Nachtlied

Kapitel 7

I nodded: "That's good, that's good."

She looked at me suspiciously: "What's so good about it?" It's been almost four years, and she might not even recognize him when he's wearing a mask. Isn't that a good thing?

I chuckled and said, "You're really obsessed with my brother. What are you here for? To challenge him to a duel, or are you planning to join forces with the righteous sects of the martial arts world?"

She glared at me angrily: "Hmph, I don't expect you to help me. I... I just want to vent my anger."

Qi Long, although he also lives in Wangtian Pavilion, he arrived late, and well, his room is quite far from mine. But now that Qianqian is here, I can only sneak around to see Qi Long when I have the chance.

After moving to Qingyu Manor, Master Tao settled Yi Ge and me in Zifeng Pavilion in the back of the manor. Nanfeng Fort was on the left and Baima Manor was on the right. He said with a smile, "Since you are old friends, you should stay together more closely."

Getting close? I'd rather avoid it than get close.

That night, Yi Mei came over to the pavilion to chat. Seeing that only Chun Man and I were in the room, she asked, "What, isn't your husband here?"

I don't know what Yi Ge went to do. I imagine he must have been in contact with Qi Long, even though Qi Long was only accompanied by his subordinates from the Si Xie Palace.

But I still said, "He has some things to take care of."

She sat down, took a sip of the tea Chunman poured for her, and said, "Your husband seems to be quite skilled. This morning he was able to keep up with your movements. Your Misty Sea Traces have improved even more than last year. But is your husband wearing a mask like your brother? Why doesn't he have any expression? Oh, no, I did see him smile at you the other day."

I nodded: "Yes, it's not easy to see more than two expressions on his face. Don't tell your husband who came from Si Xie Palace."

She patted me on the shoulder: "I know that, of course. My family may be known as a family of a hundred mouths, but we are also good at keeping secrets."

She then asked, "You've been married for three months now, how is it?"

I sighed: "He's alright, he can manage. He doesn't talk much, but he seems like a good person, neither arrogant nor spoiled, which is quite fitting for the status of a prince consort."

She looked me over carefully and said, "On the day of your wedding, he arrived before I could even finish my sentence. I wanted to tell you that Bai Yifei and Nan Ya are not yet married."

I looked at her in surprise: "Didn't Nan Ya say that they would get married a month after the engagement was finalized?"

She shook her head: "Actually, both Nanfeng Manor and Baima Manor are facing some business problems and are quite overwhelmed. Their wedding has not yet been held."

I gave a wry smile: "Even if you had told me back then, what could you have done? Did you expect me to snatch him away, or for him to snatch me away? He already made things clear to me. Besides, by the time you arrived, our wedding ceremony was already complete. I couldn't possibly abandon Yi Ge and run away from the marriage; my mother would have dragged me back and beaten me to death. Even though I just randomly picked him, I can't betray him, can I?"

I changed the subject, saying, "Let's not talk about him. I've been to Longcheng. Your father and Uncle Shen are both fine, but for some reason, neither of them indicated they would attend the martial arts tournament. Isn't the Hall of a Hundred Words the historian of the martial arts world?"

Yi Mei smiled and said, "My father said long ago that of all the martial arts tournaments, this one is probably the most unorthodox. He wouldn't bother coming. Besides, I'm here now. Even though I married into Nanfeng Fort, I'm still a member of the Hundred Words Hall."

I laughed and said, "Don't let your father-in-law and husband hear you say that."

After she left, I sat at the small table, somewhat lost in thought.

They're not married yet? No wonder Nan Ya was so nervous when she saw me. I was still a little uneasy. Then, I spat at myself. What else do you want? They're not married because of family matters, not because Bai Yifei still cares about you. Do you really think you can just get married and divorced after three months? Where did your resolve and backbone go when you left?

Dinner was held in the Longyin Hall of Qingyu Manor, with about ten tables set up. Qingyu Manor certainly had a grand scale. I sat at the main table with Nanfeng Fort and Baima Manor, with Manor Lord Tao as my companion.

I believe I've concealed all my emotions and remained composed.

In this kind of situation, one should be dignified.

I remember when I was little, one year after returning from my maternal grandmother's house, I went to the teahouse at Meiren's father's place in Luoxia Town and asked my mother, "Mother, Grandma always praised Sister Su for being dignified and beautiful, saying that a woman should be dignified. What does dignified mean?"

