The city of Quanzhou under the night sky had shed its clamor and bustle. The once bustling harbor was now shrouded in darkness, with boats of all sizes moored along the shore, silently rising and falling with the gentle waves carried by the sea breeze. In the distance, a few scattered orange fishing lights flickered on the bows of occasional boats, their flames dancing in the night, echoing the ancient lighthouse that had stood for centuries, guiding the way for those returning home.
But some who set sail from here never returned, leaving only the lighthouse to wait in vain night after night.
Jiafu knelt facing the sea, lit incense, and silently finished her prayers. Reluctant to leave, she stood by the embankment, gazing in the direction where her father had once sailed away, her heart surging with emotion.
In her previous life, after marrying Pei Xiuzhi, her days had not been easy. She diligently served her elders, went out of her way to please her stepson, and endured grievances without daring to complain to her husband—all to maintain the virtue and tolerance expected of her.
Back then, her greatest goal was to be a dutiful wife who could earn the approval of her husband and his family.
Later, she submitted to Xiao Yintang. Realizing she could never escape his control, she learned to accept it. She told herself that this life was actually quite good—he had truly given her his best. If she dared to feel dissatisfied, it would be ungrateful.
Only after dying and being reborn did she realize how pitiful and tragic her former self had been.
From the moment she opened her eyes and found herself returned from the Underground Palace to the world of the living, she stubbornly believed it must have been her father’s spirit watching over her, allowing her to return to this moment before her marriage.
In this life, she would never marry Pei Xiuzhi again, nor did she want anything to do with Xiao Yintang.
Both men had claimed to love her.
Pei Xiuzhi had handed her over to another because he had no choice—he was compelled by circumstances.
Xiao Yintang, under the guise of affection, turned her into a living ghost hidden from the light, also because he had no choice—equally compelled.
She did not hate them. Life was indeed full of things beyond one’s control. She understood that well.
But they chilled her to the bone—a cold that seeped deep into her marrow.
This was the extent of a man’s love for a woman. She saw it clearly now.
Facing the night breeze tinged with the faint scent of salt, Jiafu took a deep breath.
She was born and raised here. Every memory of warmth and happiness in her life was tied to this hometown, also known as Carp City. The pier beneath her feet held special significance for her.
Tonight, overwhelmed by her thoughts, she had come here once more to mourn her father.
The marriage arrangements between the two families were already settled, with the influential Song Family—currently in the emperor’s favor—caught in the middle. Months ago, to properly instruct her, an unworthy stepmother, the Song Family had sent two matrons to Quanzhou. They would set off together tomorrow. Given the circumstances, she couldn’t rashly demand to break off the engagement based solely on her own feelings.
Besides, even if she did, her grandmother would never agree.
She would have to find another way.
Tomorrow, she would set off northward, embarking on an unknown new path.
Father, if your spirit watches over me, please bless A'fu.
...Zhang Da stood at a distance with his attendant, observing the young lady's solitary figure by the pier. He could guess her thoughts. The bond between father and daughter ran deep. Tomorrow, she would journey north for her wedding, and tonight, she must be here to remember her departed father. Moved by her filial piety, he hesitated to disturb her and waited silently before glancing at Tanxiang with a meaningful look.
Understanding his cue, Tanxiang approached Jiafu and gently said, "Young Mistress, the night is cold and the wind is biting. Should we return?"
Jiafu turned silently, following the custom of scattering the sacrificial offerings and incense into the sea before turning back.
Zhang Da quickly lifted the sedan curtain for her. Once Jiafu was seated inside, he raised the lantern to guide their way back when he spotted two shadowy figures approaching from the opposite direction, carrying something between them. Startled by the presence of people at the pier, they turned hastily to flee.
Under the moonlight, Zhang Da recognized them as workers from the Jin family, rivals to their own fleet.
