Chapter 417 If Line - Passing By

"I'm going to confess! I'm going to confess!"

"They're going to admit female students next year!"

"Dad, Mom, I want to go to Chang'an!"

In early summer, the shadows of trumpet creepers tremble in the sound of cicadas.

In the old house of the Pei family, Pei Xuan, holding a letter in his hand and a whip wrapped around his waist, flashed by like a gust of wind.

Her face was filled with excitement.

The letter in her hand was written to her by her elder sister-in-law Yan Yu.

The eldest sister-in-law knew that she liked martial arts, so she wrote a letter to tell her the news.

"Dad, Mom, my second brother and I are going to Chang'an together." Pei Xuan said to his parents solemnly.

Pei Lingyun is going to Chang'an to take part in the imperial examination next year. He goes to the capital a few months in advance so that he can visit his former teachers and classmates.

He has been packing up these two days and is about to leave.

The three people in the room shook their heads after hearing this.

Pei Dingli: "The martial arts hall is full of men, and you are the only woman here. How can you be so disrespectful?!"

Madam Pei: "Xuan'er, your sister and the Xue family have gone to the northwest. I am already very worried. If you go to the martial arts hall, I will be worried day and night."

Pei Lingyun: "If you go to a martial arts school, won't you be fighting with people every day?"

Each member of the Pei family has their own characteristics, but they have one thing in common, that is, once the Pei family decides to do something, they will not change it easily.

Pei Xuan decided to go to the martial arts school, so she must give it a try.

"The Emperor has issued an order encouraging women to attend the martial arts academy. Both men and women can serve the country. There might be many female students there. Who says I'm the only one?"

"You don't have to worry about me. I grew up in the capital, I know everyone and the place well, no one dares to bully me."

"Brother, that's called sparring. Do you understand? It's not fighting."

Pei Xuan repeatedly expressed his determination and used the title of emperor several times to persuade his family.

Finally, the family reached a consensus:

Her family may not prevent Pei Xuan from taking the entrance exam for the martial arts academy, but Pei Xuan can't rely on the Pei family's connections or reputation to get in. She must rely on her own abilities to get in.

Pei Xuan excitedly returned to the yard and packed up with Rendong. Two days later, he and Pei Lingyun set off for the capital.

Pei Xuan wished he could reach Chang'an in one day like flying on clouds and mist, and kept urging them to go faster.

Pei Lingyun's physique was no match for his sister Pei Xuan, and he felt dizzy from being shaken by the galloping carriage.

When they were almost reaching the capital, the tortured Pei Lingyun finally couldn't bear it anymore.

He covered his head and shouted in the carriage:

“Stop, stop the car!”

"Pei Xuan! You...you are simply murdering your own brother..."

"you--"

The carriage stopped.

Pei Lingyun almost rolled out of the carriage.

At this moment, he regretted deeply why he had set out on the road with Pei Xuan.

The two siblings have been tormenting each other since they were young, and they can still torment him half to death.

Pei Xuan was also helpless, with a look of disappointment on her face:

"Brother, we are already very slow. Forget it. Seeing you like this, let's take a break."

Pei Lingyun walked out of the carriage, his face a little pale:

"Pei Xuan, if I had known this earlier, I would—"

His stomach was churning, and he was helped by his servants to go to the woods to vomit.

Soon, the servant came again to report: "The second young master seems to have caught a heat stroke."

Pei Xuan shook his head and sighed.

Alas, my second brother is so weak. How will he be able to work as an official in another place in the future?

There is no way we can continue on our journey today.

The group found an inn in a small town ahead to stay, and the servants went to find a doctor to see Pei Lingyun.

Because it was still early, Pei Xuan had nothing to do, so he took Rendong for a stroll in the town.

The two women disguised themselves as men and dressed up as young gentlemen.

There happened to be a market in town today, and many people came to visit.

The street is very busy with people coming and going. There are many small stalls on both sides of the road, selling all kinds of things.

"Selling combs~Buying combs~"

"Selling eggs~ Big round eggs~"

"Tofu for sale! Try our white and tender tofu~"

"Selling martial arts secrets~ No cheating, anyone who practices will be arrogant~"

Among the many shouts, one voice accurately reached Pei Xuan's ears.

Pei Xuan's eyes lit up and he looked in the direction of the voice:

"Dongdong, let's go this way."

Pei Xuan pulled Rendong towards the secret book stall.

There were a lot of people crowded in front of other stalls, but there were few people around this stall. It was obvious that everyone was more interested in eggs and tofu.

Pei Xuan's eyes lit up: "What secrets are there?"

The bookseller chewed some grass roots and pointed at a pile of books on his stall:

"We have everything, and the prices are fair and honest."

"Martial arts secret manuals are sold to those who are destined to learn them. I can tell at a glance that this young man is destined to learn martial arts!"

Pei Xuan was shocked: "You figured this out."

"How about this, I can sell all the secret manuals to you, young master, for five taels of silver."

The bookseller saw that Pei Xuan's clothes were made of good material and recommended them with all his might, hoping to make a little more money today.

As for these secret books, he didn't know where they came from. He just bought some unsold books from other booksellers at a cheaper price, and he didn't know how many times those books had changed hands.

Ren Dong whispered to Pei Xuan, "Young Master, this doesn't seem right."

