"Plop!" A sound of something falling echoed in the courtyard.
Sitting at the writing desk in the room, Tao Yan Er was at this moment practicing her calligraphy. She raised her head and glanced at Lu Sheng Zhong, who sat with his legs tucked beneath him.
Seeing his lack of reaction, Tao Yan Er rose and stepped into the courtyard. There, she discovered a crumpled piece of paper, a stone nestled within it. Without unwrapping the stone, she returned indoors and presented the paper to Lu Sheng Zhong, her voice soft and gentle:
— Brother.
Lu Sheng Zhong opened his eyes and took the paper. He immediately began to unfold it, examining its contents. Knowing that Lu Sheng Zhong preferred to be alone at such times, Tao Yan Er stepped outside to wander in the courtyard.
She strolled through the courtyard, unaware of Lu Sheng Zhong's current activities. Yet, as a clever young woman, well-versed in poetry and skilled in playing musical instruments, she understood that Lu Sheng Zhong was devising something insidious.
She lifted her beautiful face and gazed up at the sky. At that moment, a bird soared overhead.
Inside the house, Lu Sheng Zhong examined the secret letter, then approached the table and began to decipher it. He took a fresh sheet of paper, intending to transcribe the letter's contents. However, as he gazed at Tao Yan Er's beautiful calligraphy, Lu Sheng Zhong sighed inwardly. Most high-society girls couldn't write characters with such grace, yet this clever, educated beauty was forced to work in a pleasure house.
He pushed aside her writings and proceeded to decipher the letter.
Once the letter was deciphered, he committed the cipher's contents to memory, then burned both sheets. Afterwards, he called out:
— Yan Er.
The girl entered and stood before him.
Lu Sheng Zhong remained silent for a moment before asking:
— Is Wu Tian Nan coming today?
Tao Yan Er: He should. It’s our chess game today.
No sooner had she spoken than a knock sounded at the door, followed by Wu Tian Nan's shout:
— Brother Tao!
The brother and sister exchanged glances. Indeed, he had arrived.
Lu Sheng Zhong brushed off the ashes, rose, and exited the room. He then addressed Tao Yan Er:
— He's here.
Tao Yan Er immediately washed her brush and inkstone.
The door swung open, and Wu Tian Nan stepped in, a broad smile gracing his face, a wooden box clutched in his hands. He greeted them cheerfully:
— Brother Tao!
He and Lu Sheng Zhong had grown quite close, behaving like bosom friends.
Lu Sheng Zhong turned to him and asked:
— What do you have there?
Holding the box, Wu Tian Nan replied:
— Eight of the finest dishes. It’s time for a snack. I brought them so Yan Er wouldn't have to prepare anything.
Lu Sheng Zhong: There was no need to go to such trouble.
Wu Tian Nan: It’s Brother Tao who is overly polite. We are, after all, fellow countrymen.
Lu Sheng Zhong smiled and shook his head, offering no further words.
The two men stepped into the room where Tao Yan Er continued her calligraphy. Her hand movements were so fluid and graceful that Wu Tian Nan froze, mesmerized. When Tao Yan Er finally lifted her head, he chuckled and said:
— Little sister is working hard?
Tao Yan Er set down her brush, rose, and bowed:
— Brother Wu.
Wu Tian Nan set down the box and approached to examine the characters. Upon seeing them, he clapped his hands in approval:
— Little sister Tao, what literary talent!
Tao Yan Er humbly replied:
— I am merely a dabbler who presumes to appreciate such arts. How could I possibly compare to the esteemed Wu family?
— Nonsense. This is true literary talent. — He pointed at a character and shook his head, saying:
— To write so beautifully, it is certainly beyond my capability!
Lu Sheng Zhong sighed and said:
— You two, enough with the mutual praise. Yan Er, please set out the food Brother Wu brought.
Tao Yan Er bowed to Wu Tian Nan and withdrew.
Soon, wine and an assortment of snacks were laid out on the table.
The three of them drank some wine, and then Lu Sheng Zhong suddenly asked:
— Brother Wu, why do you constantly remain in Beizhou? Don't you need to return to Pingchuan County?
Wu Tian Nan looked surprised and slowly lowered his cup, then sighed and said:
— I suppose I can tell you. You are aware of Beizhou's unique situation. Since our separation from the Yan Kingdom, they can no longer extend their reach over us. Nor can the Han Kingdom exert strong pressure. Thus, all authority now resides within Beizhou itself. I am constantly here in the city, searching for the opportune moment.
Lu Sheng Zhong: Your father, the assistant county chief... Can he not arrange something fitting for you?
Wu Tian Nan: Pingchuan County is a poor territory. Where could he possibly settle me properly there? That’s why I am not in the county, but here, seeking an opportunity to achieve greater success.
As he spoke, Wu Tian Nan feared the brother and sister would cast a scornful glance his way, so he swiftly added:
— However, I have already found connections. I am now on good terms with the governor's young master. One could say, things are looking promising.
Lu Sheng Zhong had no desire to beat around the bush, so to save time, he calmly stated:
— I hear Shao Deng Yun has three sons. I wonder, Brother Wu, which young master have you befriended?
Wu Tian Nan: With the second and third.
Lu Sheng Zhong nodded: I heard the eldest young master is actually the one who holds true power?
