108. The Secrets of the Former Dynasty’s Imperial Palace

Chapter 108

Le Yongcheng was unusually cheerful, much to Qing Yang’s surprise.

Qing Yang asked, “General, this...”

Le Yongcheng continued smiling and said, “I told you, how could my daughter be a failure? Becoming Yuan Tianci’s disciple back then was a good choice. Now it’s the other way around—Yuan Tianci should be her disciple. What a glory for our family! I’m going to offer incense at the ancestral shrine. Zeng Shu, prepare everything.”

Qing Yang was stunned. This was completely unexpected and unconventional.

Zeng Shu had already gone to prepare, and Le Yongcheng was about to leave as well.

“General, no wonder the young lady had trouble at the War King’s mansion. The War King searched the entire city for that ghost doctor girl—only she fits that description. Even the Crown Prince conducted a search. Her identity is truly complicated. Updating right away could be very dangerous,” Qing Yang said.

Le Yongcheng waved his hand. “I didn’t know before, so I let them act recklessly. Now that the ghost doctor girl is my daughter, it won’t be so easy to lay a hand on her.”

Le Yongcheng was always protective like this. Qing Yang smiled and followed him to the ancestral hall to offer incense.

Before long, Hua Tao sent word that Le Qianxue had awakened.

Le Yongcheng was overjoyed and immediately went to Qingyu Courtyard. Indeed, Le Qianxue was awake and stubbornly remained in the alchemy room.

Normally, no one was allowed inside that room. Le Yongcheng waited outside until Le Qianxue finally let him in. Inside, she was busy preparing medicines. Seeing this, his face darkened. “You just woke up. Stop worrying about these things. You can do this later.”

Le Qianxue’s complexion was pale, lips ashen. She lowered her eyes, carefully weighing the herbs.

She said casually, “Yuan Tianci’s injury is severe, and it’s the height of summer. If we delay any longer, it will be troublesome.”

Le Yongcheng frowned at her determination. Though he wanted to resolve everything at once, he knew her nature now and that persuasion was futile.

Unexpectedly, after gathering the herbs, Le Qianxue started refining the medicine. Her method was unusual—she pricked her finger and let a drop of blood fall in.

Le Yongcheng wanted to speak but seeing her so focused, he held back, not wanting to disturb her.

He watched silently.

It was the first time he had witnessed her skill. Inside the refining cauldron, pills slowly took shape, emitting a faint red glow. He was surprised.

Where had she learned such medical skill?

Then he realized—he hadn’t been in the capital before. Perhaps Le Qianxue had the talent and taught herself.

After more than an hour, the pills were finally formed.

Le Qianxue counted them, frowned slightly, and muttered, “The potency is weak, a few pills less.”

But it was enough for Yuan Tianci to use for ten days.

Le Yongcheng waited patiently. When she finished, he immediately handed her a cup of tea. “Drink some water. You look even paler.”

Le Qianxue felt awkward. Le Yongcheng had witnessed everything and truly feared for her.

She smiled lightly. “Father, I’m fine.”

She took a sip but frowned—it was ginseng soup, probably prepared by Le Yongcheng’s order.

Le Yongcheng stared at her hand. Fortunately, the wound had not reopened; otherwise, it would be troublesome.

Le Qianxue followed his gaze and said, “This wound will heal in a couple of days. I’m careful not to hurt myself. It’s late; you should rest now, Father.”

Le Yongcheng sat down heavily, displeased. “Not yet. You owe me an explanation, or I’ll go to the War King’s mansion and settle accounts with Zhan Lianjing.”

Le Qianxue had no choice but to explain roughly. Le Yongcheng was shocked to learn of Zhan Lianjing’s other identity.

He pondered and said, “The emperor has always feared the previous dynasty. I was puzzled—why still fear it after a century? It seems its influence persists. No wonder the emperor is so sensitive. But you said that scroll is the key to the old palace...”

Le Qianxue frowned. “I don’t understand why so many want that palace key. The old dynasty fell a hundred years ago. I’ve never heard of any remaining palace.”

