Normally, anyone who dared to speak to him like this would have received a slap, but today Fu Shen was unusually calm and composed. He simply said peacefully, “You’re overthinking. I’m not trying to test you, I just have a request. Is that not allowed?”
Yan Xiaohan said impatiently: “Not allowed, for the sake of another man.”
Fu Shen was almost driven to laughter by him, and forcibly restrained himself: “What if there’s compensation?”
Yan Xiaohan: “What compensation?”
“I gave you two Lingxiao flower jade pendants,” Fu Shen said.
“If you help me with this, those two jade pendants will serve as proof. One pendant counts as one favor, and you will comply with any request. How’s that?”
Like a thunderbolt striking from the sky, Yan Xiaohan was completely frozen.
His consciousness seemed to float outside his body, and he heard himself ask blankly: “What was the other favor?”
Fu Shen returned his own words: “The Jin Yunfeng case. What, after seven years, you don’t remember?”
He knew everything.
For Yan Xiaohan, being unable to speak multiple times in a day was an unprecedented experience. At this moment, he suddenly understood the reason behind all of Fu Shen’s actions since morning.
Fu Shen had given himself to him, offering his entire heart.
There was no precedence, no question of who was worthy. By chance and destiny, they were a perfect match.
Yan Xiaohan’s breathing suddenly became rapid. When he spoke, his voice was hoarse as if filled with sand, even trembling slightly: “Is it a deal?”
“Yes,” Fu Shen smiled. “I will comply with any request.”
Not only did the courtiers think so, but even Emperor Yuantai himself believed it, dragging his sick body to the ancestral temple to kneel and pray. Yan Xiaohan seized the opportunity and found a chance to meet the emperor, bringing up the Kuang Mountain Academy case, which indeed moved Emperor Yuantai, who issued an imperial decree of amnesty the next day.
Now he has gone south with Prince Qi, and Fu Shen specially came to see off Zeng Guang, not only to bid farewell but also to showcase his merits in front of these scholars.
Gu Yushi grimaced as if his teeth were aching.
“No matter what, thanks to the Marquis and the official’s efforts, my teacher was able to escape death,” he bowed to Fu Shen, “Your great virtue and righteousness will be remembered forever, and I will repay you.”
Fu Shen joked, “My wife heard I was coming to see off Master Zeng and asked me to convey: No need for such grand gestures of gratitude. She just hopes that in the future, you’ll be a bit gentler when calling them ‘court dogs’.”
Scholars have always been harsh on the Flying Dragon Guard, especially an old scholar like Zeng Guang. He originally thought Fu Shen had intervened and fought cleverly to rescue him, but never expected the Jing’ning Marquis to be so closely aligned with the court’s hawks, even attributing the main credit to them. How could the world have changed so much?
A heart of kindness that doesn’t kill – is this still the Flying Dragon Guard?
Gu Yushi saw more clearly and, seeing his teacher still in shock, smiled helplessly at Fu Shen, “Please convey our thanks to Sir Yan on behalf of my teacher and me.”
Fu Shen, seeing him so cooperative, nodded satisfactorily: “Certainly.”
As time was getting late, Gu Shanlu helped Zeng Guang onto the horse carriage, bid farewell to his mentor, and after watching him leave, said goodbye to Fu Shen and rode back to the city. Fu Shen boarded his own carriage, heading towards his villa in Changle Mountain.
The spring light was beautiful, with warm, moist grass fragrance in the wind. Just after the Cold Food Festival, it was the perfect time for spring outings.
But alas… The flowers were before his eyes, but the person who should appreciate them was not.
Yan Xiaohan had gone to Jingchu, and Fu Shen found no interest in staying alone in the city, so he retreated to his villa. He was enjoying his leisurely days when a tightly covered horse carriage suddenly stopped at the villa gate that evening.
The curtain lifted, revealing a large box. In the firelight, a cold metallic gleam seemed to flash at the box’s corner.
Days later, outside Jingzhou.
About two days’ journey from Jingzhou, Prince Qi’s group left Heshan Inn early in the morning, planning to reach the next inn that evening.
Unexpectedly, heavy rain fell, and the river rose rapidly, flooding the original road. They were forced to detour, and the rain grew increasingly heavy, making progress nearly impossible.
The misty water and rain obscured everything. They almost lost their way but fortunately found a dilapidated temple in the countryside that could provide some shelter. Yan Xiaohan, protecting the drenched Prince Qi, rushed into the main hall. Seeing the decaying statue and cobwebs, he was at least relieved the building could withstand their presence.
Attendants found some broken door pieces from the backyard to use as firewood and started a fire.
With the fire and hot water, their previous panic gradually subsided. Yan Xiaohan methodically arranged their luggage and provisions. His silhouette standing backlit in the doorway was inexplicably reassuring. Although Prince Qi was a pampered royal, he was quite resilient. After changing out of his wet clothes, he was still in the mood to examine the dusty statue while holding hot water.
Yan Xiaohan approached, “Your Highness?”
“Sir Yan,” Prince Qi said, “Do you know which deity is worshipped here?”
Yan Xiaohan squinted, barely making out a female immortal with a high clay and wooden hairstyle and long, elegant eyebrows. Humbly, he said, “Please enlighten me.”
“The gate’s plaque is mostly damaged, but still somewhat readable,” Prince Qi pointed, “It says ‘Fan Xian’.”
“
Yan Xiaohan, raised in a Buddhist environment, had never heard of “Fan Xian” and asked curiously, “Which deity is this?”
Prince Qi smiled, “‘Fan Xian’ is another name for Fox Immortal. This temple actually worships a fox spirit.”
Yan Xiaohan thought it strange to worship mountain spirits instead of Buddhist deities but said, “I suppose a fox spirit must have performed miracles here, inspiring local worship.”
Prince Qi noted, “Ancient texts say ‘No fox spirit, no village.’ Local fox spirit worship is common. Since there’s a fox spirit temple, a village must be nearby.”
Yan Xiaohan nodded, “Your Highness is a true dragon’s son. Demons and spirits will naturally avoid you. Please rest without worry.”
After the recent miraculous snowfall, Prince Qi was still quite believing in supernatural tales. However, he noticed Yan Xiaohan’s manner suggested he didn’t truly believe such stories.
As the heavy rain continued and evening approached, visibility became difficult. They had enough provisions and water for the night. Yan Xiaohan’s main concern was a large lake near the temple. Though the temple was on high ground, he feared the floodwaters might rise overnight.
Suddenly, a sound of splashing water came from the distance, like something running through water. The sound grew closer.
“
Yan Xiaohan listened carefully, and soon a figure in a wide-brimmed hat emerged from the rain, rushing towards their temple.
In an instant, the person was before them. The hat concealed their face, wearing a plain black long robe, with a long cloth package on their back seemingly containing a sword or knife. Riding a thin, wet horse, they called out loudly, “Brother, the road is slippery in the rain. May I borrow your place to shelter? Much thanks!”
With a clang, the sword was drawn from its sheath, its cold light flashing across the path, blocking the horse. The rider was so startled that he almost fell off. Yan Xiaohan’s slightly cold voice mixed with the rain, barely audible: “Sorry, I won’t lend it.”
The man was stunned, and after a moment, he shouted in disbelief: “What did you say?”
