He remembered that as a child, he was very filial, and he obeyed everything the Empress arranged for him and the rules she set for him.
Ever since Fu Zhen brought a bottle of osmanthus to his room, he couldn’t help but recall those distant memories.
Especially after meeting his mother last night, almost all childhood memories surfaced in his mind, as if these twenty years in between didn’t exist at all.
So he knew he was willing to take this step and came to find the house, with at least thirty to fifty percent of his willingness being to stay by his mother’s side, comforting her for the lost time she had missed him.
"This gentleman is so straightforward, I assure you that within three days, I will find a suitable courtyard for you."
Before leaving, the shopkeeper of the brokerage pledged.
Yang Yi nodded and said nothing. Taking a glance at He Zhao at the door, he got up and walked out.
The brokerage was introduced by Mrs. Ning, and since it was not far from Wanbin Building, the master and the servant chose to walk along the street.
After walking for some distance, a young woman came towards them holding a small child, scolding the child as she walked, her voice stern yet indulgent.
Yang Yi stopped, fixed his gaze on them for a while.
He Zhao stepped forward: "If you decide to stay, my lord, I will go south to bring my wife and child over."
Yang Yi glanced at him and then continued to walk forward.
He Zhao caught up: "In any case, wherever my lord is, that’s where I will be. You just need to follow your heart."
Yang Yi paused again and then quickened his pace, as if intending to escape something.
Entering Wanbin Building from the back door and bypassing the rockery, he saw Mrs. Ning.
"You returned just in time; a hero came earlier, specifically asking for you."
Mrs. Ning quickly walked up to him and said in a low voice, "He is a hero with a scar on his face; he said his surname is Chen."
Upon hearing this, both Yang Yi and He Zhao were momentarily stunned. Then Yang Yi thanked her and said, "That must be my other guard, Chen Song. Do you know where he is now?"
Mrs. Ning suddenly realized and quickly gestured, "Come with me quickly!"
In the narrow hall through the rear courtyard, with two chairs and a table, under the blooming osmanthus tree stood a fierce-looking scar-faced man under the eaves, staring at those osmanthus flowers.
"Chen Song!"
Upon Yang Yi’s call, Chen Song quickly turned around, took two steps forward, "My lord!"
After saying that, he glanced at Mrs. Ning who was behind Yang Yi.
Mrs. Ning quickly said, "You all talk; I have matters to attend to in the front. Summon me anytime if needed."
Yang Yi stopped her and motioned to Chen Song: "This is Mr. Ning’s daughter. By seniority—I may call her Aunt. Quickly, pay your respects!"
Only then did Chen Song solemnly step back two steps and bow with clasped hands.
Mrs. Ning sidestepped, saying, "We are all on the same side, no need for such formalities. Had I known this was Guard Chen, I would have taken him directly to your courtyard.—You all chat, I’ll prepare some refreshments."
After saying this, she tactfully withdrew.
There Yang Yi briefly went over unnecessary words and sat down, asking, "How are things progressing?"
"Reporting to my lord, after I followed the Xu family assassins out of Tanzhou, I went all the way north, following them until they met with Lian Rong outside Camp Town.
"But there, my subordinates unexpectedly discovered the traces of Lian Yang."
"Lian Yang really came into the pass?!"
"Indeed!" Chen Song nodded, "He roughly brought twelve people, all of whom are his best guards, and they were hiding outside the city gate to assassinate you, my lord!"
Yang Yi and He Zhao exchanged glances and nodded, "As expected, these people are coming for me. It seems they have also learned about my communication with Jin Xu."
"Most likely they already know, because after discovering them, I also found that Lian Yang had set up an ambush at the northwest entrance leading to Camp Town that even Lian Rong didn’t know about!
"I knew that He Zhao always stayed by your side, my lord, so there shouldn’t be any danger, so I went to watch his ambush at the entrance.
"That day, General Pei led his forces to dig three feet into the ground to search Camp Town, and sure enough, I lay in wait on the road at the village entrance in the northwest direction for Lian Yang. He fled with his guards, and then broke out of the village!"