Chapter 27 Part 2

Furong, however, offered a new line of thought: "I don't think the person behind this wants the Young Miss to be convicted of a crime. Rather, they want to spread the rumor far and wide to ruin the good marriage between the Young Miss and the Zhou Family."

Cai Zhao was incredulous. "A mere rumor can ruin my marriage?"

Feicui: "Even if it can't ruin the marriage, disgusting the Young Miss is also a worthwhile outcome."

Cai Zhao thought about it and agreed. Even if the Zhou Family firmly believed her, those women of the Min Family, old and young, would gleefully make insinuations and veiled accusations every day.

"So, who exactly is spreading rumors behind my back?" she muttered to herself.

The eyes of Gua, Zao, Zui, and Sai flickered, while Furong and Feicui's faces both said, 'Is there even a need to ask?'

Cai Zhao was so angry she laughed. She stomped her foot and turned to go settle the score with Qi Lingbo.

The Immortal Jade Exquisite Residence was under repair.

Cai Zhao arrived aggressively. The guards and servants, still shaken from being terrified by Chang Ning a few days ago, didn't dare to stop her. So she stormed straight in and easily found Qi Lingbo, who was trying on new clothes and jewelry.

Cai Zhao didn't waste any words and directly asked Qi Lingbo if she was the one who spread those rumors.

Qi Lingbo delicately compared her clothes in the mirror, unable to hide her smugness. "Oh, is Junior Sister talking about that rumor? I've heard about it too. What, Junior Sister thinks I was the one who spread it? Aiya, what a terrible injustice. Ever since being 'instructed' by Brother Chang a few days ago, I have been obediently staying in my room, reading, writing, and cultivating my character. How can Junior Sister tarnish my good name without any proof?"

"Why would there be such a rumor? Aiyo, you'll have to ask yourself that, Junior Sister. The moment you came up the mountain, you were inseparable from Senior Brother Chang. You wouldn't even live in the Lodge of Longevity that Dad specially prepared for you, insisting on living together with Senior Brother Chang. What do you expect everyone to think? I just wonder if the Zhou Family will misunderstand Junior Sister's integrity after hearing this rumor?"

Cai Zhao grabbed Qi Lingbo's arm, twisted it behind her back, and said coldly, "You really won't shed a tear until you see the coffin! If it really comes down to it, do you think I can't find out where the rumor originated? Believe it or not, I'll first slap you dozens of times until your wretched mouth is ruined, then drag you to find the person who spread the rumor!"

Qi Lingbo also threw caution to the wind, slamming the new clothes down heavily. "Go on, hit me! Kill me if you have the guts! I won't admit to any wrongdoing anyway. Even if someone else points me out, it will just be a confession forced by you through torture!" In truth, she was at her wit's end. Unable to win in a fight or an argument, and with no one to back her up, she could only resort to this desperate measure.

Cai Zhao released Qi Lingbo and slowly sneered, "Good, very good! Senior Sister really has guts. I blame myself for underestimating Senior Sister before. Since Senior Sister wants to play, your little sister will certainly accompany you!" Without another word, she turned and walked out crisply.

Qi Lingbo rubbed her sore arm, feeling alarmed and uncertain.

...

On the huge and spacious Martial Arts Field, dozens of inner sect disciples were practicing their martial arts. Song Yuzhi stood to the side, supervising and giving pointers.

Suddenly, a graceful figure slowly approached. Everyone looked up—a young girl in a pale crimson silk skirt with gold embroidery was carrying a woven food basket. With a slender waist, almond eyes, and peachy cheeks, she arrived gracefully.

Who could this beautiful girl be but Cai Zhao.

All the disciples were dumbfounded.

Under the morning sun in the mountains, the girl gently raised her hand to adjust her cloud-like green-black hair. The glass beaded flower on her golden sparrow hairpin trembled slightly, and the hearts of the stunned youths seemed to tremble along with it.

Cai Zhao slowly walked to Song Yuzhi's side, her charming laughter like silver bells. "Third Senior Brother, you've worked hard. Zhaozhao has just joined the sect and only today learned how hard Third Senior Brother works. Third Senior Brother can share Master's burdens; if Zhaozhao doesn't do anything, it would be too impolite."

She took out a soup tureen from the food basket. "Senior Brother, here, have some rock sugar lotus seed soup and take a rest."

—All the disciples craned their necks, their astonishment mixed with excitement, their excitement with anticipation, and their anticipation with gossip.

It couldn't be helped; life studying in the sect was too dull.

Song Yuzhi stood tall and straight, as handsome and heroic as ever.

The girl before him had a smile like a flower and was extremely attentive. Any man would be moved. He remained silent for a moment before asking, "What are you trying to do?"

Cai Zhao continued to feign a charming smile. "Senior Brother has probably heard the rumors about me these past few days, right?"

"...I've heard them."

"The person spreading the rumors is Qi Lingbo."

"I know."

"..." Cai Zhao's smile didn't change, but she gritted her teeth and forced a smile. "She is Senior Brother's fiancée!"

