Chapter 88 The people who enter the inner circle are truly... destined to meet again...
Before it was completely dark, the pavilion was already brightly lit by tall candles.
This is the lakeside pavilion of the Hua family that Jiang Geyun visited not long ago, but if she were there, she would definitely notice the differences.
Although the pavilion in the middle of the lake is lively today, it is not as wonderful as the gathering of humans from all over the world and mountain spirits and ghosts on that day; although it is luxurious, it is still just ordinary jewelry and utensils, without the wonder of that day.
Even so, such a lavish banquet is a rarity in the world.
During the banquet, one person raised his glass and toasted the host, saying, "Today has truly opened our eyes! We have never seen such an exquisite mother-of-pearl inlaid screen before!"
The person in the host's seat smiled without saying a word, and together they raised their glasses and drank down this round of flattery.
Seeing this, Hua Zhaojin, who was sitting in the second seat, gave a cold laugh for no apparent reason.
There seemed to be a moment of silence at the table.
Soon, the lively atmosphere returned.
The melodious sounds of string and wind instruments still lingered, and the laughter and flattery among the guests once again filled the air.
During the meal, someone suddenly asked, "I wonder what advice Young Master Hua has for us? We have been fortunate to receive your father's help in the past, and from now on, we will all have to rely on Young Master Hua."
It seems that the harmony was ultimately just superficial.
Several guests who were close together exchanged knowing glances. They had all heard rumors about the Hua family's recent business contraction and the fact that the reclusive "immortal" had not shown any miracles for a long time.
Today's banquet is less of a celebration and more of a demonstration and test of the Hua family's strength.
It is said that this pavilion in the middle of the lake was built specifically for this banquet, and it has never been used since its completion, which is why there is not even a plaque.
Hua Zhaojin looked up at her father, who was sitting in the main seat.
Hua's father had a gentle expression and didn't look like a businessman. He seemed more like a middle-aged scholar who only knew poetry and books. Sensing Hua Zhaojin's gaze, he smiled and nodded, indicating that his son should answer.
Hua Zhaojin stood up, her gaze sweeping across the entire room with an almost arrogant certainty, as if she could see through everyone's hidden thoughts.
He cupped his hands to the people at the table and said, "Recently, there have been some rumors circulating that seem to have doubts about the future of my Hua family. Here, I would like to say something."
His voice wasn't loud, but it clearly drowned out the noise in the room and reached everyone's ears. "A few minor disturbances cannot shake the foundation of my Hua family. Let's not talk about ordinary merchant disputes anymore. That person," he casually pointed his finger towards the direction of the imperial city, his tone nonchalant, "is already standing on the side of my Hua family!"
These words shocked everyone present.
Hua Zhaojin didn't say it explicitly, but everyone at the table was shrewd. With just a flick of his finger and some rumors from the day before, they quickly pieced together the "facts."
The Hua family has actually gained the support of the Crown Prince!
This far exceeded everyone's expectations for what they would gain from the banquet!
One-sided accounts are not to be trusted. Some of the people below couldn't hold back any longer and jokingly said, "The will of Heaven is unpredictable. Young Master Hua is young and ambitious. It's just talk. But this is all empty talk... Hahaha, let's just drink this cup to the brim!"
In his conversation, he dismissed his conversation with Hua Zhaojin as mere casual chatter, as if he didn't believe it at all.
It would be better if the tone wasn't so tense.
Hua Zhaojin curled her lips into a mocking smile.
He loathed such occasions, feeling that everyone at the table was a leech on the flesh of the Hua family, only clinging to them and serving no other purpose.
Hua Biezhi doesn't think so.
But what she thinks is never important.
She had no right to be at this banquet, let alone sit here to share her father's burdens. So what if she was better at math than him, or more familiar with the business than him? The Hua family was not hers, but his.
He will let all these people know that the Hua family bloodline will surely continue for a long time.
Hua Zhaojin gave a wink to the attendant beside her, who understood and withdrew.
Everyone at the table held their breath, waiting to see what evidence this young master would produce.
Soon, six servants took their seats. The first two held lamps, the last two carried knives, and the two in the middle held a square object covered with a blanket.
After examining the object's appearance, everyone made a guess and began whispering among themselves, making the atmosphere at the table lively once again.
