Demoness, where are you Fleeing to?
Chapter 438 - 353: Obediently Following Wangfu’s Order_1

Chapter 438: Chapter 353: Obediently Following Wangfu’s Order_1

On the early morning of the 19th of the twelfth lunar month, Yu Hongchang, who had just completed her daily routines at Hualong Pool, received a talisman paper from Li Xuan.

This struck her as odd, as she thought to herself, hadn’t Xuan just sent a letter three days ago? Why did he send a talisman paper so quickly?

After Li Xuan went north, he would send her a talisman paper every five days, describing his encounters in the Capital City and expressing his longing for her.

Even though these talisman papers had to go through at least twelve relay stations from Beijing to Longhu Mountain, each one costing thousands of patterned silver, Li Xuan persisted without interruption.

This was now what Yu Hongchang looked forward to the most. Thus, every fifth day in the late evening, she would pause her cultivation, eagerly watching the sky.

After a moment of bewilderment, Yu Hongchang couldn’t wait to open the talisman paper.

"Hongchang, it’s been a while. I hope you are doing well? The cold weather is getting worse, take care."

"— I mentioned to you before, after dealing with the Demon Qilin incident, I have now tentatively found my footing. However, the deputy Venerable seems to have some intention of making things difficult by increasing the workload for the Shenyi Department."

The format of the letter was the same as usual. After a brief greeting from Li Xuan and an overview of the situation in the Capital City, came words that made Yu Hongchang’s cheeks burn with embarrassment and affection.

"— I woke up from meditation today feeling somewhat melancholic. I’d gotten used to your presence in Nanjing City and still find it uncomfortable without you. The ancients said a day apart feels like three years, I always thought it was an exaggeration.

"Now every time I wake up, I’m reminded of the song ’Wang Feng·Cai Ge’ from the Book of Songs. I miss you more each day without you, every day is torture. A day with you was worth more than three years now."

At this moment, Yu Hongchang couldn’t describe the sweetness in her heart, but then she saw that Li Xuan’s words took a turn, as he started talking about something else.

"Shenqi Union?"

After Yu Hongchang finished the paper, her eyes flashed with a sharp light. She called her maid over.

"Inform the Steward and the twelve palace supervisors, as well as the four departments and eight offices, to halt all purchases related to the Shenqi Union from today onwards! Use urgent flight talismans, don’t skimp on the money."

The maid was taken aback, worriedly said, "I can deliver your order, Princess, but the people below may not listen. Shenqi Union has a wide network of connections."

"I don’t care about that!"

Yu Hongchang looked at her coldly, her words leaving no room for dispute: "When I say stop, I mean stop, unless they want out. Keep an eye on them, anyone disobeying will be sent to guard the tombs in Fengyang of the central capital."

The maid immediately wore a stern expression: "I will obey the princess’s orders!"

If it had been any ordinary princess, she would not have been capable of carrying this out - the palace eunuchs with slightly higher status would not even consider them.

But the one in front of her was the crowned Princess by the Emperor and currently held a heavenly level status, her authority and power were extraordinary.

Yu Hongchang then spoke in a chilly voice: "Also, all tributes given by Shenqi Union must be increased! You’ll decide on the specifics, just ensure the Court can’t catch any faults. The more, the better."

The maid’s pupils narrowed slightly, she thought, this princess is planning to push Shenqi Union to desperation!

’Tributes,’ to those businesses, were a double-edged sword. They could promote their goods with it, but it also meant they would bear substantial yearly costs.

When Wang Zhen was still around, merely increasing Jingdezhen’s tributes by half, led to numerous craftsmen’s bankruptcy.

"Yes!" The maid bowed: "I will not disappoint the princess."

"Also, find out why Xuan is clashing with Shenqi Union?"

Holding the talisman paper, Yu Hongchang looked worried.

Previously, when Li Xuan moved in and out of the Capital City, word had spread that he had had an affair with the concubine of imperial uncle, Sun Jizong. At the time, she was unable to sit tight anymore, ignoring her Yin-yang Counterflow affliction she had wanted to rush back to the Capital City.

Although it later proved that the imperial uncle had set him up, in the end, Xuan was still entangled with his daughter, Sun Chu Yun.

The greatest pain for her after falling in love with Li Xuan was this. That man appeared to be a strong and healthy stallion who constantly attracted other mares’ attention, causing them to approach shamelessly.

Thinking about this, Yu Hongchang couldn’t help but sigh, she needed to return to the Capital City as soon as possible.

At the same time, Xue Yunrou was also viewing a talisman paper. Her face was also flushed, but after she put down the paper, she couldn’t help but ’tch’.

"The matter with that Sun Chu Yun is not yet clear. Now he’s clashing with Shenqi Union because of Leng Yurou, that heartless lothario—"

Unlike Yu Hongchang who was confined to Hualong Pool, Xue Yunrou, who was gradually taking control of the Heavenly Master’s Mansion, had more timely and detailed information.

But still, she cherished the talisman paper and tucked it back into her sleeve with care. She thought to herself, how does that guy, Li Xuan, know how to coax women so well?

