Rêve de fleurs urbaines

Chapitre 13

Bi Feixian exclaimed in surprise, "Could it be that he poisoned himself?" When she asked Huai Su at the time, Huai Su seemed to have admitted it!

Dai Kejian shook his head. "It was my father who did it."

"What!"

Dai Kejian sighed softly, “Throughout history, few who manipulate power have been without cunning, and my father was no exception. He spent his whole life using and guarding against people. He saw that Huai Su was ambitious and would not be content to remain subservient to others for long, so he used poison to ruin his health. Huai Su was very clever; he used the method of fighting poison with poison to suppress the toxins in his body on the one hand, and on the other hand, he remained perpetually ill so that my father would not suspect him. Because of this, I understand his actions very well, and sometimes I even envy his ambition. It is a good thing for a man to have some ambition, but unfortunately, I am too unruly and lack ambition.”

Bi Feixian was speechless with astonishment. She had never seen anyone like this before, someone who seemed so indifferent to fame and fortune. Was he truly unambitious, or simply humble? The young man before her had a clear face and bright eyes, like the first rays of the morning sun, bringing new hope.

“The third reason is because of you.” Dai Kejian looked directly into her eyes and said, word by word, “Because that person is you, I am willing to be schemed against and framed by you, as long as you are happy.”

Chapter Nine

Bi Feixian is eighteen years old this year.

In the past eighteen years, very few people have been kind to her. Her mother doted on her when she was little, but soon went mad. Her mother, unable to even care for herself, how could she care for her? Then came her master and mistress, who raised her, but they weren't her parents; though their teacher-student bond was deep, a distance remained. This young man before her was the first person in eighteen years to extend a helping hand to her, even willing to sacrifice fame and fortune, willing to suffer injustice, just to win her favor… How could such a person exist in the world? Why did fate arrange for such a person to appear in her life so casually? She clearly didn't like this kind of man, so why did she feel a flutter in her heart when she saw his eyes, bright as pearls and deep as the sea?

Bi Feixian stared blankly at Dai Kejian, speechless for a long time. When she tried to speak again, Dai Kejian raised his finger to shush her, and grinned, saying, "I know you're very touched right now. Women lose their minds when they're touched, and you never know what they might say about marrying you. Hey, although I like you, I'm not planning to marry you yet."

His intention was to amuse her, whether to make her angry or laugh, just to stop her from looking so blank. But it backfired. Bi Feixian's eyes reddened and tears streamed down her face.

Dai Kejian's smile vanished. He sighed, "Good heavens, I hate it when girls cry... And you're my teacher? How embarrassing to cry like this in front of your students! Don't cry, hmm, shall I croak for you? Croak! Croak croak!"

Bi Feixian continued to cry.

"Don't like frogs? Then learn to imitate tigers? Waaah—waaah—still don't like that? Then learn to imitate birds, bu-gu-bu-gu..." It has to be admitted that Dai Kejian's imitation skills are first-rate; he can imitate anything perfectly, but Bi Feixian still shows no improvement. Finally, Dai Kejian ran out of ideas and sighed deeply, "Alright, Miss, what do you like? Tell me, and I'll imitate whatever you say."

“Turtle,” Bi Feixian finally spoke.

Without thinking, Dai Kejian said, "Okay, then it's a turtle... Wait! A turtle? A turtle!" Turning his head, he saw Bi Feixian with a sly smile hidden in her teary eyes, clearly deliberately making things difficult for him.

Dai Kejian shook his head desperately and said helplessly, "Fine, a turtle it is." As he spoke, he lay down and imitated a turtle's crawling motion, and his swaying motion did indeed resemble one quite a bit.

Bi Feixian burst out laughing.

Dai Ke looked up at her, her tears turning to laughter. The bright sunlight shone on her face, and the usually mature and composed girl finally possessed the innocent joy that came with her age. Seeing this, he felt an indescribable beauty. This was the girl he wanted to see—crying when she wanted to cry, laughing when she wanted to laugh, without restraint, without worries…

The two stared at each other silently until Bi Feixian stopped laughing and asked seriously, "How did you know I was Luo Su's daughter?"

