It rained last night, stopping just before dawn. The morning air was exceptionally clean and refreshing, mixed with the fresh scent of green leaves from the courtyard trees.
Cai Zhao, her hair loose, leaned on the windowsill with her fair arm, her wide sleeves fluttering in the breeze. She could hear Zhou Yuqin talking with Ding Zhuo and Fan Xingjia downstairs.
Early in the morning, Zhou Yuqin had already asked the kitchen to prepare Cai Zhao’s favorite clay pot porridge, poached eggs, and white jade sugar cake. He had a maid quietly deliver the tray to Cai Zhao’s room. Cai Zhao had always preferred to eat before dressing up, rather than following the conventional routine of getting ready before breakfast.
As a child at home, Cai Pingfei didn’t mind this habit, but Ning Xiaofeng often scolded her for it. After Cai Pingfei passed away, she gradually changed this habit. However, after meeting Mu Qingyan, she reverted to her old ways.
Cai Zhao felt this wasn’t her fault; it was all due to Mu Qingyan’s indulgence. Every time she would groggily rise in the early morning, Mu Qingyan would look at her as if she were a wobbly yellow duckling, his eyes full of pity, almost wanting to bring the breakfast tray to her bedside.
Cai Zhao shook her head, trying to shake off these memories.
“…I just heard last night that Senior Brother Fan is from Xing City, so I thought he might like sour noodle soup. Senior Brother Ding values cultivation and health, so I only had them send five-grain porridge, plain boiled eggs, and freshly picked fruit,” Zhou Yuqin’s gentle voice drifted up.
One reason he got along well with Cai Zhao was his attention to food and drink. He was not only particular about it but could even guide the cooks to recreate flavors almost perfectly.
Fan Xingjia was extremely pleased, repeatedly expressing his gratitude, saying it had been a long time since he’d tasted his hometown flavors. Even the usually cold-faced Ding Zhuo was very appreciative, unprecedentedly offering to lend Zhou Yuqin his collection of sword manuals.
Zhou Yuqin didn’t want to see the sword manuals; he had other intentions.
“Zhaozao seems calm and agreeable, always smiling, but she’s quite stubborn. When things don’t go her way, she might even resort to violence. However, Zhaozao has a very good heart and never provokes trouble. I humbly ask both senior brothers to be more understanding…”
Zhou Yuqin spoke sincerely and humbly. Ding and Fan, thinking of past incidents, repeatedly agreed.
At this moment, Qi Lingbo and Dai Fengchi came over from the courtyard. They had agreed to visit the Wuan City market fair together today. After waiting in the hall for a long time without seeing anyone come for breakfast, they decided to wander over and check.
As they reached the back courtyard, they overheard Zhou Yuqin earnestly entrusting Ding Zhuo and the others to take care of Cai Zhao in the future. “…So, I entrust my Zhaozao to both senior brothers. Yuqin thanks you again.”
Qi Lingbo stopped to listen for a while, feeling increasingly heartbroken.
Someone else’s fiancé was constantly concerned about whether his fiancée would be bullied or comfortable in the sect, while her fiancé wouldn’t even personally give a reason for not coming to breakfast, only sending word that he had already eaten.
How long would she have to endure such neglect and mistreatment?
Cai Zhao came down the wooden stairs to the first floor, just in time to see Qi Lingbo walking over with her head down.
The two women briefly faced each other. Qi Lingbo’s eyes were brimming with tears, her heart full of bitterness. In contrast, Cai Zhao was glowing from her meal, and in her good mood, she had deliberately dressed up, looking even more beautiful than usual.
“Uh, this junior greets Senior Sister. Good morning, Senior Sister. You look quite…” Cai Zhao paused, seeing Qi Lingbo’s sallow complexion and dejected spirit. “…good today. Let’s spend more time browsing the market fair later.”
She meant it as a polite remark, but to Qi Lingbo’s ears, it sounded more hurtful than mockery. She ran off crying and stomping her feet, leaving Cai Zhao standing there bewildered.
After everyone was ready, the sun was high in the sky, and the weather was clear and pleasant. Except for Li Yuanmin, who was sent by Wang Yuanjing to find distant relatives of the Chang family for the memorial service, almost all the young disciples from the three sects planned to visit the market fair today.
