Chapter 147: Zilan
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“Any news about Chai Anxi?”
Ying Xiang shook her head, “I heard that Princess Mengji is currently sending people to search for Chai Anxi’s whereabouts.”
Chu Zhao smiled indifferently, “Xiao Huaijin coming to Jiyang is also nothing more than searching for someone.” After a pause, he asked the woman beside him, “Who is Liu Buwang?”
“I haven’t heard of this person’s name before. Officially, he is Commander Xiao’s martial arts master.”
“Where did Xiao Huaijin get a martial arts master?”
Ying Xiang nodded, “But they seem to have a great deal of trust and respect for this Mr. Liu.”
Chu Zhao set down his teacup, “All of this is not important. What matters most is finding Chai Anxi before Xiao Huaijin.”
“This servant understands,” Ying Xiang hesitated for a moment and then asked, “But how does the young master plan to deal with Miss He?” Although she had already learned from Chu Zhao that He Yan was a girl and had mentally prepared herself, it wasn’t until she saw He Yan’s girl appearance through the window that it truly felt real. It was difficult to connect the petite and delicate girl before her with the memory of the valiant and resolute young man.
“Don’t you find it strange that Xiao Huaijin is accompanied by a woman?” Chu Zhao smiled faintly. “I’m very curious about how much he trusts this woman.”
Ying Xiang lowered her eyes and didn’t say anything, leaving only the rising steam from the tea in her teacup, which quickly disappeared into the air, leaving no trace.
***
On the other side of the room, everyone was seated.
“This is the Wutuo people’s military defense map,” He Yan handed the scroll to Liu Buwang.
“The Fourth Young Master of the Shi Jinbo Mansion brought this news: the Wutuo people are planning to attack Jiyang soon, but we don’t know if it’s true or not. Master, please take a look at this military map. Do you see any issues?”
Liu Buwang looked at it for a moment and then put the scroll down, “I don’t know if this map is genuine, but if the Wutuo people really plan to attack Jiyang, they will most likely start from the canal.”
After all, the most crucial part of Jiyang City was the canal. Blocking the canal would cut off the lifeline of the entire city.
“Before, Mr. Liu mentioned tracking the Wutuo people to Jiyang,” Xiao Jue looked at Liu Buwang and asked, “Can you explain the reason for that?”
Liu Buwang thought for a moment before saying, “Around the time of the Water God Festival each year, I visit Jiyang. This year, before I reached Jiyang, I came across a massacre outside the city. Someone had killed all the villagers in an outlying village at night, and they had put on the clothes of the villagers to infiltrate the city. A child who managed to escape told me about it. I thought it might be a vendetta or a robbery, but as I investigated, I found that some of the culprits were not from Great Wei. These Wutuo people had infiltrated the city disguised as civilians, and this wasn’t a recent development. I only uncovered a small part of it, and I’m afraid that many of the villagers outside the city had already suffered before this. Inside Jiyang, there are probably many more disguised Wutuo people.”
“So, Master, are you saying that many Wutuo people have already entered the city?” He Yan asked.
“Yes, they’ve been planning for a long time. They were waiting for chaos during the Water God Festival, and they intended to abduct the Little Highness. But your actions disrupted their plans, so they should be making a second attempt soon.”
“Does Master Liu mean that there will be a battle in Jiyang City soon?” Lin Shuanghe asked nervously. “Isn’t this place very unsafe?”
“Don’t worry,” He Yan reassured him. “Princess Mengji has mentioned that she will evacuate the people from the city to a slightly safer place in the coming days. Brother Lin, you can follow the people from Jiyang City; there should be no problem.”
This reassured Lin Shuanghe, but he immediately took on a resolute expression and said, “Follow the city’s people? I’m not someone who values my own life over others, naturally, I will stay with my brothers, sharing life and death together. Don’t try to persuade me; I will definitely stay with you all and not go alone.”
He Yan fell silent for a moment before turning to Liu Buwang and said, “Master, Princess Mengji has entrusted the city gate guards to the Commander. Do you want to take a look as well?”
“Ah He, did you forget?” Liu Buwang replied somewhat helplessly, “you seem to have forgotten that I can only set up formations and not fight.”
