Original subtitles

Su Li, thy wretched brat dared drag a stone into my courtyard!

Elder aunt,

who art thou? "Redemption of the Villains: Initiated."

Transmitting chronicle.

I have transmigrated!

Worse, into the male leads vicious, tyrant wife!

Maintain thy villainous facade;

avert their descent into malice.

Shouldst thou fail,

thy soul shall be erased!

A widowed villainess...

The foes are his young kin!

Abused by the former host, they turned vengeful,

tormenting her until...

death was mercy!

Why feign muteness?

Did I disrupt thy tryst?

Was that Zhuzi slipping past?

Darest thou doubt

his wife shall tear thee apart?

Thy vile tongue spews such foul filth!

Caught in adultery, shameless wretch,

thou darest strike me? Heavens, where is justice?

Mercy!

I cannot endure this!

Brazen and wanton!

Knowest thou whom she claims as my paramour?

Tis Zhuzi—

thine own husband!

In blaming me, dost thou confess his betrayal?

Very well.

If thou admit it, so shall I!

Wife, thou knowest I have not stepped out for days!

Why spouts Second Aunt Song such slanderous lies?

Su Li,

this strife lies between ye two.

Why drag me into it?

Blame thine own wifes venomous tongue, Aunt!

This is truly unseemly.

Beaten by Su Li, she slanders us. My tongue slipped!

Twas not Zhuzi, but another!

Her robes were disheveled just now,

entangled shamelessly with someone,

scandalously unchaste!

Name this phantom lover, then!

Dost thou pick on whoever seems meek?

Depart at once,

or we go before the Elder!

We shall settle this,

and see if slander holds merit!

We shall also ask of the separation:

thou hast hoarded our branchs goods,

refusing return—

hast thou no shame?

Who... who seized thy goods?

I disdain bickering with thee!

I must prepare the evening meal!

Whoever dares slander me again,

I shall claw them to pieces! Did ye steal their sustenance?

We confess our wrong...

They were merely famished.

Spare them, pray.

Does hunger justify theft?

Nay...

We shall never transgress again.

Seek me when hungry; thievery

disgraces my honor!

Understood? We heed thee.

Then begone to labor!

The cistern sits dry;

fill it to the brim!

Had we not been on the brink of death,

who would stoop to steal?

Malice score increased!

So sharp speech counts too! Why stand ye dazed?

Hasten over to dine,

lest ye steal again and shame me!

Whence comes this womans charity?

Doth she plot another beating?

Ye refuse to eat?

Fine.

I shall cast it out.

Wait!

Spare it for the fowl! We shall eat!

Like starved specters born anew!

Consume it gently!

No idle mouths in this house!

Having eaten, ye shall all toil,

hearest me?

Hmph! I shall labor twofold!

I will toil too!

Then gather firewood with me on the morrow,

heaping boundless bundles! This meager labor suffices?

Kindling hearths, scouring dishes,

and sweeping rooms—

carry out all with utmost diligence,

mark ye well?

Turned mute again?

Speak! Wilt thou crave grain henceforth?

We mark it well!

We hear and obey.

Su Li, thy brothers-in-law struck my son!

Wilt thou not rein them in?

The two of them,

pinned my child down and beat him!

Had I not seen the dark bruises on him,

he would suffer torment indefinitely!

What took place?

Speak plainly this instant!

Hmph!

Speak, art thou struck dumb? So young,

yet resorting to violence!

When grown,

thou wilt surely commit murder!

Look at them! Where the true fault lies,

remains yet uncertain.

Hold thy foul tongue, woman!

Is this vile woman defending me?

She was wont only to scourge us before.

I did indeed strike that fat Zhao boy!

Yet he bullied our younger sister first!

Didst thou hear that?

He hath confessed!

He will surely do so again!

Su Li,

how wilt thou resolve this matter?

There is naught to resolve.

Thy wretch deserved it! So young,

yet performing no honest deed,

spouting vile malice!

When grown, he will become a beast!

A beast?

So corpulent, yet bested by thin boys!

Thou art utterly devoid of reason!

Thy kin harassed others,

yet claim righteousness?

The crooked branch stems from a rotten trunk!

What dost thou desire?

Summon arbiters if thou wilt! Cease weeping!

Hold back thy tears!

This family shall not bear thy shame!

Should any insolent tongue foully insult thee,

strike them down without mercy!

If beaten, call upon me! Yield to none outside!

Humiliation beyond our gates,

I shall never forgive!

Do all of thee comprehend?

We hear and comprehend!

Su Li,

instill such malice in children!

Heavenly retribution,

shall surely befall thee! If retribution exists,

with thy sons venomous tongue,

it ought to rot away!

Moreover,

he forced others beneath his crotch!

Let pestilence rot his loins as well!

Offer him as an eunuch to the court!

A fitting destiny for him!

Beat me, Sister-in-law,

I accept the rod! Beat thee?

Dost thou think me untired?

Thou seekest to exhaust me to death!

In truth, those outsiders erred not!

Behold how filthy ye are,

a disgrace to my name!

Boil two cauldrons of water and cleanse yourselves!

Host has attained one hundred malice points!

What manner of sorcery is malice value?

Uphold thy villainous persona,

to garner points of villainy,

and reap bountiful rewards.

Having eaten, hasten to thy labor!

Must every task require,

repeated urging?

I shall lead brother and sister to gather firewood.

We will bring more! Go, and bring no shame upon me! A bowl of rice buys their piety;

verily, three little fools.

Footsteps in the courtyard... thieves? D-Daughter-in-law, art thou home?

If not home,

where else should I be?

These parents are feeble and spineless.

Had they an ounce of mettle,

life here would not be so dire,

nor would the previous mistress dare abuse,

those three young innocents.

Daughter-in-law,

we purchased meat for thy dining!

Store it in the kitchen,

hide it securely!

Presently those vultures,

will catch scent of it and descend!

Sisters face,

what misfortune struck it?

Ask thy precious,

daughter-in-law to learn truth!

Speak thy grievance! Eating meat in secret,

without filial devotion to elders?

Nay, Mother,

the children are far too emaciated.

I have but little silver left.

Filial duty comes first.

Elders must come before infants.

The young ones shall taste none.

Wasted upon this wretched widow.

Better given unto my wife.

Then grant the meat to Mother.

Did I permit it?

Dare touch it?

Since when do you two rule?

Spineless wretch of a husband!

Deaf to thine own husband,

bowing to a wife? He shall cast thee out!

Cease thine arrogant posturing.

Thy son obeys thee not.

He heeds but my command, barren hag.

One mouthful more,

wilt thou ascend to heaven?

One mouthful less,

wilt thou perish?

Capital!

Go hence and die,

sparing the world thy curse!

Eldest, wilt thou let her revile me thus?

I could never rein her in.

Mother,

knowest thou not this well?

Second Sister, waste no words!

Seize the meat straight from the kitchen!

I bade thee conceal it!

Is this how it is hidden?

Whither goest thou?

Dare cross me?

Thou mayest seize it, yet never live to feast! Unhand me!

I implore thee!

Release me!

Eldest, wilt thou stand idle?

Pull this madwoman away at once!

Lest ye seek a beating,

begone this instant!

Grandson, give the meat to Grandmother!

Sister said,

"Hand it over."

The child is starved to the bone!

Meat!

Thou yieldest it up to pamper greedy kin!

Dost thou not see?

They despise thee, yet thou fawnest upon them!

They say mothers grow strong,

yet thou art but soft mud,

wholly beyond redemption!

She demanded the meat,

and thou gavest it!

Stand firm for thine own flesh!

Bring the meat; I shall prepare the meal.

Husband, our young ones grow cold toward us.

Perchance we should not leave.

We must seek outside toil.

The separation left us with naught.

Second Brother seized our rightful share.

So many mouths await food,

yearning for a crust.

When tilling begins,

our coffer shall be empty.

If all else fails,

we must demand it from Second Brother.

Thy mother revealed

ye bought a substantial cut of meat.

Laboring outside is commendable,

yet squander not thy coin.

Father, we wasted naught.

Hmph!

Thou art thrifty,

yet others harbor wicked greed.

Certain folk are never modest!

Save thine own oil then!

One foot already rests in the grave.

Fail to hoard,

thou diest tomorrow!

Behold this unhinged vixen!

Why brought ye her under this roof?

Does she not defile our lineage?

Nay,

without me,

where would ye turn?

Robbed of three taels,

ye would have starved!

Yielding meager coppers at division,

yet haunting us daily—utterly shameless!

Under this shrews ruinous yoke, all riches shall perish!

Eldest Brother,

yield thy wages unto me,

to guard in thy stead.

Have we not parted households?

Giving it to thee,

how shall we survive?

Covet it not!

Every coin must be surrendered to me!

Ye roam freely, burdening me with three young babes!

Is this not my rightful due, Father?

Demand filial tribute only of mine own self hereafter.

Seek it of this humble daughter; both pockets remain bare.

Yet none can sit idly whilst fortunes drain away.

Ye must labor in the town market forthwith.

Else so many mouths under this roof

shall starve. We prepare to depart this very hour.

By the ordained decree of fate,

Song Shiyu would be sold into torment at a brothel.

When found by her elder brothers,

she turned bitter and wicked beyond redemption.

Could this calamity fall this day?

Go forth at once, all three!

Play outside,

grant this lady tranquility!

Song Shiyu, guard thy younger kin well.

What insolence is this?

Whose threshold welcometh me not with fawning smiles?

Then thou visited only the dens of beasts!

Thy presence bringeth nothing but ill omens!

What treachery is brewing?

Dost thou mock this dealer?

How could I dare?

This maiden hath fair and delicate features.

A single trade shall yield thee immense silver.

Their house is impoverished; a useless girl is no loss.

Upon her sale,

we divide the coin. Dost thou take me for a fool?

Selling my kin yet sharing silver with thee?

Sell thy daughter and grant me half! Insolent rogue!

Wilt thou sell the child or not?

Offend me now, and hereafter

none shall purchase,

though thou beg!

Hearken well: henceforth,

I shall strike thee at every encounter!

Good!

I shall remember this!

I am clean now,

no longer a beggar child.

Elder Sister bathed me and fed me feast!

The slave merchant indeed arrived,

led by Second Aunt herself.

Thou hast heard it!

Shi Tou, speak! Did they bargain for a price?

The slave trader was driven off

by Gou Yas elder sister,

drenched with filthy slops!

Twas most terrifying!

None dare torment me now!

My sister is fiercely formidable!

Harm me,

and she shall storm thy gates!

Elder Sister,

I suffered no wrong!

Thou truly hast shown some valor.

Hold fast to this courage!

When grown, I shall treat thee with devotion.

Our brothers too shall give thee all their coin!

Truly? Or dost thou deceive this mistress?

For Elder Sister was benevolent,

sparing me from sale!

All my future silver belongs to thee!

We swear upon our honor to keep this pledge!

Let this oath be sealed.

Henceforth,

I await boundless splendor from thy hands.

Is it engraved upon thy heart?

Swear thy sacred vows at once!

Fail, and growth shall ever forsake thee!

I swear! Nay,

serve her well or remain forever small!

Since I seek future glory from thy hands,

I may bestow some gentle favor.

Wickedness points increased.

Coveting wealth and vanity

is deemed vicious malice indeed.

No need for relentless venom then.

Thus our covenant is fulfilled.

One trial remaineth; we shall enact a grand drama.

Aid me! Old Song and his second son act devoid of humanity!

They purloined three taels of my dowry,

and now seek to sell my sister-in-law!

Bear witness before heaven, esteemed villagers!

If any attempt to seize my kin,

my brother-in-law,

without consent, let righteous men intervene!

Block their path,

and gratitude shall be bountifully repaid.

Should any abet the villains,

we shall meet at the magistrate court!

Grandfather and Second Aunt revile me,

fear grip my soul!

Sell not my sister! We are already divided!

By what right sell us? Old Song hath no heart!

She is their own blood granddaughter,

their own flesh and blood niece!

Su Lin,

what madness art thou stirring?

Hast thou no shame in thy conscience?

Furthermore,

Which word of mine is not the absolute truth?

I dare proclaim it!

If I speak falsehood, may I perish

ere the morrow! Darest thou?

Thou truly knowest no shame!

Every shameless deed

hath been committed by thine own hand.

Since thou art unashamed,

why should I feel disgraced?

Hearken well to my vow this day:

should my husbands kin vanish,

I shall hold thee accountable!

I shall grant thee no peace.

Villainy quota met; realm maps unlocked.

Peril ratings and local yields are charted.

If these markings

hold true,

sustenance shall no more be our worry.

Has Su Li lost her wits?

Fishing so crudely to catch a prize!

The village elders observe strict craft;

even so,

they catch but one after a full day.

Su Li

must have reached

the very end of her tether!

Ha!

This novices fortune truly holds merit.

Chubby lad,

bear a message unto my dwelling:

bid Song Shiyun bring forth a wooden pail.

Humph!

Why should I heed thee?

Lest thou refuse,

I shall thrash thee!

I shall go! Yield and cease thy wrath!

Come quickly, gather the catch into the pail,

and return home.

Take this as bounty for bearing the message.

Did that wretched vixen Su Li utter so?

Disobey her decree,

and she shall strike?

Await the lads return,

inquire of him,

and I shall confront her!

Hitherto I deigned not

to stoop to her folly;

she presumes I dread her wrath!

Who dared harass thee?

Behold this lively fish!

Bestowed by Gou Yas elder sister-in-law, Mother!

She possesses remarkable skill;

she reaped an abundant haul!

Second Aunt of the Song clan,

thou art exceedingly cunning!

Dreading to cross Su Li thyself,

thou wouldst wield me as thy pawn!

Alas,

Pangers mother,

misconstrue me not;

my intent was solely born of goodwill.

Wherefore carries she no fire-poker today?

Venturing to scoop fish with a woven basket?

Can this avail?

Tis hard to foretell.

Yesterday she angled with a fire-poker;

we deemed her wholly mad.

Yet she snared an abundant catch!

Old Li caught not even a single fry,

and wept from bitter wrath!

Methinks she awaits manna from the heavens!

If good fortune attend her again,

I shall take her name! Behold her finding!

Uncanny! How falls every blessing to Su Li?

Wherefore hast thou left two behind ungathered?

Didst thou fail to see them?

Feasting on my scraps yet feigning grandeur!

Truly a shallow and petty creature!

Song Chunyun, what dost thou here?

I... was passing by! Who would believe that?

Peeping into Scholar Suns lattice window!

Who knows what mischief lurks in thy heart?

A vile heart perceives all things as evil.

With a thieving sister-in-law,

comes a pilfering brother-in-law!

With such brazen folk,

what virtue can children ever learn?

Twas my fault to eavesdrop;

scold me if thou must,

yet bark not at her like a rabid hound!

Thinkest thou that defending Su Li

shall grant thee scholarly schooling?

Possesses she any coin?

Bears she such pure benevolence?

I study not!

He shall study!

On the morrow I pay his tuition!

Su Li,

thou boastest wildly when ye can scarce draw breath!

How wilt thou sustain his studies?

Selling oneself?

How knowest thou that pays?

Hast thou tried?

Pardon my ignorance.

Dost thou believe

I strike?

Dost thou dare?

I shall strike! Sister-in-law,

I shamed thee.

Punish me.

Dost thou love study?

Scholars become lords of renown.

To grant thee grand ease.

I was wrong.

I shamed thee.

Strike me.

As thou wilt.

Aye.

Greatness requires lore.

Thou must study.

Earn me silks and jewels!

Dost thou hear?

No books?

Worry not about silver for study.

Fret not thyself.

I have coins; remember the debt owed to me.

Aye.

I shall earn.

Thy fortune!

I will teach the young ones.

Thy silver

Shall not waste; when rich,

All three shall attend school.

I heard of it.

Urgent matters called me.

Else I had checked the youth.

To hear,

Listen outside.

He needs not listen outside henceforward.

Within he shall sit. How insatiable she is!

Sure,

I fear her. So be it.

I cannot best her.

Henceforth from this day,

My brother studies here.

I pay tuition now.

Tuition paid

Covers only basics.

Brushes and paper follow.

I know.

Thus I sent but one lad.

Fee for eavesdropping,

Fallen prey,

Of tiny worth.

Pray, refuse it not.

Not his fault alone,

Kindly caution the children,

To seal their lips.

Assuredly, Su Li.

Is tasking such tender youth not harsh?

Indeed.

All are farmers.

Pretending noble ill fits.

Then steal not his firewood!

Think you I saw not?

Wood abounds,

Yet ye rob us while tormenting us!

Feigning pity,

Just bullying our young one?

Tormenting me! Look, a wild pheasant!

Grown up,

I shall be mighty as thee!

Rich bounty.

Let us hasten home at once.

Begone now!

Thy sacks are torn!

Demanding wage?

Be glad I fine thee not!

I tore not the sacks.

Why withhold wages?

How much is a single sack?

It cannot match my fee.

Sir,

Have mercy.

This is our lifeline!

Without it,

My kin will perish!

Live or die, begone from here!

Bother not our trade.

Fine.

Good.

I kneel before thee!

Wilt thou withhold pay?

Whence

Shrew! Not a single copper!

Good.

Regret it not!

Good folk, come behold!

Look upon this!

Minsheng Store robs wages!

They tore the flour sacks by their own folly,

yet falsely cast blame upon my parents-in-law!

Dealers with hearts so blackened must palm off counterfeit wares!

What slanderous falsehoods art thou spewing?

Silence thy tongue and cease this clamor!

Good folk, pray judge this grievous injustice!

Doth running a grand shop permit such oppression?

With such vile virtue, their grain is surely adulterated!

Cease thy shouting!

I shall pay thy silver wages at once, wilt that suffice?

Now dost thou fear? Tis too late!

Merely paying the wages shall not appease this lady!

Guards, cast these three troublemakers into the street!

Refuse,

and break their legs!

Indeed!

Fair Mistress, let all matters be settled amicably!

Livelihood is bitter in these times.

Grant us mercy!

That dependeth on the depth of thine own sincerity.

Shall twenty extra copper coins prove our goodwill?

Come all, we can surely resolve this with honor,

with honor,

all in good peace!

Commerce relieth entirely upon an untarnished name.

Such a tumult shall drive our humble house to ruin!

Life is fraught with hardships for us all;

pray stay thy noble hand!

We two hold no sway; our daughter-in-law ruleth the household.

Aye,

dost thou deem our feeble words carry any weight?

Truly not so,

else we would never have dared slight the good lady.

May we offer twenty extra coppers with fine grain?

My sincerity is rendered in fullest measure.

Aye,

behold our plight!

Forsaking hearth and home to toil abroad,

earning but paltry scraps of coin,

yet nearly cheated of honest wages!

Could ye be any more wretchedly incompetent?

Enough!

Cease this pitiful display and let us depart!

Buy meat; the children at home are starved to bone.

How can their fragile bodies endure such privation?

As parents, ye must show some wits and vigilance!

In the ordained fate, Song Chiying

had his vitality broken in tender youth,

forfeited

precious chance after chance,

and watched his beloved wed another only to perish in shame.

Had he suffered but a little less bitterness,

he would never have twisted into dark malice amid torment.

Noble Lady,

that merchant and his lackeys of Minsheng Shop

cheated me of fair measure long before.

Were it not that harmony breedeth wealth in trade,

I would have struck back long ago!

Thou hast avenged this grievance on my behalf this day!

My chest feeleth boundless relief and delight!

These marrow bones are gifted unto thee,

and I shall carve extra rich pork for thy basket!

Speak if any other cur offendeth thy sight;

I shall grant thee even greater gratification!

Thou art a lady of spirited and wondrous temper!

Pray visit our butcher stall often!

Did I not proclaim,

ere I return,

none of you dare step outside?

My solemn commands,

flung to the winds! Good daughter-in-law,

quench thy fury,

she merely sought to ease our labor.

Gaunt and frail as she is,

heaving such firewood will exhaust her marrow,

dost thou understand?

Should she break her constitution,

her entire lifelong fortune shall be blighted!

She shall taste no bliss in all her days!

Hast thou, her father, ever pondered this?

I... this foolish father thought not so deep,

believing only she had grown dutiful.

Heed not that thy second brother is grown,

needing brawn,

and requiring more food!

Fret not that thy little sister is tiny

and weepeth when hunger striketh!

All fortune hath turned bright now.

Thou needst yield to none! Gou Wa,

weep not; henceforth thy father shouldereth all toil!

Thou hast only to play and take delight!

Grown so tall,

yet wailing as though thy father hath perished!

What shameless conduct!

All this corruption cometh from thy spoiling!

A fathers passing would evoke no such wails;

only if

Grandfather died would one howl thus!

Thou curseth mine own life?

Curse thine eldest son! Hearing thou returned loaded with meat and grain!

To bring such bounty yet pay no filial tribute is unseemly.

Furthermore,

thy prodigal daughter-in-law hath sent the lad to school!

Is this not sheer squandering of silver?

Scholarship? Indeed!

Thou must fetch the boy home presently,

reclaim all tuition fees,

and strip Su Li of household rule.

If thou canst not manage,

entrust the coin unto my hand,

that our days may truly prosper.

And what manner of prosperity is that?

To starve nine meals in three days?

What insolent words are these?

I am thy father!

Would I ever bring harm upon thee?

Aye, thou wouldst not harm thy son,

yet thou wouldst sell thy granddaughter via traffickers,

merely waiting to split the blood coin!

Thou wouldst sell my daughter?

Hmph!

Dost thou not know how cruelly Su Li treats them?

Sold into service, she might taste some fortune.

I acted solely for the childs sake.

Thou liest! The children are indeed estranged;

this boy looks upon me as though I were no kin.

For thy presence changes naught!

Thine own kin starve while thou providest for others.

Eldest Song!

If thou continuest thus,

I shall sever our marriage bond!

Marrying thee is the bitterest regret of my life.

Grieve no more.

Come, assist me to knead dough and chop meat.

Lay down the firewood and step out; wontons await.

Thy labor at the stove is not needed.

The bundle upon the outer table—

open it, for its contents belong to thee.

Eldest Sister-in-law,

thou art truly benevolent.

I am no saint;

my kindness unto you

serves a calculated purpose.

Hast thou forgotten how I once struck thee?

Sister-in-law never struck me!

Truly a pitiful soul, so easily appeased.

I saw Second Aunts household feast upon wontons,

and Cousin relished every savory morsel.

He meant only to tantalize us.

Now we too partake of this feast!

Ought you not speak your pledge before dining?

How did I instruct you?

We must achieve greatness,

grant Eldest Sister-in-law supreme fortune,

and secure her an illustrious life! Feast now.

Daughter-in-law,

thou speakest truth.

I have been a shameful father.

Henceforth, all household matters rest in thy hands;

as thou commandest,

so shall I obey.

Likewise! Thy father and I are at thy disposal.

Hmph.

We shall see how faithfully ye perform.

Let not your deeds fail your words.

Village Elder!

Pray uphold justice for this withered old man!

My eldest son prospers yet forsakes his own parents;

when I visited yesterday, he cast me out!

Eldest Brother, Eldest Sister-in-law,

come forth!

I have brought the Village Elder today,

to settle our grievances in full.

Our domestic matters

are beyond my authority;

thou knowest well my helpless nature,

Elder Ma!

Whoever rules this home,

is filial devotion unto elders not paramount?

Filial tribute requires coin!

Without wealth,

whence came thy flour and rice?

Whence came the silver for the boys schooling?

What gall hast thou to feign poverty so heartlessly?

Fear ye not retribution from the heavens?

So malice truly invites heavenly wrath?

Then walk carefully beneath the skies,

lest the thunderbolts spare none save thee!

In matters between elders,

what right hast thou to speak?

Enough!

If not Su Li, with whom can one reason? Thy elders cannot utter a single word!

To argue with them would take an eternity!

Uncle Ma,

they returned laden with abundant provisions,

as all witnessed, and the youths schooling is undeniable truth; wealth they possess!

By what right do they withhold filial duty,

and cast my father out?

Hear me well:

By what right? By the division of hearth,

wherein the eldest branch received not a copper!

Every coin now spent is mine alone,

and since entering the Song household,

I have yielded three taels of silver in homage.

Why demand more coin of us?

Not homage? Then count it a loan to repay, or extortion to settle before the magistrate!

Uncle Ma, judge this right:

our households are divided,

yet purchasing meat

becomes a crime?

The children wither in famine,

yet they would snatch their morsels!

Are we unfilial,

or they devoid of kinship?

Brother, none forbids thy sustenance,

yet good fare should be shared; spare the youths fees,

and our parents might feast well!

My daughter-in-laws three taels cover years of filial duty;

procure food from that sum!

If this pleases you not,

return the three taels, along with the goods

wrongfully seized at division.

When shalt thou restore them?

Could my timid elder brother speak thus,

or did Su Li incite him?

The village elder is here,

who penned the partition deed;

let him bear witness today.

Shall we claim our share from thy estate?

Village Elder,

thou lackest elder brotherly dignity;

for such trifles,

must thou squabble? Would yielding kill thee?

Would we survive it?

Without

my daughter-in-law,

we had perished long ago!

When we have food,

thou aidest the second son in coveting it!

Father, thy partiality knoweth no bounds!

The elder must defer to the younger;

if thou needest goods to live,

thou art merely worthless;

starving is thy just desert!

Mark my words: those goods

thou shalt never touch!

Then, Uncle Ma,

bear witness:

the eldest branch received naught,

so no filial homage is due,

and the three taels must be returned!

Let the goods and the silver

be forsaken;

the eldest branch owes no future homage,

and all is settled.

Contest it before the magistrate,

yet I warn thee:

the second branch standeth in the wrong!

Out of deference to Uncle Ma,

we concede this loss,

and abide by his ruling.

What of you?

We agree; let the elders toil,

and burden the young no more.

Fetch water and hew wood. Mother,

tend the little ones and mend their garments,

lest they seem forsaken by heaven.

Fortunately, tis unbroken.

Fortune hath dropped into my lap unsought.

Behold,

soiled in such foul grime,

limping

and stumbling!

Went thou up the hills to tryst?

No wonder foul stench drifts on the wind!

The insolent wench returns,

bearing the marks of degradation!

Unable to fund the boys studies,

she sells her virtue for silver!

If thine eyes serve thee ill,

pluck them out! Envious, are ye?

Envy avails naught;

covet not a speck from our hearth,

nor even catch a whiff of our fare!

They say in pursuing pheasants,

thou wert soundly thrashed;

try chasing hares now,

to see if thou art beaten again!

What art thou staring at?

Bridle thy tongue henceforth before me,

lest I strike thee at every encounter!

Think not that thou canst extort aught from me.

All the villagers stand witness here.

Who stirred this strife first,

is clear to all beneath heaven.

What falsehood have I uttered?

Why venture up the mountain?

How knewest thou of the treasures hidden there?

What idle drivel!

Who knoweth not the wild hills yield bounty?

If thou hast prowess,

seek it thyself.

Behold the so-called scholar,

lacking all grace and propriety!

Lady Su, thy silver

was squandered in vain! Not so!

If it but stirreth thy daily envy,

every coin was well spent.

None speaketh thus!

Hold thy peace,

speak no further.

Thou art no match for her tongue.

Indeed so,

nor did she provoke thee.

Though she is vexing,

who striketh first forfeits right.

Thy aunt bestoweth this on thee.

Here.

Thy reward for guarding my basket.

Thou art truly kind, Aunt.

Wherefore is thy aunt so kind?

Aunt gave me a fresh egg.

For the fish of late

and the egg today, my thanks.

As for our past quarrel,

I was but used as anothers weapon.

Bear no grudge against my folly.

Once provoked, I act quite unreasoningly.

I confess to being rather unruly.

Tis merely a trifling affair.

Let us clear the air and make peace.

Little Pang is ever welcome at our home.

I shall take my leave now.

My family awaiteth the meal.

Sister-in-law,

I wish to study no more.

Thinkest thou if thou ceasest study,

I need not climb the mountain?

Then thou art mistaken.

I seek bounty only to live in comfort.

Thou art never so heartless.

Were I not such,

I would not pay thy tuition,

nor care for thy young siblings.

Aye.

I see the spark of promise in you,

so I spare you wrath.

All of this must be repaid.

Now that I have spoken plainly,

comprehendest thou?

I understand.

I will rise high to bring thee glory and ease!

Sister-in-law, who wronged thee?

Pray tell us!

None hath harmed me.

I but tumbled by mischance.

We need no rich food nor feasts,

if only Sister-in-law suffers no hurt!

Mm.

These three young ones

were truly worth cherishing.

Daughter-in-law,

Father shall ascend the mountain tomorrow.

Though my wits be dull,

I shall follow thy word.

Point the path, and I shall labor.

Mother too shall ascend the mountain tomorrow.

Our weathered bones

fear no fall, yet thy delicate frame must not suffer.

Tomorrow I go not,

nor shall either of you.

That mountain ridge

hath no treasures left.

When spring sowing is finished

and rain hath fallen,

we shall go together. Mother,

I know well where peril lies.

What then should Father and I do tomorrow?

To sit idle would be unbecoming.

Mother,

our household is divided.

Whence cometh endless toil?

Rest when idle; so doth all the world live.

Indeed,

we are divided.

I had forgotten.

Our days are truly turning fair.

Weep not, Mother. Father,

weep not.

Partake of the feast!

Heave-ho!

Living quite comfortably, I see.

Twas thou who ruined

my granarys trade! Verily the visage of a shrew.

Thou art the master who withholds wages for honest toil.

Young master of the granary, truly bearing the air of a scoundrel.

Thy tongue is venomously sharp indeed,

no marvel my granary could not withstand thee.

Thy mind is sorely lacking in wit,

no marvel thy granary commits such utter folly.

Why must thou be so terribly obstinate?

Knowest thou who stands before thee?

Daring to address me with such insolence!

Thou mayest disparage others yet forbid any retort?

Art thou wronged when called an utter fool?

Did I not proclaim thine identity from the onset?

A sharp mind is a precious treasure.

Would that thou hadst one! How darest a wench speak so?

Believe it or not, with one flick of my masters finger,

thou shalt find no breath beneath the sky!

I believe it. Help!

Murder!

The Jin scion and his henchman commit slaughter in open street!

Silence, silence!

Hush thy mouth at once!

Who hath touched a hair upon thee?

Striking first to seize advantage,

understandest thou not?

Our young master merely harbored curious wonder toward thee;

who knew thy tongue spares no soul.

Enough,

Young Master,

let us depart.

Why contest with such a vulgar shrew?

It shall not be!

Scorn me as thou wilt in other matters,

yet none shall deem mine intellect feeble.

Test me as thou pleasest!

Should my answer prove false,

all this silver shall belong to thee.

For the sake of thy silver, I shall humor thy game.

Let it be pledged beforehand:

keep thy word;

when defeated, fly not into wrath.

Assuredly! I, Jin Manlou, am no petty soul who dreads defeat.

Hark closely then:

atop the bough straddles a monkey,

upon the ground stands a monkey,

how many monkeys in total?

I thought thou wouldst pose a profound riddle!

Eight monkeys in all.

How now?

Art thou struck speechless?

Wrong! Exactly two monkeys in all.

Thou mockest me!

Thinkest thou I dare not chastise thee? Thine own folly,

yet thou hast the gall to blaze in anger!

I spoke of a monkey astride a tree,

and one upon the ground;

are these not merely two monkeys?

It truly appeareth to be so.

Now that all is settled,

I shall take my departure.

Hold! Depart not yet!

That riddle counts not;

test me once more! Very well,

heed carefully this time: upon the tree are seven monkeys,

upon the earth is one monkey; in total two monkeys,

nay, eight monkeys!

Correct!

This time twas not astride,

but seven! This will not do,

I still hold ample silver;

again! Enough,

another day.

The young and aged at home await my return.

Young Master Jin,

our paths shall cross in days ahead.

What befell me this day?

To be confounded even by mere monkeys!

Young Master,

might thou and I be the very monkeys,

whom she hath toyed with all this while?

Speak not thus!

Regardless, one must acknowledge that little shrew

truly possesseth formidable craft.

Little mistress, thou hast arrived!

How much meat desirest thou?

Whatever portion thou buyest,

I shall grant thee an extra soup bone.

I vented no righteous wrath on thy behalf today.

The Jin house learned

of thy grievance that day,

and expelled both cheating manager and knavish clerk!

How is that not sweet retribution?

Then grant me three catties of fresh meat,

that I may celebrate at home! Come oft, mistress! What befell home?

Denying grain to the elders,

yet cleansing their raiment

is surely thy bounden duty!

I declare unto thee, this heap of garments

Refuse to wash them,

and thou art unfilial,

worthy of scorn wherever thou goest!

Who dares spit upon my mother-in-law?

Step forth and reveal thyself!

Behold,

the onlookers are no fools.

Thou deemest thyself imposing,

yet they view thee as a jester!

Have I spoken falsely?

Ye feast in private greed,

yet refuse to share the toil!

This robe belongs to thee;

this belongs to Second Uncle;

this tiny garment belongs to thy daughter;

this one belongs to thy son.

Where are the garments of the elders?

Look closely upon these clothes!

Not one belongs to our elders!

Whom dost thou bid our branch revere?

Behold,

this Lady Li

is truly a slothful shrew!

She will not lift a finger,

and her insolence runs far deeper;

she bullies others

out of long habit!

Who bullies whom?

I merely gathered in error!

Whether in error or not,

dare cause another uproar,

and I shall bring thee ruin.

This house

is under my rule!

Take thy rags and begone!

Thou didst well just now;

stand firm hereafter.

Mark my words:

toil that is not ours,

thou shalt never touch!

Thy words are etched upon my heart.

Tell me,

how prepare we this meat?

Stuff the dumplings generously,

spare no morsel;

nurturing the young

is our chief concern.

I shall mince the meat.

First step,

Target met; green seed pouch bestowed.

A timely boon as sowing season nears;

it can be sown in fertile soil.

Su Li, what is amiss?

Pangers mother,

Aunt Li of the neighboring hamlet

brings chicks yearly to our door;

if thou desirest any,

come at daybreak

to choose the hardiest. Indeed I will!

Pray wait,

I shall arrive at dawn.

These marrow bones,

take home to brew broth for Panger;

the cloth pouch contains vegetable seeds.

Trove procured from the market town,

plant a few in thy garden.

I cannot accept this;

the bones were gifted with meat,

and seeds cost but mere coppers;

pray do not disdain them.

Then I shall not stand on ceremony.

Aunt, my mother hath picked them out;

they are mottled hens,

abundant in laying eggs!

Come inspect the brood I chose;

if they please thee not,

while folk are few,

exchange them swiftly.

Could thy choice ever be amiss?

Select twenty more; eggs fetch good coin,

and during feasts we may roast one. Su Li, hasten!

At Scholar Suns, Old Wangs boy

claims

thy young kin stole his coin;

villagers gather to behold the spectacle!

In the ancient decree,

Song Chiyun turned to darkness when framed for theft,

a stain whispered through ten leagues.

Though I sent him openly to learn,

can this fate not be averted?

So tender in years, yet dabbling in thievery!

Begone if tuition is beyond thy reach!

Spreading foul shame ere the truth is revealed!

How can ye pronounce rash judgment?

Though Song Chiyuns house is impoverished,

his integrity is spotless.

There lies some grave misunderstanding,

Master!

Favor him not merely for his intellect.

Even if a thief master the classics,

What matter can it make?

Even if raised to office, he is but a venal parasite!

I stole naught!

Beyond doubt, twas he who stole it!

This child is my nephew.

From childhood his hands have not been clean.

Alas!

Perchance the silver for his schooling comes from his sister-in-laws indentured shame!

Pray, let not this scandal spread wide!

What noble future could await thee?

Hail.

Do ye yearn to taste the lash?

Else why do ye never heed the lesson?

Speak those words once more!

Let me hear of this theft.

We pursue it no further.

Thy kin is destitute, so take it as our pity.

Aye!

Count it alms bestowed, for he stole naught!

Why should we yield if he stole it not?

Who else could it be?

Among all these children, he alone wears rags!

Then I say ye but resent my young brother-in-laws scholarly gift,

which eclipses thy sons brilliance!

Thus ye besmirch his good name,

seeking to bar him from letters!

So that thine own son may reign supreme!

Utter insolence!

Hold!

Wilt thou strike or no?

I lower not my hands against womenfolk!

How much silver did he take? Was thy purse purloined entirely,

or merely a few copper coins?

What dost thou imply?

How,

where is our boy?

What meant thine encirclement and insults toward my brother-in-law?

That was mine exact meaning!

Furthermore,

he boldly claims

my young brother-in-law stole his coin.

Yet if he can recount no detail,

is this not bare-faced slander?

Whether he stole or not,

search his person to know!

If the coin be upon him,

he must confess his guilt!

Search me! I took naught!

By what right dost thou search me?

Dost thou defy my command?

Wherefore?

Deem ye me a thief solely because our house is poor?

Su Li, how canst thou doubt my truth?

What falsehood have I spoken?

He studies with greater talent than thou,

and consumed by venomous envy,

thou didst frame him!

Is this mere slander?

Methinks this is the unvarnished truth!

Tis not so!

My son was merely jesting.

Take it not to heart, good folk.

Father and Mother of Wang Yuan,

I can no longer teach your boy; take him home,

and seek a wiser master!

Our child was simply confused for an instant.

Over so small a trifle,

must it come to this?

Though small in origin,

it now echoes in every ear.

I cannot keep him.

Let thy boy offer amends

before he departs!

Idle fancy!

Then I shall sound gongs through every hamlet,

spreading this disgrace across the whole township!

Let us see which scholar dares accept

thy wretched son!

We shall witness whether his future is shattered!

She would truly dare do so!

Inquire if thou believest not;

she did this very deed of late,

stirring turmoil throughout the village!

If thy child seeks renown,

it could not be swifter!

Having ample leisure each day,

time lies heavy on my hands.

Ere long, on the morrow,

I shall wander from village to village!

I offer one tael of silver in recompense,

sufficing to buy ample brush and ink for thy brother-in-law!

I desire not thy coin!

I demand only that thy kin bow and make amends to him!

Ungrateful wretch, regret not this choice!

Silver is won by ones own honest toil,

not traded for my brother-in-laws

proud spine!

Whom dost thou dismiss with a solitary tael?

Scorning us ceaselessly as paupers,

yet ye possess no boundless wealth yourselves!

Make thy amends at once.

Su Li possesseth true talent;

thy son may boast cunning,

yet nowhere shall he find footing.

Song Chiyun,

in this matter we wronged thee;

forgive us.

Mayst thou pardon my poor rearing.

Indeed,

for my sons misdeed I am truly sorry;

pray grant us forgiveness.

Framing thee

was my grave fault;

pardon me.

We shall pursue it no further,

yet pardon we will not grant.

Indeed, I shall never forgive thee!

Blamest thou me for yielding to a search?

I blame thee not;

I blame myself for disobeying thee.

I resolved without consulting thee;

tis natural thou didst doubt.

Wherefore reproach thyself?

Nay,

thou actest for my sake;

I ought to obey thy word.

Though my intent is kind,

my actions may not bring true good.

Hold fast to thine own judgment.

No wonder in future days he fell prey

to a hypocrite masking hurt as benevolence,

entangled in bitter grief;

this temperament took root in childhood.

Sister-in-law,

my gratitude;

I thank thee,

for trusting in my honor

and standing bravely for me.

What then wilt thou achieve hereafter?

I shall rise above all,

cherish Sister-in-law,

and grant thee robes of silk and noble feasts!

Bear it firmly in mind.

Sister-in-law,

is aught amiss upon my person?

I ponder what hue best suiteth thee;

these ragged patches offend the eye.

Waste not hard-earned coin on me;

I am clean and neat,

with naught to cause shame.

Let others mock as they please,

I heed them not.

Yet I heed it; such tatters disgrace my name.

In truth thou wishest me clad in fine garments,

shielded from scorn.

How could that be?

I fear such strife may hinder thy studies,

dim thy glorious ascent,

and mar my days of ease.

Yet if thou disobeyest me,

Lady, gaze upon this hue;

that cloth in thy grasp appeareth far too drab!

Two bolts shall clothe our entire kin;

doth this not spare coin?

The silver saved buyeth meat

to nourish the young ones.

Truth lieth in thy reasoning;

the weaves thou hast chosen are most sturdy,

yet taking two bolts at once,

is it not overly lavish?

We have no choice;

my father-in-law was neglected and clad in sorry rags.

Now the households are parted,

though not in splendid attire,

he must appear respectable;

a few garments allow proper change.

Alas,

partial elders leave kin in bitter plight.

Thy purse is meager, yet thy spirit lofty;

it suiteth my fancy.

This is remnant cloth;

pay only its base cost.

My heartfelt thanks to thee!

May thy commerce ever prosper!

Thy auspicious words are welcome.

Abundant fortune awaiteth thee;

thy blessing shall surely come to pass.

Fearing not ruin, rustic fools would play merchant?

Their estate is already stripped bare as ruin;

wretched indeed!

Sing ye in duet to play the minstrel for me?

Thy tongue is clumsy,

thy wits slow.

In all my days,

none dared utter this!

We must test it; make way.

I am burdened with tasks;

I have no leisure.

Nay, it must be proved;

this day thou must test it and attend the young master!

A trial? Very well,

hearken closely!

Repeat after me: red carp, green carp, and donkey—why dost thou stammer donkey, donkey?

Why claim incompetence

when truly deficient?

Tarry not, begone!

Return! That monkey riddle

is now fully clear to me.

Test my wit once more!

Alas,

Young Master, why contend with her this day?

Our family holds all commerce here; she cannot avoid us. We need but bide our time!

Who plays the quarry remains yet untold.

Carrying this burden is wearisome;

hereafter, when heavy goods are sought,

summon me to accompany thee.

Grave burdens are few;

should weight arise,

I shall summon thee,

for sloth is mine own nature.

Now the sowing is done,

sew fresh garments in thy spare hours;

dress not like mendicants. Very well,

Mother shall sew for thee first;

mine can wait, but clothe Song Chiyun before all.

He is now a scholar,

and must appear dignified. Daughter-in-law,

I wish to find labor in town,

lest silver run short.

When the robes are finished,

I too shall seek employment;

all wages earned shall be surrendered unto thee

to spend as thou desirest.

Neither of you shall wander forth;

rest well at home.

I shall assign proper tasks. At last,

I have caught thee!

Monkeys, carp, and donkeys—

I have mastered all.

Test me at thy pleasure! Aye, test me as well!

Get thee aside;

after days of toil, shalt thou steal my glory?

Eldest Young Master Jin,

do I appear idle?

Cease vexing me incessantly!

Dost thou not seek a storefront?

Whichever catches thine eye,

I shall lease at modest rent!

Hold,

why should I suffer a loss for naught?

I warned thee,

this woman possesses cunning artifice;

we should not approach her! Stay,

I have yet to prove my mastery of the beasts!

What care I for thy mastery?

Why must I grant thee proof? Thou meanest if I prove it,

I must lease the shop at cheap rates?

Elder Brother,

these are but thine own conjectures,

are they not?

To impute malice without cause,

proves thine own heart base and vile!

Nay, matters seem ill,

Young Master,

let us depart;

methinks we are ensnared in her trap.

Hmph,

let not thy feeble wits command this Young Master!

This day I shall contest words with her,

to see who triumphs!

I have no leisure to trifle with thee;

no proof is needed,

merely recite after me:

Pink Phoenix Blossoms.

Phoenix? Simple enough!

Pink Phoenix Blossoms—

Phoen—why doth my tongue stumble so?

Make way, obstruct not my path;

my fleeting hours are not for squandering!

Didst thou not seek to lease a shop?

These properties belong unto my clan;

speak directly with me, canst thou not?

To lease in haste after petty suspicions

would make me seem

eager for thy shop,

proving that I harbored base deceit.

Thou and thy lackey would seize it as pretext to reproach me endlessly!

I am by no means so petty a soul!

Enough,

cease this!

Thou art not desperate to lease;

it is I

who eagerly implore thee

to take my shop!

I claim that shop for one year. Young Master,

that storefront occupies prime grounds,

held for three years lease;

we have fallen into her snare!

Thinkest thou this Young Master

was ensnared by mere monkey and donkey riddles?

I merely wonder what enterprise she intends, and marvel even more

what wonders such a spirited woman might conjure forth.

Humph, agreed!

Let us sign the covenant at once.

Young Master is truly a man of forthright action!

Elder Sister-in-law!

Thou hast returned early today.

At last I may linger longer in thy company!

Thy tongue is ever sweet. Father, Mother,

presently pluck all ripe greens from the courtyard

and cleanse them well.

Depart with me at dawn; tis time to test thy learning.

Inscribe a few characters for me;

shall we not craft a signboard?

Yet thy calligraphy is truly fair to behold.

Fair Lady, my young master cometh to grace thy hall!

Serve us two bowls of spicy broth; pray wait within.

Three coins a bowl? Thou darest ask such a price!

Inquire how little a savory meat bun costs!

Wilt thou partake or no?

I said not that I would refuse!

How did she devise this delicacy?

Tis uncommonly savory!

Indeed,

tis wondrously delectable.

Desirest thou maize cakes? One coin for two.

Doth my master appear as one who consumeth coarse fare?

Very well,

bring one that I may taste it.

This craft triumphed even in my former realm;

it shall easily sway ancients! Father, hang the closed placard;

the greens are spent.

The commerce is remarkably brisk!

Daughter-in-law, twas wise

thou badest thy father clear land for crops,

else we could never meet the demand!

Then limit the portions each day; once sold,

we shall cease.

Our profit remains assured.

Upon our return, I shall clear another plot.

I beheld Su Lis household in the township today.

She opened an eatery, thronged with patrons!

Alas!

No wonder the three journey thither daily;

they secretly amass fortunes!

Amassing wealth? A meager pittance, perhaps.

That I might believe, but to call it great wealth

soundeth far too preposterous!

Tis not preposterous in the least!

One can scarce find a seat at their tables!

Scarce had I approached their portal

when they shuttered for the day!

How thriving must their commerce be?

I hear the greens in their shop

have never been seen in our hamlet!

Cultivated solely by them and the Zhangs!

Had we not divided the estate,

would not all this silver belong to me?

Wretched woman!

Su Li,

thou wouldst reap wealth,

and flaunt thy glory? With crops destroyed,

let us see how thou conductest thy trade!

Stay your hands at once!

Thou arrivest with swift speed,

truly a faithful hound reared by Su Li!

I saw her bestow a stewed marrow bone upon thee!

Thou art accorded the selfsame station as a dog;

to what end serveth such blind loyalty?

Doth she share her wealth with thee?

Begone forthwith,

lest we show no quarter!

The ones who must flee are you!

Will this strife cause grave peril?

Fear not; I know full well my measure.

I am deeply indebted to thee this day,

else my vegetable plots would have suffered ruin.

Tidings of thy shop spread through the hamlet;

sensing ill intent,

I hastened hither,

and came upon them in the act!

Beware, for those who covet thy good fortune

are surely not these two alone! Su Li, this endeth not!

We go unto the Village Elder for justice! Behold how thou hast battered us!

If she payeth no indemnity,

this wrong can never be dismissed!

Aye!

Think not that we seek extortion.

Yet my wounds were inflicted by you two;

how much silver will ye offer in recompense?

How can thy scratches compare to our afflictions?

Clear as day!

Thou hast beaten us openly before all eyes!

For their afflictions,

I am willing to pay silver;

yet how shall they compensate for my crops?

What paltry coins are those worthless greens worth?

Pangers mother arrived just as we began;

what loss couldst thou have suffered?

Then ye must repay silver unto me!

Yield silver or crops; choose thy fate!

Only thy households possess this rare harvest,

wherefrom can we procure amends?

Thus rare treasures command exorbitant prices,

mine own word alone decrees the sum!

Elder,

behold her insolent utterance,

utterly devoid of reason!

Hast thou any right then?

Despoiling crops well merits chastisement!

Yet she should not strike so mercilessly!

Persist in this ceaseless squabble,

and I shall exact full price for the crops!

Ever consumed by envy,

coveting others fortunes,

committing every folly!

Ye crave discipline! Little maiden, thy fists never yield,

and thy mind teems with prosperity!

Speak not of their petty envy,

even mine own heart marvels with envy!

Plant now; once the harvest ripens,

I shall buy all. Pleading thus obliquely,

I had better petition thee outright.

Uncle Ma,

guard thy garden with utmost vigilance.

In these times,

fear of penury

drives folk to desperation.

Uncle Ma,

I know well. Seedlings,

I possess in plenty,

yet lack land for tilling.

Pray announce unto all:

whoso wisheth to sow,

may purchase my seeds; once grown,

I shall buy all at fair price,

honoring every copper.

Splendid!

When every hearth cultivates crops,

none shall plot harm against thy fields.

Should any dare cause mischief,

the village shall never abide it! Release my sister-in-law!

Smothering her so tightly,

can she draw breath?

If thou carst so dearly for her,

where wast thou when she was wronged?

Feigning virtue now,

what hypocrisy is this?

Sister Jinhua,

slander not my eldest sister-in-law!

She treateth me with great kindness!

So she is the original heroines foil, the childhood love,

who sold herself for filial duty,

parting ways from him,

returning widowed to nurture kin,

bestowing constant warmth.

The three younglings revere her as beacon!

Why gazest thou at me thus?

What sorcery didst thou work,

that she shieldeth thee so?

Art thou possessed by madness?

Fancying thyself a merciful bodhisattva!

I must deliver sad tidings:

none here require thy salvation!

Thy tongue is sharp indeed!

All know thy base nature!

I need no stubborn tongue!

My sister-in-law weareth fresh silken robes,

her countenance fair and spotless!

How canst thou discern

any trace of sorrow,

how canst thou claim

that I mistreat her?

Thou speakest utter falsehood!

Hearing of the childrens plight,

I came solely out of benevolence!

Thy benevolence is but filthy slander!

Such hollow piety,

reserve it for thine own house!

Sister Xinghua,

utter no venom against my sister-in-law!

She cherisheth me,

granting meat and scholarly learning to us!

None on earth excelleth my sister-in-law! Truly?

Then I mistook the matter.

Yet thy cousins bullying violence

shall not be dismissed lightly!

I shall avenge thee! Let us confront them together!

Perchance I may render assistance.

Wherefore art thou come?

Thy son struck my sister-in-law!

I grant thee twain choices:

either I thrash thee soundly,

or summon thy son forth

for retribution from my kin!

Third Brother,

our combined might cannot match Su Li alone!

Moreover, our harvest dependeth on Su Lis purchase!

We must not provoke her wrath!

striking another!

Petty quarrels among children require but gentle reason;

striking back is sheer barbarity.

Gouya,

this is grievous misconduct.

Learn not wickedness from Su Li.

How mine own child behaves

is no concern of thine! Art thou so idle?

Hovering about

my young sister-in-law,

harborest thou sinister schemes? By no means!

I merely beheld Gouya wronged

and intervened. Away!

I have returned!

Sister Xinghua,

wherefore comest thou hither?

Gousheng appeareth somewhat taller.

A youth of thine age grown merely to this stature,

thou must have endured bitter torment!

Certain hearts are venomous indeed.

What speakest thou?

I fare exceeding well,

even pursuing scholarship now.

Then studies have worn thee weary.

Making so tender a child bear such harsh toil,

who knoweth what malice lurketh within?

What hardship have I endured?

Is not scholarship an honorable bliss?

Man liveth solely for joyous ease;

thine age is meant for play. Indeed,

thy young brother went

to play with mine.

Wilt thou go?

Didst thou bid Song Chiying to thy dwelling? Is it forbidden?

He wished to visit;

art thou displeased?

Song Chiying would never leave Song Chiyu alone,

save someone pledged full guardianship;

yet Song Chiyu was struck beneath thy care!

How came this to pass?

Didst thou fail to shield him,

or was it done of malice? What truly befell?

Third Brother went to fetch items at Sister Xinghuas;

I remained with Sister Xinghua,

whereupon Cousin fell upon me with blows.

Is this thy tender care? Ponder who in this affair

bears the foulest blame! Layest thou fault on me?

I foresaw not Song Jishi striking so rashly.

As an elder, I could scarce

wrangle with a youth;

I could only soothe Gouya.

Wherefore do Xinghuas words sound so vexing?

Weeping before two words are spoken,

when naught of gravity hath occurred.

Eldest Sister-in-law,

I shall summon Younger Brother home;

the hour waxeth late,

time to partake of dinner.

At so late an hour,

I must return to my domestic chores.

Unlike those blessed with fortune who toil not,

relying wholly upon childrens labor! Gou-

sheng, seek not thy younger brother;

let him feast at my table.

It shall not be!

Where he dine matters little,

yet domestic duties must not be neglected,

lest Eldest Sister-in-law be worn to exhaustion!

Hast thou no conscience?

How couldst thou abandon Little Sister to sport alone?

What game could render thee so disheveled?

Didst thou wallow in mire?

Sister Xinghua bade me search for an item;

upon reaching her house, Erniu,

Sanniu, and Meihua were all wailing,

ceasing only when I joined their play.

While sporting,

Erniu swung a staff and tore my raiment.

What age are Erniu, Sanniu, and Meihua?

Erniu and Sanniu exceed Younger Brother in years;

Meihua is older than Little Sister.

Yet how strange indeed:

she neglected her own kin to attend to mine!

Little Sister,

hath she ever shown such fondness for sisters?

Brother, Father, Mother, and Sister-in-law toil endlessly;

let us not heed frivolous gossip.

Comprehendest thou?

I mark it well.

Gouzhen, I heard all:

folk declare thy scholarship is deep and busy;

thou didst teach

Xiaopang many things,

so canst thou teach Erniu, Sanniu, and Meihua!

Thou art truly wondrous;

my former efforts were not in vain!

Gousheng, what now?

Did not Sister Xinghua say

this age is meant for joyous play?

We must not wear them to weariness!

I have but just returned to our hamlet,

and every household burden falls upon me.

The two boys are unruly and wild,

so I hoped they might learn letters from thee.

Thus Sister Xinghua seeks free tending for her kin.

Father, Mother, and Sister-in-law toil endlessly,

while I must pursue my scrolls;

upon my return,

I must instruct my younger siblings.

None under our roof dwell in idle ease;

we cannot aid thee.

In this endeavor of thine,

didst thou not once delight in their company?

What hath changed thy heart?

Did someone instruct thee to speak thus?

Su Li, is it thou who forbiddest them from my kin?

Dost thou dread their closeness with me?

Truly, Brother Chigui and I share no improper bond.

Even if past feelings lingered, naught existed between ye!

A maidens repute is precious as jade.

Utter no words shrouded in veiled ambiguity,

lest vile gossip drown thee whole, Aunt!

Why dost thou speak on Su Lis behalf?

I heard thy household suffered grievous misery;

hath she coerced ye?

Alas,

Xinghua,

behold, dusk descends fast.

Thy uncle and I must hasten to town at dawn;

we yearn for our repose.

Take Erniu,

Sanniu, and Meihua back to thine abode.

Then we shall take our leave first.

Stay, Aunt,

when none remain at home by day,

let the children visit our yard to play;

minding a few more brings no burden.

Seeing how begrimed thy two brothers appear,

thou art already overwhelmed.

Aunt, why treat me with such cold distance?

Ah,

Xinghua, this aunt is weary to the bone

and yearns to rest.

If thou departest not,

it puts me in sore distress.

Then I shall disturb thy slumber no longer;

when thou art at leisure,

I shall return. Ye seemed close in days past!

Daughter-in-law,

fret not, Mother...

hath Mother not driven her away?

Though Mother is timid,

none dare displease thee!

I was first to defend thee, not Ming!

Let us speak plainly today.

Thy business flourishes indeed,

yet leaving such gold to a peasant woman,

dost thou not deem it a squandered blessing?

So thou desirest it? Very well,

show thy sincerity. How delightful to deal with the wise!

The secret recipe,

name thy price.

Thy shops lease,

I shall refund; henceforth the store is mine alone.

For the recipe,

how much silver offerest thou?

I arrive bearing boundless goodwill:

seventy taels.

How sounds that?

One hundred taels. Raising the price on the spot is unseemly!

A mere recipe for common broth,

how dare it warrant

one hundred taels? Bound to this single stall,

one hundred taels would indeed be excessive;

yet patrons from afar now flock hither daily.

Shouldst thou open branches across the realm,

spreading throughout all Dongqian,

would one hundred taels still seem dear?

Such greens thrive solely in thy village;

how could I establish shops across the empire?

I lack no seeds,

and thou lackest soil.

With thy boundless wealth, purchase fertile acreage!

Since thou puttest it so,

I concede to the hundred taels. For seeds,

I shall pay extra;

let us seal the deed at once.

Haste not; after Frosts Descent, no greens remain.

Dost thou plan to shutter until spring? For winter,

I possess novel delicacies,

yet that commands a separate price.

What price? To be settled then,

or agreed upon this moment?

That depends upon whether Young Master Jin

fears my price shall soar hereafter.

Having witnessed naught with mine own eyes,

we cannot deliberate. Understandable.

Then let us affix our marks

to the deed. Truly decisive and bold!

In so momentous a pact,

Common folk must ponder well; the wise heed the times.

He knows which path yieldeth greatest fortune.

Art thou shaken with fright?

Fear not.

Sister Xinghua is here.

A house without elders courteth ruin.

Tis that thy sister-in-law forbade thee,

or else thou hadst not suffered this fall.

Alas!

This Xinghua is truly loyal and kind.

Had her father not fallen ill,

she might have wed Song Chigui,

nor would he have perished at war.

Fate plays cruel tricks indeed!

Truly so!

Much thanks to her today,

lest severe harm had befallen the children.

How canst thou act as elder sister-in-law?

Were it not for me today,

their heads had been battered open!

The young ones were ever unharmed,

yet disaster striketh both days since thy return!

I should rather demand why this is so!

What dost thou imply by this?

I do but aid thy household,

out of regard for Brother Chigui!

I shall shield his kin, as if I were his lawful wife!

Very well.

I shall depart this very day.

She may dwell in this home,

and tend to them with rightful claim.

Nay!

I want no other!

None else as sister-in-law!

I want not her!

I want only thee!

Leave us not!

I shall be obedient hence, dear sister-in-law!

If aught in us displeaseth thee,

do but speak,

we shall mend our ways!

Whomever thou abhorrest,

we shall keep far from!

Thou must not depart!

Aunt truly deemeth me meddlesome!

Gouyas mother, Xinghua did rescue

thy children after all.

Speaking thus,

doth it not chill the heart?

Aye, repaying grace with spite!

My husbands kin have food and warm robes;

yet she lamenteth their misery,

while her own kin run neglected in filth!

What sinister motive hideth within?

Thy words exceed all measure!

My lot is bitter enough!

Thy bitterness,

was it wrought by my hand?

Lauding thyself in secret,

disdaining me,

what dost thou plot?

Pardon me.

Deceived by rumors, prejudice clouded my mind.

Sister-in-law, my head spinneth and I itch!

What aileth him?

He was sound but moments ago!

The elders bickered heedless of the child,

blind to all else.

Release my brother-in-law this instant,

I shall take him to the physician!

Gouwa, Sister Xinghua shall ever cherish thee!

Hath madness seized thy wits?

I bade thee fetch the physician,

why holdest thou him fast?

Wouldst thou purposely imperil his life?

Nay,

I,

I was merely anxious!

How grew it so severe in moments?

Doth some poison here provoke this affliction?

Whence cometh this strange fragrance?

Tis his father!

Hasten with Song Chiying to borrow the cart!

We must reach the clinic in town!

Had I not haggled for coin with Jinman Tower,

would Song Chiying have escaped this harm?

This frail boy hath the weakest constitution,

I ought to have been far more vigilant!

Pray, hear my explanation!

Once thou art healed,

rememberest thou how Sister loveth eggs?

There is a nest in the tree, Erniu,

saying eggs lie within, Sister!

Am I utterly worthless,

failing in every task?

How so? Thou art yet young,

ignorant of the worlds malice.

Blame not thyself for this.

Yet heed this: I abhor such folly.

aught won at peril of thy life.

Hereafter, if aught pleases me, I shall speak,

and thou shalt bestow it upon me.

Very well.

Once I mend,

tell me straightway.

Step outside a moment.

Rest first; I have words for her.

Whilst my lad and thy brother

sported together,

Er Niu and San Niu joined,

wore my lad to exhaustion,

cast him aside,

and calamity struck.

Su Li, peradventure I overthink,

yet Xinghua seemeth strange.

Thou art not mistaken.

She is indeed peculiar.

What then?

We cannot lock the children within.

Once they step out,

malice will always find them.

Moreover, as matters stand,

the villagers side with her;

wrath availeth naught.

I shall send mine own two to Scholar Sun.

Let us see how she entangles then.

Should she also bear the cost

and send her kin,

I yield to fate.

Then I shall send my lad as well,

as he loveth learning,

lest he be led astray.

Sending him is well.

The garden produce is nearly exhausted.

I intend to climb the hills.

If thou trustest me,

come with me.

I trust thee implicitly!

I shall prepare; summon me if need be,

and call upon me,

for I will surely aid thee.

How fareth the boy?

What spoke the physician?

Let me look upon him; he but just slept,

do not disturb him.

I shall but glance in silence.

Did the physician say he cannot mend soon?

He said no such thing,

yet thou seemest to crave it.

Why judgest thou me so vilely?

Thy brother urged him,

to scale the tree,

and when thou pulled him down,

he kicked my girl.

Sister-in-law,

he scaled barely a few cubits,

how did it lead to a cracked skull?

Matters are not so simple as thou sayest.

Thoughtest thou they would speak no word to me?

Have they not tongues of their own?

Children ever babble in confusion.

Enough.

I care not to dispute; Gou Wa was harmed,

and my heart grieveth most.

I must look upon him this day!

Art thou deaf to human speech?

Gou Sheng, thou art returned.

Thy brother lieth ill,

and I sought to see if he mends,

yet thy sister-in-law barreth me,

who knoweth what dark intent she harbours!

Or rather,

how hast thou changed so greatly?

Thou didst smile upon me of old.

And what then?

Must I repay thee for smiles?

My kin are destitute,

else I had surely bestowed sweetmeats upon thee.

My sister-in-law feedeth us sumptuously each day.

Strange, why am I itching now?

The leech asked who touched him,

and all three of us did.

Shall we seek the infirmary to see if thou art ill?

Misunderstand me not,

I fear lest thou share the same fate.

Early remedy bringeth cure.

What meaneth this?

If I displease thee,

speak plainly; why slander me?

Sister-in-law, I heard todays affairs.

Perchance mine own mind is dark,

yet I suspect her; how is this darkness?

Tis keen discernment.

Thou shouldst question others

more often,

and doubt thyself less.

Why would she act thus?

Perchance she seeketh renown,

or hath suffered much grievance.

coveting anothers deeper misery,

yet seeing them now prosper beyond measure,

hence malice festers.

Why spare such insolence?

If Sister-in-law forbears,

may I chastise them?

Without proof, naught can be done.

Acting rashly,

merely to vent brief ire,

serves no end; the days are long.

Restrain thy wrath;

an hour shall come. Wife, why grow these mushrooms in such clusters?

I have trodden the woods before,

yet never saw such bounty!

Make haste with the toil.

Clear all roots under clear skies;

it commands a better price in town.

Hush, Father, tread softly.

Spread them gently,

lest prying eyes behold us.

No need for such dread, Mother;

the retreat we found

remains unknown to all;

none can despoil it today.

The Master praised our wit,

foretelling high honor in our future!

Then feast on dumplings as your prize!

In former years even festivals lacked dumplings,

yet now every dawn brings feast.

Those herbs yielded ample coin;

when the new year arrives,

we shall feast far better. Good Daughter-in-law,

shall we ascend the hills tomorrow?

The mushroom season wanes;

we shall rest soon.

Once the crop dries,

we shall purchase cloth and cotton

for robes

and boots.

Thy fathers garments and mine still endure;

mine are warm enough!

Cease this talk;

mine is finest, yet cannot fend the biting gales.

Much less your tattered rags!

I know ye seek to spare coin,

yet not through such neglect;

falling ill from cold

wastes silver on physicians

and brings torment.

What amiss has happened here?

He took our dumplings to feed Erniu,

Sanniu,

and Meihua!

The Bodhisattvas lotus seat

belongeth to thee alone!

Forgive me.

Sister-in-law,

I know dumplings are precious,

yet Meihua wept bitter tears from hunger;

remembering how Little Sister starved,

the agony overwhelmed me;

I could not refrain.

Sister-in-law,

I begrudge not those few dumplings,

nor wouldst thou rage over mere morsels.

Yet Sister Xinghua harboreth foul malice;

such charity

breedeth calamity!

What poison didst thou feed Erniu and Meihua?

They cry in grievous belly agony!

I gave only dumplings. No wonder then!

Did thy sister-in-law prepare them?

Did she scheme this?

Nay, our household ate

the exact same dumplings;

she harbors no foul malice!

Why act thus?

Confront the elders

instead of terrorizing helpless children!

Children alone utter unsullied truth,

or dost thou bully him to confess thy lie?

If thou deemest their pain

stemmed from dumplings, let us seek the town physician,

and lay bare the truth!

I go to borrow the village heads cart;

we shall summon him to witness all,

lest slander stain our house. Mother,

guard the children at home.

Go in peace. We trouble the village elder to accompany us.

Over such a trifle,

why disturb the village head?

I meant no harm,

fearing only poison befell my kin!

When poison is alleged,

can it remain a trifle?

I must bear witness myself,

lest both houses brawl without end.

There is no ailment here;

why suspect foul poison? Had it been poison,

How could it be delayed thus?

What hath happened?

Why feign sickness? Weep not!

Dost thou dare wail?

This clinic is no nursery;

pay the fee

and begone!

I departed in such haste

without coin.

Why shouldst thou pay?

Came this not from our dumplings?

I shall defray it,

to buy my brother-in-law a lesson.

What truly occurred?

How could eating dumplings mean poison?

Indeed.

Gou Wa wept bitterly;

since ye went to town

till now, he ceased not,

vowing never to do good again!

Wherefore?

Sought someone to extort him?

In so grave a matter,

ah,

blame falls not on Gou Wa alone.

None lies upon my brother-in-law!

The physician declared

thy kin suffer no ailment whatever;

if illness there be,

twas but sheer hunger!

Had he not bestowed dumplings,

they would have fainted from famine!

Why weigh it so strictly?

Can I not be strict?

Should thy venomous words

spread abroad,

folk would fancy we poisoned thee!

Eating dumplings yet acting like curs,

offering no gratitude

but accusing us of foul poison!

I was merely frantic then;

may I not even inquire?

Inquire?

Assuredly;

yet truth must be laid bare,

lest vile slander spread hereafter!

Uncle Ma, pray uphold justice!

Giving food cannot reap foul infamy,

else who shall dare perform charity?

The physician spoke:

the babes bear no sickness,

save famished bellies!

Thanks be to

Su Lis dumplings. Enough;

perchance thy destitution

drove thee to this ploy.

Accept this modest tribute;

what dost thou?

Uncle Ma,

behold this silver;

bid Su Li take it back forthwith!

Take it since tis offered;

yet mark it in thy heart:

warn thy kin, if they dread pain,

eat not

anothers bread! How went it?

How was it settled? How else?

No illness! Daughter-in-law paid the clinic, then gave twenty coppers!

Is that not sheer extortion?

Extortion and brazen insolence!

Fortunate our daughter-in-law sought the chief,

else we were undone! Forgive me, Sister!

I should not have pitied them;

thou toilest so hard,

and I burdened thee.

The fault is mine.

Thou art blameless;

kindness is never a transgression.

Yet benevolence must bear an edge,

and insight to see,

lest others deem thee meek to trample!

Sister,

explain naught to him;

if he weeps,

let him weep! Adversity

breeds wisdom;

let him remember this lesson!

I shall err no more hereafter.

Keep far from Xinghuas house hereafter;

meddle with them no further!

Why speak thus, Aunt?

Be not beguiled by Su Li;

I sought not to extort silver,

she thrust it into my hand!

I return it now! Silver?

We want it not!

Henceforth let us shun each other!

Lest unnecessary strife arise.

Aunt, their pain was real indeed!

I sought no malice then;

she thrust the coin upon me before all witnesses!

Thou art a shameless extortioner!

All came from my misplaced mercy!

Were thy kin starving,

I would not cast a glance,

lest thou claim my sister poisoned thee!

Forgive me, Gouwa!

I was frantic with fear,

not seeking to accuse thee!

If remorse truly moves thee,

depart at once!

Thou art unwelcome here!

Thou madest my brother weep!

Thy presence is a crime!

Indeed,

daughter-in-law,

Zhangs wife called while ye were away,

proposing to journey to town together,

to sell the mushrooms.

She shall borrow an ox-cart then.

We must purchase cloth and cotton;

with an ox-cart,

twill be most convenient.

A grand tavern surpasses all;

they pay readily and serve fine tea.

Thou hast learned to savor tea!

Hmph!

Tis far better than ditch water,

after all.

Enough,

we know of thy conjugal bliss;

flaunt it not before my eyes!

Whatever ye need,

buy swiftly,

that we may return together.

Very well,

I go to procure meat.

Young mistress, tis thou!

What cloth desirest thou?

I shall grant a fair price.

My humble thanks, good proprietress.

I seek thick cloth and cotton for warm winter robes.

Hast thou not a young maid at home?

This floral pattern is exquisite;

she would look charming in it.

Good,

a young maid should wear bright hues; choose one for thyself too!

That pattern suits thee; yet I prefer matching colors with ye.

Urge me no more.

Behold how fair thy daughter-in-law is!

In brighter silks, she would captivate every passing eye!

Marrying into our humble home,

thou art sorely wronged.

No wrong is suffered;

I have placed all my hopes

upon the three children.

Moreover, I foresee

prosperous days ahead!

Should they prove ungrateful,

I shall never forgive them!

Feasting lavishly,

while funding three scholars!

Let us see how long thy pride lasts!

Tis better than lacking means to boast!

Aunt, the master declared

he cannot teach

Gousheng further;

the lad is too brilliant!

Without a greater master, his gift will be wasted,

and if Su Li seeks a grand scholar,

will silver suffice?

Aunt,

pray visit the master;

I fear his future may be ruined.

Were I as gifted as he,

I would implore my kin to sustain my learning!

Hadst thou such promise,

we would pawn all to foster thee!

At thy years, scholarship usually cometh late,

yet thy talent is supreme;

further learning shall alter thy entire destiny!

I wish to tarry,

lest my household fall into dire penury!

Nor would I have my sister toil so hard.

Master, I beseech thee,

speak not of this unto her yet!

Thou art overly headstrong, child;

I shall hold my peace for now,

yet heed wisdom, and let none utter reckless words upon returning!

Lest I punish ye severely!

I...

My sister and I shall utter no folly,

yet Xiaopang hath long departed;

who can tell what tales he might spread?

Disaster looms! We must pursue him posthaste!

Why hast thou come?

Hmph!

Had I not arrived,

how long wouldst thou deceive me?

Alas!

What promise didst thou pledge to me before?

Wilt thou now break faith?

Nay, not so.

I shall keep my word, sister.

I was wrong.

My thoughts were astray.

Stand aside since thou knowest thy fault!

Stand upright!

Fortunate indeed that thou art here.

Else grief for this boy would rob me of sleep.

Chiyun under my tutelage is truly stifled.

See if thy house can lift him higher.

Good master, couldst thou guide our path?

A retired scholar returned from the capital

was hired by the Jin family at great cost.

He tutors Young Master Jin, but his temper is eccentric,

accepting only pupils who suit his fancy.

Very well.

For my brother-in-law,

teach him for now while I inquire in town.

We agreed before:

after the Frost Descent

and before winter falls,

thou shalt not trade upon my name.

I come today to remind thee the time draws near,

and to deliver this new banner.

Hold!

Is this penned by the same hand as the outer banner?

In so short a span,

how could such wondrous progress bloom?

Thou, an old man, seemest knowledgeable,

yet whether truly learned or merely feigning, who knows?

Knowest thou who this is?

What care I who he be? Mind thine own affairs!

Whoever he be, none compares to our boy! If doubt remain, contest him!

This maiden is quite delightful. Young mistress,

wilt thou bring this lad for my inspection?

Thou art curious indeed, old venerable.

Thou dost bid him come,

and I must bring him

before thine eyes?

Jin Wus words were harsh just now,

yet thou must not slight my master!

Moreover, that he deigns to show favor to thy kin,

knowest thou what supreme fortune it is?

Thy master?

Thou art wealthy,

so he must be a scholar of profound erudition.

Whence cometh such fortune to my brother-in-law?

Before an eminent master,

how can poor peasants aspire to climb? Thy greatest virtue is self-knowledge!

Yet since the master inquired,

he granteth thee a ladder to ascend.

The rest resteth in thy hands.

Was my speech earlier overly audacious?

Might I have chance to speak anew?

What thinkest thou? Why vex a young maiden? Sir,

there is much thou knowest not.

She is the renowned soul whose name reached thine ears.

The drapers wife also commended her,

saying she is a virtuous maiden who repayeth favor.

Hasten to bring thy brother-in-law hither;

if the lad proves truly worthy,

I shall accept him as my disciple.

My deepest gratitude, elder master!

I shall bring him forth straightway.

Let me speak with him in private.

Shouldst thou become my disciple,

thy gift shall surely crown thee First Scholar!

Thou hast conditions, dost thou not?

Indeed.

Thou art fine in every aspect,

save that thy birth is too lowly,

and thy sister-in-law is exceedingly short-sighted.

To be my pupil, thou must sever all ties with her!

Lest upon thy high ascension,

she become an indelible blemish.

Then I cannot become thy pupil.

Her grace toward me is as life reborn;

I shall never cast her aside for selfish gain.

Good.

Henceforth, thou art truly my disciple.

Bid that young mistress return.

The master summons thee.

Why doth every good fortune fall to thee?

If I claim it not, shalt thou?

Come, display thy blemish!

This is our young masters teacher.

Nay?

Through our connection,

how couldst thou have met him?

Master Yin! Enough,

Jin Wu.

Aye.

Rouse his temper, and three sharp rebukes

shall utterly discomfit thee!

Regardless,

thou hast basked in my favor.

When then shall our next venture be weighed? Fret not,

as much advantage as thou accordest me,

so much shall I repay thee.

In two days I shall bring delicacies to confer at length. A pact!

Thus spoken,

a banquet of delights awaits me!

Assuredly; this Master shall taste each dainty first.

A solemn pact! Sister-in-law,

when I am away,

how shalt thou manage?

Our parents are meek,

and the little siblings young and tender.

Should trouble arise,

thou canst lean on no one!

Thy heart holds only thy sister-in-law!

In truth, should trial come,

I need no aid from them;

obedience alone sufficeth.

They shall obey faithfully!

When I attain renown, Sister-in-law,

I shall bestow endless comfort upon thee!

So too shall the younger ones!

Ah,

thinking that spending mere paltry copper

bought the lifelong devotion of you three,

I deem it our rare fortune.

Lady Su, thou hast crossed every bound!

Thy care for them was never sincere;

how brokenhearted the young ones must be!

Doth a day without scolding leave thee restless?

Dost thou fancy my sister-in-law seeks only gain from us?

Very well,

let Sister Xinghua have all such gains!

Pay our schooling fees,

and when grown, we shall repay thee manifold!

My kindness to you all

craves no recompense. Splendid then!

Sister Xinghua, defray our tuition next moon,

and provide paper and ink beside!

Moreover,

the chill draweth near; provide winter garments,

prepare them forthwith!

Were silver in my purse,

I would surely purchase them.

Aye, hadst thou kept thy word,

thou wouldst not extort silver from our house!

All was a misunderstanding; Gou Sheng, believe me!

Su Lis kindness

is but a ploy to extract more from thee! What of it?

Our entire house consents!

Gou Sheng, misjudge me if thou wilt; I speak no more.

Yet Su Li was seen in town dallying with strange men!

Wilt thou still defend her?

Cease thy vile slander!

My sister-in-law enters the town solely on lawful errands!

Defending thyself now merely concedeth the ground.

From whose tongue didst thou hear this?

I shall seek them out forthwith,

and confront the liar face to face!

Flies heed no crackless egg; who careth whence it came?

Without truth,

would words be spoken?

I heard thy husband died not of pestilence,

but was poisoned by thy foul hand! Vile slander!

Indeed,

I fabricate lies!

Provoke me again,

and I shall proclaim it across all corners! Wretched fool, begone;

let us return home.

Su Li, I have found thee at last!

Hasten to the fields!

Thy second uncle and father-in-law clash over the grain,

already trading blows!

Our households are severed;

each reapeth their own!

Why seize my familys harvest?

Humph!

Possessing wealth,

why covet the fields?

Our father decreed

these two acres shall no longer be thine!

Aye,

since thou payest me no filial tribute,

why bestow aught upon thee?

Release thy hold,

lest I bid thy brother strike thee!

Very well,

reclaim the land;

I shall till it no more.

Yet this year I sowed this field;

the grain is mine! Thou hast driven me to this! Ah, my back!

My back! Father,

what grief hath struck thee?

Did Second Uncle shatter thy spine?

Let us summon a physician forthwith;

if thy spine be broken,

I shall bear thee straight to Second Uncles door,

and bid him sustain thy remaining days!

Should he refuse,

we shall confiscate their gold and goods,

and seize every sack of their grain!

Accounts must be settled in full!

Alas!

I can bear it no more!

The agony pierces my bones!

Second Brother, make haste!

Hurry back home! Depart at once!

Take the grain!

Taking the grain home might still invite wrath!

Once they realize it,

they may raid our home! Fear not,

I have means to repel them.

Then my heart is at ease.

I shall tend the fields now.

If trouble arises,

call upon me, good daughter-in-law!

Can we truly defend it?

Tis merely barren, unyielding soil;

toiling it yields little profit.

If they crave it, let them take it,

yet they shall not seize it without paying a price!

How dare ye deceive me and my master!

What calamity befell thee?

No festival is upon us, yet ye prostrate,

bearing such extravagant homage!

Su Li, thou vile wench! Why waste words?

Strike at once!

Thou dared steal my sickle, shameless wretch!

Step forward and taste my wrath!

Thou darest harm my daughter-in-law?

How insolent! Thou darest strike me?!

Halt this madness! What turmoil is this?

Tis said Second Master Song came to seize grain!

Nay, Village Chief!

Behold, I nearly perished upon this threshold!

Why would they, without cause,

bind trip ropes across the gate?

Whatever hangs upon my portal,

what business is it of thine?

Hadst thou not charged in brandishing a sickle,

wouldst thou be thus undone?

Su Li speaks the truth!

Second Master Song,

blame no other for the bruises upon thy brow!

Then what of my torn locks and wounds?

What justice is there?

What would ye demand?

Ye pair of scoundrels barged

into anothers homestead to rob and brawl,

yet claim the moral high ground?!

Ye couple have surely walked yourselves into a narrow gorge.

Had thy hearts harbored less greed,

blessings would have fallen upon thee hereafter!

Where lies our filial bond?

He hordes wealth yet grants me not a copper!

My father disowned him; the land and grain belong to me!

All belongs to me!

I came for my grain;

how can this be deemed robbery?

Uncle Ma,

be not vexed.

That meager plot of land,

if they covet it, let them have it.

Yet the harvest cannot be given

away for naught! What meanest thou by that?

If the soil belongs not to thee,

the grain is likewise none of thine!

Then by what right did my father sow and reap this field?

Ye may take the harvest,

provided ye repay the seed costs and labor wages!

Unless ye disburse the silver,

this grain shall never be thine!

Must a son demand silver for tilling his sires soil?

Has thy wits been crushed in a doorframe?

Ye proclaimed thyselves to disown my father;

why should silver not be demanded?

Indeed!

Ye cannot hoard

every boon in heaven and earth!

What more would ye demand?

We have no leisure for idle prattle;

we yield the grain,

yet the Village Chief must bear witness:

they must not swindle our toil and seed money!

Whatever sum Uncle Ma decrees,

so shall it be! Cart it all away!

Leave not a single kernel in this house!

Let us see how thy clan weathers the harsh winter!

I shall watch thee starve

and beg at my feet! Carter Ma, haul grain to my hearth,

and bring two cartloads more!

I shall pay the highest market price.

Understood!

Two cartloads it shall be!

Very well.

Some folk speak with such laughable conceit!

With coin in hand, shall any starve?

Our spicy brew may yet be brewed anew.

From this identical broth,

potatoes and greens taste wondrous too.

Indeed.

These skewers possess exquisite flavor,

quite distinct from thy spicy stew.

Such silver is thine

by righteous right. Speak now:

how shall we bargain this time?

Whence cometh such courteous grace?

Could I act otherwise?

Thy formidable skill stands plain,

and thy good brother is our masters prized pupil.

Our bond hath grown closer still.

Even if not for the monk,

I must show reverence unto the Buddha.

Name thy price forthwith.

These skewers are but one dainty offering.

Once renown spreads far and wide,

I shall unveil further delicacies,

to win another purse of thy silver.

Ah!

Spare me, pray!

In but a brief span,

thou hast claimed much from my pouch!

This venture will not do;

all my toil floweth into thy coffers.

What gain is mine? Thy goodwill alone?

Thou hast a scheme already prepared;

speak without deceit.

Very well.

For each new dish, I waive recipe fees;

yet of all store profits, I claim three parts in ten.

Is thy demand not overly bold?

Whose wits have gone astray,

thine or mine own?

Naturally,

shouldst thou grant me seven parts, I accept.

Out of the question!

Thy dishes are indeed novel,

yet expanding across the land

demands vast silver and risk; one share later will dwarf todays value.

Pray, hath thy shop spread throughout the realm today?

At three parts in ten, it is I who suffer loss now.

Yet I accept smaller gains

to wager on our future,

whilst thou dost hesitate. Let it be thirty now,

and twenty parts later,

granting me some measure of peace!

Hadst thou spoken plainly, it were settled.

Agreed.

Upon this pact,

I shall furnish new dainties regularly.

Should I fail whilst thy halls grow,

spreading far and wide,

thou mayst buy out our treaty in full.

Bless my soul!

What rare treasure is gathered here?

Abandoning that plot was right and true.

Half a day upon the hills

yieldeth far more than our daily tilling.

Indeed, the mountains teem with riches;

by fortunes favor,

thy yield may surpass mine own.

Cease thy jesting!

Thy good fortune resteth entirely upon thy daughter-in-law.

The Su elders must be stricken with remorse!

To lose such a daughter,

refusing her shelter,

and paying ten taels to cast her out!

Doubtless they know naught of her prosperity,

or they would swarm forth! Su Li, thy joyful days are ended!

Alas!

What manner of wretched hovel is this?

Would not a sudden gust topple this ruined roof?

Feeding each day upon mere wild weeds!

Our precious maiden hath suffered untold misery here!

We know thou hast never beheld a gentleman;

flaunt thyself no more.

Take water, good in-law.

Is thy harvest gathered yet?

Lingshan Hamlet reaps early this autumn.

Couldst thou not offer a decent vessel?

Why offer such shabby hospitality?

My beloved daughter endureth hardship beneath thy roof;

dost thou deem thine house worthy?

Enough.

We know each others deceitful airs;

are ye not sickened by thine own hypocrisy?

Thy father and I,

do we not pine for thee?

Yearning for thee hath robbed us of sleep!

Dost thou truly yearn so deeply?

Very well then.

I shall return home to abide with thee,

lest ye later complain of my willful ways. Forward!

I shall bring no robes along;

ye shall purchase fine new garments for me!

Since ye yearn so fondly,

Surely ye would not begrudge me even so small a sum!

Tis not so; thy father and I

held no such intent!

Did ye not lament that I suffer within this dilapidated hovel?

Then I shall return home to enjoy bliss; hasten our steps!

Can ye maintain this false guise no longer?

A voice informed me

thou hast amassed considerable silver of late.

Dost thou intend

to bestow it upon the Song clan?

Thy father and I would never harm thee;

the silver is safer in our keeping!

We vow to preserve every coin for thee!

Think ye I discern not

the petty schemes of ancient foxes playing tricks?

Song Chijun is perished,

and thou art left without offspring.

If thy mother and I aid not,

upon whom

wilt thou expend this wealth?

Children not of thine own blood, once grown,

will surely harbor divided hearts!

Indeed, thy remarriage is inevitable ere long!

If wealth remains with thee,

thinkest thou they shall let thee depart with it?

When did I ever profess a desire to wed again?

I shall not remarry!

What foolish speech is this?

A maiden must ever rely upon a lord and master!

Moreover, fortune favors thee; Squire Wangs lady passed away,

and beholding thee in town, his heart was smitten at once.

Aye!

Tis said if thou consentest to wed him,

fifty taels shall be bestowed!

Entering his gates, thou shalt revel in boundless luxury.

Yet, good in-laws, Squire Wang is older than thine own self!

Thou canst not sell thy daughter for bridal betrothal gifts!

Furthermore, Squire Wangs late wife...

In-laws,

my daughter-in-law is of supreme virtue.

Indeed,

if a noble path awaits her,

and she be willing,

we would never hinder her;

yet ye must not cast her into a fiery pit!

What insolent speech is this?

How could I sell my daughter merely for bridal silver?

We act solely for her own welfare!

If ye seek to trade me for betrothal silver,

I raise no objection.

After all, Squire Wang possesses immense wealth,

and I am truly weary of this wretched penury.

Yet ye must treat me with tender regard!

Lacking your favor,

how could I hold my head high upon marriage?

We shall assuredly treat thee with utmost devotion!

Words alone bear no proof.

How about this:

I shall first abide at home for two days.

Should your deeds prove your proclaimed affection,

I shall yield to your every wish. How say ye? Agreed!

We shall certainly demonstrate our great care!

Daughter-in-law,

heed our counsel; Squire Wang must never be wed!

Tis whispered his late lady was slain by his own brutal hand!

During my absence

these two days, pray safeguard this household with Father.

As for the two young ones,

bid them know

I have departed on an errand

and shall return after two days. Back to be wed?

Tis truly thee; perchance we shall meet no more!

Su Li, without awaiting Gou Dan

and the kin to grow,

thou shalt taste prosperity!

No need for profuse gratitude. How could I not thank thee?

I shall reward thee handsomely; Brother, these provisions,

I require them all; procure them swiftly!

Tis easy to invite a deity, yet perilous to banish one!

Why did ye fetch her back?

Forgot ye the toil endured to cast her out before?

A neighboring widow claimed Squire Wang fancied her;

if she enters his house,

he bestows fifty taels and ten mu of fertile soil!

That is no special affection for her;

Squire Wang ever offers these very terms!

Else, when he slays a wife every three moons,

who would dare venture? What dost thou mean?

Sayest thou Squire Wang

spurns her?

Not quite so;

so long as it be a blooming maiden,

Squire Wang welcomes any into his bed!

Tis enough that she suffices!

Hasten to procure all the goods;

we must cajole her sweetly,

the better to barter her for lands and silver!

This pork is choice; slice here to wrap dumplings for me,

and slice there to fashion savory meatballs for my feast.

And prepare this portion forthwith into a dainty dish!

So grand a cut of meat!

To feast upon it in one sitting?

Wherefore not? I am destined for rare delicacies!

May I not accustom my palate beforehand?

Very well.

Naught is amiss.

I shall prepare it forthwith. Hasten!

Hunger gnaws at me!

So sluggish in cooking! Mother,

when shall we cast her out?

Knowest thou how much silver she squandered today?

Endure yet a few days.

Thou well knowest her fierce temper.

Ponder our households coming fortune.

Bear it! Mother,

go cut some fine silks

to drape the table!

My brother is too witless even to cut cloth!

Such costly fabrics,

to cover a table? Art thou mad?

The wood is so rough,

what if splinters pierce my hand?

Ye profess to love me,

yet begrudge a piece of cloth! I shall go fetch it!

Art thou a ravenous ghost?

Was this viand prepared for me,

or for yourselves?

The dish was not properly cooked,

fearing thy belly would ache,

so we ate first! Is that so?

Then if thy bellies ache,

what shall become of ye?

We are hardy enough to endure!

Then pray hold fast and stay well!

Hold on! Son,

art thou finished?

Mother can hold out no longer!

Mother,

linger not too long within,

lest I lose control!

Mother shall make haste!

What calamity befell?

Thy son was unhurt,

save that he soiled himself!

Relieve not thyself in the thicket!

Truly, a foul stench arose!

The Su house is in sheer chaos!

The sire bares himself at will,

defiling the ground!

The son drove his bride away,

and fouled his garments! Look at thy deeds!

Why bring this wretched pest back?

Now behold,

how can I face the world hereafter?

How amusing!

Exceedingly delightful!

Daughter,

retire to rest at once,

if thou tormentest us thus,

we two shall perish of weariness!

Easy to say!

Alas! Mother, save me!

Child,

I implore thee,

thou wilt be our death!

Yet slumber evades me!

Whom else should I plague? Slay whoever thou wilt,

save only spare us!

Aye, true indeed!

Grant us but a moment of peaceful rest!

So be it.

Hasten forth to inspect,

a thief may have breached!

What thief could there be?

Who is so foolish to rob our house? Su Li,

what madness dost thou?

Art thou deranged?

These pullets were all newly raised this spring,

slaughtered by thy wicked hand!

What of it?

Did ye not declare

I might wreak havoc at will?

What fault is it to torment hens?

Thou pest! Even fowls cannot bear this!

Then nothing is permitted for my sport!

If torment thou must, torment thine own self!

I understand.

Is there no soul in the Su household?

Thy house is ablaze!

What catastrophe is this?

Who kindled a blaze beside the walls?

I did it. Hunger overtook me,

so I sought to roast a fowl!

Cast this demon out at once!

I can endure it no more!

Barely one day returned, yet such ruin!

How can we survive hereafter?

Let us bind and deliver her to Squire Wangs manor!

Then the silver and land deeds shall be ours!

It ought to have been done long ago!

He merits not our courteous regard!

Curse it!

Subdue him forthwith!

Husband!

My hair hath caught ablaze!

Husband, devise some remedy!

How am I to live with this?

Bind him fast; once accomplished,

meat and fine wine shall be yours,

with fifty copper coins beside!

Fret not, Uncle Su!

We ventured solely on thy behalf;

behold, my wound bleedeth freely,

thou must defray the remedy costs!

Indeed!

Uncle Su,

should this injury cripple me,

thou shalt provide for my twilight days!

I was to meet my bride tomorrow;

now my skull is split,

shall any maiden look upon me?

Uncle Su,

bear the blame! The hour of feasting cometh,

hasten to cook!

Depart!

I implore thee,

we crave neither coin nor land through thee!

Aye,

we dare not share in thy fortune!

Hasten back to the Song household!

I shall not budge.

The delicacies bought yesterday remain uneaten,

and the cloth yet unsewn.

Why should I depart? Take all with thee!

Take likewise the fowls thou hast slaughtered,

carry every piece back to the Songs!

There I must labor for sustenance;

how delightful it is here!

Each day spent in total leisure,

coin shall be granted thee,

whatever grain or vegetables thou desirest,

all shall be bestowed; pray, depart at once!

I am yet disinclined.

The load is weighty,

I lack strength to carry it.

I shall borrow an ox-cart for thy convoy!

Mm.

All yesterdays goods are packed within,

not a shred missing, coin rendered unto thee;

depart forthwith!

Shouldst thou not thank that widow who brought thee tidings?

She acted solely out of goodwill,

wishing thee both coin and land. Go!

I implore thee,

begone posthaste!

To my mind, that widow could never best

Su Li,

and sought to wield us as pawns!

She weareth the very countenance of malice!

To speak plainly,

she appeareth far less honest than our maiden.

Speak no more of Su Li;

the very thought of her chilleth my marrow.

Su Li,

let us provoke her no more,

yet that widow must answer for this! Put some distance first,

lest midway

we cross paths,

and summon her back!

Su Li, how art thou returned,

bearing a whole wagon of bounty?

Indeed,

Xinghua claimed

thou hadst returned to marry!

What meaneth all this?

What meaneth it?

Sinister souls merely spread wicked falsehoods!

Patience,

justice shall soon arrive! Let us see who can shield you now!

No coin remained,

nor did the person stay!

Hmph!

Doth any beneath heaven rival your worthlessness?

Daring to sever clan ties with us?

Splendid then!

Starve, ye wretched curs! Cease thy foul spewing,

we deign not heed thee!

Yet lay down our forest bounty!

My daughter-in-law decreed

not a mite of our household may be seized!

What daughter-in-law? Without her,

I heed no command!

Hear this:

release thy grasp,

lest I strike thee!

Then let my blow land upon thee first!

Hold!

Daughter-in-law!

Thou art returned!

Wilt thou scurry off thyself,

or shall I cast thee forth?

Hear me,

I shall assist in unburdening thy cart.

Shameless vixen!

I know thee not at all.

To plot against Su Li,

thou wouldst make a tool of me!

Thou hast a human guise,

yet committest monstrous deeds!

Gather round and witness!

This wretched wench sows vile discord,

urging us to wed Su Li to Squire Wang!

Squire Wang!

A tyrant who slays a wife each three months!

What malice lurketh in her heart?

Alas!

Unhand me! Is there not some misunderstanding?

Indeed,

Xinghua is of gentle virtue,

renouncing wedded bliss

to return and tend her parents and kin,

ever soft of speech! What folly is this talk of misunderstanding?

Were her heart truly pure,

why peddle falsehoods at our gate?

All toil in harvest now;

whence cometh her idle leisure?

Tis envy born of seeing my daughter prosper!

Who knoweth not her past entanglement with my brother-in-law?

Claiming to tend her parents,

she merely loathes widowhood at her in-laws,

scheming to banish my sister

and claim the Song household!

I knew naught of Squire Wangs nature;

I only knew his riches could grant a life of ease!

Why didst thou not wed him then?

Come!

I shall escort thee to the Squires estate;

taste this grand fortune thyself! Thou accusest me of malice,

yet what virtue dost thou possess?

Ye came only upon hearing of the betrothal gifts!

By what right dost thou demand reckoning?

I never claimed to be righteous!

I come to lay bare thy venomous soul before all!

Ye truly seek my death!

Fear ye not that I shall end my life at thy threshold?

Die if thou wilt!

One scourge removed,

twould be a merit to our house!

Mother of Su Li,

I tender apology on Xinghuas behalf;

thy wrath hath been vented.

All homes are pressed with toil;

better gather thy grains,

lest trifling feuds hinder urgent harvest affairs.

Today we grant deference unto the Village Elder;

yet should Xinghua plot again,

I shall slay her without mercy!

Return unto thine in-laws clan.

Our hamlet can hold no longer

so towering a deity!

Uncle Ma, the truth is not as they proclaim!

One is Su Lis birth mother,

the other her kin brother;

what truth could their words bear?

I ask thee but one thing:

abandoning thine own labor,

for what purpose didst thou journey so far to their dwelling?

I leave this matter unto your own discernment;

whoever wisheth to consort with her,

I shall not bar.

Yet mark this clearly:

hereafter,

whoever suffereth ruin by her hand

shall seek no justice from me.

Hmph!

I care not for these wretched squabbles.

Su Li,

thou hast wrought my utter misery!

Add more mushrooms and tubers presently;

they shall surpass fowl

in taste!

With so much fowl,

how could it fail to delight?

Sister-in-law, thou art returned!

Thou saidst on departing

two days would pass,

yet one day brought thee back;

how swift!

Sister-in-laws prowess is supreme.

Sister-in-law,

I neglected my books this day,

thinking only of thee with longing.

Su You,

what honeyed words!

Ought ye not rejoice in my absence,

with none to claim debts from ye,

nor debts to repay when grown?

Nay,

Sister-in-law is no debt-collector!

Sister-in-law is best of all!

When grown, I shall bestow upon Sister-in-law supreme fortune!

Thou shalt surely have more fowl.

Good.

How heavenly the savor!

Second Brother is absent,

nor hath he tasted it yet.

Fret not over such trifles.

Our homestead hath plenty,

and we shall dress one upon Chiyuns return.

Thou art returned!

Second Brother!

I yearned for thee!

I missed you likewise.

Hath some sorrow befallen thee?

Speak freely;

perchance I may counsel thee.

Tis no great matter.

Sister-in-law brought fine fowl of wondrous flavor!

Thy grief will vanish.

Since her arrival,

men came to strike Sister Xinghua,

most ruthlessly indeed!

Speak not of vile folk.

A choice leg shall be thine.

Brood not on petty schemes;

they fade before absolute might.

Sister-in-law reigns supreme,

raising our house to glory.

In truth, tis no calamity,

save that my other disciples hail from great wealth.

His humble lineage stands solitary here,

hence he mingles ill with peers.

He minds not his solitude,

yet their malice may vex his soul.

The particulars escape me;

they study unattended this noon.

Remain and observe, if thou so desirest.

A peasants son studies among us?

Whence came his coin?

Tis surely that Song Chiyun.

Doubtless the master

pitied his wretched state.

Solitary always, he belongs not to our refined realm!

He may not endure till the end.

Girl,

go forth and shield him;

let us see how insolent these youths dare become.

Ye deem Song Chiyun unworthy?

In scholastic pursuit,

who rivals him? In virtue,

what grace have ye who slander so vilely?

Who then is truly base? Sister-in-law,

waste no breath on them.

Their prattle moves me not; their base hearts

decree our paths

diverge forever.

Perchance this hour marks their lifes sole zenith.

Forbearance hath merit,

yet context ruleth all!

Against these insolent brats,

thou must never suffer in silence!

Indeed,

if I yield now,

to such petty slight,

shall not greater storms

utterly crush me hereafter?

My house is humble,

yet upright and pure;

our bread

is earned with honor!

Who uttered foul insults?

Who struck the first blow?

Ye know well such deeds are villainy!

Yet ye sin knowingly.

Your wickedness seepeth from the very marrow!

I have sent to summon your elders hence;

I harbor no vile spirits under my roof!

I presumed noble scions possessed virtue,

yet ye merely wear hypocrisys mask!

I judged too narrowly;

all mortals bear their folly.

Thy tongue is sharp indeed, maiden.

I may converse further,

to see if I truly cast these youths out.

The Master judgeth noble intent with cynical doubt.

I stay,

for when a youth is corrupted to the core,

his kin are foulest of all.

Dost thou imply

their kin shall rage?

Daring not assail the Master,

their wrath will strike Chiyun.

Naturally,

I pray my misgivings prove hollow.

Wondrous girl,

silent at first;

didst thou scheme to provoke this tempest?

Thy son is shunned by Master Yin!

Art thou shameless?

yet thou casteth blame on others;

truly, thou art a marvel.

No wonder thy son crieth "wretched plebeian,"

and sneereth at poverty;

the crooked branch

springeth from rotten roots!

To speak with such vulgar lack of grace and reason,

yet forbid others speech!

Small wonder the youth is so depraved;

corruption breedeth in his lineage.

Donning airs yet committing shameless misdeeds,

how utterly repulsive!

