Chapter 42: Night of the Fish and Dragon Dance (Part 7)

Behind Golden Wind Tower in Yuan Jin'er's room, Kou'er was vividly describing what had happened at Old Rain Tower not long ago:

"...And then, when Young Master Ning wrote this poem, those people were all dumbfounded. That Xue Jin who originally wanted to make things difficult for him even asked: Didn't you say Water Melody Prelude was written by some Taoist priest? Then Young Master Ning told him... hahaha... Young Master Ning said, that Taoist priest that day... hehehe... chanted, chanted two poems... hahahaha..."

After she finished, Yuan Jin'er lying in bed also suddenly burst out laughing, rocking back and forth: "Sister Yunzhu, this person is so witty..."

Yunzhu held the paper reading it, and knowing Ning Yi, couldn't help picturing the scene Kou'er described in her mind. Thinking of Ning Yi's unconventional personality, he really would do something like this. She couldn't help but smile.

Kou'er had actually always somewhat supported Master Cao Guan. Though she was happy telling the story now, after a moment she became slightly anxious: "Miss, Sister Nie, is this poem... really that good? Master Cao and the others' expressions out front were really strange. Miss, you've said before poetry competitions have no fixed rules. Master Cao is already the best—could he really not compare..."

Yuan Jin'er smiled, looked at the poem again, exchanged a glance with Nie Yunzhu, then shook her head slightly: "From what you described, Kou'er, after tonight, the title of Jiangning's number one talent will probably be crowned on Young Master Ning's head—too bad he's a live-in son-in-law at a merchant family." She frowned again. "Why would such a person marry in? Could the Su family have forced him..."

Previously they'd suspected Ning Yi plagiarized because of his live-in son-in-law status, but after this time, probably no one would dare doubt anymore. That joke about the Taoist chanting two poems—naturally no one would believe it. While Yuan Jin'er wondered, Hutao who'd been hesitating beside them tugged Nie Yunzhu's sleeve, saying softly: "Miss, this Young Master Ning, could he really be that Young Master Ning?"

Her voice wasn't loud, but Yuan Jin'er and Kou'er beside them heard clearly, eyes widening: "Sister Yunzhu... knows that Ning Yi?"

"Ah..." Yuan Jin'er was stunned for a long while, thinking of that strange but beautiful melody, unable to reconcile the thoughts in her mind. Looking at this Green Jadeite Bowl before her—truly grand and orthodox to the extreme. Yet that "Outside the long pavilion, along the ancient route" was truly unconventional and unrestrained. "If it's really like Sister Yunzhu says, that's really... somewhat strange..."

"Sister Nie, you really know that Young Master Ning? What kind of person is he really? Tell us..."

Kou'er leaned toward Nie Yunzhu, and Nie Yunzhu looked at the poem in her hand, thought briefly, then slowly raised her head, gaze turning to a corner of the room.

Yes, what kind of person was he really...

Thinking about it now, she found it hard to describe—when they first met, she fell in the river and dragged him down. After saving her, he got slapped and never explained. Later interactions were so casual—his daily morning runs, the occasional conversations when he stopped by. Though she'd long heard of his talent, in his every action he didn't present himself as a scholar. What he cared about daily were all sorts of odd things.

"Just killing a chicken, no need to thank me."

"Charcoal pencil... for writing..."

"Exercise... A scholar is useless in all matters."

"If I could learn some martial arts... the really impressive kind for wandering the jianghu..."

"Jialan Rain... not fit for refined occasions, but I like listening to it."

"Century eggs... you can call them fortune eggs or jade eggs if you want..."

If she told others these things, they might think him arrogant or something, but in their interactions, she just felt relaxed—a different kind of ease from all those refined talented scholars. Arrogance always came from being extremely proud of something. But she could feel he truly didn't feel smug about those things or look down on others. Just a feeling of light clouds and gentle breeze—what others liked, he didn't exactly dislike, but also didn't particularly enjoy. Though speaking of it, in several months of interaction, though he'd never really shown his talented and romantic side before her, and she'd never mentioned it either, undeniably she still had some expectations in her heart.

When will the bright moon appear, I raise my wine cup to ask the blue sky... Just how talented must someone who could write such verses be? Nie Yunzhu actually had small hopes in her heart. Though she felt relaxed with Ning Yi's casual and carefree side, and believed this might be his truer side, she still hoped to one day witness his other side that belonged to a scholar.

Until now seeing this Green Jadeite Bowl, picturing in her mind the scene of him writing this poem, everyone's mockery, obstruction, making things difficult, and his relaxed smile as he calmly dealt with it... If only I could have been there...

Hearing Kou'er's question, looking at the poem, this strong thought suddenly arose in her heart. Outside on this Lantern Festival night with lights bright as day, he'd said he had urgent business at the restaurant. She wondered what business, wondered where he was now. These things, she suddenly wanted to know...

After a moment, Nie Yunzhu suppressed these emotions.

After the midnight bell struck, Ning Yi was walking back with Xiao Chan, who kept reciting that Green Jadeite Bowl over and over, occasionally asking: "Young Master, Young Master, what was that golden something?" Ning Yi would answer.

His mood was somewhat bored because after writing the poem, he'd still lost the person.

When writing the poem he'd thought how fitting it was, especially while he was tracking that female assassin. But perhaps because it was too fitting, or maybe that last line "Suddenly I turn around, and I see her there, where lights are dim and faint" caught the female assassin's attention. When he and Xiao Chan followed afterward, after circling around a few times they discovered the female assassin had completely vanished from his tracking range.