Cai Zhao had always loved bustling, prosperous scenes, wishing every street was lined with shops and every day had a celebration. Since joining the Qingque Sect, she had been caught up in one inexplicable trouble after another, with certain people haunting her incessantly. It had been a long time since she’d been this happy.
Zhou Yuqin was both patient and attentive, following closely by Cai Zhao’s side. He helped her evaluate lipstick colors in the rouge shop, and select fabric materials in the silk shop, and whenever Cai Zhao nodded, he smoothly paid and carried the purchases. He even showed off his skills at the candy figurine stand, making an adorable little sugar figurine – a little girl sitting on a small stool eating a bowl of wonton, with facial features identical to Cai Zhao’s, making her laugh uncontrollably.
Fan Xingjia stepped back half a step, sighing, “Ah when it comes to marriage, one should marry someone like Young Master Zhou. How comfortable life would be day after day. Fourth Senior Brother, don’t you agree?”
Ding Zhuo, who had been dragged out shopping against his will, actually nodded seriously, “In case of trouble, Sister Zhaozao is capable of fending off external threats. They are indeed a match made in heaven.”
Nearby, Song Yuji looked like a freshly painted green gourd with its mouth sewn shut, his expression a strange mix of conflict and seriousness.
They had lunch at the best restaurant in town. As they came out, they ran into a flower god parade. The crowd surged, and the air was filled with noise. They were pushed apart, unable to hear each other’s calls over the commotion.
When Cai Zhao regained her bearings, she found that Zhou Yuqin was gone.
…
Zhou Yuqin stumbled and continuously pushed in one direction. Worried about hurting ordinary citizens, he didn’t use his martial arts to resist. When he finally broke free from the crowd, he found himself in a quiet alley.
New to Wuan City, he didn’t know the layout, only remembering that their inn was in the east of the city. He started walking towards the east end of the alley. After a few steps, he heard a commotion coming from that direction, with a group of people arguing about something.
He initially didn’t want to get involved, but as he passed by, a few snippets of the argument reached his ears.
It turned out to be two girls arguing, one well-dressed and the other poor and small.
The well-dressed girl was berating the poor one: “…How shameless can you be? Master had already decided to let me do the embroidery for today’s flower cart, yet you secretly hijacked it! And now you’re crying? Don’t think crying will solve everything! I pitied your poor family and sent food and drinks to your home every three days, and this is how you repay me? You convinced Master to replace the flower cart embroidery with your work. Do you have any conscience at all?”
The surrounding crowd started criticizing the poor girl for her despicable character and ingratitude.
The poor girl knelt on the ground, pleading incessantly, “Please forgive me, sister! I had no choice! Remember when we first joined as children? Master said our embroidery talents were about the same, but now I’m not as good as you. It’s not because I’m lazy or negligent, but because my fate isn’t as good as yours!”
“You can practice embroidery peacefully, while I have to start working before dawn – chopping wood, fetching water, cooking, doing odd jobs for neighbors to earn a few coins, and only practicing needlework on the rough cloth when I can steal a moment. Master says embroiderers need to take care of their hands. Your hands are still like a child’s, while mine are full of calluses. Sister, you come from a wealthy family, loved by your father and brothers. You’ll live a life of luxury whether you embroider or not. But embroidery is my only way out. If I don’t make a name for myself soon, my parents will sell me to be the twentieth concubine of Rich Wang! Master took pity on me and changed the flower cart embroidery to mine. With some reputation, I can earn money through embroidery!”
Hearing this, half of the crowd changed their opinion, saying the poor girl was forced by circumstances and truly pitiful.
The well-dressed girl angrily retorted, “Don’t give me that! If you had difficulties, you could have told me. How can you justify using such underhanded schemes? My embroidery skills far surpass yours, and they didn’t fall from the sky – I’ve practiced since childhood. The flower cart embroidery rotates among dozens of cities in the area. It won’t be Wuan City’s turn again for over a decade. Will I still be able to embroider then? Does a lifetime of hard work mean nothing? Get up and go outside to explain everything to everyone! One thing at a time. If it’s just about being pitiful, there are countless people more pitiful than you in this world. No matter how hard life is, one should act with integrity…”
Zhou Yuqin couldn’t help but intervene, pushing through the crowd: “Miss, let’s be forgiving. Everyone has heard the whole story. Today’s flower cart embroidery is just icing on the cake for you, but it’s a lifeline for this girl on the ground. There are priorities to consider. Why don’t you let her have this opportunity?”
