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

The Empress nodded, as if the news had eased the tension she had been holding in a little.

She then asked, "How is Lin Mu doing lately?"

The female official didn't respond immediately. Instead, she raised her head and glanced cautiously at the Empress: "Your Majesty, I'm a bit unsure about Lin Mu's whereabouts recently. He hasn't gone out since returning to the Lin residence. But I've sent people to keep an eye on things, and there doesn't seem to be any sign of anyone living there. The stove is cold, and no one is walking around in the courtyard. I suspect he might have a secret room in his house where he's in seclusion. He just recently reached level 35, so he's probably busy training with divine beasts."

The Empress's fingers paused on the armrest for a moment, then she spoke in a low voice, carrying a hint of melancholy: "Then keep an eye on him. When he comes out, I want to see him."

The female official lowered her head, responded with a "Yes," and then withdrew. Her footsteps gradually faded into the empty hallway and were swallowed by the night.

The night outside the palace gates was as thick as ink that couldn't be dissolved, as if something was slowly awakening in that darkness.

-

At this moment, Lin Mu had already come out of the house and was walking on the streets of Beech.

The night wind blew in from the alleyway, making the torchlight flicker.

Lin Mu rode his horse at a moderate pace, with the skeleton following behind, its shadow stretching long in the moonlight.

He looked around and felt that Beach was much more desolate than before.

Most of the shops along the street were closed. The few taverns and general stores that used to be lit up at this time were now dark, their doors tightly shut, as if they hadn't been open for a long time.

Occasionally, one or two pedestrians would hurry past the alley entrance, heads down, their steps quick and hurried, as if afraid of being overtaken by something.

The flower stall on the street corner was deserted, leaving only a patch of water dried by the wind and a few wilted petals on the bluestone slab.

Lin Mu rode his horse along the empty street, standing out conspicuously. The crisp sound of the horse's hooves hitting the bluestone slabs carried far into the quiet night.

He didn't stop, but pulled on the reins and turned towards the "Old Iron Equipment Shop".

The shop was closed, the door panels were tightly shut, and not a single ray of light could see through the gaps.

Lin Mu dismounted, walked over and knocked on the door twice. After waiting for a while, there was no response from inside.

He knocked twice more, harder, and then heard a rustling sound from inside, followed by the door being pulled open a crack from the inside.

Lin Mu took off his straw hat, and the shopkeeper's face appeared through the crack in the door. He looked Lin Mu up and down before removing a piece of the door panel and stepping aside to let him in.

Lin Mu entered the shop, glanced at the shopkeeper, and casually asked, "Why are you closing so early? The whole of Bichon looks much more desolate. It was so lively during the poetry gathering not long ago, but now it's not even completely dark, and there's hardly anyone on the streets?"

The shopkeeper shook his head, pulling out a long, thin object wrapped in coarse cloth from under the counter, and sighed, "Sir, you don't know this, but it happened a few days ago. I don't know what happened, but everyone in Bichon suddenly felt a tightness in their chest, as if someone had squeezed their heart, making it hard to breathe. Although it didn't have any real impact on anyone after that, everyone said that a great calamity was coming and the red moon was about to appear. Although the Bichon tabloids also published the news, telling everyone not to worry, who wouldn't worry? Every night, everyone stayed indoors, and the streets naturally became empty."

Lin Mu didn't reply, but looked down at the shopkeeper untying the coarse cloth.

The shopkeeper placed the items on the counter, revealing the black metal frame and two wheels inside.

The front wheel is rimmed with the Wuji Rod and connected to the axle by fine metal spokes. Small runes are engraved on the hub, gleaming with a pale blue light, which are traces left by the reshaping of the Wuji Rod.

The rear wheel has no spokes, only a rear axle connected to the frame, and a cover plate.

The frame is made by melting down the chassis, with black metal tubing, simple and neat design, slightly upturned front fork, non-slip leather grips, sturdy rear rack, and pre-drilled footrests.

Lin Mu squatted down, checked it from front to back, and then reached out and shook the front wheel; it could turn freely.

He nodded, paid the balance, and put the bicycle frame into his mount pouch. The shopkeeper stood at the door watching him pack up, hesitated for a moment, but finally spoke: "Sir, I've never seen this before. Please be careful when riding it."

Lin Mu waved his hand, mounted his horse, and rode towards the Jiang residence.

The debt from last time hasn't been settled yet. It's been dragging on for so many days, it's time to collect it and put it in our pockets as soon as possible.

Following the memories in his mind, he walked through several deserted streets, turned two corners, and saw the pair of stone lions of the Jiang residence in the distance.

He reined in his horse and dismounted in front of the Jiang residence's gate. The gatekeeper didn't even announce his arrival; he just glanced at him and stepped aside, as if he already knew he would come.

