Chapter Forty-Five: The Shadow Immortal

A thousand-year-old vengeful spirit could well be called an immortal; this one before me must have attained the cultivation of a terrestrial immortal! Fang You gazed at the female corpse who devoured souls and spirits, her aura of yin energy now at her command, ebbing and flowing as she pleased. Given a bit more time, she would likely achieve her final transcendence.

“I have lain in this tomb for a thousand years, never harming a living soul. Thus, all resentment within me has long since dissipated. I never sought to ascend or bear witness to immortality—my only wish is to remain by my husband’s side in peace. I ask only to be undisturbed.”

The crowd looked upon the corpse of Daoist Qiu Ruji before them. None dared make a move; had the Daoist not first revealed murderous intent, perhaps this ancient soul would not have been provoked to such an end.

“Just now, you said the master of this tomb is your husband. How can this be?” Fang You saw that this spirit, for all her otherworldliness, seemed not to harbor malice—perhaps she could be reasoned with. Peaceful passage through the burial chamber might yet be possible. According to official chronicles, Cao Anman was one of Cao Cao’s illegitimate sons, dearly loved and given a childhood name by his father. Yet, during a failed southern campaign against Wu, he fell into an ambush set by the Zhuge clan, dying in a formation of bean soldiers. With tears in his eyes, Cao Cao buried his son at King’s Burial Mountain.

“Then you and the tomb’s master—?”

“You mean Aman?”

The female corpse looked at Fang You and, with a bashful smile, replied:

“My name was Lin Muyan. I was a courtesan, a madam of the Green Pavilion. Aman was an extraordinary general.”

“That day…”

“It was the year 205, in the late Han Dynasty, when the Three Kingdoms were locked in turmoil. One night, a young nobleman, draped in gold and silver and impeccably dressed, staggered into the pavilion, dead drunk. The brothel madam sent me to receive him. Behind him, dozens of soldiers stood guard outside.

“I helped the young lord upstairs, and in his drunken ramblings, learned he was Cao Aman, seventh son of Cao Cao. Frustrated with the battlefield and his status as an illegitimate child, he felt he could never gain true honor and spent his days in dejection—until, on a whim, he came here.

“That night, behind red curtains and green drapes, passion flared. That night, clouds and rain rose and fell. That night, pillows scented with fragrance and lips of jade met.

“The next morning, when Cao Aman awoke and saw the scene before him, he was taken aback. I only smiled and said, ‘Young master, do not forget to pay for your pleasures… ah!’

“‘I am Cao Aman, seventh son of Cao Cao. Today I have taken the lady’s body; in days to come I will marry you with all due ceremony!’

“‘I am but Lin Muyan, a courtesan. Young master, do not jest. We are but travelers in the red dust, there is no need to take it to heart.’

“To my surprise, Cao Aman rose, donned his clothes, and left behind five gold ingots, saying, ‘This is the betrothal gift. If you do not believe me, I will leave my sword here. When I come to marry you, I will take it back.’

“I stared, dumbfounded, at the five gold ingots before me. ‘Young master… this… I…’

“At that moment, the madam walked in. Seeing the gold, she greedily pocketed it. ‘Such generosity! When the young master returns, this girl will certainly be kept for him!’

“But Cao Aman sternly commanded, ‘This Miss Muyan is to be kept safe. No one else may touch her. In a few days, I will return to marry her.’

The madam, not quite understanding, only grinned lasciviously. ‘When the young master comes again, we’ll be sure to dress Muyan up just the way he likes!’

With that, Cao Aman departed with his retinue. The madam noticed the short sword on the bed and remarked, ‘This could fetch a few coins!’ She made to take it.

‘Madam!’ I whispered. ‘This sword may be given to your daughter… for protection.’

‘My, what need have we for defense in the pavilion? But since you’ve earned so much gold today, you may keep it.’

Once alone, I hid the sword in my cabinet, not truly expecting Cao Aman, son of Cao Cao, to return for me. I thought of it only as a keepsake.

Never did I imagine that, a few days later, he would actually arrive with an entourage and a grand red bridal sedan.

That day, as I was tending to another guest, Cao Aman inquired after me. When he heard I was still entertaining men, he flew into a rage and, with hundreds of guards, stormed the Green Pavilion, shocking all of Luoyang.

The madam, terrified, had no choice but to let me go with him.

Seeing him arrive with all the trappings of a proper wedding, I went to him and asked if he truly wished to marry me.

Cao Aman swore with two fingers raised: if he ever betrayed me, may he die a miserable death.

Hearing this, I shed all my old garments, left behind the life of the pavilion, and with only a plain cloth to cover me, I bowed to my sisters: ‘Farewell, my friends. Thank you for your care. If I have the chance, I will repay you someday.’

Then, supported by Cao Aman, I stepped into the red bridal sedan, changing into my wedding dress as the procession moved on.

His residence was grand, festooned with red robes and blazing braziers, as if everything had been prepared in advance.

But then, Cao Pi, Cao Cao’s eldest son, and Cao Zhi, the second son, arrived. Cao Cao himself had summoned his sons for a council.

Upon learning of his father’s summons, Cao Aman, being of humble birth, did not dare delay, and immediately went with his brothers.

Several days later, he returned. When I asked him what had transpired, he answered honestly: his father had said that if he wished to marry a courtesan, he must first conquer the Eastern Wu and earn merit. Otherwise, lowering the family’s status would never be permitted.

I replied, ‘General, there is no need to risk your life on the battlefield for me. I am but a woman of the pavilion, unworthy of a high official’s house. If it cannot be, let me return to the Green Pavilion. Your kindness, I will always remember.’

But Cao Aman declared firmly, ‘I have already promised you. As soon as the wedding is done, I will set out at once. I will not fail you. I will conquer Eastern Wu and win my father’s and brothers’ approval.’

Hearing this, I kissed his lips and gave him my jade hairpin as a token. ‘May the general return safely; I shall await you.’

After Aman left, Cao Cao sent someone to bring me a cup of poisoned wine.

Cao Pi oversaw the act: ‘Miss, Cao Aman is of royal blood. He cannot marry a courtesan. Otherwise, our house will be shamed for generations. I hope you will not make this difficult for me.’

With sword drawn and soldiers at the door, he made his meaning clear.

‘I see there is no leaving here today,’ I said calmly, drinking the poison. As the pain overwhelmed me, I clutched the sword Aman had given me to my chest.

‘These lips have tasted a thousand men, these arms have lain beneath a thousand heads. If there is another life, may I sleep beside you forever.’

Meanwhile, on the battlefield, eager to conquer Wu, Aman met the allied forces of Wu and Shu. The Shu strategist Zhuge Liang, supporting Wu, unleashed his magic—scattering beans to raise an army, summoning gods and rain.

Yet Aman, unwilling to retreat with his beloved waiting at home, pressed the attack in desperation.

He perished at last beneath the formation of bean soldiers.

As he lay dying, Zhuge Liang and Liu Bei approached.

Liu Bei said, ‘Truly, the strategist’s plan is brilliant; you knew the Cao army would attack so fiercely.’

Zhuge Liang replied with modesty, ‘I guessed Cao Cao would strike with force, but I did not expect Aman to throw himself into the fray and not retreat. This Cao Aman, alas, is of mediocre wisdom.’

But in his heart, Aman thought only of the woman he wished to marry, clutching the jade hairpin close.

‘In this life, I have failed you. If there is another, may I guard you for all my days.’