Schatzkammer von Jianghu

Kapitel 37

Leng Shuangcheng remained prostrate, his head bowed deeply to the earth. A long silence seemed to last before a voice could be heard:

“I want you to serve me faithfully for three years from this moment on. After one year, I will pardon Ruan Ruan; after the second year, I will pardon Wu Sanshou; and after the third year, I will pardon you.”

Leng Shuangcheng sat up abruptly, looking up to meet a pair of deep, cold, dark eyes. Those eyes were as black as crystal, with a hint of coolness in their depths, and they were staring at her intently.

3. Thoughts

The sound of the New Year's bell from Xiangguo Temple resounded through the sky, echoing heavily over the capital city of Kaifeng. The powerful and resonant sound of the bell startled Leng Shuangcheng awake. She quickly lowered her head and prostrated herself on the ground: "Yes, young master."

Qiu Yeyi bent down slightly and reached out to grab Leng Shuangcheng's black hair. He lifted Leng Shuangcheng up as if pulling up a seedling, his dark eyes meeting Leng Shuangcheng's: "The Prime Minister's bell will bear witness, this time next year, it will be exactly one year."

Leng Shuangcheng dared not struggle, but simply pursed her lips and stared straight at him. Qiu Yeyi's eyes were deep and cold, and he could see his own calm reflection in them.

In the silence, Qiu Yeyi coldly released his grip on the sword, his face as cold as ice, and turned to leave. His footsteps were unhurried and silent, causing Leng Shuangcheng, who was behind him, to feel a chill in his heart: I'll have to be careful following him from now on; this man walks without making a sound.

Leng Shuangcheng straightened up, rubbed his aching scalp, stared at Qiu Yeyi's back, and silently followed after her.

The Sui Embankment is lined with willows, their verdant branches forming rows of lush green. When the wind blows, the willow catkins rise like smoke. In late winter and early spring, when the weather is still chilly, the light willow catkins dance gently in the snow-white, crystalline snowflakes, as if half-shrouded in mist and half-sorrow, creating a particularly charming scene.

Autumn Leaves, sword in hand, robes fluttering, moved forward, his tall, elegant figure reflected in the shimmering Bian River, a breathtaking sight like a demon descending to earth. Leng Shuangcheng followed silently behind him, suddenly recalling Madam Ru's words: "His snow-white robes fluttered in the wind, his cold, serene face like an elegant immortal stepping out of a painting..."

Leng Shuangcheng lowered her eyes, her heart feeling like a cascading waterfall of snow, shimmering with a chilling coldness.

...

Young Master Yin Guang paced anxiously outside the Thirteen-Room Building, glancing up at the East Water Gate every now and then.

This street had been sealed off by Prince Zhuang, and the only sound in the long, silent street was the echo of bells. After the buzzing of the Prime Minister's Frost Bell had completely faded away, two figures walked from the Sui Embankment in the distance.

Silverlight stepped forward with delight and respectfully greeted, "Young Master." But when his gaze fell upon a tall, thin figure behind him, his expression faltered slightly.

Leng Shuangcheng, dressed only in a fine cotton robe, with slightly disheveled black hair, stood calmly about two zhang away from the two. When she saw Yin Guang turn his puzzled face, she smiled serenely.

Yin Guang couldn't help but raise his hand in return. Qiu Yeyijian glanced coldly at Leng Shuangcheng and said to Yin Guang, "Let's go back to the Ye residence first, and Guang will explain to him the matters he should pay attention to."

Yin Guang remained puzzled, still gazing at the young man before him: "And who is this young master...?"

Qiu Yeyi turned to Leng Shuangcheng with a wicked smile: "Not Young Master, but Chu Yi."

As soon as he finished speaking, Leng Shuangcheng remained calmly standing in the shadows, offering a slight smile to Yin Guang. Yin Guang stood there, a look of lingering surprise on his face. When he finally came to his senses and asked what was wrong, he only saw the young master's indifferent back as he walked away, and hurriedly caught up. Leng Shuangcheng silently emerged from the shadows, still lagging behind.

