Chapter 33: Mediating a Dispute

Mudan Pond lies on the north bank of Huai River; nearing Mid-Autumn, hundreds of boats large and small have gathered along its shores, the banks thronged with people.

From a boat moored at the shore, faint laughter and cooing could be heard:

“Cloud shadows distant mountains enter the painting, sunset glow paints the stream. Whose home lies by the curved bridge and fence? A few neighs echo beside the hedge…”

“Miss Wang, your literary talent is remarkable—no wonder you’re the top lady of Chongwen Academy…”

“Pfft~”

“Hahaha…”

…

The boat had been rented out by the Princess’s mansion; inside were all the young ladies of Changming River and female students from the Imperial Academy, while outside, Wang Fu’s Wu Zu guarded the perimeter.

Liu Qingzhi was famed in the Wang Fu’s personal guard as a henpecked husband, every day worn thin by his wife’s mysterious, homebrewed remedies that left him with not a scrap of energy, utterly uninterested in the boat’s risqué jokes, merely standing at the deck’s edge listening to Head Steward Hou’s rambling.

Head Steward Hou, with his pointed nose and monkey-like face so peculiar it would ruin the refined atmosphere for the young ladies, now stood on deck waving a folding fan, gazing at the lively scene of thriving life by the lake, and stroked his mustache with a sigh:

“Each generation produces its own talents; back when I attended the Mid-Autumn gathering, I was still a handsome youth. Now old and faded, if I were placed among these beauties at Mudan Pond, I wouldn’t even make the top ten.”

?

Liu Qingzhi thought Hou’s monstrous face could make even the pet monkey of a wealthy family on Wencheng Street look refined and handsome—let alone make the top ten in a monkey beauty contest, much less at Mudan Pond.

Yet as the Princess’s mansion’s chief steward and her trusted general, Liu Qingzhi dared not laugh, and replied with solemn flattery:

“Master Hou, don’t belittle yourself. Beautiful faces abound, but how many men can earn the Princess’s admiration? A man’s worth in this world rests on talent—your talent is unparalleled in a thousand years!”

Liu Qingzhi wasn’t exaggerating; Hou’s face alone, capable of silencing Xie Jinhuan, qualified as a once-in-a-millennium sight.

Yet Hou had his own sense of proportion and waved his hand:

“I dare not claim such praise. If all talent under heaven amounted to one dan, the Princess alone claims eight dou…”

Here, Hou realized he’d forgotten the Prince—highly inappropriate—and hastily added:

“The Prince also claims eight dou; I and all others under heaven share one dou…”

“Er…”

Liu Qingzhi felt the seven dou of debt owed was entirely Hou’s doing, but dared not say so aloud, only kept smiling apologetically.

As the two idly chatted thus, Hou suddenly stretched his neck, squinted his rat-like eyes, and peered toward the outer edge of Mudan Pond like a weasel hunting for chicks:

“Oh? That Xie kid from the back alley came to join the fun too? And the man beside him—is that Dr. Lin?”

“Hm?”

Having witnessed Xie Jinhuan’s abilities, Liu Qingzhi held him in high regard; at the sound, he scanned the riverbank and indeed spotted a carriage parked beyond Mudan Pond, with two people and a bird heading toward a large boat.

The man in white robes, with two weapons at his waist, was clearly Xie Jinhuan.

The graceful woman beside him, though distant, was unmistakable—he’d seen her often at Lin’s clinic, the clinic’s divine physician.

“It really is Dr. Lin. Could they be… together?”

“Likely. This kid’s impressive—he’s only been here a few days and already snared such a big white peony. Tsk tsk tsk…”

As the two watched the gossip unfold, they suddenly noticed Xie Jinhuan approaching a large boat, exchanging a few words with those aboard, then a dispute erupted—seemingly about to turn violent.

“Huh?”

Liu Qingzhi frowned: “What’s going on?”

Hou didn’t understand either, still peering curiously, when suddenly a sound came from behind:

Tap tap~

Turning back, Princess Changning emerged from the cabin with her maid.

Dressed for the banquet, Princess Changning was exquisitely adorned in a pale gold qixiong dress, gold-beaded tassels at her waist, her chest embroidery depicting peacocks and hibiscus; her petite frame was round and plump, her curves strikingly voluptuous.

Such a breathtaking beauty naturally drew many admirers; boats nearby and the lakeshore were filled with gentlemen and scholars craning their necks, trying to catch the attention of this “Number One White Rich Beauty of Danzhou.”

Seeing this, Hou asked:

“Princess, why are you out? Did the Imperial Academy’s gambling god crush you again?”

Princess Changning had just lost seven dice rounds in a row and was in a foul mood; she ignored the remark, gazing toward the river:

“What’s happening over there?”

“Oh. That Xie kid who rents in the back alley—he’s quarreling with someone.”

“Xie Jinhuan?”