Lin Mu strode inside.

Along the way, he noticed that there were still many servants in the Jiang residence, sweeping, fetching water, and pruning flowers and trees, each busy with their own tasks, but they all seemed somewhat lazy.

Some people leaned against the pillars and yawned, some people didn't move their brooms for a long time, and some people walked from the other end of the corridor with empty trays, their steps as slow as if they were taking a stroll.

The entire mansion seemed to have lost some kind of vitality; the people were still there, but their souls were gone.

Lin Mu frowned, but did not stop. He continued walking forward, passing through the corridor and arriving at the main hall.

The main hall was brightly lit. Jiang Hetang sat in the main seat, wearing a dark gray robe. His face was pale, and there were dark circles under his eyes, as if he had not slept well for several nights in a row.

Chapter 216 Jiang Hetang's Doppelganger

He saw Lin Mu walk in, but he didn't get up or offer him a seat. He just glanced at him and a cold smile slowly crept onto his lips.

Lin Mu thought to himself, "This old man Jiang looks like he's on his deathbed, like he won't live much longer." But he didn't dwell on it and went straight to the point, "Lord Jiang, about the remaining batch of blessing oil and random..."

Before Lin Mu could finish speaking, Jiang Hetang interrupted him, his voice not loud, but sharp as a knife: "You actually survived?"

Lin Mu was taken aback.

Jiang Hetang stood up, walked up to him, and coldly stared at his face, lowering his voice slightly: "Lin Mu, you're quite capable, managing to kill so many experts. However..."

His sneer deepened. "A great calamity is coming. You won't be able to keep jumping around for much longer."

Lin Mu clenched his fists, and the fire in his heart suddenly rose: "Those people were indeed hired by your Jiang family! No wonder you looked half dead, you must have done too many bad things."

Jiang Hetang scoffed and shook his head: "You're wrong. Our Jiang family of Bichon has stood strong in Bichon for two thousand years. We wouldn't even deign to try something like this."

He paused, his tone laced with sarcasm, "They only came after reading the tabloids and coveting your money. Our Jiang family originally planned to have them kill you, and then we would avenge you."

As he spoke, he leaned forward slightly, lowered his voice, and said with a cold smile, "So, you should thank the Jiang family."

Lin Mu clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, looking at the pale face in front of him, he wished he could punch it.

But Jiang Hetang was, after all, a court official, so he had to hold back; if necessary, he would ask the Empress for help.

Just then, a series of hurried footsteps came from the courtyard, along with the servants' panicked gasps in hushed tones, the clanging of armor, and the dull thud of boots on the blue bricks.

Someone shouted something, but it was unclear. Then someone else shouted, and this time it was clear: "The master is here..."

Before the words were even finished, the door to the main hall was kicked open, the door slamming against the wall with a loud bang that made the candlelight flicker.

Lin Mu was startled by the commotion, his eyelids twitched, and he turned to look at the door.

The leader was a female official dressed in a dark blue robe, with a thin face, cold eyes, and a bronze token hanging from her waist.

She glanced around the room, her gaze lingering on Jiang Hetang for a moment. Her voice was not loud, but it carried an undeniable authority: "His Majesty has decreed a thorough investigation of the Jiang family."

Jiang Hetang stood in front of the main seat, looking at the team of Imperial Guards, without a trace of panic on his face.

He suddenly smiled, a smile whose meaning was hard to decipher. Then his body began to blur, like ink on a traditional Chinese ink painting spreading outwards with water, fading, breaking apart from the edges, turning into countless tiny specks of light that silently dispersed in the candlelight, disappearing completely without leaving even a trace of his clothes.

The female official stared at the spot where the light had disappeared, her gaze darkening. Her tone was calm, as if she were stating something she had long expected: "It really was a clone technique."

She paused for a moment, then said, "No wonder she looks sick. Her clone's continuous energy is running low, and she's conserving it. It seems Jiang Hetang left Bichon a long time ago."

She turned around and waved to the Imperial Guards behind her: "Search."

The Imperial Guards surged into every room, every corridor, and every corner of the Jiang residence like a tidal wave.

The sound of boots clashing on the blue bricks blended together, the clanging of armor echoed through the corridor, and the creaking of doors being pushed open rose and fell, like an old net being completely turned over.

The sounds of rummaging through drawers and cabinets came from the front yard. Cabinet doors were pulled open and closed, drawers were pulled out and turned upside down on the ground, and clothes and miscellaneous items were scattered all over the ground.

From the backyard came the low gasps of maids and servants and the sound of hurried footsteps. Someone was brought out of the side room by the Imperial Guards and stood under the eaves, his hands not knowing what to do, his face full of confusion and fear.

When a young maid was brought out, her eyes were already red, she was clutching her sleeves, her lips were pressed together and turned white, and she didn't dare to say a word.

