Chapter 5. I fear the Grand Tutor is frail and weak.

As for the jokes behind my back... well, I'm not really living my life that way anyway, so who cares if they're jokes or not.

Yan Dian's mountain of red dates was finally finished. They covered it with the double happiness symbol and pushed it forward until it was level with Ran Dian's mountain of peanuts. The two looked left and right, very happy, as if everything was ready and they were just waiting for the Grand Tutor to come and fetch them.

"Should we switch bodies first, or get married first?" Ran Dian counted on her fingers. "We need to find a matchmaker to come to our door and give us a lot of money. Once we're satisfied, we'll choose a day to put Ami in a bridal sedan chair and send her to him to pay respects and enter the bridal chamber."

Shi Mi watched their conversation and couldn't help but sigh with relief, thinking how fortunate Ran Dian was a Yanren. If she had really given birth to a daughter, anyone wanting to marry her would have to make her a small fortune first.

Unlike them, I don't have any requirements at all. As long as I can enter Jiuzhang Mansion, I'm fine with anything.

To understand why she was so fixated on this, we need to recount the past. At the age of six, she followed her master to Lingyin Mountain. On the very day they set off, the first brick of Chong'an City was laid. Yu Jun was determined, raising funds from all sides, spending a full ten years and countless resources to finally complete the fortress. Unfortunately, this success was short-lived. The city failed to change the fate of the Yu Dynasty; within two or three years, it attracted numerous threats and was eventually conquered by the Yan people, becoming a secondary capital of the Yan Dynasty.

Since it's a secondary capital, its rank is only slightly lower than Baiyujing. Shimi wanted to observe the important figures here closely to see how they differed from the people of Qianyu. However, approaching them one by one would be time-consuming and exhausting; with her eyes fixed on the top, she didn't know when she would reach it. Grand Tutor Lu Min was the highest-ranking official in Chong'an City. With him there, even having those people lined up for her to scrutinize wouldn't be difficult. Therefore, the method of marriage wasn't important, nor was the dowry; in fact, as long as he agreed, she could go back with him today.

Ali Dao had just learned to write last month. He solemnly spread out the paper, dipped it in ink, and planned to write a marriage certificate and prepare a few invitations.

“Lu Min and Ami…” He paused when he wrote the fourth character, “What is Ami’s surname?”

Yan Dian said, "It's definitely surnamed A, is there even a need to ask?"

Ran Dian disagreed, "No one has the surname A. I think it should be Mi. The kid selling wheat cakes on Heng Street has the surname Zheng, and everyone calls him A Zheng."

Ali Dao hesitated, "Is her surname A or Mi? We've known each other for so long, and I don't even know her surname."

Ran Dian and Yan Dian argued back and forth, each sticking to their own version of events. Shi Mi finally couldn't help but interrupt them, saying, "My surname is Xie, not the Xie of gratitude, but the Jie of unraveling."

The three stared at each other, their minds blank, unable to process what was happening. "One minute your surname is Xie, the next it's Xie. We get it, your name is Xie Xie Mi."

The failure to open up one's spiritual consciousness is truly the biggest mistake. Shi Mi sighed, "I am not called Jie Xie Mi, I am called Jie Shi Mi. My grandfather hoped that I would have great wisdom, to see through the chaos and reach the Dao, so I was born at the age of six and went into the mountains to meditate and seek enlightenment."

This was the first time she had revealed her past to them. Ali Dao asked, "Then why didn't you become an immortal? Did something happen to you while you were cultivating? Yan Shi must have been your master. He felt it was a pity that you died, so he made you a physical body and resurrected you."

Shi Mi glanced at them with disdain. "Those in positions of power should fulfill their duties. Yanren must understand their own mysteries. What use is a heart that no longer beats if it's placed in a body? I've never died, so don't curse me."

Yan Dian was one of the more curious among the Yanren. She moved closer to her and asked in a low voice, "Ami, why did you change your skin? Was the old one old or broken?"

Shimi felt a headache coming on and didn't want to answer their questions anymore. She walked away with her hands behind her back and squatted down by her fishpond to watch the fish.

Ran Dian came to a conclusion: "Ami must be very old, over a hundred years old, so she always thinks we are stupid and don't understand human relationships."

Ali Dao said he didn't care anymore, "Look at the marriage certificate I wrote. Lu Minjie and Mi Nai are now husband and wife. From now on, we will live together like cats and mice, like tigers and sheep, like dry sand holding hands, forever united."

Yan Dian thought for a long time, "Are these all nice things?"

