The Imperial Preceptor graced him with her presence, and in her true form no less. Daoist Jin Lian must have quite the influence… While marveling at Daoist Jin Lian’s status, Xu Qi An felt both honored and slightly nervous as he bowed.
“Greetings, Imperial Preceptor.”
Upon closer inspection of Luo Yu Heng, he noticed some differences. The Luo Yu Heng he had seen at Lingbao Temple was beautiful, but still flesh and blood. The female Imperial Preceptor before him now emanated a faint, sacred glow. If he had to describe it, “ice-skinned and jade-boned” would be the best interpretation.
Luo Yu Heng glanced at him and said coolly, “This is a Yang Spirit.”
Yang Spirit… the third-rank Yang Spirit of the Daoist path? The legendary Yang Spirit that fears neither wind nor thunder and roams the cosmic void? Xu Qi An’s face showed surprise, and he couldn’t take his eyes off her, like someone observing a giant panda.
Luo Yu Heng’s fine eyebrows furrowed slightly, a flash of annoyance passing through her clear eyes. She said coolly, “What did you call me for?”
Realizing his gaze had inadvertently offended the Imperial Preceptor, Xu Qi An quickly straightened up, looking straight ahead, and said solemnly, “There’s something I want to inform the Imperial Preceptor about.”
After a pause, he carefully continued, “In the Chu State massacre case, Emperor Yuan Jing and Prince Huai conspired together. One refined blood pills, while the other refined soul pills. Prince Huai refined blood pills to break through to the peak of third-rank, and then absorb the Princess Consort’s spiritual essence.”
Since they were already at odds, there was no need to pretend and call him “Your Majesty” anymore. As for the Princess Consort’s secret, Xu Qi An didn’t believe that a second-rank Daoist leader wouldn’t know about the Princess Consort’s hidden spiritual essence.
“What I want to know is, what was Emperor Yuan Jing’s purpose in refining soul pills?”
Hearing this, Luo Yu Heng frowned, pondering for a few seconds before slowly saying, “Yuan Jing has practiced cultivation for twenty years, barely reaching the sixth-rank Yin Spirit realm. Forming a core is still a distant goal for him.”
This, this… practicing for twenty years and still at sixth rank, I don’t even know how to comment on this. With the resources of an entire nation, even a pig should have formed a core by now!!
Is Emperor Yuan Jing’s aptitude for cultivation equivalent to Xu Ling Yin’s aptitude for studying?
Xu Qi An gathered his thoughts and asked, “Could it be a disguise?”
Luo Yu Heng glanced at him without speaking.
Xu Qi An bowed repeatedly to show his apology.
Such doubt was disrespectful to a second-rank Daoist powerhouse.
Luo Yu Heng continued, “Yuan Jing’s soul is inherently weak, which is the reason for his poor cultivation aptitude.”
Daoist Jin Lian had mentioned that soul pills could strengthen the Primordial Spirit. Could it be that Emperor Yuan Jing was trying to compensate for his innate deficiency? As Xu Qi An pondered this, he heard Luo Yu Heng frown and say:
“But there are many ways to strengthen the Primordial Spirit. Meditation and taking elixirs are all viable options. There’s no need to specifically refine soul pills.”
Xu Qi An nodded: “In other words, the soul pills serve another purpose.”
From a psychological perspective, only madmen act without regard for consequences, but Emperor Yuan Jing wasn’t mad. On the contrary, he was a deeply scheming monarch.
He would certainly weigh the consequences before taking action, only proceeding if the benefits were substantial enough. If the soul pills were merely to stabilize his sixth-rank foundation, it’s unlikely he would actively plan a city massacre. The cost would be too great.
At most, he would have just tacitly approved Prince Huai’s actions.
Luo Yu Heng asked in return, “What are your thoughts?”
Xu Qi An smiled bitterly, “Lacking clues, I can’t make any guesses. I’ll try to investigate this matter. As for you, Imperial Preceptor, it’s enough that you’re aware of it.”
