Lianhua Ferry lay twenty li south of Shiquan County. Merchants and travelers passed through constantly, so tea stalls and inns had naturally sprung up around it. After sleeping in tents for several days to keep moving, the Fu family saw ordinary beds again and their eyes practically began shining with seven-colored light.
Fu Fu followed everyone’s wishes. “We’ll rest for one day and leave tomorrow morning.”
The Fu family’s advance party had arrived two days earlier and already found a merchant ship traveling in the same direction. They only needed to depart the following day. Fu Xuan personally went out to inspect the ship, but when he returned, his expression was poor, and he pulled Fu Fu into a room.
Fu Xuan lowered his voice. “The merchant backed out.”
Fu Fu frowned. “Didn’t we pay a deposit?”
“They returned both the deposit and compensation.”
“Did they say why?” The ship had not even departed and the merchant had obediently paid compensation. That was not normal business behavior.
Fu Xuan said, “They only said their route had changed and they could no longer take us. But they’re merchants who operate in the southern frontier to begin with. This voyage is their return trip, and their cargo has already been unloaded. Where else could they possibly be going? We had agreed to cover all the profit they would normally make from this return journey. They wouldn’t even need to load cargo and would still be paid. It should have been easy money. There was no reason to refuse.”
Fu Fu considered it from a merchant’s perspective. “Could they be trying to raise the price?”
“If they wanted to raise the price, they should have quoted one first.”
“It really is strange.” Fu Fu frowned.
Their journey out of Haojing had been so peaceful that he had nearly forgotten they were technically “fleeing disaster.” Anyone paying attention could learn that the emperor had issued one public edict and another secret one. Earlier, they had still been too close to Haojing. Even people who wanted to attack them would hesitate to strike for fear that the emperor might intervene. Once they boarded a ship, however, water would surround them on all sides and fighting would be far less convenient than on land. Therefore, if someone intended to make trouble, Shiquan County was the best place to do it.
After hearing his analysis, Fu Xuan’s thick brows drew together. “Who would attack us? The Liu family?” If one asked whose interests would be most affected by the Fu family heading south, Liu Tan Du stood first in line.
Fu Fu shook his head. “Shiquan County is still close to the capital. If Liu Tan Du made a move here, it would be tantamount to challenging imperial authority. It would make far more sense to wait until we enter the Han River and reach his territory, then send people disguised as river bandits. If something went wrong, he could immediately dispatch soldiers to ‘rescue’ us and openly take us away without leaving a trace.” Ever since the emperor had placed the Fu family on the political chessboard, Fu Fu had traveled farther and farther down the road of schemes and conspiracies. Even his imagination had become remarkably sinister.
Fu Xuan said, “Then perhaps remnants of the Rong or Chen families.”
To outsiders, Fu Xuan had led the Yulin Guard in massacring Shicui Hall that night, while Chen Wen Ju had indirectly died because of Fu Xi Yan. The Fu family could practically be called the emperor’s most loyal hounds and talons. Now that the “hounds” had apparently separated from their “master’s” protection, anyone seeking revenge would naturally rush over to kick them while they were down.
Fu Fu thought for a moment. “Tie Rong Rong belonged to the Puppet Path. We should also guard against jianghu factions.” After a pause, he glanced at Fu Xuan. “Tell Young Palace Master Pei.”
Fu Xuan said without changing expression, “I’ll tell Little Four to do it.”
They had been brothers for so many years. How could Fu Fu fail to notice Fu Xuan’s resistance toward Pei Yuan Jin? “Are you perhaps dissatisfied with Young Palace Master Pei…”
Fu Xuan said expressionlessly, “After Little Four entered the Yulin Guard, I had people investigate girls of suitable family background and age. Not long ago, I heard the younger brother of the Commander of the Jinwu Guard has a round little daughter two years younger than Little Four. They would have matched very well.”
Fu Fu sighed. “Fate is decided by Heaven. Besides, Little Four has now been swept into court struggles and the jianghu, with danger everywhere around him. He shouldn’t drag an innocent young girl into that. Young Palace Master Pei, on the other hand, has exceptional martial arts and countless people beneath him. He is a far more suitable match.”
