Красоты династии Сун

Глава 9

Qi quickly replied, "I was lonely, so I asked Nan Ying to come and talk to me. Nan Ying knows a lot. Since you won't let me go out, I can only listen."

Qingfeng scrutinized Nanying: "I've heard that Miss Lu is not only an excellent zither player, but also proficient in calligraphy, painting, and chess. She's well-read and knowledgeable, and has taught quite a few things at the theater!"

"The Lord knows that the most valuable quality of a musician lies in their heart. As a musician, cultivating one's character is also a duty... It is getting late, so I will take my leave now."

"Brother Bu, Miss Lu and I hit it off immediately. I'm quite lonely in the courtyard these days, so please let Miss Lu keep me company more often!" Qi Lian pleaded, tugging at Qingyun's sleeve.

Looking at the coquettish Qilian, Qingfeng felt a surge of tenderness in her heart and smiled as she agreed.

Nan Ying stood silently to the side. Alas! How can steel, tempered a hundred times, be turned into something as soft as silk?

15. A dark and windy night

The Fanzhou government office was still not fully prepared, and Nan Ying stayed in the fortress for another ten days or so, becoming increasingly familiar with everyone there. She had explored all the courtyards except for the fortress lord's residence. During the day, she often visited Qi Lian's courtyard, where Qi Lian frequently appeared tired, his face showing an unpredictable, dim light. One afternoon, Nan Ying was teaching Qi Lian how to style the new hairstyle of women from the Central Plains when Bu Qingfeng unexpectedly arrived at the corner courtyard. After exchanging greetings, Qingfeng spoke gently to Qi Lian:

"My younger brother has gone to welcome Minister Jiang of the Ministry of Works and Minister Qin of the Secretariat, who are coming from the capital. They will be hosting a banquet in my courtyard tonight. You should rest early and not go out."

Qi Lian obediently agreed, and Nan Ying, standing to the side, curtsied and said:

“Lord Bu, Nan Ying has been bothering you for many days and I have no way to repay her. Today, a banquet is being held in the courtyard, and I would like to offer a piece of music to please the guests. I hope that you will grant my request.”

Seeing that Qilian's spirits had been improving these past few days, Qingfeng felt a sense of gratitude towards Nanying and replied with a smile:

"I often hear Qingyun and Qilian praise Miss Lu's musical skills. Since you have such a kind intention, then I will have to trouble you, Miss."

That evening, Nan Ying stood before the bronze mirror, smiling and deep in thought. Sure enough, no secret stays hidden forever! Not only the young master of the Jiang family, but even Qin Shilang, the chief of the Secretariat, happened to be inspecting Fanzhou! To hold a banquet in the lord's courtyard—it must be at the request of a certain guest. The show is about to begin!

"Are you ready, young lady? The lord and the others are waiting in the courtyard."

Nan Ying straightened her appearance, picked up her zither, and followed the person away.

Beside the lotus pond in the courtyard, the four people at the table had already finished their dinner and were now drinking sake.

"The main courtyard of Bubao is indeed a place of tranquility and elegance. I am fortunate to be here today thanks to Lord Jiang."

"If it weren't for Lord Qin's insistence, I wouldn't have had this good fortune. Brother Qingfeng, this beautiful scene in the courtyard would truly have been left for you to admire in solitude!"

"It's rare that you two gentlemen are in such high spirits. I have a skilled musician in my household; may I invite her to add to the merriment?"

In no time, Nan Ying gracefully moved to the edge of the pool, curtsied, and said, "This servant, Lu Nan Ying, greets the two gentlemen and the two lords. Today is a beautiful day, and I would like to offer you a song to add to the merriment."

Qingfeng glanced at the three people in the room. His younger brother and Lord Qin were already looking amazed, while Hua Lian was more surprised. He turned to look at Nan Ying and couldn't help but admire her. He never expected that the usually plain and delicate girl would be so bright and dazzling after wearing gorgeous clothes and makeup.

Hua Lian was surprised. Why did this woman's face look familiar, but he couldn't remember where he had seen her before? He immediately became alert.

As the melody of "Colorful Clouds Chasing the Moon" flowed gently from her fingertips, Nan Ying seemed to be immersed in it with her eyes closed, but her ears were unusually alert.

After the piece ended, Lord Qin immediately clapped his hands and exclaimed, "With such talent and skill in playing the zither, not only in the capital, but even in the palace, there must be few who can match her!"

