The fire control measures in the false vault had been well-designed. Though the false vault was destroyed, the rest of the Li family mansion suffered minimal damage. Even the adjacent true ink vault only had smoke-stained walls, requiring just some roof repairs. However, the eastern wall needed to be rebuilt – on that fiery day, the Li family had desperately broken through it to retrieve Old Madam Li’s body, after which came the matters of placing her in a coffin and setting up the memorial hall.
Li Zhenniang and Li Tianyou were chosen to keep vigil over the deceased.
Although Zhenniang had been formally married that day with Old Madam Li as the officiant since the wedding ceremony and Old Madam Li’s passing occurred on the same day, it was considered a “warm mourning” marriage – one meant to bring joy to Old Madam Li’s spirit. Therefore, it was appropriate for Zhenniang to keep vigil. Moreover, Zhenniang had been Old Madam Li’s most valued younger generation, while Li Tianyou was the sole heir of the Li family’s Seventh Branch.
Thus, having Li Zhenniang and Li Tianyou keep vigil was fitting both emotionally and according to proper custom.
By early morning, people began arriving at the Li family home to pay their respects to Old Madam Li – not just Li family relatives, but also nearly a hundred households from the East Gate district.
The wokou and bandit invasion had resulted in dozens of East Gate households being burned, over twenty deaths, and more than a hundred injuries. The East Gate residents referred to this incident as the East Gate Catastrophe.
Of course, the incident in the East Gate area was thanks to the entire city’s residents and the private guards organized by the wealthy households, who had fought to the death to block the bandits and some wokou within the East Gate area. Had these invaders reached Si Bao Street, the losses would have been immeasurable.
This naturally led people to think about the wokou who had secretly infiltrated Si Bao Street.
If not for Luo Wenqian’s careful planning, if not for Old Madam Li’s sacrifice to perish together with the wokou, the fate of Si Bao Street – its residents and merchants couldn’t bear to imagine it.
The East Gate residents particularly appreciated how Old Madam Li had avenged them.
Thus, since the Li family began accepting condolences, citizens from throughout the city came to offer incense to Old Madam Li, praising her loyalty and unyielding spirit.
“The Prefecture Magistrate and County Magistrate have come to pay their respects to Old Madam,” came the doorman’s announcement. As his words fell, both officials entered the memorial hall.
Li Tianyou rose, handed incense to both officials, then knelt again beside Zhenniang, while Zhenniang kowtowed in gratitude. Meanwhile, Li First Madam led other Li family members in expressing their thanks with formal bows.
“Old Madam Li’s loyalty and righteousness led to an honorable death. I have decided to petition, together with Huizhou’s scholars and citizens, for a memorial arch to be built in her honor,” the Prefecture Magistrate declared resolutely after offering incense.
The Li family members were first stunned, then overjoyed and deeply moved. Though it was just a cold stone arch, it represented an evaluation of Old Madam Li’s character – she had lived up to these words of loyalty and righteousness throughout her life.
“Thank you, Your Honor. Thank you, fellow townspeople,” the Li family members bowed again in gratitude after their emotional moment.
“This is what Old Madam Li deserves,” the Prefecture Magistrate replied, returning the bow.
The Li family members bowed once more, then Li Tianyou escorted the two officials out. After the wokou invasion, Tianyou was quickly shedding his childishness – at fourteen, he already conducted himself with proper decorum.
On March 12th, Old Madam Li’s funeral procession was attended by citizens from throughout Huizhou.
The incense smoke curled upward, her heroic spirit undying.
…
Eight months later, a “Loyalty and Righteousness” memorial arch was erected at the East Gate street entrance, surrounded by several other memorial arches for citizens who had died in the East Gate Catastrophe, forming a small memorial arch complex.
The characters for “Loyalty and Righteousness” stood as mighty as mountains.
Today was also the formal wedding day for Li Zhenniang and Luo Wenqian. Though Zhenniang was already Luo’s wife, Old Madam Li had wanted them to have a grand, lively wedding to send her off. Thus, the day the memorial arch was erected became the day for their formal wedding celebration.
Now, Zhenniang sat in the bridal sedan chair, listening to the festive suona horns outside, her heart full of mixed emotions. She couldn’t help lifting her bridal veil to look at the sedan’s ceiling, as if trying to see the blue sky beyond.
Thinking of the bustling wedding procession, Zhenniang murmured, “Old Madam, are you satisfied with such a joyous occasion?”
“Haha, let’s share in the joy today – light the firecrackers!” Just then, sitting in her bridal sedan, Zhenniang heard a series of crackling fireworks outside.
“Master Fang, congratulations on your opening!” came voices from outside. Zhenniang discreetly pulled aside the sedan’s curtain to peek out – it was the Fang Ink Pavilion opening on Si Bao Street, in what used to be the Tian Ink Pavilion’s storefront.
Many well-wishers came and went through its doors.
In the blink of an eye, the sedan passed by. Hearing the continuing firecrackers behind her, Zhenniang understood that Huizhou’s era of Li-Tian rivalry had passed. Next would be the era of Fang-Cheng competition – no, due to her unexpected arrival, Li ink was now at its zenith. It would be a glorious age of three-way competition in the ink industry between Li, Fang, and Cheng.
