The news of the Gu family’s hefty reward for seeking physicians and medicine spread like a whirlwind – within two days, everyone in the streets and alleys knew about it. Common people clicked their tongues in amazement, all lamenting that they hadn’t studied medicine, for if they could cure Old Madam Gu’s illness, it would be like being struck on the head by gold ingots – not just one, but a whole pile.

For a time, carriages and horses mobilized throughout the two rivers region, boats competed on the waterways, carrying either physicians or traditional doctors, all wanting to reach Zhenjiang ahead of others. Word had already spread that the patient suffered from traumatic injuries, not some mysterious ailment – this disease wasn’t difficult to treat, yet the reward was astonishingly generous. Who wouldn’t want to claim this consultation fee? This left those seeking medical treatment in recent days quite frustrated, as most were met with closed doors.

While everyone else headed to Zhenjiang, one small sedan chair covered in blue cloth was hurriedly carried into Jiangning, following the path along the city walls straight to the gate of a residence bearing the sign “Li Mansion.” As soon as the passenger emerged from the sedan chair, stewards and servants all rushed forward, calling “Master” while bowing and scraping, dusting off clothes and inquiring after his well-being.

Li Wantang’s face was iron-gray; he paid no attention to anyone, only striding quickly into the rear courtyard. Meeting a maid by the corridor near the pond, he asked curtly: “Where is Madam?”

“Madam is in the back training the golden canary. She instructed that no one should disturb her, lest it ruin the bird’s whistle.”

Before she could finish speaking, Li Wantang had already stridden past, leaving the maid staring back in surprise.

Upon entering the inner chamber, the room was filled with the fragrance of orchids. Madam Li sat leisurely alone, amusing herself with the caged bird. Sensing someone’s entrance, her willow-leaf eyebrows shot up, ready to express anger, but seeing it was her husband – and his face full of fury – she first showed slight surprise, then actually smiled.

“Oh, it’s Master! Have you finished with the salt fields business? Why didn’t you send word when returning, so I could have the servants tidy up the room? I remember you don’t like such strong orchid fragrance – you prefer the subtle scent of chrysanthemums in the room.”

Li Wantang had no intention of exchanging pleasantries. He approached Madam Li and asked in a low, hoarse voice: “I’ll ask just once – was it Qin’er or you?”

“It was me, naturally. Qin’er is still somewhat soft-hearted after all. Whenever he thinks of those bastard children, he can’t bring himself to act. I simply found someone to handle it myself, to avoid his dragging feet and creating complications.”

“Madam!” Li Wantang’s sharp rebuke echoed throughout the room, startling the golden canary into frantic fluttering within its cage. “You promised me initially that you would never make things difficult for them.”

“Master!” Madam Li also dropped her smile, her face taking on a layer of coldness. “You also promised me initially that you would never again have any dealings with the Gu family. You violated your oath first – what right do you have to come lecture me?”

“True, I did make that decision. Heaven’s principles and human ethics won’t allow me to stand by and watch brothers destroy each other. You are Qin’er’s mother – haven’t you seen his inner torment? Must you watch him go astray step by step until it’s a fight to the death? Even if Qin’er wins in the end, he’d have harmed his own flesh and blood – could he truly smile about it? Years ago, you used Gu Pingyuan’s life to threaten me. Fearing you’d poison him, I had no choice but to comply and have him exiled beyond the passes. I thought that would be enough – that you’d spare others when possible. After all, you’re from the Li family of the capital. Compared to you, what are they? Are they worth your concern? To use your words, ‘Do they even deserve it!’ Yet you’ve repeatedly struck at the Gu family. Don’t forget – they are my own flesh and blood, my children. You actually sent people to kill them. Twenty years have passed – even the flames of hell should have cooled by now. Why are you still so relentless, becoming even more vicious!”

Madam Li laughed coldly, staring intensely at Li Wantang, her tone becoming increasingly aggressive: “Relentless? You’re right about that – I simply cannot spare those creatures who eat the Li family’s rice while stabbing us in the back. If you were wholeheartedly being this ‘Li Half-City,’ that would be fine. But you use Li family silver to please that Gu Pingyuan, knowing full well that Qin’er and he are irreconcilable enemies, yet you insist on helping him suppress Qin’er. What’s next – will you reconcile with that damned woman? Will you drive me and Qin’er from this residence and change the ‘Li Mansion’ sign outside to ‘Gu Mansion’? Let me tell you – stop dreaming! I’d rather perish together with that family than let you have your way.”

Madam Li approached her husband with a challenging expression, saying word by word: “Why should our capital Li family raise a dog that bites its master? Never mind biting – even if it dares bare its teeth at its master, I’ll dig out that whole litter of puppies and dash them all to death!”

With a sharp “crack,” Li Wantang raised his hand and delivered a heavy slap, sending Madam Li staggering to the floor. She covered her face, glaring at Li Wantang with eyes full of venomous hatred: “Twenty years of marriage, and this slap is what I get in return. Good, very good!”

Li Wantang also looked at her, his expression both helpless and pained. Finally, he stamped his foot, turned, and left, his heavy footsteps gradually fading away.

Madam Li sat at the table for a long time, until the sun’s shadows slanted westward and the last ray of evening light fell upon the golden canary she had crushed to death with her own hands, finally fading bit by bit as the room fell into darkness. She called a servant in quietly, her eyes fixed steadily on the broken birdcage she had thrown to the floor and trampled, saying in a dry voice: “Use the fastest courier horses to send word to the capital. Tell the head steward at the mansion that the matter I asked him to prepare can now be carried out.”

Chang Yu’er had survived her brush with death, but when she awoke to learn the child was gone, she was so heartbroken that she could only weep. Day after day she had no appetite, leaning against the wall in a daze. Even when she spoke, she only asked how her mother-in-law was doing. Seeing her so grief-stricken, the Gu family dared not reveal a word about Old Madam Gu’s serious injuries, having to keep it secret for now.

Gu Pingyuan spent these days comforting his wife, but each conversation ended with the couple facing each other with tearful eyes, their hearts so heavy they couldn’t utter another word.

Though the child had died before birth, Chang Yu’er was gradually recovering with careful nursing, showing improvement day by day. What truly worried the three Gu siblings was Old Madam Gu’s injuries. The physicians and doctors who came all brimmed with confidence before taking her pulse, dismissing traumatic injuries as trivial, with some boasting of ancestral remedies that could cure by morning what was taken at night. But once they actually saw the unconscious patient and felt her pulse, they all fell silent, waved their hands, and departed. This terrified the Gu family. Gu Pingyuan even considered sending someone back to Shanxi to fetch the divine physician Li who had once cured his illness, but that would be too slow for the urgent situation.

Later, an elderly physician from Hu Qingyu Hall, sent by Hu Xueyan upon hearing the news, gave the Gu family the harsh truth. He said that while Old Madam Gu’s injuries appeared to be external, her internal organs had suffered extremely severe damage. Combined with a previous serious illness, her foundation was weak, making medicine useless. The local physician’s initial assessment was actually correct – the injury couldn’t be cured, only prolonged with strong tonics.

“Master Gu, medical ethics demand honesty – I hope you won’t take offense at my frank words. Your mother has been unconscious for days. I believe she won’t wake up. Actually, passing away like this would be painless – it might not be a bad thing. Even if she could wake up, don’t hope for too much – it would likely be a final rally before death, lasting only moments.”

These words made the three siblings’ hearts feel like they were being fried in oil. Days ago they desperately wanted their mother to open her eyes; now they feared that moment’s arrival, not knowing what to do.

Gu Yuting was the youngest in the family and the only daughter. Her eldest brother needn’t be mentioned, and her second brother often traveled for business, but she had hardly left her mother’s side. Seeing her beloved mother about to leave her, she woke crying countless times at night, her spirit growing increasingly weary. At dawn, planning to buy a crucian carp to make milky fish soup for her mother, she had just stepped out of the inn’s main gate when she noticed something dark huddled on the ground nearby.

Gu Yuting was already jumpy from recent events. Startled, her heart lurched. Looking carefully, she could make out that it was Liu Heita crouched on the ground. This originally vigorous and robust man looked like an eggplant struck by frost, his face full of dejection as he stared blankly at the wheel ruts in the street. She had no idea how long he’d been there.

“Brother Liu, have you been here these past nights?” Gu Yuting asked in bewilderment. Ever since learning of his sister’s misfortune, Liu Heita had kept his usually grinning mouth tightly shut, maintaining a gloomy expression and not speaking to anyone he encountered. The Gu family, preoccupied with their own worries, naturally couldn’t attend to him. They hadn’t realized he was tormenting himself so.

Liu Heita initially ignored Gu Yuting’s question. When she asked again, he suddenly raised his hands and delivered himself seven or eight full-force slaps, striking until blood appeared at the corners of his mouth. Gu Yuting was terrified, crouching down to grab Liu Heita’s arms, saying tremblingly: “What… what are you doing?”

“I’m useless – learned martial arts but couldn’t protect my sister. A perfectly good great-nephew, just gone like that. I’ve failed my father, failed Yu’er…” Liu Heita had been holding this in for days. Once he let it out, he sobbed with his whole body shaking, his grief making his words broken and breathless.

Gu Yuting’s eyes immediately reddened. This wasn’t the first time she’d witnessed such anguish. Days ago, when the Gu family went to bury the formed infant, Gu Pingyuan had someone bring from Jiangning the small clothes, shoes, and exquisite toys he’d prepared for the child to bury with the coffin. Afterward, Gu Pingyuan told them to return first, but Gu Yuting was uneasy and secretly went back to check. She saw her eldest brother, who had controlled himself and remained calm since the incident, continuously pounding an old tree with his fists while making unclear crying sounds. The pain in those sounds – Gu Yuting would never forget it her entire life.

“Brother Liu, these things will pass, they’ll all pass eventually.” Gu Yuting embraced Liu Heita like comforting a child, patting his back while crying herself, sharing his grief. She knew she loved this man, though she’d previously thought it was his courage and integrity that attracted her, that his companionship brought her peace. But in this moment, Gu Yuting realized what she truly wanted was to care for and accompany this man, to never let him suffer such pain and sorrow again.

