Chapter 5

---Sun Palace---

@study room

"This son pays respect to his father." Feng Ping said kneeling. "Arise" said Emperor Feng. "Why do you look panicked?" Emperor Feng asked. "Please father will allow me to go to White Village." Feng Ping said seriously.

"Is there any problem?" Emperor Feng asked seriously. "I'm still not clear. So I want to see for myself. Please father will allow it." Feng Ping said. "I allow it. But remember before you go, visit your father. He went to the palace and scolded me this morning. Then you must not use your identity as Feng Ping to go to the border." Emperor Feng said. "I understand." Feng Ping said smiling.

"Then father, I have handed over the intruder case to the crown prince. He will give you the answer." Feng Ping said before leaving. Emperor Feng smiled and shook his head before returning to reading the ministers' demands.

---Hua Residence---

Feng Ping or Hua Qingyuan returned home and was greeted happily by the servants. "Young master, you are back." Head Steward Su said happily. "Steward Su, long time no see. Where is father?" Hua Qingyuan asked.

"He's in the study room. He was very angry when he found out that instead of going home, the young master was wandering around." Head Steward Su explained. Hua Qingyuan smiled and met his father, Hua Yan.

@study room

"Bad boy, you still know that you have a house?!" Hua Yan said angrily. "I have no choice. If you continue to scold His Majesty the Emperor, you will be punished." Hua Qingyuan explained.

Hua Yan let out an annoyed sigh. "Father, there is suspicious activity at the border. I want to go there." Hua Qingyuan explained. "Which side?" Hua Yan asked seriously. "White Village. Next door is Qi Gang so it's no problem. But in White Village just Hua Rong so we have to be careful." Hua Qingyuan explained.

"That's right, this year prince Haoran will return to the capital. Go." Hua Yan said smiling. "Thank you father. Let's have dinner." Hua Qingyuan said smiling. "Bad boy, if you don't come home on time then I will tie you to the house pole." Hua Yan grumbled. Hua Qingyuan just laughed.

Zhang Qingyuan was still alive apart from Shadow, Emperor Feng, Yuze, Feiyu, Lingyuan then only Hua Rong and Hua Yan. Hua Yan offers Qingyuan to be his son who died of illness. The Hua family has always been close to the Zhang family. Hua Rong is Qingyuan's twin who was adopted by the Hua family. A year after adopting Hua Rong, Mrs. Hua became pregnant and Hua Qingyuan was born.

From then on Zhang Qingyuan became Hua Qingyuan. Because Hua Qingyuan was often sick when she was little, no one knew Hua Qingyuan's true appearance, so it was very easy for Zhang Qingyuan to use Hua Qingyuan's identity.

All the servants in the Hua family were also replaced. Because after being investigated, Hua Qingyuan's death was actually due to poisoning, not due to illness. Zhang Qingyuan personally took care of all the servants involved. So the current servants of the Hua family were all new.

#the next day

Hua Yan went to court today. Hua Qingyuan got on his horse and set off. On his way he met Qi Zhiyuan and Xiao Lihua who seemed to have returned to the capital.

...Qi Zhiyuan...

...Xiao Lihua...

"A Yuan, where are you going?" Qi Zhiyuan asked confusedly. "My father asked me to take care of some things for him. I didn't expect uncle and aunt to come back so quickly." Hua Qingyuan said smiling.

"We came back quickly because we wanted to see you. Didn't expect you to have to leave again." Xiao Lihua said a little disappointed. "When I come back, I will visit you guys." Hua Qingyuan said smiling. "Go. Don't delay work." Qi Zhiyuan said. Hua Qingyuan smiled before spurring his horse away.

"Young people nowadays are very reliable." Qi Zhiyuan said looking at Xiao Lihua. Xiao Lihua also looked at Qi Zhiyuan. The two smiled before returning to the Qi residence.

---Moonlight Palace---

"Are you get the necessary information?" Yichen asked. "Not yet. Hu Zaichun is very thorough. All information about these people seems to be lost." Obviously Muyang was serious.

