Xie Linghui smiled slightly, took a sip of tea, and remained silent.
Chu Tong knew she had flattered the right person, so she continued, "Second Master, that old witch is too much of a bully. She doesn't accumulate any good karma and will surely suffer a bad fate! If I were Second Master, I would definitely go to the Master and complain about her!"
Xie Linghui looked at Chu Tong's face, shook his head, and said, "Don't cause trouble." Then, after a moment's thought, he gazed at the ceiling and said slowly, "There was a family where the master of the house originally had a wife, but soon after, he took a concubine. The concubine immediately took all the master's favor, and the first wife could only swallow her anger. But instead of showing jealousy or anger, she treated the concubine with great deference. From then on, everyone praised her for her virtue. She became even more considerate and gentle towards the master, and the master also thought she was virtuous and kind. She won the hearts of everyone, and her position was as secure as a mountain. So even though the master favored the concubine, he still respected her greatly."
Chu Tong immediately understood, nodded, and said somewhat dejectedly, "It seems that Second Master really has to put up with her."
Seeing the genuine concern in Chu Tong's eyes, Xie Linghui smiled at her, a smile as bright as spring flowers blooming suddenly across the mountains: "There's another story. Once upon a time, there was a theater. There was an actor who sang quite well. Later, a handsome and talented actor joined the troupe, and the original actor was overshadowed. Naturally, he was unwilling to accept this, so he bided his time, avoiding direct confrontation, secretly practicing his singing skills while plotting. When the day of the performance arrived, he secretly poisoned his opponent's tea, rendering the new actor mute, and then took his place on stage, achieving great success." Success made him an overnight sensation. "At this point, Xie Linghui's shimmering phoenix eyes suddenly flashed with a captivating brilliance, revealing a coldness and sharpness far beyond his years. Yet, his face remained calm as he quietly said, "As the saying goes, it's easy to dodge a spear in the open, but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. Show gentleness and meet it with strength; show weakness and take advantage of it with power; act with restraint and respond with expansion; intend to go west but show east. Although the wife's methods were clever, her strategies were lacking; she lacked ruthlessness, so in the end, she couldn't match the concubine's favor and glory, and ultimately lost out."
Chu Tong nodded repeatedly upon hearing these words, but a chill ran down her spine. She secretly stuck out her tongue in her heart: My little darling, it seems that this second young master has inherited almost all of the old witch's ruthlessness! I must be extra careful in the future, and leave as soon as I have enjoyed enough of the riches and honors.
A discerning eye recognizes the true intentions within the situation.
Chu Tong stayed at the Xie residence for two days. She was neither good at needlework nor at housework, and spent her days wandering around. However, her skill in flattery and sycophancy made her thrive in the Xie household. Xie Linghui was already grateful to her, and now he found Chu Tong to be clever, quick-witted, and knowledgeable, far more knowledgeable than ordinary maids, so he became especially kind to her.
One afternoon, Chu Tong sneaked along a path towards the Xie family's kitchen. Yesterday, when she went to the kitchen pretending to be Xie Linghui to ask for candied fruit and pastries, she smelled a rich aroma of wine wafting from the mahogany cabinet, and her mouth watered. Despite her young age, she had a deep craving for this drink. After much deliberation, she finally couldn't resist coming back, determined to taste it.
She strolled to the small kitchen door, and seeing no one around, pushed it open and went inside. The kitchen was quiet; lunchtime was long over, and dinnertime was still a while away, so there was no one in the kitchen. Chu Tong closed the door behind her and happily went to the mahogany cabinet. Seeing that the cabinet was locked with a gourd lock, she took a small silver hairpin from her hair and poked at the keyhole a few times. Just as she was busy working on it, she heard footsteps at the door. Chu Tong was startled and saw a large basket in the corner of the room that she had used to deliver vegetables that morning. She immediately ran over, picked up the basket, turned herself upside down in the middle, and quietly squatted down.
Just then, the door was pushed open, and a hoarse voice came: "If you have something to say, young lady, please speak quickly. This old woman cannot stay here any longer."
Chu Tong peeked out through the gap in the basket and saw an old woman in a blue trousers and jacket with her back to her. In front of the old woman stood a girl of about seventeen or eighteen years old, tall and slender, wearing a black collared jacket and skirt with a crimson base. Chu Tong immediately recognized the girl as Han Xiang, the second madam's personal maid.
