The Supervisor’s aura?
Xu Qi An was stunned for a moment. Before he could ask, Yang Qian Huan’s figure vanished from his sight. Immediately after, the desolate bird calls outside disappeared.
Then, the white-robed cultivator’s silhouette returned to the cabin. He still had his back to Xu Qi An but was looking down, seemingly examining something in his palm.
“My teacher sent me a Rebirth Pill,” Yang Qian Huan’s voice was filled with confusion and bewilderment.
“A Rebirth Pill?” Xu Qi An echoed questioningly.
“Oh, do you know the story of a butterfly emerging from its cocoon?” Yang Qian Huan asked.
“That’s not a story, it’s a cliché metaphor now, as familiar as those after-rain bedtime stories. Senior Brother Yang, please get to the point,” Xu Qi An waved his hand, interrupting Yang Qian Huan’s attempt at sounding profound.
Yang Qian Huan’s attempts at being profound were both awkward and uninteresting.
“Oh, right…” Yang Qian Huan didn’t mind. He was actually a free-spirited and gentle person, lacking the arrogance and airs of those high-level cultivators, just a bit fond of trying to sound profound.
“The main ingredient of the Rebirth Pill is the chrysalis of the Nine-Winged Golden Silk Butterfly, combined with a secret formula to refine it into a pill. Taking it can extend one’s lifespan and transform the body.”
“The transformation isn’t just a figure of speech. After taking this pill, one enters a state of deep sleep within half an hour, like a silkworm forming its cocoon. All life force is withdrawn, and the person enters a state of apparent death, even the primordial spirit seems to extinguish.”
“During this process, the old body is like a cocoon, nurturing a new body. That’s why it’s called the Rebirth Pill. However, this medicine is a life-saving elixir, only to be used when the body has suffered severe damage and is on the brink of death.”
Xu Qi An wondered if taking this pill would make one a virgin again. He exclaimed in surprise, “Is it that powerful?”
“It’s miraculous, but not very practical,” Yang Qian Huan shook his head. “Those who can kill me wouldn’t give me a chance to take the Rebirth Pill. High-level martial artists’ battles usually end in complete annihilation.”
“What about taking it normally?” Xu Qi An asked.
“It just extends life and at most improves the body’s condition. While not bad, compared to its high refining cost, it seems rather pointless. My teacher has only refined one batch in sixty years, just three pills.”
Xu Qi An nodded in understanding. This pill’s practical value wasn’t high. He puzzled, “Why did the Supervisor send you this thing…”
As he finished speaking, Xu Qi An froze.
Yang Qian Huan also froze.
After a moment of silence, they spoke in unison:
“Could it be for me?”
“Could it be for you?”
Another silence ensued.
The teacher asked me to go to Yun Province to protect Xu Qi An, and now he sends the Rebirth Pill… But I don’t need this at all, and even Junior Sister Cai Wei, a low-level cultivator, rarely needs it… If it’s not for Xu Qi An, who else could it be for?
Coincidentally, Xu Qi An has just come back to life, and I was worried about how to explain it. And now, the Rebirth Pill arrives…
Thoughts flashed through Yang Qian Huan’s mind.
This Rebirth Pill is clearly tailored for me, perfectly solving the current predicament… And Senior Brother Yang doesn’t need this kind of pill at all… But how did the Supervisor know I needed the Rebirth Pill?
He knows about my current situation, knows that I’ve come back from the dead? Then, the Supervisor probably also knows about Monk Shen Shu’s severed arm inside me?
In that instant, Xu Qi An’s mind raced, quickly reviewing various details of the Sang Bo case.
There were demons hidden in the Courtesans’ Academy, which the Supervisor overlooked.
Monk Shen Shu’s severed arm escaped from Sang Bo, and the Supervisor feigned illness and stood by.
Heng Hui went on a killing spree in the capital, wiping out the Ping Yuan Earl’s mansion. Although he had a talisman concealing his aura, could it really hide from the Supervisor, a first-rank cultivator?
The remnants of the Myriad Demon Realm released Monk Shen Shu’s severed arm but secretly sent it to my residence, letting it parasitize me to nurture the arm… This means that only I in the capital can nurture Monk Shen Shu… And the biggest secret about me is my strange luck.
In other words, the demon clan knows about the peculiarity in my body, but I’ve never had much contact with demons except for beating a reptile and a grey fox.
Wait!
The Supervisor knows about the peculiarity in my body. He gave me the black gold saber and secretly sent me the supreme skill “Heaven and Earth Single Saber Slash”… Damn, the more I think about it, the more terrifying it becomes.
Two guesses arose in his heart: First, the Supervisor is colluding with the demon clan. Second, the Supervisor knows about the demon clan’s schemes but chooses to stand by for some reason.
