Chapter 93 The show was so good it blew their eyes out.
That day was also the last carnival of Tianhufang, the five major districts of Rongdu, and the Jin Kingdom's weaponry.
Wan Qixi still remembers that her sister pulled her to toast Guan Xiaotian and his wife, and her sister taught her: "Why don't you tell your master and mistress that you wish them a son soon?"
"Xiaojun wishes Master and Mistress a long and happy marriage, and many children."
Dou Niang was amused by him and even bent down to pinch his cheek. Guan Xiaotian laughed so hard he couldn't stop, saying that next year on this day, he would definitely give his little apprentice a little junior brother to play with.
The past is like smoke and cannot be chased, but the daughter of an old friend is right in front of him. If the Blood Crossbow Case really was done by Guan Xiaotian, then Guan Ye, who was drinking with him at the same table, is... Wan Qixi stared at Guan Ye, who was fanning her mouth, and stopped laughing.
"No wine to drink in Xingguo Lane?"
Guan Ye raised her eyebrows. "Of course there's wine to drink, but it's your wine, and it's too spicy."
Wanqi Xi gave a low snort, "You've got some nerve! Today in the inner palace, in front of the Second Prince, you actually dared to mention the Kunwu Stone?"
Guan Ye stopped picking up food with her chopsticks. "I... couldn't find it, could I?"
“You’re not saying you can’t find it, you’re saying you don’t have it at all.” Wan Qixi picked up a piece of goose breast and put it into Guan Ye’s bowl. “The second prince of Jin, Mu Lexiu, is not the Mu Chenbi you know. If you anger him, you’ll be in trouble.”
Guan Ye sullenly fiddled with the goose breast in her bowl, her brows furrowed as she said, "I didn't say anything wrong, nor did I cause any trouble. I was just giving Wushuang a warning. The swordsman from Xingguo Warehouse was framed..."
"I didn't realize that." Wan Qixi looked her over with interest. "I originally thought that you were just trying out your sword in the Ghost Market to find out the truth, to suffer in silence rather than remain ignorant. But you were actually secretly plotting a powerful move? You're quite stubborn, more courageous than those men."
Guan Ye bit into the goose breast; the meat was firm and flavorful, a taste she had never experienced before. Chewing on it, she pointed and said, "Delicious."
The girl had grown into a beautiful young woman, with rosy lips and white teeth, tall and slender. If Guan Xiaotian were still alive, she would have reached his shoulder. A daughter like that would surely be cherished and pampered by the couple. Judging from Guan Ye's audacious demeanor, no one on Canglang Island could truly bully her. These past years… she must have had a pretty good life…
"Eat more if you like it. You can't eat like this every day." Wan Qixi said sarcastically, and then scooped up a lot more food for her. "It seems that the food in Xingguofang isn't very good either."
“But they didn’t treat me badly either.” Guan Ye took out the copper coins Pei Bi had given her from her pocket and waved them in front of Wan Qixi as if to show off. “I said I wanted to go out to the market, and the manager stuffed so many into my hands. Look at this.”
Wan Qixi was too lazy to look. "Put away your money. It's not even enough for two bowls of wine for me." He said, stepping onto the bench and pointing his thumb at his face. "Now I'm in the big business of the Salt and Iron Bureau. I procure the iron ore used by the inner workshop and your family. I have more money than I can spend. It's exhausting."
Guan Ye was shoveling food into her mouth when she suddenly remembered something. She raised her eyelids and glanced at the smug Wan Qixi, then said softly, "So much money, and you earn it all by yourself? So much work, and you do it all by yourself?"
Wan Qixi glanced at her and asked, "You want to partner with me?"
Guan Ye shook her head vigorously, "You're so cunning. I'd be grateful if you didn't sell to me. How could I dare to partner with you?"
"Then what did you ask?" Wan Qixi sensed something was off in her words, and calmly poured himself another full glass of wine. "With more people, there's a split of the profits. I'm used to working alone and don't like partnering with others, but..."
"But what?" Guan Ye pressed.
Wan Qixi smiled and leaned closer to Guan Ye, saying, "We're kind of destined to meet. You even patronized my business at the Ghost Market, though I didn't make much money and you even tricked me into trying my hand at swordsmanship... But since we're destined to meet, I'll listen to what you have to say. Just say what you have to say, or don't bring it up again."
