Chapter 94: The Curse of Luoshui (End)
The bright moon high in the sky has been slowly waxing and waning over the past few days, quiet and indifferent.
The waning moon changed its appearance when it fell into the girl's eyes. It was as if it had fallen into a pool of turbulent autumn water, slightly twisting and shattering with the ripples.
Still failed. A tear slid down my cheek.
Yun Yuan slept for several days - although the arrow did not penetrate his lungs, it caused the old wound that was almost healing a few days ago to relapse. He had a high fever and fell into a coma.
When she woke up, the bloodstains in Luoyang City had been washed away and the city had returned to its exquisite and luxurious appearance.
The earth-shaking tragedy of the heroes that day seemed as if it had never happened.
The soldiers she saved at the risk of her life at Hulao Pass, the upright and honest Commander Xiao, and those righteous swordsmen in the martial arts world, turned into a lonely smoke in the mass grave in the south of the city, rising straight into the sky in front of the long river of sunset with red clouds all over the sky.
The head of King Huainan was hung high above the city gate, shouting an absurd "truth" to everyone who passed by.
"Girl." The maid behind her called softly.
Yun Yuan suddenly turned around.
"The prince has returned home. Please go to the Haiyan Hall to discuss matters."
"Finally..." Before she finished her words, Yun Yuan had already passed by the maid like a breeze.
She ran among the lanterns in the night, passed the corridor of the palace, stepped over the small bridge over the stream, passed through the moon-shaped gate shaded by vines, walked around the stone path lined with rockery, startled the night birds roosting under the eaves, and when the carved porch was right in front of her, she suddenly stopped, took a long breath, calmed her slightly disordered breathing, and then, according to the etiquette of the boudoir, she moved her lotus steps lightly and dignifiedly into the Haiyan Hall.
The King of the East Sea sat upright in the center, Tao Yao to his right and Gu Yue to his left. All three turned their heads, their gazes meeting the approaching girl with lowered eyes.
The girl walked lightly, bowed, and said in a voice as soft as the breeze: "Greetings, my lord."
"My Lord?" The King of the East Sea raised his eyebrows, exchanged glances with Gu Yue and Tao Yao, pointed at them and said, "See? This girl is impossible to tame after all. She's treating you two as outsiders."
Gu Yue lowered his head and said nothing, his face gentle, with a barely perceptible smile in his eyes.
Tao Yao chuckled and said, "Yuan'er is taking the master's teachings to heart and is determined to ingrain the word 'acting' into her bones."
"You can't even act like it." The King of the East Sea leaned forward slightly, examining the expression of the girl below him. He pointed at her and said, "Look at that little face. She's angry again. Did I say anything false? I can tell what she's thinking."
Taoyao covered her lips with her sleeves and laughed softly.
Yun Yuan could no longer maintain her docile appearance, and finally frowned, raising her face and complaining, "Uncle!"
"Well, that's more like it." The King of the East Sea laughed out loud, "If you can't act, don't act. It makes people uncomfortable to watch."
After saying this, he gestured to his left and right, and Gu Yue and Tao Yao bowed silently and retreated quietly.
Yun Yuan hurried forward, her voice trembling slightly: "The imperial edict..."
The King of Donghai nodded. "It's done." He sighed softly. "Tonight, the King of Huainan's remains have been brought down from the city gates. They have been laid to rest according to royal etiquette and buried with the rites accorded to a prince. The traitorous general who forged the imperial edict... has also been apprehended and will be executed tomorrow."
The imperial edict, which Yun Yuan risked his life to bring back, was brought to the court by the King of Donghai. In front of the entire court, he pointed directly at the general in front of the palace and demanded that he hand over the edict he had announced that day. The general was holding an empty edict, so naturally he couldn't produce it.
However, the Prince of Donghai presented the real imperial edict, claiming that the Prince of Huainan had actually raised an army in response to the imperial edict, and only wanted to respond to the emperor's wish to leave the palace and discuss major issues with the Prince of Zhao. It was all a misunderstanding. Unexpectedly, the general got a forged edict from nowhere and executed the prince in the street - such a treasonous and rebellious act is truly outrageous to both humans and gods!
