Chapter 4 Vegetarian Porridge
In the past few years in the remote city of Liuye, Wen Yao had gotten into the habit of waking up before dawn every morning, picking up the annoying red-crested rooster next door by the neck and throwing it outside before it crowed. Then he'd take a leisurely stroll through the streets, buy a bag full of Hu bing (a type of pancake), and go home to eat it with tea.
Things were different in Bianliang City. There were no chickens near the restaurants, and the food was good. Wen Yao was thinking about the milk cake, seven-treasure vegetarian porridge, and honey pancakes. He got up at dawn and immediately checked out with his few luggage.
She deftly circled behind the banyan tree from yesterday, took a deep breath, and climbed over the wall. Looking down, she was face to face with Zhao Xuanxu, whose face was as rosy as a spring flower.
Zhao Xuanxu wore a gorgeous brocade robe, with gold embroidery flowing down the wide sleeves. He had tied his hair up today, loosely tucking his dark locks behind his head with a black jade hairpin. His eyes seemed filled with affection as he smiled gently at Wen Yao and called out, "Ah Yao."
Wen Yao was dazzled by his charming smile. She looked at him carefully, then at the pavilion that had appeared out of nowhere next to him overnight. After a long while, she managed to utter, "Are you waiting for me here?"
"Okay, I'll wait for you." Zhao Xuanxu waved to Wen Yao, "It's time for breakfast."
The man squatting nearby, wearing armor, heard this and instantly fanned himself with even more force. He was a fierce swordsman, his masculine internal energy flowing freely and powerfully. This force emanated from him, and soon the red stove was crackling with activity, and the porridge bubbling inside was bubbling.
This is the porridge that the master personally prepared early in the morning! Because he didn't know when Miss Wen Yao would come, he prepared it early, and it has become a little cold after a long time. But it doesn't matter. He, Gao Shaoshan, will make sure that the master and Miss Wen Yao drink the warmest pot of porridge in the world today!
This commotion was truly conspicuous. If Gao Shaoshan hadn't used a thin round fan, a temporary one he'd taken from a maid, and hadn't been able to exert any force, the entire stove, not to mention the bowl of porridge, would have been blown away by the gust of wind mixed with his internal energy.
Wen Yao walked over, her clothes flying in the wind. Her eyelids twitched, and she couldn't help but glance sideways at Gao Shaoshan, who was struggling to work, and asked in surprise, "Brother, is there something wrong with the stove?"
"The stove is fine, but Shaoshan always strives for perfection." Zhao Xuanxu followed, slowly approaching Wen Yao from behind. His expression was calm, his movements gentle and light, his fingers slowly grasping Wen Yao's sleeve. Satisfied, he led her to sit inside the pavilion. Zhao Xuanxu introduced Wen Yao, "This is Gao Shaoshan, the Left General of the Feathered Guards; that is Qianying, the former commander of the palace's secret guards."
The tall and thin man standing next to Gao Shaoshan immediately knelt on one knee in front of Wen Yao with a "pop" sound and said briefly and forcefully: "Qianying greets the commander."
The man named Qianying was wearing a pitch-black mask, and Wen Yao could only see his eyes through two dark eye sockets.
Noticing the change in Zhao Xuanxu's address, Wen Yao blinked, then stood with her arms folded, the Xingyi Sword slung across her back. Her dark hair, tied high in a red string, fell behind her, tilting to the side as she tilted her head slightly. "I'm the commander of your secret guards now, huh?"
"Yes." Zhao Xuanxu picked up the spoon and poured her a bowl of porridge gently and gracefully: "If you don't like it, you can change it."
"Okay, there's nothing I don't like." Wen Yao nodded, grabbed a handful of peanuts on the table, crushed the shells with one hand, held it in his hand, swung his arms and threw them out, and then muffled groans came from eight different directions in the yard.
Gao Shaoshan stared, Qianying was also surprised, her back tensed, she subconsciously glanced at Zhao Xuanxu's expression, and lowered her head again.
There were only eight secret guards in this yard, and none of them escaped.
"Your skills are too inexperienced. You need to practice more." Wen Yao stuffed the remaining peanuts into his mouth and chewed them. Then he sat cross-legged across from Zhao Xuanxu, picked up the goat's milk in front of him and drank it all. He licked his lips and said, "But I'm not an expert in stealth assassination, and I'm not very good at teaching it. I can't guarantee what will happen to them in the end."
"Hmm." Zhao Xuanxu showed no reaction to the complete annihilation of his secret guards. He placed the bowl in front of Wen Yao and said, "Try this porridge. After breakfast, you and I will go see Yan Cang together."
The porridge contained no meat, only a few brightly colored leafy vegetables and chopped mushrooms, and it was incredibly delicious. Wen Yao ate half the porridge with the beef patties, feeling incredibly hot, his face rosy, his eyes bright, and he exclaimed, "It's delicious!"
Zhao Xuanxu sat to one side, his long eyelashes slightly drooping, his gaze fixed on Wen Yao's face without blinking. The latter had not noticed, and actually did not realize that his gaze was so gentle that it almost squeezed water out of it.
Zhao Xuanxu said lightly, "As long as Yao likes it."
After breakfast, I will go to see Yan Cang.
Behind the Daxiangguo Temple, west of Bianliang City, lies a vast expanse of mausoleums. Facing east and surrounded by verdant mountains and clear waters, it boasts a prime location. While ordinary people wouldn't be able to be buried there, those buried there aren't royal relatives, but rather capable ministers who achieved significant merit during their lifetimes. After their death, they were bestowed with titles by the emperor and buried in the hills behind the temple, enjoying a vibrant atmosphere.
