After the Great Dao died

Chapter 50 The Imperial Concubine's Future

In mid-August, autumn has not yet arrived, and the summer heat is still intense.

The pond in the back garden of the Marquis of Baosu's mansion had been exposed to the sun all day, and by evening a thin layer of mist rose up, mixed with the fragrance of lotus leaves, lingering in front of the pavilion.

Lin Longyue was practicing her palm techniques on the open ground in front of the pavilion.

Today she was only wearing a black outfit, with the cuffs tightly bound. When she struck out with her palm, a short, crisp sound exploded in the air, like bamboo being burned and cracked by fire.

Princess Yunhe sat on a stone bench in the pavilion, holding a cup of cool tea in her hands.

Lin Longyue struck out with another palm, this time even heavier than the previous one.

Where the palm strikes, visible ripples appear in the air, spreading outwards in concentric circles, like a pebble thrown into still water.

Princess Yunhe put down her teacup and slowly clapped her hands: "Longyue, your progress is truly astonishing."

Her voice carried a genuine admiration: "You only just entered the Silver Bone realm a few months ago, and now your Bone-Penetrating Strength has become so refined. Your foundation for mastering the Silver Bone realm is truly solid."

Lin Longyue took the handkerchief handed to her by Liu Zhu, wiped her hands, walked into the pavilion, and sat down opposite Princess Yunhe.

"I must also thank Consort Chun for bestowing that Wind-Riding Pill." She picked up her teacup and took a sip: "Without that pill, it would have taken me at least another year to condense the silver marrow throughout my body."

"Speaking of that Wind-Riding Pill..." Princess Yunhe's eyes flickered slightly, "Is the servant who earned this pill for you still in your household?"

"Naturally, it still exists," Lin Longyue replied casually.

Princess Yunhe nodded: "Speaking of which, you are quite an interesting servant."

More than thirty fighting beasts entered the Fighting Beast Palace together, including Qiu Chihu, the son of the Commander of the Capital Guard. In the end, only your servant came out alive.

She paused for a moment: "The Crown Prince not only failed to interrogate you carefully, but even allowed you to leave with him."

The death of the son of a powerful third-rank official, with absolutely no reaction from the capital, is truly abnormal.

"If I didn't know that Chen Lingxi was a government servant whose property had been confiscated and whose background was clear, I would really think that he had some remarkable background."

Lin Longyue did not respond.

Princess Yunhe waited for a while, and seeing that she was unwilling to talk about Chen Lingxi, she did not press the matter.

Lin Longyue suddenly turned her head, her eyes filled with barely suppressed excitement: "I heard that the Imperial Concubine will be visiting my Yuanjiang Prefecture during her upcoming tour?"

"That's true." Princess Yunhe put down her teacup. "The Imperial Concubine has been feeling unwell lately. The imperial physician said that she should travel to relax, so His Majesty allowed her to leave the capital for a trip. Several prefectures in the capital region, including Yuanjiang Prefecture, were among them."

The excitement in Lin Longyue's eyes became even more pronounced.

She stood up, paced around the pavilion for a couple of steps, then suddenly turned around and spoke faster than usual: "Princess, Consort Chun has never been to Yuanjiang Prefecture."

The Yuanjiang Imperial Palace was demolished during the construction of the Grand Canal and has not been rebuilt to this day.

In this Yuanjiang Prefecture, in terms of status and background, my father is the highest, so…”

She took a deep breath and looked intently at Princess Yunhe: "May I receive the Imperial Concubine here at the Marquis of Baosu's residence?"

Princess Yunhe paused slightly, a quick flash of vigilance crossing her eyes, like a raccoon lurking in the shadows suddenly being discovered.

But that expression only lasted for less than a moment before she withdrew it.

She lowered her eyes, placed the teacup on the stone table, and gently stroked the rim of the cup with her fingers, as if deep in thought.

