Chapter 69 "Stop that carriage!"...
In the quiet room, the fragrance of cold pine wafts through the air.
Prince Xiang Wenli and Governor Gao Meng sat upright, while Xinghe sat cross-legged on the armchair opposite them.
Seeing Xinghe's obviously disrespectful behavior, Gao Meng's brows were furrowed with anger. He was about to scold him, but just as he opened his mouth, he received a look from King Xiang, so he suppressed his anger and pushed himself back into the chair.
King Xiang spoke sincerely to the hazy figure behind the screen, "As you said, extraordinary things must be worth extraordinary efforts. I deeply agree with you. If you can help me achieve my great cause, gold, silver, and power will be at your command."
He paused briefly, then changed the subject: "However, I have heard that those who seek to see you, from high-ranking officials to ordinary people, some have only brought a bunch of spring chives or a handful of new rice and received your guidance. Others have brought rare treasures but were not accepted. It is clear that you regard money as nothing and look down on these mundane things..."
"No." A lazy voice from behind the screen interrupted him: "I like her."
King Xiang: ...
The smile on his lips froze for a moment.
After a brief silence, the figure behind the screen stretched out his fingers and began to calculate: "To support an elite force of a thousand men, the annual cost of food, weapons, horses, and rewards... would be about 20,000 taels. For an army of 100,000, that would be 2,000,000 taels..."
He paused, then spoke cheerfully and confidently, "My ability alone is at least equivalent to a hundred thousand troops, right? Your Highness can convert the annual expenses of a hundred thousand troops into silver."
Xinghe missed the peanut kernel that was thrown to him, and when he heard the number, his eyes turned into the shape of copper coins.
With so much money, can you buy out the entire street of storybook and candy figurine shops?
Or maybe the master knows how to blackmail!
"What...?!" Gao Meng suddenly stood up. "You can fight against an army of 100,000 people alone?! Ridiculous!"
The figure behind the screen leaned back in a more comfortable position, his voice full of teasing, "Oh? Governor Gao has any objections?"
King Xiang glanced at Gao Meng. Gao Meng, receiving his gaze, turned sullen, suppressing his anger and saying, "Sir, you're asking for such a high price. You have to prove yourself worthy, right?"
Upon hearing this, King Xiang withdrew his gaze, picked up the teacup and tasted it silently.
Wen Xing looked at the calm face of Prince Xiang, raised his eyebrows slightly, and changed the subject: "I think His Highness Prince Xiang seems to have a hidden illness."
The fingers of Prince Xiang holding the tea trembled slightly.
"When the prince was young, he was really a man of style..."
Prince Xiang's mind buzzed, and he put down his teacup and interrupted hurriedly, "Sir, you are truly a god!" He was afraid that Wen Xing would reveal more details, so he restrained his expression and pretended to be calm, saying, "Sir, you are well-versed in the secrets of heaven, so you are naturally worth this price. As you say, I have no objection."
Wen Xing curled his lips and smiled.
After traveling for so long, he finally mastered the use of this crappy system.
This system's database includes court documents and official classics. Ancient official records include not only historical events, government documents, criminal case files, astronomical phenomena, and geographical disasters, but also royal medical records.
In other words, before King Xiang was exiled to his fiefdom at the age of 20, all his pulse conditions had been recorded by the palace.
He is impotent at such a young age.
King Xiang probably wants to strangle him to death rather than let him say it.
Gao Meng:?!
He lowered his voice and leaned close to the King's ear, saying anxiously, "Why did Your Majesty agree so readily? He's clearly asking for too much, like he's robbing me!"
King Xiang ignored Gao Meng and raised his hand slightly, signaling him to shut up. He then quickly changed the subject: "Sir, Wen Li came here to ask you something."
Wen Xing interrupted, "Your Highness wants to ask if it's appropriate to send troops these days?"
Seeing that the dangerous topic had finally been diverted, King Xiang's expression relaxed. "Sir, please understand. Ning Wujie is now dispatching troops on two fronts, Huainan and Longxi, and we also have to divide our attention to guard Jiaodong. The Shuofeng tribe in the northwest has also heard the news and is moving. This is a golden opportunity that cannot be missed. I would like to ask you to help our army avoid danger and seek good fortune."
