Tang Dynasty Puppet Doctor

Chapter 25: Alliance and Meeting
Why do you hate Zhou Xing so much?
A pair of sinister and smiling little eyes flashed through Murong Huan's mind again!
And there was his father's voice: "Ah Huan, don't be afraid, just have a good sleep, and everything will be fine when you wake up!"

She knew that when she was young, her father had hypnotized her in order to make her forget the pain of witnessing her mother being hunted. After that, she forgot many things, including her mother's appearance.

But since she learned how to use incense to induce hypnosis, she began to work hard to find those vague memories.

Among these chaotic memories, a man wearing a hood and with a sinister look became particularly clear.

And this person was Zhou Xing whom she met today!

Murong Huan raised his head with a smile, meeting Xiao Muchen's gaze: "Shouldn't a villain like him, with his hands stained with blood, deserve to die?"

Xiao Muchen was slightly stunned, with an amused look on his face.

"Actually, my request is very simple. I just need Xiao Zhongcheng to submit a memorial impeaching Zhou Xing to the Saint!"

"Impeach him for what?"

"There are many charges, but I know that things like killing loyal officials, killing innocent people, and even condoning his adopted son to abuse and kill young girls are not enough to send him to prison. The only thing that can send him to prison and never have a chance to turn things around is treason!"

Xiao Muchen smiled slightly: "You know, if there is insufficient evidence and the impeachment fails, it is very likely that I will be imprisoned in his Ministry of Justice."

"I don't think Xiao Zhongcheng is so afraid of villains. The sages established the system of censorship, encouraging common people to inform on others. Since Zhou Xing was able to kill countless officials and members of the Li clan on charges of treason, why couldn't Xiao Zhongcheng fabricate the same charges against him?"

Murong Huan said this, and then he said firmly, "Don't worry, I will send him to hell before you go to jail. I will also make him confess to treason before he dies. Do you think this evidence is enough?"

Xiao Muchen's face finally darkened.

"You're going to assassinate him?"

"No, I won't kill anyone!" Murong Huan said, then changed the subject, "I'll make him commit suicide!"

Having said this, Xiao Muchen's expression completely changed. After a long silence, he smiled very warmly and gently.

His smile is unfathomable, yet it makes people feel comfortable like a spring breeze.

Suddenly, he stood up and held out his hand to her:
"Okay, then I, Xiao Muchen, will form an alliance with you from today on. From now on, our lives will be linked together, living and dying together!"

"it is good!"

Murong Huan did not shy away and placed his hand directly on his palm, allowing him to feel the soft and cool touch of their skin.

Interlocking their fingers, she said, "The alliance is complete. I hope to hear good news from Xiao Zhongcheng within three days!"

After saying this, Murong Huan stood up and strode out the door. Suddenly, Xiao Muchen's voice came from behind him, asking, "Didn't you really kill Zhou Jiulang?"

"no!"

"Then why did you break into my villa last night?"

Xiao Muchen's question made Murong Huan look a little surprised, but then she smiled and understood.

"The person you saw might not be me!"

Is not it?
This made Xiao Muchen doubt his memory, which had never been wrong.

But he still reminded: "Whether it is true or not, you should be careful of Wuling Yue in the future!"

Wuling Yue?
So the injuries on her body were caused by Wuling Yue, the deputy governor of the Internal Guard?
After pondering for a moment, Murong Huan bowed and said "Thank you!", then quickly left the private room and walked out of the teahouse. Ah Shu had been waiting at the door for a long time.

When Su Qing saw Murong Huan coming out, his face showed an inexplicable complex expression, not sure whether it was joy or sorrow.

"Ah Huan, this Xiao Zhongcheng didn't give you any trouble, did he?"

"no!"

"It's not a good idea for you to always meet in private like this. If someone with ulterior motives sees you and starts gossiping, it will be very bad for your reputation!"

"What's wrong with that? Uncle is worried that I'll get a reputation as a homosexual and damage the Su family's reputation?"

Murong Huan's words made Su Qing choke and he could no longer speak.

After chasing her for a long distance, Murong Huan suddenly stopped again: "By the way, I have something else to do. Uncle, please take Su Sanlang back!"

"What's the matter with you? You..." Su Qing lowered his voice and whispered in her ear, "What could possibly happen to an unmarried girl? Even if there is something, it's about marriage. How about letting your uncle go and propose marriage for you? At worst, I can sacrifice my reputation for the time being, but I can't let you continue to suffer this loss."

"Besides, this Xiao Zhongcheng is from a prominent aristocratic family. Speaking of his family background, his ancestors produced many emperors, and he himself is a rare young talent..."

He talked on and on for a long time, but found that Murong Huan had already walked away with A Shu and was not listening to him at all.

"This child...why doesn't he listen to advice?"

Su Qing felt a little disappointed, but then he thought again, if Ah Huan could always stay close to Xiao Zhongcheng, it would be a great thing for the Su family!

The issue of status may not be rushed, but... what if you have a child?
Su Sanlang saw him smiling at one moment and looking gloomy at another, which was very confusing. "Father, what are you mumbling about?"

"What am I grumbling about?" Su Qing looked at his son with disdain and sighed, "I'm grumbling about how great it would be if Ah Huan were really my son! She alone could be worth several of you brothers, and you're all so clueless! Really! Go home right now and stop causing trouble for me!"

