352. A Failed Secret Technique
No one paid attention to how Mo Jingli would deal with Noble Consort Liu. Perhaps Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning cared a bit, but they wouldn’t do anything for the woman they once called mother consort. Noble Consort Liu’s deeds were beyond the moral boundaries they were taught since childhood. Furthermore, they wouldn’t do anything for her to maintain their hard-earned peaceful lives. It wasn’t until many days later, after Mo Jingli left Licheng to return to Jiangnan, that people found a long-dead, scar-ridden body outside the city. It was eventually buried on the spot by Mo Xiaoyun and Princess Zhenning, with no tombstone marking its place. Upon hearing the subordinate’s report, Ye Li rely gave a light smile and paid no further heed.
On the day Mo Jingli took Noble Consort Liu away, Lei Zhenting made a personal visit to bid farewell to Ye Li and Mo Xiuyao, returning to his post. With Lei Zhenting gone, the emissary of the Xiling Emperor had no reason to stay and left the next day, back to Xiling. In all of Licheng, only Princess Anxi, Mo Jingli, and Ren Qining remained. Princess Anxi was pregnant, and it was already a challenge for her to travel to Licheng. With both Great Chu and Xiling busy with their competition, there wasn’t much happening in the remote Nanzhao, so Princess Anxi was in no hurry to leave. As for Ren Qining and Mo Jingli, their frequent visits to the Dongfang Mansion were even more regular than their visits to Prince Ding’s Mansion, making their intentions quite obvious.
「Xu Mansion」
After handling state affairs for several consecutive months, Young Master Qingchen delegated it all to Mo Xiuyao, finally had rare leisure ti to rest and read at ho. Although Young Master Qingchen was extraordinary in intelligence, over the past year, Mo Xiuyao and Ye Li were busy conducting battles abroad. Then, with Ye Li’s pregnancy, most of the political responsibilities of Prince Ding’s Mansion rested on Young Master Qingchen. It was impossible to say he wasn’t tired, especially since Young Master Qingchen was not soone ambitious for power. After seeing off most of the distinguished guests in the past few days and savoring a taste of leisure, Xu Qingchen readily handed over his official duties to Mo Xiuyao, choosing to rest at ho, reading books and playing the newly acquired Phoenix Zither.
Mo Xiuyao also realized that Xu Qingchen had been working hard over the past two years. Thinking about the possible future reliance on Young Master Qingchen, he naturally couldn’t genuinely offend him. Although reluctant, he had to take over all the state affairs to grant Young Master Qingchen a break.
Under the seemingly ink-scented fingertips, the white Phoenix Zither produced ethereal and leisurely lodies that made the already tranquil courtyard even more serene. Even the people in the mansion outside the courtyard couldn’t help but feel comfortable all over when they heard such zither music, as if all the worries and troubles in their hearts had vanished.
In another courtyard, Qin Zheng was entertaining Murong Ting and Hua Tianxiang for tea. Hearing the zither music from outside, Murong Ting sighed, "Young Master Qingchen’s zither playing is so pleasant to the ears."
Although Murong Ting was not skilled in zither playing, both Qin Zheng and Hua Tianxiang were highly skilled. Hua Tianxiang chuckled, "After hearing Young Master Qingchen play, I might never dare to disgrace myself in public again." Despite their confidence in their zither skills, they realized the gap when they heard Young Master Qingchen’s zither performance. Qin Zheng nodded and chuckled, "Third Young Master Feng is known for his zither skills. I’ve heard him play before; I’m afraid he falls a bit short compared to my elder brother."
Hua Tianxiang added, "Third Young Master Feng expresses his emotions through the zither, which sotis tends to be overly lancholic. He indeed falls short of Young Master Qingchen’s performance that refreshes the mind and intoxicates the audience."
Waving her hand, Murong Ting said, "I don’t quite understand what you two are discussing. Anyway, Young Master Qingchen’s zither performance is enjoyable. Zheng’er, you are so lucky. You can often listen to this for free."
Qin Zheng replied with a helpless smile, "This is my first ti hearing my elder brother play the zither. He’s been so busy in recent years that even Mother couldn’t find him. How would he have had ti to play the zither?" Murong Ting blinked her eyes and quietly said, "I heard that Prince Ding and Ah-Li gave the Phoenix Zither which Mo Jingli just sent to Young Master Qingchen. Young Master Qingchen must be playing the Phoenix Zither right now."
