Walking out of the meditation room, Wang Yu saw everyone waiting for him a fair distance away.
Since Wang Yu had agreed to speak with the man in green alone, neither Zhao Shan and Zhao He nor Gutong and Ziyu would eavesdrop on their own accord.
Wang Yu glanced at Qianqian, only to meet her half-smiling gaze sweeping toward him.
"Your Highness?" Zhao Shan inquired tentatively.
"Dead." Wang Yu pointed back over his shoulder. "Have someone from the prefectural yamen come handle it."
"Yes!" Zhao Shan cupped his fists and went to summon the officials.
After dinner, Wang Yu was taking a stroll in the rear courtyard of the prefectural yamen to digest his food when Qianqian appeared noiselessly by his side. "Brother Yu~~~"
Her voice made Wang Yu's knees go weak. Turning around, he saw the teasing look in her eyes as she lightly hooked her arm through his. "What did that scoundrel from the Kanli Sect say to you?"
Wang Yu answered honestly, "He said you're a disciple of the Channü Sect and practice Channü true qi."
Qianqian curled her lip. "The Kanli Sect has really gone downhill over the years. Never mind that the disciples they take in are useless at martial arts—their discernment has gotten even worse. They can't even tell Xuannü true qi and Sunü true qi apart."
Wang Yu asked, "Why didn't you kill him right then? Why leave him for me?"
Qianqian smiled. "Because I didn't know if he might be useful, so I left him to you."
Wang Yu looked enlightened. "Well, thank you. You're surprisingly considerate. I thought it was because you both belong to the Holy Cult, making it awkward for you to strike."
Qianqian giggled. "There was a little bit of that too, of course. After all, the Holy Cult is weak these days. The leaders of several sects met once and agreed not to slaughter one another."
Wang Yu raised an eyebrow, and Qianqian continued, "In truth, it was only a verbal agreement. Naturally, all is peaceful in ordinary times, but when push comes to shove, who cares about that?"
"Actually, I thought you'd keep him alive," Qianqian said softly.
Wang Yu retorted, "Why would I keep him?"
Qianqian cast Wang Yu a flirtatious sidelong glance, her words loaded with meaning. "He's a disciple of the Kanli Sect, after all. In recent years, they've taken in quite a few good-for-nothings who spread the first three chapters of the *Method of Harmonizing Yang through Taiyin* all over the place."
Wang Yu's eyes shifted, and he asked with feigned nonchalance, "What is the *Method of Harmonizing Yang through Taiyin*? How many chapters does it have in total?"
Qianqian chuckled, "Brother Yu, you're trying a little too hard to hide it. As if you wouldn't know what the *Method of Harmonizing Yang through Taiyin* is!"
"Cough, cough!" Wang Yu gave two dry coughs, waved his hand, and declared with righteous indignation, "Isn't it just a harvesting method? I'd never have any use for that sort of thing!"
Qianqian's eyes grew silken and alluring. "Is that so? You really don't want to try the *Method of Harmonizing Yang through Taiyin* on me?"
Wang Yu replied sternly and solemnly, "Am I that kind of person?"
Her eyes dancing with laughter, Qianqian extended a slender, fair jade finger and traced circles on Wang Yu's chest. "Poor Brother Yu, even outsiders look down on you."
Wang Yu was baffled. "What do you mean?"
Stifling her laughter, Qianqian said, "Because that scoundrel saw that Li Yunxiu, Ardai, and I are all still maidens, he assumed you were incompetent. I was just thinking, there are plenty of experts in the pugilistic world, and quite a few people could probably tell..."
Wang Yu couldn't help grinding his teeth. "Is... that so?"
Qianqian nodded, her eyes crystal clear with a hint of pitiful innocence. "It is indeed."
She gave a soft laugh. "They say the *Method of Harmonizing Yang through Taiyin* is not just an art of dual cultivation, but also consolidates the foundation, nurtures primordial essence, invigorates yang, and bolsters qi. I thought when that scoundrel mentioned it to you, you'd keep him around."
Wang Yu's expression remained steady as he waved his hand again. "I'm in top physical shape! I don't need any of those benefits!"
Qianqian nodded with great gravity. "I see. I was originally thinking of practicing the *Method of Harmonizing Yang through Taiyin* together with you, Brother Yu. But since Brother Yu doesn't need it, forget it."
