The Gusu Mistake - Chapter 1

“Clip-clop, clip-clop…” On the main road, Yuan Ruo was riding a fast horse, hurrying home.

“Whoa…”

She finally arrived at Quzhou City. Yuan Ruo reined in her horse and looked around. It was a feeling of both unfamiliarity and familiarity.

“It’s been twenty years. I wonder what my parents and two brothers look like now?”

Yuan Ruo tried to picture them in her mind, but it didn’t feel right. She decided it was better to go back and see for herself.

With that thought, Yuan Ruo led her horse into the city. Following the directions in her memory, she navigated through the streets and alleys until she finally reached her family’s front door. However, the sight before her made Yuan Ruo freeze.

“Father, Mother!”

A white piece of cloth was hanging from the lintel of the door, which was not a good sign. Yuan Ruo, who usually took everything in stride, felt a pang of anxiety. She rushed into the Han residence and saw a coffin placed in front of a large “In Mourning” sign in the main hall.

“Are you… Yan’er?” a middle-aged woman, her eyes filled with tears, looked at Yuan Ruo, “My daughter?”

“Are you… Mother?” Twenty years had passed, and her mother had changed so much. She looked much older, but the look in her eyes and her demeanor were still the same as Yuan Ruo remembered. Yuan Ruo ran over and held hands with Madam Han, their eyes meeting through a blur of tears.

“My daughter has come back!” Madam Han’s tears flowed even more profusely, “My daughter is really back!”

“Mother!” Yuan Ruo looked at the coffin, “What happened?”

“It’s Big Brother!” a man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven spoke up.

“What?” Yuan Ruo was shocked. She first looked at the man, “Are you Second Brother?”

“After twenty years apart, I’m surprised you can still recognize me, little sister!” Yuan Ruo’s second brother, Han Yi, sighed, “It’s a shame you came back too late. Big Brother… he’s gone!”

Yuan Ruo pressed on, “What exactly happened?”

“Your Big Brother was killed on his way to welcome the bride,” her father, Han Qing, said, “The person who went with him was lucky to survive and report the news. By the time we got there, he had been bitten to death by countless insects!”

“How could this happen?” Yuan Ruo couldn’t believe it, “Who? Who killed Big Brother?”

“Who else could it be?” Han Yi said indignantly, “It must be that woman from the Jiang family. She disliked Big Brother’s age and didn’t want to marry him, so she simply killed him!”

“Yi’er!” Han Qing stopped Han Yi, “Don’t talk nonsense!”

“I’m not talking nonsense!” Han Yi fumed, “If it wasn’t her, then who?”

“Second Brother!” Yuan Ruo comforted Madam Han while asking Han Yi, “Are you so sure because you have evidence?”

Han Yi stammered, “No, I don’t!”

Yuan Ruo frowned, “If you don’t, why are you so certain that she’s the one who killed Big Brother?”

Han Yi said, “Big Brother has always been kind to people and never made enemies. The only thing different was that he was killed on his way to welcome the bride. Who else could it be but her?”

Yuan Ruo gave Han Yi a long look and didn’t respond to his words. She only asked Han Qing, “Father, do you also think so?”

Han Qing shook his head, “But we can’t rule her out as a suspect!”

“Understood!” Yuan Ruo nodded, “Indeed, Big Brother’s death must be thoroughly investigated!”

“Investigate what?” Han Yi yelled, “I say we should just go directly to the Jiang family and demand they hand her over.”

Yuan Ruo asked, “Does Second Brother have a grudge against the Jiang family?”

Han Yi was stunned, “What?”

“Otherwise, why are you so sure that our sister-in-law killed Big Brother without any evidence?” Yuan Ruo’s eyes were fixed on Han Yi, “Do you hate the Jiang family?”

“I… no…” Han Yi’s eyes darted away, then suddenly hardened, “I’m doing this to avenge Big Brother. Are you stopping me because you’re colluding with them? Or because you left home so long ago that you don’t care about Big Brother’s life or death?”

