Nightfall

Ning Que did not leave after entering the Imperial Palace. Not even Chao Xiaoshu knew what he was doing. When he received the invitation from the Academy, he thought he would be able to find the answer.

An adorable and handsome little servant was waiting on the mountain path in the mist. When he saw them coming, he saluted politely and said, “Mr. Chao, please come this way.”

They arrived on a plateau at the back of the Academy’s mountain after walking through the mist. Chao Xiaoshu looked at the beautiful scenery and inwardly lamented that, had the Emperor not needed him back then, he would have definitely applied to enter the Academy. He might even have had the opportunity to become a student on the Second Floor and be one of them.

The Tangs who visited the back of the Academy’s mountain for the first time would feel rather nervous. Chao Xiaoshu did not feel as nervous, but Chen VII who had accompanied him on the trip could barely control his emotions. He was unlike his usual composed self.

They heard the sound of a waterfall cascading down and the little servant brought them to a small courtyard where Jun Mo was waiting. The three greeted each other; then, Jun Mo handed a file to them and said, “The Academy has drawn some plans. We don’t see any problems with it, so we need you two to help us look through it.”

Chao Xiaoshu accepted the file and opened it. Chen VII stood beside him, confused. The students of the Academy were all highly intelligent people, why would they need him and his people to evaluate the files?

Jun Mo knew what he was thinking and said, “The Academy has killed many people, but usually, we kill them when we meet them. We don’t really have experience regarding this.”

Chen VII understood what Jun Mo meant, and he suddenly felt the burden on his shoulders growing heavier. He also could not help but feel proud, and thought to himself that it was no wonder that Second Brother Chao would bring him along.

After Second Brother Chao read through the file, he passed it to Chen VII and then, looked at Jun Mo with a grave expression. He said, “Is what Ning Que is doing related to this plan?”

Jun Mo replied, “What he has to do is not written in the file, but is the most important part of it.”

Chen VII’s breathing grew more rapid as he read the file. As the brains of the Fish-dragon Gang, he was no stranger to plots and schemes. He himself had set many. For example, the plot at the Spring Breeze Pavillion that rainy night. However, he had never imagined that he would have the opportunity to participate in such a plan. After all, the two targets of the plan were like deities to him.

The plan in the file was initially conceived by Fourth Brother, Fan Yue, and Ning Que. Then, Eldest Brother had written it personally. There were not any problems if one thought through it rationally and logically. However, the matter was simply too important and the Academy lacked experience in this aspect, which was why they needed the help of the Fish-dragon Gang.

Chen VII held the file tightly and read it for a long time. He forcibly repressed his excitement and nerves as his brain whirled quickly. He only looked up after a long time.

“This plot is very well done and only some minor details need to be tweaked. Give me one night and I can fix them. I believe that even if the two of them were truly deities, they would not be able to see through the plan.”

He looked at Jun Mo and said, “However, the crux of the matter is that where to find the most suitable person to carry this out? The person who would dare to do this would have to be extraordinary. A regular person would not have the courage.”

Jun Mo answered, “We heard that tens of thousands of hot-blooded people stood before Youngest Brother the day the Abbey Dean entered Chang’an. It is not difficult to find someone like that. And if we can’t, we will send two of the newest disciples the Academy accepted. They have yet to start cultivating officially and fit the criteria.”

“I was on the Vermilion Bird Avenue that day too.” Chen VII shook his head and said, “The ordinary people were acting on the spur of the moment. What we are doing now is planning before acting. These are completely different concepts.”

Chao Xiaoshu had not spoken, but suddenly said at the moment, “There’s another way.”

Jun Mo and Chen VII understood what he meant immediately. Chen VII did not hesitate to object with vehemence while Jun Mo stared at him quietly.

Chao Xiaoshu smiled slightly and said, “It is my greatest regret that I have never been able to study in the Academy. But I have learned much in the city and on the streets. I can behave like a human or a ghost as I wish.”

“Does that horse of yours still like grain porridge?”

Yang Erxi pushed the basin containing the pork trotters to the opposite side of the table, and motioned for Ning Que and Wang Jinglue to eat it. Then, he lifted the flagon and filled up the wine bowls in front of the two.

Ning Que remembered the rotten porridge he saw the other day and said with a smile, “I don’t know whether he still likes drinking grain porridge or not, but that silly horse never forgot about it.”

Yang Erxi took a bite of the pig trotters and guzzled down half a bowl of wine. He rubbed his belly and sighed in satisfaction. Then, he looked at Ning Que and warned him, “The situation right now isn’t that great. Be careful on the road.”

Ning Que replied, “The Eastern Border is peaceful now, and there shouldn’t be an issue with the southern side.”

Yang Erxi laughed and said, “The peace at the Eastern Border was fought for by us. Those idiots at Qinghe County in the south have never been beaten. Would they really behave themselves?”

Ning Que’s brows picked up and he said, “I remember you saying three years ago that you’ve already retired from the army.”

Yang Erxi patted his oily chest and said with satisfaction, “I don’t look it, do I? I joined the voluntary army. I am the best at painting in my county, and I’m also not bad at fighting wars.”

Ning Que looked at the farmer who was a common sight in the villages of the Tang Empire and did not know what to say.