Qin Zheng curiously asked, "Murong, do you want to see the Phoenix Zither? The zither is with my elder brother, and it might not be easy to go there now. But later, we could always ask Qingze to borrow it from my elder brother to feast our eyes."
Murong Ting shook her head and sighed, "I don’t understand the zither. Actually, I want to see the Annihilation Sword." Thinking about the Annihilation Sword, one of the four national treasures of Great Chu, known as the top sword in the world, dwelling in the King of Ding Kingdom’s Mansion, and yet she had no chance to see it, made Murong Ting feel extrely restless and listless.
Helplessly rolling their eyes, both Qin Zheng and Hua Tianxiang knew it would co to this.
Inside Xu Qingchen’s courtyard, a beautiful woman in white robes stood on a tree branch, staring enchantedly at the man below, seated casually in the courtyard, serenely playing the zither. Her beautiful eyes flowed with jumbled feelings of admiration, respect, adoration, confusion, and pain. Initially, she had planned to walk directly into his courtyard, but the exquisite zither music she heard upon entering the mansion led her here, where she saw the man under the tree who looked as aloof from worldly matters as a celestial being. Her confident heart suddenly felt as if it had been heavily struck, eliciting rising feelings of uncertainty and panic. Can she really capture the heart of such a man? But the re thought of that slight possibility evoked infinite joy and satisfaction in her heart. At this mont, she even felt that her identity, mission, and standpoint no longer mattered, as long as she could be with him.
As the lody ended, Xu Qingchen paused, leaning against the large tree, relishing this rare leisure and freedom.
"Young Master Qingchen." The woman in white robes landed softly, her eyes as warm and gentle as water as she looked at him.
Xu Qingchen frowned slightly, looking indifferently at the woman in white robes before him, and calmly responded, "Miss Dongfang, it seems quite impolite for you to co uninvited."
Dongfang You’s eyes went dark, and she said in a low voice, "I have sothing to discuss with Young Master Qingchen. I apologize for my abruptness. Please forgive ."
Xu Qingchen carefully placed the Phoenix Zither back into its case and stood up to look at Dongfang You. "These past few days, all matters within the city have been delegated to Prince Ding. If Miss Dongfang has any issues, she should go to Prince Ding’s Mansion." Dongfang You quickly shook her head, "No, my purpose in seeking you is not related to Cangmang Mountain. I just have a few words I want to say to you privately."
Xu Qingchen furrowed his brows. "It seems I have no acquaintance with you, Miss. We should also not have any personal matters to discuss. Miss Dongfang, please leave." After saying this, he picked up the zither case and prepared to go back inside.
"No, Young Master Qingchen..." Dongfang You called out hurriedly as she saw Xu Qingchen turning to leave. In her sudden anxiety, she used her light-foot martial arts to swiftly block Xu Qingchen’s path. Dongfang You’s martial arts were praiseworthy even to Mo Xiuyao, proving she was skilled. anwhile, Xu Qingchen was more of a scholarly gentleman than a fighter. The difference in power was apparent. If Dongfang You insisted on blocking Xu Qingchen, naturally, he wouldn’t be able to leave.
"Miss Dongfang, what is your intention?" The look on Xu Qingchen’s handso face hardened.
"Young Master Qingchen, you... are you unwilling to even look at ?" Dongfang You looked sowhat wronged as she stared at the man before her. Despite having little contact with others since she was a child, she was well aware of her exceptional beauty. She could tell from the behaviors of others and the many obsessive stares she received after coming down the mountain. But why was Young Master Qingchen unwilling to even look at her?
Xu Qingchen stayed silent, his brow furrowed. Dongfang You murmured in a low voice, "Young Master... Young Master Qingchen, can you look at ?"
Xu Qingchen’s elegant eyebrows drew even closer together. Dongfang You’s voice was low and soft, yet it made him feel very uncomfortable. It was as though sothing in his mind was about to burst forth, and he felt an involuntary urge to look at Dongfang You.
However, Xu Qingchen wasn’t like ordinary people. His eyes displayed only a fleeting mont of confusion before regaining their peaceful calmness. He serenely gazed at the woman in white before him. Her face, not initially stunning, suddenly seed incredibly vibrant and beautiful. It was as if, in that instant, all the colors of the world had faded, leaving only the vivid and bright woman before his eyes.
