Jin Yin’s phoenix eyes narrowed as he looked at the fake Song Yan’s corpse. “Prince Su has such great ability—even as a homeless dog, there are still people willing to die for him.”
“To rebel in order to sit on the dragon throne naturally requires some ability. And to tell the truth, if Prince Su were Great Zhou’s emperor, he would be the one unifying the four kingdoms now.” Looking at Prince Su now, he was a traitor, but judging fairly, he was more suited to be emperor than the indecisive and inactive Zhou Emperor.
“Yuan Cheng, if the Great Zhou Emperor heard those words, you’d be in trouble.” Jin Yin smiled crookedly, his teasing intent obvious.
Yuan Cheng was noncommittal. “Mo Zi, where’s the real Song Yan?”
“Still in the forest, refusing to come. I had Zan Jin guard him there.” Mo Zi didn’t even glance at the corpse on the ground. In this world, if you didn’t strike first, you’d be struck first. “Since Prince Su sent people here to wait for us, he’s already deduced that the Water-Purifying Pearls’ secret is in Song County. I’m afraid he wouldn’t have arranged only one trap.”
“Knowing there are tigers on the mountain, we still head toward Tiger Mountain.” Yuan Cheng wasn’t afraid.
“But why did that fake Song Yan have such a ghostly expression when he saw Dou Lu? I see he was mostly putting on an act, yet that one moment was true fear.” Jin Yin looked at Yuan Cheng, then at Mo Zi. “What if he was the real Song Yan and this is a scheme within a scheme? Wouldn’t we have fallen for it?”
“If he were the real Song Yan, he wouldn’t have taken poison. He saw Dou Lu as if seeing a ghost because he had guilt in his heart. If I’m not mistaken, this person was one of the chief culprits who disguised themselves as bandits to kill my father-in-law and mother-in-law and set fire to the estate years ago.” After Yuan Cheng finished speaking, his gaze met Mo Zi’s. He understood that heart-devouring pain of having close relatives cruelly murdered.
Mo Zi hadn’t expected such a guess, but with just slight thought, she knew the possibility was great. Her eyes carried coldness. “So his death was not undeserved.”
The group returned to yesterday’s stone monument location.
The real Song Yan sat cross-legged before the monument. His topknot was loose, his hair gray, his old robe had tattered sleeves. Though he shared with the fake Song Yan that scholarly air, between his brows was the tragic sorrow after great disaster, the tempering and open-minded clarity of one who had seen all vicissitudes.
On him, Mo Zi found the shadow of the one who wrote about flowers. Literary talent soaring, deep feelings abundant, repressed yet upright. Shy yet bold, a true gentleman who, loving someone, hoped for their wellbeing.
The offerings of plum blossoms placed before the stone monument yesterday were gone, and the bronze tripod had also been moved aside. Zan Jin told Mo Zi and the others that Song Yan had thrown everything away and asked him to help move the bronze tripod.
After Zan Jin finished speaking, Song Yan’s slightly hoarse voice came. “All those things were placed by vicious bandits. I absolutely won’t allow Xinong and my sister-in-law’s peaceful resting place to be defiled. Since you have many people, please topple this monument too. Harboring evil intentions while putting on a show—Song Bin is a petty person, a villain, an evil person.”
“Was there originally no monument here?” Mo Zi asked.
“There was a monument, but it was erected by people who truly respected and loved them. It was destroyed in the war.” Song Yan looked at her, his cold sharp gaze gradually warming. “You are Mo Zi.”
“How do you know my name?” The Flower Deity Chronicle didn’t mention the sisters’ names. And it seemed no one in Song County knew either—Mo Zi had always thought Father and Mother did this deliberately.
