Chapter 17: The Banquet of Chateau de la Croix (Part 2)

  Wu Caiyun took a few deep breaths before calming down, looking at her hands and gently embracing them. Wu Zhongyuan was also released, insisting on drinking a few more cups with Zhao Jin, but he couldn't handle the wine and was escorted back to rest after just a few cups. Wu Caiyun walked out again, holding her guqin, reapplying light makeup, making herself look even more delicate. She glanced at Zhao Jin, placed the instrument on the table, closed her eyes lightly, and slid her fingers gently over the strings, creating a soul-stirring melody that flowed like a gentle stream in the mountains, each note seemingly flowing quietly like water in the woods. Zhao Jin felt as if he could reach out and touch it, but was afraid of breaking the spell. As the ancients said, "In a place without water, one can hear the sound of water," Zhao Jin had never believed it until now, when he finally understood that music was a balm for soothing pain. "What a wonderful piece, 'High Mountain and Flowing Water'! Miss Wu's realm is truly impressive, making me feel ashamed," Wang Xichen said, standing up to bow to Wu Caiyun. He raised his cup and drank it in one gulp, and everyone present offered a toast to Wu Caiyun.

  "Mr. Wang is being too kind." Wu Caiyun replied politely.

  Zhao Yin did not drink, but fell into deep thought. Wu Caiyun asked tentatively: "Does Young Master Zhao think this tune is not good?" Zhao Yin immediately apologized and said: "I was just captivated by Miss Caiyun's piano sound and am still savoring the lingering sound from earlier."

  When Wu Caiyun said this, she finally revealed a smile, which was so beautiful that it was beyond compare, leaving Zhao Yan stunned. Wu Caiyun spoke in a warm voice: "If you like it, I can play for you every day." Suddenly feeling that saying so was too bold, her face turned slightly red, and she secretly thought to herself: 'What's wrong with me today', involuntarily getting annoyed.

  Zhao Yin smiled and said: "I'm afraid I don't have such good fortune, if I could listen to this kind of music every day, even the immortals in heaven wouldn't want to leave." Zhao Yin raised his wine cup and said: "This is something I just wrote, I hope Miss Cai Xiang likes it. White dusk, twilight, night sinking waves

  Dust and mist weave a brocade pavilion, carving red beams.

  The zither's gentle melody brings forth clouds and rain.

  The fragrance of tea is like a fine wine.

  "This is Miss Cai Xiang's zither music that inspired me." He said, finishing his wine in one gulp.

  At this moment, Zhao Jiong cast his gaze towards Wu Haotian. From Zhao Jiong's eyes, Wu Haotian saw the desire to have a secret conversation. Wu Haotian stood up and clapped his hands: "Alright, the banquet is over. Everyone can leave now. Haofeng, you stay behind." Zhao Jiong said: "I hope the master of the house will allow my brother to be present as well." Wu Haotian nodded slightly. Wang Xichen irritably said to Zhao Jiong: "I'll reluctantly keep you company, lest you sell yourself out." In fact, he was still deeply moved inside.

  "Your Highness must have something important to attend to at Zhenshuo Fortress, but it's nothing to worry about." Wu Haotian said seriously.

  "I came to visit today for two things. Firstly, I ask the Wu family and our Imperial Forest Army to sign a contract for buying war horses. To help the Imperial Forest Army raise horses, I have found out that the channels for transporting horses have been blocked. I will purchase them at a price of 15 taels of white silver per horse, with an initial order of 5,000 horses. What does Master Wu think?"

  "What's the second thing?" Wu Haotian was considering, so he skipped the question and jumped to the next one.

  "Please ask Wujiabao to evacuate the entire area and retreat south."

  "What!?" Wu Haofeng, this great elder, was the first to jump up and exclaim.

  "Hmph, I thought you were a young hero, but it seems you're not. Please leave, the Wu family's manor doesn't welcome you, get out." Wu Haotian said angrily, his face burning with rage as he stood up to leave. No wonder Wu Haotian was furious - if someone came to your villa and told you to move out immediately because it wasn't suitable for you to live there, wouldn't you be angry?

  "It seems that the Wu family's paper tigers are all incompetent and only good for causing trouble." Zhao Yin sneered. Wang Xi Zhen knew that Zhao Yin was trying to provoke him, but he didn't take it seriously and continued drinking by himself, looking rather carefree. "You dare to think you're a prince and I wouldn't dare touch you? You're not even worthy of being compared to the four major families. Let's see if you can walk out of here today." Wu Hao Tian was also hot-tempered and couldn't bear such insults. If he hadn't been restrained by Zhao Yin's status, he would have dragged him out and hacked him to death long ago. Dozens of axe-wielding men rushed in, waiting for Wu Hao Tian's order to hack Zhao Yin to death.

  Zhao Xuan raised his wine cup and took a sip, saying calmly: "The master of the Wu family can know that the Wu family will soon undergo great changes, what a pity."

  Wu Haofeng hastily persuaded Wu Haotian: "Master, listen to what the little one has to say, calm down first."

  Wu Haotian let out a cold snort and stopped speaking. Wu Haofeng waved his hand, and the group of axe-wielding men retreated from the main hall of the Purple Light Pavilion. Zhao Yan said: "This year, Wanyan Kuang of the Jin State has been appointed as the Grand Marshal of the Army, and Wanyan Zongwang and Wanyan Zonghan have secretly gathered troops on the border. Next August will be the time for attack, and the Chain Unique Fortress that blocks the advance of the Jin army will inevitably be destroyed. What fate awaits the Wu family, from top to bottom?"

