Chapter 96: Xiao Wan'er's Plans

Chapter 96: Xiao Wan'er's Plan

As dusk approached, Chen Yi, Xiao Die, and Liu Si'er had just returned to the mansion.

The carriage halted in the courtyard. Liu Si'er, with a deliberate casualness, asked, "Master, will you be going to the Apothecary tomorrow? I’d like Elder Third to prepare the horse in advance."

Chen Yi waved a hand without turning his head, leading Xiao Die with a dismissive gesture through the courtyard and into the Spring Lotus Garden.

Liu Si'er gazed at his retreating back, his lips parting in a low murmur.

How could this bird of a man think?

He’d returned in less than half a day, all to prepare a congratulatory gift for Jinghua General. Today, Jinghua General was married—his visit to offer congratulations was no problem. But tomorrow, when he had no engagements, why would he still go to the Apothecary?

Yet one thing was certain: he could not possibly know of the Hawk Plan in advance.

Liu Si'er restrained his peculiar curiosity, glanced toward the reception hall, and spoke loudly to himself:

"This Jinghua General’s wedding must be quite the spectacle. Master will probably be entertaining guests inside the mansion tomorrow."

He didn’t care whether Uncle Gu had heard, and led the carriage toward the stables on the other side.

At that moment, a crack appeared in the reception hall door. A single eye peered out, cold and malevolent.

Silence stretched.

A creak.

The door closed.

……

Chen Yi and Xiao Die arrived at the Spring Lotus Garden, where they soaked in a hot water bath, feeling their bodies grow supple and refreshed.

Xiao Die could also bathe, but lacked a large tub, using a small wooden basin instead.

Don’t ask how Chen Yi knew.

After surpassing the eighth grade in martial arts cultivation, his mystical techniques had sharpened his hearing to a degree many times stronger than before. If he wished, he could hear a pin drop within the garden.

Normally, he employed the Void-Wu Suppression Technique to mask his cultivation, keeping his hearing merely three or four times that of ordinary people.

Yet such keen hearing made him intolerant of others’ loud whisperings nearby.

The clamor was quite loud during the day as well, which was why he and Chen Yunfan had sparred so fiercely.

After bathing, Chen Yi donned his travel clothes and entered the pavilion, listening to cicadas and frogs while savoring the summer night breeze.

Occasionally, golden carp leaped from the pond, flicking water at him.

He paid them no mind, instead taking the bait from beside the pond and tossing it in.

Instantly, dozens of fish surged to the surface, splashing water everywhere.

"Well, aren’t you lively today? You never gave me a moment’s peace before!"

Chen Yi laughed, then settled on a nearby stone, watching the water gradually calm.

Before he knew it, his thoughts drifted to the day’s banquet.

Professor Yue had invited him to serve as the instructor at the Noble Cloud Academy—though he needn’t trouble himself, it was impossible.

What truly concerned him was Chen Yunfan’s warning.

In his mind, he pieced together Xiao’s family’s current situation, along with the purpose and potential actions of Chen Yunfan and Li Huiguo in Shu.

In bits and pieces, a clearer picture gradually formed.

Sitting quietly for a moment, Chen Yi exhaled a long breath and rose, preparing to return to practice and rest.

As he neared the wooden tower, his steps halted. His gaze drifted toward the Xiaoying Yard.

Faint sounds reached his ears.

Pattering, clattering.

"Miss, the mansion still lacks 1,300 taels of silver. We’re short by 2,400 taels."

"Has the monthly allowance for each room in the mansion been accounted for next month?"

Another burst of pattering and clattering.

"Miss, at minimum, we need another 3,000 taels…"

Silence followed.

Then Xiao Wan'er’s soft, melodic voice floated out: "Ying’er, tomorrow take the jewelry from my room and use it. It should cover the shortfall."

"Miss, but then…"

"I have no need for such trinkets here in the mansion." "Very well, the night is late. Everyone should rest."

The voices faded, and a faint, sorrowful sigh seemed to drift on the summer breeze.

