Graceful and Gentle Lady

“Master Li, I have already mended my ways,” Yao Shuang said, breaking free from the fox demon’s restraint and transforming into her human form. She gave a slight bow as she spoke.

“Is that so? Yet I see your body is still shrouded in murderous energy. Clearly, you have not truly repented,” Li Xintian replied, seeing the crimson aura and hearing the wailing cries that emanated from her.

“Stupid scholar, don’t push your luck! If I want to leave, you cannot stop me!” Seeing her pleas were useless, Yao Shuang turned into a streak of black light and fled, leaving behind the ancient fox demon.

“This serpent demon seems to fear this scholar, Li Xintian. Perhaps I should make my escape as well,” thought the fox demon, and with a flicker, vanished from the spot.

“Li Xintian, I have urgent matters to attend to. Farewell,” said Lord Thunder, and resumed his search for the Clear Spirit Pearl.

“The serpent demon appeared, and so did Lord Thunder. These matters are far more complicated than they seem. There must be someone orchestrating everything from behind the scenes. But who?” Li Xintian mused, stroking his chin. At that moment, he heard a woman’s laughter.

Following the laughter, he saw a young woman about his own age, channeling her demon power to transform stones into flowers, then turning the flowers into butterflies. Li Xintian quietly withdrew, not wishing to disturb her.

Chen Manor.

“Cousin, where did you go? Something strange happened—Zhu Erdan suddenly became incredibly clever. In just half a day, he uncovered Scholar Hong’s cause of death,” Chen Yuanwen remarked, seeing Li Xintian return at dusk.

“Oh, I heard about that when I came back,” Li Xintian replied, having already heard the rumors circulating in the streets.

“Li Xintian, you finally decided to come home!” Hu Qiuyan rushed out and tugged at his ear, shouting.

“Cousin, you’re busy. I’ll leave you to it. Good luck!” Chen Yuanwen quickly slipped away.

“Ouch, let go, let go!” Li Xintian protested, thinking Hu Qiuyan was still out shopping with Huo Wanping.

“What’s the matter? Why grab my ear as soon as I walk in?” Li Xintian said, rubbing his ear.

“You promised to take me out when we reached the capital! I’ve heard there’s a lantern festival tonight—it’ll be lively. You must accompany me,” Hu Qiuyan huffed, glaring at him as though she’d unleash her fury if he refused.

“Alright, alright, I’ll take you tonight,” Li Xintian agreed, knowing refusal would only lead to trouble.

“That’s better. Let’s go now,” Hu Qiuyan said, taking his arm.

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.” Chen Yuanwen, Chen Zishan, Chen Linqing, and Huo Wanping hid in the corner, all making noises as they watched the unfolding drama.

“Brother Bai, Miss Zhang, Miss Zhong, this is my friend, Hu Qiuyan,” Li Xintian said after strolling with Hu Qiuyan, introducing her to Bai Yang and Zhang Xiaoman, whom they had met.

“Brother Li, I must thank you again. Without your help, my father wouldn’t have been released so quickly, and Xiaoman and I wouldn’t know how long before we could be together,” Bai Yang said, cupping his hands.

“No need for thanks, it was nothing. When will you invite me to your wedding feast?” Li Xintian laughed.

“Soon—just five days, and Xiaoman and I will wed,” Bai Yang replied, looking at Zhang Xiaoman, who blushed deeply.

“Let’s keep wandering and try the lantern riddles,” Zhong Mengying suggested.

“Good,” Li Xintian nodded. Hu Qiuyan cast a hostile glance at Zhong Mengying and clung tightly to Li Xintian’s arm.

The group continued in high spirits.

Zhu Erdan was also out at the lantern festival with several members of the Literary Society. Upon seeing Li Xintian’s group and the three women beside him, their eyes lit up.

“Isn’t that Li Jieyuan? He’s out at the lantern festival with two beauties by his side—what a difference!”

“Look at us, just a bunch of men. At least Zhu has a wife,” the others grumbled, watching Li Xintian and Bai Yang.

“Come on, let’s go greet them,” Zhu Erdan said, his gaze fixed on Zhang Xiaoman. The others were similarly captivated, especially by Zhong Mengying, despite her veil, causing her to edge closer behind Li Xintian.

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“Greetings, Li Jieyuan. We’re all from the Literary Society,” Zhu Erdan and the others blocked Li Xintian’s path, cupping their hands.

“Nice to meet you,” Li Xintian replied in kind.

“May we join you for the lantern festival?” Zhu Erdan asked, his eyes never leaving the women, particularly Zhang Xiaoman. The others were likewise entranced, making Zhong Mengying, despite her veil, feel uneasy and prompting her to move closer behind Li Xintian.

“Alright,” Li Xintian agreed after a moment’s thought.

“Thank you, Li Jieyuan,” Zhu Erdan thought of Ke Shaorong at home and felt a pang—how unattractive he seemed before Hu Qiuyan, Zhong Mengying, and Zhang Xiaoman.

On the walk, Zhu Erdan chatted with Zhang Xiaoman and Bai Yang, while the others pursued conversation with Zhong Mengying and Hu Qiuyan.

“It’s just as I thought,” Li Xintian felt awkward, but with four men occupied, he felt much more at ease. If anyone got too forward, he would cough, keeping them in check.

