Chapter 122 A Door
Just as Xiao Qing had expected, Ying Ziye had indeed grown a lot in the military camp over the past few years.
He was already taller than his peers, and now he was a handsome young man. His military life had made his muscles strong and powerful, and his eyes were sharp and resolute. When he was not facing Xiao Qing, he was usually taciturn, giving people a sense of unapproachable sharpness.
Zhao Youchen said that Ying Ziye was extremely skilled in martial arts, had great courage, and was remarkably calm and collected. If it were a battle, he would be an invaluable vanguard.
Xiao Qing curled her lip at the time, thinking that forwards always risk their lives, and Zi Ye's abilities were certainly not limited to being a good forward.
At this moment, Ying Ziye bowed respectfully to Xiao Yan, but the coldness in his bones was immediately apparent.
Xiao Yan narrowed his eyes slightly, but still exchanged a few pleasantries with him.
Xiao Qing then realized that he must not be happy to see Xiao Xiao either, and couldn't help but regret speaking too quickly earlier.
But as we've said, brothers should share happiness and hardship. When you're feeling down, you can ask your brothers for help, which will naturally lessen the burden by half.
So when Ying Ziye looked over, she secretly made a little gesture of begging for mercy when Xiao Yan wasn't looking. She herself didn't realize it, but Ying Ziye thought it was quite playful and cute, so the expression on her face also became much better.
Xiao Yan pretended not to see it, but his fingers clenched inside his sleeve before he reached out and patted the little head, saying, "Brother, shall we set off now?"
Xiao Qing had originally planned that if she didn't bring Xiao Yan, she and Ying Ziye could sit in the car and chat. But now that Xiao Yan was inside, they naturally couldn't have a good conversation.
Xiao Qing responded, pointed to the window seat on his right, and told Ying Ziye to come and sit down. Then he instructed Ma Hong to set off.
Ying Ziye and Xiao Yan sat facing each other in silence, while Xiao Qing sat in the main seat staring ahead, and soon found the journey boring.
Xiao Xiao was already fast asleep, and Xiao Qing glanced at her but didn't look again. She wanted to lounge loosely in her seat, but Xiao Yan was sitting upright, so she had to maintain her posture, which was quite tiring.
It's all Xiao Yan's fault for getting up early!
Xiao Qing regretted not bringing a book with her to pass the time on her journey.
However, if she really brings her out, Xiao Yan will definitely complain again, right?
Xiao Qing had no choice but to hurry up, as he couldn't go out.
After finally making it to the foot of Tianyin Temple, Xiao Qing quickly jumped out and said, "Ma Hong, let's leave the carriage here and walk up."
Finally, I can get rid of Xiao Yan.
Ma Hong knew exactly what Xiao Qing was thinking. He responded and then heard Xiao Qing say to Xiao Yan, "Brother Yan, Ziye and I will go find Master Jueyan first. You can take your time. We'll meet at the temple."
Xiao Yan nodded and smiled, "I will listen to my elder brother."
Xiao Qing then said to Ma Hong, "Ma Hong, Brother Yan is young, so you should stay by his side. If anything happens to him, I will have to ask you about it."
Ma Hong naturally agreed.
Xiao Qing knew that if she left first, the guards would definitely follow her, so she made this arrangement. Although she didn't like Xiao Yan, she would still consider Xiao Yan's personal safety when she was out and about.
"Brother, be careful on your journey." Xiao Yan watched their figures grow smaller and smaller as they walked away, and waited for a while before heading upstairs.
Ma Hong even felt a little sorry for Xiao Yan.
This is not the first time. It is common knowledge both inside and outside the palace that His Majesty does not like to be with his younger brother, but Prince Yan always seems unaware of this and continues to be close to His Majesty.
Ma Hong felt that he must know.
Wouldn't that make it even more painful?
Ma Hong glanced at Liu Yi, who had become increasingly silent in recent years, and thought to himself, "Like master, like person. Liu Yi wasn't like this when he was by His Majesty's side."
