Chapter 191
Even after the Lantern Festival, the lanterns in the city had not yet been taken down. As night fell, the city of Jinhuai was bathed in light, and people were everywhere.
For several days, no one had visited Mingyue Tower, but today it seemed as if a guest had come from afar. Not only was a magnificent carriage parked at the entrance, but also many guards in uniform, both men and women, stood guard, attracting frequent glances from passersby who found it quite novel.
"Since you're no longer delivering goods for the family, why are you bringing so many people with you?" Fu Xiang was still dressed in mourning clothes, without any bright colors from head to toe. She didn't wear any hairpins or earrings, and the only bright spot was the small purse hanging at her waist, which was old and rough, with the edges and corners of the material worn to the point of being almost torn.
There weren't many lamps lit in the mourning hall, so the light was dim. Duan Ning took three incense sticks, placed them on the candle flames, and said as he burned them, "With such a big thing happening to Master Fu, it's already a miracle that my father allowed me to go out. I was thinking of bringing just two people with me, but he's worried about me. Don't be fooled by the number of guards; they're all just for show. If anything really happens, they'll all run faster than I do."
Fu Xiang leaned against the door and said, "You really didn't need to come. There's been a lot of turmoil in the martial arts world lately, so it's best to stay home as much as possible."
“Of course I had to come, and I only regret that I didn’t come sooner. It’s all my father’s fault. He hesitated and kept looking back, refusing to let me pass,” Duan Ning said, placing the incense and candles and bowing to Fu Cen’s memorial tablet. “After receiving Yin Qiu’s letter, I knew something was going to happen to you. It was only with great difficulty that I persuaded my father to step in and save you. I never expected that Master Fu would be murdered at this time. If I had arrived earlier and cleared your name, with you watching over the building, Master Fu might not have suffered this misfortune.”
Fu Xiang stood there expressionless, paused for a moment after hearing her words, and then said, "Thank you, you're very kind."
Duan Ning, who was always particular about her clothes, had actually changed into something plain today. She glanced at Fu Xiang and said, "It's nothing, no need to thank me. I didn't have time to help much anyway. I'm not good with words, so I can only tell you to accept my condolences. If there's anything the Duan family can do for you in the future, just let me know. I'm already here, so staying for a couple of days shouldn't be a problem, right?"
Fu Xiang said, "Of course, there's no problem. The seventh day after my father's death has passed, and I've already buried him. I'll take you to the cemetery again tomorrow. Just rest tonight, pay your respects at the mourning hall, and that'll be enough."
Duan Ning had originally planned to go directly to the cemetery after paying respects at the mourning hall before it got too late, and since Fu Xiang had suggested it, she had no objections. Duan Ning looked Fu Xiang up and down and said, "Why do you seem so unmoved by grief? Your Mingyue Tower has been plagued with troubles lately. First you suffered, then Master Fu passed away. It's clear someone is targeting you. Now that you've taken over Mingyue Tower, you should be avenging your father, but why haven't I seen any action or plans from you?"
She was an outsider and had no idea what had caused these recent upheavals. In her letter, Yin Qiu only asked her to rescue Fu Xiang, but said nothing else, nor could she say anything else. Duan Ning had only recently entered the city gates, and after Fu Xiang received her, Duan Ning had been watching her closely, afraid that she might say something wrong and hurt her feelings. But strangely, Fu Xiang was not as depressed as she had expected.
—It was as if nothing had happened, as if it wasn't her father who had died.
Many flowers had bloomed in the courtyard. The last time Fu Xiang met Duan Ning, the winter plum blossoms were in full bloom; in the blink of an eye, they had faded and been replaced by peach blossoms. Fu Xiang looked towards the Zhengxin Tower not far away. The tower was brightly lit, and patrolling disciples were moving about as usual. Normally, Fu Cen would be in that tower reviewing documents and handling official business. Fu Xiang would finish her meditation, emerge from the secret passage to greet Fu Cen, and then bathe and go to bed.
It turns out that things change not only in the daily routine, but also in the ever-changing world.
“I have my own plans for things at home, and there’s no need for outsiders to know,” Fu Xiang said again, her tone turning colder. “It’s getting late, and the guest rooms have been prepared. Miss Duan, please go and rest. I won’t see you off.”
Duan Ning may seem careless, but she is actually quite meticulous. She noticed Fu Xiang's displeasure and didn't say anything more. The two walked out of the mourning hall together. After a moment's thought, Duan Ning continued, "My cousin lost her son and husband, becoming a widow in the blink of an eye. She's truly a tragic figure. Although she's gone, I've inquired and learned that it wasn't her own choice. The Luo family didn't want to get involved in the conflicts of the martial world, which is why they rushed to have my cousin take her home. Please don't blame them. However, this matter is ultimately unethical. I apologize to you on their behalf. You two were mother and daughter after all; I hope you won't hold it against them. From now on, we'll go our separate ways and not have any further contact."
