Chapter 68 Your Majesty is Amazing
As dusk swallowed the mountain peaks, rows of boats set sail, cutting through the waves. Snow-white sails obscured half the sky, and banners bearing the character "陆" (land) fluttered in the wind.
Upon first seeing the dozen or so large ships moored at the dock, Qingqing glanced at them several times, thinking how impressive they were. After only a short while, the people on the ships all greeted her. She turned her head, and there was Lu Xi.
Seeing that it was her and Yan Dibai sitting on the stretcher, Lu Xi's eyebrows twitched slightly. Just as she was about to say something, Mr. Zhang appeared out of nowhere and smiled at them:
Did you sleep well last night?
Yan Dibai smiled and said, "Thanks to the two of you, I had a very long sleep."
That day, after Lu Xi allowed them to board the ship, he searched the mountains for some time. Seeing that there was nothing left to fill the hold, he angrily turned back to the dock and headed straight for Jiangdong. The round trip took more than a day, with most of the time spent on bumpy roads, and there was hardly any time to sleep.
Mr. Zhang nodded, but then a subordinate presented him with an urgent secret letter from Jiangdong.
Lu Xi took the document and looked through it. His expression changed slightly as he handed it to Mr. Zhang. Mr. Zhang nodded and then noticed Lu Xi's serious expression.
"I have important business to attend to. You all go ahead and rest with the others," Lu Xi said casually, then turned and left.
Yan Dibai thanked him gratefully, then went down the ladder and entered a narrow room.
The hastily prepared stern cabin was cramped and dark, with a damp and gloomy atmosphere as soon as you entered. Qingqing wiped her nose, thanked them, and looked around, only to find a dilapidated cot piled with straw.
"..." This must be a show of force.
Considering the numerous ears on the boat, she didn't say anything extra. She first helped Yan Dibai up, and then observed his expression.
Yan Dibai nestled in the straw, watching Qingqing carefully apply the ointment to his fingertips. The boy seemed quite at ease, showing no sign of disgust.
She finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Shall I go check the situation outside?"
"Hmm." After several days of travel, he was exhausted and nestled on the couch, closing his eyes to rest.
Qingqing plucked some straw to cover Yan Dibai's body, then stood quietly in the middle of the wooden ladder, just enough to see a patch of trees peeking out in the distance.
The sprawling Buddhist temples, affected by the imperial city's influence, were all shrouded in a thick black fog. The glazed tiles reflected the embers of the fire, and the red smoke resembled chicken blood splashed on rice paper. After a light, misty rain, they appeared somewhat desolate and poignant.
She suddenly remembered that when she was on duty, the old woman in the kitchen would often carelessly burn the pots, but she would laugh it off and say it was "good luck from the fire".
A century-old enterprise has now been destroyed in this fire.
The rise of Yan Chong, the founding emperor of the Yan-Jin dynasty, contrasts sharply with the tragic end of a country shattered and scattered like drifting catkins—a truly poignant situation.
She closed her eyes.
All that was in the past has vanished like smoke.
-
As the dark clouds obscured the bright moon, and after returning to the stern cabin, Yan Dibai was already asleep, leaning against a pile of straw.
The boy frowned, his fatigue evident. The astragalus and rehmannia in his small pocket were less than usual; he must have secretly eaten them while she was away because he wasn't feeling well.
Qingqing sighed inwardly, checked his breathing, and then lay down beside him for a while to doze off.
The dust motes in the stern hold bounced up and down, looking like stars at first glance. Yan Dibai woke up not long after, and was met with Yang Liuqing's sleeping face. His tense thoughts suddenly eased. He watched her drift off into thought. Someone came down from the deck, turned into the small cabin, and knocked on the door.
Qingqing jumped up almost immediately: "Who?"
"Ladies and gentlemen, the lord has finally found some free time and has specially prepared a simple banquet to invite you both to come and have a get-together."
There were no lights in the room, only torches lit in the corridor outside.
Looking out from inside, one could vaguely see the slender figure of the person who had entered, who was slumped over in a daze.
Qingqing frowned: "Thank you for the invitation, my lord, but Ah Bai is not mobile and in poor health, so I'm afraid it's not suitable for him to move around frequently."
This is what she has been most worried about these past few days, or rather, for some time now.
Yan Dibai was extremely weak before. Let alone sitting up straight like this, even turning over would make him sweat profusely.
He vividly remembers the mouthfuls of blood he vomited when he woke up.
She had originally planned to let Yan Dibai recuperate on the waterway, but the Hongmen Banquet came so quickly, and Qingqing was very worried.
“Young lady, what you say is true. Our lord regards you as honored guests and has just held a banquet, which is in accordance with custom. We will naturally be discreet and will not cause you any trouble.” The shadow shifted slightly, a hint of impatience in its voice.
Qingqing hesitated, "This..."
"Thank you for your kindness, young master. I was busy in the capital and did not have time to thank you and the teacher. It was my fault. Ah Qing was worried about me, so she decided to decline. I am fine now. Please help me carry me up."
But the boy opened his mouth slowly and deliberately.
Qingqing turned around. Yan Dibai struggled to sit up, his body huddled in the darkness. Only his eyes gleamed.
You're awake.
She pursed her lips, then moved and opened the door.
"Then I'll trouble you to be extra careful, brother."
-
Two rows of torches lit up the deck, their flames stinging the eyes.
Lu Xi, who hadn't shown his face since boarding the ship, was drinking fine wine with Mr. Zhang when Qingqing walked up to him. She turned her head and smiled in a way that was completely different from her previous smile. She was incredibly charming: "You've come at the perfect time. The dishes are almost all served. The four of us can eat whatever we like. Please don't mind."
