Chapter One: A Journey Through Time

Yanmen Mountain lies at the border between Baishui and Yijun, the road passing through Pu, Baishui, Yijun, and extending all the way to Huangling County. With an elevation of over a thousand meters, legend has it that its name derives from a divine wild goose that once alighted upon its heights. Today, most people know of Yanmen Pass, yet few have heard of Yanmen Mountain, when in truth the pass is named for the mountain. The name of Yanmen Mountain dates back to ancient times; even in the “Classic of Mountains and Seas,” in the section “Western Classic within the Seas,” it is written: “Yanmen Mountain, where wild geese pass through. It lies north of Gaoliu. Gaoliu is north of Dai.”

In the twelfth year of the Daye era, spring found the Yun family manor nestled at the foot of Yanmen Mountain. A hemp pole bore a spirit banner; white paper money fluttered upon the wind, scattering through the air. From the great house came the deafening weeping of mourners, many kneeling or seated before a corpse, wailing their grief. Yet, upon closer inspection, some faces were truly marked by sorrow, their tears streaming freely, while others showed not a drop—crying aloud without tears, belying their sincerity. The truth or pretense of their mourning was written plainly on each face.

Yun Hao could hear the mournful strains of the suona, but his eyes would not open. His mouth and nose felt useless; his entire body lay stiff within the coffin, like a corpse. Only after the official inquest would his coffin be sealed and interment proceed. Though speech was impossible, a voice seemed to echo ceaselessly within his mind, murmuring on and on. It was as if something was forcibly invading his consciousness—a reel of unfamiliar memories playing out before his inner eye.

“My son! Your father died young, and now, if you are gone as well, how am I to go on living?” A woman’s voice sounded at Yun Hao’s ear. As he sifted through the memories flooding his mind, he realized this was the mother of the body’s former owner, Madam Zhao.

“Yun Da, your younger brother’s line is now ended. Misfortune has truly befallen the Yun family—how have we come to such ruin? What a pity for Hao, such a fine child, so learned at just seven years of age. In a few years, he could have sat the examination—perhaps even become an official.” An elderly voice spoke nearby, and Yun Hao sensed his mother’s wailing grow louder still.

“Isn’t that the truth? Poor Hao, such a good child. Elder, you are most respected in the clan, and have come to see him one last time. Yun Da gives you thanks!” That speaker’s words were followed by a jumble of sound—clearly, Yun Da was paying his respects, while Elder Chen made a show of supporting him.

As Yun Hao grew accustomed to this new body, a sharp voice suddenly rang out, “The clan elder offers his sacrifice; all kinsmen, respond with your salutations.” The room erupted once more, the wailing rising like a tidal wave. Amid the cacophony of men and women, a venerable elder spoke, though his words were so archaic and convoluted that Yun Hao, despite knowing each word, could not fathom their meaning joined together.

When the elder finished, the shrill voice called out again, “The elder’s instructions are complete; kin, offer your salutations!” In an instant, the room fell silent; it seemed even a pin dropping to the floor would be heard.

“Your old servant thanks you, Elder! Hao, this child…” Madam Zhao’s grief overwhelmed her, and she could not finish her sentence.

“Madam Zhao! You have been a Yun family daughter-in-law for more than a decade, and are naturally one of us. It is pitiful—you have lost both husband and son, left alone and forlorn. Though our Yun clan is not among the great families, we would never let you starve, nor send you back to your maiden home. Last night, the clan council resolved that the ten mu of paddy by the riverside shall be farmed by your eldest. Your daily sustenance will likewise be provided by your eldest. Thus, your livelihood is secured, and the clan’s farmland does not go to waste. This is for the best…”

Hearing this, Yun Hao felt a chill deep within. Such kin, such an elder! His father had followed Emperor Yang of Sui to war against Goguryeo and perished in Liaodong. Now, with Yun Hao succumbing to illness, this branch of the family was cut off.

For centuries, China has harbored a cruel custom: when a household is left without male heirs, the clan divides the property among themselves. Sometimes, even widows and younger sisters might be handed off to unmarried men in the clan—for the family’s resources must remain within, no matter how dire. Yet, even so, proper custom would wait until the funeral concluded and the deceased was buried before convening such a council. But this elder had said the meeting was held just last night, when Yun Hao had barely breathed his last. Such indecent haste—were they not utterly shameless?

“Elder, you are a senior of the clan. Your word should be law to a daughter-in-law. But this land was allotted to my family. Hao’s body is barely cold, and you scramble to seize our land. Is this truly necessary? Even for the sake of the Yun family’s good name, could you not wait until Hao is buried to bring this up?” Madam Zhao, trembling with rage, pointed a quivering finger at the elder, nearly fainting from indignation.

“Er…” The elder’s face, mottled with age spots, flushed with embarrassment, though inwardly he was helpless. Years ago, a fleeting dalliance on the mountain had produced Yun Da—a lazy glutton. Over the years, he had supported Yun Da both openly and in secret, yet the man remained hopeless, squandering the family fortune and reduced to subsisting on a few scant acres. Now, with Yun Hao’s death, the elder had used his influence to push through last night’s decision. Acting before the body was cold was improper, but what could Madam Zhao, a lone widow, do? He had not expected her to challenge him openly, leaving him at a loss. Indeed, their conduct was base enough that even the coroner, arriving to examine the body, was quietly appalled. But such matters were usually settled within the clan; officials rarely intervened.

“How dare you speak to the elder so! The elder only has our best interests at heart. It’s spring planting—if people delay, the land remains fallow, and come autumn, there’ll be no harvest. What will we all eat then?” Seeing the elder rebuffed, Yun Da leaped to the fore. He had long begrudged his father’s decision to give the best land to his younger brother. Now, at last, he saw a chance to seize it—how could he not be eager?

Yun Da’s urgency to grasp his brother’s inheritance stemmed not only from the desire for the ten mu of riverside land, but also from the fact that his own wife had died the previous year. For a farmer, finding a new wife was difficult, and so his thoughts turned to his widowed sister-in-law. If he controlled Madam Zhao’s livelihood, with her son gone, she would sooner or later be forced to submit. Then he would have both the land and a woman to warm his bed—a life of bliss indeed!

Thus, Yun Da, invoking his status as the elder brother, scolded Madam Zhao. On one hand, he was rescuing the elder from embarrassment; on the other, he was asserting dominance, letting her know that she had no choice in the matter now.

“And who knows?” sneered a sharp-tongued woman. “Perhaps Madam Zhao’s been a widow too long and found herself a lover. Just a month or two ago, I saw her flirting with the peddler!” Ever since Madam Zhao had caught this woman in an affair with Yun Da, she had nursed a bitter grudge. At her accusation, the crowd turned, and even those who had felt sympathy now eyed Madam Zhao with suspicion.

“You… you people!” Madam Zhao, a decent woman, could not stoop to vulgar insults. Wronged so grievously, she struggled for words.

“Fine! If you are all in such a hurry, then I might as well follow Hao into death. With my family ended, you can take the land in peace.” With these words, Madam Zhao lunged toward the coffin, so desperate that, had she struck it, her skull might have split open then and there.

Clan women rushed to restrain her, and chaos ensued.

In the midst of the tumult, a young man suddenly shouted, “Look—what is that?”