Chapter One: The Great Qi

  The warm sunlight, like cotton, shines through the ancient window lattice into the house, with a thread of light flowing, illuminating the bright hall with a warm atmosphere, emitting a strong sense of comfort.

  "Master, don't you really remember the past?" Scallion White's fingers pinched a white chess piece and dropped it with a 'slap'. The fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl raised her pretty face, big eyes shining black and bright as she stared at the man opposite her.

  "Mm." The man opposite, about twenty years old, with clear features and bright eyes, lightly said "mm" as he gently placed a black chess piece. His head rested on his knees, hands tucked into his sleeves, eyelids opening and closing in extreme enjoyment.

  The girl was wearing a warm yellow short jacket, with a long green skirt that just fell on her delicate lotus-like small feet, and every movement was extremely cute.

  The young girl raised her delicate small hand, and with a 'slap', the chess piece fell down with some momentum. She said softly: "Then, Young Master, do you still remember our past?"

  The man who was meditating with his eyes closed opened them, glanced at her, stretched out his right hand from his bosom, and a chess piece fell lightly as he said faintly, "You borrowed ten cents from me, but you still haven't paid it back until now."

  The young girl's face suddenly turned bright red, her eyes wide with surprise. She immediately scrunched up her face and gritted her teeth, saying "It must be Dead Xiangxiang who told on me!" As she saw the man opposite her still looking distracted and absent-minded, the girl suddenly felt a surge of disappointment again. Her small white hand grasped the chess piece, staring at the board for half a day before slapping it down with a "slap" sound, exclaiming excitedly: "Young Master, you lost!"

  The man slowly opened his eyes, lazily swept the chessboard with a glance, and the black chess piece fell down with a "slap" sound. He withdrew his hand and said lightly, "Ghostly nonsense."

  The girl looked at the chessboard, where a new situation had suddenly emerged like a carp jumping over the dragon gate. She was slightly stunned, and then she stuck out her tongue at the man who had already closed his eyes, her face flushing red as she picked up the chess piece again to study the board.

  "Master, you really don't remember?" The girl stared for a long time, unsure of where to put it, and raised her head, hesitantly saying in a low voice.

  The man lazily replied, tilting his head, with sunlight shining on half of his face, golden light flowing and turning, his expression extremely relaxed and enjoyable.

  The girl held the chess piece, quietly trying several places, but finally sighed in distress and complained: "Young master, I taught you this move, how can't I beat you..."

  The man raised his head, smiling complacently as he stretched his back and stood up to look down at her, lecturing in a tone of an elder: "Playing chess requires not only experience but also insight."

  After finishing speaking, the man turned around and walked out of the house.

  It's been a month now, and he has gradually become accustomed to this extremely leisurely life. With food coming as soon as he opens his mouth and clothes arriving as soon as he stretches out his hand, this is the kind of day he was striving for a month ago. Now, it can be obtained without any effort at all.

  The capital of the Great Qi Dynasty is Jinling, and he is now a young master of the Wei family, Wei Zuo and Wei Lixuan. According to his personal maid Yu'er, he is also a scholar, and in more than three months, there will be a imperial examination.

  The old master of the Wei family, Wei Fu, passed away suddenly two and a half years ago. The eldest son also mysteriously disappeared four years ago and has had no news until now. Now, the entire Wei family is being managed by Mrs. Wei, Li Xilian. Recently, Wei Zhao, who has always been weak and sickly, suddenly fell ill, causing the remaining members of the Wei family to be in a state of panic and extreme anxiety.

  It was a relief to everyone that Wei Zhao finally woke up, but his temperament had changed. He no longer spent all day with his head buried in books, never leaving the house or even stepping out of the courtyard like a young bride-to-be. Nowadays, he would occasionally go to the tea house to listen to storytelling, and he would also joke around with the maids and servants, laughing and chatting with them. Even when they were a bit unruly, he would just laugh it off. This made his popularity among the Wei family's servants skyrocket, and within less than a month, he became the most welcome person in the Wei household.

  However, the fact that he lost his memory has also been widely spread in the Wei family and even throughout Jinling, and the waves are still there today. The Wei family is one of the three major textile merchants in Jinling, and every move they make involves many people's nerves. The Wei family's only son's illness, awakening, recovery, and amnesia have all become the hottest topics for the people of Jinling to discuss after dinner.

  Wu Xie, who had woken up, didn't pay attention to these things. A few days later, after meeting Li Xiuluan, the person in charge of the Wei family and his nominal sister-in-law, his life hadn't changed much. He read books, wrote words, went out to listen to storytelling, and was carefree and leisurely.

  Wan'er didn't stop him, watching Wei Xiao walk out of the house. With her two small hands supporting her delicate chin, she muttered to herself: "The young master is fine in every way, it's just that he's a bit too lazy... no good, I have to get Xiangqian to follow him, or else he'll get lost again..."

  After finishing speaking, young Wan'er quickly got up and ran towards the inner room.

  …………………………………………………

  In the blink of an eye, several days passed, and Wei Xiao had gradually become accustomed to life here. The mirror image that was once so deeply etched in his memory had gradually become blurred, and sometimes he would even wonder if it was just a dream, perhaps only dreams could be so real.

  Wei Zhao didn't ask why he had such a dream, the small bridge, fake hills, flowing water, and lake, all of which he gradually became familiar with, and also got used to wearing clothes with a belt, bringing a fan when going out, and taking a horse-drawn carriage.

  Yi Zi Guo was extremely comfortable, Wei Xiao leaned against the railing, with a small knife in his right hand, and on his left hand, a lifelike coiled dragon gradually appeared. Not far in front of him, Xiang Qiang wore a pink flower skirt, her bright eyes staring at Wei Xiao's right hand without blinking, her round face smooth and shiny, her big eyes gleaming with spirit, her small appearance extremely cute.

