Vallée Sauvage de Green Mountain (Transmigrée à la dynastie Song)

Chapitre 7

Ye Zhi Qiu said, word by word, "I didn't expect that you, Bai Yi Qing, would also be an expert in criminal law. I admire you... However..." He cleared his throat and said calmly, "However, You Hua has already been bought by me as a slave, stripped of her status as a entertainer, and is no longer an official. Our dynasty's criminal law clearly states: if a slave is guilty, her master can use family law to beat her to death and then report it to the authorities, and the master will be exonerated. I wonder if Young Master Bai has any insights into this clause?"

Upon hearing this, my expression changed drastically, even though I was hiding behind the black veil!

Although I am not very old in modern times, I have handled dozens of cases of all sizes. I am familiar with the laws and regulations, and although I am not always sure of winning in court debates, I am always confident. However, this time, I was defeated by an ancient person in order to gain the upper hand!

How true it is that the falling of a single leaf heralds the arrival of autumn!

My voice remained unchanged as I said, "I didn't expect that Pavilion Master Ye had already bought Youhua. I was being presumptuous. I wonder if Pavilion Master Ye could spare her life? Guiyun Manor is willing to buy Youhua's life."

"Buy Youhua?" Ye Zhiqiu's words carried a hint of sarcasm. "I bought this popular courtesan from Biyun Tower in Jiangnan and gifted her a Hetian jade hairpin and a snow-silk dance dress. All of this cost... 13,587 taels of silver. May I ask if Young Master Bai is capable of making this decision for Guiyun Manor?"

Before I could answer, a clear and cheerful voice rang out behind me, “What the white-robed prime minister said is the intention of Guiyun Manor!” It was none other than Yun Yiyang, the young master of Guiyun Manor.

I turned around and saw Yun Yiyang with a calm expression, giving me a slight smile. A warmth welled up in my heart, and I said loudly, "Guiyun Manor will exchange a forty-two-foot-long bolt of silk for Youhua." As soon as I said this, I had my own plan. Ye Zhiqiu had already asserted that a dance costume was worth a hundred taels of gold. In the Song Dynasty, the price of gold was extremely high. At its peak, one tael of pure gold could be exchanged for eighty taels of silver. A bolt of silk could make four dance costumes. Based on this calculation, it was worth at least ten thousand taels of silver.

As soon as I finished speaking, Ye Zhi Qiu suddenly burst into laughter:

"What a shrewd white-robed prime minister! How could he be so muddle-headed! Have you ever seen a merchant buy something at a high price and then sell it at the original price? One bolt of silk... what if I want two bolts?"

I nodded: "Okay."

Ye Zhi Qiu asked, "What if I want three horses?"

Without hesitation, I replied, "Yes!" A gasp of astonishment rippled through the room. Three bolts of silk, worth over forty thousand taels of silver—enough to buy the entire Biyun Tower—were being used to exchange for the life of a courtesan. It was utterly absurd. The courtesan, already dazed on the ground, suddenly cried out, "Young Master Bai, my lowly life is not worth it—" upon seeing that I had agreed to offer three bolts of silk.

Ye Zhi Qiu's voice came again, softly: "What if I want the skill of weaving brocade?"

"Ah—" Everyone present was deeply moved. Qiuye Pavilion's Qing Si Xue Silk was already of the highest quality. If Ye Zhi Qiu knew the method of weaving Liao Ling, Qiuye Pavilion would gain far more than 40,000 taels of silver! From then on, Qiuye Pavilion would be even more powerful in both Jiangnan and Jiangbei. Who else could compare with it!

"Hahaha—" I laughed loudly, "Pavilion Master Ye, I have already retreated three steps—" As soon as I finished speaking, my cold gaze pierced through the black veil and shot towards Ye Zhi Qiu inside the curtain!

“Retreat three times, retreat three times…” Ye Zhi Qiu said softly, “If there is nowhere to retreat, there must be the power to meet the attack. This is the story of Duke Wen of Jin…” The person in the curtain pondered for a long time, then slowly said, “A Fu, put down the knife.”

The situation suddenly reversed, surprising even me. Upon hearing Ye Zhi Qiu's words, the servant called A Fu, who still wore an obedient expression, flicked his wrist, and the knife that had been against You Hua's neck vanished. Ye Zhi Qiu's voice rang out:

"I only wish to use Youhua's worth in exchange for having the White-Robed Minister do one thing for me," Ye Zhi Qiu said. "After doing this, Youhua will be yours."

I hesitated for a moment, then said, "Okay!"

Ye Zhi Qiu chuckled, "Good! That's straightforward. Don't worry, I, Ye, will certainly not let you do anything like murder or arson." A tall, slender figure slowly moved through the white curtains and said leisurely, "It's my fault that everyone didn't enjoy themselves enough today. We'll hold another grand banquet another day at a more auspicious time. A Fu, see the guests out!"

Ah Fu slowly walked out, his face expressionless, and said, "Goodbye, everyone." The merchants were already terrified by this scene. Although the food and wine were delicious, they valued their own lives even more. One by one, they filed out without even saying goodbye, and in a short time, they were all gone.

Afu flashed and suddenly appeared beside me, without a knife in his hand. He gestured for me to enter, saying, "My young master invites you in."

I was standing in another flower hall, with Ye Zhi Qiu opposite me.

