Chapter 50 Moon Shadow and Flower Soul Her smile as she turned back was like a galaxy falling...
"A hidden room?" A hidden room beneath the Buddhist hall must hold some unspeakable secret. Wang Yan was already extremely curious.
Shen Minghuai suggested, "Perhaps we could ask Young Master Zhu for help."
As the three entered the Yi Lou, the innkeeper led them through the main building and up to the left-hand pavilion. Pushing open the door, they were greeted by yet another magnificent scene. Zhu Yao leaned against the wall inside, surrounded by a table laden with all sorts of delicacies. Even more extravagant than the inner chamber was the endless array of lanterns outside, so dazzling that even a fraction of it was enough to make one lose their senses.
"Could this magnificent building also be part of the Zhu family's property?" Wang Yan walked straight to the eaves, leaned on the railing, and was truly dazzled by the shimmering light.
"Of course." Zhu Yao changed to a bamboo-ribbed folding fan with inscriptions, walked to Wang Yan's side, and said, "You're in for a treat tonight."
Halfway through their meal of fine food and wine, a sudden commotion arose outside. Just as Wang Yan was about to recount how Zhu Yu had invited them to dinner, Zhu Yao hurriedly put down his silver cup, pulled Li Changling along, and led him outside.
"Quick! It's starting!"
A graceful and charming woman swung on a swing several meters high, her red dress fluttering in the breeze. Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, she gently landed in the center of the pool, and instantly, drums and music sounded, and she began to dance.
Wang Yan asked, her eyes sparkling, "Can I play on that swing?"
"Why not? After the guests leave at midnight, you can do whatever you want."
Zhu Yao then held up his fan and whispered in Shen Minghuai's ear, "How does it compare to the beautiful lady in the capital?"
Shen Minghuai's gaze fell back on Wang Yan. "Never seen him before."
Zhu Yaoxuan understood immediately and joked, "How could Madam Wang be so magnanimous? What's wrong with having seen her before? So many people want to see her but don't even have the chance to meet her!"
“Our young master Shen may not really be interested in these things.” Li Changling walked up to Shen Minghuai at some point. “Scholars have always been like this, clueless about romance.”
Zhu Yao disagreed, saying, "There are plenty of hypocritical scholars—Young Master Shen is an honest scholar."
"His Highness Prince Wei never invited you to join us?" Wang Yan's question rang out along with the applause. "I've heard that you two are regulars at Fengle Tower."
"You didn't go to see that famous dance of Lady Miao that shook the capital two years ago?" Li Changling asked suspiciously. "I think I saw you at Fengle Tower that day..."
Wang Yan, who had just sat down, immediately looked up at Shen Minghuai. Shen Minghuai suddenly felt a chill run down his spine and dared not move. He slowly explained, "I was indeed there that day... but I couldn't hold my liquor and left early." Her gaze then shifted away; she probably wasn't angry.
"wrong--"
Shen Minghuai, who was about to sit down, froze in mid-air. He'd gotten drunk and vomited all over himself…
"That day you said you were going to buy me some pastries from He's shop, but you came back empty-handed. Turns out you went to Fenglelou! I even took your side when you and Jiang Wan were arguing..."
Shen Minghuai breathed a sigh of relief and handed Wang Yan a cup of cold tea, saying, "Calm down."
"That happened so long ago, why bring it up? Let's eat, let's eat."
Li Changling moved the ice cream to her side, then turned to Zhu Yao and said, "Actually, we came here for a secret."
Zhu Yao was puzzled. "What secret?"
Wang Yan said mysteriously, "We learned by chance in Hangzhou that the Xu family, who sell porcelain, have an unknown connection with Indian Buddhism."
“Indian Buddhism… I’ve heard Yu’er mention it before, but what does this have to do with the Xu family?” Zhu Yao looked at the three people present. “Although the Xu family head is a Buddhist, he rarely goes out and I have never heard of him having any contact with Indian Buddhism. How could there be any connection?”
Wang Yan nodded in agreement, then said, "That's precisely why we've come here to find out."
"None of you believe in Buddhism, right? Why are you so interested in Buddhist matters?" Zhu Yao sensed something was amiss.
Shen Minghuai smiled and said, "She's just interested in secrets. I wonder if Brother Zhu could introduce us? I've heard that the Xu family's porcelain is exquisite. It would be good to make friends with them."
Zhu Yao lowered his eyes in thought, "It's possible, but he rarely gets involved in family matters, so he might not be able to answer your questions."
"It's still uncertain whether this is true or not." Li Changling patted his shoulder. "Let's just make friends first and not mention Indian Buddhism."
