Capture the Jade

Lin Chengyou reminded them: “Be careful, it’s fine if there is no impersonation, but as long as there is one that dares to impersonate, it will definitely not be easy to deal with. The opportunity is rare for you two to gain some experience.” 

“Senior brother can feel reassured.” 

It was this moment when a strange noise was heard from the scripture hall. The tightly closed door of the side room opened wide on both sides, and a red thread flew out from inside, bolted straight towards the front of the well . 

Jue Sheng and Qizhi were quite startled. No wonder senior brother has such deep respect for that person. This person’s internal strength is very deep, even so much that it is not any less than master’s. 

This red thread is extremely thin, and every few inches, there hangs a little bell. It’s strange as this little bell was clearly blown by the wind back and forth endlessly, yet there was not even a little trance of movement. 

Lin Chengyou lifted his hands, and firmly grasped that red thread: “Go and tie it to the front of the well.” 

Qizhi complied. The man in the room firmly held onto the other end of the red thread. Qizhi tied the red thread above the well. The end of the red thread suddenly retracted, and was as tight as pulling a bowstring. 

Smoke risen in spirals out of the scripture hall, and there was a faint incantation sound. The bells at the end of the red line shook harmoniously and loud, making a jingling and dinging around.

Jue Sheng and Qizhi were shocked. Lin Chengyou went to the edge of the well, and waved his sword to point directly at the wall on the eastern side, raising his voice: “Cheng Lishi, still not going back?”  

Above one’s head, there was originally supposed to be a rising sun in the sky. In an instant, clouds covered the sky, and a huge cloudy shade enveloped midair. The entire courtyard plunged into dusky darkness. 

Jue Sheng and Qizhi acted as if they were meeting a great enemy1being cautious and having great preoccupation, and quickly ran to the bottom of the corridor. The ground was covered with chasing power, and as long as a soul of a deceased comes, it is bound to be visible. 

Lin Chengyou stood on the edge of the well with a sword in his hand, holding one’s breath with rapt attention2means showing complete delight or interest and glancing at the courtyard. Needles falling everywhere could be heard, and suddenly there was a gust of chilly wind3figuratively: evil wind. 

Only being able to hear a squeak, the courtyard’s door slowly opened. 

Soon after, along with a faint fishy smell, a copper-colored footprint suddenly appeared on the ground. The footprint was extremely small, and clearly not the soul of Mrs. An Guogong. 

Jue Sheng and Qizhi felt their scalp go numb4idiom for describe feelings of extreme fear or tension. To have come so fast, this thing must be quite vicious. 

*** 

Teng Yuyi looked at the sun above her head, and it was already noon. Cheng Bo went to handle affairs according to her instructions. Up till now, he was nowhere to be seen. After waiting for a while without receiving any news, she simply got up and went to visit her biao jie5older female cousin. It also just so happened that Madam Du had sent someone to find Teng Yuyi, saying the lunch had already been arranged and hurriedly asking her to come over to eat. 

Teng Yuyi arrived at the Yulan Pavilion. Du Tinglan slept again after drinking her medicine. The meal was set up in the outer room. Madam Du and Du Shaotang were waiting there. Du Yuzhi only took half a day off and at this time, he has already long returned to the Imperial College Academy. 

Madam Du: “I originally should have hosted a banquet to welcome you back, but who knew that such a situation would happen. I didn’t have time to prepare in the morning, and made a few dishes in a hurry. I don’t know if it will suit your taste or not.” 

Teng Yuyi sat down happily as almost all of her favorite dishes were on the table. Her gaze wandered around on the table, and she asked joyfully: “All of them were made by yi mu6aunt?” 

Madam gleamingly smiled and handed a pair of chopsticks to Teng Yuyi: “Try it.” 

Teng Yuyi picked up a piece of autumn dew dumpling, and praised: “Other than the dishes made by yi mu, I didn’t care about anything else in Yangzhou. So many things happened coming back to Chang’an this time around, and I thought that it would take a few days to see my yi mu’s craftsmanship, but I didn’t expect that I would get to taste it so quickly, and it is still so delicious as always.” 

Madam Du was so happy that she couldn’t close her mouth, and personally served a bowl of glutinous millet for Teng Yuyi: “Last night, yi mu felt very scared and alarmed, and could not close my eyes for the entire night7“close my eyes” means getting sleep. You took a rest in the adjacent room, but I also heard that you had a difficult time sleeping. After the meal, the two of us can each go back to our room to rest.” 

Du Shaotang sat down on the opposite side, and said curiously: “Cousin Yu, just now a maid of yours asked me for a map of Chang’an. Are you planning on going out?” 

Teng Yuyi said: “I haven’t been back in Chang’an for several years. Coming back this time, I want to take a walk around. I’m afraid that the coachman is not familiar with the roads, so I wanted to look for a map.” 

Du Shaotang smiled and said: “Why bother going through this much trouble. I can just accompany Cousin Yu to go. I now study at the Imperial Academy so occasionally, I would also go out with my classmates. I have already long been familiar with the streets and roads of Chang’an City.” 

