Chapter 88: Kindred Spirits

Yang Lian smiled slightly. Mi Shiwei had certainly not come here to cause him trouble; her primary purpose must lie elsewhere.

Seeing Yang Lian’s smile, Mi Shiwei’s delicate brows furrowed even further, her dissatisfaction with his attitude deepening. There was a flippancy in this man’s smile that she found deeply unpleasant. Yet, at the same time, she was filled with interest regarding his grand plan to restore the fallen kingdom, a realization that stirred an indescribable emotion within her.

Yang Lian poured himself a cup of tea and drank it, then asked, "Miss Mi, is it Zeng Yiling who wishes to see me?"

Mi Shiwei could not help but take two steps back, looking at Yang Lian with an expression of disbelief. "You... how did you know?"

Yang Lian chuckled. "Take a guess?"

Mi Shiwei glared at him. "If you don't want to say, then forget it. I don't want to guess."

"Why so impatient?" Yang Lian laughed. He set down his teacup, sighed softly, and added, "Actually, it’s quite simple. It’s so late; you surely didn't come here just to watch me sleep, did you?"

"Shameless! Who was watching you sleep?" Mi Shiwei’s face flushed. From what Zeng Yiling had told her, this man was supposed to be a learned and courteous gentleman. Why was he always so flippant when speaking to her?

Yang Lian continued, "What does Zeng Yiling want by sending you here? To expose my identity? Or perhaps to extort me?"

Mi Shiwei shook her head. "How could that be? If I really wanted to expose you, I would have done so long ago. Besides, Zeng Yiling does not even know your true identity."

"Then why is she looking for me?" Yang Lian asked unhurriedly. After their probing encounter the other day, he knew Zeng Yiling’s background was not simple, though he still didn't know exactly how complex it was.

The fact that she had sent Mi Shiwei now proved one thing: she did not want to burn bridges with him, for Mi Shiwei was someone Yang Lian trusted.

"I am not entirely sure myself." Mi Shiwei shook her head. It was true that she didn't know the full extent of it, but she could see that apart from her curiosity, Zeng Yiling held no hostility toward Yang Lian. Whenever Zeng Yiling spoke of the events of the previous dynasty, her words were filled with lament; she held the Martial Emperor of the Yang Wu dynasty in high regard.

Indeed, Yang Xingmi had risen from humble beginnings to become the greatest power in the Jiangnan region. He had his formidable side; at the very least, amidst the chaos of the late Tang dynasty, he had stabilized Jiangnan and, even in dire circumstances, distributed grain to provide disaster relief and save the people. For that alone, he deserved respect. That his descendants were later imprisoned and poisoned by the very children he had saved was truly a tragedy.

Neither Yang Lian nor Mi Shiwei understood Zeng Yiling’s true intentions; they could only guess based on fragments of conversation. Mi Shiwei believed Zeng Yiling was a good person and had volunteered to act as a go-between, hoping to facilitate a beneficial alliance and help Yang Lian succeed in his restoration.

"Since you don't know, why should I accept the invitation?" Yang Lian smiled.

Mi Shiwei shook her head. "Zeng Yiling is someone worthy of trust. You must believe me; she will never betray you."

Yang Lian shook his head. "I only trust myself; I do not trust others."

Mi Shiwei sighed and turned to leave. Yang Lian was a man of firm convictions; she feared she would find it hard to persuade him.

However, Yang Lian reached out and stopped her. "Though that is how I feel, I have decided to go with you."

Mi Shiwei’s eyes widened. "Why the change of heart?"

"A man, after all, should take the initiative." Yang Lian smiled, quickly splashed some water on his face to look more refreshed, and stepped out of the room.

Mi Shiwei hesitated for a moment before following him.

To Yang Lian’s surprise, Mi Shiwei did not lead him toward the Xiaoxiang Pavilion but instead headed for the city gates. The night was already deep, yet both banks of the Qinhuai River remained brightly lit, especially in the summer heat, bustling with life.

Yang Lian walked side by side with Mi Shiwei. A gentle breeze carried the fragrance of her perfume, and Yang Lian couldn't help but take a deep breath.

Mi Shiwei glanced at him but said nothing.

Upon reaching the city gate, Mi Shiwei, who had come prepared, produced several strings of copper coins and handed them to a guard commander. The commander had long since been bribed; seeing the money, his eyes lit up. He took the coins and ordered his men to secretly open the gate, letting the two pass through.

The ground under the moonlight seemed draped in a layer of green gauze. As they walked, Yang Lian grew increasingly startled. The path they were taking led to Cherry Blossom Isle!

Though he was shocked, he did not let it show on his face.

Mi Shiwei suddenly turned back. "Yang Lian, don't you find this road familiar?"

Yang Lian smiled faintly. "And if it is, what of it?"

Mi Shiwei did not answer. They continued forward, skirting around the soldiers guarding Xuanwu Lake. In the night, they could finally see the island, which was planted thick with cherry trees.

