The carrier pigeon accurately brought the message back. Ye Ting took the letter and handed it to Mei Jinshu. After reading it, the veins on his forehead throbbed, his hand clenching into a fist that crumpled the paper into a ball.
“There truly is no peace to be found.” Mei Jinshu sighed, genuinely surprised that Meng Xueran had resorted to physical action. Exactly how far had the boy been pushed to act with such recklessness?
Ye Ting asked anxiously, “Did something happen?”
Mei Jinshu replied, “Nothing major, just troublesome to deal with.”
Growing even more curious, Ye Ting inquired, “Did the Young Master cause trouble?”
Mei Jinshu said, “He struck Commandery Princess Shangning. A real handful, he is. Now look at this; before half a day passes, the Marquis Yi Estate will likely come pounding at our gates.”
“Good grief! Should we prepare for a fight?” Ye Ting rubbed his palms together with an eager expression, rolling up his sleeves. “It has been so long since I had a good brawl, this is a fine chance to stretch my limbs.”
“Is this a time for brawling? Forget it, forget it!” Mei Jinshu gave him a sidelong glance and instructed, “Go. Open the main gates of the Chancellor’s Residence wide so they do not end up breaking them.”
This matter would undoubtedly reach the imperial court. One was the Empress Dowager’s cherished niece, while the other was the Emperor’s biological son raised outside the palace. Caught in the middle of this mess, he once again had the misfortune of playing the peacemaker squeezed between two sides.
At Fanghua Academy, everything proceeded as usual.
The newly arrived musician was currently plucking a zither. He looked quite young, and bore a pleasant name, Su Yixun. With a gentle and refined countenance, hair cascading down like a waterfall, he radiated the unique scholarly elegance of a traditional literati.
Although the musician played exceptionally well, Meng Xueran noticed the crude stitching on his garments. It looked uneven, as if mended by his own hands, and he wore no precious trinkets. Even his zither appeared rather worn.
He looked remarkably impoverished.
In truth, Meng Xueran had no heart for studying music at the moment. He was deeply worried that his adoptive father might reprimand him for his rash behavior, but since the deed was already done and could not be undone, he simply wished for today’s classes to end quickly.
Just as his mind began to drift, the zither notes came to an abrupt halt. Thinking the lesson had concluded, he was startled when Master Su called him forward to play a tune.
Stunned, Meng Xueran stood up and walked over to the zither, looking somewhat awkward as he said, “Well, just now when Master was teaching the gong, shang, jiao, zhi, and yu notes, my mind wandered a bit. I apologize.”
Su Yixun replied, “It is fine. We shall simply have someone else try, but do not let your mind wander again.”
Meng Xueran answered, “Understood.”
Knowing he had been called up for a demonstration precisely because his distraction was too obvious, he spent the entire afternoon absorbing barely the surface, his mind completely muddled while he forced himself to look studiously attentive.
The moment classes ended, he grabbed Bai Tang and hurried toward the Chancellor’s Residence, determined never to let her return to the Marquis Yi Estate.
Bai Tang asked, “What are you doing?”
Meng Xueran replied, “Naturally, coming with me to the Chancellor’s Residence.”
Bai Tang protested, “But I cannot.”
Meng Xueran interrupted, “There are no buts. I want you to be free of Bu Jingyu forever.”
“Thank you.” Bai Tang stepped into the carriage bound for the Chancellor’s Residence, tears welling in her eyes as her voice trembled. “I was indentured to the Marquis Yi Estate. I fear it will not be so simple.”
Meng Xueran assured her, “It does not matter. I will find a way.”
The carriage halted some distance away from the estate. Stepping down, Meng Xueran saw the luxurious carriages of the Marquis Yi Estate waiting ahead. True to expectation, they had come to demand accountability, making quite a grand and imposing display.
“Where is that fellow called Mei Jiu? Hand him out!”
Even from a distance, the barking from within could be heard. Ye Ting stood guard by the doors with his arms crossed over his sword, stating, “My Young Master has yet to return. Please remain calm, everyone.”
