The Jianghu of Feng Qingcheng and Mo Xibei

Chapter 64

But before she could even find a matchmaker, trouble had already come knocking.

Volume Two: Traces Left by the Wind, Chapter Seventeen: Reunion (Part Two)

Back in his room, Mo Xibei pondered where he would wander after leaving the capital. Honglu was getting on in years; if she hadn't been with him, her child would be running around by now. Although she didn't approve of early marriage, she believed in respecting local customs. If Tianxin was truly in love with Honglu, she might as well get them married so she could feel more at ease.

Thinking this, Mo Xibei had already returned to her small courtyard. As soon as she pushed open the door, she almost immediately felt that something was wrong, very wrong. She was a lazy person, and the things in her room often looked messy. However, she had a very good memory. She could remember exactly where she had thrown something, which side was up and which side was down, whether it was placed horizontally or vertically. Even if something hadn't moved for a year or two, she would immediately notice if it had been moved even slightly.

The things in her room had clearly been moved. Although the person was very careful and cautious, a small gold peony hairpin that Mo Xibei had recently added to her dressing table, which was usually placed with the flower facing down, was now placed upright.

The only people who frequently enter and leave her room now are Honglu and Mu Feinan. Honglu never touches anything in her room without permission, and besides, they have been together since she left her room this morning. As for Mu Feinan, she hasn't seen him since she woke up this morning, and she doesn't know what he's doing. He has been very busy these days, often leaving early and returning late. Mo Xibei sometimes complains when she's bored, and he says, "If you're going to leave the capital to travel the world, I'll definitely go with you, so I need to hand over the things I have to do."

Mo Xibei didn't ask him what he needed to handle. Mu Feinan's background remained a mystery to her, as were his seemingly out-of-the-sky subordinates. Like him, they appeared suddenly, and their departures were equally abrupt. When she awoke from her poisoning, these people seemed to have never existed. They left not a trace in her life. However, Mo Xibei didn't ask. She, too, had many secrets she kept hidden, which she would only reveal at the appropriate time. So, since Mu Feinan said nothing, she simply assumed the appropriate time hadn't yet arrived.

Standing at the doorway for a while, Mo Xibei confirmed that there was no one else in the room. Of course, there were no footprints or anything on the floor, because she just had a good memory and wasn't as deranged as Xue from Gu Long's novels, who would scatter ashes on the floor of his own room. However, upon looking again, she suddenly felt a nameless rage. Because a throwing knife was stuck in the intricately carved golden nanmu wood frame of her bed.

Oh, of course. There was also a note under the knife.

But what kind of era is this? Still using this old-fashioned method of sending letters and leaving knives behind. Can't they just keep a carrier pigeon? At the very least, it can bring back a letter, and if the recipient is hungry, they can roast it and eat it. Mo Xibei stormed in, reaching for her knife, but stopped just as her fingers touched the hilt. Mu Feinan always told her about how dangerous and dangerous the martial world was, and that it was never a bad thing to be careful.

He put on deerskin gloves, drew his knife, and on the note beneath the blade was a simple line of text: "Tomorrow at noon, Plum Blossom Manor." Plum Blossom Manor? Mo Xibei thought, apart from the nameless manor where he had admired plum blossoms last time, he had never heard of such a Plum Blossom Manor around the capital. But Meatball's mother's method of inviting people was too painful. You know, this bed is worth several thousand taels of silver, and she left a knife mark like that.

Honglu watched Mo Xibei walk away before lowering her head. The accounts spread out on the table had been going on for several days without any results. She knew it was because her mind was in turmoil, and she didn't even know what she was thinking.

Mo Xibei wanted to find a matchmaker to propose marriage for her. Honglu thought that she was indeed of marriageable age, but would he agree? If he agreed, would she have to marry him? Was he really the right person to entrust her life to?

A woman's destiny is in her own hands. This was a sentence Mo Xibei said to her when she decided to follow him. She felt dejected because she was illiterate and couldn't do anything. That day, Mo Xibei talked to her a lot. He not only told her that a person's destiny is in their own hands, but also that anything you don't know, you can learn as long as you are willing to spend time learning.

In the following years, Mo Xibei hired a tutor for her, and she learned to read and write, to do accounts, and even to understand some business principles—things she had never imagined she could learn before. But in just a few years, she not only learned them but also applied them flexibly, proving that Mo Xibei's words were true. So, could her own destiny truly be in her own hands? Honglu thought for a while before standing up. She was going to find Mo Xibei. She wanted to tell him that before finding a matchmaker, she needed to ask Tian Xin herself if he liked her. After all, only she could make decisions about her feelings.

Having made up her mind, she was eager to tell Mo Xibei, so she hurriedly gathered up the accounts, locked them in the cabinet, and ran out of the accounting room to the backyard.

