Chapter 7: Paying the debt of love He went to find her only to save her...
"Do you recognize me, young lady?"
Jia Ci seized on the "Jia" sound in Luo Qingling's words and tried to persuade them to let him go. "Jia Ci, you look very familiar to me. Why don't you untie the gold ring so that I can have a good chat with you."
This Master Jia is quite smooth-talking. I think he was able to trick Deng Yesi into leaving with just this kind of talk!
Luo Qingling stepped forward and took a closer look at Jia Ci's neck. The skin there was pale, without a trace of red. This was the real Jia Ci!
The hand holding the Golden Dragon Sword loosened, and the dragon tail tied to Jia Ci began to move. Unexpectedly, a piece of talisman paper suddenly flashed before his eyes and stuck tightly to the junction of the dragon's tail and the dragon's body. The golden dragon could not move and could only continue to tie Jia Ci.
"If you let him go, don't even think about rescuing your aunt easily."
Qin Yanheng stepped forward and squatted on one knee beside Jia Ci. His gaze moved from left to right, finally stopping on Jia Ci's flushed face. Then he raised his eyebrows and slowly told him the information his followers had found out.
"Jia Ci, a native of Jia Village in Xinxiang Town, entered the capital last year as a juren. In just a few months, you were able to convince the daughter of the Minister of Personnel to recommend you for the Jingzhao exam..."
"How did you do it?" Qin Yanheng leaned his elbow on one knee and asked Jia Ci coldly.
He didn't believe that a scholar from a poor family could so easily get acquainted with the daughter of an official, let alone the Minister of Personnel who had hidden his daughter in seclusion for many years. Everyone in the capital knew that he "loved his daughter as his life". Even when the emperor went to Deng's house for a banquet, he did not see Deng Yesi.
"I... Madam Deng and I are truly in love. Why does this young man insist on my background? Does it mean that a man from a poor family is not qualified to marry a daughter of an official?" Jia Lang said loudly.
"I'm asking you how we met! Don't try to change the subject." Qin Yanheng suddenly stood up and asked sternly from a condescending position.
In previous years, the Jingzhao examinations were all presided over by the Minister of Personnel, Lord Deng. If one wanted to be recommended by a noble in the examination and become a new Jinshi of that year, it would naturally be best to have a relationship with Lord Deng. Jia Ci in front of him naturally would not miss this opportunity. He must have used some method to make Deng Yesi willing to recommend him.
Everyone knew this, but they didn't say it out loud for Deng Yesi's reputation.
Just when Qin Yanheng lost his patience and was about to order people to arrest Jia Ci, he saw Jia Ci sighing with tears in his eyes.
"I'll tell you, I'll tell you..." Jia Ci resigned himself to his fate as he lay on the ground, his face turned towards the sky as he spoke. "Initially, I did ask someone to send the golden hairpin that Madam Deng liked to the mansion just to recommend her. Later, Madam Deng and I gradually became familiar with each other, and we used the golden hairpin to pass on messages every day. As a result, she... accidentally became pregnant."
"A generation of dogs and rats!"
Luo Qingling couldn't help but curse out loud. Qin Yanheng shook his shoulders and suddenly turned back to look at her, his eyes twinkling with smiles. Jia Ci, lying on the ground, ignored him, staring at the sky, tears streaming down his face as he continued to speak.
"It was because Madam Deng was pregnant that I invited people to Xiangshan Temple to give her these herbs for calming the mind and nourishing the fetus. Because I knew that if she told Lord Deng about this, both of us would die, and the child would be innocent..." Jia Ci took out a bag of herbs from his sleeve and threw it aside stiffly.
"So, you only agreed with Deng Yesi to meet at Xiangshan Temple. As for the rest..." Luo Qingling asked.
"I didn't know about the terracotta figurines in the room. I waited for her in the temple all night. Just then I heard that a distinguished person came in. I thought it was Madam Deng, so I hid by the window and took a few looks." Jia Ci denied everything about the terracotta figurines.
