Immortal Travel of Longevity

"With the Turtle Prime Minister here, it shouldn't be too troublesome."

Ying En gave a slight nod. "That may be true, but in reality, many things still require my personal attention. My father's name commands respect across the Four Seas, so he doesn't need to bother with trivial matters. I'm different. Even with his backing, people will always feel I'm just a fox leveraging the tiger's might."

Chen Changsheng replied, "The way I see it, let them talk. Having an elder at home to back you is a skill in its own right. That tiger's might will eventually become yours. When that time comes, they will naturally shut their mouths."

"I'll take your word for it, Uncle. But it's hard to say. It would be best if my eldest and second brothers took over these affairs; I'd be much freer. I don't mind you laughing, Uncle, but I'm just a bit too fond of playing around."

"Why would I laugh?"

Chen Changsheng chatted at length with the dragon maiden, sharing amusing anecdotes and local sights. The Old Dragon King came up the most, mostly regarding his embarrassing blunders. Chen Changsheng was quite pleased to hear about them, deciding he would definitely tease the Old Dragon King with them the next time they met.

They had a wonderful conversation, but ultimately, both still had matters to attend to.

Chen Changsheng bade her farewell and set off toward the north.

Ying En said, "Your niece wishes you a smooth journey and swift success, Uncle."

Ying En watched as Mister Qingshan stepped onto the official road.

She kept her gaze on him, sensing that Uncle Chen seemed especially happy, as if some monumental good fortune awaited him just ahead. Ying En felt happy for him too; in her memory, she had rarely seen such pure, unadulterated joy in this uncle's eyes.

It was incredibly rare.

...

The donkey ambled its way to the outskirts of Shangjing City.

The person riding on the donkey's back had a piece of foxtail grass dangling from her lips, leisurely taking in the surrounding scenery.

"Oh, it's changed again."

Ruyi muttered, "Blockhead, look. Were all those trees cut down? Hah, what did they use them for? Siege towers? The Imperial Court really knows how to waste things."

Dong Chiyu said, "Keep your voice down, will you?"

Ruyi smacked her lips. "What's there to hide? The Imperial Court has changed masters anyway. Yan the Fool actually has some skill—he really managed to become the emperor. It's truly unbelievable."

Dong Chiyu asked, "Haven't you thought about why he summoned you to Shangjing City?"

Ruyi thought about it and said, "Heh, to put it plainly, doesn't he just want to thank me for saving his life back then? I saved him twice, you know. He has to give me a good reward no matter what. Bestowing the title of a commandery princess or something... heh, I wouldn't mind at all."

The cat resting on the donkey yawned. "Given Ruyi's age, she probably can't be made a commandery princess anymore. A momo should be possible, though."

The moment those words came out, Dong Chiyu burst into loud laughter, clutching her stomach as she laughed non-stop.

Ruyi's face instantly turned red. "Blockhead, what are you laughing at?" she snapped anxiously. "Stop laughing!"

She grabbed Lihua and shook her vigorously.

"Who's a momo?! Who's a momo?! Who?!"

Lihua was shaken dizzy, mumbling, "Ah, Ruyi, stop shaking! Lihua is seeing stars."

"Ahhh, I'm going to shake you to death today!"

"Ruyi is murdering a cat! Hurry and save me!"

Hearing this, Dong Chiyu had no idea who Lihua had learned it from. It was probably Xiao Nianyi who had taught her before.

The two women and the cat entered Shangjing City, bickering and making a racket the whole way.

They found an inn and settled in.

After days of exhausting travel, they could finally get a good night's sleep.

They slept right through from noon until sunset.

Dong Chiyu only then groggily woke up, but once her mind cleared, Ruyi was nowhere to be seen.

Lihua was sound asleep next to her.

"Hey, Lihua?"

Lihua blearily opened her eyes and yawned.

"What is it?"

"Where's Ruyi?"

Lihua shook her head, clueless.

Still terribly drowsy, she plopped her head down and went right back to sleep.

Seeing this, Dong Chiyu didn't disturb her any further. She straightened her clothes and went out.

The curfew was about to start.

She had no idea where Ruyi could have run off to.

Dong Chiyu cast her mind back.

Her first stop was the brothel. In their younger years, whenever she couldn't find Ruyi, Ruyi was bound to be there.

Dong Chiyu arrived at the familiar brothel entrance.

Chunxiu was getting on in years and no longer worked as the madam on the brothel floor. Instead, she sat behind the scenes, directing the younger staff on how to handle matters. She still always stayed in the building, however, likely because she had long grown accustomed to this place of chattering beauties.

When Chunxiu saw Dong Chiyu, she thought back for a long while before saying, "I remember you. Back then, you were always coming here looking for that girl."

Dong Chiyu gave an uncomfortable nod. She was still somewhat embarrassed to visit a place like this.

Chunxiu smiled warmly. "She came by in the early afternoon, but not to look for the girls. She just had a couple cups of tea with me, caught up on old times, and left. She said she needed to make a trip into the palace. Didn't she tell you?"

"Today?"

"Hmm?"

"No one from the palace came to invite her."

"Then that's strange..."

Dong Chiyu froze for a moment, suddenly thinking of a possibility.

This morning, when Lihua brought up the matter of becoming a momo... could she have been genuinely worried about it and run off to ask in person?

She couldn't shake the feeling that this was highly likely!

This was exactly the kind of thing Ruyi would do!!

"Many thanks."

Dong Chiyu offered her thanks and planned to head to the Imperial Palace to ask. However, after hesitating for a moment, she changed her route and turned into an alleyway.

Following the direction in her memory, she found a Wine Tavern tucked away in the alley.

"We're already closed."

Before she could even step inside, a voice rang out from within.

Dong Chiyu ignored it and walked straight in, her gaze falling on the person sitting at the counter wiping a cup.

Dong Chiyu asked bluntly, "Where did Ruyi go?"

"Huh?"

The shopkeeper was taken aback for a moment, then smacked his lips. "You really have no manners. Couldn't you come inside to ask that?"

"Who are you to her?"

"..."

Dong Chiyu paused for a moment before saying, "Her younger sister."

"Blood sister?"

"Her mother is my godmother."

The shopkeeper smiled and said, "Of course I know that."

Dong Chiyu furrowed her brows slightly, feeling that this person was playing her for a fool.

"Hey, don't be angry, don't be angry. We knew the moment you entered the city. After all, the Spear Immortal did a favor for our lord. I was just joking with you."

The shopkeeper poured himself a cup of tea and took a sip before saying, "After she left the inn, she first went to the Imperial Palace and stayed for about half an hour. When she came out, she went to the Court of Judicial Review, and then led a group of soldiers toward the Dong Estate."

Dong Chiyu was stunned. "She went to the Dong Estate..."

"What did she go to the Dong Estate for?"

"That, we don't know. Wouldn't it be better if you went and saw for yourself?"

Dong Chiyu snapped back to reality and immediately asked, "How much?"

The shopkeeper waved his hand and said, "Tsk, why talk about money? Go on, go on. It's a small matter."

Dong Chiyu pursed her lips, but she still tossed over a money pouch and said, "Many thanks."

The shopkeeper watched as she rushed out in a flurry.

He weighed the money pouch in his hand.

Not bad at all. She's quite generous with her coin.

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