Chapter 509: You Ruo Reappears

Inside Peaceful Sun City, it was bustling with revelry.

Above Eastern Park, spirit clouds blanketed the sky.

Linghu Qingqing sat in an ordinary black-painted small carriage, still driven by Linghu A Yi, and leisurely exited Peaceful Sun City East Gate.

"Fine weather, fine weather…… This Duke of Jade Prefecture is also diligent." Linghu Qingqing was in high spirits; he sat in the carriage, and through the lifted carriage curtain gazed at that magnificent seven-colored spirit cloud high in the sky eight hundred li away.

"He's a smart person, truly a clever child."

"Whether Duke of Jade Prefecture or Eastern Park Colonel, these titles and ranks are all empty."

"Strength, strength is everything; only those with strength can hold onto power in their hands; only those with power are qualified to thrive in this world, to live carefree and nourished."

"So indeed, he's a clever child, completely unreasonable, directly overturning the table and turning hostile, ransacking the many great clans of Jade Prefecture, seizing so many cultivation resources without the slightest hesitation, thereby boosting his own cultivation."

"By condensing a divine fetus with the Nine Revolutions Mystic Art…… an ancient forbidden technique, once he enters the Womb Storage Realm, this child's strength would rank among the top hundred in the Great Jin Divine State."

"With such strength, taking charge of Jade Prefecture would be secure."

Linghu Qingqing commented word by word on Wu Tie's actions after returning from Great Marsh Prefecture, and he said leisurely: "However, his foundation is still lacking somewhat; there's no one for him in the court, and Sima Xian is certainly no wise and enlightened ruler, unreliable."

"With an unstable foundation, in today's Great Jin Court he can only stand aside; even if he sees tremendous benefits, he cannot intervene."

Linghu Qingqing smiled confidently: "Nowadays in the Great Jin, the only one capable of being my opponent is that old fox Gongyang Sanlü."

After a moment's thought, Linghu Qingqing shook his head: "Hmm, those offerings in the Imperial City Secret Pavilion count as half…… the foremost house among the General's Family counts as half; among civil officials…… if those remnants of the Eastern Palace join forces, they could barely count as half."

"In the Great Jin realm, only those two and a half are qualified to oppose me." Linghu Qingqing said leisurely: "A Yi, what do you think our Linghu Clan should do in the future?"

Linghu A Yi lightly flicked the small whip, smiling softly: "As the master decides, the Linghu Clan will surely be peaceful and stable."

Linghu Qingqing laughed and nodded.

"Peace and stability are fine, peace and stability are fine; continuing in peace and stability would be very good, very good."

The small carriage followed the straight road outside the East Gate, swiftly went out three hundred li, then turned onto a southeastern side path, and all the way turned into the mountains that share the same great mountain range as Eastern Park.

Here lies a vast forest park, the Linghu Clan's private forest park, with dense woods, layered pavilions, and in the secluded valleys who knows how many secrets the Linghu family hides from outsiders.

Linghu Qingqing left the city.

Peaceful Sun City remained in turmoil.

The Imperial City and the War Department each sent envoys to the Linghu residence to ask Linghu Qingqing to discuss matters.

However, the head of the Linghu family stepped forward and solemnly told the Imperial City's senior eunuch and the War Department's orderly officer that Linghu Qingqing was plotting important military affairs, not a heaven‑shattering event, and they should not disturb him.

It was obvious that Zhao Xiong had died, Linghu Song was seriously wounded, and the Exterminate Martial Army Vanguard Corps suffered a crushing defeat; this was not a heaven‑shattering event.

The Linghu family head further told the orderly officer sent by the War Department: "If even this minor matter requires Linghu Qingqing to act personally, then what use are the War Department's many generals and high officials to the state and the family?"

The boiling Peaceful Sun City suddenly gained an inexplicable hint of unease, a strange aura.

The front lines suffered defeat, and the Left Minister Linghu Qingqing did not appear—is he truly plotting some important military affair, or has he…… abandoned his post?

Linghu Qingqing did not show up, and Gongyang Sanlü also found an excuse, not attending the Imperial City assembly.

All civil and military officials gathered in the Imperial Palace Nine Heavens Hall; Sima Xian looked grimly at the assembled civil and military officials, while the leaders of the civil and military officials, the Left and Right Ministers, were absent.

"Mm, it seems not a major affair either." Sima Xian said lightly: "Just the death of a Deputy Chief of the Secretariat Hall—hm, certainly not a major matter…… the two senior officials always remain composed during major events, let alone this not being a major affair."

"Esteemed officials, come, let's discuss, discuss—what exactly is this matter? Hey, hey, who can tell me what this is all about? Ah? Now the Vanguard Corps has been defeated; where is the main force that followed? Where have they reached? Have they linked up with the Vanguard Corps? How should we proceed from here…… and what is the situation in Great Marsh Prefecture now?"