“Yi’er, how can you say that about your sister?” Madam Han couldn’t bear to listen anymore. Her eyes welled up with tears as she looked at Han Yi, “I’ve already lost one son. Do you want to be at odds with your sister, too?”

“Mother!” Yuan Ruo wiped away Madam Han’s tears, “Second Brother and I are fine. He’s just sad about Big Brother’s death. Don’t worry!”

“Oh, Ming’er, my poor child!” When Han Ming was mentioned, Madam Han started crying again.

“Wife!” Han Qing felt for Madam Han, “Yan’er has just returned. Don’t cry so much, don’t make our daughter worry!”

“Okay, okay, I won’t cry anymore!” Madam Han wiped away her tears and forced a bitter smile, “Yan’er, are you hungry? I’ll have someone prepare some food for you!”

“I’m not hungry!” Yuan Ruo stopped Madam Han, “Mother, your face looks so pale. It seems like you haven’t rested well for several days. Let me help you go and rest!”

Madam Han didn’t want to leave, but Yuan Ruo insisted, and with Han Qing and Han Yi also urging her, she had no choice but to go.

After some effort, Yuan Ruo finally managed to coax Madam Han to sleep. She cautiously left the room and turned around, only to see Han Qing standing there. “Father? Have you been waiting here all this time?”

“Yes,” Han Qing nodded, “Is your mother asleep?”

Yuan Ruo looked back at the door, “She’s asleep, but not peacefully!”

“Ming’er has always been a filial son, and his sudden death must be extremely difficult for your mother to bear,” Han Qing said and turned around, “Let’s find somewhere else to talk, so we don’t wake your mother!”

Han Qing led Yuan Ruo to the courtyard, where the father and daughter sat facing each other on stone stools.

“Father!” Yuan Ruo spoke first, “Who do you think is most likely responsible for Big Brother’s death?”

Han Qing shook his head, “It’s hard to say, but one thing is certain: the other party must be a master of Gu arts.”

“Could it be a revenge killing?” Yuan Ruo asked, “Did Big Brother, or our Han family, have a feud with anyone?”

“As people in the martial world, who doesn’t have a few enemies?” Han Qing sighed, “But without evidence, who can we blame?”

Yuan Ruo thought for a moment, “Is there anyone in particular?”

Han Qing frowned and pondered for a while, “The Wu family in Puyou City. Back then, my father, your grandfather, fought a Gu art duel with the head of the Wu family. The Wu family lost, and their head was killed. We’ve been enemies ever since!”

“The Wu family…” Yuan Ruo clenched her fingers, “Could the Wu family have killed Big Brother?”

Han Qing sighed, “It’s possible!”

“Tomorrow!” Yuan Ruo’s eyes grew resolute, “I’ll go to the Wu family!”

“Yan’er!” Han Qing held Yuan Ruo’s wrist, “These matters are for me and your second brother to handle. You don’t need to get involved!”

“I am a member of the Han family, too. Why shouldn’t I be involved?” Yuan Ruo held Han Qing’s wrist back, “Don’t worry, Father. My twenty years at the Jade Glow Palace weren’t for nothing.”

“You…” After all this time, Han Qing finally had a chance to ask, “Did you have a good time at the Jade Glow Palace all these years?”

“I was very well. My master was kind, and my senior brothers were also good!” Yuan Ruo smiled, “Father, have you heard about the great chaos in the court a few days ago, and how the people of our Jade Glow Palace came forward to quell it?”

“I’ve heard about it. They were all evil beings, and luckily the masters of the Jade Glow Palace…” Han Qing looked at his daughter in disbelief, “Could it be that you…”

“Yes,” Yuan Ruo nodded, “I was among them. If I can slay those evil beings, Father, you really don’t need to worry about a mere Wu family!”

“But… they use Gu arts, and you practice the Tao!” Han Qing was still worried.

“Let Second Brother come with me,” Yuan Ruo patted Han Qing’s hand, “Father, you should take good care of Mother!”

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