Chapter 83 Gift
The bamboo forest outside, which was originally rustling in the gentle spring breeze, suddenly swayed in disorder.
Qiandeng turned around and saw Mingjiu walking across the bamboo path in anger, followed by Yan Penglai with a gloomy look in his eyes, Xue Xiyang who looked like he was enjoying the show, and Jin Tang who was gloating.
When they saw the county lady feeding medicine to Cui Fufeng personally in the bamboo hall, the expressions on their faces couldn't help but fluctuate.
Especially Xue Xiyang's charming peach blossom eyes, as if they had been in the rain overnight, suddenly dimmed; and the gloating on Jin Tang's face instantly turned into aggrieved anger. He looked at Qiandeng and then at Cui Fufeng, opening his mouth but unable to utter a word.
Qian Deng could only place the medicine bowl on the table and stood up as calmly as possible: "Are you gentlemen here to visit Mr. Cui?"
Xue Xiyang quickly stepped over the threshold, his eyes, full of sparkling water, looking only at her: "Yes, I heard that Cui Shaoqing was seriously injured and the county lady was very concerned about him. Since we are in the backyard together, it is natural for me to come and visit him."
The others also subconsciously echoed, but Mingjiu was the only one who didn't hide his words. He grabbed Yan Penglai's collar and complained to Qiandeng: "Xianzhu, look, this bastard still has the nerve to stay here!"
Yan Penglai was held hostage by the princess's mansion and played many tricks in the backyard. Mingjiu, as the biggest victim, naturally made a fuss.
Yan Penglai remained calm, pulling his clothes back from his grasp. He then said to Qiandeng, "Penglai feels guilty and ashamed to remain in the palace's backyard, so I've come to bid farewell to the county lady."
Qian Deng explained to Ming Jiu, "Lord Yan is indeed leaving the capital, and he has only returned to pack his things."
The crowing eagle snorted, then crossed its arms and fell silent.
Yan Penglai lowered his eyes, his thick eyelashes covering the dark light in his eyes. He bowed to Qiandeng and said, "Penglai bids farewell to the county lady."
Seeing that he was about to leave, Qiandeng said, "I have prepared a small gift for you gentlemen. Master Yan, please consider it as a parting gift."
As she spoke, she took out the gilded silver sachet she had chosen from the box she had brought and handed it to him: "Mr. Yan's body is like a crane, and he is nourished by clouds and mist. This sachet is the perfect match for you."
Yan Penglai looked up and saw misty clouds carved on the sachet, with flying cranes flying through the clouds. It was so elegant and free-flowing that it made him forget the world.
His gaze slowly moved to Qiandeng's face. Seeing her gaze at him with tenderness and sincerity, his heart couldn't help but palpitate slightly. He whispered, "But I... have done too many wrong things and disappointed the county lady."
"There are many things in this world that are beyond our control. I hope that Mr. Yan can break free from his shackles, escape the cage of worldly affairs, and finally find freedom." Qian Deng said, passing another sachet to him. "But I still have to accept the gift. It can be regarded as a return gift for the Baina Futan you gave me."
Yan Penglai hesitated for a moment, then bowed his head and took it with both hands, saying softly, "Yes, the county lady's kindness, Penglai accepts it."
Seeing Qiandeng being so kind to him, Mingjiu couldn't help but curl his lips: "Xianzhu, you're still so nice to him! He's always showing off to me!"
"It's to frame you." A voice came from outside the house, and the person who strode in was Ji Linyou who had just returned from outside.
Seeing Qiandeng, his face showed worry, and he said, "County Lady, Shangluo hasn't been found yet, so why are you letting him go now?"
"Didn't you find Shangluo?" Qian Deng asked, seeing his ominous premonition come true. "Then, last night you and Donggong Zuo Siyu led people to track down Princess Changyi. Did you find any trace of her?"
"We found nothing. The secret room's tunnel had several forks. We searched for over two hours before we found the correct path. We finally climbed out. The exit was in a dry well in a deserted house outside the princess's mansion." Ji Linyou looked gloomy. "There was no sign of Princess Changyi outside. I suspect that Princess Gao's mansion has always been so evil that they had already prepared a retreat and escaped quickly!"
Mingjiu asked anxiously, "Can't you find that arrogant princess?"
"We're searching, but there are so many abandoned neighborhoods after the war. Even if she didn't escape the city, it would be difficult to search for her in all 108 neighborhoods in Chang'an."
Qian Deng was thinking about Shang Luo, feeling very confused. He reluctantly said, "I hope we can find her as soon as possible. Now that Shang Luo's whereabouts are known, we can only start from her."
Yan Penglai, who had been standing silently nearby, suddenly spoke up: "If the county lady trusts me, you can go to Huayan Nunnery to look for her."
Ji Linyou immediately asked, "Really? How did you know he would be there?"
"Shangluo was indeed taken away by the Princess's Mansion. His whereabouts are currently unknown, so he's most likely being held hostage by Princess Changyi. As far as I know, the exit of the Princess's Mansion's secret passage isn't far from Huayan Temple. When I was helping the Princess's Mansion fake the scene of Princess Gao's death, the abbot of Huayan Temple came to pray for her. He was very familiar with Princess Changyi. I remember Princess Gao often taking Princess Changyi to Huayan Temple to observe fasts and make donations. The secret passage is located near the Huayan Nunnery for a reason."
Cui Fufeng also agreed with this inference and nodded to Qiandeng.
Qian Deng stood up and said, "Captain Ji, shall we go to Huayan Temple together?"
Ji Linyou jumped up and said, "Okay, I'll call some brothers and we'll go over there quickly!"
"Take the gift with you." Qiandeng took out the Fengshengconghu sachet that she had chosen for him.
Ji Linyou took it with surprise and immediately tied it around his waist: "I'm sorry to trouble you, County Master. This tiger is so majestic and it suits me perfectly!"
Qiandeng then took out the auspicious elephant and gave it to Jintang, and the yellow one and gave it to Xue Xiyang.
"Where's mine? Where's mine?" Mingjiu was a little anxious, and he fell in love with the sachet with the golden-haired sitting lion in the box at first sight.
As expected, Qiandeng picked it up and presented it to him: "This lion is for the prince."
The eagle grabbed it and smiled triumphantly, revealing its large white teeth, which looked exactly like the lion in its hand. "Who else but me can be so majestic?"
Ji Linyou corrected: "Majestic and imposing."
Mingjiu said confidently, "I am a dignified Huihe prince, a king of beasts like me. Of course I have two more sides than others!"
Ji Linyou sneered and grabbed his tiger: "The king of beasts is here with me!"
"Humph, of course the lion is more powerful than the tiger!"
"Oh, since ancient times, the tiger has always been the leader of all beasts!"
"Tsk, that's because you've never seen a lion!"
Listening to the two men arguing like they were totally unadulterated, Qian Deng felt a dull pain in his brain. "Alright, you're both mighty and powerful, number one or two—Captain Ji, let's get going."
"Wait, I'm going too. Today we have to count who's number one and who's number two!" Ming Jiu was eager to follow, but Ji Linyou naturally pushed him away: "Tang Dynasty business, foreigners, stay out of your way!"
When Qiandeng took Ji Linyou out, she thought about it and looked back at Yan Penglai: "Young Master Yan, please stay for one more day. No matter what, we can talk about it after we find Shangluo."
If she couldn't find it, she naturally couldn't let him leave.
Yan Penglai naturally knew this and replied softly, "Okay."
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