Chapter Twenty-Four (The Process of Moving into the Jia Mansion) (2)

Shi Yi cleared his throat, “Sister, have you ever heard of ‘Snow Flying Across the Sky Shoots the White Deer, Laughing in the Book of Heroes Leaning on the Jade Mandarin Ducks’?”
“Or stories of women whose wit and courage surpass men’s, the legendary deeds of heroes and heroines passed down through generations?”

Daiyu hesitated and shook her head, “Brother Yi, I’ve never heard of any of that.”

Shi Yi pressed further, “Then do you know of Mu Guiying, Hua Mulan, or Liang Hongyu?”

Daiyu remained perplexed and shook her head again.

“It seems…there truly are no tales of heroic women in this world,” Shi Yi mused to himself.

Zijuan teased, “Master Yi, you’re not planning to make up another wild story to fool us, are you?”

Thinking of how he’d just teased her outside the window, Daiyu couldn’t help but chime in, “Exactly, Brother Yi, you still want to trick me, but you can’t anymore.”

Shi Yi turned and sat at the writing desk, smiling, “What I’m talking about are all stories of heroic men and women, chivalry and righteousness. They’re tales of patriotism, entangled love and sorrow, stirring longing and sighs of melancholy.”

Daiyu, curious, said, “Then tell us, Brother, otherwise I won’t believe you!”

Shi Yi laughed, “Don’t doubt me, sister. Listen closely as I tell you…”

He drew out his words mysteriously, picked up the green jade paperweight as if it were a judge’s gavel, and struck the desk.

“It is said that during the reign of Emperor Taiwu of the Northern Wei, there was a girl named Mulan, who took her father’s place on the conscription list and joined the army…”

Shi Yi recounted the story in the manner of a storyteller, gliding smoothly over the plain parts, pausing with perfect timing at the crucial moments. Though he sometimes lost track, his words were often clever and captivating—painting vivid scenes and adding a unique charm.

Zijuan and Daiyu, mistress and maid, listened with rapt attention.

Daiyu, though she had read the Four Books, Five Classics, poems, and essays since childhood, had never ventured beyond those confines. Novels and folk tales were wholly unknown to her—she had never even heard of them.

Now, as she listened to Shi Yi describe such a vibrant, novel story, it was as if he had opened a new door for her, revealing a world in books far broader than she had ever imagined.

There wasn’t much more to say about the story of Mu Guiying, and seeing the mood rise, Shi Yi took the opportunity to switch to a martial arts tale by Jin Yong.

He chose “Sword of the Yue Maiden” to start with, since its focus on romance would ease Daiyu into the world of martial heroes, so that later twists would not seem too abrupt.

As expected, Daiyu was more interested in the love story and soon became deeply absorbed.

Both Daiyu and Zijuan listened with fascination. Shi Yi sped through some parts, but recounted the most exciting moments in detail.

When they heard how the heroine, A Qing, wielded only a single bamboo staff and faced twenty of the best swordsmen of Yue, yet not one could withstand three moves from her—

Daiyu clapped her small hands over her budding chest, both startled and delighted, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.

Shi Yi finished by telling how A Qing fell in love with Fan Li, yet Fan Li’s heart belonged to Xi Shi… In the end, A Qing walked away in sorrow.

Daiyu and Zijuan, mistress and maid, were both moved to sadness, their hearts immersed in the story, unable to recover for a long time.

Suddenly, Shi Yi sighed, “What is love in this world, that it demands life and death as its price?”

“Pfft, Brother Yi, have you no shame.” Daiyu, hearing this, blushed and muttered coyly.

Shi Yi was unbothered, replying, “Cousin Lin, love is a marvelous thing. As they say, ‘The heart knows not whence love arises, but once begun, it deepens evermore.’ It is something noble and pure and shouldn’t be hidden away in the woods.”