That was indeed the case. Liu Buwang was skilled in Qimen Dunjia and various spear, horse, blades but that was one person’s combat abilities. When he taught her Qimen Dunjia, it was through He Yan’s research and application in military strategy that she developed her own tactics.
“I can’t fight either,” Lin Shuanghe said in surprise, “so my little sister He must have become so skilled on her own? I thought she had a great teacher. So, Little Sister He is self-taught?”
He Yan awkwardly smiled and said, “I may have exceptional talent, or maybe I was a female general in my past life, so it just comes naturally!”
Xiao Jue chuckled but didn’t say anything.
“In the coming days, I will continue to investigate the whereabouts of those Wutuo people,” Liu Buwang said. “If we find their leader, it could help resolve many issues. As for the city gate guards in Jiyang, I’ll leave that to Commander Xiao.” Liu Buwang looked at Xiao Jue, who now knew his true identity. “The city gate guards don’t have a numerical advantage, so Commander Xiao, you’ll need to take care of the people of Jiyang.”
Xiao Jue nodded in response, he clearly had a deep affection for Jiyang.
The group continued to discuss the Wutuo people for a while, and Xiao Jue would start training the city gate guards in Jiyang from the next day. It was a short time for him, and it wouldn’t be an easy task. Liu Buwang would continue his search for the Wutuo people, and Lin Shuanghe, there were no expectations for him. He would stay at the Cui residence and wait. As for He Yan, she found herself in an awkward position. She wanted to go with Xiao Jue to see the city gate guards, but Mu Hongjin didn’t allow her to do so. She wasn’t sure if it would lead to any complications. Instead, she decided to make another copy of the military defense map and planned to study it overnight to see if she could come up with a new strategy based on Jiyang’s terrain. If the map was genuine, it would be twice as helpful. If it turned out to be fake, she could potentially find any flaws in it and avoid falling into a trap.
After their conversation, they planned to disperse. As soon as they opened the door, they saw a beautiful maidservant standing under the trees in the courtyard. It was Chu Zhao’s personal maidservant, Ying Xiang. They had no idea how long she had been standing there, but when she saw the group coming out, she walked forward and bowed to He Yan, saying, “Miss He.”
He Yan returned the greeting.
“The young master has something to say to Miss He,” Ying Xiang smiled. “He is waiting in the front hall. Do you have time, Miss He?”
He Yan glanced back, and Lin Shuanghe made a slight hand gesture, indicating that she shouldn’t go. Xiao Jue remained calm, and his thoughts were unreadable. Seeing this, Ying Xiang smiled and said, “The young master said that there may have been a misunderstanding between him and Miss He before. He wants to personally clarify it with Miss He. When he was in Liangzhou Garrion, he left without saying goodbye, which was quite rude. He hopes that Miss He won’t take it to heart, and today, he wants to make amends.”
He Yan hadn’t really paid much attention to the matter of him leaving without saying goodbye. With so many events happening in Liangzhou Garrison, she had no time to worry about such minor details. The young master of the Shi Jinbo Mansion remembered it so clearly, and he was being so polite, if she insisted on refusing, it might seem ungrateful. Besides… He Yan was genuinely curious about Chu Zhao’s current identity and intentions in Liangzhou Garrison, especially regarding his claim to deal with the Wutuo people. Was this his true purpose or something else?
With these thoughts in mind, she agreed, “Sure.”
Lin Shuanghe’s face changed dramatically. “Little Sister He!”
“Thank you for your understanding, Young Master,” Ying Xiang said, pleased.
“Commander, I will go take a look,” He Yan said to Xiao Jue. “You don’t need to wait for me for dinner tonight.” With that, she turned to Liu Buwang and excused herself, saying, “Master, I’m leaving first.”
Lin Shuanghe wanted to persuade her further, but He Yan had already walked away with Ying Xiang. Liu Buwang had other matters to attend to, so he merely nodded to Xiao Jue the two before leaving as well.
After they departed, Lin Shuanghe asked Xiao Jue, “You just let her go like that?”
“What else could I do?”
“That’s Chu Zilan we’re talking about! Little Sister He used to be so infatuated with him that she lost herself, and when he broke his promise, she went to look at the moon all alone. This irresponsible heartbreaker is coming back to find my Little Sister He, mark my words, he’ll probably use his charm to win my Little Sister He’s heart!”
