Chapter 597: First Exploration’s Loss

Scratching his head, Kou Zhong said, “This does not make sense.”

The cover of the exit was at the top of the stone steps above their heads, it was of the same design as the entrance. The problem was that the tunnel did not have any turning point toward the imperial palace like Kou Zhong had guessed. Looking at the position, if they pushed the lid and came out, they would definitely be within the scope of the imperial city and not in the imperial palace at all.

The Great Tang imperial palace occupied a large area of land; not including the western inner park, the area was equal to twelve East Markets combined. The imperial city and the imperial palace each occupied half, divided by the public square cutting across from east to west in the middle. The imperial city was where the offices of civil and military officials were located, the imperial palace was subdivided into Yeting Palace [lateral courts housing concubines and administrative offices], Taiji Palace, and East Palace, three palace halls. Taiji Palace, located in the middle, housed Li Yuan’s personal office and residence.

Bu Cheng Lane was located west of the imperial city, separated with the imperial city only by one Anhua Street. Walking straight to the east from the Yin Mansion at Bu Cheng Lane, distant wise, the exit could only be around the southwest corner of the imperial city.

Even if the three were able to enter the imperial city without the gods knowing, the ghosts perceiving, and stealthily crossed the vast public square, they still had to crash their way through either one of the three gates, the Guang Yun Gate, the Cheng Tian Gate, or the Chang Le Gate, leading into the Taiji Palace. At this moment the Tang Palace was in high alert to guard against Shi Zhixuan, there was practically no possibility.

Hou Xibai said, “Do you want to open the lid and peek outside? Maybe it is a hidden chamber outside with another tunnel leading into the imperial palace.”

Shaking his head, Xu Ziling said, “In term of design, that does not make sense. Just now Li Yuan and Yuwen Shang did not get out from here. Xibai Xiong, please examine the iron door, the rust should indicate that it has not been operated for a long time.”

Kou Zhong nodded and said, “This is not only a false exit, it is also a trap. The mechanism to open the lid looks identical to the entrance, but there’s a subtle difference. Although I don’t know exactly how it works, but I can guess that if we operate the mechanism, it will definitely trigger some alarm system.”

Hou Xibai agreed, he said, “Now that does make sense. Such a tunnel that leads to the imperial palace is very important. The master craftsmen of the House of Tang naturally had to rack their brains to guarantee its security, hence the reason they set up this trap to let the enemy who discovers the tunnel fall into it.”

The three began to examine the tunnel’s north wall, one fire stick burned out, they lighted another one, as they explored the entire length of the tunnel, but until the last fire stick was consumed, they still gained nothing.

Kou Zhong sighed and said, “This time, I, the newly promoted mechanism and civil engineering great master, really fell head first and is brought to the end of the line, and die of old age. His Niang’s! An insignificant underground tunnel is unexpectedly more difficult to solve than the Duke Yang’s Treasure.”

※ ※ ※

Xu Ziling came back, groping about in the dark from the direction of the exit at the small building inside the Yin Mansion. He said, “We still have the other side, the south wall to explore, but unfortunately we don’t have much time. We must leave now, otherwise, after daybreak, it won’t be too convenient. We’ll come back tomorrow night!”

Hou Xibai, who was still standing under the stone steps of the exit, suddenly signaled them with his hand, indicating that there were some people upstairs.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were greatly astonished in their hearts. According to reason, the small building should be a forbidden area within the Yin Mansion, even daily cleaning should not be carried out before daybreak, so they shouldn’t be worried that someone might come to the underground tunnel. First, because the exit could only be opened from the inside, unless the newcomer had the ability like Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling joining hands just now. Secondly, this tunnel ought to be Li Yuan’s special ‘imperial road’, how could other people misuse it?

The two boys came to Hou Xibai’s side. Focusing their power into their ears, they indeed heard the faint voices of a man and a woman, but because the stone lid was about half a chi thick, plus when closed it was as if the opening was sealed, even with three men’s power, they still could not hear clearly what the people upstairs were talking about.

Xu Ziling’s senses were sharper than Kou Zhong’s, he spoke in low voice, “The man seems to be Yin Zuwen. The woman … hey … the woman, oh! It’s Yin Gui Pai’s Wen Caiting.”

