Schatzkammer von Jianghu

Kapitel 43

Leng Shuangcheng stood motionless in the crowd, slowly reviewing the scene. A sentence Yang Wan had said came to mind: Young Master Zhao, please, let Ya Ya go.

—So this is the child. She calls him uncle. Is Yang Wan her aunt?

Leng Shuangcheng stood there, utterly shocked. Zhao Yingcheng looked into the child's eyes; they were warm as spring, without a trace of affectation. But why was he so cruel to Yang Wan?

Wu Sanshou then turned his dazed face and murmured to Leng Shuangcheng, "Light."

Seeing his face softened Leng Shuangcheng's heart. She smiled and pulled him up, saying, "Let's go, Wu You, I'll take you to see the lanterns."

Wu Sanshou remained motionless, much to Leng Shuangcheng's surprise. He couldn't help but look in the direction of the light Wu Sanshou had mentioned—several colorful lanterns hung high, floating lanterns drifted in the river, hundreds of lanterns were lit on the river, the water surface shimmered with rosy light, the sky became a river of flying clouds, and the river became a sky reflecting the rosy clouds. It was truly a scene where water and sky were one color, with light shining and colors shimmering.

A thought struck her, and she said to Yinguang, "The water here at Zhouqiao flows into the Bian River, doesn't it?"

Silverlight nodded, then seemed to realize something, his eyes widening slightly as he stared at the river: "The colored lanterns have been hovering on the surface of the water, but the water isn't moving at all..."

Leng Shuangcheng suddenly recalled the assassination attempt at the Thirteen Rooms. After lowering his head and pondering for a moment, he said, "The assassination attempt that Prince Qiuye assigned last time also involved someone underwater, but they couldn't keep the water still. It seemed to be some kind of Japanese ninjutsu..."

Yin Guang remembered that the young master had instructed him to answer whatever Chu Yi asked, so he didn't mince words and directly told her: "The young master has a group of shadow guards from the Eastern Japanese esoteric sect. A year ago, they were transferred to Leng Qi's side to capture Tang Shiyi. Chu Yi may have seen them. This group of shadow guards is called 'Dark Night,' and they specialize in tracking and assassination. This scene is somewhat similar to Dark Night."

Has your young master ever mentioned an organization more powerful than Dark Night?

“It seems there’s one sect, a secret sect that specializes in water manipulation to disrupt tracking and communication, also from Japan, called Shuiyin.” As soon as Yin Guang finished speaking, he remembered the past, exchanged a glance with Leng Shuangcheng, and blurted out, “It’s Ziying.”

The two stood on the willow-lined bank, each lost in their own thoughts as they faced the shimmering Bian River.

A gleaming light—a glass lamp—stood proudly out from the crowd at Zhouqiao Bridge. A handsome young man, with features as clear as smoke, crossed the opposite bank of Leng Shuangcheng and disappeared into the bustling world.

Leng Shuangcheng caught a glimpse of the light out of the corner of her eye, her face turning pale. She couldn't help but release Wu Sanshou's wrist, her cold, clear eyes turning to look at Yin Guang: "Take good care of him for me." Without waiting for Yin Guang's response, she squeezed into the crowd.

12. Madness

As the figure receded into the distance, Leng Shuangcheng's eyes were filled only with that light, and she raced after it. She passed through the clanging bronze bells of the lighthouse, leaped across the shimmering lake, and squeezed through the bustling crowd, all in search of that figure.

A thousand lights illuminate the trees, seven branches of flowers bloom like flames. The moon's reflection seems like flowing water, and the spring breeze carries the scent of night-blooming plum blossoms.

She turned back dejectedly, but there was no one there. She stood alone amidst the indistinct sounds of people, waiting for the crowd to disperse and reappear like the tide, still standing there, lost in thought. —After a century, how could she possibly still see Tianxiao's figure? Yet that familiar back, that handsome profile—if it weren't for the deep-seated longing within her, how could she easily distinguish him?

The surroundings were bustling and vibrant, with lights twinkling and shimmering, creating a dazzling spectacle. Leng Shuangcheng watched the brilliant lights illuminate the bluestone street. She chased after them relentlessly, her heart still broken by the whistling wind. It turned out that even a shadowy figure or a reincarnated soul could utterly defeat her.

