Wei Yang didn't buy Lu Yu's act either. He shot a glare at both Qian Xingzhi and Lu Yu before heading to the front of the column.
At dusk, they officially arrived at the North Gate of Nanchuan. The Nanchuan governor received them and immediately began complaining: "We have few troops stationed here. After days of pursuit, there's still no sign of the Third Prince. I heard that Lord Qian of the Astronomical Bureau can divine his location. Is that true?"
At this, Wei Yang and the General both snorted.
But Qian Xingzhi said, "Indeed. However, I need to make some preparations. I'll need to go to Chengxin Temple first."
If she couldn't extricate herself, she'd use official business as an excuse. As for the Third Prince, if a large group couldn't find him, how could she? She wasn't a search dog.
Perhaps this was why Qian Xingzhi wanted to return to Nanchuan. Thinking this, Lu Yu said, "Chengxin Temple isn't far from here, but it requires climbing. It's already late. Tomorrow I'll accompany Lord Qian."
"Rescuing the Third Prince is urgent," Wei Yang, seeing Qian Xingzhi give in, immediately gloated: "Since Lord Qian has a way, there's no time to lose. Set out immediately."
Lu Yu tugged at his black gold-threaded narrow sleeves and advised, "If something goes wrong in the wilderness in the dead of night, can Governor Wei take responsibility?"
Wei Yang, ignorant of his own limitations, replied, "We'll go together. What could go wrong?"
Unable to dissuade Wei Yang, the General stayed behind to arrange subsequent patrols and searches. Qian Xingzhi, Lu Yu, and Wei Yang boarded the carriage again.
She looked at Wei Yang, who was only twenty-three or twenty-four. Truly, young people had abundant energy, willing to make others toil all night just to see her make a fool of herself. Though her body was now eighteen, her mind was thirty-two, and she longed to wash up and sleep early.
Lu Yu, usually taciturn with colleagues, now teased Wei Yang: "Governor Wei is willing to share a carriage with us to find the Third Prince. I'm flattered."
Wei Yang frowned: "Lord Lu fancies himself a pure and upright official. If you want to protect your reputation, you'd better stay away from Lord Qian."
Lu Yu laughed softly, glancing at Qian Xingzhi—a glance that inexplicably gave her goosebumps: "Governor Wei is unaware, but Lord Qian saved my life. She's not as the rumors say."
Wei Yang's gaze darted suspiciously between them: "Is that so?"
Qian Xingzhi: I want to escape. Am I really going to have to perform a shaman dance later?
In the dark, windy night, the three arrived at the foot of the mountain.
Wei Yang already regretted it.
Winter was cold enough; climbing the mountain might freeze them half to death. Now a chilling wind pierced his face. The faint warm light from Yuan Bai's oil lamp cast twisted shadows of withered plants and broken branches on the ground. The path ahead seemed to lead into the gaping maw of the pitch-black night.
Wei Yang silently stepped back.
Lu Yu suddenly spoke: "Governor Wei, it's not too late to back out."
Wei Yang was stubborn: "Back... back out? Lord Qian's matter is important. If anything happens to the Third Prince, we'll all be blamed."
Seeing his fear, Qian Xingzhi sidled up to him, patted his shoulder, and said maliciously: "Governor Wei, since the flood, Nanchuan has been a land of death. Before I went to Shengjing, corpses filled the fields. Listen to the wind—doesn't it sound like the cries of wronged ghosts?"
Wei Yang's face instantly turned pale. He looked in horror at a grinning Qian Xingzhi, his teeth chattering: "Qian... Qian Xingzhi, stop talking nonsense."
Qian Xingzhi feigned surprise: "Is Governor Wei scared? Maybe we should go back?"
Lu Yu also turned to look at Wei Yang, seeing him nearly frightened out of his wits. As if afraid he would chicken out, Lu Yu quickly said to Qian Xingzhi, "Lord Qian, you underestimate our Governor Wei. He's just cold, not scared. Don't worry, Governor Wei—once we start climbing, you'll warm up."
Wei Yang's pale face turned green with anger. Where had these two weirdos come from, each more insufferable than the other?
Qian Xingzhi felt her own resentment was greater than that of any ghost.
She was eager to solve all the mysteries and return home early, but not that eager. Climbing a mountain in the cold wind in the dead of night was sheer torture.
Yuan Bai suddenly spoke: "My lords, there seems to be someone ahead."
He stepped forward, extending the oil lamp. Indeed, a faint silhouette appeared ahead, seeming to tilt its head and look at them.