Pingyuan Post Inn.
This inn was not particularly luxurious, yet it boasted a tavern well-stocked with fine wines, deeply loved by nobles and officials. Its most renowned offering was the Baiyu Yu Wine, paired with Chunhe Restaurant’s fatty lamb stew, famously known as "One day of wine and stew keeps winter cold at bay for seven days."
A man sat upright at a dining table, a longsword at his waist, his features elegant and handso, with skin as fair as jade. On either side stood his attendant students, as he leisurely poured himself wine while enjoying the fatty lamb stew fetched by his servant from Chunhe Restaurant. His manners were refined and unhurried.
In the tavern, the shopkeeper’s daughter carefully stole glances at him, almost unable to take her eyes away. She had seen nurous noble guests co and go, yet this was the first young lord who truly captivated her.
Earlier, she had secretly chosen the finest Baiyu Yu Wine for him, though she didn’t know if he realized it.
After the man finished his al, he seed about to turn toward her. The shopkeeper’s daughter hurriedly turned aside, too shy to look directly at him.
The man stood up and turned in her direction, clasping his hands together and said:
"Thank you, miss."
The shopkeeper’s daughter’s face turned bright red. Her lips moved, and finally, summoning her courage, she asked:
"May I know your na, young master..."
"Cao Jin."
The man’s voice was as warm and gentle as his jade-like complexion.
The shopkeeper’s daughter dared not look too much. She hesitated for a mont, about to respond hesitantly.
Outside the tavern, a shadow clad in dark robes appeared suddenly, with a sword strapped to his back and a blade at his waist. His badge swayed with his steps.
The shopkeeper’s daughter glanced in his direction, seeing his expression as cold as iron. He raised an eyebrow.
With a maiden’s heart, she instinctively compared the Jinyiwei with Cao Jin. She found the latter more to her liking.
The sudden guest interrupted their conversation. She greeted him with a sowhat lukewarm tone:
"Officer, are you here to buy wine?"
"To buy a life."
The shopkeeper’s daughter was puzzled, thinking he had co to cause trouble. She frowned and asked:
"We conduct honest business here and have served countless noble guests in Pingyuan Post Inn. Who, precisely, are you here to buy a life from?"
"Cao Jin."
The jade-faced gentleman Cao Jin abruptly turned his head upon hearing this.
Almost at the instant Cao Jin turned, Chen Yi advanced suddenly, his long blade ringing sharply as it was drawn. The fierce sound of it cutting through the air sent a gust of wind across the tavern.
The shopkeeper’s daughter was slamd against the wall by the gust, raising her hands in panic to shield her face.
The flash of the blade illuminated Cao Jin’s face. Despite his substantial martial arts ability, he reacted imdiately, retreating while raising his sheathed longsword to block.
However, Chen Yi’s sudden attack gave him the upper hand. Cao Jin was unprepared to summon his True Qi amid the storm-like assault. With a single slash, blade and sheath were severed together!
The explosive impact sent Cao Jin staggering back several steps. Staring at his broken sword, he was horrified.
"You..."
Before he could finish, Chen Yi punched away the panicked attendant rushing to shield Cao Jin, then rcilessly brought his blade down.
A sickening crack of bones echoed as Cao Jin’s head split cleanly in two.
The attendants froze in terror at the chilling scene, retreating several steps, too fearful to act.
Trembling, the shopkeeper’s daughter slowly lowered her hands, and what she saw paralyzed her in shock: the young master who had caught her eye monts ago was now unrecognizable, lifeless, his pale complexion haunting her as her legs gave out, collapsing behind the counter.
Chen Yi sheathed his blade and strode purposefully out of Pingyuan Post Inn.
For all the tales of Cao Jin’s martial prowess, it turned out he was rely at the sixth rank—a cunning and ruthless scher skilled in plots, but utterly defenseless against an unexpected and reasonless ambush.
Not to ntion, the gap in their martial realms and Chen Yi’s elent of surprise naturally ensured a swift and clean kill.
After handling Cao Jin, Chen Yi mounted his horse and rode towards the West Factory.
............
Hooves splashed through a puddle before halting at the West Factory gates. Chen Yi dismounted and led his horse toward the stables, where he saw Min Ning waiting for him.
Her arms were crossed, leaning against a pillar, as if she had been expecting him all along.
"How did it go?"
"Cao Jin is dead. Most of the fighters sent by the Prince of Annan are likely eliminated as well."
Chen Yi said this as he handed his reins to a nearby officer.
"Director Wu said that there’s no news from the spies. This likely ans the Prince of Annan will withdraw his troops soon and continue garrisoning the Southern Border as though nothing happened."
Min Ning paused for a mont, then softly added:
"Although... you’ll probably face impeachnt for killing an envoy on mission."
"Doesn’t matter. I’m about to be listed in the Spring and Autumn Registers anyway. It’ll bring more restrictions to my actions in the future. Best to seize this chance and resolve things decisively."
Chen Yi approached her as he spoke.
"Where... will they assign you next?"
Min Ning hesitated before asking.
"Are you worried about ?"
"What nonsense! I’m rely inquiring about my superior’s whereabouts!"
Min Ning turned her face aside and said,
"If you don’t want to answer, so be it."
Chen Yi chuckled and then replied:
"I’ve been assigned to the Zhi Ge Departnt."
