Late spring.
On the Xunyang River, the curtain of rain wavered. Mountains, waters, and pavilions blurred into a single mass.
A group boarded several small boats moored at the shore and sped away like arrows from the bowstring. The yamen constables pursued them to this spot but realized they couldn't catch up, so they turned back and went with their deputies to hunt down a few escaped criminals, preparing to close the case. However, there were too many filthy corners in the city hiding dirt; in such bad weather, one still escaped.
After a torrential rain, the weather cleared. Fearing delays in their cargo shipments, the merchants in the city set sail again on the waterways. The wharf was bustling with people. Cheng Bi followed several shopkeepers onto their family's large ship.
Meanwhile, Sixth Uncle Gu took advantage of the good sun, with the ground mud dried hard, and personally went to the mountain forest to inspect timber. At home, only Madam Qian, a female relative, was left. Hearing that Gu Lanyin was going to take a concubine, Madam Qian volunteered to handle the arrangements for her nephew's wife. The household seemed to have long anticipated this and took it in stride.
Wan Niang hid in her room embroidering children's clothes; it would be a lie to say she wasn't sad. Bao Niang had deceived and betrayed her, turning years of kindness flowing away like water. But this time she had helped her, and it felt like a weight had been lifted from her heart. She sat on the couch, with a large six-panel folding screen inlaid with purple nanmu and mother-of-pearl on one side, creating a small private space. Amidst the splendor of brocades, she resumed her needlework. Occasionally, a ridiculous thought would pop into Wan Niang's mind, but it was quickly dispelled. She rubbed her aching wrists, listening to the noise outside, and drowsiness washed over her. She hadn't dreamed for days, but just as she closed her eyes, she fell into one.
In the dream, Wan Niang viciously pushed Old Man Zhao into the river, then drove her mother out of the house, kicked her unborn brother into reincarnation. As for that bitch, someone handed her a knife, and she stabbed her through and through, one stab after another. After doing all this, Wan Niang woke with a start. Her head was dizzy and heavy; this didn't seem like something she would do.
As summer approached, plants grew wildly. Wan Niang sat for a long time, hearing sounds of congratulations outside. She propped her face on her hand, watching the dim twilight. Every time at this hour, she suspected a ghost would appear. Perhaps driven by some obsession, after staring for a while, a figure indeed appeared in her yellowed vision, just like that night. But now the plum blossoms had withered, frogs croaked everywhere, and the cicadas' chirping was still faint.
Gu Lanyin wore a plain white Daoist robe, his cap and belt neat and tidy. For such a proper man, on this day of taking a concubine, he was so plain—so plain it seemed like he was announcing a funeral. Wan Niang didn't know why he had come here, but seeing him approach, she still felt secretly delighted. Suppressing a smile, she deliberately asked, "Did Aunt do something wrong? Or is Bao Niang not to your liking?" Gu Lanyin looked at the pile of clothes, thought for a moment, and smiled at her: "Before I married you, I never imagined you could be so virtuous. Since you took the initiative to gift me a concubine, even if I don't like her, I must accept. However… you are also a bit muddled." He patted her head. Wan Niang only reached his shoulder. When she looked up at him, she had another absurd illusion. He looked very much like her own father. Such eyes, such gestures… Wan Niang frowned and stepped back. Gu Lanyin would not let her dodge. "Let's go." "Where to?" Wan Niang, led by him, followed step by step behind.
From Tongqi Pavilion to Pine Wind Lodge where Bao Niang currently stayed, it was only a few steps away, but one of the paths was overgrown with vegetation. This time of year, in the evening, it seemed quite remote; she usually avoided it, but he insisted on dragging her through. Wan Niang touched her belly, about to ask him to slow down, but as they turned a corner, Gu Lanyin suddenly stopped. "Someone's coming." Wan Niang was completely confused. The servants around him were few, and Pine Wind Lodge usually had no one around, so the courtyard gate was mostly locked. Today was the concubine-taking, the gate was open—wasn't it normal for people to come? "Someone you know," Gu Lang said in her ear. Separated by a wall, he took out a Western pocket watch from his sleeve to check the time. Wan Niang didn't know what Gu Lang was up to, but in this overgrown, disorderly place, she felt a faint thrill, as if she were about to do something bad. Gu Lang leaned against the wall, then stared at the dark green treetops, lost in thought. As the sky gradually darkened, the sounds from the other side of the wall grew louder. She listened intently, first blushing, then realizing that with Gu Lang by her side, the man inside the room couldn't be him, and her face turned pale. "Call someone quickly!" She turned to go save her, but Gu Lanyin didn't stop her; he just watched until she reached the end, then she stopped and walked back. "Come with me." He tilted his head, as if seeing her clearly for the first time, and smiled: "Very well."