Hanxiang said, "Granny Liu, I know you came in under the pretense of delivering vegetables, so you won't stay long. Second Master told me to tell you that the First Madam is checking the accounts very closely now. You should quickly collect the money that the Second Madam has lent out using the manor's silver at exorbitant interest rates, and also take care of the silver deposited in other money shops. Tell the people outside to keep their mouths shut and not let any news leak out."
Granny Liu said respectfully, "I know, please tell Second Master not to worry." Then she said angrily, "That old woman Du Xiangping has only been in power for a few days, and she has already handed over the Xie family's estate and two shops to her own uncles and brothers to manage. They are all good-for-nothings, how can they be business people? What's worse, she even drove away the old people who were familiar with the business. If this continues, she will definitely drive away all of the Xie family's wealth."
Hanxiang said, "That's right. Ever since she took over the household, the Xie family has been in chaos. She doesn't care if the servants are lazy or playing cards. She just sits in the accounting room all day looking at the ledgers, determined to find something on the madam!"
Granny Liu said, "I heard that our Second Master has also been given a hard time by her. Now, we are all counting on the Second Master to make the decisions."
Hanxiang sighed, "The Second Madam has suddenly developed hysteria, and the Second Master is depressed all day long. It breaks our hearts to see him like this. But the Second Master knows what he's doing, so don't worry."
The two whispered for a while longer before pushing open the door and leaving. Chu Tong thought to herself, "No wonder Second Master has been looking so grumpy these past few days, as if someone owes him 80,000 taels of silver. He's been busy cleaning up that vixen's mess. No wonder he's unhappy." Thinking this, she climbed out of the basket, walked to the cabinet, and poked the silver hairpin in the keyhole a few more times. With a "click," the lock fell shut. Chu Tong exclaimed happily, "It's done!" She then opened the cabinet and saw several small jars underneath, emitting a fragrant aroma of wine. Chu Tong took the innermost jar and locked the cabinet. She then grabbed some delicate fruits and pastries from the kitchen, dashed back, and hid in the small storage room in the backyard of Tanwu Garden to steal some.
Hiding behind a camphor wood chest, she placed the food she was carrying on the ground and muttered to herself, "I knew this was no ordinary wine from the aroma yesterday." With that, she lifted the mud-sealed jar, and a sweet, rich fragrance wafted out. Chu Tong sniffed hard, her face immediately lighting up with a smile. "Tsk tsk, just as I expected! There are six jars of this wine in total. Now that one is missing, I won't notice for a while. Anyway, I'm leaving in a few days, so wouldn't I be letting my ancestors down if I didn't taste this fine wine?" She took a small sip, and the taste sent shivers down her spine. She smacked her lips in delight, then took another bite of a duck fat roll.
After eating and drinking for a while, a sudden clanging sound of weapons clashing came from the courtyard. Chu Tong put down the wine jar, wiped her mouth, went to the window, and opened it a crack to look outside. She saw Xie Linghui wielding a sword, exchanging blows with Steward Hong. The two were locked in a fierce battle, exchanging blows. After a few exchanges, Xie Linghui suddenly threw down his sword, saying impatiently, "You always let me win. I'm not fighting anymore."
Butler Hong stood respectfully with a blank expression. Xie Linghui waved his hand and said, "You may leave. I'll be alone for a while."
Butler Hong bowed and withdrew. Xie Linghui picked up the sword and practiced a few more moves, but he was clearly in a bad mood. With the sword in hand, he chopped down the surrounding flower trellises and low trees. Seeing this, Chu Tong laughed and pushed open the window, saying with a smile, "Is Second Master in a bad mood?"
Xie Linghui turned around and saw Chu Tong, and was taken aback: "What are you doing here?" He then walked over.
Chu Tong looked around for a moment, then took out the wine jar hidden behind her back, shook it and laughed, "Second Master, this is a good thing. As the ancients said, 'In drunkenness, one should indulge in laughter, for there is no time for sorrow.' If Second Master is troubled, why not have a cup?"
Xie Linghui was greatly surprised. He was always aloof and dignified, possessing an air of authority even at a young age. The maids and servants in the manor all held their breath in his presence, yet this little girl was not afraid of him at all. The wine jar was clearly from the palace; Tanwu Garden did not have such a thing, so it must have been stolen by this little girl. Ordinary maids would be secretive even when drinking, let alone stealing wine. For Chu Tong to speak so righteously and even try to drag him into it was unprecedented.
