Huan Heng immediately ordered the army to set off for Huaicheng!
At a quarter past noon, the army arrived at Huaicheng and made camp outside the south city gate.
Little Jia, escorting Old Hei, went with Huan Heng to the Huaicheng Prefectural Office.
"General, this man attempted to poison our army. I apprehended him on the spot. He has not yet been interrogated, so I request the General's judgment!" After kowtowing to the general, Huan Heng pushed Old Hei forward.
Seeing Huan Heng's attempt to claim credit, Little Jia did not dispute it. He continued to follow his orders, keeping a firm grip on Old Hei's shoulder, giving him no opportunity to resist or commit suicide.
"Is this true?"
Qin Qiancheng's fierce eyes widened, his knitted brows filled with murderous intent. He stared at Old Hei with such ferocity, as if he wished to tear this traitorous wretch, who sought to plunge Linyuan into eternal damnation, into pieces to quell his hatred.
He slammed his fist on the table and strode up to Old Hei, striking him in the abdomen. Old Hei, unable to speak, could only let out pained whimpers.
"Seize him and take him to be tortured! I want to see who stands behind him!"
"Yes!"
The personal guards who had accompanied Qin Qiancheng back to the city escorted the man away.
...
Upon hearing that the Ji Yang army had successfully reached Huaicheng, Ji Hong's heart, which had been clutched with anxiety, finally settled slightly. However, upon hearing that someone had truly dared to take such a risk and attempt to kill the entire army within Linyuan's borders, he became so enraged that he smashed the vase at hand.
Ji Jinmo picked up the imperial seal and handed it to Ji Hong, gesturing for him to smash that instead. Ji Hong clutched the imperial seal and took several deep breaths before suppressing the dangerous thought of smashing Ji Jinmo's head open with it.
"Imperial Uncle!"
Ji Hong glared furiously at Ji Jinmo, but his hands carefully placed the imperial seal back into its box.
"Something that was foreseen, why such anger?" Ji Jinmo picked up the teapot and poured himself a cup of tea. Ever since Ji Hong had ordered the servants to prepare more nuts and pastries for Nan Shiying, the imperial study had never been without its snacks. Ji Jinmo had a plate of hibiscus pastries in front of him, delicate and inviting. He thought that if she were here, she would have already picked one up and put it in her mouth.
He wondered where she had reached by now.
Ji Hong knew he shouldn't be so angry. Although he had been mentally prepared, when the matter actually occurred, he still felt overwhelmed by rage and out of control. He turned and sat opposite Ji Jinmo, his lips moving, saying many things. After speaking, he drank a cup of tea, but still heard no reply from Ji Jinmo.
"Imperial Uncle, Imperial Uncle, Ji Jinmo!!"
"What?"
Ji Jinmo frowned, a layer of frost spreading in his eyes.
"What?" Ji Hong stared at him with disbelief, his eyes wide. "How dare you ask me what? What are you thinking about so intently? What is it? Did some oracle bone script get carved onto this pastry that requires your focused study?"
Ji Jinmo paused for two seconds, caught between the options of affronting and striking the emperor or picking up the pastry and 'carefully feeding' him.
Ji Hong cleared his throat, loosening his tight throat, and very stiffly changed the subject. "Imperial Uncle, where has Imperial Aunt reached?"
Ji Jinmo raised an eyebrow.
Ji Hong silently stood up, retreated behind the imperial desk, and slowly sat on the dragon throne.
Humiliated, thanks for asking!
...
The deaths of Gongzi Xun and Chi Zu sent shockwaves through the martial arts world, with rumors running rampant. Some said Gongzi Xun was killed by a peerless expert; others claimed his death was due to power struggles within Wan Ku Lou; still others whispered that the killer was a martial arts elder who had achieved supreme skill and regained youth.
In short, opinions were divided.
"Dead? Good riddance!"
Xuan Xiao, the Deputy楼主 of Wan Ku Lou, heard the news of Gongzi Xun's death and laughed heartily. If Gongzi Xun were not the son of the previous楼主, where would a废物 like him have the position of Wan Ku Lou's楼主? He had endured Gongzi Xun, that废物, out of fear of the previous楼主's incorrigible nature. Now, it was as if heaven had opened its eyes, for that废物 had died outside before Xuan Xiao had to make a move.
Xuan Xiao's ears twitched as he heard footsteps approaching in the corridor outside the building. He suppressed the smile on his face.
"Deputy楼主, the Old楼主 requests your presence!"
The one who arrived was a confidant of the Old楼主 – Hong Gu. It was heard that Hong Gu, like Chi Zu, was a hidden guard who protected the Old楼主. She had followed the Old楼主 all these years. They had only heard of a woman by the Old楼主's side, leading to rumors that Gongzi Xun was the son of the Old楼主 and Hong Gu.
However, Xuan Xiao had heard some secrets. While he didn't know whose child Gongzi Xun truly was, it was definitely not Hong Gu's.
"I understand!"
Xuan Xiao adjusted his robes, pushed aside the pale-faced, stiff-bodied maid beside him, and walked out the door.
Hong Gu's gaze swept across the room, paying no attention to the scene within. She lowered her head slightly and gestured for Xuan Xiao to proceed.
"Thank you!"
Xuan Xiao nodded politely to Hong Gu.
Inside, the maid tilted her head back, her eyes wide, staring at Xuan Xiao's retreating back.
She died with her eyes open.
...
Nan Shiying left Jinmen City and arrived at Hu Xiang Town.
After a day's journey, she felt as if her body was falling apart. Xiao Man helped Nan Shiying take a bath and then climbed onto the bed to give her a back massage.
"Miss~"
Xiao Man's eyes darted about as she tentatively called out to Nan Shiying.
Nan Shiying let out a soft hum, knowing what this little girl was thinking. She said, "That medicine consumes one's own potential, in other words, it's like pulling up seedlings to encourage growth, damaging the foundation. If he relies on himself for the rest of his life, he can at best become a second-rate master, with no possibility of reaching the first-rate realm. So, it's fine for him to take it, but you..."
Nan Shiying's voice softened as she pulled Xiao Man closer. "Your bones have not yet fully formed, and you have already touched the threshold of third-rate. Are you sure you want to consume your potential just to speed up your journey to becoming a first-rate master?"
Xiao Man shook her head, her pigtails bouncing. Seeing Nan Shiying's half-smile, she opened her mouth to reveal a row of white teeth. "I was just asking!"
"You!"
Nan Shiying tapped Xiao Man's head. Ying Yi appeared outside the door and knocked.
"Enter!"
Ying Yi pushed the door open, presented the latest news with both hands, and then retreated.
Nan Shiying opened the letter and read it at lightning speed. Xiao Man leaned forward, showing half of her little head, and followed along.
Last night, Wen Zhong led the vanguard, with Deputy General Zhang Yi attacking the east and north gates of Huaicheng respectively, but were ultimately repelled by Qin Qiancheng and the Ji Yang army.
Nan Shiying looked up, gazing in the direction of Liao Jiang.
If Yuwen Yi of Dali were to start a war, then how this campaign would proceed and how it would end would not be decided by him.
The six cities of Mo Cheng were not enough; she wanted the twelve cities of Wei Cheng.