Wen Che said: “General Yi took a risk in doing this, but he’s done A-Yu a great favor.”

“It’s simply what I should do! But exactly what happened to Master Wen on the road? Why was he delayed for so long?”

“There are reasons I cannot elaborate on, but fortunately, he’s fine. He’s resting now, so I had to make this trip instead.”

“As long as he’s fine!”

Wen Che changed the subject: “Where is Prince Jing’an’s remains?”

“Inside!”

Yi Wei’an led Wen Che inside.

The coffin was placed in the center of the room, covered with an enormous black cloth, with incense and candles burning around it.

Wen Che sighed: “Back then, when the border conflict between Qujiang and Da Lin was critical, Prince Jing’an unfortunately passed away defending Lingtang Prefecture to the death. For many years, his remains have been buried in Lingtang Prefecture. Now, he can finally be laid to rest in the imperial mausoleum.”

“Indeed! Back in the day, you and I both followed Prince Jing’an. He would rather hold out to the last soldier rather than abandon Lingtang Prefecture. If not for his perseverance, Lingtang Prefecture would have been razed to the ground long ago.”

Prince Jing’an’s deeds were known throughout all three kingdoms!

Everyone said that if Qujiang hadn’t had Prince Jing’an, it wouldn’t be so peaceful today.

One man holding up an entire nation was no empty claim!

And the person Wen Che most respected in his life was also Prince Jing’an!

Seeing the coffin before him now, he inevitably felt somewhat sorrowful.

Yi Wei’an, not understanding, asked: “General Wen, back then the Emperor ordered Prince Jing’an to be buried on site, so why, after so many years, did he suddenly order Prince Jing’an’s remains to be interred in the imperial mausoleum?”

Wen Che looked at him: “As a subject, one has no right to question the Emperor’s thoughts.”

Yi Wei’an’s eyelids twitched slightly: “General Wen is correct!”

“Right now, the most pressing matter is transporting Prince Jing’an to Yanjing.”

“Should we depart now?” “That’s not necessary. You’ve come all the way from Lingtang Prefecture, so you must be tired. Although time is tight, we’re not in such a hurry. Rest well tonight, and tomorrow morning we’ll take a boat to Liangzhou first, then transfer to Yanjing! The journey may be a day or two slower, but the route from Liangzhou to Yanjing is relatively flat, and it’s all official roads along the way, so it will be safer. After all, we’re transporting Prince Jing’an, so everything must be handled properly.” Wen Che said this.

Yi Wei’an: “General Wen’s thinking is still more thorough.”

“Then we’ll depart early tomorrow morning.”

“Yes.”

“You should all rest now. I won’t disturb you further.” Wen Che suddenly added, “General Yi, you’ve been a great help this time. Once we reach Yanjing, I’ll certainly put in a good word for you before the Emperor.”

Yi Wei’an cupped his hands: “Thank you, General Wen.”

Heh.

Even if Wen Che didn’t put in a word before the Emperor, Yi Wei’an would definitely remain in Yanjing.

Since that was the case, it wouldn’t hurt to curry favor with him in advance. Perhaps he could even add a fierce general to the Wen Family.

Not only had Wen Che seen through the scheme, even Shu Tian had figured it out.

After they left the residence, Shu Tian said: “This Yi Wei’an is truly clever, knowing how to engineer his own comeback. The Second Young Master’s misfortune this time has instead paved the way for him.” Wen Che’s lips curved: “When opportunity comes, anyone would seize it, much less Yi Wei’an who has stayed in Lingtang Prefecture for ten years. He must have been waiting day and night for a chance to return to court, so even if he has to take the greatest risk, he will definitely grasp this opportunity.”

“But Young Master, why did you say you would speak for him before the Emperor?”

“Since he has already planned everything, he will definitely remain in Yanjing afterward! If we win him over now, it will bring nothing but benefit to our Wen Family.”

Shu Tian understood: “The Young Master’s considerations are still more thorough.”

“In any case, act according to circumstances!”

“Yes.” Wen Che continued to instruct: “Carefully assign people to guard outside that residence. Prince Jing’an’s remains absolutely cannot have any problems. We must safely escort him back to Yanjing. Also, make a trip to the magistrate’s office and tell Magistrate Li that A-Yu has already returned, so his people don’t need to scramble around the Nansai Desert like headless flies.”

“Yes, this subordinate will send people to handle it immediately.”

Wen Che made a sound of acknowledgment.

……

At the inn.

Ji Yunshu sat in her room, holding that crown pearl in her hand.

Gently turning it between her fingertips.

As if lost in thought.

At this moment, Luo Yang suddenly came knocking at the door, shouting inside: “Miss Ji?”

His voice was raised quite high, carrying a somewhat roguish tone.

She put away the crown pearl and looked at the shadow outside the door, asking: “What is it?”

“Open the door.”

“I already told you, you’re free now. You don’t need to follow me anymore.”

“We’re not following you! It just so happens we’re staying at the same inn as you, a coincidence, a pure coincidence.” Luo Yang felt he had strayed from the topic and got to the point, “First open the door. I have something to give you.”

“What thing?”

“Open the door first, then we’ll talk.”

Ji Yunshu hesitated!

She truly felt this young man talked too much, and she didn’t know what tricks he might pull.

Seeing no movement from inside and the door remaining closed, Luo Yang grew anxious: “Am I really that ugly? Or do I eat people? Are you that reluctant to see me? Woman, your pettiness knows no bounds.”

Still no movement.

“Fine, you won’t open the door? Then I won’t give you the thing. Think it over carefully, don’t regret it later, don’t regret it…” He deliberately said this.

But the door suddenly opened.

Ji Yunshu stood inside the door, coldly looking at him.

Luo Yang immediately put on a playful, grinning expression.

Anyone who saw it would want to hit him!

Ji Yunshu didn’t let him in, asking: “Speak, what thing?”

Luo Yang’s hands were empty, having hidden the item in the back of his clothes.

His eyes rolled: “Let me in and I’ll give it to you.”

Truly pushing his luck.

Ji Yunshu was wary, but she also wanted to see what medicine this person was selling in his gourd.

So she let him in.

As soon as Luo Yang sat down, those eyes stared round at Ji Yunshu.

As if he wanted to bore holes through her body with his gaze.

“Where’s the thing?”

Luo Yang smiled cheerfully and raised his hand to pull out a long black bag from the back of his clothes.

It was…

With one look, Ji Yunshu reached out to snatch it: “Give it here!”

But she was a step slower than Luo Yang.

Her hand grasped empty air!

Luo Yang waved the painting, watching Ji Yunshu’s anxious expression, his thin lips curving in a cold smile: “How about it? Didn’t I tell you that if you didn’t open the door you’d regret it!”

“That thing is mine.”

“I know it’s yours, otherwise I wouldn’t have come looking for you.”

“Give it here!”

“Such an imperious tone!” Luo Yang put on airs, raising an eyebrow, deliberately showing displeasure, “You dropped your own thing, I kindly picked it up and intended to kindly return it to you, but now you’re acting as if I stole it from you.”

Ji Yunshu realized her tone had been inappropriate just now, so she softened somewhat, saying: “Thank you!”

“That’s more like it.”

Luo Yang had no use keeping this painting, but—

He had a question in his heart.

He asked: “First tell me, who is the person in this painting? Tell me, and I’ll give you the painting.”

“…” “You traveled all the way to Zhuxin City, then took such great risks to come to Qujiang, it’s not… just to find him, is it?”