Moonlight and wind

Chapter 39: Night Visit to the Imperial Academy

"Your Majesty," a eunuch stood beside Emperor Wu, holding a knife in one hand and gently swiping the cold blade with the other hand, "Early this morning, Shan Zimo staged a martial arts competition to recruit a bride."

"Oh?" Emperor Wu suddenly became interested. "What was the result?"

"Your Majesty, Shan Zimo did have the strength to win the duel, but he was stopped by the servants in the audience, and finally threw down the Overlord Spear and admitted defeat."

"Overlord Spear?" "Exactly!"

"Where is his Frost Dragon Song Blade?" "According to the spies, he didn't have the blade with him."

"It's quite interesting." Emperor Wu said, waving the knife in his hand a few times in front of him, and it seemed like snowflakes were falling.

"There is one more thing," the eunuch continued cautiously, "Shan Zimo left his tea shop in Wudu and went to Lord Qu's Hanlin Mansion."

"What kind of relationship does he have with a civil servant?" "Once upon a time, the young lady of Lord Qu's family sneaked away to Xueying Hall, and was sent back by Shan Zimo. Now Miss Qu has been missing for many days, and Shan Zimo may have gone to inquire about her whereabouts."

"The daughter of Yecheng?" "Yes!" The father-in-law stood with his hands down, "It is said that Miss Yecheng will be among those selected in the early spring talent show this year."

"Did she disappear to avoid the draft?" Emperor Wu sneered, "It means she doesn't want to marry an old man like me!" As he said that, he threw the knife in his hand and stabbed it deeply into the inner golden pillar.

"Young Master," Shan Boyu dragged the guide behind the rockery with great effort, "Isn't it a bad idea for us to do this?"

"Let's check it out first," Shan Zimo looked around nonchalantly, "It's easier than looking for it in the dark at night."

Shan Boyu dealt with the servant, and the two of them wandered around the Hanlin Mansion as if nothing had happened, entering and exiting the house. Finally, in the last courtyard, next to a woodshed, they faintly heard a scolding voice.

The two men quietly walked closer, "My two lords!" a maid's voice came from behind, "The master said he was worried that the young master would get lost, and sure enough, the young master has walked here."

"That's right!" Shan Zimo immediately put on a fake smile and turned around, "Luckily my sister found it in time, otherwise we don't know when we will find it!"

"Young Master, please follow me!" Shan Zimo had no choice but to follow the little maid and walked out of the courtyard.

"Sir," Shan Zimo walked into the hall, "I am sorry to trouble you. If you need my help, please let me know. After all, I failed in my duty of escorting Miss Qu, so I am also responsible."

"Young Master Shan, don't blame yourself," Qu Hanlin waved his hand, "Even if you weren't there, that girl would still run away," Qu Hanlin felt helpless.

"Since Miss Qi doesn't want to participate in the talent show, why do you have to force her?"

"Young Master, you may not know that in this country where military officials are in power, although I am not talented, I am at least a third-rank official. It's a pity," Hanlin Qu sighed, "It's a pity that I am a civil official. I am insignificant in the court and I am afraid that I will never be able to make a name for myself!"

"Then Lord Qu, you can't gamble with Miss Qu's happiness!" Shan Zimo frowned, "It's better to find a son-in-law who is in love with you."

"Alas, Master Shan," Qu Hanlin waved his hands, "You don't know the reason. As her father, how could I not want her to be happy? It's just..."

"Just what?" "Never mind, never mind!" Seeing that Hanlin Que had no intention of continuing, the two said goodbye and left the Hanlin Mansion.

"Young Master, what do you think Lord Qu has hidden secrets?" Shan Boyu followed Shan Zimo to the house across Qinglong Street. "It should be a secret related to Miss Qu." Shan Zimo said thoughtfully, "Do you remember the place?" "I remember it, young master!" "Okay! Let's go to the Hanlin Mansion tonight!" The servant in front of the door hurriedly came up and led the two into the mansion.

After having tea and taking a short rest, the two came to the courtyard. "It's still early," Shan Zimo sat cross-legged in the courtyard, "I'll regulate my breathing for a while."

After saying this, he closed his eyes, breathing evenly and forcefully, and the Qi in his body was flowing smoothly. Shan Boyu sat down next to the large vat not far from him, leaned against it, yawned, and closed his eyes slightly.

