Li Ling Su, who had been planning to go out anyway, hurried after Xu Qi An to leave the inn together.

“Your appearance is too eye-catching,” Xu Qi An raised his hand in warning.

My cursed charm… Li Ling Su habitually grumbled to himself, then suddenly choked, glancing at Xu Qian’s back with some dejection.

“Senior, I haven’t gathered materials for disguise yet.”

Just as he finished speaking, he saw Xu Qian toss something over. Catching it, he found it was a brocade pouch embroidered with orchids.

The old player of romance twitched his nostrils, certain this was a woman’s item…

“A storage artifact?”

Li Ling Su’s eyes lit up with joy.

As the Holy Son of the Heaven Sect, he originally had two storage artifacts – one given by his sect and one being the Book of Earth fragment.

The sect’s storage artifact had been confiscated by the Dong Fang sisters, and the Book of Earth fragment was given to his meddlesome junior sister Li Miao Zhen.

“Thank you, Senior.”

Li Ling Su was overjoyed. Having a storage artifact was crucial for traveling the jianghu.

But storage artifacts were too precious – even as the Heaven Sect’s Holy Son, losing one meant serious consequences.

Only术士 (Artificers) could mass-produce these things.

“There’s a veiled hat inside,” Xu Qi An said plainly.

Li Ling Su took out the veiled hat and put it on, sneaking a glance at Xu Qian’s appearance. A thought struck him:

“Xu Qian, which one is your true face?”

“Senior, this isn’t your true appearance, is it?” Li Ling Su probed with certainty in his voice.

Previously, he had realized that Xu Qian was skilled at disguise, and his ordinary appearance might not be his true face.

But he had no proof, and as the Holy Son, he hadn’t cared about it then.

Until he saw Luo Yu Heng two days ago and saw the true face of Great Feng’s most beautiful woman, Li Ling Su could no longer ignore it. Now he was incredibly curious about Xu Qian’s true appearance.

“Don’t investigate my identity. It won’t do you any good,” Xu Qi An said calmly.

Is that a threat… Li Ling Su pouted, “Senior, I thought we were friends.”

Precisely because we’re friends, I don’t want you to know my identity and end up embarrassingly digging a two-bedroom apartment with your foot… Xu Qi’an thought to himself.

Remembering how the Holy Son had been respectfully deferential as a junior the whole way, and his dark-circled appearance when suffering from kidney deficiency, when his identity was revealed in the future, Li Ling Su would die from social embarrassment.

The two walked casually on the street. Throughout the process, Xu Qi An kept holding the Book of Earth fragment in his sleeve.

He was scanning the surroundings – if any Dragon Qi host appeared nearby, he could detect them immediately.

Li Ling Su walked leisurely with his hands behind his back, clearly more confident than before.

This confidence came not from charm, but from the recovery of his cultivation.

…

At Da Jiao Square, the former city guard barracks.

Ji Xuan received a Fourth Grade spy, who was in charge of Yong Province.

“You certainly are busy with many affairs,” Ji Xuan held a teacup, gently blowing on it while examining the spy wrapped in a robe and wearing a hood.

Before this, they had dealt with the fourth-grade spy from Zhang Province. The reason they were forced to operate in another’s territory was that Yong Province’s spy was too busy with affairs to handle the matters of the Buddhist sect and Xu Qian.

The spy laughed softly, his gaze sweeping over Xu Yuan Shuang and Xu Yuan Huai on the other side, saying: “I am ‘Chen’ among the thirteen Fourth Grade spies.

“What I’ve been investigating recently has some connection to Xu Qian.”

Hearing this, the siblings’ expressions changed slightly, and Xu Yuan Huai ground his teeth.

A gleam flashed in Ji Xuan’s eyes.

“Before Lei Province, Xu Qian had come to Yong Province. This story starts with the underground palace outside Yong Province…”

Spy Chen detailed the underground palace incident to Ji Xuan and the Xu siblings.

“Later, the Gong Sun family and Dragon God Fort sealed off the underground palace, not letting anyone approach. Rumors spread that they were jointly hoarding the treasures inside.

“After much secret investigation, I discovered that a man called Xu Qian appeared on the night the Gong Sun family explored the underground palace.”

Ji Xuan narrowed his eyes and said slowly, “The Gong Sun family knew Xu Qian early on.”

Xu Yuan Huai gritted his teeth, “He dares to trick us. Seventh Brother, I’ll go to the Gong Sun family right now.”

Ji Xuan raised his hand to signal patience and asked, “What’s the story with the underground palace?”

Spy Chen paused for a few seconds, his voice tinged with slight fear:

“The reason I’m only meeting you now is because I was investigating the underground palace. It’s an ancient tomb built with green granite, so ancient it’s hard to imagine. Inside is sealed an ancient corpse.”

Ancient corpse?

