Second Visit

Mingyue rolled her eyes, unwilling to continue the conversation, especially since she might still need his help over the next half month. With that in mind, she closed the door and threw herself back onto the bed. An hour later, when Mingyue rose again, Jun Yi was already gone from outside her room.

Qin Shi said, “Second Master Jun invites you to discuss the matter of the Lovesick Elixir this afternoon.”

“Then you’d better prepare as well. Make it as mysterious as possible; that way, they won’t dare act rashly, and it’ll be easier for us to dig for information.” Mingyue stretched out her arms, then walked over to the stone table and poured herself a cup of tea.

A twitch flickered at Qin Shi’s temple. With an expressionless face, he raised his hand, pressed it down, and nodded. “Understood, Master.”

Shortly after lunch, a young maid in a pale yellow dress entered the courtyard. She bowed to Mingyue and Qin Shi. “Second Master requests that Miss Mingyue and the young gentleman at your side come to the residence for a talk.”

The residence… Mingyue, as she stood up, noticed this detail and asked, “Jun Yi isn’t at the Hall of the Gentlemen?”

“Second Master moved out four years ago, but he still spends most of his time here. His old room remains untouched for meetings with disciples and stewards. However, to show respect for Miss Mingyue, Second Master has specially arranged a banquet at his residence. If you have any other questions, you may ask Second Master personally when you meet him.”

Mingyue nodded and flicked her hand. “Lead the way, then.”

“Please, this way.”

Mingyue followed, realizing that it was not the gravel path from the previous day but a broader avenue of bluestone. After a short walk, the three reached a plaza filled with disciples in blue and white uniforms, training. Mingyue had heard that the Hall of the Gentlemen focused primarily on swordsmanship, complemented by one of the arts—music, chess, calligraphy, or painting. Some even practiced more obscure instruments like flutes and reed pipes. In other words, what scholars elsewhere considered refined pursuits had become methods of combat here.

As Mingyue crossed the plaza, she observed the disciples: those in the center mostly practiced swordplay, while those on the edges trained in other arts. Just as she was about to leave the plaza, she glanced back and was startled by the sheer number of people. Ahead lay the main road, lined with houses on both sides. Though the view was not as expansive as the plaza, from here one could see the verdant scenery beyond the Hall’s main gate—a grand and spirited sight.

Once outside the Hall, Mingyue asked, “How much farther to Second Master Jun’s residence?”

“Do not worry, Miss Mingyue, it’s just ahead.” The maid’s voice was gentle and low, so Mingyue, not wanting to seem impatient, kept following, hoping it truly wasn’t far. Soon, they turned off the path, and Mingyue realized the Hall of the Gentlemen lay at the foot of the mountain. Beyond the path, a bustling town and marketplace appeared.

The ancient Shu kingdom was not prosperous in the past, but after being annexed by the Que kingdom and renamed Shuzhou, the people’s lives improved somewhat. All that Mingyue had read or heard about was now vividly before her eyes. The houses and clothing so different from those in Yinzhou, the array of dazzling trinkets—everything tugged at her feet, drawing her in.

“If you’re fond of these things, you may stroll here more in the future. For now, Second Master is waiting—could I trouble you to hurry a bit?” The maid spoke with a hint of embarrassment. Mingyue blushed and hastened her pace.

Jun Yi’s residence was indeed close. They passed through the marketplace, turned into a quiet alley, and at the end stood the Jun estate. Compared to the Hall of the Gentlemen, the Jun residence was much quieter, with few servants in sight.

Mingyue and Qin Shi were led to a side courtyard, which was surprisingly similar to where she had met Jun Xiao the previous night: behind a bamboo grove, beside a lake, with a waterside pavilion. However, unlike the Hall of the Gentlemen, everything but the pavilion was smaller.

Jun Yi was brewing tea in the pavilion. Wisps of smoke curled up, and the fragrance of tea wafted through the air. Mingyue strolled in and smiled. “Second Master Jun, what a refined mood you have today.”