She lowered her head, standing amidst the splendor of the world, and began to sob softly. The gentle ripples of the Bian River swayed her reflection, the shimmering water dazzling her eyes. After an unknown amount of time, fireworks burst into the night sky, their crisp, bamboo-like sounds jolting Leng Shuangcheng awake from her grief.

She looked up and saw the Bian River winding its way forward. Startled, she realized that she had been following the water while chasing that light. Suddenly, she remembered Ziying. So she stood by the weeping willow to calm herself and started walking forward.

In front of the Wende Hall, thousands of colorful lanterns shone brightly, like a starry sky. Civil and military officials sat together, enjoying a grand banquet in the magnificent palace, with singing and dancing filling the air.

Qiu Yeyi, dressed in a crimson robe and a white sable fur coat, sat calmly and indifferently to the left of the main seat. In ancient times, it was customary to leave the left side of the seat vacant; this arrangement demonstrated the emperor's high regard for him. He glanced at the empty platform opposite him; only an interpreter sat behind Zhao Yingcheng's throne, the master of the house was nowhere to be seen.

Many officials toasted and drank merrily. When it came time to offer wine, King Zhuang still happily refused all the cups, saying that the crown prince was unwell and should not drink too much.

A young eunuch in red robes hurried in, consulted with the emperor on the main platform, and then bowed and whispered something in Qiu Ye Yijian's ear.

When King Zhuang saw that the Crown Prince's face suddenly turned icy cold, he stood up, bowed, and took his leave. Without waiting for the Emperor's persuasion, he coldly strode out of the palace.

Once outside the palace gates, the young eunuch who had been leading the way with his head bowed chased after him with all his might. Relieved, he looked up as soon as he saw the Xuande Gate Imperial Street in the distance, only to hear a "whoosh" and the purple-and-white figure vanished from sight. He stood there, eyes wide, forgetting to put down his hand that was wiping sweat: "When we were walking inside the inner palace walls, I didn't realize the young master was in such a hurry..."

Yin Guang stood under the eaves with a sense of trepidation, watching the young master's expression as he approached.

Qiu Ye walked up to Yin Guang, glanced at him, and said coldly, "I told you I wouldn't go to the banquet, but you insisted on persuading me. What about the person you promised to take care of for me?" Before Yin Guang could answer, he coughed lightly and suddenly raised his hand to slap Yin Guang's side. "Who could make Leng Shuangcheng abandon even Wu Sanshou? Guang, tell me."

"I didn't see it clearly either..." Yin Guang suddenly saw the sinister palm print on the stone pillar and fell silent for a moment.

"Tell me in detail what just happened, without omitting a single detail," Qiu Yeyijian said coldly.

Silverlight seemed to sense the beginnings of the young master's anger and described in detail what had happened in the market. After listening to Silverlight's account, Qiuye Yijian did not show much emotion, but simply looked down at the shadows, remaining silent like a statue.

Seeing the young master's appearance, Yin Guang felt a pang of unease and wisely remained silent.

In the stillness, the night sky, shimmering with light, blossomed with countless flowers, and the flickering fireworks fell into the courtyard, illuminating two silent figures.

Yin Guang hesitated, about to speak, when he suddenly caught sight of Qiu Ye Yijian's cold smile. This was the second time he had seen him smile like this. Although the first time was on that snowy night, it was a maniacal laugh, this time the smile was icy and chilling, like a snow lotus in bloom, its petals adorned with frost beads. He stood there stunned and asked, "Why is Young Master laughing?"

Qiu Ye Yijian turned her face away, not answering Yin Guang's question, but coldly saying, "There can only be one person who could make her disregard everything—Nan Jingqi. Even though he has stepped down, he is still a foreigner, yet he still dares to come to the capital. This truly proves the saying, 'You have a path to heaven but choose not to, you have no gate to hell but choose to enter.'"

Yin Guang looked at the young master's cold face and felt a chill in her heart, especially at the young master's clear black and white grape-like pupils, which now only had the chill of water dredged from the well, shimmering with a cold and moist luster.

