Seeing the situation was dire, Mo Xi drew his longsword to his chest, unleashing a dazzling display of swordplay as he retreated hastily, saying, "Sect Leader He will never be able to help the person you love cross the river again in this lifetime, so why deceive yourself here every day!" He had only intended to test his skills, but he didn't want to make things worse and lose his life. Sparring with a peerless master like He Qun was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so even knowing he was no match, he was willing to risk it.
He Qun indeed slowed his palm strike slightly and asked, "Who are you to her?"
Mo Xi took something out of his pocket and let the wind carry it away, saying, "This is a keepsake from an old friend of Sect Leader He. Sect Leader He will know its contents upon reading it." He then used his sword to protect himself and quickly retreated several steps.
He Qun indeed swiftly snatched the orchid-patterned note. He scanned the poem from top to bottom, then suddenly froze, the wind lifting his straw hat to reveal a weathered and solemn face, his eyes filled with clear remorse. Suddenly, he knelt down, weeping hoarsely, "Xiao Lan, why did you follow him, only to die in the Tang Clan?" After a moment, he demanded sharply, "Where did you get this letter?"
"I came across this by chance when I was a guest at the Tang Clan," Mo Xi sighed softly, then added, "Sect Leader He, you are mistaken. Presumably, Sect Leader He recognizes Senior Lin's handwriting. The poem clearly expresses the sentiment of a young woman yearning for her beloved but receiving no response, thus resolving to sever her ties and drift away. Senior Tang Jue's following poem, while explicitly describing a young woman's longing for her sweetheart, also subtly expresses his own feelings of love for her." Tang Jue's springtime poem, a short ode about missing someone, describes the woman's thoughts, appearance, and state of mind in the first stanza. The second stanza depicts the longing and yearning, the constant yearning, the soul-stirring emotions; the intense feelings of the lonely woman in her empty chamber, facing the fragrant silk, how could she bear the pain of waking from a drunken stupor? The phrase "waking from a drunken stupor" suggests that this woman once used alcohol to drown her sorrows, using intoxication to escape the torment of unrequited love. Tang Jue's love for Lin Xi is as clear as heaven and earth; Lin Xi has no reason to yearn for someone she cannot have. Therefore, the person Lin Xishi longed for but could not have was definitely not Tang Jue.
"The person whom Senior Lin yearned for in his poem is none other than you, Senior," Mo Xi added. Judging from He Qun's demeanor, it was almost certainly true.
He Qun hissed, "I've spent my whole life obsessed with martial arts, and bound by the master-disciple relationship, I've ignored Xiaolan's deep affection for so many years. By the time I finally realized it, Xiaolan had already left Mount Shu and married someone else. In the end, we were separated forever." He paused, then pounded the ground with his fist, saying bitterly, "But if it weren't for Tang Jue, how could Xiaolan have died!"
Mo Xi sighed softly and said, "Senior, you are still mistaken. Senior also said that you have failed Senior Lin's deep affection over the years. Senior Lin changed her name to 'Xi' to express her feelings and cherish Senior Tang Jue's affection for her. Putting aside other things, back then, Senior Lin left sadly because she couldn't have you, and Headmaster Tang actually abandoned the Tang Clan, even at the cost of being expelled from the sect, to follow her. Moreover, judging from this orchid-patterned note, Senior Tang Jue knew perfectly well about Senior Lin's feelings for you, which makes this all the more precious." Lin Xi changed her name after leaving the Shu Mountain Sect. If she wanted to live in anonymity with Tang Jue, she could have changed her surname as well; and Tang Jue didn't change his name; furthermore, after Lin and Tang returned to the Tang Clan, Lin Xi could have changed her name back to Lin Lan, but she didn't. It is clear that the important thing is the word "Xi". Tang Jue treated Lin Xi with utmost care, as evidenced by the many incense burners he collected for her.
Mo Xi sighed inwardly. This Sect Leader Lin must be exceptionally talented to be so admired by extraordinary figures like Tang Jue and He Qun. How many women in the world fall hopelessly in love, waiting their whole lives in vain until their hair turns white? Yet she was able to resolutely sever her past relationships and understand the importance of cherishing the person in front of her.
"I also know that Tang Jue treats her very well. That's why he found skilled craftsmen and spent three whole years renovating the jade bed, presenting it to them when they returned to the Tang Clan, simply to wish them a long and happy marriage." Indeed, Mo Xi had long suspected that Tang Huan's seven-treasure Hetian jade bed was carved from stone found by He Qun. Firstly, such a jade bed requires a single piece of stone weighing a ton to carve, making it extremely rare. That's why she inquired about this matter with Xue Tong that day, since He Qun had also opened his Ren and Du meridians and should have provided some assistance. Secondly, if this jade bed was a wedding gift from Master He Qun to his disciple, it would make perfect sense. He Qun had clearly put a lot of effort into this jade bed; the jade incense burners carved with orchids on both sides of the bed combined two of Lin Xi's lifelong passions.
