Chapter 2
A Shocking Turn of Events
(1)
Seventh month sunlight shone on the hall at dawn. Breakfast had already been laid out, though not as extravagant fare as the night before, it was still an intimidating spread.
Ouyang Changshou had not slept the whole night and he was still in high spirits, all smiles.
Everything was prepared, only the bridegroom had not yet come out with his bride to pay his respects and serve tea. The guests had stayed overnight and were still a bit hungover, but they all wore happy expressions too, to be able to be guests at Ouyang Manor this morning. Just that was enough to give them a big head.
Ouyang Changshou finally cleared his throat and said a few words to his wife, Zhao Siniang, who called at once for the bride’s maid to go hurry her son and daughter-in-law along.
Ouyang Changshou promptly put in, “My boy is ignorant and lacks proper etiquette to keep you all waiting so long. This old rotter is awfully sorry. When he comes out this old rotter will have him apologize to you all.”
Everyone said, “No worries, it’s still early!”
But the younger guests pursed their lips and smiled knowingly.
The young man surnamed Ke who was hazing the newlyweds last night said softly to his companion, “Who would have thought Brother Ouyang would have really given it to her!”
His buddy chuckled, “Can the bride help that she’s such a flower, must be Brother Ouyang not only practiced late but is having another lesson this morning!”
After a while and the bride’s maid not back yet, Ouyang Changshou’s smile faded and he turned around and said, “Tianhong, go check on them. No matter what you have to have them out in less time than it takes to drink two cups of tea! As soon as he gets married he loses all respect for his elders!”
Zhao Siniang nudged him and said softly, “Lower your voice, lest people hear and laugh!”
× × ×
When Zhan Tianhong returned his face was pale and ashen. His tongue was in knots and he couldn’t get a word out.
Ouyang Changshou flew into a rage, “Where is that little animal?”
“Old Master, Young Master… Young Master and the Young Lady…”
Ouyang Changshou’s face softened a bit and he eyed Zhao Siniang with a faint smile. He mock scolded, “That despicable thing! And the bride’s maid?”
Zhan Tianhong seemed to have picked up a stutter, “She… She fell at the doorway…”
Zi Cuique stifled a giggle. “Who knew she was an even more despicable thing!”
Peng Gongzhi laughed. “Worthy Nephew is worried about you getting impatient for a grandson! Hah, you see, Little Brother, didn’t I say so last night, a tiger father doesn’t have a dog son!”
The guests laughed loudly.
Zhao Siniang blushed as red as a kaki persimmon.
Ouyang Changshou smiled apologetically. “This child is a bit impatient, but this is too much. He’s gonna get it later!” His own playboy ways had become second nature, and the boy’s behavior was actually to his liking. He felt the boy could be taught.
Zhan Tianhong stamped his foot and said urgently, “It’s not that, it’s, it’s…”
Ouyang Changshou’s face sank. “Then what is it? Tianhong, why are you hemming and hawing like this today?”
Zhan Tianhong bent down and whispered into Ouyang Changshou’s ear.
Ouyang Changshou’s face turned when he heard it and his hands and feet trembled. After a long while he pushed back from the table and softly called out, “Siniang, come with me to check it out!” He pulled his wife’s sleeve and strode toward the inner chambers.
Everyone was stunned, not knowing what was going on.
Peng Gongzhi said, “Ole Changshou went off in such a hurry, do you think the bride couldn’t stand it?”
The young man surnamed Ke cut in, “I’d say so, didn’t Senior say a tiger father doesn’t have a dog son?”
Peng Gongzhi guffawed and everyone else busted out laughing.
Daosenior Blue Void and Greatmasters Bailu and Baide softly intoned the name of Buddha.
The food was cold and the pastries too, and not only had Ouyang Peng and Chao Xiaoyan not come out yet, even Ouyang Changshou and Zhao Siniang had not come back either.
Now, all the guests in the hall were astonished, not knowing what had happened.
A while later, Steward Zhan Tianhong finally came out of the inner hall. “Honored guests, the master has instructed that he has some matters to attend to and can not come out. He asked everyone to go ahead and eat without him. In a little while, the master will come out see you all.”
Peng Gongzhi said loudly, “Steward Zhan, what happened?”
“Sorry, I’m not really sure myself. Everyone, don’t be angry, go ahead and have your meal. Master will come and tell you himself.”