After Liu Heita cried himself out in confusion, feeling somewhat better, he suddenly realized he was embracing and weeping with Gu Yuting. Setting aside the impropriety between men and women, if anyone saw this, wouldn’t they accuse him of taking advantage of the Gu family’s young lady? He quickly stood up, but rising too fast, Gu Yuting was unprepared and fell backward to the ground. Seeing he’d made another mistake, Liu Heita instinctively reached out to help Gu Yuting, but stopped awkwardly mid-gesture.

Seeing him frozen there not knowing what to do, Gu Yuting instead extended her hand proactively. Liu Heita hesitated, then took her hand and helped her up.

“Miss Gu, I didn’t mean to earlier…”

“Here.” Gu Yuting interrupted him, handing over her handkerchief. Seeing him stare at her blankly, she turned her head away embarrassedly, saying softly: “Don’t know how many days since washing my face – crying like a muddy cat.”

Liu Heita awkwardly accepted the handkerchief, its faint fragrance like mist. He couldn’t bear to use such a beautiful handkerchief to wipe his face. Just as he was about to return it, he saw Gu Yuting’s expression darken as she bit her lip and looked toward the street.

In the early morning, few pedestrians were on the street, yet an ornately decorated carriage had stopped at the nearby intersection. Someone had alighted and was walking toward the inn’s entrance.

He stopped several steps away from the two, carefully studying Gu Yuting. After a moment, he spoke: “How is your mother? Is she well?” Gu Yuting had been staring at him. Hearing his question, she smiled coldly: “My mother’s injuries aren’t something just anyone can casually ask about. May I ask by what authority you pose this question? You should know we’re poor folk from Huizhou – we can’t accept concern from a Beijing Li family master.”

“Little Ting, when I left home, you weren’t even a year old. With you harboring such resentment, how can I begin to speak?” Li Wantang looked at this only daughter, this pearl he’d once held in his palm, now regarding him with such hostile eyes. He had so much to say but couldn’t express it – only a sigh remained in his heart.

“Oh, so you’re asking as my father? Then let me ask you – when I was small and others bullied me, when other children had fathers to stand up for them, where were you? Not to mention distant events, just a few days ago when I was being hunted with nowhere to turn, where was my dear father then? You weren’t counting banknotes waiting to see mine and Mother’s heads, were you?”

This was truly an earth-shattering question, though not without basis. Gu Pingyuan had calmly analyzed this incident. Though the assassins targeted several women, the real object of revenge was probably himself. Since entering business, he’d made many friends and few enemies, but some people did hate him deeply. He’d listed the most likely suspects: first the Li family, second Wang Tiangui, third those salt workers who’d previously failed to harm him.

Even if the salt workers wanted to strike again, they couldn’t offer ten thousand taels per person as bounty. Moreover, Bai Yimei had specifically sent people to rescue them, making it even less likely to involve former Prince Ying’s followers. As for Wang Tiangui, based on Gu Pingyuan’s dealings with him, this man was sinister and vicious but wouldn’t make such a grand gesture. Thinking it over, the Li family remained most suspect.

After Gu Pingyuan shared his suspicions, Gu Pingwen was the first to find it unacceptable, and Gu Yuting also found it unimaginable. But today, facing Li Wantang, Gu Yuting still blurted out the question, then watched the man’s eyes.

Faced with his daughter’s accusatory stare, Li Wantang instinctively averted his gaze.

“Heaven!” Gu Yuting cried silently in her heart. “It really was him.” She felt her heart sink into a bottomless abyss, countless sharp blades stabbing from all directions. Her vision went black and she collapsed.

Liu Heita initially didn’t understand, but after supporting Gu Yuting and thinking it over, he grasped what her final question meant. He looked up at Li Wantang in horror, pointing at him: “You… you…”

“Little Ting…” Li Wantang stepped forward.

“Don’t come closer!” Liu Heita was both shocked and furious. “You still count as human? You deserve to be anyone’s father?!” His other hand had already reached for the chain whip around his waist, but remembering this man was Elder Brother Gu’s biological father, he couldn’t bring himself to draw it.

“Brother Liu, help Little Ting inside. Leave this matter to me.” A voice suddenly came from the entrance. Gu Pingyuan had emerged at some point, his face so calm it was as if nothing had happened.

After Liu Heita took his younger sister inside, Gu Pingyuan turned to face Li Wantang.

“I came this time to…”

“Wait.” Gu Pingyuan interrupted him, pointing toward the outskirts. “Let’s go somewhere distant to talk. I don’t want the people in the inn to hear.”

Li Wantang nodded silently. The two walked one after the other, continuing past the riverside reed marshes and onto a section of the embankment before stopping.

“How is your mother’s injury really? I’ve asked the physicians who returned – they all say it’s very bad.” Li Wantang called over his driver and took a package of medicine from him. “This is medicine I had rushed from the capital by fast horse – it’s made by the Imperial Pharmacy and has miraculous effects on traumatic injuries.”

Gu Pingyuan didn’t answer this question or accept the medicine. His face was as calm as a stone carving as he spoke of another matter.

“Three assassins died on the spot, two were captured, and two escaped. The captured pair were immediately sent to the authorities. Yesterday the prefectural office sent runners to inform us that they’d extracted confessions – this incident was secretly orchestrated by a notorious local ruffian from Jiangning, who paid out the deposits. But when the authorities went to arrest him, the man had already fled without a trace. The government has issued wanted notices, but since this person has no wife or children and committed such a serious crime, he probably won’t return to Jiangnan. The head constable told me that finding the mastermind behind this case won’t be easy – they’ll probably just sentence the two captured assassins and close the case.”

He glanced at Li Wantang and continued: “I told the officials – catch him if possible, forget it if not, no need to force it. Even if they caught that thug and he revealed who gave him the silver, that person could still deny everything. With wealth and power, it’s hard to convict. Just like years ago in the capital when someone killed Chang Si’s father – it came to nothing. I’m telling you this to let you know that while criminal accounts can be completely denied, business accounts can’t be defaulted on. As long as enemies remain in commerce, my family’s revenge isn’t impossible. I, Gu Pingyuan, have ways to make them repay this blood debt. What do you say, Master Li?” Gu Pingyuan spoke with his hands behind his back, then suddenly turned to face Li Wantang.

Li Wantang pressed his lips tightly together, looking at this eldest son and hearing his heart-piercing words. Thinking of his decision twenty years ago that had created today’s fratricidal situation, he truly understood that heaven sees all human actions – retribution comes when least expected.

Facing the rolling river waters, his gaze distant, he spoke after a long while: “Over twenty years ago, your grandfather was in the grain business – also considered a somewhat famous Huizhou merchant. Though our family wasn’t wealthy, it was enough to support my studies and writing, preparing me for the capital examinations to seek official rank and honor our ancestors.”

Gu Pingyuan never expected him to mention this. He’d heard this story countless times from his mother. Grandfather’s grain business had been going well until he encountered the “canal riots” while purchasing grain in Yangzhou. The grain boats couldn’t move for months, and continuous rain caused entire warehouses of grain to rot, losing the entire capital. Grandfather died of acute illness from anxiety, never seeing his family again in that foreign place.

“I was preparing to go to the capital when I heard the news and rushed to Yangzhou to bring your grandfather’s body home. Unexpectedly, the corpse was being held by a local salt merchant. He produced a promissory note, demanding I pay the debt before claiming the body. The note was indeed written in your grandfather’s hand. I asked those who’d traveled with him – because grain prices fluctuated unpredictably that year, he’d wanted to make a profit but lost the borrowed money instead. Otherwise he wouldn’t have been so anxious as to fall ill and die.”

The Gu family had just lost all their business money and couldn’t gather such a large sum to repay the debt. Even if they could return to Huizhou to borrow money, the corpse had already been there over ten days – any longer and it would surely decay. Gu Wanzhang, now Li Wantang, naturally couldn’t let his lifelong-laboring father end so miserably. He pleaded with the salt merchant, hoping for time to retrieve the body first and repay the debt later.

But the salt merchant was completely inflexible, declaring that he must pay immediately or they’d throw Gu Pingyuan’s grandfather’s corpse into the sea for fish to devour. Driven desperate, Gu Wanzhang broke into the salt merchant’s house, saying he’d rather serve as an ox or horse if only they’d return his father’s body. The salt merchant’s master was a young hothead who’d inherited the business and spent his days feasting with guests and seeking pleasure. He didn’t really care about the money or lack servants – he simply found Huizhou merchants an eyesore and used Gu Wanzhang for amusement.

Seeing Gu Wanzhang truly desperate, the salt merchant unhurriedly made a public demand: his family’s guard dog had just died the previous night, and now they needed to hold a funeral for this dog but lacked a filial son to smash the mourning bowl and carry the spirit tablet. If Gu Wanzhang would serve as this filial son, they’d cancel the debt.

“You’ve also been to Yangzhou’s Slender West Lake.” Li Wantang’s tone was as calm as if discussing a previous lifetime. “The long street west of Slender West Lake runs four or five li and is most bustling and prosperous. I walked that entire street amid countless people’s amazement and mockery, wearing mourning clothes for a dog, carrying its spirit tablet all the way to the city outskirts.”

Gu Pingyuan was stunned, feeling his body alternately burning with rage and plunging into an ice cave. So the Gu family had once suffered such extraordinary humiliation, and the “father” before him had borne it all alone. He gritted his teeth and demanded: “Who was that salt merchant?”

“You’ve met him – the merchant surnamed Pan whom I thoroughly humiliated at Tongqing Restaurant that day.”

So that was it! Gu Pingyuan suddenly understood why Li Wantang had specifically sought him out, using such decisive methods against that Pan merchant, making him lose everything before his fellow merchants and former colleagues. He’d initially thought Li Wantang’s methods too vicious – now he knew the background.

“After bringing your grandfather’s body back to Huizhou for burial, I immediately fell seriously ill and nearly died. During my illness, I swore a poisonous oath that someday I’d use a hundred times the wealth to humiliate that salt merchant, making him taste that bone-piercing agony.”

Gu Wanzhang kept this matter to himself, telling no one, so Gu Pingyuan’s mother never knew. After recovering, he burned all his books and devoted himself to business. But without experience, he didn’t know how difficult it was. Only after truly entering the business world did he realize that starting from nothing to surpass those salt merchant giants with generations of inheritance was almost unimaginable. To find opportunities for great profit, he left Huizhou for the capital.

