The Story of Pearl Girl – Zhao Lusi, Liu Yuning, Daddi Tang

The ocean is vast and boundless, and in the dark corners of the reefs, a group of pearl divers lives quietly. During the Tang Dynasty, the Cui family in Yangzhou established a pearl field in Hepu, supplying South Sea pearls each year. Although the pearls are invaluable, the life of the pearl slaves is bleak.

The overseers who monitor the divers are brutal, and those who are weak and unable to dive are condemned to a lifetime of slavery, while the women are imprisoned in breeding pens. Duan Wu is one of these pearl slaves. Although diving for pearls is arduous, it is also the most freeing moment for her. Orphaned since childhood, she is not afraid of the man-eating sharks beneath the waves.

Instead, it is the shameless cruelty of people on land that she cannot forgive. However, having been imprisoned from a young age, Duan Wu can only live carefully. One day, a man in Hepu had long coveted the beautiful Duan Wu. He seized the opportunity to force her, but Duan Wu is not a helpless victim; she carries a sharp dagger to pry open the shells. With the dagger in hand, her opponent dares not to dream of overpowering her.

The supervisor Cui wanted to buy five-inch pearls and spread the word that anyone who could find a large pearl would be handsomely rewarded. Finding a large pearl requires diving into Duan Wang Pool, where sharks and whales are plentiful, making it extremely dangerous. However, upon hearing of the generous reward, Duan Wu immediately signed up, even promising to provide her slave contract.

A girl close to Duan Wu hesitated at the edge of the deep blue sea, afraid to dive in. To leave the pearl field sooner, Duan Wu tied sandbags around her waist and jumped into the water without hesitation. On the surface, a magnificent ship was docked, carrying merchants from the Western Regions. They had gold and silver, and would spend lavishly on anything that caught their eye.

On the deck, a merchant was caught trying to pass off inferior goods as quality products. When exposed, he faced the punishment of having his eyes gouged out and his tongue cut out. As the man begged for mercy, Zhang Jinran stepped forward and condemned the brutal methods. According to Tang law, counterfeit goods warranted only fifty lashes. In business, especially on the deck, Tang law was nearly meaningless.

Zhang Jinran offered to replace the merchant's punishment with his family's heirloom pearls. When the Western merchant saw the pearls in Zhang Jinran's box, he sneered. The pearls, treasured for generations, were merely under two inches, unaware that they had seen larger pearls before. Zhang Jinran remained unconvinced. The Western merchant Yan Zijing offered to show Zhang Jinran more significant treasures, promising that if they found a larger pearl, his would be given to them for free.

Zhang Jinran readily agreed. His subordinates tugged at his clothing, worried that the Western merchants could truly find more valuable pearls. However, Zhang Jinran was unconcerned about losing some wealth. He had come with a mission: in recent years, the maritime tax had been reduced, but the quality of tribute pearls had declined sharply. He aimed to investigate undercover and uncover the truth. After great difficulty, Duan Wu finally found a massive pearl, but her companions intercepted her.

Fortunately, Duan Wu was an excellent swimmer and managed to escape with the pearl from the seabed. Obtaining the pearl was no easy feat, but the matron at the site swapped Duan Wu’s pearl and ultimately gave the slave release document to another diver. Duan Wu cried bitterly, pleading for an investigation into the swap, insisting that her pearl had indeed been replaced. The old matron, knowing she was at fault, suggested that Duan Wu become a pearl maiden.

A pearl maiden sells pearls, and the matron secretly advised her that leaving this place was only possible if she no longer breathed, but becoming a pearl maiden was Duan Wu's only path to rebirth. Supervisor Cui asked who could buy the massive pearl for five hundred thousand coins and promised a great reward. Duan Wu eagerly signed up, hoping Supervisor Cui would grant her two release documents. Supervisor Cui, unwilling to haggle, proposed that selling it for seven million coins would fulfill Duan Wu's request.

As a pearl maiden, Duan Wu wanted to sell her pearls for the highest price, so she needed to shine as brightly as the pearls themselves. Among a group of dancers, she seemed inconspicuous, surrounded by graceful beauties. Since there had been no prior rehearsals, Duan Wu struggled to perform the dance smoothly. Realizing she was starting to embarrass herself, she focused on finding a solution and noticed the drummer in the band nearby.

Duan Wu had once observed a dancer who moved beautifully to the rhythm of the drums. Inspired, she gracefully approached the drummer and took up a small drum, beginning to play. Her dance was innovative and captivating, quickly drawing attention. The other women, realizing they couldn't compete, quietly withdrew. After the dance, the pearl maiden began selling pearls.

Duan Wu was determined to fetch a high price for her pearls, even dropping a drop of her own blood onto one, calling it a "blood pearl. " This type of blood pearl was highly valued for its supposed ability to ward off evil—one pearl, one life. Yan Zijing offered six million for the pearl, but Duan Wu knelt on the ground, unwilling to hand it over.

