Ling Zhaowu was long past his prime, and both his physical strength and his comprehension should be slightly inferior to a young person’s, yet with these disadvantages, he had still mastered the set of fist techniques in such a short time and quickly nursed himself back to health with it?
Yuwen Tong didn’t believe this matter was as simple as it seemed, his suspicions about Ling Zhaowu deepening.
The show was over, and Ji Yanlai and the others had never shown up. It was when Ling Zhang saw the crowd downstairs thinning and the pleasure-ships and boats decorated with lanterns driving off shore one after another that he came to realize he and Yuwen Tong had stayed in this place for quite some time. Taken aback, he exclaimed, “Crap. We’ve been here for so long and forgotten about my grandfather and all the others!”
“Yao Yi,” Yuwen Tong called aloud.
Yao Yi walked inside immediately. “Marshal, Childe Ling.”
Yuwen Tong asked, “Where are Old Master Ling and the others? Have they gone back?”
Yao Yi answered, “Yes, they have, all of them. I’ve had someone deliver a message to them, telling them that you and Childe Ling would directly return to the imperial palace.”
Ling Zhang heaved a sigh of relief. “Were my grandfather and the others in good spirits?”
Yao Yi replied, “The one I sent there told me that your grandfather looked in high spirits, that he and Mr. Ji had a good time at the night market. I think they have gone to sleep by now.”
Ling Zhang inclined his head and looked at Yuwen Tong. “We should get back as well.”
Yuwen Tong glanced at the pleasure-ships and boats decorated with lanterns which were slowly driving away, and then left the teahouse with Ling Zhang hand in hand, walking along the street on the riverbank. Some of the gaily-painted pleasure-ships and boats with lanterns were going in the same direction, progressing at a gentle pace, as though keeping the two of them company.
Ling Zhang cast a look at the ships and suggested, “Next time let’s take a boat trip on a lake.”
Stroking the back of Ling Zhang’s hand, Yuwen Tong replied, “Okay.”
…
After returning to the palace, the two of them bathed and turned in. What with the tiring last night and the long walk he’d just had, Ling Zhang fell asleep almost immediately after lying down on the bed.
Yuwen Tong tied Ling Zhang’s hair up for him, pulled the quilt over his abdomen and then got out of bed, stepped out of the inner room of the imperial bedchamber, looked at Yao Yi waiting outside and asked, “Where’s Qi San?”
“He’s waiting in the side hall,” answered Yao Yi.
Yuwen Tong draped a coat across his shoulders and went to the side hall, where a man in a black skintight outfit was waiting for him. The man appeared about the same age as Yao Yi and the other bodyguards, and was so nondescript that if he stood among a crowd, people who knew him would have difficulty identifying him. He was none other than Qi San, the commander of the Shadow Battalion under Yuwen Tong’s command.
“I’m honored to bow before you, Marshal,” said Qi San, making a bow with hands folded in front.
Yuwen Tong settled himself in a chair. “You may rise. You were responsible for protecting Ling Zhaowu and some others earlier tonight. Did you find anything?”
Qi San answered, “Yes, I did. Ling Zhaowu’s five senses are extremely sharp. This time around there were six brothers performing the task with me, and Ling Zhaowu located at least four of them with his senses. Two of the secret bodyguards were in a packed spot, but he still accurately perceived their whereabouts.”
“Are you sure?” Yuwen Tong’s brow furrowed slightly.
Qi San gave a nod. “I’m sure. Ling Zhaowu had indeed located several of our brothers, but what baffles me is that Ling Zhaowu has no internal energy and was in a busy market, but he somehow perceived the existence of secret bodyguards with his sense of hearing that should be no more acute than that of a common person, which… which strikes me as a little anomalous.”