Min Ning’s reaction betrayed a flicker of shock upon hearing this. The Zhi Ge Departnt, under the jurisdiction of the Dali Court, had a na that literally ant "to end conflict through force." As such, its duties often involved diating disputes among the Great Yu’s Jianghu sects. When diation failed, they resorted to martial force. Rembering the chaos and disputes that plagued Jianghu during the founding of the Great Yu Dynasty, the Emperor had joined forces with the sects to establish the Zhi Ge Departnt. Martial experts from every sect had united to purge disputes, eradicate grievances, and most importantly, suppress martial artists ranked fifth-grade or higher. Sect leaders either had their nas entered into the Spring and Autumn Registers or were subdued until they willingly conceded.
This operation ca to be known in history as the "Xinyou Hunt."
"How is she?"
Chen Yi asked as he walked toward the main hall.
"She was interrogated. It seems her household’s main wife orchestrated it, though she claims to know nothing. The main wife, though, is another story. She’s in the main hall now."
As Min Ning spoke, Chen Yi had already crossed the threshold, his eyes landing on Lin Wanxiao, who sat upright inside. Her maid, Xiuhe, appeared weak, slumping against a nearby chair.
"You..."
At the sight of him again, Lin Wanxiao’s face turned pale. Forcing herself to stay composed, she asked:
"Why do you keep here? What do you want?"
"No more greetings for your elder uncle?"
Chen Yi countered with a smile.
The question caused Lin Wanxiao, whose face burned crimson, to bite back harshly:
"You and I... have nothing further to say!"
Chen Yi remained unfazed by her rebuke.
During his fight with Mo Hu, the True Qi he absorbed, spanning nearly fifty years, had been neutralized with Lin Wanxiao nearby. Coupled with the Qi generated from her negative emotions, he now held an additional thirty years’ worth. In retrospect, he owed her thanks.
As he considered this, Chen Yi spoke slowly:
"Lin Wanxiao, there may be nothing more to discuss between you and , but as soone you’ve been acquainted with, a word of caution: Watch out for your family. Of course, if you’d prefer, I could arrange a new place for you."
To his surprise, the mont he uttered her na, Lin Wanxiao froze.
Before he could wonder why, her face flushed fully red, her limbs turned icy, and in a trembling voice fueled by anger, she asked:
"You... you lewd scoundrel! How... how do you know my courtesy na?!"
Among won, their courtesy nas were strictly private, shared only within the family. The Book of Rites clearly stated that n and won could not exchange nas without a go-between!
Chen Yi chuckled at her reaction.
"How I know is not your concern."
The truth was, he knew far more about her than just her courtesy na.
After so ti, Lin Wanxiao finally cald herself. Flustered and indignant, she glared at him and said icily:
"It’s late. I wish to return ho. May I go now, Chen Qianhu?"
"Yes."
Unexpectedly, Chen Yi agreed readily.
...............
The carriage stopped outside Lin Wanxiao’s ho. Chen Yi noticed that the plaque with the "Lin" character had been removed. Where it had once hung, there was now an empty space.
The removal of the plaque without promptly displaying a replacent implied that the household was planning to revert from the Lin surna to the original Cui surna.
Lin Wanxiao and Xiuhe disembarked slowly. The latter, having been treated at the West Factory and given herbal dicine, still looked listless but showed slightly improved spirits.
Chen Yi alighted as well. Lin Wanxiao glanced at him, a mix of disgust and fear in her eyes. She was ntally rehearsing a speech to drive him away but failed to notice Xiuhe looking at Chen Yi with gratitude.
"This servant thanks the officer on behalf of my mistress."
Xiuhe curtsied in thanks, stealing additional glances at Chen Yi.
What a fine gentleman, she thought, as attractive as the male leads in Peony Pavilion. Yet he carried a masculinity those fictional scholars lacked.
"There’s no need."
Seeing Lin Wanxiao tug at Xiuhe’s sleeve, Chen Yi responded.
Before long, the side door of the Cui Residence opened. The one who greeted them was none other than the household’s main wife, Madam Luo. Although inford by servants in advance, she still gave Lin Wanxiao a surprised look before quickly masking it with calm composure.
"Thank you, officer, for escorting my younger sister-in-law back. May I ask for your esteed na?"
Madam Luo curtsied gracefully as she spoke.
"Chen Yi, Qianhu of the West Factory. No need for formalities."
Chen Yi clasped his fists indifferently and said no more, turning sharply on his heels to leave.
As Chen Yi disappeared from view, Lin Wanxiao heaved a sigh of relief. Instinctively, she clasped her garnts tighter around her body.
Unseen by her, Madam Luo’s expression grew heavy. She glanced at Lin Wanxiao, taking note of the subtle actions.
After exchanging a few perfunctory words with Lin Wanxiao, Madam Luo hurriedly headed toward the courtyard of the second household. Before long, she arrived before Madam He, the second wife.
"What’s the matter, elder sister? Why the rush?"
Madam He asked, frowning in surprise.
"Sister Wanxiao has returned! She is alive!"
Madam Luo blurted out in excitent.
Madam He’s eyes widened with disbelief.
Madam Luo scanned the surroundings to ensure no eavesdroppers, then lowered her voice:
"Earlier today, I discovered sothing—the Third Miss, Wanxiao, was keeping a lover outside all along!"
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