Chapter 19
"Are you sure it's here?" Li Yin said in a disgusted tone.
"Yes, according to the secret guards, he has been here since he was dismissed from his post a month ago." Weidao reported truthfully.
At this time, an old lady who was washing clothes nearby saw this and came over to ask enthusiastically: "Who are you looking for?"
Li Yin glanced at the old lady and signaled to Wei Dao beside him to speak. Wei Dao received the command and said, "Excuse me, is there anyone named Mr. Chashan here?"
The old lady put away her smile and asked cautiously, "Who are you? What are you doing here to see Mr. Chashan?"
Li Yin withdrew his gaze from around and said, "It seems that Mr. Chashan is indeed here."
The aunt didn't say anything.
Otoko explained, "It's like this. My son is a student of Mr. Chashan. He heard that Mr. Chashui lived here, so he came here to visit Mr. Chashan."
The aunt's tone changed, no longer as hostile as before. "Yes, so that's how it is. Just keep walking along this road until you see a thatched cottage at the foot of the mountain. That's where Mr. Chashan lives."
"Thank you." Weidao thanked politely, then followed Li Yin who was walking in front.
Li Yin and Wei Dao were in a hurry, so they didn't hear the aunt complaining behind them, "Why are there so many people visiting Mr. Chashan recently?"
After finding the thatched hut, Weidao called out many times from outside, but no one answered, so at Li Yin's signal, he pushed the door open and went in. The interior of the thatched hut was simple, with only a bed and a table.
Wei Dao touched the dust on the table, looked at the food in the kitchen, and came to a conclusion before reporting to Li Yin: "Your Highness, the person may have gone out. The food is still fresh."
Li Yin sat down directly and poured himself a cup of tea. "In that case, let's wait for the teacher here for a while!"
"Yes." Wei Dao stood behind Li Yin with his arms folded and a knife in hand.
After an incense stick of time, Mr. Chashan came back.
"If I had known that a distinguished guest was coming today, I would have gone to the market to buy some vegetables. I am so grateful for the good luck I have found in my humble abode."
Although Mr. Chashan said this, his actions were not affected at all. He even kept the fish he caught in a basin of water.
Li Yin glanced at the fish and said slowly, "Why don't we just have stewed fish today..."
"No, I want to raise this fish and eat it only when it's fat!" Mr. Chashan refused.
Li Yin then turned his gaze to Mr. Chashan, an old man in his fifties or sixties, with a kind face and a white beard. He wore a conical hat, a fishing shirt, and rolled up his trouser legs. If he didn't speak, he looked like an immortal from another world.
"This fish lives in lakes and rivers. Now you are only using this small basin to feed it. I'm afraid it won't live long!" Li Yin said with a smile.
Mr. Tea stroked his beard, looked at the fish still struggling in the basin, smiled, and said nothing. He just sat opposite Li Yin, took off his bamboo hat, and asked casually, "What is the purpose of your visit today, Prince?"
Li Yin stood up, clasped his hands together, bowed, and said humbly, "Teacher."
Mr. Chashan waved his hands quickly, "I dare not. I have been dismissed from my official position and cannot be worthy of being the prince's teacher."
“Once a teacher, always a teacher.”
After hearing this, Mr. Chashan finally looked directly at Li Yin and asked, "What is it?"
"I have something I would like to ask the teacher for help."
So, Li Yin informed Mr. Chashan that he wanted to take charge of the government but needed Qi Pingguo's permission, and wanted to ask for any good countermeasures.
Mr. Chashan stood up and stood by the window, his eyes fixed on the towering mountains. "Indeed, if the Crown Prince wants to take over the government smoothly, he needs the approval of Qipingguo."
"Yes, those who disagree with me taking charge of the government will definitely accuse me in front of the envoys from Qiping State." Li Yin also stood up and stood next to Mr. Chashan.
"Isn't it enough to make sure they can't blame you? Just be obedient, and then they will have no excuses, right?" Mr. Chashan's expression could not be heard from his words.
"Teacher, what I want is not the permission of the court officials and Qi Pingguo, but their recognition."
"But the truth is, he's a man who can't even successfully run the government..."
Li Yin didn't say anything. He could tell that his teacher was mocking him.
"If you want to be recognized, then please get the right to act as the government first. If you want to get the power, you have to..." Mr. Chashan did not continue to speak, but made a beheading gesture.
Li Yin also understood what Mr. Chashan meant, which was "rebellion."
Li Yin sneered, "If this is the only way to get what I want, then teacher, you are no different from those people, and you are nothing more than that."
