Chapter 54: Xuan He Xie Tingzhao was still getting more and more puzzled the more he thought about it. How could...
Before noon the next day, a small group of garrison troops arrived at the mountain temple where the few people were staying.
Although they did not know who Xie Jing was, they had obtained the token of Yu Qing's personal guard before, and knew that the person asking for help was an important official from the capital who had important official business. He had been ambushed, so this was a serious matter and they dared not be negligent in the slightest.
The others were fine, but Xie Jing looked so pale that people were worried that he might faint at any moment. As soon as they left the woods, they quickly changed the carriage for him.
"How about we find a doctor to examine this young man's injuries?" the guard leader asked. "His neck seems to be..."
"It's alright," Xie Jing interrupted softly, shaking his head wearily. "Don't waste time. Let's go early."
Xie Jing had fair skin, and the purple bruises on his neck were very eye-catching, and Yu Qing could naturally see them clearly.
She was also very uncomfortable at the moment, knowing that she had overreacted last night. Who allowed Xie Jing to touch her clothes for no reason? If it were someone else, they would probably be dead.
It is also an unfavorable year.
This year's first assignment was such a bumpy one. Not only did Long Zi get hurt, but he almost strangled her to death. If I really offended Xie Jing, I might have to file a complaint against her when I returned to the capital.
It was all his fault because he had such a face and was always hanging around under her nose, making her feel uneasy and confused these days.
"It won't take long to see a doctor," she said. "Let's get someone to take a look."
Xie Jing looked up at her, then quickly looked away, half cautious and half uneasy, like a frightened little animal while hunting.
I guess I was scared by her yesterday.
"Really, there's no need." Xie Jing said.
Since that was the case, Yu Qing didn't insist any longer and set off immediately.
She contacted the Golden Feather Guard who had been separated from her last night through a carrier pigeon, and learned that the two adults and the eunuchs over there were all safe and sound. The two parties agreed to meet up on the road ahead.
Due to an unexpected incident, this time he couldn't take his time. He had to rush back to the imperial city to avoid further trouble. He traveled much faster than before, hardly stopping.
Although Xie Jing had not made any movement, Yu Qing still took him into consideration and allowed everyone to stop for a few moments to water their horses and rest.
Xie Jing got out of the car to get some fresh air. Yu Qing was not far away from him. Their eyes met and they were speechless. Finally, she walked over first, and Xie Jing felt a little nervous.
"I was rude last night. I felt bad for causing the general to get injured, so I was worried and distracted. It was not intentional. Please don't blame me, general." Xie Jing said.
Since the previous carriage was abandoned, he couldn't change his clothes as he did before, so he only carried the most important package with him. When Yu Qing and Xie Jing were riding, she tied the package in front. She vaguely remembered that it was quite heavy and shaped like a box. It should be a keepsake or something like that.
Although the guards bought him clothes when he entered the city, they were certainly not as fine as his own.
At present, he was wearing a dark blue robe and his hair was tied up in a simple bun. He was originally a refined and noble young man who seemed like a banished immortal, but now he became a poor young man who had fallen on hard times and was stranded in a foreign land. His face was even more like a pearl covered in dust, which was very unpleasant to look at.
He didn't look very good, like a wilted white lotus. Yu Qing couldn't blame him even if she wanted to, and she didn't bother with him.
"How dare I," Yu Qing said, "I didn't mean to hurt you. Please be magnanimous and don't hold me accountable."
After talking it out, Yu Qing felt a little better.
·
After that, the journey was smooth. The sudden assassination attempt failed and suffered heavy losses. It is estimated that the person behind the scenes will not be able to organize a second attack in a short time.
Three days later, the group arrived in the capital. Yu Qing led Xie Jing into the palace to report to King Rui.
Yu Qing had sent a message before. King Rui knew that they had been assassinated on the road. When he heard that Yu Qing had arrived, he immediately sent someone to pass on the message.
She told the King of Rui the whole story in detail. The King of Rui's face was as gloomy as water. He said, "This matter is of no small importance and must be thoroughly investigated."
"We are acting under secret orders and have not spoken publicly. Regardless of how the news leaked, ambush alone would be difficult to achieve. We changed our route on our return journey, and the enemy likely knew our itinerary, allowing them to set up a precise ambush."
The implication was that she felt there was something fishy going on within the team, someone maintaining contact with the outside world and leaking their whereabouts. Thinking about it carefully, they had quite a few people, from all sides, so it was possible someone else's spy was involved.