She had made a blood oath with her supervisor: if she couldn't sell it for seven million, she would face a brutal death. For the sake of herself and her close friends, she had to take this risk. Zhang Jinran had overheard Duan Wu's conversation with her supervisor and, seeing the tears in her eyes, felt compassion. He immediately agreed to buy the pearl for seven million.

The crowd gasped in surprise, and Zhang Jinran instructed his subordinates to give the owner a gold leaf, concluding the transaction. Duan Wu approached Zhang Jinran to thank him. He invited her to walk around with him. One was a noble scion, while the other was a lowly pearl slave. Their perspectives were naturally worlds apart. Duan Wu was captivated by Zhang Jinran's description of the bustling Chang'an, which held all the world's treasures.

He told her of an ancient wishing tree in Chang'an: if one sincerely made a wish and hung it on the tree, it would come true. Duan Wu had never heard such a wonderful thing. When Zhang Jinran learned that her greatest wish was for "freedom," he couldn't help but sigh.

He helped her write her wish on a card, hang it on the tree, and blessed her: may her heart be like a clear mirror, and all her wishes come true. Meanwhile, Yan Zijing quietly met with Cui Wu. During the auction, Cui Wu had received a gold leaf. Although he knew the pearl was worth a fortune, he couldn't sleep well, uncertain of Zhang Jinran's background.

Yan Zijing informed him that the person who bought the pearl was a sworn brother of the King of Ying, trusted by the authorities. He had recently left the capital for the south, apparently on a mission, and there was a fierce conflict between the King of Ying and the King of Tan. Given the current situation, the King of Ying had the upper hand.

To protect himself, Cui Wu had no choice but to agree to sell all the pearls from the auction to Yan Zijing at a low price. Meanwhile, Duan Wu and La La were sent to Cui Wu's room. Faced with this villain, Duan Wu stood her ground. However, Cui Wu was armed with a knife. Fortunately, the matron arrived just in time. Cui Wu ordered the matron to kill Duan Wu, but unexpectedly, the matron ended his life instead.

With Cui Wu dead, the matron desperately pulled Duan Wu to escape. However, pursuers chased them relentlessly. The matron sacrificed her life to push Duan Wu onto a boat, telling her that she was her mother and had wanted to save her for years. Now, even in death, she could finally close her eyes. Duan Wu gained her freedom but lost her mother at the same time. Overwhelmed with despair, the boat drifted until it collided with a larger vessel. Fortunately, the people on board were Zhang Jinran, and Duan Wu and her brother were saved.

In the capital, Cui Shijiu was sent to urge for the tribute pearls. Cui Wu reported that a large fire had recently occurred, destroying not only the pearls but also the account books. Despite this, there was no leniency from the other party. Cui Shijiu reminded Cui Wu that according to the terms, not a single pearl could be missing. Knowing the seriousness of the situation, Cui Ding decided to escape with a small treasury overnight.

When Duan Wu woke up, she was out of danger. She went up to the deck and expressed her gratitude once again to Zhang Jinran for saving her. Zhang Jinran spoke of the many beautiful sights he had seen since leaving the capital, particularly marveling at the pearl divers who jumped back and forth between the ship and the sea.

However, for Duan Wu, the beauty in Zhang Jinran's words was bittersweet; the divers jumped into the sea only to survive, perhaps fleeing from sharks or fighting among themselves. As the ship reached the dock, Duan Wu recalled dropping the blood pearl her mother had given her when she had separated from her. It had been picked up by Cui Ding.

Spotting him now, she reminded her brother to stay put at the dock while she went to retrieve her mother's relic. Before the Pearl Tower was burned down, Cui Ding had sold all the pearls to Yan Zijing, but later learned from his subordinates that the gold was fake. This realization filled Cui Ding with deep resentment towards Yan Zijing.

However, Yan Zijing's people were keeping a close watch on him, and as soon as they saw him escape to shore, they blocked his path. Fueled by rage against her mother's murderer, Duan Wu grabbed a large wooden stick and furiously struck at Cui Ding. Yan Zijing did not intervene until Duan Wu had vented her anger.

As Duan Wu saw the blood pearl roll away, she bent down to pick it up, but Yan Zijing cruelly stepped on her hand, keeping it out of reach. The people on the ship assumed Duan Wu was stealing. Despite her insistence that the pearl was hers, she could not escape punishment. Yan Zijing ordered his men to tie her up with ropes and secure her beneath the deck.

Clinging tightly to the ropes, Duan Wu used her tenacity to be pulled back up to the deck. That night, Duan Wu didn't rest for a moment. She ran to the cargo area of the ship, where she had already found the blood pearl, but was caught again by Yan Zijing's men. Yan Zijing warned her that she wouldn't be able to obtain the pearl, as she was too weak.

