In the Great Yan Dynasty, a tenant farmer or hired laborer could earn a few taels of silver a year.

As a self-sufficient farmer or craftsman, depending on the size of one’s land, one could earn twenty to thirty taels of silver a year.

As a scholar in the Great Yan Dynasty, one could earn only ten to twenty taels in annual stipends. Those who went on to become tutors, teaching students preparing for the imperial examinations, could earn fifty to sixty taels a year. Those with even greater ambition might enter officialdom — a fourth-rank prefect could earn over a hundred taels in annual salary.

And those with even greater ambition still — could become a swindler.

With nothing but smooth talk, one could walk away with a banknote worth ten thousand taels.

Shen Zhuxi stared in wide-eyed disbelief as Li Wu folded the ten-thousand-tael banknote and tucked it into the inner lining of his bundle.

“Li Diao’er and Li Que’er will go with you and escort you out of Xuzhou. You just sit nicely in the carriage, don’t worry about a thing, and wait for me to come out and meet up with you.”

“But you made a promise to Wang Wenzhong — if you just leave like this, aren’t you afraid he’ll send people to hunt you down?”

“The one who made the promise was ‘Li Someone’ — what does that have to do with me, Li Wu?” Li Wu said with complete self-righteous confidence. “Besides — it’s not like there’s a shortage of people who want to kill me. One more won’t make much difference, and one less won’t be missed either.”

“Then why not just leave with us—” Shen Zhuxi said uneasily.

Li Wu pulled out the gold hairpin he had cleaned, wrapped the tip in cloth, bundled it together with the banknote, tied a firm slip-knot, and tossed it onto the already overstuffed luggage chest beside him.

“I have to stay behind first — only then can you get out of Xuzhou’s city gates,” Li Wu said calmly.

“Where do we meet up with our eldest brother?” Li Que’er, unable to conveniently enter the two of them’s bedroom, called out from where he sat on the railing outside the door.

“You all go back to Yutou Town and get my things out—” Li Wu said, his expression darkening. “These days, every last person and piece of garbage wants to walk all over me. If I don’t show them what I’m made of, they’ll think I’m a pushover.”

“Eldest brother, aren’t you going to wait until after you’ve looked over the Sixteen Military Governors’ territories before making any decisions?” Li Que’er’s voice carried a note of surprise.

Li Wu’s foot ground against the floor, as if crushing some insufferable pest underfoot.

“Plans can’t keep up with changes. Old Wang’s trying to force me to divorce my wife — that crosses a line I absolutely cannot tolerate.”

“It’s ‘what cannot be tolerated, can it be endured’…” Shen Zhuxi couldn’t help correcting him.

No one paid her any attention.

“Wang Wenzhong has gone too far — it crosses every line,” Li Que’er said. “Eldest brother, I support you.”

Li Kun squatted on the steps, gnawing on a flatbread. The warm sunlight spilled across his broad back as he lazily nibbled away, his gaze drifting along with a sparrow hopping about on the branches above — the very image of a large, languid cat.

“Diao’er also supports…”

Although Shen Zhuxi had no idea what “things” they intended to retrieve, both younger brothers had spoken up in support. What else could she say?

“You must take good care of yourself…” Shen Zhuxi said anxiously. “The Wang family are not to be trifled with.”

“And am I the sort of person who’s easy to trifle with?” Li Wu said. “If they dare push me into divorcing my wife, I’ll skin them alive first.”

The notorious “Flaying Li,” the name that had struck fear into the hearts of countless merchants in Yutou Town, was about to return to the world.

Shen Zhuxi thought of the River Willow Hall’s proprietor, whose mustache had trembled at the mere mention of Li Wu’s name. Come to think of it, it was Prefect Wang’s private treasury that deserved more pity.

When Li the Duck passed through, not a single coin remained.

“No matter what… keeping yourself safe must always come first.” Shen Zhuxi chose her words carefully, doing her best not to wound this duck’s dignity. “Since you’ve already retired from that life, don’t go back to your old ways — unless Miss Wang forces your hand…”

“Blech—” Li Wu let out a loud retch. “I’d sooner castrate myself than let her get what she wants!”

Shen Zhuxi’s jaw dropped.

