A Pawn's Passage

Qi Muyu mentioned an elder brother, who was Qi Jiaozhen, the head of the Qi family and the Shuzhou Daoist Mansion Master.

Shuzhou was a crucial region, being the second-largest state after Xizhou. However, unlike the desolate Xizhou, Shuzhou was a land of beauty and prosperity, making its importance all the greater. It was one of the core regions of the Quanzhen Sect. So for Qi Jiaozheng to govern it showed just how important his position was within the Quanzhen Sect.

Back when the Quanzhen Sect representatives paid a visit to the Dazhen Mansion at Yunjin Mountain, Sage Donghua could not attend in person, and it was Qi Jiaozheng who led the delegation. Although Qi Jiaozheng was not one of the nine Hall Masters, he still bore the title of Sage Wanmiao.

If Qi Xuansu truly wanted to join the Qi family, the only one with the authority to decide would be Qi Jiaozheng. Anyone else would not have the power to add Qi Xuansu to the family registry.

Qi Jiaozheng was a seventh-generation disciple, and so was Qi Muyu. Coincidentally, Qi Xuansu’s two future mothers-in-law, Su Yuanyi and Tantai Qiong, were also of the seventh generation.

If Qi Xuansu were to count his seniority in the Yao family through Madam Qi, he would technically be of the same generation as Sage Donghua, as Yao Pei’s uncle. But family seniority could not be calculated this way. After all, Li Changge was of the same generation as the Imperial Preceptor, yet even he did not presume to call the Imperial Preceptor “Elder Brother.” Instead, Li Changge used proper honorifics when addressing his elders. What’s more, Qi Xuansu was not entered into the Yao family’s registry, so his seniority had to follow Daoist standards.

By generational rank, Qi Muyu was one level above him. By age, she was about 10 or even 20 years older, old enough to be Qi Xuansu’s mother. Yet here she was, lowering herself to call Qi Xuansu her brother.

Being cautious as ever, Qi Xuansu instantly thought of the saying that when one offered kindness for no reason, they were either scheming or thieving.”

Qi Xuansu could not help but grow wary.

Of course, this was no fault of Lei Xiaohuan. As fellow disciples of the Quanzhen Sect, they would have interacted often and had some degree of friendship. Now that she was leaving Jade Capital for a regional post, it was only natural for Qi Muyu to come and see her off. But what Lei Xiaohuan had not expected was for Qi Muyu to pull such a stunt.

Yet in a way, it was inevitable.

The Daoist Order preached equality, having overturned the rigid Confucian etiquette. So women no longer had to be so constrained. Qi Xuansu’s former superior, Shi Bingyun, was one such example of carefree living. In the Confucian era, Shi Bingyun would have been vilified and scorned by society.

Moreover, just as many men favored young women, many high-ranking women in the Daoist Order were especially fond of young and handsome men, treating them as though they were adorable newborn puppies. By contrast, they found men of their own age repulsive. Many young male Daoists likewise longed to seize such a shortcut to success, sparing themselves 20 years of hard work.

But this reasoning did not apply to Qi Xuansu. Setting aside his own abilities, he had the support of Madam Qi, who was more than a mother to him. He had no need to sell his charms. Even without her, he had Zhang Yuelu, the young and beautiful Junior Tiangang Hall Master. Even without them, Qi Xuansu still had his dignity.

For this reason, Qi Xuansu had little patience for Qi Muyu’s games.

However, he was mindful of Qi Jiaozheng, who was backing her. Out of respect for Lei Xiaohuan, he could not very well lose his temper at this banquet, so he said, “Generational ranks within the Daoist Order are not to be confused. Otherwise, someone might report you to Fengxian Hall. If you end up formally censured over such a trifle, that would be quite the joke.”

Unwilling to let go, Qi Muyu retorted, “It’s just a private form of address. Who would make a fuss of it?”

At that moment, Lei Xiaohuan spoke up again. “Old Qi, you’re no longer a youngster, yet today, you’re acting as though you’re still 18. If there’s a reason you’d like to address Tian Yuan as your brother, you’d best say it plainly. Don’t beat around the bush.”

Qi Muyu lifted her slender hand and pointed playfully at Lei Xiaohuan. “Old Lei, don’t be so blunt. You’ll embarrass me.”

But Lei Xiaohuan was not swayed. “Had we been twenty years younger, perhaps such talk would make sense. But at our age, what haven’t we seen? We’re old hags with thick skin, so trying to act coy now is rather unseemly.”

Qi Xuansu gave a light cough, trying to stifle a laugh.

Lei Xiaohuan knew Qi Xuansu fairly well. She knew that both he and Zhang Yuelu were quite conservative, priding themselves on self-restraint. Their defining trait was to take a Daoist companion when the right person came along, and then keep only that one partner for life. If they did not meet someone suitable or if their standards were too high, they did not force it. Many of such conservatives lived alone their whole lives, dying as virgins.

By contrast, there were those who were more indulgent. Their core philosophy was to enjoy life while they could, keeping thousands of concubines, practicing dual-cultivation techniques, and indulging in the bedroom arts, all in pursuit of carefree pleasure.

