On the black cliffs near the Official Road.
A strong, damp wind blew across the lake, constantly lifting Yong Xiang's purple dress.
Her long hair flowed freely, tightly bound in a braid with a wide white ribbon adorned with gold Jin Ling.
"Is there anything you'd like to say?"
The maid before her was someone she never expected to betray.
Because this man had served her for twelve years.
Twelve years! How many twelve-year periods are there in a lifetime?
They grew up together, played together, and later their social status gradually became very different, but they never completely separated.
Now, "Han Jia, why... why did you do this?"
Her voice was drowned out by the howling wind, but it couldn't hide the heaving of Yong Xiang's chest.
She had just undergone a thorough screening not long ago and thought everything was fine.
But now, she no longer knew who to trust. The maid, Han Jia, gritted her teeth, lowered her head, and remained silent.
She had nothing to say.
He had exhausted his own potential and only managed to reach his current level by overworking his body and taking large amounts of medication.
It's impossible to go any further.
As for Yong Xiang, from the very beginning, they were destined to never get along peacefully.
From the moment her entire family was slaughtered by the Ling Ting, leaving her all alone, everything was already destined.
"Princess." Thump.
Han Jia suddenly knelt down and kowtowed repeatedly.
His forehead kept hitting the hard ground, causing it to slowly bleed and make a thud.
"Please spare my life, Princess! Han Jia really wouldn't dare again, it was just a moment of madness! I acted impulsively, just for a moment..."
"Enough!" Yong Xiang interrupted her with a low shout.
"Tell me, who are you working for?" she asked, looking at the woman before her with utter disappointment.
"The True One Sect!" Han Jia answered decisively. "The Daoist priest of the True One Sect spent a lot of money to bribe me to target Zhang Ying."
"So you poisoned all our food?! Are you crazy?! Bribes? What could they possibly use to bribe you?!"
Yong Xiang closed her eyes wearily.
"Fine, you can go now." She waved her hand. "For the sake of our more than ten years of master-servant relationship, don't come back."
Han Jia knew she had no hope, so she immediately kowtowed to Yong Xiang again, then got up and turned to leave.
From the moment she took action, she had no intention of surviving.
But unexpectedly, Princess Yongxiang suddenly intervened and saved her life.
To this day, I haven't even come up with a suitable reason to answer.
She could see the disappointment in the princess's eyes.
But so what? The other party simply doesn't understand.
How could someone born at the finish line of everyone else possibly understand the pain of someone whose family has been destroyed? "Go. Since you've already chosen your path, don't let me see you again." Yong Xiang turned her back and took a deep breath.
"Han Jia thanks the princess." The maid turned around, bowed deeply, her eyes filled with tears, and quickly left.
"I'll take care of things with the Great Dao Sect. Go back, change your name, and live a good life. Stop working for those behind you."
Yong Xiang gave a word of advice, then turned around and stared at Han Jia's pausing figure for a long time.
Only after his figure disappeared did she lightly touch the ground with her toes and leave in the blink of an eye.
*** Inside the convoy.
Zhang Rongfang squinted as he watched Yongxiang rush back and stand in front of the carriage, ready to Yong Xiang.
He led Chen Han and the other two, and quickly moved forward to approach.
"May I ask, Princess, what was the outcome of the interrogation?"
"It was just Heartless mistake. My maid mistook you for another villain. Now that the misunderstanding has been cleared up, I have driven her away," Princess Yongxiang replied coldly.
"Expel them!?" Zhang Rongfang's face turned cold. "What does the princess mean by this?" Is she trying to fool anyone with such words?
"What do I mean? Can't you hear me?" Yong Xiang raised her voice and looked at Zhang Rongfang.
The inexplicable emotions that had arisen in her heart because of Han Jia's betrayal suddenly surged up.
"That person made Heartless, and I've already punished her. No one instigated her! What? You have a problem with that!?"
Everyone in the world is a dog of the Imperial Clan. Whatever she says or does, even those who aren't Imperial Clan dare to question her!
Her tone and volume at this moment had already drawn the attention of those around her.
Although no one dared to look openly, they all pricked up their ears to eavesdrop and peek.
Zhang Rongfang looked at Yong Xiang and said no more. He had guessed that this was possible from the moment he had spoken.
It's just been confirmed now.
"How could I possibly have any objections? In that case, thank you for informing me, Princess." Without lingering, he turned and left.
Now that we've figured out Yong Xiang's temperament and personality, there's no point in saying anything more.
Royal bloodline, high and mighty, he can't afford to offend them now.
The assassin who tried to kill Zhang Ying was released by the princess.
The news spread quickly throughout the entire convoy.
The four members of the Great Dao Sect and the Yong Xiang were no longer traveling together, but were lagging slightly behind, clearly indicating a rift had formed between them.
There has been no further communication between the two sides since then.
The convoy set off again, and another half month passed in the blink of an eye.
Crossing vast lakes, we travel along a great river that resembles a jade ribbon, approaching its estuary.
The convoy finally arrived at its destination – Ci Tong Port.
"Your humble servant, Zhao Yanting, Prefect of Citong Prefecture, pays his respects to Inspector Yong Xiang."
While still on the Official Road, more than ten miles from the city, First Squad officials, escorted by soldiers, had already come to greet them.
The officials were dressed in bright red, light red, green, and blue robes. The group of people gathered there looked like a theatrical Zaju.
On this sweltering day, many of the officials, who were not skilled in martial arts, were sweating profusely, having waited for an unknown amount of time.
Princess Yongxiang got out of the carriage, whispered a few words to the three red-robed officials standing at the front, and then returned to the carriage. Under the escort of the procession, the carriage slowly drove towards the Citong City.
