Chapter 135 - Separated only by a wall

"Gentlemen, please calm down, calm down." The innkeeper was all smiles. "This is indeed our negligence, but business is all about integrity, isn't it? How about this? We won't shirk our responsibility. Return these two rooms, and I will try to help you find a place to live as compensation? That way I don't have to break my word and you'll have a place to stay."

"Do you still know how to do business with integrity? I've got my room numbers and paid the deposit, yet you're telling me now that the rooms have already been booked?" Qian Wanjin sneered, "You now want to maintain your integrity over to your guests there, but what about my side? Who'll show me integrity?"

He has already reached his limits after searching for half the afternoon and finally found rooms after all the trouble. And now, he was saying that it was a misunderstanding? If it weren't for Lucky Nannan, he would have beaten him up!

"We're just a small business, so I really can't do anything about it. I beg your indulgence, please forgive us." Despite Qian Wanjin's fit of temper, the innkeeper always greeted him with a smile, which was giving him headaches.

"Forget it. Since the innkeeper said he could provide us with a place to stay, let's make do with it. We'll go see which inn has vacancies tomorrow," Liu Yusheng smooth things over. There was no use in causing a fuss. The innkeeper was clearly stubborn.

Hearing that Liu Yusheng meant compromise, the innkeeper breathed a sigh of relief. "Thank you my lady for your understanding. Don't worry. I will definitely arrange it for you!"

Qian Wanjin scoffed at the innkeeper's chest-beating assurance.

Who would dare trust a promise he made when he took back a reserved room booked and his integrity gone?

Leaving the inn matter to the steward, the innkeeper personally led them out the door, and finally stopped in front of a small residential courtyard after several winding turns.

It has gray walls and vermilion-painted doors, with a heavy sense of history.

"This is the place." The innkeeper went up and knocked on the door. After three taps, the door slowly opened. "I brought some people here. Please arrange a place for them to stay. There's been a mix-up at the inn. I also have no choice but to bother you."

The one who opened the door was an old man with white hair. He waved his hand and smiled in reply, "It's no trouble at all. The house is empty anyway, so let them come in."

He signalled Liu Yusheng, Qian Wanjin and the others to enter the door. A young servant immediately came out to take away the carriage.

With the old man accompanying them, the innkeeper took the opportunity to take his leave.

The courtyard was quite ancient from the outside, but the inside layout was very elegant. The rockeries in the garden cast beautiful reflections; the grounds were spacious and well-kept.

It was obvious that the owner of the mansion was sophisticated.

The old man brought the party of four to the guest rooms. Qian Wanjin and Da Huang were housed in the east wing, while Liu Yusheng and Wei Hong were in the west wing.

With the door of the room opened, they could see the layout of the guest room at a glance.

The decorations were simple and luxurious, looking simple and elegant. The beds were smooth and soft, and they were surprisingly clean.

This environment was much better and cleaner than the inn earlier.

"Each of you will have a room, so stay here for now. Maids will bring hot water over later in the evening, so you can freshen up and rest if you're tired. If you're hungry, let the maids go find the kitchen steward to cook. If you have any problems, you find the concierge and look for me. Just call me Uncle Fu." The old man prepared to turn around and leave after giving instructions.

Qian Wanjin immediately called him to stop, "Uncle Fu! What's the rent for a night's stay here?"

"Just like the inn. Give it to me when you're leaving," Uncle Fu smiled and walked away.

"I'm not daydreaming, am I?" Qian Wanjin pinched Da Huang hard, "When I'm in the middle of thinking I'm in bad luck, a huge pie suddenly dropped in front of me. This feeling is too unreal."

Da Huang was in so much pain he burst into tears. "Master, we have to pay silver for living here. Just feel at ease, okay?!"

Liu Yusheng and Wei Hong looked at each other, their brows furrowed, "Since we're already here, let's stay here. We won't be able to find a good place if we go outside at this hour. We might as well take a good night's rest."

Wei Hong's eyes flickered, and she nodded, "Be careful at night."

At night, the people who had been scurrying to and fro for a long time, were so tired that they fell asleep immediately after lying down.

Forgive Liu Yusheng, who had always warned them to stay alert. She neither could resist the encroachment of sleep.

In another guest room at the west wing, a shadow dashed out from the room with a quick ghostly stance. After checking that there was no abnormality around the guest rooms, she was about to dive into the other parts of the small courtyard to investigate, when someone blocked her.

"Wei Hong, don't fight! I'm one of you!" A similarly black-clad, masked man whispered.

"You?"

The man pulled off his mask and replied, "Me, Wei Bai!"

Wei Hong was overjoyed, "So, is Master also here?" Hidden guards needed to follow their master at all times. Wei Bai was here, so their master must be here as well.

"It's safe here. You guys can stay at ease. Don't run around if you can help it," Wei Bai acquiesced, "Master said that you and Wei Lan are doing a good job. It's been hard on you."

"Serving Master is my humble duty!"

Having received a compliment from her master, Wei Hong returned to the guest room and almost tossed and turned all night.

In order to avoid others tracing them, she and Wei Lan couldn't even contact anyone from the capital in the past nine years. They lived as real vagrants in Cangwu Town and Xinghua Village for nine years.

Although not bitter, it was inevitable to feel like they've been abandoned after a long time.

Their master's commendation affirmed both their dedication and their position.

They were still royal hidden guards.

In a small building separated from this other courtyard by a wall, a young man frowned and asked Wei Zi uneasily, "What the hell is wrong with uncle? He locked himself in his room for a long time!"

"His Highness is just trying to restrain his emotions," Wei Zi replied.

"Why restrain his emotions? Who made Uncle angry? Someone dared to?"

"Your Majesty will soon understand."

The young man curled his lips and suddenly asked, "Does it have something to do with the woman we saw on the street?"

The tightly closed room door slammed open, "Don't ask more than you should."

The peerless beautiful man stood at the door of the room, his eyes cold and sharp. Gone was his usual calmness and indifference.

The young man didn't dare to look at him, and dropped his head. His long eyelashes masked his eyes that were brimming with grievances.

In his uncle's eyes, he was merely a good-for-nothing kid. He couldn't get into his eyes, much less worry about his affairs.

Imperial Uncle has never opened his heart to him, never regarded him as his own.

That was why he guarded against him.

"Wei Zi, take His Majesty to rest." His tone eased when he commanded; the man's voice sounded weary.

His ears were finally at peace.

The bright moon hung high in the sky, and the stars were so bright that the light scattered down caused the fire and candles to look a bit dimmer.

Feng Qingbai walked out of the room, step by step, approaching the wall that separated her from him. He extended his hand, and stuck it to the wall.

The girl he'd missed for nine years was sleeping soundly and sweetly separated only by a wall from him.

If his outstretched hand could hold up a carefree sky for her, then there was no harm in not seeing her.