Chapter 1514 - 816: Dragon King Festival (Double Chapter) (2)

"Chen Yi, look at that..." She couldn't help but slow down and pointed to the side.

"Watch the road." Chen Yi didn't turn his head, but stretched his hand back, accurately grasping her wrist, and gently pulled her forward, avoiding a reckless child. His palm was warm and steady, Donggong Ruoshu glanced at her wrist held by him, the warmth seemed to spread along her skin, making her forget what she wanted to see earlier, so she obediently whispered "Oh" and let him lead her forward.

For some reason, she suddenly became very interested in Chen Yi these past two days. She hadn't been this interested before. Miss Donggong touched her belly, feeling a bit of a happy fullness, tilting her head, wondering if Chen Yi had secretly fed her late-night snacks while she wasn't looking. But these past two days, Chen Yi had been sleeping constantly, and Miss Yin said he was exhausted from cultivation.

Chen Yi multitasked, walking and pondering along the way.

What was seen and heard in the Dream Sea can be communicated to Zhou Yitang. The Dragon Dao Adept and Zhan Yuezi guarding the Imperial Palace's Dream Sea were both of considerable cultivation, rare talents in the world, yet their origins lacked the typical sect characteristics. They used Buddhist techniques, seemingly like a rare hybrid, adept in a hundred schools, integrating their doctrines seamlessly.

The Dragon Dao Adept claims to be a former elder at the Golden Immortal Temple, now the Vice Supervisor of the Astronomical Bureau. Since that's the case, it should be necessary to find the Iron Abacus for some clues.

After circling around and bypassing the crowds, they arrived at the Spring Bright Gate of Chang'an City's archway, and sure enough, they saw the Iron Abacus again.

As Chen Yi approached, the Iron Abacus, with sharp eyes, untied the reins, ready to drive the carriage at any moment.

Chen Yi skillfully led Donggong Ruoshu onto the carriage.

The inside of the carriage was quite spacious, Donggong Ruoshu looked around curiously.

The Iron Abacus nimbly jumped onto the front seat, cracked a loud whip, and the mule pulling the carriage started to move, merging into the flow of people and vehicles on the official road.

While driving the carriage, the Iron Abacus turned his head through the gap in the curtains, chuckling, "Sir, you seem in good spirits today. This lady is...?"

"My cousin from home, bringing her out to see the world." Chen Yi responded casually, not describing further, and instead switched to the main topic, "I'm here today to inquire about something from you."

"Please go ahead, sir, speak freely, I won't hold back anything," the Iron Abacus replied cheerfully.

Chen Yi didn't directly ask about the Astronomical Bureau; these affairs he dared inquire about, but the Iron Abacus might not dare to respond, and even if he did, it might not be truthful.

"The imperial entourage is returning to the capital soon," he remarked.

The Iron Abacus chuckled, "That's right, probably in about seven or eight days. The palace and beyond have started preparations for the return. Why are you asking about this, sir? Are any of your relatives trying to offer auspicious omens to please the Holy Emperor?"

Chen Yi leaned against the carriage wall, relaxed, "No elder connections, just a wild Taoist from afar, knowledgeable in some esoteric magic. I heard the capital is full of opportunities, so heading there seeking success."

"Seeking success to heaven?" The Iron Abacus laughed, shaking his head, advising:

"Sir, you plan too grandly. Indeed, officials offer auspicious omens, but you must be an official first to offer them.

Our present Holy Emperor is an unparalleled wise and martial ruler, a sage as Yao, remarkably insightful. That Monk Huipu from the Western Regions had great fortune entering the Inner Court to preach, offering some Seven Treasure Buddha Bone Relics, claiming they can protect the nation and ensure peace. But do you know how the monk got it presented?"

Chen Yi followed up, "How was it presented?"

"It was the Crown Prince who recommended him!" The Iron Abacus whispered mysteriously, "If it weren't for the Crown Prince personally endorsing, Monk Huipu wouldn't have gotten anywhere near the Imperial City. Sir, if you wish to tread this path, it likely won't work."

Chen Yi picked up on something, casually inquiring, "The Crown Prince recommended... what about Prince Han, wouldn't he want to introduce someone to present auspicious omens to catch the Holy Emperor's eye?"

"Prince Han..." The Iron Abacus began.

