The next day in Peng County
Leng Qingtang awaited news at an inn near Bailipo. Before noon, all the secret guards came back to report to him.
After the fire went out last night, the local government had deployed personnel to investigate. Now the people on the street had confirmed that Yuqing Temple was set on fire. Not only were there traces of oil on the scene, but the eight gates to the four yards and thirty-six rooms were also all locked tight. Seventy-one corpses were found. Some were scorched while others awakened by the fire were burned alive in the locked monastery.
In addition, an underground secret room was found by one remnant wall where traces of living remained. Priest Wu was nowhere to be found now.
After hearing the report carefully, Leng Qingtang lowered his eyes and smiled coldly,
"Wu Laiye, 'I was here'(TL: they are pronounced similarly). Hmph, Priest Wu, you escape fast!"
In the Palace—
"Your Highness?"Gu Yunxi's heart trembled when she saw Huanan Xin. Every time this fool came, he would pester her to play after feasting despite her being busy or not.It suited him fine as an aristocrat who did not have to dress or feed himself. But a maid like her still had must labor, didn’t she?Concubine Xu got off the sedan chair and gave Prince Chen a smile when she saw him,"Are you hungry again?"Prince Chen nodded and patted his stomach,"It would be the best if Your Grace could invite me to have lunch."Concubine Xu told Gu Yunxi to take him to the kitchen where he could pick anything he liked to eat in the side room.Gu Yunxi took her lunch in the same room with Lanxin and Prince Chen.Lanxin kept gossiping about Zhaoyi Yu while eating. Absent-minded, Gu Yunxi was mostly silent.While digging up the food, Prince Chen relished Lanxin's nagging
The night was long, and an owl swept through the air.Half of Prince Chen's jade square face dripped in the moonlight, and the other half sank in the shadows. The extreme contrast between light and shade rendered his indifferent and clear smile that was weird and inexplicable."I really don't know whether to call you Mr. Lu or Your Highness at this moment. I don't know why Prince Solo of Udan sneaked into the Palace of Da Yi.""This matter has nothing to do with you," Lu Qiange's eyes were cold and frosty. Overlooking Prince Chen's unpleasant state of his eyebrows, he said simply and straightforwardly,"If you remember Wenren Junzheng's life-saving grace, don't expose me in front of others. When the matter is finished, I will immediately stay away from your palace."Prince Chen laughed in a low voice,"I'm afraid that if you want to leave then, my fourth younger sister will not be willing. Don't you find t
Qinming Hall was brightly lit on the night in the Palace.Emperor Jingxiao secretly summoned Duke Min and Lord Shen Wan Zong. Now the three were sitting around the desk and discussing something in detail."Is there any news from Lei Huan?"Behind the dragon desk, Emperor Jingxiao sat upright. His puffy square face sank with disappointment when his drooping eyes reflected candlelight.Duke Min and Lord Shen were given seats right after they entered the hall. Min Rui bowed with hands folded forward and answered the Emperor's sudden inquiry,"Your Majesty, Lei Huan's ship was sunken by Ji Yaoguang during the Wei Sea battle. I have been searching for many days without success. His survival is getting likely..."Then his head lowered along with his voice.A few months ago, the Dongqing Fleet had received Lei Huan’s report that soon he would personally bring the Kunhuang Island map from overseas to
On this day, the first snow came since the beginning of winter.Throughout the day, white clouds rolled over in the vast sky. The snowflakes fell on the ground, made a rustling sound, and gradually accumulated. The high buildings were shrouded in the vast expanse of whiteness, stretching for thousands of miles.At dusk, Emperor Jingxiao came to Xiaoye Chamber. Since that day Gu Yunyao rejected her parents ruthlessly on Lingming Terrace and caused Madam Min to hang herself from a beam, the Emperor was so annoyed. Even after he learned that she was pregnant, he never came to see her.At the time of the New Year, the Emperor was not busy with court affairs. He came here on this snowy day not only to visit Gu Yunyao but also to give them an out and save their feelings on the pretext of her pregnancy. After all, this docile woman once carried considerable weight in the Emperor's heart.After Gu Yunyao was informed about this by the eunu
Yufeng Mountain was covered with snow.Leng Qingtang, dressed in a black robe and a fox-fur cloak, climbed to the viewing pavilion on the mountainside.At this moment, there was a person in the pavilion, sitting beside the stone table leisurely. His golden-lotus robe was shining as fierce as fire. Among the thousands of miles of snow, it was particularly eye-catching.Leng Qingtang looked down at the steaming copper pot on the stone table, the fresh venison slices in the long dish, and the hot wine simmering on the small carbon stove. And then he turned his eyes to Yu Xuanji who looked calm and smiled,"You really know how to enjoy life. You even come to such a place to drink and eat venison hot pot on such a cold day."Yu Xuanji smiled, exhaling white air from his mouth while speaking."It will be really cold when the snow melts. Yufeng Mountain is the best place to enjoy the snow. Besides, meeting in suc
In the cold season, thick clouds gathered in the sky, and it was dark and unclear. Snowflakes were still dancing, and ice and snow were everywhere.On the long street, in the cold whistling wind, a short figure was wrapped in plain clothes with long hair spreading out, walking hard in the snow.Every several steps she would stop and kneel in the snow, protruding deeply before getting up and walking again.The cold wind tore at her slightly gray hair wantonly and wrecked her thinly clothed body. She stepped forward resolutely with determination on her purple-red face.She was followed by two maids and two servants. They carried cloth-bagged bamboo baskets on their shoulders, taking out food, gold, and silver from time to time and distributing them to people on the road."God, I beg you to open your eyes! Please bless my daughter! She is not conceiving a bane. She is having His Majesty's child. Your Majesty, I beg you to
Emperor Jingxiao's dark face finally relaxed a bit after he saw Gu Yunyao finish up the whole bowl of abortifacients. Holding his hands behind his back, he stated coldly,"Well done, my beloved Yunyao. You can see the big picture. You must be tired. Now take care of yourself. I will come to Jingyang Palace to see you once you're better."Flicking his sleeves, Emperor Jingxiao strode out of the hall to avoid the upcoming bloody mess.Concubine Xu watched petrified Gu Yunyao, whose wide eyes were dimmed and froze. As if stabbed by a dagger in her heart, she almost collapsed and was held by Jinzhu.But Concubine Xu immediately used all her strength to break away and rushed to embrace Gu Yunyao, weeping,"Yunyao, how do you feel? Tell me..."Gu Yunyao managed to pull her dry lips into a sad smile. Pale and tearing, she whispered,"This is the best... There's no other way but this one... I'm finall
It was quiet in the middle of the night.Gu Yunxi waited until her roommate Lan Xin fell asleep. She changed into the night suit agilely and then walked out of the side room, being masked with a black veil.The gate of Chuxiu Palace had been locked up, but Gu Yunxi couldn't be troubled. She tiptoed and jumped onto the wall. Curling up, she carefully studied her surroundings with her bright eyes.A shadow quivered behind a cypress tree by the palace road, seeming to have spotted Gu Yunxi. It took two steps ahead from behind the trunk and squealed drily like a cat strangled by its neck.A shudder ran down Gu Yunxi's back as she frowned helplessly.Was that the signal the Master told her earlier? Was that supposed to be a meow? Sounding like nails scratching on the wall, it was harsh on one's ears.Jumping off the wall, Gu Yunxi ran to the shadow and whispered hoarsely,"Master."It