Manager Lin said, "There's a waterside pavilion not far ahead. Young Master Yun, please come with me." Yun Yinghuai nodded and followed the man out. Chu Tong secretly glanced at the girl again, and seeing her pale expression, she leaned against Yun Yinghuai's chest contentedly and closed her eyes.
Steward Lin led Yun Yinghuai to the waterside pavilion. Just as Yun Yinghuai was about to enter, he heard a clear and gentle voice behind him say, "Brother Yun, she... she is really your wife?"
Yun Yinghuai paused, then said, "This is my private matter, Princess, please don't interfere."
Upon hearing this, Lin Caiwei rushed to Yun Yinghuai, her pretty face filled with anxiety: "Then... what about my cousin Wansheng? She..."
Yun Yinghuai's expression hardened, but he said in a very light and indifferent tone, "Princess, let's not talk about the past anymore." After saying that, he carried Chu Tong into the room.
Lin Caiwei stomped her foot angrily at the door and said, "You'll regret this one day!" Then she bit her lip, turned around and ran away.
Yun Yinghuai entered the room and gently placed Chu Tong on the soft couch. Then he tried to get up, but Chu Tong's little hands clung tightly to his neck and refused to let go. Yun Yinghuai coaxed her gently, "Let go of her hands, I'll go get you a glass of water."
Chu Tong buried her head in Yun Yinghuai's chest and said in a muffled voice, "I won't let go! I don't want to drink water, sit with me for a while."
Yun Yinghuai, recalling how heartbroken Chu Tong had been just now, felt a surge of pity and wrapped his arms around her. After sitting for a moment, Chu Tong softly asked, "Who is Wansheng?"
Yun Yinghuai lowered his head and saw Chu Tong looking at him with bright, blinking eyes, her face still wet with tears. He sighed, reached out and wiped away Chu Tong's tears, kissed her lips and said, "She's someone from the past... If you want to know, I'll tell you in a little while."
Chu Tong nodded, paused for a moment, and then whispered in Yun Yinghuai's ear, "Young master, the demon... Xie family's second wife has arrived, but she is already dead. However, the prince, his concubine Fang Hongxiu, and your master's wife Bai Suxue were also buried with her. They are all dead!"
Yun Yinghuai was utterly shocked and exclaimed, "What?"
Chu Tong nodded vigorously, saying, "It's absolutely true, I saw it with my own eyes." Then, in a very soft voice, she quickly recounted the whole story. She was already eloquent, and now she perfectly imitated the words and expressions of the four people. When she mentioned that Ding Wuhen was the son of Bai Suxue and Ding Pinsong, Yun Yinghuai said with emotion, "No wonder Senior Brother changed his surname and used the name 'Ding Wuhen' when he traveled the world." Chu Tong only omitted the part about the seal, and after finishing, she said with infinite regret, "If only your master's wife hadn't died, it would have been perfect for her to prove your innocence. What a pity, what a pity."
Yun Yinghuai's face was pale, and he murmured, "Dead... They're all dead..." Chu Tong knew that apart from Fang Hongxiu, the other three were probably all intricately connected to Yun Yinghuai. Although she didn't care about their lives, seeing Yun Yinghuai's sorrowful face saddened her. She was about to offer some words of comfort when she saw Yun Yinghuai close his eyes and ponder for a moment, then open them again and say, "You said that someone in the manor saw you and Lin Ji together. If others ask where you've been during this time, how will you answer? The Prince is dead; this is a serious matter, I'm afraid..."
Chu Tong said, "It's alright, I've thought it all out. I'll just say that the Second Madam took me to the edge of the woods and put me to sleep, so I won't know anything. Then you can testify for me that a few years ago you went to the Xie Mansion to seek revenge and poisoned the Second Madam with me. Today she happened to meet me at the Prince's Mansion and came to seek revenge."
Yun Yinghuai nodded and said, "That's fine then." He then hugged Chu Tong tightly, stood up, and said, "I'm going out now. You stay here and behave yourself. It's very safe here, so don't wander around." He then took a very short dagger from his boot and handed it to her for self-defense. Chu Tong didn't want Yun Yinghuai to leave, but she knew she couldn't keep him, so she obediently nodded.
