Wang Dian glanced at his flat abdomen, then casually shifted his gaze away, saying formally. “Haven’t you already——“
Meeting Liang Ye’s threatening gaze, he closed his mouth primly and sighed instead, “The weather is indeed nice today.”
Liang Ye leisurely tapped the Liu Ye sword against his palm.
The weather was indeed nice. When they left the Governor’s mansion after breakfast, a light drizzle had started. Liang Ye mounted his horse smoothly without touching the stirrup and leaned down slightly to extend a hand to him.
Wang Dian looked up at him, “Why are we riding horses again?”
After being up all night, taking a carriage would have been more comfortable no matter what.
“We’re in a hurry,” Liang Ye waved his hand at him.
Wang Dian pointed at the horse behind him, “Then I’ll just ride separately——damn!”
Liang Ye grabbed his hand and easily pulled him up. Wang Dian hurriedly stepped on the stirrup and barely managed to land on the horse’s back.
Two grown men squeezed together was far from comfortable. Before Wang Dian could protest, Liang Ye had already cracked the whip amid Xu Xiude’s “sincere” attempts to make them stay, galloping into the rain.
“I can ride one myself,” Wang Dian said, thinking he assumed his horsemanship wasn’t good, “Those horses aren’t wild either.”
The rain cape from behind wrapped around his entire body. Liang Ye wrapped one arm around his waist, pulling his entire back against his chest, and said with narrowed eyes, “Zhen knows your horsemanship is quite good. Loufan’s blood-sweat horses are fierce and hard to tame, not everyone can ride them.”
Speaking of those blood-sweat horses still made Wang Dian’s heart ache to bleeding.
“There might be assassins on the road,” Liang Ye put the hood on him and said lazily, “With your mediocre martial arts skills, you’d just be waiting to become someone’s target.”
Wang Dian tied the hood securely, “Your wound has just gotten a bit better, you shouldn’t jostle too much.”
“We jostled plenty last night, this is nothing in comparison,” Liang Ye squeezed the horse’s belly and cracked the whip twice more, making the stallion dart forward like an arrow.
Wang Dian was caught off guard and got a face full of rain water, immediately followed by Liang Ye’s unrestrained laughter that transmitted through their touching chests into his body.
“Childish,” he wiped the rain water from his face, and the hood that had been blown half open was pulled back from behind, covering most of his face except for a small part of his chin.
Liang Ye hugged him and turned his head to give him a kiss, “Hya!”
Liang Ye disliked wearing capes, equally hating anything that would disturb his judgment. When they dismounted, his clothes were soaked and his hair was dripping wet. Wang Dian watched with furrowed brows, and just as he was about to tell someone to change clothes, Liang Ye mysteriously leaned close to his ear and said, “Let me show you a magic trick.”
Wang Dian’s gaze followed his hand movement, and saw him snap his fingers crisply, causing a wave of heat around his body that dried most of his clothes and hair. Then he proudly raised an eyebrow at him.
Wang Dian found this scene very familiar, extremely similar to when he was showing off the butterfly knife he had just learned in his cocky high school days – that photo was still in the album.
“Wow,” Wang Dian exclaimed with exaggerated emotion, “So amazing.”
“You’re being perfunctory,” Liang Ye touched his face that still had some raindrops on it and quickly kissed his lips.
Just as he straightened up, Li Mu arrived with the secret guards, “Master, this is the abandoned house. Last night’s fire traces are still here, and there are signs of fighting. The little highness is gravely ill, and with Baili Daren carrying him, they couldn’t have gone far. This subordinate guesses they might be heading into the city.”
The nearest city was called Tongzhong City, still thirty to forty li away from here. The group rested briefly at the abandoned house before setting out again in the rain.
“Will Chong Heng be alright?” Wang Dian still couldn’t help asking Liang Ye in a low voice as they mounted.
Chong Heng was disguised as Liang Ye and headed to the Capital with the imperial guards, but Wang Dian still felt he was just a seventeen or eighteen-year-old child, which seemed somewhat forced no matter how you looked at it.
