Chapter 412: Playing with Words in Yinxu Hall

The clinking and clattering sound of mortar and pestle was so annoying that Guihua found it unbearable, yet she dared not say a word, only stealing fierce glares at Lingxiang from time to time while cursing her under her breath.

Lingxiang naturally saw Guihua's impatience; she had made these noises on purpose, with the sole intent of annoying Guihua.

Ever since returning from Yinxu Hall last time, only Lingxiang, Guihua, and a few guards on duty remained in Shiyang Hall.

Everything that needed to be sent away had been sent away, and with several worries off her mind, Lingxiang found it quite boring being all alone now!

So, these days, Lingxiang had to find amusement in her misery, concocting medicines in various ways and requiring Guihua to serve by her side, ready to test them at any moment—all under the high-sounding excuse of "serving the Demon Lord with loyalty."

With things put that way, Guihua naturally dared not object, but she couldn't help but feel her skin crawl—who knew what kind of messy things that dead girl would make her eat.

In truth, Lingxiang wasn't making any bizarre poisons; after all, the Demon Realm wasn't exactly rich in medicinal herbs, and it was either some strange, odd insects—just the same few things over and over, what kind of flowers could she possibly conjure from that?

Thinking of this, Lingxiang couldn't help but sigh: how she missed the human world; it was truly filled with treasures, having everything one could want, unlike this Underworld, where everything was so lifeless and dreary.

"Hmph!"

Lingxiang let out a heavy huff, feeling that her current predicament was entirely Wumin Jun's fault.

If not for those ambiguous words Wumin Jun said that day, Lingxiang would never have made up her mind to take this trip to the Demon Realm. And now, look at this—he had just wiped his hands clean and left, dumping her all alone in this godforsaken place to suffer!

Lingxiang hammered the mortar heavily, cursing Wumin Jun in her heart: You plague-ridden old thing, you ruined my Dao heart, you'd be better off dead on the road!

Lingxiang glared hatefully at Guihua, thinking about whether to vent her anger on her first, and at that moment, Guihua happened to glance toward her.

Their eyes met, and Guihua was startled by Lingxiang's vicious look, quickly turning her head away and pretending to look elsewhere.

Seriously! Did her mother die or something? Why be so scary? But then she thought, hadn't Tu Mi been dead for a long time? So wasn't it exactly like her mother had died?

Thinking of this, Guihua felt inexplicably happy, unable to hide her joy, which made even Lingxiang, who was just pondering how to take her anger out on Guihua, feel incredibly strange.

Could it be that she mixed the wrong medicine and made this woman stupid?

Ha! It'd be better if she were stupid! Who told her to be so detestable? She deserves it!

Should she mix a dose of medicine to make Guihua deaf, mute, and blind?

Lingxiang thought viciously, but then she saw someone striding into the hall. Lingxiang recognized the person; it was Bao Yan's personal attendant, who never left the Demon Lord's side by even half a step. His arrival before her today surely meant that the Demon Lord was bored and looking to stir up trouble again.

Ha! This little Demon Lord really never lets anyone have a moment of peace!

But no matter how much she disliked it, she couldn't show even a shred of dissatisfaction on her face.

Lingxiang sat upright with an air of importance and asked sternly, "What is the matter?"

Seeing this, Guihua rolled her eyes hard: Stop putting on an act! As if it were real!

The guard cupped his hands in a salute and replied, "The Demon Lord summons the Princess to Yinxu Hall for questioning."

Simple and clear, not a word of nonsense, but Lingxiang's heart began to drum. She knew the temperament of such guards well; no matter how she asked, they wouldn't say anything else.

Lingxiang frowned, feeling that this trip boded ill.

For a practitioner, one's first instinct is the most accurate, but when one is under someone else's roof, one must bow one's head; this trip was likely unavoidable.

Forget it, forget it! Worrying now won't help; when soldiers come, block them; when water comes, cover it with earth!

Guihua watched from the corner of her eye, taking in Lingxiang's expression. She was immensely pleased, with the look of someone watching a good show: It seems this dead girl is about to have bad luck.

The last time Lingxiang rode in a carriage was when she was invested as Princess, and she hadn't sat in one since; she usually walked to Yinxu Hall, but this time there was not only a carriage but also a crowd of attendants following.

It seems this matter is quite formal! Could it be that the little Demon Lord wants to abdicate in her favor?

That would be great! Just watch how she displays her grand ambitions and governs the Demon Realm to be well-behaved, instead of them acting like a bunch of uncivilized monkeys.

While Lingxiang was still thinking happily, the carriage arrived at the palace gate; according to the rules, one had to enter the hall on foot.

Perhaps feeling that her previous thoughts were too ridiculous, she felt she hadn't walked long before she arrived at the entrance of Yinxu Hall.

Following the announcement of "Princess Feng Yuan has arrived," Lingxiang entered the hall with a composed expression, only to see a crowd of court officials.

Could it really be an abdication?