"Chief of the Secretariat Hall, Chief of the Secretariat Hall…… Linghu Wu You, get out here!"

Sima Xian slammed the table and shouted furiously: "My father is called Sima Wu You, you bastard Linghu Wu You, are you trying to take advantage of me?"

Sima Xian wore an ugly expression, his eyes like blades, fixedly staring at the Chief of the Secretariat Hall, Linghu Wu You, in the ranks.

Linghu Wu You walked out of the ranks with composure, deeply bowed to Sima Xian, and then remained silent.

His name was personally chosen by Linghu Qingqing.

Over his name, there had once been a considerable uproar.

But the outcome of that uproar was that the Palace Forbidden Army, which at the time still retained a relatively intact force structure, was completely abolished.

Thus, Linghu Wu You became Linghu Wu You, and no one ever had any objection to his name again.

Sima Xian flared up again today—it was practically the wail of a defeated dog…… what can you do to me?

Seeing Linghu Wu You behave this way, Sima Xian's eyes twitched with anger; he grabbed the purple gold paperweight from the dragon desk and was about to hurl it at Linghu Wu You, when from outside the Nine Heavens Hall came the hysterical wails of Princess Jing Sheng.

These past few days, Princess Jing Sheng had been energetically reorganizing the Forbidden Army.

Indeed, she was energetically reorganizing the Forbidden Army.

That lazy commander of the Imperial City Military Command, Prince Xuan Sima Zhi, suddenly gave Princess Jing Sheng the green light. Many of her retainers, those young talents from military families, were recruited into the Imperial City Military Command and enjoyed high positions in the reorganized Forbidden Army.

In just a few days, Princess Jing Sheng, astonished and delighted, discovered that she actually commanded the forces of the One Palace Forbidden Army and the Three Guards Forbidden Army!

This simply…… Princess Jing Sheng felt light‑footed for several days straight.

Military authority!

How sensitive a thing!

She could actually directly influence such a large force, and it was stationed right around Peaceful Sun City, directly guarding the city's Forbidden Army!

A few days ago, the embarrassment and anger of being slapped in the face first thing in the morning had long been cast beyond the Nine Heavens clouds; Princess Jing Sheng spent these nights reveling, busy arranging banquets to celebrate for her retainers.

At the same time she was eager and ambitious, wanting to use this force to accomplish something.

For example, to take revenge on someone from Eastern Park.

For example, to cause trouble for the Linghu Clan.

But she never expected that Princess Jing Sheng would be cast down from the clouds straight into hell in an instant.

Zhao Xiong died?

That was her lawful husband, her husband!

Originally Princess Jing Sheng thought that with so many of her retainers, each an outstanding young talent, they had completely replaced Zhao Xiong's place in her heart.

But when the news of Zhao Xiong's death reached her residence, Princess Jing Sheng only then discovered how agonizing her heartache was.

Heedless of all the taboos of the grand court assembly, Princess Jing Sheng wept and screamed as she stormed the Nine Heavens Hall, kicking the two gate‑keeping guards sprawling across the ground with one foot, and crying out she burst into the main hall.

"Your Majesty, Your Majesty... you must... you must decide for this palace!"

Princess Jing Sheng lay sprawled on the hall, wailing loudly, and she felt the strange gazes of the civil and military officials around her.

She suddenly realized that without Zhao Xiu, things were really somewhat different.

Although she still didn't know exactly where the difference lay, that hollow feeling of weakness, that hollow feeling of insecurity, she truly sensed that things were vastly different in many ways.

Especially those senior generals from the Zhao clan, their gazes toward Princess Jing Sheng no longer held the usual courtesy and respect.

Their gazes were like knives, filled with malice.

Princess Jing Sheng began to tremble uncontrollably, her mind a muddled mess, completely unsure what to say or what to do.

After all, she was merely a woman who indulged in pleasure, greedy for wealth and lust; she had a bit of cleverness but absolutely no great wisdom. Now she could only lie on the ground, crying, crying, crying, hysterical wailing, unable to utter a complete coherent sentence.

Sima Xian looked at Princess Jing Sheng, vexed and troubled.

At this moment, he suddenly recalled the ancient scroll on the writing desk in the Yangxin Hall, whose author had not yet been ascertained.

He really wanted to cast aside these troublesome matters and slip away to the Yangxin Hall to enjoy that scroll!

Sighing, Sima Xian helplessly looked toward Linghu Wuyou: "Linghu Palace Master, please detail the frontline military situation, point by point, in full detail. Then, esteemed officials, let us discuss a countermeasure."

Linghu Wuyou gave a faint smile.

He lowered his head and glanced at Princess Jing Sheng.

The core members of the Linghu clan all knew exactly what had happened.

Thus, when he looked at Princess Jing Sheng, it was like a proud hawk eyeing a rotting lump of rat meat on the ground.

What a foolish woman!

At the same time, Linghu Wuyou detected the weakness and helplessness in Sima Xian's tone.

