A Wandering Youth

Chapter 38

Yin Guang was a little confused. No matter how he looked at it, he couldn't find anything wrong with Chu Yi. But the young master's eyes looked like he wanted to die for his cause. There was no way he was wrong.

Leng Shuangcheng lowered her head slightly, supporting her left wrist with her right hand, and remained silent.

"If we find you bewitching Yin Guang again, it won't be as simple as a dislocated shoulder." In the silence, Qiu Ye Yi Jian spoke coldly again, "Two people have already died for you. Chu Yi, if you don't know how to restrain yourself, next time no one will be able to save you."

After saying this coldly, Qiu Yeyijian turned and walked away with her sleeves fluttering.

Yin Guang was taken aback. After hesitating for a moment, he looked up at Leng Shuangcheng and quickly said, "Stand here and don't move." Then he followed the young master's figure and stepped forward.

Leng Shuangcheng raised her head, giving Qiu Yeyi's retreating figure a cold stare. She thought viciously, "A fickle, despicable person..." Then, expressionless, she tightened her grip on her left wrist, gritted her teeth, and with a "crack," repositioned her wrist. She then placed her right hand on the injured area, applying slight pressure. A cool mist adhered to it, instantly bringing a refreshing sensation. "Fortunately, the cold poison wasn't completely cleared..."

She slowly walked to the Xuande red lacquered door and waited silently.

A steady stream of opulent carriages passed by her, stirring up a chilling, arrogant wind. Officials attending the morning court also passed by the gate, their eyes sweeping over her with haughty glances. Often, when their gazes fell upon the carriages behind her, their expressions changed slightly, and they all lowered their heads and hurried on. Leng Shuangcheng glanced back at the white horse, recalling Nie Wuyou's words, "Who dares to inspect the carriages of Bixie Manor?" She immediately understood.

As the morning mist gradually dissipated, the earth was bathed in a golden glow. Leng Shuangcheng stared at the ornately decorated inner hall for a long time, unable to distinguish whether it was the sun's rays or a magnificent reflection. Just as he was lost in thought, a purple figure swiftly appeared before him, turned around, and said, "Chuyi, the celebration is about to begin. Young Master has instructed you to guard the right gate."

Leng Shuangcheng nodded and followed Yin Guang forward without touching the ground. Her figure remained as upright as a tree, her sleeves slightly open, yet she had already outpaced Yin Guang in the previous few steps. Yin Guang paused, muttering to himself, "Truly a hidden master..." and then followed as well.

Leng Shuangcheng passed through the Right Jiasu Gate, parted ways with Yin Guang, and quickly entered the Zichen Gate, arriving in front of the hall.

On the platform in front of the palace, some sat and some stood, all nobles and royalty, their opulent attire dazzling to the eye, their vibrant colors blooming like cinnabar in the morning sun. Leng Shuangcheng looked around and was taken aback to find so many people sitting in orderly rows: this kind of spectacle was definitely not like an early morning court session, but rather like a grand meeting between two nations.

The imperial procession was arrayed in the palace courtyard, with officials in full crowns and court robes. At the center, a golden dragon-adorned jewel hung high, and a man in a golden dragon robe sat firmly in his chariot, his face dignified and imposing. Behind him stood many figures in muted colors, except for a striking figure in striking black standing to his left, handsome and elegant.

Leng Shuangcheng glanced at them briefly and knew that it was the current emperor and her current master, Qiu Yeyijian. Even if she wanted to ignore Qiu Yeyijian's cold gaze, the imposing presence and grandeur on the main stage would not be ignored.

A man in a short robe and a golden crown sat on the left. He wore a narrow crimson robe, golden sashes, and a slender back. His face was different from that of the Han people, and Leng Shuangcheng guessed that he was an envoy from Western Xia. A deputy envoy sat beside him in the manners of the Han people. She turned her head slightly, her eyes scanning the many faces.

Sure enough, Leng Shuangcheng spotted Tang Xiaoshou behind the assembled officials.

As Leng Shuangcheng sped past the carriage, he saw a silent young man in black standing outside the crowd, his hands slightly raised as he smoothed his hair. This was an extremely ordinary sight, but long after the carriage had passed, Leng Shuangcheng suddenly remembered someone—Tang Xiaoshou.

Even though the boy's face was not visible, judging from his age of around twenty, he shouldn't have had such small, childlike hands.