Before her mother could answer, the beautiful father sneered, "What does it matter if a woman is dignified? Dignity is something that can only be maintained occasionally in public. If someone is always dignified, they're either stupid or cunning. How can an ordinary person always maintain that kind of demeanor?"

At first, I didn't quite understand, but then it suddenly dawned on me: "Beautiful father, dignified, does that mean putting on airs and pretending? But what are you pretending to be?"

The beautiful father laughed and said, "That's right, why pretend? Just pretend to be whatever others like, so there's no need to pretend in front of family."

Then I realized something else.

Later, my father and mother traveled all over the world. One day, a guest came to visit. He was a strange-looking man from the martial arts world. When my father and mother called me to see him, I sat on the chair without moving.

The mother later asked, "Wu'er, was anything strange today?"

I said, "I need to maintain a dignified appearance."

Kun's father suppressed a laugh and asked, "But why be so dignified for ordinary guests?"

I said, "Isn't it only in front of people you don't like that you have to be dignified?"

Kun's father and mother laughed for a long time afterward.

Actually, this is the truth, so these past few days, I've had to put on airs and act all high and mighty here.

After dinner, I returned to Zifeng Pavilion, but I still couldn't sleep, so I decided to take a walk in the spacious backyard of Qingyu Manor. As soon as I stepped out the door, I found Yi Ge standing silently behind me—truly the style of a shadow guard. I shook my head at him: "I just want to walk alone for a bit, I'll be back in a moment." He nodded and disappeared into the darkness.

I returned first; most of them were still drinking, so the backyard was quite quiet. I walked to a pavilion on a slope and stood inside. There was no moon, but the afterglow of the sunset had not yet faded, so the gray shadows within Good Sound Valley were quite visible.

The wind picked up, and my hair and skirt danced in the wind. Amidst the sound of the wind, I heard footsteps behind me, light and steady, very familiar. I turned around abruptly, and sure enough, it was him, standing outside the pavilion.

I bowed and said, "Young Master Bai."

He took two quick steps forward: "Xiao Wu! Just call me Yi Fei. Don't be so formal."

"That's not quite right. I'll still call you 'Brother Bai'. Did you finish your meal so quickly?"

Half of his face was obscured by the shadow of the tree, and the other half was also somewhat blurry. However, I could still clearly see his eyebrows and eyes even with my eyes closed. His voice rippled through the wind, a sound I had never heard before. He said, "You have never told me about your background."

I smiled faintly and lowered my head: "Will telling you change anything? I've mentioned everyone around me to you."

A hint of sadness appeared in his eyes: "Xiaowu, I'm not saying you've deceived or hidden anything from me. You have mentioned the people and things around you, but you only talked about trivial matters between you and them. I only know that they are your parents, brothers, godfather, and master, but I don't know who they really are. There is still some distance between us."

I wanted to sneer: "I don't care who they are outside. I only know they are my parents, brother, godfather, and master. Besides, what I wanted to tell you was something I didn't have time to say. Later, there was no need. I have nothing to do with you anymore, so naturally they have nothing to do with you."

His voice grew heavy: "Do you hate me? Xiaowu, I'm sorry, I hurt you."

Hate? No hate? Seeing him a few days ago still hurt me. But today, it doesn't seem so painful. I guess Yi Ge's way of coping is effective, or maybe it's because of that night's indulgence. Sigh, if that kind of indulgence could really heal, I might as well have found someone to indulge with as soon as I came back last year.

Thinking of this, I smiled slightly: "Hate you? No." Today I was indeed completely composed, and I could even manage a smile.

He remained silent for a long time, then changed the subject: "Are you alright? You look much thinner."

I shook my head: "I went back to the palace this year, and it was fine. I used to be too fat, and I wanted to lose some weight, but now I'm just right. I've never been considered thin."

Yes, when I met him, I was like a newly grown peanut, plump and round, brightly colored, and full of boundless energy.

The beautiful father once sighed, "Wu Bao is good in every way, but if you cut off a little bit of her edge, she would be even better."

But Kun's father said, "I think it's perfect."

I took it to heart. So when I met Nan Ya, who was as sweet as a melon seed, I liked her, but at the same time, I also felt a little bit inferior.

Seemingly having nothing more to say, I bowed and said, "It's getting chilly, I'd like to head back now. Brother Bai, if you wish to continue sightseeing, please continue."

He opened his mouth, sighed, and said, "I'll take you." His words were as soft as a breeze.

Inside the Purple Wind Pavilion, the lights were very bright. Yi Ge sat at the table, looking down and fiddling with something. A black silhouette was quietly reflected on the window.

