Guan Qing’s Move

The person who had arrived was Guan Qing.

She was dressed in a light green dress with narrow sleeves, a cinched waist and a narrow skirt. Like her plain and simple dress, she did not stick fancy hairpins in her hair or wear pretty things on her belt, so she did not look as gentle and delicate as most women did, but looked more suave and confident.

Her bright eyes scanned the room. “I’m not saying that the three of you would do a bad job, but I’m sorry, I simply have to be part of this!”

Cao Zhang was right behind her. “I was the one who brought her here. If you’re not happy about it, talk to me.”

Zhao Zhi and Wen Yuansi didn’t react, but Qi Yan leaped to his feet and pointed a finger at Cao Zhang. “How did you know we were here!”

Cao Zhang just rolled his eyes and didn’t answer the question.

But Zhao Zhi and Wen Yuansi were quicker to figure things out.

Cao Zhang had the Green Gang at his command, so it wasn’t surprising that he managed to find out where they were. Guan Qing was just anxious because her cousin was involved…no, Guan Qing wasn’t someone who would make irrational decisions because she was worried.

They remembered running into Cao Zhang after they were done admiring the pomegranate blossoms. He had appeared from the path leading to Princess Changning’s temple and was grinning from ear to ear while on his way to visit Guan Qing. The connection to Princess Changning probably wasn’t Cao Zhang’s but Guan Qing’s.

That also explained how the Guans were able to stay strong in the capital city, and how Guan Qing was able to wield such influence in the merchant world. Besides being very capable herself, she had a powerful backer when needed…

Guan Qing was also someone who was good at analyzing the situation and a big picture person, while Princess Changning was a member of the royal family and exceptionally sensitive to political matters. Once they sat down to chat and compare the facts, they would arrive at the same conclusion as Zhao Zhi and his team.

Empress Chen was behind all of this.

The empress was trying to curtail them. Zhao Zhi and his team were very unhappy about this, and so was Guan Qing.

It explained why she was willing to be involved in such a risky mission.

But it was still a difficult mission, nonetheless.

Zhao Zhi tapped his knuckles on the table and said with a glint in his eye, “I have to remind you, this is not a situation where a few clever tricks will solve the problem.”

“I know. The other party is a very distinguished and highly regarded person, and this scandal is one that is sure to catch everyone’s attention too. Why would anyone care about an ordinary citizen like myself?” Guan Qing strolled into the room with Cao Zhang by her side. He pulled a chair out for her so she could sit, then poured her a cup of tea before getting himself a chair to sit on.

The two of them seemed completely used to this and Guan Qing very naturally took the cup of tea in front of her and drank a sip.

“But there’s something I’ve wanted to do for a long time now.” Her brows were slightly raised and her gaze was determined.

Zhao Zhi said, “Please tell us more.”

Guan Qing smiled faintly. “Well, I just wanted to…”

After she told them her plans, all three men at the table were shocked. Qi Yan especially, felt like his eyes were about to fall right out of his head. This woman was really something!

Song Caitang was impressive and so was Guan Qing. Was there something in the air they breathed? How did the Guans produce such fearless women who could make the men around them dote so dearly on them!

Zhao Zhi raised an eyebrow. “Are you sure about this?”

“Yes, the bird that flies out first gets shot, the shoot that grows out first rots first as well – I get that. But someone has to do it. Someone has to take the first step. I never liked following what everyone else is doing, but I don’t mind others following me. If this works out and others benefit from it, that will be an achievement to me. But if it doesn’t work out…”

She paused and smiled even more confidently. “That’s not going to happen!”

“Of course our Guan Qing will succeed. Our Guan Qing’s the best!” Cao Zhang grinned from ear to ear as he applauded her. If he had a tail, he would create so much wind from wagging it that the room would feel cold.

Guan Qing seemed very used to his reaction as well and nodded expressionlessly at Zhao Zhi, Wen Yuansi and Qi Yan. “That’s what my plan is. You can take this time to throw some plans together, I’ll execute mine after 1pm later.”

Zhao Zhi got up to see her out. “Thank you.”

“No need for that.” Guan Qing stopped in her tracks and glanced at him from the side of her eye. “After all, Song Caitang is my younger sister.”

The words “my younger sister” carried a lot of weight and her glance was definitely a warning to him.

Zhao Zhi didn’t dare to call her rude or anything like that. He didn’t even dare to make Song Caitang angry, much less the older cousin whom Song Caitang respected so much.

He didn’t say anything, so Guan Qing scoffed, raised her chin and marched out of the room again.

