Lü Jue asked how many people Qi Shan had.
"What is this incantation for?"
Qi Shan activated his literary energy to extract the incantation from the Martial Tiger Talisman, which turned out to be a ball of light swirling with intricate characters. The core of the light quietly emitted a soft purple glow. Lü Jue reached out and lightly touched it, feeling a faint coolness emanating from the center of the ball of light.
This incantation doesn't seem to have any malicious intent.
Lu Jue guessed, "Could it be that they are monitoring this humble general?"
He had limited understanding of the power of words used by scholars and writers, and could only guess at the effects of unfamiliar words. As a general, he had access to many confidential documents and participated in important combat meetings, so it was normal for his wife to place such words around him.
Qi Shan dissuaded him from his idea.
"The kind of incantation you're talking about is useless beyond fifty or sixty steps. What's the point of using incantations at such a short distance? You might as well just listen with your own ears." The incantation Lu Jue mentioned does exist, but its range is extremely short. The hearing limit of both literary scholars and martial artists is more than a hundred steps. "It should be triggered from the outside and activate automatically when it comes into close contact with the target."
After speaking, Qi Shan and Lü Jue exchanged a glance.
Cui Xiao guessed: "She wants to assassinate the master?"
Gu Chi shook his head and rejected the idea: "The words of literary scholars are rarely powerful. They are mostly used for support. They are not as good as ordinary martial artists in terms of direct combat and defense, let alone someone at the level of the Lord. Using them to assassinate the Lord would be too ridiculous."
It doesn't even qualify as a threat, let alone an insult.
The image of Mei Meng whispering in his ear flashed through Lü Jue's mind. Her warm breath not only burned his ears but also made his blood boil, making him so excited that he forgot himself and went crazy to the point of losing his mind. Gu Chi looked at him with resentment. Lü Jue, who hadn't received a warning, scratched his head awkwardly: "Um, do you guys think it's possible that this incantation was set up by Madam to prevent me from having an affair?"
He phrased it somewhat euphemistically.
In plain terms, does this word of power require him to remain chaste?
This guess made him both proud and happy.
Cui Xiao: "..."
Qi Shan: "..."
Gu Chi: "..."
Qi Shan secretly took a few deep breaths to suppress her irritation: "Is it possible that this incantation was intended to destroy the evidence? General Lü, this is a military camp, a place of great importance. In front of our comrades, please show some self-respect—"
I have absolutely no desire to know the details of this tug-of-war between the sick man and woman.
Lü Jue pulled his wandering thoughts back.
His thoughts returned to the main matter: "What did Zhongshu say about those two corpses?"
This speculation is entirely possible.
Both corpses were in the main camp, heavily guarded everywhere. Even if Mei Meng sent all her elite troops, it would be impossible to bypass so many people to steal the corpses. No matter how many people she dared to send, Qi Shan could make sure they never returned! However, if she used Lü Jue? The difficulty would be completely different! If Lü Jue hadn't suggested checking, and if Cui Xiao hadn't reminded her to check the Martial Tiger Talisman, it would have been very difficult to find out that his Martial Tiger Talisman contained such a hidden special incantation.
As soon as Lü Jue gets close to the two corpses...
In the event of an explosion without any precautions, people's first reaction is to protect themselves, not the two corpses. Once the bodies are destroyed, there will be no way to verify the truth.
Qi Shan said, "You'll know once you try it."
This kind of spiritual power normally only triggers when it touches a target, but it can also be activated manually in special circumstances. With a loud explosion, the camp was blown upside down. The commotion attracted patrolling soldiers, and Gu Chi and the others removed their spiritual energy barriers.
"It's nothing, I just went astray during my cultivation."
Qi Shan waved his sleeve, summoning a gentle breeze that dispersed the smoke and dust.
"Have someone come and clean it up."
This incantation was indeed used to destroy evidence and cover up the crime.
"only!"
