My Wife Is The Leader Of A Demonic Cult - Chapter 126

Chapter 126: Chapter 126: Terror of the Paper Man Under the Wardrobe (10,000 Words Update, Please Subscribe)

Zhenyi Mountain, Heavenly Venerate Hall.

The majestic verdant mountains were covered with lush, shady trees and the deep blue sky.

As the sunrise ascended, the grand cloud peaks momentarily gleamed, forests cleared of mist and clouds, filling the mountains with lush greenery, showcasing the ancient architectural complexes with intricate carved eaves.

The mountain pathways soared steeply, densely vegetated.

Within those rolling mists, the classically elegant grand hall stood towering.

The Zhenyi Mountain range meandered, with dozens of smaller mountains standing tall, known as the thirty-three layers underground, among which five towering high mountains rose together, known as Tongxuan, Chongxu, Dongling, and Nanhua, named after the four great Daoist masters of the Mystical Sect.

The Heavenly Venerate Hall, perched high above, was established atop the main peak of Zhenyi Mountain.

At this moment, the grand hall was serene; three colossal statues of the Heavenly Venerate each standing thirty-four feet tall, positioned in front of the hall, and beneath the statues, on a table, two red candles burned, seeming to emit an endless flame.

A clean, simply dressed old Taoist stood beneath the statue of the Heavenly Venerate.

He stood upright, gazing at the holy statues, then clasped his hands, his left hand holding his right, the thumb of his right hand pressing the tip of his middle finger, his left thumb passing through the tiger’s mouth of the right hand to press the base of the ring finger; his body kneeled on the cushion, his forehead gently touching the back of his hands.

At that moment, footsteps came from outside the hall; the person quietly watched the old Taoist worship the Heavenly Venerate statue without making a sound.

The movements of the old Taoist flowed smoothly, and it took three bows and three kowtows before he finished.

“Uncle Master, something significant has happened.”

Only then did the middle-aged Taoist wearing a headdress enter.

The middle-aged Taoist was Ling Yuanjing, the Peak Master of Nanhua Peak. In the Zhenyi Sect, being able to hold the position of a Peak Master was to be among the top experts of the sect, a status even above the seven True Ones.

After all, the seven True Ones were subordinate to the Heavenly Venerate Hall, governed by the chief of the Hall but without real authority, unlike the four great Peak Masters.

Nanhua Peak’s Peak Master Ling Yuanjing was a disciple brother of Xiao Qianqiu and was very active in the Great Yan Martial World. Representing the Zhenyi Sect in many significant events, after his peer Xiao Qianqiu suppressed the world, he secluded himself, thus making Ling the representative of the Zhenyi Sect in the outer world.

Therefore, Ling Yuanjing also ranked in the top ten of the Dragon List by the Heavenly Mechanism Pavilion. In his youth, he was the pride of the Zhenyi Sect, second only to Xiao Qianqiu, and later contributed greatly to the sect.

His most famous deed was fighting the Five Poison Young Master, Dai Danshu, seven years ago, which was a sensational duel. Many masters attended to watch the fight, which ended in a draw.

After the battle, Ling Yuanjing and Dai Danshu conversed freely in the water pavilion of the Five Poison Sect, drinking and talking joyously, becoming confidants, and their friendship became a delightful tale in the Jianghu.

With such prowess and reputation, Ling Yuanjing’s influence was such that a single stomp would make the whole Great Yan Martial World tremble three times.

The one whom he addressed as Uncle Master was none other than Yu Ying, the chief of the Heavenly Venerate Hall, as well as the only publicly recognized high-level expert of the “Qing” generation in the Zhenyi Sect.

However, Yu Ying had retired from the Jianghu, had not left the mountain for seven years, and had always served in the Heavenly Venerate Hall.

Yu Ying nodded, “Tell me, what’s the matter?”

Ling Yuanjing was mature and stable, and he handled the matters of the sect orderly; seldom did he come to the Heavenly Venerate Hall to report, so his sudden appearance today certainly indicated that the matter was no small issue.

“Master, Qi Yun is dead,” Ling expressed with a grim look.

Yu Ying’s expression was very calm, “How did he die?”

He had met the disciple Qi Yun several times and remembered him well as a disciple of Xiao Qianqiu.

Other than the first time, which was the formal apprenticeship with Xiao Qianqiu, all other times were Qi Yun visiting him at the Heavenly Venerate Hall.

In Yu Ying’s opinion, Qi Yun was quite talented and intelligent, but he thought the disciple was too clever for his own good. If polished properly, Qi Yun could have been made into something, but achieving the heights of Xiao Qianqiu was essentially impossible.