Perhaps it was precisely this fitting poem that gave away his pursuit. He really hadn't expected this. He wondered if changing it to "Suddenly I turn around, that person isn't there where lights are dim and faint" would have been better... he thought somewhat awkwardly at the time.

If that female assassin had truly become wary of him, persistently searching further would be harmful rather than beneficial. Since it didn't work out, he simply let it go. After strolling around with Xiao Chan for a while, they turned back together. On the way Xiao Chan was still excited about earlier events, constantly talking about Xue Jin's dumbfounded expression. She even put her hands on her hips, laughing arrogantly: "Hmph, now no one will dare speak badly of Young Master anymore."

Ning Yi smiled: "Ah, speaking badly won't matter anymore..."

"Why?"

"Because the Taoist only chanted two poems."

"Heehee..." Xiao Chan laughed.

Regardless, the problem of others saying he plagiarized was basically resolved by now.

Some things—like tonight—looked like accidents but actually had calculation within them, and from the beginning, Ning Yi felt the ideal solution would be something like this direction. He wasn't someone with cleanliness obsessions. The poems he knew became strategic resources here that might be useful for future matters. But currently there were no matters. Using them for vanity wasn't interesting. Since Xiao Chan had revealed things, he had no need to deny—why bear infamy for something that could be resolved?

Daily associating with those talented scholars, mixing for some reputation—he'd never considered such things. Since it was just done casually, things should be simple. He'd kept silent about the whole matter for five months, thinking there would eventually be times he couldn't avoid, then he could resolve things. Today he'd truly wanted to chase that female assassin. After all, in his heart the title of talented scholar was truly optional—take one if it's delivered to your door. Martial arts was too different. Who knew such an accident would happen? Since Xue Jin, Su Chonghua and others had said things to that extent, he didn't mind going with the flow.

These considerations perhaps weren't so specific. He hadn't really seriously planned it. But past experience had become habit. When gaming or relaxing he could loosen up, be unrestrained—like chatting with Old Qin, Old Kang, Nie Yunzhu and others. But whenever he sensed threat, however small, these seemingly casual responses had perhaps already been deliberated dozens of times in his subconscious. He could only laugh and curse himself for never escaping calculation in this lifetime.

The martial arts path still had no hope for now. The poetry matter being resolved counted as some gain. After walking a while, Xiao Chan suddenly said: "Young Master, Xiao Chan doesn't like this poem..."

"Hmm?"

"What searching for one amongst the crowd a thousand times over... Young Master, you were just chasing that female thief."

Ning Yi froze, then laughed. Xiao Chan pursed her lips: "Young Master, if I tell Young Miss later, you'll be in big trouble..."

"Mm-hmm, got it." Ning Yi nodded, walking forward smiling. Xiao Chan followed from behind: "Young Master, I'm really going to tell Young Miss..."

"Got it..."

Xiao Chan somewhat liked Ning Yi, but she couldn't hide such things from Su Tan'er for Ning Yi's sake. Moreover she didn't want Ning Yi and Su Tan'er to have estrangement. For a moment she wavered between "loyalty to Young Miss" and "hiding for Young Master's sake for family harmony." Seeing Ning Yi's indifferent attitude again, she felt her distress was somewhat unnecessary, wanting to pounce over and bite him.

"Young~ Master..."

"Got it, got it... The poem was written that way, but it wasn't referring to searching for her. Besides, didn't I fail to find her in the end... Let's go, let's go, hurry up..."

While master and servant seemed to be chasing and playing on the street, in the small teahouse, Su Tan'er who'd finished her business negotiations had also received that Green Jadeite Bowl poem and learned everything that happened at Puyuan Poetry Gathering earlier, and she now sat there with chin propped, gaze serene as she stared into the air, not knowing what she was thinking. On one side of the square table, Xi Junyu's fingers touched lightly together. He looked at the paper with the poem, gaze appearing calm. Only someone especially familiar with him might notice that trace of gloom in his eyes.

Originally with business concluded, Su Tan'er still had to wait for Ning Yi and Xiao Chan to return. He could also stay here to discuss upcoming business plans with Su Tan'er. After all it was Lantern Festival night—they could somewhat mention other trivial matters. Regardless of what kind of person Ning Yi was, he and Su Tan'er had cooperated for several years. Some things couldn't be diluted. To him the atmosphere felt quite good. But when this poem arrived and Xiao Juan shared the rumors she'd heard, when Su Tan'er went quiet, he knew everything had been scattered to pieces. If he said more, Su Tan'er might still listen seriously and respond with smiles, but it was already meaningless.

Before long, Ning Yi and Xiao Chan came up from over there. Su Tan'er smiled and nodded at him: "Husband's here. If there's nothing else important, Manager Xi should head back first. Thank you for your hard work today."

"Then I'll take my leave." Xi Junyu smiled, bowed, then greeted Ning Yi, and as he prepared to go downstairs he looked back to see Su Tan'er forcefully pursing her lips, forcefully pointing at the paper on the table in front of Ning Yi, but her eyes were full of thick smiles, like an action between friends with great understanding. He and Su Tan'er also had understanding, but that was only in business. Su Tan'er seemed gentle and refined but was actually terribly serious many times. When they cooperated tacitly to complete certain business deals it felt very accomplished, but he'd never seen such a smile from her.

Ning Yi picked up the paper and looked, also smiling, explaining something. Probably noticing her clothes were slightly disheveled, Su Tan'er smiled and reached out, adjusting his robe's collar for him...

(End of Chapter)