A raincoat wind and snow to the small garden

Chapter 8: The Strange Story of Hai Niang (V)

Sleeping at sea is actually very noisy, with waves hitting the ferry's frame, making a rattling sound; there are times when the ferry is almost about to hit a reef, and when the boatman at the helm encounters a reef with hidden abysses, he will quickly change direction to prevent the ferry from being destroyed.

Xiang Xiaoyuan was not used to the bumps on the boat, and she couldn't fall asleep for a long time. Faintly, she heard the crisp sound of rolling balls coming from the next room.

Boom, boom, boom.

The big beads fell to the ground and rolled wildly on the wooden board.

A bit disturbing.

He muttered to Xiaoyuan, "What's that sound?" and soon fell asleep again.

The next day, she woke up from her dream and subconsciously glanced at the bed. Huaiyu, who was sleeping soundly, was suddenly gone.

Xiang Xiaoyuan woke up Yan Yun and Lin Qiyu who were lying next to him and asked, "Where is Lord Huaiyu?"

Yan Yun yawned: "I don't know."

Lin Qiyu was confused: "Ah? Lord Huaiyu wasn't in the house to protect us? He ran away in the middle of the night? He really has no brotherly loyalty!"

Xiang Xiaoyuan felt that even if she slept so soundly, she might still be more alert than the two friends next to her. She simply ignored them and went to have breakfast first.

As soon as he opened the door, Xiang Xiaoyuan saw Ni Miaoyi standing at the door and wandering for a long time.

Yesterday, Xiang Xiaoyuan was trapped, and thanks to Ni Miaoyi's rescue, she was naturally grateful to the young lady and immediately shouted happily: "Miaoyi!"

Ni Miaoyi turned around, pursed her lips and smiled. She took out a box of goat milk pancakes from her arms and handed it to Xiang Xiaoyuan.

Ni Miaoyi said with shame, "Did I disturb you last night?"

Xiang Xiaoyuan was stunned, but she quickly realized that they were probably talking about the rolling balls last night.

Xiang Xiaoyuan shook her head repeatedly: "It's not that noisy..."

Ni Miaoyi smiled sheepishly and said, "I've been weak since I was a child. Not only do I have night terrors, I also wander at night. My parents raised me, praying to the gods and Buddhas, even using countless magical arts and talismans. Later, I met a wandering Taoist priest who left me three golden lotus Buddhist beads. He told me to hold them in my hand while I sleep at night to avoid being haunted by ghosts."

Xiang Xiaoyuan suddenly realized: "So, it was you who accidentally dropped your Buddhist beads on the ground last night, which is why there were so many noises."

"Yes, I didn't want to disturb Xiaoyuan's rest. Please don't blame me for disturbing her."

"What nonsense are you talking about! When I was at home, my neighbors raised chickens and ducks, and they would crow as soon as the dawn broke. That was noisy. What you are doing is nothing." Xiang Xiaoyuan waved her hand indifferently. She didn't want to accept the food from Ni Miaoyi.

It is hard to imagine that a young lady from a wealthy family would always be so humble and try to please the people around her just because of her own illness. Xiang Xiaoyuan even felt a little sympathetic towards Ni Miaoyi.

Ni Miaoyi thought of a compromise: "Then I'll go have breakfast with Xiaoyuan, and she can have my milk pancake with her."

"Okay." Xiang Xiaoyuan had no choice but to agree.

This ferry is the largest one that can be hired in a small place. Although it is still a bit simple for the children of wealthy families, it can at least allow everyone to live in a separate room and there is a dining room where meals are served.

Since we are traveling, it is naturally impossible to put fresh fruits and vegetables on the boat. It would be good to have some steamed cakes and rice porridge.

The young ladies and gentlemen all looked disgusted and complained, but Xiang Xiaoyuan was the only one who remained calm. She picked up a steamed bun, broke it in two, and ate it with some pickles.