"Of course, after the matter is completed, the money will be paid in full."
Wen Xing narrowed his eyes. After a long detour, he finally got to the point. This was the real reason why he wanted to see Prince Xiang.
If he hadn't used the matter of his hidden illness to provoke him just now, King Xiang would probably have wanted to continue testing him through Gao Meng.
We cannot allow trouble to arise in southern Yunnan at this critical juncture, otherwise Ning Wujie will not be able to handle it even if he has three heads and six arms.
He pretended to be serious and said, "If I tell you the truth, I'm afraid His Majesty may not like it. He might even suspect me of undermining morale. Better not to say it."
King Xiang's face darkened, but then he smiled again: "Since Wen Li has come to see you, sir, I will naturally listen to anything you say. Please feel free to speak."
Wen Xing said calmly, "Sending troops now is not only not a good opportunity, but a way to death. Your Highness will suffer heavy casualties before he even leaves Qianchuan and will return in defeat."
Gao Meng's suppressed anger suddenly rose up again, "How dare you spread rumors and confuse the people and disrupt the morale of the army?!"
King Xiang quickly restrained Gao Meng, his face slightly cold, "Sir, why do you say that?"
Wen Xing leaned against the soft pillow and said lazily, "According to the rules here, we accept the gift money first and then discuss the benefits..."
Prince Xiang narrowed his eyes and gave a wry smile, "Sir, two million taels is no small sum. You must give me time to prepare."
Wen Xing pondered for a moment, "Well, as the Governor-General just said, to prove that I am worth these two million taels, I will first give you a prophecy."
"Next month, flash floods and landslides will occur frequently in eastern Guizhou, right along the route your troops must take. If Your Highness doesn't believe me, you can send your troops to give it a try."
After he finished speaking, he yawned and waved his hand to leave.
Xinghe glanced at Wen Xing's movements and said lazily, "Please go ahead, my master needs to rest."
Prince Xiang's face was already somewhat displeased, but he still said politely, "In that case, I will not disturb you, sir."
The two of them got on the carriage one after the other.
Prince Xiang leaned against the carriage wall with his eyes closed, his fingers unconsciously twirling the ring.
Gao Meng tried to hold back, but in the end, he couldn't hold it back any longer. "Your Highness, this person's origins are unknown, and he doesn't even dare to show his true face. I think he's probably a deceitful liar who is deliberately blackmailing me!"
Prince Xiang opened his eyes, and they were filled with darkness. "Master Gao, those in power are most afraid of showing their emotions on their faces. Why can't you change?"
Gao Meng choked.
King Xiang glanced at him and spoke more slowly, "Whether he's just trying to be mysterious or truly capable, we'll know once we give him a try. Anyway, it'll take time to prepare for the military deployment. Didn't he say the fifteenth of next month? Let's wait another month and see if what he said is true or not."
Gao Meng said, "If that's true, should we really give him two million taels?"
King Xiang looked at him and sneered, "If he were truly an immortal, obtaining this person would be worth more than a hundred thousand soldiers. What is two million taels?"
He turned his gaze again, his eyes stern. "If he is really trying to be mysterious... then there is no need for this Soseki Residence to exist."
That charlatan just now somehow found out about his hidden illness and dared to use it to blackmail him, almost ruining his reputation!
If he is not a true god who can tell fortunes, then he must have the ability to reach into the inner court and obtain the royal medical records.
Then this person cannot be kept.
Thinking of this, a flash of murderous intent flashed in his eyes.
It would be better to let him die after he has been used up.
*
A few months later.
An inconspicuous green-covered carriage drove silently into the backyard of the noisy Xuanming Guild Hall.
After the car stopped, the agile young man jumped out first, looked around vigilantly, then lifted the curtain and stretched out his arm.
A bony hand gently rested on the young man's wrist. Then, a figure dressed in a light blue robe with wide sleeves slowly stepped down from the shaft.
The man wore a veil with a thin white veil hanging over his shoulders, covering his face completely. Only a thin and upright outline was left, which exuded a sense of otherworldliness in the afternoon light.
The master and servant were led by the waiter up the stairs from the secluded backyard to the private room on the second floor.
Outside the private corridor, the storyteller's gavel came from the first-floor atrium.
