Outside Yongding Gate, the camel caravans coming to the capital for birthday congratulations stretched endlessly beyond sight. Su Minguan leaned against a large willow tree, half-mindedly observing the camels while watching the people coming and going through the city gate.

No familiar figure appeared.

Calculating the time, even if she dawdled, she should have emerged by now. Even if she’d gone to Pianyi Restaurant for roasted duck to calm her nerves, she should have finished eating and left.

The grayish-yellow sun hung in the sky, slowly rolling. The gray earthen city walls cast heavy shadows. Wind and sand passed through the bare tree branches, sending stones on the ground tumbling aimlessly.

Su Minguan’s thoughts tumbled along with those stones. These past days, the Nian bandits had caused trouble. Local officials, unsuccessful in suppressing them, dared not report upward. The Nian army had once reached Lugou Bridge. The capital was under rare martial law, with exceptionally thorough inspections. Even wrong accents could result in lengthy questioning.

He remembered coming to the capital as a child. It was also during some imperial festival, with long trumpets lined up at the lama temple entrance, their deep music giving him splitting headaches. Intersections were heavily guarded, and fully armored Manchu generals rode their horses in a display of power, nearly frightening him to tears.

Then he’d refused to get out of the carriage, thinking this capital was the most terrifying place in the world.

Returning today, he still felt lingering fear.

Like a tiger lurking in the forest, his distinctly black and white eyes watched every blade of grass and tree at the city gate.

Suddenly, he straightened up.

A circus troupe was passing through the gate. One horse suddenly spooked, charging left and right, stirrups flailing wildly. The horse handler couldn’t hold it and was kicked down instead. Several other animal trainers rushed to help. The gate commander hurriedly took shelter in a small hut.

Taking advantage of the chaos, Su Minguan pretended to help lead the horse. The circus people thought he was a helpful citizen; the gate guards thought he belonged to the troupe. Amid the horses’ neighing, he seized the opportunity to slip through the gate, was hastily and carelessly searched by many hands, then quickly melted into the flowing crowd.

Not far away, beneath a fence wall, two officials in blue quietly emerged, conversing softly in Anhui dialect.

“Lord Li said there should be a Chinese behind that red-haired foreigner. This must be him?”

“Did we find out his name?”

“Go! Follow him and we’ll see.”

Lin Yuchan looked out the window. Sure enough, a small sedan chair waited outside. The chair bearers looked spirited, wearing the uniform livery of Baoliang’s household.

Lin Yuchan hesitated and stepped back.

After two months of half-starved living, her arms and legs were thin as hemp stalks. Walking two steps made her heart race. If she tried to swing her fists at Baoliang like before, she’d have no chance of winning.

She forced herself to calm down and asked pleasantly: “How exactly was I cleared of charges? Please explain in detail so I can understand.”

“It’s just… just that my father used his connections and… consulted the Zongli Yamen to intercede and get you released.” Baoliang smiled, his gaze darting around. “My… my father has students everywhere, people competing to do things for him, so naturally… naturally everything went smoothly. Of course, I also knelt for several days…”

Baoliang looked somewhat haggard today, as if he hadn’t slept well for days. His eyes avoided hers when he looked at her, and he smiled apologetically after every few words.

“Well then, I’ve fulfilled my promise. Miss Lin, come home with me.”

Several sturdy maids approached, half-pulling and half-dragging Lin Yuchan toward the small sedan chair at the door.

Lin Yuchan: “Wait!”

A passerby turned to look.

Baoliang’s expression turned fierce for a moment as he shouted at the passerby: “I’m taking my own wife home, what are you looking at!”

He now had the marriage contract in hand – this wasn’t kidnapping a civilian woman but legal bride-fetching. Who dared object?

Everyone at the Ministry of Justice acted blind and deaf, not interfering at all. Once Lin Yuchan left this door, she was no longer their concern.

Lin Yuchan was pushed into the small sedan and lifted half the curtain to seriously observe the outside scenery.

Gray walls, earthen roads, the white pagoda, and the golden roof of the distant lama temple. Vendors called out in drawn-out voices, sharpening scissors and kitchen knives.

The sedan stopped at the entrance of a small courtyard house.

