Sheng Fengze easily vaulted into the small courtyard. Light shone through the windows of the main room, and the courtyard was quiet as if everyone was fast asleep. Several colored lanterns bought from Yizhou City hung in the corridor, casting warm light on the wooden floor. Before he could approach the main room, he unexpectedly saw a woman lying in the corridor. In the lantern light, Sheng Fengze recognized her as Ying’ying Ji’s maid.
His nose caught a faint fragrance. It was A’ning! Sheng Fengze’s eyes suddenly turned cold as he stepped forward and pushed open the door to the main room.
A single lamp cast its light over the black-clothed, masked A’ning and Ying’ying Ji.
The opened door let in a gust of cold wind. As A’ning looked up, she threw a flash of silver from her fingers. Suddenly recognizing Sheng Fengze’s night clothes, she froze like a wooden chicken.
Sheng Fengze snorted coldly and dispersed the silver flash with a palm strike. Dots of silver powder scattered in the palm wind, falling to the floor.
“What are you doing here?” Sheng Fengze looked at her coldly.
A’ning’s mind went blank, her lips trembling, unable to speak a word.
Sheng Fengze strode forward and slapped her face.
A’ning covered her face, looking at him defiantly, murmuring, “A’ning is also doing this for the master…”
Another one? And the person inside is a woman? Outside the window, Yang Jingyuan suddenly heard Sheng Fengze’s voice, followed by the crisp sound of a slap, and he couldn’t help but move closer to the window.
The room’s light wasn’t very bright. As Yang Jingyuan moved, his shadow flickered on the window paper. Someone outside! Sheng Fengze immediately noticed Yang Jingyuan. He glanced at the couch.
Ying’ying Ji was sleeping deeply. In the lamplight, her face showed an unusual flush. It was like she had caught a cold and was feverish, or like the heat from the room’s charcoal fire had brought out a rosy color.
In the deep mountain valleys of Nanzhao, rotting leaves and swamps bred poisonous miasma. The gas was as brilliant as smoke and clouds, with colors like blooming peach blossoms. The gu insects bred in this miasma were called Peach Blossom Gu. Those poisoned showed no symptoms before death, instead, their skin took on a peach blossom hue, making them appear even more beautiful than usual.
If he didn’t take Ying’ying Ji away, and the person outside discovered she was poisoned with Nanzhao’s gu, they would suspect him. Useless servant, causing more harm than good! Sheng Fengze was caught in a dilemma.
Who could be outside the window? Why did they notice the movement inside but remain silent? Several thoughts crossed Sheng Fengze’s mind before he thought of Yang Jingyuan. He looked coldly at A’ning and asked, “Did he send you? I already agreed to his conditions, I just wanted to see her once before her marriage. Why do you still want to take her life?”
A’ning was still shaken, staring at him blankly, not knowing how to answer.
The conversation inside confused Yang Jingyuan. When the last sentence reached his ears, he was shocked and pushed open the window: “Who are you people?”
“Take her away,” Sheng Fengze stepped forward, blocking Yang Jingyuan.
Still in shock, A’ning reflexively followed Sheng Fengze’s order, wrapping Ying’ying Ji in a blanket and carrying her out the door.
“Stop!” Yang Jingyuan tried to enter through the window but was blocked by Sheng Fengze. He realized his mistake and was filled with regret. But Sheng Fengze engaged him at that moment.
After exchanging a few moves, Yang Jingyuan knew he couldn’t catch up anymore. Only by capturing the masked man in black before him could he learn Ying’ying Ji’s whereabouts.
Sheng Fengze also understood Yang Jingyuan’s intention, but the delay was enough for A’ning to take Ying’ying Ji away. He had other plans in mind, and said softly, “If you want to know who I am and want Ying’ying Ji to be safe, follow me.”
He ran toward the wall, leaving his entire back defenseless before Yang Jingyuan.
Yang Jingyuan hesitated, then followed him over the wall and into the riverside woods.
Hearing the footsteps behind him, Sheng Fengze knew he absolutely couldn’t shake off Yang Jingyuan. He simply stopped.
Yang Jingyuan coldly looked at him and said, “I won’t mistake your voice. You’re the masked man who impersonated me tonight. Why did you kidnap Ying’ying Ji?”
