Chapter 48: Broken Cage
Li Daoxuan savored the sentimental words for a moment, then said leisurely, "Let's not discuss whether you're smart or not for now, but it's true that you have a bad temper and are picky. Oh, and that's not all." He shook his head, "You're also vindictive, full of evil intentions, and constantly plotting against others..."
Speaking of which, seeing Chen Qing's increasingly dark complexion, Li Daoxuan pointed at her face and said, "Look at her, you have a bad temper, don't you?"
"hehe."
Li Daoxuan stopped talking, straightened his expression and said, "What Madam Shen said is not important, and I don't care. What's important is that you can escape from Bai Shuisha's nose and get a lock of his hair. That's enough."
He carefully observed the obvious burn marks on the black hair. "I don't know how you escaped, but I think you must have angered him. Perhaps he will come looking for you soon."
Li Daoxuan guessed it right.
Chen Qing also completely understood his intention of proposing cooperation. He didn't need a smart mind or powerful skills. In the final analysis, what he wanted was a "bait" that was still useful to him.
What he wanted was the bait to lure out Baishuisha, not the bait's identity or brains, so he said that he didn't care.
Chen Qing couldn't help but say, "Your Highness has such a good brain, it's a pity that he doesn't go to the Dali Temple."
Li Daoxuan: "Do you really think that I entered Dongshan Temple just for fun? I have solved countless cases of demons wiping out families in Chang'an. I don't think Madam Shen knows."
Chen Qing couldn't help but look up at him when she heard that, "I really don't know." She really didn't know. In her impression, he was a heretic in the early days, and a dark and destructive person in the later days.
Li Daoxuan lowered his eyes slightly, and his gaze met Shen Qing's. This glance made Shen Qing's thoughts gradually wander.
In his previous life, Chen Qing had very little impression of Li Daoxuan. His memories were either of him holding his sword and watching the show from the sidelines when the protagonists were in danger and fleeing in a panic, or the bloodshot face when he raised his sword to slay demons and kill people, and the pair of fierce eyes hidden under the bloodshot.
Although those people were not good people, he was so decisive and cruel when killing people, just like a vicious and evil person who was at the end of his life. The evil spirit and murderous intent in the corners of his eyes are still imprinted in Shen Qing's heart, making her heart tremble slightly.
But somehow, the more she spent time with him now, the image of the cold-hearted and cruel Li Daoxuan in her previous life became like a faint cloud of smoke, becoming increasingly blurred in her mind.
The scenes of him killing people and killing monsters gradually became like old dreams covered by the dust of time in this life, occasionally rippling in the corners of his thoughts.
Chen Qing looked at Li Daoxuan in front of him, trying to find the shadow of his previous life in his eyes, but he only saw a deep mystery, like an unfathomable pool.
He was no longer the cold-blooded man with a fierce look on his face who slew demons with a sword, but had become more calm and reserved.
What happened along the way that turned the usually calm person into an emotionally unstable madman?
Shen Qing was shocked to realize that Li Daoxuan in his previous life was also emotionally stable in the early days, but he became a madman later.
Why did she subconsciously think that Li Daoxuan had always been a lunatic?
What had happened in his past life to cause such a drastic change in his personality? It was definitely not the reason she had found Liuli Heart. She remembered that Li Daoxuan's personality had changed drastically during his middle years, but what had happened then? Why had it happened?
Chen Qing's heartbeat accelerated rapidly, and his head suddenly felt an excruciating pain.
"Putting everything else aside, Madam Shen, have you thought about it carefully? Are you willing to agree?" Li Daoxuan said.
"I..." Suddenly, everything went dark before his eyes, and Chen Qing suddenly fell to the side, his hands subconsciously clutching the desk.
What Shen Qing didn't know was that her face was shockingly pale at this moment. Li Daoxuan frowned when he saw this and asked her, "What's wrong with you?"
"Ding, abnormality detected in the host's body, activation of protection mode." A cold electronic sound suddenly came.
Chen Qing's vision suddenly cleared up, and she subconsciously answered, "Hmm?" She touched her forehead, "Oh, I also have a cold that has entered my body. The coldness hasn't been completely eliminated yet, so I feel a little dizzy."
Seeing her shaky and sick appearance, Li Daoxuan said, “Madam Shen’s resilience and perseverance are something I admire.”
Chen Qing smiled wryly, "Your Highness, you are too kind." Having gained nothing here today and having wasted quite a bit of time, she didn't want to stay any longer, so she said, "I will carefully consider what Your Highness said."
She had to find a way to make Li Daoxuan face her and see her not just as a simple "bait", but as a valuable partner who could stand on an equal footing.
In this way, the "big pie" that Li Daoxuan mentioned will most likely be realized.
