For some reason, I found myself moved by such a story, my thoughts churning with emotion. Wei Qingming said nothing, quietly gathering the papers one by one and placing them into the wooden box on the table.
"So, the people from the Thousand Color Palace are looking for the Six Paths Reincarnation Mirror," I said after a long while, finally snapping back to our current reality.
"Perhaps," Wei Qingming said noncommittally. Then, she suddenly asked a strange question: "Do you remember what Zhong He’s wife looked like?"
Manipulating memory was the very skill my Mount Ancient Dream relied on for its livelihood. I closed my eyes and visualized; a lifelike statue slowly took shape before us, manifesting into a solid form. Wei Qingming was full of praise for this little display of mine. I lifted my chin proudly, looking at the statue with delight. I hadn't paid much attention to it before, but under Wei Qingming’s prompting, I observed it closely. Suddenly, I realized this woman looked incredibly familiar...
Wasn't this the very founder we illusionists worshipped—the Thousand Illusion Fairy! Zhong He, a mere Qi Refining practitioner who was practically a mortal and died at just over a hundred years old, had actually married a Sun-Shading Realm powerhouse like Thousand Illusion?
Thousand Illusion was the founder of the Illusionist Sect and one of the artifact spirits of the *Thousand Truths and Thousand Illusions Map*...
I was so shocked I nearly knelt on the spot to give the statue three kowtows. In folk paintings, the Thousand Illusion Fairy was depicted as a quintessential enchantress—seductive in posture with a wicked smile, as if she could drain the essence of every man in the world in a single breath. The delicate scroll she held in her hand was her true form. Yet, Zhong He’s wife appeared elegant and dignified, radiating an aura of righteousness. Naturally, she held no scroll, but around her neck hung a cylindrical object that looked completely out of place with her exquisite attire. That cylinder was about three inches long...
"Ah!" I was struck by another realization. I yanked off my storage necklace and tremblingly poured everything out. After rummaging through a pile of toys for a long time, I fished out the jade tube we had found that night. Because I was too short to reach, I even shooed Wei Qingming out of her seat, stepped onto her chair, and stood on my tiptoes to hold the jade tube up to the neck of the "Lady Zhong" statue. It fit perfectly, without a single gap.
So that was it. It was precisely because of this half-section of the *Thousand Truths and Thousand Illusions Map*'s roller that the formation in Zhong He’s grand tomb could dispel illusions. When I entered the second time, the Ancestral Matriarch was already sleeping inside the necklace on my chest, so she naturally couldn't exert her influence anymore...
My head spun, and my vision went dark. Wei Qingming, showing great foresight, reached out just in time to support my waist and help me down. Holding the jade tube with trembling hands, I leaned weakly against her and whispered, "This is bad, this is bad... I’ve kept the Ancestral Master with a bunch of junk for a month or two. She must be furious. Will she punish me by making it so my illusion skills never improve for the rest of my life?"
Wei Qingming acted as if she had heard a joke, her calm voice carrying a hint of hidden mischief. "Mm, not bad. It seems that deep down, Ah Zhi still strives for progress."
I shuddered again, thinking of a terrifying possibility. "Could it be that the Thousand Color Palace is actually looking for this broken tube? If they find out a small fry like me took it, will they hunt me for the rest of my life? I’m so young and in the prime of my youth; I can't die for the sake of a several-thousand-year-old lady!"
The more I thought, the more frightened I became. I clutched my hair and paced around the room five or six times. "It’s over, it’s over! Master Wei, you’re so powerful, please just take this thing away!"
"Senior Thousand Illusion did not choose me," Master Wei replied, heartlessly rejecting me while barely suppressing a smile.
I knelt on the floor, holding the jade tube up with trembling hands, and said tearfully, "Ancestral Matriarch, please forgive me. Su Yuzhi, a little demon of Mount Ancient Dream, was young and ignorant and has offended you. It is inconvenient right now, but once I return to the mountain, I will surely enshrine you in the room with the best view. All my wealth can be offered to you. I beg you, Elder, do not sever my path to immortality, and do not bring assassins to kill me..."
Wei Qingming watched my antics with composure before asking, "Did Miss Su come here today just to worship her Ancestral Master?"
Only then did I remember the matter of buying the shop. I recounted the whole story to Master Wei. I thought it was a small matter, but upon hearing it, Wei Qingming’s expression darkened imperceptibly. Her tone carried a hint of danger for some reason. "Your Senior Brother is here?"
"Yes, his name is Lu Kaifeng." Not understanding her reaction, I could only act spoiled. "Just help me look into it, pull a few strings. Senior Brother will handle the official hurdles himself."
"Fine," she said. "Since he is Ah Zhi’s senior brother, I should host a banquet to welcome him."
"No need, no need! We’re the ones asking for your help. Senior Brother is a very good person; he even took me to the East Market to play last time." I hugged her neck with a grin. "Look, he bought this bronze fanged ghost mask for me!"
Wei Qingming only gave a lukewarm "Mm." Although I had no idea which of her nerves I had touched, I still felt something was off. I dropped the letter Senior Brother had sent with the shop information, shouted, "Make sure you get it done for me!" and vanished over the wall in a flash.
