Back at Qingjing Study, Cai Zhao personally tended to Chang Ning’s wound.
His loose robe fell to his shoulders, revealing the young man’s well-defined chest and back, broad shoulders, and toned muscles. Cai Zhao changed several clothes before finally applying medicine and wrapping bandages.
Cai Zhao intended to step back, but seeing Chang Ning sitting absent-mindedly on the lounge chair with his robe open, she sighed and leaned forward to fix his clothes.
Chang Ning suddenly came to, leaning forward without warning. His tall, broad-shouldered frame enveloped the girl beneath his shadow.
Cai Zhao’s hands were still on his clothes, her eyes level with the young man’s long neck, his Adam’s apple prominent. A cool scent mingled with a faint smell of blood. She turned her face away, frowning, “Why do I feel like you’ve grown taller these past few days?”
She remembered that when they first met, the young man before her had been thin and frail.
“Really?” Chang Ning looked at his forearm, long-boned with firm muscles visible beneath the fair skin. “Perhaps it’s because I’ve been eating and sleeping well lately, thanks to Zhaozao.”
Cai Zhao knew he was talking nonsense. She pushed against his chest, “If you don’t want to tell the truth, then don’t. Anyone can see your cultivation has progressed, and you’re close to full recovery.” Chang Ning had been injured and poisoned for a year; she guessed that at his age, he had quickly regained the growth suppressed over the past year.
Chang Ning smiled, “You stabbed me with a sword, and I’m not angry. Yet you’re the one who’s upset.”
Cai Zhao put the water basin aside and turned, asking, “Were you going to slash Qi Lingbo’s face earlier? If you had, how would you have dealt with the consequences?”
“I hadn’t planned on dealing with them. If I couldn’t stay in Qingque Sect, I’d just leave,” Chang Ning said lazily.
“If Qi Lingbo’s face was ruined, how could she live on?”
“She’d manage. After all, she has a precious and formidable fiancé. She’ll still be the Sect Master’s wife in the future. Given Young Master Song’s character, he wouldn’t break off the engagement just because his fiancée’s face was scarred.” Chang Ning couldn’t hide the schadenfreude in his voice.
Cai Zhao was stunned, realizing there was some truth to his words. “…So, you were setting up Third Senior Brother?”
Chang Ning tilted his head, thought for a moment, and then fell back onto the lounge chair, giggling.
Cai Zhao threw the cloth into the basin forcefully, saying angrily, “Third Senior Brother should teach you a lesson. He’s done nothing to you recently, yet you try to set him up!”
Chang Ning sat up, speaking seriously, “Zhaozao is right. To avoid Young Master Song coming after me, I’ll go into seclusion again starting tomorrow.”
“For how long this time? One day and one hour, or two days and two hours?” Cai Zhao asked skeptically.
Chang Ning replied, “Four days and four nights. This time I won’t come out early. I’ll trouble Junior Sister Zhaozao to keep watch for me again.”
Cai Zhao sighed in relief, patting her chest and promising it wouldn’t be a problem—as long as Chang Ning didn’t go out causing trouble, she’d be happy to keep watch, even if it meant guarding a coffin.
“I smell sugar-glazed cherries. Are they for me?” Chang Ning tilted his head, sniffing lightly with a delighted expression.
Cai Zhao, leaning against the doorframe, turned back with a teasing smile, “If you had slashed Qi Lingbo’s face and fled down the mountain tonight, I would have eaten that bowl of sugar-glazed cherries with everyone else, not leaving a single drop of syrup!”
Outside, the moon shone like a jade plate. A gentle evening breeze stirred the flowers in the courtyard. The girl turned back, smiling as she held the door, her delicate nose slightly upturned, playful yet warm.
Chang Ning suddenly felt a strange heat in his mouth, an unfamiliar warmth.
Slightly surprised, he pressed his hand to his chest.
…
In an inner room of the Shuanglian Huachi Palace, only three people were present.