The two men carrying the stretcher bowed, gently placed the boy on the stretcher before Yu Xiao's table, and then withdrew. Yang Liuqing followed closely behind, respectfully greeting Lu Xi and Mr. Zhang directly opposite her, and also knelt before the prepared table.
"Young master, I've been waiting for a while now. I just finished changing Ah Bai's medicine, which caused the delay."
Yan Dibai took the opportunity to look around. There were several bags of rice piled up not far from the top of the stairs, and sealed pottery jars stacked in groups of three under the ship's side.
These were not visible when we first boarded the ship.
I sniffed, and the damp river breeze carried a pungent smell.
Yan Dibai calmly withdrew his investigation report, nodded, and said with a look of shame, "It was I who delayed everyone's work."
Lu Xi scoffed inwardly. This guy always acted so humble now, which was completely different when he first woke up. He's quite the opportunist; there wasn't a trace of pretense on his face.
Mr. Zhang laughed: "You're seriously injured, no wonder. Perfect timing, quickly try this fish soup made in the Jiangdong style. It's soft and dense like clouds, just right for nourishing the body."
Thinking about the drama that would unfold after this banquet, Lu Xi remained calm and raised his cup, saying loudly, "Jiangdong fish soup is famous for its deliciousness. It's a specialty of the ship's cooks. Please have a taste."
Yan Dibai smiled gratefully, averting his gaze from Qingqing's attempt to help, and laboriously scooped up a spoonful of fish soup on his own. He paused just as he brought it to his lips.
Fish soup has a strong fishy smell. If this soup were made in the palace, it would be simmered slowly with various spices and ingredients to remove the fishy and earthy smell.
The fish smell was strong, and the fish meat wasn't cooked into a fine rice porridge. It was far inferior to the skills of the imperial chefs.
He doesn't like it.
Lu Xi's gaze was intense, and Yan Dibai was full of admiration:
"This is truly unique, completely different from any fish soup I've ever seen before. It's exquisite!"
Lu Xi's mood improved somewhat, and his expression softened slightly. He waved to signal the start of the banquet.
Qingqing also ate a spoonful.
The taste was better than the spoiled food I ate in the palace. But it wasn't particularly good; it was barely tolerable.
But Yan Dibai seemed oblivious, continuing to shovel spoonful after spoonful into her mouth.
He is clearly the most picky.
She remained silent.
After drinking some sweet rice porridge, Mr. Zhang chuckled and recounted some of his strange and wonderful experiences, and Qingqing and Yan Dibai chimed in with their own words. The chilly atmosphere warmed up a little.
Lu Xi smiled and said, "I was in a hurry when I was at Yanxiao Ridge, and I haven't had a chance to chat with you properly. Now that I've finished today's business, I have time to get to know you properly. My name is Lu Xi, the 'Xi' in 'the first light of dawn'."
Mr. Zhang nodded: "Indeed. I forgot to tell you two young friends that my name is Zhang Bian, the 'Bian' of 'Zhou Guan'."
The two men stared intently, clearly intending to use the banquet to probe further into their background.
Qingqing pressed her hands tightly against her knees, looking a little reserved.
Yan Dibai had long anticipated that they wouldn't easily trust him, so he wasn't surprised by this arrangement. He forced a bow: "The matter was urgent the other day, and there were many things I couldn't say. I am deeply honored that you two have invited me to a banquet to discuss these matters in detail."
The boy's appearance was less frightening under the flickering firelight, and his speech and manners could be described as dignified.
Lu Xi took this scene in his eyes and lightly touched the cup with his fingertip.
“Young master, you are learned in your youth, not only knowledgeable about mountains and rivers, but also knowledgeable about world affairs. Young lady, you also know the great Confucian scholar Lin Xiangru. The two of you must be extraordinary people.”
What was bound to happen has finally happened.
Having experienced so much, Qingqing was exhausted. All she could do was smile; she couldn't muster any other expression.
Yan Dibai lowered his head to meet their gazes and sighed softly.
"Your predictions are so accurate, I dare not hide anything from you now."
The frail boy supported himself with one hand, his face gradually emerging from the flickering firelight.
"I am a member of the Fang family of Qinghe. I was sickly from childhood and grew up in the capital with Aqing and my old servant. In the past, we were doing alright and even had a tutor. Last year, the Fang family and the Cui family fought over land, and both families were reprimanded by the tyrant and Prime Minister Lin. The Fang family was severely weakened, especially my father's branch. I then completely severed ties with my family and struggled to survive alone in the capital. After that, Princess Xiao Yuanjing and Princess Xifang came to the capital in turn, and I had to pawn the only land I owned, making life even more difficult."
My old servant died, leaving me with no means of support. I had no choice but to rely on Aqing for work and to sell our belongings to make ends meet. Thinking of the new emperor's ascension, I intended to use my money to buy an official position, but the court was rife with intrigue… In desperation, seeing the upheaval in the palace, Aqing led me in an escape. We rolled down a mountain in the dark of night and finally met you two.”
Yan Dibai smiled bitterly, his disappointment evident in his expression.
Qingqing sat up straight. As soon as she uttered these words, she was surprised, but she put on a sad face in a cooperative manner.
It was the Qinghe Fang family member she knew.
Not long after she was brought to Yan Dibai's side to serve him last year, she inadvertently glanced at the memorials casually laid out on her desk while tidying up her books. Among them was a memorial from the Qinghe Fang family.
According to the report, the Fang and Cui families engaged in a fight over land measurement, resulting in over a hundred deaths and injuries.