"Lord Qin, you flatter me!" Nan Ying giggled and curtsied, then looked up at Jiang Dailang with seductive eyes, "Lord Jiang, what do you think of my zither playing?"

Hua Lian felt a tightness in his chest as he was stared at by those familiar, dark eyes, and was momentarily lost in thought.

Nan Ying smiled faintly and bowed as she withdrew amidst the crowd's attempts to persuade her to stay.

After the banquet, everyone saw Lord Qin off at the mansion, and Qingfeng accompanied Hualian back to the courtyard.

“Brother Qingfeng, it has been three years since we last met. You have become much more reserved since you took charge.”

"Hua Lian, aren't you a Attendant Lord now?"

"Have you heard anything from your aunt and uncle since they went on their travels?"

"Oh, I wrote back two months ago. He said he went to the south and doesn't want to come back yet!"

"Brother Qingfeng, it must be hard for you to run this business all by yourself. If you encounter any difficulties, please be sure to discuss them with us!"

Qingfeng remained silent...

Hua Lian pondered for a moment, "I feel like I've seen that musician, Miss Lu, somewhere before. What about Brother Qingfeng?"

"Hua Lian, you think so too! I thought you were too young to remember, but that Miss Lu's eyes looked a lot like our favorite Aunt Mei when we were little, your Aunt Mei."

"It really is!" Hua Lian exclaimed, but then felt something was off. Why did he feel like he had seen those eyes before?

"What is Miss Lu's background?"

"Qingyun rescued him on his way back last month. He said he was a musician from the Qingzhou Opera House and wanted to accompany Qingyun back to the capital."

"Is there anything unusual at your residence?"

"Nothing seems out of the ordinary, except that her talent is exceptionally good, and Qingyun seems to like her quite a bit! Do you see any problem?"

"Oh, no! I was just curious. Oh, I've arrived. Brother Qingfeng, you must be tired today. Go back to your courtyard and rest early. There are quite a few items this time, so I'll be staying for a while."

"Alright, Hua Lian, you must be tired today. Get some rest."

Hua Lian returned to his room, and the more he thought about Miss Lu, the more suspicious he became. He was determined to send someone to investigate her tomorrow!

Two days later, Nan Ying was practicing the Northern Jurchen language with Qi Lian when Yuan'er came in to tell her that the fortress lord had been summoned by Lord Qin to the yamen to inspect the official escorts and would not be returning home that night. Nan Ying's heart skipped a beat. Was the play about to begin tonight?

At midnight, Nan Ying, dressed in black, hid among the old trees by the courtyard, waiting. The moon was dark and the wind was high...

About half an hour later, a dark figure leaped into the outer courtyard. Just as it landed, a muffled shout was heard.

"Who goes there!" The chief steward of the Bu family fortress, dressed in blue, emerged from the dark corridor.

The man in black remained silent, then swung his knife at the man in blue. After a dozen or so exchanges, Nan Ying wondered to herself, "Have all the guards in the courtyard been dealt with?" The man in black was no match for Chief Steward Wu; if this fight continued, he would surely meet a tragic end! Sure enough, after a few moves, a flash of blue light appeared, and Chief Steward Wu seemed to have been struck in the throat, letting out two "oohs" before collapsing to the ground.

The man in black walked in and pulled out the weapon stuck in Wu Zongguan's throat. He turned and strode into the house. Just as Nan Ying was about to make a move, she saw another tall, black figure leap out from under the eaves. She quickly stopped and, after determining who the new figure was, continued to watch the show with peace of mind.

The tall, dark figure leaping out from the courtyard clearly intended to capture the previous man in black, refraining from a fatal attack. The man in black, however, was impatient, employing deadly moves at every turn! The two fought for a long time, yet remained as still as flying leaves, neither wanting to disturb the outer courtyard guards. Just as Nan Ying was about to lose patience, the tall, dark figure deflected the man in black's knife with his sword, reached out to grab him, and with a flash of blue light, the tall figure collapsed, clutching his chest. Nan Ying cursed his carelessness, drew his sword, and leaped into the courtyard. The man in black was about to attack the fallen figure when he suddenly felt a gust of wind behind him. He dodged to the side, only to be stabbed in the arm. Turning around, he saw a slender figure standing there, sword in hand, the blade gradually turning from bluish-white to crimson! He froze for a moment, then exclaimed in surprise, "Chao Dan!" He turned to flee, but Nan Ying chuckled inwardly. Since he recognized Chao Dan, how could he let him live! With a single swing of his sword, he pierced the neck of the man in black, who let out a sharp scream. Immediately, a commotion erupted outside the courtyard.

