Gurgle—
The carriage slowly moved along the street. The heavy rain fell on the carriage roof, making a slight crackling sound. The guards accompanying outside the carriage were talking in low voices with each other:
"This Cheng Bao, known as the Iron Ox, really lives up to his reputation..."
"Tiefo Ridge is at least a famous sect in Yunzhou. The sect leader Cheng Shilu's nickname is 'Angry-Eyed Vajra'. He has practiced external martial arts to the extent that his whole body is invulnerable to swords and guns. Even Chief Constable She speaks highly of him. His younger brother must have some real skills..."
"Young Master Ye is also a tough guy. Just looking at it makes my hands ache..."
"Young Master Ye doesn't seem to have a nickname in the martial arts world. He might as well be called the Ruthless Iron Hand in the future..."
...
It was quite quiet in the spacious carriage.
Dongfang Liren sat upright in the main seat, wearing a silver python robe. Her jet-black long hair was still tied up with a jade crown, and there was a faint touch of red rouge on her lips. The python dragon outlined with silver threads was supported by the cushion below, forming a perfect semi-circular arc, shining brightly in the carriage.
Although her appearance was stunningly beautiful, her dignified and imposing manner from long years in a high position, combined with her outstanding figure, made her look like a ruthless top expert.
Ye Jingtang sat upright by the carriage window, his face as cold and extraordinary as ever. However, in his heart, he was a bit excited. He had practiced martial arts for many years and had sharp eyes. The cracks that appeared on Cheng Bao's forehead just now were by no means an illusion. A well-practiced external martial art that strengthens the skin and bones can make one invulnerable to swords and guns like She Long. But when the skin is broken, it is absolutely impossible for there to be cobweb-like patterns similar to those when ice is broken. There was definitely something strange about it...
Dongfang Liren looked at Ye Jingtang's right hand with the broken skin. She took a small medicine chest made of mahogany from her side and placed it on the small table:
"Treat your injury yourself."
Ye Jingtang hadn't seen Benben (a nickname for Dongfang Liren) for a long time and actually missed her a bit. But as soon as he saw her in person, his mind couldn't help but recall the unforgettable incident last month in Canyang Pond...
Ye Jingtang quickly pushed away those distracting thoughts, sat forward a bit, and opened the small medicine chest. However, he saw a pile of bottles and jars inside. He picked one up, opened it, and took a whiff... What was this?
It couldn't be blamed on Ye Jingtang for his lack of knowledge. All the emergency medicines carried by the Princess were healing miracle medicines made by renowned experts and could never be seen on the market.
Seeing the confused look on Ye Jingtang's face, Dongfang Liren secretly shook her head, sat forward a bit, picked up a red porcelain bottle, and took the tea tray as a washing utensil:
"Clumsy... Stretch out your hand."
Ye Jingtang's hand just had a bit of broken skin and there was no need to apply medicine at all. But since the Princess was so considerate, he still placed his hand on the tea tray:
"What kind of medicine is this? Does it hurt?"
"It doesn't hurt."
"Oh... Hmm—?!!"
When the red porcelain bottle was opened, the brown medicinal wine was poured onto the back of his right hand, washing away the bloodstains and some dirt.
The gentle and amiable smile on Ye Jingtang's face disappeared. His cold eyes widened a bit, and he managed not to pull his hand back, trying his best to remain calm:
"Does Your Highness usually... use medicinal wine like this?"
Dongfang Liren slowly washed the broken skin on the back of his hand:
"When the medical maid treats my wounds, she will first seal the acupoints. Does it hurt a lot?"
"Why didn't Your Highness seal my acupoints?"
"Can't you do it yourself?"
Ye Jingtang slightly spread his left hand: "No one is perfect. I'm not omniscient and omnipotent either."
Dongfang Liren rarely saw Ye Jingtang's lack of proficiency in martial arts. She put on the posture of an expert and raised her finger to poke Ye Jingtang's chest.