As soon as Yun Yinghuai left, Chu Tong immediately opened her brocade pouch, dumping the two boxes and the seal onto the soft couch. She then beamed, "I was so wise to keep these important things with me! Otherwise, if I were on the run and couldn't retrieve these precious boxes, it would be terrible!" Actually, after obtaining the two boxes and the seal, Chu Tong had opened the jade box to see what was inside, but found it empty. She assumed the mechanism had been removed, and was furious, cursing her ancestors for a long time. However, she also thought the box was exquisitely beautiful and worth several thousand taels of silver, so she kept it with her. By chance, she obtained a seal today, so she couldn't wait to open the white jade box and explore its contents. Chu Tong inserted the newly acquired seal into the notch of the white jade box, then gently twisted it. With a "click," the jade box popped open. Holding it up to the firelight, she saw that the box was still empty. Chu Tong spat and threw the jade box onto the couch, cursing, "You old bastard, Yun Banhe, you big liar! What treasure? It's all a lie! All my hard work collecting it has been for nothing!"
After cursing, she remembered that the box was also a rare and exquisite jade, worth a considerable amount of silver. So, she reluctantly picked it up, muttering curses under her breath. Just as she was about to close the lid, her fingers accidentally touched the uneven surface of the jade box. Holding it up to the candlelight, she discovered that the lid and bottom of the jade box were intricately carved with mountains and rivers, the craftsmanship exquisite and lifelike. She quickly opened the jade box, unfolding the two boxes and piecing them together. A tiny map appeared before her eyes. Chu Tong's eyes lit up, and she murmured, "Good heavens! So Senior Yun Banhe wasn't lying! The two boxes hold a tremendous secret! The Cloud Peak Sect really does have a treasure! No wonder the legend says that if you forcibly open the box, the secret inside will be destroyed along with it!"
Holding the box, she examined it closely in the firelight. At the center of the picture was a continuous, towering green mountain, reaching into the clouds. Below the mountain flowed countless streams, converging into one another. On the jade box, beside the mountain, were the words "Fire Lotus Mountain"; while on the white jade box, two long, winding peaks met, where a beautiful auspicious cloud was carved. Chu Tong nodded, saying, "Yes, this auspicious cloud is where the treasure is hidden. If we only open the white jade box, we can only see Fire Lotus Mountain, but not the specific location of the treasure; but if we only have the jade box, we might only see the auspicious cloud, but not know what mountain it is!"
She studied the diagram several times until she knew it by heart, then took out the dagger left by Yun Yinghuai and destroyed the patterns on the lid and bottom. She kept only the seal, placing the remaining two boxes and the seal in a brocade pouch, muttering to herself, "The prince is dead, and the manor will soon be in chaos. If the officials come and find these important items on me, it will be terrible!"
Chu Tong looked around and saw that the pavilion was simply furnished, with only a table, chairs, and a soft couch, with nowhere to hide anything. She looked up again and saw the crisscrossing beams and rafters, and exclaimed with delight, "That's it!" Then she climbed onto the table, took a deep breath, yelled "Ha!" and leaped up, placing the brocade pouch on the beam. Then she cried out "Ouch!" and fell heavily to the ground.
Just then, a commotion erupted outside, with shouts and footsteps rising and falling. Chu Tong pushed open the window and looked out, seeing flickering flames and countless guards rushing towards the bamboo grove. Chu Tong closed the window and rubbed her hands, saying, "Chaos! Chaos! It seems the Prince's manor will be sleepless tonight!" Now that she had obtained the secret of the two boxes, she was in a great mood. Even if the sky were to fall, she wouldn't care. She opened the door and loudly called for a maid, ordering some snacks and tea. She then sat in the waterside pavilion and enjoyed a delicious meal. After a while, officials took her in for questioning. Chu Tong naturally gave her prepared testimony with ease. When she returned to the waterside pavilion, Chu Tong, exhausted from half a day's activities, collapsed onto the couch and fell into a deep sleep.
Chu Tong didn't know how long she had slept when she woke up groggily. She sat up, and the outer robe covering her slipped to the ground. Chu Tong looked at the robe and knew it was what Yun Yinghuai had worn today. Looking up, she saw that the window was half open, and Yun Yinghuai was sitting facing a pale crescent moon in the sky, holding a jar of wine in his hand, pouring himself a drink. The moonlight shone on his tall figure, making him appear particularly desolate and forlorn.
Yun Yinghuai had been drinking for over half an hour, and the wine, now flowing freely into his sorrowful heart, quickly made him tipsy. He was about to drink deeply from the wine jar when he felt a sudden tightening on his wrist. A sweet, soft voice said, "Have some pastries before you drink. I specially saved a plate for you!" Then, a pair of delicate white hands appeared before him, holding a small, colorful dish with lotus blossoms and vines. On the dish were five small pastries of various shapes, neatly arranged. Yun Yinghuai stared at the pastries, startled. He looked up and saw Chu Tong smiling at him, her eyebrows curved, her lips upturned, and her eyes filled with concern, making her even more beautiful. She picked up a bean curd roll and waved it near Yun Yinghuai's mouth, saying, "Try it; the taste is quite extraordinary." Seeing the worry on Yun Yinghuai's face, his deep, melancholy eyes fixed on her, and his silence, Chu Tong thought, "Perhaps my young master saw the tragic scene in the room in the bamboo grove and is feeling down. I'll tell him a joke to cheer him up."