His sense of hearing was increased substantially, not only he recognized Wen Caiting’s voice, he even heard the content of the two persons’ conversation, because Kou Zhong raised his palm and pressed it on his back, injecting his true qi continuously into Xu Ziling’s system, fusing and flowing together with Xu Ziling’s true qi. In the world only these two could easily borrow and blend true qi from each other like water and milk solution, there was no other.

The two boys climbed the steps one by one, the voices became clearer, however, this only applied to Xu Ziling.

He heard Yin Zuwen said, “This matter must be approached slowly instead of urgently, furthermore, the fortunate timing has not arrived, we plant the seed first and reap the fruits later.”

Hearing that, Xu Ziling was baffled, thinking that he must have missed the previous even-more-brilliant dialogue.

Suddenly he heard the rustling noise of clothes, followed by Wen Caiting’s moan. Unless it was an idiot, anybody would know that the man and the woman upstairs were having sex.

Perhaps Wen Caiting was exploiting her sex appeal, which had not waned or slackened, to accomplish her goal, or perhaps she was a loose woman by nature, but Xu Ziling has personally heard her seducing Chi Shengchun, only Chi Shengchun remained unmoved.

And then he heard Wen Caiting spoke while breathing hard, “How’s my skill? Are you satisfied?”

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Turning to Kou Zhong and Hou Xibai, who were looking at him expectantly, Xu Ziling spoke softly, “They just finished having fun.”

Wiping the sweat on his brows, Kou Zhong said, “Fortunately so, otherwise we are going to die of suffocation here.”

Yin Zuwen’s voice entered Xu Ziling’s sharp ears again, saying, “Caiting, you are indeed a wonder; twelve years ago you were enchanting, today, after twelve years you are still enchanting. Those tender baby girls, after trying them twice they already became tasteless; how could they compare to you?”

Xu Ziling mused that turned out those two were old close friends, it’s just that the Yin Mansion had so many places, why did they choose the small building where the secret tunnel was hidden to have a tryst? Supposing Li Yuan was prompted by a sudden impulse to go out on an inspection tour for the second time tonight, wouldn’t he bump into them head-on?

“Where’s the entrance to the tunnel?” Wen Caiting asked.

Xu Ziling was shocked; but then he remembered that the other side could not open the lid from the outside, so he was somewhat relieved.

Yin Zuwen replied, “Just under the bed, but it can only be opened from the inside. The first day I was assigned this mansion, I took the responsibility for protecting this underground tunnel for Li Yuan, but I’ve never entered the tunnel.”

Tittering, Wen Caiting said, “Li Yuan trusts you very much!”

Yin Zuwen laughed and said, “Li Yuan, this person is not difficult to deal with, the most important thing is to fit to his fancy. At first he did not even think about using the underground tunnel to spend his time in drinking and pleasure; it was me who reminded him and made the arrangement, to enrich his life. In his heart, I, Yin Zuwen am the real big minister who has given outstanding service.”

Wen Caiting flattered him, saying, “Speaking about intelligence and scheming ability, among our holy school, Yin Shixiong could be considered within the top three. Just look at how you presented your daughter and make half of the Li Clan’s world to fall into Yin Shixiong’s pocket; our Yin Gui Pai can only see the other rider’s dust and have no hope of catching up [idiom: far inferior].”

Yin Zuwen said, “Just leave your strength in bed to curry favor with me! Let’s stop the chitchat. I admire Qing’er, this houbei [younger generation] very much, I think she is the best choice to be Zhu Hou’s [empress] successor, she is better suited than Wan’er.”

Wen Caiting sighed and said, “Pi Chen Shibo, Bian Shidi and I will keep an eye on Qing’er. The problem is that one day the ‘Tianmo Fa Jue’ [ultimate method] is in her hands, she is still the successor in a way that justifies the use of the term.”

Yin Zuwen said, “If you could capture her alive, I will have a way to force her to hand the Fa Jue over. This baby girl’s aptitude is unusually good, the problem is that she shows no understanding of the times [idiom], unexpectedly she is solely preoccupied with taking revenge for her master. Now our holy school’s dream finally has the opportunity to be realized, therefore, we must lay down hostility and have a united front, to let the most able person to come out and lead.”

