The next day, Shao Shang woke up early. Before dawn, she instructed the guards to wake Lou Yao so they could quickly set off back to Hua County town. Lou Yao had wanted to bid farewell to his idol before leaving, but a single glare from his fiancée made him obedient.
Teacher Huangfu had spent the entire night weeping and sighing, with Yuan Shen constantly attending to him. According to Lou Yao’s inquiries, Huangfu Yi had initially only grieved for half the night, but then Yuan Shen—whether to motivate his mentor or out of habitual sharp-tonguedness—provoked Huangfu Yi into another fit of chest-beating, disheveled hair, and robe-tearing hysteria until daybreak. The self-inflicted consequence was that Yuan Shen was now dozing by his teacher’s bedside.
In the chilly early morning, the carriages of the Lou and Cheng families quietly slipped out the gate of the Secluded Residence. Shao Shang had intended to leave without notice, expecting some trouble with the gate guards, but to her surprise, the soldiers informed her that Lord Ling had already led the Black Armor Army away in the middle of the night, braving the frost. Before departing, he had instructed them to let Shao Shang and Lou Yao leave quietly if they wished to go.
Lou Yao’s face fell with disappointment—he had hoped his idol would be recuperating here so he could frequently ride over from the county town to visit. Shao Shang, however, felt a sense of absurdity, like waking up before dawn in high spirits to memorize vocabulary, only to find the overachiever next door had already been studying since midnight.
Then, the gate guard respectfully led out Shao Shang’s Small Chariot, only for her to see a tall, glossy black horse tethered to the carriage shaft. Shao Shang exclaimed, “Where’s my yellow-maned pony?”
The gate guard smiled. “Lord Ling exchanged it for the Young Lady before he left. The lord said there’s an art to choosing carriage horses. If one only travels leisurely within the city, a small pony of even height with the carriage seat will suffice. But for outings beyond the city, the horse’s height should ideally be between the canopy and the carriage body—otherwise, it’s both laborious and bumpy.”
Grateful, Shao Shang turned to Lou Yao and said, “When we return to the Capital City, you must thank Elder Brother on my behalf.”
But Lou Yao, unwilling to part from his fiancée, hesitated. “Once we’re both back in the Capital City, let’s go together to thank him.”
In all his years, whether at home or elsewhere, he had never had a companion as perfectly suited to him as Shao Shang. Though a woman, she was open-minded and bold in taking the lead. If confined to a shabby, humble dwelling, most noble young ladies would either frown in displeasure or endure patiently, waiting for circumstances to improve. But Shao Shang neither endured nor waited—she would eagerly draft plans, seek craftsmen, and set about laying floors to ward off dampness, repairing the roof while reinforcing the beams, and so on.
The girl had once said, “Only in desolation can one truly spread their wings and achieve great things. If everything is already splendid, what’s left to do—open a few more Brocade shops? Well, though that’s not necessarily bad either.” In the era she came from, when it came to fiery ambition and fearless pioneering, it likely ranked among the top three in all of history.
Lou Yao found these words brimming with both vision and courage, so he casually included them in a letter to his uncle and father as key evidence of how amazing his fiancée was. The young couple spent their days discussing worldly affairs, reading, joking, and enjoying each other’s company. In the presence of his new fiancée, Lou Yao no longer felt insecure or timid—he even began to seriously contemplate what he wanted to do in the future and how to achieve it.
Shao Shang thought about it and agreed—showing gratitude required sincerity, and it would be better to personally prepare gifts and visit.The small chariot was indeed transformed after changing horses. The large black steed was well-trained and steady in temperament. At the sound of the whip, it would start pulling the carriage on its own at a moderate, steady pace, making Shao Shang's ride quite comfortable.
Upon returning to the county office, Shao Shang intended to seek out Sang Shi immediately, but she happened to run into Cheng Zhi, who was just about to go inspect the city defenses. He immediately put on the airs of an elder, his face stern, first making Lou Yao stand aside, then dragging his niece to a side room to scold her.
