Yan Ning led You Yuanzhi and Tie Mu into an inn and into the room that Xiang'er had previously told Yan Ning about.
Xiang'er's body had regained its previous plumpness. She slowly turned around from the window and said, "I want to talk to You Yuanzhi alone for a while!" After saying that, she nodded to Yan Ning.
Yan Ning realized from the prison guards that this was arranged by Fukang'an, so she didn't say anything more and left with Tie Mu.
You Yuanzhi sat down by himself. This was their former meeting place, and this was probably the last time he would sit here with Xiang'er. "It seems Fukang'an has allowed you to have the child!" His tone was somewhat bittersweet.
Xiang'er said directly, "The old lady was injured by people from the Mingqi Cult! I overheard from Fukang'an that it was the White Lotus Cult who set a trap for the Mingqi Cult members. All the assassins have been killed."
You Yuanzhi stood up excitedly. Fukang'an's filial piety was well-known. Mingqi Sect had no personal grudge against Fukang'an, but years ago, he had been tricked by the White Lotus Sect into killing his elder brother, and now they had injured his mother. You Yuanzhi clenched his fists. Given Fukang'an's personality, he would definitely not rest until Mingqi Sect was destroyed.
The Mingqi Sect was originally a branch of the White Lotus Sect. However, the previous leader of the Mingqi Sect, You Yuanzhi, refused to submit to the control of the White Lotus Sect's chief leader. In a fit of anger, the chief leader expelled the members of the Mingqi Sect from the White Lotus Sect.
By the time You Yuanzhi became the leader, the Mingqi Sect had become a separate sect. Although those who did not know the reason still believed that the Mingqi Sect was a branch of the White Lotus Sect, neither leader recognized the other as a member of the same sect.
Back then, the two religions agreed to put aside their grudges and join forces to fight against the Qing army. The White Lotus Sect knew that You Yuanzhi had planted spies around Fukang'an, while the Mingqi Sect did not have as many followers as the White Lotus Sect. At first, the two religions won one victory after another, but gradually the followers of both sides became boastful and claimed that their own religion had contributed more and had greater ability, and a rift once again appeared between the two religions.
After the White Lotus Sect killed Fu Ling'an, they framed the Mingqi Sect, causing its followers to be massacred by Qing troops and forced to retreat from prosperous areas all the way to Sichuan. During this period, the two sects separated and reunited repeatedly, resulting in a complex relationship.
As the number of followers of the Mingqi Sect dwindled, You Yuanzhi sometimes had to rely on the White Lotus Sect, claiming that the Mingqi Sect was a branch of the White Lotus Sect in order to avoid being absorbed by other anti-Qing organizations. However, the followers of the Mingqi Sect all knew that they were not members of the White Lotus Sect.
You Yuanzhi looked at Xiang'er with a hint of suspicion in his eyes. He immediately suppressed that suspicion. "Why would Yan Ning come with you?"
Xiang'er knew You Yuanzhi would definitely ask such a question, and a faint sorrow appeared on her round face. She sighed and said, "Now I have fallen out of favor with the general. I lied to Yan Ning and said that you are no longer a member of the Mingqi Cult! You came to me because you want to elope with me. I can't drag you down with me. She believed me and stole the key from Fukang'an."
You Yuanzhi chuckled, tearing off his prison guard's uniform. Then, he took Xiang'er's hand and said, "I'll do as you said, and take you far away, how about that?"
Xiang'er pulled her hand back and turned her face away. "Yuanzhi, it's impossible for me to leave Fukang'an. I can only repay your kindness in the next life!"
You Yuanzhi walked to the door with a wry smile, opened it, and Yan Ning lost her balance and fell into You Yuanzhi's arms.
After leaving the room, Yan Ning pressed her ear against the door to eavesdrop while Tie Mu was out. Although she knew it was wrong, she was afraid that Xiang'er might soften her heart and cause other complications in You Yuanzhi's matter, bringing unnecessary trouble to Fukang'an.
You Yuanzhi pinched Yan Ning's chin: "I didn't expect the General's wife to have such a refined interest?"
To cooperate with Xiang'er, Yan Ning broke free from You Yuanzhi's embrace and shouted loudly at Xiang'er, "You good-for-nothing Aunt Lian, you actually..." Before she could finish her sentence, the coldness on her neck made Yan Ning forget what she was about to say.
You Yuanzhi caught the dagger that Tie Mu threw to him and slashed it across Yan Ning's neck. His voice turned cold. "Didn't Fukang'an tell you that the midwife was killed by me with a single blow like this? She didn't feel any pain at all!"
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