Summary

Chapter Three begins two years later in 1347 as Zhu and Xu Da work and talk about desire. Zhu feels some resentment toward those whose suffering will lead to something good while she is fighting to live. They see the Prince of Henan’s soldiers and Xu Da points out the Prince’s son, Lord Esen and Lord Wang. Zhu imagines the term greatness when looking at him before realizing that there is a third man who she initially thinks is a woman. When the Abbot demands that the third boy stays out of the monastery, Xu Da explains that the boy is likely a eunuch who was castrated; a fate usually seen as shameful punishment. Zhu is bothered by the ghosts that surround the boy as she never sees them during the daytime.

In 1352, 21-year-old Xu Da is fully ordained and helps...