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“Has His Excellency accepted it?”
I slowed my pace, glancing impatiently behind me. “Mm.”
The word greed is truly undesirable; thinking it was silver, I foolishly accepted a silver-eater instead. What a pity.
“His Excellency truly has good fortune. That Yanqiu is famously charming. Since he debuted at twelve, he has been the darling of all the Longyang gentlemen in Yundu.” The voice was obsequious and slightly trembling.
“Oh?” I sneered, “No wonder that Lord Zhu would visit Xingyuan to admire the snow on such a cold day.”
The man who had been incessantly talking awkwardly laughed, his eyes darting nervously.
Was he afraid I would mention his illicit entry into the rear chambers on the day of the Third Prince's wedding?
“Hmph!” I flicked my sleeve and strode forward.
“If this subordinate remembers correctly, that young man entered the Marquis's residence last year.” Breaking the silence was another official from the Ministry of Rites, also a henchman of the Third Prince. “Considering Yanqiu’s outstanding looks, his peculiar temperament didn’t win the Prince’s favor, and he was severely bullied by Midong, who entered the residence at the same time.”
I raised an eyebrow, not expecting the officials of the Ministry of Rites to be so well-informed.
“M... Master, this subordinate did not mean that. The Prince was still very... very...” He seemed to have misunderstood, blushing and hurriedly explaining, “Yes, very compassionate towards Yanqiu. It’s all because of Midong’s deep scheming that stole Yanqiu’s limelight.”
“Yes, yes, the Prince bestowing his favored one upon you, Master, shows how much he values you.”
What kind of value was that?
“Currently, the Minister of Revenue has been dismissed and investigated. Among the two halls and four vice ministers, you are the only one favored by the King. The position left vacant by Minister Nian is undoubtedly yours!”
The subordinates surrounding me beamed with flattery. No wonder they unusually accompanied me after work today; they were here to fish for information.
I clasped my hands and said, “This official is not yet twenty, and fears he cannot shoulder such a great responsibility. This is exaggerated praise from several officials.”
“Minister Feng is too modest. Everyone knows that besides a few first-rank ministers, the King most favors Secretary Yu and you. Being summoned into Fengtian Gate three days in a row, such favor has never been seen since this subordinate entered the court.” One of the clerks from the Ministry of Rites followed leisurely beside me, occasionally casting strange glances. “Even the Left Chancellor said that the position of Minister of Revenue is almost guaranteed for you.”
The Left Chancellor, eh? Afraid I might take over his territory?
“Hehehehe.” I chuckled softly.
Only then did those few people seem rooted to the spot, their expressions dazed.
“The officials have thought too much. Since Western merchants entered our borders, the King has become interested in foreign objects. These past few days, he has merely summoned me to explain things in detail within the palace, nothing more.” I adjusted the fish knot on my chest disturbed by the wind and moved forward again.
The reform of the spring examination is of great importance. The King places significant emphasis on the national test in March, as evidenced by his frequent summonses recently. Once the new system is announced, these people will surely be greatly surprised.
Thinking thus, I hastened my steps towards the Meridian Gate.
The biting northern wind made my sleeves flutter. I frowned slightly at my empty left wrist—where could that string of sandalwood prayer beads have gone?
...
The last time I saw them was probably when I bathed the day before yesterday. I took them off and never put them back on. I must look for them carefully when I return. After all, without these prayer beads given by Master Wulei, I wouldn't have had this master-disciple relationship with my teacher.
Just as I was pondering, I felt the sedan chair come to a steady stop.
“A Lu, what's going on?” By my calculations, we should not have reached home yet.
A shadow stirred outside the curtain, and a gentle male voice sounded: “Master, the road is blocked.”
I lifted the curtain and sure enough, ahead there was a throng of people, vehicles unable to move.
“This doesn't seem to be the usual route,” I casually remarked.
