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墨書 Inktalez
The Tea Shed was entirely constructed from thatch, and as the flames ignited, they quickly spread, illuminating half the sky in an instant. The area nearby was as bright as day, even more effective than a searchlight.
As a result, Mei Shuang and Yun Kong's hiding place was completely exposed.
The air was filled with the triumphant laughter of the men in black. "Alright, stop hiding now, come out quickly..."
Mei Shuang trembled in fear and glanced at Yun Kong. Yun Kong looked back briefly and then calmly led Mei Shuang out from behind the large tree.
Mei Shuang felt her legs shaking, thinking to herself that while she had managed to hide yesterday, there was no escaping today!
Fortunately, Yun Kong's calm demeanor provided her with some reassurance.
The men in black scrutinized Yun Kong for a long time before shifting their gaze to the unharmed Mei Shuang beside him. Only then did they seem satisfied. "Hey, it seems the master has indeed been rewarded; you really escaped from the mountain to Lin County! This narrow path is truly a good hiding place."
He turned to others beside him with a grin and said, "Isn't this strange? Have the monks of Dazhao Temple swallowed bear hearts and leopard guts? Instead of properly ringing bells and chanting scriptures, they've taken up the trade of murder and robbery?!"
Then he raised his whip and pointed it at Yun Kong, speaking harshly, "Yun Kong, your crimes are not limited to this one act, are they? Tell me, will you end it yourself or shall I take action?"
Mei Shuang was stunned; it sounded like these people were not from Mei Ru's group but rather had their sights set on Yun Kong.
"Who are they?" Mei Shuang whispered to Yun Kong.
Yun Kong glanced at the dazed Mei Shuang and replied lightly, "Naturally, they have come for you."
"Government officials?" Mei Shuang exclaimed in surprise, forcing a bitter smile. "They've come after us too?"
"Who do you think it could be?" Yun Kong replied without changing his expression.
"I don't know," Mei Shuang said irritably. "Right now, you should think about how to get out of this situation. You aren't planning to use me as a shield again, are you?"
Yun Kong smirked, "Thanks for the reminder. If it comes to that, it wouldn't be a bad plan."
Mei Shuang was so angry she felt like spitting blood.
Seeing that these two were taking the situation so lightly and even whispering to each other, the black-clad man on horseback became furious and sneered, "Monk Yun Kong, last time you got away was just luck! Now, if you know what's good for you, hand over the person and surrender quickly!"
Mei Shuang realized she couldn't remain confused any longer. She stepped forward and stood in front of the black-clad man. "May I ask who you are?"
The black-clad man was clearly surprised by Mei Shuang's boldness. He took a closer look at her in the light of the torch.
Dressed in men's clothing, Mei Shuang appeared somewhat frail. He was puzzled and quickly pulled out a scroll from behind him, unfolding it to compare with Mei Shuang before finally putting it away with relief. He then dismounted and politely cupped his fist towards Mei Shuang. "Young sir, we are currently apprehending an Imperial Criminal. Please step aside to avoid any harm..."
It seemed they weren't out to get her; at least they didn't intend to harm her, which made Mei Shuang feel somewhat relieved.
"So, does this mean I can leave?" Mei Shuang asked earnestly, her eyes already scanning the surroundings for an escape route.
In front of her, even two legs couldn't outrun four; the half-circle formed by her captors made it clear that escaping under their noses was nearly impossible.
Even Yun Kong behind her found it amusing to see Mei Shuang looking around hopefully.
The black-clad man who had been running around all day and sweating profusely was overjoyed to finally find his target. He had complained on the way about how someone could possibly take such a small path, but now he saw an opportunity for recognition right before him—he had not only located the mysterious Esteemed Guest but also captured Yun Kong, who had abducted her.
Wasn't this just like a pie falling from the sky?
Moreover, after all that effort spent searching for her, did she really think she could just walk away?
He reached out to block her path and chuckled dryly, "Young sir, it's better if you stay back a bit; you might get hurt..."
While speaking, he gave a glance to the person beside him, and in an instant, Mei Shuang felt a wave of murderous intent spreading around...
In Qizhou, at the Lin Residence.
The Qizhou Prefect, Lord Xu, who was sitting uneasily, felt a cloud lift when he heard the news that they had successfully brought back the Esteemed Guest. His face broke into a joyful smile.
Looking at Lin Yuan, who was also anxiously waiting for news, he personally went over and patted Lin Yuan on the shoulder. He praised the nervous Lin Yuan, saying, "Good! Good! Thanks to your esteemed son’s information, we were able to track them down without wasting our efforts... Oh, your son should be preparing for the imperial examination this year, right? I believe he is a promising talent! Hahaha..."
Lord Xu laughed heartily.
Lin Yuan's father was delighted by these suggestive words and quickly responded, "Yes, yes, thank you for your kind words. My son has loved studying since childhood and has never relaxed his studies, all for this autumn's examination."
Lin Yuan was not interested in their idle chatter; he was only concerned about how Lin Shoutong's illness was progressing. So he asked, "May I ask if Lord Xu has any news about Lin Shoutong's well-being?"
