Chapter Three: Bloody Coercion into Marriage Chapter Twenty-Three: Grievances Fade into Oblivion

“So, what you want is what my father left for me, isn’t it?” Yu Bing didn’t answer them, but instead raised her voice to the men in black, “I can give it to you. But can you promise not to hurt him?”

“Yu Bing? You really intend to give it to them? Have you thought this through? Because of that thing, your entire family was massacred! Over three hundred lives! Are you really willing to hand it over just like that? Can you bear it?” Zhang Huai grew anxious. Seeing her on the verge of compromising with evil, he hurriedly tried to stop her, his voice rising so that everyone could hear.

“Over three hundred lives?” Kai Xin hesitated, torn between saving her father and not wanting Yu Bing to bow her head to the murderers of her family.

“Heavens! Over three hundred lives?” The county magistrate was appalled; what a monstrous case this was!

“Kai Xin’s friend! Don’t give in to evil! This old man is already half buried in the earth! I am not worth it!” All at once, Ye Qing seemed invigorated, gathering all his strength to speak in a resonant voice to Kai Xin. “Kai Xin, don’t be sad! With a friend like her, your father is proud of you! You must protect her well! There are not many righteous people like her left in this world! When I pushed your mother to her death, I no longer wished to live. If not for wanting to see you once more, I would have died long ago! Now my wish is fulfilled, and with such a decent friend by your side, I can die with no regrets!”

With that, Ye Qing twisted his neck forcefully, pressing it against the blade!

Blood spilled across the ground! Lifeless, Ye Qing fell slowly with his eyes closed but wearing a faint smile...

With their leverage lost, the men in black immediately signaled to their companions to retreat toward the wall by the prison yard...

Zhang Huai led General Zhu and the others in pursuit of the fleeing men in black, engaging them in close combat...

Yu Bing hurried to Ye Qing’s side, grabbing his clothes to press against the wound that gushed blood. At the same time, silver needles flashed in her right hand, stabbing into the acupoints around the injury, desperately trying to stem the flow.

Alas! No medical skill can save someone who has resolved to die.

“Father!” Kai Xin’s anguished cry pierced the heavens, and in her fury, a mouthful of blood burst from her lips. Without a care, she raised her sword and thrust it at the leader of the men in black, whose clothes were stained with her father’s blood.

“Courting death!” The leader dodged a few attacks, then stopped retreating. With a flick of his hand, countless chopsticks hovered before him. Before Kai Xin’s sword tip could reach him, the dense array of chopsticks shot forward to meet her attack!

She had no way to evade. Just as Zhang Huai readied his folding fan and Yu Bing her silver needles, Xu Liang leapt to block the chopsticks...

A series of dull thuds sounded as chopsticks pierced flesh, and blood blossomed in the air! Kai Xin watched, eyes wide, as Xu Liang—whom she resented, even wished dead—spat blood and collapsed at her feet.

“Liang’er!” Though he’d often disappointed him and she once thought of avenging the Ye family by killing him, in this moment, all grudges vanished—he was, after all, her own flesh and blood.

With tears glistening in his tiger eyes, Lord Xu hurried to where his son had fallen, gently lifting his lifeless body while sobbing and scolding, “You useless boy! Look at the company you keep! I taught you right from wrong, virtue and humility since you were small. Why could you never learn? Always fighting and brawling, picking up every bad habit! Now look! You’ve lost your life! Are you satisfied? Are you? What am I, an old man, supposed to do now? My son...”

Seeing Xu Liang’s body riddled with chopsticks, blood pooling beneath him, Kai Xin’s hatred melted away in an instant.

She went to her father and carefully arranged his clothes. She’d promised herself not to cry, but tears rolled down her cheeks nonetheless.

While everyone mourned Ye Qing’s passing, the remaining fugitives quietly scaled the wall and escaped.

Yu Bing approached Lord Xu and, seeing the life gone from Xu Liang, wanted to say something but could not find the words. Instead, Lord Xu spoke first, “Say nothing. I know Liang’er brought this on himself. I blame no one.” Suddenly, Yu Bing thought he seemed much older.

As he carried Xu Liang’s body away, Lord Xu invited Yu Bing, “Seven days from now, I’ll be waiting for you at my residence. I hope you will come.” Without waiting for a reply, he strode out of the county office.

General Zhu left some men to assist the magistrate with the aftermath; the rest followed Lord Xu out.

Zhang Huai asked a few soldiers to carry Ye Qing’s body back. Kai Xin looked at Yu Bing, hesitated to speak, and then left as well.

Watching the bustle before her, Yu Bing began to doubt herself: Was what she’d done truly the right thing?

“What’s wrong?” Zhang Huai, seeing her lost in thought, asked with concern.

“I’m wondering if I made a mistake...” Yu Bing blurted out, but then caught herself. “No, it’s nothing!” She tried to cover her embarrassment and fled.