He considered Qi Yun neither entirely satisfactory nor particularly disappointing.

Ling Yuanjing took a deep breath before saying, “After he descended the mountain to watch the battle between the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva and Lin Yiyang, for some unknown reasons he did not return. Ultimately, he was mistakenly killed in a battle between a swordsman in Jianghu and a mysterious high-level master.”

“Mistaken killing!?”

Yu Ying took a moment to ponder then said, “That does seem fitting with how he died, as I’ve told him before, the waters of Jianghu are very deep, he mustn’t be too hasty…”

The Zhenyi Sect had been ruling the Great Yan Martial World for hundreds of years, terrifyingly influential, but the many forces in the world were not to be underestimated.

Aside from the Human Emperor’s Xuanyi Guard, there were the ancestral halls of the Yu Heng Sword Sect, the other five great factions, and various other hidden sects and organizations.

Those were just the forces within the Great Yan Martial World, not to mention Zhao Country, Houjin, the Demon Sect, Buddhist sects…

Sometimes, being too sharp was also not good.

Ling Yuanjing said, “That swordsman was the same one who defeated the Universal Benefit Bodhisattva some time ago, but the identity of that mysterious person remains unknown. According to Yu Huai, his martial skills seem like those of the Buddhist sect or the Demon Sect…”

Yu Ying shook his head, speaking slowly, “The martial arts of the Buddhist sect and the Demon Sect are incompatible. If someone could master both, that would be even more terrifying than Li Fuzhou.”

“However, Li Fuzhou was also a prodigy, forging his own path. It must be said that the world indeed has no shortage of talents…”

Being able to integrate the martial arts of both the Buddhist and Demon Sects, that person couldn’t be no one significant, so Yu Ying did not believe it.

Ling Yuanjing said gravely, “The identity of that mysterious person is unknown, and I suspect he might harbor ulterior motives. Of late, the people of the Great Snow Mountain have also become active, but it’s not impossible that it’s Black Ice Platform from Zhao Country, having lurked in our Yan Country for decades.”

The magnitude of interests and repercussions related to the death of someone like Qi Yun was naturally vast, not only impacting those with grievances against the Zhenyi Sect but also involving many other forces with potential motives.

Yu Ying seriously nodded, “At such a critical moment, we must not act rashly.”

In the current world, occupying the central lands was the Great Yan, and no place underwent more changes than Great Yan, surrounded by powerful foes, everyone poised and ready to act.

For the Zhenyi Sect as the national religion, its fate was inevitably bound together with Great Yan.

If Great Yan thrived, they could also thrive.

After a moment’s hesitation, Ling Yuanjing said, “According to some information, that Ghost Swordsman seems to be a descendant of Yan Shaoshan of the Daluo Sect.”

“Oh?”

Upon hearing this, Yu Ying’s brow immediately furrowed, “Is it a suspicion or a certainty?”

The Daluo Sect’s Yan Shaoshan had been chased and attempted to be killed by him, but in the end, Yan Shaoshan had escaped with severe injuries. That had been the last time he descended from the mountain before his retirement, a matter that had always troubled him.

Ling Yuanjing spoke gravely, “It’s highly likely.”

As a master of the Zhenyi Sect, they were all too aware of the significance of the “Jade Emperor Scripture” to the Zhenyi Sect.

Xiao Qianqiu had now sequestered himself to reach Perfection, seeking an opportunity to break through the shackles and reach the Grandmaster Realm. Should Xiao Qianqiu attain the Grandmaster Realm, the world’s structure would greatly change, and the Zhenyi Sect could rest easy, ensuring a three-hundred-year lineage.

However, even with Xiao Qianqiu’s extraordinary talent, breaking through the Grandmaster’s shackles was enormously difficult. If he possessed the “Jade Emperor Scripture,” the probability of breaking through would increase significantly.

“It looks like you need to descend the mountain yourself,” Yu Ying inhaled deeply and said.

“I understand,”

Ling Yuanjing nodded, “Disciple will find that Ghost Swordsman, first with courtesy and then with force. If he is willing to hand over the remnants of the Daluo Heart Method, I will negotiate compensation with him. If he is unwilling…”

If he is unwilling, then they would have to resort to force.

“Good, if he is willing to join our Zhenyi Sect, it would revitalize the spirit of our Mystical Sect. If Lou Xiangzhen also agrees to this…”

At this, Yu Ying shook his head, lamenting, “That old man will certainly be unwilling.”

Lou Xiangzhen was a fellow expert of the same generation as him, and he knew him very well.

