Chu Tong grew up in brothels, so she didn't find Yu Ping's situation particularly special. She thought, "Yu Ping could at least be a top courtesan in a brothel. But this Granny Yu, if she gets fifty lashes, she'll probably be dead before she's even finished."
While she was lost in thought, Xie Linghui took her hand and said, "You've been wronged, but from now on, as long as I'm here, no one can bully you." His words warmed Chu Tong's entire body, and her heart trembled violently. She was usually quick-witted, but at this moment she was speechless.
Xie Linghui smiled and said, "Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival. The palace has summoned the three of us siblings to come to the palace at Chenshi (7-9 AM) to have a small gathering with my sister. Why don't you come with us?" After saying that, he took out an ebony crabapple eight-treasure box and said to Chu Tong, "This is candied fruit that the palace gave to Xiuyan yesterday. I know you like to eat this, so I saved a box for you." After saying that, he opened the lid of the box, and there was a box full of rose petals filled with sugar syrup, which smelled sweet.
Chu Tong looked at the candied fruit, then at Xie Linghui's smiling face, and couldn't help but sigh in her heart: "What a tragedy, what a tragedy! Mother said never to believe a man's sweet words, but Second Master treats me so well. If he stops paying attention to me in the future, I will feel worse than having my heart ripped out!"
Xie Linghui was obviously unaware of Chu Tong's thoughts. He chuckled, reached out and took a piece of candied fruit, stuffing it into Chu Tong's mouth. He raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is it sweet?" Then, a thought struck him, and he leaned down to kiss a scarlet mark on Chu Tong's neck.
Chu Tong's body stiffened instantly, and she gave a dry laugh, saying, "Sweet! Very sweet!"
A gentle breeze blows, the green shade is vast, and the curtains are rolled up to reveal fragrant mist from the flowers.
Mid-Autumn Festival, Ninglan Palace, gentle breeze, fragrance of orchids.
At Chenshi (7-9 AM), the three Xie siblings entered the palace on time, with Chu Tong accompanying them. All of them were dressed in fine clothes, but Xie Linghui, being a court official, wore a military officer's uniform according to his rank, making him appear even more upright, heroic, and exceptionally handsome.
Since entering the palace, Chu Tong had been glancing around with her peripheral vision. The palace walls and surrounding area were magnificent and solemn, with flying eaves, intricately carved green tiles, winding corridors, and exquisite pavilions—truly a sight to behold. Xie Linghui and his entourage arrived outside Ninglan Palace, where Xie Xiujing resided. Soon, a eunuch came to report that the three Xie siblings were summoned to an audience with the Imperial Concubine. Chu Tong, however, accompanied a young maid to a side hall outside to wait. Not long after, she heard the eunuch call her name, and Chu Tong followed him to the main hall. Upon reaching the hall, she respectfully knelt and kowtowed, saying, "This humble servant, Chu Tong, greets the Imperial Concubine!"
A pleasant, melodious female voice came from above, kind yet extremely authoritative: "Look up and let me see."
Chu Tong looked up, but her eyes were looking down. Then, unable to resist her curiosity, she glanced up quickly out of the corner of her eye. She saw a stunningly beautiful woman in her early twenties reclining on a chaise longue in the hall. She had a long face, delicate eyebrows like autumn water, and fair skin that seemed to float in the breeze. A black mole on her lip added to her charm. Her hair was styled in a princess bun, adorned with a phoenix hairpin with pearls and kingfisher feathers, and a pair of amber bell-shaped earrings that swayed gently. She wore a purple satin embroidered robe with dragon and bird patterns, exuding nobility, yet her eyes subtly revealed a sense of competence and authority. Her temperament was elegant and beautiful, like a delicate orchid.
Xie Xiujing also looked Chu Tong up and down. The girl kneeling in front of her was about fourteen or fifteen years old, with a beautiful and charming figure, but her face was full of cleverness, and her eyes were as bright as cold stars. She only had a jade cloud hairpin inserted diagonally in her hair, and she wore a crimson dress with a blue-gold and green double-ringed auspicious sash around her waist. Her whole person was like the sunset reflected in a clear pond, and her beauty was indescribable.
Xie Xiujing sized up Chu Tong for a while, then turned her head to ask Xie Linghui, "Is this the Chu Tong you told me about, the one who saved your life?"