Unfortunately, his attempt at authority came too late. Before he could say more than a couple of words, Shao Shang blurted out, "Uncle, you're so lucky! If Teacher Huangfu Yi hadn't been so arrogant and self-righteous, how could you have married Aunt?!"
Cheng Zhi immediately deflated and grumbled, "I knew Huangfu Yi had ulterior motives keeping you and A Yao there! What's the point of dredging up old history? It's not like I stole her from him—Shunhua was the one who proposed to me!"
Shao Shang was shocked and whispered, "Aunt proposed to you? You're lying!"
Cheng Zhi said stiffly, "Your aunt is a kind person. At the time, she proposed to me privately, saying that if I wasn't willing, no one would know, so I wouldn't feel awkward refusing and having to face the mountain master and Senior Brother Sang."
Shao Shang had to believe him and asked, "Uncle, did you marry her just because she proposed? Don't you love her?"
Cheng Zhi's handsome face flushed red as he awkwardly stroked his beard. "Well, that... naturally, I also... ahem..."
"If you won't say, then I'll tell Aunt!" Shao Shang turned to go tattle, making Cheng Zhi hastily pull back this little troublemaker. He cursed himself for being full of nonsense—why hadn't he left the "scolding the niece for staying out all night" job to his wife? Lecturing and moralizing were the Sang family's ancestral skills—why had he tried to put on airs and ended up in this mess?
"Alright, alright, I'll talk!" Cheng Zhi craned his neck to check that no one was around before continuing, "When I went to White Deer Mountain, Huangfu Yi had already fled into exile. When I first met your aunt, I didn't think much of her. To be honest, I'd look prettier in women's clothing than her."
"If Uncle is so bold, why don't you say that to Aunt's face?" Shao Shang wouldn't let Sang Shi be slighted, even if it meant rebuking her own uncle.
"If you're going to nitpick, I won't say anything else!" Cheng Zhi pretended to leave.
Shao Shang sighed and had to compromise.
Cheng Zhi continued, "Later, I saw how this delicate woman endured the elders' punishments and gossip, managing everything here and helping there, sometimes so exhausted she could barely straighten her back. I truly admired her."
"What gossip? How could anyone speak ill of Aunt when she's so virtuous?"
Cheng Zhi muttered, "Of course there was. The noble ladies in the city didn't dare wait for Huangfu Yi themselves, but they criticized your aunt, saying an ordinary-looking woman like her was lucky to marry someone like Huangfu Yi, so of course she'd cling to him desperately."
"Ugh! If only I'd been there—I'd have torn their mouths off one by one!" Shao Shang spat.
"But up to that point, I only felt pity and goodwill for her. Later, when Emperor Li was defeated, the Huangfu family no longer had to hide. Though Huangfu Yi hadn't returned yet, everyone knew his future would be bright. But then, your aunt suddenly wanted to break off the engagement."Cheng Zhi struck the doorframe forcefully and continued, "Everyone thought Huangfu Yi missing the birthday banquet was just a trivial matter and urged your aunt to let it go. But who knew she would stubbornly refuse, enduring everyone's criticism, and still called off the engagement. Ah, my heart ached terribly at the time. I knew she wasn’t drawn to Huangfu Yi’s fame or looks, nor was she after wealth or status. What she sought was simply genuine sincerity and affection... Unfortunately, I had neither achieved success in my career nor came from a prominent family. How could I have dared to speak up?"
"So that’s how it was," Shao Shang nodded.
Cheng Zhi shot his niece an exasperated glance. Not only had his attempt to lecture her failed, but he’d also ended up revealing many old stories. No wonder even Elder Sister Yuan Yi couldn’t keep her in check! Seeing that it was getting late, he could only leave in frustration.
