I quickly pulled out a handkerchief to wipe my face. Beside me, Shao Ming also chided Minzhi, "How could you be so careless?"
Minzhi was still staring at me as if he’d seen a ghost; his brain had clearly short-circuited. I quickly patted his shoulder. "Young Master Ji, are you a bit surprised to see me?"
Shao Ming looked at him, then back at me, puzzled. "You two... know each other?"
I let out a laugh. "We’re old acquaintances. He’s my... my landlord. I’m just renting a side courtyard from his family while I’m in the capital."
Shao Ming nodded and pulled me down to sit beside him. "Come, let me introduce you to some friends. This is Mingde, this is Mingyi—you already know Minzhi—and this is my younger brother, Mingrui."
Hearing their names, they sounded like a group of cousins. A vague thought flashed through my mind, but it moved too fast for me to catch. Looking at them closely, Mingde and Mingyi bore the strongest resemblance to each other. They both had long, elegant faces, fair skin, and bright phoenix eyes beneath sharp, handsome brows. Mingde was a year or two older, possessing a more composed and steady aura. Mingyi seemed to be around Minzhi’s age, and as he studied me, his gaze held a hint of playfulness.
Mingrui appeared to be about my age, and of everyone at the table, he looked the most like Shao Ming. He had the same light tan skin, looking like someone who spent plenty of time outdoors, radiating a sunny energy. He scrutinized me with sparkling eyes and asked curiously, "So you’re the one who saved that girl on the grasslands and tamed the great black horse?"
I glanced at Shao Ming. He had his lips pursed, watching me with a half-smile.
Mingrui slapped my shoulder. "Good lad! Come, today we drink until we drop."
Minzhi winced at the hand on my shoulder, his expression one of silent, suppressed agony. Mingyi burst into laughter. "Mingrui has the highest tolerance here. Xi Xia, you’d better be careful."
Shao Ming smiled. "It’s fine. Xi Xia can hold his liquor." He gave me a meaningful sidelong glance. I knew he was referring to the time I got drunk; though I felt a bit embarrassed, I forced myself to look unbothered. Only Minzhi’s face darkened upon hearing this, looking quite displeased. After three rounds of drinks, he finally couldn't hold back. While Mingrui was talking to Mingde, Minzhi leaned over from behind Mingrui and hissed through gritted teeth, "Why didn't you go straight home after the exam? What are you doing wandering the streets?"
I mimicked his low tone, sounding aggrieved. "I was planning to head back after a quick walk."
He glared at me resentfully. "How did the exam go?"
Sensing his tone softening, I relaxed. "It should be fine."
Mingrui turned back to me, smiling. "Don't think I didn't hear that—what exam?"
I replied nonchalantly, "I went to the Ministry of Justice for an exam today." Seeing the strange expressions on their faces, I asked curiously, "Don't you know the Ministry is recruiting constables?"
Shao Ming looked at Mingde, then his gaze returned to my face. He asked calmly, "I knew they were recruiting, but what were you doing there?"
I stared at him. How could this man’s comprehension be so poor? "I went to take the exam. Obviously, I want to be a constable."
Mingde and Mingyi continued to study me with odd looks, while the blunt Mingrui asked, "Big brother said you not only have great skills but also incredible courage. Isn't it a waste for someone like you to be a lowly constable?"
I turned to glare at him. "If someone with my skills doesn't become a constable, should I become a cat burglar instead?"
Mingrui didn't mind my tone at all. He laughed freely and raised his glass. "I didn't expect you to have such ambitions. Come, a toast to you. If a petty thief ever nabs my purse in the future, I’ll be sure to report it to you."
His words were teasing. Though Mingde and Mingyi didn't speak, their expressions were the same—as if wanting to be a constable was a sign of lacking ambition. This silent atmosphere felt a bit oppressive. I suddenly realized they were likely all pampered sons of wealthy families who had read too many wuxia novels and thought that anyone with martial arts should aspire to be a legendary hero.
I drained my glass and stood up to take my leave. Minzhi quickly excused himself to join me.
Shao Ming insisted on seeing me out. When we reached the ground floor, he said sincerely, "Xi Xia, please don't mind what was said at the table. They’ve never met someone like you, so..."
I shook my head. "Just a bunch of young lords. I won't take it to heart."
Shao Ming nodded. "Since I know you're staying at Minzhi’s place, that makes things easy. I’ll come visit you when I have time."
Minzhi kicked me from behind. But since Shao Ming had already put it that way, I could only harden my heart and agree. Once we turned into the crowd and Shao Ming was out of sight, Minzhi grabbed my ear. "Alright, Ji Wuchao, what else have you been up to out there?"