“You flatter me, Mingyue. I’ve been irritable lately, so I borrowed these tea utensils from my elder brother, hoping for some peace of mind—otherwise, how could I face you?” Jun Yi’s lips curled in a bold smile.

Mingyue sat opposite him, resting her chin on one hand and fanning herself with the other. “Let’s skip the pleasantries. Tell me, why did you invite me here?”

“So straightforward—I admire that. Then I’ll speak plainly. They say your Lovesick Elixir can make people forget the pain of love. That’s why the elders invited you here. But it’s all rumor; no one in Shuzhou knows if it’s true. Since this concerns my elder brother, as his sibling, I feel obliged to understand the matter first. Don’t you agree?”

“Nonsense!” Mingyue waved her hand, and in Jun Yi’s astonished gaze, continued, “I’ve only been making the Lovesick Elixir for a little over three months—who’s going around saying everyone knows about it? I doubt even a few people are aware! I’d like to know where you heard of it.”

“Well, um…” Jun Yi blinked, looking like a child caught misbehaving. “It was a disciple from the Hall who told us, but she’s left now.”

Mingyue immediately thought of the culprit, but there was no use pursuing it now. She lazily asked, “So, what do you want to know?”

“As long as you can convince me the Lovesick Elixir really works, I will do everything I can to help you in the future.”

“That’s simple.” Mingyue glanced around, her gaze finally settling on the maid behind Jun Yi.

Jun Yi raised an eyebrow and gestured for the maid to withdraw.

Seeing this, Mingyue motioned Qin Shi closer. “The Lovesick Elixir isn’t too hard, nor too easy. You just need a few things.”

At this, a glass lamp with a greenish glow slowly appeared in Qin Shi’s hand. Mingyue seized the moment. “Qin Shi’s soul lamp is one of them. And as for me, this is another.” Mingyue brushed her left eye, and a six-pointed star, blood-red, appeared in her pupil.

“Second Master Jun, don’t be too shocked. We are not monsters. If we were, no one here could subdue us. So, let’s do business amicably. You want the Lovesick Elixir, I want my profit.” Mingyue smiled, covering her left eye for a moment; when she removed her hand, the star was gone.

Jun Yi, having recovered from his astonishment, resumed his usual light smile. As Qin Shi prepared to put away the soul lamp, Jun Yi said, “Wait—could you leave the lamp out a bit longer? It seems to calm my mind.”

Mingyue nodded, and Qin Shi remained standing with the lamp.

“Well, since we’ve solved your doubts, perhaps you could answer a few of mine?”

“But of course.” Jun Yi’s smile took on a rakish tilt.

“What kind of person is it that the Hall Master cannot forget?” Mingyue watched Jun Yi as she spoke, noticing a fleeting stiffness in his smile. Though he did not become as solemn as he had the previous day, his expression grew fainter. “Oh, just an ordinary woman. My brother met her on the way to Shuzhou. He has a good heart, saw she was alone and unprotected, so he brought her here. Many things happened afterward, and they ended up together. But to be frank, none of the family liked her—not even me.”

“May I ask why?”

Jun Yi glanced sideways at her, then raised a cup of tea to his lips and smiled. “My brother inherited the Hall early, but neglected many duties because of her. How could the family accept that?”

“Neglected? After her death?” Mingyue feigned surprise, and saw Jun Yi shake his head almost unconsciously. But what he said was, “What difference does it make, before or after?”

Mingyue nodded, her mind swirling with thoughts. She needed to sort them out carefully and discuss them further with Qin Shi. For now… Mingyue looked at Jun Yi, who had turned his head to gaze at the lake. The teasing smile was gone, replaced by a faint trace of disdain between his brows.

Mingyue raised her eyebrows—how deep must his dislike go, to show such contempt? She did not ask. Jun Yi said nothing more, and in the waterside pavilion, only the soul lamp in Qin Shi’s hand glimmered with green light, its gentle ripples spreading outward like those on the lake beyond.