Chapter One: Why the Fourth Young Master Decided to Run Away

Fu Shihua shook his head: "No, that's not right. If it were the master's news, it should have been conveyed to the madam first. How could it disturb the Fourth Young Master while he is recuperating? Moreover, if the Fourth Young Master were aware of the master's news, he should have reported it to the madam first; there is no reason for him to run out on his own."

"Xiao Xicui, still indulging in sleep, the Fourth Young Master has been out for quite a while!" It was the gentle voice of a woman.

Hmm, let me sleep a little longer, the rooster has just crowed for the first time, it is still very early... In a half-dreamy state, Xicui twisted her body a couple of times, mumbling indistinctly. Suddenly, she was startled awake, sitting up with the quilt in her arms, her eyes wide open in surprise as she asked, "What? The Fourth Young Master has gone out?!"

The head of the Wang family comes from the main branch, while Wang Kefan's lineage is merely a minor side branch. However, Wang Kefan's father, Wang Rui, achieved the second highest degree in the imperial examination in the tenth year of the Chongzhen era, which granted him a unique status within the family

"What could happen?" Xi Cui was startled, which also surprised Fu Shihua. However, she was much more composed, furrowing her delicate brows as she pondered and said: "Yesterday afternoon, the head housekeeper came to see the Fourth Young Master. At that time, the Fourth Young Master was taking a nap, and I stopped him from meeting. Perhaps... this is related to the matter?"

Wang Rui served as a magistrate in Datong, Shanxi, and has been out of contact for the past few months. If it were not for the fact that Wang Kefan's marriage was arranged two years ago, he and Fu Shihua would not have been able to marry.

The sound of roosters crowing comes from outside the window, heralding a new morning in Hengshili

In this era, Hubei and Hunan are considered a single province, collectively referred to as Huguang. Except for the northern regions such as Xiangyang, which are occupied by Li Zicheng's Dashun army, the majority of the other areas are under the control of the Southern Ming.

Why does the Fourth Young Master want to run away

The small wardrobe shook violently, as if it were about to fall apart amidst the chaos of flying chickens and barking dogs. The woman by the bed was in a state of shock when Xi Cui suddenly sat up straight, holding a robe in her hand, her face filled with joy as she let out a sigh of relief: "I found it! Now let's go find the Fourth Young Master!" Turning around, she finally saw the woman by the bed clearly. Completely awake, Xi Cui couldn't help but freeze there, and after a moment, she managed to find a topic to greet her: "Oh... Fourth Young Mistress, what brings you here so early in the morning?"

... ...

In her view, the Fourth Young Master is a scholar from the county school, a genuine gentleman of the blue robe. How could he be running down the street in a short shirt, without a hat, and not even wearing a headscarf? It is simply a disgrace to his dignity and status! Moreover, the Fourth Young Mistress has made it clear that the Fourth Young Master is already "gasping for breath, sweating profusely," and he must be running with great difficulty. What if he falls ill again?

In a narrow bed in the corridor, a girl of about thirteen or fourteen was sleeping soundly. The crowing of a rooster disturbed her sweet dreams. The girl turned over with her eyes closed, carelessly pulling the blanket over her head, and soon fell back into a deep slumber. Two delicate feet peeked out from under the blanket, with the pink cuffs of her pants rolled up to her knees, revealing her fair, chubby calves, adorned with a few bright red nail polishes on her toenails, looking vibrant and alluring

Xi Cui, on the other hand, was gaping and staring with wide eyes, her face filled with an expression of disbelief, truly unable to imagine what the Fourth Young Master must look like at this moment

Before she could finish her sentence, Xicui jumped out of bed with a thud, barefoot and in slippers, rushing towards the wardrobe. She flung open the cabinet door and dove inside, rummaging frantically: "This is terrible! This is terrible! The Fourth Young Master has only just woken up for a couple of days, and who knows where he has run off to? I need to quickly send him a warm piece of clothing; if the old lady finds out, I will surely get a good scolding!"

The big house is looking for the Fourth Young Master? Xi Cui's eyes turned rapidly, and she exclaimed, "It must be that the master has news!"

Just now... I heard someone say that the Fourth Young Master is running in the street, his short shirt exposing his top, his hair disheveled, and he is panting heavily, sweating profusely, looking quite strange... Fu Shihua, with her hair styled high, is already dressed like a young married woman, but she has not yet consummated her marriage with Wang Kefan, nor have they even exchanged more than a couple of words, feeling inexplicably shy and breathless in front of Xi Cui.

"Fourth Young Mistress, come quickly, you must see this!"

Chongyang County, Wuchang Prefecture, Huguang, is located at the southernmost tip of present-day Hubei Province, at the junction of Hunan, Hubei, and Jiangxi provinces. For centuries, it has been a place of great talent and natural beauty, with a flourishing literary culture, producing a continuous stream of scholars and poets, particularly the Wang family of Dalu Hengshili, who stand out the most.

