Tang Chen replied, "At the beginning, I simply thought he was a businessman, but later I gradually discovered that he was far from what I imagined."
After snapping his fingers like that, Tang Chen wasn't too stupid and didn't lose face as a time traveler: "If my guess is correct, Wang Yanzhou should be the legendary prince."
Tang Chen instantly understood the meaning behind Hei Ya's drawn-out tone and gradually fading voice. "You're talking about 'that'? Impossible, impossible. Isn't it rumored that he went to practice Taoism with a Taoist priest?"
Black Crow said with a smile, "...The rumors are not to be believed. I have heard even more outrageous versions."
This legendary prince was said to be the youngest son of the late emperor, and the half-brother of the current Emperor Qian Zhao. According to popular legend, despite his young age, this "legend" was the only child of the late empress, and therefore the late emperor doted on him immensely. There are even rumors that if the late emperor had lived another decade or eight, the current emperor wouldn't have existed.
This young prince, devastated by his mother's sudden death, nearly fainted. Fortunately, he was enlightened by an old Taoist priest. He gave up his quest for the throne and became a Taoist. It's said that the place he currently resides in is difficult for ordinary people to find...
This is a relatively normal version. There are other versions saying that he is a god who came down to earth, a mountain elf or a demon, and so on.
The commonality among these versions is that, apart from the royal family and a few elders in the court, no one had ever seen the prince's true appearance. Over time, the stories told by the storytellers became more and more mysterious.
Tang Chen didn't really care about Wang Yanzhou's identity. If she did, she would have asked right after they met. She wouldn't have been guessing with Hei Ya until now. "Whoever he is, I just need to know that Wang Yanzhou is my old Wang."
Seeing Tang Chen's expression change faster than turning the pages of a book, Black Crow couldn't help but say with disdain: "Oh, oh, oh, that's enough. Seeing you like that gives me goosebumps."
After Tang Chen and Hei Ya talked for a while, he felt inexplicably more cheerful. "By the way, why didn't Xihe come with you?"
When mentioning Xihe, the light in Heiya's eyes changed: "She has been infected by you these days and has developed the habit of taking naps. I'm afraid she is still dreaming now."
Tang Chen said, "This is a good habit and we should keep it up."
Black Crow looked at the time. He had been sitting here for a while. He had to go back to check on Xihe. "Come on, you can play by yourself. I have to go watch her. She's not used to being helped by others when I get up."
"Go ahead, I feel much better now!"
Wang Yanzhou rushed all the way from Qingliang Valley to the prosperous capital of Jingji, just before the first heavy snow of the year, and finally arrived at the Princess's Mansion in Jingji. He was ready to wait for the New Year's Eve family dinner.
It was obvious that Wang Yanzhou, who almost never lied to Tang Chen, had lied to her this time. Regardless of whether this trip was dangerous or not, he would never send someone to bring Tang Chen here from the absolutely safe Qingliang Valley.
After warming himself up with a cup of ginger tea, Wang Yanzhou shook off his fatigue and was discussing something with Qinghe.
"Now, what are you going to do?"
Qinghe hadn't made up her mind yet when faced with Wang Yanzhou's question. She was a woman of flesh and blood. Ouyang Ming was her life, and so was her own brother. "If he comes, I'll fight him. If he doesn't go too far, I won't tear him apart."
Wang Yanzhou also said: "Brother has been found, and now we are facing internal and external troubles. What I mean is, we should endure it if we can, and it will not be too late to settle the score later."
Qinghe smiled helplessly: "If you can wait, I can too."
Wang Yanzhou knew Qinghe's inner conflict, but even then, he hadn't considered forcing her to make a choice. Their unity was due to the search for Ouyang Ming. Now that he'd been found, it was time to redraw the foundations of that unity. "Sister, if you choose to side with me, your enemy will be your own brother."
Wang Yanzhou's strange yet familiar name almost made Qinghe unable to react. It turned out that the little brother who used to follow her and grow up with her in the palace without restraint was now an adult who could handle things on his own. When something happened, he no longer cried to his mother: "...We'll see when the time comes. It's too early to say anything now."
"good."
...At this moment, Qingliang Valley was also covered with a thick silver blanket overnight. The only way connecting the inside and outside of the valley was temporarily relieved of its heavy responsibility due to the heavy snow, and slowly fell asleep in the wind and snow.
After the heavy snow stopped, Tang Chen took Xihe with him, strolling through the soft, white snow to the town at the foot of the mountain. Although this first snowfall had blocked Qingliang Valley's trade with the outside world, it hadn't dampened the enthusiasm of the valley's merchants. Business continued as usual.
The snow on the streets was cleared by the residents and merchants on both sides, while the mountain paths and main roads were cleared by people arranged by Zhong Qin. Two girls, wearing thick skirts and cloaks, walked hand in hand, chatting and laughing.
The weather was cold, and Tang Chen didn't dare buy anything to share with Xihe, for fear that the cold wind would make her sick, and he wouldn't be able to explain to Hei Ya. After buying two bunches of plum blossoms and holding them in his arms, Tang Chen thought for a long time. After making sure that there was nothing in particular he wanted to buy, he prepared to go home.
Just then, after drinking some hot tea from the tea stall, Xihe came out and walked on the road, but suddenly she pulled her aside, not knowing what she was going to do: "Wait!"
"What's wrong?"
Xihe explained, "There are the sounds of horse hooves. Let's step aside to be safer."
Although Tang Chen hadn't seen any convoys approaching, Xihe's ears were really useful, so he simply walked on the side of the road. It was okay not to be a road bully occasionally. "No way? Forget it, you have good ears, I'll listen to you."
Just as the two were about to go up the mountain, as expected, a group of cavalry came from a distance and passed by them soon.
Tang Chen said, "Didn't they say the mountains were closed due to heavy snow? How could there be troops coming in? Are we going to fight?" That's impossible. There doesn't seem to be any pre-war tension at all. Hmm, I guess they're here to catch fugitives.
"Who are these people? They are so arrogant that they dare to ride horses in the downtown area."
An old man beside Tang Chen glanced at her and said, "It seems to be the Imperial Guard."
Tang Chen asked in surprise: "Hey, uncle, how did you know?"
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com