Chapter Fifteen
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Li Muwen clutched the letter written by Lou Mingxuan titled “A Letter to the Honorable Prefect” and, accompanied by the servant A-Gui, rode swiftly toward Binhai Prefecture. Fortunately, the ancient town was only half a day’s journey from Binhai, and by afternoon, the two had arrived before the prefecture’s government office. Li Muwen inquired within and learned that the office was still in session, so he presented the letter for delivery.
The Prefect, upon reading the document and recognizing Li Muwen as the young master of Li Lietai, made an exception to summon him. He questioned Li Muwen about the specific details of the recent Japanese pirate raids involving plunder, arson, and murder.
Li Muwen emerged from the government office with a radiant smile. A-Gui, waiting at the gate and knowing the task was accomplished, was equally pleased.
Looking up at the sky as the sun set, A-Gui spoke to Li Muwen: “Young master, it is already dusk. I’ve heard that traveling at night has become unsafe lately. Perhaps we should find an inn to rest tonight and resume our journey home tomorrow morning?”
Li Muwen hesitated briefly before replying, “Very well.”
The master and servant led their horses to the entrance of an inn called “Jiang Family Inn.” A-Gui stepped inside to inspect, then returned to say, “Young master, the inn is small but very clean. Shall we stay here?”
Li Muwen glanced up at the sign bearing the words “Jiang Family Inn” and nodded, “Alright.” They led the horses inside.
Upon entering, two attendants promptly came forward, took the reins, led the horses to the courtyard at the back, secured them, and prepared feed.
Li Muwen approached the counter and saw only a young girl of about sixteen or seventeen wiping down the counter.
A-Gui, quick both in action and speech, stepped forward and asked, “Miss, is the innkeeper here? We’d like to stay overnight…”
The girl immediately stopped her work. As she wiped her hands dry with a towel, she replied, “Dear guests, I am the owner and innkeeper here. How many rooms do you need?”
When she looked up, her words suddenly faltered. Her eyes fixed upon Li Muwen standing behind A-Gui, her pupils seemingly frozen.
At that moment, Li Muwen also looked up at her. Their eyes met, and it was as if the entire world stilled. Their gaze was like two solitary stars in the vast cosmos suddenly finding each other’s orbit, instantly drawing an indescribable force, beginning to attract one another. Everything around blurred, leaving only their figures sharply defined.
A flicker of surprise crossed the girl’s eyes. The young master in white seemed familiar, as if she had seen him in a dream—where she was even… Her cheeks flushed a rosy red, like a budding rose, both shy and beautiful.
Li Muwen’s heart pounded like a drum, a sweetness unlike any before surged within him, like sipping chilled watermelon water on a summer day—refreshing and exhilarating.
He began to study the girl carefully: she had a pair of delicate, intelligent eyes, clear yet tinged with a hint of melancholy; her skin was finely fair, and her smile was classic and mature beyond her years. Though only sixteen or seventeen, she wore the hairstyle of a grown woman. Li Muwen recalled that in his dream, he had been married to her.
Finally, the girl broke the silence, her voice trembling: “Dear guests, how many rooms do you require? The best room or a standard one?”
Li Muwen, blushing, replied, “We’d like a double room…”
The girl called out loudly, “Waiter! Prepare a double best room for these two guests!” Her voice still quivered.
The waiter responded promptly, “Right away, madam!”
At that moment, two young ladies entered the hall and called to the innkeeper, “Madam, the two of us would also like a double best room…”
Li Muwen, about to leave, recognized the voice and felt a surge of familiarity. Looking toward the sound, he was stunned—wasn’t that the Second Miss Qi? He rushed to Qi Yaoyao and excitedly said, “You—you—you… aren’t you…?” “Master Yin’s junior uncle… no! It’s Senior Sister Yaoyao! We met at the Qi family salt shop that day!”
Qi Yaoyao looked at Li Muwen with recognition and asked, “You are…?”
Li Muwen hurriedly said, “I am Lou Mingxuan’s son, Li Muwen!”
Qi Yaoyao beamed with joy, “Ah, Junior Brother Muwen, why are you here?”
Li Muwen replied, “Senior Sister Yaoyao, this is my hometown; I am here mourning.”
Qi Yaoyao happily said, “I see! Is Uncle Lou also here?”
Li Muwen nodded, “My mother? She is here too!”