The patrolling soldiers didn't question Qi Shan's words, because the explosion wasn't very powerful; at most, it would kill or maim a few ordinary people, and that was only within a five-step radius. Beyond that range, it wouldn't be of much use. The main camp soldiers were well-trained, and it wouldn't be effective against them.
The camp was destroyed, and everyone moved elsewhere.
Qi Shan watched as Lü Jue put his martial armor back into the Martial Courage Tiger Talisman, and jokingly said with a smile, "This Poison Spider truly lives up to his name."
To destroy the evidence, they directly tampered with Lü Jue's body. Whether the body was actually destroyed or not is another matter, but Lü Jue was definitely going to get a big meal up close. For an old lover to give such a big gift upon reunion, that's ruthless! Cui Xiao even gave Lü Jue's waist and abdomen without any politeness.
The Tiger Tally of Martial Valor was usually worn as a waist ornament and hung on a belt.
If it hadn't been discovered in advance and the power of words removed...
How could an explosion at such close range not leave psychological trauma?
Lü Jue: "...Madam has always been like this."
There are only wrong names, not wrong nicknames.
Qi Zhongshu's description of him as having "evil schemes" is equally fitting.
Based on Mei Meng's actions, Qi Shan and the other two hoped that Lü Jue would not see his wife again before the main force of the army arrived and the Ministry of Justice deciphered the secret of the two corpses, so as to avoid any unforeseen complications. Lü Jue naturally understood the importance of this arrangement and had no objection to it.
After Lü Jue left, Mei Meng slept until the sun was high in the sky before getting up.
The woman in the bronze mirror seemed even more beautiful than yesterday.
Her lips were deep red and moist, and her cheeks had a lingering blush.
Two maids helped her with her hair and makeup.
Mei Meng leaned lazily against the armchair, secretly rubbing her still aching lower back, the absurd scenes of last night flashing through her mind. Lü Jue's frenzied behavior made her wonder if he had been celibate all these years, saving it all up to confess to her.
"Parent, would you like to cover your neck?"
As the maid helped her dress and styled her hair, she noticed several obvious marks on Mei Meng's neck and the back of her neck. Since the collars of Qi Kingdom's clothing were low, and Mei Meng always wore her hair in the style of a married woman, these marks would be easily visible if left undisguised.
Mei Meng leaned closer to the bronze mirror to examine it carefully.
Some of the marks had a faint bluish-purple tinge.
She said, "Just use some makeup to cover it up."
Just as they finished tidying up, they heard the footsteps of their trusted confidant outside.
The other party said gravely, "Parents, the matter has been exposed."
Mei Meng straightened her clothes, chuckled softly, her voice still hoarse from last night: "Failed? It seems Lü Shousheng has indeed made great progress over the years. We don't need to worry about this matter anymore."
If the body can't be destroyed, then so be it.
Anyway, her main purpose for this trip was not Kangguo.
She did not lie to Qi Shan.
Mei Meng's return to the Northwest Continent was indeed to seek an opportunity to perfect the path of the literati. That's why she laid out her plans in the Gao Kingdom and carried out the perfection process in an orderly manner. This was all for her own benefit! In her eyes, the Gao Kingdom was just a sacrifice, and using the Gao Kingdom to restrain the Kang Kingdom and to set up spies in the Kang Kingdom were all actions for future plans.
That day was still a long way off.
It's okay to suffer one or two setbacks right now.
Mei Meng asked, "Are there any Kangguo spies nearby?"
The trusted aide replied, "Yes."
The neighbors nearby either had an extra group of people overnight or a completely different group of unfamiliar faces. This was just the overt surveillance; there were even more informants operating behind the scenes. This level of surveillance probably knew exactly how many times the homeowner called for water throughout the night. Mei Meng was fully aware of this, and she was mentally prepared when she chose to expose herself.
"Have someone prepare a small gift."
If you want to stare, then stare.
Mei Meng wanted to see if they could find anything interesting in their surveillance.
