Chapter 81: Prosperous Imperial Capital

Zhou Ke watched Chen Yi He's silhouette in the moonlight and sighed, "Having defeated the 'Four Tigers of the Imperial Capital', he didn't even need to use the Heartless Pill—this kid has limitless prospects!"

Zhou Ke had Ye Wuming give the precious Heartless Pill to Chen Yi He, obviously to let Chen Yi He preserve his life; he had long anticipated that Chen Yi He would be hunted. He both wanted to see Chen Yi He's strength and feared Chen Yi He would die.

"Your Highness, may I ask frankly, do you really think he can?" Situ Qing asked.

"Hehe, whether it's possible isn't up to me to say; it's up to heaven's will." Zhou Ke said with a smile, the night wind stirring the purple-gold silk on his robe.

……

Walking on the cold pebble path, Chen Yi He smiled at Ye Wuming and said, "We really met again so soon!"

Ye Wuming laughed loudly, "Hahaha! I still miss your roasted chicken."

"Uh..." Chen Yi He was a bit speechless.

"Yes, I didn't expect you not to have used the Heartless Pill to preserve your life." Ye Wuming was going to send Chen Yi He to rest in the guest room of the prince's mansion.

"Is that broken pill really effective?" Chen Yi He still had doubts.

"Exactly! My skill, you can rest assured."

"I don't need it; I'll return it to you." Chen Yi He prepared to take out the wooden box to return it to Ye Wuming.

Ye Wuming reached out to refuse him, "Since the prince hasn't spoken, keep it for emergency use." He then sighed, "Situ Qing really gets things done efficiently!"

"I think that Lu Qianchuan is quite annoying."

"When they were young, they were enemies; one followed Eunuch Zhang, the other served the prince—naturally they are opposed."

To Chen Yi He, he always felt Ye Wuming was more trustworthy than Zhou Ke; he couldn't understand why someone who yearned for freedom would be willing to serve another, so he asked, "Why do you follow Zhou Ke?"

Ye Wuming pondered for a moment and replied, "I'm old and just need to make a living; the prince keeps a low profile, so I don't have to worry about exposing my identity."

"Just to make a living?"

Ye Wuming grinned, "What else?"

"With your ability to produce such a marvelous pill as the Heartless Pill, you wouldn't end up without food."

"The world is fickle, beyond your imagination."

Since Ye Wuming had said all that, Chen Yi He naturally didn't dare to press further; in the blink of an eye they had already reached the door of the room.

"You can rest here for the next three months." Ye Wuming stood at the door, opened it for Chen Yi He, but he himself did not enter, appearing very respectful.

Chen Yi He raised three fingers, incredulous, "Three months?" He saw the room fully furnished, everything one could need, plus two maids standing inside. "The prince's hospitality isn't bad……"

"God Sword Mountain Villa is located in the suburbs of the imperial capital; you can get there in half a day's journey."

"Hah..." Chen Yi He exhaled deeply, finally no longer needing to spend four or five months just for a round trip like going to Thousand-layer Gate.

"Alright, rest well here tonight; tomorrow I'll take you to tour the prince's mansion and wander around the imperial capital..." Ye Wuming turned to leave.

"By the way," Chen Yi He froze, not knowing how to address Ye Wuming; this old man is considerably older than him.

"Hehe, just call me Old Ye."

"Old Ye, from now on I'll have to trouble you to look after me more." Chen Yi He bowed his fists to Ye Wuming.

The two maids fetched water and made the bed for Chen Yi He, then Chen Yi He drove them out.

It wasn't that Chen Yi He was indifferent to women's charms, but... the two maids were unwilling; they only did work, not sell themselves. Chen Yi He hinted many times with his eyes, yet they remained unmoved—what's the point of keeping them if not driving them out?

Chen Yi He slept on the softest, most comfortable bed he had ever had since coming to this world—it was practically divine enjoyment.

That night he had several sweet dreams; in his sleep he clung to his pillow, drooling.

When dawn came the next day, the sun blazed outside; Chen Yi He inside still didn't want to get up, wanting to linger a bit longer on this comfortable bed. The two maids had prepared face-washing water and towels for him, and the table was already filled with steaming hot breakfast.

"Yi He, it's almost noon and you're still not up?" Ye Wuming appeared at the door at some point, smiling narrowly at Chen Yi He and said.

"Old Ye, please come in." Chen Yi He then reluctantly crawled out from under the covers, got up from the bed—how could he bear to leave the bed after sleeping on a straw mat for half a year?

Chen Yi He wolfed down his food at the table, "Old Ye, won't you have a bite?"

"Hehe, I just ate." Ye Wuming waved his hand with a smile.

"You don't know how hard it is to get a decent meal after wandering outside for so long; just the thought of being able to enjoy three months of stable living already feels pretty good!" Chen Yi He ate while saying, "No wonder throughout history everyone loves wealth and power."

"Hahaha! After you finish eating, I'll take you around the imperial capital."

"What about the people from the Western Depot?" Chen Yi He put down his bowl and chopsticks after finishing his meal.

"The prince has already opened a channel for you; they won't dare to act against you in the short term. You can rest assured about that."

"If that's the case, I'd like to go take a look at Everjoy Gate."

"No problem, I'll get you some banknotes."

……

Only in daylight can one see the prosperity of the imperial capital clearly.

Looking around, everywhere are pedestrians.

Chen Yi He and Ye Wuming walked together on the crowded street.

Ye Wuming introduced many shops and storefronts to Chen Yi He.

Chen Yi He roughly understood that only those with power and influence can open shops in the imperial capital; ordinary wealthy commoners can only afford to buy things; if one is poorer, they don't even have the qualification to enter the imperial capital.

Chen Yi He also noticed that on every street corner of the imperial capital there are plainclothes imperial soldiers standing motionless, their sharp eyes shifting with their heads, constantly monitoring their jurisdiction, fearing any oversight.

"How is it? This is the imperial capital!" Ye Wuming asked Chen Yi He.

"The imperial capital truly lives up to its name; compared to the cities I've visited before—Mountain City, Shanggu City, Nanjiang City—it's far more prosperous, not even in the same league!" Chen Yi He exclaimed sincerely.

"On the Heavenly Peace Continent, for thousands of years dynasties have set their capital here; over time it naturally became more prosperous than other places, only unfortunately its prosperity may not last long."

"What do you mean?" Chen Yi He stopped walking and asked.

"Oh? It's nothing... I'm just lamenting that in history no dynasty has ever stood forever." Ye Wuming blinked, then said.

"You say that, aren't you afraid the prince will blame you?"

"Speaking the truth, even the emperor can't blame you!" Ye Wuming turned to Chen Yi He and said, "There's a good wine house ahead that has existed in the imperial capital for two thousand years; let's go try it."

"Compared to the Great Zhou Dynasty, it's even more ancient?" Chen Yi He, although not as fond of alcohol as the Dragon King, when he encounters good wine he can't help but stop walking, "Then I definitely have to try it."