Lord Xu leisurely sat in his armchair, waved his hand dismissively, and replied casually, "Of course."
"Then..." Lin Yuan steeled himself to ask, "Could I trouble Lord Xu to grant me permission to see Lin Shoutong...?"
As soon as these words left his mouth, he received a fierce glare from his father. This brat still didn't think the lesson was deep enough and wanted to stir up trouble!
Lin Yuan's question caused Lord Xu, who had been daydreaming about promotions and wealth with his eyes closed, to suddenly open his eyes. He glanced at Lin Yuan and then at Lin Yuan's father. He reined in his previous smile and said flatly, "Lin Yuan's father, it’s important to properly supervise your son’s studies. It is only right that he aims to achieve success in the future."
"Yes, yes, yes. Lord Xu is right," Lin Yuan's father replied submissively. He then pulled the somewhat aggrieved Lin Yuan out of the room.
Lin Yuan couldn't understand and stubbornly said, "Father, they found Lin Shoutong because of me. Why can't I see her just once to put my mind at ease?"
Seeing that his son still held onto thoughts of that Esteemed Guest who even made the Governor wary, Lin Yuan's father was furious. He hit Lin Yuan on the head several times and scolded him, "You ungrateful child! After studying for so many years, have you become foolish? Do you still think that Lin Shoutong is the same as before? If you continue to have ideas about her, be careful with your head..."
Lin Yuan rubbed his sore head and gloomily watched as Lin Yuanwai stormed off in anger, his mind filled with the image of Lin Shoutong, who loved to talk and laugh.
After walking for a while, he remembered something. He looked around to ensure no one was watching, then crouched down and slipped into the bushes in the courtyard, quietly making his way to the back of the study.
At midnight, the back gate of the large residence opened.
No lights were lit in front of the gate; only two lanterns cast a dim glow on the ground.
Lord Xu, dressed in neat official robes, had been waiting for this moment. As soon as dinner was over, he changed into his formal attire and patiently waited. Although the wait felt long, he dared not complain.
Before long, the government officials who had come early appeared before him. The well-trained officials were full of energy and approached silently.
Upon seeing these people arrive, Lord Xu knew that the main party was about to come and immediately perked up, stepping forward to prepare for their arrival.
Sure enough, shortly after, a soft sedan chair leisurely approached.
As it reached the courtyard gate, before the sedan chair even touched the ground, Lord Xu had already composed himself and respectfully knelt down, his voice low and clear: "I, your humble servant Xu Wentian, greet Your Highness..."
After a moment's wait, a cold and aloof voice came from within the sedan chair: "Rise..."
"Yes, yes..." Lord Xu replied nervously as he stood up, already feeling a slight sweat on his forehead.
Hearing the voice of the legendary Other Clan Prince from the capital for the first time made Lord Xu's heart race. Just from that voice alone, he could tell that this Other Clan Prince was not someone easy to approach. Fortunately, he had handled this matter well.
The sedan chair was directly carried into Lin Residence.
Inside the study, Lord Xu sat in a lower position, sitting upright as he watched the man leisurely sipping tea in the central seat.
Gao Guan had his hair tied back, wearing a Jade Belt, a Brocade Robe, and Black Boots. Although he was dressed like a wealthy young master, the noble aura that emanated from his every gesture was undeniable.
What surprised Lord Xu the most was how young this legendary Zhao Prince appeared. With a sharply defined face, sword-like eyebrows, starry eyes, and slightly upturned phoenix eyes, it was clear he was someone formidable. A glance at his hands, which held the teacup with distinct fingers, revealed a person accustomed to a life of luxury.
The Zhao Prince had been sitting for a while, quietly sipping tea without uttering a word, which made Lord Xu increasingly restless.
The silence left Lord Xu uncertain whether he should speak up to report or remain silent until the Zhao Prince chose to speak first. After all, this was his first encounter with the mysterious Zhao Prince, and his understanding of the prince's temperament was limited to legends that described him as unpredictable and solitary. In short, he was known to be peculiar!
Dealing with such an unconventional person was inherently challenging, especially given the prince's esteemed status; he rarely made public appearances. Thus, Lord Xu felt he needed to tread carefully in order to serve him well. Moreover, the fact that a woman had managed to summon someone of such mysterious stature only added to the gravity of the situation.
As thoughts swirled in Lord Xu's mind about whether to speak first or not, he soon found himself sweating slightly on his forehead.
Meanwhile, Nangong Nuo sipped her tea and glanced at Lord Xu sitting below her. Noticing his discomfort akin to someone suffering from constipation—restless and torn between speaking and remaining silent—she let out a light huff through her nose, set down her teacup, and calmly said, "Lord Xu, you have worked hard..."
Upon hearing the Zhao Prince speak first, Lord Xu immediately perked up, smoothing out his previously furrowed brow. He hurriedly stood up and replied, "How could I dare! It is merely my duty; how could I report it as hardship!"
Nangong Nuo nodded. In truth, while she had been drinking tea and contemplating earlier, she had been considering what attitude she should adopt when she finally met Mei Shuang.
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