He told her that only when she became stronger would she be able to reclaim it. Duan Wu asked Yan Zijing to name a price. Initially, she wanted to negotiate, but each time she stated a price, Yan Zijing increased it by another million. They eventually settled on a price of three million.

Duan Wu needed to find a way to earn money to buy back the pearl and requested some time from Yan Zijing, promising that once the ship docked, she would have a chance. Yan Zijing's subordinate, Kang Ju, took an interest in Duan Wu. Bored from drifting at sea for so long, he found her clever and brave. He suggested to Yan Zijing that they keep her around. Yan Zijing refused and advised Kang Ju to find some work instead of having thoughts about Duan Wu.

Duan Wu and her brother Xiao Xiami stayed temporarily on the ship. Since the ship did not keep idle people, the siblings began working like the other servants. Duan Wu reminded her brother to quickly familiarize himself with the situation and the crew members so they could escape when the opportunity arose. Despite his young age, Xiao Xiami soon gathered information about everyone on the ship.

Duan Wu listened intently when Xiao Xiami mentioned that there was a warrior named Kang Ju, who often accompanied Yan Zijing. She noted that this could be useful in the future. On the deck, there was a person named Cao Tou, who spoke very gently and frequently helped the servants buy things. Everyone liked his manner, and during payday, they entrusted him with their wages to buy supplies.

However, when Xiao Xiami heard Cao Tou's prices, he immediately told Duan Wu that Cao Tou charged double the market price, revealing his unscrupulous nature. Duan Wu instructed Xiao Xiami not to share this information, emphasizing that they were living under someone else's roof and could face danger at any time; caution was essential. Duan Wu learned that the ship would dock the next day. She sought out Yan Zijing, specifically requesting permission to go ashore.

She argued that working in the ship's hold for a lifetime wouldn’t allow her to buy back the pearls. Yan Zijing agreed to her request but emphasized that as long as she could clean the entire deck before dawn, he would let her and her brother go. Cui Ding, unable to withstand the beatings, bit his tongue and took his own life, declaring before he died that Yan Zijing's sister was in Shaozhou.

With this information, Yan Zijing planned to dock in Shaozhou to host a pearl poetry gathering, inviting noble participants. To further his plans, he instructed his subordinates to announce that the winner would be rewarded with ten taels of pearls. Duan Wu had originally pleaded with Zhang Jinran to let her go ashore to trade and earn money. To her surprise, while he permitted her to disembark, he required her to work instead.

When Duan Wu and Xiao Xiami were forced to scrub the deck with rags, her unwillingness was palpable when she saw Yan Zijing again. Participants arrived continuously for the poetry gathering. When Cui Shijiu spotted Duan Wu, he mocked her, claiming that a lowly servant like her could not stand on the stage. Duan Wu recognized Cui Shijiu; he was the one who demanded large quantities of pearls every year, leading to the deaths of countless pearl divers.

Without flinching, Duan Wu warned Cui Shijiu not to be too proud, reminding him that each pearl from the Cui family was stained with blood and they would not receive a good return. Cui Shijiu and Duan Wu got into a scuffle. Although Duan Wu resisted, she was pinned to the ground by Cui Shijiu and was unable to move. Fortunately, Zhang Jinran happened to pass by, prompting Cui Shijiu to release Duan Wu.

At the poetry gathering, Zhang Jinran spontaneously recited a poem about the hardships of the pearl divers, earning loud applause. When he wrote of pearls filled with the tears of mermaids, Duan Wu felt grateful and wept, recalling how she had once asked Zhang Jinran to write about the hardships of pearl divers. Now, her wish had come true, providing a small comfort to the unnoticed divers who had suffered. This poetry gathering brought Cui Shijiu and Zhang Jinran together again.

Zhang Jinran's men had discovered Cui Ding's corpse, and the coroner reported that Cui Ding had been brutally tortured before his death. Zhang Jinran suspected that Yan Zijing had killed Cui Ding, asserting that a life for a life. Yan Zijing countered that he had never even met Cui Ding and asked Duan Wu to testify on his behalf. When Duan Wu saw Yan Zijing’s eyes, she immediately understood how to respond.

She also claimed that she had been on Yan Zijing's ship the whole time and had not seen Cui Ding. Zhang Jinran had always viewed Duan Wu as honest. Now hearing her cover for Yan Zijing, he could not help but warn her that protecting a criminal would lead to punishment. Unmoved, Duan Wu requested a reward from Yan Zijing after Zhang Jinran left.

Duan Wu was determined to find a way to leave the ship sooner. After some strategic persuasion, Yan Zijing agreed to let her go. But now that she was getting off the ship, what business should she pursue? Duan Wu pondered endlessly, knowing only that she could sell scrap materials.

