Función clerical

Capítulo 57

But I really don't want Su Chenche to find out one day that she prepared the antidote for him for money...

Everything can be bought with money, but there are some things that you really can't... and I don't want to get tainted by money.

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The next morning.

The old man and Hua Jiuye lay side by side on the bed in the dungeon, sleeping in crooked positions, both wrapped in thick gauze.

Shen Zhili checked them over and, after confirming that they were both alright, quietly went out.

To find out the truth, we should ask the person who knows best.

Shen Zhili went to find Gechui again. It was said that Gechui had been studying the corpse of the Southern Border King all night without closing his eyes. Shen Zhili waited at the door for several hours before he finally saw Gechui.

The singer looked tired, but his eyes were gleaming.

Shen Zhili explained her purpose and took out the notes she had received from the King of Southern Xinjiang before his death, spreading them out in front of Ge Chui.

Gechui glanced at it: "What do you want to know?"

He was clearly in a good mood.

Shen Zhili: "Let's talk about the part about my senior brother."

Hua Jiuye was once a prince of the Southern Frontier, during the reign of the previous king of the Southern Frontier.

This handsome prince was pampered from a young age, with his father, mother, and lovely younger sister doting on him. Although he lived only in the Southern Frontier Kingdom, Hua Jiuye could practically have whatever he wanted.

When the prince was eleven years old, the princess of the Southern Frontier met the extraordinary man Shen Tianxing and entrusted the prince to Shen Tianxing for training.

However, in these few years, the royal family of Southern Xinjiang underwent a major upheaval. The king of Southern Xinjiang was usurped by his own younger brother in alliance with the elders. The king was imprisoned, and his wife and daughters fell into the hands of his younger brother.

Years later, Hua Jiuye was discovered by the men sent by the current King of Southern Xinjiang to capture him. He was brought back to Southern Xinjiang and subjected to all sorts of torture. Ge Chui took a liking to the Gu King in his body and made a deal with the current King of Southern Xinjiang. He would take the Gu King from the King of Southern Xinjiang's body and implant it in the current King of Southern Xinjiang, and also put a Soul-Stealing Gu on him to make him forget himself. In return, the current King of Southern Xinjiang handed Hua Jiuye over to him to deal with.

Unexpectedly, Hua Jiuye secretly learned the art of Gu poison and managed to kill the guard and escape from the Southern Frontier. She even managed to escape the pursuit of the four Gu masters under Ge Chui.

After listening, Shen Zhili remained silent for a while before asking, "That one in the dungeon... is he really the former King of Southern Xinjiang? What about the former Queen Consort of Southern Xinjiang? Is she really dead? And... whose son is Senior Brother?"

Song: "You ask too many questions, I'm tired."

Shen Zhili: "..."

Gechui took a sip of water, then turned to go back.

Shen Zhili: "Wait... I have one last question. Has Prince Hua Xiaoyun of Southern Xinjiang also been taken to the Valley of Souls by you?"

Otherwise, how could he have forgotten his own wife and daughter?

Ge Chui: "Oh, that's not it, it's just a small Gu, something very precious from the Soul-Snatching Valley." He tossed Shen Zhili a bottle, "Take this and you'll be fine in a couple of days."

After saying that, he rolled up the papers he had signed and pressed his fingerprint on, and went back to his work.

When I got back, I saw Qingxing carrying large and small bags of things.

Shen Zhili: "This is..."

Zhai Feng put her hands on her hips and said, "Hurry up, hurry up..." She turned to Shen Zhili and smiled, "It's nothing, just some specialties from the Southern Frontier. It's a rare opportunity to come here, it would be a shame not to take some back... By the way, we'll be returning to the Central Plains in a couple of days, Valley Master Shen, you should also go back and pack your things."

Shen Zhili was stunned for a moment: "What about the southern border region..."

Zhai Feng: "In a few days, all our personnel will be withdrawn from Southern Xinjiang... The King of Southern Xinjiang is dead, so naturally his son will take over. Anyway, we haven't harmed his son, and we're feeding and taking good care of him."

Shen Zhili: "..." What kind of logic is this? You killed someone's father!

No... I think I killed the King of Southern Xinjiang...

"Junior sister, would you like to go out for a walk?"

Hanako stretched her limbs and came out of the house.

Shen Zhili: "Senior brother, you're up? Then... where's that uncle?"

Hanako narrowed her eyes: "You dare to steal my bed..."

Shen Zhili was shocked: "What did you do?"

Hua Jiuye: "It's nothing, I just kicked him on the ground. He's sleeping like a log." She then pulled Shen Zhili over, "Come on, let's ignore him and go for a walk."

Vendors throughout southern Xinjiang sell exotic items that are not found in the Central Plains.

Hua Jiuye, who knew all about these places like the back of her hand, told Shen Zhili about them one by one, including where to make the best ready-made clothes, where to find the best food, where to buy the most interesting trinkets, and where to watch some novelty shows.

Looking at the men and women wearing silver jewelry all over the street, and Hua Jiuye beside her who was both disgusted and unconsciously showing a nostalgic expression, Shen Zhili's mood improved unconsciously.