She found the whole thing absurd—two prominent families fighting over a few acres of land—and remembered it to this day. Wo Xue laughed at her, saying that fighting over land and water was a top priority for powerful families and was commonplace.
But why "the Fang family of Qinghe"?
Not only her, but Lu Xi in front of her was also very interested.
"The Fang family of Qinghe is also a prominent family. However, their reputation is not considered illustrious... Young master, you come from the Fang family of Qinghe, yet you grew up in the capital?"
Yan Di chuckled: "My mother... has no official status. She doesn't recognize me in Qinghe. I only bear the surname of one branch of the family."
"The Fang family has always been suppressed by the Cui family of Qinghe, which has made things difficult for them."
In this day and age, the Cui, Xie, and Wang families are equivalent to local marquises, wielding absolute power.
Lu Xi looked completely at ease.
Lu Xi had mentally considered several options regarding the young man's identity.
It is absolutely impossible for the royal family to be involved.
That old man Yan Qi was exceptionally tyrannical, readily killing his own son. Young Yan Dibai was equally ruthless; upon ascending the throne, he purged all the remaining brothers and nephews listed on the jade tablet, lest the one who had later hidden among the common people also perish.
The non-royal marquises who were stationed in the capital had long been detained by Xiao Yuanjingyu and Zhu Rong. The young man's legs were unable to walk, and the clothes he wore were just ordinary linen that did not fit him, which did not seem like it.
Firstly, only the aristocratic families remained.
Hearing his embarrassed demeanor, Lu Xi felt relieved.
He was originally a concubine's son, someone not worthy of being discussed in public. Judging from his situation, his biological father was probably an ordinary son of a minor official in the capital. Powerful families were outwardly prestigious but inwardly corrupt; their romantic affairs were the talk of the town, and his mother, born into humble circumstances, had countless concubines. Although the Fang family held official positions, none of their members had ever reached the rank of one of the Three Dukes. Therefore, they had been oppressed for many years by the Cui family, who also lived in Qinghe. The frequent quarrels between the Cui and Fang families were a well-known and common occurrence, making their situation similar to that of the Lu family.
However, the young man before him only had a surname and was born with the ugly appearance of a consumptive, and was not worthy of being compared with the Lu family.
Lu Xi smiled reassuringly: "The past is past. Now that you are going to Jiangdong, I, Lu Xi, will certainly treat you well. By the way, I was quite surprised by the young lady's unique way of bowing the other day. The etiquette in the capital seems to be quite different from that in other places."
The conversation abruptly changed without leaving any room for maneuver, and Qingqing's mind went blank upon hearing this sudden question.
I almost forgot that court etiquette is different from that outside!
Having never worked for a wealthy family before entering the palace, she wasn't particularly sensitive about this. She was somewhat shy:
"Young master has discerning eyes. When your family was well-off, you once followed the example of a prominent family in the capital and hired an old woman from the palace to teach you etiquette."
"Oh..." In just a few seconds, Lu Xi's tone shifted dramatically, and a mischievous glint appeared in her eyes as she looked at the two of them:
"If I may ask one more time, what is your relationship with me?"
Mr. Zhang put down his wine glass, his slightly flushed cheeks puffing up with a smile: "What you mean, my lord, is that Miss Aqing is equally remarkable."
Qingqing was slightly taken aback and turned her head to the side.
...Is she with Yan Dibai?
Yan Dibai seemed surprised that they would ask this question, and paused for a moment before turning his gaze.
Their eyes met, and Qingqing's eyelids couldn't help but twitch, her eyes quickly shifting to the side.
The girl's two eyelashes, which were tinged with a golden-brown hue by the firelight, fluttered rapidly as if trying to avoid the flames.
Their gazes, fixed on them with growing interest, deepened.
Yan Dibai's brows twitched slightly, and he lowered his eyes: "Aqing and I..."
"Like family."
A few words that are extremely clear.
Qingqing's heart skipped a beat, and she abruptly turned her face away, suddenly not daring to look at the boy beside her.
These words coming from Yan Dibai's mouth were good—
That's strange.
Even if they weren't ruler and subject, they should at least be master and servant or something, right? His status is what it is, and he's so arrogant.
The girl mysteriously fell silent.
For some unknown reason, the young man also fell silent after that.
This scene delighted Lu Xi, who laughed heartily and raised his cup: "Our relationship is not shallow, but like that of close relatives. This is a wonderful saying! What do you think, sir?"
Mr. Zhang smiled deeply, seemingly lost in thought about their relationship, and said, "They are indeed well-matched."
Qingqing responded awkwardly.
This genuine awkwardness actually made Lu Xi feel more at ease, and his guard was lowered a bit, so his greetings became more sincere.
A new bottle of rice milk was placed on the table. Just as Qingqing was about to get away with this trap, her legs, which had gone numb from sitting, were suddenly swept away by a gust of wind.
Most of the torches on the wall went out suddenly, and the river wind carried a fishy smell. The copper bells on the mast rang sharply, and dozens of iron chains snagged the ship's side. Masked men climbed up like monkeys, their snow-white blades flashing in the firelight as they slashed at the guards on the ship's side.
Visibility went completely black in that instant, without even a moment to process it, and the ship suddenly shook. Objects on deck were affected, rolling and tumbling towards the center. Qingqing was also forced off her seat, and then someone shouted:
"The enemy is coming! Everyone, prepare for battle!"
"Damn it, they even dared to rob a ship belonging to the Lu family of Wuxing!"
