Chapter 131
Orchid Island is indeed different from Qin and Nandu; every household there makes a living by raising Gu worms.
Within a few days, Si Yanmo was taken by the Lanyu Master to learn about the local customs of Lanyu. Almost every family here has the skill of raising Gu poison and has their own unique Gu medicine.
No wonder most wizards and sorcerers come from Lanyu.
The more Si Yanmo learned about this place, the more puzzled she became. "Since Lanyu makes a living by raising Gu poison, what use is it for Your Highness to keep me here?"
The Lord of Lanyu lowered the carriage curtain and laughed, "It's because everyone here makes a living by raising Gu poison. There are too many witch doctors and Gu masters here, but no diviners. They can't enter Nandu."
Yes.
Southerners believe in ghosts and spirits, and place great importance on being able to communicate with them.
Therefore, fortune tellers and astrologers have a place wherever they go.
Although witch doctors and sorcerers were lacking, they were not considered very important, which resulted in Lanyu never having its own people in the south, and its development remained stagnant.
After the Lord of Lanyu came to power, he implemented sweeping reforms, making the area superior to its predecessor in both economy and military strength. However, compared to itself, it still lacked the support of the Southern Capital.
Just like Sak, the South offered little help during the freezing disaster. Even someone as aloof as Wu Zhao had to cooperate with Qin, let alone Lanyu, a place with such a low profile.
“I hope Mo Wubu will stay. It’s not that I’m forcing you, but that I really need you, and Lanyu really needs you.” She looked at Si Yanmo and saw no arrogance of a superior, but rather a resolute determination to achieve her goal. “I want to cultivate more diviners here. I want a powerful Lanyu.”
“But these things may not necessarily require me.” Si Yanmo lowered her head and took a deep breath. “I am truly grateful for Your Highness’s appreciation of me, but… Your Highness may be overestimating me. I am not as capable as you imagine.”
The Lord of Lanyu did not believe her words. "Although I am in Lanyu, I am not completely unaware of the outside world. I remember that even His Majesty wanted to keep Mo Wubu. Now you are telling me that I overestimated you? Doesn't that mean I underestimated His Majesty?"
She's incredibly well-informed; she can even read the Southern Emperor's mind. This woman is truly difficult to deal with.
As they talked, the two arrived at Lanyu Academy.
Here, whether students or junior teachers, all are women; only occasionally can you see a few men reading at the very back.
Si Yanmo had never attended school or read books, but based on her understanding of Nandu, she knew that such a scene was something that could never be seen in Nandu.
The arrival of the two successfully interrupted the young tutor's lesson. She put down her book and bowed to them, "Your Highness, who is this...?"
"Mo Wu Bu".
She smiled and introduced Si Yanmo to the young teacher, telling him that Si Yanmo would also be coming here to teach her lessons in the future.
"Your Highness left me here to teach these children?" Si Yanmo asked.
"Otherwise what?" The Lord of Lanyu casually fiddled with a nearby branch, then pulled out a black Gu worm from somewhere and placed it on the branch. "What I want is not just Lanyu's temporary glory. Only by educating these children well can this place have a future."
This was the first time she had heard such a statement. If she hadn't calculated the other person's fate, she might have thought that she had also been reborn and that her thoughts were different from those of the people around her.
“But I don’t necessarily have to be the instructor, and I may not be suitable to be a junior teacher.” She still tried to persuade them to let her go.
It's not that she doesn't want to stay here, it's just that there's a little dog waiting for her.
The Lady of Lanyu was not fooled. Just as she was about to say something, a guard came to report and whispered in her ear.
Si Yanmo was curious about what they were talking about. She wanted to go forward, but she couldn't overstep the bounds, so she could only stand quietly in place and watch as the other person actually smiled.
She was even more confused.
The Lord of Lanyu straightened up and said to her, "Didn't Mo Wubu just say that you didn't necessarily have to stay here? Now I can tell you why it's you."
She gestured for the guard to repeat what he had just said to her.
"His Majesty has ordered that the Prince of Qin is plotting a rebellion, and the Prince of Qi has already led his troops to the vicinity of Wufeng Pass, intending to join forces with the Southern Capital to annihilate the rebel army."
With a deafening roar, a thunderclap exploded in the cloudless blue sky.
Lan Yu looked up at the approaching dark clouds and invited Si Yanmo to come inside to take shelter from the rain.
Behind her were the sounds of students reciting their lessons from the school, and in front of her was the guard who had just delivered the message. Si Yanmo could only hear the phrase echoing in her ears: "We wish to join forces with Nandu to annihilate the rebel army."
No wonder Qi Tingyun wasn't in a hurry to leave with her.
She had planned this all along.
She didn't believe that Zhou Yanqing would respect her if he seized the throne, and she didn't know how to confront the Southern Emperor and reveal her ambition so that he would willingly allow her the right to choose the crown prince.
Back in Jiangwan City, she had heard Zhou Yanqing say that Sak's army had been slow to set off after receiving orders.
