きつね： Sorry, I went past the expected date again. 😅 And I probably need to reschedule all the release dates for Black Belly Wife's chapters as none of the upcoming chapters will have less than 7000 Chinese characters. 😓 It's taking a long time for me to translate. Plus, my work starting to pile up again. If I'm late again in posting the new chapter in the future, I want to apologise in advance. 🙇🏻♀️
Murong Yunshu did not immediately answer Lu-er's question. She stared at Chu Changge for a long moment before saying, "No. His heart has been invaded by a demon."
"How, how could that be......" Lu-er's voice grew smaller over time as her tiny body began to tremble.
Murong Yunshu didn't know why this was happening either. So, she could only respond to the changes and wait for Chu Changge to speak first. South, East, North and West were also at a loss as to what to do. This change in Chu Changge was utterly out of their expectation.
"Murong Yunshu stays behind, the rest of you—" Chu Changge's eyes sank as he spat out one word coldly, "Scram!"
East, South, North, and West were so frightened by this word 'scram' that their bodies trembled, their limbs went weak, and their scalps numb. Lu-er even fell straight to the ground. Only Murong Yunshu remained calm and collected. Her clear eyes looked at Chu Changge lightly. "I'll hand Lu-er over to you guys." Murong Yunshu said to the South, East, North and West.
"The four of us together may not be a match for him." East Guardian said.
At that, Murong Yunshu raised her dark eyebrows slightly and asked, "And then do what?"
"And then we'll escape."
"He didn't force you to stay, so why bother."
East Guardian was stunned and was busy explaining, "I meant to take you with me to escape."
"Why should I escape?"
East Guardian: "Leader's mind is currently clouded. In case he hurts you, it would be troublesome."
"My purpose in setting foot in the jianghu was to find him. Now that he is right before me, why should I run away?"
"This......"
"If I go with him, it will save me the effort of searching for him."
"Be that as it may, the current situation has changed, and the Leader now......does not recognise you." East Guardian continued to persuade Murong Yunshu to flee.
"That is a valid point." Murong Yunshu nodded as if she had some understanding. Suddenly, as if she thought of something, she jumped off the carriage, walked up to Chu Changge, and then made a move that shocked everyone⸺she gave Chu Changge a slap to his face. Gasps could be heard on the scene.
East, South, North and West were dumbfounded. Has, has Madam become silly because of her anger?
Lu-er was so frightened by Murong Yunshu's bold move that six of her seven souls scattered, leaving one soul floating in the air, threatening to fly away at any moment.
In contrast, Murong Yunshu was much calmer. The gloom she felt before was swept away, and she was incomparably cheerful. Although she didn't like being beaten up, she had to say that beating someone else up was enjoyable, especially after being dizzy by someone's changing personality. She felt much better after giving him a slap on his face. "You jianghu people always talk about if you guys don't fight, you won't become friends. Now, we can be regarded as knowing each other." She said airily.
North, South, East and West felt a flock of crows flying over their heads. That was not how to interpret 'don't fight, won't make friends'.
Chu Changge was dumbfounded by the slap and stared at Murong Yunshu incredulously. Murong Yunshu also did not shy away from him, as her eyebrows arched, and she tilted her head to smile at him. Her smile was like a ray of bright sunlight, which shone straight into the darkest corner of Chu Changge's heart, making him forget the pain on his face.
After a brief moment of dismay, Chu Changge regained his wits, and in the next second, he strangled Murong Yunshu's neck. His face was expressionless.
"Madam!" East, South, North and West cried out in shock, wanting to offer a hand to save her, but they were blocked by a killing glance from Chu Changge, making them not dare to make any more rash moves.
"Do you know that what you just did has given me a reason to kill you a thousand times?" Chu Changge said word by word.
Murong Yunshu's face was so pale from his choking, but she did not panic and said the same word for word, "I know."
Chu Changge: "If you know, why do you still do it?"
"If you have the reason to kill me a thousand times, why haven't you done it yet?" Murong Yunshu asked instead of answering, staring straight into his eyes and questioning him with a calm face.
Chu Changge flinched slightly at her words. His hand trembled and started to loosen a few points.
