Chapter Three: Yue Zhe

When Ye Pei was just six years old, she requested to live on her own. General Ye Linhui, after pondering for no more than two or three seconds, agreed and selected an unused small courtyard within the Ye residence for her.

When she was young, General Ye practiced martial arts daily in the courtyard, and during breaks from her lessons, Ye Pei would mimic him from behind, shouting and gesturing enthusiastically. To the General’s surprise, Ye Pei’s imitation, despite her tender age, was remarkably accurate. He began to teach her various techniques, and Ye Pei did not disappoint—her progress was astonishing. Near her sixth birthday, one day while she was practicing, her study attendant Alan called her to her studies. Immersed in her training, Ye Pei struck out, accidentally sending Alan flying over two courtyard walls to land in bed for over half a month.

Ye Pei claimed that, at the time, she felt a surge of unfamiliar power within her—it was certainly not something she had consciously summoned. Indeed, that phenomenon did not recur, not until the day she caught Fei Luan as she fell from the sky.

By the time Ye Pei’s martial skills rivaled those of an average adult, General Ye readily agreed to her request to live independently.

After finally reconciling herself to being called “mother” by a baby girl despite being a little boy herself, Ye Pei relented and allowed the arrival of a new member in her small courtyard.

But the question of how to feed this celestial princess who fell from the stars became a new dilemma.

“She won’t drink cow’s milk! She won’t drink goat’s milk! She won’t even take a wet nurse! Why don’t you just eat me already!” Ye Pei’s childish but exasperated shout echoed through the courtyard.

“Mother…” Hearing Ye Pei’s raised tone, Ye Fei Luan felt utterly wronged. Her lips quivered as if she might cry.

Ye Pei panicked, hastily scooped the little girl into her arms, rocking her gently. “Alright, alright, don’t cry…”

At that moment, a delivery of fresh cow’s milk arrived from her maternal grandfather’s ranch, easing Ye Pei’s predicament. From then on, Miss Fei Luan drank only fresh milk, refusing anything kept for more than three days. This habit was, in fact, directly linked to Ye Pei’s reputation as the “Jade Spirit Young Hero.”

At the age of nine, Ye Pei was taken by Captain Meng Huaicheng, head of the Ye household guards, to her grandfather’s ranch—ostensibly to fetch fresh milk for herself. There, she tasted freshly butchered mutton and offal. From then on, the young master was unstoppable, making frequent trips to her grandfather’s scattered ranches across the country, sampling every variety of fresh mutton prepared in countless ways. Thus, she earned her chivalrous nickname on the martial scene.

So much for past events; now, the story returns to the present.

Alan was inwardly bewildered—why did the young master greet him with such a hearty punch? “Um… Young master, did I do something wrong… er…” Before he could finish, he was met with Ye Pei’s blade-sharp gaze. Swallowing his question, Alan continued, “Young master, the General has gone to the barracks to train new recruits himself. He said if nothing urgent arises, he may be gone for quite a while.”

Ye Pei chuckled, “Father must be bored at home during New Year—what other general of his stature would personally train soldiers?”

After settling her mother and daughter in the residence, Ye Pei led the nervous Alan to the study.

“Do you know why I hit you?” Once inside, after carefully checking that no one was outside, Ye Pei sat down and asked Alan this question.

Alan was both confused and anxious. “How would I know…”

Ye Pei slapped the table. “Can you finally get rid of your habit of reading aloud while you write? Didn’t you realize that one day, you were muttering about two gangs about to clash, and Miss Fei Luan overheard you? I’ve always kept her away from such matters, and you—can’t you write without reading aloud?”

Alan froze. “Ah… that really was my fault… Young master, I have some bad news…”

Ye Pei waved him off. “Tell me your bad news in a moment. When did you let slip the matter about the Pei Hua Brothel master to Miss Fei Luan?”

Sweat beaded on Alan’s forehead as he stammered, “I… I’m not sure… Maybe she overheard while I was writing an order…”

Ye Pei shook her head and threatened, “If you don’t break that habit, I’ll find another way to make you! Now, you may tell me your bad news.” With that, she drained her cup of tea.

Alan said, “Young master, you’d better swallow your tea first. This really is bad news…”

Ye Pei swallowed and replied, “Come now, when have I ever panicked? How bad can it be? Out with it.”

Alan hesitated, then said slowly, “A few days ago, the General wrote to invite Hero Yue Yuncheng to visit Shunxing City soon.”

With a sharp crack, Ye Pei shattered her teacup. After a fit of coughing, she managed, “Isn’t the annual gathering always in June?”

Alan replied, “Yes, but the General sent the invitation. What could I do? I can’t very well stop him.”

“Tomorrow you’re coming to the city with me to pick gifts for Uncle Yue,” said Ye Pei. “This really is bad news…”

It wasn’t that Ye Pei didn’t want to see Uncle Yue Yuncheng. Yue Yuncheng and Ye Linhui were closest friends; Ye Pei had known him since childhood. Why, then, was this bad news? The reason lay in the past three years, when Yue Yuncheng stopped bringing his gentle, defenseless wife and instead arrived with his son, Yue Zhe. The two would race in, riding hard—never a moment’s delay.

The story began three years prior.

“Ah, Old Yue! Is this your son? Come in, come in!” With hearty laughter, Ye Linhui welcomed Yue Yuncheng and Yue Zhe into the residence.

“Son, go and wander about Uncle Ye’s estate. Where’s Ye Pei?” Yue Yuncheng asked as he entered.

“I don’t know—probably busy with something. He’ll be along soon,” Ye Linhui replied.

