"This one greets Second Young Master."Li Changhai looked up to see a familiar figure approaching him, and smiled broadly. As expected, his father didn"t waste any time. Which was just as well.
"Butler Jin," he greeted the man with the greying hair, as he quickly pushed aside his thoughts about the younger man at his side.
"The Master has heard of Second Young Master"s return, and wonders if you would care to join him in the Pond Pavilion. He has heard many stories about your exploits in the South, and would dearly love to learn your own opinion of what you have seen there."
"Of course, Butler Jin. I will come with you at once."
But Li Sanlang turned back to Qin Feng with a grin and a shrug, laughing. "It seems I am going to be dragged in front of my father now, to give an accounting of the troubles that I have put my maternal family through. I trust that Brother Qin will not blame me for not being a proper host? I shall leave these two maids of mine to show you to your quarters now. But I shall meet you again for a quick discussion, after I am done meeting with my father.
"I trust that will suit?"
The young man dressed in one of Li Changhai"s older but obviously rich robes laughed back at him, and indicated that he had no problems with the Ducal Prince"s arrangements. And he stood aside, even as Li Changhai turned back to Butler Jin, gesturing for the latter to lead the way.
Which was enough to tell the Prince that Qin Feng was not entirely unaware of the situation there, at the Ducal Palace. Or of his own role in the same, attached to Li Changhai"s small household. Hopefully, it would be enough to keep him there, at the Second Ducal Prince"s side.
*
The Second Ducal Prince had a certain spring in his step as he left the resplendent courtyard. And from the thinly veiled look of excitement on his face, it was rather clear that he was eager to meet with his father. Which puzzled Qin Feng a little.
Was the situation in these n.o.ble families so bad, so restricted, that they didn"t even have the opportunity to meet with their own parents whenever they wished?
He certainly didn"t understand it. Of course, he had only known life in his little village, before he was taken away by ... Well, Old Man Snow Mountain certainly did not insist on any of those strange rules when it came to caring for him. So he guessed that the Old Man was not a n.o.bleman. Or if he was, he certainly was not one of those that followed the rules like this Second Ducal Prince"s father.
Of course, since the latter was a Duke, he was most likely bound by more rules than Qin Feng would ever know. From his experience in Changqing City, and with the Marquis, he could understand that there was a great deal of ceremony to be followed, and a great many subtleties involved, in almost every nuance of their behavior.
Which was enough to tire him out, just from thinking about it!
Well, he would like nothing to be away from all of this, so that he could pursue his goals without having to pander to these so-called n.o.blemen. But he had said that he would see Li Changhai safely to his father"s side, and that he would let the latter know about the source of that Green Shadow Sabre. So he had no choice but to see this to the end.
Although he would like nothing better than to get away from all of this, and head North at once! At least, he thought that it was in the North. Old Man Snow Mountain had been a bit vague when it came to where his Secret Lair was.
And he had not been able to find a suitably large map, that held signs of those landmarks and places that Old Man Snow Mountain had left in his head.
So he had no choice but to wander about, and look for clues. The North was a very large place, from what he could see.
Which was probably why he was so upset, to be caught up in the middle of a feud that had nothing to do with him. Nor with the reason why he was stuck there in the middle of this Kingdom in the first place!
Nevertheless, he was supposed to help Li Changhai the best he could. The fellow was the Second Ducal Prince here, so he deserved a bit of consideration, for all the help that Qin Feng had received from him. And there was that promise of his, given to Old Lady Xie. Considering how generous she had been to him, and how she had, more or less, saved his life once, he wasn"t about to break his word to her.
So if he had to behave a little more properly, so that he could get this meeting over with ... Qin Feng did not have any difficulty with that! Not in the slightest!
Especially since it meant that he could consider his mission completed, and his obligations repaid, the moment that it was finished! Which would then free him to get away from this Yanyun City, and this bothersome feud between the two Dukes. So that he could get on with his search for Old Man Snow Mountain"s Mountain! He would certainly like nothing better than that!
He breathed out a sigh then, and was slightly startled when the pair of servants t.i.ttered at the sound. Were those two still about?
He turned his head, and saw the two young women looking at him with a somewhat embarra.s.sed expression. And cursed himself for not paying attention to his surroundings as his thoughts wandered. Yet, it should be safe enough, there in the neatly landscaped yard that surrounded Li Changhai"s section of the luxurious grounds. Even if he had found himself somewhat turned about in the place.
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So he sighed again, and gestured at the pair to lead the way. From the look of things, he would probably end up lost in the gardens and only reach the quarters that had been arranged for him come nightfall!
The two girls smiled knowingly at him, and quietly ushered him along the footpath once again. Clearly, they had no understanding of the frustration that he was feeling, and merely thought that he was enraptured by the design of that lovely garden. No doubt, they were thinking that he was more than pleased to be shown about as Second Ducal Prince"s welcomed guest!
Well, that was just too bad. Unfortunately for Li Changhai, Qin Feng"s thoughts were running in a completely opposite direction. He had found the whole journey from the City Gates, through the Ducal Palace and into the Second Ducal Prince"s section of the Palace Accommodations nothing more than an utterly bothersome ch.o.r.e!
If it had not been for Lady Xie Nianxue"s instructions, he would have pleaded some excuse earlier, and made his escape!
* * *