CLX Book 5 Chapter 3 – Part 1

Chapter 3 – Treating A Beauty Irreverently

The sky was already bright.

The rising sun shone in through the cracks of the window, illuminating her pale face, her pair of beautiful eyes were bloodshot. _{Translated by foxs}

It was certainly Zuo Mingzhu’s face, certainly Zuo Mingzhu’s eyes ─ but was this girl Zuo Mingzhu or not? Even Chu Liuxiang was unclear.

So much so that he did not know what to call her. If he called her ‘Zuo Mingzhu’, clearly she had the mind and the soul of ‘Shi Yin’. But if he called her ‘Shi Yin’, she was clearly ‘Zuo Mingzhu’.

The girl hung her head down, bit her lips and said, “Since you have seen it, you ought to believe what I said, right?”

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “Indeed you did not lie to me.”

The girl said, “In that case, why haven’t you let me go?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “I can let you go, but can you go back?”

The girl said, “Why can’t I go back?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “With your current appearance, when you go back, would other people still recognize you as Shi Yin?”

The girl’s tears immediately flowed down, she spoke in pain, “Heavens, how did I become like this? Tell me, what should I do?” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang spoke softly, “Since I believe you, you ought to believe me too. It does not matter who you believe in your ‘heart’, your body is indeed Zuo Mingzhu, Zuo Qinghou’s daughter!”

The girl beat the bed with her fists, she said, “But I really am not Zuo Mingzhu, I don’t know Zuo Qinghou even more, how could I acknowledge him as my father?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “But I am afraid Shi Juren won’t acknowledge you as his daughter either. I am afraid even Ye Shenglan won’t recognize you, he won’t give you the face powder from Bao Xiang Zhai as a present anymore.”

The girl’s body shook, she spoke hoarsely, “You … how did you know him?”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled, he said, “How did you know him?”

Lowering her head, the girl spoke loudly, “That was a long time ago, I don’t know either, how did he …”

She suddenly raised her head again and spoke loudly, “But no matter what, that was in the past, now, I don’t know Ye Shenglan, I only know that I am the Xue’s family’s daughter-in-law who has not yet passed through the doorway.”

Chu Liuxiang sighed inwardly, this was precisely the most troublesome thing about this matter, because he knew that Zuo Er’ye had already betrothed Zuo Mingzhu to the son of the Ding family. _{Translated by foxs}

Even if Zuo Er’ye and Shi Juren could handle this matter calmly and without stress [idiom], even if this girl was willing to acknowledge them as her father, she absolutely could not marry two husbands.

Right this moment, suddenly they heard a loud ‘bang’ exploded from the outside, followed by all kinds and sorts of chaotic noise, such as the sound of shattering bottles and breaking jars, the sound of rocks being thrown onto the roof, the roof tiles being smashed, intermingled with the sound of a large group of people shouting and cursing.

Chu Liuxiang frowned, he felt very strange!

Could it be that some people really dared to come to ‘Zhi Bei Shanzhuang’ to look for trouble and display shockingly bad behavior?

Only to hear a shrill, loud and clear female voice said, “Zuo Qinghou, pay back [or return] my daughter!”

The girl’s eyes lit up, she spoke in great delight, “My mother is here, she already knew I am here, you still have not let me go?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “She came here definitely not to look for you.”

The girl said, “Not looking for me, looking for who?”

Before Chu Liuxiang could speak, Hua JinGong’s shrill voice was heard again.

“It was you, this old thief, who killed my daughter. You knew that she was ill, so you deliberately hid all the doctors in your house, that no one could treat her, otherwise, how could she die? I want you to compensate for her life!” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Originally the girl wanted to rush out, but this moment she was stunned again.

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “You should know by now why she came here?”

The girl retreated step by step, she said in a trembling voice, “She also said that I am already dead, could it be that I … could it be that I really am already dead?”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Of course you are not dead, but this matter is so strange that no one will believe it, even your mother will not believe it. If you go out now, she can’t possibly recognize you as her daughter.”

The girl was stunned for half a day, suddenly she turned around and threw herself onto the bed. Pounding the bed with her fists, she spoke in a choked voice, “What should I do? What should I do?”

