◎”If we say that the thirty-first year of Yuanshao was a great fire, with grand pavilions and lofty towers consumed by flames and smoke, then you—are◎

The Emperor ordered a lavish burial for Su Huairen, and those beneath him, understanding the unspoken message, came one after another to pay their respects, packing the small Su residence until not even water could trickle through.

Before Miss Su returned, the funeral affairs were managed jointly by Lan Shanjun and the wives of various officials from the Court of Imperial Stud. Since they were not the primary family members, whenever anyone came, they would be invited in to burn incense and paper money, then sent to sit aside and drink tea.

When the house could accommodate no more people, they sought help from the neighbors, erecting tents in the alley for visitors to sit.

Now that Miss Su had returned, she needed to express gratitude to all these people.

Lan Shanjun said, “No matter what brought them here, since they knelt before the coffin, it counts as a gesture of goodwill. You should thank them. In the future, should anything arise, for the sake of this gesture, those who can help will lend a hand.”

Miss Su’s given name was Hexiang, and she was seventeen years old this year.

Her appearance was gentle, her figure slender, and when she lowered her head she was unremarkable. But whenever she raised her head to look at someone, perhaps due to her medical practice, there was always an air of compassion between her eyes that drew people’s attention involuntarily.

However, after hearing Lan Shanjun’s words, her usually soft eyes rippled with disgust, and she shook her head, “I won’t go.”

She turned her head to look at the coffin already surrounded by countless offerings of incense, then glanced at the scholars outside engaged in lofty discussions and the officials putting on false displays of emotion, murmuring, “Father told me not to return to Luoyang.”

It was she who truly couldn’t bear it and turned back halfway.

Not heeding his dying wishes was already unfilial. But henceforth, she wanted nothing to do with Luoyang for the rest of her life.

She pressed both hands firmly on her father’s coffin and said resolutely, “When I live, I live; when I die, I die. In life, for the sake of healing others, I fear not even ten thousand deaths; after death, I need no one to collect my bones, so I do not wish to ask favors of anyone, much less bow and kneel to those people outside.”

But she invited Lan Shanjun and the other women who had managed the funeral affairs into the room, kowtowing sincerely in gratitude, saying, “I am truly and genuinely grateful to you all.”

Only with this bow did she feel willing and satisfied.

——

Outside, Gonglin was drinking glumly after finishing his tasks. Having just entered official service, he had witnessed his superior’s bloodied corpse—however one thought about it, it was deeply unsettling. Given his high status, people came over with teacups to greet him. Gonglin ignored them all. He was already known as a wastrel, and when he displayed such coldness, others felt it inappropriate to smile and ingratiate themselves at someone’s funeral, so they could only leave in disappointment.

Not far away were students from the Imperial Academy. Scholars always carried a certain air of righteousness, and they found it unbearable to see someone like Gonglin at the Su family’s memorial hall. One said in a low voice, “In this humble dwelling, it’s rare to see so many high officials. But to come here and still throw one’s weight around—ha, how laughable.”

Gonglin: “…”

He shot up to his feet and looked toward the Imperial Academy student who had just spoken.

The other party showed no fear either, mocking, “Inside, the memorial hall is draped in white everywhere, while outside, people boast and flatter. Today the old master died and managed to bring down Wang Deyi from his horse—but tomorrow, how shall those parasites of the nation be dismounted?”

Gonglin was already hot-tempered by nature—how could he endure this? He rolled up his sleeves and made to go over and strike the man.

It was Yu Qingwu who stopped him.

Gonglin gave Yu Qingwu face, suppressing his anger and saying nothing, resentfully taking a seat to one side. But among the group from the Imperial Academy, there were some who recognized Yu Qingwu. They immediately perked up and scolded, “Some people use others’ lives to contend with their opponents, and feel no heartache whatsoever.”

Ordinarily, Yu Qingwu would not deign to acknowledge them at all. But today Shanjun was still here.

If one counted, Shanjun had already twice stood before him to defend him. If today she had to do so again, he truly would be useless.

