Chapter 41: Chapter 41: Xu Manor

"With you?" Feng Jingjing asked carefully, having caught Li Yingshan's words.

"Yes. I will go with you to Longxin City. But I will lay low. You must still be the one to help Hero Xu."

"Why can't you?!"

"Because he hates me!"

Feng Jingjing scoffed, "He's been intent on marrying you since we were kids. No matter what you've done, I doubt Haoran would change to hating you so quickly."

Li Yingshan sighed, remembering their argument that day. "No, I've betrayed him and put politics before my marriage. There's no way he'd ever forgive me now."

Feng Jingjing eyed her. "Do you love my cousin?"

The sadness in her eyes turned to a glare. "If I did, it's none of your business."

"You may be the Goddess of Moonlight Pagoda, but you're not above human emotions. It's okay to admit if you love someone or not."

Done with the conversation, Li Yingshan used the Shooting Star Maneuver to speed out of the reception room in just a few seconds. Outside, she flew up to the eighteenth floor of Moonlight Pagoda with the aid of her qinggong.

Landing on the balcony, she entered her room and sat down at the circular table in the center. Pinching the bridge of her nose, she groaned.

When will this torment end?

∇

Three days later, Feng Jingjing and Li Yingshan departed from headquarters, heading straight south. The former was dressed in the ceremonial lavender purple and snow white robes, denoting her as the Priestess of Moonlight Pagoda. A gold phoenix headdress rested on top of her shiny black hair. The latter was dressed in a simple white and copper toned Qiyao RuqunHan Dynasty Hanfu style. No hair accessories adorned the looped braids pinned to the back of her head. Instead, she had a brown veiled conical hat to hide her features.

Li Yingshan sat outside on the step ledge of the carriage. Feng Jingjing rested comfortably inside, relishing in the fact that she was being escorted like a princess.

The journey to Longxin City took four days.

When they arrived, Li Yingshan hopped off and grabbed the reins. She looked up at the city gates before her.

Hero Xu, if you knew I'd come back... would you be glad or furious?

A single tear slid down her cheek as she bowed her head. She led the horse and carriage into the city and over towards the southeast sector of the city. When they pulled up in front of Xu Manor, Li Yingshan gulped. She pulled back the flap on the carriage and held out her hand. Feng Jingjing took it and stepped down.

"Goddess, I still don't get why you can't just do it," she bemoaned.

"Try bringing up my name in conversation with him. I guarantee you he'll deflect or switch topics entirely."

Li Yingshan walked up to the door and grabbed the brass door knocker. She banged it against the door three times. Stepping back, she actually stood behind Feng Jingjing.

The doors opened after a few minutes. Li Yingshan's eyes widened to see that it was Qiu Ling who had answered it. But Qiu Ling had never met the seclusive Priestess of Moonlight Pagoda and didn't recognize her.

"Can I help you?" she asked.

Feng Jingjing said, "I'm Xu Haoran's cousin. I want to speak with him about something."

Qiu Ling bowed. "Excuse me, I'll be right back."

She left the doors open and retreated. Once she was gone, Li Yingshan sighed.

Feng Jingjing asked her, "Who was that? I don't remember seeing her in Xu Manor before."

"Qiu Ling. She used to be my maid. But she's married to Zhang Fangong now, so she stayed in Xu Manor."

"Oh. You're doing this to protect her, aren't you?"

"I'm surprised, Priestess. You caught on so fast."

"Hey!" Feng Jingjing rounded on her. "I'm not a diviner for nothing!"

Li Yingshan admitted, "I went to Luoyang alone to protect Qiu Ling, yes. She's like a sister to me. So I didn't want to endanger her. And neither of us is safe until the Crown Prince is deposed. Once the Ninth Prince wins, we'll be alright."

"When the royals' feud is over, will you stay in Moonlight Pagoda or live here?"

"Seeing as I fled from here after being berated by my husband, I think I'd rather live at headquarters."

"Why do you think so badly of my cousin?"

"Test him and find out."

With that, Li Yingshan walked away. It wasn't her job to help. Frustrated Feng Jingjing was just about to yell after her when she heard a familiar voice behind her.

"Who asked for me?"

She turned slowly to see Xu Haoran and Zhang Fangong standing in the doorway beside Qiu Ling. Xu Haoran's eyes widened upon seeing her.

"Jingjing? Is that really you?"

She nodded. "Haoran, long time no see."

He took in her appearance. "You've grown up. But what are you wearing? Don't tell me your some prince's concubine."

She shook her head. "No. Perhaps you might find it worse. Let's talk inside."

"Okay."

Zhang Fangong closed the doors, and the four headed over to Xu Haoran's study. There, he sat down. Zhang Fangong stood at his side. Qiu Ling stood beside him. Feng Jingjing was directly in front of her cousin.

Levelling her gaze with his, she said evenly, "I'm the Priestess of Moonlight Pagoda."

She saw the confusion on his face change to shock. Shock changed to fury. Qiu Ling was equally stunned.

"So she's even roped you into it now?!" he demanded as he bolted to his feet.

"Are you talking about Goddess?"

"Jingjing, you've never listened to anyone before! And now you obey her words?!"

She finally began to see what Li Yingshan had been talking about.

You are reading story 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance at novel35.com

"I serve Moonlight Pagoda and Goddess, yes."

