paranoianovel Chapter 85 Inner Courtyard, Nine Halls, The Hidden Secrets of the Manor
Chapter 85 Inner Courtyard, Nine Halls, The Hidden Secrets of the Manor
Chen Yu rubbed his sleepy eyes and vaguely saw a figure in plain white standing in front of him.
The figure was backlit, its outline so soft it was almost dazzling.
"Senior Sister Lu?"
Lu Xiaoyu was amused by his appearance.
Her plain white dress swayed slightly with her movements.
Her hair was still styled in a simple bun, with a plain silver hairpin inserted at an angle, which made her look neat and tidy.
"Hello!"
Lu Xiaoyu raised her hand and waved it in front of him.
A familiar fragrance of osmanthus oil then wafted through the air.
"What, you don't even recognize me anymore?"
Lu Xiaoyu put her hands behind her back, leaned forward slightly, and looked him up and down with a smile.
"Long time no see. You've really made something of yourself, becoming the commander of the Sword Guards?"
As she spoke, she took a half step back with feigned seriousness and cupped her hands in a respectful gesture: "Commander Chen, please accept this humble woman's bow."
Chen Yu was a little embarrassed by her outburst and quickly stood up, his ears burning.
"Senior sister, please stop teasing me."
"This isn't a joke, is it?"
Lu Xiaoyu's eyes were full of genuine joy, as if she were seeing her younger brother succeed, and she was proud of him as if it were only natural.
"I've heard quite a bit about you; who in the entire manor doesn't know your name now?"
"You have no idea, when I tell people outside that I brought you into this family, the way they look at me is completely different."
She paused, then winked playfully.
"So, I'm genuinely here to bask in your glory. Commander Chen, if you become successful in the future, don't forget to help your senior sister out."
Chen Yu was amused by her words and didn't know how to respond, so he could only smile and shake his head.
His gaze unconsciously fell on Lu Xiaoyu's silver hairpin.
A few days ago, he specially bought a Qingyue Jingxin hairpin at the Night Owl Club, intending to give it to Lu Xiaoyu, but he could never find her.
"It's been a long time since I've seen Senior Sister Lu. What have you been busy with lately?"
Lu Xiaoyu's smile faded slightly.
She walked to the stone bench under the eaves, sat down, sighed, and looked somewhat tired.
"I recently went out on a mission and made a trip to Niutou Mountain."
"Niutou Mountain?" Chen Yu sat down and poured her a cup of tea.
Lu Xiaoyu took the teacup but didn't drink it. She simply held the rim of the cup lightly with her fingertips and lowered her voice.
"Something happened at the mine over at Niutou Mountain. The Black Wind Village people somehow got wind of it and took advantage of our shift to launch a surprise attack overnight, taking over the entire mine."
Her brows furrowed deeply, and her tone became increasingly serious.
"Seven or eight disciples from the Thousand Mine Hall were injured, two died, and the rest were driven out. They didn't even have time to transport the refined iron from the mine. This debt cannot be left unpaid!"
She looked up and met Chen Yu's gaze, her expression more serious than ever before.
"The manor has received the news and will soon send sword guards to provide support."
"Black Wind Stronghold has mobilized at least two branches this time. The leader is said to be a tough guy. Ordinary disciples would just be sending themselves to their deaths."
She paused for a moment, then looked at Chen Yu with a complicated expression.
"The young master's intention is to send the elite Sword Guards over to make the battle quick and decisive."
Chen Yu didn't respond, quietly waiting for her to finish speaking.
Lu Xiaoyu slammed the teacup down on the stone table, making a crisp sound.
"Before I returned, the Sword Guard Hall had already drafted the list. Given your current status and strength, there's a high probability you'll be on this mission!"
She looked at Chen Yu with an extremely serious expression.
After Lu Xiaoyu finished speaking, she immediately stood up.
She brushed off non-existent dust from her skirt and said with a smile, "Alright, now that we've finished the important stuff, let's talk about something happy! Your promotion to commander is such a joyous occasion, if your senior sister doesn't show some appreciation, people will say I don't know the proper etiquette!"
Chen Yu quickly waved his hand: "Senior sister, you're too kind. How could I let you spend money?"
"Why are you being so polite with me?"
Without saying a word, Lu Xiaoyu grabbed his sleeve and started to walk out.
