It wasn’t a matter of whether it was difficult to recognize; it mainly looked completely unrelated.
However, seeing Liang Ye’s matter-of-fact expression, Chong Heng’s handwriting was probably eight parts his contribution.
“Taught him when he was young, but when he grew older, he refused to learn,” Liang Ye clicked his tongue.
In fact, if Wen Zong hadn’t hit him hard enough when he dared to slack off, Liang Ye himself wouldn’t have developed such beautiful handwriting. When Wang Dian came, he was amazed by it and took great pleasure in imitating his writing. However, Wang Dian wouldn’t say it out loud to let him get cocky. Instead, he held back his smile and said, “This writing could fit two people between the strokes.”
“Let him practice properly when we return,” Liang Ye coughed lightly, crumpling the paper and throwing it into the fire. “Let’s go.”
After crossing Heshui, it would take another day and night to reach the Capital, but considering Liang Huan’s young age and inability to endure such long-distance travel, they left Li Mu with some secret guards to take care of him.
Liang Huan naturally wasn’t happy about this. He tightly gripped Wang Dian’s sleeve and refused to let go, his eyes reddening as he was about to cry, “Uncle, stay with me.”
“Uncle needs to return to the Capital first,” Wang Dian knelt down and stroked his little head, smiling as he said, “Be good and follow Master Baili. Once you return to the Capital, you’ll see uncle again, okay?”
Liang Huan burst into tears with a “wuwuwu” sound, “No, I want uncle!”
Although Liang Huan was well-behaved, he was still just a five or six-year-old child. Now his heart and eyes were full of Wang Dian, and he refused to let go no matter what anyone said. Others took turns trying to comfort him, but it only made things worse.
Liang Ye impatiently picked up the child and said with a stern face, “Let go!”
“…wuwu, no!” Liang Huan had long figured out that in front of uncle, Liang Ye couldn’t really be fierce with him. He cried loudly, “I just want uncle! Don’t let uncle go! Liang Ye is a big villain!”
Liang Ye sneered, “You’ve been so used to being lawless.”
Just as his palm was about to land on the child’s bottom, Wang Dian quickly pulled the child into his arms and glared at him, “If you spank him, how will he walk!”
Liang Huan, hugging Wang Dian’s neck, immediately cried even more pitifully.
“…” Liang Ye snorted with laughter, “Fine, keep spoiling him.”
Liang Huan cried until his eyelashes were soaked with tears, looking at him pitifully, “Uncle, don’t go.”
Wang Dian promised him solemnly, “If you’re good, the journey will be faster, and then you can see me sooner.”
Seeing that he wouldn’t stay no matter what, Liang Huan could only nod reluctantly while sniffling, “…mm.”
After much coaxing, they finally got the child to let go. Wang Dian’s sleeve was wet with tears in one spot. He patted Liang Huan’s head, “Be good, when you return, Uncle will finish telling you that story.”
Liang Huan pouted and wiped his tears hard, saying in a hoarse little voice, “Okay.”
Beside them, Liang Ye raised an eyebrow.
After riding fast horses for an entire day, while Wang Dian was dozing by the fire during their rest, someone grabbed his face, and then Liang Ye naturally sat down beside him.
Wang Dian tiredly opened his eyes for a moment, and was pressed to rest his head on Liang Ye’s shoulder. Then he heard Liang Ye ask, “What story did you tell Liang Huan?”
“…Hmm?” The wind was a bit cold, so Wang Dian nestled closer into his neck, burying his head completely.
Liang Ye raised his arm and pulled him entirely into his embrace, turning his head to kiss his nose, “What story, I want to hear it too.”
In his drowsiness, Wang Dian smiled with his eyes closed and mumbled unclearly, “It’s just for children.”
“Don’t tell it to him,” Liang Ye kissed his eyebrows and eyes, trailing down to his lips, being completely unreasonable as he said, “And don’t comfort him either.”
Wang Dian was very sleepy and laughed quietly, “If you were five years old, I would only comfort you.”
Liang Ye dissatisfiedly covered his mouth, his palm holding his chin to prevent him from dodging. Wang Dian had originally been barely able to keep his eyes open, but was awakened by his kisses. During their intimate exchange, he tasted blood, but both were long used to it. Wang Dian pinched his nape, “…mm, enough.”
Liang Ye bit his lip and ground it gently twice before slightly raising his head, then went to kiss his ear.
“Hey——” Wang Dian pushed him once but couldn’t push him away, saying helplessly, “Jealous even of a child, Liang Ziyu, you’re really something.”
Liang Ye hummed twice, bit him irritably, and then dropped his head on his shoulder without moving.
“…” Wang Dian vigorously rubbed his head, kissed his forehead, “Petty.”
They cuddled by the fire for a while, and Wang Dian stroked and played with his Adam’s apple, “If you let Lu Shu lead troops to Chuansong, the north will be empty. If war really breaks out…”
Liang Ye very unhappily shrank his neck. Wang Dian knew he didn’t like discussing official matters–in fact, he had discovered long ago that this fellow had a bit of procrastination, especially regarding things he didn’t like. He would pile them up together and wouldn’t feel any urgency unless things became critically urgent.
“We can’t fully trust Qi Ming’s words,” Wang Dian sighed, his fingers moving to his collarbone, contemplating, “If Bian Cang really has thoughts of massacring the city, going to war would actually fulfill his wishes. We should wait for intelligence from the army before taking action.”
Liang Ye bit his wrist, leaving a round tooth mark, and pulled his hand away, “Stop touching randomly.”
Wang Dian’s eyebrows moved slightly, “What’s wrong with touching?”
Not only did he touch, but he deliberately pinched twice. Just as the other was about to bare his teeth, he switched to another spot, “The scar here can still be felt.”
