Chapter 100 I Won't Be a Traitor: I'll Grant Your Wish (Bug Fix)

That fleeting feeling vanished in an instant, returning to reality.

Xun Suihuang turned her head to meet Xi Congshuang's gaze.

Before she could speak, Xi Congshuang said, "I will not return to Bingzhou, much less kowtow and beg for medicine in front of the Medicine Valley, and I will stay far away from you and Yongdu."

"..."

Having said everything he wanted to say, Xun Suihuang was speechless.

Xi Congshuang seemed to remember something, and she loosened her grip on the back of her neck slightly: "You don't believe me?"

"I don't disbelieve you." Time was of the essence, and Xun Suihuang didn't have time to express her feelings. "I don't know how I found out. Dai Fang didn't know anything about this. She only remembered that I found her behind the bandit's den, an orphan with no parents."

Xi Congshuang reacted quickly: "So you're missing a piece of memory?"

Xun Suihuang nodded with worry: "On the day the house was raided, the servants of the Fang family were wailing over a body dressed in fine clothes, telling everyone they met that it was the second young lady who had drowned while playing."

"The situation was chaotic that day. No coroner checked whether it was really the Second Miss. Everyone assumed she was dead. I didn't have time to think about anything else. I was busy pleading for my teacher and was reprimanded by His Majesty and made to reflect on my actions in the mansion..."

Xi Congshuang repeated a single word: "Reflect on your mistakes?"

She said she was reflecting on her mistakes, but her eyes clearly showed she was serious?

I really don't think Xun Suihuang is the kind of person who would sit idly by and wait for death. To be honest, I don't know why Xun Suihuang only avoids and resists the issue of the throne.

Xi Congshuang didn't want to pressure her, so she pretended not to know.

"..." Xun Suihuang coughed and admitted, "Yes, I was indeed not at the manor. I went to Mingfeng Mountain to bury my teacher. On my way back, I was robbed. I decided to go to the bandits' den to wipe them out, but I found Fang Er with his head covered in blood behind the haystack."

“The second young lady who drowned in the manor is not her. She doesn’t know how she ran away from the Fang manor. She was kidnapped by thieves and met me on her escape route. She doesn’t remember anything. I thought it was all in the past, so I gave her a new name and sent her to Fuzhou so that she could continue to live.”

Xi Congshuang: "Even if she doesn't remember anything, she shouldn't have been sent to Fuzhou."

Xun Suihuang agreed: "Yes, at first I sent her to Fuzhou to cover up the truth. Who would have thought she would have the idea of ​​joining the army? If I hadn't allowed it, she would have changed her name and gone somewhere else. The danger would have been even greater then."

There was really no other way, so I kept her by my side to watch over her, but who knew...

Xun Suihuang sighed helplessly, "Who knew she would actually make a name for herself and be summoned back to Yongdu by His Majesty."

Xi Congshuang: "..."

You're quite proud of yourself.

Now that things have come to this, dwelling on the past will only prevent her from getting anything done. Once she understands what happened, she can find a way to resolve it.

Xun Suihuang hesitated, but Xi Congshuang said directly, "Now we only have two paths before us."

With a mere blink of her beautiful lips, she sided with Xun Suihuang, proving the saying that adversity reveals true character; it was impossible not to be moved.

Everyone outside avoids Xun Suihuang like the plague, so what about the Marquis of Pingding?

Who would want to associate with someone who has committed the crime of deceiving the emperor? Everyone would rather stay far away and protect themselves.

Xi Congshuang spoke quickly: "First, I'll mobilize the military seal to help you rebel, openly and legitimately bring you out, and bestow the imperial robe upon you. Second, even if I lose everything, I won't take the antidote anymore and will go to hell with you."

Since she won't live much longer anyway if the mission fails, it's better to just end it cleanly.

Xi Congshuang wasn't afraid of death, and it was only because Red Apple wasn't online that she heard this speech. If she were online, she would jump up and give a heartfelt speech, launching a cyber tear attack.

But no one knew that once Xi Congshuang was determined to do something, no one could stop her.

Xun Suihuang became anxious: "You...you are the head of a sect, in the prime of your life, why are you doing this?"

Xi Congshuang remained unmoved: "I'll say the same to you: when things get really bad, I'll only guarantee your survival; I won't care about anything else."