In the faint sound of breathing that seemed almost nonexistent, a figure rose from the shadows and began to dress. As it passed by her bedside, it deliberately slowed its pace, tiptoeing out of the room and closing the door quietly behind it, restoring the silence within the room.

It is said that the bride is a refined young lady from another region, a stunning beauty with countless charms. Newly married, she finds herself alone in an empty house, evoking countless sighs and sentiments from well-meaning onlookers

The woman referred to as the "Four Young Ladies" is none other than the newlywed wife of Wang Kefan, Fu Shihua, who has recently become a topic of lively discussion among the aunts and uncles. In recent days, she has frequently come to care for her comatose husband and has become quite familiar with the maid, Xi Cui. At this moment, however, her gaze shifts to the side, and her face slightly reddens.

Fu Shihua thought that something unexpected had happened, and hurriedly lifted the curtain to enter the room. Upon reaching the Luohan bed, following the gaze of Xi Cui, her eyes were drawn to a thin quilt at the head of the bed, leaving her momentarily stunned and speechless.

I have never seen a quilt stacked in such a manner, perfectly neat and square, with corners as sharp and defined as if they were cut with a knife or axe, just like a large block of tofu

Oh no! Xi Cui was startled again, her youthful face filled with seriousness: "The Fourth Young Master's illness has not yet fully recovered, and he rushed out in a panic early in the morning. Something must have happened... Hmm, it must be something life-threatening!"

"Hmm... that makes sense." Xicui, being agreeable, straightforwardly pushed the troublesome matter of thinking to Fu Shihua: "Then, Fourth Young Mistress, please tell us, why did the Fourth Young Master run away?"

In the midst of a hazy reverie, it is unclear how much time has passed when a flurry of light footsteps hurriedly approaches, entering the room and arriving at the bedside, gently tapping on the headboard.

Due to the obstruction of mountains and rivers, and the remoteness of the roads, the changing winds and clouds of the northern provinces are slow to be known among the common people of Huguang. The villagers continue their mundane lives, occasionally experiencing marriages, funerals, and celebrations, as if in a scene of complete peace.

Oh oh oh

In the year 1644, Li Zicheng entered Beijing, Emperor Chongzhen hanged himself on Coal Mountain, Wu Sangui led the Qing army into the pass, and Dorgon advanced into the Central Plains

The Ming Dynasty, which had lasted for 276 years, thus fell apart. The elite Eight Banners troops swept across north of the Yellow River, while Li Zicheng's Shun army faced continuous defeats, trapped in Shaanxi. Meanwhile, the Southern Ming Hongguang court still clung to a precarious existence, immersed in the illusion of negotiating peace with the Manchus

During the reign of Emperor Ming, the Wang family was known for their dedication to farming and education. In the Zhengde period, four members of the Wang family, including Wang Wensheng and his grandson Wang Zongyi, all achieved the degree of Jinshi, which became a celebrated story of the time. In the Wanli period, Wang Zongyi further held the significant position of Minister of Personnel in Nanjing, "ranking among the eight seats and being esteemed by three dynasties," which was exceptionally distinguished

Fearing that the turmoil of war in the north would affect his family, Wang Rui went alone to Datong to take up his post, leaving his elderly wife and two sons in their hometown of Chongyang. Previously, he would send a letter home every month or so from Datong, but since the soldiers of Li Zicheng entered Shanxi in the first month of the lunar calendar, he had lost all contact with his family.

Recently, the Wang family held a joyous occasion, as the fourth young master, Wang Kefa, got married. However, on the day of the wedding, joy turned to sorrow; Wang Kefa fell seriously ill after getting drunk and has been unconscious in bed for several days, turning this wedding into a rather significant joke.

This, I cannot guess. Fu Shihua pondered for a moment, then shook her head in defeat. Although she and Wang Kefan were officially husband and wife, they were actually as unfamiliar as strangers. This matter was too strange, and she truly could not comprehend the reasons behind it

Indeed, it was quite cool this morning, and the Fourth Young Master has just recovered from a serious illness. If he catches a chill, it would be terrible... The woman's Mandarin was laced with a strong Jiangxi accent, her murmurs and transitions exuding an indescribable sweetness and freshness

"Never mind, let me grab two more pieces of clothing, and we will go find the Fourth Young Master together. We can just ask him directly then!" Without waiting for Fu Shihua to respond, Xicui turned and entered the inner room, the door curtain swaying back and forth, and her scream echoed from within the room.

By the late Ming Dynasty during the chaotic years, the Wang family had branched out and grown into a large clan, with all branches, both senior and junior, being prosperous and wealthy. Even the collateral branches produced many talented individuals, enjoying a prestigious reputation among the gentry of Hunan and Hubei.