Upon hearing this, Ling Yuanjing seemed to recall an unpleasant incident, and he coldly snorted, “Lou Xiangzhen, a dying old man, a mere pile of dry bones in the tomb.”

When Ling Yuanjing had once roamed the Jianghu, he had encountered Ghost Valley Sword Immortal, Lou Xiangzhen, and had been thoroughly defeated upon their first meeting, played by Lou Xiangzhen.

Afterwards, every encounter with Lou Xiangzhen left him disheveled and embarrassed, something that gradually made Ling Yuanjing develop a grudge against him.

Yu Ying waved his hand and said, “It seems only your elder brother descending the mountain could subdue that Ghost Valley Sword Immortal.”

Ling Yuanjing fell silent for a moment; Yu Ying’s words clearly meant that even if Yu Ying himself went, he wouldn’t be able to handle Ghost Valley Sword Immortal Lou Xiangzhen.

Only Xiao Qianqiu of the Zhenyi Sect, heralded as the best in the world, could subdue him, which spoke volumes of Lou Xiangzhen’s capabilities.

In his final admonition, Yu Ying said, “Remember, you must act cautiously on this mission, avoid rushing into things, do not clash with the Buddhist sects, and think three times before dealing with anyone from the Demon Sect.”

The Demon Sect was a formidable enemy. If the Zhenyi Sect were to clash with them prematurely, instigating a fight would spell trouble for everyone involved.

“Disciple clearly understands,”

Ling Yuanjing bowed slightly, prepared to rise and take his leave, but then it seemed he recalled something, “Uncle Master, the one who sits upon the Dragon Couch, did he truly fail in his breakthrough, or was it a strategic ploy, drawing the snake out of its hole?”

The current Great Yan Emperor had been severely injured during a breakthrough attempt, and the news had been kept silent. Such information could not be contained forever, and it eventually spread far and wide. Many believed it was a feint by the Emperor.

Others might not know, but Ling Yuanjing was aware that since the Great Yan Emperor had not shown himself for a long time, the court factions within the royal court were complicated and turbulent, full of crises. This further caused many to suspect the Emperor’s situation.

Could it be that the Taiping Emperor was truly severely harmed?

If that were true, then Great Yan would no longer be peaceful.

Yu Ying was silent for a long while before suddenly smiling, “I don’t know.”

….

The fourteenth year of Xingping, January twenty-ninth.

Yujing City, Baihua Well Alley.

The sky was clear and bright, cloudless.

Jiang Sanjia rose as usual, washed up, and then poured himself a cup of tea before sitting on a stone stool and examining his hands.

To comprehend fate, first determine life and death.

He had listened to music all night, yet his spirits were excellent.

“The nation’s fortune?”

Jiang Sanjia seemed to be scoffing at himself.

“Master Jiang, it is time. All the lords are waiting at the Qintian Platform,”

Just then, the voice of eunuch Ping De came from outside the door.

“Coming,”

Jiang Sanjia gently pushed open the door and stepped out. “Has everyone arrived?”

Eunuch Ping De smiled, “Yes, even the Empress and Marquis Tianyang are here. These two are people that even I rarely see on normal days.”

Within the Great Yan military ranks, there were three major marquises. Marquis Wu commanded an army of three hundred thousand, stationed at Dungeon Pass to defend against the Houjin Dynasty, and Marquis Pingding near the Xuanqing Mountains to fend off Zhao Country.

The last, Marquis Tianyang, commanded the Heavenly Guard, stationed in Yujing City.

The Heavenly Guard was separated from the Vermilion Bird Gate by only a wall. Should any disturbances arise within the palace, aside from the Forbidden Army, the Heavenly Guard would be the first to respond, which highlighted their importance.

Since the Emperor was severely injured, Marquis Tianyang had also seldom attended court sessions, spending his days deep within the Heavenly Guard Camp, rejecting most invitations for meetings.

“I see,”

Jiang Sanjia nodded, took a deep breath, and said, “The weather is getting warmer.”

Eunuch Ping De chuckled, “Yes, the peach blossoms will bloom soon.”

As they spoke, the two men walked toward the Qintian Platform.

“Peach blossoms?”

Jiang Sanjia was slightly startled, and couldn’t help but say, “Peach blossoms are beautiful.”

“This old servant also thinks these peach blossoms are beautiful,” said Eunuch Ping De, pausing for a moment before he whispered, “However, the empress dislikes these peach blossoms. There used to be two thousand-petal red peach trees in the Kunning Palace, but she had this old servant chop them down.”

“Is that so?”

Jiang Sanjia laughed heartily and did not speak again.

Seeing that Jiang Sanjia seemed disinclined to talk further, Eunuch Ping De also remained silent.