Wang Yu rolled his eyes. "Aren't you forbidden from losing your virginity?"
Lightly caressing Wang Yu's chest, Qianqian lifted her chin slightly and bit her lower lip, her lovely eyes glistening like pearls. "It's not that I cannot lose my virginity, but that once I do, it will be nearly impossible to advance my martial realm any further. However, if my martial arts reach their personal limit, then naturally there will be no need to care about such a restriction."
Wang Yu smacked his lips. "You mean I still have hope?"
Qianqian flashed a seductive smile. "I still want to be Empress, so of course I have to give you hope. Could it be that Brother Yu doesn't like Qianqian anymore?"
Wang Yu was speechless. "I'm afraid you'll only end up disappointed in the end."
Qianqian giggled. "I won't be disappointed. Li Yunxiu seems clever, but she fails to see the broader picture. How could the Emperor truly leave the Prince of Zhenxi's Manor in your hands?"
At this point, Qianqian cast a glance outward, then softly leaned her fine head toward the side of Wang Yu's face. Her cherry lips brushed lightly against his earlobe as she smiled faintly. "The fellow only taught you the first three chapters. There are three more after that."
Wang Yu's eyes widened. "I knew you heard everything!"
Qianqian turned her head back with a giggle, but she hadn't anticipated Wang Yu turning his head as well. Their lips brushed against each other for an instant before quickly pulling apart.
Qianqian gave Wang Yu another flirtatious look, then vaulted away like a drifting breeze.
Wang Yu turned toward the arched gateway of the rear courtyard to see Li Yunxiu walking slowly over. "What did that scoundrel say to you in private?"
Wang Yu spoke the honest truth. "He said Qianqian is a demonic enchantress from the Demonic Cult."
Li Yunxiu nodded in realization. "So he's from the Demonic Cult too."
Wang Yu stared. "How did you know?"
Li Yunxiu pursed her lips and smiled. "Because he isn't a Xiantian expert. An ordinary person wouldn't have the skill to deduce Qianqian's background within two or three exchanges."
After a brief thought, Li Yunxiu added with certainty, "He's a member of the Harvesting Sect."
Wang Yu let out a sigh. "Guessed right again."
Li Yunxiu looked at Wang Yu. "Did the Harvesting Sect partner with Zhong Yulei? Did he want to cooperate with you as well, promising to rescue you from Qianqian's grasp, or help you counter her using harvesting techniques?"
Wang Yu scratched his head. Why was everyone so sharp? "Spot on."
Li Yunxiu smiled. "And that's why he's dead."
Qianqian knew Wang Yu's secret and was a Xiantian expert to boot. Would Wang Yu have lost his mind to ally with the Kanli Sect?
Besides, Li Yunxiu had seen it clearly: just moments ago, those two shameless flirts had their heads pressed together in intimate whispers. If she hadn't shown up, who knew whether they might have lost control.
Li Yunxiu rolled her eyes at Wang Yu. "Has she made up her mind to abandon her future in martial arts and become your Princess Consort of Zhenxi?"
If Qianqian wanted Wang Yu's help in her cultivation, she first had to invest feelings and lure him into falling for her. The two of them were currently pulling back and forth at each other, yet both were clever people, and their tug-of-war took a rather bizarre form—one that even Li Yunxiu could not entirely fathom.
Wang Yu nodded. "She said that once her martial progress stalls, she'll be with me."
Li Yunxiu fixed her starry eyes on him. "Do you believe that?"
Wang Yu spread his hands. "Doesn't seem like there's any reason not to."
Li Yunxiu's gaze darkened. "The Demonic Cult takes extreme, underhanded measures, and they always push for more. Crucially, Qianqian doesn't have the final say. Be careful that the Demonic Cult doesn't treat you as a tool to be discarded once you've served your purpose."
Wang Yu asked, "A tool for what?"
Li Yunxiu cast him a sideways glance and said coolly, "An early death for the previous emperor, a new ruler ascending the throne, an empress dowager meddling in court affairs, and maternal relatives seizing power. That script has played out more than once in history."
"You're thinking too far ahead. Perhaps the Emperor will pacify the realm, allowing me to be the Prince of Zhenxi in peace, and once the Xuansu Sect sees there's nothing to gain, they'll call it quits."
Wang Yu said with longing, "That way, the three of us can live happily together."
