Chapter 301: Chapter 301: The Return Journey
But he didn’t dare ask. His master’s orders were to be obeyed, of course.
"Yes."
Although Second Miss Ye’s actions were very low-key, there were simply too many people in the capital who loved a good spectacle.
After everything that had happened, he was afraid many eyes were still watching her in the shadows.
Giving her extra protection was only proper.
Lian Zhou glanced up at his master again. Seeing his master’s impassive expression, he couldn’t help but ask in a low voice, "Master, would you like to go to Yunlai Tavern for a look?"
Shen Yanchuan didn’t speak, just gave him the briefest of glances.
"Unnecessary."
A sudden chill ran down Lian Zhou’s spine. ’A misstep,’ he thought, sheepishly pulling his head back.
He gave himself a light, regretful slap across the mouth. ’This mouth! Why do I always have to bring up a sore subject?’
He’d only been thinking about how long it had been. His master hadn’t tasted even the cheapest Chrysanthemum Drink, let alone the famed Snow Drink. But he’d forgotten that Second Miss Ye was no longer in the capital. Even if his master went to Yunlai Tavern and drank the finest wine himself, what would be the point?
’After all, he would be fetching it himself; she wouldn’t be the one sending it over!’
Shen Yanchuan sat inside the carriage, resting with his eyes closed. He calmly thought to himself—
’Whatever.’
’A few jugs of wine are nothing. I’ve drunk medicine she brewed with her own hands.’
’Hmph. Compared to me, they don’t even come close.’
...
「Leaving Jiuhua Mountain, the group continued along the main road.」
The carriage rocked gently, and Xiao Wu fell asleep in Ye Yunfeng’s arms.
She had woken up early and had been trekking up and down the mountain. Her small body was utterly exhausted.
Still, it was good that she was asleep.
Ye Chutang held a black sandalwood box. Inside was a handful of earth taken from her father and mother’s grave.
Outside, the sky was gradually growing dark.
Ye Jingyan glanced outside.
"At this pace, we should reach Qingzhou in seven or eight days."
The September air was crisp and the roads were easy to travel, which would indeed speed up their journey considerably.
Ye Chutang nodded and added,
"We’ve already waited three years. We’re not in a rush. We can take our time."
Xiao Wu seemed to be having a nightmare. She stirred restlessly in Ye Yunfeng’s arms.
Ye Yunfeng patted her gently and held her a little tighter.
Xiao Wu finally settled down, burying her chubby little face in his chest.
Once she was sleeping peacefully again, Ye Yunfeng looked up and asked, "Elder Sister, are we going to stay for a while this time we go back?"
Ye Chutang had specifically told the two of them to take a month’s leave.
A round trip to Qingzhou at a normal pace wouldn’t take this long.
After thinking it over, he guessed that his elder sister hadn’t been back to Qingzhou in a long time and intended to use this trip to stay a little longer.
He said nostalgically, "We haven’t been back in years. I wonder if anything at home has changed."
Looking at his expression, Ye Chutang’s mind wandered for a moment.
’When I was reborn into this world, I was already in the Capital City. Qingzhou was just a distant homeland in the original body’s memories.’
’For a frail, sheltered girl of thirteen or fourteen, the journey from Qingzhou to the Capital City was the farthest distance she could possibly imagine.’
’It was the long road that led her from life to death.’
’For the Ye Chutang of today, this is a trip *to* Qingzhou, not a return *home*.’
’But for Yan and A Feng, this was a true homecoming, a return to the place where they had grown up.’
’Compared to the Capital City, they were obviously more familiar with Qingzhou and held a deeper affection for it.’
A slight smile touched Ye Chutang’s lips. "Yes. It’s a rare opportunity, so we should certainly stay for a good while."
Ye Yunfeng’s smile faded as something occurred to him.
"...Actually, there’s hardly anyone left there. So whether things have changed or not... it doesn’t really matter much."
The elders in their family had all passed away years ago. The two Ye Family brothers came from humble origins and had only managed to secure a foothold for themselves through their academic talents.
Especially Ye Zheng. If not for the incident, he would have had a boundless future by now.
But in this world, there are no ’what ifs’.
"Going back to honor our ancestors will serve as an accounting to Father, Mother, and our elder brother," Ye Chutang said gently.
Ye Jingyan said, "Don’t worry, Elder Sister. I already sent people ahead to clean and tidy up, just as you instructed. We’ll be able to move directly into the old residence when we arrive in Qingzhou."
He was always so meticulous. Ye Chutang had complete confidence in him.
"Good."
...
「Prince Qi Mansion.」
Xiao Chengxuan had been lying low for some time, spending his days reading and practicing archery, no longer concerning himself with external affairs.
He was putting on a grand show of self-reflection.
Only he knew, however, that he was about to go mad with anxiety.
’The Third Prince returned with military achievements, his prestige soaring to new heights. Father-Emperor clearly intends to support him—I heard he was even publicly praised in court recently.’
’And here I am, trapped in this damned mansion, unable to do a single thing!’
If his maternal grandfather hadn’t strictly warned him to lie low in the mansion for now—promising to handle everything outside for him—Xiao Chengxuan would have lost his patience long ago.
"By my calculations, Ye Heng should reach Tongbei in a little over a month, right?"
His attendant replied in a low voice, "Barring any unforeseen circumstances on the road, that’s correct."
Xiao Chengxuan’s expression was grim.
’I originally wanted to just kill Ye Heng and be done with it, to stop that mouth of his from spouting any more nonsense.’
’But then I changed my mind. It’s better to spare Ye Heng for now and, once this storm blows over, take his life quietly.’
’Because of the Huo Yucheng case, Father-Emperor is furious. Right now, any move I make will be seen as a mistake.’
’If someone with an agenda seizes the opportunity to make an issue of it... the problem will be far bigger than what killing a single Ye Heng could solve.’
’Besides, since things have already come to this, it’s better to just wait and see how things develop.’
Xiao Chengxuan shook his head, pushing the tangled thoughts from his mind.
"I hear Shen Yanchuan has gone to Changzhou?"
"Replying to Your Highness, yes. The Heir of Duke Dingbei left the capital yesterday."
Xiao Chengxuan sneered.
"There’s nothing in Changzhou. He’s going on a fool’s errand!"
They all knew perfectly well why Shen Yanchuan was making this trip.
But unfortunately for him, he was going to be disappointed.
Xiao Chengxuan turned his head to give an order. "Has the message been delivered to Xu Jie?"
The attendant lowered his head and replied respectfully, "Yes. Though Lord Xu is not in the capital, his sources are excellent. Even if Your Highness hadn’t sent word, he likely would have found out early on."
Xiao Chengxuan knew that, of course. He had done it merely to make Xu Jie owe him a favor and, at the same time, to send a signal that they were still on the same side.
"Let him try. If he can actually dig something up, I’ll admit he has some skill," Xiao Chengxuan said with a mocking smile, his eyes narrowing. "But let’s see him deal with all those troubles and make it back in one piece before we talk about that!"
Xu Jie was no fool; he knew what needed to be done. Otherwise, Xiao Chengxuan wouldn’t have sought him out in the first place.
The attendant naturally murmured his agreement.
"Your Highness is wise and far-sighted. These matters are not worth your concern."
Xiao Chengxuan closed his eyes. Trying to read was only making him more irritable.
He leaned back, raised a hand to pinch the bridge of his nose, and then asked, as if it were a casual afterthought,
"Has there been any movement from that quarter recently?"