At this moment, Yun Yinghuai suddenly grasped her hand and whispered, "Xing'er... tell me, tell me, are the Prince and Consort Lin really my biological parents?"
Seeing the bleak look on his face, Chu Tong felt a pang of tenderness and reached out her small hand to stroke his brow, saying, "Whether they are real or not, they've all gone to the underworld. The grudges and grievances between them are probably impossible to calculate even with a hundred abacuses. Now that they've taken all their grudges with them, it's all over. Don't be too sad."
Yun Yinghuai gave a bitter smile and took out the jade plum blossom from his clothes, saying, "I always wore this jade plum blossom when I was a child, but later it disappeared for some reason. My master gave me a phoenix-patterned pendant... I have always remembered this jade plum blossom. It was warm and smooth, with a touch of red on the stamen. So when I saw you wearing it around your neck at the Xie family that year, I recognized it immediately... After hearing Lin Ji's crazy words after being poisoned that day, I have always respected the prince as if he were my father. I always feel guilty when I think of Lin Ji, but now, now..." Yun Yinghuai sighed and took another sip of wine, saying, "My master's wife treated me very well. She pitied me for being an orphan and took good care of me. Every year during festivals, she would sew clothes and shoes for me by hand. I never thought that she would die tragically in the prince's mansion in the end."
Hearing his tone, Chu Tong knew that Yun Yinghuai had lost several relatives in one day and was filled with inexplicable grief. She put down her snacks, bent down and hugged Yun Yinghuai's neck, saying, "Don't be sad, my little husband. From now on, I will be your family. I will be with you no matter where you are."
Yun Yinghuai felt a warmth in his heart as he smelled the faint fragrance emanating from Chu Tong. He had initially thought of Chu Tong as a rogue, unruly, and ruthless little rascal. He had only been forced to kidnap her from the Jin Yang Prince's mansion because of the Qunfang Sword Technique, and along the way, he had only tried his best to force her to draw the sword manual so that he could get rid of her as soon as possible. He had only protected her in every way because he had promised to protect her life. But he never expected that this little girl would have such a chivalrous spirit and act so unexpectedly, ultimately saving him from danger time and time again. He thought to himself, "I met this little girl when I was at my lowest point. She's always been by my side, never abandoning me in times of danger. She's willing to live and die with me! When love is at its peak, everyone says they'll never be apart in this life, but when it really comes down to it, how many can actually do that? Right now, she's the only family I have left!" Thinking this, Yun Yinghuai was filled with emotion. He stretched out his long arm and pulled Chu Tong onto his lap. Looking deeply into her bright eyes, he whispered, "You...you really consider me your husband?"
Chu Tong's eyes widened as she exclaimed, "Of course!" She then feigned a rare shyness, lowering her head to fidget with the hem of her dress. A thin layer of rouge touched her fair face as she stammered, "You...you don't think I'm too promiscuous, do you? If you don't want to, I won't call you that anymore..." Seeing her shy and charming demeanor, Yun Yinghuai felt an indescribable radiance, and his heart softened. Just as he was about to speak, Chu Tong suddenly raised her face and poked his chest, saying, "Even if I don't call you husband, you must always remember that you are my little husband. You must strictly adhere to the duties of a husband, and you are not allowed to flirt with other women. Cut off all your old lovers and former lovers completely! If you flirt with anyone else besides me, I will definitely kill her and hide her at the ends of the earth so you will never find me!"
Yun Yinghuai was taken aback by her fierce expression and said in astonishment, "How can you change your expression so quickly? You were so gentle just now, and in the blink of an eye you turned into a shrew."
Chu Tong snorted and said, "Just thinking about how some vixen will seduce you and you'll marry one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight concubines fills me with righteous indignation and uncontrollable rage! I'm telling you clearly today, if you dare to take a concubine, I'll take male concubines! I..."
As her story became increasingly dubious, Yun Yinghuai frowned slightly, then lowered his head and kissed Chu Tong's lips. Chu Tong trembled slightly, feeling a mixture of the scent of wine and the man's cool breath envelop her. As their lips intertwined, Chu Tong unconsciously reached out and hooked her arms around Yun Yinghuai's neck. At that moment, she felt Yun Yinghuai lightly bite her lower lip, his warm breath brushing against her face as he mumbled, "What vixen concubine? There's nothing going on, and you're already jealous." Then he kissed Chu Tong's cheek, tightened his arms around her, and whispered, "Once the matter at the Prince Ping's mansion is over, we'll go find Ding Wuhen and get to the bottom of things, clear my name, and then we'll choose an auspicious day to get married. Then you can rightfully call me your little husband."