Xu Qi An leaned more towards the first guess because if it wasn’t the Supervisor who revealed the secret inside him to the demon clan, how would they know about his special nature? He hadn’t had any intimate contact with demons.
If Wei Yuan’s gifts made Xu Qi An grateful and feel at ease, then the Supervisor’s gifts brought to mind a popular saying:
All gifts bestowed by fate have already been marked with a price in the dark.
Yang Qian Huan flicked his finger, and the Rebirth Pill fell into Xu Qi An’s lap. “Take it, and you can return to the capital at ease. If anyone asks, just say it’s a pill gifted by the Imperial Observatory. Knowing that life and death are unpredictable, you took the Rebirth Pill in advance.”
“Then the effects will kick in, and you’ll enter the state of rebirth, appearing dead. Governor Zhang and others will think you died in battle, but you’ll actually just be in a deep sleep.”
“This is the best solution for now. Thank the Supervisor for me,” Xu Qi An picked up the translucent orange Rebirth Pill and held it in his palm. Instead of taking it, he took out several letters and smiled:
“This sleep will probably last until we reach the capital. A smart playboy like me won’t let himself die socially.”
After a pause, Xu Qi An added, “At least not for a second time.”
With that, he released a burst of energy, and the letters shattered into flying scraps of paper.
The official ship sailed through the snow, breaking through thin sheets of ice, slowly heading towards the capital.
…
At the hour of the Snake (9-11 AM), the snow that had been falling for a day and night finally stopped.
The Crown Prince, wrapped in a fox fur cloak, walked through the magnificent scene of pristine white snow. He was handsome and tall, with exceptionally good looks.
Although Xu Qi An had once grumbled that none of Emperor Yuan Jing’s sons could fight… Xu Da Lang’s point of reference wasn’t himself, but his little brother Xu Er Lang.
But in fact, the Crown Prince was a very handsome man. Emperor Yuan Jing was very handsome in his youth, and Noble Consort Chen was a woman of unparalleled beauty. This is why they had a beautiful daughter like Biao Biao. As her older brother, the Crown Prince naturally couldn’t be far behind in looks.
Arriving at Noble Consort Chen’s palace gardens, the Crown Prince undid his fox fur cloak and handed it to the approaching palace maid.
Entering the room, the interior was as warm as spring, with an enchanting fragrance wafting through the air.
Noble Consort Chen, accompanied by two palace maids, came out smiling to greet him: “Why didn’t Lin An come?”
The Crown Prince waved his hand dismissively and sat down, eating and drinking with the help of the palace maids.
“Hmm… this wine tastes good,” the Crown Prince remarked with surprise.
“It’s the Hundred Days of Spring wine sent by the Empress. It’s nourishing and good for your health. Drink more,” Noble Consort Chen smiled kindly, instructing the palace maid to pour more wine.
Mother and son chatted and dined together, the atmosphere harmonious.
Because Emperor Yuan Jing was obsessed with immortality cultivation and abstained from women, the imperial harem had long been a stagnant pond, lonely and boring. Even if the imperial consorts wanted to engage in palace intrigue, they couldn’t find a reason to start a conflict.
Therefore, the Crown Prince and Lin An often came to visit their mother, keeping her company over meals and conversations to alleviate her loneliness.
“Is Lin An unwell? The person I sent to invite her reported that Lin An was hiding in her room and wouldn’t see anyone,” Noble Consort Chen frowned slightly.
“Ah, her…” The Crown Prince sighed. “Mother, do you think Lin An is also at the age for marriage?”
Noble Consort Chen was taken aback, then nodded helplessly: “His Majesty is obsessed with the pursuit of immortality and pays no attention to your marriages. The Empress, as the legal mother, lives in seclusion and doesn’t even care about the Fourth Prince and Huai Qing’s affairs, let alone Lin An’s.”
The Crown Prince chewed his food and nodded: “I think we should arrange Lin An’s marriage as soon as possible.”
Noble Consort Chen carefully examined the Crown Prince, frowning, “Why does the Crown Prince say this?”
The Crown Prince didn’t answer, silently drinking his wine.
He was absolutely certain that Lin An had developed some feelings for that bronze gong. At the age when young girls start to feel the first stirrings of love, Lin An, being the kind of willful and capricious girl who was actually simple-hearted, was most easily deceived in matters of the heart.
Usually, no one dared to get close to her, so no signs had appeared before.
Once a man who suited her taste appeared, those feelings would grow and flourish.
Lin An’s recent melancholy was evidence of this.
Fortunately, that bronze gong had already died in the line of duty, but the Crown Prince also realized that Lin An had reached the age for marriage.
“Drink less, drink less…” Noble Consort Chen frowned and advised.
Thinking about these matters and worrying about his sister’s emotional issues, the Crown Prince unknowingly drank too much. He felt a burning sensation in his lower abdomen.