The streets of Yujing city were bustling with carriages and horses, and flowers as lush as brocade; one could even hear the sound of the konghou, enchanting the passersby.

Jiang Sanjia walked slowly, his expression revealing a trace of serenity and intoxication.

Eunuch Ping De wanted to say something, but seeing Jiang Sanjia’s murky eyes, he ultimately held his tongue.

About half an hour later, the two finally arrived at the Qintian Platform.

At that moment, the Qintian Platform was surrounded by soldiers in armor, and in addition, there were the civil and military officials of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Zhao Tianyi glanced up and said indifferently, “Lord Jiang, you are indeed leisurely. Do you know that all the civil and military officials have been waiting just for you?”

Jiang Sanjia smiled and, paying no heed to Zhao Tianyi’s words, walked toward the Qintian Platform.

Zhao Tianyi’s eyebrows slightly raised, but he said nothing, sighing softly in his heart.

Others might not know, but he was aware that if Jiang Sanjia did not wish to, even if someone were to threaten his life, he would not stand on this platform.

And the person who could make him willingly stand on the platform was none other than Imperial Concubine Rong.

She was pushing Jiang Sanjia to his death.

The civil and military officials around exchanged glances. In the Great Yan, aside from the Human Emperor, probably only Jiang Sanjia could afford to treat Zhao Tianyi with such an attitude.

At a distance, on the viewing platform.

A woman sat next to a desk, dressed in a gold and silver silk robe depicting luan birds and phoenixes, each sleeve embroidered with large peonies, vivid and striking. Her cascading hair, curved willow-leaf eyebrows, and a pair of bright, delicate eyes with slightly upturned tender lips.

This person’s charm was such that once seen, she would not be easily forgotten.

She was indeed the current Empress of the Great Yan Dynasty.

Bringing disaster upon the nation and putting the moon and flowers to shame would also be an understatement.

The priest of Zhao Country had once lusted after the Empress’s beauty, declaring boldly that if the Great Yan Emperor handed over the Empress to Zhao Country, he would not invade the Great Yan border for ten years.

Of course, this was impossible.

Beside her sat a young girl, seven to eight parts resembling her, with less of the Empress’s radiance but more of a youthful, unripe quality.

The girl was the Empress’s only daughter, Princess An Le, Zhao Xuening.

“Mother, is that man the divination master from Ghost Valley?” Zhao Xuening glanced at Jiang Sanjia on the platform and pouted.

“It’s him.”

The Empress looked at Jiang Sanjia and somberly said, “When I first met him, he wasn’t so old, yet now after only a dozen years, he seems to have aged decades.”

Zhao Xuening asked, “I heard that his divinations can reveal the divine secrets, is it true?”

“Just a trace of the divine secrets,” the Empress mused.

Divine secrets, huh?

It was merely seeing a part of the whole picture.

Zhao Xuening’s eyes lit up as she eagerly said, “Mother, why not let him divine my future husband?”

The Empress looked at Zhao Xuening and said indulgently, “This world has many exceptional young talents, what about the son of Marquis Pingyang you met a few days ago?”

The Empress had only this single daughter and no others vying for position, so Zhao Xuening was doted on immensely, even the princes were extremely caring toward her.

Zhao Xuening shook her head vigorously like a rattle-drum, her face full of disdain, “No, no, that man is a brute who doesn’t understand the romantic ways, extremely dull, not as good as my eldest brother.”

“What about Lv Jingchun, the grandson of Elder Lv?”

“Not good either. He’s turned silly from all his reading, just a bookworm, not as good as my second brother.”

“This won’t do, that won’t do, what exactly do you want?”

The Empress shook her head and sighed.

Zhao Xuening pointed at Jiang Sanjia and said, “That’s why we should let the old man divine it.”

“Stop being silly.”

The Empress rebuked.

“I’m not being silly, I’m serious.”

Zhao Xuening muttered with a pout.

Nearby, not far from the Empress, Mu Xiaowan knelt by the desk, her eyes intently fixed on Jiang Sanjia, as if her heart was hanging in the air.

Today, among the women of the harem who could sit here to watch, besides the Empress, only Mu Xiaowan and the Crown Prince’s mother, Consort Ming, were present, a testament to how high Mu Xiaowan’s status was, with most others standing beside the Qintian Platform along with the civil and military officials.

“Minister Jiang, is it time to begin? Wasting time is bad for everyone.”

Zhao Mengtai looked at Jiang Sanjia, who had yet to take action, and spoke indifferently.

“Second Prince, please be patient.”

