Chapter Sixteen

  It's just after the second month, and the weather is particularly beautiful. The cold winter air has dissipated, and the capital city is suddenly warm and cozy, with a lively atmosphere of sprouting grass and flying orioles. Even on rainy days, there's a gentle charm, like "the rain on the heavenly street is as soft as cream".

  The streets were bustling with people, and the fine rain had washed the centuries-old bluestone pavement to a mirror-like shine. Walking on it felt solid and refreshing.

  The neatly arranged paulownia trees by the street are lush and vibrant, their soft rustling sounds like a misty illusion, making people unknowingly intoxicated.

  Under the shade of green trees, they are all shops and wine houses. The most dignified one is that old shop with a black and gold signboard.

  It was just after noon, and there were not many people. There were only three or four drunkards in the store, who were drinking heavily, lying on the table, and dreaming of Zhou Gong.

  There were three guests, but they were different from others.

  A table for two, a man and a woman, dressed in simple yet elegant attire, those who know can still tell that the materials used are extraordinary. The couple's temperament is not ordinary, subtly revealing their nobility. The man is around forty years old, while the woman wears a veil, her figure and demeanor indicating that she is in her prime youth.

  The young waiter looked at them with an extraordinary air, knowing they were not ordinary people, and didn't dare to disturb them. He looked at another customer drinking alone at a table, with a worried and melancholic expression, and knew that he wouldn't be settling the bill for a while, so he also fell asleep leaning on the counter.

  "Xiao Yun, it's so pleasant here with the gentle breeze on our faces and the fine rain moistening our clothes - surely you didn't invite me just to drink tea and enjoy the rain?"

  The girl spoke up, her voice clear and refreshing like a cold spring, touching people's hearts.

  "This time I'll let you meet an old friend, but unfortunately her business is special and only opens after noon, so we'll wait here for a while."

  The young girl was curious, she knew that her senior brother had always been calm and taciturn, but this time when he saw his old friend, he was slightly excited, even a little urgent.

  "You didn't abduct some young lady from a certain family, did you?" She looked at him with suspicion.

  Qiu Yun cried and laughed, tapping her forehead lightly with a fan, with an indulgent expression: "Nothing good ever comes out of your mouth! I'm at least somewhat respectable, which young lady would still need me to escort?"

  As a leader of the imperial guards, although he was only a third-grade official, he was one of the closest people to the Emperor. Which of the powerful officials in the capital did not want to get along with him?

  Moreover, although he is over forty years old, he is still a refined and handsome man. Which young lady would not want to marry him?

  Chenlu smiled slyly: "Wait until I see that 'old friend', I will definitely tell him all about your true welcome!"

  Qiu Yun was left speechless, and she was so angry that one Buddha ascended to heaven and another was born, forcing a smile that was even uglier than crying, finally surrendering in defeat.

  He glanced at the young man with a gloomy face beside him and skillfully changed the subject: "If you want to talk about kidnapping, this gentleman is more suspicious!"

  Chenlu glanced at him and accurately guessed the fact: "Today is the auspicious day for Lin Yuan, Duke of Jing'an, to marry his tenth concubine. That weak and incompetent guy... also knows how to harm women."

  The latter half of the sentence was spoken in an extremely low tone, with a cutting pain. Qu Yun knew that she was filled with boundless hatred for every single member of the Lin family.

  Even if all the waters of the four seas were poured out, they could not wash away this hatred...

  He suppressed a sigh and said, "This young man is clearly not a regular customer. Facing the beautiful scenery and fine wine, he doesn't show any interest at all, but keeps looking out the door with a worried expression."

  The dewy morning air was filled with the sound of gentle laughter: "A brave robbery in the bustling city, a new bride is stolen. The Duke's concubine has gone missing. Tomorrow at the tea house, there will be more stories to tell. Let's just sit back and enjoy the commotion."

  Before long, joyful noises rose and the sound of commotion grew louder. The people on the street were forcibly pushed to both sides as a procession came forward with great fanfare, escorting an extravagant sedan chair.

  The people around were all discussing it, some praising the grandeur of Guo Gongfu's mansion, and even taking a small concubine was so lively. Some people exposed that the bride was just a famous prostitute from a brothel, and she actually climbed to a high branch.

  Morning dew carefully observed the young man, only to see his whole body trembling, with tears in his eyes, apparently having heard people's gossip.

  As the team approached, just about to pass in front of the store, the young man's hands were shaking, his face was pale, but he plucked up the courage, hastily covered his face with a black cloth, drew out the long sword from his waist and rushed out.

  The hoodlums outside saw that someone was making trouble and also started clamoring, making the whole street chaotic.

  All that could be seen was the young man wielding a long sword, looking disorganized and clearly having no martial arts skills. Some of the nobles' family members and servants had learned some basic boxing moves and quickly blocked him, beating him until he stumbled about.

