A Tale of Two Phoenixes Chapter 58

Even if it takes ten thousand years, each day must be seized.

Despite not knowing the exact time Princess Shanyin would be killed, Chu Yu could sense it each time she closed her eyes - the churning of history in motion, unstoppable as it neared, raising dust clouds which obscured horizons.

Both the advance and retreat sides to her plan had one aspect connecting them. It was this bunch of people before her. The idea had grown unbidden in her head ever since she had learnt from Huan Yuan of Wang Yizhi's identity.

She wanted to break into this social class, this community. If she depended on Huan Yuan, she could perhaps get closer to these people, but it wouldn't be enough. She needed people who had influential power, like Wang Yizhi, or someone like Xiao Bie, who held a special position in society.

Huan Yuan may have an astounding talent for literature, but it was his, not hers. She needed something of her own to quell these talented, standoffish literati.

This was why she had chosen to strike on the first meeting, using Xiao Bie as first blood.

Slowly coming up with a plan was possible, but may also be too late. Knowing this, Chu Yu could only act with a sense of urgency.

She was betting everything on this. To become famous overnight, or lose all her chips in one shot.

Xiao Bie was about to sneer in reply, when someone emerged from the forest. At first, Chu Yu thought it was Pei Shu making his way over, and turned her head, but at a closer look she went still.

The person was not Pei Shu, though he was someone she had just seen - the young fragrance master from Xin Lan Lane. He followed the teal robed youth to the lakeshore and frowned as he spoke to him.

Xiao Bie immediately forgotten, Chu Yu's jaw dropped in surprise. To think there would be such coincidence…

Remembering the "high-class fragrance master" the youth had spoken of, Chu Yu threw Wang Yizhi a subtle glance.

Just then, the young fragrance master looked to the pavilion, and met eyes with Chu Yu. His expression instantly became awkward. He had initially planned to seek help from the master of this residence, yet little did he know his customer was on familiar terms with said master.

Wang Yizhi's gaze swept over Chu Yu and the young fragrance master. Seconds later, he gave a knowing laugh and stood as he drawled lazily. "I have a private matter to attend to, please wait a while here."

With that, he began slowly ambling towards the lakeside. At this moment, Chu Yu realized what he had on his feet were a pair of wooden clogs, and not the standard everyday shoes.

The wooden clogs were a deep purple, almost black. Each time the soles hit the stone bridge, a voluminous, solid sound would ring out.

Pda ~ pda.

Beneath the swinging long robes, the rhythm was pleasantly laidback.

Once his lazy strides reached the lakeside, Wang Yizhi began exchanging words with the young fragrance master. Their voices were not loud and could not be heard from the pavilion, but from the way the young fragrance master passed on a fist-sized blue cloth to Wang Yizhi, and how he glanced towards her, she could more or less guess what they were discussing.

A short while later, the young fragrance master threw Chu Yu one last complicated expression, before greeting Wang Yizhi goodbye. With one hand tossing and catching the blue sachet, Wang Yizhi unhurriedly walked back, his steps resounding in that pda~pda rhythm on the stone bridge. Chu Yu's heart leapt alongside the blue sachet with each step of his, fearing he would accidentally drop it into the water. She only had this one sachet of fragrances and no extra.

When he had half-dragged his feet to their spot, Wang Yizhi nodded at his surrounding guests, then turned to Chu Yu. "May Brother Zichu accompany me for a talk in private?" His tone was audibly heavier on the words "Brother Zichu".

Knowing he was most probably asking about the sachet, Chu Yu nodded calmly and followed him away from the pavilion. They were passing the bridge, when Yue Jiefei automatically inserted himself behind Chu Yu, causing Wang Yizhi to stop and look towards him. "Brother, it is best if you do not follow, for I'd like to speak with Brother Zichu alone." Although he appeared languidly at ease, his tone oppressed Yue Jiefei with a domineering regality that was hard to refuse.

Yue Jiefei stopped and looked at Chu Yu for guidance, silently implying he would follow her orders. After thinking a while, she decided to let Yue Jiefei stay behind.

She was willing to risk it for Wang Yizhi had no motive to harm her. Also, she urgently needed her answer.

No matter if what had happened with Rong Zhi should be a lesson learnt, Chu Yu was unafraid of risks.

The two soon reached an elegant house near the lake. Inside, it was mostly empty, its furniture clean and tidy, but overly so, like it was missing the warmth of having been lived in. Chu Yu smiled as they entered. "It must've been a long time since someone has lived here?"

Wang Yizhi replied as he shut the door. "You're right." He turned around and with a flick of his wrist, retrieved the blue sachet and opened its contents. As expected, inside it was the silk purse which Chu Yu had given to the young fragrance master.

Holding the silk purse aloft in his hand, Wang Yizhi smiled at her. "Does Brother Zichu not have something to say?"

Chu Yu blinked, feigning ignorance. "What does Brother Yizhi expect me to say?"

Each looked at the other in silent guesswork, finding it amusing, until a knowing look was exchanged and both subsided into laughter.

Chu Yu waved a hand nonchalantly. "Fine, fine, there's no fun in pretending. I presume the fragrance master has already told you much, although…I'm still curious, how'd you manage to guess I'd want to discuss the fragrance sachet in private?" There were certain things she would be awkward about asking if there had been an outsider accompanying them.

Wang Yizhi leaned against the wall, cutting a carefree, dashing figure. "That is because, when you were in the fragrance shop, you had requested to talk someplace away from others…Naturally, one would draw a conclusion. Moreover, what if you are also a woman?" Amusement rippled in his pitch-black eyes as he stared, unblinking at her. "Am I right, Miss Zichu? Or what if, that isn't even your real name?"

Chu Yu was not surprised. She had never fully believed her male disguise was flawless. From all those Wuxia television series she had seen in the past, it was a far stretch for the female leads to be unrecognizable as men with a mere disguise. This was due to the visible difference between men and women in physique, and also the telltale signs in their movements. No matter how she were to try to conceal, all would be exposed if she were met with someone with sharp eyes.

Wang Yizhi opened the fragrance sachet in an unhurried manner, all the while peering at Chu Yu. "I can attest, in the city of Jiankang, there is no one else more knowledgeable about fragrances than I. If miss wishes an honest answer from me, then I would also like to return miss a question, and hope for her honest answer."

His enunciated his words slowly, clear and calm. "Who. Are. You?"

Don't kill me…I'm still alive and haven't forgotten this. >< Sorry I'm so late in updating! Life/work happened over the past weeks.

Anyway, Wang Yizhi is seriously the best “Wang” guy I've read in any chinese novel so far, and I've read a lot, haha.

Chapter end