On The Self-Cultivation Of A Favored Concubine - Chapter 56

The bailiffs stared in astonishment at the young woman wearing a black gauze veiled hat. Ignoring the commotion at the gates, one stepped forward and barked, “Who goes there? How did you come out from inside?!”

The person who emerged was the younger sister, dressed in sturdy traveling clothes with her long hair tied high. She didn’t spare the bailiffs a glance, walking straight to Xie Xuanzhao. Upon seeing Liu Qinglan nearby, she paused for a moment.

Xie Xuanzhao signaled that all was well and told her to speak freely.

Only then did the sister remove her veiled hat. Her voice was cold as she said, “Miss, I have ‘persuaded’ County Magistrate Ma to open the granaries for grain and medicinal herbs. He is currently in the main hall.”

Xie Xuanzhao nodded, then turned to the wary bailiffs. “The State Preceptor heard of the plague in Qingfeng Town and specially dispatched us to investigate. Magistrate Ma has now handed full authority over to us. Go to the town center immediately, set up sheds to distribute medicine, and maintain order. If anything goes wrong, the entire yamen will be held accountable. No one will escape.”

Seeing the solemn squad of guards, the bailiffs dared not resist. Hearing that they were sent by the powerful State Preceptor, the Emperor’s maternal uncle and the new head of the Xie family, they scrambled to carry out the orders, terrified of causing offense.

Once they left, Liu Qinglan pumped her fist excitedly. “We actually tricked them! Hehe~”

Xie Xuanzhao amusedly pressed down the small fist. “Don’t get too excited. Let’s go inside and check the situation.” She then looked at the sister. “Go over there and supervise them to ensure nothing goes wrong.”

“Yes, Miss.” The sister nodded, then skillfully flipped onto a tree, leaped across the branches to the rooftops, and vanished into the distance.

Liu Qinglan stood on her tiptoes, watching with interest. “So she’s just like our FeiFei, she likes walking on rooftops too.”

“It seems you spent plenty of time on the rooftops back at the palace,” Xie Xuanzhao remarked dryly.

“Of course! On my first day, I….” Liu Qinglan caught herself, instantly flashing a sycophantic smile. “No, no! Not at all~”

Xie Xuanzhao couldn’t help but tap the tip of her nose. “Mischievous. Fine, I’ll settle the score with you once we’re back in the palace. Business first.”

“Mm-hmm, business first!” Liu Qinglan agreed earnestly.

The Source of the Plague

The bailiffs weren’t inherently wicked, they simply followed orders. With the new directives, they worked diligently to set up the medicine stations.

Sitting cross-legged on a rooftop, the sister watched the orderly scene below. She took a moment to question the “Black Egg” in her pocket. “I feel like this plague aura is exactly the same as yours.”

Though the Black Egg didn’t want to admit it, it was an honest child. “Because we are both evil spirits born from the Demon Realm.”

“The Demon Realm?” The sister felt her understanding of the world shifting again.

“If there are demons and spirits, naturally there are devils and immortals,” Black Egg said matter of factly. “It’s just that after the Great War of Gods and Demons ten thousand years ago, everyone agreed to stay in their own realms. We haven’t had much contact since.”

“Complicated,” the sister muttered.

“It’s not that complicated. The Demon Realm was destroyed, and our Young Master went missing. Divination showed she was in the human world, so we took root here. After thousands of years, we finally succeeded. That’s how we grew out of this world.”

“Young Master?” The sister’s curiosity was piqued. “The Demon Realm has a Young Master?”

“Of course. But word is that during the Great War, she was spirited away by a god from the heavens. Her whereabouts remain unknown.”

“So, are you saying this plague aura is like you, being maliciously utilized by someone?”

Black Egg bounced. “Likely so. Our realm has rules against interfering with human affairs. To be here causing harm means they are being controlled.”

The Interrogation

Inside the yamen, Xie Xuanzhao uncoiled her long whip and rested a foot on a chair, staring at Magistrate Ma, who was tied to a table leg.

Magistrate Ma didn’t look like a horse (Ma), he looked like a prize hog, fat-faced and round bellied. He was currently incoherent with terror.

