Chapter 27
It was already dark, and because of the rain, there were no candles lit inside, making it even darker than usual.
"Alright, alright, Xiao Qiu, don't cry," Man Jiangxue said with a hint of helplessness. "Your master didn't scold you. Your master just noticed that you were hesitant, as if you were hiding something from me. Tell me properly about that medicine bottle. Once you've explained it clearly, your master won't blame you, okay?"
With tears blurring her vision, Yin Qiu shrank back, her hands and feet trembling. The more Man Jiangxue coaxed her with kind words, the more uneasy she felt, and she couldn't stop crying.
After a long while, Yin Qiu finally calmed down a bit. She mentally organized her words and said in a barely audible voice, "I... I was just afraid you would blame Fu Xiang. She meant well. Maybe... maybe she's on good terms with the other senior sisters and took a few extra bottles. If it's against the rules, then punish me if you want, it has nothing to do with Fu Xiang. Please don't go after her..."
Man Jiangxue understood and smiled, "So that's why. It's not a big deal. You could have told me sooner. Do I look like an unreasonable person?"
Having fabricated a lie and dragged Fu Xiang into it, Yin Qiu instantly felt disgusted with herself. However, she had already promised Gongzi Fan and couldn't go back on her word. Besides, the consequences of her words were immeasurable. Once Man Jiangxue found out, she would definitely report it to the sect leader. At that point, it wouldn't be a matter of whether or not she learned kung fu.
Yin Qiu is almost eleven years old. She is certainly not an ignorant child. She may be naive and innocent in some ways, but that does not mean she is not perceptive. Yin Qiu can distinguish the pros and cons. Moreover, she and Man Jiangxue have already discussed the matter to this point, covering up the hidden truth behind it. From now on, she must keep the truth to herself and never mention it again.
"Put your clothes on after you've finished crying," Man Jiangxue wiped away Yin Qiu's tears. "See if there's anything you need to take. Do you want to stay at my place for one night or two?"
Seeing that Man Jiangxue was no longer asking about the medicine bottle, Yin Qiu secretly breathed a sigh of relief and quickly asked, "Can I stay for two nights?"
“There’s nothing wrong with it,” Man Jiangxue said. “You can decide for yourself.”
Yin Qiu burst into laughter through her tears, immediately jumped off Man Jiangxue to find her shoes, looking flustered.
"Wait for me, I need to pack my books, I need to memorize them."
Man Jiangxue replied "okay," sat on the edge of the couch without moving, and waited quietly for Yin Qiu. After Yin Qiu had taken the books and a change of clothes, Man Jiangxue took Yin Qiu's hand and went out, heading towards Jingyue Peak.
The rain was pouring down, and the only sound all around was the clamor of rain. Apart from the disciples who were still patrolling in their raincoats, there were hardly any people to be seen in the palace. Man Jiangxue held an umbrella in one hand and put her arm around Yin Qiu's shoulder with the other, slowing her pace.
Yin Qiu followed closely beside Man Jiangxue, still feeling a bit scared and unable to completely calm down. She walked for a while in a sullen mood, then looked up at Man Jiangxue and noticed that she had held the umbrella to a very sideways angle, and half of her shoulder was soaked. Yin Qiu herself, on the other hand, was completely dry, shielded by the oil-paper umbrella, and even the hem of her skirt was not wet.
"Uncle-Master, your clothes are all wet." Yin Qiu's eyes were still red, and her voice was trembling with tears.
“It’s alright,” Man Jiangxue glanced down at her, “I’m not afraid of the cold.”
"What if you catch a cold?" Yin Qiu grasped Man Jiangxue's hand holding the umbrella and gently moved the umbrella over to her.
Seeing Yin Qiu's thin and slender wrists, Man Jiangxue paused slightly, then handed the umbrella handle to Yin Qiu, and bent down to pick her up.
Man Jiangxue said, "Then you can hold the umbrella for me."
Holding Man Jiangxue firmly in his arms, Yin Qiu felt a surge of tenderness in her heart. She quickly placed the umbrella handle between them and glanced at Man Jiangxue's shoulder from time to time.
The rain was heavy, causing the umbrella to tilt from side to side. Yin Qiuli struggled to adjust the position of the umbrella handle, afraid that Man Jiangxue would get wet again.