The three followed Zhu Yao back to the main building and waited in a certain place. They hadn't noticed it when they passed by, but now, upon closer inspection, the layout of this place was remarkably similar to Fengle Tower. Although it lacked the imposing presence of five buildings facing each other, the main building and the pavilions on the left and right sides, along with the unique pool serving as a stage, shared a similar form and atmosphere. While its splendor couldn't match that of Fengle Tower, it was second only to it.
Wang Yan saw the courtesan and a familiar figure disappear around the corner, and then Zhu Yao led an unfamiliar face towards them.
"It's you?"
"Have we met before?" Wang Yan tried hard to recall, but couldn't remember when they had met.
The man in ochre said calmly, "In Yangzhou, I saved your life."
"Save my life...?" Wang Yan racked her brains and finally remembered. That day, the out-of-control oxcart almost hit her, and a young man pushed her out of the way in time, but she hadn't noticed his appearance.
Zhu Yao said happily, "Since you two know each other, why don't you go inside and have a short chat?"
The man in ochre said, "I do not know her."
"My surname is Wang, and my given name is Yan. My names are Shen Minghuai and Li Changling." Wang Yan smiled gently. "Now we know each other, right?"
"That number one in the world, Li Changling?" The man in ochre robes kept glancing at the two people behind Wang Yan, his expression softening.
Zhu Yao darted to Li Changling's side. "It's genuine. Don't worry, they're not bad people. They're new here and don't have many friends. They heard that your family's porcelain is the most exquisite, so they wanted to get to know you."
Xu Yuhuan's expression darkened further after hearing this. "Then you should go and find my brother."
Zhu Yao earnestly advised, "Isn't he busy with something? Besides, the more friends you have, the better. I'll invite Brother Ji Liang over later."
Li Changling told his admirer many strange tales from his travels, leaving Xu Yuhuan and Zhu Yao in awe. Before they knew it, it was almost midnight. Even after the five of them finished their conversation, Xu Jiliang was nowhere to be seen.
"Oh, by the way, your birthday is the day after tomorrow. What are your plans for celebrating?"
Xu Yu slowly uttered two words, "As usual."
“Boring,” Zhu Yao changed the subject. “But it’s not bad to be able to eat the Jiangyao Water Chestnut Soup made by your mother.”
Wang Yan walked to Zhu Yao's side in an instant, "Jiangyao Water Chestnut Soup? It sounds delicious."
Zhu Yao praised it highly, "It's not just delicious! It's a feast for the eyes, nose, and palate!"
Wang Yan walked past Zhu Yao and looked at Xu Yuhuan expectantly, "I wonder if we will have the honor of attending your birthday banquet..."
Without hesitation, Zhu Yao agreed on Xu Yuhuan's behalf, "Why not! In previous years, Yuhuan's birthday celebrations only had the same few people, which was really boring. This way, you can make new friends, and since it happens to be your birthday, you can also receive more gifts, right?"
Xu Yu pushed away Zhu Yao, who was getting too close, saying, "I don't make friends to receive gifts."
"Does Young Master Xu agree?" Wang Yan was pulled away by Shen Minghuai, so he had to speak faster and faster.
"Didn't we say we were going to play on the swings?"
Xu Yuhuan, who was about to leave, was also pulled over by Zhu Yao. "Brother Ji Liang hasn't left yet. It's not too late for you to go back to the manor with him later."
In the blink of an eye, Wang Yan was already sitting on the swing, her bright eyes filled with excitement. The evening breeze lifted her silken sleeves, her fair wrists as white as snow. The lamplight had already dimmed, and the smile she gave when she turned around was like a galaxy falling to earth.
Shen Minghuai and Li Changling once again sent the swing soaring into the air, and Wang Yan suddenly let go and leaped to the top of the pavilion.
Zhu Yao looked at Xu Yuhuan, who had just rushed forward in a hurry, and said, "Don't worry, Madam Wang is more skilled than you."
The moonlight, like water, washed away the dust from the pavilion roof. The woman who drew her cloud-patterned robe and wielded her sword was enigmatic and indistinct. Before anyone could react, Wang Yan had already gently landed back beside Shen Minghuai.
Zhu Yao was the first to clap and shout, "...Good!"
Li Changling smiled and said, "When did you start practicing behind my back? I've never seen this sword technique before."
Wang Yan blinked and asked the person next to him, "It hasn't been named yet, why don't you come up with one?"
Shen Minghuai snapped out of his daze, his phoenix eyes still fixed on her, his gaze unwavering.
"Moon Shadow Flower Soul."
Zhu Yao murmured, "Moon Shadow and Flower Soul... Wonderful!"
"It's just a bit cold." Li Changling put his arm around Shen Minghuai's shoulder. "It's even colder than when I was here, don't you think?"
Shen Minghuai looked at the crescent moon atop the pavilion. "The same."
