Chapter 12

Xie Ci was a man of his word. That very afternoon, after speaking with Gu Wan, he went to the left wing where Lady Xun was recuperating. Lady Xun’s complexion was still somewhat pale; after tending to his mother and giving her medicine, Xie Ci knelt solemnly at her bedside and reported his two decisions to her.

Lady Xun had always been gentle and kind, and though she had grown stronger these past days, she could not compare to someone like Second Sister-in-law Xie. When she heard Xie Ci’s intention to investigate the family’s affairs at the frontier, her blood seemed to drain from her face.

“Ah, truly, I know—Little Four must go.” By evening, the torrential rain had eased somewhat; drizzle danced upon the swaying branches of the apricot tree, scattering small green apricots across the ground, though many still clung stubbornly to the limbs. Second Sister-in-law Xie picked one up, wiped it, and popped it into her mouth, sighing at its tartness.

Her family name was Qin, given name Ying—a young woman of delicate features and spirited bearing. She rolled up her trousers and sat on the stone steps beside Gu Wan. The small courtyard was enveloped in the sound of rain, drowning out all worldly noise; through the curtain of water, the unchanging banana trees and tiled walls outside remained visible. Dusk approached, the evening breeze brought cool rain, refreshing and pleasant in this high summer.

“The men of the Xie family are all fools,” she murmured. Second Sister-in-law Xie was uneasy about letting Xie Ci go alone. The men of the Xie clan were strong, yes, but stubborn—unyielding by nature, prone to suffering losses. And once a loss was suffered, it lasted a lifetime.

She remembered the young man in black armor, riding slowly in spring winds, his red cloak glowing against his resolute brows; beneath the lanterns, he smiled, gentle and focused, his dark eyes shining brighter than the lights themselves. Her eyes stung at the memory; she blinked fiercely, pushed down the feeling, exhaled, and smiled softly at Gu Wan. “Our family can’t afford to lose anyone else.”

She discussed with Gu Wan, “I think, either you or I must go with him. Watch over him, remind or stop him when needed—that’s the only way.” Though she favored going herself, her hesitation lay with her two children, who had just lost their father.

As it turned out, Gu Wan was exceptionally clever. Everyone had grown through the upheaval, but Gu Wan’s transformation was the most impressive. Though young, she was one of only two women in the household capable and dependable. Second Sister-in-law Xie wanted to deliberate with Gu Wan about who should accompany Xie Ci: “One goes with Little Four, the other stays home. Let them work—don’t pity them. In two or three years, Ming Ming will be grown, and can take on family affairs. If you find a suitable match, marrying at eighteen or nineteen fits well.”

There were advantages and disadvantages to leaving or staying; Second Sister-in-law Xie couldn’t decide, but the arrangement of one handling each side was settled. She never treated Gu Wan as an outsider. In truth, neither did the Xie family. The original Gu Wan had spent ten years in the Xie household—the Loyal and Brave Duke’s residence was her home.

From the moment their house was raided, Second Sister-in-law Xie cared for everyone, including Gu Wan, who, once recovered from illness, joined her in looking after the family. Gu Wan believed that if she were less capable, lying about as a useless member, the Xie family would still care for her without complaint.

Ah, how difficult you make it for me! Gu Wan glanced at Second Sister-in-law Xie. Evening deepened, lamplight dimmed; the woman’s short attire could not hide her heroic beauty. In the fleeting years, under shifting lights, her gaze was like the surface of a summer lake—calm and powerful.

Second Sister-in-law Xie saw the young girl’s wide, bright eyes looking at her and smiled, tucking a stray lock behind Gu Wan’s ear. Gu Wan blushed and laughed, her ear tingling, scratching at it.

She looked away and spotted, under the eaves at the corner of the kitchen, a ten-year-old boy and girl, with a five-year-old lad, standing on stools to laboriously transfer rainwater from the storage tank into the kitchen jar.

Xie Fifth, and Second Sister-in-law Xie’s children. The three were sensible, always diligently doing their share.

