People in the Imperial Music Bureau: The Storytelling Demon Child Nezha

I suspect that Huaiqing's direct gaze into Li Qiye's eyes indicates that he is waiting for someone. Or perhaps... he's fishing.

Li Qiye laughed loudly, tilted his head back and drank the wine in his cup in one gulp: What a clever princess! Indeed, I am waiting for some old friends.

He swirled the empty wine glass, like the figure behind the Witch God Cult.

Chapter 106 The Stone Emperor is Missing, Who is the Rain King in Da Feng?

Huaiqing's heart skipped a beat: Sir, you mean...

The waters of Da Feng are deeper than the princess imagined. Li Qiye suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against Huaiqing's ear. Did the princess really want to wade into these murky waters?

Huaiqing forced herself to remain calm, but the tips of her ears secretly turned red: "I only want to know, sir, would you be willing...?" She paused, then said, word by word, "to be the Grand Preceptor of my Great Feng?"

Li Qiye raised an eyebrow: Imperial Advisor?

"Indeed." Huaiqing's eyes gleamed with ambition. "With your abilities, sir, how could you not assist a wise ruler and create a prosperous era together? Wouldn't that be wonderful?"

Li Qiye did not answer immediately, but poured himself another cup of wine. In the sunlight, the wine reflected a rainbow of colors, mirroring in his deep eyes.

Princess, he suddenly asked, "Have you ever heard the story of 'seeking a tiger's skin'?"

Huaiqing's heart skipped a beat, only to see Li Qiye already standing up, stretching with his back to her:

The storytelling will be late today. If the princess is truly interested, she may wish to listen more often. He turned back and smiled, revealing his gleaming white teeth. "Perhaps one day, I will tell a story about how to...slay a dragon."

The last word was barely audible, yet it sent a shiver down Huaiqing's spine. By the time she came to her senses, all that remained in the courtyard was the opened jar of Nine Heavens Jade Dew and the unfinished wine in the cup.

Inside the Jiaofangsi (Imperial Music Bureau), crowds thronged. There were more listeners than usual today; many had heard of the strange events in the west of the city last night and had come specifically to try and find clues in Li Qiye's storytelling.

Li Qiye, dressed in white and holding a folding fan, leisurely ascended the stage. His gaze swept over the crowd below, pausing briefly at Princess Huaiqing's private box, a slight smile playing on his lips.

Ladies and gentlemen, yesterday we talked about Shi Hao and Huo Ling'er's first encounter in the Hundred Broken Mountains. Today we will continue to talk about the destiny of the Hundred Broken Mountains.

He unfolded his folding fan, and the phantom image of a continuous mountain range appeared on the fan surface, with exotic flowers, rare plants, and exotic birds and animals vaguely visible amidst the swirling clouds and mist.

The Hundred Broken Mountains are remnants of an ancient battlefield, containing countless opportunities. Shi Hao encountered many fortuitous events here, first finding a Golden Bodhi Fruit, which could strengthen his muscles and bones when eaten.

The audience listened intently, as if they were witnessing the golden fruit with their own eyes. Li Qiye's voice suddenly turned low and deep:

However, opportunity often comes with danger. When Shi Hao ventured deep into the mountains, he encountered a pure-blooded ferocious beast—the Primordial Wild Bull!

With a wave of his folding fan, a phantom image of a giant bull, entirely crimson with blazing eyes, appeared in the air, its horns crackling with lightning.

This wild bull is an ancient species, possessing immense strength; a single hoof can crush mountains.

Shi Hao fought fiercely with him for three days, and finally killed him by combining the Azure Scaled Eagle Technique with the Suanni Technique!

Li Qiye spoke with great passion, his folding fan transforming into a phantom of a long sword. With a single slash, the phantom of the raging bull shattered, drawing cheers from the entire hall.

After this battle, Shi Hao discovered a pool of Earth Spirit Milk in the Wild Bull's Nest. He soaked in it for seven days, and his cultivation greatly improved, breaking through to the Cave Heaven Realm!