Lin Yuchan asked suspiciously: “Lord Yu’s residence?”

“No, no, it’s a separate courtyard.” Baoliang courteously helped her down. “Stay for two days first, wash up, and recover. Look how thin you’ve become…”

The courtyard had indeed been newly cleaned, with inner and outer sections, freshly painted walls, fallen leaves swept into corners, and hastily placed flower pots on the stone brick ground.

A large burlap sack sat crookedly by the wall of the main hall with open doors. Judging by its size, it looked like her previous luggage and travel funds.

Lin Yuchan held her breath and stood still. After several seconds, she composed herself and said to Baoliang, “Since Lord Yu strategized and rescued me from danger, I should properly thank him. Don’t you value propriety most? Why not take me to see him? If I become your family’s daughter-in-law, I should at least pay respects to my father-in-law, right?”

Baoliang wiped sweat from inside his winter cap with his index finger and smiled: “He… might still be somewhat angry with you. Best not to meet. Let him adjust first.”

Lin Yuchan thought – Yu Sheng rescued her, but was angry with her instead?

She replied perfunctorily: “Let me first check if anything’s missing from my luggage.”

While speaking, Lin Yuchan had already entered the main hall to examine her belongings.

Except for the silver and copper coins that had vanished without a trace, everything else was intact – even a comb was carelessly thrown in the cloth bag. It seemed the Ministry of Justice people knew she had no money and had searched quite carelessly.

Baoliang moved up behind her, smiling: “Do you like it here?”

He’d had an unpleasant month. His father, Yu Sheng, had seemingly offended the stars, inexplicably outmaneuvered by Li Hongzhang, overwhelmed and unable to cope, gaining a whole handful of white hair. As the dutiful son, originally returning to the capital for vacation and planning several months of relaxation, he now had to attend to his father’s bedside, taking responsibility for caring for the old man. No time to visit his beloved girl.

When Yu Sheng’s temper flared, he’d randomly beat, scold, and berate, assigning kneeling punishments and copying texts, which he had to endure.

But in his heart, the small flame of hope never died. His days of waiting and watching had finally borne fruit. Miss Lin was released!

Of course, he didn’t attend court and couldn’t understand the details. Perhaps it was just the Empress Dowager’s unfathomable imperial might – who could predict?

He’d made countless efforts trying to rescue her from prison. Now she’d been released early by chance, which somewhat disrupted his plans but could be considered reaching the same destination by different routes – perhaps Heaven, seeing his sincerity, had given him a push!

Baoliang didn’t reveal this, waiting for the girl’s grateful tears.

This “golden house” hideaway had been hastily prepared. Though not large, it was furnished with many treasures, surely more comfortable than her small broken building in Shanghai.

He arranged candles and red paper, happily watching her unpack, thinking that once the raw rice was cooked, even if she learned the truth about her case, she probably couldn’t make a fuss.

Suddenly, Baoliang saw Lin Yuchan take out a beautiful man’s small cap. His eyes lit up.

“A Majuyuan hat! For me?”

Without asking, he snatched it over, removed his winter cap, and put the new one on his head—

Lin Yuchan instantly flared up, saying coldly: “This hat is for southerners. I fear it won’t suit you.”

Baoliang was a typical bannerman with a flat head. He tried putting the hat on several times, but the pointed shape wouldn’t fit.

He irritably tugged at the hat: “Why didn’t you buy a bigger…”

Suddenly, a soft click, and something cold touched his neck.

Realizing what it was, Baoliang’s legs went weak on the spot, immediately raising both hands: “Miss Lin, you…”

How could she bring such a thing to Beijing?

Didn’t they find it when confiscating her luggage? Didn’t the servants check when retrieving her belongings?

“Miss Lin, what are you dissatisfied with about me? This is murdering your husband…”

“The marriage contract. Hand it over.”

Lin Yuchan tensed every muscle in her body, staring hard at Baoliang’s face while releasing the safety catch on the Derringer 1858.

The capital’s soldiers were accustomed to using crude muskets and probably never imagined foreign guns could be made so compact. She’d packed this gun in a silk-lined lacquered wooden box with a lock, letting people think it was a vanity case – too lazy to even break it open.

Those foreign devils knew how to make things.