A sudden red light flashed on the deck. "That Jiangdong brat knows how to hide!" It was the bandit leader, stepping over a pool of blood, his leather boots crushing the cakes on the ground. He used the tip of his knife to pick up an overturned food box, and amber-colored wine seeped into the cracks in the deck.
"You're offering these junk pieces to your grandfather?"
Yan Dibai was half-lying on the brocade cushion, watching the chaos on the deck, when suddenly he moved.
"etc."
He frowned and suddenly spoke, stopping the girl who was trying to drag him away, "The wooden ladder is blocked."
Qingqing was shocked and ran over to look: "It's true!"
A pile of grain sacks wrapped in banners suddenly filled the lower deck. Lu Xi and Mr. Zhang, who should have been nearby, were nowhere to be seen, leaving only a pile of overturned plates.
On the deck, swords clashed fiercely, and the smell of blood, carried by the river breeze, dampened everyone's faces.
These people, of unknown origin, moved with remarkable efficiency; as soon as one group was wounded, another would immediately take their place, capturing a section of ground in a short time. Ropes continued to be thrown down from below, and the invading bandits quickly spread outwards. Dodging a newly fallen soldier, Qingqing braced her arm against a long table, using it as temporary cover.
"There's no one to help, and Lu Xi and the others have all disappeared!"
Yan Dibai was nestled behind the mast, leaning against it. As they spoke, the ship swayed again. A broken knife clanged as it was plunged into a crevice in the deck. They held their breath in unison, listening to the bandits' threats as they began to loot:
"You scoundrel from Jiangdong! You've made quite a fortune on this trip to the capital, haven't you? We're all just trying to make a living along the river, so you should share your wealth with us! Hand it over now, and we might spare your life so you can go back and reunite with your family!"
The Lu soldiers, realizing they were outmatched, frantically blew their bone flutes. But no one came to their aid. Already severely wounded, they were struck in the abdomen again, and their blood-red hands stretched out as they crawled towards the cabin, crying out in agony, "If we all die, how will our lord explain this to Fifth Master!"
Blood mist surged, and only a dozen or so people remained on the ship.
Qingqing awkwardly touched her waist. If all else failed, she would take out the bag of jewelry to ease the situation, and then look for an opportunity to slip away.
Surrounded by rivers on all sides, and not being a good swimmer, she had no choice but to jump in with Yan Dibai.
"Speak of whom and they will appear," Yan Dibai suddenly spoke up from behind:
"Were there a few earthenware pots rolling around next to you?"
Qingqing was startled and peeked out. She could vaguely make out several dark outlines. She turned her head, her right cheek just brushing against his left: "Yes!"
"..." Yan Dibai tilted his head to the side: "Torch."
She immediately turned back, this time without rubbing against his skin: "I'll get it right away."
Before he could finish speaking, he nimbly crouched down and used his foot to hook over several earthenware pots.
It was heavy, and there was something inside. But the torch was too far away to reach it in a short time.
The boat rocked again, as if a creaking sound was coming from underneath. She stumbled, clutching the earthenware pot and peeking around like a thief. The sharp-eyed bandit spotted her perfectly. "There's another little wench! What's she hiding in her arms!"
Without a word, the group split into two. The dusty-looking girl hurriedly hid behind the long table, her movements unsteady and flustered, which made the newcomers laugh. They slowed their pace playfully and cleaved the long table in two with a single stroke.
The firelight illuminated the hunched boy sitting against the mast.
Her long hair hung to the ground, she was covered in fine cloth, and her eyes were red.
The leader was taken aback: "Why is that your face?"
The young man's phoenix eyes narrowed sharply, and his hand, wrapped in white silk, suddenly hurled it at them—
"boom!"
The exploding fire dragon instantly engulfed the leaders, and the smell of burnt flesh mixed with screams almost tore through the night sky.
Several earthenware pots followed closely behind and crashed into the crowd from a distance. The pots exploded with a loud bang as soon as they came into contact with the open flame, directly scorching the flesh of the group. They rolled on the ground in pain for a moment before falling silent, leaving only the lingering smell of saltpeter and tung oil.
Qingqing jumped up from behind several sacks of grain that had rolled off the ground, taking a deep breath: "Thank goodness for this."
The ship shook repeatedly, and the grain sacks were also pulled along and rolled. The group's attention was all focused behind the long table. She scrambled to the grain sacks and waited for her chance to act, arriving just in time.
She came over to help him up: "Is Your Majesty alright?"
Yan Dibai shook his head: "Well done."
Qingqing said shyly, "It was your brilliant plan."
After secretly rejoicing, she turned around hastily: "Oh no, there are still some people who haven't been dealt with!"
As the battle between the other group and the Lu family was drawing to a close, the remaining few, enraged by the loss of their comrades, drew their swords and charged at them. But suddenly their bodies stiffened, and they fell straight down.
"Young lady Aqing, young master, are you both alright?!"
A boat glided sideways, and on board, waving to her, were none other than Lu Xi and Mr. Zhang. Lu Xi held a horn bow; it was he who had drawn his bow and nocked an arrow from the neighboring boat, the three-edged arrowhead piercing the throat of a bandit.
Both of them were soaking wet, as if they had just fallen into the water.
Qingqing took a step back, shook her head after seeing who it was, and realized that her hands were covered in sweat.
Lu Xi swung his arm and threw a long ladder, hooking it onto the deck. He ordered men to lay planks across and carry Yan Dibai through the ladder, saying to them as he did so:
"Perhaps the news of our journey to the capital has been leaked. These scoundrels, seeking to make money, sabotaged the keel under cover of night, causing the ship to become unstable. I was a little drunk and didn't notice their sneak attack in time. As I was moving, I accidentally fell into the water. Sir, you were implicated and fell into the water as well. I was just negligent in noticing you."
