The gentle clop of hooves echoed as the mare trotted elegantly, carrying the Princess Consort. The horse snorted softly, nuzzling Xu Qi’an’s face. He stroked its neck repeatedly, soothing the animal.
The Princess Consort untied a package from the saddle and handed Xu Qi’an a cyan robe. After a moment’s hesitation, she also took out her cotton coat while glancing at the young woman.
“Put these on. If you catch a cold, rescuing her would have been in vain.”
In late autumn, Yong Province’s climate was bone-chillingly cold. For someone just pulled from the river, not changing into dry clothes and warming up quickly could easily lead to illness, with a high mortality rate.
“My home is just ahead. You can change there,” the old man with the bamboo pole hurriedly offered.
Xu Qi’an, holding the clean cyan robe and cotton coat, bowed respectfully. “Thank you, elder.”
He then led the horse and guided the young woman, following behind the old man.
The surrounding crowd continued to discuss and point, some gossiping, others marveling at how Zhang the Cripple’s wife was lucky to encounter someone with good swimming skills who was willing to jump into the freezing water to save her.
After walking less than a hundred meters, the old man turned into a small alley paved with cobblestones and pushed open a black wooden door marked with signs of corrosion.
Behind the door was a small courtyard with a square skylight overhead.
By now, the young woman’s face had turned ashen, her lips pale, and her body shivering uncontrollably.
If Xu Qi’an were still a martial artist, he could easily dispel the cold in her body by transferring his qi. But qi manipulation was exclusive to martial artists. At lower cultivation ranks, only martial artists could utilize qi among the various systems.
At higher ranks, practitioners of other systems could also manipulate qi as their physical bodies strengthened, but it was far inferior to martial artists. Take the Strength Gu system, for example. At Lina’s level, she could actively refine essence into qi, using her physical body as the primary force and qi as a supplement to better exert her combat prowess.
“Take her to change clothes,” Xu Qi’an said, handing the large bundle to Mu NanchÃ.
The Princess Consort clutched it tightly to her chest. After glancing at the young woman, she quietly slipped the beautiful cotton jacket back into the bundle and took out a less attractive cotton garment.
She had been hasty earlier, accidentally taking out a nice piece of clothing…
Watching the two women enter the main bedroom, Xu Qi’an followed the old man’s guidance to a side room to change his clothes.
“Elder, perhaps you should step out for a moment?” Xu Qi’an suggested tactfully.
The old man was puzzled. “What’s the matter, young man? Are you shy?”
No, I’m afraid I might frighten you… Xu Qi’an smiled apologetically but remained silent as he looked at the old man.
The elder placed a clean handkerchief on the table and left the room.
Xu Qi’an unfastened his robe and removed his undergarments. Four nails were embedded in his flesh, both on his abdomen and back. The wounds were dark red and horrifyingly grotesque.
Another nail sealed his primordial spirit at the Baihui acupoint on the top of his head.
The Demon Sealing Nails had sealed away his cultivation, including his physical strength. Now, despite having the durability of a Third-Rank martial artist, he couldn’t exert enough power. He couldn’t even rely on his body’s toughness to kill if he wanted to.
After changing into a set of dry clothes, Xu Qi’an sat with the old man in the modest hall, warming themselves by the stove. A pot of yellow wine was heating up on the stove as they chatted.
“Elder, do you live here alone?” Xu Qi’an asked.
“Yes, I do.”
“Where is your family?”
“My wife passed away last year. I have a son and a daughter. My daughter married and moved away; she hasn’t been back to see me in many years. As for my son…” The old man paused, his slightly cloudy eyes flashing with resignation. “A few years ago, during a flood, we lost all our crops. To feed the family, he went hunting in the mountains with some hunters. He fell off a cliff and died.”
A moment of silence fell between them.
Xu Qi’an, having experienced great sorrow himself, didn’t offer empty words of consolation.
The old man lifted the wine pot, smiling. “The wine is just right now. If it boils, the flavor will dissipate. Young man, have a taste.”
There weren’t any extra cups in the house.
Xu Qi’an tilted the pot and took a sip. His eyes brightened. The flavor was fresh, sweet, and mellow, with hints of sourness, bitterness, spiciness, and astringency, all in perfect balance. After swallowing, a fragrant aroma lingered in his mouth.
There were countless fine wines in the capital, but this was truly his first time tasting something like this.
