Chapter 341 A Request to Meet You
Voice faded. The sudden chill around his neck failed the rogue to say anything. A dagger directly cut into the wall next to him, only a li away. The person sat in the carriage in the alley far with genuine energy, “Cannot compare with the past. But to cope with such a guy like you, I use an arm is more than enough. I will count to ten. Just make your disappearance on your own.”
After he finished his word, the rogue disappeared. Prince Ning, Leng Zhongxiao leaned forward out of the carriage to stare at the young man passed out around the corner of the alley.
“Why did Your Highness save the person of Shangguan Family? If they had not meddled with these things out of thin air, Your Highness wouldn’t break your arm to prove your innocence.” The old servant felt unfair obviously. He didn’t understand why Prince Ning saved the concubine’s child of Shangguan Family. The day Shangguan Family was confiscated, all their hereditary title of nobility and feats went to waste. Their master was degraded to plebeian. Prominent criminals, such as Shangguan Yuen, were executed. As for Shangguan Yi, the famous Confucian scholar in Qi, he was repatriated to the regions south of the River. The Emperor forbade him to step into the Royal City forever. The fall of Shangguan Family scattered previous followers. But those who applauded for its fall were not a minority.
But Prince Ning, who was forced into such a degree, chose to stay silent.
“If every revenge should be taken, Jing Donghua was killed under my blade at an earlier period of time.” Prince Ning sighed with melancholy. He looked at Qin Baochuan, who was lying in the carriage asleep. The raging undercurrent in the Royal City made security becoming worse. Prince Ning reduced the chance to get out. This time, not for seizing Qin Baochuan, who said to protect his sister for the seventh time, he won’t go out either.
This child was a little shy but lovely stubborn, just like his daughter-in-law. Since she entrusted him, he ought to protect her younger brother.
Sima Ray had been dead. According to the pigeon’s letter received this morning, Yu Haitang was in power right now. Though Prince Ning knew less about the person, he learned that this person was not that simple.
“Let’s go.” Prince Ning looked at the concubine’s child of the Shangguan Family from far away in the alley. He moved his eyes. The carriage set out again.
The blurred night covered the disturbance in the Royal City. At the frontier, the winter night was much colder. Spring was about to begin. Ping Cheng was chilled, though. A tiny oil lamp, two or three sleepless people-Maner was boiling water to prepare tea for Leng Changxi and his fellows who were having a midnight meeting on the other side of the tent. She sleepily rubbed her eyelids and got up for some tea leaves. Suddenly, she saw Leng Wu standing outside the tent, watching her quietly.
Such abruptly, Maner got scared.
“Stand and say nothing. You just like a ghost!” Maner glanced at Leng Wu with a pouting smile. She didn’t stop what she was doing. Once the tea leaves were pinched a small piece of the tea cake and thrown into the boiling water, her hand was held tightly by another big hand.
Being ignorant of the time, Leng Wu eagerly closed her.
“What are you doing?” Maner lowered her head and pushed Leng Wu, “The Madam and The General are waiting for tea breaks.”
Leng Wu paused for a moment and said tenderly, “I miss you so much, Maner. It’s my fault that I ignore to accompany you. I’ll keep you at the side once we back to the Royal City.”
Everyone was busy along this way. As Leng Changxi’s closest bodyguard, Leng Wu must have held substantial responsibilities. Maner, on the other side, was Qin Yunuan’s right-hand woman. To count, they hadn’t spoken such closely for several days.
Maner shyly bowed her head and nodded heavily, “We will have plain days once the war is over. I want to bear a lot of children, watching them grow up and step into marriage.”
Leng Wu couldn’t help to hug his Maner. She was thinner than before, “Whether you have a son or a daughter, as long as it’s yours, I’d love it.”
Someone was calling outside.
Yuanyang came in saying, “Maner, Madam is waiting…” Yuanyang paused and had a dry cough. She saw Leng Wu and Maner’s honey scenario and shook her head, “Alright, I will bring them in for you. Keep going. You guys just keep going.”
Maner didn’t get the nerve to continue. Her soft fist pounded on Leng Wu’s broad chest. Watching Yuanyang leaving, she regretted, “Look at you! I’m embarrassed to be seen by Yuanyang. Later you will do night duty, go fast, go!”
“I won’t leave,” Leng Wu was a straight fool, “Let’s chat for a while since she already saw it.”
