Happy Lunar New Year in advance! Next update will be after 9 Feb, at the earliest.
is helping me edit both DWGL and Jianghu for future chapters! With more RL stuff now, it"s been getting a bit hard for me to translate + proofread everything, so she"s a great help! Thank you so much!
[Chapter 24 - Wei Zi Yi(1)] Send Xi Nan King away, away
"It"s just that they are protecting it temporarily." Duan Bai Yue said, "If you want it, I can simply s.n.a.t.c.h it back."
"How can you simply "s.n.a.t.c.h it back"." Chu Yuan shook his head, " An official of the imperial court took bribes and abused the law, all his gains should go into the state treasury."
Duan Bai Yue readily accepted his view, "if you want it, I will simply take it back." With just a change of a word, it sounds more justifiable.
Eunuch Si Xi brought in the dishes; the braised pork ribs shimmering with oil looked very alluring.
Duan Bai Yue said delightedly, "And here I thought there isn"t any meat to eat."
"How poor." Chu Yuan handed a pair of chopsticks to him,"Regarding Tian Sha sect, how do you look at them, are these people easy to deal with?"
"They"re a small demonic sect in Xi Nan, there"s nothing to fear." Duan Bai Yue said, "They didn"t provoke Xi Nan manor before this, but because they recently heard of some rumors, they wanted to grab Duan Yao back for a marriage."
Chu Yuan said, "They really sound like a demonic sect." They want to even kidnap a youth of fourteen, fifteen years old.
"It can be said we happened on this by accident this time. If not for them, I"m afraid we wouldn"t have found Xu Zhi Qiu"s private warehouse so easily." Duan Bai Yue said.
Chu Yuan nodded, "A large part of the issue of the mountain of gold has been resolved; now the top priority is to find out where the elders from the charity hall went, and where Mu Zhi Lao Ren is being held at."
"Why don"t I go and ask Lan Ji?" Duan Bai Yue said.
"You?" Chu Yuan stared blankly, "You are close to Lan Ji?"
"I"m not familiar with her, but someone else is." Duan Bai yue smiled, "I can simply disguise myself as him."
"Disguise as who?" Chu Yuan continued asking.
"Eat first." Duan Bai Yue picked a piece of spare ribs for him, "I will tell you after we finish eating."
Frankly speaking, the chefs in this relay station are actually not worse than the great chefs in the restaurants; after all, they"re specially invited to make dishes for the emperor. In order to cope with Chu Yuan"s extremely mild tastes, the dishes everyday are either bean curd or vegetables; they don"t even dare to put in much salt. The aunty in the kitchen is full of distress, feeling that she"s wasting her talents; if this spreads out, she can"t even show off about this. So when she finally heard that the emperor wants to eat meat this time, she dramatically changed her way of cooking; every dish is incomparably tasty, exerting her entire capability of housekeeping.
Chu Yuan had a rare moment of a big appet.i.te.
Maybe it"s because the meals are tasty.
Or maybe because....of some other reason.
Duan Bai Yue was very meticulous, picking out the fish bones under the candlelight, one by one, and used the spoon to stir the congee, before putting it before him, "This time there won"t be any bones."
Chu Yuan lowered his head and had a sip; it was a little hot; it"s just right for this night.
Outside the window, snow is falling like mist; and yet there"s not a trace of coldness inside.
Eunuch Si Xi is drinking tea in the room beside, thinking that the emperor is certainly having a long meal this time. He reckons that when the lady cook rises the next morning, she will get quite a bit of reward from Xi Nan King.
After the remaining cups and bowls were taken away, and another pot of hot tea was brewed, then did Chu Yuan ask, "Continue, who are you disguising as?"
Duan Bai Yue replied, "Wei Zi Yi."
Chu Yuan was confused, "Who is Wei Zi Yi?"
"He"s a lone swordsman from Jiang Hu, he doesn"t have a reputation, and isn"t a good person, but he looks tall and heroic." Duan Bai Yue answered, "Lan Ji has always adored him a lot."
Chu Yuan, "....."
To have the adoration of a woman from a demonic sect, there can"t be a second motive.
It was very quiet in the room.
A moment later, Duan Bai Yue said, "It"s only chatting for a few sentence, there should be no harm. Lan Ji has already badgered Wei Zi Yi for very long, but still hasn"t gotten her way even now." So it doesn"t mean that that matter must be done once they meet.
