"With the heavy snow continuing, how does my master plan to find out Sun Wenxing’s hiding place?" Back in the courtyard, Piji and Hong Wu both revealed their presence.
Yan Wanqing cast a glance at them and shook her head helplessly, "When has your master ever actively sought out anyone?"
"Does the master intend to let them fall into the trap?" Hong Wu picked up the conversation.
"Not too stupid," Yan Wanqing remarked as she picked up an ancient book from the table and leisurely leaned back on the Imperial Consort’s couch, speaking slowly, "Ever since he was young, Sun Wenxing has been spoiled and coddled. He’s a well-known playboy in the Capital City; such a person can’t stay in a quiet place."
"Then let’s spread the word in Fireworks Lane that a few dancers from the Western Regions have arrived at the building. Sun Wenxing will surely not be able to resist showing up," Piji pondered aloud.
Yan Wanqing gave him an approving look, "After so many years with me, you’ve finally learned something."
Seeing Piji praised, Hong Wu felt a bit sour, "Your subordinate will arrange for people from Stormy Building to wait in Fireworks Lane and, as soon as Sun Wenxing appears, they’ll grab him."
Yan Wanqing nodded. At that moment, footsteps came from outside the door. Hong Wu and Piji exchanged glances and quickly disappeared inside the house, leaving Yan Wanqing quietly flipping through the ancient book.
Cong Ge entered with a basin of hot water.
"Miss, wipe your hands." She offered Yan Wanqing a warm cloth to clean her hands, hesitating as if she had more to say.
Yan Wanqing looked up at her, "Speak, what’s the matter?"
Cong Ge could not hold back any longer, "That girl Cong Huan has been in touch with the new gatekeeper every three days, and she’s changed her jewelry time and again. She must be up to no good."
Yan Wanqing’s lips curved into a smirk, "As expected, isn’t that why we kept her around?"
"And you plan to keep indulging her ?" Cong Ge grew more agitated with the thought.
"No rush." She dried her hands and handed back the warm cloth, "Once the net closes, we won’t need the bait anymore."
Let her jump around for a couple more days. When the time comes, she can go to hell with Xiao Hongshen.
Cong Ge left with the basin, steam rising from the water. A gust of cold wind blew through the cracks of the door. Yan Wanqing, watching the endless white expanse outside, felt her loneliness becoming more pronounced.
"This snow, should stop soon," she murmured.
Chai You trudged back to his own courtyard, deep in one step and shallow in the next. The yard was in disarray, with even the roof having sagged under the snow’s weight.
He scanned everything with an emotionless face before lowering his gaze to his own cracked hands. He forced a smile at the doorway, which turned into laughter, and eventually evolved into loud guffaws.
However, as he laughed, tears started trailing down from the corners of his eyes.
From the neighboring house, a small door cracked open, revealing a little head with innocent, clear eyes that stared straight at Chai You, as if curious about what this strange uncle was up to.
Chai You wiped away the tears from the corner of his eyes and pulled a small bag from his bosom, gesturing to the little boy to come over.
The child, with the innocence and simplicity of a cub, said, "My mom won’t let me play with you."
Chai You rummaged in the bag with his hand, pulling out a handful of candies. The little boy’s eyes lit up. He opened the door and came over, reaching for the sweets.
Chai You placed one candy in his hand, "I can’t give this to you for nothing."
"What do you want?" The child pondered while enjoying the sweet candy but still kept his guard up.
Chai You spoke gently, "One doesn’t receive unearned rewards. You need to help me with something. If you do it well, all the candy in this bag will be yours."
"Don’t trick the kid. My mom says men who trick kids are cowards," the little boy said, his gaze fixing on the money bag while Chai You grinned, "When have I ever tricked you?"
"That’s true," the little boy said after a moment of thought. Although Chai You was unreliable on the regular, he had indeed always been nice to him, never deceiving him. It’s just that his mother said that Chai You was good-for-nothing and told him not to play here.
Chai You took another big handful of candy from the big bag and placed it in the little boy’s palm, "After a while, the snow will stop. Remember the song I taught you, go out and play with your friends, teach it to them. Once everyone can sing it, come back to me for the rest of the candy."
"It doesn’t sound hard, just say it," the little boy thought over the deal, which seemed like a sure win, so he agreed.
After teaching him the rhyme, Chai You went back inside to boil water for a bath.
That very afternoon, as predicted, the snow stopped falling. Children crisscrossed the streets and alleys, having a jolly time throwing snowballs and building snowmen. A children’s rhyme spread from mouth to mouth, and in just three days, everyone in the Capital City could recite it fluently.
"If Kunshan could be obtained, glimpsing past the gate reveals Chai. Zhu Xuanwu guards the right, auspiciousness reaches the skies. Towers rise into the azure heavens, gathering reason to ascend from below."
The door of Chai You’s humble abode was nearly trampled to ruins.
The little boy pressed against the door, peering through the crack outside.
The carriages and sedan chairs of these visitors were parked at the entrance to the lane, completely clogging the street.
While he was gazing out, someone yanked his ear.
Yelping in pain, the little boy cried out, "Mom! Mom, it hurts, it hurts so much!"
"How much candy did you eat today? Do you not care about your teeth at all? Go back to your studies! Look at your Uncle Chai, he reads every day; now see how many high officials and noble people come to see him. You should take him as your role model, understand?"
"I understand! Mom, let go, it’s painful..."
The little boy grimaced as he spoke, his mother watching the clamor next door with eyes full of envy.
"Your Uncle Chai might rise to great heights soon. Our Stone Lane is going to produce someone important."
Dressed in a grey robe, Chai You bid farewell to wave after wave of visitors. As evening approached and the setting sun cast its orange glow on the laughing snow upon the bluestone slabs, the light reflected warmly.
The little boy, bundled up stiffly in his jacket, stepped out and asked curiously, "Uncle Chai, what do all these people want from you?"
Chai You, looking at the receding silhouettes of the sedans, displayed a gentle smile, "They want your uncle to leave with them."
"Aren’t you going to go with them? You wouldn’t need to live in this Stone Lane anymore."
Chai You shook his head, "They’re not the ones I’m waiting for."
The little boy didn’t understand, "But they are all very rich."
"So what?" A flicker of darkness crossed the depths of Chai You’s eyes, momentarily present before returning to calm, unsettled waters.
He turned to close the Chai Gate, "It’s getting late. Your mother will call you for dinner soon."
The boy didn’t move, instead pointing to a carriage in lane and muttering unclearly through a mouthful of candy, "Another one’s come."
Looking at the figure enveloped in a black robe, Chai You’s lips curved into a meaningful smile, "Perhaps this one is who I’m waiting for."
The Prince visited Stone Lane three times, and finally, in the deep of night, the exalted person from the ditty returned with him to his residence.
Soon after, the ditty vanished from the streets and alleys without a trace, as if it had never existed.
Yan Wanqing received this news while Yan Lingzhen was taking her pulse.
"To gain Chai You is to conquer the world," Yan Lingzhen understood right away that it was a concealed tail poem. She pursed her lips and gently pulled out the silver needle, "That Prince is so easily hooked, even bothering with such mystification thrice."
A smile deepened in Yan Wanqing’s eyes upon hearing this.
"The concealed tail poem is merely bait to attract attention. You’re wrong, Sixth Sister,"
"I am?" Yan Lingzhen asked, puzzled.
"As long as Mr. Chai made the Prince come knocking, he had ways to make him cherish his talent, prompting a second and third visit. This man truly possesses substantive knowledge and talent; otherwise, why would all those high officials and nobles incessantly visit Stone Lane?"