Chapter 143: Chapter 143: Junior Master Fenglin’s Compromise

“Then let’s hurry up and go,” Xianzong agreed to the invite before Yu Xiaoxiao or Gu Xinglang could reply. Forget about chrysanthemums, he’d agree even if Jing Mo asked them to visit the brothels to see the dancers. His Majesty finally saw clearly: it was fine if he died since he was a single person. Fengtian wouldn’t necessarily collapse from that. But if his daughter was involved, then the country was doomed for sure!

Yu Xiaoxiao looked at Gu Xinglang, who nodded at her. Judging from Chen Qi and Chen Mie’s attitudes, Third Young Master Gu felt that they wouldn’t kill his father-in-law for the sake of Junior Master Fenglin.

Seeing him agree, Yu Xiaoxiao said, “Fine, let’s go sightseeing and then eat.”

Jing Mo smiled and said, “It will be my pleasure.”

Zuo You was unhappy. He was the first to invite the duo, but why did Jing Mo become the distinguished party again?

Yu Xiaoxiao was almost out of the room when she recalled Xiao Wei. “Xiao Wei’s hurt, he needs to see a doctor.”

Xiao Wei had already cleaned off his blood and quickly replied, “Princess, I’m alright. I was only a little knocked back.”

Xianzong, State Preceptor Cheng, and Xiao Zhuang only felt fear in hindsight at Xiao Wei’s words. He had blocked an attack from Chen Mie so fierce that it forced him to spit up blood. Amongst the shadow guards, Xiao Wei’s martial arts ranked in the forefront, but Chen Mie’s punch reduced him to this. If Xianzong had been hit, he would be severely injured by now.

Yu Xiaoxiao glanced at Chen Qi and Chen Mie again, committing their looks to memory. She couldn’t let Xiao Wei be beaten around.

“His Majesty is right,” Junior Master Fenglin spoke from the bed. “This is all a misunderstanding.”

Everyone was at a loss for his sudden heel face turn. Yu Xiaoxiao’s head whipped back as well, just in time to see Junior Master Fenglin’s customarily calm expression. The corners of his lips had turned black and his swollen throat was now even more bloated. Still, he was already smiling at Yu Xiaoxiao. “Princess, looks like I’ll have to stay in Fengtian a little longer.”

Junior Master Fenglin was very attractive when he smiled, but Yu Xiaoxiao only felt restless and panicked. What kind of evil schemes was he thinking up now?

Xianzong was wishing for these very words. He stepped forward while pushing Yu Xiaoxiao towards Gu Xinglang and declared, “Then junior master can rest and recover well. Tell Zhen if you need any kind of medicine, Zhen will have people send it here.”

“No but, he—!” Yu Xiaoxiao exclaimed. That fellow was nothing but bad news. In the last timeline, he’d destroyed the fierce empress. Who knew whom he’d target in this life?

Xianzong gritted his teeth and muttered to Yu Xiaoxiao, “We’re delaying him for now. Listen to me and go play with the others, you have no more business here!”

“Xiao Wei, you’re really all right?” Gu Xinglang asked the guard.

Xiao Wei nodded at Xiao Zhuang before both of them lifted up Gu Xinglang’s sling chair. Xiao Wei said, “Royal Son-in-Law, don’t worry. If I was in trouble, I would tell you and the princess.”

Xianzong bodily shoved Yu Xiaoxiao out of the rooms before adding to Gu Xinglang, “Keep Lingling company. Don’t come to the palace if you have nothing else to do.”

Gu Xinglang could only say he accepted the decree. It wasn’t as if he could actually stop his wife from visiting the palace when she pleased.

Zuo You balled up his fists at Junior Master Fenglin before turning to leave wordlessly. Jing Mo walked to his bedside and smiled. “I hope junior master gets well soon. Jing Mo shall be taking his leave now.”

Junior Master Fenglin was too weak to do anything but murmur. “Many thanks. I never expected you to turn up.”

Jing Mo replied, “What does junior master mean by that? Although it was my third and fifth brothers who received teachings from Eternal Life Temple, I respect it as well.”

Junior Master Fenglin smiled and nodded. His throat flared up painfully in response, but he hid his agony well. Jing Mo bid his farewell and left.

Outside, Yu Xiaoxiao was holding an umbrella over Gu Xinglang while listening to Zuo You describe the various eateries of White Tiger Nation in delicious detail. Gu Xinglang felt that he’d rambled long enough and told Yu Xiaoxiao, “In the future I shall bring the princess to White Tiger and taste some of these items you mentioned, Grand Marshal Zuo.”

“All right,” Yu Xiaoxiao immediately grew cheerful. “Then it’s decided.”

Zuo You only felt stifled. How could she decide just like that? After talking their ears off, he had no part in the trip at all?

—

When Jing Mo emerged, he looked past Zuo You to smile at Yu Xiaoxiao and Gu Xinglang. “Then let’s be off.”

Thus the group set off to see chrysanthemums in the rain without another glance back. Xianzong stood in the rooms and felt that it wasn’t safe to leave State Preceptor Cheng at Safeguard Temple. Suppose the junior master started abusing the state preceptor to relieve his temper after they left?

“State Preceptor, Zhen obtained a new scripture recently,” Xianzong said to the man. “You should come with Zhen to the palace and take a look.”

State Preceptor Cheng Guan bowed and replied, “This monk accepts the decree.”

Xianzong then told Junior Master Fenglin, “Then junior master, rest well. Have someone find Zhen in the palace if you need anything.”

“Many thanks to Your Majesty,” Junior Master Fenglin replied.

As soon as Xianzong turned tail to leave, he raised a hand to wipe the cold sweat off his forehead. Although he had no idea when Wen Fenglin had changed his tune, he had finally suppressed this disaster. That was enough.

Once all of the Fengtian people had left, Chen Qi asked Junior Master Fenglin, “Junior master, are we dropping the matter just like that?”

Listless, Junior Master Fenglin replied, “We’re in Fengtian after all. What good is it to us if we force Fengtian’s monarch into a corner?”

Chen Mie retorted, “As if Fengtian’s monarch had the guts to kill junior master!”

“You two aren’t a match for Princess Linglong,” Junior Master Fenglin said. “Why make such empty boasts?”

“Junior master!” Chen Qi and Chen Mie chorused.

“We have no communications with the temple here in Fengtian,” Junior Master Fenglin looked both pale and frigid. “Neither of you are Yu Linglong’s equa. either, so it’s better to plan for the long term. By pushing Fengtian’s monarch to his breaking point, we’ll either break the nets or kill the fish. Do you think that fixes anything?”

Chen Qi and Chen Mie still wanted to speak, but shut their mouths when Junior Master Fenglin closed his eyes and shut down the conversation.

—

When Gu Xinglang exited Safeguard Temple, he paused before the carriage to ask Zuo You, “Does the Grand Marshal know Master Chen Mie?”

Zuo You replied, “Yeah, I’ve seen him in Eternal Life Temple before.”

“I didn’t see those two by the junior master’s side the other day,” Gu Xinglang continued, “They’re not the monk guards assigned to serve the junior master, right?”

Zuo You nodded. “Right, they belong to the Head Monk.”

This explained Chen Qi and Chen Mie’s attitudes towards Junior Master Fenglin. Gu Xinglang said nothing more before having Xiao Zhuang and Xiao Wei help him into the carriage. They’re not diehard loyalists, Gu Xinglang thought, If that’s the case, can Junior Master Fenglin depend on them to protect him wholeheartedly?