After Being Certified by the Immortal Lord on the Path of Ruthlessness - Chapter 33

“Who dares to be so reckless here? You’ve startled Miss Fu’s sedan chair!” Huanxi, who had been walking alongside, stepped forward, scolding the sedan bearers while steadying the chair.

 

Fu Wanyin allowed Huanxi to assist her out, her gaze fixed intently on the young woman before her.

 

“It’s Miss Lin!” Huanxi helped Fu Wanyin down. “Has Miss Lin also come to listen to the storytelling?”

 

Ling Lan belatedly sheathed her sword and clasped her hands in apology. “It was my carelessness that startled Miss Fu’s sedan.”

 

Fu Wanyin continued staring dazedly at her, momentarily lost in thought.

 

“Miss—Miss Lin is speaking to you,” Huanxi gently tugged at her sleeve to prompt her.

 

“Ah.” Snapping back to reality, Fu Wanyin’s cheeks flushed slightly. “Miss Lin, what a coincidence. Have your injuries healed?”

 

Ling Lan tucked the wooden sword at her side and replied politely, “Thank you for your concern, Miss Fu. They have completely healed.”

 

“That’s good.” Fu Wanyin wanted to say more, but her mind went blank, leaving her nervously twisting her handkerchief.

 

No one would believe that Fu Wanyin renowned throughout the capital for her talent and regarded as the top cultivated lady could be at a loss for words.

 

Preoccupied with thoughts of Jiang Mianhao, Ling Lan clasped her hands again. “I didn’t mean to disturb you. If there’s nothing else, Miss Fu, I’ll take my leave.”

 

With that, she turned to go, but her foot paused mid-step. The figure in white who had been at the storytelling house moments ago had vanished without a trace.

 

Seeing her hesitate, Fu Wanyin mustered her courage and softly suggested, “If you’re not in a hurry, Miss Lin, would you care to join me for the storytelling?”

 

Meanwhile, Ye Qingge, who had already entered the storytelling house, surveyed her surroundings with disdain. The exterior was lavishly decorated, and the interior even more bustling.

 

At the center stood a stage, where an elderly gentleman sat solemnly. One man, one table, one storytelling block.

 

The elderly gentleman cleared his throat and took a sip of water, while another elder seated below the stage cradled an erhu.

 

Scattered tables filled the room, each lit by an oil lamp and set with tea and small snacks.

Waiters, towels draped over their shoulders, hurried about attending to the patrons.

 

When Ye Qingge entered, she wore no waist token or gold accessories, yet the aura of unapproachable authority she exuded was unmistakable.

 

A perceptive waiter immediately called out, “Honored guest arriving! Miss, please take the premium seats!”

 

As he approached, the faint scent of sweat preceded him. Ye Qingge instinctively took a step back and asked coolly, “Are there any seats available?”

 

The waiter beamed and replied, “Yes, yes! We have private rooms upstairs. Would you like one?”

 

“What’s a private room?” Jiang Mianhao couldn’t resist asking.

 

Hearing two completely different voices, the waiter looked startled, glancing at Ye Qingge and scanning the area. Confirming that only she stood before him, he smiled and explained, “A private room means you have your own space on the second floor. You won’t be crowded by others and will have a perfect view of the stage.”

 

His eyes gleamed as he stared at her, eager to escort her to the premium seating.

 

Ye Qingge acknowledged with a hum and said, “Then we shall—”

“Then we don’t want a private room! Let’s sit here!” Jiang Mianhao piped up first, rustling her leaves. “From here, we can see everything up close, hear clearly, and there are people around. So lively!”

 

Ye Qingge, interrupted, fell silent.

 

The waiter stared at her in astonishment. Not only was the tone of voice different, but the manner of speaking had changed as well. How could one person produce two completely distinct voices?

 

Since the young lady had requested a table in the main hall, it wasn’t a difficult order. The waiter’s enthusiasm immediately waned, and he listlessly called out, “One table in the hall!”

 

“Would you like a seat by the window or right in the center?” he asked, glancing back as he led the way.

 

Ye Qingge opened her mouth to respond, but before she could say a word, the little creature at her waist spoke up again.

 

“In the center! I want to see clearly and hear everything!” Jiang Mianhao answered on her behalf.

 

The waiter acknowledged them and led the way.