Princess Huaiqing was so engrossed in listening that she didn't even notice her teacup tilting. Her maidservant whispered a reminder: "Your Highness, the tea..."

Huaiqing then came to his senses, only to find that the tea in his cup had gone cold.

She waved her hand to indicate that it was alright, but her gaze never left the stage.

Li Qiye continued: "The greatest opportunity in the Hundred Broken Mountains is the cave of the Monkey King."

Shi Hao and Huo Ling'er broke in together and obtained a gourd of monkey wine, which was brewed by the Monkey King from a hundred kinds of spiritual herbs. One drop of it was equivalent to ten years of hard cultivation!

With a flick of his wrist, he produced a jade gourd, uncorked it, and the rich aroma of wine instantly filled the entire brothel. Everyone who took a sip felt refreshed and their spiritual energy became more active.

"Sir, could this be...?" someone in the audience couldn't help but ask.

Li Qiye shook his head with a smile: "Of course it's not the real monkey wine, it's just a counterfeit."

He put the gourd away. Shi Hao also obtained a Soul-Stabilizing Pearl in the cave, which could preserve the soul and was a priceless treasure.

Just as everyone was marveling at this, Li Qiye changed the subject:

However, just as Shi Hao was returning with a full load of goods, shocking news came from the Stone Kingdom—the Stone Emperor had disappeared!

The entire hall erupted in uproar. Princess Huaiqing snapped her folding fan shut, her phoenix eyes gleaming with a sharp light.

"The Stone Emperor is the ruler of a nation, with unparalleled cultivation. How could he have disappeared without a trace?" someone in the audience couldn't help but ask.

Li Qiye's expression was solemn: This was the shocking secret that Shi Hao learned after returning to the Martial King's Mansion. It is said that the last time the Stone Emperor appeared was at the entrance to the Void God Realm, and then he disappeared without a trace.

The disappearance of the Stone Emperor shocked the entire nation. But what unsettled the people of the Stone Kingdom even more was that the sacrificial spirits were also about to perish.

The audience below held their breath, and even Princess Huaiqing unconsciously clenched the silk handkerchief in her hand.

With a wave of his folding fan, Li Qiye conjured up the phantom of a giant ancient tree in the void, its trunk as thick as a mountain and its branches and leaves blocking out the sky.

But at this moment, its leaves are turning yellow and falling off at a speed visible to the naked eye, its bark is cracking, and its vitality is fading away.

The Stone Kingdom's Sacrificial Spirit, transformed from an ancient divine vine, protected the Stone Kingdom for thousands of years, suppressing its fate. But now, its lifespan is nearing its end, and it will soon return to dust.

Someone in the audience couldn't help but ask: If the sacrificial spirit dies, won't the Stone Kingdom be in danger?

Li Qiye nodded and said in a deep voice: "That's right. With the death of the Sacrificial Spirit, the nation's fortunes will decline, and foreign enemies will surely take advantage of the situation. What's even more terrifying is that—within the Stone Kingdom, undercurrents are already surging."

He twirled his folding fan again, the illusory image shifting until it appeared as a scene from the capital of the Stone Kingdom. Panic gripped the streets, while the mansions of the various princes and nobles were brightly lit, as if they were plotting something.

The Rain Clan, the Demon Spirit Lake, the Tuoba Clan... these forces have long coveted the territory of the Stone Kingdom. Now that the Stone Emperor has disappeared and the sacrificial spirit is about to fall silent, how could they let this opportunity pass?

Princess Huaiqing's eyes flickered as she murmured to herself: How similar this is to the current situation of the Great Feng Dynasty...

Her maidservant, not hearing clearly, asked in confusion: Your Highness?

Huaiqing shook his head to indicate that nothing was wrong, but his eyes remained fixed on Li Qiye.

On stage, Li Qiye continued:

After returning to the Martial King's Mansion, Shi Hao went to see the Sacrificial Spirit as soon as possible.