The comparison was admittedly extremely pragmatic. Had Fu Xi Yan possessed no feelings for Pei Yuan Jin, Fu Fu might have felt guilty about it. But Fu Xi Yan himself had already come running over to announce that the two of them were together, so naturally Fu Fu was happy to see it happen.
Fu Xuan sighed. “It’s precisely because I understand that I feel…” Awkward.
Fu Fu patted his shoulder. “When Heaven and earth were still chaos like an egg, who could have imagined Pangu would split them apart and open the world? Something that seems outrageous and contrary to convention today might one day be regarded as a great innovation.”
Elio’s Notes: In Chinese creation mythology, the primordial universe is often described as a cosmic egg. Pangu awakens within it and separates Heaven from earth.
Fu Xuan thought, How are those two things remotely comparable?
In his view, Fu Fu’s words sounded more like self-comfort than anything else, but he had no intention of exposing him and simply said, “Fine. I’ll go speak with Little Four.”
Unfortunately, Little Four… did not want to go.
Ever since the “two men” incident, Fu Xi Yan had begun consciously and unconsciously avoiding Pei Yuan Jin. After all, “being moved” and “worshipping someone” might be only one step apart, but both were still tens of thousands of li away from “devoting oneself.” Fu Xi Yan had no desire to complete that particular Long March so quickly.
Fu Xuan saw that his mind was elsewhere. “Did you hear anything I just said?”
Fu Xi Yan nodded. “Another villain wants to harm us. Tell Pei Yuan Jin to be careful.”
That was roughly the meaning, but somehow the way Fu Xi Yan summarized it sounded rather peculiar. Fu Xuan thought about it and asked, “Where is Young Palace Master Pei?”
Fu Xi Yan said, “He went out not long after we entered the inn.”
Fu Xi Yan thought uneasily, He didn’t go out collecting more strange little booklets, did he? I still don’t know when or where he managed to get those two ‘male-male’ ones.
Seeing him lost in thought, Fu Xuan assumed Fu Xi Yan was blaming himself for forcing the entire family to flee. He patted his shoulder. “Family is supposed to advance and retreat together. Don’t think too much.”
Fu Xi Yan assumed Fu Xuan meant that Pei Yuan Jin and the Fu family were already family now, so Fu Xi Yan should not feel embarrassed about troubling him. His expression immediately became awkward. “It’s just… this is moving too fast. I’m not prepared.”
Fu Xuan nodded. “It is somewhat sudden.” Who could have expected the emperor to abruptly issue such an edict? Fortunately, the family had been preparing all along, so it had not truly caught them unprepared. “But this day was bound to come sooner or later. We all knew it and had already made preparations.”
Fu Xi Yan: “…”
‘We’ means everyone in the Fu family except me already prepared themselves to accept Pei Yuan Jin as ‘family’? Their mental endurance is way too strong. Am I the one who’s behind the times?
He asked curiously, “When did you all start preparing?”
Fu Xuan said, “Actually, when we sent you to Luoyang, we already had a feeling.”
Fu Xi Yan stared at him like a wooden chicken.
At that time, he had not yet gone to Willowwood Manor, had not eaten the Harmonized Yang Pills, and had not even met Pei Yuan Jin.
How could they possibly have had a feeling?
He became increasingly curious. “How could you have predicted it back then?”
Fu Xuan said, “There were already signs. If Emperor Jianhong could kill Zhang Yuan, naturally he could make moves against other people as well.”
Why is Emperor Jianhong suddenly involved?
Wait.
Uncle said they had begun anticipating this from the time Fu Xi Yan was sent to Luoyang, and now he was bringing up Emperor Jianhong. In other words, the person the family originally anticipated had not been Pei Yuan Jin.
Then who?
Chu Guang?
The Third Prince?
Fu Xi Yan shivered all over. That prediction was genuinely terrifying. “Back then, Chu Guang and I couldn’t stand each other, and I only met the Third Prince once.”
Fu Xuan comforted him. “It wasn’t your fault. What is meant to come will come sooner or later. You can’t prevent it.” The Third Prince meeting Little Four probably had not been deliberately arranged, but Hu Yu and Zhu Yu Da had both been involved in Little Four’s duel with Chu Guang. It was impossible to say how much of that had come from Emperor Jianhong.
Fu Xi Yan: “…”
How should he put it?