In the past, Cao Tou sold them at eighteen coins per jin, but Duan Wu thought she could refine the scraps, with some even being sellable to pharmacies, which would yield extra profit. To gather enough scrap material, Duan Wu gathered her courage and approached Wei Yan at the guards' association, sharing her calculated profits with him. Since Duan Wu was willing to put in the effort and Wei Yan could make extra money, she agreed to help.

She led Duan Wu to the person in charge of producing the scrap, and Duan Wu managed to secure a total of two hundred jin of material. Duan Wu had no intention of keeping all the profits for herself. She shared the materials with her fellow slaves who worked in the ship's hold, and they were all delighted to help. They began diligently refining the scraps together.

When the day to disembark finally came, Duan Wu struggled to pull her cart full of goods, while Xiao Xiami could only see her off to the dock. He reminded her to move to the next buyer if her first negotiation didn’t work out. In her first business venture, Duan Wu lacked experience and faced many rejections.

The pharmacy owners, seeing her as a stranger and a non-resident, worried they wouldn’t have recourse if the medicinal materials were of poor quality, so they refused to do business with her. Meanwhile, after the fire at the He Pu Pearl Factory, Cui Shiqi realized he couldn’t fulfill the imperial order, so he secretly instructed his men to retrieve the required pearls for the court, regardless of the cost.

As Yan Zijing’s ship neared Guangzhou, he considered the importance of future business there and decided to go ashore to meet the local alliance leader. Yan Zijing had countless colorful gems from the Western regions in his cabin, and by presenting just a few as gifts, the local alliance leader would see him as a friend and agree to help him sell the pearls, as long as Yan Zijing adhered to the profit-sharing rules.

After much effort, Duan Wu finally found a buyer willing to take her goods. He gave her a silver note and directed her to a nearby bank to collect the money. But upon presenting the note, she was told that the stamp on it was fake. Panic-stricken, Duan Wu rushed back to confront the buyer at the pharmacy, only to encounter Cao Tou. He claimed that her delivery was short and immediately tried to drag her to Yan Zijing.

Yan Zijing was very surprised, but when Cao Tou mentioned two hundred and ten jin of goods, Duan Wu realized the truth. When weighing the materials earlier, only she and the swindler were present, so how could Cao Tou know the exact amount? Clearly, he had been in on the scheme from the start. Duan Wu was tied to the deck and punished with twenty lashes. Yan Zijing then ordered her to return to the hold as a slave.

Duan Wu pleaded with Yan Zijing for one more chance, promising to retrieve the lost goods. Yan Zijing, seeing her tear-filled eyes and recognizing a spirit similar to his own past struggles, granted her request. That night, Duan Wu quietly sneaked into Cao Tou's quarters. Pressing a dagger to his throat, she demanded the location of the swindler’s hideout. To save his life, Cao Tou disclosed the details, and Duan Wu ventured there immediately, successfully retrieving the money.

After submitting the required amount, Duan Wu kept her rightful share. Yan Zijing, however, was not pleased with her actions and insisted on punishing her for her negligence. Confused, Duan Wu didn’t understand why, after retrieving the money, she still faced such harsh treatment. Yan Zijing reminded her that selling scrap materials had encroached on Cao Tou’s business, so naturally, she would encounter obstacles. Duan Wu wondered why Yan Zijing continued to protect Cao Tou, despite his constant schemes.

Yan Zijing explained that as long as Cao Tou could accomplish tasks he assigned, he was valuable and wouldn’t be discarded. Determined, Duan Wu resolved to become someone valuable to Yan Zijing.

Cui Shijiu spent a large amount of silver but received only poor-quality goods. Staring at the small, uneven pearls filling half a box, she was furious. At the same time that Cui Shijiu was purchasing pearls, Yan Zijing was also buying up high-quality pearls at exorbitant prices. When Cui Shijiu received a report from her subordinates, she realized that Zhang Jinran had used a tactic to undercut her efforts. Cui Shijiu went to see Yan Zijing herself.

She initially intended to bluff Zhang Jinran, claiming that the court had grievances against him and suggesting that he present pearls to show his loyalty. Yan Zijing, however, was not so easily deceived. He replied that he was a law-abiding businessman with no need to prove loyalty to the court. Yan Zijing then had his men bring out the gems, and upon seeing the full box of dazzling pearls, Cui Shijiu’s interest was piqued.

With the tribute date approaching, she urgently needed these items and was willing to pay a high price to obtain them. Yan Zijing's arrogance greatly angered Cui Shiqi. When he learned of the fire in He Pu and how Yan Zijing had deceived the local steward with fake gold, he quickly reported it to his brother. Xu Nanying, who had recently faced court reprimands, dared not associate with Yan Zijing any further.

