"Tsk, you're quite resilient. How many whips have you used already?"
As the fight progressed, Xiao Lianjue lost interest, so he casually tossed aside the thorny whip and went over to drink some tea.
"Would you like to try it?" He pointed to a row of torture instruments on the shelf.
Seeing that my face was deathly pale, he shook his head and smiled, "Looks like you're not as ruthless as Consort Tang."
"Can't you just say what you want to do? I hate guessing what people are thinking."
"You brought Li Yu out before, do you know what he brought out?"
"What?"
"Li Mu's command seal."
I was taken aback. It turned out that the kid knew I was going to run away all along. It wasn't that I was watching him, but that he was watching me the whole time. It was all premeditated.
"That kid is very clever, but it's his first time out here, so it's normal that he fell into the bandits' trap. These old hands are all as slippery as eels, and they're incredibly tight-lipped. I've been holding him for half a month now and haven't gotten any leads out of him."
"So, the only way to find their hideout is through this person?"
"He's quite smart, otherwise I wouldn't have kept him around until today."
His peach blossom eyes narrowed, and his smile was sinister, sending a chill down my spine. I knew he wouldn't let me off easily; this show of force was devastating. He brought me here specifically to show me just how capable he was.
"These bandits were quite clever. They knew they had stolen something extraordinary. Not only did they take the commander's seal, but they also went back to try and capture him. Unfortunately, they failed and mistakenly arrested one of his attendants."
At this point, I saw the bandit raise his head slightly, while Xiao Lianjue merely sipped her tea and glanced at him indifferently.
“If you don’t tell me, I’ll have no choice but to send your thief leader to his death. Even if Li Mu really captured his son, he might not be able to blackmail him, let alone a mere servant.”
He was just killing time, waiting for his chance. He figured that by now, the thief leader should be facing a knife to his throat. Whether he would say anything or not depended on how much this old mudfish cared about their leader.
Chapter 115
The night was still dark, the moon was just rising, and the curtains of the Luoxiao Pavilion were half-rolled up, with red candles flickering. It was a beautiful night, but an uninvited guest had arrived.
"If you come again, I'll be skinned alive by your harem of wives and concubines."
"I have to come. I have a feeling that Nangong Ling is hiding something from you. If I don't keep an eye on you, something bad might happen."
I gritted my teeth inwardly. This guy comes every day, so I have no chance of escaping. And I still don't understand the terrain here. In front of this Luoxiao Pavilion is a long, winding lake, and behind it is a golden-roofed building built against the mountain. Once Xiao Lianjue gets on the boat, he will definitely find out. It's a good place to imprison people. I think this Eastern Palace is just a prison that has been magnified countless times.
"You can let my older brother do it."
He smiled but said nothing, and took a sip of the tea I had just brewed.
It turns out he was someone who trusted no one.
When do you plan to release me?
“I always do things by eliminating the root of the problem. You want me to release you?” He chuckled and nodded. “You’re the first person who has dared to ask me to release you. Fine, I’ll give you two choices: either I release you first and then have someone kill you, or you become my Crown Princess. How about it?”
Everything was fine until the last sentence, which made it all fall apart. These royals are really funny; they all seem to like married women.
"What about Consort Tang?"
"She was originally a concubine, but since I haven't married a principal wife and don't often stay here, the servants basically treat her as the Crown Princess."
"I see. Now I'm in a dilemma. Is it more comfortable to be the Marquis's wife or more prestigious to be the Crown Princess?"
Xiao Lianjue raised her eyes, somewhat stunned, "Li Mu?"
I leaned back on the tatami mat, picked up a plate of Poria cocos cake, and started eating. They're talking a good game now, but once they've used me, they'll just kick me aside. Only a fool would believe that.
"Really? That person only has eyes for his sister, when has he ever been able to tolerate anyone else?"
"Is it really that strange? Isn't Qiuhe with him?"