We speak of childrens quarrels here;

why preachest thou so endlessly?

Very well, let us judge thy son:

wicked, a cruel tyrant,

wholly unjust!

Both father and son lack all honor, is it not so?

Hast thou aught to say?

In truth, blame falleth not on the young alone;

shielded by thy wealth,

they know nothing of sorrow and were thus beguiled.

What riddle is this?

We meet as strangers,

yet thy son knew

every plight of my household.

Surely someone whispered poison into his ear.

Zhang Jun imparted this tale unto us!

My young brother-in-law bare thee no grudge.

Didst thou act thus for Xinghua?

She is thy sister-in-law, is she not?

Thy kin harassed my sister-in-law,

a frail, helpless maiden!

Naturally I must champion her cause!

Is the one thou deemest noble truly pure?

Before thy brother perished,

he broke out in violent sores.

What concern is that of thine?

A curious fragrance lingereth about Xinghua;

she drew near my little brother, afflicting him with sores

and a grave sickness.

His frail frame nearly succumbed to many ills;

it was perilous indeed.

Thou liest!

I heed thee not! No matter; seek the truth,

bid thine elders search into it.

See for thyself who hath wronged whom!

I need not seek; she is no villain!

What foul slander hast thou poured into the Zhangs ears?

Naught but plain truth.

Why harm me? Thou shalt die a wretched death!

Fools, blind to all grace!

May evil befall thee instead!

Thy misery is of thine own making;

reap thy bitter harvest.

Were it not for thee,

they would weep in gratitude,

and I would bask in ease!

Never shall I reveal my secret;

think not to learn aught from me!

Dost thou mean Song Chigui is yet alive?

Thou knowest? So thou hast known!

Thus hast thou changed,

is it not so?

Pine for him in secret,

dost thou not?

Pine for whom?

That vile cur is naught to me!

Su Li, thou shalt never attain thy wish!

Thou malicious, treacherous creature!

Su Li, if thou hast the nerve,

spare not my life! Begone!

Speak, Xia Jinyu:

didst thou cause Ah Tings demise?

My son never mistreated thee;

why committest thou such evil?

No,

I did not! Heed not Su Lis fabrications;

she is consumed by jealousy

and would destroy me!

What should she envy of thee?

From grace to virtue,

hast thou aught worthy of her envy?

Falsehoods!

She matcheth me not,

she can never rival me!

Waste no more breath on her;

kneel before Ah Ting and atone for thy sin!

Bar fast the portal;

leave her confined alone.

Why didst thou slay me? Come, keep me company!

If thou stayest by my side,

I shall forgive thee;

abide with me forever!

Thou pledgedst to grant me freedom,

yet while thou breathst,

freedom is denied! Were thy heart truly kind,

thou wouldst have gifted me silver

and set me free!

Who would refuse?

Yet thou soldest thyself to rescue thy sire;

none compelled thee! What of it?

Silver thou lackest not;

grant me release!

Furthermore,

had I known thy sickness was so dire,

and thou?

Twas truly thee! What pretext hast thou now, Sister-in-law?

Why didst thou commit such treachery?

For thy sake I cast away my very future;

Master Yin hath cast me out!

Thou deservest it; none bade thee swallow every word.

Fool!

Vile wretch!

This day thou shalt forfeit thy life for my son!

My indenture indenture bond

hath already been restored to me;

I am now a free woman,

to slay me violateth the law!

Thou treacherous viper,

I should never have shown thee mercy!

Even at deaths door, my son fretted for thee;

how hast thou repaid his devotion?

The devotion of a dying specter,

who would covet such worthless trash?

Had he truly loved me, he would have freed me! Mother,

we cannot touch her ourselves,

yet the magistrate surely can.

Let us summon the court! Ah Tings sole prayer

was for my lasting peace;

to yield me unto the law

betrayeth his sacred memory!

Knowing thy true malice now,

he would yearn only to see thee

torn into a thousand shreds.

Hast thou heard?

Xinghuas husband died not of pestilence;

she orchestrated his doom!

The Zhangs laid their grievance before the court,

and the tribunal hath already decreed judgment,

ruling her poisonous scheming incited his demise.

Spared execution, yet exiled to penal labor at the frontier!

In my eyes,

death had been a lighter doom.

Yet Xinghua thinketh not so.

The Zhangs bribed the guards well;

ere exile even began,

she was ravaged countless times,

yet clinging still to wretched breath!

Who could have fathomed she harbored such venom?

None can reproach Su Li

for dealing so ruthlessly;

we sorely misjudged her before.

Behold,

what abundance of pine nuts!

Su Li, gather quickly;

the remainder

we shall glean. I brought thee up the mountain

not to sift through leavings;

make haste with thy hands,

once our baskets brim,

we must descend forthwith.

The chill deepeneth with each passing day.

Indeed,

frost shall seize the soil in two days.

Our harvest proved plentiful this year,

and firewood sufficeth;

I shall cart a full load to thy hearth,

yet thou must gather heavy timber,

for sturdy logs

yield enduring warmth. Our window screens must be repapered,

lest bitter drafts pierce through.

To my mind,

since coin is no longer scarce,

erect a grand mansion come spring;

in thy frail hut, if wood fall short,

winter shall prove agonizing.

On the morrow, being free,

I shall begin fell timber,

sparing you all the bitter cold.

Let us weather this winter as best we can,

and when spring dawneth,

we shall raise a stately hall!

All shall be as thou decreest.

Shrew, when share of profits awaiteth thee,

thou showest no haste,

forcing me to seek thee out!

To Master Yins gates

did I hasten!

Art thou merely anxious

for new delicacies to serve?

Is offering fresh dainties not our bounden duty?

I yearn to present new fare as well,

yet as biting frost set in,

winds pierce my hovel on all sides;

these two days are spent toiling for firewood.

To labor in such cold

freezeth the very fingers!

Why waste toil on brushwood?

Purchase fine charcoal and make an end of it!

Eldest Young Master Jin truly knoweth naught of hardship,

gathering firewood costeth no coin,

yet charcoal demandeth silver;

how can the two be compared?

I bestow the charcoal upon thee;

say then, is it not the same?

Nay, that will not do!

Thou hast not yet disbursed my share;

lest when the hour arriveth,

thou deductest silver for this coal!

Audit the ledgers, then;

verify first whether I shortchanged thee,

ere I deliver the charcoal.

Many thanks, Young Master Jin;

Young Master Jin is indeed a magnanimous benefactor!

Why doth something feel amiss?

Master,

tell me, was I lured into her snare?

How should I fathom affairs between you two?

Dost thou truly not know, or hath her sweet feast bound thy tongue?

Young Master Jin, grant a generous load of coal;

for I trust a mere pittance

would shame thy noble hand.

What shameless gall this woman hath!

Yet why so pressing,

knoweth she that the other master shall soon emerge?

Where paused our discourse just now?

Touching the charcoal promised unto her. Bestow it then!

Grant an abundance, and hire a cart to bear it to her dwelling!

Such ruinous extravagance!

Nay, Young Master,

though coin be no lack to us,

such reckless bounty is ill-advised;

lest she dig snares for thee

at every turn hereafter!

Must I begrudge silver hoarded by that miserly fool?

Is that not thine own self?

This is silver won by thine own hands!

Hold thy tongue;

he is he,

and I am I! Hearken, little shrew,

must not thy new wares be brought forth swiftly?

Must we wait for that other one to consult on price?

I must instruct thy people,

yet thou canst hardly consort with them at present,

lest thy secret unravel into disaster.

Dost thou seek to shield me?

Perchance,

for we remain bound in commerce;

thy ruin bodes no good for me.

Truly I am far more charming than that miserly lout! Say as thou wilt!

I take my leave;

forget not the charcoal. At last, one of discerning eye!

Young Master, could it be

the dame merely humored thee?

Impossible! Cease thy tiresome chatter;

thou comprehendest naught! Sister-in-law,

we have returned!

Third Brother

complained of bitter chill all day;

though younger, I uttered not a word of cold,

am I not valiant?

Don the padded robe anon.

I will not!

None else weareth one yet,

even little sister feeleth no chill;

yet I alone am cold,

how strange it is!

Doth my counsel carry no weight?

Disobedient at so tender an age,

how wilt thou fare when grown?

How could I disobey Sister-in-law?

I shall wear it on the morrow after;

resting indoors tomorrow, I shall feel no chill!

Wear it tomorrow;

tomorrow I shall escort thee forth.

Drinking herbs for two or three moons,

canst thou endure it,

or nay?

This childs vital vigor is sorely depleted;

three moons of decoction is the very least,

lest spleen-cold plague him hereafter,

with unending afflictions.

I am well,

I can endure it!

What canst thou endure?

When elders speak,

let children not interrupt.

Physician, treat as fitting;

silver

is no barrier,

so long as the childs constitution be restored!

Aye,

very well,

I shall dispense the herbs.

Sister-in-law,

am I a burdensome blight upon thee?

I fear not illness,

yet dread Sister-in-law

toil harder for my sake,

my heart weeps as crushed beneath stone.

Truly I need no medicine, Sister-in-law!

Yet if thou takest it not,

mine own heart shall bear that heavy stone.

Wilt thou inflict such grief on me?

This silver is a trifle to me.

Besides, if sickness lingers,

how wilt thou repay me?

I shall take it faithfully,

and fall sick no more!

Thou art ever my cherished child.

Once the herbs are fetched,

I shall buy thee fine meat,

to nourish thee well. How much meat wilt thou weigh, Lady?

Hear me clearly today:

each time I gift bones,

thou payest extra coin;

no more today!

Thou patronizest my trade;

if I cannot spare a bone,

what man would I be?

Good,

I accept thy generous gift today.

Lady,

shall I slice it thus?

Doth it suit?

Lady,

hast thou offended someone?

Suspicious lurkers watch,

gazing upon thee!

Pray watch my brother-in-law and meat;

we buy upon return. Sister-in-law,

I shall go with thee;

I will shield thee!

Court no reckless peril.

Lady,

stay,

I shall summon an ally.

Lady,

this is Xiao Ran,

from thy neighbor hamlet;

a hunter he is,

of martial skill.

Walk forth with the lad;

he follows till villains strike,

then subdues them posthaste.

Unrelated as we are,

to risk him thus,

is it unseemly?

Fret not,

I owe this butcher favor,

and repay it gladly now.

Lady,

pray let him attend thee;

take the meat too; once settled,

feast in comfort.

My gratitude!

Brother Xiao,

thy prowess is rare, forged in the hunt.

What next?

I know their master;

canst thou drag one to their door?

Sufficeth one?

Take both; fling them inside!

Aye.

Give an account!

Through thee my son lost his future,

and the scholars kin hound our house;

is this account enough?

Master Yin cast him out

for his vile malice;

the scorn ye endure

stems from his wicked heart.

Ye reaped your due;

yet dare blame us?

Thy clan and Xinghua are matched in filth! Speak not of her!

Knowing she slew my son, thou withheld it till now; should I not curse thee?

Elder,

telling thee was grace,

silence was my right;

tis no ground for resentment.

Haunt me further,

and ruin shall find thee! Boast not! Dost thou doubt me?

Were I to drag these two to court,

could thy house survive?

What choice have I?

One son perished,

one sole branch remains;

life is full of sorrow,

his learning ruined,

hope gone; how shall I live?

How ye fare hereafter

is no care of mine;

yet whoever troubles my peace

shall reap far greater agony.

Cross me again, and dire calamity awaits!

Sister-in-law,

I would learn martial arts;

I yearn to shield thee from harm!

Shouldst thou wish to learn, upon some morrow,

I shall see if thou hast the mettle.

If so endowed,

I shall teach thee. Though not peerless,

twill surely defend and shield. Truly?

Verily! Yet frail as a fledgeling, martial toil is harsh.

Thou mayst falter. Despise me not!

Any hardship I can endure.

I must become a stalwart hero!

My brother-in-law hath suffered much,

and his frame is indeed frail.

Could martial arts fortify his constitution?

Assuredly so!

Then pray guide him diligently.

Hast thou any demands?

Speak freely! What demand could there be?

If congenial, I instruct;

if not, I shall not teach.

Then I trouble thee.

Set thy feet firm,

steadfast, tremble not!

Thou hast true fortitude, lad.

Thy foundation is weak;

first we forge the fundamentals,

then further forms.

I shall learn with all my heart!

Thy devotion is upright.

Alas!

Thy courtyard teems with wood and coal,

yet dost wash by the stream?

Is this to spare fuel,

or to boast among folk?

Did I utter a single word?

Tis thee begrudging,

itching to brag yet possessing naught!

I heard a man entered thy dwelling.

Su Li meets paramours before thee,

yet thou washest clothes here!

Ever babbling of scandalous men,

surely thou cravest one thyself!

That hunter of the next hamlet is skilled.

Splendid that he tutors Gouwa!

Could he perchance instruct our chubby lad,

that he might shed weight?

I must consult my daughter-in-law.

If she declines,

let Gouwa guide him. For so slight a matter,

must thou still ask her?

Dost obey Su Li in all?

If Su Li bade thee slay,

wouldst thou kill?

Anon I shall return and ask

if she bids me strike thee down!

If she consents, beware!

As if thou wouldst dare!

What pride is there,

lacking any mind of thine own?

Obeying my daughter-in-law,

our days surpass thine!

Find thy way if able;

if not, perish in silence!

Cease stirring petty malice! Why flee?

Wast thou not fierce anon?

Guard thy tongue henceforth!

Slander her again,

and I spare thee not!

Behold: pan-seared spicy bean curd,

this the stinky bean curd,

here crisp fried bean curd skin,

and this poached fish in piquant broth.

Thus dishes great and small are complete,

sufficing us for days.

The others I comprehend,

and deem them savory.

Yet this foul-smelling morsel, how eat it?

Indeed, no mortal soul could ingest this!

Partake!

Am I then no mortal?

Like withered cabbage,

forsaken upon the barren soil!

Hasten! What wondrous marvel!

Though foul in seeming,

tis strangely delectable!

Most exquisite!

This shall prove most favored, I trow.

Dare deceive me, and thou art doomed!

Dwell not on this single fare;

taste the rest, all are savory!

This stinky curd is a wondrous delight.

Yet four novel fares at once, ist too many?

Pair by pair were wiser.

I prepared more to show thee,

thy charcoal went not to waste; I strive with heart.

Thou sharest the silver,

how couldst thou lack diligence?

No need for proofs. Cast aside all pretense!

Perhaps thou hast never spoken

with such an one as me.

This is also my first time facing you truly.

Am I...

Dost thou deem me mere shadow?

We meet whenever thy spirit wavers between two selves.

Thou didst resemble him far more then.

Indeed.

Back then I was a fool, baffled by monkeys and fish!

Thou hast brought him up,

not in disdain. Speak plainly: which persona dost thou favor?

Neither is pleasant.

All pursue self-interest;

both of you bring vexation.

He left a missive for me,

the first time he ever wrote:

Favoring him is only natural;

his mind is quite unhinged.

Quite so.

Heed it not then.

Precisely.

Else thou too art mad!

All tasks are accomplished;

I shall take my graceful leave.

See? The shrew possesses fine discernment, Young Master!

Does this truly matter?

It matters greatly!

Why is Young Master childlike?

Another store opens!

She speaks true;

our pavilions can span all realms!

If only you and your other self concurred!

Confined solely to commerce,

such talent is squandered.

Resentment once stirred within,

yet meeting that clever maiden

has quieted my grievance.

I glimpsed a different path to renown,

and thus no longer loathe my other half.

If that be so,

I shall harbor no malice against her.

She was never wicked!

Art thou certain? Begone!

Gladly would I depart,

yet, Young Master,

let us flee!

Lady Ma hath pursued us hither!

Where did the Master find such a leech? Silence!

At such a critical hour,

thou art still jesting!

Caught at last!

Why seduce another womans betrothed?

Utterly shameless!

Good lady,

who is thy betrothed?

Pretending innocence? Young Master Jin

is betrothed to my mistress! Begone,

stay far away,

lest we show no mercy upon thee!

I merely trade with Young Master Jin;

our meetings are brief

and strictly decorous.

If a misunderstanding arose,

I express regret; I shall take greater heed.

What alliance could a peasant forge with him?

Thou art merely seeking pretexts to entice him!

Inquire who founded the Su Family spicy soup!

The eatery is now co-managed with Jinman Pavilion.

How is that not partnership?

Even so, why meet constantly?

Hast thou witnessed these constant meetings,

or merely conjured them from thin air?

Were we frequently together,

ye would have cornered me long ago,

rather than waiting until now. Didst thou fail to ambush him,

and thus turn to trap me instead?

Deeming a village maiden easy prey,

ye seek to vent your wrath upon me!

The blame remains thine!

Without thee, he would never shun me!

He simply disdains thee,

does he not?

The marriage between your clans

is far from sealed! Silence!

Name thy price to never see him again!

I shall not make matters hard.

Numerous shops flourish now;

to sever my shares entirely

requires at least three hundred taels.

Such greedy extortion!

How much then? Fifty taels for all those shops?

Fifty taels to buy me out?

Is that not ridiculous?

I gave it little thought!

Thy thoughts dwell solely on a man;

no mind is left for reason.

Were thou truly asked for fifty taels,

wouldst thou part with it?

Thou art hesitant too.

Must thou cling so desperately to him?

Never favored by him,

only bitter resentment remains!

Mistake not bitter spite for love;

shouldst thou succeed by chance,

what then?

Bound forever, unable to sever,

chained for a lifetime. Cease!

I see clearly now.

Folk proclaim thee a fierce tigress;

yet why rebuke me so mildly?

My disdain reacheth not such depth.

Yet if thou persistest,

I shall show no mercy.

Thy fierce spirit pleaseth me;

may we become companions?

I seek no companions.

Art thou finished?

If so,

I take my leave.

Insolent creature!

Silence!

Wherefore call her haughty?

As a woman,

she thriveth through honest trade;

pride well becometh her merit.

Truly admirable! This slight,

I shall remember, Young Master.

Hath she espied us?

Alas, we shall suffer

a bitter chastisement! So be it.

She dispersed a grave plight for us;

some recompense is due, Young Master.

Why, concerning this fierce woman,

dost thou ever relent so readily?

For I am pleased. Little one, canst thou recite verse?

Splendid!

So fair of face,

and lettered too!

Wilt thou learn the dance?

Yearnest thou to play the zither?

Or learn painting?

If so, tell thine elders,

then follow me;

I shall refine thy grace,

crown thee the realms fairest maiden!

Was my previous thrashing too mild?

Darst thou still covet our child?

What covet I?

I came for another; this pearl would be wasted in thy squalor!

With me lies her great destiny! From afar?

What if I be a stranger?

No wonder then;

thou hast not heard my name!

Fear not,

today thou shalt know me well!

Carry this home.

Aye.

Su Li, hold thy hand!

What hath happened here?

Doth any in our hamlet sell a child?

None have heard.

Strange indeed!

A slave trader,

a brothel keeper,

prowling about our children,

luring my kin

to the brothel;

is this the act of humans?

Who bid you come? Lurking about our young, to steal them?

We sought only fair maidens to confer with their parents!

Confer with parents? What madness!

Should our folk sell daughters,

twould be to noble houses,

to be redeemed when silver aboundeth!

Whither would ye drag our young?

Reason fails with rustic fools!

Yet that maiden took my fancy;

strike not blindly

before hearing my price!

Is she thy sister-in-law?

Yield her to me;

fifty taels shall be thine.

How sayest thou?

Thou cravest a thrashing!

Though vile wretches,

grievous injury inviteth the magistrate! Fifty taels,

yet unsatisfied?

Such greed! A hundred taels then!

A full hundred taels!

Though ye toil a lifetime,

ye shall never behold such wealth!

Bring the maiden forth! Child,

I hinder thee no more,

yet invite no fatal trouble.

Indeed,

even if trouble arise,

our hamlet shall bear witness for thee in court!

We are of one village;

should testimony be needed, ye know what to say!

Whoever acts perfidiously

shall be banished from our village!

Uncle Ma!

Truly no soul in our village selleth children!

That child-broker came once and was driven off by me;

vowing never to buy my sister-in-law, even on bended knee.

Why hath she returned?

Doth any truly sell children? Tis passing strange.

I fathom the scheme now.

Whosoever summoned her before,

hath summoned her again! Mother,

two aunties said I show great promise,

offering to teach me the zither and dance!

Those aunties possess keen discernment indeed.

Naturally;

my sister-in-law is so fair of face,

that universal praise is only rightful.

So I am truly a beloved child!

Were this beloved child

diligent and fond of learning beside,

I would cherish thee yet more!

I shall practice forthwith! Daughter-in-law, hath trouble arisen?

The Second House brought the child-broker again,

scheming to sell Song Chiyu to a brothel.

Will their wickedness never cease?

Though severed, they still covet Gou Ya!

I shall battle them to the death!

Their vile lives merit not thy blood.

Entrust this matter to me.

Keep vigilant guard

these few days,

parting never from her side.

Tomorrow I go to town to confirm a certain matter.

Aye.

I shall guard Gou Ya faithfully!

Prepare the meal;

we shall dine anon,

letting the young ones discern no distress.

When they do well,

bestow rightful praise

to bolster their spirit,

lest a strangers sweet words beguile them away.

Thou appearest with ill intent, I see.

Wilt thou offer no account?

Didst thou fancy thyself well hidden?

Yesterday I caught sight of thy robes,

yet disdained to expose thee.

Having shielded you from pursuers,

ought ye not to offer recompense,

or dost thou intend to disavow the debt?

That was our affair yesterday!

Master, devise an excuse quickly!

In righteous chivalry and valor,

thou fallest far short of the other Master.

Why utter such rebukes?

Declare how thou wouldst settle this!

What is thy desire?

So shall it be done.

No need for such sour grief;

merely investigate a person for me.

Who meriteth such great commotion?

Bearing eight-tenths resemblance to me.

Trace that child-broker as well;

the twain should be consorting of late.

Why probe such worthless scum?

Why so?

To touch them

bringeth only foul misfortune!

Could it be she forces herself upon me? My wedding disguise was flawed.

Thou art truly comely; were thy skin fairer—

Doth that madam seek to force a good maiden into shame,

bidding thee follow her?

I am but a widow;

why should they abduct me?

Thou art a widow?

Didst thou not know? I knew it not!

Ah!

Thou art truly a widow!

Thy husband is dead!

Why inquired I not of this sooner?

Why inquire of such things earlier?

Besides, Young Master,

her husband is deceased;

why dost thou rejoice? Who rejoiceth?

Had I known earlier

no man defended her,

would I treat her with such courtesy?

Young Master, canst thou believe thine own words?

Why should I not?

How doth Young Master Jin intend to be discourteous?

I shall dispatch men to investigate forthwith!

I shall surely uncover all,

clear as pristine water!

How many days will it take? Two days.

Then I shall take my leave,

and return in two days time.

Very well.

This matter shall be accomplished without fail!

Ah!

So ceaseless and dense are thy words!

Dost thou seek to bore a hole through me with thy gaze?

I only desire to discern which master thou art now.

By right, Young Master, thou art never one to suffer loss!

Yet thy demeanor just now was gentle as spring breeze,

hardly like thine usual conduct!

To vent wrath upon a widow

demeaneth mine own dignity.

Yet that shrewish woman brooketh no slight;

a simple word would suffice to seek out the tea seller,

yet she must turn it into a debt of favor!

Beyond our venture,

she shunns all ties with me! What arrogance!

Apart from our pact,

we likewise desire no bond with her!

Indeed.

This madam haileth from an outland brothel,

backed by powerful patronage;

having marked thy sister-in-law, she shall not desist.

Tread with caution,

or summon my aid.

Should need arise,

I shall surely speak;

and if thy aid be granted,

in future gains

I shall forgo a tenth.

Affairs call me away. Young Master,

if she yieldeth a tenth,

we reap vast fortune!

Look upon thy vile, greedy visage!

Hmph! Thinkest thou this wealth floweth into mine own purse?

Herein lie crimes of the prefect! Who penned this?

Doth someone seek to probe me? These recorded dates

align precisely with his anomalous deeds!

This humble one suffered ruin by the prefects hand,

with bitter hatred in heart;

my days are numbered; I beseech Your Excellency to unveil

his vile crimes,

that I may die in peace.

Truly the desperate plea of a dying soul!

Should this petition succeed,

glorious merit awaits!

Whither wentest thou these days?

I feared thou hadst forsaken us.

I shall be ever obedient. Sister-in-law,

forsake not our home!

Ere ye repay my kindness,

how could I depart? Harbor no foolish dread,

mark my words well!

Aye,

I obey Sister-in-law! The master

praised me today,

saying I rival Second Brother in wit!

I am slow-witted,

lacking Second Brothers gifts.

Yet thy martial skill blooms!

Uncle Xiao avowed

thou art a rare,

precious talent! Truly?

Assuredly so!

Who decreed renown

springeth solely from scholarly books?

Then I shall master both pen and sword,

and become a mighty general! Sister-in-law,

say, is that not grand?

So long as it bringeth thee joy.

Old crone,

if I lure that girl Song Chiyu out,

doth the ten taels of silver still hold?

Art thou certain thou canst entice her forth?

That shrew hath beaten me twice!

Fret not;

we shall evade Su Li and flatter the girl;

what cunning can a tender child possess?

I trust thee once more;

shouldst thou fail again,

thou shalt answer for it!

Await my triumphant word!

Dame Li,

vile, treacherous wretch,

daring to scheme against my girl for silver! Daughter-in-law, she plotts to sell Gouya!

Had I not overheard, what calamity would befall Gouya?

Once that worthless girl is taken away,

humph!

I shall take ten taels to buy meat and charcoal,

and live in ease! I once thought Xinghua alone was foul,

now her kin prove equally vile!

Had Gouya not been keen,

and I stalking close behind,

they would have snatched her away!

They dream in vain to beguile me! Father, Mother,

guard Chiyun and Chiyu well;

we remain at home!

My sister-in-law is lost!

I beseech you all, aid my search!

Hath anyone seen the maiden?

Sister-in-law, hast she fled beyond the hamlet?

Su Li, what dost thou seek?

Word spread that Gouya vanished,

is it true or false?

Out of my sight!

Hear me, I only desire to render thee aid!

Relate the tidings quickly,

fret not so bitterly, Su Li!

I went to thy dwelling;

thy sister-in-law is not lost.

She abideth safely at home now.

Not lost?

Whose child was dragged into that carriage?

Return home swiftly to see if thine own child be missing!

When I returned from town just now,

I seemed to see Hu Niu playing here.

Could it be Hu Niu?

What didst thou say?

Thou sawest my daughter here?

Thou cookest no food,

heedest no child!

Hu Niu hath not returned,

dost thou not know?

I have searched every corner,

yet found no trace of her!

Hu Niu was seized; it is Hu Niu, husband!

Good neighbors, the procuress took Hu Niu!

Pursue them swiftly!

Wicked folk have seized my Hu Niu!

Lend thy aid, neighbors!

Hasten to rescue her!

Hu Niu deserveth this!

Hadst thou not hindered Su Li,

she would have rescued thy daughter!

Heaven watcheth all mortal deeds;

harming others hath ruined thine own house!

Regardless,

we share one hamlet; the child is innocent.

When the child is retrieved,

I shall settle accounts with her.

Now, pursue the child at once!

What would ye do?

Return our child unto us!

Or we drag thee to court! Seize a child?

Humph!

She sold the child unto me!

Aye!

Ten taels of silver! Ye seized the wrong one!

The one ye seized is mine own daughter!

Open the sack to see for yourselves!

Humph!

No mistake was made!

Humph!

I bought her lawfully,

thy daughter! The silver was paid;

why seekest thou to swindle us?

Where then is the bill of sale for this child?

Is there deed or testimony?

Seize these women who kidnap innocent younglings!

The magistrate hath handed down the verdict:

the procuress and broker shall be exiled,

while Lady Li endured ten strokes of the rod.

Song the Second paid five taels of silver,

and brought her back home.

So light a penalty?

Losing silver is heavy punishment for them;

the second branch prizeth silver above all. Nay, not enough!

Why hast thou...

Why hast thou returned again?

Indeed,

why art thou back?

How have we provoked thee now?

Send word if thou requirest aught;

why must thou come in person?

Indeed,

state thy demand,

and torment us no more!

Thy sister-in-law is with child,

she cannot bear thy strife!

What have I done

that maketh you tremble so?

Thy mere arrival

is cause enough!

What dare thou not do?

Is it not so?

Obey whatever I command!

We dare not disobey.

Very well.

I bear enmity toward the Song second branch;

go cause an uproar, not in vain!

Of ten taels of dowry, the second branch withheld three;

reclaim it,

and it shall be yours.

Agreed!

We shall go forthwith!

We shall yield the silver unto thee,

we want it not,

if only thou wilt never return!

When I say it is yours, it is yours.

Utter more prattle,

and I shall return to lodge here! Nay, return not!

Thy word is law!

Depart first;

we shall follow closely behind!

Thy presence maketh our knees tremble! Very well,

execute this task well,

lest I return here to reside!

Heavens be praised, a dire peril averted!

What do ye intend?

Speak with reason;

with such violent strife,

how can our house know peace?

Thou dare ask our intent?

Now learn I well,

the dowry meant for my daughter

was usurped by three taels! Shameless knaves,

repay it,

lest I set flames to thy roof!

Inquire across our hamlet;

who dares provoke our clan?

declare unto thee:

rouse our wrath,

and all thy goods shall be shattered!

I shall strike you at every sight!

Waste no words;

yield the silver forthwith,

lest blows fall upon thee again!

Fierce as ye are, we bow not meekly!

This is our hamlet; a shout summons our kin,

and ye shall be beaten to dust!

Very well!

Summon them forth!

If we strip thee not

to utter ruin and shame,

then have I lived in vain!

Deem not that we tremble!

Inquire abroad;

save for our daughter, whom fear we?

Reason can yet prevail!

We just surrendered to the yamen

five taels of silver; no coin remains!

Would one tael suffice?

Three taels we demand;

though thy aged bones be crushed,

the silver must be rendered!

Produce the coin posthaste,

lest our wrath strike again!

Behold, my son! Nay,

stay thy hand; the coin shall be paid!

None tread an easy path;

cease this bitter strife!

None tread an easy path?

When ye oppressed my sister,

did ye weigh

her bitter lot?

Shouldst thou perish this instant,

Heavens justice would be fulfilled!

Enough;

the silver is secured, let us depart.

Yet mark my solemn warning, ye folk:

dare harm my daughter again,

and I shall bring unending torment upon thee!

Truth was spoken indeed;

before aught was accomplished,

eight taels of silver are lost!

How many years of toil was this?

Alas,

my grandson shall scarce afford a bride!

From dawn to dusk,

life is mismanaged;

governing the household,

thou art inept,

yet harboring malice within!

Now the house lies broken;

art thou content?

Pah, baneful creature!

Ah,

cease;

is this turmoil not enough?

Hereafter, invite no further strife;

keep far from them!

Thou hast achieved a wondrous feat!

Forgive me,

for granting thee no greater share.

Ponder it not;

even had I rendered aid,

I would take no extra profit from thee.

Indeed,

yet I would bestow it! How was this wrought?

Where a will aspires,

triumph follows!

The details remain unspoken,

yet immense toil was spent.

Should trial arise again,

lean on no one; oneself alone is steadfast.

My vow stands firm:

in any need, I shall gladly aid,

asking no recompense.

We are bound in partnership;

much hope rests upon thee.

Thy prosperity

is my own! Let us weigh our gains,

and inspect the ledger! A true devotee of silver!

Fret not, coin abounds in plenty.

Our young master is generous; Master Jin is truly magnanimous!

Our alliance shall flourish with ever greater gladness.

Rare indeed to hear praise from thy lips!

Have mercy, good folk!

We battle the foe;

we fear no death,

yet dread starvation!

I prostrate before you!

Our army is beleaguered,

though we triumphed in battle!

Yet grain cometh not; traitors blockade our tidings!

We plead of you, spare our lives!

They cut a bloody path forth,

yet lost their way hither.

To our barren hamlet; strange indeed!

They seek silver to buy grain,

which proveth provisions may be bought.

Since grain is to be found,

why not plunder what they need?

That were the way of bandits!

It proveth they are men of honor and righteousness.

Peace is forged by warriors, yet denied to their sight.

Peace is precious indeed.

Fortunate that my humor is blithe today.

May ye endure through the trial.

More than this:

take silver from the Su family shop;

all revenue within,

ye may claim in full!

Go swiftly! A wondrously lavish bounty, Young Master Jin!

I had deemed to bestow some alms myself,

yet why bestow so vast a sum?

Perchance I sought to follow thy righteous steps.

The realm before all; though a merchant,

I honor the grand virtue. Rise and tarry not;

waste no moment upon empty courtesies!

Young Master Jin, escort them unto the end.

Thou hast the power to guard their march awhile.

Not that my heart is tender;

I fear only should they perish midway,

our silver shall vanish into void!

Very well,

I shall dispatch escorts.

If naught else remains,

I take my leave.

Woe unto thee!

If thou must perish, crawl afar!

Bring no foul blight here! Uncle, hath fresh trouble arisen?

Naught amiss;

Baozhus house selleth their fields,

at an equitable price.

Knowing thy house hath no land, I came to inquire;

thy father-in-law said thou rulest all affairs,

so here I waited.

Aye,

those two acres are fertile soil! Gratitude to Uncle Ma,

for thinking of our house! Pray broker this bargain;

if terms agree,

we shall purchase. As village head,

such is mine own bounden duty.

If thou art not occupied,

come with me to Baozhus home.

Most gladly!

Father,

prepare meal with Mother at home;

I shall go inspect the matter.

Daughter-in-law, how went it?

Tis accomplished!

Our family possesseth land!

Splendid indeed!

Those two plots of Baozhus are wondrously fertile,

next years harvest shall surely be bountiful!

I already long for the coming year!

Long not yet for next year;

let us look forward to the New Year first,

and procure festive provisions.

Ah,

Fair Lady cometh again to purchase meat today?

Meat we shall buy,

yet today we seek far more than flesh;

thou hast aided me manifold before.

As the New Year draweth nigh,

all our household bowls and wares shall be purchased from thee.

Oh,

twas but a trifling courtesy,

yet thou keepest it in heart!

Choose at thy pleasure;

I shall discount all! Daughter-in-law, buy more to make ten or six,

to invoke boundless perfection and smooth fortune! Fair Lady,

is this not an excess?

For New Year, folk commonly buy but two fresh bowls.

Mock me not,

our dishes and bowls are chipped all over,

wounding the lips at every meal.

I resolved to replace them all,

to greet the New Year with fresh auspices!

Then replace them all indeed!

Mother,

choose with care,

and ponder whatever else in our house is broken;

we shall purchase all anew today!

Very well.

Daughter-in-law, let us gather fortune from eight winds.

Mother,

choose which cut of meat serves best.

I perceived long ago that knave harbored designs on her;

truly vexatious!

His gaze resteth not on thee;

why chafest thou? Running with the miser, thou castest me off!

Dost thou speak thus to me?

Such speech! That other self,

pleaseth me no better.

One glance at thine eyes reveals thy foul malice;

yet I deign not contend with thee now.

Having chanced upon the shrew at last,

I must exchange words with her. Nay!

Tis ill-timed.

Wherefore ill-timed?

Dost fear they discern my rift?

Her husbands kin stand beside her;

shouldst thou intrude,

how could she face folk?

I come not to wanton with her;

what dost thou imply?

Fawning on that miser,

dost thou shield him from me?

Shield against what?

Think not I know not the misers scheme.

Humph!

Why let him accost her freely,

yet bar my path?

Barring me thus,

I have beheld her far less than that miser!

If I make my presence felt no more,

she shall forget me! Young Master,

years end draweth nigh;

she will surely buy festive wares in town.

Seek her when her kin depart. Splendid!

Thou hast reminded me;

the New Year is at hand!

Her house surely lacketh firecrackers,

and I happen to vend them!

Nay,

I shall bestow gifts;

he shant hoard all favor to himself!

Squandering all coin,

ye two prodigals shall bankrupt us both!

Jin Wu,

mark my words:

if she appeareth not today,

I shall flay thee,

or take thy surname!

Take mine if thou wilt,

tis all one. Young Master, she cometh!

Dost seek firecrackers, fair shrew?

Knowest thou who owns this shop?

Long parted,

fool! How didst thou discern it?

Dost thou deem me finer than the miser,

to sever us at a glance?

Ye are both tedious pests. Splendid!

Thou findst him tiresome! Ha,

is this not the illustrious Young Master Jin?

Rumor says thou allied with a wench;

failing officialdom is pitiful enough,

yet must thou consort with low wenches?

My masters path

is beyond thy crude grasp;

cease thy canine barking!

Though my master trades in commerce,

thou reachest not his toe!

Why barkest thou so insolently here?

Trailing my heels daily; a cur is less clinging than thee!

Consorting with this peasant crone,

swarthy and foul! Mocking visage showeth vile breeding.

Though my skin be not fair,

at least mine eyes are not cross-eyed!

Gaze into a mirror ere reviling others!

In truth, unnoticed till now;

the blemish showeth ever clearer!

Silence, vile wench!

I shall strike thee dead! Hold, hold!

Release thy grip, Young Master!

Unhand him!

Release me, Jin Manlou!

When didst thou master martial arts?

What wonder if vast houses learn defense?

Only unlettered fools deem it novel!

I watched him closely;

had he martial skill,

I had known! It proves thy squinting eyes see poorly!

Heal thine own eyes ere vexing others;

if sight mend not fully,

at least thy visage shall improve.

Nay, hold thy peace!

Thou biddest me hush?

Must I obey?

What petty fool art thou?

Come forth and behold!

See if Young Master Lu is cross-eyed! Alack!

Pray step aside to speak.

Young Master,

how couldst thou act so rashly?

Our secret was nearly betrayed!

Let them behold my might!

Betrayed?

That miser alone

may appear?

Must I feign his guise?

He feigneth thy self as well!

Is it not so?

What aileth thee this day?

Did ye two not reach accord long ago?

Discovery was bound to come ere long.

So one of you excels in letters,

the other in arms?

Dost thou deem me the mightier one?

To shield an ally,

pray, who was that man?

What power commands his house?

He is Lu Qingfeng;

our clans stand well-matched.

Yet the Jin clan gains wealth cleanly;

the Lu house doth the contrary.

The crone who sought thy sister was Lus.

Peril comes when such vipers mark thee!

Who feareth them?

I can defend myself!

Thou hast the power.

Yet what of the other?

Were he slain,

couldst thou survive?

No flaw was betrayed just now;

especially with thy timely words,

many doubts were veiled.

Mere defense is far too passive.

The chill deepens;

tis time to ruin the Lu clan.

What is thy meaning?

Their shops appear prosperous indeed.

Should we seize them together,

how shall spoils be shared?

How much dost thou covet?

She lifted this great weight for us;

all should be yielded to her!

Can throttling him restore the other?

I harbor no such greed.

How to divide?

When the other emerges,

we shall confer.

As for overthrowing the Lus,

confer with me.

What avails speaking to thee?

Canst thou devise plots or obey orders?

Yet I heed thee not!

I have observed it:

thou dost ever favor that miser.

This minx favoreth me!

What insolent presumption!

Then the matter is resolved.

I shall ponder a plan ere we strike;

whichever persona appears must act.

Depart not yet!

Firecrackers for thee!

Truly? Then I gladly accept!

Spirited minx,

these are bestowed by my hand;

remember my favor!

Assuredly! This woman possesses rare mettle,

turning every calamity

into stepping stones to rise.

Humph!

We need but await her grand scheme.

News shall surely arrive ere long.

Is Su Li within?

Officer,

what errand?

To trouble thee on New Years Day!

Glad tidings: thy husband fell not in battle!

He arrives soon for reunion feast!

Gratitude to Sir Feng for joyful tidings;

accept this tribute; this bailiff vexes one sore!

Half a year past, I transmigrated hither.

Villain Salvation Plan commenced;

transmitting destined lore.

I have transmigrated,

into the male leads vicious wife!

Host, maintain thy cruel demeanor,

and avert the villains doom.

Shouldst thou fail,

host shall be obliterated!

My titular husband is this worlds protagonist.

Now he returneth;

doth my appointed trial end?

Daughter-in-law, what hath occurred?

The officer saith Song Chigui lives,

and shall reach home anon!

Heaven be praised!

My eldest son perisheth not!

Heavens be praised!

This boy lingered so long

without sending word home;

he little knoweth our ceaseless dread. These two are the craven parents.

Trained by my hand these past six months,

they barely manage to uphold the hearth.

Once Eldest Brother returneth,

we may follow him to rob nests again!

Cease now;

tis New Year, yet ye weep one moment

and laugh the next!

What spectacle is this? These three younglings are the villains I must redeem.

Once they lacked even morsels of grain,

yet under my stewardship,

they are well fed and warmly clad at last.

Aye, truly,

one must shed no tears during New Year!

Su Li,

is this how thou mistreatest my parents,

forcing them to toil on New Year?

How darest thou sit to feast?

Art thou mad?

How darest thou speak thus?

This bowl was filled for thee,

and thy father set this stool for thee!

Thy wife sustaineth our entire household;

even if she commandeth us,

thy mother and I obey gladly!

Brother Shigui, Uncle and Aunt dare not resist her;

after all, Su Lis methods are ruthless,

and my ruin in the camp was wrought by her hand!

Su Li,

thou didst not foresee this, didst thou?

Brother Shigui

could not bear

my misery,

and paid five taels to ransom me!

Su Li, upon the road hither,

I heard folk call thee fierce and insolent;

I deemed it mere rumour,

never dreaming rumour fell short of the truth!

Vile wench!

Malicious woman, I shall cast thee forth!

Whom wilt thou cast forth?

If any be cast out, my daughter-in-law

shall cast thee out! Father,

I am thine own flesh and blood;

why dost thou shield that venomous shrew?

Vile wretch, why didst thou not perish abroad?

Why ransom this bane of our house?

Knowest thou not how she harmed thy brother

and sister? Uncle, Aunt,

strike me if ye must;

twas all my fault!

Tis my first time beholding one begging for a beating;

to deny thee would shame my venomous name!

Three little ones, seize her! Save me!

Dare to stir! This wretch first brought dire sickness upon Gou Wa,

then falsely accused him

of poisoning dumplings

to murder his siblings;

wilt thou still champion her?

Doth Father speak the truth?

Brother Shigui,

hear my defense! What truth or falsehood?

Her vile misdeeds

are known across the entire village!

I knew not she was such a creature.

Now that thou knowest,

how dost thou propose to deal with her?

Having paid five taels of silver for her,

wilt thou simply let it pass?

Speak!

Can it be thou art reluctant?

Reluctant to part with such a viper?

Thou art starved indeed!

When did I ever speak of reluctance?

Dispose of her as ye see fit, will that suffice?

Then yield her indenture deed unto me!

Humph!

Why should I heed thy command?

Because she ruleth this household!

Deliver the indenture deed to thy wife

without delay! Hand it over properly, then tis well.

Enough for me to make the journey. Why hast thou come?

Hitherto, when my youngest son spoke

ill of thy brother-in-law,

our household already paid dearly;

now that thou appearest at our gate,

canst thou not bear to see us in peace?

Before speaking, look upon this creature with thine own eyes!

Wilt thou take her? She wedded thy son,

yet caused his demise;

surely thou thirstest to avenge him!

I hold her indenture deed;

if thou desirest it, tis five taels of silver.

I shall take it;

consider me indebted to thee.

Whenever my son appeareth in my dreams,

I yearn to flay her alive! Silver paid, matters concluded.

Speak not of owing favors; Mother told me all.

Thou hast indeed labored much for this house,

so I shall not cast thee out.

Mend thy temper hereafter,

and let us live in peace.

What manner of creature art thou?

So mediocre yet conceited! Who would share life with thee?

Mother, see his insolence! Can fault truly lie with me?

Doth thy tongue utter words or foul wind?

Obey whatever thy wife commands,

one insolent word more,

and I shall thrash thee!

How have ye both become like this?

Had we not hardened,

strangers would have crushed us long ago!

Thou wouldst be weeping before our grassy graves!

Gou Sheng, Gou Wa, Gou Ya, come dine!

Hasten hither and set the bowls!

Why dost thou idle?

What wife acteth so indolently?

By her deeds our lands were bought!

The three young ones,

she sustains their schooling!

All food and garments here flow from her purse!

What right hast thou to find fault with her?

What great feat is that?

Aye,

I claim no wondrous merit,

yet this was bought with my coin!

If thou hast pride,

eat not a morsel!

I shall pay thee silver, will that suffice?

Eldest Brother is vile, devouring the feast first!

He must be famished;

he may mend his ways on the morrow.

Uh...

where do we slumber?

Weariness overtakes me.

Wilt thou share a chamber with me?

Are we not husband and wife?

What amiss in sharing one room?

Cease thy folly!

Thy journey leaves thee foul and dusty;

vex not our precious daughter-in-law!

Sleep in our chamber instead!

Whence cometh such insolence?

So be it.

Something is amiss.

The young ones dwell in peace now,

and Song Chigui, the destined lord, hath returned.

If he shields them well, the quest ought to be accomplished!

Host, recall thy solemn mandate:

maintain the ruthless persona,

and avert the villains fall to darkness.

My wicked facade remains unblemished;

this proves that though Song Chigui is back,

the three may still turn toward darkness.

Song Chigui never dared protect them!

No wonder in the destined tale, Song Chiyun

battled him unto bitter death.

Of what worth is such a wretched coward?

Thou craven, useless wretch!

Why didst thou not perish?

Abroad, abandoning thine own kin,

thou art no better than a spineless cur!

Father, Mother, will ye not restrain her?

Thou dost not yet fathom my dominion here.

Father, Mother, heed not!

He dared raise his hand against her!

Strike back then,

dare raise thy hand again!

I touched not a hair upon her head,

and she struck first!

If she struck thee, thou didst deserve it!

Why else strike thee

and none other?

Daughter-in-law, hath thy wrath abated?

I shall return to sleep.

Should grievance linger in thy chest,

pray vent it freely;

holding it harms thy health!

Alas!

Slumbering like a common beast,

unworthy of our daughter-in-law!

Demanding to share her chamber startled me!

Shall sweet jade be trampled by swine?

Ponder it no more;

let our daughter-in-law do as she willeth.

What manner of enigma is this Su Li?

Daughter-in-law waketh!

Partake of fresh dumplings!

I must soon journey to town on errands;

Father and Mother, be watchful at home.

Fret not, our whole house standeth with thee.

I shall take my leave then, Mother.

Fierce maiden,

thou hast finally arrived! The Lu clans shops

stir anew with schemes;

the Young Master eagerly awaits counsel!

How then shall we deal with them?

This is Jin Wu, steward to the affluent Jin clan;

the Young Master he speaketh of is the sole heir

of Jinman Mansion, and my partner in trade.

When I present novel delicacies,

I shall ask no fee for the recipe;

yet of all shop profits, thirty percent must be mine. Agreed!

A matter of grave weight

craves speech: recite "Red Carp, Green Carp, and Ass"!

Red and pink

phoenix, mottled phoenix!

Is this thy urgent counsel against Young Master Lu?

Why still dwell on apes, fish, and asses?

Whenever I sought to prove it, none would listen;

then heavy indeed was the burden on thy memory.

Enough.

Let us confer posthaste upon the Lu clans affair.

Hath Lu Qingfengs wits been shattered by an ass?

Selling his wares so excessively cheap,

granting favors if they shun our spicy brew!

Though crowds flock to his thresholds,

the greater the throng,

the direr his loss!

Were it not for the magistrates ties to the Lu house,

precluding rash strife, our Young Master had crushed him ere now!

Then seek another path: gather proof and deliver it to his rivals,

and our hurdles shall vanish naturally.

Direct thy spies thus toward Qingzhou;

they yearn to claim our magistrate as their kin.

Deliver the evidence directly into their grasp.

Shrewish maid,

thou hast laid the banquet straight to Qingzhous lips!

Whence camest thou by such secrets?

Even as thy Young Master is wrapped in mystery.

I shall probe

as thou biddest; how then strike the blow?

As thou didst say,

a flaw in their bribes spell ruin;

what if disparities in their payoffs be leaked abroad?

Strife within must erupt!

A stroke of supreme genius!

Giving lavishly to one and meagerly to another,

who would brook receiving less?

And should he strive to balance all,

it must bleed his house or shatter his fortune!

We shall then appease their rivals,

and whisper the Lu crimes; investigations will surely follow!

When their official caps hang by a thread,

how could they shield the Lu clan?

We can seize all Lu properties in that hour!

Perchance for self-preservation,

they will offer the Lu clan as scapegoats,

or silence them in death!

Let us wager:

shall the Lu clan serve as a shield or be slaughtered?

I stake on slaughter! Lu wares have plummeted to bedrock;

wilt thou send men to buy,

since it is cheaper than wholesale cost?

Aye, the more I buy,

the more he bleeds!

Jin Wu,

go dispatch it,

sending varied folk to buy in batches!

I obey at once;

I dare tarry no longer with you two!

A legion of schemes between you!

Let it proceed thus.

While Lu Qingfeng flounders in folly,

bleed his coffers dry,

that we may swiftly usurp the Lu shops.

By my reckoning, at this pace,

ruin and doom shall soon overtake the Lu clan.

I misjudged thee; henceforth in our dealings,

we need not await the other ones waking.

I shall await fair tidings.

May Young Master Jins swift wrath fulfill our desires!

I shall not fail thee.

Su Li, joyful New Year!

I have awaited thee at last.

Joyful New Year, Uncle Ma!

Doth some matter bring thee hither?

Thy neighbor dwelleth far afield,

and desireth to sell his dwelling in our hamlet;

I came to ask if thou wouldst purchase it.

Tis newly built and scarce occupied.

I deem it well; erecting walls taketh time,

buying what is built is far wiser.

Then I must trouble Uncle Ma to mediate.

A trifling errand!

If thou hast leisure, walk with me.

I have leisure, indeed!

Brother Xiao!

In

the festive days, shouldst thou not rest longer?

I am truly abashed to receive thy free tutelage.

I came to pay New Year homage,

yet this lad insisted on learning more stances. Su Li, is he truly thy husband?

Arriving at thy threshold this morn,

I saw Song Shu pursuing him with blows!

Tis utterly shameful and filthy!

A day without thrashings leaveth him restless.

Deem it but a comical monkey jest.

Must ye mock me thus to my very face?

Su Li, remember thy place;

thou art my wedded wife, yet smilest with a man,

with no sense of shame! I revile thee behind thy back as well!

May I beseech a favor of thee?

Whatever thou desirest,

speak it plainly.

Strike him! Heavens,

thou— Humph, Song Chigui

only pretendeth to be helpless;

yet with Xiao Rans might, a single blow sufficeth

to leave Song Chigui writhing for days!

The brawl hath begun! How can this brute

possess such ferocious strength?

Heh,

forgive me;

I forgot to restrain my force.

Fret not;

slaying him outright would matter not,

none would blame thee! I am already battered thus,

yet thou hast the heart to strike?

Humph!

Against a cur like thee,

one could strike at any moment without pity!

Elder Brother,

spare thy breath.

Master,

hath my skill not advanced greatly?

I have been diligent as well!

Gouya,

what need hath a maid like thee for martial arts?

I shall master the martial way!

I shall become peerlessly formidable,

so none shall dare oppress me ever again!

Well said!

Only enemies yearn for thee to be weak.

Then Elder Brother is an enemy, is he not?

No wonder he vexeth my heart so!

I am no— Silence, enemy!

Address me no further!

So tender in years,

yet already discerning friend from foe!

I shall make an exception; henceforth,

hail me as Master alongside thy brother!

Our household hath a new abode!

Whence came

this new abode?

Our neighbors; the village elder said

they shall return no more;

seeing how well built it was,

I purchased it outright.

Whenever I passed their gate, my heart harbored envy;

never did I dream we would dwell beneath its roof!

Are ye content with this alone?

Our days ahead shall flourish even brighter!

Once the meal is done,

we shall sweep the dwelling

and move thither.

Thy father and I shall sweep with haste,

striving to sleep within the new abode this night!

Goudan

cannot follow us;

he shall dwell

in our old house, lest he vex my daughter-in-laws sight daily

and stir sorrow!

I consent as well;

that wretched scoundrel is utterly incorrigible.

Elder Brother,

that thou hast returned,

my heart is truly gladdened.

I recall in youth thou tookest me to rob bird nests;

how delectable those eggs tasted!

Then I shall take thee again. By Sister-in-laws grace,

I now feast upon fowl eggs;

she bestowed fowl eggs upon thee,

and thou despisest the wild eggs of old?

We tasted bird eggs but once,

whereupon thou departed from our home!

Fowl eggs,

I have eaten countless times;

my constitution was frail,

so Sister-in-law bade Mother boil eggs daily to nourish me.

Were it not for Sister-in-law,

I might have perished of sickness long ago!

I knew not ye suffered so sorely. All is past now.

Elder Brother,

thy past kindness to me,

is now fading from my memory;

yet the kindness of Sister-in-law

unfoldeth before me every single day.

Wherefore, provoke not Sister-in-law

to displeasure!

Very well,

I shall not provoke her. Gouwa,

what words exchangest thou with that scoundrel?

Come forth quickly to lend aid;

let him not lead thee astray!

Elder Brother,

our parents have become truly kind;

all oweth unto Sister-in-laws virtue!

Wherefore we can never part with her,

never lose Sister-in-law!

Doth this signify unto me

that for Su Lis sake, I may be cast aside?

Then as eldest brother, I have failed miserably indeed.

Set in fair order,

bright and serene. Daughter-in-law, come partake of food!

Coming!

Escorting brother-in-law to Master Yin, I heard the Lu clan was seized;

taken yesterday,

and silenced forever this day.

How now?

Did I disappoint thee?

Thou dost indeed wield thunderous stratagems.

How fare I against that miserly soul?

Each hath his own wearisome folly.

So long as thou deemest him tiresome!

Flaunting thyself again.

The Lu clan shops are now mostly seized under my hand;

yet this realm was won together, how shall we divide it?

We two decide; that miser shall have no meddling hand!

As thou wilt;

by profit shares then.

I claim forty percent.

Thy greed is boundless indeed!

Thou gavest mere counsel,

while we yielded men, toil, and silver;

yet thou wouldst claim—

I too raise no dissent.

When shall the other Young Master emerge?

I weary of bantering with this witless fool!

I crave no excess;

a few storefronts suffice.

To what purpose shalt thou put them?

Let them conduct customary trade for now;

anon I shall craft floral oils and suet soaps,

to vend in cosmetic houses,

garnering silver from noble dignitaries.

Little shrew,

the shops beneath my banner are thine to govern;

introduce whatever novelties thou wilt; I shall decree it below,

bidding them disturb me not save the heavens collapse!

Then I shall stand on no ceremony.

Granting this and yielding that;

why not surrender thine own self away?

Hmph!

Seeing that miser about to awake,

thou losest all reverence before me!

Mm.

Hearken unto me:

none can tell which of us shall linger longer hereafter;

thou hadst best keep thy humble place!

Have I ever known my place?

Not only unto thee am I thus,

but unto that other one as well!

Little shrew,

I hear thy husband hath returned; how fare ye?

Some living are viler than the dead;

speak no word of that omen of doom

before my presence.

I comprehend then!

Why rejoice in their discord? Canst thou not wish them peace?

Weigh thy speech with care,

lest I strike thee down without mercy.

Let this suffice for today;

I return home.

Jin Wu,

she consented to all my terms today;

fanciest thou she harbor affection for me?

Young Master,

with such openhanded bounty,

any soul would fancy thee so!

As for thee, spare me that!

Vile indeed! This servant withdraws! What crude male disguise!

Whence came these brats? So they be the foils from fates design!

Why utter no word?

Doth shame silence thee?

When thy sister wept,

forth thou camest;

yet whilst they harassed others,

where didst thou seek thy gain?

It was not I! Hmph!

Brother Song,

make haste to vindicate us! Su Li,

what vexatious tumult dost thou brew now?

So thine ears can hear after all;

I deemed this whole nest deaf and dumb!

What wouldst thou have him explain? Explain

why he bought no sweets for his siblings, or why he suffered strangers to vex them?

Then I shall hearken with all diligence.

I weighed it not so deeply upon purchasing;

tis mere childish squabbling beside,

why should elders meddle therein?

To what end doth thy mind serve?

Seeing thou forgatest thy blood siblings,

couldst thou not return

to town? Art thou lame of foot?

Failing to shield thine own flesh and blood,

didst thou shrink from strife,

or cherish anothers kin above thine own? Deem my siblings at fault then!

I shall bid them return the candied figurines.

Twas Brother Songs slight oversight;

in his stead, I offer—

Striking him spared thy skin, eh?

What meanest thou by "deem them at fault"?

They are in the wrong indeed!

Furthermore,

Song Shigui and I are not yet parted;

who art thou to plead his guilt?

Were thou not a man,

I had deemed thee eager to become a concubine!

Thy tongue spareth none!

A valiant hero in distress sought my aid;

doth not thy speech shame an honorable guest?

Powerless to govern thine own hearth,

yet thou fretist

over anothers regard!

Fair of countenance;

art thou smitten?

No wonder on our nuptial night

thou fleddest straight into the ranks!

Thou harborest a fondness for men!

Su Li, why is thy mind steeped in such filth?

Because vile knaves stand before mine eyes!

Is it not so,

Brother Xiao? Brother Song,

if it cometh to this,

I shall depart with my young brother and sister;

at worst, we perish of frost

or hunger!

Far better than

bringing thee distress!

Tarry here!

She and I dwell not under the same roof.

I cannot best thy sharp tongue;

yet Brother Xiao is my sworn bosom friend.

In his distress,

I cannot abandon him! Sister-in-law,

I am truly driven to extremity;

grant us shelter for a season!

I swear,

once peril subsideth,

I shall depart posthaste. The rival siblings stand before me;

should I not humble their arrogance now,

lest they meddle in future strife?

Tread with utmost caution, all three of you;

dare provoke my displeasure,

and ye shall be cast out!

Gratitude, Sister-in-law!

We shall cause no grief unto your house.

Daughter-in-law, why gather ye all here?

Who are these three? Sworn friends of your noble son,

seeking shelter under our roof for a time;

I have granted consent.

Lodging is granted,

yet strict bounds must be kept!

First:

the word of our daughter-in-law

is imperial decree;

none dare vex her peace!

Second:

simple fare we may bestow upon you,

yet your own toil must be borne by your own hands;

dream not of being served!

We shall obey every commandment!

This boon of shelter

shall be richly repaid on another day!

We seek no repayment;

bite not the hand that sheltered you,

and it sufficeth!

How could we be such base souls?

Weary from your journey,

ye must be spent;

go rest your limbs first.

Father, Mother,

why treat our guests with such coldness?

Art thou witless as a swine?

He claimed lodging for a season;

who knoweth how long they tarry?

Thy glib tongue made thee grand and generous,

yet all their bread falleth on my daughter-in-law!

I provide for mine own guest;

I shall yield silver to the house monthly!

How wondrously lavish!

Begrudging sugar figurines to thine own kin,

yet lavishing treats on a comrades siblings,

and eagerly

paying their rent!

A martyr of great virtue!

A paragon fit for the annals!

Hath this truly passed?

Thou wretched knave!

Hast thou no shame? Daughter-in-law,

shall we serve meager fare tonight

to teach them their place?

No need;

why afflict ourselves to chastise others?

Moreover, the thaw approacheth swiftly,

and our fowls can no longer be kept frozen.

True; yet resentment still rankles within my breast!

Bid Xiao Ran join us for dinner shortly.

He instructeth Chiying and Chiyu in martial arts without fee,

yet we have rendered no token of gratitude.

Feasting upon this meat shall serve to honor our guest.

Weighed in this manner,

my heart feeleth appeased.

Gouwa,

bid thy master hither to share a repast! What troubleth thee?

Come, sit and take thy fill!

I was just lamenting my cold hearth,

wondering what sustenance to seek.

Then this lad came dashing to declare

ye invited me to dine.

A cold hearth indeed!

Master,

thy roof is on the verge of collapsing;

how thou endurest such days is beyond me.

Alas,

I foresaw not that frail hovel would crumble so swiftly! Partake of the fowl drumstick; tis our own feast, eat freely,

stand not on ceremony.

When sharing a meal,

why must thou utter such barbed, sarcastic words?

Tis thine own petty heart

that deemeth others perverse and mocking.

Take whatever morsel thou desirest;

why breed so much grievance over food?

Young brother,

take it not to heart;

partake as thou pleasest.

Nay, I took no offense.

May we truly eat at will?

Then little sister and I crave the drumsticks too.

Ah,

that cannot be granted.

A fowl hath but two drumsticks;

look ye both to other cuts instead.

Brother Zhigui,

I wish to taste the drumstick.

Our younger brother and sister are frail of health;

let the drumsticks be theirs.

Wilt thou partake of the wings instead?

Thou cherishest me no longer!

Why are ye twain so spoiled and perverse?

Is not every morsel meat alike?

tis merely that they starve not enough.

Starve them two meals and they shall mend!

I have borne thee long enough;

canst thou refrain from meddling in my household affairs?

Are those two children thy kin,

that thou claimest it as thy domestic affair?

Furthermore, Chiying and Chiyu are my disciples;

what fault is there if I shield them?

Unlike certain folk

whose loyalties bend ever outward to strangers!

I deem Xiao Rans words just.

I have come to observe

that whosoever toucheth Su Li groweth ever more like her.

That is splendid indeed!

In tutoring Chiying and Chiyu,

I seek naught else

save that they resemble Su Li in spirit.

Mark my counsel,

good brother, thou oughtest to learn of her,

lest thou persistest in daily folly!

Eat posthaste;

the dishes grow chill.

The children thou broughtest—

discipline them! Those who dwell under anothers roof must heed their place,

spending all day

scheming to snatch sustenance from the master of the house!

They comprehend propriety;

twas merely spoken in jest.

Then that vice must be cured!

Even as an outsider, I find no mirth in it;

how then must the wronged party feel?

Verily, so it is.

Xiao Ran, now that thy dwelling hath collapsed,

where wilt thou abide henceforth?

I shall make shift as best I can;

at least I shall not freeze. How can one muddle through life so carelessly?

Furthermore,

how couldst thou endure the harsh night chill?

Why not lodge within our dwelling?

Our estate hath two dwellings;

there is ample room; let it be settled thus!

After all, thou must instruct Gouwa and Gouya in martial arts;

dwelling here is convenient. Is this fitting?

What impropriety could there be?

Lodge within our former house and rest content.

Yet I am not accustomed to residing with strangers.

Dwelling solely with Song Zhigui suited thee well enough;

is he then no stranger?

When taking shelter under anothers roof, cease thy endless qualms!

If it displeaseth thee so, seek another to give thee sanctuary! Uh,

I find it not amiss.

Then this matter is firmly resolved!

Xiao Ran, pack thy belongings and come posthaste.

Indeed,

thou lodgest not for naught;

why show such hesitant bashfulness?

I lodge not for naught;

I possess fair skill in the hunt.

Should small quarry fall,

our house feasteth;

if great beast be slain,

I sell it in town,

buying meat and wine for all!

I... I have eaten my fill.

I shall escort my siblings to the court.

Xiao Yuyan,

in the tale of old,

thou flaunted thy dwelling with Song Chigui.

Now I bestow another man upon thee;

darest thou boast still?

Even a meal findeth no peace;

scheming daily against folk,

what joy is there?

Wouldst thou have me foolish as thee?

Song Chigui,

knowest thou this?

Only this day do I discern

that every tribulation springeth from thee!

What wild madness dost thou babble?

Thou needst not know; eat no more!

Dost thou deserve food?

Eat not,

begone forthwith!

Henceforth, eat not beside us;

when dishes be cooked,

fetch them thyself!

When warmth returneth,

kindle your own hearth!

With toil I guided the three younglings aright;

yet vile wretch, thou fetched Xinghua first,

and brought

foils again! That they turned not bitter

proves their boundless virtue!

Brother Song,

twas all my fault,

sowing discord twixt thee and thy kin.

Yet Sister-in-law is harsh; thou treatest her well,

yet she showeth no mercy! How could fault be thine?

Moreover, I never treated her with kindness.

I fled heedlessly in past days,

leaving all household burdens on her shoulders;

now she hath ordered our house splendidly.

Tis only natural they harbor resentment against me.

She shamed thee before all eyes,

dallying so intimately with an alien man;

tis trampling thy honor beneath her feet!

Yet thou speakest well of her;

thou spoilest her excessively!

Young friend,

folk sheltered thee in benevolence;

to sow discord between spouses here, art thou vile?

Thou art brazenly forward indeed.

Humph!

Why should I feign courtesy?

I lodge not as a parasite!

If thou hast complaints, appeal to thy parents;

should they cast me out,

I depart posthaste!

None forbade thee shelter;

sleep now.

Ah,

I shall return to my chamber.

True comrades wish only thy prosperity;

Su Li manage me thy house with rare grace,

yet he cometh at dead of night to slander her,

harboring heaven knoweth what dark intent!

I am weary,

with no heart to bandy words. Sleep!

Sleep!

Ere sleeping, hear this parting counsel:

one must possess clear self-knowledge;

heed not two flattering words,

lest thou lose thy bearings!

Senseless fool! Sister-in-law,

dost thou detest me so bitterly?

Feigning blindness when I cross thy sill!

What matter?

Brother Song said

thou wert occupied,

so I came to see thy pursuits;

little thinking thou pored over strange trivia!

Doth my business concern thee?

Eating and lodging gratis in our home,

thou hast never lent a hand in toil!

What harm if I read a scroll?

Sister-in-law, I harbored no malice,

seeking only concord with thee,

lest Brother Song be trapped in dilemmas between us.

Yet thine eyes crave to make him defy his kin for thy sake,

flattering thyself with pompous conceit!

Am I unmasked?

Tis impossible!

For so many years, I feigned and concealed myself well.

In truth, my encounter with Brother Song was quite unusual.

I harbor not the slightest interest in thy tales.

Knowest thou of the past between him and Xinghua?

Who is this Xinghua?

Xinghua was his childhood sweetheart, bound by secret vows;

alas, she was wed unto another in the end.

Despairing in bitter grief,

he fled this house upon our bridal night!

Yet,

Xinghuas heart yearned for him still;

she slew her spouse and sank into a courtesans shame,

only to reunite within the military encampment.

Alas,

cruel fate mocketh mortals!

Ah,

let us speak no more;

their saga is full of harrowing turns,

breaking the onlookers heart.

Is this truth? Thou mindest it not?

A man lacking self-respect

is like rotten cabbage.

Though Xinghua became a camp courtesan,

he disdained her not;

yet I loathe such filth!

Should foul pestilence be spread unto me,

how could I survive?

I believe not thy petty cunning!

Brother Xiao,

I snared two hares;

that is splendid indeed!

What amiss?

Doth an ailment trouble thy body?

Elder Brother,

he turned thus upon returning from the new manor;

who knoweth what transpired?

What truly came to pass?

Brother Xiao,

speak without hesitation.

Tis naught;

Sister-in-law is very kind.

This outrage passeth endurance!

Brother Xiao,

grieve not;

I shall demand an accounting of her forthwith!

Su Li, what harsh words saidst thou unto Brother Xiao?

Moisten thy throat with water,

and let us confer thoroughly. Speak!

Three, two, one...

What folly dost thou intend?

Is keeping separate paths so arduous a task?

I intended no provocation,

yet why dost thou torment Brother Xiao?

Were I to target him,

I would never have granted him shelter here!

Yet thou hast reminded me:

he came babbling unseemly nonsense,

yet I withheld my blows.

Perchance thou shalt suffer them in his stead?

Release me, Su Li!

How darest thou treat my daughter-in-law thus?

What hath transpired?

How hath this vile wretch vexed thee again?

Alas,

do not weary thyself!

Thrash him in her stead! Father, Mother,

I have already been beaten

until no skin remaineth unbruised!

Who bade thee meddle?

What disaster hath occurred?

Someone sowed discord and malice,

so he rushed hither demanding an accounting!

Had I not employed my arts,

he would surely have dared strike me!

I champion justice, not kinship!

Brother Xiao dwelleth under anothers roof,

yet she lacerated him with harsh mockery!

This life is truly unendurable!

I rested peacefully within my chamber,

yet his comrade barged in

at his own whim,

pressing near my presence!

Oh,

weep not, daughter-in-law!

Aye.

Father of my sons, summon that man hither!

I shall ask why a full-grown man encroacheth upon my daughter-in-law!

How hadst thou the heart to strike so ruthlessly?

Cease thy idle prattle; thou art summoned here

to answer: what vile insult did I utter against thee,

that he should champion thy cause so fiercely?

Thou saidst naught untoward.

Then why did thy brother claim thou wert downcast after coming hither?

They are tender in years;

beholding my somber mood,

they indulged in wild fancies.

Then why dost thou ever draw near my daughter-in-law?

Perchance he deemeth himself a maiden.

A careless lapse!

My conduct these past days...

It defies all reason for any man.

I harbored deep wonder for thee,

and drew near; I shall mind propriety hereafter.

Now seest thou what inviting wolves means?

Begone, and provoke us no more,

lest I banish ye all!

Begone as well! Young Master!

I have learned all truth.

The fierce dame came not to town

for harboring a fair-faced youth,

and that hulking fellow also abides there; that fool must seek mastery!

Else why doth my chest feel so stifled?

What stifling nonsense?

Thou art merely anxious

for her new wares!

Why fret like that fool now?

I fear her sheltering so many men

shall breed dire peril.

Thou fret needlessly;

with that dames shrewd wit,

thou hadst better pity those two men!

What knowest thou?

She is tender-hearted!

Young Master,

wilt thou believe her kind, or me the Emperor?

She is frail and delicate.

Aye,

verily so!

Frail enough to aim kicks right between the legs!

She feedeth a whole household alone; if rogues turn unreasonable,

how pitiable is a lone widow!

Thou broodest far too much;

ten men together

could scarce outmatch her tongue; is not thy worry in vain?

Hast thou forgotten thy place,

to dispute my every word?

Dost thou seek mutiny?

I speak but truth; silence thy tongue!

Young Master!

Which self art thou now?

Only the other self kicks my backside!

Why kick me too?

Perchance that fool stirred forth a moment,

and hath now retreated.

Thou art here.

Wert not guests in thy abode?

How art thou at leisure to visit me?

Ah!

Who was it fretting over her welfare just now?

Why turn sarcastic all at once?

Silence!

I am plagued with vexation;

mock me no further!

If staying home troubles thee,

frequent the town instead.

Our shop needs thy presence;

I shall bestow thy share of coin.

Truly, only thy shop brings me joy.

Let us defer new dishes,

and spread renown for the present fare,

so all think of our shop upon hearing the names.

Our minds think as one.

Indeed.

Master Yin declared

thy brother-in-law must toil hard in his studies,

bidding thee not visit,

lest he be distracted.

Doth my brother-in-law know?

His thoughts run deep;

I fear he may misunderstand.

Be at ease.

This was spoken before his very face,

and he consented.

Thou loathest thy husband,

yet cherish his brother;

why care so tenderly?

The lad is dutiful and endearing,

unlike his foolish, grating brother;

though he pesters me little of late,

having been thrashed flat by my hand!

Spirited minx!

A useless man

must be beaten!

Dost thou require arsenic or potent venom?

I shall bid Jin Wu fetch doses.

No need for such extremes;

procure merely a strong purgative.

Fetch it forthwith! Those two...

resemble Ximen Qing and Pan Jinlian!

Brother Song,

doth it pain thee still?

I saw Xiao Ran dress thy wounds;

where lies the salve,

that I may apply it again?

No need; if thou hast no errand,

return to thine own chamber.

I deemed Sister-in-law unworthy,

and spoke forth frankly,

yet failed to weigh thy plight.

Brother Song,

I crave not thy pardon;

I only entreat thee:

treat me not as a stranger.

When my clans name is cleared,

all I owe shall be repaid.

Fret not thus, brother;

my wrath was never true.

Ye must endure hardship briefly;

once my wounds mend,

I shall hunt the hills

to feast you with fine game.

Such fare contenteth me deeply.

Brother Song,

tend thy wounds first; I speak no more.

Yet Sister-in-law struck so ruthlessly;

utter such words no more,

lest further discord arise.

I brought this upon myself.

I forgot this matter;

I shall speak of it no more.

Daughter-in-law, fungus and mushrooms truly sprouted!

Look!

Tis truly a rare marvel,

growing wondrously well.

These were all tended by mine own hands!

On the morrow I shall tutor Zhang Dashan,

and once he hath mastered the craft,

I shall confer with the village elder.

This is a blessing indeed;

our hamlet might turn prosperous at once. Yet village cultivation alone

of fungus and mushrooms

can scarce suffice the hotpot tavern.

I devised methods for extensive cultivation these past days;

this scroll recordeth conditions and methods.

Spirited lass,

thou bringest such delightful wonder!

If thou desirest prudence,

wait until our villagers succeed

before planting. In commerce,

one must possess bold resolve;

should this prosper,

aye,

it bringeth our shop boundless gain

and no harm.

I trust thee; thou shalt not be failed.

Once the villagers learn the art,

I shall bring Father to treat with thee;

he is a skilled planter now.

I take my leave then.

Here it is; Lady,

thou hast arrived!

I heard Xiao Ran found refuge with thee;

hath he caused thee any vexation?

What vexation could there be?

I merely gave him a roof.

Lady,

stand not on ceremony;

these bones are bestowed for Xiao Rans sake.

Should he err in any manner,

pray bear with him.

Moreover,

Lady,

thy husband perchance won renown.

The magistrates yamen desireth his aid.

Be ever on thy guard!

I heed thy counsel.

Song Chiguis rise in the original tale

stemmed from military glory and the Fifth Prince,

the sovereign-to-be.

His return at this juncture:

doth it signify the Prince is near? Seize the fortune for the three lads! Sister-in-law,

I have passed as Tongsheng!

Master said

I shall soon sit for the Xiucai exams,

urging me to seize this hour! Sister-in-law,

I shall soon provide thee a life of comfort!

I knew thou wouldst achieve renown!

Ah,

Second Brother, tis long since we met!

Didst thou yearn for Elder Brother?

Sister-in-law,

this is the bounty for passing Tongsheng;

I bought trinkets for the household too.

For thee, a wooden hairpin;

may it please thee! Our Chiyun is good indeed.

Passing as Tongsheng,

he remembered every kin;

this surpasseth certain folk manifold!

Second Brother,

seest thou not thy elder brother?

Sister-in-law,

let us speak within,

and behold the hairpin I bought. Very well;

let me behold the devotion of our Chiyun.

Second Brother,

why dost thou shun thine elder brother?

Sister-in-law, doth it please thine eye?

I cherish it dearly; our Chiyun hath exquisite taste.

Boundless blessings await me hereafter!

These are bestowed upon you.

Ye have conducted yourselves well,

sparing Sister-in-law any vexation;

maintain this steadfastly. We surely shall! Gou Sheng,

what aileth thee?

I addressed thee several times;

didst thou not hear?

How darest thou treat our parents thus?

Gou Shengs conduct is most dutiful,

and he even brought us gifts beside!

Art thou blind?

Thy conduct is praiseworthy?

What bounty didst thou bring us upon thy return?

Thou merely redeemed Xinghua!

Gou Sheng, matters are not as thou deemest;

I knew not the truth when I paid her ransom.

Thou art all tenderness toward strangers,

yet ruthless beyond measure to thine own kin!

Moreover, if I mistake not,

Sister-in-law had to resolve Xinghuas plight!

Venturing into the world, yet returning as craven as ever!

Is this the manly honor thou once proclaimed? Didst thou teach this?

Else why should he be so estranged from me?

Insolent cur! If thou canst not speak fittingly,

begone!

Sister-in-law, what of the three strangers at the old dwelling?

They seem to hail from an exalted house;

how came they here? Thy eldest brother drew them in.

Harboring them here prevents discovery,

yet casting them out may invite ruin.

Given my brothers scant regard for this home,

were there not some dire necessity,

he would never return in this lifetime.

Chi Yue, nursing hatred wearieth the soul;

release thine anguish.

I harbor no hatred.

For Sister-in-law dissolved

our bitter misfortunes,

granting me this present life,

and an illustrious path ahead.

Strive to attain scholars rank.

Then Sister-in-law shall seize thy rightful due!

I obey all thy counsel! Brother Song,

I overheard the commotion yonder;

in truth, tis no great matter; kinship too depends on fate.

If fate be lacking,

one ought not to force ties.

Should thy heart grieve, hereafter

my younger siblings

shall be thine own flesh and blood.

No need; I possess mine own blood siblings.

Did I not speak merely to soothe thee?

Thy siblings treat thee with no regard.

Yet we share one blood; twas but angry chatter.

How could I ever cast them aside?

Yet they are but children,

yet utter such hurtful venom;

one wonders if elders instilled it.

She surely is not such a person;

all rally to her defense,

doubtless because she acts with virtue.

Speak no ill of her before my presence;

I desire only peace and quiet hereafter.

Behold,

my unruly tongue!

I shall heed my words next time.

Withdraw for now;

I would remain alone a while.

Very well.

Why doth Brother Song yield so meekly to that shrew?

I must devise a scheme

to compel Brother Song to divorce her!

I have instructed the villagers in tilling fungus and mushrooms.

Though their grasp remaineth hazy,

they comprehend the essentials; I bade them seek me if puzzled.

Splendid!

Jinman Pavilion, my partner, also planneth vast cultivation.

I shall take thee thither to instruct them,

where wages shall be earned! Wonderful!

Daughter-in-law, Father truly must thank thee;

thou hast made Father feel worthy once more.

Then Father must oversee more affairs,

and complain not of toil when the time cometh!

I fear no toil.

Brother Song,

Sister-in-law ventureth abroad quite frequently of late.

Dost thou not also attend the yamen daily?

Hast thou never encountered her in town?

I go purely on official duties;

why heed

her movements?

I pledged never to utter ill of Sister-in-law.

Yet rumour saith she visiteth the town to meet another man!

Matters lacking proof

must not be spoken heedlessly.

Twas told by others,

yet Sister-in-law appeareth truly suspicious!

Else, thou being so honorable,

why should she disesteem thee so?

Utter such words no more hereafter!

Su Li,

let us see how thou canst redeem thyself now!

Su Li, thou truly dalliest with a wild paramour!

Su Li, thou art naught but a fickle, shameless wanton!

No wonder thou spurned me;

thou hadst strayed beyond the wall!

Canst thou not see me seated here? Whom callest thou wanton and unchaste?

Utter another slander! Father,

how comest thou to be here as well?

Was not Su Li meeting a paramour in secret?

No wonder thou saidst some are better dead than alive!

Truly disgraceful, parading thy shame in broad daylight!

How can my daughter-in-law and I hold our heads high?

I merely saw her enter with a man;

how was I to know thou wert present?

Furthermore,

for a woman to roam abroad all day

is inherently unseemly!

Thou good-for-nothing,

blundering fool!

Were my daughter-in-law to abide idle at home,

could this house rely on thee?

We would have starved long ago!

Young Master Jin, forgive this sorry spectacle.

My eldest sons wits must have been addled by a mule;

pray do not stoop to his folly.

I mind it not in the least.

Being a man, idle rumors

touch me but little;

yet for this fair lady, respected Elder surely marks my drift.

Heaven knows what madness took him,

bellowing at the top of his lungs,

dreading lest any ear miss it!

What thoughts hath he? He yearns for a thrashing,

the witless dolt! Enough;

let us speak no more of such trifles.

Let us settle the remaining matters forthwith;

earning coin brooketh no delay.

None compareth to thee!

Very well,

let us resume

our business. Father, I purchased meat;

let Mother wrap dumplings tonight.

Take thy meat back to feed thy friend!

Father,

what transpired today was but an error;

I confess my fault!

Knowest thou what we deliberated

when thou barged in?

Knowest thou how Young Master Jin esteemed me prior?

Splendid now!

Seeing I sired such a son,

who knows how bitterly he mocks me inside!

I was merely ignorant of the circumstances;

no one breathed a word to me!

Hast thou been back but a day or two?

All matters of this home

thou knowest not;

hast thou ever kept this household in thy heart?

Thy soul holds only thyself and that friend! Get thee gone!

What hath occurred?

Hast thou quarrelled with Sister-in-law?

Humph!

With thee present, could strife ever cease?

I forbade thee long ago to speak ill of her,

yet thou wouldst not heed! Brother Song,

dost thou reprove me?

I spoke solely out of care for thee;

besides, Sister-in-law roameth abroad daily.

Many villagers wag their tongues;

chancing to overhear them,

I sought but to caution thee.

Didst thou venture out?

Knowest thou thy perilous plight?

Knowest thou the penalty for harbouring an imperial fugitive?

Wilt thou bring ruin upon me?

I stepped not abroad;

villagers passed by the wall,

and I heard through the partition.

I only wished thee to take heed.

Matters are not as thou deemest;

Su Li accompanied Father.

Upon returning, I inquired:

both village and town require Fathers skill in cultivating fungus.

Having traded in town aforetime,

Su Li merely lent her aid.

Yet Brother Xiao insists on accusing her of unchaste conduct! That was not my intent.

I meant only this:

with Brother Songs prowess

and thy second brothers future scholarship,

having a trader in the family

shall surely draw scorn upon your name.

Words should not run thus;

my comrades and I once won victory,

yet our supplies were cut by our own kin.

My brother had to cut through the rear lines,

stumbling dazed into a teahouse,

pleading with common folk for grains of charity.

Did Brother Song truly face such dire peril?

Did ye obtain sustenance in the end?

A certain merchant woman

tossed silver to the nobleman beside him;

not only providing coin,

she dispatched escorts to guide him home safely.

What fault lies with merchant folk?

Heeding conscience and righteous virtue,

bearing noble benevolence, they merit all honor!

Indeed so,

yet none knoweth whence this lady hailed,

possessing such vast spirit and magnanimity.

She belongs to our own town,

yet my brother learned not her name,

nor related what trade she pursueth.

Yet twas for this deed I returned;

I yearn to convey gratitude face to face.

She is benefactor to me and my brothers;

were she a peerless beauty,

would Brother Song pledge his hand to wed?

Speak not in such jest,

profaning her pure grace;

furthermore, I am already wed,

and owe solemn duty unto my kin.

Brother Song,

beholding so sublime a benefactor,

thou still cherishest thy wife;

thou art truly tender unto her.

Were sister-in-law such a maiden,

how blessed twould be!

Who in this world attains perfection?

She is not devoid of fine virtues either.

Xiao Xiong,

I truly seek to live in peace and concord;

hence speak ill of her no more hereafter.

I heed thy counsel.

Brother Song,

I shall visit the younger brother

and little sister. Respected Uncle,

season hath arrived to till the soil;

pressed by so many burdens,

let Brother Song and me shoulder the labor.

How could our household toil burden a guest?

Uncle,

such words show needless estrangement!

Dwelling under thy roof these many days,

I revere thee as mine own father;

what counts a little toil in thy service?

Ah,

thou art a hundredfold better than mine own son!

I would not hinder thy hunting to amass silver,

that

thou mayest take a bride!

A day or two delayeth not wealth;

and more than seeking a wife,

I yearn for parents to revere

and younger kin to cherish;

I never knew such warmth since youth. Xiao Ran, call me Godfather hereafter;

and I shall address thee as Godson!

Thus shalt thou possess a true hearth;

what sayest thou to this?

Godfather!

Now that this son desireth to share thy toil,

say, is it permitted?

Granted!

Godson,

stay thy step a moment;

major matters require daughter-in-laws decree, and adoption is momentous!

Ah,

Daughter-in-law,

seest thou if this suiteth?

Lo, I was but teasing you all!

This is a joyous fortune;

how could I withhold consent?

Doth this not mock an honest soul?

I near believed I had found a home,

nay,

I near lost my shelter;

nay, neither!

In any wise, Su Li,

I find thou art truly wicked at times!

I never claimed to be a saintly soul.

Thou art a virtuous soul!

A fierce warrior weeping is truly startling to behold!

Enough,

weep on whilst I retire to rest;

tomorrow I must balance ledgers at Jinman Tower.

Spirited minx,

thine ostensible husband is so foolish,

why dost thou not sever ties

with him? The hour is not yet ripe.

And when the hour ripeneth,

wilt thou part ways with him?

Doth this matter?

Assuredly;

what if another longeth to wait for thee?

Who might that be?

How hard to divine!

Better attend to when our next shop openeth

than fret over such idle fancy! Enough,

let us depart, Jin Wu.

Say, is she truly oblivious,

or feigneth ignorance?

She hath no leisure to care.

Daily she tendeth

thy mushrooms and anothers rouge shop; boundless silver beckoneth!

I sought counsel, not thy mockery!

Had I a way, would I be unwed?

Thy brother would have perished!

I told thee already,

I struck neither Da Niu nor Er Niu;

I saw not their faces today!

Doth thy word make it so?

Who can bear thee witness?

I have spoken it hundreds of times!

Chi Ying and I were together all day;

we saw not a shadow of them!

Thy witness is worthless!

Ye two share one breath! How dost thou prove I struck them? Did they see my hand?

To speak thus is senseless.

Even if thou confessest,

I shall extort naught;

let thy father teach me to grow mushrooms, and all is settled!

Gou Dan,

thou servest at the yamen;

is my proposal unjust?

Tis not unjust indeed.

I struck no one!

Why confess for me?

Why remain so stubborn?

Other children in thy home saw it with their own eyes!

Aye,

I beheld it!

Indeed,

twas he who struck them, hearest thou?

Confess forthwith!

Thy younger brother must be taught manners,

lest his schooling be squandered in vain!

If thou darest not bear even this,

what renown canst thou ever attain?

Hasten to apologize to Uncle Huahua! There was no fault;

none can compel me to admit deeds I never committed!

He said he did it not,

canst thou not comprehend?

Was thy head kicked by an ass,

or besotted by swine?

Song Shigui,

thou art bold only against thine own hearth!

Thy petty wrath falleth solely on kin!

I know thou shieldest him,

yet this is a matter of principle;

what is due must be acknowledged!

Could it not be that the witnesses lied?

Hear me well,

Song Shigui! With me here, none shall wrong Chi Ying! Comest thou while the house is empty?

Empty?

Is not Gou Dan within?

Is he not a man? Su Li, cross not every bound!

Thou struckest me just now,

yet I spared thee!

Why dost thou shield him?

Hast thou cleared the truth

ere casting blame upon my disciple?

Speak plainly:

how dost thou prove my disciple beat thy son?

Those two children saw it;

ask them! Is their word supreme truth?

If it were so,

why step they not forth?

Are their hearts burdened with guilt?

For doubting thine own brother,

and trusting scheming outsiders!

Aye!

Need we brawl thus?

I sought not to extort;

let this matter rest here!

Why should it rest?

Summon thy son this instant;

we shall confront him

face

to face! Force me not

to drag them from thy threshold! Enough!

Su Li, this concerneth not Brother Song;

why vent thy fury on him?

If a child erred,

an apology sufficeth!

Were they my siblings,

far from merely apologizing,

I would kneel in their stead!

What of it? For deeds never done,

why confess? On the vile babble of thy siblings?

As an elder brother,

he believed false rumors blindly;

doth he not merit my blows?

Ah!

Brother Song,

I was merely terrified!

Twas that creature who told me!

By whose hand were ye beaten?

I saw not clearly;

the assailant fled toward thy house,

toward the new dwelling!

or fled toward the ancestral dwelling?

Toward the ancestral house? Su Li,

what meanest thou?

Art thou leading them to blame my siblings?

With whom hast thou clashed of late?

A strange lad of my years, fair of face,

yet bore a countenance full of disdain.

When I spoke unto him,

he dared deem me unworthy,

so I reviled him!

Da Niu, Er Niu,

behold: is it he? Tis he!

Spit no venomous falsehoods!

Have ye conspired together?

Coward, daring to strike yet fleeing blame!

Such an one falls far below my brother-in-law!

Who calls me coward? Twas I who struck them!

His foul tongue merited the blow!

Silence!

What madness pratest thou?

Open thine eyes, Song Chigui,

and behold the wretched creature thou trusted!

See for what base knave

thou hast wronged thine own flesh and blood!

Didst thou not vow just now,

were the striker of thine own kin,

thou wouldst kowtow in atonement?

What wouldst thou do?

Unhand me! Brother, save me!

Brother Song, deliver me!

Hadst thou not spoken, I had forgot!

What excuse hast thou now? Speak!

Speak forth!

Art thou struck dumb?

Consider this an honest reckoning given thee;

if grievance still remains,

speak freely, and I shall make amends.

No further grievance remains;

all accounts are squared!

Naught else concerns me;

I shall take my sons home.

Beaten and made to kneel!

Kneeled indeed!

What more dost thou demand?

Thou didst apologize only unto Da Niu and Er Niu,

yet offered no amends to my brother-in-law.

Ought thou not kneel once more?

Push me not beyond endurance!

Brother Song,

save me! Enough!

Cry out once more, if thou darest!

I cried not to thee! Brother Xiao,

I have endured beyond measure.

I once deemed thee upright and noble,

and thy kin innocent and true;

never did I foresee so treacherous a heart!

Brother Song,

hear my plea!

My brother

meant no malice;

he— Depart from here!

Whatever debt I once owed thee,

forsaking all kin for thy sake

hath fully discharged it!

Brother Song,

wilt thou truly cast me out?

Brother Song,

truly I intended no harm; their slurs were foul,

and my temper flared! My resolve is fixed:

take your leave!

Brother Song,

if thou art ruthless, blame not my treason!

Without this refuge, we cannot survive;

better to reveal unto the yamen

my true name,

and who harbored me all this while!

Thy whole house shall perish wretchedly!

Knowest thou the doom for harboring imperial fugitives?

Drive me to desperation, and bitter fruit

awaits thee!

Were I to slay you all in secret,

would not such peril be quenched forever?

Shiying, bar the courtyard gates!

I beseech thee, slay us not,

nor cast us into the cold!

We repent our misdeeds in truth!

When my clans name is cleared,

I shall reward thy house with boundless gold!

To remain is permissible,

yet a price must be exacted:

thy deeds of indenture!

What madness is this?

Ye ever confess guilt,

yet never mend your ways.

At root,

is it not because ye fear naught?

With your indenture in my grasp, would ye dare provoke me?

A noble scholar may be slain, not disgraced!

Since ye court death,

I shall grant thy wishes then.

Shiying, bring me a blade!

Hold! I yield!

Yet once our house is exonerated,

I will redeem our deeds for a thousand taels.

So be it.

Hear my harsh terms first:

when exoneration cometh,

thou shalt not seek vengeance against me!

Shiying, bring brush, ink, and paper! Tis drawn;

Sister-in-law, press thy seal!

Summon thy sister forth;

press your seals!

How curious:

though thou wert beaten thus, she emerged not.

Mine own sister would shield me ere this!

Come, Little Sister, press thy hand!

Enough!

Disperse to your duties.

Yet heed this well:

walk with meekness and humility henceforth,

lest I sell thee off at whim!

Dream not that any shall loose thy bonds;

another thrashing yet awaiteth thee!

Tarry thus till Father and Mother return;

none among you dare tend to him!

That I beat him not dead

is mercy!

Very well;

from this dawn forth,

I sever all ties with him!

The hour is late;

return home to dine.

Mm.

Alack!

Daughter-in-law, preparing food must weary thee!

Blame this Mother,

forgetful in toil; I shall take heed henceforth.

Ah,

tis my fault, seeking to finish all in a day

to rest on the morrow.

Acknowledge my weariness, and tis enough.

Let it not repeat;

what labor surpasses returning

to prepare my meal? Never again!

Partake deeply, eat thy fill,

that strength remaineth

for duties. What task dost thou bid me do?

Speak after dining.

Daughter-in-law, mayst thou tell us now?

Thy eldest son is bound in the courtyard;

go beat him soundly!

What folly did that wretch commit anew?

The Xiao kin falsely accused Chiying of striking Da Niu;

that dolt Er Niu believed them

and demanded Chiying apologize!

Yet in the end I thrashed them all;

the three Xiao siblings

signed indenture deeds to me!

I shall beat him,

I shall cleave him dead!

Why perished he not outside?

Godfather,

stay thy wrath; murder breaketh imperial law!

A life for a life is just!

Rid us of this bane,

and peace shall bless our house!

Speak not thus;

if thou slayest a man,

the yamen will record thy felony!

How

shall Gousheng and Gouwa fare then?

I will not slay him;

I shall thrash him to within an inch of death!

I will beat thee dead, vile mongrel!

Thou returnest from afar to show such vile conduct!

Thou art no son of mine;

call me Father no more!

I know my fault!

Were Gousheng not preparing for the imperial exams,

fearing severing ties would disrupt his path,

I would have cast thee off long ago!

Father!

Call me not Father!

Better hadst thou perished!

Brother Song,

I know rage burns within thee,

yet truly I was left without recourse!

Speak no more;

our camaraderie endeth here! What shall we do?

Father praised me only when I trained in martial arts under Chigui;

with matters thus ruptured,

when Father is exonerated,

he surely will favor me no longer!

Father favored me solely for this as well;

what remedy is there?

We must still contend with their naive innocence,

their pure

hearts!

Have ye not perceived it?

His younger siblings are sullen of humor;

this suits not his taste.

Song Chigui covets an illusion.

It exists not in truth.

Reenact the guise he cherishes,

and all shall return to its source.

Host, malice points soar today!

New rewards unlocked!

Real-time map upgraded,

person detection added.

Friendly reminder:

map refresh costs malice.

Thus gathering malice brooked no slackening.

Scourging protagonists earns far more points.

Those four souls in the old house must not slip away!

What trouble is this?

Whom hath my shop provoked?

Ha! This shop is thine?

The Sus stores in other towns belong to thee?

How else?

Sus Authentic Spicy Broth:

whose could it be?

Su—

By what right sealest thou my shop?

How can a mere woman expand such an enterprise?

How doth that concern thee?

Wilt thou speak or not?

Else I beat the court drum for justice!

Scholar Wang suffered belly ache here,

reporting it to the yamen lest more be harmed;

thy shop must be closed and purged!

Cease thy reckless clamor!

Were thy food not foul,

none would trouble thee.

Our hall is packed daily;

who else ever fell sick?

Begone from my sight; thou vexest my soul!

Be not rash.

Regarding thy shop,

I shall plead with the Magistrate to aid thee!

No need!

I can resolve it myself.

Hath he a grudge against thee?

He once begged my calligraphy;

yet my other self emerged, disdained him,

bid him begone, offending him deeply!

Why then strike only now?

He dined here before,

coveted our thriving branch, seeking to seize it,

which was outright robbery;

I consented not.

Our commerce relies on recipes;

surrendering it

to him

would force

our secret out,

harming our whole domain.

Thou didst right to refuse.

Aye.

Yet how dost thou plan to respond?

Fret not;

all proper ties are greased.

As a scholar,

he must grant the Magistrate face;

the seal was but a favor,

passing in mere days.

Then I can confront him without worry!

Unless chastised harshly,

such trials will never cease.

Tis for me to face him;

how can a woman step forth?

Only a man like me can tame him!

Be assured.

Can this succeed?

Had I known he cared so,

I would have sought the Magistrate.

Alas,

might he be in danger?

By that vixens past feats,

thou shouldst fear for Scholar Wangs skin!

Aye, true indeed.

Then I await a splendid spectacle!

Good folk, come behold!

Scholar Wang feasted at our shop,

refusing to pay,

and we consented not!

Then claimed our broth pained his belly,

scheming to—

This Scholar Wang is vile!

Dining without paying! Sinister souls disgust me!

I frequent that soup shop,

yet suffer no illness!

Is this not extortion?

Vixen!

Cease thy insolent raving!

Thy food truly wracked my bowels;

why would one of my station target thee?

Over a bowl of soup?

Utterly laughable!

Thou art truly grand!

A mere bowl of spicy soup merited no quarrel.

Yet what of the entire shop?

Hearken, all of you!

Our Provincial Scholar coveteth my shop!

One wonders at such shamelessness!

Thy lips preach righteousness,

yet gapeth to swallow all I possess!

Demanding an entire shop at one word!

Heavens above!

Such astounding audacity!

Made high magistrate, he would fleece the realm!

Vile nonsense!

When did I ever demand thy shop?

Fabricating baseless slander,

I shall drag thee before the magistrate!

Alack!

Hear this!

How sorely I tremble!

To the tribunal then!

Let the Magistrate judge the truth,

and reveal who spreadeth falsehood!

Utterly unreasonable!

Senseless prattle!

Absurd ravings! Constable, assist me!

Behold how this shrew raiseth turmoil!

I shall never let this matter rest!

Bind this shrew for the yamen!

Look upon this, everyone!

In broad daylight,

under clear skies, such brazen favoritism!

What outrage dare they not commit?

By what right seize me?

Merely because he is a scholar?

Doth that place him above all?

Even if judging at the tribunal,

there is no justice in seizing only one!

Such blatant tyranny!

Constable Su,

why hast thou not bound this woman?

The Magistrate shall chastise thee!

Cease this strife!

Follow me!

This humble one shieldeth thee!

Back away! A ruthless strike! Behold this! Have ye lost thy senses?

By what authority seize her?

Why come to foil my design?

Plans matter not;

thy safety alone reigneth supreme!

I am unharmed!

My lime powder is not yet cast!

What bond bindeth you? What concern is it of thine?

Since matters have come

to this pass,

let us proceed to the tribunal

and plead

our cause;

right and wrong shall be judged.

Trouble not the Magistrate over so slight a matter.

Be it my sudden ailment

or this shrews idle rumors,

I shall pursue it no further.

Hmph!

Thou wouldst drop it,

yet we shall not!

Our shop stood sealed; knowest thou our loss?

Dost thou comprehend?

Repay three times our shops losses,

and the grievance endeth,

or we shall seek justice before the magistrate!

Righteous hearts fear no trial! Scholar Wang, Young Master Jin,

why press this dispute

to such harshness, Magistrate?

I sought to oppress no soul,

yet they sorely beset me!

This shrew raged fiercely before my portal;

even yamen constables were struck!

Mark such boundless arrogance!

Unwilling to bear mere truth,

with so fragile a heart, thou darest extort others!

Who hath extorted?

My belly suffered genuine agony!

The physician affirmed

I had consumed foul sustenance!

Which physician?

Let us summon him to confront us face to face!

So no such incident ever occurred?

Su Li,

certain truths need not be spoken so plainly.

Rather than contest right and wrong,

state thine own terms!

I demand threefold repayment

for todays loss! Pray grant this Official some regard;

twas but hasty wrath.

Let him pledge to repeat it nevermore,

for harmony breedeth prosperity!

If a pledge alone must suffice,

it must be set in writing!

For the words of the base are empty as foul wind!

Magistrate Wei,

Is it not so?

