Rêve de fleurs urbaines

Chapitre 14

"That makes some sense."

Dai Kejian's smile suddenly turned cold as he said, "Because there's a traitor among you three!"

Xiao He, Xiao Wan, and Xiao Le's previously cheerful expression froze instantly. After a long while, he said in a trembling voice, "Young Master, are you... are you... what kind of joke are you making?"

"Oh, am I joking?" Dai Kejian casually crossed his arms and leaned back in his chair, saying lightly, "The big house in Guozi Lane in the east of the city, and the 30,000 taels of silver at Wanxianglou and Fenjuhua, are indeed very attractive. You have followed me for so many years, and I have never given you that many benefits, so it is understandable that some of you would betray me for this reason."

The three servants could no longer sit still; their expressions were astonished, and their hands and feet trembled.

"Why are you all so scared? I didn't say I was going to pursue this matter. Keep eating, this hot pot is pretty good." Dai Kejian picked up a piece of water shield and chewed it carefully, nodding and saying, "Xiao Le, although your name is Xiao Le and not Xiao Chi, in terms of cooking skills, Xiao Chi is not even half as good as you."

Xiao Le broke out in a cold sweat.

"Hey, what are you standing there for? Pour me a drink."

Xiao He picked up the wine jug with trembling hands, poured out half of it, and spilled the other half.

"And Xiaowan, young master's shoulders are sore, give me a massage."

Xiao Wan stood up, but instead of going over to massage his back, she knelt down with a thud, hugged Dai Kejian's legs, and said, "Young Master, I know I was wrong. I'm sorry, please forgive me!"

When he knelt down like that, the other three looked at Dai Kejian and then at him, wanting to plead for him but not daring to, and they were also on pins and needles.

Dai Kejian's gaze drifted to a distant place, and he slowly said, "You've been with me for fifteen years; we grew up together. Ask yourself honestly, have I ever done anything to wrong you?"

Xiao Wan suddenly started crying.

“A house, thirty thousand taels of silver, and you’ve bought off our fifteen-year friendship? Don’t you think that’s too cheap?” Dai Kejian stood up and said coldly, “I have nothing more to say to you.”

Xiao Wan rushed forward and hugged his leg, saying, "Young Master, I know I was wrong, I know I was wrong! Young Master, please give me a chance! I'm sorry, but Young Master, I had no choice! The Grand Steward gave me poison, and I was under his control, I had no choice at all... But Young Master, I didn't tell him too much about you, I didn't tell him you know martial arts, I didn't tell him Bai Ya is your subordinate, and I didn't tell him that Miss Biao was actually pretending to be crazy to make it easier for her to go out on business... You can hit me or scold me, just don't ignore me, Young Master!"

Xiaowu stammered, "Young master, please forgive Xiaowan this time, considering our many years of friendship."

Dai Kejian sighed, reached out to help Xiaowan up, and said, "Didn't I say I didn't intend to pursue this matter with you?"

"But...but..." Xiao Wan felt both guilty and incredulous. He had made such a serious mistake that most masters wouldn't forgive him. However...if it were the young master, perhaps they really wouldn't hold it against him. The young master had always been like that since he was a child—carefree and easygoing, never taking anything to heart. He would laugh even when scolded or contradicted; he had never seen anyone with a better temper than him.

"But I'm very sad. Why don't you trust your master at all? Are you so sure I can't cure Huai Su's poison?" Dai Kejian said, stroking his chin with a somewhat aggrieved expression. Xiao Wan's eyes lit up. It seemed that the young master was really willing to forgive him. He immediately knelt down to express his gratitude, but Dai Kejian's eyes darted around and he said, "Wait! You can pretend nothing happened. Fine, but you have to do something for me."

"I will definitely atone for my sins!" Xiaowan said resolutely.

“Since Huai Su has bribed you to monitor me and report my whereabouts to him, then go and tell him now…” Dai Kejian lowered his voice and whispered some instructions to him. Xiao Wan nodded repeatedly and then did as he was told.

Xiao He said worriedly, "Young Master, is this a good idea? What if we anger Huai Su and he sends troops to surround this place? We won't be able to escape then!"

"What are you afraid of?" Dai Kejian smiled slightly, reached out and pushed open the window, turned his head to the west and said, "Didn't you see? Youyou is back."

The seven pink lanterns over the Forget-Worry Pavilion were indeed lit, but because it was daytime, they weren't very noticeable.

