Chapter 308: I've Got Everything Covered! (Requesting Monthly Tickets)

Chapter 308 All Is Mine! (Please Vote for the Monthly Ticket)

Xiao Wan'er had not given this matter much thought at first. But upon learning that Chen Yi was both "Liu Wu" and "Chen Yu," she found herself recalling past events with a flush of embarrassment.

At that time, Chen Yi had not merely lifted the blanket from her—he had been tending to her illness. So, so... she had not only been seen in her indecent garment, perhaps Chen Yi had been upon her body as well...

Xiao Wan'er could not bring herself to think further, her face blazing crimson, shrinking into her veil, daring only to reveal a pair of eyes.

[You, Dr. Ma Liang's medicine pouch—is it yours too?]

Chen Yi understood the characters on his hand, and turned his head with a surprised nod toward her.

Facing each other, Xiao Wan'er hastily turned her head away, unable to meet his gaze.

Her eyes were already tinged with redness, quite beautiful in their distress.

Chen Yi smiled, took her hand again, and spread her palm open, writing a single character: "Yes."

The simplest response would have been a nod, yet Xiao Wan'er could not look at him in that moment.

If her hair were not long and adorned with a golden phoenix hairpin, she would surely have shrunk her entire head into her veil by now.

After a moment's pause.

Chen Yi saw she still had no intention of poking her head out, so he took her hand himself, writing upon it with his own hand:

[Originally, I asked Wang Ji to establish the Bai Caotang merely to earn some silver, merely to ease your burden.]

[Later, due to the grain shortages in the three prefectures, the court's funds were tight, so I decided to expand the Bai Caotang...]

At this point, Xiao Wan'er suddenly withdrew her hand, her flushed face beneath the veil showing a faint smile, parting between shame and joy.

No wonder she had felt a sense of familiarity upon first meeting "Chen Yu."

She had thought it was her own deep-rooted affection.

This wicked man—this wicked man had hidden the truth even from her.

Yet all these deeds were done for her...

Chen Yi said nothing further, his expression soft with a hint of a smile.

After a long while.

Xiao Wan'er had cautiously poked her head out just enough to meet his gaze, her heart racing anew, each beat thundering against her chest.

She suppressed her shyness, extended her hand to grasp Chen Yi's palm, and wrote upon it:

[I—I don't know what you've done, I thought you only studied in the mansion.]

[If I had known all this, I would never have come to the mansion.]

[Grandfather would never have let me marry you... Chen Yu.]

The words "marry" made Xiao Wan'er feel somewhat awkward.

But she understood clearly that she could never truly marry Chen Yi, not even under the name "Chen Yu."

Chen Yi understood this, and wrote back a few characters:

[These days, I will no longer walk through Shu under the names "Chen Yu" or "Liu Wu."]

[Whether it is Grandfather or... Lady Xiao, they will not see me, so they cannot bring this up.]

Until he found a proper way, Chen Yi could only employ a measure of reprieve.

Yet Xiao Wan'er remained unrelaxed, perhaps thinking of something, her blush gradually fading.

She avoided his gaze, slightly lowering her eyes, her fingers unconsciously tracing his palm.

After a moment, she seemed to have figured things out, exhaled a breath, and wrote a few more characters:

[When my younger sister asked me yesterday, I—I don't know how to explain... my heart was anxious, confused, and somewhat...]

Bitter.

Xiao Wan'er tried several times but could not manage to write those two characters completely.

Chen Yi had already understood her meaning, and in an instant grasped her hand, gently patting it.

"All is mine."

Four words, no longer written but spoken aloud by him.

His tone was soft and smiling, yet held a certain resolve.

The strange trembling in Xiao Wan'er's heart instantly eased, and she nodded gently, meeting his gaze.

"Yes."

At that moment, Xiao Wan'er felt as though she had gone mad.

From childhood onward, she had never been so bold.

Though the two of them had spoken no words of love or promises for life together, a voice within her heart declared—this was a private agreement for life.

Beyond the overwhelming joy, Xiao Wan'er thought more of the two words "brother-in-law."

In both the secular world and within the Xiao family, such a matter would be hard to accept.

If this were to spread throughout the land, she, Chen Yi, and even the entire Xiao family would be mocked by all.

Xiao Wan'er understood this, yet she pressed on without hesitation.

In her fragile heart, battered by illness and the loss of both parents, she simply wished to preserve this feeling.

Not to be with Chen Yi, or to marry him.

Even if she spent her life silently watching over him, that would be enough.

What she wanted was not much, was it?

Chen Yi hadn't thought so deeply. After all, a cart reaches the mountain pass eventually. Could a living person be killed by being urinated on?

Though he also understood that their relationship extended only so far, and clearly could not let outsiders know.

What could he do?

Not to mention whether Grandfather would agree or not, the matter of his wife, Lady Xiao Jinghong, was already a thorny issue.

A man of strong resolve like Da Zhen?

Don't make a scene.

