Who is spreading rumors that my filial piety towards them has changed?

First, find an excuse to get hurt, so that when you want to investigate anyone, you can use the pretext of "I suspect you secretly hurt me".

There's no need to go to his mother's place. Even if Chu Mingkong went, he could only wait for her to talk to herself. He couldn't very well show up and ask her directly.

"Let's go and meet that Fourth Princess. She's sent people to gather information, so she should know something by now."

The Fourth Princess's residence is easy to find. Among these nobles, those who have no enmity with Xiling will generally buy a mansion in Tianya City for emergencies. Just go directly to her mansion.

Chu Mingkong arrived near the Fourth Princess's residence and found a carriage parked in front of the gate. Near the carriage were several disciples dressed in sect uniforms, who, judging from their clothes, were probably from Baicao Valley.

It seems they're already discussing things inside; Chu Mingkong is already a step too late.

Without hesitation, he quickly activated a Dustless Talisman. If he worked hard on Wind Shadow these past few days and broke through the Filial Piety System, he wouldn't have to worry about anything. There was no need to save the Dustless Talisman; let it become a relic of the past.

Holding the Dust-Free Talisman, Chu Ming walked confidently through the main gate into the mansion. Following the Tianji Empire's conventions for architectural layout, he quickly found the Ceremonial Hall, only to discover that someone was also eavesdropping there!

"Holy crap, we've run into a competitor? Which faction is this, daring to spy on the Fourth Princess like this!"

Chapter 184 It's only natural

"Young Master Xiao's specific situation is as I just described, but that's all I can say. I won't say anything more about what I can't say... But judging from this situation, I estimate that something else will happen in a few days. Little Princess, don't linger in Tianya City for too long out of curiosity. It would be best to leave as soon as possible! Having said that, I'll take my leave and return to Baicao Valley. Nephew, there's no need to see me off."

The white-haired old man said this and left, accompanied by his disciples.

Chu Mingkong listened to nothing; arriving a step too late meant he only heard a vague summary.

"But judging from Princess Ruyu's expression, she doesn't seem to have heard anything significant. I guess this elder of Baicao Valley is also a riddle teller."

Let's see if we can ask Princess Ruyu for the details later.

Chu Mingkong looked at the spy outside the house. The man was not tall, and his clothes, which appeared to be gray at first glance, actually changed color with the environment, giving them a resemblance to camouflage.

The people from Baicaogu had already left. Logically, this person should have reacted after gathering intelligence, but he didn't move an inch and was still observing the situation inside the house.

"Hmm? Isn't this person's target the intelligence from Baicao Valley? Normally, he should be leaving by now. Could he have something else in mind?" Chu Mingkong was puzzled, unable to understand what else of value could be found here.

After some consideration, Chu Mingkong decided to wait with him to see what the spy would do next and what his purpose was in coming here!

However, passively waiting with the other party was quite boring. Chu Mingkong searched his storage ring and found that he had not yet read the manuscript of the Hehuan Sutra that he had bought from the Immortal Treasure Pavilion. Out of boredom, he took it out and glanced at it a few times, while occasionally glancing at the spy.

"Extracting medicinal power from aphrodisiacs like the Dew of Joy and using it to replenish one's cultivation, this person is truly talented. With such ability, wouldn't it be better to eat something else...? Why are there a few pages stuck together here?"

Chu Mingkong cut open the pages of the manuscript and discovered that they contained something hidden within. These pages contained the author's reflections and thoughts, totaling over a hundred words.

The main point is that he was speechless in front of his master. The result of his research was that he wanted to be immune to all poisons. However, once a poison enters the body, it cannot be dissolved at will. Either he takes an antidote and lets the antidote's power "wait for the rabbit to come to the tree stump", or he uses a stronger poison to suppress it.

Based on his own expertise in pharmacology, the author of the manuscript finally came up with the idea of ​​taking various aphrodisiacs in advance. While others used themselves as a furnace to absorb spiritual energy and refine it for their own use, he used himself as a furnace to refine the medicinal power of these aphrodisiacs into pills.

The final theoretical conclusion is that no matter what poison you ingest in the future, this bizarre cultivation method will refine it into an aphrodisiac, just like turning arsenic into a love potion, minimizing the toxicity of all poisons.

The author of the manuscript felt that this cultivation method sounded bad, so he reversed it and changed it so that one could absorb medicines such as the Dew of Love to nourish one's cultivation.

"Your original version is clearly more powerful, it just doesn't sound good to say. You've already mastered the Hehuan Sutra, why are you still so concerned about saving face?" Chu Mingkong couldn't understand.

He flipped through the pages but couldn't find the original instructions on how to practice. It seemed he would have no choice but to go back and practice the existing version in reverse.

Chu Mingkong could grasp the basics of this technique with just a glance. However, this technique required the aid of the Hehuan Dew, and it was best not to consume such a substance indiscriminately at the moment.

"This is the Fourth Princess's house. If something happens and I can't neutralize the effects of the medicine, I'll have to reluctantly borrow the Fourth Princess's help to detoxify. Let's play it safe and practice with my master when we get back! I'll have her help me detoxify!"