The pretty palace maids around him now seemed alluring.
“Mother, I’ll take my leave first,” the Crown Prince hiccupped and stood up to bid farewell.
The cold wind hit his face, and the fresh air outside made the Crown Prince feel much better.
He returned with his guards. On the way, he saw a palace maid waiting by the roadside. Upon seeing the Crown Prince and his entourage, she immediately came forward and bowed:
“Your Highness, Consort Fu requests your presence for a meeting.”
…
Shao Yin Palace.
Biao Biao pushed open the window. In her view, the pristine white snow covered the entire courtyard.
Her eyes were swollen like peaches. She had just been reading the letter sent by that dog slave and had cried again while reading it.
The wording and sentences in the letter, formal yet interspersed with playful humor, made her imagine that dog slave’s appearance and smile as she read it.
But Lin An knew that she would never see such a smile again. That person had died in Yun Province. He would lie in a cold coffin, floating over thousands of miles, quietly and silently returning to the capital.
What made her even sadder was that with her status as a princess, she couldn’t even attend his funeral.
The cold wind blew on her face, chilling her to the bone. She reached up to touch her face and found that tears had come again.
“Why are you crying? It’s just a dog slave who died, just a dog slave…” Biao Biao angrily wiped away her tears, but the more she wiped, the more they came.
“Your Highness, Your Highness…”
An urgent cry came from outside, and Lin An’s personal palace maid burst through the door with a loud bang.
Her face was blue from the cold wind, and her thick cotton shoes were covered in dirty water and snow.
Lin An quickly turned away, hastily wiping her tears, but the maid’s next words left her stunned.
“The Crown Prince has been imprisoned.”
It was like a bolt from the blue. Lin An gasped in shock, “What?!”
…
In the Imperial Study.
Emperor Yuan Jing sat on the dragon throne with a gloomy expression. The Minister of Justice, Wei Yuan, and the Minister of Punishments stood in the hall. These three represented the highest judicial authorities in Great Feng.
Wei Yuan was the Left Censor-in-Chief of the Censorate.
“Your Majesty, this is the coroner’s report. Please review it,” the Minister of Punishments handed over the autopsy report of Consort Fu.
The Chief Eunuch took the report and passed it to Emperor Yuan Jing, who merely glanced at it before asking expressionlessly:
“Was Consort Fu violated?”
“This…” the Minister of Punishments said in a low voice, “The coroner only did a cursory examination, not daring to disturb Consort Fu’s remains. Your Majesty, perhaps you could ask the palace matrons to conduct a more thorough examination.”
Emperor Yuan Jing said in a deep voice, “Where is that beast?”
“The Crown Prince has been confined to his chambers, awaiting Your Majesty’s decision.”
“Send him to the Court of Judicial Review,” Emperor Yuan Jing swept a sharp gaze over the three men. “I want results within three days.”
“Your Majesty, this is a grave matter. Three days may not be enough,” said the Minister of Justice.
“I’m only giving you three days,” Emperor Yuan Jing said coldly.
“Your Majesty, Lord Wei has many talented people under him and has solved many major cases. Perhaps we should transfer this case to the Censorate,” the Minister of Punishments suggested.
The Minister of Justice thought this was a good idea.
“Talented people? Who does the Minister refer to?” Wei Yuan calmly looked at the two ministers, then turned to Emperor Yuan Jing: “The one who could handle this has already died in the line of duty in Yun Province.”
The Minister of Punishments and the Minister of Justice exchanged a glance. That bronze gong who had solved many strange cases had perished in Yun Province. Just a few days ago, they had secretly rejoiced at this news.
Now that the person they could push the responsibility to was gone, the Minister of Punishments and the Minister of Justice suddenly felt conflicted.
Consort Fu was dead, allegedly after being violated by the Crown Prince. In her shame and despair, she had jumped from the tower, breaking through the railing and falling to her death.
The outline of the case was as follows — This afternoon, the Crown Prince had returned from drinking with Noble Consort Chen and had somehow ended up at Consort Fu’s palace.
Then the incident of Consort Fu falling to her death in disheveled clothes occurred.
This matter not only concerned the face of the royal family, but if the Crown Prince’s crime was confirmed, it would involve a dispute over the foundation of the state. The interests involved behind the scenes were too complex, and neither the Court of Judicial Review nor the Ministry of Punishments wanted to handle this hot potato.
Emperor Yuan Jing frowned. He knew Wei Yuan was referring to Xu Qi An, the bronze gong who had died in Yun Province. Usually, he had found that bronze gong annoying and dislikable.
But now that there was a case, Emperor Yuan Jing suddenly realized that the bronze gong had actually been very useful. It was too unfortunate that he had died.
“Bang!”
Emperor Yuan Jing slammed the table and cursed, “Our Great Feng is full of talents. Without one bronze gong, are we incapable of solving a case?”
