Minglong

Chapter 130 gave me a fright

After leaving the Lin residence, Xie Jinhuan first went to the Fengyi Riverbank, intending to give the 'Yin Yang Wei Qi Pill' to the heroine Mu.

But Suyunzhai's doors and windows were tightly closed. It was unclear whether she had run away out of shame or to help him borrow Jiazi Lian.

If it's the latter, that's naturally heartwarming; but if it runs away...

Xie Jinhuan wasn't worried. At worst, he could post missing person notices and let the entire martial arts world of Daqian know that he, the righteous young hero, had been seduced and abandoned by Mu Yunhong.

He's quite famous now, so I don't believe Mu Yunhong, with all her scandals, wouldn't be anxious to come back to him!

While pondering this aimlessly, Xie Jinhuan returned to the Prince's Mansion on Zheng'an Street.

Under the eaves of the vermilion gate stood four black-armored soldiers, who greeted him with a straight back and a shout:

"Thank you, sir!"

Then he looked at her with a strange expression.

?

Xie Jinhuan was a little puzzled. He looked down at his father-in-law's clothes and thought that he might be dressed too maturely. He didn't pay much attention to it and quickly entered the mansion. As a result, he found a group of maids huddled in the corridor, secretly chirping crickets. When they saw him peeking out, they gave him a few strange glances and then ran away with their heads down.

? ?
What do you mean?
Xie Jinhuan hesitated for a moment, then drew his sword to use as a mirror, turning his head left and right to check his cheeks. Only after confirming there were no traces of rouge left by Wanyi did he continue walking towards the west courtyard. Just as he reached the corner, the weasel-faced Steward Hou jumped out again, fan in hand:
"Oh ho~ Mrs. Guo is back?"

"Guo..."

For some reason, Xie Jinhuan thought of a model worker and asked in confusion:

"Steward Hou, what's going on...?"

Butler Hou, dressed in a black overcoat, circled around Xie Jinhuan, fanning himself.
"I knew it! You're such a brilliant detective, a jack-of-all-trades, even better than me. Turns out there's some unapproachable goddess behind you, pulling the strings in the shadows..."

what?
It's all exposed...

Xie Jinhuan took a deep breath, wanting to draw his sword to silence them, but Steward Hou knew that the matter had probably already spread throughout the Prince's mansion. He thought for a moment and forced himself to remain calm.

"What goddess? I don't understand."

"Keep pretending. The whole capital knows now. You can't hide it anymore. Figure out a way to explain to Her Highness the Princess yourself."

After finishing speaking, Butler Hou fanned himself and left, glancing at Xie Jinhuan's physique before departing.
"Tsk tsk..."

Xie Jinhuan was filled with questions and was about to call out his ghost wife for advice when he saw the sweet and lovely Naiduo running out from behind the corridor and grabbing his arm:
"Young Master Xie, is what they're saying outside true?"

Xie Jinhuan looked slightly puzzled:
"What are they saying outside?"

Duoduo's eyes were full of adoration, like a beautiful concubine supporting her master:

"So you're saying you and Empress Dowager Guo are lovers? All your hard work and training is for Empress Dowager Guo to overthrow the entire Daqian Dynasty..."

(;_)?

You've completely turned the world upside down!

Xie Jinhuan stopped in his tracks, his expression almost collapsing. He stared at Da Duoduo, and after a long pause, finally said:

"Duoduo, we have no grudges against each other..."

Duoduo crossed her arms and pulled them inside, saying, "Oh dear~ everyone outside is saying it, hurry, hurry, the princess has been waiting for you for so long..."

"is it?"

……

Not long after, in the princess's boudoir, on a soft couch by the window.

A light rain pattered outside the window, while the room was completely silent except for the soft rustling of pages turning.

Sha~……Sha~……

Xie Jinhuan sat cross-legged with his back to the window, examining several pages of letters with a bewildered look in his eyes, while Coal Ball, squatting at his thighs, tilted his head to the side.

Linghu Qingmo sat to the right, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, her eyes looking rather strange, occasionally glancing at the handsome young man beside her.

Princess Changning leaned against Qingmo, dressed in a beautiful warm yellow dress, holding a round fan in her hand, her gaze sweeping back and forth over Xie Jinhuan, lost in thought.

Duoduo couldn't possibly compete with the coal ball for a spot, so she knelt down behind, pressing her elbows to her shoulders, and curiously looked at the contents of the letter:

"I never imagined that Empress Dowager Guo was Young Master Xie's former companion. No wonder Young Master Xie wasn't at all flustered when he stood before the Princess..."

Xie Jinhuan took a deep breath, flattening the cushion behind her back, unsure of what to say.

After all, this bastard who spreads false rumors is really quite capable!

The letter clearly details the time and process of how he met, became close to, and fell in love with Empress Dowager Guo.

It even explained why no trace of him could be found in the past three years—Empress Dowager Guo was afraid that the scandal would be exposed, and she wanted him to come back to break through the Great Qian from the inside, so she erased all traces, and that's why there was no such person.

