Late at night, wisps of smoke curled leisurely from the Boshan censer, filling the indoor space with faint, lingering wisps of white sandalwood fragrance.
Pei Yaoguang sat upright in the hall, closing his eyes to rest his mind. A few strands of smoke lingered around his brow, as though a thousand knots were wrapped tightly around his heart.
Massaging the bridge of his nose, the man saw Li Qing standing to the side and, noticing his worried appearance, asked with a bow, “Lord, are you troubled by something?”
Some people simply didn’t know what was good for them they were far too stubborn!
Li Qing speculated aloud, “It’s not worth it for the Lord to distress yourself over him. Why don’t the subordinates net you a batch of handsome young men?”
A sudden flash of inspiration struck him as he thought of Wu Huan, a renowned virtuoso actor at Wangchun Pavilion whose singing was exceptionally delightful to the ear. Moreover, his appearance was quite attractive, making him a delicate, charming, and expressive qingyi performer.
Upon hearing the word “actor,” Pei Yaoguang instantly perked up with interest.
Very well, he might as well listen to some tunes and relieve his boredom.
By the time he arrived at Wangchun Pavilion, the venue was already packed with guests sitting shoulder-to-shoulder, the sound of drums shaking the heavens.
Yet in the blink of an eye, the guests present quietly withdrew into silence.
Only then did Pei Yaoguang take his seat in the exact center position below the stage, while the proprietress bustled around him with eager hospitality, flattering him with obsequious smiles.
Behind the stage, a pink-robed man sat straight before a dressing table. The jade-faced gentleman reflected in the bronze mirror wore a thick layer of cosmetic powder.
His waist was slender, his jade arms white, resembling a frail willow brushing against mulberry trees when viewed from afar.
With a rustling chime of the beaded curtains, the proprietress walked in with a beaming smile and arrived at Wu Huan’s side. Her sharp, glittering eyes gazed at the face in the bronze mirror as she spoke in an urgent, enthusiastic voice: “We have honored guests today, Ah Huan. You must perform wonderfully when you go on stage later.”
Wu Huan nodded in assent.
After a long while, once the performance on stage concluded, Wu Huan stepped gracefully to the front of the stage with swaying steps, his water sleeves fluttering as he chanted: “The orioles sing at dawn in the jade palace of Jinling, flowers bloom in the riverside pavilions of Qinhuai…”
Raising his jade arms high, his fingers were delicate and his skin as tender and smooth as congealed grease, indistinguishable from a woman’s hands.
His entire life was inherently unrestrained and refined, and his performance on stage was all the more exceptionally graceful and peerless.
The musical tune was sorrowful and plaintive, his vocal line clear, melodious, winding, and twisting. In particular, his posture and footwork flowed as smoothly as drifting clouds and running water, unrestrained and untrammeled.
His bearing was varied and myriad, yet entirely devoid of any affectation or unnatural posturing.
Most importantly, the profound meaning contained within this tune was delivered through Wu Huan’s lips to exhaust the endless alternating cold and warmth, sorrows and joys of human partings and reunions in the mortal world.
Within the span of a cup of tea, Wu Huan finished his performance, bowed before the stage, and withdrew backstage.
“I pay my respects to Your Excellency.”
“Was the piece Young Master Wu just sang The Peach Blossom Fan?”
“Precisely.”
“This tune is desolate and mournful. I wouldn’t have expected Young Master Wu to possess such sentiments.” He slowly continued, “Though Young Master Wu enjoys considerable renown, every word expresses the parting sorrows of living in a turbulent era, and dynastic replacements—it is a rare talent and sentiment rarely seen in this world.”
Wu Huan lowered his head in a bow of gratitude: “Thank you for your generous praise, Your Excellency. This humble scholar is merely a man of the grass roots with no grand ambitions; I merely sing ordinary tunes to pass the time.”
“Haha… Reward him!” Pei Yaoguang looked thoroughly satisfied.
Lowering his wide sleeves, Wu Huan maintained a calm demeanor neither subservient nor overbearing.
After a moment, he boarded the carriage alongside Pei Yaoguang. The carriage set into motion, gradually disappearing into the bustling market streets.
Inside the dim bedchamber, candlelight flickered gently as Wu Huan knelt and sat before Pei Yaoguang.
With his heavy makeup washed away, he looked utterly like a refined, scholarly youth.
“Do you have someone you cherish in your heart?”
“From the very moment this humble scholar laid eyes on Your Excellency, there has been only Your Excellency alone within my heart.”
Upon hearing this, Pei Yaoguang burst into a loud laugh: “I like your straightforward disposition unlike certain people… who do not know what is good for them!”
“Why must Your Excellency torment yourself over someone not worth it?”
At that moment, Wu Huan caught wisps of white sandalwood fragrance, prompting him to think that he must prefer rich, bold, and uniquely distinctive incenses. Unable to suppress his curiosity, he asked, “Does Your Excellency greatly enjoy white sandalwood?”
Pondering briefly, he lifted his teacup and took a small sip: “I didn’t care for it before; I only developed an interest in it recently.”
