Xia Yunting slowly raised his head, his blood-stained eyes radiating ferocity. Xing Jie and Chen Taifu were both startled.
They had never seen such eyes, like those of a wild beast.
But what use was a fearsome appearance? He was still under someone's control.
A small bug landed on Xia Yunting's shoulder and, finding a wound, slowly crawled inside.
Xia Yunting winced in pain, the scene before him blurring.
With a sudden surge of strength, the iron chains snapped. Chen Taifu and Xing Jie both took a step back in shock.
However, after breaking free, Xia Yunting collapsed onto the ground, drained of strength.
"He endured so many instruments of torture, yet still has this much strength!" Xing Jie exclaimed with a hint of fear, calling out, "Jiahui!"
Granny Gu, supporting Xing Jiahui, slowly entered. Xing Jiahui's face turned pale upon seeing the scene in the prison cell.
"Quick, go in!" Xing Jie pushed her. The jailer opened the cell door.
Xing Jiahui reluctantly stepped inside. Xia Yunting raised his head, feeling as if the person before him was multiplying into countless shadows, overlapping and repeating, like a dream.
"General..." Xing Jiahui attempted to speak in a seductive tone, but her voice trembled.
Xia Yunting's face suddenly turned white, and large drops of sweat mixed with blood cascaded down him like a waterfall. He let out a cry of pain and grabbed Xing Jiahui with all his might.
"Father!"
Xing Jiahui cried out in alarm, but she couldn't break free no matter how hard she struggled.
"Don't move!" Xing Jie commanded sternly.
Xing Jiahui, trembling, could only hold his hand. Her hand turned red from the grip. After an indeterminate amount of time, Xia Yunting regained his composure, though a layer of mist seemed to have veiled his raised eyes.
Xing Jie and Chen Taifu exchanged a look. It was done.
Chen An appeared at the prison door at some unknown time. He observed the scene inside the cell with a detached gaze, as if accustomed to such bloodshed.
He patted Xing Jie on the shoulder, "Prime Minister, do you have any more of those蛊 (gu) worms? Lend me two."
Xing Jie replied with a fawning smile, "Young Master Chen is joking. Such rare items, finding even one was a great effort. How could there be so many?"
Chen An sighed, "What a pity. I've taken a liking to a beauty recently, but she pays me no mind. If I could use this 蛊 (gu) worm on her, I could win her heart."
Xing Jie's lips twitched. He mused that with Chen An's philandering nature, perhaps a crate of worms wouldn't be enough.
After the matter concluded, Xing Jiahui was sent back to her own cell, as she was also under detention.
As the others exited the prison, they encountered a squad of guards waiting outside. Their leader, with an unfriendly expression, was Xiao Jianli.
"If I'm not mistaken, Minister Chen is currently under detention."
"How dare the Plum Blossom Guard! Is the affairs of the Grand Tutor something you can meddle in?"
Xing Jie rebuked coldly. It was one thing for others, but the Plum Blossom Guard merely served the Emperor. Why were they acting so arrogantly?
Xiao Jianli sneered, "The Emperor himself issued the order to detain General Xia and Minister Chen's family, who are implicated in the case. The Ministry of Justice is acting in bad faith. We, the Plum Blossom Guard, are responsible for protecting the Imperial City and executing the Emperor's commands. Naturally, we have the right to intervene. Guards, escort Minister Chen's family to prison!"
As soon as the words fell, a group of guards stepped forward and apprehended Minister Chen and Chen An.
Seeing that Xiao Jianli was unyielding, Xing Jie was about to retaliate, but was stopped by a look from Minister Chen.
It was merely two days of detention. In a couple of days, all evidence would point to Xia Yunting. Would they not then be able to settle this score for these few days of imprisonment?
Xing Jie fell silent and could only watch as the Plum Blossom Guard escorted Minister Chen's family to the prison.
Upon entering, they discovered that Chen Yanyan and Yun Heng had already been imprisoned there.
"Xiao Jianli, you're going too far!" Xing Jie was furious.
Xiao Jianli pretended not to hear.
No matter how you looked at it, Minister Chen was a subject. Even if he was from the Empress Dowager's maternal family, he could not outrank the Emperor. In recent years, Minister Chen's family had committed many acts of overreach, and it was time they learned their limits.
"Commander Xiao, I heard that the recent events in the Imperial City are related to the former Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley, is that correct?"
"Young Master Chen, from where did you hear such news? The current Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley is developing a new longevity elixir for the Emperor. How could they be involved in the chaos of the Imperial City?"
His expression was calm, but his heart was filled with doubt. From where did this brat get his information? Had Zhi'er's whereabouts been leaked?
Chen An smiled a roguish smile, "Don't try to change the subject. I'm talking about Rong Zhi, the former Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley. I know you're all looking for her. The guards with her portrait have already spread throughout the streets."
"Is that true?" Minister Chen was greatly surprised. How did he not know about this?
Logically, matters concerning the imperial family should reach him immediately.
"Naturally. Father, you have no idea how clumsy those people are. Can they really find someone by just looking at a portrait on the street? Since the former Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley has been reborn, one only needs to use the soul-summoning technique. Whichever direction the wandering spirits are drawn to, the place where they gather the most will naturally be the location of the Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley."
Xiao Jianli's eyes widened. Such a method indeed existed, but how did Chen An, who had always been known as a good-for-nothing, know about it?
"Nonsense!" Minister Chen kicked Chen An to the ground, his beard bristling with anger.
