Peaceful Jianghu - Chapter 84
Xiao Dao wanted to head west, because it was said to be the residence of the Imperial Advisor, and she wanted to see what the most handsome man in the ghost city looked like.
Xue Beifan was heading east; that was the Grand Steward's residence. He was more interested in beautiful women than handsome men.
The two started arguing again after a few words, and at the same time, they heard voices coming from behind the stone wall. Xue Beifan grabbed Xiaodao and hid him in the shadows behind the stone wall.
Xiao Dao complained, "This ghost town doesn't even have a single artificial hill!"
Seeing her complain, Xue Beifan knew he shouldn't argue with her anymore, but he couldn't help but retort, "What's the point of having a rockery if it's all bare? It looks like a steamed bun."
Xiao Dao gritted his teeth, thinking to himself, "Can't you be a little more lenient with me?" He reached out and pinched a piece of flesh on his arm.
Xue Beifan grinned, secretly laughing at himself for asking for trouble. He was itching for a beating, and the hair on his head was standing on end, but he felt a strange pleasure in it. What a bastard!
At this moment, two groups of people arrived from both sides.
The pair were guards, led by a man. He wore a long blue robe and was tall and thin, but his face was obscured because his back was to Xiao Dao and the others.
Approaching us were a pair of palace maids carrying jade pots and jade basins.
The palace maids bowed to the man in the blue robe, saying, "Greetings, Imperial Preceptor!"
Xiao Dao and Xue Beifan were both surprised and delighted—speak of the devil and he appears! This is the handsome and beautiful teacher?
Xiao Dao craned his neck but couldn't see clearly. The imperial advisor just wouldn't turn his face. Judging from his back, he was just average.
"Is the Queen here?" the Imperial Advisor asked the maid.
"Yes, the Queen has just bathed and changed, and is waiting for the Imperial Advisor."
The maids smiled and gave a rather suggestive answer, while Xiao Dao kept winking at Xue Beifan—"There's something going on!"
Xue Beifan didn't think so. After everyone left, he whispered to Xiao Dao, "The Grand Preceptor is probably using the Grand Steward."
How do you know?
“He has absolutely no interest in her, not in any way.” Xue Beifan smiled mischievously, deliberately emphasizing the double meaning in his words.
Xiao Dao's ears burned. She grabbed her thoughts to keep them from wandering off course and asked him quite seriously, "How did you know?"
“I’m a man,” Xue Beifan said frankly. “Men naturally know what men are thinking.”
Xiao Dao still didn't seem to believe it.
"Didn't your mother tell you this?" Xue Beifan smiled. "It's the most basic principle, applicable to both men and women. For example, if you don't dislike someone, of course you won't disrespect her, right?"
Xiao Dao nodded, "Yes."
"If you have feelings for someone, you'll also respect her, right?"
"Of course."
"If you like someone, you'll respect her, but you won't allow others to disrespect her, right?"
Xiao Dao scratched his head and looked up at Xue Beifan.
“In the dead of night, a woman waiting for a man in her room after taking a bath is a private matter. For several maids to casually mention it in public is extremely disrespectful, not just to a queen, but even to an ordinary woman.” Xue Beifan crossed his arms. “The Grand Preceptor didn’t show any displeasure at all. Don’t you think he’s being disrespectful to the Grand Steward?”
Xiao Dao frowned, pondered the matter, and found it quite reasonable. "So, the palace maids don't respect the fake queen? Has she been exposed?"
“The possibility is indeed not small, but I think it’s more likely that they’ve lost power.” After Xue Beifan finished speaking, he pulled Xiao Dao along the wall towards the Queen’s bedroom, crouching down and hiding under the windowsill to eavesdrop.
"Youyou still hasn't been found?" The Grand Preceptor's voice carried a hint of anxiety.
"What's the rush? That ugly girl won't cause any trouble." The head steward's voice differed somewhat from the shrewd and capable woman Xiao Dao and the others had heard Youyou describe. This voice was charming yet fierce, giving one goosebumps and utterly unpleasant. Xiao Dao rubbed his arms and wrinkled his nose at Xue Beifan.
"Still no news from the Queen?" the Grand Tutor continued. "I saw the spies you sent out return today, but they haven't brought any news."
"Ha, give up on that idea." The chief steward's tone was somewhat sarcastic. "She may have already found her sweetheart and is traveling the world with her lover. Who would still care about you?"
The head steward replied in a somewhat harsh tone, "She won't abandon Youyou."
"That ugly girl, forget it! She can't wait to get rid of her. If it were me, I wouldn't want her either. She's stupid and clumsy." The head steward said with disdain. "She even dares to call me 'aunt,' you brat, making it sound like I'm old."
Xiao Dao, listening from the wall, gritted his teeth in anger. He thought to himself, "You vicious woman! You have no sense of propriety! To curse a junior who has done you no wrong so venomously is truly despicable!"
"In short, don't mess up tomorrow's marriage selection. Make sure Xue Xing from the Beihai Sect is selected, understand?" The Grand Preceptor's sudden instruction was somewhat unexpected for Xue Beifan and Xiao Dao—it was actually related to Xue Xing and his group!
"I know, enough with the nonsense. They're just a bunch of江湖人 (jianghu people, people from the martial arts world)." After saying that, the head steward exclaimed, "Hey, you're just leaving like that?"
"Go to sleep early." The Imperial Advisor strode out of the palace gate and left without looking back.
Xue Beifan gestured to Xiao Dao, pointing at the departing Imperial Preceptor and then at the Grand Steward, as if asking, "Which way?"
Xiao Dao couldn't understand it, and even felt that the head steward's words and actions were somewhat abnormal. A woman who had reached this level usually wouldn't be so sharp-tongued and foolish; it just didn't seem right!
Xiao Dao pointed to the base of the wall, indicating that he should stay put.
A moment later, I heard the window open.
The two men grinned – Oh no, the head steward is in a good mood and is looking at the moon from the bedside. They quickly scurried along the wall into the alley.
I don't know how much time passed, but then I heard her say in a low voice, "You all fight it out, it's best if you fight until you're all bloodied and bruised, even if you don't gain anything in the end, it'll be satisfying to watch."
Xiao Dao noticed that her tone of voice had changed again and realized that the head steward's unpleasantness was just an act.
As the lights went out, the head steward went back to rest. Just as Xue Beifan and Xiao Dao were hesitating whether to wander around some more, a few muffled claps of thunder sounded in the sky.
Xue Beifan knew a downpour was imminent, so he grabbed Xiaodao and tried to run back as soon as they left the palace gates. Unfortunately, they had barely climbed over the city wall when the rain began to pour. Xiaodao, who hadn't brought an umbrella, muttered, "Ugh! This rain is so unpredictable!"