“Come on, Ninth Brother, kick the sedan!” Soon, the bridal sedan arrived at the Luo family mansion in Luo Village outside the city. Several young Luo family members mischievously called out.
“What kick? Ninth Sister-in-law already entered the family – this is just the formal ceremony,” one youth said.
“The formal ceremony counts too!” another argued forcefully.
“Right, it counts! You must kick!” others joined in the commotion.
“Alright, I’ll kick,” Luo Wenqian laughed deeply, going along with the crowd. Zhenniang couldn’t help smiling inside the sedan. Then came a thump against the sedan door.
“Zhenniang, kick back hard – don’t let them look down on you!” the wedding escorts immediately shouted.
“Yes, Ninth Sister-in-law, kick back hard!” Even the Luo family’s sisters-in-law eagerly joined the fun.
Sitting in the sedan, Zhenniang refused to be outdone and kicked back forcefully.
“Haha! The husband fears not his wife’s strength, the wife shows not weakness – two hearts as one, together until white hair!” the wedding master began to sing, inspiring many youths to join in.
Luo Wenqian lifted the sedan curtain and took Zhenniang’s hand – to hold your hand, to grow old together.
The remaining ceremonies need not be detailed.
Zhenniang sat in the bridal chamber wearing her red veil, surrounded by festive red decorations. Hearing the drinking celebrations outside, she unconsciously felt her face growing warm.
Luo Wenqian entered the room tipsy, lifting Zhenniang’s red bridal veil to find joy brimming in her eyes. He watched, amused, as the wedding attendant teased Zhenniang with half-cooked dumplings, repeatedly asking her if they were “raw” (a homophone for “birth” in Chinese).
Zhenniang responded “Raw” with a reddened face, making his eyes crinkle with delight.
After the wedding attendant left, Zhenniang gave him a half-annoyed, half-pleased glance – he seemed as delighted by her embarrassment as if he’d found a gold ingot.
Rarely seeing Zhenniang so coy – she was usually composed and calm – Luo Wenqian felt almost dizzy. He impulsively swept her into his arms, spinning her around the room before drawing her close against the bedpost.
Zhenniang instinctively rested her face against his shoulder, smelling the wine on his breath as she touched his chin: “Had quite a bit to drink?”
“Mm.” Luo Wenqian nodded, then complained: “Your clan brothers were relentless. Good thing I developed a strong tolerance for alcohol in the North, otherwise I couldn’t have handled your brothers.”
Hearing this, Zhenniang lifted her face and playfully kissed his chin, secretly amused. Though their wedding ceremony had been officiated early by Old Madam Li, her elder brother and two cousins, who had been thoroughly drunk at their weddings, weren’t satisfied. They felt their precious sister’s husband got off too easily – it was their right as brothers-in-law.
So they had secretly conspired with the wedding brothers, Xiong’er, Run’er, Tianyou, and Li Zhengping, determined to make Ninth Brother Luo taste the same medicine during the formal ceremony.
Seeing Zhenniang’s secret amusement, Luo Wenqian’s lips curled up – he certainly couldn’t have handled all her brothers alone, but he had plenty of Luo family members too. Moreover, this was Luo territory. When everyone joined in, the Li brothers ended up thoroughly drunk themselves.
Now Luo Wenqian held Zhenniang tighter, his heart full of contentment. He lowered his head to peck her lips, then pressed deeper…
The red candles burned through the night until dawn.
At last, they were truly married.
“Zhenniang, I’ve waited for you for so very long…” Luo Wenqian’s words faded against her lips.
…
Two years later.
The first year of the Wanli Emperor’s reign was at the Hour of the Dog.
In the Luo residence in Nanjing, the room was brightly lit with oil lamps.
Zhenniang sat at the desk, carefully organizing the ink manual manuscript. It had been over two years since Old Madam Li’s passing, and her promise to the elder was nearly complete.
An ink manual – every ink maker’s ultimate pursuit. Li Zhenniang had spent over two years on this project. The first six months were consumed in the Li family ink vault, cataloging historical inks. The following year and a half was spent visiting various ink masters, finally completing the final volume of the Li family ink manual. She had also commissioned ink critiques and illustrations, collected and refined folk stories about ink competitions, included connoisseurship knowledge, and documented precious pieces from various ink collectors. Now it was nearly finished.
As it neared completion, one crucial task remained – who should write the manual’s general critique? This was a significant question.
As she pondered this, she heard raindrops pattering on the eaves outside.
“Xinghua, is it raining outside? Quickly, take an umbrella to your Ninth Master.” Zhenniang struggled to stand up, calling toward the outer room. She was now six months pregnant.
Today, Wenqian received an invitation from General Qi for dinner at Sifang Tower. It was late, and he hadn’t returned, making Zhenniang anxious.
Xinghua was Uncle Liu’s daughter. When Zhenniang married, Madam Zhao had assigned Li Liu’s family of four to Zhenniang as part of her dowry.
