“What brilliant idea do you have?” Zeng Guofan smiled as he looked at him.

“My lord, your humble servant has investigated thoroughly. Jiang Tai is not unwilling to come – he was already bedridden with coughing and wheezing, and upon hearing of this matter, his breathing became even more labored. He couldn’t take a single step. Your subordinate truly could not force him and had no choice but to return to report.” The military officer from the Canal Governor’s office kowtowed repeatedly. He had departed yesterday upon receiving orders, not daring to delay for even a moment. At the Jiang residence, he hadn’t even drunk a sip of water before rushing back through the night to report. Having traveled over five hundred li in darkness, he arrived just as dawn was breaking.

“Get lost, get lost.” Wu Tang’s expression was extremely ugly as he waved his hands repeatedly. “All of you are useless – can’t even handle such a trivial matter!”

“My lord, please calm your anger. Given Jiang Tai’s physical condition, even if we forcibly ‘invited’ him here, should he die on the road, the Canal Gang would be thrown into greater chaos. I think we should let this matter go.” Secretary Wu quickly intervened to pacify him.

Wu Tang pointed toward the courtyard: “If Jiang Tai won’t come, how shall we resolve the matter at the execution ground? Word has already spread throughout Qingjiangpu. This is a major transportation hub – within days, the news will spread throughout the Two Rivers region, and then it will reach Zhili and the capital. I fear even court officials will discuss this matter. Should the imperial court issue an edict demanding that I ‘explain clearly,’ how shall I respond to His Majesty?”

This was indeed the truth. Wu Tang had been Secretary Wu’s money tree for decades – naturally, he couldn’t watch him fall like this.

“Since that’s the case, then we can only use the method we discussed yesterday. Make careful arrangements during the day, then act at night, ensuring not a single person escapes. Afterward, dig a large pit, burn the bodies first, then bury them. Even if the Canal Gang hears the news and comes looking, we’ll act like the God of Wealth turning his face – refuse to acknowledge this debt. Attacking an execution ground is a grave crime. The Canal Gang was at fault first, so they can only swallow their anger.”

Wu Tang thought it over, rubbing his forehead, gritting his teeth as he was about to say “good.” Suddenly, someone reported from outside: “My lord, someone is waiting at the main gate requesting an audience.”

“I won’t see anyone!” Secretary Wu didn’t wait for his employer to speak, taking the initiative to say, “Today, unless someone stages a rebellion, no matter what the business, don’t bother reporting it. No matter who it is, I won’t see them.”

The message was quite clear, yet the servant didn’t agree, only looking up at Wu Tang with a troubled expression.

“Damn it, why aren’t you withdrawing yet?” Wu Tang said angrily.

“My lord, please allow me to report – this person says he’s from the capital.”

“So what?”

“He says the Empress Dowager Cixi sent him.”

“Ah!” Wu Tang turned pale with shock, immediately standing up. “You heard clearly – he really said the Empress Dowager Cixi?”

“Yes, how would this humble servant dare to relay such words incorrectly?”

“Quickly, quickly invite him in.” Wu Tang commanded repeatedly. The Empress Dowager Cixi was his great patron at court. His ability to rise several ranks in just a few years to become a first-rank governor-general was entirely due to the Empress Dowager Cixi’s protection. Her people absolutely could not be offended – otherwise, should rumors spread intentionally or unintentionally about his disrespect toward the Empress Dowager Cixi, once imperial favor waned, everything would be finished.

“This matter sounds rather strange,” Secretary Wu frowned. “If it were someone sent by the court, they would directly say they were an imperial envoy, and you would open the central gate and fire cannons in welcome. If it were someone from the palace, there would only be eunuchs in the palace, and according to our dynasty’s laws, eunuchs are not permitted to leave the capital.”

“Never mind that – perhaps it’s someone from the Imperial Household Department. Quickly go make arrangements. I want to host a banquet in his honor. Go quickly, go quickly.” Wu Tang directed his subordinates.

Before long, Su Zixuan walked in from outside. She wore a fine white satin robe with a dark horsehair jacket over it, a small cap with silver thread and bright surface on her head, with a deep red gem as the cap button, and a square piece of translucent jade on the front. On her left hand was a jade thumb ring as smooth as mutton fat. Her composed and unhurried demeanor truly convinced people that she was someone of great importance.

Wu Tang, disregarding his own status, hurried forward several steps to greet her. Su Zixuan merely nodded slightly, her bearing incomparably grand. After announcing her name, she unceremoniously sat in the seat of honor, with Wu Tang sitting to the side as a host should.

After exchanging a few pleasantries – actually mostly Wu Tang expressing his admiration – Su Zixuan heard him ask which government office she served in the capital. She smiled and said: “Lord Wu, actually I just played a little joke. I’m not from the capital, nor was I sent by the Empress Dowager Cixi. I knew you were in poor spirits, and without saying this, it would be difficult to gain an audience with you. I hope you’ll forgive me.”

“What!” Wu Tang could hardly believe his ears. After being stunned for a long while, he came to his senses, so angry his hands were trembling. “You… such audacity, daring to impersonate an imperial envoy – do you not want your head?” He thought to himself: what’s been happening these past few days? As a governor-general, he’d encountered such incidents one after another. If he didn’t kill someone to establish his authority, how could he wield the seal and preside over court in the future?

“Someone come!” he roared, and his personal guards immediately rushed into the hall.

“Wait a moment.” Su Zixuan calmly waved her hand. “Do I look like a madman to you?”

She was elegantly dressed and spoke with refinement – hardly like a madman. In comparison, Wu Tang’s face was flushed purple like a pig’s liver, and his speech was somewhat unclear – he looked more like someone suffering from phlegm syndrome.

“I might as well speak plainly – I’m neither mad nor foolish. If not for your lordship’s future prospects, I wouldn’t have used a false name to seek this audience. If you want to kill someone, you might as well hear me finish speaking first.”

Secretary Wu, listening from the side, sensed something unusual and asked: “What do you have to say?”

“Though I have no connection with the Empress Dowager Cixi, there is one person who has a great relationship with her. This person is not far from here – right there on the execution ground. His surname is Gu, given name Pingyuan.”

“Ha ha.” Wu Tang gave a cold laugh. “Are you finished? So you’ve also come to rescue this condemned prisoner, weaving such an enormous lie. Do you really think you can deceive me? Someone come, tie him up.”

“You underestimate Gu Pingyuan too much. You haven’t even investigated his background clearly before hastily sending him to the execution ground. You must know that human heads aren’t leeks – once cut, they don’t grow back. When the Empress Dowager Cixi inquires about this matter and demands the person from you, let’s see how you’ll respond.”

Su Zixuan spoke rapidly and urgently, with righteous indignation. Wu Tang looked at her doubtfully: “The Empress Dowager Cixi resides deep in the palace. Not to mention a merchant – even princes and high ministers rarely get to see her. Your lie is too far-fetched.”

Su Zixuan shook her head with an expression of disdain for argument: “My word doesn’t count for much – you could send someone to make casual inquiries. A few years ago, there was a great tea competition in the capital. The Beijing merchants and Dongting merchant guild respectively sought the patronage of Prince Gong and Prince Chun, both wanting to claim first place. These two men are both uncles to the current emperor and can be said to have tremendous influence, but in the end, no one expected that it would be Gu Pingyuan of Huizhou’s Lanxue Tea that won the title of ‘Tea King.’ This left everyone greatly puzzled, so everyone secretly inquired. Finally, they learned that the one who had overcome Prince Gong, surpassed Prince Chun, and personally bestowed the title of ‘World’s First Tea’ upon the Huizhou merchant Gu Pingyuan was none other than the current Sacred Mother Empress Dowager. Not only that, the Empress Dowager Cixi also personally wrote a scroll with the brush inscription ‘World’s First Tea,’ sealed below with the ‘Tongdao Hall’ seal. This seal, along with the ‘Imperial Favor’ seal, was bestowed by the late emperor upon the two empress dowagers for issuing imperial edicts. Except for this one occasion, it has never been used anywhere else. What do you think the weight of this matter is?”

Su Zixuan truly had excellent eloquence, speaking eloquently until Wu Tang and his subordinates were all stunned. Wu Tang himself had once had an encounter with the Empress Dowager Cixi before she entered the palace. If not for that year when human kindness was scarce, he had mistakenly attended a wake and presented an extremely generous funeral gift to the Empress Dowager Cixi’s deceased father, how would he have achieved today’s wealth and status? Su Zixuan spoke in a way that sparked imagination, and he first thought of how the Empress Dowager Cixi’s father, Yehenara Huizheng, had spent his final years as an official in Anhui. Gu Pingyuan was also a Huizhou merchant who had received such extraordinary imperial favor – could he also have some connection with the empress dowager’s maternal family?

“Palace money is called the inner treasury, while the Ministry of Revenue’s silver is called the national treasury. Our dynasty has always kept these separate. Although she is the Sacred Mother Empress Dowager, there are many places where money is needed, and her monthly allowance is limited. With the Mother Empress Dowager beside her for comparison, she cannot casually use the inner treasury. If there’s no source of additional funds, it would truly be difficult to manage. What do you think, Lord Wu?” Su Zixuan smiled as she glanced at Wu Tang.

Wu Tang shuddered: “Could it be that this Gu Pingyuan is conducting business on behalf of the empress dowager?”

“I didn’t say that.” Su Zixuan served herself tea and took her leave, walking out gracefully, leaving Wu Tang staring at her retreating figure like a wooden chicken.

“Ha ha ha!” Hearing Su Zixuan recount her encounter with Wu Tang, everyone in the Gu family burst into laughter. Secretary Hao praised: “That last sentence was the most brilliant – letting him guess when he dares not ask, and has no one to ask. He could rack his brains and never find the answer. Wonderful, wonderful! The Book of Han can accompany wine, but Master Su’s words deserve an even larger toast.”

“This is what we call prescribing the right medicine for the disease. Being a fellow governor-general, Zeng Guofan might not necessarily give face for this, but the three words ‘Empress Dowager Cixi’ are to Wu Tang both imperial decree and crushing pressure. With this protective talisman, Wu Tang definitely won’t dare use force or violence. The lives of those people on the execution ground are temporarily safe.” Su Zixuan nodded.

Gu Pingwen asked urgently: “But continuing like this isn’t a solution. Please, Master Su, devise another strategy to rescue my elder brother.”

“Unfortunately, this matter has now become a deadlock. As I said earlier, if I could have spoken these words to Wu Tang before Bai Yimei interfered, given his nature of coveting power and seeking advancement, he truly would have released Gu Pingyuan. Actually, he knows this matter doesn’t make sense – Gu Pingyuan is very likely not the murderer, so he could continue investigating. There’s no need to risk angering the Empress Dowager Cixi by provoking such a person. But now that the matter has spread, the royal command tablet has been requested, and the execution notice has been signed in vermillion – suddenly releasing the person would damage the dignity of a governor-general. He’s truly caught between a rock and a hard place. Anyone in his position wouldn’t easily release the prisoner.”

