Chapter 22: Night Stroll in Tongzhou, the Way of Survival, and an Old Bastard (Seeking Monthly Votes)

There is no curfew in Great Zhou.

Therefore, even in remote Tongzhou, it remains lively whenever night falls; lanterns hang high on both sides of the street, dyeing the night orange-red, while vendors selling sugar figurines, rouge, and all sorts of wares line the street, and peddlers carry their goods through the alleys, calling out their wares.

Pei Shaoqing and Xie Qingwu walk side by side, weaving through the crowd, while Ye Hanshuang, who is a head taller than both of them, follows behind at a leisurely pace, arms wrapped around her sword.

"I didn't expect such a small place to be so lively at night," Xie Qingwu says with a look of emotion.

Pei Shaoqing says, "If you feel bored at home alone, you can come out for a stroll more often."

"You're allowing me to go out?" Xie Qingwu is surprised.

"Since we are named husband and wife, I can't guard you for a lifetime, can I?" Pei Shaoqing glances at her and says with a faint smile, "As long as Li Jiangjun follows you, that is enough."

A glimmer of light dances in Xie Qingwu's eyes, hiding her inner thoughts; she purses her lips and beams, looking charmingly alluring, and gives a sweet reply, "Alright."

"Is it pretty? Here, for you." Pei Shaoqing takes a rabbit-shaped sugar figurine from a roadside stall and hands it to her.

"Oh! How cute." Xie Qingwu looks delighted on the surface but feels disdainful inside; she is an adult, after all, so how could she like things children like? But after taking a bite, her eyes suddenly brighten, and she smiles sweeter than the sugar itself, "So yummy!"

Ye Hanshuang feels that these two are becoming a bit of an eyesore.

When passing a hairpin stall, Xie Qingwu stops in her tracks. Seeing this, Pei Shaoqing says casually, "Which one do you like? Pick whatever catches your eye, and I'll buy it for you."

"How much is this one?" Xie Qingwu picks up a hairpin with a butterfly-shaped head and two hanging jade pendants.

A flash of disdain crosses Ye Hanshuang's eyes; this kind of flashy, fragile woman only likes these trinkets, which have no practical use, and they would just dangle about and affect one's performance if worn while fighting someone.

If one has money, it would be better spent on a good weapon for self-defense.

She hugs the sword in her arms a little tighter.

The stall owner smiles brightly, "The young lady has a great eye. This hairpin was imported from the provincial capital, and there is only this one. If you want it, it's two taels of silver."

Just as Pei Shaoqing prepares to take out his money pouch, Xie Qingwu says she will pay for it herself and takes out her purse to settle the bill.

Afterward, she turns to look at Ye Hanshuang, smiling radiantly as she shakes the hairpin in her hand, "It's for you."

"It's for me?" Ye Hanshuang is stunned on the spot.

Xie Qingwu blinks her eyes, "Yes, I noticed you don't have any hair accessories; it's too monotonous. Even if you are beautiful, you still have to learn to dress yourself up."

She has always been clear about gratitude and grudges; mainly, she is thanking Ye Hanshuang for catching her when she fell off the swing today, and incidentally, it's to build a rapport—if she accepts a gift, it wouldn't be good for her to hit her again, right?

Since she is at the mercy of others, she should try her best to get along with those around her; at least it can make her own life a little easier.

The same logic applies to braiding the tether for Li Jiangjun.

"I don't want it," Ye Hanshuang says with a cold face.

Xie Qingwu turns her head to look at Pei Shaoqing.

Pei Shaoqing naturally doesn't mind following her lead to persuade her, "Since your sister-in-law is giving it to you, just take it."

"Hurry up, let me put it on for you," Xie Qingwu says, looking back at Ye Hanshuang with a sweet, smiling expression, urging her.

Ye Hanshuang purses her red lips and finally squats down slowly in front of Xie Qingwu, letting her help put it on. Even after squatting, she looks only about seven or eight inches shorter than Xie Qingwu, and her frame is nearly half as large again.

The surroundings are crowded with people; a tall, graceful beauty is putting a hairpin on a squatting, giant-like beauty. A gust of night breeze blows by, lifting both their dark hair at the same time; the scene looks quite beautiful.

"All done!" Xie Qingwu's tone is light and cheerful.

Ye Hanshuang stands up, looking at Pei Shaoqing with some nervousness and restraint, not daring to look him in the eye.

"It looks good," Pei Shaoqing says with a smile, praising her.