Yuze came over and looked at them. "The general said you might need this." Yuze said putting three scrolls on the table. "General? Which general?" Yichen asked suspiciously.

"To answer His Highness the Prince's question, I am the Vice Leader of Shadow, so the General I mean is of course the Leader of Shadow." Yuze said calmly. "How is Feiyu's condition?" Muyang asked. "In answer to His Highness the Crown Prince's question, young master Lan is fine. He has returned to his home. Hope the information provided helps." Yuze said before leaving.

Yichen and Muyang opened the scroll and looked shocked. Yichen and Muyang stared at each other. "This contains the information we need." Muyang said. "Shadow really cannot be underestimated." Yichen said. The two then wrote the necessary things.

"Li Ming" Yichen called. Li Ming came out of hiding. Yichen and Muyang handed over two pieces of paper at the same time. "Investigate them." Muyang and Yichen said together. Li Ming received the paper then left.

Yichen looked outside and found that the sky was already dark. "We still haven't eaten yet." Yichen said feeling hungry. Yuze came carrying food. "Why have you come again?" Yichen asked confused. "Delivering food and bringing the scrolls back." Yuze said calmly. "This is also the General's order?" Muyang asked.

"Answering His Highness the Crown Prince, delivering the food was prince Feng Ping's idea. Bringing the scroll back was the General's order." Yuze explained. "Is Feng Ping still okay?" Yichen asked worriedly.

"Young master, it's fine." Yuze explained. "Why did he make Father angry and lock him up for half a year?" Muyang asked suddenly. "I don't know. But apparently before the imperial edict arrived. The young master came home with an angry face." Yuze explained. Yichen and Muyang stared at each other.

Yuze put down the food after Yichen and Muyang re-roll the three scrolls they read. Muyang gave three scrolls to Yuze. "Say thank you to your General." Muyang said.

"He already said there's no need to thank him. He should be the one thanking you for still remembering the Zhang family." Yuze said, accepting the three scrolls and then leaving. "I almost forgot, the Hua Family is quite close to the Zhang Family. At that time, Hua Yan entered the palace and scolded Father. Hua Qingyuan's illness was also because of the Zhang Family so it got better." Muyang said smiling.

"You mean the general is Hua Rong?" Yichen asked confused. "You probably don't know, Hua Qingyuan. It was Father who gave him that title after he helped the Qi Family win the war in Black Village." Muyang explained.

"That war was two and a half years ago. That war was very dangerous. At that time, Father seemed worried because Feng Ping was still in Autumn Kingdom." Yichen said as if dreaming. "Feng Ping is not an ordinary person plus his art of disguise is quite great. He couldn't have been caught so easily." Muyang said. Yichen nodded.

"Because of that war, Hua Qingyuan was given the title of General by Father." Yichen said in return with nod from Muyang. "But very few people know this title. Because Hua Qingyuan doesn't want to join politics. He likes trading so only Father, the Minister of Justice and the Hua family know this. Now it seems that all the Shadow members also call him that." Muyang said. Yichen nodded in understanding.

---Border of Peach City and Blue City---

@Inn

"Why have you just arrived?" Asked Feiyu who was sitting in front of the inn. "You specially waited for me here?" Hua Qingyuan asked irritably. "Minister said General Hua was going to White Village and he wanted to come along. I didn't believe him so I followed him plus he still had wounds." Jing Lingyun explained.

Hua Qingyuan looked at Jing Lingyun smiling. "You've worked hard. Go back, I'll look after him." Hua Qingyuan said smiling. "Thank you, General Hua." Lingyun said smiling and went to get the horse. Jing Lingyun had to go back to keep an eye on Chen Huan.

"I went there because His Majesty permitted it. Have you asked for permission?" Hua Qingyuan asked irritably. "Yesterday afternoon, I already asked permission. No matter what, Hua Rong is also my childhood friend. You saved your twin brother. I saved my childhood friend." Feiyu said casually.

