Jiaohua

Chapter 1693 Xia Zhaoxue learns that she is Xia Zhaoyi

The Snow Mountain Battalion was completely wiped out, with not a single survivor.

Cong Mutu's head was delivered neatly to Yi Shurong's barracks. Yi Shurong did not look at it, but simply ordered his men to bury it.

For the next two weeks or so, Yi Shurong remained silent and taciturn.

He had never been so devastated when he saw the bodies of his father and elder sister.

That hatred was his fuel.

But the disappearance of Congmutu and Xueshan Camp seemed to have stripped his will away.

However depressed he was, he had to pull himself together.

He was the commander-in-chief of the army; anyone could fall, but he couldn't.

In mid-May, the land of Beiyuan, which had only recently emerged from the cold winter, warmed up very rapidly, with the sun blazing down and baking everything.

In Mingfang City, the last batch of officials from Youzhou were executed.

In the past few years, He Yanpo's deployment in Youzhou not only brought him a lot of intelligence and the "Northern Yuan's benevolent theory" being quietly promoted among the Han people by both the government and the people, but also the trade caravans transporting goods, which made him and Yi Shurong and others very rich.

Later, Nie Huimo carried out a major purge of the Youzhou officialdom, and these Youzhou officials followed Dou Lixin to flee to the Northern Yuan.

He Yanpo spared their lives to let the other bribed Han officials, who were still operating in the shadows, know that as long as they remained loyal to the Northern Yuan court, they would have a way out and a place to go even if they were exposed.

But now, all communication channels between the Northern Yuan and the Central Plains have been cut off, the trade caravans have long since ceased operations, and information is severely blocked in both places. There is no prospect of improvement in the next five years. Therefore, He Yanpo simply killed the dozens of mouths that were still eating around him.

After disposing of the officials' corpses, his men reported back.

He Yanpo left for the front lines last month and is not in Mingfang City. Everything in the mansion is now under Tao Lan's management.

Tao Lan is packing her clothes.

The weather got hot too quickly, so He Yanpo took all the warm winter clothes with him when he left.

After his subordinate finished reporting, Tao Lan didn't say anything, but simply waved his hand.

The subordinate took his leave, and as he came out, he saw a little boy. The subordinate quickly lowered his head and bowed respectfully.

Tao Lan looked up, immediately put down the clothes in her hands, and walked over, smiling, "You're getting into the swing of things."

He Yanjin looked up at her coldly, his eyes devoid of any kindness.

Tao Lan felt sad, so she squatted down and gently asked, "Jin'er?"

For more than a year, He Yanjin had almost ignored Tao Lan. He would occasionally come to see her, but not to seek maternal love.

He just stood there, looking at her with cold, indifferent eyes, without saying a word.

Today marks the first time in three months that He Yanjin has come to see her.

Tao Lan's gaze fell on the scars on her son's face and ears. Her eyes were red and she was heartbroken beyond measure, while hatred was also surging within her.

That damned Lin Wu Niang!
Even if Lin Wuniang were torn to pieces, it wouldn't be enough to vent this anger!
He Yanjin finally spoke, his words tinged with difficulty: "I heard... that the place where A-Li killed... Cong Mutu is called... Huang... Ze Gu. A-Li's... father and... elder brother both died... there."

He Yanjin once suffered from aphasia, but later regained his ability to speak after an emotional outburst, though he still became less talkative.

Over the past year, he has become increasingly silent and gloomy, rarely speaking. Now, his language function has deteriorated rapidly, and he seems unable to express himself normally.

Tao Lan said with heartache, "Don't be afraid, Jin'er. Xia Wenshan and Xia Zhaode died there, Xia Zhaoyi died at Rongtang Gorge, and Ali will die too. We will send her to reunite with her father and brothers."

"No...!" He Yanjin shook his head, glaring fiercely at Tao Lan. "I... meant to say, Ah... Li is... taking... revenge! She... killed her enemy... at the place where her father... and brother were... killed. So... what about you! What about you!!!"

The look in her son's eyes and his tone made Tao Lan's heart skip a beat; she was genuinely frightened.

She looked at her son, her face pale: "Jin'er, what... what do you want to say?"

"Why...why don't you go...to fight? Why...is it my...father who goes to fight?"

Tao Lan choked up and said, "Xin'er is still young. I am her mother. I can't leave her."

"She's an idiot!" He Yanjin's voice was agitated, and he finally managed to speak clearly, "I'm a cripple! You...gave birth to an idiot, a cripple!"

