Two hundred years of true qi...
What kind of monster, practicing what kind of internal cultivation method, could possess as much true qi as an ordinary person would accumulate in two hundred years?
Even the Shangqing Dao, renowned in the martial world for cultivating qi, was only rumored to have a sect leader with three hundred years of true qi-and that was the leader of an entire sect, bolstered by the Shangqing Heart Method.
"In that case, Director Xue fought two opponents alone. Even accounting for his trump cards, he was an extraordinary martial genius."
The forthright Wu Qingsheng spoke with feeling.
Song Tong, however, said:
"Perhaps. Or perhaps... that master meant to toy with him all along, and that was why he let Director Xue trade his life for another."
Wu Qingsheng frowned slightly, then shook his head with a rueful laugh.
"No matter how much we puzzle over it now, we won't reach a conclusion.
"The Bright-Dark Divine Sect came from the Western Regions and has been established in the Central Plains for centuries. It's hardly surprising that they have a master who rarely appears in the world.
"Let's look on the bright side. At least the Holy Maiden is dead, and the Demonic Cult has suffered heavy losses. This master won't dare act rashly."
Hearing this, Song Tong gave a bitter smile and nodded.
"You're quite right, Director Wu."
Hurried footsteps sounded through the office.
An Eastern Depot agent burst through the door and reported loudly:
"Director, Grand Secretary Lin has sent someone requesting an audience."
Wu Qingsheng knitted his brows slightly and muttered:
"Grand Secretary Lin certainly is well informed.
"He already knows something happened at the Eastern Depot."
A moment later, he called out:
"Send him in."
Before long, a young scholar in silk scholarly robes walked in and cupped his hands to Wu Qingsheng in greeting.
Surprise crossed Wu Qingsheng's face when he saw the visitor.
"I never expected Second Young Master Lin to come in person."
Though he felt not the slightest respect for Grand Secretary Lin, only utter contempt, Wu Qingsheng still rose and returned the greeting.
There was no other reason: Second Young Master Lin, Lin Yan, held a position that demanded it.
"My apologies for the intrusion. My father heard of this utterly horrific incident and sent me to make some inquiries."
Lin Yan spoke with considerable courtesy.
Song Tong hastily said:
"I've already sent someone to inform your residence."
Lin Yan turned to Song Tong.
"My father has already met with the Eastern Depot's men. It's just..."
His words stopped there, but both men present understood. The supposed inquiries were merely a pretext.
Lin Yan slowly revealed his purpose:
"It's just that the position of Eastern Depot director is vacant. Have you two considered anyone to fill it temporarily?"
Wu Qingsheng frowned.
"That is naturally for His Majesty to decide."
No wonder they had specifically sent Lin Yan.
The Eastern Depot director, Xue Youge, had maintained close ties with the Lin Residence while alive. Now that the Lin Residence had heard of his death and the resulting power vacuum, they naturally intended to take control of the situation early, lest the Eastern Depot slip out of their grasp.
Lin Yan replied courteously:
"Even His Majesty must first have the Grand Secretariat draft a recommendation.
"My father said that, since we all serve His Majesty like hounds and horses, we should naturally consult beforehand-separate bodies, but one heart."
Wu Qingsheng answered without leaving a single opening:
"If that's the case, let Deputy Director Song take charge temporarily, until His Majesty selects the next director."
Lin Yan glanced at Song Tong.
Alarmed, Song Tong recognized the threat in that look and hastily declined.
Lin Yan turned back.
"Since Deputy Director Song refuses so firmly, my father does have a candidate.
"Chen Yi, Chen Zunming, a Hundred Household of the Western Depot, rendered great service in this incident. Why not promote him to Thousand Household, then have him temporarily serve as Eastern Depot director?"
Wu Qingsheng's brows drew tightly together.
"But there is only one Thousand Household position."
Yet even Song Tong offered persuasion:
"Reportedly, no one saw Thousand Household Min during this incident. Submit a memorial requesting his demotion to chief constable of the Eastern Depot, freeing the Thousand Household position for Hundred Household Chen.
"He has Grand Secretary Lin's deep trust. Besides, he would only be... Acting Depot Lord. Her Majesty the Empress Dowager will eventually send someone from the Directorate of Ceremonial."
