The sun rose and set, and in the blink of an eye, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
The small courtyard in Shuanggui Alley had become much quieter since Miss Luo and Xiaoyunli left. A green shoot had already sprouted under the melon trellis, but it was still impossible to tell what it was.
The window of the west wing was closed. Niaoniao, which couldn't go out and have fun, was lying on the bed with its claws facing the sky. It glanced at Ye Jingtang, who remained motionless, and couldn't help but miss Sister Xiaoguaxi, Sister Danai, Sister Pangtoulong, and Sister Hebaodan, who would feed it...
"Jiji!"
Niaoniao raised its claws and kicked Ye Jingtang, reminding him that it was time to eat.
Unfortunately, there was no response.
Ye Jingtang was sitting cross-legged by the window, concentrating his mind and feeling the changes in his body. Although it was indescribable, after studying the "Minglong Tu" for a long time, he could vaguely sense that there was a stream of "qi" circulating in his body.
This "qi" was completely different from the internal strength of martial artists that gathered in the dantian. It was more obscure and difficult to find, and it could even make people feel that it was just an illusion.
However, as long as he practiced according to the guidance of the Minglong Tu, this illusion would appear. After trying many times, Ye Jingtang could confirm that there was indeed an invisible and intangible qi in his body.
As for its effects, he hadn't felt them yet. But according to Prince Jing's explanation, practicing the "Longxiang Tu" could make one extremely powerful. Presumably, its effect was to nourish the muscles and make the body stronger.
He was on night duty last night. After coming back, he had been pondering the Minglong Tu in the room. Before he knew it, it was already this time. When he was seriously practicing, he suddenly heard:
"Gu~ Gugu~~~"
It sounded like a rooster crowing, but the sound was completely out of tune.
He opened his eyes and saw that Niaoniao was standing on the windowsill, raising its neck... No, it had no neck. It should be raising its head and cooing at him.
Ye Jingtang looked helpless. He took out the dried meat box from the drawer and placed it in front of Niaoniao. Then he felt it slightly—he hadn't slept all night, but he wasn't tired or sleepy. Instead, he felt refreshed. It seemed that the Minglong Tu was indeed not an ordinary thing.
He assumed the posture and tried to continue practicing the method of the "Longxiang Tu." But before he could enter the state, he heard again:
Dong, dong...
"Jingtang?"
Dong, dong...
The sound of knocking on the door came from outside the courtyard.
When Niaoniao heard the sound, it immediately perked up and started opening the window by itself.
Ye Jingtang stopped his cultivation and calmed his qi. He put on his robe and opened the courtyard gate. He saw Sanniang standing at the door, carrying a food box in her hand. She was dressed as usual, with a waist-length ruqun and a proper hair accessory, looking like a capable and shrewd woman from a wealthy family.
However, her makeup was slightly different. She had carefully dressed up before going out, with cherry-red lip balm of the "man-killing" color. In the setting sun, it exuded a moist luster, just like cherries ready to be picked.
"It's already afternoon. Why are you still sleeping? What did you do last night?"
Pei Xiangjun frowned, and her eyes were rather resentful, looking like a wronged young woman who came to ask for an explanation because her man didn't come home at night.
Ye Jingtang didn't expect that Sanniang had changed back in just a few days. He couldn't help but smile:
"I was ordered to patrol the imperial city last night. I stayed up all night. Come in and talk."
Pei Xiangjun had come to find Ye Jingtang the night before yesterday. Since he hadn't come home for two consecutive nights, she thought that Ye Jingtang had been snatched away by Prince Jing and was quite worried.
After all, if a man was snatched away by a female martial artist from the Jianghu, it wouldn't affect Honghua Building; but if he was snatched away by a princess, the properties of Qinglong Hall would have to become Jingtang's dowry.
Seeing that Ye Jingtang didn't seem to be in good spirits, she walked up to him and touched his wrist to feel his pulse:
"They called you to patrol the imperial city just after the incident happened yesterday. Does the court just want to use you to the fullest if you're capable?"
"The capable should do more work. Prince Jing entrusted me with an important task because he appreciates me."
"More work for the capable..."
Pei Xiangjun saw that Ye Jingtang's pulse was strong and there was nothing abnormal. She secretly breathed a sigh of relief and went to the main room to put down the food box in her hand:
"Miss Ning'er has left. There's no one to cook at home. Why are you still living here? The Pei family is so big that it doesn't lack an extra pair of chopsticks..."
"I'm used to living alone. The Pei family is full of female relatives. It's really inconvenient to live there."
"Hmph~ Are you afraid that the maids at home will take advantage of you?"
"Sigh..."
Ye Jingtang shook his head and smiled softly. He opened the food box and saw that it was filled with carefully prepared meals and a pot of small wine.
Niaoniao immediately perked up and swooshed across the courtyard, landing on the table.
Pei Xiangjun picked up Niaoniao and held it in her arms, asking:
"I heard that you and Prince Jing encountered the Blood Bodhi. What happened? Tell me about it."
While enjoying his meal, Ye Jingtang briefly told the story of encountering the Blood Bodhi, and then said:
"I thought the grandmaster was very powerful, but in a real fight, he was just so-so. If my swordsmanship reaches its peak, he'll be knocked down in one move."
