Jiangnan Gaiden

Chapitre 24

Chun Shun lowered his head in thought, then suddenly smiled: "What if that person is lecherous and dissolute?"

Yuan Peixin was taken aback. "I told Dad he was a lecherous pervert, but he didn't believe me at all!"

Chun Shun smiled: "What if many people saw it on the spot? Then the Master won't doubt it anymore!" Suddenly, he patted Chun Shun's shoulder happily: "You really are my good strategist..."

Xiao Xun happily took an invitation and entered: "Second brother! Your luck with women has arrived! Miss Yuan invites you to a banquet at Jianghu Xiaotan Pavilion tonight!"

Ye Xiao jumped up immediately: "Great! Great! The owner there has quite the refined taste. Because the restaurant couldn't serve food due to the stench, he set up a high platform on the lake covered with red gauze curtains, placed many tables on it, and lit a gauze lantern on each table... The atmosphere was extraordinary..."

Xiao Xun said coolly, "Oh. It's a pity that Miss only invited Qingcheng..."

Ye Xiao paused for a moment, then sat down in disappointment.

Luo Qingcheng accepted the invitation, a complex mix of emotions welling up inside him. He couldn't tell if it was a faint joy or a touch of melancholy.

The night air was fresh and moist, and the starlight over the lake was so beautiful and gentle it was heartbreaking. A dozen or so oil lamps with gauze lanterns emitted an ambiguous pink glow, and in the small rooms enclosed by red silk curtains, only faint shadows of people could be seen reflected on the screens. In one small red cubicle, Yuan Peixin was already waiting. The wine was already warmed. Yuan Peixin smiled somewhat sinisterly, pouring some pale yellow powder into the wine pot.

The waiter, with two long rows of dishes strapped to his arms from top to bottom, slipped into the curtain like a magician. While loudly announcing the dishes, he swiftly flipped the two rows of dishes from his arms onto the table. The table was a bit too small, so he considerately moved the wine pot, making a little space.

Yuan Peixin watched the waiter bustling about with great satisfaction. When it came to attentiveness and hospitality, a grand restaurant was truly different. Qingyun Tower, renamed Jianghu Xiaotan Pavilion, saw its business flourish even more.

As Luo Qingcheng stepped onto the wooden platform that jutted out into the lake, he hesitated for a moment. But he had no time to hesitate; Miss Yuan immediately came forward, flashing him a breathtaking smile, her eyes brimming with affection.

————————————————————————————(Update dividing line)

Ye Xiao rubbed his throbbing right eyelid and glanced anxiously at the water clock. It was almost 11 PM. Why hadn't Luo Qingcheng returned yet?

On the high platform overlooking the water at Jianghu Xiaotan Pavilion, the number of guests had dwindled. Most of the gauze lanterns had been extinguished, leaving only a few red silk curtains, which, under the glow of the starry sky, emitted a pinkish halo, gradually acquiring a somewhat sensual atmosphere.

Luo Qingcheng, his face expressionless, gulped down another mouthful of wine, as if he had a grudge against alcohol. "I'm going back," he said, his gaze sweeping over the beautiful woman in front of him, settling on the dark lake surface, where it suddenly softened.

Yuan Peixin's smile remained unchanged, but her heart sank. Her original plan was to drug the wine, then, after Luo Qingcheng lost control, lock him in a room with a woman she had chosen, before leading a group to catch them in the act, completely ruining his reputation and ending her father's hopes of having him as a son-in-law. But despite countless attempts to drug him, Xiao Wangyou demanding pot after pot of wine, and showering him with endless entreaties, the man, though drinking heartily and downing every drink in one gulp—clearly possessing a huge capacity for alcohol—remained completely composed. Strangely, why was he so sensitive to this substance last time?

“I’ll take you home. I’ll also offer my condolences to your two friends. The accommodations arranged by Langjingzhuang caught fire, causing you such a huge loss… You should apologize…” Yuan Peixin was still somewhat unwilling.