Lin Qiyu and Yan Yun saw Xiang Xiaoyuan from afar, and the two of them rushed over. They squeezed around Xiang Xiaoyuan on the left and right, and also surrounded Ni Miaoyi.

Lin Qiyu picked up a milk pancake, took a bite, and his eyes lit up: "Delicious!"

Yan Yun knocked his hand with her chopsticks in disgust: "This belongs to Miss Ni, why don't you thank her?"

Lin Qiyu: "Thank you, Miss Ni!"

Ni Miaoyi nodded awkwardly: "It's okay, I originally gave it to Xiaoyuan to eat..."

Lin Qiyu's mind cleared up, and he suddenly had an idea and talked about the commotion he heard last night.

"It's the middle of the night, and I don't know what's rolling on the ground. Could it be Queen Hai playing with her own eyeballs?"

Yan Yun got goose bumps all over her body after hearing what he said. She dropped her chopsticks and started to hit him on the head.

Xiang Xiaoyuan said helplessly: "That's because the Buddhist beads in Miaoyi's hand fell to the ground. She is weak and needs to use the beads to suppress her soul."

Lin Qiyu has loved listening to these supernatural stories since he was a child, and he also studied the use of magical instruments to suppress souls. He nodded and said, "No wonder."

After sighing, he looked at Ni Miaoyi again: "But Miss Ni, you have to be careful. Queen Hai likes weak and sickly people like you..."

Ni Miaoyi was trembling with fear.

Yan Yun couldn't stand Lin Qiyu bullying the young lady, so she stepped on the surface of his boot and crushed it hard.

The young man screamed in pain.

Lin Qiyu said angrily: "Yan Yun, why are you stepping on me!"

Yan Yun snorted coldly: "I told you to wake up and stop saying such stupid things."

Xiang Xiaoyuan was no longer surprised by her friends' fights. She just ate her steamed bun quietly without saying a word.

This table was quiet, but the girls at the other table started whispering.

Zhu Fangfei found it hard to swallow and simply put down her chopsticks.

With tears in her eyes, she said fearfully, "Lin Qing's death was strange, yet she was a candidate for the Crown Princess. Do you think someone is targeting this noble lady who came to the capital this time?"

When these words were spoken, all the young ladies present were frightened.

It was Wu Jingnu, the older daughter of the Jiedushi of Beiting, who comforted everyone in a soft voice, "Don't be afraid. If Lady Hai really has magical powers, she should know that I am the cousin of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince. She will only come to find me. You are safe." Everyone knew that Wu Jingnu was the niece of Empress Wu. She was the legitimate daughter of the Wu family. Unlike those of them who were abandoned by their families and sent to the capital, Wu Jingnu was summoned to the capital by the Empress's decree.

Some people said that the queen wanted to find a good marriage for Wu Jingnu, or even choose her to marry into the prince's eastern palace. Everyone knows that the current prince is not Queen Wu's biological son. She was worried that her adopted son would disrespect her in the future, so she naturally had to use in-laws to win him over.

Lin Qing, the one favored by the prince, has died, and now there is still the prince's cousin standing in the way!
Thinking of this, everyone was no longer panicked.

Wu Jingnu revealed her life story in public, simply to intimidate those young ladies who also coveted the position of Crown Princess and force them to retreat. If they wanted to compete with her for the throne, they didn't even consider their own weight!

Instead, he lowered his head and whispered to Xiaoyuan and his group.

Xiang Xiaoyuan sighed, "I didn't expect His Royal Highness the Crown Prince to be so popular!"

Lin Qiyu: "Of course, but I really think the prince is not as good-looking as me..."

Yan Yun: "If Lord Huaiyu hears you talking about the Crown Prince, will you still want your head?"

Ni Miaoyi: "Do you have a good relationship with Lord Huaiyu?"

Lin Qiyu laughed: "It's okay, it's okay, the relationship is closer than that of ordinary people."