Chu Tong was overjoyed, her face immediately radiating a dazzling light. She grabbed Yun Yinghuai's large hand and said, "Is this really true?" Then she smiled and said, "Hero Yun, Sect Leader Yun, you are renowned in the martial arts world. Everyone says you are generous, righteous, and a man of your word. Now that you have promised me, you must keep your word and never lie to me! You can't just say tomorrow morning that you were drunk and refused to admit it!"
Seeing her innocent and carefree expression, Yun Yinghuai smiled and said, "How could I, a grown man, deceive a little girl like you? This is the truth, absolutely true, no joke at all. From now on, you shall wear the phoenix pendant that my master gave me, as a token of my love for you."
Overjoyed, Chu Tong cupped Yun Yinghuai's face and gave him a quick kiss, saying, "That's wonderful! After we get married, you must come back to Nanhuai with me to pay respects at my mother's grave and tell her I'm married!" At this point, Chu Tong couldn't help but feel saddened, saying, "Since leaving Nanhuai, I haven't been back. The grass on my mother's grave has grown so tall..."
Yun Yinghuai nodded and said, "Very good. Even if you hadn't said anything, I would have gone back with you to take a look."
Having uncovered the secret of the two boxes and pledged her life to Yun Yinghuai, Chu Tong was overjoyed beyond words. She wanted nothing more than to dance with joy, yet felt as if she were in a dream. Calming herself, she leaned against Yun Yinghuai's chest for a while, then said, "My dear husband, say it again, you're not lying to me, are you?"
Yun Yinghuai composed himself and said, "Of course not!"
Chu Tong sighed and said, "I just heard that princess mention 'cousin Wan Sheng.' Wan Sheng, Wan Sheng, I've heard that name so many times. Now that I know she's the princess's cousin, her status is naturally even more extraordinary. Young husband, who exactly is Wan Sheng? What's your relationship with her? Is she very beautiful? Does she have a lot of money? Is she very skilled in martial arts? You... do you like her?" After asking, Chu Tong mentally denied each of these questions, "Being pretty isn't everything. When I was little, I heard the madam say 'Buddha's...'" "Golden attire, a horse needs a saddle; three parts natural beauty, seven parts dressing up. The girls in brothels might be utterly plain-looking, but with a few yards of floral fabric and a little dressing up, they instantly become pretty young ladies! I'll buy some nice clothes and cosmetics to dress myself up properly, and my little husband will be immediately impressed! Once I unearth the treasure, I'll be the richest man in the world; she won't be richer than me. Besides, I don't have any martial arts skills, yet I've still saved my little husband several times, haven't I? The key question is whether my little husband still likes her."
Yun Yinghuai paused slightly. The mention of "Wansheng" brought to mind a slender, graceful figure, stirring a complex mix of emotions within him. He closed his eyes, then opened them again, saying, "When I was ten, my master stayed temporarily in the Prince's mansion, instructing the prince's children in martial arts. I followed my master into the mansion, learning literature and martial arts alongside them. The prince's children were all mischievous as children, often finding opportunities to tease me. I always silently endured it, keeping my distance. But there was one little girl who was very kind to me. She was the princess's daughter, temporarily staying in the prince's mansion. Because she was naturally weak and unable to practice martial arts, she always watched from the sidelines. I always treated her with utmost respect and never spoke to her. Once, the little princess tricked me into standing by the pond, and the prince pushed me in. It was late autumn, and the water was icy cold. I struggled for a long time before finally climbing out. The other children stood by the pond, watching me shiver, and they all gloated."
Hearing this, Chu Tong couldn't help but say, "Outrageous! These kids are too wicked! If I were the one who fell into the lake, even if I couldn't afford to offend the young master on the spot, I would definitely make them pay afterward! But, you are often bullied like that, doesn't your master protect you?"
Yun Yinghuai sighed, "I didn't want to go to the Prince's mansion at the time, but my master insisted that I go with him, saying that I was the same kind of person as the young master and the others, and that I would surely have a distinguished status in the future. It was only natural that I should study literature and martial arts with the royal family." As he said this, he suddenly felt a jolt in his heart, thinking to himself, "Now that I think back on what my master said, it seems to have a profound meaning. Could it be that my master brought me to the Prince's mansion because of my background? Otherwise, how could I, a commoner, be on equal footing with the royal family?"
At this moment, Chu Tong urged, "And then? What happened next?"
