Chapter 781 Auntie Takes Action (Second Update)

"clearance!"

Not far away, Ye Qing walked over. He looked at Master Qingfeng, then at Xiao Jingkong, who was being held in mid-air by Master Qingfeng, and asked in confusion, "What happened?"

Xiao Jingkong explained, "Brother Ye Qing, I almost fell just now, but Brother Qingfeng saved me."

Ye Qing became even more puzzled: "You two know each other?"

Xiao Jingkong said, "We just met!"

"I see." Ye Qing nodded in understanding and reached out to take Xiao Jingkong. "Thank you, Daoist Qingfeng."

Master Qingfeng failed to accept a disciple, and without saying anything more, he turned and left.

His personality was a bit different from normal people, but Ye Qing didn't take it to heart. The road was muddy, so he carried Xiao Jingkong directly back to the Qilin Palace.

When Zhang Dequan finally caught up, Xiao Jingkong had already skipped and hopped off to find Gu Jiao.

Zhang Dequan went to visit Shangguan Yan and learned that Shangguan Yan had not improved at all. He sighed sadly.

-

Xiao Jingkong entered Gu Jiao's room only to find that his great-aunt and great-uncle had arrived.

His reaction wasn't just similar to Xiao Heng's; it was practically identical—he was a total airhead.

"Little monk, come here." Empress Dowager Zhuang said to Xiao Jingkong as she sat in her chair.

"I'm not a little monk anymore!" Little Jingkong corrected, patting the little tuft on his head with his small hand. "My hair is so long now."

Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted: "Hmph, let's see."

Little Jingkong ran over with his schoolbag in his arms, sticking out his little head so that his great-aunt could admire his little pigtails.

Empress Dowager Zhuang said, "Hmm, it does seem a bit long." There's no denying that.

Empress Dowager Zhuang took the book bag from his arms and placed it on the table.

He looked at the two of them and asked in surprise, "Grandma, Grandpa, how did you come to such a far, far away place?"

"They've come to steal your food," Empress Dowager Zhuang said.

Little Jingkong was on high alert, and in a second he pressed down on his little pocket: "I...I didn't hide any food!"

Empress Dowager Zhuang: "..."

Xiao Jingkong got tanned on the way here, but he's almost back to his original fair complexion now. He's also stronger and more robust than when he was in Zhao Kingdom.

It's definitely a healthy calf.

Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't say anything, but a hint of barely perceptible satisfaction flashed in her eyes.

After a brief moment of shock, Xiao Jingkong quickly reverted to his talkative nature and chattered on and on all night.

Empress Dowager Zhuang was gripped by fear again by the little gossip spirit, and she leaned back in her chair, utterly dejected.

The old chief priest tested Xiao Jingkong's studies and found that he had learned a lot of new knowledge in the Yan Kingdom, and had not forgotten any of his old knowledge.

Of all the people in Yan, only Xiao Jingkong was seriously studying.

Xiao Jingkong insisted on sleeping with Gu Jiao and her great-aunt tonight, and Gu Jiao did not object.

In the stillness of the night, the mysterious Imperial Preceptor's Hall, like a colossal beast from the abyss, closed its sharp eyes.

The mosquito net was filled with the smell of Empress Dowager Zhuang's liniment and wound medicine.

Little Jingkong lay sprawled in the middle, clutching his beloved little abacus in his hand, his little mouth emitting even breaths.

Gu Jiao pulled a small piece of cloth over his belly and was about to close her eyes when she heard Empress Dowager Zhuang, who was sleeping on the outside, ask groggily, "Is Gu Yan's illness really cured?"

Gu Jiao said softly, "Alright, the surgery was a success. You'll be just like a normal person from now on."

"Hmm." Empress Dowager Zhuang turned over.

A moment later, she asked again, as if in a dream, "Has Xiaoshun grown taller?"

"Yes, it's gotten quite a bit higher. I'll bring them over in a few days when things calm down a bit."

"……Um."

Empress Dowager Zhuang gave a muffled response and finally fell into a deep sleep.

...

After losing face outside her bedchamber, Consort Han returned and sat sullenly in her room for a long time.

She didn't come to her senses with her temper until midnight.

Xu Gao breathed a sigh of relief: "Your Majesty."

Consort Han's anger subsided, and her expression remained calm for a long time: "I am fine now, you may leave."

"Does Your Highness need anything from over there?"

The "over there" that Xu Gao was referring to was naturally the spies they had planted in the Qilin Hall.

