When Feng Cheng and Chu Xiyue found Chu Changge, he was still in the pavilion, sitting by himself and looking like a husband full of resentment.
"Where's Murong?" Chu Xiyue asked as she looked left and right.
"She's gone away." Chu Changge's expression was like he had lost his soul and dropped his spirit.
Chu Xiyue looked surprised, "Where did she go?" This was her home.
Chu Changge replied, "Her study."
"..." Chu Xiyue's face was full of black lines. She then gave him a huge roll of her eyes and said, "She just went to her study!" She thought Murong Yunshu had run away from home. It really scared her to death!
"If she's not around, it is the same as if she has gone away." Chu Changge responded sullenly.
Chu Xiyue blinked, "Ah Chang, did you two have a fight?"
"No."
"Then, why do you look so depressed?"
"She..." Chu Changge paused and gnashed his teeth. "She had gone away with that Nie Qing!"
Gone away...as if his wife had gone away with another guy. Chu Xiyue rolled her eyes again. She found that this brother, connected to her by blood and soul since childhood, was getting even weirder. He had been inexplicably happy one second, then became inexplicably gloomy and even moodier than their mother.
The more Chu Changge thought about it, the angrier he got. It wasn't easy for him to spend time alone with his beloved. He couldn't believe that there was an inconsiderate guy who would come and ruin their atmosphere. As soon as that person came and destroyed their atmosphere, she would go as far as to abandon him, just to count a few taels of silver...
"Where did Feng Ling go?" Chu Changge asked Feng Cheng with a gloomy expression.
Feng Cheng looked like he couldn't make head or tail of his question, "Why are you asking after her?"
Chu Changge complained, "After all, Nie Qing was here because of Feng Ling. If she hadn't tied Nie Qing up to the mountain, Yunshu wouldn't have known him, let alone work with him."
Feng Cheng knew very well that when the certain Chu wanted to take his anger out on someone, any resistance would be useless, so he indifferently said, "Actually, it's still my parents' fault in the end. If they hadn't given birth to Feng Ling, nothing like this would have happened. So, go ahead and blame them. They didn't go anywhere else either. They're right under your feet. You can just go down there and settle the score with them once you take a sword and slit your own throat." [T/C]
Hearing this, Chu Changge's mouth twitched. Then he moved his gaze to Feng Cheng's head and commented, "I remember you used to be a real man." For such a grown man to tie a red headband on his head...
The statue of Shen Wansan with his treasure bowl at his grave.
For the folklore regarding him and his treasure bowl, you can read it here.
Image Credit | Chinadaily (Former Residence of Shen Wansan, Feb 20th, 2010)
For the folklore regarding him and his treasure bowl, you can read it here.
Image Credit | Chinadaily (Former Residence of Shen Wansan, Feb 20th, 2010)
Chu Changge took his words with a grain of salt. Was there such a custom? Then, why didn't he receive any red headband? He was genuinely brokenhearted… [T/C]
Chu Xiyue, on the other hand, wailed, stamped her foot and questioned him irritatedly, "If you know this custom, why did you accept it so reluctantly just now?"
Feng Cheng was dumbfounded. He unexpectedly――managed to fool both of them! Why didn't he have such good luck when he was gambling… [T/C]
As soon as Chu Changge looked at Feng Cheng's expression, he knew that Feng Cheng didn't actually know the custom at all, and what he said just now was complete nonsense. Chu Changge burst into loud laughter. The sky that had turned hazy since Murong Yunshu and Nie Qing left finally cleared up.
Feng Cheng truly wanted to send a bottle of poison mixture to a specific person as a token of appreciation when the New Year came.
When Chu Xiyue saw that Feng Cheng did not say anything, she glared at him in exasperation and turned to run away.
"Xie-er is angry." Chu Changge brought up with a smile.
Feng Cheng said with a look of innocence cum helplessness, "I know." Raising his eyes to look at Chu Xiyue's departing backside, he added, "We met an assassin on the street."
Chu Changge was startled when he heard Feng Cheng's words. Only then did he notice that Feng Cheng was injured. "Coming for Xi-er?"
Feng Cheng shook his head. "It looked like on the surface."
Chu Changge understood that when an assassin appeared at such a time, it was obviously aimed at him or Yunshu.
Chu Changge's dark eyes sank slightly. He immediately ordered South, East, North and West to investigate the matter thoroughly. Whoever the other party's real target was, he would not leave the issue at that.
*
Meanwhile, inside Yun Lai Inn, the largest inn in Jinling City, in the top number one room, a man stood in front of the window with his back to the door and asked, "Have you tested his skill yet?"
The skinny man who knelt behind him answered, "I have tested his skill. Chu Changge's martial arts are not as magical as the rumours say." [T/N]
"How can you be so sure?"
"I stabbed him in the shoulder with just one move. Although it is not fatal, it is still disappointing that he can be stabbed by me."
The man standing at the window was silent at his words as if he was thinking about something before he spoke again, "Are you sure you didn't get the wrong person?"