Xie Linghui frowned and said, "This wine..."
Chu Tong puffed out her chest triumphantly, as if she had done something of paramount importance: "I smuggled the wine from the small kitchen, Second Master, don't worry, no one saw it. Anyway, it's that old witch housekeeper's fault for losing things; it's her fault for not supervising properly. We'll just drink to our hearts' content and get drunk, and then smash this wine jar and throw it into the lake to destroy the evidence. Let that old witch worry about everything else!"
Xie Linghui wavered somewhat, but then felt something was amiss, and hesitated, saying, "I'm afraid this is a bit inappropriate..."
Chu Tong thought to herself, "If I don't drag you down with me, what will you do if you expose me?" So she put on a disdainful look and provoked him, "Second Master, don't worry. If this matter is found out in the future, Chu Tong will take full responsibility. It has nothing to do with you!"
Xie Linghui raised an eyebrow, thinking, "We've already drunk the wine. If we hand this little girl over, wouldn't it make us at Tanwu Garden look bad in disciplining our servants, giving the First Madam ammunition for criticism?" Besides, he genuinely liked Chu Tong, and provoked by her words, his handsome face immediately darkened. "You little brat, do you think your Second Master is a coward?" With that, he braced himself against the windowsill and leaped into the small storage room. What he saw was a carpet of oiled paper behind a camphor wood chest, with various pastries on it, and even half a braised goose leg. He shook his head repeatedly, then chuckled, "You certainly know how to enjoy yourself."
Chu Tong closed the window, then plopped down on the floor, put the remaining half of the duck fat roll into her mouth, blinked her big eyes, and said while eating, "Life is so short, so very short. You can only live for a little over 30,000 days. It all depends on whether you actually live for over 30,000 days, or you only live one day but repeat it 30,000 times. If you don't enjoy it, it will be too late to regret it when you meet the King of Hell. Second Master, please sit down."
Xie Linghui was wearing a light blue satin vest with a dark plum blossom pattern and a light blue collar, paired with a dark green long coat with a cross-collar design and gold bamboo leaf patterns. The clothes were brand new. After a slight hesitation, Xie Linghui lifted the hem and sat down on the ground. Chu Tong laughed heartily, displaying a free and unrestrained spirit reminiscent of a chivalrous heroine. She picked up the wine jar and gulped down a few mouthfuls. Then, wiping her mouth, she squinted and handed the jar to Xie Linghui, saying, "Second Master, it's cold in the room. Have a few sips to warm yourself up."
Xie Linghui took the wine jar, took a sip, and as the cold wine went down his throat, a warm feeling immediately spread from his throat to his lower abdomen, and his body instantly warmed up. Chu Tong then eagerly offered Xie Linghui a piece of pigeon-shaped glass cake, saying, "Second Master, please have this one; it's still warm."
Xie Linghui took the pastry and bit into it, finding it even sweeter than usual. He nodded slightly, a faint smile playing on his lips, like a lotus quietly blooming in a pond, leaving Chu Tong momentarily stunned. Xie Linghui had been strictly disciplined by the Second Madam since childhood, his every action and movement imbued with proper manners. Even at a young age, he possessed a mature and composed demeanor, his brilliance concealed. He rarely joked with the maids, let alone sat on the ground drinking heartily. This unrestrained state made him feel instantly relaxed, and he chuckled, "This wine is top-quality Daughter's Red, its color already turned crimson, at least fifty years old. The palace bestowed only six small jars of it a few days ago; you little girl have quite the discerning eye."
Chu Tong chuckled, her bright, star-like eyes sparkling with laughter: "Yesterday, I knew it was good as soon as I smelled it. It's just a pity that the wine is cold. If it could be warmed up, it would be more comforting to drink."
Xie Linghui took another big gulp. After listening to Chu Tong's words, he became very talkative and said, "It's not just about scalding it. You have to add plums and other ingredients to the wine and simmer it over a low flame. Then invite three or five close friends to have a small gathering, sit under the blue sky and white clouds, drink heartily, and talk about the past and present. If you can really do that, it can barely be considered as discussing heroes over wine."
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "There are no heroes here to share wine with you, but there is a heroine to drink with you. Let's drink and be merry today, and not care about spring, summer, autumn or winter!"