“Mo Zi, Dou Lu. They’re the two types of peonies your mother treasured most. However, it was I who suggested using them for the children’s names. Peonies represent wealth and honor, grace without worry. Mo Zi is grand, stubborn and intense, possessing the world’s most noble purple color—with limitless future prospects. Dou Lu is fresh, innocent and clever, seemingly delicate but actually resilient—certain to achieve extraordinary things.” Song Yan’s gaze moved from Mo Zi to Yuan Cheng, then from Dou Lu to Jin Yin. “Looking now, when you two girls were born, the star readings I observed were not wrong. One wealthy, one noble, turning adversity to fortune, born in chaos to enjoy peace. That day when I rushed here and searched everywhere without finding you two sisters, I thought I was wrong and regretted not listening to Xinong’s words to take you away early. Good, good—you two have grown up safely, which also resolves a matter weighing on my heart for many years.”
Dou Lu’s eyes glistened with tears as she stammered, “Uncle Beard.”
Song Yan’s eyes lit up brightly. “I see your sister doesn’t remember me at all, but you girl still recall. Back then you were three years old talking about things from when you were one. Your mother said your memory awakened early, so your father and I often held you while discussing matters, hoping you could remember everything.”
“I only remember a little bit.” Dou Lu lowered her head bashfully.
Yuan Cheng said in Mo Zi’s ear, “You seemed much dumber than Dou Lu as a child—at five you remembered nothing.”
Mo Zi glared at him. “Late bloomer, you know?”
Yuan Cheng suddenly understood and continued, “Slow bird flies first.”
Unexpectedly, Song Yan heard their quiet conversation perfectly and said, “Big girl wasn’t dumb. At five she liked carving wood and had no mind for other things—she even rarely acted coquettish. I wonder if you still hold a carving knife now? Your father said your natural talent was higher than his.”
Though this was their first meeting, Mo Zi couldn’t help but feel an inexplicable closeness to Song Yan—perhaps it was this body’s instinctive consciousness from long ago, treating him as an elder. “I don’t hold it much. I’m afraid I’ll disappoint Uncle.”
“Your mother’s greatest wish was for you both to be healthy and happy. Besides, without your father as the best teacher, it’s no wonder. I’m not disappointed. To see you both in my lifetime—my remaining wishes are fulfilled.” Expressions of sorrow and joy interwove on Song Yan’s face.
“Uncle, we two lost our parents in childhood and didn’t know our origins. Only today do we learn that our parents’ close friend still lives—we’re truly extremely delighted. What if my sister and I take you as our adoptive father? From now on we’ll treat you as our real father in filial respect.” Mo Zi heard him talk about long-held wishes and remaining wishes being fulfilled, sensing he seemed about to end his own life, which prompted this proposal.
Song Yan indeed had thoughts of suicide. In his early years he was cynical about the world, scattered all his wealth, and became a wandering gentleman. Later he became acquainted with Min Fifth Son, like real brothers. He admired the flower-deity-like Wang Ailian but had not half a trace of selfish ulterior motives. Living carefree yet affectionate days with this family of four, he vowed to guard them alone for life. Who knew that after going to visit friends for just a few days, he’d return to find everything upended? He secretly regretted yet was unwilling to accept it, roaming the four seas searching for the two little nieces until Great Qiu invaded Yuling, when he rushed back to guard his brother’s old residence. Barely surviving until now like a lonely ghost, he only hoped the children were safe so he could give an account to Min Fifth Son and his wife in the underworld. Therefore, hearing Mo Zi say she wanted to acknowledge him as adoptive father, warm currents suddenly surged in his cold heart.
Dou Lu’s comprehension wasn’t slow—she immediately knelt down.
Mo Zi thought to herself that this sister was clever and also knelt.
Both spoke in unison. “Adoptive Father, please accept your daughters’ bow.”
Now Song Yan had no way to hang himself or bash his head. These two children he’d watched being born and regarded as daughters had truly become his daughters—dying would be irresponsible behavior.
He excitedly wiped away tears, supporting one with each hand. “Quickly rise. If you don’t disdain me as useless, I’ll brazenly accept this. From now on if anyone bullies my daughters, I absolutely won’t let it rest.”