Baoliang was mesmerized, cold sweat covering his bare forehead as he suddenly realized Miss Lin’s repeated “not interested” might, possibly, probably, seemingly… be for real!

But he’d already traveled ninety-nine li of a hundred-li journey, already brought the girl to the bridal chamber – why suddenly turn hostile at this moment?

“Calm down, don’t be impulsive,” Baoliang said with a pale face. “You can’t deny the marriage contract. This is murdering your husband – I’ll call for help!”

“Take out the marriage contract! I know it’s in this courtyard! Don’t you value propriety most! How could the marriage contract not be present during the wedding ceremony?”

Lin Yuchan knew she was breaking the law. However, this lawbreaking was at most personal injury, not rebellion or treason, not defying the Empress Dowager. And if she’d heard the imperial edict correctly, she still retained her ninth-rank Lady title – the authorities wouldn’t easily arrest her!

As long as she destroyed the marriage contract.

Baoliang dared not anger her but was unwilling to comply, whining and complaining: “Miss Lin, put the gun down first… what are you dissatisfied with about me? I can change… I was wrong, I shouldn’t have left you in prison, I should have gotten you out sooner, I should have sent you food, but I really couldn’t get away, my father… sigh, it’s my fault, I’ll compensate you later…”

Three to five servants were in the courtyard. Lin Yuchan heard someone walking this way, calling: “Young master? Young master, do you need anything?”

She pressed the gun to Baoliang’s forehead, grabbed several “wedding chamber” flower lamps with her left hand, and with a crash, spilled lamp oil all over the bed. Finding a fire striker—

“Name? Native place? What do you do? Any criminal record? Come with us.”

Su Minguan raised his hands, eyes downcast, secretly sizing up the several intimidating men before him. Most spoke Beijing dialect, with Military Police patrol badges at their waists. Two had Anhui accents – likely Li Hongzhang’s trusted Huai Army officers.

The men wore sabers at their waists and carried firearms. One firearm was drawn, pointing at his chest.

Society rebels brazenly entering the capital was like birds flying into a net – one should expect not to escape unscathed. But he hadn’t expected the net to close so quickly.

He’d only watched outside the Ministry of Justice gate for a quarter hour, not yet deciding how to make inquiries, when he was cornered against a wall.

He didn’t know that from the day he’d hijacked Hede to meet Li Hongzhang, Li Hongzhang had his eye on this “ghostwriter,” certain he had ulterior motives. So he’d notified the Southern City Military Police to investigate this man’s background.

“I don’t know how to speak the official language.”

Su Minguan calmly observed the surrounding terrain, repeating only this one Cantonese phrase, pretending not to understand or speak Mandarin.

The Military Police had no way to deal with him, searching him thoroughly and finding only a purse, somewhat surprisingly.

Everyone divided the money inside, frowning as they discussed: “Lord Li is busy. Find a place to detain him first.”

So following usual procedures, they tied a rope to his queue like leading a dog. Feeling this man was physically agile, not some weak fool, and having imported a batch of English handcuffs through foreign affairs, today was perfect for their debut.

“Move!”

Su Minguan was pushed from behind by several men, secretly gathering strength to struggle.

Damn! Much sturdier than local shackles – those foreign devils knew how to make things.

He wasn’t the only unlucky one arrested on the street. Due to the Empress Dowager’s birthday, all areas of the capital were being cleared. Those illegally setting up stalls, impulsively catching pigeons, gambling in groups, not hanging red paper at their doors… all were dragged out amid pushing and shoving, their queues tied together for public display as negative examples of disrespecting the imperial family.

The law’s net was vast with a wide mesh, but nothing escaped. Su Minguan wasn’t being arrested for the first time, and calmly followed orders to walk forward.

But he couldn’t help looking back, glancing toward the Ministry of Justice fire office.

The person he’d rescued at unimaginable cost through countless hardships had sprouted wings and flown away.

Do good deeds without asking about consequences. He sighed softly and looked ahead.

They hadn’t walked far when the road was blocked.

Panicked civilians ran everywhere, shouting: “Fire! Quick, put out the fire—”

A small courtyard house in the alley was emitting flames, heat rushing from the alley entrance, making him shudder all over.

