Although Crown Prince Yan Liang was unreliable, Bai Choufei would not give up this hard-won opportunity. When Yan Liang suggested that he come and stay at the Crown Prince's residence, Bai Choufei agreed without hesitation.
The two discussed Wang Xiaoshi's arrangements. Bai Choufei had originally been staying at the inn with Wang Xiaoshi, but now that he had agreed to go to the Crown Prince's residence, he needed to explain the situation to Wang Xiaoshi. Bai Choufei recounted how he and Wang Xiaoshi met—they encountered each other on the streets near the Yellow Crane Tower in Hubei, and afterwards, they were drawn into the conflict between the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion and the Six and a Half Hall. Upon hearing this, Yan Liang raised an eyebrow slightly: "You two had dealings with the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion so early on?"
"The Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion and the Six and a Half Hall are famous throughout the martial arts world, so it's not surprising to run into people from them."
Bai Choufei thought of Su Mengzhen, whom he had met at Kushuipu before. He lowered his eyes slightly. Although he had done something for the people of Jinfeng Xiyulou, that person obviously would not mention him in front of Su Mengzhen.
People in high positions like Su Mengzhen wouldn't have the leisure to learn about useless news, and even if they heard it, they wouldn't take it to heart.
Yan Liang keenly noticed that Bai Choufei suddenly became depressed for a moment. He wondered what the man was thinking about, but what the other person was thinking was none of his business. Yan Liang continued, "Why don't you and Wang Xiaoshi come and stay at my house together?"
Bai Choufei regained his composure and frowned at him: "Didn't you want to hide your identity? Little Stone will definitely find out your identity when he goes to your residence."
Yan Liang said, "I can't hide it forever. I'll have to tell you sooner or later. Besides, I was just about to tell Pang Jin about this."
After a moment's thought, Bai Choufei realized that the Pang Jin Yan Liang mentioned was the young man who had brought Yan Liang to his stall that night to buy paintings. Thinking about it this way, he seemed to have something to thank Pang Jin for. If Pang Jin hadn't brought the Crown Prince to buy paintings, he wouldn't have had the honor of showing his face in front of the Emperor.
Yan Liang: "Yes, yes, thank Pang Jin."
Bai Choufei: ...
Under Bai Choufei's death stare, Yan Liang quickly took his leave, asking Wang Xiaoshi to take him back to the Crown Prince's residence after get off work, while he himself was going to find Su Mengzhen.
Seeing that he spoke of finding Su Mengzhen and the owner of Jinfeng Xiyu Tower as naturally as if he were visiting a friend, Bai Choufei became even more determined to make a name for himself.
After bidding farewell to Bai Choufei, Yan Liang headed towards Yuquan Mountain on the outskirts of Bianjing City, where the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion was located.
He had already assigned Su Mengzhen to Zhuge Taifu's side, so he had to go and acknowledge it. Moreover, Yan Liang was also interested in learning about the current situation of Jinfeng Xiyu Tower and Liufenban Hall.
Since the Crown Prince intervened in the conflict between Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou and Liu Fen Ban Tang two days ago, tricking the people of Liu Fen Ban Tang and ruining the trap set against Su Mengzhen, the people of Liu Fen Ban Tang have started to pay attention to the Crown Prince. In addition, the Crown Prince is always wandering around the capital, so finding the Crown Prince is a piece of cake.
Sending men to follow the Crown Prince was an order from Lei Sun, the head of the Six and a Half Hall. This was because Fu Zongshu's assassination attempt on the Crown Prince had failed, so Cai Jing instructed the Six and a Half Hall to find an opportunity to strike. Lei Sun didn't take the matter seriously at the time, until the Crown Prince caused trouble.
The Crown Prince's interference caused the Six and a Half Hall's plan against Su Mengzhen to fall through. Now, the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion still holds Six and a Half Hall's hostages. How can anyone not be angry with the Crown Prince?
