Chapter 880: Master and Servant

Dragon Bird and River of Stars both got the answers they sought. Zhao Changhe, with Dragon Bird across his back and hand-in-hand with River of Stars, returned in high spirits to drink the night away.

Ling Ruoyu peeked at their interlocked fingers as they walked and kept her head lowered, feeling oddly out of sorts.

This was not, in fact, because they harbored some kind of romantic thoughts. Zhao Changhe saw nothing unusual in holding his child’s hand, whether as a father or her master’s husband. It felt natural, even affectionate. Meanwhile, in Ling Ruoyu’s mind, all she could think was that he was holding River of Stars.

Her imagination kept spiraling.

What if he uses me in a fight like a sword? Would he grab me by my ankles and swing me headfirst into enemies?

I mean, there’s all kinds of weapons in the

jianghu... Isn’t there that one weapon called one-legged bronze man

[1]

or something? But if something like that actually happens, what do I even do with my hands? Protect my head? Tuck them by my thighs? Stretch them out so I am longer?

What is even going on with my head? Why am I thinking about all this nonsense?

Still lost in her musings, she followed Zhao Changhe back to the marquis’s estate, only to bump into Tang Buqi, who had stepped outside to relieve himself. Slightly tipsy, he cracked a grin when he saw Zhao Changhe. “Still alive?”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Ling Ruoyu subtly slipped her hand out of his and gave a polite bow. “Hello, senior.”

“What senior?” Zhao Changhe interjected. “He’s your big brother.”

Tang Buqi: “...”

Ling Ruoyu glanced at the gray-haired Tang Buqi and knew there was no way she could call him big brother. In all fairness, River of Stars had barely interacted with Tang Buqi, and there was no trace of him in her memories from that year. Now, as Ling Ruoyu, all she knew was that this so-called “Marquis of Wu” used to insult her master’s husband as impotent and brain-damaged.

Zhao Changhe seemed to remember that, too. He shot Tang Buqi a cold smile. “Remind me again, who did you say was impotent?”

Tang Buqi replied lazily, “Isn’t it obvious? Every one of our old friends has sons and daughters by now. Even Situ Xiao, who always claimed to have zero interest in women, eventually married and had children. Aside from that lunatic Han Wubing, you’re the only one who’s been dry for thirty years. No wonder you always dodged our invitations to the red-light district. It all makes sense now. My poor aunt...”

Zhao Changhe’s face turned red with suppressed fury.

He wanted to shout “

Ling Ruoyu is my child

,” but even he knew that was not the same thing. If he really said it out loud, it would only make things worse, and Tang Buqi was clearly baiting him for exactly that reason.

Just then, Ling Ruoyu timidly raised a hand. “My master told me... Her Majesty conceived a child years ago...”

Zhao Changhe’s eyes lit up.

Chichi did? If that’s true, then technically, I’m the earliest of all of them—talk about winning the race before it even started.

He’d be the type to post baby pictures in the group chat and get blocked for showing off too much.

Tang Buqi’s expression looked like he had just swallowed manure. “Your family’s swordswomen really are something else...”

Damn it. A secret known only to the innermost circles of the empire—exposed by a fresh-faced little girl.

He had not just lost face; he had been thoroughly dunked on. Tang Buqi stormed off toward the latrine, a belly full of rage and curses.

He still had not fully healed from the fake River of Stars’ torture, and now he had taken another psychological blow.

Once again, River of Stars had helped her owner secure a complete victory. The two entered the banquet hall with heads held high.

Well, that was actually a side hall, separate from the main celebration. Only their closest allies were seated inside. Apart from Chichi, still on the dragon throne, and Sisi, far off in Miaojiang, everyone else was present. When they saw Ling Ruoyu trailing obediently behind Zhao Changhe, the whole group knew what decision had been made. She was not returning to being a sword spirit; she was staying as his little disciple.

It came as no surprise. Yue Hongling had expected as much and greeted her with a beaming smile, “Yu’er, come sit with your master.”

Ling Ruoyu glanced around, feeling a bit off. When she was still River of Stars, these women had fought beside her as equals, and there had been no need for such formality. But as Ling Ruoyu, she was supposed to bow to each one like a junior?

Still, her master had taught her to be respectful and polite to elders.

After a brief hesitation, she gave a proper bow. “Greetings, aunties.”

A bunch of women blinked at once, momentarily stunned. Then, they instinctively reached for their pouches, fumbling to find a suitable gift.[2]

𝒇𝙧𝙚𝓮𝙬𝙚𝓫𝒏𝓸𝓿𝓮𝒍.𝓬𝙤𝓶

This is fucking weird...

