Chapter 26: Retribution Before Malice

With trembling hands, the slip of paper was unfolded by the candlelight. The handwriting was graceful and flowing, pleasing to the eye, yet it lacked the boldness and vigor, the masculine spirit that one might expect.

"By the banks of Lianhua Stream, I met Brother Lu by chance, and together we visited the Hundred Flowers Pavilion. Upon first meeting, we found ourselves kindred spirits, conversing joyously. Spring’s breeze only for a moment. The spring night was all too brief, and meeting again is all but impossible. I have taken a piece from your pearl to soothe my longing.

Signed: Fallen petals are not heartless things; they become spring soil and cherish the flowers even more."

Everything went black before his eyes, and he nearly stumbled and fell. Nineteen years of innocence—nineteen years! With one misstep, it was all ruined by that lecherous Flower Cherisher. Lu Liao was on the verge of tears, his heart sinking into an endless abyss.

He carefully probed his own body—there was nothing unusual. He sniffed around the bedding, but the strange scent still lingered, clearly telling him that something between them must have happened.

Vaguely, he recalled that it seemed he was the one on top. Instantly, his heart was somewhat relieved—at least he had ruined the Flower Cherisher’s innocence, not the other way around. But then another thought struck him: that Flower Cherisher was a man! Lu Liao’s face grew so dark it seemed about to drip water.

The incense coil in the burner glowed red, its blue smoke twirling like an alluring fox spirit meant to tempt men. Lu Liao sniffed the air, then grabbed the dazed young maid.

“So, this Hundred Flowers Pavilion is a den of iniquity—burning aphrodisiac incense in the rooms?”

The little maid was not afraid at all. She merely cast Lu Liao a scornful glance. “Which room in the pavilion doesn’t have this incense burning for entertainment, young master? Surely you knew?”

Lu Liao, familiar with the effects of the incense, knew it wasn’t anything extraordinary. His face turned ashen as he let go of the maid, feeling as if he could die of shame.

He left the Hundred Flowers Pavilion with a heart full of despair. Outside, the moon was bright and stars sparse; not a soul could be seen. Ashamed to be seen by anyone, Lu Liao found a secluded spot, stripped off his clothes, and waded woodenly into Lianhua Stream.

He scrubbed himself furiously, but could never feel clean. Suddenly remembering something, he scrambled back to shore, picked up his clothes, and sniffed them. The strong scent of wine still could not mask the overwhelming fragrance of cosmetics.

With a desperate resolve, he tossed all his clothes into the stream and scrubbed them as best he could.

Soaked from head to toe, he returned disconsolate and gently pushed open the door to the little courtyard. The creak echoed loudly in the quiet night.

Peering inside, he saw Tang Xiaoqi curled up on the steps in the moonlit courtyard, gazing blankly at the moon.

“Liao Liao! Is that you?” Tang Xiaoqi’s voice was faint, tinged with nervousness and a trace of sadness.

Lu Liao felt a sting in his nose, walked over softly, sat down, and hugged Tang Xiaoqi tightly, nearly moved to tears.

“Before my bed, the bright moonlight, I thought it was frost on the ground. I raise my head to gaze at the bright moon, lower it to think of home. Master Taibai’s poem is so moving—I almost feel homesick myself,” Tang Xiaoqi murmured dreamily.

“If you miss home, I’ll take you back,” Lu Liao said, holding her tighter.

Tang Xiaoqi shook her head gently. “I have no home anymore. Wherever you are, that’s where my home is now.”

---

“I’m sorry I came back so late,” Lu Liao said, bowing his head in guilt, not daring to meet her eyes.

The chill from Lu Liao’s wet clothes seeped through Tang Xiaoqi’s sleeves, startling her fully awake. She touched his soaked garments in alarm. “Liao Liao, what happened to you?”

He stammered for a long while before managing, “I was on my way back from the medicine market and happened to run into Junior Brother Gu Ye and the others. They dragged me off for drinks, and by the time I returned, it was deep into the night. I accidentally fell into Lianhua Stream and even lost my medicine pouch.”

Medicine pouch—he couldn’t even remember where he’d lost it. As for Junior Brother Gu Ye, he’d have to find a chance to explain things properly. For now, let this lie hold.

Naive as she was, Tang Xiaoqi suspected nothing, and hurriedly pushed Lu Liao into the room, turning her back so he could change into dry underclothes and lie down. She then hurried off to the kitchen to make him ginger tea.

Lu Liao was overwhelmed with both guilt and gratitude. He grabbed Tang Xiaoqi, refusing to let her leave. Tang Xiaoqi, helpless and blushing bright red, gently kissed his forehead before wriggling free.

With many backward glances, Tang Xiaoqi finally went back to her own room to rest. Only then did Lu Liao mutter to himself with a sour face, “Old Lu got played today—framed for no reason. Flower Cherisher! If I ever get my hands on you, you’ll regret it. Bah! Best not to see that wretch again.”

With hardly a few hours of sleep, Lu Liao went again to the medicine market. All the way there, he felt as though everyone was looking at him strangely, watching with glassy eyes. He slunk home and hid in his room, not daring to come out.