Ah,

Young Master Jin,

might this matter yet be conferred upon?

My Lord, there is no conferral!

Had the constables not rushed to seize us,

things had never flared thus.

We have already yielded in full;

we now seek but written

pledge,

by no means excessive!

The seizure

was never by this Magistrates order.

Those rash bailiffs acted unbidden;

I shall forthwith dock three moons of their stipend.

Scholar Wang,

take up thy brush!

Wherefore must I pen such pledges?

I have done no wrong! Very well,

feign bellyache daily hereafter,

and I shall raise clamorous din at thy portal;

we shall contend to the end!

Magistrate,

this is but common strife;

the yamen need not meddle,

for Your Honor hath weightier affairs.

Shameless vixen!

Brazen and vile,

callous

to every scald!

I cherish my name;

I must preserve my dignity!

Ah,

thou valuest dignity?

Why then commit deeds devoid of shame?

Insolent shrew! Thou heedest no reason!

Scholar Wang, pray wield thy brush,

and let this grievance rest.

Tis the fairest accord this official can grant.

Shouldst thou decline,

we must needs proceed as Su Li decree.

I shall write,

I shall write, will that suffice?

What foul temper;

wholly bereft of composure!

Lady Su, was wrangling so long for mere brushstrokes worth it?

Better to claim fine silver! My Lord,

ye dared shutter our shop for a mere scholar

solely for the high patrons he boasts!

His greed is boundless;

should graver calamity brew hereafter,

armed with this deed,

ye may account unto thy superiors.

Given such faint kinship,

this covenant surely guardeth thy post.

For a peasant dame to possess such discernment

is wondrous indeed!

Lady Su,

now I perceive how thy shops multiply across towns;

with thee, prosperity cannot fail to blossom!

I dare not presume upon such noble praise.

Scholar Wangs grievance is quieted for now;

yet yonder master of my kin possesses martial mastery.

Doth the yamen lack such gallant arms?

Most assuredly!

Good brother,

tarry awhile;

I shall have men show thee the precinct.

Gratitude, Officer!

What wondrous fortune smiled on me today?

How came it to pass

that an office fell to my lot?

Thy triumph is absolute as ever;

by thy side,

I fall far short.

Whence cometh such talk?

Our roles divide;

thou swayest commerce and coin,

while I storm the front!

No need to vex thy mind over this.

Would that the other were present today;

that dolt wields sharp prowess,

and could have smitten them straightway,

unlike this helpless one,

who must summon Xiao Ran for aid.

Art thou sighing over spring and autumn?

A stalwart man

ought not indulge in melancholy whining!

What melancholy? Fiery minx, long time no see!

The Miser yielded his place quite briskly this time.

Had I been here this day,

I would have beaten those insolent wretches bloody!

Thy reckless rage would surely court boundless ruin!

Strange,

wherefore doth the Miser seem glad?

Never felt I his joy before; is it mere delusion?

Ah,

whoever cometh forth,

are ye not rebuked just the same?

Brother Song!

Tis days since comet was last beheld.

My young siblings lament dizzy spells of late;

perchance from this. The yamen withholds my stipend this moon;

when leisure granteth leave,

I shall seek fortune in the hills.

Hath some misfortune arisen?

Inquire no further;

my spirit is vexed.

Very well then;

I go to prepare fare.

Foster Father! Foster Father!

I too serve in the yamen now!

Serving the yamen?

Lad, dost thou jest with me?

That is a realm of imperial stipend!

Every word is gospel truth, Foster Father!

The county magistrate even seemed to curry favor.

Su Li? Daughter-in-law, is this truly so?

Hardly curry favor;

he merely showed deference for Young Master Jins sake,

paired with this days deed

which I handled tolerably.

Tis all my daughter-in-laws prowess!

Who would deem our clan could wield such renown?

Hush! Aye, quite so;

we must not swell with vanity.

Elder Song, come;

share a cup at my hearth!

Our villages first crop of fungus and mushrooms is reaped,

ready to be traded for coin!

Thou art our greatest benefactor;

as village head, I must truly

tender my deepest

gratitude unto thee!

This is far too ceremonious!

Why speak of ceremony?

Tis but rightful honor.

Uncle Ma knoweth

all stems from thy merit.

Dost thou permit thy father-in-law to drink at my hall?

Without thy blessing,

he dare not stir a foot!

Granted without question!

How could I refuse Uncle Ma? Pray proceed;

thy daughter-in-law hath consented!

Moreover,

in days hence,

Wang Wus eldest weddeth;

thou must oversee the arrangements;

he proclaimed

he trusteth none

save thee. Since he deemeth me worthy,

I shall attend.

A revered house, days of boundless plenty,

kinfolk who walk with heads held high:

such was the life I dreamed of countless times,

yet now that the dream hath turned real,

I am cast out beyond its pale.

Brother Chigui,

wilt thou procure meat on the morrow?

Little Sister and I are utterly drained of vigor;

we tasted meat only on feasts and solemn tides,

yet thrived nonetheless.

My younger siblings went days without a full meal beside me,

yet never uttered a single grievance.

Brother Chigui,

fret not in wrath;

I crave no meat henceforth.

Such was not my intent.

I comprehend;

Brother Song,

I shall conduct myself with diligence.

Thou... Alas!

Let it be;

think what thou wilt.

This is not the demeanor I cherish.

Alas!

Save our house and Xinghuas, all plant mushrooms and fungus;

even Cuihuas eldest brother was instructed! Husband,

shall we plead once more? Plead for what?

Hast thou forgotten how we dealt with them?

Hereafter,

our clan shall be the most destitute in the village!

Then let us stir strife,

granting them no peace!

Aye,

let us make uproar to vex them sore!

Why should they prosper whilst we suffer?

Agreed;

I shall confront him anon.

I shall entreat first;

should he feign disdain,

I shall turn ruthless!

The sound cometh from Elder Songs quarters;

why ignite firecrackers so blithely?

With endless villagers beseeching them, they deem themselves exalted lords!

Vile and wretched!

Their household truly flourisheth now;

their second son attained the scholars degree!

At so tender an age!

Truly wondrous!

Why? I loathe it so! Father! Father!

What befalleth thee?

Ah!

Thy father hath breathed his last!

Eldest Brother, Father

just passed away.

Honor the departed; past grievances

should be forgiven!

As eldest son, thou must attend his funeral rites!

I severed all kin bonds with him;

I hold no right to direct his rites!

He is gone; what bitter malice remains?

Indeed, hatred dies,

yet forgiveness comes not.

Moreover,

he always despised me; in this final journey,

I shall not provoke his distaste.

Hadst thou true filial piety,

thou wouldst not come!

Humph!

Thou art truly heartless! How coincidental,

that it befalleth this very day?

Choked by rage, surely!

Our fortune rose,

piercing his bitter heart!

Dost thou rue lighting fireworks?

A little too early;

Sister-in-law had not returned;

we ought to have awaited her return!

Thou hast changed indeed;

yet it cometh too late,

causing you all much bitter grief.

Su Li,

I have resolved it.

Surrender thy shop straight to Jinman Pavilion;

henceforth,

remain obediently at home;

show thy face in public no more!

I shall treat past scandals as naught;

I forgive thee all.

Dreaming ere night hath fallen!

Thy sharp rebukes

must truly be mended!

In a humble peasant hut,

I would utter no rebuke.

Yet hereafter, such coarse ways shall shame us all!

Ere my fury riseth,

begone forthwith!

Running abroad each day,

cravest thou not a life of ease?

I can bestow all upon thee!

If our union is to endure,

must thou not yield to my will?

Demanding thou mend thy flaws is no injustice!

When did I ever vow to dwell with thee?

If not with me, with whom? Jinman Pavilion or Xiao Ran?

So many paramours, eh?

Vile, self-righteous knave!

Spurned by me,

thou resortest to foul slanders!

Claiming thou wouldst provide!

Ere I touch a copper, demands already abound!

In thy grip, what peace could ever be mine?

Sister-in-law, hath he wronged thee?

Who wrongeth whom?

I sought to live peaceably with her,

yet she flung lime

and dealt blows! Doth this beseem a wife?

Thou merely seekest selfish gain!

Now our fortune flourisheth,

thou returnest to feast on our toil, shameless knave!

I shall make amends!

Only the hour hath not yet arrived!

True atonement waiteth for no hour!

Purchasing gifts for our home,

bearing water for Father,

washing dishes for Mother—that is atonement!

Yet failing even simple deeds,

what atonement dost thou offer? Empty illusions?

Sister-in-law,

I am a scholar now!

I fulfill each solemn vow step by step;

I shall surely bring endless comfort to thee!

Sister-in-law, Second Brother,

why return ye so late?

We await you for the feast!

Famished indeed!

I shall return earlier hereafter;

Sister-in-law, thou ever indulgest him!

Brother Song,

art thou intoxicated?

Doth the yamen withhold no silver from thee?

May I not spend mine own silver?

I merely inquired in passing.

Pry into such matters no more!

Moreover, starting next month,

I shall present silver to my parents,

offering filial tribute.

Sister-in-law earns such wealth;

how could thy parents lack for aught?

This tribute of thine

is scarce needed. I perceive now,

Brother Xiao,

thy words stir suspicion so easily,

ever seeking to spend all silver upon yourselves.

Brother Song,

thou hast misjudged me.

Thou and Sister-in-law are one flesh;

need ye pay tribute separately?

When thy great task succeeds

and they learn

thy true station,

endless glory and wealth shall be theirs.

Why hasten in such petty haste?

Waiting on and on,

until they no longer require it,

giving it then holds no meaning.

I desire to live in harmony with thy sister-in-law,

so I must show sincere devotion,

letting her see my willingness. Yet Su Li treats him so harshly;

how can he still seek peace? This must not be;

I must devise a scheme to thwart him!

That good-for-nothing spouse of thine,

seems possessed of late,

submitting meekly to thee. How ominous!

Call him thine own, not mine! Very well, mine;

mine, if it pleases thee!

Speak of earnest matters;

rarely dost thou seek me out.

What favorable wind blows thee hither, spirited minx?

The fragrant oils and elixirs thou crafted

have been resold among noble lords,

fetching manifold higher prices!

What then is our next design?

To expand our dominion, naturally.

Yet the essences are scarce;

we must market them solely to lords and grandees.

That goes without saying.

Dispatch men to gather blossoms from afar.

While wares remain few,

hinder not the middlemen;

treat it as renown spread abroad.

When all is prepared,

raise the toll and open shops among nobles to crush reselling!

Thou pointest, I strike! Young Master,

yielding so readily seems quite unlike thee!

The halls and gold are mine;

I command as my heart desires.

By thy posture, I thought thou understood!

I merely sought to appear profound;

yet thy relentless inquiry

exposed my ignorance!

Then blame me!

If naught else remains,

I take my leave.

Depart not yet!

Conversing with thee alone brings mirth;

let us banter a little longer!

I have no leisure to indulge brats;

tarry a while longer.

Old deaf man waxes wroth,

old peasant—

old peasant waxes wroth,

deaf man rails at farmer...

Muddled tongues tangle!

Hold! Recite it anew; practice more!

Deaf farmer... Nay! She trifles with me like a child!

Dost thou realize only now?

Thou relish it! It proves I am unique in her thoughts;

why else tease me alone

and none other?

Aye, indeed!

Exceedingly easy to trick!

Cease quarreling with me!

Thou hast forsaken thy roots of late;

I care not to speak further with thee.

A creature devoid of romance!

Thinkest thou that thou knowest romance?

Yet thou hast failed to win her heart!

Su Li dispatched Song Chigui on several quests,

none of slight consequence;

yet it remains strange:

despite his dull nature, his deeds are swift and clean.

He lacketh worldly grace

yet hath sharp wit;

like a dolt among men,

yet shrewd in executing affairs.

Heed him not too closely,

lest suspicions be roused.

I understand.

Su Li, thou secured this post for me;

I would do thy bidding

or offer thee gifts

in gratitude.

Dost thou need my service? In truth,

I need thine aid.

Hast thou comrades skilled in martial arts?

My ventures shall require men of prowess.

I have sworn brothers,

of peerless skill

and spotless honor.

Yet their minds are blunt as mine,

speaking plainly,

barely subsisting from dusk till dawn.

Mere bread and silver would suffice.

I offer more than mere bread;

they shall earn peaceful lives.

I intend to establish an escort bureau

to guard my mercantile caravans.

Yet thou and Young Master Jin are allies;

he lacketh no coin.

Might he disdain

my rough brethren?

They lack gilded tongues.

Would they plunder, rob,

or pilfer in shadows?

Never upon my life!

I stake my severed head upon it.

Then all is well;

untold gold cannot buy noble virtue

and staunch fidelity.

I understand;

I shall dispatch missives to them forthwith!

Whenever thou hast need of my blade,

I shall brave fire and flood!

Xiao Ran is valiant and fiercely loyal,

surrounded by capable brothers.

How was he a mere nonentity in the tale?

Swift-Foot Bai Qingfeng! Wave-Skimmer You Baili!

Mighty Titan Ru Yi!

Iron Wall Xu Yi!

Ghost-Dread Mo Wenyan!

These names graced the ancient chronicles;

by this reckoning,

Xiao Ran must be none other

than Song Chiguis right-hand Rakshasa!

Yet so peerless an assembly of champions

perished miserably for Song Chigui!

What a contemptible hero!

My brothers may seem unkempt and wild,

yet washed and trimmed,

they shall appear noble.

Am I one to judge by mere appearance?

My thoughts merely wandered.

Though rough in semblance,

hear me well:

when united as one,

few under heaven match us!

Whatever treasure ye convey,

I pledge no harm shall befall it!

I trust thee. Lady Su,

fear naught;

a bowl of rice sufficeth us,

and humble toil shall earn our bread.

We be stout men; if need be,

we can perform upon the streets.

The famed spicy broth parlor,

ye have heard of it?

Tis mine own establishment!

Fret not over empty bowls,

nor worry

for lack of shelter.

This very courtyard where we stand

shall be your dwelling hereafter!

Can we truly lodge in so fair a haven?

Must it not be costly?

Grant us a humbler place;

though thou hast wealth,

we must not squander it.

Enough;

heed her gracious bidding.

If your conscience aches,

Su Lis brother-in-law is my disciple;

impart your mastery unto him!

Hast thou taken a disciple?

Hath he rare talent?

Gifted, untiring,

and pure of heart!

Ye shall surely

prize him! If we prize him,

we shall withhold no secret lore!

Yet let it be known:

he must hail us as Master,

not merely Martial Uncle!

Title him as ye please.

I fretted over seizing fortune,

yet heavens bestowed it already!

With such supreme masters guiding him,

who could best Song Shiying?

Xiao Ran,

I ordered a banquet at the tavern;

it shall arrive shortly.

Feast well with thy companions!

I shall return first.

Very well,

take thy leave.

I will attend them here. Sister-in-law returns!

Master slipped away today to idle;

he keeps no time!

He now attends a whole host of thy masters.

A host of masters, freshly acknowledged for thee!

Sister-in-law,

those chosen by thee must be grand!

Shall I not become a peerless expert?

Third Brother can instruct me then!

Then I too shall be an adept!

Maidens must be gentle and virtuous;

their prime duty is wedlock. Mastering martial arts

makes one an uncouth virago whom none will wed!

I yearn not to wed

any weaker than myself!

If wedlock pleases thee, take manifold husbands;

neither shall reproach the other.

Thou art overly insolent!

I wished only thy good,

yet thou uttest such curses!

How have I cursed thee?

Didst thou not deem wedlock a blessing?

Wed as thou wilt!

Nay,

Brother Chigui wronged me, saying

I shall wed multiple men! Noble scions

are precocious indeed.

Prattling of wedlock at so tender an age!

Chi Yu fancied it a blessing,

and bestowed good wishes.

Thou wept not before,

yet wailest the moment he returns!

Is he not ever thus deceitful?

Indeed.

How could a concubines child be pure? Weeping just like her mother,

she wields tears with cunning skill!

Su Li!

We have been prudent in word and deed.

A childs innocent prattle carries no malice;

why revile my mother?

When did I ever mention thy mother?

Twas merely an analogy!

Did my words strike the truth?

Thy mother truly bears such demeanor,

and ye all mimic her schemes!

Brother Song,

we have offered cheerful smiles these days;

my sister

had no malice, yet Sister-in-law insults us so!

Is this not too grievous?

Hast thou forgotten who holds thy indenture deed?

If I choose to sell thee,

Song Chigui cannot hinder me!

Forgive me, Sister-in-law;

I meant no harm.

Lacking all sincerity.

Humph!

Why fallen silent now?

Deemest thou this settled?

My house harbors no biting curs;

I shall see who buys thee cheaply,

and sell you both off!

I erred!

I should not have spoken folly;

I failed to discipline

my

siblings. Sister-in-law,

pardon me!

Slap harder!

Without pain, how shalt thou

heed the lesson? Dumb now?

Pardon me,

Sister-in-law; I failed to guide

them. Louder!

Forgive me,

Sister-in-law; all is my fault!

I sowed discord;

never shall I dare again!

Enough!

Take thy sister and begone!

Show forbearance where one can;

see what straits thou hast driven him into!

Though knowing thou wert wrong,

I took thy side so our days might pass peacefully;

is this sincerity not ample?

What a grand sacrifice indeed!

A blind fool like thee should scurry

far away;

trouble followeth thy very touch!

Su Li, thou canst not!

Because I seek peace,

thou deemest me manipulated!

Nay, I—

Master Yin bid me ask if thy brother-in-law returned;

or not?

He departed Master Yins hall straightway.

If absent from home, hath he vanished?

He sought leave of Master Yin.

Upon what day did this occur?

Some five or six days past.

Never hath he tarried so long.

Thus Master Yin sensed foul play.

So many suns have passed;

whither could he have gone?

Should peril befall him, what then?

Fret not yet;

I shall report this forthwith,

and bid my young master seek word

if any beheld him that morn.

Good.

I must calm myself,

be calm.

Why standest thou dazed?

Thy brother hath vanished;

why showest thou no grief?

Thou hast seen him, hast thou not?

Thy voice trembles with guilt!

Couldst thou have harmed him?

Foul harbinger of doom!

I ought to slay thee!

How could I harm mine own kin?

Indeed, I crossed his path that morn;

I recall the details.

Thou hesitatest thus

because he gave thee no pleasant face,

so beholding him clash with another,

thou didst stand idly by!

I knew not they were foes!

I have no leisure to dispute now.

How appeared the man who fought him?

Better ponder thine own deeds,

whom thou hast offended;

perchance thine own foes struck!

Who was the man that crossed him?

Clearly that man is most suspect!

Dost thou ask follies to humble me?

Twas not my intent;

nor need I ask thee; I have my ways!

Why so impetuous of temper?

I refused thee not.

Stand far from my sight,

and hinder not his rescue!

Lady Su, I have heard of this plight;

I made inquiry for thee.

Twas Scholar Wangs pupil, Wang Yuan,

who dwelleth in yonder alley,

the third portal.

So twas he! My heartfelt gratitude;

such trifling aid

merits no thanks!

Finding the youth is our first duty.

He saith Gou Sheng departed town.

Did thy reckless fury avail thee aught?

Yet I was first to uncover it!

Wherefore art thou come?

I have already spoken;

I know naught! Nay,

thou knowest! Ponder carefully:

whom met he after leaving thee?

Truly I know not!

I did indeed corner him,

yet gained no advantage at all.

Then methinks he met mine own master.

Fearing discovery, I slipped away!

I swear,

I speak truth! He declineth guests,

claiming absence from home.

Thinkest thou he holdeth him captive?

I deem it ninefold certain.

Such matters require steadfast proof.

The hour groweth late;

hasten home forthwith,

lest our parents be consumed by worry.

Is there no way to enter?

Forcing entry breaketh the law!

Su Li,

thou canst not act merely on whim;

cease bringing further turmoil!

Trust in me;

I have full power to find Gou Sheng.

Thou needst only wait in patience.

Pardon me,

I trust thee not.

Trust me not?

Whom wilt thou trust?

Hast thou some wondrous stratagem,

or constables at thy beck? Reflect on thine own folly!

Hadst thou heeded my counsel

and not quarreled with Scholar Wang,

Gou Sheng would suffer no such calamity!

Silence thy vile tongue!

I see no great deeds

from thee,

save thy ceaseless, bickering vanity!

Fear not;

though we lack constables,

all Jin manors wealth and men are thine to command!

Let us depart first, Su Li.

Return! With dogs barking so loud, Scholar Wang is surely within.

Refusing visitors

proves his guilt. Slip inside once night falls.

Should thy brother-in-law be held there,

I shall raise an uproar

and make Scholar Wang pay dearly.

Yet if thou art discovered,

thy secret may well be exposed.

Spirited minx,

thou dost underestimate my prowess.

Infiltrating guarded manors is effortless for me,

let alone the dwelling of Scholar Wang!

Then I must trouble thee.

No need for ceremony between us.

Fawning conceit indeed!

Unbearable to behold! What? A slip of the tongue!

I meant offering oneself willingly!

How is there nothing here?

Alas,

what a vexing trial!

How fared it? He is not in Wangs manor,

yet surely in his grasp.

Thy brother-in-law is the youngest scholar;

Without him, another would claim prodigy renown.

The Mu clan?

How knewest thou?

Now is no time for explanations;

if truly the Mu clan,

then my brother-in-law stands in mortal peril!

Originally Mu Xiu held the title of youngest prodigy,

while Song Chiyun ever lingered in his shadow.

An ancient clan craves preeminence for its heirs,

and Mu Xiu indeed possesses rare talent.

Yet someone now blocks his path.

I shall set watch upon Wangs manor;

they cannot remain motionless forever.

Ah,

nay,

shall we consult a diviner?

Indeed!

I can divine it; both of you, step outside.

I must divine Song Chiyuns location.

I know thou art anxious,

yet fret not so;

twas merely spoken in passing.

Leave when bidden!

Cease thy chatter!

He must be found!

Though modest in size,

my courtyard hides wonders within.

What dost thou need of me?

I offer half a years profit from the rouge shop,

if thou wilt grant aid.

I crave no reward for aiding thee;

state plainly what must be done.

Canst thou broadcast the vile misdeeds of the Mu clan?

Within mere days,

let every soul hear of it!

Within one day, wherever our shops stand,

it shall spread abroad;

within two days to distant quarters.

Couriers shall ride with haste.

As for reaching the Capital

and the ears of the Mu clan,

time may prove scarce,

yet I shall spare no endeavor.

That sufficeth.

First, we must intercept the missives;

without the Mu clans command to slay Song Chiyun,

Scholar Wang will not dare act rashly.

Wisely reasoned.

I shall summon adept fighters.

No need; we have capable adepts already.

With them near, my brother-in-law will come to no harm.

Why hast thou arrived so early?

Hath some dire peril arisen?

The Mu clan bid Scholar Wang seize my brother-in-law,

and now he is locked in Wangs cellar!

Scholar Wang merely awaits Mus letter to strike.

Thus I urgently require your assistance.

Why didst thou not summon us yesterday?

Bearing this alone must have been agonizing!

Lamenting the past availeth nothing now;

let us hasten to work!

Bai Qingfeng and I excel in lightness skill;

we shall watch Scholar Wang and trace Bai Qings position.

Should he harbor foul intent,

we can thwart him. Intercepting the letter falls to Xu Wen and me.

We two are adept at this craft.

I thank you all from my heart!

Su Li, thou hast fed my brothers and me;

this is our bounden duty.

Indeed!

Command us as thou wilt;

await our joyful tidings!

Here is the Mu clans letter to Scholar Wang;

the cellar too is scouted out.

Now decide whether to rescue him stealthily or not!

Or force thy way inside?

A way awaits;

await my word.

With thy learning, forging letters is childs play.

Aye,

to that miser it is;

yet for me, let me confer with him

to summon him forth.

Force not thyself;

other paths remain.

This serves not thee alone;

I seek to test it. Hush,

my resolve is fixed,

firm as unyielding stone!

Show thyself then!

Else for this spirited minx,

I shall buy her ease!

Gazing thus,

how nauseating!

Fret over thee again,

and I take thy name!

Our reunion cometh swift;

to dismiss that stubborn mule,

thou weighest heavy in his heart.

He told the deed;

leave all to me.

Tis indistinguishable!

Our Young Master is wondrous indeed!

No variance appeareth.

Else why invite me forth?

Value must be proven!

Gratitude, Young Master Jin!

How didst thou bargain,

to exact so deep a sacrifice?

Deem him not like thyself;

he craves no wealth,

harbors no vice,

guided by honor alone.

Truly his very nature.

Bear no heavy burden;

the mantle of virtue he shall not bear alone;

I take no unfair gain.

What share of the spicy broth shop dost thou claim?

That fool sought naught; how should I demand?

Am I so base a merchant?

Yet art thou not a miser?

Less foolishly lavish,

as all men know.

Thou strayest from thy place.

Hush.

Our pact shall be weighed anon;

shouldst thou need aid,

call upon me;

I shall not fail.

Ah,

didst thou mean the sacrifice would be light?

Stands thy word?

Assuredly not!

He failed to resolve it;

my swift release is mine own skill.

Why feign such heartfelt truth?

To unburden the fiery maid,

and that simpleton would surely concur.

Thy sly merchant guise disgusts me!

Disgusted,

yet endure it thou must!

Were all like him,

let alone trade,

he could not feed thee!

Beyond refute! Splendid!

Follow this,

and I rise above insignificance,

spared that vixens venom forever!

Thy sister-in-law sought thee long;

direct thy malice toward her.

Had she not been arrogant,

how could I be driven to this brink?

I could never despise her;

thou deservest

this retribution!

Thy tyranny shall swiftly crumble!

Indeed?

Yet my sense tells me

I shall live!

Dreamest thou still she will rescue thee?

Deemest thou her immortal?

Even high immortals cannot pierce my cellar!

Rot here in shadows!

Though thy sister-in-law is vile,

and thy gifts vex my soul,

my heart is merciful;

I shall grant thee swift release.

Scholar Wang abducted the candidate

and plotted foul murder.

The proof is irrefutable.

Entrust this to me;

attend to thy duties.

Very well,

deliver him into Su Lis hands! Ah!

Safe at last! Thou must be famished.

I prepared fare,

partake first. My fault alone hath grieved you so.

Intent on books,

neglecting arms,

this calamity befell.

A remarkable youth!

Through dire peril,

unshaken by dread,

thou blamest thyself!

Speak no more of it;

I shall settle this affair.

Eat now,

yet gorge not,

lest pain strike. Sister-in-law,

I have resolved:

when strength returneth,

I shall master the martial arts,

to shield myself.

A lad of fine spirit!

Wouldst thou learn?

My brothers and I shall teach thee.

What height thou reachest

dependeth on thine own will and gift.

A rare blessing indeed!

Behold Bai Qingfeng,

Uncle Xiaos sworn brother;

all possess peerless prowess.

Henceforth I revere thee as Master!

Good!

Safe at last,

sparing my desperate ride for aid!

Who art thou, insolent dog?

Stealing credit here?

Hast thou no shame?

Who art thou?

A beggar lured by Su Li?

Curse thy insolence!

Babble as thou wilt,

we delivered him;

claim no credit!

Rescued by you?

Knowest thou whose grace I beseeched?

With your lowly station,

how could ye? Why vaunt thyself so?

Intercepting missives,

forging words, scouting, rescuing,

knowest thou our toil?

Had Xiao Ran and I tarried one breath,

the blade had pierced his heart!

Yet thou boastest of seeking aid?

Whom didst thou beseech?

What did they accomplish?

What?

A blade almost pierced his chest?

Impossible!

I know not whom thou sought,

yet words take time.

Perchance thy patrons have not stirred.

Besides,

why should they heed

thy mere entreaty?

Art thou their lord?

I shall demand truth at the yamen!

Lad,

by thy features,

is he thine elder brother?

How art thou so noble,

while he is beyond words?

No brother of mine; he is thine! Peace,

thou hast eaten;

let us send tidings of safety.

Brother Bai,

my deepest gratitude;

whatever ye desire,

I shall grant it, Mistress Su.

Thou bestowest sustenance and shelter;

twas our bounden duty.

Hasten home;

thy kin worry grievously.

We take our leave.

Fair lady,

take this; surviving great disaster

promiseth boundless blessings.

A gift for thy brother-in-law,

to nourish his body.

I owe all to thee;

it is I who should bestow gifts! Why speak so?

Treat me not as a stranger.

Besides,

thy shop buyeth meat from me; this trifle is naught!

Very well,

our days ahead are long.

Are we not safe and whole?

Why weep so bitterly?

How is this whole?

Thou hast grown so gaunt!

Thy safe return sufficeth.

Let us prepare fine fare,

to restore their vigor!

I shall prepare the feast.

Sister-in-law,

thou hast returned!

Second Brother,

thou hast grown thin! So grown,

yet weeping?

Hast thou studied diligently?

Let me test thee.

If thou art thus stern,

I miss thee not, cruel brother!

I heed him no more;

I stand with Sister-in-law!

Splendid.

Ye must master martial arts,

lest bearing precious jade

bring doom upon thee.

I have trained earnestly.

The feast is served.

Let me fetch dishes to soothe him.

None desire thy fare!

Then ye relish this instead?

The butcher gave this meat free.

His intent is so blatant,

yet she dared accept it!

Doth she covet gain or his favor?

Feel ye no revulsion?

Revulsion is for thee in such crisis!

Useless as thou art,

thou spewest vile slurs—worthless man!

Drown in shame!

Callest thou me useless?

For Gou Sheng,

I pleaded with all souls!

Know ye how I lowered my pride?

And what came of it?

Didst thou deliver him?

In so dire an ordeal,

didst thou confer with us?

Thy mother and I were blind,

shielding the young ones,

while my daughter-in-law bore all!

Yet thou slanderest her!

How art thou not a beast?

Take thy roast fowl and begone!

Where hast thou been?

I worried to death!

The children could not sleep.

Go dine then.

Alas.

Wherefore didst thou toil in vain,

wearing us down to exhaustion?

I was not idle,

yet gained naught.

The blame is mine;

I was incompetent,

petty in heart.

I scolded thee deeming thee savable,

yet now I abandon hope.

Only hardship teacheth, godson!

Waste no breath on a knave!

Come feast! Coming.

Godson, that scholar Wang,

shall he be beheaded?

Nay, only caned,

and dismissed.

The magistrate vowed

to strike the drum for redress,

and convene court on the morrow.

He must suffer thirty strokes,

and exile!

Yet whatever the penalty,

our grievance cannot be assuaged!

No court shall sit tomorrow.

Deemest thou the magistrate fearless?

Yet so he assured me;

all is commanded.

What pretext hath he to decline?

A sudden peril.

Murder to seal lips!

Unacceptable!

His death

favors the Mu clan!

Nay,

I return!

Halt.

Tis too late.

He dareth not clash with the Mus.

Even in court,

could he be just?

Lacking justice,

could we be glad?

Why pursue it?

Forcing matters

strippeth all of dignity.

True.

They hold high office;

we have no power to thwart them. Fret not,

this affair is far from ended!

My Lord! Scholar Wang bled from all orifices and perished within his cell!

His manor hath also been reduced to an inferno,

and within,

every living soul was slaughtered to silence them!

Though foreseeable,

none foresaw the Mu clan striking with such venom,

sparing not even a single soul!

Yet for us, tis the most fortunate outcome;

else, when court convenes on the morrow, Su Lis sharp tongue

and Wangs confession

would leave us with no remedy!

Dost thou deem the matter ended thus?

Su Li rescued her brother-in-law in mere moments

and discerned the true puppet master behind the veil;

dost thou believe she will ever let this rest?

Thus do I eagerly await her next maneuver.

Hath Your Honor not esteemed

this Su Li too highly?

Though keen of wit,

she is merely a rustic peasant woman.

As for rescuing the youth so swiftly,

she hath well-nigh become the local tyrant of this town;

such a feat is no wonder.

Since our minds diverge,

let us bide our time

to see whose judgment proves true.

We shall see! Have ye seen these flyers?

The words inscribed are monstrous beyond measure!

We common folk finally reared a prodigy,

yet the Mu clan plotted his murder! I had our village scholar

read every word aloud to me!

The Mu house is wicked to the bone!

Must they strike without mercy merely because our prodigy is a peasant child?

Indeed,

utterly vile!

Praise be to the kind souls who spread the tidings;

now none shall dare lay a hand upon the young prodigy!

Should any harm befall him henceforth,

the Mu clan shall know no peace!

Let us strive to spread this further,

to safeguard the young prodigy.

When he riseth to high office in the future,

the path for our peasant children shall be smoothed!

The spread of missives is still sluggish, spirited minx;

thou shouldst have permitted me to dispatch copies across all prefectures,

having them printed beforehand

to unleash an overnight storm!

That was indeed a path,

yet I feared entangling thee too deeply;

where stratagem triumphs, force need not be used.

True enough, spirited minx.

I admire thee;

we are bound as one body,

sharing glory and peril hereafter!

That hinge upon thy conduct;

for the human heart is veiled and deep,

and thou art far craftier than the other;

I must remain guarded.

Did that simpleton prevail? Well?

Did I not triumph?

Indeed, this Su Li is no simple soul;

she had the prowess to intercept the Mu clans letters

and forge them to force the Mu house to swallow this bitter gall in silence,

enduring rotting eggs hurled at their gates without daring to utter a word!

Moreover, she possesses rare foresight;

knowing Scholar Wang would be silenced, she raised no guard,

purely to spare us all embarrassment.

We must honor this debt of grace.

My Lord,

might the Mu clan seek to win us over against Su Li?

All these years ye lacked only a noble patron;

could ye not seize this gale to ascend?

Have I acted the lapdog too little all these years?

Yet in the end, did they not banish me to this desolate backwater?

And dost thou deem the Mu house such a noble patron?

Thou fancieth thyself seated at the feast,

when in truth thou art but the meat upon the platter!

What then?

If the Mu clan summons,

canst thou ignore them?

What else?

Have they the might to demote me further?

Curse it, I have struck rock bottom!

Why fear them? Aye, ye cannot fall lower,

yet nor can ye ever rise!

Nay; my rise depends not on Mu, but Su Li! Brother Song,

I know not if I should speak—ah, forget it,

I had best remain silent;

for my indenture bond rests in her grasp.

Should this prove another misunderstanding,

my whole life might be utterly ruined.

Wilt thou say someone saw Su Li visiting a town manor daily?

I said naught, I know naught! What devilry is Su Li scheming?

Nay,

I must see for myself!

In merely a few days, he hath attained such skill;

he is indeed a promising talent.

True, yet he falls far short of his younger brother.

His younger brother,

I tested his depth days ago.

At such an age to possess so firm a foundation,

I can only deem him endowed with rare genius.

Praising another before this younglings face,

is it not elevating one to disparage the other?

Fearest thou not wounding his tender heart?

Strength is strength, and weakness weakness.

Truth being thus,

one must accept it with calm grace.

Should one fail to brook it,

then toil and train with diligence,

rather than seek to muzzle others tongues.

Scholars truly walk a loftier realm;

such broad magnanimity few common men possess!

Twas imparted by my sister-in-law.

Good,

stated thus, there is no flaw in thy words.

When hast thou ever spoken without flaw?

Heaping praises day after day,

inflate not my young brother-in-law with vanity,

lest I hold you strictly to account!

This youth is virtuous indeed;

who could withhold rightful praise?

Why procure these provisions again?

We brothers thrive on any coarse fare;

entertained so bountifully each day,

how could our conscience rest at ease?

Cease such talk;

even simple tastes deserve wholesome sustenance.

In days hence ye must escort my goods;

lest fainting from hunger and depleted of vigor,

the shipment be plundered away!

This is no boast of ours;

though famished to our dying breath,

none could ever wrest the cargo from our hands!

Eat what is bestowed upon you;

why pick and carp?

Whence come so many tedious qualms?

Is your loyalty lacking in faith,

that ye quibble and hesitate here?

We hasten to prepare the meal!

All was serene;

why must ye provoke my sister-in-laws wrath?

Behold now!

Yet receiving her sharp scolding proves invigorating!

Can the two of them fashion a proper feast?

Fret not,

their culinary craft is unmatched. Splendid then;

then I leave this matter in your hands;

duties summon me hence.

Depart upon thy tasks;

hereafter we relish whatever is served,

for we are kin beneath this roof!

Who counts as thy kin?

Mingling incessantly amongst men,

the undiscerning

might deem thee starved for male suitors!

Yet shouldst thou depart with me this instant,

I shall deem all this naught transpired!

What meaneth "naught transpired"?

Dost fancy some foul tryst occurred?

Silence,

lest I show thee no quarter!

Let us test if thou hast the prowess!

Brothers, advance and strike him down!

Dost thou now witness our true prowess?

Darest thou bark further?

Beholding thine own brother here,

how utterly loathsome must thou be,

that none raiseth a hand to stay the blows!

It concerneth thee not!

A single inquiry would reveal the truth,

bringing clarity,

yet thou chose to heed base slander;

thou daredst not inquire,

dreading lest rumor prove true!

Hence thou conjured blind suspicion

and intruded rashly! Tis not as thou thinkest.

Lest Su Li be besmirched with vile foulness,

hear our true station proclaimed:

we are sworn brothers unto Xiao Ran,

kin in blood,

martial masters to thy two brothers,

and guardsmen of the escort agency Su Li founded!

What lingering doubt hast thou now?

What doubt could he harbor? Su Li hath talent and scorns him;

loath to concede he falleth short of a woman,

he yearned for pretexts to claim she merits him not; lacking skill, why not hone it?

Cresting above a woman,

he stoopeth to strike at her virtue,

which is truly contemptible indeed!

Waste no breath upon him;

cast him forth into the street!

Deem me never thy chattel;

otherwise, though the fated hour be unripe,

I shall sever our ties nonetheless!

Thou... Humph! Should he return,

beat him out without mercy!

I take my leave,

for urgent matters call.

Spirited minx!

Why care so deeply for that fools shop,

neglecting our very own venture?

This differs;

our tavern flourisheth,

while this enterprise hath not yet settled.

Thou hast endless pretexts. Such feverish haste!

Not even a breath spared to confer with me.

Thy demeanor resembleth that other soul far more.

Impossible! Doth he speak truth? That sly rogue

must have wrought some vile intrigue!

Wherein lies his deceit?

Deemest thou all match thy cunning?

Ungrateful wretch! Young Master,

what murmured thou? The gale howling fierce,

I caught it not. Cease this brawling!

Take thy quarrel outside!

Art thou the mistress of this tavern?

Verily a peerless beauty,

enchanting at first sight.

Thieves harbor malice;

I am Bi Ren Ling Xiao.

Thy fair fame hath reached my ears,

hence I came to behold thee.

Little did I dream

we should feel like ancient kindred souls.

This must be an affinity bound by heaven,

haunting my soul in secret! Foul knave in broad daylight!

What vile rubbish spuest thou?

Did a failed vixen spirit

possess thy flesh?

Why deem my words folly?

Is the mistress not ravishing?

In thine eyes,

merits she no cherished place?

Thou art blind to true grace!

Ling Xiao, is it?

Were thy intentions pure,

thou wouldst not utter such brazen words!

Thou hast no shame,

yet others value honor. An offense indeed,

yet this surge of affinity

overwhelmed my very spirit,

stirring wild rapture,

and joy,

hence my decorum failed.

Yet all I uttered

is sacred truth.

Deem me not a glib charlatan;

grant me leave to make amends,

and cast me not into exile! Speak plainly:

thy purpose? Solely to behold thee!

And hereafter, to gaze upon thee daily! Cease dreaming!

Forthwith I shall cast thee into the dust!

Never shalt thou cross this portal again!

Hold thy peace!

Thy craven glance

and ill repute

warn thee well:

I suffer no fools.

Either confess the unvarnished truth,

or vanish from my sight forthwith,

lest my wrath spare thee not!

Why doubt my profound devotion?

It seems reason finds no lodging today.

Men, cast this insolent fellow forth!

Begone, lest I summon the magistracy!

I shall prove our union was decreed by Heaven!

Bar the doors and unleash Jin Wu! Begone!

Dare harass me again,

and I shall slay thee! What happened?

He molested that shrew! Desirst thou custody?

He lieth!

I committed no insolence;

I merely admire her!

Amounts that not to the same?

How can they be deemed one?

She would never favor thee;

hence thine admiration is vile harassment!

And harassment is molestation!

Markst thou well?

I dispute this!

Ponder it or not,

dare thou repeat this offense?

Should it bring her grievance,

I shall desist.

Then begone!

Dare act thus again,

and I haul thee to the tribunal!

Methinks he lacks submission.

Then beat him till he yields! Enough;

I must patrol the streets now.

Thy conduct was improper;

thou representest the magistracy, yet madest us appear like bullies!

Thou knowest naught!

That fair knave professed love for Su Li!

Humph,

yet truth be told, his discerning eye is keen.

Nay,

any man in this realm surpasseth thee!

Why didst thou tug at me?

Why stay my hand, Young Master?

Hadst thou charged, none knoweth whod be thrashed!

Deemest thou thyself that other one?

If tongue fail thee,

hold thy peace!

Waste not breath in petty bickering;

seek out this fellows origins instead!

How long to probe him?

Why probe his past?

Dost fancy that fair-faced youth,

smitten in heart?

Hast thou left thy wit behind today?

Humph!

Bewitched by that youth,

thou speakest to me with cold disdain!

What frenzy possesseth thee?

I begin to ponder

art thou that other... Nay,

even he lacked such folly! Enough;

cease thy clamor, Young Master; she bade us probe,

so doubts surely weigh upon her.

Doubts of what? Doubting if his devotion be feigned?

Breathe another insolent word,

and I shall strike!

Aye,

I shall not stay her hand!

Wilt thou speak with reason now?

Speak then.

No fever burneth here;

what madness cloudeth thy head today?

That fellow Ling Xiao,

how hollow and false is he!

He praised my grace; how was that false?

Thou art indeed fair!

Ahem...

Forgot my physic today;

pray pardon me!

Possessed of an ailment,

seek cure with all speed;

bear not sickness

to thy post,

lest it burden others!

I deem Ling Xiao a snare laid before me,

a honeyed trap targeting the rare goods in my store.

Should one scheme fail,

another will swiftly follow.

Thus must we hasten,

to crush the foes hidden plots before they hatch!

So that is the design!

Rest assured,

leave it to me. Young Master, Ling Xiaos trail is hard to track.

Yet another tidbit came to light:

last night he was bagged and soundly thrashed!

Who wrought this?

A righteous deed, well struck!

Thou exultest too soon;

we bear gravest suspicion; the yamen soon cometh to interrogate!

Let them question;

we had no hand in this! Young Master,

could it be that other ones doing?

He too fancies her and wields martial might!

I hold dominion now;

he could not have emerged.

Could it be ye both yearned to strike Ling Xiao?

When the other seized command,

thou offered no resistance;

and once struck,

to shun suspicion,

yielded sway back to thee!

Put in such light,

there lieth reason;

he is crafty indeed,

leaving this wreckage for me to mend!

Regardless of the culprit, concealing the deed is paramount!

We have heard the tidings;

I ask but one thing:

hath Ling Xiao any proof?

Without proof, ought the yamen to meddle?

Why so agitated?

I too am suspected;

did I complain?

Why suspect thee?

He clashed with but two souls that day;

why else would they suspect me?

Yet coming hither today

is mere formality,

for we wrought no such deed;

though proof be lacking,

I fear some stray trace remains.

See if ye can sweep it clean;

I dread my comrades or Su Lis brother-in-law struck him!

Thy words carry truth;

I shall lend my aid.

Should any stray trace linger,

I shall erase it clean!

Gratitude to Young Master Jin;

shouldst thou require my blade,

I shall never falter!

A trifling deed.

I was fraught with terror,

yet this turns wondrously subtle.

So many fall under suspicion!

None know whose hand struck.

Fret not over trifles.

Ling Xiao is perilous.

Settle all matters swiftly,

and probe his true origins!

I go at once; quite abased!

I was indeed insolent then,

failing to restrain

mine ardent delight.

Hast thou proof of it?

I offended no man,

save that day.

Be ever vigilant;

he is not so guileless.

Deemest thou discord shall work?

Take others not for fools.

Dost thou trust him so blindly?

She reposeth such faith in me;

if that fool did strike, what then?

Beaten black and blue,

yet reckless still!

Hast forgotten the Magistrate?

To suffer for loves sake

is a trivial price for her sight!

Master, Ling Xiao was struck again!

Battered most grievously,

his face utterly disfigured,

even his teeth knocked loose!

Confer with that other,

could it truly be him?

Each blow grows fiercer;

next time he may be slain!

He must deign to heed me!

Who wrought this deed?

Yesterday she spoke

of trust, and I shrank in shame.

Tis yet unproven;

take it not upon thyself.

Without deep rancor,

none would strike so mercilessly!

Xiao Rans brethren would not kill;

they bear no mortal grudge.

Who else could it be?

Alas!

Thou must dissuade the other;

he hails from the Yun clan.

They sent him hither

to devour our enterprise!

Though innocent,

they shall cast blame upon us!

Stand guard outside;

I shall essay again.

Mo Wenyan, was it thy hand?

Striking so ruthlessly

brings peril upon Su Li!

Why blame me? Mark our brotherhood!

Knowest thou not our mettle?

We would never bring her grief!

Others are plain,

yet in such deeds

thou leavest no vestige!

No trace remained at the scene;

who else could achieve this?

Deemest thou me a craven?

Between us, were it mine act,

why conceal it from thee?

Sigh,

I doubt thee not,

yet Su Li is gracious;

we must cause no tribulation.

Take heed hereafter!

Callest thou this trust?

Enough,

tis for all our welfare;

sever not our bond,

let us tread warily.

Truly not I! Who wrought this foul deed?

I am wronged bitterly!

Aye,

well.

I played peacemaker;

why turn thy wrath upon me?

I merely ask;

if not you, who then?

Disciple,

was it thee?

Begone, casting suspicions all day!

Now

even suspecting our disciple!

Alas,

if not ye, mine heart is at ease;

I depart to my duties. What churl!

Departing without a word of apology!

Is it not so?

Never doubt thine own brothers!

He hath already gone.

Speak truly: was it not thy doing?

Twas not me!

How often must I say it?

What would ye have of me?

I would know which villain struck the blow!

Humph.

Let me not discover his name,

lest I shatter him entirely!

What hath come over thee?

Revealing Ling Xiaos master,

then vanishing without word!

The Yun clan planneth dark schemes;

yet no defense

is prepared; is this fitting?

Act as it pleaseth thee;

I shall obey all thy commands.

Why seemest thou so strangely altered?

Tis naught, truly naught;

speak not in haste!

Could thy deceit be more plain?

Thou hidest deceit: falsifying ledgers,

withholding my share!

Alas!

Young Master,

pray confess the truth;

confession bringeth peace of mind!

Silence! Confess:

how much silver didst thou take?

Heavens!

Why holdest thou only silver in mind?

Perchance another struck Ling Xiao;

my young master feared thy wrath, so held his tongue!

Merely this? Art thou not angered?

To thrash such a wanton rogue is justice!

Lacked I not leisure,

my own hands would have struck!

Thou carest not in the least!

What then of my days of bitter torment?

Thy patience is commendable.

Ah,

enough;

we toiled not alone; Xiao Ran was terrified beside!

No wonder he shunned my presence!

Can two grown men possess so timid a heart?

Is this fitting?

Tis not fear, but profound devotion!

Cease. The Yun clans seduction scheme faileth;

they shall devise another move.

They covet the rouge shops new wares;

yet where they strike remaineth veiled.

Since their intent is hidden,

I shall trouble the Yun clan first!

The fiercest offense shieldeth best.

Such was my very thought.

Speak frankly hereafter;

suppress it not within.

Indeed.

Deal with the Yun clan as thou seest fit;

I take my leave.

What foul omen is this?

Alack!

My belly acheth!

Proprietress!

What venom is in thy spicy stew?

Torn with agony,

I closed no eye all night!

The physician declared I was poisoned!

Grant us full redress,

or close this tavern forever!

If harmed beneath our roof,

we accept full recompense.

Yet behold the vast multitude assembled!

Could my humble shop

serve so vast a throng in a day?

Doth someone not seek foul extortion?

Extortion or no,

I know only that my agony is real!

Compensate us with silver forthwith!

We are afflicted with poison!

Refuse thy duty,

and wilt thou watch us perish at thy door?

Settle this dispute posthaste;

these folk are indeed poisoned.

Though the toxin worketh slow,

unattended, doom shall claim them!

Should corpses fall before thy threshold,

twill be deemed murder! Magistrate,

another brewed this venom; the court

must seize the culprit

and demand restitution,

not force me to confess!

Persist in this defiance,

and I shall seal thy doors!

If they beat the grievance drum,

thy guilt shall be decreed;

chains and dungeon await thee!

Lord Magistrate, pray temper wrath;

we yield to the indemnity.

Yet summon a physician first,

to reckon the cost!

Whatever the antidote costs,

once the total sum is settled,

I shall compensate every soul.

One day more then; register your names forthwith,

and those present today

shall receive silver tomorrow.

Those absent today

need not appear tomorrow!

Where is the promised silver?

Think ye to muddle through thus?

Without recompense,

I shall sprawl here every day!

Heavens above, this tavern harms folk and pays naught!

Is this human depravity,

or the ruin of virtue?

Wilt thou yield silver or no?

Failing amends,

I must haul ye to the yamen.

The physician appraised the cost yesterday;

tis no petty sum.

My Lord, we refuse not to pay,

yet lack such vast funds at once.

Grant a few days; we shall shoulder all.

I would grant thee respite,

yet human lives hang in the balance!

How can I delay, My Lord?

Merchants coin is tied in goods;

shortage is natural.

Yet if Boss Su and Young Master Jin sell their recipe,

the Yun Clan shall gladly supply the coin!

Quite patient indeed.

What meanest thou?

Naught of import,

merely confirming

if twas the Yun Clan! Surprised?

Astonished?

Thy words make no sense.

Humph!

Our shop was poisoned,

and thou comest to loot in crisis,

demanding goods

and formulas with clear scheme; art thou not guilty?

Frame charges at will;

excuses never lack!

Where is thy proof?

Alas,

Second Young Master Yun, all is verified.

Ye resold the rouge shops new wares at manifold price!

Who covets not such gain?

Thus thou cravest our secret formulas.

Where is thy evidence?

If mere fancy could convict,

how many injustices would plague this world?

Right?

Magistrate,

Matters among merchants

concern not this Magistrate outside court;

I judge no case here.

Ye colluded together!

Thy petty squabbles,

why drag this Magistrate in?

Slandering this official

with collusion; what insolent audacity!

My Lord,

thou mistakest;

I meant not thee,

but Jin Wu beside thee!

Humph!

They say Second Young Master Yun is a fop,

and seeing thee today,

folk were truly merciful in their speech.

Second Young Master,

thine eyes and wits seem quite defective;

I deign not wrangle with a shrew!

Humph!

Thanks to all; please queue before the tavern,

and my counter shall pay daily dues.

Gratitude, Boss Su!

Summon us again should need arise!

Gladly!

Thanks for thy aid, Magistrate,

else he had not taken the bait so fast.

Ah,

twas but a slight matter.

Yet I wonder,

uncaught red-handed, how knewest thou foul play?

I intended not to come,

yet came unawares;

providence seemed to guide me.

Indeed; Boss Su is blessed with great fortune.

Should any trouble arise,

seek me at the yamen;

I take my leave.

Fair journey, Magistrate; to the tea house!

Walls have ears here, spirited minx.

I wonder whence came thy so-called instinct.

Having seen utmost evil; now, Yun Clan has moved,

and will not halt; as for the shop,

I had Bai Qingfeng watch lest such foul play recur.

Yet our shops span all corners; those few could hardly oversee them.

Even the Yun familys reach falleth short across distant realms.

More critically, they seek not to crush the tavern itself,

but covet the rare wares in my grasp.

Yet perusing the rouge shops ledger,

should they crave novelties,

why remain the present stock untouched?

Knowing that I withhold cargo by design,

they feign lack of desire,

crafting an illusion of neglect,

to throw my wits into disarray,

that I might surrender all stock

at vile pittance.

Little dreamed they I would shun the snare;

hence these subsequent foul stratagems.

Courtesy demands a return in kind.

The Yun clan offers so generous a boon;

how could we fail to repay the favor?

Indeed,

keep vigilant watch over Ling Xiao;

they shall surely turn his thrashing to malice. Fret not.

Our Young Master watches closely without thy bidding;

for the knave boasts such fair grace,

comprehendest thou?

Doth he

fancy such?

Art thou dead?

Thy vile tongue ought to be sewn shut!

Seeing all well, no further matter remains;

this humble one shall withdraw first.

Thou hast heard

of my martial skills;

dare commit any transgression,

and thou shalt suffer

dire ruin!

Su Li, my heart yearns for thee;

bestow thy tender favor upon me!

I surpass that Jin Manlou in countenance;

loved by one such as I,

art thou not overjoyed?

The Yun clan seeks to slay Ling Xiao,

framing me with the slaughter! Die!

Base miscreants,

who dispatched ye hither?

Why seek my life? Leave them to me!

I shall escort the captive to the yamen;

come along as well!

It rests not in thy choice; show proof that twas I who struck thee!

Thou insolent knave, what shameless scheme plottest thou?

Ha ha ha ha ha!

Thou hast the gall to laugh!

Fair maiden, come grant me thy sweet favor; so fair!

Alack,

return home posthaste,

and stir no needless strife!

What spectacle is this?

Fair one, grant me an embrace!

What wretched knave is this?

He... heavens above!

Vile, shameless cur!

Ah!

Thou wretch of wretches!

Ye make a laughable sight!

I know thy delight,

yet restrain thy joy;

what manner of plight is this?

The Yun clan drugged Ling Xiao,

bidding him entangle me,

seeking to slay him amidst the fray

and lay his blood upon my head!

Even if ye sought to shield me,

the yamen must still take me in.

Yet what purpose would that serve?

Once the coroner examines wounds,

thy innocence shines clear; what avails such slander?

Their plot was never to frame me

for slaughter,

but merely to hold me fast!

Thus

striking ruin upon my shops

and plundering my goods!

Take this wretch away posthaste;

the sight brings ill fortune!

Sendest thou him to yamen cells?

Lest he be silenced forever!

What then?

So foul an abomination,

bring him home to taint the tender young ones eyes?

Spare them

such defilement; convey him to the escort agency!

My numerous brethren can easily watch over them.

Very well,

lead him away!

Such a wretched beast,

askest thou me to lead? Nay,

by no means!

Thy brothers heed my words; together then!

Thou takest one stretch,

I take the next, Yuefei!

Must such a vile pest be dragged to our midst?

Such wanton swaying! What of it,

canst thou not master thy desires?

Nonsense! I am thoroughly sickened!

Who could deny it?

Ye have young ones,

and have we none here?

To me it matters not,

yet my apprentice must not behold such filth!

Thou mayest deceive our brethren,

yet deceive not thine own heart;

a true warrior speaks candidly!

Then I shall take him back and tell Su Li

none of ye care to heed this nuisance.

Yet on second thought,

trials must be surmounted;

we brethren

lack not fortitude.

That sounds proper enough;

endure this grievance for but one day.

Su Li arrives at tomorrows dawn;

guard this wretch with vigilant care!

Fret not;

if we cannot manage even so small a charge,

we might as well hang from a crooked tree!

I take my leave;

stand steadfast!

Cast him into the storehouse first.

Wilt thou utter naught?

My attention was an honor bestowed upon thee,

yet thou feignest haughty virtue!

My patience

hath narrow bounds;

ere thou dost confess,

I may cripple thee utterly!

Reduced to a eunuch,

regret will be too late.

Thou vile wench! Ah!

Canst thou speak with civility now?

I shall never betray the Yun house;

though they treat me without mercy,

I shall not act without honor!

A base-born stray denied even the name of Yun,

yet professing blind loyalty? Hath madness seized thee?

What knowest thou?

For that very cause must I prove my worth!

Thy mother was slain by the Yun matriarch after bearing thee,

yet thou seekest no vengeance,

yearning instead to serve them!

How utterly contemptible and laughable thou art!

The Yun clan reveres merit alone;

if I accomplish this deed for them,

I shall be entered in the ancestral hall!

I will never betray the Yun house!

Splendid;

then pray hold firm!

Know ye all your letters?

Uh,

a few simple characters,

why askest thou?

Read these aloud to him with vivid color;

let us see how long he endures!

Read it through,

then repeat ceaselessly. Ling Xiao,

deemest thou seduction an honorable craft?

For a man sunk so low,

naught remains

save utter cowardice!

The Yun clan surely mocks thee behind closed doors,

yet thou art moved by thine own folly!

Had thy mother known thou wouldst grow only beauty,

lacking wit and consorting with foes,

she should have strangled thee at birth! Silence!

I shall slay you all!

Embracing men yesterday with shameless abandon,

felt thou truly no burning shame?

Art thou a man at all,

or lustest thou in truth after men?

Yesterday granted thy wish! Silence!

Hold thy foul tongue!

Thy heart yearned toward the bright moon,

yet the moon shines down on common ditches!

All these years,

who ever deemed thee human?

To broker commerce,

hast thou not bartered thy charms?

Beholding the maiden thou loved seized by another,

thou utteredst not a single breath!

That maiden must curse her blinded eyes

for ever favoring so craven a wretch! Silence! Here, take more sheets!

These are freshly gleaned truths;

this rogue wrought so many vile misdeeds!

To fawn upon the Yun house,

he left his own mothers corpse unburied!

The tale inscribed on mine is yet more shocking!

Behold this! Silence, silence all!

I will hear no more!

Deemest thou

mere listening ends the reckoning?

What dost thou intend?

Naturally, to proclaim these tidings unto all the realm!

Let the Yun Clans shame be hidden from no eye;

let thy disgrace

be known to every ear!

I forbid it!

Thy prohibition is naught! What base cur art thou? Go summon

Young Master Jin; the rumors may now be loosed.

Then shall we parade this Ling Xiao through the streets,

that all may behold his true visage!

Aye,

I depart forthwith!

I say, Su Li,

what is thy desire? Hadst thou complied thus earlier!

I demand the Yun commerce web and their merchant ties.

These secrets hold momentous weight;

thinkest thou mere threats can yield them unto thee?

Wisely spoken!

Why dwell in bitter discord?

We may seek mutually shared bounty!

Meanest thou an alliance?

Impart intelligence unto me;

I shall bring the Yun Clan low.

A fallen giant still surpasseth lesser beasts;

when thou rulest Clan Yun, why speak merely of ancestry?

A new branch inscribed in the genealogy awaits thee!

Why didst thou not utter this sooner? Pardon,

it came but now. Bring brush and parchment!

What thou cravest,

I bestow at once;

keep thy solemn pledge! Verily,

yet how far this deed advances

hinges on thy future fealty.

Betray not thyself upon returning!

Waste no concern on me.

Yet these clandestine matters

must perish sealed within thy breast!

Idle words;

I lack such leisure!

Thou mayest depart.

The two assassins sent to slay thee

are bound for the yamen;

how thou extricatest thyself resteth on thee!

This knave feigns nobility

with such polished pretense!

Enough.

Standing vigil throughout the night

truly taxed your strength;

go hence and take your rest.

Depart so soon?

Hast thou no further task to bestow?

Weariness touches us not!

Fret not,

I shall never stand on ceremony;

replenish your vigor first,

for soon ye must guard the merchandise.

Entrust it unto our hands;

let thy mind be at ease!

Sister-in-law, art thou weary? Weariness touches me not.

Thou speakest falsehood!

I yearn to grow swiftly,

and win high renown,

so that thou needest never toil again!

What then should I do?

Abide by my side daily in sweet company,

so that longing

no longer aches my heart!

Thou hast grown so skilled in sweet flattery.

Because Sister-in-law is dearest! Very well,

I shall believe thee for now.

Why didst thou let Ling Xiao depart?

Return inside first.

Hmph!

I owe thee no explanation.

Though these words may displease thine ear,

abandon this perilous trade, I beseech thee!

Without trade, whence cometh silver?

Wilt thou provide it?

Aye, I shall provide!

Thy ventures grow increasingly fraught with danger!

First Scholar Wang, now Ling Xiao!

Had I not arrived in the nick of time,

harm would have... Nay, no harm could touch me!

Reasoning with thee is utterly futile!

Dost thou cling to this trade,

or yearn for that man?

Hast thou vented all thy foul breath?

Forgive me,

those words were unmeant;

anxiety for thee clouded my judgment!

Truly, my silver can sustain thee!

Begone from my sight forthwith!

Thou hast no wit to serve our household,

yet utterest idle boasts

to disgust the soul!

These are no idle boasts;

in two days, I shall deliver silver unto thee!

Brother Song,

wilt thou truly bestow silver?

Could it be that thou intendest...

Would that not expose us?

Not to exposure,

yet matters grow arduous.

Yet I desire thy sister-in-law trade no more;

I yearn to pass our days in steadfast peace.

In steadfast peace for life!

Were maiden admirers to hear such vows,

their hearts would shatter to pieces!

Thy sister-in-law hath manifold virtues,

and she is my wedded wife;

I ought to cherish her faithfully.

Thy thoughts are noble,

yet thou cringest so low of late,

shorn of all thy former valiant majesty!

Husband and wife are one;

tis my bounden duty.

As for cringing,

as her husband,

yielding unto mine own wife is only right.

Enough;

speak of this no more.

If thou art truly my brother,

thou shouldst wish me harmony. I wish thee well!

Su Li,

thou meritest death!

Village Elder,

hath some misfortune arisen?

Su Li, thy soup tavern

may lack fresh crops on the morrow.

Many villagers sold their yields to others today,

drawn by higher coin;

I have wronged thee! Uncle Ma, fret not;

this matter troubleth me not.

Our shop relieth not solely on our hamlet,

else supply had long fallen short!

Truly?

I heard no other hamlets sowed the crops!

Truly, none other did,

yet do I not partner with Young Master Jin?

He possesseth boundless fields!

Alas,

my foolish mind misjudged! Maiden,

deal with other villages at thy discretion hereafter;

these ingrates deserve no protection!

We must still favor our village; moreover,

I believe not all our folk are ingrates.

Half thy village hath betrayed thee!

The Yun Clan knoweth this cannot shake us;

doing this

is but a feint to disturb our minds!

If their true stroke lieth not here,

whence else could they strike?

They will surely not strike through thee,

for thou hast no flaw at present;

my side differs greatly.

Dost thou need my aid?

Not for now;

should need arise,

I shall not stand on ceremony; keep close watch here,

for I shall come seldom.

I fear calamity will strike within our hamlet;

I came today to alert thee.

Very well;

tread with care.

I take my leave then.

Alack!

Thou art returned at last!

Thy storeroom

hath caught fire without cause!

All villagers went to the town today;

Song Shu and his mother are nowhere to be seen,

and none came though I shouted my throat hoarse!

Which vile rogue did this wicked deed?

Luckily the main hall escaped! Let it burn;

naught of treasure was kept within anyway.

Yet tis passing strange:

setting ablaze an idle shed

merely to vex our peace!

Sister-in-law,

how caught it fire?

Didst thou provoke some foe again?

Hold thy foul tongue,

lest I deem this blaze set by thy hand!

I seemed to see Shiying and Shiyu enter that shed;

might they still linger inside?

Sister-in-law,

hasten inside to seek them!

They are not within! Speak:

where are they?

Sister-in-law, I said

they might be in the shed;

failing to rescue them,

thou strikest me instead;

thou art utterly unreasonable!

Rescue is indeed urgent.

Feasting and dwelling idle beneath my roof,

tis time thou didst some service;

plunge inside forthwith to save them!

Without them saved,

step not out! Release me; the roof is collapsing!

Dost thou seek to end my life?

Claimed thou not a quest to rescue souls?

I shall fulfill thy wish!

Twas Xinghuas father who kindled the blaze,

and lured Song Shiying and Song Shiyu within!

I have spoken;

this matter toucheth me not! What must be done?

The young ones are truly trapped inside!

I shall look within; my young brother-in-law is agile,

were they truly inside,

they could not remain utterly silent;

rest thy heart.

Though tender in years,

they lack not wit.

Thy words ring true.

Su Li, thy brother and sister struck my son and daughter;

name the silver thou shalt yield in amends!

How much silver fitteth thy burning of my dwelling?

Hmph!

Burn thy dwelling?

How could this deed be mine?

I had no hand in this!

Witnesses beheld it,

and confessions were rendered;

what denial remaineth? Confessed? Deemest thou he is virtuous?

I lured not Song Chiying within;

this pale-faced knave shoved him straight inside!

Had it not been for him,

my blaze had never erupted!

What slanderous falsehoods art thou spewing?

Even if thou wouldst drag another down,

thou shalt not entangle me!

I know naught! Cease thy feigned innocence!

Speak not of other matters;

how mighty was the roar of my flames!

Art thou deaf in thy youth?

Or heard and feigned unhearing?

Thou art viler than a cur!

Looking fair in human semblance,

yet baser than an ungrateful wolf!

Ordering folk about by endless ruses!

Speak, lest I rend thee to pieces!

Art thou struck mute?

Had my wife and I not fought it, how vast this blaze had raged!

Return home first;

anon I shall bear silver to thy hearth.

What meanest thou?

Did we toil back and forth

merely to extort silver from thee?

Doth any human heart beat in thy breast?

I intended no such slight.

Heed his foul words

only as passing wind.

Pray return home first;

ye are spent with weariness,

fret not yourselves further here.

Then we take our leave;

should trouble rise,

call upon our household!

Rest assured.

Seekest thou death?

Then I shall dispatch thee! Murder!

Alack!

My belly aches,

I cannot rise;

bear me to a physician posthaste!

Canst thou not curb thy fiery temper?

Lest right turneth into wrong!

Striking him spared thee, eh?

If thy mouth

can utter no civil words,

then seal thy lips!

None in this courtyard hath escaped thy blows;

when trial comes,

is reasoning so arduous?

Reasoning, sayest thou?

Then let us reason thoroughly!

Calm thy spirit first.

Depart not!

The righteous fear no debate,

or dost thou stand devoid of reason?

Brother Song,

behold him; let fault rest upon me,

if only ye twain harbor no disdain;

bearing a little grievance

matters naught.

What thy sister-in-law inquireth,

answer plainly.

She is not blind to right and wrong;

were this matter truly apart from thee,

she would not press thee so. Yet Xinghuas sire made such commotion kindling the fire!

Zhang Dashan and his wife cried ceaselessly for aid;

didst thou truly hear naught?

I was asleep! Furthermore,

I dare not meddle in household affairs;

thou never showedst me

favor.

Doth this turn into my fault then?

Very well.

This matter...

I waste no breath on thee; Xinghuas sire said

thou thrust my young brother-in-law into the room.

How dost thou answer?

Tis pure fabrication!

I was asleep the entire time;

how could I have pushed the lad?

Thou liest!

Thou didst push me!

Thou and Xinghuas sire sought to lure me in.

Sensing foul deceit,

I hastened to draw back from the portal!

Yet thou didst suddenly charge forth

and shoved me inside!

Worse yet,

thou didst bolt the door!

Had I not barred the door, he would have fled!

Did I speak any falsehood?

Without his hand,

I could never have set the blaze!

Brother Song,

hear my explanation;

matters are not as they claim!

They utter foul falsehoods!

Taught by Sister-in-law, I disdain all deceit!

We never twist right and wrong!

Sister-in-law taught us

that a true person bears full responsibility!

Dost thou dare own thine own deed?

Answer me: why didst thou commit this?

Settle my recompense first!

Ye have beaten me;

without some silver paid,

how can this be suffered?

Silver can be granted.

Provided thou revealest in court

who ordered thee to set the blaze,

I shall bestow twenty taels.

T-Twenty taels?

Aye, twenty taels; my word is pledged!

Thy word indeed hath never failed!

Tarry here;

I hasten to the yamen forthwith!

What help could such a wretch bring

before the tribunal?

To grant him twenty taels—what is thy design?

Humph!

Ponder not on that;

settle thine own affairs first.

How dost thy companion intend to account?

Brother Song,

hear my plea;

truly, all was born of a hidden cause!

Enough!

Xiao Xiong,

I fear I never knew thee; once seen as pure and upright,

now thou art steeped in deceit

and venomous intent!

I sheltered thee in kindness,

yet thou harasseth my kin.

Thou wouldst harm my wife and tender siblings!

How deep is thy venom

toward me to commit such cruelty?

Nay!

Tis not as thou deemest!

Cease these empty words;

state plainly how this shall be settled.

Song Chigui, what is thy verdict as elder brother?

Dost thou not hold their indenture deeds?

Whatever must be done,

let it be executed.

Brother Song,

art thou truly so heartless?

Then I shall show no quarter.

I shall summon the broker to fetch the best price!

Feasting idle so long under our roof,

we must recoup our costs!

Spare us, Sister-in-law!

I beseech thee!

When my house is vindicated,

I shall redeem our deeds with a thousand taels!

Could a broker ever offer a thousand?

Every fault is mine alone;

I implore thee,

grant us a path to live!

Nay.

With such treacherous malice,

I fear I would lose my life

ere seeing that thousand taels!

Brother Song,

wilt thou truly abandon us?

My benevolence is exhausted.

Brother Song,

all I did was for a cause;

I am born a woman!

My heart cherisheth thee!

Thou... art a maiden?

To draw closer to thy side,

I feigned manhood;

yet she treated thee so coldly,

I resented her and bred dark malice!

I merely sought to strive for mine own happiness.

Yet thou shouldst not—Brother Song!

I know my grievous fault,

yet my hearts devotion is true!

Shouldst thou desire to abide with Sister-in-law forever,

couldst thou not take me as concubine?

I care not for status or rank;

I desire only to remain by thy side!

Why torment thyself thus? With thy noble birth and fair grace,

and thy great talent, what worthy gentleman couldst thou not find?

Why squander thy youth upon this humble one?

For in mine eyes,

no man under heaven can match half thy worth. Yaner, Brother Song!

Cease thy embraces; taint not the tender eyes of young children!

Retire to thy chamber; such wanton displays ill suit tender youths!

Perchance we might let this matter rest.

In any event, the younger siblings took no harm,

and that consumed by flames was merely a trifling shed.

The shed was worthless, nor did she kindle it. Favored by such beauty,

thou art truly a toad tasting heavenly swan!

Thus her plots against our kin matter naught? And seeking to harm me,

is that deemed even grander fortune,

yielding her my rightful place?

What reckless folly dost thou speak?

Su Li, whether thou believest it or not,

I truly desire to share all my days with thee! Is that so?

Then what of her?

I regard her merely as a younger sister.

Her misguided conduct was born of pardonable sentiment;

pray grant her another chance!

Oh?

A tender little sister indeed!

Xinghuas sire was slain midway upon the road,

dying

a most gruesome death!

Can this be true?

Just now he hastened joyfully toward the yamen,

declaring he would soon strike it rich!

Truly dead!

As I journeyed back,

I beheld his cold corpse,

drenched entirely in crimson blood!

Nay, even the three souls within his household...

What disaster hath occurred?

I heard Xinghuas sire set fire to

a small outbuilding of Su Lis dwelling,

and sought to harm the two Song children beside!

Now his entire lineage hath been slaughtered;

could this be Su Lis retribution?

I wondered in truth

why thou sentest Xinghuas sire to the magistrate.

Thou plotted murder all along!

Su Li, though their house were no virtuous folk,

their misdeeds merited no such grim fate!

These are five living human souls!

It cannot be! Xinghuas sire

was cut down midway on the road,

meeting a most gruesome end!

Can it be true?

Just now he sped eagerly toward the yamen,

bragging of sudden fortunes!

Truly perished!

As I returned,

I beheld his cold corpse,

all soaked in pool of gore!

What befell the three souls within his household?

I heard Xinghuas sire set ablaze

a small shed at Su Lis estate,

and sought the lives of Songs two young kin!

Now his entire family hath been butchered;

could Su Li have wrought this slaughter?

Beholding Su Lis cold demeanor, was it truly her doing?

That would be monstrously cruel!

Though Xinghuas sire and kin were ill-natured folk,

one should not slaughter an entire lineage!

I wondered in my heart

why thou sentest Xinghuas sire straight to the court.

So thou harbored murderous designs!

Hast thou any conscience left?

Follow me to the yamen to confess;

I shall plead for thy mercy. Foul minds perceive all things as foul!

Time and again they plotted malice against us,

yet thou dismisseth it as petty strife.

Merely because thou suffered no harm,

thou canst utter such callous pious homilies!

Then thou confessest this deed,

that all was wrought of thy calculating scheme?

If ye deem me the murderer, present thy proof!

Let us confront each other before the open court!

I trust the magistrate will mete out impartial justice.

Su Li speaketh the truth!

Without proof,

how dare any brand her with this crime?

Moreover, she walketh upright in broad day;

vengeance she taketh openly,

how

need she strike from shadows? Forgive me,

my tongue ran wild in rash judgment.

Xinghuas sire

and his household were villainous knaves!

Perchance she offended some other foe?

Truly thou art sharp-tongued;

knowing not how to shield thy cherished sister,

thou seekest only to fault me!

Mark my words:

her indenture deed lieth in my hand;

her wretched life is mine to command!

I crave not to be a concubine;

may I serve as a handmaid?

So long as I abide by Brother Songs side,

bid me be a slave or bondmaid,

and I shall submit!

Su Li,

cease this unreasonable strife!

The Xiao Clans vindication

If thou sellest them into bondage,

fearst thou not bitter retribution?

How ludicrous thou art!

When deemed a youth,

didst thou not bid me do as I pleased?

Now finding her a maiden

adoring thee, thy lustful heart cannot be veiled!

I... I merely weighed not the grave consequences!

In truth,

is it not silver thou cravest?

I shall give thee silver; spare them this once!

I shall lodge them in town hereafter;

they shall offend thine eyes no more!

Housing a hidden beauty!

Heros halo detected fading;

Host, take heed!

Very well;

seeing thy tender mutual devotion,

I shall grant thy fondest wish!

My wager proved true;

so long as Song Chigui acts against his destined role,

his hero halo shall vanish,

and the fates of all may be rewritten!

My quest shall triumph in the end.

Speak not with such venom;

I merely pity a helpless maidens plight!

Fret not;

my resolve to wed thee in peace hath never wavered.

And my resolve never to live with thee hath never changed!

Sister-in-law,

how couldst thou wound Brother Songs heart so?

His love is pure—hast thou any right to speak?

Su Li,

thou hast grieved me to the heart!

Then take this pleasing damsel and begone,

lest her fair visage swell yet further,

and thou diest of heartache!

Such a vile temper meriteth no love.

Once I have settled them,

I shall return to explain.

Hold!

Return here no more.

This threshold welcomes thee not!

Darest thou return,

I shall proclaim your shameful deeds to all the world!

Brother Song,

my face acheth so bitterly!

Gather thy belongings;

we shall depart forthwith.

Twas thy mother and I who were foolish,

lured away at dawn, hearing of calamity only on our return!

How did I sire such an ingrate?

Likely he taketh after his grandsire.

Fortunate that only he inherited such foulness,

else I would hang myself; yet all is past.

Better that he hath departed,

sparing us daily vexation and grief!

Henceforth we sever all bonds with him;

I disown such a son! Young Master, Song hath settled them.

That damsel,

clad in maiden robes,

appeareth like a heavenly fairy;

no wonder Song Chigui lost his wits!

See thy shallow, uncultured eye;

can she ever rival the spirited minx?

Song Chigui is truly blind of eye!

Beauty lieth only in the lovers gaze;

Song Chigui is utterly blind!

Splendid!

Now my heart is wholly at peace.

Behold thy triumphant smirk!

Joy filleth me today; Jin Wu, fire more crackers!

Let the whole town know! Is this not too hasty, Master?

Should Song Chigui regain his senses and return,

how then shall we act?

As if he could ever return!

Fire them and spite him! Yes, Young Master!

What enterprise planneth Jin Manlou now?

We are bound in the same vessel now;

if he falleth, we perish too!

What calamity could come?

Song Chigui was cast forth from his house,

and Young Master Jin celebrateth here!

Song Chigui, alas!

Then all is well.

Master Yin hath returned to his clan,

bent solely on vexing the Mu house!

Two noble scholarly houses clash,

leaving all breathless with dread.

Master Yin truly prizeth this disciple;

it seems our wager was won!

Rumor says he won his fair maiden!

Aha,

felicitations to him!

What folly babblest thou?

Congratulating him,

why fire crackers?

Share we not this joy?

Plot no dark schemes;

thou art utterly unworthy!

Fret not over my worth;

for I dally not with blossoms,

pure and unblemished!

Nor do I begrudge others spending.

Though silver fail,

were all my fortunes pledged—

Courtest thou blows? Lay a finger on him!

If he is unworthy,

art thou? Foster Parents

bid me deliver word:

never tread in this hamlet again,

lest they beat thee dead! My household affair

concerns no stranger like thee!

My thanks for Brother Xiaos righteous speech.

Nor do I deem thee worthy!

Look upon thy dissolute air;

unfit for honest men! If ever

thou darest lay hand on Su Li,

I shall shatter thy teeth!

Splendid!

With thy scraggly beard, Master,

spare thy breath!

With his brawn, a mere brush of his hand

would break thee.

Disdain wrangling with him.

Hast thou forgotten thy place?

What rank holds he?

Young Master,

whom dost thou mirror, seeking mastery?

Last time he yielded sway,

beseeching my aid;

I must needs linger longer!

No chance shall he have to step forth now!

Pray never crave the others grace!

Art thou a fool?

Only few foes could vex Su Li,

yet a whole kin died at thy hand,

drawing the yamens watchful eye!

With such folly,

wilt thou bear the Yun name?

Art thou worthy?

I foresaw not his vile cunning!

Thou foresaw not?

What couldst thou ever fathom?

Even I suffered bitter loss;

how darest thou act so rashly?

Shall I entice him once more?

Failing that, I can vex him sorely!

Begone!

Darest thou show thy face? Seeking a beating?

Didst thou forget Su Li and I are allies?

I seek her on grave affairs!

Yet thou preenest like a peacock!

Hast thou weighty tidings to impart?

The Yun clan runneth short of wares;

while ye hold fast thy goods,

Yun Qi hired deadly mercenaries.

Failing to divine thy storehouse,

they may raid thy shops!

Good.

I have marked it.

Is that all?

Provide me a false decoy,

and let yamen guards lie in wait to snare them!

Unneeded; moving on sure tidings,

their failure proves they were entrapped.

Hast thou weighed thy plight then? Weighing mine?

Why? My courtyard abounds with champions;

they shall reap naught but vanity!

Thus, assured of my own safety,

why not shield mine ally?

To a villain such as me,

thou offerest protection even in passing;

is it not laughable,

truly?

Thy words harmed me not; the past

held hardships for each.

In any case, the word is conveyed;

act as thou deemest best.

Su Li, I comprehend thee not;

he is clearly vile filth.

Pact with him if thou must,

yet why speak of shared hardships,

Chi Yun?

Thou hast grasped the gist, no doubt.

Answer him.

Selfless devotion! Truly my brother-in-law,

with such wisdom,

good fortune surely awaits me.

Aye,

I shall bring prosperity to Sister-in-law!

Speak no more,

my head ringeth with thy chatter! This lad

shouteth pledges in the courtyard at dawn,

ever prattling

of thy prosperity, brimful of ceaseless fervor;

one might deem him bewitched by thee!

Such is righteous loyalty, perhaps.

Nay, far from it!

My Sister-in-law cherisheth me truly!

Mm.

Last nights venture met with defeat.

Su Li set stalwart guards at the warehouse;

our men were all bruised and routed.

Most perplexing!

However shrewd Su Li may be,

she is a peasant; whence came such fierce champions?

I warned thee ere now,

mighty hands serve her,

yet thou doubtedst,

recalling how I was beaten... Silence!

The magistrate stands hand in glove with her;

abandon any design to strike through him.

Begone from my sight!

A worthless wretch dares not instruct me!

So paltry are his wits.

The Yun clan is ripe for taking. Young Master Yun, what errand brings thee?

Such matters

are well known between us, surely.

Merchants thrive on harmony;

rather than wrangling thus,

we ought to prosper together.

Oh?

How would we prosper together?

Thou surely holdest provisions.

I offer thrice thy former price;

how sayest thou?

Hadst thou shown this grace at first,

it would have been agreed.

Yet now, not a chance!

What price demandest thou?

Thou cannot afford my price.

Fine.

We shall see!

Seek those above Magistrate Wei

to press him hard!

Su Li

presumes on the magistrates favor, doth she not?

I would see if Wei Ling,

hard-pressed himself,

will shield her still! Master, all are merchants;

those we bribe

they court as well;

though we petition,

aid is far from assured.

Thou speakest as if all-wise;

how then obtain the goods?

What boots mere goods?

The secret recipe brings boundless wealth!

Know I not that?

Yet seizing goods proves hard enough,

let alone the recipe.

None knows if Su Li hath put it to parchment,

nor can it be had at will!

Yet methinks I saw Su Li give it to Jin Manlou;

Jin Manlou is no simpleton.

Without tangible pledge from Su Li,

how could he venture so deep into alliance?

Seeing such things... They deemed me ignorant.

Methinks Su Lis

husband is a bungler

fit only to ruin all;

perhaps we may strike through him.

Thy wit proveth sharp at times;

dost thou feign folly before me?

I am no fool by nature;

may my name enter the lineage?

I am of use to the Yun house!

Such is thy petty ambition!

Wilt thou truly strike?

My words were mere idle talk;

should we not await Father and Brother?

Such cowardice!

No wonder Father disdains thee; begone!

Small wonder she chose concubinage over me, craven!

I have not beheld Brother Song of late;

dost thou disdain me?

I never harbored such thought,

yet propriety parts man and maid;

close acquaintance ill becomes us.

Had I known,

I should not have revealed my maidenhood.

Had thou not spoken, Su Lis words would hold true.

Were Xiao Yu not of such comeliness...

lacked such deep devotion toward me,

she would not dwell here now.

Brother Song,

dost thou regret thy deed?

Words come too late;

when thy sire is pardoned, return home.

Mention not my care in this season.

Why? Thou wouldst not bid thy sire press me?

to force my hand in marriage?

I harbored no such intent!

Brother Song,

how couldst thou misjudge me so? Good then.

I still yearn to live in peace with thy sister-in-law.

Sever thy longing for me henceforth;

thine ordeal shall soon end.

Endure this plight for now.

Stir no strife abroad,

lest I abandon thee utterly.

My Lady,

hasten not so;

though thou bestowed silver

on wounded warriors here,

lavish coin guaranteeeth not thy safety!

Twas a modest gift, lest brave hearts chill.

For warriors who risk life on the field,

such a trifle merits no praise.

Could the maid who preserved our entire host

be she?

Why dog our ladys steps, thou rogue?

Begone forthwith,

or I shall raise the hue and cry!

Cease thy clamor, both of you.

With such noble mien, how could he be base?

Thy wan visage—art thou beset by hardship?

Dost thou need coin?

My Lady,

thou art too easily deceived!

Yet my heart only seeketh to aid others.

Noble Lady,

I am no wicked man,

nor crave thy charity.

I serve as bailiff in this town,

seeking to verify a certain matter.

May we confer in private? Willingly.

Let us repair to mine inn.

Lady Yao,

thy maiden said

thou gavest coin to a blood-soaked soldier.

Twas within a teahouse, I recall;

seeing two soldiers plead for aid,

I bestowed some silver

and had them escorted safely back.

Art thou that soldier? Scarce doth it seem so.

Hadst thou been he, thou wouldst recognize me.

I am not that soldier,

yet I am one who survived by thy bounty.

My Lady is my noble savior!

My gratitude,

for thy valorous grace!

Thou didst deliver our host from dire peril,

granting us life anew!

How dare I claim such honor?

Hail me not as savior,

lest I be overcome with shame.

Pray tell,

may I inquire of a person?

Whom? I shall withhold naught,

revealing all I know.

One named Su Li.

I crave a secret recipe in her keeping.

My house trades in commerce;

my sire constantly yearns for that recipe.

Thus I slipped away from home,

hoping to secure it secretly as a pleasant surprise!

How wouldst thou treat with her? By silver?

I can bestow boundless silver upon her!

Thou art too guileless,

ignorant of worldly schemes.

Offer lavish coin at once,

and she will demand far more.

Let me treat with her first;

when terms are ripe,

thou mayest step forth.

Splendid indeed!

How fortunate I am to meet so noble a soul!

Because thou art truly virtuous.

Very well.

Art thou mad?

Must thy words ever

clash like drawn blades?

Hast thou not a shred of womanly gentleness?

Thou art truly deranged!

If thou cravest meekness,

seek those who have it!

Why demand it of me?

Enough!

I seek thee on urgent business.

Speak thine errand swiftly,

and waste

no idle breath! For what price wilt thou sell thy cosmetic recipe?

For which paramour dost thou plead?

Only women move thee to action!

Bah! Devoid of all shame,

heed not for whom I ask;

thine enterprise is trade,

name thy terms,

and summon thy meager wits!

I am allied with Jinman Pavilion.

Sold,

how could I answer to them?

This person is noble;

pure in virtue.

Others shunned a wounded soldier,

yet she bestowed

bountiful silver,

and granted him safe convoy

all the way.

What senseless babble is this?

Art thou certain of her?

Thy blindness hath long been known.

Every token agreeth;

mistake is impossible.

Then I say that benefactor was I, saving the host with silver!

Thou couldst never perform such grace;

thou prizest coin above all.

Su Li, I belittle thee not,

yet thy heart lacks virtue.

Indeed,

such is mine own self.

Why yield my craft to honor thee?

Wilt thou pay thine own debt with my prize?

Song Chigui,

thy shame grows boundless!

I seek no favor from thy goods;

silver shall be rendered.

I am but a messenger between you.

Tell her no treasure can buy this craft.

One so gentle will not rob my treasure.

Thou didst say

Jinman Pavilion hath share; what if Jin agrees to sell?

If he assents,

I have no recourse;

having the craft, he holds authority.

Yet I know he shall never sell.

Ponder that no more.

Insolent fool! Art thou mad,

or crazed?

Thou art truly stricken!

Wilt thou mimic Su Li no more?

Do my words resemble hers?

Ah,

tis our profound affinity!

Silence!

Why should I hold peace?

Thou camest to me,

yet meddlest in my speech!

Dost thou rule the world,

to stretch thy bounds thus?

Declare thine errand,

spare idle words! A mere constable,

how insolent!

Dare touch

my young master,

and thou shalt taste

bitter ruin!

He cometh only to provoke strife;

cast him forth!

I come on grave affairs;

a buyer seeks thy cosmetic craft.

Su Li said

if thou assentest,

she raiseth no dissent.

This craft is not for barter!

Prize merchants not profit above all?

Saying thou wilt not,

the price hath not met thy desire.

Dissemble no further;

state thy conditions plainly.

Directly!

Aye.

Then hear it plainly:

When wilt thou divorce that minx?

In thy dreams!

A sister here,

a maiden fair there;

hast thou ever cherished her?

Hadst thou any shred of conscience,

thou wouldst step aside forthwith!

I am steadfast in devotion;

none but her fills my gaze.

Spare me thine idle chatter!

This craft,

for what silver wilt thou yield it?

Name a sum;

I shall grant it! Cast her divorce deed before my eyes,

and this craft is thine without a single copper!

Lay no schemes against my wife!

Strike then!

Hear my words:

shouldst thou strike me, that secret formula

shall never be thine! Dost thou menace me?

Thou mayest spurn my threat,

and strike!

I leave my vow here:

save for thy deed of parting,

I crave naught else!

Ponder it with care;

I shall return in two days.

Thou sayest he cares naught for the shrew,

yet bidden to part,

he flared with wrath;

thou sayest he loves her,

yet he crosses her for another.

What dwells within his mind?

He truly cherisheth her,

yet deems she lacks the virtues he desires.

When one seeming to possess them appears, he falters,

yet draws near only to repent,

swaying ceaselessly between the two.

Yet should he cast the deed of parting before thee,

whence wilt thou procure the formula?

Should he truly deliver the deed of parting,

I would even fabricate one for him!

Forgive me.

They steadfastly refuse to yield the recipe.

Doth not Su Li alone possess the secret?

Su Li joins in venture with Jinman Tower;

thus the formula rests in their hands,

mutually benefiting and checking one another.

No matter;

I merely came to try my fortune.

Success or failure matters little,

save that my plea to dispense gruel may be denied.

Thinking of countless refugees

starving in want,

my heart aches with grief.

I shall plead for thee once more.

Truly?

Brother Song,

thou art truly gracious!

Should success be won,

my father

shall grant me silver

to dispense relief.

All such merit shall belong unto thee!

I shall strive with all my might.

Can he truly prevail?

At the mention of gaining merit,

behold his fervent delight!

Is he mad?

Heed not whether he succeeds;

we know now Jinman Tower holdeth the secret recipe.

Dispatch word unto Young Master Yun first,

and await his further commands.

Shall we idle here each passing day,

forgetting the discord

Young Master Yun bade us sow?

I propose we strike first at Jinman Tower;

the formula lies there, and in commerce

they are bound as partners.

Should rift divide them,

Young Master Yun may act with far greater ease.

Young Master Jin,

at so tender an age,

to build so grand an enterprise is wondrous indeed.

Yet why, when thy trade is praised, do all extol Su Li?

Is she too overbearing,

or truly indispensable?

Camest thou not on business?

Why prattle of idle matters?

I sought to confer on trade,

yet one must treat with whoever holds sway.

I believe Young Master Jin can decide,

yet fear Su Li may vex thee.

Indeed, treating with me avails naught;

for before me,

her word is law! So accomplished a gentleman,

why bow beneath anothers sway?

Because she is sincere, unlike those who feign affections

for selfish gains!

I harbor no foul malice;

I merely deem thee so noble,

and admiring thee, grieve at thy slight!

Bestow thine admiration elsewhere!

Not every man falls prey to thy wiles;

thy sickening pretenses fail to deceive!

Speak thy purpose plainly without tedious cunning.

Then I speak plainly:

I hear the formula lies in thy hand;

at what price wilt thou part with it?

In truth, the sum was settled with Song Chigui.

Hath he not told thee?

Then thou must exert thy strength.

Truly, I need not utter untruths;

I did indeed proffer a handsome price.

As to why he concealed it from thee...

Of that, I know naught.

Young Master, thou art wicked indeed!

Now Song Chigui faceth a bitter dilemma.

Humph! With his sort, one must play ruthless tricks!

What grief befalleth thee?

My heart but acheth with sorrow.

Brother Song,

thou hast no bounden duty to aid me;

yet why pledge thy help,

only to conceal the truth from me?

In thine eyes,

am I so foolish,

so easily beguiled?

I deceived thee not!

Why feign innocence further?

My lady conferred with Jinman Pavilion;

they stated their terms were set long ago;

twas thou who concealed them!

Because his demands were utterly outrageous,

I sought to treat with him anew.

Believe me! Were that the truth,

why hidest thou the plain fact?

Knowest thou what trials my lady endured?

Heed not Qiu Lans hasty words;

perchance he meant no ill,

and mine own heart overreached.

My Lady,

thou art far too gentle-hearted,

ever deeming others virtuous;

yet what decent man boldly professeth lustful design upon thee?

Is he not a shameless libertine?

Humph, well then!

I shall demand an accounting of him forthwith!

Very well.

What manner of creature art thou,

what ailment afflicts thee?

The door is unbarred,

yet thou leapeth through the casement;

dost thou fancy thyself a thief?

Why claimest thou longing for her? Su Li,

believe him not!

Hear me plain: one may eat at random,

yet words

must never be reckless!

Twas she who professed fondness for me!

Seek not to cast foul slurs upon me!

She fancied thee?

With thine insolent, dissolute ways,

how darest thou speak it? Why not? I have boundless wealth,

peerless grace,

and hold the precious craft she craveth!

If she covets not me,

whom then? Thee?

Man and maid in a private chamber;

thou art utterly shameless!

Man and maid in an inn room, speaking of lofty dreams

and savoring virtue!

Thy gentle Lady Yao is so modest she nearly perched upon thy lap!

To waste breath on souls reeking of filthy lucre

is folly! For silver ye would commit any vile deed,

bereft of all propriety and honor!

Thou brainless, witless fool,

thy very sight sickening me; begone to perdition!

Just now, in thine eyes,

was I so utterly contemptible? Nay,

in my regard,

thou art far viler than my words!

Thy sharp tongue pierceth to the marrow!

He seemeth truly broken-hearted;

would that his sorrow ended him!

Let us return to grave business.

I bid Bai Qingfeng escort our goods to the new shop;

thereafter our creations shall be unveiled.

However mighty the Yun house, their reach reacheth not there.

Why now? Bai Qingfeng and his men are peerless masters;

once departed,

the Yun clan might strike! Without peril, no victory;

to make a swift end with the Yuns,

we must lure the tiger from the mountain ourselves!

Yet is this venture not perilous?

Fret not;

I have laid comprehensive designs.

Very well;

take heed on the path! Be at ease;

rather, guard thine own safety in these days,

biding close by Young Master Jin or Xiao Ran.

I mark it well.

Setting forth! To dispatch these men

in so brazen and open a manner,

is it an ambush laid for me,

or utter contempt for my might?

Now that her formidable guardians are gone,

let us contrive to lure Xiao Ran away,

and seize the chance to slay her! Dead,

Jinman Pavilion will lose its partner,

and may willingly yield the recipe.

Aye!

Tis an ideal moment to strike her down;

yet we must ensure no traces lead back to our door.

I merely spoke in jest!

Wilt thou truly strike?

Wait till Father and Brother return!

Silence thy foul tongue!

Behold thy cowardly nature;

no wonder Father disdains thee.

Thy mother despised thee in life. Su Li,

whom dost thou plot to ensnare with such stir?

Ensure thy plan is truly foolproof;

flaunt not thy arrogance of late.

Xiao Ran was dispatched on an errand;

none remaineth to shield thee.

I ask thee once more:

wilt thou truly not sell the formula?

Thy present plight is perilous.

So thou hast come expressly to threaten me?

Su Li, I will not sell!

Dost thou dare lay hands on me?

Biting the very hand that would aid thee!

Indeed,

thou art a true cur! Disaster!

Bandits are upon us!

Flee posthaste!

Brothers, seize what ye can and flee!

Su Li, cease thy deceitful pretense!

Show thyself at once!

Su Li, emerge!

Cunning as thou art,

how could bandits seize thee?

Su Li! Alack!

My young mistress was abducted by bandits!

Brother Song,

save her forthwith!

When seized,

she cried thy name unceasingly!

How came this to pass?

Why did ye not guard her closely?

Wait, I shall return to the yamen

to seek ways for rescue!

Explain this clearly:

why befell mishap the moment thou sought Su Li?

Did bandits strike,

or wast it thine own hand?

Hast thou laid a trap to extort the formula?

It must be so!

Thou schemest for thy lovers formula!

What slander dost thou utter?

Lady Yao was abducted as well!

She was taken too?

This reeketh of the Yun clans hand.

Speakest thou thus,

tis likely; they neither slaughtered nor burned,

merely breaking a few wares.

This fitteth no bandits way; await their word.

If tis the Yun clan,

they shall demand the formula for terms.

All ruin springs from this wretched formula!

I fathom it not:

why hoard such a paltry thing?

Surrendering it

would spare us all this strife!

How glibly thou speakest!

The formula is Su Lis lifeblood;

why yield her craft? Why blame her for others malice?

Unable to guard it, she should yield it,

sparing herself harm

and embroiling no others.

When wilt thou divorce her?

As husband, thou only blamest her

and ever standest against her!

She was seized before thine eyes, yet thou faltered;

art thou worthy?

I stepped forth to rescue others,

yet word came from the horse thieves, Constable Song!

They name a meeting in the wilds and demand thy presence!

What sayest thou?

Art thou terrified?

I fear only her peril! Enough,

hasten to the rendezvous!

Aye.

Brother Song, save me!

They strike me!

They vow defilement if thwarted!

Fear not;

I shall deliver thee.

Let us parley;

whatever ye demand,

shall be yielded,

so the hostages remain unharmed!

A hundred taels and the formula!

Silver and formula are both here;

I want Su Li unharmed!

I trust thee not;

pass them to the yamen bailiff for exchange!

Very well.

Now deliver the silver

and release the captives!

Aye, but only one may live! Song Chigui,

whom dost thou choose?

This is blatant perfidy!

All ye crave lieth before your eyes.

To claim these treasures, release them both!

I pledge ye shall depart unscathed.

The captives rest within our grasp;

our word alone commandeth here!

Both vile wenches vex my spirit;

one of the two must perish!

Fret not, Brother Song.

Whichever choice thou makest,

I shall harbor no blame against thee.

Humph!

Choose swiftly! Hesitate not like a coward!

Else,

this maiden Yao hath fair allure;

my brethren and I shall take our pleasure first!

Once our revels have ended,

thou mayst decide!

Hold! I choose! Song Shigui,

darest thou? The coin is mine,

the formula Su Lis!

Using our treasures to save another?

Art thou devoid of conscience?

Restore my possessions forthwith!

Restrain him! Song Shigui,

I shall slay thee!

I must preserve Su Li!

The silver is mine!

Thou must save Su Li,

lest I never forgive thee!

Forgive me;

I owe a debt to her.

Hast thou resolved thy will?

Release Su Li!

I offer

my entire fortune!

Release Su Li!

Art thou mad?

With his wealth

and life, may Su Li be spared?

Nay!

Mark this well:

thou alone deciddest their fate.

Whichever dieth,

thine own hand struck the blow!

We bear no blame in this!

Brother Song,

save Lady Su.

The belongings are hers;

saving her is rightful.

Alas, poor me,

sowed boundless virtue only to reap this doom!

Fool, what folly art thou doing?

Show thyself, or the fiery vixen

perisheth forthwith!

Constable Song commandeth nothing here.

Release Su Li at once,

lest ye all perish

without burial! Harm her, and thy clan shall be annihilated!

Dost thou truly seek death?

Silver won at peril of thy clans lives cannot be spent.

Ponder it well!

Curses! How were her bonds severed?

Who took her bribes? Enough!

I stand unharmed;

spring the snare and take them alive!

Must we truly spare all their lives?

Hold!

Lady Yao remains captive! Yield the coin

and formula to rescue her!

Why squander my treasures on a stranger?

Thou art truly heartless!

Thou shouldst have perished! Waste no breath, strike!

Halt! Approach further,

and I shall slit this wenchs throat!

I beseech you, save my life!

Vile rogue! The bandits have all fallen,

yet thy cherished Lady Yao remaineth completely unscathed!

Doth it not seem suspicious?

I shall escort thee back to the inn.

Brother Song,

thou art truly here!

Splendid!

Being at leisure, I wished to visit our benefactor;

shall we go together?

What a rare coincidence;

our benefactor standeth right here,

yet thou didst not discern her!

