Chapter 380: Return to the Capital (2)
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
At night, downstream of the Clear River…
A fleet formed by several giant ships was sailing smoothly on the river.
On the second floor of the deckhouse of the leading ship, the light in the room near the stern was on. Ye Jingtang had a saber hanging at his waist. He was standing by the window with his hands behind his back, looking at the surging river behind him with a helpless look in his eyes.
If there was no milk to drink when there were three girls, then staying with five girls and more than ten palace maids was basically equivalent to confinement.
The cabins in the deckhouse were all occupied by women. The rooms on the second floor were the rooms of the accompanying palace maids, and the rooms of the empress dowager and Dumdum were upstairs. Daoist Xuanji, who had keen ears and eyes, also stayed upstairs.
There were also imperial guards and experts from the Black Office in charge of security outside the deckhouse. Not to mention that Ye Jingtang couldn’t do much with Ning’er and Third Lady day after day, but it was even inconvenient for them to go out and walk. For the past few days, he basically didn’t leave his room and lay on his bed to recuperate.
Ning’er and Third Lady stayed next door. During the day, they would come over to apply medicine. They would let him kiss and pinch them, but they didn’t dare to stay in the room at night.
As for the three women upstairs, Dumdum was afraid that her master would misunderstand, so she only visited when the female doctor came to take his pulse. Daoist Xuanji was afraid that the empress dowager would misunderstand, so she drank wine all day and didn’t come over at all. As for the empress dowager, needless to say, there was no reason to see him at all.
Because it was too boring to stay in the room, even the bird was unwilling to accompany him. It ran upstairs to eat and drink all day and basically never came down.
The ships had set off from the Wuxi Canal. After sailing against the current for a few days, they had already arrived near the River Shore Wharf, which was less than five kilometers away from the government port outside the capital.
The fleet was full of imperial guards, and they were also escorting the Prince of Wu, Yao Wenzhong, Bai Siming, and other rebel leaders. When they arrived at the government port, thousands of people would enter the city. There would probably be many things to do.
Seeing that the official ships behind were already packing up and preparing to disembark, Ye Jingtang turned around and walked out of his room.
In the next room, Ning’er and Third Lady were packing up. Although the door was closed, with Ye Jingtang’s perception, he could still hear their whispers.
“Finally. Jingtang must have been holding it in…”
“I’m going back to accompany Yunli. Didn’t you say last time that you won’t break down? He’s been recharging his energy for so long. You can test his strength alone…”
“You’ve been holding it in too. You rubbed against my arm last night. You definitely won’t be able to hold it in in the middle of the night and will come over to join in the fun…”
“Do you think I’m like you? 1 can’t wait to have a few days of peace…”
“Just keep pretending…”
Ye Jingtang listened for a while and didn’t interrupt. He went up the stairs to the third floor.
This ship was a treasure ship used by the empress when she went out. The third floor was quite magnificent and spacious, but there were not many rooms. It was only divided into a study, a bedroom, and an outer hall for viewing the scenery.
The empress dowager was about to return to the palace to be a canary in a cage again. She was definitely reluctant to leave. She was standing on the balcony and looking at the scenery along the river.
As expected, Daoist Xuanji was drunk again. She was standing behind the empress dowager with her arms around her waist and her chin on her shoulder. It was unknown what she was doing, but when she saw Ye Jingtang coming up, she turned around to take a look before turning her gaze back.
In the study, the door was open. Dongfang Liren was sitting in front of the desk, writing something on a piece of paper with her back straight. She looked extremely focused, like she was reviewing memorials and thinking about national affairs.
Ye Jingtang wanted to knock on the door, but after some thought, he didn’t do it. Relying on his strong martial arts skills, he silently sneaked into the study and quietly moved to the side of the desk.
Looking over, he could see that Dumdum had an open copy of Tears of a Heroine beside her hand at the scene where the heroine was injured and being treated by the thief.
On the few pieces of paper beside her, there were paintings. Half of them were of the environment described in the book. The flowers, plants, and trees had been carefully outlined without any sloppiness. The images of the chivalrous woman and the little thief were even more detailed.
Although it was a painting on paper, Ye Jingtang could feel that the watermelons were far more abundant than those of ordinary women through the rise and fall of the lines. He could even sense how much strength the hands holding them were applying…
Seeing this, Ye Jingtang was astounded. It was similar to the scene of Dongfang Liren and him practicing martial arts. He carefully sized up the shameless little thief in the painting and realized that he was extremely handsome…
?
Ye Jingtang blinked and felt flattered. He didn’t expect Dumdum to be so sincere. She actually used him as the model.
Then he looked at the humiliated heroine. Although Dumdum had tried her best not to make her look different, the heroic spirit between her eyebrows still felt familiar…
H ii
Ye Jingtang blinked. After holding it in for a long time, he only had one thought: No wonder the watermelons in the painting are so big…
Because he was afraid of disturbing her, Ye Jingtang didn’t say anything. He just stood not far away and looked at her quietly.
Dongfang Liren was fully focused on painting. After finishing a painting, she even wrote the plot of the book in the blank space below. She could be said to be full of sincerity.
After finishing writing, Dongfang Li put down her brush and stretched. “Hmm- Ah?!”
As soon as Dongfang Liren raised her arm, she found a young man in black standing not far away.
Their eyes met. Dongfang Liren blinked, then her face turned red. She quickly blocked the paper on the table. “Who let you in?”
Ye Jingtang pretended not to see anything and gestured outside the window. “The ship is about to arrive. 1 came up to ask about the arrangements. I saw that Your Highness was busy with work, so I didn’t disturb you.”
Dongfang Liren felt that Ye Jingtang must have been watching for a long time. After glancing at the erotic painting on the table from the corner of her eye, she put away the paper and said unhappily, “You’re my subordinate, so you must remember your identity. 1 originally wanted to draw a picture album for you, but since you’re so arrogant and don’t know etiquette because of my favor, this thing…”
Seeing that Dumdum was about to quit, Ye Jingtang hurriedly apologized. “I know my mistake. 1’11 definitely inform you when I enter from now on.”
Dongfang Liren harrumphed softly. Because she was painting it for Ye Jingtang, she didn’t pursue the matter. Instead, she said, “We still have to transfer the Prince of Wu and the other rebels to the custody of the Ministry of Justice. I’m afraid we’ll be busy for most of the night. You’re injured, so you don’t have to follow me. Go back and rest early. How are your injuries?”
“After recuperating for so many days, I’m mostly recovered. 1’11 report to the Black Office on time tomorrow morning.”
“There’s no need to be in such a hurry. You’ve been busy since the murder case on Bamboo Street until now. You should relax for a few days. Aren’t you moving to a new residence? When you’re done, come to the Black Office. I will ask for a reward for you. With your merits this time, it shouldn’t be difficult to get a title of nobility.”
Ye Jingtang didn’t care about these things. He smiled and said, “Your Highness can do as you see fit. I’ll take my leave first.”
“Alright.” Dongfang Liren nodded slightly and began to organize the pieces of paper she had painted. She noticed that Ye Jingtang had taken a few steps before turning back. She frowned and said, “Is there anything else?”
“These paintings, can—”
“No way!” Dongfang Liren had worked so hard for so many days to paint these. If Ye Jingtang played with them, lost them, got them dirty, or stained them with strange things, she would probably vomit blood. For this reason, she pretended that there was no room for negotiation and waved her hand. “1’11 give them to you after I’m done painting and binding them.”
Hearing this, Ye Jingtang didn’t force it and reminded, “It’s better to focus on business first. You can slowly paint these things. I’m not in a hurry.”
“I know..”