As he spoke, Lu Xi raised his hand, revealing a clearly visible, bleeding arrow wound on the back of his hand. A strange light flashed in his eyes:
"I never imagined that the young man would know that saltpeter could explode when it comes into contact with tung oil."
Qingqing looked at the scar without saying a word.
Her clothes were disheveled, her hair was wet and stuck to her cheeks, and at first glance she looked like she was stunned. She stood motionless and silent on the deck.
Seeing this, Lu Xi slightly lowered his stance and said:
“There were many small boats like these on the water. I couldn’t swim around them, so I boarded this last boat afterward. I found that many of the people on board had been drugged, which is why you were left alone in danger. It was my fault, and I will make it up to you.”
Mr. Zhang nodded, flicked the damp feather fan in his hand, stroked his beard, and pondered:
"The incident happened suddenly, and I never expected these people to be so audacious. Why would they go to such lengths for money? I'm afraid their real purpose is to target our lord. I was just indulging in a drink and have implicated you two young friends. I'm truly sorry."
The new ship the two boarded was slightly less well-designed than their previous main ship, and looked older. The lights on board were also not as bright as before.
Mr. Zhang's face was too dim to see clearly.
Yang Liuqing glanced at the shimmering river surface, where several small boats drifted.
She lowered her eyes, her voice neither too loud nor too soft:
"...It was an accident. It had nothing to do with you, but luckily there was saltpeter stored on board, which averted disaster."
Mr. Zhang laughed in a low voice:
"Fortunately, Ah Bai is well-versed in learning and has mastered the Water Classic Commentary, so he has also gained some understanding of the Fire Attack Manual."
"Sir, there's no need to exaggerate. I just happened to stumble upon it."
"It was thanks to your wisdom, sir, that the ship was prepared beforehand, which allowed us to escape safely. We must thank you, sir."
Compared to Yang Liuqing, who looked unwell, Yan Dibai appeared much calmer at this moment.
After Lu Xi spoke, he struggled to sit up, bowed with one hand to express his gratitude, and then spoke. His restrained and considerate attitude forced Lu Xi to go through the motions completely.
Lu Xi leaned over to support Yan Dibai, his actions finally showing a hint of genuine satisfaction.
This young man was not likable at first glance, but he was exceptionally calm when faced with problems and was able to understand people's hearts. This truly proved what Mr. Zhang said: he was a rare talent as a strategist.
"It was quite a coincidence. We brought some fresh fruit from Jiangdong with us when we went out. This saltpeter was originally stored for making ice and keeping things fresh. It got damp in the cabin after being left there for a long time, so we took it out this evening to air it out."
I didn't want to stumble upon this by accident. Thankfully, Ah Bai, your extensive knowledge allowed you to recognize the saltpeter, thus saving us from a terrible battle. Truly, I, Lu Xi, am blessed.”
It was just a crisis, so the way they address each other has become much more affectionate.
Yan Dibai repeatedly declined, and the scene suddenly became exceptionally "friendly and respectful between ruler and subject".
Qingqing had never seen Yan Dibai like this before, and she was truly dumbfounded this time.
The play continued until Lu Xi filmed Yan Di taking care of his health with bare hands. Mr. Zhang was watching with great interest when the young man, who had just been laughing, suddenly coughed and his body went limp to the side.
Qingqing's temple throbbed, and she knelt down with a thud, patting his chest. Looking up at Lu Xi, she hurriedly said:
"Ah Bai got angry several times while protecting me, and I'm afraid he's going to have another attack! I beg you, young master, to help me and give me some good medicine to protect Ah Bai's heart!"
“Of course, of course!” Lu Xi paused, glanced at Mr. Zhang out of the corner of his eye, and raised his hand, saying:
"Quickly prepare a nice room and get the best medicine! Use only the finest ginseng and rehmannia! Don't worry, Miss Qing, if Bai helps me out of this predicament, I, Lu Xi, will ensure his safety!"
Upon receiving the news, his men quickly brought over the medicine box. Qingqing thanked them in a trembling voice, pressed a few slices of old ginseng under his tongue, and tears welled up in her eyes.
"Thank you, young master. Ah Bai has always been in poor health, and after this ordeal, he will likely need a long time to recover. Please don't blame him; he did it to save me..."
Lu Xixi stared at him for a long time; the young man's brows were furrowed and his face was pale. The girl's eyes were filled with tears again; Lu Xixi felt a pang of heartache.
Tsk, if it weren't for the boy's ugliness, this scene could be considered a pair of star-crossed lovers.
Lu Xi threw down the bow, sighed appropriately, and offered words of comfort:
"Don't worry, I've already sent someone to look for them. Let's carry Brother Bai to the room to rest first. It's my fault; I was busy with important matters when we boarded the ship and didn't give you proper instructions, which caused those guys to neglect you. I'll punish them later! From now on, you can stay in this room as long as you want, and you can take as many medicinal herbs as you like. What matters to Brother Bai is what matters to me."
The little chick nodded like it was pecking at rice, and followed the guide into a room around the corner.
Lu Xi watched them walk and saw that her steps were unsteady, clearly she had been too frightened.
The corners of her lips twitched slightly.
Lu Xi ran his fingertips across the wound on the back of his hand, a gentle river breeze brushing over the damp bloodstains. He glanced at the skewed boat:
"Sir, your plan is ingenious, but haven't you used too much tung oil? This ship is now half-destroyed."