Thy devotion lacks sincerity!

Ought I to know her?

Brother Song,

thou hast mistaken her!

She is not our benefactor!

Dost thou not owe me an explanation?

I know naught of what ye speak!

No wonder, then;

all past riddles become clear now!

Was duping me so amusing?

Accompany me to the yamen!

Seize me not!

Yet thou claimest I deceived thee!

Thine own folly alone

is to blame!

What manner of trouble hath arisen?

Brother Song,

in all our long acquaintance,

never saw I such tempestuous wrath in thee!

Tis a long tale;

follow me to the yamen first to settle this wench,

then shall I recount all. What madness is this?

Just now I urged thee to detain her,

yet thou wouldst refuse every plea;

why cast her back into custody now?

For I have pierced through her guise:

she conspires with those ruthless bandits,

and with House Yun

she is entwined! Another confederate lurks at the inn,

whom I shall dispatch guards to apprehend forthwith!

Needest thou say it?

Long have my suspicions been aroused;

House Yun shall be probed thoroughly!

Ever fickle and vexing day by day,

one moment lucid,

the next confounded,

utterly insufferable!

Was Brother Song not merely deceived?

Need he wear so sullen a visage?

Thou knowest not;

that woman threw the entire household into turmoil!

By the bye,

thou camest to seek thy savior;

canst thou find them?

Aye,

my savior dwelleth in this town,

connected, it seems, to the spicy broth shop!

Connected to what, sayest thou?

To that very benefactor!

Dost thou remember me?

I am the soldier drenched in gore!

Thanks to thy generous mercy,

and the guards thou sent to escort me,

or I had long turned to bleached bones!

Tis thee! Glad am I that thou art unharmed.

Twas all through thy gracious favor!

Not only was my life spared,

but scores of souls were delivered through thee!

Come hither, Brother Song!

Behold our gracious savior!

Brother Song,

what grief aileth thee?

Address her as Sister-in-law! Heavens above!

Brother Song,

how blessed is thy destiny!

Our noble savior is thy very wedded wife!

Speak not rashly!

Ere long, all ties between us shall be severed!

Taking any fair maid at whim for savior,

and when villains held us captive,

thou didst forsake me! Let whoever willeth wed such a man!

Truly, a grievous misunderstanding lay between us!

I deemed that woman our true deliverer;

to make such a bitter choice

rent my very heart!

Yet no recourse was left me!

Brother, hitherto thou seldom strayed into error;

how didst thou blunder so, when thou swore solemnly

that should the savior appear,

thou wouldst know them at a glance? Mortal am I, not a deity;

I knew not our benefactors countenance!

I yearned to converse of old times

with Brother Song;

yet now, forgive me:

between thee and my savior,

my savior do I choose!

Why didst thou not reveal this sooner,

watching me in silence?

Aye,

fawning upon that wench! In thine eyes,

did I not appear a witless clown?

Thou art a fool indeed! Bar not the path;

urgent matters call me! What manner of matter?

Perchance an accomplice of thine lurks among those bandits?

Dost thou hasten to the yamen to deliver them? Make way!

Unless thou speakest clear,

I yield not, until thy confederate is flogged raw!

Brother Song,

is this not blatant coercion?

Thou mistook the person,

how canst thou blame another?

Savior,

hasten to thy business;

should he bar thy passage,

I shall cross blows with him!

Whether I prevail or fall,

shall hold him fast for thee!

Thy heart is noble,

yet thy judgment sorely lacking,

to call such a knave as Song Chigui thy brother!

then ruin draweth nigh unto thee.

Attend to thy duties first, Benefactor;

grave matters take precedence.

What madness hath seized you all?

Whenever she is concerned,

ye all take her side!

Shouldst thou not reflect? Thou art surely in the wrong!

Impossible! I am never wrong; thou knowest this well.

Compose thy spirits first.

I take my leave.

How came it to this?

It should not be so.

Spirited minx,

didst thou fancy this a jest?

Dost thou know how sore afraid I was?

In so perilous a matter,

thou breathedst not a single whisper!

Hast thou so little faith in me?

I meant to apprise thee,

yet events unfolded swifter than foreseen.

Wilt thou not court peril with thine own life again?

Didst thou never ponder:

should one misstep occur,

thou wouldst never return!

I ensured absolute safety,

with every recourse prepared before I acted.

It was not as perilous as thou deemest.

Still thou treatest it so lightly!

Tis thine own mortal life!

Didst thou ever give thought to me?

If thou returnedst no more,

what of me?

What of thee?

Aye!

How should I fare?

We are bound in partnership;

art thou not answerable to me?

Coward! True, pacts bind us; I indeed lacked forethought.

I shall act thus no more hereafter.

Humph! Is it settled so lightly?

Didst thou not vow to cross-examine her fiercely?

Was that not fierce enough?

I feared her wrath!

Fierce indeed!

Some wretch was well-nigh moved to tears!

Too many words from thee!

The miser and I have forged an accord:

whichever of us thou requirest,

the other shall yield command forthwith.

Dost thou need the miser to confer on affairs?

Thou hast barely emerged, yet her word can send thee back?

Doth the sun rise in the west today?

Mm.

I need not his aid for the present.

The Yun clan can stir

no mighty waves now.

Not a word of praise for me?

Twas all thanks to thee this time;

else my designs, though accomplished,

had been far more tumultuous.

Such trifling feats! In true merit,

none can rival thee.

Cease your bickering, both of you.

Let us speak of grave business.

The Yun clans networks and establishments have long been in our grasp;

hast thou found aught useful? Aye,

and wondrously scandalous!

Shall we yield these proofs to the magistrate?

Not yet;

let us see how Ling Xiao respondeth first.

How can Su Li remain unscathed?

It defies reason!

Twas a flawless scheme!

Could there be a traitor among us?

Why dost thou question me in vain?

Thou resemblest the traitor thyself!

I took no part in it;

how am I named a traitor?

Or dost thou wish me to bear the blame?

Hast thou not long yearned to rejoin the lineage?

If thou wilt confess to this deed,

when Father returneth,

I shall plead on thy behalf.

This cannot be!

Confessing

bringeth death or exile upon me!

I shall surely spend silver to deliver thee then!

Dost thou not still pine for Ling Rou?

If thou takest the blame,

thou mayst seek her in the inner court now.

I may confess to it,

yet thou must reveal where thy mothers bones lie buried!

Still brooding over thy mother?

What a dutiful son thou art!

Yet she may have no leisure to heed thee.

What meanest thou by these words?

Thy mother perisheth not;

Father sold her into a brothel!

Mere death were too merciful for a maid who crept into his bed!

Thou liest! Why should I deceive thee?

Yet seek her not; tis in vain.

Word came from the brothel yesternight:

thy mother succumbed to sickness,

flung into the paupers pit,

devoured by wild beasts by now!

Ye heartless monsters!

Insolent dog! Guards, seize him!

Bind this wretched cur in irons!

What madness is this?

Dost thou dare rebel?

When Sire and Brother return,

thy doom is sealed!

Provided they ever return alive.

Ling Xiao,

vile beast!

What befell Father and Brother?

Were Father

to learn what he kept secret

was blurted out by thee,

he would rise in fury from the grave!

Nay, I spoke in haste!

Twas mere words spoken in wrath!

Dost thou not yearn for Lin Rou?

I shall bestow her upon thee!

Spare my life, I beseech thee!

Break his limbs and lock him away!

My congratulations,

having overthrown the Yun clan at court.

Yun Qi is in my grasp;

wilt thou have him dead or alive?

Is this not shared gladness?

After this storm,

the Yun house, though shaken,

falleth wholly to thy dominion.

Is it not so?

In my tender youth,

my mother yearned for the clan register,

hoping to find peaceful days.

Yet she perished thereafter,

Sister.

I strove to reclaim my lineage,

only to discover where her remains lay,

to lay her in the ancestral tomb.

Yet Yun Qi confessed

she was sold into a brothel,

dying the eve before my triumph,

no bone left to bury.

Lin Rou...

I did not yield her to Yun Qi;

scorning my lowly bastard rank,

she threw herself into his embrace.

If all these years were false,

what remains real? Oneself. Comforting words

are not my forte;

none can mend a shattered soul

save oneself.

Thou must save thyself.

Why did I not meet thee sooner?

Thanks to thee,

fatal evidence against Yun is mine.

Yet this alliance is mutual;

gather the proof,

and secure thy spoils, Su Li.

Thou wert mistaken;

what is truest is not oneself,

but thee. My whole life was sham,

toiling for empty illusions,

yet our pact was true. How mocking!

Thy steadfast honor

maketh me appear all the more pitiful.

Whither goest thou?

Our discourse is not ended.

On the morrow.

Didst thou not grant me choice?

Tomorrow shall reveal all.

Ten years of life and death, boundless sorrow,

unremembered, yet never forgotten.

Why does he seem so strangely troubled?

Found the truth, didst thou?

Thou art but a pathetic beggar clinging to life,

fit only for mockery!

Cease thy clamor;

end this farce.

Understood.

Brother Ling Xiao,

I was coerced;

I betrayed thee not!

Had I not eavesdropped the entire night,

I might have believed thy deceit!

My heart for thee died long ago!

I had no choice;

blind delusion possessed me!

I repented long since!

I intended to spare thee,

yet if I must suffer,

why should ye rejoice?

Why? I repent of my wrongdoing;

truly do I repent!

Thou art ever hypocritical,

feigning vows of an afterlife!

If another life awaits,

may we never meet again.

Humph!

Thou art foul;

all of you are tainted!

Every mortal here is defiled!

A raging blaze alone purgeth all clean!

The flames are tainted too.

Ah, Lady Su,

had I known thee sooner,

perchance no grievance would stain me;

I might have walked upright.

Grieved so at the fair youths end?

Regretting thou comforted him not?

I am no savior of men;

I merely muse

upon varied mortal destinies.

Bewitched by his fair countenance, surely?

Wherein does his visage surpass mine?

Young Master reeks of bitter envy;

scentest thou it?

Silence!

Bound in deep accord!

Who shares accord with him?

I harbor no forbidden passions;

were there aught amiss,

twould be his covetous desire!

Thou flatterest thyself unduly;

thou forgettest thy place!

Cease this merry banter.

I shall delay you no further.

Since the Yun clan fell

and Ling Xiao perisheth,

yield the tokens to the yamen;

they win us gratitude

and merit for the magistrate.

Hold!

Misunderstand me not;

how could I fancy him?

The one I cherish is, alas...

Alas what?

She hath departed!

Still sighing?

Speak thine heart plainly!

What could I say?

The Miser seized every glory.

Had I been the one renouncing all fortune,

I would possess true courage!

In all honesty,

such words shake souls only from him.

Unto thee,

shedding silver is like casting a robe;

yet unto him,

tis forsaking his lifes sacred oath!

What must I forsake to prove she reigns supreme?

Offer thy very life!

Why bestow so worthless a trifle?

Deemest thou thy life worthless?

Utterly worthless;

life is ethereal breath,

far less tangible than bright silver.

Then bestow sincere devotion!

That is even more valueless.

Those words ring entirely true.

Alas,

what tormenting sorrow!

Benefactress, is it convenient today?

May I offer thee tea?

Very well.

Fear not my expense, Benefactress;

we ought to sip choice tea at a pavilion,

lest my gratitude appear lacking in sincerity.

Thy journey from afar proveth thy sincerity;

besides, I discern not fine tea.

Waste not silver on empty vanity.

Benefactress,

thou art truly of noble heart.

I thank thee for thy bounden grace;

our entire host was granted life,

and a whole city was shielded from doom.

On my life, shouldst thou need aid, my brothers and I shall serve!

What is thy name?

I am He Yong. In that forgotten clash,

Song Chiguis headstrong folly

plunged them into the foes ambush.

At last, He Yong died to buy his life.

Thereafter, Song shed his obstinate conceit

and rose to glorious renown. Benefactress, what ails thee?

Deemest thou my name unpleasing?

Why art thou suddenly displeased?

Have I spoken amiss?

If I have transgressed,

forgive me; a rustic soldier lacks refined speech.

My anger touches thee not.

Hear my solemn counsel:

whether thou trustest or no,

stay far from Song Chigui!

lest misfortune follow.

I,

intend no further intimacy with him.

His conduct toward thee is vile indeed.

Moreover, upon this meeting,

he appeareth an utter stranger.

That is well.

Having paid my deepest thanks,

I must take my departure on the morrow.

Returning,

I must bring word to our brethren,

that their hearts may rest easy.

Take this as travel expense.

Ah,

how could I accept this?

I came to repay thy favor;

how could I take thy coin?

Didst thou not pledge repayment?

Then starve not along the road,

lest thy vow come to naught; this coin

is no free bounty.

Thou shalt repay it tenfold hereafter.

I shall return it manifold!

Thus it should be.

Duty calls; I take my leave.

Fare thee well, Benefactor!

When next we meet,

I shall not be so wretched!

Seek me if thou needest coin;

why endure such scorn from him?

When he lendeth coin,

no gracious word ever leaves his lips.

Pursue him at once,

and return that coin;

take mine with no debt! Did he utter any harsh word?

Thou canst not tell kindness from malice!

Song Chigui,

only now do I see how shallow thy discernment is.

Indeed, I lacked such deep insight.

Hearing him speak thus to thee,

anger stirred within me unawares,

perchance because my heart cherisheth thee so.

Cast no filthy blame upon my head!

Canst thou not plainly own thine own folly?

Forgive me.

Departest thou already?

Let me escort thee.

Nay, there is no need

for thy escort.

How is it that even

thou drifteth ever farther from me?

Alas!

Hath Lingxiaos

ghost possessed thee after death?

Behold what a sorry spectacle thou art!

A gentleman adorneth himself for one who pleases him;

thou hast lost all claim,

yet I have every right!

What wrong is there in adorning myself?

Thou art truly loathsome! Not so vile as thou!

Su Li seeth thee and detests all else, Jin Manlou!

Since when dost thou master martial arts?

Art thou truly a mere merchant?

The secrets thou concealest

shall be laid bare by my probe.

Thus thou hadst best tread warily,

lest thy paltry life be forfeit!

Words require firm proof.

I sought thee everywhere,

only to find thee brawling with one devoid of reason!

How bold thy heart is!

Tis not boldness, Su Li;

thou knowest not: he dared threaten me!

I was struck with dire terror!

Forgottest thou thy medicine today?

Thy madness hath struck again;

dash thy skull against a stone wall,

and cease snapping like a rabid cur!

Like a toad upon the foot, harmless yet vile,

naught but a foul disgust!

I am not as thou;

why askest thou not what words he spoke?

What words did I utter?

Thou camest seeking my life, proclaiming

my martial skills,

vowing to probe me!

Those were words of wrath!

Dost thou not stretch thy reach too far, Constable Song?

He abideth law and honor,

yet thou harborest endless doubt; while true villains

thou shieldest and hailest as benefactors!

Utterly foolish and corrupt!

How fiercely thou shieldest him! Is it not natural?

He likewise shieldeth me with all his might!

Were there no...

I shall prove the truth to thine eyes!

Who crave thy proof?

Knowest thou not

how tiresome thou art?

Spoke I of him and not of thee?

In the turn of a head,

thou hadst vanished!

Thy feet tread swiftly indeed!

Well?

Dost thou discern aught changed in me?

Nay; thou resemblest no upright man.

I intended to confer on business,

yet standing beside thee bringeth shame;

thus I take my leave.

Hold, stay thy step!

Is this attire not pleasing?

Young Master, what possessed thee to don such garish finery?

I deemed I possessed naught worthy to offer;

if all else faileth,

I must employ my charms!

A grown man uttering

such words!

Dost thou feel no shame?

What meanest thou?

Even I feel the disgrace!

Is my apparel so thoroughly unseemly?

Eldest Sister-in-law!

How I yearned for thee!

Third Brother and I waited daily

at the village gate till thou returned!

Aye, Little Sister and I longed for thy return.

Waiting thus at the roads end,

feared ye not wicked ruffians

snatching you away?

Should ye cry for aid,

none would answer. Third Brother and I master great martial skill!

We dread no villain! So mighty already?

Boast ye still of thy might?

This differs;

Sister-in-law can ever seize us!

Beyond the mountains lie higher peaks, beyond the heavens, farther skies.

What if a foe proveth far mightier?

Then Little Sister and I shall grow mightier still!

We shall tread with care and spare thee all sorrow.

Having spoken of what ye cannot do,

speak now

of what ye can.

We shall attain renown,

and bestow boundless comfort upon Sister-in-law!

Ye remember it faithfully.

Let us home.

How did thy father and I sire such a wretched beast!

We are so filled with shame,

we dare not face thee!

Useless as we are,

we sought to aid thee in town,

yet knew our presence would only burden thee.

Alas,

we have weighed upon thee far too heavily!

Such laments are lesser than earnest deeds.

These days brought me restless sleep

and tasteless meals;

hasten then to prepare a savory repast!

I shall cook dainty viands forthwith!

I shall slay a hen!

Sister-in-law, Father and Mother...

what grief befell them?

Hath Eldest Brother erred again?

Why thinkest thou so?

Tis but a feeling. Sister-in-law, I shall walk uprightly,

and never bring shame upon thee!

Nor shall I! Splendid.

Truly my favored ones!

Why returned not Second Brother?

Thou heedest thy second brother fondly;

dreadest not his urging thee to study?

I dread it,

yet still yearn for him.

I miss him likewise,

yet he is too severe.

Sister-in-law, could he return for but one day?

Fret not;

in a few days he shall return.

Ah!

Where are the others? Hath trouble arisen?

Fret not; both cargo and men are safe,

though a minor plight arose.

Alas!

Upon arriving, we began unloading cargo;

Chi Yun stood guard beside.

Then a passerby brushed past,

claiming he dashed an inkstone worth three thousand taels!

An inkstone of three thousand taels?

Tis an extortion plot, plain and vile!

Indeed! We yielded not, so they summoned officers; being an imperial scholar, they spared him torment,

yet unresolved,

he cannot depart!

Safe is enough.

He is assuredly unharmed;

You Baili and his men stand guard over him.

Would that Chi Yun had not stood guard!

Open spears are easily parried,

hidden arrows hard to ward.

No blame falleth on you;

recall every detail of that scene with care!

Let us resolve the plight first,

the inkstone costeth far more than three thousand taels, and their ties to the yamen are certain;

otherwise, in so outrageous an affair,

how could the magistracy tarry thus?

They too deem us not easily trifled with,

else judgment had long been cast.

Indeed.

In truth, holding fast

and wearing them down sufficeth;

we cannot truly yield three thousand taels.

I shall go confront them in person;

it so happens I have never ventured beyond this town,

and yearn to behold the wider world.

When then shall we depart?

No day surpasseth the present;

we set forth now!

Dispatch word to Jinman Pavilion,

bid them send tidings to my kin,

and guard our commerce well.

Why leave me to mind the hearth? In martial skill,

I am second to none;

why not take me along? Young Master,

een if thou cravest to go, thou must not!

Now I perceive what worth I truly hold!

Tis the resolve to brave the tigers den

despite knowing the perils; when she needeth me,

I shall be there!

Yet she needeth not thy presence! Young Master,

let us add no more turmoil.

Being watched by Song Chigui is grievous enough;

should another mishap arise,

our days of peace shall meet their bitter end!

Am I truly powerless

to lend any aid?

In any case, thou canst not depart this town;

whatever thou intendest,

weigh the cost with care!

Hold thy tongue! Guozi, behold who arriveth!

Behold the plight that hath unfolded,

dragging thee hither into trouble.

Deep remorse weigheth upon our souls;

we brothers are utterly ashamed to face

thee.

Bai Qingfeng hath uttered such laments manifold times;

verily, mine ears grow weary of hearing them.

We are truly indebted. Cease, Bai Qingfeng!

Sister Kai,

the task of counseling them falleth to thee.

Come hither; let us speak in private.

Nay, nay, pray do not;

chide not the lad, for blame cannot fall upon a youth!

If Lady Su Li faulteth not even us,

how could she reproach Chi Yun?

When I step inside anon,

I trust they shall discourse in good spirits;

fret not, their gloomy sorrow shall soon dissipate.

Sister-in-law,

I have erred.

Striving so hard to render thee service,

I brought only ruin upon it.

I know thou wilt not reproach me,

yet I cannot absolve mine own heart.

Ponder carefully every detail of the event.

Setting my presence aside,

how wouldst thou resolve this matter?

I cannot cast thee aside;

short of murder and arson,

defending ones rightful gain by any means is no crime!

Chi Yun,

I never bade thee become a saint,

nor desire I that thou shouldst be one;

yet such deeds invite bitter slander.

I fear folk shall cast doubt upon thee.

Have those who doubt me been few?

To what depth hath my renown fallen?

Hast thou ever seen me care?

I understand now:

thou carest that others revile my name,

deeming it a disgrace.

Thus judging from thyself, thou thinkest I care too; am I then despised?

Tis not so!

Sister-in-law is the noblest in my heart;

tis mine own fault. Sister-in-law,

my heart is malicious;

the moment that swindler opened his lips to extort,

I envisioned countless ways for him to perish!

Sister-in-law,

I dread this dark soul of mine.

Dost thou call this evil?

So long as laws are unbroken and evil undone,

act as thy heart willeth!

As for the clamoring masses, seal their mouths if thou canst;

history is ever penned for victors,

what cause hast thou to fear?

Fret not over

thy standing in mine eyes;

for whatever manner of man thou art,

I cherish thee! Sister-in-law,

I feel ready to take action!

Do whatever thy heart desireth!

Thou art close with the Magistrate;

no wonder thou claimest that inkstone costs thousands!

Knowing its worthlessness,

yet held my peace;

such fellowship between you is priceless indeed!

Yet it afflicteth

this innocent one, trapped unable to depart!

Child, have I not shown thee great favor?

Why utter foul slanders

to besmirch my renown?

Alas!

Even a prodigy reared in barren lands

bears manners unfit for noble halls!

Could any be cruder than thine own self?

What station dost thou hold?

To possess an inkstone of three thousand taels?

Doth thy very life merit such a sum?

I hold fast to my question:

Why is it worth thousands? Broken in twain,

one half rests in my palm;

we may summon experts to judge!

Hath this Magistrate not mediated all along?

Doth Your Honor also deem it unworthy of three thousand?

Why then uphold not righteousness?

Doth Your Honor serve Clan Mus design?

I stood motionless by the wares;

didst thou not collide into me?

Yet thou demandest repayment!

What manner of outrage is this?

Is it not so?

Who struck whom in truth?

The child demanded no silver,

yet thou demandest his inkstone!

How ludicrous!

Did Clan Mu bid you ruin the prodigys fame,

to elevate their own scion in his stead?

This Magistrate is inquiring into the matter;

trust that innocence shall not be wronged.

Possessing a clear conscience,

bide thy time

in peace. My conscience is clear;

I shall gladly wait.

Yet how long must I wait?

A half moon, or three to five years?

Seek ye to squander my youth here?

They aim to thwart his imperial exams,

so

Clan Mus heir may enter court first!

How utterly insidious!

The inkstones value,

this Magistrate dare not hastily judge.

Hence I must consult an artisan

for impartial truth.

Then I may count as an expert;

I am the master of Wanyan Pavilion.

The finest inkstones

have passed through my hands. Prodigy,

present the stone for inspection;

I shall uphold justice before all!

How know I thou art not bought by Clan Mu?

Thou claimest my stone is worthless;

now an arbiter steppeth forth,

why shrink back? Dost thou fear?

Because I place no trust in him.

I proffered kind aid,

yet reaped only suspicion.

Alas!

Let it be! Tarry;

if he yieldeth not,

I shall yield! Your Honor, bring forth my half,

let the crowd see if I extorted aught!

I intended no petty quarrel,

yet thy foul deed invites thine own ruin!

I repeat mine earlier words:

this shopkeeper may well be your accomplice!

Hence I reject his testimony.

Seekest thou to evade the truth?

Tis indeed a fine inkstone,

yet merits not three thousand taels;

fifty taels at most!

What? Your Honor, didst thou fetch the wrong piece?

Mine inkstone shattered yesterday,

so this— Holdest thou not the matching half?

Produce it!

Fitting them shall prove no error was made!

I heed it not! This faileth,

and that faileth;

how then wouldst thou resolve this,

to be satisfied? Hath Your Honor forgotten my master?

Since Your Honor granteth me no justice,

my venerable master shall deliver me!

Then its true worth shall be proclaimed to all!

His master is Master Yin!

What scheme is Clan Mu brewing?

Framing others with a cheap stone... Slew

Scholar Wang, who was my cousin!

So this was Clan Mus true design!

To take this youth alone and unarmed,

slay him before the multitude,

and proclaim their false pretext!

Then the Mu Clan bears no guilt.

Even so,

master of both pen and sword!

Thou far surpassest that Mu scion;

their petty schemes prove quite needless,

serving merely to temper thee.

This snare hath been undone;

both our labors proved vain, so yield!

When was I ever allied with thee?

What nonsense babblest thou?

I know thee not at all!

Struggle in vain then;

I have confessed all.

The Mu Clan bade me do it;

things being thus,

wilt thou still not seize me?

Thy heart favors the Mus! Vile knave!

Thou art indeed their hound!

Before all these eyes,

thou feignest no pretense!

Utterly brazen villain!

He knows we can stir no waves;

hence his insolence!

Seize them all forthwith!

Fool, whom dost thou seize?

Take those two insolent wretches!

Why spare them?

Uncle Chen,

waver any longer,

and thy post will be forfeit!

Apprehend them together!

Seize...

Hold! Heed not this shopkeepers words!

We are no confederates! Hold!

Ah!

Lord Wang, what brings Your Honor?

I am arresting culprits.

Hmph.

Arrest no one else;

I shall arrest thee first!

Guilty of corruption,

thy crimes are proven.

Now come for interrogation!

Is there not some misunderstanding?

Witnesses and proofs are secured; thy kin

are already bound in dungeon depths!

Deemest thou this a mistake?

All is lost, utterly lost!

The Yin Clan hath moved!

Thou shouldst not have meddled.

Right my grievance, My Lord!

My son was bright and gifted,

yet the Mus envied his talent,

and murdered him by vile plot!

Grant me justice, My Lord!

Forgive my deceit;

officials shield one another,

and no court would hear me.

I only sought to wound the Mu Clan.

I had no recourse left.

If wronged,

follow me to court;

escort them all away!

Must I go with thee?

No need;

thou hast suffered their schemes.

This Magistrate grants thee justice;

thou art free at last.

Lord Wang,

thou art an upright magistrate!

This knave bullied us mercilessly;

pray uphold justice for us all!

Aye!

Never let this corrupt dog return

to plague us again!

Fret not, good folk;

I shall examine the dossiers,

and right every wrong!

Ah!

No wonder my spirit felt so bolstered!

So Sister-in-law

stood right behind me!

Twas thy courage and wit, Chi Yun;

thou hast grown

so capable that my heart rests at ease;

soon thou shalt be my true bulwark!

I shall ever be thy shield, Sister-in-law!

Return first to rejoin thy masters;

they have shielded thee in secret.

Very well.

My thanks,

for escorting him from the shadows!

We did but little;

our disciple earned his own triumph!

With such a disciple,

I can boast wherever I go!

Behold thy smug vanity;

I am quite different.

I wonder if that keeper can avenge his son.

Folly!

How contemptible a knave!

Seeking vengeance,

why molest Chi Yun? Shameless!

His days are numbered,

yet he reaps what he sowed.

Master Yin heard of our plight;

succor arrived with great speed.

Twas not Master Yin, but Jin Manlou.

Jin Manlou?

Hath he such mighty sway?

Scorn him not; by my strength alone,

our venture could never thrive,

nor stand upon firm ground.

Not scorns, but thy talent outshines,

eclipsing his modest presence.

He is intriguing indeed;

yielding meekly to thy brilliance,

unlike Chi Yuns brother, ever flaunting!

Though it border on slight,

he is thy brother, master, not mine!

Thou takest after thy sister-in-law!

By the way,

Su Li,

Meng Wenyan and I have tasks afoot.

Shall Chi Yun depart with us,

or return with thy household?

Thy path,

decide for thyself.

I wish to roam and broaden my gaze.

Worthy indeed of my tutelage!

Let us share a sumptuous feast,

ere we take our leave.

Splendid!

For the new stores abroad,

I shall take profits half a year hence.

Must thou reckon every coin so strictly?

Tis not mere reckoning;

thou hast aided me,

and I must make fitting recompense.

Mutual faith binds a long alliance.

Thy share shall be rendered as due.

I decline! Fierce lady,

sagacious as thou art,

dost not discern our master... Hush!

We shall weigh it anon.

Repair first to the escort bureau.

Thy kin and young siblings

all abide there now.

Since that fair youths house was cleared,

they swagger and oppress folk.

How came they all to town?

Hearing thou hadst departed,

thy kin came to lend their hands;

I lodged them at the escort house.

I shall visit them forthwith.

Though the Xiao clan be mighty,

they are not beyond reproach.

Act as thou seest fit,

without fear or favor.

I shall shield thee from all harm.

I brook no grievance! Master,

why stay my speech just now?

We might speak boldly. Tis needless;

sharp as she is, she knows well.

Doth her pretense imply refusal?

Then attend only to thy duty hereafter.

That would lack all sincerity!

I tell thee,

I must treat her with greater devotion.

Young Master,

with our wealth, why cling to a single bough?

What absurd words are these?

Though forests abound,

none compareth unto her!

I shall strive and contend,

never yielding to despair!

Thou mayest contend,

yet she must grant thee occasion.

That fierce lady leaves thee no opening.

Humph!

How leaves she no opening?

She knew I aided her; are our hearts not attuned?

She sought me out upon her return,

proving her yearning for me;

high hope yet remaineth!

Young Master,

with such resolute heart,

thou wilt succeed in all!

Uncle, Aunt,

pray harbor no doubts.

With parting at hand,

I came to converse, having dwelt together long;

I truly loathe to part. Loathe what?

We shared no tender bond before;

feigning such sentiment

is utterly needless.

Aunt, speak not so unfeelingly.

My clan is cleared of guilt;

ye need no longer dread Su Li.

Such a shrewish woman

Ye may cast her out!

Thy words end here;

begone this instant!

Thy daily babble

I could brook

as idle wind,

yet slandering my daughter-in-law is forbidden!

A man striketh no woman;

thus thou must act!

If she raves more,

smite her; take it to the yamen!

If she fears no shame,

we fear no flogging!

A noble-born maiden,

yet so brazen

and shameless!

Depart forthwith if thy errand is done!

Doth annoying us delight thee so?

What dost thou seek?

Surrender our deed of bond,

and I vow never to return.

So this was thy sly scheme!

Scheme no further then;

we know not where the deed lieth,

nor would we yield it if known!

Knowest thou not my fathers lofty rank?

Holding my indenture

insulteth him deeply!

Think ye that good end awaiteth you?

Wilt thou leave?

Out, ere blows fall!

Art thou mad?

Striking thine own mother!

My hand slipped, Mother!

Art thou unharmed?

Aye!

Thou wretched cur!

I shall slay thee

today! Enough!

Shameless beast!

Thou hast wrought naught but ruin since returning!

Thou harbinger of blight!

Get thee all gone hence!

This domain belongeth to my daughter-in-law;

ye are not worthy

to stand here!

Without this son of mine,

whence came

thy daughter-in-law? Instead of uniting us,

Unite? Art thou worthy?

Were she to sever wedlock with thee,

if she still desireth us

and thy younger kin,

we shall remain at her side!

If she casteth us off, we burden her no more!

Ye are truly heartless!

Whomever she favor,

that

man is my true son! Is this not splendid?

Unchanged as ever.

Ye grasp not my deep intent!

Yield the indenture;

her house is exonerated!

Showing mercy now openeth smooth paths later!

What aid would I crave of them?

Or dost thou covet their favor?

Seek it thyself; barter not my daughter-in-laws goods!

Ye need them not indeed,

yet Su Li needeth favor in her trade!

Trust my counsel in this!

Produce the bond posthaste!

Whose favor must I crave?

Is the Xiao house of any noble worth?

Daughter-in-law,

thou hast returned!

Come forth!

Watched the spectacle so long,

art thou not sated?

How knewest thou I was here?

Where else couldst thou lurk? Seize her!

Cast her down hard! Heavens above!

Why should I dare not?

Thy house was merely pardoned,

not crowned in conquest!

Why feign such lofty arrogance?

Release me, Uncle!

Dost thou not fear

my vengeance? Thy sire is cleared,

yet thou remainest a bonded bondmaid!

If I choose to sell

thee, he cannot hinder me!

Wilt thou vex us further? No more!

Cravest thou the indenture still?

No longer! Indeed,

I hold a thousand taels in silver!

When do thy kin arrive to fetch thee?

Shall I demand payment directly from them?

I shall render the coin upon my return,

let them never learn of this bond!

I beseech thee!

So thou too art terrified!

Why then dost thou strut before me?

I was wrong!

I dare no more!

Depart posthaste!

Bring a thousand taels to redeem it,

lest I storm thine own threshold!

Desertest thou thy Brother Song?

Is this the noble lady of thy praise?

Feelest thou not like a fool?

Canst thou not yield their deed?

I have a grave matter,

needing Clan Xiaos consent. Thy plight

concerns me not in the least!

Consider it my debt to thee!

Give me the deed; the thousand taels

I shall repay anon. Wilt thou?

What fond delusions!

To flatter Clan Xiao is most facile:

doth not Xiao Yuyan fancy thee?

Barter thy charms directly,

and all shall be thine!

Protagonist destiny plummets steeply;

his mantle waneth faint.

Should it fall further,

fate and persona shall shift vastly!

Once Song Chiguis fortune crumbles,

his exalted mantle shall vanish,

and opposing him, the three children

shall no longer be villains.

Clan Xiao holds vast might;

how splendid to marry into them!

It would ease thy path

to noble rank! Release him now!

Hath he truly gone thither?

That wretch is utterly shameless!

Let him wander where he wills!

I say we sever all ties with him!

With such a foolish fellow,

he might mar our young ones fortunes!

Yet the hour is not yet ripe.

When then shall the hour arrive?

I can scarcely bear it longer!

Soon. While I was absent from home,

ye all acquitted yourselves admirably,

holding your ground steadfastly!

Tis our daughter-in-law

who tutored us well! The young ones train martial arts,

pining for thee daily, Sister-in-law!

I missed thee sore! Let us go home,

for I yearn for home!

I too longed for Sister-in-law,

and for Second Brother as well!

Thy brother will return in some days;

he journeyed to behold the wider world.

Is the world so fair?

Fair or foul, ye must witness it yourselves.

Enough now;

let us cherish this very moment.

Did ye not crave home?

We shall return home forthwith.

Father, Mother,

let us return! Tis time indeed;

Neighbor Zhangs wife tended our house of late.

Aye,

they are noble folk.

Let us buy some meat when returning.

Tarry a moment!

I left Chi Yun vast lessons ere I departed;

whither hast thou whisked him?

Speak not harshly to Sister-in-law!

Speak with grace!

Sister-in-law said

he went to view the grand realm!

Traveling ten thousand leagues outstrips books;

so my brother fared forth! Rest easy, Master Ding,

Chi Yun completed all thy tasks ere departing.

Thou mayst inspect his chamber with care.

What joy is there in viewing such papers?

Yet tis fitting for Master to look,

lest Chi Yuns toil be spent in vain.

Alas,

I merely crave thy culinary delights!

Hold no grudge against me, I pray!

My simple intent,

thou surely comprehendest!

Greet the Master, Chi Yun and Chi Yu!

Art thou my brothers teacher?

He hath grown exceedingly strict!

Learned he from thee? Nay, I suffer bitterly from him!

He toils with such fervor before my eyes,

I dare not indulge in indolence!

Is it truly thus?

In truth!

I am gentle and amiable;

if ye become my disciples,

boundless bliss shall attend you!

We may become thy disciples,

yet on one condition!

In our hamlet dwelleth one Zhang Xiaopang;

if thou acceptest disciples,

pray take him under thy wing as well.

Very well.

Bring the chubby lad hither on the morrow.

As for Chi Yuns essay,

wilt Master examine it still?

He labored so diligently over it.

Nay, nay! His brilliance is beyond all doubt;

I shall spare myself such needless toil.

Tis only that thy prized disciple is parted from thee;

deep remorse weigheth upon my heart.

Shall I dispatch an epistle bidding his swift return?

Spare me! Once back, he meddleth in all matters;

who could endure such a burden?

I merely meant,

tis best he wander and broaden his horizons.

Were ye not departing for home?

I shall trouble you no further.

All this is owed to thy grace!

Prosperity hath touched our hearth,

the young ones master their letters,

and study under the renowned Master Yin!

Su Li, thou art our households great benefactor!

Must I then behold Brother Chi Yun every single day?

Endless misery stretcheth before mine eyes!

Is seeing Brother Chi Yun daily not a blessing?

Cease thy wailing countenance;

swallow back thy sullen gloom!

What auspicious fortune this is!

Carry thyself with dignified grace!

I shall try. Chi Yun hath journeyed abroad of late,

and dwelleth not with Master Yin. Brother! Aye!

I shall seek out Chi Yun and the others!

Why trembleth he in such abject dread?

Tis truly beyond reason!

Tis not exaggerated in the least.

Even Master Yin dreadeth Chi Yun.

Then thy Chi Yun is formidable indeed!

At last someone can discipline my unruly little rascal!

Step aside, all of you;

I shall light firecrackers in celebration!

Bah! Vile bearer of ill omen!

Hadst thou not relentlessly persecuted the first branch,

would such blessings ever fall to outsiders?

The boy hath no stomach for scholars books!

Utter drivel! Untaught as he is,

how knowest thou whether he hath scholars wit?

Thy stinginess hath stripped this house bare,

reducing our days to wretched squalor!

Very well!

Perish then!

Thou cursed crone, railing from dawn till dusk,

whatever good fortune we held

was driven away by thy foul tongue!

Mother!

She... she is dead!

What shall we do?

Why tremble so, spineless fool?

Bury this wench in the eldests field at dead of night!

Aye,

tell all that thy wife fled with another!

Whenever the corpse be unearthed, let nature run its course;

perchance we may even extort a handsome sum!

Aye,

let it be done thus!

With this wench dead,

we may sell Hu Niu as planned before;

she stubbornly forbade it, so fetch the human broker on the morrow!

Very well,

all shall follow Mothers decree.

I shall go on the morrow. Let us move!

Murdering thy lawful wife and trafficking thy daughter,

then scheming to frame another!

Second Brother Song, beasts are far nobler than thee!

Men, bind this vile villain fast!

Thou arrivest most timely!

Bah!

Dost thou dare call thyself village chief?

Thou art merely a lapdog to the eldest Song house!

Couldst thou bring wealth to this village,

I would revere thee as an ancestor;

I would worship thee on an altar!

Drag him to the yamen forthwith!

Your Honor, Song the Second

slew his wife, sold his daughter, and framed others!

We beseech Your Honor to investigate with utmost rigor!

I committed no murder!

Your Honor, Su Li committed the slaying!

It was assuredly Su Li!

Wild babble!

Refusing to confess his crime!

Guards, strike him ten strokes of the heavy plank!

Wherefore flog me?

Su Li slew her!

She held bitter feud with my wife,

and is fully capable of murder!

Your Honor,

believe me!

This magistrate is no fool. Apply the torture!

Flog him without mercy; let us see if his stubborn tongue

can withstand my merciless rod!

To think so witless a dolt

could yet serve Su Lis hidden design!

Cast him into the dungeon,

and let him ponder his folly.

My Lord, Second Brother Song hath vanished!

What scheme is afoot?

Su Li deemed him useful,

yet surely did not spirit him away!

For so vile a rogue,

who would dare breach the prison walls?

We must first convey this tidings unto Su Li;

knowing naught else,

we can only watch and wait.

Send word unto Young Master Jin,

that he may inform Su Li.

I go at once! Ah, Su Li,

what deep intent dost thou harbor?

Blood hath been spilled;

Eldest Brother Song must perish,

the village chief must fall—all shall die!

What strange portent is this?

Is Third Brother Gai not within his gates?

Why is Zhu Zis hearth deserted as well?

Something is amiss!

Art thou playing treacherous deceit with us?

Nay, by no means!

How would I dare?

I know not what strange turn hath occurred!

Thou hast returned!

With whom dost thou converse?

I have sold all the children,

and gathered the silver

to ransom thee!

What?

Hast thou sold my sons and daughters?

Nay, alas!

Mother, flee at once!

Do not hinder us!

I heard they scourged thee with rods!

Mother!

Flee posthaste, Mother! Mother!

Ye ruthless dogs!

I lent you my humble aid,

why slay my mother? To succor her is vain;

we have fallen into a trap!

Withdraw forthwith!

Hmph!

Such boundless insolence!

Is not the insolent one thyself?

Water Skimmer You Baili, Strongman Lu Yi, Iron Armor Xu Wen—why gather ye here?

Recognizing our names, thou art not unversed! Speak,

who dispatched you? The true patrons name is unbeknownst to me,

I only know all in the village must perish!

To leave no living soul behind,

we freed Second Brother Song from his chains!

Enough,

waste no more breath on them;

bind them tightly first,

and deliver them to the yamen for trial.

Deep gratitude to the three noble heroes!

Else our entire village had met utter doom this day!

Bestow thy thanks upon Lady Su;

without her,

we had never come hither.

Will they not mount another ambush?

Shall we depart together or leave one behind for safety?

Let Xu Wen remain.

Lu Yi and I shall escort these captives away.

Let us hasten to the chiefs abode;

all the villagers are assembled there.

Lady Su,

what disaster hath truly befallen us?

Why seek they to silence our whole hamlet?

Uncle Ma, dost thou recall the three sheltered under our roof?

I remember. Their sire was exonerated;

fearing their plight here would shame their lineage,

they came to silence all. What shall we do?

They will never let this matter rest.

Fret not, Uncle Ma,

I shall bid You Baili and the rest keep guard in turns. Truly,

Song Chigui is utterly devoid of virtue!

So dire a plague,

why brought he such into our midst?

Thinkest thou the yamen can extract the truth,

and bind those three of the Xiao house?

Whether they be bound dependeth on how far Song Chigui dare go.

Why must it rest upon his hand?

We must not place our lives in anothers keeping!

Lady Su, thy mind is keen;

devise a strategy!

Indeed; mere defense leaveth us at their mercy.

At dawns first light,

let our villagers enter town and proclaim the Xiao familys misdeeds,

making it known to every soul under heaven!

Agreed!

I shall instruct all villagers forthwith;

they shall spread it far and wide with relish!

If they lack honor, blame us not for repaying them in kind! Good people, judge for yourselves!

We sheltered three souls of Xiao house in charity,

yet exonerated, they seek to butcher our village!

Doth Heavens law remain?

The Xiao house proves utterly vile and base,

dwelling in our midst,

toiling not beneath anothers roof,

yet fanning flames everywhere,

bullying the meek!

One would deem them overlords of this hamlet!

Xiaos eldest disguised as a youth,

seducing our village kin,

never leaving them,

what foul scheme is harbored?

Pardoned at court,

they would silence witnesses by death!

The Xiao houses tyranny crosses all bounds!

Many brand our Xiao clan ungrateful vipers!

Recount the whole matter to me in full!

Vile villagers defame us on every highway,

claiming slaughter was plotted to veil scandal!

Sister, Father must not learn of this,

or he shall beat us to death!

Su Li,

thou shalt answer for this! Tarry within!

I go forth on urgent affairs.

Your Honor, rumors abroad

have reached thine ears;

it stains our clans honor and brooks no mercy!

Pray unearth the schemer lurking in the shadows!

Over mere street idle talk?

Aye,

over these vile slanders!

Dost thou truly deem those words mere lies?

The entire hamlet testifieth in one voice;

how provest thou it false? Nor can they prove it true!

Thus, This Official cannot intervene.

Wouldst thou truly welcome the findings of my probe?

My humble name matters not,

yet shield the Xiao clans honor, Your Honor!

Just pardoned, such venom erupts;

their foul malice is clear as day.

Lady Xiao, assassins truly shed blood in that hamlet,

and lie bound in our dungeons even now!

Save for preserving their lives,

what malice could they bear? Must assassins belong to Xiao?

Su Li hath offended countless foes!

Why must our Xiao clan bear her fault? Questionest thou me?

Whither lieth the truth?

Once I examine those cutthroats,

justice shall fall without favor to any!

Your Honor, anxiety blinded me;

I meant no insolence toward thee.

Then take thy leave, Lady Xiao!

When verdict dawns,

I shall dispatch word to thee.

Very well,

I shall take my departure.

Your Honor, pardoned, the Xiao lord regains high rank!

Rebuffing Lady Xiao so coldly,

hast thou not bred deadly enmity?

Enmity or not, so let it be!

Having cast our lot with Su Li,

to curry favor with both

is folly! Word arrived from the yamen;

those assassins all perished of poison!

Dead alongside them

was the head jailer;

this trial is extinguished!

Did Song Chigui stand guard yesternight?

How knewest thou? A divination: his fortune plunged!

Song Chigui,

how shamelessly hast thou abetted the killers?

Deemest thou Song Chigui guilty?

I shall seek him out for reckoning!

Twas not his hand; he turned a blind eye,

or fanned the flames!

Striking him without proof

may cast thee

into prison!

Yet such injustice cannot stand!

Leave the remainder unto Heavens retribution.

I go to the shop first.

Aye,

tend to thy affairs.

Mm.

Speak thy piece; spare others where mercy allows!

Bid the villagers cease their slander! Tongues belong

to their owners;

why should they obey me?

Dissemble no more!

Without thy counsel,

villagers would never devise this scheme!

Hast thou ever pondered:

without my hand,

no soul in our hamlet would live today?

Yet are they not unharmed?

Alas!

Probe thine own conscience before speaking!

Thy kin sought to massacre an entire village!

Can a hollow claim of harmlessness erase it?

Bid all cease their clamor and stay their hands!

Should strife turn too bitter,

it shall bring thee no good;

I weigh this for thy sake. Grand consideration indeed!

Spiriting Second Brother Song away—

dost thou call that for my sake?

Was poisoning all those assassins also done for my sake?

What idle slander dost thou spout?

If thou wouldst keep a deed hidden,

never commit it! If thou must vex me so,

I shall probe into the depths;

should truths come to light, reason cannot prevail! Vile shrew! How wretched thou art!

Now my good name is utterly ruined;

art thou satisfied at last?

This bitter ruin is of thine own making;

why cast the blame upon others?

Command them to cease this tumult forthwith,

lest I show thee no quarter!

How often must I tell thee? Thy deed of indenture rests in my grasp!

Depart at once,

or I summon the human traffickers!

I shall not leave!

May I not purchase goods here?

This shop belongs not to thee alone;

if thou spurnest silver,

doth Young Master Jin refuse it too?

By what right dost thou drive me out? I hold sole command over all!

Dost thou treat Young Master Jin as nothing?

Enough!

Thou askest only because thou beheldest me!

Sow no discord here;

she not only commandeth this shop,

she commandeth my very self!

I accept it most willingly.

Why art thou so willing?

Ought thou not—like thy father,

heedless of right and wrong,

sever all ties with Su Li?

Is that it?

I meant not so!

Knowest thou why thy discord faileth?

Because thou usest shameful schemes to vie for favor,

while Su Li and I stand in equal alliance!

In truth, art thou not terrified of her?

A grown man,

fearing a woman to such extent! Were it known,

shame would cover thee!

Ha!

After all I have spoken,

dost thou still rely on so shallow a ploy?

Cease this at once;

I swallow none of it!

Canst thou not learn from Su Li?

Behold how noble and magnanimous she stands,

while thou art a grotesque fool making vain display!

Calling me foul? Blind wretch, thy vanity is boundless!

Which soul art thou presently?

Such keen wisdom must surely belong to the other.

I too possess great wisdom!

Is it not so?

Furthermore,

such obvious truth,

doth it require deep wits to discern?

At all times,

whatever peril befalleth,

I shall ever stand by thy side!

Even if I rail against thee with others?

Wilt thou still defend me,

whoever the adversary be?

Assuredly!

Whoever opposeth thee shall pay!

Canst thou not hear the whole speech?

I was scolding thee!

Ah!

Indeed!

I gladly suffer thy rebuke; what right hath he to meddle?

Why speakest thou no more to me?

Did I speak amiss?

I care not to converse with fools.

Neither care I to speak with simpletons!

She chides me!

Fair enough;

thou chidest me,

and forgettest thy origin! Enough,

Young Master, speak of grave matters forthwith;

Master Yin waiteth anxiously!

Master Yin? Are Chi Ying and Chi Yu

uneasy there? It concerneth not the young ones;

Song Chiyu hath returned!

Master Yin now endures deep torment and tribulations.

He entreats thee to tame thy brother-in-law. A teacher of men,

how can he dread a pupil thus?

Perchance before thee alone

Song Chiyun demeaneth himself like an innocent youth.

Before our eyes,

in truth, go posthaste;

else Master Yin shall collapse under the strain!

Very well;

I shall go behold what dire ordeal hath beset him.

Master!

The essays I composed with diligence,

Master hath not perused a single line!

Unexamined, how discern my growth?

As a guiding scholar,

art thou not overly remiss in duty?

Opportunity hath eluded me thus far!

I have inquired closely.

Thou returned to town many days past;

how could time be lacking?

Have I not taken new disciples?

I was occupied instructing them.

Days have passed in tuition,

yet I behold no advancement in them!

Is slow progress not entirely natural?

None possesseth thy freakish genius!

Stagnant as ever;

is such craving for indolence fitting?

Speak!

Direct thy wrath upon me;

why berate the child?

To tarry at barriers in learning is common!

What hath this to do with play?

Then let me speak of thee:

I have inquired already;

thy recent fare is excessively rich!

Persist thus,

and ruin shall claim thy health!

At thy venerable years,

must I oversee such matters?

Pray scold the lad instead;

I shall hinder thee no more!

Master!

Didst thou not vow to shield me?

I made such promise,

yet as thou seest,

I cannot endure his wrath!

Neither of you granteth me any peace!

Ye truly are... Sister-in-law!

I have returned.

I beheld many grand sights on the way

and grasped distant customs anew.

Su Li!

Thou arrivest at long last!

Hadst thou delayed,

I could endure no longer!

From this single journey,

he meddleth even more!

I scarcely dared draw breath!

Sister-in-law, Second Brother rebuketh all;

I was never idle,

yet he heapeth false blame upon me!

Sister-in-law,

thou camest in time;

else Second Brothers fury had fallen on me,

and then upon me! Silence, cease all chatter!

Chi Yun, each souls endowed gifts differ;

measure not others by thine own standard.

I hold them only to their own measure!

I know their utmost capability;

failing to attain it,

is that not indolence?

Thy thoughts are overly rigid.

Their slight laxity

is understandable;

they are but young children.

Yet Master,

thou too hast grown slothful

and neglectest wholesome nourishment;

tis truly beyond bounds!

Judging diligence

rests on minimum duty, not highest peak;

tis no fault,

for weary spirits require respite.

Yet sinking beneath the floor

is indeed sheer indolence.

Since Sister-in-law speaketh thus,

I concede; worthy of my esteem!

Wise in counsel! Su Li, thou spared the children,

yet what of me? Speak a kind word on my behalf!

In thy diet thou must exercise caution;

temperance in all things sufficeth.

Very well.

Aye, indeed!

Temperance sufficeth!

Su Li, thou must visit frequently;

I have dire need of thee,

and the children even more!

Sister-in-law, I beseech thee,

visit us often;

thou alone canst rein in Second Brother!

Very well;

for I have missed you dearly as well.

Sister-in-law, take this; I earned coin inscribing words,

and wished to purchase a gift for thee.

A silver hairpin! To buy this,

didst thou starve thyself on the road? Thou hast grown thin!

When thou acted thus,

did Bai Qingfeng and the rest fail to stay thee?

I must reprimand them; I begrudged myself no food!

My slenderness came only from travels toil, Sister-in-law!

Doth this silver hairpin please thine eye?

Surpasseth it not the wooden pin of before? Both are fair,

both cherished.

Hereafter I shall replace silver with fine gold,

bestowing treasures upon Sister-in-law!

Very well,

I shall hold thy vow in mind! Second Brother,

I yearn to study;

urge me on posthaste!

I too shall master letters,

I too shall bestow—have these two lost their wits?

Must I be dragged to study beside them?

Follow me to the study room.

Chubby lad,

come hither as well!

Lass, I have curbed the Mu Clan for now,

yet tis merely respite;

they will not cease suppressing Chi Yun.

I trust Chi Yun shall rise swiftly in this span.

True indeed,

yet he cannot bear all alone.

The Fifth Prince cometh this way;

devise some subtle scheme,

to bestow a modest favor upon him.

Very well,

I shall ponder it well.

In the original tale,

Song Chigui rescued

the hunted Fifth Prince and won high favor.

The ambush should fall upon these very days.

Dire news: Song Chigui hath meddled only with Xiao Yunyan;

perchance the Fifth Prince hath already perished?

Go reconnoiter this vicinity.

Wherefore go thither? What meaneth this?

So secrets are kept from me now!

Vowing before to follow my every behest,

twas mere empty breath! Harbour not such thoughts;

how else should I deem it? Enough!

Conceal it no longer;

we cannot hide it anyway: we saved a man thither.

Naturally,

rescuing him had Chi Yuns assent;

yet an ill omen hung about him.

His robes were sumptuous,

richly adorned.

His haughty tone seemed as though saving him were our rare honor;

so ungrateful a wretch!

Assassins sought his life,

yet he deemed it mere jest;

else Xiao Ran had not suffered wounds.

Xiao Ran is a foolish soul as well,

pondering no return after his errand,

yet trudging the whole road beside him!

Hard to tell who is the greater simpleton.

Enough;

I grasp the gist of it now.

The one they saved must be the Fifth Prince.

He toured beyond palace gates to inspect harvest yields;

I can exchange prime seeds through the system.

Yet active display paleth before passive discovery.

Our acreage remaineth scarce;

crops from Su Lis village and my estate cannot sustain shop expansion.

Alas,

a dire vexation!

Doth a spicy broth shop demand so vast a yield?

Other enterprises beckon me:

black fungi,

mushrooms,

and manifold novel crops Su Li wisheth to test!

Ah!

I truly cannot till so much,

can fungi and mushrooms be cultivated too?

What else can be sown?

Let me declare unto thee:

were all common folk to cultivate them,

hunger would be

vanquished;

for once bounty aboundeth, prices shall tumble.

Then bid all folk sow them!

My Lord,

we are merchants;

if grain and crops

fetch no worthy silver,

aye,

shall we reap any profit?

That noble arrived precisely for food supplies;

if I lend aid in this venture,

would not my official path soar? Yield not an inch!

I deem we must stand fast.

Yet asking me is quite superfluous;

Su Li ruleth all: her assent alone sufficeth.

Naturally; yet she will scarce consent.

Yet for a boon to state and folk,

I would fain attempt it; reckoning the hour,

that noble draweth nigh.

We may deliberate when he arriveth.

Young Master Jin,

thou saidst our soil was scarce;

whence came these tubers?

Potatoes!

When the wealthy lament starvation,

they merely lack birds nest!

This is all thanks to

Su Lis skill, which hastened growth

and yielded abundant tubers.

What price wilt thou charge?

They shall supply our eatery;

the surplus we shall sell cheap.

Twas never costly fare.

Why cometh he not yet?

The feast shall grow cold!

Did ye not say Xiao Ran was fine?

Why summon me thither?

We inspected the scene;

they returned not,

ensnared by a fierce matron.

None could reason with her;

only thou canst quell her.

Thou art even more... why pause?

Dost thou deem me more shrewish?

Nay, I mean thou art shrewd

and quick of tongue!

Thy presence surely dissolveth all strife.

Thou art quick-witted indeed!

I shall go perceive it.

Dressed thus?

Woman, what folly is this?

I touched thee not at all!

Why slander me so?

Would a maiden trifle with her purity?

Thou didst grope me amidst the press!

Denial availeth naught!

Thou touched me, so thou must wed me!

Who would touch such a sight? Call the law!

Is this the grave trouble?

Brother Xiao,

bearing wounds,

why venture forth?

Fret not over this.

I refuse to believe

she cannot be reasoned with!

Truly pure and naive as an untried youth.

Why strikest thou me?

How canst thou be so crude?

Ask why I strike?

Sent on an errand,

thou tarriest,

refusing home!

What aimest thou?

Wilt thou keep our house?

Keep house? What house!

Dost thou wish to sever bonds?

A kept pretty boy with such insolence!

Daring to address me thus!

I shall break thy legs at home! What madness is this?

Art thou his wife?

Thou resemblest none such.

Doth it need thy scrutiny?

Both thine eyes combined

equal not one normal gaze!

What truth couldst thou perceive?

Thou didst claim just now

my husband touched thee?

With a frame built to split mountains,

who would dare touch thee?

Lest their hand be shattered!

How dare thee!

He touched me regardless;

he must atone for it!

None shall depart this spot!

Then atone we shall;

I shall take thee as concubine!

We lack an ox at home.

Thy stout form suiteth the plow well!

Till all our fields hereafter!

Why must I be a concubine?

If thou art his wife,

he must cast thee out

and wed me!

Indeed!

Jin Zhi is esteemed; she brooketh no concubinage!

The youth must wed into her house!

Cast out at whim? Art thou the Queen Mother?

And thou, babbling knave,

spewing foul nonsense!

If she pleaseth thee, wed her!

Why leave her unwed,

snatching anothers spouse?

Silence!

I shall slay thee!

I shall tear thy vile mouth!

Ouch!

Art thou cowed? Strike no more!

Thou art undone! Go complain then!

I shall sue thee for seizing my husband!

Shameless maiden,

void of modesty, bring thy suit!

Though Jin Zhi hath her faults,

art thou without blame?

Thou shrew amongst shrews,

may hold his flesh, yet never possess his heart!

What need have I of his heart? To feast upon?

His body bound while his soul resists stirs greater zest!

I relish plucking bitter fruit;

it proclaims my supreme dominion!

A fierce dame indeed! Between a stalwart and her,

I would rather choose the warrior;

such a termagant is terrifying!

I care not what occurred;

he must wed into my hall!

A stranger here, thou knowest not my name;

I tell thee, yield not to my courtyard,

and none among you shall depart!

Appealing to the yamen avails thee naught!

Aye!

Arrived in our domain, heed our lawful decrees;

surrender thy consort forthwith!

Verily so!

Lacking power to shield him,

claim no such prize, or lock him within thy manor!

Mean ye that if I lead my consort hence,

ye intend to block my path?

Precisely!

Though skilled in martial arts,

two fists cannot prevail against many,

much less against our multitude!

Deem ye yourselves formidable?

Am I then an easy prey?

Think ye I can be cowed by threats?

If ye were beaten, magistrates would rejoice with firecrackers,

celebrating that anyone bothered!

Art thou certain thou just arrived?

Thou knowest our town affairs too well!

Doth keen judgment require more than having wits?

Ugh,

tis strange!

This matter ends not!

I shall return in two days!

Thou canst not flee this town; struggle is vain!

Had Young Master Qi

not sought gentle reason,

I would have cleaved a path through!

What insolent, reckless fools!

Thy voice rings stout,

thy vigor flows unimpaired;

thy wounds are trifling indeed.

My anxiety was quite unwarranted.

Ah,

thou didst worry for me?

Bai Qingfeng and the rest surely mocked me!

Brother Xiao,

dost thou know this woman?

Naturally!

We stood locked in strife so long,

hast thou not perceived it?

Behold how she utterly humbled that virago!

Tell me,

doth it not gladden thy heart?

I suffered two harsh blows!

My wits were completely dazed!

Ungrateful fool!

Were it not to bring Xiao Ran home swiftly,

I would never deign to come.

Wilt thou depart with us or not?

If so, cease thy endless grievances!

If anyone departeth, tis thee alone;

Brother Xiao shall never follow!

Right?

Nay!

Brother Xiao,

how couldst thou

forsake me for her mere word?

What bond is tied between you twain?

Alas,

words cannot tell it briefly;

should she command me east,

I dare not turn west;

submit unto her counsel!

Enough,

let us dine first.

A branch of my tavern lies within this town;

this chamber was reserved for the masters feast!

To think it serves us today! Mistress Su,

pray take thy seat;

delicacies arrive anon!

Thy order and decorum exceed expectations;

thy wages merit an increase.

Mistress Su is generous indeed!

I shall serve fine tea at once!

Thou art a merchant,

no wonder a traders cunning guile

is displayed in thee so thoroughly!

Despising me? Touch no dish then, noble one;

lest my presence stain thy virtue!

Pardon me,

I scorn not merchants;

my rash tongue

spoke unheeding and provoked offense.

Hold no grudge; I proffer my amends!

Nor do I forbid thy dining.

Thou mayest act as if naught occurred;

wherefore humble thyself thus?

I cannot hold thee in disdain,

yet partake of thy meal!

Having erred, amends must be made.

Now the apology is rendered,

I shall begin dining.

Dine then.

As I said before,

I never meant to bar thee. This fare...

tis truly delectable!

Must it cost dear?

Cast thine eyes yonder.

So very cheap!

Common folk can partake of such fine feast?

I deemed all lived in bitter wretchedness.

Cheap?

To the truly impoverished,

even this sum is silver they begrudge to spend.

Many never cross a tavern threshold in life.

How can they be so destitute?

If spicy broth be too costly,

can they not choose white rice instead?

Thou art truly one who asks why they eat no meat!

Pray weigh the truth before opening thy lips!

What peasant tasteth polished rice?

Even coarse chaff is hard to secure;

they feast to fullness only at the New Year!

Why toil they in such hardship?

Lacking sustenance to fill bellies,

what joy remains? Seeking strife...

seeking strife at our very threshold!

Spurning our gracious favor!

Stay thy wrath.

I serve the yamen;

or would the proprietor

grant me entry otherwise?

Clamor hath raged for days,

yet your yamen shrank like turtles hiding heads!

What purpose brings thee to our door now?

The Wang family reigns powerful here;

half the townsfolk claim kin with their clan.

Our magistrate just arrived,

newly installed;

certain affairs cannot be swiftly resolved.

What then?

And then arrived this valiant lady!

Heroine,

possessing such formidable prowess,

wilt thou exert more might?

No?

Our magistrate declared:

contend freely; the yamen backs thee to the utmost!

Otherwise I cannot depart either.

Let me reveal the truth to thee:

Wang Jinzhi schemes to storm the inn at midnight

to seize thy man and force wedlock upon him!

Be on strict guard!

I have marked it.

How shall we act?

In my view,

we ought never have meddled.

With my martial prowess,

if we wish to depart,

who could stay us? None could stay us,

yet how many would be bruised and broken?

Forget not thou art an officer of the law!

I have devised a stratagem;

we shall walk straight into their net anon!

Nay!

By no means!

I shall defend mine untarnished honor unto death!

A valiant champion of virtue indeed! Fret not,

thine honor shall remain wholly untainted,

provided thou heedest my command!

I shall obey faithfully.

Wherefore have ye come?

I have weighed all clearly:

men are like garments; cast aside crimson robes,

and emerald silk awaits anew.

I happen to favor a far comelier youth!

If thy heart be set upon him,

this fellow is bestowed upon thee!

Rather than wasting breath in idle wrangling,

my tender lad could already warm my quilt!

Truly? Doubt me, and I take him away!

Nay! Finding a mate cost me grievous pains,

and this estate craveth an heir.

I match not thy boldness; thou art truly born to command! My thanks for parting with him.

Deemest thou he is a gift? Demanding coin?

Silver is indeed rightfully due;

after all, he boasts such fair countenance!

Naturally silver must be rendered!

Yet he attended me long;

I must ensure thou treatest him kindly.

Having won him with such toil, I shall surely cherish him!

Hollow words lack proof!

Vacate two chambers forthwith;

I shall tarry days here to weigh thy conduct!

Why doth this feel so amiss?

I already dwell under thy roof;

were there peril, I would face it!

Fairly spoken; enter with me then.

Hear my words:

I crave only an offspring.

Shouldst thou truly yearn,

once a babe is born to me,

take him back once more!

Brazen talk! Must we stoop to this?

Is this not too wicked?

If thou fearest spite, remain here;

Xiao Ran and I depart first.

Brother,

farewell! What foul scheme is this?

Ye stir strife on purpose! Look at thee!

Canst thou not brook a trifle,

yet vow to treat him with kindness?

Is this a test for me?

Alas,

I meant no harsh wrath;

I meant he performed admirably!

That is more becoming.

This counts not; test me anew!

I shall surely prove my worth!

Good!

Then I shall not stay my hand!

Why doth an icy chill strike my spine?

Half a jar of salt ought to suffice!

Since thou art here,

tis prepared at last!

Partake!

Twas prepared solely for thee;

never have I enjoyed such favor!

What art thou doing?

This broth holds my husbands heart;

dare anyone spurn his true devotion?

Drink it all while tis hot!

I... ah!

What grimace is this?

Enough;

quench it down with water!

Thou didst this by design!

Is offering water an offense?

Who knew thou wouldst gulp it whole?

Thine own folly,

yet thou casteth blame on me!

Who could ever receive thy favor?

The agony was too bitter;

I meant no wrath toward anyone,

misjudge me not!

Very well,

I grant thee pardon for now.

Thou hast passed! The trial goes on! Whence comes smoke?

Is this also a trial? In merely a day,

ye torment me so!

Ye plotted this on purpose!

Why flare up so swiftly?

Tis but a trifling annoyance!

Calm thyself! The trial continues! No more!

He is under my roof, thus he is mine!

Refuse?

I have unearthed thy hidden silver,

and concealed it anew!

Carest thou not for thy silver?

Then cease this trial at once!

Impossible! Where is my silver?

My silver!

How could anyone lay hands upon my cache?

I shall slay thee!

Wouldst thou strike me?

Alas,

how terrified I am!

Strike me dead,

and none shall ever find the hoard!

Thou shalt rot in the dungeon!

I tremble in fright!

Vile wench, return my silver! Thy own doing!

Where is my silver?

Four, one, two, three...

Begone, all of you, begone!

Bid me leave,

and I depart?

Where exists so easy a bargain?

Tis easy to summon spirits, hard to banish!

Hast thou never heard this?

This is my domain;

I command thee out,

thou must obey!

I budge not!

What canst thou do?

Then blame me not for wrath! Come then!

Overcome me, and I depart;

fail to strike me down,

and I shall linger here forever!

I implore thee,

depart forthwith!

I shall bar you no more!

Never!

I beseech thee, take thy leave!

Since he repenteth of his fault,

and consenteth to grant us leave,

let us depart forthwith.

Thou art indeed tender-hearted;

didst thou pity him when he seized thee?

Once the wound closeth,

dost thou forget the pain so swiftly?

My folly clouded my wit;

go ignite every remaining firecracker!

Aim them not heavenward;

hurl them across this courtyard!

I shall reduce this realm to ruin!

Very well;

take heed lest the sparks strike thee!

What folly is this?

How canst thou be so ruthless?

Stay thy hand at once!

Cease this barrage!

Halt, I command!

Tears already?

Ye heartless curs, wait! Where fleeth he, deserting his hearth?

So dull of wit!

Hath he not plainly gone to summon aid?

Gracious Heavens above!

How hath Jinzhis house fallen into such ruin?

Wrought all by this shrewish woman?

Must she not yield silver for this?

Cease thy idle talk!

Tis fortune enough if she departs,

yet thou cravest recompense?

I shall not stir!

When I have vexed him to his grave,

I shall visit each of your hearths in turn!

Let us summon the magistrate!

Nay!

To plead at the yamen is to surrender;

we shall forever be under their thumb!

I have already dispatched word to the yamen!

If any amongst you object,

take this termagant into your own dwelling;

for I can endure this torment no longer!

Band together as we do,

all enterprises seemed effortless;

yet in barely a single day,

behold what hath become of mine abode!

Since the yamen hath arrived,

I shall accord them due courtesy.

Yet Wang Jinzhi,

heed this: so long as the court troubleth thee not,

Su Li shall not disturb thy peace;

thou must remain obedient hereafter.

Dost thou understand?

Hold! What was thy name? Never changing surname,

nor altering given name:

Su Li!

Hadst thou declared thy name earlier,

I would have granted safe passage forthwith!

With a renown such as thine,

who among us would dare oppose thee?

Who matcheth thy malice? Hath my notoriety spread so far?

Enough;

weep no more!

Remain meek hereafter, and I shall spare thee.

I shall surely abide in dutiful peace,

and never attempt such villainy again!

Hmph!

Canst thou stay the trembling of thy knees?

Aye, aye; I shall tremble no more,

I shall strive to master it!

Yet how could any mortal not quake?

Before thy ferocious renown,

even a fierce tigress

must take second place!

I rendered so momentous a service to the yamen;

pray remember it well.

I, Su Li, am a merchant,

and brook no losing bargain.

Should ye dare renege,

know ye the dire penalty?

Uh...

We would never dare, never dare!

We honor the debt in full!

Summon that simpleton,

tis time we take our leave.

Ha!

Thy ploy was cruel indeed,

yet marvelous in effect!

Brother Qi,

learn diligently from Su Li hereafter;

in merely a few days,

thou appearest far sharper than before!

I warrant she is the fiercest woman in all the realm!

Speaking ill of me?

How didst thou know? I merely tested thee!

Hush!

Speak not;

strangers approach!

I fear they harbor ill intent.

Could the Fifth Prince be exposed? Nay,

this realm is far from where he was ambushed.

These assailants seek not him,

but come for mine own life!

Can it be Clan Mu? Tis surely for this jinx!

Take him and flee first,

so that I may remain unharmed,

and thou needst shield only him;

one soul alone,

thy prowess is ample to protect!

Hold thy tongue!

Thou... ah!

Since thou art their mark, distance shields him best!

Hmph! Where is Su Li?

Did ye abandon her alone?

Assassins hunting Brother Qi ambushed our path,

so Su Li proposed we part ways.

Yet those foes were plainly after him!

She braved peril for you! Why slay this fop?

What then?

Mind thine own affairs!

Who arrives now?

I am... Su Li?

Behold, Su Li...

Su Li...

Su Li! Dost thou summon a ghost?

Art thou mad, Xiao Yu?

Thou art fair...

Of course I am fair, like a celestial fairy!

How long wilt thou stare?

Behold thy rustic bewilderment!

We must not linger here;

let us hasten hence!

All peril hath passed;

I have slain every villain!

Should more pursue,

I shall slay them too!

If Xiao Ran and the rest arrive,

wilt thou slay them as well?

Is my present guise fit for their gaze? Nay,

none must behold it!

Leave a discreet token for Xiao Ran;

I shall seek a cavern nearby.

Dry thy raiment first anon,

lest the cold strike thee.

My martial skill is wondrous indeed,

a pity thou beheld it not!

Moreover, I possess boundless wealth;

wilt thou visit my manor someday?

Canst thou compose thy senses?

Dost thou weary of my presence?

No matter,

weary of me as thou wilt;

show me no tender smiles.

Though sorrow pierce my soul,

I can endure it all!

Hmph!

Whence did Er Gou learn such artful tricks?

Thou knowest well,

Jin Wu ever oppressed me from childhood;

none ever treated me with kindness!

I truly... framing Jin Wu thus

befits thee ill!

Ah,

tis not merely ill,

tis utterly hollow and false.

Enough,

the fire is kindled;

shouldst thou not step outside?

Hold! I have yet to depart,

disrobe not yet!

Thou art remarkably chaste!

Tis not chastity, but dread of offending thee!

Mm.

She is of such peerless beauty,

yet none beside her possesses

power to shield her;

without protection, dire perils loom.

Thus... verily so!

I can pursue official ranks with open arms,

and wed that spirited minx thereafter,

warming her bed each night,

painting her brows,

cooking her meals,

attending her day and night!

What sublime bliss that would be!

Dreaming in broad daylight?

Depart! Delay our steps longer,

and nightfall will prevent our arrival

at town; in truth, on foot

a whole nights march is needed!

Then quicken our pace!

Reaching the inn ahead,

I wager Xiao Ran and the others await us.

Who was that fair-faced youth with Xiao Ran?

One glance proves him thoroughly vexatious;

thou must hold thy distance from him!

Were he not an impediment,

would ye have parted paths?

Very well,

keep thy distance from me too;

thou resemblest a fair-faced fop thyself!

Wilt thou truly not seek her?

A frail woman must surely be stricken with fear!

How could we abandon her

to face such helpless peril?

Frail or not, alone she must feel terror!

Were we to tremble,

she would remain fearless;

moreover, Young Master Jin attendeth her now.

That fair-faced youth just now?

Fair-faced youth?

Speakest thou of him or thyself? Of him, surely!

He possesses not a shred of manly valor.

Brother Xiao,

men of fair countenance ever invite strife!

Ere Brother Ji

uttereth such words,

shouldst thou not consult a mirror?

Waited long?

I foresaw thou wouldst choose this inn;

being Jin domain, we may rest at ease.

Aye,

abroad, wherever Clan Jin abides, we seek them out!

Clan Jin proves ever trustworthy.

Brother Xiao,

doth he truly own this inn?

Behold his boastful strut,

like a simpleton!

How could he govern commerce with skill?

Because all my ventures partner with that spirited minx;

with her steering the helm,

how could prosperity fail to flourish?

Alas,

dost thou envy me?

Such rare auspicious fortune

is beyond thy reach!

Thou resemblest one fed by women!

Splendid indeed!

Didst thou go merely to breed chaos,

leaving Su Li to shield thy skin?

She shielded me with wondrous care,

not a single

scratch befell me!

Hmph!

Enough.

Thy ceaseless chatter vexes my brow!

yet thou choosest only my words to sever;

such bias is too brazen!

A grown man ought not whine so!

Hearkenest thou?

Cease thy whining!

Chastised I him and spared thee?

I erred, I erred!

Whatever thou decreest,

I obey.

Su Li,

didst thou not claim they sought Brother Qi?

Why charged they all at thee?

My conjecture proved false;

they struck at one seemingly ordinary.

Ordinary?

Indeed, I am but ordinary!

Doubtless Clan Mu cannot touch

Chi Yun, so they target

me, stripping him of all support! Clan Mu...

Touching Song Chi Yun,

I heard he possesses brilliant literary grace,

yet grand clans patronage is no trifle.

Why would Clan Mu harass a humble child?

If the child my ally rescued

that day

was the prodigy Song Chi Yun,

then the rumors bear true weight.

Were ironclad proof not lacking,

Clan Mu would have cleared their name. Eminent clans

can eclipse the skies with one hand!

Do only eminent clans act thus?

The magistrates I beheld on this journey

leave the common folk in bitter torment;

scarcely any proves upright. Three years an honest prefect,

a hundred thousand taels of silver!

Deemest thou this adage a jest?

Along this path,

I truly encountered much injustice;

corrupt officials run so rampant,

leaning upon the might of grand clans!

Why falter and speak no further?

Knowing overmuch imperileth life.

Are there strangers among us?

Impart more unto me;

much remaineth unknown to me!

No strangers?

Art thou not a stranger?

Shielded so tenderly from the world!

To become a wise, unblinded sovereign,

a long road yet stretches ahead.

Others views are ever colored;

shouldst thou wish to behold the truth,

thou must observe it with thine own eyes!

None possesseth all-seeing eyes;

a fleeting glance unveileth not the whole truth.

No mortals words are wholly certain,

nor is a surface gaze the truth. Enough,

rest ye in peace.

We journey home on the morrow.

Silver

is a wondrous boon indeed!

Wherever I roamed these days,

I fared on foot.

Accompanying Young Master Jin

is vast luxury indeed!

Naturally so. Brother Qi!

How camest thou here?

Thou shouldst not tarry here now.

I met some trials upon the road.

Thou seemest worn. Why ride ye together? What of it?

In so grand a carriage,

many souls naturally ride,

lest we hired a lesser coach!

Why art thou with them? Tis a long tale;

my journey was beset with hardship.

Thanks to their rescue; Brother Xiao saved my life.

Su Li delivered me from peril.

As for Young Master Jin, he granted carriage passage.

Speak no more if at a loss!

We need no praise before this vile plague.

Let us depart,

lest ill fortune cling to us!

Why do ye all withdraw?

What enmity lies between you?

Between us... alas,

it defies brief telling. Come,

Brother Xi,

I shall feast thee!

I must confer with Wei Lin first.

Moreover,

my true station must remain secret;

abide solely by the mantle Wei Lin devised.

I serve at the yamen; let us walk together.

Why were thy duties discharged so falteringly of late?

With thy prowess, it ought not be so.

Some strife befell my household,

thus it went. If home troubles arose,

then none could avert it.

Regardless, He Yong resolved the crucial matters;

the remnants were mere trifles

and caused no grave harm.

He Yong?

Was he not ever loath to take the fore?

Likely the plight was dire.

In truth, that lad acted with swift diligence.

He is taciturn of speech,

yet his discernment is keen.

Why hath He Yong, once so aloof,

now dared seize merit from me?

Each soul dischargeth tasks in unique fashion.

Take Su Li, for instance;

she treadeth audacious and unmeasured paths!

When her fiery wrath rageth,

she is utterly vulgar,

coarse,

reeking of base coin,

unfit for polite halls!

Why demean her thus? Dost thou know them,

to speak so harshly?

She is my wedded wife! Truly? In truth!

Along this weary journey,

her ill repute

must have reached thine ears;

she is precisely the wretched sort I depicted!

Brother, shun her henceforth!

Such matters weigh little;

I must behold Wei Lin posthaste.

I shall discern Su Li for mine own self;

others words ring untrue.

Where didst thou encounter Brother Qi?

When thou departed on errand,

didst thou not pledge to return in days?

Why tarry so long ere returning?

Didst thou wait purposely to rescue him?

What nonsense dost thou babble?

Art thou mad?

Had I not been hindered by Xiao Yuyans affairs,

that soul

I would have saved; He Yong had never gained renown!

All conspire to rob the glory rightfully mine!

Brother Song,

why is thy countenance so grim?

Ailest thou in body?

Or did Su Li commit fresh folly?

Dost thou deem me

in thine eyes

a worthless fool swayed daily by women?

I meant no such affront!

I will hear no more!

Mark my words:

thou hast hindered my ventures too deeply.

Keep thyself in peace henceforth,

lest I cast aside all past regard!

I have committed no fault of late!

Didst thou fail to comprehend?

I spoke of days to come!

I have marked it well, Brother Song;

pray quell thy rising wrath.

Humph!

Sister, why hath Brother Chigui changed so?

He never indulged in such fury before;

now he resembles Father so. I favor him no more!

Perchance all men are fashioned thus.

If every man proves the very same,

what cause is left for despair?

Flatter him, and ease shall follow;

tis worth the toil. Magistrate Wei, be not so humble.

My journey saw peril turned to peace;

I shall explain all unto Father,

nor allow blame to fall on thee.

Tis but boundless joy!

Watching stars and moon,

at last Your Highness arrives!

Speak straight of grave affairs.

I pose as thy kinsman; in speech,

cease exalted address.

Doth His Majesty not grieve for the grain?

I yearned

for thee

because I found an extraordinary soul,

who can cause hardy staples

like potatoes to yield tenfold!

Truly? Art thou certain tis no boast?

Go behold the Jin merchant house;

carts of potatoes arrive without cease.

The Jin cultivate other crops beside;

such bounty proves the miracle true.

Abundance! Jin Manlou hath true craft.

Is he the master, or stands another behind?

Can he yield that genius to us?

Unlikely; that soul allies as partner to him.

What is this masters name?

Who? Her name is Su Li.

It sounds ordinary indeed;

hadst thou spoken her name earlier,

I would have believed at once!

Have ye two already met?

Facing dire peril,

her gracious aid delivered me;

she is truly an extraordinary soul.

Since thou hast witnessed her singular prowess,

it spares me much explanation.

She is a noble merchant,

yet merchants ever prize gain.

Thus we cannot compel all things.

Is Song Chigui as vile as Su Li claims?

Yet Gui Lin vows

Su Li is a righteous merchant;

whence comes so vast a rift between them?

Thou knowest not:

aforetime,

were not Song Chiguis ranks severed from grain?

A warrior broke the siege,

and found rescue by a merchants hand.

That very merchant was Su Li!

I trust thy words,

yet certain truths must be beheld by mine own eyes.

These days I shall watch the Jin merchant house;

then we shall deliberate at length. He is come;

our stage is set,

waiting only for him to take the bait!

Why didst thou not reveal he is the Fifth Prince?

Art thou cowed,

nay?

Doth such an one dare call himself prince?

Reeking of folly!

Should he ascend the throne,

he would surely be a mere puppet!

If he matures not,

that may indeed come to pass. Strange indeed!

Why have exalted lords gathered in this humble realm?

Young Master, guard thy words and deeds of late.

Or release that other one?

Whom dost thou dare disdain?

My pact with the miser is to trade places in peace;

only when the shrew meets peril may we switch in haste.

Now all is tranquil;

why should I yield?

Thou heedest only the shrews safety;

why ponders thou not thine own peril?

What peril could reach me?

Cease thy wild babble!

I take my leave first,

lest I hinder this brawl between master and servant.

Thou hast scarce sat before departing!

Jin Wu,

this knave spouts folly;

take it not to heart!

Never mind him.

When shalt thou return hither?

Thou merely loathest to see my prosperity!

Is it I who loathe thy welfare,

or thou who rejectest peace?

Stealing away the moment my guard fell;

did I not warn thee

of dire peril?

Why summon the dead?

Fortune led my steps;

rich fruit was won!

Young Master,

excess heat burns within;

thy nose bleeds so!

Cover it!

Twas thy foolishness that roused my fury!

How could I dream of embracing her?

Utterly shameless of me!

Yet my heart still craves that sweet reverie!

Let me summon a physician.

No physician is needed!

Hold thy tongue;

I am healed already.

Alas,

nay!

Thou layest blame most shamelessly!

Thou hast forsaken thy roots.

As I walked the thoroughfare,

nine shops in ten belong to the Jin clan.

How came this to be?

Gongzi must hail from afar.

Aforetime, the Lu family also held shops here,

yet they colluded with vile magistrates in dark misdeeds;

in the end, they were silenced in blood.

Those high officials escaped unscathed;

merely scapegoats were seized to quell the clamor.

Yet I am a simple commoner, unversed in deep schemes.

I too am but a commoner;

spoke thou too deeply,

I would not comprehend.

Thou art honest and true.

Let me impart

what thou knowest not.

Deemest thou that Jin manor reigns alone to extort high silver?

In truth, their goods sell cheaper than all else;

even the soup stalls offer rare bounty at modest coin.

Splendid.

Wherefore doth this arise?

All is owed to Mistress Su Li;

born of humble soil,

she fathometh our bitter trials

and grants such gentle grace.

Though I have not beheld Su Li,

throughout my journey

her fame resounds far and wide.

Fierce she may be,

yet malice she bears none;

a solitary woman feeding an entire hearth must stand firm,

lest wolves devour her flesh and bone.

Where then is her husband?

A vile creature lower than swine!

He fled on the wedding eve.

Look,

bones can still be bought at thy stall today;

they were not all seized by the eateries.

Su Li!

The young lady decreed

that poor folk rely on marrow broth for vigor,

so she spared a share for the needy; folk speak of callous wealth,

yet Su Li harbors no such greed.

Ever since her ventures flourished,

our days have turned far brighter.

Though labeled fierce,

unprovoked,

she strikes no blow; provoke her,

and ruin is richly earned!

Master Yin!

Who shouts thus, as though summoning my ghost?

Why came you hither?

Lower thy voice;

thou hast no calm restraint!

Master Yin,

why skulkest thou like a thief?

No choice remains!

Watched day and night, I barely stole forth to taste delights;

thinkst thou tis easy?

This frail elder,

who humors not even the Emperor,

hath been tamed by whom to such a plight?

To slip away stealthily is most unbecoming.

The scrolls I penned,

hast thou read them?

The essays of the younger ones and Xiaopang,

hast thou examined them?

Chanting thy scriptures from dawn till dusk,

must I not seek a breath of air?

This is no hour for thy endless sermons;

silence!

Thou causest endless vexation,

yet blamest my counsel!

Thou art no less troubled thyself.

Mm.

Still amongst the living?

Hardly a wonder,

since my master journeyed at thy side.

So tis thee after all!

Judging by thy discourse with Master,

thou too art his disciple.

Precisely.

What poor taste!

With no feud between us, why so venomous?

Pity his poor judgment;

had he chosen well and favored thee,

behold what wretched days I now endure!

Splendid days of disciplined health and temperance!

Master!

This is solely for Masters sake!

Thy sister-in-law bade all in moderation.

Hmph!

I shall feast on spicy broth anon;

tis so long since I tasted it!

Indeed, a long interval hath passed.

Very well.

Partake sparingly then.

Then I depart forthwith!

Halt! Approach no closer!

Folly oozeth from thy every pore!

My sister-in-law decreed:

fear not wickedness,

fear only foolishness!

Pray maintain thy distance!

Truly Su Lis kin; thy speech

smacketh wholly of her sharp tongue!

Master,

this youth is far too arrogant!

Why not compel him to write essays,

or dost thou indulge him overly?

Thinkest thou he is of thy measure?

Command him to compose essays?

He writeth without end,

yet I lack eyes to read them all!

Is this lad truly so formidable?

Those villainous knaves of Mu Clan...

lest they plot harm against this child,

I would send him forth to wander;

how would I suffer such strict restraint?

They too must taste this bitter yoke!

Master confirmeth the Mu Clan struck?

I clashed with them many rounds already;

yet thou knowest naught, dull fool!

Dwelling in an illusion spun by others,

thou art but a bird in a gilded cage!

On this matter,

this disciple hath perceived it,

and cast off all attendants

to behold the true realm with mine own eyes.

Ah, thou,

hast this sole virtue;

else I would spare thee no word.

Thou hast chosen the right realm.

Hast thou beheld Su Li?

Had I encountered her in her youth,

I would have taken her as disciple,

and risked all to shatter

the edict barring women from high court!

I have met her already.

She is extraordinary indeed.

Doubtless thou heardest her fame?

Wishedst thou not to witness truth?

Then observe with open eyes!

We shall converse another day;

I would hear thy thoughts then

and test thy true discernment.

I return home now;

that rascal shall tease Chi Yun no more!

I cannot bear Chi Yuns departure.

A student whom Master cherisheth so!

He is a virtuous youth,

much like thee;

Masters scholars entered high court over the years,

stirring my longing to behold this realm.

Master nurtured them to aid my path!

How dull was I,

failing to grasp Masters profound intent!

Brother,

art thou wandering about?

Shouldst thou desire tidings,

I can enlighten thee.

I seek no secret knowledge,

only curious about simple mortal life.

So that is all.

Hath the novelty waned yet?

If so, accompany me;

I ordered delicacies at the inn

to welcome thee.

Wei Lin hath prepared lodging,

and hosteth my stay;

I must grant him courtesy first.

Brother Qi,

thou growest estranged from me.

Not so. Very well,

wilt thou not feast me?

Let us go.

This humble realm lacketh fine vintage;

pray do not disdain it.

This fare is quite well.

How can this be called good?

It pales before the capitals delicacies;

why come here to endure such grief?

Though not as dainty as dishes of the capital,

it is hardly suffering.

Song Chigui, a man born of peasantry,

how can he utter such words so placidly?

Did Brother Qi journey here purposely?

Weighty matters brought me, though perils intervened;

else I should have been in Teng City now.

Naturally,

I would ultimately arrive here,

to meet thee in person.

When planest thou to return? Retainers scattered and ambushed,

bereft of guards at my side,

I cannot depart for the moment.

Then I shall escort thee back,

lest thou suffer bitter hardships here.

How could that be?

Thou hast solemn duties here;

what if escorting me delays thine official mission?

Look,

deep concern truly disordered my mind!

Alas,

I cannot bear to see thee endure bitterness.

All my affairs are overseen by Wei Lin;

fret not thyself over them.

Perform thine own office with diligence.

Doth Brother Qi harbor suspicions?

Tis thou who broodest overmuch;

the matter is grave.

I know thy loyalty,

yet thou must stay vigilant now.

Brother Qi,

knowest thou Xiao Yuan and his kin are now in town?

I risked death to my entire house back then

to lend aid,

spending much silver and gold!

Ah,

prizing devotion, I could not stand idle. Song Chigui withdrew funds,

claiming urgent need;

could it have been spent on Xiao Yuan?

How differs that from corrupt officials embezzling coin?

Great or small, all kindness merits regard,

though Clan Xiao aided me in but a trifle.

In truth, thy deed was redundant;

though Xiao Ting was exiled,

he was shielded under special favor.

Xiao Yuan

and his siblings in exile

suffered little hardship at all.

Is that so?

Shielded under special favor?

Doth that mean Xiao Ting is prized by the Emperor,

and this vindication will not merely restore him,

but exalt him higher? This will not do!

Such coarse wine,

my throat truly rejects it;

it muddles the senses so!

I must retire to the yamen. Brother Qi,

I shall see thee back.

He is drunken;

summon someone to tend to him.

Aye.

He is truly drunken.

Cease thy feigning;

Song Chigui has departed.

How didst thou discern it?

Thy feigning was clumsy.

That tavern he brought thee to

I frequent often; watered spirits

drunken not a man so swiftly.

Hmph!

He has traversed the realm,

tasted noble vintages,

and deems vulgar draughts

naturally heady. Worldly tides shift,

I never foresaw he would alter thus.

How knowest thou he changed,

and was not ever of this nature?

Surely it cannot be so dire.

No haste;

since thou wilt tarry here long,

thou canst behold with thine own eyes

ere passing judgment. That matter lacks haste,

yet Su Lis craft of multiplying harvest weigheth heavy;

we must ponder how to treat with her.

Provided my true station remains concealed!

Wilt thou not observe for two more days?

Unneeded; she hath no cause to fabricate lies.

Moreover, having surveyed Clan Jins shops,

all stands as thou said.

Then I shall sound her tomorrow.

Thou seekest me touching the fungi and mushrooms.

I agree to impart the cultivation craft abroad;

arrange matters as thou seest fit.

Yet to instruct folk, seek my father-in-law;

he wields great mastery of the soil!

Thou hast agreed so readily?

Wherefore not? As my ventures expand,

our hamlet and the Jin clan alone cannot suffice.

The more hands till the soil, the greater our bounty.

Tis true indeed.

Young Master Jin imparted

thou holdest secret arts to multiply the grain.

Indeed,

already tested across the Jin fields.

The stalks thrive wondrously;

yet the exact increase

awaits the autumn harvest.

May this art of abundance

be shared to bless the common folk?

The people suffer bitterly;

should grain abound,

hunger would trouble them no more.

Very well,

tis feasible,

yet dost thou ask with empty hands?

What recompense dost thou offer in return?

Pardon my dull wits! What dost thou desire?

Speak freely; I shall strive to obtain it.

That depends upon thine own sincerity.

Grant me time to ponder,

and I shall answer thee anon. Very well,

ponder at leisure;

I take my leave.

What gift could best prove our sincere regard?

Fame?

She heeds it not.

As for noble rank,

we possess no power to bestow it.

Silver? She lacks no wealth.

Verily, one unversed in high office

suffers from so narrow a vision!

Wherefore revile me thus?

Her commerce bears heavy levies;

we may lighten her taxes.

As for her brother-in-law,

promise that eminent friends shall shield him,

and confer an honorary title!

Can tax remissions and imperial titles truly be won?

Small wonder thy rank dwindles ever lower!

With my standing, can I fail? What matter if my rank shrank?

Canst thou trust those

who climb ever higher?

Indeed.

Corruption shrouds the court today;

if this persists,

the people shall have no means of survival.

Let us proceed step by step.

Hope dawns at last! Brother Song hath neglected us long.

Eldest Sister,

hast thou not seen Song Chigui grow ever viler?

Severing ties with him

might be best!

Thou understandest not;

he is the highest match I could ever attain.

We are of concubine birth;

without Brother Songs favor,

none would look upon us with regard.

Father esteems Song Chigui only because

he stands in favor with the Fifth Prince.

Eldest Sister,

why not curry favor with the Fifth Prince directly?

Thinkest thou I am unwilling?

My base lineage merits not even

a place at his side! Eldest Sister,

as I slipped into the market aforetime,

I seemed to glimpse the Fifth Prince!

I cannot be certain,

yet I believe my eyes erred not.

Wilt thou not inspect it thyself?

If true, he must reside at the county yamen;

I shall search on the morrow.

The man within the teahouse is the Fifth Prince!

He is truly here! How dares Su Li laugh with him?

Sister-in-law,

grant Brother Song a path of reconciliation.

His heart yearns for thee ceaselessly;

he yearns to share a lifetime! Hast thou lost thy wits?

Why harden thy heart

against Brother Song?

Is it for Young Master Jin?

Yet thou art not severed by lawful divorce;

this defies all wifely virtue!

Thou hast brought this upon thyself! I meant well!

If thou spurnest counsel, so be it;

may I not depart?

Brother Qi, this is Xiao Yuyan;

dreading penal exile,

she clung unto my husband in name only.

Dwelling beneath our roof,

she sowed discord daily;

and after committing countless treacherous deeds,

she signed an indenture of servitude unto me!

Even that aside,

cease! Twas all his doing!

Later, she vexed Song Chigui till he agreed to sell her!

Lo, she tore her tresses,

proclaiming herself a woman,

long smitten with Song Chigui!

Heavens bolt met earths pyre; a rogue met a wench!

Why ruin me?

Twas thou who sought my downfall!

Knowest thou who he is?

Deemest thou his favor

shall silence all?

What hath this to do with me?

Why drag me into thy strife?

He is ever thus.

What folly ails him? Utterly senseless!

Such knaves abound:

boundless ambition,

yet feeble skill,

begrudging others fortune!

Song Chigui is of that very ilk,

only masking his heart deeper.

Since thou prizest him not,

why not sever the bond?

Art thou ignorant of the statutes?

A woman might desire separation;

as for repudiation,

he seeks not to cast me out,

nor shall I brook his dismissal!

Tis I who must repudiate him!

Thou wilt cast him out?

Then dost thou not mistake the law?

No statute decrees

a woman cannot divorce her lord!

True indeed.

Methinks Xiao Yuyan recognizeth thee.

I, a humble soul, know no such noble maiden!

I thank thee.

Urgent affairs beckon; I must depart.

Brother Qi, what spoke my wife with thee?

Ye conversed merrily; hath some gladness arisen?

No merry discourse was it,

merely an idle encounter.

We spoke a few brief words.

She seeks wedlock with thee,

yet lacks all humble

discernment! Domestic shame

must not be aired.

Certain matters I cannot divulge,

yet she is... Brother Song,

thy domestic strife

is already known to me. Did Su Li reveal it?

Xiao Yuyan came by. A maidens chastity is sacred;

if rumor of thy wanton entanglement spread,

how shall she face the world?

How could she? Brother Qi,

pardon my brief absence;

I shall make all plain to thee.

I have ever lived uprightly,

wishing no deceit. Naturally I trust thee,

meaning naught else by my words,

save that foul whispers harm thy good name.

Aye.

Did I not warn thee to stir

no strife?

Dost thou heed my command

as idle breeze?

Didst thou venture forth to sully my name?

Did Su Li poison thine ears?

Brother Song,

thou knowest not her malice! Enough!

Wilt thou still sow discord between us?

Deemest thou our marriage not strained enough?

Hadst thou not meddled, we had dwelt in peace!

Brother Song,

why dost thou mistrust me?

I saw her beguiling the Fifth Prince and confronted her!

Twas all for thy sake!

She beguiled the Prince?

Su Li is sharp-tongued,

yet knows her own station,

knowing Brother Qi would never favor her!

Methinks tis thou who sought to tempt the Prince!

Brother Song!

My heart holdeth thee alone;

how could I tempt another?

Thou hadst best not! Elder Sister,

I am afraid; let us return home!

Brother Chigui is terrifying!

Elder Sister,

hast thou lost thy senses?

Brother Chiguis wrath exceeds even Fathers,

yet his rank is beneath our sire!

What knowest thou? Father said

Brother Song is favored by nobles,

crowned with battlefield glory!

The realm faces ceaseless wars;

he shall surely be exalted,

wielding supreme power!

Yet he loathes thee now! The Fifth Prince...

is there truly no hope with him?

Even by cunning craft? Craft?

Su Li invites me to tea?

Truly?

I come forthwith! So overjoyed?

An onlooker might fancy

she invited thee to the pleasure houses!

Left uninvited,

doth thy heart harbor envy?

Hold,

with Su Li so pressed with affairs,

why bid me to tea?

Treachery lurketh here! Little brother,

is this teahouse also a joint venture?

Are their enterprises bustling of late?

I have scarce glimpsed either on the thoroughfares.

Autumn harvest draweth near;

the Jin manors crops are due.

Su Li prizeth this harvest dearly,

so she alone toils day and night;

Young Master Jin seems quite leisurely.

Lo, did I not say he was idle?

Perchance he goeth to take tea.

Could that fop be my summoner? Nay,

he plainly despiseth the sight of me.

No matter;

let me trail behind and see. Witless fool!

Fortune smiles

that I emerged in time,

lest thou hadst fallen

into their snare!

Were thy name soiled,

it would bring

the shrews scorn upon me! Song Chigui,

since thou yearnest to play,

I shall indulge thee to the full!

Doth a phantom pursue thee?

Why such frantic haste?

I turned my gaze

for a fleeting breath and thou fledst astray,

fearing no peril!

That fool truly knoweth no fear.

Thou art finally forth!

Trailing that one lately was sheer torment!

Young Master,

since thou hast emerged,

let us haste far

from this den of contention.

What haste? Song Chigui dared plot against me;

he shall taste my retribution!

Yet thy wit was sharp

and arrival timely. Timely?

That pale rider alerted me;

he said someone summoned him in the shrews name,

and saw thee enter the teahouse.

Reflecting upon it,

twas deeply amiss;

the spirited minx

tarries at the manor now!

The fop hath sharp wits.

Twould seem Xiao Yuyan

schemed against him while Song Chigui plotted too,

and their ploys collided! Jin Wu, stir a tumult;

Song Chigui must lurk nearby,

let him believe I am ensnared! Young Master,

where art thou? A boon for thee indeed,

gaining a fair beauty!

Humph, Xiao Yuyan,

what defense hast thou now?

With whom dost thou dally?

Brother Song, Brother Song!

Thou wrongest me!

My love for thee made me don mens robes

and renounce betrothal!

Love for me, or love

for wealth and rank? Repudiated betrothal,

or tossed aside a pawn?

Thou knowest every motive sprang from greed!

By what right claim twas for me?

Thou trustest me not?

I would rather dash my skull upon this pillar!

Very well,

dash it then!

Brother Song,

thou hast changed!

Changed for the worse!

Harder to deceive, is that it?

Hear my decree:

lay no schemes against the Fifth Prince!