Chen Yi didn't want to meet Xiao Jinghong in battle, so he needed to proceed cautiously.

But that was all in the future. For now, he simply wished to savor this moment of peace.

In the small carriage, warmth filled every corner.

His hand held hers.

Just as if their hearts were in perfect accord.

In the carriage before her, a curtain stood apart, and Xie Pinyun’s face suddenly lit with a sly smile, a soft chuckle escaping his lips.

Shen Huatan was still pondering the meaning behind those two sentences—“All is under my control, and… well…”—when Cold Bidding glanced over, her expression displeased.

Xie Pinyun paid her no heed, shrinking back slightly as he gestured at something, his movements awkwardly matching her smile, making him seem rather… unrefined.

But Shen Huatan had understood.

“Sister, can you guess under what context ‘All is under my control’ would be said?”

Shen Huatan mused silently, her voice barely a whisper: “When the Young Mistress encounters difficulties… does my guardian comfort her?”

“Yes, but also no.”

“I suppose so…”

Xie Pinyun opened his mouth to whisper something, his words lost in the silence between them.

“My younger sister has returned. I fear she might discover our affair. If she finds out, you and I…”

“Dear older sister, all is under my control.”

“Hmm…”

No wonder Xie Pinyun was so perceptive about such matters.

Even Shen Huatan, against her better judgment, found herself convinced—yet something in her mind resisted.

“The Young Mistress wouldn’t dare. We’re still here.”

“The Young Mistress may not, but my guardian does. If you don’t trust me, I’ll lift the curtain—look for yourself.”

“From my years roaming the martial world, I’ve learned that when noble daughters settle private matters, they either lie on their lover’s chest or hold hands.”

Shen Huatan hesitated, then almost involuntarily nodded.

Xie Pinyun let out a soft, satisfied chuckle, his hand drifting to the curtain’s edge.

“Sister, are you ready?”

“Yes.”

“Three… two… one… look!”

The curtain parted with a sharp tug.

Shen Huatan turned her head as instructed, saw what lay within, then snapped back to face forward.

Xie Pinyun watched her reaction, his hand still on the curtain. He meant to close it, but curiosity tugged him back—his eyes followed hers.

He froze.

There, seated closest to the curtain, was Chen Yi, his hand suspended midair as if about to pull it aside.

Behind him stood Xiao Wanzhen, her cheeks tinged pink, yet otherwise composed.

The three of them locked eyes for a moment.

Chen Yi retracted his hand, a smile playing on his lips. “Pinyun, do you have something to say?”

Xie Pinyun stammered, “N-no… ah, I—I should say…”

“Your guardian wishes to inform you that the Azure Cloud Academy has arrived.”

“Yes, yes, Father, the Azure Cloud Academy has arrived.”

Chen Yi glanced at Shen Huatan, whose neck was still flushed from her sudden turn, then smiled. “I was just about to dismount.”

He turned to Xiao Wanzhen, blinking rapidly. “Older sister, I’ll be heading this way—no need to delay your affairs.”

Xiao Wanzhen shot him a sharp glance, then noticed Xie Pinyun’s gaze. She huffed, “Hurry along, then. I’ll return to the mansion soon.”

“I’ll remember that.”

Chen Yi alighted from the carriage, bowed politely to Xie Pinyun and Shen Huatan, then gestured for them to leave.

The carriage changed direction, its wheels clacking against the stones.

Chen Yi stood at the roadside, watching as Xiao Wanzhen shifted from one window to the other, then smiled and waved.

Xiao Wanzhen, her face serene with a gentle smile, drew the curtain closed as the carriage moved on.

The noon sun bathed the scene in warmth, the carriage growing smaller with each step.

Amidst the fading traces of silk and horse hooves, one woman remained—graceful, radiant, a vision of elegance.

Chen Yi knew he would carry this memory forever.

Yet why, he wondered, was he worthy of such a moment?

He shrugged off the thought with a smile, straightened his back, and strode into the Azure Cloud Academy.

If he himself was not enough, who else in the world could claim such affection?

…

Half an hour later, Chen Yi departed the academy, accompanied by Ma Guan.

He had little interest in lingering, engaging Master Yue and Master Zhu in idle chatter, mostly discussing the upcoming imperial examination.

According to the notice from the prefecture, all scholars in Shu Zhou Prefecture were to take the exam on the twenty-eighth of this month.

The venue was a small courtyard beside the Office of the Pacification Commissioner.

Chen Yi noted the details, then inquired about another matter—the value of his calligraphy.

Master Yue and Master Zhu’s faces flushed crimson, their words tumbling out in haste: “Some within the academy… it’s difficult to explain.”

Like Ma Guan, whose family wealth was modest, struggling through times of rising grain prices.

The academy, in desperation, sold several sheets of calligraphy Chen Yi had written during his lectures, trading them for grain to distribute among impoverished students.

Even some of the frugal instructors had received favors.

Seeing the circumstances, Chen Yi said nothing, even supporting their actions.

