Legendary Son-in-Law: The Man with Poison Talismans

I don't know why, but even the commander is trying to get close to me. But it doesn't matter; you can't hit someone who's smiling at you.

Yang Xiong put down his teacup, leaned forward, lowered his voice, and spoke with more sincerity: "Brother Lin, although His Majesty hasn't said much openly, he has always been concerned about you. Ever since he learned that you had joined the Zongheng Dao, His Majesty has ordered that you be found."

He paused, observing Lin Mu's expression, "I was extremely anxious, and even made a pledge. Fortunately, Brother Lin is very capable and came out on his own, otherwise I really wouldn't know how to end this pledge."

He stood up, straightened his robe, and smiled as he cupped his hands in a respectful gesture towards Lin Mu: "When Brother Lin arrives in Bichon, please put in a good word for me with His Majesty."

Lin Mu held his teacup, but other thoughts were swirling in his mind.

Why does the Empress want to see me? And why is she making such a big fuss, issuing orders to find me and making the commander sign a pledge?

Could it be that all the royal family members are as fond of poetry as Gu An? But even if they like poetry, they shouldn't be this obsessed.

He recalled the bright eyes Gu An had when he listened to him recite poetry on the boat. Could it be that the Empress had also taken a liking to him? And wanted him to be her male concubine?

Empress or Prince? It's a tough choice. Gu An may be a girl, but the way she dresses as a man is quite captivating; as for an empress, I've never seen one, but anyone who can be an empress must be quite something…

Yang Xiong saw Lin Mu holding a teacup, staring blankly with a wandering gaze and a faint smile on his lips, his mouth practically drooling, wondering what wonderful thing he was thinking.

Chapter 144 Heavenly Venerable

He coughed lightly and changed the subject.

"Brother Lin, allow me to inform His Majesty first. We will then set off back to Fengmo City. I have already arranged a feast to welcome you back."

After saying that, he left the tent, took out the jade-white horn that could transmit sound over long distances from his pocket, tapped it lightly with his fingertips, and the horn lit up with a faint light.

He brought his lips close, his voice so low that only the horn could hear: "Your Majesty, your subject Yang Xiong reports: We have fulfilled our mission and breached the Path of the Horizontal and Vertical. The commoner-turned-master Lin Mu has also been found safe and sound, and I am escorting him back to Fengmo City. Please rest assured, Your Majesty."

After finishing his report, he was about to return to his tent when he suddenly stopped, turned around and called to the female Taoist priest: "Jingqiu, go in and keep Young Master Lin company."

The curtain was lifted, and the female Taoist priest entered again. Her complexion had completely returned to normal, and she had regained her dignified and capable demeanor. She walked to Lin Mu's side, gave a slight bow, and stood quietly without saying a word.

-

Outside the tent, Qin Zhengchuan stood behind the crowd, his ears constantly perked up.

Several guards were whispering among themselves. Their voices weren't loud, but they were close by.

"This grand gesture is all for the purpose of rescuing that master in plain clothes."

"Wow, what a grand entrance! Who is this person?"

"That's right, they're trapped inside, and we have to go rescue them."

Qin Zhengchuan pulled the crumpled newspaper out of his pocket, unfolded it, and stared at the portrait on the front page for several seconds.

Could it be this master in plain clothes?

Just then, someone leaned over and whispered, "Are you stupid? Who saved her? She came out on her own, she went straight to the Hall of Conquerors."

"Why don't you take a good look at yourself? They dared to venture into the treacherous paths and secret passages alone; why would they need you to rescue them?"

Qin Zhengchuan paused for a moment, his hand holding the newspaper still. He folded the newspaper, tucked it back into his pocket, and lowered his eyes in thought.

The poet Lin Mu is his son-in-law. But the one who ventured out alone into the world of martial arts, although he looks very similar, is probably not the same person.

His son-in-law doesn't have that ability.

That young man has caught the Empress's eye; he's probably enjoying wealth and luxury in Bichon right now.

Ugh……

On the other side, the newly promoted miners also gathered together, lowering their voices, but their resentment was still palpable.

"If it weren't for this guy, we wouldn't have lost so many brothers," a scarred man said in a muffled voice, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles cracked.

The people next to him nodded in agreement; some sighed, while others lowered their heads and remained silent.

Old Ma squatted in the corner and listened for a while. Suddenly, he raised his head. His voice was not loud, but every word was like a stone hitting the ground.

"fart."

Everyone was stunned and turned to look at him.

Old Ma stood up, dusted off his knees, and said slowly, "If it weren't for them, you'd still be toiling away in the mines. Would you have had the chance to become a subordinate so quickly?"

He glanced at the group and smirked. "And another thing. If they hadn't come out early, we'd be in the secret passage by now, dead without even knowing how we died."

No one spoke.

Some people lowered their heads, some loosened their fists, and some swallowed hard.

Old Ma withdrew his gaze, squatted back in the corner, and stopped talking.

---

Beech Palace.

The empress leaned against the soft couch, holding a scroll in her hand, but didn't turn a single page for a long time.

Ten days, today is the last day.

It was already completely dark outside the window. The shadow of the old locust tree in the yard swayed in the wind and was reflected on the window paper, looking like a clawing hand.

Inside the hall, candles burned quietly, and incense wafted gently. The female official stood by with her hands at her sides, not daring to make a sound.

She had been sitting like that for a long time.

Qingyi was still under house arrest at the Prince's Mansion, and every few days someone would send a message to ask, "Is there any news about the Demon Sealing?"

