Chapter 12 Her Eight Characters Reveal Her True Beauty
The next day, Guan Ye got up and washed her face. Before the steamed buns were even on the stove, Aunt Lou was already urging her and Lou Shitou to meet in the neighborhood. Usually, they didn't need to go so early. Guan Ye hadn't gone to bed until after midnight the night before, and her eyes were so sleepy she could barely keep them open. Wasn't it all to find her Shitou?
"The steamed buns aren't even warm yet," Guan Ye said reluctantly. "If I'm not full, I won't have the energy to work."
"No work today." Aunt Lou said with a rare look of ease. "Manager Pei told everyone to go to the main courtyard."
"Is it another round of pork distribution?" Lou Shitou swallowed.
"You're such a pig-brain," Aunt Lou poked his forehead. "It would be better if you got a wife."
When Guan Ye arrived, a large crowd had already gathered in the courtyard, surrounding a square table and doing something. Guan Ye stood on tiptoe to see what was going on. Sitting at the table was an elderly man with white hair. Guan Ye recognized him as the most learned person on the island; even Young Master Pei called him Master. Aunt Lou, who claimed to have seen all the happenings on the island, was somewhat astonished by the scene. Apart from giving everyone a few couplets during the New Year, how could she usually get such a person to come out of seclusion? Aunt Lou pulled the curiously looking Lou Shitou back into the crowd, wondering what kind of trouble had happened today, as Pei Bi hadn't mentioned it.
Guan Ye yawned several times, and in her hazy state, she saw A Jiu and several other swordsmen in the courtyard, standing on either side of the elder with swords at their waists. A Jiu seemed not to see Guan Ye, staring straight ahead without blinking. They had clearly climbed over the wall together last night, but now, seeing an acquaintance, his expression remained completely unchanged. He really thought he was someone important. Guan Ye chuckled inwardly. So what if he was a swordsman? He was still just standing while everyone else was sitting. He was no different from the others in the courtyard.
People kept squeezing out from around the square table after finishing their tasks. They glanced at Pei Bi, wondering if he had other things to do. Pei Bi waved to the crowd, "Those who have already registered, go back to your respective places. Don't forget you still have work to do."
"We were promised we wouldn't have to do any work," Guan Ye grumbled, then became curious about what they were registering. Besides their names, what else on the island could be registered?
Upon hearing that there was still work to be done, the gathered crowd immediately began to jostle and push forward. Guan Ye was no match for the burly blacksmith and sword slave, and was quickly pushed out of the line. She hurriedly sought out Aunt Lou and Shi Tou to squeeze back in.
"What do you need to register?" Guan Ye quickly grabbed someone.
"Birth date and time." The man replied and hurriedly left.
Birth date and time? Guan Ye paused slightly. She had been on the island for three years, and no one had asked her anything other than her name. Why would they suddenly ask for her birth date and time? Guan Ye cautiously considered many possibilities. After years on the run, she had become a frightened bird, but the strangeness of today's investigation was something Guan Ye really couldn't think of a reason for.
"Miss Muyun is here too?" someone whispered in the crowd. Everyone looked over and saw that it was indeed Jiang Muyun, the maid who was always by Young Master Pei's side. The people who were just crowding around quickly made room and enthusiastically called for Jiang Muyun to come over and cut in line. "Miss Muyun still has to go back to serve the young master. It'll be faster here."
Jiang Muyun smiled as she looked at the enthusiastic faces, nodding slightly as a greeting. She didn't rush ahead of others, but walked to the very end of the group and stood there casually. Her elegant yellow robes exuded a kind of inexplicable noble demeanor. Her slender fingers lightly brushed the stray hairs by her cheek, her movements as graceful as a butterfly's dance. Her fair skin shimmered in the sunlight, attracting the frequent glances of several swordsmen.
"She's so beautiful." Lou Cangyu licked his dry lips. This was the first time he had been able to gaze at Jiang Muyun so calmly. After practicing swordsmanship for several years, Jiang Muyun, under the orders of the sect leader, would occasionally come to the back mountain to deliver some items to the swordsmen. However, she would come and go in a hurry, never staying for even a moment. Back then, the young man, who was buried in his training, was exhausted every day and could not distinguish between men and women, let alone beauty and ugliness. Yesterday, when she saved his elder brother, he did not dare to look at her directly. Today, gazing at her from afar, he never expected that Jiang Muyun would now appear like a fairy.
“I told you you have lofty ambitions. Who is she? She’s the young master’s personal maid, and she’s only this tall but she’s already been with him.” A dark-skinned young swordsman gestured at his waist. “She will only ever belong to the young master.”
"Look at what you're saying, you even wake Lou Cangyu up from his dreams." Another swordsman, who was fair-skinned and handsome, deliberately emphasized the word "Lou." "Ajiu, don't you think so?"
Before Ajiu could speak, Pei Bi heard the swordsmen whispering, coughed and gave them a displeased look, and the others quickly put on their swords and fell silent.
"Guan Ye, over here!" Aunt Lou waved to Guan Ye.
