Chapter 44 Dust and Light (Part 3) This was bought just for you. ...
This short sword was acquired by Lord Wei in Yaocheng during his campaigns.
Lord Wei had a vast arsenal of weapons, and Wei Yuanzhan, from the very beginning of his self-taught language learning, begged and pleaded with them to take away countless of them.
This particular seal was taken out by his grandfather on his seventh birthday. He sat under the shade of a tree and asked him if he wanted a name engraved on it.
He thought the character "瞻" was too complicated and "元" was too arrogant, and couldn't come up with a good idea for a long time. His grandfather laughed at his indecisiveness, so he stopped asking and simply took his sword and engraved the character "甲" on the scabbard.
“甲” and “元” are synonyms, with “甲” being the superior one.
It suits his name perfectly without being overtly revealing; it's very appropriate.
Of all the weapons Wei Yuanzhan inherited from his grandfather, besides the spear that accompanied his grandfather into battle, the one he cherished most was the knife in his hand.
He stopped at the bottom of the doorway, looked at Song Zhirou, and couldn't help but smile sarcastically to himself.
I was being far too generous, actually thinking of giving her a dagger as a response to her "goodness" towards everyone.
Wei Yuanzhan turned around, neatly tucked the short knife into his sleeve, then stepped inside and slowly sat down in his seat.
When Zhi Rou saw him, she ran straight to the desk. Before she could say a word, he waved his hand dismissively, as if to say, "Go play by yourself."
Zhi Rou was puzzled for a moment before saying, "I asked Lan Ye to send it to you yesterday, did you see it?"
"I didn't see it."
Upon hearing this, Zhi Rou immediately turned around and met Lan Ye's gaze.
Lan Ye glanced at his master, then at the Fourth Miss, and was momentarily speechless.
When Zhi Rou turned around again, Wei Yuanzhan had already arranged all the writing implements. She glanced down for a moment, then frowned: "Isn't that Huzhou brush good?"
Most gift-givers share the same thought: they hope the recipient will be pleased to receive the gift and that the recipient will be able to use it.
The thought of Wei Yuanzhan neatly storing that Huzhou brush, box and all, in his room brought a cold smile to his lips. Who knew where she had bought that brush in bulk and distributed it to so many people, yet he had kept it like a precious pearl?
Why don't you ask your older brother or sister?
"What does 't' mean?" Zhi Rou put down the flowers and pondered for a while. "I only bought them for you."
Huzhou brushes are expensive and not easy to obtain. Song Hanjin and the others use Beijing brushes, which they are used to and don't like to switch to.
Wei Yuanzhan was taken aback by her words, glanced at her, and his lips twitched upwards. He quickly pursed his lips and said, "I put it in the room."
His gaze shifted elsewhere, and he added, "I'll use it."
Zhi Rou glanced at him for a moment, but didn't pay much attention. Her gaze swept over his back: "Sheng Xingyun hasn't come for several days. Do you know what's wrong with him?"
“His father tests his studies at the end of each month. He neglected his studies last month, so he probably didn’t pass the test with his father and is locked up at home.”
Seeing that she remained silent, Wei Yuanzhan suddenly asked, "Are you practicing archery today as well?"
Zhi Rou nodded, then took out the jade thumb ring and fastened it to her finger: "It was a gift from my third sister. I've wanted it for a long time, and I can't let her kindness go to waste."
Speaking of this, she lowered her head and instructed Wei Yuanzhan, "I won't go to Qiyun Garden today. I'll have to ask you to take care of Master's orchids."
Wei Yuanzhan frowned slightly: "I understand."
After answering correctly, Zhi Rou turned to look outside the door, guessing that the teacher would be arriving soon. Without saying anything more, she prepared to return to her seat to find a book.
Wei Yuanzhan couldn't help but ask, turning slightly to the side, "You really didn't have any ulterior motives in giving me those things?"