Chu Liuxiang spoke in soft voice, “If you are willing to trust me completely, I may have a way to resolve this matter for you.”

The girl lay face down on the bed and cried for a long time before turning around, fixing her gaze at Chu Liuxiang, and said, “You … you are really Chu Xiang Shuai?”

Chu Liuxiang chuckled and said, “Sometimes I really wish I wasn’t Chu Liuxiang, but fate decided that I simply must be Chu Liuxiang.” _{Translated by foxs}

The girl stared into his eyes, she said, “All right, I will lie here for three days. After three days, if you still cannot resolve this matter, I … I am going to die. Death would be much better instead.”

Chu Liuxiang felt that for the time being it would be better for him not to see Hua JinGong, therefore, he decided to go to have a good sleep first, to cultivate enough spirit so that he would be able to work tonight.

He seemed to have a lot of thoughts in his mind, only he did not express them.

When he woke up, it was already dark, Zuo Er’ye had visited him nobody knew how many times. Seeing him waking up, he was simply like he had gained the most precious treasure. Pulling his hand, he said with a wry smile, “Xiongdi [Brother, generic term], you had a good sleep, do you know how much trouble I have suffered today? I simply am nearly going bald.”

He stomped his feet and said, “Did you know that Hua JinGong, that shrew has come here? Unexpectedly she dared to bring a gang of scoundrels here to display shockingly bad behavior, she even wanted me to pay for her daughter’s life!”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “How did you drive her away?”

Zuo Qinghou spoke hatefully, “Meeting this kind of shrew, I was really helpless; if I injured her, wouldn’t Jianghu friends laugh at me for lowering myself to her level?”

Chu Liuxiang sighed and said, “Not the least bit wrong. Perhaps it was precisely because she knew that ErGe definitely would not make a move that she dared to come here.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Zuo Qinghou said, “I could only vent my anger on those rascals. Seeing that all the men she brought had fallen down, only then did her haughtiness diminish somewhat. But before leaving, she was still displaying shockingly bad behavior by saying that she would come back tomorrow.”

Pulling Chu Liuxiang’s hand, he said, “Xiongdi, good or bad, you have to go to Shi Jia Zhuang again tonight to teach that tigress a lesson. If she comes back tomorrow, I really can’t stand it.”

He himself did not want to fight Hua JinGong, but he asked Chu Liuxiang to go. This kind of ‘scalding-hot sweet potato’, although Chu Liuxiang had already received a lot, he still somewhat did not know whether he ought to laugh or cry.

Zuo Qinghou himself seemed to realize this awkward request; smiling wryly, he said, “I also know that this is a very troublesome thing, but if there is anyone in the world who can solve this kind of thing, that person must be you, Chu Xiang Shuai.”

This kind of talk, Chu Liuxiang have also heard a lot; he could not help sighing, and muttered, “Too bad Xiao Hu did not come this time, otherwise I’ll let him to deal with Hua JinGong, it would really be prescribing the right medicine for an illness [idiom].”

Zuo Qinghou said, “Xiongdi, could it be … could it be that you won’t go?” _{Translated by foxs}

Chuckling, Chu Liuxiang said, “ErGe, don’t worry, I definitely have a way to prevent her from coming tomorrow.”

Only then did Zuo Qinghou heave a sigh of relief, but suddenly he frowned again and said, “There is another matter that Xiongdi must help me to come up with an idea; Hua JinGong had just left, someone followed behind.”

“Who was it?” Chu Liuxiang asked, “Could it be that there is someone in the world who is more difficult to deal with than Hua JinGong?”

Zuo Qinghou replied, “The two heroes [xia, knights] of the Ding Family of Lu Hua Dang Qi Xing Tang [lit. reed flower pond seven-star pool], Xiongdi, you ought to know them, right? The one who came today is the ‘Wu Gou Jian’ [hook sword surnamed Wu (?)], Ding Yu, Ding Lao’er [‘Ol Second].”

Chu Liuxiang asked, “Aren’t both of Ding Shi Shuang Xia your, ErGe’s good friends?”

Zuo Qinghou said, “Not only my good friends, they are also my in-laws, but that’s where the trouble lies.”