"I..." Guan Ye hesitated, her words trailing off. The ghost merchant Wan Qixi's eyes held a dark light, and every time he approached, an indescribable sense of danger filled the air, making people wary. Even after leaving the ghost market and walking in broad daylight, Wan Qixi's figure still seemed shrouded in mystery, making people dare not be careless.
Just like now, he was clearly smiling at me with a mocking smile, but there was also a hint of unpredictability hidden beneath the smile, making me feel inexplicably nervous.
Wan Qixi stared intently at Guan Ye, his eyes as black as obsidian. "If you don't want to talk, then forget it."
"Do you need any help?" Guan Ye mustered her courage. "I see you're escorting the iron ore all by yourself. If you had more people to help you, wouldn't you have more time to drink?"
"Hahahaha." Wan Qixi's eyes blazed like night fire, flickering with his laughter. "Are you going to help me, or help someone else beg for a living?"
"I have a friend."
"You still have friends?"
Guan Ye glared at Wan Qixi, but since she had asked for a favor and couldn't afford to turn against him, she kept her head down and continued, "The shop assistant at the fried cake shop across the street was kicked out by the owner for accepting bribes... I felt sorry for him... If you don't need him, then forget it." After finishing in one breath, fearing that Wan Qixi would speak ill of her again, Guan Ye put down her chopsticks, got up, and was about to leave.
"Stop right there!" Wan Qixi called out urgently. "I haven't agreed yet, why are you running away?"
"Stop!" Guan Ye was already seething with anger. "Fine, I won't agree then. Just pretend I didn't say anything. If you dare say another word, I...I..."
Watching Guan Ye's face gradually turn red, Wan Qixi covered his face with his bowl and waited for her to finish her sentence.
"I'll overturn your stall!" Guan Ye put her hands on her hips, stood up and looked down at Wan Qixi, who was still drinking in Chengding.
Wan Qixi bit the back of his hand and shook his head, saying, "I'm helping you, and you're ruining my business. If I can't do business, where will your friend who fries fried dough sticks make a living?"
Guan Ye could hardly believe her ears, and rubbed them, saying, "You mean..."
“If he comes here to me by this time tomorrow, he'd be too stupid…” Wan Qixi said with a half-smile, “He'll just follow me.”
"You agreed?" Guan Ye was both surprised and delighted.
Wan Qixi picked at his ear with his little finger, then grabbed a large piece of meat with his other hand, turning his face away as he ate heartily without looking at Guan Ye. Guan Ye straightened up, clasped her hands in a fist and bowed to him, "He is sharp-eared and sharp-eyed, and can read and write. He will definitely be able to help you. His name is Song Er. Tomorrow, I will have him come here to find you. You must come."
"I know, I know," Wan Qixi waved her hand impatiently. "I'm not deaf."
Guan Ye's face lit up with joy. She skipped a few steps and then turned back, saying, "When I've saved up some more money, I'll treat you to some wine."
--"oh."
Wanqi Xi responded lazily, looked up to look for Guan Ye, and saw that her lithe and tall figure had already flashed into the dazzling lights of the long street.
In Xingguo Ward, upon learning that Guan Ye had berated Wu Shuang in the inner ward, everyone cheered. Xiao Ma asked Pei Bi several times what Wu Shuang's reaction was. Pei Bi squinted and said, "The door to Jingwu Pavilion is tightly shut, and we can't see anyone inside. But judging from the sound, she must be furious. I bet she won't be able to eat dinner." Everyone burst into laughter again, except for Lou Cangyu, who remained silent.
"Guan Ye is pretty good." Feng Shisan punched A Jiu on the shoulder. "You have good taste."
Pei Bi was puzzled. "Feng Shisan, Guan Ye is fine, but why are you hitting A Jiu? What does it have to do with A Jiu?"
The swordsmen chuckled at each other, put their arms around each other's shoulders, and ignored Pei Bi. Pei Bi shook his head helplessly and decided not to meddle in the young man's affairs.
“But that Second Prince…” Ji Fang suddenly felt nervous, “What Steward Pei said about him is rather unsettling. Could he… make things difficult for Guan Ye in the future?”
"What are you afraid of?" Feng Shisan pointed at Ajiu's arms. "Our Ajiu has the fish-shaped tally. If anyone dares to make things difficult for Guan Ye, Ajiu will go to the palace to plead her case to the emperor. Are you afraid of him?" After uttering these bold words, Feng Shisan looked suspiciously at the silent Lou Cangyu. "Cangyu, Guan Ye stood up for you, why do you seem a little unhappy?"