"...General Lin's eyes flashed with blood, and he suddenly drew his sword! The cold light flashed, and the blood of the tyrant emperor splattered on the Nine Dragon Screen. The three thousand battalions were all his former subordinates, and they took control of the imperial city in an instant..."
Wen Xing sat down beside the desk, took off his hat and rubbed his eyebrows.
Xinghe curiously tried to lift the curtain to see the noise outside the corridor, but suddenly remembered that Wen Xing had taken off his hat, so he stopped and just listened through the curtain.
"...On the day of the coronation ceremony, the Minister of War denounced him in court: "A traitor who kills the emperor is unjust! Heaven will not tolerate this!" He then resolutely jumped from the building, staining the imperial steps with blood..."
"...But the new emperor refused to give up. He personally led the imperial guards to attack the imperial mausoleum, intending to smash the dragon stone, destroy the mausoleum, open the coffin, and whip the corpse to vent his anger!"
Xinghe exclaimed, "Wow!" "What they said makes sense!" He crossed his legs, picked up a handful of melon seeds and listened with interest.
Wen Xing clenched his teacup. King Xiang established his own kingdom here and naturally tried his best to discredit Ning Wujie in southern Yunnan. This kind of story book could be spread openly. Wen Xing even felt that it was polite for them to use a pseudonym.
There are probably still many folk books that refer to him by name. I'm afraid they have already described Ning Wujie as a demon who can stop children from crying at night.
Thinking of this, Wen Xing frowned, and a nameless anger burned in his heart.
At this time, the door of the private room opened again, and an old man in simple but well-dressed clothes appeared outside the door.
The old man turned around and closed the door. He turned around and saw Wen Xingyi's appearance. He was stunned and didn't recognize him for a moment. If Xinghe hadn't been standing beside him, he would have suspected that he had walked into the wrong room.
Wen Xing nodded: "It's me."
Li Dequan reacted and immediately knelt on both knees, trembling, and said, "This old servant pays homage to Your Majesty."
Wen Xing stepped forward and held the old man's arm. "I've already said that I'm no longer the emperor. There's no need to perform such a grand ceremony, and don't call me Your Majesty anymore."
Li Dequan stood up with Wen Xing's help, his eyes moist, "Yes, yes, I am confused, I will change it, I will change it."
"Master, please take a seat."
Wen Xing sat down and said, "I've read your letter. Does that mean Ning Wujie isn't suspicious anymore?"
Li Dequan nodded. "My Lord, that's exactly what you said. Those craftsmen were so skillful and skillful that they renovated the secret passage to perfection. It looks as if it was recently excavated. Lord Ning... bah, His Majesty even rewarded those craftsmen handsomely. Then, after entering the tomb and seeing the double in the coffin, he was convinced that you, my Lord, are truly dead."
"I followed your instructions and waited for another two or three months before I took sick leave and returned home."
Wen Xing felt relieved, but also felt a little guilty. "Although my house is secluded, nobles visit me every day. You have been the chief steward in the palace for many years, and many of you are known to the nobles. So, to avoid being exposed, I can't bring you to my house yet."
"The people at Tingchaoyuan have arranged everything for you. You've come to southern Yunnan to seek refuge with your 'nephew' who migrated south a long time ago. From now on, you can live peacefully in your 'nephew's' home, where you'll be taken care of for all your needs. When the storm has died down, I will personally take you back."
Li Dequan nodded, "I will obey the master."
Wen Xing thought about it, then asked worriedly, "After you're sure I'm dead, how will Ning Wujie react?"
Li Dequan was silent for a moment. "He couldn't sleep day and night, and he was so busy with government affairs that he refused to give himself a break. Although he didn't let others see it, I know his eyes are red from crying, and it makes people feel sad when they see him."
Wen Xing felt a little guilty after hearing this.
He suddenly remembered that Xinghe had also said that if he lied to him, he must never let him know, otherwise he would be very angry.
Wen Xing felt that Ning Wujie was definitely not just angry.
It was like just a guess that the kid was going to break the dragon stone. If Ning Wujie knew that he was not dead, the other party's anger would be terrifying.
After all, he forced someone to become a "tyrant" who "usurped the throne" and even blamed his own death on the other person.
