Chapter 187 Who lit the white fire for the sacrificial offering?
"She didn't die. Jiang Muyun is still alive. She left, she didn't die."
When she opened her eyes again, she had already forged the Meteor Sword. In the deathly silent deep courtyard, she heard footsteps treading on the broken branches behind her. She subconsciously turned around and called Ajiu's name. Peeking out, she saw Lou Shitou, who had been hiding for who knows how long.
Lou Shitou said: I came to see her, as we agreed. Lou Shitou also said: She's gone…
Guan Ye saw Pei Chu reach out his hand through the window crack. He insisted on waiting for Jiang Muyun to return on Canglang Island. He asked Guan Ye: "Guan Ye, did you see that? Can you bring her back?"
Guan Ye looked out the window; she saw it, yet it seemed she didn't...
Cui Jin's grand ship carried away the Meteor Sword. Amidst the surging waves, she saw Lou Shitou, his feet sinking into the water, struggling towards the departing ship. "Jiang Muyun, don't go! Don't go..."
Guan Ye and everyone else originally thought that Young Master Pei had fallen into a trance and that Lou Shitou was just a stupid, idiotic person talking nonsense. But now, thinking back... perhaps they had already seen through everything.
Jiang Muyun left, but did not die.
Could it be... her...? Impossible, impossible... Jiang Muyun died right before everyone's eyes. I saw it myself, Ajiu saw it too, everyone under the furnace could see it clearly. How did the white flames come about?
That was a white flame that only Lu Chaoge could produce... but wasn't Lu Chaoge already dead?
Could it be that she's not dead? Guan Ye's eyes flashed with horror as she recalled something. Impossible! Father said that the entire Lu family was beheaded at the execution ground... Large wanted posters were plastered along the city gates, with portraits of her parents and a swordsman on them... Lu Chaoge is dead, dead...
Mu Chenbi felt a weight on his shoulder and looked down to see Guan Ye suddenly faint.
In the guest room, Guan Ye was already lying on the warm, soft couch. Mu Chenbi wrung out a damp cloth and wiped the cold sweat from her forehead, his movements clumsy yet careful, afraid of waking Guan Ye, who was finally able to rest. He longed for Guan Ye to see him as soon as she opened her eyes, but he also hoped that she could sleep for a while. Opening her eyes would mean facing a bloodbath, and it would be better to face it later.
Mei Xiaojing stared intently at Mu Chenbi's actions. Even with her dull senses, she could tell that Crown Prince Chenbi's feelings for Guan Ye were unusual. In other words, this was probably the first time Mu Chenbi had ever taken care of someone in his life.
"Cousin," Mei Xiaojing said, pressing two thumbs together, "Are they like this?"
Mei Shiyu was about to nod when he suddenly heard Guan Ye mutter something. Listening closely, it sounded like she was reciting some numbers.
"A-Jiu..." Guan Ye's lips moved, "A-Jiu..."
A-Jiu? The Mei siblings heard it clearly. A-Jiu, what is that?
"I'm here." Mu Chenbi replied without hesitation, grasping Guan Ye's outstretched hand and holding it tightly.
"Don't go!" Guan Ye's forehead was covered in sweat again as she shook her head and shouted incoherently.
"I won't leave." Mu Chenbi picked up his sleeve and pressed it against her wet forehead. "I will stay with you and won't go anywhere."
As if she had heard Ajiu's reply, Guan Ye, who was fast asleep, smiled faintly. Mu Chenbi stared blankly at her, his hand holding Guan Ye's hand stroking his cheek, his phoenix-feather eyelashes glistening with tears.
Guan Ye said that Ajiu would never be anyone's shadow, but at this moment, Mu Chenbi was willing to be Ajiu's shadow.
Rongdu City East
On the first day of the Lunar New Year, Wan Qixi felt something was amiss as soon as he got up and went out. He lived deep in the east of the city, leaving early and returning late, and rarely interacted with others. He had no work to do today and got up early, intending to visit the inner neighborhood to offer New Year's greetings. However, he found a large group of people gathered at the street corner, pointing to the west side of Rongdu and whispering among themselves. They were so engrossed in their conversation that they forgot to light the firecrackers on the ground.
Not only that, but there were also many tense-looking soldiers on the street. Some were from the Rongdu Three Offices, and others... Judging by their armor and weapons, they were Eagle Guards, the Eagle Guards from the palace. Wan Qixi was on edge. What could have alarmed the Imperial Eagle Guards during the New Year?