As soon as these words were uttered, Miss Wei and seven or eight onlookers erupted into a clamor. Everyone held their views, creating a chaotic scene.
This entire spectacle was observed by a solitary figure. Dressed in coarse hemp clothing with a conical hat concealing his face, he stood alone in a corner of the alley. Though he appeared no different from the other wanderers in town for the market, his tall stature and composed demeanor set him apart.
Mu Qingyan silently watched Zhou Yuqi caught amid the quarreling crowd, his heart settling slightly.
Indeed, Zhou Yuqi was a gentle and considerate man, but he had one fatal weakness: his tendency to pity the weak.
Compared to Qi Lingbo, Cai Zhao was kind and non-confrontational, while Qi Lingbo might as well have had “domineering” written on her face. Naturally, Zhou Yuqi sympathized with Cai Zhao. However, when comparing Cai Zhao to the pitiful Min Xinrou, Cai Zhao seemed like a female judge of hell. How would Zhou Yuqi choose between them?
This act was well-played. Mu Qingyan nodded approvingly towards the other corner, expressing his satisfaction.
You Guanyue quickly withdrew half of his face, looking pleased with his superior’s approval.
Shangguan Haonan watched in astonishment. “I had no idea our Sect Leader You possessed such talent.”
“You flatter me,” You Guanyue said, adjusting his robe. “The script was all planned by the Chief. I merely chose a role and did some makeup and costuming. That’s all.”
…
Zhou Yuqi finally broke free from the crowd, but the hidden pain in his heart, which had been suppressed earlier, slowly resurfaced.
He walked aimlessly, unknowingly arriving at another alley.
By now, the sun was setting in the west, and the alley grew dim.
As Zhou Yuqi passed a dilapidated house, he heard fierce scolding through the half-open door, mixed with soft pleading. It seemed to be a father and daughter arguing.
A middle-aged man in tattered clothes, holding a broom, was angrily shouting, “…You shameless girl! Are you going to marry or not? If you won’t, I’ll beat you to death right now!”
The daughter, kneeling on the ground, begged desperately, constantly kowtowing. “Father, please wait a little longer. Brother Qiang only has eyes for me. He’ll surely return to marry me! Please, Father, just wait a bit longer!”
The father raged, “Wait for what? I’ve inquired around. Qiang’s parents have already started preparing the betrothal gifts. Yet you’re still here waiting like a fool! Their family is well-matched. How could we be worthy of them? Only a stupid, delusional girl like you would believe otherwise!”
The daughter wept incessantly. “It’s true, it’s true! I know Brother Qiang likes me. That young lady is very kind, but Brother Qiang doesn’t like her. It’s true! Brother Qiang will come back to marry me!”
The old mother also came to persuade her. “Ah Zhen, wake up. You and Qiang have been close since childhood, and all the neighbors know it. Once Qiang marries someone else, it’ll be hard for you to find a match…”
The daughter stubbornly replied, “Then I’d rather never marry and wait for him my whole life! I won’t marry anyone but Brother Qiang!”
Zhou Yuqi was stunned. Listening to every word, his emotions surged, and he felt lost and confused.
His eyes gradually moistened, his vision blurring. The half-open wooden door seemed to transform into the grand, imposing latticed door of his grandmother’s courtyard. Though only a step away, he never dared to cross it and reveal his true feelings to his grandmother.
He failed to notice the faint fragrance that had permeated the air. In the slanting evening sun, pale yellow powder swirled in the breeze, causing those who inhaled it to feel inexplicably melancholic, unsure if they were in a dream.
From the corner, Mu Qingyan coldly observed Zhou Yuqi standing dazed, his eyes brimming with tears.
He smirked slightly. So, the Zhou fellow indeed had another woman in his heart. Very good, very good indeed.
In another corner, Shangguan Haonan wrinkled his nose. “What trick is this now?”
You Guanyue drew back his neck and whispered, “It’s called Rubus Powder. Originally used by wandering Taoist priests for their illusions, it confuses the mind and disorients those who inhale it. Our Chief modified the formula, making it even more potent.”
