Chapter 46

A group of people headed towards the Northern King’s Mansion situated in the eastern part of Shengjing. From afar, they could see a crowd gathered in front of the mansion gates.

Xie Tingzhou halted his horse at the gate, and immediately a guard came forward to take the reins.

“Your Highness!” Chang Liu exclaimed as he ran down the steps, appearing somewhat reproachful. “Your Highness has been gone for quite some time. Look at how much weight I’ve lost.”

Xie Tingzhou glanced at him and replied calmly, “While I was away, you seem to have gained weight.”

Chang Liu rolled his eyes and then noticed the person behind Xie Tingzhou, his eyes lighting up. “Are you Shiyu?”

Shen Yu didn’t know him, but judging from his familiarity with Xie Tingzhou, he was likely not an ordinary guard.

He appeared rather young, even younger than Shen Yu.

“Yes,” Shen Yu replied.

Chang Liu sized him up and, seeing Xie Tingzhou about to leave, quickly caught up with him.

“Cang has been waiting in Your Highness’s courtyard for a long time. During Your Highness’s absence, it has hardly eaten anything and has become noticeably thinner,” Chang Liu said urgently. “It seems to be in poor spirits.”

Xie Tingzhou chuckled and asked, “Thinner than you?”

“It’s true!” Chang Liu insisted. “I’ve tried everything to persuade it to eat, but it refuses. It won’t even leave the door. I suggested taking it hunting in the mountains, but it doesn’t want to move.”

“I understand,” Xie Tingzhou said indifferently.

Shen Yu listened from behind, unsure who Cang was. From the tone of Chang Liu and Xie Tingzhou’s conversation, Cang seemed to be someone highly valued by Xie Tingzhou.

The Northern King’s Mansion was vast.

Shen Yu had ridden past it before and felt the high walls of the mansion seemed endless, taking some time even on horseback to pass through.

Facing north and occupying several acres, it was many times larger than the former general’s residence.

Back then, the mansion was sparsely populated, with only a few servants left to maintain it. Despite its luxurious appearance with blue tiles and red eaves, it seemed desolate.

Now, walking through it, Shen Yu found it even more extravagant than expected.

She turned slightly to ask the guard behind her, “Do we always have to walk this far every time we enter or exit?”

Hearing her question, Chang Liu slowed down his pace.

As he stepped back, Xi Feng immediately stepped forward.

Walking alongside Shen Yu, Chang Liu said proudly, “You’ve never seen this before, have you? What you see here is nothing. The Northern King’s Mansion in Beilin is truly grand. But on regular days, you can use sedan chairs for entry and exit. In some courtyards, riding horses is also allowed, like the Qingpu Residence where His Highness resides.”

“Chang Liu,” Xie Tingzhou warned from the front.

Chang Liu covered his mouth and followed.

It took about fifteen minutes to walk from the main gate to the Qingpu Residence. Xi Feng walked beside Xie Tingzhou, reporting miscellaneous affairs of the capital.

One by one, they entered the Qingpu Residence.

Shen Yu lifted her foot to follow, but Chang Liu suddenly blocked the door and said, “Cang doesn’t like outsiders, so normally, no one else is allowed into His Highness’s courtyard.”

Shen Yu looked at Xie Tingzhou’s back. She was Xie Tingzhou’s close guard, subordinate to Xi Feng. As long as Xie Tingzhou and Xi Feng didn’t speak, nothing could be done, no matter what others said.

Xie Tingzhou happened to turn around, glanced at Shen Yu, and after a brief thought, said, “You go rest.”

It meant that indeed, outsiders were not allowed into the courtyard. Who exactly was this Cang? With such grandeur, he wouldn’t allow others in.

Could it be that Xie Tingzhou was being overprotective?

Shen Yu withdrew her foot and saw Xi Feng cast a glance in her direction before continuing to speak with Xie Tingzhou.

Xi Feng lowered his voice, but as a martial artist, Shen Yu could still faintly hear a few words.

Letters, Liang Jianfang, Ministry of War, Ministry of Revenue… The farther away they spoke, the less clear it became, until she heard the term “lord.”

Every word here was related to the Yanzhang case. She desperately wanted to know more, but the cautious look Xi Feng gave her when he glanced back made it clear he didn’t trust her.

