Zongwu: Aspiring to be the mastermind behind the scenes

Chapter 366 The Rumor Never Spreads, the Mastermind

"I never imagined that His Majesty's intentions were behind this."

Lu Xiaofeng drank a cup of turbid wine and sighed.

According to Liu Xi, His Majesty only scolded Cao Zhengchun, but did not speak frankly.

"Heh, do you think I don't understand? Every word these people in the court say is full of hidden meanings. What good would it do if they didn't say it? Besides, isn't that what eunuchs do?"

Li Xunhuan didn't continue on this topic, but directly changed the subject: "His Majesty is getting older, and he must be unable to tolerate the fact that the power in his hands is still in the hands of others. Whether it is Cao Zhengchun, or Iron-Blooded Marquis, or even Grand Secretary Pei Ju, the power they hold has already exceeded their own responsibilities."

This was intolerable to His Majesty as he grew older. Therefore, it was entirely understandable that a conflict arose between them.

Lu Xiaofeng smiled and said, "By saying that, you are admitting it."

Li Xunhuan remained noncommittal.

Although both were renowned heroes in the martial arts world, their backgrounds were completely different.

Lu Xiaofeng's family had some surplus wealth, but they were just an ordinary family.

In contrast, Li Xunhuan came from a family of seven scholars who passed the imperial examinations. He received education on loyalty to the emperor from a young age. Although he had been in the martial arts world for many years, he could not be as unrestrained in his attitude towards the emperor and the court as Lu Xiaofeng.

After a moment, perhaps to save face for himself, or perhaps to defend the emperor, Li Xunhuan continued, “In this world, conflicts between nations are constant, and our Great Ming’s arch-enemy, the Yuan Dynasty, has been eyeing us covetously from the north. Under such circumstances, a young and promising monarch who strives to seize power and take control of the court is far better than those monarchs who value benevolence and are weak in virtue.”

If it were like the Song Dynasty ruler, it wouldn't be a good thing for our Great Ming Dynasty. Besides, Zhu Wushi wasn't a good person either.

Lu Xiaofeng didn't argue with him, saying, "Who cares? In this capital city, from the emperor to the common people, everyone is a master of changing faces. After I get rid of the poison in my body and help Jiang Asheng find the Black Stone Organization, I'll leave the capital and go south for some fun!"

There was a hint of resentment in his words.

He loves making friends, but now, because of a rumor, all his former friends in the city are turning their backs on him.

It's truly disheartening.

Although he is easygoing, it is impossible for him to be completely without resentment.

Li Xunhuan said, "Speaking of which, you only told me about Liu Xi's secret collusion with that Iron Claw Flying Eagle, but I wonder if you found any clues about the Black Stone in the palace?"

Lu Xiaofeng shook his head: "No."

Li Xunhuan sighed and said, "Black Stone has killed several high-ranking officials of the imperial court, yet it has not been wiped out to this day. Its methods of concealment must be quite remarkable, so it is normal that it cannot be found in a short period of time."

However, spying on the palace is far too risky, Brother Lu, you must not do it again. Although your lightness skill far surpasses that of ordinary people, the palace is full of experts. Moreover, even if you are not captured, as long as your whereabouts are exposed, the court will inevitably send people to arrest you. I am fine, but I'm afraid it will implicate the Ghost Doctor.”

Lu Xiaofeng remained silent for a moment, realizing that what the other person said made sense.

Those with enough experience can deduce a person's origins by observing the style of martial arts they employ.

Even if he is masked, as long as he uses his lightness skill to the fullest, his unique Phoenix Dance in the Nine Heavens lightness skill will inevitably not be hidden from a true master.

At that time, trespassing into the palace would be a serious crime.

He and Li Xunhuan could certainly run away as they pleased, but they were afraid of implicating Jiang Asheng and Li Guishou.

"I know this was a very risky move, and I won't do it again."

Lu Xiaofeng sighed, "That's all I can think of. I really can't think of any other way to find the Black Stone."

Li Xunhuan said, "Right now, the whole city is unwilling to associate with you and me, but that's only temporary. Once this matter has passed, things will be fine."

Then, perhaps we can go and have a chat with Young Master Zhou. After all, the reason Black Stone disappeared at its most rampant was because it offended the Prime Minister.

Perhaps we can find some clues from Young Master Zhou.

Lu Xiaofeng shook his head helplessly: "I can't think of any other way for the time being, so this is the only option."

They chatted about this and that for a while, then went to rest.

The next day, the two ordered breakfast.

But as I took a bite of the bun, a piece of paper suddenly came out of it.

"Ok?"