“Hiss…” Li Xintian suddenly felt pain on both sides of his waist—Hu Qiuyan and Zhong Mengying were pinching him.

“Everyone, let’s quiet down and try the lantern riddles,” Li Xintian stepped forward.

“The way of humanity, guess the character,” he read the riddle.

“It must be the character ‘recognize’,” Zhu Erdan answered quickly.

“Brother Zhu is indeed a scholar—please explain,” Li Xintian said.

“The character ‘人’ for man, and ‘道’ for way, together imply ‘讠’ for speech, forming ‘认’—recognize,” Zhu Erdan explained with a smile.

The others chimed in, praising him.

“Well done, Brother Zhu.”

“This gentleman has guessed well. Here’s a lantern as your prize,” the owner handed Zhu Erdan a lantern.

“Brother Bai, you and Miss Zhang are about to be married. This lantern is for you—may you enjoy a century of harmony,” Zhu Erdan said, giving the lantern to Bai Yang.

“Thank you, Brother Zhu,” Bai Yang replied.

Li Xintian gazed deeply at Zhu Erdan before looking away.

“Chrysanthemums bloom at Mid-Autumn—guess the idiom,” Li Xintian read the next riddle.

“Flowers in bloom, full moon—‘blooming flowers and full moon’,” Zhong Mengying replied directly.

“Miss Zhong is a clever lady,” Li Xintian smiled, having guessed the answer himself.

“Miss, here is your prize,” the owner handed Zhong Mengying a lantern and replaced the riddle with another.

“Li Jieyuan, I’ll give you this lantern,” Zhong Mengying said, to the surprise of everyone, who wondered whom she would gift it to.

“This is trouble for me,” Li Xintian thought, his hands sweating. Zhong Mengying watched him, her face flushed.

“Thank you, Miss Zhong, but I’ll hold it for Xintian,” Hu Qiuyan snatched the lantern from Zhong Mengying’s hand.

“Let’s move to the next one,” Li Xintian said, feeling the tension.

He even considered leaving.

“This is the final game of the lantern festival. Whoever finds a bun with a paper inside will win a prize. There’s also a couple’s prize, which can be for brothers as well. The prize is a secret,” announced a wealthy merchant from the stage.

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Many people rushed to snatch the buns, tearing them open to see if there was paper inside, then discarding them.

“What a waste. Let’s go,” Li Xintian said, unable to watch.

“Don’t you want to wait for them?” Bai Yang asked.

“No need,” Li Xintian said, walking ahead.

Zhong Mengying and Hu Qiuyan followed, as did Bai Yang and Zhang Xiaoman. Zhu Erdan didn’t join the scramble either.

“It’s getting late. Time to head home,” Li Xintian looked up at the moon, estimating it was already past midnight.

“Miss Zhong, let me walk you home,” Li Xintian offered.

Zhu Erdan returned home, lay in his study, and reflected on Zhang Xiaoman, Hu Qiuyan, and Zhong Mengying—the epitome of grace and beauty. Unconsciously, he drifted to sleep.

Li Xintian returned to Chen Manor and went to bed.

Prime Minister’s Residence.

“Miss, did you enjoy yourself tonight?” Xiao Wan asked, seeing Zhong Mengying still awake, leaning on her hand and staring at her reflection.

“Xiao Wan, go rest. I’ll retire soon,” Zhong Mengying replied, still brooding over why Li Xintian didn’t accept the lantern.

The next day.

Zhu Erdan arrived early at the Ten Temples Shrine.

“Lord Lu, I’ve commissioned your statue and will worship you at home. I’ve decided to sincerely devote myself to you. There’s something I hope you’ll help me with,” Zhu Erdan knelt on the mat and spoke.

“Your abacus isn’t working, is it? Your masterpiece seems to have overthought things,” said Lord Situ, watching from the underworld.

“Hurry, perhaps Zhu Erdan is praying for peace in the world,” Lord Lu waved his hand.

“Haha…” Lord Situ laughed heartily.

“I’ve been a lord for many years, and I’ve never seen—”

“Lord Lu, mortals come to the temple to pray for peace in the world,” Lord Situ stopped laughing and said.

Lord Lu fell silent.

“Lord Lu, though you are a spirit, you have the heart of a Bodhisattva. Otherwise—”

Zhu Erdan glanced around.

“You wouldn’t have granted me wisdom. But with the intelligence I now possess, I should be worthy of a lady whose beauty rivals the moon and flowers, whose grace makes fish sink and birds fall.”

“But facing my wife, I truly cannot stomach it.”

“Lord Lu, I beg you, use your power to make my wife a graceful lady. Thank you, Lord Lu, I beg you,” Zhu Erdan finished, bowing repeatedly before Lord Lu’s statue.

Underworld.

“Zhu Erdan is hopeless. I must berate him and wake him up,” Lord Lu muttered as he prepared to leave.

“Wait, don’t forget—we’re betting,” Lord Situ stopped him.

“I haven’t forgotten. I just want to remind him to be mindful of his actions,” Lord Lu replied, hurrying to leave.

“You may wake him, but since we’re betting, if he acts according to your advice and not his own will, that’s hardly fair, is it?” Lord Situ said, holding him back.

Lord Lu could only open his mouth and fall silent.

“So let’s stay here in the underworld and watch this mortal. Now that he’s become clever, will he do good or evil?” Lord Situ said, seeing Lord Lu had nothing more to say.