Chapter 22 Old Friends
Penghua City? The Third Princess must have come here concealing her identity... But Lin Su is quite far from Southern Qi, so she must have left the capital half a month ago.
Moreover, the Third Princess's name is not often mentioned, so why has she been so active these days? Could it be that she has some other intention?
There was another matter, Lin Chengye suddenly thought of.
The relationship between this third princess and her brother might be unusual. Lin Chengtong had mentioned the third princess several times when he talked to her about his childhood, and his expression was somewhat awkward.
Just as Lin Chengye was silently pondering, he suddenly heard the cry of an eagle outside the window.
Three high-pitched sounds followed, swirling in the air and casting the shadow of that enormous figure by the window.
After thinking it over, she felt that this thing would be more useful to her, so she decided to take it.
After all, she had personally witnessed Bian Yi take the letter from the eagle's leg and then forget to open it, muttering to herself that it was a waste of resources.
Using the numerous Jiangjin Medical Clinics as bases, Chai Hu Nan's intelligence network, though primarily used in the martial arts world, was also remarkably astute in its ability to gather information about the imperial court, making it quite powerful.
Upon hearing the whistle, the eagle swooped down and landed on Lin Chengye's forearm. After she took the scroll of paper from its leg, it spread its wings and flew away again.
Lin Chengye quickly browsed through the affairs of the martial arts world, and finally his gaze settled on one particular story.
"...The third princess of Lai State led her troops away from the capital and headed south on April 2nd to garrison the border area between Southern Qi and Lai State, where she had the responsibility of supervising the troops."
Lin Chengye raised an eyebrow, put away the note, and said to the old man with the four silk robes.
"Alright, but Your Highness will have to wait a while. I am weak and cannot walk fast."
...
"Your Highness is really making a fuss over nothing, rushing us to Penghua City anyway."
Bian Yi muttered to himself, occasionally flicking the horse that was moving forward, while also mocking the people around him.
"And you, a mere martial artist who retired from the world, actually chose to become a princess's spy. Aren't you ashamed?"
"I'm urging you on, but you won't budge! Even a tortoise can walk faster than you, you horse!"
The old woman finally couldn't hold back her anger and shouted. If it were twenty years ago, she would have been a powerful figure in the martial arts world, and this junior would not have the right to interfere.
She was tightly bound by Bian Yi's own white silk, but Bian Yi was not comfortable with driving the carriage himself and leaving Lin Chengye and this treacherous old woman in the carriage, so he tied her to his side, with one of the old woman's feet still hanging outside.
"Can you let go of me? My old arms and legs are so tired... Don't you have any manners, young man?"
“You only became famous in the martial arts world when you were over thirty, while I became famous at the same time as you when I was seventeen. We can be considered peers, right?” Bian Yi retorted.
"Famous at seventeen? How come I don't know you? Then you're thirty... six or seven this year? Don't lie to this old woman, you look... well, in your early twenties?"
The old man stared wide-eyed, trying to find a fine line or a single white hair on Bian Yi's face.
"I have a secret to staying young! So what!" Bian Yi said smugly, tossing her braided hair behind her.
"Alright, alright, it's alright, Bian Yi. Let her in. I have something to ask her."
Lin Chengye listened to the two arguing all the way and found it amusing, so he finally smiled and spoke up.
The next moment, the woman stumbled in, rubbing her aching back, but she still had a white silk ribbon wrapped around her waist, the other end of which was tugged out from outside the carriage.
"Tell me, why did your Highness seek me out? And how did she know I was Miss Lin the Second?"
Lin Chengye sat on the soft, light green quilt, a book on his lap. He was turning a page when he propped his chin up and watched the old woman sit up cross-legged. Then he reached out and poured her a cup of tea, asking her what was wrong.
"This old man has no idea; I am merely a messenger."
The old man with four silk robes pushed the cup of tea away with disdain, took a sip of the strong liquor from the gourd at his waist, and looked at Lin Chengye with some wariness.
"Never mind then, tell me about yourself. How did you meet her, and why did you become her informant?"
Lin Chengye didn't ask any more questions, it really seemed like he was just curious.