He is far beyond thy reach;

even if thou succeedest,

thou shalt never behold the morrows sun! What is this?

Jin Manlou,

await thy doom; thou art dead!

To ensnare Jin Manlou,

I burned sensual incense within;

I must escape posthaste,

lest the yamen guards arrive!

Draw not too near!

Brother Song,

anguish overcomes me.

Brother Song!

My heart truly yearneth for thee!

Vile wench!

Brother Song,

pray claim me as thine own!

I care naught for official status,

only for thee! Begone, vile creature!

I shall never spare thee! Excellent!

Brother Song,

art thou within?

May we enter?

Stay, this is a public teahouse;

why should any be barred?

He summoned you hither

surely on urgent business!

Why dally and hesitate?

Hold!

They must not behold me thus,

I...

Begone! Committing such shameless deeds,

dost thou fear eyes? Brother Song,

I am already thine own;

cast me not aside!

My maiden chastity is yielded to thee!

What madness dost thou utter?

I touched thee not at all!

Brother Song,

matters reached this pass,

yet thou claimest innocence?

How heartless!

Indeed,

confess what thou hast done!

She is a noble lady born,

yet a mere bailiff feigneth loftiness!

Step back,

withdraw outside;

such midday depravity violates all virtue!

Enter, honor our Young Masters chamber;

our Young Master

invites you to fine tea. What transpired?

Twas an outrage against all decency,

yielding to lust in broad daylight!

The knave still denieth it;

what a vile beast!

I flung the door wide open then;

countless patrons witnessed the spectacle!

He cannot evade his debt!

The whole house hath learned of this;

it shall spread across town ere dusk!

Dost thou dare plot against me?

Art thou weary of life?

Provide lawful proof;

babble not such falsehoods!

Aye, show proof! Cease thy feigned innocence!

Hadst thou barred the chamber door,

this scandal had not erupted. Barred?

Who barred it? Still dissembling!

Thou weepest not till thou seest the coffin!

If thou refusest,

I shall beat thee till thou confess! Brother Song,

what art thou doing?

Being caught is shameful indeed,

yet a grown man suffereth no loss!

Why raise such frantic tumult?

Silence! All of you, be silent!

I declared

I was entrapped;

comprehend ye not plain speech?

Wild hills truly breed savage scoundrels;

folk in this remote corner are uncivilized beasts!

Art thou not reared here too? Wherein art thou nobler?

Defiling a maiden and claiming righteousness!

Let us indict him!

He defiled her yet denieth the deed;

all present witnessed it with their own eyes!

Speak not so harshly, good people;

in truth, twas I who compelled Brother Song!

He is a righteous gentleman.

Cease thy charade!

Dost thou not merely demand my hand?

Very well,

I shall take thee;

yet formal betrothal makes a wife, elopement a concubine!

Moreover, I possess a lawful spouse;

prepare to enter my threshold as a concubine!

I thank all for speaking on my behalf.

Should he refuse to acknowledge me,

I could live no longer!

Weep not; he cannot escape!

We march to the yamen that the Magistrate may judge him!

I express deepest gratitude to you all.

Young Master,

art thou certain Song Chigui will not insist thou locked it?

He hath no leisure to ponder over the lock.

The aphrodisiac incense was his own snare,

and the trap his own device;

it hath naught to do with me.

None surpasseth thee!

Thy wits are sharp beyond measure!

Naturally, thou fair-faced fop!

He should be downstairs now.

Let us go meet him;

thou owest him

gratitude. Rouse thyself!

Act not like a rustic clown!

I never foresaw this turn of fate;

it seems I never truly knew Song Chigui.

Because this touched his own gains;

feeling the sting, he forbears no more.

Had he suffered loss early,

he would have shown it long ago.

His concealment lasted because

first, thou art foolish;

second, thou pamperedst him!

Thy words ring very true.

Words end here;

the rest rests on thy discernment.

I must depart;

the fierce shrew forbids consort with fools.

Why doth this pretty face seem changed today?

He seems far keener. Alert: protagonists fortune fell below limit!

What fortune is this? How came such splendid tidings?

The warning says:

if protagonists fortune lingers low,

the plot shall veer astray,

the villain shall break loose,

and characters shall alter completely!

Prolonged decline?

Meaning it can rise? Over my dead body!

This world truly pampereth Song Chigui!

With me here, it can only fall,

never rise! Thou didst it? Then I revere thee with new eyes!

Am I not grand?

Perceiving a fault,

I seized the rare chance

to ensnare him thoroughly!

Doth this not avenge thy bitter grievance?

Knowest thou thou lookest cheaper than a fool?

Truly worthless;

he looks devoid of dignity.

We are so close,

why feign such solemn airs?

I have not seen thee so long;

a little warmth

is natural! Since thou hast merit,

I shall not mock thee.

Thou art ever kind to me;

unlike Jin Wu who scowls every day.

Thou knowest not how he torments me!

Young Master,

hearest thou what thou art uttering?

When I achieved such great merit,

wilt thou not uphold me?

Jin Wu,

he is truly no good soul,

vexing me

always! Thou shalt vex him no more,

hearest thou? Understood.

Wander not abroad these days;

Song Chigui nurses bitter malice,

and thou art no match for him.

Safety comes first.

I know it well.

Watch him;

he breeds more trouble than a simpleton!

Fret not;

by thy mandate,

I shall surely keep him in hand.

She rebuked thee for me!

Art thou not childish? Truly childish;

yet in so childish a matter,

she concurred!

Is that not sweet progress?

If we should wed,

must our joint shop change its name?

Such wild dreams! Change the name?

Better change thy surname!

I would take her surname gladly!

Fine;

yet if I change mine,

thou must follow suit.

Get used to Su—is that other masters slumber ending?

Only his return can restrain them

to mind serious duty!

I hope he never recalls the past,

yet hope the great grievance is avenged.

Let us rejoice day by day.

I have heard all of the matter;

thank thee for thy aid. A trifling deed;

thou sharest grain-boosting lore with commoners,

so we

must do something in turn.

Let us discuss grave affairs;

the crops at the Jin manor thrive grandly!

Thou canst behold them thyself;

it shall leave thee in awe.

Magnificent indeed!

In truth,

I only sought advancement,

yet thinking the people shall starve no more...

tears of joy stir within me.

To achieve such noble ends,

mere harvest bounty sufficeth not;

for starvation stems from this predatory world.

Magistrate Wei,

thou shalt surely rise in rank.

May thou then remain a champion for the folk.

In truth, being banished hither

proves a blessing in disguise.

Amidst this desolation,

I reclaimed my true purpose,

recalling the vows of my impoverished youth.

May your honor hold steadfast to that creed.

I take my leave.

A truly remarkable maiden!

Indeed.

By the way,

did Song Chigui seek thee out?

In truth,

his private vice moveth me not,

yet public duty brooks no neglect.

I ponder

whether to banish him elsewhere.

He harbors a petty soul;

shouldst thou displace him,

he would suspect foul play

and nurse bitter malice.

Thou must proceed with utmost caution.

Very well.

Stationed here presently,

aside from sheer uselessness,

he poseth no grave peril.

Let us watch him awhile.

Brother Qi vieweth me with disfavor.

In truth, she sought to ensnare thee;

dreading thou wouldst fall,

I stepped forth.

I merely sought to aid thee, Brother Qi,

yet in the end,

it birthed suspicion! What folly!

All blame now fall upon mine own head?

Brother Qi,

dost thou often meet with my wife?

Hath she slandered my character,

breeding discord between us?

In truth, this matterth little;

multiple consorts are common for men,

as seen throughout the imperial court.

I know not why this troubleth thee, Brother Song.

Perchance thou knowest not:

once my heart is bestowed,

it abideth for a lifetime.

Yet now I am entangled!

Would the Xiao Clan permit Yuyan as concubine?

Were thy primary wife of noble lineage,

the Xiaos could find no fault;

yet Su Li is merely a rustic commoner.

Should the Xiao Clan

raise strife over this,

I would be sorely pressed.

Brother Qi,

I shall never bring thee distress.

Should the Xiao Clan raise clamor,

I shall grant them public deference.

Behind closed chamber doors,

none can decree who ruleth the household!

Thou art exceedingly magnanimous indeed!

I seek solely to ease thy burdens;

whether bitter censure falleth upon me,

it mattereth naught.

Let us proceed with caution.

Thy urgent task is to appease Xiao Yu,

lest she stir up further tumult!

Indeed; I shall visit her forthwith.

Warning: Male leads destiny value declineth again!

Whose doing is this?

A noble deed!

Should destiny fall to the abyss,

it shall never rise again.

His heavenly mantle shall shatter,

and worldly fates shall shift drastically.

The Host shall foresee events no more;

weigh thy choice well. Wretched system!

Cease thy prattle; watch his fortune crash to ruin!

I deemed thou hadst finally remembered me;

yet thou rememberest only to command my aid!

Spirited minx,

hast thou not crossed every bound?

Refusest thou?

Then I take my leave.

Stay!

I refused not!

Sit thee down!

Am I not idle,

born to do thy bidding?

Be seated quickly!

Lest that fair fop arriveth

and senseth something amiss.

Recent earnings flourish well,

yet two shopkeepers are suspected of fraud.

Fail to chastise them now,

and at the next reckoning,

the loss shall swell tenfold.

Mm.

Chastisement is indeed vital,

yet our shops hold guarded craft,

which must not leak,

and our methods are peerless.

Should we banish the managers now,

our losses might prove far heavier.

Fret not over secret craft;

none save trusted cooks

know it.

Punishing them

demands subtlety, not haste.

Strip their power while feigning honor.

Since we shall discard them,

we must reshape our whole structure;

once the new course is set,

they may be cast forth!

Aye, reshape all within our power.

Even if they turn traitor,

none can inflict harm

upon us. Strip Song Chigui first,

then amend all past compacts,

so his betrayal strikes with no force!

Art thou mad?

We weigh grave matters of state,

why slap thy thigh in folly?

I delight in it,

what of it?

Hmph!

Su Li, thy wits are keen indeed!

It struck his innermost thoughts;

for he is no dullard,

merely too sheltered from storms.

That Xiao woman departs shortly.

Her kin sealed terms with Song Chigui.

Returning to luxury,

clothed in fine silks;

yet she may stir strife before leaving,

to vent venom.

What tempest could she rouse?

Tis but grasping at petty solace.

Senior Brother,

no tasks fall to me of late;

dost thou hold grievance against me?

Brother Song,

thou wert never so suspicious before.

Stationed here as I am,

how could I learn of missions?

No commands received

signifieth no task exists.

I fear unseen perils may arise.

Idle as I am these days,

let me sever lingering loose ends.

Tis unnecessary;

He Yong hath settled most matters,

nor are they of grave import,

scarce worth thy weary journey.

Thou knowest not how rash He Yong is;

I harbor grave doubts of his care.

Then go forth and see to it.

Once Xiao Yuyan is dispatched,

I shall depart. Thou returnest timely,

for Master Yin

sent word bidding thee come! An ill omen?

Come, come!

These essays were penned by Chi Yun;

study and annotate them with care.

Is this not a scholars toil

meant for Master himself?

I have beheld all under heaven;

thou needest broader horizons,

so this fine endeavor falls to thee!

To seek idle ease,

why cloak it in pompous words?

Learning to retort with insolence?

Learning no virtues! Splendid!

Did Song Chiyun pen this? Beyond belief!

Hard to believe?

Then shallow indeed are thy wits! Master,

loathing to read mine essays,

thou draggest another to slave!

Do I not place full faith in thee?

Henceforth submit thy scrolls to him;

assist each other.

What boon do I gain?

When vexed,

vent thy wrath upon him!

So I am summoned as a whipping boy?

I refuse!

He hath not refused,

by what right dost thou balk?

Look upon thy clumsy folly!

How couldst thou achieve renown?

I consent, let that suffice!

Read my essays thoroughly,

then train in martial arts with me!

Then guide my younger kin in letters and martial arts.

Before retiring, keep strict watch over Master Yin,

lest he filch morsels in secret.

How exceedingly arrogant!

Doth he treat me as a menial thrall?

Execute thy charge without demur;

why so many complaints?

Ah!

At long last, ease blesseth my days!

Thou art truly my benevolent Master!

Finished at last!

Even sublime prose must not be indulged in excess;

having read it, behold Chi Yun train in arms.

Master,

thy heart is ruthless indeed!

I discern much; yet this martial skill

seemeth quite ordinary.

Vile rogue, dare not vex my second brother! Begone!

Hold!

So tender an age,

yet strikes so fiercely!

Dost thou still dare wrong my second brother?

I was hurled aloft!

Fearsome beyond measure!

What errand bringeth this fool hither?

He was formerly Masters disciple;

perchance he sought a friendly spar.

Wilt he lodge complaint before Master?

I knew not his skill was so pathetic;

trust my kick broke him not!

I suffered no injury.

Though so small, thy martial skill is wondrous!

Desirest thou even greater prowess?

My master will not teach lightly,

yet I may impart it. Wilt thou learn of me?

Little Brother,

pray abandon such folly;

he hath trained in arts for years,

yet cannot even best me.

His aptitude is hopelessly mediocre;

teaching him wilt only vex thee to despair.

Master,

pray instruct me this instant!

What art thou doing?

Utterly devoid of decorum!

Daring to make Brother Qi bow low before thee!

I prepare to teach mine own disciple;

how doth this concern thee?

Disciple? Brother Qi merely indulgeth thee for my sake!

Yet thou takest it to heart!

Truly blind to grace!

Brother Song,

thy words are far too harsh;

he is thine own brother.

Wherefore treat him as a bitter foe?

Lest his insolence offend,

and displease thee.

This lad is ever unruly and presumptuous.

Brother Qi,

pray hold no resentment against him.

Brother Song freteth needlessly;

Chi Ying,

this child is pure and kind,

noble and benevolent of heart;

I favor him greatly.

Is it so?

That is auspicious indeed!

Seekest thou me on business?

Indeed,

let us converse in the teahouse. Brother Qi,

whence came such closeness with my kin,

that thou shieldest him so? Brother Song,

thy demeanor was too severe;

why treat thine own flesh and blood thus?

Besides, I shielded him but lightly,

not half as fiercely as thou guardest

the brother and sister of the Xiao clan!

I only yearn for them to attain greatness,

hence bid all around them maintain strict rigor.

Yet Brother Qi,

thou placest me in dire embarrassment!

So that was the intent.

Bound by such deep bonds,

and they being thy kin,

I could not refrain;

moreover, as Masters prized disciples,

should I not honor the master and his way?

True enough.

What urgent matter bringeth thee? Tis no grave affair,

merely to ask if thou hast contacted thy retinue.

Should word reach them,

I depart in two days,

and may escort thee homeward.

No word hath arrived;

I must tarry here a while longer.

If so,

let me escort thee nonetheless;

the capital hath vital affairs needing thee.

Shouldst thou delay return,

ill schemers may seize their chance!

Can my defenses be so lightly breached?

Thou must

not harbor excessive fret.

Very well,

then I have no further concern;

attend to thy duties. Yet heed this:

spoil not my young brother overmuch. Fret not,

they are virtuous youths;

even indulged, they will not stray,

especially young Chi Ying.

He is gentle and skilled in arms;

grown up, he shall achieve high renown!

Thou flatterest him.

With an elder brother such as thee,

how could he ever fail?

Enough,

I must truly depart.

Hark,

thy fortune is fair indeed, lad;

Chi Yun and the rest rest for two days,

thou needst not spar with them.

Two days? So long a respite?

Mortal flesh must have its repose;

we too must return home anon.

Aye,

return home; I miss my mother dearly!

Behave with dignity!

Pack thy belongings and hasten home.

Go forth.

Dire news!

Alas,

I am Su Li,

transmigrated into a malicious widow,

bound to a villain-redemption system.

Through my painstaking guidance,

the three young villains found a noble path.

Yet once my former spouse returned,

he favored anothers kin instead.

Thus I matched wits against him,

rescued the Fifth Prince,

and caused his fortune to wither away!

In truth, dire calamity hath befallen!

What hath transpired?

After we departed from the Master,

Second Brother wished to seek thee first;

reaching the sugar figurine stall,

turning round,

Third Brother had vanished!

Second Brother

bade me inform thee forthwith,

while he and Xiao Pang search.

Fear not,

follow me to the escort agency for refuge!

Chi Ying is missing;

he must have been dragged to the yamen

dungeon! Bai Qingfeng,

come with me to the dungeon; Bai Li,

find Chi Yun and Xiao Pang; outside is fraught with peril!

Daring to harm my disciple!

Who possesses such monstrous insolence?

Heavens!

Su Li,

fret not;

we shall retrieve him this instant.

Go with tranquil minds;

I shall take Chi Yu to the rear; Lu Yi

and the rest keep watch.

Halt! This is yamen soil,

none may trespass!

Coin shall not avail thee! Ah!

Take thy doubts before thy Magistrate;

stand in my path,

and I shall strike thee down!

Folly must have its bounds;

is this a realm for your wanton insolence?

Humph! Where is Chi Ying?

Asking me? How laughable!

He is within; storm inside!

Audacious! Humph,

vile knave!

Hold!

Hold your hands, all of you!

Why make such turmoil here?

This dungeon alloweth lawful visitation;

Song Chigui,

what authority hast thou to bar them

and trade blows? Visitation is permitted,

yet they must name whom they seek;

none may enter

by brute force!

My Lord,

my young brother must be detained within.

Were all aboveboard,

he would permit our entry,

rather than obstruct from guilt!

Song Chigui, step aside!

Never! I stand by my words:

this is no place for commoners to freely roam,

else where lieth the yamens majesty?

Speak!

My presence here falls under no command of thine!

Stand aside!

Yield the path,

or blood

shall be on thine own head! Strike!

Gratitude.

Good.

Sister-in-law!

I knew thou wouldst come to deliver me!

Escort him back to the agency;

Xiao Ran, seek out Jinman Pavilion

to summon their physician! Guards,

lock him fast within!

By what right dost thou bind me?

Ye falsely accuse

me!

Summon Brother Qi,

let him grant me justice!

What justice should my kin render thee?

Yet I shall impart thy sordid deeds! He was drugged;

this lads will is fierce,

holding fast

against stupor.

The rest are superficial cuts;

yet arm and leg were nearly ruined.

Whether the boy dodged in time,

or the foe relented, none can say.

Song Chigui,

that vile cur!

This is his kin;

how could he strike?

I shall slay

him! Stay thy hand;

caged in the dungeon, he cannot flee.

Await Chi Yings waking ere we act.

When shall my brother awaken?

Alas,

the draught was deep.

Here is a rare sachet;

hang it by his pillow to clear his senses.

Wake he shall,

yet fear his mind may suffer harm.

Withdraw for now;

we shall summon thee if needed. Sister-in-law,

this was aimed at the Fifth Prince;

harming our brother was mere chance,

or mistaking him for mine own self!

Yet his wounds bear Eldest Brothers mark.

Hiding Chi Ying

springs from selfish scheming,

and bitter jealousy beside!

Sister-in-law,

he is a dire plague;

though this cannot take his life,

we must strip his hide!

Indeed; bid our parents raise an outcry.

Severing ties must shake the earth,

to work his utter disgrace!

Thy reckoning with him shall swiftly follow.

Song Chiguis fortune ebbs to the brink.

Harness both severed ties and divorcement,

and no hope of rising shall remain.

Brother, what calamity befell thee?

He has just stirred;

press him not. Chi Ying,

art thou famished?

Wilt thou partake of food?

They sought to drug me into stupor;

caught unawares, I inhaled a breath,

then traded blows with them.

When my strength began to fail,

Eldest Brother arrived,

yet in the fray he struck my arm and leg.

How camest thou to the dungeon cell?

They seemed to know Eldest Brother;

my memory faileth. Thereafter,

he sought to bear me away,

yet wiped my face with a drugged cloth,

and darkness engulfed my mind.

Thinkest thou he struck in error,

or took the wrong cloth by chance?

I deem it foul malice!

One thought alone sustained me:

to hold on to my senses;

for once Sister-in-law found me,

I should be safe.

Aye,

twas malicious intent,

yet proof eludeth us;

he may concoct endless pretexts for hiding thee.

Rest assured; prepare to sever kin ties posthaste!

Trouble yourselves no more with the rest.

Permit me to lend my aid.

I am hailed as a prodigy;

many shall read my prose.

Aye!

Write swiftly and with stirring fire;

I shall bid Jinman Pavilion spread it far!

Self-interest worketh wonders indeed;

in a single day, the essay spread through all corners!

Cease thy banter!

Deliver some tonics unto them anon.

The youth hath suffered such torment;

I cannot remain indifferent,

lest I appear exceeding miserly!

Generous indeed;

why not bestow all thy coin on them?

Spirited minx!

Did she ask,

I would yield all; once stripped bare,

she might take pity and lead me home.

Thus I would cross her threshold!

Enough.

I shall convey the gifts forthwith.

Nigh thee,

wit soon dulls;

remain a clear-minded, lonely soul!

Preen thyself!

Thy mirth shall not endure;

when that person emerges,

thy treasured one shall be reduced to naught.

Brother Song,

wherefore hidest thou Chi Ying here?

Brother Qi,

I have answered thee countless times;

must thou compel me to say

I sought to slay my blood brother?

Thy plea faileth to persuade;

either thou concealest truths,

or rumors speak the truth:

thou begrudgest thine own brothers good!

Aye,

whatever is whispered abroad,

they seek only to ruin me!

Alas,

I scarce believe

thou wouldst commit base deeds.

What then hast thou hidden,

that leaveth all so unexplained?

I have concealed naught.

Hiding Chi Ying... I have naught to explain!

Never have I wished harm upon Gou Wa.

If he deemeth me malicious,

I can say no more;

I should not have rescued him!

Ungrateful wretch!

Thou knowest Chi Ying is not so;

thou trustest him above me,

is it not so?

What avails my faith in thee,

when thou wilt speak naught

nor lift a hand?

How can I silence slanderers?

Am I not sorely vexed?

Vexed? Thinkest I know not?

Thou seekest to discard me

and elevate He Yong!

Whence came his daring to bypass me in duty?

Thou art consumed by Xiao Yuyan,

leaving He Yong to mend thy failures,

yet thou blamest me! Brother Song,

search thine own heart:

have I not placed full trust in thee?

Ponder it well thyself!

How fares it?

Did he speak?

His silence tells the whole tale;

Song Chigui

harbors treacherous intent.

Is this not well?

He was destined to be cast aside.

Since he betrayed first,

thou art spared all guilt.

Yet tis different;

he is becoming an enemy.

The moment thou resolved to discard him,

ye became foes.

Chi Ying is his blood brother,

yet at the first chance,

he plotted harm against him.

What more of thee, who shares no blood?

Alas,

thou speakest true; he merits no grief.

His honor is utterly ruined now;

his father shall sue him on the morrow.

If curious, thou mayest go witness it.

Your Honor, I accuse my eldest son,

Song Chigui, of plotting harm

against my youngest!

Beseech Your Honor to render justice!

Touching this accusation,

what sayest thou?

Why harm thine own blood brother?

Envious of his prowess in martial arts?

I harmed him not; rather, I saved

him!

Yet they turn to bite my hand!

Speak the truth:

did I not preserve thy life?

Thou didst claim no desire to harm me;

yet each misstep fell heavily upon my flesh,

well-nigh crippling me for life.

That I still stand whole before thee

is not through thy mercy,

but that I dodged thy lethal strike.

Tumult reigned all about;

I stood alone against many foes,

and stupor clouded thy senses.

To strike amiss,

was that not most natural?

Natural indeed,

for I lack proof of thy malice;

just as I cannot prove the drugged cloth upon my brow,

meant solely to cloud my wits further,

before dragging me into the dungeon!

And barring Sister-in-law when she sought me!

When blows are dealt,

one strike is an error, but repeated blows

that well-nigh cripple a man

are sheer, malicious assault!

A burly soldier wiping anothers face with a kerchief,

steeped so conveniently in foul drug?

Bah! Brazen hypocrite!

Whatever black design thou harborest,

thine own conscience knoweth best!

Locking him in a dungeon and denying his family entry!

Splendid indeed;

thou hast tasted imprisonment thyself!

Silence! Where is thy proof?

Without me, Song Chiying would be a rotting corpse!

Yet he dareth arraign me?

Repaying benevolence with spite! Unfilial beast!

Silence in court!

What unseemly brawling is this?

Thou claimest innocence; answer then:

wherefore didst thou conceal him in a cell?

Twas solely for his safety!

Villains were stalking his trail;

I sought to hunt them down,

yet feared for his peril,

so sheltered him in the keep!

Why bar his lawful kin then?

Because she soweth enmity abroad daily!

Without her,

my brothers had never faced lethal doom!

I refuse to yield to her!

Very well.

Utter falsehood!

When duty bade thee bear our family burden,

didst thou not flee under cover of night?

Aye.

Yet across these years, not a whisper was heard,

not a single letter sent home.

Cast our whole household from thy heart,

didst thou not?

I was defending our realm upon the battlefield!

Yet upon thy return,

thou gavest not a copper to our hearth!

Is that not truth?

I intended to provide silver,

yet thou broughtest a fugitive, burdening our table,

forcing the family to sustain him!

He plunged our household into chaos,

yet thou favored his kin above thine own blood!

Dost thou confess? I held grave cause!

Be it cause or pretext,

thy heart knoweth full well.

Your Honor!

My eldest son, Song Chigui, is bereft of virtue,

filial piety, and honor!

All woes that befell us

stem from his treacherous hand!

Pray grant us justice, Your Honor!

We beseech to sever all kinship with him!

He is a vile brute!

Our household disowns every bond with him!

We beseech Your Honor to decree justice!

We renounce all kinship with Song Chigui!

Did Su Li bid you perform this vile farce?

It must be so!

No wonder she absenteth herself;

guilt weigheth upon her breast!

Slander not others!

We have long yearned to sever ties with thee!

Unfilial beast, beholding thee sickeneth our sight!

Sever ties if ye will,

yet I confess to none of these accusations!

Clear my name before this court,

lest thy slanders ruin my life!

I am thine own son! A severing in court is no longer domestic strife.

Every word uttered this day

hath been inscribed in the official records.

Once severed today,

all benevolence expires, beyond all reconciliation.

The Song houses plea for renunciation

accordeth fully with reason and law.

This Magistrate decrees:

the Song family henceforth holds no bond with Song Chigui!

By what right? I consent not!

Bar them! Ye have conspired together!

Ye scheme to ruin me! The tribunal brooketh no jest!

Since this magistrate hath so ruled,

the decree standeth unalterable!

Very well!

Sever all kinship?

Sever it now! When destitute hereafter,

seek me not!

Nor hope to bask in my glory, Your Honor!

My parents bestowed great grace and care on him,

yet this son repaid them naught!

Kinship must be severed,

yet past debts must be repaid! This speaketh reason.

How would ye have him repay? Either thirty lashes,

or thirty taels of silver!

Should he refuse both,

how he struck my brother,

so shall my brother return it in kind!

Steeped in vulgar greed indeed!

I shall yield the silver!

Thou hast silver, squandering it on thy vile self,

leaving kin to starve! Vile and rotten heart!

Here is the deed of severance.

Affix thy seal,

and all ties shall be severed!

Pah! Free at last from this base beast!

May my bonds be loosed?

Loose his bonds.

When I campaigned abroad,

wherever I trod,

the people welcomed me with joyous cheers!

Yet now Su Li hath reduced me to this!

They have severed kinship with me;

all proclaim me unfilial and base!

My renown is utterly ruined!

Art thou contented now?

Contented indeed,

most deeply gratified!

So thou didst instigate it all!

Keep thy filthy presence away!

Ye shall all reap bitter remorse!

My ties of blood are severed,

yet thou art still my lawful wife!

Thou canst never escape me!

Did I not cast thee off long ago?

Beholding thee sickens my very soul!

To dwell beneath the same roof with thee

were a fate more wretched than death!

Unless I divorce thee,

thou canst never cast me aside!

Su Li,

mark my words!

From this hour forth,

thou shalt dwell with me;

I shall bind thee with chains,

stripping away all thy peace! Vile,

shameless scoundrel!

What vile babble is this?

He is a brute born of the beastly realm!

We must demand justice from the magistrate!

Alert: Protagonists fate value plummeteth critically!

No restoration shall be granted!

Host, choose with utmost caution!

Should destiny reset,

no regret may redeem thee!

Such warning is utterly futile! Away!

From this day onward,

whether willing

or unyielding,

thou shalt dwell beside me!

I indulged thee far too much;

if thou disobeyest,

I shall strike thee

into absolute submission!

Dare me not to thrash thee!

Mm?

Qin Manlou,

art thou blind?

With wealth, what maiden couldst thou not obtain?

Why covet another mans wedded wife?

Dost thou relish

cast-off leavings? Lo, he sprawleth like a dead hound,

devoid of human dignity,

feigning mighty grandeur!

An utter mockery!

Alas!

Adulterous pair!

I shall make you rue this bitterly!

Peril pressed close;

only then did the miser trade places with me.

Now the crisis is past,

his petty soul bids me vanish!

Deepest gratitude.

All was done with ease;

thy gratitude is owed to me!

Is trading forms upon the open street not perilous?

Both of us consented freely;

when shifting,

none may discern any flaw.

Let this never recur!

I must go meet my parents-in-law.

This is an auspicious day for them,

well worthy of celebration.

Why felt I watched when swapping just now?

Wherefore dost thou clutch me?

The magistrate sent word just now

that thy name is struck from the yamen,

and bade me wait here to inform thee.

Brother Qi, Wei Lin goeth too far!

Help me slay him;

he surely conspired with Su Li!

Brother Qi,

canst thou not wipe out his nine clans?

What bitter hatred is this

to crave his nine clans destroyed?

Art thou mad?

Thou knowest of todays strife!

He favored Su Li and severed my kin;

he seeketh to ruin me!

Brother Qi,

I am thy man;

if thou aid me not,

who else will?

Jin Manlou deserveth death too;

they all deserve to perish!

Brother Song,

let me ask thee:

is thy parents indictment true?

Thou hast wealth in plenty,

why neglected thy household thus?

I was burdened!

I had no leisure.

Dost thou doubt me too?

To err is not fatal, Brother Song,

if thou admit fault

and vow never to repeat it,

then I shall heed it not.

I shall judge thy future deeds.

Good,

I understand now;

I know what to do.

Song Chigui is so vile a villain!

I was truly blind before.

Why dost thou yet waver? Join us;

it yields only profit without loss.

The Prince

shields his own, sparing thee such shame.

The Prince shall betroth the Princess to thee!

Not only is she noble of blood,

but fair as a heavenly fairy!

Can thy peasant wife compare?

I perceive thy sincerity,

yet must ponder further.

Following the Fifth Prince is legitimate,

while following thy Prince brings curses if won,

and treason if vanquished!

Thy hesitation

proves the Princes triumph is most likely!

As for the Fifth Prince, stripped of court slaves,

he is but a trapped weakling, unfit for great rule!

He was long misled and ruined by our Prince!

His few trusted confidants

were demoted of late,

banished near this barren wilderness!

Can he ever rise to power again?

Every word is true,

absolute truth!

Search it out if thou doubt me.

How to choose,

thy heart ought to know.

Of course,

shouldst thou join,

thou must offer a worthy pledge of loyalty.

Very well.

Why comest thou to our hearth?

Dreadest thou what I might do to thee?

Would I be so beastly as to slay my own father?

Thou wert beast enough to slay thy brother;

slaying thy sire

is but a convenient stroke!

I have spoken:

I never meant to kill him!

Thy heart knoweth the truth;

strike swiftly if thou wilt!

I say once more,

I am no beast! Father,

once I departed,

ye enjoyed blessed days!

Could I but share such ease,

how could the others rival me? Thy mother and I

hold our heads high because Su Li shields us!

Hadst thou not fled and shielded us back then,

we too would have stood tall!

Yet thou grew timid,

thou fled!

Wherefore dost thou blindly blame others?

Dost thou not regret severing our kinship?

I regret it,

regret not severing it far earlier!

Splendid, excellent indeed!

Hereafter, all ties between us sever!

When doom befalls,

plead not to me for aid!

Pah! Wretched blight!

Brother, why were thy men demoted,

and exiled near here? This befell but recently,

ere they even arrived!

Whence didst thou learn this?

Is there some design

unknown to me?

Doubtless Imperial Fathers wrath

at their failure to guard me;

for they arranged mine entire journey,

yet I slipped away mid-path.

They shall soon be recalled to the capital.

Court posts are coveted;

once vacated,

others claim them instantly!

Return is scarce so simple.

How could return fail?

Imperial Father needs but speak one word!

The Fifth Prince was ruined by Prince Yu!

Can such a creature inherit the throne?

Even if crowned,

could he hold his seat?

Thou hast not told me how thou knewest.

Such tidings fly not so swiftly!

Brother Qi,

Wei Lin and I are bitter foes;

wilt thou rid me of him?

Him, and merchant Jin Manlou beside,

who vexes mine eyes!

Canst thou strike him down for me?

Thou bidst me slay lives merely to vent thy spite?

Brother Song,

how couldst thou ask so lawless a thing?

Twas but spoken in jest;

take it not to heart.

Ah,

Brother Qi,

urgent business calls me;

I take my leave!

Thou heardest all, no doubt.

I have utterly offended him for thy sake!

Offense matters little;

I fear his treacherous schemes.

What if he strikes at thee?

Better abide in the escort agency;

masters abound there.

Should he turn traitor,

he needs a pledge of fealty;

am I not the readiest prey?

Yet Father hath other princes;

striking now,

doth Royal Uncle not fear exposure?

Song Chigui is the prime mover;

he

deems thou denied him aid,

so thou must perish!

Yea, all in town privy to his shame,

he deems worthy of slaughter! Disaster!

Might he silence all by the sword?

Lacks he such daring?

I shall seek Su Li;

she will surely perceive it.

I seek thy counsel in this matter.

I bade He Yong make full preparation;

his flank can envelop them.

Yet I can command only him alone;

as for other troops, I can assist.

What follows?

Anon I shall summon Jin Manlou

to join our design;

escort blades within and He Yong without ensure victory.

Thy sole task is evacuating folk by town gate.

I heed thy word.

Moreover, that Young Master Qi in the yamen

had best dwell in our escort agency,

lest he become an encumbrance!

I was loath to broach that very plea!

Heartfelt thanks!

Deeply grateful am I!

How many dwellings must be cleared for safety?

All on this side must withdraw.

Once combat erupts,

they will have no time to flee; thou deemest as I do.

Yet clearing this sector alone is scarce safe.

Sister-in-law, if things unfold as foreseen,

carnage is unavoidable;

no plan is flawless.

I fathom thy thought;

yet I would see how far our utmost can reach!

It shall surely reach

unto thine utmost hope!

In truth, is it not mere lack of hands?

Outside, that fops tally commands men;

we lack no troops.

Inside, all needed men shall be supplied by Jin Clan!

Is that not an infallible strategy?

Young Master,

this must not be done!

What if harm befalleth thee?

I can shield mine own person;

cease thy alarmist babble!

Furthermore,

is it safer to halt them here,

or let them slaughter within?

Ponder it with thy dull wits!

Enough of thy hesitations!

Execute my command!

Bai Qingfeng and the rest could hold this ground.

I seek only absolute assurance.

Thus the Jin Manor guards need not deploy.

Sister-in-law and I weighed the direst plight; yet it may not come to that.

Song Chigui lacketh

the

might. Fear not owing me a favor!

As I swore,

if the Jin clan promised aid, come they shall.

Deploy them as ye deem fitting.

Art thou foolish?

Having aided her to such extent,

why claim no gratitude?

Without plain words, will she heed thy grace?

To barter every deed for favors,

such pettiness is beneath me;

all is offered of my own free will.

Goest thou not?

Art thou blind of eye?

Nay,

seek out a physician!

In truth,

knowest thou not our Jin guards cannot be mobilized lightly?

Should suspicion fall upon us,

wilt thou not face peril?

Braving such danger, why not claim the favor?

I have mine own course;

meddle not with me!

Coming daily to court rebuke,

bringeth it joy?

Su Li,

my past words were born of fleeting wrath.

I ask thee now in solemn truth:

wilt thou share a harmonious life with me?

I will not!

I am far more than a mere bailiff.

If thou consentest,

I shall bear thee away.

Depart first;

status mattereth little,

I shall treat thee with utmost devotion!

To become thy hidden paramour?

Such was not my intent.

I would have held thee alone in my heart,

yet thou raised strife.

Now circumstances bind me;

yet this is but passing.

All thou cravest, I shall grant.

Pardon me;

aught bestowed by thee,

I abhor! Wilt thou begone?

Even a single glance upon thee

turneth my stomach!

Su Li, I sought to spare thy life, yet thou scornest the chance;

thou cherishest it not,

blame not my ruthless hand!

Very well,

repent not of this! Prepare!

Ready thy volley!

I have awaited this long!

They are well-drilled warriors!

Nourish troops for a thousand days,

deploy them for one critical hour; falter not, brothers!

Lest we have no face to meet Su Li!

Fret not,

our resolve is firm!

Younger brother,

step not too near;

strike only those stragglers who slip past the masters.

I comprehend;

I wish to face such trial on mine own,

for I shall become a grand general hereafter! Is this my trial?

Shout the order swiftly!

Retreat!

Defeat is sealed this day.

Good!

Hold fast thy ground!

Aye!

Thou soughtest to slay me!

Indeed!

He wished to kill thee!

How long wilt thou falsely accuse me?

Seest thou not

I was aiding thee?

Twas I who kicked thy blade aside;

else Second Brother had fallen!

Ye truly deem my ruin incomplete!

Waste no breath upon him!

Masters!

Song Chigui claimeth

he came to render aid;

we feared... Why did ye two venture forth?

Ah,

tis well,

unscathed;

else how could I face your sister-in-law?

Time and again, dost thou court thy death?

I declare once more,

I came solely to assist!

Persist in slandering me,

and I shall show no mercy!

Feigning pretext to shield assassins,

yet daring threaten me!

Very well,

strike then!

Let us see which of us

chastises the other!

Senseless fool! A wife must submit to her lord,

yet thou spurnest me with disgust;

thus slaying thee is just! Humph, art thou worthy?

If not I, who? Xiao Ran, Jin Manlou, or Bai Qingfeng?

Surrounded by men from dawn till dusk;

how shameless is thy craving!

Far nobler than thy deceit! Feigning righteous virtue,

yet bewitched at the sight of any fair maiden!

Thou courteth death! Begone!

Tis well.

What further defense hast thou?

This was surely no accidental blow.

She is my lawful wife; in life mine own,

in death my ghost!

I shall treat her as pleaseth my will!

Is it so?

Dost thou believe

I shall cripple thee? Brother Song,

thou hast disappointed me grievously.

Thou too hast disappointed me!

Why lingered He Yong beyond the town?

What mandate didst thou grant him?

Brother Qi,

how bitterly hast thou deceived me!

Had I not concealed it, would these townsfolk survive?

I know not what madness possesseth thee.

Thou and Xiao Yuyan are truly a match fated,

slaughtering innocents to guard your repute!

Didst thou fancy thy dark deeds remained hidden?

Then disappointment awaiteth thee;

far and wide as my name resounds,

so notorious hath thine own become!

How now? Art thou surprised,

astonished beyond words?

I shall slay thee, venomous woman!

I am well.

He is no fair-faced fop.

Mm.

When addressing others hereafter,

guard thy tongue! All turn against me?

Splendid!

Since all have wronged me,

why should I show regard? He is no kin of Wei Lin,

but the Imperial Fifth Prince, beloved of His Majesty!

The famed hero celebrated across the realm

is naught but of such base conduct!

Song Chigui,

it seems thou hast stripped away all feigning.

Aye,

I feign no longer;

nor shall I permit thee to dissemble!

I offered thee steadfast loyalty,

yet thou harborest not a shred of trust;

it chilleth my heart to the marrow!

Fret not;

none shall credit his wild babble.

In no manner

dost thou resemble an imperial prince.

What tie bindeth thee to those dark-clad assassins?

Whose henchmen were those shadowed blades?

Hmph,

utter no foul accusations!

I hold no commerce with those assassins;

I came solely to shield His Highness! They are slain,

none survived;

all swallowed lethal poison beforehand.

Curse them, daring strike at my disciple mid chaos,

yet claiming twas a mere error! Time after time,

how can there be endless errors?

Bind him! Men, bind Song Chigui fast!

This magistrate shall interrogate him rigorously!

Dost thou distrust me?

Bid them release me!

Without proof,

by what right am I seized?

I aided thee before;

hast thou forgotten? Paltry favor warrants no leniency.

Should no evidence emerge,

I shall naturally set thee free.

Why then art thou so agitated?

Doth a guilty conscience gnaw at thee?

Since disguise is cast off,

I harbor no further restraint.

Thou lingerest ever at Su Lis side,

is it not from longing?

She is mine own wedded wife;

unrequited, thou strikest me, no?

Madman! Struck I the tender truth?

An imperial prince coveting a peasant woman brings shame!

Knowest thou why I never favored her?

She is utterly unworthy to be seen!

Dost thou dare disdain Su Li?

What manner of beast art thou?

Su Li is the one covered in shame!

She abhors even touching thee!

Silence thy vile mouth!

Think not I know naught of your illicit bond!

Brazen adulterers!

Ye are all stained with her filth,

else why this fierce devotion? Slandering like a foul crone!

Thou hast no shred of shame!

Did I spare thee, insolent knave?

An official blinded by obstinacy to this point,

yet deeming thyself flawless,

twere better to dash thy head and die!

Hath he lost his wits?

Snarling at every passerby!

Avoid him lest his venomous rabies taint thee!

Drag him away!

They seem not inclined to open court.

What dire calamity befell yesternight?

Why bid us disperse so hastily?

The yamen must be at its wits end.

The assassins and arsonists all perished;

only Song Chigui was taken alive.

He still denies it! I charge Song Chigui: as a son,

he abandoned his parents;

as a sire,

he broke marital faith,

seducing unmarried

maidens in wanton sin!

Jealous as an elder brother,

he struck viciously at his own blood kin!

Aye!

Sue him! Sue this shameless, vile wretch!

Though proof for yesternight be lacking,

make him a despised rat across the streets!

Precisely!

Proclaim unto all people

he is a vile beast! Convene the court,

convene the court posthaste!

Court is seated!

Regarding the grave accusations of thy wife,

dost thou confess? I confess!

What of it then?

She is mine own wedded wife;

how I treat her is my domestic affair!

What can ye ever do to me?

What is thy petition?

I petition to divorce my husband!

I shall sever ties!

Song Chigui and I,

shall wed as strangers, forever unbound!

A shrew through and through!

Thou divorce me?

Tis I who should cast thee forth!

Yet assuredly,

I will not divorce thee;

thou shalt never break free from my grasp in this life!

Why should I not sever our bond?

Merely because thou art a man,

must I endure thy base villainy without end?

No such justice exists under heaven!

Nor dare I trust in such perversion of justice!

The law binds women with shackles,

yet these limits denote only the Seven Ousts;

nowhere states a woman cannot divorce a man!

Wherefore can I not sever this bond?

Song Chigui is disloyal,

unrighteous,

unfilial, his foul infamy spreading across thousands of li!

Confronted, he shows not a shred of remorse;

such a wretched rot,

why can I not cast him aside?

We beseech Your Honor to grant her petition!

Why can she not divorce him?

Why must women suffer in silence forever?

Hitherto none dared divorce a husband,

for we had no refuge to turn to!

Yet Su Li is truly capable,

she hath her own independent path!

Why can she not divorce him, Your Honor?

Though I am a man myself,

I support Su Li divorcing her husband!

For this Song Chigui is no man, but a beast!

Since imperial statutes contain no decree

forbidding a woman from divorcing,

there is no reason this precedent cannot be established!

This magistrate hereby decrees and grants this divorce!

How darest thou? Take thy bill of divorce!

Every word spoken upon this hall is inscribed in the records!

From this day forth,

Su Li casts off

Song Chigui!

Henceforth each walks a separate path,

free to wed anew without concern.

Su Li!

Mine were words of fleeting wrath;

I never meant to sever our bond!

I truly wished to share days of peace!

Yet I desire it not.

Take this deed of divorce.

Song Chigui,

remember well: tis Su Li who abandoned thee!

To think I would pine for thee! Pure delusion.

Mm.

Why must thou be so cruel?

Hadst thou appeared thus from the start,

I would have cherished thee with whole heart!

Su Li,

grant me one more chance!

I was merely blinded by vulgar vanity;

I beseech thee,

grant me one more chance!

Plead in line if thou must;

all hath been sealed.

Accept it! Court is dismissed.

Return and examine thy households for harm;

the yamen shall grant amends upon inquiry.

Brother Song, take thy bill of divorce and depart.

Senior Brother,

aid me!

Annul this divorce she cast upon me!

Aid me this once,

and I shall pledge unswerving loyalty hereafter,

braving fire and sword without hesitation!

Song Chigui,

thy fickle falsehood terrifies the soul.

Dost thou think I crave thy loyalty?

Had Imperial Uncle not pleaded for thee,

I would never have spared thy wretched life!

Think not I am blind to thy schemes!

Now that we have parted,

thou yearnest to take my place!

Can a prince bestow lawful honor upon her?

I can! I shall take

no other bride;

she alone sufficeth! Thou saidst not so before!

I merely stumbled as all mortal men do,

yet I shall repent! Su Li,

forgive me this once, I pray thee!

Male leads fortune plummets to the abyss,

past all hope of revival.

Former lead degenerates into villain.

Host,

heed refreshed scenario: main quest remains unchanged,

until story terminates. In this state,

must I still shield the trio from darkening?

What further snares lie ahead?

How is the storys end defined?

Could it hinge upon Song Chiguis mortal demise?

Were I to slay him now, would all conclude?

Original quest: prevent corruption of the three young ones.

Now that the male lead turns villain,

if the trio

surpass his power and rank without falling to darkness,

the grand mission shall be fulfilled.

So this vain knave must draw breath a while longer. Su Li,

grant me one more chance!

I shall endure any trial thou settest!

Thou art utterly repulsive.

Hadst thou borne thy bitter harvest like a man,

I might have held a shred of regard for thee.

Yet now thou art merely a shameless cur!

I wish not to lose thee! Cast him forth!

My words are not yet finished!

General Song, that thou standest unharmed

is owed solely to our Prince!

Thou must accompany us forthwith;

harbor no regret.

With supreme power, all shall be thine.

The Fifth Prince hath roused the Emperors fury,

barred from the capital for many a moon.

Wilt thou persist in blind folly?

The wise

heed the times.

The Fifth Prince is unworthy of grand destiny,

and other princes are baser still.

This realm shall belong to Prince Yu!

I go with you! Su Li, once I wield sovereign might,

I shall surely return.

Thou art mine alone! Ah!

The blade is poisoned!

Prince, ruthless art thou!

Thou hast considered every measure with precision.

Such transcendent beauty invites dire peril;

thy former modest guise

is best.

Indeed,

without a veil over such radiance, Su Li,

evil lust would breed endless calamity.

Is not Song Chigui a prime example?

Art thou truly the Fifth Prince?

Why seemest thou unlike the genuine royal scion?

Alas!

I once deemed myself exceptional;

yet treading this path,

I have learned my true measure.

Did I give offense to thee before?

Wilt thou settle scores hereafter?

Nay, never so!

My gratitude is beyond measure!

Moreover,

is not Chi Yun my mentor?

I am not vile like Song Chigui;

I bear a conscience.

Trust me: this crisis is concluded,

and we may bring all to an end.

Regarding repairs for afflicted folk,

thy silver defrayed the cost.

Wilt thou truly forgo such renown?

Mine own prestige sufficeth as it is.

Bestowing it on the yamen exalts your authority for future governance.

Indeed; yet using thy wealth to crown our name

makes me feel uneasy.

The yamens ease is mine own ease;

for I await thy petition for my imperial reward.

This is mutual triumph.

Toiling so long,

I shall take my leave first.

Ah!

Your Sister-in-law hath arrived!

My felicitations,

on thy successful divorce!

Mutual joy, Sister-in-law!

How ought we address thee hereafter?

Must we alter our greeting?

No change is needed; tis mere title.

As for your lingering dread,

the bonds between us

never pertained to Song Chigui,

did they?

Aye,

unrelated to him!

Aye,

Sister-in-law is ever our kin!

Whom thou lovest is our brother; even a matrilocal match pleases me!

Why jest in so wild a manner now?

Thy countenance appeareth wan;

thou swappest with the other too often.

Art thou truly well?

What ill could befall me?

A sleepless night

maketh pallor,

quite natural.

Thy countenance looks weary too;

hasten back to rest.

Should trouble arise,

conceal it not.

Fret not.

Dost thou not decide all matters for me?

What could I hide from thee?

I shall return first;

rest well. My head...

why this sudden piercing pain?

Why seems a span of memory lost?

Did that fool force his way forth?

It should not be so! Ah!

Young Master is unwell!

My head throbs with severe torment;

sleep shall perchance mend it.

Rest awhile then;

if the ailment abates not upon waking,

I shall summon the manor physician.

Withdraw for now.

Alas, these peaceful days draw to a close!

Had I known, I would have warned him;

to let Young Master bid the minx a dignified farewell,

leaving no remorse behind.

Young Master!

Lingering long with those two indolent fools,

thou too hast turned into a wretch!

Truly laughable cowardice!

Two cowards dreading the stir of pain,

swapping places incessantly for a mere woman!

Yet gratitude is due to that shrewish wench;

else breaking forth would require tedious toil.

Shall our pact with the shrew be severed?

Insolent fool!

Severing it would betray our secret!

Besides, silver bears me no malice;

this wealth hath use,

knowest thou not?

Nay,

I merely inquired. Utter no such idiocy!

My waking moments were formerly all too brief;

many schemes were entrusted to thee. How far have they advanced?

All is arranged in readiness.

What further orders, Master? None presently;

nor need we hasten deployments.

This time, I shall remain long in command.

Perchance this form shall endure forever.

Have those two vanished forevermore?

Dost thou pine for them?

Hast thou forgotten who master is? Nay, I am merely shaken.

Tis best if that be all;

lest I break thee without mercy.

I share naught with those two wretches;

vengeance alone fills my soul,

void of tender weakness.

Dost thou grasp this?

This servant understands, Young Master.

I too crave retribution.

Thou hast not forgotten;

tis well.

Else thy life would hold no purpose.

A whole clan slaughtered;

how dare I forget?

Never shall I forget that raging inferno,

nor the agonizing shrieks of my kin!

A tyrannous sovereign must fall!

By heavens design,

that fifth imperial prince is here;

let us spill his blood first!

Strike at once?

Wherefore spare his breath any longer?

The Master resides here,

and the prince is his disciple;

should we strike now...

Only the Master commands my wary respect.

He cannot flee;

we strike when the Master departs.

He ever leaves this worldly haunt in intervals.

How shall we deal with that shrew Su Li?

Conceal thy true self,

and shun meeting her,

or summon her to the teahouse on the morrow?

I shall tame that spirited minx thoroughly!

Let those two wretches witness her torment at my hands;

tis my chastisement for their spineless folly!

Pray reconsider, Young Master;

would it not be well

to ally peacefully as before?

Art thou master,

or am I?

Forget not thy station!

I am not those two feeble fools,

nor do I possess their meek patience!

I harbour no disloyalty;

I merely proffer counsel.

Su Li is no ordinary maiden;

mutual prosperity is the wisest path.

Those two fools pampered her excessively!

What harm to humble her pride?

Permitting her insolence would bring endless ruin.

I shall seek out Su Li at first light.

Our young master

bids thee attend him;

he hath weighty matters to confer,

at the usual chamber in the teahouse.

Very well.

Return ahead;

I shall follow shortly.

He called me by name; something is amiss!

Summoning me in such haste;

what business is this?

Mm.

The slightest effort could dispatch thee to the grave;

speak unto me with utmost deference!

Which one art thou? Composed enough, I see.

Who I am

concerns thee not;

know only that henceforth thou shalt answer solely to me!

Thy carefree days have drawn to their end.

Spare thy babble and release me!

Fearest thou me not? One is a fool,

the other a miser,

and thou art a sinister wraith!

Thou seekest death!

I showed thee grace,

yet thou resortest to vile trickery!

Choosing punishment over courtesy!

Enough!

I yield!

Our bond is founded on commerce;

strife unto death serves neither of us.

State thy terms,

and let us sit

to confer in peace.

Hmph!

Thou hast some wit at last; drink thy tea.

All may be weighed;

dare not plot deceit against me!

We two are sworn allies;

if calm reason may prevail,

wherefore stir up bitter tumult?

Thou art shrewd,

and worldly-wise;

I marvel at what those fools beheld in thee!

My patience with thee hath reached its bound.

From this very hour...

Speak unto me with due courtesy!

Darest thou throttle my throat?

Canst thou not speak with reason?

Thou playest treacherous tricks!

What else?

Thou skulking in the shadows,

having watched so long,

knowest not what manner of person I am?

Cease thy clamor and spare thy breath.

In this entire teahouse, none dwelleth save us.

Shout until thy throat breaketh,

no soul shall come to thy rescue!

What dost thou intend?

We are bound in alliance;

slaying me bringeth thee no gain!

So thou understandest reason after all!

Then what farce didst thou play

just now? Was peace not well?

Must thou flaunt thy petty power?

Strike me not!

I shall strike thee as I please!

What canst thou do to me?

Very well!

I shall slay thee! The yamen holds me in favor!

Were I to take thy life,

would they dare bind me in chains?

What in truth dost thou desire?

Tis for me to ask; twas thou

who sought me out!

Wait a moment, the drug soon fadeth.

My thanks, many thanks!

Being allies after all,

I used no heavy dose,

lest thy wit be dulled.

Enough.

Speak thy mind now.

Speak if thou must; I have many toils,

knowest thou not?

Indeed, thou knowest naught;

the master hath shifted!

How vexing,

to summon an untamed savage hither!

Thou art the savage!

Cease thy vulgar banter!

Canst thou not understand my speech?

Hath a beast kicked thy skull,

or hath a gate crushed thy brain?

Our pact standeth as of old,

yet thy share shall enjoy no past favors!

Thy spending is thine alone, unrelated to me.

I differ from those two weaklings;

I shall yield not an inch unto thee!

Examine the ledgers ere thou utterest such boast!

What meanest thou?

The literal meaning.

Untie me then! It may be done,

yet vow to show reverence and bare fangs no more.

I hear thee.

Release me posthaste!

Let Jin Wu loose thee.

Moreover,

scrutinize the ledgers well.

Young Master!

Art thou unharmed?

Her hand was far too ruthless!

Formidable craft indeed;

she kept touching my face!

Touching thy face?

Art thou speaking delirium?

Is the pact settled?

Aye,

Su Li hath yielded.

I did not—let it be.

I indulged her. Fine words indeed!

Clearly thou wert beaten into submission!

Fetch the ledgers of previous shares posthaste!

Thou hast no wit at all!

There is naught to contest in these books.

Su Li took no advantage, ye two fools!

She severed all ties cleanly,

yet ye pine

in vain one-sided longing!

Utterly devoid of dignity!

Indeed.

Enough.

As for our commerce,

let all stand as before so coin floweth in.

Next, we deploy against that tyrant emperor!

I shall see his entire royal court wiped out!

That day shall arrive, Mother!

That shrewish maid spoke truly;

the Young Master was twisted by long confinement.

A thrashing healed him well; I must thank her anon.

The spirited shrew hath arrived.

Thou seemest not astonished.

Nor uneasy in the least;

naught hath changed,

so naturally all is at ease.

Yet the man hath changed.

Those other two may emerge no more.

They are one and the same;

kinship binds their souls.

Neither can slay the other within,

nor can suppression last forever.

The other two shall return in time.

Is that true?

In truth it is so. That is well.

To the matter: why seek me out?

What further purpose hast thou?

The young master yields full control to thee;

he heeds it not,

nor shall he cross thy path often.

He bade thee pry no further into his deeds.

Hmph, vain fool!

Tell him this from me:

pry not into my affairs either!

It shall be conveyed.

Very well.

Young Master, the words were borne.

Su Li sent a reply unto thee:

she bade thee pry not into her affairs!

Shameless impudence!

As if I cared for her!

Doth she liken me to those two fools?

Indeed,

she flatters herself;

thou disdainest her presence.

Spoke she naught else?

Naught else.

Very well!

Grand indeed!

Let it be;

as if I desired her counsel.

Weighty tasks await my hand;

within these days,

we must take our leave.

I go to make ready.

Thou art breathless with haste;

I could scarce find thee, Master!

Is there urgent counsel?

Let Chi Yun journey forth to temper his mind.

Would that suit?

Canst thou endure him no more?

Alas,

who could endure him?

Confined to this hamlet,

his vision remains narrow.

When the imperial exams open,

he shall test his mettle.

Wilt the Mu youth compete against him?

Does Master pit iron against silk?

He cannot match Chi Yuns brilliance.

Yet,

if it burdens thee,

forget my words.

All shall follow Masters will.

Choose two guards from the escort bureau,

and dispatch Chi Yun on the morrow.

Tomorrow thou shalt feast on spicy broth!

Agreed!

Tis settled.

Sister-in-law, return,

attend me no more;

I shall return in time.

Let us depart;

quicken our pace.

Aye.

The young one is in thy care.

Rest assured.

Go now,

delay no longer.

Well then!

Thou art deep in petty schemes, woman;

knowing I depart, thou comest to escort me.

Alas,

seek a physician for thy wits!

Feigning retreat to entice me!

How discernest thou such a ruse, master?

Sawest thou not her amorous glances?

Didst thou not mark them?

She rolled her eyes in scorn!

Alas, I must spurn her affection;

till vengeance is reaped,

no place remains for love!

We shall prevail;

tis our destiny.

For we risked our very lives.

Let us go.

Master,

taste this,

partake of this as well;

these are fresh dainties.

Eat some fish,

and shun the pepper.

Ah,

thy second brother departed at last;

our blessed days have dawned!

Were it not for propriety,

I would fire crackers in celebration!

Ah,

in all my days never felt I such joy!

By this measure,

past days held no flavor whatever!

Reared as a simpleton for so long,

what flavor could there be?

This student was dull of wit to discern it not sooner.

Pondering

past matters altereth naught;

cherish the present hour; if well lived,

the morrow shall not fail.

Alas,

I see less clearly than a mere child!

No matter;

learn more from Chi Yun.

Aye,

this lad hath great destiny ahead!

Thy retainers have arrived.

Let them arrive if they will;

wherefore so grim a countenance?

Only one survivor reached us,

steeped in gore,

falling senseless at the yamen gate!

The rest have perished by the sword!

How can this be?

Their prey was me, yet I rode not with them!

Imperial Uncle surely knew of this;

why dispatch assassins anew?

Alas,

art thou truly so naive?

Prince Yu was told,

yet thy royal brothers know naught of it!

I never suspected my kin,

if all is false, what truth remaineth?

Thou must lodge at the escort agency;

make Chi Yun a bailiff in the yamen,

to brave the city ruffians;

I shall beseech Su Li for a skilled warrior!

I shall speak with Su Li; His Highness shall be guarded well.

Dost thou desire Bai Qingfeng

to don bailiff robes and guard the Fifth Prince with Xiao Ran?

A magistrate such as I

hath rendered thee little aid,

yet ever bringeth thee burdens.

Between us no ceremony is needed;

upon my return, I shall ask Bai Qingfeng

which of them is willing.

Calling me hither,

perchance thou hast another errand?

Tis concerning the seeds:

when canst thou deliver them,

that the common folk may sow early?

The yamen must not distribute seeds; tis too conspicuous.

I intend the Jin Clan shops to advance seeds on credit:

seeds given free in spring,

grain repaid at autumn harvest;

under guise of commerce, all appeareth lawful.

Were it not simpler for them to purchase with silver?

If coin be required outright,

the folk

might not buy from our hands.

Thou knowest not rustic folk:

in the lean spring season,

who hath spare silver?

Most selling of offspring falleth between sowing and harvest.

If spring seeds be given on trust,

their children are preserved from ruin.

Were it thee, what path wouldst thou choose?

Then this plan is flawless indeed!

With ye watching over this domain,

and our commerce holding high esteem,

no fresh strife should arise.

Dost thou intend to tarry here no longer?

I depart for the Outer Capital;

my commercial enterprise must shift its base.

This is sudden indeed;

wilt thou abandon all affairs here?

Should an insurmountable trial arise,

I shall assuredly return.

Yet I must hasten thither.

When bounty reacheth the folk next year,

thy merit shall merit swift promotion;

I hope thy first posting be the Outer Capital,

that our alliance may flourish further.

Though lesser than the royal city,

tis still beneath the Son of Heavens throne;

can I truly attain it?

Nay,

His Highness is here;

could he fail even in so modest a favor?

When then dost thou intend to set forth?

Upon the morrow.

Is this not too hasty?

Must thou not explain all to thy parents-in-law?

Underestimate them not. Enough,

I take my leave first.

Very well,

attend me no further!

Tis not as though we part forever.

Three days apart reveals a scholar anew;

when next I behold you both,

shall boundless marvels await me?

Aye!

Sister-in-law merely journeys forth;

she hath not forsaken us.

There is naught to grieve over!

Third Brother and I shall strive diligently;

Sister-in-law shall swell with great pride!

I trust you both well. Go forth!

Return home.

Farewell, Sister-in-law!

We shall miss thee! Return with thy master!

Let us rest here for the night,

famished as we are.

Partake of food and take repose.

Ah!

What is your bidding, guests?

Two superior chambers, and tend our carriage.

Mm.

Right away!

It appeareth safe;

I sense no murderous aura. Nay,

what is amiss?

Young Master Jin, what rare fortune!

Thou shadowest me!

Canst thou not speak with civil grace?

Have ye quarreled?

Why art thou alone in his company?

Such petty schemes

I have beheld all too often!

Dream not of prevailing!

Ugh!

What scheme have I ever harbored?

What madness seizeth thee anew?

Was it not agreed

to pry into each others affairs no more?

So this petty grievance stirred thy wrath!

Mine own words were not thus;

I know not how Jin Wu twisted it; waste no breath!

Each of us hath our own charge to fulfill;

crowd not together!

Waiter, present two finest dishes!

Aye!

At once!

Jin Wu,

dine with him at another table.

Aye.

Hero Xu,

follow me;

my master hath weighty words for the shrew; speak!

I know thy heart leaneth toward me,

yet I hold no such fancy for thee.

Spare thyself needless toil!

Hath folly clouded thy skull?

Begone!

The sight of thee sours my sight!

Hmph!

Confess or deny as thou wilt;

my stance is made plain!

Persist, and thy heartbreak rests not on me!

Wander before mine eyes no longer!

Aye.

If thou truly cannot restrain thyself,

I may deign to let thee gaze upon me;

yet fancy naught beyond it.

Tis merely mine own gracious pity.

Jin Wu, drag thy fool master away!

Shy and discomfited, I see!

Very well,

I depart forthwith.

Pray forgive him;

he was sober and sensible of late;

I know not what sudden craze seized him.

Speak of him no more;

my head aches!

Indeed,

why art thou here?

I must oversee the commerce in Waijing;

new wares rely on their shops and cannot fail.

Folly!

I entrust the venture to thy great diligence.

I shall check on Young Master. What?

Were we not to journey through the night?

Why lodge at an inn?

My affairs brook no

prying from thee, slave!

Yet thou saidst haste was urgent,

brooking no delay!

Ride furiously on the morrow,

and we shall arrive in time!

Dost thou think me devoid of reckoning?

Forget not thy lowly station!

Fancy not I share the soft tempers

of those two fools!

Very well,

I say no more;

thy brilliance needs no meddling of mine.

Having stirred her heart, be not overly cruel!

Let her gaze upon me while she may.

Alas,

her heart harbors such scheming whims,

ever seeking touching glances and proximity,

utterly lacking maidenly reserve!

Proximity? That swift kick she gave thee?

What insolent look is that on thy face? Go!

Keep close watch,

guard that Xu hero,

permit him not near Lady Sus chamber!

To leave her tender heart unanswered

hath grieved her sorely enough;

all I can bestow is shield and safety.

Young Master,

thou fretst in vain;

men of the escort agency

harbor no such intent toward Lady Su.

Faces are seen, yet hearts stay hidden;

she is far too ingenuous and unguarded!

Go when bidden; waste no breath!

Wherefore so much babble?

Ingenuous and unguarded?

Young Master,

what utter nonsense dost thou utter?

Thou shalt not depart!

Hasten!

She holds fond affection for me,

so I ought to... regardless, keep guard!

No wonder thou insisted on lodging here;

at heart, thou canst not bear parting!

Claiming the shrew fell for thee,

when tis thou who art smitten unawares,

falling behind even the other two!

What now?

Can I not command thee? Art thou crazed?

Sleeping not at dead of night,

what uproar dost thou raise?

Curse it!

Heh heh heh,

what dost thou think she means?

Lodging right beside

me,

tis far too plainly revealed!

Perchance tis mere chance.

Hearing my voice, she stepped forth at once;

in truth, she yearns to behold me!

Say, how hath she such refined discernment?

Looking upon neither of those two wretches,

she chose only

me! Might it be that she loathes thee most?

What wild slander dost thou utter?

Hast thou not fallen for her?

Failing to hasten,

insisting on lodging here,

is it not from longing to remain near her?

Well... very well!

Thou yearnest to speed forth?

Come!

Then depart this very instant!

Young Master Jin...

have they departed?

What bickered master and man yesternight?

Why seemed Young Master Jin so wrathful?

Hath grave trouble befallen him?

His humors ever shift like the wind;

heed him not.

Let us resume our journey.

Wilt thou not depart smiling?

Thy presence is unneeded for now;

return to the inn first,

where a chamber

is reserved for thy dwelling.

Very well;

attend to thy toil while I wander about.

Wander... I am a proprietor of Lady Sus shop!

Bring forth the account ledger!

Aye, immediately!

Indeed, tis the masters seal.

Ah,

Master Su, pray wait;

I fetch the ledger forthwith.

Mm,

good.

Surplus cream remains of the first batch;

how then sell the second already?

Truly, I know little of it.

Selling the wares yet knowing naught?

Bring the remnant cream of the first batch!

Here,

this is the first batch;

doth such flaw exist in the second?

Knowest thou the silver it costs?

Knowest thou how rare the herbs are?

Yet ye squander it thus!

Humph!

If I summon officials, for these damages,

canst thou ever repay?

Pray stay thy wrath!

I touched none of these goods;

twas the managers doing; clear waters harbor no fish!

Provided ye transgress not all bounds,

I care not to press charges;

yet ye have squandered countless fine wares!

Mm.

The manager said missing wares would spoil the books,

so he pilfered a little from each jar.

Yet in truth I took nothing!

Bring forth every vessel that was tampered with.

I must inspect the true loss.

Aye, directly.

This is all of them, Proprietress Su.

I have an aged mother of eighty,

and young babes crying for bread.

Pray grant me thy gracious pardon!

If matters stand as thou hast claimed,

and thou didst squander naught,

naturally I shall bring no harm upon thee.

Yet if falsehoods pass thy lips,

thy doom shall far exceed thy darkest fears.

They used these wares themselves; the managers

son fancied the maid of the east rouge shop,

and most of these face creams were bestowed there.

As to how they were employed, I cannot say. Hmph!

They scheme to rob the hearth!

Little talent,

yet vaulting greed.

Very well,

thou art needed here no longer;

attend to thine own appointed tasks.

Understood.

Hmph!

Have new wares arrived?

That soothing balm,

bring a jar for my use!

I hold no sway,

and the new wares cost dear;

they cannot be parted with lightly.

Why art thou ever of this vile temper?

Thou chantest the same rebukes each visit;

must I summon the manager to chastise thee?

The manager hath departed,

returning only in several days;

wait patiently if thou desirest it.

Just wait;

upon the managers return,

I shall have him cast thee out!

Who art thou?

Thou choosest a fine seat indeed;

how shameless!

Mind thy tongue!

This is our mistress! What mistress?

Doth this shop not belong to the Jin clan?

I have beheld your master!

Could this base wench cling

to Young Master Jin and claim the title of mistress?

Wherefore comest thou hither?

Seekest thou silver, or dost thou covet our wares?

Mark my words:

every trinket here is worthier than thy wretched life!

Wipe thy foul mouth after leaving the privy,

lest the stench choke every soul present!

Darest thou strike me?

I cannot touch the wares here,

yet thou canst?

Dost thou never gaze into a mirror?

I forbidden?

I tell thee, the wares here

are mine to squander as I please! Ah!

Unhand me, insolent wench!

How dare thou! Aye, indeed!

Release her at once!

Thou darest strike Zhang Zhaodi within this hall;

thy insolence is bold indeed!

Knowest thou not the managers son favored her?

Couldst thou harbor such vile designs thyself?

How contemptible!

Outrageous!

Silence your foul mouths!

This is our true mistress;

this establishment belongeth to her!

What is her name?

My name is Su Li.

Mm.

Then this shop is truly hers!

When the prodigy came to unburden the freight,

did trouble not befall him?

He was nearly framed and extorted!

Thou art Su Li?

Thou must have seduced Young Master Jin,

else how couldst thou hold sway over this store?

Behold, good people!

This brazen, shameless woman

relies on enticing

men to reap her bounty!

Dost thou scold thine own self?

Moreover, is this manor thine?

With every breath,

demanding goods; what brazen cheek!

Well struck!

Her arrogance had reached the very heavens!

She hath struck an unyielding iron wall!

Rather than spinning slanderous tales,

she should kneel down

and kowtow contritely before Su Li!

Pilfering goods day by day,

can she afford restitution?

Now perceivest thou the peril?

Come,

let us seek the magistrate!

By what lawful right?

I touched naught within thy shop!

Hast thou proof?

I can bear witness!

Thou dost ever despoil our wares,

opening each to take a portion!

I can testify as well!

Zhang Zhaodi ever flaunteth her fortune,

boasting that luxury fit for nobility

she useth at whim!

I too bear witness!

She claimed once these formulas were mastered,

her house would be wealthy beyond measure!

Base falsehoods!

Ye are consumed with envy! Ma Xiu,

deem not that I know not:

Wang Ming favored me, not thee,

so thou schemest in secret!

And thou, Wang the Pockmarked, wherefore clamor?

Thy wife dallieth with the smith,

thou shameless cuckold!

I have marked thy visages!

Should my sire let you dwell in peace,

twould be boundless mercy!

Depart forthwith,

and I shall let this rest!

Terrified of our local might?

If thy commerce would prosper,

kowtow and beg my pardon,

lest regret consume thee!

I would behold how thou bringest me regret!

Su Li,

how darest thou! Ah, it pains!

Cease at once!

Then let us face the court!

To accuse Zhang Zhaodi of ruin, where is thy proof?

Long have I heard thy name,

yet reason must prevail;

must not matters rest on proof?

Are my clerks words not proof?

Is Zhang Zhaodis own confession not proof?

I apprehended her in the deed!

Is this not proof enough?

Nay,

tis not that this official

dismisses thy plight;

both merchant houses should live in harmony.

In truth,

those who trade here for decades

command deep alliances!

Mine own modest rank sufficeth not;

I brook no loss, nor shirk these labyrinths;

Zhang manor must render half our loss in coin,

lest we plead this before the court!

Ah,

how about this:

I shall remand Zhang Zhaodi in prison for days.

If thy days fare well,

we shall open court

to reclaim thy losses;

if sorrow befall thee,

we shall dismiss the matter lightly!

I too marvel

how formidable this Zhang house truly is!

Thou shalt surely implore this officials aid!

Or Zhang house cometh to plead for peace!

I tarry no longer;

many matters await me at the shop.

Then this official sees thee not out.

This Su Li hath great mettle indeed,

yet boasteth overmuch.

Near the capital, noble factions intertwine;

high grandees abound in legions;

who would heed a mere merchant?

Proprietress Su, the Zhang clan is venomous!

In this borough, none named Zhang heedeth reason!

Would they resort to murder and arson?

Nay, yet they weave foul treachery;

many shops were ousted! Then I await tonight with relish.

Fair maiden,

art thou lonely?

Shall this brother keep thee company?

Fair maiden,

a protector is ever a protector!

Favor me as well,

and I pledge thee delight!

Be not coy;

we fear thou lackest warmth in thy bed!

Begone! Ah!

Vile wench,

open this gate!

I shall slay thee! The agony burns!

It scorches me!

Vile woman, thou art ruthless to deceive me!

Oh!

What strikes me with such pain?

Aye.

Behold this!

Hmph.

Doth any other dare?

The sport hath scarce begun.

Vile wench, I shall slay thee!

Thou art bold indeed!

Let us see whose hand slays whom!

Ugh!

Wench, release me if thou hast the mettle!

Dost thou doubt me?

We shall drag thee to court! To court then!

Ye broke in by night with vile intent!

Say, who holds righteousness? There is no time!

Aye, true indeed!

Mark this: we shall grant thee no peace!

I return those very words unto you;

peace shall flee from your days as well!

Hmph! Let us see how we tame this wench!

What befell thee?

Fled? Then search the place!

Unearth her intimate garments if ye may,

and claim illicit congress! A ghost, by heaven!

Where lies a ghost?

What wretched thing shrieks so?

Alas!

A flock of craven knaves!

Hast thou heard the tidings?

The Zhang lads were frightened out of their wits,

summoning Daoist priests through the night,

who knows what terrors they beheld!

Art thou still unaware?

They have waged bitter strife against Su Li;

twas Su Li who struck terror into them!

At dawn I saw them reporting to the yamen;

the magistrate shall arrive posthaste!

The magistrate cometh!

Thou saidst the Zhang would sue for peace first,

and thy foresight proved true;

they display such boundless magnanimity!

Doth Your Honor deem me lacking grace?

How could this official harbor such thought?

Yet to speak candidly,

the Zhang enquire what terms shall appease thee?

I have proclaimed my terms before:

if not in full,

compensation

must be half! Thy shop manager gave the goods;

should not the restitution be sought from him?

Thou canst not spare thine own servant,

only to vent thy fury upon the Zhang house!

Did the Zhang bestow richer tribute than the Jin?

Thy mediation tilts most unfairly;

I shall not yield to it.

We stand near the throne; beyond that gate

lies the capital!

If reason prevails not in these outer realms,

I shall seek justice elsewhere!

Dost thou threaten me? Far from it,

yet silver hath been spent from my purse,

and grievance weigheth heavy on my heart.

The Jin house dealt far more generously;

so even if Your Honor favors me not,

at least

equity must be upheld!

I spoke no harsh words;

seeking thee

was merely to turn shields into jade!

Perchance my manner was amiss; harbor no doubt!

Tis not that I refuse mercy,

yet they remained ever insolent and base.

Even did I wish to spare them,

I must have an honorable pretext.

Alas!

Indeed so. Yet now words avail naught;

lest they fancy I tremble in dread,

and oppress me with greater malice hereafter!

Who would dare oppress thee?

They truly dare provoke thee no more!

I shall convey thy words unto them;

yet the goods were yielded by thy manager!

Even if thou pursuest the Zhang,

discipline thine own retainer first!

Fret not, Your Honor;

once he returneth,

I shall chastise him with utmost rigor!

That manager

is a servant of the Jin house;

canst thou dispose of him at will?

Shall the Jin lodge no complaint?

The venture is shared;

if either party rejects the loss,

it must be accounted for!

I give thee timely warning in any case.

To lay hands on anothers servant

is to strike them across the face.

No matter how close the bond,

a trifle may turn kinship to enmity;

weigh this matter well.

The commotion here grew too grand;

Su Li will surely not spare me.

I must summon aid posthaste!

What is thy aim, raising such turmoil?

Thou questionest me without discerning right from wrong!

The shopkeeper secretly yielded goods to others,

and the Zhang clan harassed me at midnight;

must I swallow this humiliation?

How facile it is for bystanders to preach!

Speak with composure;

I intended no reproach.

I merely... heavens, their dispute could shatter the earth!

Ungrateful fool! The Young Master hath obeyed thy decree and crippled them.

Shopkeeper Wang and his sons hands are broken,

both rendered mute by poison,

and sold off;

the yamen was also pressed.

Magistrate Ma decreed:

the Zhang clan shall pay thirty taels

and offer amends at thy gate;

we need not clash with officials,

so I gave consent.

Very well;

so long as the advantage resteth with us.

This marketh our first triumph,

yet had I known, I should not have come to aid!

What harsh words didst thou utter?

I journeyed far to stand behind thee;

am I now in the wrong?

Thou stormedst in to denounce me;

who could fathom

thou camest to lend strength?

Jin Wu was absent,

else he might have judged fairly!

Though absent,

I know he hath no justice! Silence!

Farewell! Cease casting longing glances here.

Think not I am blind to thy thoughts;

blindly jealous,

resenting all alike;

this day hath brought sheer torment!

Affairs demand my presence;

take your leave. Wherefore depart?

I have come through great trial;

wilt thou truly not gaze upon me longer?

One more look at thee

oppresseth my heart severely;

to spare my span of life,

I shall remain far from thee!

Why brooketh she no rebuke?

Was I not anxious for her safety?

Hence my tone grew harsh. Young Master,

when do we depart? Why this endless urging?

Didst thou not say the town is no longer safe for us?

Journeys are burdensome;

this abode suiteth me well.

I deem it unwise.

Thou and Su Li look upon each other with disdain;

indulge not in petulance

and neglect solemn duty!

What meaneth mutual disdain?

Thou comprehendest nothing! Stand aside;

I seek quietude!

Alas!

Art thou mad? Fiery maiden,

did he wrong thee?

Fool, thou hast recognized me so swiftly!

I am indeed more endearing than that miser! Fiery maiden,

is he loathsome?

Doth he seek to harm thee? Nay,

he is a vile scoundrel;

he will surely wound thee for his own gain!

Thus while I hold sway,

I shall not resist;

fiery maiden,

slay me! Fret not;

he cannot harm

thee, or I shall take mine own life!

Nay,

I cannot suppress him;

I cannot let him emerge!

I cannot... all is well;

grieve not.

Very well,

truly all is well.

Do I seem afflicted?

I wonder if I may ever emerge again.

That miser is feebler than I;

we... we shall mend in time.

Return now;

visit me when next I awaken. Fiery maiden, guard thyself;

given chance,

I shall slay him,

that he may never return!

Very well.

I trust thee.

Thou smilest upon him,

and caressest his brow!

Dost thou love him?

Should I not,

smile on him,

and smile on thee?

Tis untrue!

So thou confessest thy love for him!

Humph!

I favor not thee in any case!

Nor do I hold any affection for thee!

Come!

His fury hath bristled up.

The other two personas wept not at my taunts,

yet this sinister soul shed bitter tears!

Didst thou revile our Young Master?

Hardly a reviling;

have we not always traded fierce retorts?

This persona is truly ruthless of heart,

caring for naught in this realm,

even his very life.

What words didst thou speak unto him,

to move him to tears? Ben Kuang emerged,

bidding me slay him.

He confessed he is no virtuous soul,

truly! Thy foresight proved true;

they have not vanished!

Aye, they have not vanished,

merely grown feeble.

His claim that they perished

was mere hollow bravado!

Speak not thus;

what followed?

What transpired then?

Then he emerged in person,

demanding why I smiled upon a fool,

and whether I loved him.

I declared I would love any soul save him!

Now I perceive the root of it!

Spirited minx,

he adoreth thee;

jealousy consumeth him!

Adoreth me?

Yet every word spits forth like gunpowder!

Thou jestest indeed!

He hath endured too much bitter grief,

warping his inner mind;

the deeper his care, the colder his visage!

He loves thee yet comprehends it not!

Once he awakeneth to it,

calamity awaits thee;

thou hadst best keep thy distance!

To slay a wife for the Dao, or claim her by force?

Humph! He must first possess such prowess!

He differs from those other two:

they would rather suffer pain themselves

than let thee endure a shred of sorrow.

Yet this one recketh only of his own desire!

I mark it well;

I shall evade him when I can.

Yet make it not too obvious,

lest he discern it; rest assured!

I must return now;

tarrying abroad too long,

the Young Master will grow suspicious.

Humph!

Wherefore smile upon him?

Wherefore stroke his brow?

Wherefore comfort that wretch?

Gloat not, useless fool!

Daring to say she likes me not!

By what reason likes she me not?

Alas,

it seems he will rail for a while longer!

Wherefore speak words

so deeply wounding?

By what right?

Yet I still crave her presence; how pathetic!

If discovered,

might he turn his shame into rage

and slay me? No!

To listen further is to forfeit life!

How then could I let him end me?

Vile courtesan tricks!

I am far superior to them both;

why does she love me not?

I journeyed from afar;

who treats her with greater care than I?

At last, he speaks his true heart!

I must hear no more;

knowing overmuch will invite death.

Deemest thou also those two knaves better than I?

Speak the truth:

in visage,

how do they surpass me?

Do ye not all share the identical countenance?

In bearing? In bearing, each hath his own grace!

Wherein lies their grace?

Wherein do I fall short?

The Zhang family paid reparations,

yet offered no formal apology.

They seek to shirk their debt.

Exert pressure at once;

by whatever means necessary,

they must make amends!

Must we expend such toil for Su Li?

Thou wishest me no good!

Hasten forth; if thou failest,

I shall ruin thee! Art thou avoiding me?

We both dwell within this shop;

thou camest,

nor did I flee.

How am I avoiding thee?

Thou cast not a single glance;

is that not cold avoidance?

I review the ledgers;

I have neither leisure nor need to gaze on thee.

Thou art truly strange!

Let me inspect the accounts.

Was it not decreed

that trade falls to my charge?

Dost thou recant thy pact?

Seeking to cast me aside?

Nay, I meant no such slight;

I only wished... Indeed,

the Zhang clan hath not apologized!

Is it not so?

I sent Jin Wu to settle it.

I understand.

Why this frosty thankfulness?

Treat me as before;

canst thou not?

Be not so aloof and cold!

Reproach me as before; that alone sufficeth!

This coldness leaveth my heart desolate.

Forgive me;

I have no duty to humor thee.

What then wilt thou demand?

Speak freely,

and I shall strive to fulfill it!

Shall I release those two fools?

Wilt that suffice?

Dost thou jest?

I speak in earnest!

If thou wilt not shun me,

I shall let them visit thee anon. Yield to him!

Fair minx,

consent at once!

I implore thee;

treat him like dirt

just as thou didst before!

Very well.

Ah, tis but a ruse to lure me near!

Alas!

He is truly deranged.

Yet how splendid a malady!

At times we truly need those other two.

Didst thou not claim he was sinister and cruel?

Hmph!

Little did I expect him to be so spineless;

he hath wept for days,

clamoring for his own demise!

Shouldst thou cold-shoulder him further,

he might truly hang himself!

Attaining our goal matters above all else.

I declared long ago

they share one common soul;

how vile could he truly be?

I knew she could not be so callous;

towards me!

Her heart cherisheth me, is it not so?

Ah, aye!

Verily,

she loveth me unawares.

Say, is it so?

Eh?

Aye, indeed!

If she vexeth her temper hereafter,

we shall kneel before her,

that she may grant pardon!

Must I kneel as well?

Of course not! Young Master,

what madness possesseth thee?

To be so hopelessly enraptured?

Tis she who pineth for me!

I fear her heart breaketh with unrequited love;

I pity her! Good, very well.

Since thou carest naught for her,

I shall withhold

tidings that she seeketh thee;

thou needest not go. Women

must not be spoiled!

Why spoke thou not sooner? A loyal hound to that minx!

More servile than the other two!

Didst thou seek me?

What wouldst thou have me do?

Beg me then!

Depart then.

What if I beg thee?

Should I need Magistrate Ma unseated,

canst thou lend aid?

To yield to whom?

Wei Lin.

Thou favorest him?

Doth thy mind harbor

naught but such trifles?

If thou consortest with him,

I shall not aid thee.

Then take thy leave.

Why should I leave?

Ah,

give me thy solemn word!

I vow nothing.

How I treat others

is mine own affair;

I brook no interference.

Very well,

I consent, so be it!

So quick to temper!

I know not who truly throws tantrums.

Proprietress Su, I come to offer amends!

Pardon me;

I should not touch thy wares,

even if thy manager pressed them upon me;

I should have refused; magnanimously forgive me!

Who knew the Jin commerce

hung upon thy word alone?

For a woman, thou hast wondrous power!

Bear witness, good people!

Their manager forced those wares upon us,

yet now they demand thirty taels of silver!

My sister suffered unjust woe,

languishing in prison,

and now we are compelled to apologize;

we dare not disobey.

Thou art mighty indeed!

Though I never solicited the wares,

compelling this plea borders on extortion;

yet I have yielded!

Pray bestow thy pardon!

Su Li truly forced the Zhangs to apologize;

formidable tactics indeed!

Call ye this an apology?

Full of thorns! Who shall prevail today?

Cease thy chatter!

Su Li emerges.

Mm.

Forgive me,

Proprietress Su; whosoever bears blame,

I have wronged thee.

Our whole house bows thrice; let it be ended!

Is that not thy desire?

Why perform

so grand a rite?

Aware of their vile deeds,

they repent deeply!

Thou schemed to force our whole house to apologize,

and now wouldst have us kneel!

Show mercy where due;

thou art skilled at extortion!

All eyes behold this truth:

whether ye knelt by choice

or by my command,

all see with perfect clarity!

Cease thy deceit!

Driving our family to this plight,

thou gloatest in triumph!

Yearning to counterfeit my wares,

yet loath to spend silver,

thou soldest thy charms;

what hast thou gained?

New robes upon thy brothers back?

What starest thou at?

Mother bade me dress with dignity

to secure a worthy bride;

a worthless daughter has no right to murmur!

Zhaodi,

thy brother

is foolish;

heed not his folly,

nor fall to slanderous discord!

Yet thou boughtest nothing for me!

Why carest thou not

for thy younger brother?

Thy heart is twisted!

Silence!

Have ye all lost your wits?

This is not home! Vile wench, tis all thy fault!

Murder! Bloodshed!

Murder is committed!

Vile wench,

I shall slay thee! Ah!

Heavens,

am I crippled for life?

Ah, the agony!

There was no noble heroism;

tender me no thanks!

Wilt thou rest only when we perish?

How canst thou be so venomous,

fearing no grim retribution?

Indeed.

Alack!

Lord Ma, pray aid me! The whole truth,

thou hast beheld it all.

I beheld thee long ago.

Hearing ye turned wrath into peace,

this Magistrate came to observe.

Behold, such is their sincerity!

With gongs sounding, they hint I used foul tricks;

I care not for myself,

yet this truce was forged by thy hand;

what dark doubts it stirs!

Heed not her falsehoods! My Lord,

thou favorest me,

as I well know! Heavens,

what utter folly!

What secrets have I stumbled upon?

Nay, nay! Utter drivel!

Thy Zhang household knoweth not

good from ill! My Lord,

my wifes brow is bruised and bleeding,

and my son clutcheth his groin in agony!

Struck not thy wife her own head?

A grown man seeking to strike a woman

courted his own undoing!

This Magistrate bid thee apologize;

is this how thou repentest?

Grievance filleth me, paying coin

and bowing low!

Is this not extortion?

Were it truly extortion,

thou must pay the full price!

Canst thou afford it?

Furthermore,

thy daughter haunteth the shop unceasingly,

casting wanton glances daily,

yet feigning pure virtue! My Lord,

why speakest thou thus?

How shall my daughter wed hereafter?

Ten thousand faults lie upon me;

pray hold no grievance against us!

Mistress Su, I proffer amends this whole day,

beseeching thee to forgive our folly; hereafter,

shouldst thou need my aid,

I shall surely serve thee!

Manager Zhang, shouldst thou ever reach dire straits,

forsaken by all,

unable to survive,

and none regardeth thee,

I shall heed thee! Likewise,

we stand on equal terms!

Take thy wife to the physician forthwith;

disperse,

disperse!

Mistress Su striketh with formidable ruthlessness;

fearest thou not making foes,

inviting vengeance?

I fear not;

those seeking my ruin met grim fates.

My Lords counsel

is engraved upon my heart;

should mishap befall,

I shall know whom to seek!

This Magistrate merely offered kindly warning;

harbor no doubts!

I harbor none;

I ever prepare against peril;

my ties extend even into the capital.

Should any harm touch me,

they shall expose all secrets instantly,

sparing no one!

Mistress Su is truly a heroine;

shouldst thou ever require aid,

stand not on ceremony!

Assuredly. If naught else remains,

this Magistrate taketh his leave.

That woman dared caution me!

She commandeth ears in every quarter;

none can subdue her!

How shall Your Honor proceed?

Art thou deaf?

I declared she cannot be touched,

yet thou askest how to act?

Dost deem my life too long?

If we cannot prevail, let it rest;

her coin is bountiful enough. Coin abounds,

yet she treateth me like a dog!

She and Jin Manlou share the same dark cunning!

Before Su Li, Jin Manlou

is merely a fawning cur!

Could we craft schemes upon their bond?

Su Li dreads no slander; Jin Manlou craveth such rumors!

Whom would our toils fulfill?

We must submit to fate!

At least wealth is not wanting;

what else can be done?

I merely sought to vent my spleen;

tis truly exasperating!

Why hath no rumor paired me with Su Li?

Young Master, is such gossip a blessing?

Assuredly a blessing!

She holds me in such tender regard;

were our names spoken ever entwined,

would she not be overjoyed?

Tis plain thou alone art intoxicated with joy.

Alas!

How stand matters in our affairs?

When is it fitting to set forth?

Depart on the morrows morrow; yield all enterprise to Su Li,

and bestow the command token upon her!

Bearing the token,

she may summon all might of the Jin Clan,

lest our toil leave her unattended.

Young Master,

forgettest thou the tokens weight? Yielded to that shrew,

tis delivering the whole Jin Clan into her hands!

Need I thy reminder? I intend all for her!

Our venture courts peril of death;

should any mishap betide,

leaving all to her

shall not have been in vain.

She favored me; having gone thus far,

wilt thou still boast stubborn?

What talk of her favoring thee?

Tis plain thou canst not part from her! Silence!

Speak aught else to the shrew ere departing? Speak what?

She ever displayeth petulant whims before me!

All thou claimest is what thou hast done thyself!

Thou ungrateful knave!

Go or stay as it pleaseth thee;

repent not when the hour cometh.

I need no counsel from thee!

Mm.

Take this; twas said

the enterprise is thine,

and thine it shall be;

say not I lack trust in thee!

I refuse any gift bound with conditions.

No condition! Thou art truly troublesome to please;

who save me could endure thee?

All can endure me.

Humph, those two wretches merely feign;

I alone bear true heart!

What sayest thou? Fare thee well,

I left attendants of steadfast loyalty for thee.

Furthermore...

pine not too deeply for me!

Fret not; thy memory shall never cross my mind!

Neither shall I yearn for thee,

yet I cannot seem to help it. Fair voyage; take this token in return!

Ah!

A gift bestowed upon me?

Thou expressly gavest this unto me?

Perchance thou shouldst return it unto me.

Yielded to me,

tis mine forever!

What folly is this?

Jin Wu, Jin Wu!

Behold me: dost thou perceive aught transformed?

Young Master,

thy spirits seem vastly lighter.

Open thine eyes and look well! That crude wooden charm upon thy waist?

Tis unsightly.

Out upon thee!

How exquisite it is!

She gave it to me,

expressly unto me!

Say, what meaning lieth in her heart?

Alas,

thou yielded all thy fortune into her hands;

tis natural she return a token!

Yet this gift is light as a goose feather compared to thine!

Bridle thy tongue; utter more folly,

and I shall slay thee! The place we visit on the morrow

hosteth Song Chigui as well; curb thy temper!

Doth he still breathe?

His fate is tenacious indeed.

What meanest thou?

If not living, could he be dead?

It matters naught,

merely a fleeting thought.

Upon emerging, I yearned to slay Song Chigui,

and sought to strike him down indeed.

Yet he perished not;

what grievous pity!

Young Master,

weigh the vital matters; yet he is odious indeed.

Should occasion allow us to thwart him,

it harmeth naught.

To vex him is simple work;

I need only flaunt before him,

flaunt this fragrant plaque! Thinkest all are as base as thee?

Harbor no resentment; who spoiled thee

into this ungrateful nature? The one the shrew favored most spoiled me!

So twas mine own doing!

Very well.

Since I spoiled her, I shall not mention thee.

Dost thou think twas I who spoiled her?

Indeed, Young Master;

the shrew thou spoiledst

favoreth none other than thee all these years.

Tis the sole matter that bringeth me joy.

Perchance all shall be joyful hereafter.

Mm.

Will all obey?

All shall obey; holding the token,

thou art supreme.

Were Jin Manlou present,

whose word

commands? The Young Master decreed

to follow thee entirely. How obstinate he is,

speaking not a word of it! Enough,

receive assignments from Xu Wen; within ten days,

I require full dossiers on all key figures of Waijing!

My Lady,

tis here.

What doth this young lady seek?

How doth my complexion appear? What need I purchase?

To restore complexion,

our wares avail thee not; turn left without,

a pharmacy lieth;

seek counsel there.

How darest thou speak so?

Is truth forbidden?

Can complexion part from health?

Ought one not see a physician?

All praise thy fine wares;

I harbored doubts,

yet thy candor dispels them all.

Can any craft swift restore my radiance?

I must meet an esteemed person,

lest I lose dignity

and seem wretched in his eyes.

It grants but one days splendor; will it do?

It will;

one day sufficeth; silver is no bar.

Be seated yonder first.

These are wares for thy embellishment;

one occasion needs not so much.

Yet unsealed, they cannot be resold,

so thou must purchase all;

they shall serve thee long. Open thine eyes.

This exceeds in beauty

even mine unblemished past!

Adornment reveals thy truest grace;

none merits thy wilting; I waive the craft fee.

Pray grace my boutique often hereafter.

Very well;

I shall commend others hither.

Having bought these vessels, I knew not how to apply them,

so I came expressly to seek counsel.

I can transcribe instructions for thee.

My profound gratitude.

Would that I were like thee,

spirited

and resolute,

untroubled by any soul.

Dwelling constantly upon the past

and grieving over it,

thou punishest thyself for anothers transgressions.

I ponder naught else,

only whether his heart ever held me.

If he yieldeth no answer,

his coldness is the answer.

What thou deemest missed fate

is destinys mercy

sparing thee; release thine own heart.

Speaking with thee brings great comfort;

tending skin by these scrolls brings no error.

As for adornment,

mastery cometh by practice.

Canst thou guide my hand directly?

I can,

yet for a fee guaranteeing skill, though beautys height

depends upon thine eye. Splendid,

in due time

I shall send a deft maidservant to learn;

my household urges my return to the capital.

Then I shall await thy return.

Indeed.

It seems I must print copies;

our cosmetics shall surely sweep the market!

I must strive on.

Mistress Su, is this wondrous craft of brow painting

truly so marvelous?

Bestow a set of divine cosmetics upon me!

I would learn too; I pay double, wrap mine first!

This peach-blossom rouge and contouring balm,

I claim them all!

Be not hasty; manuals accompany full sets for true marvels!

I purchase the entire collection!

Missing one,

I cannot slumber!

By what right dost thou claim them all?

I desire the entire collection!

Proprietress Su, fetch mine quickly!

Peace, good patrons!

Stand in orderly rank; brawl and jostle,

and none shall purchase!

Xu Wen, bring forth all stock from the rear storehouse.

Mm.

Crowd not! Tis entirely gone!

Not a single drop remaineth! What?

Exhausted already?

Nay!

Return in two days; fresh wares shall arrive!

Heavens, this is no mere trading;

tis veritable plunder!

In any era, scrambling for prized wares stirreth a frenzy.

Must I fetch the fresh goods?

Charge Jin Feng and his men with this task;

their prowess is formidable,

no mishap should occur.

To ensure safety,

I had best ride with them.

Very well;

let them learn the roads first.

Return and take thy rest;

this day hath worn thee down.

Mm.

I shall take my leave then.

Could I train a retinue of cosmeticians of mine own?

Once skilled, they may earn silver abroad,

spread far our renown,

and perchance grant destitute maidens an honest livelihood.

First gather those helpless and forsaken maidens;

they stand most in need of mercy,

and having tasted bitter sorrow,

they shall prize such fortune all the more.

Wherefore hath this wretched wench ventured abroad?

Didst thou not hang thyself of late for mere shame?

What of it?

Because some grand dame relying on men arrived,

thou deemest thy disgrace erased?

Cease thy slander! Tis sheer fabrications!

Thou art idle all day, weaving malicious lies!

Thy poisonous words shall wound my heart no more!

Thou mayest disregard my tongue;

yet canst thou shrug off the contempt of the world?

Mark my words,

Wang Qiao!

I shall see thee wed to no man!

Thou shalt never know peace!

My mother decreed:

should no suitor claim me,

she and my father shall shelter me for life!

Humph! Thy clan starveth in squalor,

yet boast of sheltering thee for life!

Thy parents speak empty brags,

and thou believest them?

Wert thou truly filial, thou wouldst perish

to ease their bitter burden!

What clamor is this squawking? I cursed not thee!

What concern is it of thine?

Brawling before my shop threshold

shall never be suffered;

thou disruptest my commerce!

Yet if thou hast coin to squander on recompense, rail on!

Think not I know not thou championest this destitute wretch!

She may lack silver,

yet her name is Qiaoer;

thou lackest not coin,

yet thy name is Zhaodi!

Silence, insolent one!

Leaning upon men hath made thy spine bold indeed!

Hast thou not leaned upon men?

Are thy father and brother not men?

Why then is thy spine so feeble?

Aye, the two men thou leanest on are worthless;

they hold thee of no account!

Thou peddlest wicked rumors against all souls;

fond as thou art of slander,

why not spread tales of thine own deeds?

Tales of others are mere fabrications of thine,

yet thine own shames are indisputable truths!

Lies! All was framed by thy foul hand!

Dost thou scheme to ruin my virtue and leave me unwed?

I declare unto thee,

though I wed no husband,

my father shall feed me for all my days!

Her parents can truly fulfill it;

yet thy sire begrudgeth thee even a dowry!

I stake my word upon this:

remain unwed,

and thou shalt be bartered away!

Though dowry I lack,

I still surpass this beggar!

Her house is destitute; intact reputation or nay,

no man would ever wed her!

And as for thee,

what if thou baskest in splendor now?

Once thy youth and beauty fade,

thou art naught! My present splendor

resteth not upon mortal visage!

What matter then if youth fades with age?

Furthermore,

with boundless gold, what desire could elude me?

Whilst by then, thou mayest have departed this mortal coil,

or beg upon the wayside dust!

Why offer thanks?

I disputed with him,

by no means to succor thee.

Thy noble heart surely harbored charity toward me.

Moreover,

deeds outweigh,

hidden intents.

I have truly partaken of thy grace;

gratitude is justly due. Enter,

that I may test thy craft.

Pray be seated.

Thy father is a licensed scholar.

