Chapter 152 The Powerful Minister Returns to His Youth 6.

At the entrance of Yujia Village, a group of people stopped. In the center was a horse-drawn carriage. The horse was a tall and magnificent steed, and the carriage was made of carved redwood. Its size was so large that it almost completely blocked the already narrow dirt road.

Inside the car, a toddler, about three or four years old, wearing a red hood and a light yellow jacket, was peering out the window. His big, bright eyes, clear and bright, were darting around mischievously.

Beside her, a boy of about ten years old leaned against the car wall, half supporting and half hugging her, and said nervously, "A-Fu, since we've already sent someone to invite Mr. Yu, why are you in such a hurry? Stop looking around, be careful not to catch a cold."

As he spoke, he gestured for the guards around him to gather around and block out the wind. He continued, “Don’t you care about your health? Tell me, if Father knew you were sick and caught a chill on your way to Huai’an to find him, do you think we siblings would live or die?”

"I'm afraid we'll never be able to get Father to take us on any more long trips! He'll give us a good beating, and Mother won't be able to stop him..."

“Oh brother, it’s alright, I’m just looking, I’m not going out,” Princess Ye Zhixia, whose childhood name was Afu, interrupted her brother’s rambling. “We’ve never been to the countryside like this before, aren’t you curious? Look, there’s a big yellow dog over there!”

Ye Hanzhang said helplessly, "You're not even four years old yet, where did this 'grown up' come from?"

The little girl glanced at him, snorted, and didn't say anything, but Ye Hanzhang still heard her voice.

The voice was crisp and clear, just like Ah Fu's usual voice.

[Who do you think you are? In my past life, I was already ten years old, no younger than you!]

Ye Hanzhang tried his best to control his expression, but the light in his eyes still couldn't stay still and trembled slightly.

“Afu…”

The little girl casually replied, "Hmm?"

"N-nothing..."

Ye Hanzhang opened his mouth, but didn't ask the question that was on the tip of his tongue. Firstly, it seemed as if some unseen force was preventing him from asking, and secondly, he had concerns and dared not ask.

[My strange brother... He was strange even in his past life. He would kneel in the snow night after night, arguing with Father. When asked what they were arguing about, he wouldn't say...]

As Ye Hanzhang listened to the strange voice that seemed to be the voice of his heart, he closed his eyes, his heart sometimes sinking and sometimes floating.

These words have been heard for three days.

Three days ago, their father, having finished dealing with matters in the officialdom of southern Jiangsu, said he and his mother would be traveling incognito with their youngest uncle to Huai'an, leaving him to look after their beloved younger sister. However, no sooner had the three of them left than their beloved younger sister, Afu, mounted her pony and secretly ran away.

How could a three- or four-year-old child have such courage!

When Ye Hanzhang received the news, he was nearly scared out of his wits. He hurriedly led his men to chase after her. He had just caught up with his younger sister when the little girl launched into a series of twisted arguments and, with her tears and coaxing, he unwittingly led her on the road to Huai'an Prefecture.

Having traveled for less than half a day, Ye Hanzhang strangely heard those odd voices.

He was initially horrified, even suspecting he was hallucinating or delirious. But as the eldest grandson of the Great Qi Emperor, he had seen all sorts of situations, both inside and outside the palace, and managed to keep his composure. After some probing, he discovered that the voice seemed to truly be the voice of his sister, Afu. However, no one else could hear it except him, and Afu herself was unaware that he could hear her voice.

This is truly bizarre!

Moreover, and most importantly, there's the past life that Afu spoke of.

From the few words Afu uttered over the past two days, Ye Hanzhang has pieced together a truly bizarre story.

In this story, Afu is reborn; in his previous life, the little girl only lived to be ten years old.

When she was six years old, Emperor Tianxi suddenly appointed a crown prince. The crown prince was not their father, Prince Yong Ye Boyang, who was the most popular choice in the court and among the people, but their favorite little uncle, Ye Zangxing.