Wang Jinglue had focused on eating meat and drinking wine since he entered the courtyard. He did not understand how Ning Que had gotten to know such a farmer and had even wanted to stop here until he heard that…

He looked up and raised his wine bowl, placing it in front of Yang Erxi to say, “I admire you.”

Yang Erxi took up his wine bowl and they toasted each other before he drank the remaining wine in his bowl. He said, “Compared to those dead fellows, I don’t deserve the admiration.”

It was only then when Ning Que noticed that he bore a new scar between his brows.

Yang Erxi pointed to the spot and said with a smile, “I was really lucky. Even though the barbarians cut me several times, they did not hit anything important. Even this wound on my face is hidden between my brows, and I have not been disfigured.”

Ning Que did not say anything else. He took up his wine bowl and dedicated a toast to him again.

Yang Erxi lifted the flagon and realized that it was empty. He yelled out of the window, “Go get another flagon of wine from the village. Oh, and cut me another pork trotter!”

“I wanted to eat the pork trotters from our home when I was at the Eastern Border.”

Yang Erxi looked at both Ning Que and Wang Jinglue, and said as he lamented, “Say, why do you think we work so hard for? Isn’t it for our wives and children? Isn’t it for them to have tasty and fragrant meat to eat?”

It was then, when the sound of his wife complaining could be heard from the courtyard. “You only know how to drink wine and eat meat every day. You invite everyone you see in our house to eat and drink and you never ever worry that they will eat away our family’s money.”

The voice was not high nor low and could not be heard by anyone outside the courtyard. However, it would definitely be heard by the two people sitting by the table eating meat. Wang Jinglue felt a little uneasy, while Ning Que seemed to not have heard it at all.

Yang Erxi felt embarrassed and slammed his hands on the table angrily and shouted, “What are you complaining about? Is it wrong for me to want to eat a piece of meat and drink a bowl of wine when I return home? Do you not want me to come back?”

The courtyard was suddenly silent, and then, the sound of a woman crying could be heard.

Yang Erxi felt even more embarrassed and yelled, “Cry, you only know how to cry! You cry when I am not home, and you cry when I return!” “I gambled with my life at the Eastern Border and rendered military service. I was awarded 200 taels of silver, so why am I not allowed to eat meat? Also, if you dare to pick the meat out of my bowl and give it to our son, I’ll give you a sound thrashing!”

The woman stopped crying and started to chop up the pork trotters. She cursed the man for being heartless as she chopped the pork.

Ning Que looked at him and asked hesitantly, “Are you really going to thrash her?”

Yang Erxi said, “Women, will they be obedient if you don’t thrash them?”

Ning Que asked, “Are you not afraid that she will sue you at the county government?”

Yang Erxi’s expression grew awkward and he replied, “This is called being fierce, do you understand?”

Ning Que thought of why he was going to the West-Hill and seemed to have learned something.

They had to leave after eating and drinking their fill.

Yang Erxi sent them to the mill and said, “I don’t know who you are, but I don’t think you are ordinary people, and I don’t know what you’re going to do. If you’re going to kill, kill more people on my behalf.”

Yang Erxi would definitely not say this had he not drunk so much.

Ning Que smiled and asked, “How did you know?”

Yang Erxi said, “We met once three years ago. I would have forgotten about you if not for your black horse that ate my grain porridge. Would an ordinary person be able to afford feeding a horse like that?”

Ning Que asked, “And how did you know we are going to kill someone?”

Yang Erxi said, “You are Tangs.”

Ning Que asked, “So?”

Yang Erxi said matter-of-factly, “What else other than killing are the Tangs going to do when they head to Qinghe River now?”

Just then, a pair of siblings ran towards them.

Yang Erxi swooped down and carried them. He looked at Ning Que and boasted, “My daughter and son. How are they? Aren’t they great? They rank in the top at school.”

Ning Que said, “I don’t have children, why are you so proud?”

Yang Erxi said, “Are you married?”

Ning Que nodded and said, “Yes. You’ve met her.”

Yang Erxi asked, “Is it that girl who likes to drink?”

Ning Que smiled and answered, “She doesn’t like to drink now.”

Yang Erxi replied, “It’s been three years, why do you still not have children?”

Ning Que said, “There’s nothing wrong with me, I think the problem lies with her.”

Yang Erxi said unhappily, “I don’t like listening to this. Men like to push all the blame to women. If there’s a problem, find a way to resolve it and don’t complain so much.”

Ning Que replied seriously, “I intend to do that too.”

Yang Erxi’s daughter looked at the two strangers and asked curiously, “Father, who are they?”

“They are father’s friends from Chang’an.”

Yang Erxi said proudly. He did have friends from Chang’an and had never lied to his daughter.

The daughter looked at Ning Que, her eyes turning in their sockets as she asked, “Where are you going?”

Ning Que answered, “I want to head to the south.”

The daughter asked curiously, “Why are you going to the south?”

Ning Que said with a smile, “To pick up my wife.”

The daughter said happily, “Is your bride beautiful?”

Ning Que thought it over, and replied, “She’s not really beautiful.”

The daughter said seriously, “Even if she’s not beautiful, you can’t abandon her.”

Ning Que looked at her and said seriously, “Of course.”