Chapter Fifty-Four
Temasek’s Rubber Plantation on West Kalimantan Island.
At dawn, Xing Chulian entered the workers’ hut within the rubber plantation, carrying a donation box made of rubberwood in both hands. She was collecting funds to support the Southern Han dynasty’s northern expedition.
This rubber plantation, located on West Kalimantan Island in Temasek, was rather remote. It had been established during the Temasek civil war by Lu Wenting and Xing Chulian as a refuge from the chaos. Though the plantation covered just over a thousand acres, and rubber cultivation was sparse in Temasek, the larger islands surrounding West Kalimantan had extensive rubber tree plantations. Thus, Lu Wenting and Xing Chulian’s plantation became a pivotal hub for rubber trade in these neighboring islands. Moreover, West Kalimantan’s excellent maritime transportation offered market channels for nearby rubber farms. Besides establishing the plantation, Lu Wenting and Xing Chulian had also built a port and operated shipping services, with rubber trade constituting one of their business operations.
Within the plantation, they had constructed workers’ huts housing a group of laborers with calloused hands. These workers all hailed from Southern Han—some from Mingyue Island, others from coastal ancient towns—recruited by Lu Wenting and Xing Chulian after the Southern Han emperor decreed the rehabilitation of Xing Fannan and restored the good citizen status of all Mingyue Island residents. Initially intending to join the Northwestern Route Army, Lu Wenting and Xing Chulian were instead appointed by imperial edict as officials of the Southern Province Maritime Supervision Office, remaining stationed in Temasek. Thus, both were now officials of the Southern Han court, albeit without the authority to sign official documents.
After placing the donation box on a simple table inside the hut, a middle-aged man approached, removing a straw hat stained with latex. He retrieved a red cloth pouch from his bosom, opened it, and took out three small silver coins. He said to Xing Chulian, “Madam Xing, I’m Zhang, who came to Temasek to work and saved these three small silver coins. They were originally meant for my future wedding, but since the Southern Han court is conducting the northern expedition and urgently needs funds, please help deliver these three coins back to the court.” He solemnly placed the coins into the wooden box.
Xing Chulian hurriedly stopped him, saying, “Brother Zhang, why donate all of it? Keep one coin for yourself.”
Zhang laughed, “No! Even all donated, it’s not much!”
Sincerely, Xing Chulian said, “Brother Zhang, on behalf of the Southern Han court, I thank you!” She glanced back at the workers and spoke frankly, “To be honest, the country is not only short of money, but due to this year’s drought, the harvest was poor and food is scarce. Therefore, the money raised will be used to purchase grain and transport it back for the soldiers on the front lines to have full meals!”
No sooner had she finished speaking than Zhang’s companions responded in kind—
Some brought out treasured ancestral jade bracelets.
Others removed their wedding rings.
Still others, like Zhang, placed all their spare silver into the box.
...
More than ten days later, a dozen large grain transport ships were docked at the port on West Kalimantan Island, all laden with grain.
Lu Wenting stood at the bow of the largest vessel, shouting, “Weigh anchor, returning home...”
The ships unfurled full sails, setting course for the motherland...
A month later, these grain transports docked at a port in the Southern Province. The provincial governor personally greeted Lu Wenting, reading aloud the emperor’s commendation and the ironclad imperial edict honoring Lu Wenting and Xing Chulian.
The island governor of Mingyue Island, Hong Meigui, also paid respects to Lu Wenting at the port.
---
The Osmanthus Garden.
At dusk, Lü Qianqian and the steward Chen Ren returned to Osmanthus Garden.
She had brought back two cartloads of coarse grain from the countryside and was very pleased.
Chen Ren, the steward, was the longtime manager of the Qi family salt shop. When Gu Yuren was promoted from military commissioner in Yangzhou to a junior official in the Ministry of Justice, Qi Wei and Yin Yuanyuan, the couple, troubled for their daughter and son-in-law, brought Chen Ren with them to the capital, where he became the chief steward of Osmanthus Garden. Chen Ren was honest, dependable, and handled affairs with great care. Since taking charge, all matters big and small were managed perfectly. Now, he was also a great help to Lü Qianqian.
Why had Lü Qianqian gone to the countryside to buy coarse grain?
Recently, in response to the emperor’s call to “tighten belts and economize to support the frontline,” she had donated half of the household’s grain reserves. Furthermore, to reduce consumption, she changed the family’s daily meals from three to two.