Indeed.

He formerly instructed youth in the village school,

yet having spoken in defense of an innocent child,

he offended the Zhang clan, and none dared employ him thereafter.

Thy household subsists now on the needlework of thee and thy mother;

yet by offending the Zhang clan, certain shops refuse thy wares,

and those that receive them,

deliberately depress the price.

How knowest thou? Thy sire requireth daily physic,

and thou didst seek to sell thyself into bondage,

yet Zhang Zhaodi blackened thy fair repute;

thy kin hath now reached the brink of despair.

Aye; nor know I how I gave him offence.

Thy father being a scholar,

thou art doubtless versed in letters?

And painting? Versed in both? Then I offer thee employment,

art thou willing to make trial?

If so,

take this pattern and replicate it,

striving for exact fidelity.

Present thy finished scroll upon the morrow,

Deepest thanks, Proprietress!

Deepest thanks! Restrain thy gratitude;

thou must first meet my rigorous standard.

I shall exert all diligence! Go then;

I too desire thy triumph.

Mm.

Thanks be! A candidate most fitting in virtue;

faultless,

and schooled in letters beside;

having tasted desperate ruin, she will treasure,

this hard-won livelihood!

Ah.

Thou arrivest most early.

Commendable.

Canst thou bear to appear openly before the public?

I can bear it; I can endure anything!

Then I shall instruct thee,

meanwhile thy stipend shall be meager.

Dost thou accept this?

I do.

At first, one tael of silver each moon;

when fully mastered,

it shall be five taels! How much? One tael? Five!

I... I ply no shameful trade of the flesh!

What manner of place dost thou deem this? No vile trade dwelleth here!

Forgive me;

I have never beheld such wealth!

Pray harbor no wrath, nor cast me aside!

If I prove unworthy,

thou mayest diminish my stipend as thou wilt!

Thou must mend this habit of debasing thine own worth,

forthwith;

thy disposition is far too meek.

Let it be thus:

learn from me how to dispute with sharp tongue.

I shall strive to master it!

Thou hast doubtless heard whisper of my reputation?

Serving under me may invite harsh reproach from the populace;

canst thou endure it?

What could I not endure?

I am one who hath already walked through death!

Proprietress Su, may I beseech thee a single favor?

Dost thou seek this?

Sufficeth one moons advance?

It sufficeth, it sufficeth!

Eternal thanks for thy boundless beneficence,

never to be forgotten!

Return first to settle thine house,

and procure all necessary needs;

dispel all troubles behind thee first,

then come diligently to receive my instruction.

Proprietress Su, I have arrived!

These are the covenants for laboring in my house;

examine whether thou canst abide by them.

If content,

inscribe thy signature and seal!

I accept all! Proceed thither;

I shall present the craft to thee.

Insolent fool, dost thou not perceive the dark shading upon both nostrils?

Knowest thou not to blend it outward?

Unable even to apply adornment skillfully,

what purpose doth thy wretched life serve?

A single retort hath struck me dumb!

Begin anew; I revile thee,

and thou shalt retort!

With such a visage dost thou dare venture forth,

to teach face craft without beholding

thine own reflection?

Plain though I be,

my craft is exquisite!

Thou art fair of face,

yet paintest not thyself; despise me not,

nor summon my aid!

Slothful jade! Sucking coin whilst shunning toil!

Fierce spirit!

Dawn seeth my arrival,

dusk my departure; every floor I swept!

Art thou blind,

to see naught?

Fabricating slander without shame!

Enough, that sufficeth well!

Alas!

Words failed me for once.

Court no strife,

yet harbor no dread!

Whoever revileth thee,

thou must strike back in kind!

Thy cowardice shameth mine own house!

Under the counter,

the top drawer holds the selected hirelings;

thou knowest them well.

Weigh their virtues

and perils with vigilance. Many thanks...

gratitude to thee!

I have chosen them.

I bid them train on the morrow; instruct them well.

Adorn thyself in the rear chamber;

new robes await thee there,

don them forthwith; in this trade,

thine appearance is the shops facade. Splendid!

With so many wenches, wouldst thou open a brothel?

Enter to seek the mistress! Foul minds

see only filth!

Thy head harboreth wanton dens,

so all seemeth wanton to thee! Insolent jade!

Thou wanderest idle from dawn till dusk;

doth no kin discipline thee?

Truly worthy of the name Zhaodi,

an unvalued daughter!

Vile wench,

thou hast grown bold indeed!

Whom doth the little minx revile?

The minx revileth

thee!

So thou knowest thyself a minx!

Admirable self-awareness indeed!

I shall slay thee! Mark this:

Zhang Zhaodi and dogs are barred from this shop!

Who craveth entry? A den of paupers;

let us see what trifle ye can accomplish!

Thou didst acquit thyself well;

instruct them in the rear courtyard,

that all may master the craft swiftly.

Dost thou recall me? Thou didst adorn my young mistress.

I remember;

she dispatcheth thee to learn the craft?

Aye,

such was the intent,

yet time presses too hard;

pray accompany me to our manor!

Speak in detail. The young mistresses came to town;

Madam and the other daughters came as well,

all for bridal viewing,

hoping to present their finest grace.

Understood.

Many noble houses gather here today;

all yearn for a splendid suitor.

Adorn our ladies with wondrous elegance,

and Madam saith silver is no obstacle!

Silver being no obstacle

pleaseth me well;

yet I am no bondmaid of thy manor;

though ye be noble kin,

due reverence must be accorded me. Fret not;

our scholarly line would never debase an artisan!

Indeed.

Assuredly,

all coin may be bestowed upon thee;

yet the bridal viewing falleth at dawn,

requiring toil from midnight; canst thou manage the hour?

Circumstances change;

I shall bring four artisans with me;

they apply the rouge,

I direct the elegance,

bestowing attire styling freely. Can thy apprentices prevail?

Without mastery, would I dare take the task?

In truth,

I count on this grand venture to establish our renown!

Splendid!

Gather thy disciples and follow me.

Hold; I shall bid them prepare,

settle the shops affairs, and depart!

Mm.

Indeed.

Are they truly as wondrous as spoken?

Doubt not those ye employ; if Lady trusts,

else we shall take our leave.

Lady, Yaoer

spoke no exaggerated praise.

Rest here for tonight;

on the morrow we attend all day,

altering cosmetics to fit each noble occasion,

and offering counsel on attire.

Most exquisite;

we shall summon thee in days to come.

Conduct them to the guest chamber.

Proprietor Su, using thy shops cosmetics,

my skin hath grown far fairer.

Indeed.

Yet its swift renown owes all

to thee; I sorely regret buying so few!

I heard thy restock emptied swiftly again.

Once every lady hath obtained her share,

sales will gently slacken.

Yet our shop set aside several sets.

Miss Yang,

if thou desirest,

I shall grant special favor;

provide four sets,

at any price! No extra coin needed;

our prosperity is owed to

Miss Yang.

This grace

I treasure deep within.

When new wares arrive,

I shall reserve them for thee first.

Whence didst thou recruit these artisans?

In this realm, women working abroad

ever suffer harsh slander.

Most in my employ are shelterless souls;

we merely shelter each other.

These ornaments are overly heavy.

Alas,

this hairpin displayeth noble wealth;

how can it be lightly removed?

Tis an emblem of noble status!

Gilded splendor covers every lock,

scattering the gaze into confusion.

A single delicate touch reveals elegance;

too many crowns overwhelm the noble lady.

How presumptuous of thee!

Were these conceits all thine own,

that thou art agitated thus?

Enough.

Mother Zhang,

pray withdraw.

Humph!

Filling my very chamber with attendants!

This scent card is far fragrant yet never cloying.

What a wondrous, exquisite incense tablet!

Before, all appeared so stiff and rigid;

now each radiateth graceful luster!

Yet will so distinct an attire cause stir?

Those noble ladies band together,

and todays gathering is grand indeed.

Ye are truly radiant.

All shall surely inquire of thy beauty today;

ye are the pioneers of this new grace,

this tide is awakened by you. May thy auspicious words prove true!

Look yonder, Lady Yang!

Whence came such wondrous cosmetics and coiffure?

Tis marvelously exquisite,

and the fragrance upon thee is divine!

My thanks.

Indeed.

Even as thou didst foresee,

all clustered about inquiring of our adornment!

Ere now I deemed thy price excessive,

yet twas worth every ounce of silver!

I shall patronize thy shop often,

hoping thou wilt preserve thy solemn pledge

of priority. Fret not, Lady;

I never forget past grace. Splendid, I trust thy honor!

Our labor here is concluded;

I shall lead my attendants back.

Dispatch servants for the sets on the morrow. Proprietor Su, stay!

Step aside to speak.

Formerly, an attendant in my chamber

caused the rift with the one who broke my heart.

He deemed my jewelry ostentatious vanity,

as though mocking his meager hearth.

Thus I wondered: had my attire not erred,

might we have attained happiness together?

In truth, anothers gaze is but a mirror;

with a serene heart, no hidden slight is perceived.

Harboring demons,

the world reflects only thine inner shadow.

Thy parting had naught to do with adornment,

but with his narrow, brooding pride.

Why must he be thus?

Even were he to vanquish his inner demons,

and one day surpass thy noble house in renown,

he would surely cast stones at thee to vent long-nursed bitterness.

Tis not that thou lackest virtue;

tis his character that falleth short.

I was ensnared by mine own folly.

Union or parting is destinys fruit; look forward,

glance backward no more, for the past merits no tears.

What transpired yestereve

perished with yesterday; what dawneth today

is born anew. My gratitude to thee!

So long as peace returneth

to thy soul,

I shall take my leave first.

From Lady Yang,

eight taels of bounty were bestowed, all gathered here.

Why hand it to me? This bounty was granted unto you.

Keep it in your own purses.

Bestowed upon us?

Our stipends are already generous;

how could we take this silver as well?

Whomever the reward was granted to, to them it belongs.

Return the silver unto them posthaste.

Furthermore, summon all the women hither;

I have counsel to impart.

Wang Qiao!

Ye have all heard of their labor abroad, have ye not?

And how each received two taels of bounty?

Doth restless envy stir within your hearts?

Such yearning is no evil;

it proveth ye desire to rise higher.

Aspiring hearts breed mastery,

and stir greater diligence.

Yet remember well to direct your ambitions toward righteous ends;

harbor no petty strife amongst yourselves!

Under my roof, to serve noble houses

dependeth solely upon skill.

Should anyone plot malice against another,

I shall cast her out forthwith!

Is that understood?

Understood!

Tis not that I forbid contention,

yet ye should contend against those who sought to harm you,

those who once trampled you beneath their feet!

Wherefore should women torment fellow women?

Before me, ye stand as equals.

Dost thou hear?

We heed! Wang Qiao,

purchase more grain and meat anon.

Our renown is proclaimed far and wide today;

prepare a sumptuous feast

in celebration!

Our humble thanks, Proprietress Su!

To thank me, polish your own graces.

Beyond the art of cosmetics,

your deportment and refinement must also rise.

I shall find masters to instruct you; learn with utmost care. Disperse!

Wang Qiao, tarry behind.

When they have mastered their craft,

thou must weigh their progress well

and divide them into tiers.

When accepting commissions,

assign matching women according to the patrons lineage and ranks.

I have set the tiers of pricing;

what each artisan merits,

arrange it with clarity. Is there aught else requiring my heed?

Mark this: I am a merchant woman,

not a dispenser of alms.

Let not tender pity tempt thee to overvalue the unworthy,

and ruin my shops illustrious banner.

Rest easy on this;

at all hours my loyalty remaineth steadfastly thine.

Tis well;

such devotion is all I crave.

Go purchase the meat!

Hast thou heard?

Su Li catereth exclusively to dignitaries and high officials,

and each treateth her with great deference!

Ah,

heard it indeed!

What extraordinary wit dwellest in Su Lis brow?

Who could foresee that destitute women could earn silver for her?

Doth Su Li alone reap the fortune?

Those maidens also amass abundant coin!

Adorning noble ladies,

a single cosmetic session earneth a tael or two of silver! Formidable!

Laboring thus for half a year,

could one not earn enough for a lifetimes ease?

Miraculous indeed!

These women have surpassed men!

Whoever weddeth such a maiden,

what bliss would be theirs! Idle fantasy!

Possessing such wondrous skill,

would they ever look upon rustic knaves like us?

To my mind,

whichever house sendeth their daughter to Su Li,

boundless honor and wealth shall crown their days!

So deem I! Uncle,

hast thou heard of Su Lis enterprise?

Could this truly be real?

Why doth it sound so wondrously strange?

I reckon tis true in nearly every detail.

Else why did Wang Qiaos sire seem near death,

yet mended so suddenly?

Tis said they bought costly physic.

I watched Wang Qiao these past days;

they feast daily, and both parents wear fine silks.

As for Wang Qiao,

she appeareth like a noble houses maiden.

Husband,

thinkest thou Su Li would take our Zhao Di?

Her fame is ruined;

tis hard to find a good match.

Could she serve Su Li,

it were beyond measure splendid.

Yet bitter enmity was sown between us;

her establishment lacks no hands,

why harbor a foe?

I heard Su Li taketh only destitute maidens,

such as those to be sold;

perchance we... Hearing thee speak,

it seemeth feasible.

I meant to sell Zhao Di to old Ma;

viewing it thus now,

well then,

let us make trial.

Grand if Su Li taketh her; if not,

she can still be sold.

Let it be so done!

Conceal ye naught from me?

Why treat me thus?

Wherefore hide it from thee?

Only two paths remain:

either weep and implore Su Lis pity,

or become old Mas wedded wife!

Or if the pleasure house offers more,

selling her thither sufficeth as well!

Thou insolent whelp!

Darest thou lay a hand on my son?

I shall smite thee!

Thy brother speaketh aright:

whichever bidder pays highest,

thither shalt thou be sold!

Having reared thee to womanhood,

thou must render tribute to our Zhang house!

Treating me with such cruelty,

I shall make you all repent!

Husband,

should we not have concealed the truth?

If Su Li truly accepteth her,

she will yield no silver home.

Fret not;

with her spineless, docile temper,

sweet words shall coax her back anon.

Alas!

Let matters proceed as they must,

yet harsh speech should be stayed.

Ah,

it woundeth the heart.

Aye, true.

Lady Su,

grant me shelter;

I would learn thy crafts!

By what right? My sire intends to sell me!

Dost thou not shelter such wretched maidens?

I am wretched now,

so thou must take me in

and let me earn great wealth!

Art thou utterly blind?

Did I not proclaim:

Zhang Zhao Di and curs forbidden? Why stand idly?

Cast her forth posthaste!

Refuse me,

and I shall spread far and wide

that thy heart holds no benevolence! Cast her out,

swiftly!

Thou art a man!

Touch me, and thou must wed me!

Understandest thou thy plight?

Thou implorest me,

not I seeking thee!

Shelter me,

and I kneel forthwith;

refuse,

and I shall foul thy name in this place!

Wang Qiao,

a rabid cur approacheth!

Zhang Zhao Di,

were I in thy place,

I would have no shame to come hither!

Didst thou not boast thou wouldst prosper?

Bah! What concern is this of thine?

Deemest thou thyself mighty now?

Believest thou not

one word of mine can ruin thee?

Dost thou think I heed that?

By what right dost thou not care?

Because I live with dignity now;

idle gossip can harm me no more!

Thou truly deemest thyself formidable!

Had Su Li employed me,

no place would remain for thee!

I shall far surpass thee!

Yet one must employ thee first!

Sisters, cast this wretched nuisance forth!

Unh!

Thou... Proprietress Su Li!

I implore thee,

grant me shelter!

Else my father selleth me to an aged wretch!

What care I?

Thy heart is merciful!

Pitying so many wretched souls,

pity me as well; hold no past grudge!

Pardon mine earlier folly!

What folly; speech with him wearieth the soul.

He heedeth no reason.

Hmph!

Is it not so?

Su Li!

Grant me refuge!

I beseech thee!

Canst thou bear

to drive me unto doom?

Denying me aid is no different from murder!

I cannot bear this!

Very well!

What commotion is this?

Su Li!

What a clamorous spectacle today!

Merchants breed turmoil;

tis common fate.

With Zhang Zhaodi raving, tis expected!

How many doors hath she besieged?

She craveth refuge from Su Li!

Vain dream!

A single beckon calls countless hands;

throngs would gather!

Who would take her?

Else none shall know peace!

Aha!

Whom dost thou intimidate?

Thine own sire selleth thee off;

would he shield thee?

Hmph!

Indeed, moreover,

even should he intervene,

we fear no strife!

Thy Zhang clan is but a paper tiger; vile disgrace!

Proprietress Su,

step forth;

a few words

must I confirm with thee. Speak!

Of selling my daughter,

hast thou heard?

I heard; thy daughter proclaimed it. What of it?

Deemest thou it glorious,

to proclaim it before all these folk?

Nay, I merely ask:

wilt thou truly not save her?

Refuse to sell her,

and she is saved! Must her own sire traffic her?

Aye, I must sell her!

Thou abandonest her to doom!

Tis as though thou slewest her!

Advanced in years,

thou knowest no shame!

Desperate in poverty,

selling thy child to fill thine own purse!

Thou reapest retribution,

yet cast blame on me!

Fearst thou not

the heavens striking thee dead?

Wilt thou truly turn away?

Begone, attend to thine own affairs!

She rejecteth thee; return home with me!

I shall weigh thy destination with care!

I return not home!

By what right sell me?

Is our hearth

starving in ruin?

Fearst thou not mockery?

Thy presence invites greater shame!

Toiling not a single day,

stirring strife and blackening our name!

Jeopardizing thy brothers marriage!

Disdaining my repute,

was it not taught by thine own self?

All for his marriage!

Silence thy tongue!

Hast thou no shame?

I heed no shame;

I am soon sold to a decrepit wretch!

My life is ruined!

Would thy father truly sell thee?

I feigned this ruse

hoping Su Li would grant thee refuge!

I never thought...

Ah!

Alas!

Enough!

Follow thy father home!

Cease thy petulance!

In truth?

Assuredly.

What silver could selling thee fetch?

Lacks our house such petty coin?

Foolish wench!

She shall be sold this very night!

Let fate take its course.

Such an end is well-deserved; Father treated thee fairly!

The brothel offered far greater coin;

yet Father chose a lawful house for thee.

Live peacefully with him,

and lend aid hereafter.

To thy brother! Thou shalt rue this; a maiden needs kin behind her!

Thou must still rely on us!

Fret not.

Zhao Di shall see reason.

If she heeds not reason,

blows will teach her.

She will yet plead for our backing!

Wang Xiaodie!

Thy countenance blooms radiant of late.

Hadst thou let thy daughter venture forth sooner,

would bitter hardship not have ceased long ago?

Hadst thou sold thy daughter earlier,

thy house would have prospered long since!

Doth thy daughters trade not violate scholarly virtue?

A maiden visiting stranger hearths daily—what calling is this?

Hast thou never doubted? Think not my daughter resembles thine!

My daughter would never stoop to shameless deeds!

As for venturing abroad,

so long as she rejoices,

as her father, my heart rejoices also!

Upright conduct alone sufficeth!

Heed not idle repute,

lest venomous slanders drive one to an early grave!

Alack!

I harbored no malice.

Wherefore take offense?

Tis all my daughters fault;

she wronged thy Qiaoer!

Speak as thou wilt!

Why waste words upon him?

What dost thou comprehend?

Our shops suffer grievous loss of late;

yet Wang Qiao amasses vast wealth!

Could our son take her to wife,

every deficit of our house would be mended!

That holds truth;

yet venturing abroad each day

befits no maiden of virtue.

Would our son not be slighted?

Quench the imminent blaze first;

we shall weigh our path

step by step.

Heedless of rouge and powder craft,

Su Li reaps treasures untold,

while our silver runs dry!

Why should she plunder all our trade?

In my view,

we ought strike directly at Su Qiao!

Surpasses she not even Wang Qiao?

Pure folly! Yet why not attempt it?

If thwarted,

Wang Qiao remaineth an option!

Untried, how can we know?

Let neither flank escape;

I hasten to flatter Wang Qiaos mother! Lady Su,

this token was chosen solely for thee.

Doth it please thee?

Guards, a hound approacheth!

Ouch!

Begone!

Offend not mine sight!

Does this clan court death?

Burdened as I am with toil,

they dare bring vexation! His mother

came proposing kin ties, leaving my parents flushed with fury!

My sire said

never had he seen such brazen impudence! What honor;

now he hath beheld it!

Attending brides grows overwhelming;

shall we inquire of Lady Yang first?

If she hath no need,

I shall dispatch our maidens elsewhere.

We must indeed inquire.

Having granted precedence,

we must honor it.

Very well,

I send word posthaste! Bah! Su Li,

what vile creature art thou to feign airs?

Favored by my eye was thy blessing;

thou spurnest my grace!

Let you... Ah!

Alack, mercy!

Save me!

Master! Revered Master!

Dire agony!

In such pain, why wakes he not?

Good!

Hasten to the clinic forthwith!

Art thou certain? Ah!

Why hath this befallen?

Physician, pray hear!

Can my son yet be a man?

Can he continue the lineage?

What thinkest thou?

That flesh is utterly ruined!

How could this be?

Thou askest me?

Whom should I ask?

Thy kin deserve no lesser fate! Doctor,

canst thou devise any cure?

None?

Art thou blind?

Look upon this ruin!

What remedy could avail?

None knows what nemesis

he provoked!

The archer struck with cruel precision!

What deep grievance was this?

So ruthless an act!

Tis pure, venomous spite!

Seeing the front spent,

they turned to strike from behind!

He bristled like a hedgehog just now!

Indeed, his back was pierced like a sieve!

Did not the Zhangs daily curse old Wang?

Lo and behold,

retribution struck their own door!

Su Li! Twas all that wicked Su Li!

Ever since her arrival,

our house hath met naught but calamity!

I shall never relent! Where goest thou?

Pay the silver!

And haul thy son away!

Dost thou kick a fallen foe?

How have I wronged thee?

Must one not pay for physic?

If thou leavest thy son,

dost thou plan to abandon him?

Once I free my hands,

I shall settle thee! Bah!

Thinkest thou I dread thee?

All merchants here ply our trade;

who lacketh powerful allies?

Heed not his wild ranting;

as if he could ever settle scores!

If he dareth scheme further,

Su Li will crush him utterly!

Indeed so!

How many clashes have passed?

When did he ever prevail?

The house of Zhang is doomed to fall!

What commotion is this?

Why have these curs run amok?

The fresh wares were not yet arranged;

should any be marred,

grievous would be our loss!

Jin Ming, quell this fray! Summon the guards!

Could they be unaware?

Alack!

Oh, what wretched ruin!

My Lord, that venomous shrew Su Li

ruined my son! What have I done?

The Yang manor

held festivities today;

my retinue was abroad,

so I attended in person.

I have just returned;

cease pinning every ill upon me!

I serve the noble Yang clan.

Today was the Matriarchs feast;

hearing of her cosmetic craft,

we sought her novelty.

Proprietress Su labored in our hall;

I escorted her back just now.

Understood.

My thanks

for this testimony. Though absent,

couldst thou not command servants?

What truly transpired here?

Their house hath legions of foes;

why must every trouble

be blamed upon my head?

Hold, hold!

Such evidence is merely coincidental,

in truth.

If thou accusest me, show solid proof!

Foul drivel!

My son was maimed by thy malice;

how darest thou deny it?

Not her?

Twas thee! My kin fancied thee,

which was thy rare blessing!

A brazen wench hawking wares,

dost thou deem thyself so exalted?

Silence! Lacking all proof,

depart this hall forthwith!

Stir strife again,

thou needst return home no more;

tarry within the dungeons!

When thy insolence ceases,

only then shalt ye be released!

Thou shieldest him;

thou took his silver,

is it not so?

Insolent cur, to slander this official! Guards,

drag him forth!

If they stir strife anew,

summon the authorities at once.

These base scoundrels,

I have long desired to discipline,

lacking but a fitting pretext.

I shall rely upon Your Honors favor then.

Lead the shop assistants

to bear the wares to the warehouse.

This coincidence is too neat.

Not neat at all;

didst thou miss me sorely?

Lo, in my absence,

how grievously wast thou bullied!

Dost thou yearn to pledge thy life to me?

Heed this:

my standards are exalted indeed;

strive harder! Begone to the side!

Yet thou needst not strive;

my devotion remains steadfast.

Away with thee!

I warn thee,

provoke me not! Begone!

Very well,

thou forced my hand! Jin Wu, kneel here!

What concern hath this of mine?

Kneel beside me,

so she will heed me!

Spirited minx,

I implore thee;

thou canst not truly bid me kneel!

Were matters driven to that pass...

His archery was unerring.

Twas tolerable,

for he dared revile thee;

had the twilight not dimmed my sight,

I had pierced his very tongue!

For this, credit is due thee.

Wherefore dost thou not praise me?

Thy insolent tone merits no praise.

I shall mend my ways hereafter.

Willing to mend?

Such devotion is beyond measure!

A matter to confer with thee:

permit the miser to emerge.

Matters of trade;

I would seek his counsel.

Thou mayst consult with me;

speak,

and I shall hear! He hath skill, yet each hath their craft;

only he aligneth with mine enterprise.

Release him then;

didst thou not pledge consent?

I have but just returned,

yet thou seekest him! He deserveth death, all of them!

I shall see them dead! Be yielding;

grave affairs weigh upon me.

What cunning artifice!

I must implore thee.

Very well,

for thy sake. Hmph,

thou cherishest me! That vile rat

seized his chance at last!

Thou miser, long hath it been;

art thou well? Did that foul rat

harass thee?

Young Master, behold me;

I reply: nay, he did not.

Shall we plot his demise?

Tis simple indeed;

if only thou... If only I slay thee?

Upon my death, Jin manors wealth shall fall to thee,

so long as prosperity attendeth thee.

What strange delusion blindeth thee and that fool;

he is naught but a petulant child!

Spirited minx,

believe me;

he differeth from us,

dark, treacherous,

ruthless of heart,

stopping at nothing to gain his ends!

Be not deceived by his guile;

his disguise is consummate. Fret not;

one must always remain vigilant against malice.

Time is fleeting;

reveal how I may ease thy burdens.

I wish to expand our shops into the capital.

The prospect is noble;

thou lackest only court connections,

is it not so?

Rest assured,

all channels have been secured.

As for the name roll,

bid Jin Wu deliver it. Perchance he awakens now!

Guard thyself well! Useless knave,

how darest thou defame me?

Why perisheth he not?

He is the foul vermin!

Grant me audience with the fool!

Exceed not thy bounds;

thou reachest far too greedily!

Markest thou?

Aye,

I demand more still;

wilt thou yield or nay?

Tell me, little hound, who is the dog?

Cross not all limits!

Very well,

let it be.

I speak no more,

nor press further demands.

Begone then!

Come kneel hither!

Courtest thou death?

Command him without delay!

He was born to serve. Let the simpleton out!

Why obey thee, my venerable sire?

What seekest thou?

I have just pleaded with her;

persist in this stubborn folly,

and I wash my hands of thee!

Stroke my brow again,

or it cannot be!

Summon the fool! A creature both hound and slave,

is he not a groveling cur?

Fierce minx! Must one boast so loudly

merely to step forth into the light?

Twas only to let thee know

I fare quite well.

Who knew that vile rat would unbind us?

I know not what foul plot he weaves.

No grand design exists;

he purely relisheth being a lapdog. Begone!

Rare is this emergence;

what part hast thou in this?

Thy coldness matcheth his;

after so long an absence,

thou spurnest me worse than the newcomer!

At least he gazeth upon me daily.

He must emerge daily,

bound to behold thy face!

Thou hast grown thin.

That vile beast is devoid of human heart;

grievous trials have weighed upon thee.

Tis well thou seest it.

Devise some cunning stratagem

that I may emerge as of old,

walking forth from time to time.

I shall do mine utmost.

I cannot aid in commerce.

Yet in martial battle, that rat

wields formidable prowess.

Yet, spirited lady,

place no faith in him;

he will turn and rend thee in the crucial hour!

Thou echoest the miser;

his virtue is truly vile in your eyes.

Tis not mere opinion;

he is foul to the core.

Question Jin Wu;

his malice strips him of humanity.

He equals not even Song Chigui!

Humph!

Thy reproach bordereth on cruelty;

who could match Song Chigui

in loathsomeness? At least the rat is purely vile,

while that knave wavereth endlessly,

steeped in deepest hypocrisy!

Speak of cheerier things,

humph,

lest bile rise in my throat.

Didst thou call me forth

for some service?

I gladly offer my strength.

Nay,

twas merely to let thee roam free.

Truly thy heart favoreth me!

Alas,

I am ever so beloved.

Thou art indeed spirited,

bringing ease in weary hours.

Mine is the lightest heart;

yet thou pridest thyself on folly!

Thou forgettest thy humble origin!

How survived thy wit under that rats claw?

Because he schemes to make me

kneel at the turning point! Never mind;

thou understandest not.

Stingy rogue!

He biddeth my return now.

Fret not,

I am not frail like the broken serf!

I shall emerge once more!

Shameful wanton ways; neither of the two is good!

Am I not right?

Aye, truly so!

Every word is true.

Humph!

As for that matter,

no need to consult that fool!

Tis but opening more shops;

spend the silver as thou wilt!

Hast thou forgotten thy former words?

I must not take a single copper of thine!

Kneel! Enough,

why tormente Jin Wu so?

He need not kneel!

I shall deem those words unsaid,

wilt that suffice?

Why heed his words so readily?

What wouldst thou do?

Is my word weightier,

or is it powerless?

Silence!

Think not I know not thy intent!

Canst thou not act with sense?

I had not finished speaking;

to expand into Jingdong is simple!

Though that fool paved no path,

I can smooth the way for thee!

Turn only to me hereafter!

Thou reachest too far;

whom I seek

is mine own free choice;

I will brook no constraint!

I sought not to bind thee!

Yet bound I truly am;

for those two appear not at my whim,

only when thou art pleased.

Even unpleased, it matters not;

thine is the final word!

Be not displeased!

Truly certain!

Mm.

Very good.

Good hound!

A faithful hound indeed.

Alas!

The direct road would save much toil,

yet we detour hither and rest but few days,

ere marching anew!

Rushing as to market! Silence!

I am needed here;

didst thou not perceive it?

I perceived it not.

Without my return,

how could she find ease? Such vain conceits!

What sayest thou?

I mean thy words ring true!

Hadst thou not returned,

she would pine in bitter yearning,

unable to swallow food,

weeping day and night!

Ah,

no help for it,

who bade me be her faithful hound?

Proud to be a hound?

I rejoice for thee!

Aye, indeed!

Hasten thy preparations,

prepare to depart on business;

we must return again!

Must we wander so again?

Else leave her to grieve in sorrow?

I obey. Those two spoke truly;

he seemeth sincere toward thee,

yet his temper is most fickle;

tread with utmost caution!

Strange that thou utterest such counsel!

If I treat him with favor,

thy lot will be far easier.

Whether he feigneth or not,

at least for now,

I still exert a gentle influence.

I desire only thy well-being;

tis the shared wish of those two.

In truth, I wonder:

ye deem him sinister and ruthless,

what then is his customary manner?

When might I witness it? Hard indeed

to see that dark face of his.

Not at present, at least.

I have weighed it well;

return posthaste,

lest he harbor suspicions!

Bear this back with thee;

should he suspect,

say tis a token from me. Very well.

Whither didst thou skulk in secret?

What schemes dost thou harbor?

Tis from the spirited lady!

I journeyed expressly to fetch this for thee!

Such a hideous, unsightly trifle was utterly needless!

Art thou blind of eye?

How exquisite it truly is!

Did she bid thee convey any words unto me?

She bade thee preserve thy health and safety.

Ha!

Behold how deeply her care resteth upon me!

She dreadeth any harm befalling my person.

Alas,

I am truly too heartless,

to let her heart ache in such ceaseless yearning!

Couldst thou conduct thyself with some reason?

This momentous commission must be fulfilled!

That vile cur who exterminated my clan of old...

I shall assuredly crush with mine own hands!

I shall crush his skull! Art thou certain? High rent aside, Zhangs shop lies opposite!

Can thy commerce ever find peace?

I harbor no dread of him.

Alas,

tis not whether thou fearest or not,

tis his lordship!

Their commerce languisheth in ruin.

Then who must beware first is not myself,

but those knaves who took bribes of him!

Thou hadst better offer them timely warning.

Master, our enterprise hath sunk into such squalor,

yet the monthly silver promised me arriveth not!

Should he in prison be released forthwith,

he shall surely strike wildly!

Perchance...

Since thy resolve is sealed,

this Magistrate urges thee no further.

I have state duties and take my leave!

Thou art doomed! What didst thou tell that corrupt official?

Didst thou bid him murder my husband?

Thou hast slain him,

twas thy foul hand that caused his death!

Alack!

Sister-in-law,

why didst thou not watch,

why tarry to despise thine own son?

In the space of a fleeting breath,

he took his life! Two souls of our clan perished in a single day!

Su Li,

how darest thou enjoy peace?

Thou vile wench, destroying our household!

We shall drag thee to the grave with them!

Aye!

Slay this wench! Cease thy clamor, or be beaten to dust!

Speak no more!

Is this a Buddhist monk?

Stir strife as ye will!

After tonight, mine obstacle in Waijing shall be uprooted,

and we may open our new battlefield in safety!

I am Su Li,

transmigrated into a venomous widow,

bound to the System for Redeeming Villains.

When my former husband sought to ruin

his own younger brother,

I severed ties and divorced him upon the court hall;

he turned to darkness, serving Prince Yu.

I journeyed to Waijing to expand commerce;

quelling the local tyrants, the turmoil subsided,

yet hidden perils still brew in the shadows.

Prosperous days remain far off indeed.

Jin Clans Rouge Shop inaugurates its new hall!

To repay all patrons for their gracious favor,

every purchase today earns a complimentary trial set of skin ointment!

Hath Proprietress Su not relocated her premises?

Her commerce flourisheth most abundantly!

All owes to your grace.

Miss Yang, true gold

ever gleameth!

In past days, thy shop was barren of hands,

yet my grandmothers sudden whim

thou didst faithfully grant!

With such loyalty, thy house cannot fail to thrive!

Twas but my humble duty.

I merit not such praise. Doth Miss Yang require aught today?

Naught of urgent weight;

I heard thou seekest shops in the capital, and wonder...

Where? Naught is settled yet.

Yet with this relocations lesson,

I aim for a lasting foundation,

lest we toil in vain again!

Indeed, one must weigh matters with diligence.

These shops were my mothers dowry.

Her intent is thus:

should any location please thee,

speak freely without reserve;

all terms can be weighed!

Several sites are choice indeed;

beneath Heavens Son, each inch is gold.

Yet I know not their exact measure;

in days hence I shall survey them in person.

Should any win my favor,

I shall not stand on ceremony;

the price and terms can all be weighed amicably.

Mother foresaw this truly!

He said thou wilt not accept shops for naught,

first weighing if they be suitable,

then determining the price.

Proprietress Su hath ready fortune,

yet

spurneth it. Madame Qian parting with her store

is immense grace and support.

When ready, Madame Yang is welcome to invest.

I requisition it,

yet pay no silver.

Nor do I rent the premises;

tis a true partnership with Madame Yang.

Yielding her a tenth of annual profit.

With commerce so thriving,

dost thou not suffer loss?

In truth I gain; merchants ever fear authority.

I merely borrow the tigers might.

With Madame Yangs alliance,

many trials shall meet fewer bounds.

Thou art sincere, laying bare thine entire intent.

No need to conceal; candor maketh all smooth.

I shall convey thy words straightway.

Methinks my mother shall consent.

Then I await thy glad tidings.

Then Madame Yang becometh proprietress;

all matters shall grant you rightful priority.

This pact is assuredly secured!

No wonder Su Li expanded her trade so vastly,

weighing every detail with profound clarity!

A tenth share soundeth modest,

yet translated into gold and silver,

tis a boundless fortune!

Adornment trends now flourish in the capital;

if Mother be nominal master, she shall be honored everywhere!

Dispatch word unto Maiden Su forthwith:

should she require aid,

I shall spare no effort!

Forgive my fault;

the shop thou chosest needeth days to clear.

No matter,

I also must stabilize after moving;

even didst thou yield it now,

I lack hands to manage it.

Then haste is needless;

Mother may rest her heart.

I may soon be betrothed.

These days I oft wonder,

hearing this tidings,

wilt he feel remorse?

Though his regret availeth naught,

yet I cannot restrain

my longing

to know. He shall regret,

for in lineage, countenance,

and thy devotion,

thou wert the finest he could ever meet;

tis human vanity and folly.

I oft pondered beside,

meeting one he truly cherished,

would he show gentle grace,

spurning harsh disdain and cold neglect?

Nay; selfish malice is etched into the bone.

Trust that spoiled fare sickeneth any who taste it.

Am I truly devoid of pride?

Knowing his countless flaws,

yet I recall him still;

why can I not let go?

What thou clingest to is past grievance and yield,

the unsoothed sorrow of thy heart,

not the man himself.

So I look forward now.

Aye,

look ahead,

look not back!

This is the last time I speak of him;

in truth, betrothal draweth near,

and all hath reached its end.

Then may all fortune attend thee,

and every wish be fulfilled!

Likewise to thee. Since Su Li arrived,

no easy days remain; Zhang Manor fell, ending tributes!

Many ceased sending favors to my door;

the lost coin is vast indeed!

Indeed; were she to replace them as local tyrant,

making all dread her, that silver could be restored.

Yet though ill fame doggeth her,

she oppresses no soul;

is she feigning lofty virtue?

If she striketh not,

we strike in her stead! Brilliant!

We use her foul name to harass merchants;

all shall believe twas her doing,

and pay tribute to Your Honor! Most wise!

Several shopkeepers cast strange glances

upon me for reasons unknown;

there is foul play afoot!

How deemest thou it amiss?

As though harboring rage yet fearing to speak.

Someone is weaving wicked schemes!

Insatiable greed

swalloweth an elephant.

With so ravenous a hunger,

fears he not ruin? Whom meanest thou?

Trouble not thyself with this;

I shall settle it. Chill wind bloweth;

tis time he yields his seat.

Watch over the shop;

I step abroad a moment.

Mm.

Hunger presseth!

Shopkeeper Wang,

whatever misfortune befell thy trade,

it concerns me not in the least.

Our trades share no common ground;

what gain could ruin unto thee bring me?

Toiling from dawn to dusk,

would I waste breath on such folly?

Was it truly not thee?

Art thou witless as a swine?

Reaping no advantage,

why stir strife against thee?

Moreover,

were I to strike,

I would do so in broad daylight;

why resort to shadows?

Aye.

Indeed,

thou hast no need to skulk in stealth,

backed by thy formidable might.

Who then could it be?

Foul trickery of the devil!

I offended no living soul!

Ponder well: whom didst thou bribe aforetime,

yet neglectest to pay today?

I see it now!

Deep thanks, Proprietress Su, for opening mine eyes!

Formerly the Zhangs harassed us without cease;

now that they have subsided,

and mine is but modest trade,

naturally I spared paying if I could;

so deemed many merchants.

Alas!

What is to be done?

Should ye all refuse silver in union,

no harm shall come to pass.

Moreover, having laid bare the truth myself,

he can work no sinister ploys.

What then of thee?

Having laid bare his shame,

dost thou not cut off his gold?

That is mine own affair;

it requires no fret from thee.

Needlessly did I fret!

With her fearless stature, who knows who suffers!

Ah,

if Su Li truly disciplines this corrupt official,

I shall obey her every command!

This Su Li is arrogant beyond measure!

Discerning Your Honors intent,

she ought to hold silence,

or aid Your Honor

as the Zhang family did;

yet she dares defy,

openly crossing Your Honor!

Truly courting death!

Doth she fancy vanquishing Zhangs frees her from me?

Though her wealth rivals kingdoms,

before authority tis naught! A stubborn fool!

Let us chastise her first,

to show our wrath;

then her arrogance will wither!

Hasten not to strike;

her tribute was not paltry.

Keep favor if possible before making an enemy.

Summon her hither;

I shall admonish her.

I go at once! Heard you walk close with sundry merchants?

Their trade is but mediocre.

Humph,

what wisdom canst thou glean from them? Lessons in ruin?

I wished it not;

yet some wicked scoundrel plotted against them

and cast the vile blame upon mine own head!

How could I bear false infamy for naught?

So I can only labor to explain.

Extreme rigidity breaks; excessive fullness wanes.

Proprietress Su, this magistrate counsels thee:

weigh the dire consequences of thy deeds,

nor let fleeting triumph cloud thy wits.

When thou winnest, ponder how victory came,

and whether thy conduct biteth the hand that fed thee!

Indeed,

one should weigh how much bounty one hath seized,

and ponder if ones greed is bottomless!

Why this alarm?

Why harbors Your Honor such suspicion?

Proprietress Su hath formidable boldness!

Then this official wisheth thy trade great prosper!

My trade flourisheth already!

No felicitations are needed.

Blind to heavens vastness! Enough;

our humble temple cannot enshrine

so eminent a deity! Depart!

Indeed, this den suits not the pure-hearted;

how insolently arrogant!

Merely painting faces for dignitaries,

fancies himself of noble blood!

How ludicrous!

Refusing honor, courting wrath!

Blame not this magistrates ruthlessness;

he shall weep and grovel,

offering doubled tribute in despair!

Proprietress Su, calamity looms!

The Wang clan of Jinzhou hired our escort,

yet at the gates our men are detained,

denied passage outright!

What if the hour is delayed?

Fret not; the Wangs burn with greater haste.

Yet spoiling the Wang clans affair

ruins our own firms renown!

Should this bargain dissolve,

the bitter loss falls on us.

Jin Feng, disguise thyself,

carry word to the Wang manor;

if in haste, let them escort us themselves.

I shall go witness the spectacle.

Alack!

Come forth!

Magistrate Ma flaunts wondrous power,

daring to bar my Wang clans carriages! Deemest thou our word weightless in the capital,

or tirest thou of thy magisterial cap?

This humble official dared not;

I knew not twas the noble Wangs!

A mere misunderstanding,

a misunderstanding!

If it ruins our momentous occasion today,

can thy severed head atone for it?

Clear the way! Clear the way posthaste!

Blind fools!

Make way for the Wang clan carriages!

Proprietress Sus escort was summoned by my house;

whoever dares obstruct them further,

the Wang clan will show no mercy!

My gratitude to Magistrate Ma for granting passage.

Must it come to this?

Can we not dwell in peace?

Thy greed is bottomless;

I cannot satiate it.

A petty magistrate taking silver

yet daring demand more!

How utterly grotesque!

Contending with this magistrate brings no profit.

Forgettest thou that I hold thy secrets, Your Honor?

Should ill befall me,

my allies in the capital cannot be stayed.

I recall cautioning Your Honor;

art thou too young to heed counsel?

That would mean mutually assured doom;

art thou certain to cast away peace

merely to plunge into such ruin with me?

Let us put it to the test!

Very well!

Have ye true business or lost your wits?

Speak thy purpose,

or take thy malady elsewhere!

May the yamen not inspect thy shop?

Inspect at will!

Yet state a lawful pretext.

Raiding my shop nine times a day,

harassing us four days on end,

is this not deliberate vexation?

Dost thou demand a pretext?

Good!

I grant thee one:

we suspect thee in Zhaodis fathers demise!

How else did a healthy captive perish

so abruptly in the dungeon?

We suspect thy foul poison! One may eat freely,

yet words must not be reckless!

Thou art willfully defiling my reputation!

What reputation hast thou?

Mere foul infamy! Humph!

Is this thy chosen pretext, unyielding?

Speak!

Whom art thou threatening?

Unyielding!

Good!

Repent not! What cause to repent?

Mark my words:

I shall return shortly; visiting less than ten times

would dishonor thy status as murder suspect!

Proprietress Su,

must we wage this bitter war of attrition?

It will be resolved swiftly.

Remain within the shop;

if schemers stir strife again,

hasten to the neighboring Jin inn

and seek out Xu Wen.

What enterprise doth Proprietress Su intend?

Beating the drum so vigorously, whom wouldst thou accuse?

By all reason,

none under heaven would dare provoke thee.

The yamen gate faceth south;

with right

but no silver, enter not! Behold,

I brought no bribe and beat the drum so long,

yet they utter not a single breath!

Who knoweth if they are truly dead,

or merely feigning death before me!

Whom dost thou sue then?

I sue this very yamen,

I sue these wretched magistrates,

I sue them for foul fabrications

and stirring wanton strife!

Good folk, judge this! Zhaodis sire died in their cell;

twas their own failure of guard,

yet they cast the blame on me!

I would demand of them:

the night Zhaodis sire perished,

why sent they men to beat the Zhangs, and why harass me now?

So sorely pressed,

yet the magistrate dares not emerge!

Su Lis words hit true;

aye,

someone sought to frame Su Li,

she yielded not,

hence this righteous uproar arose!

What distinguishes this yamen from bandits?

Seizing whoever displeases them,

slaying them secretly,

and framing another!

To make me the scapegoat,

at least give fair warning!

Silent as shadows, whom take ye for a gullible fool?

Why gather ye here?

Deem ye this your ancestral courtyard?

Vile shrew, none would deign contest with thee,

yet thou clingest obstinately!

Depart now,

lest bitter remorse engulf thee!

Very well,

make me taste such remorse!

Tarry further and taste the dungeon cold!

Splendid indeed!

I yearned to taste thy prison deep!

Good!

Undaunted, art thou?

Follow me then!

Very well,

lead on!

Hold! What madness is this?

Rashness serves naught! Proprietress Su,

our magistrate is indisposed today.

Once vigor returns,

we shall confer at length

to dispel all misunderstanding!

If this shrew enters our prison,

summoning is facile, dismissing fraught!

Should noble court grandees

demand her release,

dire peril follows!

When shall his vigor return? Give me a certain day!

Sickness strikes like a landslide and recedes like drawn silk;

when he heals,

physicians cannot fathom;

how dare I utter rash vows?

Then what of bailiffs harassing my shop daily?

Speak!

Knowest thou how much gold is lost daily?

Wilt thy yamen repay my losses?

Thou art extorting us!

Had I suffered no loss,

or were the ruin not wrought by thy yamen,

twould be extortion;

yet loss is mine,

and twas wrought by thine own hand!

Is compensation not my rightful due?

How perished Zhaodis sire?

Thy heart knoweth full well,

yet ye torment and interrogate me!

Is this not slander? Doth it not besmirch my name?

Should ye not indemnify my aggrieved spirit?

Groundless slander without proof,

and thy bailiffs

clamor fiercely at me!

My heart trembles with righteous fury;

illness surely approaches me!

Must ye not pay my physician? Enough, cease!

The bailiff spoke wanton folly;

I shall flog them to grant thee redress!

Very well,

let this matter rest.

Yet furthermore... Enough!

My noble lady, none shall set foot in thy shop hereafter!

Sufficeth that?

Await our magistrates recovery for all else, pray!

So thy words mean

all was but misunderstanding,

and thine own error?

Is it so?

Indeed.

Twas a misunderstanding; our Magistrate fell ill, and chaos ensued.

Must ye not restore my honor and confess your fault?

Forgive us!

Proprietress Su, we proffer our deepest regrets!

Show magnanimity and pardon us!

Very well.

So be it.

Let it rest here.

To actually overcome the yamen!

She hath formidable power indeed!

Mainly, Su Li holdeth secrets against him;

they dare not seize her,

nor dare they bark!

In the end, they even bowed in apology!

All dignity was swept away!

Greed knows no bounds;

a serpent swallows an elephant!

Seeking to crush her,

they brought disaster upon themselves!

Disperse at once!

Insolent rabble,

court ye ruin upon your heads?

A careless blunder!

This Magistrate never imagined she could cause such uproar!

We value our propriety;

yet that Su Li hath no shame!

Now a scholar meets a soldier;

reason finds no hearing!

Worst of all is the deep disgrace we suffered;

her brazen arrogance with nothing to fear

truly stirreth righteous fury!

Dost thou mean we can do naught against her?

Humph!

How could that be possible?

Upon what doth her arrogance lean?

Doth that commerce belong solely to her?

Once she and Jinman Tower sever ties,

what power hath she to contend with us?

Should this plot fail,

a deadlier strike awaits.

We merely foresaw not her base vulgarity.

Yet heed my words:

merchants can never prevail against officials!

Su Li, what aileth thee?

Frightened?

In plain sight, thou hast triumphed;

yet in the shadows,

how could they ever let this rest?

If they refuse peace,

we shall battle on!

Send generals against troops;

dam water with earth!

Do we lack for stratagems?

They are officials; what of it?

Should they scheme in darkness,

I shall prove far darker than they!

Trust that all rests firmly within my grasp.

Indeed, why do I harbor needless worry?

Truly laughable!

Proprietress Su, our tidings network is thrown into disarray;

false and true rumors mingle endlessly,

mainly concerning whether Young Masters injury be true!

Injured? What befell him?

Rumors abound;

we know not details, yet they say a maiden rescued him,

and he now pledges his body in return!

Tis likely a ruse,

some secret affair

requiring Young Master to feign love for another maiden,

and treasure her like jade; perchance tis so!

Yet doth Young Master not fear her entanglements?

Idle speculation availeth naught.

Rather than waste breath,

hasten to uncover the truth of whether his wound be real,

and if our aid is required!

Understood; we shall investigate whether he trifles with us!

Doth he take sport in me?

How dare he keep another hound?

Young Master,

pray be calm!

Thou art wounded;

how canst thou ride? Silence!

I shall ask him myself how he dares favor another dog when he hath me!

Alas!

Witless fool!

What madness possesses thee? Where is she?

Where is she?

Where hast thou hidden her?

Whom dost thou mean?

Feign no ignorance! Yield her up!

Thou couldst not watch thine own person,

yet comest to demand her of me! How laughable.

The innocent flower vanishes,

and the lord storms to interrogate his first love.

My reading was not in vain;

discerning this madmans thought

requires no effort at all.

I watch over her? How could I watch Su Li?

Admirable indeed!

Presuming on my sheer devotion,

thou fearest nothing!

Sheer devotion?

Indeed,

yet thou questionest me?

May I not inquire?

Art thou not too cruel?

Very well,

inquire then.

Where that person dwelleth,

I know not; blame me not! Stay, Young Master!

Ye speak of different matters.

A hound should know its place!

Snarl and snap not;

speak with reason.

Having reared a hound, discard it?

Wilt thou abandon it?

Choose another if thou wilt,

is it as fair as I?

Even if it be fair,

couldst thou not hide it?

Wait till I perish,

then flaunt it openly!

What nonsense babblest thou?

Feigning ignorance,

what profit hath it?

Say where that hound is!

Ah,

he asketh of the fop! What fop?

He demanded the fop of me;

I deemed he sought a paramour!

Inquire thyself; raging like a mad cur!

I thought thou camest to denounce me for a maiden!

Were my reach so vast,

twould be splendid!

What occurred?

Let us make inquiry,

go inquire!

Why tug at me?

Alas,

else thou wouldst be forsaken;

yet thou art ungrateful!

Aye,

thus Master remains unharmed;

truly marvelous!

Indeed,

tis said Master was grievously wounded,

rescued by a maiden,

and wedded to her!

Is this true?

Utter drivel!

Save for Young Masters wounds,

all are falsehoods.

Moreover,

they say Lady Su met a handsome man,

of refined speech,

yet how could that be?

Save for earning coin,

she careth for naught else.

Which villain concocted these lies?

Indeed! Whispering of fair-faced fops,

driving Young Master mad with wrath!

What mattereth that? The peril

is that they link my name with another woman!

What propriety is this? My honor is soiled!

That can wait.

First,

should we not apologize to Lady Su?

She surely despiseth Master now.

Who careth for her regard?

Begone at once!

Hark,

discover who spread the rumors;

I shall see them perish miserably!

Aye. In truth, these are glad tidings.

Young Master,

behold,

the spirited lady kept no other hound;

and she knoweth now

thou wedded no maiden; all is cleared!

How splendid this is!

Splendid?

What is splendid?

How to atone for my mad outburst?

Why didst thou not restrain me?

Alas,

how could I hold thee back?

Every one of you is useless!

Young Master, thy wound hath reopened!

Mm.

Is it frightful?

Frightful? Then it sufficeth.

Baring his chest on purpose,

playing the ruse of self-harm before me!

Cease; tis no grave calamity.

I took no offense;

act not thus.

What meanest thou by this?

Tis well the truth is known.

Let this matter be buried in the past.

Past?

Thy cold indifference

makes me appear a wretched fool!

Thou makest me feel utterly devoid of worth.

Hardly so; we remain staunch companions.

Su Li!

Thou hast crossed all bounds!

Frenzied and wild,

scrambling in fierce greed!

Mm.

Awake? Depart at once, then.

Alas,

my head spins.

Yet if banished, crawl I must,

to vex thine eyes no longer!

Very well;

crawl forth!

Thou art truly heartless!

Traversing leagues while bearing grievous wounds,

better I perish and end all woes!

Tears flow at thy whim;

art thou a boiling kettle?

May I not weep?

Is weeping shameful?

Must sorrow be choked in silence?

Mm.

Fine.

I shall offend thy sight no more;

doth that suffice?

Cease this folly;

rest upon the couch.

Bidding me go,

I go;

bidding me stay, I stay—who art thou?

Prithee, stroke my brow just once!

Rest well now; return to thy couch.

Nay,

thy touch is amiss!

Ah.

Docile little hound.

Hold,

is this thy customary couch?

Mm.

Fret not; no spare chamber remained.

I... I shall harbor no fancy.

Dost thou care for me? Thou art my vital ally; concern is natural.

Indeed,

Lord Ma must vacate his post forthwith;

thou didst pledge thine aid.

By my reckoning,

Wei Lins triumph draweth near;

he must hasten hither!

Must thou speak of statecraft now?

When else should it be weighed?

Agony racks my sorely wounded flesh!

Hearing another hound hath caught thine eye,

I braved the storm to return posthaste,

yet thou dost persist

in driving daggers through my heart!

A gentle caress?

Nay.

Mm.

Good hound; enough,

weep no more.

My days are numbered;

soothe my sorrow,

and though I vex thee,

feign some warmth.

When breath fleeth,

thy relief shall be complete.

Mm.

May thy years reach a century;

loathe me not.

Solace finds me only in thy presence.

For a fleeting hour... Heavens, fire!

Fire breaks out!

What calamity is this?

This is Su Lis vile doing, that wretched shrew!

Beware the hidden strike!

What is amiss?

What befell?

This venomous blade! Summon the physician!

Fetch the healer posthaste!

Confess now:

whither didst thou venture?

To teach Lord Ma a sharp lesson;

his malice toward thee merits death,

and his foul slanders even more so.

I merely torched his dwelling

and tainted him with slow poison.

Didst thou confer with me?

I have mine own designs.

Spared I his breath

only out of regard for thy stratagem;

else his demise were sealed today!

A miser and a fool beyond doubt.

Spoken truly;

this persona possesses sharp discernment,

and knows how to yield.

lowering anothers guard.

This ruthless guise

is his true visage. Enough.

Since thy true self is revealed,

feigning further before me is unseemly.

Tis truly tedious indeed.

Young Master,

thou hast returned at last!

Why strike so rashly?

This was not in our design;

thou never disruptest thy plans for aught!

What hath befallen thee?

Plans must be redrawn. Thou didst avenge her!

Alas,

she showed no gratitude,

questioned and drove me out! What of it?

As though I truly cared!

Were thine eyes not so crimson,

I might believe thee.

I care not!

I truly care not in the least!

Moreover,

did we not bribe the capital?

Lavish more silver,

that inspectors examine this realm.

Have Magistrate Ma ousted posthaste!

Claiming not to care,

yet thou toilat for the shrew!

Having promised her,

it must be done; hereafter I meddle no more!

What in truth transpired

to leave thee so distraught? Those wretches slandered me,

and she heeded every foul word!

In that moment her gaze showed she doubted me!

From the first, she never Urge me no more.

Since she trusteth me not,

why should I seek mine own humiliation?

Once my wounds heal,

we shall depart;

none can tell how long this frail life endures.

Then rest and mend thy wounds, Young Master.

Spirited Lady,

hasten to see him forthwith!

Fasting from food and drink, how can his body endure?

Thy words carry sway;

I beseech thee to dissuade him!

I doubt he possesses such mastery of deceit;

doth thy heart not perceive it?

Whether he feigneth,

canst thou truly not discern?

Wherefore was he wounded?

When duty called to show the tally,

he produced but a counterfeit token!

Would he feign even to such peril?

To catch a wolf, one must risk the bait;

perchance tis but part of his cunning scheme.

Ye two are bound in alliance;

if his play fails,

no benefit falleth to thee!

I implore thee,

only go and behold him!

If need be,

I shall fall to my knees before thee!

For thy sake, and for those other two

who share this mortal vessel.

Thy benevolence is unforgettable! Enough,

spare me thy flattering words! Begone!

I declared I shall touch no food!

Dost thou not comprehend?

Cease thy vexations! Approach again,

and I shall slay

thee! Slay whom?

Me?

Mm.

That vile cur is insidious indeed,

ruining this mortal vessel

and leaving me to endure the agony!

Indeed,

he is deceitful and malignant to the core;

I doubted when thou didst tell me before!

Aye,

he is most loathsome;

heed him no more hereafter!

Fear not.

I shall utter no word to him! Obedient fool,

thou art the faithful hound I cherish!

Ah,

my foolish pet,

wasted to skin and bone!

It pierceth my heart with grief!

That wretched cur is abominable,

refusing his sustenance so willfully!

Deceiver! Thou promised

to caress only my brow!

Deceiver! Thou swore

I alone was thy cherished hound!

Disguise no more!

Begone! I need no pity nor care from thee,

nor camest thou to tend to me;

thou camest only for those two wretches!

Thou pitiest them?

Death was their due!

If thou poutest

and drivest her off,

I shall meddle no more!

I am unwelcome here, it seems;

then I shall depart.

Look at this... My venerable ancestor!

What art thou doing?

Thy wound hath never closed;

thy flesh will rot away!

When rotted,

it must be carved out!

How hideous that would look.

Ha!

What use is all this now?

Begone, thou prating fool!

I do as I please! How uncouth to bellow so.

I never spoke loudly.

Alas,

enough.

I withdraw;

speak in peace; the congee is warm.

I shall not eat!

None pressed thee to eat.

I will not touch it!

Then starve if thou wilt!

What dost thou truly want?

I would ask the same of thee!

Having cast off thy disguise,

why don the mask once more?

Degrading thyself to pretend,

fasting and pining,

is this amusing?

Who degrades himself?

Who refuses nourishment?

I feast this very moment!

Behold!

I cherish

mine own self well. Splendid.

Then my heart rests;

I take my leave.

What dost thou seek from me?

Stay.

Stay at my side;

I ache.

Turn not away! Enough,

feign on if it pleaseth thee;

sleep this very instant,

or I depart.

Why trust them yet doubt me?

My heart grieveth.

Did I not say?

Comfort me;

when I perish,

thou art free!

Silence!

Be angry no longer;

I was at fault,

I shall mend my ways.

Bestow thy trust on me,

even as thou trustest them!

Thou art unlike them;

thou hast thy fierce conviction.

Conviction breeds stubborn obsession;

with obsession

comes ambition, stopping at no ruthless deed.

Not thou alone; so am I. Nay,

I would never!

I deem it not ill;

tis well indeed.

Each striveth for his own ends,

allied for common gain;

such bond is steadfast,

free of entangling ties.

Thy word is law; all follows thy command.

If thou agreest,

I shall feign along with thee.

What sayest thou? All shall be as thou decreest!

Then past pledges must hold;

touch not

those two wretches, nor style them little hounds!

Might it be

neither of them wisheth to be a hound?

Tis impossible!

Then nurse thy wounds from this day,

cease tormenting thyself,

lest I abandon thee!

Understood. A mishap like Lord Mas

must never recur;

thou must confer with me!

I hear and heed.

I return to my duties then.

Art thou pleased?

Why act so harsh, vexing thyself nigh unto death?

Why enterest thou?

Begone at once! Burning bridges so soon?

Without me, would she deign to heed thee?

What credit hast thou in this?

Twas her tender heart relenting!

She hath yielded softly unto me!

Alas!

I marvel indeed!

Doth deceiving thyself delight thee?

How is this self-deceit?

Every word is absolute truth!

Thou knowest naught;

beholding my wasting frame,

she wept with tender pity!

Thou utterest whatever fantasies

thy slumber conjureth!

I must not strike thee,

nor kick thee either;

I must nurse mine afflictions,

lest the flesh fester unto the bone,

marring my noble countenance!

Unbearable! I take my leave!

Ah...

What noble errand brings you hither?

Nay, what folly is this?

Thou hinderest my trade!

Never,

never!

Speak! For past trespasses, we beg pardon;

truly such strife was needless.

In toppling the Zhang clan,

our magistrate strove mightily,

oft pleading on thy behalf!

And then?

Ye laid blame upon me in secret,

then vexed me when I balked! Coin was paid,

yet

never

sated

thy greed! Is this not truth?

Men strive for gain alone;

let us

make peace,

restoring old ties!

In all thy ventures,

the yamen shall shield thee!

I brook no such words!

Proprietress Su, I beseech thee,

pardon me!

The fault was mine alone;

grant me the antidote!

I implore thee!

Seek a physician for thy malady;

wherefore rave wildly here?

Physicians cannot cure this bane;

each day is bitter agony!

I yearn not for death!

I beg thee,

bestow the antidote!

Envoys from the capital probe our deeds;

I beseech thee bid them stay their hand!

Our folly overreached itself;

we acknowledge our grave sin!

Spare our wretched lives,

we shall serve as thy hounds!

I harbor no extraneous hounds!

Despise not

my mercy!

At worst,

we perish together; thy bribes shall ruin thee!

I can shatter thy commerce in a breath!

Dare wag thy tongue,

and doom shall claim thee far swifter!

I shall slay thee!

I shall slaughter thee this instant!

We perish together!

My thanks to all!

None save our young master can purge this bane,

not fatal,

yet it wreaks torment beyond mortal endurance.

Thus we need raise no hand;

his suffering suffices!

Envoys sent from the court

for this corrupt knave

were also thy young masters decree?

Though sorely wounded,

thy welfare ever reigns foremost in his heart.

Return this unto him for me.

Heardest thou his injury arose from the medallion?

Such calamity shall not recur;

never again.

There is no need to yield it back,

and with his brooding spirit,

he will suspect dark thoughts.

Thy counsel holds truth.

Though your estrangement is healed,

fairness bids me plead the young masters case.

Ruthless he is indeed,

and veiled in guile;

yet his desperate devotion to thee is pure truth,

so fervent it astounds our very souls.

Ponder it no more;

we have settled our bond

and accords. They say maidens fear wolves, yet not so here!

He hath his destined mantle to bear.

I hold aims to fulfill; indulgence in romance now

would only hinder great deeds!

Though spoken thus,

few possess such resolve.

Take my young master:

fine precepts

pour from his lips, yet tears soak his quilts!

Grieve not; he knoweth his bounds,

his heart is steadfast,

and grave duties shall never falter.

Perchance so.

Young Master met an unyielding rock!

Lady Sus heart is hard as stone;

to cherish such an one

will break his very teeth!

An ambush! We are ensnared!

Retreat! Take them alive!

Enter as ye please,

and depart at whim?

Dost deem my courtyard thine own hall?

Strike him down!

Bind these knaves fast!

These wretched fools are all captured!

Should this trace to me,

my life is forfeit!

Mm.

Lead them all away forthwith!

Proprietress Su,

what means this?

What thinkest thou?

Hinder not the yamens justice!

In the dead of night,

how knewest thou of trouble here?

Didst scent it like a hound,

or didst thou dispatch these assassins?

Utter no wild slander!

This magistrate watched these villains long;

every movement was known to me.

Since all was clear to thee,

pray answer me this:

why came they to take my life,

and by whose bid? Thou hast many foes;

whosoever sent them is no wonder!

Indeed,

anyone might have sent them.

Yet did ye not claim

boundless knowledge?

Who then dispatched them?

Answer me! Cease thy insolence!

This magistrate takes them for trial;

barring us reveals thy guilt

and defies imperial authority,

wherefore I shall sentence thee!

Didst thou not yearn for the dungeon?

How now?

Wilt follow us into chains?

Keep that dungeon for yourselves!

Refusing honor, thou shalt taste wrath!

Deemest thyself possessed of boundless might?

Today I strip away thy haughty guise,

and teach thee bitter truth! Guards!

Seize this insolent shrew,

drag her to the yamen! Fools!

Mark this well:

vile, insolent peasant,

daring oppose officials,

thy doom is sealed! Thine own doom comes!

Seize this corrupt magistrate!

This advisor too, steeped in bribery,

guilty of every foul vice!

Their retribution is come at last!

Who art thou?

What authority hast thou to judge this case?

Is this woman beyond all guilt?

Seizing only me and sparing her,

I submit not!

Aye, we submit not!

None craves thy submission.

Thou art the first corrupt official

felled by my hand!

Dire shall be thy end,

an example to strike terror into all!

Who art thou,

insolent wretch?

Fair-faced upstart!

I am the Fifth Prince!

Fifth Prince? What manner of... the Fifth Prince!

Take them all outside!

How strange...

Methinks thy countenance hath changed.

Thou seemest far fairer than before.

Amidst such tumult tonight,

thy gaze still dwelleth on my looks; tis truly wondrous!

Is this a great matter?

I returned to the capital days ago;

Imperial Father praised my growth,

tasking me to purge

corrupt knaves;

and just then thy trouble arose.

Ah.

If thy present state counts as seasoned refinement,

thy Imperial Father holds humble hopes indeed.

Mm.

Tis not merely trial and polish;

our lands reaped a bounty!

Thou canst not fathom how the famished

folk

now hold light in their eyes!

All bless thee and the Jin clan;

hadst thou beheld the sight,

joy would surely stir thy heart. Splendid.

Father is well pleased; Wei Lin shall assume office hither,

and the Chi kin shall follow,

with thy kin by marriage; all shall gather anew!

Tis truly a joyful prospect.

Beside,

can thy delicacy shop open hither?

Branches span every path;

how can outer prefectures lack them?

The outer capital openeth shortly,

yet securing a store in the capital took all my wit,

meant for cosmetics.

As for broth shops,

we must await suitable quarters.

I hold a fine estate;

use mine own shop!

Twere churlish to decline.

I pondered it long ago;

my manor is vast and imposing.

Capital folk want not for silver;

thou mayst raise the fare accordingly!

Hear this well:

should I accept,

thy store shall count as thy share,

yielding a tenth of net profit annually. No need,

I am an imperial prince,

indifferent to such pittance.

Tis by no means small silver;

thy royal blood calls for greater coffers.

Clear waters harbor no fish.

Purge every knave high and low,

and the court will stand desolate.

I grasp thy meaning:

some villains merit chains,

others claim closed eyes.

Even if one is steeped in heinous sin,

seek the proper hour; strike amiss,

and all comes to naught.

If thou canst not fell him

yet needest his weight,

silver must grease his palm.

Wilt thou still spurn this tithe of gain?

I possess other estates;

wilt thou inspect them?

Suffice the Jin clans fields?

All my manors shall serve thy will!

If so resolved, deliver thy ledgers that I may weigh

what enterprises suit,

yielding thee boundless profit.

Agreed,

all is thine to rule; my heart rests easy!

Place blind faith in none, myself included.

Aye,

I hear thee.

That heedless grin proves he marked not a word.

Furthermore,

I informed Imperial Father

the glorious harvest

owes its triumph to thee.

Thy bounty tarries

lest premature fame expose thee

to covert schemers.

Indeed,

just so! Speaking with thee is effortless,

unlike those dotards;

whatever I utter, they grasp naught,

indistinguishable from simpletons.

Simpletons or pretenders,

depends on artful feigning.

When matters favor me,

I advance them zealously;

when matters

run contrary,

I feign dullness to stay the course,

better yet, foil the enterprise.

I sensed something amiss all along;

I was too credulous.

I fancied those sharing my banner

would grant unconditional devotion.

I stand beneath thy banner

for tangible advantage;

thou must sustain their prized gains,

binding them in steadfast loyalty,

while drawing foes with yearning envy;

thus shalt thou reign supreme.

They favored merely my folly,

pleased by my obedience.

Yet I have changed;

I shall be a puppet no more.

As time unfolds...

Where then remaineth unfailing devotion?

Remain foolish then!

To play the guileless fool yet win rare fortune,

is apparent folly not supreme wisdom?

Indeed, idle theorizing availeth naught;

return and train diligently with care.

My gratitude for thy counsel!

Each discourse yieldeth boundless wisdom,

and deep enlightenment beside!

Enough;

flatter me no more here.

Well...

I thought pleasant words

would nourish our future alliance.

Let me impart another lesson:

thou must adapt to each persons measure;

such artifices

are best not employed upon me,

lest they breed the contrary effect.

True; with thee, candid speech fareth best!

Yet must I not hone my wit?

Whither shall I go to practice?

When Wei Lin arriveth,

spar with Wei Lin;

then Master Yin,

and finally Chi Yun.

He is thy supreme adversary.

Chi Yun! Dread striketh whenever I behold him;

at his very voice,

my heart trembleth! Accustom thyself to it;

thou shalt contend with him often hereafter.

Alas,

a wretched fate! There is progress,

yet the path remains steep.

Heavens above!

This Su Li must bear miraculous destiny;

else why do all who oppose her meet dire ruin?

Is it not so?

The prior official also fell from offending her!

This magistrate was beheaded outright!

Who knows what shall become of the next?

If he proveth corrupt,

may he cross her path again!

Let us heed not,

whether she be fierce or shrewish;

her smiting greedy tyrants profits us well!

We should slander her no more.

Indeed,

whatever be said,

we have basked in her grace.

A wretched pack of spineless fools!

Think not I discern not their petty designs!

If thou continuest to harbor such jealousy,

ah,

thou wilt surely sour thyself to death!

Humph!

What jealousy do I harbor?

They cannot even serve as loyal hounds;

what peril could they pose unto me?

Save for thee, who would willingly be a hound?

Even if thou wished, thou couldst not!

Should I succeed, thou wilt weep and wail!

My counsel

is settled

fairly well;

the grand stratagem must proceed!

Dispatch foes in outlying lands first,

then we may march unto the capital.

Aye,

a fierce campaign draweth nigh!

Oh!

I never expected you so swiftly;

lodgings are not yet arranged for you!

Let all reside in the yamens rear court!

The yamen is vast, with chambers aplenty,

and sumptuously adorned beside;

standing vacant, all should abide

with me here!

Humph,

that seemeth well;

arriving suddenly in an unfamiliar realm,

tis best we gather together,

so if strife should arise,

we may take counsel together.

We shall lodge in the yamen too;

lodge ye in the yamen as well.

Report unto my store during daylight;

both pickled goods and eateries need care,

just as in town;

ye are skilled at such management; fear not!

Thy mother and I shall manage all prudently; aye,

we shall never bring shame! The shops in your hands

bring great peace to my heart.

Sister-in-law,

look upon me swiftly!

See if I have grown taller!

Mother said

I am fast blossoming into a maiden!

Thou hast grown taller and far more comely;

yet years remain ere thou becomest a maiden.

Yet I yearn to grow swiftly,

and achieve renown with speed!

Cleared at last!

Next to ponder its adornment.

Is this not Lady Yangs private artist?

Why stare, reeking of copper?

Thou seemest haughty;

why put on airs?

Strange indeed;

which hound barketh here?

How darest thou speak so?

Not a bark after all;

twas thy chatter!

Fitting for Yang Qingyaos maid;

neither of you hath any worth!

Hear this:

should she seek thee again,

paint her visage ugly!

Cousin is betrothed unto me;

doth she hope to entice him anew?

Disdaining thee,

why come stirring strife?

Lady Yang is naturally fair,

refined of grace,

like a spring

breeze; unlike

foul mouths that sicken all who listen!

If she be so fair,

why spurned my cousin her?

Thy cousin felt shame;

knowing he was unworthy,

he retreated in dismay!

Unlike thee and him, a match made in heaven!

Thou shalt tire that wench no more!

I declare,

my cousin is elevated now;

crossing me

means offending him! Promoted, eh?

Then beware,

he may cast thee aside!

False! He is no faithless rogue!

Bid that wench

court no shame upon herself!

Mad dogs bark at the wind.

Having ensnared him with cheap wiles,

thou deemest all would follow suit.

None covet thy cast-off shoes;

no wonder thy fame is soiled!

Thy tongue is sharp indeed.

As is thine own.

In place of raving here,

buy an iron chain

to bind thy cousin fast,

fearing she entangles him!

Lady Yang is of noble house,

fair as

flowers, gifted and wise;

only madness would seek a pauper!

Words are lost on a shrew!

Thy skin is parched and flaking;

dost thou neglect all balm?

Hath not thy cousin attained grace?

Why hast thou not ascended too?

Gives he thee no silver?

Cross me not! Veer aside when we meet,

lest public shame

fall upon thine own head!

Someone will chastise thee! Madam,

today I beheld Lady Su strike Bai Rao dumb across the way!

Twas wondrously satisfying!

Is her wit truly so formidable?

Truly; I knew her sharp and decisive,

yet Madam knows not her fame in the street!

What fame?

Lady Sus name echoes in markets;

many deem her fierce and ruthless,

with sundry foul whispers beside.

She is a merchant prodigy,

yet with such renown,

should we draw too near,

might we suffer scorn?

Flaws dim not jade;

tis of little weight.

Ill repute far surpasseth

a wicked character!

None is devoid of fault.

Once deeming her flawless,

a subtle distance lingered;

who knew she was so vibrant!

Now my heart is at ease.

Ill repute among merchants

is no dire offense,

especially as she shields our young lady;

mutual advantage is paramount.

Lead hands tomorrow to aid her.

Envying her calm resolve,

heedless of worldly eyes?

Feign no ignorance;

Su Li hath proclaimed thy greatness;

wilt thou return to graze?

Thy sire declared

that lad harborth such intent of late.

Su Li not only sustained my boast,

she enlightened my heart long since:

gaze forward, never glance behind;

he is unworthy!

Then Su Li hath rendered great service.

Thy sire reasoned with thee long,

yet thy knot remained untied;

she swayed thee with such ease; wondrous indeed!

Perchance she readeth hearts more clearly,

and touched the very essence with each word;

thus I gladly trust her. What mattereth?

Are ye now at my command?

Aye.

The Lady feared trade overwhelmed thee

beyond thy strength,

and dispatched us to assist.

Command us as thou wilt.

These designs I drew with mine own hand;

pray bestow thy care upon them,

to adorn the shop as drafted.

Banquets abound of late,

and I am pulled in all directions.

Banquets ever multiply at this season.

Rest assured, Lady Su,

this task resteth safe in my hands.

Art thou certain Chi Yun crossed swords with Song Chigui? Most certain.

Ere journeying here, I visited Chi Yun,

and found him seizing every occasion

to press Song Chigui unto ruin.

Though in skill he holds the vantage,

in this realm authority outweighth merit!

Yet he hath not faltered,

is it not so?

For now their powers balance;

yet as time lengthens,

the outcome remains in doubt;

Song Chigui is truly ruthless,

severing every bond of kin!

Leave it be for now.

Leave it be? My steed perished nigh from frantic haste!

Yet thou heedst it not? With Chi Yuns wit,

had he no means of safe retreat,

he would never contest the field.

I too repose faith in him;

yet anxious care cloudeth judgment.

I dread unforeseen peril,

and yearn to lend my strength.

We may shield him for a season, but not a lifetime;

why not let him temper himself through minor trials?

Tis indeed a precious crucible.

Aye, one must release when the hour cometh;

a child must grow; overshielding only worketh ruin.

Tis well thou hast perceived it.

Behold me, a stalwart man, faltering in the crucial hour

with soft-hearted frailty;

thy wisdom and resolve surpass common mortals! Flatter me not,

lest it sway my mind

and cloud my judgment.

Spoken by another, I might believe;

yet from thy lips, let it cease;

thou hast ever remained lucid

and formidable indeed.

Cease thy jesting,

and tarry here in idle banter no more;

Wei Lin lacketh hands,

for past corrupt magistrates bequeathed unto him

mountains of wrongful dockets.

Hasten thither to assist him!

How pressing can it be?

I shall go inspect.

Alas!

An honest magistrates lot is hard!

Deep affliction vexeth my soul!

Woe to an office-seeker like me;

what boon is there in higher rank?

Better demote me once more!

Behold thy faint heart! Tis but a trifling matter;

resolve each in due turn.

Boasts must never be uttered rashly;

promising to redress every wrong,

and behold now:

these scrolls span longer than my mortal span!

What absurdity is inscribed upon these pages?

Unfastening no latrine door,

his nakedness was glimpsed;

what grievance lies in this?

He claimed it himself!

And behold now,

what tangled nonsense! The former officials were knaves who muddled through;

why record such foul trifles upon the register?

This one is yet more preposterous:

two souls merely met each others gaze,

yet one was sentenced to thirty strokes!

Here lies one suspected of silent cursing,

who was likewise flogged.

Here is one who deemed anothers garb too vivid,

and thereupon ransacked their entire household!

Are these knaves utter fools?

Dread they that none marked their absurdity?

Ah,

Sister-in-law once said,

when absurd folly is laid bare,

flaunted without conceal,

tis cover for darker villainy beneath.

Thou hast returned

in good time; lead men to verify these odd scrolls!

These records may be forged;

toil spent inscribing such falsehoods

proves they must deceive all eyes.

The true scrolls hold perilous secrets!

Chi Ying is wise indeed,

grasping statecraft at so tender an age.

This scarce merits praise;

were Second Brother here,

we had not pored days over this trash;

he had pierced it at a glance!

Chi Yun possesses such brilliance.

I shall lead guards to verify each.

If truth matches your suspicion,

ponder forthwith:

where lie the true scrolls?

My Lord, the hour of merit dawns;

unravel this knot,

and high office awaits thee!

Search! I shall scour at once!

Who lamented advancement moments ago?

Hmph!

Who spoke of regret?

I never uttered such words!

One must climb to higher realms;

a slave to rank! Fret not,

thou shalt attain high office;

with such zeal,

all triumphs are thine! May it be so.

Mm.

That lad Song Chi Yun is keen;

so young, yet wielding borrowed blades,

striking with exquisite art.

Indeed, this venture seemed fraught with peril;

yet these brothers clashing favored us,

granting us rare leisure.

Tis delightful to spectate this play.

Thou still hast heart for jest?

Thy heart longs to return,

not stay,

playing lapdog! Splendid indeed!

Su Li favors this brother-in-law. Hold, never strike!

If thou slayest him,

thou art the shrews blood foe forever;

even hanging thyself avails naught!

Silence!

I hold mine own counsel.

Very well,

do as thou wilt;

I plead not for thee. Brew me tea forthwith!

Use mine own; this taverns brew is vile.

Being foul,

I drink little;

drinking little,

I wither,

and my visage fades.

As a faithful pet,

one must preserve ones charm!

Tis brewing already!

Thou truly hast the soul of a hound!

Second Brother, must we remain at war,

like water and fire?

Thou art gifted in letters,

fated for the scholars path.

We are brothers of one blood;

if thou consent,

thy elder brother shall shield thy rise to high office!

By mine own prowess,

I shall journey far;

thy sins will seal thine own doom,

and a foul death awaits thee!

Drag me not into ruin!

What profit is it to thee

if I fall from grace?

I did not slight thee,

yet thou clingest like a viper;

what evil intent? Thou disgustest mine eyes!

How carefree thou departed back then!

Sister-in-laws dowry,

and our family provisions,

didst thou not loot all, leaving squalor behind?

Didst thou pity us? None barred thy path,

yet thou stolest the morsels keeping us alive!

Knowest thou how bitterly we suffered?

We each bore hardships in those days;

that warrants not sworn enmity between us!

Speak then of what came after;

what deeds wrought thou upon returning home?

Doth thy conscience not know?

All else might be forgiven!

Yet troubling Sister-in-law cannot be forgiven!

Thou must atone

Small is thy skill, yet vast thy boast!

Were I truly inept,

thou wouldst not feign brotherhood.

Mark my words:

thou art the most pitiful kin—nay, a mere stranger!

Thou art utter dross!

Heaven envies brilliance; beware,

thy life is brief!

Fret not;

I shall assuredly outlive thee!

Forsaken by all art thou, not this one! Insolent boy,

thou hast sharp insolence!

I hear thy house seeks

a matrilocal spouse; who doth she fancy?

He who becomes elder brother!

How fare I in thine eyes?

I can take thy clans name!

So swiftly thou forfeitest thine ancestry?

Why appearest thou altered from before?

Formerly thou wert merely foolish;

now thy wits seem utterly unhinged!

Whether I am altered?

Su Lis word governs all;

I abide by her decree without question.

For who would contend with a madman?

Young Master,

what dost thou intend?

Ponder well!

Begone,

hinder me not!

Such an archer never misseth the mark.

My martial skill is far from supreme;

I must tread with utmost vigilance.

Indeed.

He aimeth to destroy thee utterly!

So what if twas I? Dare I not slay thee and raze thy manor?

Of which deed dost thou speak?

And what matter meanest thou?

Where is thy proof?

Who beheld it?

Cease feigning ignorance!

Produce thy evidence then!

Very well,

let past disputes rest;

yet what of thy strike against me today?

I am an officer of the Imperial Court,

while thou art but a lowly commoner!

I acted with no malice!

No malice?

Thine aim was flawless!

I sought only to rescue.

As to why saving life struck thee,

if thou must brand me guilty,

let us present it before the court.

Discourse plainly

upon why thou soughtest Song Chiyus life!

Thou—! I fear no judgment,

yet thou fearest justice!

Gloat not;

thy trade shall crumble in due time!

Always puffing empty arrogance!

To ruin my enterprise,

thou must overcome me first;

and thereafter,

thou must contend with Su Li!

Yet alas,

thou art powerless!

Partnering in commerce,

thou art prideful indeed!

That woman covets only gain;

dost thou fancy she cherisheth thee?

She merely useth thee!

To be useful proves my noble worth!

Haha!

Else why doth she employ only me,

and disdain

thee? Thou gloatest over this?

Is this an auspicious fortune?

Once thy value wanes,

she shall cast thee aside without pity!

Then I shall toil diligently to remain worthy!

Should a day come when I am worthless,

I shall withdraw mine own self;

she need not cast me out.

I could not bear her foot to ache!

What servile babble is this?

Dost thou think this softens her heart?

I tell thee,

a soul so profoundly cunning

shall yield thee naught,

however deep thy devotion!

Who says I gain naught?

Lo,

all these were bestowed by her hand!

Haha!

Her heart holds me in fondest regard!

Merely a heap of hideous trinkets!

Then thine eyes are truly blind! Besides,

even if unsightly,

they were bestowed by her hand,

tokens of her true regard!

And what hath she granted thee?

Naught whatsoever!

Almost forgot: she granted thee divorce!

Thou! His Highness bids plans alter;

we must deliberate anew,

return posthaste! Our day shall come!

If thou hast days left!

When they come,

grass on thy tomb shall stand ten feet tall!

Humph! Guard that decree of divorce well;

tis a precious keepsake after all!

Ah!

By this comparison,

my days are blessed with rare fortune!

Vigorous indeed in war of words!

A grown man,

yet so venomous of tongue!

I merely match scoundrels with their due;

for a knave like thy brother,

he stirs far too much strife!

Against such a vile villain as Song Chigui,

only ruthless tactics prevail!

Regardless,

todays deeds were rash;

thy mind is sharp,

yet still green in cunning.

Song Chiguis

treachery is beyond thy mastery.

Ere martial skill reaches the pinnacle,

venture not forth alone.

Indeed! How look these?

Are they not exquisite?

A grave matter suddenly calls me away!

Halt! Depart not!

What now?

Is a word of praise so hard?

Alas,

enough!

She but pitieth thee;

didst thou not perceive it?

Pity me for what?

Tis sheer envy! Jealous

of what I possess and he lacks!

Alas,

very well,

have it as thou wilt!

Let us hasten hence;

disgrace us no more! There is no disgrace!

I know her heart cherishes me;

ye know it not

for lack of discerning eyes!

Well skilled in soothing thine own conceit!

Since she treats me with such grace,

what gift should I bestow in return?

She rules all trade; the master token

is already hers!

What else hast thou left?

Only this mortal life remains;

perchance yield my life to her!

Why offer such worthless junk?

Utter destitution indeed!

Thus then:

bestow shadow guards,

that she may stand firmer!

What then of our safety?

A portion, not all! Each man given

deepens thine own peril!

I stood in no safe harbor anyway;

if she thrives unharmed, all is well.

When I perish,

I shall sense naught beneath the soil;

she may keep other hounds.

Enough!

Stay,

cease moving thyself

to tears!

If she fosters another hound,

I shall burst from the grave in fury!

I believe it,

such is thy stubborn folly! The task

is done,

and hours remain;

wilt thou return to play the lapdog?

Nay; strike while the iron is hot,

purge all foes that must be cleared,

build all foundations anew!

Would that no sea of blood weighed upon me!

Yet sorrow abides,

blood cries in dreams;

how could I taste peace alone? Let us go,

to the next fray!

Aha!

Lady Yang commands such noble prestige,

having Proprietress Su attend her adornment!

Tis truly an enviable sight!

Indeed, my swiftness matches not yours.

Twas only Proprietress Sus pity;

else I alone had gone unadorned today!

Cease such jesting!

None could sway Proprietress Sus hand,

save for thee alone!

Wherefore imparts she her heart only to thee?

I must curry thy favor to taste novel wares first!

Not you alone must flatter her;

we all crave her good graces!

Ye ever make merry at my expense!

Many young lords shall gather today;

Mother chose one for me. Weigh him anon,

for thy discerning gaze sees true.

I trust thy judgment.

I am but a merchant;

my worldly perspective hath its bounds.

Belittle not thyself;

pray lend me thine aid!

I dread repeating past follies,

seeking but an upright match of equal standing.

Very well;

we shall observe him together.

Tis the gentleman clad in purple robes:

the Ministers eldest heir,

skilled in both letters and arms.

Once betrothed to Maiden Xiao,

they dissolved the pact when her clan fell.

Now cleared of guilt, Maiden Xiao...

Lady Xiaos daughter hath secured a noble match;

she contends with rival concubines at home!

A concubines child fled home during their fall,

and plighted secret troth with General Song,

gnashing Lady Xiaos teeth in wrath!

Intriguing. It seems

a reunion with old acquaintances draws nigh.

Severing the pact upon adversity

reveals worldly scheming; I fear the Ministers son

mastered cold calculation as well.

Upon exoneration, Xiaos legitimate daughter

promptly gained an auspicious match,

which harbors deep suspicion.

As for this gentleman, a mere glance

reveals little; high scions feign virtue. What then?

My maiden years slip away;

unwed,

I become an old maid.

If the elder sister wed not,

younger maidens cannot marry;

I dread ruining their youth! Fret not;

he may harbor greater haste.

What dost thou mean?

In this brief span,

his eyes have glanced hither repeatedly.

Since he stirs with restless intent,

we shall master him through still patience.

Thy mother probed thoroughly ere choosing him as thy most fitting match;

yet human hearts remain veiled.

Expect me not to pierce his soul entire;

follow thine own inner counsel.

Shouldst thou desire him,

we shall pursue the auspicious path;

shouldst thou refuse,

endless avenues remain.

I have found my resolve.

Fear not the path ahead;

thy kin shield thee.

Though he

were a ravenous wolf,

he must feign civility.

As for domestic peace,

contending with rivals brings boundless joy.

Be he true,

he thrives; be he false,

he perishes.

Without, observe decorum;

within, defy conventional bounds!

Very well.

Is that yonder not the former suitor?

His disconsolate air suggests

he caught wind of thy betrothal.

None would ever consider him!

Though strangers pose risk,

danger balances chance;

yet with him, peril is certain.

Stir not abroad heedlessly,

lest he entangle thee;

should a scene ensue,

scandal would follow.

Good,

I shall not wander.

Wander not;

heed this well. Fret not,

I shall stay firm.

Commanding so grand a trade,

yet hastening to serve others!

Shunning ease

for menial drudgery,

debasing herself!

Su Li, is following me not glorious?

At my side,

multitudes would wait upon thee.

Unseen so long, thou growest ever viler!

I earn honest coin through righteous toil;

how is it not nobler than relying on thee?

A base scoundrel like thee—

whoever leans upon thee courts sheer ruin!

We have been parted so long;

must thy words sting with such venom?

I care not to speak harsh words,

yet murder transgresseth royal law!

Else why waste breath instead of striking thee dead?

Dost thou harbor such hate?

Flatter not thyself!

I hold no affection for thee,

whence then could hatred arise?

Tis utter revulsion,

as one loathes a foul sewer rat!

Vanish therefore from mine eyes,

lest thy sight sicken my stomach!

Thou art a mere commoner, Su Li!

This day I shall force thee to heed truth;

I showed thee undue grace before.

Should I enforce my will,

escape would lie beyond thy grasp!

Hmph!

Su Li!

Art thou mad?

Dost thou dare strike—

I strike thee, base cur! Thou hast provoked death!

Coin nourisheth warriors;

with my commerce thriving thus,

could I lack stalwart protectors?

Thy foresight reacheth no further!

Su Li, dost thou recognize thy plight now?

Seize this woman; slay the other two vile hindrances!

Fear not; the young master bestowed death-sworn guards!

Should we falter, the shadow guards shall strike;

they shall shield thee! What foolish thoughts?

General, our charge is guarding the Dukes manor,

preventing any disorder within.

We must provoke no strife!

What meanest thou?

Can I command—

Not so,

yet Prince Yu forbade all needless skirmishes!

Boasting high, I fancied thou hadst sovereign power;

lo, thou canst command not a single soul!

Song Chigui,

thou art truly laughable!

Is this thy so-called glorious rise,

thy exalted rank?

Dost thou comprehend the penalty for treasonous defiance?

Doubt not my mandate of summary execution!

Defying Song Chiguis decree,

death strikes this very instant;

yet obeying his command,

Prince Yus wrath brings death still.

Yet later death surpasses instant doom;

strike! Chigui, we have not met for long!

What transpires here?

Assaulting common folk without cause—

dost thou deem human lives mere weeds?

This woman spoke insolently!

I am a commissioned court official;

she assailed me with bitter scorn,

slandering mine honor.

Therefore— Past deeds remain vivid in mind;

if her speech was sharp,

was it devoid of cause?

Wilt thou stay thy hand forthwith,

or must I appoint a court

to weigh the truth between you? Why shield her so?

Fifth—

Doth the Fifth Prince dote on a cast-off wife?

It seems thou art the discarded spouse!

Doth royal status brook union with such a woman?

Thy favor is but her death sentence!

I deign not answer thy petty malice.

Depart at once,

lest I summon the guards;

thou mayest not withdraw unscathed!

Your Highness is majestic indeed;

how dare I contend against thee? Farewell!

A powerless puppet swayed by others!

Triumph for now; once Prince Yu seizeth the realm,

I shall personally execute—

Playing lackey to the Imperial Uncle hath swollen his pride;

he groweth utterly unhinged!

Once deemed a man of valor,

recollection proveth our blindness. Tis well known;

wilt thou dwell in peril hereafter?

Thou art his shameful

past; refusing submission,

he may decree thy doom.

Even thy kin-in-law,

stand in dire jeopardy!

Beneath the Emperors throne, can he stir such monstrous waves?

To avert unforeseen peril.

Defense yields to attack;

better to leave him desperate.

What counsel hast thou?

Thou hast no need to know;

thou canst render no aid.

Thy noble station forbids sordid ploys.

Then I shall watch in silence.

Matters press upon me;

should Song Chigui seek thee,

pray bid Wei Lin summon me.

Proprietress Su, may we speak apart?

Very well;

let us seek another room.

Proprietress Su seems estranged from General Song.

Indeed,

Madame.

Fret not; a mere general stirs no dread in me.

This Song Chigui is curious indeed;

in martial strife,

he is lauded as peerless.

I deemed him a paragon beyond compare,

yet he proves trifling after all.

The crux is his alliance with Prince Yu;

my lord walks not Prince Yus path.

Were thou allied with Song Chigui,

I would harbor misgivings.

Yet since thou art his foe,

shouldst thou need aid,

I can lend thee strength.

If Madame granteth such favor,

twould be splendid indeed!

What service dost thou require?

Fan the flames;

hasten the tide. As for details,

Madame shall perceive in due time.

I feign no mystery;

words alone are intricate,

yet once it unfolds, the intent will be clear.

I understand.

I saw thee conversing with the Fifth Prince;

my brother-in-law and His Highness are Master Yins disciples,

thus familiarity grew between us.

Tis truly droll in retrospect.

Ignorant of his royal rank, I uttered much offense,

yet in his grace, he held no grudge.

So it was thus!

My daughters romantic path is fraught;

thou knowest this full well.

Now that knave pursues her afresh;

even venturing abroad fills me with dread,

fearing she might wander astray

and fall into his snare.

Noble houses enforce strict decrees;

once entangled through mishap,

regardless of guilt,

the maiden ever bears the shame.

Indeed! Turning just now to find her gone,

my heart leapt to my throat;

hastening forth in pursuit,

I beheld my foolish child

brandishing a club to aid thee!

Miss Yang,

hast thou pricked thy hand in haste?

Twas my folly; had I charged in,

I would only have wrought confusion.

Such noble heart is rare.

Miss Yang is a true confidante; for such devotion,

a set of my unreleased dainties

shall be bestowed upon thee!

Truly? Assuredly.

Qingyao, emulate Proprietress Su hereafter;

she possesseth virtues worthy of heed.

That I know full well. What befell here?

I heard Song Chigui brought thee strife.

That wretch is a general now;

he bears some skill!

What of his prowess?

Xu Wen and I resolved:

though we forfeit our lives,

we shall bring his doom!

Aye! Nay,

I shall risk all as well!

Doth his vile life merit three souls perishing with him?

What then?

He wields formidable might;

without striking by stealth,

how can we subdue him?

Knowing me so long,

why remain such reckless brutes?

Must we trade blows?

Can we not wage wits?

What war of wits?

I know his nature;

he will strike forthwith!

Swiftness is imperative;

we must seize initiative!

Hast thou a stratagem? A stratagem?

We lack them not;

let us wait and behold the play!

My Lady, news of General Song cometh!

Su Li truly arrived

in the capital!

Brother Song claimed

he cast Su Li out;

yet his heart yearneth for her still!

I must not sit awaiting doom!

Fetch my robes hither;

I must see Father!

Prince Yu reviled my deed of yesterday;

if news of my kin severing ties spread,

the ruin will be dire indeed.

Yet to slay her thus,

Su Lis loss were a pity.

Better to put all the rest to the sword,

sparing only her! General!

Lord Xiao Ting calleth upon General Song!

When wilt thou arrange nuptials with my daughter?

Must we wait till she beareth seed?

How could she bear seed?

Even were she with child,

twould be anothers bride, not mine,

General Song, such banter lacks grace!

If thou dare not own thy deed,

blame me not for petitioning the throne!

Since thou decreed Xiao Yuyan

be a concubine,

I took her unto my bed times,

yet after each union,

I bade her swallow bitter draughts!

How could she conceive?

Why art thou silent?

Doth thy heart tremble?

Hmph.

What was promised of old,

I have no reason to recant;

yet my rites with the Commandery Princess tarry;

no primary wife wedded,

how could I take Yuyan into my hall?

Wherefore do thy nuptials delay so long?

Doth the Prince refuse, or is it thine own refusal?

Much lies herein

thou knowest not,

and secrets I may not disclose;

bonds constrain me.

The Princess...

I sought but to share peaceful days with Su Li,

yet now,

it seemeth all in vain.

I shall advance this union;

once thou takest Yuyan to wife,

I will lend my whole might unto thee

to lift thee to exalted heights!

General, envoys from Prince Yu arrive,

commanding thy presence!

Trials fall blow on blow! Saddle my steed;

I shall attend His Highness at once!

What urgent command

bringeth me before Your Highness? Insolent knave!

Song Chigui, thou art bold indeed!

No wonder our nuptial dates lingered so long!

Thou revelest among blossoms and tavern charms!

I am wronged!

Pray enlightened me, Your Highness!

Dissemble further! Rumors run wild across the realm!

Squandering gold on courtesans and keeping sirens in secret manors!

Short only of rearing broods for thee!

Your Highness, I am slandered!

Tis a vile frame!

By thy mere words

and flapping tongue,

shall This Prince believe

it never was?

Bestowing my child upon thee

was high favor,

yet thou repayest This Prince thus!

If falsehood it be,

prove it unto This Prince!

Drag forth the slanderer from the shadows!

Rest assured, Your Highness;

I shall render an accounting!

As for the wedding day,

kinless and solitary,

I submit all to Your Highnesss will.

Hmph! Mark thy words well;

This Prince shall declare the auspicious day!

Quell those foul rumors forthwith!

Stir no needless folly in these hours,

lest waves of scandal draw the Emperors stern gaze!

I heed. This surely is Su Lis cunning craft!

Yet she acteth like one deranged now;

we dare not seek her path directly.

Guards, seize two beggars from the gutters!

Say they took coin to spread malice,

flog them to death,

and carry their corpses to court!

to report to Prince Yu. As commanded, General!

Once this tempest of rumors subsideth,

I shall seize Su Li into my grasp;

then her very self shall be mine alone,

to see if she can maintain such insolent pride!

Honored patrons, have ye heard the tidings?

General Songs manor slew a man to seal his lips!

Claiming what?

A beggar spreading rumors?

In truth, the Generals conscience gnaweth bitter!

Rumor tells he maintaineth three concubines without the city,

and hath sired two baseborn sons beside!

Alas!

So Prince Yus house weddeth such a shameless profligate!

What grave pity for the Commandery Princess!

More folly remains!

In the battle of the Narrow Gorge,

hearing the thunder of enemy hooves,

Song Chigui hid cravenly amidst the hayricks!

He survived solely through the vanguards valiant sacrifice.

Song Chigui fled when horns resounded shrill,

brave souls bled upon the battlefield,

yet he stole their glory!

Merely a worthless coward exalted on dead mens deeds!

Ever swaggering with majestic airs,

who knew him to be a spineless tortoise!

Proprietress Sus ploy of slaying with borrowed blades

is wondrous craft indeed!

Dispatch word forthwith,

command all draperies and teahouses to fan the whispers,

ensuring these rumors spread through every alley.

Rest easy, Mother;

upon my return,

I shall bid our servants fuel the flames.

Whom in Heavens name hast thou offended?

This Prince warned thee long ago:

conduct thyself with prudent restraint!

Could this be the Fifth Prince? Formerly he favored me...

Were he gifted with such cunning, it were wondrous!

Let it be;

the pure remain unsoiled,

the turbid foul themselves.