Although the King of Zhao was pleased to see the King of Huainan removed, the recent uproar within the court and the public had left him restless. Firstly, he was facing widespread public outrage, as evidenced by the secret decree. Secondly, his advisors warned him that the general was too ferocious and treacherous, and would become a threat in the long run.
The words of the King of Donghai directed all the criticism towards the general, which was exactly what the King of Zhao wanted.
King Zhao immediately seconded the proposal: to clear the name of King Huainan and eliminate the traitors from the world.
The King of the East Sea gently stroked the top of Yun Yuan's head and said softly, "Although you failed to save him, you saved what he valued most."
Yun Yuan choked up and said, "Ever since I can remember, Mother has often mentioned the King of Huainan... How could I have imagined..."
"Yes," the King of the East Sea said softly, his gaze faraway. "When they were young, they often rode together, hunted, and traveled together." He slowly closed his eyes, his words filled with sorrow. "The world is unpredictable... nothing can be more true than that."
"I heard that the King of Changshan has led his troops to Luoyang?"
"They were stopped. Those few of his soldiers were just venting their anger and committing suicide, only to ruin the aftermath of the Luoyang Incident." The King of Donghai said, "Wait a little longer. The King of Qi has also been stripped of his military power and exiled to the vassal state. For the time being, let this old villain 'rest easy'..."
The girl's eyes narrowed slightly. "Let them indulge their ambitions, let their soldiers become arrogant, and then attack them in droves."
"Yes." The King of the East Sea nodded slightly, "Within half a year."
"But the Prince of Zhao held the Emperor hostage and forged the edict, ultimately gaining control of the situation. Wouldn't it be safer if someone else were lurking by Your Majesty's side and communicating with the outside world?" Seeing the prince pondering, Yun Yuan hurriedly said, "Uncle, please allow Yuan'er to sneak into the palace."
The King of the East Sea was slightly startled, then frowned: "You can't be a spy."
"uncle……"
Before she could finish, the King of the East Sea raised his hand to stop her. He then stood up and pressed a hidden button on the table. With a soft click, the vast landscape painting behind him slowly moved away, revealing a deep, hidden door.
Yun Yuan followed him inside and saw that the room was brightly lit by candles. The walls were all covered with hidden compartments and shelves, and there were diagrams of special weapons and mechanisms hanging in several places.
The King of Donghai stopped in front of the bronze candlestick in the middle, took out something from a secret box and handed it to Yun Yuan.
"This is..." Yun Yuan took it in a daze.
The King of Donghai opened the lid of the box, revealing layers of documents, and at the top was the Butterfly Feather Order that Yun Yuan had returned a few days ago.
"This is a comprehensive list of roving thugs, spies, secret agents, and... many old friends. It's the product of my uncle's entire life's work over the years. Only true thugs can view this list."
Yun Yuan suddenly raised her head, her eyes full of surprise.
The King of the East Sea took out the translucent white butterfly feather token, its jade surface gleaming with a warm sheen in the candlelight. "I originally intended to return this token to Gu Yue. He is truly worthy of being the Owl Leader." He paused, his gaze resting on Yun Yuan's face. "However, Gu Yue said that if you are still willing to take on this responsibility, he and all the Owls under his command are willing to follow you even to death."
The King of the East Sea gazed at the shock surging in the girl's eyes and asked with a smile, "How about it? Are you... willing?"
Yun Yuan suddenly came to his senses, bent his knees, and knelt directly on the cold floor. His voice was clear and firm: "Accept the order!"
"Good!" The King of the East Sea helped Yun Yuan up, a smile of approval in his eyes. "Since you are the leader of the Xiao clan, tell me, what is the most urgent task for Youxiao clan right now?"
Yun Yuan lowered his eyes and thought for a moment, then said, "Before, in order to save me, You Xiao's whereabouts were exposed. Feng Diao will never give up and will definitely track him down to the end."
