The air on the mountain was extremely fresh in the morning, and the birdsong sounded so pleasant to the ears. Even the sounds from some small unknown insects could be heard along with the musical sounds of nature. While the fragrance of flowers burst together with the breeze. Thus one couldn't express how comfortable it was to be there.
Master Yang got up from bed and stretched himself. Then, he picked up his spear by the entrance and walked out, as he wielded his spear with all his vigorous might.
Half an hour later, Yu Zhi, Master Yang's young apprentice, came and took the spear while handing the towel in his hand to Master Yang. Then, as he saw Master Yang was in a good mood, he said, "Master, that girl is still kneeling outside the gate. She has been kneeling there for two days already. If she still kneels there again, I am afraid that her body will not be able to bear it."
Master Yang responded with an expressionless face, "If she wants to kneel, let her kneel. Let her sound out the difficulties herself and then retreat to avoid any defeat."
Yu Zhi didn't dare to speak anymore, but when Master Yang had his breakfast, he sneaked out and saw Zijin still kneeling at the same spot.
Yu Zhi walked to Zijin's side and whispered, "Miss, my Master doesn't take women as apprentices, so you should just give up your idea regarding this!"
Zijin didn't have the strength to speak any more at this point.
Yu Zhi didn't have the heart to see her like this as he advised, "What my Master has decided, no one can ever change it. Why don't you hastily hurry back..." before he could finish saying his words, he saw Zijin fall to the ground.
As Master Yang was eating his breakfast, he saw Yu Zhi worriedly rushed in, "Master, this is bad. That girl has fainted. Master, you have to save her!" Yu Zhi hoped that Master Yang would let Zijin stay for no other reason than, he would have someone to talk to if Zijin managed to stay. Furthermore, they would have someone to cook them some edible foods. However, regardless of whether the cook was him or his Master, both of their meals would taste horrible.
Master Yang went out and saw Zijin lying on the ground. Although he wouldn't accept Zijin as an apprentice, he couldn't go as far as letting her die either. He walked over and grabbed Zijin like she was a chick, then threw her on a wooden bed and said to his young apprentice, "Give her a bowl of congee. She will wake up soon." Her physical strength was excellent, as she could last for two days and two nights. Of course, her perseverance was also good. It was a pity that she was a girl. If she were a boy, he would have accepted her. Since she was a girl, then he should just forget about it.
After an hour, Yu Zhi looked for Master Yang again and said, "Master, this is bad. That girl now has a fever? Master, please go and have a look! "
Master Yang felt that women were indeed troublesome, but he also didn't want to see Zijin die inside his yard. So he immediately went to a drugstore to get the medicine, then tossed it to Yu Zhi. "Decoct it for her."
Yu Zhi took the medicine and busily decocting it.
Master Yang shook his head helplessly as he looked at his young apprentice who ran off to decoct the medicine, "This guy's temper is too jumpy. I don't know when he'll be able to complete his apprenticeship."
Zijin's body was in good condition, so after a dose of medicine, her fever went down completely, and she finally woke up at noon. When she opened her eyes, she noticed the wooden beam over her. She realised that she had entered the inside of the courtyard.
When Yu Chi looked at the awakened Zijin, he felt delighted, "You're awake?" After saying that, he saw Zijin's weak appearance and hurriedly asked, "Are you hungry? I'll go and bring you a bowl of congee." After he said that, he eagerly went off to bring her a bowl of congee.
Zijin drank two bowls of congee before she felt a little bit better. She instantly felt somewhat embarrassed as she said, "Little brother, thank you!" In the past, when she was sick, it was Zisu Jiejie who would take care of her. However, this was the first time she had an unfamiliar little boy take care of her.
Yu Zhi smiled and said, "My name is Yu Zhi. You can call me Xiao Zhi." After saying that, only then did he forget to introduce his identity as he hastily added, "I'm my Master's youngest apprentice."
If it were anyone else, they would have laughed at how Yu Zhi uttered words that did not hang together, as they would have thought that Yu Zhi was either having a problem with his brain or he was missing a string. However, Zijin was an exceptionally nice child, and she didn't laugh at Yu Zhi. Instead, she just said, "My name is Zijin."
Yu Zhi was very curious, "Why do you have to learn from my Master? My Master said that he wouldn’t take a woman as his apprentice. So why did you have to kneel outside stubbornly? You could even still kneel for two days and two nights, and you were not even afraid that the wolves would eat you..." If Yuxi were here, she would have said, how could there be a man that was such a chatterbox.
Zijin gratefully said, "Many thanks to you."
When Yu Zhi heard this, he was rather embarrassed instead, "After I said all these, you still haven't told me where you are from? And the reason why you must learn from my Master?" [+]
Zijin didn't hide it. She told him all about her situation, "I know Master Yang won't accept me as an apprentice, and I don't dare to have this extravagant hope. I just want Master Yang to give me some pointers in martial arts."
Yu Zhi felt that he had heard the craziest thing ever, "Are you really the personal maid of Third Senior Brother's meimei? What are you doing up here in the mountains? Does your Master know that you are here?"
Zijin shook her head, "She doesn't know. I didn't dare to let my Miss know."
Yu Zhi felt that he had met a very strange person, but in the blink of an eye, he told Master Yang about this, "Master, this girl is really strange."
Master Yang thought for a moment before he said, "Go down the mountain now, then call your Third Senior Brother here. Tell him to bring this girl back."
Yu Zhi was overjoyed. He hadn't been down the mountain for more than half a year. He had been longing to go down there to play. But before he could openly show his joy, he heard Master Yang added, "You have to rush back tonight." From the mountain to the capital, it would take two hours when one rode a horse, which was the same as telling him that he had to fumble in the dark by himself when he returned. Yu Zhi felt that his Master was way too cruel.