Nearby, Gu Yuru was weeping uncontrollably. Qi Yaoyao took her hand and asked Li Muwen, “Junior Brother Muwen, do you know who this sister is?”
Li Muwen looked at Gu Yuru, sensing she resembled his mother, and asked, “Who is she?”
Qi Yaoyao said, “She is your biological elder sister, Gu Yuru!”
Li Muwen grabbed Gu Yuru’s hands, saying, “So you are my sister Yuru? Sister Yuru, mother has missed you terribly!” His tears flowed freely. A-Gui, the innkeeper Jiang Hong, and the waiter overheard their conversation and realized the siblings had reunited far from home. Jiang Hong, moved by the white-clad young master’s tears, covered her face to weep; Gu Yuru’s sobbing was even more heartfelt. After a long while, Gu Yuru wiped her tears and said to Li Muwen, “Brother, I miss mother very much too…” and cried again.
At that moment, the innkeeper approached and asked, “Oh dear, why are you guests so sorrowful?”
Li Muwen stopped crying and said, “Madam, we are shedding tears of joy upon being reunited halfway through the crowd.”
Gu Yuru looked up at the innkeeper, seemingly stunned—she felt like family. Jiang Hong glanced at Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru and also sensed familiarity and warmth.
Li Muwen said to Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru, “Senior Sister Yao, Sister Yuru, come home with me tomorrow to visit mother! Our mother’s life has been too hard.”
Qi Yaoyao and Qi Yaoyao, with tears streaming, agreed.
That night, Li Muwen, Qi Yaoyao, and Gu Yuru stayed at the Jiang Family Inn.
Jiang Hong, recognizing Li Muwen as an “old friend,” treated Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru warmly, providing a feast of fine wine and dishes free of charge, congratulating the siblings on their reunion at the inn.
The three drank and spoke of past, present, and future.
That evening, Li Muwen drank wine.
He mistakenly entered the wrong room, also with a double bed but without A-Gui. The room was filled with a fresh floral fragrance he had smelled before. Lying softly on the bed, he dreamed a strange dream: he was chased by a pack of fierce wolves. At the moment of life and death, Jiang Hong appeared like a spirit and saved him…
The next afternoon, Li Muwen brought Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru back to the Li estate in the ancient coastal town.
Upon meeting, Lou Mingxuan held Gu Yuru and wept bitterly.
Qi Yaoyao stepped forward to comfort him, “Uncle Lou, the past is like smoke; let it be! I have good news to share to cheer you up.”
Lou Mingxuan asked, “Is it that Gu Yuren, Gu Yusheng, and your brother Qi Guang all passed the imperial examinations?”
Qi Yaoyao was astonished, “Uncle Lou, how do you know?”
Lou Mingxuan smiled, “The Li family is an official household!”
Qi Yaoyao asked further, “Do you know Gu Yusheng’s rank?”
Lou Mingxuan glared at her, “Of course! He was the third-highest scorer!”
Gu Yuru said, “Mother, now Master Qi Wei has betrothed Senior Sister Yao to my second brother; Senior Sister Yao is also your daughter-in-law before marriage!”
Qi Yaoyao blushed, “Mother-in-law…”
Lou Mingxuan exclaimed loudly, “Ah! Yao’er, today your mother is so happy! Never before in my life have I been so joyous!” He wiped away his tears.
After drying his eyes, Lou Mingxuan asked Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru, “Yao’er, Yuqia’er, why have you come here? Where do you intend to go?”
Li Muwen also pressed, “Yes, sister, Senior Sister Yao, where are you both headed?”
Qi Yaoyao blushed, “Mother, I am going to the capital to find him…”
Gu Yuru explained, “Mother, my second brother and Senior Sister Yao’s marriage was arranged by Father and Master Qi after my brother went to the capital; my brother does not yet know!”
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Qi Yaoyao added, “Mother, I worry he won’t recognize the engagement!”
Lou Mingxuan looked at Qi Yaoyao fondly—he liked this daughter-in-law-to-be—and said with a smile, “Yao’er, rest assured! Marriages are matters of parental arrangement and matchmakers’ words. In any case, you are the intended bride.”
Gu Yuru comforted her, “Senior Sister Yao, I heard from Father that my second brother has secretly loved you for many years!”
