What an Audacious and Sly Servant! Chapter 84

Return of Senior Official Song.

Chapter 84 – Unexpected Guest

Translated by HaruOngy at Geniusly Plain (If you can see this line, you must have read this in the aggregator site which illegally steal various works. Be shameful of yourself for not appreciating the translator's hard work. Don't think only you want to have it the easy way. Support the fanbase and translator!)

Chu Xun had ordered Little General Di to investigate Bai Qiu Qu.

After the court ended, Little General Di actually invited Senior Official Song to come out.

Normally, with Chu Xun as the Emperor, Senior Official Song as the Emperor's teacher would be a famous great personage. Yet, Senior Official Song quit as the Grand Tutor soon after Chu Xun became the Emperor. Now, he worked sinecure in the Hanlin Academy[1], basking in the sun while chatting idly with the scholars. Chu Xun really believed that Senior Official Song was a very unreliable person. Senior Official Song said too, "Little Deng is not around anymore. Merely facing the Emperor and the mountain of government affairs, laofu really feels it's meaningless. Laofu still want to live a few more years."

Senior Official Song didn't become older in these few years. It was just his white beard became much longer, appearing like he would probably be able to live long to a hundred years. That throat of his was still loud and clear, his energetic shout could be heard from afar, "Eiyo, Your Majesty, it's been a long time since we last met!"

At once, when Chu Xun saw Senior Official Song, he was not in a happy mood.

"What wind blows Senior Official to here? Are you done tidying up the books in the Hanlin Academy?"

"Laofu seems to have smell Little Deng so laofu comes here to look around."

The Emperor rolled his eyes, "Senior Official is not a dog. Your nose can never be this sharp. Plus, Qian Deng doesn't have much relationship with you right now. You're not the Grand Tutor anymore and she's not the study partner. There is no need for Senior Official to worry."

Senior Official Song grinned mischievously, "Don't Your Majesty want to know the truth about the poison Little Deng got?"

"You know?"

"Laofu naturally knows else laofu will not come here to court a rebuff!"

Chu Xun swore in his heart. He then changed his face instantly, went over to pull Senior Official Song's arms and put on a genial expression, "Haha, zhen has not meet Senior Official for so long now. Zhen miss you so much. Let's go, to zhen's place and have a seat there. We will drink tea while going over our old days. Recently, Qian Wan San had brought back several chests of new, interesting things from overseas. He had offered all of them. Senior Official, have a look. Zhen guarantees they suit your taste."

Senior Official Song was not anxious of seeing Mei Qian Deng. Hence, he said some serious matters with Chu Xun and Little General Di in a small study room.

According to Senior Official Song, this matter had to refer back to the Splendid Sound Sect that once famous for a time.

"How is this related to Splendid Sound Sect?" Chu Xun couldn't understand. He had almost forgot what Splendid Sound Sect was. Only when he saw Senior Official Song's face that he remembered that lantern girl. Only then he remembered that small impression.

Senior Official Song waved his hand with a ** expression. "Back then when Prince Chen wanted to revolt against the late Emperor, who did he seek for help?"

Of course it was the Sect Master of Splendid Sound Sect.

Chu Xun naturally remembered. But, Chu Xun felt even more depressed. Zhen had already believed Imperial Uncle's words, believed that this assassination was not done by Imperial Uncle. Yet, why is it that it got pushed to Imperial Uncle's head again?! (Prince Chen: That is why this Prince said I am someone with attracting evil constitution!)

Senior Official Song could see Chu Xun's thoughts too, "Your Majesty, please listen to laofu first. Don't place the blame on Prince Chen's head this fast. He really had done nothing this time."

The relationship between Prince Chen and the Splendid Sound Sect, the main point is it's not related with the Sect Master. That Sect Master is busy with his own issues and have no free time to keep working with a prince. The logic of those weird heretic personages had, no normal people can ever understand. That Bai Qiu Qu who worked for Prince Chen is actually one of the Splendid Sound Sect Master's people."

That time due to the crime of Qing Feng Ming Yue Brothel ill-treating the women, doing illegal deeds and even smuggling a gunnysack, Bai Qiu Qu had been demoted into a commoner. The people chasing for his life were so many they nearly fought each other. Later, Bai Qiu Qu could still escape those people and disappeared without any traces. It must be because he had hid inside the Splendid Sound Sect, receiving that Sect Master's protection.

Listening to it, although that Sect Master was cold-blooded, didn't care of unrelated people's life, he was still quite protective of his own people.

"So the person wanted to assassinate zhen is actually……that heretic sect?" Chu Xun thought back of Senior Official Song's words and conjured a more acceptable conclusion. It was after all, a heretic sect. Would they still need reason for wanting to kill someone? Even though Chu Xun really felt there was no connection at all between Chu family and this heretic sect from jianghu. If they wanted to kill, shouldn't they be killing the Alliance Leader's whole family first?