Being despised by the rabble

may perchance serve our fortune,

rendering this Princes grand designs inconspicuous.

Moreover,

the nuptials are fixed upon the fifth of next moon.

Today is the seventeenth; few days remain.

Prepare all with utmost diligence.

Heed this: without this Princes explicit command,

thou shalt not stir a single hand!

Nobles favor hiring stylists for bridal adornment;

I wonder if the Princess shares this taste.

I wonder if the Princess delights in such craft.

Mm,

tis commendable thou heedest her preferences.

Proprietress Su is renowned as the finest artisan;

none but the very best should be summoned.

Su Li,

darest thou come?

Darest thou refuse my summons?

Mm.

Yet this Prince heard none save the Yang clan can sway her.

The Yang house is bloated with arrogant pride!

Lavish bounty ever summons willing hands;

if silver fails,

let unyielding imperial might prevail!

Humph, a mere merchant!

Dare she cross this Prince,

this Prince shall strip her of every copper,

to see if the Yangs can shield her from ruin! Prince Yus wrath is no trifle;

whatever allegiances divide the realm,

none openly wields greater authority than Prince Yu.

We cannot afford mortal enmity with him.

Our plight is that yielding requires going,

yet should we enter,

shall safety truly abide?

Why hesitate over idle fears?

We two shall accompany thee;

if matters turn foul,

slay Song Chigui and Prince Yu together,

and end this strife once and for all!

Or art thou too craven to dare?

Must ye clamor for mutual destruction at every turn?

Have matters truly reached such dire extremes?

He deems I tremble in dread;

if he dare summon,

I dare attend! Is there aught I may perform?

Folly; what weight can thy petty official post carry?

Humph, remain quiet and keep thy peace!

Fret not.

Many court officials were once disciples of mine;

at Prince Yus celebration,

whatever animosity exists,

they must present their attendance.

With the Fifth Prince present as well,

protection shall surely be ours.

Truly,

how could we overlook Masters venerable renown?

Indeed!

With thee presiding, failure is impossible.

Indeed.

Dost thou think all are as useless as thee?

The scholar speaketh true. Commandery Princess,

doth this adornment please thine eye?

Tis quite exquisite.

Let this face be worn on the morrow.

Proprietress Sus craft is wondrous.

Her Highness overpraises me.

My thanks.

Insolent wench! Darest thou ply bewitching wiles before me?

I merely applied the princesss cosmetic veil;

naught else was done.

Whence cometh such an accusation?

Audacious fool, to talk back to this Princess!

How darest thou speak of thyself as I

instead of this humble slave?

Because I am no slave.

Such proud defiance!

Believest thou not I could end thy life here?

Cease this wanton petulance!

She is no slave; her guild rules are plain:

due courtesy must be observed.

Having summoned her craft,

honor her station.

What of her defiance toward me?

This Eldest Princess heard no defiance.

Provoke no needless strife.

Yet, Royal Aunt,

thy grand nuptials dawn;

clamoring for slaughter now shames our hall!

Had that royal nephew not begged me, I would not step here.

Gazing upon this niece only veils the heart in gloom.

Let the auspicious hour be observed as decreed!

Mark it well, wench.

Delay the rites,

and this Princess shall break thee!

If the hour is kept

and none weave spite,

no mishap shall ever fall.

What insinuatest thou?

The Princess frets needlessly;

how could I harbor double intent?

A bridal ceremony is so momentous,

surely the Princess would never jest with it.

Enough!

Silence!

For a maiden to build so vast an enterprise,

speaking with concealed blades,

tis wondrous indeed.

A rare spectacle beckons on the morrow.

Now that cosmetic style and time are sealed,

if naught remains,

I shall take my leave.

Tarry a moment.

Dawn calls for thy early arrival;

departing now,

canst thou guarantee no delay?

Abide in this princely manor tonight.

That would be most unfitting,

and perilous to mine own safety.

A creature of such base blood,

who would deign to harm thee here?

Dost thou hold thyself in such exalted conceit?

Tis truly preposterous.

Dwelling under anothers roof

breeds awkward entanglements;

high manors teem with diverse souls;

any foul rumor stains noble reputations.

I shall not intrude.

Humph!

A woman such as thee,

having thy name sullied would be thy blessed elevation!

Thou shouldst beg for it! I prize my honor,

unlike thee,

careless of all shame.

Foul whispers circle thy deeds,

yet thou struttest untouched,

shameless!

Truly,

brazen impudence

hath no equal under heaven; I marvel indeed!

I ought to learn from thy shameless art! Thou...

Thou insolent wretch!

Vile creature!

Whom darest thou offend?

Did he not provoke me first?

For a man to defame a ladys chastity without cause

is base and ignoble,

revealing only a rotten and foul spirit.

The Commandery Princess should ponder this match well.

Spill not sour grapes out of envy!

He is a lord thou couldst never attain in this life!

The Princess knows naught.

Enough.

Didst thou not seek to depart?

Thy task here is ended;

withdraw posthaste,

lest thou hinder our deliberations.

Time presseth fast!

ought not be wasted on thy babble; guilty indeed!

Su Li,

mark my words! How intriguing;

these two harbor dark secrets of the past.

Tomorrows nuptials promise grand spectacle indeed!

Thou darest arrive so late, almost ruining my affairs!

By our appointed hour,

this humble one is not tardy;

in truth, I arrived early.

Heed whatever this Commandery Princess says;

must thou talk back?

Tis no defiance;

I merely state truth. Silence!

Attend to thy duty!

A vast gulf divides thee and the Princess;

a lowly peasant dare speak thus unto Her Grace?

A lowly peasant am I;

what art thou?

Thou art a bonded slave;

she may slay thee at will,

yet I am no such thrall!

Hear me once more:

my shops decree demands due respect.

If the Princess cannot grant it,

I shall take my leave.

Thinkest thou that departure is thine to choose?

With countless guests filling the princely manor,

I fear not creating a grand uproar!

Dost thou threaten me?

Far from a threat; I merely state plain truth.

Enough!

Cease this brawling; what scandalous disgrace!

Not a shred of imperial dignity remains.

Yet Aunt, twas she...

On thy wedding day, display gentle grace and harmony;

only thus shall auspicious fortune follow. Very well.

I shall not stoop to this wretched wenchs level!

A Commandery Princess spewing insults ceaselessly?

Dost thou act like a marketplace shrew? Did thy sire teach thee thus?

Though beheld yesterday,

this visage remains breathtaking today!

Would the Eldest Princess partake?

Splendid.

Aunt,

pray be seated.

Fascinating.

Were one to seek this daily,

thy parlor would be overwhelmed with labor.

Should Your Royal Highness

wish, send discerning maidservants to learn the craft.

Naturally, tuition shall be required,

and the price is by no means paltry.

Well,

business spoken plainly! Aunt,

behold her insolence;

she merits stern chastisement!

Through her grace alone,

thy countenance was elevated manifold.

Uttering such words

is returning malice for kindness! Aunt,

why dost thou favor her so?

This Princess aids thee and upholds imperial dignity!

If thou continuest such folly,

palace matrons shall teach thee court decorum,

until every ritual is thoroughly mastered!

Anon thou must follow the bridal cortege;

tis only natural.

I must attend the brides retinue.

This Princess shall also attend.

The Eldest Princess was sent by the Fifth Prince to guard me; if provoked,

I shall raise utter tumult;

if not pushed,

I shall initiate the strife myself!

This wedding feast must be overturned! Eldest

Princess, Commandery Princess, the bridal escort arrives;

we must take leave of the Prince and depart.

My beloved stands before mine eyes,

yet I wed another!

Wherefore hath fate brought this ruin?

How hath Su Li grown yet fairer?

Doth she bid me strive for her heart?

Doth she lure my soul? Auspicious hour arrives: bow unto Heaven and Earth!

Bow unto Parents! Bow to each other! Bride unto the chamber!

General Song,

felicitations on this joyous union!

Drink deep; drink more!

Once drowned in wine,

thoughts of Su Li shall plague me no more!

By what right is she so ruthless,

severing all without a glance? General, thy spirit is bold!

Yet on this grand day of nuptial joy,

indulge not overly in the cup;

if thou collapsest,

the bride awaits in the inner chamber!

Poured!

Pour more wine without cease!

This General refuses no cup today!

Su Li, Your Royal Highness Princess,

wilt thou tarry longer in this hall?

By court custom,

My service hour hath long expired.

Dost thou wish to return?

I shall reckon two days wage,

how deemest thou?

Gratitude, Princess. It draws near end;

rest awhile,

I shall see without. Su Li,

dost thou feel any regret?

Why hast thou grown so enchanting?

Doth this feast

awaken fond yearnings in thee?

Whom wouldst thou entice?

Su Li, who compares with me?

Parted from thee, I wed a princess;

the Xiao daughter clings desperately.

I soar now upon glorious winds;

dost thou curse thy shallow sight?

Art thou gone mad?

I awaited thy change of heart.

Though the princess seeks wedlock,

and Xiao Yuyan begs entrance,

I tarried; the true wife of my heart

is thee alone! Why dost thou spurn me?

Demented fool!

Hearken unto me:

close thy merchant shops,

shun the Jin house,

keep far from them!

I shall buy thee a manor,

and we shall dwell in seclusion;

thou art still my wife,

I still thy husband!

Perish in thy delusional dream!

Canst thou not part from Jin?

That lunatic is possessed;

his moods shift like clouds,

steeped in sinister malice,

loosing arrows in the dark!

Twice hath he wounded me!

So formidable is he?

He merits fair reward then.

No matter,

I shall claim thee by force this very day!

What if there be two?

A man taketh wives and concubines by right! Come!

Help!

What commotion is this?

How enters a vile knave into this manor?

Look closely before uttering folly!

Is this not the bridegroom,

General Song?

Lady Su cries outrage;

doth General Song drink to excess

and mistake her?

The General swore to keep me as mistress,

proclaiming that to him,

I alone am his sole true wife!

Could the General speak thus?

Spurning even the Princess? Yet Su

is so fair,

his folly is not beyond reason.

Advance! Thou art indeed beauteous,

yet not enough

to unhinge him upon his bridal day!

Vile wench, since yesterday

thou schemed to ensnare him! A merchant,

fair of face,

shameless beyond measure!

What countenance must a merchant bear to have shame?

Silence, impudent one!

Dost thou doubt

I shall order thy mouth torn?

Kneel forthwith and kowtow,

confessing thy wicked falsehoods,

lest I bid men beat thee unto death!

I speak no falsehood;

every word,

every utterance is truth!

He refused to wed thee

only to wait for me!

Foul lie! Silence! What disgrace is this?

Aunt,

why shield this treacherous wench?

Behold what evil she hath wrought!

How shall I hold my head henceforth?

Su Li,

thy station is beneath General Song as dust to sky;

though he coveted beauty,

fair maidens abound across the realm!

Why toil over thee, deeming thee his sole wife?

Is that not utterly preposterous?

Wherein lies the absurdity?

He deems me his only true wife

because I was once his lawful wife!

Is this truth? Such matters are no jest!

The yamen records hold all proofs!

Upon gaining glory, he cast me off;

now regret gnaws at him, coveting both!

Yet twas not he who cast me aside;

twas I, Su Li, who divorced him!

Song Chigui,

knowest thou what thou utterest?

If this Princess finds thou liest,

thy vile life shall be forfeit!

Inquire at the yamen, Princess,

and thou wilt see the truth takes time.

Meanwhile, thou shalt not depart.

If the truth

accords with thy words,

this Princess grants thy freedom.

Else,

I shall scatter thy shattered bones.

Dost thou consent?

Spare such needless toil.

This Prince vouches for her word.

I was present when wife divorced spouse;

no prior precedent guided the magistrate.

He wavered,

so I lent my imperial support.

A woman casting out her husband!

What staggering valor and resolve!

To be discarded by a mere woman!

What contemptible scum is Song Chigui!

False! Her claims are utterly false!

Slay her posthaste!

Did Song Chigui never speak of his parents?

Ye all assumed both had perished.

Yet it is not so.

Once wedded to me,

he abandoned his kin and fled afar.

His lineage has now disowned him.

No wonder my emissaries were slain!

This knave silenced them in cold blood!

Is all she uttered true? Splendid!

Thou hast concealed so vile a past!

Imperial Uncle,

I cautioned thee beforehand,

bidding thee reflect,

yet the dye is now cast.

Alas!

The nuptials are unconsummated;

dissolve this match! Never!

Royal Father,

I belong to him alone!

A sudden plight; pray take your leave.

Let naught

of todays events be spread abroad.

Behold the daughter thou hast raised!

She hath stained the royal houses pride!

Tis because Imperial Aunt

cherishest me not!

Hadst thou let me slay this wench early,

how could all ministers now learn of this?

To slay her now that all is known

would bring far deeper shame!

It would brand Prince Yus house with guilt!

Cease this wild folly!

I heed it not!

This wench must perish! Art thou mute?

Hast thou naught to say in defense?

All is undone.

The noble name built over decades

crumbles to dust.

Su Li, that vile woman, ruthlessly ruined it!

I have been the victim throughout.

May I take my leave now?

Moreover,

the silver,

pray do not forget to settle my fee.

Leave? Whither dost thou fancy going?

Thou hast stirred up

such havoc, yet hopest to flee?

Now I see whence thy daughters venom stems:

the fruit rots near the root! Release her!

Sister!

Ah,

cease this strife;

more noise

shall but magnify the scandal.

Come,

fetch thy silver from the treasury.

Proprietress Su, this Prince harms thee not. Truly?

Yet if evil befalleth my parents-in-law

or my younger kin hereafter,

I shall look first upon Your Highness!

And verily,

all souls beneath heaven shall judge likewise! Begone!

Follow this Prince forthwith! Farewell!

How dared she?

Peerless Su Li! Magnificent and valiant!

How gratifying!

Speak truth:

didst thou summon me thither

solely to shield Su Li?

What bond truly lies between you two?

No special bond;

mere partners in enterprise.

This woman is no ordinary mortal!

To broadcast the feud to every ear,

stirring foes to crave her utter ruin!

yet none dare lay a hand upon her! Formidable, is she not?

She is ever such a wondrous soul,

advancing and retreating with exquisite grace,

proving all rests securely within her palm.

Yet this woman is tainted with venomous craft.

Had Song Chigui not brought shame upon himself,

how could such a storm have arisen?

He wove the very cocoon of his own undoing;

Su Li bears not the slightest blame.

Thou harborest love for her,

is it not so?

Who could fail to adore her?

Thou confessest with noble frankness.

Were the Emperor and Empress to discover thy heart,

thinkest thou Su Li could still live with such carefree grace?

Affections elude my humble restraint,

yet my words and deeds remain mine to command.

Aunt,

this one never harbored

the thought of possessing her,

so none need

bring distress upon her on account of my love.

It seemeth thou art lucid,

knowing her station matcheth not thine.

I am lucid indeed,

yet not that she is unworthy of me,

rather that I am unworthy of her.

Wherefore speak thus?

She liveth now with joyful ease,

yet what could I bestow upon her?

To lock her within the deep palace,

never again to behold the wide sky?

And suffer neglect and malice for my royal expedience?

While bound by cold reason,

I could not speak even a word on her behalf!

Then cast aside such cold calculations!

Did the Emperor achieve that?

It seemeth thy resolve to protect thy beloved

equaleth not thy imperial sire.

At least thy sire was willing to brave the storm.

Tis my very resolve that biddeth me keep distance.

Knowing oneself helpless in royal duty,

why feign an empty defiance against all under heaven?

Yet thy mother enjoyeth supreme imperial favor now.

Supreme favor it is,

in truth,

yet how many moments of leisure hath Father?

I oft behold the quiet sorrow upon Mothers visage;

I wish not for my beloved to endure such a plight.

Thou speakest grandly, yet Su Li merely refuseth thee.

She refuseth indeed;

yet even if she consented,

I would not; she meriteth far greater joy.

If I can but see her joyous,

stand behind her in times of need,

and shield her from insult, it sufficeth.

Thou dost not appear to utter falsehood.

Then I shall not speak of this before the throne.

Life brings endless sorrows; avoiding folly is wise.

How could all blessings fall upon me alone?

Reaping the glory of my royal station,

I must endure the chains it bindeth upon me;

this is my destined lot.

Small wonder many ministers revere thee so.

Though part springeth from thy pure heart,

far more is owed to thy noble benevolence;

thy aunt holdeth high hopes for thee.

Who could foresee Su Li was once General Songs wife,

and twas she who cast the general out!

Such towering valor,

who else could possess?

Offending Prince Yu, yet escaping unscathed!

Such cunning mastery,

who could rival? Far more than that!

I heard my father say

many ministers stood ready to shield Su Li then.

Father said

those officials were disciples of Master Yin,

which proveth Master Yin cherisheth Su Li greatly;

and this regard is born solely of who she is.

Indeed,

else none would venture so far,

and the Fifth Princes bold intervention

speaketh volumes beside.

The more one knoweth this Su Li,

the more formidable she appeareth.

The more I learn, the more wondrous she seems!

Mother,

having crossed Prince Yu, will she face grave peril?

Not in the days near at hand;

for this hour is a critical juncture

in Prince Yus grand designs.

Should harm befall Su Li,

suspicion would fall straight upon him.

He would rather dispatch guards to keep her unharmed!

And thereafter? Her brother-in-law may claim top honors,

and shield her under his mantle.

Fret not over Su Li, child;

every step she treadeth is guided by calculation.

Thou must trust in her.

Whatever may arise,

if she dares undertake it,

she holds full certainty.

Indeed, she needs no aid.

Mother, as for my match

with the Ministers eldest son,

Hast thou resolved?

His virtues and conduct

Mother hath examined.

Prestige and talent

he truly possesses.

Yet Mother heeds not those alone;

I desire one who tenders thee warmth.

Whether he shows warmth,

or what manner of man he be,

I fear not.

I need pay him little heed,

and only hold fast to myself. Su Li taught thee?

Deemest thou she led me astray?

Perchance she enlightened thee. Truly turning peril to fortune!

From first to last, I saw no peril!

Well,

such is the bound of my wit.

Prince Yu must lie quiet for long,

and even seems inclined to shield Su Li.

Thinks he sparing me ends all?

Yet he cannot stop my extortions!

At the slightest mishap,

I beat drums to tell all under heaven,

directing suspicions toward Prince Yu!

So none can long endure it!

None matches thy roguish craft;

none rivals thee! Mind thy tongue!

Tis truth: knaves must be fought with knavery.

By the way,

how fares Song Chigui?

After such tumult,

are he and the Princess well?

The Princess dotes upon him madly;

how could they fare ill?

Save that Song Chiguis fame is ruined.

Yet war stirs at the border anew;

to redeem himself, he begged to march,

and must have departed.

Tis but minor skirmishes,

free of dire peril,

yet sufficient to win respect.

This was Prince Yus design,

to grasp military power beside,

killing two birds with one stone.

This needs no anxious care;

blows are ever returned.

Seizing the next chance, we shall crush him utterly.

Thy tumult was to pave the path for Chi Yun and Chi Ying!

Fearing Song Chigui might block their ascent,

thou wouldst strip him of all standing,

leaving him powerless to eclipse

their brilliance. Indeed, such was my intent.

I know the hour is early,

yet striking him cannot be done too soon.

Thy mind is wondrous sharp,

unlike certain folk. Why mock me ever?

Why mock thee?

Bidden to seek the true dossiers,

hast thou found them?

What else canst thou do?

Could such scrolls be easily found?

Were the minds before me fools?

None were fools,

save thee alone!

Alas,

the broth shop thrives too well of late,

so thou couldst not dine?

Hence thou pickest quarrels daily! What words are these?

What dost thou take me for?

Am I such... I bade men purchase it!

Look at thee,

ah,

thou art a worthy youth,

and I favor thee. Bid me when thou cravest it.

As proprietress, I can grant this favor.

Why trouble thee? Thou art busy;

I shall merely pester Wei Lin.

So thou knowest thy vexing ways!

Tis likely delivered to thy chamber;

hasten not to dine? I go feast!

What truly befell Jin Manlou?

Why feels he like another man entirely?

Hast thou beheld him of late?

Need I behold him?

Though unseen in the martial world,

his tales echo across all corners!

Thou hast been too occupied,

and marked it not.

Recount the details. Tis hard to say;

he acts exceeding wild.

Naturally,

this unfolds not in plain sight,

so thou must take great care.

Does Master Yin know?

Alas!

His heart seeth all clearly,

yet his demeanor is subtle,

as though deeming all his rightful due.

Thus I sought to confer behind his back,

fearing he may hinder our designs.

Though our tasks run not on the same path,

lest unforeseen strife reach us. Fret not;

even should waves crash upon us,

I hold stratagems to counter them.

Ah,

thy words grant ease unto my soul!

What weigh ye here?

One moment brows furrowed,

the next radiant with smiles!

Mere idle trifles spoken.

Summoning the Eldest Princess,

and bearing witness for me,

truly all is owed

unto thy aid!

No thanks are needed.

Ah,

moreover,

of Song Chiguis march to war,

hast thou heard?

Newly heard. But that he was ambushed upon leaving,

didst thou hear?

He was pierced by an arrow!

Tis truly laughable;

why is he ever struck of late?

Indeed so; foul omen besets him!

Lest he bring ruin to our grand army!

Bitter tears stir within me!

Perchance he draws deep venom.

The little hound returns!

Ah,

speaking the plain truth,

through all these years,

countless foes sought my ruin,

yet none vex me more

than Song Chigui; his sheer pettiness strikes deep!

Rare indeed! Enough then;

speak no more of such a wretch,

lest bitter vexation plague us.

Fortunate that he shifted allegiance,

else I might stand as thy foe!

Perchance for those very words,

were he upon my side,

I would banish him forthwith!

Thy tongue groweth ever more glib!

Not only glib, his wit sharpens too!

Is this not all owed to your wise guidance?

Moreover,

Su Li,

one grave matter

I would seek thy counsel upon.

I may not speak details; yet its finest remedy lacketh virtue!

Lacking virtue unto whom?

Unto the innocent, or a foe? Unto a foe!

Then the more ruthless, the better!

Standing as mortal rivals,

why not crush him utterly?

What ponders thy mind?

Hath folly gripped thy head?

I mark it well!

I must return now.

Mm.

Is Wei Lin truly so fair?

I shall slay him!

Is my chamber thine to invade at whim?

Didst thou gain my consent ere entering?

No leave is needed;

a faithful hound

returning unto his mistress is natural law!

Approach Wei Lin no more;

nor let thy name be linked with strange men!

Or I shall spill his life!

So twas thou who shot Song Chigui?

He merited death!

Did I not command thee:

such deeds require my counsel first!

What now?

Doth pity stir thy heart?

Cease thy wanton tantrums!

I shall rage as I please!

I shall raise storm!

Thou mayst depart!

I shall offend no more hereafter;

will that not suffice?

Wilt thou begone? I shall not leave!

Dost thou seek to cast me aside?

Shouldst thou forsake me,

I shall slaughter Wei Lin and all the rest!

My vow is steadfast!

I deemed thou wouldst vow to slay mine own self!

That I could never bear!

At most I would imprison thee,

that thou mayst stroke my brow daily!

Noble ambition indeed.

Humph!

Then thou canst but watch me dine;

I shall feed thee rare delicacies,

clothe thee in fine silks I bestow,

and daily shalt thou strike me in wrath,

hearken to my soothing words, and dwell beside me alone!

How now? Art thou not struck with dread?

Aye,

dread indeed!

Truly, dire terror filleth my heart!

Darest thou still think to forsake me?

Thy wits wander far astray,

surpassed even by an utter dolt.

Speak,

why remainest thou silent?

Bid that fool emerge. What meanest thou?

I have barely returned,

thou hast just beheld me,

yet cravest him?

He deserveth death! Be good,

summon him forth awhile.

Good hound.

Very well,

since thou deemest me a loyal hound!

Spirited minx, long hath it been!

Long hath it been.

I declare, this vile rat hath performed a good deed!

In the Medicine City he aided Chi Yun,

and took shot

at Song Chigui, shooting him yet again!

This proves intriguing indeed.

He aided Chi Yun? Tis absolute truth!

None knoweth what madness seized him.

By the by,

what intent hast thou?

Speak apace, for that vile rat holds petty spite;

he will not suffer me to linger long outside.

Between thee and him, whose martial prowess excelleth?

Mine own skills surpass his,

yet sinister stratagems he harbors,

so when slaughter must be dealt,

his blade striketh swifter;

he knows no hesitation.

Whenever his name is uttered,

ye all brace as if against a deadly foe,

calling him venomous and cruel;

yet I have perceived naught of it.

Wouldst thou behold that guise of his,

simply shadow his steps in secret.

Yet should he detect thee, wrath will flare,

and murder

to silence thee is most certain;

venture not into such peril.

I spoke merely in passing;

bound by endless toil,

how could I pursue him? Yet I must know how wild that madman becomes.

Lest our paths diverge,

and lacking forethought,

I be caught unawares.

That vile rat biddeth me return!

Spirited minx, when dire hour strikes,

stay not thy hand!

Pity not him or the miser;

if he dareth harm thee,

slay him without hesitation!

Matters will not reach such an extremity.

He is a madman!

Thou art the madman, a foul worm sowing discord!

If I am cast aside,

thou shalt suffer manifold! Mind thy speech.

Wherefore must thou summon him?

Dost thou yearn to hear his vile slanders of me?

Forget not,

I alone am thy loyal hound!

Heed him not,

nor seek his presence ever again!

Let the miser emerge once more.

Transgress not all bounds!

Be obedient;

claimedst thou not to be my good hound?

Both Yang Clan and the Fifth Prince enter this fold,

granting us far stronger shield.

The capital rouge shop and spicy pot open apace.

I wonder whether to delay them awhile,

lest launching all at once

drain our vigor overmuch?

This trial poseth no grave hardship unto thee.

When that vile rat re-emergeth,

demand of him whether all servants in our shops

may have their indenture deeds consigned into thy hands.

Fearest thou his current deeds

shall entangle thee and imperil our enterprise?

Thou knowest not what ruinous calamity he may breed.

Were his clan extinguished,

would not all shop hands fall? Thus, under thy wing, they escape ruin.

Nor would the foundation of thy trade be shaken.

Could it truly be so dire?

It hinges now on whether that vile rat will part with them.

Should he refuse, no matter;

remedies shall ever be found.

It seemeth no crisis is grave before thy countenance.

Thou broodest not on the past,

nor dreadest the morrow.

Beside thee, my spirit finds peace.

Moreover,

the bribery chart,

Jin Wu delivered it to thee?

Both factions have received tribute.

Human hearts crave silver;

at times coin achieves wondrous feats.

Truly, thou art most astute,

knowing not to stake all on one basket.

Both factions seek our silver;

thus we hold sway over both.

Astute? Utter folly!

Wherefore praise him?

In thy heart,

they surpass me, is it not so?

Ye are all allies;

each possesses unique merit.

Thou deemest us alike?

I am thy loyal hound!

Are they?

How could we ever be alike?

Thou shouldst deem me dearest! Liar! Young Master,

my noble lord,

when hast thou ever won such strife?

Hast thou learned no lesson?

This time is different!

Her words wound too deeply,

slandering me

before fools,

yet praising that others wit!

Wherefore doth she never praise me?

I care for her above all else,

yet she scorns my devotion!

Pray permit me an impartial word:

all three of you treat that spirited lady well.

None falls short of the other.

Alas,

hold thy tongue!

Alas.

Very well,

I shall be silent.

How proudly he flaunts his prowess,

bidding her demand indenture bonds of me!

In this,

I foresaw it long ago. Jin Wu,

deliver the indenture deeds of all Jin shops unto her!

What?

Shall we abandon our livelihood?

Livelihood?

We merely drift with fate;

who knows how long

life will endure?

Surrender all to her!

Wilt thou deliver them in person?

I shall see her no more,

unless she confesses her fault!

Then endure thy spite!

Is he well?

Alas,

fuming with bitter rage!

He will calm in days.

Truly, his heart yearns deeply for thee;

he really... I know thy words.

I mean no malice; yet his fickle temper

defies all reason.

His nature is indeed unruly,

yet softens upon beholding thee,

only to turn sullen when parted long.

I implore thee,

bear no grudge against him,

and grant him gentle favor.

I understand his mind;

let him compose himself first.

I shall confer with him once my labors cease. Good,

pray forget not! What did she declare?

Half the day hath passed;

why hath she not arrived?

Go inquire of her,

and bid her name a precise hour! Young Master,

if thou canst not brook waiting,

seek her out thyself!

A devoted hound needs no pride!

Indeed!

What pride hath a loyal hound?

I shall seek her posthaste!

Hold! Wilt thou go just so?

How else? Young Master,

I spent all my breath

ere she agreed to visit thee.

Hastening thither so eagerly,

wilt thou render my toil vain?

What care I for that?

Thou shouldst have urged me sooner!

Who knew thou awaited such a pretext?

Step aside; bar me not from seeing her!

Canst thou not tarry a moment?

I can wait no longer!

Tis sheer torment;

how differs it from frying in boiling oil?

Did Jin Wu not speak? He did;

yet I have no patience

for waiting. My seeking thee differs from thy seeking me.

Art thou mindful of this?

I was wrong; I shall vex thee no more!

My temper is fickle, I know;

yet harm thee I never shall.

A moments calm, and I confess my fault;

I soothe mine own wounded spirit.

Dost thou agree? Fairly spoken;

yet whether thou canst fulfill it remains unknown.

I surely can!

Have I not ever been thus?

Turn not away from me;

I cannot endure it!

Thou aided Chi Yun in Yaocheng?

The lad is still raw and tender,

so I intervened.

Is he not one thou desirest to shield?

I must needs show proper devotion.

Very well.

Pray stroke my head then!

Nay. Stroking a faithful hounds brow

banishes all sorrow!

Be docile. I shall obey;

yet only thy command shall I heed,

none other!

None bade thee heed others.

I merely vow my fealty!

Amuse thyself for a while;

I must tally stock at the shop. How can a man be so spineless?

Thou deemest thyself noble;

doth any soul desire thee?

I serve not as anothers cur!

Think not I know not thou art crazed with envy!

What should I envy of thee?

Thy lack of pride?

Quite spirited indeed;

this suits thee not.

I deemed thou wouldst run amok once released!

Was it not so when he first emerged?

Yet the first he provoked was that spirited lady,

who struck his face with sharp slaps;

humbled at last,

he became,

Master, what thou beholdest now;

his humor is vastly calmed!

What nonsense babblest thou?

She merely caressed my cheek with her palm;

twas never a blow! Very well,

let it be whatever thou proclaimest.

Su Li is formidable indeed;

she alone subdued all three souls,

for the other two are no gentle lambs.

What idle talk is this?

How can those two useless fools compare to me?

Indeed;

neither of them bowed as a hound,

only thou hast;

none can rival thee in this!

What dost thou know?

Mine is a rightful standing!

What standing?

Standing of a hound? Thou consoleth thyself with rare conceit!

Thou art merely jealous! What affliction is this?

When became he so utterly foolish?

Ordinarily he is not;

yet once touching the spirited lady,

her blows become gentle caresses,

her curses praise;

treated as a hound,

he fancies having found a hearth;

a cold glare he deems an amorous glance;

should she but breathe,

he imagines sweet enticement!

Alas,

were it another,

I would summon a Taoist to cast out demons.

Yet being Su Li,

tis quite natural;

for who could fail to admire her?

Turn about!

What meanest thou?

Think not I see not thy foul intent,

thou young rogue!

What intent could I harbor?

Consider mine advanced years!

Seek a physician! Approach hither;

see if I do not strike thee dead!

She belongs to me alone;

none shall wrest her from my grasp!

Whither goest thou, insolent wretch?

Return hither!

Alas!

He hastens to fawn as a hound;

thou canst never call him back.

Waste not thy breath.

How reared I such a worthless creature!

Couldst thou not show modesty?

Upon my arrival,

he tarried already,

for half an hour,

still unyielding; something is amiss.

Mm.

I seize the chance.

Heavens!

Without a word,

he departed,

acting solely at his whim once more!

Never had I beheld him thus;

he slays without blinking.

I shall step forth.

Nay, I am wounded,

feigning pity.

I am hurt;

behold, I am truly injured!

The pain burns.

Aye.

The agony pierces my marrow!

Speak,

why act so rashly?

He sought to harm thee;

sparing him risks thy life; he must perish!

Thus our pact was broken;

all was in vain.

I could not stay my hand,

for peril drew near.

Strike me if thou art wroth;

even slay me,

only turn not away; thou feignest well!

pitiful wretch!

Tis no feigning, my plight is dire!

Thy heart softens for me;

thou hast forgiven me!

Humph!

I knew I was treasured,

thou couldst not bear to cast me off! Silence!

Alas!

The wound aches;

breathe upon it,

or caress my brow.

Ah!

I am so deeply favored;

canst thou truly resist me?

Silence!

Tend this side as well; ignore it not!

Master, tis I! Lurking stealthily,

dost thou court death?

Or hast thou forgotten my wrath?

I knew not of Masters presence;

I came to inform Proprietress Su

that the corpse was disposed of.

Little did I think,

by all reason,

thou acted on whim;

Proprietress Su should heed thee not!

Thou wishest me no good fortune!

Enough,

thy message is delivered;

begone forthwith!

Proprietress Su, command me whenever needed!

Thy hand struck so heavily!

He feigns! Walk upright,

lest I strike thee down!

Proprietress Su,

I feign not;

misjudge not Master!

I take my leave!

Slander failed of its mark;

let Proprietress Su chastise him, well deserved!

Wailing like a boiling kettle!

Inquire whose minion this was;

thy master struck too swiftly;

the dead can speak no truth,

thou must labor instead.

No inquiry is needed;

I tracked him half a day;

he serves Prince Yus manor!

Slaying him warns Prince Yu:

our strength exceeds his guess,

so he dares not strike blindly.

They probed the dark,

and we dissolved the stone into dust;

most brilliant indeed!

Humph!

Dost thou dare flatter me?

Begone posthaste!

Caress my brow softly!

I can do naught with thee; let this never recur.

I speak of harming thine own flesh!

Thou cherishest me; never shall it happen again!

Alas!

Very well,

never again,

yet being cherished is sweet addiction;

what can be done?

Su Li is formidable; how may she be slain in secret?

I accepted Young Master Jins coin!

Gifts paved every path.

Should Su Li fall,

such wealth would cease.

Your Highness,

though her clamor

marred your honor,

no need compels a strike against her.

She thwarts not our designs,

and yields only vexation.

No gain awaits;

victory aids not our great cause.

Focus upon the Fifth Prince! There is truth in this.

Must This Prince swallow such affront?

This woman is base and savage;

stooping to her level demeans our stature.

Why waste wrath upon her?

Yet why did the Fifth Prince step forth?

Could he be in league with Su Li?

Were they truly bound,

twould favor us!

His stubborn elders

would spurn ties with such a shrew,

stirring rebellion.

Their Majesties would never brook it.

Were it so,

my Lord,

you should rejoice!

There is merit in this.

Spread rumors of him and the shrew!

Two birds with one stone! Splendid!

Let it be done thus.

What shall be done?

All whisper of you and me,

claiming

I blazed in fury

for my lady! I dare not face the court!

Show some resolve!

Carry yourself boldly!

Alas!

Why are you unbothered?

Untold,

I knew naught of this petty stir.

The court officials spread it;

none dare tell commoners.

Give me counsel!

I fear the elders will harass you.

Fret not.

I fear no trouble.

Alas,

the clear stay clear, yet I fear

the foul remain foul.

Without truth,

why fear hollow rumors?

Because I am cowardly!

My heart is not unswayed.

Who unleashed these tales?

If you know not,

whoever gains from this seeded the slander! I know that much.

Yet attack is the finest defense;

you taught me this long ago.

I know attack serves best,

yet find no point to strike.

Dullard! Prince Yu is riddled with flaws!

Ah?

What mean you?

Still so blind?

Strike at his corruption!

I lack proof.

When he slandered you,

what proof had he?

Tis but the flapping of lips.

Indeed!

I was too naive!

Not just bribery,

whisper of the Princesss illicit affair,

and cruelty to servants!

Is his clan not rotten to the core?

Spread every tale,

the wilder the better!

If too outlandish,

would none deem them false?

Precisely!

Then all shall deem yours false too.

He shall burn in his own chaos,

and drop this matter entirely.

So that is the stratagem!

A clash won not by idle talk! Brilliant!

Truly sublime!

When an enemys ploy leaves you bound,

you must not defend,

you must strike!

Never stoop to justify yourself,

lest you fall prey! Master above, receive my deep bow!

Is Shi Ying not your master?

How many masters need you?

No conflict;

one guides my martial craft,

one guides my strategy!

A master of vile tricks! Fret not, Master,

cunning tricks triumph best!

Yet keep thy composure; rumors of Prince Yu

must indeed be spread,

yet none must trace their origin to thee.

Maintain thy guise of pure innocence;

only thus may we strike unawares.

I know how to spread them now.

Master, farewell;

till we meet again.

Hast thou heard of it?

Prince Yu secretly frequents brothels,

and harbors unnatural passions!

Far more than that!

The Commandery Princess abuses servants,

and Song Chigui is an outright swindler!

Even the hound kept in Prince Yus manor

regularly bites the poor!

Such foul rulers! Brothels, unnatural lust,

and even our hound is dragged through slander!

Who spread these malicious fabrications?

Your Highness, pacify thy wrath! The streets clamor,

weaving tales with vivid detail,

and the Princesss ties with Song are unearthed!

Investigate with utmost rigor!

Dispatch all men to refute them,

and seize every slanderous tongue in chains!

This official

obeys! What aileth This Emperors imperial brother?

Over such trifling gossip,

must he throw his ranks into disarray?

Folly follows upon folly!

Tis his first encounter with such crude tactics;

past rivalries in court

were fought with dignified etiquette.

Now, alas,

the foe strikes with underhanded tricks,

leaving him utterly bewildered!

Vile tricks indeed!

What transpired during Fifth Princes journey?

Alas, Zhens noble son hath been corrupted!

How knowest thou twas Fifth Princes deed?

Wrong not the lad!

Others might not suspect him,

yet Zhen seeth through all things clearly;

twas assuredly that rascals doing!

Indeed,

Eldest Sister,

could rumors of Fifth Prince and Su Li be true?

Trust his sense; yet what manner of woman is Su Li?

A woman relentless in revenge, yielding no ground,

who resorts to blows when words fail,

yet hath never lost a single dispute.

Is she not a mere shrew?

Yet strange it is:

though her every deed breathes fierce audacity,

none can truly loathe her;

nay, one finds her wondrously spirited!

Eldest Sister,

dost thou mock Zhen?

I speak only truth;

upon the day thou beholdest her,

thou wilt surely share mine impression.

Ah,

Zhen yearns

to behold her this very hour,

yet the times forbid it; why curiosity over her?

Is it not on Fifth Princes account?

The boy remained blind to romance for years,

never bound to any maiden of noble house;

now one appears,

so Zhen naturally ponders her nature!

Thou art fervent indeed,

yet what availeth such fervor?

A vast gulf of status divides them;

moreover, she would never favor Fifth Prince! Zhens heart is stirred.

That no entanglement forms pleases Zhen well,

yet thou claimest she disdains him;

by what right does she disdain?

Fifth Prince!

Naturally thou deemest thine own son peerless,

yet once thou hast seen her,

thou wilt perceive the truth:

she lives the life that all women yearn for,

yet none under heaven could attain!

Thus in the eyes of women,

no man in this mortal realm is worthy of her!

What wondrous maiden is she,

to inspire such longing in Eldest Sister?

Zhen must see in disguise! Malatang opens!

Hasten thither!

No shop hath opened in the capital,

and our town is close to the city.

Thus folk from the capital flock here to feast!

Cease thy murmurs;

hasten onward!

Splendid!

Ah,

this dish is delicious;

this one is delectable too!

Heavens,

order all of them!

Shopkeeper, a bowl of spicy broth and finest dainties! Coming right up!

Pray wait a moment. The common folk feast better than this Emperor!

Tis truly delectable beyond compare!

Fortunate that I met thee,

else today I would have struggled

to taste even a bite.

Canst thou not restrict the capital folk from exiting?

Behold what dire straits I am driven to!

Master, long have we been parted!

What prompted thy stroll today?

Rumors arose of late between the Fifth Prince and Su Li...

Fret not;

Su Li disdains him.

His elder sister said as much;

why do ye all speak thus?

Is the Fifth Prince lacking in aught?

Visage, noble stature, speech, and virtue—

which of these is not supreme?

How could she disdain him?

Thou wilt understand upon meeting her.

Moreover,

this shop was opened by Su Li,

and flourishes across all corners!

Why open none within the capital?

Mm.

Nay,

wherever opened, I could taste none. The cosmetics shop

received new wares today;

purchase one for thy consort.

Ministers wives all favor it; tis a rare treasure.

Indeed,

this store was also founded by Su Li!

Of that, I have heard whispers.

This Su Li is truly an adept hand

in trade,

yet what doth that signify?

Go behold it thyself, and thou shalt see.

Why such vast throngs? New wares arrive,

so it ever must be;

these are retainers of thy beloved ministers queuing up!

Then let us wait in line! Aye, wait;

perchance drama will unfold! Make way, This Commandery Princess claims all!

Whoever contends with This Princess courts death!

Are ye all deaf?

Dare a pack of slavish curs contend with This Golden Branch?

Insolent fools!

They dare insult This Princess! Guards,

flog them hence with clubs!

How fierce is their craving?

Fleeing not even now? For mere wares,

is it worth this?

Why hasten? Watch in patience.

Insolent audacity indeed!

Openly defying This Princess! Strike them! Thou vile wench, what monstrous gall!

This Princess is of the Imperial Line!

Defying me is warring against the Crown,

a crime punishable by ninefold extermination!

Thou representest the Imperial Court?

Did the Imperial House grant thee leave?

Can the Crown suffer such grotesque shame?

Glib and venomous of tongue!

Yet this maiden speaketh with sharp defiance!

Hold thy peace and merely listen.

Su Li, I ask thee plainly:

dost thou confess to defying thy betters? Princess,

I ask thee this:

tyrannizing with borrowed might,

dost thou confess it or nay?

Mm.

This will not do!

Thou deemest thyself sovereign?

Ask His Sacred Majesty if He consents! What now?

Can Prince Yu Manor no longer mask its treasonous heart,

that thou procliamest thyself sovereign?

Doth Prince Yu plot treason against the Throne,

and dost thou plot against Prince Yu himself?

Doth good folk think such treason possible?

Return and question your masters:

is not Prince Yus ambition clear to all under Heaven,

known across the realm?

Who plots treason?

What wild babble is this?

A master of vile slanders!

So all recent rumors were spun by thee, were they not?

Rumors that the man I discarded

was gathered up by thee in wedlock,

or that thou confessed before all

that thou art already Song Chiguis woman?

First, I spread no such word;

moreover,

tis no idle rumor,

but indisputable truth! Silence!

Cease thy slander!

Noble Princess of royal blood,

how pitiful thy folly,

possessing a taste for discarded refuse!

Alas,

tis truly beyond understanding!

Or This Princess shall make thee bear

ruin and misery! Heavens above!

Formidable indeed!

Wilt the Princess summon the Imperial Guard?

Ah,

birth alone dictateth noble stature!

Princes and princesses treat mortal lives as dust!

Heed this well, good folk:

should untimely death befall me,

tis Prince Yus bloody hand that struck!

Dare the Prince strike now,

folly hath blinded him!

Why did Heaven deny Zhen such eloquence?

This Princess buys every ware within thy shop!

Wilt thou sell? Sell!

What of these souls waiting in line?

I shall make amends to each!

Two thousand taels in silver notes!

Art thou not extorting me?

How could that be?

The price is known to all!

Inquire of these patrons!

Tis already generous discount!

Deliver the silver forthwith,

and take thy goods!

Heavens above,

dost thou regret the cost?

Lacks the Princess silver?

Insolence! Who lacks coin?

I said buy all, not—

Alas,

splendid to be a Prince;

boundless silver squandered at whim!

Then rumors of his bribery hold true!

Else whence came such vast treasure?

Su Li,

thou vile wench!

A mere merchant woman!

Behold royal breeding!

Fouler-mouthed than common shrews!

Prince Yu tutored his blood well;

admiration overwhelms all!

Princess,

let us depart;

linger longer,

and the Prince will fret!

Flee not!

Desirest thou my goods no more?

Can a royal princess break her sacred vow?

I shall dispatch all wares to thy manor!

Silver,

wilt thou grant deposit first?

Our Princess was merely jesting!

All folk await their turn;

how could our Princess lack reason?

Yet unreasonable words

fell freely just now!

Canst thou truly not afford it?

The patrons await in line;

a noble spirit covets not others joy,

so let all be yielded unto them!

Wilt the Princess purchase the remainder?

Leave it thus for now;

we shall speak on another day!

Why flee with such haste?

Why doth the Princess break her pledge?

Tis like childish mockery!

Branches resemble the trees root;

doth it prove Prince Yu equally deceitful?

What a tongue! Good thing Little Five stayed clear,

else I would be utterly besieged!

Humph!

Thou hast vastly overrated Little Five;

she would toy with his wits unto doom,

while he counteth coin for her!

I... I must preserve some dignity!

Ah,

if Little Five

possessed such shrewd wisdom, how grand!

Dream not!

Thou hast earned no such virtue.

I must truly keep some dignity;

spare me a shred!

Thou cravest dignity?

Little Five was fine lad,

yet nearly ruined by flattery under thine eyes!

What dignity dost thou merit?

Providence brought him Su Li to gain wit;

else on the throne,

he would be a puppet!

Though bearing ambitions,

blind to deceit in ministers counsel;

how lamentable!

Little Five learned his ploys from her! Wicked ploys?

These are brilliant stratagems!

Aye,

all are grand stratagems!

Is it not so, Master Yin?

Why stand in line?

Send a word,

and enter through the rear portal!

Proprietress Su decreed:

Thou art the sole one permitted entry by the rear gate;

I know well that I enjoy such privilege,

yet I refuse to let others share in this grace.

Certain folk ought to stand in line!

What wares then doth this master seek?

I know naught of these; where is the maiden Su Li?

Bid her recommend the costliest! Proprietress Su examines the ledgers.

I shall fetch her forthwith.

Disturb her not;

attend other patrons first.

This idle fellow and I can await her leisure.

Tch, why are only women toiling here?

These maidens were all destitute and kinless,

truly, one could scarce perceive it now.

For present days differ vastly from the past;

each maiden now earns fair coin applying attire and cosmetics!

That maiden Su Li proved women need lean on no man

to carve out an honorable living.

Elder Sister Zhang spoke no falsehood;

this Su Li is truly an extraordinary woman!

Noble Master, this jade cream softens a ladys skin;

this rouge bears a natural luster, both being the shops

choicest goods.

Whatever thou recommendest, this Emperor shall buy!

Alas,

were this Su Li a gentleman,

she could assist Fifth Prince upon the royal court!

Fret not; she hath a brother-in-law named Song Chiyun,

the very prodigy whom the Mu clan sought to crush;

that youth can fully assist Fifth Prince!

Truly? That is splendid indeed!

Fifth Prince dwelt in his company for some time;

they consorted in great harmony.

Why did I not

hear him mention it? Once children grow,

they harbor their own secret thoughts;

how could he remain as of old,

confiding every trifle unto thee?

Alas,

he hath grown quite beyond my reach.

Is that prodigy truly as peerless as thou sayest?

Assuredly; keep him by thy side for a season if thou doubtest,

and behold with thine own eyes!

Very well;

if

he possesses such talent

and triumphs in the imperial examinations,

This Emperor shall grant him high office!

Enough;

thou shouldst return now;

day by day, forget not thine imperial status,

nor covet worldly pleasures.

Thy temper shifteth so swiftly!

At whom castest thou such suspicious glances?

Now thou feignest profound foresight;

where was such wisdom before?

Let us depart,

we return forthwith!

Song Shiyu, was it?

A little prodigy!

Being young is wondrous;

tutored from youth, he will not be stubborn,

and will not become

like Master Yin!

He will not harass and meddle in all my matters.

Ah,

I yearn to roam outside daily;

who knows when Fifth Prince will attain maturity!

How went it?

Didst thou see her?

Dost thou think a match with Fifth Prince is possible?

No chance! That is well;

it seemeth we fretted in vain.

Humph,

she could never regard him with favor!

Though his elder sister deemed it thus,

why dost thou speak in the selfsame manner?

What manner of person is this Su Li?

Her quarrel is relentless,

is she not merely a fierce shrew?

Nay, the wonder of Su Li

defies mortal words;

just mark that she surely disdains Fifth Prince.

Canst thou not recount it in full detail?

Once thou usest this, This Emperor need explain no more;

this balm is surely as wondrous as Su Li herself!

Methinks I fathom somewhat now.

What befell in truth?

This Prince bid thee vex and spite Su Li;

did This Prince not instruct thee with care?

Do not brawl with her,

sow disgust in her heart,

and dismay those patrons

buying her wares! Without shouting, it failed!

I was outmatched and bid my men strike,

yet they were pinned fast unto the ground!

Who commanded thee to strike?

Without brawl or blows,

how else could I vex her spirit?

Thou taught me no specific course.

How did I ever sire

such a fool? Furthermore,

seeing matters go awry,

why didst thou not retreat?

Wrath consumed my senses!

That wretched Su Li is venom-tongued;

ere I could utter a single word,

she had countless retorts prepared!

Fury nearly rent my chest,

so I sought to berate her.

Your Highness, blame not the Commandery Princess;

Su Lis wit turneth with uncanny speed,

digging snare after snare

past common reckoning.

Todays fray hath brought grave harm to This Prince;

hence thou must preserve composure

and vie no more with Su Li.

Yet my indignation boils! Father,

I cannot endure it!

Can we truly not slay her?

Thy skills fall short; swallow thy rage!

This Prince warns thee:

dare to act rashly

and court disaster upon me,

blame me not

for severing all fatherly bond.

Watch over her strictly,

or answer with thy life! Fear not, my Lord;

this servant shall counsel her. Our urgency is calming minds;

touch not Su Li at this juncture,

lest we play into their trap.

Hast thou heard?

Proprietress Su was ambushed returning home;

blood stained the earth,

and she lies abed,

lost in swoon!

Heavens! Such villainy transpired?

Who could deal so lethal a blow?

Who else indeed?

Two days past,

the Princess stirred strife before her shop,

vowing retribution!

Scarce two days later,

tragedy befell her!

A child could divine the culprit!

Such vicious malice!

Tis utter tyranny!

My kinsman serves as a bailiff;

he revealed

a dagger left behind at the ambush

bears the mark of Prince Yus Manor!

Prince Yu

disdains even pretense now!

Presuming upon royal blood to act lawlessly!

Thy ploy is brilliant indeed!

Hearing thou wast stricken,

I deemed it Prince Yus doing and flew hither in fear!

Strike while he falters; this is the desired fruit!

Ah!

Crucially, Prince Yu never suspected thy extortion;

he believed the Fifth Prince struck!

For in your rivalry,

some of his vassals

believed the rumors and leaned toward the Fifth Prince.

His reckoning was sound,

save that amidst all schemes,

he foresaw not my brazen deceit.

Alas!

Royal scions ever bear a measure of innocence!

Not innocence, methinks,

merely sheltered from the coarse world.

He fancied his malice deep,

yet before me, tis mere childs play.

Can the Fifth Prince seize this chance? Fret not,

his wits have sharpened;

he will surely act with timely cunning.

Ruthlessness marks the true sovereign;

such is indeed an emperors craft.

Yet how grievous are Su Lis wounds?

Didst thou strike too heavily?

Imperial Father,

what meanest Thou?

Ah,

feign not ignorance before Zhen!

Didst thou not strike Su Li?

Tis truly a masterstroke.

Thy royal uncle struggles desperately to clear his name;

yet didst thou bid them show restraint?

Father deemed this my deed?

Was it truly not thine?

Truly not mine!

Did thy royal uncle do it then?

Hath he lost his mind?

Could it be that Su Li suffered no injury at all,

and fabricates all to frame him?

Just so! Can such audacity be?

Doth it seem somewhat contemptible?

None hath spoken such words.

Though at first I too doubted,

yet Lady Su declared

against foes, one must show no mercy.

Thou speakest truth at last!

Before Zhen and the Empress,

and even before the Grand Princess,

thou feigned complete estrangement from her.

Yet mark thine own words just now;

that she imparteth such counsel unto thee

proves I have bowed to her as my master!

Ha! Worthless

fool!

Not only have I taken her as master,

I also apprenticed under Song Chiying! Royal Father, my martial craft

hath advanced by leaps and bounds;

all is owed

unto Song Chiying! Song Chiying?

Then Chi Yun... Chi Yun is Chiyings brother!

So thou knelt before a mere fledgling as mentor?

Speak not thus,

Royal Father; thou hast never beheld Song Chiying.

He harbors lofty resolve,

noble benevolence, and righteous grace.

Master Yin declared

he is what this realms genius ought to be,

untarnished by false praise. Then he is a fine lad.

What of Chi Yun? Is he truly a paragon of genius?

A peerless prodigy whose brilliance humbles all! He is young;

if nurtured with care,

he shall

surely become a wise and gentle pillar of court.

Should he triumph in imperial examinations,

Royal Father ought to bestow high office upon him!

Doth Zhen require thy schooling?

Zhen resolved upon this long ago! Royal Father is sagacious!

Hast thou resolved it?

Splendid indeed!

Learn well from Zhen.

When thou attainest Zhens mastery and discernment,

thou mayest become a worthy sovereign.

My innocence was surely inherited from Father. Foolish Fifth Prince,

a vast path yet stretcheth before thee.

Go forth;

since Lady Su laid so firm a foundation for thee,

to fail to reap advantage would squander her grace!

This son taketh his leave!

He possesseth not even

half Zhens former brilliance.

Your Majesty endured countless trials to attain

present sagacity.

Had it been so from the outset,

how would royal power be usurped by aristocratic clans?

Circumstances are but a fraction better than before.

Else, even should Fifth Prince ascend the throne,

he would remain a puppet! Were he void of ambition, twould matter not;

yet he yearneth to be an enlightened sovereign.

Should he be reduced to a puppet,

his soul would be lacerated every single day.

Tis Zhen who failed to carve an enduring path for him.

Blame not Thyself;

was the late Emperor not equally guileless?

Indeed,

Zhen inherited a ruinous court!

The sole grace of the late Emperor

was leaving Master Yin to Zhen. Days ago Zhen met him;

the old masters tongue is as razor-sharp as ever!

Did Master Yin state who might shatter this deadlock?

Formerly Zhen deemed Song Chigui capable;

his deeds were exemplary,

born of humble soil to breathe vitality into the court.

Yet he pledged fealty unto Prince Yu!

Cast aside and divorced by Su Li,

what virtue could he hold?

Zhen deemeth Song Chiyun worthy of patronage;

one shielded by Su Li

must hold rare merit.

Judging mens worth solely by Su Lis liking...

is Zhen perhaps overly hasty?

Tis not by Su Lis favor alone;

it also mirrors Master Yins judgment.

Zhen shall personally examine him.

May he not disappoint our royal hopes,

lest another candidate be sought.

Indeed.

Else, that lad would find no path of survival left.

Zhen hath wronged him;

yet Zhen had no choice.

Twas for the imperial dynasty and millions of subjects!

The debt Zhen oweth him can never be repaid.

Grieve not, Your Majesty;

bound by the supreme mantle,

sacrifices are inevitable! Zhen requires a lethal blade,

Zhen truly held no other recourse.

He must cleanse all corruption; bitterness is his lot!

Assassination? How could Ben Wang stoop to such villainy!

These censors impeach Ben Wang daily at court!

Truly treasonous slander!

Pray appease Your Highnesss wrath!

Better to send precious tonics.

Dispatching such gifts

manifests Your Highnesss grace

and silences rumors; a noble plan indeed.

Select treasures from this Princes vaults,

and bear them to Su Manor forthwith.

Let all see who dares question my magnanimity!

This official shall obey!

Mm.

Stay. Prince Yu dispatched so great a bounty?

Was the ambush not his doing? He would scarce strike,

then tender solaces immediately after.

Ginseng paired with faeces, deer antler with curculigo;

Prince Yus steward is thoughtful indeed.

Feign wild panic presently,

and summon healers from Jin clinic;

declare I fell poisoned by Prince Yus gifts,

and raise an immense clamor.

Understood.

Is that not Lady Wang Qiao of Sus shop?

What befalls her?

I stood at the clinic,

and heard Lady Wang declare

Proprietress Su fell senseless from Prince Yus tonics!

How utterly ruthless!

Failing in open assassination,

he resorted to lethal poison!

What noble prince is he?

He is a soul-reaping demon of the underworld!

Alas for clever Lady Su,

to trust the venomous lords deceits!

How blows the prevailing wind without?

Do all praise this Princes magnanimity?

Your Highness, disaster looms!

Word spread from Su Manor:

Su Li is poisoned, near death!

What sayest thou? Poisoned?

The common folk clamor everywhere,

that having failed in murder,

thou didst poison Su Li with toxic herbs!

Intolerable audacity!

Tis vile slander; when did this Prince poison?

Did Su Li consume conflicting herbs?

Born of common stock,

Your Highness,

thy gifts were rare treasures,

and ignorance caused reckless partaking.

Fault lies with the estate steward.

Knowing tensions ran high, he should have weighed all,

ere delivering them, Your Highness!

Hast thou felt any ailment of late?

I fear thou too may have taken discordant drafts.

Perchance the manor steward should be replaced?

No wonder malaise weighed heavily upon thee;

that bungling knave must have harbored malice!

Seize the steward on this Princes command,

flog him severely,

and when near death,

cast him unto the wilderness grave!

Proclaim abroad he erred in bearing wrongful herbs!

Having taken such coin from Su Li,

the deed is accomplished at last;

greater wealth shall follow.

I... mm... not dead yet!

Must he be taken away?

Ah.

Can these treasures ransom his life?

So many grand treasures,

spent on a lowly serf; is it worthy?

Why does Prince Yu crave his death?

Because he knows too much.

Guess why I desire his breath? If Prince Yu seeks his end,

why not strike directly,

leaving him one dying breath?

He craves renown for clemency,

lest rebel allies quail; beating him near death,

then professing royal mercy,

serves his virtue and dark design alike.

Yet unhappily for him, he met thee.

Behold; can he survive?

Splendid news indeed!

Alas.

Look upon thy provincial wonder;

is this not ordinary craft?

Ordinary to thee, perchance,

not to mortals; how was thy wit formed?

Hast thou journeyed hither

merely to flatter; art thou overly idle?

In distant border realms,

officials perish without cause,

in gruesome torment.

Vile oppressors meeting retribution is just.

This grim wave,

spreading from desolate outposts,

creeps ever onward,

gathering towards the capital.

Is this tidings certain?

Why spoke Fifth Prince never of it?

Ah.

The tidings are beyond all doubt.

The slain officials of the Fifth Prince were but men of trifling rank,

stirring no ripples.

Both factions are shaken. How camest thou by this knowledge?

Master Bins disciples dwell throughout the realm.

He bade me bring thee word;

upon hearing this,

thou wilt know thy path.

I understand.

Thou dost understand? Why then am I left wholly in the dark?

Thou hast no need to comprehend.

Others must not learn of this now;

bridle thy tongue.

Master Yin warned me likewise. Ye two fret overmuch!

Am I, Wei Lin, one of loose speech?

We trust thee; yet we caution thee, for the stakes are vast.

Rest thy heart;

my lips are sealed as an iron vault!

Say, when shall Chi Yun return?

I searched through heaven and earth,

yet uncovered not the true dossier!

My spirit flags under this toil.

Inquire of Master Yin;

when Chi Yun returns

rests upon a single epistle from his brush!

Then Chi Yun shall likely never return!

The old master clamors daily,

yet at the mention

of recalling him,

he falls mute;

feasting upon choice dainties,

he dares not breathe Chi Yuns name!

What dread binds him?

He fears restraint; someone ought to master him!

That old scholars tongue

is sharp as venom, deriding me daily;

madness nears me!

Chi Yun hath wandered long enough;

with the examinations nigh,

he will soon return.

Then hope revives within me!

The word is delivered;

attend thy tasks,

with that mountain of rolls.

Speak, Ji Ming.

What dark schemes does thy young master pursue of late?

I know not. I am bound in service to thee now;

I meddle not in the young masters deeds.

Thou still rememberest thou art mine!

Since thou art mine,

why conceal from me? I conceal naught of him;

I truly know not.

Only answer this:

is the slaying of officials across the provinces tied to Jin Manlou?

What the young master plots,

I truly know not! Enough,

thy presence is no longer needed here.

The young masters heart toward thee is beyond compare;

thou alone swayest his moods. Begone! Jin Manlou

carves a path of blood toward the capital;

he seeks to overthrow the imperial realm!

His wrath burns against the throne;

treason is his design.

Master Yin knows yet stays his hand;

deep secrets must lurk within. It is well

no harm befell thee;

else Prince Yu would taste death at my hands! How ruthless thou art!

Tis but shielding my mistress.

Stroke the hounds brow,

and all sorrows melt away.

To shatter his soul into three forms,

he must have tasted unimaginable agony;

what right have I to bid him forget his vengeance?

Wherefore this sudden tenderness?

Didst thou pine for me? Clamorous pest! I shall stroke no more.

Nay, do not cease!

Continue, I pray;

I erred just now.

Thou hast ever been kind to me.

Recount then: in what manner have I shown thee grace?

Mm.

Kindness is kindness, plain and true!

Thou canst name no deed,

canst thou?

Wilt thou take back the death guards and Jin Ning?

Did they displease thee?

Then let them all be crippled!

Crippled? Young Master,

thy words disregard all human warmth!

I have stood here since thy step crossed the threshold.

I have arrived;

why tarriest thou still? What plot is this?

Crippling is mercy! Serve faithfully,

lest, if cast back unto me,

thy life be forfeit!

Young Master,

thinkest thou that possible?

In this matter,

must thou admonish each and every soul?

Ten thousand chances aside,

one mishap cannot be borne. Humph!

At all events, she shall have only me as her faithful hound!

Begone forthwith!

Thou hast no discernment whatever.

Very well,

I shall take my leave now.

Speak! Humph, how fare matters?

All hath been quite well of late.

Quite well indeed,

yet since Young Master returned, peace hath fled me!

What temper our Young Master bears,

dost thou not know full well?

These are his final days of willful petulance; hereafter,

thou shalt not behold him even if thou desirest.

How far have matters progressed by now?

Let it be;

tell me naught.

I ought not know what drama thou enactest!

Both of us are Young Masters confidants;

wherefore shouldst thou remain ignorant?

Just now, I was consigned entirely unto Proprietress Su.

We serve different masters henceforth;

tis certain each of us owes fealty to his own lord.

Therefore speak no word of thy masters affairs to my ears,

lest when mine own mistress inquireth, I must repeat every syllable

faithfully unto her! So be it, so be it.

Young Master hath lost his reason,

and thine is shattered likewise!

If she whom he treasures thrives, then though he be sorely wounded

and near unto death,

his soul shall rest in tranquil contentment! Very well then.

At first bitter resentment weighed upon me:

wherefore was I assigned to Proprietress Su?

Yet now it seemeth this duty of mine is momentous indeed!

Exceedingly momentous!

If I perish,

wilt thou take another hound?

Assuredly.

Aye...

Splendid!

What ails thee?

Tarry a moment;

let me soothe mine own bruised heart first,

ere thou speakest unto me again!

What if I refuse?

I shall converse with thee this very instant!

Wherefore wound me so cruelly?

Couldst thou not beguile me with sweet lies?

Couldst thou not vow never to keep another hound?

Though I bear not the thought of thy solitude,

canst thou not offer a tender word to console me?

Canst thou not strive to stay alive?

Stay alive?

Indeed!

Strive to keep thy life,

cherish thine own person more,

and harbor no thoughts of mutual destruction;

would that not suffice?

Strive to stay alive...

can I accomplish such a feat?

Wherefore not? Human will shapes destiny!

Aye,

human will shapes destiny; I can endeavor,

I can refrain from rash recklessness,

yet feverish haste consumeth my soul!

Then do as thy whim decrees;

in any case, these are thine own affairs.

Whether I seek other hounds concerns mine own self;

I shall resolve it as pleaseth me.

Neither shall impede the other!

Where couldst thou find a hound as dutiful as me?

Gold can move spirits and demons alike;

shall my riches fail to purchase tender devotion?

Humph, when the time comes, I shall summon a retinue of comely,

stalwart,

gentle,

and haughtily aloof attendants! In thy dreams!

I shall never perish!

Quite endearing after all.

It seems I must confer with Master Yin;

speak, we three are present.

What role does Jin Manlou truly play?

Master,

what role dost thou play in this design?

This I cannot disclose at present; thy task is merely not to intervene,

allowing destined events to unfold,

even if Jin Manlou perisheth?

We shall endeavor with all might to preserve his life.

Both are disciples beneath thy guidance;

how doth Jin Manlou differ from the Fifth Prince?

What intent lies behind such an inquiry?

Precisely what the plain words convey.

Hast thou uncovered some hidden truth?

A mere conjecture;

yet beholding thy countenance,

it seemeth I have divined the truth of the mystery!

Many matters lie beyond my power to avert;

ere I learned of them, the hour was already late.

Fret not,

I can refrain from intervening,

yet solely while the events unfold!

Not when all dust settles.

So thy lips profess,

yet other designs stir within.

I revealed this unto thee

solely to plant such thoughts.

I entrust the lad to thee.

I know naught as yet;

how can Master entrust him to me?

Wise as thou art, secrecy is bound;

tis my solemn duty.

Yet having grasped it,

tis truly marvelous.

Master is cunning. Compared to thee,

I fall far behind;

or compared to Chi Yun.

Ah,

I miss him! Bid him return then!

Suddenly I miss him no more.

The imperial exams are prepared?

When should he return? Fret not,

trouble thyself no more;

rest assured,

the path is paved for him.

Thou hast duped the Emperor!

Master,

he is the Son of Heaven;

if he finds the truth amiss,

shall peril ensue?

Fret not,

he dareth not.

If Chi Yun

spares him, fortune smiles!

Once Chi Yun enters court, abdication draws near;

daily vexation would break his spirit.

I have no more doubts;

I take my leave. He weeps quite well!

Later someone raises a rebellion,

then vanished into silence.

It must be Jin Manlou.

Did he achieve his goal,

or did he perish?

What role dost thou play then?

Knowing oneself a chess piece, Xinming, appear!

Command, Proprietress Su. Jin Manlou ceded thee to me.

Dost thou grasp this well?

Then speak of it:

the blood feud Jin Manlou bears.

The Wu massacre; for boundless wealth,

and an empty treasury,

the plunder began,

without a pretext of guilt.

Imperial Guards stormed Wu manor,

slaughtering every soul within.

Didst thou witness it? Those who did

were only Young Master and Jin Wu.

We served the Wu clans secret estates,

summoned by Young Master later.

When tragedy struck,

thy young master was tender;

how attained he such prowess? When they fled,

at the brink of death,

a master rescued them.

Thereupon Young Master became as he is now:

matchless in scheme,

ruthless and bloodthirsty.

All foundations were laid in that hour.

Yet when all took shape,

he lost part of his memory;

vengeance was halted for a time.

Master Yin sent him

to that town, bestowing a new name and guise,

and then he met thee.

Enduring dire catastrophe

and bitter agony,

a brilliant persona shields him naturally.

Yet two souls would be natural;

whence sprang the third persona?

How were his early days in Wu house?

He recalls naught prior;

he attempted once to remember,

yet fierce agony brought swoons.

Once he nearly perished,

so he ventured no further.

Mm.

Ah.

Tis deeply strange.

Wherein lies the doubt?

Dost thou suspect my truth?

Though the Wu tragedy was forbidden,

tidings could still be gleaned.

To silence public clamor

and stay Prince Yus inquiries,

the Emperor conceded power.

Thereafter,

treasury filled, the lords and Prince Yu gained rule;

all reaped their selfish gains,

leaving only Young Master tortured by hate.

This dynasty rots at its root;

is his quest for vengeance unjust?

It is not.

Yet something feels profoundly amiss;

the truth must lie elsewhere. Never mind;

time remains, truth shall emerge. That youth approaches the capital!

None can tell how far he shall press.

What speaks Imperial Father?

What thou wouldst discuss,

this child cannot fathom.

At present,

the court is utterly stagnant,

provincial posts filled by high ministers kin;

Zhen, though Emperor, cannot easily strike.

Thus someone must serve as the blade!

So someone has taken action;

may his momentum blaze fierce,

slashing straight to the imperial court,

that Zhen may purge and renew all ranks!

Humble scholars under heaven may then rise.

This is indeed a stratagem,

yet how will Imperial Father settle that blade?

Find means to preserve his life,

granting him quiet seclusion.

Doth Imperial Father deem success likely?

Having slain so many officials,

all tied to great clans,

how can he escape retribution

or ever dwell in peace?

In truth, death is his only fate.

Zhen shall make him live!

Zhen has already wronged him;

Zhen must keep him alive!

Why deceive thyself, Imperial Father?

Didst thou truly wish him to live,

thou shouldst let him retreat now,

before the tempest peaks. Years of toil

waited for this; how can Zhen falter now?

Tis unjust; a sovereigns heart is cold as iron!

Now the realm decays;

to avert ruin,

this desperate path alone remains.

If Zhen entering Avici hell buys the peoples peace

and restores vitality to the dynasty,

Zhen gladly walks it to cleanse this ruin,

shoulder all sins,

and bequeath a renewed realm to Xiao Wu;

then Zhen may withdraw in peace. Alas,

the arrow loosed cannot turn back.

Since this person serves so vital a purpose,

let it be so.

If in the end he cannot survive,

bestow grace upon his descendants.

Descendants? What kin has he left?

Why dost thou breach all protocol?

Childhood days are long past;

monarch and subject stand divided!

How darest thou barge unannounced into Zhens study?

Knowest thou how many eyes watch thee?

Such folly leaves Zhen in sore distress!

Very well.

Imperial Brother, matters are dire;

this humble brother had no leisure for rites!

What stirs such panic?

Tis unfit to speak. This son takes his leave.

This subject found local magistrates vanishing,

some abducted and others slain;

the cause remains a mystery,

done in utmost silence,

most sinister indeed!

The fifth princes faction lost many elder officials;

whoever strikes first

can seize all these vacant posts at once

with our own allies!

Many have perished?

Zhen knew only of three corrupt officials dead,

said to be slain by desperate commoners

who joined hands in deadly fury.

When magistrates deprive folk of life,

death is their just desert. What thinks Imperial Brother?

Imperial Brother speaks wisely,

yet without magistrates,

chaos shall reign;

new appointees must be dispatched

posthaste to assume office.

He knows not of this; I must hoodwink him swiftly.

Alas!

Hands are scarce now;

capital officials shun remote lands. Most posts lie in barren wilds,

dispatching confidants there

brings only harm

and no gain;

securing a few key spots suffices.

Canst thou persuade several ministers

to fill those vacant posts? A few, perhaps;

as for the remainder,

if hands fall short,

rely upon the civil examinations!

The examinations?

How vast is this dearth of men?

Aye,

many sons of stubborn courtiers enter the examinations;

all shall be banished to desolate borders!

We must hasten the imperial examinations;

several vacant posts suffer dire disorder.

This Prince

hath suitable candidates to propose.

Very well; let the Emperor arrange it.

Present the roll unto Zhen,

and Zhen shall issue decrees. None shall survive!

A fine chance to cull thy trusted retainers!

Why camest thou today, Xiao Wu?

What discourse did ye two hold just now?

Alas,

naught of grave import.

The lad remains fond of trifling pleasure;

he leaves all burdens to others.

No matter; should trial arise,

his Imperial Uncle shall bear it for him.

Imperial Brother need harbor no anxiety.

My greatest triumph over these years

was rendering this lad utterly indolent,

and blinding the Emperor to my wild ambition!

Yet thy plight hath grown perilous of late;

why squabble with a mere woman?

Memorials impeaching thee mount like hills;

dost thou not know?

Those vile greybeards! Imperial Brother,

thy younger brother was framed! Enough;

why feign innocence before Zhen?

Zhen suppressed the memorials.

Keep a low profile of late;

leave no handle for foes to grasp!

Very well;

this Prince understands.

Mm.

Word says the magistrates sent by thee perished.

More than that;

the officials Prince Yu dispatched also died!

Could someone be plotting treason?

Else why such sinister omens?

Plotting rebellion?

Where then are their forces?

Unseen

and untouchable,

rebellion is not waged thus!

Indeed, Prince Yu must be weaving dark schemes!

Such prime seats;

would he rejoice to see us claim them?

Yet his own retainers perished beside;

how explain that?

Perchance tis He Yongs doing,

the one who fought alongside Song Chigui.

He is a valiant talent;

we must elevate him,

else who could suppress Song Chigui?

Indeed; let those vacant posts stand untouched.

Prince Yu will never suffer our men.

Yet I yearn for Prince Yus men to take office,

that more of his retinue may perish!

The Emperor must convene the examinations swiftly,

letting green scholars test the waters first.

Once firmly seated,

we may sway or banish them at will!

Let it be so.

These knaves conceal naught from me;

they hold me in utter disdain.

Yet tis well;

how else could I enlist their aid?

Need we truly bestow no bribes?

What if our son yieldeth to Song Chiyun?

Song Chiyun hath vanished long ago;

word says he openly defied his elder brother,

nor hath he registered for the examinations!

Set thy heart at ease; none can rival our son!

Then I await our son claiming top honors!

The title of Zhuangyuan belongeth to him alone!

Even should that Song Chiyun compete,

I shall silently

bring about his demise! Fear not;

all paths have been made smooth.

Chi Yun is profound and discreet;

after clashing with Song Chigui,

he concealed his movements entirely.

Many deem him dead.

Coupled with Mu familys lack of bribes,

when the dust finally settles,

he shall astound all! Masters design is flawless;

yet should we dispatch guards to shield him?

Thou hast assigned all elite masters;

how else wouldst thou guard him?

Sending all thy retinue invites peril,

moreover,

thou hast provoked many foes;

dost thou not fear harm to thine own person?

What harm could befall me?

The one who merits concern is Jin Manlou;

this examination is entirely his achievement!

Master, where lies his path to survival?

Whether he survives

depends solely on his own will.

For one stripped

of all he held dear, how seeks he life?

Tis far less simple than thou deemest,

nor so wicked; truth shall emerge by degrees.

Emerging only after

Jin Manlou is utterly drained and broken?

Mm.

The hour is unripe. If supreme righteousness

sacrifices the very one who conceived it,

tis noble indeed;

yet sacrificing others,

is that not heinous cruelty?

Thou wouldst rebuke me or His Majesty,

is it not so?

He who conceived this scheme is no more.

Is the Emperor then free of malice?

Though not his design,

is he not the benefactor?

He is,

yet so are the people. Moral bondage!

Thy words ring true;

tis indeed an unconscionable act,

as we all well perceive.

Let it be;

matters having come to this,

my harshest rebukes

can alter naught;

why provoke thy displeasure?

Now is not the hour to demand reckoning;

we must shield Jin Manlou from mortal peril.

Here lie the compiled examination essays.

Good,

Zhen hath taken note.

Should he fail of selection,

what fate befalleth Song Chiyun?

Had I known Master secured it not,

I would have paved his way in secret!

Pedestrian and plain;

this is not his, lacking all elegance.

Clearly from no noble lineage.

It seemeth humble scholars prevail;

this perchance belongs to the Mu scion.

Though I disdain their household ways,

this scholarly grace admitteth no flaw.

Doth this belong to Song Chiyun?

Such depth passeth one of his tender years;

so poignant and sharp, reconciling with sorrow.

If his, his genius is terrifying!

Even if not Song Chiyun, let it be him!

Mm.

Your Majesty, it hath been verified:

the first place you chose

is indeed Song Chiyun!

Splendid beyond measure!

I long to vaunt this before Master Yin!

The youth appeareth tender,

yet his bearing carries profound composure;

hath poverty matured him,

or doth he feign this gravity?

By Mandate of Heaven,

the Emperor decrees:

Song Chiyun is declared Zhuangyuan!

Song Chiyun sat for the examination?

How heard I no whisper of this?

Who hath betrayed me?

The Zhuangyuan is young of years

and unversed in worldly ways;

let him handle state drafting

to season him for high office.

What if he won Zhuangyuan?

My sons prowess still outshines all!

A mere greenhorn

at the sovereigns side

can achieve no grand stature,

posing no threat!

Zhen is truly sage beyond peer!

Such rare talent now serves at my side.

The lad appeareth most obedient.

This Emperor seemeth far more tractable than Master!

Fifth Prince, how sayest thou?

Was this not won without effort?

And Zhen can mentor him in person!

Mm,

thou indeed needest mentoring! What?

I meant thou must mentor Imperial Father!

Thou art most wise,

and acted flawlessly!

Bear word unto Master Yin,

and declare

all rests firmly within Zhens grasp!

How ran Su Lis adage?

Aye, folly is beyond remedy!

Thus seen,

he inheriteth true foolishness,

gloating in vain conceit,

when all unfolds within Master Yins scheme!

Why wear such a countenance?

I ponder how to convey thy triumph to Master Yin,

lest he burst into wrath;

in truth, fearing he scorns thy folly!

Say only thou deemest Zhen glorious and wise!

Endure this rebuke on Zhens behalf!

Using such petty schemes on thine own flesh?

Why lack such cunning against others?

Hasten forth!

This shall force the elder to revere Zhen!

Why not speak unto him thyself?

Zhen feareth him somewhat,

in truth.

Yet hereafter he shall fear Zhen!

His prize disciple attendeth Zhen now!

Hereafter,

thou wilt find Master Yin gentle indeed.

Visit him soon; treat this with gravity.

This humble one

comprehendeth.

This servant taketh leave! What a spirited youth!

Rid of that burden at last;

let him vex others now!

Ah,

wherefore art thou

rejoicing so?

All pleaseth me!

Doth it concern thee?

It concerneth me not;

yet it grieveth me that none can discipline thee.

Is this not a triumph of nurture?

He already beareth the mantle of a chancellor,

poised to display his grandeur!

Sister-in-law,

I have prevailed!

I failed thee not,

did I?

Thou art peerless! What?

Greetings.

Wilt thou not yield path to the new scholar?

Yield not,

or may we each tread our own way?

Barring the path ill becometh thee;

General Song, triumph not too soon!

Mm.

I know not why,

yet this scene seemeth familiar;

save that then, I was no top scholar.

I often felt success was ever just beyond reach;

whence came such illusion?

Master,

while I was away,

didst thou obey counsel?

Thy words matter not; thine prevail!

Why question those who rebuke me daily?

For only thus is truth revealed!

Obedient! How could I be disobedient?

Behold how radiant my complexion!

Were thou truly obedient,

thou wouldst not tremble so.

Lo, ere I could even utter reply,

the truth spilled forth;

twas no fault

of mine! Hold thy tongue!

Deemst thou he shall tarry here forever?

Once he departeth,

see how I deal

with thee! Second Brother,

thou art magnificent!

Now Sister-in-law may dwell in comfort!

Strive hard likewise;

I cannot bear thy part! I shall be the martial champion;

months hence shall decide all!

I await thy glad tidings.

Alas!

One a scholar champion,

the other a martial champion;

I fall far behind you both! Mans wit hath limits,

yet diligence is boundless;

thou art lesser,

yet worthy still.

Moreover,

thou art blessed to be born a son.

Yet rising in renown is arduous;

can I fulfill my vow to Sister-in-law?

Occasion shall arise!

Aye,

occasion shall come;

trust thy brother! It shall be so!

These days feel so hard-won;

as though our true fate was a wretched end;

who knew I could master letters and martial vigor?

Strange it is;

I felt I was meant to be sickly,

laughable,

yet all too real.

I felt so likewise! And I!

Why, when blessed with such bounty,

doth dark foreboding haunt our hearts?

In truth,

thy mother and I share such illusions,

feeling we were not meant to survive till now.

Tis passing strange!

Surely thy eldest son brought misfortune;

ponder it well!

Had Sister-in-law not turned the tide,

ye would all languish in misery now.

Speaking thus,

thou art entirely in the right;

without our daughter-in-law,

the ruin would be unthinkable.

Song Chigui is a vile star of ill omen!

Thus must we cherish Sister-in-law,

rise to renown,

and bestow upon her endless comfort!

Aye, thy mother and I shall strive alongside,

learning while breath remains!

At our years, endeavor cometh not too late!

All are diligent indeed.

Pledging loyalty even in my absence!

Joy reigneth today; a grand banquet awaits us!

Bearing such heavy burdens,

why gavest thou no word?

How heavy this is!

Indeed, do so no more hereafter;

let us fare to market together!

Thou shalt choose the wares,

and we shall bear them home!

Next time, I shall leave the toiling to you!

Who could foretell our son would be the Zhuangyuan?

Auspicious fortune blesseth our ancestors!

How the village chief will rejoice at these tidings!

Aye,

the village chief long yearned for this day;

our hamlet shall attain great renown!

Come,

cease thy toil;

partake of this feast together;

these viands appear delectable! Chi Yun,

is right beside thee;

Master must restrain his tongue,

lest when he departeth,

he spare thee not!

Thy sharp tongue ever courteth peril!

Attending the Sovereign is like pacing near a tiger!

Fear not; chastise and guide him without mercy,

just as thou didst discipline me!

So thou deemest my loving care mere torment?

I meant not so;

I only urge thee to bestow such care upon him!

What lively cheer!

Pardon my intrusion; Chi Yun, auspicious joy!

Imperial Father is entrusted to thy guidance.

Did His Majesty send thee hither to vaunt his prize?

Alas,

Master seeth through it entirely!

Do I not know his imperial mind?

He schemes to unfurl grand designs,

vowing to mold Chi Yun into a meek, obedient protégé!

A vain fantasy!

I am wiser than he;

did I succeed?

Indeed; hath Masters temper not softened greatly?

As for training,

thou hast molded me well enough!

Fifth Prince,

how will His Majesty feel once he realizes he was duped?

Twill surely be a sight to behold!

He will stubbornly feign composure;

this is the talent he chose with his own eyes!

He stayed awake all night in pure ecstasy,

dozed off briefly,

and woke laughing!

A sudden pity stirs for him.

Indeed, one must pity him!

We shall meet often; Fifth Prince, pray guide me well!

Methinks I must pity mine own self as well!

I entrust Xiao Wu to thy care;

his wit is dull,

so grant him thy counsel.

Under Sister-in-laws guidance,

his mind is dull no longer.

Master instructed him well;

my teachings fall not short either.

Hast thou neglected thy martial practice?

Nay, I dare not slacken.

By the way,

when I contend for Martial Zhuangyuan in moons to come,

what must I heed? Heed naught at all.

If vigilance is called for,

beware of Song Chigui;

he surely wisheth thee no triumph,

being a general himself. Why perished that wretch not?

Who can deny it?

Thy wits are sharpening indeed;

Song Chigui must be guarded against.

The best defense is attack; stir trouble for him!

Not yet.

Word came that this campaign bore bitter losses;

his arrogance brought heavy slaughter upon our ranks.

Twas but a small border skirmish,

yet his blunders made it a fierce war!

Many shall seek his ruin in days to come;

my court scholars already gird themselves for debate!

Then shall I seize the hour to strike him down!

vexations strike blow upon blow;

he hath no leisure to strike at my brother.

Aye,

let it be so.

What befell out there?

Whence came such grievous slaughter?

Twas but a minor skirmish;

art thou possessed?

Where is thy former martial prowess?

How didst thou win thy past triumphs?

Traitors lurked within the ranks;

mutineers defied my command.

They bow to He Yong,

and crossed my orders! Where is the wretch?

Drag him bound before His Majesty,

to confess all!

To preserve the armys morale,

I severed his head on the spot.

Yet I foresaw not

that he had betrayed our secrets.

By heavens grace I struck in time,

else bitter ruin would have crushed us.

Rash fool! Why didst thou slay him?

Thou shouldst have kept him alive as proof,

to check He Yong! That lad riseth fiercely of late;

left unchecked,

he shall wrest thy command away!

Spared,

morale would wither.

Securing victory

outweighed court debate;

how else answer to the border folk,

or face our fallen warriors?

Such cowardly scapegoating

warranted execution!

Dead men tell no tales, yet without proof,

accusing He Yong by mere words alone

who could believe thee?

What proof is that?

Regardless,

defeat befell us not.

If any doubt it,

I challenge those armchair scribes of court:

who dares charge into the fray?

Dare any claim so, on our next march

I shall drag him along!

Song Chigui alone dares lead the vanguard.

Though He Yongs fame mounteth fast,

he never held supreme command; seals fall not to him.

Victory was secured this day;

though detractors sneer,

no true harm shall come of it.

The new Zhuangyuan is thy blood brother,

kin of one womb and bone;

why nurture bitter strife between brothers?

Seek occasion to mend this rift.

I have striven before,

yet his heart harbor dark malice;

at every encounter he ensnares me.

I harbor no such desire now.

He knew naught of court intrigue before;

as elder brother, counsel him anew.

I desire no commerce with him.

This Prince commands, not pleads!

Understood.

I shall attempt it once more.

Tis well.

Though His Majesty assigned him no formal post,

the Emperor keeps him close at hand.

Should he swear allegiance to us,

our great enterprise shall flourish smoothly.

Understood. Very well,

retire and rest.

Fierce debate awaits tomorrows court;

none granteth peace! I shall take my leave.

Merely fought an ungainly skirmish,

yet he dares scorn me so!

Unlike the days he begged for my aid!

I must gather leverage upon him,

to show him Song Chigui is no lackey to command!

Prince Yus wrath stems not from thy battle;

thwarted on all sides of late,

he vents his venom upon thee!

No wonder! Thanks to thy supreme valor,

else the battle were lost.

Had any other commander stood in my place,

not a single shield would have survived!

Yet even so,

he remains unappeased;

truly beyond reason!

Rumor says Prince Yu blunders repeatedly;

where doth the rot lie?

The fault lies in the man!

Vast intricacies dwell within,

thou wouldst not grasp.

Yu Yan understands naught,

knowing only thou art a mighty champion,

invincible in conquest,

triumphant in every battle!

My heart and soul long solely to abide with thee,

yet alas, Brother Song,

when wilt thou welcome me into thy manor?

Were Su Li as gentle as Xiao Yuyan,

loving me so tenderly,

and revering me,

how blessed it would be.

Brother Song,

thou wilt not forsake me, wilt thou?

Newly wedded to the Commandery Princess,

taking thee

as concubine now invites grave censure,

and I fear she might torment thee.

Yuyan

bears grievance

without care,

if I enter thy manor,

tis to aid thee, letting Prince Yu see his daughters joy rests on thee,

so he dare not vent royal wrath upon thee again.

That is a shrewd plan indeed.

Let us see how thou farest today.

The capital shop is well prepared;

we await an auspicious hour to throw open the doors.

There lies my true domain! Where is the coin? Where is Song Chigui?

Hath thy wit been crushed?

Told countless times:

I have cast him off!

Canst thou not fathom,

or dost thou forget? I hoard no discarded rubbish.

Thou hast sought the wrong threshold and wrong person!

If not here, where else could he be?

He is a living man;

his feet are his own,

free to wander wherever he pleases!

He is scarce one to sit idle.

Ere betrothal to thee,

he had already chosen his concubine.

Now that nuptials are done,

that concubine shall soon cross the threshold.

That wretched Xiao Yuyan,

unmarried as she is,

doth she not fear Ben Junzhu proclaiming her shame?

What cause for fear?

They were caught together long ago;

once honor is stripped bare,

shame binds them no more.

Why waste breath upon thee?

He abides not here;

stir no strife in my shop!

Art thou not wondrously capable?

Why failedst thou to tether Song Chigui?

Art thou not a Commandery Princess?

Is thy sire not a prince?

How couldst thou not keep him fast?

If I surmise aright,

he deigned not to see thee upon his return!

Every grievance hath its rightful debtor;

seek out whoever vexed thee,

and trouble them!

While I maintain courtesy to speak,

depart posthaste,

lest thy shameful household scandals

be proclaimed to all the world!

How did Ben Wang sire

such a fool? In such affairs,

how couldst thou storm their threshold in person?

Doth this resemble the dignity of a lawful consort?

Unknowing folk

would mistake thee for a shameless concubine clamoring for status!

Let who will be shamed;

is the Xiao household not of noble blood?

With a daughter so brazen,

how harbor they any pride?

The Xiao house is of great aid to Ben Wang;

humbling them

wounds Ben Wangs very foundations!

Mark my words:

thou shalt seek no further quarrel with them!

Yet I am thine own flesh and blood!

Wedded but a brief span,

must I keep a lonely chamber?

Spurning me thus proves he flouts thee,

and Xiao Yuyans wanton scheming shows

in truth

the Xiao house regards thee as naught!

Who imparted such babble unto thee?

Need any teach me? I am no fool.

Indeed,

thou art no fool,

nor is Ben Wang.

Since they hold Ben Wang in contempt,

blame not Ben Wang for striking back!

First let officials challenge

Song Chigui, drowning him in censure

beyond self-defense;

then crush the Xiao clan and exalt the Mu clan,

to teach Xiao Ting who masters all. Your Highness, this subject failed to discipline his child;

I bring my daughter to plead for pardon,

awaiting Your Highnesss decree. Thy daughter is comely and gifted indeed;

such grace makes Ben Wangs daughter seem overly crude.

The Commandery Princess is of royal blood;

how could a concubines daughter rival her?

Let this daughter serve as my pledge of fealty.

Your Highness,

should she offend thine eyes,

I shall bid her take the veil and become a nun!

When hath This Prince ever been so petty?

Since matters have come to this pass,

all that ought or ought not happen hath transpired.

Let her follow Song Chigui from this day forth.

All rests upon Your Highnesss pleasure!

We are of one house; should trouble arise,

This Prince shall resolve it for thee.

I shall gladly ease Your Highnesss burdens!

I never thought myself so little esteemed;

hereafter I must tread with wary vigilance,

if I am to win regard from others!

Why standest thou dazed?

Lead her away without delay!

Balance well the bonds of wife and concubine;

bring no vexation upon This Princes mind.

Understood.

I shall treat the Princess tenderly.

Thou must cherish Yu Yan as well.

Now the Xiao manor is wholly bound to me;

many ventures shall proceed with ease henceforth.

Thy brothers matter,

hast thou heard?

He lives in such wretched ignominy.

Thy brother...

I misspoke,

tis Song Chigui! He cannot bear the least burden!

Humph!

Fortune merely favored him in days past;

now with luck spent, his true colors show!

He cannot hold out much longer.

Providentially, I perceived his folly early

and withdrew from him at once!

How could this not be deemed great fortune?

Since thou art so blessed,

what thinkest thou of yesterdays discourse?

Tell me, is meeting me not thy fortune?

A blessed fortune indeed.

Ah,

it puzzles me greatly;

why hast thou hastened to my chambers today?

Did Imperial Father weary of thee,

and choose to let me suffer instead?

Is it so?

Hardly so; thou lackest clear self-knowledge!

Tell me how thou fared with Imperial Father.

Nothing extraordinary occurred;

one must not reveal ones hand so soon.

I praised him as the most sagacious of all ages!

Overjoyed by such flattering words,

he reviewed memorials through the night!

Imperial Father...

Thou darest flatter so boldly,

and he truly swallowed it whole!

His own measure,

he knoweth not in his heart!

Now he lies too exhausted to rise,

and dispatched thee unto me!

Am I not right?

His Majesty remains brimming with zeal;

he desires to taste the peasants toil,

uprooting all blooms in the imperial garden

to sow crops!

Didst thou not dissuade him? Why dissuade?

Is this not wild folly?

A little madness serves well;

let the world believe he hath lost his wits!

Mad actions muddy the waters, breeding fortune!

Hearing thee speak thus,

there seemeth truth in it.

Thy naive gullibility remains unchanged;

thou must hone thy discernment further!

Art thou testing me?

What else? Very well then,

it was my innocence.

Thy simplicity far exceeds my thought;

only now am I truly testing thee!

Which word of thine is genuine?

Ponder and divine it!

When wilt thou return?

Imperial Father surely requires thy presence.

Doth displeasure vex thee?

Though thy simplicity is perilous indeed,

thy heart is pure and true;

if thou canst grow undaunted by trials,

thou shalt surely become an enlightened ruler!

Bring forth thy treatises on statecraft;

I shall peruse all within these days,

then weigh them deeply with thee!

Regarding the flaws within the penal codes,

I hold some insights;

wilt thou examine them together?

I fear my duties overwhelm me.

One harboring grand ambitions for the realm

brooks no idle ease for himself!

Ponder this:

were all things prepared,

when the east wind stirs,

how grievous thy anguish!

Yet when the east wind arrives,

should preparations fail,

how bitter the regret!

Examine and master all;

leave no room for remorse.

Very well.

Let us conclude for today.

On the morrow I shall bear all thou requirest.

Something seemeth amiss.

No matter, tis trivial;

I must reign supreme as the wisest sovereign!

Then triumph is certain.

Truly, the lad hath keen discernment.

Fifth Prince,

hast thou studied statecraft of late?

Can thy shallow years fathom it?

Ought that not be Zhens domain?

Wisdom heedeth not age.

Imperial Father never left the capital;

I traversed prosperous cities and barren realms,

even ordering bountiful harvests.

Thus, whatever I examine,

I grasp deeper than Imperial Father!

Thou hast merely good fortune,

encountering Su Li,

else darkness would still cloud thee!

I merely take after Imperial Father,

else I would not be so naive! Peace now!

Wherefore do father and son vie with one another?

Wherein lies the purpose?

The purpose is,

Zhen shall be the foremost sage king,

and this lad must rank second!

I must stand first,

and Imperial Father second!

Thou insolent whelp,

thou rebel against heaven!

Let our deeds prove the truth!

Hereafter, save for grave affairs,

disturb me not.

My hours are precious;

I must consult Chi Yun on the peoples livelihood!

Cease thy clamor!

Chi Yun belongs to Zhen;

he must weigh court matters with Zhen!

Thy petty trifles

shall not contend with Zhen!

My vision shall far outstrip thine!

He must not lay claim to Chi Yun!

What manner of man is this Song Chiyun,

that father and son squabble over him so?

Setting all else aside,

his discernment is matchless; at a glance,

he beheld the grand visions within Zhens breast!

None ever understood Zhen so! How strange!

Yet this strangeness bodes well;

may it become stranger still!

Truly, each beast must be tethered by its own craft!

Daily I rebuked this father and son,

yet ambition stirred them not.

Yet days in thy hands have set them ablaze with zeal!

Tis suiting the remedy to the malady.

Hast thou not administered too potent a dose?

They toil day and night without repose;

lest their bodies break under the strain.

Fear not; I counseled them

that sage rulers and those who aspire to reign

must never ruin their strength,

lest all beneath heaven suffer loss!

Did they truly believe it?

They vowed to guard their health for the realms sake.

Thou hast beguiled them into simpletons!

Only now do I behold thy talent as a treacherous courtier!

Indeed!

Were Chi Yun a traitor whispering slanders,

the ruin would be unthinkable!

Moreover, father and son now fiercely contend;

fortunately Chi Yun was born no maiden,

else an alluring siren would ruin the realm!

Hast thou maintained discipline,

and heeded counsel, Master?

When wilt thou depart?

The Emperor and Prince depend on thee;

hasten back posthaste!

Tarry a while; regarding the true and false dossiers,

thou hast heard?

I searched the yamen courtyard diagrams repeatedly,

yet found no clue;

where could the true records be concealed?

Spineless knave!

Must thou beseech him?

Am I not discerning it for thee?

Following your elders deductions,

I searched even the latrines,

yet uncovered naught!

Let us struggle no more!

Humble thyself and seek aid.

Alas!

So be it.

Why can it not be found?

By right, my wits should unearth it with ease.

If the true dossier exists,

it must chronicle monstrous miscarriages of justice,

else why exhaust such toil to conceal it,

even fabricating so absurd a forgery?

Guarding so dire a secret,

how could one ever slumber in peace?

Therefore,

to secure peace of mind,

didst thou search beneath the couch?

Aye, indeed!

Naught is here!

Could so vital a relic be cast under a bed?

What reckless folly would prompt such neglect!

Where then? See if tis affixed beneath the slats!

I shall peer underneath!

Tis found!

It truly lies here!

This must be genuine; no wonder this office was never yielded!

Doth this not invite fatal doom?

Assuredly; slaying the innocent demands forfeit.

A heavy price must be paid!

Tis not so simple as thou deemest.

It entangles countless courtiers and noble clans;

they are ravenous beasts in human form!

Tis incomplete; another portion must remain.

Then I shall bid Xiao Ran

and the rest unearth this whole floor!

Hasten then!

Chu Xiao Ran!

No soul must learn of this matter,

lest the slightest lapse in thy guard

claim thy

very life. Henceforth, I understand.

No inquiry is even needed;

the proof lieth bare before our eyes!

Long have I known their malice,

yet never imagined such boundless villainy!

A tremor of dread stirreth within;

could the entire court be devoid of upright souls?

Whomever we yield this to, doth doom not await?

Naturally, it cannot be submitted now;

we must await the auspicious hour,

and examine every record and missive with care,

so we may discern the righteous among the wicked.

To sift out good men

is like dredging a needle from the vast ocean!

Imperial authority waneth,

while grand lineages flourish unbroken;

court rot was thus inevitable,

yet I foresaw not so dire an abyss.

Indeed,

nor did I foresee it.

Truly, we must not act rashly now;

the armies rest not in His Majestys grasp,

and the throne is insecure.

Pressing charges now would provoke rebellion;

hence we divide and conquer, as I envisioned.

Proceed with patience;

shatter their mutual trust

and incite internal strife, then our task is light.

How shall it be done?

I comprehend naught of this!

Thou needst not comprehend;

obedience alone sufficeth.

Fret not,

we shall preserve thy life

and secure thy high promotion.

Very well!

Humph!

Such paltry ambition is all thou hast.

Enough,

I have matters to attend and must depart.

Rumors of provincial officials slaughtered

have reached my ears;

His Majesty knoweth yet showeth no alarm.

The Fifth Prince knoweth, yet maketh no stir;

this proveth it accords with their designs,

or was orchestrated entirely by their hand!

Worthy of thee! Once this dossier is assembled,

a fresh list of doom shall emerge,

is it not so?

His Majesty cannot act openly;

alas,

such means alone remain. Can Jin Manlou escape unscathed?

Thou hast deduced it?

Tis not hard to discern;

I crossed paths with Jin Manlou during my travels,

and heard tidings

of local grandees dead or vanished.

Moreover, Jin Manlous

temperament is profoundly warped now,

utterly unlike his former self.

He is a merchant;

frequent journeying is natural.