Furthermore, it explains why he rose to the third rank in just three years—Empress Dowager Guo taught him by example, using the power of the entire nation to crush his little lover!
As for his uncanny ability to track down criminals and always discover evil spirits, he learned divination and qi observation techniques from the fortune-telling school!
It is logically sound and well-reasoned, with a tight and airtight logic. Apart from being fake, there is not a single flaw in it!
After reading "The Secret History of Empress Guo", Xie Jinhuan finally understood what it felt like for the protagonist to read "The Amorous History of Wei Wuyi" and "The Prodigal Lu Wuzhen" in person. He was speechless with disbelief.

Noticing the three girls staring at him suspiciously, Xie Jinhuan put down the paper and asked:
"You actually believe these divisive words? Do I look like someone who lives off a woman?"

Linghu Qingmo blinked:
"I certainly wouldn't believe you if you were a heretic or evil spirit, but with Empress Dowager Guo..."

Princess Changning, fanning herself with a round fan, carefully admired Xie Jinhuan's beauty:

"Empress Dowager Guo is not some kind of evil spirit. You are excellent in appearance, demeanor, speech, learning, and talent. You also have a variety of tricks to woo women. If you really coax her, she won't be able to resist."

Xie Jinhuan shrugged slightly: "The imperial court wouldn't think that way too, would it?"

Princess Changning moved a little closer and put the letter away:
"Alright, just kidding, don't be nervous. If the court can become suspicious of talented people because of these things, then its fate is sealed. But you should still be careful. If the Northern Zhou takes advantage of the situation, you might not have a good time."

What articles did the Northern Zhou write?

Princess Changning explained, "You are a talented young man of the Great Qian Dynasty with a bright future. If we don't cause trouble for you, then the Northern Zhou Dynasty will be in trouble!"
“The winds have already blown. All Northern Zhou needs to do is treat you as a spy. For example, they can deliberately plant spies for Da Qian in Northern Zhou, ‘revealing’ some unknown information, or frequently receive intelligence from ‘you’ to Northern Zhou…”

Linghu Qingmo continued, "The imperial court receives all sorts of 'evidence' every day. Over time, they will naturally become wary. Even though you are innocent and no problems can be found, being suspected is bound to be disheartening..."

I can't find the problem!
Xie Jinhuan felt that this unknown fellow Daoist who spread rumors probably had a death wish, and asked:
"Is this a frame-up by the Church of the Underworld?"

"It's probably because you've been too outstanding, and the Underworld Cult is under immense pressure. It's normal for them to smear you."

Princess Changning picked up the teacup and handed it to Xie Jinhuan:
"But don't worry about this. Those who achieve great things are often suppressed by opposing forces at first. The court has the discernment to recognize talent and won't easily suspect you. "Besides, His Majesty greatly appreciates you. He said that if you find out who the Underworld God Cult's spy is, he'll bestow upon you a title. I was just discussing it with Qingmo. What do you think of 'Danyangzi'?"

Danyangzi...

Xie Jinhuan asked in confusion, "This is..."

Duoduo knelt behind him, helping to adjust the hair ornament, and interjected:

"It's a county seat in Danyang, a fifth-rank noble title, entitled to the taxes of 150 households, and ten hectares of fertile land..."

"Oh, I thought it was a Taoist name..."

Xie Jinhuan grew up in the capital and knew that a viscount was a very important title, as evidenced by the fact that Ye Shirong was only granted the title of baron after helping the emperor take a bullet for him.

However, the sorcerer had been cultivating his influence in the Great Qian Dynasty for many years, even infiltrating the emperor's former "bodyguards." Ye Shirong held a position in the Yiluan Division, which, to put it simply, meant he was the emperor's coachman. If he were the emperor, he probably wouldn't dare to trust anyone around him anymore, so it's understandable that he would be eager to purge them...

Even if Xie Jinhuan gave nothing, he would still kill all those bastards from the Underworld Cult to vent his anger!

Putting aside his father's matter, he just killed Ye Shirong yesterday, and today these bastards are spreading rumors to put pressure on him. If he doesn't get rid of them quickly, how can he live in peace in the future?
Yesterday we found clues related to the Underworld God Cult, such as "Drunken Bone Fragrance, Mine, and Red Camphor County." Red Camphor County is on the edge of Jingzhao Prefecture; if we run fast, we'll be back tomorrow...

Big Ice Block went to borrow Jiazi Lotus, and he might not be able to return today. The package from Queyue Manor won't arrive for another few days either...

Thinking of this, Xie Jinhuan looked out the window:
"Since the imperial court values ​​me so highly, I naturally cannot let them down. I found some clues yesterday and need to go to Hongzhang County. Should I go and come back quickly?"

Linghu Qingmo, a workaholic, immediately perked up upon seeing this:

"I will go with you!"

Princess Changning gently waved her fan, her eyes full of approval, and said:

"It's raining heavily outside, and you still went out to slay demons and monsters even with three beauties inside. No wonder you've attracted the attention of those with ulterior motives so quickly. Remember to bring more men with you, and be careful. I'll reward you handsomely when you return."