"Why? What hold does she have over you? Tell me. Perhaps I can free you," Xu Haoran gushed.

She couldn't believe it. Was Goddess right? Does he really actually hate her?

"Although I'm indebted to Goddess, I don't mind either. She gave me a chance to survive in this world. I'll always remember that."

"What are you talking about?"

And so, Feng Jingjing told him of her struggles and how Li Yingshan saved her. When she finished, Xu Haoran looked ready to explode.

"Where is she?" he snarled. "Don't tell me she made you come alone."

"Haoran, can you not even say her name? What makes you despise her so much?"

"How can you take her side?! She's damning all of you with her!"

The war. As the realization dawned on her, she shook her head.

"The Pagoda Elders denied her request to mobilize Moonlight Pagoda's disciples. All Goddess can do is relay information to the Ninth Prince."

"Stop calling her Goddess! She's not worthy of the title!"

Unbeknownst to them all, Li Yingshan was actually on the tiled roof of the study. Tears welled in her eyes at Xu Haoran's outburst.

Feng Jingjing's jaw dropped in shock. Finally recovering, she said, "If you really think so little of her, then I will disobey her order."

"Good. Why don't you stay here? I can look after you."

She shook her head. "Goddess ordered me to help you deal with her father and brothers. But if you truly hate her, then I won't help you. Why should I help someone who despises her?"

Turning to leave, she added, "Goodbye, cousin."

Xu Haoran sped over to her and grabbed her wrist. "Jingjing, don't go. Why stay loyal to her? It'll get you killed."

"Do you really doubt her capabilities that much? Then I supposed you've never seen her really fight. Goddess is the top martial artist in the Jianghu. And her expectations and criteria is extreme. Though Moonlight Pagoda has over five thousand disciples, each one has been either personally recruited by Goddess for whatever reason or they proved their mettle against her. But it's still all in vain. No one in Moonlight Pagoda can defeat her, not even the Elder Hall."

Qiu Ling nodded. "That's right. I remember when my Lady chose her Elders. Though she said they had to fight her for an hour, it wasn't fighting. It was withstanding her for an hour. The Elder Hall only has four Elders because only four were able to still be standing after an hour. All the others who tried either were injured too heavily or they lost consciousness."

Feng Jingjing's gazed pleaded with her cousin. "She has her faults, but Goddess is good at heart. She cares about us and protects us."

"If she really cared, she wouldn't have thought about sending all of you to the battlefield to die."

Finally, she had had enough. Though she knew she would get a berating from Li Yingshan later, she knew she had to reveal the truth.

"The reason why Goddess dared to risk Moonlight Pagoda is because of what the Crown Prince has over her. The Crown Prince has records in his possession. Records that detail everything she did while under his orders. But the records only mention her and Moonlight Pagoda. He has information on every single member of Moonlight Pagoda and has threatened her with exposing it before. To keep us safe, she's fighting against him. If she can defeat him and destroy those records, we won't have to worry about hanging or losing our heads. Moonlight Pagoda is her lifeline. If she loses it, she'll go on a rampage and kill until her fury is satiated."

Above, Li Yingshan silently praised Feng Jingjing. She's smart. I was right to bring her into Moonlight Pagoda.

Just then, a black robed, masked person burst into the study. He appeared at Feng Jingjing's side, bowing. Xu Haoran was stunned.

"What is it?"

"Priestess, I was told to report to you."

"Speak. What's happened with the Crown Prince?"

"He's set out for Zhengzhou. He has five battalions with him. Their destination... is Moonlight Pagoda's headquarters."

Feng Jingjing stumbled backwards. Li Yingshan quickly descended from the roof and walked into the room nobly.

In a deepened voice, she said, "You may go."

The Black Phoenix bowed towards her and retreated. She walked up to Feng Jingjing.

"Stay here. Your martial arts are weak. Hero Xu can protect you well."

She turned to go when Feng Jingjing caught her wrist. "And let you go back alone? Are you crazy?"

"I can make it back in time."

"It's five battalions! How can you stop all of them?!"

"Chen Chengxian has already reached Kaifeng. I'll meet up with him. Hopefully his troops will be enough to stop the five battalions."

"And if they're not?"

"Then perhaps we'll all die."

"LI YINGSHAN, STOP TRYING TO BE A MARTYR!"

Qiu Ling gasped. Xu Haoran remained silent. Zhang Fangong tilted his head.

Li Yingshan sighed and removed her veil. But she didn't dare to meet her husband's eye. Instead, she glared at her Priestess.

"Chen Kai has Feifei. What am I supposed to do?!"

Feng Jingjing's expression changed in an instant. She released her wrist.

"I- I didn't know. I'm sorry."

Sadness filled Li Yingshan's eyes as she murmured, "It was never the reports, Priestess. I had the Black Phoenixes sneak into the Crown Prince's study and destroy them back when he decreed my arrest. He didn't care about them either. He already had what he needed to blackmail me."

"Who's Feifei?" Xu Haoran gritted out.

Li Yingshan finally forced herself to look at him. "My nominal daughter."

He choked. "What?!"

You can find story with these keywords: 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance, Read 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance novel, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance book, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance story, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance full, 爱与坚持 Love and Perseverance Latest Chapter