Chapter 54: Pei Guanli's Vicious Hand

Chapter 54: Pei Man-Li’s Venomous Touch

Not mentioning the troubles and entanglements of the Xiao Mansion.

Kangning Street in the northern part of the city blazed with illumination, though the curfew had not yet descended. Groups of cultivated scholars and beautiful maidens wandered freely, some strolling together, others beneath the moonlit night, reciting verses and composing couplets with the elegance of seasoned poets.

On the carriage bearing the red banner of the Xiao Mansion, the horse attendant leaned against the cabin wall, his hands clasped to his chest, eyes lazily rotating as he took in the scene with a look of thorough familiarity.

It was then that a palm settled upon his shoulder. “Old Luo, you’re lingering around here all wrong—mind those girls don’t catch wind of it.”

Old Luo startled, then, upon recognizing Liu Si Er, immediately muttered, “Fourth Brother, you look like a ghost!”

“And you too, how dare you scold me? The mansion’s been buzzing with activity all day, yet I haven’t seen you once.”

Liu Si Er chuckled, shifting aside to settle atop the carriage. “Some private matters require handling.”

“You say that, but if the mansion were truly busy, how would you be out here?”

Old Luo gestured toward the framing shop across the street. “I’ve got real work to do, and Younger Sister has sent a scroll to be framed—saying it’s for someone…”

His sentence trailed off as his gaze snapped back to Liu Si Er, his tone laced with ambiguity: “Wait, no—when you came here, did you come to meet that girl from your last visit to your room?”

The last girl?

Liu Si Er furrowed his brow inwardly, saying nothing, and asked coolly, “She’s inside?”

“Indeed, Little Butterfly has brought her to wait within.”

Old Luo pressed, “Fourth Brother, what’s the story with that girl?”

“Only just realized it myself—this time around—I hadn’t noticed before. That girl’s from the mountain tribes of Wumeng.”

“You’re not afraid she’ll plant a bug in you?”

Liu Si Er replied with a casual misunderstanding, his eyes fixed on the framing shop, as though peering through two planks of wood, seeing straight into the interior where Pei Man-Li stood.

After a moment’s thought, Liu Si Er dismounted. “Ah, I’d forgotten—there’s still business at the mansion. I must return.”

“What?”

Before Old Luo could speak, Liu Si Er turned and walked away.

After taking a few steps, he glanced back, pointed at the framing shop, and mouthed a secretive gesture.

Old Luo caught on, laughing scornfully, “You sneaky dog—if that’s true, you’d better invite me to the wedding feast.”

Liu Si Er gave no further reply, waved dismissively, and continued on his way.

Yet he did not proceed far before returning in secret, crouching into the shadow of a nearby tree, his eyes fixed unrelentingly on the framing shop.

The incident had erupted suddenly, and he had to act swiftly.

Younger Brother’s calligraphy… the mountain girl…

Though Chickadee had only recently arrived in Shu Zhou, he had never encountered a mountain tribe member in his brief visits to the mansion. He couldn’t possibly know that girl.

So how had he composed a calligraphy piece for her?

As he pondered, Liu Si Er’s heart lurched.

What if the girl wasn’t Chickadee’s, but Younger Sister’s?

*Hope it isn’t Younger Sister.*

If Xiao Hong discovered the existence of “Wei,” it would be disastrous…

Meanwhile, inside the framing shop, the owner’s mood mirrored Liu Si Er’s exactly—he was in a pickle.

Framing calligraphy and paintings was a quiet, meticulous craft. A scroll of calligraphy typically required three or four days to complete. Even when clients demanded urgency, at least two days were necessary.

Yet here were two daughters of the Hou Mansion, demanding the scroll be finished in half a day, to be taken that very night.

It was truly a difficult situation.

The owner had wanted to refuse, but seeing Little Butterfly, he choked back his protest, only to enlist a helper to rush the work.

If not for his earlier mistake—losing a scroll from the Hou Mansion, then having it replicated by Professor Yue Ming only to be exposed—he might have had more time…

He labored until the rooster’s crow at midnight.

The scroll, clearly intended as a birthday gift, was finally framed.