Xie Linghui, sitting to Xie Xiujing's left, nodded and smiled, "Not bad."
Xie Xiujing took a leisurely sip of tea and chuckled, "A while ago, the Emperor bestowed upon you a pair of jade ruyi scepters. When I heard about it, I even joked with the Emperor that you were determined to give those ruyi scepters to the woman you love as a token of your love. I never expected that you would actually give them away, and to such a young girl."
Xie Linghui looked somewhat embarrassed and coughed twice without responding.
Xie Linghui, always mature and composed, rarely showed any coyness. Seeing this, Xie Xiujing couldn't help but smile and said, "I noticed that the jade hairpin in her hair looks like the one I gave you before I entered the palace. You gave it to this girl, which shows she's your true love. It's widely rumored that the second young master of the Xie family's confidante is the famous courtesan Zhaoxia from Yiyan Pavilion. Some busybodies have even made up a romantic tale about a talented scholar and a beautiful woman, quite erotic and decadent. I've heard about it even in this deep palace. I thought you were young and charming, indulging in the pleasure quarters, and would give Ruyi to a courtesan. Who knew you were keeping a mistress hidden away, already having someone in your heart..."
Chu Tong was greatly surprised. She had thought that Xie Xiujing, as a Noble Consort, would be a cold and dignified person like the Second Prince, but she did not expect her to speak so lightly and playfully. However, when she heard Xie Xiujing talk about the morning glow, she couldn't help but feel a pang of sadness.
Xie Linghui glanced quickly at Chu Tong with his phoenix eyes and said indifferently, "Back then, Hui'er was young and impetuous. I have now redeemed Chaoxia from her servitude and given her a sum of money to send her back to her hometown." Then he paused and said, "Chu Tong is indeed the one I love. I would like to ask His Highness the Crown Prince to recognize her as his goddaughter, and then I will marry her."
Chu Tong was startled upon hearing this and quickly looked up, just in time to meet Xie Linghui's gaze. He glanced at her with a smile in his eyes and then looked away.
Xie Xiujing paused for a moment, then looked at Chu Tong and sighed, "I wish to find a soulmate and stay together until our hair turns white. You are indeed a lucky person."
Just then, a eunuch walked in and said, "Your Highness, the tea and refreshments in the Imperial Garden have been prepared, and Young Master Xie and Miss Xie have already gone there."
Xie Xiujing stood up and said with a smile, "Very good, send word to prepare the Imperial Garden."
Chu Tong followed the others to the Imperial Garden, where chrysanthemums were in full bloom. The garden was a tapestry of vibrant colors: red as fire, white as snow, yellow as satin, and pink as the sunset, but yellow was the most abundant, resembling thousands of candles, blazing brightly. A gentle breeze stirred, causing the blossoms to sway and rise, like drifting smoke. The green sea of flowers, like colorful waves, resembled a scroll painting.
Everyone was full of praise. Chu Tong was admiring the beautiful scenery when she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her abdomen. She thought to herself, "Oh no, oh no! They say 'everyone has three urgent needs,' but now that I'm in the palace, where am I going to find a place to relieve myself?" She silently endured it for a moment, but couldn't bear it any longer. So she secretly moved to the back, tugged at the clothes of a little palace maid, and said with a smile, "Excuse me, sister, where is the latrine?"
The palace maid paused for a moment, then smiled slightly and said, "Follow me." She then led Chu Tong through countless small paths, guiding her to a latrine.
After relieving herself, Chu Tong felt refreshed. However, she couldn't find the little palace maid when she went out. She stood there for a while, but worried that she had run away on her own and made Xie Linghui worry, so she walked forward according to her memory.
After walking for a while, Chu Tong became increasingly confused. The scenery around her seemed identical, and she couldn't find her way back. Exhausted, she plopped down in the shade behind a house to rest. As she massaged her legs and muttered complaints, a scream suddenly rang out. Then, with a loud crash above her, a eunuch tumbled halfway out of the window, his head landing right in front of Chu Tong. His face was covered in blood, his eyes bulging—a truly horrifying sight. Chu Tong was terrified, unable to utter a sound. The eunuch stared intently at her; their eyes met, and Chu Tong slumped against the wall. Several more screams and clattering sounds came from inside the room. The eunuch forcefully threw something into Chu Tong's arms, weakly uttering, "Quick, run..." before his head lolled to the side and his eyes closed.
