Chapter 225: Cui's Yunqing Building

Chapter 225: Cui’s Record·Yunqing Lou

Either the Hidden Guard, or the White Tiger Guard.

Chen Yiyue had been in contact with them, and the more he engaged, the more unclear he found their purpose in Shu Zhou to be.

Like clouds obscuring the bright moon outside the window, the secrets hidden behind remained unclear.

Just as he had come to understand that the eagles and the old three from the Wolves and Ravens Gang wanted to push him into officialdom, or grant him renown, or secure him a place within the Xiao family.

It was most likely to give him "renown" and "power."

But what of afterward?

Was he merely to be used as a puppet to manipulate the Xiao family, or something else?

If they intended to use him to manipulate the Xiao family, the Patriarch, Xiao Jinghong, and Xiao Woge would inevitably prove insurmountable obstacles.

Unless the Hidden Guard struck them down, he would possess neither official status nor renown, and thus could not control the Xiao family.

So, after re-examining the schemes the Hidden Guard had been plotting upon him these past days, Chen Yiyue felt something crucial was still missing.

The second matter was the Hidden Guard’s two women—Nu Hu and Luan Fen.

The former was hiding within Bright Moon Tower, her purpose unknown.

The latter, born of the Cui family in Qinghe, not only did her arrival in Shu Zhou lack clarity, but even her reason for joining the White Tiger Guard seemed peculiar.

Adding to this was the White Tiger Guard’s known duty—specializing in infiltrating enemy states and neighboring regions, bearing the responsibility of stirring strife and pitting foreign nations against one another.

From this duty, Chen Yiyue deduced two possible conclusions.

First, the White Tiger Guard treated Shu Zhou as an enemy state, seeking to draw the armies of other prefectures to invade Shu Zhou.

Second, they sought to lure the Barbarian Tribes and the Smelly Vixen Kingdom’s forces into action.

Either purpose required upheaval in Shu Zhou.

Or rather, it required using the Xiao family as a lever to stir the entire region.

This was the most direct, effective, and expeditious method.

"To discover their true purpose, one must test."

Chen Yiyue pondered these thoughts, gathered the scattered items in the Bamboo Grove, returned to his chambers, and changed into a clean, comfortable robe. He lay down on the bed.

His eyes fluttered shut.

In his mind, a vast chessboard as large as a mountain materialized.

On this board, three new black stones had been added compared to before.

One represented the Mountain Clan, another the Tian Shan Sect, and the third the Guiyun Academy.

These three forces—a pair of martial sects, and a scholarly gathering—could all be wielded against the Xiao family.

The white stones had also increased by two.

The Five Poison Sect, and Bright Moon Tower.

Due to Yan Rufa’s connections, Chen Yiyue had now grouped the Five Poison Sect with the Liu family of Jingzhou.

Bright Moon Tower required no mention—it was a viper pit, ready to strike whoever paid them.

As for the final black stone,

when it fell, it would connect the majority of the black stones in a single, cohesive pattern.

—It represented not some other force, but precisely the mastermind behind the "Anti-Xiao Alliance" who had previously funded the Black Tooth Fire to raze three towns.

That was the alliance Chen Yiyue had sensed, though he had only uncovered fragments of their trail—certain officials within the Affairs Commissioner’s Office, the Border Affairs Commissioner’s Office, the Magistrate’s Office, and some merchants in the East and West Markets.

Who else lay behind them, he could only glimpse the tip of an iceberg.

Looking upon this chessboard, Chen Yiyue pondered long and deeply, and at last, his spirit stirred.

He took up the black stone representing "Yin Wei," transformed it into a white stone, and placed it upon "Eight-Twelve."

"The White Tiger Guard is but one of the chess players."

"They appear tightly connected, seeming to act in concert, yet they exist independently from the great clans within Shu Zhou."

"Thus, they can be relied upon by those plotting within Shu Zhou, and I can employ them for my own ends."

Chen Yiyue made his move with a calm, steady hand, a faint smile touching his lips.

"After refining my martial arts, my courage has grown considerably."

……

No words were spoken through the night.