Qi Yaoyao shook her head, “Sister Yuru, times have changed; he is now a top scorer! Besides, the capital is full of beauties…”
Lou Mingxuan nodded approvingly, “Haha, Yao Yao, you are clever! But rest assured, mother will help you!”
Gu Yuru asked, “Mother, how will you help?”
Lou Mingxuan smiled, “You need not worry! Mother has her ways!”
Qi Yaoyao happily said, “Thank you, mother! But…” Before she could finish, a servant rushed in nervously, reporting, “Madam, scouts report that the Japanese pirates have landed again after abandoning their ships!”
Lou Mingxuan sprang up, cursing, “Those damned beasts!”
She led Li Muwen and the others to the village entrance and addressed the villagers: “Dear neighbors, the Japanese pirates have come again to plunder and burn. Please follow the plan I laid out last night!”
The villagers shouted in unison, “We obey Madam’s orders!”
Lou Mingxuan turned to Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru, “Yao’er, Yuru’er, I am going to fight the pirates. You two stay home and protect yourselves!”
Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru replied together, “We want to fight the pirates too!”
Lou Mingxuan beamed, “Very well! Let’s go!”
Madam Lou was once a princess’s personal guard, a female battalion leader, and versed in military strategy. She organized the village militia into formations; grouped hunters as archers, hiding on the hillsides flanking the road to ambush and shoot the enemy. When the pirates entered the village, she and her children charged bravely into battle. Under her leadership and command, the villagers united and fought fiercely. Thanks to preparation and unified command, they won a decisive victory against the pirates!
A few days later, Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru left the Li estate for the capital. Lou Mingxuan and Li Muwen accompanied them a good distance on their journey.
On the road, Lou Mingxuan sighed again, “Yao’er, Yuru’er, I truly cannot believe I have seen you here…”
Gu Yuru said, “Mother, it feels like a dream! I thought I would never see you again in this life…”
Qi Yaoyao said, “It is the mercy of Heaven!”
Lou Mingxuan said, “Yao’er is right! It is Heaven’s mercy on mother and daughters. We must thank Heaven!”
Sending someone off a thousand miles always means parting. The journey to the capital was long, and Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru’s travel was inevitably tiring, so there is no need to elaborate.
In March, the capital blossomed with spring flowers and radiant hillsides.
That day, the Emperor was reviewing memorials in the Hall of Mental Cultivation. Exhausted from matters of state, he fell asleep at his desk…
He dreamed he transformed into a black dragon, soaring through a sky thick with dark clouds. Flying, flying! A whirlwind swept him higher and higher; his limbs became limp and powerless, the whirlwind ceased, and he began to fall toward the earth. He cried out for help, but none came; he crashed heavily to the ground. Seeing the Emperor fall from the sky, palace attendants panicked and fled. An old eunuch shouted, “Your Majesty, flee! The capital has been breached by foreign invaders…”
Hearing this, the Emperor rose, ignoring his injuries, mounted an old horse, and fled toward the palace gates. As he ran, he sought a hiding place but was soon caught by enemy soldiers. He shouted angrily, “Beasts! Let me go! I am the Emperor! Release me at once!”
The enemy leader laughed, “Ha ha, we’ve finally captured you, dog emperor! We will rise in rank and wealth now! Ha ha…”
Bound like a sheep, led through icy fields, staggering along…
Suddenly, a brave young man flew down from the hillside, stood before the Emperor, and shouted, “Stop! Leave our Emperor unharmed!” Then he lifted the Emperor and flew away.
Along the way, he comforted, “Your Majesty, do not fear! I, the Southern General, have come to rescue you!”
…
“Your Majesty, wake up! It is dawn…” came the voice of a young eunuch.
The Emperor opened his eyes and murmured, “It was but a nightmare…”
The eunuch brought a warm towel. The Emperor wiped his face and asked, “Minister, what day is it today?”
The eunuch knelt, “Your Majesty, today is the auspicious day for the military examination!”
The Emperor stood and shouted, “Proclaim my decree: whoever becomes the top scorer in the military exam shall be granted the title Southern General!”
At the military examination grounds, fierce battles raged round after round.
Someone shouted, “The imperial decree has arrived!” All knelt to hear.
Another shouted, “By the Emperor’s decree, whoever wins the title of military champion shall be appointed Southern General!”
“Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long, long live!” echoed throughout the examination grounds.
In the waiting room, Qi Guang said to Gu Yuren, “Brother-in-law, the three of us are all in the top four!”
Gu Yusheng agreed, “Yes, the path here was hard-fought! Brother, the next round is just between us two!”
Gu Yuren said to Gu Yusheng, “Second brother, though we are siblings, this is an exam. We both must give our best!”
Gu Yusheng replied, “Of course! Brother, I understand. Don’t worry!”
Gu Yuren nodded, “Good!” Then he turned to Qi Guang, “Brother Guang, who is your next opponent?”
Qi Guang answered, “Brother-in-law, I don’t know!”
Gu Yuren said, “Brother Guang, I have a feeling your opponent is no ordinary candidate; perhaps a peerless master! Be careful!”
Qi Guang asked, “What should I do?”
Gu Yuren said, “Stay calm! Just perform normally!”
Qi Guang comforted himself, “I’ll follow brother’s advice! At least I have already passed the military preliminary.”
The battles at the examination grounds continued…
“Next, from Yangcheng, Gu Yuren faces Gu Yusheng…” The war drums rolled.
With a gong’s clang, the match ended.
“This round, Gu Yuren wins!”
“Next, Qi Guang versus Li Muwen!” Drums sounded again.
Gu Yuren said to Gu Yusheng, “Second brother, what now? Xiao Guimu disguised as Li Muwen is competing in the military exam again!”
Gu Yusheng replied, “Brother, forget her! We will do our best regardless!”
With a gong’s clang, the match ended.
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“This round, Li Muwen wins!”
“Scholars, the final contest for the military champion is about to begin! One is Li Muwen, the military champion from Yangcheng, the other is Gu Yuren, the new civil examination graduate—both young heroes! Who will prevail? Stay tuned!”
The war drums thundered. Gu Yuren faced Xiao Guimu and praised, “Military champion, your martial skills are profound and unfathomable!”
Xiao Guimu bowed, “All thanks to your careful guidance, honorable scholar!”
Gu Yuren also bowed, “Not at all! Military champion, give it your all!”
Xiao Guimu said, “Then little sister… little brother Li Muwen will not hold back!”
This was truly a clash of dragons and tigers! Expert versus expert; the entire examination hall resounded with applause and cheers.
The gong sounded, yet the cheers drowned it out.
The chief examiner called loudly, “Silence! Please be silent! Now, the military champion is—Li Muwen!”
Applause and cheers rang out for a long time!
On another morning court session in the Golden Dragon Hall, the Emperor proclaimed:
“Military champion Li Muwen, hear my decree: I hereby confer upon you the title Southern General!”
Xiao Guimu, disguised as a man, knelt and kowtowed, “Thank you for your gracious favor!”
“For the civil examination’s second place, Gu Yuren, hear my decree: I appoint you as Military Judge of Yangzhou.”
Gu Yuren knelt and kowtowed, “Thank you for your gracious favor!”
“For the civil examination’s dual third place, Gu Yusheng, hear my decree: I appoint you as a compiler at the Hanlin Academy.”
Gu Yusheng knelt and kowtowed, “Thank you for your gracious favor!”
“For the civil examination’s military laureate Qi Guang, hear my decree: I appoint you as Registrar of Yangzhou Prefecture.”
Qi Guang knelt and shouted, “Long live the Emperor! Long live! Long, long live!”
After court, Gu Yuren walked among the officials along the palace’s orderly and solemn path. He slowed his pace, hoping to wait for Gu Yusheng, Qi Guang, and Southern General Li Muwen to return home together. But the surging crowd made it impossible, and soon he was outside the palace gates. He slipped to a side gate, standing on a stone slab, straining to see, but no sign of them appeared. He thought, “Maybe they left earlier and went home already!” Muttering, “They didn’t wait for me, making me wait in vain!” He prepared to lead his horse away when he heard someone call out: “Military Judge, please wait!”
He turned to see the chief examiner, Chancellor Lv, who was about to kneel and thank his mentor but was stopped by Lv’s grasp. “Military Judge, this is improper! You are a disciple of the Son of Heaven; your mentor is the Emperor himself!”
Gu Yuren replied, “By tradition, the chief examiner is the mentor!”
Lv said, “Stop that! I’m only following the Emperor’s orders. Besides, the court forbids nepotism. Let’s not play that card anymore!”