“Don’t worry about me,” Man Jiangxue said. “Just make sure you don’t get wet.”
Looking at Man Jiangxue's serene profile, Yin Qiu said softly, "No, the rain is too heavy. Martial Aunt is human too, and she can get sick."
Man Jiangxue smiled slightly and said, "My martial uncle is no ordinary person; he doesn't get sick so easily."
Yin Qiu stared at her and said very seriously, "I know, my martial uncle is very powerful."
A soft, sweet voice rang in her ears, filled with undisguised admiration and longing. Man Jiangxue had heard countless praises and flattery, but she had never taken them to heart. However, upon hearing Yin Qiu's sincere words, she couldn't help but smile and say, "Is that so?"
Yin Qiu nodded solemnly and said, "In my heart, my martial uncle is the most powerful person."
Are all children this sweet-talking? Man Jiangxue patted Yin Qiu and said, "I know."
·
Passing through palaces and turning down several stone paths, in the midst of a sudden downpour, a blurry red shadow slowly appeared in the distance, like a large patch of rouge dissolved in the mist, hazy and dreamlike from the rain. As the two approached, rows of elegant buildings gradually became clear within the red shadow, standing out quite uniquely in the continuous rain.
Only when you get closer can you see that those red shadows are actually densely packed maple trees, dazzlingly red and vibrant, covering the entire summit of Jingyue Peak, as if draped in a layer of rosy clouds.
The landscape is ablaze with white and red, with red maple leaves dotting the white snow, a beauty that seems otherworldly, surpassing even a fairyland.
Along the way, Yin Qiu paid attention to the scenery in various parts of the palace. His eyes were dazzled and he couldn't take it all in. When he arrived at Jingyue Peak, he couldn't take his eyes off it.
Unlike the solemnity and grandeur of other places, where palaces are also built in a magnificent manner, Jingyue Peak in Manjiangxue is more like a paradise far away from the world, elegant and quiet, with a unique style everywhere.
Strangely, however, there was not a single person in sight on the entire Jingyue Peak, not even any guards or disciples.
"Why is there no one here?" Yin Qiu looked around.
“I don’t need anyone to guard this place.” Man Jiangxue carried Yin Qiu up the stone steps.
"What if something happens to you?" Yin Qiu asked. "You can't do everything yourself, can you?"
“There’s nothing wrong with doing things personally,” Man Jiangxue said, pausing for a moment. “Actually, it’s not like there’s no one at all; it’s just that they’re all hiding in the shadows, so you can’t see them.”
Yin Qiu thought for a moment, then a look of excitement appeared on her face: "I know, just like the secret guards in the story, when you need to find them, you just need to shout."
Looking at her innocent and carefree appearance, Man Jiangxue chuckled and said, "There's no need to shout. Disciples who can serve as secret guards have sharp ears and eyes, and their five senses are extremely keen. There's no need to deliberately raise your voice; they can hear you."
Yin Qiu became interested and put her arm around Man Jiangxue's neck, saying, "Really? Then, Uncle-Master... could you call someone out for me to see?"
Man Jiangxue said, "What's so interesting about this?"
Yin Qiu blinked her big eyes, her voice slightly pleading, and said, "I'm just curious..."
"Then you should think about what to say after the person shouts out," Man Jiangxue said as she entered the corridor and put Yin Qiu down from her arms. "Summoning the secret guards is no child's play. Since you want to see them, you need to give me an explanation."
Yin Qiu had no idea that the secret guards were not beings who could appear at will, and she was at a loss for words: "Do I really have to say something? I haven't thought of anything yet."
Man Jiangxue took the umbrella, shook off the rain, and said, "If a senior brother or sister specifically called you out, didn't say anything to you, and didn't have any important business to do, but just looked at you as if you were a novelty, how would you feel?"
Yin Qiu reacted quickly, immediately understanding that Man Jiangxue was reprimanding her for her lack of manners. She quickly said, "I understand, Martial Aunt, this was wrong," and then, glancing at Man Jiangxue's expression, she added, "I know I was wrong..."
