Chapter 5, the essence of anger, the essence of vinegar

He immediately became spirited: "What you say, do not go back on your word."

He stood there faintly, and my internal strength was insufficient, making it difficult for me to see his expression clearly. However, based on his internal strength, it would be a piece of cake for him to see Shui Muyun clearly! I am confident in my discerning eye; the person I chose is truly outstanding. Moreover, admiring flowers under the lamp and beauties by the moon has always been a refined pleasure throughout history. The moon hangs over the willow tips, and people meet after dusk; this is likely the very essence of the scene before me, and this old man under the moonlight is none other than myself.

I felt a tightness in my heart, quickly lowering my head, not wanting him to notice my discomfort.

You

I whispered to Shui Muyun, "It seems that my senior brother is on that small bridge; let us go over and greet him."

I am going to find Zizhao

I rushed forward in a single stride and exclaimed, "Jiang Chen, what are you doing? Do you intend to rebel?"

The young princess exclaimed in exasperation: "Go call your master over here."

Jiang Chen, come out quickly, hurry up

Yes, yes

This is quite something; as soon as the young princess heard his words, she immediately glared at me fiercely, her gaze seemingly wanting to kill me. Meanwhile, Jiang Chen stood to the side, arms crossed, looking carefree and at ease. I wanted to kill him.

You truly are the most heartless person. He extinguished the firewood with a wave of his hand and left with a flick of his sleeve

Indeed! I buried my head into a bun and said, "Brother, I think she seems to like you."

It turns out that this is the courtyard where the young princess and the young prince reside, no wonder the lights are exceptionally bright

I stood there in a daze, awkwardly realizing that I had likely come up with another bad idea. Looking down at the grilled fish in my hand, I suddenly felt a pang of guilt, thinking that I truly should not have tried to match the princess with him

As I walked to Penglai Pavilion, I could not help but turn back for a glance, only to see two faint figures standing side by side on the small bridge, their ethereal elegance resembling a delicate painting.

He glanced at me, raised his eyebrows slightly, and said: "I am not angry with her."

She was taken aback for a moment and huffed, "It's you again, what are you sneaking around for?"

Upon exiting the Hehua Courtyard, I secretly admired myself for being able to objectively, fairly, and calmly act as a bridge for Yunzhou.

Because my senior brother's surname is Yun

Tonight, I will finally fulfill my wish and personally act as a matchmaker for him

I cleared my throat and hurriedly said: "Naturally, I am not worthy of him. I believe that Shui Muyun is very suitable, like a fairy."

He pretended to pour tea, turning his face away. It seemed to be the first time I had seen him blush, stirring something unusual in my heart

He did not stop walking, but he slowed down considerably

He wrapped the fish in oil paper and said, "Go to the back mountain, do not let anyone see it, otherwise it would be disrespectful to Master Yuan Zhao"

How do you intend to bring us together

"Jiang Chen, I was just talking nonsense a moment ago"

I received a food box, and a sense of emotion naturally arose amidst my joy. The senior brothers of the Xiaoyao Sect all know that I cannot tolerate the smell of alcohol, yet only he remembered that I hadn't eaten earlier and specially brought me a meal. This shows that my calling him brother for several years has had some effect, especially in critical moments when he delivers familial care.

Shui Muyun immediately lowered her head. She must be blushing, sigh, at this moment I deeply feel the frustration of having low internal strength, I wish I could see the expressions of the two more clearly, especially Yunzhou's expression, but unfortunately, the moonlight is faint, and I cannot see clearly.

He laughed and said, "Why is it that you introduce a fairy-like girl to Yunzhou, while I have to settle for a yaksha?"

He lowered his head and pressed his lips together, saying: "Then who do you think is suitable?" After speaking, he raised his eyelids and looked at me very seriously. In the flicker of his gaze, it was as if a shooting star had crossed the sky, dazzlingly bright. I was momentarily stunned; perhaps I was so hungry that I was seeing stars.

She smiled charmingly and said, "Alright."

