Chapter 142: Just Around the Corner
In the initial plan, Xie Huailing wouldn't be spinning like a top after returning to Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou. It's true that she has too many things to do, and each one takes up a lot of her energy, but after she returns to the building, Su Mengzhen and Yang Wuxie can share a lot of the burden. Besides, the situation is favorable to Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou, so no matter how busy she is, she won't be as busy as she was during the period when she was cooperating with Wang Yunmeng.
However, as she mentioned, this was the initial plan. This serious illness deprived Xie Huailing of most of her work rights. After instructing Su Mengzhen on what to do, her main task became lying in bed, and her activity range was limited to her own bedroom. Her only entertainment was listening to her maid read to her the newly written stories and plays by poor scholars in Bianjing, while she made sarcastic comments out of curiosity, all while waiting for Bai Feifei.
Speaking of Bai Feifei, she arrived way too late. Xie Huailing thought that since she woke up at noon, Bai Feifei should have arrived in the afternoon. But in reality, Xie Huailing waited until evening, even struggling with dinner, before Bai Feifei finally arrived.
She was extraordinary at first glance. As if returning to her own home, she pushed open the bedroom door and strode in without anyone guarding the outside stopping her. She was also very imposing, dressed differently from before. Her green robes made her resemble a bamboo in a painting, and she stood apart from the others. With just a slight gesture, the maids who had been trying to persuade Xie Huailing retreated to the sides and stood against the wall.
Xie Huailing understood everything. She pulled her legs back on the couch, making room for Bai Feifei: "How impolite, Vice Master Bai! Is this your room or mine?"
Bai Feifei walked over and sat down next to her. She had done quite a lot today, and half-closed her eyes: "If you were in my room, you would be even more impolite than this."
Xie Huailing, caught off guard, didn't find anything inappropriate and retorted, "How can that be the same? You don't even pay attention to the patients. Besides, when I offered you this job, what did you say to me, Deputy Director Bai? 'No way.'"
She emphasized those two words, then changed the subject: "However, it was just something said. Our Vice Master Bai has said many things, like, 'Such a great kindness, please don't send me away. I will repay you like a cow or a horse.' Is that the one?"
If Xie Huailing hadn't been sick, Bai Feifei would have whipped him until he was spinning like a top.
Even now, when she thinks back to how she pretended to be pitiful to deceive Zhu Qiqi and ended up running into Xie Huailing, she still feels suffocated and filled with endless regret. A blush creeps up her face again, not from shyness, and her half-closed eyes open. Seeing her like this, Xie Huailing leans back quickly, revealing his get-out-of-jail-free card, his voice softening: "I'm a patient, please remember I'm a patient."
...Feeling a bit nauseous, Bai Feifei suddenly felt a chill: "You'd better pray that you stay sick forever."
“That won’t do.” Xie Huailing was unmoved and replied, “There’s still a lot to do.”
She read aloud again, "Vice Pavilion Master Bai, what a nice title. I just wonder what other people think when they hear it."
Xie Huailing wasn't surprised that Su Mengzhen would offer him the position of deputy leader. Such was his nature; he also possessed the courage to employ capable people. Bai Feifei had made significant contributions in many matters, including Fu Zongshu's death, and had accompanied Xie Huailing alone to the tower on a rainy night. The number of lives lost by his six and a half disciples was countless. His methods, intelligence, martial arts, and stance were all impeccable. Offering him the position of deputy leader at this time was perfectly appropriate.
Not to mention, Bai Feifei's martial arts skills have improved even more than a year ago. She has made full use of the tools Xie Huailing gave her, which is also partly due to her lack of concern for Chai Yuguan, thus reaping double the benefits. Looking at it now, there is no one more suitable for the position of the sect leader than Bai Feifei.
"Others?" Bai Feifei could understand who Xie Huailing was referring to. From then on, standing in the direction of Jinfeng Xiyu Tower, she was clear about her future opponents and had no fear of what she had to do. "Isn't that a good show?"
Having endured twenty years of hatred and gained a new life by killing her own father, her temperament is even more ruthless and vicious than those who fight in the martial arts world. However, things are different now, and she needs to adapt to her new identity: "I wanted to ask you before, why did you let Six and a Half Hall stay until now? I've read through all the documents in the building these past two days and finally found out the reason."
In Bai Feifei's view, given the chips Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou held and everything Xie Huailing had prepared, a head-on confrontation should have been enough to defeat Lei Sun.
Upon hearing this, Xie Huailing simply said, "It's not the right time yet."
The powerful figures in Bianjing in the past did not want to see any single entity dominate. Only a deeply entrenched network of power could allow them to maximize their profits and satisfy their desires to the fullest extent. How many of them truly considered the safety of Bianjing their responsibility? The so-called checks and balances were nothing more than a gambling table, used to conceal their behind-the-scenes machinations and suppress their crimes.
Later, Bianjing descended into chaos, with various martial arts factions vying for power. The Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion and the Six and a Half Hall held sway over the land, and it was too late to intervene. The imperial court remained in disarray, with no one willing to intervene. Those who wanted to intervene could only try to prevent the situation from escalating further.
Therefore, such a situation is not suitable for the emergence of a leader who stands out and attracts attention, at least not in the past.