"That white jade plaque carved with orchids should belong to Senior Lin." Tang Huan's purse, which contained the jade pendant and was embroidered with orchids, was probably also a relic of Lin Xi. The jade plaque was carved with orchids, subtly incorporating Lin Xi's real name, Lin Lan. Moreover, it was the only token that could command He Qun, which is why Mo Xi made this conjecture.
“Exactly. Back then, Xiao Lan used a unique Shu Mountain technique to send a message, asking me to come here to help her cross the river.” Mo Xi nodded inwardly. Lin Xi’s family would definitely need to seek outside help to escape the Tang Clan quietly, and they couldn’t open the iron chain pontoon bridge to avoid alerting the Tang Clan. And the only person in the world with martial arts skills high enough to take on this important task was He Qun, the martial arts fanatic.
"Unexpectedly, it was Senior Tang Jue who came, wasn't it?" Tang Huan and Tang Jue ultimately didn't leave, probably because Lin Xi died before the agreed-upon day, and this guy only saw her husband but not her, so he was shocked and gave up at the last minute. Tang Huan was able to command this former martial arts fanatic, probably because he is, after all, Lin Xi's descendant, which explains He Qun's comment upon their first meeting, "So similar," referring to Lin Xi, not Tang Jue.
"That's right. When I heard that Xiaolan had passed away, I was heartbroken. Because I deeply resented that Tang Jue couldn't protect her, I left in a daze." At this moment, He Qun was sobbing uncontrollably.
Mo Xi sighed inwardly; He Qun's tragedy perfectly echoed that line from "A Chinese Odyssey," which everyone knows by heart: Time waits for no one.
Seeing that he was so agitated that he could not control himself, Mo Xi did not disturb him. After a while, seeing that He Qun had gradually calmed down, she tentatively asked, "Senior He, could you help me cross the river for the sake of Senior Lin's letter?" After saying that, she bowed to the ground again.
"Very well. Xue Tong has opened up both of our Ren and Du meridians, so it's fate. I haven't spoken for years, and you've managed to coax me into talking today, which is quite an achievement."
Mo Xi breathed a sigh of relief, gently stepped onto the bamboo raft, and thought to himself: At least I can leave this place safely.
As He Qun poled the raft, his voice hoarse, he said softly, "I always thought Xiao Lan betrayed our sect and left Mount Shu for Tang Jue's sake, and I've held a grudge about it for years. Now I know she left because of me, which only adds to my sorrow and bewilderment." At this moment, He Qun seemed to have aged several years, his face filled with grief, regret, and melancholy. After a moment of silence, he continued, "I see that you are quite skilled in swordsmanship at such a young age, and given time, you will surely become a great talent. Today, your defeat was evident, but it was due to insufficient internal energy. Internal energy should never be rushed. In battle, wielding a peerless weapon can compensate for a deficiency in internal energy. I will give you something; go to Mount Shu and retrieve my sword, Cheng Ying." He paused, then sighed deeply, "I traveled the world searching for this sword, even breaking my promise to Xiao Lan and missing her coming-of-age ceremony. I deserve this fate."
Mo Xi pretended not to hear his self-pity and asked, "Is it Chengying, one of the three swords in 'Liezi: Tang Wen'?" In her heart, she was secretly thinking, "Who gives someone something and asks them to come to their house to pick it up?" However, she dared not offend him in the slightest. If He Qun lost his temper now and threw her off the bamboo raft, even if she didn't die in the belly of a fish, she would definitely not be able to stop the traps at the bottom of the river.
“That’s right. This is my sect leader’s seal. You can give it to the current sect leader, Qu Yao.” After saying that, He Qun tossed Mo Xi a piece of black jade engraved with the character “He”.
Mo Xi gripped the jet-black jade pendant tightly in her palm, and couldn't help but mutter to herself: "You'd better be careful, old man. If you throw it into this rapid current, I may never be able to find it again."
He who takes a bribe is bound to be indebted to others.
( ) In the cold rain, Mo Xi walked alone in the deserted narrow alley with blue bricks without an umbrella.
Suddenly she stopped and sighed softly, saying, "Green Cloud, you've followed me for three alleys now. Is there something Fourth Young Master has instructed you?"
A young girl in a green dress, carrying an oil-paper umbrella with a background of ash and painted with wisteria vines, emerged from a side alley. She moved slowly and hesitantly, saying, "Miss Mu, please forgive me. Green Cloud meant no harm. May we go to Jushui Pavilion for a chat?"
Jushui Pavilion. The character "Lan" is in the middle.
While sitting and letting Lvyun dry her hair, Mo Xi took some hot tea from the painted boat and poured herself a drink.