Qiu Ye stood tall and straight under the eaves, gazing coldly at the desolate night and the brightly lit sky in the distance. Suddenly, as if remembering something, he coughed violently a few times, then coughed up a mouthful of blood with a "whoosh."

Silver Light was shocked: "Young Master, what's wrong with you...?"

"It's nothing." Qiu Yeyijian stared coldly at the night sky, her chiseled profile showing no sign of pain: "It flares up once a day; it's a chronic Gu poison."

Yin Guang stared at the young master in surprise, her eyes slightly wide. It was already difficult enough to control the trembling of one's face when the Gu poison took effect, let alone stand there so coldly as the young master!

"Young Master... what exactly..." Yin Guang could no longer suppress the trembling in his voice. He vaguely felt that it was related to Chu Yi again: "Is it because of Chu Yi?"

"Her name isn't Chu Yi, it's Leng Shuangcheng." Qiu Ye Yijian turned her face and glanced at Yin Guang. "It's nothing serious, just internal injuries and the Gu poison acting up. This Gu poison is quite painful, no wonder she was in so much pain when she suffered from the Nine Gu Poisons..." The painful gaze seemed to appear before her eyes, and Qiu Ye Yijian couldn't help but close her eyes, standing still in the night scene with her hands hanging down.

Before Qiu Yeyijian could finish speaking calmly, Yin Guang had already knelt at his feet, his back trembling slightly: "Young Master, you actually tested the Gu with your own body... Young Master, you... Yin Guang is incompetent and has no way to explain to Steward Wu..." His voice was filled with suppressed terror as he trembled as he lay prostrate at Qiu Yeyijian's feet.

"I just let her out for some fresh air, but you let her go." Qiu Yeyijian, who had been silently enduring the pain for a long time, suddenly said.

Yin Guang burst into tears: "It really can't hide anything from Young Master's eyes. I saw that Chu Yi was usually silent and aloof, which made me feel uncomfortable, so I reluctantly let her leave tonight... Just now, Young Master was extremely calm after hearing this, which shows that Young Master had already deduced Chu Yi's thoughts... You can punish Yin Guang however you want after she leaves, just please don't torture yourself like this..." At the end, she finally sobbed softly.

"Get up, I have something to tell you." Qiu Yeyijian said, opening her eyes without a trace of emotion.

Yin Guang quickly stood up and silently looked at the young master. Qiu Ye Yi Jian pursed his thin purple lips, gazing at the crimson sky. His handsome figure blended into the heavy shadows cast by the flowers and trees: "Listen carefully, I won't say it a second time."

"To quell Leng Shuangcheng's anger, I didn't dodge or avoid her four blows; to experience the pain of her nine poisons piercing my intestines, I even took poison myself. I dare to treat myself so cruelly, so tell me, if it involves her, what in this world wouldn't I dare to do?"

Yin Guang was covered in cold sweat, stunned and speechless.

When Qiu Yeyi spoke these words, she didn't raise or lower her voice in the slightest; it was merely like a boat cutting through the cold, silent air. But to Yin Guang, these words were like being filled with icy snow water in the dead of winter, making a scraping, incoherent sound from his throat to his heart.

"Silver Light understands."

"I also want to tell you something to teach you a lesson—do you know where Bai Li went? I gave her to Zhao Yong, but before I left, I dug out her knees. Because she persecuted Leng Shuangcheng first, and then demanded that she kneel down."

Yin Guang's face turned pale. He had followed the young master since childhood, so he couldn't possibly be unaware of the reason behind it.

Before coming to the island, Zhao Yong was a tyrannical official in the Ministry of Justice. He was expelled from the palace for his lust and gambling, and later suffered the fate of being castrated after being entangled with a Gu poison master. He fled to Wufang because he was always wary of the Gu poison's power. Bai Li, on the other hand, had secretly plotted to poison Zhao Yong behind the young master's back. Now that the two are together, it's unclear who will prevail, but they will undoubtedly suffer greatly.

He suddenly remembered a sentence the young master had said: "Who dares to touch me, Qiu Ye Yi Jian?" It was only now that he could be sure of the young master's feelings. Whenever it was about Chu Yi, the young master would act somewhat crazy.

Seeing that the young master remained standing under the eaves gazing at the night sky, Yin Guang felt beads of sweat forming on his back and asked in a low voice, "Young master, have you made any plans?"

