Chapter 34: Chapter 34: Longevity Tavern

Inside, people played games everywhere. GO tables were set up off to the right side. Cups and dice were set up to the left. Mahjong battles took up the center. Servers ran around, serving liquor at an astounding pace.

It was loud and a ruckus. Cheers, chants, screams, and arguing echoed across Longevity Tavern. Li Yingshan could barely hear herself think. She looked around, hoping to find a familiar face. Just then, there was a light tap on her shoulder. She turned to see a young man. He bowed slightly.

"Ms. Li, welcome. Follow me. Young Master is waiting for you."

Li Yingshan nodded her head. She walked behind the young man who led her up the stairs. Following him along the hall, he stopped at the furthest door down.

"Young Master is inside. Please."

With slightly shaking hands, Li Yingshan closed her eyes and opened the double screen doors. In that short moment, all of her fears came crashing down upon her. She shuddered and choked back a sob.

"Murong Qi慕容七 mùróng qī - given name literally meaning "Seven", what is it-"

Li Yingshan's eyes flashed open as all fear left her. She breathed a sigh of relief. "Ninth Prince."

Murong Qi closed the doors and stood guard outside. Chen Chengxian stood up from the square table. He walked towards them. "Ms. Li. I see you got my message."

She nodded. "At first, I was worried this was a trap. But then I figured that since very few know I'm alive, it had to be you who requested to see me. It'd be too dangerous for the Crown Prince to do anything under your nose here in Nanjing."

"You're smart. Yes, my seventh brother knows I have full control of Nanjing. He wouldn't dare do something so risky. Especially since he believes he killed you himself."

She looked down and wrung her hands nervously. "What did you want to see me about?"

"My scout said you were on your way back. You weren't gone for very long."

"I went home, but I wasn't wanted there. So I've come back to help. I know I have to lay low, but I'll do anything I can to help."

"Have you spoken to your people from Moonlight Pagoda?"

One thing Hero Xu said that was right was that I shouldn't put my disciples' lives at risk.

She lowered her head in shame. "My husband forbade me from mobilizing the martial artists of Moonlight Pagoda. I can only provide you with intel, I'm afraid."

Chen Chengxian sighed, "It's a pity, but I understand why. The Jianghu shouldn't have to meddle in political affairs."

He rubbed a hand down his face and sighed. "I just hope I can make up for the lacking numbers with morale."

"I'll still fight with you, Your Highness. You have my word."

"Good. Shall we?" he asked as he motioned towards the table.

She nodded and followed him over. They sat, and she poured them each a cup of liquor. Chen Chengxian raised his cup in a toast.

"To you, Ms. Li. Without you, I don't know if I'd have the hope of winning. All of my surviving brothers chose to back Kai. With the Goddess of Moonlight Pagoda at my side though, I'll still stand a chance against them."

Have I really made a mistake? Was Hero Xu right completely? Have I just been manipulated again?

She raised her cup, accepting the toast. Li Yingshan covered the lower half of her face with her sleeve as she drank the liquor. Lowering both arms, she set the cup back down and poured another cup for both of them.

"To you, Your Highness. For seeing the unjustness and disparity in the world. I hope to see you ascend the Dragon Throne and bring peace back to the country."

He smiled and nodded. They drank again. Once both cups were set down, Chen Chengxian reached forward and clasped her hands in his. Slightly alarmed, Li Yingshan tried to pull her hands back, but he only held onto them tighter.

"Your Highness, I-"

I have a husband.

"Ms. Li, if you can help me win Huaibei from my seventh brother, then I will grant you command of my troops. Your word will have the same weight as mine."

Oh. Whoops.

She quickly stood and saluted to him. "Your Highness, I'm honored. I'll do my best."

He nodded, pleased. "Good! Good! Murong Qi!"

His manservant poked his head in. "Yes, Young Master?"

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"See Ms. Li to the manor. She can stay in the guest residence."

Murong Qi bowed his head. "Yes, Young Master. Ms. Li, please come with me."

Li Yingshan bowed towards Chen Chengxian before exiting the room. She followed Murong Qi back down the stairs and out of Longevity Tavern. They made their way through Nanjing to the northern sector.

When the pair finally came upon the manor owned by Chen Chengxian, Murong Qi motioned towards it. "Here we are. I'll show you to the guest residence."

"Alright."

Inside, he led her over to the right side. Her eyebrows furrowed.

"Are there two residences over here?"

Murong Qi winced. "In a sense. There are two rooms separated by a wall and a door, but they're in the same building. Don't worry though, His Highness is respectable and trustworthy. Your privacy will be your own."

Li Yingshan raised an eyebrow at him. In other words, he won't walk into my room?

A weak chuckled escaped her companion's lips. "Ms. Li, His Highness hasn't slept here for weeks. The manor is usually quiet and left alone. You can easily lay low here."

"I understand. Thank you."

He bowed. "The room's already furnished. Feel free to familiarize yourself with the manor. I have business to see to. Please excuse me."

Murong Qi left the manor. Now alone, Li Yingshan entered the guest room side of the residence. Looking at the simply furnished room, she let her finger run through the dust that had been gathering on the nearby tabletop. There was a square table and four chairs in front of the bed on the right. On the left wall, there was a door in the center. She sat down on the bed and let out a long sigh, staring at the door.

"If the Ninth Prince hasn't been here in weeks, where has he been staying?" she wondered quietly to herself. "Something feels off here. Should I have come back?"

"Goddess."

Whipping around, Li Yingshan jumped in her spot as Miao Chuntao entered through a window. "Miao Chuntao? What is it? You gave me a fright just now."

"Sorry, Goddess. I have a report."

"What is it?"

"The Emperor is on his deathbed. He doesn't have much longer."

"Was it poison?"

"Yes. Fury Black Poison, actually. But it was a weaker solution of it. The effects weren't as noticeable."

Li Yingshan groaned. "Help me find the Ninth Prince. He needs to know about this."

"Yes, Goddess."

They exited the manor and hunted down the Ninth Prince. When they finally found him outside of Nanjing, speaking to a few of his generals, they waited until he was done. The two approached. Chen Chengxian turned to look at them.

"Ms. Li, didn't Murong Qi see you to the manor?"

"He did. But I have something to report. This is Miao Chuntao, the Chief Deputy of Moonlight Pagoda."

Miao Chuntao saluted. "Ninth Prince."

"Speak."

And so Miao Chuntao told him everything. When she was done, Chen Chengxian pinched the bridge of his nose.

"Thank you for telling me. It seems I need to march on Huaibei sooner than planned. Ms. Li, are you ready for battle?"

Determination set in Li Yingshan's eyes. I need to make up for my mistakes.

She bowed to him and said, "Yes, Your Highness. I am at your command."

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