If only there was some white-cut chicken and salted peanuts to go with it… Xu Qi’an thought wistfully, eager to find an inn and drink with the Princess Consort until dawn.
The old man nodded with satisfaction, seeing Xu Qi’an’s expression of lingering enjoyment. A smile spread across his wrinkled face.
“Young man, from your accent, you’re not from Yong Province, are you?”
“I’m from the capital.”
The old man’s expression turned respectful. “So you’re from the capital. No wonder. You and your wife truly make a handsome couple.”
Hey, old man, can you say that with a clear conscience?… Xu Qi’an inwardly retorted.
Just then, the Princess Consort and the young woman emerged. The latter’s face was still pale, her slender figure shivering slightly from the cold.
The old man invited them to warm themselves by the fire. Xu Qi’an noticed an unusual expression on Princess Consort’s face as if she were suppressing great anger.
“What’s wrong?” Xu Qi’an passed the wine pot to the young woman, gesturing for her to take a sip to warm up, then turned to look at Mu NanchÃ.
The old man sighed. “Did Zhang the Cripple go gambling again?”
The young woman lowered her head and nodded.
Seeing this, the old man commented, “Looks like life has become unbearable.”
The young woman shook her head, tears falling in droplets.
Mu NanchÃ, her small face gloomy, said, “Her husband sent her away…”
“Sending away” was a euphemism. The situation was as follows: The young woman’s husband, Zhang Youfu, was a cripple. Due to his disability, he couldn’t do heavy labor, and the family had always been poor.
However, Zhang the Cripple was a man with high aspirations but low abilities, unwilling to accept a life of hardship. So he became addicted to gambling.
Over the years, their already difficult life became even more unbearable.
In gambling, nine out of ten lose, and Zhang the Cripple was no exception. He not only lost all his family’s wealth but also accrued a mountain of debt.
The biggest creditor was a notorious ruffian named Zhu Er.
Zhu Er colluded with the gambling den to squeeze out all of Zhang the Cripple’s money, then lent him more at exorbitant interest rates.
His goal wasn’t money, but Zhang the Cripple’s wife – the young woman before them.
He used the debt as leverage, forcing Zhang the Cripple to pawn his wife to him. When he could repay the debt, he could take his wife back.
With no way out, Zhang the Cripple reluctantly agreed and signed a contract.
The young woman was taken away by Zhu Er yesterday and forced to submit to him. This morning, while Zhu Er was still asleep, she secretly escaped and attempted to end her life by jumping into the river.
After hearing this, the old man sighed again, as if he had long expected Zhang the Cripple to eventually come to this.
Wife pawning was quite common in the southern regions of the Great Shang. It wasn’t too prevalent in peaceful times, but once natural disasters or human calamities struck, the practice would flourish.
The law strictly prohibited such practices, but officials usually turned a blind eye, tacitly allowing it.
Xu Qi’an re-examined the young woman. She was indeed pretty, with a delicate and vulnerable air that could easily arouse a man’s desire to possess her.
Mu Nanchà kept signaling with her eyes, asking Xu Qi’an how to handle the young woman’s situation.
“How much money does your husband owe this Zhu Er?” Xu Qi’an asked.
The young woman looked up timidly, glancing at Xu Qi’an before answering softly, “Thirty taels.”
Thirty taels of silver was a considerable sum. In the capital, it represented a year’s income for a well-off family. In a small county town like Fuyang, thirty taels could buy a large house.
However, when it came to gambling debts, the calculations were different.
If the young woman wasn’t lying, and Zhu Er had colluded with the gambling den to fleece her husband, then he hadn’t spent a single tael. He had swindled himself a charming, innocent young woman for free.
The old man spoke in a low voice, “This Zhu Er is a notorious ruffian in the county. He’s sworn brothers with the County Magistrate’s nephew. He has dozens of men under him. The busiest streets in the county all have to pay him protection money.”
“Many people despise him, but even more fear him. With the County Magistrate’s protection, he can do as he pleases.”
And he’s clever enough to use “legitimate” means to bully men and women… Xu Qi’an added mentally.
“As the saying goes, ‘see a good deed through to the end.’ You now have two choices: One, we pay off the thirty taels your husband owes Zhu Er, and you go back to continue living with your husband. Two, the contract is illegal, and I’ll settle this for you, but you must divorce your husband. Afterward, I’ll give you some money, and you can return to your maiden family or go elsewhere, as you wish.”