"I understand. Prince, please return first. I will summon you to discuss this matter later," King Rui said. "I will take... him to see my father first."
Yu Qing agreed, and her mission was completed.
Next, Xie Jing would probably be taken by Prince Rui to meet the emperor. It was unknown how he would verify his identity and trace his ancestry, or report the dangerous situation to the emperor.
Before leaving the palace, Yu Qing turned around and took a look, feeling a little worried.
Xie Jing was left in the palace. After all, he had never stepped into a palace before. He was alone in this unfamiliar place... Should he be fine?
Yu Qing took a carriage back to the Marquis' Mansion and took a bath first. The wound on his shoulder had already scabbed over and there was no inflammation or swelling.
Her self-healing ability is far superior to that of ordinary people. Over the years, she has had injuries of varying sizes on her body, but none of them are very obvious after healing. Most of them only leave a slightly lighter white mark, and only a few serious ones will leave scars. If you don't look closely, it's hard to tell. All you can see is a smooth, flexible and powerful body.
But this time the scab had not fallen off yet. She put on her clothes and sat on the edge of the couch. Qiying wiped her wet hair with a cotton towel and saw the new wound at a glance.
"Why is he injured?" Qiying asked, "What kind of job is he doing?"
Yu Qing was distracted and didn't hear clearly. He just murmured thoughtfully: "Qiying, do you think there are two people in the world who look exactly the same? Even if they are biological siblings, that's still..."
Qiying: "What?"
Yu Qing paused and said, "Never mind, it's just my imagination."
·
Imperial Palace.
Xie Tingzhao received a carrier pigeon a few days ago and was extremely shocked. After Yu Qing left, he waved everyone away and did not rush to see the immortal emperor. He first looked Xie Jing up and down.
Xie Jing had grown considerably taller than he had two years ago, and his figure had changed, too. He was now tall and handsome, but he seemed listless and unhappy. Xie Tingzhao couldn't help but frown and ask, "Where are you injured?"
Xie Jing pointed to his left shoulder.
Xie Tingzhao wanted to take a look, but as soon as he raised his hand, Xie Jing dodged and said, "Don't. There's a piece of flesh missing that hasn't grown back yet. It hurts when you touch it, and it bleeds every day."
"How did you do it?" Xie Tingzhao asked.
Xie Jing: "An arrow wound. I was accidentally shot."
Xie Tingzhao's face was solemn: "Let's ask the imperial physician to come and take a look first, so as not to leave any root of the disease."
"Well," Xie Jing sighed, "First, let's ask them if there's any way to avoid scarring."
Xie Tingzhao: “…”
His Royal Highness Prince Rui thought it was probably nothing serious, but seeing him like this, he still felt a little distressed and complained casually: "I thought Yu Qing was safer, so I asked him to pick you up. I should have changed Duan Zhirui."
Xie Jing immediately objected: "You don't understand the situation. She is right. She is the most reliable."
King Rui asked curiously, "Why, after you were badly injured, you couldn't even say you weren't good enough at guarding me?"
"But it wasn't her fault, and it was mainly my fault," Xie Jing reasoned with his brother. "Besides, the injury wasn't serious."
"..." Prince Rui narrowed his eyes and asked back using Xie Jing's words, "Is that so? Leaving a scar is not a big deal for you?"
Xie Jing: “…”
Xie Jing said seriously, "In short, it's not what you think. It's only because of me that Yu Qing came back alive. If it were someone else, they might have died."
Even at this time, he still protected Yu Qing everywhere, and his elbows were bent to the sky.
He originally wanted to have a good talk with Xie Jing, warning him that the past was like the wind and he should not dwell on it. Besides, no man in the world was reliable (except his royal brother), so he should not have any illusions.
But Xie Jing was injured and looked tired, so he finally held back from making a long speech.
"Let's talk about it later," Xie Tingzhao pondered a plan. "I'll have to ask Mother to look for some more famous ladies and introduce a few to Yu Qing... Yu Qing is really hard to say, as we're all worried he might be unlucky in marriage. So I'll introduce a few to A Jing as well... I guess nothing has ever happened between them. Their mutual affection is just an illusion. They're both single. Once they've truly tasted love, they'll understand..."
Prince Rui suddenly noticed something was wrong with Xie Jing and asked, "What's that on your neck?"
Xie Jing's collar was high, but it still couldn't completely hide the bruises that hadn't healed. He said, "I accidentally bumped into it."