"There's no mistaking it. I saw him come out of Murong Mansion with a stunning woman with my own eyes, and the concierge of Murong Mansion treated that woman with respect. She must be Murong Yunshu. The person walking beside Murong Yunshu, who else could it be but Chu Changge?"
"Perhaps, he was just a bodyguard."
"Impossible. They behaved intimately. Surely he was not a bodyguard." The skinny man added, "The whole world knows that Murong Yunshu is Chu Changge's woman. If that man was not Chu Changge, how could Murong Yunshu be openly giggling with him?" [T/C]
"But rumour has it that Chu Changge's martial art is so profound that even the Eighteen Arhats of Shaolin Temple can't wipe him out..."
"It's just rumoured. In this subordinate's opinion, it is nothing more than him buying his reputation and fishing for praise. Except for the fact that he is extraordinarily handsome, most of the rumours about him are not true."
The man by the window pondered for a long time again before he said, "I got it. You withdraw first."
"Yes."
After the skinny man went out, the man by the window slowly turned around. He had a pair of thick eyebrows slanted on both sides and a pair of dark eyes as deep as the sea. It was a handsome face with a rich silhouette resembling Chu Changge.
*
In the other room, Murong Yunshu was verifying account records with Nie Qing when Fairy Yaoyue suddenly barged in and pointed at Nie Qing's nose as she scolded, "Men and women should not touch hands when they give or receive things. You are not allowed to get that close to her!"
Murong Yunshu and Nie Qing were dumbfounded at that moment. A few days ago, Nie Qing was ordered by the Emperor to go to Liang Wang's Residence to stop the marriage between King Liang Jr and Murong Yunshu. When he heard halfway that the bride had been kidnapped, he immediately returned home and had just arrived in Jinling today. Thus, he did not know who this inexplicable person in front of him was. He only thought she was a crazy woman from the outside, and he was baffled by the situation.
Murong Yunshu, on the other hand, was flabbergasted for a long time. Then she frowned and asked, "Have you not seen the sign outside the door?"
Fairy Yaoyue blinked, "What sign?" With this, she withdrew from the room to take a look. As expected, she discovered a square wooden sign of just the right size hanging on the door, which read――' This study is an important place. Unimportant people are not allowed to enter'.
Murong Yunshu really thought her to be the same as those unimportant people?! Fairy Yaoyue unhappily said, "If you two are alone, you will be gossiped about."
Murong Yunshu knew that Fairy Yaoyue had deliberately come to pick a fight with her, so she smiled faintly and responded, "Is there still little gossip about me? Let him (her) talk about it. To become a talking point for others over a cup of tea or after a meal is a merit that will benefit me in every way."
"You don't care, but my son cares!" Fairy Yaoyue pointed out.
Murong Yunshu smiled, "Right now, I am his elder. As it will rain when Heaven deems fit, and mother will remarry when she wants to, he has no right to interfere in my business."
Fairy Yaoyue suddenly felt like she had spun a cocoon around herself. She really shouldn't let Murong Yunshu call her sister...
"If there is nothing else, please return." Murong Yunshu added, "A place like a study is not for just anyone to come as they please."
Fairy Yaoyue's beautiful eyes glared at Murong Yunshu as she stated, "I'm your future mother-in-law!"
Still smiling, Murong Yunshu lightly said, "You, yourself, said you are my 'future' mother-in-law." She deliberately emphasized the word 'future'. The threat was self-evident――if you continue to be unreasonable, our relationship as mother-in-law and daughter-in-law will come to a premature end.
How could Fairy Yaoyue not hear what Murong Yunshu was saying? The more she thought about it, the angrier she became. Finally, unable to contain her anger, she shouted, "It's all Ah Chang's fault. He already suffers in the hands of his wife even before she officially goes through the door. This has caused me, his old mother, to suffer along with him!"
"He's at the pavilion. You go out first, then turn left. Go all the way north, and you can see him within a hundred metres." Murong Yunshu was keen to provide her directions to his son.
Were all girls nowadays this 'sensible'? After looking at Murong Yunshu for a long time, she couldn't find any clues. So she finally swung her arms as she said with a waning enthusiasm, "Why don't you have any temper at all? Boring, really boring!" She mumbled as she walked out; the next time I come to pick a fight, I'll make sure I've prepared well...
Fairy Yaoyue shook her head in frustration as she walked away. She had lost twice in a row. Could it be that she was really going to ruin her own integrity in her later years? With her ability to move unhindered in the jianghu for twenty years, she wouldn't have any trouble deliberately making life difficult for the person she had problems with. She had never thought that one day, she would lose to a young miss...
Murong Yunshu smiled as she watched Fairy Yaoyue walk away before withdrawing her eyes and resuming their talk on business, "This month's income..."
Nie Qing originally wanted to ask who that crazy woman was, but when he saw Murong Yunshu had returned to her businesslike expression, he put his doubts aside. He wasn't here to talk nonsense with her anyway.
*
Time passed quickly, and in a blink of an eye, it was already a new year, and the Lantern Festival had arrived.