This change was significant. After servants ate their first meal and went to work, they often felt dizzy with hunger before the second meal arrived. Naturally, complaints soon reached the ears of Aunt Zhou.
Since Lü the Prime Minister went to the northwest border with the army, Aunt Zhou had lived alone in the residence, feeling bored. She had no biological children—her first child with Lü had died in infancy, and she bore no more. She treated Lü Qianqian as her own daughter, and in turn, Lü Qianqian respected her like a mother. Thus, Aunt Zhou had moved to Osmanthus Garden to live with Lü Qianqian. Though cramped, she was happy with Qianqian around. Aunt Zhou was not idle; born a servant herself, she understood their hardships and often worked alongside them, earning their affection.
Today, Osmanthus Garden resembled a foster home. It housed Gu Yuren’s two sons, Gu Dabao and Gu Erbao, and daughter Gu Sanmei; Gu Yusheng’s children, Gu Yuyu and Gu Nuonuo; the only son of Xie An and Guan Yi, Xie Fang; and Zhang Dong and Gu Yuru’s three sons, Zhang Dalang, Zhang Erlang, Zhang Sanlang, and their daughter Zhang Xiaojie. All adults—owners and guests alike—served as caretakers, busy with the children’s clothing, food, shelter, transportation, and education. Aunt Zhou was a guest but, like Lü Qianqian, was constantly concerned for the children. She thought, “Their parents have gone to the battlefield to shed blood and sacrifice. They are still young. Without children of my own, caring for them is a blessing.” She especially cared for Xie Fang and Gu Yuru’s four children, whose father was gone and mother still on the battlefield. She also favored Gu Nuonuo for her sweet tongue and cleverness.
That evening, after dinner, Aunt Zhou came to Lü Qianqian’s room. Mother and daughter chatted while sewing.
Aunt Zhou asked, “Girl, how much grain remains in the warehouse?”
Lü Qianqian replied, “I took inventory today; there are just over two hundred dou, enough for this winter.”
Aunt Zhou asked again, “Are two meals a day enough?”
“No,” Lü answered.
Putting down her needle, Aunt Zhou said, “Girl, you are now the mistress of Osmanthus Garden; what you say goes. But have you thought—these children are growing. Can two meals a day suffice? Can the servants work on just two meals?”
Lü Qianqian asked, “What have they been saying lately?”
Aunt Zhou said, “The children say they’re as hungry as roaring wolves; the servants say they’re dizzy from hunger...”
Hearing this, Lü Qianqian grew anxious. “Auntie, hearing they are starving makes me fret! It seems I didn’t think things through—giving with one hand and losing with the other! But since we have already donated the grain, if we restore three meals a day, we will lack over 180 dou this winter! What shall we do?”
Aunt Zhou, secretly delighted at being asked for help, scolded, “Girl, now you’re worried? Who told you to act without considering the consequences?”
Lü Qianqian came over, clinging to Aunt Zhou’s leg and coaxing, “Auntie, please help Qianqian!”
Aunt Zhou returned to her room, brought out a bag of silver, and said, “Take this! It’s a thousand taels I secretly saved from your father! Tomorrow, you and Uncle Chen Ren should go to the countryside to buy coarse grain.”
Lü Qianqian gratefully took the silver, “Thank you, Auntie!”
At noon, siblings Gu Dabao, Gu Erbao, Gu Yuyu, Xie Fang, Gu Nuonuo, Gu Sanmei, Zhang Dalang, Zhang Erlang, Zhang Sanlang, and Zhang Xiaojie sat around the large dining table, each holding a corncob, ravenously biting into it—thanks to Aunt Zhou’s suggestion and her thousand taels of private silver, Osmanthus Garden restored three meals a day, much to everyone’s delight.
Lunch consisted solely of corncobs, no dishes.
Previously, at every meal, Gu Erbao and Gu Nuonuo would always quarrel over the same dish, causing Lü Qianqian headaches. Now, with no dishes or chopsticks at lunch, the battles of chopsticks ceased! Lü Qianqian wished to eat corncobs three meals a day for simplicity.
After dinner, Lü Qianqian pulled Aunt Zhou into her room for a chat.
Lü asked, “Auntie, do the servants still complain of dizziness?”
Aunt Zhou rubbed her belly, “No, but they say the meals have no oil or fat; they have no energy to work.”
Lü frowned, “What kind of servants are these? Whatever the mistress eats, they eat the same! Auntie, if they are so picky, it seems we can’t afford such servants!”
