Li Guiqie was chatting with Jiang Junjing and Jiang Junyu.
She has been immersed in grief lately. Although her family members are like a group of leeches sucking her blood, they are still her relatives no matter what. The Li family is all dead at once, and she can't accept it. She cries several times almost every day.
Jiang Junjing, Jiang Junyu, and Jiang Jiulu took turns accompanying her and comforting her every day.
Li Guiqie looked sad as she stared at Jiang Junyu and asked, "Tell me, was your maternal grandfather's family framed? I think Xiangli Mingzhu must know that I've been secretly helping your maternal grandfather and three uncles all these years. She even told me that she couldn't stand what I was doing. I've thought about it for days, and I just can't help but think that my idea is right."
Jiang Junyu was tired of hearing this: "Auntie, don't talk nonsense. Mother has many spies in the mansion. We send a lot of things to Grandfather every year. It would be hard for Mother not to know. It's already good enough that she didn't stop us."
Concubine Li was immediately displeased. She scolded Jiang Junyu, "What do you know? Xiangli Mingzhu is a petty and vengeful person. For so many years, the Marquis has doted on me, and she has seen it all and harbors resentment. She's definitely looking for an opportunity to take revenge. I think she's the one who tipped off those bandits, so they know that your maternal grandfather's family doesn't have many guards but has a lot of wealth, making them an easy target. I think she's the one who sabotaged things. The Xiangli family is full of capable people. If she wanted to do something like this, she wouldn't need to run errands herself. She could just say a few words and many people would fawn over her."
Jiang Junyu disagreed with this idea: "She is from a declining branch of the Xiangli clan. Not many people fawn over her. When Little Ninth Master came, he didn't even bother to talk to her."
Jiang Junjing disagreed: "Third brother, you are right. However, if she really wanted to kill my maternal grandfather's family, she wouldn't need to take action. She could just send someone to spread the news in the martial arts world."
Jiang Junyu was a shrewd strategist and naturally understood this principle: "Second brother, what you said is true, but if Mother really wanted to deal with Grandfather's family, there would have been plenty of opportunities. Why wait until now? I have also sent people to investigate, and Mother has no dealings with people in the martial arts world."
Jiang Junjing was skeptical: "You checked?"
Jiang Junyu nodded seriously: "As soon as this happened, I sent people to investigate. It wasn't my mother who did it; it was the bandits from Baishan. I've already told my elder brother and father about it, and they both said that they would suggest the imperial court send troops to wipe out the bandits as soon as they had the chance, which would also be a way to avenge my maternal grandfather's family. In the end, it was because my uncle and several cousins were too flamboyant and didn't know how to restrain themselves that they were targeted."
Jiang Junjing couldn't speak ill of the Li family in front of Consort Li, for fear of upsetting her.
The two brothers made another promise, saying that they would avenge their maternal grandfather's family no matter what. Jiang Junjing also said that he had long ago asked Yuan Qi, a senior disciple of Fusang Temple, to perform a ritual to pray for the Li family's soul. Only then did Li Guiqi feel a little better.
Two days later, Xiangli Mingzhu took Jiang Juncai to Wuji Palace while Jiang Juncai was on leave at home.
The Jiang family has no dealings with Wuji Palace. The Jiang family usually goes to Wuxiang Temple for any matters, whether it's for religious ceremonies or divination, and has never come to Wuji Palace.
The main reason is that Wuji Palace is the territory of the Imperial Preceptor, Xuanji Daojun. Xuanji Daojun is aloof and rarely interacts with court officials. Jiang Zhengqing dislikes Xuanji's character and therefore deliberately stays away from him.
But this did not prevent other officials from going to Wuji Palace to donate incense money.
Wuji Palace is usually managed by Xuanqing Daoist, the junior brother of Xuanji Daoist.
Master Xuanqing was highly respected and usually entrusted the temple's affairs to his two disciples. He would only step forward when there was a major event.
The Wuji Palace has thousands of disciples, and some even say that the number has exceeded ten thousand. As for the exact number, no one knows.
Kong Qing was telling his master, Daoist Xuanqing, about Bai Fujun: "Master, a female Daoist named Yuan Qi extracted Bai Fujun's soul and spirit. She is not even ten years old yet, but she is quite capable. She is a disciple of Daoist Guangcheng of Fusang Temple."
Xuanqing looked to be only in his fifties or sixties, with some gray hair, but he was in high spirits. Dressed in white, he exuded an ethereal aura, just like a legendary immortal.
Kong Qing looked to be around forty years old, not much younger than his master, but he knew that his master was over one hundred and fifty years old, had cultivated for many years, possessed profound Taoist skills, had no interest in worldly money, and was single-mindedly focused on cultivating Taoism to become an immortal.
That's why the temple's general affairs were entrusted to him and his junior brother.
Xuanqing opened his eyes upon hearing the words "Daoist Guangcheng" and asked casually, "Guangcheng actually taught such a capable disciple?"
Kong Qing replied respectfully, "Yes, the other disciples of Daoist Guangcheng are all of average talent, but this female disciple is exceptionally talented. She has achieved so much at such a young age, and her Daoist skills are probably superior to mine."
"Find an opportunity to kill it." After saying that, Xuan Qing untied the Qiankun bag from his waist, took out a thumb-sized bottle, and placed it on the table in front of him. "This is the Golden Silkworm Gu, which is highly poisonous. Give it to that little girl. Go ahead, the Jiang family is here. Take this opportunity to give it to that little girl."
As soon as Kong Qing came out of his master's Taoist room, his young Taoist priest reported, "Master, Madam Jiang and Jiang Juncai, the commander of the Imperial Guards, are requesting an audience. They want you to analyze their birth charts."
Kong Qing sighed inwardly, "My master is so prescient; the Jiang family has indeed arrived."
He knew the powerful and influential people in Kyoto like the back of his hand. The Jiang family never came to Wuji Palace, so their sudden visit must have a reason.
Kong Qing didn't rush to receive them. Instead, he took his little apprentice back to his Daoist room, found a long, thin box on the antique shelf, and took out a hairpin made of lightning-struck wood. The hairpin was hollow. He unscrewed the end of the hairpin to reveal the hollow inside. He carefully let the golden silkworm gu crawl inside and then put the hairpin back in place.
He knew that Jiang Juncai was the commander of the Imperial Guards and was knowledgeable, so he might be able to see that the hairpin had a mechanism. Therefore, he formed a hand seal, and golden light flowed from his fingertips, attaching to the lightning-struck wooden hairpin, perfectly concealing the joint between the ends of the hairpin.
Without using magic, one cannot tell that the wooden hairpin is in two pieces with the naked eye, let alone discover the hidden world inside.
After leaving his Taoist chamber, Kong Qing handed the box to his disciple Qiu Sheren and instructed him, "When I ask you to fetch the warding-off-evil artifact later, just bring it in."
Qiu Sheren respectfully agreed and put the box away.
When Kong Qing arrived at the Sanqing Hall, Xiangli Mingzhu was offering incense with Jiang Juncai, kneeling on the prayer mat and kowtowing in prayer.
"Amitabha Buddha, I've kept Madam and Commander Jiang waiting."
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