Chapter 166 Uncle, even a hurricane couldn't kill us.
"No, no, it's not that serious." Ji Fang was startled by Lou Cangyu. "Isn't everything alright now? Brother... we're still brothers."
Ajiu stepped forward to help Guan Ye up and turned to leave, his clenched fists bulging with veins. "Brother? Ji Fang, you still dare to call Young Master Pei your brother? From now on, there are no more brothers."
Lou Cangyu picked up his sword and turned back to his room without looking back. Only three swordsmen remained in the large backyard, still dazed. "A-Jiu, A-Jiu..." Ji Fang called out several times to their retreating figures. "What happened?" Ji Fang asked, looking annoyed. "They were fine just a few days ago..."
Xiao Ma pressed Ji Fang's trembling shoulder, and Ji Fang's eyes instantly reddened. Suddenly, he slapped himself hard, saying, "It's my fault."
"What did I blame you for this time?" Feng Shisan was completely confused.
"It's all my fault for having such a foul mouth." Ji Fang slapped him again. "What did I say on the island? When A-Jiu was injured, I said he'd lose his eyebrow the day after tomorrow, and the brothers would turn against each other... It's a self-fulfilling prophecy, a self-fulfilling prophecy!"
"Pah!" Feng Shisan raised his fist as if to punch him. "This is nothing, what's the big deal? With me here, no one can turn against us, you hear me?"
Ji Fang, his face contorted with grief, dared not speak further. Xiao Ma let out a long breath, the white mist swirling around him, blurring his vision. Now that things had come to this, Xiao Ma no longer wanted to think about it, nor could he... concern himself with it any further.
Inner Workshop, Jingwu Pavilion
Upon receiving Wushuang's message, Mu Lexiu headed straight for the inner workshop after finishing half of his breakfast. Along the way, he saw the blacksmiths working diligently yet in an orderly fashion, with the black iron swords they had forged arranged neatly. Mu Lexiu was filled with excitement and couldn't wait to see Wushuang.
Pushing open the door, Mu Lexiu saw Qing Shan Wushuang sitting on a bamboo couch, her starry eyes sparkling as she glanced sideways. A smile appeared on Mu Lexiu's usually cool face. "Is there something you'd like to appreciate with me?"
"Besides inviting His Highness to appreciate the items, can't I see His Highness?" Wushuang smiled leisurely.
Mu Lexiu felt completely relaxed listening to this. He walked over to the bamboo couch and sat down next to Wushuang. Seeing the fragrant teapot, he reached out and poured himself a cup. The tea was greenish-blue and had a wonderful aroma. He knew immediately that it was his favorite Golden Sparrow Tongue tea. Looking up, he saw Wushuang smiling at him. Mu Lexiu picked up the teacup and took a sip. "Even the temperature is just right. Can you predict the future?"
Wushuang rested her chin on her hand and said, "If I have something to ask of the Second Prince, shouldn't I make sure to do my best?"
"Oh?" Mu Lexiu paused, holding the teacup to his lips.
"Scared?" Wushuang teased him. "I haven't even told you what it is yet. If you're scared, I won't say anything."
Mu Lexiu looked embarrassed and turned his head away, afraid that Wushuang would notice. He said in a calm tone, "What a joke. Do you think I, the Second Prince of the Great Jin Dynasty, would be scared by what you ask for? Tell me."
Wushuang took the teacup that Mu Lexiu was holding, picked up the teapot and poured a little tea. "I have spoken, so Your Highness must agree. If you don't agree, I won't say anything. If I say something and then don't agree, I will feel uncomfortable, you will feel embarrassed, and we will not be able to get along in the future."
Mu Lexiu pursed his lips, the aroma of tea lingering on his tongue, leaving a lingering aftertaste. It would be a great regret in life if he could never taste such a fine wine again. "Tell me, I promise you."
"Really?" Wushuang handed the teacup closer to Mu Lexiu. "Your Highness has already spoken..."
"A promise is a promise." Mu Lexiu took the teacup and drank it all in one gulp. "I already said I agreed."
"The inner quarters need to add a swordsman."
"Is that all?" Mu Lexiu almost laughed out loud. "Just open a workshop and recruit people. One person, ten people, it's not impossible." Seeing Wushuang remain silent, Mu Lexiu understood. "You have someone in mind? What's so difficult about that? The inner workshop is thriving now. Swordsmen all over the world would be overjoyed to have you as their swordsmen. Who has your eye on?"