Zhang Rongfang, as Daozi of the Great Dao Sect, also stepped forward and met with the leaders.
The highest-ranking official in Citong was Prefect Zhao Yanting.
This is an elderly man who appears to have white hair and a slightly overweight build.
Zhang Rongfang glanced at him briefly and realized that this person was not a martial artist, but the two beside him moved with the speed of a ruler, were agile, and had eyes as sharp as knives.
He came here this time to serve as Guardian, holding the title of deputy inspector, which is considered Subordinate Third Rank official.
So while the core of this matter is Yong Xiang, Zhang Rongfang also needs to take on responsibilities and perform duties.
However, local officials in Citong believed that the suppression of the religious cult should primarily be carried out by powerful figures like Princess Yongxiang.
Zhang Rongfang, on the other hand, was probably there specifically to get on the bus for a gilded experience.
Daozi of the Great Dao Sect, although his status is not as illustrious as that of Princess Yongxiang, he is by no means someone who can be easily offended.
The Princess's Caravan proceeded slowly ahead.
Zhao Yanting then invited Zhang Rongfang to get into his carriage.
The carriage was pulled by pure black horses without any other colors. The carriage was not large, with three sides carved and openwork, and incomprehensible characters were carved everywhere inside and out.
Cloud patterns and a bird with a long, needle-like beak, similar to a hummingbird, were the main decorative motifs on the carriages.
The entire carriage is black with Silver Thread decorations, making it exceptionally luxurious.
Zhang Rongfang carefully examined the carriage.
Zhao Yanting smiled.
"Does Zhang Shoujiao think I am extravagant and wasteful? Is this kind of ostentation enough to rival the head of any other region?"
He has a very gentle personality, and his voice is kind and gentle. Just by opening his mouth, he gives people a feeling of being bathed in a spring breeze.
"Indeed, there are some. This carriage is pulled by purebred horses and decorated with Silver Thread; it must be quite valuable." Zhang Rongfang nodded.
Zhao Yanting smiled slightly and said, "Zhang Shoujiao may not know this. These purebred horses may be extremely expensive in other places. But in my Citong, where ships from hundreds of countries come and go, such purebred horses are worth less than 30% of what they are elsewhere."
He continued, "In addition, because there is a lot of trade in Citong, these seemingly luxurious carriages are much cheaper than in other places."
His voice was frank, without any attempt to hide or conceal anything.
The Magistrate, also seated in a carriage beside him, was an elderly man in his seventies with white hair, holding a Tung Wood Short Staff in his hand. His head was wrapped in a thick white turban, and he wore Ruby Forehead Ornament.
Hearing this, he laughed loudly and said, "At least half of the gems, silverwares, spices, Treasure Medicine, and fine horses in the entire Great Ling come from my Citong."
Here, there's not much else, but these so-called luxuries are endless, like a mountain stream—seemingly small, yet abundant and never ceasing!
"I see. Thank you both for clearing up my doubts," Zhang Rongfang dawning on him.
Upon hearing the word "Treasure Medicine," he immediately felt less tired and became interested.
Wasn't his purpose in leaving Heavenly Treasure Palace to accelerate his own development?
To accelerate self-improvement, the Golden Toad Skill is of paramount importance.
Now, as long as the Main Herb, the Hundred-Year Red Ganoderma, is found, one can try to start refining elixirs on their own.
The Golden Toad Skill requires different elixirs for each level.
Otherwise, he could have already increased his Attribute Points directly, just like with Super Grade External Medicine.
"However, what Zhang Shoujiao is most concerned about is the situation of the cult that has caused trouble for my Citong, right?" Zhao Yanting's smile faded, and he said seriously.
"Please Prefect." Zhang Rongfang a fist salute. Even if he wanted to refine pills, find medicine, or search for Secret Cache...
It's also important to have a general understanding of the power distribution and faction dynamics in the area beforehand, so as not to lose your composure when you encounter them.
"Our Citong surrounded by land on three sides and opens to the sea on one side, making it a natural inland harbor."
The flow of people was in the hundreds of thousands every day, and merchant ships from various countries came and went in an endless stream, day and night.
There is a great deal of trade, and many of these businesses involve foreigners who do not speak the local language. In order to make contact with local chambers of commerce as quickly as possible, they often prefer to hire various translators and laborers.
At first, although there were many translators and laborers, they were scattered and could not yet form a significant force.
But in recent years, a Westerner named Timke has risen rapidly, gathering a large group of people to form a gang called the Chain Gang.
Especially since last year, this Chain Gang has almost monopolized 80% of the translation and labor business in the entire port.
If anyone does not invite him, his ship will be chained and unable to leave port or unload cargo.
We tried to mediate several times, but were turned away each time.
"So arrogant? They even dare to touch Government Office officials and soldiers??" Zhang Rongfang in surprise.
This is truly strange. Great Ling is currently at the height of its power, yet someone still dares to confront it openly? "There's a reason for this. The Chain Gang may seem like just an ordinary gang on the surface, but it has a powerful figure supporting it behind the scenes."
Zhao Yanting remained tight-lipped and did not continue speaking.
Zhang Rongfang understood immediately.
In the Great Ling, who else, besides the most powerful and aloof clan, would dare to treat government soldiers with such an attitude?
Then, Ling Emperor dispatched Princess Yongxiang, a powerful member of the Royal Bloodline, to personally resolve this matter.
Looking back now, wasn't it all to counteract the natural suppression in our bloodline?
The water is too deep, too deep.
No, I'd better go back to refining pills and practicing martial arts. Don't bother me with these kinds of troublesome things.
Yong Xiang's life and death were none of his concern; practicing martial arts was his top priority.