Tang Xiaoshou was silent and slender, with a delicate, oval face. She remained hidden from the crowd, her expression indifferent, but her eyes held a burning light like the sun. Through Tang Xiaoshou's profile, Leng Shuangcheng also saw a graceful woman walking slowly past the crowd, gracefully taking her seat.

Leng Shuangcheng stared intently at the figure, carefully considering the conversation from the previous night. She recognized her as Zhuang Chuchu, the son of Prince Zhuang and known as "the most beautiful woman in Jiangnan." Her seat was among the front row of guests, clearly a VIP position.

—Yesterday, Chu Xuan didn't notice, but the poisoned needle was clearly shot from Chu Chu's direction, aimed at Ruan Ruan. It seems she had warned Chu Xuan beforehand, and the attack occurred while she was retreating; the reason is unknown.

—Tang Xiaoshou has also come here today. Isn't she afraid that Qiu Yeyijian will capture her?

Leng Shuangcheng turned to Tang Xiaoshou without making a sound, and noticed that she was still staring at the front for so long. She couldn't help but follow her gaze and look over there. There were only four people on the main stage, three sitting and one standing. Moreover, they were dressed in dark black, standing against the wind, handsome and eye-catching.

Tang Xiaoshou's gaze was not filled with hatred, but with a fervor he had never seen before in his first year of junior high!

After a moment of shock and disorientation, Leng Shuangcheng seemed to understand why Tang Xiaoshou had come here—to see Qiu Yeyijian. She recalled Agu's silent and aloof demeanor in the Four Seas and couldn't help but sigh: How could such a clever girl fall for that devil? Just as she looked up, she was surprised to find Tang Xiaoshou staring coldly at her.

Through the shadows, Leng Shuangcheng looked back with slight surprise. Their eyes met briefly, and Leng Shuangcheng realized what the problem was. She turned around and, sure enough, saw Qiu Yeyijian staring coldly in her direction.

Seeing Leng Shuangcheng staring blankly at the crowd, Qiu Yeyi sneered inwardly, practically burning a hole in his profile before he finally noticed and snapped back to attention. Qiu Yeyi glanced at Leng Shuangcheng again, then slowly shifted his gaze to the crowd, vowing to himself: if he's still so distracted, he'll give him a good talking-to when we get home tonight.

Perhaps it was under Qiu Yeyi's intense and icy gaze that Leng Shuangcheng understood, and following his gaze, she found the person he had pointed out: an official in a crimson robe, with his back to her, facing the main platform, intently motionless.

Qiu Yeyijian stared intently at Leng Shuangcheng's face again, her gaze sharp and piercing as she moved, this time focusing on the aisle in front of her. Leng Shuangcheng immediately understood, stepped out from the crowd, walked steadily forward, and stood calmly beside the VIP seating area.

A man in his twenties stepped to the side, blocking Leng Shuangcheng's path. She looked up and saw a familiar face, scrutinizing him closely.

The man, dressed in a black-faced, red-lined official's uniform, with a square face, glanced at her attire before bowing and saying, "So you are the young master's guard. May I ask what your orders are, young master?"

Leng Shuangcheng looked down at the front of her robe, where tiny, shimmering red leaves were embroidered, forming a dark border. She couldn't help but sneer, "How should I address you, sir? The young master instructed me to switch places with you."

"I am Wei Wuyi, the commander of the Imperial Guards. This way, please, young master."

The two bowed to each other and stood apart. After Wei Wuyi left, Leng Shuangcheng subtly took a step back, disappearing into the ranks of the Imperial Guards. She had already recognized Wei Chong's son, Wei Wuyi. Whenever Wei Wuyi spoke to her, the image of General Wei kept flashing before her eyes; the two looked alike and spoke in the same tone.

—"How can we say we have no clothes? We share the same robes with you." This truly reflects the deep affection and aspirations of a father from a military family.

"Don't worry, if we don't die in battle, we will meet again," the general's words still echoed in my ears, but who could predict tomorrow?

As Leng Shuangcheng was bitterly reminiscing, she noticed that chilling gaze descending upon her face again. She quickly perked up and focused on the changes in the scene.

A deafening cacophony of singing and dancing erupted, and colorful balloons rose from the platform in the open space.

As the drums and music played, the colorful balls rose higher and higher until they exploded with a "whoosh," filling the air with gold paper and a rich fragrance. Several strips of red satin hung down, inscribed with phrases such as "Peace and Prosperity for the Nation" and "Favorable Weather for Crops."