“Don’t worry,” Liang Ye said proudly, “His disguise skills are perfect. As long as he doesn’t think too much, he’s quite reliable.”
Wang Dian couldn’t tell if he was genuinely proud or mocking him, then heard him say, “Luring out that old Bian Cang, Zhen is quite curious about what he’s really trying to do.”
“Bian Cang…” Wang Dian frowned, “Could he be trying to avenge Bian Rufeng?”
“Heh,” Liang Ye sneered. “He’d better be.”
Tongzhong City lived up to its name, with large areas of wutong trees planted both inside and outside the city. Because legend said phoenixes would only perch on wutong trees, it was also called the Phoenix-Attracting Tree, so Tongzhong City was also known as Phoenix-Attracting City.
The Anhan Prefecture was suffering from a severe drought and famine. This once prosperous city also appeared somewhat desolate and declining, though it was still much better compared to other places.
Liang Huan was being carried by Baili Cheng’an, and opened his big eyes to watch the children huddled together begging by the roadside. He asked softly, “An An, what are they doing?”
After being taught many times, Liang Huan finally stopped calling him sister or mother, but this child had learned from someone to use repeated syllables when addressing people. Combined with his cute innocent white face, it was hard for anyone to refuse.
“Your Highness, they are begging,” Baili Cheng’an’s voice was cold, “They are all children of Great Liang, but due to inaction from the court, they can’t eat enough food or wear enough clothes, and are forced to live on the streets, surviving on others’ charity.”
Liang Huan hugged his neck, blinking in confusion for a while, “Don’t they farm?”
“Their land can’t grow crops. Anhan Prefecture is in severe drought, but local officials are afraid to report it, fearing they’ll be made examples of. Yet they still increase taxes. The common people can’t bear it anymore and have to sell their land at low prices just to survive,” Baili Cheng’an said, “How does Your Highness think this place compares to the Capital?”
Liang Huan was silent for a moment, then said in his childish voice, “The people in Zhuangzi don’t even own land; they farm the land belonging to the Cui family and still have to pay a grain tax.”
Baili Cheng’an looked at him with some surprise.
“Uncle said the Cui family is a noble family,” Liang Huan said, “An An also said noble families are like worms, they will eat away at the palace.”
He couldn’t specifically understand what the country was, but instinctively took the palace as a concrete representation of the country. He wracked his brains thinking for a while, “Uncle has money, he can buy grain, build big houses for them.”
Baili Cheng’an said approvingly, “Your Highness shows such benevolence at such a young age.”
“Uncle says people should have a sense of responsibility,” Liang Huan really liked talking to Baili Cheng’an and really liked being held by him, “Everything I eat and use comes from the people’s… tax…”
He stumbled over the word, not remembering it, so Baili Cheng’an prompted him, “Taxes.”
“Yes!” Liang Huan nodded vigorously, saying seriously, “I can eat less, wear my old clothes, and give the taxes back to them so they can buy things to eat.”
He lay on Baili Cheng’an’s shoulder looking at those dirty-faced children, staring at him hopefully, “Okay?”
Baili Cheng’an sighed, “Long Xiang.”
Long Xiang said disapprovingly, “Daren, doing this is too eye-catching.”
“Go ahead,” Baili Cheng’an insisted. “There’s nothing wrong with His Highness wanting to save them.”
Long Xiang had no choice but to comply, distributing the few cakes in his arms to those barely surviving children. Immediately, adults appeared from nowhere and surrounded him, grabbing his legs and clothes, refusing to let him leave.
“Young master, please be kind, give us some food!”
“Young master! Young master! I have elderly parents and young children waiting for food at home, please!”
“Have pity on me, have pity on me, give us some food…”
The children who got cakes were wolfing them down, but before they could swallow, the cakes were snatched away. Some people even tried to dig the food out of their mouths. Long Xiang tried to help but just as he shook off some people, others would grab him, almost getting swallowed by the crowd.
