Chapter 80: Zeng Yiling’s Identity

Yang Lian was somewhat puzzled. Surely Zeng Yiling had not summoned him to the Xiaoxiang Pavilion merely to hear this story. What significance did it hold? Everyone from Jiangnan knew the tale by heart. The fact that Zeng Yiling had brought it up suggested that she had some special purpose. Yang Lian could not help wondering.

“I always have the feeling that Young Master Yang’s purpose in coming to Jinling is not quite as simple as it seems.” Zeng Yiling gazed into his eyes, the corners of her lips curling faintly upward. Unfortunately, Yang Lian could not see her clearly and had no idea what expression she wore at that moment.

Yang Lian did not answer at once. Instead, he paced slowly with his hands clasped behind his back, surveying the room. It appeared utterly ordinary, with nothing remarkable about it. Yet it was the mistress of this very room who had spoken such extraordinary words. What was Zeng Yiling planning?

Yang Lian raised his head and affected a relaxed, carefree air.

“Then what does Miss Zeng believe my purpose to be?”

Zeng Yiling smiled faintly. “Could Young Master Yang truly be unaware of why he came to Jinling?”

“From your tone, Miss Zeng, it seems you know even better than I do.” Yang Lian smiled lightly.

Zeng Yiling frowned. “Is it not because of the Zhongshan Wolf?”

“Who is the Zhongshan Wolf?” Yang Lian countered, turning the question back upon her.

Zeng Yiling laughed. “You already know, Young Master. Why pretend ignorance and deceive this humble woman?”

“Very well. Since you have seen through me, I may as well tell you.” Yang Lian smiled calmly and looked her over. “This Zhongshan Wolf is…”

As he spoke, he slowly approached her. Then, without warning, he extended a hand and darted toward her like lightning, intending to lift her veil and discover who she truly was.

Zeng Yiling reacted swiftly. She raised her hand and blocked his palm, retreating two steps. Yang Lian pressed after her, his broad hand still striking toward her.

Their palms collided with a crisp crack.

Yang Lian was slightly startled. Zeng Yiling had actually managed to block his attack. Judging by her skill, she was certainly no ordinary woman. His curiosity deepened, and he increased his strength.

The two fought back and forth within the room for quite some time, yet neither could gain the upper hand. Yang Lian was even more astonished. Zeng Yiling looked delicate and graceful, and she was an accomplished musician. He had assumed she was merely an ordinary woman from a pleasure house. Yet her extraordinary martial skill alone proved that her status in the establishment was anything but ordinary. What, then, was her true identity?

Yang Lian’s attacks grew increasingly fierce. The two exchanged move after move, and in the blink of an eye they had fought twenty or thirty bouts. While Yang Lian was astonished, Zeng Yiling was even more so. She had never imagined that he would be so formidable, or possess such strength. After fighting for so long, her palms were throbbing with pain, yet Yang Lian still refused to relent, leaving her thoroughly vexed.

Seeing that she was close to exhaustion, Yang Lian accelerated his assault. He raised his hand and snatched the veil from her head.

The veil fell to the floor. Yang Lian looked at her triumphantly, finally expecting to see her face. But the next moment, he froze. The veil had indeed fallen away, yet Zeng Yiling’s face was covered with a white gauze cloth. Her features remained impossible to make out.

Deeply frustrated, Yang Lian tossed the veil back to her.

“Miss Zeng, what is the meaning of this?”

“You are worrying too much, Young Master Yang. I did this for your own good.” Zeng Yiling smiled, her expression unmistakably smug.

At last, Yang Lian could clearly see her eyes. Her lashes were long, and her bright, limpid eyes seemed full of spirit as she regarded him with a smile that was not quite a smile.

At the instant their gazes met, something stirred within Yang Lian. He suddenly smiled.

“Zeng Yiling, Zeng Yiling! I fear that is not your real name, is it?”

“What makes Young Master Yang say that?” Zeng Yiling asked coolly.

Yang Lian shook his head. “Only a feeling. I think I have seen you somewhere before. Naturally, I do not mean the last time at the Xiaoxiang Pavilion.”

Zeng Yiling pressed her lips together in a smile but did not answer. Instead, she extended her fair, delicate hands.

“Give me the jade hairpin.”

Yang Lian took the jade hairpin from his robes and idly toyed with it.

“The hairpin is in my hand. If you want it, come and take it.”

“It belongs to me,” Zeng Yiling said.

Yang Lian shook his head. “But you gave it to me. From that moment on, it became mine.”

Zeng Yiling replied, “This jade hairpin was given to me by an old acquaintance. It is not especially valuable, but it bears great significance. The person who gave it to me is someone Young Master Yang certainly knows.”

“What makes you so certain?” Yang Lian asked.

“Because the person who gave me this jade hairpin was the late Princess Yongxing of the current dynasty!”

Zeng Yiling had delivered a revelation more shocking with every word, exposing the hairpin’s astonishing secret.

“Princess Yongxing? I heard she died many years ago. You actually knew her?” Yang Lian was shaken inwardly, but no trace of it appeared on his face. He questioned her calmly.

“Of course I knew her.” Zeng Yiling smiled brightly. Then she suddenly clapped her hands. “Young Master Yang, you may leave now.”

At her voice, the door opened, and a maid appeared before Yang Lian. She bowed slightly.

“Young Master Yang.”

Yang Lian narrowed his eyes. What was Zeng Yiling doing? Was she testing him? What had she discovered?

He immediately cupped his hands.

“In that case, I shall take my leave.”

With that, he strode out.