Aunt Zhou chuckled, “Actually, they never complain; I’m just teasing you! All the servants here are honest, hardworking, and never cause trouble.”
Lü bit her lip and suddenly asked, “So those stories of ‘children hungry like roaring wolves’ and servants ‘dizzy from hunger’ were made up by you?”
Aunt Zhou proudly answered, “Without such stories, would you have gone to buy coarse grain? Without them, would we have restored three meals a day?”
Lü rolled her eyes, “Yes, yes! Auntie’s fabrications are right! You are a disrespectful, cunning, scheming, old... auntie!”
Aunt Zhou retorted, “An old, undead creature!”
Lü Qianqian turned and left, not wanting to argue.
Aunt Zhou called after her, “Where are you going?”
“To tell Uncle Chen Ren to prepare the cart; tomorrow we go buy coarse grain.”
“I’ll come too,” Aunt Zhou said, standing up.
Just as they left the room, the eldest maid Meng Yin entered, saying, “The palace sent a message from Consort Quan. Tomorrow at noon, Consort Quan will pay a formal visit to Osmanthus Garden and dine here.”
Consort Quan was Quan Niannian, Third Master of the Muddy Lake Water Fortress. Shortly after entering the palace, she bore a prince, and the emperor bestowed upon her the title of Consort Quan.
Lü Qianqian appeared displeased, “It’s freezing cold; why doesn’t she stay in the palace? Why come to Osmanthus Garden?”
---
Aunt Zhou solemnly said, “Girl, don’t say that in front of others! Consort Quan’s status is highly honored. That she pays formal visits to Osmanthus Garden in this heavy snow is our blessing.”
Lü Qianqian said, “She didn’t come early or late, just when we’re going to buy grain! And she wants to dine here in the evening! Does she not know we are short on food?”
Aunt Zhou replied, “Since the generals went to the front, we haven’t had distinguished guests for a long time. It is a blessing that Consort Quan dines here. Stop complaining!”
Lü Qianqian worried aloud, “But the granary is empty. What can I serve the consort?”
Aunt Zhou smiled slyly, “Whatever the mistress eats, serve it to Consort Quan.”
Lü gave her a sharp look. She now treated Aunt Zhou less like an aunt and more like a close confidante.
---
The next morning, Lü Qianqian ordered the household to thoroughly clean the residence, courtyard, and surrounding areas.
She first asked Meng Jin and Meng Yin to bring out the Pu’er tea treasured by Qi Qiongqiong before she left home; next, she asked Aunt Zhou to produce the century-old Jinbo wine her father had stored in the Osmanthus Garden’s wine cellar; third, she instructed the cook to prepare some specialty dishes using the natural bamboo shoots and pumpkins she had recently brought back from the countryside.
At noon, Consort Quan arrived punctually.
There was no music, no dragon banners or phoenix feathers, no golden umbrellas—only eight eunuchs carrying a grand sedan chair with a golden top. Behind the sedan was a carriage loaded entirely with grain—refined grain.
Consort Quan descended from the sedan.
Lü Qianqian and Aunt Zhou led the household in kneeling and bowing deeply.
After paying respects, Consort Quan eagerly said to Lü Qianqian, “The carriage is full of grain. Quickly order the servants to unload it.”
Lü Qianqian hurriedly bowed, “Thank you, Your Highness, for the grain.”
Consort Quan said, “No need to thank me! This grain was allocated to me by the imperial household. The emperor told me the day before yesterday that you donated all your refined grain to the front line and your family is eating coarse grain this winter. Since your household mostly has children, eating coarse grain won’t do. I calculated that there is still surplus grain allocated to me, so with imperial permission, I brought it here today!”
Upon hearing this, Lü Qianqian could only express her gratitude.
Consort Quan quickly added, “Sister Qianqian, don’t say thanks like that in front of me. After all, this grain was a gift from the imperial household to me. If thanks are to be given, thank the emperor!”
Lü Qianqian prostrated herself again, bowing toward the palace, “Thank you, Your Majesty, for the grain! Long live the emperor, long live, forever!”
Consort Quan helped Lü to her feet, “Thank the emperor, that’s right! The generals here also fight for the empire. They risk life and limb on the battlefield, but their children starve at home—it’s only right the emperor shows care!”
Lü Qianqian hurriedly said, “It is their duty to fight. Currently, over 800,000 soldiers are risking their lives on the northeastern and northwestern fronts. Their children or families may also be starving. The emperor’s care for Osmanthus Garden moves me to tears...”
