Chapter 85: An Uninvited Guest

Since Xue Yuanhao was imprisoned, he rarely heard any news from the outside world. Now, with his resources restored, he was eager to learn about the situation in the capital, but unfortunately Madam Liu only knew a rough outline and couldn’t provide clear details. Coincidentally, Xue Rui returned, and Xue Yuanhao seized the opportunity to question him.

Father and son talked for quite some time. The more Xue Yuanhao heard about the sorry state of the mighty Ming Dynasty, the more disappointed he became, wishing he could drag Wang Zhen back and tear him to pieces. Only when he learned that Prince Cheng had imprisoned Gu Xingzu, the Marquis of Zhenyuan, and would soon execute him did he feel a measure of satisfaction.

“Well, the grandson of the Marquis of Zhenyuan injured you before. I went to their mansion to reason with them, but they wouldn’t even let me in. In the end, they bribed the magistrate of Wanping to suppress the matter, making your mother and me furious. Now the Marquis is in prison—serves him right!”

“To be honest, Rui’s achievements are thanks to Gu Xingzu’s grandson. If he hadn’t hurt Rui, our boy might still be as unruly as before. I suppose, in a way, we’ve benefited from misfortune.”

Upon hearing Gu Xingzu was about to be executed, Madam Liu’s resentment eased, and she even spoke with a hint of relief.

Xue Yuanhao was left speechless. Had Gu Chun struck a little harder, she wouldn’t even have a son to be happy about. Women’s thoughts truly are unfathomable.

Today was a day worth celebrating. Before Xue Rui returned, Madam Liu and Su Su had already spent half the day in the kitchen preparing a sumptuous meal. Before the family finished speaking, Su Su deftly served the dishes.

Xue Yuanhao had not fully recovered and should have been resting, but insisted on getting up to stretch his limbs. Mother and daughter had no choice but to help him dress.

The meal was lavish, with fish, meat, and fresh vegetables. After Xue Rui’s guidance, Madam Liu and her maid’s cooking had improved considerably and was now quite palatable.

Unfortunately, Xue Yuanhao couldn’t eat anything too greasy, so few of the dishes were suitable for him. Fortunately, Madam Liu had stewed a black-bone chicken soup with newly gifted ginseng, specially to nourish him.

After drinking a bowl of the soup, Xue Yuanhao broke into a sweat, his complexion noticeably rosier.

Seeing her husband’s spirits high, Madam Liu reckoned he’d recover fully in three or five days, and took the opportunity to ask, “Rui, your father is almost well. When can we move back to the old house? There’s been a lot of trouble outside the city lately—I’ve heard many families have been robbed. We should move back into the city as soon as possible.”

Xue Rui put down his chopsticks and calculated, “I’ll ask Grandmaster later about how soon Father’s official appointment can be settled. The court is drafting lists for replacement posts, so it should be within these days. When the time comes, we’ll return in style and make Uncle’s family furious!”

“That would be wonderful! Your aunt has always looked down on us, always claiming your father is inferior to your uncle, saying he’s spent years toiling in the Astronomical Bureau and got nothing for it. This time, let your father return in official robes and see if she can still make snide remarks!”

At this, Madam Liu’s eyes sparkled. After so many years, she was eager to finally hold her head high before her sister-in-law.

Xue Yuanhao, however, was hesitant. “Is this really appropriate? After all, we’re family. It wouldn’t be good to hurt our relations; besides, Mother is still in the mansion. If we make such a spectacle, might she be angered?”

“Xue, have you no ambition?” Madam Liu flared up. “When Rui and I were driven out, could Madam Zhao have done so without Mother’s approval? Besides, her son Xue Yan is Mother’s darling, while our Rui is treated like he popped out of a stone. Not only were we thrown out, even Rui, who hadn’t recovered from his injuries, was forced out. Clearly, she didn’t want us to survive! With Mother so biased, I want you to return in glory and show her which son truly has merit, and you think I’m being too ostentatious?”

“I’m not saying we shouldn’t return in glory, just that we shouldn’t upset Mother. The court promotes filial piety, and if word gets out that we’re not harmonious, it could harm our reputation.” Seeing his wife angry, Xue Yuanhao hurried to explain.

Hearing this, Madam Liu had nothing left to say and only turned away in a huff.

In this era, filial piety was paramount. In the patriarchal feudal society, no matter how high one’s office or status, at home one was still a child and owed respect to parents.

Even officials whose parents died were required to mourn for three years, and if the emperor ordered them to resume duties, they were often impeached later for violating ancient norms and being greedy for position.

This shows how much filial piety mattered in the Ming Dynasty—being labeled unfilial was akin to destroying one’s prospects.

When Madam Liu married into the Xue family, Grandmother Li had never been able to look kindly upon her as the second daughter-in-law. If the marriage hadn’t been arranged by Grandfather Xue, she would have refused to accept her.