In the illusory image, Shi Hao stood beneath the Sacrificial Spirit Tree, gazing up at this ancient entity that had once protected the Stone Kingdom. The Sacrificial Spirit's voice was aged and weak:

My child...you're back...

Shi Hao bowed respectfully: "Lord Jiling, the Shi Kingdom is now in imminent danger. Do you have any way to prolong life?"

The spirit sighed, and the branches rustled: My lifespan has come to an end, and I am powerless to reverse the fate... But the future of the Stone Kingdom may lie in your hands...

Shi Hao was taken aback: Me?

The spirit priest slowly said: Before the Stone Emperor disappeared, he left behind a sentence—If the country is in peril, seek the secrets of the Void God Realm…

The Realm of the Void Gods?! Shi Hao's pupils contracted.

The audience below the stage also began to discuss among themselves:

Even the Stone Emperor disappeared because of this; could it be some kind of forbidden place?

Li Qiye smiled slightly, closed his folding fan, and the illusory image vanished.

Chapter 107 Sun Jingzong's Unjust Misfortune, Emperor Yuanjing's Wrath

The Realm of the Void Gods is a spiritual world left behind by ancient gods, accessible only to souls. It contains countless wonders, yet is also extremely dangerous.

His gaze swept over the crowd, and he said meaningfully:

Shi Hao decided to explore the Void God Realm to find the Stone Emperor's whereabouts. Meanwhile, the Rain Clan had already begun their operation…

The phantom image rose again. Inside the Rain Clan's mansion, the Rain King sat high in the main seat and sneered:

The sacrificial spirit is dying, the Stone Emperor is missing, and the Stone Kingdom's fate is sealed! Issue the order: three days from now, my Rain Clan will officially take over the capital!

The audience listened with trepidation, as if witnessing a conspiracy to change dynasties unfold.

Princess Huaiqing's gaze deepened as she thought to herself: This Rain Clan... they really do resemble certain people in the court...

Li Qiye lightly tapped his palm with his folding fan and said leisurely:

Will Shi Hao be able to find the Stone Emperor before the Sacrificial Spirit perishes? Will the Rain Clan's conspiracy succeed? To find out what happens next, stay tuned for the next episode.

A chorus of wails erupted from the audience:

Sir! Please tell me another part!

Yes, what secrets does this Realm of the Gods hold?

Li Qiye smiled without answering, then turned and left the stage. As he passed Princess Huaiqing's private box, he paused slightly and gave her a meaningful look.

Huaiqing's heart skipped a beat. After Li Qiye left, she whispered to her maid:

Go and check if there are any ministers in the court recently who resemble the Rain King.

The maid was taken aback: Your Highness means...

Huaiqing's gaze turned cold: Some people, I'm afraid, can't wait any longer.

At the same time, deep inside the palace.

Emperor Yuanjing stood on the observatory, gazing at the starless night sky, and murmured to himself:

The Realm of the Gods... the Sacrificial Spirits are about to depart... Ah, this story is quite interesting.

In a side hall of the palace, the lights flickered. An elderly man in fine clothes, with a thin face, knelt on the ground, his forehead covered with sweat. He was Sun Jingzong, the Minister of Personnel, who held considerable power in the court.

"Your Majesty, this old minister is wholeheartedly devoted to the country and has no other intentions!" Sun Jingzong's voice trembled. After hearing about the content of Li Qiye's storytelling at the Jiaofangsi today, he had a bad feeling and hurriedly went to the palace to beg for forgiveness.

Emperor Yuanjing slowly turned around, his eyes as cold as frost: "Minister Sun, do you know why I allowed Li Qiye to perform in the Jiaofangsi?" Before Sun Jingzong could answer, he continued, "I just want to see who in this court is harboring ill intentions, like the Yu clan, who is trying to seize power in a time of national crisis."

Sun Jingzong lay prostrate on the ground, not daring to utter a sound. Emperor Yuanjing walked up to him and said coldly, "I have long heard about your secret dealings with those princes and nobles. Hmph, the situation in the court is unstable now, and I have not yet investigated, yet you are already so impatient."