Yun Yinghuai came to her senses and continued, "That's right, I held back and held back, but I finally couldn't hold back anymore. I rushed up and grabbed the young master and started hitting him. No one could persuade me to stop, and in my impulsiveness, I twisted the young master's arm and broke it."
Chu Tong exclaimed, "Ah! You seriously injured the young master? Your situation is extremely dire!"
Yun Yinghuai nodded and said, "That's right. The Princess held the Prince and wept bitterly, insisting on severely punishing me. When the Prince asked about the matter, the other children naturally sided with the Prince and lied, saying I wasn't guilty. I knelt in the hall, framed and wronged, with no way to defend myself, feeling inexplicably grief-stricken. Injuring the Prince would surely result in severe punishment. Even though my master protected me and I could barely save my life, serious injury was inevitable." Yun Yinghuai raised her head and looked at the pale moon in the sky, slowly saying, "At this moment, that little girl pushed open the hall door and ran in, standing in front of everyone and loudly proclaiming that I had been wronged. Then she recounted in detail how I had been bullied in the past. Therefore, the Prince only ordered me to be punished, sparing me from severe punishment. I was filled with gratitude towards her and always wanted to find an opportunity to repay her. Although the little girl was of noble status, she was not arrogant at all, so I became close to her, and over time we became friends."
Chu Tong felt a pang of jealousy and said sourly, "So it was a beauty saving a hero. 'The boy rode a bamboo horse, playing with green plums around the bed. They lived together in Changgan, the two little ones without suspicion.'"
Yun Yinghuai smiled faintly and nodded slightly: "Childhood sweethearts is indeed a good thing. Later, after I returned to Yunding Sect, we often corresponded and agreed to meet outside every month. Gradually, I developed feelings for her, but I kept them buried deep in my heart. Later, I traveled around, and we no longer met often. When I was seventeen, I ran into her outside. She lifted the curtain of the carriage and called my name. At that time, she was already... an extremely beautiful girl."
Chu Tong pouted and said, "Let me guess. You've known her for a long time. At your age and her age, as storytellers would say, you're just beginning to experience love and your hearts are fluttering. Once those flutters begin, they become intimate, like dry wood meeting a raging fire, and you end up having an affair. Am I right?"
Yun Yinghuai looked at Chu Tong and sighed helplessly, saying, "Not bad... indeed, a romantic scene under the moon and flowers, a vow of eternal love."
Chu Tong snorted and said, "And then?"
Yun Yinghuai said, "She is the daughter of a princess, the daughter of a second-rank official in the court. She has a distinguished status, and her family had already arranged a marriage for her with someone of equal social standing. I am just a commoner, and my social standing is not good enough for her. I once begged Prince Ping to act as matchmaker, but her parents refused, saying they did not want to marry their beloved daughter to a mere commoner. Helpless, I arranged to meet her secretly, wanting to elope with her, but she resolutely refused, saying that if she did so, it would bring shame to her family and the royal family, and she could not bear such consequences."
Chu Tong nodded slightly, thinking to herself, "Wan Sheng and Xie Linghui are quite the same. Do all the young masters and ladies from wealthy families think the same way?"
Seeing Chu Tong nodding repeatedly, Yun Yinghuai assumed she agreed with Wan Sheng's actions and gave a bitter smile, saying, "Yes, she did nothing wrong. I understand her predicament. She always puts the greater good first and is a good girl, so I can't blame her." He paused, then continued, "Later, I was framed and forced to leave Yunding Sect. That day felt like purgatory. One moment I was riding high, leading the heroes and becoming the head of the number one sect in Southern Yan. The next, I was forced to relinquish my position and was branded as a traitor. These blows were overwhelming, and I had no one to share them with. So, even knowing it was wrong, I secretly arranged to meet that girl, wanting to see her one last time before searching for my master's wife. I waited for a long time, but it was her maid who came, saying she couldn't go out that night. So I got drunk and then went around searching for my master's wife. A year later, I met you in Beiliang."
Chu Tong nodded, thinking to herself, "If my young master really is Lin Xihe's son, and if he regains his identity, and with that..." Then she took Yun Yinghuai's hand and asked softly, "Then... then do you still miss her? Do you still like her?"
Yun Yinghuai stared blankly into Chu Tong's bright eyes, momentarily at a loss for words. Eleven years had passed; how could he simply forget? After he was punished for injuring the prince and locked in the woodshed, she secretly slipped him meat pies through the window. He was alone in the palace, and she kept him company every day, reading, writing, and playing. When their master passed away, she comforted him softly and drank with him to drown his sorrows. When he became the leader of the Cloud Peak Sect, renowned throughout the martial world, she personally prepared his favorite dishes to celebrate. And later, their mutual affection and tender moments, their secret trysts—all these things still lingered in his mind, though he suppressed them, deliberately avoiding them. How could he simply forget them?