The young woman kept her head down, speaking softly, “A married daughter is like spilled water; how could I return to my maiden family? I’m a local; where could I make a living outside the county?”
Xu Qi’an knew she had chosen the first option.
He immediately left thirty taels of silver for the young woman, then led the mare and Mu Nanchà out of the old man’s house.
“If you have any problems later, come find me at the best inn in the county town. Elder, the wine was excellent. Thank you for your hospitality.”
The two people and the horse walked out of the alley, gradually disappearing into the distance.
The old man watched them leave, then returned to his house. To his astonishment, he found an ingot of official silver where the young man had been sitting.
The old man had never seen such a hefty piece of silver in his entire life.
…
In a large courtyard in the county town, Zhu Er, a man with a brutish face, sat in the main hall, his expression gloomy. He barked at his subordinates:
“Bring that little wench back! She doesn’t know what’s good for her. From now on, she’ll stay in the house to serve the brothers. We have so many brothers who can’t find wives; might as well put her to good use.”
He had already tasted the young woman’s flavor, and Zhu Er was always one to seek novelty.
Although the contract didn’t allow him to treat her this way, that cripple was penniless. He couldn’t come up with three taels of silver, let alone thirty.
This woman was his from now on, and he could do whatever he wanted with her.
“Gulp…” Several men swallowed hard.
Zhu Er was very pleased with his subordinates’ reactions, believing his decision was correct and would greatly win their loyalty.
Lately, Zhu Er felt his luck had turned for the better, mainly in four aspects. First, when gambling at the den, he won more than he lost, even without cheating—pure, overwhelming luck.
Second, the businesses and properties he managed suddenly became prosperous.
Third, the County Magistrate, who used to be indifferent—accepting bribes while looking down on him—suddenly changed his attitude and started treating him like a brother.
The idea of using the gambling den to trap Zhang the Cripple, squeeze him dry, and then use the debt to force the young woman into his house was suggested by the County Magistrate.
Otherwise, given Zhu Er’s personality, he would have preferred to take her by force and then intimidate her into submission.
The County Magistrate, being an educated man, had come up with a flawless plan with no repercussions.
Fourth, his subordinates were becoming increasingly reverent and loyal to him.
With his rapidly expanding wealth and power, Zhu Er even entertained the idea of making his mark in Yong Province’s capital city.
Compared to the provincial capital, what was this small county town of Fuyang… Zhu Er reined in his wandering thoughts and pondered what gift to send to the County Magistrate.
Women were immediately crossed off the list—would the County Magistrate lack women?
Money was also eliminated; he had been sending money all along, and it lacked uniqueness, unable to fully express his intentions.
At this moment, a subordinate hurriedly entered and reported, “Boss, Zhang the Cripple and his wife are here. They say they’ve come to repay the debt.”
Repay? Zhu Er was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard. He said in a deep voice, “Let them in.”
Shortly after, a thin man with a pronounced limp entered, leading a pretty young woman. The woman’s arms were wrapped tightly around something bulky.
There were bruises on her face as if she had just been beaten, but she still clutched whatever was in her arms tightly, not relaxing for a moment.
“Boss, we’ve come to repay the silver,” Zhang the Cripple said, bowing and scraping, his face full of fawning expressions.
Zhu Er ignored him and instead looked at the young woman, narrowing his eyes. “Where did you run off to?”
The young woman clutched her bundle even tighter, looking fearful but forcing herself to be brave. “We’ve come to repay the debt. Where’s the contract?”
Zhu Er stared at her. “Where’s the silver?”
The young woman took out a cloth bag containing three ingots of official silver, each weighing ten taels.
Official silver wasn’t something ordinary people could use, not because they weren’t qualified, but because the “denominations” were too large. Common people usually used copper coins and small pieces of silver.
“Where did you get official silver?!” Zhu Er glared, asking loudly.
The young woman trembled in fear. Zhang the Cripple quickly said, “An outsider gave it to us.”
He then explained the whole situation. After the young woman returned home, she told Zhang the Cripple everything that had happened. Zhang’s initial thought wasn’t to repay the debt but to use the silver for more gambling.
However, his pawned wife guarded the money fiercely. Being weak and handicapped, he couldn’t overpower her.
He had no choice but to compromise and come to redeem her first.
An outsider with money… Zhu Er’s eyes flickered. Suddenly, he slammed the table and shouted angrily, “You wench! How dare you steal my silver while I was sleeping! Tie them both up and lock them in the woodshed!”