Fu Xiang simply nodded without replying. Duan Ning took a few steps and then asked in puzzlement, "Speaking of which, the news about Master Fu is spreading like wildfire. Everyone should know about it by now. Why hasn't Yin Qiu come to see you yet? You two are such good friends. Even though you're so far away, she still remembered to ask me to save you. How come she hasn't come when something really bad has happened?"
Fu Xiang paused, her eyes dimming. She stared at the ground for a moment, then asked, "Does Miss Duan have any close friends?" She paused, then added, "Just like Xiao Qiu and I are close friends."
Duan Ning raised an eyebrow, pondered for a moment, and said, "I have a strange personality, and not everyone can get along with me. I know that myself. In the eyes of outsiders, I am arrogant and unreasonable. There are only those who can't stand me, but no one who is on good terms with me. I'm not afraid to say this, but to this day, I have never made any good friends. Why do you ask this?"
Fu Xiang was caught between a sigh and a silence. After a moment of silence, she said, "Let's say you have such a close friend. If one day, for various reasons, you are forced to turn against her, and you might even become enemies, would you choose to let go and run away for the sake of this friendship, or would you insist on going against her?"
Duan Ning considered what she meant and replied, "That depends on the situation. If it's something we have to do, then there's nothing we can do. But if it's not something we have to do, then we should let go of the precious friendship." After saying that, she looked at Fu Xiang discreetly and asked tentatively, "Don't tell me that the person you're talking about is Yin Qiu."
Fu Xiang paused for a moment, neither responding nor denying.
Duan Ning said with a strange expression, "Although there's a saying that you shouldn't comment without knowing the whole story, if it really is Yin Qiu, I have to say something bad about you. Before the New Year, she kindly warned you that you might be in danger, and after it came true, she even wrote to me asking me to save you. You know, she herself has just experienced many changes and almost lost her life. It's clear that she values you highly and cares deeply about you. You just said you wanted to fight her with swords. If you really can bring yourself to do it, then forgive me for being blunt, but you're not a good person."
Fu Xiang frowned deeply, her face flushed and paled, but she still sighed and said, "The difficulty lies in the fact that we really have no choice but to do it. I accept your criticism for speaking up for her."
Duan Ning couldn't stand anyone looking dejected in front of her. Knowing that Fu Xiang and Yin Qiu might face such a situation in the future, she couldn't help but feel a bit disgusted with Fu Xiang and asked, "So you mean you're going to choose to go against her?"
Fu Xiang neither agreed nor disagreed.
Duan Ning was straightforward, and seeing that she didn't answer for a long time, he ran out of patience and had nothing to say. He followed the maid back to his room.
Fu Xiang stood forlornly in the courtyard, taking off the purse from her waist and examining it for a long time. She murmured to herself, "Xiao Qiu, I'm sorry..."
·
For two days, the dome of Shangyuan City remained overcast, devoid of warm sunlight. Yin Qiu dismounted, and the disciples at the post station greeted her joyfully, leading her horse inside. Yin Qiu turned around, and Man Jiangxue rode up through the bustling crowd, landing before her. Her fragrant breath masked the pungent smells of the market and swept away the floating dust in the air.
"I arrived first, I won." Yin Qiu laughed in the wind, her eyes revealing a hint of pride rarely seen in front of outsiders as she looked at Man Jiangxue.
"I'll buy you candy." Man Jiangxue handed the reins to a gatekeeper on the side, then put her arm around Yin Qiu's shoulder and walked to the edge of the crowd.
It was still early, and the city was bustling after the festival. With so many people, it was easy to feel shoulder to shoulder. Man Jiangxue walked on the inside, slightly turning to block Yin Qiu's view. As they passed a pastry shop and were about to go in, Yin Qiu suddenly turned her head and said, "What a peculiar smell! Is it almond milk tea?"
A young vendor carrying a load on a shoulder pole walked over from the other end of the street. At first glance, his clothes and appearance were not much different from those of people from the Central Plains, but upon closer inspection, they were quite different.
"Would you like a bowl, young lady?" The vendor asked with a smile when he saw Yin Qiu looking at him.
Yin Qiu took out a few copper coins and got a bowl of hot apricot milk tea. He said with some surprise, "I haven't had it since I was a child when I tasted it with my uncle. I've been thinking about it ever since."
Man Jiangxue said, "We agreed that you would go to the post station first and I would buy you candy. Why should you pay for it yourself?"