Now, Li Liu served as the Luo family’s doorkeeper, while his son Shaner worked alongside Luo Wuzi as Luo Wenqian’s assistant. Over these two years, especially since last year when Gao Gong fell from power and Zhang Juzheng rose to prominence, Luo Wenqian’s business had grown increasingly larger, requiring more help. Liu’s wife and Ping’an’s wife managed the kitchen and various ceremonial matters, while Xinghua attended to Zhenniang.
Then there was Choopo, who preferred solitude and disliked using servants. However, Ergou had married Hua’er last year, and the three lived in the neighboring courtyard. While Ergou and Hua’er attended to her, and Zhenniang checked on her regularly, the old woman still thought everyone fussed too much. She was perfectly content tending her vegetable garden alone.
“Madam, please be careful.” Seeing Zhenniang stand, Xinghua hurried forward to support her. Only after Zhenniang was seated again did she say: “Yes, it’s raining. I’ll go now.”
Just as she was about to lift the curtain to leave, Luo Wenqian’s voice came from the outer room: “No need, I’m back. The rain isn’t heavy.”
“Why so late?” Zhenniang rose again, taking a towel to wipe the water from Luo Wenqian’s forehead, but he stopped her, helping her lean against the couch, his face full of concern.
Seeing his worried expression, Zhenniang smiled, touching her belly: “Don’t be so nervous, it’s stable.”
Luo Wenqian finally smiled lightly, reminded Zhenniang to be careful, and then went to bathe and change into dry clothes before returning. He wrapped his arms around Zhenniang’s thickened waist: “General Qi invited quite a few people today. I was there to support him, so I couldn’t leave early.” He narrowed his eyes.
“What did he need your support for?” Zhenniang asked curiously.
“He wants to build the Great Wall,” Luo Wenqian replied.
Hearing this, Zhenniang remembered that the Ming Great Wall of later history was largely built during Qi Jiguang’s time.
General Qi needing Luo Wenqian’s support for the Great Wall construction meant having him lead the way in donations. Since Luo Wenqian’s success came through General Qi and Zhang Juzheng’s support, there was no question about donating.
However, providing such support meant forcing other Nanjing merchants to follow suit – a task that would make enemies. Zhenniang couldn’t help feeling anxious.
“Don’t worry, my support this time will make everyone happy,” seeing Zhenniang’s expression, Luo Wenqian quickly reassured her, not wanting her to worry. He gently bit her lip before continuing.
“How so?” Zhenniang asked curiously.
“Remember, we now have the new Wanli Emperor. Last year, Gao Gong was dismissed, and Minister Zhang solely controls the cabinet with the Empress Dowager’s support. He’s implementing new policies, and his power is at its peak. General Qi, with Minister Zhang’s support, building the Great Wall now – broadly speaking, it’s for the country and people; narrowly speaking, it’s testing the waters. My support gives everyone a way forward.” Luo Wenqian explained.
Hearing this, Zhenniang nodded, finally relaxing. Power transitions naturally led to commercial restructuring. Last year, Zhang Juzheng and Feng Bao played their cards masterfully.
The coming business reshuffling meant merchants had to test the waters.
Of course, these matters didn’t concern Zhenniang as long as Luo Wenqian was safe.
“By the way, have you decided who will write the critique for your ink manual?” Luo Wenqian asked, looking at the stack of papers on the table.
“I have someone in mind, but I don’t know if he’ll agree,” Zhenniang said, resting her head on Luo Wenqian’s shoulder.
“Who?” Luo Wenqian asked curiously.
“Lord Sun Kehong.” This Sun Kehong was the ink appraiser from the Tian family’s ink testing competition, from whom Zhenniang had acquired a Song dynasty inlaid ink box.
Now Sun Kehong served as the Yingtian Metallurgical Official. As a painter, collector, and hereditary official who enjoyed socializing, his connections were extensive. If they could get him to write the critique for the Li family ink manual, it would be excellent.
Zhenniang remembered that in her previous life, the critique for the Fang family ink manual had been written by Wang Daokun.
Hearing Zhenniang’s words, Luo Wenqian pondered for a moment, then suddenly said: “How about I ask Minister Zhang to help write the ink manual critique?”
Zhenniang turned to look at Luo Wenqian, excited at first – having Zhang Juzheng write their manual’s critique would bring tremendous prestige. But then she frowned slightly, thinking it through. An ink manual didn’t warrant requesting help from such a powerful figure. Moreover, that powerful figure’s eventual fate was rather tragic, entangled in various power struggles, and Li Ink didn’t want to be involved in that – they just wanted to focus purely on making ink.
“Better not. Having Minister Zhang write an ink manual seems like using an ox knife to kill a chicken. Besides, Minister Zhang is involved in too many interests,” Zhenniang wrinkled her nose as she looked at Luo Wenqian.
“Mm, you’re right.” After careful consideration, Luo Wenqian also felt asking Zhang Juzheng wouldn’t be appropriate.
Meanwhile, Zhenniang’s mind wandered to her earlier thoughts – political transitions often brought business restructuring, and Elder Brother Luo bore too strong a mark of Zhang’s faction. She needed to make some early preparations.