Longevity, starting from traveling and telling stories

Chapter 36 The Wind Rises
The layout of the private room remained the same, with exquisite calligraphy and paintings hanging on the walls and a guqin placed on the desk.

Li Xianglian was wearing a pure white long dress, her face was rosy and she seemed a little shy.

Her heart was beating like a deer, nervous and expectant.

"Mr. Ye, I have painted a picture and would like to ask you to appreciate it." Li Xianglian said softly.

Ye Beixuan, dressed in a green shirt, said with a gentle smile, "Thank you, Pavilion Master Li, for the invitation."

Ye Beixuan felt helpless, but she had done him some favors, and since she was talented, gentle and graceful, it was difficult for him to refuse.

But I can only paint with my magic brush, I'm not a skilled painter! Just give me some excuse!

Li Xianglian slowly unfolded the scroll, secretly glancing at Ye Beixuan from time to time, the feelings in her heart growing stronger.

After a while, the scroll was fully opened, and it turned out to be Ye Beixuan holding a folding fan.

"Mr. Ye, what do you think of this painting?" Li Xianglian moved slightly closer to Ye Beixuan and spoke softly.

"The Pavilion Master's painting skills are superb. I admire her." Ye Beixuan answered seriously. She really has skills! It's not like I'm cheating. I have to admire her. The painting is exactly the same.

Li Xianglian was delighted when she was praised. Just when she mustered up the courage to express her feelings, a knock on the door interrupted them.

Boom boom boom!
Li Xianglian immediately showed an annoyed look, but then she regained her composure and looked towards the door. She saw Hou Fangting standing there, smiling and bowing. "I'm so sorry to bother you two. Fangting apologizes."

Hou Fangting had a smile on his face, but there was a barely perceptible cunning glint in his eyes.

Li Xianglian suppressed her blushing face and felt a little depressed. Why did he come here at this time?
"Brother Hou." Ye Beixuan said with a calm expression and bowed.

"Brother Ye." Hou Fangting returned the greeting with a bow, then said to himself, "I'm truly sorry to bother you two with my paintings, but I came here to remind the Pavilion Master of something important. Please forgive me."

Li Xianglian suppressed her blush, feeling a little depressed. Important matter? What was the important matter?
Looking at Hou Fangting's serious face, Li Xianglian frowned slightly.

Seeing his goal achieved, Hou Fangting hurriedly said, "Pavilion Master, a shocking change is about to occur! My father has just learned that the current emperor is in poor health and may not survive for much longer, ten days at the fastest, a month at the slowest. The higher-ups have instructed my father to prepare for a general mourning period."

"And the eldest princess is missing at this critical moment. No one knows her whereabouts."

"The princes and princesses have long been preparing for a fight to seize the throne."

"Pavilion Master Li, everyone knows that you and Her Royal Highness the Princess are as close as brothers, so I have taken the risk of coming here to inform you. I hope you will make preparations early."

Hearing Hou Fangting's words, her face changed drastically, her brows furrowed, and her heart was full of worry. Her Royal Highness the Princess was now trapped in Bashan Town, and it would be extremely difficult for her to return to Kyoto. It seemed that she had to go to the Liang and Zhu families to discuss it.

"Thank you, Mr. Hou, for telling me. Xianglian will never forget such a great favor." Li Xianglian bowed politely and expressed her gratitude sincerely.

"Brother Hou, Pavilion Master Li, I have something else to do, so I'll leave first." Ye Beixuan said with a bow.

Li Xianglian's mind was full of worries about the princess at the moment, so she had to put aside her personal feelings for the time being.

"Take care, Mr. Ye."

"Goodbye, Brother Ye." Hou Fangting said in return.

After saying that, Ye Beixuan walked away with his hands behind his back.

Looking at Ye Beixuan's departing back, Hou Fangting's face flashed with a subtle expression, and he said, "Pavilion Master, my father has always been a supporter of the eldest princess. The Liang and Zhu families in Bashan Town are the eldest princess's money bags. Pavilion Master is also her highness's servant."