“In the capital, I couldn’t resist debating with those nearby examination candidates. They only knew eight-legged essays and nothing of practical learning.” Gu Wanzhang dominated these scholarly debates, discussing economic principles derived from the Four Books, which happened to be witnessed by the Li family’s then-master.

“The rest needn’t be detailed. When the Li family made that proposal to me, I thought deciding would be difficult, but looking back, I seemed to agree immediately, as if I’d been waiting for this opportunity.” Li Wantang’s lips showed a self-mocking smile.

“From then on, Gu Wanzhang transformed into Li Wantang.” Thinking of how Li Wantang had waited twenty years to take down the Lianghuai salt fields and finally have his revenge, such forbearance and persistence – no wonder he was the untouchable “Li Half-City” among capital merchants. Gu Pingyuan was deeply shaken, feeling his mouth both bitter and salty with an indescribable taste as he said hoarsely.

Li Wantang smiled bitterly: “Living in this world, walking isn’t difficult – what’s difficult is choosing which path to take when you reach a fork in the road. Choice is always the hardest thing. Back then, hatred blinded my heart and I chose too quickly. If I had to choose again now, perhaps I wouldn’t become this ‘Li Half-City.'”

“When I initially went to the capital for the examinations, the one who framed me was Zhang Guangfa from the Li family. Did you send this person?” Gu Pingyuan couldn’t help but ask this mystery that had been buried in his heart for nearly ten years.

“With the Li family’s vast wealth, they naturally wouldn’t be completely unguarded against an outsider like me. I kept my word and never contacted you again, but the Li family never relaxed their vigilance toward you. The Li family had planted informants in the Huizhou merchant guild in the capital – they knew as soon as you entered the city. If you had successfully passed the imperial examination and been assigned to an official post in the capital, then brought your entire family over, wouldn’t the truth eventually come out? So she wanted to eliminate you once and for all.” The “she” Li Wantang referred to was naturally Madam Li.

“I intervened in time, but in the end she still sent Zhang Guangfa to frame you and have you exiled beyond the passes. She said this was the final solution – otherwise, even if I could protect you temporarily, I couldn’t protect you forever. Moreover, the Gu family in Huizhou would be like fish on a chopping board, at anyone’s mercy. She threatened me with your entire family’s lives, so I could only acquiesce.”

Gu Pingyuan had racked his brains trying to get the truth of that baseless frame-up from Zhang Guangfa’s mouth. Now that the truth was revealed, he didn’t know whether to cry or laugh.

“What about the matter of killing Chang Si’s father?”

“I knew nothing of it.” Li Wantang shook his head.

“And this recent incident?” Gu Pingyuan pressed harder with each question.

“…Don’t ask anymore.”

“Why shouldn’t I ask!” Gu Pingyuan roared angrily. “Your first wife, my mother, is in mortal danger at this moment. My wife, the Gu family’s eldest daughter-in-law, was forced to fall into a mountain ravine. The child in her womb who was about to be born never even had a chance to open his eyes – gone without a sound. That was a descendant of the Gu family – he bore the surname Gu! You may not care about your son, but I cannot fail to avenge my son!” He roared in a muffled voice, tears streaming down his face without him realizing when they had started.

Li Wantang’s body trembled violently like chaff in a sieve. The river waters flowing eastward, never to return, seemed to be telling him that the great mistake was made and could never be undone.

“I will end the Li family’s business in the Lianghuai salt fields. I will take the Li family back to the capital. From now on, Li family business will be limited to the northern five provinces and will never cross the Yellow River again.” Facing this eldest son who had suffered such injustice and was now bearing the pain of losing a child, Li Wantang felt all his ambitions and grand plans dissipate before this tragedy he had created.

“Is that how it ends?” Gu Pingyuan shook his head forcefully. “Impossible.”

Li Wantang extended his hand as if pleading, seeming to desperately express his intentions: “Pingyuan, do you want me to kneel and beg you? Very well, then I beg you not to pursue this further. Let me take Li Qin away so you’ll be separated by great distances and never see each other again. Don’t truly fight to the death. Don’t make me watch one son die at another son’s hands.”

Speaking thus, Li Wantang slowly knelt down. He opened his hands, raising them halfway to the sky as if praying to heaven to change this terrible fate.

Gu Pingyuan was stunned. He slowly stepped back a large pace. He hadn’t expected that the once high and mighty, invincible “Li Half-City” who looked down upon all merchants under heaven would actually kneel – and kneel to him, his son.

The west wind howled, causing the reed marshes to sway east and west, while the two figures on the embankment – one standing, one kneeling – remained frozen like wooden or clay sculptures for a long time without moving.

“Elder Brother!” Gu Pingwen came running from the town at full speed. Seeing clearly who was kneeling on the ground when he arrived, he was shocked but couldn’t care about much else, urgently grabbing Gu Pingyuan’s sleeve.

“Quick, quick, come back! Mother, Mother…”

Gu Pingyuan sensed great change was imminent. His heart lurched and the hair on his back stood up. He dared not ask more or think more, quickly following his younger brother toward the inn.

Li Wantang stared blankly at their retreating figures. His hand loosened and the package of medicine rolled down the embankment, swept away by the river waters and vanishing without a trace in an instant.

He didn’t take the carriage again but walked back to town step by slower step. While still some distance from the inn, he could already hear heart-rending cries from within. He stopped, and soon saw the inn’s servant come out to tie white silk around the necks of the two stone lions.

Li Wantang suddenly wanted very much to go in and see once more that woman who had waited twenty years for him, but though his heart thought this, he couldn’t move a single step. Someone was desperately holding back his legs – it was Gu Wanzhang, whom he had buried with his own hands.

“Master, it’s getting late. Shall we return or lodge in town?” the driver asked hesitantly.

“Return, return…” Li Wantang’s always straight back bent down as if he’d aged twenty years in an instant. His voice carried a desolate air as he turned and slowly walked toward the carriage.

As the carriage turned around, Li Wantang cast one final, dim glance at the inn. He knew that the hope he had fantasized about and longed for countless times over the years – the hope of receiving forgiveness – had been completely shattered today.

The following half month seemed to pass quite peacefully. The Gu family escorted the coffin back to Huizhou for the funeral; Li Qin and Wang Tiangui, facing an extremely unfavorable business situation, seemed helpless and hadn’t devised any countermeasures; the Li mansion was frighteningly quiet – not even a cat’s meow or dog’s bark could be heard inside. All the servants kept their heads down and walked hurriedly, ignoring each other when they met, let alone speaking; as for what Li Wantang was doing all day in the salt fields, no one knew.

To say that Li Wantang’s activities were completely unknown wouldn’t be entirely accurate. At least Li An had glimpsed some clues from documents he’d secretly observed – apparently Li Wantang planned to sell off all the Li family’s shares in the Lianghuai salt fields for silver and wind up all Li family business in Jiangnan. Not long ago, Li Wantang had declared with conviction that wherever he was, that’s where the capital merchants would be, believing that the commercial center would shift to Jiangnan where foreign trade ports were opening. He had not hesitated to sell most of the Li family’s assets in the northern five provinces to invest in the Lianghuai salt fields, planning major expansions in banking, silk and tea, grain and other trades.

Now everything had reversed. Li Wantang’s attitude had changed dramatically – it looked like he planned to retreat north and never again interfere in southern business. The problem was that this back-and-forth would cost the Li family at least a million taels of silver, and their original businesses would also be severely damaged. What had happened to the always shrewd Li Wantang?

Li An couldn’t fathom the reasoning. After two days of puzzling, not daring to delay further, he went directly to Wang Tiangui. He believed the crafty Wang Tiangui would definitely be interested in this news. After all, with the Li family’s withdrawal, Wang Tiangui would be the biggest beneficiary – he might even take over managing the Lianghuai salt fields. When that time came, Li An was also prepared to switch allegiances.

“Hmph! Have me manage the salt fields? Master Li and I share neither kinship nor friendship – why would he give me such a great gift?” Wang Tiangui merely laughed coldly after hearing Li An’s congratulations.

“Then… I don’t understand.”

“It’s obvious – Gu Pingyuan is his true choice for abdication.”

“Ah!” Li An was greatly shocked. This way, he would lose everything. “Giving it to the Gu family – how could Madam allow Master to do such a foolish thing?”

“Exactly…” Wang Tiangui nodded slowly, a gleam flickering in his eyes. “Now you’re making some sense.” He was the person most unwilling to let Gu Pingyuan get involved in the salt fields. “If Master Li wants to do foolish things, the family can’t remain ignorant. Go inform them. Remember – even though Master Li hasn’t said it explicitly, you must make the Li family mother and son believe that the salt fields and the salt shops Li Qin currently manages will soon fall into the Gu family’s hands. This way, there’s still room to salvage the situation.”

Three days later, Wang Tiangui received an invitation from Li Wantang asking him to gather at Tongqing Restaurant, explaining that he had summoned the managers of the “Four Great Heng” from the capital to discuss major matters concerning the Lianghuai salt fields.

Wang Tiangui’s heart sank upon receiving the message – this was clearly about to publicly announce that major decision. It seemed he had overestimated the pressure Madam Li could exert on Li Wantang. Unexpectedly, Li Wantang was determined to give the Lianghuai salt fields – this greatest piece of fat in the world – to Gu Pingyuan. Could it be that his earlier provocative words to Li Qin had accidentally guessed Li Wantang’s true intentions? Had he really been paving the way for the Gu family from the beginning?

Wang Tiangui’s heart was in turmoil, but he definitely had to attend this banquet. Originally it was a three-way partnership in the salt fields – his family’s share was still thirty percent. If the Li family wanted to withdraw, the remaining shares should first be divided among the remaining shareholders. This was what he had to fight desperately for tonight, though he had no confidence in how much he could secure. First, the other shareholder “Four Great Heng” was well-capitalized and he couldn’t match them. Additionally, his greatest worry was that “Four Great Heng” were also capital merchants – if they sided with Li Wantang, it would be very disadvantageous for him.