Wu Tian Nan felt a flush of awkwardness. In truth, he had tried to latch onto Shao Ping Bo himself, but the latter had paid him no heed whatsoever.
— The eldest young master is occupied for the time being, so I haven’t had the opportunity to connect with him.
“Unsuitable!” Lu Sheng Zhong shook his head slightly.
Wu Tian Nan looked surprised. “What does Brother Tao mean by that?”
Lu Sheng Zhong: Shao Ping Bo may well encounter trouble. I still advise Brother Wu to keep as far away from him as possible.
Wu Tian Nan gasped in astonishment. “And how does Brother Tao know this?”
Lu Sheng Zhong appeared to hesitate, as if weighing whether to speak or not. Finally, he said:
— To be honest, there are some things I shouldn't reveal. However, since we are brothers and also fellow countrymen, it wouldn’t hurt for Brother Wu to know a thing or two. I am telling you this, but under no circumstances must you ever reveal that these words came from me. Otherwise, my sister and I would be forced to travel as far from Brother Wu as possible, and we would never see each other again.
— Does Brother Tao truly believe me to be a blabbermouth? — With that, Wu Tian Nan looked at Tao Yan Er and slapped his chest:
— Brother Tao, I vouch that I will not bring misfortune upon you.
Tao Yan Er looked at Lu Sheng Zhong with a touch of apprehension. She had no idea what he intended to do.
Lu Sheng Zhong hesitated slightly, but nevertheless continued:
— I don't know much about Beizhou's affairs, but I do know a thing or two about the cultivation world. Recently, someone has been circulating children's rhymes in Beizhou. I wonder if Brother Wu has heard about it?
Wu Tian Nan nodded.
— Of course I have. Those rhymes were clearly aimed at the eldest young master. But who would dare to openly discuss them? Is this truly connected to those rhymes?
Lu Sheng Zhong nodded and inquired again:
— Brother Wu must surely have heard of Tang Yi, the head of the Supreme Purity Sect?
Wu Tian Nan chuckled. How could anyone not have heard of such a beauty? However, he instantly recalled Yan Er standing nearby, so he immediately suppressed his smile and, nodding, said:
— I have. It seems the eldest young master has taken an interest in her.
Lu Sheng Zhong: The crux of the matter is that Tang Yi's husband, the cultivator Niu You Dao, is a guardian-mentor to a prince of the Yan Kingdom and an exceptionally capable individual. Do you truly believe he would tolerate someone trying to snatch his wife? This is precisely why friction arose between Niu You Dao and Shao Ping Bo. Those children’s rhymes, incidentally, were spread by Niu You Dao. In retaliation, Shao Ping Bo started a rumor and sought to eliminate Niu You Dao with the aid of the Ice and Snow Palace.
He immediately laid out the entire chain of their actions before him, causing Wu Tian Nan's eyes to widen and his heart to tremble with trepidation. Under normal circumstances, how could he ever hear anything about the Ice and Snow Palace? To him, the Ice and Snow Palace was like a realm of immortals, a place where only deities resided.
Tao Yan Er remained silent, but a tangle of complex emotions stirred in her heart. It was as if a map had unfurled before her, revealing a dagger within it.
All this time, she had understood that Lu Sheng Zhong was plotting something. And today, he had finally revealed his true colors.
Wu Tian Nan walked down the road, wary of everything. A great opportunity now rested in his hands, and he understood its immense value. Yet, at the same time, he was afraid to seize it. For to possess an opportunity was to risk losing it.
After a moment of contemplation, Wu Tian Nan clenched both fists, as if having reached a final decision, and strode with quick steps in an unknown direction.
Wu Tian Nan stood outside the governor's mansion. He waited for a long time until a man emerged and permitted the guards to admit Wu Tian Nan.
In a corner of the street, Lu Sheng Zhong stood watching Wu Tian Nan enter the mansion. Lu Sheng Zhong smiled contentedly and departed. After all, he wouldn't have to resort to a marriage arrangement with Tao Yan Er.
Lu Sheng Zhong entered a tavern and ordered wine. When his wine was brought, he seized the opportunity to discreetly pass a note to a tavern employee. Afterwards, he took his wine and departed.
When he returned to his courtyard, he pulled the carriage up to the entrance. He then entered the house and approached Tao Yan Er, who lay in the bedroom. He removed the restriction from her body and calmly stated:
— We're leaving!
Tao Yan Er climbed into the carriage, and Lu Sheng Zhong took the reins. Thus, the pseudo-brother and sister set off on their journey.
Inside the governor's mansion, in the guest hall, Wu Tian Nan waited a long time for the young masters. Eventually, two young masters emerged, casting disdainful glances at Wu Tian Nan.
They thought to themselves: "Do you truly believe the governor's mansion is a place where you can come and go as you please?"
Were it not for the expensive gift, they wouldn't have given him a second glance.
— Second Young Master, Third Young Master! — Wu Tian Nan bowed to them.
The two brothers settled onto the divan. Shao Wu Bo remained silent, while Shao Fu Bo, his brow furrowed, spoke:
— Didn’t you claim to have a valuable gift? Where is it?
Wu Tian Nan glanced at the guard by the door, then spoke hesitantly:
— The valuable gift is... not to be taken lightly.
Shao Fu Bo, losing patience, waved his hand dismissively, and the guard withdrew.
— Now, can you produce your gift?