Zhang Baitong pulled Yin Wuxiao aside and said that after Cui Shenghan left "Wuhen", she had been constantly hunted down by the "Wuhen" members. Her body was getting heavier and heavier every day and she could not bear the journey. Bai Can entrusted her to Zhang Baitong and lured away the "Wuhen" assassins.
Yin Wuxiao's heart sank. Bai Can had gone to great lengths to secure Cui Shenghan's freedom, only to find it all in vain. It was simply that these two were naive people, only knowing to keep their promises, unaware of the true nature of the "Traceless" master. If he was unwilling to keep a promise, he could easily find a way to break it. If he could release Cui Shenghan, he could also send someone to kill her again.
“She has severed ties with ‘Wuhen’ and is no longer an evil assassin. As the saying goes, ‘Put down the butcher’s knife and become a Buddha on the spot.’ Can’t we even tolerate such a weak woman?” Zhang Baitong pleaded earnestly.
Yin Wuxiao thought to herself, "If you knew that she had tried to harm your Wanfeng, I wonder if you would still allow her to lay down her butcher's knife." She thought this in her heart, but said aloud, "I have no objection to keeping her here, but I don't know what Doctor Xuan and Young Master Qingyi are thinking."
Zhang Baitong quickly adopted a conciliatory tone: "If you are willing to keep her, I'm sure the young master in blue and Physician Xuan will not make things difficult for you."
Yin Wuxiao was taken aback: "How could I have such a big face?"
She originally had no ill feelings towards Cui Shenghan, but Bai Can stole her Blood Jade Pendant for Cui Shenghan's sake, and she couldn't get over that for a while.
Thinking of this, she suddenly felt a sense of doubt: Bai Can stole her Blood Jade Pendant and gave it to the owner of "Wuhen". Logically speaking, he should feel extremely guilty towards her. How could he entrust Cui Shenghan to Zhang Baitong when he knew that she was living with Zhang Baitong in Baiwen Manor?
For someone as proud as Bai Can to disregard his pride like this, the matter must be more complex than Zhang Baitong described.
“Grandpa Zhang,” she said solemnly, “is there anything you haven’t told me yet?”
Zhang Baitong gave her a deep look and sighed, "As expected, I couldn't hide it from you. Do you know who 'Wuhen' sent to kill Cui Shenghan?"
"who?"
"Yin Bitong".
Yin Wuxiao was startled.
"Looking at the world, the only one who can stop Yin Bitong is Baili Qingyi. Even if Baili Qingyi refuses to save her, you are still here. You have been with Yin Bitong for a long time, yet you are unharmed. If you are willing to persuade her, perhaps Yin Bitong will let Cui Shenghan go. Sigh, that little brat Bai Can sent his wife here with good intentions."
Zhang Baitong sighed and stroked his beard, completely unaware of Yin Wuxiao's ever-changing expression.
"Look at her, four months pregnant, still living in fear and displacement, isn't she pitiful?"
Yin Wuxiao followed his gaze to Cui Shenghan and saw that she didn't care at all about the strange looks from everyone and had a blank expression, so his heart softened.
"Miss Yin also thinks this zither is quite remarkable?" A question suddenly came out of nowhere.
"Huh?" What are they talking about now? Yin Wuxiao came back to his senses and almost forgot that he was in the pavilion, drinking tea and chatting with several female martial arts heroes.
Originally, she accompanied Cui Shenghan out for some fresh air, but unexpectedly they ran into the two Yuwen sisters in the garden. Yuwen Hongying meticulously described how unique and distinctive the landscape design of Baiwen Mountain Garden was, and invited them to rest in the pavilion and give their opinions.
She does occasionally feign elegance, but mostly it's to annoy people. It's likely that Yuwen Hongying also had her own plans to provoke her.
"Miss Yin?" Yuwen Hongying called again, patiently waiting for her to come to her senses.
She pulled out a red zither from somewhere and insisted that Cui Shenghan perform it, even commenting on the zither's history and materials, truly taking her affectation to the extreme.
"This zither... is indeed quite remarkable," Yin Wuxiao said with a perfunctory chuckle.
"Oh? What makes it so special?" Yuwen Hongying pressed closer.
Yin Wuxiao groaned inwardly. Over the past few years, Yuwen Hongying must have put a lot of effort into the arts of music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. Ever since the emergence of the "Qingyi Absolute," everyone in the world has assumed that Baili Qingyi prefers talented women.
"This zither... is red."
Heaven help it, it was just an ordinary zither, made of Burmese rosewood, only painted with fine red lacquer to make it look more pleasing to the eye...
As expected, Yuwen Hongying sneered: "In our dynasty, all zithers are made with red lacquer. What's so strange about red? Miss Yin hasn't touched a string in three years, has she? Alas, it's a pity that the most talented woman in the world back then has now become a country bumpkin..." She looked Yin Wuxiao up and down. She was dressed in plain clothes and had her hair in simple buns. She was not wearing any makeup. She was clearly just an ordinary woman from a common family. Where was the noble demeanor she had in the Cloud Pavilion back then?