Chu Yuan, "....."
Since she hasn"t gotten her way, then she must be keeping it in mind constantly.
"It"s only something I said without thinking through." Seeing that he didn"t speak for a long time, Duan Bai Yue could only say, "If you"re not happy with it, then I simply won"t go and think of another way instead."
"To disguise one"s appearance is easy, however, one"s bearing and conduct, one"s way of talking, how can those not be exposed?" Chu Yuan finally spoke, "It can"t be that once Lan Ji sees Wei Zi Yi, she will reveal everything. Shouldn"t there be polite conversation first."
"There"s no need to worry about this." Duan Bai Yue said, "Wei Zi Yi has always tried his best to avoid Lan Ji, and I have crossed paths with him a few times before; to learn about most of his quirks, it isn"t that hard."
Chu Yuan said, "Oh."
What is the meaning of "Oh". Duan Bai Yue tried asking, "Then should I go or not go?"
Chu Yuan said, "Go."
Duan Bai Yue nodded, "Fine."
Chu Yuan continued to drink his tea.
After a while, Duan Bai Yue suddenly suggested, "Why don"t we go together?"
"Huh?" Chu Yuan was surprised.
Duan Bai Yue said, "Lan Ji"s martial arts is not like that of an immortal, if you stay on the rooftop and hold your breath, she won"t find out."
Chu Yuan fell even more silent.
Not finding out is not finding out. However, this kind of matter, why must he make a trip just to take a look?
That kind of scene, just thinking about it gave him gooseb.u.mps.
Afterwards, Duan Bai Yue also felt that his suggestion does seem quite odd, like he hasn"t carefully deliberated about it, and so he spoke up again, "It"s fine if you don"t go either."
But Chu Yuan replied, "We will go."
Duan Bai Yue, "......"
He"s really going?
Chu Yuan finished the entire pot of tea, and then simply sent Duan Bai Yue away to the neighboring room.
A new, bigger bed has been set up inside; the bed curtain and bedding are a brilliant red, looking very festive; apparently it was what the relay station has readily available, and the emperor had ordered to be frugal, so they used it when it was suitable; it wasn"t worthwhile to buy a new set.
Eunuch Si Xi laid the bedding while smiling, "The material of this bedding is good, it"s soft."
Duan Bai Yue also touched a part of it. It was really quite soft.
Eunuch Si Xi said:,"The emperor even sat here for a while during the day."
Duan Bai Yue"s mood instantly got better -- but not for long.
Lying on the bed in the middle of the night, the more he thought about it, the more he thought that he was poisoned by gu just now; to actually seek out a lady from the demonic sect on his own volition.
And yet that person agreed to it too.
But this matter concerns the life and death of the elderly from the charity hall, and no other plans can be thought of in such a short moment, so they could only proceed with it. And so on the afternoon of the second day, Duan Bai Yue sat in front of the mirror once again, disguising himself as Wei Zi Yi.
Chu Yuan stood behind him; his feelings were complicated.
Duan Bai Yue said "I"m not by your side. If you must go to the inn, you have to be careful about everything."
Chu Yuan said, "Yes."
Duan Bai Yue walked two steps towards the outside but urged again at the entrance, "It"s fine if you don"t come."
Chu Yuan continued saying, ".....Yes."
Duan Bai Yue left the relay station alone.
Chu Yuan sat by the table, his head is somewhat...aching.
Duan Bai Yue walked in the streets, carrying a long sword; he looks quite handsome, and got quite a few ladies to turn around to look at him. But this Da Yan city is distant from Jiang Hu, and thus no one recognized him, only knowing that he was a good looking traveler.
Duan Bai Yue went straight to Yan Hui inn.
It"s dinnertime currently; there was quite a few people sitting in the hall. The waiter solicitously brought over peanuts and appetizers and greeted, asking what this customer wanted.
Before Duan Bai Yue could take the menu, a sweet voice came from behind him, "Is this Swordsman Wei?"
Duan Bai Yue turned around.
"It really is." Lan Ji"s attendant was overjoyed at the unexpected news.
"Lady Cai Tian(2)." Duan Bai Yue nodded slightly.
"I never thought that we would have met Swordsman Wei here." The attendant smiled, "My sect leader is upstairs, do you want to have a cup of wine together?"
"Of course." Duan Bai Yue took his sword from the table and stood up.
