Chapter Thirteen
Kyoto in early spring bore a lingering chill. The new year had passed, and the Lantern Festival was already two days behind, yet the sentimental people of Kyoto seemed reluctant to let go of the celebrations. Along the flower streets, in teahouses, and inns, it was as if the year had yet to end. More precisely, the idle hearts of Kyoto’s inhabitants allowed them ample time to bask in the fading warmth of the festival.
However, none of this concerned the scholars who had journeyed from various provinces to take the imperial examinations in the capital. For these aspirants were not yet citizens of Kyoto.
By the northern corner gate of the Bathhouse Courtyard, the osmanthus tree, having endured the harsh winter, appeared withered, its leaves and petals dried and brittle. A cold wind scattered them like snowflakes across the ground. Yet, in the two corner rooms beside the gate, the spirit of spring blossomed vibrantly. These rooms were occupied by four spirited youths: Gu Yuren, Gu Yusheng, Qi Guang, and Xiao Guimu. Their days were filled with study, their voices blending laughter and reading—a true breath of the new year.
Since arriving in Kyoto, Xiao Guimu had become a genuine “little book servant,” responsible for shopping, cooking, laundry, and tending to guests’ meals. Her daily path traced a simple line between the Bathhouse Courtyard and the market.
She kept close to her chest the official documents issued by the Southern Province certifying “Li Muwen” as the top martial candidate, along with the application papers to the Ministry of Personnel. She awaited the day she might venture out alone for an entire day, though that day had yet to come. A restless longing stirred within her, yet no remedy presented itself.
At night, Gu Yuren, Gu Yusheng, and Qi Guang—three young masters—gathered around a small round table, comfortably awaiting their meal. The dishes before them were simple: a plate of bitter gourd, one of baby bok choy, another of shiitake mushrooms, and a dish of garlic scapes.
Xiao Guimu served each a generous bowl of white rice and announced, “Time to eat!”
Gu Yuren raised his bowl and began, “Sister Guimu…”
She quickly interrupted, “Call me ‘Xiao Muzi,’ the little one! That’s our agreement!”
Gu Yuren paused, then smiled, “Very well! Xiao Muzi, tomorrow the three of us will take the examination. You must stay at home and behave yourself!”
“I promise, eldest master. After you leave, Xiao Muzi will stay put and go nowhere!” she replied earnestly.
Gu Yusheng glanced sideways, chewing on garlic scapes, and said, “Brother, we should tie her hands and feet before we leave! Otherwise, she’ll surely cause mischief!”
Xiao Guimu shot him a glare and retorted, “Second master, you’re the one who causes trouble!”
Qi Guang, ever the peacemaker lately, chuckled and said, “Yusheng senior brother, we should trust Xiao Muzi. Since arriving in Kyoto, she’s done all the chores—shopping, cooking, laundry—and not once have we worried about her!”
Xiao Guimu beamed gratefully at Qi Guang. “Master Qi is so considerate! Eat slowly; there’s still one more dish coming.” She stepped into the kitchen and returned with a bowl of braised pork.
Gu Yusheng’s mouth watered. “Braised pork too?”
Xiao Guimu deliberately placed it before Qi Guang and said, “Eldest master, Master Qi, eat plenty. Don’t let the ungrateful one spoil it all!”
Qi Guang belched, “Xiao Muzi, why didn’t you bring this out sooner? I’m almost full…” He quickly seized a piece and devoured it.
In the early hours of the eighteenth day of the first lunar month, Gu Yuren, Gu Yusheng, and Qi Guang departed for the Ministry of Rites’ provincial examination.
Once they left, Xiao Guimu took a horse-drawn carriage to the Ministry of Personnel. As soon as the doors opened, she submitted the application and family certificate for Li Muwen’s martial candidacy, paid the examination fee, and completed all the necessary formalities. Overjoyed, she returned to the Bathhouse Courtyard and slept soundly, more at ease than ever before, not waking until midday.
Dressed as a servant, she then visited the market to buy fresh ingredients, preparing for the return of the three.
Gu Yusheng, the top literary candidate from the Southern Province, was fully committed to the examination. As for Gu Yuren and Qi Guang, having failed the previous provincial exams, they held little hope for the literary path and aimed instead for success in the martial examinations. Their attitude toward the Ministry of Rites’ test was casual, merely to participate. Yet both completed their papers diligently and on time after three years of study.
