Chapter Sixty-Six: Sun and Shadow

(Continue to ask for your support!)

The heavens are unpredictable; near midnight, a sudden wind arose, sweeping clouds across the sky and veiling the full moon. At once, the world was plunged into darkness.

Descending with the gloom of the night was the heart of Wu Wencai—he had schemed to drive Chen Jianchen away, causing the assembled dignitaries and luminaries to form a deeply unfavorable impression of him.

Young Master Wu basked in his triumph, believing that from now on, Chen Jianchen would never be able to stir up any trouble. Yet as the wine flowed and the feast reached its height, when he went to seek Nie Xiaoqian behind the screen, he found that the girl had already slipped away unnoticed.

The maidservant who concealed the truth for her mistress was promptly reprimanded by Magistrate Nie.

Soon, Magistrate Nie dispatched his guards to search for his daughter, while Young Master Wu likewise ordered ten servants to assist in the search.

At last, they found her.

But when the reporting servant returned, Young Master Wu learned that Nie Xiaoqian, after sneaking out, had sought out Chen Jianchen, and the two of them had staged a romantic escape, hand in hand, under the cover of night!

Upon hearing this news, Wu Wencai’s face turned livid; he overturned the table in fury—by now, the banquet at the Scholar’s Pavilion had long since dispersed, and he had returned home.

Wu Wencai had no idea when Chen Jianchen had become so close to Nie Xiaoqian, nor did he wish to know, for in his eyes, Chen Jianchen was courting disaster, playing with fire!

The Wu and Nie families were long-standing allies; Wu Wencai and Nie Xiaoqian were a perfect match, a union blessed by birth and status. Who was Chen Jianchen? Nothing more than a country bumpkin! How dare he associate with Nie Xiaoqian—it was sheer recklessness. Did he truly believe that possessing the title of scholar could allow him to compete with Young Master Wu for a woman?

The more Wu Wencai dwelt on it, the more furious he became, like a lion enraged. He swung his whip, lashing five servants until their skin was torn and bloody, only then venting a fraction of his anger.

He had relinquished the opportunity to accompany his father to the capital and enter the Imperial Academy, choosing instead to remain in Jiangzhou—why?

For Nie Xiaoqian, of course.

Though Wu Wencai was indeed unlearned and idle, the epitome of a wastrel, he was far from stupid; when it came to scheming, he was quite shrewd. He was well aware that Nie Xiaoqian harbored not the slightest affection for him, only deep aversion.

But that was beside the point.

What mattered was parental command and the words of the matchmaker. Once Father Nie consented, no matter how Nie Xiaoqian struggled, she would never escape his grasp. After the wedding, would she not be at his mercy?

Even if Xiaoqian’s temper was fierce—so what?

Even if she had trained in martial arts since childhood under a wandering master—what of it?

In the Tian Tong Dynasty, men ruled the heavens.

As he nursed his hatred, Wu Wencai’s eyes glinted with a sinister light—not that he particularly loved Nie Xiaoqian, nor was she the only woman he could marry. Rather, an alliance with the Nie family promised immense political benefit; besides, since childhood, he had considered Nie Xiaoqian his exclusive possession, intolerant of another even touching her.

“Old Wu, tomorrow morning, go to Chaotian Temple and invite Master Zhang. Tell him I have important matters to discuss…”

Old Wu, the steward of the Wu household, loyal and well past sixty, had been waiting at his side. Hearing the young master’s instructions, he nodded promptly.

Wu Wencai paced the hall a few steps, then suddenly said, “Never mind, instruct Wangcai and the others to prepare the sedan chair. I want to go to Chaotian Temple right now.”

The steward was surprised and quickly advised, “Young master, it’s too late. Moreover, the curfew has begun; going out could cause trouble…”

He glanced up to gauge the young master’s mood, and seeing no sign of anger, continued, “Besides, at this hour, Master Zhang will surely be engaged in his studies or seclusion. If you go now, it might not be appropriate.”

Wu Wencai was silent for a moment, then exhaled deeply. “Very well, I’ll go tomorrow instead… Old Wu, make arrangements; tonight, send Xia He to my chambers.”

The steward took his orders and left.

Wu Wencai, just twenty and still unmarried, nevertheless, in many noble households, those maidservants bought into service were available at his pleasure, ever ready to warm his bed.

…

The clouds above gathered ever thicker, as if rain were imminent.

Chen Jianchen sat upright in his study, lost in prolonged silence; upon the desk, the mouse demon, Little Yi, was restlessly flipping through a book.

The book was thick, and Little Yi’s claws turned page after page, always feeling as though he could never reach the end.

Suddenly, Chen Jianchen spoke, “Little Yi, I have something I need your help with.”

The mouse demon instantly snapped to attention, tossing the book aside, and replied respectfully, “Master, should you have need, simply command me; there’s no need for ‘please’, it humbles me too much.”

His scholarly tone made Chen Jianchen smile knowingly. “I want you to go out and see if there are any formidable figures within the city of Jiangzhou.”

The mouse demon pondered his words, reflecting for a moment, then asked, “Does master wish me to gather intelligence, to see whether any cultivators dwell within the city?”

Chen Jianchen nodded approvingly. “Yes, precisely.”

He was quite satisfied with the mouse demon’s perceptiveness.

“Very well, I’ll go at once.”

The mouse demon was delighted, as if freed from a cage after long confinement—finally able to roam outside. He knew Chen Jianchen made him practice reading and writing for his own good, but such things, after all, depended on one’s interest. He truly dreaded writing; practicing a hundred characters daily nearly wore out his claws.

Whoosh! The mouse demon leaped lightly from the desk, carefully crept along the wall, and soon slipped out—he dared not venture along the other wall, for there hung a large character, “Righteousness”.

There was a mystery in that character; even from afar, whenever the mouse demon looked at it, he felt his legs tremble, as though what hung on the wall was not a character, but a divine sword concealed in its scabbard. If he dared approach, that sword would unsheathe with a clang and cleave him in two.

Speaking of swords, the mouse demon immediately thought of the slender, thread-like sword his master wore for protection, which inspired a deep, bone-aching fear…

His master was powerful—and mysterious.

Such thoughts did not trouble the mouse demon; instead, he felt glad. For over time, he had come to realize that Chen Jianchen bore him no ill intent; he was an upright scholar, courteous and trustworthy. Following such a master brought nothing but benefit.

Moreover, now that he had learned the art of invisibility, he hoped Chen Jianchen would teach him more advanced Daoist arts. Thus, he must perform well.

After all, only through mutual effort could harmony truly be achieved. The mouse demon had recently learned an idiom: “Return a peach for a plum,” which described precisely this principle.

Drizzle!

Suddenly, the sound of rain came from outside the window—it had turned from clear to overcast in an instant. Looking out, the autumn rain fell ceaselessly, boundless and unending.

The western wind rose, cold rain fell; the weather cooled, though winter had not yet come.

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Recommended: “Super Immortal Doctor,” by the great author Wu Zhi. New book: “Veterinarian of the Flower City,” book ID: 2243971.

[bookid=2243971,bookname=“Veterinarian of the Flower City”]—it tells the story of a multi-talented veterinarian. Quite interesting, check it out if you like!

c@.