Chapter 263: A Wash of Clear Autumn (Seeking Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 263: A Cleansing Autumn (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Though Chen Yi had no intention of appearing in Shuzhou under the name "Chen Yu" in the short time, he found himself constrained by the lack of suitable subordinates to accompany him.

Wang Ji and Zhang Dabao could manage affairs in his absence, yet they were inadequate for major undertakings.

Liu Lang, however, seemed capable of handling significant matters, though his adaptability in crises was poor. When confronted with figures like the Jiuzhou Merchant Guild, he would likely expose himself.

As for the remaining disciples of the Tian Shan Sect, Chen Yi had yet to uncover any with truly outstanding qualities or abilities.

Thus, he found himself forced to resort to another course of action.

"How 'Chen Yu' will appear before the Old Matriarch and others, and what their reactions may be—I wonder."

Of course, Chen Yi was not overly concerned about the Xiao family coming to pay him a visit.

What he needed to be mindful of were the individuals residing in the Cloudqing Building across from Bai Caotang—Cui Qingwu and Chen Yunfan.

These two had previously sensed that "Liu Wu" was in the western market, and it was quite possible they might deduce his identity as "Chen Yu."

"Well, circumstances have reached this point. We must proceed step by step."

Chen Yi's mind wandered through countless thoughts, while on his face, he gave a silent command to Xiao Di: "Have breakfast."

"Ah, Master, just in time—the kitchen has prepared the steamed rice noodle with pork that you favor most. I'll fetch it right away."

Chen Yi nodded with a smile, watching Xiao Di hurriedly depart, his gaze then sweeping across the courtyard.

The gray clouds dimmed the sunlight, casting a slight gloom over the garden.

The damp stone slabs gleamed clean and smooth, each raindrop pattering softly against them with a faint "tap" sound.

In the distance, a pavilion stood by the pond, shrouded in a thin mist created by the collision of rainwater and pond water, rendering it somewhat hazy.

It resembled a scene from "Smoke and Rain in Jiangnan."

"Amidst the rain's patter and the dusk's haze, a thousand miles of sky... a cleansing autumn."

"The pond's waters are not the river's, yet they are fitting."

Chen Yi murmured to himself, his mind inevitably drifting to the line, "A golden-scaled beast is but a thing in the pond."

This seemed to echo the current state of the Xiao family.

"Hmph, perhaps it should be so, and yet it must be so..."

Just then, Xiao Di entered with a bowl and chopsticks, greeting him to eat while smiling: "Master, what needs to be settled or not settled?"

Chen Yi restrained his thoughts, taking his seat at the table, shaking his head without answering, and instead inquired:

"The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. Has the mansion made any arrangements?"

On the ninth day of the ninth month, the Dragon Boat Festival.

Every year, the Jiangnan Prefecture held grand activities on this day—Buddhist ceremonies, scholar's poetry gatherings, or the Qin Lou flower maidens, among others.

In Shuzhou, he was unaware of what events were planned.

Xiao Di's face lit up with a smile, spreading her hands and gesturing: "There are many, many things—fun activities."

"Though the city's arrangements each year are largely the same—poetry contests, temple fairs, and the like."

"But many mountain clans have all sorts of festivities, the most interesting being horse racing, and the worship of the Road God."

"A Road God?"

Chen Yi's expression cleared: "The horse troupe's deity, then."

The horse troupe was akin to the canal boat guilds.

The only difference was that the former followed the Tea and Horse Road, stretching from Great Wei to the Buddhist kingdom in the Western Regions, while the latter traveled by water, navigating the rivers and lakes in boats along the mountain paths.

The Road God was the deity worshipped by the horse troupe.

Xiao Di saw he understood, nodding repeatedly: "Every year, people ride all manner of horses through the streets and alleys, with many flower cars adorned with red paper trailing behind them—quite beautiful."

"I remember last year, the young lady had Aunt Huatang take us outside to play. I ate so many Zongzi then..."

As Chen Yi ate his breakfast, he listened to her recounting, his demeanor growing more relaxed.

He wasn't actually seeking to attend the poetry gatherings or the festival events; he merely wanted to inquire about the local arrangements, lest he misjudge the timing.

After all, the tasks ahead of him allowed for no room for negligence. In the absence of multiple forms, he still needed to be cautious.

Not long after, they finished their breakfast.

Chen Yi took a scroll in the study, entrusted a few instructions to Xiao Di, and hurried to Jiaxing Garden.

