"Alright, Shaoming, let's get going."
The journey was unexpectedly peaceful, and the sun hadn't even set when they arrived at the Rong residence.
"Why are you suddenly interested in watching the sunset?" Gemini Ann jumped over and followed my gaze to the west.
"I was wondering why I didn't just throw you into the restaurant earlier."
"What?" he asked nervously.
"Although Lin'an is a bustling place, it has always been mostly filled with businessmen and martial arts practitioners. Government officials and court officials rarely come here unless absolutely necessary. Just now you saw a young marquis from the Guanhou family, and you also saw those two men and one woman. The air of elegance they exude is not something ordinary people can possess, nor do they seem like people from prominent families in the martial arts world. They have an air of nobility and arrogance about them, and they are probably either relatives of the emperor or imperial relatives. I just don't know if they came for you or for me."
"Is that even a question? It's definitely you, not me. I've never gotten along with those people over there, so naturally I don't want to associate with them. It's as obvious as a flea on a bald head!"
Do you think I married the wrong person?
"How so?" he asked, somewhat surprised.
"These are some troublesome matters that are difficult to deal with. Sigh, I'm too lazy to bother with them..."
Chapter 83
If the road to Ximen hadn't been blocked back then, and I hadn't chosen that restaurant, many things might have been different. Unfortunately, there aren't so many "what ifs" in this world; some things are destined to happen and can't be avoided.
On the second day of the second lunar month, the day the dragon raises its head, I suddenly have an insatiable craving for lychees. Even back in the capital, I had no interest in the lychee orchards, but now that I'm far away, my mouth is watering. Gemini An said it's because distance makes the heart grow fonder, to which I rolled my eyes.
I've been cooped up in the manor for almost half a month. The main reason I've been cooped up for so long is that I didn't expect this winter to be so cold even in Lin'an. It's really strange. That day, I couldn't resist my cravings and wanted to eat something from Xianfangzhou. The food there has to be eaten in the restaurant, because by the time Shaoming brings it back, the freshness has already disappeared. So I wrapped myself up tightly and braved the cold wind to go out.
Whether it was telepathy or pure coincidence, as soon as I opened the door, I saw a familiar carriage stop in front of it.
His golden robes reached the ground, covering the thin layer of frost and snow, appearing both pristine and shimmering with golden light. He walked through the snow, his steps light and graceful, making one... well, one almost wished to stomp him into a pit.
Where are you headed?
Without waiting for my reply, he reached out and grabbed me, kissing my forehead without even saying hello.
Why aren't you replying to my letters?
How dare he say that? What am I supposed to reply to? Just tell you what I did and ate each day, how the weather was, and whether I was in a good mood, like a daily log? When I received his first letter, I realized that this person had such a childish side, which was quite unbelievable. I was shocked for a while and hesitated about how to reply. Then his second letter came right away. And with only two letters, he actually showed up. What am I supposed to reply to?
"Go away, I'm going to get something to eat."
"It's not lunchtime yet."
"If we don't get to Xianfang Boat early, there won't be any seats left."
"It's on the third floor."
"I know, but the third floor has been booked out the whole time. I don't know which scoundrel..."
"I'm not immoral."
"..."
You're not just lacking in morality, you're lacking in common sense. So all that time I deliberately stayed up all night to get to Xianfang Boat, only to find there weren't even seats available and I had to go home hungry—it's all your fault.
As the saying goes, it is easy to meet on a narrow road. It was rare to find Xianfangzhou so quiet. I found out that the young marquis had booked the main hall on the ground floor and the second floor.
"Beautiful woman, beautiful..." The same tune was uttered, but the speaker suddenly stopped after seeing the person next to me.
Meeting him wasn't surprising; after all, Xianfangzhou was the biggest and best restaurant in Lin'an. But were the two men and one woman behind him traveling with him? I guessed right; of course, they would know the imperial relatives.
Looking up at Nangong Ling, I saw that he had a strange smile on his face, and his eyes were incredibly cunning as he looked at the man in purple. I felt a chill run down my spine.
Thinking something was amiss, I was dragged upstairs by him.
Do you know that person?
"Which one?" He took my hand and started playing with my fingers again.
"The man in the purple clothes."
"Oh." He shook his head. "I don't know him."
"..."
Why did I ask him? I really shouldn't have asked him.
Are you angry?
I think my temper has really improved. "No, I just regret it."
He raised an eyebrow, pursed his lips, and didn't follow up with my question.
