Food Fairy Lord

Chapter 710 Stubborn Stain
"When the prosecutors are handling a case, those who are not involved should step aside!"

After galloping hundreds of miles, the purebred steed showed its full strength. It was the moment of exertion, and its bulging muscles were taut and stretched, bursting forth like a cannonball being fired. The rain hit the scorching hot skin of the horse, either splashing into foam or evaporating into white-hot steam.

The hoof slammed heavily on the stone slab. The boy on horseback bent down and held up a sign. The fifty guards below the city gate, caught off guard, lowered their halberds and made way, allowing the horse to gallop in at full speed.

On such a rainy day, pedestrians were almost nowhere to be seen. Only groups of three or five people sat under the eaves on both sides, talking about the extremely fierce downpour. Pei Ye sped through the street, almost the only boat with its sails fully unfurled in the raging waves.

He only reined in his horse abruptly when he reached the gate of the Xiuwen Hall.

On such a rainy day, even the welcoming guests were nowhere to be seen. Pei Ye dismounted, drew his sword, and quickly went up to the small building, pushing open Qi Zhaohua's door.

The woman looked up in surprise, staring at the boy covered in water, his long, black hair disheveled by the wind and rain, resembling the mane of a lion.

"Has Xu Chuo responded since he left last time?" Pei Ye asked.

Qi Zhaohua was taken aback: "Young Master Pei, all matters concerning the academy will be reported to the palace..."

"Not the palace, I'm asking about Xu Chuo." Pei Ye looked at her. "Layman Qi, that 'Xu Chuo' who left you a message before she left, has she sent you any more messages or instructed you to do anything?"

“…Young Master Pei.” Qi Zhaohua hesitated for a moment, “I don’t think Enjun intended to hide it from you…but Enjun Xu and His Highness are the same person, they are just two identities.”

After she finished speaking, she looked at the boy, but saw no surprise. The boy was silent for a moment: "No, Layman Qi, the person I am talking about and the person you are talking about are not the same person."

Qi Zhaohua didn't quite understand: "Young Master Pei, His Highness has always been there. I even went to the palace to see him yesterday. What exactly do you mean by that... I can send a letter to ask His Highness for you."

"No need, Layman Qi, you go ahead with your work."

Pei Ye turned and left without even stepping inside, leaving only a trail of water behind.

Pei Ye went out, mounted his horse, and galloped away. When Qi Zhaohua chased after him out of the small building, he could only see the shadow of his clothes leap over the wall, and the horse's hooves, as fast as lightning, disappeared into the distance within a few breaths.

As dusk approached and the heavy rain showed no signs of abating, Pei Ye was already standing by the door waiting for Yuan Zhao as he left the yamen.

Since the sword-betting incident, Yuanzhao had never seen the young swordsman again. They had a brief collaboration before going their separate ways. Xinxiang never expected to see him here again.

The coachman and guards warily blocked the young man in the straw hat and carrying a sword, but Yuan Zhao waved them off, then cupped his hands slightly and said, "Young Master Pei, it's been a long time. What brings you here?"

Pei Ye returned the greeting with clasped hands: "Lord Yuan, it's been a long time. Have you seen His Highness since the end of February?"
Yuan Zhao thought for a moment: "I just met with His Highness the other day. Is there anything I can help you with, Young Hero Pei?"

He had assumed the young swordsman's visit was a message from the Lord of Zhujing Palace, but upon hearing his question, he pondered for a moment.

"How many times has Lord Yuan met with His Highness in the past ten days?"

"Let's count it as three times."

"Lord Yuan, having worked with His Highness for so long, have you noticed any difference in His Highness over the past seven days compared to before?" Pei Ye stood still, looking at the man in purple robes. "Has there been any change in his manner of doing things?"

Yuan Zhao was taken aback, then his brows furrowed slightly, but he did not reply.

He cautiously replied, "Your Highness has never shown anything unusual to me. What exactly does Young Hero Pei want to say? I will report today's conversation to Your Highness."

Pei Ye nodded silently: "Don't go too far."

He turned and left without offering any further explanation.

Across from the Imperial City is the Imperial Academy. By lingering here for a while, it's not difficult to catch up on news about Prince Jinyang these past few days.

This mysterious heir is indeed gradually making his mark in the capital. Three days ago, His Highness visited the Imperial Academy and listened to the grand debate among the new generation of scholars. This news is causing a stir among the scholars of the capital. These newly emerging forces in the court are rapidly gathering around her.

But no one felt that His Highness was different from before, because for almost everyone, this was the first time they had seen this reclusive prince.

Pei Ye glanced at the Imperial Academy, adjusted his straw hat, and strode into the palace again. He carried the Crane Inspection Badge, but the case was closed. He announced his name, Zhu Jingdian, outside the palace gate and waited for a while before Li Xianfang came to greet him with a large umbrella.

The dancer was clearly delighted to see him, but seeing that he was soaked and pale, she didn't dare to disturb him. Pei Ye strode towards the palace, and she followed behind him, holding only a large umbrella.

