"Milady, I've bought them." An unusually bright and crisp female voice sounded on the noisy ground floor of the Yushi Restaurant. Yun Canglan instinctively turned her head slightly and saw Yun Hua dressed in green and carrying a box of food.
Yun Hua seemed to sense something and turned slowly, staring in Yun Canglan's direction, her tiny form suddenly motionless as if acupressure points were stricken.
"What's wrong, Yun Hua?" The second voice came from outside the Yushi Restaurant. The feeble, hoarse voice caused Yun Canglan to burst into tears when she heard it.
Yun Qin and Yun Qi had served their Mistress for over ten years and had never seen her cry. They were dumbfounded.
Yun Canglan recognized her mother's voice immediately, even though she had not heard her in three years.
She had not seen her family since her false death. She was afraid that she would be exposed, and even more fearful of bringing disaster to her family. Therefore, she insisted on hiding the news that she was still alive. She seldom contacted Yun Shu and Yun Hua. They knew she went to the Si Kingdom, but they were unaware she lived nearby for two years.
Yun Hua stared at Yun Canglan but did not go to her.
She dare not approach her Mistress without her say so.
Yun Shu urged her out, but she looked at Yun Canglan before reluctantly leaving, even then she had a pensive look on her face.
"Yun Hua, is everything okay, what took you so long?" Only three years had passed, but Lin Wan'er had some white hair, and looked pale. She, still held her beauty, but there was a sadness that came only when you had lost something precious.
"Nothing, Milady, I saw an acquaintance and said hello." Yun Hua managed to smile but Yun Shu squinted suspiciously.
She would know Yun Hua's acquaintance too since they were always together.
Lin Wan'er walked away without saying anything, and Yun Hua looked back to the Yushi Restaurant longingly before leaving.
"Mistress." Yun Qin whispered to Yun Canglan as he watched the three leave.
"Follow them." Even if she did not want to, she moved in their direction, as if controlled by magic.
She had been away for three years. Was it time to go home?
They followed Yun Shu, Yun Hua and Lin Wan'er from a safe distance until they reached the unfrequented Maple-red Mountain outside the city.
The temple on the Maple-red Mountain, was neither big nor famous in Can City. At the beginning of the lunar calendar month April, and during autumn when maple leaves were red, there would be tourists on the mountain. The temple was known as the Peace Temple, and it was indeed peaceful as well as quiet. Not many people chose this temple, because it lacked the protection of the real dragon spirit that royal temples had.
Lin Wan'er brought Yun Shu and Yun Hua, but no other servants. What was she doing for such a simple trip?
After climbing to the top of the mountain, Lin Wan'er went into the temple, indicating she came here frequently.
The temple door was wide open, and a young monk sweeping fallen leaves was the only one around. When Lin Wan'er entered the temple, the young monk read the Amitabha and afterward meditated on Buddhism.
Lin Wan'er led Yun Shu and Yun Hua into the hall of Buddha.
When Yun Canglan led Yun Qin and Yun Qi into the temple, the young monk stopped to speak with them. He performed a Buddhist ceremony and continued to sweep fallen leaves.
Walking into the main hall, Yun Canglan watched the figure kneeling down before the Buddha for a long time, but she didn't approach her.
Lin Wan'er's eyes were closed, her hands folded, and she prayed softly, "Buddha has spirit. If my Canglan is naughty in heaven, please forgive her graciously. I will offer incense to Buddha every month and bow down reverently."
Yun Canglan heard her mother's words, and tears welled in her eyes.
Yun Hua lit a bundle of incense and handed it to Lin Wan'er. Lin Wan'er got up and placed it in the censer.
"Milady, it's time to return home, the sun is setting."
Lin Wan'er nodded as she turned towards the tall Buddha, eyes slightly closed devotedly.
Every step was familiar to her, even though she came and left in a hurry.
Yun Canglan suddenly felt rather bitter as she thought back to why she had not revealed she was alive.
"Mistress, why not..."
"I'm waiting for an opportunity." An opportunity that allowed her to come home victorious.
"Ahhh..." The cry came from the direction her mother just went, she heard Yun Shu shouting, "How dare you! This is the Lady of Huguo General. Are you courting death?"
There was no answer, but the sound of clashing swords.
Alarmed at the noise, Yun Canglan ordered, "Let's go!"