Ali Dao said yes, "I saw it in the cave in the Western Hills, and it even said that we should ask our parents and relatives to witness it."

Ran Dian sighed, "The one in the West Mountain cave is a divorce agreement. There are a few more lines at the end: if the agreement is broken, and someone on the street suddenly appears with brows and eyebrows, thinking of past affections, then kill them."

Yan Dian looked at Ali Dao with sympathy, "I think we shouldn't write this marriage certificate. If A Mi sees it, she might beat you to death first."

Upon hearing this, Ali Dao silently crumpled the paper into a ball and stuffed it into his sleeve pocket.

With nothing else to do, the three stood side by side behind Shimi and peeked out to ask, "Are we having fish tonight?"

"Don't even think about touching my fish," Shimi warned, pinching fish food and scattering it into the water.

Seeing her looking downcast, Ali Dao asked, "Why are you unhappy? Are you worried that Lu Min hasn't come yet, and that you won't be able to get married?"

Shi Mi was filled with regret, muttering, "Next time I'll tell the Puppeteer to try not to act as a mouthpiece for the Puppeteers, since they can't say anything nice anyway."

The three looked at each other, "Isn't this a bad idea? Without a mouth, we'd become monsters."

Ran Dian bent down, supporting herself on her knees, and asked Shi Mi in a soft voice, "Are you homesick? We don't have surnames, but you do. Where are your family members? Why don't you go find them?"

Speaking of family, that was a long time ago. Yanren are simple and straightforward, and they don't know how to avoid other people's sad stories. Although they often leave me speechless with their questions, it's very easy to get along with them, and there's no need to be on guard all the time.

Shimi stood up and patted his hands. “Chong’an City used to be my home, but I didn’t live there often. My family preferred Baiyujing. As I said before, I went into the mountains with my master when I was six years old and didn’t see them for more than ten years. Later, I heard that they had all died. I rushed back but didn’t even get to see them one last time. Now I have no family left.”

The three of them said "Oh," and "It's alright, we don't have any family either, you can treat us as family."

These silly words shouldn't be taken seriously, but they do bring a sense of warmth. Shimi laughed, "Then I'll have to ask the Puppeteer to extend your lives every three days. It's good that I have family now, but it's a bit of a waste for the Puppeteer. I'll buy two chickens to make soup and help the Puppeteer recover."

Speaking of the Puppeteer, the Puppeteers were born from his hands, yet they had never seen him. They only glimpsed his robes once, through a screen, but he never spoke; all arrangements were relayed by Ami. The Puppeteers didn't care about these details; in their limited time, there were too many other things to focus on. They were solely focused on completing the orders they received, even if it meant collapsing immediately afterward.

Opportunities to be idle like today are rare, probably because Ami is getting married and the house needs some liveliness. The peanuts and red dates are piled up, the lanterns are hung up, and I've swept the floor and watered the flowers while I'm at it.

Just as Ali was deciding whether or not to hold a wedding banquet, there was a knock on the gate. They generally didn't have much contact with the outside world, so the sudden arrival of someone immediately put them on alert.

Ali's voice boomed, "Who goes there?"

A voice came from outside the door: "Luo Jie of Jiuzhang Prefecture has been ordered to pay a visit and requests that the head of the family open the door to see him."

The head of the family? The head of the family, Lu Kongshan? He's lying in the box.

Ali Dao turned to look at Shi Mi, silently asking what to do. Shi Mi waved for them to step aside, then went to open the door to greet the visitors, smiling and gesturing, "The head of the family has gone out to visit friends. Please come in and have a chat, honored guest."

Luo Jie returned the greeting with a cupped hand, and as he looked up, a beautiful woman came into view. Even though he was used to seeing women with deep-set features from the Western Regions, he couldn't help but marvel at her appearance. She was a standout among the Central Plains women, never showing off her sharp features, and exuding a Buddha-like aura.

"Excuse my boldness, young lady, is your name Xiafang?" Luo Jie's eyes were fixed on her.

Shi Mi then remembered that he would use this name in front of them from now on, so he bowed humbly and said, "Yes, my name is Lu Xiafang. Have you heard of me?"

How could you not have heard of the Grand Tutor's "cousin," the woman Yanshi specifically requested the Grand Tutor to marry?

Last time he visited the Lu residence, he didn't see the real Buddha. He thought that since the man was a puppet, it was nothing special. A person like the Grand Tutor shouldn't be coerced by a puppet master and passively accept someone of unknown background by his side. He should have negotiated with him if he had the chance. But now that he's seen this young lady, his previous dissatisfaction has instantly crumbled. Luo Jie even thinks the young lady is quite nice. If the puppet master's surveillance is unavoidable, keeping these pleasing eyes isn't so hard to accept.