"I know a new restaurant called Five Flavors Restaurant has opened in Sunset City. They say they brought in a chef from the capital, and his skills are superb. Tonight, your senior sister is hosting a feast to celebrate!"
Chen Yu was pulled along by her for a few steps. He smiled helplessly, stopped refusing, and followed her.
Wuweilou is located at the most bustling intersection in the city.
The five-story wooden building has upturned eaves and corners, with a row of vermilion lanterns hanging under the eaves, making it look very impressive from a distance.
It was lunchtime, and the building was bustling with noise, with the sounds of clinking glasses filling the air.
The waiter, with his sharp eyes, noticed the Sword Forging Manor token hanging from Lu Xiaoyu's waist and immediately led the two to a private room on the third floor with a beaming smile.
The private room was elegantly furnished, with a rosewood octagonal table placed by the window.
Open the window and you can see the distant, layered mountains gradually disappearing into the twilight.
A landscape painting hangs on the wall, its brushstrokes sparse and light, yet quite charming.
Four kinds of dried fruits and candied fruits were laid out on the table, and two cups of tea were steaming.
Lu Xiaoyu sat down by the window, casually picked up the menu and flipped through it without looking at it in detail, then directly told the waiter a list of dishes.
Chen Yu listened from the side. Dishes like Eight Treasure Drunken Duck, Steamed Sea Bass, and Crab Roe Lion's Head were not dishes that ordinary families could afford.
He couldn't help but say, "Senior sister, that's enough. How can two people eat so much?"
"What's it to you?"
Lu Xiaoyu rolled her eyes at him, then added another dish of osmanthus-flavored glutinous rice lotus root before shoving the menu into the waiter's arms.
"That's all. Warm up another pot of Shaoxing wine."
The waiter, beaming with delight, acknowledged the order and withdrew.
Lu Xiaoyu turned around and saw Chen Yu looking at her with a helpless expression, so she couldn't help but smile.
"What's wrong? Are you worried about your money, Senior Sister? Don't worry, I still have that much money."
"As for you, you've finally made it big, you should treat yourself well."
"Look at you, you're as skinny as a bamboo pole. You probably don't even have time to eat in the Sword Guard Hall, do you?"
Chen Yu felt a warmth in his heart from her rambling.
Since he came into this world, it has been a long time since anyone has worried about his food and clothing like this.
He picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said softly, "Thank you, Senior Sister."
Don't give me that.
Lu Xiaoyu waved her hand and then stopped smiling.
She leaned forward slightly, lowered her voice, and steered the conversation back to the main topic.
"You should keep in mind what I just told you."
"The leader of Black Wind Stronghold this time is called 'Iron Hammer King' in the stronghold. His real name is Wang Kui. He wields a pair of iron hammers and has reached the Great Perfection of Bone Refinement. He follows the path of external hard skills and his body is extremely solid in external physical training."
"After I returned, I went to the Foreign Affairs Office and looked at his file. This man had served as a deputy commander of the border army in Guiyan City in his early years. Later, he committed a crime and became an outlaw. He stayed in Black Wind Stronghold for at least five years and had no fewer than two hundred lives under his command!"
As Lu Xiaoyu finished speaking, she slowly circled her fingertips around the rim of the teacup, a hint of worry appearing between her brows.
"Those who came with him to seize the mine this time brought at least two gangs, with a rough estimate of two to three hundred people."
"You're not very familiar with the terrain around the mine, are you? The Niutoushan Mine is located in a narrow strip of land between two mountains and a ravine. There's only one road leading in and out, making it easy to defend and difficult to attack."
"Moreover, the mine has many branching passages, like a maze. Outsiders can't even tell which way to go. By occupying the mine, they have gained a geographical advantage."
"Wang Kui?"
Chen Yu pondered the name in his mouth, then frowned slightly.
"Since he comes from a military background, his command and control skills should be quite good."
"Exactly."
Lu Xiaoyu nodded, her expression solemn.
"The ordinary rabble of Black Wind Stronghold is easy to deal with, but with someone in charge directing things, the whole situation is different."
"Moreover, I always felt that this matter was not that simple. Although the refined iron produced by the Niutou Mountain mine is valuable, it is not enough to make Black Wind Stronghold risk offending the manor to rob it."