Jiang Sanjia smiled and said, “If the timing isn’t right, the divination might be slightly inaccurate. Misleading everyone wouldn’t be good.”

Zhao Mengtai sneered and then stepped back, ceasing to speak.

“Second Prince, the Crown Prince hasn’t arrived. It’s said that he has already set off for Lingnan Dao.”

At this moment, Minister of the Ministry of Industry Yue Tingchen stepped forward and said.

“I am already aware of that,” Zhao Mengtai responded indifferently. “You don’t need to worry about it.”

“Yes.”

Yue Tingchen responded and then fell silent.

The civil and military officials all stood under the Qintian Platform, quietly watching Jiang Sanjia on the platform.

They were also curious about the fate of Great Yan.

“It’s said that divination can reduce one’s lifespan; I wonder if it’s true?”

“Hmph, the fate of a nation is hardly so easily calculated.”

“If Jiang Sanjia fails to divine the nation’s fate and dies on this platform, that would truly be ominous.”

…….

With such a disposition, Jiang Sanjia was besieged on all sides in the halls of power; no faction wished to ally with him, and virtually no one was willing to befriend him.

Jiang Sanjia took a deep breath and then sat down cross-legged; he extended his hand, and dozens of turtle shells floated in mid-air.

“Ghost Valley divination…..”

Below the platform, Zhao Tianyi couldn’t help but mutter.

The Ghost Valley divination was famous throughout the land, and Jiang Sanjia was also renowned in Jianghu for this unique divination method; it had been a long time since Jiang Sanjia had taken action.

Everyone gathered their thoughts and looked towards Jiang Sanjia on the Qintian Platform.

“Wow!”

In an instant, a surge of red flames engulfed the turtle shells.

Just then, the previously clear sky became covered with dark clouds.

“What’s going on?”

“It’s gotten dark.”

“Is it because of Jiang Sanjia’s divination?”

…..

The onlookers were all taken aback by this sight.

At this moment, Jiang Sanjia was bathed in the firelight, presenting a dizzying and mesmerizing sight.

The surrounding turtle shells spun quickly, sending out streams of black and white energy with each rotation.

“Boom!” “Boom!”

The sky was instantly covered with dark clouds, and a raging wind arose, filled with flashes of lightning and peals of thunder.

“Hmm!?”

Zhao Tianyi furrowed his brows, sensing an ominous feeling within.

“In stillness lies the universe, unspoken; in law, life and death are first ordained.”

The old eunuch with white hair and eyebrows gently shook his head and said.

Zhao Tianyi whispered, “It seems Jiang Sanjia is destined to be bloodied here today…..”

“Let’s see,” the old eunuch said, watching Jiang Sanjia below the Qintian Platform.

Jiang Sanjia stood on the platform, his eyes suddenly deepening.

“Dare not complete the Dao for fear of the unpredictable Heavenly Dao, dare not love too deeply for fear all is but a dream. If I let go, how can I endure this life’s desolation; if I hold on, how can I honor your faith and glory?”

“Eyes closed, it’s none of my concern; heart untroubled, there are no worries.”

“Wow!”

After speaking, a spurt of blood sprayed out.

Mu Xiaowan saw this and hesitated, knowing that if she spoke out now, Jiang Sanjia might still have a chance to live.

But… but he must die, let him shine once more before his demise.

“Sss sss sss sss!”

The fresh blood sprayed on the turtle shells, causing the flames to burn even hotter and more vigorously.

“Bang!!”

The next moment, the blood-soaked turtle shells violently shattered.

“Boom!”

Above the sky, thunder roared, covering the entire Qintian Platform and making everyone’s heart tremble.

“Why is the wind so strong?”

“What exactly is going on?”

“Isn’t Jiang Sanjia divining the nation’s fortune?”

…….

The raging wind swept in, skewing the altar on the ground and the fans held by the palace maids, especially causing some Confucian scholars to sway unsteadily.

“Empress, I think it’s best you return now,” said the white-haired, white-eyebrowed old eunuch as he approached the Empress.

“Let’s watch a bit longer,” replied the Empress, looking up at the thunder and lightning in the sky. “I too am curious whether he can discern the fate of our Great Yan.”

The old eunuch shook his head and said nothing more.

“Pfft!”

Jiang Sanjia’s concentration intensified, and then he sprayed out a jet of blood. His face turned as pale as paper, and his thin frame began to shake violently.

“Hiss, hiss, hiss, hiss!”

It was like oil being poured into fire, suddenly boiling over.

The surging flames shot skyward, as if they were about to melt the entire Qintian Platform.

Jiang Sanjia stared fixedly at the blaze, and within the radiant glow, he seemed to see a figure holding a pot of fine wine, ascending the stone steps.

