Bai Miao was upset and tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep. His leg injury kept getting aggravated. After thinking for a while, he took out the small porcelain bottle that Yan Liang had given him and poured out a pill.
The pill tasted bitter at first but then sweet, which Bai Miao found quite strange. After swallowing the pill, the pain in his wound gradually lessened, and drowsiness overcame him. Bai Miao drifted off to sleep.
I slept without any dreams.
When he woke up again, the sun was high in the sky. Bai Miao was stunned for a moment, then looked at the faint light outside the window and realized that he had had an unprecedentedly good sleep.
After washing up, Bai Miao went downstairs and overheard the innkeepers discussing how the head of the Western Depot had captured the man who killed Vice Minister Cheng and Liu Bangyan and was still interrogating him; and that Miss Yuze had been released and returned to Hongxiu Pavilion.
Bai Miao was baffled. He had only taken a nap, so how could the murderer have been caught?
After pondering for a moment, he left the inn and went directly to Hongxiu Pavilion. He was worried about Yuze, and even though he knew that this matter was definitely related to Yan Liang, he still chose to see Yuze first.
Bai Miao did not harbor romantic feelings for Yu Ze; his emotions towards Yu Ze were quite complex.
Yuze was someone he rescued himself, and it was the only time he defied the Valley Master. Yuze's safety means that the choice he made back then was not wrong.
For Bai Miao, Yu Ze was a symbol of his sense of justice.
Yuze returned to Hongxiu Pavilion in the early hours of this morning. When Bai Miao went to see her, she had just finished bathing and was covered in the fragrance of flowers.
Are you alright?
Bai Miao immediately pressed for answers, and Yu Ze looked at his face, which resembled that of Valley Master Bai, and sighed inwardly.
"It's alright. Chief Supervisor Yu is understanding and didn't make things difficult for me." Yu Ze smiled at him.
Bai Miao had already looked her up and down, and upon hearing this, he felt even more relieved. He breathed a sigh of relief, smiled, and said, "It's good that you're alright."
"I'm fine now, how about you?"
Yuze looked at the boy standing straight and said helplessly, "Since your leg is injured, don't run around. Go sit by the bed."
Bai Miao didn't seem to care much: "It's just a minor injury, nothing serious."
He walked slowly to the bedside and sat down. He then asked Yuze about the "real culprit" that was being discussed outside. Yuze glanced at him and told him what he knew.
Yuze had been imprisoned in the dungeon. Last night, Yu Huatian suddenly led a group of men out and brought back a man. Everyone else said that the man was the real culprit who murdered Minister Cheng and Liu Changmin. The man had an ordinary appearance and seemed to be in disguise.
After bringing the person back, Yu Huatian had someone send her back to Hongxiu Pavilion. Previously, after learning that Bai Miao had not stayed at Laifu Inn, Yu Huatian had ignored Yu Ze.
Bai Miao was puzzled when he heard this. Yu Huatian had initially wanted to capture him, so why did he suddenly switch to someone else?
"It is said that this matter is related to Yan Tanhua..."
Yuze looked at Bai Miao and said softly.
Bai Miao met her gaze and smiled, "I've seen him... and that pretty girl."
Yu Ze's expression froze slightly, and he was even somewhat speechless.
Bai Miao continued, "It's understandable that you didn't tell me about them, after all, Wang Lianhua was your savior."
Yuze said, "...I'm sorry."
Bai Miao's smile was bitter: "Don't say that... I'm the one who's wronged you."
"You must find my face very irritating... but I want to see you."
Whenever Yuze saw Bai Miao's face, so similar to that of Valley Master Bai, she would always recall how, ten years ago, Valley Master Bai looked down at her with amusement as she writhed and wailed among the Gu worms. Those days lasted for nearly two years. Those days were like hell.
She knew Bai Miao's difficulties; he had once been forced by Valley Master Bai to watch over her. Even though Bai Miao was forced at the time, and his eyes were filled with tears and unspeakable sorrow when he looked at her, to Yu Ze, he was no different from Valley Master Bai.
Bai Miao took her away when Bai Guzhu left the valley. Yu Ze was grateful, but when they met again many years later, Bai Miao and Bai Guzhu looked more and more alike. Yu Ze was happy to see him, but that face constantly reminded Yu Ze that she had been in hell.
Yuze felt gratitude and admiration for Wang Lianhua; however, his feelings for Bai Miao were complicated.
Now that Bai Miao had spoken frankly, Yu Ze was speechless.
After a long silence between them, Bai Miao stood up and said, "Since you're alright, I'll be going now."
He tried his best to appear cheerful in front of Yuze, but Yuze watched his back, moved his lips, and said nothing.
Bai Miao left Hongxiu Pavilion, stood in front of the door for a moment, and then wandered around the street. He didn't want to go back to the inn; it was too stuffy there. If he wanted to find Yan Liang to learn about the case, that man should be at the Hanlin Academy right now.
The capital city was so vast that he had nowhere to go.
*
Yan Liang spent the whole day thinking about how to resolve Yan Shenming's inner conflict.
Last night, on their way back to the manor, Wang Lianhua casually mentioned that Yan Shenming seemed unhappy about Yan Liang's helpfulness. She simply said, "Your brother doesn't like you doing good deeds."
Yan Liang was initially puzzled, but after a moment's thought, he suddenly understood the source of the conflict between Yan Shendu and Yan Shenming.
Yan Shendu was kind-hearted and helpful, but he was often deceived by those with ulterior motives because of his kindness. This caused Yan Shenming to resent his brother's behavior, which was the cause of the conflict between the two brothers.
