Chapter 352: Whose Heart Was Plucked?

On the second day of the month, the Old Emperor arrived with the Empress; yesterday Eleven and Jia Mei had come, but they didn't follow today.

Qiao Mai had already had the food prepared, because they arrived at mealtime, just to mooch a meal.

Before, the Emperor came to Jixiang Yuan perhaps to eat; now, he just wants to take a good look at this immortal and also verify his own thoughts.

Qingfeng says it's one thing, but he only believes it when he hears it with his own ears.

As soon as they entered Jixiang Yuan, the Old Emperor, imitating the Empress, grabbed Yuan Jiaqi's hand, but was unexpectedly shaken off.

Hand‑holding between women is one thing, but when two men hold hands, strangers might think it's a broken‑sleeve.

Even if it's a broken‑sleeve thing, you can't do it with the Old Emperor; it's too shameful.

Without the Old Emperor's knowing, they were rejected, haha!

Upon entering, they sat down to eat; the Emperor made an exception and drank a lot of wine, feeling that wine emboldens people, so after drinking he could voice his questions.

Qiao Mai looked at Yuan Jiaqi and the Empress, signaling him not to ask, but the Old Emperor must ask; if he doesn't, he can't sleep, and he already has dark circles.

"Teach Eleven properly, otherwise you know what will happen."

Shopkeeper Niu was extremely anxious; the Master had entered seclusion, so he went straight to Yuan Jiaqi.

Qiao Mai lowered her head and looked at herself, "Hmm, not bad, I've advanced four stages; next time I enter seclusion I'll sprint for the big breakthrough—do you want to come watch the fun?"

"Fine, the Old Emperor has been constantly bringing it up—what for? You should be grateful that I reside within your Daming Jiangshan."

To get to the bottom of this, we still need the mother‑in‑law to act; only she can make the Old Daoist wary, even frightened.

Jia Mei and Eleven have both come many times, one to comfort Chuan'er, the other to comfort Ling'er.

After these two days passed, there was nothing left at home; she told Yuan Jiaqi and then entered seclusion.

"I knew it, I knew it—so, that night, those rations?"

Qiao Mai slowly opened her eyes, "What is it?"

The marriage of Jia Mei and Chuan'er is wholly decided by Yuan Jiaqi; she must stay in seclusion for at least two months, and even on the fifteenth day of the first month she doesn't plan to emerge.

"You all are also tired; after a few days, close the shop, and when the Princess emerges from seclusion, treat it as a holiday—our family isn't lacking silver, we can sustain you."

"This seclusion period is a bit long, but no rush; wait a bit longer. Our household's food supplies are plentiful—we can last a year or a year and a half without issue. Put your hearts into your stomachs; if that doesn't work, we'll all move to Bichun Garden."

"Yes, not everything has to be done by me personally; with them around, even if all your Golden Dragon Guard come to my house, they would be wiped out as a group."

"Hmm, I use it to guard the house and protect the courtyard."

He knew that after Qiao Mai entered seclusion, he used this to stall the matter, because the Demon Qi issue had also caused ministers to oppose Jia Mei and Chuan'er's marriage, suggesting a postponement; waiting until the Demon Qi problem is resolved isn't too late.

"It's necessary, haha, I'm truly delighted today—drink, drink, we won't return until we're drunk."

Yuan Jiaqi and Chuan'er went about their duties as usual, doing whatever needs to be done, all while waiting for Qiao Mai to emerge from seclusion.

"It must be that Old Daoist Niu's words, humph."

At this moment, Qiao Mai was sprinting toward the Ninth Stage of the Nascent Soul; over more than two months of focused cultivation had let her advance four stages, and after a small additional push she will finish seclusion.

"He said something, but the Emperor does not believe it."

"Fine, drop it. With my cultivation, not only could I claim your kingdom, I could have the whole world, but I'm not interested. I'll gladly be your emperor; with me, you can enjoy secret pleasure."

Yuan Jiaqi instructed Shopkeeper Niu to close the shop, keeping everyone active within the Yuanzi, and not to leave the premises lightly.

Jiang is still sharp as ever; the Emperor readily agreed, saying the investigation will proceed, but it will take time.

"Mother‑in‑law?"

"Prince, the capital is now in a frenzy; what do you think?"

"No, Mother is not here; we must guard this place. They can't just come in; they're only afraid…"

The master and servant stepped out of the space, opened the house door, and didn't see Yuan Jiaqi; he must be on duty.