Shangguan Haonan remarked, “That Zhou boy didn’t even notice. Tsk, tsk, look at his mournful face.”
“Indeed. If it were Song Yu, he’d hold his breath and focus his mind as soon as he noticed, rendering it useless,” You Guanyue lamented, wishing they could use it on Song Yu to directly eliminate a rival for the Chief.
…
As night fell, Zhou Yuqi walked with a heavy heart, unaware of his surroundings. Feeling hungry, he spotted a night food stall on a street corner and thought of getting a bite. However, he noticed people arguing inside the stall.
Besides the helpless owner, there were four people in their thirties, seemingly two married couples based on their conversation.
“…You slut! After being married to me for over a decade, you’re still pining for your lover! Shameless whore, sleeping around, making me a cuckold. I’ll beat you to death!” A middle-aged man with a red nose hiccupped drunkenly, repeatedly kicking the person on the ground while cursing. “If you still yearn for your cousin, why did you marry me in the first place, making me a fool for over ten years!”
A scholarly-looking man tried to intervene but was held back by his wife. He could only say, “My cousin and I are innocent. We’ve never had an improper relationship. It’s you who’s been drinking and abusing her, forcing her to live in misery. I came to help because I couldn’t bear to watch!”
The drunk squinted and sneered, “Help? How? By taking her to bed? Meeting secretly in the dead of night, and you call that innocent? Bah!” He pulled out a stack of papers from his bosom and threw them. “Look for yourself. These were all written by this slut in private!”
The scholar picked them up and saw his name written densely thousands of times on every sheet. He covered his face and wept.
The scholar’s wife’s expression changed. She scolded, “Cousin, what’s the meaning of this? You’re married, why are you still writing my husband’s name?”
The drunk laughed. “Sister-in-law, don’t just blame her. Your husband isn’t innocent either. I have many letters he wrote to this slut at home. Over a decade’s worth, filling a whole box! So intimate and caring! These adulterers have been unclear since before the wedding and continued their affair afterward. Only you and I were kept in the dark, made into living cuckolds! Hahaha…”
Suddenly, the drunk’s wife cried out, “It’s true! I’ve always loved my cousin. I married you because of my parents’ orders. I’ve wronged you. I accept your beatings and scolding, but don’t you dare insult my cousin!”
“Cousin!” The scholar moved and knelt beside her on the ground.
The scholar’s wife wept, beating her husband. “If you loved her, why did you marry me? I could have found another match. If you had objected even once, my parents would have called off the engagement without hesitation! You’ve ruined all four of us!”
The drunk’s wife also wept, “Cousin, cousin, if we had known it would come to this, why did we act as we did back then?”
The two embraced, sobbing uncontrollably. The drunk shouted about taking them to the ancestral hall and drowning them in pig cages, while the scholar’s wife walked away without looking back.
Witnessing this scene, Zhou Yuqi felt a chill rise from his feet to his heart, leaving him feeling ice-cold to the bone.
If he hadn’t been so preoccupied, his usual attentiveness would have noticed the oddness of this stall—how could a busy night market street be empty, and why were there only four people in the night food stall?
Unable to listen further, Zhou Yuqi fled the stall, stumbling and running aimlessly through the dark streets. Everywhere was pitch black, much like his marriage prospects, seemingly without hope.
After running for an unknown time, he spotted a light in the distance. Like a drowning man grasping at a lifeline, he frantically ran towards it.
It was a secluded bookshop with only the owner inside.
On the table sat a pot of warm Jiangnan Spring tea and a stack of fragrant mung bean cakes.
The bookshop owner, about fifty years old, wore a long-sleeved robe. He had three strands of scholarly beard on his chin and a tall, straight posture. His face was quite ordinary, except for a pair of deep, unusually clear black eyes.
The bookshop owner wasn’t overly friendly, but he invited Zhou Yuqi to sit and rest, offering tea and snacks before returning to organize his books. This casual attitude helped Zhou Yuqi relax, his entire body seeming to lose tension.
They exchanged intermittent conversation:
“Your tea is excellent, sir.”
“A friend from Jiangnan sent it.”
“Are you the only one running this shop?”
“No wife, no children. It’s more peaceful this way.”
Zhou Yuqi stared blankly, holding his teacup.
The shopkeeper glanced back, “Something troubling you, young man?”