He pinched hard, making me hop in pain. "What else could I do? Master follows me every day."
He pressed on relentlessly, "So you're saying if Master wasn't following, you *would* be up to something?"
My temper flared. I swatted his hand away and gave him a sharp glare. "I didn't know I’d run into acquaintances today..."
Minzhi let out a cold snort. "Acquaintances indeed. Do you really not know who Shao Ming is?"
Seeing his cold smirk, a bad premonition began to stir in my heart. I said, "He’s Master Sima’s disciple..."
Minzhi’s fan snapped against my forehead. "You idiot! He is the Young Prince of the Jing Manor: Qing Mingshao!"
My jaw practically hit the floor. The Young Prince of Jing Manor? Shao Ming? Mingshao?
"You... you aren't lying to me, are you?" I grabbed his sleeve, asking desperately. In truth, I didn't need his answer; I already knew. No wonder I felt so strange when I heard those names...
Minzhi huffed and walked ahead.
I hurried after him, grabbing his sleeve again. "Then why were you hanging out with them?"
Minzhi sighed. "I must have forgotten to check the almanac before leaving. I’m friends with Mingyi. We went out for drinks and just happened to run into those two..."
I leaned against his arm, pouting. "I’m just like you, I ran into them by accident. Why are you being so mean? By the way, who are Mingde and Mingyi?"
Minzhi sighed again. "Mingde is the esteemed Crown Prince. Mingyi is the Seventh Prince."
My jaw dropped for a second time. So that man who looked so composed and calculating was Wuxiu’s beloved...
Too many shocks can make one feel physically ill. Thus, I reverted to my childhood habit of hanging off Minzhi’s arm, letting him drag me home. As we neared the house, a thought struck me: Shao Ming—or Mingshao—was easy to like, but given his status... I should probably avoid him. After all, I was still waiting for them to break the engagement. Getting too close would only make things awkward later.
Feeling out of sorts, I gathered Big Hei, Little Hei, Minzhi, and Minyan once I got home, using them as sparring targets for the entire evening. By the time I showered and got ready for bed, it was midnight. I had planned to sleep in, but before dawn, my Little Mother yanked me out of bed by my ear.
"You lazy girl," she said crossly. "We agreed you’d accompany us to Dabeiyuan today to fulfill our vows. How can you still be sleeping?"
Being dragged out of bed before waking up is a truly... infuriating feeling. But then I thought, how could this group of beauties, young and old, manage without my protection?
Just as I reached for my clothes, Little Mother slapped the back of my hand. "No more wearing Minzhi’s clothes. It’s as if the Ji Manor can't afford to make you any dresses."
I protested, "I can't fight anyone if I'm wearing a skirt."
Little Mother immediately rolled her eyes at me. "We are going before the Bodhisattva to fulfill a vow. Who asked you to go fight?"
Swallowing my irritation, I watched as they picked out a pile of silks and ribbons for me. At this point, I stood my ground on one thing: I refused to wear a hairstyle as complex as Wuxiu’s. Seeing that I was willing to wear a dress, Little Mother relented and let me tie my hair in a simple ponytail. However, when Lady Zhang came to inspect us before we left, she remarked, "Why is she dressed like a kitchen maid?"
And so, I was marched back to my room by Little Mother. Pearls were hung from my ears, and a green jade hairpin was tucked into my hair. Only then did both mothers offer satisfied smiles.
Because Wuxiu was a candidate for the consort selection, she wore a long veil that reached her knees. I circled her twice and remarked, "With a veil that thick, you don't even need to wash your face; no one can see it anyway..." only to be slapped again by Little Mother. If she knew I had a set of flying daggers hidden in my sleeves, she’d probably slap me again.
The road to Mount Chan was long, and the jolting carriage made my nap very uncomfortable. By the time we reached the mountain, it was nearly noon.
Mount Chan wasn't high, but as far as the eye could see, the trees were lush and green. Even at the foot of the mountain, one could hear the gurgling of streams within the forest. The serene, charming scenery lifted my spirits.
Baofu and his wife accompanied the two mothers in front, while I walked with Wuxiu behind them, strolling up the stone-paved mountain path. There were many tourists; it was said that Mount Chan had several famous waterfalls and exquisite views.
Dabeiyuan was situated at the peak of the South Summit. Standing by the stone balustrade and looking down, the emerald peaks near and far were all within sight. Even Wuxiu couldn't help but praise, "It truly opens one's heart."
Our group first went to the main hall to offer incense before the golden Bodhisattva. Then, while the elders went to the back to converse with the abbot, I pulled Wuxiu out to wander around. My second sister rarely had the chance to leave the house; I had to secure as much free time for her as possible.
