The distance from the capital to Qingliang Temple was considerable.
If one wished to avoid drawing attention, the best time to set off was when the streets were least crowded.
Gao Jing had already prepared a carriage, horses, and clothing for them.
The clothes delivered to Li Fuxiang’s room were first inspected by Gao Yuexing. They were an extremely ordinary set of robes. Gao Yuexing examined them over and over but found nothing unusual about them.
Li Fuxiang changed into the clothes and stepped out.
Dressed in black, with gold and red embellishments on the collar and hem, he suddenly seemed to have aged many years. No longer resembling a mere teenager, he gave off an air of solemnity and coldness, making him appear highly reliable.
Indeed, he had reached the age where marriage discussions were appropriate.
Gao Yuexing thought for a moment and sighed inwardly. Their happy union was still far off.
In their previous life, Li Fuxiang had married her at the age of eighteen.
The imperial decree for their marriage had been issued with a noticeable lack of enthusiasm.
Although the wedding of Prince Xiang had been grand and unparalleled, the couple did not consummate their marriage immediately afterward.
This was because the Emperor was watching.
Li Fuxiang had always been in poor health. The Emperor, well-versed in the principles of health preservation, believed that indulging in desires too early in a man’s youth was not conducive to longevity. Hoping to protect Li Fuxiang’s vitality for a few more years, he ensured that for the first two years of their marriage, the couple barely engaged in any intimacy.
At that time, Gao Yuexing was still quite young as well.
This arrangement suited the Gao family perfectly, as they also wished for Gao Yuexing to have a few more years to recuperate and grow stronger.
Consummating the marriage and bearing children too early would have been too taxing on her body.
Gao Yuexing ordered the carriage to be driven into the courtyard and said, “Let’s go.”
The two of them boarded the carriage, one after the other. Seizing the cover of pre-dawn darkness and the recently opened city gates, their carriage rumbled onto the official road. The coachman leading the way was a disguised member of the Jinyiwei. Gao Yuexing wasn’t sure how many others were secretly following them, but she was certain the number wasn’t small.
The guards at the city gate were extremely strict.
Everyone entering or leaving the city was subjected to a search.
Their carriage was no exception.
Gao Yuexing knew that these people were looking for Li Fuxiang, yet at this moment, Li Fuxiang was boldly sitting in her carriage. Lifting the curtain to peek outside, Gao Yuexing felt uneasy. What could they do now?
Li Fuxiang also lifted the curtain to take a glance.
Gao Yuexing asked, “Do you have a plan?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “I know the guards at the gate.”
Gao Yuexing raised an eyebrow. “You know them?”
Li Fuxiang let the curtain fall and said, “The Xiaoqi Battalion—they’re my soldiers.”
Soldiers he hadn’t seen in a long time.
The entire city was practically in a frenzy searching for him.
Soon, the soldiers guarding the city gate reached Gao Yuexing’s carriage.
Gao Yuexing overheard the coachman exchanging a few words with the soldiers. Then, one of them stepped forward and opened the carriage door.
Inside the carriage, Gao Yuexing and Li Fuxiang sat side by side, silently gazing at him.
The soldier froze at the sight, his mouth opening slightly, almost shouting out in surprise.
Li Fuxiang raised a hand. “Shh.”
The soldier immediately covered his mouth, glanced around, and gestured to the leader of the guards. “Boss.”
The leader, wary, approached and peeked into the carriage. He too was momentarily stunned.
This leader was none other than Zhan Ji.
The coachman stepped forward, let down the curtain, closed the door, and lowered his head. “Sir, may we go now?”
Zhan Ji cast a glance downward. The coachman’s loose, casual outfit hung on him, with the front hem slightly shorter than the back. Beneath it, there might have been a concealed blade. Zhan Ji waved his hand. “Go ahead. Where to?”
The coachman replied, “Just taking a stroll around Qingliang Mountain.”
Zhan Ji gave a short laugh. “What a coincidence. Our Xiaoqi Battalion’s newly constructed training grounds are right on that mountain. Be careful not to cause any trouble when you pass through.”
The coachman agreed repeatedly, steering the carriage as it slowly exited the city.
Gao Yuexing and Li Fuxiang heard the exchange in the carriage loud and clear.
Gao Yuexing repeated, “The Xiaoqi Battalion’s new training grounds are at Qingliang Mountain?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “Qingliang Mountain will soon receive the message, so I can mobilize troops if necessary.”
Having command of soldiers gave him confidence, and even his tone seemed different from before.
Gao Yuexing didn’t dare guarantee this journey would go without a hitch, but she muttered, “I hope we won’t need to rely on them. We’ll go quietly and return quietly.”
Li Fuxiang said, “I hear the vegetarian cuisine at Qingliang Temple is exceptional. I’ve never had the chance to try it before.”
No matter where he went, his first thought was always about food.
Gao Yuexing gave him a surprised look. “I heard you spent years enjoying yourself in the capital. Have you really never been to Qingliang Temple?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “Even while having fun, there are limits. Opportunities to leave the city were rare.”
The tiny area within the capital was one he had thoroughly explored long ago. Leaving the city, however, was no easy feat.
Gao Yuexing said, “The vegetarian dishes at Qingliang Temple are available year-round. You can donate some incense money to try a portion. If you like it, you can even take some back home.”
Li Fuxiang asked, “Have you tried it?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “I have.”
Before stepping onto the mountain path, Gao Yuexing resolved in her heart: if there was an opportunity on this trip, she must pay a visit to the abbot.