She paused, looked up at Chen Yu, and a hint of doubt flashed in her eyes.
"Unless there's something else in the mine that's worth the risk."
Chen Yu pondered for a moment, just about to say something.
There was a gentle knock on the door of the private room, and the waiters filed in carrying the dishes.
Steaming hot dishes were quickly laid out on the octagonal table.
Eight-Treasure Drunken Duck has a bright red color and a rich aroma of wine.
The steamed sea bass rests on a celadon plate, covered with bright green and golden shredded scallions and ginger.
The crab meat lion's head meatballs are large and round, with a clear broth.
The waiter quickly poured yellow wine for the two of them and closed the door behind him as he left.
Lu Xiaoyu raised her wine glass.
Under the candlelight, the yellow wine shimmered with an amber luster, adding a touch of warmth to her fair face.
She looked at Chen Yu with a complex and indescribable emotion in her eyes.
Watching him transform from a clueless greenhorn who knew nothing about the rules when he first entered the manor into who he is today, I felt both gratified and somewhat dazed.
"Come on, the first toast is to our Commander Chen."
She said with a smile.
May your future path become wider and more stable.
Chen Yu raised his glass with both hands and gently clinked it against hers.
"clang!"
The crisp sound was particularly pleasant in the quiet private room.
Chen Yu drank the wine in his cup in one gulp.
The warm liquid slid down my throat, and the warmth spread all the way to my chest.
The two ate and chatted, their conversation jumping back and forth between the situation at the mine and the trivial matters at the villa.
"By the way, Senior Sister Lu, could you tell me about the inner courtyard of the manor? I'm new here and don't know much about it."
Lu Xiaoyu was picking up a piece of drunken duck when she heard this, her chopsticks paused, and she looked up at him: "Now that you've become the commander, you really should get these things sorted out. What, hasn't anyone explained this to you properly before?"
Chen Yu shook his head.
Although he had some knowledge of the various halls in the inner courtyard, it was mostly fragmented information that could not be pieced together into a complete picture.
"Alright, then I'll explain it to you properly."
Lu Xiaoyu put down her chopsticks.
He dipped his finger in the rice wine in the cup and drew nine circles on the table, arranging them into a ring.
"The inner courtyard has nine halls, each with its own duties."
"The ordinary disciples are responsible for handling the tasks below, but those who truly hold power are the deacons, senior deacons, and the highest-ranking are the hall masters. None of these nine people are easy to deal with."
She pointed to the circle in the very center.
"The most important one is the manor's council hall, and the hall master is our young master Ye Chengying, who is also the one with the highest status among the nine halls."
"The head of the council is in charge of making decisions on major matters of the manor and coordinating the various halls. He is essentially the brain of the entire manor."
"This young master—"
Lu Xiaoyu carefully considered her words.
There are many rumors about her, but they are half true and half false. In fact, although she seems glamorous, she is actually a person with a tragic life.
"How so?"
Chen Yu was very concerned about the matter of Ye Chengying, the young master of the manor.
After all, he was her personal disciple, and this guy seemed a bit mentally unstable, which made him quite curious.
"Did you know? Our manor lord once had five children."
Lu Xiaoyu held up five fingers, then slowly bent four of them down.
"The young master is the fifth child. He has two older brothers and two older sisters. The five siblings are not far apart in age and have a very good relationship. They are known as the 'Five Golden Flowers' in the manor."
Everyone says that the lord's children are all outstanding and will surely become great talents in the future!
She paused for a moment, her voice tinged with difficulty.
"But some people don't want to see this happen."
"Twenty-two years ago, the young master's mother, who was also the master's wife, took her three children to visit relatives."
"While passing through Cangyun Ridge, we were suddenly ambushed."
Lu Xiaoyu's tone grew increasingly heavy.
"That was a meticulously planned ambush! The ambushers' objective was clear: not robbery, but murder!"
"The young master's four older brothers and sisters died on the spot."
Chen Yu unconsciously tightened his grip on the wine glass.
"The young master was only seven years old at the time."
Lu Xiaoyu raised her head and continued her story.
"She was saved by her older sister pinning her down, but the ambush attackers didn't let her go. They slashed her down with a knife, from her forehead to her jaw."
She raised her hand and gestured to her face, drawing a long arc from her left forehead to her right jaw.