"That's right." The King of the East Sea nodded slightly. "In that case, why don't we... take the initiative to give them some 'information'?"
"Uncle, what you mean is, to bring You Xiao out of hiding and into the open, and provide Feng Die with a clear mastermind behind the scenes?" Seeing the King of the East Sea nod with a smile, Yun Yuan pressed on, "Who is this person?"
The King of the East Sea smiled even more deeply, raised his hand and gently touched her forehead: "You."
Yun Yuan's eyes widened instantly and she stood there in a daze.
The King of Donghai turned around and took out a stack of slightly old documents from a secret box inside the wall, gently brushing off the thin layer of dust on them.
"These are the prescriptions your mother left behind. They're all from your Mohist family. Over the years, your uncle has secretly run several pharmacies in Luoyang, using these prescriptions. He's had pharmacists practice refining these medicines." His lips curled slightly. "They've learned... and they're quite good at it."
Yun Yuan suddenly understood: "These medicine shops are actually hidden stakes... So I just need to take over these medicine shops, and then..."
"Then, a hidden channel will be left for this world, allowing those destined to inquire about the affairs of the world." The King of the East Sea turned his head and looked at her with a profound gaze. "Within the next month, secret agents across the country will quietly spread the name of 'miracle healer'. These past few years—especially the many actions of the roving owl in recent days—will all be transformed into the wind and cloud at your fingertips." He gently tapped Yun Yuan's nose and whispered with a smile, "You are the man who can turn the tide behind the scenes, the unicorn son favored by this chaotic world—whoever obtains you can rule the world."
Yun Yuan pondered for a moment, a flicker in her eyes. "Uncle, do you want to turn this pharmacy into a secret chamber? Let everyone in the world offer their secrets for advice?"
"That's right." The King of Donghai gazed at the flickering candlelight, his voice low. "With the death of the King of Huainan, the world is in turmoil. There will be no shortage of people seeking medical advice." He suddenly sneered, "Prince Zhao will eventually face this day." He gazed into Yun Yuan's clear eyes, "Rather than being a spy, using the various factions as pawns in the game is what you should do most."
"But...why would they believe me?"
"My uncle has been working hard for many years for this very purpose." The King of the East Sea smiled faintly. "Human hearts are like this. It's easy to doubt, but also easy to believe. All you need to do is make the news secretive and true enough, and then let it slip, intentionally or unintentionally, from the mouths of those with enough influence..."
Yun Yuan pondered for a moment, his eyes flickering slightly: "Uncle has been planning this for years... Could it be that he has been pursuing something?"
The King of the East Sea was startled for a moment, then burst into laughter. "You truly deserve the title 'Son of the Unicorn'! You're right!" He tapped the side of the wooden box with his fingertips, and a secret compartment popped out. From it, he pulled out half of a blood-red jade pendant. "I'm searching for the other half."
Yun Yuan was stunned: "What is the origin of this jade pendant?"
The King of Donghai gazed at the red jade in his hand and sighed softly, "This story is incredible. Forty years ago, the late emperor conquered Luoyang and pursued the princess of the previous dynasty to the banks of the Luo River. The princess was extremely stubborn and refused to surrender. She swore by the Luo River, cursing that our dynasty would not live past fifty years and would suffer heavenly punishment - day would be like eternal night, demons would roam rampant, evil spirits would run rampant, and people would eat each other." His tone was heavy, "Then he slashed the jade with his sword, threw half of it into the Luo River as a token of his promise, and then jumped into the surging river."
"She... died?"
The King of Donghai shook his head. "That's what's strange. The army searched the river for days and even recovered half the blood jade, but not a scrap of the princess's clothing." He returned the jade pendant to its box, his voice trailing off. "The late emperor thought it was a death curse..." His brow furrowed. "But judging by the current situation, whether it's a divine punishment or not, the human calamity is already evident. If the owner of this blood jade still exists, he must be found."
"Half a jade pendant..."
As the candlelight flickered, the broken part of the blood jade glowed scarlet, as if it were freshly torn flesh.
Yun Yuan stared in shock, feeling a chill all over her body.
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