Who could have known that the great army of 100,000 left behind by the Imperial Duke had split up and gone into hiding as bandits? This nifty tactic successfully avoided the surveillance of the Qizhen Emperor and the Imperial Court.
What’s even more surprising is that the Liu Sect headed by the seven brothers was actually part of the great army. If there wasn’t that conflict between the seven that resulted in the dissolution of the sect, the army wouldn’t have lost a pillar of strength either.
Zhao Huai spoke. “The Northern army had already disbanded and there’s not much manpower left in my stronghold. However, I will immediately recall all of my brothers when the time is right. We will keep fighting until the last man standing.”
A spirited declaration! It was as though he had resolved himself to gamble everything he had on it.
That day, the act of disbanding his comrades in the stronghold, was merely a ruse.
After all, the incident had already grabbed the attention of the Imperial Court. They would be sitting ducks and at the mercy of others if he had not disbanded them then and there!
Old Master Wen sighed. “Back in the day when I was on the battlefield with your father, you were but a wee lad. But now, you have already grown up, and even inherited your father’s drive. If your deceased father could see you now, he would be proud.”
“My father had spent over a decade looking for the little prince, waiting to avenge the Imperial Duke. As his son, it is my duty to help him fulfil his last wishes.”
“You’ll definitely succeed.” Old Master Wen was confident. After a moment, a worried expression crept over his face. He slowly stepped out of the hall and gazed up at the round moon hanging in the sky. “However, what worries me the most right now, is how we should reveal all these to the little prince and let him use the command token that His Highness had left behind, to storm the capital with the army.”
Hearing that, Zhao Huai stepped forward. “Uncle Wen, we have to wait for the opportune moment before telling the little prince the truth. We must not be hasty; we’ve already waited for fourteen years, what’s a few days more compared to that?” That’s right!
However, Madam Wen was still worried. She asked anxiously, with tears in her eyes. “Since he will know about it sooner or later, why not tell him everything right now? The little prince seems to be close to that Prince Rong. The longer we delay, the worse it would be.”
Her concern wasn’t unfounded. If it was the Qizhen Emperor who had ordered the Imperial Duke’s men to be set on fire, then as his son, Jing Rong would also bear the same debt and would be the little prince’s enemy.
Yet, given how close the relationship between the two appeared, Madam Wen worried that, when push came to shove, the little prince would spare Jing Rong and compromise their entire plan.
Old Master Wen understood what his wife’s concerns and sighed. “Let’s wait a while more.”
……
It was already dark when they had finally returned to Anchang Manor.
Mo Ruo and Tang Si were feeling the effects of the alcohol and the two of them stumbled their way into their own rooms.
On the other hand, Jing Rong escorted Ji Yunshu to her courtyard.
The remains were still lying there in the open. Although it was covered with a piece of white cloth, one would still feel creeped out if they were to happen to glance upon them in the middle of the night.
Ji Yunshu spoke.“You better go back and rest.”
Jing Rong shamelessly replied,“I’m still feeling the effects of the alcohol, I can’t sleep.”
“Go rest for a while in the courtyard, I’ll get Qiao’er to make a bowl of hangover soup for you.”
“Alright.”
Pleased to be getting his way, Jing Rong gave a wicked grin before obediently sitting down at the stone bench in the courtyard as Ji Yunshu instructed Qiao’er to bring a bowl of hangover soup. [1]
Under the illumination of the moon and the gentle night breeze, the two sat in the courtyard gazing at the moon. Moments later, Jing Rong slowly shifted his gaze to Yunshu’s exquisite features. This woman is truly beautiful. Even while clothed in men’s attire, that entrancing presence of hers was difficult to mask. The corners of Jing Rong’s lips curled as he gave her a smile.
Ji Yunshu met with his gaze as she lowered her eyes from the moon. “What are you looking at?”
“I’m looking at you.”
“What’s there to look at?”
“Everything, of course.” This man’s words were as sweet as if they had been slathered in honey.
Ji Yunshu turned her head away, refusing to reply.
Jing Rong on the other hand, was having the time of his life. He commented languidly. “If it weren’t for the case. Yufu County is really a place that is worth visiting.”
It truly is worth visiting.
With beautiful birdsong and fragrant flowers!
With winding rivers and misty mountains!
The serenity! The elegance!
A single sentence from Ji Yunshu threw a bucket of cold water on his enthusiasm. “Please put more thought into the disaster relief funds and stop thinking of nonsense.” [2]
“This prince has his own plans.” Jing Rong replied confidently. His gaze lingered at the remains that were placed at the side and jerked his chin towards it. “What about you? You’re not going to let this thing sit there forever, right?”
This thing? Bro, are you not afraid of Ye’er visiting you in your sleep?
Ji Yunshu replied. “Tomorrow, I’ll make a trip to the Qiao Estate.”
“Then let Ziran follow you.”
“I’ll pass on that, you know he’s not on good terms with Ziling. Chances are high that there will be some kind of ruckus if they are together. It’s going to be a waste of time if I have to play peacemaker on top of that.”
What she said was true. Jing Rong pondered for a while. “Then you should bring Miss Tang along. With her martial arts, she’ll be able to lend you a hand if you were to face trouble.”
Ji Yunshu rolled her eyes. “I’m there to handle a case, not to fight.” She stressed on the ‘handle a case’ part.
However, Jing Rong had already made up his mind to pass this steaming hot potato to her. “Just bring her along, just in case.”
Helpless, Ji Yunshu could only concede.
Soon after, Qiao’er brought over the requested bowl of hangover soup and silently excused herself. Jing Rong took the bowl and drank a few mouthfuls before commenting. “That lass sure is obedient.”
The effects of the alcohol seemed to have diminished quite a bit as his eyes seemed more lively than before. Suddenly, he recalled something and asked Ji Yunshu. “That Old Master and Madam Wen...seem to be quite fond of you.”
Ah! Ji Yunshu replied. “You noticed?”
“It was so obvious, how could I not? Don’t tell me they have a favour to ask of you? Or do they have other ulterior motives?”
“I don’t think they want a favour.” She shook her head thoughtfully. “Old Master Wen and Madam Wen do not seem to be troubled. There’s something else, I just don’t know what. They couldn’t have been so hospitable to me just because I had taken care of Xiao Xiyue, right?” Of course not!
Jing Rong reminded her. “Regardless, there might be something suspicious about them, you have to be careful. If this prince is not around, you are not allowed to go there. After all, one should still be wary of others.”
“I understand.”
……
The next day.
“Ah!” A sky-deafening yell came from Tang Si’s room.
At this moment, Tang Si sat on a messy bed while hugging a bundle of blankets with both hands. She looked at Mu Ruo, whom she had just kicked off the bed, with a mixed expression of rage and shock.
Mo Ruo frowned as he got up from the ground whilst rubbing his sore behind.
“Beast!”
Huh? Who are you calling a beast? Mo Ruo shook his head in an attempt to clear his head before finally realizing that someone had just kicked him off the bed. Just who was ballsy enough to do such a thing? To even dare to kick the divine physician?
Mo Ruo turned around to find the culprit, only to see Tang Si sitting on the bed with red-rimmed eyes, clutching the blanket in an attempt to cover her body. On her face was a plain accusation towards him - pervert!
[1] Aru-note: was so close to making it "Just according to keikaku" as a joke reference to this meme! https://knowyourmeme.com/memes/just-according-to-keikaku
[2] TLN: JYS can you not be so practical and let us bask in romance for a bit?