Chapter 2: Skillful blind woman flaunts her ability, Part 2 — Three Marriages by Ming Yue Ting Feng (三嫁, 明月听风)

May 23, 2015 by inno 7 Comments

Chapter 2: Skillful blind woman flaunts her ability, Part 2 of 3

While Long Er was back in his residence this time, Li Ke was tracking behind Ju Mu Er.

Ju Mu Er was walking home very slowly, slowly and deliberately, she tapped her bamboo staff twice in front of her and then she would take a step forward. Normally she cannot see the road with her own eyes she should be walking anxiously and distressed. But, surprisingly Ju Mu Er was walking peacefully, leisurely and in a very relaxed manner.

Li Ke followed her somewhat with much effort. He can pursue, running as fast as flying, someone who is an expert in dodging, he can trace the whereabouts of a hiding sneaky thief, but tailing a blind woman walking very slowly, it is indeed a first time in his entire life.

Owing to Ju Mu Er’s walking pace, it was impossible for Li Ke to be always following her behind. So, he occasionally walked ahead of her, strolled along the roadside shops and watched the street scenery, he waited until Mu Er caught up, and then he would continue to walk ahead. He followed her this way all the way to the south.

Ju Mu Er went out of the south gate, in a good while she embarked on a bamboo forest trail; along this narrow path there was a bamboo pavilion, she went straight to it, and sat down.

Li Ke was looking from afar, in his heart he could not help but be amazed of this blind woman’s skill to recognize the road, during the entire journey she hasn’t unexpectedly turned off on side roads, but also on the precision of locating unmistakably the pavilion where she sat down. While he was looking at her, he heard Ju Mu Er spoke: “Brave man, would you like to come and chat with me?”

Li Ke was startled, he glanced around, here with Ju Mu Er there was no one else apart from him, could it be that this young lady has an appointment to meet another man here? Afterwards Li Ke hid himself, waited for a while for someone to come round, but he did not see anyone.

At this time Ju Mu Er spoke again: “Brave man, all the way here following me, why not come over for a chat?”

Li Ke thought this Ju Mu Er calling out for “brave man”, she’s actually referring to himself. He looked carefully, Ju Mu Er was looking towards the front, and seemed not to know his location. Li Ke did not know what to say, what exactly is going on here, so he remained still.

Ju Mu Er waited for a while, but nobody came, sighed, and said: “I only want to request brave man, don’t let my father and younger sister next door know the matter of today, I was somewhat impulsive, but still I hoped that Long Er Ye is broad-minded.”

Li Ke, finally unable to bear it anymore, quickly jumped inside the pavilion, asked right away: “Miss, how did you know I was nearby?”

Li Ke’s abrupt appearance scared Ju Mu Er to speak, she sucked in her breath, Li Ke cupped his fist in his other hand to apologize, and then after he finished the Bao Quan ceremony remembered that the girl cannot see.

He then asked again. Ju Mu Er relaxed, took her time to slowly reply: “I suppose Long Er Ye is someone who’s uneasy if he doesn’t know the ins and outs of a matter, and a while ago I had been a little bit disrespectful towards him. He would of course dispatch someone to make discreet inquiries on me. I went out of the shop, I realized just now that I forgot to request Er Ye of this matter because I had to pay attention all the way. My eyes cannot see things around, brave man, therefore felt at ease, boldly followed after me, without bothering to silence his footsteps, so I knew then.”

Li Ke inwardly felt apprehensive, quickly said: “Thank you Miss, don’t wonder, I’m Li Ke, Er Ye’s bodyguard. Er Ye worried about the difficulty of Miss in moving about, so in order to ensure her safety all the way, ordered me to see Miss off.”

Ju Mu Er smiled, did not expose Li Ke’s white lie, then, merely said: “Then in that case, please go back at once Brother Li and thank Long Er Ye on my behalf.”

When Li Ke agreed, Ju Mu Er also said: “My name’s Ju Mu Er, my family lives five miles south of the city, we run the Wu Li (5 miles) family house wine shop; my father, Ju Sheng, brews wines, our house wine is slightly famous in the capital city, quite in demand actually. I am twenty this year, never been married; two years ago, I suffered an eye illness, since then I cannot see things. I used to be a musician, but nowadays play seldom. I teach children to play stringed musical instruments. Because of this qin music school, and also tuning musical instruments, I earn some money enough for me to get by. “

Li Ke listened to these words, kept silent, controlled himself from being shocked that Ju Mu Er knew and was aware of what he had to do.

And then Ju Mu Er said: “If the information on my person is not good enough, I beg you to convey Brother Li, tell Er Ye to feel rest assured that I did not mean to threaten. Merely that my father and next-door neighbor younger sister are extremely anxious towards me, but please be considerate Brother Li, they must not be bothered.”

For Ju Mu Er to talk in this manner embarrassed Li Ke, made him felt that shadowing her all the way home seemed to be like bullying a feeble, blind woman, he busily nodded his head, agreed repeatedly.

Ju Mu Er thanked Li Ke earnestly, she used her bamboo staff to stand up, then said goodbye. Li Ke took her back to the bamboo forest trail, but Ju Mu Er was still walking slowly, she was gentle, delicate and charming; at this time the sun was in the west, warm sunlight and shadow seeped through the bamboo grove to sprinkle on her body, tranquil in the midst revealing her more lovely and fragile.

She suddenly asked Li Ke: “Brother Li, today I interfered with Er Ye’s tea reception, who was the honored guest and do you know also what kind of person she is?”

“She’s the second daughter of the Minister of the Ministry of Justice.”

Ju Mu Er listened intently, as if listening to the sound of flowing water, her brow creased a bit. Li Ke suddenly realized he may have revealed much, he hastily said goodbye, but still followed Ju Mu Er quietly from afar until she reached home.