Over twenty masked men in black surrounded Yun Shu, Yun Hua, and Lin Wan'er. Yun Shu and Yun Hua were covered in blood. They held swords, protecting Lin Wan'er who was behind them looking frightened.
The masked assailants thrust their swords attacking the two defenders again.
Although Yun Shu and Yun Hua were skilled in kung fu, their skills were far from masters like Shui Minghan, or that of Yun Qin and Yun Qi, and now they were suddenly faced with over twenty attackers.
When the three arrived, they saw that a man caught Lin Wan'er, and Yun Shu and Yun Hua was desperately trying to rescue her.
Yun Canglan enveloped in a chill, as a surging breath of the king poured out, "Kill them all." She said every word a song from hell.
Yun Qin and Yun Qi went back and forth like two dragons, killing the foes with ease. Their weapons were like the iron chains of Black and White Impermanence and stained with the blood of their enemies as soon as they brandished them.
Yun Shu and Yun Hua's struggle to reach Lin Wan'er's side eased, and they gave the man in black a fatal blow before he could harm Lin Wan'er. Then they turned and saw a person standing in the woods, her white coat and black hair waving in the wind.
Yun Qin and Yun Qi deserved kung fu master in Jianghu after they joined the fight, all two dozen men fell to the ground dead. Yun Hua stood in front of Lin Wan'er and prevented her from seeing the wild scene.
The scene was very cruel indeed.
Over twenty bodies lay butchered, fragments of arms, hands, heads, and innards were scattered around.
The fight won, Yun Qin, and Yun Qi looked to Yun Shu and Yun Hua before walking to stand behind Yun Canglan.
Lin Wan'er was pale, but she had seen much of life with Yun Yajun after all, so she had not been frightened to death like any other woman. She endured the discomfort and went to Yun Canglan.
"Thank you for your help, Sir."
"No problem Milady. I just defended the weak against the strong." She had wanted to find an opening, but she didn't know whether this was the right one.
"Sir, may I know your name? Her Ladyship is the wife of the Huguo General of Can Kingdom, will you go back with us so the general
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can thank you himself?" Yun Hua had always been shrewd, and she knew what Yun Canglan meant from her wink.
"It's very kind of you. It's just a matter of lifting a finger, Milady." She winked at Yun Shu.
"You must not think highly of our Mislady and General, do you, Sir." Damn Yun Shu still spoke thoughtlessly.
"They're right." Lin Wan'er said softly, "You saved me, and my husband should thank you for it; otherwise it would seem that the General's House is rude."
"This..." Yun Canglan pretended to think, "I've always admired General Yun, so then thank you, I will."
Look, she was coming home in a way that would not arouse Huo Liuyun's suspicion.
After they arrived at the General's House, Yun Yajun heard of Lin Wan'er's attempted assassination and rushed to meet her.
"Wan'er, are you hurt? I'll ask an imperial doctor to come to see you." Yun Yajun checked Lin Wan'er up and down and was not relieved until he found no blood on her.
Lin Wan'er was a little embarrassed, "Yajun, I'm okay. Thanks to this man's help." Lin Wan'er turned to introduce Yun Canglan to her husband.
Yun Yajun was still tall and handsome, and the righteous might still clung to his brow. "Thanks for your help, Sir. How shall I address you?"
"Never mind, General, my name is Feng Yun'er." This was her father whom she had not seen for a long time, that used to beat her.
"Feng Yun'er?" Yun Yajun frowned, wondering why a man was called Feng Yun'er which was a girl's name.
Yun Canglan seemed to see what Yun Yajun was thinking and smiled sheepishly, "Well, as a matter of fact, I'm a girl. Today I secreted out with two of my servant girls. For convenience, I dressed as a man. It's a little embarrassing."
Looking at Yun Qin and Yun Qi dressed as women made Yun Shu and Yun Hua snicker.
Yun Qin and Yun Qi were gloomy and all glared at their Mistress.
Yun Yajun and Lin Wan'er froze for a moment and then laughed, "Miss Feng, you're really an extraordinary girl!" Yun Yajun praised.
Yun Canglan was speechless, and Yun Shu and Yun Hua almost fell over.
'Dad, you used to call me disobedient!'
But she had to keep pretending, "I'm flattered, General Yun."
"Now that I know you're a girl, please, let me entertain you." Lin Wan'er approached Yun Canglan kindly and took her hand.