Wen Caiting was silent for half a day; she spoke heavily, “Very well! As long as Qing’er can obtain the Fa Jue, and Shi Zhixuan is willing to kill his daughter to show his determination, I can make decision on behalf of the other Yin Gui Pai elders, we will listen and obey Shi Zhixuan’s commands in everything. Oh, it’s almost daybreak!”

※ ※ ※

Xu Ziling met with Hu Xiaoxian again at the Fang Sheng Lake of the East Market, the two sat on a stone bench in a corner by the pond.

Hu Xiaoxian blissfully said, “Why do you want to see me?”

Xu Ziling replied, “I finally find a way that Hu Xiaojie no longer need to be afraid of Chi Shengchun’s forced marriage.”

Hu Xiaoxian’s pair of eyes, like limpid autumn waters, gracefully sized him up, feigning anger coquettishly, she said, “Nujia finally understands why Xu Daxia wants to deal with Chi Shengchun!”

Xu Ziling understood that Ouyang Xiyi’s words to the ‘Great Immortal’ Hu Fo last night have come into effect. Hu Fo also passed on this information to Hu Xiaoxian, hence the reason she was in such a good mood, because she knew that Hu Fo would definitely not let her marry into the Chi Family. Pretending to be muddleheaded, he said, “Xiaojie does not seem to take my method seriously, I wonder if you have found other solution yourself? Or perhaps you think that this matter has been resolved?”

Hu Xiaoxian spoke in astonishment, “Your, this person’s, deduction and reasoning ability is really formidable, unexpectedly from nujia’s reaction you can figure out so many arguments. Ay! Nujia surrenders! I originally wanted to tease you. All right! What’s the bad news?”

Inwardly, Xu Ziling admired her quick thinking, from the tone of his voice she figured out that he had a card up his sleeve. Smiling, he said, “Supposing Yin Zuwen ask Li Yuan to act on Chi Shengchun’s behalf to propose marriage to your esteemed father, would Xiaojie know what the consequences be?”

Hu Xiaoxian disdainfully said, “How could Li Yuan be willing to stick his head out for Chi Shengchun? Chi Shengchun practically does not have the qualifications to have Yin Zuwen raise this matter for Li Yuan’s consideration.”

Xu Ziling spoke indifferently, “What if the thief stealing ‘Han Lin Qing Yuan Tu’ was not Cao San, but Li Yuan?”

Hu Xiaoxian’s flowery countenance lost its color, she blurted out, “You are joking!”

Xu Ziling was shocked inwardly, he never thought that Hu Xiaoxian’s reaction would be this intense. He said, “This matter is absolutely true; how’s Hu Xiaojie going to deal with it?”

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Hu Xiaoxian stared blankly for half a day. She spoke dejectedly, “That would be terrible. I would rather marry Chi Shengchun than marry into the deep palace, to pass the bleak, wretched days in that all black, no daylight place.”

Xu Ziling distractedly said, “How can you marry into the palace? Besides, the ‘Han Lin Qing Yuan Tu’ is not something that should not be exposed to the light. Li Yuan stole it only to win favor by fawning on Zhang Jieyu.”

Hu Xiaoxian sighed and said, “To Li Yuan, that kind of man, my understanding penetrates a thousand times, ten thousand times deeper than yours, Xu Daxia’s. Each time he sees me, the pupil of his eyes lit up. Ay! This kind of women’s intuition is hard to explain in a few words, how can I explain it to you?”

And then, knitting her brows, she asked, “How do you know it was Li Yuan who stole it?”

Xu Ziling was confused, instead of answering, he asked back, “Since you knew how dangerous it is, why did you reveal to Li Yuan about ‘Han Lin Qing Yuan Tu’ was in Chi Shengchun’s possession?”

Hu Xiaoxian spoke miserably, “I just wanted Li Yuan to act on my behalf! If he obtained it openly, then there would be no problem; but seizing it in the dark, he is harboring a hard-to-fathom evil intention. If he said that he snatched it back from Cao San’s hands and gave it to my Die, and then have someone close to him openly raise a suggestion, Die could only obediently present his daughter into the imperial palace, unless in the future he does not want to mingle in Chang’an anymore. Ay! Die spent all day thinking about how to expand Da Xian Men [great immortal school], sacrificing a couple of daughters’ happiness is not a big deal. After all, Xiaoxian is just his adopted daughter.”