So Yu Qingwu only asked one question: “I recall you are a disciple of Grand Secretary Wu. Today you came, so why haven’t we seen Grand Secretary Wu?”

That student’s face turned white, and instantly he could say nothing more.

They had also been waiting for Grand Secretary Wu all along.

…

At Prince Qi’s residence, Wu Qingchuan was urging Prince Qi to go pay respects to Su Huairen.

He said, “Though Su Huairen is dead, the case of Su Huairen has only just begun. Your Highness must not act on impulse.”

Prince Qi, however, smiled as he teased his parrot, not taking the matter to heart at all. “Grand Secretary need not worry. If I don’t go, naturally I have my reasons for not going.”

He glanced at Wu Qingchuan. “What, does the Grand Secretary wish to go?”

Wu Qingchuan looked at him and sat down on a stool, saying coldly, “No matter what, Your Highness should pay attention to your reputation.”

Prince Qi laughed aloud. “Two corruption cases have occurred in succession under my command—what reputation do I still have? Since my reputation is already lost, I might as well seek peace of mind. Such a simple principle—why can’t the Grand Secretary understand it?”

He smiled. “Grand Secretary Wu, you’re still too influenced by Duan Boyan, always emphasizing righteousness and popular support in everything you do, but actually it’s quite unnecessary.”

“In my position, all I need is His Majesty’s favor.”

Wu Qingchuan began to somewhat regret having pledged allegiance to Prince Qi.

This Prince Qi was truly cold-hearted and cold-blooded. When Marquis Boyuan died, he felt no grief; when Wang Deyi was detained, he cared not at all.

One was his uncle, the other his brother-in-law, and yet he was like this toward them. In the future, should he himself ever be placed in danger, would Prince Qi save him?

Certainly not.

At this moment, he finally perceived something of His Majesty’s intention.

His Majesty seemed to be making him pledge allegiance to Prince Qi, but in reality, given Prince Qi’s temperament, in the end the only one he could truly pledge allegiance to was His Majesty himself.

Wu Qingchuan closed his eyes. After a long while, he asked, “But His Majesty has already said Su Huairen should be lavishly buried. If Your Highness and those under your command don’t go, won’t His Majesty be displeased?”

Prince Qi burst into laughter, walked over carrying the birdcage and patted Wu Qingchuan on the shoulder. “Do you understand His Majesty better, or do I? If you and your associates understood, would so many of you have died or been banished back then?”

Wu Qingchuan fell silent.

Prince Qi then sighed. “Our good Emperor… If I could still afford to save face and act like a respectable person, he would be even more uneasy about me. At that point, the one being executed wouldn’t be those around me, but me myself.”

Hearing this, Wu Qingchuan raised his head, finally understanding.

Thus he also understood that Prince Qi truly would not go pay respects to Su Huairen.

Then should he go?

If he didn’t go, he feared his prestige among the Imperial Academy students would be no more.

Prince Qi watched his expression change repeatedly, shook his head, and said bluntly, “Wu Qingchuan, you are far inferior to Duan Boyan.”

He paused, then added, “And inferior to that student of yours as well.”

Such a person—had he been presented to him in the past, he wouldn’t have wanted to use him. It was only because his father the Emperor deliberately wanted him to use Wu Qingchuan that he reluctantly accepted.

He spoke so plainly that Wu Qingchuan couldn’t keep his composure. He stood up abruptly with a sound. “Then please watch and see whether I am of any use or not.”

He left in a displeased manner. Prince Qi’s heir apparent came from behind, worried. “We already lack manpower, and now to make him lose heart—I fear in doing anything we’ll be hamstrung.”

Prince Qi, however, waved his hand. “Remember this: Wu Qingchuan is a man who only recognizes self-interest. As long as you give him sufficient bait, he will take the hook.”

Such a person was not to be feared.

What he feared was always only that one person in the palace.

Seeing him fall silent, Prince Qi’s heir asked, “Father… what should we do next?”

Prince Qi: “What do you think?”

Prince Qi’s heir: “Lie low for a few years? His Majesty clearly is wary of you.”

Prince Qi shook his head. “No need.”