Sheng Fengze heaved a long sigh and said, “I had her taken away for her good.”
He naturally removed his mask.
“So it is you! Done pretending?” Yang Jingyuan said hatefully, “White King Sheng Fengze of Nanzhao. Concealing your martial arts, kidnapping Ying’ying Ji, what exactly is your purpose? You’re far away in Nanzhao, when did you meet her?”
“I’m saving her,” Sheng Fengze calmly lied.
“Save her? Wasn’t she harmed by that masked woman who knows you?”
Still such a naive youth. Sheng Fengze sighed inwardly and said melancholically, “In early Tang, there were six kingdoms around Erhai Lake, each independent. My ancestors were supported by the Tang Emperor to unify the six kingdoms and were granted the title of King of Nanzhao. But there were always those who refused to submit. The current ruler is my elder brother. He’s determined to arrange my marriage to a noble lady from other tribes for an alliance.”
Yang Jingyuan frowned, “What does this have to do with Ying’ying Ji?”
Sheng Fengze gauged his thoughts and said softly, “Don’t you understand? Nanzhao merchants come to Yizhou. Attracted by Yizhou’s prosperity, I once concealed my identity to visit secretly. By chance… I met Ying’ying. At that time, her mother was gravely ill, and I happened to have a hundred-year-old ginseng… This time I stayed in Yizhou just wanting to see her once more. Who knew my brother would find out and have someone poison her? When I learned of this, I disguised myself as you to warn her. Making you jump in the lake tonight was just to test your feelings for her. Tonight, when I learned she was poisoned, I came to take her away to cure her. Don’t misunderstand. Ying’ying Ji doesn’t know my true identity. She… she never had feelings for me.”
The last sentence was barely audible, filled with bitter sorrow.
This completely overturned Yang Jingyuan’s understanding. He recalled the words he heard before pushing open the window and believed it somewhat.
So Sheng Fengze met Ying’ying Ji by chance and fell deeply in love with her, only to have their romance thwarted by the King of Nanzhao. Hearing Sheng Fengze say that Ying’ying Ji didn’t like him, Yang Jingyuan couldn’t help but smile. He looked at Sheng Fengze suspiciously and asked, “If that’s the case, why did you hide your martial arts skills?”
Sheng Fengze smiled bitterly, “Which would make the Military Commissioner more at ease—a powerful White King of Nanzhao or a sickly person staying in Yizhou? Nanzhao is weak, and I didn’t want to cause complications. Staying briefly in Yizhou was just to see her once more.”
So he was just unrequitedly in love with Ying’ying Ji? Sheng Fengze’s explanation seemed reasonable. Yang Jingyuan’s hostility diminished: “What poison did she take?”
“It’s the Peach Blossom Gu. The longer it takes, the more beautiful she’ll become, but her body will grow weaker until she dies silently,” Sheng Fengze explained. “Don’t worry. In three days at most, I can cure her. If you’re concerned, you can come with me to the inn.”
His seemingly sincere expression dispelled Yang Jingyuan’s doubts. He wouldn’t be at ease without seeing for himself.
Sheng Fengze sighed in relief and continued, “After this incident, I also realize the vast difference in our status makes it impossible. I’ve decided to accept my brother’s arrangement. He won’t harm Ying’ying Ji anymore. Better to avoid complications, so please keep this secret for me. There’s no need to let her know. When the diplomatic mission returns from Chang’an, I’ll return to Nanzhao with them. Unfortunately, I won’t be able to attend your wedding.”
He fully displayed his deep, unrequited love for Ying’ying Ji before Yang Jingyuan.
Yang Jingyuan completely dismissed his suspicions and whistled for his white horse, “Did Your Highness come by horse?”
Sheng Fengze shook his head, “Although there’s no curfew tonight, the city gates are already closed. How could I ride out of the city? My subordinate and I walked here.”
Yang Jingyuan said generously, “Then would you like to ride back to the city with me?”
“How can we enter the city on horseback?” Sheng Fengze’s eyes flickered with curiosity as he asked.
Thinking of the broken section in Yizhou’s city wall, Yang Jingyuan smiled, “Just follow me, Your Highness.”