Strong Winds Return Home

Yu Cong cried and howled in the back courtyard for three days, causing the whole city to shudder, thinking that he was undergoing some kind of inhuman torture. As a result, on the day of the interrogation and beheading, they heard him at a close distance yelling about how he still wanted to marry a girl, and were stunned. Mou Cuihua was the first to scold: “Look at yourself and how old you are, how shameless are you?”

The rest of the common people also scolded him one after another, and remembering that their children once kicked the shuttlecock with this old lunatic, it raised the hair on the backs of their necks. Those who had lost a child in their home wanted to cut him to pieces. The scene was in chaos, with rotten vegetables and rotten eggs flying all over the sky. It took a lot of effort for the officers and soldiers to put him on the chopping block just now.

Liang Shu appointed Tong Ou to be the executioner, and took Liu Xian’an to a restaurant in the east of the city to eat steamed glutinous rice with flower sauce. The boss was cooking for a prince for the first time in his life. While the dishes were still turning in the pot, he was already thinking about how he would brag to others in the future, and was so happy that he couldn’t close his mouth. Liang Shu looked at him with a smile: “What, did something good happen at home?”

The boss just hehehe’d, rubbing his hands without knowing how to answer. He had also worked as a cook in the Southwest Garrison military camp for three months last year and had heard a lot about His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. Unexpectedly, he turned around and saw the real person, so he was naturally happy. Besides that, there was a young man with the appearance of an immortal at his side, who looked even more pleasing to the eye, so he pressed a bowl of rice hard with the rice spoon and greeted honestly: “The two distinguished guests should eat more, it’s not enough.”

Liu Xian’an was unprepared, and almost failed to hold onto the hot bowl. Liang Shu quickly took it, and after setting it down, he took his hand and blew on his red fingers. This series of movements could be described as natural and flowing, and his eyes were even more focused. Even the most flirtatious and frivolous gentleman in the dream city of Wangcheng might not be able to act this overly romantic, so the feelings must truly come from the heart. When the heart was moved, there were some things that didn’t need to be learned.

“Does it hurt?” Liang Shu asked.

The boss stood beside him, looking dumbfounded. How could he hurt his hand while holding a bowl?

The proprietress emerged from the back kitchen, took hold of his ear, and pulled him away.

Liu Xian’an said first: “Not really.” And after speaking, he added: “A little bit.”

Not letting go, Liang Shu continued to hold his fingertips, and only used his other hand to fill the table with food and wine, busy all over. Liu Xian’an didn’t pull his hand away either. Anyway, he was quite proficient with using his left hand to hold chopsticks. The glutinous rice was sweet, but no matter how sweet it was, it couldn’t be sweeter than this ambiguous atmosphere. It was so ambiguous that even the rough, upright boss couldn’t bear to look at it anymore. He served the food like a thief, running away after putting it down.

The two of them had their own dreams, but the endings were equally unspeakable. Liang Shu practiced martial arts all year round and was full of vigor. At this time, enveloped by the scent of Liu Xian’an’s medicinal fragrance, he uncontrollably remembered the nephrite jade in the hot springs and felt that he must get married immediately, he would die if he didn’t marry.

Liu Xian’an asked: “Why did the prince stop eating?”

Liang Shu immediately strove for greater benefits and made up a disease for himself: “I have no appetite.”

Liu Xian’an tested his pulse, and Liang Shu also acted weak in cooperation. He couldn’t get sick when he was in the Northwest military camp, and couldn’t get sick when he was in the dream capital of Wangcheng, but at this time in the Southwest, he couldn’t keep from getting sick. After all, no matter how powerful the general was, he wasn’t made of steel, was he? When Zhao Xiaomao was sick, he cried so loudly that the entire palace could hear it, very annoying. But in the end, he managed to earn a lot of sweets and rattles, which showed that feigning illness was truly effective, not to mention that his sweetheart was a doctor.

If not for the troubles in the Southwest, His Royal Highness Xiao Wang almost wanted to find a bed and lie comfortably in it for half a month, enjoying the feeling of being cared for.

