Chapter 325 - 225: Cui’s Yunqing Building
Chapter 325: Chapter 225: Cui’s Yunqing Building
Chen Yi watched Pei Guanli treading water and replied, "I can’t."
After a pause, he looked down at Xiao Wuge and asked with a smile, "Has your sister found you a new tutor?"
"It wasn’t my sister. It was... it was my second uncle."
"Second Uncle?"
’Xiao Xuanshuo?’
Chen Yi glanced toward the world outside Spring Lotus Garden and asked thoughtfully, "What does he want you to learn?"
"The Martial Arts."
"Hmm? I remember Xiaodie mentioning that you need to undergo Foundation Establishment at age six before you can practice the Martial Arts."
Xiao Wuge’s face soured. "Second Uncle said I have to go to Jinling next March. I don’t have much time left in the mansion, so he wants to teach me some techniques before I leave."
"That way, my Martial Arts progression might be a little faster once I’ve achieved Foundation Establishment."
Chen Yi chuckled. "Second Uncle is right. You really should learn a few flashy moves beforehand."
"Huh? You think so too?"
"Of course."
"As the legitimate heir of the Xiao Family, you’re destined to inherit the Marquis Position. How could you possibly neglect the Martial Arts?"
"Even after you leave Shu State for Jinling, you can’t let your Martial Arts training slide. Cultivate diligently and try to catch up to your second sister."
Xiao Wuge tilted his head up to look at him. "My second sister is so incredible. There’s no way I could ever catch up to her."
Chen Yi casually patted his head and smiled. "Plans are made in heaven, but success is achieved by man."
"Who knows? Maybe your talent for the Martial Arts is even greater than your second sister’s."
"Besides, your second uncle is doing this for your own good. Never mind me, even your sister wouldn’t stand in his way."
Xiao Wuge grunted in assent, a smile spreading across his face. "I’ll do as you say."
’Plans are made in heaven, but success is achieved by man. I have to write that down, write that down.’
Not long after, Xiaodie returned with their meal. The group sat together, eating and chatting.
The conversation was mostly just Xiaodie and Pei Guanli chattering away.
Eight out of every ten sentences were about Chen Yi.
One moment, it was about how *Song of the Water Melody* had earned the praise of yet another great scholar or won the favor of some high official.
The next, it was about the exhibition hall at Guiyun Academy opening, and the endless stream of people flocking to see his *Post-rain Reflections*.
While praising his Perfect Realm Calligraphy Dao, people were even more eager to see the original calligraphy for *Song of the Water Melody: Mid-Autumn*.
When the topic came to this, Xiaodie couldn’t help but ask, "Young Master, what about that calligraphy piece you wrote?"
Chen Yi took a bite of mooncake. "It’s lost."
’That night’s battle with Yan Fusha had been brutal. The entire Painted Boat was torn to shreds. How could a piece of calligraphy possibly have survived?’
Xiaodie looked disappointed. "I heard everyone by the banks of Quchi that night said they witnessed an Immortal Realm."
Pei Guanli said breezily, "Brother-in-law can just write another one."
Chen Yi shot her a look and asked irritably, "You want to see that again?"
Pei Guanli immediately gave an awkward grin. "Nope, nope."
’She had no desire to relive that night’s experience.’
’If Chen Yi hadn’t rescued her in time, she’d probably be six feet under by now.’
"Speaking of which, I sent that letter home a long time ago. Why hasn’t Ah Ma written back yet?"
"Just be patient and wait."
Chen Yi replied. After finishing the porridge in his bowl, he added, "Maybe she’s not in a hurry."
Pei Guanli crouched by the table, her mouth stuffed with mooncake, and mumbled:
"Sh-she dotes on me the most. Sh-she has to be in a hurry."
After finally managing to swallow the mooncake, she continued, "Don’t worry, Brother-in-law. If Ah Ma doesn’t make a move, I’ll find a way to help you get reve—"
Before she could finish, Chen Yi flicked her on the head. "Get what? You’re to stay put in the mansion for the time being. Don’t go anywhere."
Pei Guanli clutched her head and crouched back down properly, muttering, "Fine, I won’t go out."
Seeing her get put in her place, Xiaodie and Xiao Wuge burst into carefree laughter.
But before their laughter could fade, a set of footsteps and the rumbling of wheels sounded from outside the garden.
A flicker of understanding passed through Chen Yi. He wiped the corners of his mouth.
Then he saw Wang Lixing wheeling Xiao Xuanshuo to the front of the wooden building.
Without so much as a glance at Chen Yi and the others, Xiao Xuanshuo addressed Xiao Wuge. "Come out here."
Xiao Wuge glanced at Chen Yi. Seeing him smile and nod, he put down his bowl and chopsticks, rose, and stepped out of the wooden building to bow.
"Second Uncle."
Apparently satisfied with his nephew’s respectful demeanor, Xiao Xuanshuo nodded. "I have already spoken with Wan’er."
"From today on, you are to be at the Martial Arts Arena at three in the morning and will return at noon."
"Yes."
’Listening to them, Chen Yi knew that Xiao Xuanshuo’s words were meant for his ears as much as for Xiao Wuge’s.’
He rose and went outside, offering a deep bow with a smile. "Qingzhou greets Second Uncle."
