Chapter 248 Tearing Off the Mask
Inside the Manjushri Bodhisattva Hall.
Li Xian and Wei Mei were expressing their gratitude to Wei Shaoxuan.
Wei Shaoxuan, accompanied by several men, stood inside the hall, exchanging pleasantries with smiles.
The lame manager and the Persian merchant were nowhere to be seen behind them. On the floor of the hall, there were many swords and weapons scattered about, as if a fight had just taken place.
The guards and servants who protected Li Xian's family sat scattered on the ground, bandaging the wounds on their arms. Fortunately, there were no corpses lying on the ground.
At that moment, everyone noticed Xie Lingjiang's return outside the door.
“My dear niece, what a coincidence! Let me introduce you.”
Li Xian enthusiastically recommended:
"This is the sixth son of the Wei family I mentioned to you before. His name is Shaoxuan. He is the sixth son of my cousin Jisi. He came to Longcheng on behalf of his cousin to deliver a birthday gift to Guo'er. It is rare that my cousin Jisi is so concerned about his niece even though he is thousands of miles away."
Li Xian sighed, and Wei Mei picked up the conversation, explaining to Xie Lingjiang:
"Another thief broke in just now, but fortunately Wei Liulang arrived in time and, together with several heroes, drove the thief away. Wei Liulang is both a scholar and a warrior, a true talent, and has the former demeanor of the King of Wei."
Receiving a subtle glance from Wei Mei, Xie Lingjiang remained calm, stepped over the threshold, entered the main hall, and stood beside Li Xian, whose smile appeared somewhat forced upon closer inspection.
It subtly blocked the way for Li Xian's family.
Li Guo'er and Li Dalang behind them also breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Wei Jisi, the King of Wei, is the nephew of the current Empress. Li Xian is the Empress's son. Although they are cousins, these Wei family members who are entitled to be kings must have been actively involved in major events such as the deposition of the emperor and the change of the state from Gan to Zhou, and may even have been the masterminds behind them.
The so-called blood ties of imperial families are nothing more than a veneer of affection to maintain appearances.
In addition, not long ago, Xie Lingjiang told the Li family about Ouyang Rong's speculation, so everyone was naturally not stupid.
However, Wei Shaoxuan was, after all, the son of the King of Wei, and came on behalf of the Wei family, so the Li family dared not offend him easily.
Wei Shaoxuan remained unfazed by the Xie woman's cold, indifferent, and guarded demeanor, maintaining his familiar and enthusiastic attitude.
"Uncle, you're too kind. Guo'er is, after all, a princess of the imperial family. Her status is there. His Majesty has bestowed birthday gifts upon her, so how could my father forget? Speaking of which, the fact that His Majesty was able to take the time to bestow gifts this time was due to my father's subtle reminder."
"Thank you for your praise, Aunt. It's just some rudimentary skill that I learned from my godfather."
"As for why we are here, isn't this the Longcheng County government organizing the people to take refuge? My Wei family is also a citizen of the Great Zhou. Even when we are sent to the local area, we cannot be arrogant and have special privileges. We must also obey the government. I happened to be resting in the main hall next door when I noticed the movements of those mountain bandits."
He paused, his face dignified, and sighed:
"Eh, even if it weren't for my uncle's family, I would still lend a hand if I saw injustice. It's just a coincidence that we met. It's truly fate."
Wei Shaoxuan then turned around and greeted Xie Lingjiang.
Xie Lingjiang simply nodded without saying anything.
Wei Shaoxuan didn't mind, and turned to look at the gentle, ladylike figure behind him, showing some concern:
"Cousin Guo'er, were you alright?"
Li Guo'er lowered her head and remained silent.
Her face was veiled, revealing only the bright red plum blossom makeup on her forehead. In front of outsiders, she seemed shy and embarrassed to speak, hiding behind her elder brother, Li Dalang.
The girl's shy, bowed head made Wei Shaoxuan's smile even brighter, and he became even more patient with the talkative Li Xian family in front of him.
Xie Lingjiang suddenly asked, "What is Young Master Wei doing in the Sutra Copying Hall next door? I heard from the monks that the hall next door was closed off, wasn't it?"
Wei Shaoxuan's smile remained unchanged: "His Majesty is a devout Buddhist, and my father is also a devout Buddhist. I thought that before returning to the palace, I would copy a copy of the Donglin Buddhist Scripture for my father, so that this trip to Jiangnan would not have been in vain. The abbot, Master Shandao, was moved by my sincerity and reopened the main hall."