Maner pushed Leng Wu out of the tent, smiling, “Leave now, Vanguard Leng. Night watchers are waiting for your command.”
Leng Wu was reluctant to leave. Though Maner was urging, after Leng Wu left, the sweetness in her heart overflew in the corner of her lips. She lowered her head and smiled subtly. Inside her heart was the warmth between them. She burned the fire hotter. All of a sudden, a tall shadow covered her head again. Maner thought it was Leng Wu again and fainted to be angry, “Why did you show up again?”
Suddenly, a white mist charmed her eyes. The next moment she lost her consciousness completely.
And in this side, Yuanyang presented the tea plate into the tent for Maner. With charcoal fire about to extinguish, the temperature was going down. Yuanyang put a cup of tea at Qin Yunuan’s hand then went to add more coal to the charcoal fire. Qin Yunuan served a tea to Leng Changxi.
“Leng Shuang, what you said was true?” After a long time, Leng Changxi broke the silence, “His ability not only can transfer one’s internal skills and ability, but also have a great chance to transfer one’s disposition and memory? Isn’t that the same as transferring one’s soul to another’s body? That is to say…” Leng Changxi was speechless.
“Indeed. Yu Haitang was now the united form of Xu Ji, Qiu Shuihan and Sima Ray.” Qin Yunuan spoke out what Leng Changxi was thinking.
“Not really,” Leng Changxi shook his head. The situation might be worse than what they imagined. “Do you still remember? The way Sima Ray died was different from that of Xu Ji and Qiu Shuihan. His internal Qi remained, though his soul disappeared. Yu Haitang only inherited his soul without his internal Qi. Did it do any good to him? What could he benefit from Sima Ray’s memory and disposition?”
Thought for a while, Qin Yunuan spoke slowly, “On the contrary, it did no good to Yu Haitang. But for Sima Ray, it’s like he changed his body with the same soul.”
Leng Changxi continued naturally, “A body with deep internal Qi knew how to control one’s spirit and communicate with heaven.”
Leng Shuang nodded, “That method can absorb the internal Qi of a person which prolongs life. It is said juvenescence can happen.”
All these clues went to one conclusion. Sima Ray would be tremendously benefited.
Thinking of the person who was in a coma, Qin Yunuan got chilled. That man was dreadfully horrible.
“So everything is in Sima Ray’s plan.” Qin Yunuan frowned. Her fingertips kept pointing on the case. “We all thought it was Yu Haitang that manipulated, threatened, and frightened Sima Ray. In fact, it was Sima Ray that used Yu Haitang to inherit Qiu Shuihan and Xu Ji’s ability. Perhaps victims were more than two. He was a master of it.”
“He’s gone crazy!” Leng Changxi was referring to Sima Ray. Sima Ray gave up his body and noble identity to be an older man over the nineties to absorb so many abilities without effort. “But it is a good thing, on the other hand. At least we know who is in charge of Ping Cheng. It is said to be Yu Haitang, still the crazy Sima Ray. To be in a leading active position was not a bad thing.”
Qin Yunuan knew that Leng Changxi was comforting people who were present. Anyway, the truth was over amazing and over scary. Nobody knew where the original personality of Yu Haitang was.
At this moment, Yuanyang in the tent next door hurried in with black coal smeared on her dress.
“That’s terrible. General, Madam, Maner is missing.”
“What happened?” Qin Yunuan straightened up. Her eyes showed that she was uneasy, “Was she going for Leng Wu? Or simply going out?”
“Neither,” Yuanyang gasped, “When I’m back, it was empty in that tent. Initially, I thought she was just going out, but when I fetched for charcoals, I saw a brief note left on it.” She passed the brief note to Qin Yunuan as she was saying.
It was written clearly enough. The handwriting was such familiar.
“I hereby request a meeting with you in the east grove tomorrow. Alone, if you want to see your good sis.”
It was unknown who the “you” was referring to.
“Of course me.” Qin Yunuan knew this handwriting. It was Sima Ray’s. He never gave up his sinister designs to forcibly occupy her body and soul. Now, to get a chance to meet her, he dared to kidnap Maner, the girl who grew up with her. He must recognize the profound relationship between Qin Yunuan and Maner that he particularly put his hand to her.
Maner, it was my bad. How would sick Sima Ray deal with you? Please be safe. If you had something trouble, how could I explain to my mother and Leng Wu?