“Master Su, what do you think will happen next?” Chang Yu’er asked.

“At this moment, Wu Tang must have sent people to investigate whether what I said is true. We needn’t worry about that – the matter is real, and once he investigates and gets results, he’ll only believe my words more firmly. The problem is that even if Gu Pingyuan truly is the Empress Dowager Cixi’s confidant, he doesn’t have a gold medallion of immunity from death after all. With things having reached this point, to release him, there must be a reasonable explanation – in other words, we need to find Wu Tang a way to save face.”

“What kind of face-saving measure? Could we really go to the capital and ask the Empress Dowager Cixi to issue an imperial edict pardoning Elder Brother Gu?” Liu Heita said in his booming voice. “Hmph, it’s clearly that wolf cub Li Qin who did it – even the poison is exactly the same. Otherwise, I’ll capture him to exchange for Elder Brother Gu. After all, one head must be chopped – let it be his.”

Su Zixuan’s eyes lit up: “You big black fellow, who would have thought you’d actually speak with some sense.”

“Ah, what did I say?” Liu Heita was completely baffled.

“The execution ground executes the murderer according to the royal command tablet. Since Gu Pingyuan isn’t the murderer, if we capture the real culprit and hand him over to Wu Tang, wouldn’t this matter be resolved?”

“Exactly!” Secretary Hao clapped his hands. “Earlier we were all thinking about how to save Old Brother Gu’s life, with no time to think about catching the murderer. Now that things are at a standstill, let’s simply solve this case ourselves.”

“Good!” Liu Heita leaped up and headed for the door. Upon reaching the threshold, he slowly stopped, turned around, and asked awkwardly: “How do we solve it?”

Gu Yuting suppressed her laughter as she pushed him back: “You shouldn’t embarrass yourself. Better listen to Master Su.” Unknowingly, this group had already come to rely on Su Zixuan as their strategist.

“That salt ship definitely didn’t belong to the Gu family – are you certain of this?” Su Zixuan asked.

Shopkeeper Peng nodded: “Shopkeeper Fei, who remained in Jiangning, has already questioned all the employees. That salt ship never went to the village where the incident occurred.”

“That means both the ship and the crew were imposters. The ship could be scuttled or burned, the crew could be silenced or sent far away. We don’t even know their names or appearances – finding these people in such a short time would be as difficult as ascending to heaven. However, there’s one person whose name and appearance we know.”

“Who?”

“Li An. He poisoned Li Wantang and stole Madam Li’s diamond bracelet. He’s the only person who knows the source of the poison and can testify. Find him, and we can follow the vine to find the melon – locate the real murderer who poisoned over twenty people.”

“The authorities have been searching for him. They issued a wanted notice with his portrait on the second day after the incident, but there’s been no news. I’m worried this person has already fled far away.” Chang Yu’er sighed.

“He won’t have. Though the government’s meager reward of one hundred taels silver isn’t very useful, it’s enough to frighten him from acting rashly. Moreover, having served in a wealthy household for decades, he must know that those who could afford that diamond bracelet are either Beijing dignitaries or Jiangnan wealthy families. He absolutely wouldn’t dare go to the capital where everyone knows everyone, so he can only temporarily hide in the Two Rivers region. Once the storm passes, he’ll sell the bracelet cheaply and then flee far away.” Su Zixuan’s analysis was logical and reasonable, making even Secretary Hao, well-versed in criminal law, nod repeatedly. “We must find him quickly – relying on just a few of us won’t work.”

“Then who can we rely on?” Gu Yuting asked quickly.

Su Zixuan smiled slightly: “There’s one thing that will definitely work!”

Starting the next day, the Gu family hired several engravers from nearby markets to create printing blocks from the government’s wanted notices, printing over ten thousand copies at once. They posted them throughout all the large and small cities, towns, and villages in the Two Rivers region – even tiny villages of a dozen households had one posted at each end. People had seen many wanted notices before, but what drove them wild was the reward amount at the bottom.

One hundred thousand taels of silver!

Such a high reward – even octogenarians had never seen anything like it in their lifetimes. Whoever found Li An would receive all this silver. The entire Two Rivers region was in an uproar. People put down their work and began searching the mountains and countryside like sifting through a sieve for this “God of Wealth.” In people’s eyes, Li An was no longer some servant who had poisoned his master, but had become a treasure that could make one rich overnight.

This was truly an unprecedented family mobilization – from elderly people walking with canes to children not yet of age, anyone who could walk refused to stay home and let others have this opportunity. Mountains, fields, under bridges, even in reed marshes – anywhere a person could hide was turned upside down. City dwellers searched every corner of the city before coming to the countryside, while country folk exhausted their fields before entering the cities. Quick-footed villages finished searching their own areas first, then went to neighboring villages, but neighboring villages naturally wouldn’t allow it. From arguments to brawls, from fistfights to blade-wielding, local magistrates and prefects were overwhelmed just handling these fighting cases.

Liu Heita looked at the thirty-some people bound hand and foot, kneeling on the road and constantly crying their innocence as “Li An.” He shook his head, somewhat dazed.

“Sir, look at these people we’ve captured – which one is worth one hundred thousand taels of silver?” A crowd of people kept clamoring around him, making Liu Heita’s head buzz.

“This…” He stared intently but hadn’t figured anything out when Su Zixuan emerged from behind. With just one glance, she said: “None of these are him. Release them all.”

“None of them?!” Sighs arose from the crowd.

“I say, can this continue? I heard even the constables in the city aren’t going to the yamen anymore – they’re leading groups to catch Li An themselves.” Liu Heita saw Su Zixuan turning to enter the inn and said hesitantly.

Su Zixuan glanced at him: “How can it not work? This is absolutely necessary. I’ve seen that Li An several times – from his eyes alone, you can tell he’s also a cunning person. Only this way do we have any chance of catching him.”

“Sir…” The captured men got up and approached, faces full of misery.

“We’re releasing you – why aren’t you leaving? Don’t tell me you’re volunteering yourself.” Su Zixuan said.

“Sir, don’t joke with us. Sigh, who asked our parents to give us such faces that unfortunately resemble that murderer’s. Though we’re released this time, I’m afraid we won’t get two li outside town before being captured again. We already got half beaten to death earlier – this time we might lose our lives.”

Even the cold-natured Su Zixuan was amused, then said seriously: “It seems you’ve truly suffered as innocent victims. How about this – anyone who’s been mistakenly captured can stay at the local inn as guests of the Gu family. Good food and wine, and if you’re injured, we’ll call a doctor to treat you. All expenses will be covered by the Gu family until the real culprit is caught. Consider it the Gu family’s apology to you. How does that sound?”

“You’re really good at spending other people’s money.” Liu Heita watched those people rejoice and muttered.

After releasing the tenth batch of people and watching them happily go to the inn, Liu Heita finally couldn’t hold back. He shouted at Su Zixuan: “Are you here to save people or harm them? We haven’t found Li An, and the Gu family’s silver is almost gone too.”

Su Zixuan’s face darkened: “Don’t tell me you have some brilliant idea!” She then left with a flick of her sleeves. Liu Heita was about to shout again when someone tugged at his sleeve. He looked and saw what appeared to be a timid country person. Irritably, he said: “Go stay at the inn over there – the Gu family is playing the fool with money. Go quickly.”

“Sir, I’m not here to stay at the inn. I discovered someone hiding by the river, covering his face with black cloth day and night, so you can’t see his features clearly. I don’t know if he’s the person you’re looking for.”

“What black cloth!” Liu Heita was about to impatiently dismiss this person when Su Zixuan, who had already entered the inn, stepped back out. Her eyes were bright and sharp, like an eagle spotting prey.

“Wait, tell me more details.”

“This humble person lives in Xuyi, farming as my livelihood, occasionally fishing to supplement the household income. Outside the county there’s a river branch where the roads are perpetually muddy – aside from me, no one usually goes there. I hadn’t been fishing for a long time, but went a few days ago and discovered a boat moored in the river branch. When I looked carefully, there was only one person on the boat, acting furtively with his face covered in black cloth. He didn’t look like a fisherman or a river bandit.”

“Has anyone brought him anything?” Su Zixuan asked.

“No. I watched him for two days and found that he keeps his face covered day and night, doesn’t interact with anyone, and when he catches fish, he doesn’t dare light a fire to cook – just eats them raw and drinks river water.”

“What else?” Chang Yu’er, having received the news, came out and asked intently.

“Um…” The man blinked. “Oh, he holds a small object in his hand, wrapped in cloth, often stroking it, but never unwrapping the cloth. I couldn’t see what it was.”

“Think again – even through a layer of cloth, you could see the general shape.”

“If I had to guess, it looked somewhat like the bracelets worn by landlords’ wives.”

A bracelet! Chang Yu’er and Su Zixuan quickly exchanged glances. Liu Heita’s mouth fell open, and Gu Pingwen, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, joyfully grabbed his sister’s hand.

“I’ll go catch that bastard!” Liu Heita said through gritted teeth.

“Wait.” Su Zixuan pondered: “If it’s really him, he’s quite good at finding places. Xuyi is right between Jiangning and Qingjiangpu, far from the canal troops and the Hunan Army’s naval camps. He has his own boat – if he flees by boat, or if he’s a good swimmer and jumps into the water, we’ll never find him again.”

“When it comes to swimming, who can compare to me?” Liu Heita wasn’t boasting – back when they went to Mongolia, if he hadn’t dived to the riverbed to set up rope ladders, the entire caravan couldn’t have crossed.

“How about this – send someone to observe secretly first. If there’s something suspicious, rally the local villagers to surround the river with boats, set up ambushes on ten sides on shore, and pick a few good swimmers to be ready to dive in and catch him at any time. We absolutely cannot let him escape.”

“Naturally I’ll go!” Liu Heita volunteered.

“Sister-in-law, I’ll go too.” Gu Pingwen also stepped forward.

Li An placed reed stalks in a dug pit, laid several river fish on top, then lit the reeds, watching the flames crackle and leap. Before thick smoke could rise, he covered the pit opening with loose soil. Then he looked around anxiously in all directions, confirming no one was about, before squatting down and sighing with relief.

For over a month, he felt he was going insane. Wang Tiangui’s promised benefits remained elusive, while his own wanted posters were plastered everywhere on streets and alleys. He secretly congratulated himself on obtaining a rather large covered boat – this “Ming Wa Peng” was large enough for a person to stand upright inside, providing shelter from wind and rain in this godforsaken place. But when would such days end? He recalled how Wang Tiangui had step by step forced him to this point. In the Li household, he had been on the verge of making something of himself, but he had been possessed by demons – first becoming Wang Tiangui’s spy, then being coerced and tempted into poisoning his benefactor of decades. He felt like he had stepped off a ten-thousand-foot cliff, desperately trying to grasp a life-saving straw, only to watch helplessly as he slid toward the abyss. “Sigh!” He shook his head in regret. Only a lone goose skimming across the water responded, startling him. After calming down and thinking of the wanted notice he’d seen when sneaking into a village for food at midnight, Li An’s lips curved in a bitter smile. “Who would have thought my most valuable time would be now – someone willing to pay one hundred thousand taels for my life, not much different from this diamond bracelet.” He reached into his chest, and only when touching this priceless treasure in his agitated state could he find some comfort.

