Chapter 222: Even within One Li, We Can Share the Moon's Beauty (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 222: A Thousand Miles Apart, Yet Sharing the Moon’s Embrace

When Chen Yunfan returned to Guiyun Academy, the poetry gala had already been declared over.

Liu Hong, Yang Ye, Liu Si, and the other prominent officials of Shu Province had departed a step ahead.

The remaining academy masters, including Yue Ming, Zhuo Ying, and Ling Chuan, stood by the academy gates, bidding farewell to the visiting scholars from Yuelu and Yingtian Academies.

Their exchanges consisted mostly of the usual polite, formulaic pleasantries.

The other talented scholars and young ladies who had attended the gathering streamed out of the academy in small groups, their expressions a vivid portrait of lingering captivation.

Every conversation hummed with the events of the evening's poetry gala.

Naturally, much

Xiao Wanz'er nodded in agreement with her words: "As for my brother-in-law's affairs, the Xiao family will not interfere too much."

Liu Zhaoxue glanced at the two of them, smiled, and nodded: "If that's the case, then I'll have to ask for your guidance again another time."

Just as she was about to bow and leave, a tinkling sound echoed from behind—clear, melodic, like bells chiming—followed by a playful voice:

"Sister Wanz'er, Master Chen, and little Wei Gu, you haven't returned to the manor yet?"

It was Pei Ninglu, barefoot and wearing a red dress adorned with bells.

Xiao Wanz'er relaxed slightly upon seeing her, though her gaze remained fixed on the spot beside Pei Ninglu, where Chen Yinfeng was nowhere to be seen. She asked, "Where is your brother?"

Pei Ninglu paused, her expression puzzled. "Your brother left for the manor early, you know."

"Left for the manor?"

"Left for the manor?!"

Many people gasped in surprise—Xiao Wanz'er, Xiao Xiao, and others, none expecting Chen Yinfeng to have quietly departed from the gathering.

The remark came from Chen Yunfan.

If he hadn't already resolved to shield his younger brother, he couldn't resist tearing down the rumors about the tiger girl from the mountain tribe.

After all, Yinfeng had just fought a brutal battle with those wicked outsiders, his clothes torn and bloodied—how could he simply return to the manor?

Xiao Wanz'er hesitated, her voice tinged with doubt: "When did he leave? Why didn't he wait for us or even tell us beforehand?"

Pei Ninglu scratched her head. "Your brother sent me to let you know, but... but I forgot."

"Forgot?"

"On Guangning Street, it was so bustling and lively, I... I just kept glancing around."

Xiao Wanz'er scolded, "Next time, don't be so careless!"

"Of course not, of course not."

Wei Gu tilted his head and asked, "Sister Ninglu, why did you and your brother leave early? You missed all the fun."

Why did they leave?

Pei Ninglu sighed, then explained as instructed by Chen Yinfeng: "This is all my fault."

"That night, I heard some folk heroes speaking ill of your brother, so we..."

"In the end, your brother wrote a poem that won them over, so I didn't have to harm them."

"But on the way back, I accidentally caused your brother to fall into the water, his clothes soaked, so he had to return to the manor first."

Her half-truth, half-fiction explanation made Xiao Wanz'er pinch Pei Ninglu's forehead in exasperation: "Next time, be more careful."

"At least your brother-in-law is safe. Otherwise, your younger sister would never forgive me."

Pei Ninglu nodded eagerly, then stepped forward, taking Xiao Wanz'er's hand and smiling:

"Sister Wanz'er, it's already so late. Let's hurry back."

Xiao Wanz'er bowed slightly, glanced at Chen Yunfan and the others, and bowed again: "Tonight's intrusion is forgiven. Perhaps we'll meet again another time."

Cui Qingwu smiled and returned the bow: "In a few days, I'll visit you. Please don't hold a grudge."

"Of course not..."

Chen Yunfan gave Pei Ninglu a strange look.

He had figured it out.

That wild girl had come back alone to shield Chen Yinfeng.

Thinking it over, it made sense.

After all, Yinfeng had fought viciously with those Wudou Sect cultists, his body torn and stained—he couldn't appear at the academy like that.

Still...

Why did he keep wanting to rehearse it in his heart?

Soon after, they exchanged pleasantries with the others, said goodbye to Professor Yue Ming and his companions, and mounted their carriages to depart.

Only Liu Zhaoxue and her guards remained, standing motionless as they watched the others disappear into the distance.

When Pei Ninglu returned safely, Liu Zhaoxue knew the Wudou Sect's Yan Fushan and others were in trouble.

She didn't know the exact details, nor how much Chen Yinfeng and Pei Ninglu were aware of the night's events.

But she couldn't believe Pei Ninglu's words.

How could those so-called "folk heroes" be so at peace if they were Yan Fushan and the Wudou Sect?

Comparing poems and fighting skills? That was all nonsense!

After some thought, Liu Zhaoxue waved her subordinates to mount the carriages and ordered, "Let's go check the outskirts of town."

She couldn't leave without seeing for herself.

Since it was the Mid-Autumn Festival, the manor gates were open all night, allowing their carriages to pass.