He smiled faintly, leisurely drew a jade scroll from his sleeve, kept a straight face, assumed a solemn demeanor, unfurled the scroll, and read its contents verbatim without any change in tone.

Zhao Xiu is dead.

Privately, Linghu Wuyou was quite pleased.

Zhao Xiu had decent personal talent, and with the Zhao clan's backing he rose quickly in the Privy Council, yet he also harbored ambition, even daring to eye the seat of the Privy Council's chief.

The Linghu family had to consider the broader situation of the court, being overly indulgent toward the Zhao clan, which directly prevented Linghu Wuyou from reprimanding Zhao Xiu.

This time, Linghu Qingqing personally ordered action against Zhao Xiu… hehe!

If the occasion were appropriate, Linghu Wuyou would really like to belt out a song to celebrate the death of that brat Zhao Xiu!

"In conclusion, the total defeat of the anti-Wu army's vanguard corps this time bears direct responsibility on General Zhao Xiu." Linghu Wuyou said expressionlessly: "General Zhao Xiu meant well, wishing to emulate Duke Huo Xiong of Yu Prefecture and achieve unprecedented merit."

"But who could have imagined that Great Wu would muster heavy troops to encircle, and even the Great Wu imperial ancestor, wielding the state treasure 'Harmonious Heaven Bell,' would attack… General Zhao Xiu's entire army was annihilated, and the vanguard corps' defense line was left with a huge breach… If investigated, this too is a capital offense punishable by beheading."

Linghu Wuyou unhurriedly announced the conclusion reached by the Privy Council.

The Privy Council's conclusion was his conclusion, Linghu Wuyou's… In short, Zhao Xiu erred, he deserved death—nothing more than that.

In the ranks, several senior military officers from the Zhao clan's military lineage stepped forward with grim faces and heavy steps.

"Your Majesty, we dare to implore an imperial edict to thoroughly investigate this defeat." A Zhao clan general shouted sternly: "If it truly is Zhao Xiu's fault, the Zhao clan will accept punishment…"

Linghu Wuyou expressionlessly handed the scroll in his hand to the chief eunuch beside Sima Xian, then returned to his place in the ranks with his usual composure.

"Thorough investigation?"

Hehe, do you think you can get to the bottom of it? Just based on that little foundation you Zhao clan have in the military?

Although it's strong enough, compared to the Linghu clan, hehe.

Linghu Wuyou was in extremely high spirits, even narrowing his eyes as he sized up Princess Jing Sheng from head to toe.

Hmm, though she's a foolish woman who invites disaster… but her figure and appearance are not bad… thinking of the tragic fate Linghu Qingqing arranged for her, tsk tsk… Linghu Wuyou's mouth twitched involuntarily.

This woman is practically a calamity star… alas, first her son died, then her husband, and now she drags so many others down with her; Linghu Wuyou dare not provoke her any further.

Princess Jing Sheng lay prostrate on the ground, already crying to the point of breathlessness, on the verge of fainting.

In less than a month, the blows she has suffered have been so frequent and so heavy that she can barely endure them any longer.

Her eyes were bloodshot, and her mind was filled only with frantic thoughts whirling around.

But Princess Jing Sheng at this moment was surprisingly calm.

She knew that realizing those frantic ideas would be difficult, fraught with great risk… but she had confidence that she could gradually bring them to fruition.

Hehe, who's afraid of whom?

Offend anyone you like, but don't offend a woman!

Linghu Qingqing's carriage had now entered the Linghu clan's private forest garden.

After traveling several li through the garden, Linghu Qingqing alighted from her carriage and proceeded along a winding path with light steps.

All around were bamboo groves, sparse and tranquil bamboo groves.

Occasionally white cranes could be seen rising and falling in the forest, and wisps of white spiritual mist drifted with the wind, truly like a fairyland.

Linghu Qingqing inexplicably thought of Silver Fish.

After consuming the supreme treasure pill, Silver Fish's eyes, which had been gouged out, had grown back.

However, the fright and trauma to her spirit were not so easily healed.

So, without giving Princess Jing Sheng a harsh ordeal, how could Linghu Qingqing quell the anger in his heart?

Besides, this matter will have to be done sooner or later.

The Linghu clan has already reached a certain level; this matter will have to be done sooner or later. Why can't Linghu Qingqing become the clan's holy progenitor and lead the Linghu clan to even greater heights?

The biggest key at present… lies not with the Linghu clan, but with external aid.

Deep in the bamboo forest ahead stands an extremely luxurious hall.

A child, skin snow-white and tender, appearing only eight or nine years old, exquisitely beautiful to the point of not seeming human, dressed in a splendid robe, sat beneath the corridor outside the palace, eyes half-closed in rapture, savoring the delicacies continually brought by the attending maids.

Linghu Qingqing walked up gently and knelt before the child with utmost reverence.

"This old servant, Linghu Qingqing, pays homage to the Divine Master You Ruo."