"A seven-year-old girl, her face covered in blood, surrounded by the corpses of her older siblings."
Lu Xiaoyu's voice trembled slightly.
"She survived, but her face was never the same again."
Chen Yu didn't know what to say, so he could only listen in silence.
"When the manor lord arrived, only one of the five children was left, covered in blood, with a deep wound on his face that exposed bone."
"The manor's pharmacist did everything in his power to save her life, but the scars were too large and too deep; no medicine could erase them! On the day the manor lord returned with his daughter, not a single person in the entire manor dared to utter a sound!"
Lu Xiaoyu picked up the teacup and drank it all in one gulp.
"It was later discovered that the ambushers were elite troops from Jinhu Villa!"
As she said this, her voice suddenly became very calm.
"The owner of Jinhu Manor is the mastermind behind this ambush!"
"Guess who the mastermind is?"
Lu Xiaoyu raised her eyes and looked straight at Liu Yu.
"She is the master's wife, and the young master's biological mother!"
Why would she kill her own child?
Chen Yu looked completely puzzled.
"There aren't that many 'whys' in this world."
Lu Xiaoyu shook her head, a bitter smile appearing on her lips.
"She left the manor years ago and founded Jinhu Manor on her own. She has been hiding behind the scenes for more than ten years. Who would have thought that she would kill her own flesh and blood?"
"No one knows why she did this. Some say it was to take revenge on the manor lord, some say it was because she had lost her mind from practicing evil arts, and others say it was a sacrifice to some evil god."
"But whatever the reason, after that stab, Jinhu Villa became our villa's mortal enemy."
After a long silence, Chen Yu finally asked, "Isn't she our manor lord's wife? Have we been unable to find her all this time?"
"Jinhu Villa is quite powerful. The two sides have clashed several times over the years, with each side having its own victories and defeats."
"But that manor lord..."
Lu Xiaoyu shook her head.
"She is elusive and never engages in direct combat, so the young master's revenge has never been achieved."
How do you know so much about this?
Chen Yu suddenly asked.
"Why would I know? I'm not telling you!"
Lu Xiaoyu smiled, cleverly avoiding a reply.
"You must remember this."
"You must never mention her mother in front of the young master! You must never mention Jinhu Manor! And you must never stare at her face for too long!"
"It's alright to glance at him occasionally; the young master isn't a bad person by nature."
At this point, Lu Xiaoyu took a sip of tea and decided to end the topic.
"Alright, let's not talk about her anymore. I'll continue telling you about the Nine Halls of the Inner Court."
Lu Xiaoyu pointed to the second circle and said.
"Besides the council chamber, the second most important is the foreign affairs hall."
"The head of the hall is surnamed Lu, and his name is Lu Dabao."
"The Foreign Affairs Office is in charge of all external affairs of the manor, including recruiting apprentices, assigning tasks, intelligence gathering, diplomatic liaison, and message transmission, etc., all of which are under our jurisdiction."
"Lu Dabao... well, how should I put it..."
She thought about it.
"He is my father. Among the nine halls of the inner courtyard, he is the only one you can offend. With me here, you can offend him as you please, and I will plead for you."
"What! So Senior Sister is a rich kid!"
Chen Yu feigned surprise.
Having spent so many days together, he had already guessed that Lu Xiaoyu's identity was unusual.
Lu Xiaoyu ignored him, tapped the third circle, and continued speaking.
"The third most important one is your Sword Guard Hall!"
"In terms of combat strength alone, the average level of the Sword Guard Hall is the highest among the nine halls of the inner courtyard, because they are the elite force of the manor, specializing in martial arts rather than forging skills."
"The hall master, Ye Chengduan, is a ninety-six-year-old man. He is essentially a puppet of the young master, so there's not much to say about him."
Lu Xiaoyu then pointed to the fourth circle: "Then there is the Hall of Punishments, which is in charge of the manor's rules and regulations, as well as rewards and punishments."
"The sect leader's surname is Yu, and his name is Yu Zhibo."
As she said this, the corner of her mouth twitched slightly.
"You absolutely must not offend this person."
Why?
"Yu Zhibo never shows any leniency when enforcing the law, and he doesn't give face to anyone, but that's a good thing."