During the evening meal, Quan Niannian seated Xie Fang beside her, showing great affection. Lü Qianqian served Consort Quan the century-old Jinbo wine treasured by her father. After dinner, Meng Jin presented Pu’er tea hidden by Qi Qiongqiong. Consort Quan remarked, “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen Pu’er tea in the palace.”
---
The capital of the Tartar Khanate, Kadou.
Erduwen Khan summoned the newly appointed Marshal Mangshan Nai in his yurt.
Mangshan Nai was a capable general, a subordinate of the Right Wise King Geste, but deeply devoted to the Tartar Khanate. He had principles on major issues and hoped the Khanate would not fracture due to succession disputes. He wished to accomplish something meaningful for the Tartars. Yet Mangshan Nai was not without flaws; like all men of the steppes, he had a common weakness—a desire for women.
Erduwen Khan asked, “Minister Mang, winter is ending and spring approaches. Can you capture the Southern Han border passes this spring?”
Mangshan Nai bowed, “Your Majesty, I have the confidence and ability.”
The Khan asked, “Can you put this in writing?”
Mangshan Nai responded, “Yes. But before signing, there is one thing unclear. Please enlighten me.”
The Khan said, “What is unclear? Speak freely.”
Mangshan Nai asked, “Your Majesty, in this campaign against Southern Han’s border, is the goal to conquer the entire realm or merely to plunder wealth and women for entertainment on the steppes?”
Erduwen Khan hesitated, then said, “Of course, to conquer all Southern Han subjects!”
Mangshan Nai earnestly requested, “Then please grant me another 200,000 elite troops!”
The Khan asked, “Marshal Mangshan Nai, with an additional 200,000 troops, can you capture the border passes this spring and trample Southern Han?”
Mangshan Nai pledged, “I can.”
The Khan smiled, “Good! I grant you the troops.”
Mangshan Nai exclaimed, “Your wisdom is unmatched!” and presented his military pledge.
Erduwen Khan examined it and warned, “Minister Mang, with this document, you must be cautious!”
Mangshan Nai declared loudly, “Rest assured, if I fail to capture the Southern Han border this spring and drink from Lake Xizi in summer, I will present my head to Your Majesty!”
The Khan said, “I want the entire Southern Han lands and subjects, not your head!”
Mangshan Nai replied, “You can rest easy, Your Majesty!”
---
How many times Yuhaguan had been relocated, some knew but probably not many. Yuhaguan, also called Pancang City, was the gateway to the far northwest. The Tartar iron cavalry had to conquer Yuhaguan to enter the Central Plains from the northwest. Pancang City was the border town.
Pancang City sat on a desolate, ancient Gobi desert, so barren it was hard to find a single green strand. Fortunately, a river flowed to the north, and a large lake lay to the west. The lake was mirror-like and crystal clear. The city was well supplied with water. Around the lake grew reeds, red willows, and licorice—a breeding ground for wild rabbits, horses, and ibex. Pancang was also the granary for the garrison.
The city faced south to north, with four gates to the east, west, south, and north. The northern gate was the pass.
After arriving at Yuhaguan from the northeastern battlefield, Marshal Gu Yusheng ordered his unit, led by his daughter Gu Yuru and accompanied by her mother Lou Mingxuan—now deputy commander of the scout battalion—to defend the southern gate.
The reunion of mother and daughter on the bloody battlefield was bittersweet. Time passed, but a mother’s love was unbreakable. Lou Mingxuan felt deepest guilt toward Gu Yuru. When she left her daughter helpless in infancy, sickly and frail, she had no choice. Their next meeting on the road was a chance encounter. Thankfully, Gu Yuru had grown to adulthood. Now, reunited a second time, seeing her daughter with four children fighting on the battlefield stirred complex emotions.
A mother’s love was the most selfless. Since guarding the southern gate together, Lou Mingxuan and Gu Yuru shared meals and bedding. On the battlefield, Lou Mingxuan always charged ahead, as if making up for years of lost motherly affection.
One noon, after a patrol of the city walls, Lou Mingxuan sought to give Gu Yuru some motherly care.
She brought a bronze mirror and dressing table, sat Gu Yuru down, and said, “Girl, I didn’t braid your hair when you married; now I’ll make up for it.”
Gu Yuru had always done her own hair—from childhood to marrying Zhang Dong in Jingnan, she styled her own hair. Watching Zhao Rouya braid Xiao Guimu’s hair made her envious. Now, tears welled in her eyes—tears of happiness. Her hair was already streaked with gray.