He said, “Having severed two of my arms, it should set his mind at ease. But I cannot allow the Grand Heir to lord it over me.”

Prince Qi’s heir felt bitter inside. “What does Father plan to do against elder brother?”

Previously, he had always thought of competing with his elder brother amicably, but these past two times, his elder brother had shown the Prince Qi residence no mercy whatsoever.

Prince Qi’s heir resented him for not leaving any room for sentiment. Among the two people his elder brother had destroyed were both his own relatives—to his elder brother it was satisfying, but to himself, it was the pain of losing kin.

He took a deep breath. “Is there anything you need your son to do?”

Prince Qi shook his head. “For now, there’s nothing for you to do.”

He said, “To deal with the Grand Heir, one move is enough.”

Prince Qi’s heir held his breath. “Which move?”

Prince Qi smiled but didn’t say it directly, lest his foolish son couldn’t bring himself to act. But he also said euphemistically, “Do you think the Grand Heir doesn’t resent His Majesty in his heart?”

When the late Crown Prince died, the Grand Heir was nearly ten years old.

At ten years of age, one had long since gained awareness and begun one’s education.

That was why His Majesty had confined the Grand Heir for so long, fearing he would hate him, fearing he would learn the late Crown Prince’s ways. Only after confining the Grand Heir until he became an obedient caged bird did His Majesty feel at ease.

From the thirty-first year of Yuanshao to the forty-fifth year of Yuanshao, during these dozen-plus years, did he truly feel no hatred?

And once there is hatred in a human heart, it cannot withstand testing. The Grand Heir and His Majesty—though they seemed harmonious, in reality it would shatter with a single blow.

He opened the birdcage, and before the parrot could fly out, grabbed its neck and twisted it, smiling. “That child Yuanniang has been constantly at the Grand Heir’s side for over twenty years now, hasn’t she?”

——

After Old Master Su was buried, Su Hexiang left Luoyang. It was Lan Shanjun and Yu Qingwu who locked the Su family’s door.

The lock fell into place, and who knew when this door would be opened again.

Lan Shanjun looked at that lock for a very long time before turning to leave.

After they returned home, Nanny Qian prepared a bath with mugwort water for them, sighing, “Miss Su is such a young child—how dare she set out on the road? What if she encounters bandits along the way?”

Lan Shanjun: “I thought the same, so I sought out Minister Zhu and had him arrange for a girl skilled in martial arts to accompany her.”

Only then did Nanny Qian feel somewhat reassured. She said, “There’s always death—it’s not auspicious at all. We should still go worship properly. When you have time, let’s go to White Horse Temple.”

Lan Shanjun hummed in acknowledgment. “All right.”

She too wanted to see the old monk.

That evening, she lay in bed unable to sleep. Rolling over, she asked softly, “Yu Qingwu?”

Yu Qingwu wasn’t sleeping either.

He immediately sat up. “Shanjun, what is it?”

Lan Shanjun’s voice seemed to drift in and out: “My master… was he once like Old Master Su?”

Yu Qingwu couldn’t hear clearly, so he got up and sat by the moon gate that separated the inner and outer chambers, saying gently, “He was like that.”

Lan Shanjun was silent for a long while before saying, “Today I thought of something.”

Yu Qingwu asked softly, “What thing?”

To Shanjun, he always felt guilty, especially after Old Master Su’s affair—his guilt made him feel that even speaking a bit loudly would bring self-reproach.

He had brought Shanjun far too much trouble.

Lan Shanjun then got out of bed, carrying the blue-and-white porcelain lamp with Zhong Kui subduing demons, and walked to his side. She sat at the moon gate of the inner chamber, separated from him by only an arm’s length.

The pearl curtain above swayed back and forth, scattering into individual long strips under the lamplight. Several strands swung across Yu Qingwu’s hands, quartering and dividing them, much like his heart at this moment.

Lan Shanjun then said, “I was thinking—I realize I never once considered before that there were problems with the court.”

She had been born humble, climbing step by step to where she was now. All she had wanted was simply to have enough to eat and drink.

She too had seen piles of corpses.

