Behind the gate was a large courtyard, laid out like the inner hall of a county magistrate's office where cases were tried. Offices for the six administrative departments stood on either side, but no one was inside.
At the entrance to the main hall in the center stood a middle-aged man in a steward's robe. He had a mild face and a neatly parted mustache, and he was waiting respectfully.
Inside the hall, four pillars supported the roof. Several rows of racks stood on either side, displaying all manner of sabers, swords, and other weapons.
A large plaque bearing the words "Number One Under Heaven" hung in the center of the hall. Beneath it stood a desk draped in dark blue brocade, with brushes, ink, paper, an inkstone, and other items laid out on top, along with a lifelike bronze sculpture of a parrot.
A young maiden sat behind the desk, her posture perfectly proper. She looked about fifteen or sixteen, and her lively attire suited her.
She wore a short goose-yellow jacket and pale green balloon pants, with her hair done up in two buns. Brimming with youthful vigor, she was plainly a young lady from a wealthy household.
To one side of the hall sat a beautiful young married woman in a grand armchair, leafing through a booklet.
In the light from outside, her oval face was fair as cream, her eyes limpid as autumn waters, and her full red lips like a single crimson pearl. Her long black hair was coiled behind her head and adorned with a peony hairpin set at an angle.
She wore a high-collared, cross-fronted dress fashionable among the capital's noblewomen. Its silvery-white fabric caught the light and was embroidered with a water-blue peacock.
Though her clothes and appearance were both striking, the young woman sat ramrod straight, her hands folded at her waist. Her posture was utterly meticulous, even the folds of her skirt arranged just so, like a flawless sculpture without the slightest imperfection.
She looked like the sort of proper lady who spent all day talking about "Admonitions for Women" and "Lessons for Women." Never mind behaving flirtatiously or wantonly-even alone with her husband in the bedchamber, she would put out the light, fold her clothes neatly, then lie there without moving or making a sound...
Seeing the older woman and the young girl, Ye Xingge took them for mother and daughter. To avoid any suspicion, he intended to slip away quietly.
But the black-robed steward at the entrance was clearly no idle rice-eater. The moment Ye Xingge poked his head in, the steward spotted him and demanded in a low voice:
"Who's skulking around out there?"
The lively girl looked up.
Worried about a misunderstanding, Ye Xingge stepped into view and cupped his hands.
"This commoner is Ye Xingge, from Qingxi County. I came here with Lady Luo to seek a position and wandered here by mistake. I hope you will forgive me."
"..."
As his words fell, a strange air suddenly descended over the courtyard and its surroundings.
The steward, Hou Chou'er, stiffened slightly and turned to look at the head of the household in the hall.
An Yurou's lashes visibly trembled.
After all, according to what she had learned last night, Luo Xuanqing had taken only one person with her to Linyang, a man named Ye Xingge.
Although she did not believe the lackey who had ruined her reputation could have fought three opponents at once, that was what the information said!
To verify it, An Yurou had left Imperial Uncle Cao's residence that morning and returned to the capital to wait here.
She had intended to find a chance to see him after the Flower Judge brought him back.
But she had never expected this young man whose eight characters clashed with hers to walk right into the net himself!
The moment she heard his voice, An Yurou recognized him as the little thief who had groped her in the dark alley!
Though she had suffered great humiliation, An Yurou suppressed the turmoil in her heart to keep her identity from being exposed. She was about to find an excuse to check his arm injury when a voice spoke up beside her first.
The lively girl at the desk reacted visibly when she heard him introduce himself. She set down her brush, straightened her back, and gave him a brief look.
"Oh, the Night-Wandering God is here."
"Hm?"
Ye Xingge was utterly baffled. Noticing that the girl sounded somewhat unfriendly, he thought she had misheard his name and explained:
"You misunderstand, my lady. I am Ye Xingge..."
"Yueyao, don't be presumptuous."
After admonishing her, An Yurou turned toward the entrance.
"So it's Young Hero Ye. I heard Commander Ruan mention your name yesterday. You truly are brave and formidable. Come in."