The color drained from the couple’s faces. They were dragged away crying and shouting, and locked in the woodshed.
“Boss, that was brilliant!” a subordinate said with a grin. “How could Zhang the Cripple possibly have thirty taels? Nobody would believe it. It must have been stolen from you, Boss.”
“Boss, that young wife…” Another subordinate’s eyes gleamed with desire, remembering what Zhu Er had said earlier.
“What’s the hurry? They’re locked up, do you think they’ll escape?” Zhu Er frowned and scolded, “Useless fool. Go investigate that outsider, and see what his background is. Heh, if he can casually give away thirty taels, he can give away three hundred, or even more.”
…
In the best inn in the county town, Xu Qi’an held a pot of wine that had just been warmed, the heat from the wine adding warmth to the pot itself.
The Princess Consort sat at the table, also with a pot of wine beside her. Her wine was infused with ginger strips and spices. Her alcohol tolerance was neither good nor bad. After a few sips, her cheeks were flushed red as if drunk, giving her a charming appearance.
“Throughout history, the sages were lonely; only drinkers left their names behind…” Xu Qi’an murmured.
“What a fine poem!” The Princess Consort praised, turning her head to look at him. “What’s the next line?”
Xu Qi’an replied irritably, “There is no next line.”
He drank his wine slowly. “I’ll go check on that young woman’s house later. Since we’ve helped, we might as well see it through.”
The Princess Consort sighed, “We shouldn’t have gotten involved. All along this journey, we’ve encountered nothing but trouble.”
The young woman looked up timidly, glancing at Xu Qi’an before answering softly, “Thirty taels.”
Thirty taels of silver was a considerable sum. In the capital, it represented a year’s income for a well-off family. In a small county town like Fuyang, thirty taels could buy a large house.
However, when it came to gambling debts, the calculations were different.
If the young woman wasn’t lying, and Zhu Er had colluded with the gambling den to fleece her husband, then he hadn’t spent a single tael. He had swindled himself a charming, innocent young woman for free.
The old man spoke in a low voice, “This Zhu Er is a notorious ruffian in the county. He’s sworn brothers with the County Magistrate’s nephew. He has dozens of men under him. The busiest streets in the county all have to pay him protection money.”
“Many people despise him, but even more fear him. With the County Magistrate’s protection, he can do as he pleases.”
And he’s clever enough to use “legitimate” means to bully men and women… Xu Qi’an added mentally.
“As the saying goes, ‘see a good deed through to the end.’ You now have two choices: One, we pay off the thirty taels your husband owes Zhu Er, and you go back to continue living with your husband. Two, the contract is illegal, and I’ll settle this for you, but you must divorce your husband. Afterward, I’ll give you some money, and you can return to your maiden family or go elsewhere, as you wish.”
The young woman kept her head down, speaking softly, “A married daughter is like spilled water; how could I return to my maiden family? I’m a local; where could I make a living outside the county?”
Xu Qi’an knew she had chosen the first option.
He immediately left thirty taels of silver for the young woman, then led the mare and Mu Nanchà out of the old man’s house.
“If you have any problems later, come find me at the best inn in the county town. Elder, the wine was excellent. Thank you for your hospitality.”
The two people and the horse walked out of the alley, gradually disappearing into the distance.
The old man watched them leave, then returned to his house. To his astonishment, he found an ingot of official silver where the young man had been sitting.
The old man had never seen such a hefty piece of silver in his entire life.
…
In a large courtyard in the county town, Zhu Er, a man with a brutish face, sat in the main hall, his expression gloomy. He barked at his subordinates:
“Bring that little wench back! She doesn’t know what’s good for her. From now on, she’ll stay in the house to serve the brothers. We have so many brothers who can’t find wives; might as well put her to good use.”
He had already tasted the young woman’s flavor, and Zhu Er was always one to seek novelty.
Although the contract didn’t allow him to treat her this way, that cripple was penniless. He couldn’t come up with three taels of silver, let alone thirty.
This woman was his from now on, and he could do whatever he wanted with her.
“Gulp…” Several men swallowed hard.
Zhu Er was very pleased with his subordinates’ reactions, believing his decision was correct and would greatly win their loyalty.
Lately, Zhu Er felt his luck had turned for the better, mainly in four aspects. First, when gambling at the den, he won more than he lost, even without cheating—pure, overwhelming luck.
