My Taoist buddy has practiced surrogacy

Chapter 1449 Discovery
She pioneered blood transfusion therapy, saving the lives of many soldiers.

In a snow-covered valley, the army was ambushed. In the chaos, a stray arrow flew towards Zhou Xing. Ling Xue reacted swiftly, leaping in front of him to shield him, the blade piercing her shoulder blade. Blood stained her clothes, but she endured the pain and plunged a poisoned dagger into the attacker's throat.

While recovering from his injuries after the battle, Zhou Xing unexpectedly discovered a mark on Ling Xue's back that perfectly matched the phoenix birthmark that appeared when he was reborn. This astonishing discovery caused a surge of emotion within him. With trembling hands, he touched the scar and said tenderly, "So you are my destiny."

That very night, when the good news reached the capital, the Imperial Astronomical Bureau observed an unusual constellation appearing near the Purple Star. An astrologer, trembling, reported to Zhou Xing: "An omen of two phoenixes perching on a parasol tree..." This prophecy, like a boulder thrown into a calm lake, stirred up enormous waves in the palace.

The atmosphere at the sacrificial ceremony was solemn and dignified. Suddenly, a group of rebels rushed into the scene, attempting to assassinate the emperor. The situation instantly became precarious. At this critical moment, Ling Xue acted decisively, using homemade gunpowder to create a booming effect, disrupting the rebels' attack. Then, she used her exquisite acupuncture skills to stimulate the acupoints around his body, activating his latent power.

On the dragon throne, Zhou Xing awakened dual memories. He finally understood that the woman before him was the one he had been searching for in his past life. He tightly grasped Ling Xue's hand and loudly announced, "The imperial decree appoints her as Empress Co-ruling." The court erupted in uproar, but no one dared to disobey the emperor's order.

The newly unearthed underground palace of the former dynasty is covered with modern medical diagrams, and figures in white coats can be vaguely seen in the corners of the murals. Ling Xue stroked the familiar formulas on the stone wall and chuckled: "So, a thousand years ago, someone was already waiting to meet me."

From then on, under the joint rule of Zhou Xing and Ling Xue, the Qing Kingdom ushered in an era of prosperity. They weathered storms together, writing a legendary love story. And throughout history, their deeds have been passed down through the ages.

In December, Luoyang was shrouded in a heavy snowfall, turning the world into a silvery white expanse. Ling Xue stood in front of the "Drunken Immortal Abode" restaurant, gazing at the plum trees whose branches were bent low by the weight of snow, her heart filled with worry. This restaurant was a business she had taken over from her father, but now business was increasingly slow, and she was losing money. If things continued like this, she feared it would have to close down.

Just as he was secretly worrying, the sound of horses' hooves approached from afar. A group of guards escorted a magnificent carriage to a stop in front of the restaurant. The carriage door opened, and alighting was none other than Zhou Xing, the heir of the Duke of Zhenguo. He was tall and straight, and a purple sable cloak made his face even more handsome, with an innate air of nobility in his eyes.

Zhou Xing glanced at the restaurant's signboard, then walked in with a hint of amusement. Ling Xue quickly stepped forward and bowed, "Your Highness's arrival is an honor to our humble establishment." Zhou Xing nodded slightly, casually found a seat by the window, and ordered several specialty dishes and a pot of strong liquor.

During the meal, Zhou Xing seemingly casually observed everything in the restaurant. He noticed several jars of aged wine placed in the corner, and after his gaze lingered on them for a moment, he asked, "Are these your best wines?" Ling Xue quickly replied, "Your Highness, these are pear blossom white wines that our shop has treasured for many years, with a mellow and lingering taste." As she spoke, she personally poured Zhou Xing a glass of wine.

Zhou Xing took a small bite, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes: "Indeed excellent." He then pointed to several dishes and asked the kitchen to prepare them again, specifically instructing that they be seasoned with a certain special spice. Ling Xue dared not neglect her duty and personally took charge of the cooking. Her culinary skills were already superb, and coupled with her unique understanding of ingredients, the dishes she made earned Zhou Xing's high praise.

For the next few days, Zhou Xing would bring his staff to drink and discuss matters. Each time, he would make some novel requests, such as changing the way the dishes were presented or adjusting the room temperature. Ling Xue always managed to cleverly meet his needs, and a tacit understanding gradually formed between the two.