After her husband’s death, Grandmother Li frequently made things difficult for Madam Liu. She would make her stand for hours on end to set rules, and at the slightest displeasure would scold her.

Only in recent years, after Xue Yuanhao became a records clerk with hopes of an official post, and since the eldest grandson Xue Yan came of age and needed to use Xue Yuanhao’s exemption from corvée, did Grandmother Li relent.

Still, Grandmother Li preferred not to see Madam Liu, excusing her from household rules and even daily greetings, essentially excluding her from family activities and isolating her, much to Madam Liu’s distress.

With Xue Rui’s uncle passing the preliminary exam and aiming for the scholar’s degree, Aunt Zhao began to boast before her sisters-in-law.

A scholar had far better privileges than an astronomy student: exemption from corvée, eligibility for tax-free land, and the chance to advance to higher exams—truly a stepping stone to officialdom.

Years ago, the Xue family rose to prominence because Grandfather Xue became a scholar and accepted lands donated by the people.

Now, with several hundred acres under their name, if Uncle Xue Yuanbo became a scholar, the family’s resurgence was assured, making him more important than Xue Yuanhao. Thus, Grandmother Li placed her hopes on her eldest son and neglected the second.

Aunt Zhao, who looked down on Xue Yuanhao’s unconventional path to office, often ridiculed him.

Xue Rui had long grown tired of hearing about these family squabbles from his mother. Seeing his parents disagree, he offered his opinion, “I agree with Father.”

“Rui, have you forgotten who drove your mother and me out?” Madam Liu hadn’t expected her son to oppose her and was so upset tears welled in her eyes.

Xue Rui hurried to explain, “I’m not saying you shouldn’t return in glory, but we should target only Uncle’s family, not clash with Grandmother. Our reason for returning isn’t just that.”

“What else is there?” Xue Yuanhao and Madam Liu were both curious.

Xue Rui said grimly, “Separation of the family!”

“Separation?!” Both parents’ faces changed—they had expected their son to raise this matter.

By rights, the Xue family’s two branches should have separated long ago, but Grandfather Xue’s sudden death left it unfinished.

Moreover, Xue Yuanhao’s exemption from corvée was being used by his elder brother, so a division would prevent its continued use. Uncle and Aunt kept persuading Grandmother not to divide the family.

Xue Yuanhao had raised the issue several times, but Grandmother always stalled, leaving it unresolved.

Everyone knew the elder branch took full advantage: though the income from fields and estates was officially shared, Aunt Zhao, empowered by Grandmother Li, was the true mistress, and the household finances followed her wishes.

The second branch received only occasional gifts at festivals, relying mainly on Xue Yuanhao’s wages and stipends, rarely benefiting from the common fund.

Madam Liu often quarreled over this with her sister-in-law.

Also, Xue Yuanhao was too honest to openly confront Grandmother Li, so their days were far from easy.

As Xue Rui saw it, they had tolerated enough. Now that his father was an official, if they didn’t separate from the elder branch, when would they?

Xue Yuanhao hesitated, “I’ve brought it up before, but your grandmother wouldn’t agree. We can’t force the separation.”

“Exactly, Grandmother has to agree. All the accumulated property is in her hands. If things turn sour, we’ll get nothing,” Madam Liu said, troubled. In an age where filial piety was everything, forcing a separation was nearly impossible.

Xue Rui was already mentally prepared for the difficulty of convincing Grandmother Li.

But since he dared propose it, he had a solution. He reassured his parents, “Don’t worry, I have a plan. Once we succeed, we’ll buy a bigger house and live on our own terms—wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

Though tempted, Madam Liu reminded him, “Buying property in the capital isn’t easy. A large house costs hundreds of taels. Besides, we still owe Grandmaster money, and we mustn’t touch the compensation from the Chen family. We should save for your marriage—no squandering! For now, let’s rent a place.”

“Don’t worry, Mother. This separation won’t just get Grandmother’s consent, we won’t suffer losses either. Otherwise, how would it differ from not separating?” Xue Rui was confident.

“That’s good.”

With their son so sure, Xue Yuanhao and Madam Liu were reassured and agreed.

...

With many valuables in the house, Xue Rui feared thieves and decided not to stay at Grandmaster’s residence, choosing instead to remain at home as a precaution.

But staying at home brought the problem of where to sleep.

Madam Liu stepped in, suggesting her son share a room with the maid.

Of course, Madam Liu had no ulterior motive. Both Xue Rui and Su Su were family, and as long as nothing inappropriate happened, Su Su’s reputation would remain intact.

Surprisingly, Su Su agreed, blushing.

Xue Rui had no objection. It was just for one night—Su Su was still a young girl, and he felt no interest. Sharing a room was safer.

As night fell, Su Su went to bed early, wrapped herself in the quilt, and blushed as she slipped under the covers.

After finishing his calligraphy, Xue Rui saw his maid sleeping soundly. He washed briefly, extinguished the lamp, and lay down fully clothed.

Soon, soft snores drifted from the side room.

