Третий учёный династии Сун

Глава 13

"Shh..." Si Junxing covered her mouth, "It's just for show." He pointed to the door. After listening carefully, he turned back to tidy the blankets, "Later, I'll sleep on the floor."

Si Junxing kept his word. After lying on the bed for a while, he went to sleep on the floor. He spread a thin blanket on the floor and covered Lin Suyang with the thicker blanket, without adding anything for himself.

Lin Suyang tossed and turned, unable to sleep. She thought that Si Junxing must have been exhausted these past two days. Was it too much to ask him to sleep on the floor? Although it was early spring, the nights were still chilly. Even a martial artist would probably find it unbearable.

The more she thought about it, the less she could sleep. Finally, Lin Suyang simply sat up and said to Si Junxing, who was lying down, "Why don't you come up and sleep here? The floor is cold."

Hearing this, Si Junxing chuckled to himself and immediately got up and climbed into bed. He threw back the covers, and a gust of cold wind blew in, making Lin Suyang shiver. Remembering her injury, Si Junxing quickly snuggled back in and pulled her into a tight embrace.

Lin Suyang was startled, and asked with a cold face, "What are you doing..."

"You won't be cold if I hold you," Si Junxing whispered in her ear, tightening his grip on her as if trying to transfer all his warmth to her.

Lin Suyang understood his good intentions and stopped talking. However, it was hard to remain calm in this state, but fortunately she was exhausted and soon fell asleep.

Si Junxing gazed quietly at the sleeping face in his arms. After a long while, he kissed Lin Suyang's warm, flushed cheeks and said slowly, "With me here, you won't be cold."

The next day, Lin Suyang found out the location and learned that it was within the territory of Chenggao County. Thirty li west along the road would lead to Chenggao County town. Lin Suyang remembered that the magistrate of Chenggao County was Liu Ming, who had taken the imperial examination in the same year as him and had also been granted the title of Tan Hua (third-place scholar) by the late emperor. He wondered if he should pay him a visit, since they were colleagues after all. After bidding farewell to the two elders, he and Si Junxing headed west together.

As Lin Suyang walked along the road, she kept thinking about how to get Si Junxing to stop following her. After thinking for a long time, she finally mustered up her courage and said to Si Junxing in front of her, "Don't you... have anything else to do?"

Si Junxing stopped: "Are you kicking me out?" His aggrieved look made Lin Suyang's eyelids twitch.

"No, that..."

"No need to say anything, aren't you going to Yan City?"

"How did you know?" Lin Suyang asked, puzzled.

"With the martial arts tournament attracting so many martial artists, who would believe the court wouldn't take countermeasures? We guessed Emperor Hong would send someone to investigate, but we didn't expect it to be someone as ignorant as you. However, that's precisely his cleverness; who would have thought the court would send a scholar as a spy?" Si Junxing sneered.

"Also, the people who chased you that day will definitely not give up searching for you, and it might be dangerous for you to travel alone. Besides, do you even know the road from Chenggao to Yancheng?"

“This…” Lin Suyang was speechless.

“I’ve said it before, I will definitely find an antidote for your injury. I can be your safest bodyguard.” Si Junxing looked at her intently.

Lin Suyang had long forgotten that he was still injured. If he really went on the road alone, not to mention whether he would encounter the guard team, even if he did, he probably wouldn't have time to complete the mission.

"Thank you." Lin Suyang was grateful that Si Junxing always thought of her so carefully. She turned her head away, avoiding his gaze. Si Junxing, however, smiled bitterly to himself. *Lin Suyang, when will you understand that what I want isn't just those two words?*

After walking for a while, Si Junxing remembered that he needed to disguise Lin Suyang. Lin Suyang asked, "How do I disguise her?" She always felt averse to the idea of disguising herself.

"There are two methods. One is to use a human skin mask to travel in the martial arts world. This is the safest method. Unless you are a master of disguise, no matter how strong your martial arts are, you won't be able to recognize it. Of course, very few people use it because it is too difficult to make..."

"I don't want to." Before Si Junxing could finish speaking, Lin Suyang refused, a shiver running down her spine at the thought of another person's face being pressed against hers. "Aren't there two methods? What else?"

"The second option is medication, but the effects don't last long, and those with stronger skills can easily detect it. It also causes significant damage to the skin." Si Junxing didn't approve of her using medication.

Lin Suyang replied, "It's alright, just use the medicine. Once we get to the city, we can buy some clothes to disguise ourselves." Si Junxing couldn't persuade her otherwise, so he had no choice but to use the medicine to make her look like an ordinary woman. He then put on a human skin mask of a young man himself, and then pulled her to look at him from left to right. Only when he saw that there were no flaws did he feel relieved.