It was already late autumn. The deep red withered leaves in Xuanwu Lake swayed with the waves, ripples lapping the shore in the autumn waters. The pleasure boats in the lake swayed unsteadily, just like the thoughts in the hearts of those sitting in Tongqing Restaurant at this moment.

The managers of “Four Great Heng” were also anxious and uneasy. Their southern journey this time wasn’t as reluctant as the last. News that the Li family was being pressured into retreat after defeat by rising Huizhou merchant star Gu Pingyuan had long ago reached the capital via grain transport boats. The Li family had lost to Gu Pingyuan twice – first in tea, then in salt. Last time they lost the title of “World’s First Tea” before the eyes of the entire capital, causing “Four Great Heng” heavy losses too. This time it was that same Gu again, and there were even rumors that Li Wantang and he were actually father and son. What kind of medicine was being sold in this gourd?

The “Four Great Heng” managers discussed among themselves. Despite Manager Jiao’s loud voice, he was like “Zhang Fei threading a needle – rough on the outside but meticulous within.” He suggested that perhaps this father-son pair had set a trap, repeatedly luring “Four Great Heng” in to jointly drain their silver coffers. Thinking this, none of the managers could sit still. Even if Li Wantang hadn’t written requesting their presence, they would have come on their own initiative.

Li Wantang had reserved the entire Tongqing Restaurant today, hosting only the several managers and Wang Tiangui. Though the dishes were served lavishly – plate after plate steaming hot with enticing aromas – the banquet atmosphere was cold and cheerless. Except for mutual greetings when they first met, these several men sat quietly drinking tea without saying a word.

These were all people who had spent most of their lives calculating in the marketplace, deeply versed in the way of letting others make the first move. Without seeing their opponents’ cards clearly, who would be willing to speak first? It would be one thing if the guests remained silent, but even the host kept his mouth sealed, gazing at the red leaves dancing in the autumn wind outside the window as if appreciating the scenery.

Wang Tiangui felt somewhat agitated. Of those present, only he was a Shanxi merchant while the rest were capital merchants. How did he know these people hadn’t secretly coordinated to scheme against him? He repeatedly reminded himself to stay calm, but in the end couldn’t help asking: “Master Li, I heard you intend to stop doing the salt field business. Is this true?”

With this question asked, the gazes of the several “Four Great Heng” managers all shifted from elsewhere to focus on Li Wantang. Seeing this, Wang Tiangui felt slightly relieved – apparently they also didn’t know the inside story.

“Manager Wang is truly well-informed.” Li Wantang glanced at him, his eyes also showing surprise. He pondered briefly: “I was planning to wait for someone else, but it seems he’s been delayed on the road. Since Manager Wang has asked, I’ll speak. Not just the salt fields, but all Li family business in the two rivers region will be closed down. In the future we’ll focus on trade in the northern five provinces and never again set foot in Jiangnan.”

Except for Wang Tiangui who was prepared, everyone else was shocked. Manager Jiao almost couldn’t believe his ears and forgot the strategy of planning before acting that the managers had agreed upon beforehand. He stammered: “Master Li, you’re not joking, are you? A year ago in Tongzhou, you didn’t say this. You clearly said then that you wanted to move all Li family business to Jiangnan, and called us several short-sighted for not understanding the great trends of the world. How is it now completely reversed – you want to return to the capital again?”

He turned to look at the other three managers: “Gentlemen, is there half a false word in what I’ve said? You were all present then.”

The most senior Manager Zhang was also full of amazement. He stroked his beard and nodded: “Correct, Master Li did say that then – we heard every word clearly. And not to embarrass you, but after returning we discussed it several times and felt what you said made sense. So this past year we’ve already opened several businesses in Jiangnan and made profits – we still have to thank Master Li for his guidance. I also can’t understand how you change just like that, moving business back to the capital again. Going back and forth like this, how much silver is wasted?” He was an old-school businessman who watched every penny closely and couldn’t help feeling distressed for the Li family.

Everyone looked at Li Wantang, waiting to hear his explanation. Li Wantang smiled with a complex expression: “The books say, ‘Oranges grown south of the Huai River are oranges; grown north of the Huai River they become bitter oranges. The leaves look similar but the taste is different.’ Perhaps it’s a matter of climate incompatibility. In these two years doing business in Jiangnan, I’ve always felt it lacks the flavor of doing business in the capital, so I’m simply moving back.”

Just these few simple sentences as explanation? The several men looked at each other wide-eyed, knowing Li Wantang was unwilling to reveal the real reason, but who could force him to speak? Moreover, this was Li family business after all – never mind moving back to the capital, even if he ordered it moved to the desert, others had no right to interfere.

The banquet fell somewhat silent again. Wang Tiangui’s real concern was the Li family’s remaining shares. He pretended to chat casually, saying to Manager Jiao: “Sigh, this is truly unexpected. Originally with Master Li presiding over the salt fields, that was an absolutely reliable backbone – we just had to follow along collecting dividends and profits. But with his withdrawal, what will happen to the salt field business?”

This reminded everyone. “Four Great Heng” together had invested several million taels in the salt fields and naturally cared about this matter. Manager Jiao nodded repeatedly: “Manager Wang has hit the nail on the head. With Li family shares withdrawn, who will manage the salt fields?”

Before Li Wantang could speak, Wang Tiangui interjected: “Earlier Master Li said he was waiting for someone – could this be related to this matter? Might this person be surnamed Gu?”

“Surnamed Gu?” Manager Jiao was startled. “Do you mean that Gu Pingyuan? No, no – he caused us capital merchants great losses initially. He’s an enemy – how can we let him manage the salt fields? Besides, this person is young – the salt fields are the world’s biggest business. Can he handle it? If it’s really him, I’m not comfortable with it. No, absolutely not!”

He shook his head like a rattle drum. Though the other managers didn’t speak, they also seemed greatly disapproving. This was exactly the result Wang Tiangui wanted to achieve. He had lit this evil fire but pretended innocence, stirring the floating leaves in his cup and blowing gently, while inadvertently casting a quick glance at Li Wantang.

Unexpectedly, Li Wantang showed no anger but instead asked in surprise: “Who said I was giving the salt fields to that young man?”

“Not giving it to the one surnamed Gu?” Manager Jiao had initially believed Wang Tiangui’s words because after coming to the two rivers region, they learned the rumors were actually true – Li Wantang and Gu Pingyuan were indeed father and son. Then perhaps their earlier speculation was correct: this father-son pair had performed a good show, appearing incompatible as fire and ice but actually targeting “Four Great Heng.” The marketplace had always been full of schemes, and Li Half-City was famous for his decisive methods – who could guarantee he wouldn’t do such a thing?

For this reason, Manager Jiao had spoken first to block Li Wantang’s mouth. Now seeing him categorically deny it was also unexpected.

“If so, who has Master Li chosen?” Manager Zhang asked slowly.

“Old Master Hu of Tailai Tea House has always been fair and upright. With him presiding over the salt fields, I believe you gentlemen will have no objections.” Li Wantang said calmly.

Hu Tailai? This was an elder among Huizhou merchants who had traversed the business world all his life. His word was his bond, and he valued trustworthiness above all – always respected by people. Everyone had heard of his reputation. “Four Great Heng” had long-standing relations with Tailai Tea House too. When Old Master Hu transferred funds in the north, he always used “Four Great Heng” drafts. Both sides had always cooperated pleasantly. But Huizhou and capital merchants had just had a major conflict in Huizhou, with Li Wantang almost turning Huizhou merchants upside down. Why would he now yield position to Old Master Hu?

“This person is beyond reproach in terms of integrity and commercial talent, but he’s a Huizhou merchant.” Manager Zhang said thoughtfully.

“So what?” Li Wantang pointed at Wang Tiangui. “Isn’t there also a Shanxi merchant here? We’ve been jointly operating the salt fields all along in harmony and profit. Isn’t that right, Manager Wang?”

Wang Tiangui was unexpectedly used as an example by Li Wantang and could only laugh awkwardly while pondering how to refute him. This move by Li Wantang was truly unexpected by Wang Tiangui – this was clearly “openly repairing the road while secretly crossing at Chencang.” If Gu Pingyuan were proposed directly, it would inevitably meet with everyone’s opposition. The Li family only held slightly more than one-third of the shares and might not get their way. But Old Master Hu was highly respected, and judging by “Four Great Heng’s” reaction, they seemed willing to consider it. But they hadn’t realized that the Hu and Gu families operated affiliated businesses – giving it to Hu Tailai in name would actually put it in Gu Pingyuan’s hands.

Actually, Li Wantang truly hadn’t considered so much. His current state of mind was vastly different from when he first came to the two rivers region prepared to compete for dominance. He wanted to find someone who could both suppress Wang Tiangui and manage the salt field business well. He had indeed considered Gu Pingyuan, but thinking this would inevitably provoke strong opposition from Madam Li and Li Qin and possibly create new complications, he dismissed the idea. Having formerly been a Huizhou merchant himself, he’d heard about Tao Zhu and Lin Zexu jointly visiting Hu Tailai, so he tentatively wrote to Hu Tailai asking if he was interested in taking charge of the Lianghuai salt fields.

Unexpectedly, Hu Tailai’s reply came quickly, saying: “This is indeed what I wish for but dare not request.” It seemed this old gentleman had never forgotten the trust placed in him by those two great officials years ago. Thus they reached agreement immediately. Hu Tailai would raise funds in Huizhou and send someone to Jiangning today to participate in the Lianghuai salt field shareholders’ meeting.

“So Master Li has made the decision unilaterally by cutting first and reporting later?!” Wang Tiangui’s face darkened as he looked around. “The salt fields involve three-party investment, yet Master Li acts arbitrarily. This approach seems somewhat unreasonable.”

He kept stirring up trouble, wanting to incite conflict between “Four Great Heng” and Li Wantang so he could fish in troubled waters and ruin the plan. Li Wantang had long seen through his intentions and laughed coldly to himself, saying to the four managers: “Admittedly, I was somewhat hasty this time, but it’s entirely because the conditions Hu Tailai proposed are so good they’re hard to refuse. Oh, the ‘good’ I’m referring to doesn’t mean good for the Li family, but rather a great opportunity for ‘Four Great Heng.'”

Manager Jiao shook his head in confusion: “What does this mean – beneficial to us?”