Carrying a pile of things she had bought back home, Shen Zhili remembered something else.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally made up his mind: "Senior brother, this..."

She took out the imperial edict that was not on the note and handed it to Hua Jiuye.

That was an edict written by the former King of Southern Xinjiang, a decree to pass the throne to Hua Jiuye. After all, logically speaking, Hua Jiuye should be the rightful and legitimate King of Southern Xinjiang.

Hua Jiuye unfolded it and looked at it for a long time.

Shen Zhili asked nervously, "If Senior Brother wants..."

Hua Jiuye suddenly laughed, forcefully tearing the edict to shreds, then said coldly, "You want me to stay in the Southern Frontier as king?"

Shen Zhili was at a loss for words.

Hua Jiuye: "You've seen it too, the Southern Frontier doesn't need me at all." He looked into the distance: "As long as they live in peace and prosperity, who the king is doesn't really matter... Although that beast is worse than a pig or a dog, his reign wasn't too bad... even better than my father's back then. Why should I fight for things I don't care about at all, and..."

He glanced sideways at Shen Zhili: "Who said they would take me back to Spring Valley, with all this talk of carefree days, of spring blossoms and willows, of summer ponds brimming with lotus, of autumn..."

Shen Zhili chuckled awkwardly, "Then let's go back, let's go back."

Hua Jiuye stroked Shen Zhili's head, revealing a gentle smile that was almost chilling: "That's a good girl. Do you want to die if you try to kick your senior brother out?"

"Smack!"

Hana Kuya's hand was knocked away.

Shen Zhili looked up and saw an even gentler face.

Pulling Shen Zhili close, Su Chenche blinked, his amber eyes brimming with affection, completely ignoring Hua Jiuye who was radiating a gloomy aura beside him, and said, "Zhili, come home with me, okay?"

Chapter 48

Su Chenche said accusingly, "Zhi Li... you forced yourself on me."

Inside the carriage, the incense unique to southern Xinjiang burned, and Shen Zhili leaned against the carriage, dozing off.

We've finally left southern Xinjiang.

Shen Zhili half-lifted the curtain and looked outside, resting her chin on her hand.

Outside the car window, a fine drizzle fell, its rays slanting and dense.

This adventure left Shen Zhili physically and mentally exhausted. She preferred her life in Huichun Valley, where it was simple, routine, and free of all the messy things.

Most importantly—

The carriage curtain was lifted, revealing a handsome face with a fawning smile.

Su Chenche handed over a red thing: "Zhili, this is a pomegranate that was just picked. It's very sweet."

—How come this thing is still here?

Su Chenche stepped onto the carriage and sat next to Shen Zhili. He took out a large bowl from somewhere and slowly peeled the pomegranate seeds into the bowl.

The pomegranate seeds are crystal clear, like little rubies, so beautiful that they whet the appetite.

Shen Zhili felt an inexplicable awkwardness towards Su Chenche's eagerness, but she couldn't resist the temptation and scooped up a little with a small spoon.

It's so sweet! ><

Looking up again, Su Chenche, sitting there, was staring at her intently, his eyes curving like crescent moons: "Zhi Li, I've thought it over. Since you don't want to go back with me..."

Shen Zhili took another bite of pomegranate and looked back at him.

Su Chenche smiled shyly: "Then I'll go to Huichun Valley with you. Marrying into another family isn't such a bad idea after all..."

Shen Zhili spat out a mouthful of pomegranate juice.

Marrying into another family... Marrying into another family my foot!

I don't want to go back with you. What difference does it make if I marry into your family?

After wiping the pomegranate seeds off the table, Shen Zhili paused and said, "Where are Lei Ying, Ye Qianqian, Qingxing, and Zhai Feng... How did they let you out..."

Su Chenche thought for a moment: "Wasn't it raining just now?"

Shen Zhili: "Mm."

Su Chenche: "Then the ground became muddy."

Shen Zhili: "Mm."

Su Chenche patiently explained, "The wheels are broken, but we can't stop the whole procession just because of a few carriages, right?"

Shen Zhili: "Hmm... no, wait a minute..."

Su Chenche: "So they're still repairing the carriage in the back... Only Qingxing and Zhai Feng followed, they..." He looked up at the sky, "...are probably sleeping."

It's afternoon now! What's the point of taking a nap?!

Shen Zhili twitched her lips and asked, "What about my senior brother?"

Su Chenche grinned and said, "He's probably searching for his snake all over the place."

Shen Zhili: "...What have you done now!"

Su Chenche: "It's nothing... I just hid it."

Shen Zhili breathed a sigh of relief. That snake must have really been very important to Hua Jiuye.

After hearing Gechui's description, Shen Zhili suddenly felt relieved about why Hua Jiuye had become like this... If it were her, she would probably be even more terrifying than Hua Jiuye!

What kind of revenge is this, killing people and ghosts to take revenge on the entire southern border...?

Well, it seems that Hana Kuya actually did those things.

Cough cough, but at least... when she sees her mother's grave, Shen Zhili won't be as calm as Hua Jiuye.

Hua Jiuye's mother's tombstone is in the royal mausoleum in southern Xinjiang.

Surprisingly easy to find.