Ye Xingge entered the courtyard and replied politely:
"You flatter me. This commoner merely followed Lady Luo and picked up a little credit."
Hou Chou'er watched Ye Xingge's expression closely. Only when he saw that Ye Xingge truly had not recognized the head of the household in her disguise from last night did he breathe a quiet sigh of relief and inform him:
"In the hall are Eldest Miss Shen, the Heaven-Observing Decree's granddaughter, and the Lady of Anyang County."
"Oh?"
Ye Xingge was genuinely surprised to hear this.
He had heard of the Lady of Anyang County. Her mother was from the Linchuan Cui Clan, one of the seven great Confucian families, and belonged to the same clan as Empress Dowager Zhou. Her father had been the Heaven-Observing Decree's successor.
But later, when the Xiao Clan plotted to seize the state, the girl's father, a man of fierce convictions, had refused to accept Yan's pay even on pain of death. He and his wife had died for their country, leaving behind this one daughter.
Though Ye Xingge did not know Eldest Miss Shen, the distinction of being the Heaven-Observing Decree's granddaughter spoke for itself.
Ye Xingge cupped his hands again.
"This commoner pays his respects to the Lady of Anyang and Eldest Miss Shen. Please forgive me if I have inadvertently offended you both."
An Yurou sat upright, studying him. Her composure appeared flawless, but her hands were clasped tightly at her waist. Her thoughts were tangled like hemp as she worked out what to say.
The scrutiny in Eldest Miss Shen's eyes was far more obvious than the Lady of Anyang's.
After all, her father was Shen Songnian, the magistrate of Qingxi County!
But her father served as an official in the county and did not want to go through life as "the Heaven-Observing Decree's son-in-law," so he had never told the people about that connection.
Whenever she occasionally visited Qingxi County, her father was always bringing up Ye Xingge, saying he was more capable than she was and that she should meet him when she was a few years older, and so on. He plainly wanted to marry her off early.
Now that she saw him, this young man was rather handsome.
But she was the dignified eldest miss of the Heaven-Observing Pavilion. How could she marry into a county town and become an innkeeper's wife?
If the head of the Mountains and Rivers Association, the direct disciple of Mount Jiuhua, and the holy maiden of the Dragon Flower Cult found out, how could she ever roam the jianghu again?
So when Shen Yueyao heard that Ye Xingge had suddenly risen to prominence and come to the Heaven-Observing Pavilion, she strongly suspected her father was pushing him toward her. Now she said:
"I am a Pacification Inspector of the Armaments Bureau, one of the five great commanders of the Heaven-Observing Pavilion. My jianghu moniker is 'Rabbit Grand Protector.' In the office, you must address me by my position!"
"Hm?"
Ye Xingge looked bewildered, thinking he must be ignorant and ill-informed.
He truly had not heard a single one of those illustrious titles!
No, wait...
Rabbit Grand Protector...
Ye Xingge searched his memory and suddenly recalled that there was indeed a mysterious figure called the "Rabbit Grand Protector" on the Gold List, who had long occupied last place!
For more than a year, everyone who entered the Third Rank had placed ahead of her. As a result, whenever a new issue of the Heaven-Watching Gazette came out, disappointed jianghu sect leaders would jokingly say they had "fallen below the Grand Protector."
Even the person in last place in the Third Rank was a great figure in the eyes of ordinary mortals.
Ye Xingge had previously wondered how an extra person had suddenly appeared on the Gold List. Now, looking at this girl who plainly did not seem like an expert, he gradually understood-this little bunny must have gotten in through her connections!
Using her status as the Heaven-Observing Pavilion's eldest miss, she had forced her name onto the Gold List, like a talentless player sneaking into an orchestra!
As for being fifth among the four great commanders, she had surely arranged that herself too...
At that thought, Ye Xingge felt he had more or less figured out the girl's character. He put on a surprised expression and replied:
"So you are the Rabbit Grand Protector, who has been on the Gold List for a full year. Your name has resounded in my ears like thunder. Forgive my lack of respect."