Yin Wuxiao remained silent. She had two Qin zithers in her home, one made entirely of jade and the other of natural sandalwood, both priceless treasures. However, if she were to answer like that, Yuwen Hongying would probably be so angry that she would choke.
This is too arrogant, no, no. She silently repeated to herself.
Yuwen Cuiyu quickly changed the subject: "Didn't we say we wanted to invite Miss Cui to perform a song?"
"I won't." Cui Shenghan's face was cold and indifferent, clearly indicating that she had no intention of playing the zither and chatting with them.
Yuwen Hongying's expression changed slightly: "Miss Cui is naturally unwilling to perform easily. To hear Miss Cui play the zither, you'll probably have to pay a hefty price..."
"Miss Yuwen!" Yin Wuxiao's expression changed drastically. Yuwen Hongying had always held Cui Shenghan in contempt, partly because of her background as a courtesan and partly because of her identity as an assassin. But now that Cui Shenghan was no longer a member of "Wuhen," how dare Yuwen Hongying humiliate her to her face?
"Miss Yuwen is so knowledgeable about the zither, you must know the origins of the zheng, right?" She suppressed her displeasure and asked coldly. Yuwen Hongying could mock her in every way, which she didn't care about, but she could never tolerate any disrespect shown to those around her, just like when she sought justice for Shi Mansi in Yun Pavilion back then.
“Of course I know.” Yuwen Hongying’s bright eyes shone: “The zither was created by Meng Tian, a great general of the Qin Dynasty.”
"No, no. The story of Meng Tian inventing the zither is a misconception."
"Then tell me, what does it mean that it's not a misrepresentation?"
Yin Wuxiao smiled, radiating confidence and intelligence. Her clear eyes sparkled with a smile as bright as spring blossoms, and the arrogance she once possessed seemed to instantly return to her side. Yuwen Hongying was momentarily stunned.
"In Tang Zhao Lin's 'Yin Hua Lu', it is said: 'The zheng is a Qin instrument, a branch of the qin. The ancient se had fifty strings. When the Yellow Emperor ordered Su Nu to play the se, the Emperor was so sad that he broke it. After that, the se had twenty-five strings. When the Qin people played the se, the brothers fought over it, and it was broken into two. The name zheng originated from this.'" She spoke slowly and deliberately, quoting classical texts.
"How do you know that what Zhao Lin said is true?" Yuwen Hongying pressed.
Yin Wuxiao's face showed a look of sudden realization, and her red lips curled into a smile: "Wuxiao originally had doubts, but after seeing Miss Yuwen today, I have no choice but to believe that what Zhao Lin said is true."
"Huh?" Even though Yuwen Hongying was on guard, she couldn't help but be taken aback.
"The people of Qin are fickle; they fight over a zither when they see one, and that's how a zheng is made. Only after meeting Miss Yuwen today do I finally understand the reason why a zither is better than a zheng." Yin Wuxiao smiled lazily with her eyes narrowed, her plain clothes unable to conceal her dazzling radiance.
Yuwen Hongying's stunningly beautiful face was blank with ignorance. After a while, she suddenly realized what was happening, and her face flushed red.
"She loves the zither and the lute, and she loves beauty and fights with men." This is clearly a satire of Yuwen Hongying for being attracted to the beauty of the young man in blue and deliberately making things difficult for her!
"You..." She glared at Yin Wuxiao with barely concealed anger, almost drawing her sword, but if she really revealed the meaning behind it, wouldn't that make things awkward for herself?
Cui Shenghan finally broke through her icy expression and revealed a faint smile.
"She truly deserves to be called the most talented woman in the world." Yin Wuxiao stood up for her, and she knew it in her heart.
"You flatter me." Yin Wuxiao cupped his hands in a casual manner, his understanding already clear.
She didn't like to make things difficult for people with her words, unless it involved someone close to her. Since Yuwen Hongying dared to humiliate Cui Shenghan, she shouldn't be surprised if she showed no mercy.
"Your mouth can be terrifyingly vicious when it comes to things," she recalled Shi Mansi saying.
“Miss Cui is pregnant, so it is indeed inappropriate for her to play the zither. It is Cuiyu who has offended you.”
Yuwen Cuiyu, who had been standing quietly to the side, not participating in the dispute, suddenly spoke up. She gave Yin Wuxiao a meaningful look and gently diffused the awkwardness, "Cuiyu has heard that Miss Yin's family runs a printing and stationery business. I wonder if they are also involved in the guzheng?"
Yin Wuxiao couldn't help but take a serious look at Yuwen Cuiyu. This woman had smoothly and naturally changed the subject with just one sentence; she was truly remarkable.
“My family does own several antique shops, and the craftsmen there are quite knowledgeable about the guzheng. If the two Miss Yuwen are interested, please come to the capital another day, and Wu Xiao will personally welcome you.”