In Afu's memory, his father didn't seem to have argued with his youngest uncle, but after he became crown prince, they gradually stopped interacting. Occasionally, when Afu encountered his youngest uncle on the road, he would ask for candy, and Ye Zangxing would give him some. But when he turned around, his father or mother would always give him a cold look. Gradually, Afu stopped asking for candy altogether.

Later, the young prince went to the northern desert, and they followed their father to his fiefdom, arriving in Cenzhou in Jiangnan.

The following year, there seemed to be some turmoil in the court. The Prince Yong's mansion in Cenzhou was in chaos for a while, but then things calmed down again.

Not long after, Afu heard the news of his uncle's ascension to the throne. During that time, he could not see his father at the dinner table.

Then came the eve of Afu's tenth birthday. Her father, who had gone somewhere but promised to come back to celebrate her birthday, was nowhere to be found. As darkness fell, a large number of unfamiliar soldiers rushed in with torches. Her mother cried horribly, covering Afu's mouth tightly and holding her. Before the courtyard gate was pushed open, she jumped into the deep well.

Afu drowned. The last voice he heard before he died was a cold, stern shout: "I am the Commander of Southern Jiangsu, ordered to lead troops to capture the family of the traitor Prince Yong. Who dares to stop me!"

The young imperial uncle ascends the throne, the traitorous Prince Yong...

The story pieced together from Afu's heartfelt words left Ye Hanzhang restless.

Could that be true?

Or is it just Afu's nightmare?

But how could Afu, who is so young, say things she doesn't even understand if she hadn't actually experienced them?

Ye Hanzhang was unsure whether to believe what he had heard. He couldn't ask Afu, and his father and mother were not around. So he could only try to find out by observing Afu's actions and gathering information to verify the "future" Afu spoke of.

Right now, what Afu is most concerned about is the famous top scholar from Huai'an Prefecture from Yujia Village, Feishui County.

In Afu's heart, this top scholar was the greatest support for the young imperial uncle in the future. He was a man of extraordinary talent who single-handedly "implemented reforms", "pacified the southern Yue", and "quelled the rebellion of the Yong King". At only twenty-four years old, he became the youngest Grand Secretary of the Great Qi Dynasty. He was clearly a legendary figure.

Such a person, though only seventeen at the moment, should already be extraordinary.

Afu wanted to win this person over, but Ye Hanzhang just wanted to see what he could glean from their conversation.

If Ah Fu's so-called inner thoughts are false, and his past life is also false, then he has been diagnosed with hysteria, which would be a happy ending for everyone.

If it's true...

Ye Hanzhang lowered his eyes, looking at his younger sister's small, cotton-candy-like hand pressed in his palm, his pupils darkening.

Even from a distance, Yu Shiqing could see the sizable convoy and, in the center of it, a small head wearing a bright red hood.

He recognized the person at a glance.

really.

At this time, it is highly unlikely that a three- or four-year-old princess could appear in Huai'an Prefecture, except for Ye Zhixia, the youngest daughter of Prince Yong.

Ye Zhixia, whose childhood name is Afu, is the apple of Prince Yong's eye, and Ye Zangxing also dotes on her very much.

Yu Shiqing still remembered that when he first became acquainted with Ye Zangxing, he asked him curiously why he always carried candy with him, no matter when.

Ye Zangxing smiled and sighed, saying that his elder brother and sister-in-law were very strict, and little Afu couldn't get any candy at home. Whenever she saw him, she would always whine and beg for it. He carried candy with him every day so that he could deal with her.

Later, Prince Yong left the capital.

Later, a rebellion broke out in Cenzhou.

For many years, Ye Zangxing always carried the most fashionable candies in the capital in his purse.

But the little boy who used to ask him for candy is no longer there.

Ye Zangxing said, "Danzhi, you are all I have left." Yu Shiqing loved him, but upon hearing this, he felt no joy whatsoever. He already had his own imperfections and incompleteness, so he hoped even more that Ye Zangxing could experience worldly fulfillment.