Look at this sweet, well-mannered little flower. But if she’s actually River of Stars, there isn’t a single part of our bodies she hasn’t seen before. To think she’s treating us as her seniors, with all courtesy... No, that’s seriously hard to believe. Also, let’s not forget that River of Stars is a demonic sword designed to stab people up the rear. Ye Wuming was the one who made the sword blank, so she’s not exactly cut out to be a good kid.

No one could tell for certain whether she had truly turned into a sweet and docile girl, or if this was just a black-hearted lotus in disguise, pretending to be a pure white one. Regardless, everyone still had to smile and offer her gifts like doting aunties.

Only Zhao Changhe seemed oblivious to the undercurrents. To him, it looked like a roomful of kind aunts handing out jade pendants and pearl trinkets with indulgent smiles. To him, it simply felt like the main character of a jianghu novel had become the main character of a group pet novel[3].

“Greetings, Aunt Baoqin.” Ling Ruoyu arrived before Baoqin, accepting her gift.

The esteemed chief secretary flushed pink. Just yesterday, she had been putting on airs in front of this little girl, acting all high and mighty, even pretending to “compete” with the Sunset Divine Sword for a man. Now, she wanted the whole affair buried, lest it be made into a joke. To ensure silence, she would clearly have to pay a heavy price. Gritting her teeth, she pulled out a thick wad of silver notes and stuffed them into the girl’s hand with a forced smile. “Traveling the

jianghu

, you should always carry a bit of money... I hope you don’t mind this little amount, right?”

Ling Ruoyu, now with tens of thousands of taels in hand, happily plopped herself down next to her master like an obedient little doll.

Baoqin, meanwhile, was bleeding inside. This money was her bridal dowry, something she’d been saving for forty years....

Yue Hongling, who had seen it all before, was perfectly calm. She watched with a smile as her disciple cheerfully scooped up gifts from her “rivals” and then turned to Zhao Changhe with a light tone, “Now that things have more or less settled, do you have any new plans?”

When he was not around, the world still turned; everyone made their own decisions. But the moment Zhao Changhe showed up, he instantly became the keystone in the arch. Even Ye Jiuyou quieted down to listen, waiting for him to speak.

Truth be told, Zhao Changhe did not want to make any plans right now. All he wanted was to stay with everyone for a while. Thus, he said, “There’s no rush. The court can start by clearing out the remaining fragments of the Heavenly Dao in the world. We can have Sisi use her technique to locate its main body. I’d also like to see if there’s a way to reforge Dragon Bird... There’s still plenty of stuff to prepare. We’ll figure out the next steps later.”

Everyone knew that was just fluff. These were all things that would happen naturally, with or without his input. As for reforging Dragon Bird, no one here could help with that anyway. It was clear to all that he just wanted time to stay with them.

They smirked into their cups, exchanging knowing glances without saying a word.

Oh, so you want to stay with us, huh?

Unfortunately for him, it would be quite difficult for him to get through. Everyone had come to a silent agreement that whoever gave in first was a dog. No one dared show their feelings openly.

Even if their hearts were bursting with longing, even if everyone wanted to pour out all their grief and joy to him, their face had to stay composed, and their lips had to sneer.

Ye Jiuyou was the first to stand and stretch lazily. “You all enjoy yourselves. I’m going to cultivate. Just looking at a certain someone makes me nauseous.”

“You’re nauseous?” Piaomiao snapped. “Who was the one hiding him away all this time, refusing to let others even get a glimpse?”

Ye Jiuyou replied lazily, “And what exactly do you think I was even looking at? For thirty years, I had to watch over an unresponsive corpse puppet. If any of you want to do the same, then be my guest.”

“Whoever looks is a dog.” Huangfu Qing slammed the table. “Since there isn’t anything to be done, I’m heading back.”

Once someone took the lead, everyone followed. They rose in unison, chairs scraping the floor, and swept out of the room in a wave. Yue Hongling grabbed Ling Ruoyu, who had barely sat down, and marched off without a word.

Ling Ruoyu: “...”

But I haven’t eaten yet... Wasn’t the whole point of this banquet just to see him? Now that you’ve seen him, you’re just leaving? Why are you a bunch of grown women like you acting like awkward teenagers?

“Master...” Once outside, Ling Ruoyu leaned in and whispered, “Are you all trying to suffocate him emotionally? Make him beg you?”

Yue Hongling stared straight ahead. “What else? You think we have no pride?”

“But that’s the wrong approach, master,” Ling Ruoyu stomped. “He’s not the least bit desperate. He spent the past few nights basking in the spring breeze with the Chief Secretary.”

Yue Hongling: “...”