“He said that since he’ll be partnering in business with you gentlemen, he cannot fail to show sincerity.” Li Wantang said confidently. “In the future, the Hu family is willing to deposit profits earned from the salt fields in ‘Four Great Heng’ banks interest-free for at least half a year, and after six months it can also become long-term deposits. Moreover, Hu Tailai is also willing to arrange for money exchange in Huizhou merchant business throughout the two rivers region to be handled by ‘Four Great Heng.'”

This was simply a godsend opportunity you couldn’t find even with a lantern. Although “Four Great Heng” had opened new banks in the two rivers region, with both deep-rooted old banks and foreign-run banks here, expanding business routes was truly difficult. Now with the Hu family’s promise, they would not only gain many new customers but also solve the major problem of insufficient ready cash.

The matter was so good that although Manager Zhang’s face was full of excitement, he still asked: “Is… is this true?”

“Of course. Otherwise, why would I seek out Hu Tailai? His word is as good as gold – he has never gone back on his promises. If you still don’t believe it, wait until the person he sent arrives and you can ask him directly.”

At this point, the four managers were no longer considering whether to choose Hu Tailai as the salt field supervisor, but hoping this Old Master Hu would take charge as soon as possible.

Wang Tiangui watched helplessly as Li Wantang conjured up a string of incentives like a magician, making “Four Great Heng” salivate with desire. Knowing he had been outmaneuvered and could no longer prevent this, he turned livid with anger, momentarily uncertain whether to storm out.

Just then, a waiter came upstairs, apologizing with a smile: “Gentlemen, there are visitors downstairs who say Master Li invited them.”

“Correct, I invited them.” Li Wantang nodded.

“Then I’ll invite them up.” With that, the waiter went downstairs with clattering steps.

Them? Li Wantang frowned slightly. Before he could figure it out, he heard noisy footsteps on the stairs – not one person, but a group climbing up.

The leader wore a light blue thin jacket with a bright red satin skirt below, her face dark as water, eyebrows raised, coldly staring at Li Wantang who sat in the center.

“You?” Li Wantang hadn’t expected his wife to suddenly burst in, not only bringing Li Qin but followed by a group of people even more beyond his expectations.

Wang Tiangui didn’t recognize most of these people, but the “Four Great Heng” managers knew almost every one – these were all Li family’s head managers, each controlling a major Li family business. In terms of importance, Zhang Guangfa could only rank somewhere in the middle among them. Some had gray hair and beards, having worked for the Li family their entire lives before returning home to retire years ago without showing their faces for a long time. Why had they all gathered here today?

Several of these people had deep friendships with the “Four Great Heng” managers, especially Manager Jiao’s best friends. He immediately stood up to greet them, but looking carefully at these people’s faces, he swallowed his words back.

These business people who usually greeted everyone with smiles now all wore expressionless faces, standing behind Madam Li – not like managers and their employer, but more like court bailiffs and a magistrate.

“I’m here discussing business with people. What are you bringing so many people for?” Li Wantang was already alert. With Madam Li going to great lengths to gather these people scattered across the northern five provinces, she probably had plans long ago. His gaze swept across them – most of these formerly obedient head managers dared not meet his eyes, and several even showed shame, which was a very ominous sign.

“You’re not managing businesses in your various locations but all running to the two rivers region. If business is delayed, you know the Li family rules – get back to your posts immediately!” He then turned his stern gaze to Li Qin, slapping the table heavily. “And you too – running the salt shops poorly is one thing, but you won’t even stay put. Get out and go back!” Li Wantang planned to strike first, scatter Madam Li’s supporters, then slowly resolve the matter.

Though the words were spoken, the opposite side remained silent. Those head managers who had been respectful before him acted as if they hadn’t heard anything. Only Madam Li snorted disdainfully.

Wang Tiangui hadn’t expected someone to disrupt things at this crucial moment. Naturally wanting the situation to become as chaotic as possible, he laughed loudly: “So these are all colleagues, plus Sister-in-law Li and the young master – these are distinguished guests money couldn’t buy. We should all sit together and drink heartily.”

Li Wantang raised his eyebrows, stood up, his voice carrying powerful authority: “You are all head managers who have worked at least ten years. Playing deaf and dumb now – do you want to be swept out of the Li family and start over as shop assistants?”

Madam Li looked around, seeing some people lower their heads even more at these words. She suddenly smiled: “Who the Li family employs or doesn’t employ, or what business it conducts, will no longer be your concern from now on.”

“What do you mean by that? I am the Li family’s head – if I don’t manage, who will?” Li Wantang glared at his wife.

“You were before, but from now on it’s him!” Madam Li pointed aside, naturally indicating Li Qin.

Seeing his father’s lightning-like gaze shoot toward him, Li Qin first trembled. Madam Li shouted sharply: “With me here, what are you afraid of! From now on you run the Li family – show some ‘Li Half-City’ bearing.”

Li Qin looked around, as if just now understanding the situation. He gritted his teeth, half-turned to support an elderly man covered in wrinkles and over eighty years old, helping him to a seat and personally pouring and offering tea.

Li Wantang recognized this person – this was the Li family’s most senior head manager, Yang Mingxuan, the chief appraiser of “Tonghe Pawnshop” in the capital. In terms of seniority, no one in the Li family or even among capital merchants surpassed him. He had been learning business at the Li family since the third year of Jiaqing’s reign and had witnessed four enthronement ceremonies. By his age, he should have long since returned home to enjoy his golden years, but pawnshops most valued keen judgment. Yang Mingxuan, as chief appraiser, had hardly ever misjudged anything in his lifetime, so he continued working.

Seeing it was him, Li Wantang knew the situation was troublesome. This stubborn old man had never respected him much. Because of his high standing and the pawnshop’s flawless record, Li Wantang had turned a blind eye, thinking he didn’t have many years left and letting him be. He hadn’t expected Madam Li to bring even him from afar this time – obviously to use his seniority to counter Li Wantang’s authority. The matter was far more serious than he had anticipated.

Indeed, Yang Mingxuan lifted his eyelids to glance at Li Wantang, steadied his breathing, first cupped his hands toward Madam Li: “Please sit, both you and the young master. Though employer-employee relations run deep, positions differ. With you standing, I cannot speak properly.”

After Madam Li sat, Yang Mingxuan turned to face Li Wantang, nodding solemnly: “Master Li, we haven’t met much these past two years.”

Seeing the situation could hardly end well, Li Wantang simply sat down, saying lightly: “At your great age, why trouble yourself with the hardships of travel to wade into these muddy waters?”

Yang Mingxuan smiled slightly: “This old fool is eighty-seven this year – more than having one foot in the grave, I’ve practically received the King of Hell’s invitation and am just waiting for little demons to fetch me. Even if someone promised me benefits, how many days could I enjoy them? Master Li asks rightly – why would I travel so far? It’s because I still owe the old master an unredeemed pledge. Until it’s redeemed, I cannot close my eyes in peace.” His “old master” clearly referred not to Li Wantang, but to the former head who had chosen Li Wantang to marry into the Li family – Madam Li’s father.

“This pledge has no pawn ticket. The old master said I must personally safeguard it – only his daughter could redeem it, no one else was permitted to touch it. Since Madam Li sent word requesting redemption, I cannot delegate this to others and must personally bring it to avoid violating the old master’s instructions.” He took out a flat, elongated silver box from his chest. Due to age, the silver had blackened somewhat and was locked with a golden lock.

Yang Mingxuan placed the box on the table, nodding to Madam Li. She retrieved an extremely delicate golden key from her person, used candle flame to melt the wax sealing the lock, turned the key once to open the silver box, revealing a letter sealed with fire wax inside. Among the standing managers, most showed bewildered expressions – only two or three gasped in recognition.

“Manager Dong, Manager Liu, and Manager Si, please step forward.” As Yang Mingxuan called their names, the three named managers came forward. These three men all had gray hair and beards, aged faces – even the youngest was over sixty.

“You haven’t forgotten this letter. Years ago, ten managers plus the head of the Capital Merchants’ Guild watched the old master seal it with fire wax. Including myself, only we few old brothers remain alive today.” Yang Mingxuan raised the letter, showing them the fire wax seal with infinite emotion. The several men nodded silently, indicating Yang Mingxuan spoke correctly.

“Then I shall open the letter.” Li Qin came over with a small knife to remove the fire wax. Yang Mingxuan extracted the letter paper but didn’t look at it, instead casting an inquiring glance at Madam Li.

For an instant, hesitation flashed in Madam Li’s eyes. She looked toward her husband, noticing he was staring at the letter like seeing a poisonous snake close at hand. She knew this man was too perceptive – he had probably already guessed the letter’s contents. This opportunity, once lost, would never come again. No longer hesitating, she nodded lightly.

Yang Mingxuan, receiving confirmation, addressed Li Wantang: “Master Li, to speak truthfully, I have been disrespectful to you these years – not because I rely on my age to act superior, but because in my heart you are merely the Li family’s greatest manager, not the master. But this isn’t my fault – who told you not to bear the Li surname originally? Your marriage into the family – now hardly anyone in the Li family, let alone Beijing’s business circles, remembers. These few managers I mentioned know about it, and besides them, Manager Zhang of ‘Four Great Heng’ also witnessed it and should remember – he can serve as witness.”

This was the Li family’s deepest taboo. Manager Zhang knew the less involvement the better. Hearing Yang Mingxuan mention his name, he only nodded slightly without saying a word.

“To be fair, the old master treated you well. He married his only daughter to you, entrusted the Li family’s vast enterprise to you, letting you enjoy wealth and honor for life. What you could repay him was managing this generation’s business well for the Li family, then returning it to Li family bloodline in the future. Simple enough, but the old master had also heard ‘humans have no intention to harm tigers, but tigers have intention to harm humans’ – he had to be cautious. So on your wedding night, after others departed with congratulations, he kept the Li family’s ten most loyal head managers, plus the Capital Merchants’ Guild head – eleven people total – who all pressed their handprints on this letter, promising that if one day you betrayed the Li family, even if the old master wasn’t alive, as long as his daughter requested it, we would uphold justice and bring this letter to light!”

With these words, everyone’s eyes fixed on the letter, desperately wanting to know immediately what was written inside.