Luo Jie's mustache twitched upwards, and a smile spread across his face. "Last time I visited, the young lady wasn't home, but I've heard of her great reputation. It's an honor to meet you today; you're truly extraordinary." As he spoke, he glanced into the depths of the hall. "May I ask if the master craftsman is here? I'm here on orders to see him; I have important matters to discuss with him."

However, although the young woman was beautiful, she was not so easy to talk to. She stood straight and said with a reserved and distant air, "Master Yan does not receive guests without reason, so I'm afraid you'll have made a wasted trip today. But if the Grand Tutor has any instructions, I can convey them, but I don't know if it would be convenient for you."

Luo Jie tucked his hands behind his back and hesitated for a moment before saying, "Young lady, you are someone close to the Puppeteer. Speaking to you is the same as meeting the Puppeteer in person. Do you know if that Puppeteer is currently in Jiuzhang Prefecture?"

Shimi nodded. "The person hasn't returned, and the Grand Tutor hasn't sent anyone to besiege this place. It's time to make a decision. Please speak freely, sir."

Others are too lazy to go around in circles, and he takes things step by step, but it seems that this approach doesn't work for this woman.

“That’s how it is,” he smiled awkwardly, “Since you are in Jiuzhang Prefecture, there’s no need to bother sending it back. The Grand Tutor has sent an invitation to Yanshi tonight and asked Miss Lai to convey the message that the Grand Tutor is waiting for Yanshi’s arrival at the prefecture.”

The young woman blinked her beautiful eyes, her gaze filled with helplessness. "Master Yan doesn't have the habit of going out to keep appointments. Although I respect the Grand Tutor, I can't break the rules. If the Grand Tutor is truly sincere, please bring Xiao Wu and come alone tonight at midnight."

So, holding the other party's lifeline in their hands, they truly have nothing to fear. The only fortunate thing is that nothing unexpected happened. If the negotiation fails, there is still room for compromise, so he lowered his head and agreed, "Indeed, after all, this is no small matter, and it will surely require careful preparation. I hope the Grand Tutor can understand."

When you ask someone for a favor, they still show consideration; those in power truly are always aloof and superior.

Shi Mi didn't argue with him, and said with his hands tucked in, "Indeed, preparations are needed. Master Yan knows that it is inconvenient for the Grand Tutor, but this matter is of great importance, so we can only ask the Grand Tutor to make an effort. In addition, Master Yan has some instructions. For the next ten days, the Grand Tutor will not see anyone or attend to government affairs. Please make plans in advance to avoid being caught off guard."

Luo Jie nodded repeatedly, "Of course, everything has been arranged in advance to ensure that the Grand Tutor can recuperate in peace." He paused and then asked, "Have you assigned any attendants, Master Yan? I have served the Grand Tutor for many years and can serve him personally."

Shimi said there was no need, "Since you've come here, you won't lack servants."

Luo Jie was still uneasy, "I'm afraid outsiders aren't careful enough..."

The young woman was now somewhat displeased. "Then please tell the Grand Tutor to marry me first, and then we can exchange bodies. That way, I won't be an outsider, but an insider. What's there to worry about?"

These words truly shocked Luo Jie. He never expected that the seemingly delicate young woman would speak so bluntly and decisively.

He was momentarily at a loss for words, waving his hand and saying, "Please calm down, young lady. If I had known it was you who was personally taking care of things, I wouldn't have had any worries. Um... the Grand Tutor is a man of his word, and he will never go back on his promise to Yan Shi. Let's deal with this immediate crisis first, and everything else will be easier."

This politician-style tug-of-war clearly aroused the woman's disgust. She glanced at him indifferently and said, "It's getting late. Sir, you should hurry back and deliver your message. Don't delay important matters."

Luo Jie awkwardly agreed, then turned his head and happened to catch a glimpse of the offerings piled on the table, covered with bright red "double happiness" symbols. His gaze lingered for a moment.

Shimi saw his confusion and said bluntly, "I'm all ready. These next few days, Mr. Wang, please don't be idle. Go back and prepare a room for me so I can live comfortably after I get married."

Luo Jie asked, puzzled, "If I marry into the family... won't I live with the Grand Tutor?"

Shi Mi laughed upon hearing this, "Grand Tutor has just recovered from a serious illness, does he really want to get married? Living together is not impossible, but I'm afraid the Grand Tutor is too delicate and weak to handle it."

A note from the author:

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