Before dawn broke, the rain continued its relentless drumming in the Spring Lotus Garden, accompanied by the chorus of frogs.

In the cool breeze, Xiao Woge’s maid, Xiao Bie, donned a slightly heavier cloak, quickly gathered two wooden structures, and went to attend to Xiao Woge’s morning dressing.

Pei Menglou, rarely in a mood to herself, rose early, barefoot on the courtyard stones, her silver bell jingling softly with each step.

Occasionally, laughter echoed through the halls, drawing Xiao Woge to the living room, preparing to fetch breakfast from the kitchen.

Xiao Bie glanced sideways at him, smiling: "Be careful, it’s chilly."

"It’s nothing, little rain, little water—I’m not afraid of catching a cold."

Pei Menglou waved dismissively without looking back, still hopping merrily through the puddles, her chest ornament swaying with each step.

Jingle-jangle.

Chen Yiyue heard the sounds from the hall and awoke from his sleep.

He glanced outside, the clouds still loomed, the rain persisted, so he rose and stretched lazily.

Today held many matters, so he could not afford to linger in bed.

Dressed neatly, he descended to the lower floor, greeted Xiao Woge, and pushed open the door to leave.

Xiao Woge rubbed his eyes, following him, "Brother Chen, going out today?"

Chen Yiyue nodded casually, "I promised to visit the Lingyun Immortal to discuss arrangements for the Tian Shan disciples at Bai Caotang."

"The eldest sister is there too; the Patriarch wishes to see you—I’ll go ask."

A question as idle as any other.

In the short span of time, his presence as the boss of the Bian Cao Tang was impossible to manifest. At least until Yan Hai and others completed their journey to Shu Zhou, before the Bian Cao Tang would expand, he would not appear under the name of Chen Yu. During this period, he naturally could not visit the Xiao family. The Grandfather was also out of the question. Chen Yi knew that the Grandfather had already begun to harbor suspicions, doubting that the Bian Cao Tang's boss was secretly aiding the Xiao family. In such circumstances, he knew full well that if he were to meet the Grandfather, he would inevitably face a barrage of interrogations and probes. Thus, not revealing himself was the best choice at present. Xiao Wu Ge let out a soft grunt, hesitating, and said, "Brother, may I accompany you when you go out?" Chen Yi looked at Pei Wen Lu, who was trudging through the water, and replied, "No." After a pause, he bent his head and looked at Xiao Wu Ge, smiling and asking, "Has Elder Sister found you a new husband again?" "Not Elder Sister, it's— it's Second Uncle." "Second Uncle?" Xiao Wu Ge—? Chen Yi glanced toward the outside of the Spring and Lotus Garden, and with a thoughtful expression asked, "What does he want you to learn?" "Martial Way." "Hmm? I recall that Little Butterfly mentioned earlier that one must wait until the age of six to establish a foundation in practicing the Martial Way." Xiao Wu Ge sighed and said, "Second Uncle says that next March, I will be heading to Jingling, and the time I'll spend in the capital won't be long, so he wants to teach me some techniques before then." "After I establish my foundation, my progress in the Martial Way might be faster." Chen Yi chuckled upon hearing this, saying, "Second Uncle is right; you truly should learn some basics in advance." "Ah? Do you think so too, Brother?" "Of course." "As the heir to the Xiao family, who will one day inherit the marquisate, how can one do without the Martial Way?" "Even if you leave Shu Zhou and go to Jingling, the Martial Way cannot be neglected. Practice diligently, and perhaps you can catch up with your younger sister." Xiao Wu Ge looked up at him, "My younger sister is so talented; how could I possibly match her?" Chen Yi patted his head and smiled, saying, "Success comes from the heavens, and affairs are settled by people." "Perhaps your talent in the Martial Way is even stronger than your younger sister's." "Moreover, Second Uncle wants you to familiarize yourself with the Martial Way in advance, which is for your own good. Even I, Elder Brother, would not oppose it." Xiao Wu Ge nodded, his face breaking into a smile, "I'll do as Brother says." Success comes from the heavens, and affairs are settled by people—note this down, note this down.