"Be grateful and repay kindness with kindness. It's a matter of life and death. What's there to say?"
The old man with four silk robes snorted, scratched his head, and said again.
"It happened about seven or eight years ago. I was just a drifter, and when I first arrived in Linsu, I had a conflict with the Wu Ma family, a heretical cult in the Jianghu, in the suburbs. Fortunately, I found a chance to escape into the city. When I was still alive, I was saved by the Third Prince, who was disguised as an ordinary person. So I became the prince's man and simply retired from the Jianghu."
"It sounds like His Highness is a kind person."
"Yes, although I initially looked down on those in the court, I was only doing it out of gratitude. However... this prince is a good person, with real talent and ability, and a heart for the people and the country. It's a pity that he has little influence in the court. It's just that I find it strange..."
“It’s strange that His Majesty and the Eldest Princess seem to have never had this prince, keeping him only in the deep palace and never entrusting him with any important tasks… Ah, not even minor ones.”
Lin Chengye closed the book and replied calmly.
"Yes, that's exactly what I meant. How did you guess?"
The old man slapped his thigh and muttered something.
"Then how did you find me? Or rather... how did your prince know my whereabouts?"
Lin Chengye narrowed his eyes.
"You little kid, you know too little about the ways of the martial arts world."
The old man with four silk ribbons shook his head.
"First of all, with the strength of your guards, if someone is following you, she can probably detect anyone within a few miles, unless... they have some kind of technique to conceal their presence."
However, His Highness told me that you were probably going to Jiangjin Realm. But when I got there, I learned that you had already left, so I inquired along the way. You didn't hide your whereabouts, so it was quite easy to track you down. After following you for a while, I realized that you were probably going to that flower viewing party. Since you were walking too slowly, I simply waited for you on the road you were bound to take.”
Lin Chengye nodded, asked no more questions, leaned back, and closed his eyes to rest.
...
No matter how much the old man urged her, Bian Yi followed the original plan and didn't go an inch further. She said in a sinister tone that Cheng Ye was ill and if he felt unwell, he should use her old woman's heart's blood as a medicine.
From then on, the four old men dared not say another word, keeping a safe distance from the border, and sitting obediently beside Lin Chengye, their eyes still filled with fear as they looked at the two of them.
So on the tenth day, the day before the flower viewing festival, as the sun was setting, the three of them finally arrived in Penghua City. However, there were so many people coming to admire the flowers these days that they had a hard time finding an inn to stay in.
"Take us to see His Highness today."
Lin Chengye gazed at the colorful clouds in the sky and then spoke to the old man with four silk ribbons.
"Tomorrow we're going to visit old friends and admire the flowers, so we won't have time to see Your Highness."
This was blatant perfunctory behavior. The old man with the four white silks reluctantly led the way, but one end of the white silk was still in Bian Yi's hand.
Finally, under the strange gazes of passersby, the old man with four silk robes could no longer bear it and roared angrily.
"Can you let go of the dog? You're leashing it!"
Immediately, passersby and birds scattered.
...
The prince's residence was rather remote, and the three of them walked for quite a while. However, the journey was not boring at all, as Penghua City was full of spring scenery.
This was also a prosperous area in the Southern Qi Dynasty, and the streets were bustling with activity at this time. Whether they were commoners dressed in coarse linen or young ladies and gentlemen dressed in fine silks and brocades, everyone had a happy expression on their faces. There were many flower shops on both sides of the street, among which peonies were the most beautiful, and almost every shop had a bunch of them on its door.
Bian Yi enthusiastically bought a small bunch and stuffed it into Lin Chengye's hand, walking at the front and exclaiming.
"I haven't been to Southern Qi for many years, and I never expected there to be such a beautiful place."
"The defeat of the Southern Qi army before the New Year has surprisingly had no impact, and less than half a year has passed."
Seeing the enemy country so prosperous, Lin Chengye felt a complex mix of emotions. Of course, she was happy to see the people of this country live in wealth, even though this was not Lai Kingdom. But she still had the piercing wound in her chest left by the spear of General Mi Fan of Southern Qi, which always stung like needles when it rained, reminding her that everything had just begun, and that the pain had never left her, always following her like a shadow.