"What do you know! Ghosts and gods, you don't want your head anymore."
As he spoke, he frantically signaled Chen An with his eyes.
That Chen An possessed Xuan Shu was known only to them; no one in the Imperial City had any inkling.
Chen Yanyan also shot Chen An a glare.
Chen An covered his mouth, feigning that he had said the wrong thing.
"Don't think I'll believe your wild talk!" Xiao Jianli snorted and led his men out. Once outside, he instructed them.
"What was said just now is not to be mentioned to anyone."
"Yes!"
In the prison cell, Minister Chen, still incensed, kicked Chen An again. Xing Jie watched from outside, somewhat at a loss.
Minister Chen said to Xing Jie, "Go and keep an eye on things. If anyone so much as whispers a word of what was just said, kill them without hesitation."
"Yes."
Xing Jie hastily went to carry out the order. Minister Chen pointed at Chen An's head, filled with disappointment.
"If you speak carelessly again, your head won't be safe!"
Chen An looked wronged, "Father, is it really that serious? I just thought that helping them find the person would be a great contribution, and we could be released sooner."
"Do we need your help to get out? We have the Empress Dowager supporting us. When can't we get out? You need to be more prudent in the future. The entire Chen family depends on you."
Chen An mumbled, "If it depends on me, the whole family will be executed..."
"What did you say?"
"Nothing, nothing..."
After leaving the prison, Xiao Jianli found an opportunity and immediately left the palace.
Although he had ordered no one to divulge Chen An's words, it was better to be safe than sorry. He had to find Zhi'er quickly and make contingency plans.
However, no matter how hard he searched, he couldn't find any trace of Zhi'er in the entire Imperial City. Instead, he discovered signs of a struggle in the previous dilapidated house.
Could it be... Zhi'er was in trouble!
Xiao Jianli's mind suddenly went blank.
There was no airtight wall. Even though Xiao Jianli had instructed them not to speak of it, Chen An's words still leaked out, and they reached the First Prince.
Not long after, Cheng Yichen received news that the First Prince would personally supervise him in implementing this method.
Cheng Yichen was greatly surprised, "Your Highness, how can we believe what Chen An said? I heard he is a notorious rake in the Imperial City. If a madman speaks mad words, and we believe him, won't we become mad too?"
Jin Yunfei's voice was cold, "Though the words are mad, the logic holds. Moreover, Chen An has studied some Xuan Shu since childhood. Don't think I don't know."
Cheng Yichen's lips twitched. Although the Chen family was related to the Empress Dowager by blood, the First Prince's attitude towards the Chen family had always been poor. He wondered when he had investigated and found out that Chen An had studied Xuan Shu.
"My mind is made up. The Grand Tutor need only carry out the implementation."
Seeing his firm stance, Cheng Yichen had no choice but to comply.
"Your Highness, since there is a clue that the Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley is in the Imperial City, can those containers be released now?"
Jin Yunfei gave him a strange look, "Currently, it is only a suspicion, not a conclusion. If she is not there, wouldn't it be a loss of both wife and soldiers? Those people cannot be released."
Xiao Jianli's gaze deepened, "Your Highness, please forgive my meddling, but the resurrection technique requires the sacrifice of a large number of lives. Even with the Emperor's dragon aura protecting him, doing such things too often will result in backlash."
"Just do as you are told, and stop with the nonsense!"
Jin Yunfei appeared very angry. He flicked his sleeve and left.
He entered a heavily fortified building. The moment the door opened, the cries of numerous girls emanated from within, deafening.
Cheng Yichen sighed deeply.
Valley Master, oh Valley Master, it's not that I don't want to help you, but I am powerless.
Rong Zhi and Chu Qingze waited in the theater for three days. There was still no movement from outside.
For these three days, not to mention the sounds of people outside, not even the sound of the wind could be heard. It was eerily quiet.
Cai Yue brewed medicine three times a day, and Rong Zhi's throat was gradually recovering, allowing her to make faint sounds, though still with pain.
"Alas, when will my young master return home..."
Cai Yue leaned on the doorstep, gazing into the distance with longing.
Rong Zhi was also somewhat worried. Chen An had said he would leak the news of the Valley Master of the Medicine King Valley being in the Imperial City to lure them into using the soul-summoning technique to find her, but it had been three days with no movement. Had something unexpected happened?
Just then, Cai Yue suddenly straightened up, "Ah, my young master is back."
She then skipped excitedly out the door and soon welcomed Chen An inside.
Chen An smiled, "Half the plan is complete. They are preparing to use this method to find her. They will likely act tonight."
Rong Zhi nodded, a great weight finally lifted from her heart. She then noticed that Chen An's face seemed different.
She pointed at Chen An's face, her expression filled with confusion.
"It's nothing, just got punched twice."
That Chen Yanyan had hit him too hard, even harder than her father.
He looked at Chu Qingze and asked, "Has anything happened these past two days?"
Chu Qingze replied, "Nothing much happened, except... I accidentally broke the rockery. But Cai Yue quickly repaired it."
"What?" Chen An glanced at the rockery and then turned to stroke Cai Yue's head, "Silly girl, how could you repair this?"
"Young Master instructed me to watch over this place." Cai Yue snuggled into Chen An, like a clingy kitten, coquettishly oblivious to the surroundings.
Rong Zhi found it increasingly strange the more she looked.
It felt as if Cai Yue had become even more foolish than before.
"You two wait here first." Chen An said to Rong Zhi and Chu Qingze, then took Cai Yue to a small room in the backyard.