The plants in the palace were still the same as when I left, but in just seven days, they had become noticeably lush and verdant, dripping with moisture after the heavy rain.

The palace paths are uniquely quiet; even when people are occasionally seen, they walk by quietly and respectfully.

Pei Ye suddenly said, "Xianfang."

"Hmm? Young Master Pei, I'm here."

"How has Your Highness been lately?"

"Ah, good. Your Highness is doing well."

"Were you the only two people in the hall all the time?"

"For the past seven days, it's just been His Highness and me, young hero." Li Xianfang paused, then tentatively asked, "Young hero Pei, are you going to return to the Zhujing Palace to continue serving as a guard?"

Pei Ye did not answer: "Don't you feel that Your Highness sometimes doesn't act like Your Highness?"

Li Xianfang was taken aback: "What do you mean, Young Master Pei?"

"Xianfang, if I told you that His Highness was actually replaced seven days ago, and that the current His Highness is not the same as the one before, can you recall anything?"

Li Xianfang's face turned pale, and she stopped in her tracks: "Young Master Pei, what did you say?"

“…It’s nothing.” Pei Ye took a deep breath. “It’s alright, lead the way.”

"..."

Pei Ye realized that no one could feel the same way he did.

Whether they were confidants, close advisors, or maids, the woman in their memories was always the wise and insightful Princess Jinyang. In truth, no one knew what the real Li Xizhou was like.

Only he knows, only he remembers.

Pei Ye stepped into the gate of the Zhu Jing Palace. The figure with the vermilion and gold face was standing under the eaves. As always, she was tall and beautiful, majestic and distant. At this moment, she shifted her gaze from the white rain curtain to Pei Ye.

This was the person Pei Ye most wanted to see when he came to Shenjing.

Everyone would mistake Jin Yang for Li Xizhou, but Pei Ye didn't believe that Jin Yang himself would forget who he was.

Pei Ye did not stop in the courtyard and wanted to go straight up the steps, but the golden face lowered, and an air of majesty stopped him.

Pei Ye paused in silence, then bowed and said, "This humble servant, Pei Ye, greets Your Highness."

"What business do you have entering my private palace?"

Pei Ye raised his head: "Your Highness, don't you feel like you've forgotten something?"

Jin Yang paused, staring intently at him, and after a moment said, "Did Master Li invite me?"

“I haven’t been to the Immortal Terrace yet, so I’ll come to the palace first, since it’s closer.” Pei Ye looked directly at her. Everything in this palace was so familiar. He had lived here for almost two months. The familiar rooftops inevitably brought on a wave of fatigue. He said, “Your Highness, you are the one who will assume the throne.”

Jin Yang stood there for a long time. At this moment, Pei Ye sensed the disappearance of her aura. The calm voice she had used when they parted last time reappeared: "Of course I know. What is it?"

Pei Ye looked at her: "Your Highness, since you know, do you remember who held this position seven days ago?"

Jin Yang frowned: "What do you mean by that?" "...Since you are the acting head, then of course you have an original owner."

Where did this conjecture come from?

“This is not conjecture, Your Highness. Think about it carefully. Since you are not the real Jinyang, then there must be someone who truly grew up here and was granted the title of Jinyang. There must be such a person,” Pei Ye said seriously. “Did this identity not exist before you took over as the acting governor?”

"I have always been acting as his proxy."

"..."

“You’re right, this is a fabricated identity,” Jin Yang said. “I’ve been acting as the agent for many years now. Are there many things Li Jian hasn’t told you? You can ask him more questions.”

Pei Ye remained silent, then smiled. He turned around, fastened his bamboo hat, picked up his sword, and went out.

"Xianfang, take me out of here," he said.

Li Xianfang seemed not to have heard the conversation. She then asked the woman on the steps for permission before hurriedly chasing after her with her large umbrella.

"Young Master Pei," Li Xianfang said in a low voice with concern, "Why don't you perform the proper etiquette? Although His Highness doesn't discriminate based on the manners of his subordinates, we should still try our best to do so."

Pei Ye tilted his head back, brandishing the sword in his hand, and glanced at her sideways: "What relationship do I have with Your Highness? Why should I perform any formalities?"

Li Xianfang asked in surprise, "What is your relationship with His Highness?"

Pei Ye said, "We traveled in the same carriage and stayed under the same roof. I even slept in her bedchamber for one night seven days ago."

Li Xianfang was stunned: "You...you...that's a death sentence!"

She was both shocked and anxious, and lowered her voice, almost wanting to cover her benefactor's mouth.

Pei Ye laughed: "I'm not lying."

“Well, Your Highness never said that.” Li Xianfang recalled His Highness’s attitude just now and really didn’t feel that he treated this benefactor any differently.

“Yeah, because I had a fight with her these past two days.” Pei Ye said casually, gazing at the sky in silence for a while. “She came with empty words and disappeared without a trace… I guess I’m the only one who would remember someone like that.”

Li Xianfang was bewildered and stunned. Pei Ye parted ways with her in front of the palace gate, but did not leave in a hurry. He settled down under an eave, placed his sword across his lap, and sat quietly.