Over the next few days, the Wen household was busy preparing for the Old Matriarch’s birthday banquet. The First Madam was especially occupied and had no time to discipline us "little monkeys." We went out in various groups every day to play, sampling all the seasonal delicacies of the capital. I saw the Wen brothers every day, along with other relatives and friends, but Wei Qingming was nowhere to be seen. Even when invited, she didn't come. I was a bit worried about whether things were going smoothly and sent someone to the Wei residence with a note. The servant returned saying the house was empty; after asking the Marquis Dingyuan’s household across the street, they said no one had entered or exited the residence for three or four days. It seemed she was too busy to even go home.
I was worried and lost the heart to go out and play. I moped at home for two days waiting for news. Finally, letters arrived from both Wei Qingming and Senior Brother. Both said to meet at Chunan Tower on the evening of the fourteenth of April to discuss business with the pharmacy owner. Since she was willing to show her face, it meant there was hope. I clutched Wei Qingming’s letter and couldn't help but grin foolishly. I knew she could get it done!
After lunch that day, I was too excited to nap. After enduring an hour or so, I started calling for Muyu and the others to come dress me up. The three of them winked at each other, teasingly bringing out all my new outfits for me to choose from, but the "Dreamlike Immortal Silk" Wei Qingming had given me was nowhere to be found. It wasn't until I started stomping my feet in frustration that they finally brought out the newly sewn gauze robe and draped it over my shoulders. This silk was truly beautiful; wearing it felt like walking in moonlight.
"Have a good time, Miss!" The three of them saw me to the side gate, giggling and waving their handkerchiefs as they saw me off.
The Wen family carriage took me to Chunan Tower. I stepped down, gave a tip, and told the driver there was no need to pick me up, as someone would see me back. Then, I wanted to skip into the tower, but mindful of the precious clothes I was wearing, I maintained a dignified pace, swaying my hips slightly as I entered and headed straight for the fifth floor.
Since I couldn't meet these merchants as "Wen Qi," I reverted to my original appearance upon entering. Whether it was Senior Brother or Wei Qingming, someone had tactfully left my real name. A guiding maid gave a soft curtsy and said in a gentle voice, "Miss Su, please follow me."
Lu Kaifeng stood alone by the railing on the fifth floor, hands in his sleeves as he watched the crowds below. I happily approached him and shook his hand. "How is it? Can we finalize it today?"
He smiled, looked at my attire, and then said, "I hope so."
I looked around and asked, "Where’s Second Senior Sister? Did she run off downstairs to play?"
"She has an eccentric temperament and doesn't like coming to such places," Lu Kaifeng replied. "And I didn't want her to come either."
We looked at each other and laughed. Sensing several people approaching from behind, I quickly turned around. It was a group of three, with Wei Qingming trailing at the back. She glanced at us and then looked away. For some reason, I felt her aura today was inexplicably cold and distant, causing the smile on my face to stiffen slightly.
Senior Brother bowed gracefully, cupping his hands toward the man in the lead. "This must be President Ling. I am Lu Kaifeng of Jinzhou. It is a great honor to meet you all."
I thought the man looked familiar. He was the banker for the Red Side on the night of the banquet. After removing his mask, he was a handsome man with peach-blossom eyes, a high bridge to his nose, and thin lips. It turned out he was the owner of Chunan Tower and the Vice President of the Wantong Merchant Association, Ling Chunan.
Ling Chunan smiled and stepped aside, gesturing to introduce the others. "This is Mr. Zheng, the owner of Rui’an Hall. Mr. Lu should have a good chat with him tonight. And this is..."
Before he could say more, Wei Qingming stepped forward and gave Lu Kaifeng a slight nod. "Boss Lu."
I looked back and forth between her and Senior Brother in surprise. A flash of astonishment crossed Senior Brother’s face, and his brows furrowed briefly before he quickly regained his refined composure. "So, my little sister’s friend is Master Wei. I have long heard of your name."
Ling Chunan clapped his hands and laughed. "Haha, so you all know each other?"
Lu Kaifeng’s smile was polite, but from years of knowing him, I could tell it wasn't sincere, so I didn't interject. On the contrary, a meaningful smile curled the corner of Wei Qingming’s mouth as she said coolly, "We have some dealings."
I swallowed hard, feeling nervous. Something was definitely wrong between them! This wasn't just "some dealings"—it felt more like a "grudge"!
Ling Chunan looked like a dissolute playboy, but his manner was as warm as a spring breeze. With a beaming smile, he invited us to enter and take our seats. This was the best private booth on the fifth floor of Chunan Tower. Looking out the window, one could see the misty Dongshan Mountain in the night, while below was the endless flow of lights. The bustling marketplace and the distant, secluded mountains coexisted in a single layered view, reflecting a unique charm.
As the host, President Ling should have taken the seat of honor, but he raised his hand in a respectful gesture and insisted that Wei Qingming sit at the head of the table. Wei Qingming was likely not even half his age, yet she sat down without a word of protest. I was dumbfounded. I remembered that Ling Chunan had intended to befriend her that night, but because I didn't like him, Wei Qingming hadn't interacted with him. Shouldn't he have been offended? How did these two get together? In this capital where high-ranking officials were everywhere, why would a top-tier merchant flatter a low-ranking official so shamelessly?
Ling Chunan and Mr. Zheng sat on either side of her. Lu Kaifeng naturally sat next to Mr. Zheng to build rapport. I sat down as well, sticking close to Senior Brother.
