Chapter 28: Wandering the World with a Sword (Part Ten)

Spring birds loved to sing, perching on the branches outside the house, chirping and chattering, rousing Wu Yueling from her drunken slumber. Rising from the bed, she looked around and discovered she was not in an inn. A censer in the room’s center released wisps of fragrant smoke, soothing her somewhat throbbing head.

The door opened, and Wu Yueling heard Hua Chuer’s voice.

“You’re awake, my lady,” Hua Chuer said cheerfully as she entered, carrying a basin of hot water. She helped Wu Yueling wash her face and hands and change into fresh clothes.

Wu Yueling picked up the little lynx still sound asleep on the bed. “Where are we? And what time is it?”

“My lady, we’re at Wuxiang Temple. It’s now the hour of Shen. Let’s go to the hall and meet Abbot Shihuai,” Hua Chuer replied, picking up the treasured sword leaning against the wall.

“Oh, we’re at Wuxiang Temple. And who is Abbot Shihuai? How many days have passed?”

“He’s the old monk who was judging the poetry contest—smiling, his whole face rounds out, quite an interesting character. You drank the temple’s sobering tea and woke up in less than an hour.”

“Oh, so it was him. That sobering tea is truly something.”

Hua Chuer led the way, and soon they arrived at the main hall. Wuxiang Temple was bustling with worshippers—commoners and wealthy folk alike came to pray and draw lots. The grand hall had nine kneeling cushions, each attended by a young monk and a senior monk overseeing the lot-drawing.

Wu Yueling first gazed up at the Buddha statue and laughed softly. She was not one to believe in Buddha or gods, but since she was here, and so many around her prayed for blessings, she decided to go along with local custom.

“Haha, the talented Miss Wu has sobered up,” Abbot Shihuai greeted her, his broad smile reminiscent of the Laughing Buddha. He strode over, pressed his palms together, and bowed. “It is an honor that you have chosen to recover from your revelry in our humble temple.”

“Abbot Shihuai, it is a pleasure,” Wu Yueling returned his greeting, noticing the man and woman standing behind him.

“My lady Wu Yueling, I am Li Mengran. It’s an honor to meet you,” Li Mengran stepped forward and greeted her.

Wu Yueling returned the gesture, unsure what his intentions were.

“I have long admired your talent, Miss Wu, and came specifically to Wuxiang Temple hoping to make your acquaintance. I also wished to thank you again for yielding your seat to me at the poetry gathering, and mean nothing more by it,” Li Mengran explained.

“Much obliged. No need to mention it—the banquet was hosted by Lord Qin for all the distinguished guests, and there was no rule about who could sit where. Work hard, Brother Li, and one day you’ll soar high, leaving the jealous to their envy,” Wu Yueling encouraged him with a slight bow.

“Miss Wu truly understands what is right and proper. Li Mengran, do not disappoint her expectations,” Abbot Shihuai said heartily to the pair.

Hua Chuer rolled her eyes. This old bald fraud, she thought. When did my lady ever express any intention? It was all polite pleasantries, and yet he insists on matchmaking at every opportunity.

At that moment, Li Wan’er, who had been standing quietly nearby, approached Wu Yueling. Covering her face, she knelt at Wu Yueling’s feet and wept.

“Wan’er of Lianxiangqu in Xiang County greets the talented Miss Wu. Alas, I was born in a lowly place, my origins humble and tainted. Today, I was fortunate enough to hear your poem. I beg you to finish it and gift it to me.”

Wu Yueling was suddenly at a loss, unsure what to do, and could only try to help her up. But the girl remained kneeling, determined.

Among the crowd, Madame Liu of Lianxiangqu watched this unfold, her pride wounded—Li Wan’er was the brothel’s star, her body still untouched, and now she was causing a scene. Madame Liu frowned and looked away, while Fu Qian’er, who had always envied Wan’er, smirked with satisfaction. Making Madame angry—she’d pay for it later.

Wu Yueling had no choice but to recall the lines of “Song of the Lute.” Once she remembered, she recited: “Between the flowers, the oriole’s song is fluid and clear; beneath the ice, the spring’s flow is faint and slow.”

Hearing Wu Yueling continue the poem, Li Wan’er lifted her tear-stained face, lips trembling as she sang softly.

Wu Yueling found her rhythm and let out a silent sigh of relief—thank goodness she remembered. “The chill of the spring, the strings freeze and break; broken, the sound fades away. Such sorrow and secret resentment are born; at this moment, silence speaks more than sound.”

Li Wan’er, overcome with emotion, sang along, her voice quivering when she reached “at this moment, silence speaks more than sound.” She unwittingly pulled up her sleeve, pitying herself, sobbing quietly.

“When the silver bottle shatters, water bursts forth; the iron cavalry charges, blades and spears clash. At the song’s end, the plectrum draws a line across the heart, and the four strings sound as if silk is torn.” Wu Yueling finished, exhaling deeply. “Let’s divide this into three verses—upper, middle, and lower. It will suffice. Ah, it’s truly a blessing to stand in the shade of giants.”

Li Wan’er bowed in thanks, then glanced at Madame Liu in the crowd. She spoke with resolve, “Wan’er is in awe of your talent, Miss Wu. I am willing to serve as your maid, to devote my life to you alone. But I was born humble—do you despise me, or are you willing to accept me?”