Inside her carriage, Bu Jingyu wept bitterly before Marquis Yi, her voice aggrieved. “Father, your daughter has never suffered such humiliation. Not only am I forced to betroth an adopted son, but I was also publicly bullied by him at the academy. This is simply too much to bear!”
Glancing at the lingering reddish marks still visible on his daughter’s cheek, Bu Jian burned with anger. “This matter is indeed the Chancellor’s Residence’s fault! Seeking to climb high while daring to treat you in such a manner!”
“This marriage was never favored to begin with. Heaven knows what His Majesty was thinking, expecting you, a proper Commandery Princess, to marry downwards to an adopted son of the Chancellor’s Residence. It makes no sense. Your beauty inherited from your mother, exquisite as you are, coupled with your noble status, how could you be cheapened for an adopted son?”
“Father.”
“Rest assured, this father will certainly demand an explanation for you.”
“But that old fox of a Chancellor dotes on this adopted son.”
“No matter. Let your elder brother test them first.”
Bu Chengyang hollered outside the entrance. The gates stood wide open, but out of lingering awe for Mei Jinshu’s authority, he did not dare barge straight in. Catching sight of a few figures brushing past him, he strode a few paces forward.
Meng Xueran stepped down the threshold, turned around, and said, “Are you looking for me? I am right here.”
Bu Chengyang demanded, “You must be Mei Jiu!”
Meng Xueran replied, “It is I. What of it?”
“Naturally, to hack you to pieces!” Bu Chengyang drew his longsword and slashed blindly toward Meng Xueran. Judging by those chaotic movements, he possessed no true mastery of martial arts; it was all flashy show with nothing but brute strength.
After hacking away for a long while, moving from the doorway all the way into the courtyard, he failed to touch so much as a hem of Meng Xueran’s robes. Panting heavily in frustration and rage, Bu Chengyang cursed, “Bastard, you had better stand still and let me hit you!”
Meng Xueran retorted, “Standing still to let you hit me would make me a fool. I gave you the chance, and missing is your own lack of skill.”
“Fine! You kid beat a Commandery Princess and yet you still dare to be this arrogant!” Glancing at the thugs he had brought along, Bu Chengyang roared, “Get him, all of you! Beat him half to death for me!”
“Young Master, leave Bu Chengyang to me.” Clenching his teeth, Mei Shiyi suddenly lunged forward and kicked Bu Chengyang flying. His fists rained down like raindrops, every single strike drawing a miserable shriek of pain from Bu Chengyang.
Ye Ting and Meng Xueran easily dispatched the ragtag mob from the Marquis Yi Estate, staring in astonishment at the person currently administering the beating. Could this really be the usually composed Mei Shiyi?
“Stop hitting him, Shiyi!” Ye Ting pulled him away, though he couldn’t resist adding a couple of parting kicks himself.
“Ow, you, you base slave!” Bu Chengyang was beaten so thoroughly he could no longer string a sentence together. As he was hoisted to his feet by his attendants, he realized Mei Shiyi had carefully avoided all vital points and spared his face, leaving him a shred of dignity.
“Where is the Chancellor!”
“Is this how Mei Jinshu manages the dogs under his roof?!”
“What did you say?!” Mei Shiyi surged forward again, scaring Bu Chengyang into a nervous shudder before Ye Ting managed to haul him back.
Meng Xueran warned, “You would do well to show some respect! Since Marquis Yi has come as well, why not step out and settle this matter properly?”
“Young man, do not be overly arrogant.” Bu Jian walked in from outside the gates, his overbearing, senior aura pressing down so heavily it left people struggling to breathe. Inspecting Meng Xueran with a critical gaze, he shook his head and remarked, “Is this how the Chancellor educated you? Do you know nothing of seniority and respect?”
Out of deference to his status as an elder, Meng Xueran offered a slight bow and said, “Greetings, Marquis Yi.”
Bu Jian stated, “The martial prowess of the Chancellor’s Residence is quite impressive, truly young and promising. However, since you wish to wed my daughter, you must first exchange a few moves with my people.”