Hearing that, Xu Ziling was dumbfounded. He was puzzled for half a day, and said, “If your esteemed father’s conduct is like what Xiaojie said, with Li Yuan’s power, he does not need the ‘Han Lin Qing Yuan Tu’ to get Xiaojie into the palace, why would he take great pains in stealing it?”

At the same time, he was thinking inwardly that it would not be difficult to confirm this matter; as long as he could check whether just like Liu Wenjing told Chi Shengchun, Zhang Jieyu really wanted to get this painting, then he would get the answer. If unfortunately Hu Xiaoxian’s words turned out to be true, then it would be Xu Ziling, Kou Zhong, and Hou Xibai, three men’s turn to have a headache. To steal the treasured painting from under You Chuhong’s eyelids was more difficult than difficult. To steal something from Li Yuan’s hands while he was fully on guard against Shi Zhixuan was nearly impossible even more.

Hu Xiaoxian sighed and said, “In the city of Chang’an, there are two women that Li Yuan wants to bring into the palace the most; one is Ji Qian, the other is precisely nujia. Ji Qian is the most popular famous courtesan in the pleasure house, while nujia … ay! How can I make you understand? Nujia quite like to make friends, do you understand? All in all, with his status as the emperor, Li Yuan has a lot of misgivings to get us into the palace, because he is afraid the people in the world would accuse him of being lecherous, although his womanizing character no one in the world does not know.”

Xu Ziling cried ‘Bad!’ inwardly, if that was the case, then wouldn’t Kou Zhong’s ‘treasured painting to invite the groom (who will live with the bride’s family)]’ scheme harm her instead? Not only this matter would not work, Xu Ziling did not dare to mention it even more.

Smiling wryly, he said, “That is just Xiaojie’s guess.”

Displeased, Hu Xiaoxian said, “You don’t believe me? When Li Yuan uses this as a pretext to get nujia into the palace, who’s going to save me?”

Xu Ziling said, “Wait until I verify that this matter is just as you said, and then we’ll make the decision to steal the treasured painting from his hands. Once the main problem is soled, all troubles are solved.”

“But how are you going to verify this?” Hu Xiaoxian asked, “Are you saying that you are going to interrogate Li Yuan?”

Xu Ziling smiled and said, “This is called the man of the mountain has an excellent plan; for the time being, it is not suitable to reveal it.”

Dissatisfied, Hu Xiaoxian said, “You, this person, always talk humming and hawing, hiding the head and show the tail; are you trying to worry nujia to death? Even if you could really confirm it, Taiji Palace has martial art masters like the cloud, the security is deep and tight. Although you, Xu Daxia are outstanding, since you don’t know where Li Yuan is hiding the painting, you will be powerless. Don’t just want to make nujia happy!”

Xu Ziling replied with a wry smile, “You are teasing me to tell you everything. What I have promised you, I will do everything in my power to accomplish it for you. Just wait for my good news!”

Hu Xiaoxian anxiously said, “You haven’t told nujia who is it that you want me to charm?”

Xu Ziling stood up, spread out his hand and calmly said, “That matter in temporarily cancelled. If there are more changes, I will let you know.”

Finished speaking, he wanted to leave, but Hu Xiaoxian pulled his sleeve and said with a laugh, “I have a secret I want to tell you.”

※ ※ ※

Kou Zhong, in Cai Yuanyong identity, came back to the Situ Mansion, and found out that they had four strong servants. Upon asking Lei Jiuzhi about this, the latter said with a laugh, “This way, I will look more like a housekeeper! Otherwise, when we have a guest, I would have to run errands. The one opening the door is me, pouring tea and serving water is also me; I would have to do everything. These four men were sent by Chen Fu, they are people from the same village as our Furong Ye; in term of loyalty, there is no problem.”

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The two entered the hall and met Ren Jun’s Situ Furong. Sitting around the table, Kou Zhong spoke in low voice, “Did Song ErYe go to visit the beauty?”

Taken aback, Lei Jiuzhi said, “Listening to the wording and the tone of your voice, it seems like you are hinting on something else.”

Kou Zhong said, “Did you guys feel that after he went to Shang Meiren yesterday, Song ErYe’s entire being looked lively?”

Ren Jun said, “Now that Kou Ye mentioned it, Xiaozi [kid] also feel the same way. Song Ye told me that only after running around the East and West, two Markets, did he find the printed cloth that he likes to be presented as a gift to Shang Changzhu. When he came back, he asked our opinion. Naturally Song Ye’s insight is too good for anybody to criticize.”