“We beg Your Majesty’s forgiveness,” the three ministers bowed simultaneously.
At this moment, a eunuch hurriedly approached the outside of the Imperial Study, not crossing the threshold, bowing with his head lowered.
This indicated that there was a matter outside. Emperor Yuan Jing’s position directly faced the door, so he could see the eunuch, but whether to summon him or not depended on Emperor Yuan Jing’s decision.
“What is it outside?” Emperor Yuan Jing’s tone revealed suppressed anger.
The Chief Eunuch quickly beckoned the eunuch outside to enter.
“Reporting to Your Majesty, Princess Lin An requests an audience,” the eunuch said.
It was clear without thinking that Princess Lin An had come at this time for the Crown Prince’s matter.
Emperor Yuan Jing pinched the bridge of his nose, “Tell her to go back. I won’t see her for the next few days.”
…
The eunuch left with the order and came to the outside of the Imperial Study. At the bottom of the high stairs, wrapped in a red fox fur cloak, with round cheeks and a charming demeanor, Lin An was anxiously waiting.
Two personal maids accompanied her.
“Second Princess, His Majesty won’t see you. You should return,” the eunuch said in a low voice.
Lin An bit her lip, stubbornly refusing to leave.
She waited and waited outside the Imperial Study. Soon, the heads of the three judicial departments came out. The Minister of Punishments exclaimed:
“Your Highness, it’s freezing cold. Don’t be stubborn, take care of your precious self, don’t catch a cold.”
The Minister of Justice echoed, “It’s coldest when the snow melts. Your constitution can’t withstand such cold. What are you two standing there for? Quickly take Her Highness back.”
Lin An shook her head, refusing to leave.
The two maids were at a loss.
Wei Yuan wrapped his robe tighter and walked up to Lin An. Her nose was red from the cold, but because of her fair skin, it appeared pink, making her look somewhat cute.
The man in the blue robe spoke gently, “I have a few questions for Your Highness.”
Wei Yuan was one of the few officials who dared to refer to himself as “I” in front of the royal family.
Lin An’s slightly dull eyes moved a bit, “Please ask, Lord Wei.”
“Do the Princess and the Crown Prince often visit Noble Consort Chen?”
“My brother and I often go to keep our mother company.”
“Do you drink there?”
“Yes.”
“Do you often get drunk?”
“Not much, but my brother does tend to drink too much.”
“Have you had any interactions with Consort Fu in the past? Does the Crown Prince often wander to other parts of the harem?”
“Of course not,” Lin An said loudly. “My brother knows he’s not the eldest son, he’s always been careful. How could he possibly do such an outrageous thing?”
Wei Yuan bowed and turned to leave.
The Minister of Punishments and the Minister of Justice followed.
The cold wind howled, and Lin An shuddered. Biting her lip, her shoulders were thin, her red clothes like fire, contrasting with the pristine white snow. The scene was both beautiful and desolate.
This wait lasted for two hours.
As her body gradually froze, her legs lost feeling, and her lips turned blue, Lin An felt as if her heart had been frozen too.
“Why are you still here?” A familiar voice came from behind.
She stiffly turned her neck to look back. It was the annoying Huai Qing.
Huai Qing was wearing a beautiful white palace dress embroidered with vibrant plum blossoms. With her upright breasts and slim waist, her cold temperament perfectly blended with the snow-white scenery.
She looked like an otherworldly fairy untainted by mortal dust.
Although there was no bronze mirror, Biao Biao knew she looked like a pitiful quail shivering in the cold wind.
The difference was stark.
“Are you here to laugh at me?” Biao Biao turned her head back, not letting her tears fall.
Huai Qing’s expression remained cold as she looked at the two maids and said, “Is this how you serve the Second Princess? Someone, drag them away and beat them to death.”
“Yes!” The guards behind Huai Qing immediately stepped forward.
“Stop!” Lin An suddenly turned back, intending to intervene, but she had overestimated herself. Her legs were stiff from the cold, and she stumbled, falling to the ground.
Lin An panicked and cried out, “Huai Qing, you dare kill my people?”
Huai Qing walked over, looking down at her from above, and said coldly, “For maids who have failed in their duties, even if I kill them now, Father Emperor won’t say a word to me.”
“I’ll give you two choices. Either continue standing here, and I won’t bother with you, but I’ll execute these people. Or get out of here and stop making a fool of yourself.”
Biao Biao stood up with the help of her maids. Perhaps it was the refusal to lose face in front of Huai Qing, she wiped away her tears, pushed away the two maids, and stared at Huai Qing:
“I don’t believe my brother would do such a thing.”
“What does that have to do with me?” Huai Qing said coldly.
Biao Biao choked for a moment, bit her lip, and stumbled forward. After a few steps, she stopped, not turning back, and said reluctantly:
“If he were still here, he would surely prove my brother’s innocence.”
