Chapter 3 Plot: Is she a divorced wife?
The feeling of falling enveloped Yu Man's consciousness, and at the same time, it seemed to unlock her memories, allowing her to see herself from her past life.
In modern times, she is also called Yu Man. For the past twenty years, she has been through many trials and tribulations. After taking her college graduation photos and saying goodbye to her roommates, she stuffed her heavy suitcase into the trunk of a taxi, opened the car door, got in, and said to the driver, "Driver, to the South Station."
The car started and merged into traffic. She looked down to send a message home when she heard a loud bang. In an instant, the world spun around, the images distorted, and excruciating pain overwhelmed her consciousness.
The light and shadow shifted again, and the scene seemed to pull forward like a canvas. She became an innocent baby, wrapped in swaddling clothes, listening to a loving and weary conversation. They named her "Yu Man." Then she took her first steps and babbled her first words, slowly growing up in this barren loess village until her mother passed away. A few years later, her father remarried.
This was not any dynasty in history she was familiar with. The clothing, language, and village layout all exuded a vague sense of unfamiliarity. She had originally thought that this was just a random reincarnation, a rebirth into an ordinary ancient farming family.
At this moment, fragmented pieces of information, yet carrying clear plot implications, flooded her chaotic mind like a tide:
The Great Zhou Dynasty...Emperor Taizu established the nation through military force...
Pei Ji, a young man from a poor family, joined the army and repeatedly distinguished himself in battle…
[...After rescuing a loyal woman disguised as a man on the battlefield, the "young general" discovered she was dressed in women's clothing after removing her armor, and fell in love with her from that moment on...]
[...The powerful prime minister admired his talent and wanted to take him as his son-in-law; his eldest daughter fell in love with him at first sight...]
[...a wandering healer, a princess from another race...]
[…Pei Ji eventually wielded immense power, becoming a regent, and possessed countless beautiful women…]
These fragmented pieces of information, pieced together, form the facts—she not only transmigrated, but she was reborn into a male-oriented harem fantasy novel that she had been reading sporadically in her dorm room during college, after being strongly recommended it by her roommate.
The protagonist of that book is Pei Ji, who rose from the bottom as a soldier to become the regent and whose luck with women was ridiculously good.
The supporting character is also named Yu Man, a poor peasant girl who has a bit of a role in the original novel—Pei Ji's first wife.
It is precisely because of her existence that the conflict between the male protagonist and his confidante is created, becoming a driving force for the development of the plot. Everyone wants to marry Pei Ji and become his legal wife, but the one who occupies this position is a country woman, not out of deep affection, but simply because she has received a favor from her family and has no choice but to repay it.
The original wife, driven by jealousy, caused the male protagonist to painfully divorce her, making her a laughingstock in the capital and ultimately leading to her death at the hands of bandits, where she was left to rot in the wilderness.
It is obvious that this pitiful divorced wife is none other than Yu Man herself.
*
Inside Shanqing Academy, Pei Ji, carrying a worn-out book box, looked even more refined in his blue robe. He stepped steadily out of the academy's high threshold. The sun was a bit dazzling, so he squinted slightly. Once his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw the headmaster standing at the foot of the stone steps.
Headmaster Chen stood with his hands behind his back. He was thin and his usually gentle and smiling face was now shrouded in an inescapable melancholy. He looked at his most outstanding student.
"Guanzhen," the headmaster spoke, his voice slightly hoarse, "you...are you really sure?"
Pei Ji, courtesy name Guanzhen, was a man who, according to old custom, was to be given a courtesy name by his teacher at the age of twenty. However, Pei Ji was exceptionally talented and entered school early, then went to an academy, and always ranked first in the examinations. Having a courtesy name would be more convenient when traveling, so Master Chen discussed with his father and gave him the courtesy name Guanzhen when he was eighteen.
Pei Ji stopped three steps in front of the headmaster, bowed deeply, and performed a respectful bow as always. He raised his head, his gaze unchanged, and replied, "Yes, student has thought it through."
The single word "yes" was resolute and unequivocal.