Guan Ye shoveled dirt under her feet, hesitated for a moment, and walked up behind Jiang Muyun. "Stupid," Aunt Lou pouted, "they won't even be able to get lunch later."
"Muyun...Miss," Guan Ye choked up, saying, "Just call her Jiang Muyun, 'Jiang Muyun?'"
"Huh? You called me?" Jiang Muyun turned around and saw Guan Ye. She smiled with a shallow dimple at the corner of her lips and her eyes were gentle as water. Not to mention the hot-blooded young swordsman, even Guan Ye, a woman, would almost melt in her smile.
"No matter what, we can meet again." Guan Ye said in a low voice, "And here we are again."
Jiang Muyun's big eyes blinked, and then she understood. "Speaking of which, you haven't been to school for several days, have you?"
Guan Ye lowered her head to hide her embarrassment at being seen through, saying, "I've been busy with work in the neighborhood lately, and I haven't had time to go even though I've tried several times."
"Do you still remember Xi's handwriting?" Jiang Muyun joked. "The young master even asked about it, saying he hadn't seen that little sword slave at the very back for many days."
Guan Ye raised her head, "Today, after I'm done with today's work, I'll definitely go."
"I'm afraid I won't be free today." Jiang Muyun smiled as he watched the long, slowly moving queue. "Don't worry, if you keep reciting and memorizing the words, you'll never forget them. I'll talk to the young master later and send you a few calligraphy practice books."
"Jiang Muyun, thank you." Guan Ye's voice rose a few decibels.
Jiang Muyun glanced at her a few more times, then turned away without saying a word. Guan Ye's lips were half open, wanting to say a few more words, but once she started talking, she couldn't stop. She was afraid of saying something that Jiang Muyun wouldn't like to hear. What kind of gift should she give Jiang Muyun in return when the calligraphy arrived? Guan Ye pondered as she moved forward. She could give such an expensive handkerchief to Lou Shitou, so she was afraid that whatever she gave in return would be beneath Lou Shitou's notice.
"Is that all?" Aunt Lou told him her and Shi Tou's birth dates and times.
"Go ahead and get busy," Pei Bi gestured.
"Why are you writing this down for no reason?" Aunt Lou, relying on her close relationship with Pei Bi, leaned closer to ask for some inside information.
"Don't ask what you shouldn't ask." Pei Bi remained motionless. "Be careful not to ask questions that could cause trouble for your own family."
"If you don't want to ask, then don't ask. Why are you cursing me?" Aunt Lou rolled her eyes at him, pulled Lou Shitou away, and Lou Shitou looked back every few steps, waving his injured hand vigorously at Jiang Muyun, grinning happily.
His hand…
“He’s strong and healthy, this little injury is nothing.” Guan Ye made a face at Lou Shitou. “It’s a pity that your nice handkerchief is stained with blood. I’ll get it back for you later.”
As noon approached, there were finally only a few people left ahead of her. Guan Ye clutched her rumbling stomach, realizing that Aunt Lou was right; if they delayed any longer, she really wouldn't be able to have lunch.
"Miss Muyun," the old man raised his wrinkled face, "how has Young Master Pei been these days?"
"Thank you for your concern." Jiang Muyun said respectfully, "Young Master is doing well and often thinks of you, sir."
The old man's face beamed with joy, his voice trembling with excitement, "I would like to trouble Miss Muyun to tell me her birth date and time."
—"The eighty-fourth year of the Great Jin Dynasty..."
Guan Ye's eyes widened in surprise—no, it was clearly...the 82nd year of the Great Jin Dynasty. Guan Ye wanted to call out to her, her lips moved but she didn't dare to open them. If someone asked her, "How did you know?" then she and A Jiu would be exposed for hiding by the wall. Maybe...she had misheard.
"In the eighty-fourth year of the Great Jin Dynasty, in the month of Ren Shen, at the hour of Zi Si (11 PM - 1 AM)."
“The eighty-fourth year of the Great Jin Dynasty.” The old man had been calculating all morning and was now very skilled. He said, “The year of Jiazi, the month of Renshen in the year of Jiazi, the hour of Zi Si in the day of Gui Si…” The old man looked at Pei Bi, stroked his long beard and nodded repeatedly, “Miss Muyun is a person with a pure Yin constitution in her birth chart.”
As soon as he finished speaking, Pei Bi's expression changed drastically, and his ears were ringing. He stared blankly at the bewildered girl in front of him, remaining silent for a long time. There were only a few people left in the courtyard. He had originally planned to ensure that no one on the island had a pure Yin birth chart, and then he would report to the shop owner and slaughter some pigs and sheep to offer as a sacrifice to the Heavenly Furnace. Who would have thought that someone with a pure Yin birth chart would actually appear? It was... it was... Jiang Muyun.
At that moment, Pei Bi only knew that Jiang Muyun was going to die, and Pei Chu was also doomed.
"At your age, won't you make a mistake when you get confused?" Pei Bi asked in a trembling voice.
