044. Never Marry into the Royal Family
Yuzhi Yang handed the scripture to Le Qianxue and said, “Help me take this to Master Wenzhi, will you?”
“Wouldn’t it be easier if you took it yourself?”
“To tell you the truth, Master Wenzhi particularly enjoys conversing with young women,” Yuzhi Yang was forced to admit.
The corner of Le Qianxue’s mouth twitched. If that’s the case, then what business does he have being a monk, let alone calling himself a master?
Still, since Yuzhi Yang had asked, it would be unreasonable for her to refuse. She took the scripture and brought it to Master Wenzhi.
Master Wenzhi glanced at her, narrowed his eyes, and laughed, “Oh, what a pretty girl you are!”
She frowned; those words sounded more like teasing, and coming from a monk, no less!
But that wasn’t all—Master Wenzhi even reached out as if to take liberties with her!
Le Qianxue immediately dodged aside, but Master Wenzhi reached for her again. She quickly raised her hand to block him, and their hands met directly!
Master Wenzhi seemed quite pleased and nodded, “Not bad, not bad.”
Le Qianxue had never witnessed a monk behave this way; it completely overturned her impression of monks. Angered, she struck one of Master Wenzhi’s pressure points!
Yet Master Wenzhi seemed entirely unaffected, merely chuckling, “You’re quite familiar with the human body’s pressure points, aren’t you, girl?”
Le Qianxue was puzzled. She had clearly struck a vital point; he should have been paralyzed.
“But I can shift my pressure points. Your little trick won’t work on me!” Master Wenzhi said cheerfully.
With that, he reached for her again, this time grasping her wrist and pulling her toward him.
“You old monk!” Le Qianxue was furious. “Let go of me!”
“My, what a temper.” Master Wenzhi said, taking the scripture from her hand and then releasing her.
Yuzhi Yang hurried over and said, “Master Wenzhi, please, don’t tease her any further.”
Master Wenzhi grunted, tossed the scripture back onto the shelf, and arranged it neatly.
Le Qianxue rubbed her wrist, glaring at Master Wenzhi with obvious displeasure.
“Old monk, how can you be the guardian here? Not only do you lack the demeanor of a monk, you even reek of wine!” she said.
Yuzhi Yang stepped forward. “Qianxue, you mustn’t speak to the master like that.”
Le Qianxue turned her head away. “I’m not wrong, why shouldn’t I say it?”
“You make a good point, girl,” Master Wenzhi said. “Since you’re so interested, let me show you what it means to be an exemplary monk.” With a wave of his hand, he brought over a chair.
He pressed Le Qianxue down to sit.
Yuzhi Yang was at a loss. Master Wenzhi was over sixty, highly skilled in martial arts, and eccentric. Now that Le Qianxue had offended him, things didn’t look good.
“Master Wenzhi, I apologize on her behalf. I’ll take her away at once.”
“Going somewhere? I’m not done speaking with her.” Master Wenzhi waved his sleeve, and Yuzhi Yang was pushed back over ten paces, stopping right at the iron plate—the elevator platform.
Yuzhi Yang was startled and called out, “Master Wenzhi, you mustn’t!”
“Third Prince, you should leave. I need a word with this young lady.” With another gesture, a mechanism activated, and the elevator sent Yuzhi Yang down.
Le Qianxue’s heart raced. This old man was not to be trifled with—his martial skill was astounding!
Master Wenzhi smiled at her. “What’s with that face, girl? Let’s talk about what it means to be a monk.”
Le Qianxue quickly forced a smile. “In my view, monks are people too—they can sleep and drink before the Buddha, can’t they?”
Master Wenzhi clapped his hands in delight. “Exactly! That’s just what I think!”
He immediately produced two jugs of wine.
Le Qianxue was forced to accept one. She heard Master Wenzhi say, “Girl, this is fifty-year-old wine, reserved for honored guests. I’m sharing it with you today.”
“I really shouldn’t…” Le Qianxue replied with a strained smile, feeling helpless.
Master Wenzhi’s face darkened. “What did you just say?”
“But I’m a young lady. My father always told me not to drink,” she said.
“Nonsense,” Master Wenzhi replied. “That Le Yongcheng surely taught you to drink long ago, didn’t he, Le Qianxue?”
A chill ran through Le Qianxue. The masters of the Thousand Buddha Pagoda rarely ventured out—how did he know about her and her father?
She asked, “Master Wenzhi, you know my father?”
“Know him? That’s putting it mildly!” Master Wenzhi snorted, his expression darkening, but then he shook his head, clearly unwilling to discuss it further.
Le Qianxue found it odd. It seemed there was some old grudge between her father and Master Wenzhi…
She grew a little frightened; this old man was powerful enough to crush her like an ant—her life was in danger.