"..." Wang Yu trailed off under her glare.
Li Yunxiu stared hard at him. "Do you truly think that?"
Wang Yu asked back, "What's wrong with that?"
Li Yunxiu looked deeply at Wang Yu and asked in a low voice, "What if... I mean what if... the Emperor pacifies the realm and wishes to reduce the vassal fiefs? What will you do then?"
Wang Yu met Li Yunxiu's eyes. "When that day comes, what else could I possibly do?"
For the first time, Li Yunxiu reached out and took Wang Yu's hand, speaking with sincere warmth, "Running a kingdom within a kingdom isn't easy anyway—it's both dangerous and exhausting. When that time comes, I'll accompany you into rural seclusion, all right?"
"How come right after Qianqian offered herself to me, you're stepping up too?" Wang Yu raised an eyebrow at Li Yunxiu. "Is this a stalling tactic to compete with Qianqian for favor?"
Li Yunxiu's willow brows shot up. It was rare for her to show genuine emotion, and this fellow actually dared question her sincerity!
Li Yunxiu flung off Wang Yu's hand and straightened her face. "What else did that scoundrel say? Did he mention how prepared Zhong Yulei is, how much armor and weaponry he possesses, when he plans to make his move, and whether he intends to carve out a separate domain first or march on the capital? How many experts are under his command, how much grain and fodder he has stored, whether he colluded with powers in Chuanxi Circuit, and whether he planted operatives in Linchuan Prefecture to the west or Shunyi Prefecture of Jingji Circuit to the east?"
One look at Wang Yu's expression told Li Yunxiu that he hadn't asked any of it.
Li Yunxiu waved her hand dismissively and turned to leave. "Forget it. It's not the first time you've made this kind of mistake. Just be more mindful in the future."
Watching Li Yunxiu's hurried receding figure, Wang Yu failed to notice the faint flush coloring her cheeks.
Behind a flower bed not far away, Qianqian had also seen their clasped hands, and a gleam flickered in her eyes.
The next day, both the men from the Daxing prefectural yamen and the monks from the Great Vajra Monastery returned.
"It truly was the work of Dulong Fortress!" the Chief Constable of Daxing Prefecture reported with cupped fists. "We followed the tracks along the opposite bank of the river, and the cart ruts vanished onto the official post road. Inquiring along the way, we found that a merchant caravan from Dulong Fortress had passed through Shanlu County a few days ago—at noon on the day following the theft of the Loulan treasure. We split into two teams to investigate and discovered that this caravan had seemingly appeared out of thin air; it had never passed through any other county prior to arriving in Shanlu County, and it ultimately went straight into Dulong Fortress. We scouted around Dulong Fortress for several days and learned that quite a few manor servants had ventured out together some days back, and when they returned, their pockets were considerably heavier. Yet when asked what they had been doing, they remained utterly tight-lipped."
A monk of the Hong generation from Great Vajra Monastery added, "My junior brother and I slipped into Dulong Fortress under cover of night and found those carts. The paper seals had already been torn open, and many of the chests were empty."
Another monk drew half a torn seal from his sleeve. "This is the proof we retrieved from Dulong Fortress."
"Amitabha!" Zongjian chanted the Buddha's name. Hongyue's eyes widened in fury, while Honghai shook his head and sighed.
The Prefect of Daxing's eyes lit up, and he let out a long breath of relief. "Splendid!"
The thieves who plundered the Loulan treasure had been found, which meant the Emperor wouldn't punish him with execution and confiscation of his estate.
The Prefect of Daxing stood up and called for attendants to prepare brush and ink. "I will write a memorial to His Majesty this instant."
By this point, the treasure had entered the boundaries of Shangshan Prefecture, which had nothing to do with him as the Prefect of Daxing. As a civil official, he certainly didn't need to worry about how to retrieve it. Free of all burdens, his spirits soared.
Wang Yu's eyes darted, and he said to the Prefect of Daxing, "In that case, this prince will save himself some trouble. I'll trouble Prefect Liu to add a line to the memorial: now that the mastermind has been found, this prince will take his leave and return. After all, northwestern battle troops are not suited to mountain warfare or skirmishes of this scale, so lingering here serves little purpose."
The Prefect of Daxing didn't think too deeply into it and nodded. "Your humble official complies with Your Highness's command."
Chapter 100