Shen Yueyao was slightly taken aback that Ye Xingge had accurately named how long she had been on the list and admired her so much. She thought:
Judging by his expression, he doesn't look like he's making things up to flatter me.
But wouldn't I know my own standing in the jianghu?
Who knows me outside the Heaven-Observing Pavilion?
Could it be that Father even had him do his homework beforehand to bring us together...
What a scheming father!!
Still, if he really remembered, that means he's given me some thought...
The scrutiny in Shen Yueyao's expression eased a little. After a moment's thought, she said:
"Mm... I heard that Young Master Ye caught four thieves in two days, and even fought three at once. The Judicial Review Bureau gave you the name 'Night-Wandering God.' Your skills are truly considerable. Given time, it shouldn't be hard for you to become as famous as I am."
As famous as her?
Ye Xingge thought that was impossible. After all, there could be only one person in last place!
Still, he could hardly disparage her to her face.
"Thank you for the praise, my lady. This commoner will certainly work hard in the future. As for the moniker, Lord Chen and the others merely mentioned it in jest. My paltry skills aren't worthy of it."
"Don't be modest. I think it's a very nice moniker..."
As the two spoke, An Yurou remained seated, her eyes fixed on Ye Xingge's hands. Her breasts even ached faintly. Who knew how much willpower it took for her to suppress the turmoil in her heart? She turned her head slightly.
"Yueyao, mind your manners."
"Oh."
Eldest Miss Shen immediately sat up straight and resumed reviewing official documents.
An Yurou turned back to Ye Xingge and rose gracefully. Even the sweep of her skirt as she walked was just right.
"Young Hero Ye, you were injured last night. How are you now?"
"The Heaven-Observing Pavilion treated me. I'm mostly fine now. Thank you for your concern, Lady of Anyang."
An Yurou studied him with a gentle look.
"You certainly look well. Where were you injured?"
"Uh..."
Since it was an ordinary question, Ye Xingge pointed to his chest, then pulled up his sleeve to reveal the white bandage on his forearm.
"They're only superficial wounds. There's no need to worry, Lady of Anyang."
"Oh..."
At the sight of the bandage on his right arm, the corner of An Yurou's eye twitched. But since the young man had not recognized her, no matter how aggrieved she felt, she could not add legs to a snake. She merely nodded.
"I'm glad you're all right. Yueyao is attending to official business, so this is no time for idle conversation. Please attend to your own affairs first, Young Hero Ye. When you have some free time in a few days, I'll invite you to my residence and reward you for ridding the country of thieves."
"Oh, Lady of Anyang, you're too kind. This commoner doesn't deserve it."
Ye Xingge had long wanted to leave and did not take her polite invitation seriously. After cupping his hands in farewell, he hurried away.
Tap, tap, tap...
Shen Yueyao waited until his footsteps faded, then looked up and asked:
"Sister Yurou, did my father send him to the Heaven-Observing Pavilion?"
An Yurou's father and Shen Songnian had been classmates, and Shen Yueyao was afraid of being kept in line by her maternal grandfather, so she often hid at An Yurou's home. The two were quite close. Hearing the question, An Yurou looked back at her.
"You'd have to ask your father. How would I know?"
"Oh..."
Shen Yueyao thought that made sense. She then began pondering how a father, once grown, could no longer be kept at home...
After the footsteps had receded, a change finally came over An Yurou's serene expression. She pondered for a moment, then walked slowly out to the duty room at the side and gave the steward who followed her a quiet instruction:
"This young man has performed an extraordinary feat at such a young age, yet there isn't a trace of recklessness in his eyes. He is modest and even-tempered, and there's nothing to fault in how he treats others. It won't be hard for him to distinguish himself in the future. Go see what arrangements the Heaven-Observing Pavilion makes."
Hou Chou'er nodded and asked, "What should we do about the Ravine-Leaping Tiger?"
"The Judicial Review Bureau hasn't made a move. They probably haven't obtained any definite news of the Gold-Chasing Gentleman, so there's no need to worry about the court getting its hands on it for now."
"Yes."