Xie Linghui shouted, "Good!" and handed the wine jar to Chu Tong, feeling an indescribable sense of satisfaction.
Chu Tong took the wine jar, drank a couple of sips, tore off a piece of goose leg, and handed it to Xie Linghui, saying, "Second Master, are you in a bad mood because of that old witch?" After saying that, she took a bite of the creamy steamed cake, her cheeks puffed out, and said indistinctly, "In my opinion, why don't you take over and become the head of the Xie family!"
Xie Linghui, who had been slightly upturned at the corners of his mouth, turned serious upon hearing this. He raised the wine jar and gulped down several mouthfuls. As the wine dripped down his chin, he wiped it away with his hand, a hint of arrogance appearing in his phoenix eyes. He said in a deep voice, "That old witch has quite a bit of authority. It's a pity I'm still young, otherwise I would definitely take back the power of the head of the family!"
Chu Tong shook her head repeatedly: "No, no, Second Master is wise and extraordinary. He has been known as a child prodigy since childhood. For ordinary people, it is indeed difficult to shoulder great responsibilities at the age of fourteen, but it is too late for Second Master! I think you are more than qualified to replace the old witch!"
Xie Linghui remained silent, his dark eyes sparkling as if bathed in moonlight. He took a bite of pastry and a few sips of wine, remaining silent and lost in thought. Seeing Xie Linghui's lack of enthusiasm, Chu Tong snatched the wine jar away, took the goose leg bone in her hand, and tapped it against the rim, saying, "Let me sing a song to liven things up! Let's not waste this beautiful time, this fine wine, and this lovely lady!" With that, she winked and tapped the rim with the leg bone to keep time, singing: "How many storms have passed in life? How much generosity is no more? How many heroic deeds are but a dream? How much hospitality is but a cup of wine? Ah! Don't you see the joys and sorrows at the ten-mile pavilion, where parting lovers shed tears, unable to stay together? Don't you see the vast Yellow River flowing away, leaving only white clouds drifting aimlessly? Let's break off a willow branch and drink a cup of wine."
After Chu Tong finished singing, she raised the wine jar and took a big gulp. Xie Linghui clapped and cheered, then grabbed the jar and took a large gulp as well. Before he knew it, Xie Linghui had already downed quite a bit of wine. His fair, jade-like face was flushed pink, and his bright eyes were misty. He leaned against the camphor wood chest, curled up one leg, rested his arm on his knee, and propped his left cheek up. He looked languid, his smile indifferent, and slowly said, "What you said before you sang was a bit off. This place is barely a good time, but not exactly beautiful; the wine is genuine, but as for the ladies... I don't think they're anything special."
Upon hearing this, Chu Tong immediately flew into a rage. Taking advantage of her slight drunkenness, she leaned close to Xie Linghui, poked his chest with her index finger, and said, "Take a good look at me. What makes me not first-rate? What makes me not first-rate? My mother was originally the most beautiful woman in the capital. I am her daughter. Even if I am not ranked first, I am not second-rate!"
Chu Tong's almond-shaped eyes widened, and her exaggerated gestures were quite amusing, causing Xie Linghui to burst into laughter. From childhood to the present, he had probably only laughed heartily a handful of times. This laugh made his radiant face captivating, as bright as the morning sun, like wild lilies swaying in the mountain breeze on a hillside, making one feel extremely beautiful and refreshed.
Chu Tong was instantly stunned, her expression becoming dazed. Xie Linghui gradually stopped laughing, elegantly taking out a handkerchief from his sleeve, wiping his hands first, and then slowly leaning down. Chu Tong seemed frozen, her mind racing: "Second Master is going to kiss me! Second Master is going to kiss me! At such an important moment, should I shyly resist, or should I boldly and enthusiastically take the initiative?" Her mind was a jumble of chaotic thoughts, but Xie Linghui's face was getting closer and closer; she could even smell the ambergris emanating from the folds of his clothes. Just as Chu Tong decided to act coy, Xie Linghui leaned close to her ear and whispered, "Use this handkerchief to wipe your drool." After saying that, he gently placed the handkerchief in her palm, then elegantly stood up, patted the dirt off his clothes, and walked towards the door. Then, remembering something, he turned back and said seriously, "Clean this place up before you leave, so no one can find any fault with it." With that, he pushed open the door and left.