That morning, the young girl had carried an umbrella, collected the larger, yellowing apricots fallen to the ground with her brother, arranged them on a plate, and distributed them to their grandmother, third aunt, sister, eldest brother, and then to their second aunt and uncle. Finally, clutching two big, yellow apricots, she ran to Gu Wan and said, “For Auntie to eat.”

“And you?” Gu Wan asked.

“We’re not eating.” The two children smiled shyly, holding hands and running back to the kitchen.

Gu Wan recalled from her predecessor’s memory the wild, grimy woman who leapt into a military garrison at night and slaughtered thirteen family members, and contrasted it with the composed, spirited beauty before her.

With Second Sister-in-law Xie present, Xie Ci and she might not disappear forever, but it was still a possibility.

Through shared adversity, Gu Wan and Xie Ci had formed a bond. The thought of him following his father and brothers, dying young and without even a whole body, made her deeply uncomfortable.

But no matter how much she argued internally, she could not reveal the truth or foretell events.

Ah, ah, ah! Second Sister-in-law Xie clearly favored going herself; Gu Wan sensed this and knew she should accept, but her mouth could not utter the words. She scratched her head, “Um… let me think, let me think.”

Second Sister-in-law Xie laughed, “All right, take your time—there’s no rush.”

Just then, the physician’s wife returned with groceries, banging on the door, and Second Sister-in-law Xie hurried up with an oil-paper umbrella to greet her.

Gu Wan scratched her head, flopped back weakly—oh, how hard this is!

After much deliberation, she could neither convince herself to go nor stay. But in the end, she didn’t need to hesitate; an event occurred that made her decide almost instantly.

Rain had poured for half a month, from the end of June into early July. At last, the skies cleared, and the long spell of gloomy weather ended—a bright dawn broke.

Early in the morning, Xie Ci and Gu Wan set out together.

They had heard that the upstream county of Qu had suffered a broken embankment, with widespread disaster. Now, with the rain stopped, the local districts began organizing the return and registration of refugees.

Xie Ci, upon hearing this, declared: “Now is the chance for household registration!”

Second Sister-in-law Xie produced a bundle of silver—during the prison break, many convicts had overturned the military wagons and escaped with loot; she had quick eyes and managed to grab several items herself.

Gu Wan clapped in delight, “Second Sister-in-law, you’re amazing!”

Second Sister-in-law Xie rolled her eyes, “Only the men of the Xie family are such fools.”

The two exchanged a look and shared a knowing smile.

With the silver, Xie Ci and Gu Wan set off for Qu County, while Second Sister-in-law Xie stayed home.

They hired a mule cart, traveling slowly. Gu Wan suggested, “Shouldn’t we hurry?”

She feared they might miss the opportunity.

But Xie Ci shook his head, “No need—it won’t move that quickly.”

Gu Wan thought it over—indeed, refugees wouldn’t move fast; the middle of the crowd was the safest place.

Xie Ci, experienced in the city’s underworld, led Gu Wan to Qu County, a bustling crossroads by the Fen River, already regaining its former vitality.

At the city gate, rows of grass huts had been erected; officials and clerks operated from there, registering refugees and disaster victims. Some could register in their home villages, with local leaders handling the records.

Those who fled with their household deeds and land contracts managed easily; but many had left in haste or had documents ruined by rain, so they followed the refugee procedures.

Xie Ci drove the mule cart straight into the city, weaving with Gu Wan through the district of flower houses and tile shops. After some observation and inquiry, they entered a pawnshop.

He wrote a note and slipped it behind the counter; the manager eyed them, then pointed to a side room.

Handling “false documents” was common, but now, many sought genuine registration.

There was another client ahead of them; the young clerk took both parties’ money, locked the cabinet, and led them to the city gate.

The clerk, practiced and efficient, found a short, mustachioed official, who waved them over to the last grass hut.

“Two families—three and two.”

“Should we register in Qing Township?” the clerk asked.

Xie Ci and Gu Wan had no objection, as they planned to move later anyway, while the other three wanted city registration.