Wan Qixi yawned and leaned over, "What's going on? Are we still going to set off the firecrackers?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" someone cursed at him. "People are already dead and you're still setting off firecrackers."
"Something's happened in Xingguo Ward..."
Xingguo Lane? This is nothing. Tianhu Lane has stood proudly for a century, its market stained with blood. Xingguo Lane... has only been in Rongdu for less than half a year, and it's already... going to die? Wanqixi bit his tongue. It hurt. It wasn't a dream.
“You’re a seller of iron ore, you’ve done business in Xingguo Ward before, haven’t you?” Someone remembered the Western Region man’s job and looked Wan Qixi up and down with a meaningful look in their eyes. “You don’t have any connection with the Pei family, do you? Don’t drag our whole neighborhood down with you.”
Upon hearing this, the people surrounding him jumped back, afraid of getting tainted by Wan Qixi's bad luck. Wan Qixi spat at the firecrackers on the ground a few times, saying, "I'm also involved in the business of the Imperial Workshop and the Salt and Iron Bureau. If you don't understand, don't talk nonsense. One day I'll rise to the top, and you won't be able to get close to me."
As Wan Qixi spoke, his legs moved unconsciously toward the inner courtyard. Lou Cangyu, the former adopted son of the Pei family, was still there. He wanted to know what had happened, why the situation had changed so drastically overnight, and whether it would involve... Wushuang.
Neifang
Just past Chen Shi (7-9 AM), the Imperial Preceptor Cui Jin had already arrived at the inner palace. Lou Cangyu stood behind Wushuang, lowering his head and not daring to look directly into Cui Jin's one eye. Cui Jin deliberately stared intently at him, and seeing Lou Cangyu tremble, he chuckled.
"What? Lou Cangyu, are you afraid I'm here to capture you?" Cui Jin sneered.
Lou Cangyu straightened his neck and said with a stiff upper lip, "The blood oath at Xingguo Fang Ancestral Hall was broken only after blood was shed. The blood oath has been broken, and I have no connection with Xingguo Fang anymore. The Grand Preceptor saw it all clearly that day. How could they be here to capture me?"
"Then why don't you dare look at me?" Cui Jin pressed.
Lou Cangyu held his breath and looked at him, "What's there to be afraid of? I'm looking right at you, Grand Preceptor."
Wushuang greeted Cui Jin calmly and said, "I heard there was quite a commotion last night. The Imperial Preceptor didn't sleep all night and came to the inner quarters early this morning. Is something the matter?"
"Are you scared too?" Cui Jin asked in a low voice.
Wushuang chuckled, "Although I don't know what Xingguofang has done wrong, the inner ward and I are of one heart and mind, and there's nothing to be afraid of if we go to the prison."
“That’s more like it.” Cui Jin walked into the Jingwu Pavilion as if it were empty. “Last night, when Pei Yuan saw me, he panicked and screamed for his life. His steward drew his sword and was ready to fight to the death. With such a reaction, how could Xingguo Fang be innocent?”
Wushuang personally served Cui Jinbu tea and said confidently, "Yes, perhaps the Imperial Preceptor was just passing through Xingguo Ward at night and wanted to go in and have a cup of tea with Pei Yuan? Pei Yuan is so frightened that no one would believe that Xingguo Ward is not haunted. It must be thoroughly investigated."
"Investigate what?" Cui Jin suddenly asked, his single eye gleaming as he stared at Lou Cangyu, who was standing to the side.
Lou Cangyu swayed slightly, then quickly gripped his sword to steady himself, afraid of being noticed.
Cui Jin found it amusing, picked up her teacup, and said quietly, "Speaking of which, I should thank you."
"Thank me?" Lou Cangyu asked, puzzled.
Cui Jin took a sip, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Xingguo Workshop melted down brass and kept it a secret, didn't you say that?"
"Just for this?" Lou Cangyu was both shocked and frightened. "They want to raid the workshop and kill people? Imperial Preceptor... this..."
"Are you scared?" Cui Jin asked calmly.
Lou Cangyu shook his head violently, "It's not fear, it's... I can't believe it."
“Of course, that’s not all.” Cui Jin put down his teacup. “I asked you before, how is meteorite melted…”
"I don't know..." Lou Cangyu dared not utter a single word. "I really didn't see anything."
