Chapter 56 Chang'an

After Ming Huazhang left, Ming Huashang cooled off the heat on her face and resumed her archery practice. She always felt that Ming Huazhang was called away at this critical moment for no good reason, but daydreaming was useless, so she decided to do something practical.

Ming Huazhang's teachings were very detailed, and he repeated them many times without getting tired of it. Even though Ming Huachang's mind was distracted, she was able to remember the key points. She drew her bow and shot arrows, and her accuracy improved steadily. Even if she still couldn't hit the bull's eye, at least every arrow could hit the target.

The arrow basket missed, Ming Huashang exhaled slowly and wiped her sweat with a handkerchief. But she had practiced too hard and her arms were sore from stretching. Her fingers were not steady and the handkerchief was blown away by a gust of wind.

Ming Huashang was startled and ran after the handkerchief. The handkerchief happened to be hanging on a branch. Ming Huashang stood on tiptoe but couldn't reach it. Ming Huashang was about to ask Jiang Ling for help, but Su Xingzhi, who was shooting arrows nearby, saw it and came over to help her take off the handkerchief.

Ming Huashang was caught off guard when she saw Su Xingzhi. She was stunned for a moment and smiled sweetly, "Thank you, Brother Qianshan."

Ming Huashang's eyes sparkled, and her smile was like the sun piercing through the clouds and mist, striking people's hearts. Su Xingzhi felt a little relieved when he saw her smile. He handed the handkerchief back to Ming Huashang and said politely, "Miss Shuangbi has made great progress. She is really a gifted person with natural intelligence."

Su Yuji might be fine with this, but Ming Huashang is not worthy of it. She smiled and said, "Brother Qianshan, you are too kind to me. It's because my master taught me well, but unfortunately I'm too stupid and I haven't learned it yet."

Su Xingzhi naturally had to be polite, explaining that Huachang had done a good job, and encouraging her with some nonsense like God rewards hard work. Ming Huachang wanted to build a good relationship with Su Xingzhi, so she said a few more words. She felt that it was enough, and was about to go back, but she felt that the atmosphere was not right.

Ming Huashang turned around following her intuition and saw a tall figure standing under the shade of a tree opposite the training ground. His broad shoulders and long legs were outlined by his white training suit. The wind blew the forest swaying, and the mottled green shadows were cast on him, making him look particularly fair.

Even without seeing his face, just based on his figure and demeanor, he could guess who it was. Ming Huashang was so surprised that she didn't even bother to talk to Su Xingzhi and ran over to the other side: "Brother, you're back!"

As soon as Ming Huazhang came in, he saw Ming Huashang and Su Xingzhi standing together, behaving intimately and talking happily. Ming Huazhang paused, feeling irritated for no reason. He paused slightly, thinking about what to do next, but then he saw Ming Huashang turn around, and the moment she saw him, she immediately smiled and ran towards him.

Ming Huazhang felt relieved for some reason. He walked out of the shade and reached out to catch Ming Huachang. Ming Huachang didn't notice the change in Ming Huazhang's expression. She was like Chao Douzi. When she saw him, she asked in a choked voice, "Brother, where did you go just now? Did anyone give you trouble?"

Ming Huashang was so focused on asking that she didn't realize that Ming Huazhang was squeezing her fingers particularly hard. Ming Huazhang raised his eyes and glanced behind him, then quietly pulled her behind him: "It's okay. Didn't I ask you to practice archery? Why are you running around?"

"I didn't run around." Ming Huashang complained loudly like a child who had been wronged, "I shot everything, but it's still not accurate."

"You can practice your accuracy slowly." Ming Hua Zhang's eyes were as black as ink, and he said calmly, "Why do you go find someone else if you can't shoot accurately?"

"No, I just wanted to pick up a handkerchief." Ming Huashang pulled out a handkerchief from his sleeve and said, "When I was wiping my sweat, the handkerchief was blown away, and Brother Qianshan helped me get it down."

Ming Huazhang found the word "brother" very irritating. Ming Huachang always called him "brother" and Ming Huazhang got used to it. But when she said the word again today, she was referring to another man. Ming Huazhang was shocked to realize that the title of "brother" was not exclusive to him.

She is young and sweet-talker. Xie Jichuan, Su Xingzhi, and many others can be her good brothers.

The more Ming Huazhang suppressed his anger, the calmer his expression became. He said, "So that's the case. Then you should really thank him. I'll go with you to thank him."

Ming Huashang was stunned: "Ah?"

It's just a minor incident, is there any need to make such a big fuss?

Ming Huazhang was inexplicably adamant about this and said, "Don't be rude, let's go."

Ming Huashang felt that Ming Huazhang's attitude was strange, but then she thought that he was a gentleman, so it seemed normal for him to go and thank him. Ming Huashang was confused and followed Ming Huazhang to see Su Xingzhi.

