Chapter Nineteen

After the young servant from the Prime Minister’s residence departed, Gu Yusheng headed to the kitchen to fetch a large basin of water for Qi Yaoyao to wash her face.

Qi Yaoyao first used the water to wash away the tear stains on her face, then sat before the bronze mirror to touch up her makeup before going into the bedroom to change her clothes.

Gu Yusheng was busy locking up. There were over a dozen rooms in the Osmanthus Garden, and he carefully closed and locked each one.

The young couple left the government office together and took a carriage to the Prime Minister’s residence for the banquet.

As the carriage pulled up to the gates of Prime Minister Lu’s mansion, Lu Qianqian greeted them with a radiant expression. Taking Qi Yaoyao’s hand as she stepped down, she said, "Sister, my father has some urgent matters to discuss with Brother Yusheng tonight, and I happen to have some words for you as well. This invitation was sudden and disrupted your daily schedule; I hope you will forgive me!"

Qi Yaoyao quickly replied, "We are sworn sisters, and Prime Minister Lu is Brother Yusheng’s mentor. You, the Prime Minister, and Concubine Zhou were so generous in helping us at our wedding; Brother Yusheng and I are both deeply grateful! We had long intended to visit and thank you. Being invited today is something we could only wish for!"

Lu Qianqian smiled and said, "Hearing you say that, Sister, I feel at ease."

Gu Yusheng cast a sidelong glance at Qi Yaoyao before saying to Lu Qianqian, "Yaoyao is right. We have truly wanted to pay a visit for a long time. Not to mention anything else, you and Yaoyao have sworn an oath of sisterhood, which makes us family. Relatives should visit one another often, shouldn't they?"

Lu Qianqian rolled her eyes at Gu Yusheng and pulled Qi Yaoyao inside, thinking to herself, "You heartless man, trying to distance yourself! We are already husband and wife; how can you call us mere relatives? You cannot brush this off so easily!"

Once inside, they arrived at the dining table, where Prime Minister Lu nodded with a smile to welcome them. The graceful and elegant Concubine Zhou gestured broadly, saying, "Please, the esteemed official of the Ministry of War, take your seats!"

Seeing such solemn and warm hospitality, Gu Yusheng was caught off guard and bowed with his hands clasped. Lu Qianqian tugged at his sleeve to stop him, saying, "Hurry and sit! If you keep being so polite, the food will get cold."

Prime Minister Lu, Concubine Zhou, Lu Qianqian, Gu Yusheng, and Qi Yaoyao sat around the table, eating and laughing. Looking at the atmosphere, it hardly felt like they were hosting guests; it was more like a wealthy family having dinner together.

After the meal and drinks, Concubine Zhou and Lu Qianqian took Qi Yaoyao away to Qianqian’s private chambers. As for what whispered secrets they shared, no one could know.

Gu Yusheng followed Prime Minister Lu into the study and sat down. A maid brought tea and snacks before withdrawing. Gu Yusheng said to the Prime Minister, "If you had matters to attend to, you could have simply sent someone to the Osmanthus Garden to notify me, and I would have served you with all my strength. There was no need for such an elaborate arrangement."

Prime Minister Lu opened a secret cabinet, took out a book, and examined it. Holding it in his left hand, he picked up a red cloth with his right to wipe away the dust, then began to flip through the pages one by one. After reaching about the eighth or tenth page, he stopped, his expression grave, and nodded. He closed the book, handed it to Gu Yusheng, and said, "I wish to entrust this book to your safekeeping."

Gu Yusheng took it and was struck with terror: "The Testament of Wu Wu!" Seeing those four characters, Gu Yusheng was deeply shaken. He had heard countless times that this was a legendary, peerless book, a compilation of supreme military strategy and divine martial arts secrets authored by the renowned General Wu after a lifetime of campaigning. It was said that with this book, any army could become invincible, and by mastering its martial arts, one could become the ultimate master of the martial world, commanding all under heaven. There had always been a saying: "He who possesses the Testament of Wu Wu shall possess the world." Because of this book, two nations had once engaged in brutal warfare, leaving the land soaked in blood; because of it, heroes from all over the realm had flocked to it, not hesitating to kill or face ruin to obtain it.

