schlanke Taille

Kapitel 13

Is that enough? It's time to let go of the sins I've carried for eight years.

Confused, she slowly turned around and looked at Ye Changsheng. Her bright, glassy eyes revealed a sense of tranquility and peace.

They gazed at each other in silence, lost in thought. Only a soft sigh escaped their lips. Who knew when such moments would return?

There was no sorrow in saying goodbye. Everyone got drunk and tugged at each other as they left the inn. They dispersed at the street corner. Zhu Luan was taken away by the servants who came looking for her, and Bai Qiuling helped Ling Baiyu back to the Bai family mansion. A thin mist hung in the air, and the night was as still as water. Changsheng stood on the deserted Xiangping Street and suddenly realized that he had nowhere to go.

He bounced Jia Ling, who was clinging to his back, and smiled bitterly. The Linjiang Tower only offered seating, not overnight stays, so finding a place to stay was the most urgent matter.

When a sorrowful dream ends and the wine wears off

On May 21st, the sky was clear and bright, and everything was crystal clear.

Occasionally, the chirping of birds would startle someone from their dream.

The Lingjiang Inn had never been so bustling. Dozens of men in blue robes stood solemnly in front of the counter, swords in hand. They even surrounded the inn three or five times. A sharp-eyed observer could tell from their attire and identification badges that these were all from the Ye family.

They just stood there quietly, blocking the doorway, preventing people from getting in and people from getting out.

The shopkeeper was in a terrible predicament. Who exactly had invited these powerful figures? No matter how much he pleaded, they remained silent with a cold, unyielding expression, showing no intention of moving an inch.

Left with no other choice, he took a small pot of wine and retreated to the back room, hoping to avoid seeing it altogether.

Ye Changsheng yawned and opened the door. Stepping over the railing, he saw a dense, orderly mass of green below. He rubbed his eyes and took a step back into the room.

The person waiting outside saw Changsheng come out of the room and respectfully stepped forward, cupping his hands and saying, "Your subordinate is ordered to invite Physician Ye and Young Master Jia to the Ye residence."

Ye Changsheng held the door and asked hesitantly, "Brother, may I ask what brings you here?"

The man in blue clasped his hands and said, "Madam Ye has contracted a strange illness. Medicine has proven ineffective. The Alliance Leader heard that a divine physician is here, so he sent us to assist her."

Ye Changsheng nodded knowingly and slammed the door shut. The two people outside were clearly stunned by the sudden turn of events, and stood there dumbfounded for a while. One of them cleared his throat and asked, "Is the Divine Doctor packing his things?"

The room was quiet and silent.

The two realized something was wrong and together they broke down the door, only to find the room completely empty, without a single person in sight.

Remembering the leader's previous instructions, he felt uneasy. He leaped out of the window, went downstairs alone, and led his men to search separately.

The shopkeeper peeked out from the back room, breathed a sigh of relief, and finally left.

An incense stick's time passed, and a person emerged from behind the door of a room on the second floor of the Lingjiang Inn. Ye Changsheng patted his clothes and quietly hid behind the door. The two men who broke down the door panicked when they found the person inside gone. They searched the room thoroughly, even prying open under the bed, but they didn't bother to check the door they had broken down.

Ye Changsheng patted his chest; it seemed he couldn't stay in Jiangling any longer. Suddenly remembering Jia Ling, he cursed inwardly and hurriedly sneaked to Jia Ling's door. He gently pushed it open, and the door was actually open. The sheets on the bed were disheveled, but no one was there.

Things were not looking good. Ye Changsheng touched the object in his pocket and frowned. He thought to himself, even so, Young Master Jia should pray for good fortune. Ye Junshan had not found him, and regardless of where he was, even if he fell into Ye Junshan's hands, he might not harm Jia Ling, an outsider. Moreover, Huang Qiuyi was still in the Ye residence, and with him protecting her, she should be fine.

This place is not safe to stay long. I glanced across the window and saw a brothel across a narrow alley. It was quite noisy last night, but now that it was still early, the girls were probably resting, so it was quiet.

Ye Changsheng climbed onto the window, leaped to the opposite pavilion, and quietly entered a room. Although the room was small, it contained a lot of things; dressing cases, wardrobes, pipa, and yueqin filled the already cramped pavilion.

Ye Changsheng opened the chest, and the clothes inside were all bright and festive, in shades of crimson, peach, scarlet, pomegranate red, etc. They were all light silk shirts, with occasional peony patterns, and were very exquisite and enchanting.

Changsheng chose a silver-red long dress, covered with a crimson veil, and haphazardly applied rouge and powder from her vanity case to her face.

She looked in the mirror and was pleased to see a monstrous figure reflected there, with blood-red lips, eyes like autumn waves, and flushed cheeks. Even she herself would be startled if she looked in the mirror in the middle of the night.

