Chapter 23: Chapter 23: All The Secrets

Xu Haoran's eyebrows furrowed. "Why do your martial arts seem stronger than mine?"

"Because my martial arts improved after Peace White Tea healed me. My internal force was boosted, and my strength increased. I cultivated a lot at the beginning, and it's paid off now apparently."

He switched topics and asked, "Do you really think so little of me? I'd never manipulate you. You're not a pawn to me."

Li Yingshan scoffed sadly. "I've been manipulated by my father, my sisters, the Crown Prince, and even Madam Meng. How can I trust anyone anymore?"

"You can trust me."

She countered, "Really? You may be my husband, Hero Xu, but I barely know you. Don't you remember how we first met? You appeared out of nowhere. We'd never seen each other before that night, how did you even figure out who or where I was?"

"I tracked you. I had heard you left Longxin City. I guessed that you'd run to the capital, seeing as it would provide the best opportunity for you. It took me a while to find you once I narrowed your location down to Luoyang. But eventually, your name grew as the best courtesan in the city. I took a guess that Young Lady Li was the same as the Third Young Lady Li to whom I had once been betrothed."

She shook her head. "I covered my tracks well. There's no way unless you had help."

He sighed. "You're keen, I give you that. Yes, I did have some help. I called on Moonlight Pagoda to help me find you."

Her back stiffened. What? I need to have a word with Han Shaolei!

Qiu Ling was equally stunned.

"What? You've heard of Moonlight Pagoda?"

Li Yingshan chuckled nervously, "W- who hasn't? I- I just didn't expect you to have gone to them."

"Mmm, I didn't know who else to go to."

Who in Moonlight Pagoda did this without my knowledge? I'm going to teach whoever it was a lesson!

Li Yingshan was tempted to pinch the bridge of her nose. She took a deep breath to calm herself. Looking back up, she found herself staring right into Xu Haoran's eyes. He was so close to her, and her heartbeat quickened. He took a step closer and tilted his head down further. She could feel her palms growing sweaty and wondered what was happening to her. They stood like that in silence for a moment.

But then, a figure flew over head as five chased her. Relieved at the distraction, Li Yingshan spun around and gasped. She threw out her fan in an instant. Qiu Ling stood behind her and Xu Haoran. He stared at the scene on the roof in confusion.

"Care to explain, Li Yingshan?"

She winced. "Please, Hero Xu, stay here and protect Qiu Ling. If anything happens to her, I'll hold you responsible."

With that, she leapt up with her qinggong and joined the fight. Her hidden needles shot out from her wrist and flew forward. The needles caught the five assassins, and they tumbled off the roof. Their bodies landed on the ground with an echoing thud. Li Yingshan and Miao Chuntao flew down and walked over to the dead.

"More men sent by him. He really does wish to silence me," she murmured sadly.

"G0d-"

Li Yingshan quickly shook her head, a warning in her eye. Miao Chuntao coughed.

"My Lady, shall I send people to deal with him?"

"If only it were that easy. He's the Crown Prince now. It'll be too difficult. He'll have guards and servants everywhere."

Qiu Ling and Xu Haoran approached. His eyes scanned over Miao Chuntao.

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"Who is this? I've never seen her in Xu manor before."

"She works for me," Li Yingshan explained. "Outside work, though."

"Doing what?"

"Odds and ends."

"Li Yingshan, don't you think it's time you told me everything?"

"I have."

"Have you now?"

"Yes."

"Then why do I get the feeling you're lying?"

Damn. Even after all of this, I've still underestimated his calculations.

Without answering him, she turned and asked Miao Chuntao. "Do you know if anyone from Moonlight Pagoda directed Hero Xu to Luoyang while he was searching for me?"

Her eyebrows scrunched. "What? I don't recall anyone doing so."

Li Yingshan's face turned pensive. "Then someone has been interfering. Or... there's a secret agent."

"I will find clues, if you wish."

"No. Things may be more intricate that what it appears now. Let's wait and see how things pan out. The person will reveal themselves eventually. All it takes is time... and a little pressure."

Qiu Ling stepped forward and asked, "What do you have in mind, my Lady?"

"There's a Buddhist temple a few hundred li outside of Longxin City. Qiu Ling, spread the news that I'm going there in a few days to pray for my soul before my death. We'll see who reports what back to the Crown Prince. The secret agent both times must be the same person."

Things clicked in Qiu Ling's mind. She cried, "My Lady is so smart!"

Li Yingshan's eyes narrowed as she thought, Chen Kai, without me, you would never have become the Crown Prince. Let's see what you can do to the Goddess of Moonlight Pagoda.

Just then, a messenger bird flew down from above. It rested on Miao Chuntao's shoulder. Xu Haoran's eyes widened. Qiu Ling looked away while Li Yingshan closed her eyes, knowing her damnation was near.

"The messenger bird of Moonlight Pagoda?" Xu Haoran breathed in shock as he rounded on her.

She winced. Miao Chuntao tried to cover her, claiming, "She just works for Moonlight Pagoda as a secretary!"

"Enough, Miao Chuntao," Li Yingshan murmured in defeat. Her eyes met her husband's.

"I think you'd better explain," he gritted out. "Now. No more lies, Li Yingshan."

Sadness filled her eyes as she softly revealed, "As you know, I used to be very famous in the Jianghu. I made a lot of connections growing up. Finally, I decided I could draw on those connections to gather intel about the various sects and martial artists. It started out small, but basically seven years ago, I founded Moonlight Pagoda."

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