Cui Yishan and Peng Gongzhi looked at each other, puzzled.
After the meal, a large group of family retainers came out of the inner hall and not only cleaned up the tables and took them away, they also took down the red curtain with “double happiness” written on it in big characters.
Everyone looked at each other in blank dismay, all feeling that something was wrong.
The red curtain was taken down and replaced with a white one, along with an incense burner and spirit tablets. Zhan Tianhong lit two big white candles.
Zi Cuique had a sharp eye. When she saw the small characters on the spirit tablets she blurted out, “It’s Master Ouyang’s lordson and his daughter-in-law!”
The hall was instantly abuzz with cries and murmurs.
As everyone was busy being shocked, Ouyang Changshou and Zhao Siniang emerged from the inner chambers. Their crimson wedding attire had been changed to white mourning, and in that brief span Ouyang Changshou seemed to have aged ten years. Now if one were to say he looked young for his age people would laugh their teeth out.
Zhao Siniang was no different than he, except for one addition: her eyes were swollen, her cheeks stained with tears.
Though there were a thousand or so people in and around the hall, it was so quiet you could hear a needle drop, as if in the blink of an eye everyone had stopped stopped breathing.
Ouyang Changshou’s eyes swept the room, the muscles in his face twitching, his long beard quivering despite no wind, and his legs trembled nonstop.
After a long time, Zhao Rongguo softly cleared his throat and said in a soft voice, “Changshou, what happened to Peng’er?”
A sharp cry suddenly escaped Zhao Siniang’s lips, followed by heart-wrenching sobs. “Dad… Your daughter’s son has died tragically!”
The guests in the main hall had guessed as much, but it hit different coming from the mouth of Zhao Siniang, and their hearts instantly dropped. Several couldn’t help but cry out in alarm.
After the sharp cries there was a period of suffocating silence. Zhao Rongguo was shaking and Ouyang Changshou was tottering like he was sifting rice, as if he could fall over at any moment.
Peng Gongzhi didn’t dare utter a sound, and Bailu and Baide kept chanting the name of Buddha, followed by future life mantras in low voices, their voices getting louder and louder, booming like muffled thunder in Zhao Rongguo’s ears, shaking his heart so that it hammered wildly without end.
Zi Cuique quietly removed her scarlet cloak.
Ouyang Changshou suddenly bellowed, “Whoever has animosity with me, come at me, why murder an innocent?”
Zhao Rongguo suddenly turned around and swept his eyes across the crowd, who felt hiss gaze was as cold as ice, as sharp as a knife.
“Whoever is the murderer, step forward!” Zhao Rongguo was raging, hair like a raging male lion, his beard and hair all bristling.
Zhan Tianhong urgently said, “Su Gongzhi, Tan Xingjia, Mo Peihua, you three take men and guard every entrance, the main entrance, the side entrances, and every little corner gate, shut them all up, and no one is to be permitted to leave without orders! Foreman Chu will be in charge of this!”
Everyone’s face turned and Daosenior Blue Void put his palms together and declared, “Buddha of Infinite Longevity!”1
Ouyang Changshou’s nerves were shaken. He suppressed his racing thoughts and said in an acrid voice, “I’m old and near death have lost my beloved son and fine daughter-in-law. This day of great rejoicing has turned, and the bridal chamber has become a land of ghosts, a happy occasion turned to one of mourning. You all can guess what I’m feeling right now. I’m offending you, but please everyone remain in my humble abode for a few days. I’m really sorry for any inconvenience. Once the murderer is ferreted out, I will host a banquet by way of apology.”
The guests started up murmuring and talking in low voices, kicking up a small disturbance.
Peng Gongzhi, voice quavering, said, “What Brother Ouyang said is reasonable. Everyone here is a goodfellow of the jianghu. If you know you have not killed Worthy Nephew, then there is nothing to worry about!” His sabreplay was superb and he was highly esteemed, and with his thunderclap temper, no one dared contradict him.
Peng Gongzhi looked around him. “If you are the killer then step forward if you have the guts. Don’t let someone else take the blame. If there’s good reason for the killing, I will never stand on the wrong side!”
The guests inwardly commended him, but for a long time no one came forward. Everyone in the main hall looked at each other, but no one made a sound.
