Grandma Song then asked Zhenzhen, "What's wrong? Why are you crying for no reason?"
Zhenzhen did not answer, but her sorrow became even more uncontrollable. She simply buried her head in her arms on the table and wept bitterly.
Grandma Song moved closer, gently patting her back. "Did the drinking game remind you of someone?" She waited a moment, but hearing no response from Zhenzhen, she sighed while looking at the flower pinned in Zhenzhen's hair. "You don't wear any jewelry, only a white flower in your hair every day. Who is it for?"
After a long silence, Zhenzhen said, "It's for my husband."
"You've been married?" Grandma Song immediately followed up, "Then why are you drifting alone out here? Doesn't your family or your husband's family care for you?"
Zhenzhen replied, "My own family has scattered and fallen apart. My husband's family believes I caused his death, so they drove me out."
"Did they say you were young and insatiable, clinging to your husband and causing him to die from overindulgence?" Grandma Song suddenly widened her eyes, her face filled with anger.
Zhenzhen remained silent, wiping her tears without answering.
Grandma Song took her silence as confirmation and grew even more furious. "All parents-in-law in this world are the same—utterly unreasonable! They only care about their own sons. If they find their daughters-in-law the slightest bit displeasing, they torment them to death. No matter how their own sons behave or how recklessly they act, as long as they don't commit murder or arson, they're always in the right. If anything goes wrong, it's always the daughter-in-law's fault! If she doesn't bear children, it's because she didn't try hard enough or didn't serve her husband well. If the son falls ill, they say the daughter-in-law is promiscuous and drained his energy... And if the son dies of illness, the daughter-in-law deserves to be torn to pieces—otherwise, their hatred won't be satisfied! Marrying a daughter-in-law is just like acquiring a slave or a servant. Since she's not their own daughter, they wouldn't show her an ounce of pity..."
As she spoke, tears began to stream down her own face. She kept wiping them with her sleeve, which made Zhenzhen feel guilty. Zhenzhen comforted her instead, saying, "It's all in the past. I'm fine now, and my life is actually freer than before. Please don't be sad for me, Grandma."
Grandma Song wiped away her tears and asked Zhenzhen, "If you leave here, what are your plans?"
Zhenzhen answered, "I'll probably look for a decent household to work as a cook. Or maybe set up a noodle stall in town to settle down first."
Grandma Song shook her head repeatedly. "That's not good. If you go to a wealthy household, they'll see you're young and pretty and will surely bully you. Setting up a noodle stall would expose you too much, and many people would give you trouble... Since you have such excellent culinary skills, why not open a proper restaurant or tavern? Manage it well, and it would be much more stable."
Zhenzhen said, "Opening a restaurant requires renting a place, decorating it, and buying furniture and utensils. It would cost a lot of money. I don't have much with me, so I'm afraid it won't be enough."
Before leaving Lin'an, Yin Qi had wanted to give her a large sum of money, but Zhenzhen, fearing she would owe him too much, only accepted a tenth or a fifth of it, insisting it was a loan and promising to repay it if she ever returned.
Grandma Song lowered her head in thought, remaining silent.Zhenzhen saw her face under the lamplight looking quite aged and weary, with traces of tears still glistening at the corners of her eyes. A wave of compassion washed over her. She took Grandma Song’s hand and patted it gently, speaking softly, “Grandma, I’ve left some money in your cabinet for you to use. Please don’t go up the mountain alone to dig for wild vegetables anymore. If there’s anything you need to buy, ask Zheng Er Shu for help. I’ve already asked him to come check on you every day. I’ve written down the recipes for the dishes you love these past few days and left them by your bedside. When you have time, take a look and try making them yourself. If you can’t read the words clearly, ask Zheng Er Shu to read them to you when he comes. I’ll also try my best to visit you when I can and bring you delicious treats…”
“Don’t say anymore,” Grandma Song suddenly lifted her head and said to Zhenzhen, “Rest well tonight. Tomorrow, I’ll take you to see a place that might work as a shop.”
The next day, Grandma Song led Zhenzhen to the gate of a courtyard about a dozen zhang away from her home. She took out a key, unlocked it, and invited Zhenzhen inside to look around.
The courtyard was several times larger than the one Grandma Song lived in, with many flowers and trees planted in the middle. The building had two floors, along with an attic, and each floor had four or five spacious rooms. The entire structure was painted white with dark tiles, and its appearance was quite beautiful. Judging by its style and condition, it was likely built over twenty years ago but had been well-maintained. With a little renovation, it could easily be put to use.