"If you don't really want to kill me, then please let me go." Murong Yunshu said again.
Chu Changge's sword brows knitted slightly. What was she relying on that she dared to be so reckless?
Murong Yunshu ignored his probing eyes and continued to add calmly, "Men and women should not touch hands when they give or receive things."
This one sentence almost killed South, East, North and West. What kind of logic is that when your life is on the line?
Chu Changge was also deeply affected. Why didn't she mind that when she slapped him? The corners of his mouth twitched a few times, and Chu Changge let go of his hand.
At the same time, South, East, North and West also breathed a sigh of relief. The Leader's feelings for his wife could not be erased by a split personality or memory loss. They should have known that the Leader would never hurt Madam.
Murong Yunshu said as she straightened her collar, "It seems like you are looking for me. So, what can I do for you?"
Three black lines appeared on the forehead of North, South, East and West. Madam, could you please be more serious once in a while?
The corner of Chu Changge's forehead also jumped a few times, and he was about to answer when he heard her say, "Or did you come to this place on account of its reputation?"
The North, South, East and West looked at the sky speechlessly. How confident you are, Madam! If he had come to this place on account of its reputation, he wouldn't have strangled you just now.
Chu Changge's sword brows were furrowed in confusion as he looked at Murong Yunshu, seemingly thinking about something, before saying after a long time of silence, "You're overthinking it."
She was obviously overthinking! But is there a need for you to think about it for so long in a solemn manner? Looking at Chu Changge's frowning, serious expression, the South, East, North and West suddenly had a nagging feeling that their disordered internal organs had been entangled that it hurt inside.
Murong Yunshu said, "If you don't have any important business and you're not here on account of its reputation, then why are you looking for me?"
When asked by Murong Yunshu, Chu Changge remembered his trip's purpose. "To snatch you away." He said.
Murong Yunshu raised her eyebrows at his words and turned towards the carriage, asking as she walked, "Do you mind taking the carriage with you?"
Taking the carriage with him? Meaning that he should be her coachman? Chu Changge's brow furrowed even tighter as he said, "I mind."
At that moment, Murong Yunshu had already stepped onto the carriage and lifted the curtain, intending to enter. Hearing Chu Changge's reply, she turned back and gave him a faint smile, saying, "Then you'd better convince yourself not to mind as soon as possible."
"......" As it turned out, he could not hold any opposing opinion? The corners of Chu Changge's mouth twitched slightly as he leapt onto the carriage, pulling the reins with a low roar of 'drive', and drove it away in the dust.
Did he leave just like that? South, East and West looked at the carriage with a dumbfounded expressions as it moved further away. Suddenly, North Guardian waved and shouted, "At least give us a ride!"
"......"
"......"
"......"
What a great mindset.
"You guys, could this be a play by the Leader and Madam to throw us off?" North Guardian asked thoughtfully as he looked ahead.
"......"
"......"
"......"
What an imagination. East, South and West became speechless when they suddenly noticed Lu-er walk to the side of the road and sit down on the ground, with her hands on her cheeks and a calm expression. Thus, they followed along by walking over and sitting next to her. Seeing no one was paying attention to him, North Guardian ran over and sat down. "Miss Lu-er, aren't you worried about your Miss' safety?" East Guardian asked in confusion.
Lu-er said, "The sick one isn't my Miss, so why should I worry?"
"Our Leader is not sick either." East Guardian said.
"Being brainless is also a disease. You guys said that." Lu-er curled her lips in contempt while giving a sidelong glance at him.
"......" East Guardian was tempted to say that this time the Leader was not being brainless but had just split into his third personality. However, on second thought, a character split out from a brainless person was still considered a brainless person, wasn't it? It was just that, how could a man not lose his brain in front of a woman he loved? It was just like how the ground was on fire after being struck by lightning; the Leader was struck for a lifetime.
"How long do you plan to sit here?" South Guardian asked Lu-er.
"Until the Great Master appears."
The five sat on the ground in single file for about half an hour when Li Wunai finally showed up. "Where are Murong Yunshu and Chu Changge? And what are you guys doing sitting by the roadside?"