 

Even though they were only sitting in the main hall, choosing the best spot hinted that they were willing to spend a little extra.

The waiter’s eyes flicked as he led them to a table in the center.

 

“This is the perfect spot!” he said, draping a towel over his shoulder. “Would you two care for some snacks or tea?”

 

“We have premium Longjing tea, spring tea harvested before Qingming, oolong with osmanthus, jasmine tea after the rain, and Suzhou-style pastries like butterfly pastries.”

 

“No need,” Ye Qingge replied sharply this time, cutting him off.

 

“Then how about some melon seeds?” the waiter persisted. “Are you familiar with today’s storytelling performance?”

 

Before he could continue, the increasingly strong smell of sweat from the hall irritated Ye Qingge.

 

She pulled out a gold ingot and tossed it toward him, her voice cold: “No more talking.”

 

The waiter paled at the sight of the large ingot. His hands fumbled with it like it was a live coal, unsure whether to grab it or drop it.

 

Ye Qingge’s icy gaze met his as she said, “Take the money and leave. Don’t bother us again.”

 

The waiter glanced at her chilling expression and immediately scurried away, stumbling in his haste.

 

Jiang Mianhao rustled her leaves inside the bag. “Green Wine, Green Wine! Put me on the table quickly! I want to see if Lan Lan has arrived!”

 

The reason for choosing a table in the main hall was twofold: first, to get a better, closer view; second, Jiang Mianhao had a private motive. She wanted to see if Ling Lan had come.

 

Ye Qingge picked up on all her inner thoughts but deliberately ignored them.

 

“Green Wine!” Jiang Mianhao rustled again. “Are you listening to me?”

 

The little grass trapped inside the bag shook her leaves impatiently, urging, “Hurry up and let me out, please!”

 

“No,” Ye Qingge said flatly. “You’re just a pot of grass. What would you even understand by listening?”

 

Jiang Mianhao let out a sound of protest. “But I want to see, Green Wine! Please, I’m begging you. Just let me take a look, okay?”

 

“You know, I’m just a little blade of grass,” Jiang Mianhao sniffled. “I’ve never been down the mountain, never heard storytelling, and I don’t even know what storytelling is. I just want to get on the table and see what the people here are like. I won’t cause you any trouble. You know I’m just a little blade of grass.”

Jiang Mianhao rambled on and on, and Ye Qingge’s ears were nearly numb from the noise.

 

Annoyed, she clicked her tongue and placed the grass pot on the table.

 

“Yay!” Jiang Mianhao cheered, having finally gotten her wish. “I knew Green Wine is the best! Green Wine is the greatest in the world! Green Wine is the absolute best person ever!”

 

Ye Qingge clicked her tongue again. “Shut up.”

 

Unfazed by the scolding, Jiang Mianhao rustled her leaves and hummed a little tune in her heart. Ye Qingge recognized the melody she had composed mentally, woven from the words, “Green Wine is so wonderful.”

 

She sighed and shook her head. This grass really was talkative and troublesome.

 

“Lanlan!” Jiang Mianhao exclaimed excitedly at the familiar figure. “Lanlan!”

 

But standing beside Ling Lan was Fu Wanyin.

 

The Fu family of the Chancellor’s residence held immense prestige in the city, and even the attendants were far from ordinary servers.

 

The shopkeeper nodded respectfully and led them inside with the utmost deference.

“Who is that with Lanlan?” Jiang Mianhao asked, her eyes wide with confusion as she watched helplessly while Ling Lan followed the beautiful woman away.

 

Ye Qingge had no intention of interfering in Ling Lan’s affairs, nor did she care to listen to the storyteller. Moreover, the storytelling house gave her an indescribable feeling of unease.

 

“Lu Jiu, do you know the person with Lanlan?” Jiang Mianhao’s curiosity peaked. “That awful Lanlan! She actually kept it from me that she made a new friend! That beautiful woman must be the one who got off the carriage earlier. She’s so pretty.”

 

Muttering to herself, Jiang Mianhao fidgeted with her leaves.

 

For no particular reason, Ye Qingge felt a mischievous impulse and hummed in agreement. “Probably Ling Lan’s dao companion.”

 

“Ah! But why didn’t I know?” Jiang Mianhao exclaimed, startled as Ling Lan disappeared with the beautiful woman without ever looking back.

