Chapter 121
"Does Madam still remember Mr. Kui Min?"
I thought about it for a long time but couldn't come up with anything, so I shook my head.
"It's that Taoist priest who's accompanied by Peach Blossom Red and Plum Blossom White."
"Oh, him? What happened?"
Speaking of red peach blossoms and white plum blossoms, I'm reminded of those two little tagalongs who I always teased mercilessly.
"Does Madam still remember the Seven Kingdoms of Lianshan?"
"Weren't the Seven Kingdoms long gone?" I frowned, a sudden thought striking me. "You wouldn't happen to be triplets kidnapped from the Seven Kingdoms by that fake Taoist priest, would you?"
He nodded, and I looked at him in disbelief.
"Shaoyou, how old are you this year?"
"Twenty-six."
I always thought he was only sixteen or seventeen years old, but he's actually older than Yunzhi. How come he looks so young?
"...Back then, the fake Taoist captured you so that you would serve Xiling, right? You were the only three sons of King Qi, and now the Seven Kingdoms are down to just the three of you?"
"In fact, the Seven Kingdoms were already outmatched at that time. Mr. Kui Min captured us, and the Seven Kingdoms surrendered to Xiling in less than half a month."
He mentioned it, and it seems there was such a thing. "That's why I said he was a fake Taoist priest. I've never seen someone who lives in a Taoist temple and still has such a strong desire to kill. He wanted to kill you all when you were no longer useful. If it weren't for the fact that my family and his family are old friends, I wouldn't even let such a person into the Rong family's house."
"If it weren't for you, Madam..."
"I just can't stand that person." Having gotten used to people's deliberate flattery and sarcasm, I'm not used to Shao You's behavior.
Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from outside. Judging from the sound, there were quite a few people. Yunzhi always preferred peace and quiet. Who would dare to break this rule?
Shao You's expression also changed, and he lowered his brows and pricked up his ears, "It's the protectors and the Tianqi!"
I had just sat down and hadn't even had a sip of tea when I saw Qionghua's long boots step through the door, followed by Xiao Jinse, A Yue, and A Qing.
What are you doing here? Where is the emperor?
"You can tell me if you have anything to say."
Then Qionghua fell silent, raised her eyebrows, and turned her face to Shaoyou.
Shao You glanced up, said nothing, and then withdrew.
"Didn't you go back to your older brother's place?" Xiao Jinse asked curiously.
So, they still don't know about Yunzhi's injury?
"Where is Cang Zhe?"
"He's in the capital with Qiongying, what happened to him?"
So they split into two groups. "Just pretend I didn't ask. Li Mu hasn't been captured yet?"
"Don't try to cover it up. What happened to Cang Zhe? And what about the Lord?"
Qionghua frowned as she asked, not out of blame, but out of doubt and worry. With the situation unclear and no news of Yunzhi for so long, even the composed Qionghua began to feel uneasy; otherwise, she wouldn't have taken the risk of returning.
I pursed my lips and briefly explained what had happened. As soon as I finished, Xiao Jinse, her face dark, tried to rush upstairs.
“He needs to rest now, it’s best not to disturb him.” I raised my eyes, glanced at him out of the corner of my eye, and took two steps before finally stopping. “I said, if you have something to say, talk to me.”
"I want Qin Guang and the two Yama Kings of the Wheel of Reincarnation. If you can bring these two out, I will have nothing to say."
The Ten Kings of Hell in the Imperial City are directly under the City Lord's command. Apart from the City Lord, it would be very difficult for anyone else to even see them, let alone invite them out.
"They've already gone."
Turning around, he stood by the stairs, having changed his clothes. His red brocade robe, embroidered with gold dragons, made his pale face appear almost radiant and alluring.
"Qionghua, find Xiangrui to go to the Yeting Prefecture with you and bring back the people I need, especially the spies Tianchen planted. Not one of them can be missing." He said as he walked over, put a hand on my shoulder and lowered his head, "May I borrow your Phoenix Token, my wife?"
You never seem to see any panic or tension in this person. He should be as calm and serene as a painting by an ink brush, but perhaps with just a turn of your head, he will bloom leisurely, displaying the most beautiful flowers and fruits while hiding sharp thorns.
"Jinse, tell everyone who stayed in Tianchi City to return within seven days."
Qionghua took the Phoenix Token and went with Xiao Jinse without delay.
"You just gave it to him like that?"
"He wouldn't and wouldn't dare to betray me."
Hearing that made me uncomfortable. "Yeah, you believe everyone but me."
I felt a weight on my shoulder, but without looking up, I knew that seeing his expression would kill my arrogance.
"A-Yue, bring Li Yu over here."
Who just promised me that I wouldn't have to worry about anything until I recovered?