She didn't consider herself a good person, and the consequences of the Northern Yan Thirteen Camps rebelling, the turmoil in Yongchao, and the fate of the people were not within her immediate consideration.

At that time, Xi Congshuang will only follow the example of the monarch who believes in the "femme fatale" theory and blame everything on the "self-inflicted" theory. If Emperor Jianxing had not been an unrighteous ruler, would his empire have fallen so quickly?

Regardless of her life or death, Xi Congshuang didn't care how history would evaluate her, whether it was as a treacherous official who abused power or a courageous woman who overthrew the dynasty.

Yongdu was destined for turmoil.

"Anyone can sit on the Zhong family's throne, so why can't you?"

After Xi Congshuang finished speaking, she was about to leave.

"Wait a minute." In the midst of the chaos, Xun Suihuang grabbed Xi Congshuang's sleeve and held it tightly in her hand, preventing her from leaving.

She really didn't doubt that this woman was capable of doing such a thing.

"I don't have my reasons for not wanting to."

"I have my reasons for being willing."

“Xi Congshuang, listen to me. His Majesty knows that I am not my mother’s biological child. The Zhong family clan also knows that Xun Suihuang was just an abandoned baby that Marquis Pingding picked up from the roadside during a campaign twenty-six years ago.”

This sentence successfully stopped Xi Congshuang in her tracks, seemingly explaining her long-standing reluctance to speak.

Xun Suihuang wasn't afraid of being overheard; she didn't care that she wasn't of the Zhong family bloodline, nor was she afraid to speak out loud.

Xun Suihuang: "At that time, the abandoned baby had nothing but a note with my birth date and name written on it. My mother took me back to Yongdu. Except for the palace, everyone thought I was the child of the Marquis of Pingding who had secretly conceived outside."

“My mother never cared about those gossips, treated me as her own son, and even passed on her title to me. How could I rebel for my own selfish reasons and tarnish her lifelong reputation?”

"I would rather die innocent than live a wretched life."

After that, no matter what Xun Suihuang did or how well he did it, he could not help but be criticized for raising a traitorous minister, Zhong Lang, who was enfeoffed as a marquis based on his military achievements.

Zhong Lang had a hard life, and in her last few years, all her injuries and illnesses flared up. Xun Suihuang sat by her bedside keeping watch, listening to her occasional sighs, and said softly, "How pathetic."

The once mighty and powerful general, who used to ride his horse at full gallop, has become an old woman, unable to lift a sword and even unable to hear people clearly.

She couldn't bear to be criticized after her death, to be remembered as an ungrateful wretch for all eternity.

After the last sentence was spoken, the prison fell silent, and the person who had been facing away from Xun Suihuang finally reacted.

Xi Congshuang turned around: "You've lived your whole life for others, even your name is a testament to your loyalty, and what about you?"

Xun Suihuang was not a phoenix who could do as she pleased; she was a loyal minister who followed the imperial power.

I wonder if Zhong Lang ever imagined that the Pingding Marquis's Mansion would come to this.

Xun Suihuang immediately replied, "The kindness of saving my life and raising me is something I could never repay, even if I were to cut off my bones and flesh."

Her eyes looked bright and resolute, much like the loyal female generals or chivalrous heroines that Xi Congshuang had read about before. Perhaps it was because the era she lived in was too turbulent that she could not understand such feelings and integrity.

If it were anyone else, Xi Congshuang might have been moved and praised them, but this person happened to be someone she liked.

"..."

Xi Congshuang felt she should be angry, but she wasn't. Her mind was surprisingly calm, and she overturned her previous plan in a few breaths.

In the end, she agreed to Xun Suihuang's request: "Alright, you must leave a good name for your mother for life, and have history books praise her. I will grant your wish."

"You must promise me now that you will not admit her identity until the very last moment. Now is not the time to overturn the case."

"Wait for me, I'll go back and figure something out."

After repeated instructions, Xi Congshuang left the Dali Temple prison at Xun Suihuang's command to stop her.

"Why are you so stubborn and unwilling to go back to Bingzhou? Ouch, what's poking me?" Xun Suihuang, whose butt was pricked by a small ball on the bed, moved to a different spot and sat down.