  A cry of surprise came from the flower sedan chair, and the bride was seen covering her face with a red handkerchief. Without heeding the pulling and tugging around her, she rushed towards the young man with all her heart.

  Young man's blood rushed to his head, with a long sword in hand, dancing fiercely, killing out a bloody road, finally reunited with the woman.

  He held the woman in one arm, while his other hand was still bleeding. His bruised nose and swollen eyes made him look comical, but only his eyes were filled with sincere and deep emotions.

  The girl also gazed deeply at him, and they exchanged a smile, completely ignoring the crowd surrounding them.

  Jade dew meets once, and surpasses countless human encounters...

  "You shouldn't have come. You've ruined my future prospects, what can I do?" The woman was anxious and distressed, but couldn't hide her sweetness.

  "Worth it for you."

  "We can't escape."

  Are you afraid?

  The girl's willow eyebrows turned upside down, and she gently pulled his ear: "You're talking nonsense! Even if I die here today, I feel sweet in my heart." Her forehead was flushed with shame, biting her teeth, finally saying: "I fell in love with you, I'll never regret it for the rest of my life!"

  The young man laughed loudly: "Me too! Actually I was very scared just now... my hands were shaking, but thinking of you, even if I'm timid, I have to give it a try!"

  The two of them were speaking softly and sweetly to each other, completely ignoring the people surrounding them.

  "What a fine pair of dog man and woman! Even if they died today, I want you to bring their corpses back to me!"

  The butler was both angry and indignant, and he ordered the family members to come forward.

  Morning dew looked at him sincerely, she gazed at her senior brother with a pleading meaning.

  Yu Yun couldn't bear it, so she took her black veil and covered her face as well. Her figure flashed, and she arrived at the center of the street.

  He swung his cloak over the two of them and casually plucked a leaf from the top of a nearby plant, flicking it away.

  The leaves were driven by an internal force, instantly becoming sharp as a blade, as if they had a spiritual quality. They swept through the legs of the crowd, making a big circle before finally falling steadily to the ground.

  The servants and guards only felt a severe pain, all of them hugging their legs on the ground and wailing. The butler barely squatted down, with a blood stain also left on his face, he was so angry that his whole body trembled: "Another masked man!"

  ****

  Upon arriving at the riverside street, Qu Yun finally opened his cloak, and the two frightened men took off their face masks, hastily thanking him for saving their lives. He sidestepped and said, "I didn't want to intervene in other people's business, it was that person who saved you."

  A girl walked out of the bamboo forest by the shore.

  She wore a plain dress and had black hair, with eyes as cold as ice and snow.

  "You all go hide outside the city first, it's best to change your clothes."

  She finally spoke up, her clear voice was like a refreshing rain, the young man nodded gratefully and pulled the woman over, and the two of them bowed together.

  The young girl waited until they finished their bows before speaking again: "You are a scholar with a reputation for being learned and having a good name?"

  Young man smiled bitterly: "It's just a small thing, not worth mentioning. Three years ago, I failed the imperial examination in the capital and wandered here, becoming a lonely soul."

  "This year there will be a big exam."

  "This year... still want to try, but there's no one in charge, afraid it won't work either."

  Chenlu smiled: "You just go take the exam, as long as the article is still readable, there's no reason not to pass."

  The young man listened to her tone being very big, and was only yes yes.

  "What's your name?"

  "Little Koko Pai Chen."

  ****

  Qiu Yun led her, turning over "Lubridge", and entering another street.

  The place is filled with embroidered buildings and colorful lanterns, fragrant scents floating around, but there are hardly any people on the street, it doesn't look like a proper main road - must be a brothel or a courtesan's residence.

  Qiu Yun didn't stop, and walked straight to the end, where he saw a three-story building standing tall on one side of the crossroads, with flying eaves and intricate carvings, exuding luxury.

  The inscription on the lintel reads "Drunken in Emerald Color", with elegant and free-spirited strokes that reveal a strong character.

  It turned out that this was actually the "Cuise Lou", the number one in the capital, and Chenlu thought of Qi Rong's joke from the other day and couldn't help but smile.

  "This is an imperial decree."

  After reading the handwriting, she said with certainty.

  The first floor lobby still has people drinking and making a toast, but the elegant rooms and VIP suites on the second and third floors are tightly locked.

  "This boss has some strange temper, only at night will he officially open for business. No matter who you are, in this place where the emperor's pen is praised, no one dares to be presumptuous."

  Qu Yun walked straight towards the backyard, and the servants who came and went saw him, but did not stop him, looking very familiar.

  He walked into the elegant small building in the backyard and then laughed loudly: "The noble guest has arrived!"

  A beautiful woman with excellent temperament walked out from upstairs, looking puzzled at the morning dew and then gazing at Qu Yun.

  Morning dew looked at her face, vaguely familiar, and after a moment of contemplation, suddenly exclaimed with surprise:

  "Qīng mǐn dì jī!"

  Translation: "Intelligent and sensitive imperial concubine!"