Then the bright light dispersed, and the scene shifted.

All over Yujing City, there was nothing but fresh blood, corpses everywhere, and streets filled with debris and ruins…

Countless familiar faces lay among them.

This was Great Yan’s Yujing City—what on earth had happened?

And the scene lasted only a moment.

“Blood…..”

Jiang Sanjia’s expression froze as he cried out in a lost voice.

“Not good!”

“Retreat quickly!”

Several experts at the scene were alarmed and quickly shouted.

Everyone promptly distanced themselves from the Qintian Platform.

“Bang, bang, bang, bang!”

All the floating turtle shells at the center of the Qintian Platform suddenly exploded, turning into a cloud of dust.

The sound seemed to drown out Jiang Sanjia’s voice.

“Boom!”

At the same time, the dark clouds above roared, and a thick bolt of lightning surged down like an angry dragon, with overwhelming might, directly targeting the Qintian Platform.

Jiang Sanjia looked up, watching the surging lightning strike.

In just the blink of an eye, it seemed as though he saw his own miserable, obstinate life.

He was accepted into the Ghost Valley Sect at eleven, left the sect at seventeen to roam the Martial World. Back then, full of youthful zest, he declared, “A true man should wield a three-foot blade and traverse the world!”

At nineteen, he met Mu Xiaowen in Peach Blossom Valley, was saved by her, and from then on, he was entangled and troubled by love.

For twenty years, he wandered alone through countless nights, shabby and adrift, his heart marred by the dim lights, dying on the slopes besieged by material desires, living a meager and trivial existence.

Only now, at the moment of departure, had he come to a realization, with all affections and grievances dissolving.

The stories of old friends over the years, the past loves and hatreds, experiences of past years—all gone as a pot of liquor was drained. The liquor doesn’t intoxicate; the drinker intoxicates himself.

If one cannot ride freely through the Martial World in life, one should then scheme to conquer the world, alone in the Northern Border, with all under heaven just a game of chess in his heart, all heroes merely players in his game.

That streak of light flashed by, as if departing from the human world, leaving people gazing upward no more.

……

“Thud!”

The black lightning struck, landing heavily in front of Jiang Sanjia.

Instantly, a dazzling, blinding light was displayed.

It was unknown how much time had passed before the people slowly opened their eyes to look.

There, the vast Qintian Platform now featured a huge crater.

There was a silence between heaven and earth, as if the sound of the descending thunder still echoed in their minds, along with that overwhelming celestial might.

“Thump!”

Jiang Sanjia’s body heavily fell to the ground.

Jiang Sanjia is dead!?

The Minister of the Department of Celestial Affairs is dead!

Everyone was stunned, their eyes filled with a hint of astonishment and disbelief.

Jiang Sanjia, who calculated the national destiny, had died from backlash!?

Only the white-browed eunuch and Zhao Tianyi, Zhao Mengtai, Marquis Pingyang, and others maintained calm expressions, as if they had already known this would happen.

On the viewing platform, Mu Xiaowan’s pupils contracted slightly upon seeing this scene, then she gently exhaled, as if a weight had been lifted off her shoulders.

“Jiang Sanjia is actually dead?”

“What should we do now?”

“First, let’s find someone to repair this Qintian Platform.”

……

The assembled civil and military officials exchanged looks, buzzing with discussion.

Zhao Tianyi also frowned, took a deep breath while looking at Jiang Sanjia lying on the ground, but he still stepped forward and announced loudly, “Let today’s divination end here, Minister of the Ministry of Works, remember to restore it completely.”

Having said that, he hurriedly left.

Princess An Le, looking at the nearly split Qintian Platform, said, “Mother, did Jiang Sanjia just die like this?”

“Ah, Xuening, let’s go back,” the Empress sighed softly.

“Yes.”

Upon hearing this, Princess An Le’s eyes still occasionally drifted towards the badly damaged Qintian Platform.

“Sanjia, have a good journey…”

Mu Xiaowan stared at the Qintian Platform for a long time, lost in thought, then eventually left with the palace maids and eunuchs of Kunning Palace.

“This was the path you chose.”

Zhao Mengtai waved his sleeve indifferently and said, “If you had understood the situation even a little, today would not have ended like this.”

Yue Tingchen looked at the corpse on the Qintian Platform, feeling a chill in his heart.

“Disperse, disperse, divination, divination. After a lifetime of calculating, he died bitten by his own spells.”

“Let’s go, I’ve organized a banquet tonight, Director Wang, remember to come.”

“Certainly, certainly.”

…….