“It seems Huai Su won’t be getting the imperial edict he’s waiting for. He’ll definitely be very disappointed,” Dai Kejian said, rubbing his nose. “Let’s go see Youyou.”

Inside the Forget-Worry Pavilion, Li Youyou, the most beautiful woman in Hantian City, was wolfing down a pancake in her left hand and a chicken leg in her right, completely lacking any decorum, leaving the four servants and their master dumbfounded.

Dai Kejian frowned and said, "Do you have to eat in such a hurry? Nobody is rushing you."

"Isn't all this because of you? Because of you, I traveled for three days and two nights, not sleeping or eating well, afraid of not making it in time... choke!" He spoke too fast and ate too quickly, and suddenly choked.

Dai Kejian quickly poured a cup of tea and personally served it, saying, "Yes, yes, I know you've worked hard, Miss... How did things go?"

"With me in charge, is there anything I can't do?" Li Youyou finished off a chicken leg, wiped her mouth with her hand, and then wiped her hands on her skirt. As a result, large patches of oil stains were left on her face and skirt.

Dai Kejian clicked his tongue and shook his head, saying, "Look at you... no one would believe you're not crazy if you acted like this."

Li Youyou continued to glare, "What? That's exactly how I am! Back then, that old lecherous toad, Lord Feimo, wanted to eat swan meat, but my stubborn uncle insisted that I marry him. I was forced to ask you for help because I had no other choice. If I hadn't owed you such a favor back then, I wouldn't care whether you became the city lord or not."

"So people said I was a beast who raped my own cousin..." Dai Kejian sighed, "It's really unfair. I'm such a good person, yet people have misrepresented me as that kind of person."

"Come on, if you hadn't always behaved badly, would people say that?" After eating and drinking her fill, Li Youyou yawned, pulled a dagger from her boot, and then pulled out a letter from inside, handing it to him, "Here, a letter from Feng Ye to you."

How is he doing lately?

“Good, what’s wrong with that? He became the Grand Secretary at such a young age. Even Chunfeng isn’t as proud as him!” Li Youyou said, blinking her eyes. “He put in a lot of effort for your matter this time. If Huaisu knew that Fengye was actually your good friend, she would probably be so angry that she would vomit blood.”

After reading the letter, Dai Kejian smiled. "He said he'd arrive tomorrow. It's about time Huaisu knew something."

Speak of the devil, and he appears! A voice boomed from downstairs: "Huai Su requests an audience with the city lord. Is the city lord inside?"

Li Youyou muttered under her breath, "I really don't understand, why didn't you just wait for Feng Ye to arrive before bringing everything up? It's still very dangerous now, what if things really turn into a fight..."

Dai Kejian waved to stop her from continuing, while Xiaochi led Huaisu upstairs. Huaisu first glanced at Li Youyou, who was sitting improperly, before turning her gaze to Dai Kejian. She cupped her hands and was about to speak when Dai Kejian beckoned, "Grand Steward, you've come at the perfect time! Come, come, come and play chess with me!"

"City Lord..."

"Let's talk about everything after the game!" Dai Kejian sat down next to the chessboard, and Huai Su had no choice but to go over and sit down as well.

"I'll take the black pieces, you take the white pieces. Snacks, don't just stand there, hurry up and prepare some pastries and tea."

"Yes." Xiaochi turned and went into the inner cabinet to prepare tea and snacks.

Li Youyou followed her inside and whispered, "Hey, what exactly is your master up to?"

The snack vendor replied in a low voice, "Young Master is trying to attract the Grand Steward's attention by keeping him here so that Miss Bi and the others can pass through smoothly and head to Anluo City."

“Oh, I see…” Li Youyou glanced back at Dai Kejian, who was playing chess with a smile, and snorted coldly, “This guy is quite devoted. He’s risked his life for that Bi Feixian. If Huai Su makes trouble now, we’re doomed.”

"Don't worry. Young Master has calculated that the Head Steward is inherently suspicious and won't act unless he's absolutely certain." Xiaochi looked at the young master, a hint of a sigh in her eyes. "Young Master really likes Miss Bi, doesn't he..."

The afternoon sunlight streamed through the windowpane, illuminating Dai Kejian's smiling face and his sparkling eyes.

Chapter Ten

Lord Luo Su of Anluo City had a deep-rooted habit—he was a devout Buddhist, so every night at Hai Shi (9-11 PM), he would set aside the time it takes to burn an incense stick to sit quietly in front of the Buddha in Mingjing Hall.