"That was because the Empress Dowager saw that he was all alone and had no one to take care of him, so he took a concubine. How could he not listen to my sister's orders?" His tone was very contemptuous. "However, you are not simple to make him say such things."
"He's much more reliable than you. You can't believe eleven out of ten things he says."
"What are you saying? It's not as bad as you make it out to be. Do you think I'm joking with you?"
After finishing a piece of cake, I moved to a more comfortable position and leaned down. "What's the situation outside?"
Seeing that I was changing the subject, he chuckled, "You're such a double-edged sword. I think I've really angered Nangong Ling, but right now, it's not me who's suffering, it's Li Mu. The army is collapsing like a house of cards, and even the Empress Dowager can't protect him. I think even if he regains his command and launches a full-scale attack, the chances of turning the tide are slim to none. The Heavenly Clan has won a great victory, while my five thousand elite troops haven't even moved an inch. It's truly... even we spectators are on the edge of our seats, let alone Li Mu, who's directly involved."
No wonder he felt that Yun Zhi was hiding something from me. Instead of dealing with him, he turned his attention to Li Mu. What kind of show is this?
"I advise you not to waste your time trying to get information out of me. Trying to guess Nangong Ling's thoughts is just asking for trouble."
"Then what does it mean for him to just ignore you like this? To believe you? To believe you can escape and come back to him? You, Rong Lian, will one day be completely controlled by someone?"
Do you have to say everything that hits me where it hurts? I have my own bottom line; I don't need you to stir things up.
"You're free now, right? Would you mind taking me to see Juyi Manor?"
The way he looked at me was subtle; it seemed unintentional, but something just felt off.
"Since Miss Rong has spoken, there's no reason for me not to agree, is there?"
Thank you, but please don't flatter me too much. Sitting in the spotlight isn't comfortable.
Xiao Lianjue's initiative is so high that I feel like vomiting blood. I had just mentioned that I wanted to see Juyizhuang, and he actually called out a boat in the middle of the night.
So at midnight, I sat on the bow of the boat, drifting on Tinghu Lake, enjoying the night breeze. Luckily, I wasn't asleep yet, otherwise Xiao Lianjue would have taken a slap from me.
Juyi Manor was originally located in Xiaoshan. After Xiao Lianjue obtained the Fire Fuling Token, he moved all 564 people in the manor here and set up a space next to the Yeting Mansion to settle them.
The sedan chair was carried all the way to the front of the main hall and stopped. When they went inside, there was only one person waiting inside.
Dressed in simple clothes with light hair, her face was delicate and beautiful, like distant mountains shrouded in mist, and her clean and tidy appearance was like a clear spring flowing by.
"My Lord." Her red lips parted slightly, and a quiet, gentle voice, as serene as flowing water and falling petals, flowed out.
But this way of addressing him sounds like he's calling Nangong Ling, even though I know he means the master of Huofu Ling.
"why are you laughing?"
You even noticed that tiny upturn at the corner of my mouth? I'm telling you, Xiao Lianjue, Your Highness, could you please stop paying so much attention to me?
"You're certainly meddling in other people's business."
From the moment I entered this place, Xiao Lianjue's gaze was off. So, even if I had something that belonged to someone else, I would still be apprehensive. But last time, Juyizhuang sent just five people who almost wiped out Shui Tian. The second ring of Tianqi's center was broken, and it was still on the verge of collapse at least before I left. Isn't inflicting such a heavy blow enough to win your trust, Xiao Lianjue?
"Where have all the people gone?"
The hall was empty. The young master, who was used to being surrounded by people, probably couldn't feel his vanity swell in the face of such a quiet place.
"They have their own affairs, and I cannot and do not want to interfere."
Xiao Lianjue nodded, though she was dissatisfied, she didn't say anything, then turned to look at me, "This is what you wanted to see, what do you think?"
