Chapter 447: Digging for Treasures Deep in the Palace (2)

Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios

Dongfang Liren wore armor when she went out because she had a good figure and looked very heroic in armor, so she specially wore it for Ye Jingtang to see. Although her chest was squashed by the breastplate, and her breathing was a bit suffocated, she still held her head high and put on a majestic air. “Great Wei was founded by military force. All descendants, regardless of gender, have to learn horsemanship and archery. If they can’t even wear armor, how can they go to the battlefield in the future?”

Ye Jingtang shook his head silently, but he wasn’t mocking her. Although Dumdum’s martial arts skills were vastly different from his, in the eyes of ordinary people, they were the same as Little Yunli. She was already considered a top expert who could fly over roofs and walk on walls. There would really be no problem on the battlefield. He thought for a moment and suggested, “Your Highness’s python robe can be customized to suit women, and the armor can also be customized. Hmm… the other sizes don’t need to change. Change the circular armor parts to hemispheres…”

“Hemispheres?” Dongfang Liren lowered her head slightly to look at her breastplate. She imagined herself wearing armor with two large steamed buns on her chest. Her voice turned cold. “Do you think that’s appropriate?”

Ye Jingtang thought about it carefully and agreed. This female knight attire seemed to be more suitable for seducing her husband in the boudoir. He smiled and didn’t suggest anything else.

Clear Water Villa wasn’t far from the capital, but there were many people following behind, and their pace couldn’t be said to be fast. They set off from the palace for nearly four hours before arriving at Spring Morning Mountain.

Spring Morning Mountain was adjacent to the Lotus Pond. There was a garden for kilometers around, which was the empress’s private property. Because preparations had begun a few days ago, the fields outside the villa had become a temporary camp, and the transferred imperial guards were stationed at the foot of the mountain.

The carriage that the empress dowager and empress were in entered the villa directly from the imperial road with many palace maids accompanying them. Ye Jingtang was guarding the white stone path outside the villa. It was only when the people who came settled down that he regained his freedom.

After Ye Jingtang sent Dumdum, who had always been his teammate, back to her bedchamber in the villa, he went to the room arranged for him to take off his armor.

The qilin armor used by the Imperial City’s imperial guards was of excellent quality, and there were 14 to 15 parts. Ye Jingtang had never come into contact with armor before, and he couldn’t damage it, so it was quite troublesome to take it off. Just as he was slowly undressing in front of the mirror in his room, he heard a sound outside his door.

Tread, tread…

Ye Jingtang turned to look out of the window and saw Daoist Xuanji in a white dress walking over in the corridor. He stopped and asked, “Has everything been settled on Her Majesty’s side?”

When Daoist Xuanji entered the room and saw Ye Jingtang’s tough appearance in black armor, her eyes were quite appreciative. She went over to help and replied, “Her Majesty and the empress dowager are bathing in the Dragon Cleansing Pool. I took the time to come over and tell you something. This morning, 1 investigated. Fang Shijie is the only expert under the Prince of Yan’s heir. In addition, there are a hundred attendants, but not many of them are skilled in martial arts.

“The heir went to Parasol Street last night. He was lightly dressed and only brought Fang Shijie with him. He and a few young masters from Literary Virtue Bridge drank at the Golden Screen Building. Halfway through, he got drunk and went back to his room to sleep. He didn’t bring any birds with him…”

“Fang Shijie is the only one… without any birds…”

When Ye Jingtang heard this, he frowned. As a guard, investigating and arresting people were secondary. Protecting the target at every step was the top priority. When there were uncertain risks, it was normal to send the protection target to a safe place as soon as possible.

When he was in the back alley last night, the Prince of Yan’s heir should have been in the main building on the front street. There were several buildings between them, but Fang Shijie went out directly and left the drunk heir alone in the room. No matter how he thought about it, it was unreasonable. “Did any of his friends bring guards?”

“They’re all profligate sons from wealthy families. There must be guards, but they’re just low-class martial artists and not worth mentioning.”

Ye Jingtang thought for a moment. “Since the Prince of Yan’s heir was drunk and there were no experts around, it should have been impossible for Fang Shijie to leave easily when he discovered an uninvited guest. I reckon that the heir wasn’t drunk at all. He went to the Golden Screen Building yesterday to meet someone in secret. The bird is most likely raised by this person. He’s not weak, and Fang Shijie trusts him a lot…”

Daoist Xuanji stood in front of him and took off his breastplate. “The Prince of Yan’s heir often only brought a person with him around in the past. Fang Shijie did a lot of paying bills and running errands. With such lax protection, I’m more inclined to believe that the heir himself is good at martial arts.

“The descendants of the imperial family have all practiced martial arts since childhood, and the Prince of Yan’s heir has many teachers. No matter how bad his martial arts skills are, he should be about the same as Liren. However, he has been very well-behaved in the capital for ten years and hasn’t fought. I’m not sure about his exact strength.”

Ye Jingtang thought about it and felt that what she said made sense. If he could protect himself, there was indeed no need for a guard to guard him at all times. He thought for a moment and said, “What has the Prince of Yan’s heir been up to recently?”

“He does nothing all day, so there’s no way to guess his movements. I only know that the son of a duke of Literary Virtue Bridge is celebrating his birthday today and hosting a banquet in the city. The heir usually plays with these people and might be present.”

Ye Jingtang nodded and didn’t ask any more questions.

When she took off the armor skirt, he only had thin black underclothes covering his body.

“Thanks.” Ye Jingtang thanked her. Just as he was about to pick up his robe and put it on, he saw the beautiful and charming Fairy Lu look down and secretly glance at the place that girls shouldn’t look at.

Ye Jingtang looked down. It was perfectly normal, and there was nothing awkward about it. He knew what Daoist Xuanji was looking at and was speechless. “I’m not a donkey. How can i do that anytime, anywhere? I was really unconscious when you helped me apply medicine.. I thought you were Ning’er, which was why it was indecent…”