Cui Hui had just stepped out when he encountered the radiant Mei Meng.
Mei Meng came to express her gratitude with a gift, and Cui Hui could not refuse.
There were many interesting places to visit in Fugu City, and the two of them explored them together. A small incident occurred in the evening: most of the makeup Mei Meng used to conceal her injuries faded, revealing the marks on her skin. Cui Hui initially thought Mei Meng was injured and wanted to buy her some ointment.
Until Mei Meng took off her light gauze shawl.
He said calmly, "No need."
Cui Hui worried: "Has someone hurt you?"
It's no wonder she didn't think of that aspect for a while. She remembered that Mei Meng had many suitors, but she never settled down with anyone and seemed to have always been alone. Cui Hui herself and her ex-husband had always been very proper and rarely lost control like this.
Mei Meng smiled meaningfully: "It was chewed by a dog."
Cui Hui: "..."
She immediately understood.
They then ate and stayed together for two consecutive days.
On the third day, Cui Hui went out and found the atmosphere in the city strange. Colorful ribbons were hung everywhere in the streets, which looked festive, but there was no one in sight. All the shops in the market were closed. Cui Hui finally found one that was open, and the shopkeeper was an old woman with silver hair.
"What a big day it is today?"
Cui Hui couldn't resist his curiosity.
Why is there no one on the street?
A smile bloomed on the old woman's wrinkled face, deepening the wrinkles, and her eyes shone with an astonishing brightness: "You don't sound like a local, young lady? No wonder I didn't know. The government posted a notice yesterday saying that the emperor has returned with his army, and the villagers rushed to welcome him overnight. Ah, if it weren't for the fact that this old woman's legs can't walk very far, I would have gone to greet him too..."
Cui Hui only realized what had happened upon hearing this.
She was shocked when she thought of the almost empty city of Fugu.
You must know that Fugu City is the most populous city in Heyin County. Although it has been affected by the war for several months and a large number of the elderly and weak have been evacuated in advance, there are still more than 100,000 people left! So many people actually went to welcome them. What kind of terrifying human nature is this?
The old woman asked with a smile, "Young lady, would you like to go and take a look?"
Cui Hui said, "It's too late to go now."
She had met Shen Tang, but had no interest in this matter.
However, the old woman clearly didn't understand her expression and kept rambling on about how Shen Tang loved the people like his own children, and about the interesting things that happened when he was the governor of Heyin County. Everyone in Heyin County, from eighty-year-old women to three-year-old children, could tell a few stories about these trivial matters.
Cui Hui listened to it more than ten times in the past two days.
In an attempt to capitalize on the king's popularity, Heyin County imitated Longwu County by creating numerous tourist attractions, complete with guides to provide explanations. Cui Hui and Mei Meng have been visiting these sites for the past two days and have practically memorized the explanations.
She couldn't resist the old woman's warm invitation.
They took a horse-drawn carriage to the place the old woman had mentioned.
Mei Meng rode in a carriage, and she drove the horses.
Twenty miles from their destination, they saw a dense crowd of people. It was impossible for even two grown women to squeeze through, let alone a horse-drawn carriage. Some people simply climbed the nearby hillside. This was the first time in Cui Hui's life that she had witnessed what "a sea of people" truly meant.
"With so many people, you'd probably only see them on the battlefield."
Cui Hui wanted to return home.
Mei Meng simply picked her up and flew up to the tree branch.
Cui Hui hugged the tree trunk tightly: "...Isn't this inappropriate?"
The king is most wary of ambushes and assassinations when he travels.
Normally, the road would be cleared, and any nearby bushes and trees that could provide cover would be cut down. But these women went and climbed trees! Aren't they afraid of being mistaken for enemies and captured by Shen Tang's guards?
Mei Meng said, "We won't be missing the two of us."
Cui Hui looked around and then fell silent.
Those who do this certainly don't need the two of them.
