Ji Yunxi had no patience left for their bickering. She raised a hand and cut them off.
“All right. Let Zhu Yi House settle this on its own. It’s the premier music house in the realm—they’ll be careful. Menghua Pavilion will not interfere, and do not broadcast that the two houses are connected.”
Both Lu Shu and Zhu Wanyi fell silent at once, forced to the sidelines. They eyed each other with thinly veiled irritation, but neither dared speak.
Qing Xuan tilted his head, puzzled. “Mistress, wouldn't it be better if everyone knew they were linked? Out of respect, people would think twice.”
Ji Yunxi shook her head. “Menghua Pavilion and Zhu Yi House must be independent. Each must be able to protect itself—only then can they shelter one another when it’s needed.”
Zhu Wanyi blinked, surprised. She had not expected Ji Yunxi to be thinking so far ahead; this was bigger than she’d imagined.
“And besides,” Ji Yunxi added, chin lifting, “I want them to know this was Zhu Yi House’s doing. With no proof against us, what can they do? As for General Beidi—if he breaks the rules of the house, he’ll pay for it!”
Her words rang with an unchallenged authority that stilled the room.
Then, to everyone’s astonishment, Qing Xuan gave a soft, hiccupping sound and began to wipe at his eyes.
Lu Shu jumped. “What are you doing?”
Qing Xuan sniffled, his voice trembling. “You don’t understand. My mistress is amazing. I’m so relieved—so proud!”
Lu Shu stared for a beat, rolled his eyes, and shot back, “Ridiculous. My mistress is no less impressive.”
Qing Xuan’s simple, sincere line shut Lu Shu down, leaving him without a ready retort. Ji Yunxi watched the bird-like creature’s tears and laughter and felt an amused helplessness. “Enough, Ah Xuan. Stop crying.”
To everyone’s surprise, Qing Xuan snapped his tears away with a strange, practiced motion. The change was instantaneous; he dried his face as if by flipping a switch. Lu Shu gaped.
Ji Yunxi, not wanting them to resume squabbling, turned to Lu Shu. “Is everything arranged for Jiang Linyin?”
“Rest assured, Pavilion Mistress. He’s secured on the third floor of Menghua Pavilion and we’ve posted guards.”
Ji Yunxi nodded. The pavilion’s guards were not ordinary attendants—only those with sufficient cultivation could serve. Lu Shu’s arrangement eased her; with guards posted, Jiang Linyin had little chance of escape.
Zhu Wanyi glanced around, then stepped forward. “Mistress, it’s nearly time. Shall I have a meal prepared first, and then we’ll discuss the rest?”
Ji Yunxi, only now remembering how hungry she was, waved an embarrassed hand. “Yes, please. That would be wonderful.”
Zhu Yi House spared no expense to attract patrons—the cooks were among the best in the three kingdoms. She had laid out a table of South Yan specialties, and the fragrances made Ji Yunxi’s heart lift. In this life she had been from South Yan; the foods called to her with a deep, familiar hunger.
She reached for her chopsticks, only to feel Zhu Wanyi’s hand behind her, deftly taking the piece Ji Yunxi meant to have and placing it in her bowl.
Ji Yunxi laughed. “Wanyi, what are you doing? Sit down and eat.”
Zhu Wanyi stood meekly. “I’m serving you, Mistress.”
For a heartbeat everyone froze. Qing Xuan’s little mind flickered—shouldn’t a contracted spirit beast help tend to its master? But of course, he was a male bird…
“Wanyi, there’s no need for such rules—sit and eat,” Ji Yunxi said softly.
Zhu Wanyi hesitated, remembering how she had arrived at Zhu Yi House. Once a well-born daughter of an official family, a single misstep and family folly had cast her down into the world of pleasure houses. Zhu Yi House had taken her in; she had learned to be small. Now, standing before Ji Yunxi, she still defaulted to the subservient manner of the past.
Ji Yunxi’s voice caught as she took the girl’s hand. “We aren’t master and slave here. You’re my right hand—and my sister. Don’t belittle yourself.”
The respect in Ji Yunxi’s tone brought a flush to Zhu Wanyi’s eyes. She stilled and let herself be guided to the seat.
“Everyone may go,” Ji Yunxi said after dismissing the others. The room grew easier, conversation freer.
Zhu Wanyi bit her lip, then raised her cup and stood. Facing Lu Shu she bowed. “Young Master Lu, that earlier—if I offended you, please forgive me. Menghua Pavilion is indeed foremost in the land. If you would aid Zhu Yi House, it would be my honor.”
Lu Shu, taken aback by the sudden apology, scrambled to his feet and returned the bow. “No—no offense on my part either…”
Ji Yunxi watched the two of them with a faint smile. When the food was cleared away, she fixed Zhu Wanyi with a steady look. “I’ll need your help with matters at Zhu Yi House from now on. I’ll be coming back from time to time.”
Zhu Wanyi’s brow tightened. “Mistress… what do you mean by that?”
“I have dealings to attend to,” Ji Yunxi said, “so I can’t stay long. If anything happens, go to Menghua Pavilion. We’ll pass word to one another.”
An idea struck Ji Yunxi. “Perhaps Zhu Yi House should open branches in the other two kingdoms. It would make travel and communication much easier.”
Zhu Wanyi had long wished for that but the nature of a music house made it difficult—yet with Ji Yunxi’s support, it might finally be possible.
Ji Yunxi continued, “I’ll teach you the Yunyi Dance. You can choose a worthy successor to pass it on, but do not teach it lightly.”
At those words Zhu Wanyi’s face went slack with disbelief, then flooded with gratitude. She stared at Ji Yunxi for a long moment before sinking to her knees, voice shaking. “I accept your command!”
With Zhu Wanyi thus entrusted, the matter of Zhu Yi House was settled.
Ji Yunxi hurried back to Menghua Pavilion to deal with Jiang Linyin’s poisoning. Menghua was only a modest three-story building—a place to rest rather than a sprawling estate. Few people lived there.
“Everyone, this is Ji Yunxi, the pavilion mistress,” Lu Shu announced to those gathered. They had heard the name but never seen her. Their curiosity fixed on Ji Yunxi.
“Lu Shu, let’s see him now,” she said. He wasted no time and led her to the room where Jiang Linyin was held.
A few guards stood at the door. The moment they saw Lu Shu they knelt, then froze when Ji Yunxi stepped forward.
“Stand up. This is the mistress,” Lu Shu said.
The guards’ faces registered shock—this astonishing beauty was the pavilion mistress? Some of them let their eyes linger a moment too long; Feng Xingzhi scowled and cleared his throat warningly.
They flushed and dropped their gazes. “Greetings, Pavilion Mistress. Greetings, Deputy Mistress.”
“All right, stand down. Is the person in there?” Ji Yunxi asked.
“We’ve been keeping watch. He’s inside,” one guard replied.
“Open the door.”