Troublesome trifles

Dyeing Street, Twin Osmanthus Alley.

The sun rose in the east, spilling golden light over the melon trellis hung with dewdrops, each one sparkling like crystal.

The neat, rhythmic sounds of chopping vegetables echoed through the spotless courtyard:

Thock, thock, thock...

An exquisitely beautiful woman in a thin blue-green blouse stood gracefully before the kitchen window. Golden morning sunlight bathed her cheeks, and her peach-blossom eyes were lost in thought. After placing the chopped garlic shoots on a porcelain plate, she lifted her gaze toward the newly risen sun.

An old little courtyard, three rooms, cooking meals and tending flowers every day, waiting for her husband... no, waiting for her son and daughter to come home. No flashing blades or clashing swords of the martial world, only the leisure and tranquility of daily life...

Perhaps this was how ordinary people lived. They had long since tired of it, yet those in the martial world could only dream of it...

Tap, tap, tap...

As tender feelings wound through her heart, light footsteps sounded outside the courtyard. They sounded like Yunli's.

Luo Ning gathered her thoughts and turned to look. Yunli, dressed like the girl next door, came running back, vaulted straight over the wall, and landed in the courtyard, looking rather anxious.

"Master's wife, something's wrong! I was just wandering around the street and ran into Guardian Zhang..."

"Hmm?"

At these words, the cleaver in Luo Ning's hand paused.

The Guardian Zhang Yunli spoke of was Zhang Henggu, known as Southern Mountain Iron Divination. He had originally been a young Daoist acolyte in Great Yan's Astronomical Bureau. When the Former Dynasty fell, he had fled to Southern Skies Mountain with Great Yan's imperial family. After weathering sixty years of ups and downs, he was now one of the Sky-Pacifying Sect's four guardians and a founding elder. Even the Sky-Pacifying Sect Master had to address him as martial uncle.

For him to suddenly appear in the Capital City could only mean that the Sky-Pacifying Sect Master had sent word, asking her to return to Southern Skies Mountain.

Luo Ning considered this briefly, then stepped out of the kitchen and asked:

"Where is Guardian Zhang?"

"Over by the east gate, arranging a way out of the city. He told me to come ask you to meet him. He said the Zhou Family's birthday banquet was coming up, and they'd already sent an invitation. The Zhou Family helped make your sword, so you have to attend. Otherwise, people in the martial world will call you ungrateful and say you forgot your old friends after marrying into a powerful family..."

Back when Luo Ning was still the Moon Palace Goddess, she had sought out experts far and wide to avenge her family, and had once visited the Watercloud Sword Pool. Though she had learned no swordsmanship there, her reputation for "beauty" in the martial world had prompted the Zhou Family to do her a convenient favor, forging the famed weapon at her waist-the Weeping Water Sword.

Later, she had married into the Sky-Pacifying Sect and become the sect master's wife, so that debt of gratitude had naturally fallen to the sect. The Zhou Family had never asked her to repay it, but she certainly could not forget it.

"Isn't Old Master Zhou's birthday in the middle of next month? I never said I wouldn't go. What's the hurry?"

"Guardian Zhang said the Zhou Family and the Red Flower House might clash at this banquet. If you attend, you'll probably get dragged into it. Master wants to discuss how to handle it with you, so he's asking you to go back."

Luo Ning's original plan had been to take a boat in a few days and travel directly from the Capital City to the Zhou Family. It was not far, after all. She could put in an appearance, then return to keep working on Qiu Tianhe's rescue.

Hearing this, she could not help frowning and glanced at the food warming in the pot.

"We've already made some headway with rescuing Qiu Tianhe..."

Zhe Yunli patted the fried eggs on her chest.

"Don't worry, Master's wife. I've already explained everything to Guardian Zhang. I'll stay in the Capital City with Brother Jingtang, and Guardian Zhang will take over and keep things under control from the shadows. You can go back without worrying..."

?

Luo Ning's gaze turned cold as she looked sternly at Zhe Yunli.

"Nonsense! You're reckless. How could I rest easy leaving you alone in the Capital City?"

Zhe Yunli blinked. "Guardian Zhang will protect me from the shadows. He's much stronger than you..."

"Absolutely not."

Either Luo Ning would stay, or they would leave together. How could she leave Yunli around Ye Jingtang? With that shameless little rogue's disposition, little Yunli might already be pregnant by the time she returned...

Luo Ning pondered briefly, then walked back into the kitchen.