She thought for a moment and said, "Also, when I was summoning Madam Liu's spirit yesterday, I did discover something. The White Water Evil was also targeting Madam Liu's spirit."
This clue made Li Daoxuan frown. He finally looked at Chen Qing straight in the eye. However, after giving Chen Qing some temptation, he continued, "I'll give you an answer when we meet next time."
She whetted Li Daoxuan's appetite, but left in time when he was extremely curious.
.
Li Daoxuan deliberately sent the people at the door away so that Chen Qing could walk out of the document library smoothly.
She simply wandered around a few places for a while, collected the required evil energy, and then returned to Liu's mother's side.
Mother Liu twisted her handkerchief and waited anxiously for Shen Qing. After waiting for a long time, she finally saw a familiar figure. She hurried forward and said, "Madam Shen, you are finally back. My son is saved!"
Chen Qing said, "The evil spirit has been collected. If there's no problem, I'll go with you to calm your daughter's soul."
Chen Qing did not lie. When part of a person's soul leaves the body, it does need evil spirits to calm the body and prevent the remaining soul from being taken away by the underworld. But she lied in another aspect. The maximum period for the soul to leave the body is fifteen days, but she told Liu's mother that it was three days.
It was because she wanted to get some clues about the Happy Funeral Demon from Liu's mother as soon as possible.
She couldn't wait to know what the relationship was between the happy funeral demon and the Liu family.
Lady Liu’s matter was temporarily settled, but there was still one person she had never forgotten.
The girl who pushed Zhang Miaoyin into the water that day.
Chen Qing said to Liu's mother with a faint smile on her lips: "But You'an has an unwelcome request."
Mother Liu: "Madam Shen, please speak!"
"Yesterday, two of my servants were trying to buy Hu pancakes for me and accidentally bumped into the patrolling Wu Hou. I heard they are now being held in the Dali Temple Prison."
Her brows furrowed, her face thick with guilt as she spoke, "Those two were loyal servants who had served my father for most of his life. They had loved me since childhood, and it was only after hearing my nonsense about wanting to eat Hu pancakes when I was sick that they got into a fight with the Marquis of Wu in a moment of desperation. Those two loyal servants have rather fiery tempers, and I'm afraid they won't accept their detention. I've thought of meeting them and asking them not to worry too much about me."
Mother Liu hesitated and said, "So it was the loyal servant of the Shen family. This is also a misunderstanding. But don't worry, Madam Shen. I will give Alang a lot of instructions later. His men will definitely treat those two well and they will be able to return home soon. I see that Madam Shen looks sick, and I am afraid that her body will not be able to withstand the bloody prison."
Chen Qing sighed, "Let alone the Imperial Prison. In the early years, when I followed my senior brother to save the world and eliminate demons, I even witnessed tragedies of families being wiped out and touched disemboweled corpses. I feel uneasy about having implicated them. I'm afraid that if I can't see my two loyal servants and comfort them, their obsession will only deepen, affecting my state of mind."
Hearing that it would affect her mood, Shen's mother's face changed immediately. Under normal circumstances, she should have appreciated and admired Shen Qing's loyalty and righteousness, but since it concerned her daughter's safety, she couldn't help but feel a little resentful about it, thinking that this friendship came at the wrong time.
She said, "Please wait a moment, Madam Shen, regarding the imperial prison matter. After Alang sends the noble away, I will ask him to think of a solution."
Chen Qing knew who this noble person was referring to. She was afraid that after sending this god away, Shi Qinglan would also return to the Imperial Prison, and then she would not be able to do anything convenient.
"Don't worry, Madam. There's no need to trouble Liu Siqing. I have my own way."
.
At the gate of the imperial prison, the jailers leaned listlessly against the peeling wall. The overly hot air made them sleepy. The two of them felt drowsy, and their eyelids seemed to be weighed down by jacks, and they couldn't stop falling.
A clear cough instantly woke them up. When they looked up, they saw that it was Liu Siqing's wife.
Fearing they might offend the Madam, the two men hurriedly hid their swords behind their backs and frantically said, "Madam, why are you here? The people held here are not ordinary people. Please move on and don't scare me!"
Mother Liu waved at the two of them with a serious expression, "Come with me for a moment. Ah Lang has something to tell me. He's entertaining a distinguished guest and can't get away, so he asked me to come here and tell you."
There are plenty of junior jailers in the Dali Temple. What is it that requires Madam to come here in person? This question flashed through the minds of both of them at the same time.
But then he thought, could it be something extremely important that would require the lady to come in person to deliver the message?
Thinking of this, the two of them immediately straightened their faces and left with Liu's mother.
At the same time, Chen Qing was also imprisoned.