Seeing Yun Yinghuai's hesitant expression, Chu Tong immediately understood. She sighed deeply, thinking, "My little husband is too honest. Can't he say some sweet words to deceive me, like he's forgotten everything and will only be good to me from now on?" She nestled against Yun Yinghuai's chest and said, "If you forget now, you'll be heartless. I know you're not that kind of person, but you must always remember what you promised me. Keep me in your heart from now on, and gradually forget Wansheng."
Yun Yinghuai said, "Xing'er, you are now my closest person, so of course I will treat you well and take good care of you."
Chu Tong stared blankly at Yun Yinghuai's face, thinking to herself, "It's good that you said that."
The two snuggled together and chatted for a while, sitting until dawn.
The deaths of the Prince and Princess in the Prince Ping's residence were no small matter. The imperial court dispatched special personnel to conduct a thorough investigation. Chu Tong was summoned and interrogated repeatedly, but Yun Yinghuai, through his connections, ensured she didn't suffer much. By the time everything was settled, the two had been in the capital for a month. Ultimately, the court found nothing amiss, only identifying the Second Madam as the murderer, while publicly claiming that Prince Ping, Lin Xihe, had suddenly died of illness, and that Consort Fang Hongxiu had committed suicide by swallowing gold. Those who knew the truth were ordered to remain silent.
On this day, Yun Yinghuai planned to leave the capital. Chu Tong was quite regretful that she hadn't yet explored the capital. Yun Yinghuai thought for a moment and said, "A while ago, a disciple from our sect sent a letter saying that a man named Yun Xuzi is going to hold a martial arts tournament in Lingzhou, Nan Yan, and sincerely invites heroes from all over the world. The date is set for the eighth day of this month. Lingzhou is not far from the capital. Why don't I accompany you to tour the capital for a few days, and then write to Sect Master Shi to bring the sect members to Lingzhou to meet us?" As he said this, a few traces of worry appeared between his brows, but he quickly concealed them.
Upon hearing this, Chu Tong exclaimed excitedly, "Wonderful! Wonderful! The martial arts tournament is sure to be incredibly exciting! Now that I'm the sect leader of the Cloud Peak Sect, surrounded by followers, won't I be incredibly powerful?"
Yun Yinghuai laughed and said, "Very impressive." Then he paused and said, "My senior brother Ding Wuhen might also participate in the World Heroes Gathering. We can ask him about it then."
Chu Tong tilted her head and thought for a moment before saying, "Your senior brother has ulterior motives; we'd better be careful."
As they talked, they walked onto the street, where they saw a bustling crowd and heard the constant calls of vendors. Chu Tong was in high spirits and pulled Yun Yinghuai's arm to pick and choose from several stalls, but she put them down after looking at most of them.
Yun Yinghuai smiled and said, "If you like it, I'll buy it for you."
Chu Tong shook her head and said, "I'm just browsing, there's nothing I want to buy."
It was late autumn, and the weather was getting cooler. Yun Yinghuai glanced at Chu Tong's thin clothes and led her towards South Street. Chu Tong asked, "Where are we going now?"
Yun Yinghuai said, "Fangjin Garden."
Chu Tong was taken aback and asked curiously, "What kind of place is that? Fangjin Garden... Young master, are you going to take me to a brothel?"
Yun Yinghuai's forehead veins throbbed twice, but he said calmly, "Fangjinyuan is the best tailor shop in the capital. The ladies and young ladies of wealthy families all come here to have their clothes made. Now that the weather is getting cooler, you should wear a thick coat."
Chu Tong felt a sweet warmth in her heart, but muttered, "Why name a perfectly good clothing store after a brothel..." As she spoke, a very exquisite shop appeared in front of her, with the three large characters "Fang Jin Yuan" hanging on it. Yun Yinghuai then led Chu Tong inside.
The shop assistant greeted them warmly, and seeing Yun Yinghuai's distinguished bearing and elegant attire, he became even more attentive, immediately bringing out several bolts of fabric for Chu Tong to choose from. Yun Yinghuai waved his hand and said, "I can't wait for the clothes to be finished. I wonder if the shop has any ready-made clothes that fit this young lady's size? We'll just buy one to take home."
