Chapter 16: Prelude (Part One)

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After the Lantern Festival, the weather grew warmer. The sun broke through the clouds and spilled over the snowy ground, melting and evaporating the auspicious New Year’s snow until it rose as vapor, drifting between heaven and earth.

In the city of Jingzhou, the marriage of Liu Chang’e, the youngest daughter of Prefect Liu, was hastily concluded due to the extermination of the Cui family. On the day Liu Chang’e was welcomed into the Cui household, the family head was brutally murdered, along with several of their servants. Now, the entire city was abuzz with discussion of these events.

Prefect Liu was deeply invested in the case of the Cui family’s demise. Rumors had begun to circulate within the city, whispering that his youngest daughter was the reincarnation of a jinxed star, bringing calamity wherever she went. First, the Cui family had often bribed him, and for many of their legal transgressions, Prefect Liu had turned a blind eye. Now, with the Cui family destroyed, he felt compelled to fulfill his duty; after all, if such a grave matter occurred in the city and he did nothing, he would surely be condemned. Second, his own daughter had suffered this misfortune upon marrying into the Cui family—he had to clear her name. Since returning from the Cui household, Liu Chang’e had wept incessantly, her father’s heart aching for her.

At the city gates, the number of guards verifying identities had increased from two to six, and all movement in and out was being thoroughly inspected. At that moment, a carriage slowly approached the gate and was stopped by the officers.

A woman dressed in elegant white emerged from the carriage with the help of two maids. Upon verifying her credentials, the guards became respectful, recognizing her as the wife of Magistrate Lu Mingfu of Jiangling County, who had come to seek her husband.

Once inside the city, Madam Lu instructed her servants to make inquiries as they walked through the streets. After half a day, there was still no news. At length, she arrived at the Prefect’s residence, where she had her servants announce her identity and request an audience with Prefect Liu.

Prefect Liu was in the inner chambers, comforting his newlywed daughter. As the Cui family was in mourning, Liu Chang’e had not spent her wedding night with Cui Sheng, and with misfortune hanging over the Cui household, she had returned directly to her parental home after a brief greeting.

“A message: Madam Lu requests an audience at the gate.”

Already vexed, Prefect Liu snapped irritably, “Madam Lu? I know no such person!”

At the mention of “madam,” Liu Chang’e, sitting sideways on her bed, burst into tears again, ruining the makeup her maid had so carefully applied.

“There, there, my darling daughter, don’t cry. In a few days, I shall personally accompany you to the Cui house and help them drive away the ill luck!” Prefect Liu patted his daughter’s shoulder in consolation.

“Father, I am not some guardian deity to ward off evil; I am your precious daughter! How could I be sent to dispel misfortune for others? I do not want to return to the Cui family, nor do I wish to be Cui Sheng’s wife. His family has met with death and disaster—it is ill-omened!” Liu Chang’e’s tears fell like rain, her heart wracked with sorrow.

Prefect Liu pressed his forehead in distress, at a loss for what to do. If the marriage were annulled, would he not be accused of lacking honor? At that moment, the servant at the door continued, “Prefect Liu, Madam Lu is the wife of the Jiangling magistrate. She says she has come to seek her missing husband…”

“Hmm?” Prefect Liu cast a cold glance at the servant, responding impatiently, but then recalled Lu Mingfu’s request from several months prior and felt a headache coming on. This year was proving to be full of troubles. “I understand. You may go.”

He resumed comforting his daughter, instructing her maid to wash her face, and sent for his wife to tend to their daughter’s heart, while he went to receive Madam Lu.

Madam Lu waited anxiously in the grand hall. Incense smoke rose gently from the brazier, its fragrance soothing to the nerves, though it could not calm her urgent longing for her husband.

After a while, Prefect Liu entered, a smile carefully arranged on his face, and exchanged formal courtesies with Madam Lu. She began with polite words, apologizing for her abrupt visit and any breach of etiquette, then explained her purpose.

Prefect Liu calmly recounted how he had met Lu Mingfu and treated him well, but that Lu had only stayed a few days before leaving Jingzhou.

At these words, Madam Lu’s tears flowed uncontrollably. Having lost all news of her husband since before the New Year and only now hearing of his whereabouts, her deep longing overwhelmed her, and she wept openly before her host.