Lu-er answered, "My Miss has been snatched away by Guye."
Li Wunai: "Murong Yunshu was snatched by Chu Changge? What is this all about?"
Lu-er told the story of how Chu Changge had taken Murong Yunshu in great detail. After listening to Lu-er's account, Li Wunai groaned as he held his forehead and yelled frantically, "How many personalities does your Leader have? Does he have too much time on his hands to play games with himself because the country is prosperous and the people live in peace with the gentle breeze and timely rain?"
"Uh." North, South, East and Northwest were stumped by Li Wunai's question. It should just be because he has too much time on his hands that he lost his head, and it has nothing to do with the country being prosperous and the people living in peace with the gentle breeze and timely rain. They thought so in their minds.
Lu-er: "Great Master, calm down. You're a monk now."
"I have returned to my old life." Li Wunai said with a dark face.
Lu-er: "But you're still bald, and you're still a monk in the eyes of others. You are tarnishing the image of Shaolin Temple by flying into a rage at every turn like this."
"......" Li Wunai looked at the sky and made sure to get a hat to wear tomorrow.
Lu-er: "Miss asked you to find out the news. Did you find anything?"
Finally, it was time to focus on the main point. Li Wunai replied, "I've found out about something. Those jianghu people have no intention of following us, but their destination is the same as ours."
Lu-er: "The same destination? Are they going to the silver warehouse too?"
"Not bad." Li Wunai said, "They all received notable personage invitations, and the posting stated that a martial arts conference would be held in Shang Yang on the 15th of the eighth lunar month to elect a new Great Leader of Martial Arts. And the exact address is precisely where the silver warehouse is located."
The crowd was shocked at these words. "How come we haven't heard of such an important event as the Martial Arts Assembly?" East Guardian asked.
"I haven't heard about it either." Li Wunai said. "I think someone must have done it deliberately to confuse us with what we see and hear."
"It must be that big bad man, Hua Tiansheng!" Lu-er said with righteous indignation. "Miss was kind enough to spare his life at first, but he is now returning her kindness with revenge. It's really abominable!"
Li Wunai: "Don't rush to scold people first. Maybe it's not him."
South, East, North and West nodded silently. Although all the clues pointed to Hua Tiansheng, outward appearances often confused people the most.
Lu-er bristled, "So what do we do now?"
Li Wunai: "Go to the silver warehouse. Wait for Murong Yunshu and Chu Changge to come and meet us."
"How do you know the Leader will definitely take Madam to the silver warehouse?" East Guardian questioned.
"Have you ever seen Murong Yunshu try to do something but fail to do it?" Li Wunai asked instead of answering.
"No."
"So she will definitely take Chu Changge to the silver warehouse."
Just as Li Wunai had said, Murong Yunshu was doing her best to trick Chu Changge into going to the silver warehouse, but Chu Changge seemed determined to oppose her. When she said something seriously, he listened to it as ironic remarks, and when she honestly said something ironic, he still listened to them as ironic remarks; in short, it just didn't go the way she wanted. This made Murong Yunshu frustrated. This guy had a split personality. How could he still guess her thoughts like a human's spirit? Fate sometimes was genuinely hateful.
The carriage stopped before an inn by the official road at sunset. Without waiting for Murong Yunshu to get off the carriage, she heard the innkeeper's attentive voice greeting his customers from outside the carriage. "Hey. Dear patron, are you staying at the inn or just stopping by?"
"Staying." Chu Changge said.
What a cold voice. The innkeeper shivered and squeezed out a fake smile on his face and said, "Please come inside, dear patron."
Chu Changge stood by the carriage without moving. The smile on the innkeeper's face stiffened, and he was surprised to see a plain-clothed woman coming out of the carriage. She had delicate features and a magnificent manner. Her slight smile was like a warm breeze blowing, making people feel comfortable looking at her. The innkeeper suddenly realised that no wonder the man did not go in. There was someone else in the carriage.