The red-clad figure stumbled away.
Watching Lin An’s retreating figure grow distant, Princess Huai Qing let out a breath.
“Your Highness, the Second Princess doesn’t appreciate your kindness. Why bother?” The guard captain said helplessly.
“Do I need her appreciation?” Huai Qing snorted coldly.
“His Majesty is truly heartless, letting the Second Princess stand out here for so long,” the guard captain said.
Huai Qing’s eyes suddenly turned sharp: “Go back and slap yourself fifty times.”
The guard captain suddenly realized his mistake, breaking out in a cold sweat despite the winter chill. “This servant deserves death.”
…
As the snow melted, the official ship carrying the remains of the fallen night watchmen arrived at the customs post outside the capital. After inspection, it entered the capital along the canal and docked at the city pier.
The three bronze gongs on the official ship unloaded the coffins containing their colleagues’ bodies, hired several cargo carts and some porters.
Silver Gong Min Shan squinted his eyes, standing on the pier, gazing at the still prosperous capital. Unexpectedly, a feeling of the vicissitudes of life and the changing of things welled up in his heart.
This round trip to Yun Province had cost them several more old friends.
The vicissitudes of human life, the changes of fortune, left one helpless.
On the way back to the yamen, after handing over the five coffins to the department responsible for receiving the fallen, Silver Gong Min Shan entered a side hall and poured himself a cup of hot water.
In the inner hall where the coffins were placed, several clerks pushed open the coffins. A faint smell of decay wafted out.
The freezing weather had preserved the bodies relatively well, but they had still begun to decompose.
The clerks, accustomed to corpses, had taken pills to ward off evil spirits and toxins. They wore sweat towels to cover their noses and mouths, verifying identities while chatting idly.
“Three silver gongs died at once, such a heavy loss.”
“Yun Province was in rebellion, this is actually a small loss. But it’s a pity about Bronze Gong Xu.”
“Indeed, although he had only been in service for a few short months, he was already a notable figure in the yamen. Who doesn’t know that Lord Wei valued him? And now he’s gone just like that.”
“Hey, what do you think the courtesans from the Courtesans’ Academy will do when they hear about Bronze Gong Xu’s death in the line of duty?”
“What loyalty can you expect from women in brothels?”
“But Fu Xiang was Bronze Gong Xu’s lover, wasn’t she?”
“Why do even you know that Fu Xiang was Bronze Gong Xu’s lover?”
“Who in the capital doesn’t know?”
“Hm… Bronze Gong Xu’s body is the best preserved, the smell of decay is barely noticeable.”
“Let me see… Oh my, the skin breaks at a touch. Cover it back up, cover it back up.”
An incense stick later, a clerk who had washed his hands and face found Min Shan and said, “Silver Gong Min, the number of personal effects matches the list, and identities have been verified. You may leave now.”
Min Shan nodded slightly and turned to leave.
At the Hao Qi Tower.
The sound of footsteps came up the stairs. A clerk in black robes ascended, whispered a few words to his colleague guarding outside, then turned and went back down.
The guard outside entered and respectfully reported, “Lord Wei, the official ship from Yun Province has arrived. The remains of three silver gongs and two bronze gongs have been sent back to the yamen. Identities have been verified, no discrepancies.”
Wei Yuan looked up, remained silent for a moment, then nodded and said, “Send them to their respective families.”
He didn’t mention anything about personal effects, even though he knew the fragment of the Earth Manual was with Xu Qi An.
…
At the Star-Observing Tower, on the Eight Trigrams Platform.
A white-robed figure appeared on the platform, accompanied by a clear and prolonged recitation: “Holding the bright moon, plucking the stars, in this world…”
The voice suddenly stopped, unable to continue.
A few seconds later, Yang Qian Huan said wearily, “Teacher, I’m back.”
“Mm,” the Supervisor didn’t turn around.
The master and disciple stood back to back, without embracing.
“Xu Qi An has successfully returned to the capital. This trip to Yun Province was thrilling but safe,” Yang Qian Huan said. Seeing that the Supervisor didn’t speak, he asked:
“What exactly is the deal with Xu Qi An? How can he come back from the dead, and why do you value him so much?
“Also, there was actually a third-rank cultivator in Yun Province, well, at least third-rank. But apart from our Imperial Observatory, where else in the world are there cultivators of such level?”
The Supervisor chuckled, “You don’t need to concern yourself with Xu Qi An’s matters. Your teacher has his own plans.”
Junior Sister Cai Wei was right, you’re just a cunning old man, rotten to the core… Yang Qian Huan grumbled inwardly.
“As for that fellow in Yun Province, you don’t need to worry about it. Even if your teacher told you, you wouldn’t be able to hear it,” the Supervisor said.