Jiang Chen, he actually sealed the acupoints of the young princess

Xiao Mo, Yu Yao is a bit willful, please do not be angry

I took a deep breath and steeled myself: "Do you have plans tonight? Are you coming or not?"

I smiled slightly at Yunzhou and said: "Brother."

I chewed on a bun for half a day, and I no longer know what it tastes like

As soon as I heard that the young princess was going to find Yun Zhou, I became anxious. I had worked hard to bring him and Shui Mu Yun together, what should I do now? When the door opened, the young princess emerged with several maidservants.

He said leisurely: "It hasn't even been half an hour yet, didn't you say you wanted to drag it out for half an hour?"

I hurriedly came down from the small bridge and resolutely walked back.

Only the voice of the young princess could be heard coming from the courtyard gate: "This cursed place, if it weren't to see Zizhao, I wouldn't come here. At night, there is not a bit of interest, everywhere is pitch black."

Two maidservants immediately carried lanterns to lead the way in front, while another two maidservants followed behind to protect the carriage

This is indeed a princess, and her relationship with us is that of sovereign and subject. Does this young man intend to place the Xiaoyao Sect in a perilous situation, making it no longer carefree? I can hardly contain my desire to take him aside and make him aware of the gravity of the situation

A sudden pang struck my heart, and it began to ache intermittently. It was then that I realized that thinking about something is one thing, while doing it is another. To part with love, to part with love; it is one thing to think about it in my heart and to speak of it with my lips, but when it comes to actually taking the knife to sever it, the sensation is truly different. No wonder it is not called hacking love or cutting love, but rather parting with love; it is indeed a slow and steady pain, one cut at a time.

Jiang Chen, thank you for saying that, you are truly a good person

The young princess leaned softly in the arms of a maid, unable to move. A large red lantern hung high at the entrance of the courtyard, and the young princess's face, whether from anger or the light, was as red as a small lantern.

How have I lost my conscience

She said to the maid behind her, "Yinghong, why are you still standing there? Hurry up and go."

He poured a glass of water and gently placed it beside my hand

Jiang Chen reached out and struck the little princess's acupoint. The little princess raised her palm, and a mountain of five fingers flew through the air, heading straight for Jiang Chen

I poked his arm: "Quickly, release the princess's acupoint."

She has known me since childhood

The maids nodded repeatedly, not daring to utter a word

Thank you for everything

"I am not your maid or servant; if you wish to strike, then do so." Jiang Chen released her wrist and let out a cold snort

I took a few more steps closer and said, "Jiang Chen, could you please not be angry anymore?"

He clapped his hands and laughed, "Xiao Mo, didn't you want me to hold her back? It's all settled now, are you satisfied?"

I looked at the fish and shyly murmured, "How about feeding me?"

He handed me the grilled fish, which was crispy on the outside and tender on the inside, with a fragrant aroma. I happily accepted it, smiling so broadly that my eyes were almost closed.

He glanced at me, his lips pursed slightly. I knew that this was the expression he usually wore when he was trying to suppress a laugh, so I felt relieved. It seemed that today we could enjoy grilled fish. The mere thought of it made my mouth water and my fingers itch with anticipation

I felt a surge of nervousness and hurriedly said: "Do you mean that I should keep my distance from you in the future?"

I kicked him and said, "Hurry up!"

He let out a sound, took out a small oilcloth bag from behind, and then pulled out a fish from the oil paper. He shook the fish and sighed: "It seems this fish can be fed to the cat"

I invited her to take a walk together after dinner, and Shui Muyun readily agreed

Jiang Chen entered the room with his hands clasped behind his back, and upon seeing the food box on my desk, he lightly furrowed his brow and said, "Have you already eaten?"

At this moment, I can no longer concern myself with disrupting Yunzhou's rendezvous; the future of the Xiaoyao Sect is of utmost importance. It is imperative to quickly go to Penglai Pavilion to invite Yunzhou to soothe the young princess.

A flurry of fanciful thoughts was immediately shattered by fear, and I quickly got up to walk outside. Upon reaching the gate of the courtyard, I glanced around and was instantly drenched in cold sweat

He let out a sound and lazily asked, "What is there to thank for?"

