Book 14: Chapter 52

A Serious Meeting

Widow?! Who?!

Man, have some shame.

Ptoo! I can sleep just fine!

This is a national secret?!

I stepped onto Yuan Kous head and explained, Princess Zuo of Northern Wondrous Warrior Manor is sleep deprived due to a chronic headache. If I can treat it, then shell tell me a big secret.

As long as I knew where the secret pa.s.sage was, I could have a team stake out there.

Whats the point of this meeting then? grumbled Ning Zhuoru. Who here could match your medical knowledge? Go treat her if shes sick. Now that were all gathered, were all here for someone to she looked around for any threats.

This is why we need a group to brainstorm. I wagged my hand. Her headache is a product of her training gone wrong. While I do know how to treat her, itd take half a month.

Ning Zhuoru: I only have the stuff you prescribed for my pregnancy.

Yeah, never had any of my hopes on you.

Gu Xianxian suggested, Headaches are not an illness, but they can be awfully painful. My family told me I had to take a lot of medicines when I was a kid due to frequent headaches. My family has a formula we can try. We need a handful of sophora flavescens, sophora j.a.ponica, pangolin, sicklepod

And consume the blend with centipede oil?

You copied my familys formula?

I dont know about the copying part, but I know its not for treating headaches?

What is it for, then?

Loaded families use it to make kids who they deem stupid smarter.

I had to take it until adulthood Gu Xianxian turned to his wife for comfort.

Ning Zhuoru clenched her fist. Dont worry, Dear! Remember the formula well. We may need it for our son!

Yuan Kou grumbled, Nothing beats ma.s.sage and acupuncture, Sir. I can promise immediate results. Even if it does not work, it will be an enjoyable procedure.

Long Zaitian: Shes a widow, you sicko.

Yuan Kou shrugged. Whats wrong with that? A widow is everyones widow.

Ming Feizhen, you hear that?! Hes your subordinate, right?

I heard. I heard. I think its a good idea.

You shameless bunch! I have to do some good for this world and take out the trash today.

See the spiritual power of Liu Shan Mens? Even a Qilin Guard has found motivation to stand up for justice.

Are you serious right now?!

A man who kept his silence the entire meeting raised his hand. I have. When we looked over to him, he finished, A secret formula.

You have a secret formula?! I shouted.

Teng shook his head. No.

Do you think youll be spared a beating just because you dont say much? Youre testing me.

I used. To have headaches. But no more.

How did you treat it? I asked.

Because. I consumed that.

Though Teng didnt specify what that referred to, everyone, except Long Zaitian, scrunched up their faces; even Tang Ye looked disgusted despite not following.

What are their reactions about? What did they consume? questioned Long Zaitian.

I knew unknown pill was potent, but I had no idea it could cure headaches, too.

Teng pointed to his head. Never had another one.

I see.

Teng never said much, but he was a responsible man, so I deemed him trustworthy.

As soon as I pulled out a big porcelain bottle from my s.h.i.+rt, virtually everyone backed off. Deliver this to the place I tell you and follow the procedure Im going to tell you. Someone will meet you.

It wasnt visually obvious, but Teng was actually surprised. You are trusting me with it? Is it not a secret location?

Youre trustworthy.

I wrote a letter for Teng to take with him. There was no room for mistakes this time, so I needed to cover all bases. He placed the stuff inside his s.h.i.+rt and swore he wouldnt let me down. To be honest, my primary concern was that Zuo Suniang would take my head off as soon as she smelt the stink. That being the case, it was safer for me if someone else delivered the goods.

Okay, lets get down to business now.

What were we discussing just then? questioned Long Zaitian.

That was small talk in case there were eavesdroppers. Im 90% sure there are no eavesdroppers now.

I never actually expected Teng to provide a solution.

How are you so sure? Long Zaitian queried.

Ladies and gentlemen, the capital may become a mess.

You just ignored my question!

Based off recent events, Fiends Genesis rampage is just the warm-up. The real fight is yet to come.

The topic was serious enough for Long Zaitian to stop badgering me.

I provided a brief rundown of my a.n.a.lyses and then said, The Champion White Princes and Jiang Chen are colluding with each other. Jiang Chen is using Fiends Genesis as martyrs to disrupt order in the capital, never expecting hed get caught. The White Princes, on the other hand, have yet to execute their backup plan. Its quite likely the capital will be in turmoil once they make their move. At the moment, the capital lacks the power to ride out the wave without casualties. When the capital is compromised, I want you to protect Liu Shan Men and the people around it.