Hua Lian clutched his chest and fell to the ground. Before he could even see how the slender figure had killed the man in black, he saw the man attacking him again. Just as he was about to cry out, he discovered that the other person had sealed his vocal cords. He then felt himself being lifted into the air, carried by the slender figure and carried out of the courtyard. After several leaps, Hua Lian was carried into a room and landed on the bed with a thud. He sat up, clutching his chest in pain, and found that it was a woman's boudoir. The slender figure was standing to the side wiping the blade of a sword. The sword gradually turned from crimson to bluish-white. Hua Lian was startled. After wiping the sword, the figure removed the veil from her face and approached Hua Lian. When Hua Lian saw the unadorned face, he was even more shocked, his heart almost leaping out of his throat. It was you!

16. Alliance

"Ye Xing of the Qingwang Mansion greets Lord Attendant," Nan Ying said in a low voice.

Hua Lian was speechless and filled with astonishment, but he was also somewhat relieved, at least his life was not in danger!

"Lord Jiang, please calm down and don't get angry. You've been hit by Qi Men's Soul-Seizing Dart!" After saying that, he stuffed a pill into Hua Lian's mouth and sealed several acupoints around Hua Lian's wound.

Hua Lian tried to get up, but Xing Ge suddenly raised her hand and pressed her down, making a gesture of silence with her finger to her lips. She looked towards the corridor outside. Hua Lian listened intently and, sure enough, heard barely audible footsteps approaching the house and stopping at the window. She immediately felt uneasy; someone in the manor must have become suspicious after discovering what had happened. If someone came here, someone would surely go to her bedroom to investigate! She quickly looked up at Xing Ge.

"Hua Lang, I am yours tonight, you mustn't betray me in the future," Xing Ge said in a sweet, seductive voice, as she reached out and released Hua Lian's pressure points, her eyes giving him a meaningful look. Hua Lian was stunned by this sudden turn of events.

"Why isn't Hua Lang saying anything! Hehe! Could it be that I'm too tired to do anything?" Seeing that he didn't react, Xing Ge could only add in a coquettish voice, glaring at Hua Lian and gesturing towards the window.

Hua Lian then realized they were putting on an act for the people outside the window, but his family was known for its strict discipline, and he was still unmarried. He had never experienced anything like this before. After a moment's thought, he blurted out a sentence...

"My wife, you've worked hard!"

Xingge almost burst out laughing. Even if your family is very respectable, you've never been ignorant, have you?! That's not how you address someone in the entertainment industry! "Baby," "Sweetheart," anything goes!

"Hehe, Hua Lang, are you trying to please me by calling me like that! Promise to accompany me to tour Fanzhou City tomorrow, and don't be lazy!" Xing Ge could only continue her flirtatious words, helplessly glaring at Hua Lian.

"Definitely, definitely!" Hua Lian heard the sweet voice, but inwardly she was terrified by the glare.

After a moment, the two heard the footsteps outside the window fading away and slowly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Lord Jiang, I cannot heal your wounds here. Please calm down and rest. After an hour, go back to your room and pack your things. Come with me to the manor to heal your wounds at dawn!" After Xingge finished speaking, he took out a men's robe from the wardrobe and placed it on the bedside. He then turned around and sat on the chair in the corner of the room, closing his eyes and remaining silent.

Hua Lian suppressed the pain in his chest, leaned against the bed, and calmed himself down to think. Ye Xing must have been sent here by the Prince of Qing. He had been infiltrating the Bu family for more than a month. How much had he learned? How would the Prince of Qing handle this matter?! Looking at the figure in the corner of the room that was almost hidden in the darkness, what was Ye Xing's background? After thinking it over and over, his head was spinning. He sighed and closed his eyes to rest.

An hour later, Hua Lian, wearing a shorter outer robe, slipped back to his bedroom. He barely made it to dawn and was about to leave the manor with Xing Ge when he encountered Qing Feng, Qing Yun, and the inner courtyard steward already discussing matters in the front hall. He had no choice but to go forward and greet them.

"Brother Qingfeng is back!"

"Hua Lian, you don't look well. Did you not sleep well last night?"

"Very good, very good." Hua Lian felt a pain in his chest, and a thin layer of sweat appeared on his forehead.

"Hua Lang promised to take me to see Fanzhou City. We won't disturb your meeting," Xing Ge interjected sweetly, seemingly supporting Hua Lian affectionately.

