Mysteries of the Great Zhou Dynasty

Chapter 144 Steamed Egg Custard from All Directions and All Over the World

The master gave up and earnestly instructed, "Alright, then I'll go out. You mustn't try to come up with anything on your own or do anything unnecessarily creative!"

Rong Wanyin caught a glimpse of Yan Mingzhang suppressing a laugh, so she glared at her master fiercely, which frightened him so much that he quickly ran away.

Rong Wanyin and Yan Mingzhang were both busy with their own tasks. Yan Mingzhang tried to speak several times, but Rong Wanyin stopped him each time with the excuse of chopping onions and garlic. The two of them didn't even finish a single sentence.

When Xiao Mu got home, he knew Rong Wanyin was in the kitchen, so he was startled and rushed over to check. He went into the kitchen, lifted the pot lid, looked at a bowl of unidentified stuff that looked like vomit, took a step back, and grinned: "Senior Sister, what is this?"

Master arrived at some point, leaning against the door, chewing on dried fruit, and said with a hint of schadenfreude, "Don't you dare touch that. That's your senior sister's Four Directions and Five Lakes Steamed Egg Custard! She'll have it herself later; there won't be any for us."

Xiao Mu joked, "What kind of steamed egg custard is this? It should be called egg custard! Senior Sister, you can have it yourself! I can't enjoy it!"

Rong Wanyin craned her neck to look, then took a step back, covered her mouth, and said to her master in strong resistance, "You can eat it if you want! I'm not eating it. It's your fault for talking so much just now, making it so that I couldn't even steam the eggs properly. Master, these are my lovingly steamed eggs, don't waste them!"

This unexpected attack left the master speechless: "Hey, what...what does this have to do with me? You..."

Yan Mingzhang smiled, picked up a spoon, scooped up a spoonful, and ate it: "No, it's delicious. It's just not solidified yet, but the taste is still pretty good."

Rong Wanyin glanced at him, intending to take the other dishes out, but a slight smile inadvertently appeared on her lips.

Yan Mingzhang, however, stepped aside to completely block the doorway and apologized earnestly, "Miss Rong, I was wrong just now. I shouldn't have accepted flowers from a woman so casually. From now on, I will only accept flowers from you!"

Rong Wanyin chuckled: "You haven't even drunk any wine, what nonsense are you talking about? Who wants to give you flowers!"

Rong Wanyin rolled her eyes at Yan Mingzhang and turned to leave.

Yan Mingzhang touched the tip of his nose sheepishly, turned around to go out, but immediately saw the three people peeking in from the doorway.

Yan Mingzhang's face turned red instantly. He coughed and the three of them quickly grabbed feather dusters and brooms, pretending to clean.

Yan Mingzhang didn't argue with them and quickly left, only to hear a burst of laughter behind him.

While everyone else was enjoying their meal in a lively atmosphere, Aunt Yun Zhao was eating a bowl of vegetarian noodles all by herself in a cold and quiet manner.

On the slightly worn octagonal table sat two steaming bowls of vegetarian noodles. Aunt Yun Zhao ate one of them intently. After finishing, she tidied up the bowls and chopsticks, neatly arranged the uneaten bowl, and covered it with a plate, as if waiting for someone to come back for dinner and afraid the noodles would get cold.

She unrolled the scrolls one by one, ground the ink, and filled in the faces of the figures in each one, afraid that she would forget them again.

Then Aunt Yun Zhao dressed in front of the mirror. The beauty in the mirror had eyebrows like emerald feathers, but the corners of her eyes were covered with the marks of time. Aunt Yun Zhao smiled sweetly at the mirror, tears welling in her eyes. She gently stroked the mirror: "Brother Meng, you still look like a young man, while I am already in my twilight years. If we met, would you still recognize me?"

A torrential downpour began, accompanied by lightning and thunder. Rong Wanyin stood under the eaves, gazing at the sky with a worried expression.

Yan Mingzhang walked up behind her and asked with concern, "What's wrong?"

Rong Wanyin said worriedly, "Nothing, I'm just inexplicably a little anxious." Yan Mingzhang understood immediately: "Are you worried about Aunt Yun Zhao?"

Rong Wanyin nodded.

Yan Mingzhang comforted him, "Let's go take a look first thing tomorrow morning!"

Rong Wanyin nodded, but she was still uneasy.
-
As night deepened, rain poured down on the wind chimes under the eaves, making them tinkle.

Yun Zhao lay neatly dressed on the bed, her face gentle and smiling, holding two bells in her hands. A breeze blew in through the crack in the window, extinguishing the lamp. After a long while, Yun Zhao suddenly released her hands, and the two bells fell to the ground. They rolled together and tinkled, the two copper bells nestled tightly against each other.

Daylight broke, the storm passed, and the sky cleared.

Xiao Mu rushed in from outside, his face filled with grief: "Senior Sister... Aunt Yun Zhao... she... she passed away last night..."
-
Aunt Yun Zhao's funeral was simple yet solemn, and people from Peach Blossom Spring Town came in an endless stream to pay their respects.

Rong Wanyin found it hard to accept, her nose felt sore, but she couldn't cry.

Master, however, seemed to accept it calmly: "Yin'er, Mu'er, there's no need for regret. They are reunited. People always welcome new life with great fanfare, but face death helplessly. In fact, why not face it calmly, tidy up, and leave with a smile? When the time comes, it will come... She should be very happy when she leaves."

Wanyin raised her head, looked at him with tears in her eyes, and smiled as she said, "Master, will their story be remembered? Their story should not be forgotten. The people of Peach Blossom Spring Town will always remember them!"

"Yes, the people of Peach Blossom Spring Town will remember them..." Master patted Rong Wanyin's head and comforted her.

Yan Mingzhang smiled as he looked at Rong Wanyin. He felt that Rong Wanyin was different from before, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. Perhaps there was a hint of determination in her eyes?
"Young man of the Yan family, where are you taking this old man?" Old Man Wuji followed Yan Mingzhang with a smile, his steps brisk. "So mysterious, do you have to wait until Yin'er and the others go to the market in town before we come out?"

“Senior, it’s just ahead. I’ve found a bamboo grove, perfect for drinking. I’ve prepared some fine wine and snacks.” Yan Mingzhang stopped and turned around, smiling. “I was just worried that Brother Xiao Mu wouldn’t let you drink!”

"Oh? Then this old man must have a taste!" The old man Wuji quickened his pace.

"Senior, look, it's just ahead, we've arrived!" Yan Mingzhang said, pointing to the dense bamboo forest in front of him.

The bamboo grove was indeed quiet and secluded. The rustling sound of the leaves in the wind seemed to calm the mind.

In the middle of the bamboo forest, there was a clearing with a stone table set with various dishes and several jars of fine wine underneath.

The old man Wuji looked around, his gaze settling on a few green bamboos. A slight smile appeared on his lips as he sat down.

After a few drinks, Old Man Wuji toyed with the wine glass in his hand: "Speak, what is it? You didn't call me here just for this drink?"

Yan Mingzhang put down his wine glass, stood up and bowed: "Senior, please forgive me, but I do have something to ask you."

"Ask away... I can't just drink your wine for nothing. I'll tell you what I can." Old Man Wuji looked calmly at Yan Mingzhang.

"Senior, were you the murderer who killed my parents back then?" Yan Mingzhang's gaze was firm, but there was a hint of tears in his eyes.