Green Cloud said, "Miss, you really don't know how to take care of yourself. Getting soaked in the rain like this, even I, let alone Fourth Young Master, can't stand it."
Mo Xi smiled slightly, indicating that she didn't need to wipe it anymore, and said nonchalantly, "I forgot to bring my umbrella when I went out. Green Cloud, please sit down." In fact, she had known for a long time that she had left without saying goodbye that day, and that possessing a treasure would be a crime, so the Tang Clan would definitely come looking for her. Therefore, she had been going out without carrying anything cumbersome lately. In case of any changes, even just throwing away the umbrella would slow down the action of drawing her sword, causing her to lose the initiative. Moreover, she had pretended not to know anything earlier and let Green Cloud follow her for three streets, precisely to confirm that she had no ill intentions, and that was why she had deliberately revealed her whereabouts.
"This is the finished product of 'A Rain of Flowers,' please take a look and appreciate it, young lady. Fourth Young Master asked me to convey his gratitude to you." Green Cloud handed over an object resembling a jade rouge box with a phoenix pattern.
Mo Xi took it and gently opened the first layer. It was indeed a delicate and vibrant rouge, but it lacked the fragrance of ordinary rouge, which made him smile knowingly. Zou Yigui's book, "Xiaoshan Painting Manual," records a method for making rouge: "Use double-ingredient Hangzhou rouge to squeeze out the excess water, place it in a dish, and dry it over a low flame. When it is almost dry, remove the dish from the heat... After it is dry, use warm water to float out the essence and remove the impurities for an even better result..." It turned out that this guy had really been reading a book on making rouge that day.
After a moment's hesitation, Lüyun took out a letter from her bosom and handed it to Mo Xi, saying, "This is a letter from Miss Luansu sent by carrier pigeon, which I asked Lüyun to deliver. I have checked it carefully and repeatedly; it is not poisonous. You can read it with peace of mind." At this point, she suddenly slapped her forehead and laughed, "I was being silly. Now that you have the Jade Pearl, why did I go to all this trouble?"
Mo Xi was pleased to see how lively she was and praised her with a smile, "Lvyun's kindness is truly rare. How could I not appreciate it?"
Upon taking the letter and unfolding it, I saw that the handwriting was neat but slightly messy, likely due to the writer's turbulent emotions and chaotic thoughts.
To Miss Mu:
Luan Su is now too ashamed to face the young lady, let alone the Fourth Young Master. When Miss Mu read the letter, Luan Su had already left the Tang Clan and was wandering the world alone to atone for her sins.
The Fourth Young Master has fallen deeply in love with the girl. Luan Su has admired the Fourth Young Master for many years. Seeing him gradually smile for the girl and consider her in every way, she couldn't help but feel jealous. So she secretly told the elders about the Jade Pearl recognizing its master.
That night, the four young masters chased after the girl for a hundred miles to retrieve the lotus lantern and keep the wish written by the girl. Later, they learned from the elders that the girl possessed a treasure of the Tang Clan and wanted to harm her. So, they threatened to kneel in front of the elders all night, forcing them not to make things difficult for the girl, in order to emulate the Tang Clan leader Tang Jue's betrayal of the Tang Clan for the sake of the Lin Clan leader.
Knowing that the young lady was aware of the Jade Pearl's inability to leave without its host, and hearing that she had entrusted Xi'er with its affairs, the Fourth Young Master understood her intention to leave. Therefore, he placed the orchid-shaped jade pendant in her dressing case to aid her departure. He also personally consulted Physician Xue and learned that the young lady's Ren and Du meridians would be opened on that day. He specially arranged for the sect leader's succession ceremony to be held on that day, solely to delay the Tang Clan members and prevent the elders from feigning compliance and secretly harming the young lady. However, Luan Su, driven by jealousy, secretly took the jade pendant, putting the young lady in danger. Unexpectedly, the young lady was truly extraordinary, managing to cross the river with the help of a boatman. This made Luan Su feel utterly ashamed.
Although Luan Su is a maid, she still knows propriety, righteousness, and a sense of shame. For her own selfish reasons, she has committed this unrighteous and immoral act, which is truly shameful to the Fourth Young Master. I urge you, young lady, to understand the Fourth Young Master's true intentions. Everything started with Luan Su, and she should bear the responsibility herself.
The Fourth Young Master had lived a life of hardship, growing up in the treacherous Tang Clan, where smiles were always forced. Only after the arrival of the young lady did he truly smile. He personally prepared all of her meals, and knowing she disliked spicy food, he transferred the chef from Jinling Jushui Pavilion back to cook exclusively for her. Seeing that she didn't take care of herself and treated him with disdain, he secretly replaced her comb with one with wider teeth and personally made her a moisturizing cream. Unexpectedly, she rejected it because of its fragrance, so he remade a colorless and odorless medicinal solution, soaking her undergarments before drying them. The Fourth Young Master had suffered from a persistent cough since childhood, which had finally improved. However, the young lady wanted to tease him by lighting incense, and to play along, he disregarded his cough and personally lit the incense.
