Chapter 7 Shadow of the Pear Garden (Part 7) A fire burned it all down...

"The daughter of the richest man in the city actually has the same name and surname as me." Ye Qingzhan pinched the corner of his sleeve, and suddenly remembered the day when he was picked up by Li Ying.

Li Ying said that he met her on the path at the entrance of Camellia Village, and she was lying under a camellia tree. At that time, the camellia flowers had just faded, and the red camellia flowers fell down in wholes, like a bright red silk, covering her body.

Li Ying, who had just returned from the consultation, could not wake her up, so he felt her pulse. Her breathing was steady, as if she was soundly asleep. Li Ying felt strange and carried her back home.

As soon as he put her on the bed, she woke up.

Ye Qingzhan suddenly remembered that when he opened his eyes, in addition to seeing Li Ying, who had a kind face and a healthy body, he also noticed a hand on her shoulder, with white bones.

Seeing her awake, the severed hand slipped quietly through the crack of the door, as if completing a task, and gently closed the door behind them.

At first, she thought it was just drowsy from a long sleep, but now she realized she'd been seeing ghosts since waking that day.

Li Ying said her shoulders felt light and asked her a lot more questions.

She'd forgotten everything, even her name. It was Li Ying who reminded her to look in her sleeves for a brocade pouch or jade plaque with her name or family name inscribed on it. She actually found a sachet embroidered with a white camellia, the stitching crude, like a beginner's.

She traced the embroidery, feeling for something inside. She opened it and saw a lucky charm with the words "Ye Qingzhan" scribbled crookedly.

The handwriting was uneven, like a child learning calligraphy.

Li Ying said, "That's your name, right?"

She wasn't sure, but she'd been called that ever since.

"Perhaps you're the daughter of the richest man in town!" Li Zhixing, seeing the bewildered look on her face, interrupted, "You'll know when we get there."

Ye Qingzhan smiled upon hearing this, "If my father were so rich, I'd stay in this illusion."

Qinghuai interrupted aggrievedly, "Sister, this is an illusion I created." He added, "Although I can't remember anything about it right now."

Wen Gu, whose gaze had been fixed on the girl beside him, frowned slightly at the word "sister," but quickly regained his composure.

"Okay, yours," Ye Qingzhan patted Qinghuai's head. "If there really is an 'I' in this illusion, then it means you and I had a connection in life."

Qinghuai nodded, "That should be it."

Several figures in the shadows laughed and talked as they arrived at the gate of the Ye Mansion, where they jumped out of the car.

The Ye Mansion did not look as grand as one might imagine from the outside. It was no different from the wealthy families in the city, with stone lions guarding the gate, high eaves, hanging gilded plaques, red lanterns, and a bright "Ye" in large letters.

Under the eaves and outside the gate stood a handsome and extraordinary man in brocade clothes, surrounded by a group of people dressed as servants.

Unsurprisingly, they were all shadow figures.

Ye Qingzhan followed the group and glanced at the man being hugged, trying to see some trace of resemblance on his face, but the faces of the shadow figures were so angular that it was difficult to tell whether they were similar or not. She pursed her lips and looked quietly at the mansion, a familiar feeling filling her heart. She looked at the pair of stone lions, and suddenly some hazy images jumped into her mind -

a little girl in a yellow jacket, in the heavy snow, shouting that she must ride on these icy stone lions. And then... she couldn't remember. Someone said,

"Boss Zhao, it's been a long time since we last met. I hope you're all well!" Seeing the group arrive,

Mr. Ye stepped forward to greet them, clasping his fists and bowing. "Thank you all for your hard work on this long journey!" "Mr. Ye, it's been so long since we last met. How are you and your wife and daughter doing?" Zhao Jinfan bowed in return. "You're so kind. It's a great honor for the 'Suiheban' to wish Miss Ye a happy new year."

Mr. Ye smiled, then looked at the person beside Zhao Jinfan—a woman of radiant temperament and dignified appearance. He whispered to her, "Is this the person you'd spend all your money to save?"

The words were spoken softly, but everyone around heard them clearly.

The usually cheerful and generous Boss Zhao blushed suddenly. Xie Zhiyan glanced at her as he had been told, his expression complex and solemn.

Mr. Ye patted Xie Zhiyan on the shoulder and said with a smile: "What else can a man ask for when he has such a beautiful woman? Young Master Xie, you must cherish her!"

"I will definitely risk my life to protect you." Xie Zhiyan's words were sonorous and his oath was firm. "If I ever let Jinfan down in the future, I will be punished by heaven and my body will be mutilated."

Before he finished speaking, Zhao Jinfan on the side hurriedly covered his lips and said angrily: "It's a sunny day, what are you talking about!"

"Pah!"