“What are you hiding in your heart?” Zhang Huai gripped his folding fan tightly, having never seen her so flustered before.

At the Elegant Residence Inn, in Orchid Valley Room.

Yu Bing leaned against the bed, staring at the opened bundle on the table, her mind a tangled mess of questions:

Because of this bundle, my family lost over three hundred lives eight years ago. Eight years later, Miss accidentally opened it, and Ma Tian died! It drew out Su Liuyun, and for the first time I heard her master was also searching for what my father left. Three months later, Ye Qing is dead! Xu Liang is dead! Still, it’s because this persistent master seeks the bundle.

Who is this master, truly? Man or woman? What is their purpose in seeking the bundle? How is all this connected to my father? Could it all relate to the upheaval in the palace eight years ago? What happened in the palace back then? Why does the storm linger even after eight years?

Time, wrapped in questions, passed swiftly. In the blink of an eye, seven days had gone by.

Today was the day Lord Xu had invited Yu Bing to his residence. She rose early, prepared herself, took up the bundle, and prepared to leave.

“You’re really going?” Zhang Huai blocked her at the door. “He just lost his only son because of you. Are you sure it’s safe? Not a trap?”

“I trust him, just as I trust you,” Yu Bing replied firmly, pushing past him toward the door.

“I’m uneasy. I’m coming too!” After a moment’s thought, Zhang Huai followed.

“You can come,” Yu Bing said after a moment, “but you must promise me one thing.”

“What is it?”

“When we’re there, don’t look at what you shouldn’t, don’t listen to what you shouldn’t, and don’t speak when you shouldn’t.”

“I promise.”

At the Xu residence, white mourning banners hung over the gate.

“A few days ago, the place was full of red and joy. Now, look—nothing but grief! Ah, how unpredictable life is,” Zhang Huai, forgetting his promise, blurted out as soon as they arrived, causing Yu Bing to want to kick him.

Seeing Yu Bing’s sour expression, Zhang Huai awkwardly fell silent.

“You must be Young Master Zhang and Miss Yu. My lord has been expecting you!” The gatekeeper, seeing two such handsome visitors, hurried to greet them.

“Then may we trouble you to lead the way?” Yu Bing said politely, stepping forward.

“Not at all. Please, follow me.” The old servant quickly turned to lead them.

They passed through corridors and gardens, finally arriving at their destination. Yu Bing looked up: the Xu family ancestral hall.

“Yu Bing, something feels off. Are you sure you want to go in?” Zhang Huai had been nervous the whole way, and now, seeing Lord Xu had set the meeting here, felt even more uneasy.

“We’re already here. It wouldn’t do not to go in and see. Besides, I trust your martial skills!” With that, Yu Bing pushed open the doors and stepped inside.

“Yu…” Zhang Huai tried to stop her, but it was too late. He could only follow.

Before the many ancestral tablets hung a strange painting, and Lord Xu stood before it, studying it intently.

“My lord, Young Master Zhang and Miss Yu have arrived,” the servant announced softly at Lord Xu’s side.

“I know. You may go.” Once the servant had left, Lord Xu turned and, seeing Zhang Huai, immediately advanced and knelt in greeting: “Your servant greets the Crown Prince!”

“This…” Zhang Huai was caught off guard, glancing awkwardly at Yu Bing. He hadn’t meant to conceal his identity; she’d simply never asked.

“Yu Bing, commoner, pays her respects to Your Highness!” Yu Bing knelt and saluted in proper form.

“Oh, this is why I didn’t want to tell you! If I’d known, I wouldn’t have asked you to invite Lord Xu. Now look at all this formality—no fun at all!” Zhang Huai hurried to lift Lord Xu. “Please rise, sir. If you don’t, she won’t either!”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

“Thank you, Your Highness.”

After giving thanks, they rose. Zhang Huai took the seat of honor, and Lord Xu and Yu Bing followed suit.

“Your Highness, I apologize for my son’s behavior. My failure to raise him well has disturbed you—I am deserving of death!” As he spoke, Lord Xu began to kneel again.

Zhang Huai, exasperated, stopped him. “Lord Xu, there are only three of us here. There’s no need for so many formalities!”

“Thank you for your understanding, Your Highness.” Seeing Zhang Huai’s insistence, Lord Xu yielded.

“Sir, whatever you wish to discuss, you can speak with Yu Bing. I’m only here to accompany her today.” Fearing the rigid Lord Xu would start bowing again, Zhang Huai quickly pushed Yu Bing forward as a shield.

“Yes, I obey, Your Highness.” Even as he spoke, Lord Xu made as if to rise and salute again.

“All right, I’ll leave. You two talk at your leisure!” Zhang Huai, half amused and half helpless, got up to leave. With such a stickler for ceremony, if he didn’t leave, the old man might bow all day, and nothing else would get done! If he couldn’t handle it, at least he could escape.