Bai Feifei asked, "How much longer until it's time? Doesn't it count as time now?"
Xie Huailing remained silent, letting out a lazy yawn. She then began her second struggle with dinner, digging her chopsticks into the porridge and stirring until she was too tired to stir anymore. Only then did she casually switch to a spoon and shove the porridge into her mouth.
"It'll be ready soon." After swallowing the porridge, a leisurely voice gradually rose. Xie Huailing picked out a lotus seed and pointed out the landscape in the porridge.
When she said "soon," how long did she mean? Was it just a few days, or maybe ten days or a month or two?
Bai Feifei didn't want to press the matter. But she suddenly had a hunch that this was just one step in Xie Huailing's plan, and that the Six and a Half Hall was not the end. She had a grander goal and a more ambitious dream in her heart, which made Bai Feifei unable to stay silent.
She asked her softly, "And then, after six and a half minutes of class time, what are you going to do next?"
Xie Huailing looked down at the porridge, her expression unchanged, her thoughts seemingly unfocused, and said something to Bai Feifei that seemed to have no beginning or end, yet was nonetheless closely related.
She raised an eyebrow and asked in return, "In your opinion, what kind of six-and-a-half-point class would be considered the most useful?"
.
After that night, the rain, like the Yellow River pouring down, dispersed into misty clouds as the new sunlight blazed down. The increasingly hot weather baked every drop of water on the ground, naturally making it impossible for any puddles, large or small, to remain, or for the tides to rise high enough to reflect a person's image.
But it's fine if there are no thunderstorms. Bianjing is never short of storms. Just two or three pieces of news can make up for a whole month's worth of thunderstorms.
For example, Fu Zongshu died.
Fu Zongshu, a high-ranking official, a favorite minister of the emperor, who once held the position of prime minister, had countless followers, and wielded immense power in the court, suddenly died without any explanation.
This matter was first reported by a disciple of Grand Tutor Li, who said that someone had seen Fu Zongshu outside Bianjing (Kaifeng). He had secretly left the capital, and it was suspected that he had ulterior motives. The disciple requested the emperor to investigate thoroughly and then presented the evidence. Emperor Huizong (Zhao Ji) hated being treated like a fool, and he was furious on the spot, ordering a thorough investigation. Cai Jing stood in the hall in shock. At the very beginning of this incident, he thought that Grand Tutor Li was trying to give him a show of force after taking leave. After court, he immediately sent people to obstruct the investigation and then quickly sent a letter to Fu Zongshu.
How could it be too late? By the afternoon, news of Fu Zongshu's death had spread like wildfire throughout Bianjing. The following day, news of the discovery of his body filled the streets and alleys, even alarming the Divine Marquis's mansion. Only then did Cai Jing realize something was wrong. When he went to check for Fu Zongshu's reply, it was nowhere to be found.
He was horrified to discover that Fu Zongshu was probably really dead, and he, having lost his right-hand man, was the last to know.
The fall from grace happened in an instant. Unlike his other cronies, Fu Zongshu's power had accumulated to the point that even Cai Jing was suspicious. His death was something Cai Jing could not afford to bear. Too many key relationships were maintained through Fu Zongshu; his death meant that Cai Jing had permanently lost that part of his power, and his influence in the court would decline accordingly. Grand Tutor Li seized this opportunity to press his advantage. The facade of differing political views that Cai Jing had previously cultivated between himself and Fu Zongshu became the basis for Grand Tutor Li's accusations against him, implicating him in Fu Zongshu's murder. This infuriated Cai Jing.
But none of these are the most important things.
Most importantly, how exactly did Fu Zongshu die?
The situation has changed so drastically that Cai Jing still doesn't know.
He couldn't even investigate himself, and he had to prevent others from doing so. He couldn't let Fu Zongshu's departure from the capital be exposed. The real purpose of this trip was a buried bomb: he had to stall the Divine Marquis's Mansion and prevent them from investigating and giving them any leverage.
But on the other hand, there was also Grand Tutor Li, who wished he could kill him at this moment and firmly pin the blame for Fu Zongshu's demise on him.
Caught between two attacks, powerless to do anything about it, this perfectly describes Cai Jing's situation at this time.
Under such circumstances, he had no interest in dealing with Jin Feng Xi Yu Lou or Liu Fen Ban Tang. He was lucky to avoid suffering a complete and utter defeat at this time.
There was another person who also hoped that his ancestral graves would emit auspicious smoke.
Although Xie Huailing and Zhao Mengyun tacitly pinned the blame for the Southern King's coma on the Canal Gang, who had sided with the Six and a Half Hall, the saying "Those who do many unrighteous deeds will surely perish" could still be used to cool the winds of Lei Sun at this moment.
He was indeed in a terrible predicament. If the Prince of Nan died, the consequences would be unimaginable. Therefore, in order to get rid of the blame, Lei Sun could hardly sleep at night. He was also worried that the chaos in Bianjing was different from the past. Su Mengzhen would take advantage of the chaos to start a war with the Six and a Half Hall and fight for territory.
Fortunately, Xie Huailing fell seriously ill, and Su Mengzhen worked tirelessly, which relieved Lei Sun.
But the truth behind this peaceful coexistence is known only to Su Mengzhen.
Xie Huailing did not mention the matter of taking action to him.
She is still waiting.
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