Zhou Yuqi responded numbly, “Yes.”
“Relationship problems, I assume?”
Zhou Yuqi nearly dropped his cup. “How did you know?”
The shopkeeper smiled. “Your rich attire and polite manners suggest it’s not a financial issue. Your facial features indicate a harmonious family, so it’s not a family problem. For a young man like yourself, what other troubles could there be besides matters of the heart?”
Zhou Yuqi was amazed. “You’re quite perceptive, sir.”
“It’s not mystical. When you’ve seen enough people and experiences, you naturally understand these things.”
Crouching in the attic, Shangguan Haonan turned to You Guanyue. “Did the Chief study physiognomy too?”
You Guanyue replied, “Look at the book the Chief was holding earlier. It seemed to be ‘The Divine Physiognomy of Ma Yi.'”
Shangguan Haonan muttered, “…So the Chief is making this up as he goes.”
The shopkeeper continued calmly, “Young man, are your troubles about not being able to be with your loved one?”
“Yes… and no,” Zhou Yuqi sighed. “I have a cousin. Her family situation isn’t good – her father and brothers are foolish, and her stepmother is cruel. So she came to live with us when she was very young. We grew up together, perfectly compatible. Our family often joked that we’d become husband and wife, and we both thought so too.”
“Did something change?”
“Change? Yes. When I was twelve, my father suddenly arranged a marriage for me. Then my grandmother moved my cousin out of my courtyard and forbade us from being close anymore.”
“You’re not happy with this arrangement?”
Zhou Yuqi’s mind was in turmoil. After a long pause, he said, “I don’t know. The family I’m engaged to is of equal status to ours, old family friends. My future in-laws are very kind and understanding people.”
The shopkeeper smiled again. “If everything else is good, yet you’re still so troubled, it must be that the girl you’re engaged to isn’t to your liking.”
“No, no, no!” Zhou Yuqi exclaimed. “Zhao… I mean, the girl I’m engaged to is wonderful, truly wonderful. She’s intelligent, cheerful, wise, and brave. All the elders adore her.”
The shopkeeper seemed to notice something. “The elders like her, but you don’t?”
“I… I don’t know,” Zhou Yuqi said, bewildered. “She’s more beautiful than my cousin, more clever, and far more capable. She even surpasses me in abilities.”
“Then what’s lacking?”
“…I don’t know.”
Shangguan Haonan carefully stretched his stiff arm. “This Zhou boy is so indecisive, going in circles without saying anything clearly. Sigh, the Chief is truly extraordinary, patiently listening to this boy’s ramblings.”
” I think the Chief is quite irritated,” You Guanyue whispered. “Look, he’s taken down and replaced that stack of books three times now. If this boy doesn’t get to the point soon, I think the Chief might take action.”
The shopkeeper took down the stack of books for the fourth time, pretending to dust them off. “Is it that you don’t like your future wife being more capable than you?”
Zhou Yuqi: “I don’t mind if my future wife is stronger than me.”
“Is someone else concerned about it?”
“…Yes, someone is. My grandmother.”
Zhou Yuqi leaned on his knees, head bowed. “My grandmother is very pleased with the engagement my father arranged. This way, I’ll have a powerful family backing me, and my future wife is exceptional, helping me secure my position as the family head. If it were my cousin, that wouldn’t be guaranteed.”
He looked at the shopkeeper pleadingly. “My mother has always hoped for my cousin to marry me. Because of this, my grandmother has severely punished my mother many times, threatening to divorce her and even trying to send my cousin back home several times. But how can my cousin return to that home? It would be the death of her!”
The shopkeeper finally showed interest, forcing himself to continue organizing books. “Couldn’t you find a good match for your cousin? Wouldn’t that solve everything?”
Zhou Yuqi’s eyes moistened. “My grandmother said the same thing, even promising a generous dowry. But after all these years, everyone inside and outside the family knows my cousin’s feelings for me. How could she be happily married to someone else now?”
“Bah! ‘My cousin’s feelings for me,’ this boy acts like he’s innocent, but he’s been improper too,” You Guanyue rolled his eyes. “Our spies reported clearly: when Min Xinrou had a cold and couldn’t take her medicine, this boy sat by her bed and fed her spoonful by spoonful; when Min Xinrou cut herself while practicing sword, he applied medicine for her…”
Shangguan Haonan sneered, “Did he blow on it after applying the medicine?”