I stared blankly at him, unable to pick it up or put it down

My senior brother feels deeply guilty and does not dare to come and apologize to the princess. I, I will also apologize on his behalf to the princess. I was trying to buy some time with my words.

As I lifted my gaze, I met his bright eyes, gazing at me with a deep and tender look. The azure skies and white clouds, the emerald springs and green peaks, all pale in comparison to the scene reflected in his eyes at this moment

He pressed his lips together, and I clearly saw his Adam's apple move. Was it that he swallowed a mouthful of saliva or a word?

It seems she is determined to go to the Bamboo Residence for a night meeting with Yun Zhou. I felt a quiet anxiety, following closely behind her, a thin layer of cold sweat forming on my forehead.

I asked with a smile, "Sister Mu Yun, shall we take a walk in the back garden?"

Suddenly, there was a soft sound at the door. I thought it was Yunzhou returning, but when I turned around, a bun rolled down into my throat.

Suddenly, a sharp scream came from outside the courtyard gate, seemingly from a woman.

I wiped the corner of my lips but found nothing there, just as I was about to ask him, I saw him lightly leap over the small stream and head towards the shaded villa on the mountain.

Jiang Chen said to the maid, "If you call out again, I will include you as well."

I hurriedly said: "Jiang Chen, the young princess has arrived"

He supported his forehead with his hand, appearing as if he were suffering from an excruciating headache. After a while, he spoke in a harsh and irritable tone, yet lacking strength, saying: "Xiao Mo, I wish I could devour you."

Shui Muyun asked softly: "Why?"

I was taken aback and hurriedly stepped back a step. Today, my luck is truly poor; there was just a stone lurking behind my heel. My body tilted, and I fell backward. Just as I was about to regain my footing like a swallow turning in mid-air, I did not expect Jiang Chen to stretch out his arm and catch me in his embrace

Just as I reached the entrance, Yun Zhou walked in. Has the little princess been resolved so quickly? It seems that in matters of affection, indeed, one thing overcomes another.

Yun Zhou silently looked at me and slowly said, "Is that so?"

Upon hearing his displeased tone, I quickly said: "The young princess has come to find Yunzhou, but Yunzhou is not here at the moment"

I was immediately moved by his words; I had never thought that I was, in his eyes, a piece of uncut jade

Yun Zhou's face suddenly turned red. It seems that I hit the nail on the head.

The young princess was as angry as a frog, almost ready to leap over.

I looked at the cup of water, and for some reason, my eyes felt a bit sore. Never mind, I should be content. Although I am a wild girl with an unknown background, without parents, I have a master who cares for me and so many senior brothers looking after me. Why should I think so much? Compared to the little maid beside the young princess, I should be chanting Amitabha all day long. With this thought, my mood improved.

He stared at me blankly, neither saying he would come nor that he would not. His clear eyes were like water, deep and tranquil like waves. In an instant, my thoughts began to rise and fall, a battle between heaven and man.

He has truly caused me great distress! Is this what I mean? I want him to speak eloquently, to delight the young princess and make her overjoyed, in order to buy some time for Yunzhou

I? Why?

In the afternoon, I went next door again to continue inquiring about Shui Muyun's situation. In the course of our conversation, I learned that Shui Muyun is actually the second young lady of the Jiangnan Water Transport Society. The Jiangnan Water Transport Society is the foremost organization overseeing water transport in Jiangnan, immensely wealthy. This aligns even more with Yunzhou's social standing. Moreover, her demeanor and grace are a hundred times better than that of the little princess. No matter what, I cannot stand by and watch Yunzhou leap into a fire pit.

I watched his silhouette, my mouth felt dry, I took a bite of the steamed bun and held it in my mouth, unable to swallow it for a long time

I gazed sorrowfully at the empty little bridge, could it be that these two have progressed rapidly and have gone to a more secluded place to further enjoy their blissful union?

His expression darkened, and with a sudden "whoosh," he stood up, letting out a few cold laughs, his gaze piercing through me like a small needle.