Luo Qingcheng did not refuse and walked out first. Yuan Peixin glared viciously at the ugly man, inwardly despising his dullness and rudeness, but on the surface she had to put on a smile and follow behind him.

"Xiaoxiao is probably still awake, but Lao San is probably fast asleep!" Luo Qingcheng pushed open the courtyard gate, his gaze sweeping over the room. Only Ye Xiao's room light was still on. He gently knocked on the door, listened for a while, and said, "No sound. She's probably fast asleep too."

Yuan Peixin gave an "oh" and followed him into her room. Seeing the teapot on the table, and remembering Ye Xiao's room with the light on, a wicked thought popped into her head. She poured herself a cup of tea, sprinkling all the remaining powder from her clothes into it. "Young Master Luo... you've had too much to drink tonight, have some tea to quench your thirst..." Under the dim light, she smiled sweetly and picked up the teacup.

Luo Qingcheng didn't reach out to take it, but walked straight to the table and sat down: "Miss, you should go back first, it's too late. It's inconvenient for a man and a woman to be alone together."

Yuan Pei smiled slightly, put down his teacup, said goodbye, and left.

Hearing the door close, Luo Qingcheng blew out the lamp and went to bed. He felt inexplicably restless tonight. He'd drunk quite a bit, and although he wasn't drunk, his mind was unusually active. Memories replayed before his eyes, vivid and clear, reopening old wounds. Yuan Peixin's beautiful smile and Ye Xiao's radiant smile alternated before him, and suddenly he felt utterly lost, unsure whether to be true to his responsibilities or to his heart.

After tossing and turning in bed for a while, I felt parched. I turned slightly to the side, reached for a cup of tea on the table (it was already cold), gulped it down, let out a long breath, turned over, and decided to forget all my troubles for the time being.

Ye Xiao waited for a long time, finally succumbing to sleepiness. She didn't know how long she slept, but heard a knock at the door. Still half-asleep, she opened it and saw Yuan Peixin standing there, looking anxious: "Luo Qingcheng is drunk, really drunk... he looks terrifying... I'm so scared..."

Her mind went blank for a moment. She jumped out of bed, slipped on her wooden clogs, and dashed into Luo Qingcheng's room, not noticing the door closing quietly behind her. She ran straight to the bedside, lifted the bed curtains, and anxiously shook him, calling out loudly, "Qingcheng! Are you alright? Wake up..."

Luo Qingcheng, still reeling from the shock, was startled by a shout. He groggily snapped back to reality, unable to make out Ye Xiao's face in the darkness, but recognizing her familiar scent. A surge of joy welled up within him, and he gently reached out to grasp her hand, as if grasping a lifeline. "Is it on fire again? Don't be afraid... I'm here..."

Ye Xiao was even more worried: "Where is the fire?... Miss Yuan said you were drunk... Look at you, you're talking nonsense now... Where do you feel unwell? Do you still recognize me?"

Luo Qingcheng was puzzled, but touched by the concern in her tone, and forgot to ask why: "Xiaoxiao... how could I not recognize her? In this life, even if I don't recognize anyone else, I will never forget Xiaoxiao... I..."

Ye Xiao breathed a slight sigh of relief, but still felt uneasy and leaned closer to check on him. A strong smell of alcohol hit her face, and she couldn't help but frown and try to move away. In the darkness, Luo Qingcheng noticed her evasiveness, suddenly reached out, grabbed her waist, and pulled her onto the bed. In the pitch-black darkness, he could only feel her warm breath on his face, carrying a fresh scent unique to young girls. Suddenly, he felt dizzy, tightened his grip, and held her tightly in his arms, wishing he could imprison her by his side forever and never leave her again.

Ye Xiao was slightly taken aback, then relaxed and chuckled softly, "Qingcheng, are you mistaking me for someone else? I'm Xiaoxiao...hehe..."