Indeed, Ling Zhaowu was just an ordinary person, and he hadn’t even fully recovered from his illness yet, his body in a rather weak state. Currently, what he possessed was just some fist techniques at the most, and he wasn’t anywhere close to a kung fu expert with powerful internal energy and a sense of hearing sharp enough to allow him to differentiate between the breathing patterns of people in a bustling market. The only plausible explanation was that Ling Zhaowu had extraordinary intuition.
Yuwen Tong lapsed into silence, his face expressionless. It was not that he believed Ling Zhaowu meant anybody any harm, but that Ling Zhaowu’s abnormality was affecting Ling Zhang. Yuwen Tong worried that this man had some other secrets that might affect Ling Zhang even further. This was something he couldn’t tolerate.
“Do you think inborn keen intuition alone is enough for Ling Zhaowu to manage something like that?” Yuwen Tong inquired of Qi San.
Qi San was a secret bodyguard, who had been learning these since childhood and was an expert in this kind of stuff, so Yuwen Tong was inclined to trust Qi San’s judgement when it came to this kind of things.
After doing some careful thinking, Qi San responded, “I don’t think that’s possible, Marshal. There are indeed some common people who possess acute intuition, but without receiving specialized training, they could merely sense imminent danger at the most – they have an inkling that something’s wrong, and they flee. But usually this kind of intuition is relatively vague and faint. Ling Zhaowu, however, very accurately found out the whereabouts of the couple of brothers. His instinct was very definite. Only someone with specialized training could have located them that quick.
On top of that, common people’s intuition is mostly a kind of ability to sense upcoming danger in advance, but we were harmless to Ling Zhaowu. We followed him to protect him, and I’m absolutely sure that none of us ever meant him any harm. We didn’t emanate a shred of menacing or murderous air, but Ling Zhaowu still located several of us. Even I find this kind of acute intuition quite admirable,” observed Qi San.
Yuwen Tong, however, showed no admiration. Instead, he became even more suspicious.
Fully aware of Ling Zhaowu’s past, he was positive that Ling Zhaowu didn’t use to possess such keen intuition, that he used to be no more than an ordinary person who had some kung fu but was by no means a master of it. Moreover, the years when he’d been comatose in the Millennium Pavilion had taken a heavy toll on his sanity. After ingesting the miracle drug, he had regained his sanity, but he still needed more time to nurse it back to the original level…
All these facts were indicating that the secrets Ling Zhaowu had been keeping were undoubtedly of great importance, that some kind of intuition of this man’s was formidably acute.
“Stay away from Ling Zhaowu unless such circumstance arises again,” instructed Yuwen Tong.
Qi San, who would never raise any objections to Yuwen Tong’s words and always followed Yuwen Tong’s orders, answered, “Yes, Marshal.”
After Qi San took his leave, Yuwen Tong sat there for a while. These contradictory facts about Ling Zhaowu confounded him. He had no clue why this was happening. These changes seemed to have taken place for no reason whatsoever, but how was that possible?
Eventually, unable to figure it out, Yuwen Tong had no alternative but to bury this question fathoms deep in his mind and return to the inner room of the imperial bedchamber to sleep with Ling Zhang.
…
The next day, Fang shi and Liu shi, the two daughter-in-laws of Yuwen You’s, had a calling card delivered to Fu Caiwei, telling her that they were going to pay her a visit.
Fu Caiwei was somewhat surprised and hastened to confer with Ling Zhaowen. “Why did they suddenly decide to visit me?”
Ling Zhaowen thought about it for a brief moment and then replied, “Don’t worry. Just have someone deliver a reply to them first, and then arrange for the servants to get the Lingering Fragrance Pavilion ready and make preparations to entertain the guests. Given that there are quite some people staying in this residence, the Lingering Fragrance Pavilion is the only place convenient for entertaining them, because they won’t have to walk across this area. There’s no need to concern yourself. Zhang’er said that Yuwen You’s family are on good terms with Yuwen Tong, that this granduncle of Yuwen Tong’s is always pretty good to him, and his family members are easy to get long with, too. The reason why they’re coming at this point in time is probably because they want to make your acquaintance and strengthen the bonding between the two families.”