After saying that, Li Yin waved his sleeves and turned around.
"Sorry to have you come here for nothing. Take care." Mr. Chashan returned to his nonchalant look.
"However, Your Highness, if you want to get what you want, you don't necessarily have to rely on brute force to achieve your goal. Arsenic-soaked candied fruit can also achieve your goal."
After saying this, Mr. Chashan turned and left.
Mr. Chashui sighed softly. He had already lost hope in this dynasty. He didn't want to... Mr. Chashan put his hands behind his back and looked up at the high mountains under the dark clouds in the distance. "The storm is coming!"
On the way back to the palace, Li Yun kept thinking about what Mr. Dashan said, "Odao, what do you mean by that teacher's words?"
Weidao shook his head and said nothing.
Li Yin didn't expect Wei Dao to say anything, but he still felt a little disappointed. On his way back, he passed a tavern and overheard a customer say, "The Li'er girl at the Red Flower House dances so gracefully. I would die just to see her dance every day."
This statement caused the guests around to burst into laughter. Li Yin also stopped and suddenly slapped his head and said happily: "I have an idea. I understand what the teacher means."
Weidao looked at Li Yin in confusion. Li Yin also felt it was inappropriate and pretended to cough to ease the embarrassment.
Li Yin whispered to Wei Dao, "Go and help me with something."
Weidao nodded and left to do what Li Yin had asked him to do, so he went ahead. Li Yin strolled slowly, as he didn't want to return to the palace too early. Suddenly, there was a muffled thunder and it started to rain lightly. Li Yin quickly ran to the nearest bamboo pavilion to shelter from the rain.
I didn't expect to meet an uninvited guest here.
*
Luo Sanrong and Ji Zeming had been hiding from the rain in the bamboo pavilion for a while. Luo Sanrong sneezed and cursed inwardly. Seeing this, Ji Zeming opened the package, and inside was the pink gauze dress that Luo Sanrong had been staring at for a long time.
Ji Zeming handed over the clothes and said, "Yes."
Luo Sanrong glanced down, then hurriedly avoided her gaze: "I'm a grown man, why should I wear women's clothes?"
Ji Zeming looked at the drizzle outside and said considerately, "Although it's thin, it's actually a piece of clothing. Put it on. It would be bad if you catch a cold."
Then he put the clothes directly on Luo Sanrong. Luo Sanrong couldn't refuse, so he had to put it on.
"This dress, you are..."
"I originally bought it for my beloved woman, but I was worried that it might be presumptuous, so..." Ji Zeming explained.
"Then I'll wash the clothes and return them to you."
Ji Zeming said nothing. He looked at the increasingly heavy rain outside and said, "Wait here for me. I'll go buy an umbrella."
"Well, okay." Luo Sanying said while putting on his clothes and rubbing his nose.
Luo Sanrong didn't expect to meet Li Yin who came here to take shelter from the rain. She wanted to go up and say hello, but when she saw the clothes she was wearing, she thought it was better to avoid trouble, so she draped the clothes over her head, kept her head down, and said nothing.
Li Yin didn't notice it either, and the two of them just stared outside without saying a word.
Luo Sanrong waited for Ji Zeming for a long time but he didn't come back, so he thought about leaving first, after all, there was such a "plague god" standing by his side.
"Wait a moment. The rain won't stop for a while. If you go out now, you might get sick. It's better to hide from the rain here and take a break from your busy schedule." Li Yin stretched out his hand and tried to catch the rain.
Luo Sanrong stopped moving, but kept his back to Li Yin. "Okay."
He kept his back to Li Yin, which made Li Yin feel strange. Just when he was about to go forward to see the man's true face, he didn't expect that Ji Zeming came back at this time.
Li Yin stopped his inquiring steps.
Ji Zeming took the initiative to speak: "Your Highness, why are you here? Are you here for a private visit?"
Li Yin's expression remained calm. "Don't you understand? My incognito visits are no longer considered private visits when I meet acquaintances."
Ji Zeming listened to Li Yin's words without showing any emotion, and still said respectfully: "I'm sorry, Your Highness, I'm not the only one here, so I can't pretend not to know you."
"A group of people?" Li Yin looked over Ji Zeming's shoulder and looked at the woman behind him who was wearing a dress and covering her face.
Noticing Li Yin's gaze, Ji Zeming silently stepped forward to block the inquiring eyes.
"Are you a palace maid? Look up."
At the critical moment, Ji Zeming stopped Luo Sanrong who was about to raise his head and said firmly: "She is my woman."
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