“I used to run a shop here too,” Grandma Song said, leading Zhenzhen to the second floor. She pushed open a window and let Zhenzhen take in the view outside. “There’s a river in front and mountains in the distance—the scenery is beautiful. When I ran the shop, it was almost full every day, and reservations were necessary to get a seat.”
Once inside, Zhenzhen felt an inexplicable sense of familiarity, as if she had seen this place somewhere before. She walked casually toward the room on the south side of the second floor and saw a round window there. Sunlight streamed through it, casting a circular patch of light on the floor. Below the window was a writing desk. Suddenly, she felt a moment of dizziness, and a fleeting image flashed through her mind: her slender, faceless father sitting at the desk, writing furiously, while the round window above him shone like a bright moon, quietly watching over him.
The room also contained a bed and a wardrobe. Opening the wardrobe, Zhenzhen saw many neatly folded men’s clothes inside. She turned to Grandma Song and asked, “Did someone live here before? Who was it?”
Grandma Song replied somberly, “After my daughter and granddaughter left, I lost the heart to run the shop. This courtyard felt too big and empty for me, and seeing it only brought me sadness, so I moved to the smaller courtyard where I live now. This place has been vacant ever since. Later, a young lady who looked as beautiful as a fairy came to see me. She said she had heard about my culinary skills and came specifically to visit, hoping to become my apprentice and learn how to cook. I refused outright, but she didn’t give up. Every day, she would come over carrying a baby girl just a few months old, just to chat with me. I noticed she had no milk and truly didn’t know how to cook, unsure of what to feed the child. The little girl was so thin that I couldn’t bear to see it, so I began teaching the young lady how to cook. Later, when she saw this courtyard was empty, she proposed buying it to live here with her husband and child. I agreed, and she gave me a large sum of money. Then, the family of three moved in.”
Zhenzhen listened in a daze and suddenly asked, “Was that young lady surnamed Wu? And could her husband have been a doctor?”"Yes, her surname is Wu, and her husband is said to be surnamed Qiao. At first, he spent all day reading at home, and I thought he was a scholar preparing for the imperial examination. Later, when Zheng Er Shu’s father fell ill and he went to treat him, we learned that his medical skills were excellent... Zheng Er Shu’s medical knowledge was taught by him, and later the villagers all called him Physician Qiao." At this point, Grandma Song felt somewhat puzzled and asked Zhenzhen, "How do you know about these things?"
Zhenzhen covered up, saying, "I also heard it from Zheng Er Shu, but he only mentioned a little and didn’t go into detail." Then she asked Grandma Song again, "Are you sure Lady Wu and Physician Qiao were husband and wife?"
"A man and a woman, living together with a child—what else could they be but husband and wife?" Grandma Song said, but after thinking for a moment, she added, "However, they seemed to sleep in separate rooms. Physician Qiao lived here, while Lady Wu and the child lived in that room..."
She pointed to the room at the eastern end of this floor and took Zhenzhen to see it. That room was slightly larger, and on the table were a rattle drum and a hand-sewn cloth doll. Looking into the wardrobe, Zhenzhen also found many clothes for women and young children.
"How long did they live here? Why did they leave later?" Zhenzhen pressed further.
"They lived here for over two years," Grandma Song replied. "Lady Wu learned cooking from me every day, taking it very seriously and being very virtuous. Physician Qiao spent his days either reading or going out to treat patients. Lady Wu took care of the child entirely, managing the household chores, cooking for her husband and child, and working tirelessly inside and out. I couldn’t bear to see it and often came to help her. She treated me very well, like a mother... Those days were among the few happy times I had after my own family passed away..." Grandma Song couldn’t help but wipe away tears again. After composing herself, she continued, "But one day, I caught a cold and lay at home for a day and a night, burning with fever. That night, there was a heavy storm, and in my daze, I seemed to hear a woman’s crying from the neighboring courtyard. I really wanted to know what had happened to Lady Wu, but I was completely exhausted and couldn’t get up. I slept until the afternoon of the next day, when I felt a bit better, and came over to check. I found the courtyard gate and the room doors unlocked, with the keys still left inside, but the family of three had completely disappeared. I sat in this courtyard waiting until dark, but they never returned. I kept guarding this empty house, waiting day after day, but they have never come back. Over the past decade or so, many people have wanted to buy this courtyard, but I refused them all, saying the house had already been sold, I was no longer the owner, and couldn’t make the decision... Now letting you use it is only a temporary arrangement. If they ever return, you must pay them rent for the time you’ve used it."
Zhenzhen agreed. Grandma Song then took her upstairs to the loft. Opening the door, they saw it was filled with items for running a restaurant, all quite exquisite. The wine vessels were from official kilns, and the tableware was made of silver, all matching sets and in large quantities.
