劍問蒼天 - 第243章 喜訊 - 清風書屋

Having said this, Wen Pei cautiously raised her eyes to Master Shui Jing, but saw only indifference—neither anger nor assent, only closed eyes and silent thought. Since Master Shui Jing did not speak, Wen Pei naturally did not dare say more. After a moment, Master Shui Jing slowly opened her mouth and said to Wen Pei, "You said just now that apart from me, the heads of the other five branches all went?"

Wen Pei started slightly and nodded. "Yes."

Master Shui Jing looked at her. "Who went from Great Zhu Peak?"

Wen Pei's heart skipped a beat. She did not know why her master had suddenly singled out Great Zhu Peak for questioning, and after a moment's hesitation said, "It was Song Dayi, eldest disciple under the late Uncle-Master Tian and Aunt-Master Su."

Standing to one side, Lu Xueling's expression quietly dimmed, and a faint trace of bitterness flickered through her eyes.

A shadow of sorrow also crossed Master Shui Jing's face. She sighed. "Besides him, who else went from Great Zhu Peak?"

Wen Pei said, "The senior and junior brothers of Great Zhu Peak are all in mourning, so only Senior Brother Song Dayi went. Even Senior Brother Song was dressed in mourning white."

Master Shui Jing was silent a moment, then said calmly, "They have had a hard time of it too... Did you go and comfort that Song Dayi?"

Wen Pei was startled. Master Shui Jing was usually quite strict with her disciples, and stricter still about matters of this kind. Wen Pei and Song Dayi had long carried on a secret romance, which was by now a half-open secret, and her heart had long been in turmoil, fearing her master's reproach. Now that Master Shui Jing suddenly brought it up, she truly broke into a cold sweat. After a long hesitation she said in a low voice, "Master, I—I saw that Senior Brother Song was truly pitiful, so for a moment my heart softened, and I—I went up and said a few words to him. Your disciple—your disciple would never dare defy your teachings."

Master Shui Jing gazed at Wen Pei in silence, and Wen Pei's heart beat faster and faster, wondering whether she was about to be punished. But a moment later, Master Shui Jing suddenly gave a long sigh. "Xiaomin, there is no need to be so afraid. Your master has no intention of blaming you."

Wen Pei almost thought she had misheard. She said, stunned, "Master, what did you say?"

Master Shui Jing said calmly, "Right now Great Zhu Peak is in mourning, so it is impossible for the time being. After some days have passed, have that Song Dayi come to propose marriage. He is, after all, now the head of a branch, great or small, and no disgrace to you."

A buzz filled Wen Pei's mind, as though she could not take it in all at once, and she was too overjoyed to speak. Yet she could not understand how her mistress, who had always firmly opposed this matter, should have suddenly changed her attitude. Sitting on the bamboo bed, Master Shui Jing watched the smile of astonishment mingled with happiness rise on her disciple's face, and sighed inwardly. She thought silently, "Perhaps if I had understood sooner, she would have had more happiness too."

Lu Xueling stepped over and put an arm around Wen Pei's shoulders, gently embracing her senior sister, her eyes full of gladness for her. She said softly, "Senior Sister, congratulations."

In her excitement Wen Pei could not help her eyes reddening a little, tears brimming as though about to fall, and she hastily wiped them with her hand. Master Shui Jing saw it and felt both exasperated and amused. She scolded fondly, "I only agreed to it—why are you so happy as all that?"

Somewhat embarrassed, her cheeks flushing red, Wen Pei bowed to Master Shui Jing and said softly, "Your disciple thanks you for your great kindness."

Master Shui Jing gazed at Wen Pei for a long while, then shook her head and said gently, "Enough. Get up."