At that moment, Xiao Wan'er had just finished her meal, sipping her medicinal broth.

Seeing Chen Yi approach, she rose to greet him warmly, her smile gentle: "I was just about to send Huatang to find you."

Chen Yi looked at her with mild surprise: "How quickly did a response come from the Tonglin Town?"

Xiao Wan'er nodded, her pale face beaming with a smile: "The Commissioner Kang had just received news—after the city's people arrived the previous day, they completed the survey of the academy that same day and made adjustments to the blueprints."

"This is the new blueprint. Take a look."

Chen Yi placed the scroll on the table, quickly scanned the new plans, and smiled, shaking his head: "Professional matters must be handled by professionals."

"With these adjustments, the entire academy's layout is now more rational, especially the newly added observatory."

Chen Yi himself had the Daoist medical foundation, his medical skills deeply ingrained, allowing him to assess the seasons and celestial positions without external aids.

The art of pulse diagnosis was one such skill developed upon this foundation.

However, for students newly introduced to the Dao of Medicine, or those less skilled in controlling the proper degrees, when first learning the "Five Elements and Six Movements," they would need to supplement some basic knowledge.

The observatory was a necessary structure to help them survey the seasons and celestial positions.

Xiao Wan'er hummed in agreement: "Once I reply to them, work on it will begin."

"With Commissioner Kang overseeing it, I believe it should be completed before spring arrives."

Chen Yi smiled: "Having a longer preparation period, the actual construction progress will be much faster than in the market."

The Wuyan market was a place without villages or shops in sight, filled with valuable goods of all kinds, so it needed to be more robust.

Once the stalls and storage rooms were built, they might even need to construct a city wall for protection and management.

But the Daoist Medical Academy was different.

Except for certain buildings with specific purposes, such as the observatory, the book repository, and storage for medicinals, the remaining structures merely needed to shield from wind and rain.

Xiao Wan'er folded the blueprints, glancing at the scroll on the table, and asked: "What's this?"

Chen Yi smiled: "As promised, the painting you requested, I have completed."

"Really?"

And so the translation continued, preserving the literary essence and exact line count as required.

Chapter 263: A Cleansing Autumn (Seeking Monthly Votes)

Though Chen Yi had no intention of appearing in Shuzhou under the name "Chen Yu" in the short time, he found himself constrained by the lack of suitable subordinates to accompany him.

Wang Ji and Zhang Dabao could manage affairs in his absence, yet they were inadequate for major undertakings.

Liu Lang, however, seemed capable of handling significant matters, though his adaptability in crises was poor. When confronted with figures like the Jiuzhou Merchant Guild, he would likely expose himself.

As for the remaining disciples of the Tian Shan Sect, Chen Yi had yet to uncover any with truly outstanding qualities or abilities.

Thus, he found himself forced to resort to another course of action.

"How 'Chen Yu' will appear before the Old Matriarch and others, and what their reactions may be—I wonder."

Of course, Chen Yi was not overly concerned about the Xiao family coming to pay him a visit.

What he needed to be mindful of were the individuals residing in the Cloudqing Building across from Bai Caotang—Cui Qingwu and Chen Yunfan.

These two had previously sensed that "Liu Wu" was in the western market, and it was quite possible they might deduce his identity as "Chen Yu."

"Well, circumstances have reached this point. We must proceed step by step."

Chen Yi's mind wandered through countless thoughts, while on his face, he gave a silent command to Xiao Di: "Have breakfast."

"Ah, Master, just in time—the kitchen has prepared the steamed rice noodle with pork that you favor most. I'll fetch it right away."

Chen Yi nodded with a smile, watching Xiao Di hurriedly depart, his gaze then sweeping across the courtyard.

The gray clouds dimmed the sunlight, casting a slight gloom over the garden.

The damp stone slabs gleamed clean and smooth, each raindrop pattering softly against them with a faint "tap" sound.

In the distance, a pavilion stood by the pond, shrouded in a thin mist created by the collision of rainwater and pond water, rendering it somewhat hazy.

It resembled a scene from "Smoke and Rain in Jiangnan."

"Amidst the rain's patter and the dusk's haze, a thousand miles of sky... a cleansing autumn."

"The pond's waters are not the river's, yet they are fitting."

Chen Yi murmured to himself, his mind inevitably drifting to the line, "A golden-scaled beast is but a thing in the pond."

This seemed to echo the current state of the Xiao family.

"Hmph, perhaps it should be so, and yet it must be so..."