I don't know who was so blind to tell her so quickly that Lin Mu had entered the Zongheng Path alone.

She was caught in a dilemma: whether to reply or not.

bother.

The Empress put down her book and rubbed her temples. A female official tiptoed in, knelt before the bed, and held a scroll above her head with both hands, her voice extremely low: "Your Majesty, the Demon-Sealing Transmission Thousand-Mile System."

The Empress's expression tightened, thinking that Yang Xiong's report at this time might be bad news.

Then he reached out and took the book, unfolded it, and scanned it line by line with his eyes.

His brows furrowed, then relaxed, then furrowed again.

found it.

She could finally reply to Qingyi.

"Tell Qingyi that the person has been found and is safe and sound."

This person managed to enter the crisscrossing passageway and the secret passage all by himself, and still come out alive.

I wonder how many good things Qingyi gave this person that gave him this ability.

She put down the book, leaned back on the soft couch, and tapped her fingers lightly on the armrest.

"Issue an order to Yang Xiong to take good care of him and not let him be harmed." She paused, then added, "After he returns to Fengmo City and rests briefly, escort him to the capital. I want to see him in person."

The female official acknowledged the order and withdrew. Before she even reached the door, another female official hurriedly entered, knelt down, and reported: "Your Majesty, the Celestial Venerable of Bai Ri Men has arrived and is waiting outside the hall."

The Empress raised an eyebrow and sat up straight. The Heavenly Venerable of Bai Ri Men was not someone who ventured out easily.

She waved her hand, her tone tinged with excitement: "Please come in, please come in."

A moment later, the palace doors opened wide, and an old man in white robes walked in alone.

The old man had white hair and beard, a ruddy complexion, and a slightly hunched back. He walked slowly but steadily. His hair and beard shone white in the candlelight, and his complexion was so ruddy that he looked like he had just drunk wine. His eyes were not large, but they were clear and bright, unlike what one would expect from an old man.

The old man was dressed in a snow-white Taoist robe, with silver cloud patterns embroidered on the hem, and dark gold piping on the collar and cuffs. He wore a dark black silk sash around his waist, a simple and elegant outfit.

He was holding a Wuji staff in his hand, like a crutch.

He walked down the steps and bowed slightly.

The empress stood up, walked around from behind the desk, her steps light and quick, her skirt trailing a soft sound on the gold bricks.

She walked up to the old man, tilted her head to look at him, a smile playing on her lips, and said in a slightly affectionate tone, "Grandpa Celestial Venerable, what brings you here?"

The old man took a half step back, as if recalling some unpleasant past event.

He stroked his white beard with one hand, and with the other hand he moved the Wuji Staff closer to him, as if he wanted to use the staff to block something.

The empress paused for a moment, then realized what she meant and covered her mouth, laughing out loud. She was reminded of her childhood.

At that time, she was not yet the Empress, but just a mischievous little princess. She loved to sneak up behind her grandfather, the Heavenly Venerable, while he was meditating, grab his white beard, and yank it hard.

The Heavenly Venerable was in so much pain that he grimaced, but he couldn't very well argue with a little girl like her, so he could only cover his beard and glare at her.

"His Majesty."

The old man's voice wasn't loud, but every word was spoken with proper decorum: "An emperor should act like an emperor; what kind of behavior is this?"

Chapter 145

The empress stopped laughing, but the corners of her mouth were still turned up.

She looked the old man up and down, her gaze lingering on his white beard. She nodded, her tone as serious as if she were discussing politics in the imperial court: "Hmm, Grandpa Heavenly Venerable's beard has grown a bit thicker."

Upon hearing this, the old man covered his beard again.

"Grandpa Celestial Venerable, is there any unusual activity at the Crimson Moon Nest of the White Sun Gate?" The Empress's tone returned to seriousness, no longer joking, but she was still more polite than usual.

But the intimacy in her voice hadn't completely disappeared; the last syllable rose slightly, as if she were speaking to an elder, not discussing matters with a subject.

The Celestial Venerable of Bai Ri Men, who has guarded the Crimson Moon Valley for over a hundred years, slaying countless demons and monsters, is kind and gentle, but his status on the continent of Marfa is no less than hers. Such a person cannot be treated as an ordinary subject.

The Celestial Venerable shook his head, whether out of indifference or helplessness, it was unclear.

His white beard trembled slightly with the movement. He raised his head, his gaze passing over the candlelight and incense in the hall, landing on the Empress's face, his voice not loud.

"Your Majesty, I have been observing and sensing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth all day long, and recently I suddenly noticed that the demonic energy in the direction of Fengmo Valley has greatly decreased. The decrease is so great that I could clearly sense it even at Bai Ri Men."

He paused, his gaze darkening. "Has there been a major breakthrough at the Sealed Demon Valley?"

The Empress did not answer immediately. She looked at the Heavenly Venerable's face, which was glowing in the candlelight, and suddenly smiled. It wasn't the reserved, perfectly measured smile she gave in court, but a smile like when she was a child, with her eyes crinkling and a hint of smugness.

"Grandpa Celestial Venerable is well-informed." The Empress smiled, picked up her teacup, took a sip, and said unhurriedly, "There has indeed been some progress in Sealing Demon Valley; the Path of Crossing and Horizontal is now open."

The Celestial Venerable's eyes lit up, and the Wuji Staff in his hand paused slightly.

"Anything else?" the Celestial Venerable pressed, his gaze intense.

The Empress tilted her head, spread her hands, and said with a hint of helplessness, "That's it. The Demon Soul Palace is still sealed, and we can't get in. Nobody knows what's going on inside."