These are just a few examples. Miss, please consider the Fourth Young Master's sincere affection for you and do not take your anger out on him for Luan Su's mistake.
Luan Su Liu
After reading the text, Mo Xi sighed inwardly. It turned out he hadn't returned all night to stop the Tang Clan elders from killing the goose that lays the golden eggs. She had already decided to remain single and naturally didn't want to possess someone else's precious treasure. Unfortunately, man proposes, God disposes. She had been so cautious in her attempts to save her life that she devised the plan to temporarily borrow the Jade Pearl, only to find herself trapped in her own scheme, ultimately unable to return it. To return it, she would have to atone with her death, but she absolutely couldn't bear to give up her life, so she could only make her escape first and figure things out later. On the day she demanded the Jade Pearl as collateral, she had already noticed the strange expressions on everyone's faces, which was why she had been searching for clues in the Tang Clan's collection of books. Ever since she read about Tang Chong and his wife Yu Yao, and then read the passage, "When Madam Yu passed away, the Jade Pearl appeared. Everyone who saw it sighed that the Jade Pearl could not appear without its host's death, which was indeed true," she had been filled with unease. Regardless of Tang Huan's sincerity, and despite the enchanting scene of lotus lanterns floating on the water that day, she pleaded softly but Tang Huan still refused to allow her to take out the Langya Staff for a look. She then inquired about the deceased Miss Tang to confirm whether the rumors were true, but unfortunately, there was no evidence to refute them.
Mo Xi sighed again, noting that the Tang Clan not only produced many talented men, but also that Luan Su was a remarkable woman. Compared to her method of striking decisively and without hesitation, the tricks of the various young ladies in modern domestic drama novels were simply insignificant. He felt ashamed that he had been inexplicably targeted as a rival and eliminated. However, Luan Su was courageous and responsible, and knowing that the word "knowledge" could not be forced, she decisively withdrew, truly displaying the spirit of a chivalrous woman.
As Mo Xi was lost in thought, Lü Yun took out a piece of clear, green jade and handed it to her, saying, "With this jade token, you may freely enter and leave this place and the Ingenuity Pavilion." Seeing Mo Xi hesitate, Lü Yun continued, "Miss, there's no need to worry. Fourth Young Master said that you are exceptionally intelligent, and if you have any brilliant ideas, please don't hesitate to share them. This is your token for entering and leaving the Ingenuity Pavilion. You probably wouldn't be interested in ordinary wealth, but you enjoy the food at Jushui Pavilion. If you could come here for a leisurely stroll, that would be a token of my appreciation."
Mo Xi silently accepted the Jushui Pavilion VIP card, pondering that she had unintentionally acquired the Jade Pearl, and taking such a valuable treasure made her feel guilty. As the saying goes, "the more debts you have, the less you worry," and one more wouldn't make a difference. Besides, offending Tang Huan wouldn't bring her any benefit. For one thing, if she pushed him too far, he might resort to a desperate measure, and if word got out that she possessed such a treasure, she wouldn't even need the Tang Clan to lift a finger; hundreds or even thousands of people would be hunting her down every day. Furthermore, offending this future biggest supplier of hidden weapons and poisons was truly unwise.
Seeing that she had accepted the offer, Lüyun smiled, then solemnly said, "When Lüyun captured Tang Li, she forced him to reveal your identity to the Fourth Young Master. You need not worry about this. The Fourth Young Master knows that you had no choice but to do this, and he does not find it strange at all. The Fourth Young Master said that you will make your own decision on how to act. However, you are in a dangerous place, so please take good care of yourself. If you need any help, please feel free to ask."
Mo Xi sighed all the way home, then looked up at the sky helplessly and whistled weakly. A large eagle with a snow-white tail immediately swooped down from the sky. Mo Xi removed the wax pellet tied to its leg, gathered strength in her fingertips, and gently crushed it, revealing a rolled-up small note. A row of strong yet elegant handwriting came into view: "Today, as you depart, I was unable to leave due to trivial matters, so I entrusted this eagle to see you off. This eagle has already recognized you as its master and hopes you will show it some compassion. It will find its own food; you need not worry about it. If you have any inconvenience, simply entrust it to Green Cloud, and all your troubles will be resolved. Huan."
Mo Xi glanced at the character "欢" (huan, meaning joy/happiness) on the note, then looked at the identical character "欢" carved on the jade pendant in her hand. She slowly withdrew her hand, which had been gently stroking the eagle's fluffy neck, and couldn't help but sigh deeply, "He who takes a gift is beholden to it..."
Tang Huan extra