Upon seeing this, Lu Xiaofeng's expression changed slightly.

Night fell in the blink of an eye.

Lu Xiaofeng arrived at a dilapidated temple outside the city, where a figure was already waiting for him.

"What brings you here, sir?"

The man asked, "Did someone secretly follow you here?"

These words immediately reminded Lu Xiaofeng of the Iron Claw Flying Eagle he had been following before, and he couldn't help but laugh and say, "If I, Lu Xiaofeng, had been in the martial world for so many years and still couldn't detect being followed, then I would have wasted all these years!"

"That's good."

The man turned around, revealing an ordinary-looking face.

But then he tore off a mask from his own ear.

The face beneath the mask belonged to someone Lu Xiaofeng knew.

"Miss Su! It's you?"

"It's me."

Su Rongrong nodded.

Lu Xiaofeng said, "If you wanted to meet me, why didn't you come to the inn to find me? Why did you have to ask me to come here?"

"What do you think?!" Su Rongrong retorted.

Lu Xiaofeng then remembered his current predicament and couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly.

Su Rongrong said, "I thought we were already in big trouble, but I didn't expect you to have even bigger trouble here."

These words sounded familiar to Lu Xiaofeng, as if he had heard them somewhere before.

Thinking about it, it seems that Chu Liuxiang said something similar back in Tianxiang Kingdom.

These two are truly kindred spirits, sharing the same boat; even their complaints are exactly the same.

"What trouble has Miss Su encountered that requires her to disguise herself?"

Su Rongrong said, "Naturally, it's about the Tianxiang Kingdom. After we left the Tianxiang Kingdom and returned to the Ming Dynasty, we were suddenly ambushed. Fortunately, Black Pearl was with us at the time, so we managed to escape."

But that wasn't all. Wherever we appeared afterward, we were pursued. We had to disguise ourselves to escape.

"Where they appear, the pursuit follows? In that case, the pursuers must have an extremely fast intelligence network behind them..." Lu Xiaofeng analyzed, "Could it be the Eastern Depot?"

"I don't know either; the people chasing us haven't revealed their identities."

Lu Xiaofeng said apologetically, "We've dragged these young ladies into this mess because of us."

Su Rongrong shook her head: "If it weren't for Master Lu's rescue, we would have all died in the desert long ago. This little trouble is nothing."

Lu Xiaofeng said, "Miss Su, why don't you stay at the inn where I am now? That way, Brother Li and I can protect you all."

"No."

Su Rongrong shook her head: "You're a big problem right now. We're hiding well, but if we were to appear next to you, it would only cause trouble."

Lu Xiaofeng gave a helpless bitter smile and sighed, "Alright then."

Su Rongrong said, "I've come to see you tonight because there's something else important I need to tell you."

"What is it?" "It's about the results of the investigation in Tianxiang Kingdom, which have spread in Ming Kingdom and created rumors."

"This matter? I must thank you ladies. If it weren't for you spreading this news in the Ming Kingdom, it would have been much more difficult for Li Tanhua and me to return to the Ming Kingdom."

"That's exactly what I'm trying to say!"

Su Rongrong said seriously, "In fact, we didn't do anything!"

"What?" Lu Xiaofeng was taken aback.

"We didn't do anything."

Su Rongrong emphasized again: "To be more precise, after we returned to Ming China, we were just about to contact some acquaintances to spread the word about this matter when we heard the related rumors!"

Lu Xiaofeng's expression changed drastically: "You mean that the rumor used to clear Iron-Blooded Marquis's name in the Tianxiang Kingdom had already started spreading before you?"

"Not bad!"

Su Rongrong nodded: "Then, we were chased and killed!"

Lu Xiaofeng frowned.

Suddenly a strange noise came from outside. Su Rongrong's expression changed, but a voice rang out in the night: "Miss Su, don't panic, it's me!"

As the sound rang out, Li Xunhuan entered, his hand tightly gripping that of a man in black.

Lu Xiaofeng explained, "I didn't know that it was Miss Su who invited me here, so I had Li Tanhua follow behind me in case of any unforeseen circumstances."

Li Xunhuan said, "I spotted this person nearby, and just as I was about to make a move, he noticed me, so I had to strike first."

A throwing knife was stuck in the leg of the man in black.

It was obvious that Li Xunhuan did this on purpose, to spare his life.

Despite being captured, the man in black remained completely calm, his eyes revealing a look of fearlessness in the face of death.

Lu Xiaofeng immediately sensed something was wrong and rushed forward to stop him.

But it was too late. The man in black gritted his teeth, and suddenly his face turned black. He died!