Duan Wu and her sisters finally had the chance to go ashore. At the market, one of the young women admired a red hairpin, and Duan Wu noticed that the flowers on the hairpin were made from scrap material. Remembering the scrap left on the ship, Duan Wu spent the night drawing designs, crafting a plum blossom pattern, and specifically called Xiao Xiami to ask which wood would be suitable for the hairpin.

Xiao Xiami suggested old ship wood, explaining that its exposure to wind and rain had made it as sturdy as iron. Once, when Xiao Xiami was with Cao Tou, he saw him sell coral beads to the most famous jewelry store in town. New to the area, Duan Wu had to think of ways to approach this shop. Learning that the shopkeeper’s favorite daughter was Pan Family’s Jiu Niangzi, Duan Wu hurriedly made a pearl hairpin for her overnight.

Jiu Niangzi of the Pan Family was truly unfortunate; both of her fiancés had died one after another, and people rumored that she brought misfortune to her husbands. Because of this, she spent her days in tears, always veiled. Hearing that Jiu Niangzi would be visiting the temple soon, Duan Wu deliberately went as well, crying and kneeling before the statue, claiming that she, too, was a bringer of misfortune to her husband.

Fortunately, the deity had blessed her, and she was given a coral hairpin, finally turning her luck around. Duan Wu spoke persuasively, and Jiu Niangzi, upon hearing that Duan Wu shared her misfortune, felt a kinship and asked her about the coral hairpin. Just as Duan Wu was about to sell the coral hairpin, Zhang Jinran unexpectedly appeared and exposed her scheme in front of everyone. Jiu Niangzi was furious and walked off immediately.

Zhang Jinran reminded Duan Wu that she shouldn’t be blinded by greed. Although boarding Yan Zijing's merchant ship had taught her some tricks of deception, such tactics were not sustainable. Business required trust, he explained. If Jiu Niangzi had taken Duan Wu’s hairpin but failed to see her luck change, she would hold a grudge, and there would be no long-term relationship between them.

Although Duan Wu felt that the difference between her and Zhang Jinran was like heaven and earth, she realized he made a valid point. She decided to apologize to Jiu Niangzi in person and even rented a dress for the occasion. Duan Wu took Jiu Niangzi to see a fortune-teller, pretending to be Pan Family’s daughter. The fortune-teller immediately made up a story, saying her facial features brought misfortune and that her birth sign was bad.

Duan Wu exposed her scheme on the spot, questioning how her appearance could reveal anything as she wasn’t even married. The fortune-teller had no choice but to admit that she was speaking nonsense. Jiu Niangzi finally realized that her supposed "fate" was all fabricated and that a random, deceitful matchmaker could not reveal her destiny. Duan Wu advised Jiu Niangzi to have confidence in herself, reminding her that as long as she didn’t falter, no one could look down on her. Moved by Duan Wu’s support, Jiu Niangzi immediately signed an order, marking Duan Wu’s very first business transaction.

Cui Shijiu organized a "Mermaid Treasure Hunt" specifically to undermine Yan Zijing, presenting him with a declaration of participation. If Yan Zijing failed to succeed in the treasure hunt, he would lose his qualification to purchase pearls in Guangzhou. When Yan Zijing asked who would join the competition, everyone knew it was exceptionally dangerous, and no one volunteered. Cao Tou then devised a method for everyone to draw lots.

He had Duan Wu draw first, and when she picked a bamboo stick, it was red-tipped. She overturned the bamboo container and discovered that all the sticks were red. Yan Zijing agreed to allow a re-draw, but seeing her friends around her trembling with fear, Duan Wu, who had grown up in the water, volunteered for the task.

As the competition approached, Yan Zijing gave Duan Wu a gold-threaded vest to wear for protection, saying it could save her life if necessary. Duan Wu was grateful for Yan Zijing’s gift. Even though she could opt out of the competition, she was determined to acquire the red pearl to find her father, willing to face any danger to achieve her goal. When the competition began, it was revealed that they were supposed to dive into the sea to retrieve treasures.

However, the officials in charge abruptly changed the rules to require them to hunt for treasures on land. As a woman, Duan Wu had little chance of winning in such a contest. Yan Zijing was aware that something was off about the competition, but since they were already on the ship, they had to abide by the rules. Using her cleverness and bravery, Duan Wu managed to grab a treasure.

However, she encountered Cheng Yaojin along the way, while competitors were closing in behind her. Duan Wu was secretly injured; someone stabbed her in the waist with a dagger. Fortunately, the golden vest from Yan Zijing prevented the blade from hitting a vital area. Seeing Duan Wu about to fall from a height, Yan Zijing leaped over and caught her securely. With no time left in the competition, Yan Zijing supported Duan Wu while continuing to retrieve treasures.

