Chapter 122: Big Dragon, Second Tiger

On a small hill on the outskirts of Huating County, Songjiang Prefecture, there is a Guzi Temple, located just ten li away from the Huating county seat.

Because it is close to Huating, and peach trees are planted on the mountain, the peach blossoms bloom furiously once the third month arrives.

The entire Guzi Temple is overflowing with floral fragrance, becoming a sea of pink. From the foot of the mountain to the stairs leading up, female pilgrims coming to offer incense arrive in an endless stream.

This day, just past the third quarter of the Chen hour, a carriage with embroidered apricot-colored flower-carved railings pulled up at the foot of Guzi Temple mountain.

A young girl dressed in green first poked her head out from inside, then shouted back in: "Miss, the peach blossoms have bloomed so beautifully this year, and there are so many people."

"Lvluo, can you change that careless temperament of yours? Otherwise, who will take a fancy to you in the future?" A pleasant female voice tinged with a hint of reproach arose, and Xu Ruoxi, wearing a plain dress with her hair draped over her fragrant shoulders, bent down and poked her head out.

"I don't need anyone else to take a fancy to me; I'll just follow you, Miss." Lvluo gave a playful smile and helped her mistress down from the carriage.

The mistress and servant looked at the stairs built of bluestone, exchanged a glance, and then headed up the mountain.

Along the way, a gentle breeze wafted, white clouds drifted leisurely, and the stairs were crowded with young women who had come to pray for marriage luck.

Xu Ruoxi was naturally not here to pray for marriage luck, but to pray for peace and safety.

And to clear her mind at the same time.

It is said that after she and Zhang Yunxiu parted that day, they had kept in touch through letters, and the affection between the two had warmed up rapidly.

In the middle of last month, Zhang Yunxiu wrote to say that he would be coming to Huating before long.

Xu Ruoxi was wild with joy, and thinking of seeing her lover again, she counted the days on her fingers.

She had hoped for the stars and the moon, yet she still had not seen Zhang Yunxiu arrive.

And so, feeling troubled recently, she invited her personal maid Lvluo to come along to this Guzi Temple for an outing.

Firstly, to soothe her mood, and secondly, to pray for a blessing of safety for her lover.

After walking for about ten minutes, the sunlight pierced through the clouds and the temperature rose, causing a layer of fine sweat to seep out on Xu Ruoxi's fair, delicate neck, sticking a few stray strands of dark hair to it.

She looked up, and the four-cornered flying eaves came into view.

Without lingering, she reached out her palm to wipe the fine sweat from her snowy neck, quickened her pace, and made a dash to reach the top of the mountain in one go.

The first thing that came into view was a large plaza, planted full of peach trees.

Amidst the myriad flowers, several large halls with four-cornered flying eaves were visible in the distance.

At the entrance, several nuns dressed in green Daoist robes stood, smiling as they spoke kind words to the pilgrims coming to offer incense.

Xu Ruoxi lifted the hem of her skirt and led Lvluo inside.

The nun at the entrance greeted them and asked with a smile, "Is the benefactor here to pray for marriage luck?"

"No, no, no, I am here to pray for peace and safety." Xu Ruoxi shook her head repeatedly, a trace of maidenly shyness appearing on her pretty cheeks.

The two nuns looked at each other and smiled, leading Xu Ruoxi and Lvluo to a side hall to sit down. The side hall was not large; in the center stood an Eight Immortals table, and following down from the table were four yellow satin cushions.

On the Eight Immortals table were placed some offerings and a small bronze tripod filled with incense.

Xu Ruoxi moved with lotus steps to the cushion, her jade knees softened, and she knelt down on the cushion, clasping her hands together and silently praying in her heart: "I hope the Old Immortal will bless him with peace and safety, and that he will come to Huating quickly without any major trouble."

"I hope the Old Immortal will show his divine power."

Seeing her mistress so pious, Lvluo followed suit, imitating her mistress's posture as she sat down on a cushion.

She then closed her eyes tightly and prayed silently: "Old Immortal, please bless our young master-in-law to come to Huating soon, so that Miss doesn't have to worry every day."

"She can't even sleep at night."

The mistress and servant prayed for a long time, and before they could rise, a beautiful young woman of about twenty, dressed in vermilion and purple, strolled into the hall from outside.

Looking at the two kneeling on the ground, the beautiful young woman parted her vermilion lips slightly and said in a soft voice, "Madam Zhang."