As Yang Qian Huan was about to leave, he heard the Supervisor’s helpless voice from behind: “Help your teacher release Song Qing.”
“What did Song Qing do this time?”
“He made a person.”
“…” Yang Qian Huan marveled, “To develop alchemy to such a level, Song Qing must be the first in history.”
Then he criticized, “But his personality flaws are too great. Stubborn, unwilling to advance.”
You’re not much better… The Supervisor’s mouth twitched.
“Keep a close eye on him for me, don’t let him do anything foolish again. In a few days, your Fifth Junior Sister will come out of seclusion. With your Second Senior Brother not in the capital, you need to take care of your junior brothers and sisters,” the Supervisor said.
“Fifth Junior Sister is coming out of seclusion? Has she also successfully advanced to the fourth rank and become an Array Master like me?” Yang Qian Huan asked excitedly.
“Not yet.”
“If that’s the case, doesn’t Fifth Junior Sister value her life?” Yang Qian Huan was shocked.
“Her opportunity for advancement has come,” the Supervisor said meaningfully.
…
At the Xu Mansion.
White mourning banners hung on the plaque above the main gate, and red lanterns had been replaced with white ones.
After receiving the pension, the Xu family had started preparing for the funeral, but not knowing the exact time when the eldest son’s remains would be returned to the capital, the family members hadn’t yet put on mourning clothes.
These past few days, the atmosphere in the mansion had been very heavy. The master had become taciturn, the mistress often shed tears, the second young master tried to remain calm but often spaced out. Miss Ling Yue had lost all her spirit. Miss Ling Yin’s face had become as thin as a melon seed.
For the first two days, the little one often woke up crying in the middle of the night, clamoring for his big brother.
A child’s world is very small, just a few family members. When one suddenly disappears, the world becomes incomplete.
That morning, the Xu family finally received the remains of the eldest son. He lay in a coffin, brought back to the mansion on a cart.
Xu Ping Zhi, upon receiving the news, rushed out like a madman. But when he saw the coffin on the cart, he suddenly dared not approach.
Xu Ping Zhi walked to the coffin’s edge, reached out his hand, and pressed on the lid…
The bronze gong responsible for delivering the remains glanced at him and said softly, “Master Xu, let’s talk inside the mansion.”
Xu Ping Zhi snapped back to reality, took a deep breath, and nodded.
Once they saw the eldest son’s remains, the family might not be able to hold it together. Wailing at the main gate would be undignified for both the living and the dead.
The coffin was brought to the mourning hall. The atmosphere made the night watchman feel suffocated, and he didn’t want to stay long. He cupped his hands and said, “Master Xu, I’ll take my leave now.”
Xu Ping Zhi responded hoarsely, “No need to see me out.”
In the mourning hall, Aunt, Second Young Master, Xu Ling Yue and her sister silently stared at the coffin. No one spoke, as if waiting for something.
Xu Ping Zhi knew that as the head of the family, there were things he had to do. For instance, being the first to face his nephew’s remains, to confront that surging grief.
The coffin lid was slowly pushed open. Xu Qi An lay inside, his skin dry and lusterless, his lips pale.
He had been dead for a long time.
That last shred of hope in their hearts shattered. Although they had mentally prepared themselves, at this moment, the tidal wave of grief still engulfed the entire family.
Aunt and Xu Ling Yue clung to the coffin, wailing loudly. Second Uncle Xu could barely stand, his lips trembling incessantly. Second Young Master Xu turned his head away, refusing to look at his elder brother’s remains, his hand clenched into a fist inside his sleeve, knuckles turning white.
Little Xu Ling Yin’s small body leaned slightly forward, her head craning, hands spread behind her back, letting out “waa waa waa” cries towards the coffin.
So noisy… who the hell is disturbing my sleep… Xu Qi An thought to himself.
He felt as if he were floating in boundless void, neither in heaven nor on earth, with nothing to rely on. All he could hear were the chaotic sounds of crying.
I must be back home… Is that Aunt’s crying? Heh, Aunt actually crying for me? Isn’t her catchphrase usually: “Xu Ning Yan, you little brat, you must have been my creditor in my past life, coming to collect debts in this life…”? Xu Qi An thought hazily.
He could distinguish Aunt’s and his two sisters’ cries among the weeping.
The crying continued for a long time, then turned into sobs, then into sniffles.
Time passed, and night fell.
Xu Qi An learned this from the conversation between Second Uncle and Second Young Master.
The Xu family’s relatives and friends would come to pay their respects to Xu Da Lang’s remains tomorrow. Tonight was for the family to keep vigil.
This should be my second death, the first was alcohol poisoning… Damn, I didn’t delete the 120G of “wife” files, just thinking about it is embarrassing… Fortunately, this world doesn’t have computers or phones. Oh, this world has brothels and courtesan houses, so those hard drive “wives” have no use here.
