Chapter Twenty-Three

Gu Yusheng followed the sound and looked ahead, seeing two young women standing in the nearby bushes—one dressed as a maiden, the other as a young widow.

Gu Yusheng glanced at the young widow. She was breathtakingly voluptuous and sharp-witted, dressed in a red shirt and red trousers that accentuated her long, graceful figure. She was dazzling, yet the white cloth tied around her hair revealed at a glance that she was a widow.

Gu Yusheng turned his attention to the maiden. She had a slender, graceful frame and was clad in a purple, narrow-sleeved tunic, a purple rhinoceros-leather belt, and purple shoes. Her appearance was striking, especially those bright, intelligent eyes—a sight that would make a man’s heart tremble and a woman burn with envy. Gu Yusheng muttered to himself, "One all in red, one all in purple. How strange!"

"Hey, who are you? Why are you trying to snatch our rabbit?" the woman in purple asked.

Gu Yusheng took a step closer and said, "Miss, I am a scholar from the capital out for an excursion. Seeing that it is nearly noon and having forgotten my rations, I hoped to hunt some game in the woods to serve as lunch. A wild rabbit happened to run past me, and with a flick of my hand, a stone hit it! I was just about to pick it up to skin and roast it when you stopped me. How can you claim it is yours? Surely this rabbit isn't something you keep as a pet?"

The young woman in purple glanced at the rabbit in the grass and replied, "It is a wild rabbit, not a pet! But it was killed by my arrow."

Gu Yusheng smiled and asked, "Was it killed by your arrow? Do you have any proof?"

The young woman in purple nodded and said, "Yes! As for proof... walk over and take a look. It is still carrying my arrow."

Gu Yusheng walked over and saw that the rabbit was indeed pierced by an arrow. He hurriedly picked it up and handed it to the young woman in purple, saying, "My apologies! This rabbit is indeed yours." With that, he turned to leave.

The young woman called out, "Young Master, where are you going?"

Gu Yusheng turned back, smiled, and replied, "Miss, you have your lunch, but mine is still nowhere to be found. I am off to continue my search!"

"You don't need to look any further!" The young woman in purple turned to the widow. "Sister Hongmei, this rabbit is big and fat; the two of us won't be able to finish it. Why don't we..." She suddenly blushed.

Gu Yusheng noted to himself, "So, the widow's name is Hongmei."

Hongmei gave the young woman a sly look, smiled, and walked over to Gu Yusheng. "Young Master, our beautiful young sister A-Zi would like to invite you to share this large, plump rabbit. Would you be willing?"

Gu Yusheng noted, "So the girl in purple is named A-Zi!" He quickly replied, "I would be delighted!"

The most mysterious thing in the world is fate. It always arrives quietly in its own unique way, when one least expects it. Fate is like an invisible thread, binding two destined people together; no matter how far apart they are, they will eventually meet at a specific moment.

Fate is not a coincidence. It is like the brightest star in the night sky, flickering when you are unaware, illuminating the path ahead.

Gu Yusheng, Zi Meigui (Purple Rose), and Hong Meigui (Red Rose) were destined to meet...

Look, the three chance acquaintances began their "picnic." Gu Yusheng happily accepted A-Zi's division of labor: he went into the woods to gather dry branches for a fire, while A-Zi and Hongmei were responsible for skinning and roasting the rabbit. While eating, Gu Yusheng asked where they were from and where they were headed. A-Zi replied concisely that they were from the south, traveling to the capital. She added that Hongmei was her cousin and that they were going to visit her late husband’s family in the capital—A-Zi was lying.

Gu Yusheng wanted to ask more, but seeing Hongmei grieving and in tears, he let it be.

After lunch, the three rode their horses into the city together.

At the edge of the street, they parted ways. A-Zi asked, "Young Master, may we know where you live?"

Gu Yusheng replied, "Of course. I live in the Osmanthus Garden."

And so, the three separated.

On his way home, Gu Yusheng pondered, "Why didn't they ever ask for my name?"

In the capital, the July weather was stifling.

By evening, in the residence of Chancellor Tan, the high eaves, the blue bricks, and the dark tiles all seemed to exude a foul miasma. The osmanthus trees in the courtyard were stifled by the rot, their leaves drooping as if withered and dispirited.