She instructed the drivers to head down the Chi River.

They traveled slowly, stopping occasionally, and after about half an hour, found some spider silk and horse tracks along the riverbank.

"My lord, look here."

Liu Zhaoxue followed her subordinates' pointing finger and gasped in shock.

The area, once a dense forest, now resembled a field plowed by oxen—scattered tree branches, broken stones, deep trenches, and patches where something had corroded the ground.

Clearly, a fierce battle had taken place here.

She scanned the area, her brow furrowed, and ordered, "Keep searching. See if there's any clothing left behind."

Her subordinates searched the area as directed, but found nothing useful.

"My lord, only traces of spiritual energy remain here. It seems a gunman, a swordsman, and a poison expert fought here."

Liu Zhaoxue nodded, her expression growing grimmer.

In her mind, she pondered.

Chen Yinfeng and Pei Ninglu had left alive, Yan Fushan and the Wudou Sect were missing, and the forest bore battle scars...

All these signs confirmed her earlier suspicion—something had happened.

And it was a major incident.

"A gunman skilled with a spear and a swordsman...?"

"Could it be the two experts who killed Liu Wen outside the Iron Wall Town?"

"Did they slay Yan Fushan and the Wudou Sect, saving Chen Yinfeng and Pei Ninglu?"

Liu Zhao Xue guessed thus, her expression inevitably a bit uncertain, shifting between light and shadow.

Yue Fusha and the others were dead—she was hardly concerned with their fate.

Her worry was that Yue Fusha might reveal her secrets before dying.

After all, Chen Yi’s current identity and status were no longer that of the obscure Xiao family’s extraneous son from before; he had become a renowned poet and scholar, a master of books and calligraphy, a teacher at Guiyun Academy.

If such people were to claim that she, Liu Zhao Xue, was connected to the Five Poison Sect, she would instantly face a catastrophe that could bring her to her knees.

Then there was the matter of Pei Manlu of the mountain clan.

That woman was the precious granddaughter of the mountain matron—if she knew her association with the Five Poison Sect, wouldn’t they dispatch someone to slit her throat outright?

Thinking this, Liu Zhao Xue’s eyes fell upon the trenches left by those long spears on the ground below. Suddenly, she bit her lip and bellowed low:

“Come on, we’re heading back to Jingzhou tonight!”

She had to leave.

If she stayed, she feared she would meet the same fate as her second brother, Liu Wen.

“Just as well, Brother San has already shown his dissatisfaction with me during my stay in Shu. Once we return to Jingzhou, I’ve made arrangements with Father.”

Liu Zhao Xue thought these things through and settled onto the carriage, carefully arranging for someone to remain in Shu to continue preparing the Xinlin Tea House.

Soon after, the carriage set off eastward.

As they traveled, Liu Zhao Xue gazed at the bright moon outside the window and silently mused:

After some time, once she confirmed that Chen Yi, Pei Manlu, and the others were unaware of her connection to the Five Poison Sect, she would need to find a way to return to Shu.

But by then, returning would be far more difficult.

……

The grounds of the Duke of Qingdu, Spring Lotus Garden.

The full moon hung in the sky, a gentle breeze drifting in.

Amidst the drifting fragrance of spring lotuses, laughter floated faintly through the air.

“…May you live forever, though miles apart, we share the moon’s radiance.”

“The second elder brother’s poetry is so moving—truly gifted.”

“I hear the Third Master praised him upon learning of it, declaring he must be a celestial poet, destined to pen such a masterpiece that would echo through eternity.”

“The Master also spoke highly of him.”

“What did the Duke say?”

“He said the second elder brother doesn’t understand the value of humility, how could he use such verses to vie for poetic supremacy, tainting these fine words with his presence?”

“Ah? The Duke is angry?”

“Not at all, the Master merely felt it was a pity…”

Chen Yi heard the murmurs within the courtyard, knowing news traveled swiftly.

Fortunately, his confrontation with Yue Fusha that night had occurred outside Shu Prefecture.

Had it taken place in the Lake of Mirrors, the entire city of Shu would now be buzzing not with the fame of his “《Water Melody Hymn》” but with tales of his mastery in literature, martial arts, and medicine.

What a stir that would have caused!

He imagined that aside from a small handful of admirers, most would deem him a cunning, deeply calculating man.

Without such depths of cunning, why hide oneself?

Chen Yi wandered through his thoughts, his mind revisiting the events of the night, confirming no one had noticed. He had done his utmost to erase all traces.

Not only had Pei Manlu used powder to dissolve the bodies of Yue Fusha and the others, but he had also deliberately muddled the knife wounds.

Even if someone investigated in the short term, they couldn’t possibly suspect him.

Unless someone had witnessed the clash between him and Yue Fusha.

And that person would have to recognize him—and happen to be someone garrulous enough to spread the word.

“Hope no one saw it…”

Chen Yi sighed inwardly, silently preparing for the worst.

If the worst came to pass, he wasn’t afraid.

As he’d told Liu Lang, what then? He’d simply have to face the wrath of Xiao Jinghong and the Old Duke.

Just as he was thinking these thoughts, footsteps echoed down the corridor nearby.