 

“You are my dao companion, but I haven’t told anyone,” Ye Qingge said calmly. “So, it’s natural that Ling Lan wouldn’t tell you.”

 

Jiang Mianhao paused, confused, but upon careful thought, it did seem to make sense.

 

She hadn’t told Ling Lan or Mi Xiu about her relationship with Lu Jiu either.

Partly because she felt that Lu Jiu had lost her memory and might have mistaken her for someone else, so it wasn’t something to share.

 

And partly because of an inexplicable sense of shyness in her heart.

 

Dao companions who made their relationship public would do all sorts of intimate things. Just thinking about being with Lu Jiu made Jiang Mianhao blush, the tips of her ears turning red.

 

Ye Qingge watched the grass in the pot sway, reading these thoughts in her heart.

 

She added calmly, “We haven’t made it public, but we sleep together. In the eyes of others, our interactions already reflect those of dao companions.”

 

“Do all dao companions sleep together?” Jiang Mianhao asked, a bit bewildered. “Then we—”

 

“We are dao companions,” Ye Qingge interrupted softly. “Only dao companions sleep together, and you are my dao companion. I haven’t mistaken you for anyone else.”

 

Hearing this, Jiang Mianhao couldn’t help but blush again, feeling a little dizzy.

 

The tiny bubbles of jealousy that had formed in her heart popped one by one.

 

The little grass lifted her gaze to the person before her, unable to resist marveling inwardly.

 

Does Lu Jiu have mind-reading abilities? she wondered. It seems like she always knows exactly what I’m thinking and then she responds.

 

Jiang Mianhao’s youthful heart stirred once more, ripples spreading across the calm surface of the lake in her soul.

 

Having read all these thoughts, Ye Qingge fell silent and calmly shifted her gaze to the stage.

 

In the time they had been chatting, the hall had quickly filled with people.

 

The elderly gentleman on the stage straightened his collar and, with a sharp rap of the gavel, silenced the entire hall.

 

“It’s starting,” Jiang Mianhao murmured softly, focusing her attention on the stage.

 

Ye Qingge collected her thoughts as well, fixing her eyes on the performance.

 

“Legend has it! In the mortal world, there was a pair of deeply affectionate lovers!” the elderly gentleman announced. His head full of white hair, and long beard nearly reaching the table, lent him a commanding presence. His voice was surprisingly powerful and resonant, carrying through the hall.

“By a stroke of fate, the two most admired young ladies from noble families in the capital are now intimately entwined on a couch!” the storyteller declared with great animation, his words flying like spittle as the audience listened, eyes fixed on him in rapt attention.

 

The gavel struck, and the tale began.

 

One of these celebrated young ladies was Ming Gui, eldest daughter of General Ming. At just sixteen, she possessed a beauty capable of toppling cities and captivating nations. Already renowned throughout the capital as a peerless beauty, her archery skills were legendary. She could hit a target from a hundred paces away.

 

The other was Yue Ming, youngest daughter of Chancellor Yue, his most beloved child—a mischievous, lively, and utterly charming young woman.

 

Ming Gui had inherited her mother’s valor and courage, winning first place in a martial arts competition. Her victory was celebrated with a parade through the streets, where she proudly wore a large red flower; a sight of unparalleled glory.

 

It was during this parade that Ming Gui happened to cross paths with Yue Ming, the Chancellor’s youngest daughter.

 

Everyone knew that civil and military officials were often at odds, and the Ming and Yue families were no exception. For generations, the two families had been sworn enemies, unable to bear the sight of one another.

 

Bystanders initially expected that when Ming Gui’s procession collided with Yue Ming’s carriage, a heated argument would erupt right there in the street.

But to everyone’s surprise, both carriages came to a halt, and the two young ladies descended, bowing respectfully to each other.

 

Yue Ming, stepping out of her carriage, was also dressed in red. Gazing at Ming Gui on horseback, adorned in red with flowers, she offered her sincere congratulations.

 

Though the Yue and Ming families were openly hostile, locked in opposition like needle against wheat awn neither willing to yield. No one knew that the young lady of the Yue family harbored a secret beloved: none other than Ming Gui of the Ming family.

 

Unbeknownst to the world, the two had been secretly in love. When their carriages met on the road, everyone expected confrontation and conflict. Instead, the two merely exchanged bows before passing each other by.