This was a banned book. With trembling hands, Gu Yusheng turned to the first page. It recorded dates and names. He turned to the second page; it was also dates and names. He flipped through three, four, five pages... they were all dates and names! This was clearly a roster, not a book of military strategy or martial secrets! He looked up at Prime Minister Lu, who nodded with a smile, signaling him to look closely at whose names were recorded there.

Gu Yusheng began to read from the beginning. Most of the names were unfamiliar to him. Suddenly, his eyes lit up; the names of his father, Gu Datong, and his mother, Lou Mingxuan, were recorded there. There was also a very familiar name: Xing Fannan, the leader of the Peach Blossom Stronghold. He was the head of the rebel forces in the Southern Province; a primary fugitive wanted by the imperial court, whom the General of the South was currently leading troops to suppress.

Gu Yusheng felt both disappointment and shock. Disappointment, because he had assumed the Prime Minister was gifting him the legendary *Testament of Wu Wu*. Shock, because he realized his parents were heroes who had been loyal to the nation, and he was the son of heroes. Everything became clear to him now: why his father never dared to reveal his identity, why he always kept a low profile, why he forbade his brother and him from participating in the military examinations, and why they never returned to the Central Plains. At that moment, Gu Yusheng truly understood everything.

Gu Yusheng sat in his chair, holding the roster, stunned. Prime Minister Lu watched him with a deep, solemn expression.

After a long silence, the Prime Minister asked tentatively, "Nephew, were you frightened?" Gu Yusheng nodded.

A moment later, Prime Minister Lu said with deep emotion, "After reading this roster, the first thing you must be asking is: why is this list also called the 'Testament of Wu Wu'? Is that it?"

Gu Yusheng looked up at the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Lu said, "This roster is indeed a relic left behind by the hero Wu Wu!"

Gu Yusheng widened his eyes, staring at the Prime Minister.

Prime Minister Lu picked up his teacup, took a large sip, and said, "Back then, General Wu Wu and I were both officials in the same court. He was the Marshal, and I was an official in the Ministry of War. He was framed by treacherous villains and imprisoned on false charges. His relatives once begged me for help, but I was a mid-level official then; I had no power to save him, nor did I want to. Only to show some camaraderie, I spent a large sum of money to bribe the prison warden and visited him in his cell once. When we parted, he secretly shoved this roster into my hands and whispered, 'Please keep this safe! This roster records all the loyal and brave men of our Southern Han state scattered throughout the land. Although the court is currently compromising, national unification is the progress of history; the court will eventually launch a Northern Expedition. When that time comes, these people will be needed.'"

Gu Yusheng nodded as he listened.

Prime Minister Lu continued, "The hero Wu Wu knew I was but a weak, bookish scholar, so he also instructed me: if I ever encountered a man of both wisdom and courage who served the country, I should pass this roster to him."

Gu Yusheng quickly tried to return the book to the Prime Minister, saying, "I am no hero, nor am I a man of wisdom and courage. Please..."

Prime Minister Lu waved his hand, stopping him, and said, "Listen to me finish! At that time, this roster had no cover. To keep it safe, I added the cover labeled 'Testament of Wu Wu' myself."

Gu Yusheng shook his head and said, "So that is why."

Prime Minister Lu stared at Gu Yusheng and asked, "Very disappointed, are you? That it is not the legendary, peerless book of myth?"

Gu Yusheng nodded.

Prime Minister Lu said, "Things that circulate are not necessarily true! I do not know how many relics the hero Wu Wu left behind, how many 'testaments' there are, nor do I know to whom he entrusted those other items. But this roster was handed to me by his own hand. It is not wrong to treat it as his testament, is it?"

Gu Yusheng could only nod.

Prime Minister Lu continued, "Do not stare at me like that! I know the second question you want to ask is why your parents' names are also in this roster, right?"

Gu Yusheng nodded.

Prime Minister Lu said, "I was an old friend of your father, Gu Datong, and your mother, Lou Mingxuan. Before the fall, your father was an Imperial Guard, and your mother was a leader in the women’s battalion, a personal bodyguard to Princess Rouya. Your father and I were even rivals in love! After the fall, they both became subordinates of Marshal Wu Wu, so naturally, their names are in this roster!"