Ouyang Changshou’s face clouded, by turns pale and ashen. Zhao Siniang’s hair was a mess, the look on her face by turns one of sorrow, then anger. She was about to go mad.
A young guest said, “Manorlord, what if one of here has urgent matters to attend to but the murderer has not been found yet, will he be able to leave?”
Ouyang Changshou’s face darkened and he said sternly, “No!”
The young man, neither haughty nor humble, said, “Manorlord, I trust that no one here doesn’t respect you, that’s why they’ve come a thousand miles to congratulate you. However, like me, my old dad is in ill health and bedridden, I’m really anxious to…”
“No matter what you say, the answer is no!”
The young man’s words though had garnered not a small amount of sympathy. At once someone spoke up, “Manorlord, of course it’s grievous to lose one’s son in his old age, but to put it bluntly, if this little brother’s old father were to pass away before he could see his son again, let me ask you, wouldn’t that be a great offense on your part?”
Ouyang Changshou’s expression changed and changed again, completely losing his bearing of former days. “I don’t care about any of that! Anyway, until the murderer is found, don’t any of you think of leaving!”
“What if the murderer isn’t one of the guests here but is someone who snuck in and then snuck out again? Are we all just supposed to stay here forever?”
Ouyang Changshou was taken aback by that, but he still said obstinately, “Is Ouyang Manor made of paper? That anyone can just come and go as they please? Let me tell you all, last night this manor still employed the same patrolling guards as always, how could any outsider get inside? And you all have invitations from me. Even if you’re not a friend of Ouyang Manor at least you’re no enemy. You telling me that I would invite an enemy? So I need all of you to remain here and assist with the investigation!”
The guest was also unusually persistent and said calmly, “Manorlord is right, no one who came here is Manorlord’s enemy, but Manorlord also ought not force people against their will!”
“And if I insist?”
“Are you confident you can deal with all the heroes gathered here?”
Ouyang Changshou was taken aback again at that. Zhao Rongguo interjected, “No matter what, the Zhao family of Hebei is with Ouyang Manor!”
At the moment, it was awkward and tense in the hall, like something could erupt at any moment.
Zhan Tianhong suddenly cut in, “Manorlord, the invitations were issued by your humble servant, all the guests signed their names to their invitation. Your humble servant has a guestbook. Why don’t I call roll and see if there is anyone missing.”
Peng Gongzhi hastily said, “Steward Zhan, that’s a great plan!”
Zi Cuique said, “Yes, if anyone is missing it must be the murderer! Why would he steal away unless he has a guilty conscience?”
Zhao Rongguo heaved a sigh of relief and gave Ouyang Changshou a look. The Zhao and Ouyang families were powerful, it would be difficult for the heroes assembled to oppose them.
Ouyang Changshou said blankly, “Tianhong, go get the guestbook.”
× × ×
All the guests stood in the courtyard, waiting for Zhan Tianhong to call their name before entering the hall.
Near noon, less than half of the guests had gone into the main hall. Everyone was sweating under the sweltering sun, but everyone could understand Ouyang Changshou’s feelings, so everything was well-ordered and went unusually peacefully.
Steward Zhan Tianhong continued calling out, “Great Xia Ke Quxie!”
“Here, but I’m not great xia!” This was the young man surnamed Ke who had teased the newlyweds the night before.
“Sima Cheng!” Zhan Tianhong called. “Sima Cheng!”
When there was no response, Zhan Tianhong called his name twice more, and when there was still no response he made a mark in his ledger.
After noon, all of the guests had been called. Only Sima Cheng was missing.
Ouyang Changshou said urgently, “Who knows his background?”
A middle-aged man spoke up at once, “He’s the son of Sima Qianjun of Zhongzhou.”
Ouyang Changshou said, “This old man’s not talking about that. If I didn’t even know that, how could the Ouyangs have any standing in the jianghu? This old man wanted to ask if anyone knew if he had any animosity toward my boy or daughter-in-law?” He paused. “Eh, I seem to remember not inviting him but invited his dad, ‘Hundred Paces Divine Fist’ Sima Qianjun. Tianhong!”
Zhan Tianhong quickly responded, “Ole Sima is gravely ill, so he sent Little Sima to go in his stead.”