The attendant was surprised at this, because Wei Zi Yi didn"t like getting chased after, and has no feelings towards Lan Ji; the moment he sees Tian Sha sect, he will run away; he has never been so cooperative before.
"What are you standing there for?" Seeing that she"s standing there, not moving, Duan Bai Yue urged, "Quickly bring me to sect leader Lan, I just so happen to have matters to discuss."
The attendant came back to her senses, and brought him to the second floor; she let him wait outside for the time being, and went in herself to pa.s.s the message.
Before a moment had pa.s.sed, Lan Ji personally opened the door and welcomed him in. Seeing that he was really Wei Zi Yi, her face lighted up.
Duan Bai Yue cupped his fists: "Sect leader Lan."
"I heard Cai Tian mention it just now, but I was still doubtful, but unexpectedly it"s really Swordsman Wei." Lan Ji let him into the room, and closed the door, "Why are you in this city?"
"I pa.s.sed by this city by chance, but coming to this Yan Hui inn, it"s on purpose."
Lan Ji chuckled, coiling around him like a snake, "Swordsman Wei has finally thought it through? I have already said before; a human"s life is short, why pretend to be proper."
Duan Bai Yue dodged her without batting an eyelid; he grumbled inside, only begging that there was no one outside looking in.
"Since you have come here, why are you avoiding me again?" Lan Ji was unhappy.
"This lowly one has a condition." Duan Bai Yue said.
"What condition?" Lan Ji leaned on the side of his body.
Duan Bai Yue said coldly, "The warehouse of gold in the mountains outside the city, I want a part of it too."
Not expecting that he would bring up this matter so directly, Lan Ji was visibly shocked, and her expression also changed.
"There"s no need for sect leader Lan to panic, this lowly one is not an dense person." Seeing that her expression was off, Duan Bai Yue smiled, "It"s just that when I was walking on a mountain path that day, I unintentionally saw something. The rules of Jiang Hu say that those who see it should be given a part. Recently my money has been a little tight, so I came here with a thick skin on to ask for it. But sect leader Lan can be at ease, this Wei will not take much."
"How much do you want?" Lan Ji sat up straight.
Duan Bai Yue showed a figure.
Lan Ji clicked her tongue, "This is also considered a small appet.i.te?"
"Compared to the mountain of gold in the cave, it"s naturally not much." Duan Bai Yue replied calmly, "I"m afraid it"s just a drop in the ocean; if it"s seen as a payment for keeping my lips sealed, then it"s not a loss for sect leader either."
"Alright." Lan Ji poured two cups of wine, covered her mouth and laughed, "I will give you the money, but I have to see how skilled you are first. If you can make me happy, then I can even increase it.
Duan Bai Yue couldn"t help but glance out the window once.
There must be absolutely no one!
Lan Ji"s finger moved lightly across his chest, wanting to remove his waistband.
Duan Bai Yue moved her hand away: "The money has not been seen; sect leader may have been too anxious."
"You sure are an honest person." Lan Ji was amused instead, "Interesting, interesting."
"Not everyone can be like sect leader Lan, to have gold drop down from the heavens." Duan Bai Yue said, "An ordinary person like me can only be more vigilant."
"Swordsman Wei really thinks that I got it without effort?" Lan Ji shook her head, "For this day, I spent a lot of energy."
"This, I can believe." Duan Bai Yue shook the wine cup in his hand, "The big fire at the charity hall in the city, I guess it should be the work of sect leader Lan too?"
"Truly clever." Lan Ji removed her outer clothing, revealing a pearly, jade-like shoulder.
Duan Bai Yue smiled silently. He was very calm, continuing to drink his wine.
"I"m going back to Tian Sha sect three days later." Lan Ji"s voice is indolent, "I wonder where this money should be sent to?"
"My old house at Jiang Xi." Duan Bai Yue answered.
"Good." Lan Ji reached out a finger and tapped his lip, "This sect has always held on to its promises, unlike you block headed men; not a single word can be trusted."
Duan Bai Yue embraced her, putting her to another side along the way, "I have already said, I want the money first."
Lan Ji sighed, her finger rubbed his chin; she doesn"t look like she"s willing to let go.
Her chest rose, swaying till it leads one to be dizzy.
......
After drinking half a jar of wine, Duan Bai Yue finally managed to leave after much difficulty; talc.u.m powder is all over his body. Just as he wanted to go to the inn to bathe, Duan Nian had already caught up to him, saying, "The emperor came just now."
