This smells like medicine for nerve paralysis.
Xie Lanzhi guessed that her female disciple's martial arts skills might be related to chemistry.
With Xie Lanzhi overseeing the situation, neither she nor her daughter dared to resort to underhanded tactics.
It took Zhang Ju and the others half an hour to change, but the other jailers all suffered from aftereffects, and they all vomited while leaning against the wall.
Zhang Ju barely managed to hold back his emotions. He quickly regained his composure and knelt down before Xie Lanzhi: "Your subordinate is incompetent and has fallen for this trap."
"Don't blame yourself. You were poisoned by her from the beginning." Xie Lanzhi had a good grasp of Zhang Ju's abilities; he was indeed stronger than the average cautious official.
Zhang Ju immediately became alert and drew his dart at the female disciple.
The female disciple quickly waved her hands: "Great hero, spare my life! I've already relieved you. Besides, your prince still needs my information. I'm very valuable, it would be a waste for you to kill me like this."
The little girl nodded in agreement: "My mom is amazing, there's no one she can't charm."
"Confused?" Xie Lanzhi asked.
The female disciple quickly covered her daughter's mouth, thinking to herself, "The person I can't charm is right in front of me. It's all my fault for spoiling her too much. This little brat isn't as clever as usual today."
She quickly added, "Sir, the 'charm' my daughter was talking about isn't a drug, it's 'allure.' No man can resist my charm."
Chapter/Verse: "..."
Zhang Ju remained silent. How could he lose to someone like that?
Men? Xie Lanzhi smiled, her expression sinister: "Don't you like women? You're even more interested in my women."
The female disciple paused, then belatedly realized, could this be... His Highness's legendary wife?
Xie Ying, the current hegemon of the south!
Xie Lanzhi ordered Zhang Ju to arrest the man and bring him to the Shenxing Division so she could personally interrogate him.
They chose a dark room with a small window on the south side, through which only a sliver of light shone.
The mother and daughter seemed to be familiar with this kind of place, and they felt as comfortable as if they were at home when they came in.
The cell door was half-open on the outside, with an iron door inside and another iron door on the outside. It was used to imprison serious criminals.
The instruments of torture in the Imperial Penal Division were hung on the stained mud walls, black and dirty, like traces of blood.
Zhang Ju moved a stool over and placed it on the ground. Xie Lanzhi lifted her long skirt, sat on the stool, and crossed her two slender legs.
"Why would Mohist disciples who migrated to the Xiongnu twenty years ago come to Tianjing?"
The female disciple smiled ingratiatingly: "My name is Lu Qing. May I ask if you are Marshal Xie, the new ruler of Tianjing? I have long admired your name and have heard of your deeds."
"You are indeed a woman who is just as capable as any man, a true dragon among men."
As soon as she finished speaking, her daughter snuggled up to her, seemingly dissatisfied with her mother's words. She pouted and said, "Grandpa and Daddy are the most powerful."
She did pique her curiosity.
Xie Lanzhi had someone buy a string of candied hawthorns and called the little girl over through the gate: "Tell your sister how amazing your father and grandfather are? This string of candied hawthorns is yours."
"Tch, I'm not a three-year-old." The little girl swallowed her saliva with great disdain.
With a "crunch," Xie Lanzhi bit off a candied hawthorn and turned her gaze to her mother: "Tell me, what is your purpose in coming to Tianjing?"
The little girl stared longingly at the candied hawthorn.
"Marshal Xie should have investigated most of it." The female disciple said, "I came because I heard that Prince Feng Ning of Jiu Jin has returned to Tianjing to take charge of affairs."
"I am here on behalf of my father to confirm the safety of the descendants of an old acquaintance."
"So, your father and my father-in-law are acquaintances," Xie Lanzhi said, holding a candied hawthorn in one hand while lost in thought.