…

Guan Qing’s plans were both difficult and easy at the same time. Empress Chen had managed to turn the city against Prince Ling because she was a longtime supporter and living example of conservative values for women. If she could use that to create controversy, so could Guan Qing!

And crazier still, Guan Qing was going to go in the complete opposite direction. She was going to speak boldly, fight in public and risk her life to say these things! That would surely make people pay attention!

She made her way to a cloth dyeing shop.

This shop was run by a woman by the surname Liu. She was very good at her job and really had a talent for it. No matter what color the customer wanted, Madam Liu was always able to produce it, so Guan Qing was a regular customer at her shop. The only problem was that Madam Liu had married a man who was a habitual gambler. Each time he lost all his money gambling, he would demand more from his wife. If she refused to give him money, he would hit her. He always hit her way too hard and did not seem to realize that her hands were vital to the business. He didn’t take care of her at all.

Her body condition greatly affected the amount and quality of the fabric she produced. Guan Qing had been bothered by this for a long time and felt really upset about Madam Liu’s situation. She had tried to persuade Madam Liu to leave this unhappy marriage, but Madam Liu refused to listen to her, allowing herself to be subject to this almost daily domestic violence. The cheerful, gentle look in her eyes had slowly turned into a vacant, sad stare.

Today, Guan Qing was here to talk her into divorcing her husband.

She knew Madam Liu wouldn’t agree to it easily, so she had checked beforehand and found out that her husband had just lost all his money and was on his way back to get more money, so she just waited outside first. She waited until he went into the shop, then ordered her men to drag him out and beat him up in public.

The reason why this man would demand money from his wife every day was because he was a shameless man who had no respect for women. If other men beat him up, he would not mind. If it was someone from the gambling den, he might even curl up and beg for mercy. But when he saw that the one giving orders was a woman, even though he couldn’t defeat so many opponents at once, he cursed and swore at her a lot.

Foul language always included insults about the other party’s mother and sisters. If the other party was a woman, then the insults would go beyond generic ones. They could get really slanderous.

When that happened, Guan Qing didn’t even need to give further instructions. Her subordinates thrashed the man even harder.

The street was full of people and shops, plus it was just after lunch, making it the perfect time to stand and watch a good show. How could anyone miss out on this? Everyone immediately began to gather round.

Before long, the street was completely filled with people.

It was the weekend, so the teahouses and restaurants in the area were filled with influential people.

Guan Qing spotted Cao Zhang in the crowd. He nodded at her and she knew her time had come. She had gathered the audience she wanted and it was time for the big show to begin.

“Madam Liu,” she approached the woman in the shop and pointed at the filthy man outside the shop who had been punched beyond recognition, “do you seriously still want such a man?”

Madam Liu looked at her husband, her face slightly pale and her lips tightly pursed. She didn’t seem worried or upset, and just had this numb calmness around her. “No matter what happens, he’s still…my husband.”

“And just because he’s your husband, it doesn’t matter how downright disgusting he is, you still have to endure it?” Guan Qing looked straight at her. “Don’t you feel that you can see exactly what will happen to you for the rest of your life?”

“Humans experience sadness, pain, despair. But these are things that will eventually go away. As for you…unless you die, you will never be free.”

Madam Liu clenched her fists tightly and bowed her head.

Guan Qing sounded really puzzled. “Why don’t you consider divorcing him and marrying someone else?”

The words “divorce him and marry someone else” made Madam Liu visible nervous and she waved her hands desperately. “The book on womanly virtues and rules said that a woman’s glory and bliss depends entirely on her husband…he promised to take care of me for the rest of my life…”

Guan Qing questioned her, “He said so, and you believed it?”

Madam Liu’s eyes reddened.

“So, this is how he takes care of you?” Guan Qing looked down at Madam Liu’s hands that were swollen and had fingers that were unnaturally bent. “If your hands continue being treated this way, you won’t be able to dye fabrics anymore and you won’t be able to earn money. And when you run out of money to give that lousy husband of yours, do you think he would pity you? Do you think he would even say sweet nothings to you? Do you think you’d get even a little bit of concern from him?”

Madam Liu shivered. Clearly, she knew Guan Qing was right.

“He promised to take care of you for the rest of your life…tsk, tsk,” Guan Qing scoffed. “Why should you leave your future, your glory and your bliss to the conscience of a man? You can ask anyone around here who’s old enough. How much is conscience worth? The world changes quickly and so do humans. Even if he was sincere back then, you would have changed over time and so would he. Are you sure that the “conscience” you expect from him is the same “conscience” he expects from himself?”

