Chapter 37: Flowers on the Water
With a heavy heart, in front of him was the Chrysanthemum Garden where Ji Linyou lived.
There was an open space in front of the door, surrounded by a sparse bamboo fence. The chrysanthemums had just sprouted two-inch-long buds, which, without any shelter, made the room look even more open and spacious.
Ji Linyou usually practiced martial arts in the open space outside the gate during the day, but today he was lying on a bamboo chair in the corridor reading a book. When Qiandeng passed by, he immediately noticed that the book he was holding was the "Changhua Wulue".
Hearing the noise, he jumped off the bamboo lounge chair and greeted with surprise: "County Lady, what do you want to talk to me about?"
When he learned that they were looking for Shangluo, he was surprised at first, then he waved his hand cheerfully: "Okay, you guys go in. I was so focused on reading here that I didn't notice anyone coming."
As he spoke, he ignored Aunt Xuanji and the others and simply pulled Cui Fufeng aside to ask, "Shaoqing Cui, there are some things I'd like to ask you about in the book you compiled. For example, in the first year of Shangyuan, when the prince and the crown prince led their army to rescue the Shen Ce army at Mohuanchuan in Lintao, why did they set up an ambush in the northwest instead of blocking the enemy at the pass?"
Cui Fufeng glanced at it and said, "I visited the soldiers who participated in the battle, and they all said it was located in the northwest. There is no mistake."
Qian Deng also saw that the details of the battle above were clear and that there was indeed an ambush in the northwest.
Only Ling Tianshui casually said, "Mohuanchuan is surrounded by high mountains and deep valleys, and the pass is very open. At that time, the Shen Ce Army was quickly defeated, and the enemy's morale was high. Prince Changhua came from afar to rescue them, and his troops were not superior. If they had faced the enemy head-on at the pass, their chances of victory would have been slim. However, there was a sloping road and deep valley to the northwest. Prince Changhua set up a false formation at the pass's entrance, luring the enemy to the northwest. We lined up in front to clip their wings, and pursued them with bows and crossbows from behind, forcing the enemy troops to flee and retreat into the deep valley, trampling on each other. Our army then changed into a hook formation, charging back and forth two or three times, and the enemy army was completely routed, unable to resist."
After hearing what he said, Ji Linyou suddenly understood. He slapped his thigh and said, "I see! Your Highness is truly a master at deploying troops! Then, cousin, can you help me take a closer look at this place and why did he deploy the troops in this way?"
While the two of them were discussing military tactics, Aunt Xuanji had already finished checking the Ju Garden. Ji Linyou was used to being in the army and didn't have many things, so he could see clearly at a glance that there was nothing unusual.
Qiandeng looked back at Ling Tianshui. When he closed the Changhua Wulue, he glanced at something stuck in the book with his eyelashes lowered, and frowned slightly.
She was a little puzzled and was about to see what was hidden in the book that could make someone like Ling Tianshui frown, but she saw that he had calmly closed the book and handed it back to Ji Linyou: "Read it more. This is the essence of the Changhua King's nearly fifty years of battles. After learning it thoroughly, my cousin will definitely achieve great things."
After leaving the Chrysanthemum Garden, the water ahead was rippling, and we had arrived at the Reflection Pond.
The pool reflected the sunlight, making the surroundings bright and clear. As they walked forward in the brilliant light, Qiandeng couldn't help but look at Ling Tianshui beside them, feeling a strange feeling in his heart.
Ling Tianshui raised an eyebrow and looked at her: "What's wrong?"
Qian Deng lowered his voice and asked, "What did you take from that book?"
Ling Tianshui didn't expect that she had seen his little trick, so he said casually: "It still needs to be confirmed. I'll tell you the result when I have it."
Qian Deng nodded, then seemed to be thinking: "Ling Sijie, you are very skilled in martial arts and are proficient in military tactics. How could King Linhuai be willing to let you come here, considering you are such a great talent?"
Cui Fufeng listened with a half-smile and glanced at Ling Tianshui.
He remained calm and said, "Prince Linhuai has many talented people under his command. There are many people like me. Why would I be reluctant to give them up?"
Their toes clattered on the wooden floor as they walked up the corridor leading to Zhaoying Pavilion.
The rippling water and the sunlight interweave, reflecting the small pavilion on the waterside corridor with a touch of fairy air.
A wooden corridor, washed clean and dust-free, hung above the clear pool. The corridor, facing the water, amplified the sound of footsteps. Yan Penglai, who was inside, stood up and came out to investigate. Seeing Qiandeng and his group approaching, he was slightly surprised.
Knowing that they were looking for Shangluo, Yan Penglai lowered his eyes and nodded, then led them inside.