“I don’t want to be any salt field manager anymore. Once I get through this period, I’ll find Wang Tiangui and make him pay a large sum of silver, then sell the bracelet. With this money, I’ll go southwest to buy several hundred qing of land and open several large shops. Change my name, and I’ll become Master Li in no time.” He fantasized, sinking into illusory ecstasy until the aroma seeping through the soil woke him from his pipe dream. He frantically scraped away the loose soil and retrieved the grilled fish.

The fish was half-cooked. Li An bit down and nearly bit his tongue off. He had been eating raw fish for days and really couldn’t bear it anymore. Suddenly remembering hearing that during military campaigns, to avoid exposing positions with cooking smoke, they could use this expedient method to roast food – he gave it a try. Though not entirely satisfactory, it was much more palatable than raw, fishy meat.

He sucked the fish bones completely clean before throwing them into the water, cupped some river water to drink, then turned and entered the covered boat. With nothing to do day and night, leaning against the gently swaying boat planks and sleeping was already a rare entertainment. Li An held the diamond bracelet with one hand, half-closing his eyes and thinking of future days with crowds of servants and universal flattery, gradually becoming drowsy.

Just then, he suddenly felt the small boat rock violently. His eyes shot open to see a big black man half-crouched, stepping inside. Li An was scared out of his wits. Fortunately, he reacted quickly, lunging toward the exit in the opposite direction. But before he could get close, a young man was blocking that exit, glaring angrily at him. Li An stepped back and suddenly drew a dagger from his waist, stabbing toward Gu Pingwen.

“Get lost!” Liu Heita, watching from behind, clearly saw everything and swiftly kicked Li An down hard onto the boat planks. The diamond bracelet fell out of his chest, rolling several times before coming to rest at Gu Pingwen’s feet.

Liu Heita stepped on the still-struggling Li An and tore off the black cloth covering his face. Gu Pingwen also entered the cabin, placed the diamond bracelet on the small wooden table, and asked: “Who are you? Why are you hiding in such a place?”

The two men had followed the farmer to the river branch and crouched in the reed marshes, observing Li An’s every move. Just hearing the farmer’s account had made them suspicious, but seeing with their own eyes confirmed this person was indeed Li An. They had pulled back slightly – Gu Pingwen planned to follow his sister-in-law’s instructions to gather more people and set up an encirclement, leaving Li An with no escape route. Liu Heita was impatient and objected: “Look at that boat – one exit on each side. Once he goes in, it’s like catching a turtle in a jar – a sure catch. Why go to all that trouble?”

“It’s called catching a turtle in an urn.” Gu Pingwen thought it over and agreed, but being cautious by nature, he still instructed the farmer to return and gather more helpers while he and Liu Heita kept watch.

Seeing Li An enter the cabin, Liu Heita was most impatient about waiting. He thought: with this little fellow, I could capture him with one hand. With too many people, there’s too much chatter – if our footsteps are too heavy and alert him early, that would be worse. Thinking this, Liu Heita crept toward the boat. Seeing him act on his own, Gu Pingwen couldn’t stop him and had to follow.

Fortunately, everything went smoothly. Seeing Li An bound hand and foot, unable to move, Gu Pingwen breathed a sigh of relief and repeated his earlier question.

“I’m a fisherman. What, is that against the law?” Li An still tried to deceive them.

“Could a fisherman have something like this? Don’t tell me you fished it out of the water.” Gu Pingwen pointed at the brilliantly shining diamond bracelet, leaving Li An speechless with one sentence.

“You wicked slave! To murder your master of decades for money – according to the Great Qing Legal Code, a slave killing his master is an unpardonable crime punishable by death by a thousand cuts.” Gu Pingwen signaled Liu Heita to tie him up. “Add to that the dozens of lives lost to the poisoned salt – that’s enough to kill you several times over.”

“I don’t know! Those villagers weren’t killed by me – I’ve been hiding here all along!” Li An immediately began wailing.

“I’m afraid the authorities won’t believe that. You’re alone here – who can prove you didn’t do it? When you killed Madam Li, several people saw you snatch the bracelet and flee hastily from Jiming Temple. The poison is the same type – used in the temple and in the village. The murderer is naturally the same person!” These words were analyses from Gu Pingyuan and Su Zixuan that Gu Pingwen remembered well, using them to terrify Li An until his face turned ashen and his body shook like a sieve.

“…It was Wang Tiangui who ordered me to kill Master Li. He gave me the poison, and Li Qin also knew about the drugging. Later, poisoning the salt must have been to frame Master Gu, definitely connected to Li Qin and Wang Tiangui. I’m willing to go to the authorities to testify – I only ask for leniency, spare my life!” By the end, Li An was sobbing uncontrollably, his voice hoarse from shouting.

Li An had been hiding for a month, constantly on edge, his nerves nearly snapped. The unexpected appearance of Liu Heita and Gu Pingwen, along with their sharp questioning, was the final straw that broke the camel’s back, instantly destroying his will.

Neither expected this villain to collapse so easily. Liu Heita and Gu Pingwen exchanged glances, both overjoyed – taking him to see the officials would immediately clear Gu Pingyuan’s name.

The two men were celebrating when suddenly they heard “splash, splash” sounds, as if someone was dousing the boat with water. Before they could understand what was happening, suddenly intense heat waves rolled over them, flames erupted everywhere, and the entire boat was instantly engulfed in a sea of fire. Everything happened so suddenly that no one expected a perfectly fine moored boat to suddenly catch fire. For a moment, Liu Heita thought Li An had prepared this escape plan in advance and roared angrily, pulling him up, but saw he was terrified pale. Gu Pingwen was also frightened – thick smoke billowed in the cabin. He covered his nose and mouth, shouting at Liu Heita: “Quick, take him out! If we’re late, we’ll die!” He then rushed toward the other exit. Though it too was ablaze, he knew that if he could dash through those few steps and jump into the water, he’d be safe.

Liu Heita wasn’t stupid either – he grabbed Li An to leave. But Li An struggled desperately, broke free from the loosely tied ropes with one effort, then spread his arms and lunged toward the table with the bracelet. Though Liu Heita was bold and strong, this was his first time trapped in a fire. Caught off guard by Li An’s manic behavior, he was flustered, hurrying to grab him again. The two fell in the cabin, overturning the table. The bracelet rolled somewhere unknown, and Li An searched frantically like a madman, using hands and feet, determined to find the bracelet. Though Liu Heita was immensely strong, facing a madman in a fire, both men were instantly ablaze.

Gu Pingwen had reached the cabin entrance. Looking back, he saw Liu Heita wrestling with Li An, both now burning figures. Greatly alarmed, he gritted his teeth and rushed back, grabbing Liu Heita and pushing him out: “Brother Liu, hurry, hurry!”

Liu Heita endured the excruciating pain: “Let’s go together!”

“No!” Gu Pingwen looked back – Li An acted as if unaware he was on fire, still searching in the thick smoke for the treasure that could make him rich. His elder brother was still on the execution ground – if Li An died like this, it would be an eternal injustice.

Thinking this, he quickly stepped forward to Li An, and despite his scholarly appearance, used all his strength to grab Li An’s waist, forcibly dragging him up from the ground and shoving him hard toward Liu Heita: “Quick, take him out!”

Using this push, Liu Heita grabbed Li An and leaped from the cabin. The boat deck ahead was already a sea of flames with nowhere to step. Liu Heita felt flames climbing up his legs, biting him with unbearable pain. He pushed Li An into the river, wanting to go back for Gu Pingwen, but saw the entire boat canopy collapse in flames. An irresistible wave of heat knocked him into the water.

Meanwhile, on shore, someone was quietly reporting: “Master, two people escaped. What should we do?”

The speaker was Yan Batou from the salt fields. Since following Li Qin, he had money for good food, drink, and women – naturally, when Li Qin asked him to do something, there was no refusal. Like this time, since the Gu family posted the hundred-thousand-tael reward, Li Qin had Yan Batou and his men watch the Gu family around the clock. When Liu Heita and Gu Pingwen moved, Li Qin immediately followed with his men.

This was truly “the mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind.” Even Su Zixuan hadn’t expected Li Qin to use the Gu family to find Li An. He had come planning to kill and silence Li An while avenging his mother, but the person with Li An in the boat was his half-brother with whom he had no grievance. No matter how ruthless he was, he couldn’t immediately decide.

Until he heard Li An desperately shouting in the boat that he was “willing to testify to the authorities,” he took a deep breath and finally waved his hand. Yan Batou splashed prepared bags of kerosene onto the boat. Li Qin turned away, listening to the boat burn in flames and the people inside crying for help. For a moment he wanted to cover his ears, but ultimately never raised his hands.

When Yan Batou reported that people had escaped, Li Qin turned back to give orders. Though fire and water show no mercy, he didn’t want to leave future troubles. But then distant shouts of “Fire! Fire!” could be heard – the farmer had returned with a group of people. Li Qin looked at the boat still blazing fiercely and the water surface showing no signs of disturbance. Yan Batou, fearing Li Qin would order him to stay and deal with the villagers, quickly added: “Those two were covered in flames – falling into water, they couldn’t survive. They’ve probably sunk to the bottom. If people see us here, it’ll be another troublesome matter.”

Li Qin thought briefly and nodded. Yan Batou sighed with relief and quickly led his men away with Li Qin.

Liu Heita had a nightmare – the dream was like hell, smoke and flames everywhere, the ground all red-hot coals. He had to keep running to avoid being burned, but when he had no more strength and fell backward, he was instantly surrounded by the ground’s burning coals.

“Ah!” He screamed and woke up, feeling pain throughout his entire body as if he’d been skinned, had his tendons pulled, and been doused with boiling water. Looking around and at himself, his whole body was wrapped in white cloth – any slight movement brought intense pain.

Hearing the sound, Gu Yuting entered from outside. Seeing Liu Heita awake, she showed no joy, only nodded: “Brother Liu, don’t move. Your whole body is covered with badger oil to treat your burns. Are you thirsty? The doctor said burn victims are most thirsty when they wake up, but can’t drink much. I’ll pour you a small cup of tea.”

Liu Heita looked at her, recalling his injury, and suddenly asked: “Where is this? How did I get here?”

“The farmer from Xuyi saved you and brought you back to Qingjiangpu through the night. Fortunately, you’re good in water – you held onto Li An and didn’t sink. Otherwise…”

“Li An – where is he?”

“Sister-in-law has hidden him away, preventing anyone from silencing him again.”

“And… your second brother?”

At this question, Gu Yuting painfully closed her eyes, slowly turning around. The room fell terrifyingly silent – Liu Heita could hear her tears falling drop by drop to the floor. After a long while, she said quietly: “Second brother… went to take care of mother.”

Liu Heita’s body shook, his facial muscles twitched rapidly several times, then suddenly he burst into a great roar like a wounded beast, pain mixed with anger.