“There’s no need to go that far…” she found herself getting pulled along by Li Wu’s train of thought, but after a moment’s hesitation, still chose to put his safety first. “If… if it truly cannot be avoided, just go along with it. You’ve said it yourself — as long as you’re alive, there’s still hope.”

She swallowed down the bitterness and said: “…Don’t worry. I won’t think less of you for it.”

“What are you even talking about? Shen Zhuxi — are you hoping I’ll run off with someone, so you can go back to that number-one dog of the world?!” Li Wu’s face darkened, and he glared at her with the menace of a demon. “Don’t even dream of it!”

Shen Zhuxi: “?”

“Eldest brother, the sun is about to set,” Li Que’er said from outside the door, looking at the sky.

“Right. The sooner you make a run for it the better — you all leave now.” Li Wu looked at Shen Zhuxi. “But first… before you go, you still need to help me put on a little performance.”

……

“My husband, your talent reaches the heavens, your literary brilliance surpasses the world — it is I who am unworthy of you…”

Everyone else had ducks pushed onto their stage, but Shen Zhuxi had been pushed onto the stage by the duck himself.

Beneath the magnificent glow of the evening sunset, she stood before the carriage, speaking words that came from anything but her heart, her eyes glistening with tears born of helpless compulsion.

They were extraordinarily convincing.

“All I wish is to spend the rest of my days by the light of a solitary lamp before an ancient Buddha, to see through the vanity of this world at last, and escape this sea of suffering. Lord Li, please return—”

Shen Zhuxi covered her face — red and burning with shame — with her hand, and fled back into the carriage as if for her life.

Li Que’er, seated at the front of the carriage, gave the reins a gentle flick. A sharp cry of “Hah!” later, the carriage rolled out along the alleyway, where countless pairs of gossip-hungry eyes had been lurking.

“My lady! My lady! Don’t go—” Niang, who had heard the news that the household of Li the Centurion’s wife had asked to step down from her position, had abandoned what she was doing and rushed over, only to be met with a view of the carriage already driving far away.

Her face flushed red with rage, her eyes shining with tears, she stared at Li Wu standing at the entrance of the courtyard with furious disbelief. When he remained completely unmoved after a long moment, she stamped her foot and turned to chase after the carriage instead.

The domestic affairs of a sixth-rank military officer drew many onlookers from the shadows, but none dared step forward openly to partake in the spectacle.

Only after Li Wu slammed the gate and walked back into the courtyard did the nearby doors quietly edge open.

A plainly-dressed man who appeared to be waiting at the corner watched the carriage disappear into the distance, then slipped away furtively.

One cup of tea’s time later, that same man knocked on the gate of the Wang residence.

“Madam Shen was truly crying when she left?” Wang Wenzhong lifted the tea cup before him and asked with casual indifference.

“This humble one saw it very clearly. I also heard Madam Shen say that from now on she intends to spend her days before a solitary lamp and a Buddha, to escape this sea of suffering as soon as possible.” The plainly-dressed man stood in the center of the study, bowing respectfully toward Wang Wenzhong and his trusted advisor.

“Madam Shen brought only one plain cloth bundle, and it was very light — perhaps a few worn garments. As for the carriage, it was quite dilapidated as well — Li the Centurion bought it at a discounted price from a carriage shop early this morning. The whole vehicle cost under eight taels of silver, and it might very well fall apart before it even clears the city gates.”

“Understood. Go collect your reward,” said Wang Wenzhong.

The plainly-dressed man acknowledged his order, bowed, and withdrew from the study.

The study returned to its original quiet.

Wang Wenzhong cast his gaze downward, his expression unreadable. “What do you make of this?”

The advisor had witnessed more than enough of the world’s cold-heartedness, yet even so, he could not help but sigh at this moment:

“Li the Centurion regards money as his very life. That ten thousand taels as a parting gift — it’s hard to say whose pocket it might have ended up in… My Lord, do you truly wish to marry your daughter off to this man?”

“My daughter has lost her head over him, and is set on marrying him — what choice do I have?” Wang Wenzhong curled his lips in a cold smile. “Fortunately, this Li Wu does have a measure of ability, and having no family background makes him all the easier to control. A man who lusts after money is far better than one who lusts after something else. I am ill-fated — I’ve toiled all my life and have no sons of true worth. The one child who stands out is a daughter…”

“Fortune and misfortune walk hand in hand. Li the Centurion may not come from a prominent background, but if my Lady marries him, she can remain by your Lordship’s side, and you gain another capable ally.” The advisor said, “With my Lady’s shrewdness, Li the Centurion will sooner or later be brought to heel.”