Gu Lanyin walked unhurriedly forward. At the entrance, Shan Ming stood with his hands in his sleeves, like a door god. There was also a crowd, all drawn by the sounds inside. Seeing the young master and young mistress here, they were puzzled and started murmuring, craning their necks, surrounding the place completely. Only at this moment did Shan Ming seem to notice him. The sturdy man bellowed, "Not good!" and charged in with the guards. The lanterns under the eaves had been changed to red ones. In late spring and early summer, faint glimmers lit the darkness, accompanied by the sound of swords and blades. Wan Niang stood beside Gu Lanyin, watching as if at a play. At the finale, the lead actor finally appeared on stage, revealing everything to the crowd. The dirty, tall man was stabbed several times by the guards, staggering forward as if unwilling to die or seeing hallucinations. In his dying moments, he grabbed another knife from Shan Ming's waist and, in a flash of lucidity, slashed wildly at the crowd, scaring the maids and servants into fleeing like birds and beasts.
Wan Niang's face instantly turned deathly pale as she recognized that face. Seeing that she also wanted to flee, Gu Lanyin held her head and forced her to look at the disheveled man in the courtyard. "Do you see the blood on him?" "It's Bao Niang's." "The two people you hated most, I've dealt with them for you." Zhang Tu had followed them all the way to Xunyang. At first, Gu Lanyin had been patient and simply beat him half to death before handing him over to the authorities. Zhang Tu should have been locked up there for life, but unexpectedly that gang of river bandits did a "good deed." However, it was just as well, because someone at home was also preparing another "good deed" for him. "Now good things come in pairs—double happiness at the door," he said gently, looking at her trembling form. "Aren't you overjoyed?" Wan Niang shook her head, her eyes full of blood. When she closed her eyes, all she could see was Bao Niang's face. "You had planned this all along… It was you who killed Bao Niang!" Tears as large as pearls streamed from the corners of her eyes, and she was so distressed she could barely speak. Gu Lanyin looked at the fragile girl; his smile faded into cold eyes. "Blame me for killing Bao Niang and ruining your plan?" Gu Lanyin pulled her inside the room. Shan Ming had already opened the windows. The side room that was supposed to house Bao Niang was now a mess. The plump, chubby girl was completely naked, her skin still a flushed, unnatural red. Wan Niang staggered to her side. Seeing Bao Niang's eyes wide open in death, she burst into sobs. After crying enough, she turned to Gu Lanyin and sobbed accusingly, "You drugged her?!" "Just returning a favor." Gu Lanyin patted her head heavily and bent down to say, "Don't try these petty tricks with me from now on. Otherwise, don't even think about keeping that child in your belly." He knew everything! Wan Niang's face was drained of color; she could only hug Bao Niang's corpse and weep bitterly. She hadn't wanted her to die, only to teach her a lesson. "How could you be so ruthless! You're hardly a scholar…" "I've read a few books, but I dare not call myself a scholar. However, there is a saying: 'A man cannot be a man without ruthlessness.' Since my wife is muddled, as her husband, I naturally need to keep my eyes open." She was still sobbing, and Gu Lanyin sighed. "If you keep crying, when the child is born, get out!" For once, his tone was severe. Wan Niang seemed frightened, lifted her head, her tear-filled eyes meeting his, and silently two streams of tears flowed down. Gu Lanyin looked at her coldly, then finally forced a smile. "Have you cried enough?" Wan Niang wiped her face roughly with her sleeve and stood up trembling. The household members all came to support, but by then matters had already settled. Among them, Madam Qian was the most grieved. For no other reason than that she had botched the matter. She blamed herself repeatedly, finally sobbing in front of her nephew. Gu Lanyin was very considerate, asking Bai Long to help her rest, while he took care of the aftermath.
However, before one wave subsided, another arose. The next day, his large boat on the lake was robbed again. The entire Gu family was in mourning; even Sixth Uncle Gu couldn't help sighing, lamenting the state of the world. Gu Lanyin was haggard for several days, leaving early and returning late. Everyone assumed he was reporting to the authorities and dealing with the business mess. Little did they know that on the evening of the sixth day, Cheng Bi returned with him, carrying a man on his shoulder. Just like in his previous life. Gu Lanyin paid to set a trap, and the authorities exerted efforts to capture them. That gang of river bandits was almost completely wiped out. Unexpectedly, this time Jiang Cha fell into his hands, but his leader had actually escaped!
