Before her eyes was a well, its black depths unfathomable, yet familiar voices seemed to drift up from the bottom. They kept calling her name. Curious yet somewhat worried, she leaned over the well’s rim, about to call out, when suddenly her waist tightened and a chill touched her ear as someone whispered low: “My dear wife, are you looking for me?”
The voice sounded so familiar, identical to the one from the well, yet carried a teasing tone that made it seem strangely unfamiliar. She turned around in bewilderment to see a middle-aged man smiling as he examined her, his appearance also seeming somewhat foreign. Fear crept into her heart as she pointed at the pitch-black well and whispered: “There’s a voice in the well. Listen, quickly listen!”
The man cocked his ear and listened for a while, then dismissed it with a laugh: “You misheard. There’s nothing in the well.”
“There really is! There really is!” She grew stubborn, jumping and shouting: “I really heard it!” The man squinted and shook his head: “Don’t be like this. For the sake of our family, don’t come here anymore.” Though his tone carried no threat, he spoke with sincere persuasion: “I guarantee there’s nothing inside. Even if there really is something…” The man smiled slyly, full of confidence. But to her ears, it sounded like thunder from a clear sky.
Her hair stood on end as she backed away repeatedly, then burst into piercing sobs: “Guan—guan! Guan—guan! Come quickly! Come save mother!”
As she cried out, a hand gently fell on her shoulder, and a deep voice spoke beside her ear: “Mother, are you looking for me?” The calm words carried an supreme soothing power, enough to calm souls and settle spirits. She breathed a sigh of relief and turned to look, indeed seeing that noble face. She pointed at the well, sobbing and choking: “There’s a voice in the well. Listen, come listen!”
Just as she was about to nestle in his embrace and tell of her fears, her eldest son didn’t listen at all and said directly: “You misheard. There’s nothing in the well.”
“There really is! There really is!” She grew angry again, crying and making a fuss: “Mother really heard it!”
“Don’t be like this.” The eldest son before her had a calm expression as he said solemnly: “For the sake of our family, don’t come here anymore.”
These somewhat familiar words seemed to have been heard somewhere before. She opened her mouth wide, staring blankly at her own son as he continued his low instructions: “Really, I guarantee there’s nothing inside.” Even if there really is something…” Her eldest son raised his head to gaze at the distant sky and sighed softly: “I’ve already taken care of it all.”
She opened her mouth wide, tears overflowing from the corners of her eyes, and suddenly screamed from her throat: “Shao—qi—! Shaoqi! Shaoqi! Come save mother! Shao—qi—!”
“Ah!” With a terrible cry, Old Cai, who had been dozing by the bedside, was painfully awakened. He looked down in alarm to see the old madam crying and shouting, clawing at his arm with her sharp fingernails piercing into his flesh until blood seeped out.
The same Lantern Festival night could be hell or heaven, depending on where one found oneself and one’s state of mind. In the midst of chaos, the madam’s voice was like weeping blood as she called out her savior’s name: “Shaoqi! Shaoqi! Mother is going to die! Come quickly! Shaoqi! Shaoqi!”
The maids rushed forward in panic, shouting: “Old Madam! Wake up! Old Madam!” In their fluster, they opened a medicine jar and tried to apply it under the old madam’s nose, but she found strength from somewhere and shrieked: “Shao—qi!” With a crash, the medicine jar fell to the ground and shattered. Several maids were terrified and at a complete loss. Old Cai, sweating from pain on his forehead, shouted: “What are you standing there for? Go fetch the young madam quickly! Hurry!”
Thirty years had passed. In the Yang household, the old had aged and the dead had died. Counting from the day Master Yang Yuan achieved success in the imperial examinations, Old Cai had watched the eldest young master become the eldest master, and the second young master become what he now called the second master. The only thing unchanged in the household was the old madam’s asthma.
Every spring and autumn, whenever her emotions became turbulent, her condition would flare up. The family members keeping vigil by her bedside also had to suffer along with her. The eldest master, the eldest young master, and even today’s second master had all been thoroughly tormented.
Just as he was sighing, footsteps echoed from the far end of the corridor. The steward hurriedly turned his head and exclaimed with great joy: “Madam!”