Chu Liuxiang said, “Could it be that he came to fetch the bride [to send a party to escort the bride to the groom’s house]?”

Stomping his feet, Zuo Qinghou said, “Not the least bit wrong. Just because we agreed last month to marry Zhu’er and Ding Rufeng this month. Ding Lao’er came this time, precisely for this matter.” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Chu Liuxiang said, “Last month, wasn’t Mingzhu already sick?”

Zuo Qinghou sighed and said, “Precisely because she fell ill that that I want this child to be happy. I was hoping that once she gets married, she would get better. Who would have thought that unexpectedly such a thing happened.”

He spoke with pained expression, “Now if I agree to marry her off within this month, how could Zhu’Er … Zhu’Er agree to marry him? If I don’t agree, what excuse do I have? I … I simply am at the dead end.”

Chu Liuxiang could also only stroke his nose, he muttered, “I wonder if Hua JinGong has also set up the wedding date for her daughter and Xue Er’shao [second young (master)] …”

Only to see a servant hurried over, bowed and said, “Ding Er’Xia [second hero] told Xiaoren [the lowly one] to ask Laoye [(old) master] whether Chu Xiang Shuai is awake. If he is, he wanted to come to offer Chu Xiang Shuai a drink; if he is not, he  asked Laoye to come to the front first.”

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “I have long heard that the Ding Brothers also have wine capacity like the ocean, while Zhang Jianzhai wants to take care of his health and thus he does not want to drink even a cup of wine. Ding Lao’Er must feel bored drinking alone.”

“That’s right,” Zuo Qinghou said, “Xiongdi, you must quickly accompany me to deal with him.” _{Translated by foxs}

Chu Liuxiang laughed and said, “ErGe, could it be that you want me to go to Shi Jia Zhuang drunk?”

In Jianghu, there were legends of some ‘Jiu Gai’ [drunken beggar], ‘Jiu Xian’ [drunken immortal], and so on; the more they drink, the higher their martial arts. Chu Liuxiang always thought these legends were a bit ridiculous, just because he knew that if a person drank too much wine, his guts might be bigger, his strength might increase some, but his reaction would definitely become much slower.

When martial art masters are vying against each other, if one’s reaction is slow, he will undoubtedly lose.

Therefore, although Chu Liuxiang also loved to drink very much, when he really encountered powerful enemy, he definitely maintained his sobriety the night before. The strange thing was that some people in Jianghu said, “The more Chu Xiang Shuai drinks, the higher his martial art skill will be.”

Chu Liuxiang thought that these words must be spoken by those who could not drink wine. People who don’t drink always seem to think that people who drink are some kind of freaks, even their body structure is different from others, while in fact ‘Jiu Xian’ was also a human being, ‘Jiu Gai’ was also a human being. People who drink too much wine, their brains will get muddied all the same.

Chu Liuxiang did not drink today, not because Hua JinGong’s mother-in-law and daughter-in-law were difficult to deal with, but because of that ‘idiot’ with superb martial art skill. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

He always felt that the ‘idiot’ was a bit mysterious, a bit strange, and absolutely not to be underestimated.

Before the third watch [11pm – 1am, midnight], Chu Liuxiang had already arrived at ‘Shi Jia Zhuang’. This time he was like driving a lightweight chariot on a familiar road [idiom], and went straight to the rear garden. The rear garden was silent without any human trace, only the cottage among the bamboo trees still had the lantern on.

Could it be that Shi Yin’s body was still inside the cottage?

Chu Liuxiang flew up to the roof like a light smoke. Looking down, he discovered that Shi Yin’s body had been moved out, a young girl dressed like a servant in plain dark green clothes was tidying up the room.

Under the illumination of the lantern, this young girl appeared to be very beautiful, not at all like someone who was used to do menial work.

Her hands were busy making the bed, but her pair of limpid eyes was glancing at the dressing table. Suddenly she reached out and grabbed a box of rouge and secretly hid it in her bosom. Half a day later, she turned to face the bronze mirror and gently twisted her waist. Twisting here and there, she pursed her mouth and giggled quietly.

Chu Liuxiang was feeling somewhat amused when suddenly he heard someone say, “This time you won’t be able to escape!” _{Translated by foxs}

A figure flashed from behind the corner of the house and leaped out.

