Bounty Notice

As dawn broke, the air still carried the slight chill of the previous night. The streets outside the Xu Residence were damp, the bluestone slabs glistening with dew.

A vegetable farmer carrying fresh fruits and vegetables passed by and saw a crowd gathered outside the Xu Residence, so he went over to see what was going on.

"What's going on? Who are these three people, and why are they hanging outside Xu Yinluo's residence?"

The vegetable farmers, who frequently sold their produce in this area, were taken aback.

"Didn't you see it? It's clearly written on the right: Heavenly Sect's Holy Son, Li Lingsu."

"That heartless person, who started something and then abandoned it, is probably being punished by Xu Yinluo."

"Who are the other two? Unworthy disciples? I've never heard of Xu Yinluo having any disciples."

"It doesn't matter whether there are disciples or not. Didn't you see it says 'unworthy disciple'?"

Hearing the incessant chatter nearby, Miao Youfang said angrily:

Why should I be tied to two scoundrels like you?

The three of them had their meridians and Primordial Spirit sealed, and were poisoned to the point of feeling weak all over. They could only hang there, enduring endless humiliation.

Li Lingsu sighed:

"You should be content. Neither of you showed up, and neither of you wrote your names. That scoundrel surnamed Xu has done you two some decency."

"Alas, as expected, while I despise this scoundrel, he despises me in return. Birds of a feather flock together, that's absolutely true. Hey, Brother Yang, why aren't you saying anything?"

Yang Qianhuan did not respond.

Brother Yang is a man who cares about his reputation; he can't bear this blow, Li Lingsu thought.

At this moment, a commoner pointed at Yang Qianhuan and said:

"This guy is wearing a hood, and judging from his clothes, he's Warlock from the Bureau of Astronomy. I wonder what his name is."

The person next to him said:

"Take his hat off and let us see."

"No, don't do this." Yang Qianhuan, who had been silent, suddenly raised her voice.

Then, he paused for a moment, and said in a deep voice:

"Holding the bright moon in my hands and plucking stars from the heavens, I remain true to my name and surname, I am Sun Xuanji of the Bureau of Astronomy!"

Sun Xuanji? The number one spendthrift son of the Great Feng. The onlookers silently made a mental note of him.

The inner hall of the Xu Residence.

The aunt got up early in the morning, and with the help of Lü'e, she dressed and made herself up before going to the inner hall for her meal.

As you walk through the corridor, the distant sound of hammering wood can be heard. It's the early-rising servants repairing the house. The Xu Residence has been expanded. After buying several surrounding houses, the Xu Residence mansion now occupies an area comparable to that of princes and nobles.

On both sides of the corridor are exquisitely built flower beds.

Upon entering the inner hall, the aunt glanced around and saw Lina and Lingyin sitting at a round table, intently dealing with a mountain of steamed buns, fried dough sticks, meat buns, and a large bucket of soy milk.

Their appetites had increased again; the two of them were now eating the equivalent of twenty people's food. Even though the Xu Residence was already very wealthy, the aunt, who was used to being thrifty and hardworking, was still heartbroken to see this.

Second Uncle Xu was on duty and had already left home long ago.

After sitting down, my aunt drank a few sips of soy milk and asked:

"Why haven't Lingyue and her sister arrived yet? Lü'e, go and check on them."

As for the newlyweds, she never considered having the princess serve tea, because there was no such custom.

Although the princess didn't have many special privileges in the Xu Household because of her nephew, she was still a princess, and her aunt always believed in governing the household by doing nothing.

Thinking of this, I couldn't help but recall the words Wang Simu had read aloud yesterday.

This future daughter-in-law actually spoke ill of her in her heart.

My aunt was so angry last night that she didn't sleep half the night.

Lü'e turned and left, then returned a moment later, saying:

"The young lady said she wasn't feeling well and wouldn't be coming out for breakfast, instructing me to bring it to her room. Aunt Mu said the same thing."

