Chapter 4: Xiao Jinghong, Soaring Through the Skies

Chapter 4: Soaring Through the Heavens to Xiao Jinghong

Five days later.

Chen Yì leaned his head against the window, his eyes fixed on the western gate of the Spring Lotus Garden—the corridor leading to Xiao Xing Courtyard.

Since Xiao Bao had delivered the “good news” about Xiao Jinghong’s status to him, he could hardly contain his excitement. In just five days, he had memorized the remaining two hundred family edicts.

No, not “memorized.” He had truly committed them to memory.

The entire text amounted to just a hundred characters, yet he could recite it backward with his eyes closed.

“A loyal subject serves his ruler, his body wrapped in a horsehide; a man of the Zhou clan must enter the martial training grounds by age six…”

The edicts of a martial aristocratic family were harsh—either loyalty to the throne or the cultivation of martial skills, or displaying the family’s prestige.

It all seemed so clear and resolute.

Yet it was all nonsense, really.

Chen Yì still could not quiet his restless mind.

After all, he had not set foot outside the courtyard in fifty days. Even when he was confined to his room, he needed fresh air every day, yet he had never once stepped beyond the door.

The soldiers stationed at the gate had come to recognize his impatience, their faces softening into smiles.

Over these days, the four soldiers had grown familiar with Chen Yì, and to some extent, sympathetic to his plight.

After all, a nobleman steeped in literature, destined for the imperial examinations, yet forced into a life of wedded obscurity—what could one but feel sorrow for him?

“Brothers,” Chen Yì said, noticing their gaze, his voice low and steady, “if I were allowed to step out of this chamber, would you no longer have to remain here?”

The four soldiers exchanged glances. One of them, whose left arm bore a woven rope, spoke with a mixture of irritation and amusement:

“Yes, but we will stay outside the garden.”

“…”

Chen Yì nodded to himself.

Crossing the three-story wooden tower into the dozen mu of garden, he had indeed taken a significant step.

Perhaps it was because Chen Yì was nearing his release, or perhaps the soldiers’ perceptions of him had shifted.

In any case, during the intervals before Xiao Bao returned, they had grown more familiar with him.

This gave him the opportunity to ask the question he had most wanted to pose: “Does martial cultivation truly allow one to soar through the heavens?”

He already knew from his studies that the Tang dynasty favored martial prowess, and those with profound cultivation possessed strength beyond imagination.

Like Jinan Prefecture’s Duanmen Sect’s leader, Yin Tian, who had once visited the Chen family, displaying his skill with a cleaver—splitting a small mountain with a single strike.

And the legendary swordsman who, with his own strength, pierced through armor to slay three thousand soldiers of the Tiger Bai army, whose corpses littered the fields.

Chen Yì knew of the former but had never seen the latter, and so in recent days, he had often fantasized about becoming a martial cultivator—a recluse of the highest order.

If he could apply his talents to martial training, he might ascend rapidly through the cultivation realms, aided by the Daoist path.

The soldier with the woven rope on his left arm, Wang Lixing, replied upon hearing this: “Of course, mistress. She can indeed soar through the heavens.”

Chen Yì paused. “Mistress? She’s so skilled in martial arts?”

Wang Lixing nodded, his expression tinged with longing. “Miss Xiao’s martial arts are extraordinary. At just twenty years old, she has already reached the fourth tier of cultivator, capable of soaring through the heavens for dozens of li, and walking two thousand li each day.”

Chen Yì was taken aback. Was Xiao Jinghong really that powerful?

Well, it seemed that without sufficient strength, he had best keep a low profile.

Not long after, Xiao Bao finally passed through the arched gate adorned with blue tiles and white walls, appearing at the end of the corridor. She spotted Chen Yì’s head poking out from the window and hurried over, laughing and jogging a few steps.

“My lord, I have both good news and bad news—which would you like to hear first?”

“Either is fine,” Chen Yì brushed his eyelashes, his excitement momentarily subsiding. “For me, any news is good news.”

Xiao Bao made a face, then first conveyed to the soldiers: “Miss Xiao says you may now stay outside the garden.”

“Yes, Mistress Xiao Bao.”

The soldiers had anticipated this.

After bowing respectfully to Chen Yì, Wang Lixing led the others out of the garden in a hurry.

When they had disappeared from sight, Chen Yì, without waiting for Xiao Bao’s good or bad news, pushed off the windowsill with one hand and leaped out, letting out a cry as he sprinted toward the nearby pavilion.

Xiao Bao rushed ahead, “My lord, my lord, please slow down!”

