Chapter 26 I Love You
Back then, Hao Chunhe, determined to kill himself, had infiltrated the Western Dynasty Palace to kill the emperor and avenge his wife and children. She, on a commission from someone else, had taken a hefty commission to retrieve the precious Glazed Guanyin from the Western Dynasty Palace. Their motives were different, each driven by a desire for survival. One was youthful and energetic, the other lifeless, but their unexpected synergy produced unexpectedly potent results.
Wen Yao helped Hao Chunhe to hold back the Red Guards. After Hao Chunhe's assassination attempt on the emperor nearly failed, he still kept his promise and helped Wen Yao get the Liuli Guanying from the Western Dynasty's treasury.
Zuo Fengjiang, then the Inner Palace Supervisor and the Red Guards' instructor, was the one who suddenly appeared and deflected Hao Chunhe's dagger. Fortunately, Wen Yao climbed in through another window of the west-facing Emperor's chambers and intercepted his slap aimed at Hao Chunhe, otherwise Chunyanzi would have died on the spot.
Wen Yao is still impressed by this man. Firstly, it is because Zuo Fengjiang's martial arts are really good, and secondly, it is because he has a very distinctive appearance. The two long eyebrows on his face are as white as snow, which is very memorable.
"Zuo Fengjiang." After so many years, Wen Yao repeated these three words in his mouth again, and said thoughtfully: "You know what, the internal force he used at that time was indeed extremely cold and sinister."
Chu Yutang was also shocked and clicked his tongue, "So it was you who broke into the Western Dynasty Palace with Fei Ye Ke Hao Chunhe back then? Then why is it that Fei Ye Ke is the only name we've heard of in the martial arts world for all these years?"
"Because I wasn't the one who splashed the Red Guards with dog blood to gain attention. I was still fighting with Zuo Fengjiang by the river." Wen Yao never cared about these reputations and shrugged.
Furthermore, she had been prudent enough not to bring her Xingyi Sword, so those people, unable to recognize her, assumed she was Hao Chunhe's accomplice. Having one person barge in was embarrassing enough, but to hype it up as two, with one even surpassing the Western Dynasty expert Zuo Fengjiang, would be truly shameless.
Chu Yutang waved his fan and said, "Okay, okay, you're as brave as ever. Now that you know there's a way to save Prince Yan, what are you going to do? Go find Zuo Fengjiang?"
"I want to get his inner skills. They don't belong to the Western Dynasty in the first place. He has learned them for so many years in vain. He has memorized everything he should have. He doesn't need to learn anything he hasn't learned yet." Wen Yao said this in a domineering manner. She raised an eyebrow and said lightly, "It is only natural that the property should be returned to its original owner."
Chu Yutang sighed. He had unsheathed the white jade fan from his waist at some point and clapped it repeatedly in his palm. "He's a master. It hasn't been long since we last met, so he might still recognize you. If we catch him and try to get the secret manual out of him, it'll be difficult."
And most importantly, Wen Yao hated trouble, otherwise she wouldn't have forced Bai Xiaosheng to erase her name and retire from the martial arts world. If she went to the Western Dynasty to confront Zuo Fengjiang again—if she was recognized, Wen Yao's name would be on the Western Dynasty's wanted list the next day, with the impact no less than Hao Chunhe's back then.
"What are you afraid of? I'm not going to Xichao right now." Wen Yao stood up, patted Chu Yutang on the shoulder, walked to the window and jumped out, leaving behind a shout: "Ten thousand taels of gold on credit first!"
She came and went in a hurry and never went through the main door, like a cool and free breeze.
Chu Yutang smiled, fanning himself. As he did so, he stood up and walked to the window, gazing out at the grayish streetscape of the ghost market. He closed his eyes slightly, feeling the chill creeping across his face, and sighed softly, "Winter is coming."
*
Wen Yao's trip yielded significant results. While the solution was a bit cumbersome, she finally had a clear path forward. She perked up, carrying a large bag of roasted chestnuts as she ate them as she headed back to Prince Yan's Mansion, passing over the eaves with a familiar air. As she approached the courtyard where she and Zhao Xuanxu lived, Wen Yao lowered her head and spotted Zhao Xuanxu standing there, cutting flowers.
Oh. Yes, Wen Yao has made another discovery these days.
They say spring brings flowers to life, but now that winter is almost here, the flowers and plants in Prince Yan's mansion have actually multiplied. When Wen Yao first arrived, the mansion gardens were planted with a single type of flower. The soil was fresh and smelled fishy, as if it had been frequently replanted. But now, the mansion is filled with exotic plants, and fine mosses cover the dirt and rocks, giving it a vibrant and vibrant look.
When Wen Yao got closer, Zhao Xuanxu discovered her.
He turned his face, and his wide robe could not hold back his tall figure. His slightly wet hair stuck to his waist and hips, and as he turned around, his waist was revealed, giving him an inexplicably graceful and seductive charm.
Wen Yao discovered that Zhao Xuanxu was taking a shower again.
He really enjoyed bathing in the pool, often taking three or four baths a day, and never tying his hair afterward. In this era of utmost attention to neatly styled hair, Zhao Xuanxu stood in the yard in loose clothes, his hair loose, silent and like a pale ghost.
Zhao Xuanxu's eyes flickered as Wen Yao jumped from the eaves. His extremely beautiful face suddenly relaxed, and a hint of smile spread across his brows: "Ayao is back."
His voice was hoarse, and a smile appeared naturally. The pale, illusory paper figurine was painted with lipstick, and the ghost suddenly became real.