Shao Shang grabbed Lou Yao, who had been waiting outside, and hurried toward the rear quarters. Sang Shi, seated calmly in the inner chambers, didn’t ask a single question about her niece and future nephew-in-law’s overnight absence. Instead, she first insisted the two have a bowl of steaming Soup Cake in her room. As soon as Shao Shang swallowed the last bite, she eagerly encouraged Lou Yao to go practice with weapons like swords and spears at the Martial Arts Field—so he could show off next time he met his idol.
Lou Yao widened his eyes and laughed, "No need to send me away—I’ll leave on my own. Why bother with such a flimsy excuse?" He was sharp enough to realize his fiancée also wanted to have a private talk with Sang Shi.
Shao Shang said, "Fine. Please excuse yourself for a while. I have something to discuss with Aunt."
Lou Yao replied, "...You should still use an excuse—it sounds more tactful."
Sang Shi had been holding back laughter the whole time. Once Shao Shang had sent Lou Yao away and dismissed the maids, she said, "Alright, out with it. What did Huangfu Yi tell you?" As if she didn’t know the true nature of her ex-fiancé?!
Shao Shang quickly summarized what Huangfu Yi had said the previous night and then asked, "...Aunt, everything he told me was true, wasn’t it? He didn’t deceive me?"
After listening quietly, Sang Shi curled her lips in mockery. "What a devoted son he is. In such a convoluted story, he managed to leave out the most crucial person."
Shao Shang’s face lit up with an ‘I knew it’ expression. She slapped the table and exclaimed, "I knew it! It’s that orphan girl, right? Teacher Huangfu must have left out a lot about her!"
"Are your ears on backward? I said ‘devoted son’!" Sang Shi poked her niece’s forehead, laughing and scolding. Then she scoffed, "As for Qi Shi, she’s not even worth mentioning. Playing the pitiful, helpless orphan act, thinking she could fool everyone. In the end, she got what she wanted—entering the household as Madam Huangfu. But has she been happy since?"
Shao Shang froze. "Ah, so she... she still married him..." If Uncle Cheng Zhi was a scoundrel, then Huangfu Yi was the scoundrel’s scoundrel! Last night, he had spoken so earnestly and pitifully, insisting ‘that orphan girl was not even one ten-thousandth of my fiancée,’ yet he ended up marrying her?!
Seeing her niece on the verge of exploding, Sang Shi chuckled. "Don’t get worked up. Trust me, Qi Shi marrying him was the greatest punishment for her. All these years, her life has probably been no better than a prisoner’s."
Shao Shang calmed down, lost in thought.
Sang Shi continued, "The person Huangfu Yi left out was his mother, Tu Furen."
Shao Shang clicked her tongue. Great—a white lotus mistress, a malicious mother-in-law, the whole package. Thankfully, her aunt had escaped cleanly. Otherwise, how could she and Uncle now spend their days flaunting their affection without a care for how nauseating it was for everyone else?"What's the matter with Tu Furen? Didn't they say all the widows and orphans of the Huangfu family were under your care later? Eating your food and using your resources, yet she dares to put on airs before you?"
Sang Shi smiled: "She didn't actually eat my food or use my resources. After Huangfu's uncle passed away early, she remarried—Huangfu Yi wasn't even five yet. But... neither of her remarriages went well..."
"Remarried twice?!" Shao Shang inexplicably felt a surge of envy. "Tu Furen is quite capable, isn't she?"
Sang Shi snorted. "Tu Furen was exceptionally beautiful and had lofty ambitions. Unfortunately, she married three times without achieving her desires. Huangfu's uncle was talented and capable, but he died young. Her second husband was mediocre and incompetent, so Tu Furen angrily divorced him. By the time she gave up on her third husband's prospects, she learned that her son from her first marriage had risen to fame. Huangfu Yi was only fourteen then, so she hurried back to play the grand matriarch!"
Shao Shang immediately felt disdain.