Little did the innkeeper know that Chu Changge did not go in first because he was afraid that Murong Yunshu would use it to pick a fight with him. Yes, that's right, picking a fight with him. He had seen her cursing skills on this journey. There had never been and never would be another person like her, whose cursing skill was extremely unprecedented and never to be duplicated. Even when he was rushing the horses by whipping them hard, she could be heard mysteriously saying, 'we both grew up from the self-same root, why are you so anxious to roast us'. If he hadn't been the one being scolded, he would have clapped his hands and shouted in amazement.
The two people walked into the inn one after the other. "Boss, I need a room." Murong Yunshu said to the innkeeper.
"Okay." The innkeeper called out while registering, "Xiao Er, take the guest to the Top No. 1 Room."
Shop assistant: "Dear patron, please follow me upstairs."
Murong Yunshu nodded slightly and was about to follow the shop assistant upstairs when she heard Chu Changge say behind her, "I don't have any money on me." Murong Yunshu turned around at his words and asked curiously, "What are you doing snatching me away without having any money on yourself?"
"......" Is there any internal connection between having no money and snatching you?
"I don't have any money either." Murong Yunshu said with a helpless face.
Chu Changge wrinkled his brows. "I heard that you are wealthy."
"That's why I don't have any money on me. Rich people never take money with them when they go out." Murong Yunshu said as a matter of course.
"Then don't stay at the hotel, and let's just continue on our way." Chu Changge turned around and was about to leave, but she heard Murong Yunshu say to the innkeeper, "Can I use someone to pay for it?" Chu Changge turned back. What did she want to do again?
"How will you offset it?" The innkeeper asked while feeling puzzled.
Murong Yunshu gave Chu Changge a sidelong glance and said, "You can sell him or give him away. Up to you."
In an instant, one could see Chu Changge's wickedly handsome face trembled fiercely, and his black eyes immediately emitted a murderous ten thousand rays of light, glaring viciously at Murong Yunshu. Murong Yunshu turned a blind eye to his evil looks and looked at the innkeeper with a smile on her face. She was obviously asking, what do you think of this deal?
Without thinking, the innkeeper answered, "This place only accepts cash."
When she was refused, Murong Yunshu did not feel discouraged but was in a good mood and said with a smile, "If that's the case, then I won't force you." After saying that, she slowly walked to the empty seat in the lobby and sat down, tilted her head and said to Chu Changge, "You jianghu people love to rob the rich to help the poor, so you should go rob some silver to help me who requires cash."
"......" Was she bossing him around? Chu Changge frowned. Although he also intended to rob the rich to help the poor, his original plan was to wait until after dark to act. He was asked to steal in broad daylight in full view of everyone. He didn't know if she had no common sense or if she just considered everyone else beneath her! "There is no village ahead and no inn behind us, so there is no one for me to rob." Chu Changge said.
Murong Yunshu: "Isn't there an inn just right here?"
"......" It seems that she genuinely considers everyone else beneath her.
The innkeeper was also thunderstruck by Murong Yunshu's remark. She was joking, right? She must be joking. Otherwise, how could she make such a heavy matter as robbery sound so breezy?
At this moment, a male voice suddenly came from the doorway, "I'll pay for her room."
Murong Yunshu didn't need to turn around to know who the visitor was because this person was simply too active lately, popping up in front of her twice every three days. It was hard not to remember him. "Weren't your belongings robbed by robbers?" Murong Yunshu asked with a smile.
Fine Silver Money used during the Qing Dynasty
Image Credit | It's rightful owner via Baidu
Image Credit | It's rightful owner via Baidu
"Two rooms." Chu Changge corrected out loud. "I'll share a room with her."
Li Shaoqing frowned and asked Murong Yunshu, "You want to share a room with him?"
"If you want to share a room with him, I don't mind assisting you in achieving your purpose." Murong Yunshu smiled beamingly from ear to ear. Please read this chapter at xinshou blogspot com.
"......" Could she have misinterpreted his meaning even more outrageously? Li Shaoqing shook his head speechlessly and turned back to the owner, "Two rooms."
"Sorry, dear patron, there's only one room left."
"How can three people stay in one room? You find us another room, and I'll pay double the room rate." Li Shaoqing was particularly wealthy and took a silver dollar from his pocket and put it on the counter.