“You don’t know. When the old dynasty fell, the palace vanished without a trace. Only ruins remained,” Le Yongcheng said. “The righteous army searched the site but found nothing. The slum now stands where that palace once did. I suspect the palace concealed something, which is why it disappeared. The emperor fears its reappearance might threaten his rule, so he seeks to find and destroy it.”

“Could the old palace be hiding vast treasures?” Le Qianxue wondered. “Even if it reappears, it would be just an empty shell with no real power.”

Le Yongcheng shook his head gravely. “Don’t jump to conclusions. The old dynasty lasted centuries. It would not have fallen without traitors.”

That suggested the old palace truly hid something.

Otherwise, it made no sense why so many sought that scroll.

She pressed her lips together. “But it’s strange that the palace disappeared. Such a grand building can’t just move.”

“Exactly. There was a rumor that the palace flew into the sky, which is why it vanished,” Le Yongcheng said.

Le Qianxue thought carefully. “It couldn’t have flown away. The only possibility is that it sank underground.”

“That theory was considered. The founding emperor sent men to dig, but they hit hard rock and couldn’t go deep. That’s why the legend arose—that the palace’s people ascended to immortality. Many commoners feared and resisted the new dynasty, so the founding emperor sealed the matter,” Le Yongcheng explained.

Le Qianxue nodded. No wonder she had never heard of it.

Now with the emperor seeking that scroll, it wouldn’t be simple.

Unfortunately, they had no clue who held it.

Le Yongcheng sighed. “The emperor has shot himself in the foot this time. Eight years ago, he trusted Zhan Lianjing, not knowing he was loyal to the old dynasty. He must be furious now. But if not for him, Tianlong might have been defeated by Liangjin long ago.”

Le Qianxue pursed her lips. “Zhan Lianjing is too scheming. At that time, even if the emperor didn’t want to rely on him, he had no choice.”

Le Yongcheng agreed. “Exactly. I knew then Zhan Lianjing was cunning. When you got close to him, I wanted to warn you, but you’re so headstrong, I gave up. You wouldn’t have listened.”

Le Qianxue’s expression was calm, but her voice lowered. “I’m not headstrong anymore. It’s enough now. I avenged Su Su and reclaimed her family’s secret manual.”

Le Yongcheng suddenly sighed. “You... your involvement with Yin Susu is the real trouble. The old dynasty clearly has forces opposing the court in secret. Zhan Lianjing is one. Susu is the Yuan family’s heir. Now she can’t stay out of it, and neither can you.”

Le Yongcheng had hoped Le Qianxue would marry obediently and be done with it, but fate had other plans.

Le Qianxue didn’t regret her choices. She spoke calmly, “Father, the surface calm of the Tianlong dynasty is about to shatter. No one can escape now. Knowing earlier would have allowed us to prepare. Still, I won’t submit to Tianlong nor side with Zhan Lianjing.”

Le Yongcheng nodded solemnly.

Though it was easy to say, overthrowing the old emperor wouldn’t be simple.

Thinking of Tong Qianqian, he was heartbroken. Suddenly he remembered, “Almost forgot, your mother told me to remind you to visit the Thousand Buddha Pagoda on your seventeenth birthday. Do you remember?”

Le Qianxue was startled. When she had been there before, Master Huijue also told her to return on her birthday. Now Le Yongcheng reminded her again, which seemed strange.

She asked, “What did Mother want me to do there?”

“I don’t know,” Le Yongcheng said. “She was secretive, wouldn’t say even when I asked.”

Le Qianxue nodded. She almost forgot that Master Wenzhi had left the capital over a month ago. According to his words, he hadn’t returned yet—perhaps something had happened to him.

Thinking this made her feel weary.

Seeing her like this, Le Yongcheng urged, “You’ve been through enough today. Listen to your father and rest.”

Le Qianxue stood up, and outside, Hua Tao hurried to support her.

She suddenly remembered another question. “Father, what will the emperor do with Aunt Xu and Linglong?”

Le Yongcheng was taken aback. After some thought, he said, “The emperor won’t kill them lightly. Don’t worry. In a few days, he will decide.”

Le Qianxue didn’t think much of it. Their lives no longer concerned her.

That night, she slept restlessly, waking repeatedly, drenched in sweat.

Before dawn, unwilling to waste time in bed, she went to check on Yuan Tianci.

...

(Tianjin)