Hua Zhaojin stepped forward, tore off the red silk, revealing what was underneath.
The inscription above reads "Hanxu Pavilion".
The brushstrokes are vigorous, majestic, and orthodox.
Hua Zhaojin said proudly, "Everyone, it is an honor for my Hua family to gather here tonight. I would like to let you know that this place is called Hanxu Pavilion. This Hanxu Pavilion was named by the Crown Prince, who also personally inscribed the plaque and presented it to my Hua family!"
Before the crowd could process this shock, he continued to throw out an even bigger bargaining chip: "Besides, the true reliance of my Hua family has never been in the mortal realm. The immortals who protect my Hua family are still here!" He raised his hand and pointed to the deep night sky outside Hanxu Pavilion, "The immortal connection has not been severed, so why should you all worry unnecessarily?"
The phrase "the immortals are still here" seemed to possess a strange magic, instantly smoothing away the surprise and doubt on many people's faces, and bringing with it a few sighs of relief and even more enthusiastic flattery.
Yes, as long as that extraordinary being is still around, the Hua family will not fall! What's more, there's also that Crown Prince!
The banquet was in full swing, and the grand spectacle seemed like it would never end.
However, several exclamations came from outside Hanxu Pavilion.
Hua Zhaojin frowned and looked up at his father.
His father stroked his beard, remaining calm, and said casually, "I have failed to discipline my son properly, please forgive my poor behavior."
After Hua Zhaojin made that speech, no one dared to say anything, and some laughter echoed from the room.
Hua Zhaojin nodded slightly, did not offer any greeting, and turned to leave.
As he left Hanxu Pavilion, he was about to reprimand the servants who had made noise and disturbed the banquet, but as everyone looked into the distance, he was immediately filled with fear and stood frozen in place.
In the distance, the city's scattered lights are gradually disappearing.
A black line is spreading from afar.
It was not the natural darkness of nightfall, but a deeper, more deathly "black," spreading at a seemingly slow but actually unstoppable pace.
Wherever it passed, the city's dazzling lights, like embers extinguished by water, dimmed and disappeared silently, bit by bit.
Hua Zhaojin did not return for a long time, and the people in the pavilion seemed to realize something, and the laughter and chatter gradually subsided.
The black mist, though seemingly moving slowly, had already swallowed up half the sky in the blink of an eye, pressing down on the most prosperous manor of the Hua family.
The servants looked at Hua Zhaojin with trepidation, hoping that the future head of the family would say something that would calm the hearts of the servants, just as it had calmed the hearts of everyone at the banquet tonight.
Clearly, the servants were going to be disappointed.
A gasp rang out, followed by a chorus of gasps from the crowd.
People stood up in a panic, knocking over tables and spilling delicacies and wine all over the floor. Mother-of-pearl inlaid screens were knocked over in the chaos, making a crisp cracking sound.
The silent, dark fog drew near. The lights in the manor, the servants running about, the terrified cries... all vanished the moment they touched the fog, as if wiped away by an invisible giant hand, returning to eternal silence.
The Hua family, the brightest pearl on the Jingzhou map, did not cause the black mist to change its speed in the slightest. Like the other ordinary houses, plants, and living things, it was swallowed up at a uniform speed.
Those who deliberately create mystery and those who jump around aimlessly will all be buried.
Within moments, the entire Jingzhou, from the border to the center, was shrouded in a deathly black mist, devoid of any light or sound.
Then, the black mist silently lingered over the land, ceasing its spread.
*
"I understand, you can let go of me now," Pei Xuexiao said.
Jiang Geyun did not let go of his sleeve and smiled, "I am not familiar with this place, so let's travel together with Lord Pei."
After the black mist spread, Jiang Geyun's vision went completely black for a short while. Before long, the scene in front of her returned to normal, as if nothing had happened, and it was just that her vision went black after squatting for a long time.
But in a world where anything exists, and on the edge of this forbidden zone, she obviously couldn't believe that what she had just seen was an illusion.
Pei Xuexiao had experienced the same thing as her. After she opened her eyes, her eyes were clear, and she immediately wanted to ride away.
Jiang Geyun certainly couldn't let him leave.
She could perhaps let him go temporarily before the black mist enveloped him, and then think of another way, or come back to find him after confirming his attitude. But the sudden appearance of this inexplicable black mist, coupled with Pei Xuexiao's previous nonchalant attitude...