Sang Shi continued, "When Huangfu Yi was young, Tu Furen was too busy chasing her own future to even visit him. Once Huangfu Yi became successful, with so many noble ladies vying to flatter and fawn over him, she was overjoyed!"
"Aunt, did Tu Furen give you a hard time?" Shao Shang wondered.
Sang Shi scoffed. "It wouldn't matter if she troubled me—I never took her words seriously. Things like 'My son is exceptionally talented, you should cherish your luck,' or 'The betrothal back then was too hasty; marriage is a lifelong matter, I think we should reconsider carefully'... Hmph, if she had the guts, she should've gone to the Huangfu clan elders to break off the engagement—I'd have suffered seven fewer years! All she could do was bully my mother."
"What happened after the Huangfu family fell?" Shao Shang asked, brimming with schadenfreude. "Did she run away in a flash?"
Sang Shi gave the girl an approving look. "Not only did she run, but she also made sure to distance herself! She hid at her husband's home, not daring to show her face. When the governor sent someone to question her, she hastily dragged out the two sons she had with her later husband and declared, 'These are my only children!'"
"With that kind of behavior, how did she dare show her face again after Teacher Huangfu made a comeback?" Shao Shang didn't know whether to admire or despise such shamelessness.
"She claimed she had no choice!" Sang Shi said sarcastically. "As soon as the situation stabilized, she couldn't wait to use Qi Shi to pressure me, constantly praising how gentle and meek Qi Shi was, how well she took care of Huangfu Yi—far better than I ever could. And then, well... Huangfu Yi finally granted their wish. He made them mother- and daughter-in-law for real..." She laughed. "I have to give Huangfu Yi credit here—well done!"
Shao Shang sighed in frustration. "Tu Furen didn't actually like Qi Shi. She was just using her to break off your engagement with Teacher, waiting to find a better new bride later!"
Sang Shi smiled faintly and cut straight to the point. "You don't understand. Someone like Tu Furen would never be satisfied with any new bride. If she could, she'd probably marry her own promising son herself!"
Shao Shang nearly choked, torn between shock and laughter. She hugged Sang Shi's arm, rubbing her cheek against the soft fabric of her sleeve. She loved this kind of sharp, blunt mockery!Sang Shi gently stroked her face and said softly, "Believe your aunt. Huangfu Yi marrying Qi Shi was the greatest punishment for her. His resignation and seclusion were the greatest punishment for his mother. In truth, he came to understand everything later, but by then, words were useless..."
Shao Shang said with interest, "Aunt seems quite open-minded, having let go of everything."
Sang Shi smiled and tilted her head in reminiscence. "When the engagement with Huangfu Yi was broken off, it would be a lie to say I wasn’t heartbroken. I had no intention of marrying again, but my parents, brothers, and sisters sighed and wept every day. I thought it might as well be better to just marry."
However, she wasn’t the type to give up on herself. Even if she were to marry, she would do it properly. If she couldn’t have deep affection, at least there should be mutual respect and courtesy. "Actually, though I had missed the prime age for marriage and my reputation wasn’t the best, with my father and brother’s status, there were still suitors. Among the three or five gentle and kind unmarried scholars on the mountain, I finally chose your uncle. Firstly, he often secretly glanced at me, thinking I didn’t notice. Secondly..."
She laughed, leaning over the table. "Not to boast, but in the entire White Deer Mountain, including the two towns below, there wasn’t a second young gentleman as handsome and beautiful as your uncle!"
"Aunt, is it good to judge people by appearances like this?" Shao Shang tried not to laugh, keeping a straight face.
Sang Shi covered her sleeve and chuckled. "That’s why I no longer resent Huangfu Yi for disliking my looks! Facing your uncle’s face, even if we weren’t close at first, life could still be lived well."