"So what?" Song Yuzhi sounded as if he were talking about someone who had nothing to do with him.

The little girl revealed a fierce look. "Qi Lingbo ruined my reputation and wants to ruin my marriage. Can I tolerate this? If I don't fight back, I'll write my surname Cai backward! If Qi Lingbo makes me unhappy, I'll make her unhappy!"

"What does this have to do with me?" Song Yuzhi glanced at the girl and maintained his indifferent expression.

Cai Zhao revealed her true colors and said resentfully, "Senior Brother, don't think you can stay out of this! To be honest, whether Senior Brother is happy or not, I'm latching onto you. Who asked Senior Brother's future wife to be so unscrupulous? Senior Brother, you'll just have to bear it!"

The corner of Song Yuzhi's mouth curved up almost imperceptibly, then he said indifferently, "What if I'm not willing to let you latch onto me?"

Cai Zhao let out a light laugh. Did he think she had read hundreds of storybooks for nothing?!

She smiled brightly and charmingly. "It seems Senior Brother isn't experienced enough. When a woman wants to latch onto a man, there are plenty of ways."

She lowered her voice again. "If Senior Brother drinks this bowl of soup, I'll be a silly, brainless little girl who admires Senior Brother, coming to ask after your well-being three times a day. If Senior Brother doesn't drink it, I'll be a pitiful and infatuated woman who has been cruelly abandoned!"

Song Yuzhi's sword-like brows raised. "You and I have only known each other for a little over ten days. When did I ever abandon you?"

"By the time I'm crying my heart out in front of Senior Brother's window every night, everyone will believe it," Cai Zhao fabricated without a hint of guilt.

Song Yuzhi was already standing some distance away from the other disciples, and the two of them were speaking in low voices the entire time. Therefore, the others didn't know what they were talking about; they only saw the handsome, tall senior brother and the delicate, beautiful junior sister close together, whispering to each other.

"What is this situation? Am I dreaming!"

"It's not a dream. I already pinched myself. It hurts."

"Senior Brother Song never says more than half a sentence to a young woman, not even to Senior Sister Qi!"

"Ha, you don't get it. Senior Brother Song is as cold as ice because it's the wrong person. If it were the right person, Senior Brother would have plenty to say! We're all men, we know how it is."

"Actually, I wanted to say it on the day of the apprenticeship banquet. Little Junior Sister Cai is truly beautiful."

"Why wait for the apprenticeship banquet? I saw her on the day of the ceremony. Damn that guy with a face full of poisonous sores who was always by her side!"

"But weren't there rumors recently about Junior Sister Cai and Young Master Chang... you know..."

"Don't talk nonsense! Only a fool would believe such an unreliable rumor! How can that Chang fellow compare to our Senior Brother Song? Forget about family background and martial arts, just based on looks alone, if you were a woman, who would you choose?!"

"Even as a man, I'd still choose Senior Brother Song, hahahaha!"

"But isn't Senior Brother Song engaged to Senior Sister Qi? And Junior Sister Cai is also with the Zhou Family..."

"Don't you guys read storybooks?! Love at first sight, mutual affection, a meeting as precious as gold and jade, as if they knew each other in a past life. A pity they both have engagements and are tragically opposed by their elders, finally eloping to live in seclusion in the Jianghu, sigh..."

"You've read too many storybooks. Why make it so complicated? They're all from our Six Sects of Beichen. Can't they just swap the engagements?"

"Can engagements be swapped just like that?"

"You swapped my underwear yesterday..."

Cai Zhao had no idea that without her having to frame anyone or put on an act, a group of hot-blooded youths had already filled in the blanks of a three-lifetime love-hate entanglement between her and Song Yuzhi. If they delayed any longer, they would probably even figure out how many sons and daughters they would have in the future.

Seeing that Song Yuzhi still hadn't moved, she was just about to start wailing and crying when Song Yuzhi suddenly reached out and took the soup tureen. "A few days ago, why did you suddenly decide not to move back to the Lodge of Longevity?"

Cai Zhao was stunned for a moment. "Haven't you heard that Chang Ning has been going crazy everywhere these past few days? I have to keep a close eye on him. But I think he's almost recovered. When the time comes, Master will definitely take him down the mountain to avenge the Chang Family. I'll be able to move back then."

Song Yuzhi suddenly smiled, like a mountain under the sun, bright and handsome.

—The inner sect disciples, who hadn't seen Song Yuzhi smile like that in eight lifetimes, saw this and all screamed silently with excitement.

Song Yuzhi raised the soup tureen and drained it in a few gulps, then returned it to Cai Zhao. "I don't like sweets. Bring a different kind of soup next time." He turned crisply and walked towards the teaching platform.

Cai Zhao was overjoyed, knowing that Song Yuzhi had agreed to act with her. She energetically waved a small handkerchief behind him, her smile sweeter than the lotus seed soup. "Senior Brother, don't tire yourself out! I'll be back this afternoon!"

Ahhhhhhh—

The disciples screamed wildly in their hearts. Would their lonely and boring apprenticeship finally have some juicy drama to watch?