Senior Official Song waved his hand again. This matter had caused the wrinkles on his face increased. "That Sect Master, that otherworldly person who is so old already, why would he join this sort of boring matter? Just because Bai Qiu Qu holds grudge about his divorce with the Grand Princess, he will naturally take it out on the entire imperial family. He wants to see Your Majesty had an internal fight with Prince Chen, causing the whole imperial court in chaos."

This was nearly similar to Chu Xun's idea.

"Then, Qian Deng's poison?" If it was Bai Qiu Qu, he shouldn't be using such a light poison. No matter what, he should be using one at the level like those Blood Ant and One into Half Prince Chen said.

Without waiting for Senior Official Song's reply, another voice said, "That dagger that attacked your little wife had been secretly changed by me. Else, your little wife had long died."

Bai Qiu Qu didn't want to be the Emperor. He only wanted to revenge the Chu family's people. The poison originally smeared on that person who disguised as Xiao Jing Zi's dagger was the extremely poisonous one. Bai Qiu Qu's idea was very simple. First, kill Chu Xun. The imperial court would surely be in chaos. Then, he would push the blame to Prince Chen. With a group of people denouncing Prince Chen, not being pulled by others to be beheaded was already good enough. He surely couldn't be the Emperor. Then, the one who became the Emperor didn't matter to him as long as he could kill this menacing prince.

Chu Xun was greatly shocked by that voice. His next reaction was——

There is another assassin?!

Only to see that little abbess from the Ru Nunnery jumped down from the ceiling with an indifferent face.

This little abbess' martial arts were too amazing. Chu Xun pointed at her in panic, "Who are you, how did you enter here?!"

Mo Biao the shadow guard was initially on guard at the rooftop. Hearing the abnormality in the room, she immediately stamped with her whole strength downwards. She forcibly stamped a hole through the roof. From the falling roof tiles, she jumped down and guarded in front of Chu Xun, "Your Majesty!"

Both Senior Official Song's hands were covering his whole old face. He really couldn't bear to look straight at her. This demon girl had really followed him here.

"Me? I'm the lantern girl." When the little abbess talking, her fingers as usual were playing with her own hair.

Chu Xun retreated half a step. He carefully looked at that girl. Next, he looked at Senior Official Song in shock, "Your granddaughter? Granddaughter[2]?"

Senior Official Song hastily stomped his feet, "No!!! She's the lantern girl!!!"

"The one who cursed you single forever……?"

Senior Official Song teared up while fiercely nodding his head.

"……that person's granddaughter? Granddaughter?"

"The person."

"Ah??" Chu Xun was stupefied. He had once imagined this grandma only from Senior Official Song's words. No matter what, she should at least been sixty or seventy years old. Even if she took excellent care, she shouldn't be appearing like a virgin, unmarried girl. It must be him hearing it wrong somewhere.

The lantern girl calmly said, "I'm exactly that lantern girl from heretic sect who cursed him."

Is she really a demon?!

He was so surprised that Chu Xun stuttered, "T-then, how o-old are you?"

"Should be seventy-seven."

"……" Chu Xun felt his previous twenty years were for nothing.

"I'm not coming here today to discuss how to maintain youthful appearance with you all!" The lantern girl didn't think much of the Emperor. She naturally sat on the main seat and even poured herself a cup of tea to drink. "I'm here to do a business with you."

Last time, she wanted to look for Senior Official Song to work for her but that old obstinate one wouldn't move no matter what. According to Senior Official Song's words: Laofu is already someone sitting inside the coffin already. You want to help me push a bit is fine. But, laofu will surely not do anything that will let down His Majesty. Enduring for this long already, I can't just throw away those meritorious deeds and leave behind a bad reputation before I die.

The little abbess was a very smart person. Since Senior Official Song's side couldn't be used, she could just turn to a much better one.

The more Chu Xun heard, the more muddled he was, "You want to do a trade with zhen??"

"En." The little abbess' mood rose up. Her answer was a natural one. It was that type of dominating self-confidence that you would surely do the business with me.

Chu Xun's mouth twitched. However, this little abbess was too fantastic. He could only bear patiently, "Daring to ask, what sort of business you want to do with zhen?"

"The northern black pearls."

"Ei?"

Senior Official Song mindfully interrupted, "Your Majesty, it's the saltpetre."

"You guys want to make explosives?!" Chu Xun was greatly shocked.

The little abbess rolled her eyes, "Why would I want explosives for, to explode the mountains!"

"Then, why you want the saltpetre?"

"Our Sect Master use it to practise."