"It's okay, I'll just ask him a few questions." He said, sitting down next to me and habitually pinching the bridge of his nose.
I squinted at him suspiciously. You're amazing. Even when you're clinging to me like this, you still managed to find the Ten Kings of Hell to discuss a solution. Just keep your busy life, I'm not going to bother with you anymore!
Feeling angry and a bit hungry, I picked up some sunflower seeds from the table to crack them open, but before I could even lick the shells, a hand grabbed my hand.
"How can you eat this kind of thing now?" Her delicate eyebrows furrowed slightly. "Aqing, go to the kitchen and get some snacks. They need to be nutritious."
I watched helplessly as he confiscated a plate of sunflower seeds and also took away all the snacks on the table. He wouldn't even give me tea, only a glass of water.
"I still dislike you more than I thought."
He was fiddling with my hand with his eyes down, and after a long while he slowly sighed before raising his head.
"Lian'er, I don't need to teach you the principle that trouble comes from the mouth..." He laughed halfway through his sentence, "Never mind, you're hopeless. You've never learned your lesson in all these years."
I snorted and pulled my hand away. "Then go teach someone who has a bad memory a lesson. Who's stopping you?"
He looked at me and smiled gently, a smile that was pale and lingering, like a wisp of soft smoke formed from condensed clouds.
“I don’t have that much time to rest, they won’t give it to me. Lian’er, do you know how afraid I am of losing you? I just want you to have all the best things in this world…”
"I know."
Besides, I've already obtained it.
Chapter 122
Anyone who tolerates Li Yu is doomed. If I hadn't stopped him from continuing, he might have made up some cheesy story, saying that his mother only had time to teach him lightness skills, and that the prime minister's daughter wouldn't know any martial arts. It's just that his father only taught him lightness skills and didn't allow him to learn anything else.
Ah Yue was always gentle, but she showed no mercy to Li Yu.
"Do you have a grudge against him?" Seeing Li Yu being pushed and falling in by him, it's not unreasonable to think that way.
"He looks like a little white rabbit, but he has the ambition of a wolf."
This kid tried so hard to drag me down with him back then, but he failed. I never thought he would fall for Xiao Lianjue's trick in the end.
"How so?"
"Li Mu didn't even bring his command seal with him. This father and son put on a great show, fooling so many people into thinking they were really in dire straits."
So, he deliberately let me escape just to lure out his son! I opened my mouth, wishing I could conjure up a tiny person, stick Li Mu's name on it, and stab him to death!
"Of course, this kid isn't entirely loyal to his father either," the person next to me said, casually stuffing a piece of osmanthus cake into my mouth. "If Li Mu gets into trouble, he'll definitely be the first to switch sides."
Yeah, you're the same, kicking someone when they're down.
"Isn't that good? I can provide you with information about him anytime."
Give me a reason why I can trust you.
Li Yu raised her delicate face, a flirtatious glint in her eyes.
“Your first weakness, Nangong Ling, is that you are too suspicious. As for the second one…” He glanced at me as he spoke, “I don’t need to explain it; anyone with eyes can see it.”
With that look in her eyes, she made me seem like a burden.
"...You're definitely not a likable child. No wonder your father doesn't want you."
Before he finished speaking, his expression changed.
"Don't talk about me, aren't you the same? Phoenix Girl, you're destined for wealth and glory, but it's hard to find a true heart. Anyway, everyone is only thinking about how to scheme against you."
That's really... you're just trying to make me laugh.
"Why do you talk like that lousy fortune teller?"
He paused, then finally managed to squeeze out, "What?"
"Kids are kids, believing things like that. What does that say? Are they trying to make me look bad, or are they trying to sow discord between us?"
"I'm just telling the truth about what happened here while you were away..."
A crisp "clink" cut off Li Yu's next words. A Qing was holding half of a gold ring lock in her hand, while the other half fell onto Li Yu's leg and landed at his feet.
I squinted and half-raised my head; the osmanthus cake was quite dry and a little hard to swallow.
"You're too hasty to let me know what happened, Aqing." After taking a sip of tea, she glanced sideways at the person who had remained silent. "Did you test everyone like this, or was it just me?"
"Young Marquis, do you want to be a meritorious official or a sinner?" He didn't answer me, but easily changed the subject with a light laugh.
"Hmph, what difference is there between a hero and a villain?" A glint of malice appeared in those clear eyes. "No matter who wins this game, they will never tolerate me in the end. Rather than waiting to die, I might as well strike first."
"So how much of an advantage did you gain?"
It was probably Nangong Ling's indifferent attitude that provoked him. He kicked aside the gold ring at his feet and tried to walk over, but was acupunctured by a drop of tea that had just splashed out.
Neither A-Yue nor A-Qing moved, and there was no tea on hand, so it couldn't have been them.