Chapter 70: Concern and Chaos
Just a quarter of an hour after Feng Yanyuan was taken away, Yun Yuan was respectfully escorted out of the stone prison. A maid from the palace led her to a small courtyard. Though small, it was remarkably quiet and elegant. Within the courtyard, a few pine trees shaded a pavilion. The breeze rustled the branches, giving it the name "Tingsong Pavilion."
The pavilion is well-equipped with brocade beds and delicacies.
Yun Yuan was panicking and sent away the attentive maid, waiting by the window for Feng Yanyuan. But she waited until the moon was at its lowest point in the sky, and there was still no sign of him.
The candlelight gradually dimmed, and she finally couldn't bear the sleepiness anymore and fell asleep on the desk.
When the early morning chill hit, she seemed to feel a hand on her shoulder, and she woke up suddenly. When she came to her senses, the pavilion was still lonely and cold.
Where did he go tonight?
Yun Yuan watched the sky gradually brighten. The courtyard was deserted. The maids had truly obeyed her orders and did not disturb her in the slightest.
With such laissez-faire attitude, the King of Huainan should not have any suspicion of Feng Yanyuan.
She straightened her messy hair in front of the bronze mirror.
Worrying won't help. Let's take this opportunity to inspect the palace.
The Prince of Huainan was indeed cautious. His retainers all lived in the outer courts, while the inner courtyard was so densely packed with traps that one could only observe them from afar. It was said that retainers could only enter when summoned. As she watched, she nearly bumped into a maid sweeping the courtyard, only to see her swiftly move. She must have practiced martial arts.
Since we can’t explore the inner courtyard of the palace, we have to find another way.
If Feng Xiaoming wanted to take over the King of Huainan, he would probably have secretly communicated with the retainers in the outer courtyard.
Yesterday's situation was so confusing, someone must be crying wolf. But she knew very little about these four people, and at the moment, she couldn't fathom what was so suspicious about their behavior. She had to find a way to deal with them, perhaps she could uncover some clues and follow the thread to the truth.
As I thought about this, the thought suddenly crossed my mind again - where's Feng Yanyuan? We've been distant these past two days. Thinking of this, I felt an inexplicable sense of melancholy.
Suddenly, a wisp of zither music drifted in, like smoke and fog, curling around the corner of the corridor. Yun Yuan followed the sound and, as she passed through the moon-shaped gate, she encountered Feng Yanyuan, half-hidden among the jagged rocks. He tilted his head slightly, his gaze darting into the pavilion, as if unwilling to disturb this moment of elegance.
The girl was delighted and could not help but quicken her pace: "Sir?!"
The sound of the piano suddenly stopped.
Feng Yanyuan turned around, but before he could speak, a loud laugh came from the pavilion: "Third Young Master Feng!"
Zuo Xiaoyao walked down the stone steps quickly, his face full of joy.
Yun Yuan lowered her eyelashes and quietly retreated behind Feng Yanyuan, hiding herself in the tall shadow.
Zuo Xiaoyao was as warm as an old friend reuniting. He began by rambling on about Mei Hanchuan's imprudence, then repeatedly apologizing for past events in Xia Pi. As he spoke, Wei Qianji also emerged from the pavilion. Yesterday, he had remained silent, observing from the sidelines, but now he seemed a changed man, his attentiveness bordering on fawning. He also claimed that Sect Leader Gongsun had rewarded them with eighty lashes of the cane and expelled them from the sect, and that without Third Young Master Feng's forgiveness, they would never again be able to enter the Wuji Sect.
Yun Yuan watched coldly.
This has always been the rule of the Jianghu. A young man, fresh out of the gate, became known for his peerless skills, naturally drawing the scorn and admonishment of heroes, not to mention the hefty reward offered for his capture. Had he perished that day at the Wangyou Inn, the idiom "bullying the few with the many" would have been self-defeating. Instead, he triumphed over the many, earning him a great reputation. With fame, one naturally cannot underestimate it, and the so-called Jianghu code of ethics applies to him.
The so-called rules of the underworld are nothing more than rules for the strong.
The three of them feigned politeness for a while, and even began to address each other by their courtesy names. Suddenly, a sweet voice called out from the vermilion railing: "There's fine wine and delicious food in the pavilion, sitting down there in the sun!"
Luqi was half leaning against the red railing, her snow-white neck looking like a crescent moon breaking through the clouds where her cloud-like hair fell sideways. Her slender jade fingers tapped the carved railing and her laughter was clear and melodious.
Zuo Xiaoyao's eyes were glued to the snow, and he was reluctant to turn his head. He just tugged at Feng Yanyuan's sleeves and said, "Zi Shang, how can we waste such beautiful women, delicious food, and such a beautiful scenery?"
Seeing this, Luqi leaned forward a little more, and the collar of her gauze dress slipped down half an inch. The sunlight passed through the carvings on the railings, weaving a golden web on her body, and each shadow perfectly outlined her graceful curves.
