Chapter 86: Guests Arrive at Sunset

Tong Guan went to open the door and saw an extraordinarily beautiful young girl in a pale pink gauze shirt standing at the entrance with two little maids, feeling puzzled.

The girl's eyebrows were like distant mountains holding dark green, her eyes like clear waves of autumn water; she lowered her head slightly and said softly, "Mother sent me to see His Highness the Prince of Yan."

Tong Guan turned to look at Zhao Ti. Zhao Ti glanced and saw it was Wang Yuyan, and said, "Come in."

The three entered, bowed, and Wang Yuyan said, "If Your Highness has any matters, please instruct. Mother has already spoken to me, telling me to come, telling me to..."

Zhao Ti pointed casually to the side, and only after a long while said, "Does Miss Wang also enjoy reading?"

Wang Yuyan stood uneasily; hearing this, she felt slightly relieved inside: "I have read since childhood, mostly classics, scriptures, poems, and lyrics; there is also martial arts..."

"Oh?" Zhao Ti put down the scroll in his hand and looked over. Wang Yuyan raised her head at that moment. Seeing her nervous, Zhao Ti smiled: "Setting aside matters of martial arts, since Miss Wang reads these books, I suppose you can also compose poetry and fill in lyrics?"

Wang Yuyan nodded: "I know a little; I am not very good at composing."

Zhao Ti thought for a moment: "You do not like practicing martial arts, but in this manor, I fear few people understand poetry and prose. Even if you write them to pass the idle time, I fear you can only enjoy it yourself."

Wang Yuyan showed a slight look of surprise, raised her head to look at Zhao Ti, feeling as if his eyes could pierce through the human heart, and became somewhat panicked and timid; she quickly turned her head and said, "Everyone in the manor practices martial arts; indeed, no one here can discuss these matters with me."

Zhao Ti smiled: "Bring them for this King to see and see how your literary talent is. Dongjing has many talented women; this King knows one little girl named Li Qingzhao. Her father is a Vice Minister of the Ministry of Rites. She is only eleven this year, yet she composes excellent lyrics."

Hearing this, Wang Yuyan's cheeks turned slightly red, becoming even more uneasy: "How can I compare with the daughter of an official family? I only taught myself; what I write is too ugly to look at..."

Zhao Ti waved his hand with a smile and looked at a maid in blue robes, who was indeed the little maid he had met when they first landed, named Youcao.

He said, "Youcao, go boil some tea."

Youcao said, "This servant will go immediately; Your Highness please wait."

Seeing this, Wang Yuyan said, "This servant will go help too."

Zhao Ti picked up the book scroll: "Go do as you please; just make sure it is boiled well."

Wang Yuyan walked out the door, patted her chest, let out a light sigh, and her tense expression relaxed somewhat.

Youcao asked, "What is wrong, Miss?"

Wang Yuyan shook her head: "His status is different; I felt tight and uneasy inside. Coming out here has made it better."

Youcao said, "Your Highness is quite kind; it is just those subordinates, each one fierce and wicked, shouting and bellowing, that are truly frightening."

Wang Yuyan said, "Are those the people from the Jianghu?"

Youcao nodded: "Exactly. They speak a few words as if they want to eat people; they are very vicious."

Wang Yuyan pondered for a moment, then said after a while, "Let us go boil the tea."

Youcao agreed, and the two walked away.

Approaching evening, the setting sun was red and yellow, like a huge rouge fireball, hanging in the western sky over Taihu Lake, reflecting on the lake water so that half the river was rustling green and half was a gorgeous red.

Zhao Ti stood on the shore watching the scenery. He saw fishermen in the distance pulling in their nets, singing tunes, as small boats sailed toward another part of the lake. The sound of the fishing songs grew fainter. Under the setting sun, water birds flew up to return to their nests; water and sky merged into one line—a peaceful and beautiful scene.

Behind him, Tong Guan opened his mouth. He had always wanted to ask about the Sunflower Manual, but every time he was about to speak, he dared not open his mouth.

Since Zhao Ti did not bring it up proactively, he thought that asking first himself would seem somewhat rebellious. After all, such matters could not be spoken of casually; he must help the Prince keep it hidden and covered, not leaking even a fraction.

