[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"origin-lord-of-the-proles":3,"chapter-lord-of-the-proles-lord-of-the-proles-chapter-256":6},{"origin":4,"title":5},"chinese","Lord of the Proles",{"chapter":7,"nextChapterSlug":19,"prevChapterSlug":20,"totalChapters":21,"novelImage":22},{"id":8,"novel_id":9,"title":10,"slug":11,"index":12,"content":13,"wordcount":14,"created_at":15,"updated_at":15,"volume":16,"translator":17,"content_hash":18},2290554,4478,"Chapter 256: Falling Ill","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-256",256,"\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying sat in the room, silently watching Prince Chun perform opera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Chun played a female role, performing \"The Case of Zha Mei.\"\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The timing and mastery of this opera were flawless; Prince Chun portrayed Qin Xianglian with profound depth, making Lu Chunying’s eyes well up with tears.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci’s eyes also welled up, but she was terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Yet no matter how frightened she was, she had to watch the entire opera—Lu Chunying had offended Prince Chun, and his demand was that she watch one play.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The cost was not great, but Xiao Ye Ci was truly terrified.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying watched her tremble and softly reminded: “Mother, if you can’t hold it, speak up—I’ll take you to the latrine. This prince loves cleanliness; we can’t cause any more trouble.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng sat in the Sui Shen Ju, quietly watching his wife and Hong Ying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chichi~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His wife spoke first: “Hey, husband, didn’t Prince Chun tell you everything? That old rascal is cunning—don’t believe everything he says.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying sighed lightly: “Among all the court officials, who isn’t cunning? Compared to them, Prince Chun is almost benevolent.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine scoffed: “In your eyes, Prince Chun isn’t just benevolent—he’s the peerless perfect man.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying fell silent for a long while, then said: “I am not close to Prince Chun, nor do I have any affection for him. The Emperor ordered the marriage—I had no choice. This has nothing to do with our grudge.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng was about to ask: “Why did you two fall out?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine sneered: “Ask that wretched woman. I certainly can’t understand it.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying’s voice grew agitated: “If you can’t understand, think carefully—I fought beside you on the battlefield, through countless armies, when did I ever waver?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>I killed you because you deserved it, and I had no choice—I did nothing wrong!”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Both fell silent again. Li Banfeng lay on the bed, gently stroking the singing machine, and asked: “Wife, you’ve been fighting the Demon Lands for years—where exactly are the Demon Lands?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Chichi~\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Little slave can’t remember. Ever since that wretched woman harmed me, I’ve forgotten many things. If I strain to recall, my soul feels like it’s scattering.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Hong Ying snapped: “Wicked woman, don’t blame everything on me—I’ve forgotten the Demon Lands too. If you count it that way, aren’t you the one who harmed me?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Forgotten. Everyone said they’d forgotten.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Chun couldn’t say where the Demon Lands were either.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He couldn’t even say where the Da Huan Dynasty was.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Whether his wife, Hong Ying, or Prince Chun—they had all died once.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After experiencing death and rebirth, losing most of their memories was understandable.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng embraced the singing machine: “Enough. Don’t think anymore. After fighting all night in the rain, I’m freezing.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The singing machine exhaled a cloud of steam, wrapping tightly around Li Banfeng: “Little slave is lucky—she has a husband who cares for her. Unlike that wretched woman, she deserves to suffer all her life.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After finishing \"The Case of Zha Mei,\" Prince Chun was still pondering the next opera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci trembled and said: “Your Highness, didn’t you say once we heard this opera, you’d let us go? We’re in a hurry to travel.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Chun’s face darkened: “You think listening to my opera is a burden? I tell you, as long as this rain doesn’t stop, you won’t move fast—and if you don’t move fast enough, you’ll never leave the Old Lands.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After waiting a full day, the rain finally stopped.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng gathered everyone and left the Prince’s mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Prince Chun stood in the main courtyard’s central hall, placing a record on a tray, listening quietly as Zhao Xiao sang “The Battle of Changban.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After the song ended, he carefully stored the record, then stood at the door, gazing silently into the distance.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Opera is just opera.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You can’t disbelieve it entirely, but you can’t believe it wholly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>How much is false, how much is true—depends on whether there’s a discerning eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>It depends on whether you are that discerning eye.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>…\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng led the group for half a day, finally exiting the Old Lands.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using the map Prince Chun had given him, Li Banfeng drew out the route for everyone.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Xiao Niu, take these people back to Haichiling,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Fang, take them to Yaowanggou,\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>You all know the way?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The route Li Banfeng drew was simple and clear; Niu Guangda understood it, but he didn’t want to go: “Master, I don’t want to return to Haichiling.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Why?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“When my father sent me here, he slapped me twice and said I couldn’t endure hardship, that I’d never amount to anything.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>If I go back now, he’ll slap me again and send me right back—no matter what I say, he won’t believe me.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng said: “Go back and explain properly. If he still doesn’t understand, slap him yourself. Tell him a man with a big beard ordered you to.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda shook his head frantically: “He’s my father—I couldn’t dare.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng thought a moment: “Come with me to Lüshuiwan. One day, I’ll take you to slap him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Niu Guangda’s heart rejoiced: “From now on, I’ll follow Master. My life belongs to you.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He followed Li Banfeng, and everyone else followed Li Banfeng too.