The trees nearby, big enough to hide people, were all filled with living people. Cui Hui even overheard a vendor haggling with someone. The vendor said, "This is the price for this spot. I managed to snag it seven hours in advance. If you don't want it, plenty of others will."
"Too expensive..."
"Expensive? What's expensive about it? Do you know this is the Lord's first time back since he was transferred to Longwu? I wouldn't have sold the spot if it weren't for your sincerity. Go away, I'm not selling it!"
The buyer gritted their teeth and bought the location in the end.
This branch is thicker and straighter than the others, and it offers a better view.
It's well worth the price.
Cui Hui: "..."
Waiting is very difficult.
Not to mention waiting for someone while squatting in a tree.
When people have free time, they like to chat about everyday matters, and the topic always revolves around Shen Youli. Cui Hui wasn't interested at first, but after listening to it a lot, he couldn't help but smile: "This Queen Shen is truly a remarkable person. But isn't she worried about assassination? A wise person doesn't stand under a dangerous wall. With so many people gathered here, it's a mixed bag. What if some villain takes the opportunity to cause trouble? Wouldn't that damage her reputation?"
Damage to reputation is secondary; the real fear is endangering one's life.
In the past, when fighting wars, ordinary people were taken into consideration.
Warlords fight their wars, ordinary people live their own lives.
However, ever since a scholar from a certain country brought out the "White-Clad Crossing the River" incantation from the sacred land of mountains and seas, and used this incantation's military formation to annihilate a neighboring country, vigilance has increased everywhere. Ordinary people suspected of being involved are arrested and killed without any inquiry into their origins.
They were all treated as enemy informants and spies.
From then on, killing ordinary people became commonplace in war.
The two countries are still at odds. At this time, aren't they afraid that the Gao Kingdom will take the opportunity to send out assassins to cause trouble by holding a large-scale event?
Panic in the crowd can easily lead to a stampede.
Mei Meng raised her hand and pointed to the four corners in the distance.
He said, "But this is also a good opportunity to catch the traitor."
The methods employed by the literati were beyond the comprehension of ordinary people.
Just then, a commotion erupted in the distance, with tens of thousands of people shouting incessantly, their voices like a mountain collapsing and a tsunami crashing down on Cui Hui's skin: "Long live the King!"
In the distance, flags appeared, forming a dark, dense cloud.
The sound seemed to be contagious, spreading everywhere.
Cui Hui heard someone shouting at the top of their lungs from a nearby tree: "Long live the King! Long live the King! Long live the King!"
Some people were so excited that they shook the branches of the trees beneath their feet, breaking them off.
Fortunately, I wasn't standing too high, otherwise I would have fallen and gotten seriously injured.
Cui Hui gripped the rough bark and opened his mouth.
It's hard not to be infected in such an atmosphere.
However, she remained reserved and only responded in a low voice, so she did not see that Mei Meng beside her was frowning and full of worries.
Such popular support is rarely seen in the world.
If we don't strike back, I'm afraid—
Mei Meng's eyes darkened as she pondered something.
She then understood why Qi Cang had said Shen Youli was terrifying.
Mei Meng initially thought that Qi Cang was wary of Shen Tang's strength.
Qi Cang retorted, "Hmph, what's there to fear if you only have strength? With enough wealth, you can buy the world's top martial artists' loyalty, but that won't win people's hearts. Even Zheng Qiao is wary of her ability to win people's hearts, don't you think?"
Mei Meng looked at the crowd.
I pondered the meaning of the word "human nature" in my heart.
In the end, it all turned into a sigh.
Who doesn't know how to win people's hearts?
But people's hearts are hard to win. The State of Qi was originally just a small state in the southwest continent, but in recent years it has risen to power by taking advantage of the chaos of war, annexing neighboring states and gradually strengthening itself. Expansion and internal stability cannot be achieved simultaneously; without internal stability, how can one win people's hearts?
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Who said the previous chapter wasn't good enough to warrant being put in the "little black room"? You're underestimating my more than ten years of experience posting on FreshNet!
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