“Wait.” Meng Xueran attempted to object, but suddenly a man and a woman lunged toward him with lethal intent. The man possessed a bulky physique and wielded a heavy iron hammer, while the woman wore an alluring expression with no weapons on her person, yet exuding a chilling, sinister aura.
The heavy hammer came crashing down, shattering the stone flagstones into pieces. Wielding his short sword, Meng Xueran had to dodge the crushing blows of the heavy hammer while simultaneously parrying the serpent-like, razor-sharp palm strikes of the woman.
The woman’s long, crimson-painted fingernails functioned like talons aiming to tear flesh. He thrust his sword to slice her wrist, instinctively raising his weapon to block the descending hammer. The blade rang out with a shrill whine, the impact driving him backward several yards and leaving his internal organs vibrating.
“Young Master!” Seeing the unfavorable situation, Mei Shiyi moved to intervene, but Bu Jian blocked his path. “A simple sparring match, does it warrant your interference?”
Glaring with bitter hatred, Mei Shiyi spoke with a voice laced with nervous tension and trembling rage, “Two against one, what manner of sparring is this? That woman is clearly a venomous assassin raised by the Marquis Yi Estate!”
Ye Ting gasped in shock, “A venomous assassin?!”
Bu Jian sneered, “This house servant of yours has quite the discernment, and is fiercely loyal to his master. However, you seem far more familiar with this old man than your little master.”
Under the relentless, tag-team assault, Meng Xueran was clearly being driven into a disadvantaged position, though he remained uninjured. He wanted to pull back, but the two attackers gave him no quarter.
Damn it, was this supposed to be a sparring match or an assassination attempt?
Bleeding profusely from her wounded wrist, the female assassin dodged a flash of the sword blade and suddenly flung a venomous scorpion from her sleeve. A single sting meant certain death, proving they had never intended to leave him alive.
At that instant, a flash of purple swept past. Seizing Meng Xueran’s wrist, the newcomer dodged sideways and unleashed a surge of sword qi that drove the assassins back.
Mei Jinshu stared down at the venomous scorpion writhing on the ground, lifting his foot to crush it ruthlessly.
“Adoptive father.” Reflected in Meng Xueran’s eyes was Mei Jinshu’s cold, aloof face, his wrist still tightly clasped in a warm grip. Even if it lasted only for a fleeting moment, it was enough to etch itself into his memory for a lifetime.
Injured by the sword qi, the female assassin’s wrist continued to bleed, rendering her unable to stand. Collapsing to the ground, she vomited a mouthful of dark, black blood. Bu Jian ordered his men to drag her away, bringing the brief clash to a close.
Mei Jinshu asked, “Why must the Marquis lower himself to bicker with a junior?”
Bu Jian retorted, “Since your adopted son dared to act, he should have known the consequences. Since he marred my daughter’s face, he must pay it back tenfold.”
Mei Jinshu said, “Everything has a cause and effect. Mei Jiu would not pick a fight with the Commandery Princess for no reason. Since Marquis Yi is here to demand an explanation, why not invite the Commandery Princess to clarify the origin of this dispute?”
“If Mei Jiu is indeed at fault first, I will agree to repay it tenfold.”
“If the Commandery Princess is at fault first, then forgive this subject for declining.”
“Hmph!” Bu Jian wore a look of utter disdain as he replied, “Just as my daughter claimed, you pamper this adopted son far too much. An adopted son of unknown origins daring to raise a hand against a reigning Commandery Princess is a crime in itself! What need is there for reasons?”
Mei Jinshu stated, “Since Marquis Yi is determined to be unreasonable and overbearing, this subject has no further recourse. You are more than welcome to lodge a complaint before the throne, and by all means, cancel this marriage alliance since you despise it so thoroughly anyway.”
Bu Jian declared, “Very well! Since you lack the humility to submit, this marriage can be called off permanently!”
Meng Xueran intervened, “This marriage was bestowed by His Majesty’s will. I am willing to bear all consequences of canceling it, and I am also willing to offer formal apologies to the Commandery Princess. But I have one condition.”
Bu Jian prompted, “State it.”
Meng Xueran said, “I want Bai Tang’s indenture contract.”