Strong Winds Return Home

This Many-Color festival was held by the common people themselves. A bowl of meat in the east and a pot of wine in the west were all placed on the long tables along both sides of the street. There were so many beautiful things for everyone to choose from, among them a dessert made of fermented roses, which was soft and sweet. Liu Xian’an especially liked it, but the little ones in the city also liked it very much and all crowded in front of the stall, clamoring for the old lady to pick a big one for themselves.

The old lady was getting on in years, and her eyesight was blurry. She couldn’t remember things, and didn’t even recognize His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. Seeing that the other party was tall enough to block the light, she sent him to line up at the back of the line and turned the small stove to cook slowly. When others saw this scene, they were startled and hurried forward to warn the old lady, but Liang Shu stopped them.

“There is no harm.” He smiled, “The lady can cook slowly, I’ll wait.”

The first pot of steaming cakes was baked, and was soon looted by the little dolls without leaving even a crumb for His Royal Highness Xiao Wang. Liu Xian’an stood under a nearby tree and waited for him, dozing off, but didn’t see him coming back. He was so sleepy that he yawned, but there were people coming and going around him and he couldn’t sleep, so he had to walk around to wake up. He bought two tamarind cakes as he went, took a bite, and almost lost his teeth.

“Miracle Doctor Liu, Miracle Doctor Liu!” Someone next to him suddenly called out in a crisp voice, and then a rattle drum was handed over before him with colorful and jubilant patterns painted on it. Liu Xian’an received it, and before he had time to give thanks, the other party had already run away with a giggle. She was a girl of sixteen or seventeen years old. Liang Shu had just come over with a big bag of cakes when he saw this scene, so he stood to the side with a sour face and cough cough’d to announce his arrival.

Liu Xian’an ignored this demonstration and just handed him the rattle drum, wiped his hands, and ate a piece of cake with a bamboo stick. Liang Shu coughed for a long time without getting a response, then hooked his hairband with a finger and said with dissatisfaction: “How little time have I been away?”

“I didn’t realize what it was.” Liu Xian’an was not interested in rattle drums when he was a child, let alone when he grew up, and didn’t care to take a second look at it. Liang Shu, on the other hand, held it in his hand for a while, and from the color to the feel and sound, he picked out the faults inside and out.

Liu Xian’an couldn’t stand the noise, so he grabbed a piece of cake and stuffed it into the other’s mouth in order to have a moment of peace. The two of them squeezed together on the narrow road and walked slowly. Because Liang Shu had ordered in advance that the common people did not need to be too formal, everyone just greeted them with a smile and yelled for the people in front to stand aside so that the prince and Doctor Liu could go first.

As for the specific name of Miracle Doctor Liu, some people thought that it was Liu Xian’an, because that was what the guards of Xiao Wang Palace said, but others insisted that it must be Liu Xianche who was just using Liu Xian’an’s name. The reason was very good — Second Young Master Liu was well-known all over the nation for being lazy, ah. He ate and slept all day long, and even tried to commit suicide when he had to write. How could he go out as a doctor? So everyone was arguing and debating about this matter, but no result was achieved, and the more they argued, the more confused they became.

Liu Xian’an didn’t care much about these things, and just said to Liang Shu: “If the two people who planned the kidnapping last time hear the news and think that Elder Brother is really in Huaizhen City and run to capture him again, they’ll find that it is still me.”

“If they are willing to throw themselves into a trap, that will work out just fine. We won’t have to go to the mountains to catch them in the future,“ Liang Shu said. “However, according to the message left by A-Yue, Liu Hengchang seems to have gained their full trust. Feng Xiaojin’s health has also improved, and they shouldn’t need another doctor anytime soon.”

“A-Chang’s medical skills are very good. On this topic, we haven’t seen Cheng-guniang for a long time.” Liu Xian’an asked, “Where is she now?”

“She was covertly protecting Liu Chang before, and now she is rushing to the Southwest garrison camp.” Liang Shu said, “You can see her in a few days.”

The two wandered around the city for the whole afternoon, and had dinner at a restaurant before returning to the government office under the silver-white moonlight. Liu Xian’an was so tired that he could barely walk. His legs and waist were sore, so he immediately lay flat on the bed after entering the room. A-Ning nimbly stuffed a hard jade pillow under his waist and said: “I thought the young master would come back, so I cooked some hot soup.”

“The prince forbade me to come back.” Liu Xian’an frowned and slowly changed his posture. “He said the sun was good today, and I needed to get more sun.”

A-Ning immediately suggested that this matter should be noted down and saved for the next time he wrote a family letter. The Village Master would definitely have a great impression of the prince. Liu Xian’an gave a perfunctory “en,” and pressed his waist with one hand, rubbing it slowly. A-Ning packed his luggage at the table for a while, then picked up the rattle drum beside him and asked: “Do you still want this thing, Young Master?”

“No.”

A-Ning put it next to the lamp and turned around to continue his work. The translucent surface of the drum revealed delicate textures in the candlelight. Liu Xian’an lay there senselessly and stared at it for a while. He was originally letting his mind wander boundlessly, but then vaguely felt that something was wrong.

As for what it was…..Liu Xian’an abruptly sat up straight: “Go ask the prince to come over.”

