Eternal Night - Chapter 30
Upon returning to Prince Duan's residence, Yongye was about to head back to Wanyu Courtyard when Prince Duan called out to him, "Yongye, come to my study."
Yongye sighed. Why were there so many things to do tonight? But she lowered her head and followed him inside.
Prince Duan stood before him, his hands behind his back, staring intently at him, and suddenly asked, "Why are you wearing the First Prince's cloak?"
Yongye's scalp tingled; he absolutely could not let Prince Duan see his back. His clothes were torn by the iron filings, so the First Prince took off his cloak to cover him. If he revealed this fact, his black gold armor would be exposed. Everything would be revealed. Yongye thought for a moment and replied, "I wasn't wearing enough clothes, so His Highness put them on me because he was afraid I'd catch a cold."
"What commotion did you cause at the banquet today?" Prince Duan asked calmly, his eyes icy.
Even from a distance, he kept a close eye on Yongye's every move. He saw everything and was surprised that the Second Prince would break a plate of food and stain his clothes.
Yongye had no choice but to honestly recount how the Second Prince disliked him because of Princess Qiangwei.
Upon hearing Yongye's explanation about gigolos, Prince Duan paused for a moment, then burst into laughter, a self-deprecating glint in his voice: "My son is a gigolo?!"
As she spoke, she cupped Yongye's face in her hands. Her whole body trembled the moment her fingers touched Yongye's skin.
Taking advantage of the situation, Yongye turned her face away and deliberately said angrily, "Father, you also make fun of Yongye's appearance?! Is it Yongye's fault that I look like Mother?!" After saying that, she ignored Duan Wang and turned to leave.
Prince Duan froze, opened his mouth as if to shout, but no sound came out, and he slumped weakly into the chair.
"Your Highness!" Princess Duan gently placed her hand on his shoulder. Her gentle voice roused him.
Prince Duan pressed his face against Princess Duan's hand and murmured, "I don't know why, but his face is extremely similar to Yongye's. However, his expression... his expression is exactly the same as mine when I was young. Every time I see him, I can't help but want to cherish him, something I never did before."
Princess Duan's eyes reddened as she listened, and she said softly, "I'm so sorry, I haven't taken good care of him. You refuse to take concubines, and he's the only son in this manor, I..."
"Don't say those things. When I married you, I swore that I would never betray you. As for Yongye... that's up to fate."
Free Valley's methods
On New Year's Eve, the snow in Kyoto fell even heavier, and many houses along the city walls collapsed under its weight. Faint cries could be heard coming from the very narrow and deep alleys.
A wooden door creaked open deep in the alley, and a man dressed in black stepped out. He pulled his hood down further, revealing only half of his face covered in a thick beard. He stood silently for a moment, his grip on his sword tightening, before slowly walking out.
At the alley entrance stood a carrying pole, with a stove burning on the left and a soup pot on it, and condiment bowls and chopsticks set out on the right. Next to it was a small wooden table with several long benches. An old man with white hair and beard squatted beside the stove, warming himself by the fire.
The snowflakes were falling thickly, and if it weren't for the steam rising from the soup pot, almost no one would notice that there was a noodle stall there.
"Old Wang, are you still setting up your stall today?" The man in black stopped.
Old Man Wang immediately perked up, stood up from behind the stove, and hurriedly swept the snow off the tables and chairs: "We have to set up a stall, sell a few more bowls of noodles, and the family will have a good New Year's celebration tonight."
The man in black sat down without saying anything more.
Before long, Old Man Wang brought over a bowl of plain noodles: "This is the first bowl of noodles I've sold today. This holiday season... is going to be tough!"
The man in black ate his noodles in silence, even drinking the broth clean.
A cold wind blew, bringing laughter. Old Wang squinted at the distance and sighed softly.
Just one alleyway apart, yet worlds apart.
Who would notice the desolate scene behind Kyoto's largest and most extravagant den of iniquity, the brothels filled with perfume and revelry every night? While the wealthy and powerful spend lavishly without batting an eye, the poor worry about how to afford a simple meal of white bread and dumplings on New Year's Eve.
The man in black stood up, squeezed his money pouch, and placed the last silver bean on the table.
"Young hero..." Old Man Wang was in a dilemma. The business had just opened, how could he possibly find a place to open?
The man in black smiled and said, "Next time you come to eat here, I won't pay."
Old Man Wang looked at him gratefully: "Oh, thank you..." He carefully put the silver beans into his pocket, and when he looked up, the man in black was already far away.
Seeing that it was still early, he figured he could sell a few more bowls of noodles and then pack up and go home for the New Year. A joyful smile appeared on his wrinkled face.
“It’s him,” Li Yannian said coldly.
"Why? He's just an ordinary citizen!" Yongye asked through gritted teeth.
Li Yannian turned his head to look at Yongye and smiled calmly: "The Valley Master thinks you are too soft-hearted and is just letting you practice. You should understand that you are not the only one who looks like the Crown Prince."
"Oh? There are also Eternal Night No. 2 and Eternal Night No. 3 as alternatives? Then let's go find them." Eternal Night said nonchalantly. He didn't believe there was anyone more suitable than him.
“No one is more suitable than you, but if you’re disobedient, no matter how suitable you are, you’re not suitable.” Li Yannian saw through Yongye’s thoughts.
Yongye raised his head and stared at Li Yannian for a long time. "You know, I'm not a soft-hearted person."
Li Yannian nodded in agreement, his eyes filled with pity and sarcasm: "What Gu Li wants is absolute obedience. Remember, every chance Gu Li gives you is the same: you live, he dies; he lives, you die."
Yongye stared at the old man, whose face still held a smile, a mixture of anger and helplessness churning within him. After a moment, he murmured, "Is this a New Year's gift from my masters?"
"For an assassin, it's the best gift."
Yongye smiled sweetly: "Thank you, Master. I think he must be feeling very cold in the wind and snow. It would be good for him to get some sleep."
“No,” Li Yannian’s voice was colder than the wind and snow, “This place is too plain. It’s better to be more festive for the New Year.” He handed Yongye a leather pouch, “A New Year’s gift from your master in blue robes.”
Yongye took it; inside was a row of gleaming silver willow-leaf throwing knives. An inch long, an inch wide, made of pure silver, they fit perfectly in his hand. He smiled bitterly. Not only was he to be an assassin, but a heinous, traceable assassin, hated by both gods and men. Youligu's mind was truly vicious. Once his hands were stained with the blood of innocents, could he still sever all ties? So, this was the method controlling him.
But what you don't know is that I'm not the innocent child you think I am; I need to start building my courage by killing rabbits. Yongye flicked the snowflakes off his shoulder, calmly picking up a small throwing knife and asking, "Fat Shopkeeper, you didn't kill Master Qingyi, did you?"
“He was very happy that it was a gift for you, and only charged the cost price,” Li Yanqing said with a smile.
The laughter was soft and was quickly carried away by the wind.
Old Wang felt a chill run down his throat, making it hard to breathe. He couldn't help but touch his neck and felt a little warmth, like the warmth he got from warming his hands by the fire in the stove. He felt dizzy.
"You were so quick!" Li Yannian murmured.