It was late autumn, and the capital was unusually quiet at night.

But strangely, beneath the wall at Stone Lane, whispers could be heard.

Three men were speaking: Liu Erhu, Wang the Cripple, and Zhou Mancang.

These three were ruffians from the city, usually extorting small traders outside the city.

Recently, the court had suffered upheaval and sent officials to investigate spies, but the supervision of these ruffians had loosened.

In such circumstances, the trio thrived, growing bolder.

They not only extorted small traders but also routinely bullied households, smashing and robbing anyone who resisted.

Earlier, Zhou Mancang had idly wandered the neighborhood, scouting the area.

Passing Stone Lane, he noticed the traffic was unusually busy.

After asking the neighbors, he learned the house belonged to the Xue family, who were renting there. Many visitors had come that day, all bringing valuable gifts worth hundreds of taels.

Seeing the low walls, Zhou Mancang was tempted and hurried back to tell Liu Erhu and the others.

Late that night, the three crept to Stone Lane, hoping for a windfall.

After surveying the surroundings, they squatted by the wall, whispering.

“Zhou Mancang, are you sure it’s this house?” Wang the Cripple leaned out to check.

In the darkness, the Xue family’s small courtyard showed no light—the inhabitants were clearly asleep.

Zhou Mancang, with his honest farmer’s face, was in fact a seasoned petty thief.

When Wang the Cripple asked, Zhou Mancang quickly replied, “It’s definitely this one. Not sure what the occasion was, but many people and carriages came today—all high-status, clearly bringing gifts.”

“That’s not easy to handle.”

Usually bold, Liu Erhu was now cautious.

From Zhou Mancang’s account, the Xue family didn’t seem ordinary. If they angered someone powerful, it would be hard to keep operating in the area.

Sensing Liu Erhu’s hesitation, Zhou Mancang urged, “Erhu, we can’t back out now. It’s said this house has only a woman, a maid, and a boy—easy pickings. If we pull this off, it’ll be worth more than ten previous jobs. Besides, I hear the lady is quite attractive—we could enjoy ourselves while at it, heh heh.”

As he spoke, a lewd smile appeared on Zhou Mancang’s face, betraying his intentions.

Slap!

Wang the Cripple smacked Zhou Mancang’s head, scolding, “Have you forgotten our rules? We rob, not kill. If it’s just theft, constables won’t find clues and usually let it drop. But if someone gets killed, the authorities won’t rest until it’s solved. We can find any brothel girl with stolen money—don’t get carried away!”

“That’s right. This family is only renting, but their visitors are all dignitaries. We mustn’t harm anyone, or else the commotion will ruin every ruffian in the area. If we’re unlucky, the yamen will pin the crime on us. We’re already known for petty theft—why court death?” Liu Erhu, experienced in the area, also opposed Zhou Mancang’s idea.

“Fine, fine, I’ll listen to you both.”

Zhou Mancang agreed outwardly, though he still planned to control the household and maybe get a feel even if he couldn’t sleep with the lady—so long as it wasn’t real harm.

After discussing, they decided to act at the fourth watch, when the household would be deepest asleep.

When the hour arrived, Liu Erhu woke the others, and they all covered their faces with black cloth before heading to the Xue house.

With no dog and easy-to-climb walls, Zhou Mancang volunteered to be first over.

Wang the Cripple, hindered by his lame leg, was pushed up by Liu Erhu.

Sitting astride the wall and about to pull up Liu Erhu, Wang the Cripple found no one below.

“Erhu? Erhu?” Wang the Cripple called softly but got no response.

Even as a thief, Zhou Mancang felt uneasy entering someone else’s courtyard. Seeing the others hadn’t followed, he asked anxiously, “Cripple, why aren’t you coming in?”

“Damn it, Erhu’s gone. Wait, I’ll find him!” Wang the Cripple, after calling with no reply, sensed something was wrong and climbed back down to search for the missing Liu Erhu.

“Damn, have they lost their nerve?” After waiting a while, Zhou Mancang saw no movement and didn’t dare linger, so he climbed out as well.

Under the moonlight, Zhou Mancang reached the end of the lane.

After a few steps, he saw two humanoid shapes hanging from the old locust tree, swaying in the wind.

“What’s that? It wasn’t there before!”

Curiosity led Zhou Mancang closer. Recognizing what the shapes were, a bone-chilling terror made him cry out.

“Mur—”

Before he could finish the word, a shadow struck his throat, sending him flying several meters to the ground.

After some rustling, the old locust tree now had a third figure, swaying gently in the autumn wind.

In the side room, Xue Rui, sleeping soundly, suddenly woke.

In his dream, he thought he heard a shout, unsure if it was real or imagined.

By moonlight, he peered outside—the courtyard was utterly still, not even the sound of insects.

Xue Rui assumed it was his imagination, lay down again, and bundled Su Su, clad only in her underclothes, into the quilt before drifting back into sleep.