Chapter 781: Beginning

Chapter 773: The Beginning

"Lingguang, long time no see."After arriving at Mount Rong, He Lingchuan entrusted Elder Dao to send a letter to the Songyang Prefecture branch in Dunyu City. The recipient was Lingguang! Overjoyed at their reunion after such a long time, the Medicine Ape was practically speechless, just yelping and thumping He Lingchuan's shoulders.

After He Lingchuan fell into the water, Lingguang had believed his "owner-jinxing" talent had taken effect yet again, and he had been despondent for a long time. Now, more than half a year later, his master had miraculously reappeared and even invited him to meet at the Han River battlefield. Lingguang had arrived full of doubt, but now he was ecstatic!

Of course, Lingguang's strength now barely registered with He Lingchuan. The monkey seemed lighter, so He Lingchuan pulled a few fruits from his pocket and offered them. "A welcome gift, these are Bega pastries." Then he pointed to the squirrel on his other shoulder. "This is your new companion." The squirrel shot a disdainful look, thinking, 'Who wants such an unrestrained companion?' It simply leaped onto Qiu Hu's shoulder, not even glancing at the monkey.

He Lingchuan led everyone towards the shore. Once Lingguang had calmed down slightly, He Lingchuan patted his back. "Alright, alright. Let me ask you, have you told anyone else that I've returned to Yuan Kingdom?" Lingguang's eyes gleamed as he vigorously shook his head. "No, I burned the letter and came straight to find you."

"Excellent," He Lingchuan smiled. "Now, tell me, how are my old subordinates and properties doing?" Lingguang asked him, "Do you want to go back to Dunyu to check?" "Where is my father?"

"He should be in Yuandu now," Lingguang replied. "If you had returned a month earlier, you would have been able to see him in Dunyu." "It's not too late now," He Lingchuan said slowly, facing the brisk spring wind. "I'm going to Yuandu too."

Dong Rui rubbed his hands together. "The candied fruits there are delicious." He had been there once and hadn't forgotten them. Yes, that was the time he was hired to assassinate General Ke Jihai. However, He Lingchuan said, "You and Big Sister Zhu are not coming." He had hesitated for a long time before making this decision.

"Huh? What?" Dong Rui was greatly surprised. "We're not going?" "The Ghost Ape is too conspicuous; I'm afraid it will be recognized." The Ghost Ape had targeted both Ke Jihai and He Chunhua, so it was unsuitable for it to appear near Yuandu. He Lingchuan then pointed to Big Sister Zhu. "And Big Sister Zhu shouldn't appear anywhere at all."

Even though Big Sister Zhu was disguised, there was still a risk of her identity being revealed if she appeared in public. His journey to Yuan Kingdom was already dangerous; he couldn't afford to add more variables. After much thought, it was best for these two powerful figures not to show their faces. Big Sister Zhu had no objections. She wasn't particularly fond of human cities to begin with.

Dong Rui put on a stern face. "Why didn't you say earlier that you weren't taking us? I'm leaving then!" "Where are you going?" "What's it to you?" Dong Rui chuckled. "The world is vast; is there anywhere I can't go?" "The world is vast, but there's no place for you to hide," He Lingchuan said, wrapping an arm around his neck. "Think about your glorious achievements!"

Dong Rui gritted out a few words: "I'm not as bad as you!" He Lingchuan was clearly the main culprit, wasn't he? Dong Rui was, at most, an accomplice. "Hey, why distinguish between 'you' and 'me' in these matters?" He Lingchuan said with a smile. "You and Big Sister Zhu head south first. I'll find you once I'm done with my business. Oh, and take Lingguang with you!"

"Squeak!" Lingguang scratched his ears and cheeks. They had just reunited, so why was He Lingchuan abandoning him again? "I've figured things out on this journey; some matters I need to settle myself," He Lingchuan said, stroking the monkey's head. "You all can just eat, drink, and travel south while having fun. We'll definitely meet again in three to five months at most. Come on, I always keep my word; when have I ever broken a promise to you?"

"Actually... he hasn't." Lingguang grimaced. Once He Lingchuan had finally appeased the monkey, Big Sister Zhu asked him, "Where should we meet?" She was not human and did not possess such abundant emotions.

"You all go ahead to Baisha Bay, a southern port, and wait for me there," He Lingchuan told Big Sister Zhu, beckoning her to the water's edge and speaking in a low voice. "Keep a close eye on Dong Rui; don't let him slip away." Dong Rui knew too many of his secrets and absolutely could not be allowed to leave. The three of them were in the same boat. Big Sister Zhu grunted, "Understood. He won't leave my sight." Knowing that she was a creature of her word and would fulfill her promises, He Lingchuan pushed his luck. "You have eyeball spiders too, right? Give me a few."

"Take them." Big Sister Zhu was more generous than her sister; she immediately gave him four eyeball spiders.

Peach blossoms held the night's rain, and willows were veiled in morning mist. April and May were the most beautiful months in Shihuan City. At the He family's new residence in Shihuan City, a century-old peach tree in the courtyard was in full bloom, its cascading pink blossoms pressing against the wall like rolling clouds. The splendor and exuberance of its beauty could only be truly appreciated in person.

As soon as the rain stopped, Madam Ying walked into the garden. She had barely frowned at the petals on the ground when servants quickly came to sweep them away. He Chunhua had entered the capital to accept his enfeoffment and rewards, and his entire family had come with him. Everyone knew they would not be returning to Xiazhou. Among the rewards from Yuan Kingdom was this twenty-five-mu estate, along with two farmsteads in the suburbs of Shihuan City. The He family no longer needed to purchase a residence upon arriving in the capital.

It was a century-old mansion whose previous owners had not maintained it well. After being confiscated, it had been left vacant for a long time, so it was inevitably dilapidated. Some wooden components had decayed, the weeds in the garden were taller than a person, and moss was crawling up the walls. However, Madam Ying was quite pleased with its layout. These past few days, she had been tirelessly directing artisans and servants to repair the furniture and tidy the garden. An old house was not a problem; as long as the layout and foundation were good, Madam Ying was confident she could restore it to a grand, heirloom estate.

She had brought back many decorations from Xiazhou and placed them one by one in her new home. Most of the servants from Dunyu had been dismissed, with only a few clever and loyal ones accompanying them. With the house being established, people were needed everywhere. Now, Butler Wu came to report that a new batch of forty bondservants had arrived and asked the madam to select them. Madam Ying waved her hand. "You choose; just keep twenty."

Butler Wu was an old retainer He Chunhua had brought from Heishui City, having served the He family for over a decade, so Madam Ying trusted him implicitly. "Twenty? Won't that be too few?" Including the newly hired twenty, a twenty-five-mu estate would only have fifty servants; that wasn't enough labor. "Master said that since we've just arrived in Shihuan, and the external environment is poor, with the entire royal court promoting frugality, we shouldn't be too extravagant," Madam Ying mused. "What about the furniture?"

"The new furniture will arrive this afternoon; this is the second batch," Butler Wu reported, seeking instructions. "How would you like them arranged?" "Send a set to Yue'er's place. And for Chuan'er's courtyard..." Madam Ying hesitated for a long time. "Also, send a set there too." "The side halls and courtyards aren't fully furnished yet," Butler Wu confirmed with her. "Madam, the roads to the south are blocked, so the next shipment won't arrive for at least two more months."