Gu Yuren respectfully bowed, “Student will obey, honored mentor!”
Lv scolded playfully, “What’s your memory like? Just said that and forgot? Never mind, never mind, let’s walk together. I have questions for you.”
Gu Yuren said, “Please ask, honored mentor.”
Lv asked, “I saw your examination record and know you are from Yangzhou in the southern province. Is your ancestral home also Yangzhou?”
Since childhood, Gu Yuren’s father had instructed him and his siblings never to reveal their ancestral origins in Central Plains. Why, he never explained, and they never asked. Following his father’s advice was surely wise. So he bowed to Lv, “Minister, my ancestral home has always been Yangzhou, generations of sea salt merchants.”
Lv looked somewhat disappointed, “I see… I have one more question.”
Gu Yuren quickly said, “Please ask.”
Lv hesitated, then leaned closer, blushing slightly: “Has your younger brother, Gu Yusheng, been betrothed?”
Gu Yuren knew his brother secretly loved Junior Sister Yao, and the sect’s founder had decreed that Lou family sword techniques not be passed outside their circle, so intermarriage among disciples was common. Moreover, Gu Yusheng had Xiao Guimu, who loved him deeply. All three were currently single, and whichever of the young women became sister-in-law, he and his father would be happy. They were all troubled by marriage plans, and adding the minister’s daughter would complicate things further. So Gu Yuren lied to Lv, “Thank you for your concern! Father has already arranged a marriage for him in Yangcheng.”
Lv casually asked, “Is it a wealthy family?”
Gu Yuren replied, “A humble family!”
Lv awkwardly said, “Humble families are even better!”
At the time, Gu Yuren was unaware that his family had already arranged the marriage between Gu Yusheng and Junior Sister Yao. His lie to Lv inadvertently revealed the truth.
Lv returned to his mansion in low spirits. His wife, Madam Zhou, received him and asked, “Why do you look so dejected today?”
Lv took a sip of tea and sighed, “I’ve been seeking a suitable son-in-law. Hope was near, but now it’s all in vain…”
Madam Zhou asked, “Do you mean that double third-place scholar Gu Yusheng refuses?”
Lv shook his head, “He is already betrothed!”
Seeing her husband’s dejection, Madam Zhou sighed deeply.
Lv looked at his beloved concubine and said, “As the saying goes, ‘What is destined will come; what is not, do not force.’ Without the double third-place as son-in-law, perhaps there will be a double second-place or double first-place in the future. Don’t be sad, my dear!”
Madam Zhou, filled with emotion, said, “If not for the northern invader’s attack, our heroes wouldn’t have had to flee to the sea, suffering from illness and lack of medicine, dying one after another…” She wiped away tears.
Madam Zhou was once a refined young lady, well-versed in poetry and literature. After her family’s decline and dispersal, she lived only with her elderly father. Before he died, he had stayed in the Lv mansion’s guest quarters; Miss Lv Qianqian was his student. Knowing that Lord Lv was a good official and the family lacked male heirs—having only the only daughter Qianqian, whose mother was chronically ill and unable to bear more children—he entrusted his daughter to Lord Lv as concubine. When Lord Lv became Chancellor, Madam Zhou bore him a son named Lv Jianjian. Sadly, when the northern invaders captured the capital, the Lv family fled with the exiled court over the sea. Madam Zhou and Lv Jianjian both died of illness at sea, leaving Miss Lv Qianqian as the sole daughter.
Lv came over and comforted Zhou, “It’s all my fault! Nothing is ever perfect! Having you and Qianqian with me is enough joy.”
Madam Zhou wiped her tears and said, “Chancellor, I’m only in my thirties and in good health. I’ve consulted doctors who say I can still bear children. I want to have another child for you!” Then she ran to the kitchen and quickly brought a bowl of medicinal soup.
Lv asked in surprise, “What is this?”
Zhou coquettishly said, “Chancellor, this is a vitality tonic. Drink it quickly; tonight we’ll try harder!”
Lv hastily waved his hand, “Dear, don’t fool me! My old bones can barely hold together…” He trailed off, stepping back.
Zhou blocked the door, eyes wide.
Lv smiled helplessly, “No use…” He took the tonic slowly.
Zhou took the empty bowl away, teasing, “You old rascal!”