An old servant beside him had his head down, his fingers twisting the hem of his clothes, as if he was trying to grasp something but couldn't.

Several men who looked like guards stood at the other end of the courtyard. Some clenched their fists and then relaxed them, while others bit their cheeks, their faces as tense as stone, but none of them dared to move. Because the Imperial Guards' swords were right in front of them.

Only then did they remember their master, but their master had long since abandoned them.

The female official stood at the entrance of the main hall, looking at the crowd of people huddled together in the courtyard. Her gaze swept across each face, as if she were trying to identify something or confirm something.

After a moment, she spoke: "Bring me the roster of all the servants in the manor and check them one by one. No one is allowed to leave today."

The guard responded and quickly entered the accounting room. The servants huddled together in the courtyard exchanged glances. Some clutched the hem of their clothes, some lowered their heads, and some secretly shrank into the crowd, as if trying to hide themselves in the shadows of others.

The entire Jiang mansion was brightly lit, so bright it was blinding, but everyone under the lights wore the same bewilderment and unease, like a group of people whose roofs had been suddenly ripped off, not knowing where to hide, and could only lower their heads, waiting for those in armor to turn the mansion upside down.

Ignoring the servants' panic, the female official turned around, gave Lin Mu a slight bow, and spoke in her usual calm tone: "Young Master Lin, His Majesty requests your presence."

Lin Mu glanced at her, then at the spot where Jiang Hetang had disappeared. The light had completely dissipated, leaving not a trace.

He remained silent for a moment, then nodded and followed the female official out of the Jiang residence and headed towards the palace.

-

Beech Palace.

The Empress sat behind her desk, holding a newly delivered urgent report in her hand. She heard footsteps outside the palace but did not look up.

The door was gently pushed open, and a female official's voice came from the doorway: "Your Majesty, Lin Mu has arrived."

Lin Mu entered the hall and was about to bow when the Empress waved her hand, saying, "No need for formalities, please take a seat."

The lady-in-waiting next to her moved a chair over and placed it on the side of the steps.

Lin Mu glanced at the Empress, did not refuse, and sat down. But he couldn't feel excited at all; being offered a seat right after arriving couldn't be good news.

The Empress put down the urgent report in her hand, looked up at him, and without any pleasantries or preamble, said directly, "You should already know about the Jiang family's affairs."

Her tone was calm, but Lin Mu could hear the fire burning beneath it, a dull, simmering anger that burned slowly in her chest like embers.

Chapter 217 Receiving the Order

"Jiang Hetang is no longer in Bichon. The Jiang family members have also been moved in advance. Some time ago, my people discovered that the Jiang family had been colluding with Shabak. Most of them have been confirmed to have gone to Mengzhong, but the whereabouts of some others cannot be found, as if they have disappeared into thin air."

She leaned forward slightly, lowering her voice: "But these past few days, we've lost contact with several key figures in Mengzhong. The documents I sent have vanished without a trace; the reports from Prince An and the Imperial Guard are still arriving on time, but the handwriting and wording... seem off. I suspect those reports were written in advance and sent out on the appointed day, and the people involved have probably been replaced."

The Empress paused and then said, "Perhaps they could say in the report that they were too lazy to write it and had their subordinates write it for them. But clearly, all the Jiang family members in Bichon have left, yet the news from Mengzhong says everything is normal. They are hiding this from me."

Lin Mu listened without speaking, but his heart was in turmoil. Wasn't Prince An Gu An? If it was a power struggle, he could more or less guess that something was wrong in Mengzhong. Was it something to do with the royal family?

But aren't the Imperial Guards directly under His Majesty's command? How come they're acting strangely too? Or were they taken care of by Gu An?

The Empress wanted him to go to Mengzhong. Wasn't she afraid that he would elope with Gu An and betray her? The more he thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.

The Empress paused, her gaze falling on Lin Mu's face, her tone growing heavier: "The Crimson Moon has awakened, and the monsters are rampaging. Both the Demon Sealing Gate and the White Sun Gate need manpower, and Bichon, as the central hub, must maintain order. I cannot spare any extra people for Mengzhong right now. You can combine your powers and enter and exit the secret passage alone and escape unscathed; your strength and character are both top-notch. After much consideration, I believe only you are suitable for this trip to Mengzhong."

Before he could process the news, the Empress continued, "I will give you a waist token and 100 opportunities for telepathic communication."

She picked up a bronze waist token and a thumb-sized white jade horn from the table and placed them on the side of the table. "Don't show the waist token to others easily. The situation in Mengzhong is more complicated than you think."

She leaned back in her chair, her tone regaining some of its calmness: "Mengzhong is a solid block now, impossible to break through. But it's easier for you to squeeze in through the cracks."