"He must have been moved by Young Master Wei's money," Xie Lingjiang asked. "Has Young Master Wei finished copying it?"
"Almost there." Wei Shaoxuan glanced at the Sutra Copying Hall next door: "Soon."
Xie Lingjiang nodded: "It seems we have delayed Young Master Wei from copying the scriptures. Perhaps Young Master Wei should return."
"No rush. I have invited a high-ranking monk to help me transcribe the scriptures. I'm just here to spend more time with my uncle."
Wei Shaoxuan, without blushing or skipping a beat, said to Li Guo'er and Li Dalang behind him:
“Cousin Li, Cousin Guo’er, are you interested in Buddhism? How about I take you to visit the place next door? Father often says that the young people of the Li and Wei families should spend more time together, so as not to lose the deep affection between our parents.”
The sixth son of the Wei family smiled and said:
"I am not very talented, but today I copied a Buddhist scripture. I felt that my sincerity was so great that I had a premonition that after I copied and recited the scripture, a miracle would happen."
His gaze fell on the two people behind him... no, to be precise, it was on the young woman in plum blossom makeup whose face was veiled but whose beauty could not be concealed. Wei Shaoxuan narrowed his eyes slightly and said meaningfully:
"His Majesty is a devout Buddhist and delights in auspicious omens. If, by chance, the children of our Wei and Li families were to be bathed in the Buddha's light today, His Majesty might be so pleased that he would take my cousin Guo'er and my cousin Li back to the Luoyang Palace. My father loves to report auspicious omens to His Majesty."
Xie Lingjiang sneered inwardly. Back when the Wei Empress usurped the throne, your father did indeed offer a lot of ridiculous auspicious omens, instigating and encouraging her.
"This..." Li Xian hesitated, "What does Nephew Wei mean by this?"
Wei Shaoxuan slightly raised his chin: "It means exactly what it says."
Li Dalang, standing behind, was completely bewildered, while Li Guo'er glanced sideways.
Li Xian and Wei Mei exchanged a complicated glance.
Although Wei Jia Liulang was exchanging pleasantries with them warmly throughout, he couldn't hide the frequent glances he kept casting towards Li Guo'er behind him, especially in front of Li Xian, who was his father.
It is now quite clear that this is a gesture on behalf of the Prince of Wei's residence, implying a promise, or rather, throwing out an irresistible bait.
If they hadn't met Ouyang Lianghan and Xie Lingjiang, the Li Xian couple might have agreed immediately.
After all, he had already fallen on hard times, being demoted to a commoner, living in constant fear, and wandering in Jiangnan for over a decade. He had no choice but to accept the olive branch extended by the powerful Prince Wei's mansion.
In the past, Li Xian would not have dared to hope that the couple could soften the Empress Dowager's heart and allow them to return to Luoyang. However, if they could bring Guo'er and Dalang back to the capital, or even back to the palace, to enjoy the treatment of princes and princesses who are the true granddaughters of the emperor, they would naturally be more than happy to do so.
Wei Shaoxuan probably also believed that Li Xian's family was in a precarious situation and had no other choice but to first play the hero and lower their guard, and then use the sweet dates and the big stick to manipulate them at will.
Unfortunately, he had no idea that Ouyang Rong would suddenly appear out of nowhere.
Right now, the Empress's thoughts and the political situation that Ouyang Lianghan casually mentioned while drinking tea at Yilan Pavilion that day, as well as the message he gave to Li Xian and his wife through Xie Lingjiang not long ago, still echoed in their ears.
Before Wei Meixiu could pinch his waist to remind him, Li Xian, who was usually indecisive, had already decisively shaken his head:
“I appreciate my son and daughter’s kindness on behalf of my nephew Wei, but with the Di Gong Dam flooding and people in the outside world in a state of panic, it would be best if they stayed indoors.”
Wei Mei smiled apologetically: "Nephew, please forgive me. Our family has lived in Longcheng for many years and has deep feelings for each other. We are not used to being separated from our relatives."
Wei Shaoxuan's eyes turned slightly cold, but his smile remained unchanged. His gaze slowly swept past Li Xian and his wife, and he said to those behind him:
"What are your thoughts, Cousin Guo'er?" He looked at Li Guo'er, paused, and then casually asked, "And Cousin Li, have you thought about going to see the prosperity of Luoyang and Chang'an?"
Before Li Guo'er could answer, Xie Lingjiang said directly:
"My younger sister is unwell, so she won't be going to see any Buddhist sites. My older brother has a lot of schoolwork to do and also needs to support our parents, so he can't travel that far."