Since Yang Mingxuan produced this letter, Li Wantang hadn’t spoken again. Now he laughed coldly: “Chief Appraiser Yang, I respect you as a senior among capital merchants and an elder of the Li family, so I believe every word you say and believe such events occurred. But by producing this letter today, you’re undoubtedly saying I betrayed the Li family! What grounds do you have for such words?”

“These words aren’t his but mine!” Madam Li interjected. She unconsciously touched the face that had been slapped that day, her gaze becoming sharper. “You were originally surnamed Gu – this is indeed correct. But since entering the Li family, ‘Yesterday’s myriad things are like yesterday’s death; today’s myriad things are like today’s birth.’ You should have completely forgotten everything past and peacefully become a Li family member. These past twenty years you did well – I thought this letter would never need to see daylight. But unexpectedly, after reaching the two rivers region, you sided with the Gu family in everything. For that bastard from the Gu family, you’re willing to hand over the Lianghuai salt fields that we capital merchants worked so hard to obtain. You even want to retreat, hiding back north. Where is this conducting Li family business? You’re clearly bringing shame to the golden signboard of capital’s Li family. Even if I agreed, these managers who’ve worked most of their lives for the Li family wouldn’t agree.”

Yang Mingxuan nodded: “Master Li, remember you often told subordinates, ‘Where profit lies, where affairs tend, we must go all out, not allowing others to compete first.’ Then I actually admired the old master’s judgment because he chose a truly pure businessman to manage the Li family, letting the Li family be invincible and more prosperous than before. However, today’s you, for your former family, not only betrayed the Li family but abandoned your own creed, becoming indecisive and making a fool of yourself. If Li family business remained in your hands, it could only suffer greater losses. Naturally, you’re also unworthy of using the title ‘Li Half-City.'”

He pointed to the letter on the table: “The old master wrote your origins clearly in this letter. Once his daughter discovered you were stabbing us in the back, she could unite with the head managers who pressed handprints on this letter to reclaim Li family business from you. As for who would succeed as manager, that would be decided by Li family descendants. Today is the time for power to change hands…”

So that was it! Today Madam Li had summoned the various head managers to actually expel her husband from Li family business. Everyone present was shocked. Before coming, they all knew Li Wantang and his wife had conflicts, involving Gu Pingyuan’s pressing advances in salt business, thinking Yang Mingxuan would mediate while everyone discussed countermeasures together. They never imagined everything was wrong – Yang Mingxuan was advising separation, not reconciliation. Now the Li family would be completely overturned – this was truly earth-shattering news.

Li Wantang had dominated the business world for half his lifetime. Everyone thought he absolutely wouldn’t surrender without a fight and waited for his counterattack. Not just others – even Madam Li was waiting for him to speak.

Li Wantang remained silent for a long time before slowly speaking: “Worthy of being a decades-old manager, a lifelong businessman. Your words are entirely correct. Though a sharp blade is good, if it has cracks it will eventually break in two and become useless. Though my heart is firm, I ultimately cannot forget worldly emotions and will eventually be defeated by weakness – better to abandon the game mid-board. Since so, please choose another worthy person. I brought this upon myself and have nothing to say.” Finished speaking, he stood with his back to everyone, facing the expanse of green water outside the window. Faintly, one could hear him emit a long sigh, or perhaps like someone relieved of a heavy burden, exhaling deeply.

Yang Mingxuan hadn’t expected him to accept such an outcome so calmly. After a moment’s surprise, he continued: “Madam, then please speak. Whoever you designate will be the Li family’s new master and our new employer.”

Madam Li’s gaze flickered, hesitating as she spoke: “Properly speaking, I should choose Qin’er, but he’s still young after all. I’m thinking of asking Chief Appraiser Yang to work harder, managing for him for two years until…”

“Madam, please say no more.” Yang Mingxuan waved his hands repeatedly. “How could this old fool handle such great responsibility? Though the young master is young, two years ago when my pawnshop encountered swindlers and nearly drove this old man to desperation on the spot, it was Young Master Li who saved me, spending a thousand gold to cover the loss and preserving my dignity before everyone. Then I thought – the Li family’s true master has finally come, one who recognizes and values merchants. His future achievements will be limitless. Moreover, Gan Luo became chancellor at twelve, governing a nation’s affairs. The young master is already over twenty, in his prime. With us managers wholeheartedly supporting him, Madam can rest assured – there will be absolutely no mistakes.”

Yang Mingxuan spoke of an incident Li Wantang knew best – it was completely Li Qin’s self-directed performance to win over this stubborn old man, preparing to raise six million taels to buy the “World’s First Tea” title. Seeing Yang Mingxuan still fooled and praising Li Qin endlessly – though this was his son, should he expose him on the spot for outsiders’ amusement? He smiled bitterly, shook his head, unwilling to stay longer, and headed downstairs.

Madam Li opened her mouth to speak but steadied herself and remained seated, calling to Li Qin: “Aren’t you going to see your father off?”

“No need. He has important matters to handle – why should he bother with an outsider like me?” Li Wantang left without looking back.

Wang Tiangui was now completely satisfied, so delighted he wanted to break into Shangdang opera. His eyes rolled as he deliberately said loudly: “Young Master Qin – oh no, I misspoke – Master Li!” He stepped closer with a smile: “Earlier Master Li was discussing with us about giving Li family salt fields to Huizhou merchants. Now that he’s no longer in charge, please tell us, Master Li – will the Li family continue the salt field business or not?”

Li Qin had been somewhat hesitant, but hearing this immediately sparked his anger. He puffed out his chest: “Continue – of course we’ll continue!” Facing Yang Mingxuan and the various managers: “Our Li family’s generations of enterprises in the north cannot be abandoned – these represent all you managers’ lifelong efforts and the Li family’s foundation. No matter what, we must maintain them. The southern salt fields are profitable ventures and absolutely cannot be abandoned either. Rest assured everyone – even if your management isn’t perfect, profits from the salt fields will suffice to cover any losses. Dividends and wages won’t be short by even a fraction. In summary: the Li family will never disappoint everyone.”

“Excellent!” Wang Tiangui grinned from ear to ear. Li Qin was much easier to handle than Li Wantang. “Though I’m not a Li family manager, I feel inspired hearing this. Master Li shows great talent from his first appearance – truly remarkable.” He turned to the “Four Great Heng” managers: “Gentlemen all heard – the previous matter is now canceled. The Lianghuai salt fields will still be managed by the Li family.”

Manager Jiao, Manager Zhang and others exchanged glances, all showing complex expressions. Seeing a great opportunity slip through their fingers yet being powerless to prevent it – with the Li family having a new master whose favor they’d need for future business, they couldn’t say anything discouraging. Understanding each other’s thoughts, they raised their cups together, congratulating Li Qin.

Li Qin returned the toast and invited other managers to join the feast. The upstairs immediately became lively. This banquet originally meant as the Li family’s farewell to the two rivers business scene had instantly transformed into a celebration of the new master taking office. Being present gave one a dizzying, bewildering feeling.

At the stairway, Li Wantang heard the clamorous sounds from above, listening to Li Qin’s grandiose but empty boasting. He shook his head, sighed softly, and walked out of Tongqing Restaurant.

A carriage had just stopped on the street. A man alighted and walked inside, looking up in surprise. This was Second Master Hou – with Old Master Hu busy raising funds, he’d sent him to first discuss salt field matters with Li Wantang. Delayed on the road, he arrived at Tongqing Restaurant just as Li Wantang emerged. Second Master Hou had attended the Ten Thousand Tea Assembly and seen this renowned “Li Half-City,” leaving a deep impression. After a moment’s surprise, he smiled: “Master Li, have you been waiting impatiently? My apologies, my apologies.”

“You are…” Li Wantang didn’t recognize him.

“I’m the head manager of Huizhou’s Tailai Tea House, surnamed Hou. Hu Tailai is my uncle.”

“Oh.” Li Wantang understood. He glanced upstairs, smiling bitterly as he cupped his hands: “My sincere apologies. Li family affairs now have nothing to do with me. The agreed transaction must be canceled. Please convey my apologies to Old Master Hu – I will personally visit to make amends another day.”

“This… what are you saying? How could…” Second Master Hou was shocked speechless by this unexpected statement. Li Wantang paid him no more attention, walking south along the long street. No need to return to the salt fields, and he didn’t want to go back to “Li Mansion.” Having donated a thousand taels to Jiming Temple last month, he’d lodge there temporarily.

“I’m afraid it’s not yet time to sit back and enjoy success. I’m not being alarmist – the current situation is worse than before. Not only is there the hungry wolf of the Gu family blocking the path ahead, but there’s also a tiger behind. One careless moment and Master Li might be swallowed whole.” Wang Tiangui deliberately found a small room, invited Li Qin over, and opened with words that changed Li Qin’s expression.

Li Qin had spent these days busy hosting banquets, inviting colleagues from all sectors to let everyone know he was now the Li family’s head. He’d just come from a feast, still somewhat intoxicated. Initially startled by Wang Tiangui’s words, he then laughed.

“Why fear wolves? Didn’t we agree? In a few days we’ll cut off his salt supply – not selling him a single ounce of salt. He can no longer play the rat. As for tigers – where? I don’t see any.” He laughed playfully, glancing behind himself and pinching the face of a courtesan from Yicui Tower beside him.

“This tiger is far more formidable than others. The saying goes ‘even poisonous tigers don’t eat their cubs,’ but this one wants to devour you.” Wang Tiangui said coldly.

Li Qin looked up in alarm, asking in surprise: “You mean my father?”

“Of course. If I were you, I wouldn’t be so careless. Haven’t you heard ‘a hundred-legged insect dies but doesn’t stiffen’? He controlled the Li family for over twenty years – from managers to assistants, almost all were promoted by him. Never mind anything else – if Zhang Guangfa had been there that day, you and your mother wouldn’t have succeeded so easily.”

Mentioning Zhang Guangfa sobered Li Qin considerably. He waved for irrelevant people to withdraw, breathing heavily: “You’re right. Uncle Zhang was indeed utterly loyal to my father, but unfortunately he’s dead.”