Noticing that the competitors were armed, he fought fiercely without holding back, finally putting his regular practice to good use. Yan Zijing struck down the pearls from Cui Shijiu’s subordinates, causing them to shatter. Despite this, Duan Wu still lost the competition, as the pearls ended up in the hands of Cui Shijiu’s team. The officials judging the event had been bribed by Cui Shijiu, and without consideration, they declared her team the winners.

Duan Wu was severely injured and, upon hearing the results, coughed up blood in distress. Zhang Jinran, who was present, immediately carried her to see a doctor. With the loss in the competition, Yan Zijing also lost the right to purchase pearls in Guangzhou. After drinking the medicine prescribed by the doctor, Duan Wu slowly regained consciousness.

Zhang Jinran advised her not to take further risks with Yan Zijing, offering her a token to find someone in the city who would give her a job. Duan Wu declined Zhang Jinran’s kindness, explaining that she couldn't leave without obtaining the red pearl. Zhang Jinran insisted on providing her with another safety net, but she refused, knowing she couldn’t repay his generosity.

Zhang Jinran took Duan Wu to the dock, where Yan Zijing watched the two say their goodbyes from the deck. Duan Wu approached Yan Zijing to accept her punishment. Yan Zijing presented her with two options: one was to leave the ship and serve him as a personal maid, never to bring up joining the merchant group again; the other was to return to the hold and receive twenty lashes, then continue to work hard.

Duan Wu chose the second option without hesitation. As for the lashes, Duan Wu argued that even though the merchant group lost the competition, everyone had seen their strength and the business they had brought, balancing out their faults and merits. Understanding that the merchant group had lost the right to purchase pearls in Guangzhou, Duan Wu suggested to Yan Zijing that they could collect pearls through other jewelers.

She was familiar with Pan Family’s Jiu Niangzi, whose jewelry store was well-known in the area. Yan Zijing did not oppose Duan Wu’s suggestion but reminded her not to be deceived like she was when selling scrap material the first time. Duan Wu received her payment and moved onto the ship with her brother, Xiao Xiami, finally escaping the damp hold. Xiao Xiami was overjoyed.

Cao Da usually dealt in scrap materials, and Duan Wu’s involvement deprived him of a chance to make money. To bribe his superiors, he brought fine wine. Now that Duan Wu was shining in front of Yan Zijing, many were waiting to see her fail. Duan Wu made some exquisite hairpins to send to Feng Shi. The handmade hairpins sold very well in Feng Shi’s jewelry shop.

During this visit, Duan Wu shared her thoughts on purchasing pearls, mentioning the uproar around the Mermaid Treasure Hunt. Feng Shi confirmed that Duan Wu had been caught up in the turmoil and, as a good sister, agreed to lend her support. Feng Shi invited Duan Wu out for tea, and they happened to run into Zhang Jinran, who had been expelled from the inn.

Having received help from Zhang Jinran before, Duan Wu invited him to join them for tea. During their conversation, Zhang Jinran explained that he had been schemed against and no inn would accept him, mentioning that he was considering staying with Yan Zijing. Duan Wu merely facilitated the introduction. When Yan Zijing met Zhang Jinran, he was far from friendly, mocking him before surprisingly agreeing to let him stay.

After Zhang Jinran left, Yan Zijing told his servant that Xu Nanying feared Zhang Jinran might have something on him and had already begun to act. Given that Xu Nanying was an official, he was now investigating the substantial reduction in the pearl tribute. Yan Zijing instructed his subordinates to be cautious during their operations. Late at night, Yan Zijing privately met with Zhang Jinran.

Zhang Jinran was well aware of Yan Zijing’s activities in Guangzhou and couldn’t help but suspect Yan Zijing’s motives against the Cui family. First, he burned down the Pearl Pavilion, then purchased pearls at high prices, making it impossible for Cui Shijiu to buy even one. Zhang Jinran asked what grudges Yan Zijing held against Cui Shijiu, but Yan Zijing deflected with a casual excuse. Staying at Yan Zijing’s place was undoubtedly the safest option for Zhang Jinran.

Yan Zijing’s merchant ship was filled with skilled people and heavily guarded. They had already found the ledger, and once they secured testimony from someone with insider knowledge, they could decisively move to capture the culprits. Yan Zijing opened a hidden room in his quarters and invited Duan Wu inside. It was her first time in such a secretive place, and she was amazed by the countless rare treasures, all of which were the finest goods from the southern regions.

Duan Wu couldn’t help but question Yan Zijing’s true intentions. Yan Zijing casually picked up a jade hairpin and gave it to her, reminding her that she would represent the merchant group at the upcoming bidding event for pearls. He insisted she dress appropriately and assured her that he intended to acquire all the pearls at the exhibition. For years, Xu Nanying had been secretly colluding with the Cui family to line his own pockets.

