#741 - Prologue (V)
Half an hour later, in a bright and quiet room.
All extraneous sounds were blocked out, leaving the entire room in silence.
Landscape brocade screen, crystal beaded curtains, bright yellow dragon-patterned cloud brocade drapes, and vermilion-lacquered carved phoenix sandalwood tables and chairs.
The room's furnishings were simple and grand, showcasing the extraordinary taste of its owner in every detail.
In the corner, an incense burner smoldered with half a belly of agarwood, a wisp of faint white smoke slowly emerging from the golden beast's mouth, gently swirling among the three figures.
“This, this gentleman... you must be Young Master Tang.”
She cautiously sized up Tang Chen, weakly breaking the silence.
“This humble one is Tang Chen, greetings, Your Majesty.”
Tang Chen was quite courteous, cupping his hands in a bow, but the black pig with an elephant's trunk was already lying prostrate at his feet, its dark eyes fixed on Xu SuiSui.
Clearly, Tang Chen was not surprised that Xu SuiSui recognized him.
Wei ChangTian was, of course, even less surprised by this. Without further ado, he directly cut to the chase and asked:
“You should have already heard about Chu XianPing's matter, right?”
“...”
Because Tang Chen was present, Wei ChangTian did not use phrases like "already knew".
Xu SuiSui understood his meaning and nodded lightly upon hearing this:
“Yes, I heard about it.”
“Then is this matter related to you?”
Wei ChangTian narrowed his eyes: “Did you undo his puppet poison?”
“Ah?”
Xu SuiSui seemed not to have expected Wei ChangTian to ask such a question. She was first stunned, then quickly shook her head in denial:
“No, no! It wasn't me!”
“It wasn't you?”
Wei ChangTian's tone became even colder: “Then how did you know about Chu XianPing's betrayal?”
“It, it's the Freemasons' affair!”
Xu SuiSui hurriedly explained: “A few days ago, the Freemasons made such a big commotion, Senior Qin analyzed that it must be Chu XianPing who had rebelled.”
“At, at that time, I didn't believe it. It wasn't until later when I heard that even Song Li had been captured by you that I felt this matter might be true.”
“Wei ChangTian, can't you trust me for once?!”
“Trust you?”
Wei ChangTian curled his lip, ignoring Xu SuiSui's flushed face, and instead turned to look at Tang Chen.
The latter quickly nodded slightly, which made his expression soften somewhat.
It seemed that Chu XianPing's betrayal really had nothing to do with Xu SuiSui.
Then the fact that the former could undo the poison was likely not due to the "Jade Dew Powder", but rather the puppet pill he himself had given.
Having finally figured out how Chu XianPing undid the puppet pill, Wei ChangTian did not feel the slightest bit relieved.
Because if that was the case, then Chu XianPing's purpose became even more difficult to fathom...
“You really didn't know anything at all?”
Wei ChangTian asked again, unwilling to give up, but Xu SuiSui on the opposite side glared at him with puffed cheeks, stubbornly refusing to say a word.
She didn't seem to be pretending, and was probably genuinely aggrieved.
Seeing this, Wei ChangTian didn't say anything more, but helplessly shook his head.
Since it had no direct connection with Xu SuiSui, then he could only seek a breakthrough from the second direction.
After all, she and Chu XianPing still had one intersection, and that was... the Kui Dragon Elders Council.
“The Azure Platform Elder's token is indeed in your hands, right?”
Speaking again, Wei ChangTian's question was extremely abrupt, causing Xu SuiSui to take a long time to react.
“Yes.”
She lowered her head somewhat guiltily, her fingers subconsciously twisting together, looking completely like she had done something wrong.
“Yes, I stole it.”
“Then what exactly do you want to do?”
Wei ChangTian frowned and asked again: “How many Elders Council meetings have been held recently?”
“Huh? Why are you asking...”
Xu SuiSui suddenly widened her eyes halfway through her sentence, almost jumping up from her seat: “The Black Platform Elder isn't you!”
“Did you give the Black Platform Elder's token to Chu XianPing?!”
“...”
Looking at the agitated Xu SuiSui, Wei ChangTian didn't say yes or no, which was considered an admission.
Xu SuiSui was stunned as if struck by lightning, her face gradually turning from red to white.
Clearly, there must be some big secrets hidden within the Kui Dragon Elders Council, possibly greatly related to Chu XianPing's betrayal.
“Young Master Tang, please leave first.”
Waving his hand at Tang Chen, whose face was full of doubt, Wei ChangTian felt that the fewer people who knew about what he and Xu SuiSui were about to discuss, the better.
“Yes.”
After hesitating for a moment, Tang Chen quickly got up and walked out of the quiet room.
Only after he had left for a good dozens of breaths did Wei ChangTian look at Xu SuiSui, who had been trembling slightly, and slowly said:
“No matter what happened before, or what you think you did wrong, there's no point in regretting it now.”
“Now that Tang Chen has left, I will ask, and you will answer.”
“Aren't you always complaining that I don't trust you?”
“Okay, then tonight, no matter what you say, I will believe you.”
“No matter what is about to happen, we will think of a solution together. I think we can always solve it.”
“Is that okay?”
“...”
The agarwood smoke curled, Wei ChangTian's voice was not loud, but it hit Xu SuiSui's heart like a heavy hammer.
She looked at Wei ChangTian on the opposite side with red eyes, remembering the day she was diagnosed with cancer in her previous life, when a man comforted her in the same way.
Niangniang, no matter what illness you have, we will definitely be able to cure it.
“...”
Her nose tingled, and Xu SuiSui suddenly felt useless, but at this moment, a glimmer of hope emerged in her heart.
“Yes.”
Slowly wiping away the tears on her face, she suddenly smiled brightly.
“Comrade Wei! Ask away!”
Great Hui Dynasty, North Zhong Mountain.
Compared to the New Feng Imperial Palace, where the atmosphere suddenly changed from suppressed to relaxed, this high mountain, where the "Dragon Chan Temple", one of the thirty-six famous Buddhist temples, was located, remained in a state of solemnity.
Since the Dragon Chan Temple was located within the Great Hui territory, it was naturally impossible for it to send people to help New Feng in this war.
However, even so, since the start of the war, the entire North Zhong Mountain had been taken over by the Great Hui army.
Especially the back mountain, which was usually deserted, was surrounded by countless guards, making it impossible for even a fly to enter.
As for what these people were guarding...
“Huff!”
At Hai hour and a quarter, more than a dozen people suddenly emerged from a cave hidden in the deep forest.
Most of these people were dressed in black, with only one wearing a gray robe.
They did not speak after leaving the cave, and after walking along the mountain road for a while, they soon encountered a team of guard soldiers.
“Let them through!”
“Quick, let them through!”
The guard leader hurriedly ordered his men to make way after seeing a token handed over by a man in black.
This scene was repeated three or four times, and these dozen people finally made their way down the mountain.
At the foot of the mountain, a carriage had been waiting for a long time.
“Hahaha! Young Master Chu!”
Amidst loud laughter, a man in plain clothes quickly walked up to Chu XianPing, his expression very enthusiastic.
Chu XianPing also smiled and cupped his hands at him.
“Commoner Chu XianPing.”
“Greetings, King Hui.”
ps: One chapter today, one chapter tomorrow, consider it taking a day off to rest. Xu SuiSui's previous mysterious operations will be mostly revealed next, so I need to sort out the logic again.
