Guangling City.
Peach Blossom Island.
Liang Manman arrived here on the fourth day of the first lunar month in the 24th year of Zhaohua.
She couldn't look forward to that encounter with Li Chenan in the snow by Huaping Lake, because she heard the news of Li Chenan's departure on the third day of the lunar new year as soon as she entered Guangling City.
This somewhat disappointed her.
But it happened to make her breathe a huge sigh of relief.
Sitting in the Tinglan Waterside Pavilion on Peach Blossom Island, Liang Manman didn't think about Li Chenan anymore.
Because there is no need to think about it anymore.
Since there is no fate or destiny, thinking about it is just adding trouble to yourself.
She looked at the exquisite waterside pavilion and the familiar utensils in the waterside pavilion, as if she had returned to the scene when she came here with Mr. Shang six years ago.
She had bathed, so she burned incense.
It's still the familiar sandalwood scent.
Then she sat in front of the antique tea table made of red sandalwood, took a fire stick, lit the fire, and brewed a pot of tea.
Chunlan stood beside the waterside pavilion and watched quietly.
Of course she knew Liang Manman.
Of course, the four of them had obtained Shang Di's will and knew that this girl was the future owner of Peach Blossom Island.
They were similar in age, but Chunlan still maintained enough respect in front of this new master.
"orchid,"
This was the name Liang Manman used to call her when the Shang family was still alive.
"Well, what are your orders, miss?"
"You have been in Guangling City for many years. How much do you know about Cuihua... the girl who used to sell coffins in the Four Temple Alley and now makes wine in Li Chen'an's tavern?"
Chunlan was startled, thought for a while, and said:
"The girl was about fifteen or sixteen. She was guarding the coffin shop alone. Last year, the master even asked his slave to go to the coffin shop."
"What are you going to do?"
"The head of the family said that he is very old and may leave Hexi at some time. He said that the coffins in the coffin shop are very well made and they will be used anyway, so why not buy one earlier."
"My slave went and saw the girl. When she mentioned this, she refused."
Liang Manman raised her head and looked at Chunlan in surprise: "She won't sell it?"
"She's not selling."
"Why?"
"She said...the head of the family is not qualified to use the coffin in her shop."
"..."
"After the slave came back, he told the master of the house, but the master shook his head and smiled. From then on, he never let the slave go there again."
After a pause, Chunlan added: "Later on, it was the regent who opened that tavern, and for some reason Cuihua went to his tavern."
"The master likes the wine in that tavern, and I have gone there several times to buy wine for the master... The rules of his tavern do not allow takeaways, but the master and the regent are like old friends, so we can buy back a little."
"But the number of times I have seen Cuihua is very rare. She is almost always in the backyard."
"Why did the lady suddenly ask about her?"
Liang Manman stretched out her hands as green as green and poured two cups of tea, "Because before Mr. Shang passed away, he had a night of drinking with me at Yihong Mansion and confessed some things, one of which was..."
"Let me take care of that girl Cuihua."
Chunlan didn't understand what was happening, thinking that maybe Li Chenan had become the regent, and of course he would be stationed in Kyoto in the future.
The girl Cuihua was the first person invited by the regent, but she still stayed in Guangling City, fearing that she would be lonely.
She was also afraid that she would be bullied.
"Lan, we are still like sisters, don't be so estranged, sit down and drink tea."
Chunlan hesitated for a moment, sat next to Liang Manman, and asked:
"The Prince Regent means to turn this Peach Blossom Island into a martial arts sect...Miss, martial arts sects always need people from the martial arts world. Where can we find those people?"
Liang Manman raised the corner of her mouth and said with a smile:
"Since it was him who came up with such a bad idea, of course he would find the person himself. Don't worry... let's go to his tavern later."
"good!"
The master and servant drank half a pot of tea, then got up and left Peach Blossom Island, going to the tavern under the banyan tree.
…
…
The fourth day of the lunar month.
The tavern is open.
There are still only two people, Ji Sanniang and Cuihua.
When Liang Manman and his wife arrived at the tavern, they found that the tavern was already full of people drinking.
These people were talking, but in whispers.
No one was making any noise, and no one was drinking to cause trouble.
The atmosphere inside is great.
There is just no place left.
Cuihua was busy serving drinks in the venue when she saw Liang Manman and two others coming in. She recognized Chunlan, and she knew Shang Di even more.
So she went over to meet him.
"How about we go sit in the backyard?"
"Are you Cuihua?"
"Yes, I am Cuihua."
"Okay, let's go to the backyard."
Cuihua took the two of them to the pavilion in the backyard patio. It was drafty and a little cold.
Cuihua did not go to warm the stove. She lit the tea stove on the table and boiled a pot of wine. She looked at Chunlan and asked:
"This young lady is the new owner of Peach Blossom Island?"
Chunlan nodded, and Liang Manman introduced herself: "My name is Liang Manman."
"Oh, I've heard of your name... The young master also told me about this when he left Guangling City."
Liang Manman asked curiously:
"What are his orders?"
"He asked me to wait at the tavern. Many experts will come next... Go to the tavern first and ask me to take them to Peach Blossom Island."
The fire is already burning, and the aroma of wine is already wafting in the pot.
Cuihua took the jug, poured a cup of hot wine for Liang Manman and handed it over, "He said there are disciples from Songshan Sword Academy and Mashanda Sword disciples."
"I was going to go to Jiangnan with him, but he used this matter to hold me back."
"I can't go to Jiangnan for the time being. He said he would tell you something after you come."
"...What words?"
"He said that if Peach Blossom Island wants to become famous, it must reward good and punish evil."
"When those people are almost here, you take them to Pingjiang City!"
Liang Manman was stunned:
"Going to Pingjiang City?"
"Yes, go to Pingjiang City and participate in the martial arts leader conference held by the Qinggang!"
"Want to take down the martial arts leader?"
"He didn't say. In my opinion, it means winning the best. It doesn't matter if you can't win."
Just then, a girl walked in through the door in the backyard.
A girl carrying a long knife!
This girl was wearing a bamboo hat and a rather loose blue cotton robe.
She stepped through the door, looked up at the three people in the pavilion, and then stepped forward.
Walking neither fast nor slow.
There seems to be a rhythm.
The light clouds come out of Xiu, and the beautiful lady walks slowly. Her waist is as graceful as a weak willow.
But she really was carrying a knife.
It's a strange feeling.
In Liang Manman's eyes, this girl didn't look like a warrior at all.
Not like a swordsman!
Because the knife seemed bigger than her!
It's also because what comes out of her frail body is not the kind of strength that is commonly seen in warriors, but rather... gentleness!
Yes, the elegance of a wealthy lady, similar to Li Chenan!
But what she was wearing was not Miss Qianjin's skirt.
She was supposed to be carrying a bookcase.
But she did carry a knife!
But her waist was not bent by the knife, but she still walked very firmly.
She walked to the pavilion, took off her bamboo hat, looked at the three of them again, then pursed her lips and spoke.
A soft word from Wu Nong.
It's like a spring breeze blowing on my face.
"Sisters, who is Cuihua?"