Several performances followed, but Leng Shuangcheng's mind wasn't on the entertainment. She merely glanced at the performers, noticing they were all dashing and handsome princes and noblemen. Although many carried a hint of rouge, they remained composed and eloquent when questioned by the Western Xia envoy. Her eyes darted around, and the poems she heard gradually made sense. It turned out that today's celebration was being held by the Emperor in accordance with the principles of "poetry, calligraphy, rites, music, and archery" for the foreign envoy. A chill ran through her; she guessed the music was related to Chu Xuan and wondered if Ruan Ruan would be performing.

Young Master Chu Xuan of Yangzhou comes from a prestigious family and is the top disciple of the palace's best musician. He is obviously here for the celebration. This is all that Leng Shuangcheng knows. What she doesn't know is why someone is trying to assassinate Ruan Ruan to restrain Chu Xuan.

Silence fell over the stage. The crowd, bewildered, held their breath and watched intently. In the silence, the rotating shaft on the high platform slowly rose, revealing two white figures, one standing and one sitting.

Both were dressed in white robes and had beautiful faces. One stood gracefully in the wind, while the other was dignified and composed. In the gentle morning breeze, they resembled goddesses of the Luo River, their beauty breathtaking in an instant.

Leng Shuangcheng couldn't help but open her mouth slightly, gazing at Chu Xuan's profile on the high platform. As the light shifted, she felt as if she had returned to Tian Xiao's side, where he was also smiling so gently and elegantly.

Qiu Ye coldly swept her sword across the entire arena, causing everyone within her sight to lower their heads in shock or glance shyly, their eyes lowered with infinite allure, except for Yin Guang and Leng Shuangcheng. The former stood by the door, intently watching the changing scene. The latter was lost in thought, frozen in place.

He snorted coldly in his heart again, and followed Leng Shuangcheng's gaze to the figure on the high platform.

5. Shaking (above)

Chu Xuan gently pressed a translucent white jade flute to his lips, subtly channeling his inner energy. A serene and profound flute melody drifted across the Forbidden City. For an ordinary person to play such rich and elegant music on a single flute, the instrument itself would be a limitation. Yet Chu Xuan, one of the Four Young Masters, had achieved this. Leng Shuangcheng, unfamiliar with the Music Bureau, instinctively recognized the flute's melody—it was celestial music. "Chu Xuan's flute actually possesses the power to soothe the soul!"

Chu Xuan's performance was even more beautiful in the intervals between his playing. The soft, delicate strumming of the zither, though not a harmonious blend of zither and lute, had a unique charm. As the music gradually faded, Chu Xuan played the jade flute alone. The flute's melody suddenly changed, becoming low and mournful, like a sorrowful fairy from the moon palace, lamenting her longing and regret every night.

Leng Shuangcheng looked at Tang Xiaoshou, whose eyes were filled with tears and whose face was as pale as a willow. As the music gradually stopped, she lowered her head slightly and her shoulders trembled gently.

With a soft "whoosh," the music abruptly stopped, and the crowd, mesmerized, remained silent for a long time. Leng Shuangcheng felt a clear and peaceful heart, as if she were seeing the moon again on the night the city was destroyed, her face veiled in a soft glow. She looked at the official Qiu Ye had warned her about, and through the infatuated faces of the guests in front, she unexpectedly caught a sweet and passionate gaze.

Chu Chu's eyes were filled with tenderness, and her soft, cherry-like lips parted slightly amidst the delicate fragrance, appearing alluring and alluring. Leng Shuangcheng discerned the shape of her lips and noticed the repeated phrase, "Young Master Brother." She subtly pursed her lips, then shifted her gaze slightly, noticing several unusual occurrences in the room.

Four people simultaneously picked up their teacups, took a small sip, and held it in their mouths, their faces poised to unleash their power.

The guests remained motionless, as if lost in a fog, even after Chu Xuan's second gentle and soothing piece of music began to play!

In an instant, a bad premonition swept through Leng Shuangcheng's heart. She sensed that this was not just a simple celebration. She turned her head to look at Qiu Yeyijian. Qiu Yeyijian stood beside the imperial carriage, his handsome face exuding authority. He took a step forward, making his figure stand out among the four people. As soon as he moved, Leng Shuangcheng immediately understood and stared intently at the person from before.

At the same time, the four people below the stage changed their positions.

