Chapter Seventy-Six: Suddenly, Like a Spring Breeze Overnight

In the height of July, the summer sky was as blue and pure as a bolt of satin, without a trace of cloud in sight. The blazing sun scorched the earth mercilessly, making it so hot that neither man nor beast could catch their breath.

Under such a merciless sun, the caravan could hardly travel any further. Sheltering beneath the shade of cooling trees, the incessant chirping of cicadas only added to people's discomfort, making them irritable in the stifling heat.

Yet even such oppressive weather could not melt the frost from Lu Jiu’s face. Bai Liangqi, who had always been fearless, became remarkably well-behaved from the very first day he stepped into Lu Jiu’s carriage. Now, he sat obediently at Lu Jiu’s side, reading his lessons with utmost seriousness. Only the occasional glance he cast at Madam Pei was tinged with helpless pleading.

Madam Pei returned him a look full of sympathy, sighing inwardly. This woman, beautiful to the extreme and with a gaze as sharp as a blade, could intimidate not only the likes of young Bai Liangqi, but even herself with a single glare.

"After you left, the caravan was attacked several more times along the way. Over a dozen guards died, and the wounded were even more numerous. Old Hu and Ning Jiao were both sent back to Chang’an early due to their injuries. Even Wang Shiyi, who tried to protect her, was gravely wounded and could not recover. From that moment on, Ninth Young Master’s face never looked well again."

At that moment, Zhou Liuzi seemed almost possessed by Old Hu’s spirit, becoming unexpectedly talkative.

Lu Liaoliao managed a faint, wooden smile. He knew Zhou Liuzi meant well, trying to distract him from his brooding silence. But every time he closed his eyes, Emil’s smiling face would appear before him. Such pain could not be easily soothed.

"By the way, I noticed something secret about the caravan. Before we left for Lingzhou, all our draft horses and mounts were just ordinary breeds. But after Lingzhou, they were all replaced with tall, fine horses from the Western Regions. Then, returning from Fanyang, they switched them all back to common draft horses. I think the Four Seas Trading Company is secretly smuggling military horses into Fanyang."

Zhou Liuzi leaned in to whisper this quietly to Lu Liaoliao.

Lu Liaoliao patted Zhou Liuzi’s shoulder gently and replied in a low voice, "I already suspected as much, but these are not matters we should get involved with. We must learn that there are many things we can observe and remember, but must never speak of."

"Not even to you, Young Master?" Zhou Liuzi tilted his head curiously.

"Of course you can tell me," Lu Liaoliao’s expression softened for once.

Zhou Liuzi smiled, a bittersweet, satisfied smile.

At last, they arrived at Eastern Capital Luoyang, famed for being ringed by mountains, laced with rivers, possessing eight great gates and connecting ten provinces. The caravan entered the Four Seas Trading Company’s warehouse in silence, and Lu Jiu, for once, appeared in Lu Liaoliao’s room.

"I need to visit a close friend here in Luoyang. You’ll accompany me," Lu Jiu said, her face impassive.

"Why must I accompany you?" Lu Liaoliao was clearly reluctant.

"Because my friend is the granddaughter of a former prime minister, born into a family of scholars. You’re at least a learned man, unlike those uncouth guards. You’re a better fit."

With that, Lu Jiu turned and left, leaving Lu Liaoliao with no choice but to follow in silence.

Like an ordinary escort, he walked wordlessly behind Lu Jiu’s carriage as it wound through the bustling streets, stopping before a grand and imposing residence. Above the vermilion doors hung a stately plaque inscribed with the characters for "House of Zong."

The driver hopped down and presented a visiting card, and soon enough, they were led through a side door into the depths of the reception hall.

Servant girls and attendants bustled back and forth, all with faces alight with joy, which piqued Lu Jiu’s curiosity. Could she have arrived just in time for her dear friend’s happy occasion?

These days, marrying a daughter of the House of Zong was said to be as difficult as a god descending to earth. Lu Jiu wondered when her beloved, musically gifted, strikingly beautiful, and supremely talented elder sister, Zong Yueniang, would ever find a worthy match. With a soft sigh, Lu Jiu led Lu Liaoliao straight to the rear courtyard.

At the moon gate of the rear courtyard, two smiling maids politely blocked Lu Liaoliao, allowing only the familiar Lu Jiu to enter.

Lu Jiu strode straight into Zong Yueniang’s boudoir, where she found her friend holding a dazzling red wedding dress up before herself, so startled that her jaw nearly dropped.

"Yueniang! You, the proud scholar whom only a god could hope to marry, are really about to be wed?" Lu Jiu stared in disbelief at Zong Yueniang.

"The one marrying me is indeed a god descended to earth—the banished immortal Li Bai, Li Taibai. In three days, he will become my husband," Zong Yueniang replied, radiant with happiness.

"What?" Lu Jiu was truly stunned this time.