"Guji~"

The coal ball also raised its wings, indicating that it wouldn't be seen off.

?

Xie Jinhuan was taken aback, then reached out and grabbed 'Le Bu Si Huan's' personal maid, hoisting her onto his shoulder...
-
At the same time, Xiaoyao Cave.

Lin Wanyi, wearing a black cloak to protect herself from the rain, walked through the chaotic streets and arrived at the fur shop. As soon as she went up to the second floor, she saw her uncle Bu Hanying tidying up books and paintings.

"Uncle-Master Bu? What's going on...?"

"Hey? Wanyi, you're here!"

Bu Hanying put her things down, looked downstairs first, and then looked around the window, her expression tense.

Lin Wanyi sat down at the tea table, and seeing this cautious and meticulous manner, she asked blankly:

"I'm watching carefully, no one's following me..."

"Sigh~ I wasn't stalking you."

Bu Hanying, still shaken, made sure there were no suspicious figures before whispering:

"Uncle-Master, it seems like I'm being watched!"

Lin Wanyi frowned: "Who is it?"

"The assassin hired by Blood Rain Tower, who called himself Wei Kun, suddenly crept here last night, held a knife to my lower back and questioned me. Fortunately, I, his senior uncle, am shrewd and managed to intimidate him, otherwise you wouldn't be seeing me today."

Lin Wanyi had come to deliver silver, so upon hearing this, she naturally dared not take it out.

"What is Blood Rain Tower doing to us? What questions are they asking us?"

Bu Hanying sighed: "I was just trying to find out some secrets about the Gu Poison Sect. My martial uncle was tight-lipped and wouldn't reveal a single word, but since that person didn't seem like an evil cultivator, he gave me a few pointers..."

?

Lin Wanyi knew that her martial uncle had confessed everything, and said nervously:

"My martial uncle didn't reveal my identity, did he?"

"How could I possibly reveal that? Anyway, this place is no longer safe to live in. I'm planning to move to Flower and Bird Street, and I'll contact you there from now on..."

After saying a few words, Bu Hanying added:
"The medicinal herbs you requested last time have already been sent here by the manor lord. In addition, the manor lord said that the medicines you requested are all for body tempering, but it seems that one main ingredient is missing. He asked if you need Jiazi Lotus?"

It's not surprising that Lin Wanyi could tell from her master's description. After all, her master was also a witch, and poisoners and pharmacists belong to different directions of the same profession. The ingredients list had already been submitted, and she could deduce what was missing just from the pharmacology.

Thinking of how her husband insisted on Jiazi Lian, even at the cost of having his deposit withheld, Lin Wanyi hesitated for a moment before asking:
"Can the manor lord give it to me?"

Bu Hanying sat up a bit straighter: "Even close masters and disciples should keep clear accounts. How can we give away such a precious treasure of the sect so easily? There are naturally withered old plants in the Chilong Cave. The manor lord can exchange them for other materials. If you want them, I can give you a personal price."

Lin Wanyi blinked: "What's the price?"

"Hmm... The Master is quite interested in the Taoist arts of Zihui Mountain, such as the 'Immortal Slaughtering Formation' and the 'Seven Star Nails'. If you can get your hands on these secret supernatural abilities, the Master can help you find a way."

"?"

Lin Wanyi was silent for a moment, somewhat puzzled:

"The Master of the Manor believes that the Gu Poison Sect lacks direct combat power, so it's fine for them to cultivate martial arts as well. Now they're even looking for immortal cultivation techniques. She... the Master of the Manor is preparing to become one of the three sects, just like Taishu Dan..."

"He is proficient in all three religions!"

Bu Hanying earnestly corrected: "Taishu Dan is a traitor who betrayed his master and ancestors, while the manor lord remains steadfast in his stance and relies on his own abilities to explore other schools of supernatural powers. If someone were to learn several schools of supernatural powers, they would be considered a servant of several families, and Shang Lianbi would have been drowned in spit long ago."

Lin Wanyi nodded slightly. However, top-tier killing moves like the 'Slaying Immortals Formation' and 'Seven Star Nails' are already exclusive to the sect leader and are the foundation of the sect. Not to mention that enemy forces would learn them, even if the Taiyin Palace or the Xuanhu Temple learned them, Zihui Mountain would lose a lot of competitiveness. Outsiders would not be able to obtain them.

Fortunately, Xie Jinhuan and Linghu Qingmo are close, so learning it shouldn't be too difficult. Moreover, exchanging a cultivation technique for a Jiazi Lotus is a risk-free deal, as long as the head of Ziwei Mountain doesn't object. It's extremely worthwhile.

Thinking of this, Lin Wanyi felt she could discuss it with Xie Jinhuan, and immediately nodded:
"I'll go back and think about it, and give my uncle an answer by tomorrow at the latest."

"Alright, I'll wait to reply to the manor lord too. Be careful on your way back, don't get targeted, things have been very strange these past few days..."

"understand……"

(End of this chapter)