Lou Mingxuan tenderly combed her daughter’s graying hair, tears dropping to the floor, murmuring, “My child ages before her time; life is too heavy.”
Gu Yuru’s tears finally fell. She wanted to tell her mother her gray hair was not from hardship but from endless longing for her deceased husband Zhang Dong and their four young children in the capital. Yet she said nothing; her mother had already shed too many tears. She wiped her face and smiled through the mirror, “Mother, since fighting side by side, I feel very happy! These gray hairs are just signs of maturity!”
Lou Mingxuan wiped her tears and smiled through them, combing slowly, “A few? These are just a few? Look, you have more gray hair than me.”
Gu Yuru looked at her mother’s wrinkled face in the mirror, touched her smooth cheek, and said, “Mother, your beautiful daughter is now a famed Right Cavalry General. If my hair turned completely white, people could call me ‘White-Haired Lady General’!”
Lou Mingxuan slapped her firmly on the buttocks, scolding, “People would call you the ‘White-Haired Witch’ instead!”
---
In Pancang’s southern gate fortress lived a low-ranking officer named Situ. He had a wife, a boy, and a yellow dog. These three were hostages taken during the reign of the retired emperor. Situ’s military salary was meager and could not support three. So his wife had to sew, wash, gather firewood, or cut reeds by the big lake outside the west gate to earn a little money. Year after year, their son grew, learning to gather firewood, cut grass, and hunt. Since the northwest army arrived at Pancang, the wife helped the scout battalion’s cooks. Over time, she became friends with Lou Mingxuan.
The low-ranking officer’s surname was Situ; the boy was Situ Fu.
That evening, Situ Fu returned from hunting.
He entered happily, telling his mother, “Mother, today luck was on my side. I caught two rabbits and a wild boar.”
His mother came out, examining the prey, and asked, “Fu’er, the Tartars have surrounded Pancang like an iron bucket. How did you manage to hunt outside the city?”
Situ Fu whispered mysteriously, “Mother, I have a secret passage out of the city.”
His mother gasped softly, “Really? Can you take me to see it?”
Situ Fu said quietly, “Yes, but you must promise never to tell anyone.”
She agreed in a whisper, “I promise.”
---
Winter dragged on, cold and biting.
Looking out, Tartar banners surrounded Pancang. The north wind blew snowflakes swirling in the air, yet the banners seemed frozen, unmoving on the snowy ground.
Outside the city stretched the tents of the Tartar army—Marshal Mangshan Nai’s 500,000 steppe warriors encircled Pancang in multiple layers.
On the city wall, Marshal Gu Yusheng, clad in lamellar armor and wielding a Lou family long sword, stood gazing northward. Snow blanketed the battlements; icicles glistened like jade—created by pouring cold water over the outer wall to deter Tartar assaults.
Gu Yusheng nodded and shook his head. Supplies had been cut off for over half a month. The 250,000 northwest troops survived on a small piece of horse meat each day. Today, the last private horse had been slaughtered. Grain shipments from the court remained missing.
He fretted, worrying for his father-in-law Qi Wei and mother-in-law Yin Yuanyuan, the grain convoy officers: “With such a blizzard, I hope they’re safe on the road.”
He pondered the starving, freezing soldiers: “Should we kill the warhorses tomorrow?”
At this moment, Prime Minister Lü, Xiao Guimu, Li Muwen, Qi Yaoyao, Gu Yuru, Purple Rose, Jiang Hong, Lou Mingxuan, Gu Datong, and Li Jingxian arrived at the city wall.
Lou Mingxuan approached, asking, “Marshal Gu, what are you watching?”
Gu Yusheng replied, “Mother, I’m watching for grain convoy wagons.”
Lou Mingxuan, deputy commander of the northwest scout battalion, reported, “Marshal, my scouts say the blizzard covers hundreds of miles around Pancang, burying the supply routes in snow. They believe, barring a miracle, no grain wagons will arrive in the next few days.”
Gu Yusheng, knowing his mother had experience crossing forests and snowfields, asked, “Mother, I want to send two generals to break through and meet the grain convoy. Can you teach them the skills and methods?”
Lou Mingxuan said, “If someone volunteers, I will train them and share the knowledge.”
Gu Yusheng turned to the generals, “Who will volunteer to break through and escort the grain convoy?”
Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru volunteered.