Gu Yusheng suddenly asked, "Prime Minister, if I may be so bold: given the situation at the time, if you had held your current rank, could you have saved the hero Wu Wu?"

Prime Minister Lu replied, "It would have been harder than ascending to heaven."

Gu Yusheng said, "In that case, the old hero Wu Wu was at war with heaven itself?"

Prime Minister Lu said, "One could say that."

Prime Minister Lu sipped his tea while Gu Yusheng sat in silence, holding the *Testament of Wu Wu*. The parlor was perfectly quiet.

After a long while, Gu Yusheng looked up at the Prime Minister and asked, "Prime Minister, what is your purpose in gifting this roster to me?"

Prime Minister Lu set down his cup and said slowly, "From now on, you are the leader of this roster, inheriting the legacy of Marshal Wu Wu, struggling for the unification of the country and the revival of the nation."

Gu Yusheng knew these words sounded simple, but he felt the weight of an incredibly heavy burden. He quickly said, "My abilities are limited, and I am young and careless. I fear I cannot safeguard this book well. Please, Prime Minister, choose someone more worthy?"

The Prime Minister’s expression turned stern. "Ever since you placed in the top tier of the examinations, I began to watch you. You possess both literary and martial talent, making you very suitable for my requirements. Therefore, I used the 'choosing a son-in-law from the rankings' method to let my daughter interact with you and test your character. But you bastard, you stole my heart's treasure on the very first night, which pained me greatly! What disappointed me even more was your lack of self-control! I had originally intended to look for another candidate!"

The Prime Minister’s scolding left Gu Yusheng anxious, his heart pounding, his face turning bright red.

Prime Minister Lu laughed. "But in the end, I still chose you!"

Gu Yusheng asked, "Why?"

Prime Minister Lu chuckled, "Because of a letter from your mother, Lou Mingxuan!"

Gu Yusheng exclaimed, "A letter from my mother?"

Prime Minister Lu said, "After you left the Prime Minister’s residence, I received a message from your mother via carrier pigeon. She said that a marriage had been arranged for you back home without your knowledge, and that your fiancée was on her way to the capital to marry you. She asked me to help act as your guardian for the wedding. Only then did I realize that Gu Yuren and you were the sons of Gu Datong, and I was overjoyed! Gu Datong and Lou Mingxuan are people of great loyalty and righteousness; their son certainly could not be any worse! That is why I decided you were the final candidate! Boy, you took advantage of my daughter, yet I presided over the wedding for you and another girl, and I did so uninvited. Is that reasonable?"

Gu Yusheng shook his head.

Prime Minister Lu smiled, "As long as you understand! Now, take this roster properly."

After a moment, Gu Yusheng shook the book in his hand: "Prime Minister, are you not afraid that I might take this roster to curry favor or seek a reward?"

Prime Minister Lu froze for a moment, then said seriously, "I am afraid! But when I think of the millions of our brothers and sisters in the North suffering and enduring humiliation, my heart aches! This pain is long-standing and unbearable. Decapitation is an instantaneous pain. Comparing the two, I choose the risk of death! Besides, your parents' names are in this roster; if you were to inform on it, you would also be implicated and suffer the consequences!"

Gu Yusheng argued, "If I informed and performed a meritorious service, the current Emperor would surely pardon me!"

Prime Minister Lu replied, "I would counter-accuse you, claiming you are the principal offender! I am the Deputy Prime Minister, and you are merely a sixth-rank official. I believe the Emperor would listen to my words more than yours—these risks are things I have already considered!"

Gu Yusheng took the *Testament of Wu Wu* and hid it in his robe, saying, "So the Prime Minister had already calculated everything regarding me; you truly are a crafty old fox!"

Prime Minister Lu laughed, "You, boy, will also benefit endlessly. With me, your father-in-law, protecting you, your official career will be smooth sailing!"

Near the second watch, Gu Yusheng and Qi Yaoyao took their leave of Prime Minister Lu, Concubine Zhou, and Lu Qianqian, and rode the Prime Minister’s large carriage home. Gu Yusheng kept the roster—the *Testament of Wu Wu*—hidden against his chest. The streets at night were sparsely populated, and the carriage moved quickly. Under the moonlight, the slender willow trees along the sides of the road swayed in the wind, dancing a soft and graceful dance.