We first visited the famous forest of steles behind the monastery. At first, I thought it was a burial ground for high monks, but I later learned these steles recorded their life achievements, similar to commemorative arches. In the side courtyard, there was a famous spring called "Fu Spring." Legend said its water could cure a hundred illnesses. While I didn't quite believe such tales, I thought of Father’s lingering cough and bought a leather waterskin, filling it to the brim.
As I was heading out with the waterskin, a few brightly dressed young women entered. Upon seeing us, they all wore very strange expressions. I studied them; based on their attire, they were ladies from a wealthy household. There were two young misses around seventeen or eighteen, surrounded by several maids and older servants—none of whom knew martial arts.
Just as I tried to bypass them, a maid blocked our path. Her eyes fixed rudely on Wuxiu as she said coldly, "I heard the Third Miss of the Ji Manor had returned to the capital and came to offer incense. This must be the lady, then?"
Her tone toward Wuxiu displeased me. I stepped in front of my sister and said bluntly, "Regardless of whether she is the Third Miss of the Ji Manor, for a servant like you to be so arrogant—what kind of household's rules are these?"
The maid was forced back a step by my aura. Before she could speak, a woman’s voice said, "As for us, we are the women of the Jing Manor. You certainly have some nerve, speaking to us like that."
This woman was dressed like a noble young lady, but the way she looked at Wuxiu was bizarre: cold, with a hint of disdain and... loathing. That look felt vaguely familiar, as if I’d seen it somewhere before. But now was clearly not the time for reminiscing. I gave her a sidelong glance and a cold smile. "Prince Jing is known throughout the court for his virtue, yet this is how he disciplines his family? It seems the rumors are indeed greatly exaggerated."
The woman ignored my sarcasm. She glanced at Wuxiu and sneered, "Exaggerated points certainly exist. For instance... like that time an exception was made, and a marriage was settled for my Eldest Cousin without the Emperor’s approval... For all these years, people have laughed behind his back, saying the Prince has judged countless people, yet failed to see clearly when it came to his own son’s marriage..."
Hearing her call him "Eldest Cousin," I realized who she was and couldn't help but laugh. "And here I thought we’d offended some minor deity. Turns out it’s just a Goddess of Jealousy."
The girl behind her burst into laughter. I glanced at her; she was about fourteen or fifteen with a round face, her features bearing a faint resemblance to Mingshao. I wondered who she was to him. A sister?
The woman in front, seeing the younger girl laugh, grew increasingly humiliated. Her face flushed red, and finally losing her restraint, she swung a hand to slap my face. My own anger flared; I was already harboring a morning’s worth of irritation from being woken up, and now I was being provoked for no reason. I grabbed her wrist, gave it a sharp twist, and threw her aside.
She cried out as she tumbled under a large tree. The maids and servants rushed to help her. The round-faced girl, however, only gave her a fleeting glance before turning back to study me with curiosity.
The cousin of the Jing Manor had taken quite a fall; her hair was disheveled, her clothes were soiled, and all her refined poise had been tossed to the winds. Once she caught her breath with the help of her servants, she pointed at me and hissed, "The Ji family were originally nothing but lowly frontier officials, yet you harbor such delusions..."
The term "frontier official" ignited a murderous intent within me. Though Father never spoke of it, as I grew older, I came to understand the pain of being framed and exiled to a desolate wasteland for ten whole years. It was a wound in Father’s heart that would never truly heal...
Wuxiu seemed to sense my lethal intent. In her panic, she grabbed my arm. My flying dagger was about to fly, but her tug threw off my aim. It whistled past the cousin’s neck and thudded into the tree trunk behind her, burying itself up to the hilt. As she stood there stunned, a lock of her severed hair drifted slowly to the ground.
I stared at her, speaking one word at a time. "It’s best if I never see you again. I get angry when I see you, and when I’m angry, I use my knives... If there is a next time, it won't be as simple as cutting a few hairs. If it lands on your pretty face instead..."
Her face turned pale—was that all the courage she had?
I shook my head and couldn't help but laugh. "Actually, you don't need to be so indignant. What you want isn't necessarily something others value. Go back and tell Qing Mingshao that I, Ji Wuchao, have my doors wide open, welcoming him to come and break the engagement at any time."
The round-faced girl beside her let out a gasp. The cousin’s eyes widened in shock.
I wanted to say more, but Wuxiu, terrified I’d cause a massive scene, dragged me away. I wanted to retrieve my dagger first, but Wuxiu was too insistent. I also knew I’d used too much force; it wouldn't come out easily. I had to grit my teeth and abandon it.