A surge of resentment rose in the headmaster's chest. He took half a step forward, his tone tinged with urgency and regret: "Foolish! You are only eighteen, yet you have already passed the county-level examination. Your essays and poems are all excellent, especially your policy essays, which are spot on! In my opinion, if you were to devote yourself to your studies for a few more years, the provincial examination, the metropolitan examination, and even the palace examination would not be difficult for you! I have already prepared a letter of recommendation, and I will recommend you to the prefectural school after the field leave. There are many famous teachers there, and the library is vast, which will greatly benefit you! Why... why did you have to abandon your studies and join the army at this time, to do something so dangerous?"
The old man became more and more agitated as he spoke, his white beard trembling slightly: "On the battlefield, swords and spears have no eyes; this is no child's play! You have studied diligently for ten years, accumulating a wealth of knowledge; are you really going to throw it all away so easily? This is not ambition; this is... a waste of your talent!"
A gust of wind rustled the locust tree leaves, and a few pure white petals drifted down, brushing against Pei Ji's shoulder before quietly falling to the ground. He remained silent, listening to the headmaster's exasperated reprimand, but his gaze went beyond the headmaster's thin shoulders, fixed on the distance.
He withdrew his gaze and looked at the headmaster again. His eyes did not contain the impulsiveness often seen in young people, but rather a calm and resolute look.
"I will always remember the teachings of the Headmaster." Pei Ji's voice was not loud, but every word was clear and distinct in the quiet place. "I will never forget the Headmaster's appreciation and the academy's nurturing. However... everyone has their own ambitions, and my mind is made up. I hope the Headmaster will grant my request."
“Everyone has their own ambitions… What a wonderful saying, ‘Everyone has their own ambitions!’” The headmaster murmured repeatedly, a complex mix of emotions flashing across his face—disappointment, helplessness, and deep regret. He looked at Pei Ji; he knew this student's temperament well—once he made up his mind, nothing could change it. He sighed deeply, a sigh that seemed to instantly drain much of his energy, and his back seemed to bend even more.
"Enough, enough..." The headmaster waved his hand, looking exhausted. "You chose this path yourself. Whether it's a smooth road or thorny, you'll have to bear the consequences yourself in the future."
Upon hearing this, Pei Ji took a step back and respectfully performed a final deep bow to his teacher who had taught him diligently for many years.
"The student bids farewell to the headmaster. Headmaster... take care."
He stood up, said no more, turned around, and started walking down the mountain.
The headmaster stood there, gazing at the receding green figure for a long time, until the shadow disappeared around the bend of the mountain path and merged into the lush greenery. He couldn't help but sigh, and then said, "Did you all hear that?"
Footsteps sounded behind him. The headmaster turned around. If he felt heartbroken when facing Pei Ji, he felt utterly disappointed in the man before him: "Look at you now! Your heart is full of romantic love. Where is the spirit of the Chen family? You knelt for three days and three nights before I reluctantly allowed you to enter the academy as a man. Now, you have completely forgotten your former ambitions. Guanzhen's ambition is on the frontier, which is completely different from yours. If nothing unexpected happens, the two of you will never see each other again, and there is no possibility of anything between you. Do you understand what your father is saying?"
The man looked ashamed after being reprimanded, and after a long while he said, "I understand, and I will set off for the state school tomorrow to pay my respects to the great scholar Fu."
*
He continued downhill until he could see the outline of Xingcheng Village in the distance, with wisps of smoke rising from its chimneys. Pei Ji hurried towards the east side of the village. Just then, a dark-skinned man carrying a hoe, sweating profusely, ran up the ridge from the field. Seeing Pei Ji, he shouted from afar, "Young man Pei, you're finally back! Quick, go see! Something's happened to that girl from the Yu family!"
Pei Ji's heart sank, and he stopped in his tracks, but he tried his best to keep his voice steady: "Uncle Wenguang, tell me slowly, what happened to Xiaoman?"
Liu Wenguang, panting heavily, wiped the sweat from his face: "Sigh! They said he bumped his head in the yard! He's bleeding a lot and won't respond when called! The Yu family parents are almost frantic. They borrowed my donkey cart and just called a doctor in to take a look, but they still don't know how he is!"
A somber look appeared in Pei Ji's eyes. He forced himself to calm down, his thoughts racing. The doctor's skills were mediocre; he was unlikely to be able to handle such a severe head injury with blood streaming down his face. He immediately reached into his robes, pulled out a neatly folded, slightly worn piece of plain paper, and quickly stuffed it into Liu Wenguang's hand, speaking rapidly but methodically:
"Uncle Wenguang, please make this trip immediately! Ride a donkey cart to the county town, to the 'Wanmin Medical Clinic' on West Street. Don't look for the doctor in the clinic; go directly to the backyard and find an old man in gray clothes with gray hair who is grinding medicine. Show him this letter and tell him that Pei Ji is begging the old gentleman to save his life. Please come quickly!"