Gu Yusheng said, “Deputy Marshal Qi Yaoyao and Right Cavalry General Gu Yuru, since you volunteer, report to Deputy Commander Lou at the south gate for training. At dusk, I will dispatch soldiers to assist your breakout.”
They replied, “Yes,” and followed Lou Mingxuan down from the wall to the south gate.
Gu Yusheng approached Prime Minister Lü, “Prime Minister, we have killed the last private horse today. The court’s grain has not arrived. What will the soldiers eat tomorrow?”
Without hesitation, Lü said, “Continue to kill horses—the court’s warhorses.”
Gu Yusheng asked, “Kill the court’s warhorses? Is that allowed?”
Lü said firmly, “Yes! To prevent the soldiers from starving at the border, I decide we kill the court’s warhorses tomorrow.”
Gu Yusheng said, “This is serious. If the court investigates, we will be punished.”
Lü said sternly, “Then so be it.”
---
Night fell. Marshal Mangshan Nai’s tent became lively. Inside, it was brilliantly lit; outside, bonfires flickered. Around each bonfire, Tartar soldiers linked hands, forming circles, singing and dancing. They forgot the stars, the cold, the swirling snow. Roasted lamb and mare’s milk wine stirred their blood.
Mangshan Nai lounged on a tiger-skin chair, sipping mare’s milk wine, watching military entertainers dance. The second bravest man on the steppe was well surrounded by women. On his left, a Tartar beauty held an old wine cup; on his right, a smiling woman fed him roasted lamb.
Mangshan Nai, eyes glazed with wine, said to vanguard officer Cao Shangfei, “Brother Cao, rumor has it that at Pancang, the cooking fires are growing scarce!”
Like attracts like. Though Cao Shangfei was the steppe’s top warrior, like Mangshan Nai, he was a lecher. Holding a captured woman in one arm and a cup in the other, he reported, “Marshal, spies report Gu Yusheng’s 250,000 southern barbarians have been starved for over half a month. They’re killing horses and eating horse meat. Their warhorses will soon be gone.”
Mangshan Nai laughed, “Brother Cao, this is my ‘without shedding a drop of blood’ tactic. I will starve the 250,000 troops at Pancang this long winter. So, brother Cao, you must tighten the siege and prevent a single soldier from escaping.”
Cao Shangfei answered, “Yes.”
Just as Mangshan Nai reveled, news came that Southern Han forces had attacked.
Gu Yusheng, to aid Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru’s breakout, sent Xiao Guimu, Li Muwen, Purple Rose, and Jiang Hong with 500 elite soldiers each to sally out from the four gates. Led by Situ Fu, Qi Yaoyao and Gu Yuru slipped out through the secret passage, meeting the grain convoy.
Mangshan Nai instantly sobered.
He ordered all bonfires extinguished and commanded Cao Shangfei to intercept the forces. But Xiao Guimu, Li Muwen, Purple Rose, and Jiang Hong charged briefly then returned inside. Cao Shangfei cursed at the closed gates.
Mangshan Nai awaited good news.
A scout reported, “Two fast horses are fleeing south. Pursue or not?”
Mangshan Nai slapped a woman’s face and cursed, “Don’t chase! Go chase your little witch sister...”
Mangshan Nai’s method of command was to enjoy himself with his soldiers.
Women were their tools, outlets, slaves. He never beat his men but freely abused the women near him.
Such was the tragic fate of women on the steppe.
---
The Prime Minister Lü Xun’s tent.
Li Jingxian was meditating.
She now lived with Lü Xun and served as his consort, having been granted marriage by the emperor after her audience. Like Aunt Zhou, she was called “Auntie Li” by Lü Qianqian.
At dusk, Lü Xun entered carrying a piece of horse meat, saying, “Jingxian, eat some horse meat, or you’ll starve!”
Li Jingxian closed her eyes, seeming not to hear.
Since the supply cutoff at the border, Li Jingxian often meditated, saying, “This way, I don’t feel hungry!” Despite receiving a daily piece of horse meat, she insisted she was vegetarian and refused to eat it.
Lü Xun placed the meat on the table, continuing, “If you starve, our northwest army loses a great general, and our strength compared to Mangshan Nai’s will be even more unequal. Have you thought about that?”
“I can’t die! But I’m a disciple of Avalokiteshvara and cannot eat horse meat!” Li Jingxian finally spoke, eyes still closed.
“A disciple of Avalokiteshvara cannot sleep with men! Yet you share a bed with me...” Lü Xun found an opening.
“...Enough, bring the horse meat!” Li Jingxian opened her eyes.