"No need to make arrangements, I will decide at dawn."

"What does the young master mean..."

"If Leng Shuangcheng doesn't return overnight, it proves that she's determined to leave. I'll go and meet Nan Jingqi myself."

A thousand lights illuminate the night market, and red-sleeved beauties throng the tall buildings.

At the end of the Bian River lies the Jinliang Bridge on the west side of Kaifeng. Here, not only does the silvery light shimmer between the waterways, but it is also a place of red flowers. Red curtains and silk drapes are entwined all around, the sound of water is serene, and pale candlelight flickers on the upper floors, filling the air with a sweet fragrance. The main street, however, is quiet, with only the occasional sweet song of orioles drifting from the embroidered pavilions.

Holding a delicate glass lantern, Nan Jingqi stood before the Red Sleeve Pavilion, emerging from the light mist. He placed the lantern among the willows swaying in the gentle breeze and said loudly, "Madam, I have come as promised. Where is my servant boy?"

A woman in white, with her hair in cloud-like buns and her face flushed, gracefully stepped out from the mist and chuckled, "Seeing is believing, Young Master Nan is indeed a man of great bearing and talent. No wonder Empress Kou is so fond of you..."

Nan Jingqi frowned and interrupted the woman's last words: "Madam, you summoned me all the way to Kaifeng, did you come here to listen to such nonsense?" His voice was still steady and firm, which made the woman opposite him giggle.

"Young Master Nan is so calm, he must have come prepared, right?" The woman in white suddenly changed her tone, a delicate blush on her face: "It's a pity that the famous Shadow General has no place to use his skills in front of my Red Sleeve Pavilion."

Nan Jingqi looked at the woman without saying a word, seemingly unconcerned by her lighthearted teasing. The white-clad woman's gaze, though seemingly indifferent, revealed a naked greed in her eyes, despite her striking appearance in her early twenties.

Her gaze softened slightly before she chuckled softly, "Oh? So there's a master following us..."

Nan Jingqi was somewhat surprised. He had been traveling along the water without sensing anyone following him. However, being an upright and honest person, he would never assume that people were malicious or despicable. Since the person following him was not going to harm him, he had already decided to trust that the person would not turn around.

Through the thin mist, a graceful figure emerged, stopping silently a step in front of Nan Jingqi, and smiled calmly: "Madam Ziying."

"What a clever young man! He actually managed to track me all the way here." The woman in white's eyes lit up, her voice light and cheerful.

Upon hearing this voice, Nan Jingqi was somewhat surprised and suspicious. He looked at the figure in front of him and said in a clear voice, "Young master's voice sounds familiar, very much like an old friend of mine."

"My name is Leng Shuangcheng, and I greet Young Master Nan," Leng Shuangcheng said slowly, his gaze still fixed on the white-clad woman, Madam Ziying, shrouded in mist before him. Nan Jingqi stepped forward with a puzzled expression and reached out his hand, but Leng Shuangcheng subtly moved to avoid his grasp.

Nan Jingqi stood behind her, stunned, his voice trembling slightly: "It really is you, Chu Yi, do you know I've been looking for you all this time..."

Leng Shuangcheng closed his eyes briefly, then turned to him with a slight smile: "It's me, Young Master Nan. I'm very happy to see you again."

13. Shortlisted

"So you're Chu Yi." From the thin white mist, Zi Ying's slender figure slowly emerged, her cloud-sleeved palace dress, as white as silk, rustling softly.

The sweet, cloying voice kept echoing in Leng Shuangcheng's ears—a soft, seductive voice that stirred her blood even before she saw the person. She looked ahead, and there stood the rumored, peerless beauty, Lady Ziying, finally revealing her face. Just one glance at those soft, delicate lips, like peach petals, and Leng Shuangcheng's heart began to flutter—this beauty, even women would soften at the sight of her; if a man saw her, wouldn't he be driven to uncontrollable madness?

Nan Jingqi's handsome brows suddenly relaxed. He glanced gently at Leng Shuangcheng's profile before reaching out to grab her left arm again. This time, however, Leng Shuangcheng did not dodge. She stood obediently in front of him, just covering his chest acupoint.

