Catching Monsters

Chapter 690 Has he taken a liking to Miss Dongfang?
After saying this, Xiao Jingzhi frowned slightly and slowly said, "Even our royal family has only just learned of this matter."

Jiang Yun nodded slightly. It was quite normal that the royal family was unaware of this matter.

After all, even ordinary experts cannot reach the level of sainthood, and were killed by these six saints.

Those who have been able to reach that level have been extremely rare over the past thousand years.

Even if someone did reach that level, and was killed by a saint, the world would only consider it as a failure to break through to the saintly realm, resulting in their death and the dissipation of their spiritual essence.

If Qu Wushang hadn't survived, how would he have known about this?

"sit."

Xiao Jingzhi, with a stern face, led Jiang Yun to sit down in the pavilion and slowly said, "Brother Jiang, you may not know this, but our royal family also has many records about ancient events."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun's eyes lit up slightly. In fact, the folk tales about ancient times are not very detailed.

The most talked-about story is, of course, that three thousand years ago, the Confucian sage took action and drove all the demon races scattered across the continent to live in the demon kingdom.

This deterred the demon kingdom from launching a large-scale invasion.

The human and demon races maintained peace for at least two or three thousand years.

However, later historical records, whether intentionally or unintentionally, are not detailed enough.

The most recent history is that of the period after the establishment of the Zhou state.

The Zhou state lasted for three hundred years, but most people are not very clear about that period of history.

Xiao Jingzhi slowly said, "Brother Jiang, back then, the great sage of Confucianism spread the great Confucian way, Buddhism spread in the Western Regions, and Taoism also flourished."

"According to our royal family's internal records, since the demon race was driven away, our human race has ushered in an era of flourishing martial arts."

"The Confucian sage who repelled the demon race shattered the void and disappeared without a trace."

“From then on, every hundred years, one or two people will become saints.”

"Confucianism, Taoism, Buddhism, and other schools of thought contended, but the lives of ordinary people were not good."

“The saints each have their own power and territory. The two sides are constantly fighting each other, and even many saints have fallen.”

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun frowned slightly.

Xiao Jingzhi continued, "About 1,500 years ago, our land welcomed a very important sage named Wu Zu, who is also known in records as Wu Sheng."

"This Wu Sheng was incredibly powerful, defeating one saint after another, and eventually taking control of all the land under heaven, establishing the Kingdom of Wu."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Yun's eyes flickered slightly, and he asked, "Is it the person who discovered the first sacred tomb?"

“That’s right.” Xiao Jingzhi nodded slowly: “After Wu Zu established a unified dynasty, the sages disappeared one after another.”

"People within our royal family have also speculated that these sages might have broken through the void and left, just like the great sage of Confucianism back then."

"Or perhaps he was killed by Wu Zu."

"After all, more than a thousand years have passed, which is far too long. No one can say for sure what the real situation is."

"However, it seems that there are still six saints in the world."

At this point, Xiao Jingzhi took a deep breath, his face showing worry.

The continued existence of human sages will have a significant impact on imperial power.

Hearing Xiao Jingzhi's words, Jiang Yun's face showed a hint of confusion. He couldn't help but think of the woman in the sacred tomb he had visited.

Could that woman also be one of the Six Saints?

But why was she sealed away in such a place?
……

Inside the Duke of Zhenguo's mansion, Tao Yuelan was kneeling in the Buddhist hall, offering incense to the Three Pure Ones and the Buddha.

Soon, the sound of servants carrying things could be heard outside.

She slowly pushed open the door and watched as the servants returned, pulling a wooden box.

"What is this?" Tao Yuelan frowned and slowly walked forward.

The servant carrying the wooden box smiled and said, "Madam, the Duke asked us to get this from Miss Dongfang's shop."

"I said I'd buy it and give it to you."

Tao Yuelan opened the box and found it filled with rouge and face powder. She said in confusion, "How old am I? Why would I need such things?"

"The Duke said that if it is not needed, it can be given to Miss Suwen."

At this point, Tao Yuelan's eyes widened slightly: "Did the Duke say anything else?"

"The Duke also said that it is not easy for Miss Dongfang to do business alone in the capital, and that we should take care of her as much as we can."

Just then, Xu Xiaogang came back from outside, his hands behind his back and humming a little tune.

"Xiaogang!" Tao Yuelan was taken aback. Seeing that Xu Xiaogang had applied rouge and powder to his face, her expression darkened, and she glanced at the servant. The servant immediately understood and quickly left.

"Mom, what's wrong?"

