Chapter 1232

Hu Xiaotian said: "The world is not just Da Yong; wherever there are people, there is business—buy low, sell high, rare goods can be hoarded. Although Ju Bao Zhai has been sealed, the things inside should still be there, right?"

Zou Yong heard that he was thinking about those jewels of Ju Bao Zhai, and said softly: "All of them must be handed over to the state treasury."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Does the king just want clear accounts?"

Zou Yong silently stared at him without speaking; Hu Xiaotian turned and walked behind the screen, took out a wooden box, opened it in front of Zou Yong—inside was a thick stack of banknotes. Zou Yong glanced at it casually, but saw the top note was a 100,000-tael banknote from Xinglong Hang; he inwardly sighed, this person indeed came prepared.

Xue Lingjun stayed at her residence all day; at dusk, Guo Zhenhai came to report, saying that the merchant Hu Dafu from yesterday had come again. Xue Lingjun did not hesitate to let him in. Seeing her reaction, Guo Zhenhai's expression showed some embarrassment; after hesitating a while, he finally could not help but say: "Your Highness, I have something to say, but I don't know whether I should say it or not."

Xue Lingjun said: "If you feel it's inappropriate to say, then don't say it."

Guo Zhenhai said: "I believe that Hu Dafu's conduct is suspicious; Your Highness should keep away from him..."

Before he finished speaking, he already met Xue Lingjun's icy, blade-like gaze; Guo Zhenhai's heart involuntarily trembled, he lowered his head and whispered: "I have offended!"

Xue Lingjun snorted coldly: "When did it become your place to interfere in my affairs? Guo Zhenhai, you need to clarify your position—you came to Bohai to protect me, not to surveil me, and I certainly don't need you to lecture me!"

Guo Zhenhai said in a deep voice: "I have no intention of offending the Princess; I am only concerned for Your Highness's safety. Please consider carefully, Your Highness—if things are mishandled, not only will you fall into danger, but it will also harm Da Yong's reputation."

Xue Lingjun's willow brows stood erect, her phoenix eyes widened. She shouted angrily: "Nonsense! What are you saying? Are you saying I affect Da Yong's reputation? Get out!" She forcibly suppressed the urge to rush forward and slap Guo Zhenhai, threw on a cloak, and left the room without even glancing at him.

Guo Zhenhai still had not forgotten his protective duty; he hurriedly followed behind, trailing her all the way to the courtyard where Xue Lingjun stopped, then abruptly turned around. Looking at the few Jinlin guards following behind, he said: "Listen up—anyone who dares to follow today, I will personally kill him!"

The usually charming and alluring Xue Lingjun rarely displayed such a chilling killing intent; even Guo Zhenhai felt his heart tremble. He gave a glance, signaling the others to retreat.

Xue Lingjun came to the gate full of anger, seeing Hu Xiaotian still waiting outside. Her own attendants hadn't even let him through the door, showing how wary they were of him.

Hu Xiaotian smiled, bowed, and said: "Hu Dafu pays his respects to the Princess!"

Xue Lingjun pointed at Hu Xiaotian's carriage and said: "Get on your carriage, accompany me for a drive to clear my mind!"

Guo Zhenhai's Jinlin guards also dared not follow; they could only watch helplessly as Xue Lingjun boarded Hu Xiaotian's carriage and rode away.

Hu Xiaotian accompanied Xue Lingjun to the Sea God Temple; since the temple's priest had been arrested, the temple had become much quieter, with few worshippers inside. Xue Lingjun seemed in a bad mood, and while offering incense she did not let Hu Xiaotian accompany her. Hu Xiaotian stood alone outside the main hall, admiring the temple's architecture.

When Xue Lingjun finished offering incense and came out, she saw Hu Xiaotian tilting his head to look at the stele inside the pavilion. She lightly coughed and approached him from behind; Hu Xiaotian did not turn around, somewhat surprised, and said: "There is actually an inscription by Emperor Gaozong of Dakang here."

Xue Lingjun glanced at it and said disdainfully: "What's so strange? Bohai had always bowed to Dakang; it only turned to Da Yong after Da Yong rose."

Hu Xiaotian laughed.

Xue Lingjun glared at him and said: "What are you laughing at? What's funny?"

"Sister Jun, using the phrase 'abandon darkness for light' is really apt and fitting—I, your younger brother, am impressed!"

Xue Lingjun said: "A wise bird chooses its tree to roost; if the ruler of Bohai lacked this ability, even a tiny island state would not have survived to this day." Her tone revealed contempt for Bohai.

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sister Jun, your mood seems to have been affected?"

Xue Lingjun sighed: "It's all because of you? You actually came up with this idea to help that girl escape."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "If that vinegar jar hadn't left, how could I have had a chance to get close to Sister Jun?"

Xue Lingjun said: "This way, I would be dragged into disgrace by you, accused of seducing a married woman, and now I've become a laughingstock to the world."

Hu Xiaotian said: "Sister Jun, don't blame me; last night's incident wasn't something I could arrange—someone deliberately leaked the news to my family's tigress, provoking her to come cause trouble. If she had shown no reaction, wouldn't that raise suspicion?"

Xue Lingjun nodded and said: "I understand in my heart."