 

Then, when night fell, the young General Ming leapt across rooftops in three swift moves and spirited the young lady of the Yue family out of her mansion.

 

As the saying goes, when two people in love are together, time flies.

 

In the blink of an eye, young General Ming Gui had reached marriageable age.

 

Matchmakers from countless official families nearly wore out the threshold of Old General Ming’s residence, yet Ming Gui rejected every single one.

 

Like mother, like daughter — Old General Ming was well aware of her daughter’s feelings and the nightly disturbances in the courtyard. She had always turned a blind eye to the matter.

 

After all, Ming Gui, with her bright eyes and gleaming teeth, had been appointed a female general by the emperor at the age of fifteen. She excelled in horseback riding and archery, so there was no rush to marry her off, even though she was of age.

 

The real trouble lay with the Chancellor’s residence.

 

Chancellor Yue was a man of modest ambitions, content to live a peaceful life. Yet, buoyed by the influence of his eldest daughter, who had become the empress, he secured the title of Chancellor and spent his days in leisurely idleness.

 

Though the Chancellor avoided conflict, the world does not always allow one to live in peace.

 

Chancellor Yue had four daughters in his lifetime; all four entered the palace gates. Only the youngest, Yue Ming, remained free-spirited, spending her days in playful laughter without a care in the world.

 

Everyone said Yue Ming was good for nothing, lacking even half the obedience of her sisters. Outwardly, people showed her respect, but in private, they scorned her:

“The Yue family merely leans on imperial favor. Yue Ming only has her looks to charm young ladies into a daze; she’ll never amount to anything!”

The Chancellor, having heard such talk far too often, paid it no mind. He had never been one to wade into muddy waters. Since his youngest daughter was the only one not to enter the palace, he resolved to raise her purely and simply.

 

Thus, the world had little good to say about Yue Ming.

 

But Yue Ming’s heart was as clear as a mirror; she knew everything.

 

As a child, she would hide under her blankets to read in secret, using visits to the Flower-Filled Pavilion as an excuse to study military strategy books.

 

Yet her mother wished for her to remain far from the political arena and the conflicts of the palace walls, so Yue Ming suppressed her brilliance.

 

She spent her days acting frivolous and carefree, relying on her natural charm to stir up trouble everywhere. She never expected to cross paths with Ming Gui. Not only did she encounter her, but she also fell headlong into affection, losing her heart in the process.

 

But soon, their secret affair was discovered.

 

Thwack!—the sound of the storyteller’s block echoed sharply.

 

The old gentleman paused for a moment, letting the tension settle, before continuing.

The matter caused an uproar!

The Prime Minister’s family, already resented by many for their immense power, became an even bigger target. With Yue Ming’s misstep exposed, everyone in the capital seemed eager to pull at this thread, and the situation escalated rapidly.

 

Ming Gui and Yue Ming were placed under house arrest.

 

Though it was called house arrest, it was really just the two families trying to downplay the incident, to prevent others from using it against them. They were confined for ten days to half a month.

 

Bored out of her mind, Yue Ming managed to bribe a servant and escape.

 

She went to the General’s residence to find the young General Ming. She did not come empty-handed—she brought a few changes of clothing and some valuables. Clinging to the back wall of the estate, she whispered urgently, “Let’s elope, shall we?”

 

The Prime Minister’s youngest daughter, Yue Ming, could afford to be reckless.

 

But the young General Ming Gui of the General’s household had to be sensible.

 

During these days, the old General had carefully laid out all the pros and cons for Ming Gui. Even if she disregarded the General’s household, for the sake of stability and peace with the Prime Minister’s family, Ming Gui had to think carefully. Naturally, she refused.

 

No sooner had she been rejected, still clinging to the low wall, than her father, the Prime Minister, discovered that his daughter had run away!

 

He immediately had Yue Ming captured and brought back. It was a critical moment. So many people were waiting to see the two families become a laughingstock!

 

The reckless girl had run off again and, upon her return, of course, she was given a severe beating!

 

Then she was locked in the woodshed. But Yue Ming cried and fussed so relentlessly that the Prime Minister’s heart softened, and he eventually released her.

 

However, once her wounds healed, she forgot the pain.

 

Yue Ming still could not forget her feelings. As soon as she was free, she ran off again to find the young General Ming Gui.

 

But how could Ming Gui possibly see her?