But he had committed a great crime. Even if the Prince did not speak, he must proactively accept punishment. Just last night, he had dreamed of his godfather Li Xian. Li Xian's eyes were wide with anger, cursing him as a treacherous minister. In the dream, he almost strangled him to death. Thinking of it now, he still trembled in fear.

Zhao Ti turned around and said, "Let us return. Call Zhou Dong over."

Returning to the study hall and sitting for not long, Zhou Dong entered and bowed. Zhao Ti said, "How is Ji Mo Zhi?"

Zhou Dong said, "Your Highness, this Monk eats and drinks. When told to treat his injuries, he did not resist, but he seemed possessed, constantly chanting scriptures in his mouth. This subordinate does not understand Buddhist scriptures and does not know what he is saying."

Zhao Ti said, "Eating and drinking is fine. I know what scheme he is plotting in his heart. Let us ignore him for now; otherwise, with just a few words, I might ruin his Buddhist heart, and I fear he would have no face left to live in this world."

Zhou Dong said, "Your Highness, I heard from Eunuch Tong that this Monk's martial arts are extraordinary..."

Zhao Ti said, "His talent is astonishing, rare in the world. The martial arts he practices are all supreme techniques. Actually, your talent is also good, General Guang. I just do not know why Master Jin Lao did not pass down any supreme skills."

Zhou Dong felt ashamed and said, "What my old master learned was quite varied. He taught three disciples in total. I was the youngest. My master focused on teaching me spear, horse, bow, and arrow, and battlefield slaughter. Although he taught fist and blade as well, he did not teach those as much."

Zhao Ti nodded: "Battlefields will be needed sooner or later; you must study them diligently."

Zhou Dong agreed. Zhao Ti pondered for a moment and said, "I have here a few martial arts manuals suitable for you, all regarding spears and blades, plus one internal energy manual. Take them."

Saying this, he took out several booklets and handed them to Zhou Dong. Zhou Dong immediately bowed: "Thank you, Your Highness. This subordinate will offer his liver and brain without hesitation."

Zhao Ti said, "Command those Jianghu men well; do not let them cause trouble."

Zhou Dong nodded in agreement, bowed again, and left.

Zhao Ti watched him go out the door, drank some tea for a while, and suddenly heard a series of long whistles coming from the distance.

This sound was powerful and vigorous, as if shaking the heavens, clearly showing that his internal energy was extremely formidable.

He could not help but squint, put down the book in his hand, and stood up.

Just then, the sound of hurried footsteps suddenly came from outside the door. Tong Guan knocked and entered: "Your Highness, assassins have come to the island. Please seek temporary refuge..."

"What assassins?" Zhao Ti walked out from behind the desk.

"Your Highness, the soldier delivering the message says it is a man with white hair and a youthful complexion, a face like jade, with extremely high martial arts. Because he did not land from the military camp, the crossbowmen could not surround and shoot him. He first went to where Lady Wang resides, and is now rushing quickly toward here."

"White hair, youthful complexion, face like jade?" Zhao Ti thought for a moment. Could this be Ding Chunqiu returning?

Ding Chunqiu comes to Mantuo Manor every year to visit Li Qingluo. He arrived a few days ago, but later left and no one knows where he went.

"Let us go out and see," Zhao Ti said.

"Your Highness, you must not! That person's martial arts are extremely high. If anything goes wrong, this humble servant would deserve death a hundred times over. Your Highness should rest temporarily in the back. Let this humble servant guard this door. Unless this humble servant sacrifices his life for the country, no one shall be allowed to enter!"

Zhao Ti shook his head and said, "It is better to practice the Sunflower Manual more often than to speak empty words and flatter."

Upon hearing the words "Sunflower Manual," Tong Guan immediately became speechless and followed Zhao Ti out the door.

Outside the study hall was an open field. Tea trees were planted in the distance on both sides. At this moment, the scent of flowers drifted over, extremely intoxicating.

At that time, the whistle sound grew closer and closer. In a moment, it arrived in front. It was a figure in a long robe with wide sleeves. The soldiers immediately rushed up to meet him.

But this person's body method was extremely fast. Waving his sleeves, the wind roared; the sound of internal energy breaking through the air was continuous. He made no delay at all. Within a few breaths, he broke free from the entanglement and soared to about four or five zhang away from Zhao Ti.