"Sorry, there is really only one room left in the inn. Even if you pay three times the room price, I can't come up with another room for you. Also, my little inn only accepts silver, not silver dollars." The innkeeper stated with a smile.
Li Shaoqing looked unhappy and asked, "Why?"
Murong Yunshu was also curious to know why as she raised her eyes toward the innkeeper. Although, due to the war in the previous years where the currency reform had not been able to move forward as planned and the silver dollar had not yet been rolled out nationwide, she had long ago publicly promised that silver dollars, like silver tickets, could be exchanged for cash at any private banks nationwide. [+]
The innkeeper explained. "I can't find a private bank even if you give me a silver dollar because there is no village ahead and no other inn behind this place. Moreover, even if I find a private bank, I may not be able to exchange it."
Li Shaoqing was slightly angry. "Do you suspect that this silver dollar is a fake?"
"Of course not." The innkeeper shook his head repeatedly in denial, then lowered his voice and said, "I suspect that the Murong Mansion cannot come up with the silver. I have heard rumours that the Murong Mansion's silver warehouse has been stolen and emptied."
Li Shaoqing's face immediately sank as he reminded him, "You can eat things indiscriminately, but you can't talk nonsense. The Murong Mansion's private bank is like a national treasury. How could it be easily emptied by someone?"
The innkeeper: "This......is something I am not sure about."
Li Shaoqing's response surprised Murong Yunshu a little. Apparently, he did not know about what happened to the silver warehouse. Was he not involved in this matter, or was this matter initially not the work of Hua Tiansheng and the others? Murong Yunshu gave him a thoughtful look, then said to the innkeeper, "Originally, I was just passing through here, but after hearing you say that, I suddenly want to go to my own silver warehouse to have a look."
My own silver warehouse......my own......the boss' eyes went black for a moment, and he almost fainted. Everyone knew that the young mistress of Murong Mansion was the number 1 person one could not offend. He actually refused to accept the silver dollar issued by her family and said before her that her family's silver warehouse had been stolen and emptied. This was a big offence! If she wanted to take revenge, his life and his ancestral grave would be in danger. "Pardon this old man for having bad eyes and not knowing Miss Murong had honoured him with her present. This old man is guilty of a crime that deserves ten thousand deaths. This old man hopes Miss Murong will be generous and not take it personally." The innkeeper said fearfully after coming out from behind the counter.
Murong Yunshu smiled slightly and said, "It's normal that you don't know me, and I don't know you either. It's not a huge crime. Don't worry. I won't retaliate against you."
"......" He was not at all reassured. The innkeeper lifted his sleeve to wipe away the cold sweat on his forehead and said with a smile, "I'll go and vacate another top room for you."
"No need." Murong Yunshu stopped him. "One room is enough. I can't afford to stay here any longer than today."
Boss: "But there are three of you......"
"Two." Murong Yunshu corrected.
The innkeeper was flabbergasted for a moment, then understood and said, "Then please ask Miss Murong and this Gongzi to follow me upstairs." After saying this, he ordered the shop assistant to make tea.
"I will send someone to bring you the room money later if you are still alive at that time." Murong Yunshu said as she followed him upstairs.
"No, no need." The innkeeper almost fell down as his legs trembled. How did that sound like he was going to die soon?
"Wait." Li Shaoqing called out to Murong Yunshu and said, "You have a room now. So what about me?"
Murong Yunshu: "That's your business." After saying that, she lifted her legs and left.
Li Shaoqing was dumbfounded. This woman was too inhumane, right?
Inside the Top Number 1 Room.
"Can you give me another quilt?" Murong Yunshu asked as she looked at the only bed in the room.
The innkeeper immediately grasped her meaning and enthusiastically said, "I'll ask Xiao Er to add another bed for this Gongzi."
Murong Yunshu: "There's no need to go to that trouble. It's fine for him to sleep on the floor."
"......" The innkeeper wiped his sweat again. "It's no trouble, no trouble at all."
Murong Yunshu: "That's not necessary either. He can't sleep on the bed."
"Er. Can I ask why?"
"He's picky about his bed."
