20demayo Chapter 212 Guidance
Chapter 212 Guidance
Chapter 212 Guidance
Chunyu Yang and Jingxuan quickly returned to the Northern Martial Prince's Mansion. As soon as they stepped through the gates of the mansion, a familiar person came to greet them.
"Your Highness, Young Master, you're back."
This man was none other than Zhong Ping, the "steward" who had disappeared from the Northern Martial Prince's Mansion and even the capital for a long time. Zhong Ping was wearing a gray cloth robe, and his face was covered in dust, making it clear that he had just returned.
Upon returning to his residence, he intended to report back to Chunyu Yang, but to his surprise, not only was Chunyu Yang nowhere to be found, but Chunyu Jingxuan was also nowhere to be seen. Just as he was wondering where the father and son had gone, he heard the announcement and hurriedly rushed to the gate to greet them.
Seeing Chunyu Yang carrying Jingxuan down from the carriage, Zhong Ping greeted him with a smile. Then, his gaze naturally fell on the sword that Jingxuan was holding tightly in his arms. Upon seeing what it was, Zhong Ping's expression immediately changed, and he abruptly raised his head to look at Chunyu Yang.
"Your Majesty..."
Chunyu Yang gave him a deep look, then carried Jingxuan toward the palace, saying, "You're back too. You've had a hard time these past few days."
Zhong Ping regained his composure, paused for a moment, and replied, "Being able to share the prince's burdens is nothing to complain about."
Holding the Cold Scale Sword in his arms, Jingxuan leaned on Chunyu Yang's shoulder and asked with a grin, "Steward Zhong, it's been a long time, and you have even more wrinkles on your face now."
Zhong Ping grinned at him and said, "Really? It's been a while. The young master looks much taller than before."
Jingxuan proudly raised his little face and said, "While you were away, Father started teaching me kung fu. I practiced diligently every day, and naturally I grew taller!"
Zhongping was very relieved to learn that the father and son had been getting along well recently. He said, "Then Zhongping congratulates the young prince. I believe that under the guidance of the prince, the young prince will surely become a great man in the future."
Chunyu Yang, who was ahead, said, "Zhongping, wait in the study."
Zhong Ping stopped and did not step forward. He replied, "Yes, Your Highness."
Chunyu Yang brought Jingxuan back to the inner courtyard, instructed the maid to serve him breakfast, and arranged for Ye Cangqiong to continue supervising Jingxuan's martial arts practice for a while before turning to go to the study in the front courtyard.
Zhong Ping was indeed waiting in the study. When Chunyu Yang pushed open the door and entered, he stood up, cupped his hands, and said, "Your Highness."
Chunyu Yang walked to the head seat, sat down at the table, and asked, "How is the situation?"
Zhong Ping shook his head: "Before I returned to the capital, I still couldn't find their hiding place. Even the assassin named Ji Linchuan that the prince mentioned before has suddenly disappeared from the martial arts world."
"Have you found out if there is any connection between Ronghua Tower and Wanku Gate?" Chunyu Yang asked in a deep voice.
Zhong Ping's expression also turned serious. He said, "Ronghua Tower makes a living by selling poisons, intelligence, and accepting assassination missions. It's said that if you want, there's no poison they can't concoct. Furthermore, from the branch hall masters to the ordinary subordinates, everyone in Ronghua Tower carries weapons coated with potent poison. In this respect, they are somewhat similar to the former Wan Ku Men. However..."
"Hmm?" Chunyu Yang gestured for him to continue.
"But in terms of ruthlessness, Ronghua Tower and Wanku Gate can't even come close," Zhong Ping said.
“Not being ruthless now doesn’t necessarily mean you won’t be ruthless in the future,” Chunyu Yang said coldly. “Who would have thought that the Wan Ku Sect would dare to covet the throne and even try to poison the current emperor to usurp the throne?”
Zhong Ping broke out in a cold sweat at his words. Even though so many years had passed since that incident, the memory was still terrifying.
"In the end, it was because I failed to find the location of Ronghua Tower's lair in time that Your Highness was put in such a passive position, and the matter was taken away by the Fourth Prince. I was wrong, and I beg Your Highness to punish me." Zhong Ping suddenly knelt down on both knees, his face lowered, full of regret.