"Jin'er!!" Tao Lan suddenly roared, her eyes red-rimmed, "Do you know what you're saying!? You should all be healthy, you were all harmed! Harmed!!"

The servants and maids outside rushed over upon hearing the commotion, but dared not approach the study, watching from a distance.

He Yanjin was not frightened by his mother and shouted loudly, "Ali is here for revenge! As long as she takes her revenge on those who hurt her before, our people will not suffer! Go find her! Go find Ali and let her kill you, then she will let us go!"

Tao Lan's eyes widened, and suddenly she slapped He Yanjin hard across the face.

The slap was incredibly powerful, and He Yanjin's small body fell to the ground.

As soon as she hit him, Tao Lan regretted it and quickly went to help him up: "Jin'er! I'm sorry, Mother shouldn't have hit you!"

He Yanjin tried to shake her off, but he was too weak and could not break free.

He spat in Tao Lan's face and yelled, "Han people, don't touch... me! Let go of me! You dare... hit me, Han person, get out!! Get out, get out!!!"

At the end, he screamed.

Tao Lan's slap landed squarely on his scar, leaving half his face red and swollen, making the scar look even more menacing.

Tao Lan burst into tears: "Jin'er!"

He Yanjin bit Tao Lan's hand, then turned and limped away.

Tao Lan stood there crying and calling out "Jin'er," but she didn't go after him.

After calming down, Tao Lan glared angrily at the maids and servants outside and roared, "Who dared to bring up the war situation to the young master again! I've killed wave after wave of you, do you think I can't kill all of you gossipy blabbermouths?! Guards!! Beat all those who have been serving the young master these past few days to death with clubs!!"

As soon as she finished speaking, Dingyun rushed in from the outer courtyard, her face filled with anxiety.

Upon hearing Tao Lan's words, Ding Yun had a bad feeling.

What he's about to say will definitely add fuel to the fire, but he has no choice but to say it.

Tao Lan had already seen him, and the expression on Ding Yun's face made Tao Lan's heart skip a beat.

"What is it?!" Tao Lan asked in a deep voice, taking the lead in asking the question.

Dingyun lowered his head and said respectfully, "Someone delivered Liuyue's personal belongings, as well as a letter."

Tao Lan was shocked: "Where's the letter?"

Dingyun delivered the letter.

Tao Lan quickly opened it.

Dingyun glanced at the terrified maids and aunts kneeling on the ground around her, her brows furrowed, and looked back at Tao Lan.

Tao Lan went mad after He Yanjin called her a Han Chinese that winter the previous year.

She killed batch after batch of maids and aunts who served He Yanjin.

Not satisfied with killing them, Tao Lan also killed many of the servants around her and in the back courtyard.

She didn't listen to any explanations or justifications, like a butcher holding a knife.

But if you kill one batch, you have to hire another.

Because of He Yanjin's leg injury, Tao Lan, whose origins were unknown, dared not take him anymore and only wanted girls from Mingfang City with clean backgrounds.

But how many families with respectable backgrounds would be willing to send their daughters here to be defiled?

He Yan doted on his wife and once offered a high price to buy her. But who dares to say that the hatred of these girls who were forcibly brought in by their families as slaves is not as great as that of those murderous women who infiltrated the country after their families were destroyed?

But now, Dingyun dares not offer any advice.

He looked at Tao Lan, who quickly finished reading the letter and lowered her hand.

From Tao Lan's expression, Ding Yun couldn't discern the contents of the letter.

"...Madam?" Dingyun whispered.

Tao Lan seemed to wake from a dream, her expression slightly bewildered.

After a pause, Tao Lan asked, "Who delivered this letter?"

"I don't know. It was found in front of the city gatekeeper's tent. I don't know who put it there."

Tao Lan nodded and looked down to reread the letter.

"...Madam, what did the letter say?"

"Liu Yue is dead, and her body will be delivered to your residence soon."

Her voice was very calm, but to Dingyun it sounded like a thunderbolt.

Dingyun's eyes widened: "Liuyue, she...is she really dead?!"

Tao Lan looked at the personal items that Ding Yun had brought with him: "They shouldn't be fake. These items are indeed what Liu Yue always carries with her."

Dingyun stared intently at Tao Lan.

He was also shocked by why Madam Yu was so calm.

Oh...that's not right either.

Madam Yu was lost in thought just now.

Perhaps people are like this when they are overwhelmed with shock.

Dingyun was busy trying to calm herself down, while Tao Lan, holding the letter, became absent-minded again.