Qi Lingbo had just finished washing herself repeatedly, ensuring no trace of swamp smell remained on her body or hair before leaving the bath. She was now sobbing as she complained to her mother.
Yin Sulian was also at a loss until she heard that Chang Ning had come to provoke them and Cai Zhao had intervened. She slapped her thigh and cursed, “That short-lived ghost with no family left, I’ll teach him a lesson!”
Granny Mao, who was drying Qi Lingbo’s hair, said, “Madam, please calm down. The grudge between both sides seems to be settled now. It’s best not to create new problems. I told you, Cai Zhao was raised by Cai Pingzhu after all. No matter how sharp-tongued she might be, she wouldn’t let things go too far. Thankfully, she stopped Chang Ning today. Madam and Miss, please don’t worry. This old servant thinks Chang Ning won’t come looking for trouble again.”
Qi Lingbo was unwilling to let it go and complained about her mother being too timid and unwilling to stand up for her.
Yin Sulian, also full of anger, couldn’t help but scold, “You! Remember what I told you when Chang Ning first came to the mountain? I could tell he wasn’t easy to deal with, his eyes cold and fierce. I predicted he would become formidable in the future. I told you to show him more care and concern—men are easiest to subdue when they’re down and out!”
“But look what you’ve done! Not only did you fail to make him grateful and admiring of you, but you’ve become enemies! Tell me, how did you manage to mess things up so badly?” Yin Sulian poked her daughter, frustrated at her incompetence.
Qi Lingbo felt extremely wronged, “I did go! I visited him every few days, showing care and consideration, bringing tea and water, and even making clothes for him. But Chang not only didn’t appreciate it, but he mocked me endlessly. How could I tolerate that?”
She remembered Chang Ning’s eyes that seemed to see through everything as if he completely understood her intentions. Every time she mustered the enthusiasm to show concern, Chang Ning’s eyes were full of mockery and derision, making Qi Lingbo feel like a clown.
Yin Sulian sighed, “Well, at least my judgment wasn’t wrong. Chang Ning is indeed remarkable. He’s only recovered for a few days, and already Fengchi is no match for him. What a pity Lingbo couldn’t win him over. Instead, that little hussy Cai Zhao has benefited.”
Qi Lingbo turned away angrily, “I’m useless! I’m a fool! Mother, aren’t you ashamed of me?”
Yin Sulian was about to console her daughter when she caught Granny Mao’s eye. She quickly composed herself and began scolding her daughter, “You are indeed useless. It’s bad enough that you’re not skilled in martial arts, but you can’t even endure. Even if you couldn’t win Chang Ning over back then, you could have at least maintained a normal relationship. There was no need to become enemies.”
“Mother! How can you say such things about me!” Qi Lingbo cried, tears flowing.
“It’s as if your aunt has passed away. If she saw how arrogant and brainless you’ve become, she definitely wouldn’t want you as her daughter-in-law!” Yin Sulian continued to ‘encourage’ her daughter.
Qi Lingbo cried even louder.
Granny Mao consoled gently, “Miss, don’t blame your mother for speaking harshly. It’s all for your good. Back then, your aunt and your mother—one was incredibly intelligent and cunning, the other was stunningly beautiful and understanding. Even though the sisters’ martial arts weren’t the best, they still lived splendidly in the martial world, praised by everyone, not much inferior to Cai Pingzhu.”
“Don’t be fooled by that little Cai Zhao’s calm demeanor. It’s the quiet dogs that bite! This old woman thinks she’s much stronger than her aunt was back then. Not only are her martial arts good, but she’s also clever and knows how to handle people. Chang Ning has such a violent temper, always threatening to kill, yet she managed to subdue him immediately. Who knows what shameless efforts she’s made behind the scenes? Hmph, one face in public, another in private!”
“Miss Lingbo, you should learn from her in the future. Don’t be so straightforward…”
Qi Lingbo couldn’t bear to hear more. She let out an angry cry and rushed out, running to a side room where Dai Fengchi was resting and recovering.
