When Qiao Zhao’s group arrived at the dock in the capital’s outskirts, Shao Mingyuan was already waiting there.
The young general still wore a light white robe, elegant and noble, with only Ye Luo as his guard beside him.
The carriage came to a stop, and Chen Guang jumped down from it, revealing a big smile in Shao Mingyuan’s direction.
The carriage curtain lifted, and Binglu and A’Zhu helped Qiao Zhao down from the carriage.
“Tingquan, you arrived quite early.” Yang Houcheng stepped forward, happily patting Shao Mingyuan’s shoulder.
Shao Mingyuan smiled, his gaze falling on Chi Can: “Shixi, it’s been some days since we last met. You’ve gotten a bit darker.”
During this period, Chi Can hadn’t gone to Chunfeng Tavern to drink with him, nor had he come to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence. Shao Mingyuan vaguely guessed that something unpleasant had probably happened between his friend and Miss Li, but since they didn’t mention it, he naturally wouldn’t ask unnecessarily.
Chi Can curved his lips in a smile: “Tingquan, you didn’t expect I would go too, did you?”
Shao Mingyuan nodded with a smile: “Indeed.” As he spoke, he took a deep look at Yang Houcheng.
He knew Yang Houcheng was going, but what was interesting was that Yang Er hadn’t mentioned to him that Chi Can was also in this escort team.
Yang Houcheng winked at Shao Mingyuan.
He hadn’t intentionally concealed it – wasn’t it because Miss Li went to the Marquis Guanjun’s residence every day, and Chi Can was afraid he would leak information to Miss Li?
“Alright, let’s board the ship first.” Yang Houcheng laughed heartily twice.
They were all familiar people, so this southern journey would be quite interesting.
Shao Mingyuan only brought Ye Luo with him; Qiao Zhao brought two maids and Chen Guang, and in the escort team, besides Yang Houcheng and Chi Can, who served as chief and deputy captains, the rest were ordinary guards. As Yang Houcheng had said, they were all very familiar with each other.
A huge merchant ship was docked at the pier, with three levels in total. Besides Qiao Zhao’s group, many other passengers were boarding successively, and quite a few gazes were circling them at this moment.
“Come on, our rooms are on the top level.” Yang Houcheng waved his hand and was the first to step onto the deck.
Everyone traveled light, carrying only necessary items for changing clothes and such. After Shao Mingyuan’s group of three boarded and briefly settled in, they gathered in the hall with open windows on the top level to chat.
The ship hadn’t yet reached departure time. Through the windows, they could see the swaying drooping willows on both banks of the dock, and the surging river water sparkling with golden light under the morning sun.
The sound of horse hooves approached from far to near. Chi Can, leaning by the window, tapped the window frame with his folding fan and said, displeasedly: “Why is he here too?”
“Who?” Yang Houcheng poked his head out to look, his expression equally unpleasant, scratching his head: “It’s that Lord Shisan from the Jinlin Guards. Nothing good comes when you see him.”
Shao Mingyuan glanced out the window, remaining unmoved.
“Look, that fellow is boarding the ship.” Yang Houcheng was almost sticking half his body out the window.
Chi Can reached out to pull him back, saying coolly, “Never mind him.”
“I just find it such a coincidence. When we returned from the south before, we also encountered him, and now on this southern journey, we meet him again. It’s really—”
“Like a lingering ghost.” Chi Can spat out these four words.
Yang Houcheng nodded: “Right, like a lingering ghost.”
Shao Mingyuan held his teacup and smiled: “Each goes their way, no interference.”
As if sensing the scrutinizing gazes, Jiang Yuanchao, who had arrived at the dock, suddenly looked up. His line of sight met with the three men’s in mid-air, and he curved his lips in a smile.
“Smiling tiger.” Chi Can lazily withdraw his gaze.
Although the Jinlin Guards were all like adhesive plasters, as long as they didn’t stick to him, they were barely tolerable.