Consort Han sighed: "No need. He's just a child. There's no need to make a fuss. Let's proceed according to the original plan and not act rashly."

Hearing Consort Han say this, Xu Gao's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, finally settled down: "A small act of impatience can ruin a great plan. Your Majesty is wise."

This praise of wisdom was heartfelt.

Consort Han was a person who was easily angered, but her temper came and went quickly. Once that fierce temper passed, she would not dwell on things.

"How could I possibly let a child interfere with my important business?"

Taking it out on the child was because it was an easy thing to do, as casual as swatting a bug that had fallen on you.

No need for deliberation or planning.

She hadn't expected to fail.

No matter what, she couldn't let herself get caught up in the anger over this minor incident. Her real enemies were Shangguan Yan and Shangguan Qing, as well as Xiao Liulang, the new commander who had taken over the Han family's Black Wind Cavalry.

“We still need to be cautious with Shangguan Yan and his group,” she said. “It’s not too late for me to take action after he finds out some useful information.”

...

The following day, Xiao Heng first sent Xiao Jingkong to Lingbo Academy to study, and then he went to the Baoxing in the inner city of Shengdu to find a suitable house through a guarantor.

Empress Dowager Zhuang and the old Grand Master of Ceremonies finally realized that this was the Imperial Preceptor's Hall, the most sacred and mysterious place in the Great Yan Kingdom.

It should be noted that more than 30 years ago, the State of Yan, like the State of Zhao, was just a lower state. It was only through the wisdom of the Six Scripts in the State Preceptor's Hall that the State of Yan rose rapidly and, in just a few decades, gained the strength to rival the States of Jin and Liang.

As the Empress Dowager of the State, Zhuang Jinse dreamed of seeing the Six Books of Yan.

As a powerful minister of the country, the old chief minister was also filled with curiosity and longing for this treasure land that gave birth to such great wisdom.

After getting up, the two of them were stunned for a long time in their respective rooms.

They... have really come to the Imperial Preceptor's Hall they've been dreaming of?

It seems that the two children do have some skills.

Incredibly, within just two months, he obtained the qualification to enter the Imperial Preceptor's Hall and be treated as an honored guest.

Despite having Xiao Heng's royal background, it's probably only thanks to the two children that they managed to survive and reach the Imperial Preceptor's Hall.

They are young and inexperienced, but they also possess wisdom, courage, and a fortune that neither the Empress Dowager nor the current Grand Chancellor can match.

"Hmm, not bad."

Empress Dowager Zhuang muttered to herself.

Gu Jiao didn't understand what her aunt meant by that, and Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't intend to explain, lest the little girl get too cocky.

She asked, "What is that guy with the protruding ears doing?"

Gu Jiao said, "Xiao Li was sweeping the corridor with three other people. I paid special attention to him this morning, but he didn't make any moves. He didn't actively inquire about information or try to get close to Shangguan Yan."

Empress Dowager Zhuang snorted, "He's just holding back."

Gu Jiao said, "If he doesn't take any action, how are we going to find out who's behind this?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang said casually, "If he won't move on his own, we'll just find a way to make him move."

Empress Dowager Zhuang came out of the room.

She went into the corridor.

All four of them were diligently cleaning, keeping a distance that was neither too far nor too close to each other.

Empress Dowager Zhuang walked over, reeking of wound medicine and liniment.

She was just an ordinary patient, so the palace servants naturally didn't bow to her, and consequently, she didn't attract any attention.

As she brushed past the sweeper, Empress Dowager Zhuang paused, speaking in a voice only the two of them could hear: "His Majesty told you not to act rashly, and to remain calm."

After saying that, he walked away as if nothing had happened.

Gu Jiao observed Xiao Lizi through the crack in the door. Xiao Lizi showed no outward signs of anything amiss, but he gave his aunt a strange look.

This is the perfectly normal reaction after being approached by a stranger who says something strange.

That acting is absolutely superb!

If my aunt hadn't said he was a spy, who would have been able to tell?

Empress Dowager Zhuang went to Gu Jiao's place. No one found out that she had stayed overnight there, so it didn't matter during the day. She was a patient, and it was only right that she came to see the doctor.

Gu Jiao closed the door and went to the window with her aunt. She asked softly, "Aunt, what did you just say to him?"

"I told him not to act rashly and to remain calm," Empress Dowager Zhuang said, adding, "that's what the Zhao Kingdom people said."

"Hmm?" Gu Jiao blinked.