The capital was already dry, and it was the deep autumn drought season. The courtyard houses were all brick and wood construction. The flames licked and swallowed, climbing walls with great potential to burn down the connected city.

On such an important day as the Empress Dowager’s birthday, no trouble could be allowed. Before the “Water Dragon Bureau” arrived, neighbors had mobilized themselves – some beating gongs, some carrying water, some passing buckets and basins, some shouting encouragement while watching the excitement…

“It’s Grand Secretary Yu Sheng’s separate residence!” Inner city bannermen were all somehow related, boldly gossiping. “Usually just a guest quarters, but it was suddenly furnished these past two days. Maybe keeping a concubine, haha, an auspicious beginning…”

Su Minguan’s heartstrings were slightly plucked by that laughter.

He stopped, rolling his eyes, and said to the Huai Army officer: “Can we take a detour?”

Speaking thus, he cleverly turned and started walking.

The Military Police couldn’t understand his Cantonese but guessed from his manner that this cunning Cantonese man probably wanted to go around. They didn’t know where his accomplices might be.

“No tricks! Go forward!”

They pushed his back hard, squeezing through the crowd.

“Excuse us, excuse us, official business…”

People were shouting chaotically from the burning house. Amid the crackling, burning sounds and bustling crowd noise, suddenly a distinct “bang” rang out.

Su Minguan stopped abruptly, raising his eyelids.

He recognized that gunshot!

The helpful neighbors also recognized gunfire, as if under a freezing spell, collectively hesitating for a moment.

“…A fowling piece?”

Someone’s imagination ran wild, crying in panic: “The Nian bandits have reached the capital!”

Rumors always spread fastest. A mansion catching fire for no reason was already suspicious. Now gunshots from inside…

Beijing wasn’t impregnable. During the Jiaqing reign, Tianli Society rebels – dozens of farmers with hoes – had fought their way into the Forbidden City while palace maids, eunuchs, ministers, and guards fled in competition. The then-Prince Daoguang stepped forward with a fowling piece, killing several rebels and turning the tide single-handedly, delaying the Qing Dynasty’s “palace fall” humiliation by eighty-plus years.

Older Beijing residents all remembered that heart-stopping day. The capital had been peaceful too long; everyone was timid.

“Run! The Nian bandits are rioting…”

Several Military Police escorts were also startled, grumbling dissatisfiedly: “Where are bandits? We’ve been patrolling… ah!”

The detained suspect suddenly erupted, elbowing one escort in the chest and knocking him three feet away. Then he kicked down another and nimbly darted into the bewildered crowd of neighbors.

The Military Police lay on the ground, spitting blood, staring incredulously at the lone queue in their hands.

“Damn him, rebel! Chase!”

“Move aside! Catch the rebel!”

This shout caused chaos. Hearing Military Police yelling “rebel,” civilians turned pale with fright, abandoning firefighting to stampede desperately toward the alley entrance.

“Are Nian bandits! The Nian bandits have reached the capital! Don’t bother here, quickly go home and lock the doors!…”

Crackling, the courtyard fire ignited the big date tree in the alley. Burning branches fell on a two-wheeled cart parked roadside. The bundles of firewood in the cart exploded in flames, scattering sparks everywhere with the wind.

Lin Yuchan quickly loaded another bullet, pressing the hot barrel back to Baoliang’s skull.

“Who else dares come over?!”

Baoliang was held by his queue, his head’s range of movement limited. Unable to dodge, he wailed: “Hot!”

Lin Yuchan patiently waited a good while until the entire main house was burning. Wherever the marriage contract was stored, it should have turned to ash by now. “Burning indenture contracts” wasn’t her first time – she was already experienced.

Outside seemed chaotic already, with constables maintaining order, neighbors wanting to rush in to fight the fire, people shouting “get the water dragon.” Buckets of water were splashed over the walls.

Several servants, loyal to their master, charged at her with kitchen knives and sticks. She had to fire once – the servant’s leg was broken and he rolled on the ground. She quickly kicked the kitchen knife away.

“Release our young master… You can’t escape, just wait…”

“Tell your people to retreat! Go fight the fire! You too!”

