Chapter 689.1: Death is Near
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S T E L L A R C L O U D
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Nangong Li returned to his residence and immediately summoned his trusted guard to inquire about the progress of the investigation.
The trusted guard, looking troubled, said, "General, there are too many places to investigate. It's only been a day... Even if we were to go to the Ministry of Revenue to openly check their household register, it would take several days, wouldn't it?"
This was indeed the truth. Investigating someone's information was not a simple task.
Although the household registrations within the country and those from outside were recorded separately, there were still quite a few people from outside. Moreover, the Ministry of Revenue wouldn't actually provide them with access to the foreign records.
In fact, anyone who had watched the polo match wouldn't find the name Xiao Liulang unfamiliar. But being in different circles was like being separated by a mountain. Since Nangong Li didn’t pay attention to polo, he had no way of knowing about the new talent from the State of Zhao, Xiao Liulang, who single-handedly altered the style of three polo matches.
Nangong Li wasn’t unsympathetic to the difficulties his subordinates faced, but he also had his own troubles.
The assassination of Xiao Liulang was a matter the Crown Prince hadn't even disclosed to the Han Family. He had been given an important task, but ended up failing in the State of Zhao and even allowed the matter to come to the attention of the Emperor.
If the Emperor found out about this, it would be disastrous for them all!
Nangong Li frowned and said, “I don’t care what methods you use, but you must find Xiao Liulang for me within three days!”
The trusted guard was distressed. Forget three days, he wasn’t sure if even thirty days would be enough.
With so many people in Shengdu, locating one Xiao Liulang was like searching for a needle in a haystack.
The trusted guard sighed and said, "It would be great if we had someone in the Ministry of Revenue."
The Minister of Revenue belonged to the Wang Family, and they had little contact with the Nangong Family. The Wang Family was a true century-old powerful clan, their influence even surpassing that of the Han Family, ranking as the top.
If it weren’t for the fact that Imperial Consort Wang couldn’t bear a son, the position of Crown Prince might have been filled by someone else.
Infiltrating the Ministry of Revenue to steal records was also difficult. The Nangong Family had experts, but so did the Wang Family. If they were to engage in a confrontation, it would only alert the enemy and end up being counterproductive.
Nangong Li furrowed his brow again and said, “Instead of wasting time talking, why aren’t you out there finding him already!”
“Yes!”
The trusted guard quickly withdrew.
Nangong Li closed his eyes for a moment.
He had to find Xiao Liulang as soon as possible and kill him!
The Crown Prince had already been disappointed in him once; he couldn’t afford a second failure!
Before going to rest, Nangong Li inexplicably thought of his injured youngest son. It had been two days since he last visited him.
He pondered for a moment, then turned and went to Nangong Lin's courtyard.
Nangong Lin had no idea his father was coming and was lying on his side in bed in an unseemly manner, shaking his leg and leisurely listening to a servant boy talk about the polo match, “Are you sure? Tianqiong Academy lost?”
The servant boy grinned and said, “Absolutely sure! Young master, I saw it with my own eyes. Oh, they lost miserably!”
Nangong Lin, taking pleasure in the misfortune of others, slapped his thigh and said, "A bunch of overconfident fools. They should have known who was running Canaan Academy! That’s the academy of the Imperial Advisor's Hall!"
The servant boy obsequiously agreed, “Young master is absolutely right!”
Nangong Lin took a grape from the tray held by a kneeling servant girl and popped it into his mouth, saying, “By the way, how upset did that Xiao Liulang get?”
The servant boy replied, “He didn’t go.”
Nangong Lin frowned and asked, "What do you mean?"
The servant boy explained, "This servant means he didn’t show up. On that day, even Mu Chuan, who had just recovered from his injuries, participated, but Xiao Liulang never appeared. I later inquired and it seems... they said Xiao Liulang was ill, very seriously ill, and couldn't come to the match."
Nangong Lin laughed heartily, “Serves him right! Xiao Liulang has finally gotten what he deserves!”
“Exactly… My Lord!” The servant boy’s words were cut short when he suddenly saw Nangong Li standing at the doorway. His face went pale with fear, and he hurriedly bowed.
“Father!” Nangong Lin quickly adjusted his improper posture, sitting up straight, and nonchalantly waved at the servant girl.
The servant girl collected the fruit tray, stood up, and bowed to Nangong Li, “My Lord.”
Nangong Li was irritated by his son's carefree attitude just moments ago, but he still spared him from embarrassment in front of the servants, “All of you, leave.”
“Yes.” Both servants quickly exited the room, with the servant boy making sure to close the door behind them.
Nangong Lin asked, “Father, why have you come so late?”