Now that the Crown Prince is heading to Jade Spring Mountain, the people of Six and a Half Hall naturally cannot follow him into the territory of Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion. Watching the Crown Prince's back, they hesitated for a moment, then turned around and went back to report to their superiors.
Su Mengzhen was discussing with Yang Wuxie how to deal with the hostages of the Six and a Half Hall when a carrier pigeon arrived with a note saying that a gray-clad boy holding a cat was requesting an audience at the foot of the mountain.
After arriving at the foot of Yuquan Mountain, Yan Liang greeted the guards there and sincerely expressed his desire to see Su Mengzhen. The carrier pigeons flew back and forth, and the guards at the foot of the mountain opened the note, read it, and led Yan Liang to the Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou's residence halfway up the mountain.
Looking up from the foot of the mountain, only a corner of the building can be seen faintly in the forest; the higher you go, the more the entire Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion gradually comes into view.
When Yan Liang reached the mountainside, Su Mengzhen had already come out of the main hall and was waiting for him at the door, nodding to him: "Young Master Yan."
Su Mengzhen had suffered from a serious illness since childhood and was physically weak. He had exhausted himself fighting the enemy in the rain before. Today, when we met again, his face was a little pale, but he still stood straight in front of the building, his eyes still burning with fire.
Yan Liang held Da Xue's hand and waved to Su Mengzhen, greeting her with a smile: "Master Su."
Su Mengzhen only told a few people around him about meeting the Crown Prince. He always trusted the people he employed, but he never expected that there would be six and a half spies among his people. Now that the news that the Crown Prince was Yan Liang has spread, Su Mengzhen learned about this after interrogating those spies and felt somewhat apologetic towards Yan Liang.
Upon seeing Yan Liang, he ushered him into the reception room, apologizing to Yan Liang beforehand. Yan Liang didn't seem to care, saying, "They'll find out sooner or later. After all, I spend my free time hanging out with Pang Jin; even a fool would notice."
Su Mengzhen had to admit that Yan Liang was right, and even remained silent for the other party's audacity in running away knowing the truth.
Da Xue was not afraid of strangers at all. Seeing that Yan Liang and Su Mengzhen had started talking, she jumped down from Yan Liang's arms and began to explore the unfamiliar environment.
Yan Liang glanced at it, clenched its paws, and seeing its excitement and joy, ignored it. Su Mengzhen watched for a while before looking away and asking, "What brings Young Master Yan here?"
Yan Liang said, "Grand Tutor Zhuge spoke with me last night."
Su Mengzhen looked at him, waiting for Yan Liang to continue.
His Highness the Crown Prince touched his nose and said frankly, "I told the Grand Tutor that you, Master Su, are on my side."
Su Mengzhen understood Yan Liang's purpose and said calmly, "Why is the Crown Prince so certain?"
His change of address at this moment indicated his intention to have a serious conversation with Yan Liang. Su Mengzhen knew that Zhao Ji was not a good emperor, and while the crown prince was approachable, he was unreliable and his actions were unpredictable.
Yan Liang said in a serious tone, "Because Grand Tutor Zhuge is on my side, and Master Su is in cahoots with Grand Tutor Zhuge, then of course you are also in cahoots with me."
Su Mengzhen: ...
That makes perfect sense; there's no way to refute it.
“Lord Su has the world on his mind. My father is unreliable. Why don’t you try to trust me?” Yan Liang said in a light tone, smiling. “After all, I am the Crown Prince.”
When Su Mengzhen heard him say quite naturally that the emperor couldn't be relied on, and then heard what he said next, she didn't know how to respond for a moment, and could only look at him silently.
Yan Liang looked at him sincerely. Su Mengzhen remained silent for a long time before saying, "It is my honor that Your Highness trusts me. If Your Highness can truly be as you say, then I am on your side."
If Yan Liang cannot do it, Su Mengzhen will no longer support him.
Yan Liang smiled and said, "It is my honor that Master Su is willing to stand on my side."