Now that Zhang Jinran had evidence against him, and news spread that Zhang had sent the ledger to the palace overnight, Xu Nanying feared for his safety. Upon hearing this news, he became tense and decided to eliminate this “obstacle” by sending someone to assassinate Zhang Jinran. Zhang Jinran, having learned some skills and being quick-witted, managed to escape the ambush. His subordinates secretly followed the assassin and discovered he was heading to Xu Nanying’s place.

Upon hearing that Zhang Jinran was injured, Duan Wu rushed to visit him, bringing medicine. Zhang Jinran warned her that Yan Zijing was cunning and ruthless, advising her not to continue following the merchant group. Duan Wu confessed that being here gave her hope. Zhang Jinran remarked that Yan Zijing thrived in a survival-of-the-fittest environment. Duan Wu agreed but noted that someone in her position lived each day on the edge.

Yan Zijing heard news that his sister might really be in Shaozhou, and that Guangzhou was no longer safe. Duan Wu urged her subordinates to finish their tasks quickly and head to Shaozhou. Cao Da, upon learning that Duan Wu was going out with Wei Si today, found an excuse to tie Xiao Xiami up in the hold and subjected him to severe punishment.

Duan Wu rode in a carriage with Wei Si Hui to purchase treasures. It was her first time riding in a carriage, and she found it very novel. Suddenly, Wei Si Hui claimed to have a stomach ache, prompting Duan Wu to go negotiate business alone. She mentioned that the box she carried was filled with gold bars, enough to buy the other party’s jewels. Finally meeting the jewel merchant, Duan Wu offered to buy all the jewels.

However, when she opened the box to show the deposit, she discovered it was filled with pebbles. Duan Wu broke out in a cold sweat, her mind racing. She immediately approached the N Hai merchant Shi Nawai to propose a collaboration. They could create the most exquisite hairpins, adorned with N Hai merchant’s pearls, which would double their price. Merchants valued profit above all else, and the price of pearl hairpins far exceeded the cost of raw materials.

Shi Nawai agreed to bring the finished hairpins the next day, promising that if he was satisfied, all the pearls would be handed over to Yan Zijing. When Duan Wu returned to the fleet, she found Wei Si Hui tied to a wooden pillar, being severely tortured. Yan Zijing had discovered evidence of Wei Si Hui’s secret dealings with Cui Shijiu, including numerous property deeds and land contracts given to him.

Yan Zijing publicly announced that Wei Si Hui would be executed. Duan Wu stepped in front of Wei Si Hui, pleading for his life, but Zhang Jinran also reminded Yan Zijing that he should not handle matters privately. Relenting, Yan Zijing decided to throw Wei Si Hui into the sea instead. As the crowd dispersed, Duan Wu held the box filled with pebbles, asking Yan Zijing if this was the outcome he had anticipated.

Yan Zijing nodded in confirmation, and Duan Wu’s eyes filled with tears. She had once felt fortunate to be with the right people, but now realized they were merely pawns in a larger game. Duan Wu's brother, Xiao Xiami, bore numerous scars from the severe beatings he had endured and was unable to move.

Seeing her brother’s injuries caused Duan Wu great pain, but Xiao Xiami comforted her, urging her not to hold a grudge against Cao Da and the others, as they were too powerful for people like them to contend with. The next day, Duan Wu presented her handmade hairpins to Shi Nawai, who was very pleased.

He had originally planned to do business with Yan Zijing, but Cui Shijiu also brought several jewelry designs, as he was an official merchant who supplied the palace with exquisite goods. The craftsmanship of Cui Shijiu's jewelry far surpassed what Duan Wu had made. To secure the pearls, Cui Shijiu raised his offer by twenty percent and put down a deposit of five hundred gold. Such a high price was beyond Yan Zijing's means, prompting Duan Wu to decisively withdraw.

Before leaving, she quietly warned Cui Shijiu to be careful, as he might not sell them for that price and risk losing everything. That night, Wei Si Hui had just crawled ashore when Yan Zijing slit his throat with a sword. Yan Zijing acted swiftly, but still allowed someone in the shadows to witness the act.

The next day, Wei Si Hui’s body was found on the ship, and Xu Nanying offered a hefty reward for information, leading to Yan Zijing being bound and taken away by Xu Nanying's men. The plot twisted rapidly, leaving Duan Wu feeling bewildered. Yan Zijing was always meticulous; how could he leave behind evidence? And now that he had been captured by the officials, what would happen next?

Yan Zijing’s confidant, Kang Ju, called Duan Wu to a room and handed her a blood pearl, urging her to leave while she could. Duan Wu was surprised that Yan Zijing had provided this blood pearl after just being captured, and she still owed him the three hundred gold they had agreed upon. Kang Ju insisted that Duan Wu take what she had and leave, cautioning her not to get involved in this conflict, but Duan Wu hesitated to depart.