Nangong Li cast a cold glance at him and said, "So this is how you’re recuperating at home? Is this the way you’re supposed to recover?"
"I…" Nangong Lin nervously rubbed his sleeve, responding, "I was just stretching… my muscles and bones."
Catching your child making mistakes wasn’t the most infuriating; the worst thing was when they refused to admit it even after being caught.
Nangong Li really wanted to beat him up. He raised his hand, and Nangong Lin, frightened, quickly covered his head with his hands.
When Nangong Li saw the scar on his wrist, he suppressed his anger and lowered his hand. "Tomorrow, you are going back to the academy!"
"...Oh." Nangong Lin reluctantly agreed.
Nangong Li snapped, "What kind of attitude is that?!"
Nangong Lin trembled with fear and hurriedly said, "I'll go! I’ll definitely go!"
Nangong Li then asked, "I heard you mention a name earlier, Xiao Liulang. Who is that?"
"Oh, him? He's from a lower state." Nangong Lin never told his family the real reason for his injury. First, his father would never allow him to cheat in polo, and second, even if he did cheat, getting himself injured and making a fool of himself was even worse.
As a result, the whole family thought it was just an accident and didn’t bother to inquire about any of the polo players.
Nangong Li's gaze sharpened slightly, "Which lower state?"
Nangong Lin thought for a moment before answering, "I think… the State of Zhao or the State of Qing? I don't remember."
Nangong Li slowly clenched his fist, "A new student?"
Nangong Lin nodded, "Yes."
"Which academy?" Nangong Li asked.
Nangong Lin replied, "Tianqiong Academy. They made it to the final match, but then got crushed by Canaan Academy."
Tianqiong Academy, Xiao Liulang, a man from a lower state.
Heh, it’s like searching high and low only to find it effortlessly!
Xiao Liulang, your death is near!
……
Gu Jiao returned home.
It was quite late, and Lady Nan was in the main room, doing embroidery and waiting for her. Lady Nan was not only poor in cooking but also quite clumsy with needlework. However, now that she was a mother, albeit an adoptive one and a master’s wife, she decided to learn these skills as quickly as possible.
"JiaoJiao, you're back." She set down her embroidery, "You haven't eaten yet, have you?"
Gu Jiao replied, "I’ve eaten. Lady Nan, you should rest early."
"I’ll sleep after I finish this. How do you think my embroidery is coming along?" Lady Nan proudly displayed her evening’s work to Gu Jiao.
Honestly, Gu Jiao hadn’t seen needlework this poor since her grandaunt’s efforts.
"…It’s improved." Gu Jiao said with a straight face.
Lady Nan beamed with joy, "Really? I thought so too."
Encouraged by the compliment, Lady Nan became even more enthusiastic and energetically resumed her embroidery.
Gu Jiao hesitated for a moment but then let it go. As long as my Lady is happy.
Raz P.'s Thoughts
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Description:
In the suspenseful supernatural novel “Records of Mortals,” Jiang Baiyan, once a solitary and impoverished youth, finds refuge in the Shi family of Chang’an due to his extraordinary bloodline. With his clear and captivating peach blossom eyes, this seemingly innocent young man conceals a fanatical and malevolent lunatic within. Destined to succumb to darkness amidst hardship and degradation, he becomes a harbinger of chaos.
When Shi Dai suddenly transmigrates, she takes on the role of the Shi family’s young lady, the one who subjects him to countless trials, eventually leading to her demise.
The twist? She never got to finish reading the novel.
From what she knew of the plot, Jiang Baiyan was just a silent, timid, and often bullied pitiable character.
***
Jiang Baiyan had never encountered someone like Shi Dai.
After he had slaughtered all the evil creatures in the garden, the blood-stained young man, exuding a murderous aura, approached her step by step, his lips curling into a malicious smile, "Scared?"
Shi Dai responded, “You’re really amazing! I applaud you until I spin like a spiral and fly around the moon three hundred times! And also——you have dimples when you smile!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
After seeing her at a lantern festival with another man, Jiang Baiyan lowered his eyes, his fingers twirling her hair. He said in a mocking and sinister tone, "The mansion in the western suburbs...if I hide you there, no one will find you, right?"
Shi Dai replied, "Does it come with meals and lodging? Can I sleep in everyday? Oh, and your cooking is the best!"
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
—
Jiang Baiyan was supposed to dislike her, even hate her, but as their separation drew near, his eyes turned red and he grabbed her sleeve, pleading, "Don't abandon me, alri—”
Shi Dai responded, "Alright, alright, I’ll only have you. Mwah."
Jiang Baiyan: ...?
He hasn't finished his lines yet though…