Everyone gradually left, ignoring the lifeless form of Jiang Sanjia beneath the Qintian Platform.

In less than the time it takes an incense stick to burn, the area around the Qintian Platform was deserted, leaving only the corpse in the center, seemingly proving that the recent events were no dream.

“Ah!”

Just then, Father Ping De walked slowly over and closed Jiang Sanjia’s open eyes with both hands, “Minister Jiang, allow this old servant to escort you on your final journey.”

…….

In Yu State City, at the Jishi Hall.

The full moon was high in the sky, stars twinkling around it.

An Jing was playing a game against Zhao Qingmei, and he had already lost nine matches in a row.

This was the tenth game, and the situation before him was hardly optimistic.

An Jing with a stern finger said, “I’ve calculated, it will take you one month to reach Ping County from hereand another two months considering delays for the round trip. My lady, we won’t see each other for over two months…”

During this time, An Jing had gotten used to the days with Zhao Qingmei around.

If it weren’t for the dark opportunity that clung to him, An Jing would have liked to accompany Zhao Qingmei to Ping County.

Ping County, located on the edge of Yujing City, is neither too large nor too small, not too far from Jiangnan Dao, yet not too near either, and he could also visit Yujing City on the way.

“Don’t worry, I’ll make it a quick trip there and back,” Zhao Qingmei said with a light chuckle.

An Jing nodded, then suddenly remembered something and asked, “By the way, have Third Master and Zhou Xianming almost reached Yujing City?”

According to the time they set off, Li Fuzhou and Zhou Xianming should soon arrive at Yujing City.

He wondered what old man Li was doing in Yujing City this time.

“Yes, they might have already arrived.”

Zhao Qingmei nodded, then urged him, “Don’t change the topic, it’s your turn to move.”

“Don’t rush me.”

An Jing cleared his throat and said, “Tan Yun, pour me a cup of tea.”

Moments later, there was still no sound.

“Tan Yun! Tan Yun!”

An Jing’s eyebrows raised as he couldn’t help but call out loudly.

“Coming, coming!”

Soon, Tan Yun trotted over and said, “Young Master, what is it?”

“What were you doing in the backyard?” An Jing asked, puzzled.

“I was reading,” Tan Yun quickly replied.

“Reading!?”

Surprise flashed in An Jing’s eyes; she didn’t seem like that type of person at all.

He always felt that Tan Yun had been acting strangely recently, muttering to herself.

“Isn’t it because you told me, Young Master, to read more books?”

Tan Yun’s face flushed as she asked, “Young Master, what did you call me here for?”

“Pour two cups of tea,” An Jing instructed.

“Alright.”

Tan Yun responded and soon came over with two cups of tea, “Miss, Young Master, have some tea.”

An Jing reached out to take the tea, his lips just touching the rim of the cup.

Just then, it was as if a thunderclap exploded in his heart, his hand trembled, and he spilled the water from the cup.

“My lord, what’s wrong?”

Zhao Qingmei saw this and quickly pulled out a handkerchief from her waist, “Did it burn you?”

“Young Master…I…..”

Tan Yun stood by, also at a loss for words.

“It’s nothing, I must have just spaced out,” An Jing shook his head, instinctively glancing up at the moon.

What was happening?

“My lord, did you do that on purpose?”

Zhao Qingmei looked at the chessboard and couldn’t help but ask with a smile.

“How could I? I still have a chance to win this game, just by capturing your big dragon, I’ll be sure to win.”

An Jing’s face was determined, though he thought to himself: My wife comes from a family of scholars, her skill in chess is really profound, I’m definitely not her match.

An Jing’s skill in chess was erratic, brilliant at times, almost impossible to rival, and at other times, he could only arm wrestle with Han Wenxin.

Zhao Qingmei smiled and said nothing, gently wiping the drops of water on the chessboard.

An Jing waved his hand and said, “Tan Yun, go back to your reading, it’s fine now.”

“Then I’ll go back, Miss, Young Master, call me if you need anything.”

With that, Tan Yun ran back to her reading.

Zhao Qingmei took out the handkerchief she had just used, “This is newly sewn by me. You can throw the one you have away.”

“The last one was also painstakingly sewn by you, my lady, how could I possibly throw it away?”

An Jing smiled and then took the handkerchief to look at it.

Zhao Qingmei blinked and said coquettishly, “My lord, didn’t you say you had a farewell gift for me?”

An Jing chuckled and said, “My lady, haven’t I given you all my savings from the past nearly twenty years?”

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingmei’s face flushed, but her hand reached for An Jing’s back of the hand, “Did you save some today?”