"Your master told me."

Bi Feixian was startled. "Master knows about my background?"

“You’ve studied under him for ten years; you shouldn’t underestimate his intelligence. He’s not saying anything just to avoid reopening old wounds, not because he doesn’t know.” Dai Kejian smiled as he spoke. “My late father secretly planted spies in various cities before his death, and they would report any suspicious activity immediately. After my father passed away, I took over the organization, and even Huai Su didn’t know about this. Although he was very careful about his alliance with Luo Su, I still found out about it immediately. And at that time, you came to Hantian City. After a little contact, it wasn’t hard to guess the cause and effect.”

Dai Maozi was indeed a legendary figure, his plans meticulously crafted and flawlessly executed. How could Huai Su possibly contend with him? How could her father possibly compete with him? And his son, Dai Kejian, though seemingly carefree and irresponsible, was undeniably intelligent. Realizing this, Bi Feixian felt a sense of relief. She took a deep breath, raised an eyebrow, and said, "Could you do me a favor?"

Dai Kejian's eyes lit up. "What is it?"

“Send me to Anluo so I can see my father.”

Dai Kejian's eyes dimmed.

"I must see him again and get to the bottom of this. Otherwise, I won't be at peace! I need to ask him why he's so heartless, how he could even harm his own daughter. I won't be at peace until I get an answer!"

Dai Kejian fell silent.

“Didn’t you say you wanted me to be happy? You’d do anything to make me happy? Well, let me tell you now, what I want isn’t your city, but family. So—” she gripped his hand and said in a low voice, “Please send me to Anluo.”

Dai Kejian's gaze flickered, and he suddenly smiled as he looked at her. "Are you using your beauty to seduce me?"

Bi Feixian's expression changed instantly, and she was about to get angry when he continued, "However, I have to admit that this trick is very effective... It seems that I have to find a way to send you to see Luo Su."

“Dai Kejian…”

"What?"

Bi Feixian gazed at him for a long time before saying, "Thank you."

Thank you for extending a helping hand at this moment, thank you for your constant good intentions, and thank you even more for your kindness to her, even though she felt she didn't deserve it at all...

Because of this "thank you," Bi Feixian met Wu Youweng the next day.

Dai Kejian smiled and said, "You two have already met, but I think I should introduce you again. Brother, this is Bi Feixian, the youngest daughter of Luo Su, the lord of Anluo City; and Miss Bi, this is Fang Tian, the once infamous swindler."

Bi Feixian's eyes widened in surprise. "Fang Tian, the swindler?"

Wu Youweng stroked his beard and said, "It's genuine."

“But you told me last time that you were my master’s friend.”

"Does Miss Bi think the swindler's words are unreliable, or does she think the swindler is unworthy to be friends with the Master of the Divine Strategist Pavilion?"

Bi Feixian blushed and stammered, "That's not what I meant."

Dai Kejian laughed, "Junior? Teacher, you call my sworn brother a junior, so how should we define our relationship?"

Wu Youweng slapped him and said, "You little rascal, can't you let me have a go at being a senior? Especially when such a pretty little girl calls me senior, it feels so good..."

Bi Feixian glared at the two men, seething with anger. Everyone in Hantian City was a master of pretense! These two had pretended not to know each other when they met on the lake last time, but it turned out they were sworn brothers, a friendship that transcended age! She thought she had fooled everyone with her double identity, but little did she know that they were the real masters. At this point, she had no choice but to admit defeat.

Dai Kejian explained, “I really wanted to accompany you to Anluo, but unfortunately I have to wait here to receive the imperial decree, so I had to ask you to go with me. I have already instructed people to clear the checkpoints along the way, so there shouldn’t be too many problems. Moreover, you are skilled in disguise, and I guarantee that with your skillful disguise, you could walk right past Huai Su and he wouldn’t recognize you.”

