Chapter 59 Ling Zixia spreads secret messages through the wind
The golden flame burned quietly in the brazier, turning the box full of filthy things into green smoke.
The atmosphere in the bedroom was solemn and eerie. Everyone was shocked by the sacred scene before them and dared not make a sound.
Zhao Wenxuan stood beside the brazier. He looked at the dancing golden flames, his eyes becoming more complicated than ever before.
His view of Ling Zixia has completely changed from a weak woman who needs protection to a mysterious existence that needs to be looked up to.
Wang Fu and his servants didn't even dare to breathe. They lowered their heads and glanced at the woman leaning against the head of the bed with awe in their eyes.
When the last wisp of green smoke dissipated, the golden flame gradually went out, leaving only a pot of warm ashes.
Zhao Wenxuan took a deep breath, as if he had made a major decision. He turned and walked to Ling Zixia's bed.
He looked at Ling Zixia's face, which became increasingly paler due to "exhaustion of mental energy", and spoke in an extremely serious tone.
"Today's incident is all thanks to you, otherwise the consequences would be disastrous."
"Don't worry, from now on, in this Prime Minister's Mansion, I will definitely protect you and will never let anyone hurt you again."
This promise was more sincere than any previous one, and it also meant that Zhao Wenxuan had completely regarded Ling Zixia as his own.
Ling Zixia showed a weak and grateful smile on her face and shook her head gently.
"Sir, you are too kind. I have only done my bit to help, and I dare not take credit for it."
Her attitude remained humble, but invisibly, she narrowed the distance between herself and Zhao Wenxuan.
Zhao Wenxuan wanted to say something else, but at this moment, a guard hurriedly ran in from outside the yard.
The guard stopped at the door and bowed to Zhao Wenxuan to report.
"Sir, the Prime Minister has invited you to discuss an important matter."
Zhao Wenxuan frowned slightly, he knew that his father must be looking for him about the imperial edict from the palace.
He glanced at Ling Zixia lying on the bed, a hint of reluctance flashed in his eyes, but he still nodded.
"Got it. I'll be right there."
He spoke softly to Ling Zixia, with a hint of apology in his tone.
"Rest well first. I'll come to see you after I finish my business."
Ling Zixia nodded obediently, looking at him with eyes full of dependence.
"Sir, please go and do your work. I have Qing'er and the others here to serve me. It won't be a problem."
Zhao Wenxuan looked at her deeply, then turned around and quickly left Jingsiyuan with Wang Fu and a group of servants.
Soon, only Ling Zixia and a few of her trusted maids were left in the bedroom.
Qing'er, who had been on edge, finally breathed a sigh of relief. She quickly walked to the bedside, her face full of worry.
"Master, are you okay? I was really scared to death just now."
The weakness on Ling Zixia's face disappeared in an instant, replaced by a cold silence.
She slowly sat up straight on the bed, no longer looking as shaky as before.
"I'm fine." Her voice was flat and indifferent.
She glanced out the window. It was already evening, and the afterglow of the setting sun had dyed the sky a gorgeous red.
A gentle breeze came in through the open window and stirred the curtains around the extinguished candlestick on the table.
Ling Zixia's gaze fell on the basin of cooled ashes, and a barely perceptible glint flashed in her eyes.
She suddenly gave an order to the maid Mo'er standing beside her, her tone leaving no room for questioning.
"Mo'er, go take that basin of ashes to the yard and dump it out. Remember, pour it into the wind."
Mo'er was stunned when she heard this, and she asked in some confusion.
"Master, why do you have to fall against the wind? If the ashes are blown away by the wind, won't they be scattered everywhere?"
Ling Zixia glanced at her indifferently. She didn't explain, but just repeated it.
"Do as I say."
Mo'er's heart trembled. She didn't dare to disobey anymore and immediately stepped forward.
She carefully picked up the still warm brazier, slowly walked out of the bedroom and came to the center of the yard.
At this time, a moderate westerly wind was blowing in the courtyard, and the wind direction was just towards the east of the Prime Minister's Mansion, which was the direction of Zhao Wuji's study.
Mo'er followed Ling Zixia's instructions. She raised the brazier high, then pointed the mouth of the brazier in the direction of the wind and tilted it suddenly.
A handful of grayish-white ashes poured out of the brazier in an instant. Blown by the west wind, it immediately turned into a cloud of gray smoke and dust, floating towards the eastern wall of the courtyard.
Ling Zixia stood by the bedroom window, quietly watching the ashes drifting in the wind, with an unfathomable smile on her lips.
She knew that those seemingly ordinary ashes were actually not ordinary at all.
In the "purification" ceremony just now, she not only burned the jewels, but also made some new moves during the burning process.
She used the high temperature of the golden flame and certain special metal components in the jewelry to produce a strange reaction with the "Netherworld Candle" lamp oil she had previously invested.
The ashes that are finally produced are no longer ordinary wood ash, but a kind of "messenger" containing special information.
The ash is so finely divided that it can be carried long distances by the wind and has a very distinctive smell.
This smell is completely undetectable to ordinary people, but for certain people, it is an irresistible call.
And that specific person was the most important chess piece she had placed next to Zhao Wenxuan before - the double agent Xiao Cui.
Xiao Cui was carrying a sachet made by Ling Zixia herself. The spices in the sachet were used to induce this special smell.
Once Xiao Cui smelled this scent, she would know that it was Ling Zixia calling her, and that she had something extremely important to ask her to do.
Qing'er stood behind Ling Zixia. She looked at her master's unfathomable profile, her heart filled with awe and curiosity.
She couldn't help but ask in a low voice, with a hint of tentativeness in her tone.
"Master, what are you doing..."
Ling Zixia didn't look back, she just said lightly.
"It's time to close the net."
Her words were light, but they carried a chilling murderous intent.
Qing'er's heart trembled. She knew that her master had been patient for so long and was finally going to take real action against someone in the prime minister's mansion.
And less than a quarter of an hour after the ashes drifted away.
A little maidservant in a coarse cloth dress, who was in charge of cleaning the courtyard, lowered her head, holding a broom, and "happened" to pass by the back wall of Jingsi Courtyard.
The little maid's movements seemed no different from those of an ordinary cleaning maid, except that her nose was twitching slightly and imperceptibly.
When she reached the vent at the back wall of Jingsi Courtyard, her steps paused slightly, and a barely perceptible excitement flashed in her eyes.
She found it.
She found the signal left by her master.
She didn't stop, but continued walking forward, as if she was just an ordinary passerby.
But just as she passed by an old locust tree, her hand, seemingly unintentionally, left an extremely hidden mark on the rough bark.
It was a small, three-scratched pattern that meant "Roger, stand by."
After doing all this, she quickened her pace and quickly disappeared into the depths of the courtyard.
Ling Zixia in the Jingsi Courtyard slowly turned around and sat down in front of the dressing table again.
She looked at the still young and beautiful face in the mirror, but her eyes had become as cold as ice that had been there for a thousand years.
"Li Ruolan..."
She uttered the name softly in a voice that only she could hear.
"Your death date has arrived."
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