With disheveled wet hair, Qi Lingbo gritted her teeth, “I must teach that little hussy Cai Zhao a lesson!”
Dai Fengchi hesitated, “Her martial arts are formidable.” He implied they couldn’t defeat her.
“I know!”
“She’s also sharp-tongued.” Suggesting they couldn’t out-argue her either.
“I know that too!”
“Master and his wife won’t let you use your private guards.” Indicating they lacked sufficient help.
“I’m well aware!”
“So what do you plan to do?”
Qi Lingbo let out a cold, hateful laugh. “I’ve already thought of a way. I’ll ruin her reputation!”
…
The morning after the fire at Xianyu Linglong Residence, Chang Ning began his seclusion. Before retreating, he casually handed Cai Zhao a thick stack of banknotes, saying it was compensation for the wooden bridge above the deep ravine.
Cai Zhao quickly counted – a whopping 50,000 taels. It was enough not just for a wooden bridge, but for one made of gold or silver. She then asked, “What about Senior Sister Lingbo’s residence? You set that fire.” Although the fire was extinguished quickly, it had caused some damage.
Chang Ning replied without hesitation, “If Xianyu Linglong’s Residence is uninhabitable, let her move to Chunling Xiaozhu. It’s closer to her fiancé – killing two birds with one stone.”
Cai Zhao: =_= “… Brother, hurry up and start your seclusion. No need to see you off.”
After locking the troublemaker in the inner room with three iron locks, Cai Zhao reluctantly went to find Qi Yunke. To her surprise, Song Yuzhi was also there, looking proud and cold, glancing at everything but her.
Cai Zhao first conveyed Chang Ning’s apology (Chang Ning: I didn’t apologize!) and then suggested that if Xianyu Linglong Residence was severely damaged, Qi Lingbo could temporarily stay at Chunling Xiaozhu.
Qi Yunke shook his head, politely declining the suggestion. “Xianyu Linglong Residence is full of gold and jade; it’s not easily damaged. Besides, it’s good for Lingbo to learn a lesson.”
As they left the main residence, Song Yuzhi walked silently ahead of Cai Zhao. When they parted at the crossroads, he suddenly turned back and gave the girl a deep look, his eyes filled with reproach.
Cai Zhao thought: … Um, maybe he doesn’t want to live too close to his fiancée.
Afterward, she went to handle the compensation matters, handing the thick stack of banknotes to Zeng Dalou. Just as Zeng Dalou was about to speak, Cai Zhao quickly interjected, “If Senior Brother also wants to say something like ‘Please advise Chang Ning, Lingbo is just childish and means no harm,’ there’s no need. The last person who said that was beaten by Chang Ning so badly that even their mother might not recognize them.”
Zeng Dalou sighed deeply, “Why is he so unforgiving?”
“Why do you always favor Senior Sister Lingbo?” Cai Zhao retorted, sauntering away.
In addition to leaving 50,000 taels of silver, Chang Ning had also “recruited” four helpers.
These four outer disciples, though somewhat unsightly, diligently came to Qingjing Studio to work from the second day onward. They fetched water, chopped firewood, moved things around, tidied the lawn, and trimmed the shrubs. Furong only had to give a word, and they would work like ants, doing whatever was pointed out.
Cui, on the other hand, didn’t even need to speak. She remained as quiet as…
Cai Zhao initially refused politely, as outer disciples weren’t servants, and these four seemed to come from well-off families.
A Gua spoke righteously, “The other brothers who offended Young Master Chang ended up in such a state. We four only got scared. If we don’t come to help, wouldn’t that be against heaven’s will?”
A Zao added, “Young Master Chang is magnanimous and didn’t hold it against us. It’s his noble and kind nature. We four can’t be so polite as to refuse this blessing!”
A Zui chimed in, “Young Master Chang and Sister Cai are like dragons among men, world-class heroes, and heaven’s chosen ones. For us little brothers to run errands and do odd jobs for them is a blessing earned from several lifetimes of good deeds!”
