Mythical Three Kingdoms

Chapter 1408: Chapter 1358: Lady Tang’s Similar Circumstances

”Uh, Second Miss.” Chen Xi raised his hand to greet.

”Coming to see my sister?” Cai Zhenji tossed her hair and changed her gesture as she asked.

”Yes, I have something to discuss.” Chen Xi nodded.

”You wouldn’t have come if there wasn’t anything.” Cai Zhenji showed an expression of ”You don’t need to explain further,” making Chen Xi rather embarrassed.

”Follow me, there are no students in the afternoon, my sister should have just finished her nap by now.” Without turning back, Cai Zhenji walked towards the main gate of the Cai Family, knocked on the door, and soon a little girl with a hair-bun peeked out. It was none other than Xin Xianying.

”Why are you here?” Chen Xi curiously looked at Xin Xianying and asked.

”Master~” Xin Xianying bowed gracefully, before jumping out from behind the door.

”Where else would she be?” Cai Zhenji rolled her eyes and said, ”You accepted her as a disciple and haven’t taught her anything, wasting such a good talent. If my sister hadn’t found her, you would probably have forgotten you had such a disciple.”

”Ha, how is that possible?” Chen Xi replied with justified indignation.

Cai Zhenji looked at Chen Xi speechlessly, then grabbed Xin Xianying’s hand and started walking inside. After a few steps, she turned to Chen Xi, ”Marquis Chen, you better hurry inside. If you stay at the door any longer, it might not be good for my sister.”

Chen Xi paused, then proceeded to follow along. Actually, this was his first formal visit to the Cai Family since arriving at Ye City. Though, technically speaking, it wasn’t formal, as there was no invitation card.

Chen Xi looked around Cai Yan’s courtyard. There was nothing lavish, few decorations, yet it had an understated elegance. As for the few maids, Chen Xi hadn’t seen any on his way in.

Walking through the garden, faint zither sounds reached Chen Xi’s ears. It wasn’t an ancient tune; rather, it seemed it was played leisurely for entertainment. Luckily, Chen Xi, having experienced much, had a decent understanding of the zither sounds.

”Does my sister have something on her mind?” Cai Zhenji seemed to be asking herself, or maybe informing Chen Xi.

”She’s just bored.” Chen Xi replied irritably. Cai Yan often seemed to have things on her mind. One day, when Chen Xi thought Cai Yan had something bothering her, he asked and she simply responded with a smile, ”It’s because I’m idle that I have things on my mind, not because having things on my mind makes me idle.”

Back then, Chen Xi looked at the beam for a long time before nodding, acknowledging that Cai Yan’s words made sense. When overwhelmed with work, rarely does one get time to worry...

”Miss Cai, I have something I need to discuss with you.” As Chen Xi and the Second Miss reached Cai Yan’s zither room and before entering, Chen Xi habitually raised his hand to greet. Yet, upon entering, he noticed Cai Yan seemed to be wearing only silk clothes, her loose hair damp.

And at a glance, the zither she played was indeed not the Burnt-Tail Zither. Clearly, no one was home, and thus she played more casually, feeling bored.

Chen Xi’s voice reached before he did, causing Cai Yan’s hands on the zither to pause noticeably. But Chen Xi had already stepped through the door before she could speak, making her raised left hand pause and fall back onto the strings, as if nothing had happened.

Unfortunately, everyone present, including Chen Xi, had considerable knowledge about music, naturally realizing that Cai Yan’s action was merely a chaotic attempt to cover up, leading to slight awkwardness.

Nevertheless, after finishing a piece, Cai Yan slowly stopped the melody, looking at Chen Xi helplessly, yet without a trace of panic.

”Zichuan, what advice do you have?” Cai Yan’s melodious voice passed with a hint of helplessness to Chen Xi’s ears.

”I came to seek your help.” Chen Xi stared straight at Cai Yan.

”Is it to ask me to look after Yuan’er and the others during my leisure time?” Cai Yan nodded slightly, not looking in Chen Xi’s direction.

”Yes, my wife had promised to help them collect information before, but I’m about to set out for Nanyang, and since Yingchuan is at the frontier, I plan to take them back to my hometown. I haven’t returned once since I left Yingchuan.” Chen Xi sighed.

”I see.” Maybe also feeling uncomfortable being in a kneeling position and observed by Chen Xi from above, Cai Yan leaned forward, intending to stand.

The loose silk robe slightly slipped due to Cai Yan’s movement, yet she didn’t mind too much. After standing up, she casually tidied her hair, tightening her collar and neckline.

”Sure, I don’t have much to do at home anyway.” Cai Yan replied while standing up, looking at Chen Xi. But before Chen Xi could thank her, Cai Yan spoke, ”If Marquis Chen returns to Yingchuan, could you check on someone for me?”

”Who?” Chen Xi raised his eyebrows and asked.

”Lady Tang.” Cai Yan sighed.

Cai Yan had a good relationship with Lady Tang, the Empress of Young Emperor Liu Bian, especially when in Luoyang before Lady Tang married Liu Bian. The two were close friends, and later, though they faced similar situations, Cai Yan genuinely understood and related to Lady Tang’s life.

If remarrying was difficult for Cai Yan, it was impossibly so for Lady Tang. Since Lady Tang was Liu Bian’s only concubine, had Liu Bian not been poisoned shortly after ascending, Lady Tang would be the queen of Great Han.

Thus, Lady Tang’s chances of remarriage were exceedingly slim; few dared marry her. And with Liu Bian’s last words, Lady Tang basically had no chance to remarry.

In this life, Li Jue had no chance to act recklessly, so there was no incident of Li Jue harassing Lady Tang. Consequently, Jia Xu didn’t have to protect Lady Tang. After Chang’an’s chaos and Liu Bian’s assassination, Lady Tang returned to Yingchuan under the protection of the Tang Family.

Cai Yan wanted to visit Lady Tang several times but regarding certain matters; how should she say it? The assassination of Liu Bian was indisputably carried out by Li Ru, Li Youu’s former self.

While Li Ru aimed to use the regicide to draw attention and lure the immature Feudal Lords to be dealt with, the regicide was still indisputable, and half of Cai Yan’s peaceful life now is thanks to Li Youu.

It made Cai Yan reluctant to discuss this with Lady Tang. Knowing Lady Tang well, though not as smart as Cai Yan, she wouldn’t forget her enemy after just six years.

Don’t be fooled by Li Youu with his growing beard and groomed hair; Cai Yan could guarantee Lady Tang would recognize Li Youu at a glance without question.

Even decades later, Lady Tang could still identify Li Youu immediately, there’s no disputing that. Lady Tang and Li Youu are fundamentally incompatible.

But, being friends, Cai Yan still wished to learn about Lady Tang’s recent life, and with Chen Xi going to Yingchuan, delivering a message could at least ease Cai Yan’s concern. Enjoying the protection of Li Youu, Cai Yan occasionally felt a sense of guilt.