Just then, Xiao Di entered with a bowl and chopsticks, greeting him to eat while smiling: "Master, what needs to be settled or not settled?"

Chen Yi restrained his thoughts, taking his seat at the table, shaking his head without answering, and instead inquired:

"The Dragon Boat Festival is approaching. Has the mansion made any arrangements?"

On the ninth day of the ninth month, the Dragon Boat Festival.

Every year, the Jiangnan Prefecture held grand activities on this day—Buddhist ceremonies, scholar's poetry gatherings, or the Qin Lou flower maidens, among others.

In Shuzhou, he was unaware of what events were planned.

Xiao Di's face lit up with a smile, spreading her hands and gesturing: "There are many, many things—fun activities."

"Though the city's arrangements each year are largely the same—poetry contests, temple fairs, and the like."

"But many mountain clans have all sorts of festivities, the most interesting being horse racing, and the worship of the Road God."

"A Road God?"

Chen Yi's expression cleared: "The horse troupe's deity, then."

The horse troupe was akin to the canal boat guilds.

The only difference was that the former followed the Tea and Horse Road, stretching from Great Wei to the Buddhist kingdom in the Western Regions, while the latter traveled by water, navigating the rivers and lakes in boats along the mountain paths.

The Road God was the deity worshipped by the horse troupe.

Xiao Di saw he understood, nodding repeatedly: "Every year, people ride all manner of horses through the streets and alleys, with many flower cars adorned with red paper trailing behind them—quite beautiful."

"I remember last year, the young lady had Aunt Huatang take us outside to play. I ate so many Zongzi then..."

As Chen Yi ate his breakfast, he listened to her recounting, his demeanor growing more relaxed.

He wasn't actually seeking to attend the poetry gatherings or the festival events; he merely wanted to inquire about the local arrangements, lest he misjudge the timing.

After all, the tasks ahead of him allowed for no room for negligence. In the absence of multiple forms, he still needed to be cautious.

Not long after, they finished their breakfast.

Chen Yi took a scroll in the study, entrusted a few instructions to Xiao Di, and hurried to Jiaxing Garden.

At that moment, Xiao Wan'er had just finished her meal, sipping her medicinal broth.

Seeing Chen Yi approach, she rose to greet him warmly, her smile gentle: "I was just about to send Huatang to find you."

Chen Yi looked at her with mild surprise: "How quickly did a response come from the Tonglin Town?"

Xiao Wan'er nodded, her pale face beaming with a smile: "The Commissioner Kang had just received news—after the city's people arrived the previous day, they completed the survey of the academy that same day and made adjustments to the blueprints."

"This is the new blueprint. Take a look."

Chen Yi placed the scroll on the table, quickly scanned the new plans, and smiled, shaking his head: "Professional matters must be handled by professionals."

"With these adjustments, the entire academy's layout is now more rational, especially the newly added observatory."

Chen Yi himself had the Daoist medical foundation, his medical skills deeply ingrained, allowing him to assess the seasons and celestial positions without external aids.

The art of pulse diagnosis was one such skill developed upon this foundation.

However, for students newly introduced to the Dao of Medicine, or those less skilled in controlling the proper degrees, when first learning the "Five Elements and Six Movements," they would need to supplement some basic knowledge.

The observatory was a necessary structure to help them survey the seasons and celestial positions.

Xiao Wan'er hummed in agreement: "Once I reply to them, work on it will begin."

"With Commissioner Kang overseeing it, I believe it should be completed before spring arrives."

Chen Yi smiled: "Having a longer preparation period, the actual construction progress will be much faster than in the market."

The Wuyan market was a place without villages or shops in sight, filled with valuable goods of all kinds, so it needed to be more robust.

Once the stalls and storage rooms were built, they might even need to construct a city wall for protection and management.

But the Daoist Medical Academy was different.

Except for certain buildings with specific purposes, such as the observatory, the book repository, and storage for medicinals, the remaining structures merely needed to shield from wind and rain.

Xiao Wan'er folded the blueprints, glancing at the scroll on the table, and asked: "What's this?"

Chen Yi smiled: "As promised, the painting you requested, I have completed."

"Really?"

Xiao Wanz'er's heart skipped a beat; she hurriedly handed the blueprint to Shen Huatan and carefully unfolded the painting.

She gasped softly as she beheld six figures leaping onto the paper.

There was Xiao Fengchun, unruffled and commanding, Fu Wanqing, poised and elegant, seated on a chair with Xiao Wugou crouched beside him, his mouth open in a boisterous laugh.