He believed that with the wisdom of a second-rank powerhouse, she wouldn’t need much explanation or reminders from him. A simple heads-up would suffice.
Luo Yu Heng made a sound of acknowledgment and asked, “The Princess Consort, was she really captured by the barbarians and never heard from again?”
Xu Qi An sighed regretfully, “Yes, it’s a pity about Great Song’s most beautiful woman. Prince Huai is dead, and the Princess Consort is probably…”
He appropriately showed some regret, fully expressing the disappointment a normal man would feel about a peerless beauty meeting such a tragic fate.
Luo Yu Heng looked at him impassively, remained silent for a moment, then casually asked, “I heard from Jin Lian that you discovered ancient bedroom arts in an underground palace outside Yong State City?”
Why are you asking about this? Xu Qi An was taken aback, but answered truthfully, “Yes.”
“Have you fully comprehended it?”
As she asked, Luo Yu Heng’s beautiful eyes focused intently on him.
“Well… I haven’t practiced it. Daoist Jin Lian said that this art requires a man and woman who are both proficient in bedroom arts to practice together. It’s not something you can do with just any woman.”
Xu Qi An was quite experienced, but discussing such private matters with a peerless beauty still made him somewhat uncomfortable.
Luo Yu Heng nodded slightly.
Xu Qi An saw a hint of satisfaction in her eyes.
“The Chu State massacre case has come to a temporary end. Yuan Jing now wishes for this matter to be over as soon as possible and absolutely won’t seek revenge on you in the short term,” Luo Yu Heng advised:
“As for what follows, you should be on your guard. If you notice any signs of him seeking revenge, immediately have your family resign from their official posts. You can reinstate them later.”
Xu Qi An nodded. This was the price of offending an emperor.
The mastermind behind the scenes showed no signs of making a move yet, which was a distant worry. Emperor Yuan Jing was the immediate concern.
I must increase my cultivation level as quickly as possible. Only then will I have the ability to protect myself…
“Keep this talisman sword safe. In times of crisis, activate it with your qi. It can barely count as one of my attacks. If you need to contact me, infuse it with your divine sense.”
Luo Yu Heng’s Yang Spirit transformed into a golden light and vanished.
Xu Qi An put away the talisman sword and rubbed his brow: “Short-term goal: advance to the fifth rank. Then investigate Emperor Yuan Jing. Heh, I never thought I’d see the day when I’d be investigating an emperor.”
…
“Zhong Li, Zhong Li…”
Xu Qi An left the room and looked around.
“I’m here.” Zhong Li hugged her knees, sitting by the window, responding weakly.
As long as she’s not hurt… Xu Qi An sighed in relief.
He led Zhong Li past Second Young Master Xu’s study. Looking through the window, he saw Second Young Master Xu and Chu Yuanlin drinking and chatting merrily, still engaged in scholarly discussions.
Hmm, given Brother Chu’s social savvy, knowing Second Brother’s “unwillingness to reveal his identity,” he won’t rashly mention the Ground Book fragment.
For Second Brother to be able to chat with Chu Yuanlin for so long, he’s living up to his title as the top scholar of the spring imperial examinations and a second-rank jinshi. Not bad at all.
They arrived at Li Miaozhen’s door and heard Su Su’s crisp voice inside saying, “Father, hey, Father, hey…”
Like a broken record, over and over again, seemingly having the time of her life.
“Have you already started practicing how to call me father? Don’t call me ‘father,’ call me ‘dad.'” Xu Qi An pushed open the door and entered the room.
Su Su, wearing an exquisite and elaborate white dress, giggled, “What’s it to you? That stupid child of yours is really interesting. The mistress was teaching her to read and wrote the character for ‘father.’ The mistress said, ‘Father.’
“That stupid child of yours said, ‘Hey!'”
Su Su laughed so hard she almost slipped, leaning on the table, shaking with laughter.