Jin Yin muttered to Yuan Cheng, “Heaven plays favorites. We both lost our parents too—how come no one wants to acknowledge us as grandsons or sons, fighting to stand up for us?”
“Mo Zi’s grandmother said girls are treasures, boys are grass.” Yuan Cheng was happy for the sisters. Seeing that Song Yan was no ordinary person—to become close friends with Min Fifth Son, he must have exceptional qualities.
“The Min family too—everyone else values sons over daughters, but they value daughters over sons, even counting on Mo Zi to learn the nine techniques and inherit the old ancestor’s legacy.” Jin Yin laughed.
Presently, they smashed down that hypocritical stone monument, and everyone sat around the broken walls talking.
“Crescent Moon Mountain was never called Mingshan, but rather Minshan.” When asked about Mingshan Sandstone Cave, Song Yan said.
Minshan, Mingshan—the pronunciations were similar.
Everyone looked at Dou Lu.
Dou Lu thought carefully, very seriously. “I don’t know, but the first thing I thought of was the character ‘ming’ for bird calls.”
“But this Minshan truly has a sandstone cave. Your father and I went there several times. Each time, he’d gather some rocks back, then stay in his workshop for ten days to half a month. But he never told me much. Only once during Mid-Autumn Festival drinks, when he was somewhat drunk, he asked if I wanted to know about his family’s old ancestor, saying the old ancestor hid an enormous secret. I’m the type who most can’t stand hearing people talk about secrets, so I said I didn’t want to hear, and he never mentioned it again.” Song Yan now regretted this. “If I’d known you would be so urgent about this, I should have listened back then.”
“Now there’s not much choice—we can only make a trip to Crescent Moon Mountain.” Yuan Cheng pondered for a long while.
“Prince Su is waiting for us to walk into his trap. Are you planning to offer the Water-Purifying Pearls with both hands?” Jin Yin felt it was dangerous.
“Young Master Jin, Prince Su is on your territory. We can choose not to go, but then the final clue to unlocking the Water-Purifying Pearls’ secret might be destroyed by him.” Yuan Cheng wasn’t afraid of a direct confrontation. “Mo Zi, Dou Lu—this was left by your parents. You decide.”
“I want to go.” Dou Lu spoke first.
To be a bit heartless about it, Mo Zi didn’t care what enormous secret was hidden in the Water-Purifying Pearls. Somewhat like her newly acknowledged adoptive father, she believed secrets weren’t good things—knowing too much shortened one’s life. But she doted on her sister. Ever since inhabiting this body, she hadn’t felt for a single day that Dou Lu had nothing to do with her.
“If we’re going, we must go prepared.” This was her small request.
“Then it depends on your Second Brother’s ability to deploy troops.” Yuan Cheng shirked responsibility.
Jin Yin glared fiercely at him, but said nothing more, turning to discuss with Qi Liang.
Song Yan then took Mo Zi and Dou Lu to the thatched hut where he lived. “Your father helped me build this house. The roof is thatched because I like coolness. But this wood—”
“Yellow pear wood.” Mo Zi knew with one touch. “The main beam has the fragrance of aloe purple wood. This bookshelf, this table and chairs, and the bed frame are deep cloud fir at least two hundred years old.”
Song Yan nodded inwardly. “Many in the world are blinded by outwardly beautiful things. You two sisters must remember to look with your hearts.”
Mo Zi and Dou Lu acknowledged this.
“Second girl, I planted some flowers in back. Help your adoptive father go look. At three years old you already held a small spade, following your mother to weed the flowers. Do you remember?” Song Yan said.
“I remember.” Dou Lu happily went to the back.
Mo Zi touched the bookshelf, feeling the delicate wood grain. “Adoptive Father has something to tell me.”
Song Yan smiled. “Great Zhou’s First Female Official and Grand Master Craftsman is indeed exceptionally clever. In that case, I can hand over what your father entrusted me to keep. I believe you already possess the qualifications.”
Having said this, he shook his shoulders and soundlessly floated up to the roof.