Man Jiangxue didn't say anything. She first held the oil-paper umbrella by the railing to let the water drain, and then patted Yin Qiu's head and said, "You did a good job of admitting your mistakes." After saying that, Man Jiangxue raised her head and said to the empty wind and rain, "Someone come here."
Seeing that Man Jiangxue had complied with her request, Yin Qiu was overjoyed and looked around expectantly. Sure enough, not long after, a black-clad disciple wearing a rain hat and a raincoat flew over and landed in front of the two of them.
"What are your orders, Uncle-Master?" the guard asked respectfully, bowing.
"Bring some charcoal, not too much, just enough for two days," Man Jiangxue said.
"Yes, Uncle-Master." The guard accepted the order.
“It’s raining heavily today, so the disciples don’t need to take turns on duty,” Man Jiangxue said again. “They can come back whenever the rain stops.”
"Thank you, Uncle-Master. I'll get you the charcoal right away." Although the guard was masked, his eyes were filled with joy, and he quickly and nimbly left.
Witnessing the man disappear into the wind and rain, Yin Qiu was overjoyed and finally spoke up, "It's true! He came as soon as I called out!"
"This is a one-time exception." Man Jiangxue flicked Yin Qiu's forehead with two fingers and entered the hall.
Yin Qiu winced in pain, letting out a "ouch" as she was flicked, and quickly covered her forehead as she followed behind Man Jiangxue.
·
The main hall was spacious and bright, with lanterns lit everywhere. Snow-white gauze curtains hung down, swaying in the wind. On the mahogany table in the inner hall, delicious dishes were already laid out, emitting wisps of steam and filling the air with the aroma of food.
Normally, Yin Qiu would have eaten in the canteen with Fu Xiang long ago, but after half a day, she was really hungry. She sat down at the table with Man Jiangxue, looking surprised.
“I saw you like sweet things when you were down the mountain,” Man Jiangxue ladled out a bowl of soup and handed it to Yin Qiu. “This is red bean soup, have a taste.”
Looking at the colorful dishes on the table, Yin Qiu was wondering which one to pick first when she took the sweet soup and gulped down more than half a bowl in one go. She said with satisfaction, "It's so delicious!"
"Eat your fill," Man Jiangxue said, adding more food to Yin Qiu's plate. "The monthly exam is the day after tomorrow. After you finish eating, review your lessons. Once you've digested, I'll check on your swordsmanship."
Yin Qiu shoveled rice into her mouth, which was stuffed full, and had no time to answer. She just nodded repeatedly.
In Yin Qiu's eyes, the food in the canteen was comparable to that of a restaurant, and the food at Manjiangxue was even better, practically a delicacy. Yin Qiu had suffered from hunger many times since childhood, and the best place she had ever been was the Su family in Jinhuai City. Master Su and Madam Su were kind-hearted people who never treated their servants harshly, but the old woman in charge was selfish and heartless. She often secretly deducted the monthly wages of the maids and servants and only gave them leftovers. Yin Qiu and the other girls could only eat cold steamed buns and drink dirty water from vats. How could they compare to the good treatment at Yunhua Palace?
As Yin Qiu ate, she recalled all her past experiences, and a wave of sadness welled up in her heart.
Perhaps it was because she was taken care of so meticulously by Man Jiangxue after meeting her, and because she had food and drink and a private room to stay in Yunhua Palace, and also met her righteous and considerate friend Fu Xiang, as well as many friendly and lovely fellow disciples with whom she did not have close contact, that Yin Qiu gradually forgot those bad days in the past as she studied and practiced martial arts day after day.
But at this moment, in this unfamiliar place I've just set foot in, with a table full of dishes I've never tasted before, Yin Qiu was suddenly reminded of her past suffering. It was as if she had just come to her senses that she felt an indescribable sense of unreality.
It was as if the peace and tranquility she had enjoyed all this time was an illusion, and the people and events she had encountered were just a dream. What if one day she opened her eyes and the dream shattered, and she was still that timid and fearful little maid in the Su residence, who was always hungry and cold? And everything she had now was just a fleeting illusion, a phantom that she had briefly possessed.
The bright lamps, like stars, stung Yin Qiu's eyes, and her hand holding the bamboo chopsticks trembled involuntarily. She stared blankly at Man Jiangxue.