Luo Qingcheng gave a muffled "hmm," feeling the soft warmth in his arms. Listening to his own heartbeat, he felt a peace and joy he had never experienced before. For a moment, he didn't even want to speak, only wishing that this moment could last forever and never change... He couldn't help but gently kiss her forehead...

After leaving the room, Yuan Peixin didn't leave. She tiptoed to Luo Qingcheng's door, listened to him tossing and turning on the bed for a while, drink some tea, and then smiled slyly. She went to Ye Xiao's room, lied that Luo Qingcheng was drunk, and lured Ye Xiao into his room. She stood quietly at the door, eavesdropping for a while, feeling that Luo Qingcheng's reaction seemed somewhat different from what she had imagined. However, after a long time, there was no sound from inside, and Ye Xiao didn't come out of the room. Feeling secretly pleased with herself, she went out and opened the door.

Seven or eight men stood at the entrance, some of them servants from Langjing Manor, and others young masters from various martial arts families. Hearing that the beauty had something to do, they all rushed over, eager to do so. They were also jealous of Luo Qingcheng's favor with Master Yuan, and became even more excited after hearing the reason.

So the group stormed through the courtyard and headed straight for Luo Qingcheng's room. They pushed the door open with a bang, quickly lit the torches in their hands, and illuminated the two people lying on the bed, nestled together.

"Heh! So these two were indeed having an affair! Luo Qingcheng, you lecherous scoundrel! You're clearly flirting with another slut, yet you dare to dream of becoming my Langjing Manor's live-in son-in-law! You're blind as a bat!" Yuan Peixin's voice wasn't loud, but each word was uttered through gritted teeth, though she was secretly delighted. The current situation wasn't quite what she had expected—a naked embrace—but it was enough to ruin their reputations!

Ye Xiao jumped in surprise, then suddenly realized what was happening. She struggled to get up and said loudly, "This is a misunderstanding...it's not like that..." The hand around her waist suddenly tightened, so much so that she could hardly speak.

Luo Qingcheng didn't get up; he really didn't want to ruin this beautiful feeling. The hardships and harsh environment of his childhood had taught him deceit and manipulation at a young age. Although he had rarely used such cunning methods since meeting Ye Xiao, the moment Yuan Peixin led her men in, his mind was completely clear.

"So, Miss Yuan is used to such despicable tactics! She's even quite knowledgeable about such things!" He scoffed mockingly, slowly raising his eyes. His gaze, fixed on Yuan Peixin, was chilling, like icicles piercing the heart in the dead of winter. Yuan Peixin flinched, her excitement instantly turning to a bone-chilling cold, almost making her tremble.

"Haha! Luo Qingcheng, you're finished! Now you can forget about finding a husband..." a jealous young master laughed loudly.

Luo Qingcheng said, "Get out!" The man's body suddenly felt light, and when he came to his senses, he had already landed in the courtyard, his buttocks split into four pieces.

Luo Qingcheng leaned lazily against the headboard, his eyes slowly sweeping over the faces of the others. "Get out! Don't get in my way! Get out!" Before he finished speaking, the room was empty.

Outside the door, the group of people were running for their lives when they heard Luo Qingcheng's voice coming from afar, not loud but very clear: "Don't let me hear you gossiping... tarnishing Miss Ye's reputation... otherwise..." They ran even faster.

“We can’t leave… Miss Yuan has misunderstood, she’s angry… I’ll explain to her…” Ye Xiao stood up anxiously, dragging her wooden clogs as she chased after them, but Luo Qingcheng grabbed her.

"She didn't misunderstand... She knows very well... It's just that she doesn't like me..." Her eyes dimmed, but she felt a great sense of relief.

Ye Xiao didn't quite understand, but he was worried. If Qingcheng couldn't find a son-in-law, would their agreement be null and void? Would he refuse to be his brother anymore?