The door slammed shut, and Chu Tong immediately snapped out of her daze. She glanced at the handkerchief in her hand, frowned, and angrily wiped her mouth with her sleeve, muttering, "So what if she's pretty? What's with the attitude! Everyone says pretty boys are all sly, and they're absolutely right!" After cursing, she picked up the wine jar and gulped down the rest of the wine.
After Chu Tong cleaned up the mess in the small shed, she smashed the wine jar and threw it into the lake. Then she found a secluded spot and took a deep nap. Just as she was having a sweet dream, she suddenly felt someone push her. She opened her eyes and saw Juan Cui sitting beside her. Seeing that she was awake, Juan Cui quickly said, "Little Miss, I've been looking for you for ages! Second Master is going to Changchun Hall to see the Master and wants you to go with him. Hurry up and go."
These words startled Chu Tong, making her instantly wide awake. She thought to herself, "Oh no! Could it be that my theft of alcohol has been exposed? Oh dear, that pretty boy Xie Linghui is not loyal enough and betrayed me!" Thinking this, she was about to run away, but at this moment Xie Linghui walked in, nodded to Chu Tong, and said, "Come with me."
Chu Tong's heart sank: "It's over, I can't escape now!" But then she thought again: "Pah! When I see the master, if I really can't deny it, I'll drag that pretty boy down with me! I'll say that I was ordered by him to steal the wine, I'll drag someone down with me either way!"
Xie Linghui, however, seemed somewhat distracted, telling Chu Tong to follow behind. As they walked, Xie Linghui turned around and saw Chu Tong with her fists clenched, head bowed in deep thought, her expression shifting between a grimace, an angry glare, and a pitiful look. Xie Linghui asked curiously, "What are you doing?"
Chu Tong looked up and said with grief and indignation, "I'm practicing my expressions: regretful, pitiful, bewildered, half-bright and half-sad... so that when I see the master later, I'll have a good response when he investigates the matter of stealing wine."
Xie Linghui raised his phoenix eyes, both amused and exasperated, and said, "Who said I was going to see my father about stealing wine? I just wanted to talk to him. Juan Cui and Zi Yuan both have work to do, and Lü Qiao is sick, so you're the only one who's free, which is why I asked you to come with me."
Chu Tong's previously mournful face immediately brightened, and she said with a smile, "In that case, let's hurry up and go!"
Xie Linghui was speechless.
Upon arriving at the entrance of Changchun Hall, Chu Tong saw Steward Hong standing at the door. Xie Linghui nodded slightly to him, then led him and Chu Tong into the main hall. There, Xie Chunrong sat in a grand chair, flipping through a book. Xie Linghui gave Chu Tong a wink, and Chu Tong immediately understood, standing obediently against the wall with her hands at her sides, looking docile and submissive. Steward Hong stood silently on the other side.
Xie Chunrong didn't even look up, flipping through the book in her hand, and asked, "What brings you here?"
Xie Linghui calmly said, "When I went to the palace to accompany the Crown Prince in his studies a couple of days ago, the Crown Prince said that I had reached the age to enter officialdom and asked me if I wanted to participate in this year's imperial examination."
Xie Chunrong closed the book, shut her eyes, and asked, "How did you answer?"
Xie Linghui shook his head and said, "I don't want to take the imperial examination. I would like to ask my father to ask the emperor for me to be appointed as a military officer."
Upon hearing this, Xie Chunrong's eyes snapped open, her gaze fixed intently on Xie Linghui's face. After a long pause, she chuckled softly, "Why do you think that? I've heard from the great scholars that your writing is exceptional, and you're sure to win the imperial examinations."
Xie Linghui said in a deep voice, "Father, I have thought about this over and over these past few days, and the only option that is most beneficial to our Xie family is to pursue a career in the military. Things are not like the peaceful and prosperous times of today. The Great Zhou is surrounded by Northern Liang in the north and Southern Yan in the south, and we have been fighting each other for decades. The status of military officers has been subtly surpassing that of civil officials."
Xie Chunrong tossed the book in her hand onto the table and narrowed her eyes: "Go on."
