Chapter 125: The Prince Leyang’s Heir

Autumn deepened, and the days grew noticeably shorter.

It was exactly 9 PM. In the Ding Family’s small courtyard in Chilao Alley, the old Ding’s bedroom was pitch black.

In the corner, on an old chair, Ding Suian seemed to have become part of the shadow. The Empty Cicada Body Technique’s focus wasn’t on hiding, but on blending with the surroundings.

From aura, light and shadow, to even scent.

“Brother Lie, off duty?”

“Mm.”

“Come to my house for a quick meal. Anyway, your home’s stove is cold.”

“No trouble, there’s still some porridge left from the morning.”

The faint sound of old Ding’s conversation with a neighbor drifted from the alley.

Sometimes, Ding Suian truly didn’t know what his father lived for.

He had almost no desire for food.

As for fame and promotion, he didn’t care at all, even seeming to avoid it.

It wasn’t that no women found him attractive; Aunt Yao at the end of the alley had been eyeing old Ding for more than a day or two.

If old Ding were willing, Ding Suian would probably have a group of younger siblings by now.

If a person has no desires, they must have a pursuit. What exactly was old Ding pursuing?

‘Creak~’

Old Ding pushed the door open and entered the room, seemingly unaware of Ding Suian inside.

With a few slight, scattered noises, old Ding fumbled for a tinderbox, blew on it twice, and brought it to the oil lamp.

Ding Suian’s figure was like a ghost, flickering behind old Ding. His right hand formed a claw, less than three inches from his father’s nape.

“…”

Seeing his father still unhurriedly adjusting the lamp wick, he could only burst out with a ‘Halt! Take that!’ from his mouth.

‘Crash~ Creak~’

Old Ding was so startled he shivered violently, instinctively darting forward, but tripped over a table leg.

Accompanied by the sound of the table and chairs shifting, old Ding landed on his backside, frantically reaching for his saber.

“…”

Ding Suian finally gave up the test. “Dad, it’s me.”

“…”

After two breaths of brief silence, old Ding sat on the ground, clutching his leg, grimacing in pain, but not forgetting to elegantly greet him: “Your mother-in-law’s leg! Don’t you know that scaring people to death is a thing! Do you want to attend my funeral banquet!”

Ding Suian gave two awkward chuckles, helped his father up, and led him to a seat.

After a few casual remarks, he suddenly said, “Dad, you used to be a guard at Princess Xingguo’s Residence, right?”

Old Ding rubbed his shin bone without lifting his head. “That’s right.”

“Then you must be very familiar with Her Highness?”

“What are you thinking? The Princesss Residence is so big, and there are so many guards. You might not even see Her Highness once a year. You also worked at the Prince Lanyangs Estate, did you get to see the Princess Consort every day?”

Old Ding retorted.

Ding Suian nodded in agreement. “That’s true, I didn’t see the Princess Consort much either.”

The reason he suddenly came to test his father tonight was naturally because after the incident on Yulin Street today, Princess Xingguo unexpectedly sent Lin Hansu to the scene.

There was still no clue about the mysterious black-clad person from before, and now today’s event. He once suspected that his father was both a hidden master and Princess Xingguo’s secret male consort, but looking at his father now, it really didn’t seem so.

He once suspected that his father was both a hidden master and Princess Xingguo’s secret male consort, but looking at his father now, it really didn’t seem so.

“Bring me the medicated wine.”

“Oh~”

“Dad, I heard Uncle Ruan say that our old home isn’t in Central Heaven? How come I’ve never heard you talk about our old home?”

“What does he know? Our old home is in Central Heaven. It’s just that I wasn’t born in Central Heaven.”

“Then where were you born, Dad?”

Hearing this, old Ding didn’t answer immediately. Instead, he lowered his head and carefully rubbed the medicated wine on his shin. After a long while, he said, “Southern Zhao.”

“Southern Zhao? After all these years, haven’t you been back, Dad?”

“All my relatives are dead, what’s there to go back for?”

“Oh.”

Why Southern Zhao again?

The Southern Campaign at the beginning of the year was triggered by Southern Zhao secretly harboring ‘confucian renegades’.

There was also Supervisor Yuan, an Immortal-like figure, who, entrusted by an old friend, asked Ding Suian to look after the Prince of Nanshuns Residence.

Since Supervisor Yuan’s ‘old friend’ entrusted him with the Prince of Nanshun, it was highly likely they were a Southern Zhao noble, or perhaps even one of the ‘confucian renegades’ who fled to Southern Zhao.