Suddenly, a loud bang was heard, and a disheveled man burst in. "What's going on? What's going on? It seemed like there was a lot of noise just now... Were you two sneaking some good food behind my back?" Xiao Xun looked at the two of them, his face full of grievance...

The situation changed suddenly

Early in the morning, Xiao Xun, panting, pushed open the courtyard gate, carrying breakfast wrapped in lotus leaves: "Boss! Something's happened! Something's happened!"

Ye Xiao was angrily chopping firewood in the yard when he suddenly turned around fiercely and said in a sinister tone, "What is it?"

"Today on the street, I actually heard some rumors, saying that you and the second brother..." He suddenly stopped talking, shocked by the gloomy and terrifying look on Ye Xiao's face.

"I already know. Your eldest son has spent his whole life hunting geese, and today he got pecked in the eye by a goose. Humph! That Miss Yuan! If you don't like the second son, just say so! She set up a trap and got me caught in it too... Sigh, it's also because the second son is too ugly..." Ye Xiao clearly already knew everything, and his face turned green with anger.

This morning, as soon as Xiao Xun went out, he heard the rumors spreading like wildfire throughout the village. They were detailed and detailed, all saying that Luo Qingcheng and Ye Xiao had been caught having an affair. Some versions had even embellished the story, turning it into a live sex show. He was immediately terrified, worried that the young girl, being easily offended, might do something rash, so he rushed back to give her a heads-up. Seeing that she was angry but still seemed to be taking it all in stride, he felt a little relieved. Suddenly, he couldn't suppress his curiosity: "Boss, are they... telling the truth?"

Ye Xiao glared at him fiercely: "Since it's a setup, it's obviously not real! Qingcheng was drugged with a stupid drug, that's why he did some foolish things..."

Xiao Xun gave a thoughtful "oh," then suddenly looked distressed and said, "Second Brother really was drugged, so have you... have you..."

Ye Xiao had left home earlier today and had already heard the rumors. Fortunately, she didn't understand much about matters of the heart, and her anger was mainly due to the shame and resentment of being deceived. She continued to vent her anger on the poor firewood, completely ignoring Xiao Xun's words. After observing for a while, Xiao Xun finally asked curiously, "Are there guests coming for dinner today? Are you short of chopsticks? Would you like me to help you chop the wood into chopsticks?"

Ye Xiao stopped what he was doing, looking up at the sky with resentment: "God! Why is this happening? I finally found two brothers, and freedom was just around the corner, but then this unexpected complication came up... Now Qingcheng definitely won't be Langjing Manor's son-in-law, and he can't be my brother either... God, open your eyes! My demands weren't high to begin with; I'd even be happy to have that ugly freak as a brother... Now even he won't... Please grant me a handsome man to be my brother..."

In the azure sky, white clouds rapidly changed shape, flitting gracefully by, seemingly carrying a hint of mockery. Xiao Xun chuckled inwardly and turned to walk away. Suddenly, he heard a loud bang behind him. Turning around, he found Ye Xiao lying on the ground.

He was taken aback and rushed over to help Ye Xiao up: "Boss... what's wrong?" Did you faint from anger?

Ye Xiao scrambled to his feet, still dizzy: "Something fell from the sky and hit me right on the head... Third brother, go check it out, maybe it's a handsome man..."

Xiao Xun sighed: "Not a handsome man, Boss... is a burden..."

Ye Xiao turned his head and, amidst the swirling golden stars, indeed saw a bulging package lying on the ground. It vaguely resembled the one he had hidden countless treasures in, the one he had always thought had burned in the fire. He leaped over, opened it, and laughed loudly, "It really is my package! My treasure is back! Third brother, go out and see who's so kind as to return my treasure..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xiao Xun leaped over the wall.

Outside the wall, in the quiet alley, only a few elderly, weak, sick, and disabled people walked slowly, none of them looking suspicious...

Ye Xiao chased after him out the door: "Who is it?"

Xiao Xun shook his head with a wry smile, staring blankly at the long alley.

