Chapter 8 The Demonic Silver Bell (Part 2) You, Guo Fengxiao! You really are…
Guo Jia's promise of "one time" vanished without a trace, like the morning mist in the mountains, once exposed to the sun.
He could always find all sorts of excuses, such as "the moon is so bright tonight, it really complements the scenery" or "I'm tired from reviewing official documents and need the ringing of the bell to relieve my fatigue," and so on.
Sometimes, without saying a word, just those watery, pitiful eyes could completely crush Deng Jie's every rejection.
So "once" became "again," and eventually it almost became a regular feature for the two of them.
Deng Jie's initial feelings of shame and resistance turned into resignation and acceptance, and then...
She had grown accustomed to their secret. She treated it as a private pleasure between husband and wife, something not to be shared with outsiders, and as long as the door was closed, it was harmless.
This was the day she went to the market to provide free medical consultations.
"Ring ring ring"
"Splash!"
"Jingle bells"
A series of clear, delicate, or continuous silver bell sounds.
At first, she thought she might be being too sensitive and tried her best to comfort herself, thinking that it was normal for little girls to wear ringing bells and that she was overthinking things.
However, as she entered the market, the sound of bells ringing came from all directions, making her scalp tingle.
She suppressed the urge to go home and walked calmly to the free clinic booth.
Not long after I sat down, a little girl with a silver bell on her wrist came over.
The girl looked unfamiliar; it must be her first time here.
Deng Jie took a deep breath, trying to calm the shock in his heart, and examined her in a calm tone.
After the consultation, she could no longer contain the turmoil in her heart and asked casually, "The bell on your wrist is quite interesting, but I feel like it's everywhere on the street today... Is this a recent fashion trend in the city?"
The girl's eyes lit up, as if she had found a kindred spirit. She immediately lowered her voice excitedly and said with a hint of mystery, "Don't you know, Madam? It's all the rage in the city now! I heard that the Grand Master's wife is a skilled dancer and performs the 'Silver Bell Dance' for the Grand Master every night in the mansion."
The sound of that bell was incredibly melodious, which is why the Grand Master of Ceremonies favored only one person and did not take any concubines even though he had no children.
Everyone says that wearing a silver bell can bring the wife good fortune, attract a suitable husband, and ensure a long and loving marriage!
Upon hearing this, Deng Jie felt a wave of dizziness and his vision went black.
What night after night...
Still the silver bell... dance...?
Exclusive favor?
Looking for a perfect husband?
How to maintain a loving and harmonious marriage?
What is all this nonsense??
The girl, oblivious to anything amiss, continued her rambling: "The Li family in the West Market, it's said, is the silversmith's workshop personally chosen by the Grand Master of Ceremonies. Now they're hanging up signs saying 'The Grand Master's Wife's Style,' and business is booming! But..."
She leaned closer mysteriously, adding, "It's said there's a hidden treasure that can't be easily shown to anyone. The Grand Master bought out the crafting rights for a hefty sum, and the Li family is really suffering from this..."
The last thread in Deng Jie's mind snapped.
A treasured possession?!
Buyout?!
Oh my god! She just wants to crawl into a hole and disappear right now!
Just how outrageous was Guo Fengxiao's behavior! He made it known throughout the entire city!
Deng Jie was completely numb; he couldn't even remember how he prescribed the medicine for the girl or who he treated afterwards.
I can't stay in this market any longer. All I want to do now is pack up and go home to settle accounts with Guo Jia.
On her way home, the old woman who had treated her grandson earlier saw her from afar and greeted her warmly: "Madam, are you done with the free clinic? Are you having a new dance tonight?"
“New, new dance?” Deng stood frozen in place, repeating mechanically.
"Yes, old woman, I noticed that your rhythm lately is different from before, so I guess Madam is researching a new dance again."
Deng Jie nearly fainted on the spot; even the rhythm was off!
She had no idea what she said to the old woman after that; all she wanted was to disappear on the spot and escape this terrible place immediately!
Deng Jie practically floated home.
Not long after she entered the house, she heard her husband calling her from behind: "Hey Yi, why are you home so early today? I just went to the market to look for you but couldn't find you. People said you had already closed up shop."
"Guo, Feng, Xiao!" Deng Jie's pent-up shame, grievances, and breakdown all day finally erupted. She rushed into the room, grabbed the lacquered wooden box, and smashed it hard against Guo Jia.
Guo Jia was startled and looked up in surprise: "What's wrong? Who made you angry?"
"What's wrong? Who made me angry? Who else could it be but you!"