She put her changed clothes and belongings into a bundle and carried it in her hand. After thinking for a moment, she took out the headband she had taken off and wrapped it around her hand. She picked up a round fan from the table and went out happily.

As the hour drew to a close, the streets began to fill with people. Ye Changsheng held a round fan, lowered his lips and nose, and strolled leisurely along the road, the soft whispers of passersby reaching his ears.

"Whose courtyard is that? They're out doing business in broad daylight."

"Hehe...not bad physique..."

Ye Changsheng smiled gently, almost turning around to give her a flirtatious look, and with a flick of his sleeve, said, "Remember to come, sir."

It seems that clothes make the man, and once she changed into a gauze dress, no one would ever recognize her as the number one divine doctor in the martial arts world.

Looking up, I saw a group of people in blue robes carefully observing passersby at the corner of the alley.

Ye Changsheng frowned and subtly changed direction, about to walk into a side alley, when a voice behind him called out, "Young lady, please wait."

Ye Changsheng didn't stop; he lowered his fan even further, the footsteps behind him drawing ever closer. The situation was extremely precarious.

Turning around, her big eyes darted around, and with a smile, Ye Changsheng waved to the man: "Sir, are you calling me?"

Before he could answer, Ye Changsheng rushed over, removing the fan that had been covering his face, which was now covered in crooked rouge.

The man in blue couldn't help but twitch his lips and waved his hands repeatedly. Although suspicious people should not be let go, how could such an ignorant prostitute be the most famous doctor in the martial arts world?

Just as they were about to shoo her away, a man in ochre clothes, around forty years old, followed them. This man was none other than Liu Yande, known in the martial arts world as "Silver Spear Master of a Hundred Refinements." His spear skills were divine; he swung the spear with one hand, making it spin like a wheel. Even when standing in a downpour, not a drop of water got through, and the spray bounced off like rain.

This person joined Ye Junshan's school five years ago. He is cautious and suspicious by nature, but he is highly regarded.

The man in blue quickly cupped his hands in greeting, glanced at the woman, and said softly, "She's just a prostitute."

Liu Yande narrowed his eyes, his voice rough, and grabbed Ye Changsheng's arm: "If you're a courtesan, why are you acting so suspiciously and running away whenever you see someone..."

Just as the woman was about to answer, a person suddenly appeared behind her, grabbed her, and jumped over several walls before disappearing from sight.

Liu Yande, expressionless, stopped the person beside him who was about to give chase. He had only seen the man in plain clothes and a black robe, who appeared to be around forty years old, and he had vanished in the blink of an eye. Even he himself was impressed by the man's skill. He knew that even if he caught up with him, he might not be a match for him. He should report this to the alliance leader. With a gloomy face, he strode away.

The man in blue blushed upon seeing this and followed without a word.

The man, still holding Ye Changsheng, stopped at an alleyway after a few leaps. His sleeves were filthy, he had a bulbous nose and beard, and spoke with a thick accent, coughing a few times before awkwardly saying, "My surname is Zhang, my home is just ahead. I wonder if you know the young lady…"

Ye Changsheng smiled gently, then casually covered most of his face with his fan, and said, "Master Zhang, then I'll trouble you to lead the way."

The old man smiled and waved his hand, saying, "Just call me Old Zhang, young lady."

The two walked one after the other, with Old Zhang frequently turning back and talking.

Changsheng just smiled faintly, occasionally responding with a few words. The two walked through the streets and alleys and entered a small courtyard.

The courtyard is small, only ten steps away. Several trees are planted in front of the courtyard, their branches and leaves so lush that they cover the roof.

The man said awkwardly, "Would you like some water, young lady?" He then turned to pour some water. His hand, however, was covered in large patches of freckles, unlike the sallow complexion of his face.

Ye Changsheng took the cup and said casually, "Thank you for helping me out earlier, Old Zhang. Your skills are truly remarkable."

Old Zhang smiled sheepishly, his sallow face creased with wrinkles: "I learned this when I was young to protect myself... I saw it all from the side. I was afraid those guys would bully the girl. The girl looks... like my wife."

Ye Changsheng suddenly spat out some water and choked out, "Where...where's your wife?"

Old Zhang looked somber and sighed, "He died many years ago."

Immortals live in silence; emperors, generals, heroes, and valiant men all have tragic pasts.

Old Zhang poured water for Ye Changsheng and asked, "Where is the girl? How did she end up being cornered by two men?"

Ye Changsheng held the cup, her eyes lowered, and remained silent. Old Zhang waved his hand repeatedly, saying, "If the young lady has something difficult to say, I won't ask."

Ye Changsheng said sadly, "The older one is my eldest uncle. After my father died, he seized my family's land. The younger one is the one who came to propose marriage. My eldest uncle accepted a lot of betrothal gifts and wanted me to go and be his concubine, so I ran away."

Old Zhang remained silent for a long time, then sighed and said, "Poor girl." He raised his head and said, "If you don't mind, you can stay here."

