When Luo Wangchuan stepped into the hall, Huamei was pointing at the portrait on the dispatch and teasing, “The painter from Jade Tree Manor isn\u2019t all that skilled either. He hasn\u2019t captured even half of our Little Bai\u2019s charm.”
Mu Bai glanced at it and didn’t want to look anymore, awkwardly saying, “Perhaps I’m just not photogenic.”
Let’s just say the painter gave him a portrait from an unflattering angle.
Luo Ziyi whispered, “I heard Elder Meng privately slipped some silver to the Jade Tree Villa to deliberately smear Miss Xiao Bai’s reputation.”
“Ahem!” Luo Wangchuan stood behind him and cleared his throat.
Luo Ziyi nearly jumped out of his skin as he turned around. “M-master, when did you get here?”
Luo Wangchuan lowered his eyelids. “Spending all day pondering useless nonsense, unaware of someone standing right behind you\u2014utterly disgraceful for a disciple of mine.”
“I acknowledge my mistake, Master.”
Luo Ziyi hung his head and fell silent.
Luo Wangchuan took the central seat in the hall, poured himself some tea, and asked, “How is Your Highness the Crown Prince’s health?”
“Better,” Su Mo replied evenly. “Thank you for your concern, Sect Leader Luo.”
Luo Wangchuan nodded and asked Mu Bai about his plans for the day, offering to send someone to show him around the area if needed.
“When I left the valley, my senior sister gave me a letter to deliver to the Jade Tree Manor,” Mu Bai said. “Since I\u2019m new here and unfamiliar with the place, if it\u2019s convenient, I\u2019d like to ask the Sect Leader to arrange a guide for me.”
“The Jade Tree Manor is to the south. I\u2019ll have two disciples escort you there shortly. You can also take the opportunity to stroll through the market at Lingyun Crossing\u2014there are a few taverns there with excellent dishes. You can have lunch before returning.”
“Thank you.”
Yesterday, when they heard Luo Wangchuan had asked them to stay, Huamei found it odd. Today, seeing the usually stern sect leader showering Mubai with such warm concern and care was even more unbelievable.
Once their conversation ended, she lifted the teacup lid as cover and discreetly gave Mubai a thumbs-up: “Xiao Bai, impressive.”
Before Mu Bai could respond, Luo Wangchuan inquired about Jiang Cijing: “May I ask what brings Divine Constable Jiang to our Lingyun Palace so suddenly?”
Luo Ziyi raised his head and exchanged a glance with Jiang Cijing, looking somewhat flustered.
Jiang Cijing said, “Sect Leader Luo, I heard that a young lady went missing within the bounds of Lingyun Palace not long ago…”
“Nonsense!”
Luo Wangchuan slammed the table and demanded sharply, “Did Ziyi tell you about this?”
Jiang Cijing: “…Indeed.”
Luo Ziyi stood up: “Master, I…”
“Silence.” Luo Wangchuan pointed towards the palace door. “Get out.”
Luo Ziyi’s words stuck in his throat. After a long pause, he swallowed them down and turned to walk out of the hall.
“The Lingyun Palace territory has never allowed women, so how could a young lady go missing? If this were to spread, how could the Lingyun Palace maintain its standing in the martial world?” Luo Wangchuan spoke halfway before catching sight of Mu Bai and Huamei below the seat. He paused, then added, “Miss Qin, I have some matters to discuss with Constable Jiang. You two…”
Hua Mei cast a meaningful glance at Mu Bai.
The two stood up and were about to leave when someone grabbed Mu Bai’s sleeve.
“Xiao Bai,” Su Mo coughed twice. “I’ll go with you.”
The atmosphere in the hall was tense. Without time to think, Mu Bai quickly circled back and pushed Su Mo’s wheelchair out.
Luo Ziyi waited outside the door. When he saw them come out, he glanced back into the hall and sighed, “Is Miss Bai going to Jade Tree Manor? Let me take you there.”
After speaking, he took the lead and walked ahead.
Huamei asked, “What on earth is going on?”
Luo Ziyi walked out while saying, “Master forbade me from investigating this matter. I went behind his back to find Brother Jiang.”
“Why wouldn’t he allow it?”
Luo Ziyi shook his head: “Master only wants me to focus entirely on swordsmanship so I can inherit his legacy. When I was involved with Miss Ling, my sword practice inevitably suffered, and Master noticed. He caught me and gave me a stern scolding, forbidding me from seeing Miss Ling again.”
“As luck would have it, I never saw Miss Ling again after that… until I found her belongings on the back mountain. That day, after returning, I had a huge argument with my master. In the heat of the moment, I said some outrageous things, and to this day, our relationship remains strained.”
“Master feared this matter would tarnish Lingyun Palace’s reputation if it got out, so he forbade me from reporting it to the authorities.” Luo Ziyi tapped his folding fan against his palm. “But I couldn’t let Miss Ling pass away under such unclear circumstances, so I had no choice but to invite Brother Jiang.”
Huamei said, “You’ve had it hard. But judging by the situation, I’m afraid even Divine Constable Jiang may not be able to help you.”
“No, I know Brother Jiang well.” Luo Ziyi replied. “He would never stand by and do nothing. If my master pushes too hard, this might even draw the attention of the Chief Constable of the Myriad Mirrors Division.”