Jiang Geyun immediately obeyed, stepped forward, grabbed Pei Xuexiao's sleeve, removed the hood, and revealed her true appearance.
Pei Xuexiao was about to ride away when he saw her appearance and immediately reined in his horse.
The two looked at each other for a moment.
Pei Xuexiao dismounted, frowned slightly, and said softly, "What are you doing here?"
Seeing this reaction, Jiang Geyun was certain that the person in front of her was Pei Xuexiao, whom she had met at Mirror Lake.
She didn't answer his question, but instead asked, "How could Lord Pei not have a younger sister? Did Xueyi encounter some misfortune?"
This was the most likely reason she could think of: Pei Xueyi had encountered some life-or-death situation while covering her retreat...
Thinking of this, Jiang Geyun felt a sudden pang in her heart.
Has yet another friend died because of her?
Pei Xuexiao's eyes were unreadable: "What are you talking about? And who is Xueyi?"
...?
Jiang Geyun tried her best to find an example, saying, "What are you saying? Xueyi was sent to Jingzhou a few days ago. If you had been here at that time, you could have seen her."
Pei Xuexiao said, "I was the one who was sent to Jingzhou. I requested the transfer myself. Because of the Jing King's lingering resentment, there were unusual movements in the forbidden area of Jingzhou. Even the Hua family reported this matter, so the prison sent me here. I have been investigating this matter and have traveled almost all over Jingzhou... Where is there any younger sister?"
Then, his gaze towards her subtly changed, and he said, "Miss Jiang, are you feeling... a little unwell?"
What you really want to ask isn't about the body, but about the mind, right?
Jiang Geyun did not explain, but continued to ask: "Wasn't it you, Pei Xueyi, and Xie Jiming who interrogated me together at Mirror Lake earlier?"
Pei Xuexiao said, "It's just me and Brother Xie, there's never been anyone else."
Jiang Geyun looked at Pei Xuexiao with a long gaze.
It must have been affected by the forbidden area.
After all that investigation, what did I see that I shouldn't have seen and that affected my mind?
The two looked at each other with similar suspicious expressions.
Clearly, they both felt that the other had mental problems.
After a moment, Jiang Geyun took the initiative to ask, "What exactly was that black mist earlier? Has the Zhenyi Division ever encountered this situation before?"
She was no longer going to dwell on this issue. At worst, she would wait until this matter was over and then confront Pei Xuexiao with the other two. She didn't believe that Pei Xuexiao would be able to say something like "Do I have a sister?" in front of Pei Xueyi. If that were the case, Pei Xueyi would make his life miserable forever.
It seems that Pei Xuexiao had the same idea as her.
Pei Xuexiao stopped dwelling on her sister's topic and replied, "Similar to common floating spirits and filthy shadows, they are all things created by the aggregation of ghostly resentment. The forbidden area was originally meant to seal away the lingering resentment of King Jing, but it has recently become loose. I have been running around trying to resolve this matter. I also went to the temple earlier to seek treasure... How come you are here?"
Jiang Geyun retorted, "Don't you know what's been happening in the capital lately?"
Actually, this person called her "Miss Jiang" instead of "Your Highness".
Pei Xuexiao said, "You also know the location of Jingzhou."
Jiang Geyun nodded, her face neither flushed nor out of breath, and said, "I see. I was also sent to Jingzhou to help you. Before that, I was working undercover at the temple to handle other matters."
“Really?” Pei Xuexiao was skeptical, touching Lingxi in her arms through her clothes. “...Never mind, we’ll go back to the capital together in the future.”
Jiang Geyun smiled and nodded again, then asked, "Since Lord Pei arrived first and has been traveling around Jingzhou for so long, he must know Jingzhou much better than I do. So, what should we do next?"
Pei Xuexiao pondered for a moment and said, "Let's hide and gather information first."
Jiang Geyun remained noncommittal, saying, "Then let's go into the city."
...
“I remember saying just now, ‘Hide and gather information.’”
Pei Xuexiao stood beside Jiang Geyun, lowering her voice, her teeth clenched.
Jiang Geyun turned her head and smiled at him.
Her turning her head made him realize that the distance between them had invisibly closed considerably. Pei Xuexiao paused, took half a step back, and widened the distance even further.