Lou Cangyu couldn't listen to what others were saying. He was only worried that Wushuang might misunderstand and think that he was still holding a grudge and was instigating Guan Ye to cause trouble in the inner quarters and embarrass Wushuang in front of everyone. It's not easy for an orphan girl from out of town to establish herself in the inner quarters. He had already promised Wushuang that this matter was over. Now she might think that he had gone back on his word. Lou Cangyu, Lou Cangyu, how can you still have the face to see Miss Wushuang?
Lou Cangyu opened his hand. More than half a month had passed, and the green imprint that Wushuang had left on his palm had disappeared. But the brilliant starry river was engraved in his heart. He wanted to forget it, but it was hard to forget.
"Lou Cangyu?" Feng Shisan roared in his ear, "Lou Cangyu, what are you staring at your palm for?"
Lou Cangyu snapped out of his daze, clenching his fists, and said, "I've already been to the inner quarters and explained things clearly to Miss Wushuang... Guan Ye's actions might embarrass her..."
"Huh?" Feng Shisan looked shocked. "Have you forgotten the humiliation of breaking your sword and almost slitting your own throat? Have you forgotten that Ji Fang was wounded to the bone and took a whole month to recover from the sword wound while saving you? Guan Ye stood up for you, and you're blaming her for meddling?"
Lou Cangyu blushed and hurriedly said, "I didn't! It's just... it's been so long... that's all." Lou Cangyu slapped himself, "I'm telling the truth, Guan Ye was helping me."
"That's more like it." Feng Shisan muttered, avoiding looking at him. "Why isn't Guan Ye back yet?"
"It's rare to go out, and I'm already thinking about going to the market and eating and drinking." Ajiu said lazily, but there was a wildfire hidden in her eyes that no one else could see.
Xingguo Warehouse soon received an order from the imperial court for a full one hundred Eagle Guard swords, requiring them to be forged according to the sword tested at Lingbo Terrace in Xingguo Warehouse. The materials used in that sword were proportioned by Guan Ye, so the key to this order lay with Guan Ye.
A group of blacksmiths and sword slaves surrounded Guan Ye in the middle of the foundry. Among them were twenty master craftsmen who had just been transferred from the inner workshop. They crowded at the front, whispering among themselves. Guan Ye could see the doubt in their eyes as they stared at her. Xingguo Workshop, which had been hidden on Canglang Island for many years, could not possibly have any skills other than the Heavenly Furnace. What kind of abilities could this eighteen or nineteen-year-old girl possibly have?
"Master Pei." The burly man at the head of the group stepped out from the crowd, arms crossed. "What, are you expecting us to take orders from this young lady?"
Guan Ye looked up at the sound and saw the workshop master staring at her as if trying to see through her. She blinked her big eyes and turned to look at Pei Yuan.
Pei Yuan coughed softly and said in a deep voice, "The swords tested before the Emperor were crafted by Guan Ye. What, she can't teach you all?"
The workshop craftsmen whispered among themselves for a moment, then the tall, leader said, "There are no ranks among the blacksmiths, nor is there any distinction between seniority and seniority. It's all about skill. We're not looking down on this young lady surnamed Guan, but... we're all old enough to be her fathers. If we're to be ordered around by her, she'll have to show us some real skills." The others nodded in agreement, all twenty pairs of eyes fixed on Pei Yuan, waiting to see how he would handle the situation.
Xiao Ma shook his head and said, "They say they don't care about seniority, but they all secretly want to be someone's father. It's really laughable."
"They still have doubts about us," Feng Shisan said with dissatisfaction. "Let's see if Guan Ye doesn't blind them."
Ji Fang leaned close to A Jiu's ear, "How about Guan Ye? These guys all seem to be dissatisfied with Xingguo Ward..."
Ah Jiu remained silent, his eyes filled with confidence. He leaned against the half-cut tree trunk, sword in hand, as if waiting for a thrilling spectacle.
"Guan Ye," Pei Yuan gestured to her, "If others don't trust Xingguo Fang, and they don't trust you, what will you do?"
Guan Ye tightened her belt, rolled up her sleeves, and said, "They want to be my father, but I'd rather they call me master. Believe it or not, you'll know once you see it."
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