“Alright, get up. It’s not entirely your fault. I didn’t know Father would suddenly ask about this matter that day,” Chunyu Yang said. He paused, then suddenly asked, “Zhongping, based on your understanding of the Fourth Prince, how do you think he will handle this matter?”
Zhong Ping got up from the ground, shook his head, and said, "The Fourth Prince is a deep and unpredictable man, and I can't fathom his thoughts. But His Majesty is concerned about this case, so he will surely do his best to continue the investigation, right?"
"I hope so," Chunyu Yang said with a solemn expression.
Zhong Ping recalled the sword that Jingxuan had just held in his arms, and his expression shifted. He couldn't help but ask, "By the way, Your Highness, what about that Cold Scale Sword..."
"You know what to say and what not to say about that sword," Chunyu Yang said in a deep voice.
Zhong Ping nodded: "I understand. I will keep this a secret from the young master."
After a pause, Zhongping continued, "Your Highness, what about Mu Qiu..."
“The Prince’s Mansion will need another mistress sooner or later. With someone to take care of Xuan’er, she naturally doesn’t need to stay in the Prince’s Mansion anymore,” Chunyu Yang said coldly. “If she hadn’t said she wanted to take care of Xuan’er to repay Ying Hong’s life-saving grace, I wouldn’t have let her stay until now.”
"It's good that she's gone. She's too cunning; staying in the Prince's residence would only be a disaster," Zhong Ping said. After speaking, a smile suddenly appeared on his face, and he asked, "Is Your Highness finally planning to take a concubine? It seems that Your Highness has been quite comfortable while I was away from the capital. I just wonder which family's daughter has won Your Highness's heart?"
Chunyu Yang was initially reluctant to address Zhong Ping's question, but recalling what had just happened, he thought for a moment and then asked:
"Zhongping, you said..."
Zhong Ping was waiting for him to continue, but Chunyu Yang suddenly changed his mind and said, "Forget it, asking you is probably useless."
“Your Highness, you can’t say that. I’m a father of two, after all. Is there anything I don’t know?” Zhong Ping said with dissatisfaction. After he finished speaking, he saw that his nearly thirty-year-old prince, who was usually dignified, cold and unapproachable, had a very conflicted expression on his face, looking like a young man experiencing his first love.
Zhong Ping: "..." Is this for real? Is this really his prince?!
"Alright, let me ask you this: If you were once married and had a child, but your first wife died in childbirth, leaving you and your child to depend on each other, and years later you meet a woman who captivates you, and you both fall in love, and you want to marry her, but she mistakenly believes that you are still attached to your deceased wife, and she gets angry with you, saying she never wants to see you again, what would you do?"
Zhong Ping's lips twitched, and he almost laughed. He quickly suppressed his laughter and asked, "Why don't you just be honest with her and tell her that she's the only one in your heart?"
Chunyu Yang paused for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "I did intend to tell her everything, but now is not the right time. Not to mention that Jingxuan is always by my side, I am also afraid that if she finds out, she will resent and hate me and will not be willing to marry me."
You are the Northern Martial King, what woman in the world wouldn't want to marry you? Zhong Ping held back the words that were about to slip out, cleared his throat, and said, "That's easy. Go to her residence to propose marriage, and settle the marriage first. That way, she won't be able to run away."
After a pause, Zhong Ping tentatively asked, "Your Highness, is that woman qualified to be a princess?"
Chunyu Yang said, "Of course."
Zhong Ping raised an eyebrow, already guessing who the woman was, and said with a smile, "Then let's do as I just said and tie her up first."
“I have thought about what you said,” Chunyu Yang said. “My plan is to win first place in the autumn hunt, and then ask my father to grant me a marriage. Once my father agrees, I will tell her everything. By then, even if she resents me, the matter will be settled.”
“That is indeed a good idea,” Zhongping said. “However, since Your Highness is so willing, why wait?”
After a pause, Zhong Ping said meaningfully, "You know, some things can't wait. Who knows what earth-shattering changes might happen in the world in the blink of an eye?"
Chunyu Yang was struck dumb. Zhong Ping's words reminded him of the past he kept hidden deep in his heart and did not want to recall.
Some things can't wait.
"Thank you, you truly deserve to be the father of two."
Chunyu Yang raised his hand and patted Zhong Ping's shoulder heavily to express his gratitude. Then he hurriedly stepped out of the room, and after a few steps, he started running.