Chu Liuyue couldn’t hide her glee as she looked at the two light points on her hand, which vanished when she lifted her fingers. There’s finally some progress! Although I only managed to split the starlight into two, it’s already a very good start!
After circulating her force for one Heavenly Cycle, she went to wash up before exiting her room to head to the medicinal garden alone. Despite having stayed up all night, she was in great spirits and didn’t feel sleepy at all.
The planted herbs in the garden were slowly growing and didn’t wither quickly like before.
As she carefully tended to the garden, her seniors arrived one after another. They weren’t here to see her this time but to check on the herbs. Despite the Cabinet Master’s assurance that the garden had returned to normal, they couldn’t help but feel worried. Thus, they came here to check on the herbs in the early morning.
They didn’t expect Chu Liuyue to be here even earlier than them though. On top of that, from the way she tended to the herbs, it was clear that she was very familiar and good at taking care of them! Amidst their delight, their admiration for her grew even more. It turns out that our junior is even more capable than we expected!
Even Elder Xia Yi had come to check the garden. But unlike the others, he didn’t comment on it much. All he did was walk up to Chu Liuyue’s side and earnestly express his gratitude. “Thank you, Liuyue.”
Chu Liuyue blinked in confusion, but she soon realized that he must’ve learned about the Messed Yuan Gravel matter when she saw his expression. Her eyes formed crescents as she said, “There’s no need to thank me, Elder Xia Yi. I was merely doing my duties as a Chong Xu Cabinet disciple.”
Are we on our lucky break? Did the heavens finally decide to make it up to us for the many trials and tribulations we’ve gone through? wondered Elder Xia Yi. Mixed emotions churned within him as he sighed, feeling slightly regretful that both Chu Liuyue and Qiang Wanzhou had chosen Weichi Song to be their master.
“To be honest, my cultivation is on par with the Cabinet Master’s. Why didn’t you guys choose me?” He stroked his beard and then added, “Hehe. Before the two of you came, the Cabinet Master would stay up on the mountain for months in a row. But now that he has gained two new disciples, he’s always leaving the mountain…”
Only then did Chu Liuyue remember that she hadn’t seen her master around ever since he went to the Jiang residence yesterday, so she couldn’t ask him how the visit went. “He’s going down again?”
“Yeah, he just left! He should be halfway down the mountain by now.”
Did he fail to see Jiang Yucheng yesterday, so he’s going there again? wondered Chu Liuyue in puzzlement. “Elder Xia Yi, do you know what my master is going to do today? Is he… going to the Jiang residence?”
Elder Xia Yi shook his head. “No, he’s going to Xin Li Garden today.”
Chu Liuyue was surprised to hear that. Why is he going there again?
Upon seeing her look of astonishment, Elder Xia Yi explained, “He’s there to take some things. As you probably know, he used to be on close terms with the late Crown Princess. She placed quite a number of things there…”
Chu Liuyue’s eyelids twitched. “Are you saying that he’s going to the zither room?”
“How did you know that?” asked Elder Xia Yi in surprise.
Pausing, Chu Liuyue said lightly, “Uh… I heard him mention it before…”
Elder Xia Yi nodded, not doubting her words in the slightest. “I see. You’re right though—he’s indeed going there. I think he intends to take those items back… He mentioned this before, but because he was afraid that he might become sad and depressed seeing those things, he thought it’d be best to just leave them there. I don’t know what made him change his mind though…”
A thought popped up in Chu Liuyue’s head right then. The legendary three-eyed eagle previously mentioned that the purplish-gold Buddha leaf was near the zither room! If I can tag along with Weichi Song… I’ll have a valid reason to enter that place!
She then immediately said goodbye to Elder Xia Yi and left in a hurry.
Elder Xia Yi was confused as he watched her figure disappear into the distance. Why is it that both master and disciple are acting a little strangely?
…
Chu Liuyue ran as fast as possible and finally caught up to Weichi Song when he was about to reach the foot of the mountain. “Master!”
Weichi Song looked back. “Liuyue? Why are you here?”
Chu Liuyue walked briskly to his side, her forehead dotted with beads of sweat. “Master, I heard from Elder Xia Yi that you’re going to Xin Li Garden today. Is that right?”
“Yes!” Weichi Song nodded. Upon noticing her hurried look, he said, “Oh right. I wanted to look for you and Wanzhou when I came back yesterday, but I didn’t want to disturb the two of you since you guys seemed to be in the middle of cultivating.”
Chu Liuyue had given Qiang Wanzhou a few more pills yesterday, so he was indeed currently trying to expel the cold qi in his body. She felt her heart squeeze when she heard what Weichi Song said. “…So… How did the visit go?”
Pausing for a short moment, Weichi Song lowered his voice and slowly said, “He concealed his aura, and his hand was injured… Although I don’t have any evidence yet, he’s likely to be the culprit.”
I was right! thought Chu Liuyue with bated breath. She was already more or less certain that the culprit was Jiang Yucheng when the various pieces of evidence they found pointed to him. Hence, she wasn’t too surprised to hear this conclusion. That said, mixed emotions arose within her. Jiang Yucheng didn’t let the people around me off even after my death. Chong Xu Cabinet was only implicated because of me.
After much deliberation, she finally said, “Master, I’d like to follow you to Xin Li Garden.”
Weichi Song froze for a moment. He wasn’t too approving of her request. “Liuyue, I’m actually going there because—”
“I know.” Chu Liuyue looked at him firmly. “Perhaps I’ll be of help to you?”
Weichi Song fell silent for a long while. He could tell that Chu Liuyue really wanted to go with him. She probably knows that I’m going to the zither room to take things… In that case, there must be a reason for her persistence.
“Master?”
Upon hearing the hint of eagerness in her voice, Weichi Song made up his mind. “Alright! I’ll take you there on the condition that you stay by my side and not rashly act when we get there.”
“Thank you, Master!” said Chu Liuyue immediately.
“Come on; let’s go!” The last of Weichi Song’s hesitation completely disappeared when he saw her sparkling, crescent eyes. Since she doesn’t want to tell me anything, I won’t ask her any questions then. How can I not trust her when she has put her life at stake for Chong Xu Cabinet? Regardless, I just have to do my best to protect her.
…
By the time Weichi Song and Chu Liuyue arrived at Xin Li Garden’s entrance, Jiang Yucheng was already there waiting for them. The latter’s brows slightly furrowed when he noticed the female following behind the elder.
Why is Chu Liuyue here too? Looking calm and composed, Jiang Yucheng walked up to them and greeted, “Master Weichi.”
Chu Liuyue’s gaze landed on Jiang Yucheng for a moment before she quickly withdrew it. Just as I expected. He’s using a Yuan instrument to conceal his aura, and the bandage on his hand has obviously been replaced with a new one. I can’t tell anything from the looks of it.
Standing in front of Weichi Song, Jiang Yucheng flashed a small smile at him. “Master Weichi, I don’t think you mentioned anything about bringing an outsider with you yesterday.”
