Chapter Twenty-Eight: Internal Strife

Before the dressing table, Deng Xiu’er gently set down the eyebrow pencil and, placing her hand on Zhou Hongxian’s shoulder, said, “Madam, the makeup is done!”

“Oh.” Zhou Hongxian slowly opened her eyes, casting only a fleeting glance at the bronze mirror before her mouth fell open in surprise. Her brows soon drew together. “Isn’t this makeup a bit too bold? It’s not as if I’m truly marrying that bandit chief. A simple touch would have sufficed—this feels so strange!”

Deng Xiu’er suppressed a smile. “Madam, a bride’s makeup must be like this. Even if we’re only pretending, no one should be able to spot a flaw!”

“Very well. Since it’s already done, let it be!” Zhou Hongxian sighed.

“Madam, if you go looking like this, even without illusions, those bandits will be utterly bewitched by you!”

Outside the county office of Husu, Cui Shen gazed at the five hundred able-bodied men assembled before him and felt a surge of purpose. At that moment, his advisor Xie Qiao arrived, dust-covered and hasty. Cui Shen asked, “Ziping, is everything arranged?”

Xie Qiao bowed slightly. “Sir, all the spies the bandits planted in the county have been dealt with. This time, there’s no chance the bandits will receive advance warning. We can enter the mountains boldly!”

“And the guide?”

“He’s ready. He was one of the spies, but I’ve detained his family to force his cooperation. He’ll show us the way and help us trick the sentries at the gate.”

Cui Shen clapped his hands. “Well done, Ziping. You always advised me not to alert the enemy, and now we see the reward! Hmph, I swear I will not rest until these bandits are wiped out. Forward!”

“Yes, sir!”

“Wait for me!” Just as Cui Shen and Xie Qiao were about to give the order to march, a clear voice rang out from behind the office. A youth darted forth like a gust of wind, causing both men to pause in surprise.

The youth appeared about fourteen or fifteen years old, wearing a black cap and a lotus-blue round-collared robe—slender, delicate, with rosy lips and white teeth. A slight, playful smile curled her lips, and her eyes narrowed into crescent moons, making her seem spirited and lively. Yet, the faint curve of her chest betrayed her: this was no boy but a girl in disguise.

In the Tang dynasty, it was not uncommon for women to travel in men’s clothing—for convenience or as a fashion, especially in the High Tang. But recognizing the girl, Cui Shen’s expression hardened. “Siniang, what are you up to, dressed like this today?”

“Father, don’t you think I look good?” The girl smiled. “I’ve long heard of the bandits at Camelback Ridge—how they ravage and plunder, doing all manner of evil. I’ve wanted to rid the people of them for ages. Since you are going to suppress bandits, why not take me along?”

Cui Shen glared at her. “Absurd! Is this something a young lady should meddle in? Back to the inner quarters with you!”

The girl pouted, her lips jutting out. “Why can’t a woman rid the people of harm? I’ve studied the six arts since childhood—horse-riding, archery, all of it. How am I inferior to any man?” Though clad as a boy, her petulance was utterly feminine. She turned to Xie Qiao for help. “Brother Ziping, say something for me!”

Xie Qiao only laughed, shaking his head. “Siniang, suppressing bandits is perilous. It will be hard enough to look after everyone, let alone you. Better listen to your father.”

“Hmph, I don’t need your protection!” She turned away, feigning indifference, but soon a sly smile flickered across her face. She waved her hand. “Fine, don’t take me. I’m leaving!”

“Stop right there!” No one knows a daughter like her father. Seeing her expression, Cui Shen instantly guessed her intent. Sternly, he warned, “I’m telling you, Siniang, if you dare to follow us in secret, and I find out, you’ll copy the ‘Instructions for Women’ a thousand times, and when you’re done, I’ll marry you off to your cousin Lu Chen!”

“So harsh?” The girl’s mouth dropped, her bravado deflating. “Dear father, I swear I’ll be good. Don’t even think about that—especially the second part!” With that, she slunk away to the women’s quarters.