I had heard that Emperor Xicheng had adopted a group of Mohist disciples when he was young, but the retired emperor disliked them and disbanded the Mohist disciples. Originally, the Mohist disciples could have been allowed to stay, but the retired emperor, for some unknown reason, listened to the slander of treacherous officials and singled out the Mohist advocacy of no ruler, no father, and no Three Constant Virtues and Five Cardinal Guides, spreading rumors that the Mohist disciples were trying to influence the crown prince through their presence and that this would shake the foundation of the country.
Once the crown prince ascends the throne, he will abolish Confucianism and promote Mohism, which is why the retired emperor is wary of the Mohists.
The Great Jin Dynasty was also a country that exclusively revered Confucianism, and the Three Cardinal Guides and Five Constant Virtues were deeply ingrained in its people.
Such anti-Confucianism must be nipped in the bud.
The retired emperor cut off the official careers of the Mohist disciples in the Great Jin Dynasty. The Mohist disciples had no choice but to turn to the common people and win their hearts. The retired emperor became even more wary and simply issued a ban on the Mohist disciples, and even hunted down the then leader of the Mohist school.
The leader of the Mohist school was once stabbed, which was a disgrace to the Mohist disciples who were proficient in many arts. One of the Mohist disciples had an extreme personality and tried to assassinate the retired emperor, but failed and was captured.
Taking advantage of the situation, the retired emperor uprooted the Mohist school, arresting and intending to execute many of its disciples. In the end, it was the Western Emperor who intervened, relinquishing his position as crown prince, forcing the retired emperor to back down and release most of the Mohist disciples, but prohibiting them from remaining in the Great Jin Dynasty.
The Mohist disciples were driven out of Tianjing and were pursued by various factions on the way, but were eventually rescued by a Hun.
This Hun was Aqina. At that time, Aqina was only the second son of the old Hun king.
The mother and daughter looked uneasy when Aqina was mentioned.
Lu Qing added, "Marshal Xie, your father-in-law is not only an acquaintance of my father, but he is also my father's eldest disciple."
“If it weren’t for the responsibility of the Crown Prince, he probably would have left with us.”
Unexpectedly, there were some old stories inside. She thought her father-in-law was related to time travel, but it seems he wasn't. The flintlock gun and advanced weaponry concepts must have been instilled in her by Lu Qing's father.
What is your father's name?
“My father passed away twenty years ago,” Lu Qing said. “Marshal, my father’s affairs are not important. What is important now is that you can answer me whether Prince Feng Ning is capable of ruling Tianjing.”
She observed Xie Lanzhi's every expression very carefully.
Xie Lanzhi answered without hesitation: "She can't show her face in public for the time being. As long as I'm here in Tianjing, that's fine."
The meaning was self-evident. Lu Qing was slightly disappointed and stopped talking.
It seems that Si Xitong selectively speaks due to her power; this woman is indeed pragmatic. Xie Lanzhi didn't hide anything from her either.
She could also tell that this person wasn't looking for her.
Xie Lanzhi ate one candied hawthorn, and then handed the rest to the little girl. The little girl reached out her hand, but then pulled it back.
"I have no interest in your Mo family disciples. Little girl, I haven't touched the rest, so don't waste them. You can have them." Xie Lanzhi tossed the candied hawthorn over, and the little girl quickly caught it and happily licked it.
She instructed Zhangju to serve him the best food and drink, and most importantly, to keep a close watch on him. She wanted to prevent him from escaping, and also to guard against outsiders.
Xie Lanzhi left the Shenxing Division. Beneath her feet was a long and narrow passage, the shadows of the high walls on both sides trapping the light in the middle. She walked with her hands behind her back, deep in thought. Lu Qing's line should lead to Little Phoenix.
She won't miss the opportunity to intervene where she should, but she needs to carefully consider when she shouldn't. Her influence has already surpassed that of Little Phoenix; while excessive interference can help Little Phoenix overcome many difficulties, it will also have a subtle but profound impact on her.
She made her rely on her for everything. Even though Little Phoenix now handles things independently, she only seems independent; she still relies on her emotionally.
