Chapter 37: Chapter 37: Troubles at Home

Early the next morning, the camp was packed up, and the troops moved out. They headed west towards Shangqiu. On their way there, Miao Chuntao and Li Yingshan talked over Moonlight Pagoda's affairs.

"How are things?"

"Good. Moonlight Pagoda is prospering. The Crown Prince's attack was solely on you. He left the Pagoda alone."

"That's good then. My Bloodmoon Guardians are keeping an eye on the Pagoda, right?"

"Yes, Goddess. And the Black Phoenixes are keeping tabs on the Crown Prince."

"Wait. What? Who ordered that?" Li Yingshan cried, aghast.

"I did. After your 'death', I had them watch that bastard," Miao Chuntao answered. "If he dared to go against Moonlight Pagoda, we would be know and be able to prepare a defense."

Truly deserving of being my successor, Li Yingshan thought proudly.

"Good. That's good."

∇

When they stopped for a break halfway to Shangqiu, the Ninth Prince approached the two women.

"Are you doing alright?"

Miao Chuntao nodded. Li Yingshan opened her mouth to speak when her Chinese Grass Owl hooted and flew down from above. She held out her left arm and let the talons curl around her silver vambrace. A note was tied to its leg. She grabbed the piece of paper and held it out to Miao Chuntao, who took it and unrolled it.

She read aloud, "Report: The City Governor has put all residents of Xu Manor on house arrest following orders from the Crown Prince."

Coldness seeped into Li Yingshan's bones. Her spine stiffened as her eyelids fluttered close. Pain and despair filled her heart.

"Goddess, do you have an order?"

"Xu Manor? Is that your husband's household?" Chen Chengxian wondered.

Li Yingshan sighed. She opened her eyes wearily.

"Send four Bloodmoon Guardians to watch and protect Xu Manor. But I want Qing Gang to stay guarding Moonlight Pagoda. If the General of the Bloodmoon Guardians is gone, the Crown Prince may try to attack headquarters," she commanded.

Miao Chuntao saluted and suddenly flew off, using her qinggong. Li Yingshan turned towards Chen Chengxian.

"Yes. My husband is Xu Haoran, a Hero of the Jianghu. We were betrothed as children and married about eight months ago now."

"Oh," he breathed. "You seem protective of him. Do you love him?"

Love? I've never thought about that before. Could I love Hero Xu? Wait, what am I even thinking? He wanted nothing to do with me when I returned. It doesn't matter if I love him or not, I'm never going back there.

Sadness filled her eyes. "My maid is there. I don't wish to see her get hurt because of me."

"So you care more about a maid than your own husband?"

"Qiu Ling is like a sister to me. Hero Xu doesn't understand why I'm involving myself in politics again."

"He must be very protective of you then."

Li Yingshan looked down. "He is."

"And you don't like it?"

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"That's not what I meant. I'm just used to fighting for myself. I'm not used to people defending me against slanders and rumors. His protectiveness caught me off guard."

Chen Chengxian eyed her. "Your home-life is very odd."

She blushed. "Perhaps I'll tell you all about it some day."

He smiled. "I'll look forward to it."

∇

The troops arrived outside of Shangqiu the next day. Li Yingshan donned her veiled conical hat again and slipped away while the tents were being pitched. She snuck into the town and made her way through various side alleys to get to the Jade Bell Inn there. When she entered, an attendant came over.

"Welcome, can I help you?"

"The Moon is accompanied by more than ten thousand Stars."

Upon hearing the code phrase, the attendant bowed. "Miss, what can Moonlight Pagoda do for you?"

She glanced around the inn before saying, "I'd like to meet with the Saintess of Spirit Lotus Sect."

His eyes widened. "I- I don't know..."

The Spirit Lotus Sect was renowned in the Jianghu for its medicine recipes and concoctions. And its Saintess was worshipped almost like a deity from Heaven. No common person could meet with her!

But Li Yingshan wasn't a common person.

Removing her hat, she smiled. "Just tell her that the Goddess of Moonlight Pagoda would like to drink some tea with her."

The attendant quickly bowed. "Sorry, Goddess! I didn't know it was you, please forgive me."

Li Yingshan waved it off. "No worries."

"I will send a message to the Saintess. Are you going to wait here for her?"

"Yes, I think I will."

An hour later, a woman in her late twenties entered the Jade Bell Inn. She wore a peony pink Qixiong Ruquna Tang dynasty style of Hanfu and had gold flowery hairpins in the back of her black updone hair. A wary look crossed her eyes as she looked around. But then her gaze fell on the lone woman sitting at a square table on the balcony above.

Li Yingshan. You even dare to show your face here? I'll show you a lesson today!

She stormed up the stairs, fuming. When she stood next to the table, her hands clenched into fists.

"You still think you're so high and mighty, right? Elite of the Jianghu, pah! You didn't even come from a martial arts sect! And yet you're praised as the Goddess of Moonlight Pagoda!"

Li Yingshan sipped her oolong tea calmly. After setting the cup down, she replied evenly, "I never asked to be called Goddess. It was bestowed upon me."

"Fake your humility all you want! We both know who you really are!" the woman screeched.

"And just who am I? Do enlighten me, Tong Nuo同诺 tóng nuò."

 

 

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