“Did you see that, Ah Huan?” Baili Cheng’an held Liang Huan’s hand watching from afar, “Your intentions were good, but when you don’t have enough ability and can only give a few cakes, you actually put those children in danger. Good intentions can lead to bad results. When they had enough food and clothing, their conduct wasn’t necessarily worse than the Capital’s commoners, but they’re too hungry now.”
Liang Huan thoughtfully watched the fighting crowd, “Need to give them lots and lots of cakes.”
“Then what?” Baili Cheng’an asked.
Liang Huan frowned his little brows and thought for a long time, “They need land, if they have their own land, they can grow grain and make their own cakes to eat.”
Baili Cheng’an patted his head, “Your Highness has always been wise.”
Liang Huan rubbed his head against his palm and said softly, “An An, carry me.”
Baili Cheng’an bent down to pick up the child. By then Long Xiang had finally escaped from the refugees’ clutches and hurried over, “Daren, we shouldn’t stay here long, let’s leave the city.”
Baili Cheng’an nodded, noticing several inquiring gazes, and touched the pink fluffy flower on Liang Huan’s head, “Ah Huan, do you like the little flower mother bought you?”
“…Like it,” Liang Huan wrinkled his little nose, wanting to lift up his yellow little dress, but was stopped by Long Xiang.
“Ah Huan, didn’t father say not to lift your little dress?” Long Xiang was tall and looked cruel and frightening when not smiling.
Liang Huan was so scared he hiccupped with tears, burying his head in Baili Cheng’an’s chest, sobbing with a crying voice, “Mother, scared.”
The shoulder of the clothes quickly became wet with tears, clearly not acting.
“Don’t be afraid, mother will help you beat him up,” Baili Cheng’an patted his back, perfunctorily punching Long Xiang twice.
The little highness was good in every way except for being too timid and crying easily. These days Baili Cheng’an kept wavering between “His Highness is wise and will surely become great in the future” and “Such a pitiful soft thing would be lucky just to survive” – the future of Great Liang was very worrying.
“Several people have been following us,” Long Xiang said in a low voice. “Young Master, wait in the alley ahead, I’ll take care of the tails.”
“Keep it clean,” Baili Cheng’an said calmly, “Don’t come back with blood on you.”
Long Xiang looked helplessly at the little baby in his arms, remembering how last time when his face was stained with blood, it scared Liang Huan so badly he almost fainted from crying, and it took the daren personally comforting him half the night before he fell asleep.
While Long Xiang went to handle the people, Baili Cheng’an carried the sobbing Liang Huan into the alley, “Ah Huan, stop crying.”
Liang Huan sniffled, looking at him with red eyes, “Mother, can I have candy?”
“…No,” Baili Cheng’an paused, “You already had one piece when taking medicine.”
Liang Huan looked at him somewhat conflicted. Baili Cheng’an was about to persuade him further when suddenly a familiar voice came from behind.
“Wenbin.”
Baili Cheng’an’s expression tensed up as he suddenly turned around, the hairpins making clear ringing sounds, and showed some surprise at seeing the person, “Qi Ming? You’re not dead?”
“Maybe I came back from the dead to find you,” Qi Ming’s eyes flashed with some amazement, “You in women’s clothing… look even more delicate and beautiful than I imagined.”
Baili Cheng’an laughed coldly, “So you’ve joined Bian Cang?”
“What do you mean joined?” Qi Ming’s expression was calm. “I was Bian Cang’s person all along.”
Baili Cheng’an’s eyes were full of disappointment, “Teacher cultivated you so carefully, yet you aid and abet the wicked.”
“Wenbin, I know you won’t believe anything I say now,” Qi Ming frowned. “I worked hard to convince Bian Cang to give me the task of capturing you and the crown prince. You should understand, if you fell into someone else’s hands you would surely lose your life.”
“What, you could kill teacher but not me?” Baili Cheng’an stared at him asking.
“If I wanted to kill you, why would I come alone to see you now?” Qi Ming said earnestly. “As long as you hand over the crown prince to me, I will surely protect your life.”