For some reason, upon hearing the news that he couldn't accompany her, Bi Feixian felt a little disappointed. She turned to Fang Tian and bowed, saying, "Then I'll have to trouble Fang... Fang..." Calling him "senior" was inappropriate, and calling him "hero" was also unsuitable. For a moment, she was stuck on this form of address, feeling a sudden sense of embarrassment.

Fang Tian and Dai Kejian both waited with smiles for her to finish speaking, showing no intention of easing her embarrassment. She had no choice but to steel herself and vaguely say, "Thank you for your trouble, Elder Fang."

Fang Tian laughed loudly, patted Dai Kejian on the shoulder and said, "Brother, don't worry, I will make sure to deliver your sweetheart safely to that monster Luo Su and bring her back intact, without missing a single hair!"

Hearing him call her Dai Kejian's sweetheart, Bi Feixian blushed again. Then, hearing him call her father an old monster, she was even more exasperated. If we're talking about weirdness, who could compare to these two lovable clowns, one old and one young?

She packed her bags, ready to depart. After Fang Tian's transformation, she became an extremely ordinary-looking country girl, the kind you could easily blend into a crowd and wouldn't remember even after seeing her a dozen times.

According to Fang Tian, the art of disguise depends not only on the skill of the practitioner but also on the cultivation level of the person being disguised. If one is to impersonate an old woman, although the appearance changes drastically, the requirements are also much higher; every movement must convey age, otherwise the deception will be revealed. The same applies to impersonating a man. Therefore, it's best to dress as a girl of similar age, the kind you could easily spot a dozen or so on the street.

And so, Bi Feixian, dressed in coarse cloth, wrapped in a floral headscarf, and carrying a small bag, helped Fang Tian out of the checkpoint of Hantian City. As expected, the guards did not pay much attention to the old man and the young girl who claimed to be grandfather and grandson, and let them pass easily.

Bi Feixian took a few steps, then couldn't help but turn back. She saw an oxcart parked by the roadside in the distance. The driver raised his straw hat, smiled at her, and waved goodbye.

Although it was an unfamiliar face, she knew it was Dai Kejian.

As they drove slowly, they saw lush green grass stretching to the horizon, and verdant mountains and clear waters all around them. Fang Tian kept admiring the scenery and exclaimed, "Indeed, there is beauty everywhere in the world."

"At this rate, when will we reach Anluo City?"

"Don't rush, don't rush. We'll hire a carriage once we get to Liuzhen. Walking now is definitely much safer than taking a carriage or riding a horse." As if to prove his point, a pair of soldiers from Hantian City rode past them on horseback without even glancing at them.

Bi Feixian gazed in the direction the cavalry had gone and sighed softly, "You know what? I've been in Hantian City for over a month, and this is the first time I've ever seen cavalry."

“That’s right. Hantian City is usually so peaceful that there isn’t even a petty thief. Why would we need to send out cavalry?” Fang Tian glanced at her and teased, “You really have a lot of influence. Huai Su even sent out infantry, cavalry, and navy to find your body.”

"I'm very confused right now."

What's puzzling you?

“Huai Su is a talented person. He is ambitious, skillful, decisive, and passionate. But is he really the most suitable candidate to be the city lord of Hantian City? Hantian City is a peaceful and carefree paradise on earth. Why should it be dragged into the vortex of desire for power and profit?”

“I’m glad you finally realized that,” Fang Tian said, rubbing his nose. “Although you’re a little slow on the uptake.”

"Well?"

"You think I insisted you accompany me to Hantian City last time because I was tempted by worldly pleasures?"

Fang Tian's eyes flickered, and Bi Feixian was stunned. Recalling the situation that time, his every move suddenly became meaningful.