The savior had arrived. She was also a Yang madam, though her maiden name was Gu—she was the current eldest young madam of the Yang household, Gu Qianxi. Thanks to her, the Yang family had gained some breathing room and hadn’t been driven mad by the old madam.
Gu Qianxi entered the room and without a word immediately sat on the bed’s edge, grasped her mother-in-law’s hand, and said: “Mother, sit up.”
“Go away! I only want Shaoqi! Shao—qi—!” Though the old madam had asthma, her strength was frighteningly powerful as she struggled desperately. Gu Qianxi leaned close to the pillow and whispered softly: “Mother, Shaoqi made plans with friends to see the lanterns. He won’t return tonight.”
“I don’t care! I don’t care!” the old madam wailed: “You must find him and bring him here! Quickly! Quickly!” She released the steward and grabbed her daughter-in-law’s hand instead, her fingernails contracting and scratching five bloody marks. Gu Qianxi’s pretty face turned pale, her jade arm already dripping with blood, but she endured the pain and said: “Everyone come help me hold her down.”
The maids were secretly afraid and dared not approach. Gu Qianxi’s face darkened: “Hold her firmly. I’ll take responsibility if anything happens.”
Gu Qianxi was the daughter of the Minister of War, and her words carried natural authority. The steward quickly rushed forward and together with the maids pressed down on her limbs.
“Shaoqi! Shaoqi! Can you see? Mother is going to die! Going to die!” the old madam shouted and struggled to rise, but Gu Qianxi pressed her down firmly. Then she took the ointment from a maid’s hand and instructed Old Cai: “Close your eyes.” She opened the old madam’s garment to expose her chest, applied the ointment, and rubbed it into her breast area, armpits, and other places, letting the cool medicinal power penetrate.
“Shaoqi… Shaoqi…” Slowly, the old madam began to shed tears and sob quietly: “Mother is going to die…”
After a long, long time, the old madam closed her eyes, her voice gradually weakening until it was barely audible, and the fingers digging into her daughter-in-law’s flesh also loosened.
Seeing that the old madam had fallen asleep, the maids on both sides quickly rushed forward with concern: “Young Madam, you’re bleeding.”
The steward glared fiercely and scolded: “Thanks for pointing that out!” Just as he was about to continue his reprimand, Gu Qianxi had already raised a finger to her lips, signaling for silence.
After about the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, the wheezing finally stopped, replaced by steady breathing. The old lady had finally fallen peacefully asleep. Gu Qianxi tucked in her covers and gave Old Cai a meaningful look. The two walked out of the room one after the other.
It was the fifth watch, with dawn breaking faintly. The steward said apologetically: “Madam, your… your arm…”
Gu Qianxi replied: “I’m fine. But why did mother suddenly start wheezing again when she was perfectly well?” The steward smiled bitterly: “Who knows? Last night when she returned from Hongluo Temple, she complained of chest tightness and asked me to stay by her bedside. Sure enough, she hadn’t slept for more than a few hours when the attack came again.”
Gu Qianxi pondered: “Did she receive some kind of fright last night?” The steward murmured: “That… I don’t know.”
Everyone in the Yang household understood that the old madam’s condition fluctuated, sometimes better, sometimes worse. Despite multiple consultations with groups of physicians, medicine had proven ineffective.
Several times her eldest son had wanted to give her acupuncture, but she would struggle and cry, refusing to let her son near her body even unto death.
After a long silence, Gu Qianxi asked: “Where is the master now?” Old Cai smiled apologetically: “He… he came back once last night, but then… then went out again.” Gu Qianxi said: “Don’t talk around it. Where is he now?”
Old Cai said quietly: “The master went to Hongluo Temple. Before leaving, he told me he would return for lunch.”
The Yang family was an official household, and the eldest master was one of the Five Chief Grand Secretaries, rarely at home throughout the year. Seeing that Gu Qianxi remained silent, not knowing whether she was pleased or displeased, Old Cai smiled apologetically and changed the subject: “Madam, last night the guards reported seeing a young lady in your room. Who was that?” Gu Qianxi replied: “That was Miss Qiong, my friend.” Old Cai said bewilderedly: “Miss Qiong? Doesn’t she share the same surname as the National Uncle?” Just as he was about to ask more questions, sounds suddenly came from the distance.