“Yes.” A Lu moved backward, revealing the entire scene before me. “Today, a family on Jinxiu Street is holding a funeral. I feared Master might catch ill luck, so I ordered a detour.”
“Oh...” I responded, about to let the curtain fall, when suddenly a cry came from ahead.
“Miss! Miss! You barbarian, quickly put down Miss Lixue!”
Upon hearing this, I kicked open the curtain and rushed out.
“Quickly go back and call for help!”
Sure enough, it was my elder sister. I leapt up to see a burly man carrying a frail figure, pushing through the crowd towards a large mansion.
I bent down, struck my elbow, and seized the person—all in one fluid motion.
“Lady…” My sister clutched my sleeve tightly, her hair disheveled, her body trembling slightly.
I gripped her soft hand firmly, glaring at the intruder.
The man before me had honey-colored skin, handsome features, and a messy long braid that made him appear wild and unrestrained.
“Hmph, quite bold to dare snatch someone on the street.” I stared unblinkingly at him, not hiding my coldness. “Where are the patrolling guards?”
“In… in…” A blue-clad warrior pushed through the crowd and approached, “E... Ex... Excellency.” His squinting eyes fixed on my official robe, his mouth opening and closing but unable to produce sound.
“What? Did you discover something?” I looked at the fawning guard, ready to bow, and scolded, “Within your jurisdiction, someone dared to abduct a woman on the street. As a guard, you cowered behind the commoners—what audacity!”
He dared not raise his head: “E... Ex... Excellency...”
“What exclamation! Arrest this person immediately!” I glared fiercely at the villain, roaring.
Instead of fleeing, the man stood still, his fervent gaze bypassing my shoulder, directly looking behind me.
“What are you still standing there for!” Growing more irritated, I shouted, “Do I need to fetch the Left Censor from the Censorate?!”
“E... E... Ex...”
Before he could finish stuttering, a deep male voice sounded from across: “I want her.”
My fists clenched tighter, suppressing the urge to punch him: “Your tone is quite presumptuous.”
He ignored me, showing an arrogant smile: “Lixue, come with me.”
Lixue? I turned to look at my pale-faced sister.
“It's an old acquaintance...” She whispered in my ear, “Many years unseen, and today he suddenly acted like that upon meeting her.”
I stared intently, seeing his eyes darken with ill intent, gazing fixedly at our intertwined hands.
It seems this is no ordinary acquaintance. Does he view Sister as a commodity, a courtesan of Zhangtai? I sneered, hiding Sister behind me, shielding her from his overly fervid gaze.
More and more people gathered around. The guard stood woodenly to one side, appearing merely as an ornament.
“Move aside!” The tanned man bared his teeth, laughing wickedly.
“And if I refuse?” I countered with a cold smile.
He cracked his knuckles, making popping sounds, his towering figure menacingly approaching, blocking the winter sun overhead.
“Don't act rashly!” My sister cried out in alarm.
I pushed her back as she tried to step forward, swiftly darting behind the man, whispering, “If you want to fight, choose your opponent wisely.”
He suddenly turned, a fierce punch sweeping towards me. I lightly stepped back, easily dodging the blow.
“Be careful, Master!”
Sister's concerned reminder ignited anger in his eyes. Like a fierce tiger, he charged forward, overwhelming with momentum. I bent low, the punch narrowly missing my fluttering hair. Such a simple yet effective move—I silently marveled, spinning and kicking to deflect his next direct attack. Taking advantage of his pause, I feigned an advance, swiftly enveloping his front like floating willow catkins. His clear black-and-white pupils trembled sharply. Reflecting in his shimmering eyes, I clearly saw my reflection. My wide robe billowed as if to block the sky, the red tassel on my headdress danced like flowing clouds. I smiled, meeting him head-on.
Using his own tactics against him, I formed my fingers into a fist and struck unhesitatingly at his fluctuating gaze.
“Master!” The guard called smoothly, no longer stuttering like before.