"Young Master, Young Master Qingchen... Am I not beautiful? Can you take a good look at ?" Dongfang You gazed deeply at Xu Qingchen, murmuring softly.
Xu Qingchen looked intently at Dongfang You but said nothing for a long ti.
Seeing that he was fixated on her, a hint of joy blossod in Dongfang You’s heart. She moved slightly forward, the smile on her face growing gentler. "Young Master Qingchen... Am I beautiful?"
"You... are very beautiful..."
Overjoyed, Dongfang You stepped closer, stopping just a step away from Xu Qingchen. A faint, alluring mark appeared between her brows, making her look even more tender and captivating. "Young Master..."
"Miss Dongfang, what exactly do you want to say?" The sound of Xu Qingchen’s voice, calm as still water, resonated.
PFFT— Upon hearing Xu Qingchen’s voice, Dongfang You’s eyes suddenly widened, and a mouthful of fresh blood spurted out. Xu Qingchen shuffled sideways, just managing to avoid the blood she spewed. In an instant, the bewitching allure on Dongfang You’s face vanished, replaced by a look of embarrassnt and weakness. Seduction techniques are a double-edged sword. If one succeeds in controlling soone, they can make them infatuated or even obedient. However, if the target has a strong will and remains unaffected, the practitioner is hard. Dongfang You was interrupted by Xu Qingchen at the most critical mont and suffered the backlash. Her face turned pale, and her internal energy ran amok, clearly indicating severe internal injuries.
"Young Master Qingchen..." Dongfang You stared at the man before her in utter shock. She couldn’t believe she had failed. At Mr. Qingyun’s birthday banquet, she had used only a superficial version of her art, yet many high officials and dignitaries had been visibly moved. She never imagined she would fail against a man with no martial arts, especially when she had used her most profound techniques. At this level, even a man with a deep-seated grudge, like one whose father had been murdered, would forget everything and succumb. Does this man truly despise her so much?
"Such unorthodox thods, Miss. Please conduct yourself with dignity," Xu Qingchen said, unimpressed, casually glancing at the woman in white before him. He had witnessed Dongfang You’s peculiar and potent allure to n at Mr. Qingyun’s birthday banquet, but hadn’t sensed it in their subsequent etings. Even without knowing about Cangmang Mountain’s unique secret arts, Xu Qingchen would have realized sothing was amiss; how could he have fallen for her ploy? This ti, it wasn’t Xu Qingchen who was out of luck, but Dongfang You.
This type of enchanting, mind-controlling technique is more challenging to master than martial arts. Dongfang You was considered gifted to have made such progress; even her master, Dongfang Hui, was not as skilled as her in this regard. However, the price for such a technique’s failure was also steep. Her ashen complexion, a result of spitting blood, gradually began to flush an unnatural red. Her previously mournful, watery eyes slowly fogged over. "Young Master Qingchen..."
Xu Qingchen frowned, looking towards the yard wall and spoke calmly, "Aren’t you coming out yet?"
As soon as he finished speaking, two n dressed in black jumped down from the wall, bowing respectfully to Xu Qingchen. "Greetings, Young Master Qingchen." Xu Qingchen looked at them with a subtle smile. "Is this how Ah-Li arranged for you to ensure my safety? For you to enter the esteed Xu Mansion as if it were unguarded is one thing, but for so much ti to have passed without the guards specifically assigned to protect noticing... that’s a bit too much, isn’t it?"
The two guards glanced at each other, slightly ashad. "His Highness said that as long as your safety isn’t compromised, Young Master... it’s best not to interfere with your romantic fortune..." So, it wasn’t that they were neglecting their duties, but rather that the Prince himself wanted to see Young Master Qingchen in an amusing predicant. Of course, if Young Master Qingchen had truly fallen for Dongfang You’s ploy just now, they would have intervened.
Xu Qingchen was well aware of Mo Xiuyao’s character and didn’t bla the guards. He glanced at Dongfang You, who had fallen and begun to groan softly, and asked, "What’s wrong with her?" One of the guards stepped forward, coughed embarrassedly, and said, "Well... Miss Dongfang likely used so sort of charm technique that can bewitch n and stir their desires. Since Young Master Qingchen broke her technique, she suffered internal injuries from the backlash, and so... so..." Xu Qingchen, not being a martial artist, frowned at Dongfang You. "Is her injury serious?"
The guardsman replied in a low voice, "If she finds a man to... you know, it won’t be serious."
