Chapter 34 - Entrust
For a medium-sized city, Luzhou was unexpectedly prosperous.
Today was a beautiful sunny day, the first of its kind since the heavy snowstorm. The streets are crowded with people anxious to go out. Unlike Jiading, the city had no shortage of scholars. They strutted around, even holding their folding fans in the middle of winter.
Ye Beizhi and Chi Nanwei entered the city and asked for directions toward the Li residence.
After many twists and turns, they made it to the Li residence. The carriage stopped at the entrance, and a gatekeeper came up to inquire about their purpose. Upon learning that they were from the Changfeng Escort Agency, he went to notify the steward.
While sitting outside the carriage and waiting, Chi Nanwei asked, "Dummy, are we just going to deliver the letter and go?"
Ye Beizhi turned his head to look at her.
"Why don't we… spend a day playing in Luzhou before we go back?" Chi Nanwei looked at Ye Beizhi with wide, hopeful eyes.
Ye Beizhi turned his head away, ignoring her.
"Let’s go sightseeing, even for just a day. It's not like we're in a rush," Chi Nanwei wheedled, tugging at his sleeve.
From inside the gate, a voice welcomed them, saying, "Haha, stay for as long as you want Miss Chi. Why should anyone keep you from enjoying yourself?"
Ye Beizhi and Chi Nanwei turned towards the voice. An old man came out, clasped his hands and bowed. "I am Li Pei, the steward of the Li residence," he introduced, "Miss Chi and this young master, please come in… My master is expecting you."
Ye Beizhi returned the bow and followed Li Pei inside.
The Li residence was large and set within an even larger landscape garden. Ornate archways opened up to sculpted mountains and tranquil ponds everywhere. Chi Nanwei was impressed by what she saw.
Noticing Chi Nanwei's interest, Li Pei turned and asked with a smile, "Miss Chi, is this to your liking?"
Chi Nanwei nodded, "Mm… It is exquisite." She maintained the demeanor of a young lady in front of others.
"Haha, that's good. Miss Chi, you can take your time to look in the coming days," Li Pei said with a smile.
Ye Beizhi looked at Li Pei, unsure what Li Pei meant by what he said.
The three entered at a large reception hall before the conversation could go any further. Upon arrival, they saw a man and a woman seated at seats of honor. The man, the scholar Li Muxian, had a thin face that sprouted from a neatly groomed gray-white beard that stretched down to his chest. He wore a long robe and appeared to be several years older than Master Wu. The woman looked like she was around fifty years old. Her body frame showed that she was used to eating luxuriously. She dressed luxuriously as well, wearing a phoenix coronet on her head and a jade bracelet on her wrist.
The woman stood up from her seat as soon as she saw Chi Nanwei and came over, "Oh my… Little Nanwei is all grown up!" She reached out to hold Chi Nanwei’s hand.
Chi Nanwei shrank back a little, half hiding behind Ye Beizhi, sizing up the woman.
The plump woman smiled awkwardly, "Hehe… Nanwei, it's Grandmother Yu. Don't you remember me? I even held you when you were little!"
Chi Nanwei seemed to have remembered something. Uncertainly, she asked, "Grandmother Yu? Are you Grandmother Yu? But, but—"
"But what? I'm not your Grandmother Yu anymore because I have become ugly and old?" The plump woman asked, pretending to be upset.
"No, no, Grandmother Yu, you're still as beautiful as ever!" Chi Nanwei waved her hands flusteredly.
"Ahem." The old man, who had been content to watch their reunion at the side, cleared his throat to speak.
Grandmother Yu glanced at the old man and then took Chi Nanwei’s hand, whispering, "We’ll talk more later."
The old man patiently spoke up. "Have you brought the letter?"
Ye Beizhi took out the letter from his bosom and stepped forward to hand it to the old man.
The old man broke open the red wax seal and read the letter.
"Hmm." The old man turned to look at Ye Beizhi, "You are Ye Beizhi?"
Ye Beizhi was taken aback for a moment, not expecting to be mentioned in the letter, then nodded. The old man nodded in return and continued reading the letter.
"Hmm… I understand the general situation now," the old man finally said, "Master Wu sent another letter to me a few days ago, so I am aware of everything. You two are staying here from now on. That will be all."
"Hmm?" Ye Beizhi raised his eyebrows. "Staying?"
The old man noticed Ye Beizhi’s surprise and asked, "What’s wrong? Didn’t Master Wu tell you?"
Ye Beizhi looked at Li Muxian on the seat of honor and shook his head, "Master Wu asked me to deliver that letter… He never asked me to stay."
Li Muxian frowned in thought, then handed the letter to Ye Beizhi, saying, "Read it for yourself."