“You were actually able to recognize that this is white sandalwood?”
Parting his thin lips, Wu Huan replied, “This humble scholar understands a little bit about aromatics. I wonder if Your Excellency would be interested in hearing about it?”
“I’m all ears.” He leaned his back backward and reclined.
“It is recorded that during the reign of Empress Wu, her favorite was purple wisteria incense, also known as ‘Descending Truth Incense’. This incense has been a tribute item across successive dynasties; if Your Excellency is interested, I can scour for some on your behalf.”
“Very well! You are thoughtful indeed. Talking to you is simply refreshing—it makes my whole body buzz with excitement.” Pei Yaoguang’s mood eased considerably, lifting the depression he felt just moments ago.
“It is my honor to be appreciated by Your Excellency, and this humble scholar is willing to follow and accompany Your Excellency by your side always.”
Stroking his own jaw, Pei Yaoguang wore a half-smile: “Men, bring that monk here.”
A brow lifted on Wu Huan: “Why would Your Excellency have a monk in your estate?”
Pei Yaoguang cast a cryptic, murky look in his direction, causing Wu Huan to realize he shouldn’t have asked. He immediately bit his tongue and lowered his head.
Puding was brought in by the servants, his bodily injuries nearly fully healed.
The medical treatment administered to him utilized the finest healing salves, of a caliber rarely even possessed by members of the royal family.
Coughing lightly, Puding sat weakly upon the ground, his expression steeped in a trace of decadence. He felt that his spiritual torment far outweighed his physical suffering.
Extending a foot just as he had the previous night, Pei Yaoguang told Wu Huan, “Come here. Since you are so obedient, you go first.”
Wu Huan’s breathing hitched for a moment. He hadn’t anticipated such a fetish on the other’s part, but hardening his heart, nothing else mattered anymore.
A series of squelching sounds echoed through the room as Puding immediately began reciting Buddhist chants within his heart, rolling the phoenix-eye bodhi prayer beads in his hand: Namo Amitabha, Namo Amitabha…
This eunuch was truly licentious and debauched to the extreme! His temperament was far too unruly and eccentric!
To actually perform such an act right before his eyes was truly lacking in decency.
Licking away every drop of goat’s milk from the back of Pei Yaoguang’s foot, Wu Huan asked, “Is Your Excellency satisfied with my service?”
“I still prefer someone with your exceptional vocal mastery your tongue skills are truly extraordinary!”
Puding didn’t spare them a single glance, merely continuing to pinch and count his prayer beads without pause. Such wolf-and-tiger phrases were genuinely indecent to the ears.
This person was truly ruining public morals!
Pinning Wu Huan’s chin with his hand, Pei Yaoguang’s eyes danced with wild emotion: “Tell me the truth did you feel even a sliver of pleasure in your heart just now?”
“To be cherished and favored by Your Excellency is my honor, and my heart is filled with joy,” Wu Huan replied without the slightest panic.
“You really know how to play the game and speak pleasingly.”
Yet Pei Yaoguang still didn’t seem sufficiently happy, always feeling a sense of blockage in his heart, akin to a thorn wedged within that could never be pulled out.
Puding continued to recite Buddhist chants silently, refusing to raise his eyes to look at the two of them.
Within those glazed pupils of his, not a single trace of desire existed clear and untainted.
At that moment, however, Pei Yaoguang’s robust voice rang out: “Go. You go serve him.”
Puding’s eyelids shot upward sharply, his lips trembling slightly: “There’s no need. It is quite enough for Your Excellency to enjoy it alone.”
“Sharing the joy alone is inferior to sharing it with everyone; the Dharma Master need not stand on ceremony with me.”
Closing his eyes tightly and feeling faint of head, Puding muttered to himself of his own accord: Amitabha, well-virtued, well-virtued.
Using the exact same method to lick his toes, Puding remained utterly motionless, his heart as calm as still water, rising with mindfulness and awakening with awareness, joining his palms together as he incessantly chanted Buddhist chants.
Pei Yaoguang sat quietly upon the long mat, admiring the scene as if watching a portrait of a beauty.
“Your Excellency, I have done as you instructed.” Turning around, Wu Huan probed cautiously toward Pei Yaoguang.
Massaging the ink-jade thumb ring upon his thumb, Pei Yaoguang lowered his head, lost in thought.
“You may withdraw first.”
“Very well, then this humble scholar takes his leave.” Wu Huan bowed and retreated.
Striding with long legs, Pei Yaoguang approached Puding, squatted down, and remarked, “You monk, what use is there in having such an unyielding disposition!”
“Do your wounds still hurt?” Pei Yaoguang feigned concern.
“Replying to Your Excellency, the injuries on this poor monk’s body have mostly healed.” Closing his eyes slightly, Puding found that the sense of humiliation from just moments ago had not yet dissipated.
“Tomorrow I will arrange for someone to send you back to the temple. Coincidentally, I must embark on a distant journey tomorrow, so I’ll let you off the hook for now!”