This sudden outburst brought everyone in the inn running. Everyone had red-rimmed eyes. What Liu Heita hadn’t expected was that Gu Pingyuan was also here. Among the crowd, only he wasn’t crying, but looking at his face was like seeing a sharp knife stabbed straight into his heart, his internal organs all ruptured. Even if all the blood in his body turned to tears and flowed out, it couldn’t express the grief in his heart.

He approached Liu Heita and silently sat by the bed. Liu Heita grabbed his hand, using his other hand to pound his own head, crying: “Elder Brother Gu, hit me! Beat me to death – let me pay with my life for your brother! It’s my fault for not listening to sister and insisting on going in to catch Li An. Otherwise Gu Pingwen wouldn’t have died.”

Gu Pingyuan tightly gripped his wrist, slowly shaking his head: “You’re also badly injured – why say such things? Don’t do this. First recover from your injuries. Pingwen… such a pity. He was only in his twenties, hadn’t yet married or had children, hadn’t accomplished anything. But the one who killed him wasn’t you – it was whoever set the fire to silence him.”

“Who was it! I’ll kill him!” Liu Heita said through gritted teeth.

Gu Pingyuan didn’t answer. He turned his gaze toward the window and after a long while said quietly: “Those who do evil will naturally face retribution. If heaven doesn’t repay, people won’t accept it. Just wait and see.”

He then stood up and slowly walked outside.

Su Zixuan stood not far away, watching these grieving, weeping people in the room, especially Gu Pingyuan. From their first meeting in Shanxi, she had been watching this man – his unyielding spirit, his stubbornness, his growing stronger through adversity, even his kindness and aspirations all attracted Su Zixuan’s attention. She was like someone who had entered darkness to gain power – though she preferred to close her eyes and enjoy the pleasure revenge brought, she still occasionally looked toward the light she had once known, where warmth from remembered sunshine remained.

Watching Gu Pingyuan’s slightly trembling back, she made a decision. Outside Gu Pingyuan’s door, Su Zixuan heard someone chanting sutras inside: “From time immemorial, I have gazed upon and paid reverence to countless Bodhisattva Mahasattvas. All possess great inconceivable supernatural wisdom, broadly saving sentient beings… This is Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, teaching and transforming all beings in the six realms, the vows he made countless eons ago, like the sands of hundreds of billions of Ganges rivers.”

Su Zixuan immediately recognized this as the “Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva’s Fundamental Vow Sutra” – Gu Pingyuan was performing salvation rites for his deceased brother. She sighed inwardly and gently pushed the door open. Indeed, she saw Gu Pingyuan standing by the window facing west, sincerely chanting. Su Zixuan didn’t interrupt but instead lowered her eyes, pressed her palms together, and stood behind Gu Pingyuan, silently reciting the sutra with him. After Gu Pingyuan finished chanting the Fundamental Vow Sutra three times, he turned and saw Su Zixuan, quite surprised.

Not only now – learning that Su Zixuan had made great efforts to save him also greatly astonished him. The scene was still vivid in his memory.

Just two days ago, across layers of government troops, Gu Pingyuan saw Su Zixuan approach Wu Tang on the execution platform. After just a few words, Wu Tang issued orders for the three armies to withdraw their encirclement, saying “the case has doubts, temporarily release the prisoner to be supervised by local guarantors, must appear when summoned.” The latter half was just formality – everyone knew that if even a royal command tablet couldn’t execute someone, they would never return to the execution ground for the same crime.

Su Zixuan had handled this matter cleanly and efficiently. She simply told Wu Tang that the criminal who had used the same poison to kill Madam Li of the Li family in the capital had been caught red-handed, though this person was still unconscious from burn injuries. However, since the first case this person was involved in occurred in Jiangning, it should properly be tried by Zeng Guofan, the Governor-General of the Two Rivers.

Wu Tang had already received word that Huizhou merchants, led by Old Master Hu, had collectively gone on strike over Gu Pingyuan’s wrongful near-execution. People from Yancheng and Nantong, grateful for Gu Pingyuan’s great kindness in building sea walls, had selected local gentry and elders to come to Qingjiangpu to petition for justice. People from Jiangxi and other places, hearing that the owner of Gu family salt shops had been arrested, also gathered to protest the injustice. For a time, people from two rivers and three provinces were all taking action for Gu Pingyuan.

The three words “Empress Dowager Cixi” alone had already made Wu Tang unable to eat or sleep peacefully. Now with popular sentiment surging, he felt like he was holding a hot potato. Just when he was in a dilemma, Su Zixuan timely provided him a way out, truly giving him relief. The most important principle for surviving in officialdom was two words: “push” and “delay.” According to Su Zixuan’s explanation, this thankless case could be smoothly passed to Zeng Guofan – let him try it however he wanted, judge it however he wanted. Wu Tang was happy to stay out of it.

After issuing the release order, Su Zixuan was about to bow and leave when Wu Tang called her back.

“I can see you’re a very clever person. I have another troublesome matter – I wonder if you have any good ideas?” Wu Tang’s tone was surprisingly humble.

“This matter isn’t big when you say it’s not big, but it’s not small when you say it’s not small. The case was quite serious, there was even an attack on the execution ground, yet the prisoner who should have been executed was ultimately released. Though official matters can be explained, people are all talking. This reputation is like iron – I don’t know how to calm it down.”

Su Zixuan immediately understood – Wu Tang was still worried about his career prospects. She said casually: “What’s so difficult about that?”

“Not difficult?” Secretary Wu had been thinking for days without a good idea. Hearing Su Zixuan’s boastful words, he angrily said: “Then tell us what method you have.”

Su Zixuan glanced at him and said: “I saw a jar of old wine at a wine shop in the west of the city, but haven’t had time to buy it. If you personally make the trip and bring it back to me within a quarter hour, then I’ll help Lord Wu with this idea.”

“Buy wine?” Though Secretary Wu was usually quick-witted, he was completely befuddled when facing Su Zixuan. Wu Tang urgently urged: “Quick, take my horse.”

Secretary Wu didn’t dare delay, quickly mounting the horse and racing toward the west of the city in a cloud of dust.

Only then did Su Zixuan smile: “My lord, don’t be anxious or worried. When people have nothing to do, they love to spread rumors – the more novel and significant the matter, the more widely it spreads. The current matter of attacking the execution ground spreading isn’t important – we just need another big event to overshadow it, and the clouds will clear in a day.”

“A big event…” Wu Tang murmured. “Where would a big event come from right now?”

“How could there not be one? The Eastern Nian Army’s Lai Wenguang and Western Nian Army’s Zhang Zongyu have already joined forces, planning either to cross the Yellow River natural barrier and directly threaten the capital, or cross the Yangtze River and retake Tianjing. Last time it was Prince Seng who blocked Lin Fengxiang and Li Kaifang’s combined forces – this time, who knows who can turn the tide and save the people from disaster.”

What Su Zixuan spoke of was more than just big news – it was earth-shattering. Wu Tang’s hair stood on end: “This… I receive court bulletins daily and there’s been no word of this. How did you learn of this matter?”

Seeing his dumbfounded expression, Su Zixuan couldn’t help but smile again: “Isn’t this the big event you wanted? Once the news breaks, never mind attacking an execution ground – even if the Forbidden City burned down, no one would care.”

Wu Tang’s eyes darted around as he finally understood: “So it’s fake?”

“Official rumors spread most convincingly. Officials lie every day – this is their specialty. How to spread this news without leaving traces, I don’t need to teach you, do I?”

Hearing her mocking tone throughout, but since he had asked her, Wu Tang couldn’t get angry and could only laugh dryly twice, changing the subject: “What about the wine Secretary Wu went to buy?”

“Who told him to be rude? It’s just punishment – making him carry a wine jar while riding fast.” Su Zixuan left gracefully, leaving Wu Tang both crying and laughing.

The forest of weapons suddenly dispersed, and the Canal Gang members almost simultaneously breathed sighs of relief. They knew that surrounded by thousands of government troops, if Wu Tang had given the order, these few dozen men wouldn’t have had a whole piece of flesh left.

Gu Pingyuan looked at Bai Yimei. These past few days they had barely spoken, but their eyes rarely left each other. Both were deeply moved to be together in such strange circumstances.

Before Gu Pingyuan could speak, Bai Yimei suddenly walked toward Wu Tang, who was preparing to leave.

“Lord Wu, please wait.” Bai Yimei completely ignored the soldiers who drew swords to block her path.

“You woman have done everything to the extreme – what more is there to say? Jiang Tai has such skill, taking in such a goddaughter who specializes in opposing the Canal Governor’s office. I’ve certainly learned my lesson.” Wu Tang’s tone was sinister, squinting at Bai Yimei with a frightening expression.

“Lord Wu, don’t worry. I’ll give the Canal Gang an explanation, and the Canal Gang will give you an explanation that will preserve your dignity.” Bai Yimei bowed with cupped hands, then returned.

“Yimei, how will you explain to the Canal Gang?” Gu Pingyuan knew the Canal Gang had always maintained neutrality with officials, and since transporting grain was both the gang’s duty and their source of income for maintaining members, offending the Canal Transport Governor to such an extent would likely result in severe gang punishment.

“You’re an outsider – it’s inconvenient to discuss family matters with you.” Bai Yimei smiled sweetly, seeming completely unconcerned. She approached Gu Pingyuan and said in a voice only he could hear: “I’ll repeat to you what you once said to me. I also wish you had never left Gu Family Village, that I had married into the Gu family to be a good wife and mother, harmonizing with you as husband and wife, living ordinary days. Unfortunately, everything in this world is backwards – the more you want something, the more you can’t have it. Perhaps this is heaven’s way of punishing human greed.”

Gu Pingyuan stared at her blankly, not knowing what to say. There are countless paths in the world – once you take the wrong one, trying to return becomes incredibly difficult. Moreover, they had already gone too far – with everything changed, how could they look back?

“I’m leaving. You – don’t forget me.” Leaving these words, Bai Yimei rode away surrounded by gang members.

Afterward, Gu Pingyuan returned to the inn and heard the devastating news of his brother’s death like a bolt from the blue. He also learned Liu Heita was severely injured, but Li An was hurt even worse and had nearly drowned, being unable to swim. Chang Yu’er had hidden him in a blacksmith shop, hiring a doctor to treat him around the clock.

“The dead cannot return to life. Hatred is like a thorn – only revenge can resolve sorrow. Otherwise, this thorn will fester in your heart, the wound growing larger until it devours your entire being.” After the two stared at each other for a long time, Su Zixuan slowly spoke.

“The Gu family has already lost one person.” Gu Pingyuan gazed at her and said after a while.

“Because of the Li family.” Su Zixuan interrupted him.

“Now another person has died.”

“Still because of the Li family.”

Gu Pingyuan’s gaze suddenly became pressing. Su Zixuan’s lips curved in a faint smile: “What, did I say something wrong? Aren’t you suspicious of the same thing? If not to silence witnesses, why use such decisive methods? Since it’s been confirmed that Li Qin and Wang Tiangui were the poisoners, then the ones silencing witnesses must also be them.”