"Hmph, if you're not coming out, then don't eat." Auntie slammed down her chopsticks, took a breath, picked them up again, and said:

"Lü'e, take this to them."

Lingyue harbored deep resentment, her heart filled with complaints. Wang Simu thought so badly of her mother. And her sworn sister actually had designs on Ningyan. Although many women had designs on him, and she, as his aunt, was used to it, how old was her sister?

If she really got together with Ningyan, wouldn't she have to call me aunt? Ridiculous! Luckily, she's not very attractive, so Ningyan would definitely not be interested in her.

Even if her aunt was slow-witted, she wasn't stupid. She pinched the bridge of her nose, feeling a headache coming on.

What kind of mess is this?!

The Nightwatchers's office.

The Haoqi Tower, with its upturned eaves and watchtowers on each floor, had two birds perched on the railing, chirping and chattering. Their dark eyes reflected the composed figure in blue robes.

They were leisurely drinking tea.

With a series of thumping footsteps, Nangong Qianrou entered the tea room.

Two birds on the railing were startled and took flight, disappearing into the azure sky.

"When you can control your own Sha Qi, you'll have a chance to reach the third rank."

Wei Yuan opened a teacup, poured in the finest flower tea that Xu Ningyan had presented, and gestured for Nangong Qianrou to take a seat.

Nangong Qianrou was already at the peak of the fourth rank, but reaching the extraordinary level seemed a long way off.

"Godfather, I just heard something."

Nangong Qianrou took a sip of tea, a rare hint of mockery in her eyes:

"It's related to yesterday's wedding night pranks; my godfather is truly a prophet!"

"A master of foresight?" Wei Yuan looked at him, remaining calm and composed, his smile as gentle as ever.

Nangong Qianrou whispered:

"After we left, that group of people swarmed into the bridal chamber, ready to cause a scene."

Wei Yuan nodded and said:

"As expected, Yang Qianhuan and Li Lingsu seem to harbor extreme 'resentment' towards Ningyan, but Xu Ningyan is no pushover either. However..."

However, his little tricks are only good for bullying bystanders.

Xu Ningyan was someone he had personally mentored; he knew exactly what the kid was up to and would never fall for his tricks.

Wei Yuan didn't say these words aloud; he had always been a reserved and wise man.

Nangong Qianrou raised an eyebrow and said:

That makes sense.

"Last night, during the wedding night festivities, Xu Ningyan brought in a monkey demon who is said to have cultivated the Buddhist School of telepathy to an extremely high level, capable of seeing through people's hearts; even extraordinary experts cannot escape its influence."

Nangong Qianrou recounted the events of the previous night to Wei Yuan in detail.

Wei Yuan smiled calmly, but his heart grew heavier with each word he heard.

After saying this, Nangong Qianrou was filled with admiration:

"Godfather, did you already know that Xu Ningyan had a backup plan, so you took us away from the Xu Residence, this place of trouble, after the banquet last night?"

Even extraordinary experts are not immune to the power to see through people's hearts. Wei Yuan felt a chill in his heart, but smiled on his face.

Her calm demeanor only confirmed Nangong Qianrou's suspicions.

"How did you know?" Wei Yuan asked.

"It's what Xu Qi'an's two henchmen said, and it's already spread throughout the yamen today," Nangong Qianrou replied.

Wei Yuan hummed in agreement.

"Go get to work."

After Nangong Qianrou left, Wei Yuan let out a soft breath, finished his cup of flower tea with lingering fear, and then heard the sound of footsteps coming from the stairs.

This time, it was a eunuch in a python robe who entered.

"This servant greets Duke Wei."

After bowing, the eunuch in the python robe said:

"His Majesty had two white apes captured in the Southern Garden this morning, and ordered me to inform Duke Wei that he will be served monkey brains at lunchtime in the palace."

Nanyuan was a royal hunting ground.

To be able to anger Huaiqing to this extent... Wei Yuan slowly nodded:

"Good!"