After supper, Tang Xiaoqi brewed medicine and together they brought it to the little nun Luoluo’s room. Guilty, she kept glancing at Luoluo’s medicine bowl, the teacup on the table, and the pretty monk in white robes. Lu Liao quickly tugged her away and bid farewell.

Tang Xiaoqi was still restless. Lu Liao pressed her down onto a chair, diligently massaging her shoulders. “When I, Lu Liao, take care of something, you can rest easy. The yin elixir for the little nun is in the medicine bowl; the yang elixir for the little monk is in the teacup. They won’t drink the wrong ones.”

Tang Xiaoqi was secretly pleased, smiling slyly like a little fox. Suddenly, she realized something was wrong—was the sun rising in the west? Lu Liao was never this attentive, and now he was massaging her shoulders. Such unprompted affection was not normal.

“Lu Liao, you’re acting strange today. Not only are you speaking less, you’ve even started reading in your room, and now you’re massaging my shoulders. Out with it—what are you up to?”

Lu Liao was startled, but his hands kept moving. He chuckled, “Xiaoqi, look at the little nun and monk—they’re about to consummate their relationship. I was just thinking…maybe it’s time we did the same. And you caught me.”

Tang Xiaoqi blushed so deeply her voice was barely audible. “Didn’t we agree to wait until our wedding night?”

Seeing her so shy and delicate, Lu Liao suddenly grew bold. His mischievous hands slipped lower, and he pleaded, “Look, at my age, others already have kids running around. Maybe we should have one too. Imagine it—a sweet little baby, wouldn’t that be wonderful?”

“Pah! If you want a baby, go have one yourself.” Tang Xiaoqi slapped away his wandering hand and instinctively fled the dangerous situation.

Suddenly she remembered something, grabbed Lu Liao by the ear, and hissed, “If you dare give me any of those shameless drugs, I’ll die right in front of you!”

Lu Liao yelped, but insisted, “You’re my wife! What kind of man would I be if I drugged you?”

“Who’s your wife? Shameless!” Tang Xiaoqi scolded, but happiness bloomed on her face as she ran away like a contented cat.

At dawn, the light barely breaking, the little monk Wuhua crept out of the nun’s room like a thief, only to see Lu Liao sitting in the courtyard with a tea cup, smiling at him. Not far away, Tang Xiaoqi peeked out furtively from behind a door.

---

Wuhua, rather proud of his self-control, was already puzzled by last night’s events. When he saw the shameless couple acting so brazenly, his anger mounted, and he strode straight toward Lu Liao.

Tang Xiaoqi darted into Luoluo’s room like a cat. Wuhua pretended not to notice, fixing his gaze on Lu Liao.

“What are you looking at? You may be a handsome monk, but I, Lu Liao, don’t have such tastes,” Lu Liao said shamelessly, immediately wishing he could slap his own mouth.

“Master Lu, you call yourself a scholar, yet behave so despicably. Don’t you feel ashamed?” Wuhua’s face was expressionless, but inwardly he seethed.

“What despicable behavior, you lecherous little monk? You don’t think I drugged you, do you?” Lu Liao put on an innocent face. In truth, he wanted the monk to know: Yes, old Lu drugged you—what are you going to do about it?

“Aren’t you afraid of retribution?” Wuhua gritted his teeth.

“Ha! Retribution? Me, afraid of retribution? When the little nun gives birth to a tiny nun, and my Xiaoqi gives me a fat little son, I’ll be waiting for that retribution with open arms!” Lu Liao took a satisfied sip of tea, as shameless as could be.

Wuhua’s face flushed with anger. How had he ended up dealing with such a rogue? “Heaven is watching,” he snapped, before storming out of the courtyard.

Lu Liao sipped his tea and gazed at the sky. Apart from the morning glow, there was nothing to be seen. Swaggering back to his room, he set down his cup and picked up a book, perfectly at ease. Retribution had already come early; now that it was past, what was there to fear?

Two days later, the little nun Luoluo’s foot had healed, and the Flower Queen Contest was about to begin.

Luoluo glowed with happiness, her features more radiant than ever. Smiling, she busied herself with Tang Xiaoqi, preparing to go to Mohe Pond to watch the performances.

Lu Liao smacked his lips and shook his head. “What a delicate little nun, and the little monk has already claimed her.” He strolled back to his room, thinking better of Wuhua. That little monk was quite forthright, spending both nights right in the nun’s room.

Just as he was sighing, he heard Gu Ye the little Daoist shouting excitedly, “Brother! Liao Liao!”

Lu Liao was annoyed. This fellow was getting out of hand—just because he’d handed over a pouch of pearls, and Lu Liao had lost them in two days, he now kept calling “brother” until it was infuriating.

He pushed open the window in frustration. “What is it? Why are you shouting so early in the morning?”

Gu Ye didn’t care about Lu Liao’s annoyance and burst into the room like a whirlwind. “Hehe! Miss Gushu Xiaoye accepted the Mo Xie sword I gave her! I’ve come to ask you all to join me at Mohe Pond for the flower viewing!”

The young Daoist’s face bloomed with joy, his words tumbling out in a jumble.