Gu Pingyuan remained silent. Su Zixuan took out a booklet and placed it on the table: “Killing his father and mother, first framing then burning his own brother to death. Li Qin – hmph, I thought he was just a wastrel young master, but he’s so vicious. I really underestimated him.”

“Such a person hasn’t received divine punishment – truly heaven is blind. I can help you eliminate him.” Su Zixuan tapped the booklet with her slender finger.

Gu Pingyuan casually opened it and read two pages, his expression changing. After carefully reading over ten pages, he closed the book and looked up: “Who exactly are you? How do you have evidence of the Li family bribing Sushun?”

“Sushun is my father.” Su Zixuan replied with just this simple sentence. Gu Pingyuan immediately understood everything – why she persistently opposed the court, why she was bold enough to attempt assassinating Empress Dowager Cixi. All of this was for just two words.

“Revenge!” Su Zixuan nodded. “So I know how important this matter is, which is why I’m giving you this booklet. You can present it to the Ministry of Justice and the Court of Judicial Review. Cixi hates my father most of all – over the years, she has either dismissed or killed officials connected to him. She certainly won’t show any mercy to a merchant. You can borrow a knife to kill someone and uproot the Li family completely.”

Gu Pingyuan knew her words were absolutely true. Thinking that this woman had silently held such a powerful Li family in the palm of her hand all along, ready to destroy them at any moment, Gu Pingyuan couldn’t help but feel secretly alarmed.

“You’re really giving me this booklet?”

“Of course. Since I’ve already said so, at this moment it already belongs to you.”

“Good!” Gu Pingyuan looked at the booklet once more, then carried it to the oil lamp. The flame licked it, and the booklet immediately caught fire. Su Zixuan never dreamed he would do this and exclaimed in shock: “You… have you gone mad!” She moved to snatch it back. Gu Pingyuan had anticipated this and held the book high, reminding her: “You said this is my property. If I want to burn it, I’ll burn it – you can no longer control it.”

Su Zixuan stamped her foot: “Who knew you were such a madman!” Seeing the booklet was already half-burned by the flames, even snatching it back would be useless, she suddenly calmed down again.

“There should always be a reason for doing things. I handed you a blade that could kill the Li family, yet you broke it. What for?”

Gu Pingyuan watched the booklet burn to ashes before turning to answer: “You didn’t finish listening to what I said earlier. I said the Gu family lost one person, then lost another person. It’s because of the first person that I cannot take revenge for the second person.”

“Such profound reasoning – forgive me for not understanding.” Su Zixuan said coldly.

“Before my mother died, she only mentioned one thing to me – that no matter what, I must not harm Li Wantang and his son. When she was dying, she let go of everything, wanting to go peacefully to the Pure Land. I promised her, and only then did she depart with a smile.”

“If she knew that her youngest son and unborn grandson both died at the Li family’s hands, would she still say the same?” Su Zixuan retorted.

“The grievances between the Li family and myself don’t stop there. My original framing and exile beyond the pass were also courtesy of the Li family, and the benefactor who saved my life also died at the hands of assassins they hired.” There was also the humiliation his wife had endured – Gu Pingyuan silently sighed.

Su Zixuan shook her head in incomprehension, looking at Gu Pingyuan with a strange expression: “With such hatred, why would you still spare the Li family? If it were me, that father and son would have died ten times over.”

“Once this booklet is submitted to the authorities, the Li family’s assets will certainly be confiscated, and that father and son will have their heads chopped off as members of Sushun’s faction. The Li family’s centuries of business would be destroyed in my hands in one stroke – such revenge would truly be satisfying.”

“Naturally.”

“No, I cannot violate my mother’s dying command, and moreover…” Gu Pingyuan looked steadily at Su Zixuan and said slowly, “I also cannot become as cold-blooded and heartless as Li Qin for the sake of revenge.”

Su Zixuan’s heart shook – she had never considered this principle before. For a moment she couldn’t find words to refute Gu Pingyuan and could only stare at him blankly.

Outside Jinshan Temple, a light snow had just fallen, with frost still clinging to the grass blades. The mountain path was sparsely traveled. A north wind blew, and gray, red, and yellow leaves fell from the trees, spinning as they were cast into the clear, cold river water. The river carried sorrowful waves of mist and smoke. The slanting rays of the setting sun cast down their remaining glow, still creating myriad golden lights on the river surface, but given the scene and circumstances, they brought only the melancholy of “helplessly watching the flowers fall.”

Li Wantang wore a gray cotton robe, raising his eyes toward the yellow walls and black tiles on the mountainside. In his ears came the sound of monks striking the chime and chanting sutras. Though he couldn’t see it himself, he knew that in the main hall, the yoga altar had been set up, and under the seat master’s guidance, they were singing the “Pure Water of Willow Branch Praise.” Next would be the deceased’s family members chanting the “Heart Sutra” and “Rebirth Mantra” with the monks, then going before the statue of Guanyin Bodhisattva to offer incense and recite the “Great Compassion Mantra” eighty-one times to deliver the soul from suffering.

His gaze fixed on the wisps of ceremonial smoke rising from Jinshan Temple. He stood like this for who knows how long when he heard someone softly call: “Master Li.”

“Oh, it’s you.” Li Wantang came to his senses and realized Chang Yu’er had somehow appeared before him.

Chang Yu’er curtsied: “My husband says if Master Li wishes to enter the temple to send Pingwen on his final journey, please feel free to come in.”

These words immediately reddened Li Wantang’s eyes. His voice trembled slightly as he closed his eyes and shook his head: “Forget it. I don’t know if he would want me to see him off, and I myself feel I have no face to look upon this son.”

Chang Yu’er looked up in surprise and carefully observed Li Wantang. In just over a month, he seemed to have aged more than ten years – his eyes were lifeless, his queue mixed with gray and white hair, his originally straight back slightly hunched, and his speech completely lacking the domineering tone of before.

“This is all retribution. The cycle of heaven’s justice – truly retribution never fails.” He suddenly began muttering somewhat incoherently. “It was right here at Jinshan Temple, when placing my father’s ashes and spirit tablet, that I secretly swore that as long as I could rise in the world and avenge my great humiliation, I was willing to pay any price. Apparently the Bodhisattva heard me. How laughable that I thought abandoning my wife and son was paying everything – I never imagined the true price would only become clear today. If I hadn’t wanted this wealth and status, there would be no son like Li Qin, and how could I have personally witnessed brothers killing each other, white-haired parents sending off black-haired children!”

Li Wantang’s disheveled gray-white hair trembled in the sunset glow. His voice was thin but miserably desolate, piercing the heart like a wail from the underworld. Chang Yu’er was so startled she stepped back half a pace – with her status, she truly had no words to offer and could only silently watch him.

“Go back and tell Gu Pingyuan that I will personally end the sins I’ve committed.”

After saying this, Li Wantang turned around and walked unsteadily down the mountain. Faintly, you could still hear him muttering: “How cruel heaven is – why not punish me instead…”

Chang Yu’er thought of her own child who had died before birth, watching this once all-powerful old man now filled with regret and remorse. Originally she had hated the Li family deeply, but now her heart softened, feeling that such cruel fate would be too harsh for anyone to bear.

The Gu family held seven days and nights of religious ceremonies at Jinshan Temple, temporarily housing Gu Pingwen’s coffin at the temple. The group returned to Jiangning listlessly. Secretary Hao bid farewell to the Gu family at the city gate to return to his office first, but returned within an hour.

“Old brother, I’ve resigned from my position at the Salt Commissioner’s office.” Secretary Hao’s first words upon entering burst forth.

“Why?” Gu Pingyuan frowned, then immediately understood. “He really didn’t submit that memorial?”

“Hmph!” Secretary Hao was so angry his beard bristled. “Despite how you helped him in Shanxi and Huizhou, Qiao Henian turned out to be ungrateful. Not only did he suppress your memorial, but he also advised me not to get too close to you, saying we were friends before, but now you’re a merchant under his jurisdiction, and we shouldn’t let outsiders gossip lest it harm his official reputation. I asked him who the outsiders were. He hemmed and hawed, but finally said that between the Gu and Li families, he had to maintain neutrality – neither letting the east wind overwhelm the west wind nor the west wind overwhelm the east wind. Hearing this, I immediately resigned my secretary position. I told him clearly that I don’t dare associate with someone who doesn’t value friendship or want friends, no matter how high his official rank.”

“Brother Hao, have some tea and calm down before we talk.” Gu Pingyuan advised. He pondered and said, “This solves a puzzle in my mind.”

“How so?”

“The poisoned salt affair can now be confirmed as Li Qin’s frame-up. What I couldn’t understand was that at the time, he should have thought that cutting off my salt shop’s supply would slowly wear me down – victory was certain. Given his character, he should have waited to watch me reach a dead end before coming to humiliate me. If he was going to use poisoning and framing tactics, there was no need to cut off my salt route. I even suspected the real culprit might be someone else. Now it seems Qiao Henian not only didn’t submit that memorial but also told Li Qin about it. Knowing I had used this last resort, Li Qin feared I would ruin the treasure trove of the Huai Salt Fields and had no other way to stop me, so he decided to kill.”

“That makes perfect sense.” Secretary Hao also had an epiphany. “So that’s how it was! Sigh, if I’d known this earlier, I should have given that Qiao fellow a good scolding before leaving.”

“Since he acted this way, past friendship means nothing to him. What use would scolding him be?”

Just then, the expensive doctor the Gu family had hired emerged from the inner hall. Gu Pingyuan quickly stood up to greet him.

“Doctor, how is the patient’s condition?”

“Burns are not like sword or spear wounds – they’re extremely difficult to treat. Fortunately, badger oil was applied to his wounds in time, preventing gangrene, so his life is definitely safe. However…” The old doctor frowned. “His left foot is most severely injured, with tendon damage. I’m afraid he’ll be lame.”

This statement left everyone stunned. Chang Yu’er covered her mouth as tears slowly flowed. Gu Yuting also stared blankly at the doctor. No one could imagine that vigorous, dragon-like man would never again be able to walk swiftly but would only limp along – it would be more merciful to kill Liu Heita.

“Doctor, please think of another way. Use any medicine necessary, just preserve his foot.” Chang Yu’er pleaded.

“I’m truly sorry – this old man’s abilities are limited to this.”

After the doctor left, the roomful of people sat in stunned silence for a long while. Suddenly Gu Yuting stood up and walked before her elder brother.

“I want to marry him.”

Gu Pingyuan was startled, looking up at his younger sister, then at the others, who all wore surprised expressions as they looked at Gu Yuting.

Gu Yuting repeated herself and added: “Even if he’s lame in one foot, even if he can’t walk at all, I’ll support him, carry him – at worst we’ll fall down together.”

“Little sister, don’t be impulsive. This matter needs careful consideration.” Chang Yu’er knew the situation best, but Liu Heita was disabled after all. She worried that Gu Yuting was only feeling momentary pity and might regret it later, which would hurt both of them more.