“Where we lived, who knows how many people died each year. Some starved to death in winter, some died from heat in summer, but heaven be thanked, there were no droughts or floods to kill everyone in an entire town.”

“Then there was illness. Once there was illness, no one could treat it. Living was heaven’s mercy; dying was fate.”

That was how the old monk died.

He died of illness.

“If I had had silver back then, he actually wouldn’t have died.”

But even in dying, one wouldn’t resent the court. One would only resent oneself for not having saved up silver.

She had also seen a horse-breeding family that sold sons and daughters until finally everyone died.

“That family lived at the foot of the mountain. The whole household was diligent and finally bought one mu of land. But after buying it, that year the court assigned horse-breeding duties, and they were assigned to his family. He was unwilling to raise horses, so the yamen runners said they would confiscate his field and forbid him from farming it. Though he had bought it himself, it still wasn’t allowed. So he had no choice but to raise horses.”

“But he had never raised horses before. In the first year, the foal was born dead. So he sold a daughter to buy a horse as compensation. In the second year the foal died again, so he sold another daughter. To learn horse-breeding, in the third year he sold a son and personally sought out a master. But that year horse plague broke out, and even the mother horse died. There was already no food at home—after all, to raise the horses, he had also sold the field. In the end, with no other option, he ate that diseased mother horse, and then everyone in the family died.”

She murmured, “The harsh horse administration policies you spoke of—I actually witnessed them. But…”

“I never thought before that these problems could actually be changed.”

Human lives were not worth much.

But now, she knew there was a group of people who had once risked their lives to make those lives worth something.

In that moment, the old monk, Old Master Su… and so on—these people had placed their own lives on the same level as the common people’s, willing to have their lives taken.

Lan Shanjun didn’t know how to articulate this feeling.

But she could discern a few traces from the countless tangled threads of thought.

She looked at Yu Qingwu and said, “Perhaps it was from seeing Old Master Su’s body being carried out from the palace, perhaps it was when I stood before his coffin and seemed to see the old monk’s face, but perhaps it was even earlier… I don’t remember, and I can’t say clearly, but Yu Qingwu, from the very beginning when I admired your character and trusted your conduct, up until now… I seem to have become… more able to understand what you want to accomplish.”

“I don’t know how to write the three characters ‘love the people,’ but I do know that the character for ‘person’ is one left stroke and one right stroke. Because it’s easy to write, it takes only a moment to complete, and with just a press downward of the brush, a bit of ink smudge can obliterate this character for ‘person.'”

“Now I understand even more clearly that you are doing something you know cannot be done yet do anyway—wanting to carve this left stroke and right stroke onto a stone tablet, making it difficult to erase with a single brushstroke.”

She smiled. “Yu Qingwu, you are truly good.”

Lan Shanjun had once read an essay called “Postscript to Records of Famous Gardens in Luoyang.” In it was a line: “Grand pavilions and lofty towers, consumed by flames and smoke, transformed into ashes and ruins, perishing together with the fallen dynasty.”

When she had read it before, she didn’t understand. Now she did.

She said, “If we say the thirty-first year of Yuanshao was a great fire that burned everything in Luoyang with the flames of war, then you—are the embers remaining from that great fire.”

Yu Qingwu’s eyes grew ever more tender.

Shanjun could always speak to his heart.

He thought, he truly was like the embers after that great fire. If he won, he would not betray the flames that once consumed them. If he lost, he would ask Shanjun to place his ashes before their memorial tablets, and thus he would not betray this life either.

He would only fail Shanjun. His greed at the time—who knew if he would regret it in this lifetime.

He was just about to raise his head and speak a few words of remorse to her when he saw her face suddenly bearing a smile that moved one’s heart, saying, “But I too was raised by someone who survived that great fire…”

She smiled. “If I said I might also write those three characters ‘love the people,’ Yu Qingwu, would you believe me?”

Having experienced so much, when she looked back at the past and examined herself, she discovered that her life and death had long been swept up in Luoyang’s prosperity.

【Author’s Note】

Shanjun: Do you believe it or not?

Qingwu: I believe!