Gu Yusheng and Qi Yaoyao sat in the carriage, neither speaking a word.

Gu Yusheng reached out to touch his chest: the book was still there! He pressed down firmly; the book felt hard, and he felt a chill in his heart. He recalled everything from the night, feeling as if he were in a dream. He suddenly remembered the names in the roster; besides his parents, there were many other loyal patriots he did not know. In his mind, a scene of a Northern expedition appeared—the warriors from the roster, clad in battle armor, riding warhorses, gripping their weapons, charging toward the Northerners with murderous intent...

Throughout the journey, Gu Yusheng’s blood boiled with fervor!

Upon arriving at the Osmanthus Garden, Qi Yaoyao dismissed the driver and returned to their room first.

Gu Yusheng stayed in his study for a long time. He had to ensure the *Testament of Wu Wu* was hidden securely.

When Gu Yusheng emerged from the study, the roosters were already crowing. He looked up at the Big Dipper in the sky; it was time for the morning court session.

He washed up and crept back into the bedroom, where he saw Qi Yaoyao sleeping soundly, wrapped in her quilt. He leaned down and gently kissed her face. She suddenly opened her eyes, scrambled up, and said, "Is it time for the morning session? Why didn't you wake me?" As she spoke, she reached for her clothes to get out of bed and prepare water for him. Gu Yusheng pressed her back down, saying, "I have already washed. Remember to latch the door after I leave and go back to sleep." Qi Yaoyao sat up, dressing as she said, "I cannot let you call me a lazy wife." Gu Yusheng noticed the clothes his wife was wearing were a bit worn, and said to her, "Yaoyao, we have money now. Go and have two new outfits made!" Qi Yaoyao replied, "Didn't sister Yurong help me make a new dress when we were married?" Gu Yusheng said, "That was a wedding gown! You cannot wear a wedding gown every day when you go out!" Qi Yaoyao suddenly hugged his waist, acting spoiled: "I want to wear that wedding gown every day when I go out, and be your bride every day..." Gu Yusheng held her tightly, kissing her lips, and said, "Alright! I will be your groom every day as well."

Qi Yaoyao saw Gu Yusheng off to the government office, watching his figure on horseback disappear into the night before closing the gate and returning to the room.

She latched the door, got into bed, and lay under the covers. But she could not fall asleep. At first, she thought of the way Xiao Guimu looked at Gu Yusheng; then, she thought of the way Lu Qianqian looked at him.

Qi Yaoyao whispered to herself, "It is useless even if you like him! I, Qi Yaoyao, am his legally wedded wife."

After tossing and turning with wild thoughts, she slowly fell asleep. She did not wake up until the sun was high in the sky. She brought a wooden basin of clean water to wash, then sat before her vanity to groom herself. Looking closely at her face in the bronze mirror, she suddenly noticed her eyes were a bit puffy and there were dark circles—the result of staying up late and lack of sleep. She felt a bit disappointed in herself; why did she have dark circles after only a few late nights? She put up her hair, stood up, and went to the kitchen to light a fire. She first boiled a bowl of noodles for herself, placing it on the table to cool, then boiled half a basin of hot water. She carried it back to a small wooden stool by the vanity. Opening the wardrobe, she took out a new cloth, dipped it in the hot water, and wrung it out. She sat before the mirror, closed her eyes, and applied the hot towel to them. After about a quarter of an hour, she repeated the hot compress.

She looked at her face in the mirror again; her eyes seemed less puffy, and the dark circles had faded significantly. She winked at herself in the mirror and smiled. Suddenly, she stopped, staring blankly at her own reflection. She was too beautiful in the mirror! Thin eyebrows, red lips, face like a peach blossom. Qi Yaoyao envied herself, saying, "Gu Yusheng, you are truly a lucky man!"

Qi Yaoyao sat at the dining table, eating her noodles while pondering: how should she spend her day alone? She suddenly remembered Gu Yusheng asking her to make new clothes that morning, and she muttered to herself, "Since I have time today, why don't I go do that now?" She quickly finished her noodles, washed the dishes, returned to the bedroom to dress up, hid some silver in her sleeve, locked the door, and called for a carriage to take her to the fabric shop.

She stepped out of the carriage near the fabric street, paid the driver with small change, and brushed off her clothes. Just as she was about to enter the Neon Garment Pavilion, she heard someone crying—it was the sound of a girl, a very tragic sound.