Sun Jingzong kowtowed repeatedly, blood already streaming from his forehead: "Your Majesty, please forgive me. This old minister was confused and momentarily bewitched."

Emperor Yuanjing looked down at him, and after a moment of silence, said, "Get up. I will give you a chance to redeem yourself. Go and investigate who else is secretly colluding with you, plotting to overthrow the court. If you do well, I will forgive and forget."

Sun Jingzong felt as if he had been granted a pardon and hurriedly said, "This old minister will do his utmost to live up to Your Majesty's grace."

After he shakily left the main hall, Emperor Yuanjing turned to look at the deepening twilight outside. In the shadows, a hunched figure silently emerged.

"Your Majesty, this old servant has confirmed that Li Qiye did indeed go to the west of the city last night," the old eunuch whispered. "But what's strange is that the terracotta figurines at the branch altar of the Witch God Cult..."

Emperor Yuanjing raised his hand to interrupt: I don't want to hear this. Investigate his relationship with Huaiqing.

This old servant noticed that Her Highness the Princess specially brought the Nine Heavens Jade Dew, bestowed by the late Emperor, to the Xu residence today...

A cold glint flashed in Emperor Yuanjing's eyes, and the teacup in his hand shattered with a crack. Scalding tea dripped through his fingers, but he seemed oblivious.

"Good, very good." Emperor Yuanjing suddenly smiled. "My daughter is more promising than the Crown Prince."

The old eunuch bowed even lower: Should this old servant...?

"No need." Emperor Yuanjing flicked the teacup in his hand. "I want to see what kind of trouble they can stir up. Go, summon the Crown Prince."

Meanwhile, at Princess Huaiqing's residence.

Your Highness, the matter has been investigated. A maidservant hurried inside, lowering her voice, "Minister Sun just went to the palace to meet the Emperor, and came out with blood on his forehead..."

Huaiqing's hand, holding the brush, paused slightly, and the ink spread across the rice paper. She stared at the ink stain and said softly, "It seems that Father has already begun to purge the court."

A soft click came from outside the window. Huaiqing's eyes sharpened, and a dagger slid out from his sleeve.

0 ······Requesting flowers 0 ····

"Your Highness is very perceptive." Li Qiye's voice came from outside the window. However, to serve guests wine bestowed by the late emperor while greeting them with a dagger—isn't that somewhat impolite?

Huaiqing sheathed his dagger and gestured for the maid to leave: "Sir, you've come so late at night, surely you're not here to ask for wine?"

Li Qiye slipped in through the window, his robes fluttering without disturbing a single leaf. His gaze swept over the three characters for "Illusory God Realm" on the table, their ink still wet, and he smiled, "Is the princess very interested in today's story?"

"Isn't this precisely why you've come, sir?" Huaiqing countered. "Or rather, have you come to remind me who the Rain King is in the court?"

Li Qiye took out a bamboo scroll from his robes and placed it on the table: This was a list of officials who had entered and exited the Observatory over the past three years. Interestingly, on the seventh day of each month, a high-ranking official always had a private audience with the Emperor...

.... ..... ...

Huaiqing unfolded the bamboo slips, his pupils suddenly contracting: Minister of Revenue... Qian Qingshu?

The princess was intelligent. Li Qiye gently tapped the bamboo slips. Coincidentally, seven days after each audience with the emperor, a village would be attacked by a monster.

Huaiqing suddenly looked up: You mean...

Hush—Li Qiye suddenly leaned closer, his warm breath brushing against her ear. Some things, once said, lose their power.

The shadows of the trees outside the window suddenly swayed violently. Before Huaiqing could react, Li Qiye had already grabbed her waist and slipped behind a pillar.

Whoosh! Three poisoned crossbow bolts pierced the spot where they had just stood.

It seems someone doesn't want the princess to know too much. Li Qiye chuckled.