Tsk! That was just a playful thought earlier; if it were really given to her, Lingxiang wouldn't even want it!

Although she felt it was absurd, Lingxiang remained calm on the surface, adjusted her sleeves, and stood there without a word.

Ha! Looking at this situation, it probably isn't anything good; just wait and see, someone will surely lose their patience.

Sure enough, an old man stepped out.

"Your Highness, it is not that this old minister is meddlesome, but Princess Feng Yuan has been in the palace for three years, yet she seems to have not yet learned the palace rules."

Lingxiang sized up the old man, thinking for a while before remembering that this seemed to be some Grand Minister of Works.

It wasn't that Lingxiang had a poor memory, but firstly, she didn't think she would stay in the Demon Realm for long, and secondly, she didn't want to have too many entanglements with the people of the Demon Realm, so she was truly too lazy to remember. The only reason she remembered the Grand Minister of Works was because when she was crowned Princess, this old man had spouted a long string of clichés, and Lingxiang had been so bored she nearly fell asleep, which was why she had been forced to remember him.

Hmph! You old monster, starting off with a show of force; does he think she's made of dough?

"I don't understand this. Wasn't the person who teaches palace rules arranged by the Grand Minister of Works? If the teacher doesn't teach well, is it the student's fault?"

Pfft! Sowing discord? Come on then! Who's afraid of whom!

Lingxiang's implication was that the Grand Minister of Works was poor at judging talent, and the Grand Minister of Works naturally heard it too.

"Is the Princess accusing this old minister of dereliction of duty?"

Lingxiang clicked her tongue: "Oh~ how can you say that! After all, one can know a person's face but not their heart. The Grand Minister of Works has complex official duties, so it's understandable that you couldn't attend to everything. Furthermore, the Demon Lord hasn't spoken a word about my conduct, yet you are the one getting anxious—how truly interesting."

Lingxiang didn't mention dereliction of duty in a single word, yet every sentence confirmed that it was the Grand Minister of Works' fault for misusing personnel, and she even mocked him in secret.

The so-called "the emperor is not anxious, but the eunuch is"—Lingxiang was scolding the Grand Minister of Works!

Guihua knew that Lingxiang was accustomed to being sharp-tongued, but this time she was incredibly happy.

Serves you right! I've long found you, this old rascal, unpleasant; you're always putting on airs and love to whisper slanders in front of the Demon Lord. Now that you've been humiliated in front of all the officials, let's see where you'll put your face in the future!

The Grand Minister of Works had long heard that Lingxiang was accustomed to being difficult; he might have let it slide in private, but now they were in the court, and if he pursued it, he would only lose his dignity.

"Enough, enough. Let us not mention the matter of rules for now; I shall select a suitable person to send to the Princess's hall for instruction."

Lingxiang gave a cold huff and said indifferently, "Whatever you say, it is. Isn't everything in the court decided by you? Who else would dare to interject?"

Saying this in front of the Demon Lord was truly a lethal blow; the implication was that the entire government was controlled by the Grand Minister of Works alone, and the Grand Minister of Works naturally dared not respond to that.

"I invited the Princess here today because there is a matter to inquire about, and I hope the Princess will answer truthfully," the Grand Minister of Works cleared his throat and changed the subject.

Lingxiang glanced at the Grand Minister of Works, secretly spitting "old fox," but said aloud, "I shall certainly tell you everything I know."

The Grand Minister looked toward the Demon Lord; the latter merely raised his eyes, and the Grand Minister bowed with cupped hands in a salute, then asked Lingxiang: "May I ask, Princess, are you acquainted with Wumin Jun?"

Lingxiang blinked her eyes: "Wumin Jun? Naturally I know him; I even saw him a few days ago! Right? Yiyou General?"

Suddenly called out, Guihua was stunned for a moment, then gave Lingxiang a dissatisfied glance, and folding her arms, she replied respectfully: "Just as the Princess says."

Having received the answer, the Grand Minister asked again: "Then what is the relationship between the Princess and Wumin Jun?"

"You don't know what my relationship with him is?" Lingxiang looked bewildered. "And you call yourself a veteran of the inner court? You have to ask me about such things?"

The Grand Minister was stunned by Lingxiang's retort; after regaining his composure, he asked pleasantly: "I ask the Princess to enlighten me."

"Since you ask so sincerely, I will reluctantly tell you, lest outsiders find out and think I am bullying you old man!" Lingxiang smacked her lips: "Let me ask you, what is the relationship between the Demon Lord and Wumin Jun?"

The Grand Minister was stunned by the question: What kind of relationship? It was not easy to say in front of the one on the throne; after all, Wumin Jun had now rebelled and left, and if a slip of the tongue displeased the Lord, then his time as Grand Minister would be at an end.

Seeing the Grand Minister remain silent, Lingxiang widened her eyes in surprise: "You don't even know this? Old man, are you perhaps senile from old age? You should have resigned and yielded your position long ago, lest you hinder the state and the government."

This little ancestor, how could every sentence be so heart-piercing!

