Chapter 59 Last night she was making a racket and I couldn't sleep...

The culprit that kept me awake last night is now sound asleep, snuggled in bed even though the sun is high in the sky.

When Xie Baoqiong peeked out from under the covers, the side couch set up by the window was neatly arranged, but Xie Zhuo was nowhere to be seen.

Even the books that were laid out on the table last night have disappeared.

He put on his coat, walked around the screen, but still couldn't see Xie Zhuo outside.

Only one rather unpleasant person was sitting in the chair that Xie Zhuo had previously sat in.

Rong Feng's gaze slowly fell on him.

Xie Baoqiong stared straight back, but her feet stopped moving beside the screen: "Where's my father?"

"Lord Xie, you've gone to attend to your business." Rong Feng waved to Xie Baoqiong, whose hair was disheveled.

Xie Baoqiong stood motionless, as if rooted to the ground.

"How rude! Is this how Lord Xie taught you?" Rong Feng's tone was indifferent, not at all like the impolite words he spoke.

"It is not up to Rong Shaoshi to judge how Xie teaches his children."

The morning light streaming through the open door was blocked by a figure; Xie Zhuo stepped across the threshold:

"What brings you here so early, Young Master Rong?"

Rong Feng's gaze lingered for a moment on Xie Baoqiong, who had walked up to Xie Zhuo, before he stood up and walked out: "Just verifying something."

"Did Young Master Rong get the answer he wanted?" Xie Zhuo asked coldly.

Rong Feng's gaze swept over the father and son, and he walked out of the house without saying a word.

Even after everyone had gone far away, Xie Baoqiong's gaze still followed Rong Feng's departing figure in the courtyard. He always felt that Rong Feng had come for him.

"Qiong'er, go wash up first, I'll take you out in a bit." Xie Zhuo's voice rang out above her.

Xie Baoqiong looked away and went to wash up after listening to Xie Zhuo's words.

"Dad, where are the books on the table?"

Xie Baoqiong sat on the stool with his head held high, letting Xie Zhuo tie his hairband for him.

"I had someone bring it over a few days ago because I needed to check the map inside, but I returned it this morning. Qiong'er, do you want to see it?"

Xie Baoqiong instinctively wanted to shake her head, but remembering the hair in Xie Zhuo's hands, she said:

"No." He asked casually.

After breakfast, Xie Zhuo took him to town as promised.

First, I took him to visit Aunt Wang.

Xie Baoqiong sat alone on a small stool in the courtyard, holding a hen that had jumped up in her arms, basking in the sun.

Xie Zhuo's gaze occasionally swept over Aunt Wang as he explained things to her in the corridor.

The matter of the Fox Fairy Temple is not difficult to resolve.

The simplest approach is to ignore it all and simply consider the fox spirit's appearance as a coincidence.

However, the commotion that occurred in Sishui Mountain that day was quite significant, so some reassurance was still needed.

Given the scene of the fox spirit appearing and erasing Wang Yingying's memories, the quickest and most effective method is to directly erase the fox spirit's existence.

The fox that first appeared was just a wild animal that ran down from Sishui Mountain and happened to enter the temple.

When those people set up the temple under someone else's name, they probably never imagined it would become so convenient for them.

As for the commotion in the mountains, let's take the matter of the Anti-Evil Division arresting fugitives as an example.

...

After staying in Lian'an Town for two or three days until things calmed down, Xie Zhuo began packing his things to take him back to the capital.

Xie Baoqiong watched as Xie Zhuo packed his belongings into a bundle one by one, and she couldn't quite describe the feeling in her heart.

He also needed to go to Luozhou to find the "adult" that Cao Zhuangling had mentioned.

"Qiong'er, which of these two identical bird whistles should we take back?"

Xie Zhuo's words interrupted his thoughts.

He looked at the two bird-shaped ceramic whistles in Xie Zhuo's palm.

The tail, made of brown clay, has a hole, and the sparrow's eyes are dotted with ochre. When you blow on it, it makes a chirping sound.

Xie Zhuo took him out yesterday and bought him a pair.

