Chapter 265: Talented Scholar and Beautiful Maiden

After the Black Seal Old Monster died, Yun Shan welcomed everyone back to the mansion, even respectfully inviting Tang Ziwei, dressed as a retainer, inside.

During this time, Chu Danqing learned part of Tang Ziwei’s background from Yang Qianyuan.

But since Yang Qianyuan had only heard of the man’s name and never met him in person, the information he knew was mostly rumor.

Tang Ziwei was a famed literary talent who ranked first in the preliminary examination at sixteen and first in the provincial examination at twenty-eight.

Later, he resigned from office due to being implicated in an examination scandal.

Yet precisely because of this, his literary genius was unleashed, making him a celebrated talent across the land.

Had he remained an official, he might never have gained such fame.

After retaking his seat, Chu Danqing finally asked: “Master Yun, what is this Qun Fang Pu?”

Chu Danqing suspected his trial was connected to Prince Ning, directly or indirectly.

Otherwise, why would every side quest keep entangling with Prince Ning’s forces?

“I know of the Qun Fang Pu—it is the evolutionary path of Prince Ning’s Purple Mansion spirit beast.”

“Rumors say it is a soul-type spirit beast, beginning as a Beauty Scroll, then evolving into the Zheng Yan Lu, and finally into the Qun Fang Pu.”

“Its ability is to release female spirit souls to fight for it; it is said the Zheng Yan Lu already holds at least three thousand spirit souls.”

“And each spirit soul is immensely powerful—truly, one soul equals an entire army,” Tang Ziwei said after sipping his wine.

Since he was evading Prince Ning’s summons, he naturally needed to understand Prince Ning well.

“Then how does he still have the reputation of a virtuous prince?” Chu Danqing asked in disbelief.

Chu Danqing didn’t need to guess how those three thousand spirit souls were obtained—they were surely built on human lives.

Moreover, for the Zheng Yan Lu to evolve into the Qun Fang Pu, it requires women born during yin hours.

“Easy enough—just have power and influence,” Tang Ziwei replied.

“Alas, poor my daughter—how innocent she is,” Yun Shan sighed in distress, echoing him.

With power and influence on their side, this time there was truly no escape.

Either surrender your daughter to save the entire Yun household, or wait for your family’s utter destruction.

Even Tang Ziwei dared not speak up.

Because he, too, could do nothing against Prince Ning—if he had any real solution, he wouldn’t have feigned madness, hidden his identity, and come to Yun Mansion as a retainer.

“I’ll handle it. I don’t believe heaven itself can be overturned,” Chu Danqing said coldly.

Does Guo Ming’s sword not cut deep?

Yun Shan and Tang Ziwei stared at Chu Danqing in astonishment—they couldn’t imagine how he could possibly resolve the matter against Prince Ning, a high-ranking, immensely powerful vassal king.

Yang Qianyuan, though titled Prince of Jiao Ying, held no authority to establish his own court and was little more than a figurehead.

Prince Ning, holding the right to establish his own court, wielded overwhelming power.

Among vassal kings, there are naturally vast differences.

It’s like imperial clan members—some become governors, others weave straw sandals.

Yang Qianyuan is already among the better-off; if you want to compare degradation, there are those whose distant bloodlines have reduced them to commoners.

“Master Chu, how do you plan to resolve this?” Yun Shan asked hesitantly.

Chu Danqing was about to say “kill,” but Yang Qianyuan understood his intent and spoke first: “By familial ties, Prince Ning is my uncle.”

As he spoke, Yang Qianyuan produced a jade pendant and official token, carved with dragons and phoenixes, bearing a central “Qian” character.

On the reverse side were the words “Jiao Ying.”

“My elder brother says he can resolve it—he can,” Yang Qianyuan said, aiming to calm things first, for the appearance of five hundred iron cavalry would cause a major uproar.

With those two sentences and the token as proof, everyone present except Chu Danqing fell silent.

Especially Yun Shan, who wondered if his ancestral graves had somehow been cursed.

First Prince Ning, then the literary talent Tang Ziwei, and now a Prince of Jiao Ying.

He felt that if he uttered one wrong word, he might not see tomorrow’s sun.

“Then we rely on Master Chu,” Yun Shan said. Though he didn’t know Chu Danqing’s origins, anyone who could be elder brother to a Prince of Jiao Ying must possess real ability.

But he had no idea that Chu Da’s entire ability lay in his allies and summoned beings.

Chu Danqing could only respond: “No trouble at all.”

He had always intended to resolve this himself—not by invoking Yang Qianyuan’s status, but through force.

If things continued this way, he feared his trial task would require him to kill Prince Ning, directly or indirectly.

Meanwhile, Tang Ziwei sat quietly drinking.

Though Yun Shan’s expression still bore sorrow, it had lightened considerably.

Even if Prince of Jiao Ying was inferior to Prince Ning, he was still a vassal king—his words carried weight.

“My elder brother’s visit today is not merely social—he has a request of the Yun household,” Yang Qianyuan continued smoothly.

Now was not the time for Chu Danqing to speak—this was perfect for him.

Yun Shan had already anticipated this.

No one visits the Three Treasures without purpose; Chu Danqing and Yang Qianyuan’s sudden arrival must mean they sought something.