Since the establishment of the Three Departments in the Tianshui Dynasty, Yan Cang was the first person to be buried in the back mountain of Daxiangguo Temple with the title of commander.
The reason was simple. Since the establishment of the Three Divisions, he was the first to have what could be considered a peaceful end. Not to mention the past, even the previous leaders of the Three Divisions, all of whom had held high positions of power during their lifetimes, died quietly and inexplicably. No one could tell when the leadership of the Three Divisions was replaced.
If no body is found after death, then naturally there is no such good fortune as to lie in the tomb of a hero.
Wen Yao remembered that Yan Cang was an old drunkard. She walked beside Zhao Xuanxu, holding a jar of aged wine. Standing at the gate of the tall and imposing palace, feeling the gazes coming from all directions, both overt and covert, she briefly considered whether she should take a step back and put some distance between herself and Zhao Xuanxu.
He didn't think that as a commoner, he was unworthy of walking side by side with His Royal Highness Prince Yan, but the gazes around him were so intense that even Wen Yao, who was so shameless, felt a little uncomfortable.
The servants who went out to purchase goods from the homes of princes and nobles, the young men riding on horses with their guards, the young ladies sitting in sedan chairs and carriages, all the people on Dongxing Street looked at him strangely the moment Zhao Xuanxu stepped out of the gate of Prince Yan's Mansion.
The center of the storm was Zhao Xuanxu, and even Wen Yao, who was standing nearby, was swept away.
Wen Yao wore a mask identical to Qian Ying's, concealing her features. She never left her Xingyi Sword behind her, slung across her back.
As the leader of the secret guards, she shouldn't be in front of others easily. However, just as Wen Yao finished choosing her wine and was about to follow Qianying to the rooftop, Zhao Xuanxu reached out and stopped her.
The murder scene last night seemed like a dream. There was no trace of toughness in the beautiful lady Zhao. She looked at Wen Yao with affectionate eyes and spoke in a hoarse, low voice that seemed to reach into the heart: "We haven't seen each other for several years. You have become distant from me. Ah Yao doesn't even want to ride with me."
"How could that be?" Wen Yao's tone softened immediately. "I'm your secret guard, not your personal guard. How can a secret guard stand right next to you?"
"Then Ayao will no longer be a secret guard." Zhao Xuanxu had assigned Wen Yao a position himself, and he changed it immediately. He insisted, "Today, Zhao Xuanxu and Wen Yao should go to pay homage to Master. How desolate it would be if I went alone."
Gao Shaoshan, who was about to ride a horse and be accompanied by a group of majestic and powerful feather guards, was hesitant to speak.
"Ayao, take this." Zhao Xuanxu took out a mask from his sleeve, lowered his eyes, and whispered, "Put it on, and the person following me will no longer be Ayao, but the King of Yan's men."
"Okay, okay, I'll listen to you. If we keep arguing, it'll be noon by the time we get to Daxiangguo Temple."
But now, as soon as Wen Yao frowned, Zhao Xuanxu seemed to have eyes on the side of his head, and his action of getting on the stool immediately stopped.
He turned and looked over: "What's wrong?"
Prince Yan looked focused and concerned. After he said this, the heated gazes from the people around him became more intense.
Wen Yao resisted the urge to touch the mask, lowered his head slightly, and urged in a low voice: "It's okay, go up quickly."
Zhao Xuanxu seemed unaware of the gazes around him. After getting into the car, he lifted the curtain from inside and waited quietly for Wen Yao to come in.
Wen Yao took a deep breath, jumped up quickly and swiftly, and pulled down the curtain.
Gao Shaoshan was outside, riding a tall horse, looking majestic, followed by dozens of feathered guards. Seeing this, General Zuo waved his hand, and the black iron carriage slowly took off, pulling the cruel and terrifying Prince Yan away under the gaze of everyone.
Zhao Xuanxu's carriage was of unusual design. Ornate lanterns hung from the four corners, the canopy was massive, and the wheels were sturdy and heavy, standing a full man tall, their construction exceedingly intricate. Pulled by two sturdy horses, it traveled along the roads of Bianliang City with barely a jolt. The interior was spacious, housing a soft couch, a square table, and a row of cabinets.
Wen Yao and Zhao Xuanxu sat on the soft couch, one on the left and one on the right.
"Ayao, eat." Zhao Xuanxu opened the box next to the couch, took out a bag of candied fruit coated with icing sugar and handed it to Wen Yao.
This candied meat was plump, golden in color, and covered with a layer of icing sugar. It was as sweet as honey. Wen hadn't been with him for long, and he had eaten one good thing after another.
She took the candied fruit, smelled its sweet aroma, and felt a little puzzled.
Could it be that Zhao Xuanxu hadn't shown a desire for food because he had been in poor health in Nanzhao? How could she not have realized that he was also a delicious person?
"Hey, let me ask you a question." Wen Yao said, and her fingers touched the slightly cool skin on Zhao Xuanxu's hand and then separated.
Her body temperature was higher than Zhao Xuanxu's, and after a brief contact, both of them felt distinctly.
Wen Yao looked serious. Zhao Xuanxu glanced at her, slightly restrained his smile, put his hands on his knees and sat up straight, concentrating, and said, "What do you want to ask, Yao?"
"Those people outside seem to be afraid of you. Why?" Wen Yao said bluntly, "We're going to be together for three years. I'm unsure if there are things I don't understand yet... Don't say it's because you're so respected and respected that the neighbors love you. I don't think that's the case."
The women standing nearby looked at him with eyes clearly filled with fear. So did the others around him, whether they were the nobles adorned with gold and silver or their servants. Their reactions to Zhao Xuanxu were identical: like seeing a ferocious beast let loose without a chain: disgust, panic, and fear.
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