After thanking him, Ye Changsheng looked around. His gaze fell upon a few simple armchairs, each with a set of small tables, and a round-cornered cabinet and display shelf in the corner. He touched his face, which was now covered in powder, and said, "I want to wash my face."

Although the house wasn't big, it was well-equipped. Old Zhang was quite thoughtful, having prepared a face towel, washbasin, and soap. After a thorough wash, I felt refreshed and my face was no longer sticky.

After pouring out some water and drying my hands, I stood up and saw Old Zhang standing in the doorway watching me. I casually asked, "Has anything happened in town lately?"

Old Zhang frowned, pondered for a while, and then said, "No."

Ye Changsheng's heart sank. After so much time, it was impossible that Ye Junshan hadn't noticed the item in the hidden compartment was missing. The fact that there had been no movement all this time meant that he might already know who had obtained it, or perhaps he intended to use this to lure out someone who knew the truth.

And just then, he asked to go to the Ye residence to see a doctor...

If it's just a test, it's hard to say that you might be the stone yourself. If he already suspects you, how would you know?

Seeing Ye Changsheng's solemn expression, Old Zhang took a few steps forward and said, "Miss, there's no need to be afraid. If you're worried about your uncle causing trouble, just stay here."

Ye Changsheng, looking displeased, declined, saying, "It wouldn't be good if it implicated you, Lao Zhang."

Old Zhang said solemnly, "I feel a connection with you, young lady, so I'll help you this time."

Suddenly remembering something, he turned around and said as he walked away, "Miss must be hungry. I'll go and cook for you."

Ye Changsheng watched Old Zhang's departing figure thoughtfully.

Before long, Old Zhang brought out several side dishes, all vegetarian dishes and soups. He also very warmly served Ye Changsheng half a bowl of soup.

After observing for a moment, Ye Changsheng said, "Isn't it too bland?"

Upon hearing this, Old Zhang took a spoonful, then switched to a pair of chopsticks to taste the remaining food, and said in confusion, "It's neither too salty nor too bland, just right..."

Ye Changsheng looked apologetic: "Ah, I must have been seeing things." He then picked up his chopsticks and took some vegetables, which surprisingly tasted very good. He quickly invited Old Zhang to sit down and eat with him.

If Jia Ling were here, she would laugh so hard she'd be doubled over. Ye Changsheng could actually say such incoherent things. The problem is, no one seems to doubt that Ye Changsheng's sarcasm is evident in his eyes.

The old man, however, had no doubts whatsoever and sat down to eat with them.

Old Zhang was originally a pharmacy clerk who transported medicinal herbs. He spent most of the year away from home, traveling between Jiangling and Yingchang. In his youth, he was also a bodyguard.

Ye Changsheng sipped his soup and said calmly, "Your wife must be gentle and virtuous."

Old Zhang smiled sheepishly: "She's fierce, doesn't like to talk to people, and is incredibly stubborn. You have to pamper her. If things don't go her way, she'll leave home by herself, and I always have to go looking for her."

Seeing this, Ye Changsheng couldn't help but sigh inwardly, realizing that Old Zhang was actually a caring person. Putting everything else aside, just his excellent cooking skills must have come from countless hours of practice with a spatula.

Ye Changsheng paused for a moment, then said slowly, "When I was little, I liked to hide when I was angry. Actually, my anger had long since subsided, but I just wanted to be found."

Old Zhang chuckled sheepishly, rubbing his hands together. Suddenly, he asked, "Does the young lady have any other relatives? If she goes to stay with relatives, at least she'll have someone to take care of her."

Chang Sheng remained silent for a moment, then sighed: "I have a younger brother who got separated from me along the way."

“Don’t panic, young lady,” Old Zhang said. “Where did you and that young man get separated? Let me go and take a look.”

Ye Changsheng said gratefully, "My little brother is clever, it's really not a big deal. Uncle shouldn't mistreat him. As long as I don't go back, everything will be fine." She thought to herself that as long as she didn't go back, even if Ye Junshan had a thousand ways, he wouldn't be able to do anything about it.

She let out a burp, picked up the remaining half bowl of soup, and reluctantly finished it. She frowned, sighed deeply, and thought, "Jia Ling, oh Jia Ling, you've met the wrong person. You can only hope for the best..."

Sunset over Jingcheng

Ye Changsheng believed she had absolutely no delicate habits like being unable to sleep in a particular bed, but she did indeed suffer from insomnia after this chaotic day.

He put on his clothes, propped up the window, and leaned against the windowsill to enjoy the cool breeze. He glanced around and saw a person sitting on the steps not far from the window. Ye Changsheng rubbed his eyes. Who else could it be but Old Zhang? He couldn't help but sigh, Old Zhang really knew how to enjoy this elegant pastime under the flowers and moon.

Ye Changsheng knocked on the window frame and smiled slightly: "What a coincidence, Old Zhang is also up to enjoy the night view?"