The tea leaves billowed into a wisp and flew towards the base of the platform. In an instant, wisps of thick smoke hissed from the bottom of the platform, which swayed like a massive giant, seemingly about to crash into the main platform behind it. In a split second, Qiu Yeyi slapped the imperial carriage with his right hand and slashed at the brocade seat beneath the Western Xia envoy with his left palm. With a push and a pull, he sent the two most important figures on the main platform out of the shadow of the slowly collapsing platform. He rose from the ground like scattered fireworks, then gracefully landed in front of the platform, his robes fluttering.

Qiu Ye, gazing at the silver light through his sword, coldly shouted amidst the chaos, "Commander Wei, protect the Lord and the envoy! The rest of you, do not move!" His voice, chilling and resounding, brought the more skilled guards and others to their senses.

With a wave of his hand, Yin Guang slammed the doors of the Zichen Palace shut. Wei Wuyi, who had already escorted the important figures away, leaped toward the main platform, leaving behind the Imperial Guards who surrounded them on three sides.

Qiu Yeyi stood facing the wind, her eyes fixed on the person Leng Shuangcheng had been staring at. The person hesitated for a moment, then flung the teacup at Qiu Yeyi with her right hand before flipping backward as if in a frenzy. The other three scattered in three directions like nimble rabbits.

Leng Shuangcheng had no choice but to move, because someone had already rushed towards the brocade platform. On the shaky platform, there were two figures: Ruan Ruan, who couldn't move, and Chu Xuan, who was protecting her. She unleashed her right palm, striking the person's back, and with a slight flap of her sleeves, leaped onto the platform in eight steps. Seeing that a stream of clear tea was about to spill onto Ruan Ruan's body, she slightly exerted her strength but realized she was running out of internal energy. Without thinking, she lunged forward.

With two hissing sounds, wisps of black smoke rose from Leng Shuangcheng's back, and his clothes instantly corroded and rotted, revealing several holes shaped like dragon eyes, from which blood gushed. Chu Xuan parried the assassin's palm strike for Ruan Ruan, and with a horizontal slash of his silver flute, he killed the assassin with a few moves.

Hearing the sound, Qiu Yeyi glanced back, then fixed her eyes on the fleeing figure. Her right hand, however, made a grabbing motion in the air, catching one of the falling pillars. Without looking, she flicked her wrist, piercing the official's chest. Then, with a flick of her finger, two thin wisps of wind blew past, and the remaining two, who had been fleeing in opposite directions, collapsed to the ground.

Now, everyone in the arena fell silent, their faces grim as they stared at the black-clad figure. Their gazes fell on the high platform behind him, and they couldn't help but gasp in astonishment.

Leng Shuangcheng caught a glimpse of Qiu Yeyi's subtle movement out of the corner of his eye—as he made a grasping motion with his right hand, he used his strength to pull the swaying stage towards himself, yet he didn't dodge, remaining motionless in the front of the arena. Amidst the gasps of the crowd, Leng Shuangcheng embraced Ruan Ruan, and they drifted down like willow branches in a gentle breeze.

Ruan Ruan, her eyes tightly closed and arms wrapped around Leng Shuangcheng's neck, opened them amidst the whistling wind. She saw a handsome face different from her brother's. The young man carried a faint, clean, and refreshing fragrance, and he gazed at her tenderly, smiling gently. That smile transported Ruan Ruan to a dreamlike state, as gentle and tender as the grass she had touched as a child. She looked at Leng Shuangcheng's face and smiled shyly, "Young Master has saved me twice."

Despite the pain, large beads of sweat dripped down Leng Shuangcheng's face as she smiled, unable to speak. Chu Xuan noticed Leng Shuangcheng's unusual behavior, quickly took Ruan Ruan from her, and looked at her with gratitude in his eyes.

The swaying stage collapsed with a crash. Leng Shuangcheng caught sight of the figure who remained unchanged and exclaimed in surprise, "Young Master..."

Upon hearing the sound, Qiu Yeyi moved with his sword. He spread his arms and leaped into the crowd, flying straight towards the last row of the Zichen Sect. The crowd could not dodge and fell to the ground like waves.

Tang Xiaoshou was greatly surprised. She turned around and tried to escape, but before she could make a move, the person grabbed her throat and she could no longer breathe or move.

Qiu Yeyi stared coldly into Tang Xiaoshou's eyes and uttered two words: "Antidote."

Tang Xiaoshou's face was pale, her lips tightly closed, and she turned to look to the side.

Qiu Ye grabbed Tang Xiaoshou by the collar with her sword and lightly landed on the abandoned stage. She looked at a member of the Imperial Guard and said, "Search her." Then she threw Tang Xiaoshou at the man.