Hu Xiaotian added: "Before I came, Zou Yong went to see me."

"What did he want from you? Could it be that he suspects your identity?"

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "Zou Yong is no ordinary person; the Bohai king's dowager empress, the Bohai princess, and he all have unclear relations. However, he is probably not just a mere gigolo—yesterday Yan Dongqing set up that scheme obviously to lure you into it."

Xue Lingjun said: "Your identity wouldn't stand up to scrutiny—aren't you afraid they'll discover your flaws?"

Hu Xiaotian said: "I want them to find out my flaws, Sister Jun. One thing I can be certain of is that they will surely try every means to block your return to Da Yong; you are now in the most dangerous situation."

Xue Lingjun said: "Bohai doesn't yet have the guts to move against me!"

Hu Xiaotian said: "Although Bohai doesn't have that guts..."

Li Jiangjun stood on the Jin Ge Terrace, silently gazing toward Huang Hua Port; low clouds pressed on the horizon, a storm was imminent. Behind him came steady footsteps—a man wearing a bamboo hat appeared, clasped his fists and said: "General!"

Li Jiangjun nodded, turned around; the man removed his bamboo hat—it was actually Guo Zhenhai, the deputy commander of the Jinlin Guard responsible for protecting Xue Lingjun's safety.

Guo Zhenhai said: "The Princess and Hu Dafu went out together; I sent people to follow, but that Hu Dafu is extremely alert and actually shook off our tail."

Li Jiangjun said: "Investigate this person thoroughly."

Guo Zhenhai said: "We've already checked; his identity shows nothing suspicious—he is the son-in-law of Qian Changlong's old master Qiao, his wife is Qiao Xianglian, and yesterday she actually ran to Fuqing Lou to cause a scene."

Li Jiangjun gave no reaction, merely pulling his white sable cloak tighter around himself.

Guo Zhenhai lowered his voice: "The Princess truly disregards Da Yong's image—she openly flirts with that Hu Dafu, and now his wife has come to cause trouble at her door; Da Yong's royal face is completely lost!"

Li Jiangjun said calmly: "You don't understand the Princess; the former emperor trusted her so much not because she is his biological sister, but because the Princess is far-sighted and exceptionally scheming. What you see is merely a facade—that Hu Dafu is no simpleton; given the Princess's wisdom, she must have sensed something, and Hu Dafu could be her ally."

Guo Zhenhai said softly: "General Li, the Princess has proposed to leave, but the Bohai royal family is desperately trying to keep her."

Li Jiangjun said: "Now is not the time for her to leave, though it shouldn't be long." His gaze swept over Guo Zhenhai as he said: "You must remember—never reveal your identity; next time don't come in person. My coming to Bohai is surely known to the Princess; if anyone discovers you and I meeting, she will see through everything."

"Yes!"

"Go on!"

After Li Jiangjun and Guo Zhenhai parted, Li boarded a carriage and went straight to Jing Shui Xing Yuan; the coachman knew the way, entering directly through the side gate. Li alighted, and Zou Yong was already waiting there, clasping his fists and saying: "Brother Li!"

Li Jiangjun nodded: "Let's talk inside!"

Zou Yong led Li Jiangjun into the study, where there was another person—the young palace master of Luoying Palace, Tang Jingyu.

Tang Jingyu saw Li Jiangjun enter, hurriedly rose, clasped his fists and said: "General Li has arrived!"

Li Jiangjun smiled and said: "Please sit!" He took the seat behind the desk as if he were the host; Tang Jingyu and Zou Yong only dared to sit after he was seated. Li Jiangjun then asked: "Zou Yong, how is the situation at the Ministry of Punishments?"

Zou Yong said: "Li Changxin is stubbornly rigid and unyielding."

Li Jiangjun said coldly: "Such a minor case has been dragged on for so long without a verdict—Bohai truly has no capable officials!"

Zou Yong said: "Li Changxin does have some ability, but he insists on handling everything strictly by the law. Take the case of Yuan Tianzhao, for example—he tries to personally handle everything, and almost all important witnesses must be interviewed by him in person."

Li Jiangjun said: "Long nights bring many dreams." He glanced at Tang Jingyu and said: "You didn't kill Yan Tianlu; Yan Tianlu should already be in Bohai, possibly hiding nearby, waiting for a chance to strike back."

Tang Jingyu said: "General, rest assured—if he dares to come, I will certainly not let him leave alive."

Li Jiangjun said: "His Majesty has already promised that after this success, the position of Bohai's Chancellor will certainly not fall to anyone else." As he spoke, he looked at Zou Yong, clearly directing the remark at him.

Zou Yong's joy showed on his face, and he said respectfully, "Thank you, Brother Li, for your help."

Li Chen Zhou said, "This plan must succeed, no failure allowed; we will not let anyone slow our progress, and the Li Changxing side must be resolved immediately."

Zou Yong said, "I know what to do; he has a dear son, Li Mingju. As long as we control Li Mingju, we need not worry about him not obeying."

Li Chen Zhou smiled and said, "Brother Zou, your wisdom is outstanding; as long as you're willing to think, you can always find a solution."

Tang Jingyu said, "Yan Boguang is currently in our hands; should we release the news to lure Yan Tianlu and his allies and catch them all in one net?"

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