Behind them stood Xiao Jinghong, valiant and resplendent, Xiao Wanz'er, gentle and delicate, and Chen Yi, standing between the two women.

—Just as he had painted them the night before, Xiao Fengchun clad in dark silk robes, his countenance majestic.

Xiao Wanz'er gazed at the portrait in her hands, her eyes reflecting the visages of Xiao Fengchun and Fu Wanqing, and a hazy mist seemed to settle over her gaze.

"Father, father, mother…"

Chen Yi looked at the sobbing Xiao Wanz'er and sighed inwardly, choosing not to reveal the unconventional method he had used to paint the image.

Lest it should cause her to descend into melancholy.

Alas, he could not yet tell Xiao Wanz'er about Fu Wanqing's presence in the barbarian lands, which would surely bring her joy.

Nearby, Shen Huatan and Xie Tingyun glanced at the portrait and, from it, sensed a subtle stirrings of cosmic energy.

They murmured approvingly in silence, yet dared not speak further.

After a long while, Xiao Wanz'er regained her composure, brushing away a tear from her eye.

"You… my brother-in-law, forgive me, you… you painted it so well, it brought back memories of father and mother."

Chen Yi nodded, smiling gently: "No need to scold me for taking the liberty of painting myself into it."

Xiao Wanz'er, noticing Chen Yi in the painting, gave it a careful once-over, her cheeks flushing slightly.

"You… you are Jinghong's husband, and naturally… our family member as well."

Yet why, in this painting, did his hands appear so open, as if embracing the two sisters?

Chen Yi, aware of these minor "flaws," merely smiled: "If the elder sister is satisfied, then all is well."

"I also painted an extra portrait for my wife; I'll send it over in a few days." Xiao Wanz'er nodded carefully as she tucked the image away: "Time-wise, my younger sister's reply should be arriving soon."

"Once you've read her letter, I'll write back and send it along."

After Xiao Wanz'er's emotions settled, Chen Yi finally explained his purpose.

"Yesterday, Wang Ji mentioned that Master Chen Yu is returning today; I'll pay him a visit afterward."

"If all goes smoothly, Guangyuan County should become the first stop for the Bai Caotang's expansion."

Xiao Wanz'er considered this: "Do as you see fit."

She then apologized and explained: "At present, I'm stretched thin, my thoughts consumed by the Medical Arts Academy."

"If you don't mind, could you accompany me to the Bai Caotang and take a look around?"

He agreed without hesitation. "The Bai Caotang has already formed partnerships with several pharmacies; there's little to attend to."

"Of course, this matter ultimately hinges on the court's silver; once I meet Master Chen Yu, I'll ask about his plans and then discuss it with you."

Xiao Wanz'er's eyes, like flowing water, watched him with quiet intensity, nodding softly: "Thank you."

"No thanks needed…"

Xie Tingyun studied the two of them and couldn't help but grin.

In her eyes, their current demeanor was unmistakably "lovey-dovey."

She glanced at Shen Huatan and tapped her shoulder.

"Sister, I told you—they're… not like others."

Shen Huatan shot her a sharp glance and hissed: "Don't be ridiculous."

Yet, wasn't she right?

Shen Huatan, recalling what she had witnessed in Tonglin Town, couldn't help but agree.

The young lady and the second nephew… truly beyond control!

After a few lighthearted remarks, Chen Yi stood and departed.

Xiao Wanz'er escorted him to Chao Xing Yard, handing him an oil-paper umbrella and reminding him:

"When you meet Master Chen Yu, ask him to say hello."

Chen Yi nodded and took the umbrella, stepping out of the Xiao residence.

This time, he avoided the chatter of Cui Qingwu and refused to let Liu Si'er and others trail after him.

Alone in the rain-soaked crowd, he moved discreetly, avoiding notice.

Just as he circled around Chuanxi Street, Chen Yi scanned the pedestrians and furrowed his brow slightly.

Perhaps it was his imagination, but he felt the number of travelers today far exceeded usual days.

Moreover, their accents suggested they hailed from beyond Shu Prefecture.

He surveyed the area and then relaxed his cultivation, revealing his eighth-grade martial might.

Infusing his ears with true energy, he listened intently to the movements and sounds around him.

"Who would have thought the lands beyond the central plains, so distant, would also be bustling?"

"After all, it's a prefecture capital; even in border regions, the court and nobles can still exert influence."

"Besides, there are many powerful families here, naturally bringing prosperity—building bridges, paving roads, developing the people… all that sort of thing."