Xie Zhiyan smiled and took the hand that touched his lips away and held it.

The people watching the scene around him laughed and exclaimed "Ouch".

Seeing this scene, Li Zhixing felt a sense of emotion in his heart and wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes with his sleeves.

In the eyes of Wen Gu, this action was just hypocritical, and he rolled his eyes at him. Li Zhixing had no time to argue with him. He turned to Ye Qingzhan, who was in a trance, and asked in a low voice, "Why didn't you explain clearly what happened to them?"

Ye Qingzhan gathered his thoughts and replied, "It can't be explained in a few words. They..."

"Don't stand at the door. You must be exhausted after traveling for so many days." Mr. Ye ordered the servants to take the luggage from the troupe members, "Go in and tell them that Ye has prepared a welcoming banquet for you."

"Wait, Mr. Ye," Zhao Jinfan pulled her hand away from Xie Zhiyan's hand, "Mr. Ye, Jinfan has something to ask of you--" She looked at Wen Gu, who understood and lifted the young man in black up.

"Could you please get a doctor to see him first?"

Ye glanced down at the pale, leg-wounded youth, his brow furrowed. "Who is this boy?" "

We met him on the east bank of Zhuxi River," Zhao Jinfan replied. "Please help him, sir."

Zhao Jinfan had a heroic look, and his personality mirrored his appearance. He was known for his straightforwardness and tenacity, rarely asking for favors. This made it difficult for Ye to refuse. He paused and said, "Okay."

"Come on, take him to the side room and get a doctor."

Two servants stepped forward, and Ye said, "Master Zhao, don't worry, go in first."

Zhao Jinfan nodded and called the rest of the troupe into the mansion.

Xie Zhiyan, walking last, glanced at the unknown youth being carried away, his eyes still dark. Before he could retract his gaze, it met Qinghuai's.

Startled, Qinghuai pretended not to notice, averting his eyes.

Xie Zhiyan glanced at him and entered the mansion.

Li Zhixing mingled among the actors, following the maid's instructions while Ye Qingzhan recounted the past between Zhao and Xie.

From the gossip of the troupe students, Ye Qingzhan and Wen Gu learned that the previous owner of this troupe was Zhao Wenchao. He rose from humble beginnings, learning his art and singing in brothels. He then traveled extensively, mastering hundreds of operas. His voice was known throughout China, and his fame grew, attracting the attention of the wealthy and powerful who sought him out. However, his straightforward and honest character offended the powerful, leaving him stranded and ultimately joining the Zhao family troupe of the same surname in Chiyao County on the border. The Zhao family's

head, Zhao Yonglie, a humble man who had endured a life of hardship, valued his talent and generously secured his support.

From then on, Zhao Wenchao put aside his aloof nature and devoted himself to the Zhao family, offering his full talents. The Zhao family troupe developed a comprehensive repertoire, a feat that coincided with the flourishing popularity of opera.

The troupe rose to prominence, becoming a dominant force.

But opera, as it were, should flourish, not one dominant force.

The Zhao family was attacked by hundreds of opera troupes.

The head of the Zhao family, already elderly and nearing death, was publicly berated by all the troupes—even a mild-mannered man could not bear it, let alone one so ruthless that he would expend his wealth to protect a single individual.

Zhao Yonglie was so enraged that he died.

Even with the death of the troupe, these people were restless. They colluded with officials, spreading rumors that the Zhao family troupe had secretly traveled to an enemy country to perform for the soldiers.

"Where's the evidence?" Li Zhixing shook his head as he followed the maid, feeling it was ridiculous. "You're just talking nonsense with nothing but your mouth!"

"Don't they all say it's 'bribery'?" Ye Qingzhan pouted. "Chiyao County of Liang State is already on the border. Isn't the most plausible slander colluding with the enemy camp?"

"There has to be evidence for that," Li Zhixing lowered his voice, full of justice. "The government can't arrest people without evidence."

"Where's the evidence--" Ye Qingzhan raised his eyes and found Wen Gu looking at him. He suddenly remembered that he had said very little along the way, and she had to say it all. The evidence was originally collected by the two of them. There was no reason for her to speak alone, so he said, "Wen Gu, you speak."

The person who was staring at the chattering pink lips was suddenly called. After a moment, he said, "It was burned."

"Burned?" Li Zhixing asked, entering the assigned chamber and closing the door after the maid had left. "You're really collaborating with the enemy?"

Wen Gu glared at him and said coldly, "You can always find a pretext to accuse someone."

Before Zhao Yonglie could even rest in peace, the younger generation, along with officials, stormed the funeral hall. After a fruitless search, they returned in the middle of the night. Zhao Wenchao stood in front of the Zhao family and demanded to know what they were up to.

