Chapter 2

Jiyun Song did not recognize this man.

However, because of her father's funeral, there had been a constant stream of visitors to the house these past few days, and she didn't know many of them.

Jiyun Song bowed her head.

She hid her face under the mourning hat.

The strange man and Zheng Quan fought, tumbling and punching again.

The flower stand swayed dangerously, wisteria flowers danced in the air, and the plants were trampled into a chaotic mess.

There wasn't a loud noise, but if this kept up, it would surely attract attention.

Zheng Quan was getting anxious.

He launched a fierce punch, even neglecting to defend his exposed front and back.

The stranger seized the opportunity right away, delivering a brutal elbow strike to his chest.

Zheng Quan couldn't dodge in time and staggered back several steps before he could steady himself, clutching his chest.

The stranger did not pursue his advantage but instead stood leisurely in place, his tone surpringly calm, "Not bad skills!"

Zheng Quan clenched his fists tightly.

The stranger dusted off his clothes, adopting an attitude of having concluded his business.

Zheng Quan watched him and roared, charging at the man with the ferocity of a tiger descending a mountain.

Anxiety surged in Jiyun Song's heart and she stepped forward uncontrollably.

It was clear Zheng Quan was no match for the stranger, yet he was attempting another all-out effort, likely to no good end.

As expected.

The stranger moved forward to meet him, striking Zheng Quan on the neck with the speed of lightning.

This time, Zheng Quan couldn't defend himself and fell to the ground with a muffled grunting.

Seeing the stranger lift his foot toward Zheng Quan's chest.

In her desperation, Jiyun Song couldn't hold back any longer and blurted out, "Young Master, please show mercy!"

The stranger turned to look at her.

The afternoon sun shone squarely on his face, the coldness in his eyes spilling out uncontrollably.

A chill ran through Jiyun Song's heart, but she still said, "This is all a misunderstanding! My servant is honest and loyal but not adaptable. Seeing a stranger in the study, he thought someone harbored ill intentions. He was only being overly protective, I beg you to be noble and forgiving, and not to hold this against him."

The stranger didn't respond, he scoffed, his tone full of irony, yet he did not strike Zheng Quan again.

Jiyun Song breathed a sigh of relief.

Zheng Quan was like her own brother, having carried her around the market and to see the lanterns since she was young, and always brought her gifts like bamboo dragonflies or malt sugar every time he returned from Dragon Tiger Mountain.

As she grew older, he helped her with clay and managing accounts, always agreeing to her requests without ever saying "no."

She couldn't let anything happen to him.

But she dared not show even a trace of this in front of this man, instead maintaining a calm demeanor as she politely asked, "May I know how to address you, sir, and how you came to be here? This study contains some valuable items and account books and is not often frequented."

The stranger answered carelessly, "I lost my way!"

...

There was no further explanation.

Jiyun Song was still straining her ears, hoping to catch something more from his words.

Seeing his response, alarms went off in her mind.

The most succinct answers are often the most powerful, the ones with no flaws.

This man was just as she had suspected, not a person to be trifled with.

She discreetly sized up the unfamiliar man.

He wore no ornaments, and the lacing of his Taoist robe was made from the fabric of the same color.

He was wearing a pair of very ordinary dark cyan coarse cloth round-headed shoes with thousand-layer soles.

His fingers were pale and delicate, long like bamboo.

The tips of his fingers were rounded, clean, and moreover, they had a healthy pinkness.

He did not seem to be born into a wealthy merchant family, nor did he appear to have suffered much; his family must have had some assets, yet he seemed quite frugal regarding money.

He somewhat resembled a descendent of a family with a tradition of scholarly pursuits.

Jiyun's mind worked quickly, but her tone became even more polite, "I apologize for before! If the gentleman doesn't mind, would you like to come inside for a cup of tea? I can call the steward to guide you."

"No need!" The stranger didn't even give her a glance, and he turned to walk outside.

Jiyun followed, saying, "Sir, shall I still find a steward to guide you? After all, this is the inner house."

"I see you wearing a Taoist robe, are you a Taoist?

"However, in our era, those scholars also like to wear Taoist robes. Sometimes, when they walk on the street, I can hardly tell which ones are Taoists and which ones are scholars!"

The strange man suddenly stopped.

Jiyun, caught off guard, almost bumped into him.

Only then did she notice a red mole on his left earlobe, the size of a pinky tip, resembling a love bean.

Jiyun was momentarily stunned, but she quickly regained her composure and continued, "Do you have any particular business? Or is there a place you wish to go? This area is rather complicated. Old Lady Song lives with the second branch, while the main and the third branch's houses are built together..."

"Don't think I don't know what you're up to!" The stranger squinted at her, suddenly interrupting her.

Jiyun's eyes widened in confusion and she replied, "Sir, why would you say that? I don't understand."

"Hah!" The strange man chuckled derisively, about to say something, but suddenly his expression drastically changed, and he pointed at her, "You——"

Jiyun looked puzzled and called out, "Sir?"

Just then, the strange man's body swayed slightly and he collapsed to the ground with a "thump."

That startled a few butterflies in the nearby flower bushes.

Zheng Quan was dumbstruck.

A flower bud emerged from the nearby bushes.

With round eyes and a round face, eight or nine years in age, she wore a green floral dress, resembling those Wuxi Ah Fu carrying yokes and hawking.

"Miss," she held a blowpipe in her hand, her face full of excitement, "I did as you said, aside from Brother Ah Quan, I drugged whoever came in."

"Well done!" Jiyun praised her little maid Xiang Zhan unreservedly, "Once we head back, I'll have Nanny Zheng make you some osmanthus rice cakes!"

She was so pleased that her face turned red, and carefully stepping around the unconscious man, she ran up to Jiyun and then with a bit of fear, she said, "Miss, he, he's not hurt, is he?"

This was Jiyun's first time doing such a thing.

The path was paved with blue stone bricks; falling directly onto it could genuinely result in serious injury.

However, she was more worried about Zheng Quan.

"Are you badly hurt?" Jiyun asked Zheng Quan, "We should quickly find a doctor to have a look!"

Zheng Quan, his head in a muddle, said in a disoriented manner, "I'm fine! I often get hurt while sparring with my master and brothers, and I know a bit about how to heal sprains and bruises. I know the extent of my injuries. I'll just apply some Carthamus oil when I go back."

Jiyun still thought he should see a doctor for a thorough examination.

Yet, Zheng Quan pointed at the strange man, saying, "I'd better examine him! His nose is scraped and quite red. It would be bad if he broke his nose."

Jiyun was unconvinced.

It's not like he broke his back.

Zheng Quan still helped the strange man by feeling his bones and checking him over, seeing that he was not badly hurt, looked up at Jiyun and asked, "What should we do next?"