After some time, Li Xiangjun’s wounds healed, leaving only a small scar on the tip of her eyebrow. The servant girl told her where Li Zhenli had gone and for what reason. Lying in her bed and looking around at the empty house, she felt a great sadness as she recalled Li Zhenli’s love and affection.
It was midwinter and Li Xiangjun was all alone. She lay down on her bed without the company of her foster mother whom she adored and her husband whom she loved so much. As she lived alone in this empty house, she could feel the biting wind coming from north, which quickly turned her quilt and pillows ice-cold.
One day, as Miss Li Xiangjun reclined on the bed, she took out the white fan Hou Fangyu had given her. Seeing the bloodstains and her husband’s poem inscribed on the fan, she heaved a heavy sigh, “Scholar Hou, I have done all this for you and have remained chaste with my blood!” Miss Li Xiangjun missed Hou so much that tears began to run down her cheeks. Exhausted and still wearing her clothes, she fell into a deep sleep.
After Li Zhengli took Li Xiangjun’s place and was taken to Tian Yang’s residence, Yang Wencong stayed in the Meixiang House for a few days until Xiangjun was out of danger. From then on he would visit the Meixiang House every a few days.
This time, when Yang came to the empty Meixiang House to see Xiangjun, he saw her sleeping with the bloodstained fan by her pillow. Seeing this he could not help but lament, “This fan is the love token of Scholar Hou and Li Xiangjun. Now it becomes more meaningful with Li’s blood on it.” Suddenly he had a brainwave. “If I could add something to it, it might become a beautiful picture. As this brilliant idea flashed into his mind, he picked up a brush pen and began to paint.
Yang Wencong was an intelligent and talented man who excelled at music, chess, calligraphy and particularly painting. He was a celebrated painter at the time. Having studied the fan for a moment, Yang drew some branches and leaves in between the bloodstains and turned them into blooming peach blossoms.
At this moment, Su Kunsheng, who had taught Miss Li Xiangjun to perform Kun opera, arrived at the Meixiang House. Su was the best friend of Liu Jingting, the storyteller. They used to be the followers of Ruan Dacheng and had subsequently left his mansion together. Su was also in close contact with the scholars from the Donglin Party and the Restoration Society. On this day, Su Kunsheng came to the Meixiang House to inform Li Xiangjun of Hou Fangyu’s current situation. When he entered the house, Su saw Yang working on the fan. Knowing the reason behind it, he gave Yang his hearty praise. As they talked, Li Xiangjun woke up.
When Li Xiangjun saw the two visitors, she hurriedly stood up and offered them her seat. As Yang Wencong handed her the peach blossom fan, Xiangjun said, “This is an old fan and it has been stained”. With that, she was about to put it back in the wooden case when Su Kunsheng asked, “How can you not appreciate the wonderful artistry?”
Li Xiangjun suddenly saw the peach blossoms on the fan and asked, “When was this painting drawn?”
Yang Wencong answered, “I am sorry for having spoiled your fan.”
Li Xiangjun gazed at the peach blossoms and could not help bemoaning her unhappy fate, “Alas, peach blossoms are born to fade and fall like a miserable beauty. Thank you for this portrayal of my unhappy life, Master Yang.”
Yang Wencong asked her, “Xiang jun, are you really determined to wait for Scholar Hou in this empty house?
“Yes, I have made my decision and nobody can change it.” Yang Wencong was moved, and replied, “Your love for Hou Fangyu is rare in this world!”
Only at this moment did Su remember why he came here.
“Xiangjun, I have come to tell you about Hou. He went to Yangzhou with General Shi Kefa and stayed there for half a year before he went to Kaifeng and Luoyang to defend the Yellow River Line with General Gao Jie. I am planning to return to Henan in a few days and to pay a visit to Hou on my way back. I was wondering if you have any message for me to bring to him.”
Miss Li Xiang jun was very pleased by the news of her husband. She wanted to write him a letter immediately but since there was too much to say, she did not know how to start. After some thought, she handed the fan to Su Kunsheng and said, “I will not write any letter. All my love and sadness reside in this fan. Could I trouble you to bring it to Scholar Hou?”
“ What a good idea, this is tr uly a unique letter ”, Yang Wencong exclaimed. Su Kunsheng carefully took the fan, bade farewell to Xiangjun and set off.