……

A long time after Murong Huan left, Xiao Muchen still stayed in the private room. He stood there in silence for a long time, watching the woman in blue disappear in the bustling crowd on the street.

"My dear, you really want to cooperate with her! This little girl seems to be born without fear, acting so freely and lawless. Doesn't she have any worries? For example, the price of failure?" Xuan Yu asked. "And she's an abandoned girl without a father or mother, without any soldiers or soldiers around her. Where does she get the confidence from?"

"Her confidence comes from me and Zhou Jiulang's murder!"

Xiao Muchen put down the unfinished cup of tea in his hand, looked at the wafting mist, and sighed silently with a smile, "Maybe something is really simple, but we think too much about it, so we can't accomplish it without being restrained. On the contrary, being unrestrained, ignorant and fearless can achieve great things!"

"Xuan Yu, send a few skilled people to assist her!" He then added solemnly, "Keep her safe!"

"Here!"

"Also, send someone to bring Lai Junchen to see me!"

"Lai Junchen? My dear, why are you meeting him? Isn't he just a villain who was promoted by the Sage by successfully informing on others?"

"Isn't the best knife for dealing with a villain the villain himself?" Xiao Muchen asked, "Do you want me to be the villain?"

Looking at Xiao Muchen's righteous look, Xuan Yu finally understood.

"Here, Xuanyu will bring Junchen, this villain's knife, to see you, my lord!"

After saying this, Xuan Yu was about to leave when he heard Xiao Muchen add:
"Also, spread the news of this well-diving case throughout Luoyang City as quickly as possible! I'll be of great use to you!"

……

Amidst the endless stream of people, Ah Shu chased Murong Huan until they reached a deserted alleyway and couldn't help but ask:
"Ah Huan, do you really want to help Lu Shaoqing investigate this case? You only gave us three days. What if it's..."

Ah Shu really wanted to say, what if the murderer is really you?
"I'm not the murderer, Ah Shu, don't feel guilty anymore!"

"Yes!"

"Besides, it doesn't matter who the murderer is. What matters is that Zhou Xing is the mastermind." Murong Huan pondered for a moment, then suddenly said, "Let's go to Sigongfang!"

"Ah? Why are we going to Sigongfang again?"

"Because Wang Wuniang wants to tell me something."

The story of Wang Wuniang's puppet show was not just to express the heroine Huo Xiaolian's life experience and ending. She had a hidden meaning and told the story specifically to her!

……

Zi Yu Temple, Zi Yu Pavilion, this name was familiar to Murong Huan. It was near Baihua Tower in Sigongfang. A quick glance at it that night had already left a deep impression in her mind.

When Murong Huan brought Ashu to Ziyu Pavilion, he saw a girl in a lotus-colored gauze shirt and a pearl flower on her head waiting in the pavilion with a maid, and two guards standing beside them.

This person is Wang Wu Niang!
Seeing Murong Huan, dressed in men's clothing, arrive, Wang Wuniang quickly stood up and came out to greet him: "Mr. Li..., how are you?"

"Very good!" Murong Huan said, already reaching out to feel Wang Wuniang's pulse. "But you, don't seem to be doing so well?"

Wang Wuniang nodded slightly, said nothing was wrong, asked the guards to stand further away, and told the maid to close all the doors and windows.

"Wu Niang, thank you so much, Mr. Li... for saving me!" She knelt down and bowed, her eyes filled with a complex mixture of gratitude and shame.

"You aborted the child?"

Wang Wuniang looked up in surprise, then lowered her head sadly. "Yes, I can't give this child a stable future. Even if I were to live with him, I wouldn't be able to live safely in the Wang family. The men of our Taiyuan Wang family value their reputation the most. I can't become a laughing stock that brings shame to the Wang family, and I can't let my mother be embarrassed because of me. So, I was cowardly and gave up bringing him into this world!"

Murong Huan said, "The road of life is often filled with dilemmas. It's human nature to choose a smoother path over a bumpy one filled with thorns. You don't have to feel guilty!"

"But why did you use Huo Xiaolian's story to attract my attention?" Murong Huan asked again, jokingly saying, "I'm not the unfaithful Li Lang! Why did you ask me to come here?"

Wang Wuniang smiled, her smile as delicate as a lotus blossoming. "Su Langjun really knows how to joke. The Li Lang in the story certainly can't be Su Langjun, and I'm not Huo Xiaolian!"

"I know that Mr. Su is investigating Zhou Jiulang's case. Although I don't know why you are involved in this case, Wu Niang still remembers your kindness and wants to do her best to help you."

After a pause, she explained, "The reason I told you the story of Huo Xiaolian to attract your attention is because I wanted to take you to see the real Huo Xiaolian. She's also a poor person persecuted by Zhou Xing and his son. She knows a little about Zhou Jiulang. A year ago, I met her at a poetry gathering. She's also a very intelligent and talented woman. It's a pity that this girl, who was clearly blessed by heaven, had such a pitiful life that she fell into such a quagmire."

Is she also a favored daughter of heaven, falling into the quagmire?

Murong Huan felt an inexplicable sense of sadness in his heart. After a moment of silence, he said, "Okay, then take me to see her!"

(End of this chapter)