Under the cover of night, a palanquin appeared at the provincial governor's palace. They were stopped by the guards.
Fan Zhe stepped out and spoke with the guards, while Niu You Dao, sitting inside the palanquin, closed his eyes and appeared calm...
Inside the palace, lanterns glowed. Everything seemed beautiful and splendid.
Although the weather was already warm, the residence was still being heated with coal.
At a table laden with delicacies, a young man sat dressed in thick clothing. His skin was pale, and his eye sockets were sunken and dark. He seemed to have no appetite to eat.
The woman sitting beside him looked entirely different. She wore light, sheer clothing, and one could see beads of sweat glistening on her fair skin.
There was nothing to be done; at this time of year, with the brazier still burning, one couldn't help but sweat.
Her movements were graceful, her face beautiful, and her brows and eyes seemed as if painted. Her slightly plump figure exuded a certain alluring charm.
This young man was indeed the heir to his father: Xiao Tian Cheng.
And the woman was the eldest princess of the Zhao Kingdom, the emperor's younger sister, and Xiao Tian Cheng's mother: Hai Ru Yue. Although she was already forty years old, time had spared her, leaving no wrinkles on her face.
“I know you have no appetite, but you must still eat!” Hai Ru Yue personally fed her son.
Outside, near the door, stood the household manager, Zhu Shun, with a white hair ornament. He did not enter but nodded to Hai Ru Yue.
Hai Ru Yue turned her head, set down her chopsticks, and reminded her son:
“You may not want to eat, but you must. It's for your own good, it will only benefit you!”
Before she stepped out, the servants waiting by the door immediately draped a cloak over her. It was not as warm outside as it was inside the residence, after all.
The servants promptly stepped away, and Zhu Shun reported:
“Madam, Fan Zhe has come again.”
Hai Ru Yue glanced at him askance:
“What else does he want?”
She had already made herself clear. What else was there to say? Moreover, it was already evening, and it was improper for a widow to receive visitors at such an hour. However, if they had come at this time, there must be a reason for it.
Zhu Shun: “This time, he has brought someone with him. He claims the Prince of Yan Kingdom specifically sent an experienced physician. He can help.”
“An experienced physician?” Hai Ru Yue furrowed her brows:
“We already know Tian Cheng's illness. What more is there to say?”
Zhu Shun: “This servant thought so too. However, there is something unusual about this. The Prince is not a fool and would not bother you without reason. Therefore, I decided to ask, perhaps you should meet with him?”
Hai Ru Yue pondered for a moment, but also agreed with Zhu Shun. Chao Zong would not joke with her like this:
“Bring him in!”
“Yes, Madam!” Zhu Shun bowed and quickly departed.
Not long after, he led in Niu You Dao and Fan Zhe. Niu You Dao's sword had been temporarily confiscated, and his marvelous meridians were sealed by the local cultivators. (The unpaired meridians in the eight channels (receiving excess blood); "marvelous" meridians)
On the other hand, Hai Ru Yue was an old friend of Ning Wang. And they were about to discuss secret matters. If the meridians were not sealed, outsiders would be present, which was undesirable for private discussions.
Near the pavilion on the water, Hai Ru Yue stood in a beautiful dress, gazing at the moon's reflection in the water.
Fan Zhe and Niu You Dao stopped not far from the pavilion and bowed to her:
“Greetings, Princess!”
Zhu Shun approached her, whispered something, and only then did Hai Ru Yue turn around. Under the moonlight, Niu You Dao observed that she was indeed a beauty!
“You are Niu You Dao? Didn't you abandon the Supreme Purity Sect in the Yan Kingdom?” Hai Ru Yue spoke indifferently.
Niu You Dao had not thought they would already know of this. However, he could understand. After all, they were in a border zone between two states, and thus, they must be aware of the situation in neighboring territories. Furthermore, the Prince had already established good relations with her. Therefore, there should be nothing surprising in this.
He nodded: “That is so.”
Hai Ru Yue: “Long ago in the Yan Kingdom, I had good relations with Ning Wang and also kept company with Dong Guo Hao Ran. We were, one could say, old friends. But how could a disciple of Dong Guo Hao Ran become an experienced physician?”
Niu You Dao noticed that Dong Guo Hao Ran's connections were quite extensive.
He replied: “Princess, you see everything clearly, as if through water. In truth, I am not the experienced physician; I was merely accompanying him. Only, an unforeseen incident occurred in the provincial capital. The physician was abducted.”
Hai Ru Yue narrowed her eyes and furrowed her brows: “What happened?”
Niu You Dao: “Princess, you do not know everything. I bear a deep hatred for the Song family in the Yan Kingdom. And today in the city, we coincidentally encountered Song Jiu Ming's second son. They chased me, intending to kill me. Fortunately, I managed to escape, but the experienced physician was not so lucky. He seems to have fallen into their hands. I do not know where they have taken him now, or if he is even still alive. I hope, Princess, that you will help me find him. After all, this is your territory.”
Niu You Dao had no acquaintances here, so he could only place his hopes on the Princess.
Fan Zhe, standing nearby, understood what was happening. He realized the physician was Yuan Fang and understood why Niu You Dao had ordered them to leave Fuling Inn.