Upon leaving the examination hall, Gu Yuren asked his brother, “Second brother, how do you feel?”
Gu Yusheng replied, “Brother, I feel as though I have returned triumphant from a distant campaign.”
“Wonderful! Father won’t be disappointed this time,” Gu Yuren said happily.
The street before the Ministry of Rites bustled with people.
Suddenly, Qi Guang pointed and said, “Brother-in-law, look…”
Gu Yuren followed his finger and saw Xiao Guimu waving at them from ahead.
Turning to Qi Guang, Gu Yuren chided, “Brother Guang, don’t startle me like that next time! I thought something dreadful had happened.”
Gu Yusheng warned, “Brother, don’t be complacent! We’ve been at the exams for three days; who knows what may have occurred?”
Glancing at Xiao Guimu’s radiant smile, Gu Yuren replied, “If something serious had happened, would she be smiling like that?”
Gu Yusheng smiled, “Depends on who it is.”
In early February, the Ministry of Rites announced the results.
Gu Yuren, Gu Yusheng, and Qi Guang all passed, with Gu Yusheng achieving third place on the list.
Seeing his name, Gu Yuren wept tears of joy. “Brother Guang, we’ve truly stumbled into success!”
Qi Guang grinned broadly. “Brother-in-law, indeed!”
By mid-February, all three had passed the Ministry’s reevaluation.
In early March, they took the palace examination presided over by the emperor. Gu Yuren ranked 281st, granted the degree of Jinshi; Qi Guang placed 73rd, also awarded Jinshi; Gu Yusheng topped the first division in third place, earning the prestigious title of Tan Hua Ye.
The brothers were elated. They busied themselves with paying respects to their mentors, meeting fellow scholars, joining flower-adorned parades, attending banquets, and even inscribing their names on stone steles, becoming “the finest gentlemen under heaven.” Gu Yusheng, as Tan Hua Ye, was personally summoned by the emperor—a true moment of triumph.
Xiao Guimu watched all this with tearful envy, cursing her fate as a woman.
Two incidents further fueled her indignation. First, Qi Guang nearly became the target of a marriage proposal “under the examination list.” This was his own doing. At a banquet, he had referred to Gu Yuren as his brother-in-law and declared himself and Gu Yusheng bachelors. The next day, a wealthy family from Kyoto, the Zhou clan, appeared with gifts, seeking Qi Guang’s hand. Fortunately, Xiao Guimu quietly informed them that Qi Guang was already betrothed to Sima Jiannan, daughter of the Duchess of Bashu. Upon hearing this, the suitors quietly withdrew. Qi Guang was thus made aware of his engagement for the first time and the name of his fiancée.
Second, just the day before, Gu Yusheng had been “invited” to drink at Chancellor Lü’s residence, where he got thoroughly drunk and was only returned home the next morning by the chancellor’s household staff.
In Yangcheng, at the Qi family’s salt shop—
Since Qi Qiongqiong married into the Gu family, Qi Yaoyao had taken on more responsibilities at home. She now not only managed the transport of salt carts but also oversaw the shop’s accounts, entrusted to her by Yin Yuanyuan.
Late into the night, Qi Yaoyao sat at the counter, meticulously tallying accounts with the abacus, accompanied by Yin Yuanyuan.
Finally finishing, she stretched and confessed, “Mother, you don’t know—just looking at these accounts makes my head spin!”
Yin Yuanyuan replied, “Mine spins even more!”
It was another day of transporting salt.
At dusk, the caravan crawled along the stone-lined section of the Salt Road at Shijiao Mountain.
Qi Yaoyao quietly urged Chen Ren, “Tell the men to hurry—let’s clear the mountain before nightfall.”
No sooner had she spoken than a loud gong sounded from the mountain, and a band of ragged brigands brandishing knives and clubs charged down, blocking the path.
Quickly raising her hand, Qi Yaoyao called out, “Halt!” The caravan stopped.
She urged her horse forward and demanded, “Who are you to block my salt caravan?”
A scar-faced middle-aged man wielding a large blade grinned, “Young lady, we’re the mountain’s own. We’re starving up here, and I, the Seventh Brother of Shijiao, have come down to ask for silver to buy rice.”