A-Ning tactfully reminded him: “But the prince just left, and the tea is not even cold yet.” By his estimation, even if this could be done, it would be too unreserved, right?

Liu Xian’an hurriedly put on his shoes: “There is something wrong with this rattle drum.”

As for the specific problem, when Liang Shu and Gao Lin rushed over, Liu Xian’an had already dismantled the drum into eight pieces, all of the parts laid out neatly on the table. One of the drum heads was rolled up. The totem of the Baifu Sect was painted on the back, but because the front of the drum was also covered with five colors of oil paint, neither of them noticed it during the day.

“Don’t touch it.” Liu Xian’an blocked Liang Shu’s hand and said, “It’s made of human skin.”

Gao Lin got a chill: “These dirty things, how can such unlucky curses be cast on people when the city is celebrating?”

Liang Shu had only seen the other party’s back in the afternoon, and Liu Xian’an didn’t pay attention to the woman’s specific appearance. The guards went out to inquire around, but everyone said they didn’t know who it was. It was normal for nearby villagers to come to the city and participate in the Many-Color Festival, so no one paid special attention to her.

She was just an ordinary woman who came with the crowd and left with the crowd.

Liang Shu’s expression was a bit ugly. The rattle drum from this evil cult was obviously a provocation from the Baifu sect to him. In broad daylight, in front of the whole city, just so unscrupulous, coming and going freely. And Huaizhen City was only the northernmost of the thirty-six cities in the Southwest, so the arrogance of the cult could be seen.

Liu Xian’an removed his gloves and asked A-Ning to go to the kitchen to make a pot of soothing tea. Gao Lin had initially wanted to comfort his prince with a few more words, but before his seat was warm, he seemed to be redundant, so he got up and slipped away.

Only two people were left in the room.

Liu Xian’an said: “I’ve read many books on cults before, and this is just a few tricks back and forth. Because they must enshrine something that no one has heard of before as the supreme god, in order to convince the common people, most of them resort to intimidation and curses in the early stages. This rattle is the same old business.”

Liang Shu gripped his hand with a sigh and said: “It is my lingering fear. Seeing hundreds of jubilant people in the market today, I lowered my vigilance and let you stand alone under the tree. This shouldn’t have happened.”

“I also have hidden weapons for self-defense.” Liu Xian’an patted his waist. “Since being kidnapped, my father asked my uncle to prepare this when I went out this time.” As he spoke, he took out a small box. “Elder Brother poisoned all the hidden weapons in it. A person will die upon contact with these.”

Die upon contact. Liang Shu stopped his hand and asked in disbelief: “Such a dangerous thing, you intend to use it yourself?”

Liu Xian’an  put it back: “Of course. Not only that, but I have also improved the mechanism. Before, I could only shoot eight needles at a time, but now I can shoot eighty-eight.”

Liang Shu couldn’t laugh or cry upon hearing this, and pointed at his waist: “This thing……hiss, forget it, just take it with you. I will find a safer one for you later.”

Liu Xian’an felt that this was already safe for him, but didn’t want to dismantle the mechanism box and explain it in detail. It would be too cumbersome, so he changed the topic and asked: “What time do we leave tomorrow morning?”

“We’ll wait until you wake up before leaving.” Liang Shu pulled him to sit on his lap. “Don’t move, I’ll hold you for a while.”

Liu Xian’an wrapped his arms around his shoulders and patted his back, saying: “In fact, I’m not so helpless. The prince need not be so worried.”

“Don’t you lack the strength to truss a chicken?” Liang Shu poked his leg with a finger.

The poke evoked the soreness from walking all day, and Liu Xian’an gasped. He instinctively tried to escape, but Liang Shu grabbed him and buried his head in his chest, laughing for a while. Liu Xian’an was quite depressed to be laughed at, and wanted to argue that not being able to walk did not mean that he couldn’t protect himself. Liang Shu stopped laughing, and hugged him tightly again, saying in a low voice: “Going South, just stay by my side and don’t go far. The people of the Baifu Sect must have their eyes on you now, and will not let go of any opportunity. I will also send someone to protect A-Ning.”

“Okay,” Liu Xian’an agreed. “I will always follow the prince.”

These seven words sounded very pleasing to the ear, so Liang Shu grabbed him and kissed him. A-Ning walked to the door with the teapot and immediately turned around, almost hitting a pillar. Liang Shu called for him to stop and released the person in his arms, saying: “I’ll go to Gao Lin first. You should rest earlier.”

Liu Xian’an nodded and watched Liang Shu leave the small courtyard. A-Ning was shocked at seeing such a scene for the first time, and stood there holding his breath. He almost forgot to breathe again, and blushed for a long time before saying: “Young Master, why didn’t you close the door?”

Liu Xian’an said: “I didn’t care.”

A-Ning felt that this answer was simply unacceptable, so he asked: “But I still must serve the young master in the future. When the prince is here, can I just not enter the door?”

Liu Xian’an was indifferent to this matter, as he led an idle life. Come in if you want, the prince doesn’t care anyway.

A-Ning imagined the scene for a moment, and said with a serious expression: “……Never mind, then I still won’t come in.”