Young Master An of Jinling swayed his plump body, in high spirits. He had been enjoying a carefree life at home when his father suddenly sent him all the way to Langjing Manor to propose marriage. He hadn't held out any hope, only intending to make a polite appearance. Yesterday, however, he was unexpectedly invited by the beautiful and charming Lady Yuan to catch her husband in the act of adultery, which made him quite flattered.

He initially felt some sympathy for the somewhat ugly Luo Qingcheng. With so many handsome, wealthy young men, how could that ugly fellow have a chance? He could only find other girls to relieve his frustrations… Just like himself, he felt hopeless and had already sneaked into a brothel and done his bidding a few times. But even secretly seeking out girls was so unlucky… It alerted the beautiful Yuan, leading to a grand affair, and today it's become the talk of the town. He'd probably be ready to kill himself… However, given his threats to everyone present yesterday, he wasn't so deserving of sympathy… Since he still had the energy to threaten people, he probably wouldn't take this too seriously.

Strolling casually along a secluded path by the lake, he suddenly felt a gust of wind sweep past him, and a chill ran down his scalp. Startled, he reached up to touch it—smooth, cold hair. What?! "My hair!" he cried out, turning around in fear to see Luo Qingcheng, holding a long sword, casually blowing on the hairs on its blade. A sudden urge to urinate surged in his lower abdomen, but he held it in with sheer willpower. "You… what are you going to do?"

Luo Qingcheng grinned, revealing his white teeth, and said in a sinister smile, "Anyway, I'm not planning on sleeping with you... Last night I was busy picking up girls and didn't get a good look at those people who barged into my house for no reason. Only you are so fat, so distinctive... You're easy to spot..."

Young Master An's short, fat legs trembled uncontrollably. He was about to say something tough, but before he could finish, he said, "This... it was all Miss Yuan's doing. I didn't know the reason. If I had known, I definitely wouldn't have done this... Brother... no, sir... I really sympathize with you, no, I admire you. Your girl is much prettier than mine. The one I found is a prostitute... she's pretty in bed, and her looks are better than yours... ouch!" His equally short, fat upper body was hit hard, and he quickly shut his mouth.

"Don't insult Xiaoxiao... How can a pheasant be compared to her? What did I say yesterday? I told you not to gossip! I just want to know... who spread the news about last night?" Luo Qingcheng brandished his sword in front of Young Master An, his eyes turning cold and sharp as a wolf-tooth arrow.

Young Master An's legs trembled so badly he could barely stand: "It wasn't me... I didn't know..."

"Who were the other people who came into the house last night?" Luo Qingcheng's voice suddenly turned as cold as ice in the dead of winter.

"Young Master Xie from Huizhou... Young Master Zhang from Loucheng... and some of them are confidants of Miss Langjing Manor..." As soon as Young Master An finished speaking, Luo Qingcheng disappeared without a trace.

It took Young Master An a while to come to his senses. He was drenched in cold sweat, but finally calmed down enough to take a step. After a few steps, he saw a familiar face. He greeted him happily, but a gust of wind swept by, and he suddenly felt a sharp pain in his neck. He reached up to touch it in surprise and found it sticky, from which a stream of hot blood spurted out.

"Beauty is a curse..." he struggled to utter his last famous line before slowly collapsing. Beauty truly is a curse. If it weren't for the stunningly beautiful Miss Yuan, he would surely be enjoying himself at home right now. If it weren't for the stunningly beautiful Miss Yuan, he wouldn't have died like this at... Langjing Manor...