The waning moon reflected the floating corpses on the river. Zhang Bian, perched high above, surveyed the scene, his eyes occasionally shimmering with emotion.
"Since you suspect that the boy is a hollow gourd, I will naturally help you find out whether he is real gold or a stubborn rock."
Lu Xi casually crushed half a drifting reed leaf, nodding in admiration:
"Sir, you are truly a reincarnation of Zhuge Liang. It was worth it for me to deliberately spread the news and lure them here. One ship proved its worth and also wiped out Fifth Brother's spies. This trip of using someone else's strength against them was a worthwhile one."
In fact, apart from the Gu family, the Lu family also has its own troubles.
The Lu family was large and prosperous. Although Lu Xi held the title of the eldest son of the main branch, he did not have as much face in front of his grandfather as Lu Xing, the fifth son of the second branch. Lu Xing was good at flattering and sweet-talking, and he had the old man completely under his thumb. This time, when he saw that Lu Xi had taken on a mission to the capital, he insisted on asking his grandfather to openly and legitimately send dozens of spies into the fleet.
These men, bearing the name of Lu's personal guards, loitered on the deck during the day and carried secret messages to Jiangdong at night. Lu Xi gritted his teeth and ignored them for half a month, then sent them all to guard the cargo hold after arriving in the capital. But yesterday, his grandfather wrote to inquire about his experiences in the capital. If these gossipy old men let slip any information...
Lu Xi left when he boarded the ship for this reason.
Mr. Zhang, with his brilliant mind, easily connected these points to set up a trap.
If the young man were capable, he could easily see through the saltpeter and tung oil that Mr. Zhang had laid out on the boat beforehand and escape.
If he is lying, then he will have to perish in the river along with these two groups.
The lights in the nearby rooms flickered, and a heart-wrenching cough and wheezing came from the room, mixed with the girl's urgent cries.
Zhang Bian, who had been stroking his beard, paused and looked towards the source of the sound. Lu Xi also glanced sideways.
"That sickly fellow looked like he was about to die, and I don't know what kind of old illness he had. Despite his frail body, he still managed to hit the leader of the enemy with pinpoint accuracy. If he were in good health, he would probably be a very agile person, not easy to control."
Upon hearing this, Mr. Zhang seemed to chuckle twice in his chest.
"If the lord bestows medicine upon him, won't that hasten his loss of control?"
"With you here, sir, and having entered my Jiangdong territory, what is there to worry about regarding him alone?"
Looking out over the river, Lu Xi was suddenly filled with ambition and raised his arms to shout:
"The river flows mightily, all the way eastward!"
Zhang Bian remained silent.
The fleeting glint of darkness in the boy's eyes before he fainted still lingered in his mind.
-
“Young lady, this is a preserved fruit sent by our lord. And this horse saddlecloth, our lord said that the young master is likened to a boat, so there is no reason to keep this horse saddlecloth. Consider it a gift for the young master as he enters Jiangdong and lifts the siege of the enemy.”
Qingqing thanked her softly and closed the door tightly.
Once it was confirmed that the person had left, the boy who had been coughing incessantly on the bed immediately opened his eyes, and the coughing gradually stopped. He didn't look like he was coughing up any of his lungs.
Qingqing, who had arrived looking gloomy, quickly poured half a basin of warm water from the teapot and used it to wipe Yan Dibai's body.
"I—" Yan Dibai wanted to refuse, but when Yang Liuqing's swollen, red eyes were right in front of him, he swallowed his words back.
Qingqing wiped her upper body and legs, and when her gaze settled on the middle part, she woke up and silently handed the handkerchief to Yan Dibai.
He froze, his face stiffening as he pulled her over, ordered her to turn her back and wipe herself haphazardly, then forcefully threw the handkerchief into the basin of water.
She chuckled to herself and went out to get some water. The patrolmen outside were changing shifts and nodded politely to her. Qingqing slipped into the washroom and quickly washed and changed. When she came out, she couldn't help but hum comfortably.
Finally, I don't have to be sticky anymore!
It was late at night.
Qingqing took a thin blanket from the cabinet and spread it on the footboard in front of Yan Di's white couch.
The dish of candied fruit placed by the bedside had suddenly changed; upon closer inspection, the tops were missing. Yan Dibai wasn't asleep; he was looking down at the horse turban. Hearing her arrive, he abruptly said, "The medicine is too bitter; this candied fruit will neutralize it. But I can't eat anymore; could you get some?"
Qingqing smiled and said, "Thank you, Your Majesty—Ah Bai."
She didn't touch the candied fruit, but sat on the thin blanket and rubbed her aching thighs: "It's a relic of the founding emperor, after all, and you just give it to us like this?"
He raised an eyebrow slightly, clearly displeased with her offensive form of address. However, he said nothing, only softly answering her next question:
"There are signs of stitching removal on the edges. If we could find any clues on them, there would be no way they would have fallen into our hands."
Yan Dibai picked up the horse's quilt; surprisingly, there was very little dust accumulated on the rough stitches.
Qingqing craned her neck to look, and it was indeed true.
"It seems that all possible methods have been considered. Only when there is no value is it sent back, so that we can also do a favor by going along with it."
The deduction was correct, and Yan Dibai remained silent, which meant he agreed.
Qingqing took a moment to wipe the wound on her forehead, and recalling the thrilling ship battle just now, she moved a little closer mysteriously.
"What happened today... I never expected that His Majesty and I would have developed such a tacit understanding. We just exchanged glances, and one of us pretended to be dead while the other pretended to cry. If His Majesty hadn't done this, I wouldn't have noticed that something was wrong."