After hearing this, Fu Caiwei had a general idea of what was going on. “I’ll start to make preparations right away.”
Ling Zhaowen said, “I’ll go with you.”
…
The next morning, Fang shi and Liu shi arrived at the Ling Mansion. Fu Caiwei welcomed them and led them into the Lingering Fragrance Pavilion.
There was incense burning in the Lingering Fragrance Pavilion. It was tidy and comfortable, a perfect place for women to sit and have a chat.
“This place is pretty nice. We were worried that it’d be presumptuous to visit you like this, that we’d disturb you, but your arrangements are so thoughtful that we feel that we’re undeserving of it,” smiled Fang shi.
Fang shi and Liu shi, who were both good-tempered, had gentle smile on their faces. At the sight of them, Fu Caiwei felt the friendly air about them and naturally took an instant liking to them.
“It’s very kind of you to say so, but I prepared this in haste, and I’m glad that it doesn’t strike you as unpresentable, Elder Sisters,” said Fu Caiwei.
Fang shi and Liu shi had come here to keep Fu Caiwei company because of Yuwen Tong’s request. Before they came, they had been a little uncertain about what kind of person Fu Caiwei was, but now, seeing the genial beam on Fu Caiwei’s face, hearing her soft voice, the two of them became well disposed towards Fu Caiwei.
“You’re so modest, Mrs. Ling. Since you call us ‘Elder Sister’ and we’ll soon be in-laws, I think there’s no need for us to be so polite to each other. It’s best if we dispense with the formalities and act casually,” said Fang shi.
The three of them took their seats. Handmaids, young and old, stayed in the doorway, waiting upon their mistresses. First Liu shi explained to Fu Caiwei, “Originally we worried that we shouldn’t visit you in such a presumptuous manner, but considering we’re going to be in-laws, there’s no need to take heed of those unnecessary and overelaborate formalities, so we came here in a hurry today. Actually, we heard that you’ve been in the capital city for some days, and we thought you’re probably not very familiar with this city and might be feeling bored. The two of us happened to be bored as well, so we came here to chat with you. I hope we don’t strike you as too thick-skinned.”
Fu Caiwei was quite observant and could deduce from these words of Liu shi’s that the purpose of this visit of theirs was to divert her from boredom. Fang shi and Liu shi had never met her before, and they barely knew anything about each other. By no means would they have suddenly visited her for no reason. The only explanation was that someone had requested them to specially come here. Presently, members of the Yuwen family were the only ones whose words carried weight with Yuwen You’s family. Yuwen Tong was unlikely to be so considerate as to do something like that, which meant Zhang’er who’d been with him all the time had asked him to do it…
Having figured out what this was about, Fu Caiwei was happy, her smile growing more heartfelt. “Thank you for coming here to help me solve this pressing matter, Elder Sisters. This city is indeed quite unfamiliar to me. I barely know anybody living outside this compound and I’ll probably get lost if I go out into the street alone. Now that you are here, I no longer have to worry about this matter.”
Fang shi and Liu shi were quite approachable, and Fu Caiwei was even more so. Soon the three of them were engaged in conversation. After they found that their personalities were all pretty good, their acquaintance developed even quicker.
“… I’ll write a pamphlet and have it delivered to you another day, and you may memorize the names of those people and the forces at their back first. And then we’ll throw a tea party to introduce you to them and let you find out who’s who. You’ll find them your acquaintances after a couple of meetings with them. Don’t worry. It won’t be difficult,” said Fang shi.
“Thank you so much. I’m sorry for the trouble you’ll have to go to for me,” said Fu Caiwei.
“It’s no trouble. We’ll be family, and under no circumstances will we let anybody take advantage of you,” said Fang shi.
“That’s right. After the enthronement, women like us who stay in the rear yard will be even busier. You should familiarize yourself with these things in advance so that you won’t be flustered when something comes up,” said Liu shi.