She paused, as if talking to herself.
"The rumor that the new ruler of Southern Qi, Ji Gongyun, is still young and unable to govern a country is not necessarily true."
"Cough cough..."
Bian Yi's expression froze, and he suddenly sighed.
"That young girl is indeed very capable, but she is young and her foundation is not solid."
Lin Chengye gave Bian Yi a half-smile, which made Bian Yi's scalp tingle. He immediately stopped and spoke honestly.
"I really intended to tell you this once I entered Jiuchen City, the capital of Southern Qi!"
"Okay, just don't forget."
Lin Chengye responded coolly.
...
Lin Chengye looked up at the four large characters on the plaque, his eyes twitched, and he couldn't help but ask again.
You said your prince lives here?
"Oh dear, although Your Highness came incognito, you can't stay at an inn. I've long heard of the reputation of Jiangjin Medical Clinic, so I simply said that I have a strange illness. The doctor couldn't diagnose it for a while, so he let Your Highness stay in the backyard."
The old man with four silk ribbons smugly wiped the tip of his nose.
"I'm going to arrest you all! I'm so angry..."
"Are you bullying an honest person?!" Bian Yi's voice rose eight octaves, only to be slapped across the mouth by Lin Chengye. All her anger was trapped in her throat as she glared resentfully at Lin Chengye. Lin Chengye coughed lightly, trying to soothe her.
"Don't be angry, don't be angry. I'll get back at you for this later."
When the doctor at Jiangjin Medical Clinic heard that they had come to visit the young lady in the back courtyard who had contracted a strange illness, he did not stop them and let them in. Although the clinic's courtyard was small, it was clean and tidy, with honeysuckle growing all over the ground, which was in full bloom and looked very elegant.
As soon as they stepped into the courtyard, they saw someone already standing in front of the door waiting. However, due to the deep darkness of the night, Lin Chengye and Bian Yi had to take a few more steps forward to see clearly.
The man had phoenix eyes and slightly raised eyebrows; one could discern a hint of dashing charm without even looking closely. His posture was as upright as bamboo, exuding an imposing aura. However, his eyes, like his brother Lin Chengtong's, were light brown, yet unlike Lin Chengtong's affectionate gaze, those eyes were empty, chillingly cold.
But at the same time, Lin Chengye heard the rapid and heavy breathing of the person next to her, and even felt their trembling hands. She looked over in confusion, but was suddenly startled by Bian Yi's expression.
It's hard to describe what kind of look those eyes had.
It will probably be someone you haven't seen in a long time, or someone you've been searching for for a long time and suddenly meet, completely catching you off guard.
At that time, joy was too little and obsession was too deep, so when they looked at each other, there was more sorrow and shock, all mixed together, and only at the very end did they feel a sense of relief as if they had landed.
Bian Yi's pupils contracted slightly, and she parted her lips, hearing her own trembling voice.
"you……"
But I couldn't ask any more questions, as if my voice had been taken away.
"Your Highness has many capable subordinates. I admire Magistrate Ye for recognizing me just by brushing past me."
Lin Chengye glanced at Bian Yi; this person's condition was definitely off, but this wasn't the time to ask questions. She interrupted Bian Yi, looking at Wei Jingchen with a forced smile, and said very perfunctorily.
"However, we are eager to see the flower viewing party with our friends. Your Highness, please feel free to speak your mind."
"No rush. Given our relationship, we should catch up first."
Wei Jingchen gestured for them to proceed, then gestured for those around him to leave. Lin Chengye whispered something in Bian Yi's ear. Bian Yi gave Wei Jingchen one last deep look, but then his figure blurred, and he used his light footwork to leave.
Then look at the courtyard, where there is no one left.
"You...this guard is quite skilled in martial arts."
Wei Jingchen frowned; she had clearly noticed Bian Yi's expression as well.
But Wei Jingchen was certain she had never seen that person before, and besides... he was just a江湖人士 (jianghu person, a person from the martial arts world).
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