"It's a dead end, how can we think of a better solution?"

*

Hongdou and the jailer waited at the prison gate for about an incense stick's time until the person came out. The rain hadn't stopped by then.

For some reason, Yongdu has experienced unusually heavy rainfall this year.

As early summer approaches, it rains more often, but not heavily; it's always a fine drizzle, barely thick enough to be seen on a hair.

Occasionally, it will cause a disturbance, with a sudden downpour followed by a day of continuous drizzle.

Suddenly, the little girl in pink standing by the door stirred and turned to look inside.

In the solemn and deep Dali Temple, the young and lively girl in the pink dress is a bright spot in the vast black.

The jailer also turned his gaze inside, and after a while, he saw someone come out.

She emerged from the depths of prison, her skin as white as blood, her lips pale, her entire body a pale color. Tall and slender, she resembled a snowman made of ice and snow, as if she might melt at any moment.

However, the areas on her body with rich colors were also very dark, and her long, unbound hair was draped down her back, as black as ink.

Perhaps it was because it was too dark inside, but Xi Congshuang looked up when she noticed the movement. Her eyes were cold and dark, like an abyss.

The jailer was intimidated by her and dared not look at her again.

As Xi Congshuang approached, Lu Hongdou silently opened her large oil-paper umbrella, the raindrops pattering on it.

As the man approached, the jailer unconsciously took a few steps back, not daring to get too close.

I don't know who this person is, but he has an air of nobility and is definitely someone you can't afford to offend: "The Minister of the Court of Judicial Review sent me to tell you that today's matter is a one-time thing. Next time, let alone a letter from the Minister of Revenue, even a letter from the Prime Minister cannot go any further."

Xi Congshuang: "I know."

The figure in the blue robe under the eaves walked under the umbrella that Lu Hongdou was holding high, and into the heavy rain.

Two slender figures walked further and further away, exiting through the tall and majestic gate.

"Return to the Xi residence." After giving the order, Xi Congshuang boarded the carriage first.

Lu Hongdou closed her umbrella behind her, shook off the water droplets, and followed her into the carriage with the charcoal brazier burning.

She carefully left a gap in the carriage curtain, not pulling it completely shut, and as she sat down, she reached out to dry the water droplets on her hands.

Xi Congshuang's hands, white as snow, hung above the burning charcoal brazier. They remained pale even after being roasted for a while. When Lu Hongdou saw this, she was worried that the sect leader was just putting on a brave face, but she didn't know how to comfort her.

The rain made the road appear white, and neither the coachman nor the horse could see the road ahead clearly, so they moved rather slowly.

In the silence, Xi Congshuang suddenly spoke: "How could it be such a coincidence? Hongdou, has anyone told you how you came to be here?"

Lu Hongdou munched on a pastry: "Ah? Of course I know. The sect leader found me while gathering herbs on the mountain. My damned parents put a bag of red beans in my swaddling clothes as a reward. In the end, I took the valley master's surname and was named Lu Hongdou."

Xi Congshuang continued to warm herself by the fire: "You were perfectly fine in the Medicine Valley, but you secretly ran away to find me. Have you ever regretted it?"

"Why would you regret it?" Lu Hongdou found it strange. "The sect leader didn't despise me back then. He kept me, gave me food, and even found a martial arts master for me to learn from. I can never repay the kindness of saving my life and raising me. Even if you let me go..."

“Okay, that’s fine.” Xi Congshuang interrupted, as she didn’t have the habit of making promises she couldn’t keep.

Lu Hongdou stopped talking immediately and buried her head in eating the pastry.

Xi Congshuang said with annoyance: "How could I forget that she is a native of ancient times? People in this era value integrity."

Lu Hongdou couldn't understand. After finishing one pastry, she picked up another and continued eating.

The carriage carried her back to the Xi residence. As she prepared to get off, people were already standing by the carriage to greet her.

The person who came was He Yiyun. She held up a large umbrella and, under the guise of greeting the person, said what she wanted to say: "The sect leader asked me to send someone to keep an eye on the Pingding Marquis's residence and see if there is any unusual activity."

Xi Congshuang responded and stepped over the high threshold: "So you've made a discovery?"