The truth always arrived without warning.
Never in ten thousand years had he imagined that his family had not originally planned for him to marry a princess.
They had apparently been preparing for him to climb all the way up to a prince!
Did everyone in this family have gaydar?
Had he been giving off gay vibes from an early age?
…
Still, something about that interpretation did not seem quite right.
The two of them spent half the conversation speaking chicken to duck. Fu Xuan walked away convinced he had successfully comforted his nephew, while the nephew began doubting both himself and his entire life.
The setting sun descended in the west; the heartbroken traveler stood at the edge of the world.
But this was Shiquan County, not the edge of the world.
Therefore, there was no heartbroken traveler here.
Only Fourth Young Master Fu, waiting bitterly.
Elio’s Notes: This riffs on the famous final line of Ma Zhiyuan’s Autumn Thoughts: “The sun sets in the west; the heartbroken traveler is at the edge of the world.” Fu Xi Yan immediately ruins the melancholy by pointing out that he is merely in Shiquan County.
Fu Xi Yan sat in the inn’s main hall waiting all afternoon. Pei Yuan Jin finally returned around dusk. The moment he entered, Fu Xi Yan stared at his hands and waist, checking whether he had brought any cloth pouches.
There were none.
But small booklets were called small booklets for a reason. They were genuinely small enough to hide inside one’s robes.
Fu Xi Yan, who currently had three little booklets tucked into his own clothing, suspiciously shifted his gaze toward Pei Yuan Jin’s… chest.
It looked slightly full.
But not quite like the kind of fullness caused by objects.
So was he hiding anything there or not?
Should Fu Xi Yan find some opportunity to feel it?
…
Forget it.
That would risk leaking an excessive amount of gayness.
Fu Li An, who was studying beside him, finally could not bear Fu Xi Yan’s nakedly obvious stare. He helplessly nodded to Pei Yuan Jin, gathered up the things on the table, and left.
“Hey?” Fu Xi Yan desperately needed a married man nearby to suppress the possible “gayness” inside his own body. Seeing Fu Li An abandon the battlefield, he instinctively extended his Er Kang hand and grasped uselessly at the air.
Pei Yuan Jin sat opposite him and calmly poured himself a cup of water. “The Ghostshadow Organization has entered Shiquan County.”
Fu Xi Yan froze. “What are they here for?”
He and the Ghostshadow Organization could practically be called old acquaintances.
Their first meeting had been at Willowwood Manor, when the Ghostshadow Organization had colluded with Tang Gong and Lu Rui Chun to prepare an enormous black pot for Fu Xi Yan to carry. The second had been outside the Censorate prison. The Ghostshadow Organization had gone there to rescue Chen Wen Ju while Fu Xi Yan had been ordered to guard him, and the two sides had fought fiercely again. Later, Lou Wu Zai had told him that while the Ghostshadow Organization was breaking into the prison, they had also sent people to kill Fu Xi Yan.
Judging from those three incidents, the Ghostshadow Organization had ties to the faction that stole the Harmonized Yang Pills, the Chen family faction, and Tie Rong Rong.
They’re basically professional shit-stirrers!
Wherever something stinks, there they are!
Pei Yuan Jin said, “The Ghostshadow Organization appears to pursue money, but it has ambitions and private interests of its own.” An organization interested purely in profit would never have turned around and bribed Lu Rui Chun.
His expression was serious, and the subject itself was serious. Fu Xi Yan naturally swept all the filthy nonsense from his mind and became serious as well. “What exactly are their ambitions?”
Pei Yuan Jin said calmly, “Martial artists pursue higher cultivation. Jianghu organizations pursue greater power. It wants both.”
However, other forces had participated behind the scenes in every one of the Ghostshadow Organization’s previous operations. The organization never appeared until the final moment and had played the role of hired muscle every time. Yet this time, its movements had actually been exposed.
Had that been deliberate?
Or careless?
While Pei Yuan Jin was thinking, he heard Fu Xi Yan mutter, “What did our family ever do to obstruct them?” Pei Yuan Jin found it slightly amusing and said, “Perhaps your family is valuable.”
Fu Xi Yan dearly wanted to declare to the Ghostshadow Organization with magnificent wealth and confidence: Whatever they’re paying you, I’ll double it!