  "How can you be so sure, do you have specific intelligence?" Wu Haotian asked suspiciously. Zhao Song was about to say that he could send someone to investigate, when Wu Haofeng, the elder, said in a deep voice: "Indeed, this morning we received a flying letter, and indeed the Golden Army is making some moves on the border, constantly transporting grain, supplies, and troops from the rear."

  "Didn't the border guards discover anything?" Wu Haotian asked strangely.

  "Our people went to report and were beaten up, saying that they were disturbing the military's mind." Wu Haofeng, the great elder, said in a deep voice.

  Wu Haotian didn't hesitate and bowed to Zhao Yan, saying: "I was rude just now, please forgive me, Your Highness." Zhao Yan said: "Master Wu doesn't have to be like that."

  "Mistakes are mistakes, I, Wu Haotian, dare to take responsibility." After finishing speaking, he bowed three times to Zhao Yan, who hastily stepped aside. The two sides considered the past grievances settled, and Zhao Yan also felt that this old man was a straightforward and admirable person.

  "Then I beg of you, Master Wu, make a swift decision and leave Chuishu Castle." Zhao Yan said.

  Wu Haotian sighed and said, "Since Your Highness is not an outsider, I will tell you the truth. It's not that my Wu family is reluctant to leave this Shuangxu Fortress, but rather that there is a great secret hidden beneath this fortress. Have you heard of the legend of Shuangxu?"

  "I have never heard of it, please enlighten me, master."

  "In the land of Yuanyang, a swan descended from the heavens, and a precious horse with a golden horn appeared in the celestial axis. This was widely circulated in Liao and Song dynasties as the secret of Chuishu Castle. In those days, Empress Xiao of Liao led her army to invade our great Song territory, secretly dispatching people to hide treasures plundered from us and stored in the treasury of Liao within the present-day Chuishu Castle. Our ancestor Wu led his troops to battle against the Liao army, and by chance discovered a hidden underground tunnel beneath, where there was an underground mountain peak shaped like a knife, with a large lake below, which is the celestial axis mentioned in the Book of Changes. Our ancestor tried many methods to dive into the lake but failed, losing many good brothers in the process. Later, the then-family head ordered the construction of this place, and when rewards were given for meritorious service, our ancestor obtained this land. This secret has only been known by successive family heads. Since I inherited the position of family head, I have sent several people with excellent swimming skills to dive down, but none have returned. Therefore, this is the greatest secret of Chuishu Castle."

  "Wu Haofeng muttered: 'No wonder the people who were recruited by Shuishu Manor in previous years have all mysteriously disappeared, it turns out to be like this.'"

  Wang Xichen sighed, Wu Haotian was able to tell Zhao Chen the biggest secret of the Wu family, which meant that Zhao Chen and the Wu family were tied together. Of course, there were pros and cons, but knowing too much was never a good thing.

  "If you can dive into the lake and uncover its greatest secret, would the Wu family be willing to move out of Wu Family Fortress?" Zhao asked.

  "That's natural, are you going to give it a try?" Wu Haotian was also worried that Zhao Yan would cause trouble in the Wu family, although it wouldn't shake the foundation of the family, but troubles would definitely ensue.

  "Alright, I'll come again in three days." Zhao Yi stood up and prepared to take his leave.

  Wang Xichen didn't wait for the Wu family master to speak, stood up and said: "The Wu family's food is delicious, and there's such a good wine. What's most precious is that Miss Wu's piano sound makes me unable to leave, please allow us two to bother you for a few more days." The Wu family master's eyes were free from doubt, Zhao Chen didn't know why Wang Xichen wanted to stay behind, but he must have had a deep meaning, and he didn't object either.

  "It's fine, it's just a few months, no problem. Just treat this place like your own home." Wu Haotian said with a smile.

  Wang Xichen walked with Zhao Chen in the inner city of Shuigou Fortress, admiring the grandeur of the architecture. Zhao Chen asked, "Brother Wang, why do you want to stay in Shuigou Fortress?" Wang Xichen replied in a lazy tone, "You didn't notice that when you said you wanted to leave, both members of the Wu family had murderous intentions towards you. Since you know their secret, you must put on a cooperative face, understand?" Zhao Chen secretly cursed his bad luck, having rushed back to retrieve the diving equipment he brought from another world, and nearly lost his life in the process. He couldn't help but admire Wang Xichen's meticulous nature. Just as Zhao Chen wanted to express his gratitude to Wang Xichen, the latter said, "If you died, where would I find another idiot who can lose to all sixteen of us? Hahaha." Zhao Chen: "...".

  Zhao Jin sent a guard to fetch the diving equipment, and he himself stayed in the Shuigou Fortress. Zhao Jin's daily life was very regular: every morning he exercised his body, after lunch he played Go with Wang Xichen to discuss military affairs, and at night he listened to Wu Caixian play the qin. Perhaps Zhao Jin did not think that he would hardly be able to spend such a leisurely time again in the future.

  Before Zhao Jian went into the water, Wu Haotian specially held a launching ceremony for him, making Zhao Jian feel like he was a ship. Wang Xichen walked over and patted Zhao Jian's shoulder, saying: "You little scoundrel, come back to me safely, our brothers are still waiting for you." Wu Caiyan had already cried until her face was covered in tears, while Wu Zhìyuàn stood by the side, constantly comforting his sister. Zhao Jian couldn't help but smile, seeing Wu Caiyan's expression made him feel like he was already dead, and he gave her an encouraging glance.

  Zhao Kan put on his diving goggles, bit down on the oxygen mask, and jumped into the water. The lake water was extremely cold, and Zhao Kan felt a chill rushing into his body at an incredible speed. His entire body suddenly lost all sensation, and he struggled helplessly, wondering if this time he would be unable to escape disaster?