Gu Lanyin recalled the few subtle changes after his rebirth and repeatedly read the letters that Shen Qiu had sent back from outside. The longer the time, the more variables. And to find one person in the vast sea of humanity was no different from looking for a needle in the ocean. He lowered his head in thought, realizing that in this life, he had never found any trace of her again. Where on earth had He Ping'an gone… He flipped through the tattered book she had left behind; he had clearly read it thousands of times, but no matter how much he looked, it came down to just two words: fate. Could it be that the fate between them was exhausted in this life? Gu Lanyin closed his eyes, still unwilling to accept it. He looked at the box of ashes he had brought and tapped it three times with his finger.
In the dark night, the candle flame flickered faintly. The young man recalled the things He Ping'an had said, finding no trace of sleep. He threw on a robe, picked up a lantern, walked through the back of the house, and entered the kitchen. Cheng Bi thought the young master was hungry, but when he saw him sticking three incense sticks into a bowl of white rice, a chill went down his spine. He had followed the young master for so many years and knew him best. The young master never believed in such things. At this moment, the oil lamp in the corner flickered continuously. Outside the window, which occupied half the wall, tree shadows swayed unceasingly, dark and viscous like water, slowly seeping over the threshold. He felt a creepy sensation. "Young master, are you possessed by a ghost?" He couldn't help asking. Gu Lanyin glanced at him and smiled slightly: "If I were possessed, I'd slap you." Cheng Bi laughed, hugged his knife tight, and relaxed a little. The master and servant stayed up until the fifth watch, and the three incense sticks in the corner didn't go out until dawn.
*
After summer arrived, the pagoda tree blossoms in the mansion were at their peak, hanging heavily from the branches like strings of lanterns. Wan Niang's belly gradually swelled. Afraid of the heat, she rarely went out. Gu Lang was busy with business all day, and the couple seeing each other was as rare as the Cowherd and the Weaver Girl meeting on the Magpie Bridge. Soon it would be five months, and Wan Niang began to think of a pet name for the child. Bai Long accompanied her every day. Seeing that her heart and eyes were full of this child, she became even more cautious, afraid that if something went wrong, the young master would take it out on her. After all, Bao Niang was a precedent. These days the heat was intense. Sixth Uncle Gu had sent a lot of ice, but Bai Long was afraid Wan Niang might catch cold, so she made sure she wore an extra layer.
Wan Niang wore a peach-red outer robe, her cheeks round. She thought hard on the couch and smiled: "Bai Long, how about we name the child Brother Huai?" "Why that name? What if it's a girl?" "There are so many pagoda trees outside; seeing them, I thought this name is good. Isn't there an old saying, 'A pagoda tree in the courtyard brings promotion and wealth'?" She patted her belly and said with a smile, "If it's a girl, then… let's call her Little Ping'an." Bai Long's hand trembled, inexplicably feeling that this name sounded familiar. But she couldn't recall it right away. She scratched her head, keeping it to herself, but when she brought the young master his dinner in the evening, she casually mentioned this little matter. To her surprise, the young master almost smashed the whole table of dishes. He rarely lost control like that, scaring Bai Long. "Does this name violate some taboo?" The young master said nothing and pulled out his knife again. Gu Lanyin looked at her panicked expression, exhaled a deep breath, and approached with the knife: "Say that again." Bai Long covered her mouth and shook her head frantically. "Speak!" The terrified girl whimpered, "The young mistress wants to name the child in her belly… if it's a girl, she'll call her Little Ping'an." "No…" Gu Lanyin covered his head; in an instant, his headache became severe. His vision went dark, and Bai Long's words echoed in his ears. He didn't know how he ended up in Wan Niang's room, but the moment he saw her face, he couldn't stand steady. "Gu Lang, what's wrong?" Wan Niang looked at him with concern. Although Gu Lang was sometimes stern, they were still husband and wife. Wan Niang said sympathetically, "Your head hurts badly. I'll call a doctor." "No!" He wasn't sick. Gu Lanyin touched her swollen belly; his dark eyes gleamed with a hint of madness, and he used a bit of force, scaring Wan Niang into stepping back repeatedly. She clutched her belly and called for Cheng Bi to fetch a doctor. Cheng Bi secretly watched the young master, feeling uneasy himself. He felt that a doctor was far less useful than a Daoist priest. The young master looked clearly possessed. Back in the hometown, he had taken the young master to dig graves and bury coffins; a few days ago, he had taken him to offer sacrifices to ghosts at midnight; and now, for a pet name, he was drawing a knife. Frowning with worry, he did his best to hold the young master and drag him out.