Xu Ruoxi's expression tightened; she opened her eyes quickly and looked back.

The beautiful young woman was looking at her with a smile.

"You—you must have mistaken me for someone else; I am not any Madam Zhang." Xu Ruoxi explained.

"No, I haven't mistaken you. I followed you all the way from the Xu Family just to wait for you, Madam Zhang." The beautiful young woman covered her mouth and laughed, swaying her slender waist as she stepped forward. She familiarly hooked her arm around Xu Ruoxi's shoulder and clicked her tongue while looking at her cheeks, "You truly are a person from the heavens; never mind those stinking men, even I, a woman, can't help but want to take a bite."

"Madam, you have mistaken the person; I am not any Madam Zhang." Determination flashed in Xu Ruoxi's eyes, and she did not yield in the slightest because of the beautiful woman's words.

Lvluo also stood up, huffing indignantly, "That's right, our Miss isn't even married yet. You really are something; our Miss already said she isn't, yet you insist on shouting that she is."

"Still pretending." The beautiful young woman giggled and stated directly, "I know you are the young lady of the Xu Family and have already set a marriage contract with Young Master Zhang, so calling you Madam Zhang is perfectly fine."

"My name is Zhao Yu, the legal wife of the Wei State Duke's heir, Xu Weizhi."

"Ah? You are from the State Duke Mansion?" Lvluo's expression twitched, and her voice trembled as she spoke.

Xu Ruoxi, however, felt a sense of alarm in her heart. She instinctively stepped back two paces to distance herself from Zhao Yu and said coldly, "So it is the heir's wife of the Wei State Duke Mansion; this commoner is truly flattered."

"However, Madam, you are wrong about one thing: this young woman has only entered into a marriage contract with the Zhang Family's young master and has not yet married into the Zhang Family, so naturally, I cannot be called Madam Zhang."

"Little sister, don't play games with me." Zhao Yu glared at Xu Ruoxi with feigned annoyance and added, "Young Master Zhang's large ship is already about to reach Shanghai County. Tell me, who is he coming to Songjiang Prefecture to find?"

He had finally arrived.

Xu Ruoxi felt joy in her heart, and the coldness on her face vanished.

Thinking that the Zhao Yu before her had impure motives, Xu Ruoxi pulled a long face again and said with a shy, reproachful tone, "Who—who knows who he is coming to find? He might just be passing through here." "Little sister, besides coming to find you, who else could he be looking for?" Zhao Yu grabbed Xu Ruoxi's wrist.

"Finding me? What for?" Xu Ruoxi felt joy in her heart but pretended to be bewildered on her face.

"Little sister, what else can a man want when he looks for a woman? Don't tell me you don't know anything?" Zhao Yu widened her eyes and got straight to the point, "My husband has some matters he would like to ask Young Master Zhang for help with, so I ask you, little sister, to please help."

As she spoke, she took a five-inch square sandalwood box from her sleeve.

Opening it, inside was a pair of jade fish pendants with a serene luster.

"What is the meaning of this?" Xu Ruoxi asked with a cold, pretty face.

"Just a small token of my sincerity."

Zhao Yu laughed, closed the box, looked into Xu Ruoxi's eyes, and said, "As long as Miss Xu can help introduce my husband to Young Master Zhang, regardless of whether the matter succeeds or not, my family will have a generous gift to offer."

"Madam, I am but a woman; how could I meddle in men's affairs?" Xu Ruoxi naturally refused to let Zhang Yunxiu look down on her.

"Little sister, you don't understand." Zhao Yu covered her mouth and chuckled, lecturing Xu Ruoxi earnestly, "A woman's greatest weapon is this face. As long as you act coquettishly and roll into his arms, never mind a hot-blooded youth like him, even a Great Immortal would have his bones softened to the point of being unable to stand."

"Madam, what nonsense are you spouting?" Xu Ruoxi glared at Zhao Yu with reproach.

"Women all have to go through this sooner or later. You must take advantage of the time before the man's fresh interest fades and be clingy with him all day long, otherwise you'll have plenty to cry about Higo." Zhao, already a married woman, naturally spoke without taboos.

The two of them bickered for a long time, but Xu Ruoxi still refused to agree.

Zhao Yu was helpless and could only force the wooden box into Xu Ruoxi's hands, pretending to be nonchalant as she said, "Even if the deal doesn't go through, the goodwill remains. I see that you, sister, are a spirited beauty, so just take this gift for you and your young husband."

