swordsman
Bai Shi, a swordsman from Sichuan, is most famous for his love of wine and his unpredictable swordsmanship.
Legend has it that he wields a sword with such power that he can pluck flowers and brush grass, and that his sword shines with dazzling brilliance, yet no one has ever seen its true form.
At this moment, the man was drunk in Xiaoyao Tower, clinging to the carved screen in the elegant room and refusing to let go.
Zhang Liaoran couldn't budge him, and seeing the man leaning towards the east window, he broke out in a cold sweat and quickly called for the shopkeeper.
The shopkeeper was a chubby little old man. He was given several tasks, and even the strongest cook in the kitchen, who was the best at flipping woks, couldn't move him.
Not to mention that this man went on a drunken rampage, pulling out a willow branch and waving it around in the air, knocking down several wine cups in the blink of an eye, scaring the drinkers into fleeing.
The shopkeeper simply closed the door and called over Xie San Niang.
As the sun began to set, Xie Lingxi, wrapped in a cloak, hurriedly arrived to find the man's madness nearing its end.
Xie Lingxi stayed at home to recuperate for a few days, sending away various scheming colleagues of Liu Xu, young officials from the capital who came to hear gossip, and vengeful nobles who just wanted to make a fool of themselves...
Even her older brother, sister, Cui Yi, and others were told that she was "resting quietly" and were persuaded to go back before they could even sit down properly.
As for Xie Lingxi's father, who was blowing his beard, and his mother, who was carrying a basket of precious medicinal herbs, they had no time to care about Xie Lingxi and went to settle accounts with Liu Xu.
Finally, it's quiet.
She had just lain down on the couch when a waiter came running up, panting, shouting, "Madam, something's happened at Xiaoyao Tower!"
Wine cups shattered on the ground before her, the long table was cut in half, and wine spilled from the girl's red gauze skirt. She stumbled forward in a panic, her butterfly steps faltering.
The culprit, meanwhile, was embracing the screen, lost in thought.
Xie Lingxi's expression was complicated: "It's him?"
Zhang Liaoran nodded like a chick pecking at rice.
She had seen this person in her past life, but he was not as cheerful as he was today.
In the early years of the Dacheng era, Yan Ji ascended the throne. At that time, the leader of the rebel party was always followed by a person wearing a veil, revealing a deathly pale face.
Even if the person in front of her has a completely different demeanor than before, she will not mistake him for someone else.
Thinking it over, Xie Lingxi saw the half-drunk, half-awake person in front of her, so she asked the kitchen to get her a bowl of hangover soup. After the soup cooled down a bit, she poured it directly over the person's head. Even the most confused drunkard would sober up by now.
Besides, if she remembered correctly, this person knew martial arts.
Shiraishi's eyes widened as expected, and he wiped his face haphazardly, "Why did you pour water on me?!"
Xie Lingxi said coldly, "You chopped down ten tables, smashed several wine cups, and scared away two singing girls... Your guests scattered like birds and beasts, ruining my business that earns hundreds of coins a day. How do you plan to compensate me?"
"No... I—"
Bai Shi saw the mess in the room and was about to retort when Xie Lingxi said, "And another thing—the private room you booked was decorated with treasures I found all over the world, and the brocade is priceless; the wine you drank was called 'Thousand Gold Brew,' and there was only one of its kind in the entire capital, which you drank not a drop left—"
She paused, then turned and instructed, "Liaoran, put this in the account as well."
Zhang Liaoran straightened his chest and wrote quickly with swift strokes.
Seeing Bai Shi's terrified expression, Xie Lingxi smiled faintly and said, "Either pay it back today, or sign a written agreement. I will give you a maximum of three days' grace. If you haven't paid it back in three days, then go to the government office to discuss it."
Bai Shi was fully awake. He bent down and lowered the screen, about to hug Xie Lingxi's leg—
"My wife!"
"The people of Great Yan will not make things difficult for the people of Great Yan!"
Xie Lingxi kicked him away, "Enough nonsense, are you going to pay or not?"