Princess Changning’s interest sparked; she took the long-range lens from her maid Duoduo and peered across the distance:

“Hmph… quite handsome…”

—

A little earlier.

Following the trail, Xie Jinhuan chased from Jiguan Ridge all the way to Mudan Pond; seeing the dense crowds and countless boats along the river, he frowned:

“So many people?”

In broad daylight, Lin Wanyi dared not recklessly use her Witch Sect techniques; her gaze fixed on a large boat by the river:

“He must have fled onto that boat—what do we do?”

Xie Jinhuan briefly examined the boat and saw a flag hanging from it; the emblem marked it as Jinghua Mountain Villa.

Jinghua Mountain Villa was a local power in Danzhou, inferior in martial status to Zihui Mountain but with vast business interests—nearly all boat gangs along Huai River flew the Bao family’s banner.

Having chased this far, Xie Jinhuan had no choice but to board; he led Lin Wanyi and Meiqiu through the dense crowd to the boat’s dock.

Jinghua Mountain Villa, a Danzhou magnate, had rented a large vessel; from its deck rose the clinking of cups, laughter, and songs and zither melodies:

“Dang dang~…”

Since the guests were all Danzhou’s elite sons, the Bao family took security seriously—over a dozen martial men stood on shore, and patrols walked the deck.

Xie Jinhuan first sent Meiqiu aloft as lookout, then hurried toward the boat; the dock attendant, seeing him approach, stepped forward:

“Sir, may I ask your name?”

Xie Jinhuan couldn’t force entry; he stepped forward and bowed:

“Xie Jinhuan. My father was once the Fa Cao of Wanan County. Just now on Jiguan Ridge, I encountered several demon bandits—one fled here. I wish to board and search.”

“Er…”

The attendant looked confused.

Wanan County was a prefectural seat of the capital; the Fa Cao held the eighth-rank official post—a significant position for a martial man—but this “was once”…

The attendant studied him closely, then softened his tone:

“Sir, do you have official documents or credentials?”

“I hold no official position—I merely encountered demon bandits en route and followed them here…”

“Sir!”

The attendant raised his hand to interrupt, straightening his bowed posture:

“This isn’t some backwater place. The boat is rented by Jinghua Mountain Villa; the guests aboard are all esteemed. Even if your father truly was a capital county magistrate, as a commoner you have no right to search or investigate here.”

Xie Jinhuan indeed had no authority to search, so he remained calm:

“The demon bandits are hiding here—they may strike at any moment. If something goes wrong…”

“What’s going on?”

Before he finished, a voice rang out from the boat.

Xie Jinhuan looked up and saw a window open, revealing a figure.

The figure was in his twenties, dressed as a young master, round and plump with a full beard—within certain circles, he’d qualify as an “empowered woman”…

The attendant hurriedly bowed upward:

“Young Master, this gentleman claims to be the son of the Wanan County Fa Cao, saying a criminal is hiding aboard and wishes to search the boat.”

“Wanan County Fa Cao?”

Bao Fei, the young master of Jinghua Mountain Villa, frowned slightly and turned to look into the room.

Inside, all the young masters were drinking and reveling; several had family members in office and quickly responded:

“The Wanan County Fa Cao is Fei Ji. The one three years ago was surnamed Xie—but he was exiled to Lingnan for embezzlement and bribery.”

Xie Jinhuan frowned:

“Who’s spreading lies up there?”

“How dare you!”

As host, Bao Fei entertained patrons who were literal gods of wealth; hearing this, his face darkened and he leapt onto the dock.

Lin Wanyi, watching from behind, hadn’t expected these spoiled rich youths to be so reckless; she grabbed Xie Jinhuan:

“Xie Jinhuan, don’t get angry—don’t hit him, or it’ll be a disaster if you kill him…”

“?”

Bao Fei had barely landed when he stumbled; the bodyguards and attendants around him were utterly bewildered.

After all, they’d seen the beautiful woman behind him rush forward, assuming she meant to restrain this fearless fool—never imagining she was egging him on!

In front of Jinghua Mountain Villa, advising a young man not to anger the young master lest he be killed—wasn’t that utter disrespect?

Bao Fei, surrounded by too many powerful figures, dared not resort to violence; he ignored the woman with long hair and short insight, fixing Xie Jinhuan with a cold stare:

“Do you know who’s seated above? Had Mudan Pond not been full of nobles and forbidden from violence, I’d have taught you the way of the world today! Now I’ll give you one chance: apologize to the gentlemen above, or else…”

But unfortunately, Xie Jinhuan ignored Bao Fei entirely, his gaze fixed on the window above:

“My father was transferred to Nanning County in Ruizhou—not exiled for embezzlement. Watch your words next time. If you speak like that again, this man will be your example.”

Seeing the situation turn dire, Lin Wanyi tried to drag away Xie Jinhuan, who held the “weapon among weapons”—but it was too late!

(End of Chapter)