Compared to trade,

He would deem it vital to attend Sister-in-law,

and earnestly display his utmost worth.

Thus, staying from her side

cannot be for commerces sake.

That spineless craven,

thou hast weighed his spirit well.

I shall contrive to shield him.

Thou contrive?

Thou and the Sovereign yearn in heart to shield him,

yet His Majestys power reacheth not his will.

As for thee, holding no rank at court,

thou wieldest no might!

Remaineth not the Fifth Prince?

He knoweth not Jinman Tower is the blade smoothing his path.

Truly naught can be veiled from thee;

thy mind is sharp beyond measure.

Thy so-called shelter leaneth upon my sister-in-law?

Ruin cometh!

This lad shieldeth Su Li above all.

Were he to discover

that I wove Su Li into my schemes,

he would assuredly turn wroth!

Fret not so grievously;

I plot no harm. Art thou truly unangered?

Jinman Tower hath aided me openly and in shadow;

succoring him is but a trifling deed.

Why not perform it?

Splendid indeed!

I feared a moons ban from spicy stew!

Forsaking it sufficeth;

whether tasted or not,

thou beholdest it not.

Shouldst thou feast secretly

and be discovered, I shall urge thy return to court,

leaving thee to face the Emperor in awkward silence!

I touch it not!

Be at ease;

not a single morsel shall pass my lips!

May thy deeds match thy words. Doth this please?

Felicitations, Proprietress Su!

Suffice the hands? If wanting,

my retainers stand ready to serve.

Most grand indeed!

I shall stand on no ceremony.

The Eldest Princesss envoys have arrived!

The Eldest Princess favoreth thee greatly,

favoring quiet aid without clamor,

without ostentation,

nor seeking unearned privileges.

Since we perceive it clearly,

at all events,

special courtesy must be accorded;

gifts shall be proffered to seal fond fellowship.

Behold yonder; those seem folk from the imperial court!

A humble merchant of little worldly lore cannot discern them;

I need only honor

those I recognize. Most true;

lest idle tongues breed suspicion.

Sister-in-law, I come to aid thee!

This is momentous indeed!

Proprietress Su, the new Imperial Scholar adorneth thy porch!

How could thy commerce fail to prosper?

Say, which honor or profit

is not peerless?

Indeed,

mine auspicious fortune is rare.

Affairs press upon my manor; I must take my leave.

I leave the hands behind;

command them at will! On another morrow,

I shall return thanks!

No ceremony is needed!

Wherefore hast thou

hastened to my side?

For my shops auspicious dawn,

dost thou cast aside

court duties?

Attaining renown,

I must be Sister-in-laws pillar!

In my breast,

none surpasseth Sister-in-law in honor.

At such a momentous hour,

I must attend at Sister-in-laws side!

Young Chi Yun hath grown,

becoming a stalwart man of honor!

Aye! Should heaven collapse,

I shall hold it aloft! Why is destiny so unjust,

why doth fate force me ever farther from joy?

A rat skulking in the mire,

his days remain far too untroubled.

This is truly my grave neglect!

Heed him not; if he yearneth to gaze,

let him behold!

The torment touches not our noble benefactress!

Tis no precious treasure,

yet pray refuse not this token, Benefactress.

One must view thee with new regard!

Hadst thou not addressed me thus,

I would scarce know thee!

Ah,

all is owed to Benefactresss grace!

else my very life had ceased to be,

much less could I behold this day!

Past deeds need not linger ever on thy tongue.

Mm.

Henceforth, I shall hold it in my heart.

Speaking with honest folk

brings ease; I shall visit my benefactress often!

Urgent duties call; I shall take my leave first.

Should need arise, send word unto me;

I shall spare no effort to aid thee.

Well done!

Thou farest exceedingly well!

We once fought side by side, yet now thou fawnest on my former wife!

Becometh this a true gentleman?

Deem not all souls as sordid as thine own;

I act solely to repay profound grace.

Without my benefactress, I would not stand here.

All that I do now accords with right reason!

Humph!

For whom dost thou feign this righteous guise?

Only the two of us remain here;

canst thou cease this farce?

Could I ever rival thee in deceit?

Recall the mask thou didst wear in former days!

Behold thyself now; dost thou think siding with Prince Yu

and dining on patrons favor

excuses thee from being human?

Is that so?

Dost thou speak thus to thy brother of old?

Thou saidst it well:

twas in the past; now thy virtue lies ruined!

Why should I show thee any grace?

A fine countenance! Excellent indeed!

Repent not of this!

If regret stirreth within me,

tis regretting calling thee brother for so long!

Every recollection sickens my very soul.

Enough!

I have duties to attend to;

block my path no longer.

What grand affair couldst thou possibly have?

Even one of humble rank like me toils ceaselessly,

yet thou wandrest in idle leisure.

Dost thou not perceive thou art deemed of no worth?

Thou... Enough!

I waste no breath upon thy idle chatter.

Though thou art a general, should peril arise here,

thou mayst prove far less potent than me!

Royal Father,

I returned triumphant long ago;

why bestow no command upon me?

I feel like a hollow shell now;

tis nothing.

Harbor no wild fancies!

Why cravest thou mundane tasks?

Thou holdest military command;

is that not supreme above all?

Now mere foot soldiers dare trample upon my pride;

I shall endure being bound by others no more!

Humph!

Why contend

in wrath against a common soldier?

Where is thy magnanimity?

Where is thy forbearance? Peace!

Lack of patience spoils grand stratagems;

endure it for this Prince!

Stir no tumult now;

calm inaction is the wisest course.

Had I real authority,

I could share much of thy burden!

I comprehend not why I am cast aside.

Dost thou distrust me?

Why then take such pains to urge my surrender?

The hour to employ thee hath not yet arrived.

If idleness vex thee,

attend this Princes daughter instead!

Delight her heart,

and that shall count as noble service. Begone!

Rushing abroad from dawn to dusk every day,

bewitched by some vixen again, devoid of duty!

Certain folk never grace their own hearth;

tis utterly unseemly and shameless!

Thou art a Commandery Princess; why speak so vulgar?

I truly loathe thy company!

Seeking that cunning vixen once again!

This Princess is of imperial blood and jade rank;

how do I yield to that wretched wench?

Yet women at times must display gentleness;

for men ever prize their vanity.

Princess,

thou art too unyielding;

it wounds the Generals pride. What?

Is she gentle?

She is a shrew of shrews,

who dragged his face into dust!

Yet he yearns for her unceasingly;

he even cried Su Lis name in my arms! Even so,

this Princess did not cast him aside!

What more would he demand of me?

Ah, womenfolk!

A womans lot is hard indeed;

regardless of noble birth,

wedded to a man, she must swallow bitter grievance.

If thy whole heart is bestowed upon him,

thou must scheme and assist him;

thus dignity and devotion shall both be preserved.

He reveals not his designs unto me,

nursing only sullen rancor;

how then may I aid him?

Go straight to the Prince.

If His Highness cherisheth thee,

he shall grant the Generals desire!

Monstrous audacity!

Where is thy customary haughtiness?

To suffer his insolence,

and endure his cold rebukes,

even pleading before Ben Wang for his sake?

Hath some spirit possessed thee?

Royal Father,

pray grant his wish!

I beseech thee,

my heart truly adores him.

Song Chigui,

see how Ben Wang chastises thee!

Why punish him?

Would that not alienate him further?

He covets merely greater authority;

he is thy son-in-law,

why deny him thy aid?

How could Ben Wang sire

so worthless an offspring!

Can Royal Father bear to see me wretched?

Heed Ben Wangs counsel;

manifold means exist

to bring him to submissive heel.

If thou refusest,

henceforth

fend for thine own life!

Hath Royal Father truly a stratagem?

Return not thither of late;

tarry in this manor

till he comes crawling in meek humility! Escort the Princess

to rest. Song Chigui,

thinkest thou Ben Wang may be easily manipulated?

I shall show thee: stripped of Ben Wang,

thou art nothing!

They turn against each other first;

since when was Zhen so foolish an emperor?

One fears not ill fortunes,

but treacherous hearts.

Imperial Uncles

retainers fall far beneath former glory.

By thy words,

thine Imperial Uncle lacks all cunning wit?

Unless imperial blood flows not in him,

our ancestral flaws are uniform,

and plain for all to behold!

Indeed; in this entire imperial line save Zhen,

none seemeth shrewd!

Dost thou truly dare boast thus? Grudge it not;

Zhen retains deep courtly cunning!

Inquire of Chi Yun if thou doubtest.

Why doth thine Imperial Uncle clutch at the throne?

Fancied he that enthroned,

his sole word would govern?

The player is blinded by the board;

lust for power blinds him to all else.

Your Majesty, observe the chessboard with care;

if this continueth,

victory shall be mine!

Shall Zhen be vanquished?

Zhen

deemeth it not so; whence discernest thou this?

Ah,

stand aside if thou believest not;

let Chi Yun and me contend!

Seek not to poach mine own; besides,

with such dull wits as thine,

would he heed thee?

Only an enlightened sovereign like me merits his regard;

I shall be

the realms foremost ruler! Ask Chi Yun;

proclaim the truth to him now,

and crush his delusion!

Speak the truth forthwith!

Both possess the seed to become great rulers;

if ye would weigh superiority,

it hinges upon who toileth harder,

who striveth with greater vigor,

and who shrinketh least from hardship!

Chi Yun, chess is dull;

let us review the memorials!

Now new magistrates take office after the purge,

and hidden grievances are laid bare before the court.

Looking upon those scrolls now,

Zhens head throbseth! A great ruler shrinking before plight?

How can this be?

Royal Father, contend no further with me!

Zhen merely balances toil with rest; enough!

Grown haughty indeed,

stand not idle then.

These memorials,

read with Zhen;

let us see thy wisdom. As you will!

What endless disorder plagues these lands!

I journeyed thither;

I knew chaos reigned,

yet never dreamed of such ruin!

Imperial Father,

has our realm fallen to such dire straits?

All lies in ruin; which ill to mend first?

Fortunate that timely rains blessed recent years,

else the tragedy were beyond imagining.

To revive the provinces

and enrich common folk,

we must remit tithes and cease levying grain.

Yet doing so in one or two regions

is feasible;

spread across the realm,

the treasury would empty!

Peace is mere illusion;

petty kingdoms prowl like hungry tigers.

Should we lift burdens now,

they would invade forthwith.

With empty coffers,

Zhen foresaw

the great purge would breed unrest,

yet never imagined such extremes!

How then shall we resolve this?

To mend current plight

requires but one bountiful harvest.

Commoners desire only simple blessings:

to fill their bellies and starve no more.

This dilemma Sister-in-law already resolved.

Come this autumn,

the whole realm shall reap abundant harvests!

Yet disputes fester across all lands;

what must be mended

is never so simple as bread and garments.

Most strife springs from hunger

and biting cold.

Starvation breeds deep bitter venom,

blinding folk to tomorrows dawn.

Once fed, hope kindles anew;

truly, place thy faith in him.

He truly tasted bitter famine.

Once bellies are filled,

rancor fades from hearts.

Then mending past wrongs step by step,

commoners tasting sweet peace,

all lingering discord will vanish like smoke!

Sound counsel indeed.

Yet current peril lies in noble clans;

their might is too vast, Zhen wishes to curb them,

fearing they might stir revolt to vent fury,

lest widespread rebellions

erupt incessantly across the land.

Fear conflicts igniting?

Deflect the strife elsewhere.

Rival kingdoms watch greedily;

invasion is but a matter of time.

Why not provoke them

to strike early?

Far better than endless weary vigilance!

Hold, hold!

How is thy mind fashioned, lad?

Fifth Prince,

why lackest thou such wit?

Praise him if you will,

spare belittling me!

Nay, behold:

what vexed us so,

he unraveled in a few words!

Can this be real?

Moreover, Fifth,

art thou not astonished in the least?

Knewest thou this beforehand?

Naturally!

Whence thought you my clever stratagems came?

Indeed,

part belongs to Master Su Li,

yet Chi Yuns merit is paramount!

Terrifying indeed.

At such tender years to harbor such cunning!

Thou hast yet a long path to tread!

Thus the premier wise ruler shall be me! Begone!

Zhen knew Chi Yun but little before;

Zhen believes with his counsel,

Zhen shall achieve grand exploits!

None of this comes too late.

Idle dreams indeed!

Should we provoke them intentionally,

would it offend Heavens virtue,

wilfully igniting warfare?

It may tarnish our great empires fame for benevolence.

Might this breed ill consequences?

Then when our preparations stand complete,

fashion what they deem a golden opportunity.

enticing them to invade.

Then their doom shall be of their own making.

Thus we fight no unprepared war,

and divert domestic discord beside.

When the strife is quelled,

our court shall be cleansed anew.

Indeed.

Yet smaller realms may invade simultaneously;

which border then shall we safeguard first?

Civil ministers arose; why not recruit valiant generals?

Precisely!

Perchance a martial champion shall emerge; Songs comrades are no weaklings,

so marshaling generals warrants little dread.

Thus considered,

all perils dissolve.

Yet can a freshly chosen martial champion prevail?

He shall prevail.

Ere the trials commence?

If Your Majesty doubts, this one shall march in person.

As strategist.

Then victory is assured.

With one like thee,

and another such talent,

Zhen would fear naught.

Behold thy narrow horizon!

When battle erupts,

command Su Lis service;

with her uncanny stratagems,

we shall not merely triumph,

but strike terror into enemy hearts forever!

In this, Zhen fully concurs;

Zhen hath witnessed her wit.

Were no vassals left to dispatch,

though it seemeth undignified,

Zhen would truly employ her for victory!

When didst thou witness it?

When rumors whispered of thy bond with her;

beholding it, Zhens heart turned cold.

Were she to favor thee,

she must be blind of sight.

Dost thou heed my dignity not in the least?

Thou hast fed upon flattery since youth;

hearken unto harsh truth hereafter!

Am I thy trueborn son?

Is that not so?

Trueborn indeed,

doubt it not, my own flesh and blood.

Speaking thus,

thou scornest me as worthless dust;

what gaineth thee thereby?

Zhen called thee not worthless;

wrong not

Zhen!

Thy meaning was plain nevertheless.

Fifth Son,

thou harborest dark doubts;

tis an ill omen,

thou must rein it in. Playing this game, eh?

Very well, Imperial Father,

a sovereign must needs be sharp-witted;

is it not so? What dost thou mean?

Dost deem Zhen unwise? Imperial Father,

art thou not overly suspicious?

Shouldst thou rein it in?

The insolent lad hath grown crafty!

Chafing under Prince Yus restraint,

I tasted the fickle frost of mortal favor.

Those who once bowed with flattering grace

now pass in utter silence,

fleeing as from a plague!

Perchance fetch the Commandery Princess back?

Prince Yu wove this grand scheme

only to compel thee to appease her!

She is willful and arrogant,

blind to state affairs!

Cared he truly for his daughter,

he would discipline her sternly,

not constrain me with such foul tyranny!

Doth he think Song dreads him?

Why did folly blind me to yield to Prince Yu?

Had I remained in Fifth Princes camp,

who would dare humiliate me thus?

I grieve I cannot ease thy burden;

I curse that my sire

wields not Prince Yus grand might,

leaving thee to suffer such vile torment!

If Prince Yu truly possesses mettle,

let him maintain this feud!

Very well;

I must march to campaign ere long.

Whether I serve his bidding

rests solely upon my whim;

bartering victory to switch allegiance

is no great hurdle.

Though I parted ways with Fifth Prince,

under heaven no enmity endures forever;

once I display my prowess,

Fifth Princes faction shall embrace me!

Wilt truly not appease the princess? Nay!

I will not fetch her!

Art thou not overjoyed?

In her absence,

thou art the mistress here.

No maiden willingly shareth her lord;

more so when he hath won her heart.

To keep him wholly craveth true prowess.

Serve me with utmost devotion,

lest even without the Princess,

other fair women take thy place.

I submit wholly unto thee;

ever have I heeded thy will.

Would that Su Li were so compliant;

I would vow undying faith to my spirited dame.

Tis well twas I; any frail maiden

would have lost her wits in terror.

Forgive me;

grave calamity hath befallen us!

He is grievously wounded!

Stricken as thou art,

thou camest in person,

meaning Jin Manlou fareth far worse.

Am I not right?

The young master lies unconscious,

refusing to wake to this world;

none knoweth what aileth him.

Perchance thy presence may avail!

How came he by such grievous wounds?

I know not; the young master stayed his blade

and suffered blows unresisting.

Ere I could intervene, twas too late!

This is wondrous strange;

perchance old memories stirred.

Perhaps so;

the past pain cut too deep,

and his mind

broke under the grief.

The massacre of his house is engraved clear;

what else was buried yet struck anew?

Mere guessing yields no truth;

only when Jin Manlou waketh

shall we know. Doth the young master mend?

He can barely swallow the draught;

should this endure,

he cannot hold fast for long.

Alas!

Stand aside, all of you; let me try.

Jin Manlou, which soul can hear me?

Let me see who feigns deafness!

One more chance I grant thee;

if thou spurn it,

I take my leave!

Perish then,

and I shall raise other hounds!

Obedience would have spared thee this slap!

That blow struck wondrous crisp!

He craveth

this harsh cure!

Tell me,

doth Young Master

remain in peril?

His vitality fails;

the draught barely keepeth breath in him.

Peril draweth nigh.

He surely heareth our words,

else that slap had worked no marvel.

Lend thy aid!

To save his breath, we shall do all!

Methinks he will never awaken;

I shall seize all his men and gold!

That apothecary lad was fair and comely,

greatly to my liking;

summon him hither for my pleasure.

Did not Young Master knit his brow?

Jin Wu, thou too art fair to behold!

Truly, my countenance is no mean sight!

With Young Master gone,

may I abide ever at thy side?

Assuredly;

long have I favored thy good grace.

Jin Manlou was ever in the way,

barring me from speaking softly with thee.

Yet thou must yield place unto Jin Ming;

after so long together,

my heart inclineth toward him.

And Jin Feng

guards me daily; my devotion rivaleth his!

Look on me more! Why am I tormented nightly?

I shall slay thee!

Mercy!

Will he awaken?

I am sore afraid!

Fear not, I am here!

Come hither, docile pup; caress his head,

and sorrow flees! Stroke mine,

stroke mine quickly!

Perish, all of you!

I shall slay you all!

I shall mince your flesh into dust!

Feed

the hounds! Why slay them?

Twas the spirited lady

who bade us be her hounds!

What fault hath she? Ye seduced her!

She terrified our very souls just now!

Knowest thou not she stroked thy head?

I shall sever thy head!

Lay hands upon her if thou darest!

She erred as all maidens err beneath heaven;

the blame resteth solely upon you!

Enough,

mock him no more,

lest wrath claim his breath!

Wilt thou perish or not?

Perish,

and I shall raise hounds,

yea, a mighty pack!

I care not;

I care not in the least!

I return to the capital for urgent affairs,

tarrying no longer to waste the hour.

Thou forbadest us to vex him;

stoop not to his petty level.

Thou art truly absurd.

Unprovoked,

why display such petulance?

Did thy petulance ever avail?

Begone!

Begone, all of you!

I meant not thee,

but them!

Ah,

very well;

after all my counsel,

my words weighed as naught!

Depart posthaste;

let us bury this scene in oblivion,

speaking of it no more,

nor mocking one another;

twas an indelible blemish upon life!

Speak,

what transpired?

Why did such perilous danger arise?

How deemest thou?

I care not

for my thoughts; I bid thee speak!

Craving only death earlier,

was it not so?

Jin Manlou,

heed this: I shall not heed thee a second time!

Then abandon me to fate,

leaving me to wither!

None careth for me in any case;

all affection shown me is false,

be it my sire

or Master Yin!

Unfold it for me. Speak of what?

All my prior speech was wild babble.

To speak or keep silence

resteth with thee. Carest thou for me?

Deemest thou I journeyed afar to take thy men,

to make them mine own hounds?

Why did death spare me back then?

If thou hast no refuge,

abide at my side;

should not a hound attend its master?

Fawn not to appease me;

whatever thou cravest that I possess, take it freely.

Only weave not illusions like Master Yin,

blinding me to reality! Where arose the rift?

Was the clan massacre fabricated,

or were thy past recollections false?

The Wu clan slaughter...

My true lineage was Jin from the first.

The massacre was real,

yet thy memories false! Cease thy probes;

past events were tangled beyond measure,

unfathomable through mere speculation.

Dost thou still dare show thy face?

Hearing misfortune struck thee,

I foresaw it. Child, this path reaching here

hath fulfilled its purpose;

go live the life thy heart desireth!

Live the life I desire?

I dwelled in falsehood for years; vengeance

was my sole pillar of faith!

Ye deceived me most cruelly;

ye are utterly devoid of humanity!

Indeed, we have forsaken humanity.

Thou hast awakened now;

the path ahead is fraught with peril;

to press forward

spells certain doom!

One who raised arms in rebellion,

only to vanish into silence,

without my awakening,

would surely perish without a sound,

leaving not a name behind! Master,

hast thou ever weighed this?

Were it not for me,

he would already be laid in earth!

My heart should know it full well:

from first to last, death alone awaited him.

All unfolded according to plan,

save that his own will defied all design!

Thy sire would feel boundless pride in thee.

I need it not!

Coveting what he achieved,

by what right did he decree my fate?

Humph! The Jin lineage gains eternal renown,

they seize what I yearned for,

yet what of me?

Was this ever what my heart desired?

The Jin house was a clan of generals,

sworn only to obey the Emperors imperial decree.

Great clans conspired with the Wu to sever grain and pay!

The Jin army fell in slaughter, branded as vile traitors!

Ere the throne could act, the Wu hired fierce assassins

to butcher the entire Jin lineage!

I beheld it with mine own eyes; how laughable!

Knowing the Emperor helpless, my sire ceased struggling;

he rescued me alone,

sealed my mortal memories,

thrust me into the Wu manor,

to hail my foes as sire!

Hence,

that foolish self was thy true first nature,

as thou werest ere calamity struck thy noble house.

Of martial blood, that lad

wielded supreme martial craft;

fearing his tender youth

could not veil burning vengeance,

they locked away his memory.

Just then, the Wu matriarch

lost her babe; to secure her station,

she claimed a cast-off concubines newborn,

raising him as the Wu heir to master the arts of trade.

Thus the miserly soul was born of his own choosing.

His father and the Emperor had plotted all;

five years hence,

the Emperor purged the Wu clan on tyrants pretext!

He beheld the bloodshed once more.

That second slaughter awakened his buried memories;

two cruel bloodbaths shattered

his spirit beyond measure.

I sealed portions of his past anew,

and he fractured into three personas,

each lacking fragments of the truth,

unable ever to become whole again.

Twas done that he

might taste fleeting joy in life.

Who tasteth joy? The fool,

he knows bliss; the miser,

though nursing rancor,

tarries in ease.

Yet I am cast as a monstrous specter,

neither man nor ghost! Master,

I ask thee:

was my deep slumber wrought by thy hand?

Thy slumber was indeed my doing;

I deemed it would grant thee healing! Healing?

Knowest thou that what thou calledst healing

was in truth obliteration?

I foresaw not such depths;

this humble one wronged thee deeply. Hear this glad tiding:

the Jin clans vindication draweth nigh!

Wilt thou consent, a marquisate is thine!

What manner of glad tiding is this?

Vindication bought by one souls endless agony and rancor,

could a true father ever commit such deeds?

Did our kin learn of it,

would their spirits find peace?

None foresaw General Jin would prove so ruthless.

He declared all Jin blood

are valiant martyrs

of unyielding spirit,

and his son must be the same. Speak:

how deeply wert thou involved?

I learned of it only after the Wu fell; my part was slight.

Speak not thus;

complicity is complicity,

for I reached not forth to save him then.

Our bond of master and disciple endeth today; our paths sever!

Tis just that thou grantest me no pardon;

yet concerning the marquisate,

I beseech thee to accept it.

Thou seekest only to ease the Emperors and my vile sires remorse!

Dread ye not my vengeance marching on the capital,

ruining the Jin glory

under the eternal infamy of rebels?

Wilt thou not counsel him?

Why should I intervene?

Doth this not fulfill thy grand design?

Let him serve as the blade to fell entrenched clans for the throne,

bearing every heinous guilt alone,

to be granted swift execution at last;

how flawless a scheme!

How he chooseth to act hereafter,

none hath the right to govern!

Ye tore his very soul into three parts;

would ye have him smile and claim this agony was his honor?

I meant it not thus; Master had best depart.

Very well.

At this hour,

I can speak no gentle words;

let us confer when calm hath returned.

Very well.

Dost thou need a moment alone?

Wilt thou leave me alone?

Be not so sullen;

I fear burdening thee.

I would not be alone,

lest I lose the will to live.

Resemble I a madman,

shifting like shifting winds,

ever yielding place to another soul?

Among his many scions, why choose me for ruin?

Then vent thy hearts grief freely;

raise whatever storm thou wilt,

defying all decree to buy thine own solace!

I fancied thou wouldst urge me to accept ennoblement

and pardon Master Yin.

Tis well thy heart cleaves to me.

Were it otherwise,

I would still forgive thee. Rest now;

I vow that upon waking,

thou shalt find me here. I would not sleep;

dreams return, though I wronged none!

Yet all have wronged me,

yet dread still haunts me; I abhor them!

Now I know wherefore they laughed;

they mocked

my winning martyrs glory for Jin Manor!

They attained their desire,

they died in their rightful place,

why grieve for those who schemed against thee?

Thou shalt dream of them no more.

I stand watch here;

should dark dreams stir,

I shall waken thee forthwith.

What if I wake no more?

Then I shall summon Jin Ming;

he possesses no modest beauty.

When my vigor mends,

I shall beat him black and blue,

to see if thou still deemst him fair!

When wilt thou mend?

Right soon.

I shall rest,

heal every wound,

and become thy comely hound.

Thou art even now

a comely hound.

Young Master sleeps;

may we speak aside?

Enter within;

speaking softly here

shall not wake him,

yet should I depart,

he would surely waken.

The physician unsealed my memory;

we belong to Jin Manor,

and our comrades are old retainers.

I saw no slaughter; visions in my mind were illusions,

yet Young Master witnessed his clans ruin,

then had memory locked to become anothers child!

Were I he, I would unearth his sires corpse

to flog the bones!

Unearth the remains,

and cast them to wild hounds!

Such sudden revelations

leave all at a loss,

stripped of resolve and purpose.

Alas!

Accustomed to hardship,

ye know not ease?

Doth this not sound perverse?

Indeed;

peaceful days attend,

what cause for unease?

For us, matters are simple;

yet for Young Master, all solace

rings hollow and false.

Better do naught; wrong efforts

breed only bitter harm.

Then we entrust Young Master unto thee;

thou alone canst soothe his spirit.

I shall do mine utmost. Art thou awake?

What path shall I tread hereafter?

Ah.

Guarding the hearth?

What if I snap blindly at folk?

Must thou wag thy tail at every beck?

What if losing all restraint,

I slay those who displease mine eye?

My fury brooks no tether!

Cleanse all traces without fail.

What if a scar marreth my skin?

A scar would diminish thy beauty.

Tend it with diligence,

it shall fade,

unnoticed by any eye.

Yet neglect it, and ruin followeth.

I shall tend it well.

In the Jin clans fall of old,

no noble house was innocent;

thy sires blood thou mayest leave unavenged.

In mine eyes,

they merit it not;

yet the agony thou bore,

thine own vengeance thou mayest claim.

Then I must guard our hearth and gate,

let the miser keep the ledgers,

leave petty disputes to the fool,

and keep attendance upon thee solely for myself!

All toil to others, all bliss to thee!

How art thou so cunning?

I suffered far greater torment than they.

Spoken thus,

tis fair in every measure.

Ah.

Naturally so.

Heh.

Master hath long been absent from this hall;

tis like a dream,

as though yesterdays lad returned.

Hath he remembered?

Aye.

He resteth stable now,

shielded by Su Li; though not reaching the capital,

the old scheme was fulfilled. How weighs he this?

Regarding ennoblement,

doth he rejoice? Tormented for years by nightmarish deceit,

only to be told

all was an illusion.

I ask thee,

wouldst thou rejoice?

Is it not so?

Speak,

why remain silent?

Thou deemest a hollow title such grand bounty!

In truth,

were thou not Emperor, thou shouldst kneel

and kowtow twice,

as conscience truly demandeth.

How then, Master, ought Zhen make amends?

Trouble him not, and that sufficeth as recompense! Where is Chi Yun?

Why is he unseen? Did not his brother enter the martial tournament?

As elder brother he must attend; Zhen was consumed by Manlous affairs,

and forgot Chi Yings momentous day!

Perchance Su Li knows naught of this yet,

having just returned.

Tis fortunate Chi Yun

is kind and harboreth no spite,

else his heart would be grievously wounded.

Xiao Wu praised this Song Chi Ying to the very heavens,

and even Master laudeth him thus!

How extraordinary must he be?

Yet fittingly, with Chi Yun so brilliant,

his brother must excel. Chi Yuns brilliance and being Chi Yuns brother

bear no relation; he is peerless in his own right!

Hearing thy praise,

Zhen is all the more intrigued.

Fret not,

thou shalt behold him soon enough;

this lad shall surely be Martial Champion,

beyond doubt! Art thou so certain?

Indeed,

absolute certainty! A Scholar Champion,

a Martial Champion,

and Song Chigui beside—doth fortune bless the Song ancestral tombs?

Humph, with Song Chiguis paltry talent,

compare him not to my prized disciples!

If thou must name a trio,

their sister Song Chiyu is formidable as well.

Doth purple smoke not rise from their ancestral mound?

Imperial tombs must be ill-aligned,

else why each generation duller than the last?

Alas.

Thy face proclaims

a desire to unearth imperial crypts

and rebury the late Emperor beside the Songs! Is it so plain?

Master, war looms upon our borders;

should Song Chi Ying win the champions wreath,

can Zhen send a youth to battle?

Humph,

what of youth?

His wits surpass thine! Furthermore,

his masters are peerless martial legends;

to triumph in such petty border skirmishes

shall be effortless! Master means Zhens worries are mere trifles?

Humph, turn thine attention unto the court,

exploit noble clans rivalries and sow discord;

should they tear each other apart,

all subsequent governance shall prove easy.

Ah.

This truth is plain to comprehend.

Alas!

Yet to speak of ease is false;

hard indeed it is for thee,

yet for Chi Yun, twould be effortless.

Humph!

If thou lackest mastery,

heed his counsel with care;

thou shalt spare thyself many perils.

Moreover,

gaze upon this:

see what vile deeds thy trusted subjects wrought!

Wherefore hath it come to this?

How could it be so monstrous?

Preserving such records whole

proves one amongst them prepared retreat.

That soul must now be gone.

Possessing boundless wealth and favor,

wherefore were they never satisfied?

Human hearts crave ever more;

contentment dwells not in mortal breast.

Take Prince Yu for example:

doth he not still yearn to vie with thee?

That lad awakened far too early;

he should have led Jin warriors to storm the capital,

and slaughtered every treacherous rebel!

Entrust these scrolls unto Chi Yun;

he shall unravel them with skill.

Discern where the first blow must fall.

Fret not;

This Emperor holds clear resolve.

This is Song Chiguis brother,

and also Chi Yuns brother.

Most intriguing!

Dost thou dream of brother slaying brother?

Tis no mere fancy;

it shall assuredly come to pass.

I share not thy vile amusements;

none among us surpasses Song Chigui,

yet Song Chiyings prowess exceeds his own!

Prized disciple of Master Yin,

his scholarship shines; bind him to our cause!

Aye,

tis advantageous; no need to hesitate!

Sawest thou not the Fifth Prince

ever urging him on from the shadows?

Though he only wearied his own flesh,

ha,

yet he earned first rank in truth,

did he not?

The Martial Champion should be his title!

Then let it be resolved thus.

While Prince Yu wrangles with Song Chigui,

we shall enlist a mighty warrior

beneath our banner!

Those two find favor in mine eyes;

let us claim them both!

When Prince Yu perceiveth this deed,

shall his wrath choke him to death?

Were he dead of rage,

twould spare us endless labor!

Sister-in-law,

I have won the Martial Championship!

How could I forget thy grand day? Forgive thy sister-in-law!

Sister-in-law, thou hast weighty affairs;

none could endure such ceaseless toil.

Sister-in-law,

treat thine own self with kindness!

Now Second Brother and I have attained renown;

labor no more in hardship.

We hold the power to bring thee blessed ease!

How tender-hearted is my little Chiying!

Very well,

then I shall await a life of comfort.

Sister-in-law must dwell in joy!

Joyful felicitations unto thee!

Thou art aloof from the throng!

One is Champion of Letters,

the other Champion of Arms;

what manner of creature am I?

Speak not thus;

estates and trade are bestowed upon her,

the Jin seal of authority,

and all thy hosts surrendered!

Wherefore deem thyself unworthy?

They possess noble rank and standing;

in truth, my origin bears no honor.

I am unfit to stand before others, Jin Hu.

Tell me, ought I depart? Depart?

Depart whither?

Aye,

whither could I wander?

I possess naught in this realm.

Shall we raise rebellion?

I shall stand at thy side!

Lamentest thou thy lowly rank?

Let us seize the throne! What are the odds?

Thou knowest death is far more certain!

I know it well;

yet no mortal ties bind me now.

Naught remains that I cannot renounce;

perchance my vanishing would end all strife.

Those other two souls dwell in serene peace;

following them shall spare thee bitter misery,

nor do I suffer at thy side.

Though that vengeance was an illusion,

the bitter trials we weathered together were true.

Of the three masters, Young Master holds all memories;

should this soul fade away,

the other two must surely crumble into ruin.

Joyous felicitations!

Where hath thy fierce fire fled?

How darest thou speak thus?

At least my master aided thee in past days!

What meanest thou by this conduct now?

Casting stones upon one fallen into a well?

Who would stoop to strike one merely wounded?

Though he is wounded,

are those vast shops no longer his?

Hath his boundless wealth vanished,

or hath his sharp wit turned to folly?

Having weathered harrowing storms,

whatsoever honors are bestowed upon thee

are thy rightful due!

Wherefore spurn such auspicious grace?

Dost thou bid me accept the title of Marquis?

Thou and Sister-in-law built so vast an empire;

wilt thou not guard it?

Chi Ying and I shall lend our strength,

yet thy noble power provides an unyielding shield!

Else doth not thy present standing remain awkward?

Thou darest not even meet my gaze;

thou art humbled

and cowed!

Treading thus, thou shalt lose thy sanity anon;

unable to depart,

yet ashamed to show thy face if thou tarriest!

Why torture thyself in such perverse torment?

Indeed,

what dost thou intend?

Thinkest thou rejecting all stirs remorse in foes?

Thy malice merely uses their sins

to scourge thine innocent self!

Dost thou find delight in such folly?

What service wouldst thou have me render?

My siblings toil solely for Sister-in-laws comfort;

hence whatsoever shields and honors her,

must be brought unto her command.

Thou wouldst have my master rise in mighty power,

to grant the lady an unfailing pillar!

Aye. I comprehend it now;

thy counsel rings true.

Thy ennoblement commands authority,

turning the tide of this present plight.

So thou schemest to drive my master to serve the Emperor?

Hold!

Each but reaps what he seeks.

Humph!

Thou hast attained true clarity;

my spirit rests at ease.

We shall meet at court! Master,

wilt thou truly accept the title and spurn rebellion?

Though the lads words hold wisdom,

deep resentment still rankles within my soul!

What matters resentment?

As the youth declared, feeding rancor

merely punishes oneself for the sins of others.

Aye!

Better to accept the noble mantle and enter court,

compelling that tyrant to gaze upon me daily,

in endless shame

and ceaseless remorse!

Far better than brooding in shame over departing,

to command exalted status!

For in my eyes,

she matters most; to be of service unto her is supreme grace.

Ah,

if thou hast seen through it, all is well;

whatsoever thou undertakest, I stand by thee! Brother,

why didst thou speak at such length with Jin Manlou?

Unto strangers of no account,

didst thou not disdain to utter even a single syllable?

Hence he is no man of no account;

he aided me in bygone days,

and rendered service unto thee as well.

Without him, we had never known Master Yin,

and he hath accomplished much for Sister-in-law beside.

Speaking thus,

he hath truly shown us great favor;

moreover, his ennoblement bestows immense boon upon us,

and when all dust settles at last,

perchance through him we may retain Sister-in-law!

Dost thou mean Sister-in-law will depart?

Whither would she go? I was but jesting with thee!

Behold thy panic! Yet my foreboding is seldom false;

Sister-in-law belongeth not to this mortal realm.

Thou gavest me a great fright!

If Sister-in-law abideth no longer at our side,

we shall become kinless orphans,

even though our parents dwell with us.

Parents still fall short.

Indeed,

with Sister-in-law, home stands!

Pray she never departs! Song Chigui,

a useless wretch!

Bidden long ago to win his brother,

yet he failed utterly!

Ben Wang deems him void of merit;

he is the dullest of his clan!

Behold his two younger brothers,

one first in letters,

one first in martial arts!

Nurtured with care,

they shall attain renown!

General Song is not so inept.

Yet his mind is narrow and petty;

he weighs not the grand design.

Considers he not

this is no hour for sulking?

His sullen spite seems courting disaster!

He fancies Your Highness needs him!

Besides the martial scholar,

did we not favor fine talents?

If need be,

recruit and foster another!

Keep not all eggs in one basket;

raise a rival against Song Chigui,

to humble his pride!

Flinging petulant tantrums,

is he master, or is Your Highness?

You rule supreme!

Replace such a knave posthaste;

the more he is exalted,

the more unmanageable he grows!

Ben Wang holds this in mind.

I summoned you today

having caught court whispers:

the Emperor seeks to pardon the Jin!

Weigh whether this brings

profit or peril, and if we back it.

We too have heard;

a Jin scion lives, nursing deep vengeance!

Those officials who framed the Jin

stand in the Fifth Princes camp!

Why not aid this venture?

Just so!

The pardon stirs tumult,

yet we are not the quarry;

it shields our own flank!

It spares us much strife.

Ben Wang deems it likewise.

Humph!

I shall lend the current aid,

and hasten the deed! A martial scholar

riding in glory, splendid indeed!

Had I received such patronage,

I had not toiled so in camp! Thy parents were biased!

Back in the village,

they held the fine lodge,

leaving thee the hovel,

showing cold sullen scorn

all day;

twas monstrous cruelty!

Thus I severed all ties!

Prince Yu woos new generals;

lingering in deadlock,

thou alone shalt suffer,

yet thou coax not the Princess back!

Yet on the other hand,

thy brother is first martial scholar;

if amity be restored,

could Prince Yu be so haughty?

Seasoned in the court,

all know a single tree makes no grove;

perchance past rancor matters not.

Indeed.

Yet since pardon, the Xiao held no feast;

my sire wished to observe in quiet

ere picking noble allies.

Now that all is settled,

he prepares a banquet.

Meanest thou my brothers will attend?

Once invitation rolls are sent,

all factions shall gather;

the two scholars need such renown,

so they shall surely come!

Very well;

if thy sire builds the bridge,

upon success,

I shall repay his grace.

Splendid!

I shall inform my sire! Glorious!

Now I need not fetch the Princess,

and remain sole mistress of this manor!

Paving the way for that wenchs daughter?

Relying on her daughter as concubine,

she struts with haughty insolence!

Utterly shameless!

It rests on whether Madame wills it!

If we desire to grant their wish, arrange it well;

if not, there exist ways to leave no fault to seize,

yet vex their hearts sorely.

Why should I indulge them? If they prosper,

how could peaceful days remain for me and my son?

Could my son then inherit this household?

Would this patrimony not fall to that concubines son?

Then let us summon Su Li hither.

Nay,

we lack such grand sway;

we shall invite Madame Yang.

At this feast,

each lady will require personal attendants;

Su Lis parlor will be overwhelmed,

so she shall attend Madame Yang in person.

Wherefore invite Su Li?

She discarded Song Chigui like a worn shoe;

hopest thou she would clash with Xiao Yuyan

in petty jealousy?

She stoops not to such folly.

Su Li disdains to heed her indeed;

yet having become a concubine

and intoxicated with petty triumph,

wilt she not provoke Su Li out of spite?

That is far from certain.

Once she stirs trouble,

I trust Su Li shall not disappoint us.

Su Li repays every slight tenfold;

once tumult ignites,

let all proceed by thy counsel.

Tis truly a spectacle to await!

We must let that wench know Su Li cometh,

ensuring she swallows the hook,

lest our pains be spent in vain.

A low-born concubine of mean estate,

what wisdom could she possess?

Concubines understand little of noble decorum,

and their offspring even less!

Doth the Master not dote upon those base-born brats?

This hour I shall make him

behold clearly what monstrous calamity they can brew!

The Mu family invited so vast an assembly;

why such grand pomp?

To cast a bait.

With many guests,

our staff would be depleted;

unless depleted,

how could I take the stage?

They aim directly at thee!

What shall we do?

What to do?

Naturally, seize this bounty of gold!

Might they plot against thee? Fear what?

If they target me,

I shall strike back in kind.

Wilt thou not bring a fierce hound abroad?

With me

attending thee, none shall dare insult thee!

Spare me!

The guests assembled are all sworn adversaries;

shouldst thou lose temper, spirited lady,

pray take him not!

Enduring terror and fret

ages us ten years in a single day! I beseech thee,

leave him behind. I never planned to bring him;

what aid could he render?

Thy charge is to guard this hearth;

if all depart, the shop lies vacant,

and peril may come

from those seeking trouble.

In truth,

thou deemest my rank too low,

lacking grandeur,

unfit to present before company!

Alas,

what if a pup will not guard the gates?

Then rear another who loves to watch the gates.

Very well,

accompany me then.

I go not!

Stubborn churl, rebukes alone tame him!

Deemest thou I heard not?

Art thou deaf?

Thou darest only vent wrath upon me;

if thou hast mettle,

defy the spirited lady!

Why should I heed thy discord?

Dost thou envy me?

With a wretch unloved and forsaken

words are utterly wasted!

Wasted with thee indeed!

Did she bestow a lawful title upon thee,

that thou boastest thus?

Seek someone to cherish thee as well;

vengeance is forsaken,

strife is ended,

tis time to build a home.

Take a wife first then!

Were I to wed first,

I fear thou wouldst turn green with envy!

Lest I enjoy cozy bliss with wife and kin,

while thou art left all alone,

weeping in cold sheets! Come hither;

I swear not to slay thee!

Deem me a fool? Young Master hath grown calm,

truly splendid!

I suspect ill intent, summoning so many guests;

tis like setting a stage

to enact a grand play.

They intend thee as actor; Lady Xiao feuds with that concubine,

scheming to kill with a borrowed knife!

Her aim to exploit us is all too brazen,

stirring deep disgust.

Soon I shall plead sudden ailment,

and we shall take our leave.

Who exploits

whom remains yet unseen.

I too hold a play,

waiting for its stage!

If matters stand thus,

then I too shall watch the spectacle! Watch on;

a splendid show without cost,

twere folly to miss!

My heart stirs with eager anticipation.

Behold then!

Splendid.

This Xiao house hath scant true strength,

yet flaunts immense pomp;

possessing shallowest roots among noble clans,

they feign unmatched might!

This reveals boundless ambition;

they must brew dark schemes!

Schemes prospering well, no doubt,

so that even manor servants deem themselves exalted lords.

Hadst thou not spoken,

I had scarce weighed such thoughts;

tis indeed quite probable.

Ah,

Lady Yang arriveth! We awaited only thee;

whether others come,

I care not a whit!

Why doth Lady Xiao seem somewhat lacking in wit?

Yet call her witless,

and she raised this stage with utmost cunning!

Call her clever,

yet hear her reckless words;

all feels profoundly amiss.

Tis not lack of wit,

but discord with her husband;

she heeds only her own designs.

Those within her designs,

she courts; those beyond her schemes,

she disdains. All share glory and ruin alike;

all rise or fall together.

How graspeth she not this truth?

Perchance she understood once,

yet prolonged

taunts from concubines

and neglect from her spouse

drove her to madness;

no grief exceeds a withered heart.

Have ye heard the news?

The Song houses two top scholars arrive today!

Indeed so;

tis the Xiao clans first feast since vindication,

who would dare refuse?

I warrant this banquet harbors foul deceit; dire turmoil looms!

Tis the sole manor in the capital inviting all without heed;

the gathering is remarkably complete!

Su Li, even if thou declinest this play,

others will enact it;

I dread a bloody brawl erupting!

This realm is but a grand makeshift stage;

noble clans of lineage,

and exalted noblewomen congregate,

yet shedding dignity, they differ naught from common folk!

Let us linger in a quiet nook;

should fierce brawls break out anon,

we must not be struck amiss!

Aye,

we must avoid undeserved calamity!

They have arrived!

The newly crowned scholar! Nay,

both civil and martial champions! Where?

Let me behold their demeanor!

Ah,

I see them;

they appear far too youthful!

Indeed;

the civil champion seemeth somewhat seasoned,

yet this martial champion...

is it certain he used no foul artifice?

Who can tell?

His sister-in-law is Su Li,

wealth they lack not;

with coin in abundance,

ways abound! Are they all blind?

Blind to the truth!

I shall confront them face to face,

tis passing strange indeed!

Why are the two of them here?

Ought they not be in the other courtyard?

Lost their way, no doubt.

Besides, lingering beside high ministers,

what could it avail?

The words spoken,

could they comprehend?

Is it not so?

Both scholars are mere callow youths;

tis like children playing at statecraft!

Martial Champion?

Aye, thee!

A mere rustic boor, fancying himself exalted!

Mark this!

This is the imperial capital,

a den of intricate factions;

no place for a rootless, destitute wretch!

Rootless though I be,

I surpass thee by far!

Whence then cometh thy haughty pride? Cease!

Kowtow and confess thy fault with humility,

and if it pleases my mood,

I may consider sparing thee;

else my father shall grant thee no peace!

Lord Xiao

wields such might?

My brother and I were chosen by the Emperor!

He vows to grant us no peace,

and peace we have none?

Doth his authority eclipse His Majestys?

Yu Su,

cease this insolence!

Hasten to apologize to the Champion!

Why should I bow to one so lowly?

A rustic peasant ought never enter

our manor! He was crowned by imperial decree,

invested with supreme honor!

Make amends this instant!

Hasten! Supreme honor?

Knowest thou from what desolate ravine he crawled?

Knowest thou their wretched poverty?

A hamlet teeming with uncouth knaves,

where scarce a soul can read letters,

clad worse than capital beggars! A hero knows no origin!

Born with a golden spoon in hand,

at like age,

what hast thou achieved?

If thou hast wit,

win the Champions crown thyself!

The youth once possessed some grace,

yet returning from flight and exile,

he bears only vulgar, shameful habits!

What hero? Merchants are lowest among all classes!

Those two exalted Champions thou laudest

have a sister-in-law dealing in common trade;

they reek of foul copper coin themselves!

Waste no breath upon thee!

Thou art no tender child;

learn some propriety!

Cease feigning dignity!

Deemest thou thyself so exalted?

Truly laughable!

Ye deem appearing here a glorious triumph,

is it so?

Were ye to learn that thy precious

sister-in-law is here as well,

serving like a menial maid,

what then? Come, adorn my countenance too;

serve mine own self,

and coin is thine! Silence! Thou shame!

Disgraceful knaves, return forthwith!

Reflect behind closed doors!

Hmph!

I bring no disgrace!

Disgrace indeed!

Doth she not live to serve others?

I grant her silver,

should she not rejoice?

I near forgot: shortly bear my vanity chest,

carry it for me!

And when my duties overwhelm me,

serve tea and attend my call!

By what right dost thou order us?

Thou art no longer in thy village!

Aye! This is Xiao Manor;

believe it or not,

one frown from me bids servants strike

thy face! Xiao Mei, utter no such harsh words, speak not thus;

never look down upon another

merely for noble birth! Sister,

hast thou forgotten how she abused us before?

That bitter grievance

I shall not endure in vain!

She is a wicked woman,

all shall know! Rank differs,

breeding differs;

we must repay malice with virtue!

A concubine now, singing a different tune!

Concubine Xiaos virtue is lofty indeed,

so lofty she would even...

seeking refuge under my roof,

yet daring to seduce

the very man I discarded!

How exquisitely thou repayest thy debt of grace!

Those gathered here today are legal wives and noble daughters;

thou alone art of concubine birth,

a mere concubine thyself!

Yet thou deckest thyself in gaudy plumes,

as if flaunting that Song Chigui exalts a concubine above his lawful wife!

Lay a finger upon my sister-in-law,

and I shall make thee pay a bitter price!

Back then ye harbored in my home and brewed endless strife;

whence comes this posture of injured innocence today?

Swallowing husks and weeds at thy hearth,

why speakest thou not of that?

Having food to eat was mercy enough!

We sheltered you all,

sparing you misery and peril,

yet ye disdained food,

drink, and raiment,

sowing venom and discord!

Such contemptible knaves,

how dare ye boast here? Guards,

beat these base rustics forth!

Are these the manners of the Xiao manor?

Inviting my brother and me hither,

merely to strike us?

We were named first scholar by the Emperor!

To insult us so brazenly,

what insolent audacity!

Forgive us;

this fault lies with our Xiao clan,

from my failure as mistress to discipline them.

I shall render you full account.

Only for todays deed?

What of the past wrongs

we have yet to settle?

Past debts

we acknowledge; the Song family was our benefactor,

and we shall repay it. Ye acknowledge it then?

Here are the indenture deeds of thy concubines children:

one thousand taels for redemption!

Yet returning to the capital, they feigned forgetfulness.

Since Madame acknowledges the debt,

when shall the silver be paid? No wonder thou madest them serve thee earlier!

I fancied thou relied on past favor,

never imagining they were thy bonded servants!

Then command them as thou wilt.

Children of our Xiao blood wandering afar

ought to possess proud unyielding mettle.

Pray tell,

under what plight were these indentures pledged?

Mettle?

Meanest thou fleeing because exiles torment was too harsh?

Yet since Madame asks,

I shall recount the truth.

These indentures were never wrung by force;

none of these three is an innocent soul!

Else while ye suffered exile,

Auntie Xiao was caught in wanton adultery,

snatching up the man I cast away,

nor securing a concubines place before returning home! Madame,

is it not so?

I scarce can believe they committed

such scandalous disgrace!

Wretched vermin, ye stripped Xiao clan of all honor!

Guards, cast all three into the woodshed!

Darest thou? Father shall not permit it!

My sister is the Generals lady now,

beyond thy reach!

Brother-in-law shall surely shield us!

She, the Generals lady?

Vile wench!

In my absence,

fanciest thou thyself mistress of the house?

Is this the breeding of your Xiao house?

Her mother raised her;

when I sought to train her, the concubine refused! Guards,

seize this wench for Ben Junzhu!

I shall drag her to my manor

to question her crimes!

Hold a moment;

she is my bonded servant.

Taking away my servant,

oughtest thou not consult her rightful master?

Yield the deed to Ben Junzhu; I shall pay thee silver!

Turning from favored concubine to base slave,

I can extinguish her life at will;

the mere thought gladdens my heart! Xiao daughter,

wilt thou not redeem her? Such a shameless creature

our clan disowns! Darest thou? My daughter,

though a concubine,

is concubine to the General,

clever, refined,

skilled in arts and arms!

If thou darest not redeem her,

the Master shall not forgive thee,

nor shall General Song!

Whoever redeems her, pay the silver.

Humph!

Canst thou deliver the coin first?

Thou vile wench!

A mere menial servant,

vaunting thy pride! Guards, come forth!

Cast this wretched minx out with blows!

Senseless folly, utter folly!

Remove the concubine and these shameful wretches!

Lock them away!

Do ye claim the people or no?

Will ye yield the silver or not?

Else they remain mine,

to be bartered for coin!

Never did I foresee such monstrous folly;

I care naught for their wretched plight.

Useless offspring are mere chaff;

yet Xiao blood serving as bondsmen is intolerable disgrace!

Were this rumored abroad,

shame would blot my countenance!

Whatever coercion thou didst employ,

I acknowledge it all;

the silver is thine! Coercion?

Ask that noble general beside thee!

Today let us chastise this loathsome pest together!

Cease thy wanton clamor!

In what station dost thou command?

As a discarded husband?

Su Li,

deemst thou this a rustic hamlet?

Provoking foes thus,

thou wilt court death,

markst thou?

Without mine aid here,

who shall shield thee? Art thou blind?

Blind indeed!

Ye deem yourselves mighty,

crowned with court rank,

yet claim to shield her?

Ye can scarce protect yourselves!

When home craved thy aid,

thou didst flee;

though crowned general,

our hearth spent not a copper of thine!

In peril, Sister-in-law toiled for my sake!

Didst thou defray my studies?

Didst thou teach us martial skill?

Cease heaping false glory upon thyself!

Forget not:

Sister-in-law preserved even thy life!

When thy provisions were severed,

she donated silver to succor thee;

else thy breath had perished long ago,

leaving no room for brazen perfidy!

Nobles scions devoid of grace,

now indentured as humble bondsmen!

And General Song is an ingrate, saved by his former wife; Su Li is peerless!

Parrying every blow,

reaping vast wealth,

triumphant in dispute and noble in righteousness!

Though a merchant,

she sustained our troops in peril!

How can such a dame

not move the heart?

Cease thy wild babble!

Tender youth,

reckless tongue!

My deepest grief was failing to school you;

vile company hath bred such brazen insolence!

Yet we bear the mantle of top scholars;

what manner of man art thou?

Thou taught us? These two were reared by thee!

A glorious rearing indeed!

Pardon this modest strife.

Now shall domestic matters be settled.

Mm.

Thou despisest...

Who holds the mastery?

I comprehend little of martial art;

yet blows are matched with parity!

Our literary scholar wields formidable valor!

I marked it earlier:

vanquishing menials

was mere childs play;

yet trading blows evenly with a great general

is marvelous prowess!

Beholding this,

General Song appeareth quite ordinary!

Brother,

thy turn.

Humph.

This dispute lieth between us;

let us resolve it on another morrow.

In anothers manor, one must brook no excess.

Concede thy defeat; weave no hollow pretexts!

Moreover,

wilt thou ransom thy concubine?

Deliver silver,

or yield the person;

render an explicit answer!

Sell her unto this Princess; I shall add gold!

For these three, a thousand taels in all;

how much wilt thou add?

Cease this wanton folly!

If marital affection still abideth,

meddle no further in this matter.

Thou minstest daily with this wench;

what marital affection remaineth between us?

What solemn assembly is this today,

that she should dare appear?

Behold her wanton raiment and adornments!

Dost thou hold me in utter disdain?

Who is thy lawful consort?

Knowest thou why thy daughter wins favor,

bewitching men till their senses depart?

She sought brothel courtesans to master vile wanton arts!

Behold the Xiao maiden, a wretched strumpet!

What monstrous scandal is unveiled here!

This pilgrimage

hath proved a rare marvel!

Utter no more!

Wherefore seal my lips?

Craving courtesan crafts,

why tookest thou not a courtesan?

Vile rogue,

thou art utterly contemptible!

Thou strikest me?

Dost thou dare strike me?

Return to the manor;

we shall weigh all matters at home.

What remaineth to be spoken?

May a low-born churl like thee trample this Princess?

Song Chigui,

dost thou believe

I can strip thee of all? Unreasonable fool!

This Princess shall brook no reason today!

Deliver the indenture unto me!

I offer fifteen hundred taels! This wench,

this Princess shall assuredly claim today;

I shall hack her to pieces

to feed

the hounds! Fifteen hundred taels,

wilt thou raise?

If thou wilt not,

I yield her to the Commandery Princess!

A mere merchant in the mart,

weighest thou not the peril?

Stirring such strife within my hall,

fearest thou not leaving alive?

Before this assembly,

wouldst thou slay me

or flay me alive?

May I deem the Xiao clan possesseth might to commit treason?

Two thousand taels!

I offer two thousand! Tis two thousand now,

doth Princess bid higher?

What saidst thou?

Twenty-five hundred taels!

Twenty-six hundred!

Twenty-seven hundred! Twenty-eight hundred!

Enough!

Cease this tumult!

Royal Father,

they oppress me!

This wench dares claim the title of Generals Lady,

and Song Chigui transgresses further;

he struck my visage! Royal Father,

I will have them slain!

Your Highness, my daughter

is but a concubines low child;

she is unfit for noble halls.

I shall discipline her strictly

ere sending her back.

Ben Wang expects a satisfying account.

Your Highness,

rest assured.

Insolent cur,

dost thou dare strike Ben Wangs daughter?

I acted in haste; I await punishment. Disgraceful fool,

follow Ben Wang forthwith!

Lord Xiao, deliver the twenty-eight hundred taels.

Rapacious shrew,

mark this: this official gives but a thousand!

Overstep not

thy bounds; take thy silver

and begone! Can a word once spoken

be swallowed back like dung?

Thou proclaimed twenty-eight hundred, is it not so?

So high an official, dare ye speak and renege?

Utterly uncouth!

The covenant was for a thousand taels;

I shall yield no more than that.

Wilt thou truly play the knave before all these ladies?

I proclaim once more:

I yield only a thousand taels.

Heed my warning:

be not insatiably greedy,

lest thou receivest not a copper!

Deemeth Lord Xiao I have no court of appeal,

or that officials shield each other in collusion,

making justice unobtainable anywhere?

Is it not so?

Then Chi Yun shall lay the deed before the throne,

and beseech His Majesty for justice,

recounting todays scandalous deeds to His Majesty,

that the Emperor may weigh thy foul virtue!

Wilt thou yield the silver or not?

My patience

hath its bounds!

Though my rank is humble,

I attend the sovereign daily.

Naturally,

Lord Xiao is righteous and feareth naught.

Fine!

Take thy two thousand and eight hundred taels!

Such waste of breath was needless.

Humph!

Su Lis fortune and cunning are formidable indeed!

The spectacle ended too soon;

I yearned to watch more. Vile wench, explain that bond!

Hast thou the gall to live? Father,

I was entrapped;

I... Silence!

Utterly disgraceful!

Why did a concubines daughter come today?

Hast thou no sense of shame?

Vile as thy lowly mother,

the same wretched mold!

And those two young ones!

I once deemed them useful,

yet they are worth naught!

Master,

what avails mere scolding now?

Our honor is ruined;

we must ponder how to redeem our name,

and what account to render

unto Prince Yu!

And thou as well,

why stage so grand a banquet today?

When chaos arose,

why couldst thou not quell it?

Without grandeur,

would it not proclaim we sided with Prince Yu?

Both sides had to be bidden to avoid offense!

I tried to quell it,

yet who heeded me?

Dost thou think only thy face was lost?

As mistress of this house, I am the laughingstock!

Twas all Su Lis strife;

none of this would be! Why blame her?

She spoke no provocation;

Xiao Yusu reviled the scholar first,

and Xiao Yusu joined in railing!

Why would a merchant seek enmity?

Merchants crave harmony for gain!

Why plead for a stranger?

Were she gentle for gain,

why force Yuyan

to sign a bond of indenture?

Master,

dost thou not know our concubines nature?

Dost thou not know?

Were it not for thee,

I would have sold them all!

Requiring that bond

was but a shield against deceit!

Alas,

I defend not Su Li,

I merely share her bitter plight.

Be that as it may,

our shame is complete,

not only my honor,

but Prince Yu is offended!

Her learning courtesan arts in brothels was laid bare!

How many unwed daughters remain?

By our manors noble status,

concubine daughters could wed as wives;

now all are doomed to be concubines!

To my mind,

every daughter is my resource,

weapons of alliance to swell my might!

Now all is ruined! Thou art vile as thy mother,

were it not to save our face,

I would not spend silver to redeem thee!

Thou shouldst be dragged by the Princess,

to be flayed alive!

I am still cherished!

Song Chigui heeds my every word!

He cannot even preserve himself now!

Master,

thou wouldst use Yuyan to win Song Chigui,

yet returning her unmarred

will not suffice;

Prince Yu will never consent!

I know; vexation tortures my heart.

Force a barren draught upon her,

letting Prince Yu know though favored,

she bears no threat! Father, that poisons my very life!

Thy life belongs to the Xiao clan! Humph!

The Xiao clan now faces utter ruin;

thou must make this sacrifice.

Moreover,

I must sever ties with thee outwardly,

lest thy younger sisters fail to wed well.

Return and curry favor with Song Chigui;

losing his favor renders thee useless.

Then thy mother,

and thy young kin shall know

no peace.

This course is truly prudent.

Such loyalty shall appease Prince Yus wrath;

bid them prepare the draft forthwith!

Why return? How knew I not thou art so crude?

Knowing peace is paramount to me,

thou went expressly to vex them!

Now thy mission hath wholly failed,

and brought countless woes upon us!

I knew not it would end thus.

A concubine should not stray abroad;

yet thou wentest forth nonetheless,

bedecked in splendid robes!

And what vile babble spilled from thy siblings?

How perceived I not before

thy house hath no breeding?

Blind was I

ever to regard thee!

I too was blind,

fancying a noble and valiant warrior,

only to behold a wretched, petty soul today!

Kneel in the Princesss courtyard forthwith,

kneel till her fury abates,

till she

yields her pardon!

Brother Song,

recallest thou those former days?

Speak no idle folly!

Hadst thou not sought me out back then,

our paths would never have crossed,

sparing me all these bitter trials,

nor would all kin forsake me! Go,

kneel and implore the Princesss grace!

I care not to shout,

so I let Xiao Yuyan kneel in penance.

Military power rests still in my grasp,

and Prince Yu hath none else to command;

so long as appearances are kept,

he will not press me sorely.

Yet Prince Yu trains fresh commanders;

I must take action myself.

Vile wench,

hast thou not come meekly to kneel?

Dost thou vaunt now? The General

hath not shown his face,

this humble maid deems his sincerity lacking.

What knowest thou?

Sending this wench hither to kneel

proves he acknowledgeth his fault;

his heart

must be filled with deep remorse.

Yet speak not words that displease me;

our souls are entwined in harmony.

I know his heart; foolish was I before,

never dreaming Xiao Yuyan was given barren draught!

Consider this a reckoning unto thee.

What reckoning owest thou me?

Cease entangling me in thy affairs!

No ties bind us together;

the flames in thy courtyard concern me not.

Had thy temper been gentler,

we would never have parted ways.

Fortune favors my stern resolve,

else I could not cast thee off.

Recalling any past bond with thee

fills my spirit with revulsion!

Wherefore utter such wounding words?

Thou hast offended far too many;

knowest thou not?

Thou must have a mighty shield;

wouldst thou claim to be that shield?

Then answer me this:

art thou greater than the Fifth Prince?

Why art thou struck dumb?

As a prince of the realm, he cannot wed thee;

though the imperial house overlook thy trade,

they must still mind that thou wert wed before!

Who declared alliances rely on mortal love alone?

Furthermore,

my path demands none of thy concern.

Alas,

Chi Yuan and Chi Yun are so tender of age;

to enter officialdom now

bodes them no good fortune.

The crafty foxes of the imperial court

will disdain their humble origins.

As their elder brother, I cannot bear their misery;

I can smooth their harsh path.

So this was thy true intent in coming!

Did Prince Yus harsh hand choke thee?

Doth fawning on patrons favor taste bitter now?

Dream not of winning Chi Yun and Chi Yin!

The Emperor gave them no noble rank.

Youth is one reason;

lacking backing is another.

Brothers should stand united,

I seek power for them,

they burnish my renown,

to everyones gain.

We need it not!

A rare day of rest,

hoping to help Sister-in-law,

yet sickened by thy presence!

Xiao manor feasted only for thee!

Is our disdain not plain?

Wilt thou cease clinging like a leech,

and hound us no more?

He thrives only on shameless clinging!

Seeking us to sustain his fading days!

Dost thou fancy thyself grand?

Tender in years,

bereft of roots,

of humble station,

even that aside,

reared by a mere merchant woman,

knowest thou how many mock you?

Mockery in shadows,

I know not;

yet folk ridicule me to my face for thee!

Asking why we are so gifted,

while thou art beyond wretched,

if we are true kin!

I declared

thou wert adopted!

Which hound barketh here? Thou changest at every turn!

Ever more vile; why did I ever heed this fool?

Once I fretted over him,

plotting stratagems against his tricks;

how laughable!

Dost thou dwell here?

What absurd talk!

Tis my shop;

where else,

should I abide,

in thy manor?

So ye live together?

Divorced, Su Li taketh this knave?

Indeed?

Thou debasest thyself so!

Mind thy tongue!

What ails me?

Insolent scoundrel!

Brother Qins stance is rare;

never beheld such arts.

Yet victory is his; thought Jin Manlou was ordinary,

unaware he reigns supreme; marvelous!

Would that he taught me!

A base merchant dare strike

an imperial officer!

Await my vengeance; thou shalt pay dearly!

To conspire with such scum,

thou art vile indeed!

Thy wanton heart could wait no longer!

Thou art the wretch!

Utter one more sound,

and I shall slay thee!

Thou art abnormal,

thou art not Jin Manlou!

Who art thou?

Trouble us again,

and I shall hack thee into pieces!

I shall tear thee limb from limb,

to taste torment boundless!

Brother!

I fear he would truly commit it!

Thy dread is true!

Meant to hold Sister-in-law by him,

yet is he an ally or mortal peril?

Is she in danger?

Triumph not; a petty merchant,

I crush,

as easily as an ant!

I have means to ruin thy trade!

The Imperial Edict arrives!

By Mandate of Heaven,

the Emperor decrees:

The Jin Clan is cleared of guilt,

their honor restored;

Jin Manlou is created Marquis of Loyalty!

This Marquis outranks General Song!

This Marquis stands far higher!

Naturally! Heardst thou that?

Now this Marquis stands above thee!

Exalted status tasteth wondrous indeed!

Mockery! Insolent!

Enough!

Slay not a wretch upon ennoblement.

Days are long; torment him slowly,

for sweet diversion!

Begone forthwith,

lest I take thy life!

Su Li, heed my warning:

he is not sane;

this man is deranged,

a madman! Knowing what to utter upon returning,

and what to conceal, thou comprehendest well?

Understood? Excellent; depart!

Wasted gifts! Every deed of thine just now,

he shall recount faithfully unto the Emperor.

As thou wilt. Thy humor has grown erratic indeed;

if this Jin Manlou truly runs amok,

he may indeed bring harm upon Sister-in-law.

I must destroy him swiftly! Enough, restrain thyself;

frighten not the young kin!

Why so fierce?

What of them? How old are they now,

still called babes?

Are they so easily terrified?

Thou hast no patience for me; wrath fills me!

Very well,

brood then!

Go sulk aside!

My will to live ebbs away.

Chi Ying yearns to learn martial arts;

teach him some maneuvers anon. I refuse!

I am so terrifying;

lest I frighten others out of their wits!

Thou art a Marquis now,

and holdest an imperial manor.

Pack thy belongings and begone forthwith!

I shall teach then! Come,

I shall instruct thee now. Sister-in-law,

is this man truly sound of mind?

A moment ago,

he seemed fraught with peril,

yet now thou tamest his erratic humor.

He feigns calm before me, yet out of sight,

now laughing,

now weeping,

now craving slaughter,

now seeking his own demise.

Truth be told,

anyone so tormented would break;

tis deeply lamentable.

I have heard his tale;

all has reached my ears.

One knows not

whether accepting the marquisate was wise or folly.

Did he resist, no counsel would avail;

one must forge ahead in life,

lest one linger forever trapped

in the mire of madness?

Stepping forth brings hope. The Emperor bade me tell thee:

thy enfeoffment is delayed;

thy deeds in Fengshou are withheld,

silenced for another full year,

lest ill schemers weave mischief. No haste;

I never coveted worldly honors.

As for self-preservation,

beneath the power of vast wealth,

no faction would dare strike me down,

now that thou and Chi Ying have attained renown.

Our humble beginnings are but recent;

we cannot yet claim true greatness.

Therefore Sister-in-law must have patience,

till we bestow prosperous ease upon thee!

Very well;

my patience is boundless.

Jin Manlou actually bested Song Chigui;

yet tis natural,

being a scion of the Jin clan:

a brave sire sires no timid hound!

He is the most fickle wretch I have beheld:

capricious,

choleric,

and most infuriating of all,

he dared call me a fair-faced fop!

Clearly he is the true fop,

fawning upon Su Li daily like a lapdog!

Utterly contemptible!

True envy

distorts one beyond recognition.

Thou lackest the grace to be a lapdog;

else thou wouldst fawn more abjectly!

Su Li pays him little heed either. Tis different:

when Jin Manlou took wounds,

Su Li flew to his side posthaste.

Were thou wounded,

it would touch her heart

not a whit! Imperial Father,

if you speak thus,

then Jin Manlou was right

to grant you no courteous face! Sever

such vain delusions;

she would never deign to gaze upon thee!

Not only that;

should calamity befall thee,

she would light firecrackers in celebration!

Art thou exasperated to fury?

Tis thou who art enraged!

Insolence!

Darest thou speak thus unto Zhen now?

Sovereign and subject differ;

dost thou comprehend?

Understood; this subject misspoke just now.

I shall fetch one whose words soothe Your Majesty.

What wouldst thou do?

This Song Chi Yun passes all bounds;

knows he not Imperial Father cannot part from him?

How dare he rest?

Thy son

shall summon him hither forthwith!

Hold! He labored long for a single day of rest;

disturb him not,

lest we appear utterly ungracious.

Imperial Father errs in this;

if Chi Yun

knew you strive so earnestly as to crave his presence daily,

he would rejoice deeply

and deem you the foremost wise ruler!

Zhen yearns not so fiercely to be the premier sovereign;

perchance that title had best be surrendered unto thee!

Why so swiftly

fearest thou Song Chi Yun?

This is not fear! Enough if not fear;

I shall summon him back posthaste,

lest vital state affairs be hindered!

Very well, summon him;

vast labors await our shared toil!

Thou must bear that mountain of scrolls;

let us hasten our work.

A geniuss lowest depth is our highest ceiling;

our bitter agony he comprehends not.

Grant him rest then,

lest we be humbled further.

When shall this turbid realm clear,

and Zhen yield the throne unto thee,

that Zhen may at last find release?

In truth, Imperial Father,

having you share this hardship

comforts my spirit passing well.

Unfilial brat!

No wonder old Yin recommended Chi Yun so fiercely;

yet having him attend us serves us well,

fulfilling the masters intent.

Alas,

tis too late to ponder such matters now.

Moreover,

Zhen heard Chi Yuns martial prowess rivals Song Chigui;

is this truth?

He might lag a slight measure,

yet Chi Yun possesses sharp wit;

he schemes while he strikes.

As to who triumphs in the end,

I deem victory belongs to Chi Yun.

Splendid!

Master of both pen and sword!

If his brother sought not to be martial champion,

could Chi Yun have seized that crown as well?

Had Chi Yun spurned the scholars laurel,

both brothers could claim either crown; they are wondrous indeed!

What of that?

Their little sister masters classics beyond Chi Ying;

alas, this mortal realm offers few paths

unto maidens.

Thinking such rare genius

must only wed and rear children,

this son laments her lot! When thou ascendest,

the court shall undergo a grand renewal.

Thus breaking precedent is not impossible;

yet all three kin possess

such immense talent; if elevated,

in time,

they might become a dire peril again.

What remedy

remains then?

Behold Chi Yuns ingenious stratagem;

I examined it,

and it dispels Imperial Fathers anxieties wondrously.

A superb stratagem indeed;

moreover, Chi Yun

in this manner

proclaims unto us:

he aspires to be a pillar of state,

not a treacherous minister grasping sole dominion.

Perchance he deems the imperial crown joyless;

even now we dread his presence so bitterly!

Dispatch word granting him an extra day of repose,

as a token of Zhens tender regard,

bidding him assist his sister-in-law with chores.

What beholdest thou?

Marquis of Loyalty;

these three characters seem inscribed without error.

Deemest thou these characters pleasing?

Would Su Manor not appear far more pleasing?

Art thou possessed?

Not Loyalty...

A marquis estate must be named Jin Manor!

Why call it Su Manor?

I fathom thy wish to marry in,

yet thou must possess thine own nest,

lest pride and stature fail!

Call this pride?

Cease thy banter!

With a separate roof,

would she not drive me away?

The foolish monarch acted recklessly;

why bestow an estate upon me?

If I be cast out,

I shall hold him to account!

He knows neither good nor ill.

Let whoever desires this hovel abide;

I shall dwell here never!

Ah!

Pain afflicts my heart;

this ill-omened hall cursed me!

Alas!

Dire nightmares shall haunt my sleep!

Enough;

feign no more.

None bid thee dwell here.

Yet thou art an imperial official now;

tarrying forever in a tavern

shall stir slander. Let them talk;

I fear no vile gossip!

All his wit is spent to win her favor,

longing for his name

to be bound with the fierce maidens!

Were rumors true, Young Master would rejoice!

Empty as it lies, grant it for my wares.

Storing goods within the shop

feeleth insecure. So be it;

use it as thy heart desireth.

Am I not gracious?

I shall dispatch men with the goods,

and thou shalt store them well.

Aye;

I shall await them here. Show modesty!

Hasten not so shamelessly to serve,

nor so eagerly!

Begone from my sight!

Art thou envious?

Never would I envy thee!

For playing the lapdog,

I hold thee in utter contempt.

Yet of late, his bouts of mad frenzy

have dwindled greatly.

Northern frontier defenses weigh heavy;

marshalling arms demands capable hands.

Zhen decrees military power granted to Jin Manlou,

to oversee martial affairs,

discharge duty faithfully,

and relieve the realms cares.

Military authority

belonged solely to Song Chigui;

now Jin Manlous command,

though stripping no seal from Song Chigui,

riseth to rival his might.

Your subject objects! Didst thou avenge thy daughters public slap?

Didst thou swallow it?

Then thou art a wretched prince indeed!

What hath that to do with army seals?

Dare we weigh petty domestic affairs upon this court?

Is it mere domestic folly?

Thy daughter represents the royal house;

a blow to her

is a blow to the throne itself!

This trifling matter

Ben Wang shall settle himself!

Humph!

What hast thou settled?

If helpless,

bind him fast with iron chains!

Lest he wander daily sickening decent folk,

and ruining our commerce!

Cast off as an ex-husband,

yet completely shameless! Cease thy stammering;

if thou canst not speak, attend no court!

Seek a physician for illness;

why display thy madness here,

hindering state affairs?

For striking General Song,

Ben Wang hath yet to hold thee to account!

Know thy place! Twas mere friendly spar!

Who knew he was an empty show,

felled by one blow?

If such an one wields soldiers,

I, far surpassing him,

why should I not command?

Wilt thou claim favor for thy son-in-law?

I am the scion of loyal martyrs,

whose entire house was slaughtered!

By right, I merit rare favor!

Is it not so,

Your Majesty? Quite so!

The Marquis of Loyalty speaks true wisdom.

Truly courting needless vexation!

First brooking Chi Yuns scorn,

now bowing to Jin Manlous pride;

such an emperor reigns in sorry shame!

Imperial Brother,

thou... Forget it.

Were Imperial Brother not so mediocre,

how could I ever seize his throne?

He hath surely lost his wits,

daring to sanction vindication

for the Jin clan!

Splendid now;

a formidable foe is raised against us!

Military seal lies idle in any case;

bestow a share upon me,

and a share upon the martial champion!

Is this not auspicious?

Wherefore hoard it in vain?

A fledgling lad whose beard is yet unwon,

why covet the reins of armies?

Can he lead hosts into battle?

Doth thy son-in-law march in war today?

If no battlefield beckons,

let thy son-in-law surrender his tally too!

Then let none wield the armys might;

dost thou consent?

Enough, peace!

Grant it unto both;

since no battle rages now,

it serves the martial champion for practice.

It cannot be!

Jin Manlou and the martial champion share ties;

should they unite...

In any case, never!

Hark at what absurd words thou utterest!

The martial champion is thy son-in-laws brother;

even I voiced no dread of their alliance!

What manner of drivel fills thy crown?

Insolence! Why clamor so loud?

Speak reason with justice;

this is no contest of deafening shouts!

Now that pure truth hath come to light,

recompense must be rendered in full.

As for the martial champion,

granting him seasoning is fitting enough.

Should Imperial Uncle deem it wrongful,

reclaim every tally of martial command;

let none retain power,

for that alone is true justice.

Song Chigui hath led troops in battle,

commanding high renown in the ranks;

while Jin Manlou appeareth half-crazed;

who would obey his order?

As for Song Chiye, his down is barely dry;

he can bear no command!

Thus military authority yet leaneth to my favor.

Marquis of Zhongyi,

thou art elevated to marquis now;

curb thy venomous bite and heed thy noble decorum.

Keep thy distance from Su Li, for one!

Keep distance to yield thy son-in-law a chance?

Thou hast misjudged the reality.

Twas Su Li who cast aside

thy son-in-law!

Yet he harboreth wicked longing to this day;

if leisure thou hast,

govern thine own son-in-law!

Thou art the very image of Su Li, matching every tone!

Thou art a man; hast thou no shame?

Is it so?

Resemble her?

Then thou possessest some wit after all,

discerning the merits of This Prince!

This Prince praised thee not!

Was that not praise?

None could tell; furthermore,

what carest thou how I speak?

Tend to thine own affairs!

Though thy son-in-law was discarded,

thy daughter still welcometh him;

bid him know content! Imperial Brother, this is the court,

not a vulgar marketplace!

Thou must restrain the Marquis of Zhongyi,

lest this hall sink into foul disrepute!

From the first I spoke with courteous grace;

thou alone hast bellowed like a beast!

Who foully pollutes this hall? Silence!

Behold him, all! Roaring with such frenzy,

hath he succumbed to madness?

If he worsens,

summon the imperial physician!

Was I mistaken?

He is afflicted! Physician, summon the physician!

Ah,

the court physician cometh too slow!

I possess martial folk arts; mark my words first:

this is solely to rescue a soul,

tainted with no personal malice! Audacity!

All present bear witness;

frame me not!

I saved thy life;

repay not grace with malice!

Indeed!

Brother, thou layest motionless;

all is owed to the Marquis!

Behold how swift the remedy!

Such absurd babble,

yet he believed it!

Imperial Brother is truly dull,

blind to my designs on his throne.

This bitter grievance

I must swallow in silence.

Enough;

spare thy thanks.

Marquis of Loyalty,

our days ahead are long! Formidable;

thou hast my proud

bearing.

Prince Yu said

I resemble thee.

Deemest thou this good?

Naturally!

Ah,

I am helpless before thee;

tis become a custom.

A wondrous custom indeed.

Beholding this daily

burns ones eyes!

Will my vision perish in time?

Our Master

lacks only a tail;

else he would wag it with joy!

Brother Jin Wu,

canst thou carry this chest?

I cannot lift it.

Alack,

call me sooner;

this toil is not for maidens!

When hard labor calls,

speak freely. I asked Jin Ming,

yet he lacks my swift vigor!

I meant only he was occupied;

he has not my ease. What is this?

Why do I flatter her too?

Thou still darest show thy face!

Ben Wang honored thee with his daughter;

yet thou spurned the bounty!

A rustic shrew like Su Li,

what in her merits thy longing?

Clinging to her insults Ben Wang himself!

I went not for Su Lis sake;

I sought only Chi Yun and Chi Ying!

Yet both kin were ruined by Su Li.

All reconciliation is hopeless;

I have renounced it utterly.

Reconcile thou must!

Thy brother now wields armed legions;

should ye join forces,

all shall fall into Ben Wangs grasp!

He commands troops?

Is the Emperor mad?

Were he not foolish,

could Ben Wang wax so mighty? Not only he,

Jin Manlou also holds command.

Leaving this Jin Manlou

shall invite dire doom;

frame him with treason,

and strike him down in secret.

Pin it on the Prince; an ally dispels a foe!

Moreover, he commands vast legions.

Indeed, botch not the blow;

should it be unmasked,

calamity shall ensue!

Why should it be unmasked?

Deem ye Ben Wang inept?

How could we mean that?

Fewer grievances

yield greater peace;

else our minds divide, no?

Furthermore, Jin Manlou

is a peerless master;

the risk of failure is great!

He merely caught me unawares.

Ye speak truly;

winning him excels enmity.

Yet however Ben Wang reflects,

shame gnaws within!

Who in court deemed Jin Manlou righteous today?

Yet why stayed all silent?

None thought it worthy to wrangle with such a man!

Just so;

all crave Your Highness to strike,

ridding a nuisance while tethering Your Highness.

Tis two gains at once.

Resting from court brings ease;

we shall watch for him.

As for Jin Manlou,

had General Song

not provoked him repeatedly, bonds would never

have strained so taut.

Now that thou art healed,

venture nowhere of late;

suffice it to keep Ben Wangs daughter gladdened.

Very well.

Once healed,

I march forth anew

to avenge this days disgrace!

Alas!

That court officials questioned not Jin Manlou

is solely that his silver paved every path.

Jin Manlou counts

as our chief patron; to guard his life

safeguards our very fortunes!

We must spend every effort.

Yet why does something feel amiss?

Perchance wrath clouded the mind.

Not only Your Highness,

even my heart pounded in bitter fury today!

Only for the greater cause,

else who would suffer him?

Just so!

Yet on the other hand,

impatience ruins grand schemes;

all in our faction deem it so.

Thus, Your Highness,

endure awhile;

our day of reckoning shall come! Where has he gone?

Let me divine,

whom thou hast slain this day.

No need to divine;

I shall tell thee.

I learned the miser, to smooth his trade,

bribed

nearly the entire imperial court,

and found it wondrously easy

to strike. The miser allied with thee?

Else it could scarce go so smoothly.

He revealed the secret passages of the noble clans!

Those villains deserved death!

Summon the miser forth.

Why summon him?

Though waking brings torment,

I yearn to abide beside thee!

I can refrain from slaying;

cast me not aside! Be good, let him emerge.

I only wish to question him.

Mm.

Spirited minx, long parted!

Fetch a physician posthaste!

Since this vile rat regained his memories,

he grows ever unstable;

a physician alone can keep me here. The fool and the child

both hold recollections of the Jin house,

whilst thou art steeped wholly in Wu clan blood,

retaining only how the Wu nurtured thee.

Where then lies thy loyalty? What loyalty?

What has memory to do with it?

Why gavest thou routes of each manor to the child?

Thou suspectest my ties to the noble clans,

fearing I league with them.

I sought to make that vile rat slay more;

the more frantic he grows,

the more he unravels,

so that I might emerge to behold thee!

Thou knowest well how the Wu fell;

dost thou seek no vengeance?

True, I lack Jin memories,

yet

I know I am of Jin blood,

and that

the Wu house is my mortal foe!

Wherefore then, spirited one,

dost thou doubt me?

Thy heart is partial!

My heart is not partial;

I must ensure no fatal flaw.

Ye three are one soul; scheming against each other

merely tears thyself asunder!

Hear thine own speech!

Thy heart is truly partial,

utterly partial!

Dost thou throw childish fits too? Must I be slighted just for being wise?

Must I suffer thy suspicion?

I meant not so;

I deemed thee easy to reason with,

warning that contending amongst yourselves

leads only to common ruin.

Why sayest thou naught

that without struggle,

neither I nor the fool could ever breathe?

Only when thou rememberest us

doth he grant us a fleeting respite!

Yet thou hast not thought of us in so long!

If I devise no stratagem,

what choice have I?

Amongst you three, only the child holds full memory;

even if ye prevail,

what fate awaits you in the end?

I heed it not! By what right

do they converse with thee day by day?

and feign obedience before thee!

I would have thee see him as an untamed madman!

I forbid thee to show him favor!

How else can it be said

that ye are truly one soul?

Thou resemblest him greatly now.

Why remainest thou ever so composed?

Such coldness is sheer cruelty!

Stroke my head.

Deemest thou I am that foul rat?

I crave not such deceit! Truly?

Let it be then.

If thou insistest upon it...

I insist not.

Force not thyself.

Canst thou not coax me a little?

Thou knowest I am easily soothed;

stroke my head as well!

I am meeker than that foul rat.

Hear me once more:

ye three are one and the same.

Ye strive against each other,

as I well know.

Stroke my head then,

and I shall obey thy every command!

Stroke me swiftly; he emerges!

Hasten!

Childish fool, I would feel it too!

Our discourse is not ended;

thou art forbidden to emerge!

Behold, all matters may be reasoned;

why butcher one another?

What wouldst thou impart unto me?

Ye are one being;

unite your strength henceforward.

Ye three may each possess

thine own appointed hour;

divert yourselves apart,

and summon one another

when need ariseth.

That foul rat shall never consent!

I deem I may decide for him.

Thy heart leaneth partial after all!

Why shouldst thou rule over him?

I can rule over thee as well.

Thus let it be decreed! Very well,

I harbor no dissent;

I had sought mutual ruin,

content to walk forth

day by day. So be it;

if that foul rat agreeth,

I shall lure him to slay no more.

If he lusts to kill,

let vengeance have its course;

tis not unjust.

Behold, thou still favorest him!

Whatever he is,

thou embracest;

thou indulge him utterly!

Thou enticed him to murder,

yet I laid no blame upon thee.

Yet thou questioned me!

Yet I allowed thee forth

and caressed thy head.

What grand feat is a head caress?

Enough; having emerged, tarry awhile.

Examine that heap of ledgers for me.

Be docile, childish fool;

rest two days. Would he consent?

I deem he hath consented.

If so it be,

he is not utterly loathsome,

though he must despise me above all.

In his eyes,

I am of the Wu clan,

steeped in bitter memories.

I bear no memory of the Jin,

yet I loathe the Wu as well,

even as he bear both and loathes both alike.

Indeed, in this cunning web,

none among you three gained solace;

yet the foul rat bore the heaviest ordeal.

If he grants space to me and that fool,

we are willing to yield him grace.

Cleanse this tangled ruin first;

he offended all court on his very first day!

None struck him only for thy prior lavish gifts!

Thou art biased, letting me out

solely to aid him! If I suffice not,

summon that fool forth!

Very well;

I said not nay.

Marquis of Loyalty, thou art transformed today!

Wherefore is this? My spirits soar today;

when mind shifts,

mien follows naturally.

Todays discourse weigheth heavy;

temper must be reined before grave statecraft!

Jin Manlou hath shifted soul!

Though this soul appeareth sane...

Yet aberrations prevail most often;

thus one of peerless promise

was utterly ruined by mine own hand.

Regarding Lord Yaos cruel slaughter,

how deems the Marquis of Loyalty?

How deem I?

Standing,

sitting,

askew,

or upright!

Wherefore canst thou utter no reason,

insolent one?

Didst thou not clamor for this charge?

Why ask my judgment now?

Lacking wit, seize not the duty;

yield it unto me instead!

Burdens like this may waste General Songs gifts.

Nay, I shall solve it!

No villain shall evade heavens justice;

the Marquis may await my triumph!

Enough.

He schemeth to frame Jin Manlou

and purge this thorn in his flesh!

I await not thy deeds;

His Majesty awaits them.

Pledging unto me availeth naught,

dost mark?

What venomous plot?

I know it full well.

Yet such shallow wit courteth ruin;

seeking my undoing

is utter folly!

shall unmask the fiend! Mere empty boast,

who cannot chant?

I too might boast perpetual victory!

Arrogant knave!

Save for petty trade,

what power hast thou?

The power to strike thee down,

and demand in return:

what wit hast thou save brutish wrath?

Fate granteth what is destined; strive not in vain.

Take General Song:

thine own self,

lacking destiny,

yet clawing desperately upward,

stooping to marry,

grasping at titles!

Tis pitiful to behold!

Hast thou not grasped?

Whether the maiden loveth me matters not;

our fates are entwined beyond severance.

Though she keeps duty strict,

I taste sweet joy;

a single glance from her is my fortune!

Thou art shameless beyond measure!

Indeed I am shameless;

I would stake my life to wed her.

Unlike thee,

feigning noble pride,

yet playing the hypocrite,

forcing thy suit whilst sponging with arrogance!

Why feign deep devotion?

The wise see wisdom;

the foolish, folly.

Kin severed ties, brothers turned to bitter foes,

yet thou wearst a mask of virtue;

it wearies my very soul!

Utter drivel!

I warn thee:

provoke me no further!

This is the imperial court; pray maintain composure, General.

When the Marquis pressed so fiercely,

wherefore spoke not

the Fifth Prince? His words held truth,

unlike thy threat of violence!

This humble one merely offered counsel.

Then deepest thanks unto Your Highness!

No thanks are needed, Prince.

Why doth this feel amiss?

Once General Song feigned unblemished nobility;

the Fifth Prince was duped deepest of all.

Were he not to rebuke

thee, he could not appease

his squandered trust.

All is plain now.

The Fifth Prince

once favored Song Chigui greatly,

yet he defected unto Prince Yu;

sharp words are only natural.

Thy mask slippeth.

Slipping or no, hold it fast!

I cannot forever mend thy blunders;

hold thy tongue,

none deem thee mute!

How many days canst thou endure? The Emperor bid ask:

certain designs lie beyond his reach;

whichever it be,

I show him no favor!

He cannot bear it;

let him strike me dead!

Demand naught of me; I have no cause to obey.

I harbored no such intent.

Thy nature is far gentler than that other souls,

and thy learning too. Cease these divisive ploys;

however flawed he may be,

he is still myself.

I know friend from foe. As for Minister Yaos slaying,

was it his deed?

Where is the proof?

I meant no malice;

I stand by thee as one who profited sole and whole.

One allied only to profit

cleaves only to self-interest.

Else I had not split into three souls.

Ah!

Pry no further into my concerns,

and keep thy distance from Su Li!

Whatever thou schemest,

think not it escapes me! What schemes of mine?

She is my master! Play no deceitful tricks with me;

thou art far too green!

I harbor no covetous designs,

nor do I appear before her without grave cause.

Yearn as thou wilt,

she deigns not to grant thee

a glance!

I cannot bear every hardship

while thou reapest every boon,

is it not so?

As for what is long past,

words cannot alter what has already come to pass.

Naturally,

I demand no gratitude for tribulations endured;

all rests upon ones own conscience.

I merely suggest,

if Minister Yaos death

was indeed thy doing,

I can stand ready to shield thee from without.

For Song Chigui

will surely probe thee with utmost rigor.

A fool who cannot even pin guilt on a rogue;

thou truly regardest him too highly!

If it was not thee,

then indeed he can frame no charges;

yet if it was thee,

art thou certain no trace was left behind?

Who said it was me?

Wilt thou not disclose the absolute truth?

Canst thou not place trust in me?

Thy sincerity is profound indeed.

Alas!

This soul ought to be the gentlest among the three,

yet even he bristles with such disdain.

What then must be done?

Seeking to cover his tracks without knowing how!

I see naught in this to cause such fret.

What were his parting words as he turned away?

"Thy sincerity is profound indeed."

Precisely!

That is the very crux!

Having spoken with such open candor,

am I still wanting in sincerity?

Let him speak but a word,

and I would erase every shred of proof forthwith;

yet he refuses all accord.

Thus it lacks true sincerity indeed!

What then constitutes sincerity?

True sincerity means preparing aid,

whether he confesses or denies,

not wringing a confession ere lifting a hand. Hearts shift;

in matters of life and death,

without unyielding trust,

who could profess,

who would dare confess?

Yet mortal bosoms veil deep secrets;

having forged no bond,

how could he discern whether thy word is true?

Indeed!

Why did this escape my mind?

Thy wits are dull as lead!

In truth, it slipped my mind as well.

Whether Jin Manlou struck or not, this turn aids our cause;

hence we must shield it with all might

and let this turmoil spread wider still.

Why did my mind fail to grasp it then?

Had I reasoned so swiftly,

my sincerity would shine manifest!

Thy sluggish wits are no novelty;

from whom did I inherit this folly?

I ought never have consoled him!

Wilt thou brood endlessly over what cannot be undone?

Countless imperial memorials await examination!

Had Zhen but half thy cunning intellect,

we might avoid this impasse! Sire lacks not ability;

these afflictions have gathered over ages.

That Your Majesty sustained the realm proves royal merit;

belittle not thyself! Hand Zhen the memorials; I can read on.

In bearing counsel, I far surpass the late Emperor! Prince,

He proves most capable.

Freed from false praise, he advanceth swiftly.

Now he standeth steadfast on his own.

Proceed, proceed!

Affairs of the realm

brook no delay!

Hath Jin Manlou acted amiss of late?

Lord Yao met a wretched end.

Su Li, I charge thee to speak true!

How another met his end

concerns this humble one not in the least.

How can it not?

If Jin Manlou truly struck him down,

and thou abidest with such a man,

dost thou feel no terror?

Yet the deed was not his!

Shielding him bodes no good for thee;

I counsel thee in charity!

Else thou shalt perish unknowing how!

Thus I charge thee to be candid with me.

Yet the slaying was never his doing;

Jin Manlou demeaneth himself quite normally.

I speak to thee with utter candor now;

or wouldst thou have me frame him falsely?

I act strictly in public justice!

Doth Jin Manlou winning thy desired prize so lightly breed bitter spite?

Measure not noble minds with a churls petty heart!

Answer me: how spendeth Jin Manlou each passing day?

Attending court, perusing ledgers, reckoning my accounts,

and retiring to rest.

And after he rests?

That I cannot yet tell;

only when we share one couch

in slumber,

can I discern if he snores,

mumbles in dreams,

or grinds his teeth!

Cease thy saucy banter!

Conduct thyself with decorum,

lest I cast thee into the dungeons!

General Song wieldeth mighty arrogance!

The Emperor bade thee solve crimes,

not stir vexation out of void!

Persist in wanton insolence,

and my hand shall strike thee down!

Why doth Jin Manlou seem passing strange?

Jin Manlou!

My suspicion of thee is just and warranted.

Thou art exceeding bizarre;

I deemed it so before, and now it grows glaringly plain!

Thou art exceeding loathsome;

I deemed it so before, and now it grows glaringly plain!

Deemst thou him truly normal?

Su Li, thou must stay far from him!

Courtest thou death? Begone,

lest I cripple thee!

Would a crippled general not become a stray cur?

Humph!

We shall see!

Let us see then!

Didst thou step forth thyself,

or did the miser release thee?

Dost thou welcome my arrival so coldly?

Dost thou favor him over me?

I merely wondered;

he released me.

What else could he do?

A weakling scarce able to bind a fowl,

whom could he ever vanquish?

Why did he not release the fool?

That one is the frailest of all;

in a single utterance,

he leaveth countless flaws!

Who would unleash him in peril?

The fool is not devoid of wit in truth;

yet being overly blunt and unheeding,

he weigheth little and probes not deeply;

subtle wiles in anothers speech

easily yield pretexts to malice.

Gaze not upon me thus;

I came only to speak with thee,

then shall I yield back to him.

Thou must cherish me above all;

remember, I alone am thy faithful hound!

Mark it well!

Humph.

Doth that mean I may share thy couch hereafter?

How long until hereafter?

Why uttered I

words of such wanton ambiguity?

Is it on the morrow?

He truly playeth the madman;

a good hound queryeth not!

A good hound

knoweth how to wait.

Then I shall wait with patience.

A faithful hound!

How is the young master so easily beguiled?

Truly beyond belief! Brother

Jin Wu,

art thou free now?

Couldst thou lend a hand?

Free indeed!

Whatever arises hereafter,

speak straight to me.

Brother Jin Wu,

thou art so kind.

Ah,

tis but a trifle!

Henceforth, in all matters,

seek only me;

I shall see it done.

Why so jubilant today?

Wang Qiao,

let me aid thee.

Begone aside!

Who sought thy help?

Idling in foolish ease!

I spoke no offence;

why turn fierce so swiftly?

Uh...

Hath Brother Jin Wu urgent affairs?

Twas my lack of wit then.

Ah,

fret not;

jealousy gnaws at him!

Heed my counsel:

keep far from him.

Such knaves harbor malice,

unlike mine own self;

he begrudges all men joy!

Nay, I... What "not"?

If tasks await thee,

go tend to them!

Why stare at me? Vile nuisance!

What ails him this day?

No matter,

I stoop not to his folly.

Why art thou here? Where is Jin Wu?

Humph! Young Master,

is he not mad?

I merely asked if he needed aid,

yet he berated me fiercely!

What grave matter could Wang Qiao have?

Weigh what is momentous:

Young Masters affairs

must come first! Scolding thee was mild;

grown in years as thou art,

covetest thou Wang Qiao?

Heaven be my witness!

How could I? What meanest thou?

Doth Jin Wu fancy Wang Qiao?

Need one even ask?

Look upon his fawning guise; is it not plain?

Indeed!

His demeanor matched Young Masters own;

why saw I not the likeness?

Mock him if thou wilt; drag me not in!

Thou art an ungrateful knave as well!

Forbidding speech? If thou hast mettle,

show some renown,

and shed that shameful servility!

Thou shalt remain unwed for all thy days!

Unwed for life?

Still nobler than shameless knaves like you!

Boast on then!

The stiffer the tongue, the more shameless the fall!

General Song,

were these souls doomed by thy curse,

or slain by thy hand?

Since thou assumed

the inquest,

corpses multiply without end!

What treason is this?

General Song,

canst thou reveal how far the inquest hath reached?

The culprit is cunning beyond measure,

thus progress remains wanting.

Naturally thou hast made none;

thy whole mind is bent

on framing me! Days have passed;

produce proof if thou doubtest me!

If none exists, heed the empires plight

and investigate aright!

I have wronged thee not;

suspicion cloaks thee naturally!

When magistrates perished before,

thou wert present!

How knewest thou I was there?

Only because thou wert there beside me!

If presence

proves guilt,

thou art guilty too!

I held office on imperial command, lawful in every journey.

And thou? A merchant roams lawfully wherever trade calls!

General Song, lives are perishing this very hour;

canst thou set private feud aside?

Just so! The realm stands in dire peril!

Wielding power yet ignoring

duty,

seeking only private spite,

is utterly petty!

Thou suspected the Marquis of Loyalty,

yet watching him for days,

thou unearthed naught,

while corpses mount!

By right,

General Song should know

his every step;

he remains under thine eyes daily,

yet murders persist!

Is it not plain

he bears no guilt?

Just so!

Why cling stubbornly to him?

General Song, if thou canst,

execute it;

if thou canst not,

yield place to the worthy!

Kin of my Mu house have fallen;

such slaughter is wrought by desperate wretches, not wealthy lords!

He should have been cleared at first.

Are they seeking vengeance then?

The noble clans offended manifold souls of old!

Heavens, those I trampled upon are countless;

shall the assassin strike me next?

Your Majesty, pray strip

General Song of this inquest

and appoint a fitting officer!

The matter is grave;

a capable commander must intervene!

Human lives hang in the balance,

and the murderer halts not;

each days delay breeds fresh slaughter!

We beseech Your Majesty to replace him!

Hath General Song aught to say?

Grant this subject a few days more,

and I shall seize the culprit and fail Your Majesty not!