The letter was written in Chinese characters, and the handwriting was Xia Zhaoxue's.

His calligraphy is exceptionally beautiful, powerful and penetrating the paper, just like his marksmanship—upright, pure, and vigorous, with a grand and unrestrained style.

It may not actually be written by him, after all, Ali has a unique skill in imitating handwriting, which is not uncommon in the entire Northern Yuan.

But upon seeing the handwriting, the overwhelming sense of familiarity still brought Tao Lan back to her youthful past.

She couldn't completely sever ties with her former self; otherwise, she wouldn't have had He Yanpo send people to escort the already insane Tao Daizhuo all the way to Beiyuan.

Sometimes she hated her own indecisiveness and even wanted to personally order someone to kill Tao Daizhuo.

But when the words reached her lips, she couldn't say them.

She lacked the courage to make a clean break; she couldn't let go.

It's not just people; there are too many things she can't let go of.

When she first became pregnant with Yanxin, she would wake up crying every night.

It's so tempting it makes me want to cry.

She dared not tell anyone that she wanted to eat sugar figurines and candied hawthorns from the Central Plains, that she wanted to eat plum blossom cakes, red bean cakes, and peach shortbread...

She tried to imagine herself as a Northern Yuan person, but it was difficult.

Because she was not only a Han Chinese, but also a daughter of a wealthy Han family.

She was pampered and lived a life of luxury since childhood, wearing fine silks and satins; she was a person of high status!

It's difficult to go from luxury to frugality; she had to put in a lot of effort just to adapt to the harsh winters and scorching summers of the Northern Yuan.

Her son scolded her for being Han Chinese, unaware that the Han Chinese were living truly good lives.

Therefore, she hoped that her husband would be resourceful and wise, and assist Yi Shurong in conquering the entire Central Plains as soon as possible.

In that case, the good old days will return, and her status will definitely be even more prestigious than before!

Tao Lan frowned deeply and looked down at the letter in her hand.

Yes, he's dead, he's been dead for many, many years...

The handwriting couldn't be his; it must be Ali's.

It seems that Ali is coming to find her.

Summers in Northern Japan are extremely hot, with the heat lingering until nightfall.

A curfew was in effect in Mingfang City, and the streets were almost completely dark.

In a private house less than two hundred meters away from He Yan's residence, Xia Zhaoxue sat at a table with an unread letter in his hand. His tall body was stiff, and he remained motionless for a long time.

The letter was delivered directly from Huangmenhai, and this house was the layout he made four years ago.

The letters that arrived this time were quite thick. He read them one by one, and the one he was reading now seemed to finally resolve his long-standing confusion.

Huang Menhai was a man of all sorts of people. Originally, he only wanted to find out who had destroyed his sister's grave, and he wanted to kill that person.

But as they investigated further, they found more and more.

By chance, his subordinates came into contact with Fuguang Qinghe's book, and he discovered that his sister's master was also investigating.

He continued to delve deeper into the intricate web of connections, and one name after another appeared: Han Ruiqian, Feng Qingang, Feng Guoqiao, Tang Xiangsi, Wei Xingchuan, and others.

Later, Feng Qingang died in Han Ruiqian's tomb.

Xia Zhaoxue recalled that last year, he had compiled all the information he had found and shared it with the old man without reservation.

More than half of them are related to Han Ruiqian.

Moreover, during the process of sorting through the clues, he found many things to be unusual.

He had a vague feeling that Han Ruiqian was Feng Qingang, and also Feng Guoqiao.

These three names belong to the same person.

To verify this suspicion, he had his men arrest and kill many people over the past few months. Most of the victims died from severe torture.

One of them was Tang Xiangsi's subordinate. He was so tortured that he blurted out everything he knew.

Not only are these three people the same person, but he also said that Tang Xiangsi has lived for hundreds of years.

In the past, Xia Zhaoxue would have dismissed this person's words as nonsense.

But the things he's been through in recent years have made him realize that even the most bizarre events wouldn't seem absurd to him.

And once he accepted this possibility, the confusion that had been lingering in his mind seemed to begin to dissipate.

If Han Ruiqian can be reincarnated, then what about the other dead people?
And what about his sister?!
Xia Zhaoxue's mind went blank, but in an instant, it seemed to burst forth with strange and wonderful light, chaotic and turbulent, with thousands of trees and flowing light.

A thousand thoughts raced wildly, the image of his little sister, hidden deep in his memory, gradually came to life, followed by Ali's laughter and her words and actions.