“How will you protect it?” Baili Cheng’an questioned.
“If you’re willing, you can return to being a woman, and I will surely marry you properly. When we return to the Capital I will go propose to the Baili family,” Qi Ming looked at him nervously, “How about it?”
“And then what?” Baili Cheng’an laughed. “What about your wives, concubines and children?”
“If you don’t want to live with them, I can send them away,” Qi Ming raised his hand and swore. “I, Qi Ming, will only be with you forever as one couple.”
Seeing Baili Cheng’an’s expression soften, Qi Ming felt joy in his heart, “When I return to court, I will surely bring glory to the family name. You can stay home as a wife and mother, and can finally be a normal woman, no longer having to be out in public like this, how about it?”
“Your words are truly laughable,” Baili Cheng’an was utterly confused, “Great Liang is currently in crisis, how could I ignore it? Moreover, my official career is excellent, all the descendants of the Baili family combined are not worth as much as me alone. I have already brought supreme glory to the family name, why should I confine myself to the spacious and deep courtyard?”
Qi Ming’s face turned cold, “You’re just a woman, how can you be an official? Teacher and I worried about you for years. Once your identity is exposed, it will implicate your entire Baili family! You won’t be able to protect your own life either!”
“Teacher indeed cared for me greatly, but forget about you. When you accidentally discovered my identity, before when you thought I was a male you only wanted to befriend me, but after learning I was a female, you became jealous and resentful, that’s why you fled to the Capital,” Baili Cheng’an had never feared anyone in scholarly debates or court arguments, let alone a mere Qi Ming. With composed dignity he said:
“The feelings you speak of are just excuses to cover your base thoughts. What does it matter if I am male or female? Under heaven, how many can match my talent? I respected you because of Teacher, but now Teacher died by your hand – we have a blood feud. Yet you dare to come here making threats. Qi Ming, in my eyes, you are nothing but a clown.”
Baili Cheng’an had a straightforward nature, full of pride in her bones. If not for Wen Zong’s previous warnings and advice, she would have utterly disdained associating with the likes of Qi Ming. (TL: changed pronoun)
“Clown?” Liang Huan turned his head to look at the distorted expression on Qi Ming’s face, then turned away in disgust.
Qi Ming was enraged and humiliated by Baili Cheng’an’s words, “If I expose your female identity to Liang Ye, I’d like to see how you save yourself!”
“If His Majesty truly looks down on me because of my female identity, then such an unworthy master isn’t worth following!” Baili Cheng’an laughed coldly. “Among the four kingdoms, how could there be no place for my talents to shine?”
Qi Ming’s eyes turned fierce, “In that case, don’t blame me for being ruthless!”
With that, he waved his hand and seven or eight guards walked out from behind him. Qi Ming sneered, “I’d like to see how you escape from my grasp——ah!”
Before he could finish speaking, a thin willow leaf blade had directly pierced through his palm and nailed it to the wall, followed immediately by a broad sword at his throat.
Long Xiang held his sword and looked up in surprise, meeting the gaze of the man crouching on the wall.
The fine soul-breaking threads wrapped around the guards’ necks and tightened slightly, immediately causing their heads to fall. Liang Ye pulled the thread in his hand, gave it a light tug, and Qi Ming’s hands were completely severed, falling to the ground with a plop.
“Zhen sees you have no palms now, don’t you?” Liang Ye cheerfully pointed at the heads and hands on the ground, addressing the wailing Qi Ming. “You can escape however you want now, right, Qi whatever-your-name-is?”
“Liang Ye—” Qi Ming howled in hatred.
“This minister pays respects to Your Majesty,” Baili Cheng’an quickly put down Liang Huan and bowed, the elaborate beautiful dress soaking in the thick blood.
Long Xiang immediately reacted and knelt down, “This commoner pays respects to Your Majesty.”
Liang Huan stared blankly at the blood and heads all over the ground, and burst out crying with a “Waaah!”
