Valle del Hombre Salvaje de Qingshan

Capítulo 94

"Really?" Mu Feinan was lost in his own thoughts again, ignoring Tian Xin. After a moment of silence, Tian Xin turned and left, but secretly instructed Xiao Liu, "Keep an eye on him and see what he's been up to."

The next day, Xiao Liu reported that Mu Feinan had indeed gone to Huguo Temple, but stood in front of the temple for a long time without going in. He then returned to his residence and stayed inside all night. At the same time, the spies sent to Plum Blossom Manor also reported that Mo Xibei had been keeping vigil at the manor, and Chu Junfeng had been keeping vigil for several days. This morning, he suddenly vomited blood and fell into a coma.

There should be one more chapter updated today.

It's April Fool's Day, and I only remembered it tonight. I wonder if anyone else experienced any good-natured jokes today, haha.

Volume 3, Chapter 25: Chaos

"Chu Junfeng could have been a great asset to us, but unfortunately he was ruined by love." After listening to this quietly, Tian Xin waved everyone away and remained silent. However, from behind the screen in the study, a cold voice snorted, "What a fool, making such a fuss over nothing, all for a woman whose heart is not with him at all."

“It’s not a bad thing that he’s sentimental. At least, because he’s sentimental, he won’t doubt me on many things, and even if he does, he won’t mention it to others.” Tian Xin also snorted. “Mu Feinan accidentally killed Mo Xibei. If Chu Junfeng’s illness can be cured, he will definitely seek revenge on Mu Feinan. I really don’t know who is more cunning between the two of them.”

"Just wait and see, there will be a result eventually. It doesn't matter to us who killed whom," the cold voice said. "But this is a serious matter. We've reached a critical juncture, so don't be careless."

"Don't worry, that foolish emperor completely believes that alchemy can lead to immortality and listens to Master Shao's every word. He's completely indifferent to all matters of state, big and small. We've planted quite a few people in the Six Ministries over the years, but a few ministers are a problem. I've tested their tone; they're very assertive. However, we don't necessarily need them personally. We can just kill them and find someone to impersonate them. Even if they have many followers and deep roots in the court, they'll still obediently serve us." Tian Xin sneered repeatedly. "That foolish emperor never dreams that by the time he finishes this batch of pills, the world will have already changed hands. But I don't understand, since we can impersonate the ministers of the Six Ministries, why not just impersonate the foolish emperor, or simply kill him? He only has one son now, who will naturally inherit the throne. Wouldn't that reduce a lot of trouble?"

"This is different." The cold voice said firmly, "There are countless ways to control court officials, but they all have only one purpose: to get them to support you. However, you only have one way to obtain the throne. I have told you a thousand times: to take the throne openly and legitimately, to let the whole world know that you took the throne because Heaven is corrupt and unjust, and you are acting in accordance with Heaven's will, making you the rightful restorer of the Ming Dynasty."

"Yes!" Tian Xin nodded, using this to conceal her expression. Just then, footsteps approached rapidly from outside the courtyard. After a slight clicking sound from behind the screen, there was no further sound.

"Young Master!" It was Xiao Liu's voice from outside the door.

"What is it?" Tian Xin asked as she opened the door.

"This morning, several female corpses were found in the suburbs, and the news is spreading like wildfire throughout the capital. They say they were all dressed in palace attire, suggesting they were palace maids, and that they all died from excessive blood loss. Furthermore, as the young master instructed, we have secretly spread the news that the Emperor used virgin menstrual blood to refine elixirs." Xiao Liu whispered in Tian Xin's ear.

"Okay. Tell those people to be careful and not to reveal our whereabouts to the Eastern Depot." Tian Xin nodded.

"Since Huang Jin's death, the Eastern Depot has been leaderless. What can it possibly accomplish?" Xiao Liu chuckled. "Besides, our people are very cautious."

"Don't underestimate the Eastern Depot. They've formed their own faction in the capital. Over the years, countless directors have changed, but their information has never been interrupted. These are extraordinary times. Tell everyone that whoever makes a mistake will have to answer to us with their head." Tian Xin's face darkened, and he said sternly.

"Yes, I understand." Xiao Liu trembled with fright and immediately obeyed, going out to give the order.