"Ye Jingtang has exceptional talent. Once Guardian Zhang sees him, he'll certainly try every possible means to bring him to Southern Skies Mountain..."

"Wouldn't that be great?"

"What's great about it? Our Sky-Pacifying Sect isn't a band of brigands. Ye Jingtang wants a career in government. Helping us is already more than generous. Would it be right to drag him off to Southern Skies Mountain and make him a rebel?"

Zhe Yunli pursed her lips. She wanted to say something, but could hardly argue.

"If we hurry, the round trip will only take a little over half a month... I'll speak to Ye Jingtang later. He values chivalry and loyalty. Even if we leave, he'll still help rescue Qiu Tianhe. We can come back in a few days."

Zhe Yunli was unconvinced. "If we're both gone, why would Brother Jingtang risk losing his head to help us rescue someone?"

"..."

Luo Ning opened her mouth, but could find no reason either. All she could do was say calmly:

"I'll do my best to persuade him. Go get things ready with Guardian Zhang first. I'll come later."

"All right..."

Zhe Yunli could only turn around and hurry away...

The Pei Family.

The Red Flower House was a large organization with countless affairs to manage. Merely introducing its various businesses had taken the eight incense masters most of the day.

Ye Jingtang listened too, but did not commit it all to memory. He was working for the Pei Family; if Third Madam needed something, he would help. He had no designs on their holdings, so remembering every detail served little purpose.

By the time the Azure Dragon Hall's meeting ended and the incense masters departed separately through the tunnel, it was already noon.

Ye Jingtang climbed out through Third Madam's bed and landed in her bedchamber, only to hear a light "tap, tap, tap..." at the door—the sound of little claws kicking it.

Ye Jingtang opened the door to a silent courtyard. Niao Niao, who had been left outside for most of the day, turned away at the sight of him, wearing a little look that said, "You put women before birds. I don't want to talk to you."

Pei Xiangjun emerged from between the bed curtains, her bearing once again that of a gentle, tender woman. She approached Ye Jingtang, gathered the sulking Niao Niao into her arms, and praised him:

"Having a man in charge really does make a difference. These incense masters are old hands in the family, and they're all loyal, but they watched me grow up. In their hearts, they still see me as a junior, and it's awkward for me to lecture them. You put them in their place and taught them the rules today. It'll be much easier to get through to them from now on."

Before, seeing Third Madam's admiring gaze had made Ye Jingtang feel as though he were floating on air. But after discovering that she was the Red God of Wealth, it suddenly felt entirely different.

You're the mighty female leader of the Red Flower House, a formidable figure renowned throughout the martial world, yet you pretend to be a pitiful beauty begging for protection in front of me?

Still, being admired by a powerful woman seemed to make him feel even more buoyant...

Ye Jingtang's thoughts were a little muddled. After considering it, he replied:

"I was only doing my duty. As long as you don't mind, Third Madam. It's getting late, so I'll head back first. I'll come tomorrow morning to hear your instructions."

"You're already the Young House Master. Why stay outside as though you were a stranger? Your eldest aunt has prepared the east wing. Just live here from now on."

"The Pei Family is full of women. As a man from another family, staying here would inevitably invite gossip. Dyeing Street isn't far away. If you need anything, Third Madam, just send someone to call me."

Pei Xiangjun had placed all her hopes of reviving the Red Flower House on Ye Jingtang. Naturally, she wanted to keep him close and deepen their bond through daily companionship. But with him so insistent, she could hardly force him to stay, and could only say:

"You don't need to help with the Skywater Bridge matter. Your most important task right now is to come to the Righteous Gathering Tower in a few days and help me bring the hall masters into line. Go back and rest first. I'll teach you the spear techniques later."

As she spoke, Pei Xiangjun went to the dressing table, opened a small drawer, and took out a stack of banknotes, apparently intending to give Ye Jingtang some spending money.

Judging by their denominations, the ten notes totaled a thousand taels. In terms of purchasing power, a thousand taels would come to roughly a million!

At this sight, Ye Jingtang finally understood what it felt like to be kept by a beautiful, wealthy woman.

But as an upright, honorable man who stood tall beneath heaven, he certainly would not accept gifts beyond his wages. He cupped his hands and said:

"I'll be off, then. Get some rest early, Third Madam."

Then he walked straight out.

"Ah?"

Pei Xiangjun had only just taken out the banknotes. Watching Ye Jingtang and Niao Niao hurry away, her eyes filled with helplessness...