"This is a true hermit."
"Indeed. At that time, it wasn't for anything else, but for saving Ci'er's life. Ci'er, so small, fell from such a height. If her master hadn't caught her from below, Ci'er would have been in grave danger."
"She would have been smashed into a meat patty," Liu Chenfeng said without thinking.
Yan Yi was so annoyed he wanted to kick him. He had come to realize that ever since his cousin got married, he had completely let loose, saying whatever inappropriate thing came to his mind.
"Young Master Liu is correct," Grandpa Meng said with deep emotion as he recalled the peril of that time.
"We wanted to go forward and thank her, but no matter how fast my son ran or how hard he tried, he couldn't catch up to Ci'er's master's footsteps."
After hearing Grandpa Meng finish, Yan Yi could imagine the beginning of the little dark-haired girl and her master's fate, likely starting from that very moment.
Hearing Grandpa Meng finish speaking, Liu Chenfeng's envious gaze was unconcealed, wishing he were the one who had fallen from halfway up the mountain back then.
Grandpa Meng had said all he wanted to say. He glanced at the rain strands drifting from the sky, which were becoming denser, and called out to them, "The rain is getting heavier. Let's quickly go inside and sit."
"Uncle Meng, this drizzle is really nothing." For them, let alone this fine, needle-like rain, they had traveled through heavy downpours at night.
Grandpa Meng didn't linger with them and led the way indoors.
Yan Yi smiled and looked back, gesturing for the subordinate carrying the tray to follow.
Upon entering the main hall, Yan Yi's smile faded, and he said with great seriousness, "Meng Qingping, receive the Emperor's verbal decree."
Upon hearing this, Grandpa Meng straightened his clothes, lifted his robes, knelt down, and exclaimed, "Your humble subject Meng Qingping, listens to the imperial decree."
In fact, Yan Yi had been contemplating on his way to Liaodong how he should deliver the message to the Meng family.
It was no wonder he found it difficult to speak. After pondering the Emperor's intentions, his own brows were tightly furrowed.
But that was the Emperor. Even if his actions were not entirely honorable, as a loyal subject, he could not voice his disapproval.
He simply couldn't understand why, if the Emperor acknowledged Meng Qingping's merits and intended to bestow rewards, issuing an imperial edict wouldn't better reflect the Emperor's regard and grant the Meng family dignity.
That would have been a win-win situation for everyone involved.
Alas, perhaps the Emperor had considered it, but acted otherwise.
Thinking of the Emperor's peculiar methods, Yan Yi had his subordinates place the Emperor's commendations and gifts on the eight-immortals table.
Grandpa Meng appeared calm and composed as he said, "I thank the Emperor. May His Majesty live for ten thousand years, ten thousand years, ten thousand years."
After Meng Qingping finished his kowtow and rose from the ground, they took their seats as host and guest.
Meng Qingping wanted to offer Yan Yi and the other guest the seats of honor, but Yan Yi refused. Liu Chenfeng naturally followed his cousin's lead.
Yan Yi had his own agenda. While at the Meng residence, even if he couldn't meet the renowned hermit known only by reputation, he hoped to at least see the little dark-haired girl who was said to have inherited her master's true teachings.
Time flew by, and five years passed in the blink of an eye. The little dark-haired girl of yesteryear must now have grown into a graceful and elegant young lady.
As an outsider, he had no legitimate reason to request an audience with her.
Just as Yan Yi was racking his brain for a way, a commotion arose from outside the Meng family's main gate.
Before Yan Yi could send someone to inquire about the disturbance, a subordinate sheltering from the rain in the gatehouse reported, "Young Madam Liu, along with a retinue of servants, has arrived outside the Meng family's gate."
When Liu Chenfeng heard that it was Song Xiang'er at the gate, he thought he had misheard.
Yan Yi's face, however, darkened. "That Madam Song comes from a prestigious family; how could she behave so shallowly?"
Liu Chenfeng hadn't expected Song Xiang'er to be so audacious as to follow their trail. He quickly put away his usual jovial demeanor, stood up, and hurried towards the main entrance.
Outside the Meng family's gate, in front of a luxurious carriage, a well-dressed middle-aged woman of thirty-seven or thirty-eight stood under a paper umbrella held by a young maid. With an arrogant expression, she was speaking to a village girl of about sixteen or seventeen.
"Madam, you may not know, but these Mengs are rich and unjust. They've curried favor with the local thousand-household commander, acquired so much land, and built such a fine house. And their daughter, Fu Xinci, is a vixen who specializes in seducing rich and powerful men... ah!"
He Xiao Ni's words were cut short as she felt a forceful kick to her waist, sending her body flying and crashing to the ground.
The well-dressed woman saw Liu Chenfeng's face contorted with anger as he kicked the village girl who had guided them flying.
She cowered and quickly bowed deeply, saying, "Your humble servant greets the Young Master."
Liu Chenfeng ignored her. Instead, he directly faced the luxurious carriage and asked patiently, "Who sent you?"
"Heh heh." With a cold laugh, the curtain of the carriage was lifted, revealing half of a sharp-featured face.
Judging by her appearance, the woman was only eighteen or nineteen. Dressed as a married woman, she had a pale complexion and a melon seed face, her pair of eyes, like autumn water, held a storm of madness.
"Oh, if I hadn't come, I wouldn't have known about some Fu Xinci here who specializes in seducing rich and powerful men. Tell me, among those rich and powerful men, does that include you, Young Master Liu?"
Liu Chenfeng hadn't expected to hear such unruly words from Song Xiang'er's mouth.
However, before he could speak, a slender figure flew out from the courtyard and landed in front of him.
He only saw her back. The maiden wore a simple maiden's hairstyle and a light purple dress with scattered floral patterns. The wide hem swayed in the wind, like an ethereal fairy.
The maiden completely ignored them and walked towards the village girl who was struggling to get up from the ground.
The maiden waved her hand, indescribably beautiful, so beautiful that it was only when the steel rebar in her hand was pressed against He Xiao Ni's throat that fear dawned.
"Fu... Fu Xinci, what... what do you want?"
"He Xiao Ni, repeat what you just said to me. And if your words are untrue, I will strip you naked and hang you at the foot of the mountain for everyone to behold."
"You... you dare."
"See if I dare."
Just as He Xiao Ni was about to flee, she felt a cold sensation on her neck, and red blood flowed down her throat.
"Help, save me! Madam, I was the one leading you; you must protect me."
Song Xiang'er was not stupid, merely accustomed to being willful. At this juncture, she finally understood that this village girl had used them as pawns.
However, the village girl was not stupid either, knowing to seek their help in the face of death.
As the saying goes, one must consider the master even when hitting a dog. Although this village girl was hateful, she had no choice but to save her.