Feeling the warmth of her mother's hands, Yun Canglan almost moved to tears.
"Okay, I have something to take care of first. You talk, and I'll be back later for dinner." Yun Yajun strode out, and Lin Wan'er led Yun Canglan into the main hall.
"Yo, sister*, I heard an assassin hit you in the mountain. Are you all right?" A coquettish voice sounded as they entered the main hall. They saw a woman, seductively dressed wreaking of the heavy perfumes like prostitutes.
(*TN: In ancient, a man's wife and concubines will address each other "sister".)
Yun Canglan frowned, and felt a squeeze from Lin Wan'er.
Lin Wan'er went pale and tried to avoid the woman.
"Oh...It's you, my younger sister."
Younger sister? Elder sister?
When did her mother get a sister?
Wait, sister?
Yun Canglan's eyes became cold, and she stared at Yun Shu and Yun Hua murderously.
Yun Shu and Yun Hua were startled and looked shy, shaking their heads slightly after a time.
Yun Canglan's eyes held a stern look, "This is?"
"Sorry, " Lin Wan'er was obviously embarrassed, "This is the general's concubine."
Concubine? How dare her father take a concubine!
Instead of being respectful or shy, the concubine ran up to Yun Canglan excited and flirty, as if she had never seen a man in her life, "Yo, who is this? He's so pretty. Look at his skin and face!"
"Sister, please!" With a roar of rage, Lin Wan'er pulled Yun Canglan behind her, "This is Miss Feng, not a man, sister, you're being very discourteous."
When she heard Yun Canglan was a lady, the concubine rubbed her hands in disgust and stepped back, "Why didn't you say earlier that she was a woman? I thought you had been lonely for such a long time that you were having an affair with this man."
"You..." Lin Wan'er was too angry to speak, and Yun Canglan looked deadly.
"Do you have a hearing problem, or brain damage? You touched me and praised me just now, and you had a look in your eyes that said you were eager to devour me whole. Well, concubine, is the general too old to satisfy you?"
"You..." The concubine's face darkened and she pointed to Yun Canglan with her orchid fingers. Lin Wan was embarrassed, but she looked better than before.
"What about me? You're disappointed that I'm a woman, right? Well, I have several male brothels in Can City. Would you like to become a member? I'll give you a 20% discount, first come, first served."
"You savage woman, where did you come from? You're so ill-bred. It's true that things of a kind stick together, humph!" The concubine finished her rant and left swaying her slim waist in an exaggerated way.
"Sorry about that, Miss Feng." Lin Wan'er blushed.
Yun Canglan was still angry, "Never mind." It happened that Yun Shu approached with a cup of tea. Yun Canglan vented her anger on the tea.
With a clang, the tea was all over her, and the cup fell to the ground shattering.
Yun Shu knelt on the ground, with her head down, not daring to look at Yun Canglan, and bear all her anger as she cleaned the cup up.
Lin Wan'er was surprised, not for the cup, but because Yun Shu knelt down. The two servant girls had served her for three years, and she had never seen either one kneeling.
"I'm sorry. My hand slipped and I spilled it." Yun Canglan said smiling, but Yun Shu and Yun Hua heard her anger.
"It doesn't matter." Lin Wan'er also smiled, "Yun Shu, bring another cup of tea."
Yun Shu stood still, waiting to be disposed of by Yun Canglan, her Mistress. She and Yun Hua were responsible for taking care of the General's House.
"Well, let's put tea aside, for now, could you lend me a dress, Milady?"
Lin Wan'er stood up and said apologetically, "Sorry for that, Miss Feng. Yes, if you do not mind, Canglan's clothes should fit you, she has passed away though."
Yun Canglan waved her hand, "No, I don't mind at all."
Yun Shu and Yun Hua led her to the courtyard where she used to live. Yun Qin and Yun Qi stood outside the door.
"Well, what's happened?" Yun Canglan's voice was cold.
Yun Shu and Yun Hua were on their knees, staring at the floor under them and dared not to look up.
"We have not kept peace within the General's House, please punish us." Yun Shu contritely replied.
"Punishment is inevitable, first, tell me what happened." The coldness in her voice suggested an anger beyond one they knew.
Yun Shu and Yun Hua knew their Mistress's temper very well. She was seldom angry, but things about her family were sacred. If anything happened to the General's House, they did not doubt that their Mistress would become a beast.
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