He Yiyun: "Yes, the people in the Marquis's mansion are starting to wonder why the Marquis of Pingding has not returned for so long, since we sent someone over to ask. It's good that we notified them in time."

"That steward was quick-witted; he immediately ordered all the craftsmen in the manor to stop working today and stay in the courtyard, not allowed to come out."

Upon hearing this, Xi Congshuang knew that He Yiyun was about to say something very serious.

He Yiyun said, "A craftsman was disobedient and secretly slipped out of the west courtyard and ran to the north courtyard. He was caught by the guards of the Marquis's mansion, and an old dragon robe was found on his body."

The two had already reached the front of the main hall. He Yiyun casually handed over the umbrella in her hand, and a servant took it and withdrew.

This didn't stop He Yiyun from speaking: "When the steward took a look, he ordered someone to tie up the craftsman, saying that he had suddenly developed dysentery from eating leftovers from the kitchen, and that the royal physician had been called to treat him. In reality, they had him kept a close watch on him."

Xi Congshuang: "Where is that thing?"

"I got it back."

Xi Congshuang turned her head and silently looked at He Yiyun.

He Yiyun looked completely innocent: "I took it back, wrapped it in something, poured kerosene on it, and burned it to ashes. Even a god couldn't tell what it was made of. I also removed all the gold threads and pearls, smashed them, ground them into powder, mixed them with the ashes, divided them into five portions, and had each person find a place to scatter them into the river or dung... I won't go into details, anyway, it was torn apart by five horses and disappeared without a trace."

Xi Congshuang agreed: "We still need to use the well at home, so we can't dump random things into it."

He Yiyun: "Of course."

Xi Congshuang finally understood what exactly was going on with the Marquis of Pingding's rebellion.

If Xun Suihuang were not in the mansion, and the craftsmen acted expediently, the steward, being an ordinary merchant's wife, would have been in awe of the clothes and dared not dispose of them casually, and would certainly have waited for the Marquis of Pingding to give instructions.

Therefore, it was certain that the dragon robe would be found. The crime of deceiving the emperor and coveting the throne were combined, so even if Xun Suihuang handed over a pound of military tokens, it would be useless.

Treason is a capital offense punishable by the confiscation of property and the extermination of the entire clan, and Xun Suihuang never imagined that Emperor Jianxing feared her so deeply.

He Yiyun, who was standing next to him, suddenly said, "By the way, the craftsman said that he was acting on the orders of Prince Wu."

Xi Congshuang suddenly changed her mind and ordered, "This person must not be kept alive."

I initially thought it was the emperor's doing. If it was the King of Wu, things would be much easier. I doubt the King of Wu would dare to make a fuss, otherwise he wouldn't be able to explain to the world how he got this old dragon robe.

If the source of the information were clear, Emperor Jianxing would be even less likely to admit it. As a monarch, using such underhanded methods to scheme against court officials would only invite more criticism.

He Yiyun: "I didn't keep any. I sprinkled the bone-dissolving water, and now that craftsman doesn't even have any bone fragments left."

As expected of the sect's second hall master, he gets things done efficiently.

Xi Congshuang praised, "You did a great job."

He Yiyun could hardly contain her smile and said excitedly, "It is my honor to be able to share the sect leader's burdens."

One matter had barely been resolved when another arose.

Prince Xin, who hadn't seen his father for quite some time, was preoccupied with another matter when he suddenly remembered that he had a strategist he hadn't used yet, and it had been a while since the strategist had come to discuss important matters with him.

He then sent someone to the Xi residence to summon Xi Congshuang, only to learn that due to the recent continuous rain, Sect Leader Xi had caught a chill and the poison had flared up prematurely, so he could not come.

Prince Xin, who rarely felt guilty, had several months' worth of antidote sent over, which was received by the servants of the Xi residence.

After a while, almost right after Xi Congshuang's carriage, the Prince Xin's mansion sent someone in disguise to deliver another letter.

Xi Congshuang was impatient to pay attention to it. She was writing a letter to call for help, and asked He Yiyun to open it and read it aloud.

“Alright, I’ll read it.” He Yiyun opened the letter and unfolded it. “His Majesty’s birthday banquet is approaching. My father has won a great victory, so it’s only right that he will hold a grand celebration for it. The auspicious white unicorn has already been presented. I really can’t think of anything better than last time. I wonder what Sect Leader Xi thinks?”