But…
He could not.
His grand entrepreneurial venture had not yet reached the halfway point. He himself had not collapsed midway—but Xiang’ao Da had died instead, cutting off the endless river of cash that had once flowed toward him.
The bitterness of it could only be endured by listening to Can’t Take the Hurt while reciting the Memorial on Sending Out the Troops and—
Huh? What smells so good?
Elio’s Notes: Fu Xi Yan is parodying the famous opening of Zhuge Liang’s Memorial on Sending Out the Troops, which laments that the late emperor died before his great undertaking was halfway complete. Here, Fu Xi Yan himself is still alive, but his business Xiang’ao Da has “died.” He then mashes the memorial together with the modern song title Can’t Take the Hurt.
Following the aroma, he saw Pei Yuan Jin holding a fragrant roasted chicken wing wrapped in oiled paper.
Fu Xi Yan stared. “Where did that come from?” Pei Yuan Jin’s hands had clearly been empty when he entered.
“The Hidden Dragon Unit brought it just now.” Pei Yuan Jin placed the roasted chicken wing on the table. “What were you thinking about?”
Fu Xi Yan’s entire attention was on the chicken wing. “You may be shocked when I tell you.”
Pei Yuan Jin said, “I’m listening.”
Fu Xi Yan rose slightly, leaned halfway across the table toward him, and whispered, “The Can’t-Take-the-Hurt Memorial on Sending Out the Troops.”
Pei Yuan Jin: “…”
“The chicken wings will get cold if we don’t eat them.” Taking advantage of the fact that half his body was already hovering over the food, Fu Xi Yan swiftly grabbed one and stuffed it into his mouth. It had not been roasted with honey syrup, but it had been brushed with oil and seasoned with salt, sesame, and pepper. It was a completely different sort of delicious.
While the two of them were secretly enjoying extra food in the main hall, they saw the steward enter with several guards and servants. From a distance, he bowed to Fu Xi Yan, then hurried upstairs. Shortly afterward, Fu Fu and Fu Xuan came back down with him and rushed toward the exit.
Still holding the final chicken wing, Fu Xi Yan curiously went over. “Dad, where are you going?”
Fu Fu had originally intended to leave him behind. Then he noticed Pei Yuan Jin following behind him and changed his mind. “The merchant who backed out says he wants to meet in person.”
Fu Xi Yan frowned. “Didn’t he already return the money? Why are we still bothering with him?”
Fu Xuan said, “We asked around about other boats. None were suitable. We want to try once more.”
Fu Xi Yan thought about it. “I’ll come too.” At worst, he could offer his beloved soap as an incentive. It was still unique at the moment and had sold well in Haojing. Surely a traveling merchant would find it attractive.
Fu Fu looked at Pei Yuan Jin’s height, then at Fu Xi Yan’s width, and decided that taking the two of them along would certainly improve their imposing presence. He agreed.
The group headed toward the ferry in considerable numbers.
Merchant ships crowded the riverbank. Their sails blocked out the sky, and the evening light scattered brilliant gold across the water, creating an extraordinarily magnificent scene.
The merchant ship they had originally reserved was both large and new and stood out conspicuously even among all the others.
The manager came out smiling and cupped his hands toward Fu Fu. “I’m truly sorry. I accepted the deposit on my own authority. Yesterday, Third Master returned and said this deal could not go ahead, so we had no choice but to return your money. We have already paid full compensation for the time we delayed you as well.”
Truthfully, one could not entirely blame him for going back on the agreement. He was the manager, and normally matters such as use of the merchant ship and buying or selling goods were his responsibility to decide. Third Master had merely been coming along for the ride. But once Third Master abruptly insisted on interfering, the manager naturally would not oppose his employer’s younger brother for the sake of outsiders.
Still, returning the deposit and paying compensation had already cost him a sum of money. They would now have to purchase cargo again, which would inevitably delay them further. Every day the ship remained docked cost money, and the combined losses would be considerable. Even if Third Master had given the order, the manager would have a difficult time explaining it to the family head afterward. Since Fu Fu and the others had not yet found another ship, he thought he might as well act as an intermediary and let both sides meet. Perhaps they could still reach an agreement.