In the living room, guests were gathered. Chancellor Tan sat in his official chair, legs crossed. An official named Zhang Xin bowed and scraped, saying, "Ch-Chancellor, as per your instructions, this student has finally... managed to get rid of that tiger!" Zhang Xin stammered.

Chancellor Tan showed a satisfied smile. "Brother Zhang Xin, you have done well! That old fool Lu has finally retired to his hometown!" The "old fool Lu" he referred to was Chancellor Lu, the father of Lu Qianqian.

A middle-aged man resembling a censor stepped forward and said, "Chancellor, that old fool Lu knows when to quit! Had he not left, I was determined to frame him for treason—I had already gathered all the fake evidence and false witnesses!"

Chancellor Tan suddenly realized something and asked, "Brother Chen Gong, who were these false witnesses?"

Censor Chen Gong replied, "They were a group of actors."

Chancellor Tan said, "Go kill them at once! Leave no traces. Do you understand? Never underestimate that old fool Lu."

Censor Chen Gong hurriedly said, "I will attend to it immediately!" He then exited the hall.

Wang, the Prefect of Nanye in Nannan Province, was also present. He approached the Chancellor joyfully and said, "Brother-in-law, that Wu Liang was able to be promoted from Prefect of Nanye to Vice Minister of the Ministry of War is entirely due to your favor. I have already handed the twenty thousand taels in bank notes to my cousin—thank you, brother-in-law."

Chancellor Tan smiled insincerely. "Brother Wang Wuliang, your promotion is also thanks to the General of the South. Hahaha..."

Vice Minister Wang laughed as well.

Wang Wuliang then said to Chancellor Tan, "Brother-in-law, for some reason, I am deathly afraid whenever I see the General of the South."

Chancellor Tan asked, "You are his superior, why fear him?"

Vice Minister Wang replied, "It's true! I am always trembling in his presence! I am terrified every time I see the sword hanging at his waist!"

Chancellor Tan said, "I am no doctor; I cannot cure your fear."

Vice Minister Wang suggested, "Drive him out of the Ministry of War!"

Chancellor Tan patted Wang’s hand. "Very well, very well... Gentlemen, who has a clever plan to drive the General of the South from the court?"

Someone stepped forward and said, "Chancellor, I have a plan..."

The next morning at court, the Emperor, diligent in his governance, sat early on the throne. The official in charge of the hall shouted, "Civil and military officials, speak if you have matters to report; otherwise, the court is dismissed."

Zhang Xin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel, stepped forward. "Reporting to Your Majesty, since General Gong Zheng retired to his hometown, the position of Commander of Jingnan has been vacant. Jingnan borders the Northern Zhen Kingdom and is a critical pass. To prevent mutiny, I request that Your Majesty select a capable general to fill the post."

The Emperor asked, "My ministers, who among you is capable of such a heavy responsibility?"

Censor Chen Gong stepped up. "Reporting to Your Majesty, the General of the South is young and capable; he is fit for this task!"

The Emperor asked, "Oh? Can Minister Chen Gong tell me why?"

Censor Chen Gong replied, "Reporting to Your Majesty, the General of the South rendered great service in quelling the riots in the southern provinces, and he is a man who shows great compassion for his soldiers. His subordinates respect him deeply. It is said that the five thousand Imperial Guards under his command treat him like a brother—they are becoming his private army!"

Upon hearing this, the Emperor stood up in shock. "What did you say? My five thousand Imperial Guards are becoming his private army?" The Emperor feared nothing more than the Imperial Guards becoming a private force.

Chancellor Tan stepped forward. "Your Majesty, I believe the General of the South is skilled in military command and is the best candidate for the Commander of Jingnan."

The other ministers stepped forward, saying, "Your Majesty, we agree with Chancellor Tan." (Though they were not all the officials in the court.)

The Emperor said, "General of the South, Li Muwen, step forward and receive the decree!"

The General of the South stepped out, knelt, and prostrated himself. "Subject Li Muwen hears the decree."

The Emperor said, "I appoint you Commander of Jingnan. Depart the capital and assume your post on an auspicious day!"

The General shouted, "I obey! Long live the Emperor, long, long live!" Xiao Guimu’s fake male voice was flawless.

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, the bright moon hung in the sky, and the mountains were dimly visible.

In the Osmanthus Garden, a gentle breeze blew, and the shadows of the trees danced.