Deng Jie was so angry that she trembled all over, and tears welled up in her eyes. Just as she was about to lash out, she caught sight of Ayu Huai Niang hiding by the side room. She was both angry and ashamed, so she grabbed Guo Jia and pulled him into the room and closed the door.
"This is all your doing!" she roared furiously, her voice low and menacing.
Overwhelmed with shame and indignation, he managed to ramble on and on about what he had seen and heard at the market and what the old woman had said.
"Now everyone in Xudu knows me... I... that Silver Bell Dance! I'm even favored, I can find a husband, and I'm guaranteed a loving relationship! Even... even the 'rhythm' of that thing has been recognized..."
She collapsed, clutching her head in despair, "How am I ever going to go out in public again...?"
Upon hearing this, Guo Jia was first taken aback, then burst into laughter, laughing so hard he was doubled over and even cried.
"You're still laughing!" Deng Jie was so angry that he grabbed the teacup on the table and smashed it.
"Oh dear, Madam, Madam, please calm down!" Guo Jia laughed as he caught the joke, finally managing to stop. "Jia, Jia didn't expect it to be spread like this! Hahaha... Silver Bell Dance? Back then, the silversmith and I... we did say it was for dancing, but we didn't say what kind of dance it was... Hahahaha... But if Madam finds it difficult to talk about, why not just go and learn to dance?"
"Learn to dance? Where am I supposed to learn to dance? Who am I supposed to learn from? Why should I learn to dance!" Deng Jie laughed angrily and rushed over to punch Guo Jia in the chest.
Guo Jia felt that although the rumor was outrageous, it was harmless and rather amusing, which was quite in line with his wife's tendency to set the trend for the whole city.
"No big deal?!" Deng Jie was practically going crazy. "No big deal?! I've become the biggest laughing stock in Xudu! I don't care, go and melt all these pieces of jewelry down right now! I don't want to see a single bell!"
She suddenly stood up and threw the jewelry box directly into Guo Jia's arms.
Guo Jia chuckled and pointed to the cloud-patterned silver bell at her waist, asking, "And this one?"
Deng Jie was stunned, then gripped it tightly, "This...this won't do! Leave none of the others!"
She was truly furious this time, and directly pushed Guo Jia towards the door: "Go now, right now, and don't come back until you've melted it all!"
Guo Jia was pushed and shoved out of the house by her, clutching the jewelry box and the lacquered wooden box in his arms.
He stood before the tightly closed gate, sighed, touched his nose, and looked at the box in his arms with a sense of reluctance. Then he glanced at the silver ornaments worn by passersby on the street and remembered that he still had a bell-shaped garment that he hadn't paid for and retrieved...
He went to the Li family workshop to get the jewelry, exchanged it for a new bell-shaped garment, and swaggered straight to the Sikong Mansion.
Cao Cao is currently troubled by Lady Ding's matter.
The Battle of Wancheng resulted in the loss of Cao Ang. Lady Ding insisted on returning to her parents' home. However, the lack of a principal wife in the household was not a long-term solution, and the selection of a successor required careful consideration. This matter was quite complicated.
"My lord!" Guo Jia noticed the worry in Cao Cao's eyes and thought to himself that the time was just right. He placed the lacquered wooden box on Cao Cao's desk and said, "I have something to offer you, my lord!"
Seeing Guo Jia's animated expression, which was completely different from his own mood, Cao Cao felt somewhat displeased and wanted to know what good things this man, who was known for his frugality, could offer.
"This item... was recently acquired by Jia by chance, a product of ingenuity and perfectly timed..."
Seeing that he started with flowery words and knew it couldn't be anything good, Cao Cao pressed down on the box lid and said, "Just tell me!"
Guo Jia held his breath and carefully opened the lid. "Indeed, Your Excellency will know at a glance!"
Cao Cao initially didn't understand the meaning of these tiny silver bells, but when Guo Jia brought them out, the curiosity on his face instantly froze, replaced by shock.
Even though Cao Cao was used to seeing rare and exotic treasures, he had never seen anything like this before... Its charm was so captivating that his imagination was suddenly amplified, and he couldn't help but gasp and straighten up abruptly.
"Fengxiao... what... what is this?"
Guo Jia remained unfazed, even spouting a fabricated story on the spot: "This is the 'Thousand Bells Auspicious Robe.' It brings... um... harmony to the household and lasting favor!"
He paused, observing Cao Cao's expression, and then timely revealed his own needs, "Jia originally wanted to keep this to himself, but alas... this little pleasure in the boudoir somehow got out and everyone started imitating it. My wife was so ashamed and indignant that she kicked Jia out of the house..."