Qi Yaoyao produced a pouch from her belt. “Silver, you say? Here are three hundred taels—buy your rice.”
The scar-faced man weighed the pouch, chuckling, “Young lady, you’re generous! But life’s lonely on the mountain. Won’t you pity me and be my wife?”
Fury surged through Qi Yaoyao. With a sharp clang, she drew her treasured Lou family sword and spat, “How shameless! You want to make me your wife? Then come and face my sword!”
Outnumbered, Qi Yaoyao gradually weakened.
The scar-faced man laughed triumphantly, “Put down your sword and be my wife!”
“No chance! I, Qi Yaoyao, would rather die than be your wife!” she snarled.
Strangely, at this moment, Qi Yaoyao wished for the "Masked Hero" to appear—not to save her—but to see his face one last time before death.
Scanning her surroundings, taking a deep breath, she closed her eyes, sword poised to end her life—when a sharp voice cried, “Yaor, don’t! Master Gu is here to save you!”
A flash streaked past; her sword flew from her hand and plunged into the earth.
Standing before her was Gu Datong, concern etched in his features. “Yaor, sorry I’m late. Don’t be scared!”
Qi Yaoyao blinked, then smiled brightly. “Thank you, Master Gu, for saving me again.” She quickly retrieved her sword and lunged at the scar-faced man.
Together, Gu Datong and Qi Yaoyao gained the upper hand.
The caravan men cheered, shaking their horse bells with a clamorous clang.
The scar-faced man fought retreating, shouting, “Watch out, lads! This old man’s skills are formidable!” Steel clashed as swords and knives flashed.
Qi Yaoyao thrust down several brigands.
Seeing this, the scar-faced man called urgently, “Retreat! Fall back!” Soon, except for a few bodies lying on the salt road, the rest fled.
Qi Yaoyao picked up the pouch and shyly thanked Gu Datong. “Thank you, Uncle Gu, for saving me a second time!”
Gu Datong patted her back. “You’re mistaken! The first savior, the masked hero, wasn’t me!”
“Who could it be? Do you know?” she asked eagerly.
“Of course I do!” Gu Datong smiled.
“Where is he now? I want to see him.” she pressed.
“He’s not in Yangzhou. He went to the capital for the exams,” Gu Datong replied.
Qi Yaoyao blushed deeply. “Could it be Senior Brother Yusheng?”
Gu Datong laughed heartily. “You’d never guess…”
She nodded shyly.
Night had fallen over the ancient streets of Yangcheng, quiet and mysterious. Moonlight spilled over the bluestone, casting a faint silver glow like frost. Several horse-drawn carriages rolled quietly along the stone road, their wheels ringing sweetly, echoing through the still night and slipping through the window into a young maiden’s chamber.
Qi Yaoyao lay awake, the sound of wheels stirring her unease. Since learning that Gu Yusheng was the “Masked Hero,” she found herself caught in a tangle of emotions. For years, she had spun a dream where she was the heroine and the masked hero the valiant hero. Each night in her dreams, the masked hero struck chords upon her heartstrings, showering her with fiery passion and unyielding courage.
Love, truly, was a curious thing.
Though the masked hero and Gu Yusheng were the same, Qi Yaoyao favored the mystery of the hero over the man. It was like fragrant, sweet fruit in a shop—plain to see yet ignored. But cover it with a black mask, and it became a mysterious treasure, drawing passersby to stop, unveil, pay handsomely, or muse aloud.
Qi Yaoyao had always loved mystery.
As a child, practicing swordplay with Gu Yusheng bored her. One day, she tossed him a mask, commanding, “Gu Er, put this on.”
Gu Yusheng examined the hideous mask and asked, “Yaoshi, why make me wear such a thing?”
“Because then you’re a hero!” she said earnestly.
“Why be a hero?” he pressed.
“Because it makes swordplay more interesting!” she replied seriously.
Gu Yusheng, unwilling to wear the mask but stubborn, said, “I won’t wear it; you wear it!”
Qi Yaoyao raised an eyebrow. “Really won’t?”
“Not in a million years!” he vowed.
“Then you practice alone!” she said, and walked away.