Yin Qiu laughed and said, "Uncle is deliberately letting me win. I can say that I have achieved some success in other areas, but I am not good at riding. Uncle doesn't need to let me win. I can afford to lose this little thing."
The long street was bustling with people, and the breeze was beginning to warm up. Winter had gone so quickly. Yin Qiu had changed into light spring clothes and stood by the street like a magnolia blossom glistening with dew. She was so clean and beautiful that she seemed somewhat out of place among the passersby, like a pampered daughter raised in a secluded mansion. No one would have guessed that this seemingly delicate girl actually possessed exceptional martial arts skills; only Man Jiangxue had ever seen her draw her sword.
"After you drink this sweet tea, I'll buy you some snacks to take back to the palace," Man Jiangxue said, taking a small step to block Yin Qiu's path. "Let's wander around a bit more, and finally go to the powder shop you mentioned."
The situation is now very clear. Even without the hidden guards, there must be others secretly watching them. Therefore, they must be careful in everything they do and keep a close eye on things.
The two stood on the side of the street, with a wall draped with willow branches behind them. A vendor squatted beside them, calling out to attract customers, drawing several young men and women to buy tea. Yin Qiu looked up and her eyes met several lustrous pearl buttons. She looked up at Man Jiangxue, who was suddenly so close to her, and said, "This road is wide. Why are you standing so close to me, Uncle? Be careful I don't spill the tea on you."
“You’re too eye-catching,” Man Jiangxue said, her lowered eyes sparkling with a beautiful light. “A lot of people are watching you, don’t you know?”
Both women were quite eye-catching, but Man Jiangxue's aura was so overwhelming that passersby naturally dared not look at her too much. In contrast, Yin Qiu appeared quiet and unassuming, so she naturally attracted more attention.
Yin Qiu smiled slightly, picked up the porcelain bowl in her hand, and asked, "Would you like a sip, Uncle-Master?"
Man Jiangxue shook her head: "No, I don't like sweet things."
Yin Qiu didn't try to persuade her further. After finishing their tea, the two strolled around the market again, buying a lot of the sweets that Yin Qiu liked. Man Jiangxue held her hand with one hand and carried several oil paper packages in the other. After leaving the street, they turned right and walked straight ahead. The third intersection led to Lotus Street.
This street doesn't sell food; it's mostly filled with shops selling jewelry and the like. Yin Qiu has gone down the mountain quite often over the years, mostly to Qingluo City and Yaoding City, but not so much to Shangyuan City. The two walked along the street for a while and sure enough, they saw a shop ahead that specialized in perfumes and rouge. Even before they got close, they could smell a pleasant fragrance.
There was a tea shed outside the shop. When Yin Qiu was about to go inside, Man Jiangxue turned around and went into the shed, saying to Yin Qiu, "I won't go in. I'll wait for you outside."
Man Jiangxue only liked incense; she disliked these things, as they made her dizzy from smelling them too much. Yin Qiu replied with a "okay," and the girls inside came forward to greet her, asking, "What would you like to see, Miss? We have all kinds of rouge and powder. Which scent do you prefer?"
Yin Qiu pretended to walk around the store, and finally took out the jade pendant that Chen Wang had given her, saying, "I pre-ordered a watercolor powder from your store before the New Year, and I'm here to pick it up today."
Upon seeing the jade pendant, the young woman smiled knowingly and led Yin Qiu to a private room on the second floor, asking, "Are you Miss Yin from Yunhua Palace? Our Senior Brother Shen instructed us that he knew you would be coming."
Yin Qiu asked, "Has he sent any letters or messages?"
The girl said, "Yes," and then took out a letter from a hidden compartment on the bookshelf. "The words are all inside, please take a look."
Yin Qiu said "Thank you," unfolded the letter, and glanced at it. Chen Wang's letter was very simple, containing only a few words. After a short while, Yin Qiu put the letter back. She frowned and pondered for a while, then asked, "The Lantern Festival has passed in the blink of an eye. I want to know how my godfather's health is recovering. Is he alright?"
The girl replied, "It's not too bad. I heard from my junior sister that my godfather has been able to walk around these past two days, but he gets breathless and dizzy after walking for only a short time. He's still very weak. Although he's lost his power, his life is not in danger. You don't need to worry, girl. There are people in the valley taking care of him. As long as he takes good care of himself, he will surely recover in time."
Yin Qiu sighed and said in a deep voice, "That's good, thank you."
"You're welcome. I'll see you downstairs."
