chapter 5
“In my many years at war, I have seen suffering spread across the land and the people endure hardship beyond measure. Whenever I recall it, sleep deserts me. I hereby dedicate my entire fortune: half to provision our soldiers, and half to build charitable halls, in hopes of doing what little I can for the people.”
Signed: Gu Nianwu.
In the course of a single night, my brilliant proclamation appeared on walls throughout every street and alley.
People gathered to read it. Several white-haired elders were moved to tears. “General Gu is a good man. A truly good man!”
“Indeed, indeed!”
Gu Nianwu really was an honest general. All the silver in his storehouse came from his salary and imperial rewards; he had skimmed nothing on the side.
The storeroom was soon emptied to the walls. Finding that insufficient, I led my people to the main quarters and stripped those rooms of his furniture as well.
After all, I was still Madam Gu in both name and law. No one in the residence dared disobey me.
When Gu Nianwu returned from court, he found me in the middle of wrestling a jewelry box from Du Yiyi.
“That belongs to me! Give it back!”
“You belong to Gu Nianwu, so everything you own belongs to the Gu household. I hold authority over the household, which means I may dispose of your belongings however I please. Someone take this away, sell it, and donate the proceeds!”
She clung to the box and fought me for it, sobbing at the top of her lungs.
“Dear Gu, save me! This woman has gone mad!”
She insulted me, so I raised my hand and slapped her.
Five scarlet finger marks bloomed across her delicate cheek.
“Such insolence! Is that any way to address me?” I thundered.
As I spoke, a heavy slap struck my own face.
A man was always stronger than a woman.
Gu Nianwu stood breathing hard, his eyes blazing with fury.
“You have gone too far!” Even his hand was shaking. “What happened to the storehouse? Were you the one who wrote those notices outside?”
“Do not ask when you already know!”
I launched a kick into his thigh with all my strength.
He failed to block it and stumbled back two steps.
I pressed a hand to my burning cheek and laughed with delight.
“Gu Nianwu, I am helping you earn the people’s praise. Aren’t you happy?”
“The notices are already posted, and every one bears the Gu household seal. Why don’t you go outside and explain to everyone that you have changed your mind and no longer wish to donate?”
Du Yiyi threw herself against him, her eyes red with rage. “Dear Gu, she did it on purpose. This is her revenge!”
Still incredulous, Gu Nianwu gritted his teeth. “Did you not ask for a quarter? If you donate everything, not one copper will be left for you.”
I spread my arms, more arrogant than ever.
“The Xuanyuan clan possesses a fortune beyond counting. Who cares about your paltry scraps?”
“My dowry was carried away in the night. Everything donated today belonged to the Gu residence, and I gave it away as Madam Gu. Ha!”
“You adulterous pair can live on love and fresh air from now on!”
“…”
Gu Nianwu’s neck reddened with rage. Unable to endure another word, he drew the sword at his side and thrust straight at my face.
I twisted aside to evade the blade, snapped a willow switch from a nearby tree, and met him head-on.
His emotions had thrown him into disarray, leaving flaw after flaw in his technique. I parried every attack with ease.
Leaves whirled through the air, scattering across a pond of jade-green water.
Even the sparrows perched in the tree to watch the spectacle took wing in alarm.
The servants did not know whom to help. The steward stamped his feet and pleaded, “General! Madam! Please stop! If you go on, you’ll bring down the house!”
A willow branch could not contend with steel forever. After more than a hundred exchanges, I gradually lost the advantage.
I retreated to the edge of the roof, where tiles had already come loose beneath my feet.
I flung the switch at Gu Nianwu. As he moved to deflect it, I leapt from the roof and drifted lightly to the ground.
Gu Nianwu followed.
I seized the still-terrified Du Yiyi and dragged her in front of me as a shield.
“Go on, stab!” I threatened. “Aim for her face.”
Du Yiyi squeezed her eyes shut and trembled like a sieve.
“Cui, we’re leaving.”
Xiaocui immediately fell in behind me.
Gu Nianwu hastily drew back his sword and could only watch as I held Du Yiyi by the back of the neck and retreated all the way out of the residence.
I had spent the entire morning selling things. Outside the gate, merchants waited to snap up goods at bargain prices, while townspeople came and went. The street was bustling.
They began to murmur. “What’s happening now? Isn’t that Madam Gu?”
Du Yiyi refused to be quiet even in my grasp. She shouted an explanation to the crowd. “General Gu has already repudiated her—”
Gu Nianwu cared greatly for his dignity. By the time he came outside, he had discarded his sword and restored his usual upright, calm, and righteous bearing.
“Indeed. Xuanyuan has no tolerance whatsoever. This general has repudiated her!”
“Xuanyuan Xiang, for your father’s sake, I will not make matters difficult for you today. Take the letter and leave!”
He flung the letter of repudiation into my face.
I shoved Du Yiyi toward him. She caught her foot on the threshold, stumbled, and fell into Gu Nianwu’s arms.
No one was closer than husband and wife; no one could become more estranged.
A single threshold now drew the line between us.
I drew a deep breath and cursed. “Who do you think you are? You’re not worthy of repudiating me!”
Before the assembled crowd, I tore the letter to shreds.
“Good people, bear witness today! Gu Nianwu is fickle and wanton, a man utterly without marital virtue. I am the one repudiating him! From this day forth, every bond between Gu Nianwu and me is severed. We shall be enemies beneath the same sky!”
I raised my hand. The wind caught the scraps.
The torn letter scattered into a thousand fragments.
And so did we.