“Please do not grieve, Madam Lu. Heaven favors the worthy. I shall send Captain Gongyang to help you search for your husband. We will surely find Lu Mingfu,” Prefect Liu said, moved by her devotion, and then called to the attendants, “Summon Captain Gongyang!”

Madam Lu composed herself and offered effusive thanks.

Soon after, Captain Gongyang arrived in the hall.

“Prefect, is this about sending troops to Sanligang to eliminate the mountain bandits?” he asked upon entering, bowing.

“No, this is Madam Lu, here to search for her husband, Lu Mingfu, who has been missing for several months. Assist Madam Lu in her search first; the matter of the bandits can wait,” replied Prefect Liu.

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Captain Gongyang was a bit disappointed, but upon learning that it was the wife of Lu Mingfu, and hearing her story, he was struck by her loyalty and accepted the task.

Three days passed. Wu Yueling changed back into her plain linen garments and continued to handle the accounts at Steward Fang’s, maintaining her previous routine for now.

Previously, Gu Yi had spoken with Wu Yueling at length, first expressing his condolences and sending people to repair Lady Lu’s grave and erect a tombstone. He also expressed concern that Wu Yueling should not live alone in the deserted village outside the city. The Gu family had many empty houses and hoped she would stay with them. Wu Yueling said she still needed time, and Gu Yi, unable to let go of his worries, secretly sent people to protect her.

These days, Wu Yueling had heard many rumors in the city, including the massacre of the Cui family by black-clad assailants, and the tale of a woman seeking her husband—the wife of the Jiangling magistrate, who had come to Jingzhou in search of her missing spouse. Wu Yueling, however, cared little for these matters. Her only concern was when Prefect Liu would send troops to Sanligang, for the mountain bandits could not be allowed to go unpunished.

Moreover, Wu Yueling no longer felt any attachment to Jingzhou, nor could she face Lu Ziji. Now, she thought only of settling this score before setting out for Chang’an.

Passing by where the city watchmen idled, Wu Yueling pricked up her ears to eavesdrop on their chatter. After months of cultivating her Clearmind Technique, her hearing had surpassed that of ordinary people, and the sounds within a hundred feet were unmistakably clear. The city watchmen, though lowly in status, were a fount of news, scattered throughout the city.

“I thought we’d be sent out these past few days, but Captain Gongyang came back and said we’re to look for that Madam Lu’s husband instead, by order of Prefect Liu himself.”

“I heard that Lu Mingfu came to Jingzhou seeking troops and grain. Seems Jiangling suffered an attack by the Sanligang bandits. The county folks had just harvested their crops, and misfortune struck out of nowhere—robbery and slaughter, pure disaster.”

“Those Sanligang bandits of the Yiju stronghold—everyone’s heard of them, even three years ago. Now they’ve grown to thousands, looting, killing, burning—nothing’s beyond them.”

“They’re a scourge to the region! Do you think Lu Mingfu might’ve been killed by the bandits?”

“Now you mention it, it’s quite possible. Maybe the bandits, fearing the Jingzhou army, killed him to cut off reinforcements.”

“Right, that makes sense. I’ll go report our theory to Captain Gongyang.”

“Wait.”

“We’ll all go together!”

Wu Yueling shook her head, amused at their self-interest, but at least she’d gained some understanding of the Yiju stronghold’s bandits—a truly vicious lot. Her resolve to see them wiped out only grew stronger.

After gathering this intelligence, Wu Yueling headed toward the city gate. Before she had gone far, she was blocked in the street by several thuggish faces she recognized.

“Well, well, it took me some effort to find you, little lady. Where are you off to?” From among the ruffians, an obese, rouged-faced old woman emerged—the madam of Red Ribbon House, who had taken a fancy to Wu Yueling’s looks.

Wu Yueling sighed, regarding the servants surrounding her, then looked at the shrill-voiced woman and shrugged. “And who are you to ask where I’m going?”

“Now, now, don’t be like that,” the madam said, stepping closer with a greasy grin. “I hear your Ten-Mile Village was wiped out by bandits—you’ve no family left. Why not come to our Red Ribbon House? There’s fine food and drink, new clothes to wear. Aren’t you tempted?”

