Ranfang Street, Shuanggui Alley.
As the sun rose in the east, golden rays of light spilled onto the melon trellis adorned with dewdrops, glistening and translucent.
In the spotless courtyard, the rhythmic and soft sound of chopping vegetables echoed:
Dong dong dong...
A peerlessly beautiful woman dressed in a light green shirt stood gracefully by the window of the kitchen. The golden morning sun shone on her cheeks, and her peach-blossom-like eyes were lost in thought. After putting the chopped garlic sprouts into a porcelain plate, she looked up at the rising sun in the distance.
This was an old and simple courtyard with three rooms. Every day, one could cook meals, plant flowers and plants, and wait for her husband... no, wait for her son and daughter to come back. There were no sword lights and saber shadows of the martial arts world, only the leisure and tranquility of life...
Perhaps this was the life of ordinary people. Ordinary people were already tired of it, but people in the martial arts world longed for it but couldn't obtain it...
Tap, tap, tap...
While she was lost in her tender thoughts, the sound of light footsteps came from outside the courtyard. It sounded like Yunli's voice.
Luo Ning collected her thoughts and turned to look. She saw Yunli, dressed like a little girl from the neighborhood, running back from outside. She directly climbed over the wall and landed in the courtyard, looking a bit anxious:
"Mistress, it's not good. I was wandering around the street just now and bumped into Protector Zhang..."
"Hmm?"
Upon hearing this, Luo Ning paused with the kitchen knife in her hand.
The Protector Zhang that Yunli mentioned was named Zhang Henggu, known as the "Iron Divination of Nanshan." He was originally a young Taoist boy in the Imperial Astronomical Bureau of the Great Yan Dynasty. When the previous dynasty was destroyed, he fled to Nanxiao Mountain with the royal family of the Great Yan Dynasty. After experiencing the ups and downs of sixty years, he was now one of the four protectors of the Pingtian Sect and a founding elder. Even the leader of the Pingtian Sect had to call him uncle.
Now that he had suddenly come to the capital, it could only mean that the leader of the Pingtian Sect had given the order to invite her back to Nanxiao Mountain.
Luo Ning pondered for a moment and walked out of the kitchen to ask:
"Where is Protector Zhang?"
"He's arranging the way to leave the capital over there at the East Gate. He asked me to come and invite you over, saying that the Zhou family's birthday banquet is coming up soon. The Zhou family has already sent an invitation. Your sword was forged with the help of the Zhou family, so you should attend. Otherwise, people in the martial arts world will say that you're ungrateful and forget your old friends once you've married into a wealthy family..."
When Luo Ning was still the "Goddess of the Moon Palace," in order to avenge her family, she searched far and wide for experts and once went to Shuiyun Sword Pool. Although she didn't learn the sword technique there, relying on her reputation as a "beauty" in the martial arts world, the Zhou family still did her a favor and forged the famous weapon "Weeping Water Sword" at her waist.
Later, when she married into the Pingtian Sect and became the wife of the sect leader, this favor was naturally counted on the Pingtian Sect. The Zhou family didn't ask her to repay it, but she really couldn't forget it.
"Isn't the old master of the Zhou family's birthday in the middle of next month? I didn't say I wouldn't go. Why is he in such a hurry?"
"Protector Zhang said that there might be a conflict between the Zhou family and the Honghua Building at this birthday banquet. If you attend, you'll most likely be involved. Master wants to discuss countermeasures with you and asks you to go back."
Luo Ning's original plan was to take a boat in a few days and go directly from the capital to the Zhou family. After all, the distance wasn't too far. She could just go through the motions and then come back to continue dealing with the matter of Qiu Tianhe.
Upon hearing this, she couldn't help but frown and glanced at the food warming in the pot:
"We've already made some progress in rescuing Qiu Tianhe..."
Zhe Yunli patted the poached egg on her chest:
"Don't worry, Mistress. I've already told Protector Zhang about the situation. I'll stay in the capital and accompany Brother Jingtang. Protector Zhang will secretly control the situation. You can go back with peace of mind..."
?
Luo Ning's eyes turned cold, and she looked at Zhe Yunli seriously:
"Nonsense! You have a rash personality. How can I rest assured if you stay in the capital alone?"
Zhe Yunli blinked her eyes: "Protector Zhang will secretly protect me. Protector Zhang is much more powerful than you, Mistress..."
"That's still not possible."
Either Luo Ning wouldn't leave, or they would all leave together. How could she leave Yunli in front of Yejing Hall? With that shameless little thief's character, by the time she came back, Little Yunli might even be pregnant...