Upon hearing this, the shopkeeper hurriedly replied, "Yes, yes." He then brought out several sets of clothes from the inner room. Yun Yinghuai glanced at them and shook her head, asking, "Are there any better ones?" The shopkeeper, hearing this, rushed forward with a smile, "Yes, yes!" He then personally carried several garments over and said with a smile, "Sir and Miss, these are all top-quality brocades, just transported here from elsewhere, called 'Flowing Clouds Brocade.' Please take a look." He then spread out the clothes one by one. Chu Tong stared intently, and was immediately amazed. The Flowing Clouds Brocade only had four colors, all embroidered with gold thread: one apricot red, as vibrant as rouge; one sandalwood color, as pale as an ancient painting; one moon white, as light as the sky; and one bamboo green, as green as emeralds. Exquisitely crafted, light and flowing, smooth and soft. Even though Chu Tong was used to seeing fine silks and satins, she couldn't help but gasp in surprise and asked, "How much is this dress?" The shopkeeper replied, "One hundred taels of silver." Chu Tong's eyes widened immediately, "Why is it so expensive? Is all the gold thread on this dress made of gold?"
Yun Yinghuai chuckled and walked over, whispering, "Don't worry about the price. The leader of the Cloud Peak Sect naturally needs to dress smartly to avoid losing face in front of the heroes of the martial world." He then pointed to the apricot-red dress and said, "Try this on." Chu Tong nodded, took the dress, and went to the inner room to change. Yun Yinghuai sat in the hall to wait. But after waiting for a long time, no one came out. He went to the door and called out several times, but no one answered. Yun Yinghuai's heart sank. He lifted the curtain and rushed in. The inner room was empty, but the windows were wide open. On the wooden table in front of the window, a dart held an envelope with the words "To be opened by Hero Yun" written on the cover. Yun Yinghuai pulled out a piece of paper, which read: "A beautiful woman, I admire her greatly and wish to find her at Yuyan Bridge."
Yun Yinghuai was furious. Clutching the letter, he leaped out of the window and chased after the letter.
Misunderstanding that mutual affection leads to a lifetime together
At dusk, a small boat glides across the duckweed-covered islet, the wind holding it still. Green willows line the return path, swallows fly westward.
Chu Tong didn't know how long she had been unconscious. When she finally woke up, her head felt like it was about to split open, but she could faintly hear the melodious sound of a zither, tinkling and clear like a spring, which soothed her entire body. She looked around and saw that she was lying on a soft bed, covered with a brocade quilt with dark patterns and gold trim, which was obviously not an ordinary item. Chu Tong struggled to sit up, holding her head, and suddenly remembered that she had been knocked unconscious while trying on clothes. She shuddered and quickly pulled back the bed curtains.
Chu Tong looked around and found herself in an extremely quiet room. The room was simply furnished, without any decorative items, except for a set of purple clay teaware with bamboo cicadas on the eight-immortal table in front of the bed, exuding a rustic and dignified feel. Chu Tong jumped off the bed and looked out the window following the sound of the zither. She saw a young girl sitting on a flower stand outside the window, playing the zither. The girl had eyebrows like a crescent moon and a face like white jade. She wore a light green gauze dress, her hair was styled in a peach blossom bun, adorned with only a jade hairpin. Her fair hands and sleeves swayed as she plucked the strings of the zither, and every gesture she made was graceful and elegant.
Chu Tong stared, her eyes wide. Just then, the girl caught sight of Chu Tong out of the corner of her eye, stopped what she was doing, turned her head, and smiled slightly, saying, "You're awake." Her smile revealed two dimples, like a thousand pear blossoms blooming simultaneously—a beauty beyond compare. Chu Tong was momentarily stunned, then overjoyed, exclaimed, "My benefactor! You, how did you get here?"
It turned out that when Chu Tong collapsed on the grassland after being poisoned, it was this girl who happened to pass by and saved her. Afterwards, Chu Tong fled, and the two never saw each other again. Today, upon their reunion, Chu Tong was naturally overjoyed. At this moment, someone coldly said, "Since you know that my young lady is your benefactor, how can you repay kindness with enmity?"
Chu Tong was taken aback. She saw the little girl named "Ying Shuang" standing at the door, her eyes wide and her cheeks puffed out as she stared at her. The girl scolded, "Shut up!" Then she stood up and said to Chu Tong, "The little girl is ignorant, please don't hold it against her. Does your head still hurt? I'm so sorry to have brought you to this place."
Chu Tong hurriedly waved her hand and said, "It's alright, it's alright!" But in her heart she thought, "Could it be that my benefactor knocked me unconscious and brought me here?" She then secretly glanced at Ying Shuang and thought to herself, "Could it be that I offended them, mistress and servant? Otherwise, why would that little girl repay kindness with enmity? I clearly left a bag of jewels as a reward when I left!"
The young woman looked at Chu Tong for a long time, hesitated for a moment, and then asked, "Are you Yao Chu Tong, young lady?"