Chen Yi watched for a moment longer, then resumed his calm pace back to the residence.

"Such a busy life… Summer, my dear."

……

The next day, the weather was splendid.

As predicted, Chen Yi did not go to the Apothecary.

After finishing his morning practice, he set up a Go board in the pavilion.

He played black one moment, white the next.

Following the newly acquired "Thousand-Hand Go Manual," he arranged the stones in patterns he’d learned—simple formations at the edges and corners: "Long," "Standing," and "Point."

After about half an hour, he grasped the basics: the board’s star points, liberties, and such.

[Successfully studied Go—Level: Initial Understanding]

[Go: Uninitiated 0/1 (can allocate points)]

Without hesitation, Chen Yi elevated his Go skill to "Apprentice," and arcane principles of the game flooded his mind.

He glanced at the board before him. The previously obscure areas suddenly crystallized into clarity.

Rules existed, patterns emerged, stars scattered across the board like celestial constellations.

Black and white clashed, weaving through the board’s expanse.

Chen Yi closed his eyes, gathered his spirit, then, with newfound interest, began placing stones with fluid, deliberate movements.

As his mastery deepened, his actions—removing stones, placing new ones—gained a graceful, nuanced rhythm.

It seemed, to others, that no difference was noticed.

Especially to Xiao Bie, Guan Ye’s chess, his writing, even his fishing—every gesture was so effortlessly at ease.

Thus, his temper too was calm and composed, untroubled by haste or delay.

As for Xiao Wu Ge, he was eager for Xiao Bie to recount the amusing tales from yesterday’s wedding feast at Li Huaiyu’s mansion, and paid no heed to Chen Yi at all.

Xiao Bie would not refuse; she spoke with warmth and charm, her voice painting vivid pictures.

When she spoke of Mr. Yue Ming inviting Chen Yi to join the prestigious Guiyun Academy, her tone carried a proud, gleeful edge.

When she mentioned someone behind their backs speaking ill of Chen Yi, she puffed her cheeks and huffed, “Those people are exactly the ‘talented but unscrupulous’ fellows Guan Ye refers to!”

When she came to describing the poem and calligraphy, she smiled again, her words weaving a rich tapestry of the scholars’, officials’, and elders’ reactions.

Some of it was exaggerated, yet to Xiao Wu Ge, it only deepened his envy—he declared, “Next time I’ll join them too!”

Chen Yi merely nodded, for it was nothing grand.

Xiao Wu Ge’s mood lifted slightly, though a strange emptiness lingered. He glanced around, wore a smile, and hurried toward the Qixing Garden.

“Brother, I’m off to find the eldest sister.”

Chen Yi merely nodded in passing, cautioning him to run carefully, then let Xiao Bie boil water and brew tea, and sat at the stone table to study the game board.

To him, playing Go was no mere pastime—it was a leisurely pursuit during his busy hours.

After all, he practiced his martial arts daily without fail, never neglecting his cultivation.

Thus, the time he had for such idle pleasures had grown scarce.

Near noon.

He had supposed Xiao Wu Ge would have dined in the garden and returned, but instead, Chen Yi, about to eat with Xiao Bie, was suddenly approached with a frown.

“Brother, those people are truly scoundrels!”

The word “scoundrel” rarely graced Xiao Wu Ge’s lips.

Chen Yi, curious, said, “Sit down—tell me what’s happened.”

Xiao Wu Ge, agitated and indignant, spoke at length: “Just now, I heard the eldest sister and the old butler discussing something.

‘The herbal merchants who supplied us before refused, claiming someone bought their stock at a high price.’

‘But the old butler said, “They still have mountains of herbs in their storerooms!”’

‘Brother, how can they act like this? It’s not as if they’re short on silver—why won’t they supply?”

Chen Yi listened, then pondered. He sent for Xiao Bie to fetch another bowl and chopsticks, then smiled, soothing him gently:

“It’s nothing serious—don’t dwell on it.

Besides, with your sister here, I’m sure it’ll be resolved.”

(End of Chapter)