Two completely different girl faces eventually overlapped, leaving only a pair of bright eyes that revealed a unique cunning.

Xia Zhaoxue seemed breathless, and was too excited to express himself.

His dark eyes reddened, and suddenly, tears rolled down his cheeks.

Xia Zhaoxue rested his forehead on his hands, his gaze fixed on the letter in front of him. Tears streamed down his face, but a smile appeared on his lips.

Okay, very good.

It turns out he wasn't the only one hiding.

He was hiding from the Xia family army.

His sister was avoiding him.

They are usually decisive and efficient in their actions, but when it comes to things like this, they are equally conflicted.

They truly are siblings!
The old man must know the truth.

Besides the old man, who else knows?

Does that kid Shen Lie know?

Who cares...

Xia Zhaoxue laughed and cried at the same time, wiping away her tears. She was both happy and sad, both heartbroken and heartbroken.

However, this is a good thing!
His sister is back, and he'll do anything to make it up to her! Whether she wants it or not!
There was a sudden knock on the door.

Xia Zhaoxue paused, his dark eyes widening slightly as he looked over with delight.

The knocking stopped.

He recognized the familiar rhythm immediately.

That girl, she really did catch up with us.

Xia Zhaoxue took a deep breath, composed himself, and went to open the door.

The door creaked open, and Xia Zhaoyi stood with her arms crossed, leaning against the doorframe, her eyes smiling as she gazed at him.

His eyes seemed to say, "I've got you caught."

Xia Zhaoxue restrained himself, trying hard to suppress all his emotions, and said calmly as always: "Why have you come to Mingfang City too?"

“It’s not just me,” Xia Zhaoyi said irritably, “Zhili came too.”

"fragmented?"

“He was drinking water downstairs. He missed me so much that he came to Beiyuan to see me. I happened to receive a message that you had come alone, so I decided to bring Zhili along.”

Xia Zhaoxue feigned displeasure and said in a deep voice, "Little sister, are you spying on me?"

Xia Zhaoyi glanced at him, thinking to herself, "So what if I'm being monitored? It's none of your business."

He smiled and said, "I was just worried about my second brother, don't be angry."

He said not to be angry, but his fearless expression almost made Xia Zhaoxue unable to hold back his smile.

He had always been uncomfortable interacting with this "younger sister," and he tried hard to change, to accept her. The distance between them had indeed narrowed, but he always felt that the gap between them was still very heavy. Sometimes he even wondered if his words and actions might make this "younger sister" feel awkward or uncomfortable. Now he realized that he had been worrying too much.

She wasn't uncomfortable at all; she was very carefree, composed, and at ease.

"What are your plans, Second Brother?" Xia Zhaoyi asked. "Dealing with Tao Lan is something you've been planning and preparing for for many years, isn't it?"

Before reading this letter today, Xia Zhaoxue might have kept it a secret, but now, there's no need to avoid her.

Xia Zhaoxue said, "As you know, I have some business dealings in Huangmenhai. The men there are rather ruthless, and I want to hand Tao Lan over to them."

No sooner had he finished speaking than Zhili darted up the stairs in a few steps, and upon seeing Xia Zhaoxue, he exclaimed happily, "Second Brother Xia!"

Xia Zhaoxue smiled and said, "Zhili, it's been a long time."

"Yes, it's been a long time! By the way, I have a plan, Second Brother Xia, would you like to hear my plan?" "What plan?"

Zhi Li glanced at Xia Zhaoyi and said with a grin, "That's right, on our way to Mingfang City, my junior sister and I heard some rumors about Tao Lan and her son, hehe..."

These words surprised Xia Zhaoxue, and he looked back at Xia Zhaoyi: "Little sister, are you going to make a move against Tao Lan's son?"

Xia Zhaoxue wouldn't mind harming young children now, but he would be surprised if he did it to his younger sister.

He said haltingly, "No, no, we don't bully little brats, but this little brat can bully others for us! Second Brother Xia, just wait and see!"

Xia Zhaoxue had no idea what their plans were. Dealing with Tao Lan was something he had been planning for a long time, and it was something he absolutely had to do personally. He wouldn't give face to anyone else who came. But the person who came was his younger sister.

What else could Xia Zhaoxue say? He could only say, "Well... alright, I'll wait and see."

Xia Zhaoyi came here this time without any soldiers, only her fellow disciple and brother.

This trip was happier for her than any other trip she had ever taken.

