Do Not Disturb the Salted Fish’s Peaceful Dream

Nan Yang is the second daughter of a prominent noble family in the capital, born to a concubine named Lady Zhou. Her father, a rising official, initially favored her mother, but Lady Zhou’s pride and eventual descent into madness led to her removal from power. Nan Yang was subsequently relegated to a secluded courtyard, treated as background furniture in her own home. When she turned fifteen, the main wife orchestrated a humiliating hair-pinning ceremony in a rural town called Ping An, intending to ruin Nan Yang’s prospects. Stripped of her status and supplies, Nan Yang was left to survive with her wet nurse, Xin Ao, in a decaying estate where food and clothing were increasingly withheld.

Life in Ping An Town is harsh. The Wei family’s managers send moldy grain and coarse linen, leaving Nan Yang and her nurse on the brink of starvation. Nan Yang maintains a pragmatic, detached demeanor, accepting her plight without complaint. To survive, she ventures out to gather lotus roots and sell them in the market. During one such trip, she discovers a dead horse and a seemingly dead man in black robes by the river. The man, Xiao Chengyan, is actually the Marquis of Huaiyang, a feared noble known for ruthlessly suppressing a southern rebellion. He had survived a fall from a cliff after being ambushed by rebels disguised as bandits. Nan Yang, unaware of his true identity, drags him to shore, leaves him with a lotus root for sustenance, and arranges for a local doctor to treat him.

Unbeknownst to Nan Yang, Xiao Chengyan recognizes her as the woman who saved him. He is recovering from severe injuries, including temporary blindness and a mangled hand, while plotting to root out the conspirators behind the ambush. The town is under martial law, with soldiers searching every household. Nan Yang’s neighbor is raided, and their son is found hiding in a rice jar. The Marquis’s forces are brutal, executing those suspected of harboring rebels. Nan Yang narrowly avoids detection when she is seen stuck in a broken gate, an encounter that catches Xiao Chengyan’s attention from his carriage.

The Marquis hosts a bloody banquet by the river to intimidate local officials, forcing them to watch as he executes suspects by throwing them from a cliff. He reveals his true identity as Xiao Chengyan and orders a search for the young woman who saved him, specifying an age range of fifteen to twenty-five. Rumors spread that he is a cannibal who eats children and young women, causing panic in Ping An Town. Nan Yang remains indifferent to the chaos, focused only on her survival. However, the sealing of the town and the Marquis’s search create a direct threat to her safety.

As the search intensifies, General Di and Mr. Ming, Xiao Chengyan’s advisors, go door to door asking for information. They describe the woman vaguely, leading to confusion and anger among the townspeople. Nan Yang watches from her gate as the soldiers move through the town. The situation escalates when the Marquis’s forces begin rounding up young women for inspection. Nan Yang’s only ally is her nurse, who is terrified by the unfolding events. The story follows Nan Yang as she navigates the dangerous political landscape, unaware that the powerful Marquis she saved is now actively seeking her out, while she remains trapped in a town controlled by a ruthless noble.