Chapter 130: Bound to Win

Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Bound to Win

Meanwhile, as the county office staff had not yet left for the day, Middleman Huang hurried to the yamen to handle the property transfer procedures.

The official processing the transfer was the same clerk as before. When he saw the property owner’s name was Gu Qingli, he completed the procedure immediately without any questions. This was a stark contrast to how he handled other cases, where he would typically inquire about the property owner or flip through the archives to check their background.

Since Gu Qingli already owns two estates and a residence under her name, the clerk must have remembered her,

Middleman Huang thought, paying it no further mind.

This is for the best; it saved me some trouble. Managing affairs today has been very efficient!

The clerk indeed remembered Gu Qingli, but he remembered her husband, Xiao Yunjing, even more vividly. It wasn’t just the county magistrate’s ambiguous attitude towards Xiao Yunjing; it was also the fact that Xiao Yunjing had managed to ensure the return of the escaped convict, Gu Dahe.

TSK, TSK, TSK…

the clerk recalled.

Seeing Gu Dahe’s injuries at that time, everyone was horrified. Aside from his face, which was unmistakably Gu Dahe’s, the man was basically a ball of flesh. Fortunately, he was still breathing then, enough to last until the autumn execution.

The clerk inwardly admired Xiao Yunjing’s methods; to torture someone to such an extent yet leave them with a breath of life was chilling.

He must have been executed by now, right? The County Magistrate received Gu Dahe and, fearing further complications, had him sent to the commandery capital overnight.

The clerk snapped back to reality and quickly handed the completed land deed and the indenture contracts for the fifty-two servants to Middleman Huang. “Quickly, deliver these to them, and don’t lose them!”

Middleman Huang was stunned by the clerk’s unusually amiable attitude. He hurriedly bowed and accepted the documents. “Yes, yes, I’ll do that right away.”

After speaking, he discreetly stuffed ten taels of silver into the clerk’s hand and turned to leave.

“Stop,” the clerk called out.

“Ah? Clerk, is there anything else?” Middleman Huang turned back, his heart pounding.

Could it be that for such a large transaction, the silver I gave was too little?

He nervously approached the clerk again. The clerk walked up to him and returned the ten taels of silver.

As much as I don’t want to return it, this silver is too hot to handle. I can’t accept it,

the clerk thought.

Ten taels of silver! That’s two months of my salary!

Middleman Huang stared at the clerk as if he had seen a ghost, his eyes widening.

The clerk seems fine, not as if he’s possessed by a weasel spirit or anything,

he thought, bewildered.

“Ah, Cl-Clerk, I… I’ll take my leave then.”

Middleman Huang practically fled the county yamen. Once outside, he patted his chest and let out a long breath. “Heavens, that was terrifying!”

He then hurried to the Gu Residence without further delay to deliver the documents.

I must go to the temple tomorrow and burn some incense. I wonder what strange encounter this was,

he resolved.

「Fenghua County, Tiantai Mountain, Fengjue Temple – Main Hall.」

Abbot Master Wujue sat with his eyes closed, listening silently to Qingchen’s account.

When Master Wujue remained silent for a long time, Qingchen finally asked, “Master, do you know of any means in this world by which a person can vanish into thin air in broad daylight?”

Master Wujue slowly opened his eyes, brought his palms together, and said, “Amitabha. Benefactor, this old monk does not know.”

He truly did not know; he had never encountered such a bizarre phenomenon. However, from his nightly observations of the celestial bodies, he knew that the Emperor Star of the Daqian Dynasty was gradually dimming. In the southwest, two new stars were rising – an Emperor Star and a Phoenix Star. Yet, in the west, another star was ascending, growing brighter. This western star was none other than Qingchen before him, the legitimate heir of the Daqian Imperial Family.

Although he has the mien of an emperor, he is surrounded by ambition and the aura of slaughter,

Master Wujue thought.

Such a person is not worthy of the throne. Therefore, I will not speak recklessly on such matters.

Qingchen took a deep breath, suppressing his rising anger.