The Emperor ordered the Ministry of Rites and the Imperial Household Department to schedule the Princess's grand wedding; Chuan'er here just waits for word from there, doing whatever is required.

The Emperor soon learned of it, slammed the table in anger, and immediately dispatched the Golden Dragon Guard to investigate thoroughly.

Sending the Golden Dragon Guard to the mountain to investigate is impossible; the Old Daoist's inner strength is profound, the Guard is no match for him, and the mountain is full of martial artists, each possessing deadly skills.

"Fine."

Ling'er also saw no one coming to the shop, so she closed the door; thus all her people are kept in her Yuanzi.

"I thank you!"

They weren't in a hurry at all; they both believed that as soon as Mother emerges from seclusion, this matter will be resolved quickly.

"I don't even know when Mother will emerge from seclusion."

They looked at Qiao Mai with a strange gaze, knowing that with the mother‑in‑law in Daming Jiangshan, the people's peace could be ensured.

"Tianshui Town isn't far from there; my relatives and friends are there. Will I just watch things go wrong?"

From the first month to the fourth month, the Emperor and Empress, in disguise, visited the Qiao Family twice but never saw Qiao Mai.

The servants went to procure items, but they wouldn't sell to us; some even, upon seeing they were our servants, shut the shop outright.

By March, rumors spread wildly; the street where Jixiang Yuan stands saw few pedestrians by day, and at night not a single watchman was on duty.

"You bunch of idiots, even if there are demons, whose heart was taken? Whose entrails were eaten? Or what abnormality occurred? Ignorant people just echo others."

And this Empress, only now does she realize that it's all thanks to the blessings of the woman before her; otherwise it would have been impossible for her to sit in this position.

Concerned about the stability of the state, the Old Emperor snorted coldly in his mind; he knew full well that the Eleventh Prince's leg had healed, and seeing him aim to make Eleven the Crown Prince made everyone panic, trying to use the Demon Qi incident to suppress the Fu Wang family.

"I know what you want to ask, but I don't wish to answer; Qingfeng must have already told you, right?"

The Old Emperor, unable to believe it, rubbed his eyes vigorously, "Is this the demon that Qingfeng spoke of?"

Cunning as a fox, the Emperor recalled that the Demon Qi matter first came from the mouth of Daoist Qingfeng; by now he had already returned to the mountain.

When he left, he was still carried onto a carriage, and that carriage was Qiao Mai's.

Jixiang Yuan is spacious, allowing them to move about freely, but they may not leave the estate; this is also for their safety.

"May I see the demon he mentioned?"

"What he said is true."

"I ask you, when Beiguan suddenly called a cease‑fire back then, was it you?"

"Rumors are spreading throughout Jingcheng, all saying that you are a demon."

"Then why don't you step out for a moment and have a look?"

She went straight to the old man's side, where Ling'er and Jin Mama were sitting and talking.

"That's incredible; if you wanted this realm, it would be a piece of cake, wouldn't it?"

The rumors grew fiercer, and many common folk dared not pass the gate of Jixiang Yuan; even the Xiu Pin Puzi and Qiao Ji Snack Shop were empty.

The Emperor was unusually pleased, and the Empress listened, bewildered, but she wasn't foolish; she could make out some of it, yet she kept silent.

"Both shops have shut their doors, and the street in front of our mansion is almost deserted; everyone fears demons."

"Those men in black—are they the ones who dealt with them?"

Qiao Mai fell silent. Fine, just watch. She summoned, with a thought, Flying Demon Mice and Sky‑crashing Sheep; three sheep and six mice all arrived at her side.

Qiao Mai waved her hand, sending them scattering.

At that moment, rumors spread through Jingcheng that Fu Wang's wife was a demon and that she kept several little demons.

Even the court officials began to include the matter in state discussions; they all advised the Emperor to investigate it, lest it cause panic among the people.

Xiao Qing fluttered his wings and flew close to her, "Master,"

Qiao Mai, hearing this, raised an eyebrow, pulled back the curtain and walked in.

"If you have the skill, lock them up and never open the door again; I'm afraid they can't manage it."

Ling'er ran excitedly to her side, leapt into her arms, "Mother, you have emerged from the seal."

"Hmm, you all did well, knowing to hold your ground and wait for old lady to emerge from the seal."

"Hehe, this matter—only you can solve it; we lack that ability."