"A while ago, my father discovered a group of assassins roaming around Bashan Town and that some had died there. He even secretly ordered that no one should be informed. I suspect that Her Royal Highness must have been attacked here. I am willing to sign a military order and swear to protect Her Royal Highness as she returns to the imperial capital."

After saying this, Hou Fangting bowed and saluted, his eyes full of passion.

On the other side, after Ye Beixuan left Hongxiu Pavilion, he walked on the street, which was still bustling with people and traffic.

There are many new faces in Bashan Town today. They walk steadily, lightly and calmly, and breathe evenly and long. It is obvious that they are masters.

But he ignored it and leisurely went to the market to buy some vegetables. As soon as he stepped into the market, he found many unfamiliar vendors. He bought some vegetables casually and then turned and left. It seemed that the situation in the Great Zhou Dynasty was about to change.

Stroll towards a blacksmith shop at the end of the street.

"You want a toy knife?" The blacksmith looked at Ye Beixuan speechlessly. This scholar must have become stupid from reading too much! Others wanted sickles and kitchen knives, and he also helped to secretly make a few machetes, but this was the first time he heard someone wanted a three-inch willow leaf toy knife.

"Yes, can I fight? Although I don't know martial arts, I always imagine myself as a martial arts master, so I like knives and the like very much." Ye Beixuan explained with a smile.

Hearing this, the blacksmith smiled and said, "Of course I can. Please wait a moment, sir. I will give it to you right away."

Using a machete is illegal, but using a knife is not, and you can make money, so why not do it?
After waiting for a long time.

The blacksmith finally came out with a black bandage.

"Sir, these are the flying knives you requested. There are thirty-two of them in total, all hidden inside."

Ye Beixuan took the strap and pulled out the flying knife. He stretched out his finger and flicked it, and the blade immediately made a series of chirping sounds.

It is really as thin as a cicada's wing and extremely sharp.

Ye Beixuan imitated Li Xunhuan's way of holding the flying knife, tried to throw the knife, and felt that his shots never missed.

Looking at his satisfied expression, the blacksmith was speechless. It was the first time in his life that he saw a scholar holding a knife and dreaming of martial arts.

Ye Beixuan returned home with a belt tied around his waist. There were thirty-two throwing knives in the bag. The knives were inserted into the belt and hidden inside, just like an ordinary ribbon.

Jiang Yunshang was tinkering in the kitchen when she heard a noise coming from inside.

"The food will be ready soon. You can wash your hands and eat later."

"What are you cooking?" Ye Beixuan asked doubtfully, then said in a somewhat embarrassed tone: "Excuse me, is it poisonous?"

Jiang Yunshang has always been upset about Ye Beixuan spitting out the food she cooked, and vowed to make a dish that would make him unable to stop drooling.

"Don't worry!" Jiang Yunshang brought out a bowl of soup and a dish and said, "The poison won't kill you."

The two have known each other for a long time, and they get along just like an ordinary couple bickering, and they are extremely harmonious.

Ye Beixuan took a bite of the steamed bun and drank a sip of the soup. Surprisingly, it was not bad at all. It seemed that she did have some talent.

"The old emperor is going to die." During the meal, Ye Beixuan took an inopportune bite of his steamed bun and said, "The county magistrate's son went to Hongxiu Pavilion today and said it himself. It will take ten days at the earliest and a month at the slowest."

Jiang Yunshang was stunned for a second, but did not say anything. Instead, she continued to eat the steamed bun.

"Oh! By the way, your injury has healed. I bought you some clothes. You can try them on. The one you are wearing doesn't fit you well. I see that the buttons have been broken several times." Ye Beixuan reminded.

"I'll go wash the dishes." After dinner, Jiang Yunshang cleaned up the dishes and said softly.

"Ah."

He was also eager to try out the Yi Jin Jing.

At the same time, Zhao Qingya, captain of the Fengming Secret Guard in Kyoto, received a secret letter asking her to find the king's uncle.

(End of this chapter)