Zhaoying Pavilion, built on the water, faces the water. At the end of the wooden corridor is a small open hall. Behind the hall, a carved door separates a small resting room with a bed. Beside the bed are a small cabinet, a tea stove, and a futon, which is also made from the corners of monks' robes.
It turned out that the thing he gave to the county lady was a pair with what he used in his daily life.
This vague but distinct sense of ambiguity made Cui Fufeng look at Qian Deng involuntarily.
Qian Deng didn't pay any attention, but only looked at his simple little house. He felt that it was too shabby and deserted. Not to mention a living person like Shangluo, even a mosquito or fly would not be able to escape.
She whispered, "Why doesn't Mr. Yan ask the maids to go to the storehouse and get some daily necessities? Living like this is really a bit inconvenient."
Yan Penglai shook his head, and with his jade-like fingers he slowly moved the Buddhist beads in his hand. He said softly, "What's the point of all these material possessions? Now that I'm well-fed and well-clothed with the county lady, I don't have to worry about hunger or cold. All other worldly things are meaningless to me."
Qian Deng nodded silently. Although there was no trace of Shang Luo here, he still asked as a matter of routine: "I wonder when was the last time Mr. Yan saw Shang Luo?"
Yan Penglai thought for a moment and said, "Last night, around the end of the evening, he came over and sat with me for a while."
"I wonder why Shangluo wanted to see you last night?"
"He's still young, and must have been frightened by Princess Gao's corpse. He said he couldn't sleep the night before, and when he closed his eyes, he saw Princess Gao's death. Last year, when Jingning and Yang Huaijiang were in trouble, he also asked me for help. I gave him a copy of the Nanhua Sutra at that time, but Young Master Shang is still young and doesn't understand the profound meaning of the scriptures. This time, he asked me to make him a talisman, so I improvised a calming spell for him, and he took it and left."
As he spoke, he pointed to the small cabinet and said, "If you need it, I can draw one for you."
There were talisman papers and brocade bags in the small cabinet, and it was obvious that Yan Penglai was very familiar with this.
Qian Deng shook his head and said, "Don't bother. I still need to check the backyard and other places to find Shangluo as soon as possible."
Yan Penglai agreed. There was no table or chairs in his house, so he couldn't entertain guests. Everyone said goodbye and left without lingering any longer.
Yan Penglai sent them out of the pavilion. Qiandeng lowered her head and stepped onto the corridor. The clear water reflected her and Yan Penglai's figures behind her.
In a place where no one else could see, Yan Penglai was looking at her, his gaze fixed intently, without blinking.
Because of the strange feeling in her heart, she leaned over to look at the water, subconsciously wanting to see the man's eyes clearly.
The wood was wet and slippery from the steaming spring water. When she leaned forward, her feet suddenly slipped. Fortunately, she grabbed the pillar next to her in time and did not slide off the porch.
But the palace flower on her head fell from her hair and landed in the water.
Although her mother had been buried, Qiandeng did not wear any gold or jade ornaments or fancy clothes during the mourning period. She only wore a palace flower made of white gauze on her head.
Seeing the palace flower fall into the water, Liuli cried out "Ouch" and hurriedly held the pillar with one hand and reached out to pick up the palace flower.
However, the water was rippling, and the ripples carried the palace flowers, half sinking and half floating, and they were getting farther and farther away from the corridor.
Qiandeng was about to say no, but Yan Penglai behind him put down the Buddhist beads in his hand, lifted the hem of Su Qing's robe, and stepped into the water.
The water in the Reflection Pond wasn't deep, just knee-deep. He waded through the water toward the palace flower, scooped it up, twisted it between three fingers, and gently shook off the water droplets. He turned and waded toward Qiandeng, raising his arm toward her standing on the porch and handing the white gauze palace flower to her.
The sunlight shone on the waves, and the clear water rippled around him, and circles of ripples spread around this god-like man.
He stood alone in the shimmering waves, like a green lotus bud. His face, praised by the world, was shrouded in brilliance, so dazzling that it was difficult to see clearly.
Qiandeng slowly took the palace flowers from his hand. The wet flowers dripped with water and fell on Yan Penglai's clothes.
This man who hated rainy days and wet environments and who had preferred to stay in her backyard because he didn't want to go home in the rain and get wet, actually went into the water without hesitation to help her get back this insignificant palace flower.
There was a breathless silence all around, and they were the only ones staring at each other silently, above and below the water.
All the colors of spring could not compare to the brilliance in his eyes when he looked at her.
Cui Fufeng, who was standing quietly beside him, pursed his lips slightly, turned his eyes away without saying a word, and silently tightened his fingers.
He heard Ling Tianshui beside him say "huh" lightly, as if sneering, but there was no smile on his face as always, only an expression of uncontrollable displeasure in his eyes.
Cui Fufeng suddenly wondered if there was also such an unspeakable expression on his face and in his eyes.
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