Seeing Feng Yanyuan gladly accept the invitation, Yun Yuan's heart suddenly tightened. She didn't know why, but her feet felt as heavy as lead, and she refused to take a single step. Just as Feng Yanyuan paused, looking back and smilingly asking, "What are you standing there for?", she suddenly felt a spring breeze caressing the icy lake, and her pent-up anger melted into honey, seeping into the cracks of her heart. Suddenly, she realized she had been jealous, sulking.
As you climb the stairs into the pavilion, the aroma of green plum wine hits your nose.
Even within this tiny space, there was a curved screen inlaid with mica. Next to the screen stood a mahogany zither inlaid with green. Next to the zither, on the table stood a gilded wine jug, and beside it, a few small Yue kiln celadon dishes filled with candied green plums.
The square rush mat was just big enough for four people to sit on.
Yun Yuan knelt behind Feng Yanyuan with his clothes folded, silent as a shadow.
Wei Qianji smiled and said, "I've heard that Zishang loves music, and it's true. We've been looking for you for a while, but we haven't seen you all day. Thank you, Madam Luqi, for this song that attracted you!"
Luqi covered her lips and smiled, "I'm afraid that Master Feng San will laugh at my piano skills. I don't know where he is today. Hero Zuo is going to find him."
"Madam Luqi is being modest." Feng Yanyuan said with a smile, "This song is truly heavenly. When I woke up and heard the music, I felt as if I were in heaven and on earth. Before I knew it, I had left this place."
Yun Yuan felt annoyed when she heard this, but unfortunately she was sitting behind him and couldn't glare at him.
"Wake up?" Luqi laughed in surprise, "Did you sleep until this moment, sir?"
Feng Yanyuan smiled wryly and said, "I chatted with the prince until dawn last night, and was fortunate to have him stay in the inner courtyard for a short rest."
Zuo Xiaoyao laughed and said, "The prince really favors Zishang. We are not allowed to stay in the inner courtyard of the palace."
Feng Yanyuan smiled and said, "Actually, it was yesterday..."
The voice suddenly paused, and everyone at the table held their breath. Yesterday, the alum writing on the brocade had been destroyed by the alcohol. Anyone with a discerning eye could see something fishy was going on, and they were just waiting for Feng Yanyuan to reveal something, and finally, the first half of the sentence came. Unexpectedly, Feng Yanyuan changed the subject, saying casually, "Yesterday, the prince heard that I was skilled in the art of Qimen Dunjia, so he ordered a special inspection of the mansion and the establishment of a mechanism."
When everyone first heard his words, they were disappointed. But when they heard the four words "Qi Men Dun Jia", their expressions became stern again.
Luqi stroked the wine cup with her slender fingers and asked curiously, "But is it the maze mentioned in the Huainanzi that 'makes people unable to leave'?"
“That’s exactly the way.”
"I didn't expect you to know this secret technique," Luqi's eyes flickered as she leaned forward slightly. "Did you set it up last night?"
"Not yet." Feng Yanyuan replied, "The palace has a secret mechanism that matches the numbers of the Nine Palaces. The formation can only be set up tonight."
Wei Qianji pondered for a moment. For days, he hadn't been able to grasp the secrets of Feng Yanyuan's moves at the Wangyou Inn. Now, he suddenly realized that they must also be in line with the mysterious art of Dunjia.
Wei Qianji asked, "I heard that the dragon roar and tiger howl the other night were also made by Zi Shang?"
Feng Yanyuan smiled slightly embarrassedly: "I'm sorry for disturbing you all in a hurry."
Zuo Xiaoyao sighed, "When I heard that Third Young Master Feng possessed the 'power to sweep through thousands of armies,' I thought it was just alarmist talk, meant to attract attention. I never thought it was actually true."
Luqi smiled and said, "I heard that it was three 'night wanderers' from the Guitou Gang the night before?" She was originally sitting opposite Feng Yanyuan, but after filling a round of wine, she sat down between Feng Yanyuan and Zuo Xiaoyao.
But with a flick of her wrist, the nectar drew a streak of light in the glass cup. As she held the pot to pour the wine, her eyes were full of smiles, a faint fragrance floated from her snow-white cheek, and her red lips exhaled like orchids.
"Sir, why don't you tell me what happened that night? I was so frightened that I fell off the bed!"
She deliberately pronounced the word "bed" softly, causing a sudden silence at the table. Then, as the beautiful woman leaned forward to pour wine, a light silk gauze slipped from her shoulders, brushing against Feng Yanyuan's chest. The white gauze hung halfway above her blue shirt, seemingly hanging, yet not falling, adding a touch of charm.
Feng Yanyuan leaned back half an inch without a sound. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw Yun Yuan clutching her shirt, her deer eyes piercing him. A faint smile played at the corner of his lips, and while accepting the wine cup, he moved halfway to the side.