Then there was Zhao Yan and her mysterious aunt, also from Southern Zhao.

Today, he also learned that old Ding was born in Southern Zhao.

What exactly is in Southern Zhao?

The incident on Yulin Street, whether it was because Ding Suian declared it an ‘attack on the Imperial Guards, akin to treason’ on the street, or because Lin Hansu arrived with the phoenix banner to inquire, in any case, there was no external reaction for the next two days.

The Prince of Linping had no reaction, and even Lai Sanhu’s nominal master, the Prince Leyang’s Heir, had no reaction.

The death of one Lai Sanhu was like the death of an ant.

The ninth day of the ninth month.

It coincided with the Double Ninth Festival, and the Central Heaven State Religion also welcomed a grand day.

The former Central Heaven Sect Master was harmed by a rat demon. After the position was vacant for over a month, the Three Sages Palace finally appointed a new Sect Master, Xu Jiuxi.

Also serving as the Head of the Law Academy, she instantly became the youngest purple-robed Sect Master within the State Religion.

As a worshipper of both the Literary and Law Academies, Ding Suian naturally had to go to Tiandao Palace in the east of the City to observe the ceremony.

Early in the morning, Zhao Yan and Ruan Ruan, each dressed in a cross-collared, narrow-sleeved riding outfit, followed Ding Suian out.

Since the two secretly joined the West Yamen, Lin Hansu’s first task was to protect ‘Great Quzhang’!

Great Quzhang was slaying demons in City, so he must have been targeted by demons. According to Lin Hansu, demons are best at transforming into delicate and beautiful women to deliberately tempt Great Quzhang, so the two of them must be careful not to let those seductive hussies get close to Great Quzhang.

Therefore, Ruan Ruan was extremely vigilant.

If a woman on the street looked at Ding Suian for too long, she would glare back fiercely.

Fahai, er, Zhisheng, who was walking last, wore a monk’s robe but carried two colorful small shoulder bags on his left and right sides.

These were Ruan Ruan and Zhao Yan’s snack bags.

If they wore their dashing outfits and then carried little girl’s shoulder bags, it would look out of place.

The task of carrying the bags naturally fell to the big monk.

Zhisheng didn’t care either.

After he came to work as a doorman at their house, the security level instantly increased by several Ranks.

He said he didn’t want wages, but actually, Young Master Ding didn’t spend any less money.

He helped him buy scriptures, various Materials for Magical Artifacts, and even specially cleared out a room in the front courtyard to make a Buddhist hall, to facilitate Zhisheng’s morning and evening devotions.

That’s how friends are.

You trick me, I trick you.

Back then, Ding Suian tricked him into being a free doorman. Now, Zhisheng was tricking Ding Suian into buying this and that.

At 9 AM.

The group of four arrived at Tiandao Palace in the east of the City.

The numerous grand halls, much larger in scale than the City Tiandao Palace, were decorated with a riot of flowers.

Saint Liu and Saint Bei from the State Religion personally attended, and the imperial court sent Li Qiushi, who had just been transferred from Minister of Justice to Minister of Rites, to offer congratulations.

Besides these important figures, idle heirs, noble scions, and representatives from the Tianzong Prefecture Yamen were also present.

Ding Suian smelled something. After two rounds of contention—the Southern Campaign and the City plague—the imperial court and the State Religion seemed to have returned to a honeymoon period.

However, it was unclear whether this honeymoon period would last long or was merely a gathering of strength for the next confrontation.

In the spacious front hall of Tiandao Palace, nobles gathered.

Ding Suian, attending such an occasion for the first time, quickly found his group: Chen Yi, Li Meimei, and Gao Gan were all there.

“Sixth Brother, I heard you killed Han Jingru’s lackey on Yulin Street a few days ago? Heh, I can’t leave you unsupervised for a day without you causing trouble!”

Li Meimei was impudent and boisterous, but Ding Suian asked, “Who is Han Jingru?”

Chen Yi answered for Li Meimei, “The Prince Leyang’s Heir.”

Ding Suian was about to speak when he suddenly heard a hearty laugh. Everyone looked over to see a tall, handsome young man stepping in, and immediately a crowd gathered around him.

There were low-ranking officials, Young Masters from prestigious families, and even refined scholars.

Facing greetings and conversations from all directions, the handsome young man managed to respond to everyone with enthusiasm, unhurriedly and thoroughly.

