Chapter 179: Warning
Candlelight flickered in the antique shop.
Cold sweat rolled down Mister Qiu’s forehead, tracing the wrinkles and dampening his neck.
Li Zhao’s fingers tapped rhythmically on the rim of the teacup. The crisp sound of celadon striking celadon was like the death knell from King Yama, causing Mister Qiu’s knees to buckle as he knelt.
“Your Highness, spare my life!”
He trembled like a sieve. A glimpse of the Eastern Palace’s exclusive python-pattern embroidery peeking from Li Zhao’s sleeve cuff made his voice shake even more.
“Just now, Prince Duan asked about the Love Silk Gu. I truly said nothing…”
Li Zhao smiled indifferently, his breath chilling.
“So, you do know about the Love Silk Gu…”
Mister Qiu’s body jolted, and he frantically waved his hands in denial.
“No, no, no, I know nothing. I only overheard snippets, I’ve never dealt with witchcraft…”
Li Zhao slightly raised his eyebrows, the ink jade thumb ring on his knuckle glinting coldly.
“Prince Duan sought you out. Does that mean you are connected to the Big Dipper Seven Sects?”
The smile on Mister Qiu’s face froze abruptly.
The words “Big Dipper Seven Sects” struck his heart like a heavy hammer—
How could he explain to get a quick death?
Mister Qiu stole a glance at Li Zhao, his voice so low it was almost inaudible.
“I, I merely conduct small businesses in the Old Mausoleum Swamp. Occasionally, I’ve had opportunities to connect people, run errands, and gather information in the Old Mausoleum Swamp to earn a meager living… I truly have no dealings with the Big Dipper Seven Sects…”
Li Zhao chuckled softly, “You’re tight-lipped.”
He suddenly turned his head, his expression cold as he looked at Guan Ya.
“Since he refuses to speak the truth, there’s no use for his tongue…”
Guan Ya respectfully acknowledged.
Mister Qiu watched the tall man, like a malevolent god, press in on him, his heart pounding wildly, almost to the point of fainting.
“Your Highness, spare me, Your Highness, please spare me, I truly know nothing…”
Suddenly, the copper bell under the eaves chimed.
A gentle breeze swept through, carrying a faint, elusive sound of a flute.
His heart tightened, and he suddenly looked up.
A moment later, the flute music stopped outside the door.
A figure in moon-white robes arrived gracefully, their wide sleeves brushing the doorframe, creating a subtle rustle of wind.
The person seemed like an immortal banished from heaven, dressed as a knight-errant of the martial world, yet resembling a reclusive scholar. They wore a veiled hat, obscuring their refined face. Even so, their transcendent aura commanded respect.
“The Crown Prince takes quite an interest in matters of the martial world.”
Tianshu held the Lingqiong flute, one hand behind his back.
His clear, elegant voice echoed leisurely in the silent antique shop.
Li Zhao’s fingertips paused on the wooden desk, the corner of his eye lifting slightly with a hint of a careless smile.
“Are you the Imperial Envoy of the Old Mausoleum Swamp spoken of in rumors?”
Tianshu remained silent.
He neither confirmed nor denied.
Instead, he steadily approached, took a silver needle from his sleeve, and gently pressed it onto Mister Qiu’s pressure point for inducing sleep.
The old shopkeeper slumped and fell to the ground with a dull thud.
Tianshu then sat down unhurriedly.
“The Crown Prince’s visit suggests you are more interested in the Love Silk Gu…”
“You know quite a lot about my private affairs.” Li Zhao chuckled, a hint of coldness in the corner of his lips, his handsome face like the frost of the twelfth lunar month. “Are you planning to hold me accountable for the twenty thousand vengeful spirits of the Old Mausoleum Swamp?”
“Your Highness misunderstands. The past of the Old Mausoleum Swamp vanished like smoke with the fall of the previous dynasty. For years, we have lived in obscurity, wandering the martial world, merely struggling to survive and earn a living.”
Li Zhao: “Then what is your intention in coming to see me?”
Tianshu pursed his lips slightly, paused, and asked, “Is Your Highness visiting Mister Qiu not to resolve the Gu poison within you? I am willing to offer my assistance.”
Li Zhao snorted coldly.