The next day, Gu Yusheng wore the ugly mask to find her. Delighted, she exclaimed, “Gu Er, that’s much cuter!”
Yet Qi Yaoyao knew she could no longer live in a dream world and must face reality.
She asked herself, “Qi Yaoyao, do you wish to marry Gu Yusheng?”
One voice said, “You love the masked hero, not Gu Yusheng; you cannot marry him!”
Another countered, “You vowed to marry your savior, the masked hero—Gu Yusheng is that savior. You should marry him!”
Late at night, Qi Yaoyao tossed and turned, holding her head. “Mother, my head aches so…”
The next morning, she told Yin Yuanyuan, “Mother, I want to get engaged!”
“Engaged to whom?” Yin asked.
“To Gu Yusheng, of course!”
“But you never liked Gu Yusheng!” her mother protested.
“I swore to marry my savior. I must marry him,” Qi Yaoyao declared.
Yin Yuanyuan sighed, “Why make things hard for yourself? Besides, Gu Yusheng is in Kyoto; the engagement can’t happen now.”
“Back when Qi Guang married Sima Jiannan, he wasn’t present either. How did that marriage happen?” Qi Yaoyao argued.
Yin was speechless. “You need a lid for your mouth!”
On the twenty-fifth day of the second lunar month, Gu Datong invited the famed matchmaker Madame Wang to the Qi household to arrange the betrothal. The birthdates had already been matched by Yin Yuanyuan’s preparations, so formalities were brief. Soon, Gu Datong presented the golden hairpin left by Lou Mingxuan to Gu Yusheng as the betrothal gift to Qi Yaoyao, along with the bride price.
With all settled, Yin Yuanyuan told Qi Yaoyao, “Your engagement to Yusheng is set. Now stay home and wait for him to return for the wedding.”
“I don’t feel at ease about this marriage!” Qi Yaoyao said.
“Why not? The hairpin is with you,” her mother asked.
“Gu Yusheng is in Kyoto. What if he’s ‘proposed under the list’ there?” Qi Yaoyao fretted.
Yin Yuanyuan sighed, “That’s beyond my control.”
“To be safe, I want to ask Father, Mother, and Master Gu to sign a betrothal contract. Is that alright?”
“No problem,” her mother agreed.
Soon, both families summoned witnesses and the matchmaker to sign a formal betrothal contract, which Qi Yaoyao kept. Yet for some unknown reason, she still felt a knot of anxiety.
In Kyoto, on the same day, Gu Yusheng met a captivating young lady at a banquet—Lü Qianqian, daughter of Chancellor Lü.
Truth be told, Gu Yusheng deeply loved Qi Yaoyao. He had left Yangzhou with unrequited love, dreaming of her. Had they been engaged earlier, he might never have traveled to the capital, choosing instead to guard her in Yangcheng. But he was a man plagued by unreciprocated affection—lonely above all.
At the banquet, Gu Yusheng found Lü Qianqian bore a striking resemblance to Qi Yaoyao—in figure, manner, face, and fair skin. Especially her elegant brows and eyes; every smile echoed Qi Yaoyao’s. If not her, then who?
Back at the Bathhouse Courtyard, Gu Yusheng asked Qi Guang, “Junior Brother Qi, were you and Sister Yaoyao twins at birth?”
Qi Guang replied, “Brother Yusheng, I wasn’t born when Mother had Sister Yaoyao. How would I know?”
At dusk in early March, Xiao Guimu asked Gu Yuren, Gu Yusheng, and Qi Guang, “Three new Jinshi gentlemen, will you take the martial examination at the Ministry of War tomorrow?”
Gu Yuren, distracted by thoughts of Qi Qiongqiong in Yangcheng, whose delivery should have been due, wondered if mother and child were safe. If he could fly, he would rush home at once. Absent-mindedly, he asked, “Second brother, Junior brother, will you take it?”
Gu Yusheng smiled, “Of course! I want to be the martial Tan Hua Ye!”
Qi Guang teased, “Brother Yusheng, with a literary and a martial Tan Hua Ye, you’ll be a legend!”
Xiao Guimu scoffed, “Don’t get too full of yourself!”
Gu Yuren didn’t know Qi Qiongqiong had miscalculated her due date—it was actually early March.