“…Let us hope so.” Wang Wenzhong furrowed his brow, his expression turning grave. “The Wuying Army is about to move into Xuzhou. I do not wish to invite any further complications — this marriage must be settled as quickly as possible. Keep a strict watch on the teahouses and taverns, and anyone caught spreading gossip is to be punished without exception.”

“Yes, my Lord.” His trusted man cupped his hands in acknowledgment. “Leave it to this subordinate, my Lord.”

“There is one more thing—” Wang Wenzhong’s expression darkened. “Have someone keep a close eye on Li Wu. Don’t let him run off.”

His trusted man said in surprise, “My Lord believes that…”

“I cannot say why, but my heart has not been at ease.” Wang Wenzhong hesitated, and a shadow of cold calculation flashed across his face. “…If Li Wu’s intentions in seeking this marriage are genuine, then so be it. But if he has other designs — then do not blame this old man for cutting the problem out at the root.”

His trusted man cupped his hands once more, his expression solemn:

“Yes, my Lord!”

……

“Li Wu truly divorced his wife?”

Wang Shiyong rose from her embroidered stool, her expression shifting between joy and sorrow in a complex flurry of emotions.

“Absolutely without question! Many people witnessed Lady Li—” Chunguo caught herself just before earning a slap and corrected course. “Madam Shen was seen leaving the Li household by carriage.”

Her heart was in her throat over the slip of the tongue, but fortunately Wang Shiyong was in no state to notice the error.

Chunguo continued: “When Madam Shen left the Li household, she carried only a cloth bundle, and the carriage was shabby and run-down. I heard she arrived with no dowry when she was married in, and now that she has been cast aside, she is leaving with nothing as well.”

“My Lady can set her mind at ease — that Li gentleman does not appear to be as deeply attached to Madam Shen as he seemed,” Chunguo said.

Wang Shiyong remained silent, sinking weakly back onto the embroidered stool. She gazed at the wedding garment she had been rushing to embroider, halfway finished, her eyes a tangle of joy and sorrow.

“My Lady…”

“Men really are… Li Wu is no exception…”

“Since Lord Li has dismissed Madam Shen, he will soon be able to welcome my Lady to his side — my Lady has gotten what she wished for. Why do you not look happy?”

“…You wouldn’t understand.”

Chunguo truly did not understand, but she knew that pressing any further would overstep her place. So she kept her lips firmly sealed.

After a long while, Wang Shiyong pressed down the complex tangle of joy and sorrow written on her face.

She composed herself back to her usual serene expression and said, “Bring me my paper and brush.”

“Yes, my Lady.”

Chunguo lowered her head in acknowledgment and immediately moved to carry out the order.

Before long, Wang Shiyong had settled herself at the writing desk, picked up her brush, and began composing a long letter.

She wrote in fits and starts, and when the long letter was finally finished, she called for Chunguo to bring a small dish of clean water. Dipping her fingertip into it, she lightly sprinkled the droplets across the paper.

Once the drops dried, they left behind faint, slightly wrinkled marks — just like tears hastily shed.

“Deliver this letter into Li Wu’s hands yourself, and tell him that I have come to know that my father forced him to divorce his wife and take another. This is not my intention — I do not wish to harm my elder sister. As long as she is willing to return, I am content to stand beside her as an equal.”

“My Lady—” Even Chunguo, who had firmly resolved to mind her own business, could not help but cry out in astonishment. “Does my Lady truly intend to stand as an equal alongside her?!”

“Of course I don’t.” Wang Shiyong said. “And even if I were willing, my father certainly would not be.”

“Then why does my Lady send this letter?”

“When Li Wu takes this letter and goes rushing off, brimming with joy, to bring Madam Shen back — and then she refuses him — it will not be I who wedged myself between them, but Madam Shen herself who failed to recognize a good thing.”

“How can my Lady be so certain that Madam Shen will refuse?” Chunguo said. “What if — what if Madam Shen truly agrees to return as an equal wife?”