Second, the businesses and properties he managed suddenly became prosperous.
Third, the County Magistrate, who used to be indifferent—accepting bribes while looking down on him—suddenly changed his attitude and started treating him like a brother.
The idea of using the gambling den to trap Zhang the Cripple, squeeze him dry, and then use the debt to force the young woman into his house was suggested by the County Magistrate.
Otherwise, given Zhu Er’s personality, he would have preferred to take her by force and then intimidate her into submission.
The County Magistrate, being an educated man, had come up with a flawless plan with no repercussions.
Fourth, his subordinates were becoming increasingly reverent and loyal to him.
With his rapidly expanding wealth and power, Zhu Er even entertained the idea of making his mark in Yong Province’s capital city.
Compared to the provincial capital, what was this small county town of Fuyang… Zhu Er reined in his wandering thoughts and pondered what gift to send to the County Magistrate.
Women were immediately crossed off the list—would the County Magistrate lack women?
Money was also eliminated; he had been sending money all along, and it lacked uniqueness, unable to fully express his intentions.
At this moment, a subordinate hurriedly entered and reported, “Boss, Zhang the Cripple and his wife are here. They say they’ve come to repay the debt.”
Repay? Zhu Er was stunned, almost thinking he had misheard. He said in a deep voice, “Let them in.”
Shortly after, a thin man with a pronounced limp entered, leading a pretty young woman. The woman’s arms were wrapped tightly around something bulky.
There were bruises on her face as if she had just been beaten, but she still clutched whatever was in her arms tightly, not relaxing for a moment.
“Boss, we’ve come to repay the silver,” Zhang the Cripple said, bowing and scraping, his face full of fawning expressions.
Zhu Er ignored him and instead looked at the young woman, narrowing his eyes. “Where did you run off to?”
The young woman clutched her bundle even tighter, looking fearful but forcing herself to be brave. “We’ve come to repay the debt. Where’s the contract?”
Zhu Er stared at her. “Where’s the silver?”
The young woman took out a cloth bag containing three ingots of official silver, each weighing ten taels.
Official silver wasn’t something ordinary people could use, not because they weren’t qualified, but because the “denominations” were too large. Common people usually used copper coins and small pieces of silver.
“Where did you get official silver?!” Zhu Er glared, asking loudly.
The young woman trembled in fear. Zhang the Cripple quickly said, “An outsider gave it to us.”
He then explained the whole situation. After the young woman returned home, she told Zhang the Cripple everything that had happened. Zhang’s initial thought wasn’t to repay the debt but to use the silver for more gambling.
However, his pawned wife guarded the money fiercely. Being weak and handicapped, he couldn’t overpower her.
He had no choice but to compromise and come to redeem her first.
An outsider with money… Zhu Er’s eyes flickered. Suddenly, he slammed the table and shouted angrily, “You wench! How dare you steal my silver while I was sleeping! Tie them both up and lock them in the woodshed!”
The color drained from the couple’s faces. They were dragged away crying and shouting, and locked in the woodshed.
“Boss, that was brilliant!” a subordinate said with a grin. “How could Zhang the Cripple possibly have thirty taels? Nobody would believe it. It must have been stolen from you, Boss.”
“Boss, that young wife…” Another subordinate’s eyes gleamed with desire, remembering what Zhu Er had said earlier.
“What’s the hurry? They’re locked up, do you think they’ll escape?” Zhu Er frowned and scolded, “Useless fool. Go investigate that outsider, and see what his background is. Heh, if he can casually give away thirty taels, he can give away three hundred, or even more.”
…
In the best inn in the county town, Xu Qi’an held a pot of wine that had just been warmed, the heat from the wine adding warmth to the pot itself.
The Princess Consort sat at the table, also with a pot of wine beside her. Her wine was infused with ginger strips and spices. Her alcohol tolerance was neither good nor bad. After a few sips, her cheeks were flushed red as if drunk, giving her a charming appearance.
“Throughout history, the sages were lonely; only drinkers left their names behind…” Xu Qi’an murmured.
“What a fine poem!” The Princess Consort praised, turning her head to look at him. “What’s the next line?”
Xu Qi’an replied irritably, “There is no next line.”
He drank his wine slowly. “I’ll go check on that young woman’s house later. Since we’ve helped, we might as well see it through.”
The Princess Consort sighed, “We shouldn’t have gotten involved. All along this journey, we’ve encountered nothing but trouble.”