Bai Shi was also born into a wealthy family. Although the lady he met was dressed elegantly and modestly, the fabrics she used and the hairpins she wore were all from ordinary people, indicating that she must be either rich or noble.
He nodded vigorously: "I will compensate, I will compensate."
Xie Lingxi nodded in satisfaction. "Where's the money?"
Bai Shi wrapped his coat tighter around himself and whispered, "Not yet."
"However, I also know some other jobs. If you let me stay here to work and earn money, I will definitely be able to pay it off in time."
That's not what Xie Lingxi wanted.
Today's matter may seem trivial or significant; it's merely a matter of breaking a few cups and damaging a few rooms. The Xie family owns countless shops in Chang'an and wouldn't care about such petty gains. However, people are invaluable.
She didn't know how this person had infiltrated the rebel party in her past life, but now that she had a fresh start in this life, there was still room for maneuver.
She wants all opportunities to come to her.
Xie Lingxi feigned hesitation for a few moments, then nodded as if in agreement, "It's a good idea..."
Before Bai Shi could even smile, she added, "But my staff is already full. Everyone has their own job and earns their own hard-earned money. We can't just fire someone because of you, can we?"
These words, though spoken lightly, were taken to heart by the group of men surrounding them.
Zhang Liaoran wholeheartedly agreed: "My wife is right. Why should a mere upstart like you be the one to kick us out?"
Shiraishi rubbed his hands, at a loss for what to do.
Xie Lingxi straightened her cuffs, which happened to brush against the gold-inlaid pomegranate jade bracelet on her fair wrist. She said slowly, "I've heard you can wield a sword?"
!
Bai Shi was truly astonished. Although he was very famous in Chang'an, he had never revealed his true face before. How did this woman know?
He glanced at everyone, then stared at Xie Lingxi and said, "My wife, I think we can talk alone."
The young man before her had a moon-white ribbon inlaid with gold tied in his hair, and his face was still youthful, clearly not yet of age. Xie Lingxi considered that there was no threat and was about to nod when she heard a voice from the doorway—"No."
The newcomer wore a light gray outer robe embroidered with several green bamboo branches, its fine details complementing the gentleman's elegant and refined appearance.
But her fair face furrowed, a blush rising to her cheeks. Liu Xu, leaning against the doorframe, panted and demanded, "What do you want to talk to my wife about?"
Just as Bai Shi was about to explain, Xie Lingxi appeared at the door in an instant, lifted his clothes to look inside, and said in a reproachful tone, "Your injuries haven't fully healed yet, what are you doing here?"
Liu Xu sneered.
After finally getting rid of the colleagues and friends who came to visit her in the hospital, she was finally able to have tea and chat with Xie Lingxi. However, as soon as she entered the courtyard, she was told by a maid that her mistress had gone to Xiaoyao Tower on business.
Not only did he run around before his injuries had healed, but upon entering the room, he overheard the young man wanting to speak alone with his wife, which immediately enraged him—
"If you don't come soon, this vixen will kidnap you."
Xie Lingxi chuckled: "This is really important."
Liu Xu naturally believed him, but he still had to throw a tantrum, so he looked at Bai Shi and said, "Then let the three of us talk it over in detail."
Seeing that the real husband had arrived, the workers were relieved and went downstairs to get to work.
Bai Shi looked around, about to refuse, but Liu Xu put his arm around his shoulder and "invited" him inside.
This young man is incredibly strong; he couldn't break free from his restraints.
The private room was indeed exquisitely decorated; even the brocade used to block the sunlight from the window was magnificent, showing the considerable effort the person who selected it had put in. He guiltily touched his nose, looking at the two people sitting shoulder to shoulder, speechless for a moment.
Xie Lingxi reminded him, "You can speak now."
Bai Shi: "How did you know I could wield a sword?"
Xie Lingxi smiled and said, "The marks on the table are neat and clean, which shows the sharpness of the sword. Is that so hard to guess?"
Bai Shi choked, not expecting such a simple reason. Seeing the gentle gaze of the young man beside Xie Lingxi, she felt a pang of envy. "What does my wife want me to do?"
"It's nothing. I just noticed your martial arts skills are quite good. How about you come work as a guard at my house?"