 

During this time, imperial edicts arrived one after another, each hinting at the Emperor’s desire for a marriage alliance.

 

Ming Gui pretended to be deaf and dumb, planning to brush it off.

 

On his end, Ming Gui ignored his beloved clinging to the wall.

 

But who would have thought that the moment the wall-climber turned around, the old General caught her red-handed?

 

Thwack—another sound of the storyteller’s block echoed through the hall. The old gentleman cleared his throat and continued:

 

The very next day, the old General began scheming in secret to bring down the Prime Minister. The Prime Minister was no pushover either.

 

With matters having reached this point, there was little room for mercy. The two clashed openly and repeatedly in court.

 

The old General gathered all sorts of evidence and deliberately placed it right before young General Ming Gui, every move designed to undermine the Prime Minister’s household.

 

Cornered, young General Ming Gui had no choice but to kneel outside the old General’s door all night. In the end, he yielded to the imperial edict and consented to marry the princess.

 

The next day, the old General presented the edict to the Emperor.

 

Before long, news spread throughout the city: young General Ming was to marry the princess.

 

At this, Yue Ming’s heart completely broke.

 

Her usual flamboyant behavior and penchant for trouble had earned her many enemies, all eager to see her fall. Yet, as long as the young General Ming Gui protected her, none dared act.

 

Now that the young General was to become the Emperor’s son-in-law, those who sought to harm Yue Ming to curry favor began plotting in the shadows.

 

The reason was obvious: Yue Ming was the youngest daughter of the Prime Minister. Her four elder sisters — one the Empress, the lowest-ranking a Princess Consort of the Prince of Zhennan — held immense influence. In comparison, it was said, Yue Ming simply had to be eliminated.

 

The Prime Minister’s residence bustled with activity every day. No matter how much he doted on her, there was little he could do.

 

Even the Emperor bore a grudge against the old Prime Minister, fearing that the Minister’s growing power might one day threaten the Grand Princess. He had repeatedly suggested sending Yue Ming to the southern border for training. Yet each time, the Prime Minister deftly blocked the proposal. Whenever the topic arose, he would steer the conversation elsewhere, leaving the Emperor to ponder in silence.

 

Time passed swiftly until the day of General Ming’s wedding. The grand procession paraded through the entire city. Every district celebrated, except the Prime Minister’s residence.

 

The reason was grim: the night before, the youngest daughter of the Prime Minister’s household had taken her own life within the walls of her home.

She wore the pale blue dress she had donned when she first met the young general.

 

When the servants dressed Yue Ming for her burial, they discovered nine letters carefully tucked close to her inner garments, each penned by Yue Ming to the young general.

 

The old Prime Minister took them out one by one and read them. Upon reaching the last letter, his eyes fell on the final line:

 

“Let Yue Ming wait a little longer. This last letter will be the marriage proposal from Ming Gui.”

 

Clutching the letter, the old Prime Minister, having just lost his child, wept uncontrollably.

 

In his daze, memories of the female general resurfaced. She had once said, “Once the empire is pacified, I will surely come to marry you.”

 

He never expected that his own daughter would not only follow her heart in the same footsteps but pay the ultimate price for it.

 

With trembling hands, he forbade the servants from altering her attire. Instead, he personally placed each letter back against Yue Ming’s inner garments, keeping them close to her even in death.

He did not dress her in new burial clothes but kept her as she was. It was then that he noticed his youngest daughter was clutching something tightly in her hand.

The Prime Minister tried to pry it open but struggled for a long time, unaware that Yue Ming was holding a pair of love locks.

 

Two pairs of love locks.

One pair was for the white sedan chair, the one that would carry her away for burial.

The other pair was for the red sedan chair, the one that would have carried her in, completing the wedding ceremony.

 

“Thwack!” The storyteller’s gavel struck again, snapping the entire room back to attention. Murmurs rippled through the audience.

 

Ye Qingge, however, felt little interest in the tale and let her mind drift.

 

Beside her, Jiang Mianhao remained fully absorbed, not even a blade of grass stirring.

 

Lost in the emotion of the story, she whispered sadly, “Why did it have to end like this?”

 

Her voice was soft, tinged with confusion and sorrow.

 

Ye Qingge opened her mouth, about to reply, but the storyteller’s gavel rang once more reminding them that the story was not yet finished.