Chapter 396: Arrangements
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Please, there is no need to see me off, Eunuch Liu!”
In the early morning on the 20th day of the eighth lunar month, when the sun had just risen from the east, Yan Liqiang was bidding his farewell to everyone in Deer Villa with his packed luggage at the entrance in the western part of Imperial Capital.
Li Hongtu and Ji Xiaoyao didn’t come because Yan Liqiang had personally visited their residences and had already bid his final farewell to them.
“Remember to visit the Imperial Capital when you have time! I shall always have a place for you here, Liqiang!” Eunuch Liu shed a few tears during the farewell. He held Yan Liqiang’s hands tightly with both hands, seemingly quite reluctant to part with him.
“Rest a.s.sured, Eunuch Liu. Please take good care of yourself. I shall definitely visit you when I come back to the Imperial Capital!”
Perhaps Eunuch Liu had recalled all the good in Yan Liqiang when they were about to part, because his eyes reddened and he couldn’t help but say a few things to Yan Liqiang from the bottom of his heart. “Do what you can for His Majesty, but do not force yourself if you cannot do it either. You have ample time to prove yourself in the future. As mentioned many times before, nothing is more important than your own life. If you lose your life, all the reputation and wealth you’ve built up will all be for naught!”
“I know. His Majesty did not ask anything of me. He even gave me a decade to prove myself! On the contrary, Eunuch Liu should remain vigilant. The Imperial Capital city is as perilous as the border between two military fortresses!”
“I am old and have lived my life to the fullest. There is nothing left for me to worry about. The Imperial Capital city is not going to be toppled over!” Eunuch Liu snorted. “Oh that reminds me, did you take the things I gave you yesterday?”
Yan Liqiang patted his chest, then looked at the gorgeous carriage in the distance which was a gift from Manager You. “Rest a.s.sured, I have them with me, Eunuch Liu!” he nodded.
The item Eunuch Liu brought to him yesterday was the imperial edict from the Emperor that officially appointed Yan Liqiang as the Qiyun Protectorate General and also a small tiger-shaped Qiyun Protectorate General golden seal. These two items were proof of Yan Liqiang’s current ident.i.ty, especially the golden seal which had just been made two days ago.
“Good. Be careful on your journey. Any ordinary local official will not dare to make things difficult for you if you show them these items!” Speaking up to this point, Eunuch Liu suddenly lowered his voice and leaned closer to whisper something into Yan Liqiang.
“The Ministry of Justice is only putting on a show. They will never arrest that Lin Zhe. I know that wretch and his character pretty well. He will probably do something to you when you are on the way back to Gan Province. Since he is already in hot water, he might as well go all the way. If you really run into that wretch, I am sure you know what to do…”
A glint flashed across Yan Liqiang’s eyes. He nodded and whispered back, “Rest a.s.sured, Eunuch Liu. I know what to do. If I run into Lin Zhe again, I will never let him get away alive. My dantian may not have recovered yet, but I can easily get rid of him as long as I have a bow in hand!”
“Good, good!” Eunuch Liu nodded in satisfaction.
“I shall have to leave ‘The Great Han Times’ in your hands, Eunuch Liu. Fang Beidou may not be able to think fast enough at times, but he is definitely a reliable person. I dare to use my life to guarantee his loyalty toward His Majesty and you!”
“Do not worry. I shall never let that old wretch have things his way!” Eunuch Liu seethed. “I have seen that Fang Beidou too. He is indeed a talented one. There is nothing for me to worry about if he is the one managing ‘The Great Han Times’. If anything happens, I shall shoulder the responsibility for him…”
“If anything happens, you may inform me!”
“Rest a.s.sured. If something really happens, I will definitely not forget about you, Liqiang!” A smile appeared on Eunuch Liu’s face. “Alright, I shall not hold you up any longer, just be careful on your journey!”
“Alright, Eunuch Liu!” After Yan Liqiang said that, he turned to the soldiers who were seeing him off at the entrance and saluted to them. “My brothers, our friends.h.i.+p shall last forever. Please take care of yourselves!”
All the soldiers stamped their feet, saluted to Yan Liqiang, and bid him farewell in unison. “Farewell, Protectorate General Yan!”
The time Yan Liqiang spent in Deer Villa was short and he hadn’t gotten to know all the soldiers that well. He was a modest and easygoing person who treated the soldiers nicely. Whenever he went out, he would always buy something from the Imperial Capital for those who were on night duty. Therefore, he was greatly admired by them. Seeing that Yan Liqiang was going to leave Deer Villa, everyone secretly felt that it was a pity to lose him.
Taking over the reins on Snowstorm Cloud which Hu Haihe had brought over, Yan Liqiang turned around and got onto its back. He cupped his fists to everyone, then shook the reins and rode toward the public road on his rhinodrake steed. Hu Haihe also nimbly got onto the carriage and caught up to Yan Liqiang from behind.
By the time the carriage Hu Haihe was driving had run a few hundred meters along the public road, only then did its window open, revealing half of Yu Qing’s beautiful face and Goldie who was sticking its tongue out in excitement.
“Young Lord… have we left Deer Villa?” It had only been less than two days since Yu Qing stayed by Yan Liqiang’s side, and she already considered herself as his servant girl. This was exactly the same as how it was in the Heavenly Realm.
“Yes, we are already on the public road. You may come out and sit in front to get some fresh air if it is too stuffy in the carriage!” Yan Liqiang replied with a smile.
Yu Qing nodded and obediently replied, “It’s alright…”
Apart from Yu Qing, Hu Haihe insisted on returning to Gan Province with Yan Liqiang. So naturally, he also became Yan Liqiang’s follower and manservant. Hu Haihe didn’t seem to mind this, and seemed rather excited instead. He had been following Yan Liqiang around and he worked very diligently.
With precious steeds, a magnificent carriage, a servant girl and a manservant by his side, Yan Liqiang immediately exuded the aura of a son from a wealthy clan who was out to travel.
There were two rhinodrake steeds pulling the carriage. Although the carriage didn’t seem to be that heavy from the outside, the things being transported in it had considerable weight. Apart from the Horned Python Bow which was a gift from the Emperor, there was also the Dragon Spine Steel spear from Li Hongtu. Since the spear was too eye-catching, long, and heavy, Yan Liqiang put it in a spear cover and hid it in the compartment underneath the carriage. Without opening the hidden compartment, no one could tell it was there.
They had only been running for less than one li along the public road when Yan Liqiang spotted Fang Beidou, Xu Enda, and the rest waiting by the road. The group had already set up a table of wine to see him off.
After bidding farewell to them, Yan Liqiang finally embarked on his return journey to Gan Province with Yu Qing and Hu Haihe…
……
Meanwhile, in Grand Chancellor Lin Qingtian’s study…
“Have you issued the order?”
“s.h.i.+ Minzhang has left the Imperial Capital city already. He will rendezvous with Lord Lin in the northwestern region. Yan Liqiang has made enemies with the Blackwind Bandits before. Therefore, getting rid of him in the name of the Blackwind Bandits there will be the most logical course of action. No one will be suspicious of anything…”
“I hope that there won’t be any more mistakes this time!” Lin Qingtian raised his head and creased a frown while speaking. He looked out the window. He wasn’t sure why, but he felt something was amiss. Something was slipping out of his grasp, yet he couldn’t quite figure it out. It was an unpleasant feeling in his heart. He thought Yan Liqiang was the reason at first. After thinking through things, he sent s.h.i.+ Minzhang out to be on the safe side. Even so, that unpleasant feeling still lingered…