“Well, that’s great,” Xiao Jue turned around and sneered lazily. “At least the scammer will get what he wants.”
“Aren’t you worried?” Lin Shuanghe fanned himself, following closely behind him. “What if Chu Zilan sees my Little Sister He looking so stunning and loses control, doing something terrible to her?”
Xiao Jue entered the room, poured himself a cup of tea, and nonchalantly said, “You must have some misconception about Chu Zilan’s eyesight. Do you really think that scammer’s looks deserve the word ‘stunning’?”
“What, you don’t find her stunning?” Lin Shuanghe fumed. “Xiao Huaijin, you can’t compare your face to everyone else in the world.”
Xiao Jue couldn’t be bothered to pay attention to him and said, “Besides, Chu Zilan do something bad to her?” A hint of mockery crossed his eyes. “That guy could twist off Chu Zilan’s head with her bare hands. Instead of worrying about her innocence, it’s better to worry about Chu Zilan.”
Lin Shuanghe: “…”
…
He Yan met Chu Zilan in the front hall.
When Chu Zilan saw her, he smiled and greeted her, saying, “Miss He.”
“Fourth Young Master Chu.” He Yan also returned the greeting.
The sky had already darkened, and the night in Jiyang City was bustling and lively. Chu Zhao glanced outside and said, “Shall we go out?”
He Yan didn’t know what he was up to, but there were many people in the Cui Mansion, making it inconvenient to talk. So, she said, “Sure.”
The two of them walked outside the mansion.
The spring night in Jiyang was warm, and along the banks of the river, vendors carried lanterns and called out in the streets. Pavilions and towers were scattered, creating a picturesque scene. It could truly be said, “Between villages and lanes, the sound of strings and pipes, social gatherings, day and night.”
But looking at this seemingly gentle and prosperous night, one couldn’t help but wonder how many hidden dangers were lurking. Beneath the smiling faces of the vendors and the lively atmosphere, who knew how many Wutuo people with malicious intent were hiding. With this in mind, even the most lively and interesting scenery seemed dull, and He Yan couldn’t help but furrow her brow.
“Miss He, are you angry with me?” Chu Zhao whispered from his side.
“Why would I be?” She was somewhat surprised.
“Then why do you look so troubled and preoccupied when we go out together?”
He Yan chuckled, “No, I’m just thinking about the Wutuo people and worrying about it.”
After a moment of silence, Chu Zhao said, “Miss He, you don’t need to worry. The Princess will arrange everything, and we also have Commander Xiao, right?”
He was quite appreciative of Commander Xiao, and He Yan wanted to test him, so she asked, “I thought Commander Xiao and Fourth Young Master Xiao might not see eye to eye.”
“Commander Xiao has some misunderstandings with me,” Chu Zhao smiled. “However, his position is slightly different from mine. We each serve our respective masters.”
He actually admitted it like this? He Yan was somewhat surprised.
“However, on the matter of the Wutuo people, Commander Xiao and I share the same stance. Miss He, you don’t need to worry,” Chu Zhao said. “I am a citizen of Great Wei, and I naturally don’t want to see our homeland invaded by foreign tribes.”
He Yan nodded, “That’s only natural. There’s no safety in a broken nest. We should be united against external threats.”
“With my words, can you feel at ease, Miss He?” he asked.
He Yan replied, “Why would you say ‘feel at ease’?”
“I won’t harm Commander Xiao, and you don’t need to be so cautious about me on his account,” Chu Zilan said.
He Yan chuckled. “You’re overthinking, Fourth Young Master Chu. I’m not wary of you.”
“Is that so?” Chu Zilan looked slightly dejected as he continued, “But ever since our last meeting, you’ve stopped calling me ‘Brother Chu’ and started referring to me as ‘Fourth Young Master Chu,’ which seems like a deliberate distancing.”
That can also work? He Yan responded, “There’s nothing to it. If you think it’s not good, I can call you ‘Brother Chu’ again.”
“Can I call you Ah He?”
He Yan hesitated for a moment.