Ming Huazhang had been holding her wrist. His fingers were long and bony, and they circled around Ming Huachang's wrist. The jade-like coolness at his fingertips was strong and overbearing and could not be refused.

Su Xingzhi saw Ming Huazhang approaching, even though he didn't say a word, he was sure to sense a hostile intent. Ming Huazhang pulled Ming Huashang to stop three steps away, and nodded slightly to Su Xingzhi: "Thank you, Brother Qianshan, for helping her out just now."

Ming Huazhang was dignified and distant. He thanked him, but there was a cold light in his eyes. Su Xingzhi was very curious about how he had offended Ming Huazhang. If he remembered correctly, he and this young and promising assassin legend should have no grudges, right?

Su Xingzhi said: "It's just a small effort, not worth mentioning. Miss Shuangbi is smart and hardworking, no one will stand idly by if they see it."

Ming Huazhang smiled faintly, a gentleman of high moral character, a graceful figure in the wind, but Ming Huachang felt the force in his hand was even stronger. Ming Huazhang said, "It is my fault that I failed to protect her. I am sorry to trouble you, Brother Qianshan. By the way, the general has something to tell you, and he asked me to tell you."

Su Xingzhi was surprised and immediately understood where Ming Huazhang's inexplicable hostility towards him came from. He also had a guess about the scene yesterday. Han Jie called Ming Huazhang and then called him. That means, this time the mission will be divided into two groups?

Su Xingzhi had never experienced such a situation before. No matter how nice Han Jie's words were, sending two groups of people to be in charge at the same time either meant that he did not trust the ability of the task force or his distrust of the other party's loyalty.

No wonder Ming Huazhang targeted him like that. Su Xingzhi thought he had figured out the whole story and no longer cared about Ming Huazhang's attitude. He bowed and left.

After Su Xingzhi walked away, Ming Huashang leaned over to Ming Huazhang's shoulder and asked, "Second brother, was it General Han who called you just now?"

Ming Huazhang retracted his gaze and lowered his head to meet her clear, moist eyes. He felt an inexplicable surge of anger in his heart: "Yeah."

Ming Huachang's worries came true. She quickly moved closer and asked anxiously, "What did he say?"

Her eyes were black and white, and he was clearly reflected in them, as if he was the only one in her world. Ming Huazhang's inexplicable impulse gradually subsided, and he couldn't help but raise his hand, rubbed her head, and said, "Some small things, I know. Go pack your luggage, we are going to Chang'an City today."

Ming Huashang blinked her eyes, obviously very surprised, and then she was overjoyed: "Okay. What should I prepare?"

"You don't need to prepare anything. Xuan Xiaowei will take care of your food, clothing, housing and transportation. You will need to make some clothes for your trip to Chang'an. You only need to take your daily small items." Ming Huazhang said, looking to the other side and said loudly, "Wei Yue, Jin Niu, Qi Sha, follow me."

Jiang Ling was shooting arrows when he was suddenly told that he had to go on a mission and didn't have to attend the afternoon class. He was stunned and clapped his hands in annoyance: "If I had known that I didn't have to attend class today, I would not have done yesterday's homework. Oh, what a miscalculation."

Ren Yao glanced at Jiang Ling coldly and sneered, "What a promising person."

Xie Jichuan ignored the other two's bickering and asked solemnly, "What is the mission? How many days will it take? What are you going to do?"

"Go back and change into some casual clothes and pack your luggage. We'll talk about the details on the way." Ming Huazhang glanced at the sun and said, "See you at the racecourse in a quarter of an hour."

There was horse riding training in the base, and they had raised a large number of good horses. They were going down the mountain to carry out their mission, so they just took five horses with them. There was no need to prepare any clothes, and there was really not much to pack. In just a cup of tea, they had reached the meeting point one after another.

Ming Huazhang changed into an indigo-colored round-necked robe, a leather belt around his waist, and held a horizontal sword in his hand. From a distance, he looked like a pool of moonlight falling on the water. Ming Huachang changed into Hu clothing for convenience, and Jiangling, Xie Jichuan, and Ren Yao also dressed up in a stylish way.

The five people met, and after Ming Huazhang checked everything and made sure nothing was missing, he led them down the mountain. Ming Huazhang showed the token, and the gatekeeper saw the statue on the token and said without asking a single question, "Lower the drawbridge, pass."

Ming Huazhang jumped lightly onto his horse, crossed the suspension bridge first, and galloped into the vast mountains and forests.

Ming Huachang had been full of hatred when she went up the mountain, but now she was just going for a picnic, without any tension at all. She relaxed and realized that Zhongnan Mountain was indeed beautiful. No wonder so many hermits and Taoist priests practiced here. It really lived up to its reputation.