In Quanzhou, where thousands of ships docked daily, berths were limited, and conflicts over prime spots were common. Wealthy merchants paid hefty fees to the Maritime Trade Office to lease private piers for their exclusive use. The Zhen family, being one of the most affluent and well-connected in Quanzhou, naturally owned the best-situated private pier.
Suspicious of the Jin family's men sneaking onto their pier in the dead of night, Zhang Da informed Jiafu in the sedan and immediately gave chase. He saw they were carrying a rolled-up tattered straw mat with something concealed inside. "Halt! What are you carrying?" he demanded.
The two workers, caught off guard by anyone being present so late, bolted in panic. In their haste, they lost grip of the mat, and a dark bundle slipped out—a human-shaped figure.
Holding up the lantern, Zhang Da saw it was a boy of about thirteen or fourteen, emaciated and dressed in rags, his eyes closed as if lifeless.
A seasoned pier manager, Zhang Da grasped the situation at once. Furious, he seized one of the fleeing workers and roared, "How dare you dump a corpse here in the dead of night—and on our family's pier! You're coming with me to the authorities!"
Quanzhou's maritime trade thrived, with half the city relying on the sea for livelihood. The perils of seafaring had bred countless superstitions and taboos over generations. Dumping a corpse at a pier was considered an ill omen—the restless spirit of the drowned might haunt nearby ships, bringing misfortune to their owners.
Cornered and terrified by Zhang Da's threat to involve the authorities, the worker fell to his knees, pleading for mercy. He confessed that the boy had worked in their shipyard, had no family, and had fallen ill months prior. When death seemed imminent, the foreman reported it to Master Jin. Unwilling to deal with official procedures and resentful of the Zhen family's prime pier, Master Jin had ordered the boy's body to be secretly dumped from the Zhen family's pier at night, letting the tide carry it away—ensuring no trace or blame would fall on them.The Quanzhou docks were teeming with countless people seeking a livelihood. Although the authorities strictly prohibited the private employment of unregistered individuals, this was merely an unenforced decree. Due to the low wages, the shipyards and docks preferred hiring these migrant drifters. The young boy was likely one of them, just unlucky enough to fall ill and die.
Zhang Da was unwilling to let it go and sneered, "Aren’t you afraid of ruining your karma? Come on! Let’s go to the officials and see what your master has to say!"
The two workers, terrified, knelt on the ground, pleading incessantly, claiming they were forced into it and had nothing to do with the matter.
Hearing the commotion, Jiafu stepped out of her sedan chair to investigate. Zhang Da spotted her and hurried over, saying, "Young mistress, don’t come near! This place is filthy!"
When the workers saw the young lady of the Zhen family present, they knew that if they were reported to the authorities, they would surely face trouble, regardless of what happened to Master Jin. They turned to her, begging for mercy with tears streaming down their faces.
Jiafu frowned and glanced at the person on the ground.
"He’s not dead! I just saw him move a little!" Tanxiang suddenly exclaimed.
Zhang Da quickly shone the lantern on the boy’s face. Sure enough, his eyelids trembled slightly before slowly opening.
The dim lantern light revealed a pair of clear, bright eyes—likely once lively, but now dull and clouded, as if veiled by illness.
After a moment, the boy seemed to regain some consciousness. His gaze gradually focused, staring intently at Jiafu, who was wrapped in a cloak, unmoving.
Seeing this, the Jin family workers sighed in relief. They scrambled up from the ground, hastily wrapping the boy back in the tattered straw mat. "We’ll take him back right away. We’re leaving now, leaving now!" they said.
The boy’s face was obscured by the mat as the workers hurriedly carried him away.
Zhang Da knew that the workers were merely waiting for the boy to die before disposing of him elsewhere. But such things were all too common—just the boy’s misfortune. Considering that their employer was set to depart early the next morning and the matter had already been exposed, he doubted the workers would dare dump the body back at their dock. He let it go and turned to escort Jiafu back to her sedan chair.
Jiafu turned and walked a few steps, but the image of the boy’s gaze—filled with a desperate longing to live—lingered in her mind. Her footsteps faltered slightly.