Dong~
Ye Jingtang's limbs instantly went numb. The pain disappeared, but his body also fell forward straight. This time, instead of a small watermelon or a chubby dragon, it was a solid mahogany tea table:
"Eh eh?!!"
Dongfang Liren didn't care about whether he was dead or alive. She raised her hand to support Ye Jingtang's shoulder, pushed him onto the couch, and continued to deal with his right hand.
Ye Jingtang lay on the couch, feeling similar to the last time he was acupointed by Luo Ning. Even the techniques were almost the same. He asked in confusion:
"What's the name of this move?"
"Zhan Yun Fourteen Hands, a unique move created by the True Man Xuanji of Yuxu Mountain."
Ye Jingtang was quite surprised in his heart but didn't say it out loud. Isn't this the move of the little watermelon? Were you two taught by the same master?
After washing the wound, Dongfang Liren wiped Ye Jingtang's broken right hand with a cotton swab and said unhappily:
"Aren't you familiar with the laws of the Great Wei? Do you know what the punishment is for brawling in public?"
"If caught on the spot, one will be detained for fifteen days and fined five thousand wen. If not caught, if the people don't report it, the officials won't pursue it. The second master Cheng won't go to the yamen to sue me."
?
Dongfang Liren's movement paused: "Why?"
"He knows that I have connections in the Black Yamen. To prevent the matter from expanding, he won't alarm his backers in the court. He will definitely solve it according to the rules of the martial arts world and ask his elder brother to come and beat me up."
Dongfang Liren sat up a bit straighter: "After all that, it's still me backing you up, isn't it?"
Ye Jingtang smiled: "If he sues me, I'll go to Tiefo Ridge in the name of Honghua Tower. He will withdraw the lawsuit himself."
"..."
Dongfang Liren was speechless and slowly nodded:
"Amazing. You can get along in both the official and underworld circles. Do you know what I do?"
"I manage the martial arts world. I was born into the martial arts world. There's nothing I can do about it when I happen to be involved. Honghua Tower hasn't committed any crimes. It's a legitimate shipping gang..."
Dongfang Liren let out a soft snort: "Do I need a reason to punish people in the martial arts world? Honghua Tower is a wealthy local clan. If I help them settle matters, they should give me a token of greeting, right?"
"Yes."
Seeing that his limbs were slightly more relaxed, Ye Jingtang slowly sat up again: "Your Highness has good talent in practicing martial arts. Your tall and slender figure is suitable for practicing the spear. Honghua Tower asked me to teach Your Highness the Overlord Spear as a token of greeting."
Since Honghua Tower was so sensible, Dongfang Liren really couldn't make excessive demands. She nodded and said:
"They're quite smart. Didn't you say you wanted to do things for me to atone for your mistakes..."
Ye Jingtang looked a bit puzzled: "Atone for what mistakes?"
Dongfang Liren blinked her eyes, and the chubby dragon on her head, which was shining with silver light, visibly swelled a bit.
Ye Jingtang raised his hand: "I understand, the bathing incident. But my relationship with Honghua Tower is as clear as water. I won't become the leader. Your Highness wants to take over the family property..."
Smack—
Dongfang Liren didn't expect Ye Jingtang to be so straightforward. She tapped the table:
"What do you mean? Do I look like someone who lacks family property?"
"No, I was just saying it casually. Hmm... What does Your Highness mean?"
Dongfang Liren meant that she wanted Ye Jingtang to gain the initiative in Honghua Tower, but she was put in an awkward position by Ye Jingtang's words. So she casually said:
"You said you would come back and help me with things. I'll take you to Zhujie Street to see a homicide case and let you get familiar with the rules of how the yamen handles matters."
Ye Jingtang was secretly relieved to see that Benben wasn't going to make things difficult for Third Aunt anymore. He smiled and said:
"Okay. By the way, about the matter of the Zhou family..."
Dongfang Liren let out a soft snort: "Don't think that just because you know a few words of the laws of the Great Wei, you can act recklessly. Without my connections, with the Zhou family's connections and financial resources, in court, they could refute you so that you couldn't say a word."