Having said that, without waiting for Xu Ruoxi to refuse, she stepped back and exited the great hall.

Xu Ruoxi lifted her skirt and chased after her, but looking out, Zhao Yu had already vanished into the sea of people.

Lvluo, who had been silent for a long time, also chased out, her eyes shining as she said with a bit of smugness, "Miss, this jade is so nice. Since it was given for free anyway, it would be a waste not to take it. Even if the young master finds out, he won't be able to give you a hard time."

"What do you know?!" Xu Ruoxi extended a jade finger and poked Lvluo's forehead heavily, then added, "Eating someone's food makes your mouth soft, taking someone's things makes your hands soft. Since they gave us such a valuable item for free, it's clear they have ulterior motives."

"Our Xu Family is a prestigious family after all; we won't be looked down upon over a little thing like this."

"Oh, then what should we do?" Lvluo covered her forehead and asked with a pout.

"What else can we do? Go back, and send someone to deliver this thing to the Wei State Duke Mansion."

Xu Ruoxi said this resentfully, then gathered her long skirt and hurried down the mountain.

On the other side, at the Shanghai County pier.

Over fifty warships slowly docked at the shore. On the main ship in the center, Zhang Yunxiu wore a green, tight-sleeved robe, standing in the middle with his hands behind his back.

On both sides, Li Ergou and Zhao Dazhuang stood straight.

"Young Master, we have arrived at Shanghai County; it is time for us to part ways," Li Ergou said respectfully from the side.

"Are you afraid?" Zhang Yunxiu scanned Li Ergou and Zhao Dazhuang, asking expressionlessly.

"Afraid of what? Back in the day, Eunuch Zheng dared to sail to the Western Oceans without a Sea Chart, so what is there to fear when we have one in our hands?" Zhao Dazhuang knit his brows, patted his chest, and shouted, "Young Master, just rest assured. In two years at the latest, I guarantee we will return with the Sea Chart and the local specialties from those islands, all brought back to you in one piece."

"Good. Since you both have such courage, I shall wait to reward you for your merits," Zhang Yunxiu said with heroic spirit.

Originally, he had only intended for Li Ergou to scout the path, but he had not expected Zhao Dazhuang to volunteer to seek his own fortune.

Zhang Yunxiu felt quite reluctant to part with this man, but he could not stop him as he was eager for merit.

Zhang Yunxiu could only let him go and have him look out for Li Ergou.

Thinking of this, Zhang Yunxiu turned his head again, looked at Li Ergou to the side, and said in a low voice, "Ergou, rest assured, I will take good care of your wife. Whether you return or not, as long as I have a bite to eat, I will never let her and your child go hungry."

"Many thanks, Young Master," Li Ergou said, cupping his hands.

He finally understood now that being a dog for someone else was not such a shameful thing after all.

"I think you shouldn't be called Ergou anymore. From now on, you shall be called Li Erhu; this name sounds much better than Ergou," Zhang Yunxiu patted Li Ergou on the shoulder and said softly.

"Many thanks to the Young Master for bestowing this name. Erhu will certainly blaze a trail for the Young Master," Li Ergou was filled with awe and trepidation; his knees went soft, and he knelt to pledge his loyalty.

Zhang Yunxiu helped him up, then looked at Zhao Dazhuang and said, "You shouldn't be called 'Dazhuang' either. You will be a commander of a side in the future; it would be laughable to say that name. From now on, you shall be called Dalong."

"Zhao Dalong, Li Erhu," Zhao Dazhuang muttered twice, his eyes flashing with a sharp light, then he cupped his hands and said, "Many thanks to the Young Master for bestowing the name. We brothers guarantee we will bring back what the Young Master wants."

"Hmm."

Zhang Yunxiu nodded slightly, gave a few more instructions, and then stepped off the warship.

The group stood on the warship, watching Zhang Yunxiu depart until his back disappeared from view, at which point Li Erhu signaled the flagman.

The flagman understood and stood on high, waving the flags.

The warships behind saw this and turned their bows one after another, sailing away from the Shanghai County pier.

"Take one last look. Who knows when we'll be back next time," Zhao Dalong patted Li Erhu's shoulder and said with deep emotion.

"No need, I will be back soon."

Li Erhu smiled confidently and turned to walk toward the cabin.

(End of chapter)