“Xingguo Ward, Lou Cangyu,” Wushuang said slowly. “He is Pei Yuan’s adopted son, and Your Highness can also call him Pei Cangyu.”
"Lou...Cangyu?" Mu Lexiu's expression darkened. He recalled the day he presented the sword to the emperor; Wushuang had specifically requested a swordsman named Cangyu to assist the inner palace. "Pei Cangyu..."
"It doesn't matter what he's called." Wushuang smiled faintly. "It's just a surname, Pei. It's just a surname that Pei Yuan gave to win people over. The young master of the Pei family will only be Pei Chu on Canglang Island."
Mu Lexiu scrutinized Wushuang's expression. "Why him? I remember him as handsome, dashing, and his swordsmanship was decent... What?" Mu Lexiu's eyes were playful. "Don't tell me... you've taken a liking to him?"
"Your Highness is quite amusing." Wushuang took the teacup he was holding and placed it on the table. "The inner palace needs a capable swordsman. This man has superb swordsmanship and is ambitious. Although he was adopted by Pei Yuan, he has never had the opportunity to use his skills in Xingguo Ward. He is always overshadowed by others, which makes him resentful. He can be used by the inner palace. Moreover, Lou Cangyu was born and raised on Canglang Island. He knows Xingguo Ward and the Pei family very well. If we can bring him into the inner palace, he will definitely be of great use in the future."
“I can’t argue with you.” Mu Lexiu seemed to sigh. “Whatever you say goes. It shouldn’t be difficult to find a swordsman, but…” Mu Lexiu hesitated, “I rarely interfere in the affairs of the inner palace. This person… I’m a little hesitant to speak up. If I get involved, this simple matter… might cause people to have doubts.”
Wushuang smiled broadly, as if she had expected Mu Lexiu to say this, and continued, "Your Highness does not need to go in person, you only need to... let the Imperial Preceptor Cui come forward."
“Cui Jin?” Mu Lexiu exclaimed softly, “He is the Emperor’s Imperial Tutor and has close ties with the Crown Prince… wait…” Mu Lexiu suddenly remembered something, and a calm expression appeared on his face, “Cui Jin will definitely make this happen.”
Wushuang asked curiously, "Does Your Highness know how to persuade Grand Preceptor Cui? Will he help the Inner Palace?"
“This man is cunning and unpredictable. He only follows the Emperor’s will and never easily takes sides.” Mu Lexiu shook his head. “But… Cui Jin will definitely do what you ask.”
Mu Lexiu touched Wushuang's face with his fingertips. He disliked women and had never paid any attention to them. But for some reason, from the first moment he saw Wushuang, the female swordswoman from Shiyage who could stun with a single sword strike, he seemed to fall for her. Every word and action of Wushuang, every smile and frown, had a bewitching magic that made him cheer and admire her. From that moment on, the high and mighty Prince Mu Lexiu seemed to be suppressed by some force, making him obedient to Wushuang and willing to be manipulated by her.
"What can Your Highness use to persuade Cui Jin?" Wushuang asked in a low voice. "I'm worried... that this person might be detrimental to you."
"Take his face."
"—The face of the Grand Preceptor Cui?"
Mu Lexiu laughed heartily, tracing the breathtaking face of Wushuang with his fingertip. "Cui Jin's face is his biggest secret. He thought this secret would never be known, but it just so happens that I know it. I have no intention of blackmailing him. He's just a mere swordsman. Cui Jin can solve this with a few words. It's no problem. Just wait for Lou Cangyu to become the swordsman of the inner workshop."
As Mu Lexiu spoke, he gazed intently at Wushuang, "How will you thank me for accomplishing this?"
"Wushuang will serve the inner palace and Your Highness with utmost devotion until her dying breath."
"Make good use of Lou Cangyu, as you said." Mu Lexiu stood up. "You should not get involved in the filth of love. Love is destructive, it ruins people's talents and tarnishes their reputations. You are destined for greatness, so don't get caught up in worldly things and ruin your ambitions."
Seeing Mu Lexiu's serious expression, Wushuang couldn't help but chuckle softly, "Your Highness is so young, yet you speak of principles like an old Confucian scholar. Love is filthy, does Your Highness not want to get involved with it?"
Mu Lexiu blushed and bit his lip, saying, "So... I don't like women."
"Huh?" Wushuang peeked at his flushed face. "Then why do you keep coming to see me?"
“I’m looking for you… because,” Mu Lexiu stammered, “because you are a woman of unparalleled beauty, you are different from them.”
