Chapter 70: Reprimand!
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
The sun rose and set. In the blink of an eye, it was already the afternoon of the next day.
After Heroine Luo and Little Yunli left, the small courtyard in Double Osmanthus Alley beca much quieter. A green sprout had already appeared under the vegetable trellis, but it was still impossible to tell what it was.
The window in the west wing was closed, so the bird couldn’t go out to play. It was lying on the bed with its claws facing the sky, looking at the motionless Ye Jingtang. It couldn’t help missing Sister Little Waterlons, Sister Big Chest, Sister Fat-Headed Dragon, and Sister Poached Eggs…
“Chirp!” The bird raised its claws and kicked Ye Jingtang to remind him that it was ti to eat.
Unfortunately, there was no response.
Ye Jingtang was sitting cross-legged by the window and focusing his mind while feeling the changes in his body. Although he couldn’t explain it clearly, after studying the Dragon Form Picture for a long ti, he could vaguely sense a ‘qi’ circulating in his body.
This ‘qi’ was completely different from the internal energy in the dantian of martial artists. It was even more obscure and difficult to find. It could even make people think that they were hallucinating.
But as long as he practiced according to the guidance of the Dragon Form Picture, this illusion would appear. After many attempts, he could confirm that there was indeed an invisible and unpredictable qi in his body.
As for the effect, he couldn’t tell for the ti being. But according to the Prince of Jing’s explanation, practicing the Dragon Form Picture could allow one to have extraordinary strength. He estimated that the effect was to nourish the muscles and make the body stronger.
Ye Jingtang had been on duty last night. After returning ho, he had been studying the Dragon Form Picture in his room. Unknowingly, he had reached this point. Just as he was practicing seriously, he suddenly heard a sound.
Coo- Coo Coo-
It sounded like a chicken cooing, but the sound was completely out of tune.
Opening his eyes, he saw the bird standing on the windowsill, raising its neck…
No, it didn’t have a neck. It should be raising its head and cooing at him.
Ye Jingtang’s eyes were full of helplessness. He took out a dried at box from the drawer and placed it in front of the bird. Then he checked himself. He hadn’t slept all night, but he wasn’t tired or sleepy. He even felt refreshed. It seed that the Roaring Dragon Chart was indeed extraordinary.
He resud practicing the Dragon Form Picture, but before he could enter the state, he heard another sound.
Thump, thump…
“Jingtang?”
Thump, thump…
Knocking was coming from outside the courtyard.
When the bird heard the sound, it imdiately perked up and began to open the window itself.
Ye Jingtang stopped practicing and cald his qi. He put on his robe and opened the courtyard door. He saw Third Lady standing at the door with a food box in her hand. She was dressed as usual, wearing a chest-high ruqun and decent hair accessories, looking like an intellectual and capable woman from a wealthy family.
But her makeup was slightly different. Before going out, she had dressed up carefully. Her lips were painted in a shimring red color, exuding a sleek luster under the setting sun, looking like cherries waiting to be plucked.
It’s already afternoon. Why are you still sleeping? What did you do last night?” Pei Xiangjun frowned, her eyes resentful. She looked like an aggrieved young lady who ca to ask for an explanation after a man had stayed out all night.
Ye Jingtang didn’t expect Third Lady to change back in just a few days. He couldn’t help smiling. “Last night, 1 was ordered to patrol the Imperial City. 1 stayed up all night and didn’t sleep. Co in and talk.”
Pei Xiangjun had co to look for Ye Jingtang the night before yesterday, but he hadn’t returned for two consecutive days. She thought that he had been poached by the Prince of Jing, so she had been quite worried.
After all, if a heroine of Jianghu dug up the cabbage, it wouldn’t affect the Red Flower Pavilion. But if the princess poached Jingtang, the Azure Dragon Hall’s assets would beco his dowry.
Seeing that Ye Jingtang was not in a good mood, she walked forward and felt his wrist’s pulse. “Yesterday, sothing happened, and then you were called to patrol the palace. Does the Imperial Court think they can use you however they want?”
“Those who are capable do more work. The Prince of Jing only entrusted with such an important task because she appreciated .”
“Those who are capable do more work…”
Feeling that Ye Jingtang’s pulse was strong and that there was nothing unusual, Pei Xiangjun secretly heaved a sigh of relief. She went to the main room and put down the food box in her hand. “Miss Ning’er has left. There’s no one to cook at ho. Why are you still staying here? The Pei residence is so big, and there’s no lack of chopsticks…”
“I’m used to living alone. The Pei residence is full of won. It’s really inconvenient to live there.”
“Hmph! Are you afraid that the maids at ho will take advantage of you?”
“Uhh…” Ye Jingtang shook his head and chuckled. He opened the food box and saw the carefully prepared food and a pot of wine inside.
The bird imdiately perked up. With a whoosh, it crossed the courtyard and landed on the table.
Pei Xiangjun held the bird in her arms and asked, “I heard that you and the
Prince of Jing t the Blood Bodhi. What happened? Tell .”
Ye Jingtang ate heartily and briefly explained the encounter with the Blood Bodhi. Then he said, “1 thought Grandmasters were so powerful, but in a real battle, he was only so-so. If 1 had mastered my saber technique, he would have been lying on the ground in a single exchange.”