This is getting more and more outrageous. Does she still treat him like His Majesty?
Yan Dibai scanned the girl's smiling face up and down with slight surprise, and snorted:
"If Lu Xi's words were based on the assumption that he was a quick-witted person, it's not impossible that he had already made arrangements while on board. However,"
Qingqing was completely focused, while Yan Dibai's brows furrowed with a sinister glint.
"The grain sacks were positioned perfectly, just enough to block the passage to the lower deck. The saltpeter in the earthenware pots was not damp, and the river breeze could not possibly dry them in such a short time. There were several places on the deck that had been pre-treated with tung oil and then wiped clean."
"It was all planned!"
He smirked: "If you and I hadn't noticed this, and had eliminated dissidents for them, we would be lying dead on the river by now."
She took a deep breath, then another: "The guard who played the flute to call for help to no avail, and then called out for Fifth Prince..."
"Internal strife within the Lu family is an old problem common to aristocratic families." The young man's tone became subtle.
As they wished, they temporarily became murder weapons in exchange for a habitable room, top-quality medicine and medical care, and a safe and unimpeded journey. It was a deal that was tacitly agreed upon.
Fortunately, this body hasn't completely reached its limit yet, so he wants to see whether Five-Stone Powder or aged ginseng is more powerful.
Qingqing silently digested the inside story. Yan Dibai unfolded the horse saddlecloth with one hand, his gaze sweeping over the several pieces of coarse cloth sewn together around him, and finally settling on the crimson brocade with mixed beads directly above the saddlecloth.
My vision blurred instantly.
Exactly the same.
This incongruous piece of brocade, adorned with mismatched beads, overlapped perfectly with the flowing skirt in my dream. A woman's charming laughter suddenly echoed in my ears, mingling with the neighing of horses as they roamed the mountains and fields.
When Lin Xiang taught him, he was only five years old and had only recently learned to read. He struggled to read along: "...The Commentary on the Waterways Classic records that the underground river flows in three bends..."
But why, in his dream, a low, muffled male voice was reading this passage aloud, just like him, each word deliberate and slurred. Then, the previously laughing female voice followed:
"Why can't you read the rest? You're so stupid."
"Wu Yin, why won't the horse eat grass?"
"Wu Yin, your name is hard to pronounce. If you want to do business outside, you should choose a different name."
The woman's voice kept asking questions, somewhat noisy, but not jarring. Perhaps because women's voices are all similar, it gradually blended with Yang Liuqing's urgent cries. It wasn't until he vaguely awoke and saw her tearful eyes that his senses returned to his body.
House entrance.
An ancient Xianbei surname from several hundred years ago. Originally belonging to royalty.
The royal family with this surname frequently waged internal wars, and over the years, like the Ji family of the Zhou emperors, their population dwindled. Later, regardless of whether they were kings, nobles, commoners, or even lowly slaves, some adopted this surname for their household.
The somber young man's surname was Wu Yin. If we calculate based on the time when Yan Chong rose to power at Yanxiao Ridge, it was at least 258 years ago, by which time the Wu Yin family had already been in decline for over 80 years.
Over the years, the household name "Wu" scattered and dispersed. Most of it later evolved into the surname "Fang". Some Xianbei people with the surname Fang intermingled with and merged with the Han Chinese surname Fang, becoming indistinguishable from one another.
And his surname is Yan.
Could it be a transliteration like "屋引——唔燕——燕"?
It was that woman again...
"..." Yan Dibai felt he knew too little about his ancestor, Yan Chong.
As a child, he had no one to accompany him. When he sat alone in the library, he could read about the lives of all the previous emperors. However, on the page about Yan Chong, there were only a few words about his great achievements, and there was no record of his great-grandmother, Yan Chong's first wife.
If it weren't for Prime Minister Lin's explanation of the Waterways Classic in conjunction with the landscape of Shangjing, and his brief mention of Yan Chong, Yan Dibai would have had absolutely no recollection of his ancestor.
If the dream is true, then the so-called royal bloodline is ultimately no different from that of Yang Liuqing, an ordinary commoner, and perhaps even inferior.
That's where things get interesting.
Yan Dibai was unusually focused on his thoughts, so much so that he didn't even notice when Qingqing came closer to observe.
From the beginning of a series of coincidences, or even before that, she could sense that Yan Dibai was definitely hiding something.
Constrained by her situation, she kept her thoughts to herself, straining her ears to look around and make sure no one was there. She got up and extinguished the lamp wick, then, inexplicably, a surge of courage rose within her, and she knelt down.
As Yan Dibai gently stroked the faded beaded pattern with her white fingertips, a soft, warm breath suddenly blew against her earlobe.
"Your Majesty," she said, her voice extremely soft.
Yan Dibai's eyelids twitched suddenly, and he tensed up in surprise.
Yang Liuqing must have lost her mind. He is clearly the master, how dare she overstep her bounds like this?
He still has old scores to settle!
From the moment he escaped the palace gates, Yang Liuqing's respect for him was limited to the words "Your Majesty."
She took it upon herself to give him an alias, opened up his wound to apply medicine without his consent, and now she even dares to treat him as someone with the same identity, speaking to him unexpectedly close to him!
Yan Dibai gritted his teeth, contemplating whether to lash out. Yang Liuqing suddenly withdrew her breath, lowered her eyes, sat on the footrest, smiled slightly embarrassedly, and exclaimed from the bottom of her heart, "Your Majesty is so amazing."
If everything before was just a coincidence, then today's scene has completely made Qingqing start to re-evaluate this boy.
She was sincere and genuine.
That's really impressive.
