r18novel Page 111
Page 111
As he spoke, Chen Qingfeng slowly finished his practice, a flash of golden light disappearing from his eyes.
Although he failed to break through, he could feel that the true essence in his meridians was much more condensed than before, and his five senses had become more acute!
Of course, this is far from enough for Chen Qingfeng.
He needs more resources.
Elixirs, cultivation techniques, even destiny!
……
The morning mist had not yet dissipated.
A long queue had formed in front of Tianya Bookstore.
Looking around, the richly dressed young men and women, wrapped in brocade robes, breathed out white steam and kept stamping their feet to keep warm.
Several servants squeezed at the front of the line, their pockets bulging with money bags, their eyes constantly glancing at the tightly closed shop door.
"Squeak..."
The vermilion gate finally opened, and Fan Sizhe, sporting dark circles under his eyes, peeked out.
Seeing the long line outside the door, I wasn't surprised; it seemed like something I was used to.
The crowd stirred as soon as the bookstore opened its doors.
"Please be patient, esteemed guests!"
"Only 300 copies of the new volume of *Dream of the Red Chamber* were printed today, with a limit of one copy per person..." 15
Before he could finish speaking, a young nobleman dressed in a fox fur coat threw out a gold ingot:
"I'll pay ten times the price! Give it to me first!"
"I'll bet twenty times!"
"My young lady is the daughter of the Vice Minister of the Ministry of Personnel..."
"Get out of the way! My father is..."
Fan Sizhe was pushed back repeatedly and almost fell over.
Fortunately, Fan Ruoruo appeared in time, dressed in a moon-white ruqun (a type of traditional Chinese dress), and gently blocked the crowd with a round fan, which immediately quieted down the crowd.
"Everyone."
"The bookstore has its own rules: first come, first served. If anyone disrupts the order..."
Fan Ruoruo's voice wasn't loud, but as her beautiful eyes darted around, several burly guards stepped forward.
Seeing this, the line barely managed to restore order.
With each subsequent copy sold, sighs of despair rippled through the remaining queue.
Before long, a wooden sign that read "Sold Out Today" was put up, causing those who hadn't bought any to beat their chests in frustration.
In the teahouse across the street, several noble ladies gathered together, eagerly flipping through the newly acquired scrolls.
Suddenly a young lady exclaimed:
"Oh my god! Daiyu actually..."
The woman quickly covered her mouth before speaking, afraid of revealing spoilers and angering the public.
Scenes like this happen every day.
……
Guangxin Palace.
Li Yunrui lay on the chair, her figure prominent, her legs long and slender.
She was holding a scroll in her hands, the latest volume of "Dream of the Red Chamber".
Not far away, a maid carefully lit incense, when suddenly the princess chuckled softly:
"Understanding the ways of the world is true learning; being adept at human relationships is true literature..."
"What a fine Chen Qingfeng!"
Li Yunrui was full of praise. Her fingertips, which had been stained with balsam juice, left faint red marks on the snow-white paper as she ran her fingers over the pages.
"Hoohoo!"
After taking a deep breath, Li Yunrui narrowed his eyes slightly, lost in thought:
"Things on the Empress's side have been mostly arranged."
"I believe news will come out soon."
"I wonder if he would be satisfied if he knew?"
Thinking of this, Li Yunrui smiled sweetly and muttered to herself:
"It's been a while since we last met, and I've actually...missed him a little!"
……
Soon, rumors began to circulate within the palace.
"Have you heard? The Empress and Eunuch Li from the palace actually..."
"Shh! Are you out of your mind? How dare you say such things?"
"..."
Rumors spread like wildfire, silently and without warning.
Whether it's true or false doesn't matter; what matters is that it's hurtful enough!
……
Inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation in Xingqing Palace.
The golden beast-head incense burner emitted wisps of blue smoke.
Emperor Qing stood with his hands behind his back by the window, his expression unusually somber.
He was playing with a white jade chess piece in his hand, his fingertips repeatedly stroking the fine lines on its surface.
"Who is it?"
Suddenly, Emperor Qing frowned, his expression turning sinister.
The next moment, he flicked his two fingers, and the chess piece he was holding shot through the air and embedded itself straight into a beam not far away.
The chess piece, carrying terrifying penetrating power, pierced directly through the beam and pillar, then fell to the ground and shattered into pieces.
"The matter concerning the Crown Prince has not yet been fully investigated."
"Now another scandal has erupted in the Empress's palace."
"interesting."
As he spoke, Emperor Qing turned to look at Hong Sixiang, who was waiting not far away, and asked:
"Eunuch Hong, could these two things have been done by the same person?"
Hong Sixiang bowed deeply:
"Your Majesty, this old servant is foolish."
Emperor Qing smiled coldly and asked again:
"By the way, what has Chen Qingfeng been doing these days?"
Hong Sixiang didn't hide anything and quickly replied:
"They either stayed in their own courtyard or listened to music in brothels."
"Oh?"
Emperor Qing was slightly surprised:
"Have you found out what he's been doing in his own yard?"
Hong Sixiang paused for a moment before replying:
“His compound is inside the Oversight Service, so our informants can’t get in.”
Emperor Qing nodded, his eyes narrowed and his brows furrowed as he fell into deep thought.
Thinking about his own situation, he realized he needed to find a way to expose the person who was secretly sabotaging the royal family.
Suddenly, a rustling sound came from outside the window, and a carrier pigeon landed on the windowsill.
Seeing this, Hong Sixiang quickly got up, stepped forward, took the bamboo tube, unfolded the secret letter, his pupils contracted slightly, and he looked at Emperor Qing, saying:
"Your Majesty! Ye Liuyun has returned to the capital."
Upon hearing this, the gloom between Emperor Qing's brows instantly dissipated.
Earlier, he had thought of sending Yan Xiaoyi to test Chen Qingfeng.
Emperor Qing felt that Chen Qingfeng was hiding too many secrets.
Although everyone knows he doesn't know any martial arts.
But Emperor Qing always felt that Chen Qingfeng was faking it.
Unfortunately, when Yan Xiaoyi was asked to go before, the latter refused, citing an injury sustained while practicing archery.
Now, Ye Liuyun has returned to Kyoto.
Emperor Qing naturally thought of having Grandmaster Ye Liuyun test Chen Qingfeng.
...
Dark as ink.
In the backyard of Tianji Pavilion, Sang Wen gently pushed open the window.
Upon closer inspection, one could see a number of people standing neatly in the courtyard, bathed in moonlight.
The person in the lead was none other than Gui Sheng, the Grandmaster of the Heavenly Mystery Pavilion!
Behind him stood two women and one man.