I paused for a moment, then walked inside without looking back.

My heart still aches unbearably.

Chapter Eleven: First Encounter

Last year, the first man from the martial arts world I met on my way down the mountain was Bai Yifei. At that time, I did not know that he was the eldest son of Baima Manor and a young hero with some fame.

I came down from Xuefeng Mountain and left Luoxia Town and Luosha City a few days later. I had traveled this road several times with my mother, father, and husband, so I was quite familiar with it. Since I wouldn't get lost and had plenty of time, I had the leisure to appreciate the local customs and culture along the way. I already knew a little about these things, but traveling alone with my family was different, and I thoroughly enjoyed my trip.

My father, a man of great beauty, looked down on women dressing as men, so I not only dressed as a woman along the way, but also wore gorgeous women's clothes. Although the style was simple, the workmanship and design were quite exquisite. I only chose simple earrings and hairpins for jewelry, but they were items from the palace.

When my mother saw me packing silk and light gauze clothes into my bundle as I was going down the mountain, she said, "When you're out and about, it's better to be less particular and avoid getting into trouble."

Kun's father said, "Wu'er's actions are not considered ostentatious; she is quite composed. My daughter is young and beautiful. If she were in the court, she would have been the object of many young men's pursuit long ago. Although she is in the mountains now, she still needs to make a name for herself. Besides, with Wu'er's martial arts skills, she won't suffer if others covet her."

I know that Kun's dad and Meiren's dad are definitely on the same page in this regard, so he strongly supports me.

With his experience in the underworld, he couldn't possibly be wrong.

My father, a man of great beauty, taught me that a woman should always maintain her feminine grace, be radiant and captivating, and exude charm in every movement and stillness. I pondered these words for days. Since my mother was always looked down upon by my father, she couldn't possibly understand them. In the Si Xie Palace, He Lanqian was surrounded by men; aside from her mother, everyone else was a formidable woman. Asking her was pointless, especially since the Si Xie Palace was quite far away. So I had to figure it out myself. Then one day, it dawned on me, and I realized that my father should have changed the last two words to "seductive" for a more fitting description.

Although I received his teachings from a young age, I always felt that a woman's graceful charm comes from within, and it's probably not easy to cultivate. Since this charm is not easily attained, for me, I only put some effort into my clothing. When choosing clothes, one should choose beautiful ones, but not necessarily gorgeous or flashy ones.

I think this is fine; it won't attract much attention, but it also prevents me from getting lost in the crowd. Women always feel a little smug when they see admiring glances, and I'm no exception. Of course, attracting attention will bring some minor troubles, but they're not difficult to resolve.

But things didn't go so smoothly when they arrived in Yancheng that day.

Yancheng is a crossroads of five provinces, connecting north and south, east and west, a place where waterways and land routes converge. Its commerce is extremely developed, and it's bound to be bustling. I remember visiting this place with my husband, but all I remember is its delicious food and beautiful women. So, I'm planning to go alone to enjoy the food and admire the women. Both can be done simultaneously, because the most distinctive feature of the restaurants here is that they employ singing girls, allowing you to savor delicious food while admiring beautiful women.

The Guhonglou Hotel I chose had a restaurant in the front and an inn in the back; it was quite large. There was a stage in the front hall of the restaurant for performances, including storytelling and music and dance. It was almost noon when I entered the hotel, so I put down my things and went to the restaurant in the front.

Yancheng offers a wide variety of cuisines from all over China, with Guhonglou Restaurant renowned for its excellent southern dishes. My maternal family is from the south, and we particularly appreciate the delicate and refined flavors of southern cuisine. Inspired by the waiter's recommendation, I ordered several southern dishes. Since I was alone, I instructed the waiter to keep the portions small, just to sample the flavors. The waiter smiled and replied, "I understand, Miss. Smaller portions mean a fairer price."

The people here are easy to talk to and seem kind and honest.

When the dishes arrived—three dishes and a soup—served on elegant stemmed plates, they were indeed a feast for the eyes.

My spot was quite good, angled slightly towards the stage in the center of the building, where five or six girls were performing the Water Moon Dance. One played the zither, another the pipa, another the flute, and yet another gently parted her lips, the melody drifting softly through the spacious hall. Two other girls, however, danced gracefully to the music, their sleeves twirling and bells jingling. As they twirled, the gold threads on their robes shimmered, a truly beautiful sight. When the dance ended, cheers erupted. Someone tossed silver coins onto the stage, urging them to dance again.