Tao Yuelan walked to his side, sniffed, and smelled the scent of rouge and face powder that only women would use.

Seeing that no one was around, she grabbed Xu Xiaogang by the ear and said, "Xiaogang, you are the Duke. If people see you wearing rouge and powder on your face, what will become of the Duke's mansion's reputation?"

"Oh, Mother, it hurts. Miss Dongfang said that there are a few types of face powder that will cause women to develop eczema if they use them. She asked me to find someone to help me try them out and see if this is really true."

"I just put some on casually."

"Ouch, Mother, it hurts! I am the Duke of the State, and you still pull my ear like you did when I was a child. If people see this, won't it be a disgrace to the Duke's Mansion?"

Tao Yuelan laughed in exasperation and couldn't help but glare at Xu Xiaogang. This kid did have some of his father's air about him when he was leading troops outside the capital.

Even after returning to the capital, he remained just as unreliable.

It can be said that it is easier to change mountains and rivers than to change one's nature.

"Alright." Tao Yuelan released her hand and asked in a deep voice, "What? Have you been frequently patronizing that Miss Dongfang's business these past few days?"

"No, not at all."

"Do you think I don't know? I always bring Qi Liu and the others with me. How could I not know?" Tao Yuelan frowned. "You've taken a fancy to Miss Dongfang?"

Xu Xiaogang hurriedly waved his hand: "Mom, don't think nonsense. Miss Dongfang has been out in the world, so I just go and listen to her experiences when I have time."

Upon hearing this, Tao Yuelan said earnestly, "Xiaogang, our family is different from others."

“Mother is not someone who cares about family background; otherwise, I would not have agreed to Jiang Yun and your sister’s relationship.”

"But your marriage is related to the future of the Duke's mansion in the capital..."

"I've also picked out a few wives for you, like princesses from the Prince of Lin's family and other members of the royal family. I'll go get their name cards later. If you like any of them, we can discuss it."

Upon hearing this, Xu Xiaogang immediately became anxious and hurriedly said, "Mother, I was wrong, I was wrong, I'll go to the brothel tomorrow..."

"You..." Tao Yuelan was so angry when she heard this that she wanted to hit Xu Xiaogang, but after thinking about it, she said, "Never mind, never mind."

"Then Mother, should I go to the rouge shop or the brothel tomorrow?" Xu Xiaogang blinked: "I'm your good eldest son, I'll listen to you."

"I can't be bothered with you." Tao Yuelan took a deep breath and said, "You should think carefully about what Mother just said."

"If you don't like royal girls, I'll go along with it."

In the past, Tao Yuelan would have definitely forced Xu Xiaogang to marry a woman of equal social standing.

This is also an unwritten rule among the powerful and wealthy circles in Beijing.

After all, if the sons of wealthy families all married ordinary women from commoner families...

What should a young lady from a wealthy family do? Should she also find an ordinary man from the common people?
Doesn't that disrupt the market?

Moreover, in the eyes of these powerful figures, the romantic entanglements of young men and women are nothing but a joke.

Can feelings put food on the table?

Can a relationship last?

Interests, power, intermarriage—to consolidate one's position and power—are not as good as feelings?

Of course, since her son-in-law was at the height of his career and deeply favored by the emperor, she didn't need to wrong or force Xu Xiaogang.

"By the way, Mother, if you don't need those rouge and powder, give them to the maids at home. Don't worry, these rouge and powder are all high-quality goods; I bought them with proper money."

After saying that, Xu Xiaogang hummed a little tune and left.

He certainly had some goodwill towards the girl from the East, but it wasn't entirely because she was beautiful.

Of course, this also accounts for a large proportion.

But Xu Xiaogang has no shortage of beautiful women; if he wanted to, countless women would want to throw themselves at him.

What he liked was the chivalrous spirit that Dongfang Yao possessed.

When harassed by thugs, unlike other women who would only back down in fear, she would kick them.

Watching Xu Xiaogang run away, Tao Yuelan couldn't help but shake her head. Soon, she called Wu Chi over.

"What exactly is the background of that Eastern girl?" Tao Yuelan asked. "Some time ago, Suwen came back and asked for two shops, was it for her?"

“Yes.” Wu Chi then said, “That woman must have been a member of the martial arts world before. She was the younger brother he grew up with. He was chosen by the young master and brought back to be his personal disciple.”

Upon hearing Jiang Yun's name, Tao Yuelan said, "Then please invite Miss Dongfang to our residence for a meal. I'd like to see what kind of woman could make Xiaogang so devoted."

(End of this chapter)