"I think these should be enough for you to open your shop, so you won’t need to buy more," Grandma Song said to Zhenzhen with a smile.
Zhenzhen marveled, "Such fine tableware and wine vessels—even the grand restaurants in Lin’an might not have anything better."
Grandma Song couldn’t help but show a proud expression and said, "My first restaurant was opened in Lin’an. Even the late emperor often sent people to buy my dishes."Zhenzhen proceeded to inspect the backyard, where she found several flower beds. Peach, plum, and plum blossom trees had grown quite sturdy, while others, presumably once used for planting herbaceous flowers, were now overgrown with weeds. In the center, the largest flower bed was ablaze with a vibrant red bloom. These flowers had no leaves, with five blossoms clustered together, sprouting directly from the stem's apex. Their petals were slender, the inner layers curving inward, the outer layers arching upward and outward, forming a cup-like shape. Each bloom was enchanting and radiant, bursting forth passionately, connecting into a sea of crimson flames.
Zhenzhen stared in astonishment, and in an instant, she recalled the sea of flowers beneath the bridge that had separated her from Crown Prince Zhuang Wen in her dream.
"What flower is this?" she asked Grandma Song, her face pale.
"Golden Lantern Flower," Grandma Song replied. "It likely earned its name because the blossoms resemble the glow of a golden lantern. However, this herbaceous flower is quite rare—it blooms without leaves, and the leaves only emerge slowly after the flowers wither. Throughout its life, the flowers and leaves never meet, so it has another name: Heartless Grass."
Zhenzhen asked further, "Did you plant these flowers, or did Lady Wu?"
"I never planted them, but I’m not certain if she did either," Grandma Song said. "These flowers began to grow only after Lady Wu and her family left. They bloom every year, spreading more and more. Some advised me to uproot them and plant vegetables instead, but I thought, why bother when they bloom so beautifully? Besides, I am no longer the mistress here, and I cannot recklessly disturb even a single flower or tree."
The Emperor had long been unwilling to settle for peace in the south and often contemplated northern expeditions, determined to restore the lost territories. Since ascending the throne, he had placed great emphasis on military training and preparedness, frequently reviewing troops outside the palace at the grand training grounds. He inspected the three armies guarding Lin’an—the Palace Command, the Imperial Cavalry Command, and the Imperial Infantry Command—in what was known as a "military review." Originally scheduled for November this year at the Maotan Grand Training Grounds, the review was to be canceled following the sudden passing of Crown Prince Zhuang Wen, as the Emperor, overwhelmed by grief, had grown haggard and despondent. He thus ordered the relevant authorities to prepare for the cancellation.
Once the news spread, all parties began halting preparations for the military review. However, the Third Prince, Zhao Hao, sought an audience with his father. Kneeling in the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility, he pleaded with the Emperor to retract the order and proceed with the review as planned.
The Emperor slumped wearily in his throne, glancing sideways at his son. "Look at me in this state," he said. "How could I possibly have the energy for another military review?"
Zhao Hao bowed to his father and said, "Father, it is only natural for you to grieve the loss of Eldest Brother. But it has been over three months since his passing. As the ruler of the nation, you must moderate your sorrow, rally your spirits, and resume the affairs delayed by this tragedy, ensuring the stability and prosperity of our country and people. The military review is one such matter..."
The Emperor angrily retorted, "Are you saying I am wallowing in grief, neglecting state affairs, and allowing governance to stagnate?"
Terrified, Zhao Hao kowtowed repeatedly, begging for forgiveness. "Your servant dares not imply such a thing. If my words were improper, I beg for your punishment."After bowing his head for a moment and seeing that his father did not rebuke him further, he cautiously raised his head halfway to glance at his father, then lowered it again, pressing his forehead to the ground as he pleaded earnestly: "This subject only hopes Your Majesty will listen to a few heartfelt words: The military review is a matter of great importance. It can demonstrate to the officials and people of the realm Your Majesty's determination to restore our strength, boost the morale of the Three Commands and even all soldiers, and also allow us to inspect the results of recent military training. If any shortcomings are discovered, they can be rectified promptly in preparation for war. The Three Commands have been preparing for this review for a year. If it is suddenly canceled, it will inevitably invite speculation. Those who are understanding will recognize Your Majesty's love for your son, but those with ulterior motives may indulge in wild conjectures, believing that the passing of Crown Prince Zhuang Wen will affect the current situation, or even that Your Majesty's health has been impaired, making you unable to attend..."
"Outrageous!" The Emperor angrily picked up a cup beside him and hurled it at Zhao Hao. "How dare you utter such words?"