Seeing the girl opposite her scowling, she laughed heartily before continuing, "Alright, I’ll stop laughing... Well, in the early days of our marriage, both your uncle and I were awkward, unsure how to interact. He thought that after marrying him, my living standards would be worse than at my parents’ home, and he felt guilty about it. I thought about doing my best to support your uncle and be a good wife of the Cheng family. But then... later..."
Sang Shi smiled faintly, lost in memories, and under Shao Shang’s urging, continued, "One day, your uncle saw the clear sky and took me out for a spring outing. Not knowing what to say to me, he pulled me running all over the mountains. We ran until we were out of breath. Then he made a large wreath of wildflowers and placed it on my head. But the wreath was too big and slipped right down to my neck. I laughed so hard I could barely breathe, and he blushed like a child who had done something wrong. At that moment, I thought, marrying him was truly wonderful. I wanted to live well with your uncle!"
Shao Shang was happy for her uncle and aunt in her heart but said, "Yes. Since then, you two go out for spring outings whenever you have time! I’ve heard Old Madam Cheng mention it!" Sometimes the two even dragged the old Cheng magistrate’s entire family along for picnics.
Sang Shi wiped away tears of laughter and sighed regretfully. "Ah, Huangfu Yi and I grew up together. Thinking carefully, we were quite similar. I didn’t like playing the qin but loved playing the xiao, and coincidentally, he also loved the xiao, so I had to endure my dislike and learn the qin. Later, after marrying your uncle, it turned out he loved playing the qin. We studied new music scores together and played duets in our free time. The old master once said, this is what marriage should be—no need to constantly compromise for each other."
Holding Shao Shang in her arms and gently stroking her smooth, dark hair, Sang Shi said to her, "Huangfu Yi isn’t a bad person, just..." She sighed wistfully, "He just didn’t understand."Shao Shang didn't truly understand but nodded half-heartedly.
Two days later, after the evening meal at Cheng Residence, Cheng Wei went to study as usual, the twins were sent to bed early, leaving only Cheng Zhi and his wife, Lou Yao, and Shao Shang chatting in the courtyard. Seeing the moonlight as pure as jade, Shao Shang begged her uncle and aunt to play a duet.
Cheng Zhi adjusted the lyre strings while boasting confidently, "Fine! Tonight, I'll treat your ears! Back then, I practiced this piece for two whole months just to earn a smile from your aunt!"
Madam Sang blinked, smiling without a word.
Cheng Zhi plucked the first note, the sound as clear as rolling pearls, and Madam Sang's soft flute melody followed seamlessly. Shao Shang recognized the tune— "Zheng Feng: Beyond the Eastern Gate" —a piece her uncle and aunt often played together, and she immediately understood, smiling knowingly.
The melody carried emotion, graceful and lingering. As Madam Sang played the flute, her thoughts wandered.
She had always been resolute in her decisions, but no one knew—not even she herself—what kind of love she truly sought. Back then, would she have been content if Huangfu Yi had simply set aside his lofty pride and shown her tenderness?
It wasn’t until Cheng Zhi played this very song for her that she realized: she could endure hardship, she could bear cold words, but what she truly wanted was the unwavering devotion described in the poem.
Madam Sang turned to look at her husband, her eyes brimming with deep affection— Thank you. When even I had given up, you gave me what I desired most.
Shao Shang observed how Madam Sang’s gaze shimmered like rippling water as she looked at Cheng Zhi, her face flushed with joy so radiant it seemed to spill into the air around her. Her ordinarily plain features were suddenly illuminated, glowing with beauty. Shao Shang thought to herself, That old man Huangfu should see this—maybe then he’d finally let go.
But some things are too easily summoned by thought. The moment this crossed her mind, a deep, aged male voice suddenly rose from beyond the high walls of the county office, singing the very same song—
"Beyond the eastern gate, maidens fair as clouds. Though fair as clouds, none holds my heart. In plain robe and dark scarf, only she brings me joy..."