First, her master already knew she was Luo Su's daughter and informed Dai Kejian of this. Since Dai Kejian and Fang Tian were sworn brothers, Fang Tian must have also known her identity. Therefore, his trip was a pretense; his true intention was to enlighten her. He deliberately wanted her to witness firsthand the prosperity and stability of Hantian City, to see that Dai Kejian was actually quite capable as the city lord, and to further deduce that Huai Su was truly unsuitable for Hantian City.

Bi Feixian broke out in a cold sweat as she thought about it. She had always been so proud of her intelligence, and she had only just realized so many things now! Dai Kejian... that boy who was eighteen years old with her, what kind of wisdom and magnanimity did he possess?

He knew Huai Su was plotting a rebellion, yet he still valued him and allowed him to do as he pleased; he knew she harbored ulterior motives, yet he treated her with gentleness, indulged her, and pleased her, doing so many amusing, funny, and exasperating things to tease her, choosing a husband for her, giving her hairpins, and filling her life with surprises every day. He wouldn't directly point out how foolish and ridiculous she was, but rather laid out the facts before her one by one, letting her analyze and decide for herself. When she still insisted on continuing down the wrong path, he would generously smile and give her what she wanted…

Why did Dai Kejian have to meet him in this life? Why did she have to meet such a person? How can she bear this deep affection, and how can she ever repay it?

Upon realizing this, a look of sorrow immediately appeared in his eyes.

The four servants sat together, eating hotpot and sharing their opinions on the current situation in the city.

The first to speak was, of course, the eldest of the four servants, Xiao Chi: "Hasn't Miss Biao returned yet? I saw that the lanterns at Wangyou Tower are still not lit. Judging by the time, she should be back soon."

"I think it would be better if Miss Biao came back later. At least, even if it's bad news, it will be later," Xiao Le said pessimistically.

Xiao He retorted, "Then you're wrong. I think there's nothing Miss Biao can't accomplish, so what she brings back must be good news."

"I don't know how Miss Biao is doing, but Miss Bi is definitely in grave danger." Xiao Le shook his head. "I heard that the Xicheng military camp sent out three teams to search for her, but they still couldn't find her. Where did she go? It's really strange that she disappeared inexplicably at this time."

Xiao Wan looked around and whispered, "You don't know what's even stranger! I heard from people in the Suzi Camp that Miss Bi was killed by the Grand Steward."

"What?" Xiao He and Xiao Le exclaimed in surprise at the same time.

Xiao Wan made a shushing gesture and continued in a low voice, "They dare not say anything about this, so we just let it go. Anyway, I think something is fishy. Maybe the young master's sneaking out these past few days is related to Miss Bi's disappearance."

The three servants exchanged glances and then focused their attention on the snack that was being devoured. The snack was stunned, and the beef in its chopsticks fell into the pot.

“Something’s strange—” the three servants said in unison, drawing out their words.

The snack vendor hurriedly waved his hands, "I don't know, I don't know, I don't know anything!"

Xiao Wan and Xiao Le grabbed his arms. Xiao He pounced on him and choked him, saying, "Where did the young master go? Tell me!"

"I can't say it, I can't say it, I can't say it..."

Tears were welling up in Xiaochi's eyes as she struggled, when a lazy voice said, "What do you want from me?"

The three servants turned around and were astonished to see Dai Kejian sitting in their original seats, happily eating with their plates and chopsticks. They could only smile awkwardly, put down their snacks, and sit back down.

Xiao He asked, "Young Master, where did you go?"

"If you were my wife, I would tell you."

"..." Xiao He was speechless.

Xiao Wan pouted and said, "Young Master is biased. He tells Xiaochi everything, but keeps it from the three of us!"

Dai Kejian glanced at him twice, then put down his chopsticks, sighed with a worried expression, and said, "Actually, I had no choice but to do this..."

"Pah, who would believe that?"

"Because your three lives are more important than snacks, and someone who knows too much won't live long..."

"Come on, don't give me that!"

"Because you're too clever, unlike snack vendors who are easy to fool and can be easily fooled with any excuse..."