Xu Qi An: “…”
No wonder Li Miaozhen looked like she was questioning her life choices at the time.
But why was Chu Yuanlin so enraged? He thought about it but refrained from asking, not wanting to reopen his companion’s wounds.
“I’m going out for a bit. If you’re free, want to come along?” Xu Qi An looked at the Heaven Sect Holy Maiden.
The Holy Maiden’s small face was written all over with the words “unhappy.” She said irritably, “If you have something to say, just say it. Don’t disturb my cultivation.”
Your tone is a bit harsh. Don’t take out your frustration with the little bean on me… Xu Qi An explained:
“I know about one of Duke Cao’s private residences. There’s something extraordinary hidden inside. Want to go explore it together?”
Now you’ve piqued my interest… Li Miaozhen smiled: “Alright.”
…
Duke Cao’s private residence was a small courtyard by a lake, a few li away from the imperial city.
Though called a small courtyard, it wasn’t small. It had two courtyards, with the gate locked, and it hadn’t been inhabited for a long time.
Li Miaozhen squinted, examining the residence, and snorted coldly: “A private residence like this, not far from the imperial city, in a good location, and quiet, would cost at least 8,000 taels of silver.
“And Duke Cao has more than a dozen such private residences, used to hide concubines and keep mistresses. It’s truly detestable and deserving of death.”
Sorry, in a short while, I’ll also become a man who buys private residences to keep mistresses… Xu Qi An silently joked to himself. He looked around, but his warrior’s instinct for danger gave no feedback.
There was no one lying in ambush around them. Duke Cao’s private residence was indeed well hidden.
Seeing no one around, Xu Qi An, Li Miaozhen, and Zhong Li leaped over the high wall, landing lightly in the courtyard.
The moment his feet touched the ground, Xu Qi An suddenly turned around and opened his arms. The next moment, Zhong Li, whose toes had been caught while climbing the wall, fell headfirst into his embrace.
Senior Sister Zhong’s body was soft, and even through her cloth robe, he could feel the elasticity of her skin.
“Thank you…” Zhong Li was somewhat delighted. Without this, her face would have hit the ground first.
“No need to thank me. Practice makes perfect,” Xu Qi An smiled.
“…” Li Miaozhen opened her mouth, then sighed with pity.
A fifth-rank sorcerer, a prophet, who knew how many geniuses she had stumped.
This courtyard hadn’t been inhabited for a long time, but it didn’t look dilapidated. It seemed Duke Cao had people regularly maintain and clean it.
Passing through the courtyard and entering the inner hall, the three of them searched around and found that it was just a normal residence, unused, with nothing too valuable.
“There should be a secret room,” Li Miaozhen analyzed.
“Not a secret room, but a cellar,” Xu Qi An said.
Meeting the Heaven Sect Holy Maiden’s surprised gaze, he explained: “The structure of the house and the size of the rooms aren’t sufficient to hide a secret chamber.”
Li Miaozhen realized this and untied her fragrance pouch. She lightly patted it, and wisps of green smoke emerged, seeping into the ground.
After a moment, a wisp of green smoke returned, whispering ghost language in Li Miaozhen’s ear.
Li Miaozhen listened for a moment, then said: “Follow me.”
She led Xu Qi An and Zhong Li to the study connected to the master bedroom, pushed aside the large chair behind the desk, and stomped hard.
“Boom…”
The floor tiles shattered, collapsing into a dark hole. Steep stone steps led down to the cellar.
The three descended the stone steps into the cellar, their footsteps echoing in the stuffy air.
The cellar wasn’t deep, similar to those used by wealthy families to store ice and vegetables. However, Duke Cao used it to hide precious antiques.
Li Miaozhen lit the oil lamps embedded in the walls, one after another, bringing a fiery glow to the dim cellar.
The cellar was filled with row after row of antique shelves, displaying various antiquities: porcelain vases, jade artifacts, bronze beasts, night pearls, and more.
