Down the mountain
elder brother?
Pei Zhao muttered to himself, then realized what was going on, and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "So it's Brother Xie."
Liu Xu glanced at Xie Lingxi and chuckled as he replied, "Lord Pei."
The newcomer was dashing and heroic, and at such a young age he already had such prestige in the army; he must be Pei Zhao without a doubt.
Liu Xu smiled and said, "Lord Pei's arrival is perfectly timed."
Fortunately, he found this place; otherwise, the two of them would have been seriously injured today.
Pei Zhao, however, thought that Liu Xu's words had a hidden meaning, and his face showed a hint of apology: "Thank you for your forgiveness, brother. Recently, I have been busy with affairs in the capital and have many precautions. His Majesty ordered us to guard Xiangshan. It is inevitable that I was blind and mistook the person."
Yang Shuo finally realized: "The Xie family of Chenliu?"
Pei Zhao nodded.
"Oh my dear aunt, why didn't you say so earlier? I was so offended..."
If you insist on labeling me a spy, wouldn't that be a disaster? There are too many imperial servants in the Southern Palace; she can't afford to gamble.
"Would you believe me if I told you?"
Yang Shuo covered his face with one hand and shook his head repeatedly, "No, no way."
He knew his own character well; he was too fond of beautiful women. Even if Xie Lingxi said it, he would only take it as a joke. After all, what noble lady would go out without a maid? How could she be so elusive as to be seen with a man?
"Since that's the case, why should I waste my breath?"
"Well, that's not entirely true—"
Before he could finish speaking, Xie Lingxi interrupted him, "Since you don't like to listen to me, and I don't want to listen to you either, let's all shut up."
Seeing that the atmosphere was tense, Pei Zhao, caught in the middle, quickly comforted them: "Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, where do you two want to go? I'll send someone to escort you there."
Xie Lingxi readily agreed: "Then I'll trouble you, Lord Pei."
...
Pei Zhao originally sent someone to escort the Xie siblings back, but the abbot of the temple sent word that he should go back.
He was orphaned and destitute in his youth, and the abbot took him in. Now the abbot spoke urgently, indicating that it was an important matter that could not be delayed, so he had no choice but to travel with the two men.
He was usually serious and didn't like reading poetry and books since childhood. He felt that he had nothing in common with the Xie siblings. But after all, Xie Lingguang's precious brothers were walking beside him. They were all incredibly shrewd. He couldn't help but feel nervous. After walking on the spring mountain for a while, he even broke out in a light sweat on his back.
Liu Xu noticed his unusual behavior and asked with concern, "Is Lord Pei feeling unwell?"
Pei Zhao's face flushed red, but he was unaware of it, staring straight ahead without looking to the side. "I'm fine."
He decided to take the initiative and adjusted his posture, saying, "There are no outsiders here, Brother Xie, you don't need to call me Lord Pei, just call me Zizhang."
But I'm not Xie's brother!
Liu Xu didn't know who Pei Zhao mistook him for. Before he could reply, Pei Zhao asked familiarly, "Is Lingjun at home now? I've been back from the frontier for half a month and haven't visited him yet."
Who is Ling Jun?
Liu Xu's cheeks stiffened, and he forced a smile: "He's still in Chang'an, and he mentioned you not long ago."
"That kid must be talking badly about me!"
Pei Zhao spoke of Xie Heng with great enthusiasm and did not forget to invite this "Brother Xie," saying, "His Majesty will be organizing a spring hunt soon. Would Brother Xie like to join us?"
Liu Xu nodded: "That's excellent."
Sorry, brother, spring is here, time to stretch your muscles, so I accepted on your behalf.
This matter was not over yet. Pei Zhao then asked, "I see that Brother Xie is as tall and straight as a pine tree, and is agile and handsome. Are you also skilled in riding and archery? I have a bow and arrow that is not made of gold and jade, but it is extremely sturdy and light to hold. It can pierce through clouds and moon. I will fetch it another day and give it to Brother Xie."
What bow and arrow? What friendship? Can you give something to someone you've only met once with just a few words?
Liu Xu was like a puppet on a string, only able to nod: "Then thank you very much."
Pei Zhao was overjoyed upon hearing this, and looked at his elder brother with a beaming smile: "After saying so much, I still don't know that Brother Xie's courtesy name also starts with the character 'Ling', right?"
This sentence jolted Liu Xu awake from his dream. "'Spirit' what?"
"Oh...right, what's my name?"
He pulled the person next to him aside and whispered for help, "Why do you have so many brothers? Which older brother is he talking about?"
Xie Lingxi, who had been smiling since earlier, finally came to his rescue: "My elder brother's courtesy name is Lingyin. He's injured on the head and a little out of it. Please don't take offense, Zizhang."
Pei Zhao didn't care about that; he quickly waved his hand and said, "It's nothing, it's nothing."
"I have disturbed Brother Xie's rest."
As they talked, they arrived at the back of the temple. A few broken branches lay in front of the flimsy gate. Several young monks were already waiting there and welcomed them in, leading them past the washing platform to a side courtyard.
The yard was clean and tidy, except for an oddly shaped white cloth placed there, covering something in the distance.
Xie Lingxi was about to return to her room to find her elder sister when she saw this and stopped. She watched as Pei Zhao lifted a corner of the white cloth.
Two men's feet were visible inside, wet as if they had been pulled from a river. Although the man's lower garment was not fancy, it was made of good fabric, incomparable to the coarse cloth worn by Liu Xu, suggesting he was of some status.
Xie Lingxi walked straight to the other end, lifted the white cloth covering her face, and suddenly a face she had just seen last night appeared.
Ah Qian?