After a few moments, she shook her head, her tone carefully chosen: "The Marquis is currently engrossed in Taoist studies and has been in seclusion for quite some time. If the Imperial Concubine were to come, wouldn't that disturb his peaceful cultivation?"

Lin Longyue, however, didn't care at all and waved her hand, saying, "The Imperial Concubine's presence is an honor that many people would rather die for. What harm is there in disturbing your cultivation? Although my father is a Taoist, he is not someone who doesn't know what is important."

Princess Yunhe pondered for a moment, then said, "Now that your elder brother is in charge of the Baosu Marquis's mansion, is he likely to agree to this?"

Lin Longyue frowned, as if she had thought of something.

She sat down again on the stone bench, remained silent for a few moments, and then said, "It's strange, really. My brother used to be quite eccentric and domineering. He loved those brothels and was a regular on the pleasure boats on the Yuan River. He also liked to show off his power as the head of the family."

But for some reason, in the last year or two, he has changed his ways. It is said that he spends his days cultivating himself in the South Courtyard, no longer taking pleasure in whipping the servants in the mansion, and never going to places of pleasure again.

She paused, her eyes filled with even more doubt: "Even... he doesn't seem to care much about this Baosu Marquis's mansion anymore."

Almost everything in the mansion was managed by Zhao Yong, and Wang Chu also handled all matters, big and small, in the South Courtyard.

Aside from inviting highly skilled individuals to serve as guest advisors in the manor, he hardly ever involved himself in any affairs.

Princess Yunhe raised an eyebrow upon hearing this, then smiled and said, "Isn't this a good thing for you?"

Lin Longyue nodded slightly, but did not smile.

She suddenly added, "That's why I've already submitted a petition in the name of the Marquis of Baosu's mansion, and my brother hasn't stopped me."

"If the Imperial Concubine is willing, I will clear out the long-vacant east courtyard, properly decorate it, and prepare it to receive the Imperial Concubine."

A hint of panic immediately appeared in Princess Yunhe's eyes.

Although she suppressed her panic in an instant, Lin Longyue was so engrossed in her excitement that she didn't notice.

A few breaths later, Princess Yunhe looked around and saw that apart from Liuzhu and two maids waiting at a distance, there was no one else outside the pavilion.

She suddenly leaned forward and said in a low voice, "You acted rashly in this matter."

Lin Longyue frowned slightly, about to speak, when Princess Yunhe continued, "Consort Chun is currently favored and holds the power of life and death over many officials with her ability to hear through mirrors. If one were to catch the Consort's eye, there would indeed be countless benefits."

She paused, then lowered her voice even further, almost to the point of whispering: "But... there are countless people in the world who hate Consort Chun. Of the nineteen rebel kings, twelve of them raise the banner of 'cleansing the court of corrupt officials'!"

I don't need to say who was being purged of the court's inner circle.

"With Consort Chun on her travels, countless figures are secretly eyeing her. Although it's within the capital region, the likes of Xiao Changlu and Wu Mohe will certainly not let such an opportunity pass them by."

Upon hearing this, Lin Longyue sneered and shook her head, saying, "Although my Baosu Marquis's mansion cannot compare to the mansions of those founding generals and marquises in the capital, I still have several prominent figures in my household."

The old steward who held the lamp for my father was even more extraordinary.

Moreover, the Imperial Concubine's outing will inevitably bring many powerful figures with her. Are we afraid of these rebel kings?

As she said this, a glint of light flashed in her eyes: "Moreover, if someone really tries to assassinate you, it would be a great achievement if the Marquis's mansion could protect you."

Hearing her persistence, Princess Yunhe knew that further persuasion was useless. She put down her teacup, and her expression returned to normal.

"By the way," she said, her tone becoming languid and casual again, "Yang Zhuri, the son of General Chi Ri, once asked me about your servant surnamed Chen, and asked me to convey to you whether you would be willing to give the servant to him."

He enjoyed flower arranging in his spare time, and upon hearing that the servant's flower arrangement had been a gift from the Imperial Concubine, he became interested.