Luo Ning thought for a moment and then walked back to the kitchen:
"Yejing Hall has remarkable talent. Once Protector Zhang sees him, he will definitely try every means to take him to Nanxiao Mountain..."
"Isn't that a good thing?"
"What's so good about it? Our Pingtian Sect isn't a bandit group. Yejing Hall has his ambition in the officialdom. It's already more than enough that he's willing to help. How can we force him to become an outlaw? Is that reasonable?"
Zhe Yunli pouted her lips, wanting to say something, but she didn't have a good retort.
"Run quickly. It will only take a little over half a month to go and come back... I'll talk to Yejing Hall later. Yejing Hall values righteousness. Even if we leave, he will still help us rescue Qiu Tianhe. We can come back in a few days."
Zhe Yunli didn't quite believe it: "If we all leave, why would Brother Jingtang risk his head to help us rescue someone?"
"..."
Luo Ning opened her mouth but couldn't find a reason. She could only say calmly:
"I will persuade him properly. You go and get ready with Protector Zhang first. I'll come over later."
"Alright..."
Zhe Yunli had no choice but to turn around and leave quickly...
----
The Pei family's residence.
The Honghua Building was of a large scale and had a lot of affairs. Just introducing the situation of various industries, the eight incense masters talked for most of the day.
Yejing Hall was listening, but he didn't really memorize it in his heart. He was helping the Pei family with their affairs. As long as Third Aunt had something for him to do, he would help. He didn't have any plans for the family property, so it wasn't very useful to remember it in too much detail.
By the time the meeting of the Azure Dragon Hall ended and the incense masters left through the tunnel one by one, it was already noon.
Yejing Hall climbed out of Third Aunt's bed and landed in the boudoir. Then he heard the soft sound of "da da da..." coming from the door—the sound of claws kicking the door.
Yejing Hall opened the door and saw that the courtyard was silent. The bird that had been left outside for most of the day turned its head to the side when it saw him, putting on a little look of "valuing beauty over the bird and not wanting to pay attention to you."
Pei Xiangjun came out from behind the curtains. Her demeanor and posture had turned back into that of a gentle and tender little woman. She came up to Yejing Hall, picked up the sulking bird and held it in her arms, and praised:
"It's really different when there's a man in charge at home. These incense masters are elders in the family and are loyal, but they watched me grow up and always see me as a junior. It's not easy for me to lecture them. You gave them a lesson today and taught them some rules. It will be much easier for me to talk to them in the future."
In the past, when Yejing Hall saw Third Aunt's admiring eyes, he felt elated. But after discovering that Third Aunt was the "Red God of Wealth," his feelings changed instantly.
You're the female leader of the Honghua Building, a renowned hero in the martial arts world. And you're pretending to be a pitiful and charming woman seeking protection in front of me?
But being admired by a capable woman seemed to make him even more elated...
Yejing Hall's thoughts were a bit confused. After thinking for a while, he replied:
"It's just my duty. As long as Third Aunt doesn't mind. It's getting late. I'll go back first and come back tomorrow morning to listen to Third Aunt's arrangements."
"You're already the young master. It's so out of place to live outside. Your aunt has tidied up the east wing room. You can live at home from now on."
"The Pei family is mostly made up of female relatives. As an outsider with a different surname, it will inevitably lead to gossip if I live here. Ranfang Street isn't too far from here. Just send someone to call me whenever Third Aunt has an arrangement."
Pei Xiangjun pinned all her hopes of revitalizing the Honghua Building on Yejing Hall. Naturally, she wanted to keep him close and cultivate their relationship through daily interaction. But since Yejing Hall insisted, she couldn't force him to stay. She could only say:
"You don't need to help with the matters at Tianshui Bridge. The most important thing for you now is to go to Juyi Tower in a few days and help me suppress the leaders of several branches. You can go back and rest first. I'll teach you the spear technique later."
As she spoke, Pei Xiangjun walked to the dressing table, opened a small drawer, and took out a stack of banknotes from it, seemingly wanting to give Yejing Hall some pocket money.
Judging from the denominations of the banknotes, she was giving him hundreds of thousands of taels at once!
Seeing this scene, Yejing Hall finally understood what it felt like to be supported by a beautiful and wealthy woman.
But as an upright and decent man, he definitely wouldn't take the gifts other than his salary. He saluted with his hands clasped and said:
"I'll leave now. Third Aunt, take a rest early."
Then he directly walked out the door.
"Ah?"
Pei Xiangjun had just taken out the banknotes and saw the hurried backs of Yejing Hall and the bird leaving. Her eyes showed a rather helpless expression...