“Don’t speak of ‘request’—if the Prince of Jiao Ying and Master Chu need anything, the Yun household will spare no effort,” Yun Shan immediately said.

These two surely weren’t after his wealth—he couldn’t guess what they wanted.

“We’ve heard your household possesses a Tong Xin Lotus seed. My elder brother requires it—name your price,” Yang Qianyuan said casually.

Yun Shan froze at the words.

He had a faint memory of it, but little else.

After all, the Tong Xin Lotus seed was not a mainstream spirit beast.

“Your Highness, please wait a moment—I’ll retrieve it.” Even if he didn’t recall it, he could check the records.

Even if it had been given away or sold, there would be an inventory log.

This concerned his very life and fortune—he could not afford to overlook it.

After he left, the banquet fell silent again.

Due to Prince Ning, Tang Ziwei held a poor view of the imperial family.

Facing Yang Qianyuan, he naturally felt awkward.

Yang Qianyuan, lacking Prince Ning’s power, was more of an individual figure and had no intention of recruiting Tang Ziwei.

In his view, they were strangers who would part ways after today—no need for idle chatter.

Chu Danqing, caught in the middle, felt uncomfortable, so he began feeding Da Bao.

What else could he do? He had nothing better to do.

Finally, Tang Ziwei spoke first: “Prince of Jiao Ying, why has Prince Ning done this?”

“I don’t know—I have no close ties with Prince Ning,” Yang Qianyuan would not reveal anything.

Tang Ziwei sensed Yang Qianyuan’s evasiveness and did not press further.

As the atmosphere threatened to sink into silence again, Chu Danqing spoke to ease it: “Master Tang, what are your plans now?”

“Though the Black Seal Old Monster is dead, this matter won’t stay hidden long.”

“I suspect Prince Ning will hate you even more.”

Hearing this, Tang Ziwei replied with suppressed bitterness: “I can only flee farther away—there’s no other option.”

If he truly intended to seek protection from someone, he wouldn’t have hidden his identity in the first place.

If he couldn’t fight, he could at least run.

As for his ancestral Tang household, no need to worry—he came from a prominent local clan.

Their connections were deeply entangled; striking at them would trigger a chain reaction, causing more loss than gain.

Prince Ning was not foolish enough to do so.

But if he couldn’t touch the Tang household, couldn’t he still target Tang Ziwei?

Tang Ziwei alone could not represent the entire Tang clan.

The Yun household, meanwhile, was no clan—merely a minor landowner with shallow ties, which is why they were targeted.

“That’s truly troublesome,” Chu Danqing said, never intending to rush in and help.

Tang Ziwei likely concealed his true strength and faced no immediate danger—he could handle it himself.

Chu Danqing’s intervention would be superfluous.

“Indeed—who could have imagined I’d hide in this remote backwater and still be found?” Tang Ziwei sighed.

He could have simply stood by and let the Black Seal Old Monster act.

But the Yun household had given him shelter for a time, and treated their servants well, without cruelty.

During that hidden period, Tang Ziwei lived quite comfortably.

He was no heartless brute—he ultimately chose to step forward, even at the cost of exposing himself.

“It’s clear Prince Ning’s fangs and hounds are widespread,” Chu Danqing added.

“Who says otherwise? I suspect Prince Ning intends rebellion,” Tang Ziwei said, his gaze subtly observing Yang Qianyuan.

He had repeatedly seen Prince Ning’s actions and refused to believe he lacked ambition—he watched Yang Qianyuan’s expression to see if he knew anything.

Yet Yang Qianyuan, though young, revealed no clue.

Instead, Chu Danqing took over: “Don’t speak rashly—Prince Ning is a virtuous prince; how could he plot rebellion? At most, he has moral flaws.”

He wasn’t defending Prince Ning—he was protecting the Yun household.

If this remark spread and reached Prince Ning or his followers, the Yun household would be ruined.

Tang Ziwei instantly realized his mistake and quickly added: “I spoke foolishly after drinking—Prince Ning, such a virtuous lord, must be deceived.”

When the time comes, he’ll just walk away—the Yun Mansion can’t grow legs to run.

Not long after, Yun Shan returned, followed by a young woman of sixteen or seventeen, carrying a brocade box in her hands.

The girl’s eyes were filled with admiration as she gazed at Tang Ziwei—clearly, she was a devoted little fan of this great scholar.

“This is my daughter, Yun Yun. Bow to His Royal Highness, Prince Jiao Ying,” Yun Shan noticed his daughter’s state and immediately rebuked her.

Yun Yun reluctantly bowed.

Yang Qianyuan accepted it graciously, then asked: “Do you have the Heart-to-Heart Lotus seeds?”

He wasn’t particularly interested in women; he cared more about the Heart-to-Heart Lotus seeds.

She did indeed bring a brocade box, but he didn’t know what was inside—why not just ask directly?

“We have them—perfect specimens, well-preserved,” Yun Shan understood Yang Qianyuan’s intent and immediately took the brocade box from Yun Yun’s hands, placing it personally on Chu Danqing’s desk.

“These seeds are naturally endowed with an extra layer of protective ability compared to other lotus seeds.”

“Pity they lack spiritual awareness—what a shame,” Yun Shan briefly outlined their strengths and weaknesses.

(End of Chapter)