When Luqi finally straightened herself, he gently put down the wine cup and said, "In a hurry, I just sent a palm wind through the air." The glass cup glowed coldly at his fingertips. "I really had no choice."
Wei Qianji smiled and said, "Are you as helpless as the leader of the Guitou Gang? He has lost a lot of people these days." As he raised the cup to his lips, his eyes drifted towards Luqi.
"Speaking of this," Luqi raised the corners of her lips slightly, and holding the bronze wine jug with her slender hands, she bowed to Feng Yanyuan: "I do have some fate with you, young master, and it will be clear now."
This sentence is quite clever, as it connects the incident of her causing the four ghosts to kill each other with Feng Yanyuan killing the Night Wanderer, making it seem like the two of them are chivalrous men who are both eliminating harm for the people.
Feng Yanyuan smiled without saying a word, raised the cup and drank it all in one gulp.
Seeing Feng Yanyuan finish his drink, Luqi lifted her sleeves and tilted her neck slightly, letting the nectar flow down her red lips. As the jug landed on the table, the tip of her tongue gently swept away the remaining drop of amber liquid on her lips.
When Yun Yuan raised her eyes, she saw the infatuated looks of everyone at the table - those men who usually prided themselves on being romantic were all captivated by that jade neck and soft breasts.
Unfortunately, she was kneeling behind Feng Yanyuan and could not see his expression, but at this moment, Luqi almost snuggled into Feng Yanyuan's arms, but he did not say a word of resentment.
This thought made her heart tremble violently, and she couldn't help but repeat it in her heart: He didn't get angry...
At this moment, Luqi, feeling drunk, sighed softly, "My paulownia zither still has a broken string, so I can only make do with this commonplace item." She looked at Feng Yanyuan with a charming look in her eyes, "I've heard that you're an expert in zither repair. Could you possibly fix this broken string for me?"
"It's just a piece of cake." Feng Yanyuan answered calmly.
Without Zuo Xiaoyao's frivolity, and unlike Wei Qianji's ambiguity, this response was frank and calm.
But Yun Yuan felt like he was falling into a deep, cold pond.
Feng Yanyuan’s words just now, “When I wake up and hear the music, I feel as if I am in heaven or on earth,” are still echoing in my ears, like a blunt knife cutting into my heart.
The conversation at the banquet was intermittent. Zuo Xiaoyao lamented the beauty's amorous nature, Luqi grumbled about his inability to repair the zither, and the laughter seemed to be separated by a thick veil. Even when Feng Yanyuan turned to look at her, his gaze, so close at hand, made her feel as if it were a mountain of distance.
Yun Yuan's heart trembled, and she suddenly tightened her ten fingers in her sleeves, digging her nails deeply into her palms - this was a method she had been familiar with since childhood, using pain to dispel distracting thoughts and crush all those inappropriate and useless emotions.
She had accompanied him to the table today in order to observe the background of these guests.
The atmosphere at the banquet suddenly turned into a play, and there were interesting things in the conversation and laughter.
Wei Qianji chatted and laughed calmly, his words leaking nothing, his unfathomable cunning more piercing than the flying knife hidden at his waist. Zuo Xiaoyao was a smooth and worldly-wise man. Compared to Feng Yanxuan's naturally romantic and carefree demeanor, his playful demeanor seemed a bit deliberate, revealing a slick and cunning air.
As for Luqi… Yun Yuan's eyes flickered with a cold glint. This woman's eyes were full of allure, but beneath that radiant smile, a cold calculation was clearly hidden. She seemed so close, yet in reality, she was like a mirage; no matter how hard you tried, you couldn't even begin to grasp her true form.
Dusk fell, the pavilion was chilly, and the banquet finally ended. Yun Yuan's knees buckled as she stood, and she nearly stumbled, but the man caught her just in time. But before she could even utter the word "thank you," Lu Qi stepped between them. She could clearly hear her drunken, soft words—"Inviting you to repair my zither strings."
Yun Yuan did not follow them to the Qin Pavilion. She lowered her head and watched as the sleeves of the people moved apart and disappeared into the moon cave gate.
Everything became quiet.
The night was as dark as ink. Yun Yuan's mind kept flashing back to fragments of the dinner, her thoughts growing wildly like vines, but she deliberately avoided the unfamiliar ache in her heart. When she reached the Moon Cave entrance, she paused, her breath catching. Was the aroma of the green plum wine a little too sweet?
It wasn't that sweet from the beginning, but it changed after Luqi sat down next to Feng Yanyuan. At the time, she was so distracted that she mistook the sweetness for the scent of ordinary powder. Now, thinking about it, it was clearly... the "Soul-Locking Fragrance" that could suppress her inner strength!
She tiptoed and rushed towards the piano pavilion.
The warm yellow candlelight filtering through the paper windows of the Qin Pavilion was already close at hand. The faint sound of the zither made her pause. Stunned, she saw a dark shadow suddenly approach, a hand covering her mouth and nose. As the world spun, she was lifted into the air.
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