It seems that Jia Ci really has nothing to do with monsters. Moreover, this person speaks without thinking, and Luo Qingling cannot tell whether he is real or fake for a while.
She turned her head to look at Qin Yanheng, who touched his ear and looked a little absent-minded, as if he was not interested in the story of Deng Yesi and Jia Ci.
No matter how the two questioned him, Jia Ci still insisted that he had nothing to do with the terracotta warriors. Even Qin Yanheng couldn't arrest him without a reason. Luo Qingling had no choice but to untie Jia Ci and let him leave Xiangshan Temple.
At this time, Abbot Dewang, who had received twenty strokes of the cane, walked to Qin Yanheng's side with trembling feet and asked in a trembling voice, "Prince Rong'an, what should we do with these ladies now?"
He couldn't keep them in Xiangshan Temple forever. If something happened again, his body wouldn't be able to withstand a few beatings. Now he could only hope that the young prince would quickly move the "several big Buddhas" away.
"Leave it here," Qin Yanheng said in a tone that left no room for doubt. As if sensing Abbot Dewang's despair, he added, "The terracotta figurines are fragile, and the journey back to the capital is too long to move. Besides, it wouldn't be appropriate to move them anywhere right now. You can't leave a few women in this prince's house, can you?"
Upon hearing this, Abbot Dewang's vision darkened and he nearly fainted. Qin Yanheng turned his head to the side, his shoulders trembling slightly. After a moment, he said, "Don't worry, Abbot Dewang. I will send someone to keep an eye on it day and night."
*
The mountain road was narrow and only one carriage could pass through. The group of people had no choice but to follow Prince Rong An and slowly drive towards the official road.
After the monster disappeared, Qin Yanheng didn't know how to deal with the issue of the terracotta warriors for the time being, and it was not easy to keep everyone "locked" in the post station, so he ordered everyone to return to Beijing immediately.
It was already noon, and everyone was exhausted after a sleepless night. Fortunately, this place was not far from the capital, so they didn't need to find a place to stay.
Besides, Lord Deng didn't dare to eat at the same table with the young prince. I heard that not long ago, a colleague accidentally said something wrong while drinking, and the prince actually threw down his silver chopsticks and turned away without giving the other person any face.
The carriage swayed, and a hand came forward to prevent Luo Qingling from bumping into the window sill. She looked up at Deng Yesi, who had extended his hand, and saw a gentle smile on his face.
"Madam Luo, are you tired?" Deng Yesi pushed the snacks in front of her and asked gently, "Ye Si heard that Madam Luo went to the capital to visit relatives. I guess she must be tired on the road. I wonder if the Luo family has a mansion in the capital? If Madam Luo is willing, you can stay at the Shangshu Mansion for a few days so that I can repay you for saving my life."
Deng Yesi wasn't as difficult to get along with as she appeared; instead, she was unusually easygoing. Luo Qingling shook her head, rejecting her offer. "Qingling, thank you, Madam Deng. I have important matters to attend to these days, so I won't bother Madam Deng and Master Deng any more."
Hearing this, Deng Yesi's face was filled with disappointment. She lowered her head and muttered softly, "I still want to talk to Madam Luo... If Madam Luo is free, please come find me!"
Late at night, at the Prince's residence.
A candlelight reflected on the stained glass window, stretching the figures in the room. Qin Yanheng's tall figure could be vaguely seen. A stack of ancient books was placed on the table, and Qin Yanheng was sitting at the table, reading with his head down.
The young man changed into a light blue round-necked robe, with a pure white crane cloak draped over his shoulders. His black hair was untied and just draped over his shoulders. He looked luxurious and lazy.
He casually flipped through two pages of paper, threw the ancient book in his hand onto the table, and leaned back in his chair. He looked up at the beams, sighed, and looked tired.
None of the ancient books in the mansion mentioned terracotta warriors, but he vaguely remembered that this matter was mentioned in a book left by his master... It seems that he needs to go to the Taoist temple. There must be a book recording the terracotta warriors in the library.
