Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 138 Copper Bell
Wanyin didn't have many concerns. She immediately leaned over the low wall of the courtyard and peered inside. Although she couldn't see very clearly, the objects looked like bells!

"Ugh... your clothes are dirty!" Yan Mingzhang looked at the mud on Wan Yin's chest and cuffs, his heart tightened, and he really wanted to pick Wan Yin up.

"It looks like a copper bell!" Mo Yun exclaimed.

"Keep your voice down!" Changfeng punched Moyun.

Yan Mingzhang also tried to see clearly, but it was too dark to see anything at all.

"Junior brother, whose house is this?" Rong Wanyin asked, one leg already climbing over the low wall, almost inside the courtyard. "I don't seem to recognize it."

Xiao Mu couldn't help but laugh: "Of course you don't remember, you've only been here once. This is Aunt Yun Zhao's house!"

Wan Yin wilted instantly, like a vegetable struck by frost. She quickly lowered her leg, which had been resting on the courtyard wall, and even unconsciously took two steps back – her movements were incredibly swift. This Wan Yin, who was usually fearless, was actually afraid of this Aunt Yun Zhao? Just who was she?

Mo Yun asked curiously, "Miss Rong, is Aunt Yun Zhao very fierce? Why are you so afraid of her?"

Wan Yin's expression wasn't very pleasant, but she stubbornly retorted, "Who's afraid of her? I'm just respecting her. Climbing someone's wall is not a gentleman's act!"

Xiao Mu laughed and explained, "My senior sister once stole persimmons from Aunt Yun Zhao's yard. When Master found out, he beat her half to death and told her to stay away from this yard. You know, Master usually dotes on my senior sister the most. He has never been so ruthless before."

Wan Yin kicked Xiao Mu and pouted, saying, "Can a child taking some food be called stealing?"

Everyone suppressed their laughter and remained silent. Xiao Mu continued, "But it's strange, Master seems to have a really special relationship with this Aunt Yun Zhao. He often asks me to bring her food and supplies, but he never comes himself."

Wan Yin looked on with a gossipy expression: "Master, it can't be... After all, Aunt Yun Zhao is so beautiful, it's understandable! It's understandable!"

Xiao Mu looked embarrassed: "Senior sister, what are you thinking? If Master finds out we're talking about him behind his back, I'll be in big trouble!"

Xiao Mu then smiled at the group and said, "Why don't we go in and take a look?"

Everyone nodded.

Wanyin didn't have much of an impression of Aunt Yunzhao. She had only met her a few times. She only remembered that Aunt Yunzhao rarely went out, was meticulous in her work, always had a stern face, and never smiled. She was an ice-cold beauty, very boring.

Xiao Mu gently knocked on the courtyard gate. After a moment, he heard unhurried footsteps. With a creak, the gate opened and revealed Aunt Yun Zhao, whose hair was gray. She looked much older than her master. Rong Wanyin felt a pang of sadness. Aunt Yun Zhao had aged so much in just a few years.

Aunt Yun Zhao's hair was combed meticulously and neatly, and her clothes were very appropriate. Although she was old, her beauty was innate, and she must have been a well-educated lady with a refined and scholarly air when she was young.

Aunt Yun Zhao looked at everyone blankly, scanning each face. When she saw Xiao Mu, she smiled kindly as if she remembered something: "Little Stone, it's you!"

Xiao Mu naturally went up to help Aunt Yun Zhao: "Aunt Yun Zhao, these are my friends. We've come to see you. Is it convenient for us to come in now?"

Aunt Yun Zhao's smile grew even more amiable: "Sure, I just made some vegetarian noodles, you can try them while you're at it." Aunt Yun Zhao turned around and saw Wan Yin, and smilingly took her hand and asked, "Isn't this Er Ya? You've grown so tall! Is your mother's leg better?" Rong Wan Yin looked at Xiao Mu blankly, somewhat at a loss.

Xiao Mu said to Aunt Yun Zhao, "Aunt Yun Zhao, we're all hungry."

Aunt Yun Zhao regained her senses, released Wan Yin's hand, and said, "It'll be ready soon, it'll be ready soon!"

Taking advantage of Aunt Yun Zhao's distance, Xiao Mu whispered to the others, "I forgot to mention earlier that Aunt Yun Zhao is getting old and a bit confused. She often doesn't know who is who. Just respond to her as she speaks, and that's enough."

Everyone nodded in agreement. Mingzhang carefully observed the row of bronze bells hanging in the corridor. The bells varied in size and age, but all were spotless, adorned with tassels tied with red cotton rope. They hung in a pleasing, staggered arrangement. Mingzhang counted them—there were fifteen! Among them, a bronze bell with a beast-face and tiger-head design was the best preserved, gleaming and exceptionally beautiful.

Rong Wanyin was also deeply attracted by the bronze bell with the beast-face and tiger head. She moved closer to it and couldn't help but reach out and touch it. The bell rang crisply, it was so pleasant to hear...

Yan Mingzhang turned his head, and their eyes met. They were so close that Rong Wanyin could almost hear Yan Mingzhang's heartbeat and smell the faint, lingering scent of "Spring Whispers in Snow" incense emanating from him. Rong Wanyin suddenly felt her ears burning…

"Ding-ding..." The wind blows and the bells ring, but it's not just the bells that are moving...

"Come and eat your noodles!" Aunt Yun Zhao called out as she placed the noodles on the table, pulling Rong Wanyin back to reality.

Rong Wanyin seemed to snap out of her daze, took two steps back, looked away, and blinked nervously and awkwardly: "I'm going to eat noodles..."

“Okay, okay…” Yan Mingzhang agreed, also looking away. Rong Wanyin took a few steps, then couldn’t help but look back at the bronze bell, jingling in the wind, and the person standing next to it.

There were two bowls of plain noodles on the table, but they had gone cold and clumped together.

Wanyin asked curiously, "Aunt Yunzhao, is someone coming over today? Why did you make two bowls of vegetarian noodles? The noodles are cold, why aren't you eating them?"

As Aunt Yun Zhao served the noodles, she replied casually, "I'm waiting for someone!"

Aunt Yun Zhao suddenly stopped what she was doing and began to think, muttering to herself, "That's right, why did I make two bowls? Who am I waiting for? Why isn't he coming?... My head hurts so much, why can't I remember?"

Xiao Mu stepped forward and supported Aunt Yun Zhao's elbow, stopping her from thinking any further. He then turned and winked at Wan Yin, signaling her to stop asking questions: "Aunt Yun Zhao, I'm hungry. We agreed yesterday, didn't we? One bowl for you, one bowl for me..."

Aunt Yun Zhao looked somewhat confused: "Really? I don't remember."

Xiao Mu quickly replied, "Yes, I remember!"

Aunt Yun Zhao was then coaxed into making noodles.

Xiao Mu turned around and whispered to everyone, "Aunt Yun Zhao is getting old, and sometimes her memory isn't good. She often forgets things. If she can't remember something, she'll keep thinking about it until her head hurts. In this situation, it's best to change the subject quickly. There are many things she won't remember once she turns away."