Wu Yueling curled her lip. Tempted? You old hag. “I am like the lotus rising unstained from the mud, clear and untainted. If you think I’ll sell myself to your brothel, I’ll tell you this: only if the Jade Emperor tears down the Southern Heavenly Gate!”

“Why, you little—don’t be ungrateful! If you won’t come willingly, I’ll have you bound and brought!” The madam, sprayed in the face with Wu Yueling’s retort, lost her temper and ordered her men to seize her.

Suddenly, a figure appeared, sword flashing from its sheath. With a few dazzling moves, he drove back the thugs, shouting,

“Humph! And you dare lay hands on a member of the Gu household?”

Wu Yueling recognized him as a guard who protected the Gu family’s master—she had seen him several times, though she knew not his name. Now that he had come to her aid, she understood.

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“Who are you?” the madam demanded, seeing her men forced back by his skill.

“I am Xiao Liancheng of the North River, sword-guard of the Gu family! This lady belongs to our household. If you try anything again, don’t blame me for showing no mercy!” He sheathed his sword, ignoring the madam with disdain, and folded his arms, gazing into the distance.

“You all—” The madam, realizing she was at fault, and knowing that with the head of the Cui family dead, the Gu family would likely take over as Jingzhou’s wealthiest, decided it was unwise to make enemies. She forced a smile and said, “Ah, so she’s a Gu family lady! My apologies, I thought she was just a wild girl from Ten-Mile Village. We’re all one family, haha.”

She then berated her servants thoroughly before leaving with a smile, even inviting Xiao Liancheng to visit Red Ribbon House for a half-price discount.

Xiao Liancheng winked, coughed lightly, and mumbled something about visiting another time, trying to save face in front of Wu Yueling.

Once the madam was gone, Xiao Liancheng bowed to Wu Yueling. “The master of the Gu family instructed me to protect you these days. After all, with Ten-Mile Village destroyed, it’s not safe for you alone. I have conveyed his intentions, but the choice is yours.”

“I understand, and I’ll consider it. Thank you for your help, Swordmaster Xiao! By the way, aren’t you going now?” Wu Yueling returned the courtesy, expressing her gratitude and curiosity.

“Hm? Go where?” Xiao Liancheng scratched his chin, puzzled.

“Half-price discount!” Wu Yueling teased. Her jest made Xiao Liancheng blush and hurriedly take his leave.

After he departed, Wu Yueling continued toward the city gate. As dusk fell, she realized that returning to her lonely cottage in Ten-Mile Village had become a habit—yet, it was a habit she no longer wished to keep. This contradiction stirred within her.

Just as she exited the city gate, she heard a woman’s anguished cries, hoarse and filled with grief, pleading for Prefect Liu to seek justice.

Stepping forward, Wu Yueling saw a woman in white kneeling on a mat, draped in mourning cloth, beside a displayed skeleton.

“Lu of Jiangling petitions Prefect Liu of Jingzhou! Send troops to Sanligang! Wipe out the bandits!”

“My husband was the magistrate of Jiangling, a worthy official for years, yet he was murdered by the bandits of Yiju stronghold. His body is scarcely cold and my injustice burns within me. Heaven has no eyes—Prefect Liu, I beg you to avenge him and restore justice to the land!”

At her cry, her two maids wept beside her, and many among the gathered crowd, young and old, were moved to tears.

Wu Yueling recognized the woman from the rumors—this must be Madam Lu, who had come from Jiangling in search of her husband. The body beside her must be his. Wu Yueling sighed. Plagued by bandits, the region suffered; this poor woman, barely in her twenties, had lost her husband already. These bandits could not be left unchecked.

Presently, the sound of hooves announced the arrival of Prefect Liu. The crowd surged forward, cheering, all hoping he would send troops to wipe out the bandits and free the people from their scourge.

Prefect Liu first comforted Madam Lu, then assured the people that he would choose an auspicious day to send out the troops. He ordered the body to be taken away and brought Madam Lu to his residence, knowing that his true challenge had finally arrived.

Wu Yueling watched with the crowd, full of hope as Prefect Liu returned to the city. She made her way joyfully toward Ten-Mile Village, planning how she might join the army in their campaign to eliminate the mountain bandits.