They started with ordinary horses, but kept changing horses along the way. They traveled in straight lines, and when they encountered terrain without roads, they sold their horses and bought new ones after they had crossed the obstacles.

She entered two cities along the way, neither of which were large, but going straight through would save her a lot of distance. When passing through the city gates, she no longer needed to think about how to get her men into the city, or whether she should go into the city first and then arrange where to wait.

The two siblings flipped over quickly and efficiently.

The only downside was that because they had been traveling and were in good physical condition, they had only stopped to rest a handful of times. So now that they had arrived here under the stars and moon, they were able to relax and fall asleep as soon as their heads hit the pillow.

Xia Zhaoyi slept until the afternoon of the next day, and Zhili slept until the evening of the next day.

Because Xia Zhaoxue agreed to watch their "show" and gave up on any further actions against Tao Lan, Tao Lan was stood up.

Tao Lan waited for a whole day.

Mingfang City retains the nomadic style of the Beiyuan grasslands, while also featuring a large number of Han-style buildings. Tao Lan sat in a teahouse that was completely modeled after the Han style, her eyes fixed on the crossroads a hundred paces away.

She had surrounded the area with her men and arrows. No matter who appeared, or whether there were other passersby nearby, as long as she gave the order to shoot, the arrows would rain down, turning the intersection into a river of blood.

But she never saw anything suspicious.

As dusk fell, the sky outside the city walls was ablaze with the golden glow of the sunset. Tao Lan looked down at the teacup in her hand, disappointment creeping into her eyes.

She didn't want to admit it, but a sliver of hope still lingered in her heart.

What are we hoping for?
Hoping that the man who died long ago will reappear?

A fantasy.

One of her subordinates came up to the teahouse and respectfully asked her for instructions on the next step.

Tao Lan remained silent, holding the cup for a long time.

Sitting here today, she tried to sort out her emotions, but she couldn't.

In her youth, she always thought of herself as a straightforward girl who clearly distinguished between love and hate, but now she has discovered that love and hate can be mixed up and become unclear.

She loves her children and her husband, and she has no doubt about her love for them.

But why did her youthful feelings, which she thought she had long since let go of, suddenly resurface when she saw his handwriting?

Just like back then, she hated him so much, but when she found out that the person who was arrested was Xia Zhaoyi, not him, she was overjoyed.

She even reached a tacit understanding with Xia Zhaoyi, the person she hated most in the world, to help Xia Zhaoyi conceal her female identity and disguise herself.

Tao Lan didn't understand; she really didn't get it.

Why do I still love him?
Why am I still thinking about him?
Thinking of this man who was already dead!
With her subordinates still waiting for orders, Tao Lan closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and stood up, saying, "Let's retreat."

After returning home, she did not visit the children, but went straight back to her room, instructing the head maid not to disturb her, and then did not go out again.

As darkness fell, two slender figures, one in front of the other, quietly slipped into He Yan's residence.

The heavily guarded Heyan Mansion was like an empty place to the two of them.

Zhili used a piece of cloth to cover the sleeping He Yanjin until he was unconscious, then carried him away.

Xia Zhaoyi provided support from outside.

After leaving the city, Xia Zhaoyi woke He Yanjin up and then quickly left.

He Yanjin got up from the grass and looked around blankly.

With her hands clasped behind her back, she slowly turned around in front of him, looking down at him.

"You, who are you?!" He Yanjin shouted with difficulty.

Zhili said in fluent Northern Yuan language, "I have come to help you on the orders of the God of War, Leilebaer. I will heal your leg injury and teach you kung fu."

After saying that, he flashed and instantly appeared in front of He Yanjin.

He Yanjin screamed in fright and crawled backward. After calming down, he said, "This, this is a dream, it's... a dream?"

With his head bowed, his handsome face seemed to glow in the moonlight over the grassland: "Do you want a cure? Do you want to learn the God of War's skills?"

He Yanjin stared blankly at him, then excitedly scrambled to his feet: "Okay, I'll learn! I want to learn! You teach me, you must teach me well! I want to go to the battlefield, I want to fight the Han people, I want to become the bravest man on the grasslands!"

Because he was so emotional, he didn't even stutter as much when he spoke.

Xia Zhaoyi and Xia Zhaoxue stood in the distance under the trees.

Xia Zhaoxue frowned with worry: "That kid Zhili is easily influenced. What if he develops real feelings for He Yanjin while acting?"