The anxiety and earnestness in his eyes were undeniable. Although Liu Wenguang did not understand why he had to specifically find an old man who grinds medicine, seeing Pei Ji's seriousness, he knew that the matter was of great importance. He took the letter and nodded heavily: "Okay! I'll go right away!" After saying that, he turned around and ran wildly towards his home to get his donkey.
Pei Ji didn't linger any longer. He rushed into the familiar fenced courtyard, which was eerily quiet.
Pushing open the half-closed wooden door, a faint smell of blood mixed with the scent of herbs wafted out. Inside the dimly lit room, on the earthen bed, lay the figure she had longed for day and night, her forehead wrapped in thick strips of cloth, from which bloodstains were faintly seeping. Her face was as pale as paper, her eyes were tightly closed, and her breathing was so weak that her chest was barely rising and falling.
Deng Sanniang sat on the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), holding Yu Man's hand, her eyes red-rimmed. Yu Chengfu squatted in the corner, his hands covering his head, his back view filled with helplessness and anxiety. Doctor Wang from the neighboring village stood to the side, his brows furrowed, packing his medicine box. When he saw Pei Ji enter, he could only shake his head helplessly.
"Uncle Yu, Xiaoman..."
Yu Chengfu seemed to realize that Pei Ji had arrived. He responded and pointed to the unconscious Yu Man: "It's Erlang. Doctor Wang said that he hit the ground too hard and the blood clots blocked his orifices. He... he can't do anything about it. He told... he told us to prepare for his funeral..." Before he could finish speaking, tears were already streaming down his face.
Preparing for the worst? Pei Ji's eyes darkened, and he clenched his fists. He bent down to carefully examine Yu Man's injuries, checking her breathing and pulse. Although they were weak, there was still a glimmer of hope for her.
"Dr. Wang, thank you very much." Pei Ji turned to the physician, his tone still polite, but his eyes sharp. "May I ask, besides the bruising, are there any other injuries? What is the most urgent matter right now?"
Doctor Wang sighed: "The head is the most serious, while the abrasions on the body are not serious. The most important thing is to clear the blood stasis and open the orifices, but this matter inside the brain is extremely dangerous. If it doesn't go well... I really dare not use strong medicines."
Pei Ji understood. He didn't ask any more questions, but said to Yu Chengfu and Deng Sanniang in a deep voice, "Uncle Yu, Aunt Deng, don't worry. I have already asked Uncle Wenguang to go to the county town to invite a more skilled doctor."
His words were like a good medicine, rekindling a faint hope in the eyes of Yu Chengfu and Deng Sanniang. The latter stepped aside, allowing Pei Ji to get closer to Yu Man. With only a step between them, Pei Ji's gaze was fixed on her face.
Time passed slowly, each moment like torture, the atmosphere inside the room so oppressive it was hard to breathe.
Just as Mr. Yu was about to go out to take another look, the sound of hurried donkey hooves and Liu Wenguang's shouts suddenly came from outside the courtyard: "They're here! They're here! The old gentleman has arrived!"
Pei Ji abruptly stood up, a glint of light flashing in his eyes. He strode out to greet them, only to see Liu Wenguang leading in an elderly man in a worn gray robe, his hair and beard white, yet his steps steady. The old man had a serene face and calm gaze, carrying a brown medicine bag in his hand; he was the same old man who ground medicine in the backyard of the Wanmin Medical Clinic.
The old man glanced at Pei Ji, who was approaching, nodded slightly, and without exchanging any pleasantries, asked directly, "Where is the injured person?"
“It’s inside.” Pei Ji stepped aside to lead the way.
The old man walked straight into the house, came to the edge of the kang (a heated brick bed), glanced at Yu Man, then placed three fingers on her wrist to examine her pulse. After a moment, he gently lifted Yu Man's eyelids to look at her, his brows furrowing slightly.
The room was completely silent; everyone held their breath, their eyes fixed on the old man. Pei Ji's palms were unconsciously clenched with cold sweat.
A note from the author:
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