She knew that look all too well—the despair and hope of someone clinging to life. It resonated deeply with her.
She glanced back at the retreating figures, hesitated, then said, "Uncle Zhang, let’s take this child to our shipyard. Call a physician to treat him. If he recovers, all the better. If he dies, we’ll bury him properly."
Zhang Da was taken aback but quickly understood. The young mistress had been moved by compassion and couldn’t bear to see the boy left to die.
The Zhen family shipyard already employed hundreds of workers—one more wouldn’t matter. Since the young mistress had spoken, he naturally complied. Nodding, he said, "Your kindness will surely bring blessings, young mistress. I’ll see to it at once." With that, he hurried after the workers, barking orders for them to carry the boy to the Zhen family shipyard immediately.The two workers had only been ordered by their supervisor to dispose of the body, never expecting such a mishap along the way. Just as they were silently cursing their bad luck, Zhang Da unexpectedly offered to take over. Relieved, they quickly carried the body back, showering him with flattery while scurrying off toward the Zhen family shipyard. Zhang Da instructed his attendants to follow and handle the matter while he escorted the young lady back to the Zhen residence.
It was already midnight when Jiafu arrived. She asked the gatekeeper and learned that her brother, Zhen Yaoting, had not yet returned.
Her brother had stayed out all night before, but he was supposed to leave early the next morning. Besides, in her past life, she remembered he hadn’t done anything like this on this very night. Uncertain of his whereabouts and weighed down by her thoughts, she barely slept the rest of the night. Early the next morning, she rose, finished dressing, and had just changed into her travel clothes when she heard hurried footsteps clattering across the courtyard. The door slammed open as her brother barged in, still wearing yesterday’s clothes—clearly, he hadn’t returned all night. She stepped forward, about to ask where he’d been, when he suddenly pulled out a box from behind his back like a magician, presenting it eagerly with both hands. “Sister, guess what’s inside?” he exclaimed excitedly.
The box was carved from a single piece of agarwood, inlaid with mother-of-pearl and gemstones—exquisite and luxurious. Just the box alone was worth a fortune.
Jiafu glanced at it and frowned. “Brother, where were you last night? Why didn’t you say anything? Mother was worried sick!”
Yaoting waved his hand dismissively. “I’m back now, aren’t I? I’ll tell you later—just guess first!”
Jiafu refused to play along and turned away. Frustrated, Yaoting opened the box himself and announced loudly, “The Purple Shark Pearl! It’s a Purple Shark Pearl necklace! I chased after it all night to buy this treasure—it’s for you!”
Jiafu turned back, startled, and stared at the necklace inside the box. “Where did you get this?”
Yaoting puffed up with pride and recounted the story.
It turned out that while he had been busy with Zhang Da at the docks the previous day, he overheard people gossiping about a Persian merchant who had a legendary necklace strung with Purple Shark Pearls. Hearing that Quanzhou was teeming with wealthy buyers, the merchant had come hoping to sell it at a high price but hadn’t found a suitable buyer and was set to leave that very day.
His sister was leaving the next morning for her wedding up north, and ever since her return from West Hill Temple, she had seemed troubled by some ill omen. Though Yaoting was fond of carousing, he adored his younger sister. He also recalled his mother’s stern lecture the day before—how, despite the honor of marrying into the Pei family, his sister would face many hardships, and he needed to shape up to bring her pride. At the time, he had nodded meekly, but the moment he turned away, he forgot all about it. Now, hearing the words “Purple Shark Pearl” and the excited chatter about its rarity, he immediately decided to buy it for her. After asking for the Persian merchant’s whereabouts and learning he was staying in the foreign quarter, Yaoting rushed over—only to find the man gone. Upon further inquiry, he discovered the merchant, disappointed by the lack of buyers, had already left that morning.Zhen Yaoting was determined to buy the necklace. After asking for the direction the Persian had taken, he gave chase and finally caught up with the man at a post station last night. At first, the Persian refused to sell it, but the more he resisted, the more Yaoting wanted it. He offered a high price and haggled for a long time until he finally forced the Persian to part with it. He took the treasure and rushed back overnight, arriving home only this morning. Despite his exhaustion from the journey, he came straight to his sister to present his prize.