“In the Li family, there are still many like him. In their hearts, Li Wantang is the true Li Half-City – you’re just a fledgling.” Wang Tiangui’s words made Li Qin’s eyes widen. “These days you’ve been busy eating, drinking, and entertaining guests, but I’ve been watching your father. He’s at Jiming Temple, yet many managers from Li family businesses throughout Jiangnan have come seeking audiences – their purpose is obvious. Besides this, letters from the north continuously arrive at Jiming Temple. I intercepted one – you might want to look.”

After Li Qin finished reading this letter from the Li family’s cloth shop manager in Luoyang, the wine he’d drunk turned to cold sweat. The letter was written by Manager Shi from the Luoyang cloth shop, saying that having learned Li Wantang no longer managed the business, he also planned to resign his managerial position to join Li Wantang, willing to follow his orders and start over to build another enterprise. The letter was earnest, recounting many past events, reminiscing about being promoted by Li Wantang from a mere errand boy to manager position. At the end, he expressed that since Li Wantang had been expelled, he would never acknowledge a second master.

“When others support you and respond to your every call, that’s being a true master. If the moment you become master, all the capable managers and assistants scatter like birds and beasts, then regroup around your father, it’s like everyone refusing to acknowledge your position. Never mind Li family members – even outsiders would see such loss of dignity. How could you command the Li family in the future? You’d become a laughingstock.”

“I’ve already given them plenty of benefits. They’re just Li family employees – they have such nerve, daring not to recognize their master!” Li Qin clenched his fists, speaking viciously.

“Rome wasn’t built in a day. If Li Wantang willingly passed the position to you, everyone would have nothing to say. But this forced palace coup naturally brings people out to fight injustice. Where there’s injustice, there will be outcry – and this outcry will likely be shocking. So I say your position isn’t secure yet.”

“Then what do you suggest? Their legs are their own – I can’t tie them up.” Li Qin said angrily.

“Naturally not. But I think they’re restless because they have confidence in your father’s comeback. If that confidence disappeared, with everyone needing to feed their families, they wouldn’t oppose you anymore.”

“You… what do you mean by that?” Li Qin suddenly felt a surge of terror. “You couldn’t be thinking of…”

“Where is Master Li’s mind going?” Wang Tiangui laughed in disbelief. “How could I incite you to commit the unforgivable crime of patricide? I’m thinking – couldn’t we have Master Li move to some scenic, secluded place for a year or so? When those managers can’t find him, their spirits will gradually calm down. When Tang Xuanzong abdicated in favor of his son, Crown Prince Li Heng feared the old man might change his mind, so he moved him to Ganlu Palace where he lived for three whole years. History never criticized Li Heng for this. If even emperors could do such things, why not us businessmen?”

“That probably won’t be easy to accomplish.” Finding a place was simple, but this amounted to house arrest of Li Wantang – how could he agree?

“Actually, it’s quite simple.” Wang Tiangui extended his hand, holding a small paper packet. Opening it revealed white powder inside.

“This is knockout drug. Master Li will sleep soundly and can be housed wherever we arrange for him to enjoy fine food and drink.” Then assign several burly men to guard day and night – though Li Wantang was clever beyond measure, he couldn’t escape even with wings.

“How would this drug be administered?” Li Qin hesitated for a long time, feeling something wasn’t right, but having no other good solution.

Wang Tiangui clapped his hands. Someone entered with lowered head, bowing respectfully: “Greetings to the master.”

“Li An?” Li Qin was startled, then understood, looking at Wang Tiangui. “So you were prepared long ago.”

“All for Master Li’s peace of mind.” Wang Tiangui said lightly.

Li Qin was still uneasy, finding one of his own shop assistants to test the drug. Seeing the man fall into deep sleep with no other symptoms, he finally nodded agreement.

After Wang Tiangui left, he didn’t return to his lodgings but strolled to a small alley outside Jiming Temple, saying in a low voice: “Come out.”

Li An emerged from the shadows. Wang Tiangui reached for the paper packet back, then handed over a cloth bag sewn into a round cake shape.

The cloth bag seemed too hot to handle – Li An glanced at it several times but didn’t take it for a long while.

“Don’t worry. Once Li Wantang dies, everything will be settled. Li Qin will be like a mute eating bitter herbs – suffering he can’t express. He can only spend silver to hush things up and won’t dare investigate. Otherwise, as a son who poisoned his father, he’d face death by a thousand cuts.” Wang Tiangui grinned wickedly.

“What about me…”

“First take the thirty thousand taels I’m giving you to lay low. After I deal with Li Qin, I’ll invite you to be head manager of the Lianghuai salt fields.”

“Swear a poisonous oath!” Li An stared intently at Wang Tiangui.

“Fine. If I betray you, let me also die from this poison. Will that suffice?”

Watching Li An walk heavily into Jiming Temple, Wang Tiangui nearly laughed aloud. A businessman believing in oaths? If there really were heavenly justice and divine retribution, how would you be allowed to poison someone in this temple?

He turned around with a dignified expression – those who didn’t know would think he’d just come to the temple to worship and burn incense. Wang Tiangui had only walked a few steps when he looked ahead in surprise, then stepped aside, secretly watching the person approaching from the opposite direction. He hadn’t expected to encounter her here.

“How’s that for life’s unpredictability?” Second Master Hou had waited several days at Shunde Tea House and finally waited for Gu Pingyuan’s return. Not only him, but his wife Chang Yu’er and younger brother and sister had all returned. Liu Heita, after the previous incident, dared not be careless. Though the Canal Gang had issued orders that no one in the two rivers region would dare provoke them, what if the enemy sought assassins from other provinces? This couldn’t be taken lightly, so he followed along the entire journey.

According to Gu Pingyuan’s plan, he intended to have Liu Heita protect his wife and sister in Gu Family Village first. After all, it was their hometown where help would be available if needed. But Chang Yu’er refused no matter what. Having suffered a miscarriage, her body was already weak, and she was heartbroken that her mother-in-law had died from serious injuries sustained protecting her. On the burial day, she fainted from crying several times – if not for Old Master Min’s medical knowledge, disaster might have struck.

With Chang Yu’er’s condition, she should have recuperated quietly in the countryside, but she insisted on returning. Gu Pingyuan had no choice but to comply. Originally, it was Old Madam Gu who wanted to chant sutras and pray, which led to living near Jinshan Temple. Now they naturally had to move back to Jiangning. Gu Pingyuan planned to either lease or buy a residence in the city. For now, they’d all stay at Shunde Tea House – being a major business in the provincial capital with many employees, few would dare cause trouble there.

The family returned in sorrow, all in poor spirits. Unexpectedly, before even setting down their luggage upon entering, Second Master Hou came out with shocking news.

“Li Wantang has been expelled from the Li family!”

The news was indisputable. Not just Second Master Hou – now almost all merchants in Jiangning knew of this, but among all the people at Shunde Tea House, only Second Master Hou had witnessed it firsthand.

“Actually, when I reached Tongqing Restaurant, Li Wantang was already finished. Upstairs they were celebrating and feasting grandly. Never expected it – this man was also a commercial hero of his generation. Never mind other merchant groups – even within the capital merchants, many had envied this ‘Capital Merchant Leader’ position and used various means trying to pull Li Wantang down. He’d sat steady for twenty years, yet ended up being driven from his position by his wife and son, reduced to being swept out the door. It’s both satisfying and pitiful.”

Gu Pingyuan looked quite haggard. After a long daze, he thought to ask: “So now Li Qin holds all power in the Li family?”

“And Wang Tiangui.” Peng Haiwan knew Gu Pingyuan would want detailed information upon returning and had already had capable assistants investigate. “Those two are now birds of a feather. Li Qin’s ideas mostly come from Wang Tiangui, who’s worthy of being a head manager for decades – his schemes are quite methodical, making Li Qin’s performance as master fairly convincing.”

Both were his mortal enemies. Gu Pingyuan knew future matters would be even more difficult. He hesitated, then still asked: “What about Li Wantang? Did he return to the capital?”

“No, he’s temporarily lodging at Jiming Temple. These days there’s been no word of any activity from him – perhaps his mood is poor and he’s spending time in meditation and contemplation.”

Everyone thought Gu Pingyuan would make arrangements regarding future salt business, but after long contemplation, he only stood up, briefly instructing family members to rest early, especially telling Manager Peng to find renowned physicians in the city to carefully examine Chang Yu’er and prescribe beneficial tonics. After arranging everything, he himself headed outside.

“My mind is very troubled. I’ll walk around the city. Don’t worry – I’ll naturally return before nightfall.”

Everyone looked at each other in surprise, watching Gu Pingyuan walk out of the tea house gate with a heavy heart.

Li An lingered long outside the meditation room, the cloth bundle in his hand seeming to weigh a thousand pounds, making it difficult to enter the room.

“So you’re here.” A woman’s voice suddenly came from behind, truly startling Li An. Looking back, he was even more surprised. “Ma… Madam?!”

He saw Madam Li wearing a blue cloth skirt with a half-worn white silk jacket, her face free of powder and rouge, no jewelry on her head – even her gold hairpin was replaced with a black wood one. Only the most precious dowry her father had given on their wedding night – reportedly a diamond bracelet purchased from Persia for two hundred thousand taels of silver – remained on her wrist, making this glittering bracelet extremely conspicuous.

“You’re quite loyal, still staying by Master’s side.” Madam Li nodded, looking toward the room. “Is he in?”

“Master hasn’t left his room today – he’s been reading behind closed doors.”

“Good.” Madam Li carried a bundle. She took out a ten-tael silver ingot from it and gave it to Li An.

“Go arrange a vegetarian meal to be served in the room. This temple doesn’t permit alcohol – secretly bring a pot of bamboo leaf wine.”

“Yes.” Li An had served in the mansion for years but had never seen this madam come out alone without servants, much less handle silver herself. Though secretly puzzled, he dared not be negligent, taking the silver to make arrangements.

Madam Li looked at the tightly closed door, also hesitating repeatedly before knocking.

“Is that Li An? Come in.” Li Wantang’s voice still carried authority.

Madam Li took a deep breath and pushed the door open: “Master, it’s me.”

“You?” Li Wantang truly hadn’t expected this. Seeing his wife’s dress, he was even more surprised. “Instead of sitting securely at Li Mansion as your Dowager She, why come to this cold temple?”