“Hmm, Brother Cui, you’re called ‘Great Xia of Zhongzhou’, you’re an old friend of Sima Qianjun. You must know his son well…”
Cui Yishan thought for a moment, then said, “You could say I know him well.”
“So he and my son…”
Cui Yishan sighed and said plainly, “That child is very filial, clever, capable, and hardworking. He excels in literature and martial arts. To put it bluntly, his martial arts is by no means inferior to Nephew Peng’s.”
Ouyang Changshou had an ugly look on his face but Cui Yishan wasn’t looking at him. He cleared his throat lightly and sighed deeply. “Last year this little brother heard that he was also courting Nephew’s wife, Xiaoyan, but that’s all already passed.”
His voice was very faint, but it was so quiet you could hear a needle drop so everyone heard him, and their hearts jumped.
Ouyang Changshou suddenly burst out laughing and didn’t stop, the sound of it like rending silk, shaking the dust from the rafters which sifted down with a rustle.
Ouyang Changshou laughed for as long as it takes to drink a cup of tea before he stopped. “I have offended you all, but now everything is clear. Please everyone go to the side parlor for a meal, and afterward if anyone wants to leave, this old man will not stand in your way.”
Everyone left a few polite remarks and stepped into the side parlor, though some were inwardly worried for Sima Cheng.
Cui Yishan opened his mouth to speak, but then just lowered his head and followed the rest inside.
× × ×
The meal was eaten with no interest at all, and afterward everyone left the manor to prepare for the funeral.
Storms gather without warning, and bad luck befalls men overnight.
Yesterday’s well-wishers are today’s mourners. That’s how life can turn on you.
There were many Ouyang family servants, and in just one afternoon they had the coffin and graveclothes prepared. Then the dead were bathed and clothed and finally husband and wife, mandarin ducks that shared the same destiny, were placed in their coffins.
Ouyang Changshou and Zhao Rongguo watched in a daze as the coroner worked. Zhao Siniang caressed the body with profound sorrow, tears spilling out like a waterfall.
Yesterday’s well-wishers in the hall, today’s mourners, all carried hearts heavy as lead. Thus far, all everyone knew was that Ouyang Peng and Chao Xiaoyan had been killed by a single sword and had died in their bed.
After a long while, Zhao Siniang suddenly said, “Eh, how come Xiaoyan’s golden hairpin is missing? Why didn’t you all put it in?”
The coroner said, “To answer the Lady, I never saw a golden hairpin. Hmm, what did it look like?”
“I think it was a phoenix with spread wings like it was flying, with jadeite inlaid in each eye.”
Ouyang Changshou shivered and averted his gaze upward.
The coroner said hurriedly said, “I haven’t seen it, really haven’t seen it. Even if this humble one had more nerve he would never disturb any object.”
“I know you wouldn’t.” Zhao Siniang nudged Ouyang Changshou. “Changshou, remember, last night Xiaoyan wore a golden hairpin in her hair.”
Ouyang Changshou nodded silently, swaying there on his feet.
“Changshou, do you think the killer might have taken it?” Zhao Siniang felt this might be a huge secret and clue.”
Ouyang Changshou looked utterly lost.
Zhao Siniang sighed, knowing his heart was filled with pain. She turned to Zhan Tianhong, “Steward Zhan, please send someone to Clear Voice Hermitage to get Abbess Kindheart. Really, her only disciple’s wedding day and she doesn’t come. Poor Xiaoyan, no dad or mom since she was a kid…” She started crying again.
Ouyang Changshou patted her gently. She felt his hand was cold as ice and couldn’t help but bury her face in his shoulder and sob.
Relatives and friends arrived one after the other to offer their condolences, and Ouyang Changshou and Zhao Siniang stood silently and returned the courtesies.
The sun sank in the west as the day dimmed.
Servants lit countless white candles. Similar candles, but last night’s candles made people pleasantly warm, while today’s were brimming with ice-cold grief.
Ouyang Changshou and Zhao Siniang didn’t eat supper, though Zhao Rongguo tried to persuade them to in vain.
Yesterday’s guests had already dispersed, but Cui Yishan, Peng Gongzhi, Zi Cuique, Daosenior Blue Void, Greatmasters Bailu and Baide and all their disciples stayed overnight at Ouyang Manor.
When the night watch sounded, the mourning hall was cold and lonely and melancholy. Ouyang Changshou sat by the coffin unmoving, face stiff as a wooden figurine, his thoughts unreadable.
