Chapter 215: The Origin of the Marquis of Songyang and Sun Fuping

"I worry about her?" Lady Ying sneered a few times, but quickly continued to ask, "What do you mean?" "She has a title, and she is the head of the Daoist sect. It's impossible for her to be a concubine." He Lingchuan waved his hand. "The Marquis of Songyang can't possibly marry into our family, so what are you afraid of?"

Lady Ying was thoughtful.

Her eldest son's words were hard truths; a woman like the Marquis of Songyang could only be a wife, not a concubine, but she still couldn't rest assured about her husband.

He Chunhua was only thirty-four or thirty-five this year, with a slender figure and handsome appearance. Not only was he attractive to women, but he also had strong needs himself.

Besides, he was only fourteen or fifteen years older than the Marquis of Songyang. What did this age difference count for? An eighty-year-old man could take a sixteen-year-old girl into his room.

Just then, the master craftsman Li Fubo requested an audience.

Since the Marquis of Songyang was traveling with the Ceying Army, Li Fubo often ran between the two sides; after all, one side was the boss, and the other was the client.

This time he said to He Lingchuan, "Master, the Marquis invites you."

He Lingchuan was very surprised, pointing at himself. "The Marquis invites me?" Instead of inviting his father to go? "Yes."

Lady Ying, who was sitting on the side, said to her eldest son as soon as she heard it, "You go." Chatting with the father and then chatting with the son, the Marquis of Songyang is capable.

Ru County had two inns, and the Marquis of Songyang naturally lived in the best one. The best one was a single-door, single-courtyard house.

As soon as He Lingchuan entered the door, he smelled a rich fruity fragrance.

On the table of Li Qingge, the Marquis of Songyang, was a fine white porcelain bowl with gold plating. The porcelain was as delicate as jade, and it was clear at a glance that it wasn't something this small inn could produce.

The bowl was milky white, but it wasn't milk.

She clapped her hands. "Come, bring a bowl of apricot curd for Young Master He."

The maid walked in with a tray.

He Lingchuan said thank you, raised the bowl and took a sip, feeling warm and full of fragrance.

Apricot curd was actually almond tea. In addition to being freshly boiled and cooked, there were extra ingredients.

"Rich milky fragrance." He smacked his lips. "And added roses, hmm, what else?"

There was also the fragrance of flowers and fruits.

Li Qingge smiled. "Amazing, Young Master He's speculation is exactly the same as your father's."

He Lingchuan raised his eyebrows. It turned out his father had also drunk almond tea here; probably more than one bowl. He heard Li Qingge say softly, "And added dried cherries."

The silver silk charcoal basin in the room was burning vigorously, baking a slight blush on her cheeks. This was a beauty like porcelain jade, with skin like snow, breakable by a blow, and a bit of natural charm hidden in her eyes, but her conversation was dignified and appropriate.

Her beauty had nothing to do with seductiveness, but was like the sunshine at seven or eight in the morning, warm and approachable, making people want to get close to her unconsciously.

He Lingchuan knew his father's style; he wouldn't look at common powder, but this style...

It was no wonder Lady Ying was angry.

He put down the bowl and coughed lightly. "Does the Marquis have something to do with me?"

"Can I borrow the broken saber for a look?"

The broken saber was naturally worn close to the body, and not to mention that this was the medium for entering the dream, it had also saved its master two or three times. He Lingchuan untied it and placed it on the table. "Please look."

Li Qingge held the scabbard and drew the broken saber bit by bit, letting the edge slowly bloom.

The cold light was chilling, and the temperature in the room dropped by two or three degrees.

"Good saber, even better than what Li Fubo told me." Li Qingge was slightly moved, her fingertips stroking all the way down the back of the saber, then flicking it lightly, with a crisp and pleasant sound.

"The nature of this saber is like a crouching fierce beast, always eager to try." She was very curious. "Young Master He, what have you done to excite it to this point?" The state of this saber was different from when Li Fubo reported it.

It hadn't even been half a month, and it was becoming more and more fierce.

Young Master He scratched his neck. "Used it as a dart, hit people a few times, that's it." Even if there was more, he couldn't tell you.

This saber was the key to his entry into the Panlong dream. Conversely, did his actions in the dream also affect this saber? "Can you lend it to me for a few days to appreciate?" This saber looked more and more extraordinary.

He Lingchuan laughed. "That's not very good. I used to have nightmares often, but since I got the broken saber, I haven't had a relapse."

Anyway, he hadn't had any other dreams.

"Fine, then I shouldn't take what others love." Li Qingge smiled slightly. "Actually, this saber is very fierce. The wearer will be weak and short-lived even if they don't suffer a bloody disaster. Even if I want to keep it, I have to pray and perform rituals to suppress its fierceness. Young Master He can easily handle it without bringing disaster but having good fortune. If it's not because you have a fate with it, it's because Young Master He himself is not simple."

He Lingchuan was very interested. "Then what possibility does the Marquis think it is?"

"Your father said you are a general of good fortune. I also heard that you even subdued the fierce monkey of the Thousand Heart Flow and took it as a medicine ape; before that, it had even defeated four masters." Li Qingge supported her chin with her hand. "In the ancient city of Panlong, by the County Magistrate Lake, under the Luming Garden, the first merit may not be yours, but you have helped a lot. When General Ke Jihai left the Luming Garden that night and entered the palace to see the Emperor, he also praised you endlessly, and that's why the King gave you rewards."

He Lingchuan's heart stirred. So the rewards given to him were obtained this way?