A Sai bluntly stated, “…, that day at the cliff, we said that if Young Master Chang spared our miserable lives, we’d be his servants in the future.”
The other three – Gua, Zao, and Zui – all turned to glare at A Sai reproachfully.
“…” Cai Zhao said, “As long as everyone’s happy.”
The next three days were the most peaceful and leisurely Cai Zhao had experienced since climbing Wanshui Qianshan Cliff.
No one came to harm Chang Ning, and Chang Ning didn’t go out to cause trouble. Apart from practicing martial arts and preparing for battles, Cai Zhao spent her free time drinking clear lotus seed soup and watching the four – Gua, Zao, Zui, and Sai – fawn over Furong and Cui. She finally enjoyed a life of leisure and refinement.
Unfortunately, it only lasted three days.
On the morning of the fourth day, Cai Zhao noticed that Gua and Zao avoided eye contact with her and acted suspiciously. A Zui opened his mouth several times only to close it again, playing the refined game of wanting to speak but holding back. Cai Zhao, tired of their antics, directly asked A Sai, “If you have something to say, say it. If you’re hiding something without reason, I’ll have Brother Chang skin you alive tomorrow.”
A Sai immediately spilled everything like an overturned basket. “Sister Cai, rumors about you are spreading all over the sect!”
“Rumors? About me?” Cai Zhao suddenly felt like she was living out a cliché story from a novel.
In stories, there’s always a kind and weak lady with a pitiful background and an evil cousin who occasionally harms her. The methods of harm are varied, but the most common is spreading rumors to damage her reputation, making the lady feel too ashamed to face anyone and eventually commit suicide.
Of course, Cai Zhao would never commit suicide. Even if Nine Li Mountain were flattened, she wouldn’t kill herself.
The content of the rumor was simple: After joining the sect, young Miss Cai met Chang Ning, the orphan of the Wu’an Chang family. In just a few days, her pity turned to affection, affection to love, and finally, love to an illicit affair! Although young Miss Cai was already betrothed to the Zhou family, the two couldn’t control their passion and hid in Qingjing Studio every day to be intimate.
— The details were so vivid, it was as if someone had been hiding under Cai Zhao’s bed watching them.
After hearing this, Cai Zhao was stunned, not angry, just dumbfounded. She couldn’t understand the logic behind spreading such a rumor. “What’s the point of spreading this? Do they want Master to accuse me of being fickle and promiscuous and then drown me in a pig cage?”
She thought for a moment and realized it didn’t make sense. “But there’s no such crime in the Six Northern Zhen Sects.” The Song family of Guangtian Gate had a beautiful female ancestor who married five or six times, each new husband met while still married to the previous one.
Furong offered a new perspective: “I don’t think the person behind this wants Miss to be punished. They want to spread the rumor far and wide to ruin Miss’s engagement with the Zhou family.”
Cai Zhao was incredulous. “A mere rumor could ruin my engagement?”
Cui added, “Even if it can’t ruin the engagement, it’s worth it if it annoys Miss.”
Cai Zhao realized they had a point. Even if the Zhou family believed in her innocence, the women in the Min family would surely take delight in making snide remarks and veiled accusations every day.
“So, who’s behind spreading these rumors?” she mused.
The four – Gua, Zao, Zui, and Sai – exchanged furtive glances, while Furong and Cui wore expressions that seemed to say, ‘Isn’t it obvious?’
Cai Zhao laughed bitterly, stomped her foot, and turned to confront Qi Lingbo.
Xianyu Linglong Residence was under renovation.
Cai Zhao arrived with a menacing aura. The guards and servants, still shaken from Chang Ning’s recent rampage, dared not stop her. She marched straight in and easily found Qi Lingbo, who was trying on new clothes and jewelry.
Without beating around the bush, Cai Zhao directly asked Qi Lingbo if she was responsible for spreading the rumors.