You can't control them, that's my feeling, but it's best to keep those thoughts to yourself. Saying them out loud would hurt their self-esteem, and then I'd be the one who suffers.
"What can a person think when they see one thing?" This Yeting Mansion is built in a magnificent and resplendent style, completely different from his Eastern Palace.
He smiled, neither confirming nor denying. "I happen to have some things to attend to, so let Xiangrui show you around."
I couldn't be happier. I've seen this person more times in one day than I've seen Yunzhi in the capital. Just thinking about it makes me feel choked up. You, surnamed Nangong, don't expect me to have any peace this time.
Xiangrui led me to the backyard. Honestly, what was there to see? It was all the same old stuff, nothing new. I didn't walk far before finding a spot in the pavilion to rest. My head had been spinning and my fingertips were cold, but I'd kept quiet. Now that Xiao Lianjue was gone, I could finally feel better. I took out the sachet Nangong Ling had repeatedly told me to keep close to me, and after carefully inhaling its chilling aroma, I finally withdrew it. Once I calmed down, looking at the sachet in my hand, I suddenly felt incredibly weak-willed. I'd just made up my mind, and now I was thinking of that person again.
“This is…” Xiangrui, whom I had forgotten about, pointed to the sachet in my hand, his expression quite surprised.
"What's wrong?"
He opened his eyes wide, took a breath, and cautiously looked around. Then he stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and gave me a deep bow, leaving me stunned and speechless.
"The phoenix rises from the ashes and is reborn from the flames. When you see a phoenix, you should discard the fire and be reborn."
I didn't understand at first, but then I looked at the sachet in my hand and said, "Why make a sachet so elaborately? The gold thread and beads are so exquisite, especially the phoenix drawn on the sachet. It's so lifelike. Its outstretched wings and crimson tail seem to be about to break free from the gold thread binding it, be reborn from the ashes, and soar into the sky."
Are you just going to abandon Xiao Lianjue like this? Yunzhi, Yunzhi, this time you not only didn't make any mistakes, but you also included me in your calculations. How did you know I would come to Juyi Manor and that it was the Phoenix Token that Xiangrui happened to see?
"Get up, be careful, the walls may be listening."
Xiangrui stood up, still staring at the sachet in my hand. "I knew it. There was no one else but him who could lead those bandits."
“I’m the one holding the Phoenix Token now. Who is this ‘he’ you’re talking about?” As far as I know, Yun Zhi doesn’t usually see them easily, and even when he does, he’s always wearing a mask.
"It's just a token. Whoever holds it can become a king. People from Juyizhuang will still obey orders without question. But everyone knows in their hearts that as long as that person is there, one word from him is worth more than ten tokens. Although I've never seen his face, such brilliance is rarely seen again." Those eyes were clear and bright, filled with longing and admiration.
"..." I was speechless. What kind of person is someone who enjoys bullying others?
Chapter 116
Chrysanthemums bloom across the mountains and fields, the moonlight is just right, casting down a dazzling starry sky, and a bold stroke of ink paints a blood-stained landscape.
At that time, the sky was ablaze with scorching flames and the smoke of war filled the heavens. Under the bright moon, the Asura was reborn in blood, his hand covering the sky as he walked a thousand miles of bloody path alone.
The autumn night was heavy with dew, the moon was bright and the wind was gentle. A faint blood mist rose up and stained the white chrysanthemums on the hillside red. The wind and fire were fierce and the blood was vast.
I looked up and gazed at the desolate sky, my heart filled with bitterness, yet I remained silent.
What kind of hatred for one's country and family requires countless bones to wither before it can be forgotten, turning around to find only white bones and red faces? What kind of heart can instantly transcend life and death?
"how?"
"I don't understand why you're putting so much effort into me."
"Is he genuinely unaware or just pretending? If I don't bring you up, he won't confront me directly. No matter how much I suppress him in other matters, he remains calm and collected, simply proceeding step by step according to his own plan..."