“I’m not being impulsive. Sister-in-law, you know I’ve liked Brother Liu for a long time. From now on, besides you, he’ll have someone even closer – that’s me. At this time, he should know that someone will stay by his side no matter what.” After speaking, Gu Yuting turned toward the inner hall. Reaching the second gate, she slowed her pace and said without looking back: “From today on, taking care of him is all my responsibility.”

That night, the couple barely slept, each lost in their own thoughts. Regarding Gu Yuting marrying Liu Heita, neither Chang Yu’er nor Gu Pingyuan would have objections. Liu Heita’s character was beyond reproach – though rough around the edges, he was kind-hearted and diligent. With such a relationship between their families, wouldn’t two goods making one good be perfect for everyone? But this happened at such a time. Gu Pingyuan worried that his sister was kind-hearted and that Liu Heita had become disabled while catching Li An – Gu Yuting shouldn’t marry him out just to repay this debt, as such a marriage might not last.

Chang Yu’er thought further ahead. No one understood her elder brother better than she did – seemingly carefree on the surface, he was actually someone who gave his whole heart to friends. If Gu Yuting’s resolve wasn’t firm and Liu Heita detected even a hint of regret in the future, he would never ruin a girl’s entire life, but his own heart would probably split in two – the harm to him might be worse than his lame foot.

Until the rooster crowed at sunrise, the couple rose simultaneously. They exchanged glances, understanding each other perfectly. Gu Pingyuan went to the east courtyard to see Liu Heita, while Chang Yu’er went to the main hall to find Gu Yuting. Chang Yu’er found no one there – the serving maid said Gu Yuting had just gotten up and gone out. Chang Yu’er, concerned about her brother and worried whether Gu Pingyuan could speak clearly, also went to the east courtyard.

From far away she saw her husband standing at the courtyard gate, looking inside. She walked to her husband’s side and also directed her gaze into the courtyard.

In the spacious courtyard were only two people – Liu Heita, not yet recovered, gritting his teeth and frowning as he supported himself on one leg, tentatively taking steps, while Gu Yuting gently supported him beside him, her face full of concern.

After just a few steps, Liu Heita stumbled and half-knelt on the ground. Gu Yuting couldn’t support him and was nearly pulled down as well.

“Miss Gu, I can manage myself – you don’t need to help.” Liu Heita said apologetically.

Gu Yuting glared at him: “Didn’t I tell you to call me by my name? Starting today, you must listen to everything I say, no compromises. Do you hear?”

“Yes.” Liu Heita was somewhat dazed. Looking up, he saw Elder Brother Gu and his sister watching from the courtyard gate. His face immediately flushed red as he quickly moved aside, grimacing in pain.

Gu Yuting also noticed but instead stepped forward to support Liu Heita again, her face full of stubborn determination.

Gu Pingyuan walked in and said reproachfully: “Yuting, aren’t you being ridiculous? Brother Liu’s injuries haven’t healed – how can he be walking around?”

Gu Yuting immediately defended herself: “The doctor said so – he said the earlier he starts moving, the more likely he is to recover completely.”

“Which doctor?”

“The Western doctor who practices near the Provincial Administration Commissioner’s office. I went to ask him last night.” Gu Pingyuan looked at his younger sister in amazement. That doctor was an American, and his patients were mostly Christians. He never imagined Gu Yuting would have the courage to seek out this red-browed, green-eyed foreigner for consultation.

“Can he really recover?” He looked skeptically at Liu Heita’s injured leg.

Liu Heita said in his booming voice: “Elder Brother Gu, sister, don’t worry about me. A real man doesn’t fear death – what’s a broken hand or foot? Besides, this foot is still attached – why can’t I walk? I’ll listen to Yuting and walk ten thousand steps daily, treating it like starting over from childhood, learning to walk again.”

“Good, it’s settled then. I’ll accompany you for ten thousand steps every day. Sooner or later, you’ll be able to run and jump again.” Gu Yuting’s face lit up with joy.

Gu Pingyuan felt his eyes moisten. Just as he was about to speak, he felt his wife gently tug his sleeve. He quickly withdrew tactfully, only then noticing Chang Yu’er was quietly wiping away tears.

“Yu’er…”

“It’s nothing. I’m grateful to Yuting. Thanks to her, my elder brother is truly blessed.”

“Well, Yuting still needs to observe mourning anyway. Their marriage need not be mentioned for now. After three years, if they’re both willing, we’ll arrange a proper ceremony. I want to marry my sister to Brother Liu in grand style.” Gu Pingyuan had made his decision.

“Master, please come to the front courtyard quickly. Someone from the Governor-General’s office has come.” Shopkeeper Peng rushed to the back in great haste.

“Which governor-general?” The couple were both startled, thinking Wu Tang had pulled another trick.

“Lord Zeng sent someone, saying he requests your presence at his office for a discussion.”

“Oh?” Gu Pingyuan didn’t dare delay. He quickly changed into a sapphire blue satin jacket with a rust-colored silk vest with琵琶-style front buttons, and hurried to the Governor-General’s office.

Outside the office waited a large crowd of officials seeking audience, with a row of sedan chairs stretching over twenty zhang. As soon as Gu Pingyuan arrived, the military officer who had brought him immediately had the gatekeeper usher him in. Only then did Gu Pingyuan realize that Zeng Guofan had been waiting specifically for him.

“Master Gu, no need for excessive ceremony – please sit.” Upon meeting, Gu Pingyuan kowtowed in greeting, but Zeng Guofan was quite cordial. “I heard of the misfortune in your household – successive bereavements. Master Gu must restrain your grief and accept fate’s changes. Don’t damage your health from excessive sorrow.”

“Yes, this commoner’s humble household has troubled Your Lordship with your concern.” Gu Pingyuan knew these weren’t the words Zeng Guofan truly wanted to say. Governing two rivers and three provinces with tens of millions of subjects, he wouldn’t specially summon him just to console a merchant over family deaths. Since he had been summoned while ignoring so many officials seeking audience, there must be extremely important matters to discuss.

“Regarding the lawsuit you recently endured, the important witness has been secured by the Provincial Justice Office. I’ve ordered them to guard him strictly to prevent further attempts at silencing witnesses.”

This lawsuit wasn’t really worth Zeng Guofan’s personal attention – it could be handled by the Provincial Justice Office. As Gu Pingyuan pondered this, Zeng Guofan suddenly came straight to the point: “Master Gu, in your view, who is the real culprit behind instructing villains to massacre civilians?”

“This commoner is also among the suspects and dare not speculate wildly.”

“Since you hesitate to speak, let me speak for you. I served as Vice Minister of Justice during the Daoguang era and reviewed case files for three full years, examining cases from all over the country in detail. This case is as clear as a rhinoceros horn illuminating a candle – the real culprit is obvious. It’s that Li Qin, the new head of the Li family. Am I correct?”

After a moment of silence, Gu Pingyuan slowly said: “Once Li An gives his testimony, who the real culprit is will be known immediately.”

“Unfortunately, his life hangs in the balance now. If he truly cannot speak, what do you plan to do?”

“Your Lordship, please forgive this commoner for having difficulties I cannot express and dare not speculate wildly. However, I believe heaven’s net is vast and lets nothing slip through. Moreover, with the court’s strict laws, whoever commits unconscionable acts will ultimately not escape national justice.”

“Your relationship with the Li family – I’ve heard about it from others. This truly puts you in a difficult position.” Zeng Guofan nodded and sighed. He placed a book on the table. “This is something Li Wantang left when he came to see me yesterday. I haven’t decided how to handle it yet. You might take a look.”

Having encountered Su Zixuan before, Gu Pingyuan naturally thought this might be another copy of evidence about the Li family bribing Sushun. But examining it carefully, he immediately saw it was different. This booklet had yellowed paper, frayed binding, and appeared to be over a century old.

Taking it in hand, a musty smell hit his nostrils. The paper was somewhat brittle. Gu Pingyuan carefully leafed through it. After just two pages, his attention was completely captured. He forgot Zeng Guofan was right there and read on with complete absorption, reading every sentence and line of this nearly hundred-page booklet. Gu Pingyuan leaned back slightly, his gaze still fixed on the booklet’s cover as if it contained a Celestial Master’s magical incantations that could summon heavenly troops with a recitation.

“Finished reading?” Though Zeng Guofan had countless daily affairs, he hadn’t rushed Gu Pingyuan once, allowing him to read the booklet thoroughly.

“Reporting to Your Lordship, I’ve finished.” Gu Pingyuan’s voice was like a siege engine – slow but powerful.

“Then you might tell me what’s written inside. Let me see if you truly understood it.”

“These are old archives from the Huai Salt Fields – naturally, just one volume specifically recording the ‘Huai Salt License Case.'”

In the thirty-third year of Qianlong’s reign, the newly appointed Huai Salt Commissioner You Bashi suddenly submitted a secret memorial to the emperor, stating that since taking over salt administration, he had carefully examined the accounts over the years and discovered that the previous three Huai Salt Commissioners had all colluded privately with salt merchants, accepting huge bribes and using methods of underreporting salt licenses to evade massive amounts of salt tax.

Emperor Qianlong was furious upon hearing this report and immediately ordered Grand Secretary Fuheng to personally investigate the case. The people jokingly called it “the imperial uncle trying the imperial uncle,” because Fuheng was the empress’s brother, while Gao Heng among the three salt commissioners was the noble consort’s brother. When the case was finally concluded, a shocking fact emerged: over the past twenty-plus years, the Huai Salt Administration had colluded from top to bottom in corruption and fraud, helping Yangzhou salt merchants evade salt taxes totaling 10,141,760 taels – equivalent to an entire national treasury. The three salt commissioners’ bribes also reached hundreds of thousands of taels.

In his fury, Qianlong repeatedly issued vermillion edicts ordering the execution of all three salt commissioners – Gao Heng, Pufu, and Lu Jianzeng – after the autumn assizes, while strictly demanding the Yangzhou salt merchants repay all evaded taxes over the years and pay their bribery silver as fines.

Even the eight great salt merchants, rich as emperors, couldn’t bear such massive compensation. After desperate pleading and using connections with important court officials, they finally obtained permission to delay repayment. Later, when Qianlong toured south of the Yangtze, Jiang Chun, the head merchant among the salt dealers, was a skilled social climber who built the Yangzhou White Pagoda overnight to please the emperor, along with various other extravagant displays, finally achieving friendship with the emperor “as a commoner.” Since the emperor neither pressed nor inquired, and lower officials had taken money, they naturally didn’t push too hard. This debt was thus delayed day after day, year after year.

Through the reigns of four dynasties – Jiaqing, Daoguang, Xianfeng, and Tongzhi – everything had changed beyond recognition. Moreover, after Tao Shu’s salt system reforms, the Huai Salt Field archives had been sealed for over twenty years. No one alive could remember these old imperial treasures. Even Gu Pingyuan, who had paid attention to salt field operations and read several historical records, was hearing about this Huai Salt License Case for the first time.

