Chapter 160: Immortal Steamed Buns

In truth, the dangers lay in only two areas. The first was the pursuit they would face on the road to Zhongtong. Bai Lixian did not need to explain it; Liu Ling’er could already guess that the one most likely seeking his life was Bai Lixian’s own imperial brother, Bai Lihai, Emperor of Eastern Chu. To think that one’s own brother would resort to every possible means to eliminate him—it was tragic indeed.

The second danger lay in Zhongtong itself. Who could guarantee that this Crown Prince, He Juntian, would inherit the throne without incident? If something unexpected happened along the way—for instance, if some prince raised an army in rebellion and seized the throne—then those who had come to offer birthday congratulations would most likely fare rather poorly.

That was why Bai Lixian had no intention of letting Liu Ling’er wade into these troubled waters. He had come this time simply to inform her and stop her from accompanying him. Given Liu Ling’er’s intelligence, he believed she understood what he meant.

Unexpectedly, after thinking quietly for a while, Liu Ling’er slowly said, “Ling’er understands. When the time comes, I will naturally accompany Prince Xian on this journey.”

Bai Lixian’s eyes widened at once. His dark gaze swept up and down Liu Ling’er, and after confirming that she was still the same Liu Ling’er, he could not help becoming exasperated. “Are you truly foolish, or are you pretending not to understand? Do you not know that this may be a road of no return? Once you go, you may not have a life to come back with.”

“How could Ling’er not know there will be danger? But I cannot retreat merely because danger exists, can I? That is not my nature. Instead of worrying about me, you should worry about yourself. I have no desire to become a young widow.” Liu Ling’er blinked at him impishly.

By the end, Bai Lixian had been amused by her. He deliberately coughed and said, “Then shall I write you a divorce decree in advance? That way, you can remarry when the time comes, and you will not have to remain a widow.”

Though she knew he was joking, Liu Ling’er still tapped her head. “Oh, why didn’t I think of that? Prince Xian truly has thought of everything, making preparations before the danger arrives. I have to admit I could never be so thorough. Why don’t you write the divorce decree now, and we can each go our separate ways?”

“You dare? Don’t even think about such a thing! You are my princess consort. Forget about bringing shame upon the dignity of the imperial family!” Bai Lixian knew perfectly well that she was joking, yet for some reason, a towering rage suddenly surged within him, and his voice rose involuntarily.

As it happened, Liu Ling’er was intimidated by him for a moment. She stared blankly at Bai Lixian, then blinked once. Her eyes suddenly lit up, as though she had thought of something.

She abruptly reached out and felt Bai Lixian’s forehead, then touched her own. Muttering to herself, she said, “You don’t have a fever. So why are you spouting nonsense? Could you have hit your head in the door when you came in? Hmm, I suppose that is not impossible.”

“Your head was hit by the door! Hmph! Since you say you want to go, I am not forcing you. Pack your things today. We depart tomorrow.” Bai Lixian flicked his sleeve and strode elegantly out of Flowing Water Residence, afraid that if he stayed any longer, Liu Ling’er would anger him to death.

After Bai Lixian left, Liu Ling’er immediately summoned Boss Hua, Chu Sheng, and the married couple Ma Tianqiong and his wife. She instructed Boss Hua to oversee the business at Flowing Water Residence. If any trouble arose, he was to have Chu Sheng deal with it. If even Chu Sheng could not resolve the matter, they were not to force it. They were simply to wait for Liu Ling’er’s return.

With Chu Sheng holding the fort, there would naturally be no problem. Anyone daring to cause trouble at Flowing Water Residence might not be dealt with on the spot, but afterward, making them vanish without a sound would be a matter of minutes. They could guarantee that one moment, the offender would still be lying in bed, dreaming grand dreams, and the next, he would be discussing the principles of life with the King of Hell.

As for Ma Tianqiong and his wife, Liu Ling’er pulled them into a room, shut the windows tightly, and entrusted them with a matter of vital importance: a secret phrase belonging to the Heavenly Law Organization.

Liu Ling’er had spent several days studying that book of coded phrases before finally uncovering this one. Once she had translated it in full, she had nearly been knocked senseless.

Ordinarily, Ma Tianqiong and his wife had a fellow member of the organization—General Hu Bugui, who was now missing and whose whereabouts were unknown. While studying the coded phrases used by the couple, Liu Ling’er had only managed to decipher another one after much thought.

In the end, that secret phrase seemed practically tailor-made for Ma Tianqiong and his wife. Once Liu Ling’er understood it, she finally realized why Ma Ling’er had ordered her descendants to sell steamed buns from generation to generation.

The coded exchange went like this: On every other day, Ma Tianqiong and his wife had to call out, “Immortal buns! Nectar-and-bean-curd brew! Peach buns of immortality that prolong life! Come, everyone, have one!”

It had to be said that this secret phrase was outrageously exaggerated. The legendary Strength Pill was nothing compared with it—mere rubbish by comparison. Even the Life-Creation Pill still in Liu Ling’er’s possession suddenly seemed like nothing more than a clay chicken and a pottery dog.

Though it made her teeth ache, that was exactly what the coded book said. Liu Ling’er had been about to complain, but when she read the next line, her eyes went completely rigid. She especially wanted to drag her unreliable senior sister Ma Ling’er over and study the matter with her.

The member of the organization making contact had to answer in the following manner:

“Mm-hmm! Little Fa-fa loves breakfast the most! Bring me one too, pretty please!”

At that moment, a whole herd of imaginary beasts seemed to thunder through Liu Ling’er’s heart. After studying the passage repeatedly and confirming that this truly was the secret exchange, she was left with nothing but profound speechlessness.

Was this an opera performance, or were they simply fooling around? How could such an affected, coquettish line possibly be spoken by a member of the Heavenly Law Organization?

Wasn’t a standard secret exchange supposed to go something like this?

The first person said, “The Heavenly King covers the earth and tiger!”

The next answered, “The pagoda suppresses the river demon!”

Regardless of what Liu Ling’er wanted to say, this was the reality. When Ma Tianqiong and his wife heard the first line she had recited, they looked at each other in astonishment.

“No wonder Father shouted that outrageous phrase every other day. It was a secret exchange phrase all along. If we had known, we would never have stopped saying it merely because it was embarrassing. If the Lord of the Organization had not noticed in time, we might have delayed something important.”

Seeing their remorse, Liu Ling’er felt rather embarrassed herself. “Hehe, you cannot really be blamed. Your father never told you about it, so it was only natural that you did not know. Now that you do, isn’t that enough?”

Early the next morning, Liu Ling’er departed with Xiao Tao, while Bai Lixian brought Tie Wula, Yin Wula, and an entire retinue of attendants. They left the prosperous imperial capital and set off in grand procession toward Zhongtong.

Bai Lihai personally escorted them to a courier station ten miles outside the capital and even wished them a safe journey.

Hearing his blessing, Liu Ling’er somehow remembered the childish words she and her friends had shouted in jest when they were young:

“May your journey be smooth—until you disappear halfway there.”

Looking at the smile that concealed a blade on Bai Lihai’s face, Liu Ling’er seemed to see straight through his thoughts. That fellow was surely thinking, “You wish us a disappearance halfway there? Even if no accident occurs, I will create one and make sure you vanish.”

And yet he was still the ruler of an entire nation, while she had to kneel and listen to his so-called blessing. Liu Ling’er’s impression of Bai Lihai was already abysmal, and at that moment it had fallen to rock bottom. She truly could not understand how such a wretched man had managed to seize the imperial throne.