I walked with her to the Penglai Pavilion in the back garden, where we sat side by side in the pavilion, engaging in lively conversation. Beside me, Shui Muyun was charming and graceful, her figure elegant, and she carried a faint, refreshing fragrance. Every gesture she made exuded the poise of a refined lady, which was in stark contrast to my own clumsy and carefree demeanor. Only such a gentle and beautiful woman deserves to be associated with Yunzhou. A wild girl like me, with an unknown background, truly should not harbor such delusions.

I hurriedly said: "Jiang Chen, you should apologize to the princess. What you did just now was truly inappropriate; how could you lay hands on the princess?"

His voice always carries a lingering sentiment in the night, as if the darkness has subdued his daytime arrogance and carelessness, revealing a gentle elegance, modest and as refined as jade

I wiped my sweat and said: "I have arranged for Yunzhou and the water girl next door to meet. If you can hold the little princess for half an hour, I will definitely reward you handsomely when I return."

A food box was handed to me, and my gaze shifted from his slender fingers to his handsome face. He resembled a pure lotus nurtured by a pool of clear water in a secluded valley, with bamboo shadows sweeping the steps without stirring the dust, and the moon passing over the bottom of the pond leaving no trace in the water. Every time I see him, I always feel a sense of unattainability, even when he stands right in front of me; I still perceive him as someone untouched by the mundane world. In contrast, I, unable to go without the ordinary for even a meal, feel listless and dispirited. For instance, at this moment, I feel very much like a string bean pickled for three days, a sour string bean.

I watched the fish eagerly and said with a smile, "Weren't you unwilling to give me grilled fish just now? How come you are willing now?"

He let out a sound, and his smile, like the bright moon and spring breeze, gradually softened and deepened: "In fact, Xiao Mo, you are better than anyone else. When I said that flowers are placed in cow dung, it was not to say that Yun Zhou is not good. If he is a piece of beautiful jade, it has also been carved and polished; you are indeed a raw jade that needs no embellishment. In his wealthy and powerful family, there are intrigues everywhere; if you go there, you will only feel uncomfortable."

I suppose that is the case; it must be Jiang Chen who came to speak with the young princess. The young princess, maintaining her pride and still remembering the grievances from the morning, found their words at odds, which immediately escalated into a conflict of force

Who is Yu Yao? Is she a young princess?

I wiped my sweat and quickly said, "I will go and invite Brother Yun right away, Your Highness, please wait a moment."

A pang of sorrow struck my heart, and I felt a deep sense of reluctance. If only he liked me, how wonderful that would be. Unfortunately, I am not good enough to be worthy of him. Never mind, I shall let go; helping others is also helping myself. I steeled my heart and resolved to move forward.

I barely struggled out from his gaze, and with great effort, I restrained my selfish thoughts, and said with utmost caution: "I will tell you later tonight. This evening, wait for me on the small bridge next to Penglai Pavilion."

Do not regret, hurry up, hurry up

In the evening, after I had dinner, I went next door, and it was Shui Muyun who opened the door

Two people, one standing quietly to the side without saying a word, and the other standing with their head down on the other side, also silent. I stood in the middle, unsure of how to break the ice and enliven the atmosphere. This was indeed my first time playing the matchmaker, and I truly lacked experience. Time was pressing, and my preparations were insufficient. Just as it seemed the conversation was about to fall flat, I suddenly sneezed

This sneeze was truly remarkable, as it promptly sparked my inspiration. I hurriedly said, "Miss Water, please wait for me here for a moment; I feel a bit cold and need to go back to put on a jacket."

He snorted and said, "I was angry just now, but now I am no longer angry"

I entered the courtyard and headed straight for Jiang Chen's bedroom

I returned to the room, opened the food box, and found one steamed bun and two portions of side dishes

The master has gone to the distant Zhaozhao Master, but coincidentally he is not there; otherwise, we would have heard the commotion and he would have come out to deal with us.