Just then, the carriage suddenly halted.

"Whoa—!" The Iron Abacus pulled the reins sharply, the mule neighing, the carriage shook violently, Donggong Ruoshu nearly hit the carriage wall but was steadied by Chen Yi.

Outside came a burst of reproachful shouts, "Blind fool! Don't you see Minister Lord Cao's sedan ahead? Colliding with official transportation, can you afford it?!"

The Iron Abacus replied repeatedly apologizing, "Sorry sorry! Poor eyesight, didn't notice! Disturbing Lord Cao, deserving death, deserving death!"

After some low discussion and scolding, the reproaching voices outside subsided. The Iron Abacus wiped sweat from his forehead, lifted a corner of the curtain, smiling apologetically to Chen Yi, "Sir, apologies for the scare, just carelessly almost crashed into an official sedan ahead, luckily... luckily he's generous, doesn't take issue with us commoners."

Chen Yi glimpsed through the gap in the curtain, seeing a four-person sedan before them moving away steadily, porters stepping evenly, accompanied by guards on both sides. He withdrew his gaze, looked at the somewhat relieved Iron Abacus, and spoke softly:

"It's fine. Let's not digress, go back to the topic just now."

The Iron Abacus's face was slightly stiff.

"Did Prince Han not think of introducing auspicious omens?"

"Uh, well... I've never met someone like Prince Han..."

"You're linked to the Zhang Mansion, a large enterprise like that surely has someone above supporting it."

"Sir... don't ask, truly I don't know, won't charge you for the fare."

Surprisingly, Chen Yi truly stopped asking, nodding understandingly:

"Alright, let's get off here then."

The carriage soon stopped amidst the bustling city, Chen Yi and Donggong Ruoshu alighted, decisively walking away, leaving the Iron Abacus on the carriage, a bit stunned.

Only when urged by the passers-by did he come back to his senses.

Did they just leave like that, not probing deeper?

Did he accidentally reveal something?

The Iron Abacus took the reins again, drove the carriage toward another direction, eyes slightly serious.

.........

The Dragon King Festival is truly lively.

Most pedestrians headed toward the Ba River in the south of the city, where stands a bustling Dragon King Temple.

The further south they went, the clearer the scent of incense mingled with water vapor became, the sky toward the Dragon King Temple was slightly hazy with smoke, and the sound of drums became increasingly deafening.

As they passed a relatively quiet alley, Chen Yi suddenly stopped, sharply scanning several seemingly idle figures at the end of the alley, their gazes occasionally flitting to the passers-by.

"What's wrong?" Donggong Ruoshu asked softly, drawing closer.

"Nothing," Chen Yi withdrew his gaze, speaking calmly, "Just some hyenas catching the scent." He turned sideways, naturally shielding Donggong Ruoshu to the side near the wall, "Let's go this way."

Donggong Ruoshu blinked, not quite understanding the reference to "hyenas," but she followed closely, sensing the tense atmosphere.

Chen Yi glanced over the street and alley, these were adept stalkers, but in his current perception, they couldn't hide. Clearly, the Iron Abacus was uneasy, sending people to track him.

In other words, he had indeed elicited something.

This is why he thought of taking Donggong Ruoshu out; her strong luck was truly potent.

Chen Yi had only speculated about the Iron Abacus's connections; it's hard to imagine what one hasn't experienced. The Iron Abacus had emphasized Master Yunzhou's ascension ceremony at the time, and given Zhang Mansion's thriving enterprise, surviving in Chang'an with a century-old pharmacy without being exploited likely required Imperial protection. Even if not by the Imperial Family, certainly by influential families.

The Iron Abacus was likely an appointed intermediary.

While thinking, at the alley entrance, a hyena he noted earlier grew restless; it was a traveling Taoist holding a cloth banner, pretending to watch the divination stall, inviting passers-by while his gaze hooked onto the two of them.

Chen Yi kept moving, subtly shielding Donggong Ruoshu behind him, heading toward the Taoist.

As they approached, the Taoist's eyes brightened, sidestepped to the wall edge, inadvertently horizontal with the cloth banner, seemingly ready to strike a chat. As they closed the gap to three steps apart, the Taoist's lips moved,

"This benefactor, I see your seal..."

But before the sentence finished, it abruptly stopped.

Because it was met with a direct punch to his face.