Shan Zimo fell into meditation, looking at the golden essence flowing in from his side. His body was like a huge black hole that could absorb all the essence in the world. His internal energy was constantly rolling, sometimes dangerous, sometimes peaceful. Several energies in his body were competing with each other, and finally tamed the kingly aura beside the imperial city, integrated it into his meridians, and merged it into his dantian, which truly became a part of his internal energy.

Although Shan Boyu seemed to be taking a nap, his eyes never left him for a moment, for fear that he would become too angry and fall into the devil's heart again.

Two hours later, Shan Zimo gathered his true energy, slowly stood up, and walked to Shan Boyu's side. "You slept soundly."

Shan Zimo squatted down and took a closer look at his little follower. He had clear facial lines, a high nose bridge, and a unique temperament between his eyebrows. "He's not bad looking!" Shan Zimo smiled slightly and sat down next to Shan Boyu, leaning against the big vat.

"Zimo!" A shout came from outside the courtyard, "I said I didn't see you when I went to Xueying Hall, turns out you are here!" As he spoke, Yuwen Lin had already walked over.

The two people sitting on the ground jumped up at the same time. "Why are you here?"

"Yesterday, my father asked me to go up the mountain to pay New Year's greetings to the hall master early in the morning," Yuwen Lin didn't pay any attention to the two of them and walked into the hall on his own. The servant quickly handed him tea and he took a big gulp.

"I didn't see you. When I was going down the mountain, I met the old man who was looking after the horses. He said you went out on horseback. You must have come to Wudu to see the Lantern Festival. I wanted to come too. When I went to Wudu, the city gates would have been closed." Yu Wenlin finally caught his breath. "So, I rushed here early in the morning and went to the teahouse. They said you had been there, so I came here!"

Shan Zimo came to the hall and sat down, looking at Yu Wenlin with a smile. Yu Wenlin looked at his clothes and asked, "What's wrong?"

"Do you want to open tea shops all over Wu State?" "Of course, that's our goal!" When he said this, Yu Wenlin's eyes lit up.

"How about we go to the South as our first stop after the spring?" "As long as we can make money, I'll do whatever you say!" Yuwenlin smiled innocently, and Shan Zimo also smiled and nodded.

At night, Shan Zimo and Shan Boyu were still drinking tea in their own courtyard. Shan Zimo took it calmly, but Shan Boyu obviously had something on his mind and was a little anxious.

"Young Master, it's almost time!" Shan Boyu reminded him in a low voice. "Don't worry, let them sleep for a while!" Shan Zimo took a sip of tea, waved his hand, and asked Shan Boyu to open the door to the hall.

The cold moonlight shone in, and the shadows of the green bamboos in front of the door were also reflected in. Time passed quietly, and the shadows also moved quietly.

"Okay! Let's go!" Shan Zimo suddenly stood up from his chair, jumped onto the wall with Shan Boyu, and slipped out of the courtyard.

There was no one on Qinglong Street. Two figures were walking stealthily towards Hanlin Mansion. They stopped outside the wall of Hanlin Mansion and suddenly disappeared.

Shan Zimo and Shan Boyu groped their way along the wall to the last courtyard, where a faint light was still on in the woodshed.

Shan Boyu slipped to the windowsill and saw Zizhong lying on the haystack through the crack in the window. Shan Boyu made a gesture to Shan Zimo, and Shan Zimo also came to the woodshed, gently pushed open the door and walked in.

"Who are you?" The weak Zi Zhong opened his eyes with difficulty, "We have met before." "Don't say any more," Shan Zimo made a hushing gesture in front of his lips, "I am Miss Qu's friend, she is thinking about how to rescue you, why don't you come with us tonight."

"But," Zi Zhong hesitated, "Won't it implicate the young master?" "Let's talk about it outside!" As he said that, Shan Boyu blew out the lights in the woodshed, carried Zi Zhong, and the three of them walked out quietly.

"Stop!" Suddenly, the courtyard was brightly lit, and the small woodshed was surrounded by servants. "I was surprised to see the young master coming to visit today, but then the servant said he fainted behind the rockery for no reason. I thought the young master might come to visit again tonight, so I have been waiting here for a long time!" Hanlin Qu walked out of the crowd.