Chapter 127
Chapter 127
The principles of filial piety that Weiqing Song had absorbed through his extensive childhood studies warned him not to grow impatient. Yet the beads in his hand visibly spun faster and faster.
“Mother Consort… shouldn’t Little Sister take her medicine?”
Unable to endure any longer, Weiqing raised a warm smile and softly reminded the woman beside him.
The woman he called Mother Consort froze. “That’s right. Sheng’er needs her medicine.”
Even as she turned away, she did not forget to add, “By the way, don’t think you can escape this time. I’ll have all the portraits sent to you later. You must choose a crown princess. I let you make a spectacle of yourself over that little imperial grandson and the Zhu Kingdom general’s illegitimate daughter some time ago.”
“Son, you are the crown prince of the Zhen Kingdom. Countless eyes are watching you.” She advised him earnestly, and when she reached the difficult part, tears began to fall.
Weiqing hurried over and consoled her with care. “Mother Consort, this son understands. Please don’t cry. If Imperial Father learns of it, he will surely blame me.”
After finally sending her away, Weiqing closed the door, and a trace of weariness appeared on his formerly tranquil face.
He picked up the book by the window, whose cover bore the title Avatamsaka Sutra. Strangely, the book appeared to be wrapped in a false cover. When he lifted it, one corner of the true book inside was exposed.
The faint word “Domineering” could be seen.
Just as Weiqing stared blankly at the book in his hand, a small white bird silently appeared beside the window.
Weiqing’s brow twitched. “What does that troublesome enemy of mine want now?”
Qingbai lifted one foot.
After reading the letter, the air around the man instantly grew oppressive. Qingbai, which had been drinking water nearby, edged away.
Angry male humans were terrifying…
Though the man should have been annoyed by yet more trouble, this time he said nothing. Expressionless, he summoned Jian Zhang and ordered him to search for certain “things” among the barbarians.
Hearing Weiqing’s request, Jian Zhang, who had served at his side for many years and often infiltrated the barbarians to gather intelligence, felt his heart lurch.
Were those symptoms not from the sinister sorcery known only to the barbarian High Priest?
Who was unlucky enough to be struck by such heresy? This did far more than simply alter memories. Once the victim’s memories grew increasingly chaotic in the later stages, the torment would drive them mad until they became utterly insane.
It was an extraordinarily vicious spell…
After hearing his assignment, Jian Zhang’s expression turned grave. “Your Highness, this may expose the people we have kept hidden among the barbarians for years.”
Weiqing’s expression remained calm as the prayer beads spun ceaselessly in his hand. “It doesn’t matter.”
——
Shengsheng Zhou’s condition made it impossible to leave her alone. Fusheng Duan could not personally search for Jierge, so he sent a letter to the Empress Dowager, telling her to find a way to capture him.
As for the people of Dazhang City, who had already been reduced to living corpses, they were utterly beyond salvation…
Had the two arrived several days earlier, they might have saved one or two. Now it was far too late.
If nothing unexpected happened, barbarian cavalry would trample through the city within days, and every resident would die inside an illusion of happiness.
Planting the mother gu in the water source was so insidious that it was almost impossible to guard against. At the same time, however, the Empress Dowager’s side would begin taking the threat seriously and would never let them succeed a second time.
Fusheng had also guessed something about Jierge and his party’s whereabouts and included hints in his letter to the Empress Dowager. If they still could not capture the man after that, Yan Yu ought to retire.
Having not yet received Weiqing’s reply, Fusheng remained completely unaware of the severity of the situation.
——
When Shengsheng Zhou woke to find herself somewhere else, she stared at the unfamiliar ceiling in confusion and wondered, *Why am I here?*
Oh, right. This must be the City Lord’s Residence.
Yesterday had been the day she first entered the City Lord’s Residence. The High Priest’s orders still seemed vivid in her mind.
That was right. She aspired to become a Divine Envoy who captured the City Lord’s heart and turned him into an obedient dog who followed her every command!
Filled with ambition, Shengsheng sat up. Before she could make out the room’s layout, a voice so pleasant it made her entire body tingle and nearly impregnated her ears suddenly sounded.
“You’re awake?”
Shengsheng focused and saw a man in luxurious red robes standing nearby, watching her.
His ink-black hair fell behind him, smooth as the finest silk. It was neither tied nor crowned. His features were lushly beautiful, his brows like spring mountains and his eyes shimmering with drifting light, forming a face of magnificent loveliness.
Shengsheng stared stupidly.
Holy shit. The High Priest never said the City Lord was this handsome…
Why the hell was he even a City Lord? He could simply sit there and work as a swindler, and within a day, idiots willingly falling for the scam would drown him in money…
Shengsheng bit the tip of her tongue and ordered herself to stay clearheaded. Then she climbed out of bed, lowered her head in feigned shyness, and said timidly, “Greetings, City Lord.”
Mm. The High Priest had said the City Lord liked delicate beauties and disliked bold, unruly women. She had to control herself and avoid displaying her tough-woman side.
Fusheng Duan froze for one second before instantly realizing that her memories had fallen into chaos again.
But her identity probably had not changed…
Having formed a plan, Fusheng calmly answered, “Mm.”
A-Pang stared in disbelief. Anyone with toes could guess that Shengsheng–publicly the City Lord’s fiancée, secretly a spy sent by the High Priest–was surely devising a way to seduce the City Lord.
But after being mistaken for the City Lord, Fusheng had accepted the role seamlessly, without revealing the slightest flaw?
Good grief. Between the two of them, they had eight hundred schemes.
Shengsheng, believing the other party had taken the bait: *Smile.*
Fusheng, quietly waiting for her to bite his hook: *Smile.*
“I accidentally overslept last night. I hope the City Lord won’t take offense.” Shengsheng spoke apologetically and took several steps forward.
Just before reaching Fusheng, she “accidentally” tripped over the completely empty air and fell toward him.
When prey delivered itself into a hunter’s arms, what hunter would dodge? He naturally wrapped an arm around her waist and even caressed it once, though his mouth asked, “How can you be so careless?”
Shengsheng placed both hands against his chest and shrank back in embarrassment. A sly smile appeared on her lowered face, though she said pitifully, “I’m sorry, City Lord. I’m simply too clumsy…”
At the same time, her hands gave him a squeeze, and her eyes widened.
Holy shit, those chest muscles! Help! He looked so slender, yet his body was this good?
Shengsheng inwardly concluded that this mission was an incredible bargain.
Handsome man, come to me!!!
Still holding her, Fusheng wore a smile as well and began looking forward to whatever trick she would try next.
Both treated the other as meat already at their lips. One appeared to be an upright gentleman, the other shy and introverted, yet both were secretly calculating how to devour that morsel.