Duan Bai Yue, "..........."
Duan Bai Yue, "..........."
Duan Bai Yue, "..........."
Duan Nian continued, "Then he left."
If he left then that"s right; according to that person"s personality, it would be weirder for him to stay. Duan Bai Yue asked, "And?"
"And the emperor asked this subordinate to pa.s.s a message to the lord; he is to go to the relay station immediately." Duan Nian looked at him with pity, and added, "He seemed quite angry."
Duan Bai Yue felt that today he wouldn"t even have a floor to sleep on.
In the relay station, eunuch Si Xi saw him and also said, "Quickly go in, king, the emperor has waited for a while." If you still didn"t come, he looks like he will destroy the room.
Duan Bai Yue breathed deeply, reached out, and pushed the door open.
Chu Yuan pointed to the back of the screen with a hand, no emotion on his face, "Go and wash up." It"s irritating!
Duan Bai Yue tactfully agreed, "Yes."
The sounds of water came from behind the screen; Chu Yuan continued to sit in front of the table, flipping through a missive. He hadn"t left the palace for long, why did the words of Lord Tai Fu look so ugly now. After going back, he must get him to copy "Chu Lu"(3) eight times.
Duan Bai Yue sat by the table.
Chu Yuan spoke up, "What did you find out?" He continued to look at the missive; not even his eyelids were raised.
Duan Bai Yue said, "Tian Sha sect will be leaving Da Yan city three days later, those elders already may not be in the city."
Chu Yuan frowned.
"It"s possible that Mu Chi Lao Ren is among them." Duan Bai Yue said, "I intend to follow them and take a look."
Chu Yuan was uncertain, "Is there any danger?"
"Tagging along behind in the dark; there shouldn"t be any big issue." Duan Bai Yue said, "If I need to s.n.a.t.c.h someone, then I can simply turn back and find someone to help."
Chu Yuan hesitatingly nodded his head.
"So you"re not angry anymore?" Duan Bai Yue asked.
Chu Yuan picked up his missive again, "When have we been angry before?"
Duan Bai Yue looked at him with his cheeks in his hands.
Chu Yuan saw a glimpse of red, and thus he looked up suspiciously.
Duan Bai Yue asked, "What"s the matter?"
Chu Yuan approached him of his own volition.
A war between immortal beings rose in Duan Bai Yue"s chest; lightning flashed and thunder roared.
Chu Yuan reached out a finger, pulling open his lapel.
Duan Bai Yue, "......."
He was a little dizzy; truly dizzy.
But before he finished being dizzy, Chu Yuan had already slapped the table angrily, "Si Xi!"
"Ai ai, here!" Eunuch Si Xi was eating peanuts outside and didn"t think that he would be called in so suddenly; he rushed in.
"Send the guest." Chu Yuan had already regained his calmness.
Duan Bai Yue: ".........."
Eunuch Si Xi looked at Xi Nan King, what happened?
Duan Bai Yue felt even more innocent. How would I know, he thought.
But the son of heaven is furious; the others dare not disobey.
Duan Bai Yue returned to the room next door and opened his lapel, wanting to see what had caused that.
In the end, there was an impressive red patch; it would appear that something had happened just now.
.............
"It"s really because it climbed around everywhere." A moment later, Duan Bai Yue, holding a spider, reaching an arm in from the window, "It was probably tired of staying in the container, so it ran out without me knowing, and it"s poisonous too." At least look at it once, it"s not because of any other reason.
As for why he needed to reach a hand in from the window; the door was locked so he couldn"t go in.
Seeing that big, fat, hairy spider, Chu Yuan felt that he was almost going crazy.
"Si Xi!"
"Here!" Eunuch Si Xi is prepared this time and wasn"t eating peanuts; his voice loud and clear, running in vigorously; he firmly persuaded Xi Nan king back to the room next door, and also really wanted to sigh.
One should be humored and coaxed if angry. Who would instead bring a spider in to scare them; he"s not a three year old either; Si Xi simply couldn"t understand what Duan Bai Yue was thinking.
(1) Wei Zi Yi: 魏紫衣 - lit. wei(surname), purple, clothes. It"s a name.
(2) Cai Tian: 采田 - lit. pick, farm
(3) Chu Lu: 楚律 - lit. Chu Law. Basically some laws set down by the ancestors of Chu.