I was almost choked by a fishbone and hurriedly said: "Of course not, it is someone like the little princess who is." Just a moment ago, he praised me as a raw gem, yet in the blink of an eye, he wants to categorize me as a demon? It seems that his compliments are highly unreliable

Sister, this is not why I wanted you to come; it was you who insisted on following me. Endure it for a while, and we will return tomorrow

So it turns out he was upset about this

He stopped in his tracks, hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the few drifting clouds over the distant peaks, and said leisurely: "I will eventually be driven to my demise by you."

So, who are you angry with

I pulled the water and Mu Yun said to Yun Zhou: "Brother, this is Miss Shui from the Yuan Shan Sect, her name is Mu Yun, what a true fate this is!"

I was taken aback, was it really that obvious? I said awkwardly, "The young princess likes Brother Yun, I think it's not quite appropriate."

His eyes flickered for a moment, and he softly uttered the word "good," hurriedly stood up, and walked out

He squinted and smiled, saying: "You seemed not very happy when you saw the little princess talking to Yunzhou."

For a moment, it seemed as if time had come to a standstill at the instant our gazes intertwined. Unfortunately, a moment is ultimately not eternal; after that moment, will we become dust or become companions? I am well aware that it is naturally the former

He glanced at me with a sigh and said, "Xiao Mo, you are truly the most ungrateful person."

After I finished this sentence, unexpectedly, a sudden inspiration arose in a rather ungracious manner. The young princess and he seem to be a perfect match. The young princess is bold and fierce, while he is unafraid of both tyranny and power. If these two could be together, their life would be so vibrant and full of passion.

Your Highness, the fact this morning is that my senior brother and I were in the wrong, and Master has sent me to apologize to Your Highness

A large red lantern hung high at the entrance of the courtyard, and I, caught off guard, hurriedly stepped forward to pay my respects: "Good evening, Your Highness."

Regrettably, Wuzhishan was intercepted mid-air. Jiang Chen easily pinched her wrist with two fingers, employing the first move of the school's small grappling technique, the "Double Chopsticks Pinching a Fly"

He slowly lowered his head, and I suddenly realized that I was too close to him, close enough to see myself in his eyes. I quickly took a step back and stammered, "What are you doing?"

I happily followed behind him until we reached a stream at the back mountain. He cleaned the fish, then set up dry branches to start a fire, and quickly began to roast it with great familiarity.

I watched Jiang Chen walk out of the courtyard and let out a long sigh

He took a deep breath and said, "There is a fishbone at the corner of your mouth." His voice was somewhat hoarse, as if he had been choked by the fishbone.

The door opened quickly, and Jiang Chen stood at the entrance with the candlelight behind him. Upon seeing me, he seemed momentarily taken aback: "Are you looking for me for something?"

Not valued

He nodded slightly, and my heart ached again. They even called each other by such affectionate names; they must have been childhood sweethearts, innocent and carefree in their youth

I nodded: "The young princess indeed has a bad temper, but you are a man after all, and you should accommodate her a bit."

The young princess snorted again, saying: "If it weren't for the sake of Zizhao, hum."

I couldn't help but laugh: "Jiang Chen, you are really too stingy. With your temperament, only a fierce girl like a Yaksha can keep you in check."

I hurried to catch up with him. In the past, he had been driven away by me countless times, and I could only watch helplessly as he left. Today, this is the first time I have chased after him.

The young princess hesitated slightly and halted her steps

Why do I feel that his smile is somewhat sinister? Especially the two words "you" which come out in a chilling manner, each word pronounced slowly and deliberately, as if a cold wind is escaping through the gaps in his teeth

He replied to me with four words, "What does it have to do with me" in a disinterested manner

I nodded cautiously from a very objective and impartial standpoint, then took a hearty bite of the steamed bun and said: "Brother, if you marry her, you will definitely be bullied in the future"

I was momentarily stunned, almost forgetting to break free from his embrace

Jiang Chen is a person with exceptional eloquence; whenever he wishes to speak, he can engage in a lively conversation that can take you to the heights of the sky. However, if he does not wish to talk, it is difficult to extract even a single word from him.

When I arrived at the small bridge, I found it empty of any person, with only a bright moon hanging alone in the sky.

