Chapter 8 Li Shi's heart trembled; she clutched her inner garment tightly…
Li's heart skipped a beat. She clutched her inner garment tightly, gave Wang Yan a reassuring look, and asked, "What does this mean?"
"It seems that the lady was born with a cold constitution, but she has been feeling better recently. Take this prescription daily. Although it will not completely cure the problem, it can gradually expel it." Physician Sun wrote out the prescription and handed it to Madam Li.
Madam Li was extremely grateful. "Thank you very much, Physician Sun. We have been suffering from this cold for a long time. Please convey our gratitude to Your Majesty."
Physician Sun hurriedly said, "Madam, please rise quickly."
When Wang Fuzhi returned from court, Wang Yan, who had just settled down to lie down, was summoned again for an emergency family meeting in the study. Wang Yan recounted the events of the previous day in detail, and Wang Fuzhi listened with a furrowed brow.
“It’s clearly a test, to see if I’m like those who use any means to squeeze into the royal family. We should be grateful for any small favors he gives us.”
Wang Zhen, unusually, did not criticize her for being unruly. Instead, he comforted her, saying, "Aying, don't be anxious. Your father and mother also do not want you to marry into the royal family."
Wang Yan didn't take the matter to heart. "Didn't the imperial physician say today that I have a naturally cold constitution? When the noble ladies in the palace hear this, they might let me off the hook."
Wang Zhen's expression was also not relaxed. "I'm afraid it's not that simple."
Li usually didn't concern herself with court affairs, but now she couldn't help but feel nervous. "If His Majesty intends this, a simple imperial decree would suffice. Why go through all this trouble?"
Wang Yan frowned. If the coming-of-age ceremony was the Emperor's intention, then things would be much more complicated.
Wang Fuzhi pondered for a moment. Currently, Prince Yi was courting the Ministry of War, Prince Wei was courting the Ministry of Works, and the Ministry of Rites was showing signs of turning against Prince Yi. Prince Wei was also serving in the Court of Judicial Review... leaving only the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Revenue still mediating. At present, the Emperor was in good health, and the situation was still unclear. All three parties needed to be cautious in their dealings.
"It's not as simple as an arranged marriage; to put it more bluntly, it's forming a faction. But if the Prince of Wei truly has feelings for you..."
Wang Yan gasped softly, looking quite troubled, "Aying probably does have that kind of charm..."
Wang Zhen chuckled and tapped her head. "You're being inappropriate again."
Wang Yan snorted, "Isn't that right? Just move back a bit."
Although nothing is certain yet, it's always good to be on the safe side. As long as the imperial decree hasn't been issued, there's still room for maneuver. Wang Fuzhi knew her temperament well, so he could only offer a gentle reminder, "Do things within reasonable limits, and be careful not to make enemies."
Wang Yan agreed with a grin, "At worst, I'll disobey the imperial decree."
Wang Fu directly said to her, "Fine. It's just the heads of the entire clan, take them."
Wang Yan quickly retracted his previous words, "Wouldn't A Ying become a sinner of the Wang family? My grandfather, great-grandfather, great-great-grandfather, and all the ancestors of the Wang family would probably have to gather at Yunqiju. My temple is too small to accommodate them."
Shen Minghuai heard that Fu Jizheng had arrived as soon as he returned home. As soon as he entered the courtyard, he saw his master drinking Shen Dingchen's Liuxiang wine under the pavilion, and his face stiffened.
"Good wine!" Fu Jizheng casually wiped his mouth, looking satisfied. "Huai'er is back. Come and have a drink with your teacher."
Shen Minghuai's lips twitched. Every time Fu Jizheng stole Shen Dingchen's fine wine, he was the one who had to take the blame. Shen Dingchen had changed the location of the wine's hiding place countless times after finding out, but Fu Jizheng's nose could still sniff out the location, and he always found it without any effort.
Later, Shen Dingchen had no choice but to yell at Shen Minghuai each time, "Tell your drunken master to stop stealing!"
"Ah! I was so engrossed in drinking that I almost forgot. This Meiliuxiang wine is too much for Huai'er." Fu Jizheng laughed even harder. "What a pity! What a pity! This imperial wine... I have a huge capacity for alcohol, how come you haven't learned even a tenth of it? You've been drinking that worthless Shengxue wine all the time."
