"Besides, Beijia has restarted hostilities lately. I had hoped to raise another great general for the Emperor." With that, she sighed.
Had the elixir of immortality case not erupted, this matter would have held great promise.
Bai Ziqi's smile did not waver, but he felt secret disdain.
National Preceptor Qingyang never spoke without invoking "for Beijia," but when had she ever worked for free?
Nian Zanli had sought her out to act as a lobbyist, and the price was certainly steep. Just looking at how General Nian had spent the past few months selling off residences and shops in Lingxu City, shrinking his holdings by thirty percent, made it clear how heavily he had bled to borrow troops—and most of that had likely lined Qingyang's pockets.
From the elixir of immortality case alone, he could tell just how insatiably greedy this woman was.
Yet the Emperor went out of his way to protect her, even falling out with the celestial gods twice.
Over the past few days, relations between the Lingxiao Palace and the Heavenly Palace had grown tense and delicate, leaving even Bai Ziqi walking on eggshells. Meanwhile, National Preceptor Qingyang sat safe and comfortable in the Yang Palace, watching the tigers fight from across the mountain.
When she was the root of all this trouble to begin with!
Bai Ziqi dropped the pleasantries. "Given your stature and horizons, National Preceptor, what kind of sincerity did Nian Zanli have to offer to move you?"
"Sincerity?" National Preceptor Qingyang smiled faintly. "What does Emissary Bai mean by that?"
Facing a prisoner, Bai Ziqi laid it bare: "You agreed to lobby for troops on his behalf. What did he give you in return?"
Who didn't know that National Preceptor Qingyang's favors were the costliest in the realm?
National Preceptor Qingyang's thumb slowly rubbed the rim of her cup. "Why do you suddenly ask about Nian Zanli, Emissary Bai?"
Those who knew her understood that this was her habit when deep in thought.
"Last night, that monster snail-toad Xi Yunhe controlled suddenly appeared in Nian Zanli's depot, gorging itself on prunella spikes."
"Oh?" Qingyang's slender brows rose in apparent astonishment.
"You confessed that the source of the divine blood was Dong Rui, and the snail-toad was Dong Rui's creation. Yet the two recent incidents in Lingxu City both involve Nian Zanli." Bai Ziqi paused. "Now that you, the mastermind, have already been captured, why has the elixir of immortality case grown even more baffling?"
Qingyang mused, "And what did Nian Zanli say for himself?"
"Naturally, he denied it vehemently. He claims the mutation of the old oak tree on Xiangmai Street had nothing to do with him, nor did the snail-toad or the prunella spikes, and that someone is deliberately framing him." Bai Ziqi let out a breath. He had handled countless cases, but rarely had one like the elixir of immortality case branched out into so many secondary storms. "He even accused someone, claiming this person orchestrated the frame-up."
Qingyang showed keen interest. "Who?"
"The Sect Master of Songyang Mansion, Li Qingge."
"Why?"
"He said he previously held leverage over Li Qingge, but she later enlisted National Preceptor Shuangye to mediate and recovered it, leaving Nian Zanli with no hold over her."
"He believes Li Qingge harbored a grudge and targeted him twice." Bai Ziqi asked her, "What do you think?"
"I have heard of Songyang Mansion, but I have never had dealings with them and know little about them." Small sects operating in Lingxu City were as numerous as carp crossing a river. As the mistress of the Azure Palace, how could she familiarize herself with every single one?
The only reason she had heard of Songyang Mansion before was that the sect excelled at artifact-crafting.
On the surface, Qingyang's reply sounded like a polite way of saying "I don't know." But looking deeper, she was effectively clearing Songyang Mansion of involvement in the elixir case, stating outright that they were under no suspicion.
Since she had "never had dealings" with them, how could they possibly be her accomplices?
She had already made up her mind. At a time like this, Qingyang preferred to focus on a single target to frame, unwilling to invite further complications.
Bai Ziqi took her meaning and nodded. "In fact, although the Songyang Mansion sect originated in the Yuan Kingdom, it is also one of Lingxu City's official merchants, though few know of it."
"An official merchant?" Qingyang was truly surprised this time. "What do they transport and sell?"
"Pulp beads."
Understanding dawned on Qingyang, and she gave a long "Oh." "So that's how it is."
The words "pulp bead" were undoubtedly the most sensitive nerve for common demons in the elixir case. It was the crucial ingredient for refining the elixir of immortality; Cen Boqing and the others had covertly hunted demons precisely to extract pulp beads.
The elixirs granted by Lingxu City to worthy officials and vassal demon kingdoms were, of course, refined using pulp beads as well. For the authorities to obtain this ingredient, they had to import it from abroad.
Clearly, Songyang Mansion was one of those importers.
Regardless of how Songyang Mansion procured them, so long as they could affix that "imported" label for Lingxu City, they were legitimate, qualified merchants—and valuable ones at that.
Would Lingxu City go out of its way to punish its own official merchant? Unnecessary. There were already more than enough scapegoats available to appease the public's fury.
"Did Nian Zanli not know either?"
Bai Ziqi shrugged.
Accusations required evidence, and accusing Lingxu City's official business partner required even more.
Nian Zanli was anxious and furious, but he had no proof.
"Then what does Emissary Bai think?" Qingyang asked him in turn.