Ye Jingtang nodded: "I understand. I owe Your Highness for this matter."
Only then was Dongfang Liren satisfied. She bandaged Ye Jingtang's broken right hand with a white cloth:
"Grand Elder Zhou heard the news and directly expelled Zhou Huaili from the family on the grounds of 'family misfortune'. He also sent a plaque inscribed with 'Impartiality' to the yamen in Qingyang. Then he replied to the imperial court: The person deserves to die, but the hatred is hard to erase. He wants you to have a match with the Zhou family. They won't take your life. One battle will end the grudges in the martial arts world, so that you don't have to be afraid. If you don't dare to go, if the Zhou family causes trouble for you in the future, they won't be in the wrong."
Ye Jingtang thought that the meaning of "not taking your life" was to leave him with a breath of life. He frowned and said:
"Go now?"
"How could that be? I said I was busy with official business and set a ten-year appointment for you."
"Ten years... Thank you, Your Highness."
Dongfang Liren wiped the back of his right hand with a cotton swab:
"Don't thank me yet. The Zhou family has plenty of money and connections to hire killers. Moreover, your saber technique is exactly the same as the Eight Steps Frenzy Saber. If Junshan Terrace finds out, they will definitely come looking for you. You have to be careful in the future."
Ye Jingtang nodded: "I will practice martial arts well. I plan to go out again in a while and make the two families convinced after a fight."
Dongfang Liren didn't question Ye Jingtang. She thought for a moment:
"Open spears are easy to dodge, but hidden arrows are hard to guard against. You still have to do important things for me, so you can't die outside. Come to the palace tomorrow. I'll teach you the 'Dragon-Slaying Order' and the 'Jade Bone Diagram' to give you an extra means of self-defense."
?
Ye Jingtang was stunned. Looking at Dongfang Liren, the imposing Princess who was bandaging his right hand, he felt a bit embarrassed:
"I've just caught a few small thieves. Your Highness treats me so generously..."
Dongfang Liren raised her eyes: "Favors need to be repaid. Do you think I'm giving them to you for nothing?"
Ye Jingtang smiled and nodded: "Great kindness doesn't need to be expressed with thanks. I will definitely repay these favors in the future."
Dongfang Liren finished bandaging the right hand, sat upright again, thought for a moment, and suddenly asked casually:
"By the way, Ye Jingtang, do you know what 'Back Door Bar' means?"
??!
The cold and extraordinary expression on Ye Jingtang's face clearly twitched, and then quickly returned to normal. He looked around to see if the guards outside the carriage had heard.
Seeing this look, Dongfang Liren knew that Ye Jingtang understood. She lowered her voice a bit:
"Just say it. I heard it on the way today and don't understand the meaning. Just explain it to me."
Ye Jingtang's eyes looked very strange: "Does Your Highness really want to hear it? Are you sure you won't be angry?"
Dongfang Liren held her head high, looking calm and noble:
"Do you think I'm someone who can't tolerate a single word? Could it be that this is a rebellious statement?"
Ye Jingtang really couldn't bring himself to say it. He waved his hand:
"Hmm... Let's talk about this another day. Maybe Your Highness will understand someday."
Seeing that Ye Jingtang refused to speak, Dongfang Liren snorted softly:
"Don't act pretentious. I actually regarded you as a gentleman all this time, but it turns out you're a lecher who hides your true nature."
"Hmm?"
Ye Jingtang frowned and his expression became serious:
"Your Highness, I really didn't mean it last time. Your Highness was so close to me naked, and I kept my eyes closed..."
"Shut up!"
Dongfang Liren was slightly angry. She turned around and took out "The Tears of the Female Hero" from the box where sundries were placed and threw it into Ye Jingtang's arms:
"Last time you said, 'This book is all about emotions.' I actually believed you. But look at this..."
Ye Jingtang knew that Jingwang would buy and read it. He picked up the exquisitely bound book with a smile and flipped through it a few times. Then he was stunned:
"Wow!!! Why are there illustrations? Is this really 'The Tears of the Female Hero'?"