Watching her retreat, Cui Shen could not help but shake his head with a wry smile. “She’s fourteen already and still so wild. It’s our fault, her mother’s and mine, for spoiling her. What gentleman will ever want such a girl?”

Xie Qiao smiled. “You worry too much, sir. Siniang is beautiful, clever, and lively—there will be plenty who admire her. Her cousin Lu Chen, for one, is already smitten.”

“Haha, well said! Enough idle talk. Let’s move out!”

As dusk deepened, torches and lanterns were lit, casting Qingfeng Stronghold in brilliant light. The festive music, played without pause, filled the bandits with merriment.

Scarface wore a bright red wedding robe, a red flower pinned to his chest, his grin wide enough to make the scar at his eye dance with every motion. He raised a bowl of wine and roared, “Brothers, today your chief is celebrating! Drink with me!”

“Congratulations, chief!” The bandits stood and drank in a wild frenzy.

Someone called out, “Chief, the brothers can drink all they want, but you should watch your cups! You’ll need some left for the nuptial toast when the bride arrives—and later, you’ll need your strength for… well, you know!”

Scarface’s bull-like eyes flashed. “What’s to fear? I could drink ten or twenty pounds and still have her in my arms tonight! Come, let’s keep drinking!”

Suddenly, the festive music stopped, startling the bandits into momentary confusion. But then, a high voice cried, “The auspicious hour has arrived!” The music resumed, livelier than before.

“Damn, scared me! Thought the officials were upon us. So the bride is coming out!”

“She is? I must get a good look at her!”

Soon, under the gaze of the assembled bandits, a woman draped in a ceremonial gown and flowered headdress, her face veiled, approached, supported by two maids. Her figure, curvaceous even beneath the loose robe, drew hungry glances and whispers from the crowd.

“Damn, what a figure! Why didn’t I notice before? Chief is a lucky man!”

“No kidding! I wonder if chief can handle her.”

Scarface, hearing their banter, grinned and strode toward the bride. The two maids, girls once from good families, lowered their heads in fear. “Chief…”

“Step aside!” Scarface waved them off gruffly.

“But the bride hasn’t crossed the fire basin yet!”

“Hmph, how long must we wait? I’ll carry her myself!” He scooped the bride into his arms and leapt across the fire basin.

The bandits burst into cheers.

Scarface, pleased with the sweet, unmoving beauty in his arms, laughed. “Little beauty, you’re so obedient! I thought you’d wail or fight!”

Beneath the veil, the bride’s voice quavered. “My lord, I’ve thought it through. I only beg you to treat me well.”

Scarface’s hardened heart softened. He lowered his voice. “Ah, my little beauty, would I ever mistreat you? Don’t worry, I’ll cherish you from now on!”

The bandits, seeing this, grew even more excited. “Chief, the nuptial toast! Let us see her face!”

“You’ve all seen her before, what’s the rush?”

“Not clearly!”

“I didn’t see her at all—I was on gate duty, and when chief returned, I was in the privy. Ran out without wiping and still missed it!”

Scarface roared with laughter. “Fine, I’ll grant your wish!” He set the bride down and lifted the veil from her head.

A hush fell over the crowd. Every bandit stared, dumbstruck. Scarface, flushed with pride, laughed. “Look at you lot—have you never seen a woman before?” He turned to gaze at her himself—and was instantly transfixed.

Beneath the lantern light, the bride stood tall in her ceremonial gown, her hair piled high and adorned with a golden hairpin that shone in the firelight. Her brows arched like distant mountains, her eyes glistening with mist and light, her face, cleansed of dust, gleamed pale as moonlight, and her lips, painted a cherry red, transformed her whole bearing into something utterly new.

If a beauty were to be likened to a flower, then in daylight she was a fresh lotus, but now she was a peony, dazzling and radiant. Pity that the audience was made up solely of ruffians; no poets were present to pen lines like, “With such beauty, heaven decreed her to outshine all flowers.”

Scarface, overcome, reached a trembling hand to her cheek, swallowing hard. “Little beauty, who’d have thought, once cleaned up, you’d be so stunning!”

