Chapter 36: The Lament of the Green Pearl

This condition seemed to be entirely to her advantage. She was in need of a place to stay and a way to earn a living to establish herself in Luoyang. After all, she and Ashu needed to live well if they were to ever uncover the truth behind her parents' deaths and seek vengeance for them.

"But why must I become a member of your Xiao household? It sounds as if I am selling myself to you."

Xiao Muchen looked embarrassed and coughed softly. "Do not misunderstand. I did not say you were selling yourself. I simply feel that you would be safer within my manor, as you offended Prince Wei, Wu Chengsi, today, which may bring endless trouble upon you in the future."

"Then are you not afraid that the trouble I bring will make your own life difficult?"

"You need not worry about that. My life is quite simple. My entire family was wiped out; I am the only one left of the Xiao clan. I fear for no one."

This man was truly strange. When speaking of his entire family being slaughtered, there was not a trace of sorrow on his face. He remained calm, as if discussing a matter that had nothing to do with him.

"Is that why your hair turned white, because of your family's destruction?" Murong Huan asked suddenly.

Xiao Muchen pondered for a moment, then looked up with a faint smile and nodded slightly. "You could say that."

"But besides your white hair, it seems you are suffering from a strange poison. It may not be immediately fatal, but it is shortening your life. Why have you not sought a physician to treat it?"

"Am I not currently seeking you out to treat me?" Xiao Muchen replied with a grin.

Murong Huan did not press further. In the teahouse, the voice of the storyteller drifted over frequently. The story had shifted from "The Tale of Huo Xiaolian" to another, and this time, it was particularly clear. Seeing Murong Huan’s focused and pensive expression, Xiao Muchen suddenly said, "Do you like puppet shows? Let me take you to see one!"

Before she could answer, he had already stood up and reached out a hand to her. "Follow me!" He offered her no room to refuse.

Murong Huan had no choice but to follow him into another private room, crowded with guests. The space was draped with curtains, and only the stage was lit with flickering lights. Several puppets, manipulated by strings, were passionately performing a heart-wrenching, tragic story, appearing remarkably lifelike.

Her master had once said that since the Tang Dynasty, puppet shows had been deeply loved by commoners and high-ranking court officials alike. A skilled puppeteer could make the puppets appear as if they possessed a soul. The plays her master had performed were like real, existing stories, and she had often been deeply fascinated by them, feeling as though she were living within the scenes.

As Murong Huan pondered, the voice from the stage reached her ears:

"Shi Chong refused to hand over Green Pearl. After the messenger returned and reported this to Sun Xiu, Sun Xiu persuaded the Prince of Zhao to execute Shi Chong. The Prince agreed and sent a large force of soldiers to Shi Chong’s Jingu Garden. When disaster loomed, Shi Chong said to Green Pearl, 'I have been incriminated because of you.' Moved and filled with shame, Green Pearl wept and replied, 'I shall die before you.' With that, she leaped from the hundred-foot-high tower, and her beauty faded into the abyss..."

The story ended there, and the hall fell into a profound silence, broken only by the sound of muffled sobbing. Seeing that Murong Huan remained unmoved, Xiao Muchen asked, "Do you know what story this is?"

"The Lament of Green Pearl! My master told it to me before."

"Your master?"

"Yes. He also performed puppet shows and told many, many captivating stories. These stories contained both truth and pretense, the human nature of love and obsession, and the countless choices of the Great Way. Though everyone's path in life is different, the ultimate goal is the same—a state of compassion that seeks the self and transcends the self."

Xiao Muchen smiled. "Your master is truly an extraordinary storyteller! Then what did you see in this story of Green Pearl?"

"The sorrow of a woman, and the heartlessness of a man!"

This remark shocked Xiao Muchen. Shi Chong had offended the powerful for love, resulting in his family's annihilation, while Green Pearl had leaped to her death to preserve her virtue. This was an age-old romantic tale, performed again and again in storybooks, moving countless listeners to tears. How could such a young woman have such thoughts?

While he was still puzzled, Murong Huan continued: "Shi Chong died because of his wealth, which had nothing to do with Green Pearl. The wealth he possessed was stolen from others. Knowing his riches would bring disaster, he did not distribute them but instead flaunted them desperately; that was his own fault. After offending villains and being targeted by cruel officials, why blame the trouble he brought upon himself on a woman? If he truly loved Green Pearl, he would never have uttered those words, 'I have been incriminated because of you,' leaving her with no choice but to commit suicide to prove her loyalty!"

"If Green Pearl had not jumped to her death, I fear the world would have judged her differently, wouldn't they?"

By the time Murong Huan finished, Xiao Muchen had no words to refute her. At that very moment, he felt gazes from all directions converging upon them, burning with intensity. Among those looks were disdain, shock, and a kind of anger—as if they had been rudely awakened from a dream and could not accept the truth—expressions so fierce they could have devoured the two of them whole.

