Neighbors cheerfully greeted each other while clearing the snow in front of their doors.
Princess Bai Li returned ho with Liang Mao’er through the snowy streets, each carrying two baskets of vegetables into Taiping dical Hall.
Liang Mao’er’s baskets contained pork and lamb, while Princess Bai Li carried leeks and vegetables. The market prices were quite high due to the difficulty of traveling through the snow.
But Bai Li didn’t care.
In the main hall of the dical hall, Old Yao was busy with his abacus.
Without looking up, he noticed Bai Li enter and asked, "What did you buy so early in the morning, Your Highness?"
With a bright smile, Bai Li replied, "It’s snowing heavily today, so I thought I’d make everyone pork and leek, and parsley lamb dumplings for lunch!"
Old Yao raised his head and stroked his beard. Rather than being harsh as usual, he examined Bai Li closely, "Your Highness is indeed kind-hearted. Give your hand, and I’ll read your palm."
Bai Li placed the baskets on the counter and spread out her palm with a smile, "You’re also skilled in face reading?"
Old Yao held Bai Li’s delicate and slender palm, inspecting it for a long while before saying, "You’re not a person of short lifespan, go tend to your affairs."
Bai Li paused, "Ah? Is that all? Could you tell more about other things?"
"What else would you like to know?" asked Old Yao.
After thinking for a mont at the counter, Bai Li asked, "Will I face any great trials or disasters?"
Old Yao shook his head, "Your Highness has profound good fortune. Even if danger arises, soone will always be there to help you turn misfortune into blessings."
Recalling the events of the previous night, Bai Li’s eyes lit up, "Wow, you’re incredibly accurate, like a wise immortal! Could you predict more, like about my marriage or future events I should be wary of?"
"I can’t predict those. Go make the dumplings," Old Yao waved her off dismissively, sending Bai Li away.
After Princess Bai Li had gone to the backyard, Old Yao pulled out six copper coins from his sleeve and tossed them onto the counter, his brow furrowed in concern before relaxing.
In the backyard.
She Dengke, Liu Quxing, and the Princely Heir were practicing the horse stance under Liang Gou’s direction, while Chen Ji sat on a bamboo lounge chair nearby, comfortably wrapped in a quilt.
Chen Ji had just applied dicine, and his wounds on the legs and chest no longer hurt as before; they were healing at a visibly rapid rate.
It seed the redies from Laojun Mountain were more miraculous than expected, and Liang Gou must have gone through great effort to procure them.
At that mont, the three individuals practicing the horse stance were nearly toppling over, sweating profusely in the cold weather, steam visibly rising from their heads.
She Dengke wailed, "How much longer must we stand?"
Liang Gou snapped a bamboo stick on his thigh, "Giving up so soon? I suffered far more than the salt you’ve eaten in training with the saber!"
Liu Quxing pondered, "That’s not a lot..."
Snap.
The bamboo struck Liu Quxing’s buttocks, causing him to grimace in pain.
Only the Princely Heir didn’t complain of fatigue; he genuinely wanted to learn the saber skill. The helplessness he felt when abandoned by the knights of Jianghu and the despair when facing a spy reminded him that the only reliable person was himself.
Therefore, the Princely Heir truly aspired to beco an Executive Officer.
While the three were holding the horse stance, Liang Gou carelessly sat on a small bamboo stool under the eaves, with Liang Mao’er sitting beside him, sorting vegetables.
Suddenly, Liang Mao’er spoke in a low voice, his head hanging down, "Brother, you always had the Soft Jade Ointnt on you, so why did you lie to them that it was from Laojun Mountain?"
Liang Gou glanced displeasedly at his brother, "Would they treasure it if I hadn’t said that? Only things that are hard to co by are cherished and rembered!"
"That still doesn’t justify lying. I know you hope the Princely Heir continues to drink with you, but even if you hadn’t lied about getting the dicine for Chen Ji, they still would have been grateful."
Liang Gou scoffed lightly, "The efficacy is true, isn’t it? And it did co from a physician of Laojun Mountain, right? What’s a little lie if it helps Chen Ji recover sooner?"
Liang Mao’er’s voice grew even more subdued, "Brother, our Liang family’s saber technique isn’t supposed to start with the horse stance. Father always said that our saber technique begins with breathing the essence of heaven and earth, not like other martial artists who undergo cross training."
Liang Gou replied impatiently, "Every martial artist starts with the horse stance. What’s wrong with teaching that? Should we really teach the Liang family’s saber technique to others? If we did, once we’re gone, our father would scold us to death!"
While many wield sabers, few understand the true way of the arts. To enter their own way, one must discover their unique thod.
This is a secret of the Liang family that must not be disclosed.
Liang Mao’er was in a foul mood, "But they are all such nice people. Brother, if you don’t plan on teaching them the real stuff, just tell them straightforwardly instead of hiding it."