Young Master Qingchen’s handso face froze for a mont. After so thought, he said, "Send her back to Madam Dongfang." Since it wasn’t their responsibility, they didn’t need to concern themselves. As for how Dongfang Hui would treat Dongfang You’s injuries, that was none of their business. They didn’t understand such charm arts, after all...
Following Xu Qingchen’s command, one guard picked up Dongfang You and jumped over the yard wall. During that process, Dongfang You, whose consciousness was a bit blurred, took so liberties with the guard.
In the quiet courtyard, Xu Qingchen sat under the large tree with his zither case in his lap, lost in thought. Not far away, a black-clad guard stood in the corner by the wall, silently looking up at the sky. After a while, a commotion was heard from outside the courtyard. The guard hopped onto the wall, took a look, then hurried back to report, "Young Master, the Master, the First Madam, and Madam Dongfang have arrived."
Xu Qingchen glanced at him indifferently and said, "Hold them off for a while. Let them in in half a quarter of an hour."
Although the guard didn’t understand the purpose behind Young Master Qingchen’s command, he obediently went to execute the order. Under the big tree, Young Master Qingchen, gently touching the zither case, his handso eyes flashed a trace of faint chill, but it disappeared as quickly as it arrived.
True to his word, the guard obeyed ticulously. In exactly half a quarter of an hour, not a minute more nor less, just as Xu Qingchen stood up to walk out, Dongfang Hui rushed in with Xu Hong Yu and First Madam Xu. Xu Qingchen asked lightly, "Father, Mother, Madam Dongfang, why have you co?" Because he hadn’t planned on going out today, Xu Qingchen was dressed very casually. To those who had just burst in, his attire seed sowhat strangely inappropriate. Dongfang Hui’s expression changed slightly. Glaring at Xu Qingchen, she questioned, "What did you do to You’er?"
Before Xu Qingchen could reply, First Madam Xu voiced her displeasure. With a disgruntled glance at Dongfang Hui, her expression darkened. What did she an, ’What did you do to Dongfang You’? What could her son possibly do to Dongfang You? She was more worried that Dongfang You had used so trick on Qingchen! She carefully looked him up and down, then asked, "Qingchen, did Miss Dongfang visit?"
Xu Qingchen was taken aback for a mont, then nodded. "Miss Dongfang ca an hour ago."
A wave of shock went through First Madam Xu, and she grabbed Xu Qingchen. "Did anything happen to you?"
This ti it was Dongfang Hui’s turn to be displeased. Dongfang You had indeed planned to use so ans on Xu Qingchen, but First Madam Xu’s words were quite aggravating. As soon as she learned of Dongfang You’s plan, for the first ti in her life, Dongfang Hui felt the urge to strangle the disciple she had raised. Dongfang Hui herself wasn’t proficient in charm arts. Although it was a unique secret art of Cangmang Mountain, she didn’t particularly esteem this ability. She had dabbled in it when younger but quickly abandoned it. The prerequisite for such enchanting thods to succeed was a man whose mind wasn’t firm. But Dongfang Hui had no respect for n with weak minds, so why would she resort to such a do-or-die tactic to charm soone? Thus, to Dongfang Hui, this art was practically useless—like chicken ribs.
When she learned Dongfang You planned to use charm arts on Xu Qingchen, Dongfang Hui wished she could pry open Dongfang You’s head to see what was inside. A man like Xu Qingchen—how could he be susceptible to charm arts? He appeared gentle and refined but was, in reality, cold and dispassionate. Dongfang Hui would sooner believe Mo Xiuyao could be chard than Xu Qingchen. Fearing Dongfang You had caused so irreparable trouble, Dongfang Hui had hastily dropped everything and rushed over, only to learn Dongfang You had been here for over an hour and hadn’t erged. For a mont, Dongfang Hui genuinely couldn’t tell if Xu Qingchen had fallen for the ploy or not. That was why she had tried to probe him, only to be rebuffed by First Madam Xu.
"Eldest Young Master Xu, my disciple ca to visit you, Young Master, and has not returned for a long ti. I wonder if you know where she went?" Dongfang Hui asked in a deep voice.
"That..." Xu Qingchen hesitated for a mont, casting an unsure glance at the three people present.