The old man looked displeased and pounded the table with his withered hand, saying, "It can't be wrong. If you don't believe me, invite the shop owner here, and I'll tell him the divination in person."
"Could it be..." Guan Ye was about to speak when she suddenly felt a murderous aura rushing towards her. She raised her eyebrows and saw Pei Yuan striding in, his dark green satin robe billowing in the wind, like an eagle coming to hunt.
"Found it?" Pei Yuancang's eyes darkened.
"Master of the Workshop." Before Pei Bi could speak, the old man had already stepped forward. "It is Jiang Muyun."
"It's her?" Pei Yuan's face broke into a sinister smile. "It actually is her! Chu'er, Chu'er, you said that if you felt this life was bad, you could only suffer in this world. It seems even Heaven wants to free the person you value most. Guards!" Pei Yuan roared like thunder, "Take Jiang Muyun away!"
Take Jiang Muyun away? Guan Ye poked her ear. The sudden turn of events left the swordsmen bewildered. They looked at each other, none daring to move. Take him away? Where to? Jiang Muyun was clearly startled by the unexpected turn of events. Fear flashed in his eyes, but he still stood tall and defiant.
"Are they all deaf?!" Pei Yuan roared in fury. "Guards, take Jiang Muyun to the cell and keep a close watch on him. There must be no mistakes!"
"You idiot! The shopkeeper has spoken!" Pei Bi stamped his foot anxiously. "Why aren't you doing what the shopkeeper says!"
"Yes...yes!" Lou Cangyu, who was the first to come to her senses, stepped forward and was about to grab Jiang Muyun's hand when she saw her fearless demeanor like a goddess. Facing her clear yet fierce eyes, Lou Cangyu felt a wave of unease and her hand froze in mid-air, hesitant to bring it down.
"A-Jiu!" Pei Yuan angrily pointed at the boy beneath the Heavenly Furnace who seemed to understand his thoughts, "Lou Cangyu is useless, are you all just like him?"
Lou Cangyu suddenly grabbed Jiang Muyun with a backhand grip, the force causing Jiang Muyun to groan softly in pain. Purple blood spots appeared on her fair wrist, but her expression remained resolute, and she didn't even utter a word of begging for mercy.
"Lou Cangyu!" Guan Ye tried to pry his hand away. "What are you doing!"
Lou Cangyu shoved her away forcefully. Men are naturally strong, and Guan Ye never expected Lou Cangyu to use such force. She couldn't dodge in time and stumbled, falling face-first into a mouthful of dirt. Ignoring her still dizzy state, she jumped up and tried to grab him again, shouting, "What right do you have to arrest Jiang Muyun!"
Lou Cangyu chuckled inwardly. This little sword slave was overestimating herself, daring to stand up for someone in front of the sect leader? If she got entangled with her any longer, the sect leader would probably look down on her. Lou Cangyu simply picked up Jiang Muyun's thin body, nimbly avoiding her clenched jaw. Seeing that no one came to her aid, she dragged the man towards the prison cell herself.
After a long silence, Ajiu approached with a gloomy look in her eyes, her body blocking Guan Ye like a barrier. She covered Guan Ye's mouth with her sword behind her back, then lightly flicked the scabbard to push Guan Ye away. She bowed to Pei Yuan and said, "Master, please forgive me. We will go and do it right away."
The remaining swordsmen didn't have time to think and followed Ajiu in a hurry to chase after them. Only their chaotic and panicked footprints were left on the sand, as well as the shallow long marks left by Jiang Muyun as he was dragged away.
Ajiu calmly turned around, his dark eyes staring intently at Guan Ye with an ambiguous meaning. His thin lips moved slightly, and he suddenly turned around again, lifting Jiang Muyun's slender arm with his large hand. Jiang Muyun stumbled along, her hesitant footsteps leading everyone towards the unknown prison cell.
Guan Ye rubbed her forehead and struggled to her feet, spitting out a mouthful of dirt. Suddenly, she remembered A Jiu's slightly moving lips. He had something to say to her. He said—Guan Ye murmured: Go find Pei Chu.
In the school, Pei Chu's heart was pounding extremely fast today, and he felt faint several times. For half a day, he had looked out the door countless times, hoping that familiar face would appear in front of him with a smile, skillfully push up his bamboo chair, ask him about his well-being, chat and laugh with him, and take him through every corner of the town and the island.
As the islanders left the compound and passed by the school, they saw Pei Chu sitting in the center, and each of them bowed respectfully. Usually, Pei Chu would nod in response, but today, Pei Chu's eyes were empty and indifferent. Everything in the world seemed like dust, no longer possessing its former brilliance. Pei Chu stared blankly at the sky. Jiang Muyun was his light.
"Mu Yun? Is that you?" Pei Chu stared at the figure walking towards her. The person had a similar figure to Jiang Mu Yun, and walked carefully as if afraid of startling her. She was breathing heavily, her breath filled with fear, yet she was also resilient. This was the first time she had walked straight towards her without the slightest hesitation.
A note from the author:
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