Well, there goes the whole unspoken alliance. Baoqin might not have counted before, but now she definitely does. She’s officially the new addition. At this point, what does the agreement even matter? She clearly doesn’t care if people call her a dog.

Ling Ruoyu went on, “If you all keep giving him the cold shoulder, he’ll just turn around and run off to Lady Baoqin. Then you’ll be the ones watching them make moon eyes at each other. Who’d be suffocating whom then?”

Yue Hongling inhaled deeply and pulled out a booklet, handing it to her disciple. “You’ve earned a reward. This is the latest sword art I’ve refined over the years. Study it well.”

Ling Ruoyu’s eyes lit up as she accepted it with a grin. “Thank you, master!”

Unlike most sword spirits that generally had a master with a complete sword art to bestow upon them, River of Stars never had anything of the sort. Zhao Changhe was not a true swordsman, and he did not have a complete sword art or lineage pass on. If there was any intent or essence bestowed upon her, then it would be the essence of the night sky that she had been born with. So, even with River of Stars’ memories awakened, Yue Hongling’s guidance remained invaluable.

And with a flicker, this invaluable master vanished, clearly off to catch someone in the act.

Ling Ruoyu tucked away the booklet and sauntered back to the side hall. As expected, Zhao Changhe was no longer there. The girl plopped down in her seat and, with great satisfaction, began to feast alone.

Everyone says that River of Stars is the dumb one, but honestly, all of you are even dumber.

While master and disciple whispered in secret, Zhao Changhe was busy running into one door after another.

Ye Jiuyou: “Go die and find your Ye Wuming. I barely know you.”

Piaomiao: “You said you wouldn’t touch me until you subdued Ye Wuming. Don’t go back on your word now.”

Yuan Sanniang: “I’m sorry, who are you?”

Huangfu Qing: “What sewer did this pig crawl out of? Get lost.”

Tang Wanzhuang: “...Everyone’s here. We’d be laughed at. Better not.”

Tang Buqi: “Your own courtyard? Why would you need your own courtyard? Can’t you sleep with...

Ooohhh...

They kicked you out, didn’t they? HAHAHA!!! Oh, how the mighty have fallen! Steward! Pass on my command: Do not assign this guest a private room. What? He’s King Zhao? Says who? King Zhao has a scar on his face and this guy clearly doesn’t. Are you blind? Someone, get this impersonator out of here!”

And so it was that the mighty King Zhao found himself ejected from the Marquis of Wu’s residence like a stray dog, without even a guesthouse to call his own.

Standing alone in the middle courtyard, Zhao Changhe stared up at the heavens in mute despair.

A head peeked around the corner. “Young master, over here!”

Zhao Changhe perked up and jogged over. Baoqin grabbed his hand and quickly pulled him into Tang Wanzhuang’s waterside pavilion.

“Did Wanzhuang let you come? Isn’t she worried that the others will mock her?”

“I live here too,” Baoqin replied matter-of-factly. She dragged him into a small adjacent room. “This was my room. Buqi wouldn’t arrange us a room.”

The room was small, but at least it had a bed and a roof. Zhao Changhe sat down with a sigh. “Will there ever be an end to this...”

Baoqin beamed. “You fought today, didn’t you? Did you break a sweat? Want me to give you another wash?”

Go ahead and keep posturing, ladies. The more pride you have, the more I profit. Whatever pacts you made don’t concern me—I’m the newcomer, teehee.

Seeing that Zhao Changhe still looked a little sulky, Baoqin nestled into his lap and murmured in his ear, “If you really want to fix this mess, it’s actually pretty easy...”

“Huh?” Zhao Changhe blinked. “I feel like everyone’s really mad. And even if some of them aren’t, there’s simply too much pride in the way. It’s hard to see a way through.”

“It’s not hard at all,” Baoqin whispered. “Just let them see you pampering me in broad daylight. It won’t take more than a few days before they can’t take it anymore...”

Zhao Changhe’s jaw dropped.

That... really is a textbook answer.

He knew perfectly well that barging into anyone’s room would be enough to break the stalemate. The problem was not whether he could set aside his pride but whose room he chose. No matter where he went, the others would erupt into something along the lines of, “She’s the one you came back to comfort? I’ve been waiting thirty years, and she’s the one you go to first?”

So, he could not go to anyone.

The exception, of course, was Baoqin. There was no thirty-year grudge here, no history to complicate things. No one could say anything about this.

“Alright...” Baoqin kissed his neck softly, her voice barely audible. “But even if it’s not to provoke them... I want my share of pampering.”

Zhao Changhe wrapped his arms around her and kissed her deeply.

Before long, under the starry night, soft and unrestrained moans drifted faintly from the small room beside the water pavilion. Inside the main house, Tang Wanzhuang tossed and turned beneath her covers, so angry she nearly triggered an old illness.

