The night wind howled as Yang Jingyuan and Sheng Fengze rode together toward Yizhou City.
Sitting behind him, Sheng Fengze displayed excellent horsemanship. Without paying close attention, Yang Jingyuan could hardly feel another person on the horse. If Sheng Fengze was deceiving him, this journey would be the perfect opportunity to strike. Though appearing relaxed, Yang Jingyuan’s nerves were taut as he let the white horse gallop freely along the familiar path, his eyes half-closed.
His master often said, “The great way is natural.” While studying in the mountains, he spent most of his time sitting quietly with his master, comprehending the Dao. When his mind became still, the sound of water dripping from mountain rocks resonated like drops falling into the lake of his heart. At this moment, Yang Jingyuan entered that same state of focused tranquility atop the horse.
Sheng Fengze stared at Yang Jingyuan’s back, his gaze gradually turning cold.
The dagger from his boot had already been transferred to his sleeve. Yang Jingyuan sitting before him seemed completely unguarded as if he could deliver a fatal strike at any moment. If he killed Yang Jingyuan now to silence him, then used the Ji family as leverage, no one would ever know he had coveted Yizhou’s secret brocade techniques.
He hadn’t been careless. He had made various arrangements, believing the small Huanhua Dyehouse would be his for the taking. But Yang Jingyuan and his stepmother had interfered, helping the Ji family escape their predicament.
If not for Nanzhao, he wouldn’t have returned to Yizhou, and perhaps he would have let them be.
But he had come.
If he had suppressed his nature and not disguised himself as Yang Jingyuan to see her, perhaps things wouldn’t have become so complicated.
But he had gone. He had watched Yang Jingyuan holding her hand, running laughing toward the lake. Watched her looking up at the Kongming lanterns rising, her smile like flowers, her skirts floating in the breeze. That scene was as beautiful as a painting. Before he could think it through, he had already put on the ghost mask and walked to her side.
On such a beautiful Lantern Festival night, in such a beautiful city, he just wanted to stand beside her one last time, gazing at her.
He laughed at his hypocrisy. In the cold evening wind, Sheng Fengze’s heart gradually turned numb.
The Daoist practice of qi cultivation. Qi fields were mysterious things. Indescribable, yet perceptible. Like the goodwill, a person radiates. Like the killing intent emanating from an assassin. Yang Jingyuan instinctively sensed the hostility seeping through Sheng Fengze’s silence.
Sheng Fengze shook his sleeve, letting the dagger slide into his palm. With the horse’s bouncing motion, just a slight forward thrust would sink it into Yang Jingyuan’s waist.
At that moment, Yang Jingyuan suddenly turned his head and asked, “Your Highness is of noble status and outstanding appearance. Why would you fall for a young lady from an ordinary Tang family?”
The dagger slid back into the sleeve as Yang Jingyuan turned. Sheng Fengze smiled at him and said, “With your talents and family background, why are you solely devoted to Ying’ying Ji?”
“She is… naturally different,” Yang Jingyuan smiled and turned back, his gaze seemingly carelessly passing over Sheng Fengze’s lowered hand.
So, Yang Jingyuan chose to believe him because he hadn’t seen Ying’ying Ji. Remembering Yang Jingyuan’s superior martial arts, Sheng Fengze dared not risk more. He sighed softly, “This prince also finds her unique.”
At first sight, he had thought perhaps he could marry a lovely young lady of humble background who would put his stepmother at ease. Upon further interaction, she had infuriated him—her heart too proud, making him always want to prove himself before her.
Yang Jingyuan dared not think too deeply. Though Sheng Fengze’s explanation seemed reasonable, he didn’t believe it. He needed to see Ying’ying Ji safe and well; he couldn’t reveal his doubts now.
“Your Highness concealed it well. When I mentioned it to Sang Fourteen, we couldn’t be certain if Your Highness was the masked man.”
Sheng Fengze raised his eyebrows. As expected, Yang Jingyuan had discussed him with that young noble. When he saw those troublemaking youths blocking the alley, he suspected Yang Jingyuan recognized his voice. Clearly, Yang Jingyuan was warning him that he had taken precautions. If anything happened to him, people would immediately suspect Sheng Fengze.
Sheng Fengze suddenly realized that Yang Jingyuan, whom he had easily forced into the lake, wasn’t as simple as he had imagined. He remembered his meeting with Yang’s Second Uncle at the plum pavilion on Tazi Mountain in the eastern suburbs that snowy day when he last left. Sheng Fengze thought self-mockingly that those angry arrangements made on impulse had unexpectedly become his most useful card.
“I didn’t want to hide it from you. If you exposed me then, my brother’s people would know I went to see her. Unfortunately, I didn’t know my brother’s people had already infiltrated my trusted circle.”
Another excellent explanation. Yang Jingyuan sensed the peaceful qi behind him and knew Sheng Fengze wouldn’t rashly strike, secretly breathing a sigh of relief.
They easily entered the city through the wall’s breach. Sheng Fengze glanced around, memorizing the location.
Back at the inn, Chi Hu came out to meet them.
Sheng Fengze asked sternly, “Where is A’ning?”
Chi Hu respectfully answered, “She brought a lady back and placed her in the side room. She’s kneeling outside the master’s door.”
Sheng Fengze strode inside.
Yang Jingyuan immediately recognized the girl kneeling in the corridor, still wearing her night clothes.
Sheng Fengze walked up to A’ning and looked down at her, saying, “Cure Ying’ying Ji’s gu poison and this prince will spare your life and send you back to the King.”
“Thank you for your mercy, master.” He was sending her away? He didn’t want her anymore? A’ning trembled, her fluttering eyes filled with tears. To stop herself from grabbing his legs and begging, she clenched her fists tightly.
Sheng Fengze softened his tone, “We each serve our masters. This prince can’t blame you for following the King’s orders. This matter doesn’t concern Ying’ying Ji. This prince will write to the King to explain.”
What did this mean? A’ning stole a glance at Yang Jingyuan, wiped her tears, and softly agreed.
Yang Jingyuan listened to their conversation in silence. New doubts arose in his mind. A’ning had only left half an hour before them. He had entered the city by riding through the wall’s breach. Even if A’ning knew martial arts, how had she entered the city while carrying an unconscious Ying’ying Ji? Even Sheng Fengze didn’t know about the breach in the western wall, so how had A’ning gotten in?
“A’ning will remove the gu now.” A’ning stood up and led Sheng Fengze and Yang Jingyuan to the side room in the courtyard.
Ying’ying Ji was still in deep sleep, her face like peach blossoms as if immersed in a beautiful dream.
Yang Jingyuan looked down at her and asked A’ning, “How do you remove the Peach Blossom Gu?”
A’ning said softly, “Just need to call out the gu worm. If Young Master Yang is worried, you can watch.”
His master had once said that some tribes in Nanzhao were skilled in gu and could control poisonous insects. Yang Jingyuan had never seen this secret art firsthand and said calmly, “Good. I’ll wait here.”
The show must go on. Sheng Fengze looked sternly at A’ning and said, “If you dare try any tricks, whether you’re the King’s person or not, this prince will kill you.”