Chapter 2

Chapter 2

By the time Luo Qianyu snapped back to reality, he was already upstairs.

The door to the Carved Pavilion was tightly shut, blocking out all sound. Luo Qianyu's mind raced, desperately trying to recall the fragmented first 5% of the plot.

The Zhaixian Lou arc in the original book wasn't long, but it was a crucial turning point. It marked the beginning of the protagonist's descent into the abyss and his journey of suffering after returning to the capital.

And in this theater scene, a "Mysterious Guest" seemed to appear.

──No one knew his appearance, his name. He just appeared, offered help, and took Wen Yu away from that sunless gloom.

The original book described it like this:

「A figure appeared abruptly. A hand braced lightly against the windowsill, then with a slight push, he leaped up effortlessly and settled on the ledge. The newcomer found a comfortable position, crossing his arms and leaning back against the vermilion carved wooden lattice window, one leg dangling leisurely.

Everyone fell silent.

The wind whistled past the eaves, rustling the bamboo-paper window covering, making Wen Yu's heart tighten.

The person leaning against the window frame was indistinct.

He wore an elegant brown robe embroidered with paired golden floral motifs, broad-shouldered with a narrow waist. A red silk ribbon gathered his dark hair at the back. In the lamplight beside him, a few loose strands draped down onto his fur-lined collar. The hem of his robe was adorned with a mutton-fat white jade pendant. He held a fan before his face; when the wind blew, it was like ripples spreading across an ink-wash painting.」

This person was only mentioned twice in the entire book, yet it was enough to spark infinite imagination.

Discussions raged across major forums and discussion boards, and because his identity remained unknown, it left ample room for suspense. This Mysterious Guest could be the 'gong' (the top) in any fan's favorite pairing, or he could be anyone.

As for exactly how and when the Mysterious Guest would rescue him, Luo Qianyu couldn't remember clearly. Which meant, even if he didn't intervene, some powerful figure would eventually appear and save Wen Yu?

Moreover, this person seemed quite capable, skilled in martial arts. If ranked in the book, he'd probably be a major character.

But when would this legendary Mysterious Guest appear?

Matters had already come to a head. What was this guy waiting for? If he didn't come save his beauty soon, the ship would have sailed!

-

Inside the Carved Pavilion.

Though it was a private room, the air inside was hazy with smoke. A performer who hadn't yet removed their makeup was being held on someone's lap. The smell of alcohol filled the air, accompanied by lewd laughter.

Even though this theater was an elegant place, where smoking pipes was forbidden and mistreating the performers was prohibited, with Lord Quan present, the manager wouldn't dare utter a peep. These unwritten rules naturally lost their effect.

Yet, the focus within the private room converged, almost unanimously, on one person.

That person stood by the sandalwood table, dressed in plain, simple colors. He was aloof and transcendent, like pristine water from a frigid pool, standing out starkly in the foul atmosphere of the Carved Pavilion.

A sword hung at his waist, its hilt mostly drawn from the scabbard, gleaming with a cold light.

Wen Yu's voice was icy, laced with a silent, terrifying menace. "Let him go."

"Oh? Let go?... What do you mean?"

Sitting leisurely in the central seat of the Carved Pavilion, slowly smoking a pipe, was the widely feared Lord Quan, the Shence Guard Assistant Commander, Quan Songcheng. Pressed close to the main seat, looking extremely uncomfortable, was the old doctor.

"This official recently caught a chill, feeling quite unwell. It just so happened I met the doctor traveling with you on the road. Eager for treatment, I invited the gentleman back to Zhaixian Lou."

Quan Songcheng slowly exhaled a puff of smoke, looking the person opposite up and down with a smile. "On the contrary, Top Scholar, you are the one being persistent, barging into my Carved Pavilion without permission, and at the slightest disagreement, you want to brazenly snatch someone away. What kind of reasoning is that?"

"Could it be that in this world, only this doctor of mine can treat your mother's illness? Since you're in such a hurry, why not find another one?"

……

Wen Yu slowly clenched his fist but said nothing.

The others in the room exchanged amused glances, smirking at each other.

Everyone present knew that Madam Wen's illness was indeed rare. Before this, they had sought doctors far and wide across the land, all shaking their heads in helplessness. Wen Yu had secretly brought his mother back to the capital this time precisely to seek treatment from the famously skilled Doctor Zhang.