No wonder. No wonder the first two times he made contributions, the Wang Ting didn't reward him at all.

However, Ke Jihai entered the palace overnight and had a deep secret talk with the King. There couldn't have been many people present at the time. The Marquis of Songyang knew what Ke Jihai said, so this woman could be considered to have eyes and ears everywhere.

He Lingchuan finally understood why He Chunhua always ran here. His father probably also noticed her extensive network.

For a man keen on power, how could he miss such good resources? Li Qingge added, "Since the nature of the saber has changed, I will discuss with Li Fubo how to improve the method of planting the sword. He said that this saber was broken by Young Master He himself?"

He Lingchuan nodded.

"Strange. This saber has a spirit, how could it be so close to the person who broke it?"

He Lingchuan recalled the black dragon in the Panlong illusion, which was the scene where Zhong Shengguang entrusted the saber to him, and shrugged. "Purely an accident. Besides, I have fought against Sun Fuping and Nian Songyu with it, perhaps it felt a sense of shared hatred?"

Li Qingge was stunned. "You have fought against Sun Fuping?"

"Yes." He Lingchuan's heart stirred again. "It wasn't mentioned in the battle report you read?"

He thought that the whole process of the two father and son thwarting the conspiracy of Sun Fuping and Nian Songyu would be reported to the Wang Ting in its entirety.

Li Qingge smiled and answered the question irrelevantly. "It's not that I'm discouraged, but Sun Fuping has great supernatural powers and the ability to cover the rain and turn the clouds. It's very remarkable that you can survive from his hands."

Now He Lingchuan understood why his father liked to find the Marquis of Songyang to talk. She clearly said that your cultivation was weak and Sun Fuping could crush you with one finger, but it made you feel quite comfortable.

Li Qingge returned the broken saber to He Lingchuan, looking a bit reluctant. "Zhong Shengguang's relics are all destined for you, Young Master He is indeed a general of good fortune."

The young man lowered his head and saw her slender fingers. Although she didn't grow her nails, she had lightly dyed them with henna, pressing on the faded scabbard like a newly sprouted peach branch.

The contrast between the old and the new was sharp.

It was a pity that his mind was all on the three words "Sun Fuping." "The Marquis of Songyang and Sun Fuping have some origins, right?" As soon as the words came out, he remembered that his father should have asked this question.

Li Qingge turned her eyes on him, took another sip of almond tea, and said slowly, "Young Master He doesn't know? I thought you had heard about it in Shi Huan. Lord He has talked to me many times, but he didn't mention a word about this."

It was Shi Huan again, only he himself was ignorant, right? He Lingchuan spread his hands. "When I was in Shi Huan City, I thought the Marquis of Songyang was a man."

Li Qingge choked, coughing several times, and the almond tea flowed onto her collar. The maid behind her hurriedly handed her a handkerchief.

The Marquis of Songyang took a long time to recover, and then sighed. "Young Master He is upright and doesn't bother to inquire about gossip."

He Lingchuan smiled bitterly. "The Marquis can just say I'm closed off."

He had spent his mind on cultivation and the Panlong dream for the past few months, and rarely paid attention to external affairs.

Li Qingge waved her hand. "When I was young, I went out with my parents and encountered an ambush by a strong enemy. My parents were killed, I was separated from the team, and my family searched everywhere but couldn't find me. Two years later, Sun Fuping went out to search for treasure and picked me up in a wolf den, sending me back to the Songyang Mansion."

She paused. "This matter also caused a sensation in the capital that year, and even the former King and the current King knew about it."

He Lingchuan took a light breath. "Sun Fuping is your life-saving benefactor." He suddenly remembered that the nobles of Luming Garden had heard of Zhu Xiuer's encounter, and someone in the Songyang Mansion had a similar experience.

It turned out they were talking about Li Qingge.

Could it be? He immediately thought of the sudden attack under the Luming Garden.

"But he hasn't asked the Songyang Mansion for less over the years." Li Qingge said lightly. "Maybe it's inappropriate for me to say this. He opened his mouth wide several times, and even a great kindness was filled. Since my grandfather passed away and I took over the Songyang Mansion, I have basically cut off contact with Sun Fuping. Otherwise, how could my Songyang Mansion be safe and sound when his rebellion was exposed?"

This last sentence was the most convincing. He Lingchuan had long heard that the King was suspicious. If he suspected the Songyang Mansion, could Li Qingge still sit here safely now?

Li Qingge continued, "The Songyang Mansion even helped search for Sun Fuping's accomplices and made great contributions. This is known to the whole court and the public."

He Lingchuan gave a thumbs up. "The Marquis of Songyang is loyal to the King and loves the country, He Lingchuan admires you!" Immediately switching topics, "The Marquis of Songyang is skilled in refining tools, and He Lingchuan has one more thing to ask for advice."

"Please speak."

He Lingchuan took a talisman from his bosom and placed it on the table. "I want to ask about the role of this spell."

He remembered that the Marquis of Songyang's toy courtyard was sealed with talisman paper, which should have the same effect as this thing. This talisman was black paper with red characters, different from the general ones. Li Qingge picked it up and looked at it twice, her eyebrows furrowed. "Where did Young Master He get it?"

"I captured this from Lu Yao, the general under Hong Xiangqian. At that time, he had been beaten by us until he was dying, the kind that couldn't be saved, and then he grabbed a black talisman and ate it."

"What effect did it have?"

"Not a bit of use, nothing happened." He Lingchuan shrugged. "Then he was beheaded by someone, and I still remember the look of disbelief on that dead face."

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 216 =====