Tomorrow, the whole village will come to my house for a meal… Huai Qing and Lin An are princesses, their status makes it inconvenient, they probably won’t come… Cai Wei will definitely come, if she doesn’t, I’ll divorce her when I wake up… Will Fu Xiang come? Oh, she probably doesn’t know about my “death” yet.
“Mother, go back to your room and rest. Brother and I will stay here to keep vigil for Big Brother,” Xu Ling Yue’s tearful voice said.
Then Aunt spoke: “Your brother has been floating on the river for so long. Now that he’s home, we can’t let him be lonely again. I’m fine, I’ll stay here.”
“When your father handed him to me, he was just this big,” she gestured. “I had no experience taking care of children then. Your father was just a common soldier, we couldn’t afford a wet nurse. I boiled goat’s milk for him to drink, busy taking care of him day and night…”
At this point, Aunt was overcome with grief.
Xu Qi An suddenly realized that Aunt actually loved him, even though later their aunt-nephew relationship had become strained and unpleasant.
Xu Qi An felt somewhat moved.
“The older he got, the more annoying he became. Among you three, he was the ugliest, the most troublesome. Whenever I showed concern for you and Second Young Master, he would get jealous, thinking I didn’t treat him well, that he was a motherless child…”
“Stop it,” Second Uncle Xu angrily said.
“Why can’t I say it?” Aunt screamed. “I raised him from infancy, and now he’s gone just like that. If I had known, I might as well have raised a rat instead.”
She burst into loud sobs.
“Master, Madam,” Old Zhang, the doorkeeper, came running, standing outside the mourning hall, he said: “There’s a young lady outside, saying she wants to keep vigil for the eldest young master.”
Who?
This question flashed through Xu Qi An’s mind, as well as through the minds of Second Uncle, Aunt, and the others.
“She says her name is Fu Xiang,” Old Zhang said.
Second Uncle Xu and Xu Da Lang’s faces darkened simultaneously.
Not visiting brothels Xu Qi An, righteous gentleman Xu Er Lang, family-loving husband Xu Ping Zhi… Xu Qi An laughed bitterly in his heart.
Second Uncle Xu glanced at his wife, nodded slightly: “I’ll go out to meet her.”
Aunt watched her husband’s retreating figure, wiped her tears, and asked her son beside her: “Er Lang, who is this Fu Xiang?”
Just from the name, she could tell it wasn’t a girl from a respectable family.
Second Young Master Xu, his voice thick with emotion, said: “Fu Xiang is the top courtesan from the Courtesans’ Academy. It’s said she greatly admired Big Brother’s poetic talent.”
The refined and sensitive Xu Ling Yue frowned slightly. Coming so late at night, and wanting to keep vigil for Big Brother, the relationship was probably not ordinary.
Second Uncle Xu met Fu Xiang in the front hall. She wore a white long dress, a small white flower in her hair, dressed extremely plainly.
The moment he saw Fu Xiang, Second Uncle Xu’s irritation suddenly dissipated, because this woman’s expression was sorrowful, her eyes red-rimmed, the grief in her brow couldn’t be faked.
“Miss Fu Xiang, why have you come so late at night?” Second Uncle Xu asked in a deep voice.
“Master Xu, I want to keep vigil for Young Master Xu…” Fu Xiang rose and bowed.
“This is not appropriate,” Second Uncle Xu refused on the spot.
Although the Xu family wasn’t a scholarly family, they were still respectable people with rules. Fu Xiang had no name or status, what right did she have to keep vigil for the eldest son?
“When I entered the mansion, I sent away the Courtesans’ Academy’s escorts. I can’t return to the inner city now, and the outer city isn’t safe. If Master Xu insists on driving me away, then I’ll go,” Fu Xiang said in a soft voice.
… Xu Ping Zhi sighed. This woman indeed had deep feelings for the eldest son.
When they came to the mourning hall and Fu Xiang saw Xu Qi An’s remains, she finally broke down despite trying to stay composed. She had just received the news of Xu Qi An’s death in the line of duty from the madam at the Courtesans’ Academy today.
She had fainted on the spot, and after waking up, she cried for a long time before deciding to come and see Xu Qi An off one last time.
Xu Ling Yue, listening to Fu Xiang’s heart-wrenching cries, suddenly realized the relationship between this woman and her elder brother.
Fu Xiang didn’t stay at the Xu mansion to keep vigil, she left very sensibly. Xu Ping Zhi had wanted to let her stay the night, not realizing that Fu Xiang’s earlier words were a lie. How could the Courtesans’ Academy let a top courtesan out of their sight?
Fu Xiang had said that because she was afraid the Xu family wouldn’t allow her to see Xu Qi An one last time.
…
The next day, the Xu family’s relatives and friends came to pay their respects.