"Give it back!"
"Give it back!"
The courtesan helped Xu Jiliang out of the main building, and Xu Yu then bid them farewell. Zhu Yao was already used to this kind of scene.
"Hey! Isn't this—"
Before he could finish speaking, Xu Jiliang was dragged away by Xu Yuhuan. The courtesan also made no attempt to exchange pleasantries with them.
Li Changling asked curiously, "Isn't that tonight's top courtesan?"
"Yes, Song Ranran, a friend of Brother Ji Liang." Zhu Yao escorted them to the gate of Yilou.
Wang Yan slowly asked, "Friend...?"
"They both said that."
Two days later, Wang Yan and his entourage arrived with birthday gifts. As soon as Xu Jiliang saw Zhu Yao, he immediately went to call his younger brother in the courtyard.
"Yu Huan, your new friends have arrived."
“Brother Ji Liang, there’s no need to trouble yourself. We’ll go find him.”
Only after Zhu Yao left did Xu Jiliang notice the three people behind him.
“This—you…” Xu Jiliang seemed to understand something, and looked at Wang Yan with regret, “Are you really not going to reconsider?”
Wang Yan took Shen Minghuai's arm and said with a smile, "I've made up my mind."
Xu Jiliang then asked Li Changling, "I still don't know how to address this... young hero?"
Li Changling replied simply with two words, "My surname is Li."
"What are you talking about?" Zhu Yao turned and walked back. "You two knew each other before?"
Shen Minghuai answered first: "I saw him a couple of days ago."
Li Changling put his arm around Zhu Yao and walked forward, asking, "Where is my younger brother Yu Huan?"
"Young Master Li, Madam Wang, Young Master Shen," Xu Yu, dressed in a dark green robe, greeted them with his sword in hand.
Zhu Yao clicked his tongue and said, "It's your birthday today, why are you still practicing your sword?"
Xu Yu looked silently at the sword in his hand. Zhu Yao raised his eyebrows and handed it to him, saying, "Try it out and see if it fits your hand."
Li Changling and Shen Minghuai exclaimed in unison: "Lone Sword?"
Wang Yan asked in surprise, "You...know each other?"
Li Changling looked at Shen Minghuai and immediately understood. The Lone Sword was something Li Changling had acquired during his travels in the west in his early years. The young man, proud and arrogant, had lost the sword in a bet, and the winner was none other than Fu Jizheng—that was also their first meeting. Unexpectedly, Fu Jizheng had passed the sword on to his apprentice, and it was said to have been lost for many years, only to reappear here now.
Zhu Yao explained, "This was General Xie Xuan's sword back then. They don't recognize Caiqi."
Xu Yu slowly drew his sword, but before it was even unsheathed, a desolate aura swept over him, and for a moment Wang Yan was transported to a deserted place. Thousands of mountains, no birds; ten thousand paths, no trace.
Shen Minghuai noticed that she was lost in thought and leaned closer to ask, "Are you alright?"
Wang Yan shook his head, puzzled, and asked, "How come you weren't affected by the Lone Sword?"
“I’ve used this sword before.”
Given the capabilities of the Duke of Dingguo's mansion and Fu Jizheng, she thought that apart from the Dragon-Controlling Sword, there was nothing he couldn't use.
Xu Yuhuan and Zhu Yao came to their senses one after another, their faces already somewhat pale.
"How about it!" Zhu Yao put his arm around Xu Yuhuan's shoulder. "This desolate feeling is quite interesting."
Xu Jiliang came looking for "Qi," and upon seeing the lone sword, he immediately understood that it was also there to invite them to their seats. After Zhu Yao and his group left, Xu Jiliang stopped his younger brother, gave him some instructions, and then quickly returned to the main hall.
Xu Yuhuan changed into a white dress and walked into the hall. Zhu Yao whispered to Wang Yan, "You have a good eye. Yuhuan looks really good in white."
Wang Yan accepted Zhu Yao's praise without hesitation, completely unaware that someone at the next table was getting jealous. Zhu Yao was right; the scallop and water chestnut soup was indeed delicious, its appearance alone making one's mouth water.
After a quiet lunch, Zhu Yao, as usual, took Xu Yu to watch a play, but Wang Yan quickly stopped them.
"Today is the birthday of the Second Young Master Xu, and he should be spending it with his family and friends. There's no time when you can't listen to a play. Since this is your first time visiting the Xu residence, you shouldn't leave so soon after you've eaten your fill."
Zhu Yao suddenly realized, "This year we can play leaf cards!"
The group followed Zhu Yao to Xu Yuhuan's courtyard to play cards. Midway through, Li Changling left to relieve himself, and Shen Minghuai and Xu Jiliang walked in talking. Xu Yuhuan lowered his eyes and smiled at Wang Yan, saying, "Thank you for your birthday gift."