Su Mengzhen stared intently at the young crown prince's smiling face before looking away. He didn't want to trust the wrong person again, so he could only place his hopes on the crown prince not letting him down.
After the two finished their heart-to-heart talk, Yan Liang casually asked Su Mengzhen about the handling of the spies from the Six and a Half Hall. Su Mengzhen's expression darkened slightly, and after glancing at Yan Liang, he said, "They're still alive... You've come at the wrong time."
Yan Liang was completely baffled by Su Mengzhen's words. They had just been having a pleasant conversation, so how did it become that they had come at the wrong time?
"The head of the Six and a Half Hall will be here today; he's coming to ask me for their people."
Su Mengzhen looked grave.
Lei Sun is quite powerful, and his willingness to come to Yuquan Mountain to demand people is both a demonstration and a boast. Although Su Mengzhen had already thought of a way to deal with it, she was still unhappy to be looked down upon by Lei Sun.
Su Mengzhen was arrogant; his pride wouldn't allow anyone to look down on him, as that would be an insult to him.
Yan Liang rested his chin on his hand and watched him from the side, asking, "If Chief Lei comes, should I hide?" He paused, then suddenly realized, "They know I'm here, so hiding doesn't seem to help."
Su Mengzhen tilted her head to look at him in confusion, as if asking why the people from the Six and a Half Hall knew he was here. Yan Liang explained in a timely manner: "Didn't I say? The people from the Six and a Half Hall have been following me. They left after seeing me heading towards Yuquan Mountain. I guess they went back to report."
Su Mengzhen: "...You didn't say."
After a while, he added, "Your Highness, it would be better to speak up sooner rather than later if you have anything to say."
Yan Liang scratched the back of his head: "Okay."
Because of what Yan Liang suddenly revealed, Su Mengzhen no longer intended for Yan Liang to avoid the situation. Now that he had formed an alliance with the Crown Prince, it would be better to announce it directly to the Six and a Half Hall, which would also keep Cai Jing's faction worried for a few days.
They moved to the main hall to wait for the people from the Six and a Half Hall. During this time, Da Xue, who was having a great time, ran around. Yan Liang's gaze followed it, and Su Mengzhen, who had nothing to do, also watched it.
The people from Liufenbantang arrived, but it wasn't just Lei Sun who came; a young man in white accompanied him.
Su Mengzhen gave the young man with his head down a deep look, then went to greet Lei Sun and said, "Master Lei."
Lei Sun replied, "Master Su."
Lei Sun introduced the young man beside him to Su Mengzhen—even if he didn't say it, Su Mengzhen knew that the young man was Di Feijing, the head of the Six and a Half Hall—Su Mengzhen in turn introduced Yan Liang, of course, without revealing Yan Liang's identity as the crown prince, although they both knew it in their hearts.
While the leader of Jinfeng Xiyulou and Liufenbantang were talking, Yan Liang, having nothing to do, watched them exchange witty remarks, while Di Feijing smiled faintly from the side.
Lei Sun was a smooth talker and a cunning schemer. Su Mengzhen hated dealing with people like him. During a break in their conversation, he casually glanced to the side and saw Yan Liang carrying Da Xue and moving closer to Di Feijing...
Su Mengzhen: ...
He immediately looked away, not wanting to look in that direction anymore.
Da Xue stretched out her foot and poked Di Feijing's knee. Her tail accidentally brushed against his face, and she meowed happily as if to say hello.
Meow~
"Do you still remember me, young master?" Yan Liang greeted Di Feijing warmly. "We fished together by the river."
Di Feijing lowered his head and looked at the heavy snow, then said softly, "I remember."
Of course he remembers.
I remember the prince's voice, and the cat in front of me.
Author's Note: Su Mengzhen: ...The Crown Prince is too improper.
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 23:21:29 on March 25, 2020 and 23:00:54 on March 26, 2020!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: Yin Shiyu (10 bottles); shine (1 bottle);
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
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