Chapter 15: Learning on the Fly

“Achoo! Fourth Brother, what did you say? Did you really buy the Jade Cloud Pavilion?”

Meng Xueqiao had been caught in the rain all night and had been sneezing nonstop since morning.

“That’s right. A modest sum can provide a home for Madam Chang and the others. It’s a bit troublesome for Miss Qinglian, but she won’t be heading to the capital for now.”

“Besides, the Jade Cloud Pavilion will be renamed ‘Heaven on Earth’ from now on.”

Meng Yuxi sat astride a fine horse, playing with the jade flute that Miss Qinglian had gifted him. Recalling how Qinglian personally played the zither and flute for him last night, he knew it was a memory he would cherish for a lifetime.

“Fourth Brother, you’re impressive. When I visit Miss Qinglian, could you help me get in through the back door?” Meng Xueqiao asked with a sly grin.

“Ah, Miss Qinglian will be leaving for the capital in a few days. I purchased Jade Cloud Pavilion at her request to provide a refuge for Madam Chang and her people,” Meng Yuxi replied calmly.

“‘Flowing water and falling flowers mark the passing of spring; Heaven on Earth’—such beautiful lines deserve to be remembered. Fourth Brother, how did you come up with this name? The entire scholarly community in Su City is already talking. They say the Fourth Young Master of the Meng family is the backbone of the literary world in the Great Li Empire!”

“I can’t bear such praise. I’m merely fortunate to have our ancestors’ blessings,” Meng Yuxi said seriously.

“Achoo! I wish I had such ancestors. No, Fourth Brother, I must burn some incense in the ancestral hall when we return,” Meng Xueqiao sneezed as he spoke.

“Didn’t I have Madam Chang summon you upstairs? Why are you still freezing like this?”

Meng Yuxi was puzzled. After making arrangements with Qinglian yesterday, he had asked Madam Chang to bring Meng Xueqiao upstairs. It had just started raining then; how did he catch a cold?

“Damn it! I planned to go upstairs last night but saw that traitor Wang Lingxin, the county magistrate of Su City, skulking in plain clothes outside Jade Cloud Pavilion. He was sneaking around, spying on you, Fourth Brother.”

“This scoundrel is usually greedy, but he’s never had the guts to do much. I don’t understand why he’s taken an interest in me, the Fourth Young Master of the Meng family. So, I borrowed an umbrella from Madam Chang and followed him quietly.”

“But I saw him go to the Fragrant Pavilion. I thought to wait until the pavilion was crowded at night, eavesdrop on his plans, and then teach him a lesson. Unexpectedly, the Fragrant Pavilion was pitch black and tightly guarded inside and out by Wang Lingxin’s men.”

“I had to find another way in. I searched both floors thoroughly but found no sign of the madam or that scoundrel. I was forced to wait in a corner outside the main door all night. It wasn’t until dawn that the scoundrel finally left, apparently carrying a corpse covered with a white cloth. I don’t know who it was.”

Meng Yuxi listened intently as Meng Xueqiao recounted the tale. He still toyed with the jade flute Qinglian had given him. The flute was of exquisite quality—he didn’t know if it was Qinglian’s own or a gift from another young master—but he continued speaking.

“Younger Brother, you caught a chill because of me. I feel bad. But it’s strange for us brothers to say thank you. How about I teach you to play the flute right now, just as I learned from Miss Qinglian last night?”

“No worries. Even without you, Fourth Brother, I’d want to teach that Wang Lingxin a lesson. Fourth Brother, you really learned this last night from Miss Qinglian?”

“Of course. Miss Qinglian’s musical talent is on a heavenly level.”

“Zhang Long, Zhao Hu, I want to discuss some techniques with my brother. These pests are annoyingly clingy. Break their legs.”

Meng Yuxi said as he assumed the posture to play the flute.

“Younger Brother, listen carefully. This is the Gong, Shang, Jue, Zhi, Yu scale.”

Zhang Long and Zhao Hu stepped forward obediently.

With each note Meng Yuxi played, two of Wang Lingxin’s hidden sentinels screamed in agony as their limbs were simultaneously broken.

Meng Yuxi remained focused, thinking only of the finger techniques and breath control Qinglian had taught him the night before.

The flute’s melody grew rapid. By the time the sequence ended, all ten hidden sentinels had fallen.

“Well? Younger Brother, did you understand?”

Meng Yuxi twirled the jade flute with a flourish, tucked it back into his belt, and smiled at Meng Xueqiao.

But Meng Xueqiao’s attention was fixed on Zhang Long and Zhao Hu. From their masks, he knew they were the highest-ranking bodyguards of the Meng family. Like shadows of their master, they awaited his every command. Since childhood, Meng Xueqiao had dreamed of having such elite guards but never succeeded. Now, two of them served his Fourth Brother completely.

He had always thought these masked, ever-ready elite guards were incredibly cool.

“Ah? Oh, yes, I got it,” Meng Xueqiao answered absentmindedly.

“Understood? Then go guard Third Sister. Zhao Hu, accompany the Fifth Young Master home, attend to them carefully, and await the Fifth Young Master’s orders.”

“Yes, sir!” Zhao Hu bowed respectfully.

Meng Xueqiao looked at Meng Yuxi with excitement, feeling so close to his Fourth Brother. He had fulfilled a childhood dream, however briefly, and was deeply satisfied.

“Go ahead.”

Meng Yuxi gave Meng Xueqiao’s mount a strong slap, urging him to leave quickly with gratitude and put distance between himself and this troublesome place.

Unexpectedly, Meng Yuxi’s strength was immense. The slap caused Meng Xueqiao’s horse to squat abruptly, unseating the unprepared rider.

“Quick, quick! What are you standing there for? The horse is too slow! Run! You’re good at lightness skills. If you’re late, it’ll be too late!”

Meng Xueqiao finally understood the urgency, summoned his energy, and sprinted away.

“Can you imagine how embarrassing it would have been if I hadn’t acted quickly, and Younger Brother had just stood there watching me?”

“Has the master’s convoy already left Su City?”

“Yes, sir. The master’s group departed last night. Calculating the journey, they should reach the capital by tomorrow night.”

“Good. You may leave now. I will practice a bit more.”

“Yes, sir.”

Meng Yuxi eased his horse forward, drew the jade flute again, and began playing. His skill grew, the melody taking shape—light, ethereal, free-spirited.

“Heh, I never expected the Fourth Young Master of the Meng family to excel not only in poetry, unrivaled in Su City, but also in music. Truly enviable,” said Wang Lingxin, appearing before Meng Yuxi on horseback, dressed in his magistrate’s official robes. Behind him followed a large contingent of soldiers, crowding the once spacious street to a standstill.

“Polite of you to ask. How may I help you, Wang Lingxin?” Meng Yuxi smiled, spinning the jade flute lightly in his hand before tucking it away.

“Hmph!” Wang Lingxin flicked his sleeve in disdain. “You villain! You murdered Miss Qinming of the Fragrant Pavilion and still have the nerve to smile here? Do you even respect the law?”

“Ha! Speaking of the law of the Great Li Empire, I want to ask you—Miss Qinglian was your gift to the Eighth Prince, yet she is but a courtesan. Your actions constitute bribery, insult the Eighth Prince, and even disrespect His Majesty. How dare you, a disloyal and unfilial scoundrel, lecture me on the law?”