Chapter 40 Kneeling (Edited)
Bu Guanlan lowered his eyes, stood up, clasped his fists, and saluted Zhao Xuanxu. The relaxed look on his face disappeared in an instant, and returned to a solemn expression: "Greetings, His Royal Highness Prince Yan."
"Since you're A'yao's friend, there's no need for formalities." Zhao Xuanxu remained unmoved, accepting the gift calmly. After narrowing his eyes and examining Bu Guanlan for a moment, a false smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he spoke in a gentle voice, "A'yao has been staying in Bianliang for me, and has been quite constrained. I know her personality and her willingness to make friends. If you come to Bianliang, you can stay directly at Prince Yan's Mansion. A'yao and I will do our utmost to serve as hosts."
Luo Jiu stood behind with a look of surprise on his face.
What does it mean to have "half a bottle of vinegar in a sentence and three thorns in a word"? Today he actually witnessed it from the famous Prince Yan.
"...He's the disciple of my savior. I want to stay by his side for a few years." Wen Yao slapped Zhao Xuanxu on the waist and said, "The medicine is getting cold. Hurry and send it in."
"So that's how it is." Bu Guanlan responded immediately.
His eyes were dim and his voice was calm: "Thank you for your kindness, Your Highness. If I go to Bianliang, I will definitely visit you."
He looked at the steaming medicine bowl in Zhao Xuanxu's hand, then shifted his gaze towards the house. "At the end of today, the car dealership will be waiting outside. If the young man inside is ready, please come out then."
The knife had been prepared long ago, just waiting for the wound to heal a little and withstand the turbulence and waves on the sea.
He was not opposed to the sudden decision to go overseas and accepted it well. After all, he had been wandering around alone before bringing Ayin back.
Xiaodao knew that all the land under heaven belonged to the king, and he knew that unless he took Ayin to the Northern Liaoxi Dynasty, he and Ayin would never have a peaceful life since their identities were already known.
At the end of the afternoon, Bu Guanlan's motorcade arrived at the alley entrance on time. His display was quite grand, with seven carriages lined up from the beginning to the end of the street. In comparison, the gifts of Xiaodao and Ayin, which amounted to only a few packages, seemed rather meager.
Wen Yao and Zhao Xuanxu stood at the entrance of the alley to see him off. Xiao Dao looked pale and thin, but he was in good spirits. He placed a hand on A Yin's shoulder, looked up at Wen Yao, and said hesitantly, "Senior Wen, I want to ask... what will happen to those tenants?"
Wen Yao thought for a moment and said truthfully, "It depends on how the Xu family handles the situation, but it shouldn't be a problem. They can get some land and live a good life."
"Okay." Xiaodao nodded solemnly and said, "Senior, Your Highness Prince Yan, your kindness is so great. Xiaodao will never forget it in this life."
He knows some martial arts and can survive in this world, but he only knows some martial arts and can't withstand the overwhelming power.
The reason he killed people according to the "Yanwang's Poke" excerpt was because he knew human power was insufficient and he had to rely on the power of ghosts and gods to intimidate people. But every time he killed a beast, Xiaodao's heart was always heavy, without joy or pride, only layers of helplessness and worry.
He knew clearly that this was not a long-term solution.
"A few days ago, I heard from a storyteller that a new bride had arrived at the palace. She was the daughter of an official in Pingjiang Prefecture, and she had gone to Bianliang City to see the emperor to appeal for her father's injustice. So I stole the Xu family's account books, thinking that if the county magistrate and prefect protected the Xu family, it wouldn't matter, and I could still go to Bianliang and see the officials in Beijing."
Xiaodao smiled, his handsome features softening, and gently touched his sister's head.
"But I also know the difficulty of filing a complaint with the emperor. Ayin is still young and cannot follow me to take this risk. This matter was delayed until you two arrived in Yanling."
"Senior, you saved my life, saved Ayin's life, and saved the lives of the people in Biezhuang." Xiaodao clasped his fists, bowed deeply, and said solemnly: "Thank you very much."
"Okay, let's go. Don't thank me." Wen Yao smiled and handed the osmanthus candy and flower cake in his hand to Xiaodao: "You have survived a disaster and will surely have good fortune in the future. I have been to Liuli Island. The scenery is beautiful and the climate is pleasant, which is suitable for recuperation. When you recover from your injury, you can find a job on the island. There are still many days to come, so live well."
Xiaodao nodded and took Ayin's hand towards the carriage.
Halfway through the walk, Ayin suddenly broke free from Xiaodao's hand, turned around and ran over to give Wenyao a firm hug on the calf. Then, she turned around again, timidly approached Zhao Xuanxu, and then quickly ran back to her brother, her cheeks flushed.
Zhao Xuanxu looked puzzled, but Wen Yao and Xiao Dao were smiling happily.
Xiaodao touched his sister's head, saluted Wen Yao and Zhao Xuanxu again, and then got on the carriage.
Bu Guanlan stood aside and watched for a long time. He came over after Xiaodao got on the car. Luo Jiu behind him called Wen Yao and handed him a jade box.
"Dragon fish oil." Bu Guanlan said succinctly: "Take good care of your sword, and we'll spar next time we meet."
"Okay, okay." Wen Yao took it: "Thank you."
Bu Guanlan nodded. His gilded hair and crown made him look more like a chivalrous swordsman than a mere wielder. He gave Wen Yao a look, his brow softening. He then glanced at Zhao Xuanxu and said calmly, "Goodbye."
The coachman whipped the convoy forward. They would follow the official road to Haizhou, from where they would board a ship bound for Liuli Island, thousands of miles away. With the Bu family's head of the family watching over them, Xiaodao and Ayin would live happily on Liuli Island.
Xiaodao is gone, but Guangqingyu is still here.
She acted cleanly and decisively. Knowing that there was no room for maneuver, she immediately ordered the capture of the two brothers, Xu Feng and Xu Fengping, who had been hiding. Maintaining a facade of utter loyalty, she repeatedly urged the Prince of Yan to return to Bianliang.
This means that the Xu family must be eliminated to preserve the reputation of Prince Yong.
Upon hearing that the evil villain who had killed eleven people escaped with his young sister from the encirclement of the Lingyu Guards, Guang Qingyu accepted it calmly without blinking.
She hadn't cared much about such a nameless thief in the first place. If the crucial account books hadn't fallen into his hands, she wouldn't have planned to capture him. He'd have gotten away with it. Compared to that, her real concern was not fulfilling Prince Yong's request and giving the Xu family a bad name.
As expected, when the news of Yanling was no longer concealed and reached Bianliang, the whole government and the country were in an uproar.
First, Grand Secretary Xu requested an audience with the Emperor. He removed his official cap and explained that he had failed to properly manage his family, which was why they had kept it a secret from him. He said that the ceremonial procession was causing harm to the people, and he resigned. The Grand Secretary's tone was sincere, tears welling up in his eyes. The Emperor descended the steps, gave him a mild reprimand, and then rejected his resignation.
Prince Yong then brought his wife into the palace and knelt before the emperor's study, refusing to get up. He declared that he would never shield the Xu family from the crime and demanded that the Yanling Xu family be severely punished.
The Prince of Qin was delighted, making sarcastic remarks in the court. Zhang Yun, who had been transferred to the Ministry of Revenue, seized the opportunity to shake up the ranks, finally feeling proud. Zhang Yun was so happy that he made several trips to the Prince of Yan's mansion, delivering many goodies.
After running together many times, he and Wen Yao became familiar with each other.
The court was full of turmoil and the various parties were jockeying for position outside the walls of Prince Yan's mansion. Zhao Xuanxu's attendance at court depended entirely on his mood, often absent for three days and resting for two days. When he returned, he didn't like to discuss state affairs, but only wanted to cook.
Zhang Yun told Wen Yao all these court jokes while they were sitting and drinking tea.
Wen Yao was delighted to hear this, and then he asked, "What about Yanling?"
"Yanling County Magistrate Meng Gao has been dismissed." Zhang Yun munched on peanuts. "Don't worry, Commander Wen. I've used a little trick to smooth things over. The new magistrate for Yanling is my junior, an upright man, and will take good care of the tenants."
"Thank you very much." Wen Yao handed another handful of boiled peanuts to Zhang Yun and said proudly, "Master Zhang, please eat. You're welcome."
The two of them were squatting under the eaves cracking peanuts when Zhao Xuanxu came in.
Even though winter had arrived, Zhao Xuanxu still wore thin clothing, a stark contrast to Zhang Yun, who was bundled up tightly. Martial artists possess a warm body and possess a strong internal energy, making them impervious to the cold. Wen Yao was similar, wearing only a single layer of clothing year-round. Furthermore, Zhao Xuanxu's cultivation of the Burning Heart Technique had given him such intense yang energy that he was lucky not to develop a fire poison, making him completely insensitive to the cold.
Zhang Yun stood up quickly, took two steps to distance himself from Wen Yao, and said with a flattering smile, "Your Highness, you're back."
"Ayao."
Zhao Xuanxu was followed by several maids who looked like wandering souls. They walked in quietly with their heads down and put down the food boxes in their hands one by one.
There were six food boxes in total, and when they were opened, they were all filled with crispy and tender baked chicken.
Wen Yao was stunned.
Zhao Xuanxu said, "It was just hung on the tree at the door."
Jiang Qiaosheng really likes roasted chicken.
Wen Yao sometimes suspected that the girl was either killing people or roasting chickens in a kiln, sending one every two days. Whenever Wen Yao went to Yanling, she would send six at once—making up for the other days' share.
"Ouch." Zhang Yun leaned closer, his mouth watering over the delicious-looking kiln-baked chickens. "They smell so good! Commander Wen's friend owns a restaurant? With such excellent cooking skills, his business must be booming."
almost.
It's just that it's not a restaurant, it's a killer's house, doing business in human lives, and the business is indeed booming.
"You can take it and go." Wen Yao thought of Jiang Qiaosheng when she saw the kiln chicken, and then of Lou Chengyi, who had parted ways unhappily before leaving. She suddenly felt a headache, sighed, and squatted down again, cracking peanuts with a worried look on her face.
"OK."
Zhang Yun didn't hesitate, picking up the lunch box and weighing it in his hands. The top scholar, handsome as a bamboo, smiled so brightly that his teeth showed, and walked away contentedly.
Zhao Xuanxu walked over, politely lifted his sleeves, squatted down like Wen Yao, and took out a piece of paper from his arms and handed it to him: "Ayao, this is for you."
"What?" Wen Yao took the paper with one hand and unfolded it. He looked at it carefully and was a little surprised: "House deed?"
"The deed to the courtyard." Zhao Xuanxu lowered his brows and said, "I've hired someone to look after it. It will be convenient for me to stay in Yanling in the future. You manage the money, and you keep the deed."
Wen Yao held the thin deed in his hand and slowly ate the last few peanuts in his hand before putting it away.
Zhao Xuanxu's lips suddenly smiled, his eyebrows curved, and he looked very happy, with a hint of childish innocence. He tilted his head to look at Wen Yao and said, "By the way, tomorrow I will go to the palace to see my mother, Ayao--"
Wen Yao knew that Zhao Xuanxu would go to the palace to see Concubine Ling every once in a while. He usually stuck to Wen Yao closely, but he would not ask Wen Yao to go with him at this time.
Wen Yao thought it would be the same this time, but Zhao Xuanxu continued, "—Ayao, come with me."
Wen Yao paused, a look of slight fear on his face. "Is your progress so fast?"
"Hmm?" Zhao Xuanxu was confused and bewildered. "Zhao Xuanfeng recounted your achievements to the emperor, and the emperor wants to see you."
"Oh, oh." Wen Yao breathed a sigh of relief.
So that's how it is. She was scared to death.
"You are such a patient elder brother." Wen Yao couldn't help but sighed, "You are a respectable person. You can still praise me even in this situation."
"Of course, he was raised by the Empress, so he's used to pretending." Zhao Xuanxu laughed, his tone becoming odd: "Ayaojue, don't you think blood ties are interesting? Feng is domineering, and Zhao Xuanshuo is exactly like her. Concubine Jing is rich and idle, so Zhao Xuanfeng doesn't get involved in government affairs. I..."
Zhao Xuanxu paused for a moment, then laughed even more broadly. His tone was so sinister that it chilled people's hearts: "My mother and I are quite similar."
Wen Yao still didn't know much about the emperor's family affairs. He only knew that Zhao Xuanxu had been treated coldly by his mother and father since he was a child.
Even though she didn't know the secret, she still felt bad after hearing this. She stood up, grabbed a large chicken leg, and stuffed it into Zhao Xuanxu's hand: "I'll go with you tomorrow. Eat it, it's still hot and delicious."
The gloom on Zhao Xuanxu's body suddenly disappeared, and he instantly regained his well-behaved appearance. He held the crystal clear and greasy chicken leg with his beautiful fingers and ate it slowly and leisurely.
Wen Yao called a secret guard over and told him to take the remaining kiln chicken back and divide it up. He then carefully instructed him, "Keep a close eye next time. If anyone hangs food boxes on the tree at the door, tell them to stop sending them and tell them that the master won't be able to eat them."
She is not a weasel, so how can she bear to eat baked chicken every two days?
The secret guard nodded calmly and went downstairs carrying four food boxes.
The next day, Wen Yao entered the palace and opened her wardrobe to change into her newly made clothes. The embroiderers and seamstresses hired by the Prince of Yan's mansion were highly skilled, focusing on a style of understated luxury. While the style remained tight, the hem was embroidered with ornate patterns, giving it a rich, textured feel.
Wen Yao stood in front of the mirror and looked around, feeling very majestic.
It is true that clothes make the man.
When she pushed the door open, Zhao Xuanxu was still outside, fiddling with the flowers. The weather was cold, and many flowers wouldn't survive, but Zhao Xuanxu was determined to keep them alive. He dug a stone trough to draw in hot water, so the flowers were blooming beautifully.