Yang Lian did not understand why Zeng Yiling would be here, but when he saw her standing there in white robes, her head covered by a veil and her face masked by a green gauze, he could not help but freeze.

He had always found her attire peculiar, but he hadn't given it much thought. Now, he suddenly recalled that he had seen someone dressed exactly like this in this very place on the anniversary of Princess Yongxing’s death.

In the darkness, Zeng Yiling was not alone. Her maidservant stood gracefully by her side, her eyes gleaming like gemstones as she watched Yang Lian approach.

Yang Lian walked slowly, listening carefully. There were no other sounds in the vicinity; there shouldn't be an ambush.

Mi Shiwei smiled at Zeng Yiling. "I have fulfilled the mission."

"Thank you for your trouble, Miss Mi," Zeng Yiling replied gratefully.

Mi Shiwei bowed. "Yang Lian is here. I shall take my leave."

Zeng Yiling waved a hand. "Miss Mi, you are welcome to stay and listen."

Mi Shiwei shook her head. "No, thank you. I have no desire to hear your private affairs." With that, she didn't wait for a response and retreated to a distance of over a hundred paces.

Yang Lian withdrew his gaze. "Miss Zeng, you didn't bring me here just to look at these two graves, did you?"

"Certainly not." Zeng Yiling’s voice was as melodic as an oriole.

Yang Lian calmed himself, waiting for her to speak.

Zeng Yiling had her maid light a candle, and the surroundings were instantly illuminated. She slowly removed the veil from her head, revealing a smooth forehead, and then, with a smile, she removed the green gauze from her face.

"Ah?!" Yang Lian could not help but gasp, stepping back two paces, staring at her in disbelief.

"What? Are you startled?" Zeng Yiling gave a faint smile, then covered her face again with the gauze and replaced the veil.

Yang Lian took a deep breath to steady his racing heart. His gasp wasn't due to her being ugly; on the contrary, her features were as beautiful as her voice. But her face had reminded him of someone.

That person had vanished many years ago, when he was still very young. Even after all this time, he still remembered her face clearly.

The woman before him looked little different from the child he remembered—if there was any change, it was only that she had become even more beautiful.

"Xu... Xu Man?" Yang Lian hesitated, recalling the image of that person in his heart.

Zeng Yiling smiled faintly. "Xu Man is dead. She died several years ago. My name is Zeng Yiling!"

Yang Lian shook his head. "Impossible. You are Xu Man."

Zeng Yiling sighed, clenched her fists, and said with hatred, "The death of the Xu family was all caused by the father of the current Emperor. That man, Li Bian, is the 'wolf of Zhongshan' you spoke of."

"Indeed, he is a wolf. But what can you do? Kill him?" Yang Lian narrowed his eyes. He finally understood why she had spoken to him the way she did that day.

"A father’s murder is an irreconcilable grievance. Though I, Zeng Yiling, am but a woman, I will have my revenge," she declared.

"What good plan do you have for revenge?" Yang Lian asked.

Zeng Yiling shook her head. "I have been plotting this for years, but alas, I am a woman, and many things are not easily accomplished. You are different. At the very least, you can enter the military, gradually gain control of the army, and once you become a powerful official, you can find the opportunity to take revenge."

"So, you want to cooperate with me?" Yang Lian asked, his eyes narrowing as he grasped her intent.

Zeng Yiling laughed. "Exactly. Dealing with a smart person is effortless."

"But why should I cooperate with you? Or rather, what do you bring to this partnership?" Yang Lian asked coolly.

"You have your strengths, and I have mine. If we help each other, we can compensate for each other's weaknesses and achieve our revenge in the shortest possible time," she urged.

Yang Lian shook his head. "Revenge? You think too simply. My goal is not merely that."

"What do you mean?" Zeng Yiling asked, confused, before realizing his implication. She gasped, "You mean to contend for the world?"

Yang Lian laughed heartily. "A man should wield a three-foot sword and achieve extraordinary feats to truly show his worth."

Zeng Yiling’s eyes brightened. She looked at him with a meaningful expression. "Do you know how difficult it is to contend for the world? Do you truly have the confidence to seize it?"

"The path to glory is paved with bones; that is the reality of seizing the world. However, the world has suffered long enough in chaos, and the people long for peace. If the death of one or two people can bring about greater stability, it is worth it. Besides, one shouldn't abandon a task simply because the success rate is low. Just like your revenge—how high is the success rate for that?" Yang Lian did not back down.

"Good. I, Zeng Yiling, have not misjudged you," she said with a smile. "Yang Lian, if you cooperate with me, you will share in all the intelligence I gather. I will find ways to help you attain higher office and command more real power. My request is simple: just dig up Li Bian’s grave so I can vent my rage upon his remains. That is enough. A fair deal, is it not?"

Yang Lian smiled. "It sounds quite good. I am indeed tempted. But what help can you really provide me?"

"You will know in time." Zeng Yiling still refused to reveal her secrets.

Yang Lian barely hesitated before nodding. "Very well. I agree!"