At first, they thought it was because they were dissatisfied with Sano and unwilling to take risks. But when Sano rushed back to Sak, they found out that Zhou Junsong had planted his own people while he was in Sak, during the time when they were fighting with Wu Zhao.
At that time, Zhou Junsong's plan was still to pit the King of Qi against Zhou Yanqing, so he could reap the benefits. Therefore, after learning about their plans, he sent a letter in advance, ordering his men to contain the Sak army.
They never expected that later, the Southern Emperor would want to exterminate them all.
The Queen Mother must know about this, so she imprisoned Zhou Junsong and blocked the news. Even if Sano returns, it will take him a while to resolve this matter, and he certainly won't be able to send reinforcements to Qin in the short term.
Orchid Island does not actively participate in wars.
With two against one, they naturally have the advantage.
If Qi Gu wins, she won't even need to choose a crown prince. As the sister of the King of Qi, with her maternal clan's great victory, she will naturally have everything she wants.
Si Yanmo's escape merely gave her an opportunity to negotiate with the Southern Emperor.
She really underestimated this woman's ambition!
She actually tricked me!
Now she was even more uncertain about her sister and Zhou Junsong's safety. If they succeeded, she feared that everyone would die.
Si Yanmo felt as if her heart was being violently gripped, making it hard to breathe.
She schemed for so long, but she still couldn't outmaneuver these old foxes.
At this moment, the Lord of Lanyu, who had witnessed the changes in her expression throughout, spoke up: "Now Mo Wubu should know why I kept you here, right? Isn't this a good thing? You have status and position, and you're safer than any of them."
"No good." Si Yanmo shook her head firmly.
She couldn't bring herself to abandon Zhou Yanqing and the others to survive.
She knew that Lord Lanyu had his own plans on one hand, and his appreciation for her on the other, which made her willing to protect her.
But she was no longer the girl pampered by her parents and sisters. She had seen the snow in Sak, the cruelty of those in high positions, and the complexities of human nature that she could never understand.
If it were from the beginning, all she wanted was not to repeat the mistakes of her previous life and to live a good life.
Now, what she's thinking is not only that she wants to live, but also that everyone around her live, that the oppressed people live, and that their destinies be given new life.
"Your Highness, let's make a deal."
What Lanyu Master admires most about her is this attitude—just like her, no matter what happens, she doesn't want to accept her fate and wants to try to find a way out.
She was certainly willing to give her that chance. "Speak..."
——
Southern Capital, Luxi Palace
The light rain outside the window made the sky appear misty, and the light inside the room became even dimmer, yet no one lit any candles.
The man sat alone in the chair, and upon hearing the sound of the wooden door opening, he didn't even lift his eyelids. "Your Majesty, what can I do for you?"
Qi Tingyun was surprised that Zhou Junsong could remain so calm after being locked up by her for so many days.
"What has Your Highness decided?"
Zhou Junsong sneered, raising his eyelids to look at her, "I'm afraid this matter is not up to me, Your Majesty."
Qi Tingyun was not annoyed by her appearance. "My brother has always admired you. If you are willing to listen to me, I am confident that I can put you on the throne of the Southern Emperor. Isn't that what you have always wanted?"
Yes, that's what he's always wanted.
But hearing this now, Zhou Junsong felt no joy whatsoever.
He once wanted that position more than anyone else, so he dared not let his health improve and pretended to be a useless person, willing to be used by anyone, living his life as a person who only cared about interests.
Hearing this now, he felt no emotion whatsoever.
"I only want to ask Your Majesty, how is my wife?"
The Empress did not answer him, but turned and left. As she reached the door, she left behind the words, "Think it over carefully. I don't have patience for everyone."
After she left, Zhou Junsong's previously calm face turned murderous, and he irritably smashed the teacup next to him on the ground.
With a crash, the white porcelain teacup shattered into pieces.
The man in the seat took a deep breath, his heart filled with unease, and clutched the sachet tightly in his hand.
“Yun’er…”
——
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. Si Yanmo was in Lanyu, but she kept hearing reports from people about the battle situation at the front.
It is said that the Qin army has been forced back into Qin territory, and Wufeng Pass has been lost.
She hadn't heard a single word about Zhou Yanqing, and didn't even know if his poison had been cured or how he was doing.
The owner of Lanyu treated her very well, always regarding her as an honored guest, and even specially arranged for someone to cook Southern cuisine for her.
I prepared quite a few dishes for lunch today, including some with Lanyu flavor.
Si Yanmo, however, couldn't eat at all.
"Is Mo Wubu worried or angry that he hasn't come yet?" Lan Yuzhu noticed her absent-mindedness and took the initiative to serve her food. "According to our agreed time, there is only one day left. I guess he won't come."
Si Yanmo didn't answer immediately, but simply pursed her lips and ate the food that Si Yanmo had picked for her.
"I actually hope he doesn't come."
Zhou Yanqing is now besieged on all sides. Even if Lin Niang arrives in time and the poison is cured, his body is still unable to support him in leading troops into battle, let alone coming here.
"Does Mo Wubu mean he intends to stay here?"
Lanyu's tone inevitably rose slightly.
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