I lightly tapped my toes, slowly drifting backward. The man covered half his face, his spared right eye glaring fiercely.
“Such remarkable skill!”
“Is that Minister Feng?”
“The King letting such a person devote themselves to the country is truly a pity.”
Gasps erupted around, rumors swirling like the wind, crowding into my ears.
“Master.” The guard's trembling voice cut through the clamor, squeezing and finally slipping into my ear, “Spare him where possible. That's enough.”
I slowly turned my gaze, watching him tremble more noticeably.
“You... you... you don't know...” He leaned closer, whispering, “That sir is someone we cannot afford to offend.”
“Oh?” I brushed my sleeve, glancing askance at the man, “Which noble family's relative?”
Second-generation heir? Doesn't look like it.
“He's Lei Lifen, the pirate leader captured by the Twelfth Prince, the Southern Sea Overlord!”
So he's Lei Lifen! No wonder his steps were so steady earlier; he's accustomed to the swaying of the sea.
“Orders came from above saying the King highly values this person. Even if he acts recklessly, it's not the Censorate's place to intervene. Look, those, those, and those are all palace hidden guards tasked with watching him.”
Following his direction, I indeed noticed many martial artists among the crowd.
“Even they haven't made a move. How dare I act rashly?” The guard's tone was helpless.
I looked at the imposing tall man ten paces away, silently contemplating.
The Twelfth Prince's eastern expedition to suppress the pirates was fraught with twists and turns. If it weren't for Yun using a stratagem to sow discord, perhaps the King's tens of thousands of naval troops would now be buried in the bellies of fish. Only later did we hear that Lei Lifen had traversed the Western Seas, equipping his ships with powerful cannons and iron-plated hulls, creating invincible Southern Sea pirate ships. Such expertise in firearms and adeptness at organizing naval forces—how could the King let him go?
The man closed his left eye and suddenly smiled, “That punch earlier was impressive.”
I stood still, slightly raising my chin: “Thank you for the compliment.”
“In five years, you're the first to land a close hit on me.” He walked closer step by step, like a leisurely tiger, unpredictable in its attack timing.
“That's truly an honor.” I smiled in response.
“I, Lei Lifen, want to befriend you. How about I treat you to dinner at that tavern over there?” He extended his arm, his movements unrestrained, his gaze still burning as he looked behind me.
“And then?” I blocked again, meeting his gaze.
“Ha.” He laughed brightly, like the summer sun, “Not to hide anything from you, brother. The woman behind you is the girl I set my sights on when I was ten.”
Ten years old? What kind of connection was this? I turned to look behind me, unable to conceal my astonishment.
“At that time, she agreed too. For life, she belongs to the Lei family.”
“Really?” I asked my sister in a low voice.
“No...” She glanced ahead, biting her lip with a blush, “We were just playing as kids. I didn’t think he took it seriously.”
“Playing?!” The man's voice grew coarse, “Lixue, even if I, Lei Lifen, am despicable, I would never joke about such matters!”
My sister's brows furrowed slightly, lowering her head without a word.
“Tsk tsk, this is quite the spectacle. So Minister Feng likes a woman who is already another man's wife.”
“Mianshou Marquis’s blow has scattered a pair of wild mandarin ducks!”
“Who is this courtesan from the pleasure quarters? To provoke two prominent figures to fight over her in public?”
Whispers swirled around my ears. Unable to linger further, I decisively replied, “To befriend a hero like Brother Lei, little brother feels honored. However, Miss Lixue is an official courtesan of the Cloud Pavilion. Any matters you should discuss with the madam, not cause trouble here. After all, this is a place governed by law.”
“Discuss? With those guards around, do I need to discuss?” His tiger-like eyes swept around, looking everywhere. “Lixue, come with me. Don’t ever return to that place.” As he spoke, he reached out his right hand, ready to grab Sister's slender wrist.