Perhaps the position of the emperor was destined to be this way.

Thinking of the past, Yu Shiqing slowed his pace and sighed silently.

"Shichiro is here...Shichiro is here!"

The villagers, who dared not approach and were hiding at the village entrance, secretly watching with curiosity, saw Yu Shiqing coming with Yu Dashu. There was a commotion, and the clan chief and several elders gathered around to ask what was going on.

In their remote little village, they had never seen such a distinguished person before. After being refused a bowl of water at first, they dared not show their faces again, all of them terrified and at a loss!

However, the clan leader asked the wrong person why the young princess had come.

Because Yu Shiqing was also unaware of it.

To be honest, although he guessed that the visitor was a member of the Yong Prince's family when Yu Dashu mentioned the name of the young princess, he really couldn't have imagined why this young princess, Afu, had suddenly asked him to come by name.

Right now, he's just a minor scholar, not even a Jinshi. Even if he's become famous recently, there's no way he could attract the attention of the young princess of the Yongwang Mansion. How could she possibly know him and come all the way to Yujia Village to find him?

This event never happened in my previous life.

In his previous life, Prince Yong's trip to Jiangnan was on official business, but this business was a secret decree from Emperor Tianxi. He had to act in secret, while on the surface, Emperor Tianxi was only concerned about the newly built imperial palace in Jiangnan and sent Prince Yong to take a look. He also wanted to give Prince Yong, who had just worked hard on a major case at the Dali Temple, a break to enjoy the scenery.

Therefore, Prince Yong brought his younger brother Ye Zangxing along, along with his queen and her son and daughter. This was to cover up the secret decree, and also because Prince Yong genuinely cared for his family, who were rarely allowed to leave the country due to social constraints, and wanted to show them the vast land of the Great Qi.

But no matter how much you see the landscape, you can never see Yujia Village.

It's impossible for it to be related to Prince Yong; it's also unlikely to be related to Ye Zangxing...

Yu Shiqing couldn't figure it out.

"It seems there's something fishy going on here..."

Yu Shiqing pondered to himself, vaguely ignoring the clan chief's question, giving the villagers who were looking over a reassuring look, and then quickened his pace to meet the procession of carriages and horses.

"Student Yu Shiqing greets the Crown Prince and Princess Ning'an."

A clear and gentle male voice came from ahead.

Afu paused, quickly pulled his head back, grabbed his hat, raised his head, and sat up straight.

[Watch as this princess displays her power, making this young Mr. Yu bow down in submission!]

Ye Hanzhang's lips twitched, he closed his eyes, and gestured for the maid to lift the carriage curtain. "I have long admired Mr. Yu's reputation. Please come up and have a chat."

Although it is autumn now, the weather is not yet cold. An extra layer of silk has been added to the carriage curtain, but it is still quite thin. The maid's fair hand lifted it up, revealing a small gap, which perfectly enclosed the autumn scenery and the scholar walking slowly towards them.

Upon seeing the scholar's appearance, Ye Hanzhang and Afu both paused and involuntarily leaned forward slightly.

What is meant by "a tree of fine orchids and jade trees, possessing extraordinary talent and elegant demeanor"? What is meant by "a person of noble bearing, undaunted in the face of adversity"?

One look at this person and you know it!

Upon seeing those smiling, deep black eyes, Ye Hanzhang felt a slight pause in his heart, and inexplicably felt a trace of fear.

But Yu Shiqing had already boarded the carriage.

Meeting a distinguished person whose status was vastly different from his own, he seemed unafraid, his demeanor elegant and neither humble nor arrogant. Ye Hanzhang quietly tightened his grip on his sister's hand and said in a steady voice, "Mr. Yu is indeed exceptionally charismatic. Please don't be reserved and have a seat."

Author's Note:

This world is a little different from the previous ones. Strictly speaking, there are no main characters who are big bad guys [glasses]. You can watch with peace of mind.