Guan Qing paused for a moment, then took two steps forward to stare even more closely at Madam Liu. “Back then, he might have felt that if he was nice to you and did not despise you, that would be make him a man with a conscience. After that, he might have felt that the fact that he didn’t take in a concubine and get another woman to sleep with him, that would make him a man with a conscience. And now, he might think the fact that he hasn’t sold you somewhere or used you as collateral makes him a man with a conscience.”

“What is your man’s definition of “conscience”? Do you really know?”

Madam Liu swallowed hard and she felt her legs go weak.

Guan Qing had gotten it right on every count!

She knew how her husband had changed better than anyone else. Just three nights ago, she had heard her husband talk in his sleep. He said that if he can’t repay his current debt, he would have to leave his wife with the gambling den as collateral!

It wasn’t that she didn’t understand what it meant to be collateral for a debt, but…

“Do you like dyeing fabrics?” Guan Qing looked straight into her eyes. “When you watch how different fabrics turn into different colors in your hands, when you realize you have a skill that only you have and others do not, don’t you feel a sense of satisfaction? Doesn’t the thought make you smile?”

Madam Liu was a little stunned.

Dyeing fabrics was the thing that made her the happiest, because for that short period of time, she could live for herself and not have to care about anything else. When she looked at the brightly colored fabrics and imagined how they could turned into all sorts of clothes and worn on different women, when she imagined how the woman in these new, lovely clothes would squeal and smile in delight, she would feel truly happy.

If she couldn’t dye fabrics anymore, she wasn’t sure if there was any meaning to her life anymore.

“So, I suggest that you get a divorce and live your own life. If you want, I’m willing to be your backer and I’ll provide help whenever you need.” Guan Qing was not speaking very loudly, but the crowd that had gathered was silent, so it made her voice echo. “If you don’t value yourself, then others won’t value you either. If you offer yourself as a toy to others, they will only treat you as one.”

“When you make a mistake, you ought to gather up courage and stand up to face the consequences. You might feel ashamed now, and you will have to suffer tough days ahead. But at the same time, if you are strong and self-sufficient, and you can take charge of your own life, then all these men should acknowledge you for it!”

The end of her spiel suddenly turned on the men and after a shocked pause, a roar rippled through the crowd.

This was Guan Qing’s aim in the first place. She wasn’t afraid at all. Flames seemed to flicker in her eyes as she said, “Men are the sky and women are the ground, they said. The sky has no limit and neither does the ground. The sky is equal to the ground, so why can’t men and women be equal?”

“That’s outrageous!”
“How dare you say that!”
“Are you listening to yourself?!”

As the men in the crowd began to jeer and criticize Guan Qing, Madam Liu’s husband felt emboldened. Even though almost all his teeth had been knocked out, he was still able to curse and swear along with the men.

Guan Qing knew this would happen. Her whole aim was to make a huge scene and attract more people.

Empress Chen was a woman and so was she. If the empress could turn this into a hot topic, she could too!

She never liked being just like all the other women. She wanted to be a leader who boldly flew forward without looking back!

The crowd was full of men, but there were women in the crowd too. They all lived in this feudal society where very conservative values were imposed on the women. But as long as a woman could think just a little for herself, they would have accumulated resentment over the years. Guan Qing’s words really spoke to them.

But because they were in public, they did not dare to stand up for Guan Qing and say that they agreed with her. They could only remain silent as they glared icily at every man around them.

“Good heavens, who are you and how dare you speak like that! Aren’t you afraid that the men might become unhappy and deal with you on behalf of the heavens?”

A voice called out from the crowd and spoke louder and louder.

Most women would have cowered in fear, but not Guan Qing.

“I, Guan Qing, will never change my name or surname. I will stand right here and wait for you to deal with me!”

Guan Qing spun swiftly, making her wide skirt float briefly. “If anyone of you is unhappy with me, raise your sword and kill me! See if I even shut my eyes!”

She had grown up in a merchant’s home, so she had learned how to handle the accounts even before she was taller than a table or had hands big enough to hold a teacup. She had been bullied and taught several lessons over the past few years as a merchant herself. The reason why she had become a domineering queen in this field and was no longer bullied was because she was a determined woman with clever tactics.

She was both brave and smart!

But today, she was going to refrain from using tricks. She was going to count on the hearts of the people of Bianliang.

She was going to make everyone see that she too, could persuade the people with HER values!