She and Liu Xu exchanged a glance, both seeing disbelief in each other's eyes—no, Ah Qian's throat had been pierced by her hairpin, and although her neck was wrapped with a few strands of waterweed, it was completely unharmed.
It seems to be his twin brother, Ah Cai.
But Ah Cai clearly left the cave with the Prince of Pingnan. Could it be that the Prince of Pingnan suddenly went mad and killed him?
This is absolutely terrifying!
Pei Zhao, unaware of their story, noticed their strange expressions and asked, "Brother Xie, have you met him?"
"Judging from his robes, they are made of brocade and the style is common in the palace, but he does not have a palace badge on him. I wonder which palace he is a eunuch from."
Liu Xu shook his head, "I don't know him, but the man's death was gruesome, and my third sister and I are a little scared."
Pei Zhao recalled that both of them came from families with a background in poetry, literature, and etiquette, and nodded: "That's true."
After the three of them examined the body, the abbot rushed over from the front hall. Before he could catch his breath, he said, word by word, "Zizhang, it's not that I want to trouble you, but this person was pulled out of the river by my disciple this morning. When he was first pulled out, he was still breathing and staring blankly with his eyes open, trying to speak. Before we could save him, he was gone."
Pei Zhao frowned deeply: "He died from drowning."
Host: "Yes, yes... What should we do? Amitabha... What a sin, what a sin..."
“I’ll send someone to bring him down the mountain for an autopsy right away,” Pei Zhao said, then changed the subject. “Master, things haven’t been peaceful in Fragrant Mountain lately, so you’d better be careful.”
"Yes, yes..."
After finishing his instructions, the host turned back to his work, muttering, "Why are there so many strange things happening? Zhang Liaoran was like a madman this morning, grabbing me and vomiting uncontrollably. He's been listless ever since; I wonder if he's feeling any better now..."
"These are truly turbulent times."
Pei Zhao listened thoughtfully. Since the messenger was already on his way, he turned back to bid farewell to Xie Liu and the other man, saying, "I have important business to attend to, so I must take my leave now!"
Xie Lingxi called out to him, "General Pei!"
Pei Zhao turned around.
"Beware of hidden attacks."
...
What was the purpose of throwing Ah Cai into the river? It was murder. This blatant act was as if Ah Cai's death was a warning to someone.
In her previous life, the Prince of Pingnan's faction was completely hidden, and Xie Lingxi couldn't come up with any useful information about him no matter how hard she tried. Now that this connection has been revealed, this person is no ordinary person. It seems that what appeared to be Yan Ji's doing in her previous life may have been orchestrated by others. One tiger is always at the center of a storm. She pondered and looked at Liu Xu: "Do you have anything else to do today? Pack your things and come down the mountain with us."
"us?"
Liu Xu precisely grasped these two words: "Who are 'we'?"
Xie Lingxi: "My elder sister and I."
“General Pei is my elder sister’s sweetheart. He mistook you for my elder brother, hence his attentiveness. If he hadn’t spoken up, I wouldn’t have known that my brother and he had such a relationship.”
However, she noticed that Pei Zhao seemed somewhat dazed towards her. What exactly had Xie Heng said to him...?
No wonder……
Liu Xu smiled wryly: "Next time you play a different character, Third Sister should give me a heads-up beforehand, or you'll give yourself away."
Xie Lingxi laughed and said, "Don't worry, his eyesight is bad. When he sees you in the future, he will only think that you look like a sea of people."
Liu Xu: "...This isn't exactly a nice word, is it?"
Because Liu Xu's tone was so innocent, the two of them were stunned at the same time, laughed together for a while, and then went back to pack their bags.
...
Xie Lingxi returned to her room and saw Xie Lingguang leaning against the window, staring intently at her.
She touched her hair bun guiltily, and seeing that it wasn't crooked, she stepped forward and took Xie Lingguang's hand, "Sister, the wind is so strong, why don't you come inside?"
Xie Lingguang: "Where did you go?"
"I couldn't sleep, so I went for a walk. Sister, you know what? The morning air in the mountains is so fragrant, and the wildflowers are in full bloom. It's really delightful."
She really lies without thinking. Helpless, Xie Lingguang led her to the water vat, picked up her belt, and saw that a piece of it was clearly broken off.
"Look at yourself now. Did you smear some soot on your face? And your clothes? Don't think I can't tell just because you're wearing something foggy. Look at this hairpin..."
When Xie Lingxi saw her touch the butterfly hairpin, she cleverly stopped her with her hand and softened her tone: "Sister, I know I was wrong. I'll go change my clothes now, and then we'll go down the mountain."
She had just turned around to go inside when she heard Xie Lingguang call out, "Wait a minute."
"Where's that smell of blood coming from...Are you injured?"
It must have been Liu Xu's blood that got on it by accident.
"I'm fine. Wait for me, sister, I'll be better soon."
Xie Lingguang walked around outside a few times and sure enough, he saw Xie Lingxi come out looking perfectly clean.
She noticed that the hairpin in her hair had changed, and now a swallow was perched on it. She couldn't help but ask, "You're not wearing that hairpin anymore?"
Isn't that your favorite?
"That one doesn't match this outfit."
As Xie Lingxi spoke, she walked to the door and looked around. "Sister, I have a friend in the temple. Let's take him down the mountain together today."
Xie Lingguang: "Of course..."
Before she could finish speaking, a handsome young man, as elegant as jade and as beautiful as jade, walked gracefully towards her, carrying a simple handbag under his arm.
"……good."
She pointed at Liu Xu, "The friend you're talking about... is it him?"
Xie Lingxi: "Liu Lang, over here!"
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