On this day, he entered Mingjing Hall as usual. His four bodyguards stood outside the door with their hands behind their backs. The inner hall was quiet, with a light incense burning. Only an old woman was serving him by holding prayer beads.

"It is the Buddha's body treasure, cherished by ninety-nine billion Ganges River sands' worth of Buddhas; it is the treasury of light, illuminated by the light of all Tathagatas..." As Luo Su was reciting the scriptures, a commotion arose outside. He frowned and said in a deep voice, "What is it?"

A voice outside the door replied, "Reporting to the city lord, it seems that the fire has broken out in the east courtyard."

"Send someone over to take a look."

"yes."

Luo Su lowered his head and continued chanting: "Those who recite this Dharani will receive ten great benefits in this life: they will obtain peace and happiness, be cured of all diseases, prolong their lives, always be wealthy, and eradicate all evil karma and grave sins..."

A soft chuckle came from the roof beam. "If everyone could eradicate all their evil deeds and grave sins by reciting the Great Compassion Mantra after committing a bad deed, then there would be nothing cheaper in the world. I've decided to sell the Great Compassion Mantra. What do you think, girl?"

The girl didn't answer, but Luo Su smiled coldly and stopped the old woman who was about to scream in panic, saying, "The East Courtyard suddenly caught fire. I knew that a master must have come to visit. Since you've come, why hide and be afraid to meet me?"

"See you? I'm not related to you at all, there's nothing to see you about. You two can have a good chat here." With that, he flashed and took the old woman away like the wind.

The four bodyguards immediately became alert, shouting, "Who is it?" and then gave chase. The Buddhist hall fell silent.

A complex look flashed in Luo Su's eyes as he raised an eyebrow and asked, "Is it Fei Qian?"

The curtain of the offering table in front of her was lifted, and a woman slowly walked out from inside. With her slender figure and deep-set eyes, she was none other than Bi Feixian.

Luo Su curled her lips into a self-deprecating smile, "I didn't expect that Huai Su would still be able to escape by you in the end."

Bi Feixian stared straight at him and said in a low voice, "Don't you have anything else to say to me?"

"Yes." Luo Su placed the prayer beads on the altar, stood up, and said in a deep voice, "Are you trying to ask me why I did that? Do you feel fooled and deceived? Do you feel wronged?"

Will you tell me the answer?

Luo Su looked back at her, his already cold and stern face becoming even more serious, making him appear both imposing and unapproachable. He paced back and forth a few steps, saying, "You look a lot like your mother."

“I’m not as beautiful as her.” She was telling the truth; before her mother went mad, her looks were no less than Luo Yi’s.

"Why have you never thought that you look like your mother, but not at all like me?"

Luo Su's casual remark stirred up a storm in Bi Feixian's heart. Her face turned deathly pale, and she staggered back a few steps, biting her lower lip as she stammered, "You...you're trying to tell me...I...I...I'm not..."

“That’s right, you’re not my daughter,” Luo Su said coldly. “That’s why I’ve never liked you and why I’ve neglected your mother.”

"Impossible! Impossible! My mother wouldn't do such a thing, my mother wouldn't have an affair! You're lying to me!" Bi Feixian retreated step by step, her back slamming against the offering table with a "bang," and the tears that had been welling up in her eyes suddenly fell out.

Believe it or not, this is the truth.

"Then tell me, who is my biological father?"

"He's dead." Luo Su sneered. "Do you think I would allow someone who cuckolded me to live in this world?"

"What exactly happened? Please tell me the whole story, please tell me!" Bi Feixian stepped forward and grabbed his robe, but her hand trembled when she met his gaze, and she recoiled and let go. This person before her wasn't her father? The man she had longed for for eighteen years wasn't her father! Fate truly knows how to play tricks, always knowing how to strike when people are most vulnerable!

Luo Su's voice was low and slow, each word spoken slowly, like salt being rubbed into her wound. "I married four wives. Your mother was the last to enter the family. She was timid and cowardly, never daring to compete with her older sisters, and was always the one who suffered injustice at home. Because of this, I actually felt more pity for her than the other three. But who knew—"

At this point, Luo Su's face suddenly darkened, becoming indescribably terrifying. He said with hatred, "Twenty years ago, I was assassinated in the hunting grounds. Although I survived, I have been unable to have sex since then."