If it were him, Wen Xing thought, he would definitely want to tear him into pieces.
Wen Xing only realized at this moment that he was scared.
We must not let Ning Wujie find out!
But…wait a minute.
Wen Xing thought carefully about Li Dequan's words, and then asked worriedly, "What did Ning Wujie say when you asked for sick leave to return home?"
Li Dequan said, "He didn't say anything, he just agreed. He didn't even ask me where I was going. I memorized the illness and medical records that my master had prepared for me, but I didn't use them."
Wen Xing's brows slowly furrowed.
Xinghe saw that his expression was different, "Master, isn't that right?"
Wen Xing thought deeply and shook his head, "No."
Given Ning Wujie's personality, how could he possibly not ask any more questions? Even if he was completely certain he was dead, given their long-standing friendship with Li Dequan, he would at least ask a few questions, perhaps asking about the cause of his illness or whereabouts.
He agreed so readily, as if he was waiting for Li Dequan to resign voluntarily.
His eyes were solemn, and he suddenly stood up and said to Li Dequan, "You came here alone?"
Li Dequan said, "There's also a person sent by Tingchaoyuan who escorted me all the way to southern Yunnan as an attendant. He's waiting outside the door."
Wen Xing calmed himself down and asked Xinghe, "Did anyone see you when you got off the carriage just now?"
Xinghe shook his head, "Only the waiter who brought us up here."
Wen Xing breathed a sigh of relief. "Fortunately, this is Tingchaoyuan's territory. Their people shouldn't be able to get into the backyard."
"Their people?" Xinghe was puzzled. "Who?"
Li Dequan was still confused, "Master, this is..."
Wen Xing closed his eyes and said helplessly, "You've probably been followed."
Li Dequan was shocked. "Who is following me? Did I expose my master?"
Wen Xing rubbed his brows and blamed himself. He was relieved when he heard that Ning Wujie was no longer suspicious, and he was anxious to take Li Dequan over.
I fell into the trap of that brat!
It now seems that the corpse may not have completely dispelled Ning Wujie's doubts, and he turned his suspicion to Li Dequan.
He secretly clenched his sleeves.
Isn't it just that the accounts for the mausoleum renovations haven't been balanced? Is such a trivial matter worth this guy digging into it?!
Wen Xing put on his hat and sighed slightly, "I hope it can be salvaged." He then decisively rang the bell beside the curtain.
A waiter pushed the door open and entered, then closed it behind him before bowing and asking, "What do you want, sir?"
Wen Xing asked, "Is there another way out of this room?"
The waiter looked up at him and said, "Yes, but I need a token as a key. Do you have it, sir?"
Wen Xing understood. He took the palm leaf talisman back from Li Dequan and handed it to the waiter. "Is this it?"
The waiter took the palm leaf talisman and nodded, "Indeed, sir, please follow me."
Wen Xing turned around and told Li Dequan, "Stay in your room. Someone will be here to pick you up soon. Remember, don't try to send me a message before I contact you."
Li Dequan nodded nervously: "Master, take care."
The waiter walked to the Duobao rack, inserted the palm leaf talisman into the belly of the Pixiu incense burner beside it, turned the switch, and there was a "click" sound. The Duobao rack moved to the side by itself, revealing a circular doorway at the back.
The waiter held up the lantern and waved to Wen Xing, "Sir, please enter through this doorway and go directly down to the first floor. When you get out of the door, you will be in the stables in the backyard. No one will see you."
Wen Xing nodded, looked back at Li Dequan, and said, "Maybe someone will come to see you, but don't be nervous. Remember what I said to you."
After he finished speaking, he and Xinghe bent down and went into the circular doorway.
After Li Dequan saw the two men disappear, the waiter closed the Duobao Pavilion and restored it to its original state.
Wen Xing followed the waiter down the stairs from the secret passage to the first floor. When he opened the door, he saw the stable in the backyard.
Wen Xing looked around and saw that the stable was empty, so he went out the door and said to Xinghe, "From now on, you will hide your tracks. Don't go back to Shushiju for the time being, and don't let anyone see you. If there is anything, let Tingchaoyuan pass on the message."
Xinghe said "Oh" in confusion.
"Then I'm leaving!"
After saying this, he flipped over and jumped onto the courtyard wall, disappearing without a trace.