“I… I was just following orders! It was Governor Gu’s idea! It has nothing to do with me!”

Xie Xuanzhao slowly stroked her whip. “Intentionally releasing evil spirits to create countless vengeful ghosts… are you trying to offer a sacrifice to heaven, or start a rebellion?”

“I wouldn’t dare!”

Xie Xuanzhao sneered. “Save those words for the dungeon.”

As the interrogation continued, footsteps sounded outside. Liu Qinglan had already dispersed her “insect army,” so when the actual imperial guards arrived, everything looked perfectly normal.

The captain of the Xie family guards approached. Recognizing his eldest young lady, he didn’t blow her cover. Instead, he bowed respectfully. “We have come by His Majesty’s order to investigate.”

Xie Xuanzhao nodded. “I leave this in your hands.”

A Race Against Time

Outside, Liu Qinglan tugged at Xie Xuanzhao’s sleeve, whispering, “I feel like something is wrong.”

“What is it?” Xie Xuanzhao leaned in.

“The rain has stopped.”

On the horizon, a ray of sunlight pierced through the dark clouds like a long-hidden jewel.

“Has someone sent word? Is the plague retreating?” Xie Xuanzhao asked.

“I feel like they’ve completed their mission and are withdrawing. We might be a step too late.” Liu Qinglan looked anxious. “Master might know more. Let’s go find him.”

Huaidan was busy distributing herbs. Seeing that the court had taken over, he breathed a sigh of relief. “The damage already done cannot be undone, but we must salvage what we can. I didn’t even notice when the evil spirits began to dissipate.”

Xie Xuanzhao pondered. “Does the Master know where they went?”

“They likely returned to the one utilizing them.”

The two women locked eyes: Lin Yulang. And Lin Yulang was currently on his way back to the palace.

“Oh no. The Emperor is in danger.” Xie Xuanzhao bit her lip. This Lin Yulang was truly trying to upend the world. Though she and the Emperor were often at odds, the death of a monarch would bring chaos to the entire nation.

“Qinglan, we must return immediately.”

The Emperor’s Folly

On the road back, they met the sister, who reported, “Miss, the evil aura seems to be heading toward the palace.”

“I know. Stay here to supervise. Once the guards finish, return with them,” Xie Xuanzhao ordered before galloping off.

Liu Qinglan, back in her fox form, curled up in Xie Xuanzhao’s arms. She could feel the Empress’s heart racing. She reached out a small paw to pat Xie Xuanzhao’s chest comfortingly.

“The Emperor and I share a clan,” Xie Xuanzhao said softly, stroking the fox’s fur. “His mother was a daughter of the Xie family, my aunt. She died when he was young. Because the late Emperor disliked him, the Xie family moved him out to be raised by his grandfather to avoid the concubines’ schemes. Eventually, with our family’s full support, he took the throne. To consolidate power, I married into the Eastern Palace. Perhaps because of me, he grew suspicious of the Xie family. I grew up with him; I know he isn’t evil at heart, just indecisive and obsessed with beauty. It would be too tragic if he died at the hands of a male favorite.”

Liu Qinglan finally understood the messy history. “He brought me from the forest to deal with you, but he never actually made me do anything truly wicked. He’s more like a mischievous child. I feel a bit bad for taking his kindness and not following through.”

Xie Xuanzhao patted her head. “Silly girl. He used you as a shield, not out of kindness. We will do our best to save him, but you owe him no guilt.”

Meanwhile, the head of the Xie family had spent the previous night urging the Emperor to deal with Lin Yulang. The Emperor had initially resolved to execute him.

However, in a fit of sentimentality, the Emperor summoned Lin Yulang in the middle of the night. Lin Yulang, sensing the killing intent, immediately acted the part of the submissive, weeping at the Emperor’s knees and using his charms to soften the monarch’s heart.

By morning, the Emperor woke up holding the beautiful youth, his murderous intent long gone.

The head of the Xie family watched from his carriage as a glowing Lin Yulang stepped off the Imperial palanquin. He sighed. I underestimated his influence. We must proceed with even more caution.