Chapter One: Idle Talk at the Inn
The weather in early spring of the seventh year of the Jiaping era was unusually cold, with heavy snowfalls every few days. The Grand Canal was completely frozen, and merchants traveling south, though filled with anxiety, had no choice but to postpone their journey until after the spring equinox. However, some impatient travelers had no choice but to choose the land route, braving wind and snow along the way.
Early on the morning of the 19th, it started snowing again.
Luling Town, under the jurisdiction of Suzhou, had only about a hundred households. Due to the continuous snowstorm, a group of eager travelers had been stranded and gathered at the town's only inn, Hongfu Inn. As noon approached, the snow not only did not stop but fell even heavier. Everyone knew that they could not travel, so they gave up the idea and sat in twos and threes in the lobby, drinking, eating meat, and chatting idly.
The shopkeeper lit a charcoal fire in the main hall and then told his assistant to fetch the storyteller.
The storyteller, a traveler in his early fifties from the capital, had been stranded at the inn for five days due to the snowstorm. He spent his afternoons telling stories in the lobby, partly to alleviate the loneliness of other travelers, and partly to earn a little money to supplement his daily food and lodging expenses. He carried his small square table into the lobby, and just as he struck the gavel, he heard the howling wind mixed with the rapid hoofbeats of horses fading into the distance. Startled, he forgot his lines.
Other passengers were also surprised that someone would still travel in such a snowstorm.
The sound of horses' hooves quickly reached the inn's entrance. The innkeeper hurriedly stepped forward, pulled the bolt, and opened the door halfway. The charcoal fire in the lobby immediately began to puff and pour inside. Five men entered. The one in the lead was about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, tall and robust, wearing a hood with frost clinging to the brim and his eyebrows. A thick layer of snow had accumulated on the shoulders of his black cloak. The four men behind him were dressed identically, their faces also covered in frost.
Seeing that they had braved the snow yet remained spirited, heads held high, and exuding an imposing aura, the waiter knew they were no ordinary people and became cautious. He then noticed six more horses in the shed, one of which carried luggage. He bowed and scraped, asking, "Sir, would you like your luggage unloaded?"
“No need. Just bring a hot meal and a pot of wine.” The leader spoke with a thick Northwestern accent, his voice strong and clear, indicating he was a man of his word. He knocked off his hat, brushed off the snow, and tossed it casually onto the table. He then removed his cloak, revealing a dark green outfit and a single-edged sword hanging at his waist. The travelers in the room were startled, realizing they were either officials in plain clothes or soldiers, and quickly looked away.
The waiter and the manager dared not delay any longer, quickly bringing up the warm food and a full jug of wine. The five men were clearly starving, and they wolfed down their food, making loud smacking noises.
After sitting for a while, everyone felt bored. One of the bolder passengers urged the storyteller, "Old sir, tell us a story. Don't tell us about the Romance of the Three Kingdoms or the heroes of the Sui and Tang Dynasties anymore. We're tired of hearing them. Tell us something fresh and interesting, even something about love and romance."
A scholar in his early twenties, who was traveling north to take the imperial examination, said, "That's right, that's right. I've heard that the capital is rich in resources and people, and has many talented and elegant figures. Why don't you tell me about the strange and wonderful things that happen in the capital?"
The storyteller stroked his beard and thought for a moment, then said, "Very well, there is indeed a case in the capital that is causing quite a stir."
northbound travelers exclaimed, "What case is it? Tell us about it!"
The storyteller cleared his throat, struck his gavel, and proclaimed in a loud voice: "Heroic spirit and chivalrous nature, gentle family virtues. To say these two are different is nothing but the dream of a fool. Today, I will not speak of the late Tang and Five Dynasties, nor of the Han, Wei, and Six Dynasties, but only of an anecdote from the capital of my Great Zhou Dynasty, to amuse you gentlemen." He struck his gavel again, "Gentlemen, my Great Zhou Dynasty has unified the six kingdoms for over a hundred years. Those who shared the fate of the nation were first the close and distant branches of the imperial family, then the civil and military officials who followed the emperor in establishing the dynasty. It was only because of Emperor Taizong..." Benevolence and kindness were passed down through generations, their merits continuing for centuries. Examples include the loyal and virtuous Zhao family of Baokang, the Shen family of Zhuque Street with two scholars (father and son) and two prime ministers (young and old), and the Ruan family of Jingxi, renowned for their literary figures… To list them all would take three days and three nights. This is because the capital city gathers the most prominent families, heroes, and literary figures in the land, and thus, it is the place where the most joys and sorrows, loves and hates, unfold. This is a story in itself. Gentlemen, today I will not speak of heroes or scholars, but only of a woman…”
The storyteller was quite eloquent, speaking in a captivating and engaging manner, and most of the travelers were engrossed in his narration. However, when he mentioned that the story was about a woman, they all paused in surprise.
