The Prodigal Son

After complaining to Wang Yansi, Qin Yu returned to his room and told the two women what he had learned from Wang Yansi.

Xu Wan's lips curled into a smile. "You wouldn't be thinking of going there to investigate, would you?"

"right!"

Qin Yu readily admitted, "I was thinking that if the ancestral home of Que'er and the others is in that area, we might be able to explore it and perhaps find some clues about the secrets of the Nine Dragon Pendant."

Xu Wan frowned slightly. "Even if what's recorded on the jade disc is true, it happened hundreds of years ago. Is it still possible to find any clues?"

"How will you know if you don't go look for it?"

Qin Yu smiled and said, "Anyway, we don't have anything else to do right now, so let's try our luck! If it doesn't work out, we can just treat it as a trip to enjoy the scenery!"

So many people are vying for the Nine Dragon Pendant, it must be something extraordinary!

If we can figure out the secret of the Nine Dragon Pendant, we will know what Bei Qi wants it for.

"Too!"

Xu Wan smiled, "You can also look for Chen Yi later and see if he has anything similar, or find out where he got it from!"

"Um."

Qin Yu nodded, then turned to Nan Que'er and asked, "Didn't your elders tell you where your ancestors' ancestral lands were located?"

"I haven't actually said that."

Nan Que'er shook her head and smiled bitterly, "They only said it was in the mountains of the Central Plains."

"Among the mountains?"

Xu Wan's eyebrows twitched. "Could it be a mountain stream, the 'stream' in 'mountain stream'?"

Ok?

Upon hearing her words, Qin Yu and Nan Que'er's eyes lit up simultaneously.

"You know what, it's actually possible!"

Nan Que'er exclaimed excitedly, "If it really is a mountain stream, then it's very likely located in the Zhanlong Gorge area!"

Everything she had heard was passed down orally.

Many things will inevitably change in meaning as they are passed down.

"It seems we really do need to make a trip to Dragon Slaying Gorge!"

A strange light flashed in Qin Yu's eyes. "We'll call Senior Ning and Senior Zhao along, then we won't be afraid of any danger! Hmm, no need to wait until then, I'll go find them now!"

As a man of action, Qin Yu left the house as quickly as possible.

Ning Huang and Zhao Po lived right next door to him, so he didn't even need to go through the door; he could just climb over the wall.

Just as Qin Yu crossed the courtyard wall, a blur swept in like a whirlwind.

What the hell!

Great!

I forgot to say hello beforehand!

He's probably being mistaken for an assassin!

"It's me, Qin Yu!"

Qin Yu quickly revealed his identity to save the dog's life.

The afterimage abruptly stopped.

But the strong wind couldn't be withdrawn in time.

Bang!

A powerful force slammed into Qin Yu's chest like a heavy punch, sending him flying backward and crashing heavily into the wall behind him.

"what……"

A piercing scream echoed in Zhao Luan's bedchamber.

Zhao Luan was caught off guard by an unexpected disaster while she was sleeping. She was woken up by the pain and almost rolled around on the bed.

"Qin Yu!!!"

Zhao Luan clenched her fists tightly, gritting her teeth and growling, "I'm not finished with you!"

That bastard must have gone and provoked Ning Huang or Zhao Po!

With his current achievements, only Ning Huang and Zhao Po dare to lay a hand on him!

Bang!

The palace gate was violently pushed open.

Yun Ying rushed in hurriedly, and before she even showed herself, her voice reached Zhao Luan's ears.

"Your Majesty, what has happened?"

Yun Ying rushed to the dragon bed, disregarding any potential offense, and quickly lifted the curtain, looking at Zhao Luan with great anxiety.

"N-nothing!"

Zhao Luan forced herself to sit up despite the pain, wiping the sweat from her forehead. "I just had a nightmare."

"what?"

Yun Ying was surprised, then quickly brought a cloak and draped it over Zhao Luan, pleading guilty: "I heard Your Majesty screaming outside, and thought something had happened in the palace. In my panic, I entered Your Majesty's palace without permission. I beg Your Majesty to punish me!"

"What crime are you punishing!"

Zhao Luan waved his hand gently, then pointed to the small stool beside him, "I was so frightened by this nightmare that I'm no longer sleepy. Keep me company and talk to me!"

Punishing her doesn't mean punishing her for her crimes.

Qin Yu, that bastard, must be punished!

Why would someone who's already full and bored provoke Ning Huang and Zhao Po?

Fortunately, the worst of the pain has passed, otherwise she would have trouble even speaking now.

"Thank you, Your Majesty!"

As Yunying spoke, she sat down on a small stool nearby and asked curiously, "What nightmare did Your Majesty have?"

However, as soon as the question left her mouth, Yunying regretted it.

This is not something I should be asking.

Zhao Luan clenched her fists, saying bitterly, "I dreamt that Qin Yu was riddled with arrows, and he ran to me with bloody holes all over his body!"

"..."

Hearing Zhao Luan's words, Yun Ying was at a loss for words, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

What you think about during the day, you dream about at night.

Qin Yu has made such great contributions, why does His Majesty still harbor such deep resentment towards him?

After regaining her senses, Yun Ying couldn't help but chuckle and said, "His Majesty must be angry about Qin Langzhong's selling of official positions."

This afternoon, Zhao Luan received a secret letter sent back by Du Zhiwen, detailing Qin Yu's sale of official positions and explaining the reasons behind it.

I guess she was angered by Qin Yu.

Zhao Luan nodded noncommittally, "Sometimes I really want to hang this bastard up and give him a good beating! Every time he does something good, he turns around and causes trouble!"

Upon hearing this, Yun Ying was immediately puzzled. "Your Majesty, I think what Lord Du said in his letter makes a lot of sense! Isn't this a good thing?"

"Qin Yu did it on purpose! That bastard's head is probably filled with nonsense like his achievements overshadowing the emperor!"

Zhao Luan was secretly annoyed. "Forget it, I won't talk about that bastard anymore! The more I talk about him, the angrier I get! How's the selection of the people to be sent to Yu Jing's side going?"

"I've made my choice!"

When the conversation turned to business, Yun Ying's face immediately became serious. "There are ten people in total, eight men and two women, all of them meticulous individuals! Their current identities are all Min people who lost their families in the war. They will set off for Min in the next couple of days and will use their own methods to get to Yu Jing's side! We hope that three or four of them can successfully stay by Yu Jing's side!"

Zhao Luan nodded slightly and instructed, "Tell them to be extremely cautious. They can fail, but they must not arouse Yu Jing's suspicion!"

"I have already given the order," Yun Ying replied. "In addition, I have secretly sent someone to contact Gao Yao's personal maid, Chun Tao, and she has agreed to be my informant."

"Good, you've improved!"

Zhao Luan gave Yun Ying an approving look, "By the way, you'll be twenty-one after this year, your marriage..."

"I have no intention of getting married!"

Yun Ying looked at Zhao Luan with unwavering eyes, "I wish to remain unmarried for life, desiring only to serve Your Majesty!"

"What does your serving me have to do with whether you get married or not?"

Zhao Luan glared at Yun Ying with a smile, "Does that mean you can't serve me now that you're married?"

"I am not considering these matters now," Yun Ying said, her gaze remaining firm.

Looking at Yun Ying in front of him, Zhao Luan couldn't help but shake his head and smile.

Suddenly, she understood why the Empress Dowager had repeatedly urged her to get married!

Ugh!

marry!

There are so many things to consider regarding my marriage...