The abbot’s words from before—”Seeking Buddha is not as effective as seeking oneself”—had puzzled her for a long time. It wasn’t until the right moment that they finally enlightened her completely.
Gao Yuexing, idle in the carriage, took out a report drafted by the coroner from her pocket.
There was no doubt that the victim died instantly from a single blow. The attacker’s skill was so precise that Miss Chen had no chance to resist; she might not even have realized who her killer was before she died.
Gao Yuexing said, “The coroner stated that the wound on Miss Chen’s neck does indeed match the trajectory of your Shenwu blade. However, there are countless weapons in the world. The rarity of Shenwu lies in its fine edge and tempering. If someone intentionally tried to forge a similar blade, mimicking its appearance wouldn’t be too difficult.”
Unable to make sense of it, Gao Yuexing asked, “But why would they choose you as the target? What benefit do they gain by dragging you into this mess?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “Who knows… Your little head is always filled with so many thoughts. Aren’t you tired?”
Gao Yuexing immediately asked with concern, “Are you tired?”
Li Fuxiang said, “Since they’ve made me their target, I’ll stand tall. That way, someone will naturally come to me.”
Gao Yuexing fixed her gaze on him and said solemnly, “Li Fuxiang, I will not allow you to put yourself in danger.”
Li Fuxiang responded, “But we are already in the midst of it.”
He said “we.” Gao Yuexing thought about it, and this phrasing wasn’t too hard to accept. “Alright,” she said.
As long as he wasn’t alone, that was fine.
Gao Yuexing tucked the coroner’s report back into her pocket and added, “The coroner also mentioned that Miss Chen’s clothing was in disarray, as if someone had rifled through it from inside out and then hastily wrapped it back on. However, her body bore no signs of physical abuse.”
Someone had stripped Miss Chen’s clothes but done nothing else, putting them back the way they were. What was the point of that?
Li Fuxiang said, “It’s obvious—they were searching for something.”
Gao Yuexing asked, “Did they find it?”
Li Fuxiang replied, “If they had, they wouldn’t have risked returning to search Miss Chen’s room after it was sealed, exposing themselves under Lord Gao’s bait.”
Gao Yuexing continued, “What are they looking for?”
They didn’t know.
“And where did Miss Chen hide it?”
Still no answer.
Li Fuxiang advised, “Stop overthinking it.”
Gao Yuexing sighed, gazing out the window.
Qingliang Temple truly lived up to its name in the summer.
The shade of the mountain trees was a rare and refreshing retreat, especially during the tail end of summer when the heat made its last feeble show of strength.
But summer also brought many mosquitoes.
Gao Yuexing retrieved a sachet from her waist and tied it to Li Fuxiang.
Li Fuxiang raised his arm to make it easier for her and asked, “What’s this?”
Gao Yuexing replied, “Herbs to ward off mosquitoes.”
Li Fuxiang remarked, “Summer is almost over.”
Gao Yuexing raised her hand and lightly tapped his chin. “But I see your collar area is already red all over.”
Li Fuxiang touched it, adjusted his collar, and covered it properly.
He liked listening to the varying chirps of insects but disliked the feeling of being bitten by them.
Gao Yuexing noticed the light-colored sachet didn’t match his outfit. After thinking for a moment, she untied it and slipped it into his sleeve. “Just keep it in your sleeve for now. When we return, I’ll make a few more for you.”
Li Fuxiang nodded obediently and said, “Okay.” His personality was straightforward—if he wanted something, he said so; if he didn’t, he wouldn’t make unnecessary refusals.
As Gao Yuexing waved her sleeve, she accidentally brushed against something cold behind him. She reached out and touched it—it was a scabbard.
Li Fuxiang had brought his Shenwu blade along with him.
Gao Yuexing’s eyelid twitched suddenly. She had an ominous feeling and felt a strange, inexplicable unease.
She asked, “Are you planning to carry the blade with you?”
Li Fuxiang shook his head. “No, it’s too conspicuous. I’ll leave it in the carriage.”
Gao Yuexing nodded.
The carriage came to a halt in front of Qingliang Temple.
Gao Yuexing and Li Fuxiang dismounted and ascended the steps.
In just a blink, the coachman disguised as a Jinyiwei member had driven the carriage somewhere out of sight.
Gao Yuexing glanced back, feeling puzzled but not overly concerned.
Outside the temple gates, a few young monks dressed in gray robes were sweeping the steps. Gao Yuexing paused at the entrance and happened to meet the gaze of one of the monks.
The monk clasped his hands in greeting. “Miss Gao.”
Gao Yuexing nodded and returned the gesture.
Upon entering the temple, Li Fuxiang, worried about not knowing the proper etiquette, followed closely behind Gao Yuexing. Whatever she did, he imitated. He donated a silver ingot for incense offerings, and the young monks in the temple brought them freshly prepared vegetarian dishes, steaming hot.
Both of them had started their journey early and were still hungry.
Looking at the soft and tender soy milk pudding, Gao Yuexing felt her appetite grow. “Go ahead, eat.”
The small white porcelain spoon rested on the pale yellow soy milk pudding, and Gao Yuexing eagerly dug in.
Li Fuxiang curiously examined the array of snacks, tasting each one lightly. After trying a bit of everything, he set down his chopsticks.
Gao Yuexing, on the other hand, ate heartily until she was full.
Seeing that Li Fuxiang didn’t eat much, she asked, “You don’t like it?”