Chapter 792

When one's own home is chaotic, one doesn't want others to be peaceful. As soon as a powerful country is in chaos, the common people are eager to watch the show.

He Lingchuan put his hands behind his back, straightened his waist, and walked with the posture of a master: "I've heard, but I don't know who did it."

The pear blossoms in the front garden were in full bloom, like jade trees and fragrant snow; the two youths passed under the flowers, looking like jade trees in the wind.

Beautiful trees and beautiful men stunned the maidservants not far away.

"The boldest rumor in the Yuan court and public is that it was done by immortals. A few days ago, I heard State Preceptor Yan mention that he also believes the Lingxu turmoil is a proclamation of the return of immortals, and also a declaration of war against Beijia." He Yue let out a long breath, "What kind of world is this? Could it be that immortals who have disappeared for thousands of years are really coming out to join the fun?"

The significance of the emergence of immortals was truly exceptionally significant.

So significant that all countries and forces had to ponder and deliberate.

"Recently, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth has begun to recover; it's not strange for anything to appear at this time." He Lingchuan said leisurely, "Perhaps, a great change not seen in thousands of years is coming; the present is just a beginning."

He Yue sighed: "All living beings are in the game; I don't know what kind of world Great Yuan and we will have to face in the future."

"Just don't become abandoned pawns." He Lingchuan thought for a moment, "But every time spiritual energy begins to recover, war in the human world follows; I don't know when this evil curse can be broken."

"I don't know what Lingxu City has investigated, but it seems it hasn't expressed its position yet." He Yue said, "I heard that Beijia's eastern front war has been unfavorable, and Lingxu City is in a big mess. Brother, you're right; perhaps the change is really coming. Even the Monarch is considering restoring the tobacco and sugar tariffs for Beijia in our country."

Originally, Beijia's export of chewing tobacco and honey to Yuan was not only tariff-free, but Yuan even had to send special personnel to escort their teams in and out.

Now Yuan is no longer rich, and this money is still flowing out; it's as if a patient is not only not getting treatment but is being continuously bled—it would be strange if the condition didn't worsen.

He Lingchuan understood the Yuan Monarch's heartache over the silver, but, "Doing this is not very wise. Beijia just suffered two big losses and is worried about having nowhere to vent its anger. This is not the time to touch its bad luck."

Beijia's majesty has been challenged, and it especially needs a punching bag.

Even if the Lingxu City turmoil happens ten more times, Yuan is far weaker than Beijia; it's better not to have such small thoughts.

"The court officials say the same; the Monarch is very depressed."

"By the way, your former subordinates Ding Zuodong and Shan Youjun are now working under Father." He Yue reminded him, "As for Sun Hongye, he left a few days ago."

"Oh?" He Lingchuan was a bit surprised, "Why did Sun Hongye leave?"

"He came to join you; you weren't here, and he didn't want to stay in the Superintendent's Mansion, so he resigned and left. If you had come a few days earlier, perhaps he wouldn't have left; what a coincidence."

So Sun Hongye left, He Lingchuan sighed.

"Oh right, before Sun Hongye left, he gave me a letter, asking me to secretly pass it to you—don't tell anyone—if you came back."

Immediately, He Lingchuan followed He Yue back to the courtyard, where the latter found the letter in the study.

"Here, this is the one." The seal was intact.

Leaving behind a "Come find me for a drink when you're back," He Yue went out to handle business.

He Lingchuan tore open the envelope and saw a piece of yellow paper and a letter inside.

He opened the yellow paper first and found that it was actually a lease agreement with many clauses; its general content was: The Qing Kingdom leases Blade Port and surrounding land to the Bailie people for forty years, with an annual rent of 3,000 taels of silver. During this period, the Qing Kingdom has the right to develop, renovate, collect rent, and other profit-making activities in Blade Port.

Below were the start and end dates, with both parties signing and stamping.

He Lingchuan looked at the expiration date of this agreement; hmm, it expired seven years ago.

In other words, this agreement had existed for nearly fifty years, but the paper seemed to have been specially treated; it wasn't damaged even now and was still quite stiff.

After reading it, He Lingchuan was confused.

Why did Sun Hongye specifically leave him an expired agreement? Thinking carefully, one of the parties that drafted the agreement—the Qing Kingdom—he seemed to have heard of it while traveling in Beijia.

Hmm, the students of the Lingxu Imperial Academy seemed to have mentioned the Qing Kingdom while drinking; it was located east of the Mou Kingdom, but it was just a mention, with no details.

With questions in mind, he unfolded Sun Hongye's letter again and saw that it was indeed Sun Hongye's handwriting, but it was particularly brief: Big Brother, seeing this letter is like meeting in person.

Below that were some strange numbers, such as three-seven-one, and nine-six-three, and so on.

He Lingchuan counted; there were five sets of numbers.

The Soul-Sucking Mirror in his pocket clicked: "Sun Hongye, this kid, actually started playing with codes with you?"

Having experienced the messenger case, especially seeing how Xi Yunhe left clues for He Lingchuan, it could be considered a mirror with experience; it knew this kind of number combination was likely a code that required a corresponding codebook to solve.

The one to crack the code couldn't be that piece of agreement; it was too brief.

"But there must be a basis for decoding; what is a letter without a head or tail?"

He Lingchuan carefully recorded these sets of numbers, then put away the letter and the agreement.

"At that time, Xi Yunhe also placed the code and the decoding book separately, not to be gathered in one place." He pondered, "This shows that Sun Hongye judged this matter to be of great importance, fearing it would be intercepted."

He put aside this question for now and went to find Qiu Hu and the others to see if Steward Wu had settled them properly.

Besides their individual strengths, those dozen or so Rongshan disciples also had experience in military combat, with excellent skills, cultivation, and experience. Elder Dao Quan didn't fool him; those sent to him were elites.

Logically speaking, the Rongshan disciples who came with the special envoy could stay in the post house, which was the residence for diplomatic personnel.

However, since Lady Ying invited them, they didn't decline; Qiu Hu instead had a small request:

He was designated as He Lingchuan's personal guard and had to live in the same courtyard as the special envoy to protect him at close range.

Steward Wu didn't expect this request and was momentarily stunned: "The eldest young master is very safe in his own home."

"That's what you think." Qiu Hu was rigid, "The special envoy's status is noble, and the task is important. It is my duty to be close by!"

He Lingchuan happened to walk over and hear this, waving his hand: "What's the big deal? Qiu Hu can stay in my lower courtyard; it's settled."

Since he had spoken, Steward Wu had to agree.

The sons walked out together, and Lady Ying looked at their straight backs, her heart full of pride.

Both sons were dragons and phoenixes among men; among so many noble families in the Yuan capital, how many young masters could be more promising than her sons? How many noble ladies in the Yuan capital could be luckier than her?

She turned back to see her husband with a solemn face, staring blankly at the garden, and couldn't help but scold: "What's wrong, what's wrong? Your son has come back from the dead, and you're still pulling a long face? Putting on airs in front of me!"

(End of chapter)