Lin Longyue shook her head almost without hesitation and said, "Then tell Young Master Yang that Chen Lingxi is teaching me the art of flower arranging, and it cannot be transferred."

Princess Yunhe stared at her for a moment, then suddenly chuckled: "Then could you transfer it to me?"

Lin Longyue raised an eyebrow slightly, looked at Princess Yunhe, and a hint of confusion flashed in her eyes.

Princess Yunhe waved her hand, her eyes crinkling with laughter, "I was just joking, don't take it seriously. How could I let you part with something you love so painfully?"

Lin Longyue finally relaxed her brows, picked up her teacup, and took another sip.

As dusk fell, lanterns gradually lit up throughout the garden, their dim yellow glow swaying gently in the night breeze.

Princess Yunhe stood up, straightened her clothes, and nodded slightly to Lin Longyue: "It's getting late, I should go back to my residence."

Lin Longyue got up to see him off, escorting him all the way to the moon gate of the west courtyard.

Princess Yunhe's carriage was already waiting there, with the curtains lowered and two maids standing by the carriage with their hands at their sides.

Princess Yunhe boarded the carriage, lifted a corner of the curtain, waved to Lin Longyue, and then lowered the curtain.

The carriage rumbled out of the side gate of the Marquis's mansion and disappeared into the night on the long street.

The carriage did not head towards the princess's palace, but instead turned several streets and stopped at the back gate of a secluded residence.

Princess Yunhe got out of the carriage and went straight into the house.

In the garden of the house, the moonlight fell on the artificial hill made of Taihu stones, making the rugged stones stand out in a clear distinction between light and shadow.

A person was sitting at a stone table next to the artificial hill.

The man was dressed in a moon-white brocade robe, with a white jade belt around his waist and a jade crown on his head. He had a handsome face, and his peach blossom eyes gleamed with a faint light under the moonlight.

It was Yang Zhuri.

Yang Zhuri asked, "How is it?"

Princess Yunhe shook her head.

Yang Zhuri frowned slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in his peach blossom eyes, and said, "I am not as lucky as you to obtain such a great medicine as Lin Longyue."

His voice was soft and his tone was flat, but beneath that flatness lay a barely concealed anxiety: "I've run out of medicine."

Those peach blossom eyes held no allure at this moment, but rather a coldness: "Back when we were at the Beast Fighting Palace, I had my eye on Chen Lingxi."

I observed him using the method of observing qi; a misty aura rose and swirled around him, indicating that he was definitely a fine medicinal herb.

Princess Yunhe frowned slightly: "Have you asked the Crown Prince?"

Yang Zhuri shook his head with a smile, his smile carrying a hint of disapproval.

"Why is a government slave asking about the Crown Prince?"

He paused, a glint of shrewdness flashing in his eyes: "Moreover, the Crown Prince didn't imprison him, perhaps to prepare him for medicinal use. I'll seize him temporarily and nurture him into a powerful medicine. If the Crown Prince wants him, it will be a great achievement."

He picked up his teacup, took a slow sip, and said, "With the method of swallowing qi taught by the Crown Prince, cultivation becomes much easier, but the great medicine is hard to find."

Now that I have encountered the chosen one of the great medicines, and am merely a servant, this is my destiny.

He raised his eyes and looked at Princess Yunhe, the smile in his eyes deepening: "If Lin Longyue is unwilling, then we will secretly take it away."

Princess Yunhe seemed a little absent-minded. She nodded slightly, then suddenly said, "Lin Longyue said that she would welcome Consort Chun at the Marquis of Baosu's residence."

Yang Zhuri frowned: "The Imperial Concubine?"

A hint of apprehension flashed in his eyes: "With the Imperial Concubine's ability to hear through the mirror, could she discern any clues about the potent medicine?"

Princess Yunhe did not answer.

Yang Zhuri lowered his head and thought for a moment: "Then report to the Crown Prince."