The two bird whistles, shaped like bird balls, were almost indistinguishable, huddled together in Xie Zhuo's palm.

Xie Baoqiong hesitated, not yet making a choice, but Xie Zhuo's hands clenched, enveloping the two clay bird balls:

"Since Qiong'er wants them all, then take them all."

Xie Zhuo first wrapped the bird whistle in his coat before putting it into his bag.

He took in a series of actions, and Xie Baoqiong's words of farewell caught in his throat.

Perhaps, as Su Xiaochun said, they will live for a very, very long time.

So he could have left Lian'an Town for Luozhou a few days ago, but he chose to stay with Xie Zhuo for a few more days.

But he demanded,

To cultivate,

To become an immortal.

Luozhou is a must-visit.

Xie Baoqiong lowered her head, her gaze seemingly trying to see through the pile of clothes to the pottery whistle below.

Xie Zhuo probably shouldn't have bought those two clay bird-shaped toys, nor should he have brought them all back to the capital.

"father……"

Xie Zhuo glanced at him sideways and noticed his mournful gaze:

"What's wrong? Want to play bird whistles?"

"Thank you, sir!"

A sudden shout interrupted the conversation between father and son.

Xie Zhuo looked at the person who hurriedly entered the house upon hearing the sound.

"An urgent imperial edict has arrived from the capital."

The visitor handed Xie Zhuo a letter sealed with clay.

Xie Zhu waved for the person to leave.

He then opened the inkpad and took out the letter paper inside.

There was only one sheet of paper, and half of it was filled with writing.

His expression turned serious when his gaze fell upon the words on the letter.

[A great disaster struck Luozhou Prefecture. I have ordered Chishongqing to go there to provide disaster relief, but I am uneasy that he went alone.]

Minister Xie is currently near Luozhou Prefecture. Why don't you go to Luozhou and then return to the capital to resume your duties?

I have heard that Minister Xie has found his beloved son. Since he is Huayang's child, he should also be my grand-nephew. When Minister Xie returns to the capital, he should be given a title.

Chishongqing has already departed from the capital; Xie Aiqing, seize the opportunity.

After reading the letter, Xie Zhuo put it away and kept it close to his body.

The emperor's intentions have been made public.

The emperor valued Chishong's abilities and sent him to provide disaster relief. However, the emperor was not at ease with Chishong being the person in charge of disaster relief for a foreign tribe and needed someone from a different faction to keep Chishong in check.

The rumors of Chishong's bad temper were known to everyone in the court, and few people in high positions who were comparable to Chishong were willing to take on this difficult task.

He happened to be on leave and not in the capital, so this responsibility fell on his shoulders.

To appease him and make him willing to do it, the emperor hung a radish in front of him.

Although Xie Baoqiong returned to the Marquis's mansion, her identity remained a secret, partly because Xie Zhuo was worried that the murderer from back then would relentlessly pursue her.

The remaining part is that if Xie Baoqiong is to be registered under Lin Huaijin's name, it must be approved by the royal family.

However, every year some royal relatives' offspring who had lived abroad would come forward to claim them, so whether they were or not, most of these cases would eventually come to nothing.

Xie Zhuo had his own selfish motives; he didn't want Xie Baoqiong to suffer any injustice, since it was just a piece of paper anyway.

"Qiong'er, I may not be able to accompany you back to the capital. I will send someone to take you back later."

"Why?" Xie Baoqiong suddenly raised his head, secretly delighted. This way, he could slip away halfway and return to the capital to find Xie Zhuo after resolving the matter in Luozhou.

"His Majesty has instructed that Father must first go to Luozhou Prefecture before returning to the capital."

Xie Baoqiong's gaze lingered on Xie Zhuo's face in surprise, and she reached out to grab Xie Zhuo's sleeve:

"I want to go with Dad."

Xie Zhuo's expression turned serious: "Qiong'er, Father isn't going out for fun. There's a disaster in Luozhou..."

"I also want to go to Luozhou," Xie Baoqiong stated her purpose directly, "Father."

