My Wife

She drew a knife from within her clothes and cut the noose. As the young woman fell, Wan Ru swiftly caught her. Bai Xiao, following her, came to the young woman's side, helping Wan Ru support her.
"Help her onto the bed."
Her body was limp as a puddle of water; the young woman's eyes were tightly shut, motionless. Bai Xiao said.
"She is too weak."
She hid the knife within her clothes, then took a sweet sugar pill from her large cloth pouch and fed it to the girl.
"For now, let us stay here."
Bai Xiao nodded, observed his surroundings, then said, "It seems this house only has this young woman living in it."
She climbed down from the bed, saying, "We shall wait for this young lady to awaken."
"Young Lady, please sit on the chair and wait. I shall sit here."
"There is only one chair here. Moreover, she just used that chair to attempt suicide; how could I dare to sit on it? I shall sit here, and you may sit at the foot of the bed."
"As Young Lady wishes."
She sat at the head of the bed, he at the foot, both leaning against it.
She dozed off, resting her hand on her head, when suddenly a weak voice spoke.
"Why did you save me?"
She awoke with a start, seeing the young woman awake, and immediately said.
"In the cycle of reincarnation, one must not arbitrarily alter their fate, lest you forever be unable to be reborn as a human. Furthermore, life is a gift from your parents; do you truly intend to do such a thing?"
The young woman sat up abruptly, then burst into laughter, tears streaming down her thin cheeks, saying.
"What do you understand of reincarnation?"
The girl pointed north, saying.
"Then, what sin did my child commit? To be separated from his mother for two long years? My son is missing, and now I know not whether he lives or dies. I, as a mother, know nothing of my own child's fate? I would rather die then!"
Bai Xiao came to her side, saying.
"Perhaps we should go outside. Let us not disturb her further. We can speak later."
She said resolutely, "No."
She stood up abruptly, asking, "Then where is the young lady's husband?"
The young woman replied bitterly, "He is dead."
Bai Xiao, seeing the situation was not good, said.
"Please forgive my young lady for her impoliteness."
Her eyes were sorrowful, then she suddenly grasped the young woman's hand, saying.
"I will find your son for you."
Suddenly, a flicker of light appeared in the young woman's dark eyes, then quickly vanished as she said, "He went missing on the mountain. For two years, I have not found him. How could you possibly find him?"
"What I say, I do. Just trust me."
The young woman remained silent, and she continued.
"Please forgive me for asking, but why did your husband die?"
"His father, ah, he has no father. That faithless man does not deserve to be his father."
Bai Xiao was about to say something, but she immediately covered his mouth with her hand. Wan Ru affirmed resolutely, "Very well. I will certainly find your son for you. And what is your name, young lady?"
"My name is Shui Zhuang Yun. My son's name is Ming Jie."
"Do you still keep any of your son's belongings?"
"Of course I do. I haven't thrown them away. For I hope that one day my son will return. So all his belongings are in that cabinet."
Zhuang Yun pointed to an old wooden cabinet. She smiled. "Luo Han, would you kindly fetch me one of the boy's shirts?"
Bai Xiao was about to murmur something, but seeing her 'bullet-like' gaze, he quickly went to the wooden cabinet to retrieve the item.
Zhuang Yun was about to stand up when Wan Ru pulled her hand, saying.
"Rest assured, just trust me."
Wan Ru's and Zhuang Yun's eyes met. Wan Ru's eyes were bright, and a serene aura emanated from her, calming and soothing those around her.
In contrast to Wan Ru was Zhuang Yun, with despairing eyes, darkened skin, rough hands, and disheveled hair.
Wan Ru, seeing Zhuang Yun seemed calmer, said.
"Ah, I forgot to introduce myself. I am Xia Lan, and that is Luo Han."
Zhuang Yun asked, "Are you two husband and wife?"
She was about to refute when Bai Xiao came to her side, holding a tattered old shirt, and said.
"Indeed. This young lady and I are husband and wife."
She whirled around, glaring at Bai Xiao in warning. Bai Xiao smiled faintly, then handed her the shirt, saying.
"Here is the shirt my wife requested."
Ignoring Bai Xiao, she turned to Zhuang Yun and said.
"Zhuang Yun, could you show me where your son went missing?"
"I only know that on that day, my ten-year-old son went up that hill to gather firewood. After that, he disappeared, and there have been no other clues."
"Very well. Bai Xiao, let us depart."
She knew that the timid Bai Xiao would not go into the forest with her, so she cleverly said.
"We are husband and wife, are we not? Is the general truly going to let his wife venture into the mountains alone?"
"No. My wife cannot go alone, nor can both of us. So many dangers lurk, yet my wife insists on entering the forest."
Her small mouth twisted into a pout as she thought: *The greatest danger is you, actually. You timid, death-fearing man.*
"But your wife has already promised Young Lady Yun. I cannot break my word."
"No, the search can wait until tomorrow."
She pouted. "If my husband does not wish to go, then I shall go alone."
She walked outside, and Bai Xiao ran after her, saying.
"My wife, will you truly enter the forest at this hour?"
"I am not as timid as you. Now that no one is around, do not call me 'wife' anymore."
Bai Xiao fell silent, saying nothing further.
She took out a piece of paper, a needle, and an empty box. She took out an ink-stained brush and made a few strokes on both the paper and the shirt.
Bai Xiao stood beside her, asking curiously, "Princess, what are you doing?"
"You will know in a moment."
Then she took out a flint and steel, and burned the paper along with the shirt. She sat down, picked up a twig, and poked at the shirt to help it burn more easily. Bai Xiao also sat down beside her, saying.
"Princess, will you tell me now?"
"I will tell you if you agree to follow me into the forest and do everything I instruct you to do there."
"I do not agree. That is truly unfair."
"Then so be it; I will not force you."
After both items had burned to ashes. She quickly went to scoop water from a nearby jar, then returned, sprinkled some ash onto the water's surface, and then dropped the needle in.
The needle turned black. Wan Ru's expression grew more serious. "Could it be..."
Bai Xiao wondered, "Is something wrong?"
Her face suddenly showed a trace of sadness and pity as she said.
"Bai Xiao, do you wish to go? I already know where the boy is. But if you wish to know, then when you follow me, you must adhere to the conditions I mentioned. I only do this so you can survive."
Bai Xiao remained silent, pondering for a moment, then said, "Very well."
She sighed, looking at the needle floating on the water. "This boy is dead," she said.