[Guagua, did Sikong Jing move the imperial treasury because he realized the tide had turned against him?]
[Yes, host.
The moment his kingdom fell, Sikong Jing instructed his shadow guard to take the treasure map and find Zhongli Xue and her son. He wanted them to live on and for her to raise Sikong Ce well.
After the shadow guard left, Sikong Jing took his own life in the imperial palace.
After Sikong Jing died, all his consorts and children were executed.
Before that, Sikong Jing had protected Zhongli Xue and Sikong Ce so well that no one knew they existed except for one shadow guard and his personal eunuch.
Afraid that his personal eunuch would talk, Sikong Jing had him killed before taking his own life.
The shadow guard-the one who took the treasure map to find Zhongli Xue and her son-survived and escorted them out of the capital.
They concealed their identities and settled in a remote village. Sikong Ce was only four at the time.
To outsiders, the three of them claimed to be a family who had fled to the little village to escape the war.
With one dynasty replacing another, plenty of families were moving to escape the fighting, so the villagers never questioned their identities.
The shadow guard named himself Xuanyuan Che, Sikong Ce changed his name to Xuanyuan Ce, and Zhongli Xue changed hers to Li Xue. The three of them generally got along harmoniously and were on good terms with the villagers.
When Zhongli Xue learned that Sikong Jing had taken his own life, she fell ill and never recovered, but she forced herself to keep going for the sake of his dying wishes.
When Sikong Ce was ten, Zhongli Xue died of an illness brought on by grief.
Sikong Ce was highly skilled in martial arts, all personally taught to him by Xuanyuan Che.]
[Guagua, Xuanyuan Che was certainly a loyal shadow guard.]
[Yes, host, he was very loyal.
Xuanyuan Che always wanted to avenge Sikong Jing, so when Sikong Ce was twelve, he had him enlist in the army.
With his exceptional martial skills, Sikong Ce gradually began to distinguish himself in the ranks.
Shi Ming, the Divine Martial Great General at the time, took a liking to Sikong Ce and accepted him as his disciple. He kept him by his side, sparing no effort in teaching him tactics and strategy.
With Shi Ming's help, Sikong Ce soon gained a firm foothold in the army.
Sikong Ce had joined the army with one goal: military command.
But command rested firmly in Shi Ming's hands. Only if Shi Ming died could it possibly pass to someone else.
So, during a battle in which Shi Ming was gravely wounded, Sikong Ce cast aside their bond as master and disciple and seized the chance to shoot him from behind. Shi Ming died on the spot.
Afraid that others would suspect him, Sikong Ce plunged a blade deep into his own chest. It came so close to his heart that it nearly killed him. Seeing how badly he was wounded, no one suspected him.
Although that battle claimed countless lives, the Heavenly Phoenix Dynasty ultimately emerged victorious.
Once Shi Ming died, Sikong Ce had the strongest support in the army. He was also Shi Ming's disciple, and everyone said he had fought with fearless courage in that battle. His succession to the position of Divine Martial Great General was an honor truly earned!
Sikong Ce was ruthless, too. He nearly killed himself to achieve his goal.
And so, Sikong Ce got his wish and became the Divine Martial Great General.]
[Guagua, someone like Sikong Ce is truly terrifying.]
He killed his own master, and he was just as merciless toward himself when it came to getting what he wanted!
Just thinking about it makes my hair stand on end!
*But did Shi Ming really never notice Sikong Ce's wolfish ambitions?]*
[No. Sikong Ce concealed them very well. He always appeared humble and courteous to everyone, so Shi Ming never noticed anything wrong.
Just look at the ministers in this court, or even the emperor sitting up there. Haven't they all been deceived by his outward appearance, too?]
[That's true.]
*Guagua, aside from that treasure map, does Sikong Ce have any other assets?]*
[Yes.
Xuanyuan Che, that shadow guard, faked his death a few years ago and disappeared from public view.
In truth, he has been secretly helping Sikong Ce manage his businesses-restaurants, brothels...
Oh, and Sikong Ce discovered a gold mine along the frontier. He never reported it to the court and has already begun mining it privately.
With the gold he smelted, he has already amassed a private army of fifty thousand. Xuanyuan Che is also the one training those soldiers.]
[What? He has a gold mine, too?]
The court is so poor it can barely keep the cooking pot going, yet Sikong Ce actually has a gold mine.
Some are dying of drought while others are drowning in floods!
*If only that gold could fill the imperial treasury. Then the emperor wouldn't have to worry so much.]*
As the ministers discussed the flooding in Jiangnan, they pricked up their ears and listened closely to Song Yaoyao's thoughts.
When Song Yaoyao mentioned filling the imperial treasury with the gold, both the emperor and his ministers wholeheartedly agreed!
Hearing this, Sikong Ce fixed Song Yaoyao with a venomous stare.
That damned Song Yaoyao had exposed everything about him. Sikong Ce knew he was finished, and he wanted nothing more than to cut her into a thousand pieces.
Song Yaoyao felt a sinister chill all over, as though a venomous snake had fixed its gaze on her. The feeling was utterly terrifying!
[Guagua, why do I feel cold all over, as though a venomous snake is watching me?]
Guagua comforted her:
[Host, did you kick off your blanket in your sleep last night? Have you caught a cold?]
[No, I'm sure I'm perfectly healthy. I'm not sick.]
[Host, if you aren't sick, then you must be imagining it.]
[Maybe!]
Guagua, do you know all of Sikong Ce's businesses? And where that gold mine is?
*Oh, and do you know where that treasure map is hidden?]*
[I do...]
Guagua was just about to speak when Song Yaoyao interrupted:
[Guagua, don't tell me yet. There are so many businesses and exact locations that I won't be able to remember them right now.]
Once court is dismissed, I'll get some paper and a brush, and you can tell me then.
*After I write everything down, I'll find a way to give it to my father. Given how loyal he is to the emperor, he'll definitely hand it over.]*
[All right.]
The emperor had been worried that her thoughts would reveal the locations of those businesses, the treasure map, and the gold mine in front of everyone. He had not expected Song Yaoyao to make arrangements like these.
This worked, too. He could send a shadow guard after her. Once Song Yaoyao had written everything down and handed it to Assistant Minister Song, the guard could immediately bring it into the palace.
Throughout court that day, Song Yaoyao had kept her head lowered. Between recording what the emperor and ministers discussed and chatting with Guagua, she had been run off her feet.
Song Yaoyao had not noticed the changes in the court at all, nor had she seen Sikong Ce's glare, as though he wanted to devour her alive!
Song Yaoyao continued asking:
[Guagua, Xuanyuan Che is dangerous. Do you know where he is now?]