"Indeed… I recall the most ancient family in Shu Prefecture was the Xiao clan, the Marquis of Duyuan, wasn't it?"

"Them."

"Though back then, the former patriarch, Marquis Xiao Fengchun, fell in battle; now the Xiao family is old and young, already in decline."

Chen Yi glanced at the clearly Jiangnan-accented martial artists and turned his head toward others.

"…The White Sage appeared in Beangang City, north of Jingzhou, yesterday, and performed a divination for someone."

"Who's the unlucky one?"

"They say it was a foreign demon, name unknown, but a decree was issued."

"Tell me more?"

"The decree reads: 'Rich in wealth, poor in virtue is noble; rich in virtue, poor in wealth is venerable.'"

"Wow, that person would die a terrible death!"

"Who says it isn't so? In a few days, we'll see what befalls them; we'd better be cautious."

"Indeed. The White Sage accidentally stumbled into Shu Prefecture; we'll just have to watch the spectacle, but we can't risk our lives there…"

After listening to several more casual conversations, Chen Yi finally discerned the reasons these martial artists had come to Shu Prefecture.

——It was indeed the White Xian of Fengyu Tower!

Upon learning this result, Chen Yi couldn’t help but feel a mixture of laughter and tears.

When he had first heard this news from Pei Qian yesterday, he had not given it much thought.

Now, looking back, the White Xian had long reigned as the unrivaled martial artist of the Jianghu for decades, his influence far beyond what he had ever imagined.

“I wonder what intention that person has in coming to Shu Zhou.”

“It’s unlikely they came merely to confront the Xiao family, is it?”

As soon as this thought flickered through his mind, Chen Yi immediately shook his head and banished it.

Just the Liu family of Jingzhou, the White Tiger Guard, and the merchants of Ji Zhou—these were enough to occupy his thoughts.

If another White Xian were to arrive, he might just throw in the towel and quit.

In such a mood, Chen Yi made his way directly to the residence behind the tailor shop in the Western Market.

Zhang Daobao had already been waiting there for some time.

Chen Yi did not linger long; taking a seat, he instructed him to undergo a disguise.

As Zhang Daobao worked quickly, he reported, “The shopkeeper came by early this morning.”

“What’s the news?”

“He told me to inform you that recently, there have been suspicious individuals loitering near the residence in the East Market.”

“That residence?”

Chen Yi furrowed his brow slightly.

The East Market house was precisely the place where he had orchestrated Xiao Dongchen’s signing of the contract.

Since then, he had not set foot there, and he had specifically ordered Wang Ji to escort the seller out of Shu Zhou and to keep watch over it.

To his surprise, after so long, someone had indeed found their way there.

After a moment of contemplation, Chen Yi said, “It must be one of two people.”

One was the White Tiger Guard—after all, Xiao Dongchen was their silver-flag officer, so leaving traces was understandable.

The other was the Liu family.

Or rather, Liu Hong.

“Of the two, the latter is more likely.”

“Afterall, following Liu Wen’s death, his affairs had been investigated by well-meaning people, leaving a trail.”

“That thirty thousand silver strings that eventually ended up in the Xiao family’s hands—that alone is a clear clue.”

Thinking this through, Chen Yi commanded, “A few days ago, you had contacted some beggars to keep watch there, didn’t you?”

Zhang Daobao was about to agree, when suddenly he paused, a flush of embarrassment creeping onto his face:

“Master, those people probably won’t help me.”

“Why’s that?”

“They’re afraid. Remember, they accompanied those two vulgar, foreign horse-thieves to Blackfish Alley, and after that… many of them died.”

Zhang Daobao sighed bitterly: “Later, the shopkeeper paid them a generous sum of silver to keep their mouths shut.”

Chen Yi fell silent, then chuckled softly: “In that case, we’ll have to find someone else to guard it.”

Outside of Liu Rong, there were no one else with the strength of the Heavenly Mountain Sect.

After a moment’s thought, Chen Yi continued his orders: “Later, send for Wang Ji, Liu Rong, and a few disciples from the Heavenly Mountain Sect—tell them… I wish to see them.”

“You are…?”

“Chen Yu!”

Chen Yi pointed to his own face—handsome and calm: “Here will suffice.”

Zhang Daobao caught up, quickly set aside another mask, and replied:

“Master, I’ll be right there.”

The final day of the monthly ticket lottery—more votes the better, thank you, thank you.

(End of chapter)