The Grand Minister wiped the fine sweat from his forehead and bowed to Lingxiang.

"They are uncle and nephew; isn't this known to everyone?" Lingxiang said as if it were a matter of course: "Since this relationship exists, old man, you tell me, what is my relationship with him?"

This...

How did this become a family connection?

The Grand Minister suddenly understood; Lingxiang was just quibbling with him! But in front of the Demon Lord and the ministers, even though he was dissatisfied, he could only let out a long sigh and temporarily suppress the fire in his chest.

"The Princess has misunderstood; the old official was not asking about your relationship with Wumin Jun, but whether you are on good terms with him?"

Lingxiang looked innocent: "Naturally we are on good terms; after all, we are family, are we not?" As she spoke, she curled her lips: "You old man are truly strange; you insist on sticking your large nose into other people's family business to ask this and that. Is it interesting?"

"You!"

The Grand Minister was choked with anger for a long while and could not speak; he glanced at the Demon Lord, but could not discern the expression on his face.

This one on the throne was much harder to deal with than the Former Demon Venerable!

The Grand Minister let out another sigh, then flicked his long sleeves, deciding to get straight to the point: "This old man has heard that the Princess once met secretly with Wumin Jun at the Qu Sheng Small Tavern; is this true?"

Lingxiang was furious upon hearing this: "Presumptuous! What nonsense are you spouting, you old man? What do you mean by 'met secretly'? I went to see Wumin Jun openly and aboveboard."

"Openly and aboveboard?" The Demon Lord, who had been silent all along, suddenly changed his sitting posture and squinted at Lingxiang.

"Yes, openly and aboveboard," Lingxiang glanced at the Grand Minister with dissatisfaction and said to the Demon Lord: "That day, I even took Yiyou General out of the palace with me."

"Is this true?"

Being mentioned again, Guihua was once again bewildered.

Huh? When? Why don't I know about this?

"This... subordinate..." Guihua stammered and could not come up with a reason.

She really didn't know!

This cursed dead girl, why did she have to drag her into this?

While Guihua was cursing inwardly, Lingxiang spoke up: "Yiyou General must not know; the purpose of my trip that day was to collect Chongchuan Bian'an, but the General was worried about the danger there, so she personally ran to Chongchuan for me."

Oh! That time!

What?! This dead girl actually went to see someone in secret?! Now that the Demon Lord knows, wouldn't she be punished for dereliction of duty?

Guihua wished this stinking girl would die outside; when was it her turn to worry about her? Besides, wasn't it this stinking girl who forced her to go?!

Turning black into white! Confusing right and wrong!

"So, the Princess went to see Wumin Jun privately?" the Grand Minister asked.

"Tsk!" Lingxiang was extremely dissatisfied. "You old man, you are so annoying; why is your speech so unpleasant? I already said it was open and aboveboard; can you not understand human speech?"

The Grand Minister was so angry his face turned purple; he, the dignified Grand Minister of the Demon Realm, was being humiliated in court by a yellow-haired girl, yet he could not talk back and could only suffer in silence.

"Why did the Princess go to see Wumin Jun?" the Grand Minister asked through gritted teeth, enduring his headache.

"Just a coincidence?"

"A coincidence?" The Grand Minister sneered: "Could it be such a coincidence?"

"What? Do you dare to question me?" Lingxiang glared back.

"This old official dares not, I just feel that this matter is too coincidental."

Lingxiang sneered: "Who isn't saying that! Yiyou General was running errands for me; I couldn't just stand on the street and be pointed at by thousands of people, could I? I had to find a place to rest and wait; does this also bother the Grand Minister?"

"Since it was a chance encounter, was anything said?"

With one sentence from the Demon Lord, the matter was settled, and the Grand Minister naturally dared not say anything more.

"Oh, a lot was said," Lingxiang tilted her head and pretended to recall: "He said that when he was young, he was a playmate of the Lord, and he told many interesting stories from the past; the uncle-nephew matter was told to me at that time."

The Demon Lord's eyes flickered, but the Grand Minister pressed on: "That's all that was said?"

"Naturally not," Lingxiang shook her head. "He also begged me to make medicine for him."

Sincerity! Sincerity is always the ultimate move!

"Make medicine? What kind of medicine?" The Grand Minister was relentless.

"That face of his," Lingxiang sighed. "Tsk! It's terrifying! Although it's not a small favor, I thought, since we are relatives, I agreed."

The guards in the hall then remembered: "Indeed, the mask that Wumin Jun usually wears was found."

Lingxiang pretended to be surprised: "You searched the residence? Why?"

"Does the Princess not know?"

"Should I know?" Lingxiang was full of confusion, but in her heart, she thought: I certainly know, but I am pretending not to know now; what can you do to me?

"Wumin Jun has rebelled against the Demon Race and fled the city!"

"Yi! Ya! Huo!" Lingxiang exclaimed three times in a row. "This is truly strange; is there anyone who would choose not to live a life of wealth and luxury?"