This was the golden-threaded embroidered dudou that Su Xi wore during her cultivation. It was both an undergarment and a spiritual tool, helping to nurture her qi during cultivation.
Whenever she went to the Danxia Grotto-Heaven, she would always wear it beneath her inner clothes. But this time, her decision to enter the Grotto-Heaven for seclusion had been sudden, and she hadn’t brought it with her. As a result, her progress in cultivation fell short of what she expected, so she came back to fetch it.
Yet no matter how hard she searched yesterday, she couldn’t find it. Instead, when Susu and Xiaohuan were tidying up Yiling Hall, they came across it hidden inside a small chest under Liu Xiaolou’s bed.
When Liu Xiaolou returned this morning, Su Xi and her two maids stayed upstairs, waiting for him to come up on his own and admit his mistake. But instead he went straight to sleep, and after waking up, he lazily washed up by the pool. That made Su Xi furious, so she called him over and exposed him face to face.
Of course, to say she was truly enraged would be an overstatement. After all, in her eyes Liu Xiaolou was somewhat different, with a fondness for admiring women. What angered her was that if he really wanted something like this, he could have simply asked her. Why stoop to sneaking around like a petty thief?
Liu Xiaolou realized the seriousness of it right away, and his face and neck instantly turned scarlet. To be honest, it was mortifying. Of all the things to steal, he had taken Su Xi’s dudou. If word of that got out, how could he ever show his face again?
Still, there was no way he could shake off the blame. Even if he came right out and said it had been Big White, Su Xi and the others would never believe him. They would only accuse him of shirking responsibility. So the only thing he could do was let time prove the truth.
He was saddled with the blame for no reason, and naturally Big White had a miserable day. Liu Xiaolou chased it all over the mountain, hunting it down again and again. Before long, a few cooks from the manor thought Liu Xiaolou was craving roast goose. They came running with knives, forks, clubs, and nets to help, forcing the poor goose to leap off the cliffs several times just to escape.
Only when Liu Xiaolou finally returned to Yiling Hall did the goose sneak back by itself later that night, settling down once more in front of the rainwater pool. There it resumed its standoff with the Silver Dragon-whiskered Carp, big eyes staring at little eyes until dawn.
The next morning, Susu came to help Liu Xiaolou wash up. As she served him, she kept covering her mouth to stifle her laughter. Liu Xiaolou found it strange. “Susu, what are you laughing at?”
Susu gave a little cough and put on a serious face. “Nothing. I’m just happy the young master has come back.”
“How about I make you even happier?” Liu Xiaolou said.
Susu was curious. “What does young master mean by that?”
“I’ve got spirit stones on me now, and I’m planning to go into seclusion for cultivation. You may not know much about the techniques of my Sanxuan Sect, but in certain respects, they’re no weaker than the Su family’s. I’d long wanted to study them together with you, but worldly matters kept me busy and I never had the peace and quiet for it. Now that I’ve met with just about everyone I needed to… come on… come closer…”
Susu let him pull her down to sit at the bedside, though her smile never faded. “Young master, I know what you’re thinking. But…” She reached out to touch him lightly, then shook her head with a laugh. “Are you sure you can? Or do you just want to use me as a cover?”
Liu Xiaolou was puzzled. “A cover for what?”
She giggled. “I’m afraid I don’t have that kind of ability. But if young master really wants, I could help you find someone outside.”
Well now! Had it really only been a short while since he last saw her? And already Susu had turned into such a bold little flirt, talking this freely?
“No one’s around right now. Let’s just try…”
Bang, bang, bang!
Liu Xiaolou flared with anger. Couldn’t a man get any peace to cultivate?
Susu rose and went to open the door. Of course it wasn’t anyone else. It could only be this damn Xiaohuan.
“Young master, Steward Su asks to see you. He’s waiting out front.”
Liu Xiaolou could only swallow his frustration, suppressing the restless fire in his chest, and went out to meet them.
Steward Su had come specifically to invite Liu Xiaolou to the General’s Temple at the mountain pass to check on the progress of the repairs. Though Liu Xiaolou’s standing as the Su family’s son-in-law wasn’t high, the funds for the work had come from him, which made him Steward Su’s patron.
By his reckoning, it had indeed been exactly half a month since construction began.
When the two of them arrived, the small temple had already been restored to its full beauty. Blue bricks, wooden eaves, red walls, and green trees gave it a refined and elegant look. Liu Xiaolou walked through it once, quite pleased. Now Tan Bajhang could settle in without worry. The place was more than decent.
Tan Bajhang was also inspecting the rooms one by one. He gave Liu Xiaolou a nod, and Liu Xiaolou understood at once.
Since his part was done, he asked, “Well?”
Tan Bajhang said, “Not bad at all. Steward Su really put in the effort.”
Steward Su then stepped forward, holding a stack of silver. “Young master, after all expenses, thirty-seven taels and five maces remain.”
Liu Xiaolou waved his hand generously. “Everyone worked hard. Old Su, you handle the rewards as you see fit. I won’t interfere.”
Steward Su smiled as he tucked the silver away. “Then I’ll thank the young master on everyone’s behalf.”
After Steward Su left with the workers, only Liu Xiaolou and Tan Bajhang remained, wandering through the little temple.
Tan Bajhang said, “I used to dream of joining some great orthodox sect, or being taken in by a powerful family. Today, though it doesn’t quite count as that, having a foothold here on Shenwu Mountain, surrounded by nothing but masters and nobles; it’s already more than I ever imagined. Sometimes I still find it hard to believe.”
Liu Xiaolou laughed. “Is that all? The good days for us brothers are still ahead. I’m already married, but you, Brother Tan, are four years my senior and still alone. Since we share our fortunes together, I’ll make sure to help you find a fine young lady from a noble household. From there, you’ll step right into the ranks of the gentry.”
At this, Tan Bajhang’s face suddenly grew a little bashful. “Brother, when I returned this morning, I saw a young woman coming out of the mountain gate. She even greeted me. I couldn’t help but wonder if perhaps fate has come knocking…”
Liu Xiaolou was surprised. “Truly?”
Tan Bajhang nodded repeatedly. “The girl carried herself with such poise and grace. I don’t know which family she belongs to, but at the time I felt so unworthy that I didn’t dare answer back. I stepped aside and let her pass down the mountain. Now that I think of it, I regret it deeply.”
Liu Xiaolou leaned in, even more curious. “And what did this young lady say? Did she tell you who she was?”
Tan Bajhang’s eyes grew a little dreamy, his face full of longing. “She did tell me. She said she was from the Plum-Breaking Sect of Moon Mountain. She told me not to block the road, or else she’d treat me to a bowl of noodles. Do you hear that? The very first time we met, she was already planning to make noodles for me…”
Liu Xiaolou was speechless. “Brother Tan, wake up. Are you really not getting it, or just pretending not to? Noodles. Do you actually want to eat them?”
Tan Bajhang said, “Of course I get it. But why didn’t she say it to anyone else, only to me? Clearly she was just looking for an excuse to talk, deliberately striking up conversation. Brother, you must help me. I’ve been here half a month already, and I’m no fool. I know of the Plum-Breaking Sect of Moon Mountain. Her status may not be as exalted as my sister-in-law’s, but her family is still a very distinguished one. If I could marry her, no, even if I had to marry into her family... my life would be complete.”
Liu Xiaolou frowned. “So is it her you’re taken with, or her family background?”
Tan Bajhang replied, “Is there even a difference? They’re inseparable, aren’t they? In any case, brother, you must find out who she is. This concerns my life’s greatest plan. You have to help me!”