As she passed by Murong Lianyun's courtyard, she subconsciously glanced inside. Recently, Murong Lianyun had hardly stepped out of her own courtyard and no longer bothered her to learn anything. This made her wonder if she had been giving this young lady too much attitude these past few days.

In Murong Lianyun's courtyard, the gate was tightly closed. Honglu hesitated, wondering whether she should go in and say a few words to ease the tension. She had always known that Mo Xibei had a very special feeling and responsibility towards Murong Lianyun, and she also knew that her actions in the past few days had put Mo Xibei in a difficult position. However, she really didn't like this young lady.

Just as she was hesitating, a bird suddenly fluttered over her head and flew into the yard, startling her. Then, she heard soft footsteps coming from the yard. Honglu didn't know what she was thinking, but almost instinctively, she went around to hide behind the rockery.

The courtyard gate creaked open a crack, and Honglu peeked out from behind the rockery. She saw Murong Lianyun, wrapped in a plain cloak, closing the gate tightly behind her. A strand of long hair flowed down her back, its graceful movement adding a touch of elegance to the chilly early spring breeze. Strangely, though, Murong Lianyun, dressed in what seemed like an outing, didn't head towards the gate but instead turned and walked deeper into the garden. Honglu waited until she was out of sight before emerging from behind the rockery. A faint fragrance still lingered in the air at the courtyard gate. It wasn't a common perfume, but it smelled strangely familiar. Honglu thought for a moment and suddenly remembered—this fragrance was very similar to the perfume often used by the ladies on the pleasure boats of Jiangnan. Honglu remembered it so vividly because that year she went to the pleasure boat with Mo Xibei to check on the business performance. She liked the fragrance as soon as she smelled it, and when the owner of the pleasure boat told her that it was a secret fragrance, she wanted to get some for herself. As a result, the owner of the pleasure boat looked embarrassed on the spot, and Mo Xibei laughed and laughed. After a while, he whispered in her ear, "I can give you some of this fragrance when you get married."

"Why do you have to wait until I get married?" Back then, she was just an innocent country girl who didn't know anything. She asked the question in a loud voice, which made the girls on the pleasure boat burst into laughter. Someone came over and said, "Silly girl, it's because this fragrance is specially for men to smell."

The pleasure boat itself was a place full of ambiguity. Honglu immediately realized that the incense was an aphrodisiac. They made a big fuss about it and for a while, Honglu refused to go there with Mo Xibei to inspect it again.

Volume Two: Traces Left by the Wind, Chapter Seventeen: Reunion (Part Three)

But why would Murong Lianyun use such spices? Honglu also came to the garden in confusion, but Murong Lianyun had already disappeared without a trace. The main street was right outside the garden wall. Could it be that Murong Lianyun had already gone out? If he wanted to go out, why didn't he leave the proper gate and instead jumped over the wall here?

When Honglu told Mo Xibei about her doubts, she had already forgotten why she had come to see him in the first place. However, Mo Xibei only frowned and didn't say anything. "Young Master Mo, it's not because Tian Xin ignored me when she came to see me recently that I'm making up stories to slander her. I genuinely think she's acting strangely." Thinking about her conversation with Mo Xibei that morning, Honglu became a little anxious, afraid that Mo Xibei would misunderstand.

“Sister Honglu, of course I know what you’re saying is true. But, Lianyun has her own feet, and we can’t stop her from doing what she wants. Let her be for now. As long as she doesn’t go too far, let’s pretend we don’t know anything.” Mo Xibei laughed. “You used to say that I was too concerned about Lianyun’s affairs. Now that I’m ignoring it, you’re criticizing me. It’s really not easy to be a good person.”

"I can't be bothered with you. What's the point of talking? In the end, only one person is right." Honglu thought about it. What Murong Lianyun did was none of Mo Xibei's business, so it had even less to do with her. She let it go. However, she had a vague feeling that something was wrong, or that something bad was about to happen. She felt depressed and a little uncomfortable.

Emerging from Mo Xibei's room, Honglu, lost in thought, found herself on the street. Remembering that Chu Junfeng and Tian Xin were staying at the inn across the street, her feet involuntarily moved over. There, she found Chu Junfeng, casually flipping through a book at the inn. Surprised to see Honglu, he immediately stood up and asked, "It's Xibei, oh. Does your Miss Mo... need something from me?"

"No." Honglu quickly shook her head and lowered her head awkwardly. She blushed whenever she saw Chu Junfeng, and her tongue would become slurred. She didn't know why, but it was always embarrassing for her.

"What happened? Did Young Master Mu bully you?" Chu Junfeng asked, looking at Honglu but hesitant to speak. He didn't even dare to raise his head, his confusion growing.

"No, no." Honglv shook her head even faster, and after a while she said, "Is Tianxin... there?" Junfeng suddenly realized, and a wave of bitterness washed over him. He felt a sense of loss and speechlessness. After a while, he said, "If she's not in the next room, she's probably out. Otherwise, when she comes back later, I'll have her go find you."