Volume Two, Chapter Thirty-Four: The Journey to Chenggao (Part 1)

For the past few days, Qin Yu had been feeling uneasy, as if something had happened. The驸马 (imperial son-in-law) had been gone from Yundu for over half a month, and yet not a single letter had arrived. Could something have truly happened to him? He tried to contact Lin Ziyan, but couldn't find him. He wanted to speak with his father-in-law, but every time he returned to the Lin residence, he said he was at Minister Li's house. He wandered the streets for a while, then returned home to an empty house, which only fueled his unease. Finally, Qin Yu couldn't bear it any longer and went to the palace, determined to find Qin Hao and get to the bottom of things.

"Your Majesty..." Stepping into the Imperial Study, Qin Yu saw Lin Ziyan there. Upon seeing him, her heart sank. Could he be the Imperial Son-in-Law? So she quickly asked, "Is there any news about the Imperial Son-in-Law?"

Lin Ziyan and Qin Hao both had gloomy faces, as if they had just had a disagreement. Qin Yu stepped forward and looked at Qin Hao anxiously, asking, "Brother, tell me, is there any news about the驸马 (imperial son-in-law)?"

Qin Hao softened his expression and said, "No, Yu'er, the Prince Consort has a mission to complete right now, he's probably very busy."

Qin Yu didn't believe it: "But I haven't received a single letter from home. No matter how far the prince consort travels or how busy he is, he always writes to me. Are you lying to me?"

“Yu’er, stop fooling around. The prince consort’s mission is different from before. This time we must be careful. If he is suspected, his life will be in danger. Do you want him to have his identity exposed because of a letter he wrote to you?” Qin Hao scolded.

"Is it really because I'm too busy?" Qin Yu still had doubts.

"Yes, that's right. Don't worry, he'll write to you after this period of time. Alright, Yu'er, I have important matters to discuss with Commander Lin, you should go back now." Qin Hao waved his hand.

"Brother, remember to inform me immediately if there is any news about the imperial son-in-law."

"Yes, I will." After receiving Qin Hao's confirmation, Qin Yu left. When she passed Lin Ziyan, she glanced at him and saw that he was clenching his fists as if he wanted to punch someone. She couldn't help but wonder what had happened between him and her brother.

After Qin Yu left, Lin Ziyan immediately knelt on the ground: "Your Majesty, please allow me to go and search for my brother."

"Just you alone? What can you do? Didn't you hear that the Grand Tutor fell off a cliff? Search? How are you going to search?" Qin Hao was extremely agitated. Everything in front of him seemed like an eyesore.

"Your Majesty, I believe my brother will surely escape danger. If he falls off the cliff, I will go to the bottom to search for him. I will not return until I find him." Lin Ziyan raised his head and said earnestly.

"I also believe that the Grand Tutor is not so easily harmed. You don't need to go looking for him. I will send someone else. I'm giving you a task: go and investigate who exactly sent people to hunt down the Grand Tutor and his men that day. Once you find out, tell me immediately."

“But Your Majesty…” Lin Ziyan wanted to say more, but Qin Hao interrupted her, saying, “No need to say more. It’s decided. I will inform you immediately if there is any news. Also, do not tell Yu’er and Minister Lin about this for the time being.”

Seeing that there was no room for negotiation, Lin Ziyan had no choice but to say, "Yes, Your Majesty. I take my leave."

When the Dragon Guard's black robes and golden dragon emblem appeared, Qin Hao asked in a deep voice, "How is it? Have you found any news about Lin Suyang?"

The Dragon Guard leader bowed and replied, "Your Majesty, I led my men to search the bottom of the cliff, but there was no trace of Grand Tutor Lin within a hundred miles. Later, I heard that someone saw an immortal at the foot of Changshan Mountain near Chenggao County, which happens to be the place where the water from the bottom of the cliff flows downstream. I wonder if it could be..."

"Could it be Lin Suyang?" Qin Hao's eyes lit up. Lin Suyang's beauty was unparalleled; if ignorant people saw him, they might mistake him for a deity. So he immediately said, "Take men and investigate right away. If it really is him, protect him well. Also, have you found out who those two groups of men in black are?"

According to the guards' report, there were three groups of men in black that night. Among them were his own Dragon Guards, of course, while the other two groups were hostile. He just didn't know who sent the ones who helped Lin Suyang, or who ordered the assassin to kill him.