Han Jianye was very surprised when he got the news, but he didn't go back to the residence to inform Yuxi about it since he directly followed Yu Zhi up the mountain.
When Zijin saw Han Jianye, she lowered her head and greeted, "Second Master."
Master Yang waved his hand as he stated, "Since she's one of your family people, it's just right that you bring her down the mountain in the morning." But, unfortunately, there were wild animals on the mountain at night, or else Master Yang would have driven them out right now.
Zijin got up from the bed and stated, "I won't go back. Master Yang, please let me stay!" She wouldn't go back until she got what she wanted.
Han Jianye also felt Zijin's devotion was praiseworthy that he had the intention to help her out a bit. So he immediately advanced towards Master Yang and suggested, "Master, let's go talk outside!"
Master Yang reminded, "Even if you persuade me with a deluge of heavenly flowers, I won't take her as my apprentice." This was a matter of principle. Thus there was no room for discussion.
Han Jianye's face was filled with a smile as he said, "Where does this disciple have such a big face to let Master break a rule just for me? Though, I do have something to say to the Master." Some things were difficult for him to say in front of Zijin.
They went out of the house and came to the yard. Master Yang then said, "Go ahead, I'm listening."
Han Jianye told him about Zijin's situation and the detailed events on the night of the palace rebellion. He then explained why Zijin was dying to learn martial arts from Master Yang. "Master, it just so happens that there's a shortage of a cook to tend the kitchen fire here, so you can just let her stay and work as a maid who handles rough jobs."
Master Yang smiled and pondered, "Let her work as a maid who handles rough jobs here?"
Han Jianye said with a smile, "Master, you once said that she was born with superhuman strength because Heaven had blessed her. Now she has come to your door to seek your skills. For Heaven's sake, why don't you just leave her with one or two pointers!" When he saw that Master Yang was unmoved, he added, "Master, you don't know that this girl is a good seedling. The fists handbook that you asked me to send that time, she has learned it in three months. She is a good seedling when it comes to practising martial arts."
Master Yang was really impressed with Han Jianye. "I didn't expect you to be so eloquent. As expected from an experienced person mixing in the official circles."
Han Jianye rather felt unnatural, "Master, just say yes! At any rate, you don't need to trouble yourself by teaching her. But it's already enough if you can usually give her some pointers."
Zijin was no stranger to Master Yang, but he was instead quite familiar with her. When he knew that Zijin was very strong, he felt it was unfortunate that Zijin was a girl. But now, Master Yang's focus was not on Zijin, "Old Third, you said that your meimei sent her to Deng Niangzi to learn martial arts, and it cost 500 taels of silver a year?" Master Yang was surprised by Yuxi's behaviour. This girl's mind was really deep. He didn't believe Han Yuxi would send her personal maid to learn martial arts for no reason.
Han Jianye nodded, "Well, in addition to this, it costs a hundred taels more for yearly food and accommodation expenses." [+]
After a moment of contemplation, Master Yang said, "Then tell your meimei to send me 600 taels of silver, and I will promise to give some pointers to her maid."
Han Jianye was delighted, "Master, you agree to let this girl stay?"
Master Yang said in a bad mood, "I'm not giving anyone's face. I just can't help but give some face to Heaven." Since he taught these disciples, he could see that one was useless while the other was stupid.
Han Jianye immediately praised, "Master, you are truly wise."
Master Yang was impatient when he saw him still there, "Hurry inside the house and go to sleep."
Yuxi didn't know about this until the following afternoon. "What? Zijin ran to Taigong Mountain and knelt outside Master Yang's gate for two days and two nights? This girl, I can't believe that she didn't even reveal a tiny bit about something this big." In Yuxi's mind, Zijin didn't know how to hide things, but unexpectedly, she could do such a big thing quietly.
Han Jianye told her about Master Yang's conditions, "My Master said that it has to be the same as Deng Shi niangzi, which are five hundred taels a year for tuition and one hundred taels a year for lodging and food. You have to pay for that." He did want to pay for it himself, but he was afraid that if his Master found out about it, he would have a fallout with him later on.
Yuxi was confused and asked, "Will Master Yang really give some pointers to Zijin?" As far as Yuxi knew, Master Yang was not like Deng Shi niangzi, and he didn't even lack any money at all.
Han Jianye smilingly said, "Master let Zijin stay because she has the talent to learn martial arts, plus she was born with superhuman strength. Otherwise, not to mention six hundred taels, even sixty thousand taels wouldn't be able to make my Master nod his head. By the way, this is also Zijin's good fortune."
Yuxi didn't waste any time, as she immediately opened the box to get the silver ticket. After giving the silver ticket to Han Jianye, she reminded him, "Er Ge, I hope you can help me keep this secret and don't tell anyone. If you let Grandmother know that Zijin is studying with Master Yang, she will not be able to come back to me in the future." Once this matter went out, Zijin wouldn't be able to return to her again. It didn't matter much when Zijin learned martial arts with Deng Shi niangzi because the one who taught Zijin was a woman. However, Master Yang was a man, and this would only ruin Zijin's reputation.
Han Jianye nodded and said, "Don't worry, I won't tell anyone about this. Not even to Dage." It was easy to hide this matter. After all, Master Yang was always on the mountain and rarely came down. Also, there were very few people who ever went to the place where he lived. So as long as no one deliberately inquired about it, this matter wouldn't leak out.
Yuxi was a little relieved by this. She just hoped that everything would go on well.
Noob Translator's Musing
The 'hunt' for the one responsible for the Duke of the State inner courtyard attack will start in the next chapter.
Tags:
The Rebirth of Han Yuxi