Dawn had only just broken. The air still carried the faint chill of the previous night, and the street outside Xu Manor was damp, the grey flagstones clear and gleaming with dew.
A vegetable farmer carrying fresh produce passed by. Seeing a crowd gathered outside Xu Manor, he went over to watch the commotion.
“What’s going on? Who are these three, and why are they hanging outside Silver Gong Xu’s residence?”
The farmer often sold vegetables in this area, and he was startled.
“Didn’t you see? The one on the right has it written clear as day, Holy Son Li Lingsu of the Heaven Sect.”
“A heartless man, probably abandoned someone after having his fun, and got punished by Silver Gong Xu.”
“And who are the other two? Unworthy disciple? I’ve never heard that Silver Gong Xu had disciples.”
“Doesn’t matter whether he has disciples or not. Can’t you see it says ‘unworthy disciple’?”
Hearing the endless chatter not far away, Miao Youfang said angrily,
“Why do I have to be hung up together with you two scum?”
All three of them had their meridians and primordial spirits sealed, and had also been poisoned with something that left their whole bodies weak and limp. They could only hang there like this and suffer utter humiliation.
Li Lingsu sighed.
“Be content. One of you has your face hidden, the other doesn’t have his name written down. That bastard surnamed Xu has at least left you two some dignity.
“Ah, just as I hate that bastard, that bastard hates me too. Like repels like, that’s absolutely true. Eh, Brother Yang, why aren’t you saying anything?”
Yang Qianhuan did not respond.
Brother Yang cares most about face, he can’t bear this blow… Li Lingsu thought.
Just then, one of the commoners pointed at Yang Qianhuan and said,
“This fellow’s wearing a hood. Judging by his clothes, he’s an Arcanist from the Sitianjian. No idea what he’s called.”
Someone beside him said,
“Knock his hood off and have a look.”
“N—no—don’t do that…” Yang Qianhuan, who had been silent all this time, suddenly raised his voice.
Then, after a brief pause, he said in a deep voice,
“Plucking the stars with moon in hand, walking I change not my name and seated I change not my clan, I am Sun Xuanji of the Sitianjian!”
Sun Xuanji? The Great Feng’s greatest loser… the onlooking townsfolk silently committed the name to memory.
…
Xu Manor, inner hall.
Auntie got up at dawn, and with Lyu’e attending her, she washed, dressed, and put herself in order before going to the inner hall for breakfast.
As she walked through the corridors, the sound of wood being hammered came faintly from afar. The early-rising servants were doing repairs. The Xu residence had been expanded, and after buying several neighbouring houses, its grounds were now comparable to the mansions of princes and nobles.
On both sides of the corridor were carefully laid flowerbeds.
When she entered the inner hall and swept her eyes over it, she saw only Lina and Lingyin seated beside the round table, fully absorbed in dealing with a mountain of steamed buns, fried dough sticks, meat buns, and a large bucket of soya milk.
Their appetites have increased again. The two of them are eating enough for twenty people… Even though the Xu family was already enormously wealthy, Auntie had long been used to running the household frugally, and at the sight of this, her heart still ached unbearably.
Second Uncle Xu had duties to attend to and had gone out long ago.
After Auntie sat down and drank a few mouthfuls of soya milk, she asked,
“Why haven’t Lingyue and big sister come yet? Lyu’e, go and have a look.”
As for that newlywed couple, she had never expected the princess to come and serve tea, because there was no such rule.
Although, because of her standing as Xu Qi’an’s aunt, the princess did not have all that many privileges in the Xu family, a princess was still a princess. When it came to managing the household, Auntie had always believed in governing by non-action.
Thinking of this, she could not help recalling the thoughts Wang Simu had had read out by that monkey yesterday.
That future daughter-in-law had actually criticised her so viciously behind her back.
Auntie had been so angry last night that she had slept only half the night.
Lyu’e turned and left. A moment later, she returned in small quick steps and said,
“The eldest young lady said she wasn’t feeling well and won’t be coming out for breakfast. She instructed this servant to bring her meal to her room. Aunt Mu said the same.”