There were still two white silk curtains between us.

Ye Zhi Qiu remained silent. From within the silk curtains came the clear, melodious sound of a flute. Through the hazy white mist, a jade flute could be seen at his lips. The flute's melody was clear and resonant, a stark contrast to the tender, lingering notes played at the banquet. It instantly calmed the mind, cleansing away worldly cares; the tune was like the sound of pine trees rustling in the wind, a gentle breeze stirring countless valleys. Gradually, the flute's sound faded into silence. Ye Zhi Qiu slowly opened his mouth to speak: "How does this piece compare to what was played at the banquet? I would appreciate your judgment, Young Master Bai."

I bowed slightly and said, "I am not knowledgeable in music, but I feel that the flute music is lofty and pure, beyond the reach of ordinary people. It is certainly not comparable to the occasional piece played at a banquet."

From within the silk curtains, Ye Zhi Qiu nodded and said, "Having heard Young Master Bai's discourse, I have grasped its essence. I invited Young Master Bai here only to ask that you do something for me—"

He said in a deep voice, word by word, "I wish for Young Master Bai to remove my black veil and hat."

I smiled slightly and replied, "If Pavilion Master Ye doesn't show his true face, why does he insist that I take off my bamboo hat?"

Ye Zhi Qiu paced slowly behind the curtain, and said gently, "Does Young Master Bai think this request is not worth more than ten thousand taels of silver?"

I was taken aback, then laughed loudly, "I never knew my face was worth so much money." I casually reached up and flipped my straw hat off, revealing a carefully "made-up" face in broad daylight.

Unexpectedly, the person behind the curtain did not scream, but only let out a soft "Eek". After a long silence, Ye Zhi Qiu slowly said, "I have a friend who is skilled in traditional Chinese medicine. I wonder if Young Master Bai would be willing for my friend to use his skillful hands... Although he cannot be fully cured, he can restore most of his appearance."

With a flick of my wrist, I skillfully put on the bamboo hat and said leisurely, "Appearance is merely superficial; there's no need for Pavilion Master Ye to worry about it."

Upon hearing this, Ye Zhi Qiu actually smiled and said, "People say that the White-Robed Minister is dashing and romantic, and it is indeed so..." Suddenly, he changed the subject and said, "I would like to invite the White-Robed Minister to stay at Qiu Ye Pavilion for 100,000 taels of silver. Is that alright?"

"Ten thousand taels of silver?" I couldn't help but laugh. "Ten thousand taels of silver is enough for Pavilion Master Ye to control the entire textile industry in Jiangnan. Why would he need to buy a mere scholar like me?"

"The textile industry of Jiangnan is attainable, but white robes are not. Are you truly unwilling to go to Qiuye Pavilion with me?" Ye Zhi Qiu's voice drifted over casually, as if speaking lightly. "However, I truly do not wish for you to leave. I wish you... to remain at Heyue Manor forever..."

Ye Zhi Qiu spoke these words softly and gently, as if brimming with affection, but to me, it was like a bucket of ice water being poured over me, chilling me to the bone!

"I didn't expect Pavilion Master Ye to be so kind to me. It would be impolite to refuse." My voice didn't tremble as I smiled and said, "The scenery at Heyue Manor is so beautiful. Staying here would surely be a feast for the eyes, but..." Ye Zhi Qiu continued, "But what?"

My smile deepened as I slowly said, "My young master is waiting for me outside the manor. If I don't go out in half an hour, he will go to Prince Ning's place. I'm afraid... it wouldn't be appropriate to keep Prince Ning waiting for a mere commoner like me, would it?"

Ye Zhi Qiu seemed to pause for a moment behind the curtain before saying, word by word, "I forgot that Guiyun Manor and the Ning Prince's Mansion have always been on good terms... It was my fault. It's getting late, and I dare not keep Young Master Bai any longer." He then said in a deep voice, "A Fu, see the guest out!"

I tried my best to walk steadily out of Heyue Manor, and saw Yun Yiyang waiting for me not far outside the manor. I felt a sense of relief, and my legs suddenly went weak—

Yun Yiyang rushed over and quickly supported my swaying body, asking anxiously, "Sister Bai, are you alright?"

I gently waved my hand and whispered, "Don't say anything more, just help me back to Yun Manor." I reached into my inner pocket, took out a Cypress Seed Heart-Nourishing Pill, and swallowed it before letting out a sigh of relief. Only then did I realize a chill ran down my back—my clothes were soaked with cold sweat!

When Ye Zhi Qiu said "I don't want me to leave," he really meant it. And when he said "I want to stay at Heyue Manor forever," he really meant it.

The dead certainly don't leave, and they will remain forever.

If an ordinary servant under Ye Zhi Qiu possesses such skill in wielding a knife, then if he were to truly strike, even a hundred white-clad men would be "forever" kept at He Yue Manor.

I looked up at the sky, where a lone goose, separated from its flock, was struggling to fly higher. My hand unconsciously pressed against my heart; this half-hour confrontation with Ye Zhi Qiu felt longer and more agonizing than ever before. In over twenty years, this was the first time I had encountered such a profound and unfathomable opponent.

How true it is that the falling of a single leaf heralds the arrival of autumn!

I was sitting in my little room, resting with my eyes closed. Suddenly, I heard Yun Yiyang's voice calling from outside: