Huanzhou
The candle wick burned with a soft sound, and Mingyu drank water while waiting for Yu Tongan to finish reading the record.
It is rumored that the young master of the Yu family is handsome but ruthless, and he manages the huge Yu family business neatly and efficiently. Now it seems that it is not entirely false.
Seeing that Yu Tongan had turned the last page, Mingyu spoke up, "I'm not lying, am I? The paper and pen are unique to the History Museum. I didn't have any other chances except when I had the free time and conditions to write it down right when the incident happened."
"I understand." Yu Tong'an closed the record and put it down, looking at Mingyu, "But you still haven't explained why you appeared in the palace, and how you escaped from Emperor Dewen's bedroom."
Mingyu's expression was calm as he spoke softly, "Master Yu, everyone has their own secrets. Just as I believe the Yu family is investigating this matter because the new emperor has ascended the throne, as merchants who helped the previous emperor ascend the throne, the Yu family is afraid that the emperor will take action against you."
"There's no need to ask about other irrelevant matters."
"Of course." Yu Tongan chuckled and drank the remaining water in the cup. "Then I'll excuse my troubles tonight. Miss Ming, please rest assured and recuperate. Come visit me again when you have time."
Mingyu stood up and walked Yu Tongan out.
"Take care."
…
"Master, if we hadn't saved Mingyu, she would have died long ago. Why is she acting like this now?"
Yu Tongan returned to the villa outside the capital and took off his coat. Wu Ren, one of the guards who had just stood outside the house, was a little dissatisfied with Mingyu's disrespect towards his young master.
"She said everything she needed to say. She's been very cooperative."
Yu Tongan handed the coat to Wu Pi, and Wu Pi hung it up.
"Okay, everyone, get out."
Wu Ren and Wu Pi responded and went out to close the door. Yu Tongan finally relaxed and warmed himself by the fire.
He deliberately said that Mingyu was a remnant of the prince's faction. A quick investigation would reveal that Mingyu's interpersonal relationships were simple and it was impossible for him to be a member of the prince's faction. No one knew who the emperor was trying to fool with the title.
But knowing what happened and being able to extort this true record would have already achieved the purpose of this trip. As for Mingyu...
This historian, who had remained unknown during the previous emperor's reign, was beyond his expectations.
…
Mingyu sent Yu Tongan away and returned to the room, where he saw the silver sword still shining in the darkness.
The pattern on the scabbard is not as sophisticated as those made by today's craftsmen. It is just a simple flower and bird style, even so simple that there is no tassel.
Looking at the ancient silver sword, Mingyu remembered the first time her master brought her into the witch hall.
Mingyu, who was only five or six years old and had been raised to be plump, grabbed his master's hand and, thinking he had lowered his voice, asked cautiously, "Master, why aren't they talking?"
In an instant, the resentful looks from all around made the young Mingyu feel a little uneasy, and he pouted in fear.
The master rarely answered her question. He just sighed and touched the fish's head.
She didn't want to get involved in the affairs of the palace anymore. It would be best for her to disappear from the public eye and find a place to live a peaceful life.
The records on the table were not taken away. Mingyu walked forward and opened them at random. The record stopped at Prince An, the current emperor, leaving the palace.
It is estimated that this courtyard is not under the name of the Yu family. Even if the record and myself are discovered, the Yu family will not be implicated.
What a fox.
Mingyu hid the record again and looked out the window. The snow was falling even heavier.
…
The woman looked slender and thin in the snow. The sword in her hand moved with her figure, stirring up the white snow, making her look so vigorous and agile.
"Girl! How can you wear so little in such a cold day!" Xueliu came in with the medicine and saw this scene. She couldn't help but stop Mingyu urgently.
"If you wear too much when you move around, you'll get hot." Mingyu defended himself after listening to Xueliu's reproach.
"Then don't move! You're still taking medicine!"
Mingyu put away his sword. Mumian immediately put his coat on Mingyu and urged him, "Come inside and warm yourself by the fire. You might catch a cold."
"Even if you like swords, you have to take care of your body. How can you stay in the snow when you are not fully recovered yet?" Xueliu muttered to Mingyu in dissatisfaction.
"Okay, I'll pay attention." Mingyu agreed with a smile.
She was still fleeing during the Moon Worship Festival, so she couldn't miss the upcoming Dong Lin. Ever since she was adopted by her master, she had never missed any of the ceremonies, and practicing sword skills was also a preparation for the ceremonies.
Her health has almost recovered. Logically, Yu Tongan has no reason to keep her. Keeping her near the capital will only increase the risk. It's time to leave.
"Kumian, is your young master free recently?"
"Is there something wrong? The young master seems to be very busy recently. I heard that he is planning to return to Huanzhou soon."
"Huanzhou?" Mingyu swallowed the medicine in his mouth and frowned because of the bitterness.
He took the candied fruit from Xueliu and held it in his hand without eating it.
"Miss, you don't know? The young master's family is in Huanzhou. We only came to the capital five months ago."
"It must be the end of the year, right? Young Master will be going back to his family for the New Year celebrations." Xue Liu leaned forward excitedly. "Young lady, you haven't seen Huanzhou yet, right? Although it's not as magnificent as the capital, it's much more lively here."
Mu Mian glared at Xue Liu, telling her to calm down. Then, she smiled at Ming Yu and said, "If you need anything from me, I'll pass the message along."
Xueliu stuck out her tongue, then walked away with the empty bowl of medicine.
"Okay, thank you for your help."
After the bitterness in his mouth dissipated, Mingyu put the candied fruit into his mouth again. It was still too sweet and a bit greasy.
Who would have thought that before half an hour had passed, the yard would become busy.
Mingyu, who was staying in the room, heard some noise outside, frowned, took out the recorder, moved close to the person, picked up the sword placed aside, and paid close attention to the movements outside the door.
"Miss!" Xueliu rushed in, panting. "Miss, hurry up and get ready. We are leaving."
"Are there any pursuers? Where are they now?"
"Huh?" Xueliu realized that Mingyu had misunderstood her and hurriedly bowed and shook her head, "No, no, we need to leave here and return to Huanzhou."
"Going to Huanzhou?"
Mingyu was stunned for a moment, then asked with some doubt: "Take me with you?"
"That's right, girl, put on your coat quickly, it's cold outside." Xueliu started to get busy, took out a coat from the closet and hurriedly put it on Mingyu.
"The carriage is ready." Mu Man walked in with an empty bag and began to help Xue Liu put clothes on Ming Yu.
The sword in Mingyu's hand was gently touched by Mumian, and Mingyu let go. Mumian turned around and put the sword on the table.
Mingyu let them help her put on her clothes, but she was still a little confused about the current situation.
"Why did you take me with you when you returned to Huanzhou?"
Mu Mian arranged Mingyu's clothes and said cheerfully, "It was the young master's order. He will be joining us soon. You can ask him if you have anything later."
As he spoke, Mu Mian quickly put away the few pieces of clothes that Mingyu had, urged Xueliu to hurry up, and turned around to bring Mingyu's few clothes to the carriage.
Mingyu, holding a sword and ready to go, was pushed out of the door by Xueliu and came to the yard. His head was still a little confused. When he left the yard and got on the carriage, the only thing in his mind was the plum blossoms in the yard.
It bloomed quietly at some unknown time, without her noticing.
…
When Mingyu arrived at the meeting point, the main force was already waiting. Compared with Mingyu's small carriage, Yu Tongan carried much more people and belongings.
Seeing Mingyu get off the carriage, a man came forward and said, "Miss, the young master is already in the carriage. Please get in."
Mingyu looked at the person who spoke, who was one of the two guards guarding outside the door at that time.
No, don’t you give her the right to choose?
Mingyu looked up at the carriage in front of him, took a deep breath, stepped onto the carriage, lifted the curtain, bent down and walked in.
The interior of the car was much more luxurious than the exterior, with soft mattresses spread everywhere and thick curtains keeping the cold air out. The people in the car were relaxed and comfortable, not looking like people on a long journey at all.
"Good morning." Yu Tongan put a book on his legs and greeted Mingyu with a smile on his lips.
Mingyu sat down on the right. After Mingyu was seated, Yu Tongan gestured outside and said they could set off.
"Master Yu's notice was so hasty that I couldn't respond in time."
"Are you blaming me for not informing you in advance?" Yu Tongan looked apologetic, but his words were completely the opposite. "I estimate that this amount of time should be enough for Miss Ming's luggage."
There is indeed enough time. I can take the sword, the record and myself with me.
Mingyu questioned, "Is this a question that should be informed in advance?"
Yu Tongan said with some distress: "Mu Mian sent a message saying that you wanted to see me, and I thought that meeting in the car would save the most time, otherwise it would delay our departure."
Seeing that Yu Tongan was pretending to be stupid, Mingyu pointed it out directly.
"Why are you taking me to Huanzhou?"
Yu Tongan tapped the book on his lap with his fingers, raised an eyebrow and said, "I thought you wanted to see me because of your whereabouts, didn't you?"
"Yes." She did intend to inform Yu Tongan and prepare to leave. She had to get away from the capital as soon as possible while there were few pedestrians on the road in winter.
"This is perfect. You need to leave the capital, and my return to Huanzhou is a good excuse. You need an identity, and I can also help you find a suitable position."
Yu Tongan pinched the page of the book and concluded: "And Huanzhou is a good place, I believe you will like it."
What on earth did you believe? We talked for no more than half an hour.
"No." Mingyu brought the subject back, not letting Yu Tongan blur the point or evade the question. "The point is, why did you bring me with you when you returned to Huanzhou? Why did you want me to go to Huanzhou?"
It's not easy to deceive, Yu Tongan thought, tilted his head slightly and asked: "Do you have a better place to go?"
Mingyu was stunned by the question, she really didn't have it.
"I can provide you with an identity and a stable job with a salary. I also know your identity clearly, and you can even use the Yu family to help cover it up. I wouldn't dare to say anything in the capital, but in Huanzhou, under the protection of the Yu family, the officers and soldiers won't check you casually."
Yu Tongan tilted his head slightly, his eyes fixed on Mingyu in the dimly lit carriage, revealing an aggressive attitude. "I'm wondering if there's any reason you can't come?"
The Ming fish opened its mouth, but was speechless for a moment.
She didn't expect Yu Tongan to ask her to go to Huanzhou with him. In fact, she thought they would never see each other again, and for a moment she couldn't think of a suitable reason.
How can I say it? I can't say that I think you are too deeply involved with the capital, and my identity is sensitive, so I don't want to have anything to do with the Yu family.
"...I'm still a wanted criminal, and if I'm not careful, I'll be a burden to Master Yu. I'm very grateful to Master Yu for saving my life, and there's no reason to add more trouble and danger to you."
Yu Tongan's smile deepened, and he retracted his previous gesture, saying softly, "It's okay. I've always been a good person. It's freezing cold out here, and I can't let someone who has just recovered be homeless."
"As for why I'm taking you to Huanzhou, besides the reason just mentioned, there's also the matter of the records." Yu Tongan spread out his right hand, a little helpless. "The records need to be kept by someone, but this is one of the few pieces of luggage the girl has. I'm really embarrassed to take it away directly, so I can only take the girl to Huanzhou."
Was he trying to distance himself from the "Crown Prince's remnants" by letting me keep the records? Even if someone discovered him, he could say he had infiltrated the Yu family, rather than the Yu family actively shielding the fugitive? While this explanation made sense, it was a stretch.
"How is it? Miss Ming, do you have any questions?"
Mingyu looked at Yu Tongan, who was still smiling and waiting for his reply, his pair of almond-shaped eyes looked like a fox.
"No." Mingyu opened his mouth and answered softly.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com