“If they’re not coming out, then they needn’t eat.” Auntie put down her chopsticks with a smack, drew in a breath, then picked them up again and said,
“Lyu’e, take it to them.”
Lingyue is so deep-minded, full of criticisms. Wang Simu thinks of me as such a terrible woman. And as for this sworn elder sister of mine, she really is thinking of Ningyan. Although there are many women thinking of him, and I’ve already grown used to it as his auntie, how old is elder sister already?
If she really got together with Ningyan, wouldn’t she have to call me Auntie as well? Absurd. Luckily she’s quite plain-looking, so Ningyan would definitely never fancy her.
However slow Auntie might be, she was not stupid in the end. With a headache, she pinched the space between her brows.
What kind of mess is all this!
…
The Nightwatchers Constabulary.
At the Tower of Noble Spirit, whose eaves curved sharply upwards and which had a watch platform on every level, two birds perched on the railing, chirping noisily. In their black eyes was reflected the steady figure in azure robes seated within.
He was leisurely drinking tea.
Tap, tap, tap… Amid the sound of footsteps climbing the stairs, Nangong Qianrou entered the tea room.
The two birds on the railing took fright and beat their wings into the azure sky, vanishing from sight.
“When you’re able to control your own baleful aura, third rank will be within reach.”
Wei Yuan turned over a teacup, poured some top-grade flower tea that Xu Ningyan had dutifully presented to him, and indicated for Nangong Qianrou to sit.
Nangong Qianrou had long since reached the peak of fourth rank, but entering the beyond-mortal realm still seemed infinitely distant.
“Father, I heard something just now.”
Nangong Qianrou took a sip of tea, and there was a rare trace of amusement between his brows.
“It’s to do with last night’s bridal chamber pranks. Foster father really is as foresighted as a god.”
As foresighted as a god? Wei Yuan looked at him, expression unchanged, his smile as gentle as ever.
Nangong Qianrou said in a low voice,
“After we left, that group rushed into the bridal chamber, intending to make a huge scene.”
Wei Yuan nodded.
“As expected. Yang Qianhuan and Li Lingsu do seem to bear Ningyan considerable ‘resentment’, but Xu Ningyan isn’t exactly easy to deal with either. However…”
However, his little tricks only worked on other people.
Xu Ningyan had been brought up by his own hand. He could see through the boy’s intentions as clearly as fire in a lantern, and there was no chance he would fall for such a scheme.
Wei Yuan did not say any of this aloud. He had always been a reserved wise man.
Nangong Qianrou raised his brows.
“Exactly.
“When they were causing trouble in the bridal chamber last night, Xu Ningyan brought in a monkey Yao. It’s said to have cultivated the Buddhist heart-reading technique to an extremely profound level. It can see through people’s hearts, and even beyond-mortal experts can’t escape it…”
Nangong Qianrou recounted in detail everything that had happened the previous night.
Wei Yuan wore a faint smile and remained outwardly calm, but the more he listened, the heavier his heart became.
When he had finished speaking, Nangong Qianrou was full of admiration.
“Father, you must have known long ago that Xu Ningyan had a backup plan, which is why you took us away from that place of trouble as soon as the banquet was over.”
It can see through people’s hearts, and even beyond-mortal experts can’t escape it… Wei Yuan felt a chill inwardly, though he kept smiling.
His calm manner only made Nangong Qianrou more certain of his guess.
“How did you hear about it?” Wei Yuan asked.
“Xu Qi’an’s two followers said it. By now it’s spread all over the constabulary,” Nangong Qianrou replied.
Wei Yuan gave an “Mm”.
“Go and attend to your duties.”
After Nangong Qianrou withdrew, Wei Yuan gently let out a breath, still shaken, and finished the flower tea in his cup. Then he heard the sound of footsteps again coming up from the stairs.
This time, the one who entered was a eunuch in python robes.
“This servant greets Duke Wei.”
After bowing, the eunuch said,
“His Majesty had two white apes captured in the Southern Garden this morning, and ordered this servant to inform Duke Wei to enter the palace at noon and partake of monkey brain.”