Unable to say that directly, he hinted, “Now that our Third Master is here, if you can reach an agreement with him, our cooperation can continue. But you’ll have to return the compensation we paid earlier.”
Fu Fu had already heard most of this from his own steward. He had initially suspected someone was secretly interfering, but now it did not quite look that way. He waved a hand. “Please lead us in.”
The manager had them wait on deck while he entered the cabin. After a while, he came back to lead them inside, though his expression had worsened noticeably. In a low voice, he warned, “Our Third Master has encountered some troubles lately, so his temper hasn’t been very good. If he behaves discourteously, I ask everyone to be understanding.” Only after they agreed did he push open the door.
The room was decorated in a riot of colors. Fu Xi Yan actually liked it at first glance. Traveling by ship was dull enough already. If the interior had been nothing but black, white, and gray, wouldn’t everyone suffocate from boredom?
Third Master was a bearded, disheveled middle-aged man reeking of alcohol and did not look remotely like an astute merchant. At that moment, he sat sprawled boldly in a chair with one arm resting against the Eight Immortals table and looked sideways at them. “You want passage on my ship?”
The moment Fu Fu saw his attitude, he knew the man had no intention of negotiating properly and that the arrangement would probably collapse. Still, he decided to try. “I ask Brother to grant us this convenience. You will certainly not suffer financially.”
Third Master gave a cold chuckle. “The mighty Count Yongfeng, Vice Minister of War, favored man before Emperor Jianhong naturally has no concern for money. But I, Tong Fu San, hate nothing more in this life than powerful officials who use their status to bully people. This tiny, broken ship of mine cannot accommodate such a great Buddha as Your Lordship. Please leave!”
Fu Fu could feel Fu Xi Yan’s gaze landing very obviously on his face, as though asking, Exactly how did you abuse your power and bully people?
Tong Fu San himself did not manage to anger Fu Fu, but Fu Fu nearly died of anger at his own little bastard. Even so, he kept his voice polite. “Since Third Master recognizes me, then let us speak openly. I do not know how I offended Third Master previously or gave you the impression that I abuse my position. Enmity is better resolved than deepened. Why not explain the matter clearly?”
Tong Fu San sneered. “The mighty Count Yongfeng dares do it but doesn’t dare admit it?”
Fu Fu said, “How am I supposed to admit anything if you won’t tell me what it is?”
Tong Fu San stared at him with bloodshot eyes. “The Prefect of Jiangling is my brother-in-law!”
Huh?
They had considered the Rong family, the Chen family, and the Liu family.
Not one of them had anticipated this bizarre turn.
Mostly because…
“What does the Prefect of Jiangling have to do with us?”
Fu Xuan’s question was also the confusion shared by every member of the Fu family present.
Hadn’t the Prefect of Jiangling been reported by Liu Tan Du?
Tears filled Tong Fu San’s fierce eyes. “Liu Tan Du’s son Liu Huan and my niece grew up together as childhood sweethearts. They were extremely close, and the two families arranged their marriage long ago. This year, they were finally supposed to marry. Then, at exactly this moment, the person originally matched with the Fu family from the Liu family died, and the Liu family needed to find someone else to replace him. Count through the candidates and who does it fall to? Liu Huan! But to make that marriage happen, my niece naturally becomes a thorn in someone’s side. And wouldn’t you know it—before long, my brother-in-law’s entire family suddenly gets charged with colluding with the enemy and committing treason!”
Fu Fu and Fu Xuan exchanged looks.
They were not worms inside Emperor Jianhong’s stomach and naturally had no way of knowing the actual order of events: Liu Tan Du had first reported the Prefect of Jiangling, then the emperor had ordered him to propose Liu Huan in place of Liu Zhi Yuan for Fu Xia Qing in order to test Liu Yan Sheng. Hearing only Tong Fu San’s version now, even they became somewhat uncertain.
Fu Fu said, “Even if that were true, what does any of it have to do with our family?”
Tong Fu San said, “You’re going south. Aren’t you going there to seek refuge with Liu Tan Du? If you’re good people, then given your current circumstances, you’re even worse off than my brother-in-law was. Refusing to deliver you into the tiger’s mouth is me accumulating virtue. If you’re bad people and in league with Liu Tan Du, then naturally my family’s ship has even less reason to take you!”