At the end of the quiet street stood a pristine white carriage. Qiu Yeyi walked forward without touching the ground, his body seemingly floating lightly onto the carriage shaft. He turned and glanced at the silver light, then a servant lifted the curtain, and he entered the carriage. The white horse neighed softly and strode forward.

Yin Guang turned around and waited for Leng Shuangcheng to step forward.

Leng Shuangcheng knew that Yin Guang had many questions to ask. Seeing him standing in front of her, she walked up to him unhurriedly. She was slightly taken aback when she saw him take off his cloak and hand it to her.

Yin Guang's handsome and elegant face showed no affectation. He simply smiled and said, "Chu Yi is very lucky. No one has ever returned unharmed after being chased by you, young master."

Looking at Yin Guang's smile, Leng Shuangcheng's heart gradually warmed. How could she not understand that Yin Guang had left her room for maneuver and had not directly changed "teasing" to "pursuing"?

With a gesture of his right hand, Yin Guang said gently, "Please, Chu Yi."

A faint fragrance lingered in the carriage. Leng Shuangcheng leaned against a corner, her body still hunched over, the silver light's voice echoing in her ears: "Young Master dislikes talking, traveling, and showing his face in public. He is a clean freak, refusing to eat anything that isn't prepared by the household's kitchen staff and wearing anything that isn't woven by Steward Bai himself. Steward Bai is Bai Li, the head of the Bixie West Garden, handpicked by the old prince to take care of Young Master's needs. After he comes of age, he will accompany him and manage all his affairs, big and small..."

She lowered her eyes, carefully memorizing the details, while a ripple of emotion stirred within her: What was Mr. Dongge's purpose in painstakingly sending me to the side of the young master Bixie? Qiu Yeyijian mentioned Wu Sanshou's name, so it seemed Wu You had indeed escaped safely. I had searched for him in Yangzhou for over half a month without finding any news of him. Could he have fallen into Qiu Yeyijian's hands again? Yin Guang mentioned that Qiu Yeyijian had once tricked his enemies. Did he already know I was a woman after the battle on the Sui embankment? How would she spend the next three long years?

A thousand emotions welled up in Leng Shuangcheng's eyes. Her expression was solemn as she looked at the night view outside the street through the bright yellow curtain.

A long bridge spans the water, bustling with pedestrians at the night market. The slightly arched bridge is lined with a dazzling array of shops, each a single room or apartment. The sounds of shouts, buying and selling, and children playing fill the air; people, dressed in fine clothes, stroll leisurely and joyfully through the night.

As Leng Shuangcheng gazed at the magnificent night scene, her mind remained heavy with the image of winter in the northern frontier, making it hard to breathe. The thought of having to stay by Qiu Yeyijian's side day and night made her feel suffocated: this devil probably wouldn't let her off so easily.

Little did Yin Guang know the complexities of Leng Shuangcheng's thoughts. After instructing the young master on the rules, he still secretly observed Leng Shuangcheng with curiosity. Leng Shuangcheng turned around and saw Yin Guang scrutinizing him like a child, and couldn't help but smile slightly: "Is Young Master Xie very curious?"

Yin Guang smiled in return, appearing poised and generous: "No need for formalities, Chu Yi. Just call me Yin Guang. I'm just a little curious; I find Chu Yi so magical, omnipresent, and omnipotent..."

Leng Shuangcheng recalled that Wu You had said the same thing about her, and her heart ached. Without realizing it, she quickly said, "So you'll never die, right?"

Ignoring Leng Shuangcheng's recklessness, Yin Guang continued speaking to himself: "So this is what Chu Yi looks like—don't worry, since the young master asked me to give you instructions, he definitely won't want to kill you again."

Leng Shuangcheng wasn't thinking about these things. She smiled weakly and thought to herself, "This young master Yin Guang has a gentle face and speaks elegantly. He doesn't seem to hold a grudge against me for my past grievances. It's rare to find such a flawless and kind person by the side of the young master Bixie. I wonder if I can find a way to get information about Wu You out of him?"

Leng Shuangcheng seemed genuinely unfamiliar with the people of the Bixie sect. There were no records of them in ancient texts, and she had little personal contact with them, relying solely on hearsay and speculation. If they were involved in a cunning and meticulously planned scheme, she could deduce it if she focused her attention, but beyond her own experience, she couldn't guess. For example, Qiu Yeyi's humiliation and demands earlier—no matter how much she pondered them, she couldn't make sense of them.

