourth Sister Tian holding her firmly, she would have collapsed to the ground.

Three days later, outside the south gate of Shangyang Fort, along a long earthen wall, hundreds of ragged fugitives were gathered together. Unlike the fugitives in the Fengtian camp who had some freedom of movement and could run errands for the military camp, Shangyang Fort was a heavily guarded prison. Those confined within were all serious offenders—some were notorious bandits, some were habitual burglars, and at the very least, they were neighborhood bullies who had committed murder and whose eyes showed ferocious intent.

A fine drizzle fell from the sky, autumn wind carrying the rain threads, bitterly cold. In normal circumstances, these men would have been cursing loudly, but today they dared not. The scene before them had thoroughly shocked them.

“Ah!” An agonized scream came from not far ahead, a desperate cry like a fierce ghost struggling in the oil cauldron of hell. Even the most daring criminals couldn’t help but shudder at the sound.

“What did Wang Laoliu do to deserve the rattan punishment?” Those whispering were afraid of being discovered, lest they be the next to receive the beating. The rattan canes, soaked in tung oil, were extremely flexible—one stroke could cause swelling two fingers thick. The mere thought of it made one shiver.

“He just stole a piece of steamed bun because he was hungry a few days ago.”

“Wasn’t he already punished by having to clean the sewers?”

“That’s right, but yesterday Officer Xu returned and insisted on arresting Wang Laoliu again to punish him. When a camp officer gives an order, who dares to stop him?”

“Damn it! What madness has possessed him now? He’s like a rabid dog!” The speaker secretly spat on the ground. Receiving rattan beatings for stealing a bun, and after already being punished—this made every fugitive fear for their own safety.

“Who’s that young man? He looks familiar.” Someone noticed that not far in front of Wang Laoliu, a man with his arms tightly bound was being forced to kneel on the ground.

Though Gu Pingyuan was kneeling, he understood clearly what was happening. Officer Xu was doing this to torture him—first letting someone else take a severe beating to frighten him.

The scene before him was indeed heart-stopping. Officer Xu sat on a bearskin chair, his eyes wide, ordering “Ten strokes!” The soldiers carrying out the punishment were carefully selected—burly, cruel, and merciless. As they swung the rattan canes down, the tip made a short, sharp whistle, followed by Wang Laoliu’s throat-tearing screams.

“Sir, the ten strokes have been completed,” the soldier reported after a while.

“Hmph!” Officer Xu sneered, lifting his chin. “Wang Laoliu, return to your place.”

“Thank you, sir.” Just as Wang Laoliu tried to stand, he felt as if the punished area had been seared with a hot iron. Unable to stand, he could only crawl forward on his arms.

Officer Xu glared: “Wang Laoliu, why are you pretending to be a dead dog? Stand up and walk back! Or I’ll give you another ten strokes.”

“Yes.” Wang Laoliu dared not disobey. Even with broken legs, he had to support himself up. The pain made him see stars, barely able to see the path ahead, nearly fainting. He forced himself to take small steps forward, hoping only to get away from this devil.

“Wait.” Officer Xu spoke again in a strange tone, making Wang Laoliu shudder.

“Officer, you…”

“Oh, so you can walk after all. Come, give him another ten strokes!”

The crowd stirred. This was too tyrannical and cruel—it was like toying with a human life. Hundreds of people watched helplessly as Wang Laoliu was dragged back for further punishment, howling like a ghost and wolf. Their eyes blazed with anger, but they dared not speak out.

After another ten strokes, Wang Laoliu had long since passed out from the pain. Looking at the terrifying red welts rising on his legs and back, like dozens of snakes writhing beneath his skin, Officer Xu cast a smug glance at Gu Pingyuan.

By this point, blood rushing to his head, Gu Pingyuan had already resigned himself to death. He wasn’t afraid of dying, but suffering before death was the hardest to endure. He would have preferred to be quickly beheaded on the execution ground.

But how could Officer Xu let him have his way? He had Wang Laoliu thrown aside and dragged Gu Pingyuan over, announcing in front of everyone: “Ninety strokes!”

The entire assembly was shocked. “Ninety strokes?” The fugitives looked at each other, and after confirming they hadn’t misheard, a chill like the north wind in the twelfth month ran through their hearts, making them tremble.

Officer Xu moved close to Gu Pingyuan and said, word by word: “Don’t worry, I guarantee you’ll still be alive after these ninety strokes. Then we’ll switch to that cane for another ten strokes!” He glanced aside at a jujube wood cane with a copper head and iron bands, glowing dark red. “I’ll deliver the final stroke myself.” He gritted his teeth, grabbed Gu Pingyuan’s braid, pulled it back forcefully, and gripped the back of his head with his fan-sized hand.

“With the hundredth stroke, I’ll smash your skull so badly that even your mother won’t recognize you!”

With that, Officer Xu threw Gu Pingyuan heavily to the ground and shouted: “Carry out the punishment!”

The soldiers pounced like wolves and tigers, holding the rattan canes that whistled through the air. As Gu Pingyuan received the first stroke, he felt as if his back had been split open by a knife. The pain tore through his internal organs. He held onto one thought: You want me to cry and beg for mercy? I won’t give you that satisfaction. I would rather bite my teeth to pieces than make a sound.

By the tenth or so stroke, Gu Pingyuan felt as if the cane was striking directly on his brain. His eyeballs seemed about to burst, and he could no longer endure. He opened his mouth and bit down on a piece of stone from the ground. His teeth grated against it, but still, he made no sound.

The surrounding fugitives watched wide-eyed. At first, there was silence, but then, seeing this man who looked like a scholar but had a body of steel, enduring so many rattan strokes without making a sound, the crowd spontaneously erupted in cheers.

“Well done! He’s a real man of steel!”

“He’s got real guts, damn it!”

“Who is this man? Impressive!”

These fugitives, each one rough and fierce, had never easily submitted to anyone. To earn their unanimous cheers was something that had never happened before in the history of Shangyang Fort.

Officer Xu was so angry that smoke seemed to come from his nose. He abruptly stood up, pushed aside the soldier administering the punishment, and grabbed the cane himself. He raised it high, shouted “Ya!” and brought it down hard. Gu Pingyuan felt as if his body had been struck by lightning or cut open with a red-hot knife. His vision blurred with blood, his heart pounding violently. Just as he had barely recovered from this stroke, Officer Xu delivered another. Gu Pingyuan’s vision went black, and he finally succumbed to the extreme pain, passing out.