He carefully touched the delicate petals, turned around and saw Wen Yao coming out, and a smile immediately appeared in his eyes: "Ah Yao is so beautiful."
Praise, praise, praise, you are such a praise machine.
Wen Yao coughed and said, "You can't bring a sword into the palace, right? My dagger and hidden weapons—"
"Just take it with you." Zhao Xuanxu said, "I'll be right beside you, Ayao, don't worry."
"Hmm."
Wen Yao wasn't worried or afraid. After all, she had saved the emperor, and this wasn't her first time in the palace. The last time she'd been there, aside from the expensive, mediocre meal she'd shared with Gao Shaoshan, she hadn't had much else to remember.
But this time she entered the palace under the name "Wen Yao", and was a member of the Yan Wang Party known to all the world. Zhao Xuanxu was arrogant and provoked all the way. The Yong Wang and Qin Wang, the court and the harem, were afraid of death and didn't know how many pairs of eyes were staring at her.
No matter what, we can't lose in momentum.
The procedure for entering the palace this time was slightly different from the last time. The person who met him at the palace gate wasn't Song Mingde, but a young eunuch with a kind smile. And they weren't heading to the Lama Temple, but to the martial arts arena.
Of course there is a martial arts training ground in the palace.
The six arts of a gentleman include riding and shooting. The prince should be a role model for the people of the world. Since he is not old enough to leave the palace and set up his own residence, he naturally has to stay in the palace and be educated by a special person.
When Wen Yao entered the vast martial arts arena, the emperor was seated on a soft couch in front of a screen, intently watching the fight. Nestled beside him was a beautiful woman in a pink palace dress, her hair adorned with pearls and jade, remarkably bright and beautiful. It was none other than the Li Fei whom he had so captivated him so beautifully the previous time.
Concubine Li's fingers were long, soft, and white. She tenderly served tea to the emperor. The moment Zhao Xuanxu and Wen Yao entered the martial arts arena, she immediately looked up.
Her gaze first fell on Zhao Xuanxu, lingered on Prince Yan for a moment, and then looked at Wen Yao.
His eyes were still not very friendly.
Okay, the beauty glared at me again.
Wen Yao thought back to their last encounter at the Goddess Festival. It seemed as if Concubine Li knew her from the start, and it wasn't a friendly acquaintance at all. She felt strange, wondering how she had offended this favorite concubine of the Emperor.
Moreover, she always felt that Concubine Li was strange and a little strangely warm towards Zhao Xuanxu. But when it came to Zhao Xuanxu, whether it was Gao Shaoshan or Zhang Yun, they all looked embarrassed when they mentioned Concubine Li.
What is the dispute?
You have to kneel down and salute when you see the emperor.
Zhao Xuanxu walked straight ahead with Wen Yao, showing no intention of kneeling. The Emperor's Consort Li and the attendants were all used to it. The Emperor's gaze even remained on the arena ahead, where the fighting was ongoing, not at Zhao Xuanxu.
It was Concubine Li who spoke first.
"Who are you?"
Concubine Li truly lived up to her title. Not only was she beautiful, but her voice was also gentle and moving: "Prince Yan is not feeling well. Your Majesty has shown mercy and granted him the grace to not kneel before us. Why aren't you kneeling?"
The naturally affectionate expression on Zhao Xuanxu's face vanished instantly. He looked up at Concubine Li, his pupils as dark as ink, filled with layers of disgust and murderous intent.
Damn it.
Damn it.
Damn thing.
He chewed over these words silently, his face pale, his eyebrows thick, his eyes deep, his aura extremely frightening, and he couldn't suppress the irritation that had risen since he stepped into the square palace.
Seeing Zhao Xuanxu's expression, the maid standing beside Concubine Li tensed up, a little sweat forming on the tip of her nose. A hairpin slipped silently into her hand and she gripped it tightly, staring at Zhao Xuanxu warily, ready to strike.
Wen Yao looked at Concubine Li, then at the Emperor, who was pretending to be deaf and dumb, and was speechless for a moment. Seeing Zhao Xuanxu's face darken and teeth gritted as he opened his mouth to speak, Wen Yao immediately lifted the hem of her skirt and knelt decisively.
Are you kidding? It's just kneeling down, no big deal.
Think of Wen Yao, who started out with nothing but a broken bowl and rose to her current status in the martial arts world by her flexibility. She lacks the noble demeanor of a peerless master or a hermit.
Besides, kneeling before the emperor was normal in feudal times.
When in Rome, do as the Romans do.
Wen Yao knelt quickly and neatly.
"I, a humble servant, pay my respects to Your Majesty."
She knelt on the ground, her back straight, and spoke with full energy: "I wonder why Your Majesty summoned me here?"
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