Chapter 1519 - 3-in-1)_3

Changsheng... the scriptures and treasures in the Imperial Palace...

Sounds somewhat plausible.

Yu Wen Yuan's furrowed brows did not completely relax, but the suspicion in his eyes dissipated somewhat, and he said:

"Changsheng... you Han people's things always seem so mysterious. Fine, you seek longevity, I want to kill Gudu, we won't play tricks. Once we find evidence of Gudu, I'll reward you with a golden palace tent and take you to see Father Khan."

Chen Yi nodded slightly.

Yu Wen Yuan turned his head to look at Qiao Tumen, and then asked: "Has Qiao Tumen told you about it? Tell me, how do you plan to help me find those demons raised by Gudu before anyone else?"

Chen Yi listened to the wording, especially the words "before anyone else," it seems that more than one party in the Capital City is searching. However, others probably don't want to harm the Crown Prince; they either want to ascertain the truth or deal with the evidence and protect the Crown Prince.

"Your Highness need not worry about this matter. I have already thought of a plan before coming."

......…

A group of seven or eight people exited the side gate of the Han Prince Mansion. As they merged into the street flow of Wuding Square, leaving the Prince Mansion, the inherent bustle and clamor of Chang'an City began to bubble up.

The drums of the Dragon King Festival were not just sounding from one or two places; they surged in from all directions, mixed with the roar of voices, vendors' shouts, and children's screams. These sounds enveloped the entire city, buzzing in people's eardrums, yet the rhythm unconsciously lightened their hearts. The closer they approached the Temple of the Ba River Dragon King, the louder the sounds became, and the denser the crowds grew.

The noble carriages lost their usual privilege of clearing the way. They moved clumsily through this sea of people like slow-moving big fish, the carriers' voices often barely halfway through before being swallowed by even louder waves of sound.

Chen Yi led Donggong Ruoshu at the front. With talismans by his side, his steps looked casual yet always managed to carve a path through the crowded throng, slithering like a fish in water.

The stupid girl held one hand with Chen Yi while the other wasn't idle—pointing east and west, her eyes sparkled. Having been away from Chang'an for a long time, everything felt fresh to her. However, behind them, Qiao Tumen led several attendants in plain clothes, each with a cold solemn face, their eyes like lightning scanning the noisy crowd.

Chen Yi had a clear objective, leading the group towards the direction of the most incense-filled Dragon King Temple.

The crowd jostled, and he slightly increased his grip on Donggong Ruoshu's hand, pulling her forward steadily. But as they walked, a sudden halt by those beside him made further pulling impossible. Looking back, he saw Donggong Ruoshu staring eagerly at a roadside sugar painting stall, her feet seemingly rooted and unmoving.

The stall was set up with a simple wooden frame adorned with pre-made sugar paintings—simple designs like peaches and small fish, and more complex ones like dragons, phoenixes, and rabbits—glinting with an enticing amber sheen under the afternoon sun. The stall owner, a thin old man, was scooping a ladle of golden-red syrup.

Just then, an urgent voice sounded from behind them: "Make way! Quickly make way! Don't block the path! Dare you hinder a court official's carriage?"

Chen Yi's peripheral vision glanced back, spotting a blue official carriage struggling to squeeze past them. The curtain was tightly closed, obscuring its occupant, while a servant in blue leading the way glared and shouted at the crowd blocking the path. The plain-clothes attendants immediately edged closer to the carriage, hands stealthily resting on the blades hidden at their waists, while Qiao Tumen frowned at Chen Yi, wary of any sudden change.

Chen Yi tugged at Donggong Ruoshu, but she seemed oblivious and unmoved, her eyes filled with longing, craving once more.

Helplessly, Chen Yi sighed silently. You can't resist her whims. But on second thought, what's the point of fretting over her whims? He released his intention to pull her hard away and instead softly patted the back of her hand.

"Which one do you want?" He asked as he led Donggong Ruoshu to the stall.

Donggong Ruoshu immediately cheered up, carefully examining the designs on the wooden frame, her finger pointing at one. Chen Yi looked and saw it was a Pixiu striding boldly.

"Pixiu? The young lady knows how to choose; it brings wealth," the stall owner chuckled, expertly scooping syrup with his small bronze spoon. In moments, the sugar threads danced and flowed on the stone board, and a lifelike sugar Pixiu took shape.

The old man stuck it with a bamboo skewer, gently lifted it, and handed it to Donggong Ruoshu.

"You bought it; will you take a bite?" Donggong Ruoshu turned, offering it to him.

"Not interested."

"Don't be like that; you take a bite, then I'll take a bite. What if it's poisoned?"

Not wanting to argue with this single-minded stupid girl, Chen Yi casually bit off a corner.

Donggong Ruoshu took it back, cautiously holding it before her, gazing through the light. The amber Pixiu was crystal clear. Her face showed a pure and contented smile as she lightly licked the edge with her tongue.

There's some yang energy here too... Miss Donggong felt she was clever.

Chen Yi paid the stall owner, took her hand, and turned to move on. During the moments at the sugar painting stall, the blue official carriage behind seemed stuck due to the congested crowd, pausing momentarily as the carriers and lead servant anxiously worked to clear the way.

As they passed, the curtains remained low, but the screen on one side of the carriage, its delicate veil seemed to move slightly.

Only pausing momentarily, the road ahead seemed to clear a bit. The carriage moved again, slowly merging into another street direction slightly different from the Dragon King Temple, gradually swallowed by the surging tide of people.

Qiao Tumen approached Chen Yi and whispered, "Hurry up, don't delay."

Chen Yi nodded, observing Donggong Ruoshu focused on her sugar Pixiu, he softly said, "Let's go."

Inside the blue official carriage that had struggled through the crowd, it was calm compared to the outside clamor.

Current Left Minister Chen Qingyang sat therein, dressed in civilian clothes, eyes partly closed as he slowly turned a string of Bodhi Buddha Beads. Each bead was extraordinary, some even embedded with relics claimed to be acquired from high monks in the Western Regions.

For a hundred years following the Han tradition, despite changes in court affairs, the Capital City Chang'an aristocratic families remained unwavering, with two major families reigning supreme: one surnamed Wanyan and the other Chen.

Whenever the carriage halted due to the human tide, his grizzled beard quivered slightly with the subtle twitch of his facial skin.

He glanced sideways again out the curtain.

The previously seen man and woman disappeared into the crowd, like two inconspicuous bubbles.

Yet...

It couldn't be mistaken.

Chen Qingyang closed his eyes, picturing the scene at the sugar painting stall, the dawdling stance, and the head-inclined mannerism.

Dazed and foolish.

It must be... that Ruo Shu girl...

How has she returned to Chang'an?

When did she return to the Capital City?

Without announcement or decree, not even a whisper reached him. She should be far in East Yu, not appearing in the open daylight on the streets of Chang'an.

And... the man beside her, holding her hand... who is he?