Curving the corners of his lips, he gently stroked Puding’s prayer beads with his fingertips: “However, do not rejoice too early! Tormenting you is my greatest pleasure! Until you willingly submit to being conquered by me!” A fierce glint stained Pei Yaoguang’s gaze.
“Virtuous, why must Your Excellency waste such thoughts upon this poor monk? It is not worth it!”
Standing to his feet, Pei Yaoguang declared, “What this superintendent wants is for you to willingly surrender and submit to me!”
Whatever he wanted had to belong to him entirely and completely!
Puding slowly spoke: “What joy is there in forcing someone against their will?”
“You do not understand! You are not me; you do not occupy my position, so how could you possibly comprehend what this feels like?”
Puding let out a cold laugh: “You are merely a cold-blooded person whom everyone fears and shudders to hear of. Your heart must be desolate and empty; you have never truly experienced genuine happiness!”
Hearing this, the man’s originally unconstrained expression gradually grew dim, a patch of crimson washing across his gaze.
“What do you understand! Without having experienced it yourself, how can you empathize?”
Straightening his lips, he raised his head to gaze at the full moon outside the window: “The Ghost Festival is fast approaching. To commemorate my departed kin, do you know how this superintendent memorializes my late mother?”
Puding did not respond.
“Every year I must find someone, sever one of their fingers, and burn it as an offering to my late mother.”
“You… are actually this devoid of humanity!” Casting a sideways glance, his eyes filled with terror.
Viewing Pei Yaoguang’s gaze as resolute and steadfast, he stated with absolute certainty: “This practice is precisely what I derived from the Buddhist scriptures. Among you people of religion, there are sayings such as ‘burning the body as an offering to the Buddha’ and ‘burning a finger as an offering to sandalwood Buddha’, used to manifest a monk’s pious faith and the heart of charity and almsgiving.”
“Yet your Buddha also says that the body, hair, and skin are received from one’s parents and must not be harmed how can your words be filled with contradictions everywhere?”
“Therefore, to express my gratitude to my late mother, I need to borrow the fingers of outsiders for the offering.”
With a chilly smile, he asked, “Whose hand do you suppose should be harvested for this year’s finger?”
Beads of cold sweat gently sprouted across Puding’s brow as he tightly clenched his prayer beads, his facial features rigid.
“Such a practice is far too cruel; I hope Your Excellency will lay down the butcher’s knife.”
Frowning, the man retorted, “Such inspiration is derived precisely from your Buddhist scriptures; the Dharma Master’s words are far too rash.”
Pei Yaoguang suddenly realized that he had gossiped with him for far too long, actually engaging in this much idle chatter with him.
Immediately tossing his gaze toward the window, he commanded, “Men, take him away.”
Before Puding left, he heard a sentence that made his blood run cold:
“People of religion possess the greatest compassion and lofty souls; using your finger to make an offering to my late mother is the most fitting choice of all!”
Supported by the servants, Puding felt his legs go weak, nearly fainting on the spot.
Along the corridor, the servant asked in a low voice, “Is the Dharma Master feeling unwell?”
“It is nothing! Do not support me; this poor monk can walk by himself.”
The Seven Kills Gate.
Fenxin was practicing his swordplay in the courtyard, revolving his fair wrist to weave several sword flowers before piercing a hollow bamboo with a single thrust.
Chiyu walked forward from ahead with a smile: “Congratulations, your swordsmanship has improved once again!”
“Flattery.” He had yet to slay that dog emperor by his own sole strength.
Nor did he possess absolute certainty of dispatching Pei Yaoguang with a single sword stroke.
“Fenxin, how about we retire to live in seclusion in the mountains in the future?” A hint of sorrow flickered across her face.
“You and I belong to two entirely different worlds; there is no need to waste extra thoughts on me.”
Lowering her head, Chiyu wore a somewhat rigid expression: “Actually, I came to find you precisely because there is a pressing matter. Tomorrow, the Longmen Escort Agency is going to transport a batch of official silver, and you and I are going to intercept and seize all of those goods.”
“They are taking the waterway this time. For waterway journeys, they always adhere to three rules: sleeping by day and waking by night, never leaving the boats, and avoiding women.”
“We will set up an ambush upstream in advance,” Chiyu said.
Fenxin felt puzzled: “Every single person arranged by the Longmen Escort Agency is a top-tier expert. We are outnumbered how are we supposed to make a whole-body retreat?”
“The Young Master’s tasks are truly becoming increasingly difficult!”
What on earth is his true intention? Fenxin felt somewhat disgruntled.
“The Young Master said he will lavishly reward you once the task is accomplished.”
What need did he have for any rewards? He simply didn’t care for those things, yet he found himself constrained by circumstances clearly there were many things he didn’t wish to do, and clearly he had slaughtered numerous innocent people. Watching himself being stripped of control day by day, slowly, his heart lost its freedom as well.
This was not the life he desired, yet only by living a life he detested could he tread the grand path belonging to himself!
“Understood, get some early rest!”