Not long after, Little Butterfly returned with the dishes, and they all sat together, eating and chatting. Most of the conversation was between Little Butterfly and Pei Wen Lu. Eight out of ten sentences were related to Chen Yi. They spoke of how the Water Melody had received praise from a great scholar or the favor of an important official. They also mentioned the opening of the exhibition hall at the Fei Yun Academy, with people flocking to see the painting "Moved by the Rain." They praised the painting for its perfect depiction of the spirit of calligraphy, and those people were even more eager to see the calligraphy scroll "Water Melody—Mid-Autumn Moon." When they came to this point, Little Butterfly couldn't help but ask, "Master, have you written any calligraphy?" Chen Yi took a bite of the mooncake and said, "It's lost." That night, he and Feng Sha had violently clashed, and the entire boat was torn apart; how could a calligraphy scroll possibly remain? Little Butterfly looked regretful, "I heard that all those people by the Curved Pool that night said they saw a fairy realm." Pei Wen Lu lounged and said, "Brother, if you write another one, that would be perfect." Chen Yi glanced at her and asked irritably, "Do you want to see it again?" Pei Wen Lu immediately flushed and said, "No, no, I won't." She didn't want to recall that night's events. If Chen Yi hadn't rescued her in time, she might already be frozen solid. "By the way, I've sent my letter back a long time ago; why hasn't Grandmother replied yet?" "Just wait calmly." Chen Yi replied, scraping the last of the porridge from the bowl, and continued, "Perhaps she's not in a hurry." Pei Wen Lu crouched at the table, her mouth full of mooncake, mumbling, "She, most cherishes me; she won't be in a hurry." After swallowing the mooncake, she continued, "Brother, rest assured, if Grandmother doesn't act, I'll find another way to help you report..." Before she could finish, Chen Yi snapped his fingers and said, "Report what? These days, you've stayed honestly in the mansion, not going anywhere." Pei Wen Lu clutched her head and crouched obediently, muttering, "I won't go anywhere." Seeing her getting what she deserved, Little Butterfly and Xiao Wu Ge couldn't help but laugh half-heartedly. But before their laughter had even subsided, footsteps and the sound of wheels rumbling outside the garden reached their ears. Chen Yi's heart stirred slightly, wiped his mouth, and then saw Wang Li Xing pushing Xiao Suo Zhao toward the wooden building. Xiao Suo Zhao didn't look at Chen Yi and the others, and said to Xiao Wu Ge, "Come out and speak with me." Xiao Wu Ge looked at Chen Yi, saw his smiling face, nodded, then set down his bowl and chopsticks, and stood up to leave the wooden building and bow and say, "Second Uncle." Xiao Suo Zhao seemed satisfied with his attitude, nodded and said, "I've already made arrangements with your aunt." "From today onward, you must appear at the Martial Arts Hall at the time of Yin, and return at the time of Wu." "Yes." As they spoke, Chen Yi knew that Xiao Suo Zhao was not just speaking to Xiao Wu Ge, but also to him. He stood up and went outside the building, bowed respectfully, and smiled, "Light Vessel greets Second Uncle." "If you need any preparations for practicing the Martial Way, such as daily food, let me know." Xiao Suo Zhao looked at him, though his expression was neutral, his tone was much more relaxed than before. "Yesterday, I've already arranged for your aunt to handle the preparations here, following the arrangements from the Fei Yun Academy." Chen Yi nodded, "Light Vessel has noted it." He then patted Xiao Wu Ge's shoulder, "Practice the Martial Way well, and if you achieve any success in the future, I'll give you a gift." "Really?" Chen Yi extended his hand and smiled, "A gentleman's word?"

Xiao Gun pressed his palm against his opponent’s, declaring, “I want to request the Water Melody.”

“That doesn’t count as a gift.”

“What kind of gift does my brother-in-law want to give me?”

“You’ll find out then…”

After some casual chatter, Chen Yi watched as Xiao Xuan, Xiao Gun, and others departed from the Spring Lotus Garden.

Time flew swiftly.

Before he knew it, half a year had already passed since he arrived here.