Jiafu was astonished. She hadn’t realized her brother had stayed out all night for this reason. Glancing at the necklace, she saw it was a string of purple pearls and immediately knew it was a fake.
In her past life at the imperial palace, she had seen the Purple Shark Pearl presented by foreign envoys to Empress Zhang.
Despite its name, the Purple Shark Pearl wasn’t actually purple but pink. It only turned deep violet under sunlight, hence the name. Because of its rarity, it was priceless. When the empress received it, she had even summoned Jiafu to admire it, saying she would gift it to her if she liked it.
Jiafu dared not accept it and declined with a kowtow. Later, thinking of her father, she had grieved for a long time, so the memory remained vivid.
"Let me put it on you! With the Purple Shark Pearl, you’ll surely have smooth sailing, peace, and prosperity in the future!" Zhen Yaoting held up the necklace excitedly.
The pearls were each as large as a little finger, perfectly round, flawless, and of an unusual color—certainly a fine piece. But it was not the Purple Shark Pearl.
Jiafu knew her brother had fallen for the Persian’s trick. Seeing his tired face yet glowing with excitement, she was deeply moved. Though she hated to burst his bubble, she thought of him as the heir to the Zhen family. If he remained this gullible, he would suffer more losses in the future. Hesitating for a moment, she said, "Brother, you’ve been deceived. This isn’t the Purple Shark Pearl. I’ve heard from those who’ve seen it that it’s called so because it turns purple under sunlight, not because it’s naturally purple."
Zhen Yaoting froze, staring wide-eyed at the necklace. His face darkened, and he flung it to the ground in fury. "That bastard dared to cheat me! I’ll send men after him right now. If we catch him, I’ll break his bones!" He stormed out to give orders, then returned still fuming. He snatched up the necklace and threw it down again, raising his foot to stomp on it.
Jiafu quickly stopped him, picking it up. "Brother, that man must have known your reputation. These pearls are expensive, and since he couldn’t sell them, he deliberately lured you into buying them. By now, he’s surely long gone. To me, this represents your kindness. Though it’s not the Shark Pearl, it’s even more precious. Bringing it back was fate. But from now on, think carefully before acting, or consult the stewards first. Don’t be so trusting, or you’ll be cheated again."
Yaoting had been seething, wanting to crush the necklace to vent his anger. But hearing Jiafu’s words, his rage instantly dissipated. Scratching his head, he chuckled sheepishly. "I understand. I’ll remember Grandmother and Mother’s teachings. This time, I was in a hurry, afraid I’d miss your wedding, and got tricked. I’ll be more careful from now on."Jiafu recalled the words she had left behind in her past life before being nailed into the coffin by the Empress Dowager's order. Knowing that her brother's fate would surely be tragic after her death, she became even more determined in this lifetime to change their destinies. She put on the necklace, stood before the mirror, took a look, and turned back with a smile, saying, "Thank you, brother. I like it very much."
When Meng Shi learned that her son had stayed out all night just to buy the necklace for his sister, she grumbled a few complaints but let it go. Since all their luggage had already been loaded onto the ship the previous day, early in the morning, she led her two children to bid farewell to Old Madam before the family set out for the dock and boarded the ship.
Before leaving, Tanxiang specially gave Wang Pozi a box of Frozen borneol containing twenty pieces—symbolizing perfection—explaining that it was the young lady's instruction for her to use as dowry for her daughter. Wang Pozi had never dreamed that her casual remark would be taken to heart by the young lady. Overwhelmed with joy, she showered her with gratitude and blessings: "The young lady's journey to the capital will surely be smooth and prosperous! May all her wishes come true, may she marry a perfect husband, and may she be blessed with both wealth and honor in life!"
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