"My lord," someone came and reported, "all the ministers of the Six Ministries are preparing to go to the court to request an audience with the Emperor."

"Understood." Tian Xin nodded, a slight smile appearing on her lips. "Order a sedan chair to be prepared; I also wish to go and request an audience with the Emperor."

As with other times of the year, despite the rampant rumors and uproar outside, the Jiajing Emperor still ordered his eunuchs to convey a message, rejecting the requests of his ministers to see him. It was not until two days later that he summoned a small number of people, including Zhang Cong, the Minister of Rites, and Tian Xin, to an audience.

On that day, the ministers, unable to see the emperor, had no choice but to seek an audience with the empress dowager. Since the beginning of autumn, Empress Dowager Jiang had been bedridden, and the imperial physicians could not diagnose her specific illness, only saying that she was overwhelmed with worry and needed to rest. However, the ministers knelt and wept outside, and Empress Dowager Jiang was moved by the sound of their weeping, so she had no choice but to summon them.

Naturally, Empress Dowager Jiang was greatly shocked by the rumors circulating that the emperor was wantonly abusing and killing palace maids. She immediately ordered the Imperial Household Department to thoroughly investigate the situation in the palace and ordered the Eastern Depot to assist the Ministry of Justice in arresting those who spread the rumors. After all this commotion, by evening, Empress Dowager Jiang's illness had worsened. She was dizzy and vomiting and could not get up.

"How's the situation outside these past few days?" Meanwhile, in a secluded room at Plum Blossom Manor, Mo Xibei leaned back on a soft couch, devouring a freshly picked pear—crisp, sweet, and incredibly refreshing.

"It's a complete mess. These past few days, the imperial guards have been everywhere, arresting anyone they see. Shops in the capital are closed, and pedestrians are deserted. It's almost like the chaotic years of war." Mu Feinan counted the strangely flavored peanuts made by Mo Xibei on the small plate in front of him, and sipped his jasmine tea.

"It's so messy, I reckon Tianxin's patience is almost worn out. Soon I won't have to hide here every day anymore." Mo Xibei deftly disposed of a pear and triumphantly tossed the pear core onto the table.

"Where have you been hiding all day? Don't tell me you haven't secretly gone into the palace to scare Murong Lianyun." Chu Junfeng and Mu Feinan accused the wronged man in front of them almost in unison.

“I didn’t scare her.” Mo Xibei blinked. “I was going to find my master and just wanted to see her. I don’t know many people in this palace. Did you expect me to go see that Consort Duan? Of course, I could only see her. Who knew she was so scared?”

“You’re absolutely right.” Mu Feinan nodded, and Chu Junfeng smiled. “But what have you gained from scaring her like this, besides making her sick?”

"Yes, of course." Mo Xibei nodded, and seeing that Mu Feinan and Chu Junfeng were both looking at her, she chuckled and said, "It's just too early to say now, I need some evidence first."

That's it for the second update, time for bed! Hey everyone, if you have any extra votes, please give me one too, so this last month doesn't end in zero.

Volume 3, Chapter 26: Exchanging Conditions

"Since you think Tian Xin's patience is almost worn out and she'll take action soon, do you have any plans to strike first?" After Mo Xibei finished laughing, Mu Feinan put another strange-tasting peanut into his mouth and asked slowly.

"No," Mo Xibei replied quickly. "They've been planning this for quite some time. It would be pointless and inhumane to let it end before it even begins."

“But if you let them take the field, the capital will inevitably be thrown into turmoil, and who knows how many people will lose their lives.” Chu Junfeng frowned. He knew he wasn’t in a position to say such things, because the person at the very center of this storm was Tian Xin. When exactly did Tian Xin begin planning all this? They had been practically inseparable for years. If he had truly been plotting this, how could he have missed every clue? These were things Chu Junfeng hadn’t figured out, or rather, things he didn’t want to figure out.