“My lady, it’s still daytime,” An Jing hurriedly said.

“What about the daytime?”

Zhao Qingmei’s fingers gently traced An Jing’s hand back and teased, “My lord, don’t you like it best during the daytime…?”

An Jing wasn’t like this when they first got married.

“My lady, what do you think this is?”

At that moment, An Jing quickly took out a luminous pearl the size of an egg from his chest.

“Could this be a luminous pearl?” Zhao Qingmei took the luminous pearl, starting to play with it.

This item, although priceless, was not absent from her study, so she naturally recognized it immediately.

But upon closer inspection, the luminous pearl in her hand was superior in both sheen and size among luminous pearls.

“My lady has sharp eyes, indeed it’s a luminous pearl.”

An Jing nodded, relieved in his heart: “This was also found in that cave among the treasures.”

Zhao Qingmei said with a smile, “Husband, there must be more than one Luminous Pearl, right?”

Usually, Luminous Pearls are used as decorations, and those who can afford such decorations would definitely not buy just one; they usually come in pairs.

An Jing hurriedly said, “Just one….”

How could Zhao Qingmei know there was more than one Luminous Pearl?

“Just one?”

Zhao Qingmei, looking suspicious, said, “Husband, you didn’t give the other Luminous Pearls to someone else, did you? Could it be Han Wenxin, that young man? Should I ask him?”

An Jing replied with a forced smile, “How could that be? How could I possibly give them to him? There really is just one.”

The rest of the Luminous Pearls were in his medicine chest, but at the moment, there were still secrets in the medicine chest that hadn’t been cleared, so naturally, he could not take out the Luminous Pearls from there.

“Is that so?”

Zhao Qingmei put away the Luminous Pearl, “Although what you said might be a lie, I believe you.”

“You believe me even if I’m lying?” An Jing laughed.

“I believe, I believe whatever you say,” Zhao Qingmei nodded emphatically.

“Then you are really foolish.”

An Jing couldn’t help but touch Zhao Qingmei’s delicate nose and said, “But what will you do if you find out I’ve lied to you in the future?”

Zhao Qingmei said seriously, “If you lied to me, just slip something into this tea and tell me, I will definitely drink it.”

Her smile and the gleam in her eyes made it seem as if she wasn’t lying.

“How could that be.”

An Jing held Zhao Qingmei’s hand, “How could I possibly put poison in your tea?”

Zhao Qingmei chuckled lightly, “What if I were the one hiding something from you?”

“I don’t believe it.”

An Jing shook his head, “You couldn’t possibly hide anything from me.”

Zhao Qingmei blinked, “What if, what if one day you find out I’m hiding something from you?”

“If you dare to hide something from me, then I will spank you hard,” An Jing said fiercely.

Upon hearing this, Zhao Qingmei, with allure in her eyes, cooed, “Really?”

An Jing said, “You see if it’s true or not.”

“Do you mean what you say?”

“Of course.”

“Just now during the chess game, I secretly hid several of your chess pieces.”

Zhao Qingmei bit her lower lip, her face flushed, she said, “Brother, are you going to spank me now?”

“I wondered how you managed to beat me.”

Upon hearing this, An Jing showed a surprised expression, then he reached out to scramble the chess pieces, “Let’s continue, this game doesn’t count.”

Zhao Qingmei grabbed An Jing’s hand eagerly, “Brother, didn’t you say you were going to spank me?”

“Ahem… let’s play chess first, let’s play chess first,” An Jing coughed awkwardly and then suddenly remembered something, “Oh right, it seems I forgot to give you something.”

Saying this, An Jing hurried toward the inside of the house.

Jiang Sanjia had once given him a paper doll for communication, and although Jiang hadn’t taught him the method, An Jing combined it with puppetry skills he had learned to make a paper doll nearly identical in function.

The two paper dolls communicated with each other; when one finger moved, the other would move as well.

He had always forgotten to give it to Zhao Qingmei.

“Brother, brother…”

Zhao Qingmei couldn’t help but call out.

But An Jing moved like a gust of wind and had already entered the bedroom.

…..

In the bedroom.

An Jing kept looking for the paper doll he had made; he remembered clearly that after he had made it, fearing he would forget to give it to Zhao Qingmei, he had always kept it on the table.

“What’s going on? How could it suddenly disappear?”

An Jing muttered to himself, beginning to search through their belongings, “Could it be that madam put it away?”

Lately, Zhao Qingmei sat at this table every morning to write or draw, but An Jing had never seen what she wrote.

“It couldn’t be hidden away, could it?”

An Jing opened the drawer, found only papers and some miscellaneous items, and then went to the wardrobe.