Bureau of Astronomy.

Protector Yuan peered out the window, watching the people passing by below with vigilance.

"That person has been lingering Star-Gazing Tower for quite a while."

Protector Yuan turned his head and looked at Sun Xuanji.

Then, as if answering his own question, he revealed Sun Xuanji's innermost thoughts:

"That's a peddler, of course he'll linger. He's hungry."

Protector Yuan nodded, continuing to vigilantly observe every move from the outside world.

A moment later, he turned to look at Sun Xuanji:

"I always felt that there were assassins lurking everywhere Star-Gazing Tower, trying to kill me."

Sun Xuanji shook his head.

"With me and Xu Ningyan protecting you, no one will assassinate you." Protector Yuan spoke Sun Xuanji's mind, but this did not bring him any sense of security.

"What if it's Warlock from the Star-Gazing Tower?" Protector Yuan said.

He offended Yang Qianhuan, the third disciple of the supervisor, Song Qing, the fourth disciple.

"Stay in my room and don't go out. Don't eat anything the Warlock in the building gives you." After reading this, Protector Yuan nodded slightly. "Alright! That's safer."

He peered out the window again for a while, then said with some unease:

"Is it really impossible for anyone to assassinate me?"

"No!" Sun Xuanji silently expressed his thoughts.

Just then, a knock came at the door, and Protector Yuan instantly became alert, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Sun Xuanji waved his sleeve, causing the door to open.

It was Song Qing who knocked on the door, holding a notice in her hand.

He glanced at Protector Yuan with pity and said:

"Today, notices have been posted all over the city, offering a reward of one thousand taels for each of the ape demons accompanying Sun Xuanji, three thousand taels for their tongue, and ten thousand taels for their brains."

Protector Yuan stood frozen in place, like a lifeless paper monkey.

It stared blankly at Sun Xuanji, its thick lips trembling:

"I want to go back to Southern Frontier!"

In the early morning, Yoru woke up to find herself sleeping in an unfamiliar room.

She first checked her clothes, which were intact, but then she felt a burning pain and some swelling in her buttocks.

"Did Your Highness get a spanking from Xu Lang?"

Ye Ji muttered to herself, knowing from her experience that Xu Lang hadn't touched her last night.

The Empress must have caused trouble during Xu Yinluo's wedding last night. I should just forget about it. She turned over, adjusted to a comfortable sleeping position, and closed her eyes again.

"Someone has offered a reward for Protector Yuan's dog's life. No, for his monkey's life?"

When Xu Qi'an received the message from Sun Xuanji via paper crane, his first reaction was not anger, but rather—"I accepted it!"

"The whole monkey is worth 17,000 taels of silver. Is it really necessary to spend so much? It's tempting me."

He mentally scoffed and began analyzing the "mastermind" behind the wanted poster.

"The fact that they can post wanted posters everywhere without making a sound shows they have some influence. From a financial perspective, Huaiqing is the most likely candidate. Then there's my dear Xu Lingyue; she manages the Xu Household's accounts and is a true little rich woman."

"One of the people who suffered the most serious injuries last night. Of course, if the bounty was just to scare Protector Yuan into retaliation, then most of the people who made a ruckus at the wedding night last night are suspects; Protector Yuan has offended too many people."

"Poor Protector Yuan."

Xu Qi'an put down the paper crane, turned his head to look at Lin'an, who was fast asleep on the brocade couch, and shook his head.

Once more positions are unlocked in Lin'an, you can try teaching her the method of dual cultivation.

Spiritual practice can not only prolong life but also improve endurance.

Xu Qi'an put on his robe and went to the outer room, where he saw two palace maids setting out breakfast. They had dark circles under their eyes, indicating that they hadn't slept well the night before.

When he saw Xu Qi'an come out, there was some fear in his eyes.

The poor prince and his palace maids murmured to themselves.

P. S.: Typos will be corrected later.