Liang Ye released his mouth and said glumly, “The red birthmark is gone.”
They both had identical small red birthmarks on their chests. Liang Ye particularly liked them, but unfortunately, after that arrow through the heart, his disappeared. Since then, Wang Dian’s birthmark had constantly fallen victim to his poisonous “mouth”–this fellow probably wanted to bite it off and leave a scar in its place.
“Gone is gone.” Wang Dian placed his hand on his chest to warm it, “Really returning to the Capital?”
“Yes, to figure out what that old Bian Cang really wants to do,” Liang Ye said, “And to retrieve the Imperial Seal and Tiger Talisman while we’re at it.”
“??” Wang Dian suddenly sat up straight, “The Imperial Seal and Tiger Talisman?”
“Ah.” Liang Ye looked at him blankly, “What’s wrong?”
“You didn’t bring the Imperial Seal?” Wang Dian asked in shock, “And which Tiger Talisman are you talking about?”
“The Imperial Seal was too heavy, troublesome to carry,” Liang Ye saw his serious expression and rubbed his nose, “The Tiger Talisman, for several western prefectures, wasn’t needed, so Zhen buried it.”
“Where did you bury it?” Wang Dian asked.
“Forgot,” Liang Ye frowned and thought, “Somewhere in the palace anyway.”
Wang Dian asked again, “What about the Imperial Seal?”
“This one I remember,” Liang Ye said proudly, “It’s under the fifteenth brick beneath the smoke pipe wall to the left of the third large stove in the Imperial Kitchen. There’s a jar of pickled vegetables next to it, too salty, not tasty.”
Wang Dian’s mouth twitched, “Did you wash your hands when you ate?”
Liang Ye clicked his tongue and arrogantly bit his finger.
This fellow, relying on his immunity to all poisons, dared to put anything in his mouth.
After resting for less than half an hour, they had to set out again. When dawn was breaking, they finally saw the majestic city gates of the Capital.
“Whoa——” Several fast horses slowed to a stop.
Wang Dian was puzzled, but following Liang Ye’s gaze, he saw a famous Taoist standing under the post station. The person looked to be only in their thirties, with relaxed features, and performed a Taoist greeting to everyone, “Boundless blessings from the Heavenly Honored One, may all be merciful.”
Liang Ye dismounted and returned the Taoist greeting.
“Junior Martial Uncle,” Xiang Meng smiled, then looked at Wang Dian, “This poor Taoist greets the Prince of Danyang.”
Wang Dian finally remembered who this person was, “Temple Master Xiang?”
“Indeed.” Xiang Meng said solemnly, “I was wandering in travel when I received a letter from my young disciple saying that His Majesty had been assassinated and that the Prince requested my assistance, so I hurried to the Capital as fast as I could, hoping I’m not too late.”
Liang Ye’s assassination attempt had happened half a year ago; if they had really waited for this Temple Master to arrive, even the ashes would have scattered.
“Not late at all,” Wang Dian said with a smile, “The scar is almost gone.”
Liang Ye laughed quite disrespectfully.
Xiang Meng wasn’t bothered at all and said with lingering fear, “That’s good then. I see Junior Martial Uncle is still strong and healthy, and the killing energy around him has even progressed.”
Wang Dian clicked his tongue, and Xiang Meng shook the horsetail whisk, walked over and directly separated the two of them, “Although I didn’t time it well, since this poor Taoist has come all this way, Junior Martial Uncle you should at least offer some hospitality, right?”
“Of course.” Liang Ye dodged to the side and mounted his horse, “Please.”
A secret guard nearby offered a horse.
Xiang Meng laughed heartily, gave Wang Dian a meaningful look before mounting, and then caught up with Liang Ye.
Wang Dian frowned slightly and also mounted his horse, following neither too far nor too close behind them.
“Did Master send you?” Liang Ye asked Xiang Meng.
“No, Martial Granduncle is in closed cultivation recently, and Martial Grandmaster is busy protecting him,” Xiang Meng put the horsetail whisk behind her back, “I already said, I came after receiving Wang Dian’s letter, though I was a bit late.”
Liang Ye snorted with laughter.
“That Wang Dian…” Xiang Meng seemed to have a toothache.
Liang Ye glanced at her, “Just say what you want to say.”
“You two——” Xiang Meng stubbornly counted on her fingers again, and immediately felt her teeth hurt more, saying quietly, “Junior Martial Uncle, do you remember what I told you on Mount Shizai?”
Liang Ye turned his head to look at her puzzledly, “What?”
“You forgot?” Xiang Meng’s pain wasn’t just in her teeth anymore.
Liang Ye snorted with laughter, “Whether I forgot or not, I don’t believe in these things.”
“How can you two have the red energy of destined lovers?” Xiang Meng took out some yarrow stalks from her body, muttering, “Impossible, how could you and Wang Dian possibly…..hiss?”
Liang Ye grabbed her yarrow stalks, saying happily, “Of course we have destiny.”
Xiang Meng tried to grab them back but failed, “Martial Uncle gave those to me, don’t ruin them, quickly give them back.”
Liang Ye deliberately held them where she couldn’t reach, saying proudly, “Then first tell me about the red energy of destiny between us?”
“Ah… well,” Xiang Meng tried hard to reach for them, “It’s naturally very good, red and very auspicious.”
Satisfied, Liang Ye threw the yarrow stalks back to her, slowed down to wait for Wang Dian to catch up, and snuggled up to him affectionately, taking out a yarrow stalk and offering it to Wang Dian like a treasure. Wang Dian smiled on horseback and looked toward Xiang Meng in front.
Xiang Meng nodded politely to him, glancing at the destiny’s red energy between Liang Ye and Wang Dian that was so faint it was almost disappearing.
Typically, destined but not meant to be.
