Chapter 50: Lady Wu—A Mother-in-Law Judges Her Son-in-Law

Lady Qiao’s voice was choked with tears; if not for the presence of so many people, she would likely have broken down and wept aloud. Since Sun Ce’s death, she had borne far too much. In this era ruled by men, a woman’s strength was pitifully insignificant. Sun Ce’s death remained shrouded in mystery; Lady Qiao knew the truth yet was forced to feign ignorance, pretending not to care. After all, the dead could not return to life, while the living had no choice but to carry on. She still had Sun Xu; no matter what happened, she must protect Sun Ce’s only bloodline.

Now, Lady Qiao trusted no one but Su Ming—the man who would risk his own life for Sun Ce. For reasons she could not explain, seeing Su Ming made her instinctively turn to him for support, yearning to pour out all her sorrows. After a long moment, having regained her composure, Lady Qiao instructed a nearby servant, “Go ask Lady Wu to come. Tell her that Su Ming has captured Huang Zu.”

Lady Wu was the wife whom both sisters had served together; she and her elder sister, Lady Wu, had both been married to Sun Jian. Lady Wu had passed away before Sun Jian, and after his death, the affairs of the Wu household had fallen to Lady Wu’s sole authority.

Years ago, it was Huang Zu who had shot and killed Sun Jian. To execute Huang Zu and offer his blood as sacrifice at Sun Jian’s grave was an act of vengeance, one that Lady Wu, as Sun Jian’s widow, ought to witness.

Soon, Lady Wu arrived from the rear courtyard. Since Sun Ce’s death, she had built a shrine there, spending her days in Buddhist devotion and abstinence. Though advanced in years, her body remained sturdy. Gripping a cane carved with a dragon’s head, she strode with vigor into the main hall, calling out to Su Ming, “So you’ve come, boy!”

“I have come!” Su Ming replied quickly, bowing deeply. Lady Wu was Sun Ce’s mother, which made her his own mother in all but blood. In such an age, where loyalty was paramount, sworn brothers were as close as kin; to bow, or even to kneel, was only right.

“You’ve got a conscience, boy!” Lady Wu declared, tapping her cane. “Unlike the people of Eastern Wu, who have let the wolves and dogs devour their hearts!” Lady Wu could be truly fierce—so fierce, in fact, that she cursed her own kin without hesitation.

Clearly, the fire of resentment over Sun Jian’s death still burned in Lady Wu’s heart.

“Lady Wu, what’s done is done,” Su Ming said gently. “Do not let anger consume you. The truth will out in time. I believe that Heaven never spares the wicked, nor overlooks the good.” Pointing to Huang Zu, he continued, “I have captured Huang Zu alive. I brought him to Jiangdong for the sake of avenging my uncle’s death.”

“And in doing so, I have fulfilled my elder brother’s last wish.”

Huang Zu, bound hand and foot like a silkworm cocoon, had been tossed on the ground. Somehow, he managed to wriggle over to Lady Wu’s side and work the gag from his mouth. He began to wail, “Lady Wu, have mercy on me! Spare my life! You recite the Buddha’s name day and night, surely the Buddha does not wish to see bloodshed. Please, spare me! It was Liu Biao who ordered Sun Wentai’s death; I had no choice!”

Huang Zu was truly terrified. He knew that if he were brought before Sun Jian’s grave, he would surely be killed as an offering. He did not want to die—he desperately wanted to live.

Lady Wu had indeed devoted herself to Buddhist practice, but her piety stemmed from grief after losing her husband, and now, with her son’s recent death, anger churned within her. In truth, Lady Wu was a woman of fierce and unyielding spirit.

Without a word, Lady Wu lifted her dragon-headed cane and struck Huang Zu on the head, berating him, “You don’t want to die? Did my husband wish to die? Did my son? If my husband had lived, Jiangdong would not have fallen into such straits, and my son would not be dead.”

“The Buddha teaches us not to harm even an ant while sweeping the floor, nor to snuff out a moth drawn to the lamp. But the Buddha also teaches that punishing evil is upholding good, and if I do not descend into hell, who will? With others, I avoid killing if I can, but you, Huang Zu—I could kill you a hundred, a thousand times, and it would not be too much.”

Widowed in middle age, bereaved of her son in old age, Lady Wu vented all her pent-up wrath upon Huang Zu.

Huang Zu felt himself wronged. He could accept responsibility for Sun Jian’s death, but to be blamed for Sun Ce’s as well? That was an injustice beyond compare. Was it not Sun Ce’s harsh suppression of the Jiangdong gentry that provoked their retaliation? Why did Lady Wu not seek vengeance upon the Jiangdong families, but instead take it out on him?

And why not blame her younger son, Sun Quan? The rumors of Sun Quan murdering his brother to seize the throne had reached even Jiangxia—could Lady Wu truly be ignorant of this? In the end, she simply picked the easiest target—Huang Zu—to vent her rage upon.

Moreover, she claimed that if Sun Jian had lived, Jiangdong would be ruled well, Sun Ce and Sun Quan would not have turned upon each other, and the Jiangdong gentry would have dared nothing. Why not start your grievances from the dawn of creation, Huang Zu thought bitterly.

He finally saw through the situation: having come to Jiangdong, there was no hope for his survival. Since death was inevitable, he might as well abandon all caution. With that, he unleashed a torrent of abuse: “Lady Wu, you and your sister both served the same husband—have you no shame? During the campaign against Dong Zhuo, Sun Jian stole the Imperial Seal; Sun Wentai was nothing but a thief! As for Sun Quan and Sun Ce, brothers turned on each other—that’s the true legacy of your Sun family!”

With no hope left, Huang Zu lashed out, cursing the Sun clan from top to bottom. Lady Wu, so enraged by his words, raised her cane again to strike him.

Su Ming saw the old lady’s fury and thought, Heaven help us if she suffers a mishap from anger—Jiangdong would be thrown into chaos. He ordered his men, “Gag his mouth and take him to my elder brother’s tomb to await judgment!”

Once Huang Zu’s foul mouth was silenced and he was dragged away, Su Ming hastened to comfort Lady Wu. “Lady Wu, he is a dying man; don’t trouble yourself over his words.”

Lady Wu exhaled heavily, then turned to Su Ming with the appraising look of a mother-in-law sizing up a son-in-law. “The more I look at you, boy, the more pleasing you seem. Our Shangxiang, an untouched maiden, has followed you through thick and thin—you owe me an explanation! Well? When do you plan to propose marriage?”

Su Ming was stunned. Was Lady Wu so angered that her mind had become confused at her age? His thoughts raced.

There were many people present. At Lady Wu’s words, Sun Shangxiang blushed a deep crimson, her cheeks as red as ripe apples.

(End of this chapter)