"Now that Wuge is beginning his Martial Arts practice, are there any special preparations we should make here at Spring Lotus Garden? For his daily meals, for instance?"
Xiao Xuanshuo glanced at him. His face remained impassive, but his tone was considerably milder than it had been initially.
"I instructed Wan’er yesterday. You just need to follow the same preparations as Jiaxing Garden."
Chen Yi nodded. "Qingzhou understands."
He then patted Xiao Wuge on the shoulder. "Practice the Martial Arts well. If you achieve great things one day, your brother-in-law will give you a gift."
"Really?"
Chen Yi held out his palm and grinned. "A gentleman’s promise?"
Xiao Wuge slapped his hand against Chen Yi’s. "I want *Song of the Water Melody*."
"That doesn’t count as a gift."
"Then what gift will you give me, Brother-in-law?"
"You’ll know when the time comes..."
After a bit more idle chatter, Chen Yi watched Xiao Xuanshuo, Xiao Wuge, and Wang Lixing depart from Spring Lotus Garden.
’Time flies.’
’Before he knew it, half a year had passed since he’d arrived.’
’In another six months, Xiao Wuge would be setting off for Jinling.’
’Hopefully, the Xiao Family’s situation will have improved by then.’
Lost in these thoughts, Chen Yi lost his appetite for breakfast.
He instructed Xiaodie not to forget to ask Jiaxing Garden about Xiao Wuge’s dietary restrictions, then left Spring Lotus Garden by himself under an Oil Paper Umbrella.
A steady autumn rain was falling.
Beneath the overcast sky, the winding pavilions and halls of the Xiao Mansion were veiled in a layer of dim mist.
Though the flowers and plants remained lush and verdant, the scattered petals and fallen leaves created an unavoidable air of desolation.
Chen Yi seemed oblivious to it all, smiling and returning the greetings of the servants who bowed as he passed.
With the revelation of his Perfect Realm Calligraphy Dao, bolstered by *Post-rain Reflections* and *Song of the Water Melody*, his fame had recently skyrocketed.
This made his life within the Xiao Mansion considerably easier.
Besides Xiaodie’s daily reports on who was praising him now, the masters and mistresses of the mansion’s various residences had also begun to sing his praises.
Consequently, the attitude of the servants toward him had improved significantly.
It was a night-and-day difference from when he had first arrived at the Marquis’s Mansion.
Chen Yi paid it little mind, but upon reflection, he supposed it was a positive development.
At the very least, it meant he was now truly considered a member of the Xiao Family.
It was certainly better than constantly being called "the Xiao Family’s runaway groom."
「An hour or so later.」
Chen Yi arrived outside the West Market Hundred Herbs Hall. Just as he was about to enter and find Wang Ji, he caught sight of the shop across the street out of the corner of his eye.
He stopped in his tracks, turning his head to look.
Outside what was supposed to be a restaurant, several young servants in green were hanging a sign.
What caught Chen Yi’s attention were the words on the sign: Cui’s Yunqing Building.
’Cui’s Records?’
’Yunqing Building?’
’Chen Yunfan and Cui Qingwu?’
Chen Yi’s mind raced. His gaze drifted to the restaurant’s second floor, where he could faintly make out a busy figure.
It was none other than the young mistress of the Qinghe Cui Family, the Hidden Guard "Simurgh Phoenix"—Cui Qingwu.
’The Lady Tiger opens a wonton shop, the Simurgh Phoenix opens a restaurant. Tsk, these Hidden Guards really are all cut from the same cloth.’
’But "Cui’s Records"...’
’Cui Qingwu is even using the Cui family name. Is she planning on settling down in Shu State for good?’
Chen Yi gave it another look before walking into Hundred Herbs Hall, lost in thought.
Wang Ji came forward to greet him, but before he could speak, Chen Yi cut him off with a raised hand. "Shopkeeper Wang, the Eldest Miss requests your presence."
Naturally, it wasn’t really Xiao Wan’er who had invited him to the mansion.
It was just an excuse for Chen Yi to have Wang Ji and Zhang Dabao drive the carriage to his residence on Chuansi Street in North City.
With Cui Qingwu right across the street, he didn’t want to say anything that might arouse her suspicion.
A short while later, the carriage departed from the West Market.
Cui Qingwu, standing on the second floor, glanced down at the departing carriage. After a moment’s thought, she called for Huan’er.
"Go and ask if Young Master Chen is free today. Invite him to Yunqing Building to sample our Lang Wine."
"Yes."
’Cui Qingwu knew how much Chen Yunfan valued Chen Yi. Appealing to his interests was a sound strategy.’
’This was precisely why she had opened Yunqing Building across from Hundred Herbs Hall.’
’I originally wanted to open it near Guiyun Academy, but unfortunately, that woman is there.’
Cui Qingwu watched the carriage disappear into the distance, the corners of her lips curling slightly. "I seem to have underestimated that woman’s tenacity."
"To think she could make her wonton shop so successful."
"In that case, I can’t afford to fall behind."
...
Chen Yi, of course, was oblivious to the schemes of the Cui family’s young miss. After having the carriage deliberately pass by the gates of the Xiao Mansion, he headed straight for his residence on Chuansi Street.
The moment he sat down.
Chen Yi gave an order. "Wang Ji, go and bring Guard Liu here."
’He’d let the "Sword Madman" rest for long enough. It was time for him to get moving again.’