With Li Ling's guidance, Yin Kaishan went to the Crown Prince's residence to beg Yang Guang to put in a good word for him with the Emperor. Ultimately, at Yang Guang's intercession, Emperor Yang Jian gave his tacit consent and bestowed the marriage upon the four of them once again.
One day, Fang Xuanling came to see Li Ling, stating that he intended to take Yin Wenjiao back to his hometown to visit her family.
Hearing this, Li Ling paused slightly. After pondering for a moment, he said: "I have stayed in this city of Luoyang for quite a few years now. This time, I will accompany Xuanling and enjoy the scenic mountains and rivers along the way. How does that sound?"
Naturally, Fang Xuanling was pleased to hear this, even though Li Ling's previous use of drugging tactics had been rather unreasonable. However, after spending the recent days getting along with Yin Wenjiao, Fang Xuanling was thoroughly satisfied with his gentle and virtuous wife, and so the matter of the drug was brushed aside and forgotten.
A few days later, the three of them arrived at a dock, where a boatman stepped forward and said: "Are the three honored guests looking to take a boat? I am Liu Hong, and my family for generations has made a living here by ferrying passengers."
As Liu Hong spoke, his eyes remained fixed on Yin Wenjiao. Feeling somewhat frightened by the gaze, Yin Wenjiao leaned back against Fang Xuanling. Seeing this, Liu Hong withdrew his gaze.
At that very moment, a thought stirred in Li Ling's heart. He smiled and said to Fang Xuanling: "Xuanling, although traveling by water is fast, you miss the scenery along the way. We might as well travel by land instead."
Fang Xuanling was startled. He looked at Li Ling and said: "If Brother Li wishes to enjoy the scenery, you can accompany me on a tour of the mountains and rivers after I return from visiting my family. Today, let us take the boat downstream to speed up the journey."
"Xuanling, why do you only think of yourself? I see that my sister-in-law is delicate in health, and this boat will inevitably rock. I'm afraid her body won't be able to bear it."
Hearing this, Fang Xuanling looked at Yin Wenjiao with a face full of guilt and said softly: "Brother Li is right. I was being inconsiderate as a husband."
Seeing that the three of them were about to leave, Liu Hong panicked and hurriedly began to play the pity card: "Have mercy, you honored guests! I haven't landed a single fare in half a month, and my family at home is waiting for me to buy rice just to stave off hunger."
Liu Hong's words stirred up Yin Wenjiao's sympathy. "Husband, I am feeling quite well. Let us take the boat after all! That way we can reach your hometown all the sooner."
Hearing this, Fang Xuanling nodded, took Yin Wenjiao by the hand, and walked toward the boat.
"Wait!" Li Ling called out, stopping the two of them as he said: "Xuanling, this boatman has a heavy murderous aura between his brows. At a glance, he is a man who has blood on his hands..."
Before Li Ling could finish, he was interrupted by Liu Hong. "This young master, I have made my living on these waterways for quite a few years. You can go and ask around about my character as Liu Hong."
Hearing this, Fang Xuanling also felt that Li Ling might have misjudged the man. After all, he had known Li Ling for two years and had never heard that he knew face-reading. Still, Li Ling's words made Fang Xuanling hesitate slightly.
"Husband, I don't think this boatman looks like a bad person. If he had blood on his hands, the imperial court would surely have issued a wanted poster of him. How would he dare operate here?"
Hearing Yin Wenjiao's sensible words amidst his hesitation, Fang Xuanling looked at Li Ling and said: "I think Brother Li is worrying too much. Furthermore, we are all imperial officials, and we aren't carrying much silver anyway. A bad guy wouldn't benefit from harming us and would only bring trouble upon himself."
*You think he's after money?* Li Ling thought to himself. *He's got his eyes on your pretty wife.*
Sighing, Li Ling was about to speak out again to stop them, but by then Fang Xuanling had already pulled Yin Wenjiao onto the boat.
Seeing this, Li Ling felt helpless. Sure enough, tribulations could not be bypassed; he could only follow them on board. Before boarding, however, Li Ling keenly caught Liu Hong's sinister and vicious gaze.
Late at night, the small boat drifted gently upon the water.
Li Ling, whose eyes had been half-closed, suddenly snapped them open. He stood up in silence and walked out of the cabin.