Qi Yaoyao walked closer and saw two girls, the older one about twelve or thirteen, the younger one not yet ten. They were kneeling on the ground with straw in their hair and wooden signs hanging from their necks that read: "Selling ourselves to bury our master." Behind them lay a male corpse wrapped in an old reed mat.

The tragic crying came from the older girl, who continued to wail, "Master, Master, why did you leave us behind?..."

A crowd had gathered, whispering. Qi Yaoyao asked an elderly man nearby, "What is happening?" The old man looked her over and said, "Madam, the foreigner who performed acrobatics at the entrance of the village for years died of illness, and they have no money for the burial. These two girls are his apprentices, selling themselves to bury their master." Qi Yaoyao let out an "oh" of understanding.

The old man continued, "Madam, that acrobat was a good man. Now that he is dead, these two little girls have no one to rely on; it is truly pitiful! Please, help them!" He looked down at the two girls and said, "Stop crying, you two. Come over and beg this lady to help you!"

The two girls heard this and immediately kneeled forward, bowing together at Qi Yaoyao’s feet.

The older girl cried, "Madam, my name is Baiyun, and hers is Caiyun. We were both bought as apprentices. We have been performing outside with our master for years; we can do any work and endure any hardship. Please, help us bury our master! We are willing to serve you like cattle or horses for the rest of our lives!" As she spoke, they both bowed again.

Qi Yaoyao pondered for a moment, then pulled Baiyun and Caiyun up, one in each hand, saying, "Stop bowing, I will help you!"

The Southern Han court currently had two Prime Ministers. One was the Chief Minister, Tan Miu, and the other was Prime Minister Lu. Prime Minister Lu was an elder of the former dynasty and the Deputy Prime Minister. Chief Minister Tan held sway both inside and outside the court, monopolizing the Ministry of Personnel, the Ministry of Revenue, the Ministry of Rites, and the Ministry of Justice. He was also closely linked to the current Empress Dowager and was the de facto "Emperor."

Coincidentally, on the same night that Prime Minister Lu handed the roster—the *Testament of Wu Wu*—to Gu Yusheng, Chief Minister Tan was in his secret chamber handing a roster also titled *Testament of Wu Wu* to his close relative, Wang Wuliang, the Prefect of Nanye Prefecture. The difference was that Prime Minister Lu wanted Gu Yusheng to protect and care for the people in the roster, while Chief Minister Tan demanded that Wang Wuliang hunt down and eliminate everyone on the list one by one, ensuring not a single one remained alive.

In truth, Prefect Wang had fled to the capital. It was rumored that his involvement was the reason several counties near the Peach Blossom Stronghold had been breached by "bandits." The words "The killer is Xing Fannan of the Peach Blossom Stronghold" were written by his own subordinates. The report he submitted to the court requesting troops to suppress the rebellion in Nanye Prefecture was also written in Chief Minister Tan’s residence. He had been cowering in the Prime Minister’s residence, not daring to return to Nanye.

Chief Minister Tan sat in a grand chair, his expression cunning. Holding the *Testament of Wu Wu*, he said to Wang Wuliang, "Brother Wuliang, you cannot stay here any longer! The General of the South has already departed with his troops days ago. You must return to Nanye Prefecture immediately and arrive at your post before the court’s five thousand elite troops reach Nanye. Do you hear me?"

Wang Wuliang stood before the Chief Minister, humble and devious. He hypocritically replied, "I hear you clearly—cousin-in-law!"

Chief Minister Tan continued, "You must use this opportunity of the court’s military campaign to wipe out everyone in the *Testament of Wu Wu* who belongs to your Nanye Prefecture! Can you do this?"

Wang Wuliang knelt down and said, "I can do it—cousin-in-law!"

Chief Minister Tan looked up at his relative, frowned, handed the *Testament of Wu Wu* to Wang Wuliang, and said, "Brother Wuliang, if the General of the South succeeds in suppressing the rebellion, you may be transferred back to the Ministry of War as a Vice Minister!"

"Thank you, cousin-in-law!"

Dear reader, are the success of the General of the South and the promotion of Prefect Wang to Vice Minister of the Ministry of War the same thing?