The singer perford "The Song of Everlasting Regret," leaping gracefully into the air with ribbons fluttering like silk, gliding through the opera house. Stepping on the floating silk, she soared and landed above the lotus pond in front of the opera house, dancing upon the lotus leaves.
Then two young girls arrived on both sides of the lotus pond. With a sweep of their long sleeves, white sleeves ford a full moon, perfectly encircling the singer in the middle.
Amidst the moon, the singer lay against its crescent edge, her expression one of sorrow. The song was mournful, seemingly reproaching the emperor’s heartlessness while also carrying a trace of lingering affection for him.
"Master’s days are truly too joyous," Chen Shi applauded and shook his head in admiration.
This was a life fit for immortals; he never expected that Master Chen would enjoy such luxury as well.
"I must burn so of this for my grandfather!"
Heart kindly, Master Chen thought to himself as he enjoyed the performance, "Grandfather worked hard all his life and never enjoyed such pleasures."
When it was ti to dine, maids served Master Chen and helped him change clothes, offering him a different set of attire suitable for dining so that the aroma of food would not seep into his regular clothes. Then ca girls with warm water to wash his face and hands.
Chen Shi had just sat down when the cooks had already prepared the al. Girls ca in one after another, bringing bowls, plates, and dishes, filling the table with an array of exquisite delicacies—from the mountains, the land, and the sea, all kinds were present.
Chen Shi didn’t have to pick up his own chopsticks, for the girls were there to feed him. He only had to move his eyes, and they would know which dish he wanted to eat. They would promptly pick it up and deliver it to Master Chen’s mouth, while a maid attentively wiped the corners of his mouth.
In such joy, he had no thoughts for Huangpo Village.
Chen Shi sighed in comfort. Why fight and kill in such a life when one could simply enjoy it?
In the governnt office, Governor Xu Jian, upon hearing the detailed reports from his informants about Chen Shi’s behavior in the mansion, nodded in satisfaction and said to Xia Mingdong, the Imperial Censor Xia, with a smile, "Lord Xia, this move in the Western Capital is masterful. No matter how heroic a man is, he will fall in the land of tenderness."
The Imperial Censor Xia laughed and said, "Chen Shi has been scared by poverty for too long. Once he enters this tender land, his hostility will vanish instantly, and he’ll sink into this life of indulgence, unable to extricate himself."
General Cui Zhen also laughed, saying, "It’s said that poverty breeds cunning plots, while wealth fosters a good conscience! When Chen Shi was poor, he was fierce and deadly; wherever he went, death followed. Two Provincial Governors of Xinxiang, one County Magistrate of Xinxiang County, another of Lei County, and one Provincial Governor of Gongzhou all died because of him. Now that he has money and assets, of course, he will be cautious and fearful of losing his wonderful life."
Bao Tixing laughed, "With sothing to care for in his heart, a man becos timid. It is so with us, and it is so with Chen Shi."
In the governnt office, the top officials of Xin Xiang Province were all present. Chen Shi’s residence was filled with their people, every move and word from Chen Shi was under their control.
This was the first ti Chen Shi had stayed in that western mansion, so they naturally paid great attention and continuously sent people to report back.
"Living in such a mansion, every day the money flows like water. With his ager earnings as a Talisman Master, the inco of an entire month might not cover a day’s expenses!"
Commander Zhai Qing laughed, "Once he runs out of money, he will seek it. If he looks for money, he can only co to us. In this way, the Child Scholar will be our man."
"If so, Xinxiang will be at peace!"
The group burst into laughter.
At this mont, another report ca in, "Gentlen, Master Chen is taking a bath, and the maids want to join him; Master Chen chased them out."
"What a pity, what a pity, he’s still a fledgling and hasn’t breached abstinence."
Governor Xu, the Imperial Censor Xia, and the others all laughed, "Gentlen, shall we place a wager? Let’s bet on how many days he can hold out before he breaches abstinence!"
Deputy General Yan Wang said with a laugh, "I bet he breaks tonight! With so many beautiful girls around, I don’t believe he can hold back! I wager one thousand taels of silver!"
"I bet two days!"
Provincial Governor Li Yin laughed, "The Child Scholar is after all a scholar, and he must possess so restraint. I too wager one thousand taels of silver!"
The esteed gentlen beca interested and made their bets.
Soon after, another report arrived, "Gentlen, Master Chen is trimming bamboo."
Governor Xu stared, "Trimming bamboo? What is he doing trimming bamboo at this hour instead of holding a woman in his sleep? Investigate further!"
After a short while, another report ca in, "Master Chen is inquiring about the whereabouts of the previous governor’s widow."
In the governnt office, the distinguished gentlen were all taken aback. The forr governor was Li Xiaozheng. Li Xiaozheng went to investigate the stone ship, and his life or death was unclear, but it was presud he was dead. His widow, Xia Weiyin and Yan Jingshu, with their family, lived in the south-western part of the city and had not returned to their ho in Quanzhou.
