A Pawn's Passage

There was a poem that spoke of a concubine being granted an imperial bath, for she had only just received the sovereign’s favor. It described warm spring waters gliding over her smooth, creamy skin, and how her attendants had to help her stand because she was delicate and weak.

However, this was not Qi Xuansu’s experience.

Zhang Yuelu was not at all delicate or weak. She was the exact opposite.

When they had first entered the bridal chamber, Zhang Yuelu had indeed been somewhat shy, but she was far from bashful or timid. She quickly composed herself and instead revealed a determined look in her eyes, like a warrior going into battle.

At this moment, Qi Xuansu was her opponent.

But Qi Xuansu did not feel the slightest regret about this either. As Zhang Yuelu had said, Qi Xuansu liked strong women. So naturally, Qi Xuansu had no interest in gentle and delicate ladies.

Everything that brought an advantage inevitably came with a disadvantage.

He could not expect a woman to be both a powerful partner and someone gentle and submissive.

Given Qi Xuansu’s current status, establishing a harem would not be difficult. But his ambitions lay elsewhere, and he had no interest in doing so.

He had no desire to prove himself by dominating women, nor did he wish to indulge his desires. What he wanted was to stand at the summit of the entire world.

Any man could sleep with women. One more or one less made no difference. But standing at the pinnacle of the world was an honor that belonged to only one person.

Perhaps some would say that different women possessed different charms, different allures, and offered different experiences. But Qi Xuansu felt that when it came to splendor and excitement, what could possibly compare to the world itself?

That was why he needed a companion and confidante like Zhang Yuelu, rather than just any woman.

Come to think of it, ambition had its advantages.

When Qi Xuansu first met Zhang Yuelu, he had felt afraid and nervous, though this was mostly due to concerns about his identity as a member of the Qingping Society. Yet he had never thought himself inferior or unworthy.

Thus, when faced with the contempt and various verbal jabs from Tantai Qiong, Zhang Yuyue, and the others, Qi Xuansu could simply laugh them off.

Even to this day, he did not hold a grudge. After all, their actions had never truly hurt him or struck a sore spot. It did not amount to anything, so it was not even worthy of resentment.

The one who truly struck at Qi Xuansu’s sore spot was Zhou Mengyao, and she suffered for it.

Qi Xuansu was reluctant to give his heart to others, but once he did, anyone who deceived those genuine feelings could expect no mercy from him whatsoever.

He still remembered the agreement he made with Zhang Yuelu back then. Whoever dared to betray the other would be killed by the other’s own hand. When Qi Xuansu made that vow, he had meant every word of it. If he ever wronged Zhang Yuelu and she killed him for it, he would accept his fate. If Zhang Yuelu ever wronged him, then he would kill her with his own hands as well.

When he loved someone, he wished for them to live. But when he hated someone, he wished for them to die.

The lack of affection in Qi Xuansu’s youth had led to his extreme temperament, something an ordinary person truly could not handle. After all, those whom Qi Xuansu had genuinely accepted into his heart, including Zhou Mengyao, Madam Qi, Little Yin, and Zhang Yuelu, were anything but ordinary.

As the Pure Maiden’s Longevity Scripture completed a full cycle within their bodies, their dual cultivation came to an end.

The newlyweds lay side by side.

Qi Xuansu appeared relatively calm. Though this was his first experience being intimate with a woman, he was already thirty and had mastery over every part of his physical body thanks to his Martial Arts Practitioner lineage. Thus, he was not overwhelmed with emotion like a teenage boy.

He could not understand why Li Minghuang cared so much about such a base desire that could be completely controlled. However, considering Li Minghuang’s particular fondness for other men’s wives, perhaps what Li Minghuang pursued was a kind of psychological gratification rather than purely physical desire.

At this moment, Zhang Yuelu did not become overly sentimental either. What she thought was how the Pure Maiden’s Longevity Scripture deserved its place as a perfected method. Since they were both virgins, the results of this dual cultivation session were exceptionally good. It was almost equivalent to half a year of arduous cultivation.

However, they had to exercise restraint and could not practice it too frequently. That was because it was too easy to become addicted to this feeling. Excess could be just as harmful as deficiency. Many who cultivated the Pure Maiden’s Longevity Scripture failed to grasp this principle and eventually resorted to wantonly harvesting others’ essence to supplement themselves. That was the path of heretical cultivation.

After quite some time, the two unexpectedly spoke at the same time.

“Qing Xiao.”

“Tian Yuan.”

The couple fell silent for a moment before once again saying in unison, “You go first.”

Finally, Zhang Yuelu said, “I’ll go first. Regarding Madam Qi, have you made any arrangements?”

Qi Xuansu was very pleased. “You still remembered.”

Zhang Yuelu said, “Madam Qi and I do have differing opinions on certain things, but that’s a separate matter.”

Qi Xuansu said, “There’s no rush regarding Madam Qi. There’s nothing we can do even if we’re anxious about it. It mainly depends on what she wants.”

Seeing that Qi Xuansu already had a plan in mind, Zhang Yuelu did not ask any further and asked, “What did you want to say?”

Qi Xuansu said, “I was going to say that it’s almost dawn, so we should probably get up. Otherwise, Little Yin will come knocking on our door.”

If Little Yin caused a huge commotion about Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu sleeping in, it would be utterly embarrassing.