Wang Yan, still holding the token, casually replied, "It's nothing valuable, I'm glad you like it, Second Young Master Xu. You've arrived."
Xu Jiliang smiled and gave his seat to Shen Minghuai before quickly leaving. Zhu Yao seemed used to it, saying, "Brother Jiliang must be going back to look after the shop. Let's play, let's play."
Wang Yan and Zhu Yao won in turn, and Xu Yu gradually lost interest and got up to leave. Before Wang Yan could stop him, they heard the sound of assassins being captured outside.
Zhu Yao was startled, "An assassin?! Young Master Li!"
Wang Yan and Shen Minghuai walked ahead of them, saying, "Don't panic."
Zhu Yao followed closely behind Wang Yan, extremely anxious. "What if the assassin is highly skilled—no, why has Young Master Li been gone for so long? With something this serious happening, he should have—"
Li Changling jumped down from the roof, stretched, and asked, "What happened?"
Xu Wujiu led a group of guards toward them menacingly, drawing their swords and surrounding them, shouting, "Catch the assassin!"
Zhu Yao looked at Xu Yuhuan in disbelief, "Uncle, are you mistaken? We haven't been—"
All eyes were on Li Changling. The assassin himself stared wide-eyed, pointed at himself, and exclaimed in horror, "I was just sleeping on the roof, how did I become an assassin?"
Xu Wujiu said coldly, "Who can testify?"
Wang Yan retorted, "Then how can Patriarch Xu prove that the assassin was my elder brother? And what losses has your family suffered?"
Xu Wujiu did not take Wang Yan seriously and immediately signaled his guards to take action.
Shen Minghuai spoke calmly: "Patriarch Xu believes that Young Hero Li was alone and unseen by anyone, so he has identified him as an assassin. However, given Young Hero Li's martial arts skills, it is reasonable that we do not know his whereabouts. If we arrest this number one person in the world without distinguishing right from wrong, regardless of the truth, it will inevitably drag the Xu family into the conflict between various forces. Does Patriarch Xu really want to do this?"
Xu Wujiu narrowed his eyes and asked, "What is your purpose in coming here?"
Xu Yu stood in front of them and said irritably, "Of course I'm here to attend my birthday banquet. Father keeps accusing my new friends of wrongdoing. It's just that I've displeased you. You can just say so. There's no need to take it out on my friends."
"Give it back!"
Zhu Yao hurriedly said, "Uncle, there must be some misunderstanding—"
Xu Jiliang rushed back from outside and was met with this tense scene.
"Father, what happened?"
Xu Wujiu snorted coldly, "Ask your good brother, what kind of cronies does he bring into the mansion?"
Wang Yan gritted his teeth and said, "Since the Xu family doesn't welcome us, then let's leave."
Xu Jiliang was confused. He watched as Wang Yan pulled Li Changling away, while Shen Minghuai followed behind them at a leisurely pace.
Xu Wujiu did not turn around, but warned sternly: "The matter of the Duke of Dingguo privately printing Buddhist scriptures has nothing to do with the Xu family. Young Master Shen should prescribe the right medicine."
"It is kind of you, Master Xu, to still care about my father even when you are far away in Mingzhou. Your sense of responsibility for the world is truly a model for the scholars of our Great Yue."
Zhu Yao was caught in a dilemma: whether to leave or stay. Xu Yu returned to his room with a stern face. Xu Jiliang hesitated for a moment before following Xu Wujiu. He had no choice but to leave first.
As soon as they boarded the carriage, Wang Yan hurriedly asked his senior brother what he had discovered. Li Changling only looked serious and rushed out again after returning to the inn. As night fell, Wang Yan knocked on the door and entered Shen Minghuai's room, complaining for a while, recounting everything from Yangzhou to the Xu family's birthday banquet.
"Senior brother must be hiding something from me." Wang Yan's eyes widened instantly. "He wouldn't have gone to see Jiang Wan again, would he?!"
Shen Minghuai suddenly asked, "Have you ever sent me any clothes?"
Wang Yan's emotions suddenly returned to the present moment, and she stared intently at Shen Minghuai. "No. What's wrong? Does this dress not fit you?"
Shen Minghuai's eyes dimmed. "He has it all, but I don't."
Wang Yan was puzzled, but still coaxed, "I'll pick some for you next time. I'm quite discerning in this regard."
Shen Minghuai's words were tinged with bitterness: "Was I just doing this incidentally?"
“Of course not.” Wang Yan noticed that he was a little unhappy, but she didn’t understand why he was making a fuss about giving him clothes.
"Do you think I don't know your size?"
"You know him?"
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