That wretched girl! She’s stealing my man right next door and not even bothering to keep quiet! I should’ve snuck away with him earlier this afternoon while no one was around. But nooo, I had to keep up appearances and pretend to reject him in front of everyone. And now?

Anyone else might not hear it unless they consciously extended their divine senses, but she was so close that even covering her ears did not help. It was torture.

You little brat... Just you wait.

Huh... that shameless girl’s already begging for mercy?

Tang Wanzhuang perked up her ears.

“Young master...” Baoqin was panting, breathless. “Am I really this useless...”

Tang Wanzhuang: “...”

Baoqin cooed sweetly, “Honestly, I don’t think it’s that I’m useless, it’s just... this bed is a bit small. Maybe we should find somewhere else?”

Zhao Changhe asked, “Where?”

“The waterside pavilion next door, the young miss’ bed,” Baoqin murmured. “It’s as soft as clouds, and it smells lovely... And it’s not like she’s forbidden us from using it. She’s just worried about appearances. The young miss treats me so well. She won’t mind, I’m sure.”

Tang Wanzhuang: “?”

“Can we?”

“She might already be asleep. We could sneak in, nice and quiet...”

Suddenly, Tang Wanzhuang felt a shift in the air. Zhao Changhe had already appeared at her side, cradling Baoqin in his arms. Two pale bodies entwined and kissed right on her bed just a little bit away from her.

Of course, Baoqin was doing this on purpose, giving her young miss an opening. And Zhao Changhe? He was just playing along without missing a beat. But for Tang Wanzhuang, who had entertained the thought of sneaking off with him earlier that very afternoon, anger was hardly the emotion that stirred within her. In fact, pretty much all she felt was desire.

With anyone else, this might have felt humiliating. But this was Baoqin. Baoqin had been with her since she was a young girl, and she had always shared in her joys and her burdens.

To share a man with Baoqin? It did not feel the least bit strange. If anything, it would have been weird if she didn’t.

And so, clinging to the last shred of dignity, Tang Wanzhuang did not kick them out, but she did turn on her side, her back facing them, pretending to sleep. That was her only act of resistance.

However, the sounds behind her were maddening. They were bewitching, sultry sounds that wormed their way into her chest and stirred something deep within.

Tang Wanzhuang grit her teeth. She would never have imagined that her adorable little maid could sound like this in bed.

Wasn’t it you who once called him a stinky bear who couldn’t even play a guqin without snapping its strings? Wasn’t it you who refused to let me get involved with him?

Their movements grew more intense, and a hand brushed her back accidentally, then deliberately. It brushed, then brushed again, then slid down... until it reached her hip.

Tang Wanzhuang’s body tensed, and her teeth were already gnashing to the point of squeaking.

“Young miss... H-help me...” came Baoqin’s breathy whisper right at her ear. “I can’t take it anymore...”

Tang Wanzhuang: “...”

The movements behind her became bolder. She knew what was going on.

That bastard actually placed Baoqin right behind me! How am I supposed to keep pretending now?

Baoqin leaned forward, her breath warm and fragrant against her young miss’ cheek. Tang Wanzhuang finally let out a low, involuntary gasp.

This position must be terribly uncomfortable for Baoqin...

Tang Wanzhuang found herself thinking in a daze. Almost unconsciously, she shifted and lay flat on her back.

Now the girl was lying flush atop her, the two locking eyes, faces flushed, gazes dazed. Baoqin bit her lower lip and whispered through a shaky breath, “Young miss... don’t look...”

Then, she collapsed with a soft moan, rolling off to the side.

And Zhao Changhe took her place.

“I...” Tang Wanzhuang turned her face, evading his kiss. “I’m only doing this to help Baoqin. This doesn’t mean I’m all good with y—”

She did not even finish the sentence before her lips were claimed.

Tang Wanzhuang closed her eyes and kissed back, her body far more honest than her words. From the side, her little maid, who had barely rested, propped herself up and reached over, tenderly helping her young miss undo her robes.

As she felt Baoqin’s fingers on her skin, Tang Wanzhuang’s thoughts blurred.

This scene was both strange and embarrassing, yet it felt like something long overdue. It felt as if it were something that should have happened thirty years ago, just like the countless dreams she had never dared admit to having.

1. The depiction of this weapon is generally as a solid bronze statue shaped like a man but with only one leg. It’s basically a bronze club made to look like a dude. ☜

2. It’s a common thing for the senior generation to give small gifts to the younger generation upon a first meeting. ☜

3. Group pet or group beloved is an actual genre of stories in China called 团宠. It’s simply where the main character is adored and pampered by a group of people. ☜