Qi Lingbo coquettishly tried on clothes in front of the mirror, barely concealing her smugness. “Oh my, Sister, you’re talking about that rumor? I’ve heard it too. What? Do you think I spread it? Oh dear, that’s such a terrible accusation. Since Brother Chang ‘taught me a lesson’ a few days ago, I’ve been obediently staying in my room, reading, writing, and cultivating myself. How could you baselessly tarnish my reputation?”
“Why are these rumors circulating? Well, Sister, you should ask yourself that. Since you arrived, you’ve been inseparable from Brother Chang. You won’t even stay in Chunling Xiaozhu, which Father specially prepared for you, insisting on living with Brother Chang instead. What are people supposed to think? I wonder how the Zhou family will react to these rumors. Will they question your virtue?”
Cai Zhao swiftly grabbed Qi Lingbo’s arm, twisting it behind her back. She spoke coldly, “You really won’t learn until it’s too late! If I investigate, don’t you think I can trace the source of these rumors? Do you believe I won’t slap you dozens of times first, ruining that lying mouth of yours, before dragging you to confront those who spread the rumors?”
Qi Lingbo, having nothing left to lose, threw her new clothes down forcefully. “You… you… go ahead and kill me if you dare! I won’t admit to any wrongdoing. Even if others accuse me, it’ll be because you forced a false confession!” In truth, she was at her wit’s end, unable to out-argue Cai Zhao, and with no one to back her up, she could only resort to this desperate measure.
Cai Zhao released Qi Lingbo and laughed coldly, “Fine, very well! Senior Sister, you’ve got guts. I underestimated you before. Since you want to play, I’ll gladly oblige!” Without another word, she turned and strode out decisively.
Qi Lingbo rubbed her sore arm, filled with uncertainty and fear.
…
On the vast training grounds, dozens of inner disciples were practicing martial arts under Song Yuzhi’s supervision.
Suddenly, a graceful figure approached. Everyone looked up—a young woman in a light crimson gold-embroidered silk dress, carrying a wicker food basket. She moved with a slender waist, apricot eyes, and peach-blossom cheeks.
This beautiful young woman was none other than Cai Zhao.
All the disciples were stunned.
Under the morning sun, the young woman gently raised her hand to adjust her cloud-like green hair, causing the glass bead flowers on her golden hairpin to quiver slightly. The hearts of the young men seemed to tremble along with it.
Cai Zhao slowly walked to Song Yuzhi’s side, her laughter like silver bells. “Third Senior Brother, you’ve worked so hard. I’ve just joined the sect and only now realized how much you toil. You’re helping Master with his duties; it would be disrespectful of me not to do something as well.”
She took out a bowl from the basket. “Brother, here, have some iced sugar lotus seed soup to refresh yourself.”
The disciples craned their necks, shocked yet excited, anticipating some juicy gossip.
They couldn’t help it; life in the sect was too monotonous.
Song Yuzhi stood tall, handsome, and dignified as always.
The young woman before him smiled like a flower, attentive and considerate. Any man would be moved. After a moment of silence, he asked, “What are you trying to do?”
Cai Zhao continued her act, smiling sweetly, “You’ve heard the rumors about me these past few days, haven’t you?”
“…I have.”
“Qi Lingbo spread those rumors.”
“I know.”
“…” Cai Zhao maintained her smile, gritting her teeth. “She’s your fiancée!”
“So what?” Song Yuzhi spoke as if talking about someone unrelated to him.
The young girl revealed a fierce look. “Qi Lingbo ruined my reputation and tried to ruin my engagement. How can I let that slide? If I don’t retaliate, I’ll write my name backward! She made me miserable, so I’ll return the favor!”
“What does that have to do with me?” Song Yuzhi glanced at the girl, his expression still indifferent.
Cai Zhao revealed her true intentions, saying bitterly, “Don’t think you can stay out of this, Senior Brother! To be frank, whether you like it or not, I’m going to stick to you. It’s your future wife’s fault for being so underhanded. You’ll just have to endure it!”