"......" Cold sweat broke out on the boss's forehead. This Gongzi simply was not sleeping on the bed because he was picky about it? The thinking of the rich was indeed beyond the comprehension of poor people like him. The innkeeper looked at Chu Changge speechlessly but saw his face was livid, as if someone owed him silver and had not paid him back. The innkeeper thought he had upset him by asking too many questions, so he said his few last words and hurriedly went downstairs.
As soon as the innkeeper left, Chu Changge stated coldly, "You don't seem to have figured out your current identity."
Murong Yunshu: "What identity?"
Chu Changge: "You are only my prisoner. But as far as the present situation is concerned, you seem to treat me as your servant."
"Is that so?" Murong Yunshu raised an eyebrow. "I'm used to bossing people around, and I forgot to change just now. Sorry."
"......" How come he didn't think she was sorry at all? The corners of Chu Changge's mouth twitched as he warned coldly, "Don't give me trouble behind my back again."
Murong Yunshu: "Don't talk nonsense. I never give people a hard time behind their backs. I always do things openly and honestly, even when I do bad things."
"......" The corners of Chu Changge's mouth twitched slightly as he warned sullenly, "Don't mess with me."
"I can't." Murong Yunshu chuckled. "If you don't make it easy for me, I won't make it easy for you. You should have been aware of that when you decide to snatch me away."
"......" If I had known she was this difficult, I would have never accepted Bai Yefeng's instructions in the first place!
After some thought, Chu Changge decided to ignore her existence from this moment on. He would never have to see her again after reaching the Wuhua Valley anyway.
When Chu Changge did not say anything, Murong Yunshu did not speak either. She only surveyed him with arched eyebrows and a gentle smile at the corners of her mouth. This made Chu Changge feel very uncomfortable. "Don't stare at me." He said in a deep voice.
Murong Yunshu's phoenix eyes narrowed slightly as she smilingly asked, "Do you think I would listen to you?"
No. Chu Changge felt frustrated, very frustrated. When he met such a person in normal times, he would have simply slapped her to death. But for some reason, he just couldn't do anything to her and was even willing to indulge in her little tricks. What was even more strange was that he didn't feel odd in his heart, as if it should be so, and it couldn't even be more natural. He was not a soft-hearted man, so how could he have been so compassionate towards her only?
At the same time, Murong Yunshu's heart was going round and round in a thousand directions. The person in front of her was not like the Chu Changge she had married, nor was he like the brainless Ah Chang who had no memory, but more like......the Chu Changge who had first appeared before her eyes. Strange, yet inexplicably familiar; familiar, yet unusually strange. Looking at the current Chu Changge, Murong Yunshu seemed to have returned to the moment eight years ago when he suddenly walked into her life.
"Let's make a bet. How about it?" Murong Yunshu suddenly spoke, a smirk hanging at the corner of her mouth.
"What kind of bet?"
"A bet that you will fall in love with me."
Hearing only a boom, Chu Changge felt something crack in his brain, and his vision drifted a little. "What did you say?" He asked.
Murong Yunshu looked him in the eyes and said thoughtfully, "I bet you will fall in love with me."
The next day. When Murong Yunshu finished freshening up and went downstairs, Chu Changge had already driven the carriage to the inn entrance in full horseman fashion. Murong Yunshu smiled pleasantly and walked up to him. "Good morning."
Chu Changge turned his head away and said coolly, "Good morning."
When Murong Yunshu saw this, she craned her head and stretched her neck to look at him, but suddenly she saw his blushed cheeks and couldn't help but laugh. She never thought that Chu Changge would blush one day. When he regained his memory later, she would definitely make fun of him for this.
Chu Changge was embarrassed and said coldly, "Get in the carriage!"
Tsk, someone was getting annoyed. Murong Yunshu looked up at the sky and commented, "It's a beautiful day."
"......" Ignore, ignore. Chu Changge kept reminding himself in his mind.
"You look like you're in a good mood." A voice came from behind her.
Murong Yunshu frowned at his words. Is this man a dog skin plaster? Why is it so hard to get rid of him?
Noob Translator's Musing
No matter how many personalities split Chu Changge has, he will never win against the sharp-tongued Murong Yunshu. 😏
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Black Belly Wife