Ye Hanshuang's cheeks flush slightly; she glances at Xie Qingwu and says, sparing no words, "Thank you."

Xie Qingwu smiles and says nothing, then suddenly runs toward a stall, "Wow, hurry up! There's a painting contest over there, let's go paint too! Let's see who paints better."

"Your painting is truly ugly," after a long while, Pei Shaoqing says truthfully. He had thought this young lady of a noble family would be proficient in all the arts, but it seems that is not the case.

Xie Qingwu is somewhat embarrassed and angry; she turns her head to glare at him and retorts, "Hmph, did I force you to look?"

"This, I truly wanted to see."

…………………………

"Knock, knock, knock." Gongsun Yi raises his hand to knock on the door.

Zhao Zhilan calls out from inside the bedroom, "Come in."

"Lan'er," Gongsun Yi pushes the door open and enters.

Zhao Zhilan immediately stands up, "Master."

"Sit," Gongsun Yi gestures to her after closing the door, then walks over and sits down himself, "Seeing the light on in your room, I knew you hadn't rested yet."

"Master, is there something you need?" Zhao Zhilan pours him a cup of tea, sits down, and asks obediently.

Gongsun Yi does not touch the teacup but asks in a deep, contemplative voice, "What is your opinion of Young Master Pei?"

"He's just a scoundrel! A lecher! A corrupt official!" Zhao Zhilan curses through gritted teeth, then suddenly realizes something, "Master, why are you asking this?"

Gongsun Yi sighs and says, "Actually, I have also noticed that Young Master Pei seems to have intentions toward you."

"Impossible! Master! It is absolutely impossible between him and me! In my heart, there is only the Senior Brother!" Zhao Zhilan reacts intensely after hearing this.

"I know, listen to me first." Gongsun Yi rubs his brow, his face full of pain, "You and Yebai were both raised by me; naturally, I want to see you two together. But reality is often so unsatisfactory. Originally, if you were willing, this would actually be a good thing for the Iron Sword Sect. When you think about it, the Young Master comes from a noble family, and it is actually you, Lan'er, who would be marrying above your station."

"Master!" Zhao Zhilan's face is full of disbelief.

"Let me finish." Gongsun Yi raises his hand to interrupt Zhao Zhilan, exhaling, "However, since you are so repulsed by him, then as your master, I naturally cannot push you into a pit of fire. You don't have to stay either, lest you give him an opportunity to take advantage. I will go find him; even if I have to kneel and beg him, I will bring you back when we return to the mountain."

As his words fall, he stands up and walks toward the door.

"Master... wait!" Zhao Zhilan calls out.

This time, to save her and her Senior Brother, Master has already brought the entire Iron Sword Sect under the control of that villain. Thinking that Master would have to lose all dignity and kneel before that villain to beg for her sake, her heart aches as if it were being cut.

This imprisonment has made her grow up a lot.

Gongsun Yi stops in his tracks, "What is it?"

"I... I am willing, but please don't let Senior Brother know, sob, sob, sob." After saying this, Zhao Zhilan throws herself onto the table and begins to sob bitterly, her face covered in tears.

Gongsun Yi feels a bit guilty, but soon his gaze becomes firm again; everyone in the Iron Sword Sect has a responsibility to sacrifice for the revival of the sect! He continues, "No, Lan'er, I cannot allow you to wrong yourself like this. I am going to find him now."

"No!" Zhao Zhilan stands up, rushes forward, and grabs Gongsun Yi's arm, squeezing a heartbreaking smile onto her tear-streaked face, "Disciple grew up under the care of Master, Mistress, and all the Senior Brothers of the Iron Sword Sect. You are all sacrificing for the sect, and I also want to do something for the sect, for you, and for Mistress. Besides, you are right; for a disciple to be with Young Master Pei is marrying above my station."

"Senior Brother, for the sake of the sect, I am sorry."

"Lan'er!" Gongsun Yi gripped his disciple's hand, tears streaming down his aged face, "It is all because your master is incompetent and useless."

"No! Master, in my eyes, you are the best master under heaven." Zhao Zhilan hugged him.

Gongsun Yi gently stroked her head and said with a calm gaze, "Sigh, it has been hard on you, child. Do not let your mistress know about tonight's events; it is a good thing if one less person in the Iron Sword Sect suffers because of this man."

"I understand, Master." With tear tracks still on her face, Zhao Zhilan smiled brightly and said sensibly, "Just as you have always kept the grievances and pain for yourself, I will make Mistress believe that it was I who took the initiative to fall for him."

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(End of this chapter)