"If Young Master Wei is too idle, he can go to Master Shandao to relieve his boredom."
They immediately issued an order to expel the guests.
The Li couple also took the opportunity to politely say, "Once the crisis is over, we hope that Nephew Wei will visit our humble abode. At that time, we will present some small gifts to express our gratitude for saving our lives today."
"is that so……"
Upon hearing this, Wei Shaoxuan seemed not to be angry, but showed a hint of regret. He remained motionless and did not leave.
"Why isn't Cousin Guo'er saying anything?" he pressed. "Does she have her own opinion? It wouldn't hurt to tell your uncle."
This rude behavior of directly ignoring the other party's parents and striking up a conversation with a young girl caused everyone to frown.
Li Xian shook his head, preparing to speak, but a clear, melodious voice rang out from beneath the thin veil of a woman in plum blossom makeup. The girl's voice was as sweet and gentle as a nightingale's, causing Wei Shaoxuan's heart to flutter.
"What are the traces of Buddha?" she asked, seemingly curious.
Wei Shaoxuan's smile widened, and he thought to himself, "Just as I thought."
Most young girls who have just come of age are unwilling to submit to the strict discipline of their fathers and brothers. They are rebellious, fond of novelty and playful. Moreover, she knows that she is a princess of the royal family. How could she be willing to stay in such a remote small county town? She is probably obsessed with and yearns for the bustling capital of Luoyang.
"Cousin Guo'er wants to see it? No rush, a copy of the Buddhist scripture will be delivered later."
Wei Shaoxuan, with a clear understanding of the situation, spoke leisurely, his tone carrying a hidden meaning:
"Let's wait here for a while. When the time comes, let Uncle Li and Aunt Wei take a look at the mythical 'Buddha's traces' and see if they are interesting. Then we can make a decision together with Sister Guo'er."
Wei Shaoxuan kept everyone in suspense.
Li Guo'er and Li Xian exchanged glances.
Xie Lingjiang pursed her lips, ignoring the rogue-like Wei Shaoxuan, and turned to ask Li Xian and the others if they had received any news about Ouyang Rong at Donglin Temple.
Upon receiving a negative answer, she looked disappointed, glancing frequently towards the door, her fists clenched under her sleeves, her heart burning with anxiety.
Xie Lingjiang wanted to leave, but she was worried about the safety of Li Xian's family, because her senior brother had repeatedly warned her that the Wei family was in danger.
If only that missing Uncle Chen were here, she could take her place. Xie Lingjiang clenched a jade ring from the academy in her sleeve and poured spiritual energy into it again, attempting to communicate.
Wei Shaoxuan, smiling as he awaited the sword technique, was already looking forward to the scene after summoning the Ding Sword. He imagined Li Guo'er, Xie Lingjiang, and the others would be dumbfounded, their faces turning red with shock, and their attitudes would change completely. He was sure the scene would be quite spectacular.
Wei Shaoxuan suddenly frowned, reached into his sleeve, and pulled out a hot jade ring covered in cracks.
He glanced down, shook his head, and ignored it.
There had been several similar strange burning sensations before. His adoptive father told him not to infuse spiritual energy into the device in response, but also not to throw it away carelessly. He was to bring it back to the palace and handle it discreetly after the matter of the cauldron and sword was settled.
Wei Shaoxuan looked up again, only to be met with Xie Lingjiang's sharp gaze as she suddenly turned her head.
Xie Lingjiang held a jade ring in her hand.
Wei Shaoxuan also held a jade ring in his hand.
Inside the main hall, a strange silence fell for a while.
Wei Shaoxuan subtly tucked his hand into his sleeve.
"Wei Shaoxuan! How did Uncle Chen's jade ring end up with you?"
Xie Lingjiang's eyes narrowed, pointing directly at his sleeve, her nostrils trembling as she said:
"What did you do to Uncle Chen?"
Wei Shaoxuan's expression was stiff.
The Li family was all stunned, their gazes turning to surprise and suspicion as they all looked at Wei Shaoxuan.
"This... is a misunderstanding..." Faced with questioning and stares, Wei Shaoxuan looked embarrassed and couldn't back down.
Without saying a word, Xie Lingjiang flashed forward and reached out to grab Wei Shaoxuan.
But in the next instant, a section of the roof of the main hall shattered.
A lame steward leaped in front of Wei Shaoxuan.
He and Xie Lingjiang exchanged a quick blow before each retreating.
Xie Lingjiang took half a step back, and Liu Fu took a step back.