“Over ten million taels of silver – it’s been exactly ninety-seven years of debt. Even calculating at the thinnest possible interest rate of three li per thousand that money houses charge, what would that amount to?” Zeng Guofan asked methodically.

Gu Pingyuan was quick at mental calculations, but he could only estimate roughly: “At least forty million taels of silver.” Even saying this number shocked Gu Pingyuan considerably.

“Indeed. The eight great salt merchants have all scattered like clouds, but this debt belongs to the Huai Salt Fields – in other words, whoever operates them must bear the burden. I imagine when Li Wantang first examined the salt field archives and saw this booklet, he must have broken into a cold sweat.”

Li Wantang was deeply calculating. He knew this booklet was extremely dangerous, but if undiscovered and kept only in his hands, it would become an excellent weapon. Should he encounter a powerful opponent in the future, he need only transfer the salt fields to them, then ignite this fuse to blow them to smithereens.

He never could have imagined that when he handed this powder keg to the authorities, the owner of the Huai Salt Fields would be his own son.

“You can probably guess Li Wantang’s feelings – raising such a son is no different from harboring wolves and feeding tigers. He was utterly disheartened, preferring to destroy the Li family himself.” Forty million taels of silver – even combining all the assets of the Li family and Wang Tiangui couldn’t pay it, and even the Four Great Constants would go completely bankrupt.

“Master Gu, you’re a businessman deeply involved in this matter. I’ve summoned you today to seek your opinion on how to handle this affair.” This matter would cause too great a commotion – even Zeng Guofan couldn’t ignore the consequences.

“Kill to pay for murder, pay debts with money. There’s nothing to discuss about that.” Without the Li family’s vast wealth, Li Qin’s venomous fangs would be pulled – Gu Pingyuan had no objection to this. As for Wang Tiangui, he wasn’t worth any hesitation. “But Your Lordship must absolutely not immediately expose this matter, much less confiscate the assets of all three major salt field shareholders together.”

“Oh, Master Gu, please speak your mind freely.”

“Does Your Lordship remember when I once said that the Taiping rebellion ravaged thirteen provinces, causing turmoil throughout the realm and leaving people destitute? The root cause wasn’t military or taxation, but rather originated from the Thirteen Factories. After signing the five-port trade treaty with Britain, Guangzhou’s Thirteen Factories lost their prominence and business declined sharply. Millions of poor people lost their livelihood and could only return to Guangxi’s mountains to starve and suffer. That’s why rebels like Hong Xiuquan and Feng Yunshan could take advantage to spread their teachings and incite rebellion.”

“I remember.” Zeng Guofan appreciated Gu Pingyuan precisely because this businessman saw not just business, but all the consequences business brought.

“Exactly. A mere Thirteen Factories in Guangdong’s backwater could trigger such severe chaos. The Beijing merchants operate in the capital’s exemplary region, conducting business at the empire’s foundation, while the Four Great Constants are the lifeblood maintaining Beijing merchants’ business. They have financial deposits and loans with almost all Beijing merchants and considerable dealings with merchant guilds from other provinces. Shanxi’s three great banks, Hangzhou’s Hu family Fukang Bank, Beijing’s Four Great Constants – these are the Great Qing’s financial arteries. Ask any businessman in the realm – who doesn’t carry several promissory notes from the Four Great Constants? These are solid currency, convertible on presentation.” Gu Pingyuan spoke in one breath, watching Zeng Guofan’s lips unconsciously purse and his expression grow increasingly grave. He continued: “If the Four Great Constants collapse and their issued banknotes can’t be exchanged for real gold and silver, the consequences would be ten times, a hundred times worse than the Thirteen Factories’ collapse. Forgive my boldness – if fires break out in all four directions of the Great Qing, could Your Lordship’s Hunan Army still extinguish them all?”

“Well said.” Zeng Guofan nodded. “I’ll hazard a guess – when Li Wantang originally brought the Four Great Constants into the salt field shareholding, he wasn’t necessarily thinking of sharing good fortune, but rather planning to use them as shields when trouble came. He never imagined he’d be shielding Li Qin from disaster. It seems his booklet is useless.”

“No.” Gu Pingyuan shook his head. “When avoiding harm to valuable items, simply move the ‘items’ away – just be careful not to startle the mice.”

“What brilliant idea do you have?” Zeng Guofan smiled as he looked at him.

The Four Great Constants’ managers had witnessed the Li family’s dramatic downfall that day at Tongqing Restaurant. Though Li Wantang was defeated, his words had greatly impressed the four managers. Moreover, even without Li Wantang’s speech, they had personally witnessed the bustling scene of steamships and boats shuttling back and forth after Shanghai’s opening to trade during their several visits to Jiangnan. Banks prospered by profiting from others’ businesses – wherever business flourished, banks thrived. Only then did the four managers understand why Hangzhou’s Hu Xueyan had opened Fukang Bank and in just a few years seemed to surpass the Four Great Constants.

Business requires adaptability – change brings life, stagnation brings death. After consulting with each other, the managers decided to stay temporarily in Jiangnan to personally manage these new bank ventures, laying a good foundation for the Four Great Constants’ Jiangnan branches.

While they were frantically busy, they simultaneously received visiting cards from Two Rivers Governor-General Zeng Guofan, summoning them to the Governor-General’s office for questioning. The four men entered the office suspiciously but emerged with sweat-soaked robes, looking at each other in terror as if they’d taken a trip through the underworld and been released by the King of Hell.

The eldest, Manager Zhang, opened his mouth several times before speaking: “Gentlemen, let me presume on my age – I must say something.”

The usually loud Manager Jiao’s voice dropped eight degrees: “Please speak, we’re listening.”

“This matter must be kept absolutely secret. If even a hint leaks out, we’re all finished – not a single tile of the Four Great Constants will remain.”

The three managers before him nodded simultaneously, their faces full of apprehension.

The next day, the four managers collected themselves, prepared generous gifts, and visited Li Qin together, also inviting Wang Tiangui to the Li residence. They stayed inside for over two hours before taking their leave.

The men didn’t take sedan chairs but walked leisurely across a street, looking around as if searching for something.

“Congratulations to you four managers.” Suddenly someone approached from across the street, cupping his hands in salute.

“Oh, Master Gu, that’s too kind.” Manager Zhang quickly returned the courtesy, then all four bowed deeply to Gu Pingyuan. “Without Master Gu’s full mediation before Lord Zeng, the Four Great Constants would have been completely ruined. We all know about the grudges between you and the Beijing merchants. Your magnanimity in repaying evil with good and helping us preserve our golden reputation is truly rare. The Four Great Constants are infinitely grateful.”

“You’re too kind. I’m also a businessman – we’re in the same trade. Lending a helping hand is only natural. It’s just that the Four Great Constants also suffered losses this time.”

Manager Jiao waved his hand: “Compared to the figure we heard at the Governor-General’s office yesterday, it’s merely a drop in the ocean.”

“So everything is settled?”

“Rest assured, everything has been handled according to yesterday’s plan.” Manager Zhang said. “To avoid arousing their suspicions, we spent two hours talking. Laughably, when they pressed their handprints, they acted like they’d found some precious bargain.” All the managers laughed at this.

Gu Pingyuan didn’t laugh. He turned and nodded to Secretary Xue, who was drinking tea at a streetside teahouse. Secretary Xue set down his teacup and stood up steadily, whereupon all the tea drinkers in the shop also rose and filed outside in formation.

Manager Jiao’s smile froze instantly on his face. He swallowed hard, finally noticing they faced an entire squad of soldiers with hands on their sabers, all looking menacingly toward the distant Li residence.

“Who would have thought – losing in the east, gaining in the west. Though we failed to behead Gu Pingyuan, we’ve intimidated the Four Great Constants’ managers. This proves that ruthlessness wins – the more ruthless you are, the more others fear you. Not only won’t they dare take advantage of you, they’ll voluntarily show weakness. This is what’s called ‘knowing the male, keeping to the female.'” In the Li residence study, Wang Tiangui looked at the freshly signed contract with a satisfied smile.

No wonder he was so pleased – magpies had been chattering all morning, and the God of Wealth had come calling uninvited. The Four Great Constants’ managers were willing to withdraw their shares, accepting only eighty percent of their investment back. Li Qin naturally didn’t have such ready cash, so Wang Tiangui seized the opportunity to propose splitting these shares equally with the Li family, paying not with cash but with property valuations.

“Money house operators are always shrewd – why would they willingly take this loss?” Li Qin repeatedly examined the contract but found no flaws.

“Don’t overthink it. As I said, Master Li’s methods are sharp. They know that holding shares in the salt fields won’t bring them any benefit and they’d constantly have to guard against your retaliation. The Huai Salt Fields are far from the capital, beyond their reach and control. Their voluntary withdrawal makes sense.” Wang Tiangui smiled coldly and suddenly said: “Now our shares are split equally. With the salt fields half yours and half mine, it seems inappropriate for the Li family to continue managing everything alone.”

Li Qin sneered and was about to speak when he heard commotion outside. Frowning, he walked out to find his household servants standing there like wooden chickens, while the courtyard was filled with fully armed soldiers who had appeared from nowhere.

“Whose troops are you? How dare you break into the Li residence! Don’t you know this is the Li family of the capital – even high officials with red-buttoned caps must announce themselves before entering!” Li Qin was furious.

Secretary Xue stepped forward from the crowd, smiling as he said: “Master Li, I just heard you and Manager Wang discussing how to divide the salt fields. Today I come on orders from the Governor-General and can conveniently save you both this trouble.” He waved his hand, and several squads of soldiers entered through the east and west side gates. Immediately, cries from maids and servants echoed from the inner quarters.

“Secretary Xue, what is the meaning of this?” Li Qin said frantically.

“Acting on orders to confiscate and seal your property to compensate the court’s losses.” Secretary Xue spoke unhurriedly. Seeing Wang Tiangui emerge from the room and edge along the wall toward the exit, he didn’t stop him but called out: “Manager Wang, why the rush to go home? We started there even earlier – it’s probably sealed by now. You can’t get in anyway. Why not sit awhile? Lord Zeng instructed me to explain carefully the reasons for confiscation, lest you protest and waste time seeking intercession from various princes and ministers.”

Wang Tiangui had already stopped in his tracks, listening to Secretary Xue’s words in stunned pallor.

By evening, the Li residence, chaotic all day, gradually quieted. The gatekeepers had long since vanished without a trace, allowing one person to walk in unhurriedly.

Scattered pottery shards, disheveled books and paintings, various items servants had pilfered and hastily dropped when soldiers searched – these servants had been hired from Jiangning or bought from Yangzhou and Suzhou. With their master’s house raided and disaster looming, who would stay to share the misfortune? When great disaster strikes, each flies alone – this was expected. Only a pug dog cowered trembling in a corner of the courtyard, unable to understand what had happened.

Gu Pingyuan sighed deeply. The Li family was defeated, not by his hand but destroyed by Li Wantang himself. He should have felt satisfied, yet watching a century-old commercial family destroyed by a single government decree, Gu Pingyuan felt a touch of sorrow instead.