Chu Mingkong was starting to lose focus when the spy finally made a move.

Inside the room, the Fourth Princess took out a silver spear and said to the goatee-bearded scholar beside her:

"Sir, my grandfather recently found me a book on spear techniques. I'd like to practice it. Could you please find me some local food from Xiling? I need to buy it from a local chef, because the food my family cooks make isn't authentic enough."

"Your Highness, you've said this several times already. I've already inquired about which restaurants have the best food. I'll go order now and bring it over to Your Highness when it's almost time!"

"Okay, thank you for your hard work, sir."

Princess Ruyu walked out of the room.

then,

Chu Mingkong then noticed that the person addressed as "Sir" exchanged a glance with the spy!

"Wow, every time I use the Dust-Free Talisman to visit someone's house, I always run into something interesting!" Chu Mingkong chuckled.

Princess Ruyu has a traitor among her entourage! What are they planning to do?

The spy saw Princess Ruyu walk away and enter the training ground before he appeared and entered the ceremonial hall. He took off his camouflage mask, revealing a rather square face, quite handsome, with a sunny and magnanimous demeanor.

Judging from Chu Mingkong's years of experience immersing himself in teahouse culture, this type of man is easily seen as a handsome and sunny young man by ordinary girls.

"Sonde, what were you talking about just now? Why did you keep talking for so long?" the man asked impatiently. "I've hinted to you several times to end the conversation quickly, but you've still been talking for so long."

Chu Mingkong was taken aback. "Wait, you couldn't break through that soundproof barrier you just casually set up? If you couldn't break through it, why were you pretending to eavesdrop so intently?"

The man in the sunny man's words, Songde, was the one who assisted the fourth princess. Songde said apologetically:

“Young Master Ling, it’s not that I don’t want to end this topic sooner, but Princess Ruyu is really curious about Young Master Xiao’s matter. She kept asking my senior uncle a lot of questions, and we only just finished talking about it.”

Young Master Ling?

Chu Mingkong stood beside them, watching the two plotting. When he eavesdropped at the teahouse earlier, he seemed to have heard that this Young Master Ling was Princess Ruyu's fiancé.

"Alright, have you thought through what I discussed with you before? If you're willing, I can use my connections to get a pill to save your mother's life. You don't need to feel guilty. My relationship with Princess Ruyu was inevitable. We've already held an engagement banquet and prepared our wedding attire. This is just accelerating the process."

She always refused to have sex with me. My grandmother doesn't have much time left, and she just hopes to hold her grandson before she passes away. You can understand my predicament; I was forced into this situation!

Songde gritted his teeth and nodded, a thousand words swirling in his heart, yet he couldn't utter them:

"I understand."

“You have a filial heart and want to save your mother, and I also have a filial heart and do not want my old lady to leave with regrets. Besides, Princess Ruyu is a young girl. What kind of person is she who always plays with weapons? A woman should have a woman’s destiny!”

Young Master Ling took out a porcelain bottle from his robes; the contents of the bottle were self-evident. He handed it to Song De and said:

"Then I'll trouble you, Songde, to tell Ruyu that I've arrived... Don't worry about anything else. Just pass this matter on to some evil sect like the Hehuan Sect, and you'll be fine."

Chapter 185 Why Don't I Be the Bad Guy?

Young Master Ling returned to his room, where a unconscious disciple of the Hehuan Sect was bound.

Upon his return, a man carrying a sword came forward to greet him; he was the one responsible for guarding this demonic disciple.

"You're finally back! Why did it take so long? If you hadn't come back soon, Young Master Ling, I would have gone out to look for you. Did something happen to you?"

Young Master Ling sat down, took a sip of tea, and explained:

"It was somewhat of an accident, but it wasn't a small matter. Ruyu was curious about the Xiao family and spent a long time asking someone from Baicao Valley. That's why it took so long. Everything else is normal. Now, put on the clothes of a Hehuan Sect disciple and go outside to spread the word that the Hehuan Sect is preparing to take action."

"Alright, then do you remember to give the medicine to Songde, young master? I heard that Princess Ruyu's maternal grandfather, a general, dotes on her very much, and might give her some spiritual treasures for self-defense."

The bottle of "Extreme Aphrodisiac" I brought back was obtained from some ruins. It's of extremely high quality; even the driest woman will squirt with desire! Most protective magical artifacts can't withstand its power!

“Of course I won’t forget, that’s of utmost importance. I’ll never forget to give the medicine to Songde… but I’m hesitant now about whether I should actually give Songde the ‘Cold Fragrance Rejuvenating Pill’ afterwards. It was given to me by my father on the day of my engagement, and there are no more than five of them in the world.”

It is said that the Cold Fragrance Rejuvenating Pill was not considered a rare treasure a long time ago. It was said to have miraculous effects on elderly people who could not withstand the strong effects of the medicine and were seriously ill. However, later, one of the medicinal materials could not adapt to the changes in nature and became extinct. With the loss of this medicinal material, the Cold Fragrance Rejuvenating Pill naturally became less and less available.

Young Master Ling intended to use it to save his life, but giving it to Song De now can be seen as trading the precious pill for his future.