Ji Xuan frowned, “Is it dangerous?”

Spy Chen nodded: “I’ve reported to the Temple Master. His response was to not meddle in it. Additionally, the Temple Master said this resolved one of his doubts.”

As for what doubt, the spy didn’t say, because he didn’t know either.

The brilliant Xu Yuan Shuang frowned slightly, “The behavior of the Gong Sun family and Dragon God Fort doesn’t make sense.”

Given the jianghu forces’ usual conduct, they would typically push such matters to the officials rather than expend massive manpower to seal off the mountain range containing the underground palace.

In all of Great Feng’s jianghu, only the Martial Arts Alliance of Sword Province was keen on maintaining order and acting as jianghu law enforcers.

“According to my intelligence, Xu Qian asked them to do this.”

“Xu Qian?!” Xu Yuan Huai raised his eyebrows.

The spy nodded without further explanation.

He knew Xu Qian’s true identity but had no intention of telling the siblings. Although the Temple Master hadn’t expressed any position on this matter.

The spies’ tacit agreement to keep silent mainly stemmed from two concerns. First: if the siblings had positive feelings toward that brother and disapproved of their father’s cruel treatment of his son, telling them would only cause trouble.

Second: if the siblings harbored hostility toward Xu Qi An, given that Silver Badge Xu’s character, he would still execute them if necessary. And if anything happened to the siblings, the spies would bear inescapable guilt.

Xu Yuan Huai immediately said, “I’ll go to the Gong Sun family first.”

“No need!”

Ji Xuan waved his hand, stopping Xu Yuan Huai’s impulsive behavior, analyzing: “Perhaps this is Xu Qian’s test. If we go to the Gong Sun family, he can deduce much information from our reaction to this matter.”

“More importantly, unless you can bring high-ranking Buddhist monks with you, you’d just be going to your death. Don’t forget, he has a Third Grade Artificer by his side. The Gong Sun family isn’t worth taking such a risk.”

As they were talking, Liu Hong Mian walked in with a swaying waist, her eyes brimming with charm, saying: “The Gong Sun family sent word that they found that guy at Six Gambling House.”

“That guy” was how this team referred to the Dragon Qi host from Qing Province.

Sent by the Gong Sun family… Ji Xuan asked, “Any more detailed intelligence?”

“No.”

“Gather information immediately.”

Spy Chen promptly said: “Leave it to me, Yong Province is my territory.”

…

On the arch of Gong Sun Manor, a sparrow perched silently, watching the mountain path direction without moving.

[At another location, at a teahouse near the bustling market…]

Xu Qi An and Li Ling Su sat at a table. The former ordered a pot of wolfberry tea with an extra serving, while the latter opted for proper Maojian tea.

Looking at Xu Qi An’s wolfberry tea, Li Ling Su felt sour inside.

After walking aimlessly for two hours without results, Xu Qi An found a teahouse to rest and check the letters sent by his “fish” in the pond.

Without particularly choosing, he picked up the first letter from the outer layer, signed by Lin An.

“You dog servant:

The Crown Prince’s brother has ascended to the throne, I’m so happy! After suffering for many years, he finally sits on the dragon throne, full of energy. He says he wants to sweep away all ailments and restore Great Feng to its peak from twenty years ago.

Mother Consort isn’t very happy because the Crown Prince’s brother refuses to depose the Empress Dowager, reasoning that Wei Yuan’s faction still exists and he needs them to work. Moreover, Prime Minister Wang doesn’t support deposing the Empress Dowager either, at least not for the next few years…”

She briefly described the court situation before chattering about her own life.

“I can now walk freely in the palace, going out whenever I want. Before, it was difficult to sneak out to see you, but now there are no restrictions – yet you’re no longer in the capital.

Simu and Second Young Master Xu are engaged, I’m so envious of her…”

The hint was very obvious.

“When will you return to the capital? This winter is very cold, remember to wear more clothes. When you see interesting things, remember to buy them for me, and keep them until you return to the capital. You hateful dog servant, you haven’t sent me a single letter in so long.

The Fourth Prince has become very dejected, he has no hope anymore, hmph. Huai Qing is still the same as before, though the Crown Prince’s brother removed her official position. Um, she used to be… used to be… I can’t remember what official position she held, but it was something about recording history.

I can bully her as much as I want now, and she doesn’t dare fight back.”

Xu Qi An smiled gently, the image of a beautiful woman in a red dress with an oval face and charming demeanor flashing through his mind.

He opened the second letter, from Huai Qing.

The First Princess’s letter was much simpler, beginning with formal greetings before mentioning some court politics.

Her assessment of the Crown Prince, no, Emperor Yong Xing was: “monkey.”