Thinking of Li Xuan’s words in the letter, phrases like ’I suddenly fear growing old, fear death, fear the unexpected. If one day I am no longer by your side, who will protect you? Who will accompany you through the fleeting years of your life?’

And also ’Whether you are by my side or at the ends of the earth, knowing that you exist in some corner of the world makes the entire world feel gentler and more stable.’

After reading this, Xue Yunrou very much wanted to open up Li Xuan’s head to see exactly how he came up with such sweet and tender words?

Xue Yunrou managed to suppress the ripples in her heart, then she shook the silver bell in her hand.

Not long after, an elderly Taoist appeared before her.

"Senior Brother, no need to be so formal." Xue Yunrou lifted him up with her mana, her smile delightful: "The reason I called you over is that I wanted to know, how much business do we have with the Shenqi Union?"

"Approximately 1.4 million taels of patterned silver," the elderly Taoist replied respectfully. "Just this year, we have purchased goods worth 470,000 taels of patterned silver from them, while they have procured talismans worth about 960,000 taels of patterned silver from us."

"From tomorrow on, stop it all. Stop buying and selling."

Xue Yunrou’s voice was gentle, but left no room for doubt: "As far as I know, we can get the things that Shenqi Union sells from Mo, right?"

"That is—"

The Taoist hesitated: "Indeed, Mo does have all of the hidden weapons that Shenqi Union deals in, but they are not accepted by the court, and everything is one or two percent more expensive than the market price."

"But we must stop no matter what!"

Xue Yunrou looked seriously at the elderly Taoist: "On the day when Zhang Guanlan used those five Yunzhong warships, he used so many ’Rainstorm Pear Blossom Needles’ and injured hundreds of our disciples. The Shenqi Union has never given us an explanation. This conflict between the Earl Chengyi’s mansion and the Shenqi Union is a great opportunity and we can take advantage of it."

The Taoist said solemnly upon hearing this: "Understood!"

"Also, I heard that many disciples of our Zhengyi Sect are employed by the Shenqi Union to help them engrave runes and arrays and produce mechanisms, right?"

Xue Yunrou, back turned, walked out onto the veranda, her gaze coldly piercing the sea of clouds ahead: "Call all of them back, and also, notify all the components of the Quanzhen Sect. If they want to receive the Tao token granted by the court from the Tianshi Mansion next year, it’s best they stay in step with us. I want to start from now, the Shenqi Union can’t produce any hidden weapons carrying runes."

※※ ※※

Also on the nineteenth of the twelfth lunar month, in the early morning as the heavy snow was falling, Dou Hongxi, the young lord of the Shenqi Union’s Qingyang Castle, came to the dock of Taiping Mansion, cheerfully giving his own fleet a send-off.

Today, three of his boats would go to Chuancheng in Yangzhou, delivering some of this year’s hidden weapon output from Qingyang Castle, along with some privately made bows, crossbows, and firearms. Then they would buy a lot of privately produced salt, iron bars, and spices to bring back—

This was expected to bring at least 70,000 taels of profit to Qingyang Castle, if the timing was good, the income could reach more than 120,000 taels, and it can be said that all people of Qingyang Castle had high hopes for it.

Under Dou Hongxi’s expectant gaze, the three boats slowly moved away from the shore and hoisted the sail to go downstream. But at that moment, his face froze as he saw several official speedboats carrying the military flag coming at full speed from upstream.

"What’s happening? Military boats from the court?"

"They’re so fast! Look at the boat, the cannons and crossbows are all ready, their intentions don’t seem good."

"Young Master, have they pulled out their weapons?"

The many disciples of Qingyang Castle behind Dou Hongxi all showed panic.

Dou Hongxi was first confused, but then his face changed, remembering something recent.

Could it be, Earl Chengyi? For a maid, Earl Chengyi would really dare to go to war with the entire Shenqi Union? Have they gone crazy?

Didn’t his father say that Earl Chengyi didn’t have that kind of nerve?

"There’s no need to panic." Dou Hongxi said, trying to calm himself: "Our boats are specially made speedboats, they are not something those military boats from the court can compare with."

——But the real problem was, Earl Chengyi controlled the Yangtze River naval forces, and since they had already decided to make their move against the Shenqi Union, they could perhaps dodge this hurdle, but not the next one.

The key was to shake off these military boats as quickly as possible and get the goods back on shore to avoid being caught by Earl Chengyi with the evidence of Qingyang Castle smuggling weapons.

But just at that moment, Dou Hongxi saw a huge blue dragon suddenly soar up from the water. It soared in the clouds, and with just a flick of its dragon tail, it shattered the masts of the three boats.

This huge dragon then hovered in mid-air, staring with its lantern-sized eyes at the direction of the docks.

"By the command of the Noble Lord Immortal Master Shuide, all ships and cargos of the Shenqi Union shall not navigate the waters of the Yellow River and the Yangtze River starting today!"

The voicing was thunderous, and the image of the blue dragon then dissipated,

Everyone on the dock, Dou Hongxi included, turned deathly pale.