Xie Linghui's phoenix eyes gleamed as he said with his hands behind his back, "Everyone says that our Xie family and the Wang family are equally famous official families in the capital. But I know that our Xie family is no match for the Wang family. The Wang family has served as officials in the court for generations, and their influence extends throughout the entire court. Whether it is the Six Ministries, the army, or the local areas, there are Wang family members, in-laws, old friends, old subordinates, classmates, fellow students, and students. Their influence on the Great Zhou is astonishing, not to mention that the Empress of the Great Zhou is Wang Zhijun, the eldest daughter of the Wang family."
At this point, Xie Linghui sighed softly: "Although our Xie family is wealthy, we have only risen to prominence in recent years. We have no foundation or deep-rooted connections among the upper echelons of the bureaucracy, no other powerful families to share our fortunes, and no allies. Our current glory is due to the Emperor and my elder sister, who is favored in the palace. Because no monarch would allow an overly powerful family to emerge in the court, the Emperor promoted the Xie family to power in order to suppress the Wang family, elevating them from a mid-sized family to their current position. If Father could plead with the Emperor now, he would gladly grant the Xie family some military power to suppress the Wang family's influence in the military. We can also take this opportunity to strengthen our family."
Xie Chunrong listened with growing astonishment, slowly nodding, a hint of relief appearing on his dignified face: his son had grown up! How could he not know that the Xie family's foundation was weak? The most ruthless are those of the imperial family. Although the Xie family was currently favored, the emperor could destroy them at any time and find another family to replace them. While the Xie family seemed to be on par with the Wang family, in reality, they were fraught with danger, walking on thin ice. But now, his fourteen-year-old son could see through this, analyzing it meticulously, and already considering the overall situation for the family, filling him with immense joy.
Xie Chunrong stood up, paced around the room a few times, then turned and asked, "If you were to pursue martial arts, what would you do in the future?"
Xie Linghui smiled slightly, his handsome face displaying a maturity and composure far beyond his years, and said eloquently, "Father, do you know which one I admire most in history?"
Xie Chunrong raised his eyebrows, sat back in his chair, and waited for what was to come.
Xie Linghui raised his face, a hint of longing in his eyes, and said, "The person I admire most is Emperor Wu of Song, Liu Yu. I believe Liu Yu's achievements far surpass those of Cao Cao and Sima Yi. Cao Cao was born into an official family, with generations of nobility, and he rose up in chaos to establish his hegemony. Sima Yi also served as a general and prime minister, enjoying great power and influence. Both of them were already in high positions before even entering officialdom, benefiting from the good fortune of their families. But Liu Yu was different. He was a commoner, yet he built a great empire by wielding his sword, defeating Sun En's rebellion in Kuaiji several times and stabilizing the country; and he even started from the small town of Juzhang, leading only the troops of one commandery." He attacked and killed Qiao Zong, the general defending Sichuan, and conquered Bashu; taking advantage of the chaos in Guanzhong, he attacked Chang'an and destroyed the Later Qin; he defeated Fan Yu from the sea and pacified Guangzhou; ultimately, he rose from a commoner to the pinnacle of power. Wherever his sword pointed, there were golden spears and iron horses; his spirit was as fierce as a tiger swallowing ten thousand miles! It's a pity he died young, his ambitions unfulfilled, otherwise he would surely have achieved an unparalleled imperial career.” At this point, Xie Linghui's phoenix eyes flashed with a captivating light, and he said in a deep voice, “I know I cannot compare to Emperor Wu of Song, but I hope to emulate him, taking advantage of this chaotic world to join the army and elevate the Xie family to a truly prestigious clan worthy of being on par with the Wang family!”
These words were powerful and resounding. Chu Tong felt that Xie Linghui seemed to be a different person at this moment. His usual gentle and respectful demeanor was completely gone, replaced by a domineering aura between his brows. His usually deep and calm phoenix eyes even showed a hint of ruthlessness, making people dare not look directly at him.
The room fell silent for a moment, then Xie Chunrong burst into loud laughter. He paced back and forth, laughing, then patted Xie Linghui on the shoulder, his eyes filled with affection, and nodded, saying, "Good! Good! Good boy! There is still a vacancy for a deputy general in the Valiant Cavalry. I will go to the Emperor tomorrow to raise this matter."
