Chapter 12: This Fish Is Targeting Me!

Chapter 12 This Fish Is Targeting Me!

At this moment, Chen Yi was unaware of the mysterious trouble that had been seeking him out.

He sat in the pavilion, his eyes fixed straight on the fish cork bobbing in the pond, lost in thought.

Though the period of confinement had been tedious and dull, he had fared well in his pursuits. Not only had he mastered the Way of Books, but he had also elevated his calligraphy to mastery, and studied martial arts, attaining proficiency in the skill of the Great Spear Poles.

However, suddenly being released from confinement, he found himself at a loss as to what to do outside.

Most likely, he would wander about, taking in the local customs and scenery of this world, or perhaps visiting famous mountains and rivers...

Oh, for now, he could not venture too far.

There were still those mysterious individuals lurking in the shadows, like fish bones caught in the throat, making him feel a certain unease.

With such thoughts, Chen Yi turned his gaze to Xiao Bie and asked, "Are there any places worth visiting in Shu Zhou?"

"My lord, Shu Zhou has so many places to enjoy," Xiao Bie said, leaning her head on her hand after moving her stool closer, her smile brightening. "Except for the passes and military garrisons to the south, to the east there are lakes and seas, to the west there are Wu Mountain and Chi Water, and to the north many counties have their own attractions."

"However, Shu Zhou is vast, my lord, you may not be able to go too far. As for the prefecture city itself, you could go west, where there are merchants from afar every day, bringing all sorts of strange and rare trinkets."

Upon hearing this, Chen Yi became intrigued: "From the Tea and Horse Ancient Road?"

Xiao Bie nodded, "They all wear various jewels on their bodies and strange hats on their heads, some even have veils over their eyes, and their eyes are a riot of colors."

Chen Yi understood, feeling a certain kinship with the people of the White Elephant Kingdom.

"Anything else?"

"There are also many academies and taverns to the north, places where scholars gather, my lord, you would surely enjoy them."

The opposite.

Chen Yi liked them not at all.

For over two hundred years, the Daxi Wei Dynasty had been established, and the martial way still flourished, yet there were still too many scholars and artists indulging in idle pursuits.

Wherever scholars gathered, there were inevitably poems, songs, and ballads, with people belittling the present and praising the past, discussing court politics.

Thank goodness the Daxi Wei Dynasty had not yet invented the literary execution, for if the emperor ever had a fit of madness, the more poems one wrote, the greater the risk.

Moreover, Chen Yi, now skilled in calligraphy and poetry, was quite poor at playing the qin and Go. If he were to go there and neglect his duties, the consequences would be dire.

Either the rumors in Jiangnan Prefecture were true, or he had indeed changed his identity.

Either way, it would affect his days as a idle son-in-law in the Xiao family.

"And to the east, there are also some tribal performances in the mountainous areas. The young mistress once took me there, and it was quite remarkable..."

"And to the south?" Chen Yi asked casually.

Xiao Bie's smile faltered, "To the south... my lord, you must not go there. You would be scolded by the young mistress and others."

"Why?"

Chen Yi's question was cut short as the fish cork twitched, and the two bright eyes of the fishhook shot out, yanking the fishing rod up with a sudden force.

Yet the fish, of an unknown species, merely lifted its head and wriggled free, slipping back into the depths.

"To the south, there are many beauties..." Xiao Bie mumbled, tilting her head as she searched for words.

"Oh, I see."

The place with the most beauties was the Flower and Willow Alley.

As an idle son-in-law, if he were to venture into such a place, he would likely be hung up and beaten by the Xiao family members.

Just as this thought crossed his mind—Chen Yi was determined to reel in that damned fish and beat it mercilessly.

It had been two full days.

He had spent two entire days fishing here, not catching a single fish, and worse, had been toyed with by the same fish.

How did he know it was the same fish?

The fish was remarkably distinctive, with a small tuft of golden whiskers on its head.

Thus, Chen Yi had given it a fitting name: "Golden Mustache Carp."

"Let it run fast, otherwise tonight I'll have to try grilling the Golden Mustache Carp and taste its flavor."

Chen Yi muttered to himself, reeling in the line and re-baiting his hook.

"Where were we?"