  "Wan'er, what have you and your uncle been busy with lately?" A woman with a high bun and a slender figure, who was standing in a pavilion about ten to twenty feet away from Wei Zhao, stared at the carving in his hand, her expression cold and serene.

  Her voice was not cold or light, but Wan'er behind her had a tense face. The young lady's methods were ruthless and the old master suddenly passed away. She used only half a month to calm down the turmoil within the family, which was enough to make people fearful. Moreover, she has been supporting the Wei family until now. In the Wei family, the young lady is a word of authority, her feminine power is inviolable as the head of the household.

  Wan'er knew that Mrs. Shao didn't like Young Master's idle and indulgent lifestyle, so she hoped he could pass the imperial examination with high honors, bringing glory to the Wei family and honor to their ancestors.

  Wan'er lowered her small head and said carefully, "Young Master has been either reading books or practicing calligraphy recently, he's very diligent."

  Li Xiluan turned around and gave her a faint glance, her gaze was like an arrow, as if she had seen through her inner heart. Wan'er immediately trembled, her small head lowered even further.

  Li Xilian wore a silk brocade cheongsam, her figure slender and elegant. Her chest was full and upright, especially the white and tender skin exposed at her neckline, shining with a lustrous glaze that sparkled and captivated.

  Li Xiluan turned her head and glanced at Wei Zhao, who was carving with a focused expression, and said lightly, "You are all by Xiao Shu's side, urge him to study more, the big competition is in three months, don't be careless."

  Wan'er hastily nodded slightly and quietly retreated out of the room.

  Not long after, the magnificent dragon-shaped seal was born in Wei Zhao's hands. He looked at it carefully, occasionally adding a few more strokes, his expression leisurely yet extremely serious. The little maid Xiangqian beside him had been watching with wide eyes for some time, opening her mouth several times but not daring to make a sound, fearing that she would affect Young Master's technique.

  According to past experience, the small things made by Young Master are extremely precious. Since Wei Xiao started carving, Xiaotou had been paying attention to her surroundings at all times, afraid that someone would come and snatch it from her. Seeing Wei Xiao's knife movements becoming less frequent, her little face turned bright red with anxiety, her chest heaving up and down as if she was about to pounce on him at any moment.

  "Wan Er." Wei Xiao saw Wan Er coming out from around the corner and sheathed his sword with a smile, calling out to her.

  Wan'er hastily responded and ran over quickly. However, Xiangqiang took a step forward, her small face full of vigilance as she stared at Wan'er, like a fierce little hen guarding her food.

  Wei Zhuo stretched out his hand and knocked Xiang Qiang with an acorn, stared at her for a moment, then stuffed the carved wooden object and the knife into her arms. The little girl's face suddenly turned bright red, biting her lip and giggling.

  Wei Zhuo reached out and pinched her smooth little face, smiling: "Little temper, go get some money, we're going out later."

  "Got it." Xiangqiang stuck out her tongue at Wanyu and quickly ran off.

  Wan'er looked at Xiangqiang's back and couldn't help but burst out laughing with a 'heh' sound.

  Wei Zhao also smiled and shook his head, Xiang Qiang always had good things that were not worth arguing about, but the ones she argued about were all simple little things with some collectible value, currently worthless. However, this also showed that Xiao Yatou was originally kind-hearted and pure-minded.

  Wei Zhu stretched his waist and leaned on the railing, smiling at Wan'er and said "How's it going? Got scolded by your sister-in-law again?"

  Wan'er looked at Wei Zhao and pursed her lips, saying softly: "No, Young Master's wife said to let the young master read more books and prepare for the imperial examination."

  Wei Zhuo nodded, among scholars, farmers, workers and merchants, the merchant's status was the lowest. Having been a merchant's sister-in-law for nearly three years, it was normal to have such thoughts.

  Wei Zhuo stood up and patted his clothes, saying "Mm, help me tidy up the bookshelf, I'll go out to buy some rice paper."

  "Mm." Wan'er nodded lightly. Watching Wei Zhao leave, she turned around and walked towards Wei Zhao's study.

  In the afternoon, Jinling City became more lively. The sunlight, along with the autumn wind, slowly blew into the city, shining on everyone's smiling face. The usually smooth roads were surprisingly crowded at this time. Wei Zhao and Xiangqian managed to squeeze in and move forward, taking twice the usual time to buy the needed rice paper.

  Wei Zhuo held a stack of xuan paper in his arms, looking at the bustling street and asked in confusion, "Xiang Qiang, what day is today? It's so lively."

  Xiangliang's little tongue rolled up a red sugar gourd, her face overflowing with smiles: "It's not today that's the holiday, it's three days later."

  Wei Xiao slightly furrowed his brow and immediately turned back to glare at the greedy little girl.

  Xiang Liang giggled and stuck out her tongue, saying: "Hehe, I forgot that Young Master has amnesia. Three days later is the Xiang Lan Festival, which is the Buddha's birthday."

  Wei Zhao nodded as soon as he heard it, and the whole family went to worship Buddha. The court even arranged a birthday for the Buddha, and at this time every year, Jinling was bustling with activity comparable to the Lantern Festival.

  The little girl's mouth didn't stop sucking on the sugar gourd, usually she hated listening to storytelling, but at this time she asked with a bright smile "Young master, are we going back now or go listen to storytelling?"

  Wei Zhuo raised his head and looked at the sky, seeing that it was still early, then said: "Then let's go listen to a segment, should be talking about Taizu's thousand soldiers guarding the pass."