Jiang Geyun ignored his actions and said calmly, "It didn't say where to hide. I think this is the best place."
The two were standing in front of Prince Jing's residence.
Logically speaking, since Prince Jing is dead, Prince Jing's mansion should have been destroyed many years ago. How could Prince Jing's mansion be gone?
Not long ago, the two had similar questions.
Upon entering the city, the two found it to be a thriving place, with everything seemingly no different from their usual Jingzhou. However, Pei Xuexiao, who had been investigating in Jingzhou for several days, quickly sensed something was amiss.
This is not the present-day Jingzhou, but the Jingzhou of many years ago, before King Jing died.
Upon hearing this news, Jiang Geyun immediately said that she had thought of a suitable place to investigate.
...Then he pulled Pei Xuexiao to the front of the Jing Prince's Mansion.
The guards at the gate noticed the two men lingering there for a long time. They exchanged a glance, and one of them shouted, "Who goes there!"
Jiang Geyun turned around, cupped his hands to the guards on the steps, and said, "I am a wandering scholar who wishes to share the prince's burdens and serve under his command."
Before the first guard could answer, another guard chuckled and asked, "What are your skills?"
Just as Jiang Geyun was about to speak, the guard turned to his companion and jokingly said, "If you really had any ability, would you need to come here? Wouldn't you have already seen the Prince?"
Jiang Geyun was not annoyed. Her gaze swept over the two guards and finally settled on the guard who asked the question, a knowing smile playing on her lips.
"My abilities are shallow; I only have a rudimentary understanding of physiognomy, and can observe a person's fortune and predict good or bad luck," she said in a clear, moderate voice that could penetrate the doorway and reach the deeper courtyard. "For example, this sir, your eyes are pierced with blood, which indicates a bloody disaster within three days. However, this aura is outward, but the trouble originates from within. If I am not mistaken, is your young son currently bedridden, causing you great anxiety?"
Pei Xuexiao glanced at Jiang Geyun without saying a word.
The guard's smile froze instantly, turning into horror.
Jiang Geyun pressed her advantage, saying, "I not only know the source of your bloodlust, but also the matter that worries Your Highness. I wish to see Your Highness not to show off such a petty trick of prying into other people's privacy, but because I have observed that although the purple aura above the Prince's mansion is strong, there is a faint line of black haze lingering around it. This indicates that Your Highness has some hidden worries, and Your Highness is in an unwarranted predicament. I am not very talented, but I may be able to analyze this predicament for Your Highness and point out the opportunity to break the deadlock."
There was silence for a moment in front of the Prince Jing's mansion.
The guard originally wanted to say something like, "These are nothing," and Jiang Geyun could tell from his expression. However, given Pei Xuexiao's investigation over the past few days and his understanding of Jingzhou and the Prince of Jing, there was no problem in talking about these old stories.
Entering the room, step by step.
Pei Xuexiao clearly understood what she meant, and stood helplessly to the side.
Just as the guard was about to speak, a voice suddenly came from inside the door.
She felt both very familiar with it and somewhat unfamiliar with it.
It is serene and cool, like touching a cold spring.
"I am somewhat curious."
The main gate of the Prince's Mansion opens to both sides.
Jiang Geyun's right hand, which was hanging by her side, suddenly moved, but was quickly regained control.
Su Heng stood between the two vermilion doors, looking down at her from the steps, his face expressionless and extremely indifferent.
Standing beside him was a man dressed in fine clothes who looked like a martial artist. He was looking at Su Heng with his arms crossed, appearing to be a reliable uncle. Behind them was a large group of servants.
Jiang Geyun looked up and met the gaze of the medium-sized villain in front of her.
It's true... enemies always seem to meet...
She didn't answer. Su Heng seemed a little puzzled and called out, "Your Excellency?"
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Author's note: I feel like I always write about people at banquets in a very exaggerated way (thinking...)
Also: Actually, according to the original plan, I wanted to finish writing it all in one go from the 85th to the 87th, and then start the Ghost City arc the next day, with Zhong Heng making his appearance. Although it's meaningless to talk about this now... I'm exhausted from fighting with work... I wish that I can have more drafts saved up in the future or that my writing speed will improve by leaps and bounds so I can strive for perfect attendance! I really want that perfect attendance badge!
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