The warm season had passed, and spring was in full swing. It was just the right time to rest.
During these days, not to mention the Imperial court's Yamen, official and private libraries, even the theater's business was much worse.
For some reason, State Duke Lu, who was known for his laziness in governing, suddenly became diligent. Though he didn't do anything serious and merely drank tea while sitting in the chair, he hadn't asked for sick leave for dozens of days, which surprised his colleagues in the imperial court and his subordinates at Taichang Temple.
Seeing his figure walking out of the Yamen under the spring sun, the officials of Taichang Temple felt that everything had returned to normal.
Duke Lu waved his hand to dismiss the officials who were seeing him off. He glanced at Jing Shang who was standing inconspicuously outside the crowd and thought for a while. He did not ask him to come forward and speak.
After getting into the car, he took out a crystal from the drawer and held it in his hand. He used the spiritual energy to restore his spirit and calm his mind at the same time. He then asked, "Are you sure it's broken?"
The steward of the Public House was outside the car, so he was not the person he was asking about.
Duke Lu was asking about a blind man sitting in the car.
The blind man had white hair and was dressed in plain clothes. He was old but very energetic.
The old man was Duke Lu's bodyguard when he was serving in the north. After he was injured, he was taken into the Public House by the Duke and accepted this boring but important job.
"I heard it clearly. It was the blue and white porcelain cup that was broken."
Duke Lu would not allow anyone to stay in that room for a long time. He had to be prepared at all times, so this blind old soldier was the best candidate.
In the Public House, this old soldier was responsible for raising birds on the surface. He lived very close to the inner court, so no one knew that his real task was actually to listen to bowls.
…
…
Duke Lu came to the Jing House through the tunnel. He looked up and saw Gu Qing, who was covered in dust.
As a sword cultivator, he gave off a feeling of being covered in dust. It was easy to imagine that he came in a hurry.
However, Duke Lu was not satisfied and said, "How many days has it been?"
It was obvious that he thought Gu Qing came too late.
Gu Qing was also helpless. He was not a second-generation teacher like Zhao Layue and Jing Jiu. If he wanted to leave Aoyama, he had to submit an application and get approval.
Though Aoyama didn't investigate this matter strictly, and Jing Jiu could leave secretly like Duan Liantian on Shangde Peak and Jian Rushan on Liangwang Peak, his destination was Zhaoge City. Jing Jiu mentioned in the letter that he might stay in the Royal Palace on this trip, so it was impossible to hide it from others.
No matter how isolated Shenmo Peak was, it still had to go through this process. Otherwise, it would be too disrespectful to the other peaks.
Unexpectedly, the masters of the peaks, who usually didn't care about this kind of thing, took it very seriously this time. Whether they agreed to let Gu Qing go to Zhaoge City or not, caused a heated argument. It wasn't until one night that Zhao Layue came out from her manor cave behind closed doors and heard of the matter that she asked Yuan Qu to go to Zhaoge City. Gu Qing didn't get the permission until the next day.
As a result, time was delayed a lot. By the time Jing Jiu arrived in Zhaoge City, it had already been raining a few times.
Gu Qing explained the reason and asked Duke Lu about the real purpose of his trip.
Jing Jiu had mentioned it vaguely in the letter. Jing Jiu had guessed it, but he wasn't sure.
Hearing Duke Lu's words, Gu Qing thought for a while and asked, "Can I enter the Royal Palace at night?"
Jing Jiu could sense Duke Lu's anxiety and urgency.
The spring sun had already set. The begonia trees in the courtyard were shedding their petals, making them look like countless flames under the twilight.
Duke Lu said after some thought, "You should have a good rest first. You don't have to wait until tonight."
Jing Jiu was indeed anxious. It was because the dispute between the Aoyama Sect indicated that the Aoyama Sect didn't have the same opinion about what the Shenmo Peak intended to do.
If the Aoyama Sect chose to stay out of it, how would the arrangement of Jing Jiu be carried out?
As for what Jing Jiu was doing in the Fiend Prison at the moment and whether he had encountered any danger, Duke Lu didn't even dare think about it.
The second day after Jing Jiu entered the Fiend Prison, Duke Lu had ascertained that Jing Jiu had escaped from the cell. Where was he now?
…
…
The starlight shone in through the window.
Gu Qing sat cross-legged on the ground, cultivating with his eyes closed. But he was worried about his Master's safety and thought about what would happen after he entered the Royal Palace the next day, so his Dao Heart couldn't stay calm.
He stood up and walked to the table. He looked at the famous chess game, but found he couldn't understand it no matter how hard he tried. All he could do was walk to the window and look at the night sky.
The meowing of a cat could be heard from somewhere in the night sky.
The meowing of the cat was neither shrill nor unpleasant, so it shouldn't be the cat in heat.
A white cat appeared on the windowsill like a ghost.
Feeling startled, Gu Qing bowed hastily, "Greetings, Master White Ghost."
Ada didn't leave with his Master. This was beyond his expectation, and it made Jing Jiu even more worried.
The white cat lifted his head and glanced at Jing Jiu arrogantly, indicating that there was no need for Jing Jiu to be afraid since he was here.
Of course, he didn't know that Gu Qing didn't know what Jing Jiu was going to do. It was because he thought that Jing Jiu had brought him along on this trip that he felt uneasy.
Gu Qing saw the white cat off with his eyes.
Having lived with him on the Shenmo Peak for a long time, Jing Jiu didn't fear this cat as much as he did at the beginning, but he still had to show the necessary courtesy.
The white cat disappeared in the backyard of the Jing House. As Jing Jiu was about to turn around, he saw the nephew of his Master sneaking to the foot of the courtyard wall, feeling puzzled.
The name of the boy was Jing Li.
Perhaps Jing Jiu didn't know it himself, but Gu Qing did. It was because Jing Jiu had to take care of all the affairs of his Master, including his relatives in the mortal world.
Jing Jiu followed Jing Jiu after some thought.
As he arrived at the backyard of the Jing House and saw the scene in front of him, Jing Jiu felt startled.
Jing Li was looking for something in the garden, yelling in a low voice, "Mimi, mimi, where are you?"
A white cat walked out from the haystack slowly, looking at Jing Jiu with a disgusted expression.
This white cat was none other than that white cat.
Seeing the cat, Jing Jiu was so happy that he almost jumped up, exclaiming, "I thought you had left."
The white cat meowed once perfunctorily, indicating that he wouldn't leave for the time being.
Jing Jiu approached him and stroked the white cat's head gingerly, saying, "Let's play …"
Upon hearing this, the white cat's eyes beamed. He reached out his right paw and pulled out a pair of dominoes from the haystack, pushing them to Jing Jiu.
He suddenly thought of something and turned to look at a shadowy spot in the backyard, his eyes as sharp as a sword.
Gu Qing came back to his senses after the initial shock. He looked at the sky hastily to indicate that he hadn't seen anything, and then left noiselessly after calming himself down.
…
…
In the early morning the next day, Gu Qing followed Duke Lu to the Royal Palace.
Jing Jiu's intention was quite clear; they had no need to conceal it from others, and they even appeared before the court meeting on purpose.
The figures of Duke Lu and Gu Qing were seen by all the princes and chancellors.
The news that the immortal masters of Aoyama had entered the Royal Palace had spread throughout Zhaoge City.
Later, there was another piece of news: that immortal master would become the teacher of the second prince.
The identity and background of Gu Qing had been ascertained soon after.
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