Yin Guang smiled silently as he looked at the hesitant expression on Leng Shuangcheng's face. He greatly admired "Chu Yi's" courage and perseverance. Even though it meant Leng Qi's death, asking him to hate someone with whom he had no grudge was something the elegant young master Xie Yin Guang simply could not do.

The two exchanged glances, both smiling silently. Yin Guang was gently scrutinizing him, while Leng Shuangcheng was racking his brains to ascertain Wu You's safety. After a while, Leng Shuangcheng made up his mind and asked gently, "Has Young Master Yin Guang been following the young master all this time?"

Yin Guang looked at Leng Shuangcheng and smiled elegantly: "Young Master warned me to be extremely careful when speaking to Chu Yi."

Leng Shuangcheng was stunned. She racked her brains and realized that it was because Yin Guang had followed Qiu Yeyijian earlier that he had told Yin Guang some things. Her heart felt like it was freezing in June, and her voice instantly turned icy: "Are you saying Yin Guang isn't allowed to talk to Chu Yi?"

Yin Guang sat upright in the carriage, speaking gently: "Young Master told me one thing: 'Chu Yi usually doesn't speak, but once he does, you must listen carefully.' I think Young Master must be reminding me to savor the Zen wisdom in Chu Yi's words."

Leng Shuangcheng tried her best to suppress the astonishment on her face, turning her head to look at the fleeting night scene outside the window. Not a single scene of the scenery entered her pupils, but a chill like ice and snow flashed through her heart: This person is truly unfathomable, even my way of testing Yin Guang has been blocked.

Yin Guang watched Leng Shuangcheng's retreating figure, still smiling happily, and said gently, "Young Master also instructed that from this moment on, Chu Yi must serve Young Master closely and do all the things that Leng Qi, the bodyguard, does."

...

Leng Shuangcheng lay sprawled on the Bagua Zhenxie couch by the window, her face as calm as ever, her heart churning like a stormy sea. Her eyes, peering through the green gauze window, fell upon a corner of the upturned eaves outside. Vermilion palace walls supported blue glazed tiles, arranged in neat, orderly rows. On the luxurious, imposing two-tiered roof with its upturned ridges, a pair of golden dragons, wings outstretched as if about to take flight, gleamed brightly.

The Ye residence was the former residence of the late Imperial Uncle Ye Cheng'an. As the carriage arrogantly passed through the courtyard, Leng Shuangcheng glanced around and immediately noticed the mansion's haughty and domineering presence. A straight, snow-white rock path led directly to the mansion's main gate, where gilded and vermilion doors opened in pairs, illuminating the magnificent and opulent buildings. Surprisingly, there wasn't a single civilian residence in the vicinity; this was the only house standing tall and imposing beside the vast Yunqi Bridge.

After a moment's thought, Leng Shuangcheng deduced Qiu Yeyijian's identity—the young master of the Bixie Sect's mother was surnamed Ye, and she was the daughter of the late Imperial Uncle. He and Zhao Yingcheng were currently the Emperor's right-hand men, their reputations soaring both in and out of court. She couldn't help but sigh softly, as if only now realizing the extent of her predicament under the watchful eyes of such a powerful figure. She heard no sound from Qiu Yeyijian inside the room, yet she still dared not close her eyes.

"Master Dongge spared no effort to help me open my meridians, restore my appearance, and even perform a blood transfusion to remove the poison. He was willing to suffer excruciating pain himself just to save me, this superfluous person. What's most embarrassing and infuriating is that he disregarded my wishes and single-mindedly sent me to Qiu Yeyijian. Thinking of Master Dongge's pained and contorted face, his hair turned white overnight, how could I refuse? I had no choice but to follow his wishes and swear a solemn oath before the Buddha at Qingshan Temple, promising not to betray Young Master Bixie... After Qiu Yeyijian returned to the Ye residence, he didn't ask any questions and just told me to sleep in the outer room from now on. What exactly is he up to... Is Wu You still in his hands? Did Gu Dukaixuan return to Qinglong Town or Feiyun Manor? I can't find any information about them in the martial world... Ruan Ruan is in some danger, but from the half month I've been following her, it seems that those people's goal isn't her..."