Little Butterfly collected it, handed it to Pei Man-Li, her face returning to its usual smile. “Regarding the calligraphy you lost, brother, consider it erased.”

The framing owner, relieved, smiled warmly. “Take care, mistress.”

He’d been itching to expose the whole affair, but the rush had eased his frustration.

Not long after, Pei Man-Li and Little Butterfly left the framing shop.

Recalling their earlier conversation, Pei Man-Li smiled. “Did the owner lose your brother’s calligraphy?”

Little Butterfly inclined her head, preparing to summon Old Luo to fetch the carriage. Pei Man-Li’s eyes flickered, shrugged, and said, “I must have left something else at the shop,” before turning and re-entering the building.

Yet after only two breaths, she returned, hurrying back.

“I’ve got it all wrong—I must have forgotten something I always keep on me.”

Little Butterfly smiled gently, saying nothing, and took her arm to place her in the carriage.

After a day of companionship, Little Butterfly found Pei Man-Li, though oddly dressed, to be quite amiable.

It was no surprise, then, that the brother she’d heard was Xiao Hong’s younger sister—she’d expected her to ask about Xiao Hong.

Instead, Pei Man-Li had spent their time questioning her about Xiao Hong instead.

From his marriage into the Xiao family, his escape from the wedding, his house arrest, and the subsequent incidents—she’d inquired about each in turn.

Little Butterfly couldn’t fathom her motives, so she’d offered vague answers.

Fortunately, Pei Man-Li said nothing further, though the pendant at her throat swayed more frequently.

As Old Luo cracked his whip, the Hou Mansion’s carriage headed south.

Once the carriage had faded from view, Liu Si Er emerged from the shadows, his face grim as he gazed toward the carriage’s rear.

“The mountain girl?”

“Damn it, that girl’s a granddaughter of the mountain woman!”

It was no wonder that someone had silently poisoned the soldiers along the road, toppling them over; now that I think of it, it must have been her.

Liu Si'er's expression grew more somber as he pondered his next move.

The silver flag officer's command was to find the one lurking in the shadows who knew his identity and slay her.

Now that he had found her, should he kill?

The girl's body bore Mountain Mother's crafted poison and insects, not something ordinary martial artists could contend with.

Worse still, if he were to kill her and provoke Mountain Mother, the entire Shu would descend into chaos.

In that case, Liu Si'er hesitated, drawing a note from his chest.

Glancing at the words beneath the street lantern: "Tonight at midnight, the back gate of Guiyun Academy."

Now, he could only seek that person's aid.

As Liu Si'er was about to head toward Guiyun Academy, he heard a cacophony of anguished cries from nearby.

"Hurry, hurry, the outhouse, the outhouse, fetch me some paper!"

"Boss, boss, I'm in a hurry too... let me go first..."

"Scram, I'm the boss!"

Liu Si'er glanced, a slight twitch at the corner of his mouth.

Even without entering, he guessed the people inside had been touched by that mountain girl's "poisonous hand."

Just a mild purgative, not poison, so they were sneaking a laugh.

It seemed that girl was a benevolent soul who didn't often take life...

...

On the carriage journeying southward.

Unaware that her whereabouts had been exposed, Pei Wanglu clutched the letter, her eyes alight with interest as she gazed at the night scenery beyond the window.

She was quite pleased that day.

Not only had she received her uncle's letter, but also gathered much information about him from Xiao Duo.

She hadn't anticipated that her uncle would have accomplished so many fascinating things during her stay in the Spring Lotus Garden; next time, she'd follow him wherever he went.

At that moment, Xiao Duo whistled low.

"Why has he come to Guiyun Academy?"

Pei Wanglu looked up, "Who's that?"

Xiao Duo hesitated, "It's her husband's older brother."

Though she'd heard her husband mention they didn't often get along, the way they'd met this afternoon didn't quite add up.

Quite peculiar.

Pei Wanglu's interest was piqued; she directed Xiao Duo to point out the person's location and pressed, "Tell me, how does he oppose my uncle?"

Her hand had already slipped into her chest, her mind already weighing which powder to employ.

Chapter Complete