"How much saltpetre your Sect Master need to use to practise? How come zhen never hear there are people need saltpetre when practising……" Chu Xun still couldn't dare to believe this.

The little abbess' temper had never been a good one. At first, her fingers were playing with her hair. Now that she got asked by Chu Xun this questioning baby who asked so many stupid questions, she fiercely stood up from the chair, "I heard you're in need of money recently. A million gold liang for fifty dan[3] of northern black pearls."

"Zhen is still not as bad as……"

"Our Sect Master had been annoyed by Bai Qiu Qu. Do you want to bring people to deal with him?"

"Ah!"

"You still have yet to catch that little wife right? I have an idea, do you want to hear it?"

Chu Xun really wanted, really wanted to chase away this demon girl. He gritted his teeth, "Two million gold liang."

"Fine, but you have to send people to make a detour from the northern nomadic tribe's place to the Cang Wu Prefecture near the Lin Xian Mountain[4]'s back and send them to the foot of the mountain."

Chu Xun was susceptible, "Let zhen to send the saltpetre to another country?! This is helping others' might!" He couldn't help but to suspect this little abbess had ulterior motives.

Little General Di too chimed in, "That year, this general was the one who found out Prince Chen had smuggled saltpetre and salt at those nomadic tribes' warehouses."

Prince Chen had long ganged up with the Splendid Sound Sect Master. If it wasn't for Di Mu Yang finding out this matter at that time, the late Emperor wouldn't be anxious to eradicate Prince Chen.

The little abbess was furious, "You guys better not blame innocent people. Our Sect Master at that time only helped Prince Chen to monopolise wealth by selling the smuggled salt. The saltern area usually have northern black pearls too. Sect Master used this as an exchange. To make a detour through the northern border, that is because you can't send them up at all from the front side of the Lin Xian Mountain! Prince Chen got imprisoned in the Cold Palace, no one send Sect Master the northern black pearls. His power halted unable to advance so he had no choice but to come to you to do a business."

Saying so, did they really wrong Prince Chen that year?

The little abbess understood quite a lot of Prince Chen as she continued scolding, "Plus, talking about those group of idiot nomadic tribes, just gifting them some broadswords as thanks for giving us a route and they already hastily rushed over to fight with you all. If with this level of intelligence they could still make gunpowder, they had long blew up your city walls."

The other three people had no way to retort.

"Eiya, just say it whether you will do this business or not. If you're not doing, I'm leaving." The little abbess hated explaining to others the most. Heretic sect members usually didn't like to do good deeds for others, bad temper and extremely conceited.

Chu Xun with the teaching of respecting the elders, didn't argue with the little abbess. He pondered and said, "First, tie Bai Qiu Qu up and send him to zhen. Only then we'll discuss further about the saltpetre business."

A gush of wind passed and the little abbess had disappeared.

Chu Xun, "……"

Chu Xun looked at Senior Official Song and used his eyes to ask: What does she mean by this?

Senior Official Song dryly laughed, "Please don't be angry, Your Majesty. She is this bad-tempered. She didn't say she disagree so it means she had agreed. Probably in two days, she will tie up that person and bring him to you. She's not actually that bad. She even told laofu that she saved Little Deng because she saw Little Deng pleasing. Furthermore, if Little Deng died, Your Majesty may cry to death."

Why did Chu Xun feel the more Senior Official Song tried to touch up, the much worst it turned into?

Talking for half a day, Chu Xun particularly wanted to see female warrior Mei who had escaped death.

Thankfully she was fine.

Thinking like this, the next time he saw that little abbess, he should thank her for her passing help of saving her life.

Chu Xun had just reached the door when he suddenly remembered a very long time ago issue. He turned his head and asked Senior Official Song, "That year, the remaining two lands the founding Emperor sold out never reclaimed back, one is the Mei Zi River Islet which had been reclaimed now. The other last piece of land……is it the Lin Xian Mountain?!"

"Lin Xian Mountain is a strategic location with difficult access. It is a sealed mountain pass due to a whole year of snow and ice. It's considered by the locals as a holy mountain. No one can reside in there at all. It's also because of unable to find the descendants of that land owner, it had long been considered as a place under the local authorities' management. Never thought the lair of the Splendid Sound Sect is on the Lin Xian Mountain."

"Is it possible that Sect Master has the land deed?"

"This……"

"How is that Sect Master sacred?" Chu Xun rubbed his chin. Hello, Splendid Sound Sect Master. You have successfully aroused zhen's attention.

[1] An elite academic institution. Previously translated as Imperial Hanlin Academy.

[2] The second granddaughter term is actually referring to the granddaughter of different surname. Can be granddaughter from the maternal side or sister's daughter.

[3] A Chinese volume unit, approximately 100 litres for 1 dan.

[4] Literally, Mountain of Immortals Arriving

Chapter end

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