Xie Lanzhi could no longer allow things to continue like this.
She returned to Lanzhang Palace.
Si Xitong handed a memorial to Li Jin, who then took it and left.
Xie Lanzhi went in right after her.
Hearing the noise, Si Xitong quickly put down her pen: "You're back? What were the results of the investigation?"
Xie Lanzhi said, "That mother and daughter are even more cunning than the intelligence reports described. You need to be careful."
"Lan Zhi doesn't plan to continue the investigation?" Si Xitong asked, puzzled. Her previous attention to the Mo family disciples was completely different from her current attitude.
Xie Lanzhi asked her, "Little Phoenix, do you really need disciples of the Mo family?"
A note from the author:
Thank you to all the little angels who voted for me or watered my plants with nutrient solution between 19:44:55 on December 16, 2021 and 19:10:13 on December 17, 2021!
Thank you to the little angels who watered the nutrient solution: 20 empty bottles; 1 bottle from Xinxin;
Thank you so much for your support! I will continue to work hard!
Chapter 80 Si Xi Tong Meets Lu Qing
Si Xitong nodded. She did need the disciples of the Mo family. Although the Ministry of Works and the warehouse had many talented people, they were not capable enough. They lacked many refined techniques and often found it difficult to handle small things.
When she was a child, she had witnessed a disciple of the Mohist school fly a wooden dragonfly and hover it in the air for a moment.
The dragonfly has amazed her to this day. If she wanted to replicate it, the Ministry of Works and the warehouse could only make the shape. Even if it flew, it would not fly for more than five breaths.
"If possible, I hope that the Great Jin Dynasty can regain these talents."
Xie Lanzhi said, "If you don't want it, then don't want it; if you want it, then fight for it."
After saying that, she didn't allow her to say more and found another excuse: "I need to go to the Xie family's headquarters later."
Si Xitong was quite surprised. Hadn't the army selected to go to the Red River already been arranged? Why did they still need to go to the main camp? She didn't ask any more questions because she sensed that Lanzhi was preoccupied.
She didn't have many days left before going to Honghe. Si Xitong was very reluctant to part with her; both of them felt the same way, already suffering from longing even before they were separated.
After a long pause, she could only reply, "Go ahead."
Xie Lanzhi took off Ebai and left Eshi behind. She then turned and left.
Si Xitong picked up the folded paper from her desk again. Her thoughts drifted away. Lanzhi, what was she thinking?
Although the two had confessed their feelings to each other, Lanzhi always had a lot of unspoken thoughts. She didn't say anything, and she couldn't ask.
If she forced her to tell the truth, Lanzhi would definitely do so. Then, she would feel worse about it.
She rubbed her temples, a look of weariness creeping onto her face.
Xiao Xiu stood by, worried about her master. While making tea for her master, she took the teapot to the desk, poured him a steaming cup of tea, and then suddenly said, "The Xie family's mothers-in-law have been serving in Lanzhang Palace for a long time. Your Highness, if you have any worries, why not ask the mothers-in-law? They will surely know about the Marshal."
Si Xitong put down her pen, looked up at her and asked, "Even you noticed?"
Xiao Xiu was suddenly asked a question, and she was very puzzled: "Didn't Master want to share the burden with the Marshal?"
Yes, sharing the burden. Si Xitong picked up her teacup, took a sip to moisten her lips, but fell into deep thought.
What exactly does she want to share with her? And what can she share? Why is it necessary to share?
The thought flashed through Si Xitong's mind, but it surprised her greatly.
How could she have such an idea?
Nowadays, the Xie clan manages its affairs themselves, so she doesn't need to worry about it at all. Lanzhi only needs to oversee military affairs, and the Xie clan will become well-behaved.
The Xie family's blind devotion to Lanzhi is no longer as steadfast as it was in the Southern Region. Now, everyone in the clan is loyal to her and at her beck and call.
What else does she need to share the burden with?