One night, after the restaurant closed, Ling Xue was checking the accounts. Suddenly, she heard a slight noise on the roof. Alert, she grabbed a wooden stick and quietly went up to the attic to investigate. In the moonlight, she saw a dark figure climb over the wall and enter the backyard. Ling Xue looked closely and saw that it was Zhou Xing. He was standing under the old plum tree, seemingly waiting for something.

Just as Ling Xue was about to ask a question, Zhou Xing took out a piece of warm jade from his pocket and handed it to her: "This is a token for you. If you ever encounter trouble, take this and someone will help you." Before Ling Xue could react, he disappeared into the night. Ling Xue held the beautiful jade, still warm from his body, her heart filled with doubt and curiosity.

As the Lantern Festival approached, the entire capital city of Luoyang was immersed in the festive atmosphere. Every household was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and the streets and alleys were bustling with activity. Ling Xue also took this opportunity to launch her newly developed lantern banquet set menu, attracting many customers. However, at this very moment, a major event occurred in the city—the Minister of Revenue died suddenly at home. After the news spread, the imperial court immediately launched an investigation. Rumors began circulating among the common people that "Zui Xian Ju" was involved in the murder. Some said they saw suspicious individuals entering and leaving the restaurant on the night of the incident; others speculated that the murderer might have used the restaurant to transmit messages or hide evidence. In an instant, various rumors spread like wildfire, causing widespread panic.

That noon, several constables barged into "Drunken Immortal Inn," claiming they wanted to search for evidence. They ransacked the place, frightening the customers who fled. Ling Xue tried to stop them but to no avail, and could only watch helplessly as they wreaked havoc. Just as the situation was about to spiral out of control, Zhou Xing suddenly appeared. He revealed his identity, stopped the constables, and promised to thoroughly investigate the matter.

After everyone had left, Zhou Xing pulled Ling Xue aside and whispered, "There's probably more to this than meets the eye. You need to be careful lately." He also secretly arranged for his trusted guards to protect her around the restaurant. With Zhou Xing's support, Ling Xue felt a little relieved, but she knew this turmoil was far from over.

Meanwhile, in a private room of the restaurant, a mysterious guest was waiting for an opportunity to speak with Ling Xue alone. When he finally met her, he took out half of a tiger tally from his pocket and showed it to her: "Do you know what this is, young lady?" Seeing Ling Xue shake her head in confusion, he continued, "This is one of the tokens of the elite unit that disappeared twenty years ago. Now, someone is searching everywhere for the remaining parts, and your restaurant may very well be the key." After saying this, he left with a meaningful remark.

Late at night, after everyone had fallen asleep, Ling Xue secretly went to the study to rummage through her father's belongings. At the bottom of a worn-out book box, she found a yellowed fragment of a map. The drawing resembled a topographical map, but the exact location wasn't clearly defined. Connecting this to the events of the day and the mysterious guest's words, Ling Xue realized that this small piece of paper might hold a huge secret…

Since the death of the Minister of Revenue, undercurrents have been swirling in the imperial court. Officials from different factions have become increasingly suspicious and hostile towards each other, making the situation increasingly tense. Meanwhile, various rumors have circulated among the common people, each offering a different version of the story about the case. Some say it was revenge by a rival; others say it involved palace intrigue; still others speculate it was related to border conflicts… In short, there are many conflicting accounts and no consensus.

In this complex environment, "Drunken Immortal Abode" became a focal point for various forces. Every day, all sorts of people came and went to inquire about information or test the waters. Among them were many spies and secret agents disguised as ordinary diners. On the surface, they pretended to eat and drink nonchalantly, but in reality, they were secretly observing everyone's actions, especially Ling Xue's reactions.

One evening, while Ling Xue was busy greeting guests, a young man in a brocade robe walked in. He introduced himself as Mr. Li, a merchant from the south who had come to this place on a business trip. He had heard of the delicious food here and wanted to try it. He asked Ling Xue to recommend some of his signature dishes and requested a private room. Although Ling Xue found it a bit strange, she arranged a quiet room for him as usual and instructed the kitchen to carefully prepare the ingredients for the dinner. During the meal, this young master Li kept praising how delicious the dishes were, while also subtly asking many questions about the restaurant's operations, especially about whether there had been any unusual events recently. This made Ling Xue suspicious. She gave a few perfunctory answers and then excused herself to leave the room to report the incident to Zhou Xing's head guard. After listening for a moment, the head guard told her that this man was likely someone with ulterior motives and that she should be careful not to reveal any important information.