The young man’s smile was particularly gentle, like a harmless orchid blooming at night in the spring of Jiyang, his robe fragrant, his appearance handsome. Passersby couldn’t help but glance at him, as he was truly eye-catching. It was difficult to speak harsh words to such a good-looking and good-natured person. He Yan hesitated for a moment and said, “If you want to call me that way, then go ahead.”
Chu Zhao’s eyes revealed a hint of a smile, and he continued walking along the riverbank with He Yan. He said, “I haven’t apologized to Ah He for what happened before. We had agreed to go to White Moon Mountain for a drink together, but something came up at the last minute, and I couldn’t make it. I left early the next day without even saying goodbye. Later, in Shuojing, I remembered this matter and felt very regretful.”
“It’s a small matter, Brother Chu, you don’t need to worry about it,” He Yan replied. “Besides, you didn’t do it on purpose, and I wasn’t upset about it.” If it wasn’t for Chu Zhao, she wouldn’t have gone to the foot of White Moon Mountain that night, wouldn’t have waited for Xiao Jue, and wouldn’t have known that the person who had saved her from the darkness on the mountaintop behind Yuhua Temple years ago was Xiao Jue.
Perhaps this was a case of turning adversity into good fortune?
“Ah He is very forgiving, with a broad heart,” Chu Zhao smiled slightly. “But I can’t simply let this matter go. I must make amends to Ah He.” He looked ahead. “I want to give something to Ah He.”
He Yan was taken aback. “What is it?”
Chu Zhao extended his hand, holding a small tassel in his palm. The tassel was adorned with an exquisitely carved pomegranate flower made of red jade, with red tassels hanging from the bottom. Although it was small, it was very cleverly crafted.
“Today, at the gate of the Royal Mansion, I saw Ah He wearing a long whip at her waist,” Chu Zhao looked at her gently. “I once had the good fortune to obtain a flower tassel, but I don’t know how to use it as a weapon, and I don’t carry any weapons with me. It’s a waste to leave it with me. However, this flower tassel matches Ah He’s long whip perfectly. Ah He, try it and see if it enhances it.”
He Yan instinctively wanted to refuse, “No need to give without merit, Brother Chu, let’s forget about it. Besides, this thing doesn’t look cheap.” The small red jade was so exquisite that one couldn’t help but wonder if it was another “several hundred taels of silver” item. If she kept receiving gifts like this, people might think she was here to freeload.
“Ah He called me ‘Brother Chu,’ which means we’re friends. Giving gifts between friends is common. Moreover, Ah He worries too much. This flower tassel is not expensive, and the jade is fake. Ah He doesn’t need to feel burdened. It’s useless to me, and if Ah He refuses it, would you still consider me an enemy?”
Even his words that carried a hint of reproach were spoken gently and calmly. Although it was somewhat unfair, coming from him, it sounded reasonable. He Yan hesitated for a moment, “Is this pomegranate flower really made of fake jade?”
Chu Zhao smiled, “If Ah He wants real jade, I may have to raise some silver for that.”
Since it was fake jade and not very valuable, she accepted it more easily. He Yan said with a smile, “Then I thank Brother Chu. She reached for the purple jade whip at her waist, attached the flower tassel to the wooden handle, and the shiny whip suddenly gained a touch of elegance and became more attractive.
“The whip indeed matches Ah He.” Chu Zhao smiled.
“Reciprocity is important. Since Brother Chu gave me a tassel, I should also give Brother Chu something in return,” He Yan felt that it would be unfair not to reciprocate. She continued, “Brother Chu, what did you fancy at this night market today? I can give it to you.” Then, she reached into her sleeve, touched her meager pile of copper coins, and added, “But I left home in a hurry and didn’t bring much silver. So, Brother Chu… just pick something.”
After all, she didn’t bring Lin Shuanghe with her today, so she couldn’t just buy whatever she wanted.
Chu Zhao couldn’t help but smile and looked at her. “Alright.”
He Yan followed him, and the night market in Jiyang was bustling. There were vendors selling everything from food, snacks, cosmetics, and antique books to rusty weapons. They were a striking pair, and as they passed by, they received warm greetings from the vendors.
