Chapter 119 – Riddle (1/2)

The Black Goat calmly looked at Chen Chang Sheng, before suddenly lowering its head and lightly tapping his forehead.

Chen Chang Sheng misunderstood its meaning and started searching himself for anything edible, but found nothing, upon lifting his head, he saw that a tree to his right had some fire loquats; seeing that they were ripe, he silently motioned some gestures towards the Black Goat and tiptoed to pick them, before handing them towards the Black Goat’s head.

The Black Goat lightly tilted its head, continuing to quietly observe him. This made him feel slightly uncomfortable; he couldn’t help feeling that the gaze was laughing at him, causing him to feel slightly helpless, upon this moment, the Black Goat lowered its head, took the fire loquat and slowly began eating.

Chen Chang Sheng let out a breath of relief; feeling as if he had managed to complete some sort of monumental task.

After the Black Goat finished its chewing, it nudged Chen Chang Sheng’s knee, before moving towards the woods. Previously, at the Imperial Palace, it had used this same method to lead the way for Chen Chang Sheng, thus, he followed the Black Goat, thinking to himself, “Where does the goat want to take me?” while thinking this, he saw light from within the woods.

It was that stone table; an oil lamp; a pot of tea; two tea cups and the middle-aged woman that couldn’t speak.

Chen Chang Sheng greeted the middle-aged woman, his expression was calm, but he felt nervous; he knew that the Black Goat had a special status within the Zhou Dynasty’s Imperial Palace; according to rumours, only Mo Yu could approach it, for the Black Goat to accompany this middle-aged woman tonight to the Hundred Herb Garden; who was she?

He had initially thought that the middle-aged woman was a Lady Official of the Imperial Palace, maybe even the Principal Lady Official, but now it seemed possible that she ranked even higher.

He thought of a different possibility but immediately denied it, this was because everyone knew that that Saintly Countenance had a charm that could dazzle the world, and was the continent’s most famous beauty during the reign of Emperor Taizong. If she really were to be that Saintly Countenance, why would she intentionally change her appearance and come looking for a nobody like himself?

Upon realising that the person approaching was Chen Chang Sheng, the middle-aged woman did not reveal any sign of surprise, she only looked at the Black Goat with a faintly twitching brow, akin to reprimanding it for bringing him here.

Tapping noises could be heard, as the woman used her finger to gently rap upon the stone table.

Chen Chang Sheng sat down, raised the tea pot and filled in the two tea cups, before respectfully passing one of them towards the woman.

The woman held the tea cup between two fingers, akin to someone pinching a stone by the riverside, and brought it to her lips, gently sipping.

Chen Chang Sheng used two hands to raise his cup, akin to clasping a Luminous Pearl, and brought it to his lips, gently puffing at the hot tea.

The woman looked at his actions and gave out a silent laugh, an expression that felt indescribably free and natural, it seemed like she was laughing at him being overly careful.

“It’s too hot, there’s no other reason behind it.”

Chen Chang Sheng explained, while being slightly embarrassed. He then remembered that she couldn’t speak and seemed to also have problems with hearing; he placed his teacup on the table and did a few gestures with his hands.

After that, came the tea drinking.

The same as that first time they met each other in the Hundred Herb Garden, the middle-aged woman and youth didn’t converse with each other and only sat down drinking tea; their gazes rarely landing upon each other.

Chen Chang Sheng was used to this kind of atmosphere, reminding him of his Senior; he did not know how his Senior was doing back at the Old Temple in Xi Ning village, nor when would he be willing to travel to the Capital.

What he also didn’t know, was that Mo Yu had sent people to Xi Ning village and found the Old Temple vacant; Taoist Ji and his Senior Yu Ren had disappeared to some unknown location.

Chen Chang Sheng’s gaze fell upon the middle-aged woman for a moment.

He had wanted to enter the Imperial Palace in order to see the Black Dragon, but couldn’t find a route, he couldn’t rely upon the Black Goat for this… having guessed that this middle-aged woman had a high position within the Imperial Palace, he had the sudden urge to ask her how could he stealthily enter the palace and whether if she had ever heard of a Black Dragon.