Cui Jin's eyes darkened, sending chills down Lou Cangyu's spine. "I'll ask you a hundred times, and you'll say the same thing. It's because you genuinely didn't see it. You don't dare to speak carelessly about things you haven't witnessed firsthand, because deep down you're still afraid. The entire Xingguo Ward has already been imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison. The Heavenly Prison's methods are so strict that they can pry even the dead open their mouths. Lou Cangyu, are you... less than a dead man?"
“Grand Preceptor,” Wushuang couldn’t help but say, “You yourself said that Lou Cangyu really didn’t see it, so why are you pressing him so hard? There are a hundred or so people in Xingguo Ward. I don’t believe they are an impenetrable fortress. Surely a crack can be pried open.”
"Look," Cui Jin sneered, "Lou Cangyu, even now, you still need a woman to speak for you. Do you think you can protect everything you want to protect with just the sword in your hand? Speaking of which... although you broke the blood oath, if we really want to investigate, we can still pin a charge of withholding information..."
Lou Cangyu's expression changed drastically, and his knees buckled as he knelt on one knee before Cui Jin. "Cangyu does not know what the Imperial Preceptor is referring to."
Cui Jin scrutinized Lou Cangyu's pale face. "Do you know Ma Lin?"
Ma Lin? Lou Cangyu shook his head blankly, "I don't know him... I've never heard of this name before."
"Oh." Cui Jin clicked his tongue. "This name has only recently appeared, so it's normal that you haven't heard of it. How about another one, Little Ma?"
"Little Ma?" Lou Cangyu's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "He's a swordsman from Xingguo Ward, Little Ma... Ma Lin?"
Cui Jin, like a predatory eagle, approached Lou Cangyu. "I'll ask you one last time. Tell me everything you know. If you keep quiet, even the inner palace might not be able to protect you."
Knowing everything, he said it all… What else… Lou Cangyu’s mind raced, his mouth opening but then the words caught in his throat. Cui Jin leaned down, pressing close to Lou Cangyu’s ear, and said, “Whether you tell them or not, they can’t escape. I keep asking you because I see you as a useful talent. Xingguo has fallen, but the Inner Workshop has risen. The court still relies on the Inner Workshop’s continuous supply of weapons, and you are the best swordsman in the Inner Workshop. Lou Cangyu, the road to success is right under your feet. It all depends on whether you know how to walk it.”
"—None of them can escape?"
"Think back to the Tianhu Workshop of yesteryear."
"I'll say it," Lou Cangyu raised his head, "Xiao Ma, Feng Shisan, Ajiu, and Guan Ye are all visitors from outside the island. Their origins are unknown. I didn't know Xiao Ma had another name, Ma Lin?"
Cui Jin's single eye lit up. "Are you willing to go to the Three Judicial Offices to corroborate this?"
"I do."
"Lou Cangyu..." Wushuang called out.
Lou Cangyu didn't look in the direction the voice came from. He never knew he had such courage. "I'm willing to tell you everything I know, to the Three Departments, and to the Emperor."
"Lou Cangyu!" Wushuang scolded, "Xingguo Ward isn't without its flaws. What do you need to prove? Although the Blood Alliance has broken, there's still a sense of loyalty left. If they were to be heartless and ruthless towards you, would you still be able to leave Xingguo Ward alive?"
"Loyalty?" Lou Cangyu chuckled. "That's because they didn't dare to make a move." Lou Cangyu pointed to his injured chest. "Didn't Pei Yuan almost kill me? Loyalty? If Xingguo Ward truly had loyalty and righteousness, how could they have just watched Jiang Muyun be tied up and taken to a prison cell, becoming a sacrifice for the Heavenly Furnace!"
"Jiang Muyun?" Cui Jin heard it clearly. "He even said his name. Lou Cangyu. I didn't misjudge him."
"Lou Cangyu..." Wushuang's voice trembled, "That's enough."
"Grand Preceptor," Lou Cangyu knelt on one knee, "I wonder if these are enough to prove my loyalty."
Cui Jin scrutinized the desperate swordsman with his single eye, "As long as you can reveal everything you know, I can feel your loyalty, and the Emperor certainly can too."
Lou Cangyu seemed satisfied with Cui Jin's response. He paused slightly on his knees, then raised his neck and said, "There's one more thing. If the Imperial Preceptor hadn't come today, I was planning to go to the yamen myself."
Wushuang and Cui Jin were both taken aback. Wushuang seemed to have guessed something, and before she could speak, Lou Cangyu said, "In the woodshed of the inner workshop, I tricked Ji Fang, the swordsman who escaped from Xingguo Ward."
——Ji Fang…
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