Xia Zhaoyi said, "Zhili is soft-hearted, but he has a clear sense of right and wrong. He Yanjin is a born bad guy. Although he is young, he has already taken many lives. Zhili will only find him annoying."

Remembering the rules of their sect, Xia Zhaoxue looked deeply at his younger sister and asked, "After this incident, will Zhili stay in Beiyuan Changliu or return to the Central Plains?"

"Shen Lie will be coming in the middle of the year, and they will go back together then."

When his sister mentioned Shen Lie, Xia Zhaoxue smiled and said, "Shen Lie has been traveling back and forth all these years, it must be hard on him."

Xia Zhaoyi's expression was slightly melancholy: "I also want to go back to see him when I'm not busy. We're always apart most of the time."

"Only in this way can we see true feelings."

Xia Zhaoyi gave a light snort: "No, my feelings for him are genuine."

Xia Zhaoxue smiled brightly as he looked at Zhili.

But then his younger sister said from the side, "However, it'll be over soon."

"Hmm?" Xia Zhaoxue looked back at her.

Xia Zhaoyi's eyes shone brightly: "Second Brother is actually well aware of the strength of the Northern Yuan. In that great battle back then, they almost exhausted all their resources. However, the Great Qian Dynasty was in dire straits, suffering from natural disasters, with internal troubles outweighing external threats. Moreover, Li Ju was a poor emperor. He was weak-willed, lacked the courage to stabilize the country, and always hid when faced with trouble. He was a coward. The heavy blow that the Northern Yuan dealt back then did not shatter the Central Plains of China, but rather Li Ju himself."

Xia Zhaoxue said, "Little sister's analysis is correct. Back then, the Northern Yuan did not win. They and we were both severely injured. However, most Northern Yuan people did not realize this."

Xia Zhaoyi smiled: "But we recover quickly. Give us a few years and we'll be back on our feet."

Xia Zhaoxue suddenly realized something: "Perhaps Song Zhiyi, Tian Dayao, and Yun Bozhong are actually meritorious. They rose to power quickly and carved out their own spheres of influence. Although they operated independently, they stabilized the situation in their respective territories, preventing the world from falling into complete chaos and leaving the Northern Yuan with no opportunity to take advantage. Although, they are not good people either."

Xia Zhaoyi smiled: "But they are above Li Ju."

Xia Zhaoxue smiled and said, "That's right."

The brother and sister were chatting here, while Zhili was teaching over there.

He Yanjin had always wanted to learn martial arts, but because he was lame, he didn't dare to say it aloud.

Because of his disability, Tao Lan never mentioned hiring a teacher for him.

Now, He Yanjin is learning very hard. Even if he stumbles and falls on the grass, getting his head bruised and bleeding, he quickly gets up and continues to practice.

As dawn approached, he said haltingly, "That's enough for today. I'll teach you again tomorrow night."

He Yanjin, drenched in sweat, said happily, "Okay! I'll wait for you! Come again tomorrow night!"

He said seriously, "However, you must promise me one thing."

He Yanjin blurted out, "You want money? Okay, I'll give it to you. How much do you want?"

Zhili shook his head: "I don't want money. What I want you to promise me is that you will not harm anyone. If anyone around you is hurt or implicated because of you, then I will never appear again."

He Yanjin sneered: "I thought it was something serious, but it's just a small matter! Fine! I'll do as you say!"

Zhili pointed ahead: "Look over there."

He Yanjin turned his head to look, and Zhili raised his hand and struck him on the back of the neck.

Xia Zhaoyi and Zhili sent the child back that very night, silently placing him back on his bed.

He Yanjin practiced his skills for the first time, and in his eagerness to achieve quick results, he practiced extremely hard, almost to the point of exhaustion.

He slept for a long time, woke up in the middle of the night to drink a large pot of water, and then went back to sleep. He wet the bed but did not wake up.

Tao Lan had been depressed for the past few days, but she cheered up today and came to see her son.

Just then, the wet nurses were tidying up the bedding that Yan Jin had wet the bed. When Tao Lan heard that he had been sleeping until now, she was shocked. When she went into the room and saw his face covered in injuries and a bloodstain on his forehead, Tao Lan was furious. She turned around and ordered the wet nurses and the nuns who served him to be brought in.

The wet nurses and servants knelt on the ground, trembling with fear. No one knew what had happened and could not answer.

Tao Lan was agitated and ordered someone to bring her a specially made spiked club, a thin, long stick covered with iron nails.

After his men retrieved it, Tao Lan swung it and struck one of the wet nurses.