"Two years ago, a disciple from the council hall, relying on his master being a senior deacon, beat an outer court disciple to death while drunk. Yu Zhibo, without saying a word, dragged him directly to the punishment hall and gave him three hundred lashes. The man died before the beating was finished."
"Even the senior deacon's personal plea was useless; he was even scolded by Yu Zhibo in front of everyone for failing to properly teach his disciple."
Lu Xiaoyu shook her head, then nodded.
"From then on, no one in the entire manor dared to act presumptuously in front of Yuchiha."
"But recently, it seems that Yu Zhibo has run into some trouble. The members of the Criminal Law Hall are restless, and the rules are not as strict as before."
Chen Yu silently made a note of it, and became more wary of this Hall Master.
"Then comes Qiankuangtang."
Lu Xiaoyu tapped the fifth circle.
"The head of the hall is surnamed Pei, named Pei Changyuan. He is in charge of guarding the manor's mines and managing the minerals."
"This person is very capable, but he is aloof and doesn't like to talk to anyone."
"But she's not a bad person. As long as you don't mess with her, she won't bother you."
"But there's one thing you should be aware of."
Lu Xiaoyu held up one finger.
"Never mess with her family. Pei Changyuan is very family-oriented. Her nephew, Pei Shifeng, works for your Sword Guard Hall. You absolutely must not have a direct conflict with him!"
Chen Yu imagined it for a moment, and didn't feel any ill will towards Pei Changyuan.
Valuing family and relatives is something that cannot be criticized.
"The remaining four halls are all related to casting!"
Lu Xiaoyu tapped the sixth, seventh, eighth, and ninth circles in succession.
"The Divine Forging Hall primarily focuses on sword forging."
"Hyakuren-do, specializing in sword forging."
"Po Jun Hall primarily manufactures spears."
"Chuanyun Hall primarily manufactures bows."
Lu Xiaoyu paused again at this point.
"Actually, there used to be ten halls in the inner courtyard, and one Iron Armor Hall, which mainly forged armor."
"Later, after Emperor Yongchang ascended the throne, he issued a decree banning the private manufacture of armor, and no one was allowed to forge armor privately. As a result, the Iron Armor Hall was disbanded."
Chen Yu nodded; there was nothing much to say about this.
The difference in combat power between those wearing armor and those without is enormous.
A Blood Refining Realm martial artist, once clad in fine armor, could easily crush a Skin Refining Realm martial artist.
No normal emperor would tolerate the unauthorized forging of armor.
Chen Yu listened while serving her food, but he hardly touched his own chopsticks.
He was never a talkative person, but listening to Lu Xiaoyu chatter on and on always gave him a strange sense of reassurance.
Lu Xiaoyu was his guide into the manor, and she reached out to him when he was at his lowest point.
He always kept this kindness in his heart, but never knew how to express it.
Midway through the meal, Lu Xiaoyu gradually became less talkative, her gaze occasionally falling on the dark night outside the window, as if she were pondering something.
Chen Yu knew she was still worried about the mine.
After all, she was the one who brought the news back, and she would definitely feel bad if things went wrong.
"Senior sister."
He put down his chopsticks and looked at Lu Xiaoyu intently.
"You don't need to worry too much about the mine."
"Whether I'm on the list or not, since this matter concerns the resort, there will always be a way."
"I will naturally take action when necessary."
Lu Xiaoyu was taken aback for a moment, then smiled.
"You're the one comforting me now."
She picked up her glass and took another sip.
A thin blush rose on her face, whether from the alcohol or from being moved, it was hard to tell.
"Okay, let's not talk about those unpleasant things tonight."
After the meal, the waiter cleared away the leftovers and brought out a pot of freshly brewed Longjing tea.
Lu Xiaoyu leaned back in her chair, revealing a rare hint of languidness.
She raised her hand to rub her throbbing temples and said self-deprecatingly, "Looks like my alcohol tolerance is still not good. I'm already tipsy after just a few drinks."
"Honestly, I haven't been sleeping well lately, and I keep having nightmares!"
Chen Yu looked at her and hesitated for a moment.
His hand unconsciously reached into his clothes, and his fingertips touched that warm, smooth object.
He took out the Qingyue Jingxin hairpin and held it in his hand.
The coolness of the jade came from my palm, but my heart inexplicably beat a little faster.
