Chapter 114 Candle Dragon
The Imperial Palace, the Imperial Study.
The candlelight illuminated the emperor Lou Qingtian's deep and unfathomable face.
Lou Jin stood solemnly below and reported the urgent news from the southwest.
"Father, Ye Xunqin has gone missing. This concerns the stability of the border and the lives of our soldiers. Your son requests permission to proceed to the southwest immediately."
Lou Jin's voice was calm and his gaze was firm. "As for what the Nanzhao princess said... I believe that regardless of whether it is true or false, we should see her. However, we must be on guard."
The emperor tapped his fingertips lightly on the imperial desk. After a long while, he slowly spoke: "The second son of the Ye family is exceptionally brave and skilled in martial arts. I do not wish to see him fall at the hands of villains. As for Nanzhao... their intentions are unfathomable, and this Princess Arno is even more unusually proactive."
He raised his eyes, his gaze sharp as he looked at Lou Jin: "You wish to go to the southwest, I grant your request. But since the Nanzhao princess specifically requests to see you, then you shall go to see her. The Honglu Temple post station is too crowded and inconvenient."
"Set the location as...the Imperial Garden of Qingyi on the outskirts of the capital. I will send a squad of Dragon Shadow Guards to secretly monitor the area. If she is truly cooperative, all will be well; if she harbors ill intentions..."
The emperor didn't finish his sentence, but the fleeting glint of fierceness in his eyes said it all.
"Your subject obeys the decree!" With the Emperor's approval and the secret protection of the Dragon Shadow Guards, the trip was much more certain.
“Remember,” the emperor solemnly instructed, “no matter what conditions she proposes, anything that concerns the foundation of the nation or harms the interests of the Great Sheng Dynasty will not be tolerated. As for saving lives, do your best, but don’t let her lead you by the nose.”
"Your subject understands."
Carrying the emperor's secret decree and the order from the Dragon Shadow Guard, Lou Jin quickly returned to the Jin Prince's Mansion.
After packing up some things, Ye Xunyang waited anxiously. Upon seeing him return, he immediately greeted him: "Your Highness, what did the Emperor say?"
“Father has given his permission. We will depart for the southwest in three days. As for Princess Arno,” Lou Jin said coldly, “we will meet at Qingyi Garden on the outskirts of the capital tomorrow night.”
Ye Xunyang frowned: "I'll go with you."
"No." Lou Jin grasped his hand and shook his head.
"She only wants to see me. If you go with her, it might make her wary. Don't worry, everything is prepared inside and outside Qingyi Garden, she can't pull any tricks. You stay in the manor and continue preparing for the trip to the southwest, and wait for my news."
Ye Xunyang knew that Lou Jin's arrangement was the safest, and even though he was worried, he could only nod and agree: "Be careful in everything."
He paused, then said, "Your Highness, before I depart, I would like to return to the General's Mansion to bid farewell to my father and mother in person, so as to avoid them hearing news from elsewhere and causing them unnecessary worry."
Lou Jin understood his filial piety and nodded, saying, "It's only right. I'll go with you."
Ye Xunyang shook his head: "Although Father's attitude has softened, seeing you will inevitably remind him of what happened before, and he may find it difficult to have a proper conversation. I'll go back alone; there are some things I can discuss with Mother privately."
Lou Jin knew his concerns and didn't insist: "Alright. Please give my regards to the old general and his wife, and tell them to rest assured that I will protect you and bring Xunqin back safely."
That afternoon, Ye Xunyang returned to the General's Mansion.
Ye Qingcang was practicing his boxing in the courtyard. When he saw his son return, he stopped practicing, took the cloth handed to him by the servant to wipe his sweat, and although his tone was still a bit harsh, it was no longer as cold as before: "What brings you back today?"
Ye Xunyang stepped forward and bowed: "Father, I have something important to report."
Upon hearing the sound, Madam Ye came out from the inner room. When she saw her son, a loving smile appeared on her face: "Xunyang is back."
Ye Xunyang invited his parents to sit down in the hall, dismissed the others, and then said in a deep voice, "Father, Mother, my second brother has had an accident in the southwest..."
"What?!" Madam Ye's teacup trembled, spilling some tea, and her face turned pale instantly.
Ye Qingcang's body trembled, his tiger eyes widening: "What happened to Qin'er?!"
Ye Xunyang hurriedly informed him that Ye Xunqin had gone missing and was suspected of being trapped in the Blackwater Marsh, and explained that Lou Jin had received an imperial decree and would be going to the southwest with him to rescue him in three days.