She paid no heed to his haste—after all, it was broad daylight, and soldiers remained outside the garden, unlike the day of his wedding when Chen Yì had fled in a hurry on his way from the inn to the marquisate. Chen Yì, however, paid her no mind, running straight to the pavilion. There, he inhaled deeply, his hands cupped to drink in the clear air rippling over the pond, his body and spirit instantly at ease.

Xiao Bao panted her way over, “My lord, I haven’t finished speaking yet.”

Chen Yì did not turn his head, still holding his breath, breathing in the freedom of the open air.

When he said nothing, Xiao Bao continued on her own: “Miss Xiao says, for the time being, you may remain at the Spring Lotus Garden. She has already written a letter to Miss Xiao explaining the situation. Once Miss Xiao replies, your confinement will be lifted.”

Chen Yì exhaled a long, relieved breath, his entire being brightening. “What good news?”

Xiao Bao paused. “That is the good news.”

“Then what’s even better?”

“There isn’t anything better.” Xiao Bao patted her cheeks, her round face puffing out as she looked at him. “My lord, only one bad news remains.”

Chen Yì turned his head to look at her. “What is it?”

“The bad news is that Miss Xiao said—well, actually, it’s what the Patriarch instructed—that since you have entered the Xiao family as a son-in-law, you must follow the regulations of the marquisate.”

“What regulations?” Chen Yì raised an eyebrow, thinking, *Ah, now there’s some real bad news.*

“According to the edicts, a man of the marquisate must begin training in martial arts at the martial grounds by the age of six,” Xiao Bao said, covering her mouth with a smile. “You’ll have to study.”

Chen Yì paused. “Are you sure?”

This news, to him, was neither good nor bad.

It was simply that he had previously assumed the Xiao family would not teach him martial arts—after all, he was a runaway son-in-law, one who had food, clothing, and provisions, and they had been kind and generous to him.

To have him study martial arts… they were treating him as family.

After a moment of thought.

Chen Yì’s heart stirred: *Could it be that they plan to conscript me as a soldier? Not that they want me to enlist and fight, right?*

Based on his understanding of the Xiao family, he knew the marquisate was indeed short on men.

It was quite possible…

Xiao Bao, unaware of his thoughts, smiled tightly and said:

“But Miss Xiao told me not to worry. If you don’t wish to study, you need only pretend to learn, play along, and it’ll be fine. And since you’re still confined to the garden, instructors will be sent to you.”

Chen Yì raised an eyebrow, his tone a little irritable: “Xiao Bao, from now on, please don’t leave things to the end. Say everything at once.”

If that were the case, he need not worry too much. But just in case, he still needed to appear unskilled in martial arts, lest they later conscript him as a soldier.

Xiao Bao stuck out her tongue. “Who knew you’d be so eager to come here.”

Hearing this, Chen Yi sensed something amiss, glanced at her, and said, "You seem different from before."

"Different how?" Xiao Duo looked down at herself.

"You've changed the way you address me. It's been nearly two months, and you've never used 'honorifics' for me before. What's the matter now? Did the sun come out from the west today?" Chen Yi teased.

Xiao Duo's face flushed. She whispered softly, "M-Master, Miss Xiao let me stay with Uncle from now on..."

"Oh~ I see~" Chen Yi let out a long sigh, "You're worried I'll step on your foot later."

"N-No way..."

"Your face is red, hehe."

Xiao Duo pretended to swat him, but recalling that he was now her full-time maid, she restrained herself, lowered her head, and said nothing.

Seeing this, Chen Yi stopped joking and spoke warmly.

Xiao Duo smiled again, secretly glancing at his back.

Before, because the master had fled his wedding, everyone in the Xiao family disliked him, and she was no exception.

Until today, she had just realized—actually, the master was quite kind, just like Miss Xiao, Second Miss Xiao, and Grandfather, easygoing and approachable.

No.

After a moment of careful thought, she discovered that from the moment she first met Chen Yi until now, he had never treated her as an inferior.

Though sometimes he asked her to do things—sharpening inkstones, bringing food, and the like—he never spoke in a way that made her feel inferior. Rather, his tone was always calm and even.

It was such ease that allowed her to fully relax.

Thinking this, Xiao Duo whispered softly, "Master, are you hungry? I'll go bring some food."

"Go ahead, go ahead."

Chen Yi waved dismissively without looking back, still watching the fish darting playfully in the pond with interest, plotting how soon he could get a fishing rod to cook them all up.

After all, he was a seasoned angler who never missed a meal—how could he let it go without a few rods?

(End of Chapter)