“The Blood Bodhi is an old bandit of Jianghu. He’s probably in his sixties or seventies. He retired more than ten years ago. To be able to fight you to a draw now, 1 can only say that he’s still strong despite his age.”
At this point, Pei Xiangjun reminded, “If you see that the situation isn’t good, you should use the spear when you should. If the Imperial Court discovers my identity, at worst, I’ll abandon the businesses of Heavenly Water Bridge and find another place to open the hall. If I run out of money, I can earn more. If I lose people, they will really be gone.”
Ye Jingtang smiled and said, “I know my limits. If I’m really about to die, why would I hide my moves and not use them?”
“How long do you have to patrol the palace? Helm Master Li and the others have already left in advance, and the boat arranged by the family is waiting at the docks. We can set off at any ti.”
“I’ve already told the Prince of Jing, and I don’t have to go to the palace today. If there’s nothing else tomorrow, we can set off.”
The two of them had only chatted for a mont when the sound of wheels suddenly sounded outside the alley, along with Xiuhe’s voice.
“Huh?! Greetings, Your Highness Prince of Jing…”
“No need to stand on ceremony. Is Ye Jingtang inside?”
“Yes, he’s with our boss…”
A luxurious carriage stopped outside the alley, and a tall beauty walked out of the carriage under the protection of a white-haired old woman.
Dongfang Liren was still wearing the domineering and fat-heated dragon python robe, but she had changed her hairstyle to that of a scholarly young lady, with a pearl hairpin inserted diagonally. Coupled with the red rouge on her full lips, she looked extrely noble. As soon as she appeared, the entire old street lit up.
Dongfang Liren gently raised her hand and gestured for Xiuhe to dispense with the formalities. She led the white-haired old woman into the remote alley.
Double Osmanthus Alley was very old. More than ten houses along the way were dilapidated. If she hadn’t co personally, she wouldn’t have known that there was such a dilapidated place in the capital. “Tell the Imperial Capital governnt to renovate this street.”
“Renovations will only fix the problem for a while. There were a lot of people on Dye Workshop Street during the previous dynasty. After the founding of the country, in order to facilitate control, all the large and small workshops were moved to the west of the city. This place is declining day by day. In my opinion, to make this place active, it is necessary to get special businesses here…”
During their chat, the bird flew to the top of the wall and flapped its wings in greeting. “Chirp chirp chirp-”
Dongfang Liren smiled, raised her arms to catch the bird, and looked at the courtyard door.
The courtyard door opened at this mont, and a man and woman walked out. The man was tall and handso, and the woman was gentle and dignified. They looked like a young couple with talent and beauty.
Dongfang Liren blinked and couldn’t help looking at Pei Xiangjun.
“Your Highness!”
“Commoner Pei Xiangjun greets Your Highness.”
“Who is this lady?”
Ye Jingtang arrived before Dongfeng Liren and introduced warmly, “This is the head of the Pei family. Outsiders call her Third Lady Pei. 1 wonder if Your Highness has heard of her.”
After getting to know Ye Jingtang, Dongfang Liren had co to know the Pei family and knew that the head of the Pei family was a woman. Now that she saw her with her own eyes, she couldn’t help being surprised. “I’ve heard of her, but I didn’t expect her to be so young and beautiful.”
Pei Xiangjun bowed. “You flatter , Your Highness. I heard that Jingtang had an accident the day before yesterday, so I ca to take a look. Um… I’ll take my leave first.”
Dongfang Liren naturally didn’t want her to stay, so she nodded. As Pei Xiangjun left gracefully, the Prince of Jing even glanced at her charming figure.
Ye Jingtang didn’t notice these small details. After bidding farewell to Third Lady, he raised his hand and gestured. “Your Highness, please go in and have a seat.”
Dongfang Liren asked the white-haired old woman to wait outside and carried the bird into the courtyard. She was rather surprised to see the flowers and plants planted by the wall. “You’re a single man, but your ho is quite particular.”
If Ye Jingtang really lived alone, the courtyard would definitely not be so elegant. He couldn’t say these things, so he smiled casually and brought Dongfang Liren to the main room. “The house isn’t big, so there’s no place to entertain Your Highness. I hope Your Highness doesn’t mind.”
Dongfang Liren was born as the second imperial princess. After she was conferred the title of a prince of the blood by her sister, the stable in her ho was more spacious than here. Seeing that such a capable man like Ye Jingtang actually lived in such a poor place, she sighed in her heart. She felt that he was indeed not arrogant and impatient or valued fa and fortune. He was a modest gentleman.
However, she didn’t express these thoughts. She sat at the square table and assud the posture of a princess. Her expression was slightly cold as she said, “Ye Jingtang, how many things have you kept from ?!”
Ye Jingtang was about to go to the kitchen to get hot water to make tea when he heard the aggressive words. He was at a loss. “Huh? What does Your Highness an?”
Dongfang Liren’s sitting posture was stable, and her bright and beautiful face was dignified and without anger, as if she was examining a rebellious courtier who had deceived his superior. “If you confess, 1 can still be lenient. But if you insist on pointing it out, don’t bla for being rciless!”
“Chirp…” The bird felt that the atmosphere wasn’t right.. It quietly closed its beak and moved a few steps to the side…
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