Lan Ye's words were not without reason. When had Song Zhirou ever been kind to him? Wasn't it just an opportunity to tease him? Thinking back to the stir-fried goose that had been mixed with mustard powder before, he was extremely cautious before eating the roast goose this time, making sure it was safe before daring to eat it.
"What do I want from you, a mouth harder than copper and iron?"
Zhi Rou laughed at herself after she finished speaking. She sat down and smiled at Wei Yuanzhan's stiff face, saying, "No need to thank me."
Only after Wei Yuanzhan sat up straight and went back did she show a slightly guilty expression.
That day, after leaving the Ling residence, Ling Hewei's words lingered in Zhirou's ears. She was suspicious of her mother's identity, and also of herself. Not knowing where to begin, she thought of investigating General Chang's affairs, hoping to find out something.
So these past few days, she's inquired at the Zhitu Pavilion many times, but all she got was useless information.
Until yesterday, the owner of Zhitu Pavilion personally received her.
According to him, there was a historian in the capital named Yuan who loved to copy and preserve every battle. From before the emperor ascended the throne to the present day, he was a complete military strategist.
Her father probably knew about her past sneaking out of the mansion and dressing as a man to roam the streets. He could protect her from these things, but he might not be able to allow her to investigate the past.
Zhi Tu Guan is located on Chengping Street, a bustling and crowded place. Every day, Zhi Rou would go to different shops, climb over the back wall to Zhi Tu Guan, gather information, climb back over, buy something, and then walk out through the main entrance with a swagger.
Counting from the first day, it has been exactly five days until yesterday.
Jin Hui shone the light from inside to outside. Zhi Rou placed one hand on the desk, her palm slightly curled, and then slowly relaxed it, pondering how to enter the Yuan residence's study.
Lord Yuan had no children and lived alone. He seemed to be honest and upright, and there were few servants in his house, only an old servant and three household servants.
Even Ling Hewei dared not utter the name "General Chang" more often, so Zhi Rou naturally wouldn't openly associate with those three words. She couldn't befriend that historian; and she had to investigate General Chang's affairs in secret.
Zhi Rou lowered her eyes and made a bold decision.
As school was about to end, Wei Yuanzhan seemed to care a lot about Zhi Rou's sharp tongue and insisted on exchanging a few words with her to show that he was not unreasonable.
At this moment, he stepped into the cave entrance, turned around, and waited for Zhi Rou: "You practiced archery at the Song residence, was there enough space?"
Seeing Wei Yuanzhan talking to his fourth sister, Song Hanjin went up to the corridor. Only then did Zhirou turn to look at him: "What's wrong?"
"There's a drill ground behind Tingsong Academy. If you want to go there, I have connections."
Zhi Rou looked at Wei Yuanzhan's face and suddenly smiled: "Is this a return gift?"
Wei Yuanzhan turned his head away uncomfortably: "Think whatever you want."
The Song family has never produced a military general. The large mansion has been passed down through generations and has a unique and elegant style. Apart from a few spacious courtyards, there are few places to practice martial arts, so it is indeed inconvenient to set up targets and practice archery.
When Zhi Rou usually practiced target shooting at Longyue Pavilion, everyone would avoid her like the plague. She thought for a moment and said, "Tomorrow then, I'll practice today..."
Before she could finish speaking, Wei Yuanzhan turned his gaze over and suspiciously scanned her face.
Zhi Rou avoided his gaze somewhat, clearing her throat: "I checked the almanac this morning, and it said that it's not advisable for women to go out today, it's dangerous."
"You believe it?"
He spoke with a slight laugh, not as if he were asking a question.
Zhi Rou immediately replied, "Why wouldn't I believe you? I believe anything that concerns safety."
Wei Yuanzhan observed her quietly. Her emotions were not revealed on her face, and she seemed no different from usual. However, for some reason, he sensed that something was amiss.
She refused to admit it, so he had no choice but to put it aside for the time being.