“Wu—wu wu wu…” Gu Qianxi’s elegant brows furrowed slightly, and the steward also looked puzzled, feeling the sound came from the west, faint and unclear. He said hastily: “This… this is the sound of suona horns?”
Early in the morning, some inconsiderate family was apparently performing ritual ceremonies, actually playing suona horns. But listening to the sound, it grew from low to high, gradually becoming sharp and piercing, increasingly alarming. The maids in the room began shouting again: “Young Madam! The old madam is awake again! Come in quickly!”
“Wu—wu wu—wu…” Though the suona was small, its voice was loud. The sound grew increasingly sharp, as if determined to wake all the citizens. Old Cai cursed angrily: “Those damn bastards! Are they holding a grand funeral?” Just as he was about to curse their ancestors, he saw Gu Qianxi glaring at him, so he quickly covered his mouth and smiled apologetically.
As dawn was about to break, Gu Qianxi must have been tired. She picked up a bell and shook it left and right. The bell was quite strange—when shaken, it produced no clear ringing sound, only a low humming that was very faint.
After shaking it several times, a person emerged from the corridor, bowed, and said: “This humble servant is here, respectfully awaiting Madam’s orders.”
The person was dressed in a black official robe—he was a Yang household guard. Gu Qianxi nodded slightly: “Where are those sounds outside coming from?”
The guard bowed: “In response to Madam, the suona sounds are coming from the western suburbs.”
The government offices in the capital were all located in the east of the city. When officials went out in sedan chairs for inspections, there was inevitably some fanfare with music. But strangely, the western suburbs housed the sheep market street, selling mutton and food—why would suona horns be playing there? The steward cursed: “What the hell are they doing, disturbing people’s peaceful dreams so early in the morning? Quickly take the second master’s token and go tell those bastards to shut up!”
The guard coughed but looked toward the young madam. Gu Qianxi was a reasonable person and said: “You’ve already gone to look?”
The guard bowed with his hands at his sides: “Yes, this subordinate led men to inquire half an hour ago, but the other party was on official business, and I couldn’t persuade them to stop.” Steward Cai said loudly: “Couldn’t persuade them? What a bunch of bastards, not even respecting the War Minister’s son-in-law? Take the eldest master’s seal and see if they’ll pay attention to that!” The guard remained silent and motionless, not responding. Steward Cai said in amazement: “What? They won’t even acknowledge one of the Five Chief Grand Secretaries? Just what kind of people are they?” Before he finished speaking, he suddenly felt faint trembling underfoot, and the window frames also shook lightly in response.
“Boom dong long dong, boom dong long dong…” The suona faded into the distance, replaced by faint drumbeats. Though the sound was subtle, it was even more heart-stopping than the suona. Old Cai said in terror: “This… this is…” Just as he was about to ask, a thunderous roar came from the western suburbs as tens of thousands of people shouted in unison: “Zhengtong Army!”
Zhengtong Army? Gu Qianxi shuddered slightly, and Old Cai was also stunned with terror: “What? The Zhengtong Army has entered the city?” The guard said: “Yes, the commanding officer said they’re conducting military exercises and need two hours to complete them. He asks for the citizens’ patience.”
Hearing that troops were conducting exercises in the suburbs, Gu Qianxi immediately walked into the garden to gaze toward the western horizon. Old Cai wiped cold sweat and said: “Madam, where is the young master?” Gu Qianxi replied: “He went out for the night. I gave him permission.”
The Lantern Festival night was not very peaceful. The master, second master, and young master had all gone out, leaving only Gu Qianxi to manage the household alone. Old Cai felt somewhat afraid and said: “It’s nothing, it’ll be over soon, it’ll be over soon.” As he spoke, he saw the young madam return and stare at him intently for a long time. Old Cai made a sound of confusion, not knowing what he had said wrong. Just as he was about to ask for clarification, the young madam had already entered the room and gently closed the door.
As the door closed, the shouting also ceased. Inside and outside the city, all was peaceful as usual. Old Cai was overjoyed and praised: “It’s finished already!” Just as he was about to speak with the guard, the man was coughing with his head down and turned to leave. Old Cai made another sound of confusion, not knowing what exactly he had said to make everyone avoid him. Full of bewilderment, he continued to puzzle over it endlessly.