“Oh, you guessed it right. He applied a bit of medicine and blew three times.”
Zhou Yuqi continued tearfully, “Before I left, my grandmother repeatedly instructed me to treat my fiancée well, or she’d immediately send my cousin away. Now my cousin cries every day and is mocked and ridiculed by others. I feel terrible, but I don’t know what to do.”
Finally reaching the crux of the matter, the shopkeeper feigned nonchalance as he slowly approached. “Young man, would you like to hear my advice?”
Zhou Yuqi eagerly agreed.
The shopkeeper asked, “In your heart, how important is it to secure your position as the family head?”
Without hesitation, Zhou Yuqi replied, “I don’t care about being the family head. I’d rather live freely, drifting on rivers and lakes.”
The shopkeeper continued, “In your heart, who can you not bear to part with – your cousin or your fiancée?”
Zhou Yuqi immediately answered, “My fiancée is intelligent, beautiful, and capable. Without me, she could easily find a better match. But without me, my cousin would have no way to survive.”
The shopkeeper probed further, “Your grandmother and mother have opposing views. What about your grandfather and father?”
Zhou Yuqi explained, “My grandfather passed away early. My father is kind-hearted and has always taught me to follow my heart. He initially arranged this engagement due to friendship with old acquaintances, not because he looked down on my cousin. However, he’s very busy and doesn’t fully understand the bond between my cousin and me.”
“Isn’t the solution clear then?”
The shopkeeper stroked his beard and smiled. “Among your female elders, one approves and one opposes. Your father wants you to make your own decision. If you wish to go east, then east it is; if you wish to go west, then west it shall be. The future happiness of three people now depends solely on your will.”
Zhou Yuqi felt as if he had been enlightened, his heart suddenly clear – so the seemingly hopeless situation was actually in his own hands?
As he stood to leave, the shopkeeper kindly urged him to eat a mung bean cake, “Young man, you look pale. You haven’t eaten in a while, have you? Please, have some refreshments.”
Zhou Yuqi was indeed hungry. He took three mung bean cakes, bowed to thank the shopkeeper, and left.
As he was leaving, the shopkeeper called out to him once more, repeatedly advising, “Young man, forgive an old man for presuming, but in matters of the heart, one wrong step leads to a lifetime of regret. A moment’s hesitation in youth can result in lifelong regret. Better a short pain than a long one, remember that well.”
Zhou Yuqi thanked him again and left.
Shangguan Haonan glanced sideways, “What’s in those mung bean cakes?”
You Guanyue replied, “A bit of medicinal powder. Slightly sweet, dissolves in water.”
” I knew you’d put something in. What kind of medicine is it?”
“It’s called ‘Courage Booster,'” Guanyue said proudly as he slowly stood up. “The user will suddenly feel a surge of energy and spirit, eager to take action – exactly what our young Master Zhou needs right now.”
Shangguan Haonan clicked his tongue repeatedly, “The Chief is truly thoughtful. Hey, where are you going?”
“The Chief’s orders. We need to see this through to the end. There’s one last act to play.”
…
The mung bean cakes were delicately sweet and smooth. Zhou Yuqi ate all three at once, feeling increasingly energetic and courageous with each bite. He felt ready to face his grandmother and eloquently argue his case.
Repeating “Better a short pain than a long one” in his mind, he passed through a quiet alley and saw a young couple whispering in a corner.
The young man was gently consoling the girl, who was crying softly.
“Please, just try talking to them. Your parents are open-minded people; they won’t blame you. If you don’t speak up now, you’ll have to marry Miss Zhang! Please, for our future, for me, just try this once!”
The young man seemed moved and gritted his teeth, “Alright! I’ll talk to them! But who should I approach first? My father or my mother?”
The girl replied, “It’s best to talk to Miss Zhang first. The engagement was your father’s idea, and it would be difficult for him to break it off. Miss Zhang is understanding and broad-minded. If you talk to her first and she accepts our situation, everything will work out!”
“You’re right. I should let Zhang know my true feelings first. If she refuses to marry me, the engagement will naturally be broken…”
Zhou Yuqi clenched his fist in sudden realization.
Indeed, talking to Cai Zhao first would be most effective.
Right, he would go to her first!