At this moment, Li Guang had already arrived in front of the landlord Liu. Seeing that his mentor, who was kneeling on the ground, was still collapsing, he quickly helped him up.
"Young prince, am I seeing things? Is it really you?"
“It’s me, it’s Li Qing. I’m not dead. A year ago, Lord Yao had Yao Jian impersonate me and secretly replaced me. Yao Jian was killed by my brother. My life was given to me by Lord Yao and Yao Jian.”
The landlord immediately understood what had happened. It turned out that the young prince had been rescued before he was murdered, and the person who died in the end was someone else.
The landlord was trembling all over and couldn't speak for a long time.
"Is the Yao Jian you're talking about Lord Yao's young master? I've met Young Master Yao. He's reasonable, talented, and about your age. He does look a lot like you."
Lord Yao was utterly loyal and risked everything, even sacrificing Young Master Yao, to save your life as a fugitive.
Of course, for Lord Yao to save you in this way, he must have obtained Young Master Yao's consent. It seems that Young Master Yao is willing to die for you. What a fine young man..."
As the landlord finished speaking, tears began to stream down his face, and he held onto Li Guang's hand tightly, unwilling to let go.
"At that time, I was imprisoned and beaten until I was covered in bruises. Lord Yao bribed the jailer to replace me. I was in a daze and could not speak. When Young Master Yao replaced me, he was also covered in bruises."
In order to prevent others from discovering any flaws, Young Master Yao endured great suffering and physically abused himself.
On the morning that Lord Yao replaced me, news spread from the palace that I had committed suicide out of fear of punishment.
I recuperated at Lord Yao's residence for more than ten days, and once I had recovered somewhat, Lord Yao arranged for someone to take me out of the capital. From that day on, my life in exile began.
"So that's what happened. It seems that Heaven has eyes; the young prince was not destined to die." The landlord sighed to the heavens.
"Master, what brings you here?" Li Guang asked.
"Perhaps it was fate. A school was established in Narcissus Village, and I came here to teach the children at the invitation of a friend."
Then the landlord began to recount his experiences over the past year and explain why he came here to teach.
The landlord's words deeply moved Li Guang. He never imagined that his own experience would cause such a blow to his mentor.
“Dear teacher, you have aged considerably compared to a year ago. This is all my fault, causing you to suffer.”
"Young prince, please don't say that. You have suffered an undeserved calamity, and I have not been able to help you at all. I have only been anxious."
Seeing that the landlord was still kneeling on the ground, Li Guang quickly helped him up.
"Young prince, how have you spent the past year or so? Tell your teacher."
Li Guang looked around and, seeing that there was no one around, felt relieved.
“Master, please don’t call me Little Prince anymore. I’ve given myself a name, Li Guang. You can just call me Li Guang from now on.”
"Li Guang, Li Qing, I know why the young prince changed his name to Li Guang. Don't worry, I will be careful and will not reveal the young prince's identity."
“Thank you, my teacher. Let’s go sit at the farm ahead and then I’ll tell you about my experiences this past year,” Li Guang said.
"Who owns the farm up ahead? Who are you herding cattle for?" The landlord was even more puzzled.
"I will explain it to you slowly later, and then my teacher will understand."
Li Guang led the oxen, while the landlord carried the drawing board on his back; the two walked towards the farm.
It was nearing noon, and the weather was quite warm. Xiao Hei no longer felt the cold and began to wander around the farmyard.
Li Guang pushed open the courtyard gate and led the landlord Liu inside. Xiao Hei was overjoyed to see Li Guang return and ran towards him.
Suddenly, a bear appeared in the yard and ran towards them, which terrified the landlord, Liu.
Just then, the little fox suddenly jumped in front of Xiao Hei, startling Xiao Hei so much that it quickly stopped and slunk away to the side.
“Don’t be afraid, Master. This is my mountain bear, named Xiao Hei. It’s very docile and won’t hurt anyone.” Li Guang said as he led the ox into the cowshed.
It was a false alarm. The landlord was terrified by Xiao Hei and broke out in a cold sweat.
Li Guang led the landlord Liu into the house and began to brew tea for him.
After the tea was served, the two began to drink it, and Li Guang started to recount his experiences over the past year.
The landlord listened attentively, occasionally letting out a series of admiring clicks.
After Li Guang finished recounting his experiences, the landlord Liu couldn't help but feel deeply moved. This experience was extremely dangerous for Li Guang, and he was in danger of losing his life many times. It wasn't until he was taken in by Zhao Xian that his life became stable.
"You are able to settle down in Narcissus Village thanks to the registrar. I have met him twice since I came to the school, and he has made a very good impression on me."
“Brother Zhao is my benefactor. I can’t repay him in my current situation. All I can do now is to focus on farming and produce more grain.”
"It is truly a strange story that a prince with a wealth of knowledge has ended up farming in this remote village. Perhaps this is all arranged by God. It is just that your time to rise has not yet come. You must wait patiently."
Li Guang said, "As long as my brother is around, I will never have a chance to rise in the world. Once he discovers my whereabouts, he will definitely send people to hunt me down. At that time, many people will be implicated. Therefore, I must not reveal my identity, otherwise I will be in big trouble."
"Young Prince, rest assured, no, from now on I must change my tune, I absolutely cannot let it slip." The landlord paused and continued:
"Don't worry, Li Guang, I will keep this secret and won't let anyone know about your background. There's one more thing: from now on, you must call me 'Sir' and not 'Master'," the landlord said earnestly.
"Understood, sir," Li Guang said with a smile.
"Sir, you were sketching just now. I'd like to know what you were drawing."
"Okay, here's a painting of a rural field for you to enjoy."
After the landlord finished speaking, he unfolded his sketchbook, took out the painting he had just finished, and showed it to Li Guang.
Li Guang fell in love with the painting as soon as he saw it.
"Sir, I have admired your paintings before, mainly portraits and buildings, but landscape paintings are a rare sight."
This painting is of very high artistic quality, especially the oxen, the cowherd, and the little fox—these are the finishing touches, and I like them very much.
"It would be an honor. I'll get this painting framed when I get back and then give it to you, how about that?"
"Thank you, sir,"
After Li Guang finished speaking, he and the landlord burst into laughter.
Just then, the outer courtyard gate was gently pushed open, and someone walked in.
"Who's here?" the landlord asked in surprise.
"Don't worry, it's Sister Xiaoxiao. She's probably calling me back for dinner."
But her arrival was just in time; we'll cook here, and I'll have a drink with my husband at noon.
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