These words truly reminded Chu Tong. She stuffed the things the eunuch had thrown at her into her arms and scrambled forward. This time she ran with lightning speed, and after running for an unknown amount of time, she was utterly exhausted and stopped to catch her breath. Suddenly, a hand reached out from behind and covered her mouth and nose, followed by a strong arm dragging her into a room.
Chu Tong was still in shock and struggled desperately. At this moment, a clear and melodious voice whispered in her ear, "Don't move. I am Wang Lang, the third young master of the Wang family." It was repeated three times in a row. Chu Tong stopped struggling, and the person behind her also released his grip. Chu Tong looked closely and saw a handsome young man standing in front of her, waving a paper fan in his hand. His delicate and charming face had a faint smile on it. Who else could this person be but Wang Lang?
Chu Tong, still like a frightened bird, her eyes filled with wariness, clutched her chest and said, "Young Master Wang, what are you doing here?"
Wang Lang smiled faintly and said, "Today I have been granted the Emperor's grace to enter the palace to visit my sister." He paused here, his deep eyes glancing at Chu Tong, and said, "As for you, how did you end up in the palace, and even come to the Empress's Chaoyang Courtyard? If I hadn't seen you, and if anyone else had, you would have been punished! I'm afraid even Consort Lan wouldn't have been able to protect you then."
Chu Tong was taken aback: "This is the Empress's palace?" Then she tugged at Wang Lang's sleeve and pleaded in a low voice: "Young Master Wang, could you take me to the Imperial Garden? My Second Master must be getting impatient!"
Wang Lang stared at her face for a long while, his expression thoughtful. Chu Tong awkwardly withdrew her hand and said, "I was rude just now. If Young Master Wang is unwilling to tell me the way to the Imperial Garden, then I will find it myself." With that, she turned and left.
Wang Lang reacted quickly, stepping forward and grabbing Chu Tong's wrist, laughing, "Don't rush off. Let me ask you, are you willing to come back to the Wang family with me?"
Chu Tong's delicate body trembled, and she looked at Wang Lang's face in astonishment, only to see a serious expression on his beautiful, effeminate face. Chu Tong frowned and said, "Young Master Wang is joking. Chu Tong is Second Master's personal maid. How can I go to the Wang family with you? Please let go and show some respect. Men and women should not touch each other. Do not pull and tug in broad daylight."
As Chu Tong struggled, her clothes bunched up, revealing a dark red kiss mark on her fair neck. Wang Lang's dark eyes suddenly darkened upon seeing this, and he tightened his grip on Chu Tong's wrist, saying, "So someone beat me to it. No wonder, a beautiful lady like you naturally attracts many suitors." Despite his words, his expression darkened slightly, and seeing Chu Tong trying to pry his hand away, Wang Lang pulled her forcefully into his arms.
Chu Tong only caught a faint scent of chrysanthemum before her body was nestled against Wang Lang's chest. A wicked smile crept across Wang Lang's thin lips as he lazily said, "It doesn't matter if you get there first. Things are more interesting when you get them through a struggle." He then looked down and saw Chu Tong's face flushed like a peach blossom, her body exuding the delicate fragrance of angelica. His heart fluttered, and he lowered his head to kiss Chu Tong's pink cheek.
Just then, Wang Lang suddenly felt a numbness under his ribs, and then his long leg was hooked. He heard a sharp cry as the girl in his arms grabbed his arm and suddenly slammed him to the ground. Then, the pink figure nimbly sprang up, and just then, Wang Lang's long arm hooked and snatched the jade ruyi from Chu Tong's waist. Chu Tong, completely unaware, pushed open the door and ran away.
Wang Lang sat up from the ground and muttered to himself, "Appearances can be deceiving. It turns out she knows some kung fu." After saying that, he held the jade ruyi in front of his eyes and swung it back and forth. Then his eyes darkened, he put the handkerchief ruyi into his bosom, opened his paper fan, and fanned himself while deep in thought.