Teng Yuyi took a sip of sugar cane pulp, and said calmly: “I heard that Chang’an City has recently opened a Persian wine shop. The owner of the shop is Persian, and has the skills of brewing good wine. The wine shop has a well-known name, called the Hongxia building, or something like the Yunfeng building.” 

Du Shaotang pondered for quite a while: “I never heard of such a Persian wine shop before. However there is the Caifeng building, and recently its reputation has been rising in Chang’an. My classmates have been there a few times and after returning, they could only highly praise this Caifeng building. However this is all just merely what I heard from them as I haven’t personally been there to see it.” 

Teng Yuyi curiously said: “Why would one highly praise that Caifeng building? Is there anything remarkable about this Caifeng building?” 

Du Shaotang sneakily took a glance at Madam Du, and secretly said: “It is nothing more than just having good wine and food…” 

He immediately changing the topic: “Cousin Yu, if you want to find good wine, why go to the wine shops outside? Last year, sister had given you a jar of fermented osmanthus wine, buried under the begonia tree in the corner of the courtyard. She said that once you arrive, she will dig out for you to drink.” 

Teng Yuyi couldn’t wait to put down her chopsticks, turning her head to look around: “Where is the wine?” 

Madam Du smiled and said: “You child. As soon as wine is mentioned, you would radiate with delight. The wine is buried under the tree, and without legs, it can’t run away. You sit down for me. You have also been tired these days. Don’t keep thinking about drinking wine. You need to take a good rest today, and it won’t be too late to ask Lan’er tomorrow.” 

After finishing the meal, Teng Yuyi went to her room to rest. She took out the jadeite sword and wiped it near the window. The more she wiped it, the more her eyebrows tightened. 

Chun Rong and Bi Luo did not know what exactly happened. In the morning when the lady and the two Taoists were talking, they were very far away, and didn’t know what happened. However even since the Taoists left, the lady would take the sword out from time to time to look at it. 

“Why not take a nap while there is nothing to do in the afternoon.” Chun Rong said. 

Teng Yuyi slowly laid down on the bed, raised the sword high in front of her eyes and studied it carefully. 

“Lady, are you really planning on going to that Caifeng building tomorrow?” 

“Let Cheng Bo inquire about what other temples there are in Chang’an.” Teng Yuyi shoved the sword under the pillow, “Or if there is any Taoist with very profound skills. If he has inquired about it, have him come and report to me as soon as possible.” 

She just doesn’t believe that Lin Chengyou can be the only one who is able to solve the Terminating Spirit Loop, especially in such a big city like Chang’an which also must have a lot of people with extraordinary skills.

“This maid will immediately go deliver the message.” Chun Rong tucked up the quilt for Teng Yuyi, “However, this maid has heard that the Qingyun Temple is the number one grand temple, and to be able to find a temple that can match up with it, is not easy.”

Teng Yuyi secretly felt that these words spoiled her spirit, and made a groaning sound before wanting to sleep. However, she suddenly opened her eyes and turned her head while laying on the pillow: “Ay, where is my ragged doll?”    

Qiyun walked in with a small gray ragged doll in her hands: “In the morning, it was washed by Sister Bi Luo, and only now has it finished drying. Lady, you smell. On the top, there is still the scent of the sun.”  

Teng Yuyi took the ragged doll and turned herself over, humming in her mouth: “Be more careful with it. If it is lost, I will definitely not spare all of you.” 

Chun Rong and Bi Luo couldn’t help, but laugh. Although the lady is still quite young, she has long been accustomed to making her own decisions. It’s just that every time she was about to go to sleep, she was like a child who was inseparable from the ragged doll left behind by madam. 

Suddenly a voice of someone speaking in a low voice outside was heard. Teng Yuyi hurriedly said: “Is it Cheng Bo who is back? Quickly go take a look.” 

Bi Luo went out, and came back with a map: “The eldest master sent someone to bring it here. Lady, are you really planning on going to that Caifeng building tomorrow?” 

Teng Yuyi turned over and sat up, took the map and studied it: “Ay, this restaurant was originally in the Pingkangfang8坊 fāng = part of a street name.” 

It can’t be a brothel, right? 

What is Lin Chengyou planning to do at a brothel while bringing his two little junior brothers along? 

Bi Luo and Chun Rong also gathered around the edge of the bed: “Ah, it can not be considered close to Qinrenfang, and it will take more than an hour to go and return. Lady, whether you decide to go or not, you have to make a decision at noon tomorrow at the latest. If you leave any later, you won’t be able to rush back to the Du Mansion before it gets dark.”  

Last part! Thank you for reading! Next chapter is very long so probably will take me around a week or more to finish it!

1being cautious and having great preoccupation2means showing complete delight or interest3figuratively: evil wind4idiom for describe feelings of extreme fear or tension5older female cousin6aunt7“close my eyes” means getting sleep8坊 fāng = part of a street name