Madame Liu’s anger boiled over. Li Wan’er’s virginity was worth a fortune, and she was the brothel’s prized draw. To have her rebel like this, and in a temple, was intolerable. She burst from the crowd, pointing and shouting at Li Wan’er, clearly about to strike her.

Wu Yueling, absorbed in her dilemma, didn’t notice the stout, middle-aged woman rushing over. Hua Chuer, however, saw it all. Madame Liu cursed Li Wan’er and raised a foot to kick her, but Hua Chuer tripped the woman, then stood calmly between her and Li Wan’er, helping the latter up.

“My lady, it’s decided—take Li Wan’er as your attendant. She’d make a fine little companion,” Hua Chuer said with a smile, making the decision for Wu Yueling.

“Is that really all right?” Li Wan’er glanced nervously at Madame Liu, now scrambling to her feet, her hair disheveled and hairpin lost.

Wu Yueling caught Hua Chuer sticking out her tongue behind Li Wan’er’s back and relented, “Very well, it’s fine.”

“No!” Madame Liu, supported by Fu Qian’er, stood up, furious.

“Madame Liu, forgive me. My savings and jewelry at Lianxiangqu—all a thousand taels of gold—are yours. From now on, I shall never return. Please, let me go,” Li Wan’er pleaded, voice trembling with fear of the old woman’s tyranny. If Wu Yueling hadn’t agreed to take her in, she would never have dared defy her.

“You! Li Wan’er, you think you’re safe now, don’t you? I should have auctioned your first night, let those rich men ruin you! Then you’d know your place, you self-important wretch!” Madame Liu’s fat cheeks quivered with rage as she hurled insults.

Li Wan’er clung to Hua Chuer’s sleeve, terrified that Madame Liu might drag her back and sell her to those lecherous patrons.

“Madame Liu, this is sacred ground. Do not cause such a commotion before the Buddha,” Abbot Shihuai said sternly, clearly displeased by her outburst.

“Hmph! We’re leaving! You ungrateful traitor—just wait!” Madame Liu stormed out of the hall.

Wu Yueling watched her go with distaste, then looked at Li Wan’er with sympathy. She no longer hesitated—since the girl had chosen freely to serve her, she could at least ensure her safety.

“There’s nothing to fear now—I’ve got your back! Er, I mean, I’ll protect you from now on,” Wu Yueling said, helping Li Wan’er up with Hua Chuer, patting her chest and grinning.

Abbot Shihuai smiled, praising Wu Yueling’s kindness. Li Mengran explained the situation with Madame Liu and Lianxiangqu, warning that things might not be so easily resolved, and advised Wu Yueling to seek protection from the Lyu Escort Agency in Xiang County.

Wu Yueling thanked him and also bought the recipe for the sobering tea.

Before long, the group—including Li Mengran—knelt before the Buddha under Abbot Shihuai’s guidance, drawing lots for their fortunes.

Afterward, bidding farewell to Abbot Shihuai and parting ways with Li Mengran, Wu Yueling and Hua Chuer took Li Wan’er back to the inn and requested another room. Hua Chuer took one, while Wu Yueling stayed with Li Wan’er.

That night, Wu Yueling approached the door to their room, intending to retrieve the little lynx, when she overheard voices inside.

Li Wan’er was sitting before the mirror, combing her hair, paying no particular heed to Hua Chuer behind her. She turned around only when she heard something heavy fall, and saw Hua Chuer holding a bronze wine cup from the poetry gathering.

“Sister Chuer, isn’t that the bronze wine cup from today’s contest?”

“Hush… I, uh, borrowed it,” Hua Chuer replied, blinking her big eyes, embarrassed. “Don’t let my lady find out…”

Before she could finish, the door opened. Wu Yueling entered, the little lynx meowing at her heels.

Crash—clang! All the bronze wine cups hidden in Hua Chuer’s sleeves tumbled out at Wu Yueling’s feet, spreading over the floor—at least twenty by a quick count.

The little lynx mischievously chased one of the cups to Wu Yueling’s feet and meowed up at its mistress.

Hua Chuer, realizing Wu Yueling had overheard from outside, was stunned, her sleight of hand now completely exposed.

“My lady, um… I didn’t expect you’d draw the very best fortune. Such good news…” Hua Chuer stammered, trying to cover her embarrassment with a polite smile.

“Yes, yes, Miss Wu—my lady’s luck with the Buddha is marvelous. Chuer and I only drew middling fortunes,” Li Wan’er chimed in.

“Well, when did you steal them?” Wu Yueling asked, unconcerned, but fixing Hua Chuer with a pointed look.

“Well, every time you drank a cup, the lynx licked a cup, and I… slipped a cup away…”

“So you stole every bronze cup I drank from, right there before everyone?” Wu Yueling stared at her in disbelief.

“Mm, no one noticed. Don’t worry, my lady—I have twenty years of experience as a master thief…”

“My lady, Chuer admits her mistake…”

“Don’t run!”

“Meow!”

Li Wan’er burst out laughing. Perhaps this mistress wasn’t so bad after all.