How could the King of Rui believe this? Who could have been so injured as to touch this place? It would be more believable to say that he had found a rope to hang himself.
But Xie Jing refused to say anything, and King Rui had no way to deal with him.
The more Xie Tingzhao thought about it, the more puzzled he became. How could someone leave bruises on their neck?
Suddenly a thought flashed through his mind, and King Rui was struck by lightning.
Could it be that... they are... the real deal...?
Have we already rekindled our old relationship on the road?
·
A few days later, news of Xie Jing spread throughout the capital.
The emperor announced his identity to the world, saying that the prince had a connection with Buddhism and was accepted as a disciple by a high monk when he was young. In order to accumulate blessings for the royal family, he practiced asceticism for many years and gave up his wealth and glory.
Now that he has reached adulthood and reached adulthood, and his fate has been fulfilled, he is solemnly welcomed back by the emperor's close ministers and officials from the Ministry of Rites. His identity is confirmed, and he is included in the imperial clan list, restored to his original ranking, and becomes the ninth among the princes.
Since Xie Jing returned to Beijing, the emperor's cold illness has miraculously improved. Even the imperial physician was shocked by the emperor's recovery progress.
Previously, the emperor's speech was unclear and half of his legs were unable to move. However, at the most recent grand court meeting, his complexion was rosy and he was full of energy. It was said that he could even walk steadily in the palace.
The emperor had been suffering from illness for a long time, and now he was almost half recovered. He believed the words of the Imperial Observatory without a doubt, and really attributed everything to the ninth prince, thinking that it was the good result of his practice.
This suddenly-born Ninth Prince, barely even appearing before the public, had already earned the Emperor's special favor. According to several courtiers who had seen him, he possessed an exceptional demeanor, possessing the bearing of an immortal, truly extraordinary.
Whether it is true, or just to please the emperor, or to show goodwill to the prince, that remains to be discussed.
A month later, the emperor held a ceremony to crown the ninth prince and gave him the name of a prince, Xie Tingye.
Ye means bright, brilliant, prosperous and beautiful.
At the same time, an imperial edict was drafted to confer the title of King Jing on Xie Tingye and to establish a palace for him. The King Jing's palace was located on Xuanwu Street, which was closest to the imperial palace.
·
The speed at which Xie Jing rose to power was completely beyond Yu Qing's expectations. He didn't know if he was really blessed by gods or Buddhas or what, but he rose to prominence so quickly.
Since he had not yet entered politics, Yu Qing had never met him in the court. It was hard to imagine that the young man with a special appearance had suddenly become a prince of great influence.
It seems that he is still very capable and my worries are of no use.
Occasionally, Yu Qing would remember that she had pinched his neck, and she couldn't help feeling a little guilty. She hoped that he wouldn't take revenge on her later.
When Prince Jing held a banquet at his mansion, she received an invitation but did not attend. This was because in March, the Marquis of Xuanbei suddenly coughed up blood and fainted. Seeing that he was dying, the imperial physicians and doctors were invited to the mansion one after another. Yu Qing was worried for a long time, and Yu Heng finally recovered.
She had no plans to leave home for the time being, firstly because she couldn't bear to leave her parents, and secondly because of... Xie Jing.
In late spring, the rivers have thawed, river transportation has resumed, the South Lake has become lively again, and pleasure boats have reappeared.
Prince Kang loved to enjoy entertainment, so as soon as Nanhu Lake opened, he chartered a pleasure boat and invited many guests to cruise the lake and have a banquet.
This prince was a carefree and unrestrained person, a generous and portly figure, holding a sinecure, yet well-liked within the court. Yu Qing had met him at a palace banquet celebrating the Emperor's birthday, and remembered that Princess Kang had also been very kind to Qing Jia.
When Qing Jia passed away, she came to pay her respects, and she had visited Madam Lu and the Marquis of Xuanbei several times in the past two years. Therefore, upon receiving the invitation from Prince Kang, Yu Qing also attended the banquet.
On the pleasure boat, the sound of stringed instruments filled the air, and colorful silks fluttered in the wind. Yu Qing happened to run into another young marquis. The two nodded to each other, exchanged a few pleasantries, and then went upstairs together to the banquet.
"I heard there's another distinguished guest today," the young marquis said, "the new prince is here too."
Yu Qing was startled, and his eyes passed through the crowd of guests and saw Xie Jing standing near the host seat.
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