Only Doctor Zhang had a method to treat the specific condition, and the illness had finally shown signs of improvement recently.

Quan Songcheng knew this, and he was doing it on purpose.

The renowned capital physician, Doctor Zhang, glanced around nervously, not daring to move. Since entering the room, one of Quan Songcheng's subordinates had held a crescent-moon blade against his neck, frightening him into a cold sweat. At this moment, he could only swallow hard and muster the courage to plead in a low voice, "My lord, I beg you to be merciful and let this poor young man go."

"Scholar Wen's mother is already seriously ill. Today, her old ailment flared up again with a high fever that won't subside. If she isn't treated promptly, it will cost a life!" The old doctor clasped his hands in a pleading gesture, his lips pale, voice trembling. "Lord Quan, please consider it an act of accumulating virtue, saving a life. Let us leave first!"

"Shut up, you old quack of a commoner!" The subordinate holding the blade directly slapped the doctor across the face, splitting his lip and making his head ring. "Can't you see the lord is speaking with the Top Scholar? How dare a shriveled old skin like you interrupt!"

Quan Songcheng raised a hand, stopping his subordinate's action. He shifted his gaze to the doctor, then to Wen Yu, a look of feigned sympathy appearing on his face. "So that's how it is? The situation is actually this urgent?"

"I am not a heartless person. You may go back quickly."

Seeing the old doctor's face light up with hope, while Wen Yu's expression remained unchanged, still coldly watching him, Quan Songcheng feigned distress. "But the suffering of the sick is the same under heaven. If Doctor Zhang leaves, what about my illness? How about the Top Scholar helps treat my sickness?"

"In my life, I love beauties the most. Just seeing one makes me... rise."

"Letting this doctor go to save your critically ill mother is also possible." Quan Songcheng exhaled a smoke ring, his eyes lingering on the Top Scholar's face as he slowly spoke. "You stay right here, put on the headdress, change into Liu Er's costume, and go perform a song on the stage."

"Once the song is finished, I will set this doctor free."

…

…

Hearing this, Luo Qianyu was so angry his breath caught.

Just then, the servant who had been waiting outside the private room for Lou Xian, seeing that the Young Marquis had been gone for so long after excusing himself, grew worried and came downstairs to look for him.

Unexpectedly, after searching from the main hall to the privy, from the first floor to the second, making a big circle, he happened to glance up and spotted the young man standing by the third-floor corridor railing. It nearly scared the soul out of him.

When had the Young Marquis appeared at the door of the Carved Pavilion!?

Who didn't know? The people inside the Carved Pavilion were nasty characters, crude in speech and disgusting in action. If they disturbed his young master's mood for watching the opera, and if his master found out, he would surely be blamed.

The servant hurried upstairs, rushing to Luo Qianyu's side, out of breath. "Young Master, what are you doing here?"

Unexpectedly, the Young Master didn't answer, just clenched his fists tightly.

The servant looked around, puzzled, but saw no one else. He asked, "Is the Young Master cold? There's a brazier in our lodge. Let's go back first."

But Luo Qianyu suddenly grabbed his wrist and said, "Go get me a folding fan."

"A folding fan?" The servant was stunned. Though confused, he reacted quickly. "Alright, Young Master, please wait a moment!"

The first rule of survival for a book transmigrator is to remember that everything and everyone is just a paper character. Never develop genuine feelings.

But just on the other side of the door, his situation, his figure, even the sound of his voice—it all felt utterly real.

It was a living, breathing Wen Yu.

Since it wasn't time for him to show up yet, as long as he didn't break the rules, he would remain the yet-to-appear Young Marquis, right?

If fate was immutable, he'd find a way around it, testing its limits at every turn.

By all rights, was this his moment to appear?

—Then he'd simply cover his face with a folding fan.

So, even now, no one had stepped forward as the Mysterious Guest?

—Very well, he would become that Mysterious Guest.

The servant ran as fast as his legs could carry him, returning swiftly from upstairs with a folding fan in hand, which he handed to the Young Marquis.

"Why this one?" The young man frowned slightly.

The servant felt secretly embarrassed: "This was the only one left in the attic. Is there something wrong with it?"

Luo Qianyu took the fan and sighed, "It'll do."

...

"Go find your master."

Luo Qianyu gave a light laugh, "Tell him the Young Marquis is fixing to stir up trouble."