Liu Xian’an felt that Liang Shu was fine, and since he had no appetite, there was no need to eat the glutinous rice. He asked the boss to distribute the untouched meal to the common people in the neighborhood, and went to the pharmacy opposite to pick up some appetizing dried fruits and sour grass, preparing to take them back and soak them in water.

He didn’t ask the pharmacy clerk to pack the medicines, but stood by the counter and weighed them slowly. Sunlight penetrated into the room and scattered across him softly. Liang Shu leaned against the door to watch. Watching and watching, he felt that time seemed to stop at this moment, so he raised the corners of his mouth a bit and walked up to rest a hand on his shoulder, asking: “Why must I take so much medicine?”

“What sort of medicine are hawthorn chips?” Liu Xian’an said, “If the prince still finds them bothersome, you can leave them alone. I’ll make some hawthorne cakes, which are also appetizing.”

His words were slow and easy, and the pharmacy clerk was full of admiration. As expected from a genius doctor of Baihe Mountain Village, how could other doctors compare to his gentleness and patience? Anyway, if he were in charge and heard that a patient even found hawthorne slices unpalatable, he would definitely reprimand him to such an extent that he wouldn’t even dare to breathe. How could he make hawthorn cakes? Was this something a doctor should do?

Liu Xian’an did what should be done. After returning to the manor, he went to the kitchen and got busy. Not long after, A-Ning also came to help. Recently, he had been looking after Xiao Hua. Seeing that the young master was making cakes, he said: “Then put in more ingredients, ba, I’ll take some to Commander Tong and Aunt Liu.”

While speaking, he took out a large pot of rock sugar from the cabinet, and was about to pour it into the pot. Liu Xian’an blocked it: “No, if you want hawthorn cakes, go to the street and buy them yourself. This belongs to the prince.”

A-Ning: “…….”

Liu Xian’an explained further: “I’ve adjusted it according to the prince’s body, and it won’t be suitable for everyone. How is Xiao Hua today?”

“Very good.” A-Ning put the rock sugar back. “I heard Commander Tong say that the prince asked him to take Aunt Liu’s family with him to live in the military camp from now on.”

Liu Xian’an nodded: “It is good to live in the military camp. One reason is for safety, so as not to be retaliated against by the Baifu Sect in the future. After all, Yin Die and Yu Cong’s crimes were exposed this time, and Liu Meng was involved, so there is a possibility that he will be targeted. A second reason is that Aunt Liu is reluctant to part with Xiao Hua, and if she goes to the military camp, the family of three can still work.”

“It is very suitable.” A-Ning helped to light the fire, and then asked in a whisper, “How have you and the prince been these two days?”

Liu Xian’an replied: I think the prince is treating me differently.

A-Ning quickly warned: “These sorts of words don’t need to be said in such a loud voice!”

Liu Xian’an lowered his voice and repeated again: “I think the prince is treating me differently.”

After repeating it, he specifically emphasized that it was not the prince in the Three Thousand Worlds, but the prince in reality.

As for the prince in the Three Thousand Worlds, he had not been idle recently. Ever since he had that misty dream, he had become even more of a self-styled master, and often took a sword to educate those white-bearded old men when he had nothing to do. This made Second Young Master Liu feel sorry for his friends, and also thought to have a good talk with the prince, but it didn’t work out, mainly because he didn’t choose the right place to talk — His Royal Highness Xiao Wang was naked to the waist, leaning back to soak in the hot spring pool. Half impatient and half lazy, he said, “En.” 

Second Young Master Liu said: “Then let me make a list for you, ba. They are all in relatively good physical fitness, and are less likely to be scared sick. You can also carry a sword, but it is best not to pull it out. Will you remember?”

Endless pampering.

A-Ning said: “His Royal Highness Xiao Wang.”

Liu Xian’an said: “Right, I’m talking about His Royal Highness Xiao Wang.”

“Cough, cough!” A-Ning said through his teeth, “Young Master, His Royal Highness Xiao Wang is here.”

Liu Xian’an froze, and put the lid back on without incident.