She instinctively gave orders while rapidly thinking: how to escape?

Baoliang was a hostage who couldn’t be easily killed. If the outside constables were concerned for his safety, perhaps…

Crash!

The courtyard gate was smashed open, and a gray shadow rushed toward her!

Lin Yuchan’s heart trembled as she raised the gun and shouted: “Don’t come closer…”

Seeing rescue arrive, Baoliang suddenly gained spirit, forcefully twisting Lin Yuchan’s hand and lunging at her to seize the gun.

Bang! Her arm was pushed hard. The small Derringer misfired. Baoliang looked incredulous, covering his stomach, and slowly sitting down.

Lin Yuchan couldn’t react in time and was scooped up by the gray shadow, dragged to the wall corner. She still held Baoliang’s queue, stumbling several steps before being forced to let go as Baoliang’s wails turned agonized.

Almost simultaneously, several Military Police burst into the courtyard with firearms: “Catch the rebel!”

Baoliang lay on the ground, a pool of blood under his abdomen, weakly calling: “Help…”

Everyone recognized him as Grand Secretary Yu Sheng’s only son. The Military Police quickly lowered their guns in shock: “Young Master Bao is wounded by rebels! Quick, call a doctor! Don’t worry, we’ll catch the criminal right away! Young Master Bao, did you see where the rebel went?”

In those few seconds’ delay, Lin Yuchan had been dragged to the covered walkway, facing a pile of miscellaneous items, a low wall beside her, her back pressed against a warm, heavily breathing chest.

“Sorry, busy, haven’t bathed in three days,” a soft, trembling voice spoke by her ear. “Don’t mind.”

As if burned by the hot gun barrel, Lin Yuchan’s mind went blank for a moment. She felt like a roasted duck at Pianyi Restaurant, sleepwalking while being carved and deboned, exposing a vulnerable core that the voice brushed, making her whole body ache.

Countless unsolved mysteries flooded her mind, countless unfinished conversations danced before her eyes like jumping musical notes. Wind swept flames that burned her eyes. Her eye sockets were hot and painful, something choked in her chest was violently opened, making her chest unbearably uncomfortable.

“It’s alright, I…” she began crying as soon as she spoke. “Woo, I haven’t washed for two months either… woo woo…”

Su Minguan quickly kissed her temple and asked: “Can we climb out of this courtyard?”

He didn’t know she’d just arrived and wasn’t familiar with the courtyard’s layout.

Lin Yuchan observed the surroundings. The courtyard house had complex structure with buildings on all sides, only where the west wing connected to the rear courtyard walkway was a low wall over a person’s height exposed.

Lin Yuchan nodded, tears streaming down her face that she couldn’t wipe, stinging in the wind and bringing painful clarity to her heart.

She said, “You go up first, then pull me.”

She hadn’t eaten meat in two months and felt her physical strength had deteriorated terribly. She dared not show off.

“I’m afraid I can’t.” Su Minguan stood up, glancing at the courtyard with peripheral vision, speaking quickly. “Too sturdy.”

Only then did Lin Yuchan notice he’d taken out a razor blade he carried and had been fiddling with something while keeping his head down.

Baoliang was seriously wounded. The Military Police dared not ignore it and were calling loudly for help. But the two Huai Army officers dutifully knew the “rebel” was in the courtyard and quickly split up to search from east and west.

Click – the blade broke.

Su Minguan disappointedly threw away the blade, showing her his shackled hands, saying: “Step on my shoulders. Then pull me up.”

Lin Yuchan was incredulous but had no time to ask what trouble he’d gotten into, quickly taking a breath.

Su Minguan crouched halfway. She stepped on his back and shoulders. With his boost, she strained to climb onto the wall.

Thank heavens the tiles were solid enough not to let her slide down.

Her physical fitness had indeed declined severely. With this exertion, her arms ached and her heart pounded wildly.

She lay on the wall, reaching down.

Su Minguan looked up, his refined features falling into her vision. His face was smudged with dirt, hair somewhat disheveled, but his eyes remained clear and smiling as always.

With his hands shackled together, he gripped her palms tightly with all ten fingers.

Familiar yet strange sensation. Lin Yuchan felt like crying again.

“A’Mei, pull hard—”