Wushuang stopped teasing the boy and solemnly clasped her hands in a fist salute to him. "I thank the Second Prince on behalf of the Inner Palace. Please keep Lou Cangyu's matter in mind and expedite the process."
Mu Lexiu could have refused her, but he couldn't bring himself to say no. In fact, he felt a little smug because he could help Wushuang. The fact that Wushuang spoke to him meant that he wasn't a useless piece of trash in Wushuang's eyes. Mu Lexiu didn't want to be a piece of trash in Wushuang's eyes.
In the foundry, Wan Qixi watched Mu Lexiu walk out of the Jingwu Pavilion. Wushuang, unusually, saw him off to the inner workshop gate. Seeing Wan Qixi personally carrying the bag, Wushuang's delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Where's your assistant?"
“He died young.” Wan Qixi didn’t even raise an eyebrow.
Wushuang said calmly, "Then you'd better find another one quickly."
“Miss Wushuang.” Wan Qixi flashed in front of Wushuang and lowered his voice, “It was a coincidence yesterday that I kicked the murderer’s right shoulder blade. If anyone has an injury to their right shoulder in the next few days, they are highly suspicious. Please keep an eye on things.”
Wushuang remained calm. "The inner workshop is heavily guarded. Thank you for reminding me. Did your employee offend someone? How could he just die like that?"
"Huh?" Wanqi Xi rubbed his chin. "I didn't say how he died. Maybe he died of a sudden illness, or maybe he accidentally fell and drowned. How did that offend anyone?"
Wu Shuang led Wan Qixi to a secluded spot and said, “Yesterday, Song Mian came to restock and followed you. He probably overheard what you told me. It’s a good thing that someone helped you get rid of this person. It’s a blessing for both of us.”
"It really was him." Wan Qixi said thoughtfully.
“Song Mian’s death not only helped you and me, but also Xingguofang.” Wushuang continued, “Back then, he and Guan Ye and Ajiu were on the same boat. He jumped into the sea halfway and luckily survived. He is the only living witness who can testify that Xingguofang is smuggling people. With his death, Guan Ye must feel relieved.”
Guan Yatou… Wan Qixi recalled Guan Ye’s grief and indignation from last night, howling on the rooftop. Out of the corner of her eye, she followed Guan Ye. This girl doesn’t know martial arts, yet she went to chase the murderer alone, as if relieved? If she really felt relieved, she wouldn’t have risked her life to catch the murderer.
"You invited Mu Lexiu here because of what happened last night? Because of him..." Wan Qixi peered at Wushuang's expression.
Wushuang twirled a strand of hair around her neck with her fingers. "You overestimate me. It's only for the sake of the inner workshop that I dare not keep anything private. If there's nothing else..." Wushuang started to leave. "Boss Wanqi, you can go and get busy."
"Muyun..." Wanqixi blurted out.
Wushuang was suddenly stunned. Her green robe fluttered in the wind, like a rugged seabird on the beach of Canglang Island. She paused for a moment, then quickly took off again without any hesitation.
Her arrogant confidence in her eyes and brows bore a resemblance to Lu Chaoge's back then, but she was unlike Lu Chaoge. Lu Chaoge concealed her swords and weapons yet harbored compassion in her heart, while Wushuang... no, it was Jiang Muyun... Her eyes held coldness, and she possessed a rebellious spirit. She stood in the world like a ghost or a demon, with a strange and unpredictable aura like a mountain spirit. Her indifference was beyond that of ordinary people, as if she had seen through everything and was now all alone, heartless and emotionless.
Blame herself… Wan Qixi pounded her forehead. She should have taken the mother and daughter away sooner. Why wouldn’t her sister leave? The mother and daughter depended on each other for survival. How difficult it must have been for them. She should have left with her.
Wan Qixi closed his eyes and recalled—
"Sister, take the child, let's go together."
"I'm not leaving. I'll stay here... Come back next year on this day."
"Next year at this time? That's too long, a year is just too long..."
"The hurricane can't kill us. As long as we siblings care for each other, we'll meet again next year. Whether we meet or not, what does it matter? This time next year, I'll be here waiting for you."
"Uncle..." The adorable little child nestled quietly on his sister's shoulder, reaching out his soft little hand to him, "Uncle."
"What's his name?"
My sister walked slowly, the wind whistling past her ears, as if she hadn't heard anything, or perhaps... she didn't want to answer.
Why won't my sister take the child and come with me? Her steps were heavy, her expression sorrowful, as if... as if there was something on Canglang Island that she couldn't bear to leave behind, something she couldn't leave... What could it be that could hold her sister back?
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