Fu Jizheng downed his drink in one gulp. Shen Minghuai took a sip, "Longyuan Shengxue. Master, you are truly wasting such a precious resource."
Fu Jizheng readily put down his wine glass and said, "Tell me about it."
Shen Minghuai stopped swirling the cup and asked in confusion, "What?"
Fu Jizheng looked like he knew everything. "Li Changling's little apprentice."
Ying Ming, who had already bowed his head in remorse, defended himself, saying, "Master Fu, I didn't say she was Li Changling's apprentice."
Fu Jizheng asked doubtfully, "Isn't that what you mean?"
Shen Minghuai then slowly spoke, "Disciple did indeed witness the Flowing Frost Sword Technique..."
Ying Ming corrected Fu Jizheng, saying, "It's the Falling Flower Sword Technique, a fake."
Shen Minghuai recalled the scene that day, "Although it only resembled the original seven-tenths, it was quite spirited."
Fu Jizheng asked Ying Ming, "You said that sword technique is called Falling Flowers?"
Ying Ming nodded and said, "That lady meant that she had utterly defeated the enemy."
Fu Jizheng laughed loudly upon hearing this, "This behavior really has the shadow of Li Changling."
"Does Master also consider her Li Changling's disciple?" Shen Minghuai had pondered this question several times.
Fu Jizheng stroked his chin thoughtfully, "It's not impossible. Where is she now? I'll go and meet her."
Shen Minghuai had a bad feeling, so he had to use his status to put pressure on her, saying, "That lady is the daughter of the Minister of Revenue, and she is rarely seen."
Fu Jizheng often spoke without restraint, saying things like, "The mere Minister's Mansion can't stop your master."
Shen Minghuai sighed, thinking, "He really does things on a whim." Whether he'd barged in openly or secretly, intentionally or unintentionally, if the people in the Prince's mansion found out, a small matter could be resolved, but on a larger scale, it might cause misunderstandings between the imperial court and the martial arts world. For now, the only option was to stall for time and find an excuse to brush it off.
"She will attend the elegant gathering at Zhuxuan Pavilion on the Shangsi Festival."
Fu Jizheng took it very seriously and immediately agreed, "Okay! You lure her out then, and I'll test her."
Shen Minghuai was vaguely worried. Fu Jizheng never knew how to hold back when she made a move. If she really was Li Changling's apprentice, how could Li Changling let her go?
"Master, why don't you let your disciple do it?"
As expected, Fu Jizheng rejected his suggestion, "If she really is Li Changling's apprentice, can you beat her?"
Shen Minghuai pursed his lips and remained silent.
Fu Jizheng patted his chest and assured her, "Am I the kind of person who bullies the younger generation? But if I hurt her and Li Changling comes to fight me, it's not a loss for me!"
Shen Minghuai frowned and thought to himself, "What a master! He really doesn't care about his disciple's life or death."
Fu Jizheng said cheerfully, "Huai'er, you still take things so easily. Don't worry, if those Minister Wang or Minister Li report you to the authorities, I won't expose you."
It's the third day of the third month again, and the willow branch is once again glistening with dew.
The spring breeze was gentle, the sunlight rustled the willows, and a constant stream of tourists came and went, brewing wine from the spring, composing poems, and enjoying themselves immensely. Princess Yi took advantage of the Shangsi Festival to extend invitations to young men from prominent families. Although Prince Yi did not appear in person, most of the attendees understood the deeper meaning behind the invitations.
Wang Yan had originally planned to go with Wang Zhen to pay respects to her mother today, but Wang Fu bluntly stated that he had attended the Hundred Flowers Banquet but refused the Bamboo Pavilion gathering, clearly indicating that he had boarded the Wei King's treacherous ship. To show that the Wang family treated everyone equally, she still came.
She usually avoided scholars and writers. Only when two people studied the Five Classics with her could she barely manage to read them. Unfortunately, neither of them was here today. Wang Yan, dressed in a milky-white dress, sat listlessly by the stream.
"Sister Yan?"