“Deep in the southwest…” Ye Qingcang frowned. As a veteran soldier, he had naturally heard of the place’s notorious reputation. His expression grew increasingly grave. “That’s a dangerous place where you have a slim chance of survival!”
"That's precisely why my son must go!" Ye Xunyang said firmly. "My second brother is in grave danger; how can I stand idly by? His Highness has made thorough preparations. We will act carefully and bring my second brother back safely!"
Madam Ye's eyes were already brimming with tears as she grasped her son's hand: "But... that place is so dangerous, your second brother's fate is unknown, if something were to happen to you, what would I do..."
“Mother,” Ye Xunyang grasped his mother’s hand and comforted her, “My martial arts skills have improved, and I am not going alone. With the Prince and many elite guards accompanying me, we will surely turn danger into safety. You and Father must take care of yourselves in the capital and wait for our brothers to return in triumph.”
Ye Qingcang remained silent for a long time before letting out a heavy sigh.
He knew that military orders were absolute and that brotherhood was deep; there was no turning back.
He looked at his son with a complicated gaze, which finally turned into a deep and earnest admonition: "Since you have no choice but to go, then... be careful in everything, come back alive, and bring your second brother back too!" These were the softest words that this stubborn old general could say.
"Your son will remember your teachings, Father!" Ye Xunyang stood up and solemnly kowtowed to his parents. "Take care, Father and Mother."
When Ye Xunyang left the general's mansion, he was heavy-hearted, but even more so, he was determined to save his brother.
The following night, at Qingyi Garden on the outskirts of Beijing.
Although this is a royal garden, it is rarely visited by dignitaries on ordinary days, and it is even more tranquil and mysterious at night.
Lou Jin, accompanied only by four personal bodyguards including Wu Shan, stepped into the designated waterside pavilion in the garden.
The waterside pavilion is built over the lake, with bamboo curtains hanging on all four sides. A gentle lake breeze carries the moisture of the water.
Only a few lights were on inside, casting a dim, yellowish glow.
Princess Anuo of Nanzhao was already present.
She wasn't wearing her dance costume today, but instead wore a casual dress worn by a noblewoman from the Nanzhao Kingdom. It was still indigo with intricate silver embroidery, but she looked less alluring and more mysterious and dignified.
Her face was still covered by a light veil, revealing only a pair of eyes that appeared even more deep and bright in the dim light.
"Your Highness King Jin is indeed punctual." Arno stood up, nodded slightly, and spoke through the veil with a touch of exotic charm.
"The princess's invitation is of utmost importance; how could I dare to be negligent?" Lou Jin sat down opposite her, his expression calm and composed. "What the princess said before the emperor regarding the whereabouts of the Shadow Serpent leader and General Ye Xunqin—is it true or false?"
Arno chuckled softly, his eyes crinkling as if shimmering with light: "Your Highness, why the rush? Since you're here, why not first have a cup of my Nanzhao's unique 'Cloud and Mist Tea'?"
She personally picked up the purple clay teapot on the table and poured a cup of tea for Lou Jin.
The tea soup is clear and bright, but its aroma is somewhat peculiar, with a subtle sweetness.
Lou Jin glanced at the teacup but didn't move. "Princess, let's not beat around the bush. My time is limited. If you are not sincere, I will take my leave."
Seeing his directness, Arno put down the teapot and stopped beating around the bush: "Your Highness is straightforward. Very well, then I will speak frankly."
She leaned forward slightly and lowered her voice: "The Shadow Serpent organization has been entrenched in the southwest and our Nanzhao for many years. Its influence is far beyond Your Highness's imagination. Its true leader is not the deceased Prince An, but someone else. This person is codenamed Candle Dragon, and is mysterious and unpredictable. He also has spies planted in our Nanzhao royal family."
Lou Jin's gaze sharpened: "Zhulong? Does the princess know his true identity?"
Arno shook his head: "Zhulong is elusive and has never shown his true face. But I can tell Your Highness that he is likely currently active near Dali City, plotting an even bigger conspiracy."
"As for General Ye Xunqin..." She paused, observing Lou Jin's expression.
"My information is that they were ambushed by the Shadow Guards directly under the Candle Dragon and suffered heavy losses. However, General Ye, with his superb martial arts skills, led a small number of his personal guards to break through the encirclement and hide deep in the miasma-filled Blackwater Swamp."
"The terrain there is complex and teeming with poisonous insects, making it difficult for outsiders to enter. Therefore, we have lost contact for the time being. Whether they are alive or dead is still unknown."
Lou Jin was startled.
It was one of the most dangerous places in the southwest, so dangerous that even the local natives dared not venture deep into it.
He remained outwardly calm: "The news about the princess is indeed astonishing. But without proof, how can I believe you?"
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