I wandered aimlessly through the back garden, my mind in a daze, and stumbled upon a place where suddenly the lights before me brightened significantly

I stared blankly at the Little Princess's Five-Finger Mountain and suddenly thought that Jiang Chen happens to be born in the Year of the Monkey

To part or not to part

A surge of enthusiasm welled up in my heart, and I excitedly asked, "Jiang Chen, what do you think of the little princess?"

I took a sip of water to wash down the steamed bun and nodded, saying: "Yes. Senior Brother Yun brought me my meal."

Upon arriving at the entrance of Zhu Zhi Courtyard, I took a step forward and said, "Little County Princess, the ones living in this courtyard are all my senior brothers. It is hot, and I am concerned that they may not be properly dressed. Allow me to go in first and call out Brother Yun."

I feel that as long as he talks with the young princess for a little over half an hour, it is quite possible that Yunzhou and Shui Muyun will fall in love at first sight, mutually attracted, and secretly promise each other for three lifetimes; it is likely to be almost certain. Miss Shui, even I, as a woman, can't help but drool when I look at her, let alone Yunzhou, who is a man. Now, sigh, I am sitting sourly at the door of Jiang Chen's room, gazing at the moon.

He smiled again and said, "So who do you think is suitable? You?"

It was she who first spoke to me disrespectfully

The evening breeze is gentle, and the fragrance of flowers is subtle. As I watch the moon rabbit rise in the east, I feel that it is about time, so I take Shui Muyun and head towards the small stone bridge beside Penglai Pavilion. From a distance, I see a person standing on the small bridge, poised like a jade tree under the moonlight, resembling an immortal.

He hesitated to speak, squinting at me like a greedy cat eyeing a fish. I felt a bit uneasy, unable to understand why he was angry with me

Shui Muyun nodded slightly and walked with me onto the small bridge

Jiang Chen has no intention of apologizing and is planning to leave with a clap of his hands. Fine, do not expect me to place high hopes on you or entrust you with important responsibilities in the future. This is just a troublemaker, and I have completely seen through it.

I walked back dejectedly, instantly losing the mood to tidy up the mess left by the little princess. Let her do as she pleases; at worst, I would report to my master, and he would punish me. I sighed deeply, feeling a surge of bitterness in my heart, almost bubbling over. I truly admire myself; holding a small knife, I steeled my heart and plunged it into myself! ... Pff ... ? ... Is it blood or bile that is spilling out? I truly admire myself; holding a small knife, I steeled my heart and plunged it into myself! ... Pff ... ? ... Is it blood or bile that is spilling out?

I had just taken a small bite when I suddenly heard Jiang Chen ask, "Does this count as being a nightshade?"

I hesitated for a moment and said softly, "Brother, I think she is not really suitable for you." When I said this, I felt somewhat lacking in confidence, as if I had ulterior motives. In fact, setting aside my infatuation with Yunzhou, I truly believe this. I think the little princess is beautiful and noble, but somewhat vulgar, and her temper is quite bad; she is truly not a good match for Yunzhou.

Under the lamp, she wore a pink outfit, the delicate edges of her clothing gently swaying in the evening breeze, resembling a budding lotus flower, graceful and enchanting. I glanced at my own loose robe, let out a soft sigh, and indeed, one needs comparison. In the Xiaoyao Sect, it was only me and the little pouch; without a beauty to serve as a reference, I momentarily lost my composure, wishing to reach for Yunzhou. Now that I think about it, I truly feel ashamed.

I took a long breath, steeling my heart to move forward. My steps felt somewhat unsteady, and my mind was filled with a vague emptiness, as if a pristine white snow had just fallen between heaven and earth, covering the bustling world in red dust, leaving only a clean and empty void.

It seems that Jiang Chen, a person who can turn his face faster than he can turn a page, is not someone I can rely on. I do not know what has provoked him again. Clearly, I feel aggrieved, yet why does his back appear so stiff? It almost seems as if I have angered him again! Forget it, I will just go to the kitchen to find something to eat.