Liang Shu had finished talking about their next steps with Gao Lin, and turned around to look for Liu Xian’an again, a vivid interpretation of what it meant to be in love for the first time – wishing he could stick to his sweetheart for half a day. A-Ning tactfully backed out, and Liang Shu asked: “What were you talking about?”

Liu Xian’an was perfunctory: “Nothing.”

Liang Shu pinched the back of his neck in dissatisfaction: “He lies without batting an eye.”

He had just come in from outside, and his hands were still very cold. Liu Xian’an was compelled to shrink to the side, but couldn’t get away for a long time, so he had to say: “We were talking about Liu Meng. A-Ning said that the prince will arrange for him to serve as an errand boy in the Southwest Garrison.”

“Yes.” Liang Shu retracted his hand. “He is a native, skilled, bold, and careful, and his character is also good. Being the leader of a juggling troupe is really a waste of talent. By throwing him into the military camp to gain experience, and being led by Ku You personally, he may be entrusted with more important tasks in the future.”

Ku You was the overall commander of the Southwest Garrison, and Liang Shu’s former subordinate. Liu Xian’an had also heard many legends about this person along the way. Perhaps because of the evil practices at the Southwest border, the legends were all about going against those evil practices. Others said that his ancestors were wizards for generations, and his eyes were either golden or silver. In short, one might not be able to find two normal black eyes in his entire family.

“Is it true?” Liu Xian’an asked. “White hair and golden eyes?”

Liang Shu nodded: “It’s true. His hair was caused by poisoning, but the color of his eyes is natural, and they look very different from those of ordinary people. Because of this, there are still many people in the court who write letters saying that with such a strange and ominous appearance, it will be difficult for him to shoulder the responsibility of leading the army.”

Finally, Liang Yu had thrown down an angry sentence: “This minister was born with thick eyebrows and big eyes, and truly looks joyous and auspicious. Since this is the case, why don’t you go to the Southwest instead.”

After he finished speaking, without waiting for others to dissuade him, he immediately ordered a eunuch to prepare a carriage, and sent him away with a wave. It was said that he had not yet been allowed back.

Liu Xian’an said: “The Emperor is an interesting person.”

Liang Shu smiled: “Emperor Brother is indeed very different from me. He is somewhat…..”

Somewhat underhanded. If Liang Shu’s cruelty and violence were exposed on the outside, then the Emperor of Dayan’s darkness was hidden deep in his bones, and often a word thrown out in a neutral manner could choke most of the civil and military officials to death. With such a pair of brothers at the head of the nation, the common people would not suffer, but there were some old ministers who complained from time to time, saying that they were so angry that their hearts hurt.

They were angry, but Liang Yu was not angry, and would ask the eunuchs to send some pork head meat and fruit wine, beating gongs and drums to march around most of the royal city. It could be seen that the common people sighed for the hard work of the ministers, and also for the kindness of the Emperor. Liang Shu said: “Emperor Brother was born to sit in that position, and all the officials’ hearts and minds combined don’t add up to half of his.”

“And the prince?” Liu Xian’an asked. “What about your heart and mind?”

“They don’t amount to much, I’m easy to coax.” Liang Shu leaned on the stove and said, seemingly casual, “If you don’t believe me, try it. Just one sentence, and I will go home with you.”

In a word, His Royal Highness Xiao Wang could be captured. There was nothing more advantageous than this in the world.

Liu Xian’an said: “Then go, ba.”

Liang Shu took back what he said: “What is this sentence, there are clearly only three words. There should be at least two more coaxing words, right?”

Liu Xian’an took out a rolling stick: “Won’t coax.”

Liang Shu ducked back: “If you won’t coax, then you won’t coax, why do you have to beat me?”

Liu Xian’an smiled while stirring the hawthorn water in the pot with the rolling stick, and looked at him: “Then will you follow me?”

Liang Shu cleared his throat: “You want to abduct me in such an improper manner?”

How should he put it, he was entranced by desire, but his reason was still there, and he still remembered to fight for a name for himself.