Pei Xuan nodded: "That's not quite right. How can I buy them all? One can't be too greedy. You can't master all these secret manuals in a lifetime. Just buy the ones you need."

Pei Xuan squatted down to pick a book. After picking for a while, she found a book called "White Python Whip Technique".

"I want this." Pei Xuan shook the book in his hand.

The bookseller was a little disappointed when he saw it.

If he found a newer book, he could take the opportunity to ask for a higher price, but this book on whip techniques looked very old.

He remembered this book. When he was setting up a stall in the south, someone had thrown it away. He picked it up and tried to sell it, but he never sold it.

"Twenty cents!" the bookseller waved his hand.

At this time, Honeysuckle spoke:

"Twenty cents is too expensive, five cents!"

Book seller: "Fifteen cents."

Honeysuckle: "Five coins."

Book seller: "Ten cents..."

Honeysuckle: "Five cents!"

The bookseller closed his eyes and said, "Ten cents for two books, it can't be any lower!"

Pei Xuan said: "Deal!"

Pei Xuan found another book called "Golden Dragon Whip Technique" on the bookstall and Rendong paid ten cents for it.

The master and servant walked back happily, feeling that they had gained a lot.

"Dongdong, which comb do you like? I'll buy it for you." Pei Xuan pointed at the comb stall proudly.

Honeysuckle just helped her bargain, and the money she saved can be used to buy a small comb.

Honeysuckle said she didn't want a new comb, she preferred the small purses sold at the stall opposite.

So the two of them walked across the street.

The road was narrow and crowded, and when Pei Xuan was crossing the street, she accidentally bumped into someone.

"Why--"

Pei Xuan was fine, standing steadily, and carefully protecting the secret book he had just bought.

The person who collided with Pei Xuan took two steps back due to his unstable body, but was fortunately supported by the guards beside him in time.

He was a fair-faced young man, about fifteen or sixteen years old, with a handsome face and a pair of peach blossom eyes under his eyebrows.

It was none other than the young Prince Gong Murong Xun.

He had just been granted a fiefdom in Hongzhou, and he was about to go sightseeing in his fiefdom.

I was tired from traveling, so I stopped by here to have a quick meal and take a look around.

Seeing a market on the street, he took his guards out for a stroll, without revealing his identity, and just pretended to be a rich young man.

The guards scolded Pei Xuan: "How dare you offend our king—Prince Wang!"

Honeysuckle put her hands on her hips and retorted. Although she was a head shorter than the man she was talking to, her voice was loud enough:

"My son was also hit. Why are you yelling at him?"

Pei Xuan and Murong Xun, the two people who collided, didn't say anything, but just looked at each other twice.

Murong Xun said to the guard: "Forget it, nothing, let's go."

Pei Xuan didn't want to argue: "Dongdong, don't argue with them."

Pei Xuan and Rendong walked to the side of the street, while Murong Xun continued forward with his guards.

The two sides passed each other.

The purses on the stall were of various colors and the embroidered patterns were very vivid. Honeysuckle was almost overwhelmed by the choices:

"This one looks good, this one looks good too, sir, look—"

Rendong turned around and saw Pei Xuan looking a little absent-minded.

"Young Master, what's wrong with you?" Rendong gently pulled Pei Xuan.

Pei Xuan came back to his senses, with some doubt still in his eyes:

"Nothing, I just felt that the person was a little familiar, as if I had seen him somewhere before."

Honeysuckle thought about it, but had no impression at all.

Pei Xuan also thought about the people he knew, but he just couldn't remember who it was.

It doesn't matter if you can't remember it, Pei Xuan smiled with relief:

"Let's go back and see if second brother is feeling better."

End of the market.

Murong Xun, accompanied by a group of guards, turned around and looked at the backs of the master and servant in the crowd with an inquiring look in his eyes.

The guard asked, "Is the prince displeased with the collision between those two people just now?"

Murong Xun slowly uttered two words: "No, I just—"

There was a hint of hesitation on his young face.

He just felt very strange when he bumped into and looked into the eyes of the young master just now.

Those clear eyes looked into his heart.

It feels like meeting for the first time, and also like an old friend returning.

He subconsciously wanted to call that person, but when he opened his mouth he didn't know the other person's name.

A trace of melancholy spread in my heart, and I wanted to catch it but couldn't.

Besides feeling melancholy, Murong Xun found it funny and strange.

Maybe I recognized the wrong person, otherwise why would I feel that the stranger looked familiar?

Guard: "What are your orders, my Lord?"

Murong Xun: "There's nothing worth lingering here, let's continue on our way."

Murong Xun walked towards his carriage.

Pei Xuan took Rendong back to the inn.

For a moment, Murong Xun suddenly stopped and looked back again.

At the other end of the street, Pei Xuan couldn't help but look back.

The street was bustling with people, and their eyes were swallowed up by the crowd, so they did not meet.

He didn't see her.

She didn't see him either.

The sun is shining brightly, and the sunlight is scorching.

Eggs, tofu, purses, combs and young people all shine in the sun.

There are no bandits, no princes in distress, and no knights on horseback.

There are only the still crowded streets, the still shouting vendors, and the still bargaining buyers...

The street ends on both sides.

The group headed south.

A master and servant headed north.

Going against the trend will only lead to further and further away.