Chapter 968 - 968 968 Seeking Help
Chapter 968: Chapter 968 Seeking Help Chapter 968: Chapter 968 Seeking Help Another little maid said, “If it’s really a massacre, why haven’t they come to kill us here? In my opinion, it certainly is not the case. The Imperial Envoy wouldn’t do such a thing without reason.”
“Who says there’s no reason? It is said that the Lord Imperial Envoy suspects that rebel remnants have entered the city, so that’s why he started the massacre…”
The chirping and fragmentary voices of the two little maids slowly drew Liu Sisi’s mind back.
She never thought she would hear news about him while staying here.
Didn’t they say he could only stay in Wanzhou City for seven days? Why is he still lingering here? Isn’t he worried about defying the Imperial Decree?
She stretched out her hand and touched the poison sores on her face. The sores, after Young Master Wuxin’s meddling, showed no signs of getting better; on the contrary, there were indications that they were spreading further. Each sore was beginning to fester, with a faint sense of being uncontrollable.
She sighed deeply! May everyone be safe!
The other little maid kept talking: “It’s such a pity. The stories told in the teahouse recently were quite enjoyable, but now we probably won’t be able to hear them anymore.”
“You actually have time to listen to such stories? Aren’t you afraid the Young Master will blame you? By the way, what play did you hear?”
“What’s there to fear? I signed an open contract. As long as the work is done, the Master won’t care about our comings and goings.”
The little maid was clearly delighted: “The stories from the teahouse are very well told, especially the one about the Imperial Envoy and a petty person who dreams of soaring to high branches. It has been told that ‘Xing Pan’er’ is not really Xing Ping’s younger sister, and even suggests that the entire affair is actually a strategy orchestrated by the Imperial Envoy…”
Liu Sisi’s heart suddenly thudded violently several times, and she found herself struggling to keep composed.
Seeing that the maid was about to leave, she hurriedly approached and called out to her, “Wait! Do you still remember the story you were just talking about?”
“Miss, are you asking about a story?” It was clear that the little maid was not faint-hearted.
Liu Sisi realized she had been flustered: “The one you just mentioned, about the Imperial Envoy, did you make that up yourself?”
“Miss, all the major teahouses are talking about stories concerning the Lord Imperial Envoy. How could a slave make up such things? If the Miss doesn’t believe it, I can recount it in detail.”
This little maid turned out to be quite talkative and quickly recited the story she had heard.
Meanwhile, Old He walked out of a carriage in a hurry, strode straight to the entrance of a large manor, and then gently knocked on the room door.
Not a while later, the courtyard echoed with the sound of rapid footsteps.
After lingering at the main entrance for a while, and after seeing Old He’s face and sweeping a gaze over the two individuals following him, the person turned and entered the house, “Both of you esteemed guests, please wait a moment. Allow me to report to the Master.”
The other party quickly entered the door and then came back out to usher Old He in.
“Both esteemed guests, my Master invites you inside.”
Old He did not decline but stepped into the courtyard with a stride. He turned his head slightly and asked in a low voice to the stooped figure still following him.
“Are you really sure that Sisi is here? Are you not wildly guessing? Or did you hear it from your informant?”
The bent figure was none other than Granny Peng, whose attitude towards Old He had not softened.
Instead, she hissed lightly, “I, the old, have practiced medicine my whole life; why would I mention baseless speculations to others? Naturally, it’s something I heard from an informant, who claimed he could even lead us to find her.”
Old He originally wanted to ask more questions, but seeing the other person’s fierce expression, he said nothing more.
“None of you speak anymore,” he continued, “we will naturally understand once we enter.”
The figure that had been following by Old He’s side chided the two of them.
The little maid leading the way seemed not to have heard the conversation of the three behind her at all, guiding them straight to the side hall, where she finally bowed her head to report.
“Third Martial Uncle, the three distinguished guests have arrived.”
“Come in.”
A cold and aged voice came through.
Old He didn’t refuse, led the two inside the side hall, and then bowed to the figure inside, “Third Senior Brother, I hope you’ve been well!”
In the side hall, an elderly figure sat, dressed in a dusty-gray Daoist robe. When he saw Old He pay his respects, he snorted coldly before lifting his eyelids slightly.
“I, the old, am neither virtuous nor capable, I cannot be honored with the title of Senior Brother from you.”
“Third Senior Brother, no matter who was right or who was wrong in the past, as long as you were my Senior Brother for one day, you will be my Senior Brother for life,” said Old He earnestly.
The Grey-robed Taoist was unmoved by his words, instead lowering his gaze and responding coldly, “According to the rules of our Sect, only those who can present a token are recognized as brothers of the Sect. We dare not acknowledge people indiscriminately. Speak! What brings you here today?”
Faced with the other’s dismissive attitude, Old He felt helpless.
He turned to glance at the two beside him, then reluctantly began talking, “Third Senior Brother, I have come today to meet someone. I heard she is now in your mansion, and I hope, as a fellow Sect sibling, you can hand her over to me.”
“Who are you speaking of?” the Grey-robed Taoist raised his eyebrows.
“I’ve heard there is a woman afflicted with poison sores beside your Apprentice Nephew; it is for her that we have come today,” said Old He, getting straight to the point.
“Her? Who is she to you? And how did you come to know she is here?” asked the Grey-robed Taoist, his face full of curiosity.
Old He replied reluctantly, “Third Senior Brother, you know full well what I am worth. How could I find someone directly? Truth be told, it was a friend of mine who discovered her whereabouts here, and I wish to take her back. I hope for your understanding.”
“Oh, so that’s the case,” said the Grey-robed Taoist, as if suddenly enlightened. He turned his head to glance at the two behind Old He, both of whom were hiding their bodies and faces under bamboo hats. He nodded and then shook his head.
“I was wondering when you had become wiser; turns out you haven’t changed at all! What a pity, what a pity! It seems you have made this trip in vain,” he said, sounding regretful.
“What do you mean? Third Senior Brother, let me be frank, I was also entrusted by someone to find her when I came here today; I must take her with me today. Otherwise…”
“Alright, no need for wild guesses anymore. However, I can’t give her to you because that woman is the key to my Apprentice Nephew’s graduation. At Shenlong Valley, our people have always acted like this; to graduate, one must find and solve a challenging case. Now, that woman is in my Apprentice Nephew’s care, treating a stubborn illness, which is indeed a good thing. You two should go on your way without worries,” said the Grey-robed Taoist, shooing the two away as if they were bothersome flies.
Old He evidently did not expect this turn of events, his face showing surprise, and then slowly, a look of resignation.