殺子報

A learned scholar named Qian Zhenglin drifts along the milky‑colored Yangtze, his mind half‑occupied with the exam he hopes to conquer. He pauses at the riverside town of Ganquan to reunite with his old friend Chu Guangbo, and together they wander through the quiet halls of Ganlu Temple and the solemn shrine of Yu Ji. Their conversations drift from heroic poetry to the fleeting nature of fame, while the gentle rustle of bamboo and the scent of incense lend the day a meditative calm.

Meanwhile, merchant Wang Shicheng, whose family fortunes have swelled through grain trade, teams up with the restless scholar‑merchant Shi Lanqing in search of diversion. The pair secure a lavish river boat, its opulent interior promising wine, games and the company of beautiful courtesans. As they settle into this floating pleasure palace, a subtle tension builds—will their indulgence lead to easy profit, or will hidden dangers loom beneath the glittering surface?