Dongfang Liren was puzzled: "What do you mean? This is 'The Tears of the Female Hero', an official edition printed by the Imperial College of the previous dynasty. Don't tell me you haven't read it."
"Is that so?"
Ye Jingtang held the hardcover book and carefully examined it as if he had found a treasure:
"The 'The Tears of the Female Hero' I saw at the border of Liangzhou was really different from this one. I exchanged that one with a private school teacher for two wild chickens, and a few pages were torn off. It was probably a pirated version. I didn't expect the genuine version to have illustrations. Oh... So this is what the posture of 'Two Beauties Presenting Peaches' looks like..."
?
The expression on Dongfang Liren's face, which had been confidently questioning, froze. She thought to herself: Yeah, at the border of Liangzhou, there were very few scholars. Where could such a beautifully bound book come from? Even if there was a copy of 'The Tears of the Female Hero', it was probably privately printed in a small workshop. Not to mention having illustrations, it would be considered conscientious if there were no missing characters or sections...
So what on earth have I been reading these days?
Dongfang Liren saw that Ye Jingtang was seriously studying it and tilted her head to take a look. He was looking at the colored illustrations in the book. The illustrations were annotations for the phrase 'Two Beauties Presenting Peaches' in the book, probably depicting two beautiful women kneeling side by side on a couch, presenting big peaches...
Smack—
Ye Jingtang was admiring the painting when a white jade hand pressed on the illustration, almost knocking the book out of his hand.
He looked up and saw that the Princess's eyes were slightly cold:
"What are you looking at?"
Ye Jingtang blinked his eyes: "Reading the book. Your Highness gave it to me to read. Is there a problem?"
Dongfang Liren thought there was a big problem. Maybe she was afraid that the messy illustrations in the book would corrupt Ye Jingtang, a still decent gentleman. She quickly took the book back:
"Hmm... Maybe the people below misunderstood my meaning and took the wrong book. I only glanced at it and thought it was not presentable, so I threw it aside and didn't read it."
Ye Jingtang didn't believe it at all but didn't expose it:
"I see. I've really never read the genuine version of Wu Shengxie's masterpiece. Can Your Highness..."
"No!"
"I just want to borrow it. It's just a leisure book..."
Dongfang Liren's expression was serious: "The purpose of reading is to 'apply what one has learned'. Do you want to practice what you read in these things?"
Otherwise?
Ye Jingtang couldn't refute and gave up the idea of borrowing the book. Instead, he said:
"Well... This book can actually answer Your Highness's question..."
??
Dongfang Liren looked at Ye Jingtang in disbelief:
"Do you remember it so clearly?"
"There weren't many books at the border. I read it dozens of times, and I have a good memory. It's normal for me to remember it."
"..."
The chubby dragon in front of Dongfang Liren slightly rose and fell. After examining Ye Jingtang for a long time, she finally lowered her head to flip through the book, found Chapter 48 that she hadn't read yet, and carefully checked the content...
No, no, you can't do that there...
!!
After Dongfang Liren understood the meaning behind the veiled words, her eyes gradually widened. Her face turned redder and redder, like peach blossoms in full bloom in February, and she completely lost her imposing manner...
Ye Jingtang sat on the couch, resting his elbow on his knee and covering his mouth to prevent himself from laughing out loud and ruining his cold demeanor and getting killed by Benben.
Smack—
Dongfang Liren suddenly closed the book, looked around, and then reached out to Ye Jingtang's waist, wanting to draw the Chi Long Huan Shou Saber.
Shua~~~
"Eh?!!"
Ye Jingtang grabbed Dongfang Liren's wrist and pressed the saber back, saying with a pleasant expression:
"Your Highness, don't be impulsive. Be careful of your body..."
"Let go!"
Dongfang Liren's eyebrows turned upside down, and she tried to draw the saber with force. Seeing that Ye Jingtang didn't let go, she tugged a few times.
Then her movement suddenly stopped, and she looked at her white right hand that was being held by the man.
"..."
Ye Jingtang quickly let go of the warm