Chu Tong secretly slipped out of the main courtyard of Chaoyang and asked two eunuchs for directions to the Imperial Garden. At this time, the Xie siblings were sitting in the pavilion drinking tea and admiring chrysanthemums, but Xie Linghui was obviously absent-minded, looking around from time to time. When he saw Chu Tong return, his phoenix eyes flashed with surprise and he breathed a sigh of relief.
After the visit to his family was over, as Xie Linghui and the others were leaving the palace, Xie Linghui grabbed Chu Tong and whispered, "Where did you run off to? Do you know what happened in the harem just now? Several eunuchs and palace maids died. I'm afraid you..."
Chu Tong said, "Thank you for your concern, Second Master. I just went to the outhouse and got lost on my way back."
As they approached the imperial city gates to board their carriage, a young eunuch who had seen them off quickly slipped a crumpled piece of paper to Chu Tong while Xie Linghui and the others weren't looking. Chu Tong opened it and saw that it was written in elegant, delicate calligraphy: "A secret rendezvous in the palace; you left me a white jade ruyi as a token of your affection, to soothe my longing. We will meet again three days later at 9 AM, beneath the cold bridge. Knowing my deep affection, you will not disappoint me." It was signed "Wang Lang." Chu Tong was startled and quickly put the paper away. Looking around, she saw Wang Lang standing behind a large tree not far away, fanning himself and smiling. He waved the jade ruyi in his hand at her. Chu Tong immediately recognized it as the token of love given to her by Xie Linghui!
She forced herself to calm down, stepped onto the carriage, clutching the crumpled paper tightly in her hand, and quickly began to plan in her mind.
Jade Lake, Cold Bridge, Drizzle, Mist and Water Spread.
Beneath the cold bridge, a small, black-awning boat was moored. Inside sat a handsome young man, as exquisite as jade, dressed in a dark blue robe embroidered with gold and crimson chrysanthemums in a cross-collar pattern. The collar and cuffs were trimmed with a band of magnolia and cloud embroidery, and he wore a jade crown. His deep, pool-like eyes shone brightly, and a faint smile played on his lips; he was as refined and handsome as a figure from a painting. Before him sat a table with a pot of wine and several small dishes. He sat in the boat, pouring himself a drink, occasionally glancing out as if waiting for someone.
Suddenly, the boy's gaze fell upon a slender figure. It was a young girl, holding a blue silk oil-paper umbrella that obscured her face, so her features were not visible, but her figure was quite graceful. She wore a light purple dress with plum blossom branches, and a lotus-colored belt embroidered with gold and colorful flowers was tied around her waist. Several strands of silk ribbons hung gracefully from her waist, swaying beautifully in the wind.
The young woman walked to the edge of the cold bridge and looked around, revealing a beautiful face, her expression somewhat impatient. The young man's eyes immediately lit up. Ignoring the drizzle outside, he stepped directly out of the boat, cupped his hands in greeting, and said with a smile, "Miss Chu Tong!"
Hearing the call, Chu Tong turned and saw the young man. Her face remained impassive, but a hint of anger flickered in her starry eyes as she slowly walked over. She had been quite hesitant before coming to the appointment. If she went, she didn't know what trouble Wang Lang might cause her; if she didn't go, the token of love Xie Linghui had given her would fall into Wang Lang's hands. Chu Tong had wanted to tell Xie Linghui about this several times, but the words always stuck in her throat. In this dynasty, the Wang and Xie families were equally renowned officials with a delicate relationship. They were always cautious in their dealings in officialdom, so Xie Linghui would never dare to quarrel with Wang Lang over a maid; he would probably confine her to the Xie household in the future. After weighing the pros and cons, Chu Tong gritted her teeth and decided to settle the matter herself.
Fortunately, Xie Linghui had to go to the Nine City Garrison every morning on official business, so Chu Tong managed to sneak out. She walked up to Wang Lang and said, "I'm here now, but where's Ruyi? Give her back!"
Wang Lang smiled and said, "Since you're here, young lady, would you do me the honor of coming aboard for a drink and a chat?"
Chu Tong was about to say something with a cold face when Wang Lang reached out and pulled her onto the boat with a strong pull. Then he said softly, "Just sit on the boat for a while." His tone left no room for refusal.
Chu Tong stared at Wang Lang for a long while, then put away her silk umbrella and sat down at the table with a stern face. Wang Lang entered the cabin with a smile, sat down next to Chu Tong, and then instructed the boatman, "Set sail!"