Bi Feixian covered her mouth in shock, completely at a loss for words.

"Those four bitches, despite all the favor I've shown them, now that I've suffered this misfortune, they still fawn over me on the surface, but behind my back they're having affairs with other men—you, and Luo Yi, are not my children at all!"

That sharp, resentful gaze was like a knife, piercing her heart. She could almost see blood flowing from her heart, endlessly flowing, but she was powerless to stop it, powerless to remedy it.

Luo Su laughed loudly, "Luo Yi's birth mother is a princess of the Celestial Dynasty. I couldn't do anything about her, so I pretended not to know anything and spoiled Luo Yi, allowing her to do whatever she wanted, turning her into a dissolute and vain woman. Your mother went mad before I could investigate. She was a lucky person; madness solved everything. But I will not let those who betray me go, no matter what their reasons are. Although I can't do anything about your mother, I still have you, don't I? I know she and the Master of the Divine Mechanism Pavilion are old friends, so after her death, I sent you there. The more you learn, the more beneficial it will be for my great cause. Sure enough, I waited for ten years, a full ten years, and finally this opportunity arrived. I sent you and Luo Yi to Hantian City to seize the city and remove you two thorns in my side... Now, do you understand everything?"

Bi Feixian gripped the offering table, her whole body trembling. Her eyes stung and ached, but no tears came. It turned out that in the deepest sorrow and despair, one finds oneself with no tears left to shed.

Do you know why I'm telling you these things so frankly?

Bi Feiqian said sadly, "Because you won't let me continue living."

Luo Su smiled and said, "That's right. No one in the world knows that I am impotent, so how can I allow you to continue living?" He took a few steps towards her, but saw that she didn't move at all, just standing there without any intention of resisting. This made him suspicious, and he narrowed his eyes, saying, "Do you have anything else to say?"

Bi Feixian looked up at him, her dark eyes filled with a sorrowful, poignant gaze. Luo Su suddenly froze, vaguely recalling how many years ago, a woman with similarly misty eyes had looked at him with the same look, then burst into laughter, and finally—she went mad.

Luo Su couldn't help but step forward and grab her wrist. The hand he touched was cold and slender, revealing a soft and helpless feeling. For some reason, he felt a jolt in his heart.

“Yes, I have something to say.” Bi Jixian stared into his eyes without blinking and said, word by word, “I want to tell you—I’m sorry.”

Luo Su's hand tightened slightly.

“I’m sorry,” she repeated. “The first sentence is on behalf of my mother, because she betrayed her marriage and happiness, and lost her fidelity to you. The second sentence is from me, because I have resented you for so many years without any reason. In any case, you raised me until I was eight years old. Although you neglected my mother and me, without you, we would have starved to death on the streets long ago. The kindness of a foster father is greater than that of a biological father. Thank you.” As she spoke, she knelt down.

Luo Su quickly took a step back, staring blankly at her, the violence, resentment, and disgust in his eyes fading in an instant.

Bi Feixian bowed three times very devoutly, and with each bow, Luo Su's eye twitched.

Finally, she looked up and said, "You might not believe it, but for the past eighteen years, it has been my longing for you and my anticipation of the day we reunite that has kept me going. I have always longed for you to look at me, or to hug me and speak to me gently, just like any other father and daughter in a normal family."

Luo Su turned his face away, his robes fluttering slightly, whether from the wind or something else, it was unclear.

“When you asked me to go to Hantian City to do things for you, I was really happy. I had studied for ten years, and finally I had the opportunity to serve my father… I would do anything as long as you were happy, really, anything. But what I got in return was a cup of poisoned wine and a relentless manhunt… I was so angry then. I felt so wronged and humiliated. How could you destroy my sincere heart for you in such a despicable way?” Bi Feixian raised her head, her voice choked with sobs, barely able to speak. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself, and continued, “But now, after learning the truth, I don’t know why, but my heart feels empty. It’s as if all the effort and struggle I’ve put into this has suddenly vanished. I… I… I… If you wanted my life, you didn’t need poisoned wine or a manhunt. Just one word from you, just one word, and I would have given it to you. Father, I would have given it to you…”

Bi Feixian's voice grew softer as she spoke. Suddenly, she turned her hand and drew a soft sword from her waist, slashing her own neck. Blood splattered instantly. At the last moment, Luo Su suddenly struck out and broke the soft sword. Bi Feixian softly fell into his arms.