“Master, the students—Flying Hong and others—thank you.”

“It was the headmaster’s idea. I have no part in it.”

Chen Yi patted his shoulder. “If you truly wish to thank me, excel in the upcoming examination.”

Ma Guan bowed earnestly. “Master’s teachings will be etched in our hearts.”

“You’re still the same… Go on, I must leave.”

Chen Yi wanted to press further, but decided against it.

Ma Guan, even in his youth, carried the spirit of a true Confucian scholar—steadfast in ancient virtues.

Outside observers should not speak of such things; it would only bring harm.

"The student bids farewell to the master."

Chen Yi waved his hand without looking back, catching a glimpse of a certain wonton shop not far from the academy out of the corner of his eye.

Seeing the cold and cheerless state before its doors, he understood the reason in his heart.

In times when the prices of grain, meat, and vegetables were soaring, even a small shop that sold nothing but wontons would likely find it hard to have customers cross its threshold.

Aside from that, it was presumably also related to the fact that Lou Yuxue had not shown her face here for a long time.

"A Silver Banner Officer of the White Tiger Guard is indeed ill-suited to manage private property..."

Thinking of these things, Chen Yi kept a steady pace, leaving Kangning Street and slipping away toward the residence on Chuanxi Street.

To conceal his movements, he walked and paused along the way, and thus no one noticed his trail.

Even the mass of martial world travelers gathered in the prefectural city, bitterly waiting for the Great Immortal Bai, were mostly busy chatting and laughing among themselves.

There was nothing new under the sun.

Listening closely, it was just the same few phrases repeated over and over:

"'Dragon-Tiger' Liu Wu killed 'Jackal' Du Cang, a toast is well deserved for this, gentlemen, bottoms up!"

"I wonder how King Landu will react once he finds out."

"Last time Lu Jiunan died, and this time Du Cang died, which is tantamount to severing his left and right arms."

"If I were him, even if I didn't lead a grand army to invade the border, I would still send people to exact revenge."

"That is quite true..."

Hearing up to this point, Chen Yi found it uninteresting and was just about to quicken his pace when he suddenly caught a sentence, causing his footsteps to slow slightly.

"Didn't we see 'Dragon-Tiger' taking Lu Jiunan toward Puyin Temple that night?"

"But when we rushed there later, we only saw Du Cang's corpse, and found no trace of Lu Jiunan at all."

"Perhaps he was beaten to ashes by 'Liu Wu'?"

"Even so, some traces should have been left behind, right?"

"This..."

Lu Jiunan's corpse had vanished?

Chen Yi frowned inwardly; he was certain that his spear had directly shattered Lu Jiunan's heart that night, and the man was bound to be dead.

Yet now his corpse was missing... what was going on here?

Could it be that besides the strange swordsman flying in the sky, there were other experts hiding in the vicinity?

No, there should not have been.

At least before Chen Yi departed, it was impossible.

Otherwise, given how terrifying that swordsman was, he should have been able to detect the prying eyes of others.

Therefore, it must have been a latecomer who deliberately carried away Lu Jiunan's corpse.

He pondered for a brief moment.

Chen Yi had some conjectures rather than deductions.

First, it could be Liu Hong's people.

That Lu Jiunan was implicated with him, and also involved King Landu; if Liu Hong or his subordinates saw the corpse, they would have reason to take it away.

It was far better than letting it fall into the hands of the various government offices of Shuzhu.

Second, the White Tiger Guard.

Setting aside the fact that those people were lying low in Shuzhu, there should also be many schemes within their ranks, and taking Lu Jiunan away might allow them to negotiate and haggle with King Landu.

Third, which was also the least likely possibility—someone arriving from the State of Poshasuo.

Aside from these, Chen Yi could not think of anyone else within the borders of Shuzhu who would specifically take Lu Jiunan's corpse.

It could not possibly be that someone wanted to use him to falsely claim credit, right?

That would be far too despicable.

Thinking to this point, Chen Yi made up his mind to go and ask the White Tiger Guard, as he ultimately needed to clarify the whereabouts of Lu Jiunan's corpse.

A moment later.

Taking advantage of the absence of anyone around, Chen Yi leaped over into the residence, fetched two masks to complete his disguise, and headed straight for the Spring Rain Brothel.

At this time, the hour of noon had just passed.

The misty flower alleys in the south of the city were considered cold and quiet.

Aside from a few romantic masters and young lords who had just woken up from a night of drinking, there were not many people coming and going.

Chen Yi did not cover himself excessively, proceeding directly to the quiet room on the top floor of the Spring Rain Brothel.

Just as he was about to search for Lou Yuxue's whereabouts, he saw a figure quietly watching him from the end of the serene, dark corridor.

It was none other than the Golden Banner Officer of the White Tiger Guard—Jiang Xing!

"'Dragon-Tiger' Liu Wu?"

"To see once is better than to hear a hundred times, I am Jiang Xing."