Chapter 79

Leaving Zhao Da Bing and Qing'er stunned, Li Guanyi rode off with Xue Shuangtao on the two horses—horses meant for pulling carts, without saddles or reins, inherently unsafe, yet they grew docile upon sensing Bai Hu's aura.

Gentle and cowardly.

Once they reached the main road and entered narrower areas, Li Guanyi placed two fingers to his lips and whistled; the two horses halted. He dismounted with swift, decisive motion.

The horse carrying the Young Lady also stopped.

Without a saddle or reins, the Young Lady gripped the horse's mane tightly with both hands.

Her small face turned pale.

The horse struggled to buck.

Yet within the perception of living beings, behind the smiling, gentle youth was an awe-inspiring presence too terrible for any creature to defy—more terrifying than any tiger she had ever seen—so it submitted. Li Guanyi extended his hand; Xue Shuangtao placed hers upon his wrist, and he helped her dismount.

"I heard Old Brother Zhao say that Xue family horses know the way back home."

"People like Old Brother Zhao can easily track these two horses. Let's set them free—otherwise, they'll surely be found."

Li Guanyi released the horses, letting them gallop freely. Xue Shuangtao took a long while to calm down, her eyes scanning the surroundings: the streets here differed from those she had walked before—no broad roads here.

Xue Shuangtao checked the time, still tense and worried, and whispered:

"No, I can't keep fooling around with you. I must return."

Li Guanyi gripped her wrist, raising an eyebrow with a grin: "No."

"You've been kidnapped by me."

"Don't worry—if Old Man Xue gets angry, I've got a way to make him happy."

Xue Shuangtao frowned. Li Guanyi pulled her forward, saying: "But you need to change clothes. This outfit's too lavish—it suits noble scions' circles. Change into something else."

Xue Shuangtao whispered: "I only brought a little over ten taels of silver."

"Probably not enough."

Li Guanyi burst into laughter: "More than enough!"

"Come on!"

Li Guanyi dragged her to a cloth shop, bought plain garments and fabric, layered and swapped pieces until he stripped away her ornate, luxurious gown, replacing it with a dark gray skirt and simple, comfortable shoes.

Her cloud-like hair was pinned with a wooden hairpin costing three cash.

Li Guanyi packed all the clothes and jewelry into a satchel, changed into plain attire himself, stretched comfortably, then haggled with the shopkeeper—so fiercely that the man, who'd expected to fleece them, began doubting his life, sighing:

"Young brother, you're ruthless."

"Honestly, after this haggling, I won't make a profit."

"Lies. What if I just don't buy?"

The Shopkeeper felt he'd met a seasoned opponent.

The young man smiled with half-lidded eyes, turned at the sound of footsteps, and looked at Xue Shuangtao again: the descendant of a former Duke, the top-three merchant heiress of the realm, now looked like an unadorned girl from a modest family—yet when her brows lifted, she remained a beautiful maiden.

Li Guanyi slung the bundle of clothes and ornaments over his shoulder and led Xue Shuangtao out of there.

When they stepped out of the cloth shop, they were just two ordinary youths.

At this moment, Xue Shuangtao felt like a schoolgirl skipping class for the first time—nervous, yet thrilled by defying what she dreaded. Her eyes glowed faintly. Li Guanyi led her forward, through narrow alleys, then turned slightly: ahead lay an alley, willow banks, a stone bridge.

A stream flowed past, where young women washed clothes.

They laid garments on uneven washboards and beat them with wooden clubs.

Children younger than them ran past, laughing merrily.

Lively and radiant.

Li Guanyi turned to the wide-eyed girl and smiled gently:

"This is also Yicheng—far from the places you're forced to endure. A freer Yicheng."

Xue Shuangtao said: "But there…"

Li Guanyi grinned: "Don't worry!"

"Old Brother Zhao will know how to handle it."

"Though he hides it, he's definitely an old hand."

……………………

Zhao Da Bing watched the young pair gallop away, eyes wide. Finally, Old Zhao decided even his salt-roasted peanuts tasted bland—not just bland, but throat-clogging. Qing'er, in her blue skirt, stomped her foot: "Li Guanyi! Li Guanyi!"

"You—you—you—"

"Why didn't you just take me too, wu wu wu!"

"Then I wouldn't have to face those girls."

Qing'er's face brimmed with reluctance and bitterness. Zhao Da Bing grinned: so the iron pot was still stuck on him? He knew well: noble ladies' gatherings looked harmonious, but were worse than noble sons brawling.

Xue Shuangtao, as the Young Lady of the Xue family, though of illustrious lineage, never entered politics—only commerce. Thus, the offspring of officials held complex feelings toward the Xue family: they feared their wealth that rivaled the realm, yet despised them as "imperial in-laws" and "merchants," elevating themselves by belittling them.

Without this, they couldn't maintain their haughty airs before the Xues.

Under such circumstances, Xue Shuangtao truly disliked these affairs—yet had to attend.

When Zhao Da Bing retrieved the two horses, he widened his eyes, clapped his hands, and laughed:

"I've got a plan."

"Hahaha, Young Brother Li's work is flawless! Hahaha, Miss Qing'er, we've got it easy today!"