The Southern Garden was the imperial hunting ground.
To have angered Huaiqing to this extent… Wei Yuan slowly nodded.
“Very well.”
…
Sitianjian.
Protector Yuan lay by the window, watching the commoners passing below with vigilance.
“That person’s been wandering outside the Stargazing Tower for quite a while.”
Protector Yuan turned his head and looked at Sun Xuanji.
Then, as if answering his own question, he voiced Sun Xuanji’s thoughts.
“That’s a peddler. Of course he’s wandering about. Hungry.”
Protector Yuan nodded and continued his watchful observation of every movement outside.
A moment later, he turned to Sun Xuanji again.
“I always feel there are assassins lurking all around outside the Stargazing Tower, waiting to kill me.”
Sun Xuanji shook his head.
“With me and Xu Ningyan covering for you, no one will assassinate you.” Protector Yuan voiced Sun Xuanji’s inner thoughts, but that did not make him feel any safer.
“What if it’s Arcanists inside the Stargazing Tower?” Protector Yuan said.
He had offended Yang Qianhuan, the Jianzheng’s third disciple, and Song Qing, the fourth disciple.
“Stay in my room and don’t go out. Don’t eat anything the Arcanists in the tower give you.” After reading out the thought, Protector Yuan gave a slight nod. “Good. That’s safer.”
He peered out of the window for a while longer, then said uneasily,
“Really no one’s going to assassinate me?”
“They won’t!” Sun Xuanji expressed silently in his thoughts.
At that moment, there came a knock at the door, and Protector Yuan instantly grew alert, as if facing a great enemy.
Sun Xuanji flicked his sleeve and the door swung open.
The one knocking was Song Qing, holding a notice in his hand.
He gave Protector Yuan a pitying glance and said,
“Today someone has been posting notices all over the city, offering a reward for the ape Yao at Sun Xuanji’s side. One thousand taels for each limb, three thousand for the tongue, and ten thousand for the monkey brain.”
… Protector Yuan froze where he stood, like a paper monkey drained of life.
He stared blankly at Sun Xuanji, his thick lips trembling.
“I want to go back to the Southern Marches!”
…
At dawn, Yeji awoke and found herself sleeping in an unfamiliar room.
The first thing she did was check her dress. It was intact, but right afterwards she felt a hot pain in her backside, somewhat swollen too.
“Has mistress had her bottom smacked by Xu Lang?”
Yeji muttered inwardly. She was experienced, and knew that Xu Lang had not had sex with her last night.
Her Highness must have caused trouble last night while Silver Gong Xu was getting married. I’d better just forget about it… She turned over, adjusted herself into a comfortable sleeping position, and closed her eyes again.
…
Someone’s put a bounty on Protector Yuan’s dog life… no, monkey life?
After receiving Sun Xuanji’s paper crane message, Xu Qi’an’s first reaction was not anger, but—I’m taking the job!
The whole monkey is worth seventeen thousand taels. Do they really need to spend that much? Even I’m tempted.
He grumbled inwardly, then began analysing the “mastermind” behind the bounty notices.
The fact they could plaster bounty notices all over the city without a sound shows they have some influence. Judging by financial means, Huaiqing is highly likely. Then there’s my dear Xu Lingyue, who manages the Xu family’s accounts and is a proper little rich woman.
She was one of the people who died the worst social death last night. Of course, if the bounty notice is only meant to scare Protector Yuan in revenge, then most of the people who went to make racket in the bridal chamber last night are suspects. Protector Yuan’s offended too many people
Poor Protector Yuan.
Xu Qi’an put down the paper crane, turned his head to look at Lin’an sleeping deeply on the brocade couch, and shook his head.
Once Lin’an unlocks a few more positions, I can try teaching her the dual cultivation method.
Cultivation didn’t just prolong life, it also improved stamina.
Xu Qi’an threw on a robe and came to the outer room, where he saw two palace maids laying out breakfast. They had dark circles under their eyes and seemed not to have slept well last night.
When they saw Xu Qi’an come out, there was a hint of fear in their eyes.
Poor Her Highness… the palace maids muttered inwardly.
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