Once he and Princess Ruyu have consummated their marriage, his family, being a married-in-law, will be considered his family's home, and he'll have to make many decisions. It's just that his reputation outside won't be very good.

The sword-wielding man named Yan Jingye shook his head and said seriously, "It's not a good idea, not worth it."

"How is it not worth it?" Young Master Ling retorted.

"Although this was just a trivial little scheme by the young master and Princess Ruyu on their journey, if it gets out, it will still cause a lot of trouble. Therefore, this Songde has left behind endless problems!"

“But Songde is Ruyu’s teacher. Ruyu’s meals outside must be arranged through him. He won’t eat anything given by others. He can only eat through Songde.”

"That's not what I meant, I meant to silence them!"

"When the time comes, Young Master Ling said he would personally accompany him to deliver medicine to the old man, giving him some random wound medicine to appease Songde, just to put Songde at ease, and then kill him to silence him. Songde, someone trusted by General Zheng Yuan and placed by Princess Ruyu's side, must be of decent character. If it weren't for his mother's illness, you wouldn't have had the chance to persuade him, Young Master."

"I... I'll think about it."

The title "Gongzi" can now be used as a respectful term for young men, but it was originally a title reserved for nobles, and only the sons of dukes could be called "Gongzi".

Ling Gongzi's illegitimate birth makes him a "young master" in the traditional sense. His life can be said to have turned around through several acts of generosity. From being initially unrecognized to now having a reputation and status, he has regained the attention of his family and was even given the opportunity to get engaged and married to Princess Ruyu.

However, from the family's perspective, he was actually a tool for a marriage alliance. The family could have arranged for him to marry Princess Ruyu properly, but because General Zhengyuan had objections and didn't want his granddaughter to marry too far away, he became a son-in-law.

Because he had been looked down upon, Young Master Ling valued his status and reputation highly. He rose from a destitute illegitimate child to the pinnacle of life, was valued by his family, and ended up becoming someone's son-in-law.

Deep down, he couldn't accept it and decided that even as a son-in-law, he couldn't become degenerate. He would endure and demonstrate his abilities, gradually seizing power.

Princess Ruyu listened to her grandfather, the general, and didn't have much of an opinion about her marriage. However, she didn't want to get married or lose her virginity for the time being, and wanted to see how far her talent could go on the path of cultivation.

This is what Young Master Ling is most worried about. If Princess Ruyu continues to break through, and her cultivation level surpasses his in the future, then Young Master Ling will be a son-in-law in name only, and his cultivation level will be inferior to his wife's. What will he use to strive for his own life?

Therefore, choosing this time to accelerate his marriage to Princess Ruyu was based on multiple considerations.

If this drags on any longer, and Princess Ruyu's cultivation continues its rapid ascent, he'll become a laughingstock, a son-in-law with no future. Anyway, he'll treat Ruyu well in the future, so stopping her cultivation isn't a bad thing.

Because he had been down on his luck for a long time, the now-glorious Young Master Ling has no desire to go back to that time!

"Alright! Then Jingye, you can do this for me."

Chu Mingkong sat in the room with his legs crossed, listening to their grand plans without any emotional fluctuation.

He was just a little curious about how powerful that "Intense Aphrodisiac" they were talking about was, that it could make someone squirt water even when they were very dry... He figured that the manuscript of the "Joyful Union Sutra" that he stole and used for cultivation would be quite good!

However, on the other hand, the family marriages in this world are too frightening. They are constantly engaged in power struggles. But I guess it's understandable. Violent power is not exclusive to royalty, so these power transitions are more frequent and intense.

Now that the emperor has been unconscious and hasn't shown his face for so long, it's as if the highest power in the entire Tianji Empire is in a state of vacancy. With internal struggles within the royal family, the control over the local areas will naturally be neglected, and the local areas will also start to fight over it.

Many things are interconnected, and the existence of spiritual cultivation makes many power grabs and reversals more than just wishful thinking. The intricate family relationships are just a minor part of the equation.

Just as Chu Mingkong was about to criticize the corrupt emperor for causing moral decline, he suddenly remembered that his previous life was also quite chaotic. It was not uncommon for wives to scold their husbands for not working hard enough, resulting in children not being their biological offspring.

"Go and inform Princess Ruyu. I wonder if I can use this opportunity to get closer to her and ask her about Xiao Fengnan."

Chu Mingkong rushed back to the Fourth Princess's mansion. Passing by Mr. Songde's room, he saw him writing a letter with tears streaming down his face. Next to him was a plate of food and a porcelain bottle with the lid still closed.

Just as the letter was finished, Songde pulled out the bottle cap, preparing to administer the drug, when Chu Mingkong quickly went over, knocked him unconscious with a slap, and snatched the drug from his hand.

"I almost ruined the medicine." Chu Mingkong replaced the bottle with a lower-grade Hehuan Dew, placed it aside, and then curiously opened the letter to see what he had written.

It turns out this was a suicide note. He said that his actions were disloyal to his master, but there was no way to save his mother. Only Young Master Ling had the elixir. He would commit suicide to atone for his sins after seeing his mother take the antidote. He warned Princess Ruyu to be careful of Young Master Ling.