I waited all this time only to hear such a useless answer! This trip was a complete waste! If he weren’t a renowned, enlightened monk, I would burn this Fengjue Temple to the ground! What a joke! I originally wanted to ask him about my chances of success if I were to stage an uprising, but on second thought, I can’t discuss such things with this bald-headed monk.

He stood up, gave a cursory bow, and said, “I apologize for the disturbance, Master. I shall take my leave!”

“Amitabha. Benefactor, take care. I will not see you out,” Master Wujue intoned. He then closed his eyes and resumed his meditation.

Qingchen left Fengjue Temple feeling adrift, unsure of his next move.

“Young Master,” Secret Guard No.2 appeared and greeted him.

“Let’s go to— no, let’s return to Red Leaf Villa,” Qingchen decided. He had originally intended to go to Qinghe Town, but his secret guard had reported that Xiao Yunjing was still there.

Xiao Yunjing, Xiao Yunjing…

Qingchen sneered inwardly.

I refuse to believe I won’t find an opportunity. It’s no longer just about abducting Gu Qingli to be my wife. Her vanishing into thin air that day… I still can’t get over it. The shock was too profound. I’m still reeling from it. I must find out what happened. And once I understand it, I hope to use it for my own purposes. Therefore, Gu Qingli must be mine.

「That night, Capital City, Huangjue Temple.」

Master Jueliao’s eyes snapped open. He walked out of the main hall and gazed towards the sky. In the southwest, two stars shone with a golden light, while in the west, another star emanated a green glow. He immediately began to make calculations with his fingers.

What a shock! How could the destiny of Daqian be exhausted? It was stable just a short while ago. How could the situation change so drastically in a few mere days?

Alarmed, Master Jueliao quickly left Huangjue Temple, intending to seek an immediate audience with the Emperor at the Imperial Palace that very night.

Emperor Chu Xiong had been deeply troubled lately. The men he had dispatched to Qiyang County had not only failed to capture their target but had also ended up recruiting a band of thirty thousand bandits.

Thirty thousand men! Don’t they need to eat and drink? These fools are only capable of bungling things! The national treasury is depleted, and instead of finding ways to replenish it, they’ve brought me thirty thousand gold-devouring beasts! It’s enough to make my liver ache with anger!

Even his harem was in disarray. Ever since the Empress was banished to the Cold Palace, one disturbance followed another, driving him nearly to distraction. Furthermore, he couldn’t take decisive action against these women. Unlike the Empress, they were the daughters of influential court ministers; any move against one could trigger widespread repercussions.

Just then, Liu Desheng hurried in to report, “Your Majesty, Master Jueliao requests an audience.”

“Jueliao?” Emperor Chu Xiong snapped.

What important matter could he have at this hour? My head is already splitting! None of them give me any peace, not even that bald-headed monk!

“Tell him I’m not seeing anyone.”

Liu Desheng opened his mouth.

Master Jueliao looked quite agitated; it must be something urgent,

he thought. However, the Emperor had been in a foul temper recently. Wary of being punished himself, Liu Desheng simply shook his head and instructed a young eunuch to go to the palace gates and convey the Emperor’s refusal.

Outside the Imperial Palace gates, Master Jueliao received the message. He sighed and turned to leave.

Daqian’s destiny is exhausted, hmph… Emperor Chu, you had better not regret this.

He glanced back at the imposing Imperial Palace, which, in the darkness, resembled a colossal beast crouching upon the land. With another sigh, he turned and departed.

Upon returning to Huangjue Temple, Master Jueliao immediately penned a letter to Master Juewu of Fengjue Temple, his senior martial brother.

The world is on the brink of chaos,

he wrote.

What path should we take?

「Qinghe County, Gu Residence.」

Upon their return to the Gu Residence, Gu Qingli instructed the two elderly women to prepare some food, as she planned to visit the two estates Xiao Yunjing had purchased later that afternoon. The two women retrieved the ingredients Gu Qingli had prepared in advance from the carriage and headed straight for the kitchen.

Xiao Yunjing led the horse and carriage to the backyard to unhitch them before returning to the house.

“Are you tired?” Xiao Yunjing asked as he entered their room and saw Gu Qingli tidying up.

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