Just like when they first met, Man Jiangxue was still dressed in snow-white clothes, her face calm and her temperament serene. When she didn't speak, she actually looked a bit cold and unapproachable. But as soon as she smiled, her beautiful face was like the moon after the clouds had parted, warm and clear, pure and bright, like the last bit of snow under the sunlight, clean, delicate and precious.
But Yin Qiu didn't understand why, even though Man Jiangxue was so close to her, she always felt that Man Jiangxue was actually very far away from her at certain times.
The Master once taught a word called "being anxious about gains and losses." Yin Qiu secretly wondered if her feelings for her martial uncle were exactly that kind of "being anxious about gains and losses."
"Uncle-Master..." Yin Qiu's heart trembled, her mind disturbed by the inexplicable surge of grief. Her fingers unconsciously loosened, and the two wooden chopsticks fell to the table with a crisp sound.
"What's wrong?" Man Jiangxue noticed that Yin Qiu's voice was off, and when she looked at Yin Qiu, she noticed that her expression was strange, so she also put down her chopsticks.
Yin Qiu opened her mouth, but no sound came out. She had so much to say, but didn't know where to begin. After a moment, she felt confused and, after a long pause, forced a smile and said softly, "Nothing, I just wanted to call your name..."
"At such a young age, your face is full of worries," Man Jiangxue put more food on Yin Qiu's plate and asked, "What troubles you?"
Her hands, holding chopsticks, were clean and elegant, with clear and slender fingers that were exceptionally beautiful. Yin Qiu looked at Man Jiangxue's hands and said, "No, I just..." She paused, then suddenly placed her palm on the back of Man Jiangxue's hand, "I just wanted to call your name and see if you would answer me."
The bright candlelight shone on Yin Qiu's fair and delicate face, revealing a melancholy that seemed out of place for her age. Man Jiangxue looked at Yin Qiu and frowned slightly.
But in an instant, Man Jiangxue relaxed her eyebrows again. She lowered her eyelashes, looked at Yin Qiu's hand, and then turned her wrist to wrap Yin Qiu's hand in her own.
“I agreed,” Man Jiangxue said. “And then?”
Feeling the warmth emanating from their skin as they touched, Yin Qiu pursed her lips and said, "And then... then it proves that my martial uncle is real."
Man Jiangxue looked at her.
Yin Qiu said, "I always feel like I'm dreaming." She simply got up and leaned on Man Jiangxue's shoulder. "Uncle-Master, there are so many people of my age in the disciple's courtyard, but you are only kind to me. I can be taken here by you to play, and there are so many delicious things to eat. But they don't have the same treatment. For example, Fu Xiang was very happy when class ended earlier. She even wanted to take me to stroll around the palace. But look, it's raining so hard outside. They must have returned disappointed and could only stay in their rooms to sleep. But I'm different. I can be with Uncle-Master."
Man Jiangxue listened quietly to Yin Qiu's words, and finally asked, "Do you feel bad about receiving special treatment?"
Yin Qiu said, "I guess so. I just feel like I shouldn't have this kind of luck..."
“You’re overthinking it,” Man Jiangxue said. “They have parents who visit them every month, and their daily needs are taken care of. You just had a meal here and didn’t get anything different from others. Besides, it’s only right that I take care of you. Don’t take it to heart.”
Yin Qiu looked up at her and said, "But I'm afraid people will gossip... Back when we were in the building, that girl was nice to me, and a lot of people ostracized me because of that. Actually, I don't care about myself, but I'm afraid of implicating my uncle, and I'm worried that others will think you're biased."
Man Jiangxue said, "This is not something you should worry about, nor do you need to care about other people's opinions. Besides," she smiled as she said this, "even if I want to be biased, it is my own business, and it is not up to others to point fingers."
Yin Qiu felt incredibly warm inside.
“But these are all trivial matters,” Man Jiangxue said. “If you make a mistake in other areas, your martial uncle will not protect you, understand?”
Yin Qiu nodded: "I understand."
"Then eat properly," Man Jiangxue said, pressing Yin Qiu back down to sit. "It'll get cold soon."
Yin Qiu smiled slightly, picked up her bowl and chopsticks again, and began to eat heartily.
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