Only then did Zhang Yuelu notice the faint light of dawn outside. She immediately sat up. “Quick!”

The bridal chamber had long since been stocked with all their daily necessities, including a full assortment of everyday clothes.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu changed into their everyday clothes, helped each other comb their hair, and tied it into buns.

Qi Xuansu carefully put away yesterday’s bridal hechang in the wardrobe, while Zhang Yuelu changed the bedsheets. Just then, they heard Little Yin pounding on the main courtyard gate.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu could not help but exchange a glance. “That was close.”

Had they been one step slower, that little imp would have wreaked havoc.

“I’ll get the door.” Qi Xuansu headed outside.

Zhang Yuelu stayed behind to check the room and make sure there was nothing else amiss.

Qi Xuansu left the room, walked around the screen, and opened the courtyard gate to let Little Yin in. “It’s so early in the morning. Can’t you let people have some peace?”

Little Yin ignored Qi Xuansu and scampered straight into the bridal chamber. She looked left and right before pouting with disappointment. “Nothing looks different.”

Qi Xuansu picked her up with one hand. “What did you expect to be different?”

Little Yin flailed her short little legs wildly. “I don’t know! I only heard about it from other people. Put me down!”

Qi Xuansu put her down. “You’re too curious for your own good. Don’t go asking about things like this.”

Little Yin’s eyes darted around before she asked, “What did the two of you do last night?”

Zhang Yuelu could no longer listen to this conversation, so she cleared her throat and put on a stern expression.

Little Yin immediately recalled the terror of being disciplined by Zhang Yuelu and swiftly changed the subject. “Madam Wu said that you still have to pay respects to the ancestors today. It wouldn’t be good to miss the auspicious hour!”

Zhang Yuelu said, “Alright. Go tell Madam Wu that we’ll be there shortly.”

Little Yin dashed off again in a flash.

Qi Xuansu did not have an ancestral temple or clan shrine of his own. The Zhang family did, but that would have to wait until Zhang Yuelu returned to her maiden home. Thus, paying respects to the ancestors actually meant paying respects to the Primordial Daoist Ancestor.

Only after Little Yin had left did Qi Xuansu say, “I was wondering where Little Yin got the nerve. Even Old Lin couldn’t keep her in check. So it turns out Madam Wu was putting her up to this from behind the scenes. Those two are always up to no good. They just wanted to have a laugh at our expense.”

Zhang Yuelu said, “Your clever scheme backfired, didn’t it? Now that the two of them have joined forces, you’re going to have your hands full.”

Qi Xuansu had nothing to say to that and could only head outside.

Their new residence was enormous. Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu’s bridal chamber was located in the main courtyard, which was the third courtyard along the central wing. Beyond it were another two courtyards, which were Madam Qi’s residence and the garden.

Little Yin lived in the third courtyard along the east wing, right beside their main courtyard. Madam Wu lived in the fourth courtyard along the east wing, adjacent to Madam Qi’s residence. Since Madam Wu was only staying here as a guest, she did not reside along the central wing. Besides, Madam Wu had a proper residence of her own in Xuan City.

The ancestral ceremony was to be held at Madam Qi’s residence, which was an independent compound with a large courtyard. With a few minor alterations to several rooms, they could enshrine the Primordial Daoist Ancestor there, making it equivalent to a private chapel in a Westerner’s castle.

Madam Wu, Lin Yuanmiao, and Little Yin were already waiting there.

After Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu arrived, Lin Yuanmiao took out the ritual prayers he had prepared beforehand and handed them to the couple. They were all written in cinnabar on ivy paper.

Qi Xuansu and Zhang Yuelu each took a copy and recited the prayers before the Primordial Daoist Ancestor. After finishing one sheet, they lit the ivy paper with the candle flame and placed it into the brazier before the altar table. The flames burned in shades of green and red, while the rising smoke shimmered with seven-colored light.

Little Yin stood to the side, staring eagerly at the green, red, and multicolored smoke, wishing she could burn the papers in their place.

They repeated the process until all the paper in their hands had been burned. Amid the luminous smoke, the newlyweds bowed before the Primordial Daoist Ancestor.

This was equivalent to paying respects to their ancestors.

Sage Cihang had granted Zhang Yuelu half a month of marriage leave, which included time for her customary return to her maiden home. During this period, Zhang Yuelu did not need to report for duty at the Tiangang Hall. Qi Xuansu simply held no official post at the moment aside from his status as one of the 36 Omniscient Sages of the Golden Tower Council. Thus, this was a rare period of leisure for them both.

Qi Xuansu suggested, “Let’s go out for a stroll. It’s been a long time since we visited Taiqing Market. The last time we went there together was several years ago, when I was still a seventh-rank Daoist.”

Little Yin was the first to jump up in agreement, only for Madam Wu to press a hand down on her head and push her back down.

Although Madam Wu enjoyed laughing at Qi Xuansu’s expense, she still knew when to give the newlyweds some privacy. This was not the time to tag along and make herself a third wheel.

“You two should go. We won’t be joining you,” Madam Wu said.

Little Yin wanted to voice her objections, but Madam Wu was one step ahead and covered the troublemaker’s mouth. Little Yin could only struggle in vain, unable to make anything more than muffled noises.

Qi Xuansu nodded happily and took Zhang Yuelu by the hand. “Let’s go make a trip down memory lane.”