"Master, where are we going?"
In the dim night, the master and his two servants rode their horses aimlessly along the deserted mountain path.
The man in the middle pulled off the black cloth covering his face, revealing his fair, delicate and handsome face, and took a deep breath of fresh air.
"I just ran out. The Emperor will definitely think that I am in a hurry to get out of the city as far as possible. As the saying goes, 'the most dangerous place is the safest place'. We should not rush out of the city. After the Emperor and his entourage leave Hangzhou, we will follow them."
Yinzuo just felt that the atmosphere between brothers was a bit too depressing, and he really didn't want to meet those strange women. After all, he was still concerned about the Empress Dowager and the others, so he didn't plan to go far.
"Then, sir, do you want to send a letter to the Fourth Prince?" Shunfeng felt that if the Fourth Prince learned that his master was missing, he would probably be worried and might even rush over from the capital to arrest him.
"The Emperor has assigned him a lot of government affairs, so he must be too busy to spare any time. There's no need to bother him. Anyway, I just want to relax for a while, and I'm not really planning to stay away. You two are not allowed to secretly tell anyone about our whereabouts."
Yinzuo warned the two of them. Although he did not say anything harsh, he was very serious. Since they had followed him since childhood, they naturally knew the weight of this sentence.
"My master's happiness is the most important thing. I will obey your orders and will definitely not tell anyone!" Shunshui was the first to express his loyalty.
Shunfeng was more prudent after all. He thought for a while before making a promise: "As long as you don't encounter any accidents or dangers, I won't tell anyone."
"Then don't worry. The Emperor is in Hangzhou now. There is no safer place than here. Besides, the more crowded a place is, the harder it is to get caught. Let's just go among the crowd. The most famous place in Hangzhou is the Ten Scenic Spots of West Lake. We can go and have a look."
The two brothers looked at each other and answered at the same time: "We will listen to you, Master."
"Well, the two of you will be known as my servants to the outside world, and I will be an ordinary scholar. You can call me Young Master to the outside world. Don't let anyone know our identities."
"Yes, Master."
It was still early when the master and his two servants arrived at the West Lake. The thick fog in the early morning had not yet dissipated. The emerald green willows on both sides of the lake waved their soft branches in the breeze, and not far away, patches of peach blossoms were in full bloom.
Yin Zuo couldn't help but sigh: "It is indeed 'Su Causeway is full of flowers and willows are full of smoke'. Such beautiful scenery can only be appreciated in the early morning like this."
"It's like a fairyland." Shunfeng Shunshui had never seen such a scenery before.
"But master, if we show up like this in such a swagger, what if the master finds us?" Shunfeng was still a little worried.
"Master, I have already inquired about it. Dad has to go to Lingyin Temple in the northwest of West Lake today. Let's go to Jingci Temple in the southeast. We will never run into him."
Walking along this Su Causeway, they crossed six bridges before reaching the south bank from the north bank. At this time, the morning sun was rising, and the sunlight was scattered on the lake, making the waves sparkle beautifully. Yinzuo took out something from his waist and held a Hangzhou fan in his hand to block the slightly dazzling sunlight.
At this moment, there were several young men in long gowns standing on the shore. Yinzuo noticed that they all held books in their hands and were reciting attentively facing the lake.
"The scholars in Jiangnan are really hardworking. They come to the West Lake to study at such an early age. No wonder there are so many talented people in Jiangnan." Yinzuo couldn't help but sigh.
"Bullshit! What's the point of studying? Most people come here to pretend, hoping to run into some rich young ladies or high-ranking officials who come here to play, and soar to the sky."
Yinzuo quickly turned around and found a young man who looked to be about ten years old, lying on the big tree behind where he had just stood. The dense branches and leaves just covered his figure tightly. If he had not spoken just now, Yinzuo would not have been able to find him.
Shunfengshunshui subconsciously took a step forward, shielding his master behind him, and looked at the man in the tree vigilantly.
Because he looked about fourteen years old, Yinzuo was not too wary.
"Little brother, why did you climb up such a high tree and lie down? Be careful not to fall down, your family will be worried."
"Don't worry about that. I've been doing this since I was a kid and I've never fallen down before, eh!"
Before he could finish his words, the young man fell down because he was not paying attention. Fortunately, someone came over to help him, so he was not hurt.