Liang Gou’er frowned, "If we tell them straightforwardly, how can we continue to drink and stay at the Taiping dical Hall? Otherwise, you learn the Liang Family’s Saber Technique first, then you can teach whoever you want later; I won’t interfere."
Liang Mao’er suddenly beca discouraged, "I can’t learn it."
Liang Gou’er sat up straight, "I refuse to believe I can’t teach you! Once you’ve learned it, you can teach whoever you want. When you’re on the road to the underworld, you’ll take all the bla, enduring scolding from both our father and grandfather..."
"I really can’t learn it."
"You have to learn even if you can’t!" Liang Gou’er declared sternly, "Follow my breathing, 13,500 breaths, swallowing and exhaling between heaven and earth, just simple breathing, why can’t you even get through the entrance?! Keep at it until you feel that extra bit of energy in your chest and abdon..."
Nobody noticed that while Liang Gou’er was teaching Liang Mao’er how to breathe, Wu Yun squatted to one side, watching with a barely understanding gaze, his body also rising and falling slightly with the breaths.
Sotis Liang Gou’er used phrases Wu Yun couldn’t understand, which he could only rember and mull over slowly.
Wu Yun, deep in thought, adjusted his breathing rhythm when Liang Gou’er accidentally glimpsed his focused expression and suddenly chuckled, "Does this little cat also want to learn the saber with ? Hahaha, if the Liang Family’s Saber Technique were taught to a cat, I wonder what our dad would think down there."
While picking vegetables, Liang Mao’er muttered, "You teach it; maybe it will learn faster than ."
Liang Gou’er laughed and cried at the sa ti, "What the heck are you talking about? Cats can’t even understand what we’re saying, how can they learn the saber! You listen well; I still don’t believe I can’t teach you!"
Wu Yun ignored him, jumping onto Liang Mao’er’s shoulder, pretending to nap while secretly listening to Liang Gou’er teaching Liang Mao’er...
He felt that the Liang Family’s Saber Technique was full of allure, not to ntion whether he could understand it, just keep listening.
...
...
Just then, a distinct birdcall ca from outside.
Others didn’t notice, but Chen Ji instantly opened his eyes; that was the copper whistle sound of the Spy Departnt!
He propped himself up in surprise and looked through the corridor towards the main hall.
Lord Jin Zhu, dressed as a commoner and wearing a bamboo hat, ca to the Taiping dical Hall pretending to seek a consultation, and approached the counter with a smile to greet Old Yao, "Doctor Yao, I’m looking for Chen Ji."
Old Yao put down the brush and ledger he was holding and glanced sideways at Jin Zhu, "Everyone from the Spy Departnt dead? What are you doing looking for a heavily injured man every day?"
Jin Zhu chuckled awkwardly, "Isn’t it because the disciple you taught is outstanding?"
"Go on, he’s in the backyard."
Jin Zhu peeked into the backyard, "Please bother to call him out, there’s too many people and gossip in the yard."
Old Yao scoffed and turned to call out, "Chen Ji, soone’s looking for you."
Jin Zhu hurriedly said, "Can you keep it down, I ca here secretly!"
Chen Ji slowly moved out, "Lord Jin Zhu, what brings you here?"
Jin Zhu pulled Chen Ji aside and said with a smile, "First of all, congratulations! The reward for the rit we established at the Chao Cang Gambling House has been issued. You are now a Pigeon-level Spy, one step away from being the Hai Dongqing overseeing a territory. From now on, the court will give you thirty taels each year, and my Spy Departnt will give you an additional thirty taels."
Chen Ji humd in acknowledgnt.
Seeing that he was not very moved, Jin Zhu added another line, "I’ve already asked for an exception to obtain the Cultivation Path for you, and the missive has flown to the Imperial Capital. I expect you will receive a reply from the Lord Pri Minister in a few days."
Chen Ji’s eyes brightened, "Really?"
"How could I lie to you!"
Chen Ji smiled, "Lord Jin Zhu, what brings you here this ti?"
"I’ve got a great opportunity for you!" Jin Zhu said enticingly, "You know, the Cultivation Path is a reward only achievable by a Hai Dongqing level great spy. Though I’ve already asked for an exception on your behalf, whether the Lord Pri Minister agrees is still uncertain. But if you establish great rit again, not only will securing the Cultivation Path be a certainty, you might even be imdiately promoted to Hai Dongqing and receive monthly resources for your cultivation... Did you hear the explosion last night?"
"No, what explosion?" Chen Ji pretended ignorance. The dical Hall was several miles from Hongyi Lane; he couldn’t hear any disturbances from that area.
Jin Zhu stated, "Last night, so rebels from the Jing Dynasty caused trouble in Hongyi Lane, and now we don’t know where they’re hiding. I need you to lead a team to find them."
Chen Ji thought to himself... How inconvenient.
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