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As the first rays of morning sunlight streamed through the window, the Princess of Yue Ming County slowly awoke. Instinctively, she lifted her head and glanced at the rope still hanging in midair. To her astonishment, Lin Ning, who should have been lying there, had vanished without a trace! In a panic, the Princess jumped off the bed, disregarding her disheveled clothes and hair, and hurriedly rushed out of the inn room. Outside, the world had undergone a dramatic transformation: the heavy snow from the previous night had ceased, and the fierce winds had calmed down. The landscape was adorned in a beautiful silver coat, breathtakingly picturesque.
The Princess anxiously searched for Lin Ning's figure. Before long, she arrived at the graves of Yu Jiangong and his wife. Indeed, there she found Lin Ning. He was carefully placing his parents' ashes into an exquisite porcelain urn and had taken out a vibrant red cloth to meticulously wrap the urn layer by layer. Once everything was prepared, he skillfully slung the wrapped urn over his broad shoulder. Afterward, he turned and mounted his Sweat Blood Horse, ready to gallop away.
"Lin Ning, where are you going?" the Princess called out loudly.
Lin Ning replied calmly, "Of course I'm heading back to Jinling. Our paths are different; you should return to Shengjing."
The Princess urged anxiously, "You don't want me to be your captive anymore? I have many secrets I want to tell you!"
Lin Ning remarked, "In this vast world, it's truly strange that someone is eager to be someone else's captive."
The Princess nodded vigorously, saying, "Yes, yes! I want to be your captive! I've been cooped up in the palace since I was little, like a canary trapped in a cage. Now that I finally have a chance to escape that prison, no matter how difficult the road ahead may be, I want to give it a try!"
Lin Ning sighed, realizing he couldn't persuade her at this moment. He thought perhaps once the Princess truly experienced the hardships of life outside her sheltered existence, she would naturally retreat. So he nodded and said, "Since you are determined, then come along with me on this journey. But let me make it clear: if we encounter danger or difficulties, don't blame me for not warning you beforehand."
The Princess clapped her hands excitedly and laughed, "Great! I absolutely won't regret today's decision! Traveling with such a righteous and courageous hero like you is what I consider the happiest thing. Even if we have to eat rough meals every day, I'm willing! Let's go quickly!"
Lin Ning helplessly said, "Alright then, I'll take you along to experience a different kind of life."
The Princess's heart soared with joy as she eagerly mounted her Azure Wind Horse and followed Lin Ning southward. They reached Ningyuan where Lin Ning bid farewell to Yuan Chonghuan and Xiong Yanbi before hastily crossing Shanhaiguan with the Princess.
By evening, both were hungry and thirsty when they spotted a bustling market ahead. They tied their horses to a wooden post. Just as Lin Ning intended to enter a small tavern, he saw the Princess stepping into an extravagant restaurant across the street. Reluctantly, Lin Ning followed her inside.
The innkeeper greeted them with a broad smile and said, "Welcome to our establishment! We have all kinds of delicacies here; may I ask what you'd like?"
The Princess smiled and replied playfully, "Innkeeper! I want to eat Dragon Meat from the sky; do you have it?"
The innkeeper chuckled nervously and said, "While we don't have real Dragon Meat here, we do have many dishes named after dragons: Dragon Beard Fish Roll, Dragon Well Tea Fragrant Beef, Dragon Scale Fried Shrimp Balls...”
He rattled off dozens of dishes containing the word "dragon," leaving Lin Ning dumbfounded.
The Princess nodded approvingly and said, "Very well! Prepare one of each dish you just mentioned so I can taste them."
The innkeeper hesitated but quickly regained his composure when he saw her expression. The Princess snapped irritably, "What? Are you afraid I won't pay?"
The innkeeper hurriedly replied, "No offense intended! Please don’t misunderstand!"
Despite his words of reassurance, doubt lingered in his eyes as the Princess checked her pockets but found nothing. She turned to Lin Ning and said, "Do you have any silver? The soldiers from your Ningyuan took all my money!"
Lin Ning pulled out ten taels of silver from his pocket and said, "This is all I have; will ten taels be enough for your dragon feast? If one meal costs all my silver today, we'll be eating wind tomorrow."
Seeing Lin Ning's silver made the innkeeper beam with joy as he exclaimed that ten taels would indeed cover their meal. He hurried off to arrange their food.
Lin Ning felt furious; he was deeply annoyed by the Princess's extravagance. He shot her an exasperated glance and regretted bringing this spoiled princess along with him.
Unfazed by Lin Ning's reaction, the Princess deliberately ignored him as she sat down playing with her hair. Soon after, the staff brought out an entire feast filled with dragon-themed dishes that filled two large tables. The Princess sampled only a few bites from each dish before declaring herself full.
Lin Ning also took only a few bites before he could eat no more. After paying ten taels to the innkeeper for their meal—packaged for later—he distributed it among beggars they encountered on their way.
Watching them devour the food made Lin Ning feel uneasy about how many poor people lacked basic sustenance. He thought about how unrest would inevitably arise among impoverished citizens if their needs remained unmet; during such times of turmoil in the Ming Dynasty—both internal strife and external threats—the nation could truly face dire consequences.
Unable to bear witnessing such suffering any longer, Lin Ning mounted his Sweat Blood Horse intending to leave this place behind.
"Yue Ming County," he heard her call out behind him. "It's getting late; we shouldn't travel anymore tonight but find an inn to rest."