The prison was thick with the smell of blood, mixed with the smell of decay and despair. The damp walls were covered with moss, and the only light came from a head-sized window high in the ceiling.
The dim candlelight flickered, as if it would go out at any moment. The smell of blood was always there, stimulating the sense of smell and making people shudder.
In this oppressive space, accompanied by the prisoners' groans and the rattling of chains, every shadow in the prison is giving rise to the despair deep in people's hearts.
Chen Qing couldn't help but frown, covered his mouth and nose with his sleeves, and continued to walk inside, not forgetting to look for familiar figures along the way.
Finally, two middle-aged men who looked weak, neither tall nor short, and had ordinary faces caught his eye.
They were neatly dressed, their cell was covered with fresh straw, and they were not chained.
When Shen Qing saw the two of them, he quickly stepped forward and whispered, “Uncle Wang, Uncle Song!”
The two middle-aged men who had been resting against the wall with their eyes closed heard the familiar cry and immediately opened their eyes. They stood up and strode towards Chen Qing, saying through the thick wooden fence, "Madam! Why did you come to this filthy place in person? Leave quickly and don't let this place pollute your eyes!"
Chen Qing: "I'll leave right away!" She raised her eyes and looked at the prison behind her. Inside was a person covered in blood and in a miserable state. Judging from her face, she seemed to be a young girl.
"Is there anything going on?"
The bearded man named Song Bo lowered his voice and said, "No unusual movement at the moment."
Chen Qing nodded and instructed, "During this time, you must keep a close eye on her and protect her life. Don't let anyone send her to hell without her knowing. If the case is closed in a month, find a way to bring her back to me. I want to interrogate her personally."
Intuition told Chen Qing that the person behind the scenes would not sit idly by and wait for death. He was afraid that the only girl who knew the clue would be silenced in prison, so Chen Qing thought of a way to send two "shadows" from home to watch her.
The so-called "shadows" of the Shen Mansion refer to the death squads. They are selected by General Shen himself and have been carefully trained. Not only are they all highly skilled in martial arts, but they are also loyal to their master.
Chen Qing now has ten "shadows," each of whom obeys no one except Chen Qing, not even his father. In their previous lives, they were all killed by the Happy Funeral Demon, and they even guarded the Shen Mansion and protected Chen Qing until their deaths.
Chen Qing exhaled and said, "When necessary, your own safety is the most important. If you can't beat the other party, go home immediately and don't fight."
"Yes, ma'am."
Since Chen Qing wanted to kill the mastermind who had framed Zhang Miaoyin for drowning, he would definitely clean up the mess. The prince ordered the case to be closed within a month, fearing that the case would eventually be dismissed as "selfish jealousy" and ultimately left unresolved.
After this storm is over, she will find a way to keep her and pry her open.
Mother Liu dragged on for quite a while, sweat already breaking out on her forehead. When she heard the cat's meow, she finally breathed a sigh of relief and said, "Remember, that's the Shen family's wife, the loyal servant of the future Princess Cang. You must not offend her!"
The jailer said, "Yes!"
Chen Qing walked away, and Liu's mother also sent them away.
After leaving the Dali Temple smoothly and calming Liu Wanxiu's soul, Chen Qing also said goodbye and returned to his home.
She was thinking all the way, recalling what she saw in Liu Wanxiu's world.
There is no record of Bai Shuisha's life experience in the archives today, which can only mean that someone has secretly manipulated and erased his existence from the archives.
This clue was broken.
But things looked bright, and she found clues about the Happy Funeral Demon in Liu Wanxiu's realm.
Liu Wanxiu is most likely the younger sister of Xisangyao, but everyone in Chang'an knows that Liu Siqing and his mother had a child in their old age, and they treated this only daughter like a treasure and doted on her. No one has ever heard that she has an older sister.
Now that Liu Wanxiu's soul had been captured by Bai Shuisha, forcing her to wake up would only reveal a hesitant and foolish person. When Chen Qing mentioned "Ajie" to Liu's mother, her face was blank, as if she didn't even know there was such a person.
Now the only clue is the poolside with the covered boats at Yuanchun Tower.
She had to find time to go to Yuanchun Tower.
Suddenly, as if he thought of something, Chen Qing stopped abruptly.
A few days before the Shen family was exterminated, another incident occurred. A shocking case occurred in Yuanchun Tower.
More than a dozen people in Yuanchun Tower were skinned one after another and thrown into the Huachun Pool in the backyard.
When everyone discovered the body, they saw that it had been mostly eaten by the red carp, and only the bones were vaguely visible.
The case, which should have caused a sensation in Chang'an, was suppressed by the news of the Shen family's extermination a few days later.
She almost forgot about it!
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