Everyone in the courtyard froze, recognizing the voice instantly. They exchanged glances, none daring to speak—except Lou Yao, who gasped, "It's Master Huangfu!"
Cheng Zhi and Madam Sang stopped playing, but Huangfu Yi continued singing from beyond the wall—
"Beyond the city gate, maidens bright as flowers. Though bright as flowers, none stirs my soul. In plain robe and crimson sash, only she brings me cheer..."
The voice was resonant yet hoarse, as if carried from afar—like rough stones scraping against ice, straining the vocal cords with pain, regret, and sorrow born of belated understanding. Shao Shang didn’t mock him this time. She simply listened quietly. This was the first time she regarded her aunt’s former fiancé with neutrality, free of scorn or ridicule.
She finally understood what Madam Sang had meant when she said, "Huangfu Yi isn’t a bad man—he just never understood."
Over the past two days, Lou Yao had told her of Huangfu Yi’s past—how he was not only erudite but also courageous in duty, much like the ancient strategists Su Qin and Zhang Yi, who traveled between warring states to avert calamities. A man of such broad vision, a true hero of his time, yet he clung to Madam Sang for over a decade, all because of a youthful stubbornness.
Huangfu Yi had failed to understand not only what his betrothed wanted—but also what he himself truly desired.
Yet, "This feeling might have become a memory, but even then, it was already lost in vain." Huangfu Yi sang "Beyond the East Gate" three times outside the wall. Then the bronze bells on his carriage jingled, growing fainter as he drifted away. After a while, a servant came to report: "Master Huangfu left a message with the gatekeeper. He said he has a seasonal decree bestowed by Your Majesty and will open the city gates himself tonight to leave, then retreat into the mountains to live in seclusion. After a few years, when he's gained more perspective on matters, he might come again to trouble his old friends."
Cheng Zhi nodded, then turned to take his wife's hand. Sang Shi clasped it in return, her eyes brimming with tears yet smiling. "It's good that he can let go. After all this time, I've hoped he could find more happiness and not remain entangled in the past."
The courtyard remained silent for a long while. Lou Yao, who wasn't quite in the right state of mind, forced out a dry chuckle and said, "Well... um, Master Huangfu's singing wasn't bad at all. I've never heard anything like it back in the Capital City..."
Cheng Zhi and his wife had initially been feeling melancholic, but upon hearing the young man's awkward remark, they couldn't help but shake their heads and laugh.
As the night grew late, everyone rose and began to leave the courtyard.
Lou Yao strode ahead at the front. Cheng Zhi caught up and clapped the young man on the shoulder, saying something about treating his niece well and so on. Sang Shi slowed her pace and turned to ask Shao Shang softly, "What do you think?"
Shao Shang pursed her lips. "Master Huangfu is really something. So accomplished in studies and officialdom, yet so muddled in matters like this. It's all because he's too self-assured. Otherwise, how could anyone in this world be unclear about who they truly love?"
Sang Shi stumbled slightly in her step, took a deep breath, and said, "...You're not wrong."
Then she silently watched as the beautiful girl, like a trembling flower branch, nimbly caught up with her husband and fiancé in a few light steps, shouting, "Uncle, are you bullying A Yao again?"
Author's Note:
I slept all morning today and got up in the afternoon to write. Even I'm moved by my own dedication. The next update will be at the usual time on the 17th. If my cold gets worse, I'll take another leave.
Note: From "The Book of Songs: Zheng Feng: Leaving the Eastern Gate."
Original text:
I left the eastern gate,
Where girls were thick as clouds.
Though thick as clouds,
None were my heart's desire.
In plain white and dark green,
She alone could bring me joy.
I left the outer gate,
Where girls were like blooming reeds.
Though like blooming reeds,
None could my heart engage.
In plain white and crimson,
With her alone I'd gladly stay.
Commentary: Modern scholars generally consider this to be a poem where a man expresses his unwavering devotion to his beloved (or his wife).
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