Lin Ning asked skeptically, "Do you have any money? I don’t want to be thrown out of an inn for not being able to pay." The cold weather made him even less inclined to freeze outside overnight.
The Princess pouted slightly; she regretted spending all of Lin Ning's money in one impulsive moment but had no choice but to follow his lead now.
They rode southward for several hundred miles until they reached a small town in Dongying County by morning. The Princess felt both hungry and tired; she glanced at Lin Ning and cautiously suggested: "Master Lin, why don’t we find an inn first and borrow some food? When I return to Shengjing later on my own accord I'll send double payment back here."
Lin Ning frowned deeply at her suggestion: "If you want food then go get it yourself; I can't bring myself to do that."
"I won’t go if you don’t!" insisted the Princess stubbornly. "I want us both to share hardships together."
Lin Ning scoffed but ignored her further as he pulled out ink and paper from his pack tied behind his horse at their stop in town’s busiest area. He began painting an impressive landscape featuring a girl gazing across a stream.
Passersby stopped in awe as they admired his work while the Princess clapped enthusiastically at his talent.
Lin Ning maintained an indifferent expression but smiled slightly as he said softly: “This painting still has some blank space on its right side; may I request that you write a poem for it? It would enhance its charm.”
The Princess blinked her beautiful eyes hesitantly before stammering: “Oh dear! You’re clearly trying to make things difficult for me! You know how much I struggle with poetry!”
Yet when she noticed Lin Ning’s silence waiting expectantly for her response she gritted her teeth determinedly stomped her foot angrily declaring: “Fine! If that’s what you want then here goes: ‘When flowers bloom or fall—when will it end? Winter departs while spring arrives—when will it rest? Beautiful moments come year after year—our homeland is filled with splendid scenery!’”
After hearing her poem recited aloud Lin Ning paused briefly before bursting into laughter uncontrollably—a hint of mockery evident within his smile caused fury within the Princess who glared at him furiously exclaiming: “What’s wrong? Do you think my poem isn’t good enough?”
Quickly suppressing his laughter Lin Ning replied gently: “Please don’t be angry; your four lines are indeed simple yet easy enough for anyone else understand—but when read together they feel slightly awkward.”
Frowning slightly with hands on hips she demanded indignantly: “Hmph! If my poem is so simple why does it sound awkward then? Surely yours must be far superior than mine right? If you wish me believe your words then prove it by rewriting mine into something less awkward!”
Sighing resignedly Lin Ning conceded: “Alright then—I’ll compose one titled ‘Cherishing Remaining Spring’.”
With that he began writing fluidly across empty space:
Cherishing Remaining Spring
Flowers bloom or fall—winter departs while spring arrives—year after year brings beautiful moments! Our homeland boasts splendid landscapes—but without friends beside us! How pitiful are fair beauties whose hair turns gray prematurely! Painful farewells feel like burning flesh—piercing hearts like arrows! After blossoms fade winds carry away romance—deep feelings remain unfulfilled due fate’s cruel twist!
Onlookers applauded enthusiastically praising Lin Ning’s exquisite craftsmanship while locking gazes upon him admiringly—they couldn’t stop raving about how brilliantly crafted this piece was!
Lin Ning cleverly incorporated key phrases from what Yue Ming County had recited earlier transforming them into something valuable—a true masterpiece!
Just then—a well-dressed middle-aged man pushed through crowd having watched intently finally unable contain himself asked eagerly: “Young man—would you consider selling this painting?”
Looking up smiling back at him Lin Ning replied cheerfully: “Of course! May I ask how much are you willing offer?”
With admiration gleaming in his eyes—the man sincerely stated: “Your painting along with accompanying poem captivates me greatly—I’d gladly pay ten taels gold for it if agreeable?”
Taken aback by such generosity—Lin Ning chuckled shaking head saying: “I appreciate your kindness but there’s no need spend so lavishly—you may simply offer whatever silver coins happen carry instead—I’d already feel satisfied!”
Pulling out one tael gold from pocket—the man handed it over gleefully proclaiming: “If so then consider myself fortunate indeed!”
After receiving payment—the middle-aged gentleman happily took possession of landscape painting while Yue Ming County remarked incredulously: “What’s wrong with you? He offered ten taels gold yet accepted only one—you truly are foolish!”
Lin Ning shrugged casually replying: “I’m not driven by excessive desires or needs—as long as I can fill my belly—I’m content.”
Yue Ming County countered: “You could’ve shared excess gold among impoverished citizens! Didn’t you see all those beggars starving nearby?”
Lin Ning responded firmly: “If your Jurchens hadn’t invaded Great Ming lands—we wouldn’t need raise taxes burdening common folk just fund military expenses—in turn relieving burdens would prevent displacement among so many families.”
His words left Yue Ming County speechless!
Afterward—Lin Ning exchanged gold coin at pawnshop converting into silver coins & copper coins before purchasing meat buns from roadside stall using two copper coins.
He handed two buns towards Yue Ming County who hesitated briefly reaching out only for him snatch them back saying teasingly: “What’s wrong princess? Can’t stomach street vendor food? If not—I won’t force feed them!”
In one breath—he devoured several buns himself causing Yue Ming County swallow hard watching him relish every bite knowing full well he was intentionally provoking her frustration!
Realizing this tactic meant solely irritate herself further—she chose ignore him instead mounting Azure Wind Horse galloping southward without looking back.
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