The corner of Song Yuzhi’s mouth curved almost imperceptibly before he coldly said, “What if I don’t want you clinging to me?”
Cai Zhao chuckled lightly. Had she read hundreds of novels for nothing?
She smiled brightly and charmingly, “It seems Senior Brother lacks experience. A woman has many ways to latch onto a man if she wants to.”
Lowering her voice, she continued, “If you drink this soup, Senior Brother, I’ll just be a naive little girl who admires you, coming to check on you three times a day. If you don’t drink it, I’ll be a pitiful, abandoned, devoted girl!”
Song Yuzhi raised an eyebrow. “We’ve only known each other for about ten days. When did I abandon you?”
“Everyone will believe me when I cry brokenheartedly outside your window every night,” Cai Zhao fabricated shamelessly.
Song Yuzhi was standing at a distance from the other disciples, and they had been speaking in low voices, so no one else knew what they were discussing. They only saw the handsome, tall senior brother whispering closely with the delicate, beautiful junior sister.
“What’s going on? Am I dreaming?”
“It’s not a dream. I’ve already pinched myself—it hurt.”
“Senior Brother Song never speaks more than half a sentence to young women. He hardly even acknowledges Senior Sister Qi!”
“Ha, you don’t understand. Senior Brother Song is cold as ice because he hasn’t met the right person. If he meets the right one, he’ll have plenty to say! We’re all men, we know how it is.”
” I wanted to say at the initiation banquet that Junior Sister Cai is really beautiful.”
“Why wait until the banquet? I saw her at the ceremony. It’s a shame that guy with the pockmarked face was always by her side!”
“But haven’t there been rumors lately about Junior Sister Cai and Young Master Chang…”
“Don’t talk nonsense. Only fools would believe such baseless rumors! How can Chang compare to our Senior Brother Song? Forget about family background and martial arts skills, just look at their faces, if you were a woman, who would you choose?!”
“Even as a man, I’d choose Senior Brother Song, haha!”
“But isn’t Senior Brother Song engaged to Senior Sister Qi? And Junior Sister Cai is also betrothed to the Zhou family…”
“Don’t you guys read novels? Love at first sight, mutual affection, a chance encounter like a meeting in a previous life. Alas, they both have arranged marriages, facing opposition from their elders. In the end, they’ll elope and live in seclusion…”
“You’ve read too many novels! Why so complicated? We’re all from the Six Northern Zhen Sects. Can’t they just swap engagements?”
“Can engagements be swapped so casually?”
“You swapped my underwear yesterday…”
Cai Zhao didn’t realize that without her needing to plant false evidence or put on an act, the group of hot-blooded young men had already imagined a three-lifetime love story full of twists and turns between her and Song Yuzhi. If she waited a bit longer, they might even start discussing how many children the couple would have in the future.
Seeing that Song Yuzhi hadn’t reacted, she was about to start a tearful performance when he suddenly reached out to take the soup bowl. “Why didn’t you move back to Chunling Xiaozhu these past few days?”
Cai Zhao was taken aback: “Haven’t you heard that Chang Ning has been going crazy everywhere these past few days? I need to keep an eye on him. But I think he’s almost recovered. When that happens, Master will surely take him down the mountain to avenge the Chang family. Then I can move back.”
Song Yuzhi suddenly smiled, like sunlight on a mountain peak, bright and handsome.
The inner disciples, who had never seen Song Yuzhi smile like this, were silently cheering in excitement.
Song Yuzhi raised the bowl and drank the soup in a few gulps, then returned it to Cai Zhao. “I don’t like sweet things. Bring a different soup next time.” He turned decisively and walked towards the teaching platform.
Cai Zhao was overjoyed, knowing that Song Yuzhi had agreed to play along with her act. She waved a small handkerchief behind him, smiling even sweeter than the lotus seed soup. “Don’t tire yourself out too much, Senior Brother. I’ll come back this afternoon!”
Ahhhhhh!
The disciples screamed internally. Had their boring, uneventful lives in the sect finally found some juicy drama to watch?