Yinzuo walked up to him, squatted down, and extended his hand to him.
The young man was a little embarrassed for bragging and got taught a lesson on the spot. He blushed and said thank you in a low voice, then he took Yinzuo's hand and stood up.
"People make mistakes, horses stumble, don't be so careless next time."
After saying that, Yinzuo turned around and continued walking forward with Shunfengshunshui and the others.
The young man came to his senses and chased after him.
"Big brother! My name is Li Wei. I'm from Tongshan, Jiangnan. I followed my father here to do business. You shouldn't be from Jiangnan, right?"
Yinzuo did not stop and replied casually: "I came from the north to visit my relatives."
"That's what I told you! No wonder you were fooled by them just now. Don't you want to know why I said that to them?"
Yinzuo covered the lower half of his face with the fan in his hand, and glanced at him with those clear and smiling eyes.
"In no mood."
The boy named Li Wei stared with his eyes wide open, stunned. Why didn't this guy play by the rules? He didn't give up and continued to follow.
"It's okay if you don't want to know. Big brother, are you planning to go to Leifeng Pagoda or Nanping Mountain? I'm familiar with both. How about I lead you there for free to express my gratitude?"
Yinzuo smiled and asked, "Didn't you just say that you are not a local?"
"My father is too busy with business to take care of me. I often come here and I am very familiar with this area. I am not lying to you!"
"But I don't plan to go to Leifeng Pagoda, let alone Nanping Mountain, so I don't need to bother you."
"Hey! Don't do that! Are you going to the Jingci Temple? You are so young and you are in a hurry to have a child?" The young man's eyes looked a little weird.
Yinzuo finally stopped, turned around and looked at the young man.
"Who told you I'm still young? I'm already in my thirties."
"What? You are in your thirties or thirty?" The young man opened his mouth wide.
When everything goes smoothly, everyone just lowers their head and smiles.
"You lied to me! Your two servants laughed! My mother was right. The more good-looking a person is, the more likely he or she is to lie!" Li Wei pointed at Yinzuo's nose and yelled in frustration.
"Don't be rude!" Shunfeng glared at him fiercely.
After taking a look at the two servant boys' sturdy bodies, Li Wei put down his finger in dismay.
"I don't need to lead the way. Go back quickly and don't let your father worry."
After saying that, Yinzuo continued to walk forward. The young man did not give up and followed him all the way. He also explained to him various stories along the way, and he spoke very convincingly. So Yinzuo did not chase him away anymore.
With Nanping Mountain behind it and Leifeng Pagoda in front, the scenery of Jingci Temple is naturally very beautiful and it is also very popular.
"This is not even the most lively day. I heard that on the sixth day of the first lunar month, people from all over Hangzhou gathered here, setting off firecrackers along the way, rushing to burn incense. Their heels would be trampled by people. They would stay until the evening and watch the fireworks at night."
"Really? It's a pity that I probably won't have the chance to see such a grand occasion." Yinzuo felt a little regretful.
They had some vegetarian food in the temple at noon, but the taste was average. Yinzuo didn't eat much, so he found an empty pavilion and filled the entire stone table with the food they brought. They even brought a small stove to make tea.
"Thank you for your hard work today. I'd like to invite you to have a cup of tea." Yinzuo smiled and then looked at the Leifeng Pagoda opposite.
Shunfeng poured a cup of tea for Li Weiye, then walked up to him and whispered, "Master, when you're out, the food won't taste as good as at home, so you should eat a little."
Shunshui also took the opportunity to persuade him, "Yes, Master, we still have to keep going, don't starve yourself."
Li Wei, who was standing by, looked at the tea set with its delicate and translucent texture and exquisite patterns. He hesitated and, while no one was paying attention, turned the empty teacup upside down and looked at the signature on the bottom. His hand shook and the tea almost fell out.
None of the master and his servants noticed this until Yinzuo ate something and stood up to take a walk to digest his food. Suddenly, he saw a number of soldiers and officers rushing into the temple.
"Something's wrong, look."
"Emperor!" Shunshui had just shouted one word when Shunfeng covered his mouth.
"Could it be that the emperor is here? Haha, I heard that the emperor is in Hangzhou right now." Li Wei added with a dry laugh.