Ziying looked at the two people leaning on each other, still giggling: "It is said that Chu Yi of Wufang Island was willing to die for Nan Jingqi, and he really succeeded on his first try. Knowing that there was an ambush ahead, he still rushed in." She shook her head and said with some regret: "Such a good child with deep affection, I really can't bring myself to do it."

Nan Jingqi's body seemed to be affected, his chest heaving slightly, and his hand unconsciously exerted some force. Leng Shuangcheng did not dare to turn around, but only said lightly, "Where is not a dragon's den and a tiger's lair? Madam is so fearless, she must have been planning this for a long time, right?" Then she took a step back and used a telepathic message to tell Nan Jingqi, "Ziying is good at water manipulation and mind control. Young master, do not fall for her trick. She is suspicious because she sees that you are calm and unmoved, and she wants to disturb our minds first."

Upon hearing this, Nan Jingqi's mind cleared. He looked around and noticed some blurry figures in the mist. The sound of flowing water was constant around the mist, and the way the mist rose was rather strange. He realized that Ziying must have used water manipulation to gain the upper hand. He pressed himself tightly against Leng Shuangcheng's back, suppressing his aura to protect the two of them.

Zi Ying gazed at Leng Shuangcheng's face, her eyes crinkling with a sweet smile. Then, she rang her silvery voice again: "I remember there's a saying in the Central Plains, 'A chance encounter is worse than a planned meeting.' Since you've all come here, I'm not afraid to tell you. Empress Kou sent a message specifically ordering General Nan to accept the imperial decree, or else he'll be permanently demoted from the Jingxiang household register. And you, Chu Yi." Her beautiful almond-shaped eyes moved to Leng Shuangcheng's body, scrutinizing her from head to toe: "I'm sure our seventh sister will be very happy to see you."

“Tang Qi…” Leng Shuangcheng’s heart sank as she blurted out, her brows furrowing slightly. “I didn’t expect Madam to be so resourceful, actually mediating between various factions and countries.” Looking at Zi Ying’s radiant smile, Leng Shuangcheng’s mind raced. With her quick wit, she immediately understood several things:

—Kouhou is the Empress of Jingxiang. Even though Nan Jingqi tried to avoid her, he still couldn't escape her clutches. Hearing Ziying's previous words, it seemed that she had kidnapped Tongtu to blackmail Nan Jingqi.

—She stumbled into tonight's trap by chance. Since Ziying's smile was so confident, she must be fearless in capturing her and Nan Jingqi. There is also a high possibility that there are experts helping her in the dark.

—What Ziying just said, “So you’re the first year of junior high school,” suggests that she has seen me before, but doesn’t know who I am.

Leng Shuangcheng pondered the last question that came to mind, then suddenly remembered a sentence Qiu Yeyijian had said: "My appearance at the celebration caught the enemy off guard. It wasn't rashness, but rather that the rest of them dared not move. This matter is not as simple as the brainless Ziying." She was shocked and realized with a clear understanding: Ziying had only one place to approach the main stage without revealing herself at that day's celebration, and that was inside the pillars of the bridal chamber! Qiu Yeyijian hadn't eliminated Ziying's forces in one fell swoop, as if she had discovered something and was waiting for an opportunity!

A thin layer of fine sweat trickled down her face. Even with all her cunning, she couldn't fathom Qiu Ye Yijian's thoughts. His composure was as deep as the sea. He would gaze at her with unspoken words, which gradually aroused her suspicion. As for why Qiu Ye Yijian left in a rage at the celebration, and why Tang Qi insisted on searching for her, Leng Shuangcheng had unintentionally overlooked these questions.

Nan Jingqi knew very little about what had happened to Leng Shuangcheng in the Central Plains. He saw the look of surprise and uncertainty on her face, but just laughed and said, "I have only ever heard of people forcing women into prostitution, but I have never seen anyone forcing a woman into marriage."

As soon as she finished speaking, Ziying giggled and said, "Young Master Nan is so witty. No wonder Empress Kou misses you so much. But since we have such distinguished guests today, how can we not treat them well?" Before she could finish speaking, she rushed towards the two of them with her ten slender fingers, accompanied by a cloud of icy mist.