"...This woman's surname is Ruan, and she is the fifth in her family. The people of the capital all call her Miss Ruan the Fifth. You guessed correctly, this woman is indeed from the Ruan family of western Beijing..." At this point, the five men who had been eating with their heads down suddenly looked up at the storyteller. Their five sharp eyes were like daggers, and the storyteller felt his scalp tingle and his neck go cold. He could no longer continue.
One of the merchants, who had also come south from the capital, suddenly realized and said, "So that's what you're talking about, sir. That's right, she has indeed caused quite a stir in the capital."
The scholar, who was heading north to take the imperial examination, became increasingly curious and asked, "She's just a woman, what talents does she possess that have caused such a stir in the capital?"
The merchant said, "I don't know what her talents are, I only heard that she is the granddaughter of Nguyen Van Hieu, the daughter of the Vice Minister of Rites, and a disciple of the immortal Zi Ying..."
Another middle-aged scholar who had come from the capital to the south interrupted him, saying, "Brother, you are mistaken. She is indeed the daughter of Prime Minister Shen and the granddaughter of Ruan Wenxiao. Last October, the Shen family even wanted her to be recognized as a member of the family, which caused a scene in the imperial court. I heard that Master Baiyun of Tianqing Temple intervened to mediate, but for some reason, it all came to nothing in the end."
The scholar was completely confused and asked, "Then whose daughter is she?"
The middle-aged scholar said, "He is undoubtedly the grandson of Nguyen Van Hieu, but the identity of his biological father is still undetermined."
The scholar asked in surprise, "How could you not even know who your biological father is?"
The middle-aged scholar waved his hand and said vaguely, "This matter is a long story. It involves a case from more than ten years ago, concerning the Shen family on Zhuque Street and the Ruan family in Jingxi. Even the parties involved are vague about it, so how can we outsiders know? Just listen for fun, there's no need to delve into the details."
The scholar guessed that he was probably unaware of the story, so he begged the storyteller again: "Sir, please continue the story."
The storyteller glanced at the five men in tight-fitting clothes, and seeing that they were engrossed in their food again, he felt a little more at ease. He tapped his gavel and said, "Gentlemen, please calm down and let me tell you the story. It is said that this woman is more precious than fine gold and jade, kept hidden away in her boudoir, unknown to the world. So why is this Miss Ruan so famous? It's all because of three things." He held up three fingers and shook them. "The first thing is her birth, which can be described as unpredictable and turbulent..." He also made a living as a storyteller in the capital, frequenting teahouses every day. He had heard many folk tales about the feud between the Ruan and Chen families, and his compilation of these tales had quite a legendary quality. The customers listened intently, and even the five men who were wolfing down their food slowed down, listening and eating at the same time.
"...How tragic and lamentable! A perfectly legitimate daughter of the Prime Minister's family has become an illegitimate daughter, a case of casting pearls before swine, or a precious mirror covered in dust. However, the way of Heaven is that extremes lead to reversals, and excess leads to loss. This Fifth Miss Ruan grew to the age of thirteen, her beauty and intelligence making her famous throughout the capital. Abbot Ziying of the Jade Void Temple took a liking to her and accepted her as a lay disciple. Even the Empress Dowager and the Empress sent people to congratulate her..."
The young scholar, full of youthful passion and longing, asked, "Is this young lady truly beautiful?"
Although the storyteller was slightly annoyed at being interrupted, he still stroked his beard and said, "Of course, he is exceptionally handsome, as evidenced by the poem. I have never seen Ruan Wumian before, and I am ashamed to be called a young man from Wuling."
The scholar was filled with envy and eager to try, so he asked, "Sir, could you tell me where I can meet this Miss Ruan Wu?"