As Leng Shuangcheng's mind wandered to Wu You, Ruan Ruan, and Gu Dukaixuan, she didn't realize that dawn was breaking, and she groggily closed her eyes...

A cold, snow-like aura stood before her. Leng Shuangcheng immediately opened her eyes in surprise. A handsome, fair face came into view. After a moment of clarity, she recognized who it was.

Qiu Ye Yijian's face was indifferent, his thin lips pursed as he stared at her without moving. His hands hung down, his inner garment fully exposed, revealing the white, cloud-like narrow shirt underneath.

Leng Shuangcheng was startled and quickly stood up, his eyes slightly lowered, standing quietly by the bed. After waiting for a long time, perhaps Qiu Yeyijian was a little impatient, he heard him say coldly: "Change clothes for the morning court."

Leng Shuangcheng lowered her eyes, a barely perceptible twitch between her brows. She had just glanced at the court robes on the table and noticed them. Silently, she picked them up and stood before Qiu Yeyi's sword, her eyes still lowered and her expression unchanged.

Qiu Yeyi stared at Leng Shuangcheng's eyelids for a long time. Seeing that he had no intention of making a move, she couldn't help but say coldly again, "Does Master want to do it himself?"

Leng Shuangcheng took a deep breath, pursed his lips, and steadily reached out his hand, but hesitated as it approached. Qiu Yeyijian remained motionless, his hands still hanging at his sides. If he wanted to adjust his inner garment, he would have to smooth out the collar and touch Leng Shuangcheng's body. Leng Shuangcheng seemed to have thought of this, and subtly curled the corner of his mouth before slowly raising his hands.

Leng Shuangcheng quickly closed her eyes, then steeled herself, and with both hands gently encircling Qiu Yeyi's waist, she straightened his inner garments.

A cool, slightly warm sensation spread to her fingertips, her hands seemed to be covered with a light, ethereal tremor, and a faint, elegant fragrance wafted from under her nose, settling in the cool air, a mixture of tranquility and intoxication that was hard to distinguish.

Leng Shuangcheng focused her mind and remained calm as she dressed him in a black brocade court robe and silk ribbons, finally covering him with a thin, cicada-wing-like scarlet gauze veil. As they changed in silence, Qiu Yeyi remained standing, her eyes fixed on the young man's face with an extremely imposing gaze.

A thin layer of sweat seeped out of Leng Shuangcheng's forehead. As she turned to take Diao Chan's hair ornament, she raised her sleeve and wiped it twice. Qiu Yeyi saw this and her lips curled slightly.

Once everything was dressed, only a thin, jade-like ray of light shone through the gauze curtains.

Qiu Ye stood by the window, his handsome figure blending into the soft, dim light, appearing even more striking and melancholic, ethereal and otherworldly. His black court robes accentuated his fair complexion, his dark eyebrows and bright eyes, and his pale purple lips pressed tightly together beneath his straight nose. Even without looking into his eyes, the aura of cold indifference emanating from him was enough to deter anyone from daring to look up and offend him after just a fleeting glimpse.

Behind him, desolation and pale whiteness, shadows and light intertwined, caused Leng Shuangcheng to stare blankly at the tranquil silhouette on the ground for a moment.

Qiu Ye glanced at him coldly with the sword, then walked away expressionlessly. After taking a few steps, he noticed the silence behind him and turned around to shout at the person who was staring down: "Chu Yi!" Leng Shuangcheng seemed to be startled, quickly lowered his eyes and approached, stopping three feet away from him.

Qiu Ye twirled around with her sword and walked out of the bedroom. Outside the door, Yin Guang, dressed in a light purple court robe, was already standing under the tree in the central courtyard. Hearing the slight sound, he raised his hand and bowed respectfully: "On the occasion of the New Year, Yin Guang wishes you a long and happy life, young master."

Leng Shuangcheng seemed somewhat surprised, glancing up at Yin Guang and secretly smiling. Yin Guang, seeing Leng Shuangcheng's smile through the young master's figure, was taken aback: the young master, dressed in a black court robe, was as handsome as a demon, but Chu Yi, after putting on Leng Qi's black robe, was also as graceful and handsome as bamboo.