He was a pampered young master since childhood. Even though his family had declined, how could he become a bodyguard who depended on others?
Before Bai Shi could think of a way to refuse, Liu Xu asked, "A bodyguard? Then I still have to pay him his wages?"
Xie Lingxi took out the ledger and explained to him in detail, "No need, he owes me a lot of money."
“That would be great,” Liu Xu thought of the people who were always crowding around his door, “we should hire a guard.”
Seeing that the two were actually discussing it, completely disregarding his thoughts—after all, they were inexperienced in the ways of the world—Shiraishi slammed his fist on the table and shouted, "I won't do it!"
Xie Lingxi remained calm, raising an eyebrow: "Then return the money?"
Shiraishi clutched the money pouch at his waist tightly.
He had been away from home for several days and was destitute... He couldn't even afford to pay for tonight's room.
After thinking it over, Bai Shi gritted his teeth: "If I were your bodyguard, would there be a place for me to stay?"
Xie Lingxi: "Why not? You agreed?"
As darkness fell, Bai Shi recalled the annoying mosquitoes in the inn last night and the stench of the pigsty downstairs. Looking at the good-looking couple in front of him, he nodded solemnly.
My master taught me that a kind-looking person can't be that bad at heart, and that's definitely true.
...
As soon as she came downstairs, Liu Xu had brought a carriage, and inside was an incense that Xie Lingxi knew all too well.
He helped Xie Lingxi into the carriage, glancing lightly at Bai Shi.
He hadn't forgotten the way that young man had looked at Xie Lingxi just now.
Bai Shi was quite self-aware and sat down directly next to the coachman.
During the conversation, upon learning that these two were a famous couple in Chang'an, he nodded in agreement and was then asked, "Young master, do you live in Shu?"
He exclaimed in surprise, "How did you know, brother?"
The driver, a plump man, chuckled and said, "I'm also from Sichuan. I can tell from your accent that you can't seem to shake it!"
Then he asked why I came to Chang'an—
Bai Shi's trip to Chang'an was not a leisurely journey; his fame was merely a coincidence. He was passing through the countryside, where he performed acts of chivalry, rescuing several young men and women. In his distress, he considered himself a wandering knight-errant and found joy in his simple life.
So he replied, "There's no one at home, and I have nowhere to go. I heard everyone say that Chang'an is a good place, so I came."
The coachman was taken aback, but seeing Bai Shi's smiling face, he quickly replied, "That's right! Meeting our young master and lady is of utmost good fortune!"
Is that so?
Looking at the blue stone alleyway before him, Bai Shi's memory drifted back to two months ago.
He was practicing his swordplay by the riverbank when a servant rushed over, saying that something had happened at home.
He immediately dressed and returned home, but saw no sign of his parents. Only his wet nurse, with tears in her eyes, was holding two bundles, saying that the family had gotten into terrible trouble and she needed to take him away to escape.
He was caught in a flood on the road and got separated from his wet nurse. He drifted to Chang'an and heard people talking about the scandalous cheating case that had been making headlines some time ago. Only then did he realize that the trouble his wet nurse had mentioned was this very matter.
But his parents were both kind and righteous people, and no one in his family held official positions; they were just slightly wealthy gentry. He did not believe that they were colluding with anyone.
He noticed that people passing by addressed Liu Xu as "Lord Liu," and he also heard from others that Xie Lingxi was the wife of the Xie family of Chenliu. Both of them were upright people, and he unconsciously said things to the two of them that he would not normally say.
Upon hearing this, Xie Lingxi pondered, "Your parents have been imprisoned?"
Shiraishi clenched his fists. "I don't know."
"This case involves a great deal of people. His Majesty did not target the Third Prince and the Lu family behind him, but instead used the Chen family as a scapegoat. As for the several threads that are involved from this center, whether they are innocent or not depends on their own abilities."
Seeing Bai Shi's astonishment, Liu Xu kindly translated: "In other words, if you are certain that your parents would not do such a thing, then the real culprits involved in the cheating case must be right beside you."
Who is closely connected to your family?
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