"The Blood Bodhi is a veteran thief in the Jianghu. He's probably in his sixties or seventies. He retired more than ten years ago. The fact that he can still fight you to a draw now just shows that he's still vigorous in old age."
Having said this, Pei Xiangjun reminded him again:
"When the situation is not good, use a gun if you have to. If your identity is discovered by the court, you can just abandon the properties near Tianshui Bridge and open a branch in another place. You can earn money again if it's gone, but if you're gone, you're really gone."
Ye Jingtang smiled and said: "I know what I'm doing. When it really comes to life and death, how could I hide my moves and not use them?"
"How long do you have to patrol in the palace? Chief Li and the others have already left in advance. The boat arranged by the family is waiting at the dock and can set off at any time."
"I've already talked to Prince Jing. I don't need to enter the palace today. If there's nothing else tomorrow, we'll set off."
...
They had only been chatting for a short while when the sound of carriage wheels suddenly came from outside the alley, along with Xiuhe's voice:
"Ah?! This commoner woman pays her respects to Prince Jing..."
"Dispense with the formalities. Is Ye Jingtang inside?"
"He is. He's with our master..."
...
-------
A luxurious carriage stopped outside the alley. A tall and beautiful woman stepped out of the carriage under the protection of a white-haired old woman.
Dongfang Liren was still wearing the domineering python robe of Pangtoulong, but her hairpin style had been changed to a scholarly young lady's style. A pearl hairpin was inserted obliquely, and with the red lip balm on her lips, she exuded an air of nobility. As soon as she appeared, the whole old street became a bit brighter.
Dongfang Liren gently raised her hand to signal Xiuhe to dispense with the formalities and walked into the remote alley with the white-haired old woman.
Shuanggui Alley was very old. More than ten houses along the way were in a dilapidated state. If she hadn't come here herself, she wouldn't have known that there was such a shabby place in the capital.
"Tell the Jingzhao Prefecture to renovate this street."
"Renovation can only solve the problem for a while. Ranfang Street had a lot of people during the previous dynasty. After the founding of the country, to facilitate management, all the large and small workshops were relocated to the west of the city, and this place has gradually declined. To make this place lively again, in my opinion, a specific business should be set up here..."
While chatting, a Niaoniao flew onto the wall and flapped its wings to say hello:
"Jijiji~"
Dongfang Liren curved a smile, raised her arm to catch Niaoniao, and looked towards the courtyard gate.
The courtyard gate opened at this time, and a man and a woman walked out. The man was tall and handsome, and the woman was gentle, beautiful, and dignified, just like a talented and beautiful young couple.
Dongfang Liren blinked her eyes, and her gaze involuntarily fell on Pei Xiangjun.
"Your Highness."
"This commoner woman, Pei Xiangjun, pays her respects to Your Highness."
"Who is this young lady?"
Ye Jingtang came up and introduced warmly: "This is the master of the Pei family. Outsiders call her Pei Sanniang. I wonder if Your Highness has heard of her."
After getting to know Ye Jingtang, Dongfang Liren had learned about the Pei family and knew that the head of the Pei family was a woman. Now that she saw her in person, she couldn't help but be surprised:
"I've heard of her. I just didn't expect her to be so young and beautiful."
Pei Xiangjun curtsied: "Thank you for the compliment, Prince Jing. I heard that Jingtang encountered an accident the day before yesterday, so I came to take a look. Hmm... I'll take my leave now."
Dongfang Liren naturally didn't try to keep her. She nodded as a greeting and watched Pei Xiangjun walk away gracefully. She also glanced at Pei Xiangjun's charming figure.
Ye Jingtang didn't notice these small details. After seeing Sanniang off, he raised his hand and gestured:
"Your Highness, please come in and take a seat."
Dongfang Liren asked the white-haired old woman to wait outside, held Niaoniao in her arms, and walked into the courtyard. Seeing the flowers and plants planted by the wall, she was quite surprised:
"You're a big man, but your home is quite tasteful."
If Ye Jingtang really lived alone, the courtyard definitely wouldn't be so elegant. He didn't know how to explain this, so he just smiled casually and led Dongfang Liren to the main room:
"My home is not big, and there's not much space. I hope Your Highness doesn't mind."
Dongfang Liren was born as the second princess, a precious and delicate person. After being made a princess by her sister, even the stables in her home were more spacious than this place. Seeing that a man as capable as Ye Jingtang lived in such a humble place, she felt a bit emotional and thought that Ye Jingtang was indeed a modest and unassuming gentleman who didn't seek fame or wealth.
However, she didn't show these thoughts. Dongfang Liren took the main seat next to the square table, assumed the posture of a princess, and said with a slightly cold face:
"Ye Jingtang, how many things have you been hiding from me?!"
Ye Jingtang was just about to go to the kitchen to get hot water for tea. Hearing the aggressive words, he couldn't help but look confused:
"Hmm? What things?"
Dongfang Liren sat upright, with a bright and beautiful face that exuded authority even without anger, as if she was scrutinizing a treacherous courtier who deceived his superiors and subordinates:
"If you confess on your own, I can still show mercy. If I have to point them out, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
"Jiji..."
Niaoniao felt that the atmosphere was not right, so it quietly closed its beak and moved a few steps to the side...