"Liu Fu? You're a Qi cultivator too!"
Xie Lingjiang stared intently, her pretty face filled with shock and anger:
"Wei Shaoxuan, the Liu family is indeed backed by your Wei clan. No wonder the Liu clan dared to harm the Su family. Senior brother was right, you also ordered the two groups of thieves today, didn't you? Wei Shaoxuan, you have such a thick skin!"
The facade has been torn apart.
Wei Shaoxuan's face darkened; this Xie woman had ruined his plans.
At the back door of the main hall, Boss Li led a group of black-clad swordsmen into the hall.
"Run!"
Upon discovering that the enemy outnumbered them, Xie Lingjiang uttered a single word, drew her sword, and stood in front of them.
Without hesitation, Li Xian and his family turned and fled the main hall under the escort of the guards.
"Wait... Stop right there, don't go!" Wei Shaoxuan shouted urgently.
The Li family ran even faster, and Wei Shaoxuan's expression was uncertain.
In the next instant, Wei Shaoxuan pushed aside the subordinates who were protecting him, drew a waist knife, and chased after them out of the main hall with a stern face.
Xie Lingjiang rushed forward to stop him, but was stopped by Liu Fu.
After their initial probing and exchange of blows upon meeting, both of them understood each other's tactics.
Xie Lingjiang frowned. This limping steward, who had kept his identity hidden, was actually a seventh-rank Qi cultivator, but he seemed more like a vagrant from the martial arts world.
Liu Fu frowned. This Xie woman was more powerful than he had imagined. Mainly, she was too talented and improved too quickly during her time in Longcheng. She was also a Confucian orthodox Qi cultivator, which was purer than the miscellaneous Qi cultivation methods he had practiced for decades in a small Jianghu sect.
Inside the main hall, the two were locked in combat.
Shortly after, Liu Fu was at a disadvantage and forced back by a sword strike.
With a "bang," it crashed into the Buddha statue.
Xie Lingjiang spun in mid-air, turned back, and flew out of the main hall, quickly catching up with Wei Shaoxuan and the others.
Cang—!
A sword rang out.
"Ah!" Wei Shaoxuan clutched his arm, the bloody wound on his arm revealing the bone through the exposed flesh.
He broke out in a cold sweat, but luckily he was a true ninth-rank soldier, hardened by battlefield experience, and instinctively dodged a fatal blow at the last moment.
"Stop her! Protect the young master!"
Sweating profusely, Boss Li led his black-clad swordsmen forward to provide reinforcements.
Swish—swish—swish—!
The woman's sword gleamed coldly.
Like dominoes, a large number of black-clad swordsmen's corpses collapsed in the square in front of the palace.
They all clutched their throats with both hands, coughing up blood and convulsing.
This Xie woman was too fierce, and Wei Shaoxuan was startled.
"Young master, run!"
Inside the main hall, Liu Fu roared and charged out with a surge of power. With the help of a group of black-clad swordsmen, he recklessly entangled Xie Lingjiang.
The latter had no choice but to turn his head and focus on parrying the attack.
Wei Shaoxuan clutched his wound and led the others away in a staggering escape.
However, Xie Lingjiang's "one-to-many" strategy bought them a lot of time, allowing Li Xian's family to escape far away.
Without Xie Lingjiang's interference, Wei Shaoxuan and the others went all out and moved extremely fast.
The loyal guards beside Li Xian stayed behind to cover their retreat.
But Wei Shaoxuan cut them down one by one.
Wei Shaoxuan squatted down, wiped the blood off his knife with the clothes of the guard's corpse, turned around, and confirmed that Xie Lingjiang was being held up by Liu Fu and the other large group of troops at the Wenshu Bodhisattva Hall and would not be able to arrive for the time being.
"If you like running, then go for a spin."
A cold, mocking smile played on his lips as he continued his pursuit...
The Li family unknowingly got lost and soon stumbled into a courtyard crowded with disabled elderly and children.
"Where is this?" Wei Mei, the fourth advisor, turned around anxiously and grabbed his wife's arm: "There's still a road ahead, run! Eldest brother, you take care of little sister!"
Li Guo'er, who was the weakest, was running at the back when she suddenly stopped.
"Sister, you can't rest, hurry up!" Li Dalang pulled her.
Li Guo'er, panting and shaking her head, pointed to a tall, slender figure covered in blood, slumped on the ground in front of a well:
"Look, Ou... Ouyang Lianghan!"
Upon hearing this, Li Xian and the others turned around and were all taken aback.
(End of this chapter)
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