After days of travel, Xie Tingzhou seemed to savor a hint of his past life as a warrior.

He had restrained his edge for many years, immersing himself in luxury, which seemed to have softened his bones.

As Xie Tingzhou soaked in the pool, his body gradually relaxed in the water. Leaning against the edge of the pool with his arms, he mentally reviewed Xi Feng’s report.

A maid brought his sleeping attire and placed it behind the screen, then quietly left.

After soaking for a while, Xie Tingzhou got up and dressed.

Returning to his bedroom, he pushed open the window and glanced outside, where it was still dark. It was already midnight.

Closing the window and turning around, he suddenly remembered something.

“Xi Feng,” Xie Tingzhou called out through the window.

Xi Feng approached the window, and Xie Tingzhou asked, “Where is Shiyu?”

“After days of travel, I’ve already arranged for him to rest,” Xi Feng replied.

Xie Tingzhou nodded slightly, then asked, “Where did you arrange for him to stay?”

“In the guards’ rest quarters,” Xi Feng answered.

Xie Tingzhou furrowed his brows slightly. “Find a courtyard for him.”

Xi Feng recalled the events outside the city and tentatively asked, “Qizi Hall is the closest to Your Highness’s place. Should we…”

“No need,” Xie Tingzhou interrupted him. “Which courtyard is the farthest from here?”

“To the west of the mansion, there’s a courtyard right next to where the brothers who delivered reports to the capital used to rest,” Xi Feng replied.

Xie Tingzhou pondered for a moment. “I vaguely remember there’s a courtyard near the east gate.”

Xi Feng quickly stole a glance at Xie Tingzhou. “Yes, Lu Mingxuan is for guests.”

“That’s it then,” Xie Tingzhou confirmed decisively.

Xi Feng bowed his head. “Yes, I’ll go right away.”

Just as Xi Feng stepped over the threshold, Xie Tingzhou called out again, “Come back.”

“Let’s do it tomorrow. It’s late,” Xi Feng replied.

As Xi Feng walked past the corridor, he ran into Chang Liu waiting there.

“You’re still not sleeping?”

Chang Liu looked mysterious. “Who exactly is this Shi Yu? I asked the guards earlier, and they said he was someone Your Highness picked up on the battlefield.”

Xi Feng said, “To be precise, it was General Chang who picked him up.”

Chang Liu puzzled, “Then why didn’t General Chang take him to Beilin? Instead, he followed Your Highness to Shengjing.”

Xi Feng didn’t know how to explain the situation to him. The reasons were complicated and couldn’t be explained in a short time.

Moreover, strictly speaking, it was Xie Tingzhou who took Shiyu from Chang Heng, and Chang Heng had been grumbling about it for several days.

“He’s skilled, so he’ll serve as a close guard by His Highness’s side.”

“Are you kidding me?” Chang Liu suddenly lowered his voice when he realized he was speaking too loudly. “Brother, you’re not being honest. If he’s just a guard, why would His Highness allocate a separate courtyard for him? And also tell you not to disturb him.”

Xi Feng corrected him, “I didn’t say not to disturb him, just that it’s late.”

“Isn’t that the same thing?” Chang Liu shrugged.

“How do you know His Highness isn’t concerned about my hard work?”

Chang Liu snorted, “Don’t you have an idea? Why are you still on night duty? Why didn’t His Highness tell you to rest?”

Xi Feng pursed his lips.

Chang Liu looked puzzled. “But it’s strange, why give him a separate courtyard and yet choose the farthest location?”

Xi Feng was also puzzled.

He couldn’t help but remember the words that woman said outside the city.

Could it be true?

Xi Feng immediately shook his head, dismissing the thought from his mind.

Seeing his expression, Chang Liu leaned in and asked, “What are you thinking? Why do you look so strange?”

Xi Feng suddenly became serious. “He has followed His Highness through life and death all this way and has achieved great merits. It’s not unreasonable to allocate a courtyard for him.”

“But we all live in the same courtyard. You’ve followed His Highness through life and death for so many years. Why didn’t His Highness allocate one for you?”

It was like touching a sore spot. Xi Feng didn’t want to say another word to him and turned away.