It was a dazzling sight.
The world doesn’t lack beauty, but eyes that can discover beauty… This famous saying spontaneously arose in Xu Qi An’s heart.
Then, he heard Li Miaozhen say: “Every item here is valuable. If sold for silver, they could save many homeless and hungry refugees.”
As she spoke, her eyes sparkled with excitement.
“?”
Xu Qi An stiffly turned his head to look at her.
Is this why I brought you here? Do you want me to silence you?… He coughed:
“Indeed, but charity should be done within one’s means. Only fools would bankrupt themselves for charity.”
“Aren’t these ill-gotten gains?” Li Miaozhen looked at him sideways.
Are you sure you’re the emotionless Li Miaozhen of the Supreme Dao?
“We’ll set aside 30% for your good deeds later,” Xu Qi An waved his hand, unwilling to discuss further, and changed the subject:
“These things were either obtained through corruption and bribery or other shady channels.”
Zhong Li reached out her small hand and picked up an azure ice bead. It was clear, as if containing a blue ocean, refracting breathtaking light in the glow of the oil lamps.
“This is a mermaid pearl from the South Sea Kingdom, very precious and a tribute item,” Zhong Li, as a disciple of the Astronomical Bureau, knew far more about luxury goods than the freeloading Xu and the Heaven Sect Holy Maiden.
Embezzling tribute items?!
Xu Qi An understood now why Duke Cao had specifically purchased a private residence to store these items.
Next, he took out the Ground Book fragment and began storing these precious items one by one in the mirror world. However, fragile items like porcelain were more troublesome.
“There are boxes over there. Let’s put them in boxes,” Li Miaozhen pointed to a corner in the depths of the cellar.
With a click, the box opened.
There was no addictive golden or silver glow, which disappointed Xu Qi An a bit.
The box contained stacks of secret letters. Xu Qi An opened and read a few, and his breathing suddenly quickened.
He flipped through them one by one, quickly scanning. These secret letters were records kept by Duke Cao of his corrupt practices.
Some even dated back ten or twenty years, including embezzlement of tribute items, misappropriation of disaster relief funds and grain, seizure of military fields… Those involved included civil officials, nobles, and imperial clan members.
If these secret letters were exposed, it would certainly cause turmoil in the court, implicating countless people.
“Give them to Lord Wei, give these secret letters to Lord Wei…”
Xu Qi An’s instinctive, reflexive reaction was to hand them over to Wei Yuan, letting him possess this information to increase his political capital.
A few seconds later, he calmed down.
No rush. Even if I give them to Lord Wei, there’s no hurry. No, I can’t give them all to Wei Yuan. I should keep some for Second Brother. He needs political capital too.
Thinking this, he pulled out another secret letter from the bottom and opened it to read.
“In the 15th year of Yuan Jing’s reign, we joined forces with the Wang faction, Yan faction, Prince Yu, and other imperial clan nobles to eliminate Su Hang and thoroughly purge… faction. Su Hang was executed, his family’s women were sent to the teaching house, and the men were exiled. Received bribes of 8,000 taels each from the Yan and Wang factions…”
Su Hang, this name sounds so familiar… As this thought flashed through Xu Qi An’s mind, he heard Li Miaozhen exclaim with a pale face: “Su Su’s father…”
Xu Qi An suddenly remembered. Su Su’s father was indeed named Su Hang, a jinshi of the 29th year of Zhen De’s reign. In the 14th year of Yuan Jing’s reign, he was demoted to serve as the prefect of Jiangzhou for unknown reasons and was executed the following year on charges of accepting bribes and corruption.
So Su Su’s father did die in a political struggle, and with so many factions joining forces?
“So Su Su’s father was killed by them. The Yan faction, Wang faction, and nobles like Prince Yu,” Li Miaozhen said angrily.