Thinking deeply, Lei Jiuzhi said, “I wonder if this time we gain an unanticipated good outcome of turning the willow into shade? If that is the case, it is indeed worthy of celebration. You and Xiao Ling will have one less load on your mind.”

Ren Jun was curious, “What load on their mind?” he asked.

Acting on his seniority, Lei Jiuzhi said, “Little kid need not mind grownups’ matter.” But noticing Ren Jun’s disappointed look, his heart softened, he said, “I’ll tell you about it later, but right now our proper business is more important.”

“What more important proper business?” Kou Zhong asked.

Lei Jiuzhi said, “Yin Zuwen invites our Furong Ye to have dinner at Shang Ling Yuan tonight, to wash the dust from Furong Ye’s feet. Would you say that it is a more important proper business?”

Kou Zhong spoke in delight, “Finally he fell into the trap!”

But then he frowned and said, “In that case, won’t that mean we’ll have to push away Er Wenhuan’s Great Immortal game?”

Sneering, Lei Jiuzhi replied, “You seem to forget your status? Furong Ye’s social affair, what bird business does it have to do with you, the lackey who runs errands for him?”

Laughing involuntarily, Kou Zhong said, “Zongguan’s [manager] initial show of strength [immediately after taking office] toward newcomers is really formidable, Xiaoren’s insight is too shallow, I did not know how effortless and easy working to run errands is, only need to hide at home sleeping, or strolling around everywhere, visiting the casino in between and play a couple of hands.”

Lei Jiuzhi laughed and said, “I am just saying that you guys only need to put on a fa?ade. When we are having big bowl of wine and large chunks of meat inside, you guys can slip across the street to wait for the fish to bite the bait. This is precisely the natural color of greedy gambling addicts; they are definitely unwilling to miss any game of chance, I guarantee no one will suspect you.”

Ren Jun said, “What Lei Ye wanted to ask Kou Ye is how am I going to cope with tonight’s affair?”

Kou Zhong cheerfully said, “Very simple. You will reveal your ambition to get your hands on the casino business, but also show your usual cautious and suspicious style. Naturally you must fawn on Yin Zuwen to the best of your ability. About other things, you’d better ask Ling Shao, he knows the overall plan better than I do.”

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Lei Jiuzhi laughed and said, “Now it is resolute person scheming against resolute person; fortunately we know the crafty idea turning in their hearts, but they do not know the universe inside our sleeves, we are occupying the ultimate upper hand.”

Kou Zhong cheerfully said, “If Chi Shengchun is among the guests accompanying us tonight, then we are not far from success. There is another critical matter that I forgot to tell you. Da Ming Zun Jiao’s ‘Shan Mu’ Sha Fang and her more than a dozen disciples were murdered by Shi Zhixuan last night, and unexpectedly Shi Zhixuan said with his own mouth that Yang Xuyan is the ‘Yuanzi’.”

Lei Jiuzhi and Ren Jun were greatly astonished.

After asking for clarification, Lei Jiuzhi said, “This matter will definitely cause a sensation over the entire city and shock the world.”

Kou Zhong said, “I’ll say no one is going to find out. In the time where they are sending the troops outside, the House of Tang will do everything they can to suppress this kind of information and will not divulge even half a bit of rumor, as if nothing has ever happened, to avoid alarming the heart of the people.”

And then he sighed and said, “Shi Zhixuan definitely cannot be underestimated; in just this one move, he already subdue and intimidate all factions of the demonic school, Wanwan’s situation will be even more dangerous.”

Knitting his brows, Lei Jiuzhi said, “You are still excessively tolerant toward this Yaonu [female demon]?”

Smiling wryly, Kou Zhong replied, “I am not excessively tolerant toward her, this is just a strategic need. Currently we are not in some ordinary Jianghu feud, but we fight openly and maneuver covertly in the struggle for the world. If we cast aside all misgivings, the first person who wants to kill her would be me, Kou Zhong, and indeed we exchange blows last night. Her Tianmo Da Fa is very likely the bane-decreed-by-fate of my Eight Methods of the Well. His granny’s!”

Hearing that, Lei Jiuzhi and Ren Jun looked at each other, unable to say anything.

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