Among them were the laughter of Xiao Maner, Xiao Wuge, Maner, Cui’er, and Pei Manlu, their conversation revolving around the poetry gathering.

They’d heard tales of outsiders like Pei Zhaoye scoffing at his “《Water Melody Hymn》.”

Li Huigu and Liu Zhao Xue had composed a few lines, earning praise from several masters.

Chen Yunfan had been mocked, called the worst scholar-official in the dynasty of Dali.

Listening to their words, Chen Yi noticed several figures approaching.

Leading them was naturally Xiao Maner and Xiao Wuge.

Chen Yi waved and smiled, “Brother Maner, forgive me—I had matters to attend to and couldn’t join the gathering as planned.”

Xiao Maner, having heard the tale from Manlu’s sister, inclined her head lightly:

“The brother-in-law is unharmed then.”

“Indeed, nothing to worry about.”

Chen Yi nodded, also catching Pei Manlu’s proud, head held high as she walked. He shot her a sharp glance.

“Time is late, Brother Maner, you should rest.”

“Wuge, Maner, Cui’er, come with me to the Spring Lotus Garden.”

“Yes, your lordship.”

“Brother-in-law, you weren’t here tonight—how dull it was without you.”

“Is that so? Wuge, tell me later?”

“Of course, I saw everything…”

Xiao Maner watched them enter the garden, paused briefly, then quietly followed them into Chaoxing Yard.

Seeing Chen Yi unharmed, she felt a relief.

Yet that night’s “《Water Melody Hymn》” still lingered in her mind.

When she returned to Chaoxing Yard, washed and dressed, and lay down on her bed, those lines kept echoing in her thoughts:

“…Human emotions of joy and sorrow, separation and reunion, the moon’s phases of bright and dark, full and wan—these things of old can never be fully captured. May we live long, though miles apart, we share the moon’s radiance.”

"A thousand miles to share the beauty of the moon..."

Xiao Wannü gazed up at the flower canopy atop the bed, her delicate eyes drinking in the scene, her lips murmuring softly:

"Must it be a thousand miles? In fact, even one mile could share the beauty of the moon."

Thinking this, Xiao Wannü paused, then suddenly pulled the quilt over her head, letting her body curl up into itself.

What am I thinking about now? My younger sister and her husband, united in heart and soul, sharing the moon across a thousand miles—why does the distance matter? It's just a thought, but...

She always wanted to replace that "thousand miles" with "one mile."

How long had it been since she'd last done this?

Xiao Wannü pushed back the quilt, her cheeks flushed, and quietly rose to the table, grinding ink and taking up her brush to write on the cloud-scented paper:

"The River Merchant's Wife at the Flowing Water... One Mile to Share the Moon."

The Jia Xing Garden was exactly one li away from the Spring Lotus Garden.

After finishing the poem, Xiao Wannü looked at the signature on the bottom: "Chen Yi, Chen Qinzhou," and let out a faint, melancholy sigh.

"A bad man..."

On the other side, Chen Yi, unaware of these things, sat cross-legged on the bed, not practicing the Four Symbols technique, but using silver needles to puncture acupoints and tend to his wounds.

Earlier, to swiftly clear the scene and keep Xiao Wannü from worrying, he had only removed the poison from his body.

The wounds on his skin remained unhealed.

While tending to his injuries, Chen Yi played out a Go game in his mind, setting up a new board using the Great Success Go method.

At that moment, he still did not know that Liu Zhoxue had already sensed something amiss and left Shu Zhou through the night.

Though he knew, he would not care.

Since the two of them had reached an irreconcilable state, the best outcome was to make them both dead.

Better yet than having them flit about before him like an irritating presence.

"Five Poison Sect, Liu Zhoxue... Let me take such a heavy loss, I can't let it go so easily!"

...

Meanwhile, in the Rain Pavilion.

Chen Yunfan had just returned home when he sent Ning Yu and Niu Shan to guard the courtyard.

He neither rested nor browsed books in the study, but in the stunned gaze of Spring Rong, he drew a long sword and practiced sword techniques.

"Lord, Lord, Miss Cui is still in the backyard, you—you..."

Chen Yunfan twirled the long sword, replying: "I can't worry about that now."

"And besides, she already knows about my martial arts prowess—hearing that was enough."

Spring Rong blinked, "Ah? She, she how could she...?!"

"Naturally, I told her myself."

Chen Yunfan, growing impatient, stopped and asked: "Do you have any quick ways to improve sword techniques?"

"There are some, but—"

"Write a letter and ask them to come over. This time, I must break through as soon as possible."

"You sire—"

"Don't ask so many questions. Just do as I say."

"Also, is there contact between your side and my father? I want to write him a letter..."

Chen Yunfan wouldn't tell her the reason for his urgent need to improve his swordplay.

He was also thinking that after reaching the complete realm of sword technique, he'd go pay Chen Yi a visit and settle the score.

Heh heh, with his current fifth-rank cultivation, plus the complete sword technique, I don't believe he'll get away with beating up that brat, Yi Xing.

Wait for it, brother!

There's a chapter of moon tickets as an extra tonight, waiting to be unlocked.

(End of chapter)