“You!” The door creaked open and Li Qin emerged dejectedly. Seeing Gu Pingyuan, his eyes widened immediately, his hands shaking as if ready to pounce.

“Ha ha ha!” Li Qin suddenly burst into laughter, pointing at him: “Now you’re satisfied! The Li family is confiscated, all our silver pays the debts, the Li family is completely finished! The Huai Salt Fields – what treasure trove, what money tree! It was clearly a man-eating trap, a blood-sucking fraud! Father, you were shrewd all your life – how did you fall for this trick!”

He seemed to be laughing bitterly to himself, complaining about Li Wantang, and glaring angrily at Gu Pingyuan.

“You’re wrong. Neither the Huai Salt Fields, nor Li Wantang, nor I destroyed the Li family. The Li family built up over generations with deep roots – without rotting from within, who could have toppled it?!” Gu Pingyuan looked quietly at Li Qin. He knew he would never forgive this “brother” in his lifetime. Though born of the same father, their mutual hatred ran deeper than with anyone else. Today’s words weren’t to reason with Li Qin, but to tell him who he should really hate. Once Li Qin understood, his remaining years would be consumed by self-reproach and regret, constantly gnawed by venomous snakes in his heart, never finding peace. This was Gu Pingyuan’s revenge.

“Think about it – in Shanxi, in the capital, in Huizhou, how many opportunities did you miss? You thought you were the Li family’s eldest son, looking down on everyone. How many times could you have reversed a great mistake, made the Li family’s business turn defeat into victory, with just one finger’s effort? But you disdained it all, thinking the Li family was vast and powerful, that only others begged you, never you begging others.”

Li Qin’s face contorted as he stared at Gu Pingyuan with bloodshot eyes, listening to him drive needle after needle into his heart.

“Your path naturally grew narrower until you could even harden your heart to drive away your own father. You wanted to monopolize the Li family, monopolize Beijing merchants’ business, even monopolize all the world’s commerce. Since ancient times, tyrants are enemies of the people. You only thought about making money, never caring if that money was stained with blood. Who would dare continue doing business with you? We Huizhou merchants have a saying: ‘Coming and going creates business’ – but now no one dares associate with you. Even without the Huai Salt License Case, the Li family’s business had reached its end.”

“Do you still remember Uncle Zhang whom you had killed?” Li Qin suddenly said through gritted teeth. “You hate me, but I hate you too. Why did you repeatedly refuse to take me seriously? You killed Uncle Zhang – of course I had to take revenge. He told me something before he died: ‘Since the silver I want to earn is cold, my heart cannot be warm.'”

Gu Pingyuan gazed at this brother with whom he could never agree, suddenly wondering: if he swapped places with Li Qin, if he had grown up in the Li family that practiced cold-blooded commerce, would he have become Li Qin? At this thought, he suddenly felt very weary. Turning around, he said his final words: “Business should earn not silver, but people’s hearts. Only by warming people’s hearts can wealth flow abundantly, but if everyone around you grows cold-hearted, you won’t earn even a single coin.”

Li Qin watched Gu Pingyuan walk out the main gate. He wanted to use all his strength to shout and refute his “absurd theories,” but opening his mouth, he ultimately made no sound. Looking at the pug dog in the corner, he suddenly felt that the Li family’s eldest son, once courted by everyone, might in future be worth less than even a dog.

“Ha, all things end as dreams.” In the deep night, Wang Tiangui laughed miserably, raising his wine cup toward Li Qin: “Li Wantang, oh Li Wantang, you went too far. This is the Li family – centuries of business, a lifetime’s effort – and you just destroyed it like that. Truly impressive, I’m completely convinced.”

Li Qin seemed to hear nothing, just staring blankly at the wine cup before him.

“No matter how heartbroken your father was, he shouldn’t have fought with silver, shouldn’t have joked with the Huai Salt Fields. Now the government benefits for nothing. There’s an old saying: ‘When Heshen falls, Jiaqing eats his fill’ – this time the assets confiscated from our two families are enough for the court to burp loudly. Come, Master Li, I toast you. You’re even worse off than me this time – you invested everything in the Huai Salt Fields, only to be cleaned out completely by the government. I at least understand the principle of having multiple hideouts – I’ve hidden over a hundred thousand taels in Shanxi. I can return to be a wealthy man and live out my years in comfort. But you’re still young – how will you manage your future days?” Wang Tiangui looked askance at Li Qin with a gloating expression.

Li Qin understood this old fox was still trying to discover if the Li family had hidden assets, hoping to take a bite and recover his losses. He sneered inwardly but didn’t take the bait, nor did he accept Wang Tiangui’s toast.

He was indeed heartbroken as if bleeding, but not simply for the salt fields. Rather, he grieved for the “business” he’d been secretly calculating – a grand enterprise that could have put all the Great Qing’s wealth in the Li family’s grasp. Given just three more years, no, even two years, the name “Li Qin” would have been looked up to by the world. Even the emperor’s throne couldn’t compare to the Li family master’s position. However, fate had played a great joke on him – everything had stopped abruptly before it could begin, and his gold-and-jade-adorned dreams had vanished.

“Manager Wang, we both still have unfinished legal cases. Your desire to return to Shanxi may not be so easy.” Li Qin glanced at him with dark eyes.

“What’s there to fear? This afternoon Yan Batou already brought word that Li An died of severe injuries in the Provincial Justice prison. With his death, all cases lose their thread and become headless cases – no more troubles. Otherwise, how would I have the heart to drink this sorrowful wine with you?” Wang Tiangui poured and drank another cup himself.

Li Qin pondered, then suddenly said: “You mean the case of you ordering Li An to poison my parents has become headless?”

Wang Tiangui’s heart jumped, his smile immediately turning bitter as he forced a laugh: “Master Li, this joke goes too far.”

“Hmph, I must thank the Gu family for this. If they hadn’t sent people to catch Li An, how could I have learned the truth from outside? How could I have avenged my mother?” Wang Tiangui shivered, squinting at Li Qin: “Master Li, I advise you to stay calm. You and I are grasshoppers tied to the same rope – ruin me and you won’t fare well either.”

“That was true before, but not necessarily now.” Li Qin carefully drew a paper from his chest. “This is your ‘final’ confession, admitting you were the real culprit who poisoned the Li family couple and over twenty villagers. Now your conscience has awakened and you’re drinking poison to commit suicide.”

“Drinking poison?” Wang Tiangui stared, looking at the cup in his hand. His grip loosened and the cup fell, shattering on the ground.

Then someone pushed through the door, bringing wind that made the red candle on the table flicker: “Congratulations to Manager Wang – today is your auspicious day to enter the underworld.”

Wang Tiangui spun around. Recognizing the person while feeling sharp pain in his abdomen, he pointed trembling: “You… you…”

“You humiliated my sister-in-law and destroyed my brother’s family. I’ve never forgotten this revenge.” Qiao Henian in plain clothes looked at Wang Tiangui’s nearby face, distorted by terror, and smiled slightly. “It’s just that you were one of the salt field’s three major shareholders then, useful to me, so I said bygones were bygones. Now you’re nothing, so naturally I’ll take my revenge. You just said Li An was dead – that’s false. I had Yan Batou say that to lure you in. Don’t glare – with no wealth or power, he naturally had to find another patron.”

Only then did Wang Tiangui understand this was all a trap. He thought Li An was dead and could relax, not realizing that just when he let his guard down, a blade had silently stabbed him.

“Aconitum plus three parts heartbreak grass – that’s your formula. Tell me, how does it taste?” Qiao Henian said with a smile.

Li Qin also approached, watching Wang Tiangui’s swollen tongue render him unable to speak coherently. He waved the paper: “You got one thing wrong – you’re the one with nothing, while I can at least keep my life under Lord Qiao’s protection. Your personal confession plus testimony from the Huai Salt Commissioner as witness – this is ironclad evidence that even Gu Pingyuan can’t touch me.”

Wang Tiangui finally understood – he who had hunted geese all his life was finally pecked blind by a goose. He fell to the ground, reaching toward empty air, clawing unwillingly several times before his hollow, lifeless eyes finally stopped moving.

“Lord Qiao, I’ve done what you asked. Please take this suicide note to the Provincial Justice office.” As pre-arranged, Li Qin was responsible for the poisoning while Qiao Henian personally witnessed Wang Tiangui’s death. Afterward, Qiao Henian would go to the Provincial Justice office to testify that this comprehensive confession was indeed written by Wang Tiangui’s awakened conscience before death.

Qiao Henian amiably accepted the letter, glanced at it briefly, then held it over the candle flame. Before Li Qin could react, the single page had burned to ash.

“You…” Li Qin felt like someone had punched him hard in the stomach, his organs cramping. His mouth tasted bitter and astringent – not from poison, but because the man before him was more toxic than aconitum and heartbreak grass combined.

“You needn’t say anything – I’ll tell you.” Qiao Henian’s voice carried no emotion, like a lifelong examination candidate reciting the Four Books and Five Classics. “Keeping you alive is always a threat. If I eliminate you but have no murderer, people might suspect – I don’t want that risk. So I’m letting you go.” He produced two silver ingots totaling about fifty taels.

“Consider this travel money I’m giving Master Li – enough to get you very far away. Along with Wang Tiangui’s death, all blame will ultimately fall on you. If you’re smart, never return. Killing parents is a crime against moral order. Once caught by authorities, beheading alone won’t suffice.”

“First borrowing a blade to kill an enemy, then making the only witness vanish without a trace – avenged without harming your own prospects. Excellent technique, Lord Qiao. Li salutes you!” Li Qin clenched his teeth, staring hard at the man before him.

“If I were you, I’d leave quickly. Li An is already writing his confession at the Provincial Justice office. Soon riders will fan out searching – then you’ll have no escape route.”

Li Qin responded to this kindness with a mocking nod: “They say no merchant lacks cunning, but today I learned merchants are nothing compared to officials.” He looked at Qiao Henian once more as if to permanently imprint his face in memory, then grabbed the silver ingots and left without looking back.

“The night grows cold with dew – don’t let it chill you. I see your thoughts are heavy, as if pondering many things.” Chang Yu’er woke with a start at midnight, finding her husband absent from bed. She walked to the tea shop’s main entrance and discovered Gu Pingyuan standing under the eaves, gazing absently at the street outside. Chang Yu’er approached and draped a cloak over her husband’s shoulders.

“You’re right – my mind is chaotic, unable to settle or sleep, so I came out to walk.” Gu Pingyuan had far too much on his mind. Yesterday he learned that Li Wantang had taken the bhikshu vows at Jinshan Temple and formally entered monastic life. Before shaving his head, he had sent Gu Pingyuan a verse through Jiangning laypeople visiting the temple: “Desire is fire in the heart, surely burning merit’s forest; twenty years seeking great wealth, seeing you I know my poverty.” He told Gu Pingyuan clearly that father and son walked different paths – now he knew he’d gone wrong, but was gratified that Gu Pingyuan had walked the right path.