The hall was quite noisy, and some people came out from the backyard to eat. Suddenly, I noticed that the bundle carried by one of the men looked very familiar. It was a light blue satin bag, and there seemed to be something square wrapped in the middle with a protruding corner, which looked a lot like… mine. I had a bad feeling, but the man continued to walk out chatting and laughing with the other men around him, seemingly quite relaxed.

I tossed a piece of silver on the table and got up to go to the back. Entering the room, I glanced at the bed and was truly startled – my bag was indeed gone. Money and clothes weren't a big deal; I had most of my silver notes and loose change on me. But the bag contained a congratulatory gift for Shen Yimei, and losing it would be unacceptable.

I turned and rushed toward the gate.

As I stepped out of the gate, I saw a man in blue robes carrying a snow-blue bundle in the distance, almost reaching the intersection of two streets. Fortunately, there were no alleys near the Lonely Goose Tower, only a straight main road, which allowed me to see him. Moreover, it wasn't too far away, so I followed after him.

He glanced back, spotted me, and panicked, quickening his pace as he weaved through the crowd. We were now in a bustling area, with more and more street vendors, making it difficult to use my light-footed skills. But that didn't stop me from catching up. When my hand touched his back, he twisted his body and attacked. He was quite skilled; I spun around and kicked him in the leg, sending him sprawling to the ground. I grabbed him and pulled him up. Just as I was about to snatch my bundle back, my leg felt heavy; someone had grabbed my right leg.

I was shocked and looked down to see a boy of about thirteen or fourteen years old, dressed in tattered clothes. Before I could ask him anything, he cried out, "Sister, please stop doing this and let this uncle go!"

I was baffled and reached out to push him away, saying, "What are you doing? Let go of me, I don't even know you."

He continued crying, "Sister, I finally found you, how could you say that? Sister, I know you're upset with me, but this time I was the one who notified that uncle to retrieve his belongings. Sister, even though we're poor, we can't take other people's things."

A crowd of onlookers had already surrounded us, three or four deep. I overheard some whispers: "What's going on? This girl is so pretty and dressed so smartly, she doesn't seem like a thief." Another person said, "How can you tell? There's no sign of a thief."

I had a vague feeling that this "younger brother" who suddenly appeared was quite strange, and I regretted not shouting "Stop thief!" when I was chasing after him!

He held me so tightly that I couldn't pull one leg out at all, so I had to shout, "What nonsense are you talking about? Let go!"

He continued, sobbing, "Sister, I know you feel it's a waste that you were born into such a poor family like ours, so you often steal clothes and gold. Mother begged you to stop, but you ran away from home and stayed away for months. I only found you this time after much difficulty, and knowing you were doing this again, I followed you and asked the victim to come and retrieve the belongings. Sister, just wait two more years. When I become successful, I will provide you with good food and clothing."

Some people around me were already looking at me with disdain, while others were praising the "younger brother's" filial piety. I knew I had been framed. Although I was angry, I also snapped out of my daze and turned to look at the man I had just caught. Sure enough, I saw him carrying a bundle and sneaking to the outermost edge of the crowd.

I grew anxious and shouted, "Hey, don't run! Give me back my bundle!" The man, however, squeezed even faster through the crowd. I looked down at the boy more closely and noticed that although his features were regular, his eyes held a mature and cunning glint, and his face was square. I suddenly realized he might not be as old as he appeared. Seeing me looking at him, his eyes welled up with tears—quite the acting. Just as I was thinking of a way to get rid of him, I suddenly felt his hand caressing my thigh. Enraged, I disregarded the many people watching, leaped up, and slammed my left heel into his back. He cried out in pain and released his grip. In my anger, I kicked him and then went to chase after the man in blue.

A dark shadow suddenly flashed past, and a male voice said, "What a ruthless female thief, she can even be so cruel to her own brother."

A chill ran through me; they actually had accomplices.

Looking up again, I saw a man in purple robes standing before me. He appeared to be around twenty years old, with a fair complexion, sharp eyebrows, and bright eyes. He was frowning as he looked at me, a hint of disdain in his eyes. Judging from his demeanor, he didn't seem to be part of their group.

I argued, "What brother? I don't know him at all. I've only been in Yancheng for less than two hours."

As soon as I finished speaking, the boy burst into tears, saying, "Sister, do you not even recognize me now? If this continues, will you even disown our mother? Poor mother raised you and me all by herself."