"Boatman, the night wind is strong. Why did you light this oil lamp?"
Hearing Li Ling's inquiry, Liu Hong's expression turned sinister as he replied indifferently: "It's dark at night. Lighting the oil lamp makes it easier to see ahead."
"Are you lighting it to signal your men, perhaps?"
"You jest, guest. I am just an ordinary boatman. Where would I have men?"
"Oh? Would an ordinary boatman have calluses on his hands from years of gripping a blade?"
As soon as he finished speaking, Li Ling stepped forward and yanked open the coarse hemp garment on Liu Hong's chest.
"An ordinary boatman actually has sword and saber scars on his body?"
By now, Liu Hong dropped the act entirely. With a sinister look on his face, he said: "Brat, since you're courting death, I'll grant your wish!"
With that, he clawed his hand into the shape of an eagle's talon and lunged at Li Ling.
Unflustered, Li Ling reached out a hand, grabbed Liu Hong's wrist, and twisted it hard. Then, with a single kick, he sent Liu Hong flying straight into the water.
The scream startled Fang Xuanling and Yin Wenjiao inside the cabin. When the two of them emerged and saw Liu Hong thrashing about in the water, their expressions turned to shock.
"Brother Li, what is the meaning of this?"
Yin Wenjiao also cried out in alarm, looking at Li Ling with a face full of fear.
"This man is a leader of water bandits. He was just signaling his accomplices when I caught him red-handed."
Fang Xuanling was startled and about to speak when Yin Wenjiao's soft voice chimed in: "I think this man is honest and simple-natured. How could he possibly be a water bandit?"
"Indeed, Brother Li. Wenjiao is right. We are not carrying many valuables. Even if he were a water bandit, why would he take such a risk to harm us?"
Li Ling wanted to point out that Liu Hong had set his sights on Yin Wenjiao, but he only heard Liu Hong thrashing about in the water and shouting for help.
Unable to bear it, Yin Wenjiao tugged at Fang Xuanling's sleeve. "Brother Li, there must be some misunderstanding here. Saving lives comes first."
With that, Fang Xuanling picked up the boat pole and reached it out toward Liu Hong.
Seeing this, Li Ling let out a sigh. At this stage, Fang Xuanling was just starting out in the world and was still somewhat naive.
Once Liu Hong was successfully pulled aboard, he immediately began to cry and wail: "This guest here for some reason grabbed my wrist and snapped it, then kicked me straight into the water!"
Credit where credit was due, Liu Hong's acting skills were passable. Fang Xuanling glanced at Li Ling and said: "Brother Li, go back into the cabin and rest. Do not make things difficult for a mere boatman. Wenjiao, you go inside too."
Yin Wenjiao looked at Li Ling, clearly rather frightened, and said to Fang Xuanling: "I will stay right here and accompany my husband."
Hearing this, Fang Xuanling nodded. The two of them simply tended to Liu Hong's injuries and promised to compensate Li Ling with some silver for his offense.
Back inside the cabin, Fang Xuanling looked at Li Ling and hesitated for a long time before speaking: "Brother Li, I know that 'Paradise on Earth' is your painstaking creation, but you shouldn't take your resentment toward the Crown Prince out on an ordinary person."
Li Ling was startled, then let out a sigh. "Xuanling does not believe me?"
"It's not that I don't believe you, it's just that people inevitably misjudge situations at times. If, as Brother Li says, Liu Hong was signaling his accomplices just now, why hasn't his gang shown up after so long?"
*(It's because I appeared and interrupted the signal, and those water bandits don't know the situation, so they don't dare rush over blindly.)*
Though he thought this to himself, Li Ling didn't voice it out loud.
"Xuanling, once the boat docks, I will be leaving. Remember, Chang'an is the place for you to build your career."
Fang Xuanling was stunned, his gaze fixed on Li Ling. "Brother Li is leaving?"
"That's right. I have important business to attend to once we land, so I won't be accompanying Xuanling back to his hometown."
Fang Xuanling was about to speak further when a series of shouts suddenly rang out from outside the cabin.
Immediately following, the boat rocked violently. Before the three of them could react, Liu Hong's voice echoed from outside: "Hehehe! I have no other way to repay your kindness of saving my life, but don't worry—I'll take good care of your little beauty for you!"