.
The Night Voyage Ship drifted like a duckweed leaf upon the vast sea.
Liu Xianyang seemed to be wandering beyond myriad peaks in spirit. Xiao Mo kept watch on Jiang She's Taoist Companion. Xie Gou sat on the steps, yawning, while the woman's gaze often drifted over Pei Qian.
The atmosphere in the courtyard was somewhat heavy. The old scholar suddenly said, "Pei Qian, take a walk with me."
Pei Qian nodded.
A side gate in the courtyard led elsewhere, but this moon gate was locked. The old scholar put on a show of fumbling through his sleeves, his back to the others, as if he had found a key and opened the lock. He pushed the door open and entered, with Pei Qian following behind.
Unlike the shabby courtyard from before, this place was truly a Separate Cave Heaven, a typical residence of high ministers and nobles. Tall parasol trees and green bamboo stood lush and verdant, pure from top to bottom. Where one stretch of wall seemed a little bare, magnolias had been planted to fill it out. One imagined that when blazing summer came calling in the human world, even the heat would not dare pay this place a visit.
The old scholar looked around and smiled. "The owner is far too stingy. If one could read here, opening the secluded window and letting daylight and green shade pour in together, every character would seem emerald-bright. Truly, opening a book would bring profit." Pei Qian gathered her thoughts and explained, "My little martial brother mentioned that Lingxi City's former city lord was a woman. She could comment on the lyrics of Su Zi and Mr. Xin Jian alike. This was probably where she studied. As the Night Voyage Ship's great owner, he could not casually give