Daiyu’s face turned rosy with embarrassment. She pouted, “I don’t want to hear any more! If you go on, you’ll have to leave.” Flustered, she covered her face with her hands and turned away.

As a young lady, how could she listen to such things?

Zijuan hurriedly said, “Master Yi, how can you speak so freely before our young lady?”

But he had only been moved by the story.

Shi Yi rubbed his nose and changed the subject, “Allow me to tell you another interesting tale, then.”

“I don’t want to hear it! Brother Yi will just make up more nonsense.” Daiyu’s cheeks were still red, clearly not recovered from the earlier embarrassment.

She twisted her handkerchief, lowered her eyes, and sat bashfully at the edge of the warm couch, turning her back to them.

“What are you talking about in here? Should I be listening or not?”

Wang Xifeng had entered at some point, lifting the curtain with a smile.

Shi Yi grinned, “Second Sister-in-law, when did you come in? You made no sound at all.”

Wang Xifeng rolled her eyes at him, “Your Cousin Lian is looking for you! Why are you still here?”

Shi Yi chuckled, “Dear sister-in-law, I was telling Cousin Lin a most exciting story of heroism and chivalry, and it’s only just begun!”

“Oh really?” Wang Xifeng looked at him skeptically.

Daiyu explained from beside her, “Second Sister-in-law, Brother Yi was telling us about women heroes—Mu Guiying and martial arts stories…”

Wang Xifeng gave a quiet sigh of relief and hurried him, “Your Cousin Lian is waiting for you, hurry up!”

She had truly feared this rascal would lose his head and cause a scene.

Knowing she was helping him avoid suspicion, Shi Yi also realized he’d lingered too long in Daiyu’s room.

Without further delay, he smiled at Daiyu, “Cousin Lin, I’ll come again another day and tell you the story of Yang Guo and Xiaolongnu.”

Daiyu nodded with flushed cheeks, whispering, “Brother Yi, you’d better go now.”

Wang Xifeng came forward and took Daiyu’s arm, scolding Shi Yi, “Don’t barge in thoughtlessly next time. You’ll frighten your cousin, and if the old lady hears of it, you’ll be in trouble.”

“Your Cousin Lin is already frail—the doctor said she needs peace and quiet. Has she taken her medicine on time?”

Zijuan quickly replied, “She’s already taken it—her complexion is better than yesterday. Master Yi was afraid our lady would be bored, so he chatted with her from the window. It was so cold outside that our lady let him in to warm up.”

“See, sister-in-law, I’m not some reckless oaf.” Shi Yi puffed out his chest, pleased with himself.

He hadn’t expected Zijuan to speak up for him. Could she be coming around?

Wang Xifeng nodded with a smile, “This time I’ll let it go, but don’t be so careless next time. Your Cousin Lian is still waiting!” With that, she shot him a look.

Shi Yi chuckled and took his leave.

Passing by Ping’er, he couldn’t resist teasing in a low voice, “Sister Ping’er, you look even lovelier today.”

Ping’er gave him a coquettish glare and laughed, “If you don’t leave now, I’ll take you to see the old lady!”

Shi Yi saluted playfully, “Please, don’t be angry, sister. I’m leaving now.”

By the time Shi Yi left Daiyu’s quarters, it was already late afternoon.

Standing beneath the covered corridor, he found himself lost in thought.

Ever since waking in this world last month, he had wandered in a fog, as though lost in a dream. Only in the last two days had he begun to find some sense of purpose.

Could Daiyu be his redemption?

But no—that wouldn’t be fair to the other girls.

To do so would be too cruel.

…

The next morning, Lady Yang, wife of Shi Ding, personally visited the Rongguo Mansion—officially to see the Dowager, but in truth to bring Shi Yi home.

The Marquis of Zhongjing’s carriage rolled along the streets of the eastern city.

Shi Yi sat sullenly to one side, as Lady Yang, resplendent in her court robes, looked at her wayward son before her.