Yan Di was stunned, suddenly becoming dumbfounded.
Yang Liuqing praised him?
Yang Liuqing praised him?
It was still that same sincere, grateful, respectful, and even gratified tone.
The girl's breath was both itchy and tingling, making one's bones feel numb and astringent. Yan Dibai's two fingers, which were touching the horse's bridle, had no choice but to curl up, and the purplish-red veins bulged even more frequently.
Yan Dibai was stunned and speechless. He unconsciously held his breath and moved his eyes inch by inch, trying to quietly see her true expression.
Is it as gentle and kind as it is in its words, or as empty and pretentious as before?
But he miscalculated.
She was still blowing air into her ear, and from this angle, even with a desperate glance, all you could see was a section of her neck tilting down.
It was this neck. During the escape, the first thing he saw when he opened his eyes was this neck.
A few scattered blades of grass scratched the skin that had been washed white in the stream, an eyesore, yet they also made the neck appear even thinner and weaker.
But its owner is extremely resilient.
Yan Dibai stared straight ahead without blinking.
Qingqing was completely oblivious, only wanting to find out the answer: "I've been wondering for days. Can Your Majesty tell me why so many coincidences happened after Your Majesty and I fell down the mountain?"
"I think I've figured it out. His Majesty initially instructed me to escape from the Yeting Palace, and then deliberately provoked Miss Xiao along the way, knowing that she wouldn't really kill you, thus allowing us to escape temporarily. Then, we naturally encountered the aristocratic families and truly escaped from this dangerous place."
“I am glad that Your Majesty wants to rise again from Jiangdong. But the road ahead is uncertain. From now on, I will only be with Your Majesty. I... want to find a reassurance.”
She finished explaining the confusion she had been holding in for days, then stepped back to the edge of the pedal, bowing her head and waiting for an answer.
The warmth that had been tugging at his ears vanished abruptly, leaving Yan Dibai momentarily stunned by her departure. His eyes flickered, and the heat on his cheeks inexplicably intensified.
How strange.
Qingqing saw him swallow hard. The boy's handsome eyes, which were slanted to the side, suddenly trembled. He abruptly met her gaze, and before she could speak, the bedsheets rustled twice, and Yan Dibai struggled to turn over, his back to her.
Qingqing: Hmm?
Is this a polite refusal?
The boy curled up like a shrimp, and only after his feverish mind calmed down did he try to recall exactly what she had said.
However, after frowning and thinking for a while, Yan Dibai still couldn't remember everything. Instead, the warm, itchy "So amazing" resurfaced in his mind, which annoyed him greatly.
After a long pause, he took a deep breath and said coldly, "You can probably guess what happened."
She pursed her lips: "But what about the mausoleum?" This was what puzzled her the most.
How did it happen that I fell right on the old man's grave?
"...It was by chance."
"It is precisely because it is such a serendipitous opportunity that it does not seem like one."
Yang Liuqing didn't believe it at all. She had been unlucky since she was a child; even if a pie fell from the sky, she would always fall into a pit at the same time.
"...I naturally calculated based on what I learned in my childhood and what I saw in the past, with fate giving me a little more help."
The young emperor would sneak out of the palace several times a year, sometimes disguising himself as a nobleman to cause trouble, sometimes dressing up as a woman and wandering in brothels, sometimes squatting on the street with his face covered in soot, crying and begging, or sometimes wearing a dragon robe and deliberately scaring people on the streets.
Having had these experiences, Yan Dibai had long since thoroughly mastered the terrain of Laoshan, opposite the mausoleum complex. The topography from Yeting to Laoshan was etched into his mind, and he could time it perfectly. Xiao Yuanshu happened to stumble into this situation and became a ready-made pawn—even without her, the plan to lure and kill the pursuers, seize the order, and escape south was already prepared.
He had been gazing out the window from the carriage, and was beginning to notice the hidden secret of the place. Since Yan Chong had made his fortune as a horse herder, he would naturally choose to camp in a low-lying area near water and lush grass. His fall down the mountainside that day wasn't entirely out of control. Having just noticed the unusual nature of the stream from a higher vantage point, he quickly realized from memory that it was a trap.
Based on the location of the mechanism, it was inferred to be pointing downwards. He held onto the hem of Yang Liu's green robe with his axle, doing his best to drag her there, hoping to wake her up and help him solve the mechanism to see if there was a way out. Unfortunately, his body couldn't hold on any longer… and he encountered Lu Xi.
...and his treacherous advisor, Zhang Bian.
Zhou Guanzhi's cap.
His Adam's apple bobbed. The boy's figure, huddled in the shadows, was taut, deliberately trying to project an air of complete control. Yet, in the end, he revealed nothing.
That's how amazing he is.
Qingqing noticed the boy's hunched back trembling slightly, and suddenly realized the hidden meaning beneath his composure. She quickly bit her lip and said, "So that's how it is."
“Actually, I also wanted to ask…” She shook her head, her concussion starting again. Qingqing patted her head and stood up: “It’s getting late, Your Majesty should go to sleep.”
There are still many secrets and many paths waiting to be explored in the future.
Lying down, Yan Dibai: ...
He listened intently; the blankets rustled, and someone lay down.
"?"
Yan Dibai grabbed Ma Zhi and turned his face.
Qingqing lay peacefully under the bed with her eyes closed. Her face was fully visible. Because she was asleep, her features were exceptionally gentle, even with a hint of a smile.
Yan Dibai gritted her teeth: ...
Let's forgive her for her repeated insubordination today.
But he just fell asleep like that, without recounting any more facts about his brilliance and prowess?
…Yangliuqing!
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