"If I said that life and death are preordained and wealth and honor are determined by fate, you would probably call me cold-blooded." Mo Xibei finished eating a pear and then picked up a few longans, fiddling with them in his hand. "Actually, I just feel that man proposes, God disposes. Just like now, we're sitting here planning, but we don't know if something earth-shattering has happened outside. Plans can never keep up with changes. Besides, when it comes to meticulous planning, no one can compare to Tian Xin right now. What he's doing now probably requires decades of painstaking effort to achieve this level of success. That means he's not doing all this alone. But is he really without any oversights? The fact that we're sitting here today shows that he has overlooked things and made mistakes. I'm not dead, and you're all perfectly normal. This is something he didn't expect, something outside his plan. So, what about the others in his plan? Are they all just obediently waiting to be slaughtered? I doubt it."

"So, you also think that the current situation in the palace might only be what it appears to be, and not the reality." Mu Feinan smiled thoughtfully.

"I don't know. Trying to figure people out is the most tiring thing. I prefer to observe and wait and see." Mo Xibei shrugged. She had already eaten a lot today and had been holed up in this small, secret room. Although her stomach was strong, she was feeling a bit full now. She was tossing and turning the longan in her hand, wondering whether to eat it or not. That was what bothered her the most.

"Eat if you want, and after you're done, go to the palace to get some exercise." Mu Feinan's gaze lingered on her hands, which opened and closed repeatedly, and he couldn't help but chuckle.

"Good idea." Mo Xibei laughed heartily, and with a flick of her finger, the longan was peeled and put into her mouth. Sweet and delicious. As she ate, she muttered to herself that she used to dislike eating things with large pits and little meat. Perhaps it was because she had been staying here recently, eating a limited variety of foods, that her tastes had to change accordingly.

The Forbidden City at night always felt strangely oppressive. Mo Xibei sighed, lightly touching the bright yellow glazed tiles with his toes, and like a light bird, he silently leaped from the roof of one palace to the roof of another. Then he crouched down, waiting for the palace guards on night duty to pass by, before repeating the same actions.

The Forbidden City wasn't that big, Mo Xibei had come to this conclusion lately after going out for a walk every night. Because the Jiajing Emperor hadn't been on the throne long, he had only officially conferred titles on a few concubines, and the palaces in the East and West Six Palaces were only a few rooms in total; she could walk around them in no time. A few days ago, intentionally testing him, she went to see Murong Lianyun. Murong Lianyun's mental state was more tense and fragile than she had imagined, which raised many questions in Mo Xibei's mind. She didn't believe that a mere "ghost" could break a woman skilled in martial arts and accustomed to killing, unless she carried a more terrifying secret, a secret that, with time, was about to be revealed.

Tonight, all was unusually quiet, as if everyone was asleep. Mo Xibei walked around for a while, feeling that the food in his stomach had been mostly digested, and seeing nothing of interest, he prepared to go back. However, the wind behind him suddenly shifted slightly.

It was merely an instinct. Mo Xibei pressed her elbow back forcefully, and her sword was drawn as she turned. Behind her, a person stood silently, one hand slightly raised, poised to pat her shoulder. "Master, you can scare people to death." Mo Xibei naturally recognized the person immediately, and silently returned her sword to its sheath.

"Don't you scare people by wandering around here like a ghost every night?" The master snorted, his lips slightly moving, and a thin voice entered Mo Xibei's ears. Seeing Mo Xibei smile, he then made a gesture to follow him, and leaped into the courtyard of a palace.

"No one saw me, how scary? I even changed into night clothes." Despite using the same telepathic communication, Mo Xibei felt that his words didn't reach the listener's ears as loudly. It seemed that his skills were still far behind his master's.

"Then where did the ghost stories circulating in the palace come from?" Her master wouldn't listen to her excuses. "You really think you can scare Murong Lianyun without anyone noticing?"

"Hehe, I'll be more careful next time. I'll make a smokescreen first," Mo Xibei laughed innocently, only to find that his master had actually knocked lightly on the palace door twice, then reached out and pushed the door open, going straight in.

Opening the door in the still of the night is an art in itself; one must make absolutely no sound. This is a high requirement for such a simple wooden door. Mo Xibei frowned, but still followed him inside.

The mechanisms inside the hall had already been activated. The master stood quietly to the side, not entering, and waited until Mo Xibei entered before silently closing the mechanisms again. Candlelight flickered in the secret room. Empress Dowager Jiang was nestled on a soft couch. She seemed to have aged considerably since I last saw her. The lines at the corners of her eyes could no longer be concealed, and her long hair, pulled back, had strands of silver shimmering in it.