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Using Prince Chun’s map, Li Banfeng led them toward Lüshuiwan.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>The route on the map matched Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying’s memories; within less than three days, they left Wuyouping and arrived at Guangming Town.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Guangming Town was a town north of Lüshuiwan, far from Lüshui City, yet still bustling—merchants often stopped here, and inns, restaurants, and shops were all well-stocked, even including a movie theater.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng first settled everyone in lodgings, then bought two sets of men’s clothing and gave them to Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Everyone else was fine, but these two were special—the Lu family was searching for them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>In men’s clothes, ordinary people wouldn’t recognize them, but the Lu family had many unusual people—this couldn’t last. Li Banfeng asked: “Do you two really want to return to the Lu family?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying shook her head: “No. The Lu family won’t accept us.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci shook her head: “Not ‘us’—they won’t accept me. You still have to go back. Staying with someone like me means you’ll never amount to anything.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng didn’t fully understand, so Lu Chunying recounted the full story of their arrival at the Lu family.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>After hearing the events, three questions emerged before Li Banfeng.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>First: Lu Xiaolan was freed by Monkey Qiu, who was summoned by Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying—Li Banfeng knew this.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Lu Xiaolan never knew Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying would come; she consistently denied ever writing them a letter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Mentioning this, Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying grew furious, accusing Lu Xiaolan of being ungrateful and turning her back on them.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>But Li Banfeng believed Lu Xiaolan wasn’t lying.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At the time, she was trapped in the Lu family’s old mansion; aside from the hook on Li Banfeng’s phone, she had no way to contact anyone else.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>She couldn’t have written to Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying—even if she could, she’d have written to her mother, begging her to rescue her.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaolan didn’t lie—so who wrote the letter Xiao Ye Ci and Lu Chunying received?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Xiaolan was trapped in the He family mansion—besides Lu Xiaolan and me, who else knew that?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Second question.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci claimed she witnessed the entire attack on Lu Dongliang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He Yuxiu struck first, then Zhuo Yuling, then Lu Dongjun.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Then Lu Dongliang shoved He Yuxiu, and both flew backward.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Dongliang was a Level Nine Travel Cultivator—is this a Travel Cultivator technique?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Dongliang ultimately flew into Li Banfeng’s hands—was this prearranged by Lu Dongliang?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Third matter: Lu Chunying heard this on the way to the Lu family mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Lu Xiaolan told Monkey Qiu that on the train, she tried to kill someone named something-Qing, but he shoved her, and she flew into the He family’s old mansion.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Monkey Qiu didn’t believe her, the Lu family didn’t believe her, and I thought she was delusional too—until I saw my father shove He Yuxiu and fly out too. Maybe she was telling the truth…”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng’s cheek twitched briefly.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>His lips curled slightly upward, revealing a stiff smile.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Among his university acquaintances, this stiff smile was known as the precursor to an episode—he was best avoided at such moments.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng controlled his tone and asked: “The person you mentioned—something-Qing—is he He Jiaqing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying paused, then nodded: “That sounds right.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked again: “Is it He Jiaqing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying said: “It must be him.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Li Banfeng asked again: “Is it He Jiaqing?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Lu Chunying grew frightened; Xiao Ye Ci interjected: “Master, she might not remember clearly—let me think again.”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it He Jiaqing?” Li Banfeng repeated the same phrase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Xiao Ye Ci was frightened too: “Master, what’s wrong with you?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it He Jiaqing?” Li Banfeng turned and left the room, stepping into the corridor.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He didn’t want to harm the mother and daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it He Jiaqing?” He repeated the phrase, entering his own room.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it He Jia…” Li Banfeng clapped his hand over his mouth—he was having an episode. He repeated the phrase uncontrollably.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>With one hand, he pulled out his key and entered the Sui Shen Ju.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Seeing Li Banfeng clutching his mouth, face flushed, the singing machine asked anxiously: “Master, what’s wrong?”\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Ooooh, ooooh~” Li Banfeng’s nose still hummed the same phrase.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Still couldn’t stop, even covering his mouth wouldn’t stop it!\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He covered his nose as well.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>He clamped his mouth and nose tightly, his face turning blue-purple as he neared suffocation.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Husband!” Jiang Yue stepped forward, prying open Li Banfeng’s hands and wrapping him tightly in a cloud of steam.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>“Is it He Jiaqing?” Li Banfeng croaked.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Honglian, far away in the Sixth Branch, heard Li Banfeng’s cry—and a layer after layer of dew formed on her body.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>PS: Li Banfeng boarded the train with Zhou Changhong to uncover the mastermind behind Ling Miaoying and dig to the root.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>On the train, due to a series of accidents, they arrived at Jianren Gang.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>At Jianren Gang, they met Xiao Ye Ci and her daughter.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Through Xiao Ye Ci and her daughter, the root was unearthed.\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>Who could have imagined the root would be unearthed so easily?\u003C\u002Fp>\n\u003Cp>(End of Chapter)\u003C\u002Fp>",1754,"2026-06-20T03:43:16.386Z",1,"Qwen3-Next 80B","f4400cc120a13e5a6c319cec51e67ca2332a5949f2e83766d0e1036fa4a58747","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-257","lord-of-the-proles-chapter-255",863,"https:\u002F\u002Fnovelzhen.com\u002Fimages\u002Fcovers\u002Flord-of-the-proles-cover.jpg"]