“No, there’s a big problem with this letter…” Xu Qi An pointed to a blank space in the secret letter, frowning: “Look, why is there a blank space before the word ‘faction’? What faction was thoroughly purged?”
Before the character for “faction,” there was a blank space, just wide enough for one character.
“Could it be that for some reason, Duke Cao was wary of writing out that faction’s name?” Li Miaozhen guessed.
“If that were the case, he could have simply not written it or used a code name. Besides, if it had already been purged, what was there to be wary of?” Xu Qi An shook his head, rejecting Li Miaozhen’s guess. He pointed at the secret letter and said:
“This looks more like there was a character written here, as if some force forcibly erased it, leaving a blank space.”
Li Miaozhen frowned, making an effort to analyze. After a long while, she erased the question mark from her brain, gave up thinking, and asked:
“What do you think?”
Since there was an experienced and capable detective beside her, why should she rack her brains?
“What can I think? With just this bit of information, it’s not enough for me to form a hypothesis. Hmm, didn’t you say you couldn’t find Su Su’s father’s files in Jiangzhou?
“Then let’s find an opportunity to check the Ministry of Personnel and the Ministry of Justice, or the Court of Judicial Review. We’ll talk more after we find more clues.”
Xu Qi An sighed: “But one thing is certain, Su Su’s father’s death wasn’t simple. It wasn’t just normal corruption and bribery. The factional struggle involved, and the people implicated, are probably numerous. I feel that following this thread, we might uncover many things.”
Immediately, they packed the porcelain into boxes, then stored the boxes in the Ground Book fragment, sweeping clean all the valuable items in this private residence.
Of course, Xu Qi An didn’t forget to take the land and property deeds.
He planned to sell this residence and buy a small courtyard near the Xu mansion to keep the Princess Consort there.
……
The three returned to the Xu mansion. Su Su was sitting on the roof ridge enjoying the scenery, holding a bright red paper umbrella.
In the courtyard, Xu Ling Yin, full from eating and drinking, was practicing punches in imitation, tempering her qi and blood. She even added her sound effects: “Hei-ho! Hei-ho!”
Her two shallow little eyebrows were raised, putting on a fierce look.
Chu Caiwei and Li Na were chatting on the side, occasionally offering guidance.
Su Su sat on the roof ridge watching the fun. The wind ruffled her hair and blew her skirt, making her look like an otherworldly immortal, stunningly beautiful.
Li Miaozhen stood in the courtyard, looked up, and waved: “Su Su, come down. We have something to tell you.”
“Okay!”
Su Su smiled radiantly and floated down lightly.
The little bean pointed at Su Su and said to Li Na and Caiwei: “I want to learn that too.”
“You can’t. You’re too fat,” Li Na and Caiwei rejected outright.
The little bean got angry and ignored them, running to hug her big brother’s leg.
“Big brother, am I fat?” Xu Ling Yin tried to regain her confidence from her big brother.
“You’re not fat. You’re a fatty liver,” Xu Qi An patted her head.
“Mother is Father’s little sweetheart, and I’m Big Brother’s fatty liver, right?” Xu Ling Yin still remembered this conversation. Her big brother had said this to her before.
“That’s right, that’s right.”
The little bean ran back to Li Na and Chu Caiwei, announcing loudly: “Mother is Father’s little sweetheart, and I’m Big Brother’s fatty liver.”
“Shut up!”
Aunt came out of the house, her face red with embarrassment. She grabbed a feather duster and chased Xu Ling Yin around the courtyard. However, she couldn’t catch up…
Aunt was so angry she howled.
Xu Qi An and the others went inside. Li Miaozhen sat Su Su down at the table and said with a serious expression: “We… found some clues about your father’s execution.”
Su Su’s delicate body visibly trembled. The faint smile on her lips slowly faded, and her lively, bright eyes dimmed, then flashed with sorrow and bewilderment.
Her eyes misted over, and she gazed at Xu Qi An in a daze: “You found out?”