"Why are you here? Aren't we going to Lingyin Temple?" Yinzuo muttered in a low voice.
"Going through the main gate might cause us to run into government officials. Aren't you familiar with this area? Is there a side road that we can take to leave?"
Li Wei had originally wondered if this man was a member of the royal family, after all, the teacup he just used was from an official kiln. But now seeing how flustered he was, he didn't think so. Could he be a thief? Did he steal something from the royal family? I didn't expect that!
"...Yes, of course!"
"Then please take us away now." Yinzuo glanced at the other side where the officers and soldiers were from time to time, looking a little nervous.
Seeing that the distance was getting more dangerous, Yinzuo stopped.
"Li Wei, didn't you say you would take us out through the small path? This is the direction of the main entrance, right?"
"I just thought that since it's a rare trip for you to Jingci Temple, you should definitely go and see the 20,000-jin bronze bell. After all, the Nanping Evening Bell is a unique sight here."
"No need to look. I can hear the sound of the bell ten miles away along the lake. I think I can hear it."
Shunfeng and Shunshui were both staring at him, and Shunshui even showed the weapon in his hand.
The young man didn't dare to play dumb anymore and said, "Oh, OK, let's go now."
He changed direction and led the three of them to the path on the right, just in time to avoid a head-on confrontation with the government officials.
Before Yinzuo left, he left a message for him: "Don't worry, I'm not a bad person, and I won't cause you any trouble. I ran away secretly just like you. Anyway, thank you for leading the way for us today."
"Will I be able to see you again?" Li Wei shouted towards his back.
Yinzuo did not look back. After he got on his horse, he shouted: "If you become an official in the capital in the future."
On the other side, Kangxi was standing on a high place, admiring the sunset over Lei Feng Tower. The solitary tower, with the setting sun reflected on the water, had a kind of incomplete and lonely beauty.
"Your Majesty, the person has already escaped along the path." Liang Jiugong reported.
"Run away? Pretty smart. Keep following him and don't let him find you." Kangxi suddenly felt a sense of pleasure in the cat-and-mouse game. The result was not important; he enjoyed the process.
"Hmm!"
Boom!
The deep and ancient sound of the bell was rung, and Yinzuo, who was riding on the path, looked back.
"Why did my father suddenly come to Jingci Temple?"
"Maybe it was a spur of the moment." Shunshui replied.
"Maybe. It seems that it is not reliable to follow them. Let's go somewhere farther away."
Shunfeng asked, "Where are you going, Master?"
"There is a famous painting called Dwelling in the Fuchun Mountains, which is known as the 'Lanting in Painting'. It was completed by Huang Gongwang in his later years of the Yuan Dynasty after seven years of hard work. Unfortunately, the painting has been passed around and is now missing. I have never had the chance to see it. So let's go to Fuchun River and see it with our own eyes."
The three men first rode horses to Fuyang, and then took a boat from Fuyang to Tonglu in the south.
"Young Master, when can we see the Fuchun River?" Shunshui looked at the mountains and rivers. It was a little novel at first, but after looking at it for a long time, it became boring.
"This is the Fuchun River." The boatman said with a smile.
"What? This is it?" The two brothers Shunfengshunshui couldn't help but walk to the side of the boat and look down.
"You can even see the fish in the river and the rocks at the bottom of the river. The water is so clear!"
Yinzuo supported his chin and lay on his side, looking at the scenery on both sides of the river and the birds flying on the river. Then he slowly closed his eyes and listened carefully to the sounds of cicadas and monkeys mixed in with the sound of water.
"Someone once praised that 'the distance from Fuyang to Tonglu is about 100 miles, with unique mountains and rivers, which are unique in the world'. It is true that the Fuchun River is indeed a beautiful place with mountains and rivers. If I were in your place, I would also like to live here for a while, to calm my mind and cultivate my character."
"Master! You can't do that! Your family is waiting for you to come back! If you really stay here, I'm afraid your family will send people to search the mountain in a few days!"
"That's right! Especially the young masters! They will definitely come and take you back personally."
"They won't. They hope I don't go back so that I don't have to compete with them for that huge family property." Yinzuo's tone was a little indignant. He sat up and stared at the waves on the river surface caused by the wind.
"Master, not everyone thinks this way, at least the Fourth and Fourteenth Young Masters definitely don't!"
