Chapter 775: The Beginning

“Ling Guang, it’s been a while.”

After arriving at Rongshan, He Lingchuan had asked Elder Dao to send a letter to Songyang Mansion’s branch in Dunyu City. As for the recipient, it was none other than Ling Guang!

Overwhelmed by their reunion after so long apart, the medicine ape seemed to forget how to speak the human tongue. It merely squealed and pounded He Lingchuan repeatedly on the shoulder.

After He Lingchuan fell into the river, Ling Guang had thought its talent for bringing disaster upon its masters had taken effect yet again. It had remained despondent for a long time.

More than half a year later, its employer had miraculously reappeared and even asked to meet it at the Han River battlefield.

Ling Guang had come with equal parts hope and doubt.

Now, it was beside itself with joy!

Of course, with He Lingchuan’s current physique, the ape’s blows barely tickled.

Ling Guang seemed to have lost weight. He Lingchuan reached into his robe, pulled out several pastries, and offered them over. “A reunion gift. These are sweet flaky pastries from Beijia.” Then, he pointed to the squirrel perched on his other shoulder. “This is your new companion.”

The squirrel shot Ling Guang a disdainful look.

Who would want such an undignified companion?

It simply jumped onto Qiu Hu instead and refused to spare the ape another glance.

He Lingchuan led everyone away from the riverbank.

Only after Ling Guang had calmed down somewhat did He Lingchuan pat it on the back. “Alright, alright. Let me ask you something. Did you tell anyone else that I’ve returned to Yuan?”

Ling Guang’s eyes shone as it shook its head vigorously. “No. I burned the letter and came straight to find you.”

“Excellent.” He Lingchuan smiled. “Now tell me how my former subordinates and properties are doing.”

Ling Guang asked, “Are you going back to Dunyu to take a look?”

“Where’s my father?”

“He should be in the Yuan capital by now,” Ling Guang answered. “Had you returned a month earlier, you probably could have met him in Dunyu.”

“It isn’t too late now.” Facing the spring breeze blowing toward him, He Lingchuan said leisurely, “I’m going to the Yuan capital as well.”

Dong Rui rubbed his hands together. “The preserved fruit there is delicious.”

He had visited the capital once and had never forgotten it.

That was during the job when he had been hired to assassinate General Ke Jihai.

He Lingchuan, however, said, “You and Lady One aren’t coming.”

He had wrestled with the decision for a long time before finally making up his mind.

“Mm. What?” Dong Rui stared at him in surprise. “We’re not going?”

“The ghost ape is far too conspicuous. I’m afraid someone will recognize it.”

The ghost ape had once attempted to assassinate both Ke Jihai and He Chunhua. It was hardly suitable for it to appear near the Yuan capital.

He Lingchuan pointed toward Zhu Daniang next. “As for Lady One, she shouldn’t appear anywhere at all.”

Even though Zhu Daniang had disguised herself, revealing herself in public would still risk exposing her identity.

His journey through Yuan was already dangerous enough. He could not afford to multiply the risk. After considering it from every angle, he had decided it would be best for these two mighty figures to remain out of sight.

Zhu Daniang had no objection.

She had never been particularly interested in human cities anyway.

Dong Rui’s expression darkened. “Why didn’t you tell us sooner that you weren’t taking us? Fine, then. I’m leaving!”

“Where are you going?”

“What does it have to do with you?” Dong Rui found the question amusing. “The world is vast. Where can I not go?”

“The world may be vast, but there’s nowhere in it for you.” He Lingchuan bent an arm around Dong Rui’s neck and pulled him close. “Think about all your glorious achievements!”

Dong Rui forced several words through clenched teeth, “They don’t compare to yours!” He Lingchuan was clearly the main culprit, wasn’t he? At most, I’d only been an accomplice.

“Oh, why bother distinguishing between yours and mine?” He Lingchuan smiled pleasantly. “You and Lady One should head south first. Once I finish my business, I’ll find you. Oh, and take Ling Guang with you!”

“Squeak!” Ling Guang scratched its ears and cheeks in agitation.

They had finally reunited. Why was He Lingchuan abandoning it again?