Seeing his troubled expression, First Madam Xu’s heart sank. She feared her son had truly been duped by Dongfang You. Xu Hong Yu also frowned and asked, "Has Miss Dongfang left? When did she leave? Why did she co to see you, and why didn’t the gatekeeper see her?" Even a great Confucian scholar of high moral standing like Xu Hong Yu was biased towards his own family; he certainly didn’t want his son to marry a woman like Dongfang You. His imdiate question—why didn’t Miss Dongfang use the main entrance for her visit?—was key. With this point, even if sothing had indeed happened between Xu Qingchen and Dongfang You, the Xu family could refuse to formally accept her. Who would want to marry a woman who bypassed the main entrance to visit a man she wasn’t related to?
Hearing Xu Hong Yu’s words, Dongfang Hui’s face turned a bit gloomy. Unfortunately, her side was in the wrong, so she had nothing to say in her defense.
With a composed expression, Xu Qingchen looked at the three people with different expressions and spoke lightly, "Miss Dongfang did visit indeed, but she seed to be suddenly ill and felt uncomfortable. I arranged for her to be sent out just a while ago."
"When?!" Dongfang Hui asked anxiously.
Xu Qingchen pondered. "About... half an hour ago, I suppose."
"What happened to her?" Dongfang Hui was wary. Xu Qingchen explained, "I, the junior, don’t quite understand it either. Miss Dongfang suddenly vomited blood, and her complexion wasn’t very good either. I suppose she might have suffered so internal injury from jumping off the wall."
Dongfang Hui gritted her teeth secretly. With Dongfang You’s martial arts skills, forget jumping off a wall, she wouldn’t necessarily sustain internal injuries even if she jumped off a cliff! "From where did they leave? Why didn’t anyone outside see them?" Xu Qingchen answered calmly, "Since Miss Dongfang ca over the wall, the guards probably assud she didn’t want others to know she was here, so they also escorted her out over the wall."
"Young Master." A figure dropped down from the wall; it was the black-clad guard who had taken Dongfang You out earlier. His usually stoic face was slightly flushed, and he was montarily taken aback by the crowd in the courtyard. "Master, First Madam."
"Where’s You’er?" Dongfang Hui asked sternly.
The guard was taken aback, then answered, "I escorted Miss Dongfang out."
"So quickly? Sent her back to her lodgings already?" Unless lightness skills were used, such a short ti wasn’t enough for a round trip from Xu Mansion to the Dongfang Mansion. But no one would openly use lightness skills to carry a woman around in broad daylight. The guard shook his head. "I encountered Prince Li outside. He said he was on his way to visit Madam Dongfang at the Dongfang Mansion, so he offered to take Miss Dongfang back with him."
"You handed You’er to Mo Jingli?!" Dongfang Hui asked in a stern voice.
The black-clad guard looked a bit wronged. "It was Miss Dongfang herself who agreed to let Prince Li take her back." Did they really have to personally escort soone who had trespassed? Even if they had sent her back directly, they would have missed Madam Dongfang. By the ti Madam Dongfang returned and tried to help Miss Dongfang, it would have been too late.
First Madam Xu couldn’t care less about Dongfang You’s fate, as long as her son was alright. She would rather Qingchen never marry than have him marry that Dongfang You! First Madam Xu adjusted Qingchen’s clothes with a smile and mildly chastised him, "You child, really. With guests here, why didn’t you change your clothes before coming out?"
"I know my mistake." Xu Qingchen did not argue and smiled faintly.
Dongfang Hui was in no mood to watch their display of maternal and filial love. She bowed to Xu Hong Yu and said coldly, "Brother Xu, I’m taking my leave!"
Xu Hong Yu nodded indifferently, "I won’t see you off."
After Dongfang Hui had left, Xu Hong Yu turned his thoughtful gaze towards Xu Qingchen and asked, "Did Mo Jingli just happen to co across Dongfang You, or did Dongfang You just happen to bump into Mo Jingli?"
Xu Qingchen smiled faintly, his expression as clear and bright as a moonlit night. "Father, is there a difference?"
Xu Hong Yu thought for a mont and said lightly, "Don’t you understand the difference? Regarding Dongfang You..." Xu Qingchen smiled. "Dongfang You was not out of her senses. Even if sothing did happen, it has nothing to do with our Xu Family or Prince Ding’s Mansion." Seeing his son’s calm and composed deanor, Xu Hong Yu nodded in satisfaction. "Very well done." Dongfang You dared to plot against the Xu Family; whatever fate befell her, she deserved it. The people of the Xu Family were never soft-hearted fools who repaid grievances with kindness.
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