The two went downstairs to the hall. Yin Qiu bowed to the girl, walked out the door and went to the teahouse. He said to Man Jiangxue, "I thought that Young Master Shen might be able to get some useful clues, but he didn't mention it in his letter. He only said that he was turned away when he arrived at Mingyue Tower. Fu Xiang and Meng Wugui refused to see him."
Man Jiangxue ordered a pot of hot tea, but upon hearing this, she paused in her hand holding the cup and said, "That shouldn't be the case. If he were there, he would surely explain his background. How could Meng Wugui not be there?"
Although Meng Wugui's situation has improved, she would not refuse to help more people if she could. She and Gongzi Fan are both former members of the Ruyi Sect. When Shen Wang comes to her with a mission, he will definitely reveal that he is a disciple of Fanxin Valley. Gongzi Fan will also ask him to pass on a message. Once Meng Wugui learns that Gongzi Fan is also related to the Ruyi Sect, she will definitely meet with Shen Wang.
"So, Young Master Shen is holding back from me?" Yin Qiu said. "But if they met, why would he keep it from me?"
Man Jiangxue did not reply; subtle changes in her expression were hidden between her brows.
Yin Qiu speculated, "If, and I mean if, Young Master Shen met Meng Wugui and learned from her who the real culprit was who killed my mother, what concerns would he have about not telling me in the letter?"
Man Jiangxue hesitated for a moment without revealing her thoughts, then replied, "There are only two possibilities. First, if we find out the identity of the real culprit, Meng Wugui will worry that we will act before her, so she specifically instructed Shen Wang to keep it a secret for the time being. Second, Meng Wugui may have met with Shen Wang, but she did not tell him who the real culprit is. If it were me, I would definitely ask to meet with Gongzi Fan in person, and there is absolutely no way I would tell such an important matter to a young man."
Yin Qiu nodded, agreeing with her statement: "In that case, we are still in a passive position and can only wait for Meng Wugui to make the first move. However, my godfather assured me that he would not help Meng Wugui deal with Yunhua, so I can be a little more at ease about that for now."
Upon hearing this, Man Jiangxue's face showed a hint of doubt, and she said, "Let's not think that way yet. We haven't found out Gongzi Fan's true identity yet. If he finds out who the real culprit is, then this guarantee may not be valid."
Yin Qiu asked, puzzled, "Why is that?"
Man Jiangxue glanced at her, hesitated, and asked, "You've had more contact with him than I have. Have you ever considered who he might be?"
Yin Qiu thought for a moment and shook her head: "If I could have guessed, I would have told you long ago. To be honest, I don't know much about my godfather, and I've never been to Ruyi Sect. How could I have imagined who he might be?"
Man Jiangxue remained silent for a moment, not continuing the topic. She stood up and said, "Let's put that aside for now. As long as he doesn't have bad intentions towards you, everything is negotiable."
Yin Qiu hummed in agreement and followed Man Jiangxue out of the teahouse. The two returned to the post station to retrieve their horses, and without lingering in the city, rode back to Yunhua Palace. Man Jiangxue said, "I need to go to Mingguang Hall. Will you come with me, or should we return to Chenxing Hall first?"
Yin Qiu said, "I'll go to Wenxin Peak to see Meng Jing. My uncle and the sect leader will finish their conversation and wait for me."
Man Jiangxue agreed and gently patted Yin Qiu on the head. Seeing that no one was around, Yin Qiu leaned over and quickly kissed Man Jiangxue on the lips. She smiled, took an oil paper package from Man Jiangxue's hand, and said, "My Uncle Sugar, please take good care of this. If Bai Ling and Senior Sister Lu are here, remember to share some with them."
Man Jiangxue had been a porter all afternoon, and now she had to help her distribute candy to people, so she smiled and said, "Okay, okay, as you wish."
Yin Qiu was amused by her, turned around, and leaped over the palace wall, using her lightness skill to reach Wenxin Peak. Meng Jing's room was in Elder Xu's courtyard. When she arrived, she found the place in a state of chaos, with the disciples all looking extremely anxious.
Yin Qiu entered the courtyard, looked around, and then stopped a disciple to ask, "What's going on? What happened?"
Upon seeing Yin Qiu, the disciple choked up twice, his voice trembling with sobs, and said, "Junior Sister, please go in and see! Junior Brother Meng just vomited a lot of blood! Master said... Master said..."
Yin Qiu's heart skipped a beat, and she hurriedly asked, "What did Elder Xu say?"
The disciple's eyes were slightly red, and he wiped his tears with his sleeve, saying, "Master said that Junior Brother Meng's heart disease has relapsed, and it's coming on fiercely. If he can't get through this, he might not make it."
Yin Qiu's face turned pale, and she stood there in disbelief, the oil paper package in her hand falling to the ground with a "thud".
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