On the other hand, Xiao Qing's learning of movement techniques from Master Wu was truly not in vain. This was, so far, the only course Xiao Qing had studied alone. She had spent almost half a month subtly probing Fu Mingyi before finally prying out the information that Master Wu was only teaching her from his tightly sealed mouth.
She didn't dare to ask Mr. Wu for confirmation, because based on the teaching pace of the past two years, she felt that Mr. Wu would go to any lengths to find any opportunity to increase her workload.
However, the effect is also very significant.
Although she dared not say that she could leap across rooftops and enter and leave the palace as easily as Mr. Wu, she was indeed agile and light-footed because she had learned movement techniques from Mr. Wu, and even her breathing was different from that of ordinary people.
She and Ying Ziye went up the mountain, and in just a few words, they arrived at the temple gate.
Xiao Qing smiled and said, "Ziye's skills have improved again."
Ying Ziye also laughed and said, "Qingdi's movements have become much faster."
This wasn't the first time they'd been active outside the palace. Xiao Qing referred to herself as Xiao Qing when they were out, and Ying Ziye called her Qing Di. She, in turn, simply called him Ziye.
They were used to calling each other that, and even Ma Hong felt that there was more brotherly affection between them than between His Majesty and Prince Yan.
Master Jueyan received a message from Fu Mingyi yesterday and is currently waiting in front of the temple gate.
Upon seeing Xiao Qing and Ying Ziye, Jueyan smiled and walked over, saying, "How have you been, benefactor?"
Xiao Qing bowed to him and said, "Master Jueyan, how have you been? I hope my visit today has not disturbed your meditation."
Master Jueyan shook his head and looked back.
Xiao Qing understood and quickly whispered, "Brother Yan is walking slowly and is on his way up the mountain. Ziye and I will come up first to visit Master Jueyin."
Jueyan nodded, "Please wait a moment, benefactor." He then turned around and gave a few instructions to the people behind him before walking back to lead Xiao Qing upstairs.
This wasn't Xiao Qing's first time visiting Tianyin Temple. Only Xiao Qing had ever gone up to Master Jueyin's meditation room, always accompanied by Master Jueyin himself. So he stood there, waiting for Xiao Yan and the others to come up.
Xiao Qing followed Master Jueyan uphill and soon arrived at the stone chamber where Jueyin had secluded himself three years ago.
The higher Xiao Qing went, the more silent he became, and the heavier his heart grew.
Several stones were later moved to the outside of the stone gate. Each stone had an ancient shape and was placed there as a table and bench. Whenever Xiao Qing came, he would sit at the table with Master Jueyan. Sometimes they would drink tea, sometimes they would play chess, and occasionally they would talk, but they would keep their voices very low.
Jueyin has not left Shimen for three years.
Xiao Qing had never stepped into the stone gate.
At first, Xiao Qing would ask questions such as, "When will Master Jueyin be able to come out? Is his injury very serious?"
But the more often she came, the less she asked.
She just felt heavy-hearted, and unconsciously quieted down. She kept reminding herself that Jueyin had made a twenty-year promise with her. He would come out, he would be alright, and they would sit across from each other again, drink tea, and continue the conversation they hadn't finished three years ago.
Jueyan never brought it up himself, but he was always happy whenever Xiao Qing came.
Three years is enough time to see a person's true heart.
Jueyin did not save the wrong person; it was simply fate.
Xiao Qing and Jueyin sat outside the stone gate for about an hour. Xiao Qing would talk about some interesting things that happened on a daily basis, and Jueyin would sometimes speak Buddhist scriptures with her, and sometimes just listen.
When it was almost time, Xiao Qing went down the mountain to offer incense. Jueyan sat alone for a while longer before slowly walking to the stone gate and whispering, "Benefactor Xiao is leaving."
There was no sign of life inside, as if no one had ever gone in.
Jueyan sighed and slowly descended the mountain.
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