"My dear Liuli, have you not heard the city abuzz with the tale of a thousand gold for a wall?" Zong Yueniang’s beautiful face bore a hint of pride.

Lu Jiu shook her head in confusion. "I came straight to see you as soon as I arrived. How would I have heard such a story?"

Yueniang laughed. "Then let me tell you myself."

It turned out that one day, Zong Yueniang, while touring Liang Garden with her maid, came upon a white wall upon which someone had written a poem, "Ode to Liang Garden." The signature revealed none other than the famed Poet Immortal, Master Taibai himself.

Just then, a Buddhist monk, annoyed, was about to erase the poem. In haste, Yueniang declared she would buy the wall for a thousand gold coins. Later, she truly sent a thousand copper coins and purchased it.

Word of this spread through Luoyang, causing a sensation. Not long after, the Poet Immortal's friend, Gao Shi, came to propose marriage on his behalf.

"Whenever I read Master Taibai's verses, I always imagine what kind of bold, romantic, and unrestrained man could write such masterpieces. Perhaps only an immortal from the heavens could possess such spirit and talent," Zong Yueniang said, her face dreamy and enraptured, leaving Lu Jiu at a loss for words.

"I’ve heard this Poet Immortal, Master Taibai, is quite the libertine. I wonder if your gentle nature can handle so wild a man," Lu Jiu said, a note of concern in her voice.

"He was a libertine only because he hadn’t met me yet. Once we are wed, I’ll turn his indomitable steel into pliant silk," Zong Yueniang replied with absolute confidence.

Lu Jiu could only sigh in silence.

"By the way, Liuli, have you found that young man you’ve been seeking these past four years?" Zong Yueniang teased.

"Don’t mention him! I get furious just thinking about that rascal," Lu Jiu replied angrily, then briefly recounted her reunion with Lu Liaoliao.

"Such a man is not easily controlled. The tighter you grasp, the more he will struggle. If a woman truly wishes to keep a man, she should simply marry him—then, no matter how he tries to fly, he’ll never escape your grasp," Zong Yueniang said, tapping Lu Jiu’s forehead playfully.

"What? You want me to marry such a shameless scoundrel?" Lu Jiu glared at Zong Yueniang in protest.

"Who told you to keep asking about him since you were fourteen?" Zong Yueniang laughed.

"I only want to find him for revenge," Lu Jiu grumbled, unconvinced.

"No matter what you say, he’s long since taken up residence in your heart, hasn’t he?" Zong Yueniang smiled knowingly.

Lu Jiu glared at Zong Yueniang, "Just because he’s your master’s disciple, don’t think you can go on and on about this. Isn’t it enough that you’ve been my elder sister all these years—do you want to become my teacher’s wife as well?"

With that, the two women fell into a fit of laughter, wrestling playfully.

Lu Liaoliao waited by the gate of the rear courtyard, gazing idly at the blue sky, lost in thought. Who knew how long Lu Jiu had been inside, when suddenly a maid approached and bowed.

"My mistress bids me bring you to her for a meeting, sir."

"It’s the inner chambers—me, a strange man, entering there is hardly proper," Lu Liaoliao protested, waving his hands in refusal.

"My mistress said you are not an outsider. There’s no harm," the maid replied politely.

"Me? Not an outsider?" Lu Liaoliao was bewildered.

The maid nodded reassuringly, "Please come, sir. My mistress must not be kept waiting."

Dazed, Lu Liaoliao was led into the rear courtyard. In the cool pavilion, Lu Jiu stood beside a young woman of about twenty, graceful and elegant, her manner that of an elder.

She regarded Lu Liaoliao up and down, scrutinizing him so thoroughly that he was left completely at a loss.

"Have you nothing to say upon meeting your teacher’s wife? Kneel and make your respects," Lu Jiu said with feigned sternness and a sly grin.

"What teacher's wife? Have you lost your mind?" Lu Liaoliao retorted angrily.

"My elder sister, Zong Yueniang, will wed your master, Master Taibai, in three days. Who else would she be?" Lu Jiu replied smugly.

Lu Liaoliao was stunned, retorting, "You must be joking."

"A woman’s marriage and reputation are not matters for jest!" Lu Jiu scolded.

"Could it really be true?" Lu Liaoliao eyed the youthful Zong Yueniang doubtfully, unable to reconcile her with his venerable master.

Zong Yueniang smiled gently, "Your master, Master Taibai, is currently residing in our guest quarters, awaiting our wedding in three days. If you don’t believe me, you can go greet him yourself."

Lu Liaoliao knew there was no doubting it now, and could only kneel in resignation. "Unworthy disciple Lu Liaoliao pays his respects to Teacher’s Wife."

Zong Yueniang waved her hand modestly, "You may rise and speak."

Lu Jiu’s face broke into a delighted smile, as if a gust of spring wind had finally blown away the frost that had long lingered there.

"Lu Liaoliao, from now on, I am your elder. If you ever dare defy me again, I’ll be sure to complain to your teacher’s wife."