Her brows knit, but she quickly smiled sweetly. “My lord, your scar looks rather dashing too!”

At this, the crowd erupted into noisy chaos.

“She’s too damn alluring—I can’t take it! Why should chief have her all to himself?”

“I’m leaving tomorrow, starting my own gang, and then I’ll challenge him for her!”

“I object to this marriage!”

The bride nestled closer to Scarface, feigning fear. “My lord, your men are scary!”

Scarface clutched her tightly, unconcerned. “Ignore them! Not one of those fools is a match for me. If anyone tries anything, I’ll kill them myself!”

“You’re a real man, my lord!”

“Tonight, you’ll see I’m more than just a man—I’m a man among men!”

“By the way, my lord, are all your men present tonight?”

He expected a blush, not such a question. Puzzled, he looked down at her. “Why do you ask, my little beauty?”

She let out a silvery, eerie laugh and lifted her enchanting eyes to meet his.

A dragon of torches wound its way up the mountain. At the head, someone said, “Magistrate Cui, once we pass this pine grove, we’ll reach Qingfeng Stronghold.”

“Oh?” Cui Shen pondered. “Ziping, have the men douse their torches. We’ll make the final approach in darkness, so the bandits don’t spot us.”

“Yes, sir!” The torch dragon snuffed out section by section, the night falling thick and silent but for the crunch of leaves underfoot.

After a time, outside Qingfeng Stronghold, someone whispered, “Sir, look at all the lights inside—could the bandits be prepared?”

“Impossible. We were so careful—unless they’re fortune tellers!”

“Still, caution is best. You—go scout ahead, remember your family, and don’t try any tricks!”

“I wouldn’t dare!” Footsteps faded, then returned. “Magistrate Cui, Master Xie, I heard fighting and screams inside the stronghold, and the gates are unmanned!”

“Are you certain?”

“I wouldn’t lie!”

“Ziping, could the bandits be fighting among themselves?”

“It’s possible. Thieves often fall out over spoils. But we should still be wary of a ruse!” Even as he spoke, flames flared up inside the stronghold, and the sounds of slaughter and screams grew, echoing into the night.

“Haha, Ziping, this is no ruse! Give the order—break down the gate and kill the bandits!”

“To battle!” With a deafening roar, the gates were battered down. Cui, Xie, and their five hundred men charged in—only to be utterly stunned by the scene before them.

In the center of the stronghold, Scarface, eyes bloodshot, hacked off a bandit’s head and laughed coldly. “Who else dares covet my woman? I’ll kill you all!” Then, cradling a wooden bench in his arms, he cooed, “Little beauty, you weren’t frightened, were you? Come, give me a kiss!”

Before he could kiss the bench, he screamed in agony as a sharp blade pierced his chest. Staggering, he turned to see his attacker. “Yu Bigmouth—it’s you!”

“Sorry, chief! I helped you kill Old Jiang’s lot, but now it’s your turn! Heh, once you’re dead, the lady is mine!” Yu kicked Scarface aside, revealing his wide mouth and bloodshot eyes.

He carefully lifted the bench from Scarface’s arms. “Don’t be afraid, my dear. From now on, you’ll be with me, Yu Bigmouth. I’ll treat you well—” Before he finished, his head flew from his shoulders, eyes still wide in death, unable to rest.

Another crazed laugh sounded. A short, scrawny bandit pried the bench from Yu’s headless corpse. His face was twisted, drool spilling from his mouth. “Heh, who’d have thought—at last, you’re mine, Liang Ergou! I always opposed this marriage! Come, my dear, what better time for a wedding night?” He tore off his clothes, clutching the bench as he rolled on the ground.

Cui Shen and Xie Qiao exchanged a long, horrified look, each seeing dread in the other’s eyes. Behind them, the five hundred men stood dumbfounded.

All around, there was nothing but the ruins of a feast, corpses, rivers of blood—and the sole survivor, locked in unspeakable acts with a wooden bench.

A cold wind swept through, and every man shivered, a chill seeping into their bones.