In another half-year, Xiao Gun would set out for Jinling.

He hoped that by then, the Xiao family’s affairs would have improved.

Chen Yi pondered these thoughts, his mind no longer on finishing his morning meal.

He reminded Little Butterfly not to forget to inquire about Xiao Gun’s dietary needs at Jia Xing Courtyard, then set off alone from the Spring Lotus Garden, his oil-paper umbrella bobbing gently.

At this moment, autumn rain fell steadily.

Beneath the gray clouds, the winding pavilions and towers of the Xiao mansion were shrouded in a dim, misty haze.

Though the flowers and trees remained lush and verdant, the falling blossoms and leaves cast a somber shadow, lending the place a certain melancholy.

Chen Yi paid no heed, greeting the servants and officials along the way with a gentle smile.

Thanks to his mastery of the Exposed Book and the addition of the post-rain and Water Melody verses, his reputation had grown significantly.

This had made his days within the Xiao estate quite pleasant.

Beyond the daily compliments from Little Butterfly, the matriarchs and patriarchs of the various residences praised him as well.

Even the servants and staff had grown more respectful.

Compared to when he first arrived at Hou Courtyard, it was as if a lifetime had passed.

Though Chen Yi didn’t particularly care for this, upon reflection, he acknowledged it as a positive development.

At least it showed he was now considered part of the Xiao family.

It was far better than being constantly referred to as “the Xiao family’s runaway groom.”

About an hour later,

Chen Yi arrived at the entrance of the Bai Cai Hall in the western market.

Just as he was about to enter to find Wang Ji, his eye caught sight of a shop across the street.

He paused, glancing sideways.

There, outside what should have been a tavern, a few servants in blue robes were hanging a signboard.

The characters on the board caught his attention: Cui Family—Cloud Clear Hall.

Cui Family?

Cloud Clear Hall?

Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu?

A slight tremor ran through Chen Yi’s heart.

His gaze drifted to the second floor of the tavern, where he glimpsed a busy figure inside.

It was none other than Cui Qingwu, the only daughter of the Cui family, the hidden general—Luohua.

“A female tiger opening a dumpling shop, a hidden general launching a tavern—what clever brains they have in the Xin Wei region.”

“Just the Cui family name, though…”

“Cui Qingwu has even branded the Cui family name on her establishment. She must be planning to stay in Shu Zhou permanently.”

Chen Yi studied the scene a moment longer, then entered the Bai Cai Hall with a thoughtful expression.

Wang Ji approached, about to speak, but Chen Yi raised his hand to halt him: “Wang the Manager, the young mistress sends her regards.”

It wasn’t truly Xiao Wan’er inviting him to the estate.

Chen Yi had concocted a reason to send Wang Ji and Zhang Daobao to a residence in the northern city, west of the river.

He couldn’t risk saying too much and raising suspicions with Cui Qingwu.

Not long after, the carriage departed from the western market.

Cui Qingwu stood on the second floor, glancing downward, then summoned Ring Er:

“Go ask if Lord Chen is free today. Ask him to come taste the wine at Cloud Clear Hall.”

“Yes.”

She understood Chen Yunfan’s regard for Chen Yi and wanted to show him hospitality, a wise strategy indeed.

This was why she had placed Cloud Clear Hall outside the Bai Cai Hall in the first place.

“Originally, it should have been near the Fei Yun Academy, but that woman was already there.”

Cui Qingwu watched the carriage disappear in the distance, a faint smile touching her lips: “I underestimated that woman’s resilience.”

“She managed to run that dumpling shop so successfully.”

“In that case, I can’t fall behind.”

……

Unaware of Cui Family’s schemes, Chen Yi rode his carriage, deliberately passing the Xiao family’s gate, then headed straight to the residence on the west of the river.

Upon arriving, he immediately commanded: “Wang Ji, call Liu Huwei to come here.”

The so-called “Knife Fiend” had rested long enough—he should move again.

These past few days had been slow, mostly refining his outlines.

Consider it a brief respite from my leave.

Tomorrow, I’ll be updating more frequently.

(Chapter Complete)