*
The atrium on the first floor was bustling with music and singing. In a corner of the noisy atrium, a nobleman of elegant appearance sat there, like a solitary peak standing still, totally out of tune with the surrounding noise.
The man was wearing a dark robe with a dragon and cloud pattern, a jade belt outlining his neat waistline, and a golden crown and black hairpin adding a bit of nobility. However, his demeanor was solemn and he was surrounded by a murderous aura that made people dare not look at him directly.
His fingertips rolled back and forth on the rim of the teacup, and the storyteller's rhythmic voice reached his ears: "...Shatter the Broken Dragon Stone with gunpowder explosion. In an instant, the imperial mausoleum collapsed and the mountains shook!"
"...After the coffin was opened, the late emperor's face suddenly came alive...The new emperor was immediately filled with old hatred and drew his sword to kill..."
A hint of sarcasm appeared at the corner of his lips.
Suixing, dressed in casual clothes, quickly approached him and whispered in his ear, "Master, Li Dequan entered the private room on the second floor. About an incense stick later, another person came in. Our people heard that person call out "Uncle Li Dequan" when he opened the door."
"They just came out. I sneaked into the room and checked, and there was no one else there."
"Master, I think he might really be here to seek refuge with his nephew."
Suixing was somewhat helpless. Their master had gone crazy. First, he refused to admit that the person in the coffin was the late emperor, and now he insisted on tracking down Li Dequan and even came here in person.
You have to know that this is the territory of southern Yunnan. If the current emperor is found in the rebel's lair, the few people they bring with them may not be able to protect the master.
Ning Wujie pondered for a moment, "How tall and what does the man who calls him uncle look like?"
Suixing recalled: "He was a short, fat man, even shorter than Li Dequan."
Ning Wujie's brows slowly tightened.
After a moment, he suddenly stood up and said, "Leave two people to follow him, and the rest of you retreat."
As soon as he finished speaking, he quickly walked out of Xuanming Club.
The guild hall is located in a bustling street, and outside the gate you can hear the constant noise of people and the hawkers' cries.
Ning Wujie stepped out of the gate and was instantly engulfed by the hustle and bustle of the city. Cars and horses shone on the street, and pedestrians weaved past him.
Looking at the endless crowds of people on the street in front of him, Ning Wujie suddenly felt a deep sense of powerlessness.
There are so many people in southern Yunnan, where can he go to find them?
He thought that by following Li Dequan here, he would be able to find that person, but...
The other party might have already noticed it, so it would be useless for him to follow Li Dequan.
The communication method they used was extremely covert, and even the Inspectorate's repeated attempts to intercept it were in vain.
The man was like a cat, occasionally showing a little bit of its tail, but when he tried to get close, the tail would slip away alertly, wiping away all traces along with it.
My Lord, have you used all your wisdom and intelligence to escape from me?
Why on earth?!
Ning Wujie's eyes were filled with hostility, and he was overwhelmed by anger and resentment of failure. The heat made his eyes red. He lowered his head weakly, gritting his teeth so hard that he almost bit blood between his teeth, and only then did he suppress the emotions that were about to burst.
At this time, a carriage drove out from the backyard of the guild hall and passed by him slowly.
At the moment of intersection, Ning Wujie raised his head as if possessed by a ghost. A gust of wind blew by, drying the moisture from the corners of his eyes and quietly lifting the curtain of the car window.
Behind the curtain, a figure wearing a sash hat suddenly appeared.
The figure was thin and gaunt, with only a hazy side profile obscured by the curtain, but Ning Wujie's heart still began beating violently the moment he saw the figure.
“Bang, bang—!”
My heart beat faster and faster, almost going crazy.
His pupils suddenly contracted.
However, the curtain dropped and the figure disappeared in a flash. By the time he reacted, the carriage had already merged into the noisy crowd on the long street and was about to disappear from the end of his sight.
Ning Wujie suddenly shouted, "Stop that carriage!"
The shadow guards hidden in the city moved upon hearing the sound.
Several dark shadows shot out from the crowd like arrows, some jumped onto horses, some leaped onto the roofs, and quickly chased after the carriage.
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The author has something to say: Ahhhh! My husband is going to catch up with me!!
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