Just then, a maid's scream rang out from outside: "Help! There's a thief!" The scream was extremely shrill, followed by a soft "Ah!" and then silence. Xie Linghui immediately drew his sword from his waist, turned to Manager Hong, and shouted, "Protect my father!" Ignoring Xie Chunrong's cries, he opened the door and leaped out. Chu Tong, however, was overjoyed: "Could it be that my husband has come back to pick me up? Humph! At least that kid has a conscience!" Thinking this, she hurriedly chased after him, feigning loyalty and shouting, "Thief! Thief! Protect Second Master! Protect Second Master!"
It was already getting dark outside. Chu Tong could vaguely see seven or eight figures fighting, and two maids' corpses lay on the ground. The warning gong had already sounded. Chu Tong shouted as she moved closer to see if Yun Yinghuai was among the fighters. Suddenly, she tripped and fell forward, landing face-first in the dirt. Before she could even grimace and get up, she heard the whooshing sound of swords above her head. Terrified, Chu Tong clutched her head and infiltrated forward. Suddenly, she saw a rockery ahead. Overjoyed, she half-scrambled to her feet and ran towards it in a panic. Reaching the rockery, she dodged behind it, only to hear a scream from behind it.
Chu Tong was startled. She looked closely and saw the First Madam and a maid huddled behind the artificial hill, their expressions filled with panic. The two huddled together, trembling. The First Madam had initially thought that thieves had attacked, but she breathed a sigh of relief when she saw Chu Tong. Just as she was about to say something, a cold light flashed from behind her. Accompanied by a scream from the maid, the First Madam's body went limp and she fell face down to the ground, a long wound on her back from which blood gushed out.
Chu Tong was stunned. She reflexively looked up, and what she saw was terrifying. If she hadn't quickly covered her mouth, she would have screamed – the culprit who had injured the First Madam was none other than Xie Linghui, the second young master of the Xie family! Xie Linghui, sword in hand, expressionless, struck the First Madam's pressure points with a series of sharp blows, and she immediately fainted. Xie Linghui looked up at Chu Tong; in the dim night, his shimmering phoenix eyes were as sharp as blades. Chu Tong immediately knew something was terribly wrong. She turned to run for her life, but then thought, "Xie Linghui knows martial arts. I've stumbled upon his secret; he'll definitely kill me to silence me. I'm doomed this time!" In an instant, countless thoughts flashed through her mind. Gritting her teeth, she said resolutely, "Damn it, I'll gamble! I'll risk it all! I've killed people before! Don't blame me, I'm only doing this to save my own life!"
Having made up her mind, Chu Tong turned around, pulled out the small silver hairpin from her hair, and lunged at the limp maid who had already collapsed to the ground! Xie Linghui was also stunned. The maid was only fifteen or sixteen years old, already terrified, tears streaming down her face, her limbs weak, unable to run or speak, trembling on the ground, even wetting her pants. Chu Tong's hairpin struck her left shoulder, and before the maid could even scream, Xie Linghui's long sword followed, severing her throat, blood splattering all over Chu Tong.
After killing the woman, Xie Linghui remained calm, his phoenix eyes serene. His incomparably handsome face shone like a ghostly demon in the darkness. He calmly wiped the blood from his sword onto the maid's corpse. Chu Tong didn't want to look at the body a second time. She tried to calm her breathing, her bright, star-like eyes fixed on Xie Linghui's face. She asked, "Second Master, what should I do next? Please give your orders."
Xie Linghui looked up at Chu Tong, a complex expression flashing in his phoenix eyes. He never imagined that this seemingly frail and childish girl would act in such a way under these circumstances!
How clever! Exceptionally quick-witted, with rapid reactions and accurate judgment of the situation.
How clever! By taking the initiative to silence the witnesses, he demonstrated his unwavering loyalty through his actions, thus allaying his master's suspicions.
How ruthless! At such a young age, a woman, she possesses such methods! She remains calm even upon seeing a corpse!
The two looked at each other for a moment behind the artificial hill. Xie Linghui nodded slightly and said, "Go out and shout that the First Madam has been murdered by thieves. If anyone asks, just say that it was too dark and you didn't see the thieves' faces."
Chu Tong felt a sense of relief, knowing that her life was safe. As she ran out from behind the artificial hill, she cried out in a sob, "Something terrible has happened! Something terrible has happened! The First Madam has been murdered by thieves! Murdered by thieves!"