Madam Li smiled calmly, placing the bundle on the table and seating herself gracefully opposite Li Wantang.

“I’ve put down all Li family things. Except for this dowry my father gave on our wedding day, I brought nothing else. You are my husband – wherever you go, I’ll accompany you. If you return to Huizhou, I’ll follow. If you change back to surname Gu, then I’ll be a Gu family daughter-in-law.”

Li Wantang had always remained unperturbed even if Mount Tai collapsed before him, but hearing these words, he was truly shocked – even the “Liao Fan’s Four Lessons” in his hand nearly fell to the ground.

“What… what did you say?” The always proud Madam Li, who was like a phoenix, was actually willing to become Madam Gu, and this after expelling her husband from the Li family. Li Wantang never dreamed she would say such things.

“Is it so strange?” Madam Li’s face showed a trace of desolate smile. “Actually, I knew I would eventually humble myself to say these words to you.”

Li Wantang gazed at her intently. Even without decades of living together, with Li Wantang’s understanding of human nature, he could easily see his wife spoke from her heart without the slightest concealment. Precisely because of this, he was completely baffled – he suddenly realized he didn’t understand this woman before him.

“On our wedding night, I was overjoyed because the maid had already told me the new son-in-law was handsome. I believed even more that with my father’s judgment, the husband he chose for me must be one in ten thousand. When you used the golden scale rod to lift my red veil, I fell in love with you at first sight, but I saw no joy whatsoever in your eyes. You didn’t seem like a bridegroom but rather like someone bearing the sorrow of a fallen nation. Did you think only you tossed and turned sleeplessly that night? Actually, I also didn’t close my eyes all night, watching as you rose and dressed at midnight, watching you gaze out the window at the southern moon, softly reciting ‘Deep autumn curtains, rain on a thousand homes; setting sun on towers, one flute’s wind. Melancholy without reason to see Fan Li; scattered misty trees over eastern lakes.'”

Madam Li sighed: “From then on, I knew you couldn’t forget your former family. I thought that with time, you’d be like the bluestone on Da Zha Lan Street, forgetting your mountain origins and wholeheartedly embracing prosperity. But I was wrong – you only came for the Li family, not for me. I wanted to give you my heart but feared you’d despise me more, so I could only wait day by day, month by month, year by year, until even I forgot what I was waiting for, only knowing I must hold onto you tightly and not let you leave.”

Li Wantang stared at her in shock, his heart like turbulent seas, thinking: “So I’ve wronged not one woman in this life, but two.”

“The moment you turned and left at Tongqing Restaurant, I suddenly understood everything. In this lifetime, I never wanted to be some Madam Li, nor did I want fine clothes and food or social prominence. As long as when you look at me, I know I have a place in your heart, then I’d be content. Actually, this is all I’ve ever wanted, but when you were still ‘Li Half-City,’ when the transaction between you and my father was still in effect, I could never speak these words. Now it’s good – Li family property has returned to the Li family, and I want nothing, only to be your wife. Would that… be acceptable?”

As Madam Li spoke, her eyes were filled with both hope and despair about the unknown. Li Wantang looked at her for a long time, slowly closed his eyes, asking himself what he had brought this woman. He seemed to truly realize only in this moment that the woman before him was his wife, not an accessory that came with vast wealth.

“These twenty years, I tried not to think of Huizhou, not to think how they were doing. But whenever I saw you and Qin’er, I couldn’t help thinking of that mother and children, so I simply looked at no one – business became my everything. Only today do I know this was another mistake, one error following another. It’s all my fault.”

Li Wantang picked up a ledger nearby, gently stroking its cover: “This represents two years of my efforts – records and notes from studying Lianghuai salt field archives and histories. I originally planned to reform salt administration, converting salt fields to rented land and salt workers to tenant farmers. This would surely revitalize the salt industry, achieving what predecessors never accomplished. Unfortunately, I can no longer do this. Take this book to show Qin’er. I cared too little for him before – ‘failing to teach is the father’s fault’ – which led to his current arrogant and extravagant behavior. I hope after taking charge of the Li family, he’ll gain some understanding, appreciate the difficulty of starting and maintaining enterprises, and not disgrace the Li family’s reputation in the capital.”

“Actually, the one who should really help him is you, not that Wang Tiangui.”

Li Wantang slowly shook his head. Just then Li An entered, carrying a food box, arranging six exquisite dishes on the table and placing wine cups and a wine pot in the center.

“You may go. No need to attend us for now.” Li Wantang waved his hand.

“Yes, I’ll wait outside for Master’s summons.” Li An nodded, glancing at the wine pot on the table, then at the diamond bracelet on Madam Li’s wrist before backing out of the room.

Madam Li proactively took the wine pot, filling both cups and raising hers first, drinking it completely.

“These years my heart has been anxious and resentful – I could only lose my temper with Master, regretting it afterward but maintaining Li family dignity, unwilling to apologize to you. Master must have been truly annoyed for a long time. Today I make amends to you.”

Li Wantang sighed, about to speak when Madam Li raised another cup, again draining it: “I regarded the Gu family as enemies, doing many unforgivable things, causing deaths and turning your potentially successful son into an exile beyond the passes. But heaven knows – only by watching others suffer could my own pain be somewhat relieved. If I hadn’t done those things, I would have long since gone mad with jealousy.”

Li Wantang smiled bitterly: “Without my initial misstep, how could every subsequent step be wrong? This is only my fault, nothing to do with you.”

“This third cup is because I caused you to lose the name ‘Li Half-City.’ You must hate me thoroughly.” Madam Li poured another cup, drinking it while looking at her husband with glazed eyes. “Actually, you could have denied it that day. Almost no Li family old-timers who knew about this remain. Even those few managers – you could have said they conspired with me to usurp Li family wealth. Even in court, you wouldn’t necessarily lose. Why did you acknowledge it on the spot, so easily abandoning a lifetime’s work?”

Li Wantang nodded: “Not just that day – even today, if I wanted, I could still reclaim most Li family assets under my name. Business isn’t just shops and goods. The people I’ve used – with one call, they’d still follow me, and customers and suppliers would come with them.”

“Then why did you…”

“Madam.” Li Wantang took a deep breath. “Perhaps this is the best outcome. Though everything can’t return to the beginning, it can return to silence.”

“So…” Madam Li suddenly understood, looking up at Li Wantang. “You actually didn’t want to be this ‘Li Half-City’ anymore either?”

Li Wantang nodded: “As you said, ‘Li family property has returned to the Li family,’ and I leave empty-handed. This is most fair.”

He also poured and drank a cup, smiling: “This is quite good. The person Gu Pingyuan hates is me. With me expelled from the Li family, ‘heaven’s way brings retribution’ – his anger should mostly subside. If you persuade Li Qin again and they each compromise, there’ll be no problems.”

Madam Li also nodded silently. Suddenly her face contorted in pain, her lips trembling as she tried to speak. Before she could, she swayed as if struck by a club and fell from her chair to the floor.

Li Wantang was startled. Just as he stood to help her, before he could bend down, sharp pain struck his abdomen as if his intestines were being torn apart. He clutched his stomach, calling: “Li An! Li An!”

Outside was silent. Li Wantang could no longer stand and also collapsed beside Madam Li with a thud.

“This wine is poisoned!” The thought flashed through his mind.

Blood flowed from Madam Li’s mouth. The wine contained deadly poison – in moments she was barely alive. Li Wantang reached out to grasp her extended hand.

“Master, I didn’t bring this wine. I… I would never harm anyone, especially not you.”

“I know. It seems I misjudged a villain.” Li Wantang looked at Madam Li, his eyes full of regret. “Actually, I should have drunk those three cups of apology. I ruined your entire life.”

“It doesn’t matter. I was still willing to wait, however long it took. But Master still hasn’t answered my question. From now on, I’m only your wife, nothing to do with the Li family. Would that… be acceptable?”

Li Wantang wept bitterly, tears blurring his vision, nodding through his sobs.

“Promise me one thing. In the next life, let me meet you first, let me meet you first…”

“Yes, yes…” Li Wantang’s voice broke. He felt the hand he held slowly loosen – Madam Li had breathed her last. Whether she heard this final answer, no one could know.

By then Li Wantang could barely hold on, nearly unconscious. Suddenly the door opened and someone quickly entered, heading straight for Madam Li and stripping the diamond bracelet from her wrist.

“You evil slave!” Li Wantang reached for Li An. His remaining authority still frightened Li An, who retreated several steps but accidentally tripped on the threshold, tumbling out head-first. He had just resolved to poison both husband and wife – after all, having killed Li Wantang meant he could never face Li Qin again. Killing one or two made no difference. With that diamond bracelet, even if Wang Tiangui broke his word later, he could live comfortably for life.

However, this was a Buddhist temple. His fall was severe, and he was terrified, thinking it was divine intervention. He fled toward the temple exit in utter panic.

Just as one foot crossed the temple gate, he collided head-on with someone. Both staggered. Li An didn’t bother looking and fled like his life depended on it.

That person was stunned – it was Gu Pingyuan. Just back in the city, hearing this “father” had suffered great changes and fallen from the heights, while others clapped and cheered about karmic justice, only Gu Pingyuan recalled Li Wantang’s serving as mourning son for a dog in Yangzhou years ago, and his heart ached sharply. Walking aimlessly while lost in thought, he’d unknowingly arrived outside Jiming Temple. He recognized Li An as Li Wantang’s personal attendant, now looking panicked as if something terrible had happened.

Thinking thus, he entered the temple. A monk greeted him, and learning he sought Li Wantang, mentioned that a female benefactor claiming to be Li Wantang’s wife had also come looking for him – he didn’t know if Li Wantang was available for visitors. Gu Pingyuan naturally didn’t want to encounter Madam Li, shook his head and turned to leave, when suddenly he heard loud cries of alarm from the rear courtyard. After a moment’s consideration, he quickly headed toward the back.

When Li An fled, he’d left the door wide open, which was seen by a passing monk. When Gu Pingyuan arrived, several people were already there, crowded around. Gu Pingyuan pushed through and saw two people on the floor – Li Wantang and Madam Li. Checking their breathing, Madam Li was already dead while Li Wantang had a thread of breath remaining.

“Quick! Quickly fetch a physician!”