If even the Zhujing Palace cannot be found, then there is even less chance of finding any trace of a woman elsewhere.

From 9 AM to 5 PM, it rained for a long time. The entire capital city seemed to have forgotten about Li Xizhou.

……

……

As darkness fell completely, the rain showed no signs of stopping, and the intricate lights of Shenjing wove a hazy glow in the distance.

Pei Ye led his horse along the street, heading towards the Immortal Terrace. The black cat perched on his shoulder.

Pei Ye could understand, or at least accept, the Water Lord's "disappearance," and the image fading away in the rain left a deep impression on him.

They were originally beings from the spirit realm.

The Spirit Realm has always been mysterious and turbulent, with no constant state, and has already brought him too many unexpected wonders. The fact that such a vast, thousands of miles-long illusory realm disappeared from the world in a heavy rain certainly made him feel an ancient desolation, but he was also prepared to accept the supernatural phenomena that enveloped him.

But he didn't expect it would also completely engulf Li Xizhou.

She hadn't yet emerged from the spiritual realm when the heavy rain began to fall.

Pei Ye led his horse to a stop next to an inn and knocked on the door.

The waiter opened the door from the inside and poked his head out: "...Sir?"

"Give me a copy of the March national newspaper." Pei Ye handed him a stack of thirty copper coins.

"Currently, demand exceeds supply in the capital. One serving costs fifty, sir."

"..." Pei Ye sighed softly and handed him another twenty.

When the national newspaper was handed to him, Pei Ye flipped to the back. At the end of the story about the martial arts world, the article "The Swing Rope" was still clearly imprinted on it, titled "Hanging on a High Branch in March".

He didn't read it when he first got it, and he didn't want to this time either. He just glanced at it briefly, turned to the end, and saw the words "[The Blue Phoenix in the Mirror]" at the end.

"Besides her, who else could write this story?" Pei Ye muttered to himself. "Is there anyone else who knows what the ending should be?"

Black Cat said, "Since Jin Yang just now did not believe in Li Xizhou's existence, then he certainly cannot continue writing this story."

“Very good. So, you can’t create something out of thin air to fill the void she left behind, nor can you completely erase the traces she left behind.” Pei Ye looked up at the dark sky, and the heavy rain poured down into the eaves.

“Then I’m sure I can find her.” Pei Ye muttered to himself. He rolled up the national report and put it in his pocket. He continued to lead his horse. After crossing the long street, he turned north and the stone tablet of the Immortal Terrace of Illuminating the World came into view.

The towering observatory is surrounded by four other tall buildings that stand out in the capital but appear ordinary below it. The government office at the observatory doesn't look particularly special from the outside, but the stacked lights there are almost two or three times more numerous than elsewhere.

Today's sudden downpour has clearly put the various government offices in the capital to the test. Although the drainage system is not under pressure yet, this obviously abnormal weather event has led to many inquiries being sent to the Xianrentai.

Xianrentai was also aware that this was inextricably linked to the actions on the Eight Rivers, and various places were constantly coordinating and investigating, with figures rushing about on the buildings.

Pei Ye, after setting up his horse at the side of the gate and lighting the sign, didn't even head towards the west building, but went straight to the only unlit observatory.

He reported downstairs again, and a moment later Li Jian allowed him to go up. Pei Ye climbed the steps one by one to the domed room he had visited seven days ago, and the old man's tall back was still facing him.

“Master, regarding the events at the Eight Waters, none of the participants remember ever meeting the Water Master; everyone has also forgotten Li Xizhou.” Pei Ye stood at the door. “Do you remember?”

Li Jian turned around, the old man still possessing a robust and steadfast demeanor: "I received a letter during the day. Zhu Gaoyang and Tianshan both said they hadn't seen the Water Lord, and they also mentioned your affairs... What do you mean by saying that people have forgotten Li Xizhou?"

"...You don't remember either?"

Li Jian gently tapped his brow: "Have I forgotten something?"

Pei Ye was about to recount the "truth" he had told countless times to the person in front of him again—he had actually accepted it and no longer regarded Li Jian as a lifeline. Regardless of whether anyone could understand his situation, he was prepared to investigate to the end on his own and drag the woman out of there.

But Li Jian then held up one finger and said steadily, "Don't rush, let me check... It's normal for people to forget things when they get old."

He turned around, rummaged through some books that Pei Ye couldn't discern any pattern for a while, and took out a blue, ethereal feather.

Then he picked up a pen, wrote a few words on it, and tossed it into Pei Ye's arms.

"The mortal body is made of four layers of armor, and it's inevitable that it will be somewhat obscured by the wind and fog. You'll get used to it." Li Jian turned around, picked up a sword from the pile of instruments, and gently pointed it at him. "Come in and let's talk."

Pei Ye's vision suddenly went black, but the feather in his arms floated up lightly, as if he had entered a world where he could not feel the wind.

Then Pei Ye felt himself floating up with it, and only then could he see the few small ink characters on it.

[Inviting you to the day after the rain]

(End of this chapter)