"Your Majesty, after investigation, those who attempted to assassinate the Grand Tutor were all desperate thugs who valued money over life. I also discovered that they seemed to have connections with officials in the court..." The rest of the words were whispered in Qin Hao's ear.

Hearing what Long Wei said, Qin Hao frowned: "Continue to investigate thoroughly. I need concrete evidence and everyone involved in this matter."

"You said Lin Suyang fell off a cliff?" Wang Cheng asked, sitting in a chair and talking to someone in the corner, while fiddling with a jade wine glass.

"Yes, I saw him fall with my own eyes. Below the cliff is a raging river; he shouldn't have survived," a voice replied from the shadows.

"Should? I don't want 'should,' I want 'definitely.'"

With a "crack," Wang Cheng slammed the jade cup to the ground. "Mobilize half of the private guards to search. Bring him back to me, dead or alive. Be careful this time, lest we be wiped out again. I'm afraid the young emperor is already on guard..." Wang Cheng said worriedly, gazing at the sky outside the window.

Chenggao County is a county town that is neither too big nor too small. Compared to the prosperity of Yundu, it is at best a remote town. For hundreds of years, nothing major has happened in Chenggao. It is neither a transportation hub nor a place rich in resources. It has always played an insignificant role. Its prosperity depends entirely on providing food and lodging for travelers between the capital and the southwest.

Upon entering the city gates, Lin Suyang sensed an atmosphere entirely different from Yundu: refreshing and elegant, filled with tranquil peace. This was the kind of place Lin Suyang longed for. At this moment, she envied Liu Ming, who didn't have to be involved in the intrigues of the court, nor worry about the constant strife. On sunny days, he could stroll through the small town, chat with the people, or brew a pot of tea in his own courtyard and admire the flowers. Even without great achievements, as long as the city was peaceful and orderly, being a minor county magistrate wouldn't be a problem.

Lin Suyang, lost in daydreams about the comfortable life he would lead as the magistrate of Chenggao County, suddenly remembered something serious when he saw Si Junxing striding towards a lavishly decorated restaurant: he had no money! He had entrusted all his belongings and travel expenses to Yi, and after everything that had happened, he hadn't had the time or opportunity to consider this issue. Now that he was out, it had become a major problem. The journey from here to Yancheng was still so long; without money, he would be unable to move an inch.

Thinking of this, Lin Suyang quickly stepped forward and grabbed Si Junxing, asking, "Do you... have money?"

Si Junxing was stunned for a moment, then suddenly slapped his forehead: "Look at me, I had forgotten even if you hadn't mentioned it. Come with me." With that, he pulled her toward another street.

Arriving at the entrance of a money exchange called Juyi, Si Junxing said to Lin Suyang, "Wait here." Then he went inside alone. Lin Suyang stood outside and saw Si Junxing say something to the people inside, then take something out of his pocket and wave it in front of them. The people looked at him with respect, and a moment later, Si Junxing came out happily carrying a half-sized bag.

"Look, here it is." He waved the bag in front of Lin Suyang and handed it to her. Lin Suyang took it, opened it, and saw several stacks of silver notes and a few gold leaves crammed inside.

Lin Suyang had little concept of money in this world because she rarely went shopping. Even when she occasionally accompanied Qin Yu, she only brought some loose change. Therefore, she didn't know exactly how much money was in this inconspicuous cloth bag. Although she didn't understand, she had a feeling that this amount of money was probably not ordinary.

"How do you have so much money?" she asked.

“My friend owns a money exchange; he’s very wealthy. He won’t mind lending me a little bit,” Si Junxing said nonchalantly. “Just take it with you; I’m not good at managing these things.”

Lin Suyang tossed it to him, saying, "Take it yourself." Then she walked away.

Si Junxing called out from behind, "Let's go buy clothes first."

Upon entering the clothing store, Lin Suyang felt somewhat uneasy. She had shopped there with Qin Yu before, and each time she tried to wait at the entrance, but the admiring glances from passersby were too intense, so she always ended up fleeing into the store. Therefore, the clothing store was like a refuge for her, which explained why she felt uncomfortable.

This time, Lin Suyang still stood at the far end of the shop with her head down, forgetting that she had disguised herself and was now just an ordinary woman.

Si Junxing looked through all the clothes in the shop from beginning to end, then picked out a few simple and elegant women's clothes and asked the shopkeeper to pack them up. He himself chose one or two light blue men's robes. Before paying, he carefully selected a few pieces of fine white gauze before paying with satisfaction.

Lin Suyang looked at the bulging bag he was carrying and asked curiously, "Why did you buy so much?"