Chu Tong was taken aback upon hearing this: "Where are we going?"
As Wang Lang poured wine for Chu Tong, he smiled and said, "Don't be alarmed, young lady. It's just to the other side of the lake, only one round trip. Drinking on the boat would be boring, so it's better to enjoy the scenery along the way."
Chu Tong sighed inwardly and thought to herself, "Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it." So she put on her best effort to deal with the situation.
Wang Lang didn't mind Chu Tong's icy demeanor at all. He was eloquent and witty, recounting interesting stories from various places along the way. He had traveled extensively, was knowledgeable, and spoke with elegance and humor. Although Chu Tong outwardly seemed indifferent, she couldn't help but be drawn in by Wang Lang's topics. Her expression gradually softened, and she found herself unable to dislike him at all.
Wang Lang asked, "Does the young lady know what happened in the inner palace on the Mid-Autumn Festival?"
Chu Tong was slightly startled, but kept her expression calm as she said, "I heard from Second Master that several palace maids and eunuchs died in the palace."
Wang Lang nodded and smiled, "That's right. After those palace maids and eunuchs were killed, the chief eunuch of the palace guards immediately began an investigation. It turned out that two of the eunuchs were not palace eunuchs at all, and... they hadn't even been castrated."
Chu Tong said, "Oh? That's really strange."
Wang Lang said, "The imperial guards searched the palace and found that no valuables were missing, only a small jade box." As she said this, Wang Lang glanced sideways at Chu Tong with her beautiful eyes.
Feeling guilty, Chu Tong was startled, and a cold sweat broke out on her back. That day in the palace, the dying eunuch had thrown something into her arms—a jade box carved with auspicious beasts!
Wang Lang continued, "That jade box is indeed quite legendary. It is said that more than a hundred years ago, there was a sect in the martial arts world called the Cloud Peak Sect. This sect was powerful and influential for a time, and even stirred up trouble and wanted to oppose the imperial court. So the imperial court sent troops to wipe out the sect, and the sect leader, Yun Banhe, disappeared without a trace. But at the same time, a rumor spread in the martial arts world that after the Cloud Peak Sect declined, two jade boxes from the sect were lost to the common people, and the two sacred objects of the Cloud Peak Sect were kept in this small jade box. One of the jade boxes is made of translucent jadeite, and the other is made of warm white jade. They are about three inches long, and are carved with flowing clouds and auspicious beasts. The bottom of each box is engraved with the character 'Yun'."
Chu Tong listened intently. Wang Lang's description was exactly the same as the box she had obtained in the palace a few days ago. She rolled her eyes and asked, "I wonder what's hidden inside this jade box? Could it be a rare treasure?"
Wang Lang smiled slightly and said, "No one knows what's hidden in this box. It's said that there's a mechanism inside, and it can only be opened with a matching key. If you try to open it by force, everything inside will be destroyed."
Hearing this, Chu Tong couldn't help but feel disappointed, thinking to herself, "I finally got a good thing, but I can't even open it to see what's inside. How hateful! How hateful!"
Wang Lang continued, "It is precisely for this reason that the imperial court obtained one of the jade boxes decades ago but has been unable to figure out how to unlock it. As a result, the box has been shelved and forgotten." He then frowned and muttered to himself, "Who knew that a few days ago someone would sneak into the palace storeroom to steal the box, and even cause a fight? Could it be a remnant of the Cloud Peak Sect?"
Chu Tong smiled and said, "I'm afraid so. After all, it belongs to their sect." But in his heart, he thought, "The treasures of the Cloud Peak Sect are mine now. I wonder what good things are hidden inside. If I sell them, will I make a fortune?" Thinking of this, Chu Tong couldn't help but beam with joy and said sincerely, "Young Master Wang, you know so much!"
Wang Lang's eyes lit up, and he smiled, "I love to travel around and make friends with people from all walks of life, so I naturally know more than ordinary people. If you find it interesting, why not come with me to travel and enjoy the scenery?"
Chu Tong stared at Wang Lang's beautiful face for a moment, then said sincerely, "Young Master Wang, you are a man of great talent and experience, and you have seen many beauties. I am just a maid, and moreover, I am the personal maid of Second Young Master Xie. Young Master Wang, you don't need to be so persistent."