Yue Yuncheng grinned. “Alright, off you go, son.” Thus, fourteen-year-old Yue Zhe roamed the Ye residence and soon arrived at Ye Pei’s courtyard.

At that moment, Ye Pei was reading with her back to the door. Hearing soft footsteps at the entrance, she assumed Fei Luan was up to mischief and said, “Daughter, I heard you already. No use pretending.”

Yue Zhe took offense at these words and shouted, “Who are you calling a girl?! Open your eyes and take a proper look at your young master!”

Ye Pei realized she’d mistaken the visitor as soon as Yue Zhe spoke, and was about to apologize, but then heard the phrase “your young master” and promptly lost her temper. “Before you throw your weight around, do you even know whose turf you’re on? Who are you?”

Yue Zhe was no pushover. “So what if it’s your turf? Going to hit me? Bookworm!”

Ye Pei set her book aside. “Who are you calling a bookworm?”

“You, obviously!”

“Damn it, are you asking for a beating?”

“Hah! I’d like to see you try, you nerd!”

Ye Pei thought, I’ve been a martial prodigy since childhood. Whoever this guy is, I’ll just give him a thrashing and toss him out.

Yue Zhe, for his part, mused: My father is a great hero, and I, Yue Zhe, have inherited his skills. How could I lose to you? I don’t care if you’re Uncle Ye’s kin—a fight comes first.

“Hyaah—!”

“Take this—!”

…

Ye Linhui and Yue Yuncheng were chatting merrily in the hall when they suddenly heard shouts and the crashing of tiles and bricks. Recognizing the voices, they rushed out, only to see two youths—one in brocade, steady and composed; the other in simple garb, light and agile—leaping between rooftops, trading blows with abandon.

Seeing their sons already fighting on first meeting, both fathers called out for them to stop, but to no avail. The boys, oblivious, continued their skirmish, smashing countless tiles as they moved toward another part of the estate.

They were soon at the practice grounds. Their eyes lit up; each feinted, then sprang for the ground, grabbed a staff, and resumed their duel.

“Bookworm Ye, your kung fu’s not bad!”

“Hmph, you must be Yue Zhe?”

After so long, they’d figured out each other’s identities, but neither was willing to yield. By the time their fathers arrived at the practice ground, both boys were slowing, each wielding a broken staff, but still doggedly trading blows.

…Such was Ye Pei and Yue Zhe’s first encounter. No wonder Ye Pei reacted as she did to the news of Yue Yuncheng’s visit.

The next day.

Ye Pei was preparing to go to town with Alan to buy gifts for Yue Yuncheng when Fei Luan called out, “Mother, where are you going?”

Ye Pei answered, “Ah, Uncle Yue may visit in a few days. I’m going to pick out a gift for him.”

Fei Luan perked up. “Is Aunt Yue coming?” By “Aunt Yue,” she meant Yue Zhe. Though Ye Pei and Yue Zhe were “sworn rivals,” Yue Zhe had always been kind to Fei Luan, who affectionately called him “Aunt Yue.”

Ye Pei’s face soured. “Yes, your Aunt Yue will certainly be coming.”

Fei Luan grinned. “Mother, when will you and Aunt Yue stop fighting every time you meet?”

Ye Pei replied solemnly, “Every time Yue Zhe calls me a bookworm, he’s asking for it. Who doesn’t know I, Ye Pei, am both wise and brave, skilled in both letters and arms, he—” Before she finished, Fei Luan quietly picked her nose, flicked it in Ye Pei’s direction, and said “oh” before heading back inside.

Ye Pei took a deep breath and called after her, “How many times have I told you! Girls shouldn’t do things like that!”

…

“Crimson dawn paints a thousand hues, youthful spirit stands tall and true. Sweeping brush, blossoms abound, with strength to still the flying sands and fill the boundless sea. Sigh… Alan, what do you think of my latest poem?” A few days later, Ye Pei held a brush, reciting her new verse.

“Tch, not here? I’ll just write it down.” Ye Pei assumed Alan was not in the courtyard. In fact…

“Brother Yue, long time no see!” Huang Qilin greeted Yue Yuncheng and his son at the gate, Fei Luan by her side.

“Haha, indeed! Sister-in-law, where is my good brother Ye?” Yue Yuncheng asked as he entered.

“He’s at the barracks training new soldiers. He’s already been notified and should return soon,” Huang Qilin replied.

Nearby, Yue Zhe greeted Fei Luan, “Dear niece, did you put on a little weight over the New Year?”

Fei Luan’s smile vanished. She turned her back, “You’re the one who’s fat! You gained twenty pounds!”

Yue Zhe laughed heartily, then spotted Alan. “Alan! Where’s Ye Pei?”

Alan answered cautiously, “The young master… is in the study, writing.”

Yue Yuncheng said, “Ah, my nephew’s calligraphy is always a pleasure. Let’s go have a look.” But before the words were out, a booming voice rang out nearby, “Ye Pei, you bookworm! I, Yue Zhe, have arrived—aren’t you coming out to greet me? Hahahaha!”

With a crisp snap, Ye Pei broke her prized wolf-hair brush. In a fury, she leapt from the study, roaring, “I’m writing! You muscle-bound brute!”

Hearing the reply from afar, Yue Zhe shouted back, “Hahaha, Ye Pei the bookworm, meet me at the practice ground!”

“Damn you, idiot! I was about to finish a good poem. Now—up!” With a light cry, Ye Pei vaulted into the air.

Two youthful, agile figures leapt toward the practice ground.