“Compared to Gu removal, I am more interested in the Old Mausoleum Swamp.”
He seemed to know everything, sneering with certainty.
“Princess Wen Jia’s painting, the 《Immortal Offering Longevity Painting》, came from the Old Mausoleum Swamp, didn’t it? I never expected the influence of the Old Mausoleum Swamp to reach into the deep palace…”
Tianshu’s expression was calm as he spoke softly.
“Your Highness is the master of the Eastern Palace, of noble status, with no grievances against the Old Mausoleum Swamp. Why are you so aggressive? The Old Mausoleum Swamp stands in the martial world and never actively interferes in court affairs… However, if Your Highness has a request, the Old Mausoleum Swamp is open for business…”
As he spoke, Tianshu’s finger gently pointed to the gold in front of Li Zhao.
“As long as someone pays, the Old Mausoleum Swamp will act.”
His meaning was clear: whether it was removing the Love Silk Gu or helping Li Zhao defeat Prince Duan, it could be achieved through monetary transactions.
Everything the Old Mausoleum Swamp did was a business transaction, unrelated to personal grudges or enmities.
But in Li Zhao’s eyes, the more they tried to distance themselves, the more they were trying to cover something up—
Li Zhao curved his lips slightly, poured a cup of tea, and placed it before Tianshu.
The tea soup rippled with subtle waves.
He looked up, the faint light in his eyes mingling with the ripples of the tea.
“I do not wish to meddle in the affairs of the martial world, and the Old Mausoleum Swamp should not interfere in court matters.”
Tianshu met his sharp, knife-like gaze, neither humble nor arrogant, allowing the tense atmosphere to emanate from his gaze, his voice clear and resonant.
“The Old Mausoleum Swamp has no intention of offending Your Highness.”
Li Zhao’s smile deepened: “Since the Imperial Envoy is being frank, then I will make myself clear: attempting to control me with Gu poison is a fool’s dream. If you merely wish to protect Xue Ping’an, it’s best not to overstep your bounds. Otherwise, do not blame me for showing no mercy.”
Outside the window, a night owl suddenly hooted.
Li Zhao tossed the gold ingot he had been playing with back in front of Tianshu, then calmly stood up and strode away, unperturbed.
“Farewell.”
Tianshu remained seated, not rising to see him off, watching Li Zhao’s wide sleeves flutter, the jade pendant at his waist tracing a dazzling silver arc, his dark eyes as calm as water.
“May the Crown Prince have a safe journey.”
–
The next morning, the Xue Mansion’s main gate was wide open.
As Xue Sui helped Xue Yuechen alight from the carriage, she saw the Prince Wei’s Mansion’s carriage driving away from the alley entrance.
Through the fluttering carriage curtains, the grim expression of the Wei Wang Chang Shi was faintly visible.
Xue Qingzhi stood on the stone steps outside the Yi Gate, his back ramrod straight. The faint sobs of Ninth Miss Xue Yue’e could be heard from behind the flower-draped gate.
“Greetings, Father.” Xue Yuechen performed a graceful and proper bow.
“What has happened?”
Xue Sui bowed as well, her gaze catching Xue Qingzhi’s expression, and she understood a good part of it.
“Sister, let’s go inside and talk.”
In the inner chamber of the main house, Old Madam Cui sat upright on an Arhat couch, her prayer beads turning rapidly in her hands.
Seeing Xue Yuechen and Xue Sui enter, she quickly beckoned them closer, ordered cushions to be brought, and sighed repeatedly.
“Eldest Sister, Sixth Girl, your Ninth Sister hanged herself this morning!”
Xue Yuechen’s fingertips trembled: “Was she saved?”
“She was saved…” The Old Madam closed her eyes dejectedly, her expression filled with worry.
“But she was found hanging from the beam in her undergarments, and the Wei Wang Chang Shi happened to witness it… The Chang Shi was there to deliver the betrothal gifts. If this gets out, it will inevitably lead to gossip, saying she would rather die than become a remarriage… This time, I fear we have offended the Prince Wei’s Mansion.”
Xue Yuechen frowned slightly—
This didn’t seem like Xue Yue’e’s usual temperament.
If she wasn’t eager to show off about becoming a Princess Consort, where would she get the courage to attempt suicide?