Ye Beizhi took the letter. It read:
My good younger brother Muxian,
I hope this letter finds you well. My agency has been facing many troubles recently. To prevent any unforeseen circumstances, I am entrusting Chi Nanwei, my granddaughter, to you. The young man accompanying her, Ye Beizhi, is a superbly skilled armed escort from my agency. Please ensure Nanwei’s safety, and look after the young man as well…
It turns out that although Li Muxian looked like he was older than Master Wu, he was actually younger in age. Master Wu actually appeared to be younger due to his lifetime of martial training.
After reading the letter, Ye Beizhi’s expression grew serious. What the letter said was completely different from what Master Wu had told him before the trip… Moreover, the tone of the letter almost sounded like Master Wu was entrusting his children to a new family.
The escort agency is in serious trouble, Ye Beizhi thought to himself.
Seeing that Ye Beizhi remained silent for a long time, Li Muxian asked , "Do you understand, Young Master Ye?"
Ye Beizhi nodded and was about to speak but was interrupted by Chi Nanwei. She was bursting with questions this entire time and hurriedly interjected, "What exactly does the letter say? Why do I have to stay here from now on?"
"Hehe… Nanwei," Li Muxian, who had been stern with Ye Beizhi, showed a rare gentle side to Chi Nanwei as he placated her, saying, "Your grandfather Wu has arranged everything. Your room was prepared yesterday, with brand new furniture just for you. You’ll definitely like it. Later, I will personally show you around, hehe…"
Chi Nanwei took it all in.
"I want to return to the escort agency," Chi Nanwei said seriously as she looked into Li Muxian’s eyes, "Thank you, Grandfather Li, for your kindness, but the escort agency is my home."
"Ah…" Li Muxian was a bit troubled.
Chi Nanwei could be playful at times, but she was not easily fooled. From a few words, she had roughly deduced that something must have happened to the escort agency, and she was extremely anxious.
"The letter has been delivered, Grandfather Li. We will take our leave now." Chi Nanwei gave Li Muxian an appropriate bow and she pulled Ye Beizhi’s hand to leave. She was dying to return to the escort agency as soon as possible, but Ye Beizhi was like an immovable mountain, firmly grounding her.
Chi Nanwei turned to look at Ye Beizhi and realized that he was staring at her.
Chi Nanwei tried again to drag Ye Beizhi along in vain. and her usual smile stiffened. "W-What’s wrong, Dummy… Do you still want to go sightseeing?"
Ye Beizhi looked into Chi Nanwei’s eyes and shook his head.
"Let’s go back to the escort agency then… Grandpa Wu must be waiting for us…" Chi Nanwei tugged at Ye Beizhi’s sleeve.
"You can’t go back." Ye Beizhi’s words stabbed Chi Nanwei like a blade through her chest.
"What are you saying, Dummy?" Chi Nanwei sniffed and wiped the corners of her eyes, but she tried to remain composed. "Why can’t I go back?"
"… You must stay." Ye Beizhi turned his head away, unable to meet Chi Nanwei’s eyes.
"Why!" Tears streaming down her face, Chi Nanwei finally broke down, sobbing, "Why do I have to stay?! I’m also part of the escort agency! I need to go back too!"
"The escort agency… is in trouble."
"I know the escort agency is in trouble!" Chi Nanwei clutched Ye Beizhi’s chest and cried out, "That’s why I need to go back!"
Chi Nanwei fled towards the door. Li Muxian and his old steward were reluctant to intervene, but when they saw Chi Nanwei starting to run, they quickly motioned for the servants to block the exits.
Ye Beizhi ran a few steps to grab Chi Nanwei’s hand. He pulled her into his arms and held her tightly.
Chi Nanwei twisted in Ye Beizhi’s embrace, her face wet with tears. "Let me go! Let me go! I’ll go by myself if you won't go with me! Let go of me—"
"Don't worry"—Ye Beizhi hugged Chi Nanwei tightly against his chest—"I’ll go back."
Chi Nanwei quieted down, leaned into Ye Beizhi's chest, and sniffled softly, "I, I want to go back with you too…"
"Stay here, and wait for me."
Ye Beizhi paused.
"Wait for me to come back for you."
Saying this, Ye Beizhi released Chi Nanwei and removed Stormqueller, his ever-present weapon, from his waist, entrusting his Tang Blade to her, "I will definitely come to get you… Keep it safe for me."
Chi Nanwei stared blankly at the Tang Blade with reddened eyes. "You, this…" She knew how much Ye Beizhi valued this sword and had never seen him let anyone touch it, let alone give it to someone.
Chi Nanwei reached out tentatively to take the Tang Blade and gently caressed its body.
"I… I’ll wait for you."
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