Lu Xiaofeng ripped off the black-clad man's mask, revealing an ordinary face. After examining him, he said, "He has deadly poison hidden in his mouth; he's an assassin!"

He then asked, "Did this person come with us, or was he already here before?"

"It was here before."

Su Rongrong's expression changed drastically: "Did he come with me? Oh no, Hongxiu and the others are in danger."

Lu Xiaofeng hurriedly said, "Where are you hiding? Take us there quickly!"

"it is good."

Su Rongrong immediately set off, leading the two of them there.

The place where Li Hongxiu and the others were hiding was an ordinary inn in the capital city.

Thankfully, nothing serious happened; it was just a false alarm.

That being said, the presence of that man in black also meant that the actions of Su Rongrong and the other three women had indeed been exposed.

"It seems you can't stay in the capital."

Lu Xiaofeng said, "I will escort you to Wanmei Manor, and I will even risk my reputation to ask Ximen to protect you!"

"Ximen Chuixue?" Su Rongrong had naturally heard of the legendary swordsman's reputation long ago.

Lu Xiaofeng nodded: "No one can enter Wanmei Manor unless a Grandmaster intervenes!"

He had absolute confidence in his friend.

After the incident at the Forbidden City, Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng had a final showdown at the summit of Zijin Mountain.

During that decisive battle, both of them condensed divine flowers, thus breaking through to the Grandmaster level.

Nearly half a year has passed since then. Even Lu Xiaofeng has condensed the Qi Flower during this time, let alone Ximen Chuixue.

Ximen Chuixue is now a master of both Qi and Shen.

With his strength and cultivation level, he is fully capable of fighting against a Three Flowers Grandmaster.

Below the Grandmaster level, few can rival him!

"Thank you, Master Lu." Su Rongrong did not refuse. She thought that with her disguise skills, no one would find them, but the appearance of the man in black shattered her confidence.

If we could hide in Wanmei Manor, that would be wonderful.

"Why thank us? It was our fault that dragged you into this. We should be the ones apologizing to you."

Under the cover of night, the group quickly left the capital and hurried towards Wanmei Manor.

I was in a hurry the whole way.

Ximen Chuixue is a complete homebody; he basically practices swordsmanship at home every day and goes out less than five times a year.

But there is an exception: Lu Xiaofeng must be coming to him for help.

There's no need to worry about someone like that not being home.

Sure enough, when the group arrived at Wanmei Manor, they found Ximen Chuixue, who was staying at home, and his wife, Sun Xiuqing.

Upon hearing Lu Xiaofeng explain the situation, Ximen Chuixue's lips curled slightly: "I knew it, Lu Xiaofeng, coming here wouldn't bring anything good."

"However, I accepted it."

"Haha, I knew you wouldn't refuse, Simon."

Lu Xiaofeng laughed heartily, feeling extremely proud of this friend and this friendship.

After resting overnight at Wanmei Manor, Lu Xiaofeng and Li Xunhuan left the place the next day.

Firstly, they also need to return to the capital to receive treatment from Li Guishou.

Secondly, the two of them are currently at the heart of the trouble. Continuing to stay at Wanmei Manor will only attract more trouble.

"Besides, this matter can only be resolved in the capital!"

Lu Xiaofeng said solemnly.

Upon hearing this, Li Xunhuan smiled and said, "It seems that Brother Lu is confident and has already guessed the truth behind all of this?"

Lu Xiaofeng said, "The fact that this force can keep up with Miss Su and the others shows that they have many spies all over the world."

Even though he had disguised himself and evaded the pursuit, he was still discovered when he arrived in the capital.

Li Tanhua, I've already said all this, do you know what I'm going to say?

Li Xunhuan suddenly realized: "In that case, the force behind this has informants all over the world, and its core location is very likely in the capital. Therefore, even though Miss Su and her companions disguised themselves to avoid being hunted down, they would still leave clues in other ways and thus be discovered."

Lu Xiaofeng nodded: "Most importantly, even before Miss Su and the others have started spreading the word, rumors about Tianxiang Kingdom have already formed."

Who is so familiar with the situation in Tianxiang Kingdom?
At that time, the only entities in Tianxiang Kingdom were us and the Eastern Depot. However, the Eastern Depot wouldn't help Zhu Wushi, and Miss Su hadn't had a chance to act yet. That left only Tianxiang Kingdom itself! Or rather, the people behind Tianxiang Kingdom!

In other words, the Iron-Blooded Marquis... Zhu Wushi!

Li Xunhuan's gaze turned icy: "It really was him!"

(End of this chapter)