"Nothing, nothing..." Xiao Bie, fearing he would ask again about the south, shifted the subject, asking, "My lord, I've noticed you've been fishing here for two days, and you haven't caught a single fish yet?"

"Hmm, are you questioning my fishing skills?" Chen Yi's eyes narrowed with suspicion.

He had only just begun to learn fishing and had not yet grasped the habits of the fish in this world.

Give him more time, and he would surely catch all the fish in this pond.

"Nothing, nothing... just," Xiao Bie shyly pulled back her head, "just now when I went to see the young mistress, she asked me about you, my lord."

"Oh."

"I, I didn't say anything!"

Perhaps because Xiao Bie's voice had grown louder, Chen Yi turned his head in surprise.

"..."

Xiao Bie lowered her head, unable to meet his gaze.

Her mind was still haunted by that "reverse poem," fearing that if she said it aloud, he would silence her.

That was all the more reason.

Xiao Bie was most afraid of facing Xiao Wanyue, just as how earlier, when Xiao Wanyue had calmly inquired about Chen Yi's recent activities, she had nearly blurted out:

"Like Qingjie Shushu, like Qing, in the human world, rare."

Thank goodness she had recovered quickly, only mentioning the fishing, her mind empty, and she couldn't recall how the young mistress had responded.

Thinking of this, Xiao Bie stammered, "I only told her you were fishing, nothing else."

"Just fishing, that's all that needed to be said."

Chen Yi waved his hand dismissively, continuing to cast his line, leaning back lazily on the reclining chair.

These days, he spent each morning standing for a zhou, practicing clerical script for half a zhou, and the rest of the time fishing.

However, what troubled him was that, since he hadn't caught a single fish, there were no signs on the board, nor did he know if there was such a thing as "fishing technique."

If there were, he would certainly master it and empty this pond of all its fish.

Just as Chen Yi and the Golden Mustache Carp were engaged in their struggle, a faint footstep sounded behind him, followed by a young, high-pitched voice:

"What are you doing in the pavilion, Second Uncle?"

"Wu Ge, slow down."

Before Xiao Bie could warn him, Chen Yi set down his fishing rod and stood up to investigate the source of the voice.

He saw Xiao Wuge running ahead in fine silk robes, still trailing behind Xiao Wanyue, who wore a pure white mourning cloak and smiled warmly.

Then, Chen Yi saw Shen Huaotang standing behind them, hands clasped over his sword, expression blank, and instantly bowed with a straight back:

"Lordhou, Sister Wan'er."

Xiao Houzi Xiao Wan'er was two years older than him, so addressing her as "sister" was only fair.

Xiao Jiao Xiao Wugou, his status being what it was, could not address him by name directly; after all, he was merely a minor son-in-law of the Xiao family.

"Brother Yi, are you fishing?" Xiao Wugou walked over, glanced at the fishing rod, and curiously checked the nearby fish basket: "No fish?"

"……"

The brat, I’ll spare him the childish chatter—after all, I’m a man of fishing.

Thinking this, Chen Yi placed one hand in front and one behind his back, saying: "Fishing, after all, it’s about who wishes to be caught."

Ask, and you shall find I have no desire to catch it.

Clearly, Xiao Wugou hadn’t grasped the meaning, so he replied: "Oh, so it’s the fish that won’t come to the hook, is it?"

Xiao Wan'er slapped his arm irritably: "Wugou, did you forget how your elder sister taught you?"

Then she smiled at Chen Yi: "Brother Yi, your wit is remarkable. Every word you speak carries weight."

"Overstated, overstated." Chen Yi coughed lightly, his eyes flicking toward Shen Huaotang, who seemed to shift his sword ever so slightly, and directly asked:

"Sister Wan'er, do you have something to ask me?"

Since the last time that sword had pressed against his neck, he’d been on edge, always feeling that a single word out of place would invite a blade to his throat.

"Indeed, there’s something I’d like Brother Yi to handle for me."

Xiao Wan'er, finding his straightforwardness refreshing, pointed at Xiao Wugou: "I’ll be away from home for a while. Could you keep an eye on Wugou during these days?"

Chen Yi understood—this was asking him to be a father figure?

(Chapter Complete)