Wanjing Division is backed by the imperial court. If the court sends someone to investigate this matter, Luo Wangchuan would never dare to obstruct them.
Mu Bai listened from behind, thinking to himself that with these two master and disciple colliding, it\u2019s hard to say who\u2019s tricking whom.
He pushed Su Mo\u2019s wheelchair down the mountain, listening to his incessant coughing along the way, which seemed even more severe than the fake ones he usually put on.
Mu Bai glanced at him discreetly, noting Su Mo’s weary expression and disheveled black hair. Perhaps the collar of his dark robe was too loose, accentuating his delicate collarbones and the slender lines of his shoulders and neck\u2014yet they appeared unnaturally pale, as if made of paper.
Wearing so little, it’d be a miracle if you didn’t catch a cold.
Mu Bai averted his gaze from the collar of his robe and absentmindedly touched the scarf around his neck.
If he took it off and gave it to Su Mo to wear, he would be warm, but his own Adam’s apple would no longer be hidden.
Su Mo tilted his head and saw Mu Bai tugging at his scarf, lost in thought. He asked softly, “What’s wrong?”
Mu Bai snapped back to attention and casually said, “The style of my scarf is outdated, I was wondering whether to get a new one.”
Luo Ziyi overheard and chimed in, “Our street market here sells everything. When we arrive, Miss Bai can browse around to see if there’s anything she likes.”
The carriage stopped at the foot of the mountain. Mu Bai lifted Su Mo’s wheelchair in, climbed inside, and let the curtain fall.
The mountain path was rugged, and at its most bumpy sections, Su Mo coughed even more violently, his slender hands gripping the edge of the carriage tightly. Mu Bai feared he might fall apart with the slightest misstep.
Luckily, it didn’t take long before the carriage entered the bustling streets of Lingyun Crossing. With pedestrians around, the carriage slowed down, and the road became much smoother.
Mu Bai lifted the curtain, peering out through the carriage window.
Ahead, the road paved with bluestone slabs stretched forward, revealing a towering tavern rising among the distant shops. On its suspended veranda, a graceful maiden with a slender figure sat strumming a pipa, her singing carried by the breeze. Even just her back view was enough to delight the eyes.
The street was lined with numerous small stalls\u2014pancake vendors, sugar figurine sellers, as well as cosmetics and household wares, just as Luo Ziyi had said, offering everything one could need.
Passing by a clothing vendor’s stall, Mu Bai caught sight of a scarf.
It was made of some unknown fabric, appearing thick and sturdy, with a black base embroidered with white threads depicting orchids and bamboo\u2014at first glance, it seemed perfectly suited for Su Mo.
The most important thing is that it’s hard to find a warmer scarf than this in the current season’s market.
He immediately stopped the carriage and jumped down to ask the vendor about the price.
The merchant noticed the magnificent carriage parked in front of the stall and the guests’ expensive attire. His eyes flickered with calculation as he named an exorbitant price.
Mu Bai had never been to the market at Lingyun Crossing before, so he didn’t realize he was being cheated.
He took out his purse, counted the coins, and realized he didn’t have enough silver with him. Without even trying to haggle, he climbed back into the carriage.
The carriage driver was a member of the Lingyun Palace. Seeing the situation, he said, “Miss, should I go and inform Senior Brother Ziyi? Within the boundaries of Lingyun Crossing, those vendors still have to show us some respect.”
Mu Bai waved his hand: “Small businesses have it tough\u2014no need to make things harder for them.”
Anyway, this thing wasn’t something he truly wanted in the first place. Since he didn’t have enough money, he simply wouldn’t buy it.
“Young lady, you’re truly reasonable,” the coachman nodded toward the carriage and flicked his whip to urge the horses onward.
The merchant was dumbfounded: “Leaving already? Miss, won\u2019t you take another look? The price isn\u2019t set in stone…”
No one paid him any attention as the carriage drove off on its own.
Passing through the streets and crossing the stone arch bridge over the moat, the carriage came to a stop outside the gates of Jade Tree Manor.
Su Mo tucked his hands into his sleeves, leaned against the carriage window, and said wearily, “I won’t go down. I’ll wait for you all in the carriage.”
Mu Bai paused mid-step, bent down to lean close to him, and reached out to feel his forehead. “Really sick?”
After a moment’s thought, he untied his own white brocade cloak with crane patterns and draped it over Su Mo.
Wearing only the thin, short-sleeved cool robe underneath, he stepped out of the carriage.
The thrush saw him, froze for a moment, then immediately understood and teased: “Junior Sister Xiaobai, what were you and Young Master Su doing in the carriage? You went in with neat clothes, yet got off looking so… refreshingly cool?”
Mubai lowered his eyelids: “I was afraid he’d catch a cold, and then the Wuti Emperor would come to our Qinglian Valley for an explanation.”
“Oh\u2014I see, I see.” The thrush suppressed a laugh and stepped through the Jade Tree Manor gate first.
A servant inside the gate bowed slightly: “Welcome to your visit, everyone.”
Mu Bai stepped forward to hand over the letter, and they were led down the corridor by a servant.
The corridor twisted and turned, winding through more than a dozen bends before reaching the inner part of the estate.
The servant stopped before an ornate wooden door and said respectfully, “Master, the guests from Qinglian Valley have arrived.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n
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