After hearing this, Wu Qingsheng pondered it at length and actually began to waver.
Finally, he said slowly:
"That's not out of the question."
It was not merely because of pressure from the Lin Residence.
It was also because he had noticed that the Western Depot Hundred Household seemed to conduct himself somewhat differently than before.
He had originally thought Chen Yi a man who engaged in corruption for personal gain. Otherwise, why would he maintain such close ties with the Lin Residence?
Yet despite the Eastern Depot director putting him in his place and sending Li Hundred Household to bully and suppress him, he had still stepped forward to clear the Eastern Depot's name, neither dropping stones on a man down a well nor slandering its reputation.
At this thought, Wu Qingsheng could not help seeing him in a new light.
Perhaps this man was truly filled with righteousness. Perhaps his past misdeeds were merely part of a secret plan he had endured patiently, compromising on minor principles while preserving the greater ones, all so that one day he could put the entire Capital City in order.
To lie low like that, he truly... harbored lofty ambitions.
As for that Demonic Cult master and Chen Yi, Director Wu had not connected the two.
Even if he had harbored some suspicion before, Song Tong's words had swept it all away.
How could a mere Western Depot Hundred Household possess two hundred years of true qi?
Even someone from a martial aristocratic clan, holding a Hundred Household post at that age, could at most be seventh rank.
"You're awake?"
Chen Yi looked at Yin Tingxue.
She rubbed her eyes. In the wavering lamplight, she made out the man beside her bed and instinctively stiffened.
Chen Yi looked at her with a sinister smile.
"Do you know what you did wrong?"
Yin Tingxue lowered her eyes and answered hoarsely:
"Yes..."
Chen Yi reached out, cupped the back of her head, and asked again:
"Will you dare run away again?"
The Xiang Prince's Daughter remained silent.
Chen Yi watched her darkly, staring until she trembled.
"If you run again, I won't just possess you. I'll burn Silver Terrace Temple to the ground."
Yin Tingxue looked at him in alarm, shocked and afraid, then lowered her eyes.
"I won't dare..."
After a long while, she shook her head and said in a trembling voice:
"I'll always serve you."
Chen Yi's brows relaxed.
After a while, he said:
"The Demonic Cult's Holy Maiden is dead."
The Xiang Prince's Daughter was taken aback.
Chen Yi reached out and scratched her chin as though petting a cat.
"Everything before this is over."
Yin Tingxue listened, not quite understanding what he meant, and asked softly:
"What do you mean?"
Chen Yi smiled without answering.
The girl turned her face toward him, caught his sleeve, and craned her neck closer to ask:
"What exactly... do you mean?"
Chen Yi thought for a moment, then explained:
"After this battle, the Demonic Cult in the Capital City has been wiped out completely. There are no remnants left, and no one will think of taking you back.
"Besides, I found a corpse and disguised it as you. As far as anyone is concerned, the Holy Maiden is dead. The matter is closed."
Yin Tingxue listened silently. She disliked the Demonic Cult, and with her mother's dying instructions, she wanted even less to be some Holy Maiden.
Yet even so, her delicate brows knitted, her lips pursed, and she lowered her eyes in despair. At last, she understood that she truly had no way back.
It was gone. Everything was gone.
A bitter smile touched her little face. She turned away, her eyes reddening, and curled up weakly and helplessly on the bed, a faint pain coming from her shoulder now and then.
After all... I've already signed the death contract.
After all... he never wanted me to have any way back...
I really am a concubine now.
A concubine who belongs entirely to her husband's household, with no family of her own to turn to.
Yin Tingxue thought with resignation, curling into a ball. The sound of undressing came from behind her, and a large hand pressed against her waist. Chen Yi had climbed into bed and wrapped his arms around her.
The Xiang Prince's Daughter edged toward the wall, but Chen Yi moved closer too, holding her so she could not escape.
Yin Tingxue clenched her teeth, then closed her eyes forlornly. She had defied him, so she would have to be bullied, forced to do shameful things she did not want to do. She comforted herself:
Let him do as he likes...
Anyway, this villain doesn't like women. Not one bit!
She stressed this to herself, making herself believe it without a doubt.
But she did not think it through, nor did she dare...
If he did not like women, then why had he taken a concubine?
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