“Brother Lei.” I used a snake-like move to halt his form, then leaned to whisper in his ear, “You really cherish Lixue?”
“Truly.” He answered straightforwardly.
As the sun set and painted the sky in hues of orange and pink, I walked slowly under the fading light. The gentle footfalls behind me were obedient, yet my doubts thickened like the evening mist rising in the courtyard.
This child had not once glanced at the prayer beads on my wrist since the beginning. If he wasn't truly innocent, then he was a master of deep intrigue.
Could he be another Sparrow? I hoped not, sincerely hoped not.
I sighed softly, gazing up at the leisurely drifting clouds.
Flowing gently...
Faint as autumn water, dense as smoke, majestic as distant mountains, pure as a spring.
Do not envy the moon for the wind's sake; instead, admire it together with the stars.
The courtyard was silent, save for the rustling leaves and distant bird calls. My mind raced through possibilities, each thought more troubling than the last. Was this child truly an innocent brought into the dangerous world of court politics, or a cunning player hiding behind a mask of naivety?
The setting sun cast long shadows across the ground, intertwining with our footsteps. I paused momentarily, considering the enigma that was Yanqiu. His quiet demeanor, his scholarly interests, and those insightful annotations—everything pointed to someone extraordinary. Yet, there was an underlying sadness, a shadow that lingered in his eyes despite his composed exterior.
“Master,” Yanqiu's soft voice broke my reverie, “shall we return?”
I turned, meeting his gaze. There was something different today—a flicker of hope, perhaps, or newfound determination. It was subtle but unmistakable.
“Yes, let's go back,” I replied, gesturing towards the house.
As we walked side by side, I couldn't help but muse over the strange events of the day. The encounter with Lei Lifen, the revelation about Sister's past, and now this mysterious young man who seemed to carry secrets heavier than his frail frame should bear.
Back inside, I settled into my study, watching as Yanqiu meticulously arranged the books and tidied the desk. His movements were graceful, almost ritualistic, as if each task carried profound significance.
“Yanqiu,” I called softly, observing his reaction.
He turned, his expression calm yet attentive. “Yes, Master?”
“Do you have any questions? Anything you wish to know?” I probed gently.
He hesitated briefly before shaking his head. “No, Master. I am content.”
Content. Such a simple word, yet it resonated deeply. Was he truly content, or merely resigned to his fate? Only time would tell.
As night fell and the household grew quiet, I sat alone in the dim candlelight, fingering the prayer beads thoughtfully. Who had orchestrated today's events? Was the mole within my residence truly who I suspected?
These questions swirled in my mind, unanswered and unsettling. But amidst the uncertainty, one thing was clear: life in the capital was never as serene as it appeared. Beneath the surface of civility and protocol lay currents of ambition, betrayal, and hidden agendas.
And somewhere in this intricate web, Yanqiu stood—a fragile thread that might unravel everything or weave a new pattern altogether.
For now, all I could do was watch, wait, and prepare for whatever storms might come. After all, in this game of power and politics, the most dangerous enemies were often those who appeared the most harmless.
As I extinguished the candle and retired for the night, the words echoed in my mind:
“Do not envy the moon for the wind's sake; instead, admire it together with the stars.”
Perhaps there was wisdom in those words—not just for tonight, but for navigating the complex dance of alliances and rivalries that defined our world.
Only time would reveal the truth about Yanqiu, about the mysterious events of today, and about the unseen forces manipulating from the shadows. Until then, I would remain vigilant, keeping my friends close and my prayer beads closer.
The night deepened, wrapping the mansion in silence and darkness. Somewhere in the distance, a lone bird called—a solitary note that hung in the air before fading away, much like the unanswered questions that lingered in my thoughts.
Tomorrow would bring new challenges, new revelations. But for now, peace reigned—fragile and fleeting as the twilight that had just passed.
Do not envy the moon for the wind's sake; instead, admire it together with the stars.
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