Xu Qi An’s grandfather’s lineage only had two sons. The Xu family’s eldest had died in battle twenty years ago, and now his son had also died in the line of duty. This branch of the family line was now extinct.
The Xu clan members sighed with regret.
Besides the Xu clan members, Xu Qi An’s former superiors, County Magistrate Zhu of Changle County and Captain Wang, along with other constables, also came.
After paying respects to the remains, County Magistrate Zhu sighed, “Ning Yan died so young, what a pity, what a pity indeed.”
Captain Wang and the others wore expressions of grief and regret.
“I wonder if Ning Yan left any last words?” County Magistrate Zhu asked.
Xu Ping Zhi shook his head.
If possible, I’d like to experience a Ghana pallbearers’ funeral… Xu Qi An made a somewhat humorous quip. His consciousness was gradually recovering, but his body was still in a state of apparent death.
“Miss Cai Wei, what are you doing?”
Suddenly, Second Young Master Xu’s angry voice came.
Then, it was Chu Cai Wei’s voice: “I, I just wanted to make sure…”
Her voice sounded somewhat sad.
Golden Gong Nan Gong Qian Rou and Zhang Kai Tai also came to pay their respects. While viewing the remains, Old Zhang sighed and said, “Such a heaven-blessed talent cut short midway, no wonder Lord Wei has been in low spirits these days.”
Zhang Kai Tai was one of the few Golden Gongs who knew about Xu Qi An’s talents.
“Bad person.”
Xu Ling Yin roared at Nan Gong Qian Rou, and was quickly taken away by Lu E.
At this moment, Xu Qi An suddenly heard an exclamation: “This humble servant pays respects to Princess Huai Qing.”
The mourning hall fell silent for a moment, then voices calling out “Greetings to the Princess” rose one after another.
The Xu clan members were all stunned. What was going on? A princess of the current dynasty had come to the eldest son’s funeral?
At this moment, the Xu clan members’ feelings of regret were stronger than ever before. It turned out that the eldest son even knew a princess. If he hadn’t met with misfortune, he would surely have risen to great heights in the future.
The Xu family might have even become a great clan in the capital. By then, they would have brought glory to their ancestors, and the whole clan could have risen to prosperity.
Biao Biao didn’t come, hm, she’s a golden canary kept in a cage, not as free as Huai Qing.
My lotus ladies, three of them gathered at once…
Xu Da Lang inexplicably remembered a joke he had seen in his previous life: A rich second-generation son died unexpectedly. On the day of his funeral, all his girlfriends came. This one had an abortion for him; that one was pregnant with his child; this one was only eighteen but had been with him for three years; that one had abandoned her husband and children for him…
Gradually, the funeral turned into a denunciation meeting for the rich second-generation son.
Fortunately, the rich second-generation son was truly dead.
“You absolutely must not talk about the letters, otherwise there’s no point in me coming back to life,” Xu Qi An thought anxiously.
Speak of the devil.
Chu Cai Wei said somewhat sadly: “When he was in Qing Province, he wrote me a letter, telling me about the local delicacies. After reading the letter, I was so angry I wanted to stab him with chopsticks, but I never thought he would really die.”
Hearing this, Xu Ling Yue raised her head in surprise, sniffled her tear-reddened nose, and choked out, “Big Brother wrote to me too.”
Huai Qing said calmly, “I received one as well.”
After speaking, the three women fell into silence simultaneously.
Xu Qi An: “…”
Huai Qing’s heart stirred, her gaze flickered, and she asked, “Did he…”
Just then, a shrill cat’s cry came, attracting the attention of everyone inside and outside the mourning hall.
An orange cat, its tail straight up, pushed through the crowd, entered the mourning hall, and pounced towards Xu Qi An’s coffin.
A Xu clan member cried out in alarm: “Quick, stop the cat! If a cat jumps over a dead person, they’ll come back to life!”
The other Xu clan members’ faces changed dramatically.
Huai Qing, Lin An, Chu Cai Wei, and others who were closest, didn’t believe in this superstition, so they didn’t stop it immediately.
“Meow~~”
The orange cat flew over Xu Qi An’s head, letting out a piercing cry. A voice exploded in Xu Qi An’s mind: “Xu Qi An, wake up!”
It’s Daoist Jin Lian… Xu Qi An’s primordial spirit shook, feeling his soul begin to merge and align with his physical body.
The next moment, he regained sensation, once again having the solid feeling of controlling his body.
He felt an itch on his face, so he raised his hand to scratch, pulling off a large patch of dried blood and flesh.
I can move… Xu Qi An was delighted, and sat up in the coffin.
Inside and outside the mourning hall, dead silence fell.
He, he, he’s risen?!
This scene was shocking and terrifying in everyone’s eyes.
“M-m-my God… He really came back to life!!!”
Someone started screaming.