Chapter 27
As soon as the royal decree was issued, the envoys of the mermaid tribe were immediately and secretly taken under control, while the crown prince Ling Xuyi was kept alive under the surveillance of the secret guards, awaiting his fate.
The high priest was summoned to the palace at night, but his expression became solemn after he examined the jade. He said that in order to destroy the jade, the blood of the spellcaster must be sacrificed, otherwise it could neither be crushed nor burned.
Yu Xi had indeed ordered people to try these things, and the jade really seemed to be possessed by an evil spirit and would not change at all no matter what.
"Your Majesty, we still have a bait." Ling Huanchen suddenly said.
The reason why we didn't alert the enemy and left Ling Xu to stir up trouble in the harem was, on the one hand, to prevent him from becoming desperate and harming Yu Xi. On the other hand, Ling Huanchen has always been resentful towards the Fengming clan. If we can use this incident to lure out his clansmen, it would be killing two birds with one stone.
Yu Xi nodded, and Ling Xi was immediately thrown into the hall. Not only was the handkerchief in his mouth removed, but the rope was also loosened.
"Who told you to put the jade there?"
It was just a simple question, but the voice was a little cold. Ling Xu was like a frightened bird, lowering his head and shaking like a sieve. He wished he could curl himself up into a ball and find a crack in the ground to crawl into.
"Your Majesty, I encountered robbers on my way to Youcheng. Someone rescued me and calculated my life story, as well as a prophecy that predicted I would gain great rewards on this journey. He gave me the jade, but he didn't claim it was an evil object. He said it could be used to pray for the king to fall in love with me, similar to the red string of the matchmaker. I truly did not mean to harm the king! Your Majesty, please investigate!"
After listening to his whole story, Yu Xi simply asked, "Does anyone else in the mermaid tribe know about this?"
"No, it was an accident, no one knows about it anymore."
The two men looked at each other, and Ling Xu's confession was consistent with that of the envoy.
Ling Huanchen continued, "Now is a good opportunity to make merit while serving your sentence. Prince, you must cherish it."
Upon hearing that there was still a way out, Ling Xu, regardless of how much he had previously envied the person before him, immediately kowtowed three times and nine times to Ling Huanchen, "Your Highness, please make it clear, I will definitely complete it!"
"You just need to lead that person out, and you don't have to worry about the rest."
Ling Huanchen had already guessed in his heart that the man was from the Fengming clan, and he was determined to capture him on this trip.
Ling Xu immediately kowtowed again, "I understand!"
According to their original plan, Yu Xi released Ling Xu and appeared to be doing nothing unusual on the surface. He secretly sent secret guards to follow him and capture any suspicious person on the spot if he appeared.
According to Ling Xu, the man did leave behind a leaf when he left. No matter where he was, as long as he blew it, the man would appear, and he could come and go freely even in a foreign minister's residence guarded by guards.
Ling Xu stayed in his room, seemingly alone, but in reality, he had already set an ambush. He took out a red leaf, folded it twice, and blew it softly three times.
Nothing happened.
At this time, Ling Huanchen and Yu Xi were next door, dressed as guards, observing the movements in the house through the vents on the wall.
Ling Xu panicked and blew hard himself. This was his only chance to survive.
"Is he being fooled?" Yu Xi said with a frown.
Ling Huanchen was not as relaxed as Yu Xi. He knew very well how powerful the Fengming Clan was, so he preferred to believe it rather than not. "Wait a little longer."
A cup of tea had passed, and Ling Xu was still trying hard to blow the leaves, even to the point where he was only exhaling but not inhaling. His face had turned pale, but he was still blowing.
Suddenly, a dark figure slowly floated into the room, stood in front of the bed, and stared at Ling Xi intently. "I told you, just blow it until it sounds, no need to blow it continuously." Then, the man rubbed his ears and said, "I have a headache."
Ling Xi saw hope of survival and shouted, "It's him! Catch him!"
As soon as he finished speaking, the secret guards broke in, flashing cold light and attacking the man.
The man narrowed his eyes, "You betrayed me?" Then he twisted Ling Xi's neck with his bare hands.
Ling Huanchen saw it clearly from next door. The man fought against several secret guards on his own and was not at a disadvantage at all. Occasionally he was forced into a desperate situation, but he was still able to survive and win back the city.
"His martial arts skills are not high." Yu Xi looked at him coldly. The man's moves were not orthodox. It seemed as if he had cast a spell on every move. He made a feint to gain a three-point advantage.
Ling Huanchen thought for a moment, "Either he's using martial arts to subdue him, or he's using some tricks. If I can attack before he casts a spell, I might be able to subdue him."
As soon as he finished speaking, he saw Yu Xi turn around and walk out. Ling Huanchen grabbed his arm and asked, "Where are you going?"
"I think at my speed I should be able to."
Seeing that Ling Huanchen was still holding onto him, Yu Xi patted the back of his hand and said, "Trust me."
It's not that he doesn't believe it, it's that he doesn't dare to gamble.
After a moment of silence, Ling Huanchen suppressed his worries and released his hand, "Your Majesty, be careful."
With Yu Xi's martial arts skills, a one-on-one fight shouldn't be a problem. Furthermore, that person only dared to act covertly this time, so he must not be the most powerful figure in the Fengming Clan.
With Yu Xi's arrival, the battle situation was clearly unbalanced. The man's moves seemed to have met their nemesis, and before he could even make a move, he was blocked by Yu Xi. The speed of the several secret guards' attacks also increased several times under Yu Xi's leadership. In just ten moves, the man was defeated.
"Are you from the Fengming Clan? Why did you come to my Youcheng?"