Looking straight at him, a small flame in my heart began to burn brighter and brighter.
"Do you remember those three arrows from last time?" He smiled and smoothed the stray hairs from my forehead.
"The poisoned arrow that kept Shao Ming in bed for a month? I remember, so what?"
“The people below are all connected to the mastermind behind that incident, and their connection is quite close.”
"Really? I don't care if it's shallow or deep, I'm hungry."
He pinched my nose with a hint of exasperation, "You glutton."
It wasn't until I was full and had a cup of tea that I suddenly remembered how he had easily changed the subject and calmed me down.
"You've met those people before?" he asked as he wiped my mouth with a handkerchief.
"I met him on my first day in Lin'an."
"I will stay away from them from now on."
"Why? Didn't you say you didn't know him?"
"The young marquis is one thing, but the key is his father and that man in purple..." As he spoke, his face pressed closer, "They are both ruthless killers. How can the fighting and killing in the martial world compare to the intrigue and power struggles in the palace? I don't need to teach you the principle that it's easy to defend against open attacks but hard to guard against hidden arrows."
"What makes you so cautious?"
"They're all royalty now. Are we ordinary folks supposed to be careful or just wait to get beheaded?"
Nobody would believe that. Who has ever bowed down to you, Nangong Ling?
"...Let's go back, it's cold outside."
"You get so lazy in winter. I wish you were this easy to take care of all year round."
"Dream on, I'll get it all back with interest next spring."
"Alright, whatever you say." He smiled, his eyes full of amusement.
After we got back, he kept me hanging around the mansion for over a month. Every day, he would drag me out to go fishing with him early in the morning, or take me to the kitchen to help him with chores, or force me to practice kung fu with him. Occasionally, when he was in a good mood, he would play chess or write calligraphy. In short, he didn't care about anything important and was always thinking about how to keep me from having any personal time.
Hmph! Just wait until next spring, you'll be in for a beating!
Chapter 84
In mid-March, before the sun had warmed, a letter from the north hurriedly carried Nangong Ling away. I didn't have the energy to ride with him at full speed, so I slowly followed behind him in a small carriage.
Upon arriving in Anqing, I stayed at Chunhe Hall. Master Fu came out to greet me, treating me with the utmost respect, as if I were his own mother. He was a snobbish, opportunistic fellow. Years ago, when I was down on my luck and stayed in Anqing, this same man saw me on the street and acted arrogantly, looking down on me. If I hadn't walked away quickly, he probably would have unleashed a torrent of sarcastic remarks.
"The other day, when Your Majesty was too busy to ask, where did that scoundrel Gemini An go?"
Qiongying kept me company while I had afternoon tea, leisurely cracking sunflower seeds.
"He knew it was hopeless when he saw Yunzhi arrive, so he went off to have some fun on his own. He'll be back to haunt us soon."
"Why is his personality so different from his brother's? Doesn't he know how to calm down?"
"If Gemini An knew what it meant to be quiet, even pigs could fly."
"That's true." Qiongying nodded, her eyes slightly unfocused. "...Is that one in front of you a human or a ghost?"
I was startled and followed her gaze, only to see a tall, imposing, and mysterious figure floating atop the artificial hill.
"Where would a ghost come from in broad daylight?" I pointed over. "See that? There's a shadow."
"Oh." Only then did her eyes begin to move. "You should have said so earlier. There's no way to scare someone like that."
So that's how it is; Qiongying is actually afraid of ghosts.
"What kind of monster are you? State your name!"
I shouted at the figure, which earned me a twitching look from Qiong Ying.
"My name is Luo Sheng, and I am a human, not a demon."
"What brings you to Chunhetang?" I stepped forward and looked at him closely. He looked strangely familiar. Brother, have we met somewhere before?
"My master wishes to see Lady Nangong one more time."
"Which one is your master?" See you again? So you've met before? Who is it?
"You'll see when you see it, Madam."
"Then I don't want to know."
Perhaps I turned too abruptly, because he was stunned for a moment before recovering.
"As expected, you are not someone who will easily submit. Forgive my rudeness."
Before I could even see when he moved his foot, he had already flashed over and was fighting Qiong Ying. I really don't know whether to say this guy is too bold or too confident, that he actually dared to make a move on someone else's turf all by himself.
If soft tactics don't work, then hard tactics will. If I were to go with you to see your master, and whatever conditions your master offered, I would definitely not agree to them, and I would definitely use the same approach. There are ways to stir up trouble, and I'm not getting involved in this mess.