Xiang Xiaoyuan frowned in confusion: "Come to think of it, when Lord Huaiyu went out last night, did you hear any noise?"

Lin Qiyu and Yan Yun shook their heads together.

Xiang Xiaoyuan thought thoughtfully: "Where did he go?"

Soon, Xiang Xiaoyuan met Huai Yu on the way back to his room.

On the mast with the sails hoisted high, a young man in black was leaning with a sword in his arms.

The strong wind blew up the ends of his long, thick hair, making it a vast mass, like a dark wave.

Despite the strong wind, Huaiyu remained motionless, standing quietly in the high place.

For a moment, Xiang Xiaoyuan felt that he was like a cat, always liking to climb up the pole.

Perhaps Huaiyu noticed that someone was looking at him, the young man opened his eyes, and his dark eyes swept across the deck.

He jumped down lightly, touched the ground with his toes, and landed in front of Xiang Xiaoyuan.

The young man's clothes were blown by the wind, and soon a faint orchid fragrance was wafting into the air.

Huaiyu was wearing a half-green ghost mask on his face, and his sharp jaw was stained with sea water. A drop of clear water fell on Xiang Xiaoyuan's eyebrows the moment he lowered his head.

The cool touch forced Xiang Xiaoyuan to look up at the young man's cold and inhuman eyes.

Huai Yu has a strong evil aura and is very intimidating when he gets close to people.

But Xiang Xiaoyuan was too obtuse. She didn't sense the murderous intent. Instead, she asked curiously, "Master Huaiyu, I haven't seen you this early in the morning. Where have you been?"

Huai Yu was obviously stumped by her question. His eyelashes trembled slightly and his voice was cold: "What's the matter?"

"It's okay, I just feel a little anxious without you around." Xiang Xiaoyuan always speaks her mind. She treats people sincerely and is very grateful for Huaiyu's protection. "You are a martial arts expert. Having you around always makes me feel more at ease."

After listening, Huaiyu slowly straightened up and stopped staring down at the little girl.

"Just going out for a walk." Huai Yu didn't want to chat with Xiang Xiaoyuan any longer. He walked past him sideways and took two steps. The young man stopped again. "No need to call me 'sir'. I'm only two years older than you."

"Okay, sir, no...Huai Yu." Xiang Xiaoyuan responded stutteringly.

Huaiyu didn't react much after hearing this and just walked away.

Coming and going like a cat without a trace.

Gazing at the tall figure of the young man in the distance, another question arose in her mind: How did Huaiyu know her age? Could it be that Huaiyu had already learned from Eunuch Fusheng about all the officials going to the capital? That was a possibility.

Xiang Xiaoyuan will be fourteen after the Chinese New Year, and Huaiyu is two years older than her, so she will be sixteen.

The young man, only sixteen years old, was filled with murderous intent, his hands covered in blood...

I don’t know what he has been through to develop such a cruel and bloodthirsty character.
-
Huaiyu did have something to do last night.

In the middle of the night, he heard the sound of a bird of prey's wings flapping against the doors and windows outside the door.

The young man quietly got up from the bed, glanced at the three people lying on the ground sleeping soundly, thought for a moment, and did not put on his boots, but walked straight out the door.

Huaiyu raised his arm and let the eagle with black feathers and golden beak land on his hand.

Huaiyu reached out and took off a note tied to its claws.

Huaiyu took the cloth strip and released the carrier hawk.

Using two fingers to shake open the strip of cloth, Huaiyu could see the words written on it clearly.

"Your Highness, I have ascertained that Liang Province is privately recruiting troops, and there are unusual incidents on the Hexi front."

Huaiyu read the note at a glance, then took out a fire stick and burned it.

The young man's phoenix eyes were illuminated darkly by the torches on the boat. He remained motionless for a long time, and no one knew what he was thinking.

Finally, Huaiyu looked at Xiang Xiaoyuan's room. He left the door ajar and still did not go back to sleep.

(End of this chapter)