The man was pinned to the ground, but he refused to give in. He raised his head and glared at Yu Xi fiercely, "The Fengming Clan will surely make a comeback! Sooner or later, you mortals will surrender!"
In an instant, the man's eyes rolled back, his neck twisted, and he died.
The secret guard sniffed his breath and said, "Your Majesty, the man is dead."
The man was dead and his blood was still there. While he was still stiff, the secret guard cut the man's arm with a sword. The dark red blood dripped onto the jade and corroded the jade like molten lava.
Yu Xi suddenly felt much more relaxed, thinking that the evil spell had been broken.
Ling Huanchen caught a glimpse of something on the back of the man's neck. He walked over and pulled open his clothes, and saw a strange mark on his neck. The mark looked like a flower, bright red and dazzling, and exuded a sense of weirdness.
He seemed to have seen the same mark somewhere.
"According to the high priest, this is the seal of the Fengming Clan." Yu Xi pulled Ling Huanchen back and wiped his fingers with his sleeve. "Pass the order down and continue investigating the Fengming Clan. Report any progress immediately."
Ling Huanchen naturally knew more about the Fengming Clan than Yu Xi of this life. Although this clan was composed of mortals, they were gifted with extraordinary talents. They excelled in both medicine and magic, and could both save lives and harm them. Their merits and demerits were difficult to distinguish.
According to legend, a hundred years ago, the leader of the Fengming clan used forbidden techniques and ate humans to practice evil methods, which eventually incurred the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, causing the entire clan to become a denial target and unable to see the light of day.
Everything the Fengming Clan did afterwards was simply revenge, a desire to wreak havoc on the world, to bring the Fengming Clan back to light, or even to control the world. Joining Mingcheng or dealing with Youcheng were merely part of their plan.
Although he failed to capture the Fengming people alive this time, he had fought with them all before, and it was a legitimate reminder for Yu Xi to pay attention to this matter, which was still a progress.
The evil spell was broken, and Yu Xi ordered the release of the envoy from the Jiao tribe, asking him to bring the body of Prince Ling Xi back to the Jiao tribe. Trade between the two sides continued as usual. Originally, the king's favor was generous, but the rumors changed in the end.
People in the streets made a fuss about this incident, saying that King Youcheng was bloodthirsty and killed the prince of the mermaid clan just because the prince played a wrong note on the piano.
When Ling Huanchen heard this rumor, he couldn't help but sigh that people's words were not to be trusted. How could the rumor be distorted to be spread like this?
He finally understood where those rumors about Yu Xi being so intimidating came from.
Ling Huanchen put down a white chess piece, glanced at someone who was in high spirits, and said helplessly, "Why does the king seem so happy?"
Who can be in a good mood after listening to others arranging things for them?
Yu Xi followed up with a black spot, "I've long been accustomed to rumors. To me, they're nothing, but to them, they have something to talk about, isn't that good? Besides, this rumor might not be a bad thing."
Ling Huanchen knew what he was referring to. The sudden death of Crown Prince Ling Xi, due to the Fengming Clan's involvement being concealed, had been blamed on Yu Xi. The mermaids no longer dared to act on their own, and sending a prince or crown prince to them had saved them a lot of trouble.
"I won."
Ling Huanchen put down the last piece, looked up at Yu Xi with a proud look on his face. This was the first time he won after playing chess with Yu Xi many times.
Yu Xi glanced at the chessboard and couldn't help but laugh, thinking that lust had blinded her mind. She was so caught up in her happiness that she let the mermaid take the upper hand. But seeing the other player's spirited expression, Yu Xi didn't say a word to defend herself, accepting the defeat willingly.
"I lost."
Ling Huanchen leaned closer, "Your Majesty just promised that if I win, you will grant me one request."
Yu Xi looked at him with a smile in her eyes. Even if she couldn't win, she would agree to everything he asked. Not to mention one request, even if it was hundreds or thousands, it would not be a big deal.
"you say."
Ling Huanchen glanced at his waist and said, "Your Majesty, I would like to borrow the jade pendant to play with for two days."
Yu Xi raised an eyebrow and, without a word, immediately untied it and handed it to Ling Huanchen. The word "Xi" was engraved on the jade pendant, symbolizing supreme power. It could be said that he was in person. With this jade pendant, he could move freely in the city.
"It's okay to leave it with Huanchen."
Ling Huanchen put away the jade pendant, and with a flicker in his eyes, he had already made a plan. "Your Majesty has already said that I can do whatever I want with it."
"A gentleman's word is his bond."
Just as Yu Xi was about to reach over the chessboard to shake Ling Huanchen's hand, she heard Fu Changshi outside the door shout, "Your Majesty, the Prime Minister wishes to see you and is waiting in Ziyi Palace."
Ling Huanchen glanced at the hand that was so close to him, intentionally or unintentionally, and said with a smile, "Your Majesty, it is more important to deal with government affairs."
After respectfully sending the person away, Ling Huanchen called Xiaoqi and asked him to find someone in the palace who was skilled in making jade.
"Master, do you want to make a jade pendant?"
Ling Huanchen touched the jade pendant in his lapel and said, "Just go find it. Remember, it must be made with excellent craftsmanship."
"Okay!" Xiao Qi rushed out of Yuluan Palace excitedly after receiving the order. He might not be able to do other things, but he had some ability to recognize people in the palace these days. He knew people from the Sizhen Room, the Sizhi Room to the person who emptied the toilet in the backyard.
Ling Huanchen took out the jade pendant and rubbed it on his fingertips, ready to give Yu Xi a gift.
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