At this moment, the servants of the Xie family had rushed in from all directions, surrounding the thieves who had broken into the mansion. Chu Tong stumbled forward, just in time to see a group of servants carrying torches and escorting Xie Chunrong out of the Changchun Hall. Chu Tong knelt down with a thud, pointing behind her to Xie Chunrong and saying, "Master, something terrible has happened! The First Madam has been murdered by the thieves!" She then burst into tears. These tears were genuine, entirely from the shock of what had just happened.
Xie Chunrong was shocked to see Chu Tong covered in blood and hurriedly asked, "What did you say?"
Chu Tong cried, "I just ran outside and saw swords flashing and shadows falling, so I thought I'd hide behind the artificial hill. But when I got there, I saw the First Madam lying in a pool of blood, and a maid had been killed. Blood splattered all over me! I was so scared that I turned and ran... Waaah..."
Immediately, servants rushed to the artificial hill to investigate. As they carried the blood-covered First Madam out, they shouted, "Master! The First Madam is still breathing! But the maid is dead!"
Xie Chunrong hurried forward, ordering people to make proper arrangements for the First Madam, and then repeatedly sent people to fetch a doctor.
Everyone was in a flurry of activity, and Chu Tong took advantage of the chaos to quietly slip away.
The lamplight is cold, the frost chills the air, and the moon shines bright, yet no one has returned. A lonely north wind knocks against the windowpane, and a flickering candle reflects the snow-covered face.
Sandalwood Garden, a small side hall, a fireplace, warm incense.
“My third brother was in charge of patrolling Changchun Hall today. He just came over to tell me to make sure we lock all the doors and windows tightly and not go out. Four notorious bandits have broken into the mansion. They injured the First Madam and killed three maids and a servant.” Ziyuan said as she checked the doors and windows of the room, her tone filled with fear.
Juan Cui sighed and said, "Second Master and Steward Hong are catching thieves ahead and haven't returned yet. Amitabha, I hope Second Master is safe and sound."
Zi Yuan said, "Don't worry, Steward Hong is very skilled, Second Master will be fine. Steward Hong killed three bandits on the spot, and only one escaped. I heard that small cloth bags were found in the bandits' clothes, and the bags were full of antique treasures from our Xie family."
Juancui nodded, stirring the hot soup in her hand with a spoon, occasionally blowing on it, and placed it in front of Chutong, saying, "This is a warming soup, a little will make you feel better." Chutong, wrapped in a cotton quilt, sat on the soft couch, her face deathly pale. She had returned to Tanwu Garden covered in blood, and recalling the scene of her maid's gruesome death, her stomach churned. She squatted down and vomited up all the delicacies she had stolen that afternoon. After vomiting, she felt completely exhausted and didn't even have the strength to speak. Ziyuan and Juancui helped her into the room, changed her clothes, and wiped her face. Chutong, wrapped in a cotton quilt, sat on the soft couch, reached out and took a sip of the hot soup, and only then did she feel much better.
After checking the doors and windows, Ziyuan sat down on an embroidered stool and said, "These notorious bandits came at just the right time. Every afternoon, the First Madam plays cards until dusk, and then goes to Changchun Hall for a while. If the Master invites her to stay, she has dinner there. It's been a habit for so many years. Who knew we would run into them today... It's a pity about that maid. She was so neat and pretty, but she died tragically."
After Zi Yuan finished speaking, Chu Tong's body suddenly trembled, as if struck by a sudden enlightenment. The previously elusive clues became clear, and she couldn't help but feel horrified. "Could today's events be a trap set by the Second Master?! Did the Second Master deliberately send some thieves into the mansion to rob it? His purpose is to get rid of the First Madam! Otherwise, why would notorious thieves break into houses at night? Why did they choose this particular time of day, the hour of You (5-7 PM)? Why did they appear on the First Madam's usual route? Why were the thieves not spared after being caught?" "All the survivors were killed by Steward Hong?" Chu Tong thought, increasingly impressed by Xie Linghui's shrewdness and cunning, even developing a faint sense of admiration. She glanced at Juan Cui and Zi Yuan, then at Lü Qiao, who was leaning against the chaise lounge, and thought, "That's it! Juan Cui and Zi Yuan know a little martial arts, and the Second Master was afraid that having them by his side would cause him to be immobilized and ruin everything. Lü Qiao doesn't know martial arts, but she's ill, and the Second Master has a habit of taking an attendant and a maid with him when he goes out, so naturally he took me to Changchun Hall."