"It looks good on you." The words were spoken as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

This time, he could finally walk into the restaurant without worry. Lin Suyang noticed that the restaurant's name was Jiayao Lou (佳肴楼), which sounded quite appealing. "Delicious food, delicious food," he thought, "the drunkard knows nothing of wine, may I ask if you have any delicious food?" It was indeed a good name.

As soon as you entered, a waiter ran up to greet you and said, "Sir, please come in."

"Can I stay here?" Si Junxing asked as they walked.

"Of course," the waiter replied with a smile, then turned to the innkeeper standing behind the counter and said, "Innkeeper, we have guests checking in."

"How many rooms would you like, sir?" the innkeeper asked.

"Two rooms."

“One room,” both voices said simultaneously.

Lin Suyang glanced at Si Junxing, giving him a cold warning. Si Junxing sheepishly touched his nose and said, "Then... two rooms it is."

The innkeeper looked down and flipped through the yellowed notebook on the table. Finally, he looked up and said apologetically, "I'm sorry, gentlemen, our inn is so crowded today that we only have one room left." Lin Suyang frowned.

“I see…” Si Junxing glanced at her furtively. “How about we go to another place?” he said, feigning reluctance.

"Fine, one room it is then," Lin Suyang said, finding it troublesome.

"Alright, please wait a moment, sir. Xiao Sanzi, quickly take these two guests to room number nine," the innkeeper said to the waiter.

"Coming soon."

Volume Two, Chapter Thirty-Five: The Journey to Chenggao (Part Two)

Following the waiter through the main hall, they arrived at a courtyard at the back. The courtyard had two floors, each with about six rooms. After going up the stairs, the waiter led them straight to the end of the corridor. Lin Suyang carefully checked the room numbers; this floor was all odd-numbered, so the floor below must be even-numbered.

Once inside the room, the environment seemed alright, and opening the window revealed a view of the entire courtyard.

Si Junxing said to the waiter who was about to leave, "Go and fetch a few buckets of hot water. Also, order some of your restaurant's signature dishes. We'll be down in a bit."

He gave the waiter a few taels of loose silver, and the waiter happily said, "Thank you, sir."

After closing the door, Si Junxing said to Lin Suyang, "Go downstairs for dinner after you take a bath. I'll wait for you downstairs." Lin Suyang was touched that he had called the waiter to fetch water for her, but simply said, "Thanks."

After the hot water was brought in, Si Junxing went downstairs. Lin Suyang took a refreshing shower; the sticky makeup cream on her face was incredibly uncomfortable, and she never wanted to use it again unless absolutely necessary.

She took out the clothes Si Junxing had bought from her bundle and put them on; they fit her perfectly. Didn't she realize that Si Junxing hadn't just carried her all those times for nothing? He must have known her measurements inside and out. She had initially considered continuing to wear men's clothing, since that was her "natural" gender, but then she thought that the assassins didn't know her true identity, and reverting to women's clothing might be safer and easier for gathering information. So she agreed to let Si Junxing choose some women's clothes.

To this day, she still doesn't know who wants her dead. Thinking back on her actions in court, she hasn't made many enemies, only occasionally clashing with the Right Chancellor. Could it be him? Lin Suyang shook his head. There couldn't be such deep hatred between them. Besides, what good would killing her do him?

Lin Suyang didn't want to think too much; he just wanted to meet the guards as soon as possible, complete the mission, and return to Yundu. He didn't care about his injuries; after all, his life wasn't worth much. How long had it been since he last wrote to Qin Yu?

She gathered two long strands of hair from her temples, tied them back with a ribbon made of fabric, and left the rest loose. Her bangs, falling in front, danced lightly, like a forest gathering, alluringly disheveled. At first glance, they were jet black, like the finest silk, shimmering dazzlingly in the crisscrossing light of the room.

With her face veiled, Lin Suyang looked at herself in the water and thought she looked somewhat like Xuan Ge from the Weiyi Palace that night, only she was dressed much more conservatively.

After going downstairs, Si Junxing was sitting at a table by the window waiting. Seeing Lin Suyang arrive, he called out to the waiter, "Waiter, the food is ready."

"How about it? My taste isn't bad, is it? This color suits you perfectly." He looked her up and down.

Lin Suyang glanced at him: "Young Master Si has a discerning eye. I truly admire him..." She stopped abruptly. Seeing his ambiguous smile, she immediately said, "This humble woman truly admires you to the extreme. But I wonder how many young ladies you have captured the hearts of with this?"

"Can I take that as you being jealous?" Si Junxing asked, leaning closer to her with a playful smile.

"Whatever you think, young master is free to do. I have no right to interfere," Lin Suyang replied calmly.