"Don't worry, he understands. All three of you are tough guys, and you're also under his surveillance. You're from Zhao, so if you need to communicate with someone, is it safer to speak Zhao language or Yan language?"

"The language of Zhao Kingdom." Because the ordinary disciples couldn't understand it.

Gu Jiao understood.

To better monitor her, the mastermind behind the scenes will definitely send a palace servant who understands the Zhao language.

That's incredibly hardcore. These days, you can't be a spy if you don't know a few foreign languages.

Gu Jiao continued, "But what did that sentence mean? Why not just tell him to take action, but instead tell him to stay put? Wasn't he already staying put?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang patiently explained to Gu Jiao, like an elder eagle patiently teaching a fledgling to hunt: "His master told him to remain still. If I were to order him to act, he would immediately see through my act as if I were testing him. It is only because I agree with his master that he is not so sure whether I am testing him or whether his master has really sent another one."

Gu Jiao nodded in sudden understanding: "Plus, my aunt also speaks the Zhao language, which is like a secret code between you."

"You could say that," Empress Dowager Zhuang said calmly. "Next, he will definitely be careful to verify the authenticity of my identity."

"Will he believe it?" Gu Jiao asked.

Empress Dowager Zhuang said, "He can't believe me completely, nor can he completely disbelieve me. He is a cautious person, but precisely because he is too cautious, he will definitely try to verify the authenticity of my identity in order to rule out the possibility that he has been exposed."

Just as Auntie had predicted, after holding back all day, Little Li finally couldn't contain himself any longer.

He looked out of the Qilin Hall three times in one minute.

This shows that he can't wait to get out.

Gu Jiao was happy to do him a favor.

She summoned two eunuchs: "I'm running out of medicinal herbs. Little Li, Little Deng, you two go to the pharmacy and buy me some. I feel a bit embarrassed to always use the Imperial Preceptor's herbs."

The two took the prescription she handed them, got into the carriage, and left the Imperial Preceptor's Palace.

Leonardo DiCaprio is a specially trained individual; even the most skilled pursuers cannot escape his notice.

However, he never dreamed that the one tracking him was not the expert he had faced before, but the Sky Overlord Xiao Jiu.

Who would notice a bird soaring in the night sky?

You can't even see it, okay?

Little Li put some medicine in Little Deng's tea, and then, while Little Deng was running to the toilet in pain, Little Li went to a gambling den.

He met a man in the backyard of the gambling den, took a carrier pigeon that had been prepared in advance from the man, dipped a brush in ink, and drew three strokes on the pigeon's right leg.

Then the carrier pigeon was released.

The carrier pigeon flew all the way to the palace and entered Consort Han's bedroom. Just as it was about to land on Consort Han's windowsill, Xiao Jiu swooped over and snatched it away in one gulp!

Xiao Jiu flew back to the Qilin Palace and threw the carrier pigeon, which had already fainted from fright, onto Gu Jiao's windowsill. Xiao Jiu also brought back a Buddhist scripture that had been pierced by its claws.

No useful information was found on the carrier pigeon, only three ink marks, which is probably some kind of code.

They're quite cautious.

Gu Jiao took the Buddhist scriptures to Shangguan Yan's room.

Shangguan Yan recognized at a glance that it was Consort Han's handwriting.

Gu Jiao: "So it was her."

It's fine if it's her.

If Zhang Dequan harbored malicious intentions, then Empress Xuanyuan's kindness back then would have been wasted.

The three female strategists had a heated discussion in the room about how to deal with Consort Han—mainly Gu Jiao and Shangguan Yan, while the old aunt listened attentively.

Shangguan Yan suggested turning the tables on Consort Han and having Xiao Li frame her, then they could turn the tables on her.

Empress Dowager Zhuang didn't even lift her eyelids: "Too slow."

Gu Jiao took the initiative. She had hallucinogens that could make Xiao Li tell the truth and reveal that Consort Han was the mastermind, or give Xiao Li false information to lure Consort Han into a trap.

Empress Dowager Zhuang: "It's too complicated."

They have neither much time to waste nor many opportunities to take advantage of.

They must strike Han Guifei decisively!

The more complex the method, the more variables there are.

Empress Dowager Zhuang's meaningful gaze fell on Shangguan Yan.

Shangguan Yan felt a chill run down her spine from his gaze: "What are you doing?"

Empress Dowager Zhuang: "Your injuries have healed."

Shangguan Yan: "I didn't."

Empress Dowager Zhuang: "No, you do."

(End of this chapter)