It was clear he was accustomed to being socially adept.

“Who’s that?”

Ding Suian asked in a low voice. Chen Yi looked at the other party. “He is Han Jingru.”

“Oh?”

Getting entangled with someone like Lai Sanhu, Ding Suian had thought the Prince Leyang’s Heir would be an arrogant, overbearing character.

Over there, Han Jingru seemed to have also seen Chen Yi, and he bowed, excusing himself, and walked over proactively.

“This humble subject Jingru, greets the Prince of Shuochuan.”

Still three steps away, Han Jingru had already smiled and saluted.

Chen Yi returned the bow, and Han Jingru stepped forward, laughing heartily: “Third Young Master, I heard that a while ago you, Young Master Li Meimei, and that Southern Campaign hero Ding Suian, caused quite a stir at the Bureau of Music and Entertainment! Truly admirable! Next time there’s such excitement, be sure to call me!”

With one sentence, he praised Third Young Master Gao, Li Meimei, and even Ding Suian.

Now, Qin Shou’s crimes had long been confirmed, the Ministry of Rites underwent a major purge, Xia Jiye’s reputation was restored, and Xia Tieying’s young nephew inherited the peerage.

With things already settled, Han Jingru bringing it up again naturally carried no political risk.

Ding Suian’s sworn brothers had seemed to harbor a slight animosity towards Han Jingru just now.

But after a few simple exchanges, the conversation actually grew lively.

“Oh, who is this brother, as handsome as jade and with extraordinary bearing?”

During a lull in conversation, Han Jingru seemed to suddenly notice Ding Suian standing beside him and proactively asked Gao Gan.

Li Meimei wanted to wink at Third Young Master Gao, telling him not to speak, after all, Ding Suian had just made an enemy of the man.

However, the honest Third Young Master Gao didn’t think much of it and said directly, “He is Dutou Ding Suian, whom Brother Jingru just mentioned.”

Chen Yi held his breath, and Li Meimei’s eyes darted back and forth between the two.

Then they saw Han Jingru’s expression suddenly turn serious. He straightened his body, extended his hands in front of him, clasped them, bent at the waist, and performed a deep bow.

“So it is Brother Ding. A few days ago, Lai Sanhu offended your family members on Yulin Street. When this foolish brother learned of it, I originally wanted to visit to apologize, but I feared being presumptuous. Fortunately, we meet today.”

After bowing and straightening up, Han Jingru, without waiting for Ding Suian to speak, bowed again to Ruan Ruan and Zhao Yan. “Presumably, you two are the ladies who were startled that day? This foolish brother offers his apologies here; please do not take it to heart.”

Ding Suian was bewildered, not by his apology, but because he directly admitted that Lai Sanhu was his subordinate.

Although all the lords’ residences more or less kept some unsavory characters, after an incident, no one was willing to admit any connection with those scoundrels.

But this one…

“Lai Sanhu is Young Master Han’s man?”

Ding Suian feigned just learning this. Han Jingru looked left and right, then leaned close to Ding Suian and whispered, “Yes, Brother, you know, this foolish brother’s large family has high expenses, so I kept a few scoundrels to make some money with less respectable methods. When there are too many subordinates, and they’re a mixed bunch, this foolish brother can’t manage them all, which is how that disgraceful incident on Yulin Street happened.”

After speaking, Han Jingru stepped back and, without concealing anything, said directly, “I won’t apologize further. From now on, the street cleaning funds for Honglu Temple Ward and Huaining Ward will be entrusted to Brother’s care.”

“…”

This person, no wonder he was so successful in Central Heaven.

By directly admitting Lai Sanhu was his subordinate, he protected the reputation of the Prince of Linping behind him from being tarnished.

Honglu Temple Ward had already effectively fallen into Ding Suian’s hands. Not only did he readily give it up, but he also threw in another ward.

He could assess the situation, and when it was time to give up, he did so cleanly and without hesitation.

He even did bad things frankly.

Just then, a deep horn sounded outside the palace gate, as if an important person had arrived.

Han Jingru cupped his hands again and said to the group, “Today is not suitable for conversation. In a few days, this foolish brother will host a banquet at Zhangtai Willow, and we can chat then.”

“Of course~”

The group returned the salute.

After the charming Han Jingru left, Li Meimei still had a smile on his face, but upon noticing Chen Yi’s somewhat cold expression, his smile faded.