Zhao Hao dared not dodge, allowing the cup to strike his shoulder heavily before shattering beside him. He trembled all over in shock but continued to press his forehead to the ground, pleading fervently: "These are not this subject's words, but what many officials and people will speculate in their hearts. With the Crown Prince gone, the people of the realm are observing Your Majesty's reaction. Only by demonstrating that everything remains normal can Your Majesty dispel rumors. Proceeding with the military review will reassure the people, uplift the army's morale, and signal to neighboring states that the situation is stable and everything is under Your Majesty's control."
That day, Zhao Hao was driven out of the Hall of Blessing and Tranquility by his father. In a daze, he went to Cifu Palace to find Fengxian and recounted everything that had happened. Wiping the sweat from his forehead, he complained: "You insisted I offer my counsel at this time. Just as I expected, Father was furious and nearly took my life."
"It's alright," Fengxian said with a smile, using her own handkerchief to wipe his sweat and comfort him. "You spoke very well. Although His Majesty is angry now, he will soon come to his senses and realize the reason in your words. Moreover, by daring to offer such straightforward counsel at great risk, you have shown yourself to be a good son who understands the greater picture, considers the overall situation, possesses courage and foresight. For now, don't dwell on this matter any further. Just focus on practicing your horsemanship and archery so you can showcase your skills when the time comes."
The Emperor indeed ultimately adopted Zhao Hao's counsel and decided to proceed with the military review as scheduled. On that day, the Emperor, accompanied by his second son Zhao Ai and third son Zhao Hao, all clad in golden armor, rode out from the Lizheng Gate from Xiangxi Hall. Behind them followed several ministers and close officials in military attire, escorted by eight hundred cavalry of the Imperial Guard, marching grandly toward the Maotan Grand Training Ground.
Upon entering the training ground, the Emperor ascended the curtained hall. Thousands of officials and soldiers stood in orderly formation on the field. The commander of the hall raised a yellow flag, and drumbeats suddenly sounded. At the first drum, a shout was called; at the second drum, all present cried out in unison, "Long live the Emperor!" Then, after two more drumbeats, they shouted again, "Long live the Emperor, ten thousand years!" Their voices shook the heavens. Seated inside the hall, the Emperor revealed a long-absent smile amidst these thunderous cheers.
Thereafter, the Emperor ascended the general's platform. A horn sounded from the curtained hall, and silence fell all around. After another round of drumbeats, the cavalry mounted their horses, and the infantry raised their flags. In response to the drums, they raised white flags, then yellow flags. After five drumbeats, they raised red and blue flags, and the soldiers on the field shifted formations accordingly—forming squares, circles, long serpentine lines, or triangular spearhead shapes, filing diagonally to create formations for charging the enemy. Following this, overlapping drumbeats and flag exchanges signaled the infantry to engage in mock combat with each other, after which the cavalry launched attacks from all sides. Once the gong sounded to withdraw, the various troops successively presented equipment such as broadswords, chariots, cannons, smoke devices, and firearms for imperial inspection.The Emperor was greatly pleased by the sight, his imperial countenance beaming with joy. He ordered the commander of the palace guards to convey his decree, offering comfort and praise to the officers and soldiers. By this time, most of the troops had already withdrawn to their initial square formations. Another group of soldiers had formed a circle around the base of the command platform. A general released a roe deer into the circle, after which a prince clad entirely in golden armor, his face concealed by a golden mask, rode his horse into the enclosure. He galloped toward the roe deer, calmly drew his bow, and with a single arrow, struck the deer through the throat.
After a few struggles, the roe deer collapsed to the ground. The assembled troops erupted in cheers, their roars thundering like a storm. The prince who had shot the deer raised his bow toward the command platform in a gesture of acknowledgment, then dismounted and approached the Emperor. Kneeling before him, he performed a formal salute.
This was the final ceremony of the military review, and the one who shot the roe deer was called the "Hunter of Life." The Emperor had previously indicated his intention to select one of the princes for this role. However, due to his unsettled state of mind, he had only ordered the relevant officials to make preparations without overseeing every detail. Occasionally, when he thought of it, he assumed the role would likely be given to Zhao Ai, who had always been fond of horseback riding and archery.
Yet, when the Hunter of Life removed his mask, the Emperor’s eyes widened in astonishment. To his surprise, the prince was not Zhao Ai, but the third prince, Zhao Hao.
Zhao Hao performed the salute with proper decorum and respectfully presented the slain roe deer to his father, the Emperor.
The Emperor accepted it with a smile but could not help whispering to Yin Ti, who stood in attendance behind him, "Why is the Hunter of Life not Second Brother?"
Yin Ti bowed and replied, "Second Great King has been observing a fast in mourning for Crown Prince Zhuang Wen these past few months and has long refrained from taking life."
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