And Hai Ru Yue also knew of the Prince's situation and had heard that Niu You Dao was at odds with the Song family. Zhu Shun whispered to her beside her:
“Song Jiu Ming's second son, Song Lun, has indeed arrived in the city. He is staying at Liusu Courtyard.”
Hai Ru Yue, betraying no expression, looked at Niu You Dao and asked:
“Are you truly certain that your physician can save my son?”
Niu You Dao: “Even if he is not a legendary physician, he can still provide the Red Yang Fruit. Princess, the Prince fully understands your son's condition, which is why he sent me. If there is an opportunity, one must seize it! Princess, he has been captured, and the longer we delay, the less chance there is that he is still alive!”
At this moment, Niu You Dao cared for nothing else. First, he needed to retrieve Yuan Fang. Prince Chao Zong's affairs were secondary to him now. After all, Prince Chao Zong was, one might say, a stranger to him.
Hai Ru Yue slowly turned her head and calmly said:
“Take some men and go to Song Lun. Make him hand over the person!”
Evidently, she was interested in the physician.
“Yes, Madam!” Zhu Shun immediately replied, and as he turned, he said to Niu You Dao:
“You, follow me.”
Niu You Dao could identify Yuan Fang. And in such a situation, Niu You Dao was needed to act as a witness. Otherwise, how would Song Lun hand over the person?
Niu You Dao immediately bowed to Hai Ru Yue and followed Zhu Shun.
Zhu Shun immediately summoned ten high-level masters. As for Fan Zhe, he remained in the palace for now, as a hostage...
Xie Chun had recently returned to Liusu Courtyard. He stood before the grim-faced Song Lun, who held his hands behind his back.
Xie Chun had, of course, returned without Niu You Dao, but he confirmed Yuan Fang's words. Niu You Dao had indeed stayed at Fuling Inn. Both the innkeeper and the staff confirmed this.
They said that the guests had recently departed and disappeared.
Regarding this, Xie Chun was not surprised at all. It would have been astonishing if Niu You Dao had remained there, on the contrary.
They had failed to capture Niu You Dao, so they had to interrogate Yuan Fang again. They asked where Niu You Dao had gone, and why they had come to the city?
Yuan Fang, in essence, played the role of a coward. Whatever they asked him, he answered. The only thing was, he only spoke falsehoods.
And when they failed to catch Niu You Dao, he, too, had to taste the bitterness of being a hostage.
Just at that moment, a commotion was heard outside. A multitude of people disrupted the tranquility of Liusu Courtyard; armored figures appeared.
A minor official rushed in and hastily reported:
“Venerable Sir, the provincial palace manager, Zhu Shun, has brought many people. They have surrounded the residence.”
“What is this?” Song Lun did not understand what was happening. He also looked at the others, but they could only exchange glances. In the end, Song Lun quickly descended.
When he came downstairs, he saw a group of people standing behind Zhu Shun. He immediately understood everything when he saw Niu You Dao behind Zhu Shun.
At such a scene, Song Lun felt a tremor in his heart. Could it be that Niu You Dao had not lied, and he was indeed the provincial governor's man?
He was even more surprised that Zhu Shun had personally come with him!
He couldn't help but immediately turn, glaring at Xie Chun.
It was as if he was saying with his gaze: “What were you looking at?!”
They themselves were surprised. Cheng Gui Shuo trembled. Where did Niu You Dao get such influence here?
Such a commotion drew the attention of the other guests at Liusu Courtyard. After all, envoys from other states primarily arrived here, and now the Zhao Kingdom's troops had surrounded the residence of the Yan Kingdom's envoy. What was happening? Many approached closer to get a clearer look. Would there be some sort of confrontation?
Qingzhou was an important province for the Yan Kingdom. After all, it was located on the border, and if anything happened, it would pose a considerable problem for the Yan Kingdom.
“Is this him?” Zhu Shun asked, pointing at Song Lun.
Niu You Dao nodded: “Indeed, it is precisely him!”
Song Lun felt a chill. Could it be that Zhu Shun was causing trouble for the Yan Kingdom's envoy because of Niu You Dao?
Although his mind was in turmoil, he was, after all, an envoy of the Yan Kingdom. And he was the face of the Yan Kingdom. He could not show weakness.
Therefore, he spoke in a displeased tone: “Zhu Shun, what are you trying to say? Is this how you treat guests in Qingzhou?”
Zhu Shun, staring intently at him, stated:
“We treat honorable guests well, and dishonorable guests as they deserve. Venerable Song, there is no need to beat around the bush. Hand over the person to us!”
When he arrived, he immediately inquired with the guards and ascertained that a person had indeed been recently brought into their courtyard. And the timing coincided with Niu You Dao's account. Therefore, Zhu Shun was certain that Song Lun was holding a hostage.
Only, how could Song Lun, being an envoy, admit that he was kidnapping people in another state? Therefore, he asked:
“What person? This Song does not understand what you are talking about!”
Zhu Shun: “Venerable Song, it would be better for you to cooperate with us. Otherwise, you will have no one to blame later!”
Song Lun puffed out his chest and confidently declared: “I am the envoy of the Yan Kingdom! I'll see what you dare to do!”