The clerk replied, “Register here first; move later.”

City entry wasn’t immediate, nor at this price.

The three agreed, and the clerk copied their details from the note.

Overall, the registration went smoothly, but a small incident occurred.

That afternoon, the sun was fierce, grass curtains lowered for shade, but inside it was damp and hot. Gu Wan fanned herself with her collar, stepping back to catch a breeze at the doorway, when the door creaked and a captain handed in a paper, greeting the clerk, “Keep an eye out—see if you can earn these three thousand taels.”

In this business, everyone greased the wheels; the captain was friendly with the clerk.

The paper passed before them; Xie Ci and Gu Wan saw it clearly—“One man, five women, three boys, two girls—eleven in total. Among them: one twelve-year-old boy, one each aged ten and five; three- and ten-year-old girls; one man aged fifteen to twenty, handsome; an elderly woman in her forties or fifties…”

The captain grinned, “Check your files—maybe there’s such a household, or two that together fit the bill! Three thousand taels!”

The clerk grumbled, “Who’s searching for these people? That’s bad for business.”

Three thousand taels sounded like a lot, but for eleven people, thirty taels each—they’d make over three hundred. In this trade, reputation mattered; unlike the officials, they couldn’t afford to alienate everyone.

The captain whispered, “It’s the Prince of Tangshan’s house.”

Xie Ci and Gu Wan exchanged a swift glance.

—Luckily, they had planned ahead; Gu Wan would change her appearance later, use another agent in the entertainment district, then disperse the eleven people across the countryside, making them impossible to link together.

Gu Wan’s eyes flickered—not like Xie Ci, who suspected enemies, but at the mention of Tangshan, her mind raced.

—The original heroine, Yu Manzhen’s father, was an official of the Prince of Tangshan’s household.

Indeed, she soon heard the captain lower his voice, “The focus is finding this person…”

From her angle, Gu Wan saw the captain’s finger tap a spot on the paper.

“Female, sixteen years old, willow brows, almond eyes, oval face…”

Gu Wan paused, letting her hand drop to avoid drawing attention to her roughly drawn brows.

She thought, “Damn! This original heroine is toxic!”

Once the clerk finished, he asked, “Is that all?”

Gu Wan immediately nodded, “Yes, thank you!”

This was the only chance—no second shop down the road.

She didn’t want to be an undocumented person; if caught, she’d risk mutilation or branding.

Back in town, the floodwaters had receded. After several days of hot sun, temperatures soared. Gu Wan flopped on her bed, then jumped up, packed her clothes and shoes into a bundle.

To hell with the heroine!

Gu Wan pondered—she never underestimated the power of the state. Now, with a Prince’s household involved, the clerk grumbled; but what if it went higher?

She knew Yu Manzhen’s fatal secret—the source of her “capital.” If not for her status as the protagonist, Gu Wan wouldn’t care, but as Empress of the Southern Dynasty, the mother of the nation, with foreign affairs in her grasp, she had to consider carefully.

Those above only needed to speak—plenty of experts would hunt you down. With enough money and power, few things couldn’t be accomplished.

In her past life, Gu Wan did exactly this—she knew it all too well!

The small courtyard was narrow under the eaves. With her bundle on her back, Gu Wan dashed out, running straight into Xie Ci emerging from the main house.

He wore black cloth, dark boots, his sleeves bound tightly with black gauze. Xie Mingming’s wounds had healed, the Xie family had new registration, their relocation decided, and Xie Ci was soon to depart.

It was afternoon, sunlight slanting across the courtyard wall. They stood in the cool shadow, the breeze stirring his hair, his brows dark and sharp.

Gu Wan stopped short. “I’ve decided—I’ll go with you!”

At the moment she made her decision, she felt not the slightest unhappiness.

To hell with selling wine in taverns—she didn’t like that, it was Zhuo Wenjun’s business! That heroine would get what was coming, sooner or later!

She looked up at Xie Ci, flashing a sweet smile.

Boss, may I hold your thigh for support? Will you let me?