Emperor Yong Xing was being played like a monkey by his officials. Though he was full of passion and tried to sweep away official corruption to make Great Feng prosperous, his ability was insufficient. Without Prime Minister Wang’s help and the support of the few remaining loyal officials, Great Feng might become even worse.

Compared to Yuan Jing and Zhen De, this new emperor was still too young.

Besides despising Emperor Yong Xing, Huai Qing was deeply worried about Great Feng’s future, even daringly saying:

Within two years, Great Feng would face a life-or-death test.

She also complained a bit about Lin An’s lack of wisdom in constantly picking fights with her, only to be forcefully suppressed each time.

Yet Lin An seemed to enjoy it endlessly.

So which one of Huai Qing and Lin An was lying? Xu Qi An muttered, “My poor little nightclub queen.”

“Huai Qing’s political instincts remain as sharp and terrifying as ever…” he thought.

The third letter was from Chu Cai Wei, divided into two parts. The first part was Chu Cai Wei chattering about trivial matters and asking about various local delicacies across Great Feng.

She was probably collecting information in advance for future jianghu travels, planning to follow a food guide.

Then she complained about some eccentric senior brothers. Like how Song Qing would invent terrifying creations every few days, only to be suppressed by their Teacher Supervisor.

Or how Yang Qian Xuan would come up with bold ideas every few days, only to be suppressed by the Teacher Supervisor.

And how Senior Brother Sun, who had been wandering outside, finally returned, but nobody liked talking to him or listening to him.

During Senior Brother Sun’s days at the Observatory, the brothers always carried writing materials, immediately offering them upon seeing him.

Once when she went to speak with the Teacher Supervisor, she noticed a set of writing materials had appeared on the Eight Trigrams Platform too.

Finally, she mentioned she would be teaching junior disciples next year, feeling excited and nervous.

But one thing upset her – the Artificers at the Observatory had secretly nicknamed her future disciples the “Eating Faction.”

The second half contained Zhong Li’s message, briefly stating she was well and asking about his safety.

“If you’re well, it’s a sunny day, but Fifth Senior Sister, whenever you leave the Observatory, it’s storms and thunder…”

Xu Qi An recalled that senior sister who wore plain robes and always walked with her head down, feeling deeply emotional.

Then he thought of Xu Yuan Shuang.

“If she also wants to advance, she’ll likely face the same fate as Senior Sister Zhong.”

The fourth letter was from Xu Ling Yue.

She wrote that she had become an outer disciple of the Human Sect, but didn’t want to cultivate, so she rarely visited Ling Bao Temple.

The letter contained mostly everyday matters.

“Since Father became a Thousand Households, he frequently buys green tangerines. I know there must be a hidden reason, but Mother still doesn’t care about it. Big Brother, do you know why?”

Sister, are you testing me? Uncle Two is just socializing, don’t overthink it. By the way, watch if Second Brother often buys tangerines. If he’s like Uncle Two, I suggest you secretly tell Wang Si Mu…

“Chu Cai Wei came to freeload at our house recently and gave Mother a furnace of youth-preserving pills. Mother took them for five days and looked increasingly young and beautiful. But later Ling Yin and Li Na ate them all.

Mother gave up on having daughters, chasing Ling Yin and Li Na with a broom…”

Aunt, they were just hungry… Xu Qi An silently covered his face.

“The day before yesterday, Madam Wang invited me and Ling Yin to their mansion. The Wang family women were very arrogant, making me extremely nervous and scared. Big Brother, you know I’m not good at scheming in wealthy households.

Oh right, Ling Yin went to study at the Wang family’s private school. After a few days, I heard their teacher fell ill. Ling Yin said the teacher has ignored her ever since.

However, the Wang family’s teacher recommended her to be a study companion in the palace, learning with the princes and princesses under the Imperial Tutor.”

Could that teacher have a grudge against the Imperial Tutor? Xu Qi An wondered.

The princes and princesses referred to Huai Qing and Lin An’s nieces and nephews.

Among Emperor Yuan Jing’s nine princes, all had established families and had offspring. Among the princesses, the Third Princess was married with children, while the other three remained unmarried.

At the letter’s end, Xu Ling Yue expressed her longing for her big brother in subtle ways.

The final letter was from Second Young Master Xu.

He mentioned his daily work at court, complained about official conduct, and worried about the empty national treasury.

Second Young Master Xu wrote that he had submitted a proposal to Emperor Yong Xing, hoping to organize donations from officials and nobles to aid the common people.

But it was rejected by the emperor.

What use are donations when in the end, the people’s money is divided seventy-thirty, while the wealthy get all their money back! Xu Qi An thought.

“Recently, when visiting the Wang mansion, I noticed their attitude toward me has changed greatly. Thinking carefully, this change occurred after Ling Yue visited. I think it’s because Ling Yue touched their hearts with her gentleness. What do you think, Big Brother?”

Er’Lang, your words sound rather sarcastic!