When it was time to part ways, Wei Yuanzhan tossed out a sentence: "Thanks for those things."
Leaving the Song residence, the carriage swayed gently. Wei Yuanzhan took out a short knife from his sleeve, his thumb idly pushing it along the scabbard. The blade gleamed as it left its sheath, reflecting the light, upturned eyebrows of his eyes.
Is the almanac unsuitable?
Song Zhirou is lying.
What is it that she has to hide from him?
Wei Yuanzhan frowned in thought when Chang Huai's voice sounded from outside the carriage window: "Sir, it looks like there's a young lady up ahead."
His expression changed slightly: "Stop the car."
Stepping down, her gaze sweeping through the crowd, Wei Mingying, accompanied by her personal maids, walked slowly into a teahouse.
"Lan Ye, go." Wei Yuanzhan instructed.
Lan Ye accepted the order and left. Chang Huai asked, "Shall we follow?"
"No need," Wei Mingying said. She was traveling with her maid, and she would mostly be meeting women. With Lan Ye there, she was safe. "You drive the carriage, I'll take a walk."
The sky was still bright, shop signs were fluttering in the breeze, and people were coming and going on the street.
As they approached a restaurant, the strong aroma of charcoal and spiciness wafted over them. Wei Yuanzhan stopped and glanced at the signboard.
Roast goose.
He smiled. Was this the store where Song Zhirou bought it for him that day?
After walking a few steps, another pen shop came into view.
Wei Yuanzhan hadn't thought much of it at first, but next to the pen shop was a fan shop; next to that was a fruit shop; and further ahead was the riverbank. It was April, and the road was full of flowers, a splendid sight to behold.
Roast goose, Huzhou writing brush, folding fan, plum, flowers.
They are listed exactly in order.
Wei Yuanzhan frowned in thought. After a while, he turned to the side and scanned Chengping Street from beginning to end, but found nothing new or interesting.
“Changhuai,” he slightly raised his sleeve, and as the man approached, asked, “is there anything special about this street?”
Chang Huai was confused: "What do you mean, sir?"
"Are there any unusual items or people in the shops or among the merchants?"
"Apart from Chang Le Lou, the shops along Chengping Street are all ordinary shops, some old and some new, nothing special... Oh, at the end there is a Zhi Tu Guan that specializes in information, but it was banned by the court in the early years and now it has been converted into a tea business."
Wei Yuanzhan glanced up and said, "Go take a look."
As the sun sets, golden dust floats in the air, swirling gently in the breeze.
"Fourth Miss, will this... work?"
Xinghui stood nervously by the bed, looking at the young master who had changed clothes with her, her heart pounding wildly.
“We are about the same size. When the sky darkens, who can tell the difference?” Zhi Rou smoothed out the creases on her sleeves, bent down, and put on her shoes while instructing, “If I don’t return in an hour and a half, don’t look for Father. Go tell Second Brother to go to Lord Yuan Zhaobi’s residence to look for me.”
"Second Young Master? Can he be relied upon?"
Zhi Rou stood up: "I can rely on you."
Xinghui was still worried: "Fourth Miss, you..."
“Sister Xinghui,” Zhirou called softly, her features appearing exceptionally clear and beautiful in the flowing twilight, “I won’t put myself in danger, you can trust me, right?”
Xinghui remained silent, anxiously rehearsing his worst course of action in his mind.
At the same time, Zhi Rou looked herself up and down in the mirror. She looked quite like herself, but the clothes weren't cheap.
She paced around the room, finally grabbing a few straps to tie up the hem and sleeves of her dress so they wouldn't get in her way.
As the sun's shadow faded and the moon climbed higher, Zhi Rou gave Xing Hui a reassuring gesture and left through the door.
Xinghui disguised herself as her and waited anxiously in the room.
"Tick-tock, tick-tock..."
"Where is your daughter? Is she asleep?"
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