"Then we'll take our leave!" Hua Lian said awkwardly, quickly pulling Xing Ge outside.

Qingfeng watched the two leave the manor with mixed feelings. He gave the steward a wink, and seeing his younger brother's unpleasant expression, he patted Qingyun on the shoulder and said, "Actors are heartless, try to think positively!"

Hua Lian was shoved into a carriage by Xing Ge, and after many twists and turns, he was led into a brothel! Xing Ge took out a bracelet from his pocket and told the male prostitute to invite the girl named Hongxiu. Soon after, a charming and beautiful woman came down from upstairs.

"Boss lady, give me a quiet room, and don't let anyone disturb me today!"

Seeing the solemn expressions on their faces, Hongxiu knew they had important business to attend to. She waved for someone to make arrangements, but teased them, saying, "This young lady has really grown up. Instead of catching up with me, she's in a hurry to meet her lover."

Hua Lian blushed at her words, and Xing Ge replied with a smile, "Don't bother me, okay? I'll come find you to catch up properly after I'm done with my work." As she spoke, she dragged Hua Lian upstairs.

After entering the room, Xingge said solemnly, "There are many spies of the Bu family in the city, so it is not convenient to call a doctor. The proprietress of this Chenxiang Pavilion is an old friend of mine, so Lord Jiang can rest assured. I will treat your injuries. Please take off your clothes."

Hua Lian stopped being coy and sat on the couch with his upper body bare. Xing Ge carefully examined the wound, which was narrow and deep, and the surrounding area had turned purplish-black.

"Lord Jiang, after I remove the dart, I will use my internal energy to force out the poison from your body. The process will be unpleasant, please bear with me!"

Seeing Hua Lian nod, Xing Ge sat down behind Hua Lian and struck out with a powerful palm. The poisoned dart fell into Hua Lian's chest, and black blood gushed out. By the time blood flowed from the wound, Hua Lian's forehead was soaked with sweat and his face was pale. Xing Ge cleaned the wound, applied medicine and bandaged it, draped an undergarment over Hua Lian, and then moved a chair to sit by the bed.

"What are your thoughts on last night's events, Lord Jiang?"

Hua Lian glanced at Xing Ge; this woman held the 'Chao Dan' (a type of elixir). Could it be...?

"May I ask, Miss Ye, what brings you to Fanzhou?"

Xingge knew that he was not sure whether he could be trusted, so he smiled faintly and said, "I have a great benefactor who has asked me to serve the prince with utmost loyalty. This benefactor's surname is Sima, and his given name is Ze. I wonder if Lord Jiang has heard of him?"

Hua Lian knew a little about Jiu Ru's background, and understood immediately upon hearing this.

"Lord Jiang, let's get straight to the point. Two months ago, an inn in Yumen Town, Xicang, caught fire. Because the fire started in the middle of the night, many guests died. One of them was carrying a copy of the official documents that the various prefectures and governments in the northwest communicated with the capital that month. This guest was supposed to leave the pass. The Bu family has always been in charge of the delivery of official documents in the northwest. I suppose Lord Jiang's trip is for this matter."

"Your Highness Qing is truly sharp-witted. You discovered this almost a month earlier than me. What have you found?"

"What kind of person is Lord Jiang Juebu Fortress Master?"

"Qingfeng is a man of integrity and loyalty, and he is definitely not someone who covets wealth and status. I can't think of any reason why he would do such a thing!"

"The problem lies in this sense of loyalty and affection, Lord Jiang. Let me tell you a little story. The land of Xicang has been embroiled in war for years. A general named Nachuo from the Northern Jurchens had been stationed there for many years. About a year ago, he was executed for a crime, and his family was also taken back to the Northern Jurchens. General Nachuo had a daughter, in the prime of her life, known as the most beautiful woman in Xicang, but she died suddenly during the journey. Coincidentally, the Bu family also has a stunningly beautiful and noble woman from Xicang. Nachuo's daughter was born to the general and a concubine from the Central Plains, and her childhood name was Qilian. Coincidentally, the beauty in the Bu family is also of mixed race, and her name is also Qilian. Lord Jiang, tell me, isn't this story interesting?"

"Did Qingfeng collude with the Northern Jurchens to obtain a beautiful woman?"

"This matter is still unclear, but it is impossible for the beauty of the Bu family to have survived until now without an antidote after being poisoned by the Northern Jurchen poison 'Iron-Blooded Loyal Heart'. Presumably, Lord Bu has put a lot of effort into this."

...