Maybe he wasn’t thinking anything. Seeing one’s child die before oneself was a great tragedy, what could Ouyang Changshou think about?
Zhao Siniang glanced at her husband and was shocked to see that in such a short amount of time, Ouyang Changshou’s cheeks had become deeply sunken, and his eyes lacked the spirited gleam they used to have. His whole person looked like a block of wood set next to the coffin.
Zhao Siniang unwittingly shed tears. In just one day her husband had become unrecognizable. In the past, no matter what earth-shattering thing happened he would never even so much as frown, but now…
Zhao Siniang, grieved, said, “Changshou, you didn’t sleep last night, go lie down for a while.”
Ouyang Changshou shook his head silently. Looked like he planned to sit there till daybreak.
Zhao Siniang’s vision was getting blurry again!
When the second watch clappers sounded, Ouyang Manor was as still as a pool of stagnant water. Not even a dog barked.
In the mourning hall, Zhao Rongguo sighed. “Changshou, Siniang, go to bed. If there’s anything you can discuss it tomorrow morning.”
“Dad, you go on to bed, I’m not tired.”
Zhao Rongguo had four daughters, but he most doted on the youngest. With boundless tenderness he said, “Listen to Dad, go to bed. Tomorrow morning you still have to go find old man Sima and get even with him. That old man is no slouch, you won’t be able to deal with them if you lack energy.”
Zhao Siniang’s mind suddenly jolted. If there was anything right now that could move her it was the thought of revenge. She tugged on Ouyang Changshou’s sleeve and whispered, “Changshou, go take a rest, Dad’s right!”
Ouyang Changshou said hoarsely, “You two go on to bed, I’ll sit here a bit longer, then go rest in the study. Don’t worry, I can still make it.”
“Worthy Son-in-law, don’t grieve too much, perhaps Little Peng was fated to be short-lived. Grieving now won’t do any good!” Zhao Rongguo got up and left the mourning hall.
Zhao Siniang looked at her husband and covered her face and hurried into the inner hall.
Ouyang Changshou’s eyes never left Chao Xiaoyan’s coffin. The lid had not been nailed on and Xiaoyan’s face was white as paper in the candlelight, eyes closed, cherry lips slightly parted, the corners of her mouth seeming to carry a hint of spring stirrings of love.
Ouyang Changshou started trembling again. He was watching Chao Xiaoyan’s body more than his own son’s, as if he had special feelings for his daughter-in-law.
He just had the one son, just one offspring. With that root severed, only an idiot would say that he wouldn’t be heartbroken and feeling sorry for himself.
The third watch clappers sounded.
Ouyang Changshou heaved a long sigh and slowly stood. His study was located behind the main hall, and the mourning hall was set up in the main hall.
Not long after the study lamps were lit, Zhan Tianhong hurried over outside and knocked twice on the door.
“Who is it? What is it?”
“Manorlord, it’s me, Tianhong.”
“The door’s not locked, come in.”
Zhan Tianhong pushed open the door and stole inside. In the dark, two eyes flashed from a corner of the room and watched him unblinking.
A moment later, Ouyang Changshou’s voice said, “Tianhong, you’ve been working hard too. Go rest, starting tomorrow it will get harder. Old man Sima is no slouch. Mm, go notify the guardhouse, have them be careful, lest old man Sima uses nightfall to steal in here.”
“Sir, your subordinate will go now.” Zhan Tianhong pushed the door open and went out and closed the door, then turned and left.
In the dark, those eyes flashed again, then disappeared.
× × ×
After the time it takes half a stick of incense to burn, the study lamps were extinguished and the room was thrown into darkness. A black cloud flew past and snatched up the Jade Hare and the world was thrown into utter darkness.
(2)
The early morning sun jumped out of the fog. Many friends and relatives outside the city heard the news and rushed over to Ouyang Manor to offer their condolences.
Zhao Siniang freshened up briefly, put on white mourning clothes, and stepped out of the mourning hall. Zi Cuique took one look at her and felt heartsick and averted her eyes.
Zhao Siniang nodded to everyone vacantly. She said to a maidservant, “Chunhua, go see if Ole Master is up yet or not.”
A good-looking maidservant of about twenty years old assented and left.