Zeng Yiling watched him with her lovely eyes. Seeing that he departed without haste and made no attempt to look back, she did not call him to stay. Only after Yang Lian had disappeared did she let out a quiet sigh.

“Elder Sister Ling, did you find anything out?” the maid asked.

Zeng Yiling shook her head. “This man is too composed. He never lets his emotions show, so for now I cannot see through him. What is more, he failed to notice the secret of the jade hairpin. That truly puzzles me.”

The maid sighed. “But… that day at Yingzhou, he clearly appeared there.”

“His appearance there proves nothing. You must understand that it is entirely possible the Commandery Princess Huairou summoned him.” Zeng Yiling shook her head.

“Do not be anxious. Let us observe him a little longer. Even the slyest fox will eventually reveal its tail.” Zeng Yiling added this after a moment.

The maid’s heart rose into her throat. She swallowed with difficulty.

“If he truly is that person, Elder Sister Ling, what will you do?”

“Join forces with him to strike down the Zhongshan Wolf.” Zeng Yiling smiled. The story Yang Lian had told was rather amusing.

“Strike down the Zhongshan Wolf?” The maid asked in confusion.

But Zeng Yiling offered no explanation. She slowly walked to the window and lifted the curtain. Yang Lian was descending the stairs and was about to reach the entrance.

Zeng Yiling smiled faintly, lowered the curtain, and lightly brushed the strings of her qin. A martial, murderous melody rang out.

In his heart, Yang Lian had hoped that Zeng Yiling would call him back. Yet this was a moment of wits and courage, and he could not turn around. To do so would mean surrendering the initiative. Until he knew precisely who Zeng Yiling was, Yang Lian would never recklessly expose his identity.

He had already made up his mind: the Xiaoxiang Pavilion had to be investigated.

At that moment, Li Hongji saw Yang Lian emerge and stopped him.

“Yang Lian, what happened inside?”

Yang Lian looked him over and could not help laughing.

“I wonder, are you asking as the Duke of Dongping or as Li Hongji?”

Li Hongji was taken aback.

“What do you mean?”

“If you are asking as the Duke of Dongping, then I must apologize. I, Yang Lian, am a Commander of the Divine Martial Army and dare not associate too closely with the Duke of Dongping. Whatever happened just now, I will not tell His Grace.” Yang Lian smiled faintly.

An army commander who associated too closely with a prince was liable to arouse the Emperor’s suspicion. As for Prince Qi, he was the designated heir and had no personal ambitions, which was why Yang Lian maintained a relationship with him.

“And if I am asking in a personal capacity?” Li Hongji’s pupils contracted sharply. His heart was already filled with resentment, yet he asked unwillingly.

“Has the Duke of Dongping only just awakened? How else could he ask such an absurd question?” Yang Lian replied.

Li Hongji clenched his fists.

“Yang Lian, what exactly do you mean?”

“What sort of friendship exists between you, Li Hongji, and me, Yang Lian? During that contest, you attacked me with a concealed arrow. If you had not been a prince, I would have skinned you alive!” Yang Lian said coldly, a trace of murderous intent in his eyes. “And now you expect to question me? Do you truly think I would tell you anything, Duke of Dongping?”

Li Hongji was furious. His concern for Zeng Yiling was the only reason he had questioned Yang Lian. He had never expected Yang Lian not only to refuse to flatter him because he was a prince, but to respond with open hostility.

With a cold laugh, Li Hongji swung a fist at him.

Yang Lian turned slightly and dodged the blow, then strode away.

Li Hongji did not pursue him after missing. His status constrained him, after all. He paced outside the Xiaoxiang Pavilion for a long while, but in the end he rushed inside and knocked on the door of Zeng Yiling’s room.

“Miss Zeng, it is Li Hongji. Could you open the door and let me in?”

The maid called from within, “Duke of Dongping, you are a prince of the imperial family. Please conduct yourself with due restraint.”

Li Hongji had come in disguise. At her words, he was rendered speechless. His position was delicate, and the Emperor had never favored him, so he had always been exceedingly cautious. Fortunately, his mother was greatly favored. Although he held only a ducal title, his influence was by no means insignificant, and he had raised a considerable number of loyal assassins. Unfortunately, during the contest several months earlier, Yang Lian had slaughtered most of them, which had left him deeply frustrated.

“Zeng Yiling, open the door at once, or I will set the place on fire!” Li Hongji shouted.

“Li Hongji, I am merely a frail woman of the Xiaoxiang Pavilion. Do you, Duke of Dongping, truly intend to abuse your status to bully me? Are you not afraid of becoming the laughingstock of the world?” Zeng Yiling spoke at last. Her voice remained soft and gentle, entirely unchanged by what had happened earlier.

Li Hongji knocked again. When the door remained firmly shut, the establishment’s staff came rushing over. Several managers recognized Li Hongji and were understandably frightened. One of them summoned his courage and said, “The Duke of Dongping wishes to see Miss Zeng. Naturally, we would not dare stop him. But since Miss Zeng is unwilling to receive him, perhaps His Grace should leave at once and spare humble men like us the trouble.”

Many people knew that Li Hongji had feelings for Zeng Yiling. Out of consideration for his status, they were willing to let him make a scene for a while. Yet Li Hongji did not dare carry things too far. If word reached his mother or the Emperor, he would certainly receive a severe reprimand and might even be confined to his residence.

After some thought, Li Hongji hurried away, gradually disappearing from everyone’s sight.

Once outside the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, Li Hongji glanced back, a cold smile rising at the corners of his mouth. There was no trace left of the foolish infatuation he had displayed moments earlier.

He cast one last, profound look at the Xiaoxiang Pavilion, then hurried back to his residence. He still had many things to do.