“Since Miss Yin says so, I, Cuiyu, will not hesitate to trouble you.” Yuwen Cuiyu smiled gracefully. “It would be a waste to leave the zither here empty. How about I make a fool of myself and add to the fun?”
After speaking, she went straight to the zither and sat down, her jade-like fingers touching the strings.
The piece "Spring River" flowed slowly and conventionally, yet connoisseurs could discern the remarkable skill of the zither player. Though not deliberately ostentatious, it revealed a certain self-confidence and arrogance.
Yin Wuxiao raised her eyebrows like smoke, smiled, and gently poked Cui Shenghan with a finger, asking in a low voice, "Sister Cui, what do you think of Miss Yuwen Cuiyu's zither playing?"
Cui Shenghan paused for a moment.
"She looks a lot like you."
"Huh?" Yin Wuxiao was taken aback.
"You mean playing the zither?"
Cui Shenghan shook her head.
“Not only that.” She frowned slightly, glancing at Yuwen Cuiyu’s delicate white fingertips as she slowly twirled them, and suddenly trembled, her beautiful eyes showing disbelief.
The warm sun, like a blanket, gently covered the two people basking in the sun in the courtyard.
The two men, whose combined age was nearly a hundred, lay on deck chairs in the sun, yet both wore expressions of enjoyment no different from those of children.
Yin Wuxiao delivered medicine to Mu Wanfeng's room and came out to see Xuan Hegu and Zhang Baitong each occupying a recliner, comfortably sunbathing their bellies.
Xuan He's eyes remained fixed on the book in his hands. He reached for the teacup on the small table beside him, took a sip, and frowned, saying, "This Sparrow Tongue tea requires a very particular brewing method. If the method is correct, the resulting tea soup is tender green and clear, with the tea leaves intact, and the aroma is refreshing and invigorating... Alas, it's just a pity..."
Zhang Baitong chuckled and said, "I didn't realize you, this old quack doctor, knew how to enjoy yourself."
"You old idiot, who are you calling a quack doctor?"
Yin Wuxiao couldn't help but chuckle to himself. No wonder people often say that having an elder in the family is like having a treasure; these two eccentric old men together are truly a pair of clowns.
She tiptoed away quietly.
Xuan He sipped the tea for a while, but found it really didn't suit his taste. So he slammed the teacup down and sighed, "These days, finding a girl who knows how to brew tea is incredibly difficult, truly difficult. Alas, I wonder when I'll be able to drink Sparrow Tongue tea like it did twenty years ago..."
Just as he was feeling down, he heard a gentle, smiling voice beside him say, "Why don't you try this cup in my hand, Doctor, and see if it suits your taste?"
Xuan He was startled and turned around to see Yin Wuxiao smilingly holding a teacup, standing beside him.
Feeling a little embarrassed, he quickly stood up and gave an awkward smile. But the aroma of tea in Yin Wuxiao's hand made his nose twitch.
"Girl, good tea!" he exclaimed, his eyes wide.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Baitong immediately jumped up. Relying on his superior martial arts skills, he grabbed the teacup and gulped it down, smacking his lips and exclaiming that it was too hot, "Good tea! Good tea!"
Xuan He was furious: "Does such good tea belong to an old fool like you?"
Zhang Baitong pursed his lips at him: "Isn't tea just for people to drink?"
Xuan was furious and wished he could immediately poison Zhang Baitong with every poison he could think of.
Yin Wuxiao quickly smiled and said, "You two, don't argue. I've already brewed a whole pot, one more cup won't make a difference."
Xuan He then glared angrily at Zhang Baitong and went to pour tea.
Yin Wuxiao smiled inwardly again, then turned and left along the corridor.
Suddenly, Xuan Hegu said calmly from behind:
"Girl, you remember how she brewed tea, but have you forgotten to avenge her?"
Yin Wuxiao was taken aback.
A complex mix of emotions welled up inside me in an instant.
Yin Wuxiao slowly clenched his fist.
"How...can I forget?"
After passing through two courtyards, Yin Wuxiao's steps became unsteady. She leaned against the wall, slightly out of breath.
Raising her head, she saw Yuwen Cuiyu, dressed in a green skirt and white gauze, standing quietly in front of her, looking at her with an unreadable expression in her eyes, as if she were puzzled, or perhaps pitying.
"Miss Yin, you can forgive anyone. Or have I misjudged you? Is the strong and decisive Miss Yin just a foolishly kind-hearted person?"
Yin Wuxiao was taken aback, then sneered: "Who said I can forgive just anyone? If the person who killed my whole family were standing in front of me right now, I would kill him without hesitation!"
Yuwen Cuiyu had never seen her with such a resolute expression, and was momentarily stunned.
After a long pause, Yuwen Cuiyu sighed and said, "You are willing to forgive someone like Xuan Hegu, and someone like Cui Shenghan, but why are you unwilling to forgive the young master in green?"