"I don't think the Fifth Young Master, the Ninth Young Master, and the Tenth Young Master are that kind of people. They like you the most, Young Master."
"Who knows." No one can see Yinzuo clearly now, and everyone is hiding their inner thoughts.
After listening to the conversation between the master and the servant, the boatman smiled and advised: "Young Master, from what you said, you have many brothers in your family. This is a blessing. Brothers can help and care for each other, which can save a lot of trouble. Since you are not interested in the family business, why not focus on your hobbies and save yourself from worries, right?"
Yinzuo really took it to heart, and after thinking for a moment, he smiled and said, "What the old man said makes sense."
"I can't control other people, but I can control my own heart. I treat them sincerely. If they have other thoughts in their hearts, it is their fault. I have a clear conscience."
Looking at the vast world, kites flying and fish leaping, Yinzuo was enjoying himself and suddenly he felt more open-minded.
He could not help but sigh: "Those who fly high in the sky will calm down when they see the peaks; those who manage worldly affairs will forget to return when they see the valleys. That's all."
In the following days, Yinzuo no longer immersed himself in sorrow, but enjoyed this journey without being disturbed.
In Hangzhou, by chance, he learned chicken blood stone carving from a reclusive master, and personally selected the materials and made a few small gadgets.
I also tried all kinds of pastries in the streets and alleys, such as Dingsheng cake which symbolizes high school, sweet and delicious osmanthus cake, soft and refreshing mung bean cake, lotus cake which is shaped like a lotus and has a smooth texture, and Longjing tea cake with crispy outer skin and fragrant filling.
Not to mention other famous Hangzhou dishes, such as Longjing Shrimp, Dongpo Pork, Song Sao Fish Soup, Hangzhou Water Shield, West Lake Vinegar Fish, etc. Yinzuo was not short of money, so he tried all the signature dishes of those famous restaurants.
He also went all the way north to Suzhou, and ate the squirrel mandarin fish that he had loved very much in the palace. It must be said that the fish in Taihu Lake is extremely delicious, and with the local chefs personally cooking, the taste is really unique. Yinzuo didn't want to leave, so he found a house to live in, and went boating and fishing on Taihu Lake from time to time. He ate this squirrel mandarin fish almost every three to five days.
They stayed there happily, eating and drinking until they had had their fill of the most delicious hairy crabs from Yangcheng Lake this year. It was almost the end of October, the weather was turning cold, and they had to put on thick winter clothes, but Yinzuo still had no intention of going back.
"Master, aren't we going home yet? We can't spend the New Year away from home, that's too unreasonable..." Now even Shunshui, the most playful and daring one, began to feel guilty.
"Two more days? I'm still thinking about it."
"What else?" A tall and familiar figure suddenly rushed into the room.
"Brother?!" Yinzuo stepped back in fear and fell off the chair.
"Master!"
"Yinzuo!"
Everyone rushed forward to rescue him.
The result was naturally that they were too late and Yinzuo fell to the ground with a bang.
"Are you okay? Did you fall?" Yinzhen, who had originally had a cold face, frowned, walked forward carefully to support him, and looked him up and down.
Yinzuo was about to say that he was wearing thick clothes and nothing happened, but then he thought of his brother's furious look and suddenly an idea came to him.
"Ouch! It hurts!"
"where?"
"Butt!" Yinzuo answered subconsciously, then realized that falling on his butt didn't sound too serious, so he quickly continued to increase the bet.
"The back of my head! My back! Anyway, it hurts in several places. Ouch!"
Yinzhen suppressed his anger and looked at the others coldly, saying without a trace of warmth in his tone: "What are you all standing there for? Go get a doctor!"
"I'll go right away!" Shunshui was familiar with the area and was smart, so he ran out directly.
Not long after the doctor was invited, the highest official in Suzhou also arrived in person. It was raining that day, and this confidant of Kangxi, whose actual status was comparable to that of a first-rank official in the court, looked a little embarrassed, but he did not dare to delay or neglect him at all.
Yinzuo was lying in the room, and Yinzhen did not let Lord Li meet him in person.
"Your servant Li Xu, the Suzhou textile manufacturer, pays his respects to the Fourth Prince." Li Xu was very respectful.