After a pause, He Yiyun said, "That's all. That's all."

Xi Congshuang had important matters to attend to, and she already disliked these people surnamed Zhong, so she disliked them even more now: "You go back for me, I'll tell you to go back."

It was perfectly normal for her to write back on behalf of a servant, given that she was recovering from a poisoning attack and unable to reply in person.

He Yiyun copied a piece of paper, dipped the tip of her pen in ink, and said, "Okay."

Just then, a servant came in to bring tea, and Lu Hongdou, who was still growing, brought a plate of snacks from the kitchen, stuffing her face with her cheeks and eating as she walked.

As soon as they entered the room, they heard Xi Congshuang's slightly cold voice coming from behind the desk: "After being his father for so many years, he doesn't even know what his own father likes. Now that it's a critical moment, he's suddenly anxious. If you can send it, send it; if you can't, don't."

Servant, Lu Hongdou: "..."

It seems the sect leader is in a really bad mood today.

He's started swearing now; the sect leader never used to swear directly at people.

He Yiyun nodded, writing and reading aloud: "No one knows a father better than his son. Your Highness and His Majesty have a deep affection for each other. The decision on the succession is still undecided, which is indeed a difficult matter. Your Highness, please reconsider. I will do my best to help you."

After she finished writing, she blew on the ink to dry it, folded it neatly, put it in an envelope, sealed it, and had it sent out.

Sending out a letter that answers all questions, but may not necessarily get to the point, and how much trouble Prince Xin will be in, is not Xi Congshuang's concern.

Before long, a servant came to report: "Reporting to the sect leader, someone has brought you a message."

He Yiyun got up and went out to retrieve the letter. She wondered, "Why does Prince Xin have so much to say every day? Doesn't he have other retainers? Could it be..."

Upon closer inspection, He Yiyun frowned: "What is this?"

She waved the servants away, turned and went into the study, which was much warmer inside than outside, so warm that even staying there for a long time felt hot.

Walking to the table, He Yiyun put down the letter in her hand, revealing the emblem on the front: "Sect Leader, who sent you this letter?"

Xi Congshuang glanced at it, just a casual glance, but it stunned her.

The legendary Valley of Medicine, the place where masters were taught, has appeared.

This emblem is used by Medicine Valley to communicate with its disciples. The valley's unique Qingyou orchid has pollen that can heal wounds that go deep into the bone marrow.

"What's wrong, Sect Master? Is there something wrong with this letter?"

Unlike Lu Hongdou, He Yiyun was originally a daughter of a prominent family, but she became a nun halfway through her life and followed Xi Congshuang. She did not know the emblem of the Medicine Valley.

All they knew was that their sect leader came from Medicine Valley, a mysterious place where the dead could be healed and flesh could be restored to flesh, yet Xi Yan, who loved to use poison, was born there.

So she became an outcast of the Medicine Valley and was expelled from the sect.

The reasons for this are not for outsiders to know; only the person involved truly knows the real cause.

Xi Congshuang took the letter and compared it carefully. It matched perfectly with the emblem on the title page of the ancient book she always carried with her.

Who would send her a letter at this time?

Without further hesitation, she opened the letter, and the first line astonished her.

[To my beloved disciple Shuang'er, this letter is as if we were still together.]

It must be hard for you to have worked so hard. You must know about your background. Before your death, your mother begged me not to tell you about this and told you to stay away from the court and Yongdu.

In reality, your mother was originally a palace maid who served the late emperor and was later taken as a concubine. However, Emperor Jianxing developed feelings for your mother while attending to her during her illness and used clever words to deceive her.

After the late emperor passed away, Emperor Jianxing sent your mother to a villa, intending for her to change her name and enter the palace under a different identity. However, your mother refused and tried every means to escape.

After a long and winding journey, they eventually escaped to the vicinity of Medicine Valley...

Xi Congshuang did not continue reading about what happened next.

Holding the letter in both hands, her first thought was—I don't know.

She quickly realized that she might not be unaware of her ambitions, and this provided an explanation.

Xi Congshuang had no worries about the future.

It's time for the Zhong family's empire to change hands.

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One hundred chapters already! It feels like it went by so fast, I'm a little dazed. [food emoji]