Cao Cao suddenly realized that the source of the "silver bell wind" that Xun Yu had recently told him was none other than Guo Fengxiao, who appeared to be sickly but was actually a cunning and wicked man!
His initial astonishment eventually turned into a wry smile after a moment of realization. "So that's how it is! You, Guo Fengxiao, are really something! You've really opened my eyes! Hahahaha!"
Seeing that his mood had improved, Guo Jia immediately took a step closer and lowered his voice: "Since you know the wonderful uses of this item and the reason for this turmoil, I dare to ask you for a favor?"
"Speak!" Cao Cao's gloom vanished, and he looked at him with a smile, wondering what kind of wicked idea he was thinking of now.
"I've heard that Lady Bian's dancing is exceptional, and she is the apple of your eye, Your Excellency's eye." Guo Jia's eyes gleamed with cunning. "This whole commotion started because of the word 'dance.' Since outsiders say my wife is skilled in dancing, perhaps... Your Excellency would grant her permission to have Lady Bian instruct her in a few essential techniques in her spare time? Firstly, if my wife can truly learn some of Lady Bian's elegance, it will be more 'legitimate' to quell the rumors; secondly..." He winked, "It would also satisfy my wife's admiration, and it would be a great honor for my family?"
"Oh? Fengxiao, are you specifying that this gift is to be given to Lady Bian?" Cao Cao raised an eyebrow, and Guo Jia was shocked. What he was saying was not about giving a gift, but rather an indirect indication that Guo Jia supported Lady Bian's ascension to the throne.
"I absolutely did not mean that! The choice of the bell was made by Your Excellency. I only wish to quell the rumors about my family and give my wife an explanation..."
Seeing his panicked appearance, Cao Cao chuckled and said, "Just kidding, don't panic."
He couldn't help but weigh the pros and cons. Although Lady Bian came from a family of entertainers, she was gentle and loyal to him. She was also quite prestigious among the Cao and Xiahou clans. Her family relied entirely on his support, and she had given birth to many children...
Although Guo Jia's gift and request were unintentional, they could also be seen as an opportunity.
His eyes lit up, and a wicked smile, just like Guo Jia's, appeared on his face.
Two foxes, one seeking "official recognition" to quell his wife's anger, the other plotting to use the opportunity to elevate his concubine to the rank of wife and secure his harem.
Just then, a guard's voice rang out from outside the door, "Lord Xun requests an audience," and Xun Yu entered.
He hadn't walked far when he keenly sensed the strange atmosphere between the two men: Cao Cao and Guo Jia's still-unrestrained sinister smiles, and the unreadable silver bell Guo Jia was carrying.
"What are you doing?!" He disregarded the hierarchy and his voice suddenly rose to an unprecedented pitch, startling the two men so much that their smiles froze and they hurriedly put their masks back on.
Cao Cao forced himself to remain calm and coughed lightly, "It's nothing, nothing. Fengxiao... offered some... little trinkets..."
Guo Jia quickly chimed in, "Yes, yes, yes! It's just a trinket! Not worth mentioning!"
"Nothing wrong?" Xun Yu strode forward, making a move to lift Guo Jia's sleeve, but Guo Jia covered it tightly.
"Do you really think I can't see it? The rumors about Yinling are spreading like wildfire outside. Fengxiao! You...you mustn't harm Minggong!"
Guo Jia shrank back, muttering under his breath, "That was just marital fun... something that happens behind closed doors..."
"The whole city knows about this, so how can it be a matter of keeping it to yourself?" Xun Yu said helplessly, suppressing his anger, when he saw Xun Yu's aggrieved look.
Cao Cao quickly tried to smooth things over for Guo Jia: "Wenruo, please calm down. Fengxiao is just... young and impetuous. Besides, if we're talking about the whole city knowing, Wenruo himself married, took concubines, had children, and held banquets—didn't he do it with great fanfare?"
Guo Jia, hiding behind Cao Cao, looked up at Xun Yu and said, "That's right... but I only love one wife..."
Xun Yu felt a surge of anger rising within him. "Yu did that for the sake of the gentry... Besides, you, Duke Ming, didn't you also..." He couldn't help but refute these two treacherous bastards.
Guo Jia shifted his body slightly away, "Wenruo is right..."
This caused Cao Cao and Xun Yu to turn and stare at him simultaneously, and he immediately covered his mouth and fell silent.
But the barely suppressed smile at the corner of his mouth betrayed his inner smugness. At least this matter... was finally resolved.
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