"No...no need, I'll come find him another day," Honglu quickly said, then turned and ran away. Chu Junfeng had wanted to ask her a few questions about Mo Xibei, but seeing how fast she was leaving, he had no choice but to give up. However, upon further reflection, he realized he had been foolish. Mo Xibei had clearly severed all ties with him, and besides, Mu Feinan was by his side. Even if something had happened, why would he come looking for him? He had probably already forgotten about him.

As dusk fell that day, outside the Qianqing Palace in the Forbidden City, the young Jiajing Emperor, dressed in plain clothes and accompanied by several guards in similar attire, hurried over. A young eunuch had already spotted him from afar, and a moment later, the chief eunuch of the Qianqing Palace and Huang Jin, the eunuch in charge of the Eastern Depot who had been waiting there, both jogged over to greet him.

"Is there something you need?" Emperor Jiajing glanced at Huang Jin and asked casually.

“Reporting to Your Majesty,” Huang Jin bowed, but glanced at the emperor’s attendants on either side of him, refusing to speak immediately.

"All of you, leave." Emperor Jiajing waved his hand, and everyone silently retreated, disappearing outside the empty palace.

"Your Majesty, it's from the Empress Dowager's side. Today, the Empress Dowager summoned me to ask what Your Majesty has been doing these days, frequently leaving the palace?" Huang Jin lowered his head deeply and said in a low voice.

"Some people just love to go to the Empress Dowager and talk about these trivial matters," the Jiajing Emperor seemed to be in a good mood. He glanced lightly at the table, picked up a cup of tea, took a couple of sips, and then said nonchalantly, "What did you say?" "Your Majesty, this old servant told the Empress Dowager that Your Majesty has only recently assumed power and is very concerned about the suffering of the common people. You often leave the palace to observe their conditions." Huang Jin finished speaking without hesitation.

"What did the Empress Dowager say again?" Emperor Jiajing snorted, seemingly very thirsty, and continued drinking his tea.

"The Empress Dowager said that I should send more people to ensure the Emperor's safety outside the palace." Huang Jin kept his eyes down, and after bending over for a long time, he felt a fine layer of sweat forming on the tip of his nose.

"I understand, go ahead." Emperor Jiajing put down his teacup and waited for Huang Jin to take two steps back before saying, "Later, have you mentioned to the Empress Dowager that the princess might have been found?"

"Your Majesty, as you instructed, I did not mention it. However, the Empress Dowager may not be completely unaware." Huang Jin thought for a moment, then spoke, but dared not look at his young master. "The Empress Dowager must also be concerned about my sister. I do not wish to hide it, but this matter is not yet entirely certain. Let's not let her be disappointed. If the Empress Dowager is not stable, you need not mention it." After Emperor Jiajing finished speaking, he waved for Huang Jin to leave.

After Huang Jin closed the palace door from the outside, leaving only the emperor alone in the empty room, he finally breathed a sigh of relief, took a few steps, and lay down on the wooden couch in the side hall.

With eyes closed, a lingering fragrance seemed to cling to her clothes. This fragrance was different from the ambergris commonly used in the palace; it was sweet, with a hint of fruitiness, but more so, it evoked the unique sweetness and tenderness of a young girl's flesh. It was an irresistible, tantalizing scent, yet impossible to quite grasp.

Murong Lianyun, this name, just like her, is so beautiful that one can't help but take a second look. The emperor thought that he had originally intended to find his sister and reunite the family under the pseudonym Young Master Zhu, but unexpectedly he had captured a little prey. Thinking of Murong Lianyun with her eyes closed, her snow-white body trembling slightly under his palm, a smile couldn't help but appear on the corner of his mouth.

If Mo Xibei was truly his sister, the emperor thought, then bringing a beauty like Lian Yun into the palace would be much easier. After all, during the reign of Emperor Wu of Han, Princess Pingyang had also sent the lowly servant Wei Zifu into the palace. If the Empress Dowager still objected, he could say that although Wei Zifu enjoyed temporary favor, she ultimately ended up losing favor and committing suicide. In the palace, no matter how beautiful a woman is, she is nothing more than an ornament, a decoration, something to play with. Why take it seriously?

The hardworking bee has made up for yesterday's update. Vote, vote, come on over...

Volume Two: The Wind Leaves a Mark, Chapter Seventeen: Reunion (Part Four)

When Murong Lianyun staggered back to Mo Xibei's house, it was already completely dark. The courtyard was brightly lit, and the light could be seen from afar. She suddenly didn't want to climb over the wall anymore; the feeling was too strong. Besides, she really didn't have any strength left.

Young Master Zhu was handsome and refined, but once he lay in bed, who could know how terrifying this seemingly gentle and handsome man truly was? Murong Lianyun dared not recall that, apart from the first night when he still felt a little pity, how submissive and obsequious she had to be these past few days in order to see even a hint of a smile on his lips?