Chu Tong thought to herself, "I made up a name on the grassland back then, and now that my benefactor has revealed my real name, she probably already knows my background! Great heroes never change their names, so I might as well just admit it." With that thought, Chu Tong nodded and replied, "Yes, I am Yao Chu Tong."
Ying Shuang snorted, her eyes flashing with complex emotions. She looked Chu Tong up and down, then sighed deeply and slowly sat down. The atmosphere fell silent. Chu Tong, filled with doubt, opened her mouth to ask, but seeing the girl's slightly furrowed brows and elegant demeanor, she couldn't speak. Chu Tong looked around and saw a small river flowing gently in front of the house, spanned by a stone bridge. It was midday, and all around was tranquil. Chu Tong slapped her forehead, thinking, "Oh no! So much time has passed! My husband must be frantic with worry!" She anxiously looked at the girl, who seemed to read her mind and said calmly, "Don't worry, he should be here soon." Then she lowered her head and plucked the strings of her zither.
Chu Tong was taken aback. The young woman played and asked, "Miss Yao, do you know what piece this is?" Chu Tong shook her head, "No, but it sounds familiar." The young woman smiled, "This piece was originally called 'Xiao Xiang Shui Yun' (Clouds and Water of the Xiang River). Last night, I suddenly had a flash of inspiration and transformed it into this." Chu Tong listened attentively, feeling the melody was ethereal and boundless, with endless aftertaste. She couldn't help but praise, "A wonderful alteration! It has a completely different flavor from the original!" She paused, then couldn't help but ask, "May I ask who this benefactor is? Why did you bring me here?"
The girl did not answer, but suddenly composed herself and sang: "Clouds reflect on the clear river road, the sheng (a type of reed pipe) stirs in the misty lake and trees. I chant the Nine-Layered Loom, who will compose a poem for me in my foolishness? O clouds, oh clouds, you are my refuge, the saddest thing is parting from you. O you, oh you, you are bound to the clouds, my longing is unbearable to send across the mountains and rivers. When will you leave, as the plum blossoms fall in rustling? Where do the clouds linger, the moon faintly shining over the spring mountains?"
Her voice was as melodious as a jade bead, clear and ethereal, containing endless longing and profound sorrow. Chu Tong was exceptionally intelligent; upon hearing the lyrics, she immediately grasped the connection, and her heart sank. As the song ended, the girl slowly turned her head, looking at her with a half-smile, and said, "My name is Jiang Wansheng." She paused, then added, "Yun Lang should have mentioned me before; I presume Miss Yao has already guessed."
Although Chu Tong had already anticipated this, her heart still sank. She forced a smile and said, "Yes, seeing is believing. We are truly destined to be together." In her heart, however, she thought, "We are indeed destined to be together, but unfortunately, this destiny is a messy and tragic one. She saved me, and I should repay her properly, but she happens to be my husband's old flame. Does she expect me to give my husband to her?"
Jiang Wansheng said calmly, "I heard a few months ago that Yunlang had found a woman he liked. It is said in the martial arts world that this woman is beautiful, clever and brave. I wanted to see what she looked like, so I had someone bring you here. Who knew that it would be an old friend? Please forgive me if I have been rude."
Chu Tong hurriedly said, "You're too kind, benefactor. Now that you've seen me, can you let me go back?" But she felt extremely uncomfortable because of Jiang Wansheng's address of "Yun Lang," thinking to herself, "Didn't she already abandon my husband and marry that prince? Why is she still so attached to him? Could she be planning to have an affair?" Then she stole a glance at Jiang Wansheng, feeling dejected. "Jiang Wansheng is indeed much prettier than me, and she's also well-educated, refined, and cultured. If she had been born a few years earlier, perhaps Bai Suxue would have been the most beautiful woman in the martial world. No wonder my husband is so infatuated with her." Thinking this, she felt a pang of inferiority.
Ying Shuang retorted angrily, "Let you go back? My young lady saved your life, and you stole her beloved, causing her heartbreak. Now you think you can just leave?" She then walked up to Chu Tong and glared at her, saying, "It's said that a small act of kindness should be repaid with a great one. Before, you didn't know your savior was my young lady, so you were infatuated with Hero Yun, and we didn't blame you. But now that you know my young lady's identity, are you going to be an ungrateful wretch?"
Chu Tong was taken aback, then lowered her head and said in a humble voice, "Your young lady saved me that day, and I have already paid her a reward..."
Ying Shuang spat and said, "Who cares? We have plenty of gold and silver jewelry. We can just return it to you. Don't bother Master Yun anymore. Give him back to Miss so that he and Miss can be together forever!"