Thinking of this, Qin Yanheng grabbed the jade crown placed aside, casually tied up his hair, and then jumped to the wall of the courtyard, and in the blink of an eye he blended into the night.
A figure rushed out from the attics, and one mansion after another passed before his eyes. The Taoist temple left to him by his master was not far away. Qin Yanheng stood on the roof and jumped to the ground, running straight towards the Taoist temple.
Suddenly, a strong force grabbed Qin Yanheng's wrist and he almost lost his balance. He staggered back a few steps.
“Who is causing trouble?”
He threw the talismans in his hand, but they fell down in mid-air, as if he couldn't find the person who was causing trouble.
Qin Yanheng squinted his eyes and looked around. It was already late at night and it was curfew time. The patrolling officers and soldiers had not passed by here yet. The street was dark except for a lantern hanging under the eaves not far away.
The candlelight flickered, the lamplight was dim, and I didn't know what that power was. Even the tracking talisman couldn't find the person who was causing the trouble...
Qin Yanheng stood there with a cold look on his face.
No matter whether it is a human or a ghost, it is impossible to escape his tracking talisman. Well, since I can't find him, I won't force it. What is coming will come.
Qin Yanheng quickened his pace, but just as he passed the shadow of the lamp, he was pulled back to where he was. Who was secretly playing a trick on him?
The tracking talisman fell from the air again. Qin Yanheng was a little suspicious. He reached out and grabbed one of the talisman papers, muttering, "This talisman paper isn't even wet, so why is it not working?"
An idea flashed through his mind, and he turned to look at the spot illuminated by a lamppost not far away, and a plan came to his mind. He saw Qin Yanheng slowly walk over to that spot, raised his right foot, and was about to step over, but a force pulled him back.
“…”
There was no demonic aura, no human presence, and the tracking talisman hadn't made any movement. And the only thing that could be effective against him was the Golden Dragon Sword! Furthermore, the Golden Dragon Sword did have the power to bind people.
Qin Yanheng finally understood that not only did the Golden Dragon Sword recognize Luo Qingling as its master, but now even he was restricted!
This place is only ten miles away from Luo Mansion, but he can't even cross this street. Judging from this, does it mean that he can't be more than ten miles away from Luo Qingling?
"This is outrageous! Now we can't even go to the Taoist temple."
Qin Yanheng cursed inwardly and flew to the Luo Mansion without hesitation. Now that he was back in the capital, it wouldn't be possible for them to meet directly during the day, but late at night would be fine, right?
Qin Yanheng couldn't do the thing of visiting someone's bedroom at night, but if he went to Luo Mansion to look for someone in broad daylight, the Queen would probably hear about it within half a day, and he would have to spend time explaining to the Queen that his meeting with Luo Qingling was not a private affair, but just official business.
As for why the two of them were related... Qin Yanheng just felt a headache.
Forget it, saving people is important. He just wants to save people, otherwise why would he go to find Luo Qingling?
After a stick of incense had passed, Qin Yanheng stood in front of the Luo Mansion's gate. After pacing and hesitating for a while, he finally mustered up the courage to step forward. He picked up the copper ring on the door and was about to knock on it and call for help, but he stopped where he was, as if he had thought of something.
Wait, wait. Although Luo Qingling knew that he must have come to see her for something important, if he entered through the main gate of the Luo Mansion so blatantly, it would be bad for her reputation, especially in the middle of the night...
How was this any different from what the thief Jia Ci had done? No, no, he had to think of a foolproof way to call Luo Qingling out without disturbing anyone.
“Got it!”
Qin Yanheng suddenly had an idea and used his magic power with his palm facing upwards.
Now he cannot use the Golden Dragon Sword, but he can still summon the sword body. He only hopes that Luo Qingling will carry the sword with him so that he can sense any abnormalities of the Golden Dragon Sword in time.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