"Gentlen, Master Chen has turned bamboo into birds."
Another report ca in, "The bamboo Master Chen was trimming turned into many birds and flew away."
In the governnt office, the officials exchanged uneasy glances.
Bao Tixing suddenly said, "I’ve checked the files. Chen Shi once had a conflict with Lady Li’s family in Xinxiang County. It appears that a wet nurse from the Li Mansion killed a Scholar’s child from Xinxiang County to seize his Wenchang Divine Embryo. Chen Shi, along with another private tutor, attacked the Li Family!"
The officials broke out in a cold sweat and rose to their feet. Li Yin, Lord Li, hurriedly walked out, furious, "He even dares to lay a hand on my sister-in-law, he’s asking for death!"
Yan Wang and Xia Mingdong were also startled and rushed outside. Yan Jingshu was a daughter married out from the Yan Family, and Xia Weiyin was of Xia Family origin, so they were naturally greatly concerned.
"Three Lords!"
Governor Xu quickly said, "He’s a Child Scholar from the Western Capital, you must not touch him!"
Li Yin’s heart chilled, and he said, "I almost brought a disaster upon us! Thank you, Lord Xu, for the reminder!"
Governor Xu said, "But we can’t let him do as he pleases! You must protect the two ladies well; there must be no slip-ups!"
Li Yin, Yan Wang, and Xia Mingdong acknowledged and left hastily.
It was now night; the moonlight was bright and clear. The Li Mansion, once occupied by the forr governor Li Xiaozheng, was now tranquil. Back when Li Xiaozheng was alive and serving as the governor, even at night the Li Mansion would be bustling with activity, with constant singing and dancing, guests and hosts exchanging toasts, laughter piercing the sky, and strings and bamboo instrunts playing until dawn.
But death brings an end to everything, and the Li Mansion had quieted down considerably. Only so family mbers and maids and servants lived there now, and to save expenses, the house servants had all been dismissed.
The second lady, Yan Jingshu, was cultivating. She had neglected her cultivation for a long ti.
This world was unfair to won; cultivation was difficult enough, and for won, it was even harder. Not only did they have to endure pregnancy for ten months, but during pregnancy, they also couldn’t cultivate a Nascent Soul. If they cultivated to the Nascent Soul Realm, they would have to forsake their Nascent Soul to conceive.
She was a renowned talented lady in the Yan Family, but after marrying into her husband’s family and becoming pregnant, she had no choice but to give up her Nascent Soul.
She gave birth to three children, and her younger son, Li Tianxiu, was only twelve years old.
After the birth of Li Tianxiu, she had lost interest in cultivation since Li Xiaozheng was the head of the family, and her cultivation seed to have little significance. But now, with Li Xiaozheng’s whereabouts unknown between life and death, the burden of the family had fallen on her and the chief lady, Xia Weiyin, so she had to cultivate, hoping to achieve sothing and turn the tides.
Just then, bird calls could be heard from outside, so crisp and pleasant to the ear.
Yan Jingshu opened her eyes, only to see a kingfisher flying onto the window lattice, its feathers a brilliant green.
Yan Jingshu was surprised. Where did a kingfisher co from this late at night?
Then, many more kingfishers flew over, perching on the window lattice, with so flying into her room. Their beaks were sharp as they all turned their heads to look at her.
Yan Jingshu felt sothing was amiss when a loud shout from outside rang out, "Two sister-in-law ladies, those birds are amiss, hide quickly!"
As the sound reached her ears, suddenly the kingfishers took flight, transforming into sharp-tipped green bamboo sticks with terrifying sharpness!
Yan Jingshu, seeing these bamboo sticks, couldn’t help but recall the mont her son Li Tianxiu was impaled by a bamboo stick!
"It’s him!"
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The bamboo sticks, containing terrifying power, turned into Stabbing Sword Styles, crisscrossing back and forth in the small room, piercing dozens of holes through the walls in an instant!
If one looked through those holes, one would also see Yan Jingshu’s body pierced through!
At the sa ti, the chief lady, Xia Weiyin, was killed by dozens of bamboo sticks on her bed, with the sharp bamboo piercing through her body, dead on the spot!
At Chen Mansion, Chen Shi stood by the window, gazing at the moon outside, and gently lifted his hand. The paper crane in his hand started to flap its wings, rising into the air and transforming into an immortal crane flying away.
In Bridge Bay Town, at Wencai Academy, the private tutor Fu Leisheng had gone to bed. At this mont, a tapping sound ca from the window.
He got up, put on his clothes, opened the window, and saw a paper crane pecking at the window.
Fu Leisheng was slightly stunned. He opened the paper crane and saw, under the moonlight, a line of graceful but forceful handwriting.
"The chief examiner, Tian Huaiyi, my classmate Shen Yusheng, both grievances have been avenged, the noble ladies have been delivered, dear sir, do not worry. Your student, Chen Shi, bows deeply!"
— Seeking monthly tickets!
Updat𝓮d from freew𝒆bnov𝒆l.co(m)
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