Upon hearing this, Wang Lang's smile gradually faded. He glanced at Chu Tong with his deep eyes, then raised his wine cup, drank half of it, and slowly said, "When I was fourteen, I accompanied my father to visit an elder relative. While browsing through books in their study, I inadvertently discovered a scroll painting deep within the bookshelf. The painting depicted a girl in plain clothes holding a lotus flower, her smile enchanting, as radiant as the rising sun and as dazzling as a lotus emerging from clear water. Beside the painting was an inscription: 'Pink lotus of Xiang River, black silk robe and red sleeves, both flower and person are beautiful.'"
Upon hearing the name "Xianglian," Chu Tong's body trembled instantly, her cold, star-like eyes fixed on Wang Lang. Fortunately, the boat was rocking in the waves, and Wang Lang did not notice Chu Tong's unusual movement.
He continued, "When I first saw that girl, I was captivated by her beauty. I gazed at her for a long time, and when I left, I was reluctant to part with her. When I got home, I couldn't sleep, thinking about her day and night. So I spent a lot of money to bribe the servants of that household to steal the painting. After I got the painting, I often admired it secretly by myself, and sometimes I would confide my feelings to that girl..."
Upon hearing this, Chu Tong exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master Wang, to be so concerned about a painting, you are a bit too... too..." Chu Tong originally wanted to say, "Aren't you a bit too senile?" but she swallowed the words back down.
Wang Lang laughed heartily, "I'm the kind of person who's completely obsessed with what I like. When I was little, I was learning to write poetry and lyrics, and I would even consider the tone at the end of each sentence, whether it was the thirteenth rhyme or the eleventh rhyme, and what allusions I used. Later, when I studied military strategy, I would even look at the arrangement of the bowls and chopsticks to see if they formed a wild goose-butterfly formation or a plum blossom formation. When my father hired someone to teach me martial arts, I would still be practicing boxing in my dreams, and in the middle of the night, I would even light a lamp to figure out whether it was better to throw a punch higher or lower." As he said this, Wang Lang looked at Chu Tong and smiled slightly, his beautiful and ethereal face suddenly shining. He paused and said, "I was very infatuated with the girl in that painting, but I also knew that she was just a person in a painting. But the day I went to the Xie family, I realized that the person in the painting was actually alive!" At this point, Wang Lang looked at Chu Tong with deep, dark eyes and said, "Miss Chu Tong, you are almost exactly the same as the woman in that painting. When I saw you, I felt that the girl in the painting must have been moved by my infatuation, and thus transformed into a human in the mortal world."
Chu Tong was stunned by Wang Lang's theory. After a long while, she said, "Young Master Wang, the resemblance is just a coincidence. My spirit may not be the same as the person in the painting. What's the use of being similar in appearance but different in spirit?"
Wang Lang paused, looking at Chu Tong's face, and after a long while said dejectedly, "That's true. You have such a clever and mischievous air about you, but when it comes to charm, the second young lady of the Xie family is closer to the person in the painting." After saying that, he played with the black glazed porcelain wine cup in his hand and remained silent.
The atmosphere quieted down, and the small boat rocked gently on the lake. Chu Tong looked out the window; the light drizzle had stopped, but the sky remained overcast.
Wang Lang, somewhat disheartened, shouted to the boatman, "Return to port!" He then began drinking cup after cup, glancing at Chu Tong every now and then. Chu Tong kept her head down, eyes downcast, not uttering a word.
The boat soon arrived at the cold bridge where it had started. After a moment of silence, Chu Tong smiled and said, "Young Master Wang, could you please return the Ruyi to me?"
Wang Lang glanced at Chu Tong but remained silent.
Chu Tong smiled ingratiatingly, "That ruyi (a type of scepter) holds extraordinary significance for me. If you'd like to keep something from me as a memento, I might as well give you something else... Please return the ruyi to me." Seeing that Wang Lang still didn't speak, she steeled herself, reluctantly pulled out a gold-inlaid beaded hairpin from her hair, and held it out to Wang Lang with trembling hands, saying, "I'll exchange this hairpin for that jade pendant." In her heart, however, she sighed repeatedly, "What a beautiful hairpin! Pure gold! It's very valuable!"