[Rare Item]: Qingyue Pure Heart Hairpin
[Quality]: Low Grade, Level 5
[Status]: Not equipped
[Equipment Requirements]: Only female characters can equip this.
【Equipment Effects】: 1. Jade Protection; 2. Lotus Platform Purification; 3. Moonlight.
【Jade Protection】: Mental resistance +10%, probability of negative emotions such as "anxiety", "irritability" and "distracted thoughts" -15%.
【Lotus Platform Purification】: Rubbing the hairpin head with your fingers will immediately trigger the "Heart Like Still Water" effect, granting immunity to all mental damage for 3 seconds and entering a "Flow" state, clearing all thoughts. This effect can only be triggered once per month.
【Moonlight Glow】: Automatically activates the "Glowing Light" effect at night, dispelling nightmare-like negative status effects and increasing sleep quality by 25%.
[Commentary]: Jade in the mountains makes the grass and trees lush; a hairpin in the hair brings peace of mind.
"Senior sister."
"Um?"
Lu Xiaoyu opened her eyes and looked over with a somewhat dazed gaze.
Chen Yu opened his palm, and the jade hairpin lay quietly in his hand.
The hairpin is entirely blue and lustrous, with the head shaped like a budding lotus platform. Nine lotus petals are layered around it, and a moonstone is embedded in the center.
The candlelight fell on the jade hairpin, creating a soft halo, like moonlight condensed in the palm of your hand.
Lu Xiaoyu's gaze fell on the jade hairpin, and she was stunned.
"I bought this before and have been wanting to give it to you, but I just never found the right opportunity."
Chen Yu was unusually flustered, and his voice was a few decibels lower than usual.
"It was my senior sister who led me into the manor, and I've been so grateful for your care all this time. I've never known how to thank you enough."
He paused for a moment, then handed the jade hairpin forward.
"It's nothing valuable, I just think this hairpin is simple and elegant, and it suits you well, Senior Sister."
Lu Xiaoyu reached out and took the jade hairpin, her fingertips gently stroking the patterns on the hairpin.
The lotus flower was carved with exquisite detail, and even the stamens were clearly visible.
She looked down for a long time, so long that Chen Yu felt a little uneasy, before finally raising her eyes.
In the candlelight, she examined the jade hairpin over and over again, as if she had acquired some extraordinary treasure.
"You martial arts fanatic, you actually buy gifts for people? That's like the sun rising in the west!"
As Lu Xiaoyu spoke, she raised her hand and took off the plain silver hairpin from her hair.
Then, she carefully inserted the Qingyue Jingxin hairpin into her hair bun, turned her head to the side, and asked, "Does it look good?"
Chen Yu looked at the lotus flower adorning her dark hair, its glow shimmering in the candlelight.
He nodded seriously: "It looks good."
Lu Xiaoyu shook her head, the hairpin swaying gently in her hair, her eyes curving into crescents as she smiled.
"You have good taste!"
As Lu Xiaoyu spoke, she suddenly stood up, walked to the window, and pushed open the window.
The night breeze, carrying the hustle and bustle of the street, swept in, causing the stray hairs at her temples to flutter gently.
With her back to Chen Yu, she looked up at the bright moon in the night sky.
After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Chen Yu, about the mine... regardless of whether your name is on the final list or not, be prepared. Black Wind Stronghold is not easy to deal with, and I don't want anything to happen to you."
Chen Yu gazed at her back as she stood by the window.
The plain white dress seemed to be edged with silver in the moonlight.
The jade hairpin in her hair shimmered under the moonlight, as warm and smooth as jade, yet as firm as a rock.
"Don't worry, senior sister."
Chen Yu clasped his hands together and said in a deep voice, his tone calm and resolute.
"I can guarantee you! He's just a mere Bone Refinement Master; I can definitely kill him!"
"You're pretty confident, aren't you? Have you had too much to drink?"
As Lu Xiaoyu spoke, she changed her attitude again.
"Fine, I believe you."
"It's getting late, let's go back! I have to report to the Foreign Affairs Office first thing tomorrow morning."
The two returned to the villa and went their separate ways.
The following morning, Jianweitang released a list of personnel to support the Niutoushan Mine.
Chen Yu's name was prominently listed, even ranking among the top two.