To my surprise, as I turned around, I saw two people standing behind us. The one in front wore a light-colored robe, had a tanned face and bright eyes—it was Mingrui, whom I’d drank with yesterday. I quickly lowered my head and hurried away with Wuxiu.
After a few steps, I heard Mingrui’s voice speaking to whoever was with him. "Why does that girl look so familiar?"
I thought it might be Shao Ming, but a quick peek revealed a stranger, a young lord watching us alongside Mingrui.
Wuxiu pulled me harder, so I kept my head down and made a quick exit.
Neither Wuxiu nor I told the mothers or Baofu’s couple about what happened at the spring.
The loss of a flying dagger weighed heavily on my mood. Those six daggers were the first weapons Father had ever given me. Little Mother thought I was just tired and didn't pay it much mind.
By the time we returned to the city, the sun was setting. Just as the carriage stopped at the Ji Manor gates, a raspy, duck-like voice called out, "Oh, thank heavens, you're finally back! This old servant was worrying himself to death about how to report back."
The voice sounded familiar. Peeking out of the carriage, I saw it was indeed Eunuch Zhou, the head eunuch from Princess Qingrong’s palace. He was pacing anxiously in front of our gate. Being a man of the palace and standing so conspicuously at the entrance with my father, he had naturally drawn a crowd of onlookers.
My mothers and I stepped down and bowed. He grabbed my arm. "My little ancestor, the young mistress is ill and wants you to come to the palace to keep her company. This old servant has been waiting for nearly two hours. If you don't come, my head is as good as gone. Quickly, come with me."
I said, "Eunuch Zhou, let me change my clothes..." I actually had something I wanted to ask her help with—a bit of "backdoor" influence—so seeing her now was a good opportunity.
Eunuch Zhou hopped with anxiety. "Little ancestor, let’s just go."
I had no choice but to follow. Before I could board the carriage, he shouted again, "The young mistress ordered that the Third Miss bring her instrument. She wants to hear you play that... what flower song?"
I sighed. "Jasmine Flower."
He nodded vigorously. "Yes, that’s the one."
Someone immediately ran inside and brought out my guzheng. On the way, Eunuch Zhou looked as though he wished he had wings. It seemed Qingrong losing her temper with them was a common occurrence.
Sure enough, before we even entered the little princess’s chambers, the sound of things being smashed echoed like thunder. Eunuch Zhou hurried me inside to report.
In the bedchamber, Qingrong was venting her anger on several maids. When she saw me, her elegant brows knitted together. "I’ve waited for you all day! Why did you come back from Mount Chan so late?"
I told her about the scenery and mentioned running into the lady from Jing Manor. To my surprise, she actually laughed.
"Her name is Qinghong. She’s Cousin Shao’s cousin. Her parents died when she was young, so she was raised in the Jing Manor," Qingrong explained. "Her father was the General of Resounding Might, and her mother was Princess Wanrong. By status, she is a County Princess. I heard her mother originally wanted to betroth her to Cousin Shao, but Uncle Six used the excuse that they were too young to refuse. We all thought her becoming the Young Consort of Jing Manor was only a matter of time. Who knew Ji Wuchao would appear out of nowhere..." She laughed at the thought. "Did you really say that to her? That your doors are open for him to break the engagement?"
I considered for a moment and nodded seriously. "Actually, it’s only a matter of time before they do. Do you know if there’s a woman on the list of constables the Ministry of Justice reported this year?" Seeing her nod, I continued, "That Xi Xia is me. So..."
Qingrong stood up abruptly, her eyes wide. "Really?"
"Of course it’s true..."
She was stunned for a moment, then laughed again. "Wuchao, you really are full of surprises. But with your skills, serving the country is a proper use of your talents. A waste not to." She tilted her head, a mischievous smile appearing. "I’ll support you. If you need help, just say the word. But in exchange, you have to play a few good songs for me."
I was overjoyed. "No problem. What do you want to hear?"
Qingrong thought for a bit. "Play 'Jasmine Flower' first, then whatever you like."
While I washed my hands, she ordered the maids to light incense and then dismissed them all. The hall became quiet, and my heart slowly settled.
I first played "Jasmine Flower," then "Fisherman's Song at Dusk," and a segment of "Butterfly Lovers." In truth, these songs had become somewhat altered through the process of my forgetting and then remembering them. But don't people say that the most moving music is the sincere emotion flowing from the heart?
That was why I became lost in the music.
That was why my listener, Qingrong, became lost in it too.
And why the uninvited guests outside the bedchamber stood in silent enchantment.
***
**Glossary**
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