Wen Yao sighed, and under his earnest yet gentle gaze, she stepped forward to examine the pot of flowers Zhao Xuanxu was fiddling with. The atmosphere around them was natural, yet quietly tender, so tender and gentle that it suddenly struck Wen Yao as odd. She felt she should immediately do something or say something to change the mood, so she put down the sugar-roasted chestnuts and, subconsciously, slapped one of the flowers.
The innocent flower swayed twice, looking a little stupid.
Wen Yao suddenly reacted and withdrew his hand with a strange expression.
A low laugh echoed from beside him, its ending tone slightly lower and rising, making him feel tingling. Zhao Xuanxu took a step towards Wen Yao, and the distance between them instantly became incredibly close. Wen Yao could almost smell the warm and slightly fragrant scent on him.
"What did Ayao do?"
"I didn't do anything." Wen Yao slapped Hua's head again and said, "There is an old eunuch with white eyebrows named Zuo Fengjiang in the Western Court. The mental method he practices is the missing half of the Burning Heart Technique. I will find a chance to go and get it back. If you practice the two together, you won't feel uncomfortable in the future."
Zhao Xuanxu asked seriously, with a smile in his eyes: "Will he give me such an important thing?"
"Why wouldn't you give it to me? This originally belonged to the Dali Kingdom." Wen Yao said angrily, "If he doesn't give it to me, I'll beat him until he gives it to me. Whoever has the bigger fist has the final say."
"Ayao." Zhao Xuanxu laughed again, his muffled laughter almost resonating with the audience: "Why are you so nice to me? And you even traveled thousands of miles to the Western Dynasty to fight."
This is true, but it sounds weird coming from Zhao Xuanxu's mouth.
Wen Yao frowned. "What else can we do? Just leave the disease untreated? I want to guarantee that you won't die for three years. If your Burning Heart isn't resolved, I doubt you can survive for more than three years. I'm a man of integrity. You can't die prematurely."
Zhao Xuanxu nodded: "Okay." He paused and added: "Ayao is so good to me."
Wen Yao hadn't counted how many times she'd heard Zhao Xuanxu say, "Ah Yao is so good to me." She felt it was a bit exaggerated and said, "It's nothing good or bad. If they knew the other half of the secret method was in the Western Dynasty, many people would be willing to get it for you."
At least as for Gao Shaoshan and Qianying, Wen Yao has seen that they are loyal to Zhao Xuanxu in recent days.
"Ayao, you're different from them." Zhao Xuanxu seemed to instantly understand Wen Yao's thoughts. He never denied Wen Yao's words, but this time he shook his head.
"What's the difference?"
"Most of the secret guards in the palace are orphans adopted by Yan Cang, just like the people from the Three Departments. They are loyal to me, firstly because they feel a sense of duty, and secondly because they cannot escape my control." Zhao Xuanxu spoke in a calm voice and bluntly, not caring about the secret guards squatting in this courtyard. "Shaoshan is sincere. I owe him a favor, and he is willing to take risks for me, risking his life. Ah Yao, you always say you came here because Yan Cang saved your life, but what about Nanzhao? I was in poor health and had a bad temper at the beginning, but you took care of me, took me hunting wild deer, and went fishing in the mountains to watch the stars. Why?"
Wen Yao hadn't expected Zhao Xuanxu to remember the events of that year so clearly. She was dumbfounded and stammered, "Huh? Why? Isn't that how it is when raising children?"
"Ayao." Zhao Xuanxu smiled, his eyes reddening. "My appearance and temper were quite scary back then. Except for you, no one treated me like a child."
He smiled, his voice lowering again, revealing a complex mix of emotions. Like a cunning hunter, he approached Wen Yao, testing her: "People in this world live in humiliation, scattered thoughts added together, each with their own purpose. I always feel annoyed when I see them. Ah Yao is like the wind, like the clouds, kind to everyone, treating everyone the same. Can you see that? Those maids in Nanzhao, and now the secret guards and servants in the palace, all like you very much."
The Imperial Palace was a melting pot, a gladiatorial arena. Zhao Xuanxu had seen many people in his life. It wasn't that he hadn't encountered kind people, but most of them were young ladies or children of only a few years old. Zhao Xuanxu never liked or had any interest in these kind but weak, pale, wax-like people.
But Wen Yao is different, she is very strange.
Wen Yao was not ignorant of conspiracy and intrigue; she had killed many people before. Yet, no matter how many she slaughtered, her eyes remained pure. The hardships and sufferings of the outside world could not change her, not even add a trace. She seemed not to exist in this world, coming and going so quickly, powerful and free, that his reaction then and now remained the same: fascinated and dazzled.
Because a freak like him, who was born under bloody coercion, could hardly smell the blood on his body under the blowing of this warm wind.
Zhao Xuanxu's words were quite straightforward and sincere. Wen Yao paused, keenly feeling that the direction of their conversation and the emotions in it seemed a bit biased, gradually sliding towards an edge that she could no longer control.
An idea that she had never had before popped up in her mind. This idea became stronger as she briefly recalled the time she had spent with Zhao Xuanxu. It prompted Wen Yao to close her mouth, narrow her eyes, and look at Zhao Xuanxu opposite her with a curious look.
There was a sudden silence between the two.
Wen Yao asked cautiously, "Why are you telling me this?" This goes beyond the boundaries between boss and subordinate, old aunt and nephew, and is a bit ambiguous.
Zhao Xuanxu, wearing a long robe and with his black hair loose, stood beside her and smiled. His beautiful eyes and eyebrows looked at Wen Yao steadily, and the previous melancholy disappeared.
"Ayao." His voice was lively and cheerful, and he said frankly: "I like you."
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