Suddenly, Wang Lang laughed heartily, a bewitching glint appearing between his brows. He stared intently at Chu Tong and said, "I was just being stubborn. So what if the charm is different? She's just a woman in a painting. How can she compare to a living, breathing person?" Taking advantage of Chu Tong's momentary hesitation, he leaned down and lightly pecked her cheek. Then, with a smile, he took out the Ruyi scepter and handed it to Chu Tong, saying, "Wait a little longer. In the future, we'll travel all over the country together and see the scenery everywhere."
Chu Tong opened her mouth but couldn't speak. She thought to herself, "Oh dear, this is all the trouble you caused with your romantic entanglements! What are we going to do now that the young master of the Prince's mansion is obsessed with you?" However, since she had already obtained Ruyi, Chu Tong was satisfied. She told Wang Lang that she could not stay away from the mansion for too long, and then she took her leave.
As evening fell, an official sedan chair carried by eight men appeared on the main road. The men carrying the sedan chair were all soldiers with swords at their waists. Two tall horses followed on either side of the sedan chair, each carrying a boy of about fifteen or sixteen years old. The two boys looked alike and were very strong. It was obvious that they were trained fighters. They were dressed as military officers and had swords at their waists.
Xie Linghui sat in the sedan chair with his eyes closed. Today, Zhao, the deputy commander of the cavalry, was promoted and transferred to a provincial governorship, so a grand banquet was held at his residence. Xie Linghui went to offer his congratulations and was given a few extra drinks by his colleagues, so he didn't ride a horse home but instead took a sedan chair. Accompanying him were two servants personally trained by Steward Hong, one named Longzhao and the other Longxi. Although they were twin brothers, their personalities were quite different.
After walking for a while, Longxi whispered, "Brother, Second Master was indeed drunk just now. I saw that he was a little unsteady on his feet when he went out."
Long Zhao frowned and said, "Second Master was faking being drunk. When he was drinking, the courtesan next to him kept leaning against him, and Second Master got impatient and pretended to be drunk and backed away. Otherwise, Second Master has a huge capacity for alcohol, how could he get drunk after just a few cups?"
Longxi suddenly realized and said, "That's right, you're right!" Then he sighed and said, "Second Master is really lucky with women. The courtesan sitting next to him today is also a top courtesan in the capital. Her seductive look and the way she looked at Second Master could make my eyes water."
Longzhao pursed his lips and declined to comment.
Having nothing better to do, Longxi continued rambling, "However, Second Master naturally looks down on ordinary women. Last year, Second Master accompanied the Prince on an inspection tour south. When they passed through Nanhuai, the talented Wu Xixue from Nanhuai was amazed by Second Master's writing. Upon seeing his charm, she fell in love with him and even offered herself to him, just to relieve her longing. Miss Wu was also quite beautiful. Second Master, young and romantic, spent a night with her. The next day, when he set off to return to the capital, Miss Wu gave Second Master a red bellyband with mandarin ducks playing in the water, which she had embroidered herself, and a sentimental love poem. Second Master, however, was not sentimental. He just casually threw the bellyband and the poem away, and now they are probably all gone."
Xie Linghui remained seated in the sedan chair with his eyes closed, his expression calm and composed, only slightly raising an eyebrow. Having practiced martial arts since childhood, his hearing was naturally excellent; although Long Xi's voice wasn't loud, he could still hear it clearly from inside the sedan chair.
Long Zhao said calmly, "Wu Xixue has been engaged to her cousin since childhood, and she is now married. Why should you, Second Master, still be attached to her?"
Longxi chuckled and said, "What about Zhaoxia? She's beautiful and talented, gentle and sweet, and her soft little voice makes your heart flutter. Didn't Second Master send her away too?" He paused and lowered his voice, "But I think Second Master only liked Zhaoxia because she looks a bit like Chutong."
Long Zhao hurriedly tried to stop her when he heard the topic change, but Long Xi's words had already spilled out: "I really don't know what tricks Chu Tong has up her sleeve. She is pretty, that's true, but she's still just a little girl. I don't even know if she's fully grown yet, and she's already consummated her marriage with the Second Master. She..."
"You insolent lackey, slap him!" Xie Linghui's chilling voice suddenly rang out from inside the sedan chair.
Everyone was taken aback.