Tang Xiaoshou's body trembled violently, but her hands and feet were immobilized by the pressure points, so she could only hiss and shout, "You..."

Qiu Yeyijian turned her gaze away, pursed her thin lips, and looked at her coldly.

With a hiss, the guard ripped open Tang Xiaoshou's outer garment, grabbed her collar, and was about to tear off the second piece.

"Stop." It was Chu Xuan who spoke. Qiu Yeyi glanced at Leng Shuangcheng out of the corner of her eye, and her expression changed as if she had breathed a sigh of relief. Her eyes darkened involuntarily.

After settling Ruan Ruan into a seat, Chu Xuan turned around and bowed deeply to Qiu Ye Yijian, saying gently, "Your Highness, searching this young man's private parts in such a public manner is not befitting your status."

Qiu Yeyi ignored him, her gaze fixed on Tang Xiaoshou. She raised her right hand slightly and slashed at the platform beside her, the sound echoing loudly.

With a few swift movements, the once unbreakable pillar instantly turned to dust. As everyone stood in stunned silence, a chilling voice rang out: "Who dares to touch my people, Qiu Ye Yi Jian!"

Everyone stared at the stage, exchanging puzzled glances. Yin Guang looked at Leng Shuangcheng with concern, noticing his face growing paler and his body trembling slightly upon hearing this.

If no one could understand the words spoken just now, then Yin Guang and Tang Xiaoshou in the arena certainly understood them. Yin Guang thought that the young master's treatment of Chu Yi and Leng Qi was out of protectiveness; while Tang Xiaoshou, with a woman's intuition, knew that this black-clad youth held a very special place in Qiu Ye Yijian's heart.

As Tang Xiaoshou's heart churned like a stormy sea, he heard Qiu Yeyi's sinister voice again: "Tang Xiaoshou, I'll count to three. If you don't make a move by now, I guarantee you'll be allowed to enter Caomen Street alive."

Everyone's expression changed, because everyone in the capital knew that Caomen Street was a place with abundant brothels outside the palace, and most princes and nobles liked to patronize the young men and women of Caomen. Qiu Yeyi said that sending someone there alive would mean that person's life would be tortured and tormented, and no one dared to question the truth of this statement.

Leng Shuangcheng could no longer bear it, and her vision went black as she collapsed to the ground.

Qiu Yeyi didn't even glance at it, coldly counting, "One."

Yin Guang couldn't help but step forward, eager to help Leng Shuangcheng up, but seeing the young master's icy gaze, he could only freeze in shock.

"two."

Chu Xuan sighed softly, seemingly speechless in the face of Qiu Yeyijian, who held a high position of power.

"three."

As soon as she finished speaking, Qiu Yeyi's sinister eyes fell on Tang Xiaoshou's palms. Tang Xiaoshou, with tears in her eyes, roared loudly, "Killing me won't cure you!"

Qiu Yeyi stepped forward, looking directly into her eyes, and said coldly, "Tang Qi, if I strip you naked, do you think Tang Jingtian would be able to bear the shame?"

At this moment, Tang Xiaoshou's body trembled uncontrollably as if she had suffered a severe injury: "You demon, why did I..." Seeing that the guards beside her were about to attack again at Qiu Yeyi's signal, she cried out, "In my hat..."

Qiu Ye grabbed at Tang Xiao's narrow black hat with her sword, revealing a head of cloud-like hair.

Just as Qiu Yeyijian walked towards the fallen figure, everyone below gasped in surprise. Chu Chu and Ruan Ruan widened their eyes, their faces showing deep shock and understanding: Tang Xiaoshou was actually a woman, and Tang Qi, the only direct descendant of the Poison King Tang Jingtian! Qiu Yeyijian actually went to such lengths for a mere guard. The rumors that the young master of Bixie was fiercely protective and vindictive were indeed true!

Qiu Ye, gazing at the silver light through her sword, uttered two words, "Clear the area," then walked to Leng Shuangcheng's side, lifted him by the waist, and with her robes fluttering, turned and left, her steps neither hurried nor slow. Upon reaching Xuande Gate, she placed him in the carriage, closed the door, and knocked lightly twice. The coachman understood and slowly drove off.

Qiu Yeyi pinched Leng Shuangcheng's chin, crushed the pill, and poured it into his mouth. She then took out a pearl and did the same to him, her face icy cold. After a moment's hesitation, she turned Leng Shuangcheng's left wrist over and examined it closely, her eyes flashing with a fleeting, uncertain gloom.