Qing'er was puzzled.

Zhao Da Bing repaired the carriage again and drove toward the noble ladies' poetry gathering. He couldn't say Xue Shuangtao had been kidnapped—instead, he claimed she'd received another invitation and couldn't make it.

This year's poetry outing had started early due to Xue Shuangtao's impending imperial summons; her absence left the ladies with no outlet for their energy. Those who'd secretly planned ahead now launched subtle, elegant barbs.

Qing'er understood—but couldn't refute them.

She turned red with fury.

Just as she opened her mouth to speak, Zhao Da Bing raised a hand to stop her, smiling amiably:

"The young lady had no choice but to decline that invitation, which is why she couldn't come here."

"We have a gift to apologize to all of you."

The daughter of the governor of Yicheng whispered: "So we're just supposed to wait here?"

"Important people have important matters."

"But who exactly is this important guest that Yue Xue Xiao couldn't refuse?"

"Say it out loud—we'll understand. If it's truly unavoidable, none of us sisters will say a word. But if you're deliberately not coming, the eldest daughter of the Yue family is being awfully arrogant."

Someone quietly murmured: "After all, she's just the daughter of merchants who don't read."

"Sister, just forgive her."

Then the daughters of the noble families laughed.

Their laughter was refined and elegant, like butterflies fluttering lightly among flowers.

Yet it made it hard to breathe.

Someone tried to rebut, speaking up for Xue Shuangtao, but could not suppress the tide of their voices.

Qing'er opened her mouth but couldn't mention how Li Guanyi had taken Xue Shuangtao away.

Zhao Da Bing smiled, stepped forward, and raised both hands, palm-up, holding a gilded waist token—a tiger's mouth clasp, like a command arrow—this was a military officer's token, placed by Li Guanyi on the horse, with the words "General Zhenwei" written on the back. He announced loudly: "I humbly wish to inform you all."

"He is a Seventh Rank official of Yicheng."

"A Grand Academician of the Ministry of State Affairs, granted the Silver-Green Light-Lord title by imperial decree, and a direct disciple of Master Wang Tong."

"A Grand Academician of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau, granted the Silver-Green Light-Lord title by imperial decree, mentioned by Master Zu Wenyuan."

"Imperial edict: granted soft armor by the Emperor!"

"Imperial edict: specially elevated to one of the seventy-two Seventh Rank military officers serving as attendants in the Great Chen State's Grand Sacrifice."

"Imperial gift: a Third Rank rhinoceros-horn belt with dangling ornaments."

"Seventh Rank military officer of Yicheng, General Zhenwei Captain of the Great Chen State."

"Li Guanyi, my lord."

One name after another descended—these titles, familiar yet heavy with unfamiliar authority.

Qing'er saw the smiles on the faces of those refined young ladies slowly vanish; she saw astonishment flash across their beautiful faces, then, almost immediately, a trace of envy, their hands gripping handkerchiefs tightening unconsciously.

In the sunlight, these flower-butterflies suddenly seemed transparent.

The air grew light and free.

Qing'er suddenly felt dazed. She realized that the boy who laughed so boldly, so proudly, whose mouth was always sweet—among his peers—he had already become someone extraordinary. He could ride out of the city with spear and saber, slaying enemies with martial prowess; he could dismount and write poetry that left everyone in awe.

She saw the expressions of the noble daughters change.

From mocking Xue Shuangtao, their eyes now held envy—Qing'er felt a surge of satisfaction inside.

"That's right."

She smiled sweetly: "It was Li Guanyi, my lord, who extended a heartfelt invitation—the young lady could not refuse."

"The Yue family will make amends."

When matters were settled, Qing'er found a secluded spot, clutched her stomach, and laughed heartily. Zhao Da Bing sat on the carriage eating peanuts. Qing'er laughed until her stomach ached, wiped away tears with her finger, and said: "But, Uncle Zhao Da Bing, how did you know to use this?"

Zhao Da Bing said: "Little Brother Li slipped this into the horse's saddlebags, then let the horses go. He knew perfectly well these two horses—I've raised them since they were foals—once freed, they'd come straight to me. He may act recklessly, but he still knows his limits."

Qing'er nodded, realizing her young lady had always treated the noble and official youths with gentleness.

This finally felt like justice served: "I wonder where they went to play."

Zhao Da Bing said: "Maybe they went outside the city to some famous scenic spot?"

"But I think it's going to rain."

"I wonder if they'll make it back in time."

………………

They did not leave the city.

Li Guanyi led Xue Shuangtao through the narrow alleyways, watching the spring scenery, observing streams flowing past the streets. Younger children nearby jumped rope, hopped in squares, played with knotted strings—unconstrained, unburdened. Xue Shuangtao gradually relaxed.

After all, the other engagement was already doomed to be missed.

Might as well enjoy herself fully here.

Otherwise, she'd miss both.

They played games with the youths of Yicheng. Li Guanyi saw the young lady lift her skirt and hop lightly in the squares—a childish game, yet she played it joyfully, with no one present who knew her identity.

They knocked fruit down from trees, wiped them once, and ate.