Without a word, the officials began another search. During their search, a fire broke out in the Zhao mansion's backyard. Someone then emerged with a burned topographical map.

Only a corner of the map remained, and that very corner detailed the route and path leading from Chiyao County to the enemy state of Chen.

The Zhao family didn't recognize them, but among the visitors that night was a member of the Xie family's army stationed on the border. The deputy commander immediately recognized them and, accusing them of colluding with the enemy and feeling guilty, wanted to burn the evidence.

The Zhao family, already grieving the loss of their patriarch, was momentarily overwhelmed, unable to defend themselves.

A cold arrest warrant was then issued.

The Zhao family scattered in panic, and Zhao Wenchao risked his life to rescue Zhao Yonglie's two granddaughters from the engulfing flames.

"Enemy maps, arson, the Xie army?" Li Zhixing reasoned as he poured tea. "Isn't it obvious they came prepared, setting the Zhao family up for a fight?"

"But there's one thing I don't understand," the exiled immortal gulped down his tea. "Are the Xie army stationed on the border partly in cahoots with them? Otherwise, how could two maps appear in the same troupe?"

If the Xie army colluded with the other families, bringing down the Zhao troupe, then they could pocket the vast treasury they'd amassed from years of traveling and performing, and divide the profits among the families, all benefiting.

To these bribed officials, the actors' plight was nothing to lament; the proceeds were taxes they owed. To the Xie family's army, the dissolution of their family was nothing to worry about; they had protected millions of families, and the proceeds were military pay, well-deserved. To the opera troupes, the Zhao family's fall was a boon in itself; money to be shared and work to be done later—a truly wonderful prospect.

Li Zhixing harbored dark thoughts:

officers colluding, servile individuals coercing, one family perishing while hundreds prospered... If that were true, the land of Chiyao would be shrouded in a cloud of darkness, a gloomy prospect lingering.

Besides this, he still had another question, though he couldn't articulate it. As he pondered this, Qinghuai, seated on the couch, asked, "We're all street performers, all rising from humble beginnings. Why are these people so determined to wipe out the Zhao family?"

Qinghuai's words addressed another question in Li Zhixing's mind.

Li Zhixing nodded rapidly.

He had wandered the mortal world before and knew that the most important thing for people in the martial arts world was loyalty. These artists, who were all floating about in the wild, had to endure the same hardships of practicing their skills. Why... was it just because the Zhao family was the only one that prospered, causing all the other families to decline?

Puzzled, he did not forget to give Qinghuai a thumbs up and praised, "Little Qinghuai really understands."

Two pink clouds floated on Qinghuai's face. He scratched his head and muttered softly, "Maybe I was also an entertainer in the martial arts world when I was alive."

"The immortal and Qinghuai are both very powerful. This is the strange part of the story," Ye Qingzhan poured himself a cup of tea, and poured another cup for Wen Gu, pushed it to him, and said, "The head of the Zhao family is generous and never hesitates to show kindness to others, especially to martial arts artists who have the same experience as himself, but ah-"

Hearing her sigh, Wen Gu frowned unconsciously. He didn't like her like this, and suddenly said, "You are trying to sow discord."

The young man spoke in a cold voice. Several people looked at him when they heard the voice, and he stopped talking.

Ye Qingzhan could only continue to shake his head and sigh to himself: "Who knows - the Zhao family would end up like this, it's really sad." Looking at the exiled immortal again, he continued, "As for what the immortal asked, I don't know whether the officers and soldiers colluded or not, I only know that-"

Ye Qingzhan paused, and said neither seriously nor lightly: "The Xie family army surrendered to the enemy and betrayed the country."

"Surrendered to the enemy and betrayed the country?" Li Zhixing jumped up from his chair immediately, his mind seemed to explode. "Wait, wait, let me sort it out."

He was so engrossed in listening that he had not paid attention to the people and surnames in this story. Suddenly, he realized that these two kids were talking about one family with the surname Xie and the other with the surname Zhao. Could it be...

"That Zhao Yonglie's granddaughter couldn't be-" The exiled immortal pondered again and again and asked tentatively.

"Zhao Jinfan." Wen Gu said lightly.

Li Zhixing took a breath and asked, "What is the relationship between Xie's army and Xie Zhiyan?"

"The youngest son of General Xie, the commander of Xie's army, is named 'Xu'." Ye Qingzhan looked at him and said slowly. Seeing that his expression was a little relieved, he added word by word. "Take a name-"

"Zhi, Yan."

As soon as Li Zhixing finished speaking, he spilled the tea. The teacup broke on the ground with a crisp sound, and then there was a knock on the door. There was silence in the room for a while, and the two looked at each other. Ye Qingzhan got up to open the door.

The door opened, and Zhao Jinfan leaned in, followed by Xie Zhiyan.