It was not until dark that Yan Liqiang walked out of the palace.
Eunuch He followed Yan Liqiang, and had three young eunuchs follow closely behind him, holding the things that the Crown Prince had given to Yan Liqiang. Eunuch He's face was smiling like a chrysanthemum, and he was indescribably attentive and polite.
"Oh, I was saying that Lord Yan had a way. His Royal Highness has been in the palace for so many years, but he has never been so polite to anyone. There have been many young masters who taught His Royal Highness swordsmanship, horsemanship, spearmanship, boxing, calligraphy and gambling before, and many of them were important officials in the court, but there has never been a single one who could make His Royal Highness be so respectful, stay and invite him to dinner as a disciple, and personally escort him out of the East Palace, and give him so many gifts..."
"That's because you are so polite, Your Highness. I am flattered that you respect your teacher!" Yan Liqiang said casually. Seeing that they were about to leave the palace, he slowed down his pace. "Eunuch He, please stay. I will send you here. I know the way back and I can go back by myself!"
"That won't work. I have arranged a carriage for Lord Yan. It's right outside the door. The carriage will take Lord Yan to Deer Garden. How can we let Lord Yan walk back?" The old eunuch rejected Yan Liqiang righteously, and finally personally sent Yan Liqiang to the Jinshui Bridge. He watched Yan Liqiang get on a four-wheeled carriage, and then moved the things that the Crown Prince had given Yan Liqiang to the carriage. He gave the coachman a lot of instructions, and finally waved his hand, and stood respectfully at the bridgehead of Jinshui River with the two young eunuchs to say goodbye to Yan Liqiang.
After sitting in the carriage and watching it start to move, Yan Liqiang let out a long sigh of relief. After serving as the Crown Prince's Archery Instructor for the entire afternoon, Yan Liqiang did not feel tired. It was just that the Crown Prince's enthusiasm was a bit overwhelmed for him. Before leaving, he gave Yan Liqiang a lot of things, saying that they were gifts for becoming his apprentice. Yan Liqiang had no choice but to accept them.
The two boxes were placed in the car. One of the boxes contained the Dragon-Shaking Bow, a top-quality bow in the collection of His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, which was given to Yan Liqiang today. The other box contained what His Royal Highness the Crown Prince said was the Dragon-Shaking Arrow that matched the Dragon-Shaking Bow. Yan Liqiang did not ask much at the time, but only now did he open the box, take out a Dragon-Shaking Arrow, and put it in front of him to look at it carefully.
The Dragon-Shaking Arrows are not ordinary arrows, but black gold arrows with flying feathers, all forged from metal. The black arrows are extremely heavy, and each one is like a work of art. There are patterns of dragon scales on each arrow, and the arrowheads are in the shape of dragon heads, flashing a frightening light. It is obvious that they are made by a famous artist. There are a total of 108 arrows, which are loaded in a special quiver, just right for the Dragon-Shaking Bow. With the power of the Dragon-Shaking Bow, ordinary arrows are too light, and only the Dragon-Shaking Arrows can be matched with it to exert the strongest killing effect.
Putting the Dragon-Shaking Arrow back into the quiver, Yan Liqiang looked at the darkening night scene of the Imperial Capital outside the carriage, and thought of his encounter with the evil spirit outside the palace gate during the day. His heart slowly sank again, and he felt a strong sense of crisis.
When they returned to Luyuan, it was even darker. Yan Liqiang had just returned to his yard, turned on the lamp, and put away the Dragon-Shaking Bow and Arrows when there was a knock on the door outside the yard. Yan Liqiang came outside the yard and opened the door. Liu Xitong, Guo Sida, Xu Shu, Meng Hui and several other Luyuan officers were already standing outside the yard, each holding wine and food in their hands.
"We heard that Lord Yan came to the palace today to teach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince, and he just came back from the palace. Several of us brothers have come here specially to congratulate Lord Yan..." Liu Xitong said.
Yan Liqiang smiled and said, "Come in..."
After letting Liu Xi and a few others in, Yan Liqiang closed the door to the yard and went straight into the house with a few others.
The congratulations were fake, the real purpose was to meet Yan Liqiang. Yan Liqiang estimated the time, and these people would be here in the next few days. The passes he gave them last time would probably be gone without any splash if they were really used.
"Please sit down, you're welcome!" Yan Liqiang invited several people to sit down.