These two groups of people loathed each other. The conservatives called the carefree shameless and morally corrupt, while the carefree mocked the conservatives as stubborn relics, remnants of the old Confucian ways during the Wei Dynasty.

Lei Xiaohuan saw Qi Xuansu’s discomfort and displeasure, so she raised her cup toward him and said, half in jest, “Tian Yuan, be careful now. Don’t let her bewitch you. She’s one of the carefree people who likes to change men like she changes clothes. Her warmth toward you isn’t because she fancies you. I fear it’s because she fancies your coin pouch.”

These words were exceedingly blunt, almost tearing the veil off Qi Muyu’s hidden intentions. It was somewhat improper and risked offending Qi Muyu, but clearly, Lei Xiaohuan truly feared that Qi Xuansu might fall into Qi Muyu’s trap.

Though Qi Muyu was secretly annoyed, not a trace of it showed on her face. She said calmly, “Deputy Hall Master Lei, what you say may be true. I do like Taiping coins. But I earn money by my own abilities and without breaking the Daoist laws. Besides, Deputy Hall Master Qi hails from the Wanxiang Daoist Palace, not from the Zhang or Li families. He doesn’t have mountains of gold and silver. So between us, what money is there to speak of?”

Qi Muyu deliberately paused before continuing, “More importantly, I have always favored handsome men. I may talk money with ugly men, but when I meet a handsome gentleman like Deputy Hall Master Qi, I only speak of affection.”

Before Qi Xuansu could reply, Qi Muyu quickly added, “Of course, I mean familial affection and nothing else. As Old Lei mentioned, I’m already at an age where acting coy is unseemly. People might just call me an old cow nibbling on tender grass! I’m also self-aware enough to know I could never compare to Deputy Hall Master Zhang. That’s why I only wish to establish a brother-sister bond with Deputy Hall Master Qi.”

Had Qi Xuansu not been the one involved, he might have had to applaud Qi Muyu. She was exposed so bluntly by Lei Xiaohuan, yet she still managed to smooth it all over. This just showed what a sharp tongue she had.

Unfortunately for her, Qi Xuansu was the one being targeted. So he simply changed the subject, “Does the Daoist Order allow Daoist officials to engage in business?”

Qi Muyu chuckled. “Of course not. But in a large family, that small stipend is hardly enough to live on. Duties must be divided. My elder brother became a Daoist priest, so I had no choice but to go into business. Otherwise, how could those Sages afford to buy residences in Taishang Place?”

Qi Xuansu understood.

Most great families had some members handling appearances, while others dealt with the behind-the-scenes operations. Just as Qi Muyu said, duties were divided.

For example, Li Qingnu’s adoptive mother, Li Tianyue, played a role similar to Qi Muyu’s. Among the younger generation, Li Changge was clearly the “face,” while Li Tianzhen handled other shady dealings. In the Zhang family, Zhang Yuelu had been chosen as the face, while Zhang Yuyue was sidelined. But if Zhang Yuyue could recover her standing, she could play her role as an internal coordinator.

Qi Muyu was similar. Nominally, she held the fourth rank, but with no office. However, with Qi Jiaozheng backing her, everyone had to show her some respect. Strictly speaking, Madam Qi was also part of such operations. Madam Qi carried the Earthly Preceptor’s banner, so her prestige was even greater. Even Sage Cihang and Sage Donghua had to yield to her at times.

Qi Muyu continued, “By the way, I heard you’ve recently purchased Princess Xuanzhen’s Mansion, Deputy Hall Master Qi. That place isn’t cheap. Surely, it couldn’t have been bought with your stipend alone.”

Qi Xuansu had no choice but to reply, “My mother paid for it.”

“Right. It simply can’t be done without being involved in business.” Qi Muyu smiled, her eyes squinting.

Qi Xuansu more or less understood now that his purchase of Princess Xuanzhen’s Mansion had drawn Qi Muyu to him. She must have thought that anyone who could spend 1.45 million Taiping coins on a residence must have a way of making money, hence her interest in him.

By now, Qi Xuansu was no longer a wanderer. He had powerful backers and was not someone that just anyone could plot against. So, what Qi Muyu sought was business cooperation.

At this point, Qi Xuansu realized that without giving a clear stance, he would not be able to slip away today. At last, he said, “Daoist Qi, go ahead and speak plainly. If it is something I can help with, I will certainly assist for the sake of Sage Wanmiao.”

Qi Muyu’s eyes curved like crescent moons as she replied, “Deputy Hall Master Qi, a true man’s word is as solid as nails once spoken. There’s no going back on your word.”

Qi Xuansu chuckled lightly. “If you don’t trust me, then it’s best to just leave it be.”

“Of course, I trust you.” Qi Muyu lifted her wine cup proactively. “Allow me to toast you, Deputy Hall Master Qi.”

Qi Xuansu had no choice but to raise his own cup and clink glasses with this beautiful yet dangerous woman.