Shang Nianyao sat down next to Wang Yan, seemingly surprised that she had also come. Wang Yan, on the other hand, never found it strange to see her on any occasion. Shang Nianyao attended elegant banquets hosted by people of high status more frequently than anyone else.
As the invitees took their seats, Princess Yi announced the start of the poetry gathering.
I didn't check the almanac before going out today, and I never expected to be so lucky. The wine cup stopped in front of Wang Yan three times, but she claimed that she couldn't compose poetry and didn't want to show off her literary skills in front of all these talented men, so she had to punish herself by drinking three cups. The gathering was boring, and she didn't want to drink anymore, so she used the excuse of sobering up to say goodbye to Shang Nianyao next to her, and then quietly left the table.
She wasn't the only one to leave. Some were unable to hold their liquor, some lacked talent, and others were simply ill-intentioned; no one could resist keeping their distance from them.
Shang Nianyao looked around among the crowd for a while, then found the two young masters of the Liu family and asked urgently, "Young masters, my little sister has been out sobering up for quite some time now. Have you seen her? She's afraid..."
Young Master Liu knew she was a merchant's wife, but he had never heard of her having a younger sister.
"Your little sister?"
Shang Nianyao looked worried. "It's Wang's younger sister, and we're on good terms."
"But are you wearing white clothes?"
Young Master Liu recalled the young lady sitting next to Shang Nianyao and lowered his voice to say to Liu Er, "I noticed her at the poetry gathering just now. She was exceptionally beautiful... I think she went that way."
The two immediately became serious. "Don't worry, Madam Shang, we'll go and search further afield."
Shang Nianyao returned to her seat and found Shen Minghuai, who had just finished reciting the poem. After taking a few steps, she said anxiously, "Young Master Shen, Young Master Liu just went in the direction where Sister Yan was sobering up. The two of them have a reputation for being dissolute, and I'm worried... Young Master Shen has some connection with Sister Yan. If you go to look for her, it would probably be better than me doing it."
Shen Minghuai's eyes instantly turned cold as he stared at Shang Nianyao and asked, "Do I have some connection with her?"
Shang Nianyao said uneasily, "That day I saw her talking with the young master in the corridor... I didn't mean to eavesdrop! I just happened to be passing by..."
Shen Minghuai initially didn't want to get involved; the Falling Flower Sword technique from Yunyan Mountain was enough to prove her skill. He'd heard that only the two of them had been brought into the hall by Yuanchun that day, so why was he having this idea—wait, Master! With his decisive nature…
Seeing Shen Minghuai's hurried departure, Shang Nianyao smiled.
Wang Yan sat in the tree, watching the two fools pacing around with great interest. At one point, Liu Er tried to stop Liu San because of Wang Yan's fabricated relationship with the Prince of Wei. Liu San, however, argued that without the imperial edict, this connection was invalid and insisted on finding it. Unexpectedly, a man in a green robe appeared, dismissed them with a few words, and then headed towards her.
The man stood under the tree, hands on his hips, head tilted back, as if he were about to utter the words "this old man."
"Little girl, let me ask you, are you Li Changling's apprentice?"
Wang Yan asked in surprise, "Oh, how did you know?"
The man waved to her, "Come down and talk to me. I'm your elder, it's really impolite of you."
Wang Yan refused to comply, saying, "I sense you have ill intentions. Answer my question first."
"Huai'er told me."
Wang Yan lightly leaped down, "Shen Minghuai?"
The man didn't answer, but chuckled as he picked up a bamboo stalk and tossed her the sword in his hand. "Come on, let this old man have a go at you."
"You'll get what I say—"
Before Wang Yan could react to the green sword, the bamboo staff came straight at her, forcing her to immediately parry his sword strike. Sword energy surged, and within a few moves, she found herself unable to mount any offensive and could only defend.
A bamboo stick came slashing horizontally; she leaned back to dodge, her green sword flashing across the ground, sending up a flurry of bamboo leaves, which he easily avoided. What incredible skill! Eight moves had passed, and Wang Yan's forehead was beaded with sweat; he was almost at his breaking point.
Suddenly, a long sword flew over and repelled the man's attack.
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