Ming Huachang, Ren Yao, and Jiang Ling were fighting in front. Xie Jichuan rode up to Ming Huazhang and asked, "What's going on?"

"Yesterday's banquet was real," Ming Huazhang said. "I'm not sure if the man's name was Zhang San, but he died and the drawing was lost."

According to the time calculation, the murder at the banquet should have happened not long ago. Han Jie was not sure who the murderer was, so he moved to the classroom to brainstorm. As a result, he was right. After the class was over yesterday, Han Jie immediately ordered people to track down Zhang San, but they were too late. Zhang San was dead and the picture in the cane was nowhere to be found.

Xie Jichuan asked: "What is drawn on the picture?"

"Damming Palace Map."

Xie Jichuan raised his eyebrows and looked at Ming Huazhang with a half-smile: "Really?"

"It's already this late, who still has the heart to joke?" Ming Huazhang sat on his horse like a jade tree, using his scabbard to push away the branches blocking the road, and said calmly, "It seems that there are still people who are unwilling to give up and want to stop the relocation of the capital."

Xie Jichuan chuckled, his voice was cold and almost heartless: "Ordinary people would fight to the death for their property, let alone this is a thousand years, royal power and wealth. If Zhang San is really one of them, then this map will be difficult to find."

What I’m afraid of is that I may find it but not be able to get it.

Ming Huazhang looked at Ming Huachang who was chasing and making trouble in front of him, and said calmly: "I know. But someone has to do these things."

"That shouldn't be you," Xie Jichuan said. "Since they have succeeded, there will surely be an endless stream of assassins coming to Chang'an to look for the map. Whoever finds the map will be in trouble. You will take the imperial examination this fall, so why take the risk?"

"If the map cannot be found, what is the point of the imperial examination? The Queen ordered the capital to be moved to Chang'an, but ultimately did not act. This would be a huge blow to the Prince's reputation. Even if the Queen does not change her mind, how will the governors and vassal states view the Prince? How will they believe that the Queen really wants to pass the throne back to the Li family?"

Ming Huazhang's voice was very calm, his eyes were like black jade immersed in ice water, and there was a faint fire flashing through them: "People's hearts are unstable, and the country has two rulers. This is the disaster of the Tang Dynasty and the disaster of all mankind. If you can put things right and let everything return to the right track, what does it matter if you sacrifice my life?"

Xie Jichuan sighed and said, "I really suspect that you have become stupid from reading so many books about saints since you were young. Only when you are alive can everything be possible. Are you sure you have thought it through?"

"To serve one's country and family is an honor even if one dies."

"Okay." Xie Jichuan patted Ming Huazhang on the shoulder and said, "It's my bad luck that I got to know you so early. Then I have no choice but to sacrifice my life to accompany you."

After walking out of Zhongnan Mountain, it is another 60 miles north to Chang'an. Soon, Ming Huashang rode his horse to a stop in front of the city gate and looked up at the city wall rising from the ground in awe: "Is this Chang'an?"

Ming Huachang could ride a horse a little, but not much. Ming Huazhang walked slowly with her, and when they arrived at Mingde Gate, it was already sunset.

Xie Jichuan, Jiangling, and Ren Yao had been in the city for a long time. Ming Huazhang was dragged behind them, but there was no impatience on his face. He held the reins with one hand and said slowly: "Yes, this is Chang'an. Let's go, let's go into the city to eat first."

Ming Huachang had been working hard all day and was very tired, but her eyes were still bright. Ming Huachang nodded excitedly and was just wondering how to get off the horse when Ming Huazhang handed it to her.

His palms were narrow and thin, with long and even fingers. The thin rope on the palms did not affect the beauty of these hands at all, and they were still as beautiful as a work of art. Ming Huachang rubbed her palms that were rubbed red by the reins, and carefully placed them in his palms. This thin and slender hand burst out with a strength that was completely inconsistent with its appearance. Ming Huazhang half supported and half hugged her to take her off the saddle.

Before leaving, Ming Huazhang took five copies of the household registration card from the Xuanxiao Guards to ensure that they were the same as the real ones. After checking them, the guards at the city gate found no problems and waved to let them pass.

Ming Huashang led the horse, passed through the tall and majestic city walls, and entered the world-famous Chang'an. She looked at the magnificent and straight Zhuque Street, which could accommodate more than ten carriages, the wide and neat streets scattered all over the city, and the atmosphere that was completely different from Luoyang. She felt that her eyes were not enough: "Second brother, Chang'an is so big."

Ming Huazhang looked at the real imperial capital that he had not seen for a long time and sighed softly: "Yes."

Chang'an, he finally came back.