Yang Houcheng sighed: “I don’t know why, but seeing him suddenly makes me feel like this journey is shrouded in shadow. Come, let’s have a drink to dispel the bad luck.”
He had somehow prepared fine wine, bending to lift the wine pot and place it on the table, filling each of their cups.
The fine wine was clear and fragrant. Chi Can lifted his wine cup and took a light sip, but Shao Mingyuan didn’t move.
Yang Houcheng looked at him: “Tingquan, why aren’t you drinking?”
Tingquan used to drink quite readily.
Shao Mingyuan stared at the wine cup before him and said frankly: “Miss Li won’t let me drink.”
Chi Can suddenly looked at him, his gaze indescribable.
Yang Houcheng didn’t notice the subtlety in this, sighing regretfully: “Then it seems only Shixi and I can drink together. Tingquan, I really can’t tell – you’re quite obedient.”
Shao Mingyuan suddenly coughed twice, glancing at Chi Can from the corner of his eye. Sure enough, his friend’s expression had already turned iron-blue.
He quietly sighed in his heart.
It was true that Miss Li had advised him not to drink recently, and he didn’t want to hide this from his two friends. However, Yang Er was just adding to the confusion – if he continued talking like this, Shixi would explode.
“Of course I should listen to Miss Li’s words – she’s a physician.” Shao Mingyuan’s gaze was clear, his expression candid.
Chi Can’s expression softened somewhat. His pale jade-like fingers gripped the teacup tightly as he tilted his head back and drained it in one gulp.
Chen Guang’s voice came from outside the door: “General, Lord Shisan of the Jinlin Guards has come to visit.”
“What does he want?” Chi Can slammed his wine cup on the table, producing a crisp collision sound.
“Exactly.” Yang Houcheng directed his gaze toward the door.
Shao Mingyuan’s expression remained unchanged as he said lightly: “Please invite Lord Jiang in.”
A man in dark robes walked into the hall from outside. He was tall and slender, with a smile at the corners of his mouth that made people feel as if bathed in the spring breeze. Just looking at his appearance, no one would think this was a figure in the Jinlin Guards, second only to Jiang Tang, whom everyone feared.
“Lord Marquis.” Jiang Yuanchao nodded to Shao Mingyuan, then nodded in greeting to Chi Can and Yang Houcheng: “Young Master Chi, Young Master Yang.”
“Is Lord Jiang also traveling south?” Shao Mingyuan asked.
“Yes.” Jiang Yuanchao’s gaze swept over the wine cups placed before the three men and smiled: “The three of you have such refined interests. I wonder if this humble one could beg a cup of wine?”
Chi Can chuckled lightly, leaning back against the window, playing with the wine cup in his hand: “Sorry, there aren’t enough wine cups.”
Jiang Yuanchao sat down unconcernedly, glanced lightly at Chi Can, then looked toward Shao Mingyuan: “No wine to drink is fine too. I’d trouble Lord Marquis to please ask Miss Li to come out.”
Chi Can straightened up, wariness in his eyes: “What do you want her to come out for?”
“That’s not convenient to tell Young Master Chi.” Jiang Yuanchao still had a smile at the corners of his mouth, but his attitude was quite firm.
“Lord Jiang should please return. Protecting Miss Li is our responsibility, and we don’t want her to meet all sorts of random people.”
Chi Can’s words did not affect Jiang Yuanchao whatsoever. He interlaced his slender fingers, his tone unperturbed: “Whether she’s willing to see me or not, shouldn’t we ask Miss Li herself what she thinks?”
He glanced lightly at Chi Can and smiled: “Young Master Chi also said that you are people escorting Miss Li, not people detaining Miss Li. When a guest comes to visit, she should at least have the right to know, shouldn’t she?”
Chi Can was about to say more when Shao Mingyuan had already instructed: “Chen Guang, go request Miss Li to come here.”
Jiang Yuanchao sat with his back to the hall door. Soon, he heard light footsteps behind him. His heart suddenly gave rise to an inexplicable melancholy, and for a moment, he forgot to turn around.