Fu Xi Yan raised a hand. “Regarding this matter, I think I actually have some right to speak.”
Third Master said disdainfully, “This isn’t a Maitreya temple. What right does a fatty like you have to speak?”
Elio’s Notes: Maitreya is commonly depicted in Chinese popular imagery as the round-bellied Laughing Buddha. Tong Fu San is insulting Fu Xi Yan by associating his size with Maitreya.
Bang!
The table in front of Third Master shattered into pieces and crashed onto his feet, making him cry out repeatedly in pain.
The manager hurried over to support him and glared furiously at Fu Fu and the others. “What are you doing? You actually dare attack someone aboard a Tong family ship? Do you truly think there is no law?”
Fu Xi Yan stepped in front of Pei Yuan Jin and blinked innocently. “Nobody attacked anyone. We were all standing far away. Who touched him? Maybe your table has been sitting on a ship too long, absorbed moisture, and broke on its own?”
The manager stared at him resentfully, then directly ordered them out. “It was my mistake to arrange this meeting. Everyone, please leave.”
Fu Xi Yan said, “Before we go, I still have one thing to say. You claim the proposed marriage between our family and the Liu family destroyed your brother-in-law. But are you certain your brother-in-law was truly innocent?”
Third Master rubbed his foot while glaring viciously at him. “Of course! My brother-in-law was deeply loved by the people of Jiangling. Everyone there knows it. How could he possibly have colluded with a foreign state?”
Fu Xi Yan shook his head. “Whether he treated the common people well and whether he betrayed the state are two completely separate questions. Do you know where I spent the Lantern Festival?”
Without waiting for an answer, he continued himself.
“The Ministry of Justice prison.
“Do you know why I spent it there?
“Because your brother-in-law, the Prefect of Jiangling, confessed the existence of Southern Yu’s spy network!”
Third Master had come to Haojing specifically to investigate what had happened to his younger sister and brother-in-law, so naturally he knew about this. He sneered. “Once someone enters a government yamen, naturally you officials can make them say whatever you please! He’s a scholar. You expect me to believe he could withstand your torture?”
Fu Xi Yan said, “If your brother-in-law didn’t confess the Southern Yu spy network, then how did the Northern Zhou court find out about it? Don’t tell me the court knew all along, kept quiet, and waited specifically so it could frame your brother-in-law!”
Third Master fell silent.
He had come to Haojing under his father’s orders and spent a great deal of money bribing people for information, yet he had never managed to see his brother-in-law even once. Everything he knew about the truth came from public rumor and his own speculation. But in his understanding of the world, the Tong family owed everything it had today to his brother-in-law’s support. His brother-in-law was the finest man under Heaven. And naturally, the finest man under Heaven could not possibly commit treason.
The causal logic was nearly nonexistent.
Emotionally, however, it was extremely difficult to overturn.
As Vice Minister of War, Fu Fu knew more than an ordinary person. “Do you know where Prefect Huang’s ancestral home is?”
Third Master froze. “Qizhou, Shandong.”
“Tingzhou, Fujian.”
“That’s impossible! His accent is clearly northern.”
Fu Fu said, “He grew up in Qizhou with his father from childhood. Naturally, his accent followed the locals.”
Third Master said, “What proof do you have?”
Fu Fu said, “After Prefect Huang confessed, three hundred people in Haojing alone were implicated. My son was one of them. Is that not proof enough?”
Third Master sneered, looking as though he had finally caught Fu Fu in a contradiction. “By your own logic, that means your son is also a Southern Yu spy?”
“He is not a spy, but he truly did have contact with Southern Yu’s intelligence network.”
No matter what Fu Fu said, Third Master remained convinced that officials were shielding one another and refused to believe him. Fu Fu had known the moment he saw the man that the trip was going nowhere, so he felt no particular disappointment. He cupped his hands. “Meeting Third Master today has been illuminating. We have disturbed you.” Then he turned and left without hesitation.
After matters had deteriorated this badly, Fu Xi Yan naturally was not stupid enough to bring up selling them soap. He merely cast a few reluctant glances at the brightly colored cabin decoration before leaving.
Seeing his eyes repeatedly wander over the cabin, Pei Yuan Jin asked, “You want to burn it?”
Fu Xi Yan: “…You’re thinking too much.”
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