"Both incidents in Lingxu City implicated Nian Zanli. In terms of timing, it is far too coincidental." Bai Ziqi took a sip of wine. "The snail-toad had been missing for so long. Not earlier, not later—why did it appear in his depot last night of all times? I wonder if someone is trying to harm him."
"That is why I came to ask you." Bai Ziqi leaned forward, his expression solemn. "Does Nian Zanli have anything to do with the divine blood?"
Qingyang turned her head to gaze at the last fading rays of the setting sun.
The natural light shining into the dungeon was about to vanish.
National Preceptor Qingyang knew that her testimony would determine the trajectory of the elixir case.
Would the case be closed immediately, or dragged out in further torment?
Would she remain in this dungeon, or get out swiftly to plan for her future?
She pondered for a long time before speaking in an unhurried drawl.
***
He Lingchuan practiced his saber techniques for a full shichen, stopping only after working up a thoroughly satisfying sweat.
The soul-snatching mirror said, "You've made great progress, but your killing intent is awfully heavy."
Watching its master practice his saber made even the mirror feel a bone-chilling cold. Such overflowing killing intent—tsk tsk.
He Lingchuan grunted in acknowledgment, quickly poured two basins of cold water over himself, and wiped dry with a towel.
The closer the day of action approached, the more turbulent his heart grew, difficult to restrain.
The raging tide was finally coming, and he was the one stirring it up. Whenever he thought of this, his fighting spirit boiled, forcing him to vent it through martial practice.
Over these few days, he needed to hone both his battle spirit and physical stamina to peak condition.
The soul-snatching mirror asked, "That move framing Nian Zanli was nicely played. But aren't you worried?"
"Worried about what?"
"What if Lingxu City doesn't believe he has anything to do with the divine blood?" He seemed utterly nonchalant, making the mirror feel like a nagging mother constantly fretting on his behalf. "If they release him, won't your and Li Qingge's scheme go down the drain? Won't he be free to borrow troops and invade the Yuan Kingdom?"
The mirror added, "There must be plenty of smart people in Lingxu City. Take Bai Ziqi, for instance—could he really not see that Nian Zanli was framed?"
Even the mirror felt that these two frame-ups were far too blatant.
After ensuring no one was nearby, He Lingchuan lowered his voice. "If they are truly smart, they will understand that whether Nian Zanli was framed doesn't matter, and who framed him doesn't matter either."
"Ah?" The mirror grew confused again. Ever since He Lingchuan got involved in the elixir case, it often felt its intelligence was lacking. "Can't you explain it all at once?" Could he not make it look so stupid?
"National Preceptor Qingyang, the mastermind behind the elixir case, has already been captured. Lingxu City must confirm the source of the divine blood through her." He Lingchuan smiled. "Last time, she pointed the finger at Dong Rui."
"Right, and that sent you guys scrambling."
"Yet in truth, we all know that nine times out of ten, a god stands behind her," He Lingchuan said flatly. "If she doesn't want to confess that god, she must find another concrete source for the divine blood."
He emphasized the word "concrete."
The mirror grew contemplative. "You mean she'll commit perjury and point the finger at Nian Zanli? Aiyo, could there really be such a stroke of good luck?"
"Putting myself in her shoes, if I were her, I would accuse him."
"Why?"
"The case can only be closed once the source of the divine blood is found," He Lingchuan said leisurely. "It has dragged on for so long. Lingxu City and the Demon Emperor must be tired and sick of it, eager to close the book. That includes Qingyang herself. But if she insists on implicating Dong Rui—a phantom figure whose whereabouts are unknown—when would this case ever end?"
"A missing Dong Rui versus Nian Zanli right in front of them. It's a false accusation either way; which one do you think she'll choose?"
"Even if Lingxu City can ignore the inquiries of commoners, the vassal demon kingdoms—including Chiyan and Jeweled Tree—are pursuing this case relentlessly. They each have their own agendas. Lingxu City must provide an answer as soon as possible before this chapter can be put behind them."
The mirror asked, puzzled, "Would the celestial gods really be willing to be fooled like that?"
"Not necessarily," He Lingchuan noted. "But there isn't just one celestial god. I suspect their internal relations are complicated as well. Besides, the Emperor's opinion carries great weight. If he intends to wrap up the case quickly, the gods might give him some face."
He paused, then continued, "Pinning the blame on Dong Rui versus pinning it on Nian Zanli—what difference does it make? It's nonsense either way. The various factions at the center of the vortex must all know that the true source of Qingyang's divine blood will never be uncovered."
"Thus, National Preceptor Qingyang, the Emperor, the Heavenly Palace, and even Bai Ziqi all want to find a target and close the case as soon as possible." He Lingchuan looked up toward the north. Tonight was bright with starlight. "I gave them a target; I gave them a suspect. Do you think they won't take the easy way out?"
"So only Nian Zanli gets hurt, and everyone else is happy?" The mirror still found it incredible. Would the Emperor and the Heavenly Palace play dumb while knowing full well, concocting a wrongful conviction together?
"Who told Nian Zanli to be nothing more than an inconsequential surrendered general? Framing him harms no faction's interests," He Lingchuan said with a mocking sneer. "He deserves to be the scapegoat."
The mirror was incredulous. "When you went to borrow troops from National Preceptor Shuangye, had you already calculated all of this?"
"More or less." It was a frame-up either way.
The mirror sighed. Could those high-and-mighty figures really go along with He Lingchuan and frame Nian Zanli together?
Chapter 675