When they reached the end of the road ahead, they saw a crowd gathered around a vendor. He Yan followed Chu Zhao to see what was going on and found that it was a vendor making sugar sculptures. The vendor was a young man dressed in clean blue clothes. He sat in front of a small stall with a spotlessly clean stone slab in front of him. Next to him, a big pot simmered with sparkling and red sugar syrup. He used a large iron spoon to scoop out a spoonful of sugar syrup and poured it onto the stone slab. His movements were fast, and the iron spoon in his hand moved like a brush. The strands of sugar that fell created intricate and exquisite patterns, quickly solidifying into shapes, and he used a small spatula to lift the sugar sculptures from the stone slab and attach them to bamboo sticks.
“This is a sugar biscuit,” He Yan exclaimed with joy. “I didn’t expect to find them in Jiyang.”
Back when she was in Shuojing, there was an annual temple fair, but due to her delicate status and the fear of being recognized, she avoided crowded places as much as possible. She had never been to the temple fair. She could only listen to her sisters talking about the lively scenes and the novelty items they saw when they returned from the fair. Sugar biscuits were one of those novelties. Shuojing had a master who excelled at making sugar biscuits, and He Yan always yearned for them. One time, unable to resist the temptation, she secretly begged Madam He to bring one back for her from the temple fair. Perhaps out of pity for her and her strong desire, Madam He had been moved and had indeed brought one back for her. He Yan remembered it was a design of a bird. She couldn’t bear to eat it and kept the sugar figure in her pencil holder. However, the hot weather caused it to melt within two days, turning the table into a sticky mess, for which Madam He scolded her.
At the time, she didn’t think it was dirty; she was just disappointed and wished that the sugar sculpture could last a little longer.
The novelty items she had missed in her childhood unexpectedly appeared in Jiyang. Watching the young man’s skill, she believed he was no less skilled than the master in Shuojing. He Yan grabbed Chu Zhao and pushed forward. Seeing that on the side of the haystack, there were already many completed sugar sculptures inserted, all of them appeared to be auspicious flowers, birds, phoenixes, and vivid animals, very lifelike.”
Chu Zhao glanced at He Yan and suddenly smiled, saying, “I really like this. If Ah He wants to give me something, how about a sugar sculpture?”
“You like this? No problem,” He Yan said confidently and waved her hand. “Young man, what’s the most expensive sugar sculpture you have here?” There was a sign nearby with clear prices, two wen each. She had brought a bunch of copper coins, so she had more than enough.
The vendor smiled and replied, “The most expensive one would be the flower basket, a total of eight wen. Would the young lady like one?”
What flower basket? But she couldn’t go wrong choosing the most expensive one. He Yan asked Chu Zhao, “What do you think, Brother Chu?”
Chu Zhao suppressed a smile and replied, “That sounds good.”
“Young man,” He Yan counted out eight copper coins, “please make a beautiful flower basket.”
The vendor agreed, “Sure!”
He scooped a spoonful of syrup from the pot and first made a thin round cake. He then poured a circle of sugar lines on the cake and slowly sketched it vertically. He Yan watched intently as the flower basket transformed from a flat base into a rich and vivid creation. With the basket frame and a handle, the vendor added plenty of flowers. He Yan counted, Roses, daffodils, chrysanthemums, peach blossoms, lotus flowers… flowers from different seasons, all arranged in one basket, creating a lively and beautiful display.
As He Yan watched the basket slowly fill up, she had a sudden idea and asked the vendor, “Young man, I’m giving this flower basket to a friend. Can you write my friend’s name on it?”
“Of course!”
Chu Zhao paused and his smile faded slightly, “Ah He, it’s not necessary…”
“What’s wrong?” He Yan didn’t understand. “Your name is so lovely; it would be a shame not to put it on the basket.”
“Lovely…?”
“Yes,” He Yan nodded, “Zhao means ‘bright,’ and Zilan means ‘fragrant orchid.’ The person who gave you this name must really love you and hope for your purity and a bright future. That’s why they gave you such an elegant name.”
Chu Zhao was taken aback, and the girl had already turned to the vendor, saying, “Young man, please write ‘Zilan’.”
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Lol me thinks this chu fellow will fall for her charms for reals
Many thanks
Happy holidays
Agreed! Who can resist the charms of our Miss He?
I completely forgot about that horseback race in the beginning though. I’ll have to go back and te read it.