Every year on the night of the Lantern Festival, the official government of Jinling City would send people on boats to set off fireworks on the river, and there would be colourful dances and lanterns on the streets. In the past, Murong Yunshu had never been interested in celebrating it outside. She preferred to listen to the sound of mosquitoes and insects at home rather than going out to join in the fun. This year, however, she changed her regular routine and proposed to go for a stroll on the street. This took everyone by surprise, but everyone soon figured it out――there was an extra person with her.
Since South, East, North and West had not yet found out the assassin who tried to kill Chu Xiyue last time, Chu Changge was being extra careful when he went out this time. He ignored the envy, jealousy, ambiguity and criticism around him as he held Murong Yunshu's hand and refused to let go even for a moment.
When the group left the house, they were like a huge family, but as they walked, they slowly scattered into two or three groups. Only the four people, South, East, North and West, were always following behind Chu Changge and Murong Yunshu.
It was the first time Murong Yunshu had gone out to see lanterns since she lost her mother at eight. This time, she was together with her beloved one, so she was in an indescribably joyful mood. "Let's go and guess the lantern riddle." She said as she pointed ahead.
"Okay." Chu Changge smiled and walked over with her.
Just after they took a few steps forward, a scholar in a dire state suddenly stopped them on their way there and stated, "This scholar's name is Zheng Qien, from Xiazhou, Yunan. I have come to the capital for the Imperial Examination and passed through here. Unexpectedly, my belongings have been stolen, and thus, I have fallen into this dire state. As I looked at these two persons with kind eyebrows and pleasant eyes, these two persons definitely have good hearts too. I wonder if it would be convenient to donate some extra silver taels to this student?"
Kind eyebrows and pleasant eyes...good heart...
East, South, West and North looked at the scholar with their face full of contempt. This man was either blind, or he was telling a bare-faced lie.
Chu Changge was in a good mood and didn't want to care whether this person was really in misfortune or was only faking it. Hence he directly ordered the East Guardian to give the man a bit of silver, but he then heard Murong Yunshu say, "You came from Xiazhou, and you were safe and sound for thousands of miles. However, unexpectedly when you are in Jinling City, you have been robbed of your belongings. Are you suggesting that we, the people of Jinling City, are not righteous?"
The scholar, who obviously was not expecting her to ask this question, froze.
Chu Changge was dumbfounded and later laughed. Murong Yunshu was indeed a person who always said tremendous things.
Seeing that the scholar did not seem to have ulterior motives, she was about to give him some silver when she suddenly had a flash of inspiration and asked, "What is the Doctrine of the Mean?"
As soon as the scholar came to his senses, he was stunned again by her question.
Murong Yunshu thought this question might be a bit deep for a bookworm, so she switched to a more bookworm type of question, "What are the Four Books and Five Classics?"
By this time, the scholar had utterly come back to his senses. He glanced at Murong Yunshu like she was a monster, and then――he calmly walked away as if nothing had happened just now.
Chu Changge and the four people from South, East, North and West were stunned. She...she was absolutely amazing!
Murong Yunshu raised her eyebrows and asked, "Do you still want to guess lantern riddles?"
"Of course, we will go, guess." Chu Changge grinned as he walked. It must have been the scholar impersonator's eight generations of bad luck to run into her. [+]
South, East, North and West were holding back their laughter until their faces cramped. As it turned out, they were not the only lone army putting up a brave fight against her. There were still many more unlucky people in this world...
*
After experiencing the 'Four Books and Five Classics' incident, Chu Changge's mood relaxed a lot. He gradually entered the play state from his combat readiness state.
The two were excitedly guessing a lantern riddle when suddenly, the crowd in front of them stirred, followed by steep chaos as everyone started screaming and running around disorderly.
Chu Changge's first reaction was to shield Murong Yunshu behind him, while South, East, North and West immediately surrounded Chu Changge and Murong Yunshu on all sides, with their weapons out and ready to strike.
By this time, the crowd before them had spread out on either flank, opening up a road in the middle. At the end of the road, eighteen men on eighteen steeds were approaching them, step by step, in an overwhelming manner.
The corner of Chu Changge's mouth twitched slightly. He thought he was already arrogant enough, but he didn't expect someone to be more arrogant than him. Arrogant people would not live long without good luck. And these people, since they had blocked his way, it was apparent――that it was the end of their good luck.
Noob Translator's Musing
After the skinny man went out, the man by the window slowly turned around. He had a pair of thick eyebrows which slanted on both sides, and a pair of dark eyes as deep as the sea. It was a handsome face with a rich silhouette that rather resemble Chu Changge.
Hmm...I don't remember if this person is related to Chu Changge. I haven't finished reading the raw yet. And from the latest chapter I read, this person's relationship with Chu Changge has not yet been revealed. (-᷅_-᷄๑)
UPDATE 21.09.2021: I've updated Bewitching Fairy Yue to Fairy Yaoyue. Sorry 🙇♀️
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Black Belly Wife