Master Wenzhi, oblivious to her thoughts, asked, “Girl, you’re nearly seventeen. Are you promised to anyone?”
Le Qianxue answered at once, “Almost, almost!”
If this old man took a fancy to her, it would be a disaster.
But Master Wenzhi took a sip of wine and asked earnestly, “Is it the Third Prince?”
Le Qianxue considered and replied, “No.”
“Then have many come to propose marriage?” he asked.
She continued her fabrication. “Yes, quite a few; I’m still deciding.”
Master Wenzhi seemed convinced and muttered, “That’s to be expected. Her daughter couldn’t be far behind.”
Le Qianxue was puzzled. “What did you say?”
She hadn’t quite caught his words; Master Wenzhi seemed lost in thought.
He pointed at her wine. “Why aren’t you drinking? Go on, drink!”
Left with no choice, Le Qianxue took a sip. The wine was as fragrant and mellow as promised!
She couldn’t resist another taste.
Master Wenzhi laughed. “Delicious, isn’t it?”
“It is. No wonder you love your wine so much, master,” she replied.
“Good wine is hard to come by,” he said. “This one is called ‘Plum in the Snow.’ I stole it from the Prince of War’s residence.”
Le Qianxue quietly took note.
She asked, “So you’ve been to the Prince of War’s residence? And sneaked in, at that?”
“Of course,” Master Wenzhi said. “Nothing difficult about it—one leap and I was inside.”
“Your lightness skill must be extraordinary, then?”
“Indeed. The famed ‘walking on water’ lightness skill in the martial world was my own invention!”
Le Qianxue immediately said, “Master, could you teach me even one or two moves?”
With such lightness skill, seeking out the lost volumes at the Prince of War’s residence would be far easier—or, at the very least, she could make a quick escape!
Master Wenzhi narrowed his eyes, stroking his beard. “Why would a young lady want to learn such things?”
“I’m interested,” Le Qianxue replied. “Just as you love wine, I love martial arts. We’re alike in that way.”
“Is that so…” Master Wenzhi pondered. “Then let me ask you: do you wish to become a dutiful wife, or do you long to forge your own achievements in this world?”
Le Qianxue frowned. Rarely did anyone ask a woman such a question; in this era, most believe women should abide by the three obediences and four virtues.
She asked, “Does master also think that a woman can achieve great things?”
“Other women, perhaps not. But if you desire it, you certainly can.” Master Wenzhi’s enigmatic smile carried a world of meaning in his gaze.
Le Qianxue paused. Did Master Wenzhi know how to read faces?
He took another sip of wine, then said, “If you want me to teach you, I will—but you must swear never to marry into the Yu imperial family!”
Le Qianxue was even more surprised. “Why? Don’t you rely on the court for your livelihood?”
“I simply dislike the Yu imperial family, is that so wrong?” Master Wenzhi waved his hand. “If you agree, I’ll teach you. If not, forget it.”
Le Qianxue thought it over. It didn’t really matter to her, though she found it odd.
She had little interest in the imperial family. Crown Prince Yu Guhan, though seemingly weak, had a complicated look in his eyes—she didn’t wish to get close. Second Prince Yu Hanxiang was out of the question; with the Yang family backing him, they were irreconcilable enemies. Third Prince Yu Zhiyang was fine, but she had no such intentions. As for Fourth Prince Yu Nanfeng, she had not the slightest interest.
“What’s this? Do you fancy the Third Prince?” Master Wenzhi looked at her intently. “If so, you might as well marry him now. Why bother learning lightness skill?”
Le Qianxue shook her head. “Master, have you ever heard the saying that sometimes, the moment you see someone, you know whether you could spend a lifetime with them?”
Master Wenzhi understood her meaning. “But can’t feelings grow over time?”
“They can, but the Third Prince is not my type.”
“He’s fine enough—handsome, skilled in martial arts, and may well become emperor,” Master Wenzhi said.
“If that’s the case, I’d rather rely on myself. Master Wenzhi, I promise you, I will not marry into the Yu imperial family. Will you teach me now?”
“Truly?” he asked.
“Of course. I keep my word,” Le Qianxue replied.
“Good—then pinky swear!” Master Wenzhi held out his hand.
Le Qianxue’s lips twitched; she had expected an oath, not this.
The two hooked little fingers, sealing their agreement.
Master Wenzhi then taught her a mnemonic. Le Qianxue realized it resembled the inner strength formula Zhan Lianjing had once taught her.
She mentioned this, and Master Wenzhi’s expression grew grave. “Who taught you that?”
Le Qianxue hesitated, then decided there was no harm in saying that Zhan Lianjing knew this inner strength method, so she told him.