The gravity of the situation and their tasks shut them up.

Yuan Kou, Lang Qing, Teng, Gu Xianxian and your wife, you all once worked for Fiends Genesis. Marshal Long has promised to not penalise you for any of your past crimes as long as you contribute in this battle.

Long Zaitian leaned over towards me. I never said that.

You can say it now.

Why should I?

You want to be marshal or not? How are you going to get there without achieving anything?

Youre saying the Seven Champion White Princes plan to revolt? Ignoring whether thats true or not, could they pull it off? The moment they mobilise their three hundred thousand troops, every intelligence collector would be alerted instantly. You think this is Nieyao City again, where the outside world has no clue how big the army is inside? Besides, how much power do they pack compared to the capital? Do they even have any chance of victory?

I couldnt dispute Long Zaitians points as I had been wondering the same things. Whatever their plan was, even with access to Northern Wondrous Warrior Manors secret pa.s.sage, itd be impossible for them to overthrow the imperial court as soon as they made any obvious moves. None of His Majestys sons were people you could just walk all over when you wanted. He also had plenty of capable and loyal retainers to take back the throne under new leaders.h.i.+p. If the White Princes had no plans to take any actions soon, though, then Gongsun Chus actions made no sense.

Long Zaitian stretched out his back as he glanced out at the dark sky and yawned. You cant even convince yourself. This dragon will have to pa.s.s up on this opportunity for glory.

Wait. Though thats the case, you should be ready for any invasions that might happen within the next few days.

Long Zaitian shook his head, pulled on his ears and then walked off. I sent the team back to their positions and ordered Teng to go make the delivery while I continued musing in the room.

Why does it just not make sense? What makes the Seven Champion White Princes daring enough to overthrow the imperial court when Ximen failed?

You had a meeting? There sure were a lot of people.

I mindlessly responded to the domineering and somewhat serious tone, Yeah, but none of them were any use.

What did you discuss?

A widows sleep Hmm? I looked up to see Boss with her arms crossed and a smile on her lips. It wasnt very visible without paying attention, but I saw some veins on her forehead.

Lets hear more about it.

My hearing suddenly levelled up. I fore-heard the sound of an inkstone sliding against clothing and a scream.

Smack!

Ow!

It was a serious meeting! I swear!

***

I tried, but I still ended up losing to the inkstone. I stood next to Boss, who sat in the master seat, as I answered questions alongside Tang Ye. I a.s.sumed Boss was back to share some new discoveries with me.

Boss narrowed her eyes. Zuo Suniang is married, isnt she?

Huh? Why are we talking about this?

I wagged my head. Hes dead.

Huh? Boss grabbed me by my ear. And so you seduced her?!

No!

So how do you know she suffers headaches?

I couldnt answer that Answering it would expose the fact that I took a kickback. Thus, I sent Tang Ye signals with my eyes. Tang Ye, tell Boss how I know.

Vice-Captain, would you believe it if I said I found out through investigations?

No.

You are too smart. Tang Ye looked back at me. Big Bro, she doesnt believe me.

Go kill yourself! At least try to think of something before you speak! You never intended to help me, did you?!

I like to think I know the imperial family well, yet you know something I dont.

Its not something she can bring herself to tell outsiders, right?

And shes fine with telling you?

Not even me!

Man, this mouth of mine!

I racked my brains to recall the meeting with Zuo Suniang and find the right words. She didnt bring it up. Sh-she didnt tell me. I insisted on asking.

You insisted on asking a widow about her sleep?

I flipping give up!

Despite all the important tasks that require attention, you spend your time on this sort of nonsense. Boss released my ear. I have important news to share. She stopped for a moment to check me out and then conveyed, Im glad youre all right.

Did Boss hear about the bronze-masked a.s.sa.s.sins attempt at a.s.sa.s.sinating me? Boss, Im touched. I knew you cared about me.

The fact that Boss heard about it already implied that someone was trying to make it known. Consequently, the bronze-masked a.s.sa.s.sin had to be part of the Seven Champion White Princes!

I have two things to share: first, we finally have information on the bronze-masked killer. Hes League of a.s.sa.s.sins top a.s.sa.s.sin, the backbone of Six Blades. His alias is Patina, which is probably related to the colour of his bronze mask. The second thing I want to tell you is that Elder Yu Sihes killer is likely someone part of Mount Lu.