The wet nurse dared not wail, and instead prostrated herself on the ground, begging for mercy.

"You won't talk, huh!" Tao Lan looked at the others, then swung her hand to smash it again.

A shoe suddenly flew over and hit the back of her head.

Tao Lan was furious. She turned around and saw her son rushing towards her like a wild wolf.

"Why did you hurt me?!" Upon seeing the blood on his nanny, He Yanjin, who had just woken up, felt a surge of anger rush to his head. "You're going to kill me! Why did you do this to me! My life is ruined because of you!!"

Tao Lan was knocked down by her son. In order not to hurt He Yanjin, Tao Lan quickly moved the spiked club away.

The maids and aunts around tried to stop them, but the chaos resulted in even more people being injured by the spiked clubs made of iron nails.

He Yanjin was also injured.

Looking at the blood on the ground and the wounded people, He Yanjin was going crazy. His eyes were bloodshot, and he turned to glare at Tao Lan.

Tao Lan was extremely frightened, but she still pushed through the crowd and ran over: "Jin'er?"

She reached out her hand to help He Yanjin up.

Suddenly, He Yanjin grabbed her hand and bit down hard on the back of it.

A mouthful of blood gushed out, penetrating deep into the flesh. Tao Lan cried out in pain and instinctively pushed his head away.

People around them tried to separate them, but He Yanjin held on very tightly. Pulling He Yanjin back only aggravated Tao Lan's pain.

"Jin'er!" Tao Lan was furious. "What's gotten into you? Let go of me, let go!!"

Finally, the aunts next to him pulled He Yanjin away.

Tao Lan's flesh had been bitten out and was hanging on the back of her hand.

"You dare touch my people again!" He Yanjin gritted his teeth. "Get out! Han Chinese, get out of here!!"

Tao Lan slapped her son across the face again.

He Yanjin pushed away his aunt who came to help him and yelled at Tao Lan, "You dare to hit me again? You hit me before, and you dare to hit me again now! I'm going to kill you!!"

He Yanjin turned around and ran to the drawer, taking out a knife.

"lady!"

"Master!"

The maids and aunts nearby were terrified and exclaimed in alarm.

Tao Lan was escorted out of the house, where people who had heard the commotion had rushed over.

Many people stood protectively in front of Tao Lan. Tao Lan looked at her son, tears streaming down her face: "Jin'er..."

He Yanjin stood inside the room, a knife pointed at her, his eyes bloodshot: "From today onwards, you are not allowed to harm anyone around me! If you dare to harm even one more person, I will kill you, I will kill you!!!"

"How did you become like this?" Tao Lan cried. "Jin'er, weren't you the most obedient and sensible one!"

He Yanjin nearly bit off his own teeth: "If the envoy from Relebar doesn't show up tonight, you just wait!"

After saying that, He Yanjin gripped the knife, turned around, and went back into the house.

Tao Lan had been in a bad mood for the past few days, and Yan Jin's change in demeanor had greatly frightened her.

She was trembling after she got home. When Mr. Mo heard about it, he rushed over immediately. When he applied medicine to the back of her hand, she was already trembling so badly that she was convulsing.

“Madam…” Mr. Mo said, “You must calm down.”

“He hates me,” Tao Lan cried. “Why does Jin’er hate me so much? I’m the one who gave birth to him and raised him. Why does he hate me so much?”

Mr. Mo paused for a moment, then asked, "Why did you mention Relebar, young master? Who is Relebar's envoy?"

Tao Lan said, "Perhaps it was just his dream."

Mr. Mo nodded and didn't ask any more questions.

But this matter is far from over.

That night, He Yanjin waited with his eyes open, but nothing came.

He was still a child after all and couldn't fight off sleep, but when he woke up the next day, he was still in his own bed.

The next day, he flew into a rage.

However, he dared not hurt anyone, so he took his anger out on the furnishings in the house, smashing everything.

As night deepened, he waited as usual, but nothing happened.

He Yanjin went completely mad. He grabbed the knife and went to cause another scene with Tao Lan.

On the fourth and fifth days, the person he was waiting for still hadn't appeared, and Tao Lan's days became more and more difficult.

Soon, the news spread throughout Mingfang City that Tao Lan had failed in her duty to raise her son, and that He Yanjin was plotting to kill his mother every day.

Meanwhile, Xia Zhaoyi and Zhili had already left Mingfang City.

Zhili wanted to go to Huangmenhai to see something new, and Xia Zhaoyi had plenty of time these past few days, so she accompanied him.