Before the storyteller could speak, the merchant burst into laughter and said, "If you have the guts, then go and guard the gates of the Prince of Jin's mansion."
The scholar asked in bewilderment, "Are you referring to the Prince of Jin, the sixth son of Emperor Xuanzong and the current emperor's own brother, who guarded Xingping Town for seven years, striking fear into the hearts of the northern barbarians?"
"Who else could it be but him?"
The scholar said in bewilderment, "I once saw the Empress Dowager's edict in the official gazette. Wasn't this Prince of Jin engaged to the daughter of Prime Minister Shen? How come he also married Miss Ruan Wu?"
"It's not about marrying, it's about taking her as a concubine."
"Ah." The scholar's eyes widened, and after a moment, he shook his head in disbelief. "How could such a woman, from such a family, condescend to be a concubine?"
The merchant said impatiently, "This is a long story; you should ask a storyteller."
The storyteller, interrupted several times, had long since lost interest, but as a scholar who wanted to finish what he started, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue: "Gentlemen, as the saying goes, a thousand beauties cannot compare to a noble lineage. Miss Ruan is indeed wonderful in every way, but her humble origins, like a dusty mirror, have ruined her life. If she were to marry into an ordinary noble family, it would be a perfect match. But to marry into the prestigious Prince's mansion, she's barely able to reach it. Hence this third matter, a whole pot of grudges and affections. If we're talking about the men of the Great Zhou, who can truly embody the phrase 'unyielding spirit'? None other than Prince Jin..."
The five men in tight-fitting clothes frowned in unison. One of them, a younger man, looked at the leader and called out softly, "Brother Yu..."
Yu Qing shook his head and said, "It wouldn't hurt to listen."
"It's really frustrating that our prince is being gossiped about by the people because of such a woman."
"Exactly, what's so good about her that the Prince offended the Empress Dowager and the Shen family for her sake?"
Yu Qing frowned, waved his hand to signal them to stop talking, and listened intently to the storyteller.
"...Speaking of which, this Prince Jin was also a lovesick fool. He didn't hesitate to offend his father-in-law, Prime Minister Shen, and sent imperial physicians to examine Miss Ruan's mother every day. He even arranged for a princely procession to fetch her from the Jade Void Temple. However, Miss Ruan was a woman of strong character and would never agree to become a concubine. Therefore, she persuaded Prince Jin to resign with a series of resounding words and expressed her intention to pray for her mother's well-being by entering the Jade Void Temple to cultivate for three years..."
The scholar exclaimed, "Oh dear!" and said, "Didn't we just say she entered the Prince of Jin's residence? How come she's practicing at the Jade Void Temple now?"
The storyteller stroked his beard and said, "He has indeed entered the Jade Void Temple to cultivate; that's what the servants of the Ruan family and the Prince of Jin's mansion all say."
The merchant retorted, "Nonsense! On the fifth day of the twelfth month, the Prince of Jin went out of the city with a grand procession to fetch her from the Jade Void Temple. She is currently enjoying a life of luxury in the Prince of Jin's mansion."
The middle-aged scholar said, "Both of you are wrong. The Ruan family in Jingxi has been a family of upright officials for centuries, and has never had a woman take a concubine. The actions of the Prince of Jin and the Empress Dowager have already made the Ruan family lose all face. The Fifth Miss Ruan, unwilling to endure the humiliation, hanged herself long ago and returned to the Jade Pool. How tragic, lamentable, and admirable!"
The scholar stared blankly for a long time, then said, "There are three theories: where exactly did this Miss Ruan go?"
As soon as he finished speaking, one of the five men in tight-fitting clothes stood up, strode over to the storyteller, and threw a silver tael onto the square table. The storyteller, who earned only a few hundred coins a day with a dry mouth, was immediately dazzled by the large silver tael and bowed, saying, "Thank you for your kindness, thank you for your kindness."
"My older brother said, 'You may speak well, but if you want to keep your head in check, you'd better watch your mouth.'"
The storyteller was so frightened that his legs went weak. He grabbed the square table and forced a smile, saying, "I understand, young man."
The passengers were terrified and turned pale.
After a while, five men in tight-fitting clothes got up, put on their hoods and cloaks, opened the door and went out. Moments later, the sound of galloping hooves faded into the distance.
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