They rolled up their pant legs, stepped into the stream, doing things a noble lady should never do. Li Guanyi spun a giant top and easily won the children's round stones and straight wooden sticks.

A martial cultivator of the Entry Stage, practicing the supreme explosive art, the Jade Arm Divine Bow Technique—just one flick of his wrist, the top spun wildly, and the children gasped in awe.

Xue Shuangtao held a string, watching a kite drift through the sky. The kite wasn't made of silk—it was just paper, with a few simple drawings. Since childhood, she had only trained with bow and qin; she rarely ran around wildly like this.

She watched the kite rise higher and higher, and for a moment, saw her past reflected—then suddenly, it tilted.

Raindrops fell. The paper kite, already frail, could not withstand the dampness; it spun and tumbled from the sky. Li Guanyi returned the round stones to the children, paid five copper coins, and bought the top and the kite.

"Young Lady—"

Xue Shuangtao shot him a sharp glare.

Li Guanyi grinned and said: "Then let's go, find shelter from the rain."

Xue Shuangtao asked: "Where to?"

Li Guanyi thought a moment: "There are street vendors here. When it rains, everyone heads to a slightly off-road teahouse. One copper coin buys a pot of tea. Outside, vendors sell candied figures and sweet soups. People sit inside drinking tea, chatting—it's like a temple fair."

Xue Shuangtao and the boy entered. Inside, many people were already gathered—men and women, elders, even a merchant in silk robes, shaking water from his clothes as he asked the old shopkeeper for tea, laughing: "Not many today. Let's all share the rain—my treat for the tea."

The atmosphere burst into warmth.

It was already afternoon. Food vendors began calling out their wares. People sipped tea, chatted, ate snacks costing one or two copper coins. Strangers moments before now spoke easily—complaining about poor harvests, praising the scenery of Jiangnan, saying that as long as war didn't come, life was still good.

The children who had just been flying kites together squatted at the doorway, watching the rain fall—drip, drip, drip.

Watching the raindrops strike the puddles, each one bursting into a little flower.

That merchant took out some Western Region figs he was very proud of, hawking them to everyone, along with a Western Region Hu Qin, but no one understood it. Li Guanyi squeezed in somewhere and suddenly laughed, saying: "Uncle, give me a few fruits and I'll play the qin for you, how about it?"

The merchant looked at him, and at the girl beside him who, even in plain clothes, was still very pretty, and laughed.

He generously tossed the fruits over, saying: "It's fine, young man, take them."

Li Guanyi wiped the fruit and handed it to Xue Shuangtao behind him, then unceremoniously sat down cross-legged, took hold of the Hu Qin, and plucked the strings a few times. The merchant said: "This is a Western Region Hu Qin, different from the Central Plains ones. Young man, do you know how to play it?"

Li Guanyi gave a very offhand answer, laughing: "As long as it has strings, I can play it." He plucked a few notes, found the right key, then sat cross-legged there, his sleeves hanging down. When he played again, the sound was very clear and crisp.

The spring rain in Jiangnan fell, landing on the clay jars piled outside the teahouse—ding ding dong dong.

The young man sat in a barbarian chair, one leg propped up, his sleeves hanging down, his body swaying slightly. The Hu Qin's hoarse, wild sound rose and swirled through this Jiangnan road. The people fell quiet. The bearing between the young man's brows suddenly changed, his heart and spirit flowing naturally.

Free and at ease, like the wind itself, even the young ladies sheltering from the rain nearby watched in a daze. The young man's qin music suddenly shifted from the Western Region's wildness to elegance, then returned to Jiangnan. Jiangnan's wind is gentle. The young man opened his mouth, his voice clear and bright, and sang:

"The southeast, land of grandeur; the Three Wu's metropolis, since Guan and Yi always prosperous. Misty willows and painted bridges, wind curtains and emerald screens, ten thousand households uneven in size. Cloud-hung trees ring the embankment's sand; raging billows roll frost and snow; the natural moat knows no bound."

"The market displays pearls and gems; every household fills with silks and brocades, vying in luxury and extravagance."

"Layered lakes and folded peaks, pure and fair; three autumns' osmanthus fragrance, ten li of lotus blooms. Qiang flutes play in clear skies; water-chestnut songs drift through the night; fishing old men and lotus girls, merry at play. A thousand riders escort the tall banner; drunk, they listen to flutes and drums, composing verses and admiring mist and rosy clouds. Another day I'll paint this fine scene, and back in Phoenix Pool boast of it."

His voice was clear and bright, his brows clear and smiling. Xue Shuangtao stood there holding the fruit, watching this young man amid the mortal world. A flower seller laughed, found a pretty one in his basket, and tucked it behind the young man's temple.

The qin music was free and easy; outside, the rain fell.

Those brows lifted in flight—a Jiangnan wandering knight-errant. A single breath of grand spirit, a thousand li of swift, joyous wind.

"The rain in Jiangnan is still this hazy and misty like this."

The young man set down the Hu Qin, his bearing free and easy as the wind—utterly different from before.

Misty rain, Jiangnan, another morning.

Already ascended to the second floor.

Realm, breakthrough!