Mr. Du and Ban Ren had completely different personalities.
Although Ban Ren looked as fierce as a demon, he rarely spoke. He would always find a corner to stay in silently, like a small, intimidating mountain.
Mr. Du was different.
He was a smiling tiger!
Don’t be fooled by his constant smile. He appeared gentle and warm to everyone, approachable and considerate.
But in reality, he was more full of wicked ideas than anyone!
Along the way, Hua Manman had come up with many escape plans, but Mr. Du had deftly neutralized every single one.
What was even more infuriating was that he would pretend not to know anything each time, maintaining that gentle and kind facade.
It made Hua Manman feel like she was punching a ball of cotton.
’It’s so futile!’
Just as Hua Manman was about to give up the struggle, a sudden downpour began.
A mudslide had occurred up ahead, completely blocking the main road.
They had no choice but to leave the main road and take a remote mountain path.
The mountain path was rugged and difficult to traverse, and the rain slowed them down even more.
At this rate, they might not make it in time for the capital relocation ceremony.
During a rest stop along the way, Mr. Du slipped into Hua Manman’s carriage.
"Young Master, there is something I need your help with."
Hua Manman, still in her signature "salted fish" sprawl, gave him a lazy glance.
"Hm?"
Mr. Du said, "The road ahead will only get more difficult. We need to ask the court to send people to meet us, which will require you to write a letter, Young Master."
He thoughtfully laid out a brush, ink, paper, and an inkstone.
Hua Manman looked at the brush and inkstone before her, her heart starting to pound.
She had only ever written with pencils, fountain pens, and ballpoint pens. She had almost never used a calligraphy brush.
It went without saying that her calligraphy was bound to be hideous.
’What if Mr. Du notices something is wrong?’
Hua Manman asked, "Can’t I just dictate it while you write?"
Mr. Du looked helpless.
"I’m afraid that won’t do.
This letter is for the Regent King.
If a subordinate like myself were to write it, the letter would likely never reach the Regent King’s hands.
Only a letter written by you, Young Master, will command the court’s attention."
This was the first time Hua Manman had heard the title "Regent King," and she couldn’t help but feel a little curious.
"There’s a Regent King in the court?"
Mr. Du explained patiently.
"You’ve lost your memories, so it’s not surprising you don’t remember.
The Saint is currently bedridden, and the Crown Prince is still young, so all court affairs are handled by the Regent King."
Hua Manman had a moment of realization.
’To put it bluntly, the Regent King calls all the shots in the court now.’
’He’s the real boss in Shangjing City.’
Mr. Du dipped the brush in ink and handed it over. "Please, Young Master, go ahead and write."
Hua Manman asked tentatively.
"If I said I’ve even forgotten how to write, would you believe me?"
Mr. Du smiled faintly. "If you don’t know how, I can hold your hand and teach you, stroke by stroke."
Hua Manman imagined the scene.
Goosebumps broke out all over her skin.
She hurriedly refused, "No, no! I can do it myself."
Things having come to this, she could only bite the bullet and go for it.
’If Mr. Du questions why my handwriting is so ugly, I’ll just blame it on my amnesia and say I forgot the proper technique.’
But when she actually held the brush, her fingers moved on their own, adjusting to the correct grip.
The characters she wrote seemed casual at first glance, but upon closer inspection, they revealed a hidden sharpness.
This was clearly not the work of a novice.
It was as if she had practiced calligraphy many times before, and her body had long since formed a habit.
After she finished the letter.
Hua Manman stared at the familiar yet strange handwriting, lost in thought.
’When did I learn calligraphy?’
’Why can’t I remember at all?’
Mr. Du picked up the letter, read it, and praised her with a smile.
"Young Master, although you’ve lost your memory, your calligraphy has improved. Look at this detail, this sharpness hidden in plain strokes—it even has a hint of the Regent King’s style."
Hua Manman looked completely baffled, clearly not understanding how this had anything to do with the Regent King.
Mr. Du retrieved a box from a hidden compartment in the carriage.
He opened the box, revealing a small, exquisite personal seal.
It was the seal representing the identity of the Heir of Prince Yu.
Mr. Du handed the seal to Hua Manman and had her stamp the end of the letter.
He explained.
"Though the current Regent King comes from a military family, his calligraphy is also excellent.
However, his work is almost never seen in public, so few people are aware of this.
I only learned how formidable the Regent King’s calligraphy is because I chanced upon a letter he wrote to Prince Yu."
A look of understanding crossed Hua Manman’s face. "Oh, I see."
Mr. Du folded the letter, placed it in an envelope, and sealed it with wax.
He picked the fastest runner from the Personal Guard Team and sent him to Shangjing with the letter.
...
The layout of the Celestial Capital was basically identical to that of Shangjing.
The only two differences were the addition of the Xuanji Temple to the east of the Imperial Palace, and the Chongming Temple to the west.
When the Regent King first announced his intention to build a Daoist Temple, everyone thought he had become a religious believer. The Daoists in the city who heard the news all thought their time had come.
However, before they could celebrate for even two days, the Regent King issued another order to build a Buddhist monastery in the city.
Moreover, the Daoist Temple and the monastery were only a street apart.
They faced each other from a distance.
Now, not only were the Daoists and the monks dumbfounded, but the civil and military officials of the court were also completely baffled.
Most people either believed in Buddhism or Daoism, not both.
Who, like the Regent King, would believe in both!
Yet Li Ji himself couldn’t care less what others thought.
To him, whether it was the Buddha or the Taoist Ancestor, whoever could help him grant his wish would have his unwavering devotion.
Now, both the Xuanji Temple and the Chongming Temple were complete.
Li Ji came personally to inspect the results.
He first went to the Xuanji Temple, then to the Chongming Temple.
When he emerged from the monastery, his dark cyan cloak was already saturated with the rich scent of sandalwood.
But the ferocity in his eyes remained just as intense.
In addition, he had lost a lot of weight in recent years, making his facial contours even sharper.
He was like a blade that could draw blood at any moment, terrifying all who saw him.
The abbot of Chongming Temple personally saw him to the main gate.
After he was far in the distance, the abbot pressed his palms together and sighed softly.
Amitabha Buddha, even being in a Buddhist temple cannot dispel the malevolent aura on that man.
Li Ji rode back to the Prince Mansion.
As soon as he entered, Gao Shan hurried over.
"Your Highness, a letter has arrived, sent by the Heir of Prince Yu."
Gao Shan presented the letter with both hands.
Hearing the words "Prince Yu," Li Ji paused.
Years ago, Li Xun had been secretly harmed by his wet nurse, and after a thorough investigation, the final clues pointed to the Yu Royal Mansion.
Li Ji had always been one to repay every slight.
Even after so many years, he still remembered this grudge.
He had originally planned to find an excuse to dispose of the Heir of Prince Yu once he arrived in Shangjing.
He never expected to receive a letter from the Heir of Prince Yu now.