Chu Liuxiang could not help being shocked too!

This man’s formidable eyesight was unexpectedly able to find Chu Liuxiang’s hiding place.

Who would have thought that this man did not even cast a single glance at his direction? While his mouth was talking, his person already rushed into the house. He was a young man wearing white mourning clothes.

The servant girl was obviously shocked as well, but when she looked back and saw the young man, she laughed, patted her chest and said with a laugh, “Turns out Shao Zhuangzhu [young village master], you scared me to death.”

Only then did Chu Liuxiang see clearly the young master of the Shi Jia Zhuang. He saw a fair-skinned face, a bit fat [a sign of prosperity (a compliment)], obviously he was eating too well and sleeping too much.

Although he was wearing mourning clothes, he could still see the sky-blue satin clothes inside, plus there was no trace of sadness on his face even more. On the contrary, he giggled and said, “What are you afraid of? I don’t eat people, at most I will only eat the rouge on your mouth.”

The servant girl laughed and spat, “I did not put on rouge today!” _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Shi Chuanzong said, “I don’t believe you. Without rouge, how could your lips be as red as cherry? Let me taste it.”

While talking, he wrapped his arms around the servant girl’s waist.

The servant girl stomped her feet and said, “You … you have such big guts, quickly let go or I will scream.”

Breathing hard, Shi Chuanzong said, “Scream then! I’m not afraid; I did not steal anything!”

The servant girl rolled her eyes; like a smile yet not a smile, she feigned anger coquettishly and said, “All right! You want to blackmail me. I don’t really care for this box of rouge, if I want it, I don’t know how many men would scramble to give it as a present to me.”

Shi Chuanzong laughed and said, “I’ll give it to you, I’ll give it to you … Good Ying’er [Li’l Cherry], as long as you are willing to accept me, I will buy Bao Xiang Zhai’s rouge, face powder, what have you, and give them all to you.”

Biting her lip, Ying’er said, “I don’t dare to ask for it, I’m afraid Shaonainai will peel my skin.”

Shi Chuanzong said, “No need to worry, no need to worry … the tigress won’t know.”

He pounced, the two persons rolled onto the bed. _{Translated by foxs}

Gasping for breath, Ying’er said, “Not today, not this place … yesterday Er Xiaojie [Second Miss] has just …”

She had not finished speaking, her mouth seemed to be blocked with something.

Shi Chuanzong was breathing even harder, he said, “If not today, there won’t be any chance tomorrow, that tigress is watching so viciously … Good Ying’er, as long as you agree this time, I will give you everything.”

Chu Liuxiang was very angry, but he was amused at the same time; thinking about that young mistress’ ‘august countenance’, he also felt that this young village master was a bit pitiful.

He also knew that the more a wife was watching viciously, the more a man would want to steal something to eat. All men in the world are the same, so this young village master could not be blamed.

It’s just that he picked a really wrong time and really wrong place. Although Chu Liuxiang did not want to meddle in this kind of other people’s business, he really could not continue to watch.

The bed was constantly moving, already there was a white-skinned leg hanging from the edge of the bed.

Suddenly Chu Liuxiang knocked on the window and said, “Someone is coming.”

Before these short four words [you ren lai le] were finished, the two persons on the bed jumped up like two cats whose tails were stepped on. _{foxswuxia.wordpress.com}

Shi Chuanzong’s body curled up like a ball, trembling.

On the contrary, Ying’er’s guts were a bit bigger; while putting on her clothes, she spoke loudly, “Who is it? Are you coming to steal?”

Shi Chuanzong immediately said, “That’s right, it must be a thief. I’ll call people to catch the thief.”

The soles of his feet were rubbed with oil, he was already ready to bolt away.

But Chu Liuxiang’s body flashed, he has already blocked his path.

Shi Chuanzong did not know how this man could came so quickly; shocked, he said, “Who are you … how dare you. You must be here to steal, unexpectedly you dare to steal things here. Quickly run away with your tail between your legs, Shao Zhuangzhu might spare your life.”

Seeing the newcomer was a stranger, his guts suddenly grew.

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