It was dusk, the surroundings dark and dim; the burning clouds had extinguished their brightness, leaving only a field of ash. Gu Lanyin's eyes were red; he gritted his teeth and told him to get lost. Cheng Bi used all his strength, then suddenly a flash of inspiration struck: "Young master, do you remember that river bandit we captured?" Gu Lanyin stared at him: "I had almost forgotten if you hadn't mentioned it." Cheng Bi silently recited "Amitabha," and when he looked up again, the young master still had a gloomy expression, but he had recovered a shred of rationality. Standing under a tree, panting, he punched the trunk. "Let's go." Cheng Bi supported him, and they led the way to the yamen prison.
It was damp and stuffy inside. The prisoners on both sides were listless. The further in, the stronger the stench of rot and blood. Cheng Bi had already bribed the guards all the way up; when they came late at night, the master and servant passed through without obstruction. The jailer opened the door to Jiang Cha's cell. After being locked up for months, Jiang Cha's spirit was greatly subdued, but when he saw the culprit, he still didn't mince words, spewing obscenities loudly. However, Gu Lanyin seemed to hear nothing. He rolled his horsewhip and asked word by word: "Do you still remember He Ping'an?" "He Ping'an? Who's that?" Jiang Cha had never heard of her and guessed, "Your whore outside?" A vicious whip lashed down. The tip of the whip swept across his face, splitting the corner of his eye. The boy who had been chattering fell silent instantly. "I'll ask you one more time: where is He Ping'an?" "I don't know—mmph!" Before he finished speaking, Gu Lanyin dropped the horsewhip and threw a punch. Jiang Cha's limbs were not bound, so he retaliated with a punch. Seeing them scuffling, the nearby jailers and Cheng Bi quickly pulled him away; Cheng Bi even snuck a kick at him. Outnumbered, Jiang Cha was dragged out and beaten severely, lying on the ground black and blue, panting. He squinted his swollen eyes at the frail scholar, licked the blood at the corner of his mouth, and couldn't understand what madness had possessed him. Gu Lanyin had taken a punch to the face; the pain pulled at his thoughts. He sat in the stinking prison cell and regained some composure. Looking at the familiar face, he let out a self-deprecating laugh. "You're about to have a son. What do you want to name him?" The man who had just been unreasonable was now asking about this. Jiang Cha's mind raced quickly, and he suddenly recalled the affair in spring. "So I stole your wife… you cuckold, are you going to raise my son for me?" Gu Lanyin stepped on his wound, bent down, and said softly with a smile: "When it's born, I'll chop it up and feed it to you. How about that?" "You! You beast!" Jiang Cha flew into a rage and jumped up to hit him, but the jailers had already bound him tightly. He strained so hard that his veins bulged, but he couldn't move an inch. "So your ears aren't deaf. I'm asking you, what are you going to name the child?" Jiang Cha looked at the half-smile on his face and spat fiercely. Cheng Bi slapped his face, twisting it to the side. The gash above his eye hadn't clotted yet and started bleeding again, making it look like tears. Jiang Cha was alone and helpless, and the man was still pressing him for a name. His chest heaved violently; his vision began to blur. He blinked a few times, and that beast in human clothing was still waiting patiently. He finally gave up and said, "Salt, oil, soy sauce, vinegar, tea—call him Rice!" The jailers around laughed. And Gu Lanyin, as if he had gotten the answer he wanted, actually let him go.
After leaving the prison, Cheng Bi couldn't help whispering, "Young master… you're not really going to call him Gu Rice, are you?" Gu Lanyin retorted, "Do you think it sounds good?" "As stupid as his real father." Gu Lanyin mounted his horse with a heavy heart. The moonlight on the long street was frighteningly bright. He looked at the faint shadows, thinking of something. At the gate, he said to Cheng Bi with a smile: "Take the homophone 'li' (carp) and call him Gu Li." Coincidentally, Shen Qiu's daughter was also about to be born. One Gu Li, one Gu Yu. It was destined. As for He Ping'an, she would return sooner or later. After all, her daughter and her mother were both with him.
Author's note: Thanks for reading.