Chapter 214
Chapter 214
Yan Zhengchu had not been idle in his guest room, and once Yu Lang brought him the iron box, he became even busier.
“Five rows of character buttons are carved into the side of this box and correspond to the compass on the lid. It was probably made by someone from a Daoist sect.”
After studying it for a while longer, Daoist Yan said, “I cannot guarantee I can open it. I will need time to examine it.”
Afraid of disturbing him, Ren Fengjue and Yu Lang withdrew.
Just then, Vice Minister Yu’s stomach responded perfectly to the occasion with a loud growl.
Ren Fengjue understood. “Come. Let us see whether any night eateries or vendors remain open.”
Beiding County was no Shangjing. At nearly ten at night, the streets were almost deserted.
After walking along two streets, they found only one vendor whose lantern was still lit.
Upon approaching, they discovered that it was a late-night eatery selling all manner of food, including flatbreads.
Yu Lang immediately recalled Ah Wu mentioning a flatbread stall on the western side of the city that still had food for sale late at night.
And before Zhong Yi met with trouble, he had sent his son Zhong Dingyan into the street to buy flatbreads.
Most likely, this was the place they had spoken of.
“My lord, let us try the flatbreads too.”
Ren Fengjue had been thinking the same thing and nodded at once.
When they reached the stall, however, the owner told them only three flatbreads remained. There were still noodles, dumplings, and other food.
Yu Lang wanted the flatbreads. “Then give me all three.”
The owner agreed with a smile, then asked, “It is cold tonight. Would you gentlemen like two bowls of Longevity Soup as well? A bite of flatbread and a sip of soup will warm you through, and the combination is satisfying.”
Yu Lang quickly asked, “What is Longevity Soup?”
The owner explained, “Beiding is bitterly cold. Every household makes this soup in winter to ward off the chill.
“It contains several medicinal ingredients said to prolong life, which is why we call it Longevity Soup.”
Yu Lang loved trying novel things he had never tasted. “Certainly. Bring us two bowls to try.”
The owner invited them to sit at a small table nearby. Before long, he served two bowls of hot soup and three flatbreads wrapped in oiled paper.
Yu Lang was already famished. Just as he was about to eat heartily, several clusters of white light flickered in the distance at the edge of his vision.
Looking more closely, he realized they were several white lanterns.
At that moment, a cold wind blew past. Something drifted through the air and landed directly at Yu Lang’s feet.
It was a piece of spirit money.
“This…”
A chill ran down Yu Lang’s back.
Ren Fengjue glanced at it. “It is a nighttime funeral procession. Do not panic, and do not stare.”
The funeral procession passed along the main road beside them in complete silence. Not even a footstep could be heard.
Only after it moved farther away could they see a scattering of spirit money on the ground.
Yu Lang breathed a sigh of relief and slowly sipped his soup. Then he heard the owner sigh and lament.
“It seems the young lady of the Wen Family has passed away…”
“So young. What a pity.”
Yu Lang’s spoon paused. He could not resist asking, “Do you mean the deceased was… a young woman?”
The owner nodded. “Yes. The young lady of the Wen Family was not only young and beautiful but also a famous talent here in Beiding County. She excelled in music, chess, calligraphy, and painting.
“Sadly, such beauty was fated to die young…”
Though the owner said only a few words, it was clear there was a story behind them.
Yu Lang asked, “How did someone so young die?”
The owner explained, “I heard that the man betrothed to her before birth broke off the engagement. Not only that, he immediately married a courtesan singer instead.”
“Miss Wen fell gravely ill from anger. Less than a month later, she passed away…”
Yu Lang murmured, “Another betrothal arranged before birth?”
Ren Fengjue’s gaze paused, and he could not help glancing at him.
Yu Lang immediately cleared his throat and changed the subject. “That truly is a pity. A man like that was never worth it.”
“Precisely.”
The two of them lamented the matter for a while.
Ren Fengjue, however, seemed to be thinking of something and remained silent throughout.
They soon finished the soup. As the owner had said, it truly did ward off the cold.
Before leaving, Ren Fengjue asked the owner to cook two more bowls of dumplings and pack another serving of soup to take back to the Zhong residence.
When they returned, Yan Zhengchu was still in his room studying how to open the box. He was too busy even to respond when Yu Lang knocked.
Seeing this, Vice Minister Yu quietly pushed the door open, placed the hot dumplings on the table, and left.
As the door closed with a soft sound, Daoist Yan suddenly frowned.
Just now… he seemed to have sensed a trace of cold energy.
He glanced at the compass nearby, but it showed no reaction.
When Ren Fengjue returned to the guest courtyard carrying soup and flatbread, he was surprised to find a light still burning inside Xia Ximo’s room.
So she was still awake.
He reached her door and hesitated. Just as he prepared to knock, it suddenly opened.
Xia Ximo stood in the doorway, and a flicker of surprise clearly crossed her eyes when she saw him.
Ren Fengjue hurriedly explained, “Yu Lang and I… just went out. I brought some food back. Would you like to try it?”
He offered her the food box, doing his best to appear relaxed and natural.
The harder he tried, the more deliberate he seemed.
Xia Ximo also hesitated for a moment before accepting it. Then, with sudden politeness, she said, “Thank you.”
Ren Fengjue said nothing more. He nodded slightly. “You should rest early.”
With that, he immediately turned and returned to his room.
Holding the food box, Xia Ximo remained where she was for a while before closing the door again.
At the same time, Yu Lang returned to his room and shut the door behind him.
Something fell from his sleeve and landed on the floor with a faint sound.
He looked down and saw an embroidered sachet that did not belong to him.
After bending to pick it up, he examined it carefully and was startled.
The sachet gave off a delicate fragrance, and a pair of mandarin ducks with intertwined necks was embroidered upon it. It was clearly… a token of love.
Yu Lang’s cheeks warmed. Could some young woman have fallen for him?
As his imagination wandered, he realized something was wrong.
Since leaving the capital, he had hardly encountered any young women, though he had seen plenty of female ghosts.
Vice Minister Yu frowned slightly. Though he found the matter strange, an inexplicable drowsiness suddenly swept over him. He casually tossed the sachet aside and collapsed onto the bed.
In his haze, he seemed to arrive in the rear garden of a wealthy estate.
Flowers bloomed and willows flourished all around him. Birds darted through the air amid the splendor of spring.
As he walked, the elegant sound of a zither faintly reached him.
Yu Lang stopped and discovered a pond of lotus blossoms in full bloom before him.
Deep among the lotuses stood a pavilion, and the music came from within.
He involuntarily followed the sound until two bamboo blinds suddenly blocked his path.
The music lingered without end, accompanied by waves of fragrant air. Looking through the bamboo blinds, he saw a breathtakingly beautiful woman seated inside.
Yu Lang’s breath caught, and he froze in place.