Feeling awkward, Xiao Muchen pulled his hood down and grabbed Murong Huan's hand, running outside, leaving the audience in utter bewilderment.

"Brother Qiao, what that young lady said earlier... it actually makes a bit of sense," a woman with skin like snow and features like jade whispered, leaning into the arms of a young man amidst the chaotic crowd.

"Perhaps. But she was wrong about one thing. Shi Chong was indeed incriminated because of Green Pearl. Sun Xiu demanded her, and Shi Chong refused, which is why Sun Xiu had the Prince of Zhao wipe out his family. The origin still lay with Green Pearl."

The woman nodded blankly, seemingly wanting to argue but eventually holding her tongue.

Just then, the man addressed as Brother Qiao lifted the woman’s delicate chin. "However, Biyu, I will never let you suffer such a fate like Shi Chong. Rest assured, no matter how much my mother forces me to marry other noblewomen, I will never agree. I, Qiao Zhizhi, would rather never marry in this lifetime than love anyone but you!"

Tears filled the woman's beautiful eyes as she leaned back into his arms. "Biyu will never fail Brother Qiao in this life either!"

The moment Murong Huan was pulled out of the private room, her heart gave a sudden jolt. She turned back instinctively and saw the pair clinging to each other, and strange images flashed through her mind again. She seemed to see their future—a future where they died just as miserably as Shi Chong and Green Pearl.

"What is wrong?" Seeing her dazed, Xiao Muchen asked.

Murong Huan shook her head. "Nothing. I just saw something I shouldn't have. Oh, by the way, do you know who that gentleman is?"

Xiao Muchen looked in the direction of her finger and saw a man in fine silk robes holding a beautiful servant girl. "That is Qiao Buque. He is considered a famous scholar. He lived in seclusion in his early years, and after the Saint ascended to the throne, he followed the Left Leopard and Cavalry General to fight in the north against the Tongluo and Pugu, earning significant military merit."

"However, he is a man of deep obsession. It is said he has a beautiful servant girl of unparalleled beauty and wit, and he would rather not take a legal wife than favor her alone." Xiao Muchen paused. "Why do you ask?"

"Nothing. 'A beautiful servant girl of unparalleled beauty and wit'—I fear that once these words spread, it will bring disaster."

"Enough. Other people's business is none of yours. The hour is late; come with me to the Xiao manor now!"

"No, I must go see two people. There are things I want to ask them."

"Who?"

"The daughter of Prince Huo and Li Xiaolian!"

...

After the case of Zhou Xing and his son was closed, Lu Ling had no reason to detain Li Xiaolian and the old woman, so he allowed them to leave. Li Xiaolian returned to the Shaohua Courtyard. She had intended to use her savings to buy her freedom, but realized that even if she were free, she would not know where to go or what trade she could practice to support the group of women and children around her. After much deliberation, she decided to return to where she started.

When Murong Huan arrived at the Shaohua Courtyard with Ashu, it was already the hour of the Rooster. The sun was setting, and the warm, orange glow of twilight cast a gentle luster on the banana trees in the backyard. The sound of children’s laughter brought a touch of warmth.

"Xiaonuan, don't run so fast, be careful!"

Li Xiaolian called out, her face filled with the joy of someone who had survived a great disaster.

Suddenly, a voice came from beside her: "Is Xiaonuan also from Prince Huo's household?"

"She is not, but she is merely another poor soul like us, whose family was destroyed and clan wiped out." After answering, Li Xiaolian realized with a start and turned to look at Murong Huan.

After observing her for a long time, she curtsied and said, "Xiaolian thanks you today, young master. If not for your quick wit and eloquence in arguing for us, I fear my aunt and I would have died at the hands of Prince Wei."

"No need. I only spoke the truth. Besides, you were also taking the blame for me."

Li Xiaolian’s expression changed drastically, and she whispered, "Young master, please do not say such things. The walls have ears!"

"Can you tell me why you did it?" Murong Huan asked suddenly. "Don't tell me it was just to repay a debt of gratitude. I do not believe there are so many coincidences in this world. Your aunt possesses extraordinary skills and martial arts; she was lurking by Zhou Jiulang's side and must have had many opportunities to kill him for revenge. Why wait until now?"

Li Xiaolian's eyes flickered. At that moment, the blind old woman also stepped out. Li Xiaolian hurried to support her. When they arrived before Murong Huan, they both knelt down. "Young Lady, from this day forth, we are willing to follow your lead!"

Not only did Li Xiaolian and the blind woman kneel, but all the state-owned courtesans in the courtyard also knelt, saying in unison, "We are all willing to serve you, Young Lady!"

Murong Huan was greatly shocked and looked at Li Xiaolian.

"You guessed correctly, Young Lady. We were indeed waiting for your arrival!"

"Waiting for me? Why?"

"Because someone told us that only by waiting for your arrival could we escape this sea of misery and seek our revenge! Only with your intervention could Zhou Xing and his son truly be brought to justice and never rise again!"

Murong Huan was even more astonished. "Who is this person?"