“I thought things through on the road. Some matters need to be settled by my own hand.” He Lingchuan stroked the ape’s head. “The rest of you can eat, drink, and enjoy yourselves while traveling south. We’ll definitely meet again within three to five months at most. Come on, I always keep my word. When have I ever broken a promise to you?”

He really had not.

Ling Guang’s face twisted miserably.

After He Lingchuan finally managed to soothe the ape, Zhu Daniang asked, “Where will we meet?”

She was not human and did not possess such overflowing emotions.

“You should go ahead of me and wait at White Sand Bay, the southern port.” He Lingchuan called Zhu Daniang toward the water and lowered his voice. “Keep an eye on Dong Rui. Don’t let him slip away.”

Dong Rui knew far too many of He Lingchuan’s secrets. He absolutely could not be allowed to leave.

The three of them were grasshoppers tied to the same string.

Zhu Daniang gave a quiet acknowledgment. “Understood. He won’t leave my sight.”

He Lingchuan knew she always meant exactly what she said. Once she agreed to something, she would carry it out. So he immediately pushed his luck. “You have eyeball spiders too, don’t you? Give me a few.”

“Take them.”

Zhu Daniang was more generous than her younger sister. With one motion, she handed him four eyeball spiders.

* * *

The peach blossoms held the lingering night rain, while green willows stood veiled in morning mist.

The fourth and fifth months were the most beautiful months of the year in Shihuan City.

The He Family’s new residence in Shihuan City had a century-old peach tree in its courtyard. It was now in full bloom, and rolling clouds of pink blossoms spilled over the walls.

Its magnificent, almost radiant beauty could only truly be appreciated in person.

The rain had just stopped when Madame Ying walked into the garden. The moment she frowned at the fallen petals on the ground, servants hurried over to sweep them away.

He Chunhua had gone to the capital to receive his titles and rewards, and the entire family had followed him.

Everyone knew they would not be returning to Xia Province.

Among the rewards Yuan bestowed was this residence, covering roughly 1.67 hectares, along with two country estates outside Shihuan City.

Once the He Family arrived in the capital, they had no need to purchase another home.

It was a century-old estate. The previous owner had not maintained it well, and after it was confiscated, it had stood empty for a long time. Naturally, it had fallen into disrepair.

Some of the wooden structures had already rotted. The weeds in the garden grew taller than a person, and moss had nearly climbed to the top of the walls.

Madame Ying, however, was extremely pleased with the estate’s layout.

For the past few days, she had been so busy directing craftsmen and servants to repair the furnishings and restore the gardens that her feet had barely touched the ground.

An old house was no concern. As long as the design was sound and its foundations remained solid, Madame Ying was confident that she could restore it into a grand residence worthy of being passed down through generations.

She had brought numerous decorations from Xia Province and was placing each one into the new home.

Most of the servants from Dunyu had been dismissed. Only a few of the more clever and loyal ones had followed the family to the capital.

The estate was being restored from the ground up, and labor was needed everywhere. Steward Wu now came to report that a new group of forty slaves had arrived and asked the mistress of the household to select among them.

Madame Ying waved a hand. “You can choose. Keep only twenty.”

Steward Wu had served He Chunhua since Heishui City and had worked for the He Family for more than a decade. Madame Ying trusted him completely.

“Only twenty? Wouldn’t that be too few?”

Even including the twenty new servants, the 1.67-hectare residence would have only fifty servants in total.

There would not be enough hands.

“The master of the household said that we have only just arrived in Shihuan, and conditions outside are poor. Everyone in the royal court is advocating frugality, so it wouldn’t be appropriate for us to be too extravagant.” Madame Ying thought for a moment. “What about the furnishings?”

“The new furniture will arrive this afternoon. This is already the second delivery,” Steward Wu replied. “How would you like it distributed?”

“Send one set to Yue’er. As for Chuan’er’s courtyard...” Madame Ying hesitated for a long time. “Send... send a set there as well.”

“The side halls and auxiliary courtyards still aren’t fully furnished.” Steward Wu sought confirmation. “Madame, the southern route is blocked. The next shipment won’t arrive for another two months at the earliest.”