“Impossible.” Wang Shiyong said with finality. “Madam Shen may appear meek and gentle in temperament, but she has her pride. To go from wife to equal wife — she could never endure such a humiliation. For a woman, this is a profound insult. I know this. But Li Wu does not. Once he has kindled the hope of having the best of both worlds — and Madam Shen herself shatters that hope — you tell me, will he resent me more for forcing his hand, or resent Madam Shen more for failing to see reason?”

A chill ran down Chunguo’s spine. Afraid Wang Shiyong might notice, she quickly bowed her head and offered her praise.

“My Lady is truly brilliant—”

Chunguo bit back what she had been on the verge of asking:

“What if Lord Li cannot read that many characters?”

Half an hour later, Chunguo stood nervously at the gate of the courtyard, glancing left and right to make sure no one was watching before carefully knocking on the door.

After a moment, Li Wu appeared behind the opened door. The instant he saw it was her, Li Wu’s already unfriendly expression turned even darker.

Before he could slam the door shut, Chunguo hastily raised the letter in her hand.

“I’ve come on my Lady’s behalf to deliver a letter. She said—”

Her hand was suddenly empty. The letter had been snatched away.

With a loud bang, the door was slammed shut right in front of her nose.

It was the first time Chunguo had ever been shut out so completely without a shred of courtesy. She stood in front of the door, staring in blank disbelief.

Unwilling to give up, she knocked several more times, but no one came to open the door for her again. She had no choice but to relay Wang Shiyong’s message through the tightly shut gate. And because she feared any idle onlookers might overhear, she dared not raise her voice too much — she could only hope that Li Wu was just behind the door, and that although he would not speak, his ears were still in working order.

Regardless, her task was done. After conveying Wang Shiyong’s message through the door, Chunguo turned and left.

When she returned to the Wang residence and faced Wang Shiyong’s expectant gaze, Chunguo, following along with her imagination, said without so much as a blush or a skip of her heart:

“My Lady’s letter has reached Lord Li’s hands. I conveyed my Lady’s intentions to him, and Lord Li appeared deeply moved.”

“Achoo—”

Li Wu let out a loud sneeze in the kitchen, cursing under his breath as he flipped the sweet potato skewered on a fire poker to its other side.

“Damn it all — it must be that dimwit Shen babbling bad things about me again!”

The red-orange flames licked at the firewood inside the stove. The letter, composed of half recognizable characters and half indecipherable scrawl, curled and charred within the fire. In the span of just a few blinks of an eye, nothing remained but a layer of black ash.

“Sister-in-law, are you cold?”

Li Que’er was the first to notice Shen Zhuxi rubbing her arms. He stood up and said:

“Let me go get a garment from the carriage.”

“No need — I’m not cold!” Shen Zhuxi said quickly. “The bonfire is nice and warm—”

“Then…” Li Que’er looked puzzled.

“I don’t know either. I just suddenly got goosebumps.” Shen Zhuxi said. “It must be Li Wu cursing at me.”

Li Que’er was caught between laughter and exasperation. “How could eldest brother bear to curse at you?”

“You don’t know him — he curses at me behind your backs all the time.” Shen Zhuxi muttered with aggrieved indignation. “He’s also given me all sorts of nicknames. It’s absolutely childish.”

Li Que’er smiled without a word, thinking to himself: Only when he is with sister-in-law does eldest brother become such a child.

Three roasting fish were skewered over the leaping flames. Li Kun, still gnawing on his flatbread, stared at them for a long while — not just his own, but Shen Zhuxi’s and Li Que’er’s as well.

Li Que’er divided the three fish and passed two of them out, keeping one for himself, and said:

“It would be nice if eldest brother were here.”

Without Li Wu and his stream of nonsense, Shen Zhuxi also felt a little lonely.

But to comfort Li Que’er, she pushed down her melancholy and said:

“It’s alright — a part of him is here with us.”

Li Que’er looked at her, puzzled.

“When you two went to resupply, I went and bought braised pig’s trotters from the roadside…”

“Pig’s trotters! Pig’s trotters!”

Li Kun looked at the glistening braised trotters Shen Zhuxi produced with unbridled delight, and cried out:

“Eldest brother!”