Even though it was Yan Shenming who started the conflict, his brother didn't take the things they said before they parted to heart at all.
Yan Liang believed that the matter was over and he could now relax and be a caring older brother, completely ignoring what Yu Huatian had said the night before.
Asking is considered brilliant, but of course, it's better not to ask.
As it turned out, Yan Liang had no choice but to demonstrate his deceptive skills in front of Yu Huatian.
He and Li Xunle returned to the mansion, where Chief Supervisor Yu had been waiting for them in the courtyard for a long time.
Wang Lianhua, having changed out of his flower girl attire, sat leisurely to the side, sipping tea. The two boys were chased out through the back door by Wang Lianhua.
Yu Huatian sized up Wang Lianhua. He had only met this person once last night and had not spoken to him. Today, he had only exchanged a few polite words with him in this courtyard.
What puzzled him was why this person moved freely in and out of the Li residence, as if he were the master. Besides, the young woman who had rekindled her old flame with Yan Liang was nowhere to be found.
Wang Lianhua calmly sipped his tea, displaying an air of superiority, but inwardly he was amused. Yu Huatian, carefully considering the man's identity, remained extremely cautious.
As Yan Liang stepped into the courtyard, he saw this remarkable scene.
Yu Huatian looked at him and said, "Come with me to the West Factory."
Yan Liang: "...Can I not go?"
Yu Huatian countered, "What do you think?"
Yan Liang: "Okay."
Yu Huatian's eye twitched, and he said coldly, "You wish."
Yan Liang, who was dreaming, turned around and got into the West Depot's carriage as soon as he got home. Wang Lianhua followed him into the carriage with a natural expression. Yu Huatian glanced at him but did not stop him.
Li Xunle followed suit, climbing halfway up the mountain, when Yu Huatian blocked his way with his sword, saying, "You don't need to go."
Li Xunle: "...??"
The scene was all too familiar. Li Xunle silently got out of the carriage and stood there pitifully watching it drive away. Yan Liang didn't forget to lift the curtain and peek out to say goodbye, but the smile on his face was very bright.
Seeing Yan Liang smiling as he sat back in the carriage, Wang Lianhua couldn't help but say, "Could you please stop smiling so happily?"
Yan Liang looked at him and said, "Don't tell me you don't want to laugh."
Wang Lianhua: "I don't want to laugh."
Yan Liang: "Don't think I'm blind, you're laughing."
Wang Lianhua: "You're blind."
Yan Liang: "..."
Yuhuatian: "..."
He began to wonder who this person who was arguing with Yan Liang was... Why would Yan Liang, a scholar, know such a person?
"Why don't you introduce your friend to me, Editor Yan?" Yu Huatian stared at Wang Lianhua, but asked Yan Liang instead.
Yan Liang looked at Wang Lianhua: "Quickly, introduce yourself to Chief Supervisor Yu."
Wang Lianhua gave him an elegant yet reserved eye roll, and said to Yu Huatian, "Wang Lianhua."
Three words, concise and clear.
Yu Huatian understood. The Thousand-Faced Young Master was a legend in the martial arts world, and he had naturally heard of him. He never expected to meet him today.
He paused, sensing that something was amiss.
The reason why the Thousand-Faced Prince is called the Thousand-Faced Prince is naturally because he is proficient in the art of disguise, and no one can recognize his true face.
When Yu Huatian entered the Li family's courtyard, there were only three people there: Wang Lianhua and two young men.
The flower girl who has vanished without a trace...
"Where is the flower girl...?"
Yu Huatian asked.
"Far away, yet right before my eyes."
Yan Liang answered his question very sincerely.
Even though Yu Huatian was usually calm, he found it hard to stay composed after realizing he had been tricked by the two guys in front of him.
"you--"
Wang Lianhua raised an eyebrow: "We—?"
Yu Huatian remained silent with a dark expression.
Yan Liang thought it was good that Wang Lianhua had come along; if he had told Yu Huatian the truth himself, he would have been beaten severely.
Congratulations!
As expected, the big boss is very powerful.
*
Bai Yu wanted to see Yan Liang.
He was completely baffled as to how Yan Liang had discovered him.
It should be noted that the two had only spoken face-to-face for an hour yesterday, and Yan Liang had never even seen him before.
Bai Yu was very puzzled, and Yu Huatian also wanted to know, so he brought Yan Liang over.
Yan Liang stared at Bai Yu, whose gaze was as malicious as ever.
Wang Lianhua looked down at Bai Yu from the side. He disliked Bai Yu the moment he saw him, and thus confirmed that this person was the young man in blue at the entrance of Laifu Inn.
Even though it's not the same face, the disgusting aura is still the same.
How did you know my identity?
Bai Yu questioned him sternly.
"Guess?" Yan Liangcun was deliberately trying to provoke him. "If you really want to know, tell me about your relationship with Bai Miao."
Bai Yu's expression twisted: "So you really did see that good-for-nothing bastard!"
Yan Liang looked at him quietly without saying a word.
Bai Yu, perhaps harboring some resentment, poured out all his hatred for Bai Miao.
Yan Liang pieced together Bai Miao's background from the scattered words, and remained silent for a long time after learning it.
—Bai Miao's father is a real bastard.
Author's Note: Here comes Lao Bai!
There's actually another version of this chapter's summary: #Li Xunle the Lonely One#
Discovering the beauty of the seven-syllable mantra (doge emoji)
Goodnight everyone~ I'm being merciful today and won't mention the snack names.
Because I'm so tired OTZ
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