Qiu Yeyi did not turn around; he remained motionless, staring coldly into the silver eyes.

4. Royal Palace

On the first day of the first lunar month, the New Year's Eve celebration, Kaifeng Prefecture opened its gates for three days of gambling. From early morning, officials and commoners alike congratulated each other, and people in the streets and alleys, dressed in new and clean clothes, toasted each other with wine. Two pure white carriages traveled through the night scene in the center of the city, past Longjin Bridge and Zhuque Gate, through the Imperial Street, and came to a steady stop in front of Xuande Tower.

Leng Shuangcheng lowered her eyes and remained silent, her hands neatly hidden in her sleeves and resting on her knees. To her right was the main seat of the carriage, where a person leaned against a purple-red embroidered stool, languid and indifferent, resting with their eyes closed.

She lowered her eyes, but focused intently on gathering the clamor of voices outside:

"Guan Pu... once you've placed your bet, there's no going back..."

"Apricots, hawthorns, plums, fragrant herbs, and green plums..."

"Buy big or small, place your bet now..."

Upon hearing the shout, Leng Shuangcheng quickly glanced around: a chaotic crowd had gathered on the side of the street, shouting and gesturing, but there was no familiar figure in sight.

She withdrew her gaze with a touch of melancholy, turning her head slightly, only to meet Qiu Yeyi's cold, unwavering eyes. His eyes shone like gleaming glass beads, staring at her without blinking.

Leng Shuangcheng was shocked and quickly lowered her head, continuing to obediently conceal her aura.

"There are two exits in front of the Zichen Palace. You and Yinguang will each guard one side." Qiu Yeyi stared at Leng Shuangcheng's silent profile, her body tilted and motionless, and spoke coldly.

"Yes, young master."

The carriage gave a soft hiss, swayed slightly forward, and then came to a steady stop.

Leng Shuangcheng was lost in thought when she noticed Qiu Yeyi's movements. Looking up, she realized he was staring at her coldly. Quickly understanding, she got off the carriage and stood beside the carriage shaft.

Silver Light was already waiting outside the carriage, seemingly anticipating the arrival of his young master. Qiu Ye stood tall by the sword, appearing beside the carriage door, but remained motionless upon seeing the footstool laid out by Silver Light.

Yin Guang was slightly taken aback, and asked, "Young Master..."

A gentle breeze rustled the autumn leaves that clung to his sword and robes, and he stood motionless before the axle, his hands hanging at his sides, his clothes fluttering in the wind.

Yin Guang looked at Leng Shuangcheng and found that his eyes were also filled with a mist, just like his own. Leng Shuangcheng pursed his lips slightly, thinking to himself: I've heard that the young master of the Wang family is eccentric. Qiu Ye Yijian won't make me grovel at his feet in this inner palace and lose face, will he?

Leng Shuangcheng struggled internally for a moment, then, seeing the warning look in Yin Guang's eyes, her heart tightened and she was about to crouch down...

"Hand." She suddenly heard him say a single word indifferently. She couldn't help but let out a long breath, and at the same time extended her hand to Yin Guang.

Qiu Yeyi glanced at Leng Shuangcheng, then grabbed his left wrist and used the air to propel himself down. His long, white fingers, imbued with a sculpted tension, landed gracefully and firmly on Leng Shuangcheng's wrist.

Leng Shuangcheng had just mentally cried out "Oh no!" when she heard a "crack" as Qiu Yeyi's sword forcefully dislocated her left wrist. She groaned, and a thin layer of sweat, like raindrops, immediately appeared on her forehead.

"A sword in the right hand? Hmm?" Qiu Yeyi stared at Leng Shuangcheng's pale face and said calmly.

Yin Guang froze in surprise. It seemed that ever since he first met Chu Yi, he had noticed that his young master's behavior was different from usual. Although his young master was cold, he never went all out to chase after others. Apart from Miss Bai, who served him with his food, clothing, and shelter, he never allowed anyone to come within a foot of him. He probably really did treat Chu Yi as Leng Qi, punishing him immediately for the slightest mistake...