Before leaving, Zhili repeatedly told Xia Zhaoxue to let Tao Lan and her son make a fuss, and not to touch Tao Lan, but to wait for him and Xia Zhaoyi to return.

Xia Zhaoxue agreed.

Huangmenhai is very large, located at the junction of Han people, Northern Yuan people, Wanrong people, and Western Yitang people.

Zhi Li had never been here before, but he had made arrangements beforehand. As soon as he arrived in Huangmenhai, he took Xia Zhaoyi straight to the busiest market in Huangmenhai and checked into the Xuanhai Inn.

I checked in at dusk, which is supposed to be the liveliest time of day, but the streets were deserted, and all the gambling dens along the street were closed.

There is no jurisdiction here, no curfew, and many bandits and robbers after nightfall. Moreover, no matter how hot it is during the day, it is very cold here after nightfall.

The two siblings booked two superior rooms. Xia Zhaoyi had just finished washing up when Zhili came looking for him, saying that the person he wanted to see had arrived.

Upon entering the private room of the inn, the two siblings were both taken aback.

The person Zhili wanted to see was surnamed Luo, named Xianyin, and was the eldest disciple of Master Gu's eldest disciple. He was about thirty years old.

The person sitting next to him looked exactly like Yang Guanxian.

But he was very thin, extremely thin; three of him couldn't make up one Yang Guanxian.

After sitting down, Zhili hurriedly asked, "Are you Yang Guanxian's second younger brother, Yang Changshan?!"

Yang Changshan smiled and looked at Xia Zhaoyi: "General Ali."

Xia Zhaoyi frowned: "Master Yang, Yang Guanxian has been looking for you. We all thought you were living in seclusion on Lingfeng Mountain."

Yang Changshan said, "I know, but it is inconvenient for me to contact him."

Luo Xianyin said, "General Ali, Master Yang has been helping me investigate things all these years at my request. The matter I need to investigate is the will of our sect leader. And the matter our sect leader needs to investigate is the will of General Ali's master."

Xia Zhaoyi: "..."

fragmented:"……"

He paused, then stammered, "...You've been investigating for so many years?"

Luo Xianyin said, "Yes, the investigation began after the Qianqiu Palace incident."

Yang Changshan said, "Lingfeng Mountain is a secluded retreat from the world, which is an excuse I deliberately made up. To make it more believable, I also made the excuse of going out to travel during Grain Rain. In fact, I have hardly ever returned to Lingfeng Mountain in recent years."

Zhi Li asked curiously, "Then, what are you investigating that requires such secrecy?"

Luo Xianyin smiled and said, "Yes, that's exactly what Uncle Zhili mentioned in his letter."

After speaking, Luo Xianyin looked at Yang Changshan.

Yang Changshan said, "I have some knowledge of metaphysics, so I used the alias Yao Shan and became one of Tang Xiangsi's confidants."

He stammered, "This..."

Yang Changshan continued, "When Tang Xiangsi asked Xie Huaichu to investigate that bronze bell, I was right next to them."

When he mentioned Xie Huaichu, Zhili and Xia Zhaoyi exchanged glances.

Poor Tang Xiangsi. Everyone says she has a benefactor to help her, but her life is full of holes.

Yang Changshan said, "This bronze bell aroused my curiosity, and I finally found out that this bell originally belonged to Wei Xingchuan's grandmother, Princess Duoyue, who was also the abbess of Yuetang Temple."

Xia Zhaoyi already knew the details of Princess Duoyue's life that Yang Changshan was about to tell her from Chongmen Heng, so she could confirm that Chongmen Heng had not lied to her.

At the same time, Xia Zhaoyi was right. Princess Duoyue's bronze bells had long since disappeared, and the one she was holding was indeed a replica made by Feng Qingang.

However, she only guessed half of it correctly.

Yang Changshan said that this bell was not the one Feng Qingang saw in Qianqiu Hall, so it was made as a replica later.

Instead, after learning that Han Ruiqian was building a secret treasure, Tang Xiangsi specifically entrusted the blueprints of this bronze bell to an astrologer, who was to take it into Han Ruiqian's underground palace and have the talented people Han Ruiqian had gathered recreate it. Unfortunately, the astrologer did not emerge, and therefore could not take the bell out.

The significance of this bronze bell to Tang Xiangsi is related to the secret chamber beneath the Yue Tang Temple.

Yang Changshan said a lot, took a sip of water, and then slowly said, "In this matter, there isn't a single good person among them."