Yuan Pei swayed gently along the lake embankment like a willow in the breeze, in high spirits. Last night's events had been truly gratifying; she guessed her father would never marry her off to that ugly man again. Thinking this, she couldn't help but giggle, then suddenly bent down to admire her reflection in the water. The woman in the water was stunningly beautiful, like a beauty that could make fish sink like Xi Shi. Suddenly, she froze, noticing a faint dark shadow beside the beautiful woman in the water…

I turned around with a hint of fear, only to suddenly meet a pair of captivating eyes…

Ye Xiao strolled along the lakeside, troubled. Several small boats were busily picking something on the lake. Curious, she approached and saw a dozen or so men dressed as servants from Langjing Manor picking clusters of beautiful Biluo flowers. After watching for a while, it suddenly dawned on her. No wonder there were no withered flowers on the lake; they had all been picked clean when they were in full bloom. But what were they picking these flowers for?

As dusk fell, Luo Qingcheng wearily returned to his room, sword in hand. Ye Xiao was sitting at the table waiting for him, giving him a fawning smile as he entered. Luo Qingcheng felt a pang of pain in his heart. He didn't dare approach the table, instead leaning against the door, hesitating for a long time before saying, "Xiao Xiao, there's something I don't know how to tell you..."

Ye Xiao felt a chill in her heart and hesitated, "I know, it's about what happened last night..."

"Yes... I fell for someone's scheme last night, which damaged your reputation..."

"So... you can't be Langjing Manor's son-in-law..." Ye Xiao's mood continued to sink.

"Yes... I should have... taken responsibility for you... but you don't know, I actually carry a deep-seated hatred... an inescapable responsibility... but I have neither wealth nor power..."

"So, our agreement from last time is null and void..." Ye Xiao's bright eyes suddenly dimmed.

"So I've always wanted to find a rich and powerful woman to marry, hoping to rely on her family's strength to avenge myself and fulfill my responsibilities... Perhaps from the moment I was born, I didn't belong to myself... I can't act recklessly, so... I can't take responsibility for you... However, I will take good care of you, always like a brother... protecting you... I won't allow anyone to bully you... I won't allow them to tarnish your reputation... I... have already taught those thugs a lesson for you last night..."

Ye Xiao suddenly raised her head, her big eyes suddenly sparkling: "You mean, like my brother? We can still be brothers?"

Luo Qingcheng bit his lip in anguish, feeling as if every word he had just uttered was cutting into his heart like a knife. Hearing Ye Xiao's retort, he suddenly froze, filled with shame: "I know this is far from enough to make up for your loss. I have no right to... I'm such a beast... I..."

"You're qualified!" Ye Xiao shouted. "You're absolutely qualified to be my brother, now I'm relieved! I thought you wouldn't honor our agreement and wouldn't be my brother because you couldn't become the Yuan family's son-in-law... Oh? What did you just say? What responsibility?"

Luo Qingcheng looked at Ye Xiao with some disbelief: "You're just worried that I... won't be your brother anymore?"

Ye Xiao smiled brightly, like a spring flower, and ran quickly out of the room, afraid that he would change his mind.

Luo Qingcheng stood there for a long while, then slowly dragged his heavy body to the table and sat down in a daze. It turned out that from beginning to end, she only wanted him to be her brother…nothing else…nothing more… He slowly raised his eyes, looking at a bronze mirror on the table. The person in the mirror had a plain, rigid face, with features so dull they seemed almost foolish… Suddenly, he gave a desolate laugh: “Luo Qingcheng, who will like you? Who will care about you? No power, no influence, no looks…even your mother doesn’t care about you…no other woman will care…”

Hearing Ye Xiao's heartfelt laughter suddenly coming from outside the door, I couldn't help but stand at the window and look out.

Under the setting sun, Ye Xiao, beaming with joy, lightly kicked the shuttlecock like a beautiful swallow. Xiao Xun watched from the side, his face also radiating genuine happiness. Little Shan'er, feigning disdain, crossed her arms, but her eyes were filled with eager anticipation. When Ye Xiao finally kicked the shuttlecock to her side, she immediately picked it up happily and played with it with great joy.

Everyone else was so happy, as bright as the unobstructed sunlight in the sky. Only I was destined to be a shadow that the sun could never reach, like the snow that never melts on a high mountain, feeling neither warmth nor joy...

From birth until... death...