The retainers promptly swapped out the white candles with new ones. The hall was full with gifts from mourners, all wrapped in plain black and white cloth.
A little while later, Chunhua came running, all flustered and agitated. “Oh no, oh no, Madame, it’s bad…”
Zhao Siniang gave a black look. She called out in a low voice, “Chunhua, when did you learn such bad manners, what are you shouting about?”
Chunhua’s eyes were welling with tears and her eyes darted around, Sobbing, she said, “Master… Master, he fell in his study, no…”
Zhao Siniang’s head was buzzing and she was about to faint.
Zhao Rongguo shrewdly and deftly held his daughter up and said urgently, “Steward Zhan, go see about it!”
Zhan Tianhong’s expression changed and he left at once without a word.
When he returned, everyone saw the answer in his face, something had definitely happened to Ouyang Changshou.
Zhao Siniang cried sharply and could take no more and fell into her father’s arms as she blacked out.
Zhao Rongguo had been a hero all his life, but at this moment he had no ideas. As luck would have it, a stream of internal energy surged out through his palm and into Zhao Sining’s body.
A little while later, Zhao Siniang came to and called out, “Oh Daddy, no…” And tears fell like rain.
Those present all have hearts as heavy as lead and stone. Zi Cuique couldn’t help but shed two trails of hot tears.
Zhao Rongguo did his best to put on a calm face and said, “Chunhua, come support Madame!”
Chunhua didn’t dare dawdle and helped Zhao Siniang sit down.
Zhao Rongguo said to Daosenior Blue Void and Peng Gongzhi, “You two, please come with this old rotter to go check it out.”
The rear window of the study was open and two chairs were overturned. Ouyang Changshou was crumpled dead on the floor, no signs of wounds or injuries on him.
Zhao Rongguo turned Ouyang Changshou’s body over and held his finger under Changshou’s nose, but there was no breathing. He was heartsick and couldn’t help but shed tears.
Peng Gongzhi said, “Daosenior Blue Void, how would you say Brother Ouyang was wounded?”
Daosenior Blue Void had been roaming the jianghu every since he left the mountain at the age of seventeen, and he was known for his careful attentiveness. He was now over sixty and could be counted as the most experienced and knowledgeable one in the jianghu.
Though others’ martial arts might not be inferior to his, but they were all sectheads and rarely went out into the jianghu after making names for themselves. Greatmasters Bailu and Baide had only left Mount Song a few times in their life.
Daosenior Blue Void examined him for a bit and said, “It looks like someone pressed his ‘Breast Protrusion Acupoint’, look!”
Ouyang Changshou’s robe had been opened and everyone saw that his “Breast Protrusion Acupoint” had a faint trace of a finger mark on it.
That was one of the thirty-six fatal acupoints. If it was pressed how could one still survive?
“Daoist Blue Void, can you tell what martial arts were used to do it?” Peng Gongzhi asked urgently.
Daosenior Blue Void shook his head. “All this proves is that the killer used an orthodox internal skill technique. This is not a venomous palm or finger technique of the side-gate left pathers.”
Peng Gongzhi hung his head and sighed. “Isn’t that the same as saying nothing?”
“Forgive this poor Daoist incompetence, but looking at the martial world, there’s no more than ten people who would be capable of felling Almsgiver Ouyang with a finger strike without alerting anyone nearby.”
Cui Yishan said, “Which ten people?”
Daosenior Blue Void stood up. “Aside from my humble sect’s secthead, the Shaolin secthead and the three surviving members of the great elders, aside from these five people there’s Emei’s ‘Seven Supremes Abbess’, Kunlun’s secthead ‘One Sword Stroke Shakes the Nine Provinces’ Mei Jiushan, ‘Old Demon of Snowy Mountain’ Hao Jian from beyond the Pass, the Miao border’s ‘Extraordinary Foreigner’, and ‘Sole Revered’ who once made a mess of the martial world. Aside from these, this poor Daoist really can’t think of anyone else who has the skill. At least, no one present here has such ability.”
Cui Yishan said, “But those ten you mentioned haven’t been active in the jianghu for years, so it seems impossible if could be one of them.”
“That this poor Daoist doesn’t know.”
Zhao Rongguo sighed. “We can study that later. First we should tell everyone lest they worry!”
Everyone filed out of the room.