As the officials searched the merchant fleet, they began hauling box after box of jewels out. Duan Wu devised a plan, intentionally letting Pang Congshi overhear that there were still treasures in Yan Zijing’s room. Later that night, Pang Congshi, along with Cao Da, attempted to steal the treasures but was caught red-handed by Kang Ju. Internal theft was a serious offense, and Kang Ju tied them up on the deck. Duan Wu personally took the whip to punish them. Watching Duan Wu, who seemed delicate, wield the whip, Zhang Jinran couldn’t help but reflect on how she had become as cold-blooded as Yan Zijing.

Zhang Jinran came from a prestigious family, well-versed in literature and ethics since childhood. Naturally, he couldn’t bear to witness such a scene. In contrast, Duan Wu had grown up in an environment filled with deception and survival of the fittest, so she was more aware of the harsh realities of life.

With less than ten days left before the tribute pearls were to be presented, Cui Shijiu was willing to go to any lengths to buy the jewels that Yan Zijing had acquired from the officials. Duan Wu took Zhao Guan Shi into the secret room of the fleet, where she was greeted by a sight of rare treasures. Zhao Guan Shi realized that if they pawned these jewels, they could participate in the official auction.

Duan Wu recalled Yan Zijing’s instructions to buy all the pearls, leaving none for the Cui family. Late at night, Kang Ju reported to Yan Zijing about Duan Wu's intention to participate in the jewel purchase and asked if he wanted to intervene. Yan Zijing waved his hand, expressing interest in seeing how Duan Wu would choose. He believed in playing his moves without regrets; many things had been meticulously planned in advance.

Even if Duan Wu didn’t meet his expectations, he had the capability to deal with the aftermath. At the auction, Duan Wu invited Zhuo Bao Zhai to participate, and Cui Shijiu was also present. All the auctioned jewels were sealed, and nobody knew what was inside the large boxes; it was a blind auction. Initially, Zhuo Bao Zhai and Duan Wu competed to raise the price, while Cui Shijiu's grandfather was unwilling to fall behind.

Cui Shijiu anxiously urged her grandfather to be extremely careful, warning that Yan Zijing was cunning and they were no match for him. However, Cui Shijiu's father had always looked down on her and paid no heed to her words. Kang Ju had learned that Cui Shijiu brought two thousand six hundred taels of silver to the auction. The bidding price soared as Duan Wu pushed it to two thousand five hundred fifty taels.

Fearing to fall behind, Cui Shijiu's father finally bid two million six hundred thousand taels of silver, securing the auction for Cui Shijiu. The officials instructed Cui Shijiu to sign the auction documents, and once that was done, they began opening the sealed boxes. Cui Shijiu’s father was dismayed to find that the boxes contained worthless trinkets, leading to a sudden fainting spell from the shock. Duan Wu felt her heart leap into her throat.

Fortunately, Cui Shijiu had successfully bid; if he had withdrawn, she would have been left with nothing but trash! At that moment, Yan Zijing emerged with Wei Si Hui in full view of everyone—Wei Si Hui was alive! The initial arrest of Yan Zijing had been due to murder, but now that Wei Si Hui was unharmed, Yan Zijing's charges were rendered baseless. Cui Shijiu realized she had been fooled again, this time losing everything the Cui family had accumulated.

After the successful auction, Yan Zijing hosted a celebration banquet on the deck. Duan Wu voluntarily assisted Zhao Guan Shi in requesting rewards. Yan Zijing happily agreed and asked Zhao Guan Shi what reward he desired. Zhao Guan Shi candidly expressed his wish to return home to farm, given his old age.

Yan Zijing, understanding Zhao Guan Shi’s diligent service over the years and his numerous efforts during critical times, not only gave him a generous reward but also gifted him a shop in Yangzhou. Zhao Guan Shi was deeply touched, and seeing their leader's generosity, everyone became more willing to serve Yan Zijing. Cui Shijiu blamed the consequences of the auction on Cui Shijiu, who had never been one to quietly accept a subordinate role.

Learning that Xu Nanying had already prepared the lotus platform for tribute, she secretly sought out Xu Nanying, hoping for a few more days to negotiate. She believed that with just a little breathing room, they could overcome their difficulties. Xu Nanying, never one to make unprofitable deals, started to relent upon hearing that Cui Shijiu could help eliminate Zhang Jinran. Cui Shijiu sought out Cui Jia to plot Zhang Jinran's elimination but unexpectedly found Duan Wu present as well.

Zhang Jinran was about to leave Guangzhou and planned to take Duan Wu to explore the Hu people’s market. However, they soon encountered pursuers. Duan Wu recognized that the pursuer was Cui Jia. Angered, she picked up a large stick and charged at him, but Cui Jia managed to escape.