Hua Qingyuan let out a heavy sigh. "You don't need to book a room either. Everything is full. Feng Haoran has already arrived and is staying here." Feiyu explained. Hua Qingyuan fell silent. "I'll change lodgings." Hua Qingyuan said preparing to leave. "Are you afraid of him?" Feiyu's words made Hua Qingyuan fall silent and look at Feiyu with a look that was difficult to interpret.

...Feng Haoran...

"General Feng, how is it?" asked a soldier approaching Feng Haoran who arrived on horseback. "There's nothing strange. Mu Lan, how about here?" Haoran asked getting off his horse. "There are guests staying here." Mu Lan said pointing to Feiyu who was sitting in the chair.

Haoran looked at Feiyu and Hua Qingyuan. Haoran and Mu Lan approached Feiyu and Hua Qingyuan. "These two guests, come to Blue City for what?" Haoran asked flatly.

"Doing business. Almost Spring Festival doing business at this time will get more profits." Hua Qingyuan said smiling. Suddenly Haoran attacked Hua Qingyuan and was repelled. Both Haoran and Hua Qingyuan held each other's hands.

"You don't look like a merchant." Haoran said. "Traders cannot have martial arts. Fifth prince, you better stop this fight before you hurt anyone else." Hua Qingyuan said flatly.

Mu Lan's sword was at Feiyu's neck. Feiyu seemed bored rather than scared. "Who exactly are you?" Haoran asked flatly. "He went to visit his brother, Hua Rong." Feiyu said getting bored.

Haoran released his grip on Hua Qingyuan. Hua Qingyuan did the same thing even though he was still wary. "You are Hua Qingyuan who just returned from the Summer Kingdom." Haoran said looking awkward.

Mu Lan immediately kept his sword back. "Why? Does your brother want to set you up with his brother?" Feiyu asked casually. "Shut your mouth. He doesn't know what to say so he's awkward. Don't make things difficult for people." Hua Qingyuan grumbled. "I..." Feiyu said not knowing how to continue.

"Sorry for interrupting. We will continue our journey." Hua Qingyuan said politely. "It's very late. Get a night's rest before leaving." Haoran said before leaving with Mu Lan.

"I'm a little tired too. Let's rest. Also order some food. I'm hungry." Feiyu said pulling Hua Qingyuan inside.

@Feiyu and Hua Qingyuan's inn room

Qingyuan took off his upper clothes. "Help me change the medicine." Hua Qingyuan said. Feiyu approached Qingyuan and removed the bandage. "Your wound is open again. What are you doing?" Feiyu shouted angrily.

The door opened to reveal Mu Lan carrying food as well as Haoran. Hua Qingyuan looked at the two. Mu Lan put down the food then went out. "I have medicine for wounds. I brought it for you." Haoran said.

"Why do you know?" Feiyu asked. "I smelled blood and brother Hua was also holding back his strength. Otherwise, I would have clearly lost. I feel like he was probably injured and it wasn't a light injury." Haoran obviously approached Feiyu.

Haoran was silent looking at Qingyuan's back. "Why? Are you scared?" Feiyu asked. "No." Haoran said handing over the medicine bottle. Feiyu cleaned Hua Qingyuan's wound before putting the medicine that Haoran gave him on Hua Qingyuan's wound.

...Hua Qingyuan...

After finishing, the three sat at the chairs and ate together. "Brother Hua, have you ever been to the prison of the Minister of Justice?" Haoran asked suddenly. "Never." Hua Qingyuan said confusedly. "Why do you ask that?" Feiyu asked confused. "It is nothing." Haoran said smiling.

#the next day

Hua Qingyuan and Feiyu were escorted by Haoran to the door of the inn. The two got on their horses before leaving.

"Zhang Qingyuan, you really didn't die." Haoran muttered, smiling sadly. Haoran couldn't smile happily because if his father found out that Zhang Qingyuan was not dead and his identity was changed to Hua Qingyuan, then the entire Hua family would be executed.

Haoran didn't know whether he should be happy or sad about this.

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