As expected, a few days later, another group of unfamiliar faces visited "Drunken Immortal Abode." This time, they no longer concealed their purpose, directly stating that they were hired by someone to investigate certain matters and hoped for cooperation, otherwise they would bear the consequences! Faced with such a threat, Ling Xue displayed extraordinary composure. She first politely asked them to show relevant documents to prove their legal identity, and after receiving a negative answer, she decisively refused to cooperate and ordered her subordinates to throw them out! This action attracted the attention of everyone present and showed those who intended to kill her with a soft knife the strength hidden in this seemingly weak woman's bones!
As time goes by, more and more clues surface, and seemingly unrelated events gradually become connected, forming a huge net that shrouds the entire city of Luojing. Everyone is like prey trapped within it, with nowhere to escape and only able to await their fate...

One morning, Ling Xue opened her shop to find a man lying on the door – the very same young man who had claimed to be surnamed Li! He was lifeless, covered in wounds, clearly murdered and dumped there in an attempt to frame "Drunken Immortal Inn." Soon, government officials arrived, cordoned off the area, and questioned those involved. As the shop owner, Ling Xue naturally became one of the prime suspects.

Although Zhou Xing's mediation temporarily preserved her freedom, she still felt unprecedented pressure. The feeling of being wronged and powerless to defend herself was a hundred or a thousand times worse than death! In order to clear her name and prove her innocence, Ling Xue decided to take the initiative to find the real murderer instead of sitting and waiting for someone else's judgment!

She recalled some investigative techniques her father had taught her and, combined with the experience she had accumulated over this period, began a difficult and arduous path of self-redemption... First, she carefully examined the wounds on the body and determined that the murder weapon was a sharp knife, and that the killer was ruthless and not the work of an ordinary person; then she interviewed nearby residents to learn about the places the deceased frequented and the list of people she had contacted; finally, she even risked sneaking into the morgue to examine the body again, hoping to find more useful clues...

After several days and nights of hard work, a breakthrough was finally achieved! It turned out that the so-called merchant was actually an informant for a secret organization. They had been monitoring "Drunken Immortal Abode" in an attempt to obtain information about the Tiger Tally! And behind that organization were several ministers in the court and even some members of the royal family! This discovery shocked Ling Xue, and she realized that she had been drawn into a shocking conspiracy from which she could not extricate herself!
Just when she was feeling desperate, Zhou Xing appeared with a new plan—to lure the snake out of its hole! By faking her death, they would draw out the mastermind and capture them in one fell swoop! Although this plan was very risky, if successful, it would not only bring justice to Ling Xue but also completely expose the true face of that massive criminal organization—a win-win situation! After weighing the pros and cons, Ling Xue agreed to this bold idea…

As planned, Ling Xue publicly announced that she had decided to close the restaurant for a period of time and return to her hometown to recuperate due to excessive grief, but in reality, she secretly hid in the shadows to observe the situation. At the same time, Zhou Xing spread the news that he had found a new clue pointing in another direction, in order to confuse the enemy and make them lower their guard. Everything went smoothly until one night, a group of masked men suddenly broke into the deserted "Drunken Immortal Residence" and searched everywhere. Clearly, they were after something!
Hidden on the rooftop, Ling Xue could clearly see that these people were indeed assassins from that mysterious organization! She suppressed her fear, gripping her dagger tightly, ready to fight at any moment! Just then, another commotion erupted outside the door; it turned out that the night patrol soldiers had discovered the anomaly and rushed to investigate! The two sides immediately descended into chaos, and the situation quickly spiraled out of control!
In the chaos, a tall man seized the opportunity to slip into the basement and disappeared. Seeing this, Ling Xue immediately gave chase, and the two ran to an abandoned warehouse in the backyard where they confronted each other. By the dim moonlight, she recognized him as one of the emperor's favorite ministers! It was completely unexpected that he would personally get involved in such a matter!
The man sneered, "Little girl, do you think you can stop us? Let me tell you, the entire Great Yin Dynasty will soon fall into our hands!" With that, he drew his long sword and lunged at Ling Xue! At the critical moment, Zhou Xing arrived just in time, blocking the fatal blow and engaging in a fierce battle! The two were highly skilled in martial arts, fighting evenly and evenly matched! Finally, Zhou Xing, relying on his superior intelligence, found his opponent's weakness and subdued him in one move!
The interrogation revealed that this was all a coup orchestrated by the current prime minister in an attempt to overthrow the emperor and establish himself as king! The tiger tally was the key to securing support for the border garrisons, which is why it attracted so much attention!