Although Yinzuo was not outside, he was paying attention to what was happening outside. He had been in Suzhou for several months and had never seen the Suzhou Weaving Master. But how did he know his identity and that he lived here?
"Please get up, Lord Li. Thank you for your care these days." Yinzuo sat in the main seat and casually rotated the jade ring on his left thumb with his right hand.
Li Xu only dared to sit halfway, as he knew very well that the Fourth Prince was not someone to be trifled with.
"You are too polite, Fourth Prince. This is my duty. It is my duty. As soon as I heard that you had arrived, I hurried over. I didn't expect that I was still a step behind. I am sorry for the delay. Please forgive me, Fourth Prince."
"I think the Emperor has already told you in the secret report. I will take the person away. There is no need to trouble you, Lord Li." Yinzhen's attitude was very cold.
After a few words, Li Xu tactfully took his leave. A man with a slightly shrill voice standing next to the Fourth Prince escorted him to the door. Li Xu used to be an internal official, so he naturally knew that this man was a eunuch.
"Thank you, sir. Just send it here."
Su Peisheng smiled reservedly and said softly, "If you have any troubles in the future, Lord Li, you can come to my house to find me. My surname is Su, and my master will definitely help you if I can. Just think of it as a reward for Lord Li's care for the Sixth Prince on behalf of my master in the past few months."
"Thank you very much for the grace of the Fourth Prince." Li Xu bowed slightly towards the inside.
"Master Li, take care."
Yinzuo inside was thinking about how to dispel his brother's anger and avoid being punished. Before he could figure it out, he suddenly heard the door creak and was pushed open. He quickly closed his eyes and pretended to be asleep.
Yinzuo had asked the doctor himself and knew that he was safe and sound. Seeing that he was still the same as when he was a child, with his eyelashes trembling constantly when he pretended to sleep, he just found it funny but did not expose him. He tucked the quilt for him, and heard the sound of rain getting heavier, so he got up and wanted to close the window.
When he turned around, he saw a number of paintings on the desk beside the bed. They looked like paintings that he had seen with his own eyes over the past few months.
Judging from the brushstrokes and style, the painter was in a very happy mood. The feeling of leisure and comfort comes over you, making you immerse yourself in the painting unconsciously, following the painter to travel through the green mountains and beautiful rivers.
He opened all the paintings and looked at them. The further back he looked, the earlier the paintings were made and the more complicated the painter's mood was.
Yinzhen's anger gradually subsided. He now fully understood why Yinzuo stayed in Suzhou and Hangzhou for several months without returning, because he felt very at ease staying there.
Yinzuo pretended to be asleep at first, then he kept listening quietly to his brother's movements, and finally fell asleep without realizing it.
When he woke up, he saw his brother sitting at his desk writing something.
He had to face it sooner or later. Yinzuo gritted his teeth, got out of bed and walked over.
"Awake?" Yinzhen asked without stopping his writing and without raising his head.
"Yeah." Yinzuo responded somewhat guiltily.
"The chef of your favorite restaurant has just had a baby and is on leave. The owner said he won't be back to cook until two days later."
"...Oh." Yinzuo was a little discouraged. That meant he couldn't eat anymore.
Yinzhen said calmly: "I will leave for Beijing in three days."
"Really?!" Yinzuo's eyes and eyebrows were full of joy.
"Don't you want to eat the squirrel mandarin fish he makes again?" Yinzhen put down his pen and looked up at him.
Yinzuo suddenly rushed over and lay on his brother's back, his voice full of laughter: "I knew you were the best to me, brother!"
"You know I treat you best, but you still feel sad for those who don't deserve it. You haven't been back for several months, and many people are worried about you. The emperor even used Li Xu, the Suzhou textile manufacturer, who he placed in Jiangnan to spy on the movements of all parties, as your bodyguard."
Although there was a smile in Yinzhen's eyes, his words still contained a hint of blame.
But Yinzuo was not afraid of him and still hung on him.
"It's my fault. I'm sorry for making you and other people who love me worry." Yinzuo admitted his mistake obediently and buried his face in his brother's back.
Realizing that the person behind him was in a bad mood, Yinzhen sighed in his heart, patted him on the back, and stopped scolding him.
"You must be hungry. Let's go out and eat first."
Yinzuo secretly wiped his eyes and responded obediently: "Yeah."
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