After the officers sat down, Liu Xitong spoke up again, "We have handed over the pass you gave us a few days ago to our family and friends. We will never forget your life-saving grace!"
"Well, has everyone in your family left?"
"They haven't left yet, but they are ready. We have discussed it over the past few days and decided that instead of letting our family leave the capital and wander around without a fixed place to live, it would be better for us to listen to the adults and let them go to the northwest. The adults will take care of them along the way, and we will feel at ease!"
Yan Liqiang looked at the faces of the officers and laughed. "No problem. I'll give you an address and write a note to each of your families. You can hand the things over to your family members and ask them to find someone at the address. Then, take out the note I gave them. After leaving the capital, someone will arrange an escort along the way to send them to the northwest..."
After hearing what Yan Liqiang said, several officers were moved and thanked Yan Liqiang again.
"Sir, there is one more thing. We know that this may make you feel awkward, but it is really difficult to refuse family ties. We are also embarrassed and don't know how to ask you..." After several officers looked at each other, the small flag officer named Meng Hui spoke awkwardly.
"What's the matter? Tell me!" Yan Liqiang already knew what he was going to say, but he just smiled and encouraged him.
"Um... Sir, do you have any extra passes here...?"
"Why, wasn't what I gave you last time enough?"
"It was enough. After we took the passes back, we also gave some to relatives, colleagues and friends we knew. We didn't think much about it at the time. We just wanted to do a favor. But we didn't expect that after we gave the passes out, more and more acquaintances would secretly find us and our family members through various connections and want the passes. We were really in a difficult situation..."
"Yeah, originally we thought we could just get our family and acquaintances out, but we didn't expect that once we got the travel passes back, there would be an uproar at home. My two sisters-in-law asked for some for their families, and when their families found out, they came to me for more, saying that they had many relatives who needed them too. The travel passes I brought back were all gone in the blink of an eye, but some people still came to ask for them after hearing the news. It seems like there will never be enough travel passes..." Guo Sida said with a wry smile, "My parents couldn't bear to see those relatives left to die, so they asked me to think of a solution..."
"We also know that you have your difficulties, sir. If you really can't work out, we can ask someone to buy the pass for you, as long as you name a price..." Even Xu Shu, the most silent among the officers, spoke up.
Everyone looked at Yan Liqiang, waiting for him to speak with some nervousness and embarrassment.
Yan Liqiang pondered for a moment, "Let's not talk about the pass first. Let me ask you a question first. Have you ever thought about what you will do when the catastrophe comes in half a year? Are you going to stay in the Deer Park and wait for death?"
Liu Xitong gritted his teeth and said, "Since the adults have asked, we are not afraid to tell them the truth. In the past two days, we brothers have discussed it and decided to send our families away first. Before the catastrophe comes, around July or August, we will plan to escape from Luyuan and reunite with our families in the northwest..."
Yan Liqiang narrowed his eyes, his face turned serious, and he said in a deep voice, "Leaving the army without permission and becoming a deserter is a capital crime. You told me this, aren't you afraid that I will arrest you?"
"Don't be afraid. We all believe that you are definitely not that kind of person. Without your guidance and help, our whole family would have died in the natural disaster. If you want us to die, that's easy!" Liu Xitong said passionately. The other officers nodded, believing in Yan Liqiang's character.
Yan Liqiang finally laughed, "Since you have made such preparations, and are not afraid of death, and have already risked everything, then do you have the courage to take a gamble and do a big business with me, and win a rich and prosperous future for yourself and your family before leaving the capital?"
"Please tell me..."
"Come closer..."
Several officers leaned over to listen to Yan Liqiang's whisper. Gradually, their eyes became brighter and brighter...
Half an hour later, Yan Liqiang sent the group out of the yard. But less than five minutes after they left, the door to the yard was knocked again. Yan Liqiang opened the door and saw the fat manager Wen standing outside with a flattering smile on his face, holding a brocade box in his hand...
"Manager Wen, what are you doing..."
"I heard that Lord Yan came to the palace to teach His Royal Highness the Crown Prince today. I just came back from the palace, so I came to see if Lord Yan has anything else to tell me..."
"Okay, come in and talk..."
"Oh, okay, okay..."
There were many smart people in the Deer Park. Manager Wen, who had sensed something, also came to visit them. In the end, Manager Wen left contentedly with the 100 passes Yan Liqiang had given him...
This stall is getting bigger and bigger because of Yan Liqiang...
(End of this chapter)