I wonder what the situation is like in Luozhou. I need to conserve my spiritual energy. A carriage would be much faster than walking.

Xie Zhuo's expression remained unchanged: "Then there are no sugar figurines today."

Xie Baoqiong nodded; he could eat there in Luozhou County.

Immediately afterward, ignoring Xie Zhuo's reaction, he stuffed the remaining items into his bag:

"I'll help Dad tidy up."

Xie Zhuo sighed, grabbed Xie Baoqiong's mischievous hand, and took out the bird whistle from his travel bag, placing it in Xie Baoqiong's palm:

"Go have fun."

—

Three days ago, at the city gate of Luozhou Prefecture.

A man dressed in tattered clothes, with disheveled hair and a face like a beggar, breathed a sigh of relief when he saw the plaque at the city gate.

He revealed his face, which was hidden by his hair, and walked towards the city gate. It was Cao Zhuangling who had escaped.

The city gates were wide open, and people lined up in two long queues to pay their fees and proceed in turn.

Cao Zhuangling glanced warily behind him, then walked straight past the two long queues and arrived at the city gate.

The guard at the city gate glanced up and said bluntly, "Get in line at the back."

Cao Zhuangling took out a token from his sleeve and placed it in front of the guard, but the guard slapped it away:

"Where did this beggar come from, acting like he has a royal decree?"

The sorcerer standing nearby recognized the token, hurriedly stepped forward, pushed aside the guards, and respectfully said, "Sir, this is a newcomer who is not very knowledgeable. Please come inside."

Cao Zhuangling retrieved his token, coldly glanced at the trembling guards, and, mindful of the pursuers, refrained from making a move, quickly walking into the city.

After turning several corners in the city's alleys, I arrived at an exquisite mansion and handed over the token.

"Come in with me."

A short while later, a person dressed in black appeared at the gatehouse. He was wearing a mask and had a hoarse voice, making it impossible to discern his gender.

Cao Zhuangling didn't ask any more questions. He held his breath, focused his gaze, and walked in through the side gate. Only then did his mind, which had been being chased for days, finally relax.

The man in black noticed Cao Zhuangling's relaxed demeanor, a hint of contempt flashing in his eyes, but he said nothing and led the man towards the center of the courtyard.

I stopped in front of a quiet, deserted courtyard:

"Go in by yourself."

Finally, a kind reminder: "The adult has been in a bad mood lately, so be careful what you say."

"yes."

Cao Zhuangling breathed a sigh of relief and walked into the courtyard.

Several servants stood quietly in the courtyard, waiting under the eaves, their faces hidden in the shadows.

A finely crafted birdcage hangs beside the pillar.

The cage door was tightly closed, and a few pearls and gold stones were scattered in the food trough and water bowl.

There were no birds in the cage.

Cao Zhuangling didn't look at it for long and moved to the door where the servant was waiting outside.

The door was open, but he didn't rush in. Instead, he spoke from the doorway:

"My lord, I, Cao Zhuangling, request an audience."

There was no sound from inside the house for a long time.

Cao Zhuangling stood under the corridor, cold sweat streaming down his forehead as he realized what was happening.

It was quite a while before a sound came from inside the house:

"Come in."

He stepped into the house, his legs feeling a little weak.

The interior decorations were even more extravagant.

The gold-embroidered brocade carpet seemed to emanate a subtle spiritual energy, and the pillars were made of wood rarely seen in the mortal world.

The chaise lounge beneath the master's seat is made of extraordinary material, with marble inlaid on the side resembling splashed ink in landscape painting, and upon closer inspection, the landscape subtly flows within it.

However, when the master fiddled with the wine cup, wine was splashed on it without any pity.

Cao Zhuangling glanced at the figure leaning against the couch for a moment before lowering his head and kneeling on the ground.

"This humble one, Cao Zhuangling, greets Your Excellency."

The person on the couch remained motionless, their gaze lingering on the patterns on the wine cup before finally casting a glance at it after a long while:

"Oh, it's you?"

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Author's Note: Xie Zhuo: Working hard to register Xiaobao's household registration