Chapter 1338: The Most Scheming Xiaoxiao
Xiahou Zheng did not want to stay in the Hundred Flowers Palace for another moment.
The Palace Lord stopped him coldly. “Eldest Young Master, you slandered the Hundred Flowers Palace and just killed a petty thief? Aren’t you looking down on the Hundred Flowers Palace too much!”
Xiahou Zheng suppressed the anger in his heart. “Palace Lord Yun, what else do you want?”
The Palace Lord scoffed. “You make it sound like I’m making things difficult for you. Have you forgotten that you were the one who kept saying that the Hundred Flowers Palace is harboring criminals last night and insisted on pinning the blame on the Hundred Flowers Palace? Just because my Hundred Flowers Palace respects you doesn’t mean that we’re afraid of you! If you don’t apologize to the Hundred Flowers Palace in public, my Hundred Flowers Palace would be falsely accused when the rumors spread.”
Xiahou Zheng said righteously, “If an islander reported it, I would be ordered to search. It’s only right and proper. Your Hundred Flowers Palace should be grateful that I cleared your names.”
The Palace Lord snorted. “If not for the two elders being present last night, it’s uncertain if my Hundred Flowers Palace would be innocent!”
Xiahou Zheng looked at her coldly. “Do you mean that you think I’ll use the search to send people to the Hundred Flowers Palace?”
The Palace Lord was not afraid of his gaze. She returned his gaze with a cold and sharp glare. “Young Master said so himself.”
Xiahou Zheng clenched his fists tightly.
From Yun Shuang to Yun Lin, the Hundred Flowers Palace was indeed vicious.
Losing the most powerful scout was already painful enough, but to be ridiculed like this… Xiahou Zheng was furious.
However, a little impatience would spoil great plans.
Xiahou Zheng forced himself to endure it. “I was ignorant last night and offended the Hundred Flowers Palace. Palace Lord Yun, please forgive me.”
Elder Li stepped forward to mediate.
The Palace Lord looked like she had finally calmed down. “You’ve been busy all night. The two elders must be starving. Why don’t you have a meal at the Hundred Flowers Palace before leaving?”
As she spoke, before the two of them could refuse, she looked at Xie Jinnian. “Second Young Master and my brothers, please stay for a meal. As for Eldest Young Master… I think Eldest Young Master wouldn’t like my Hundred Flower Palace’s food, so I won’t keep you!”
Xiahou Zheng felt his face had been slapped again. Why was it so awkward?
The guards did not dare to look up at him.
“Goodbye!”
Xiahou Zheng coldly left with the hundred guards.
Elder Li and Elder Liu wanted to refuse, but it was difficult for them to refuse the hospitality of the Palace Lord and Wei Xu, so they could only stay.
The chef of the Hundred Flowers Palace had been specially trained by Su Xiaoxiao. The novelty and taste of the dishes were not to be criticized. Not only did they retain the flavor of the traditional dishes on the island, but they also added new delicacies from the Central Plain.
It was unknown if the elders found it delicious or not. In any case, the guards could not stop eating.
Xing’er hugged the wine jar and poured wine for everyone. “This is wine brewed by my Miss. It’s not intoxicating. Everyone, drink at ease!”
The Palace Lord and Wei Xu treated the two elders and Xie Jinnian sincerely. Their words seemed to pave the way for Ling Yun.
In the eyes of the two elders, the situation was clear. Yun Lin couldn’t avoid the battle for the heir, and the usually cold Palace Lord Yun began to rope in forces for him.
The Palace Lord even prepared generous gifts for the three of them.
The two elders sat still.
Xie Jinnian pushed the brocade box back.
Wei Xu frowned. “Does Second Young Master look down on this little gift?”
Xie Jinnian smiled and said, “No, it’s just that I’m not good at these things. I heard that the phoenix birds of the Hundred Flower Palace are rare. Can you lend them to me to take a look?”
Wei Xu relaxed. “Of course! Someone, bring Second Young Master to choose a phoenix bird!”
Phoenix birds were extremely precious. When the two elders saw that Second Young Master had accepted the gift from the Hundred Flowers Palace, they cleared their throats and accepted the astronomical gifts with great hospitality.
When Xie Jinnian arrived at the Phoenix Bird Garden, Su Xiaoxiao had been waiting for a long time.
After feeding the last phoenix, she smiled at Xie Jinnian and said, “Second Young Master.”
Xie Jinnian looked around.
Su Xiaoxiao said, “Don’t worry, it’s very safe here!”
Xie Jinnian raised his finger, and the six guards behind him stepped forward, four men and two women.
One of the female guards helped the last male guard out.
The two of them were none other than Yuwen Xi and Yuwen Huai.
Yuwen Huai had relied on the fever medicine to survive until now. Otherwise, he would have fallen long ago.
“Thank you, Second Young Master.” Yuwen Xi thanked him.
Xie Jinnian glanced at Su Xiaoxiao and smiled. “Don’t thank me. Thank her. She gave me something I can’t refuse.”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “But you were the one who thought of the plan to deceive the world, so I still have to thank you.”
The most worrisome thing about working with Xie Jinnian was that once Xie Jinnian agreed, there was no need for others to worry. He would arrange everything flawlessly.
Xiahou Zheng probably never dreamed that Xie Jinnian would hide Yuwen Xi and Yuwen Huai among his guards.
All of this looked simple, but every step of implementation was actually meticulous.
First, there had to be a female guard.
This was not difficult, and it would not arouse suspicion. After all, there were many female disciples in the Hundred Flowers Palace. It was reasonable for him to bring female guards to search the palace, making Xie Jinnian appear meticulous.
Next was the problem of assimilation.
How could they disguise themselves as Xie Jinnian’s guards and blend into the team without being suspected?
When searching the Flying Cloud Palace, Su Xiaoxiao suggested that only the female guards enter.
This was not strange. Wei Ting was not around. So what if she did not want other men to enter her room?
However, they actually did not stuff Yuwen Xi in here.
This was because under everyone’s gaze, it would be too obvious ten people entered and eleven came out.
Xiahou Zheng did not disappoint and really questioned Xie Jinnian’s fairness.
In order to prove her innocence, the Palace Lord had no choice but to agree to let Xiahou Zheng, the two elders, and Xie Jinnian search again.
The two elders were also quite embarrassed that they did not find anything.
The Palace Lord pretended to be angry. When it was time to search Towering Palace, she simply released everyone in a fit of pique.
Even her emotions were reasonable.
At this moment, it was not so eye-catching to stuff two guards into the crowd of more than a hundred men and women.
“Here.”
Su Xiaoxiao handed the box containing the dragon crystal to Xie Jinnian.
Xie Jinnian took it and confirmed that it was a true dragon crystal.
Su Xiaoxiao smiled. “How is it? I didn’t fool you with a fake one, right? It’s not a loss to make a deal with me, right?”
Xie Jinnian asked in confusion, “Why do you have a dragon crystal?”
He thought that Su Xiaoxiao would brush it off. After all, this was a bigger secret than Yuwen Xi and Yuwen Huai.
Unexpectedly, Su Xiaoxiao nodded and said extremely honestly, “Because I’m from the Wei family. My name is Cheng Su, also called Qin Su. My grandfather is Qin Canglan, and my father-in-law is Wei Xu, who is the Duanmu Qi you know. My husband, Duanmu Yun, is the youngest son of the Wei family, Wei Ting.”
Xie Jinnian was stunned by this sudden bluntness.
“The reason why I dare to give you the dragon crystal is that even if your Xiahou family gathers four dragon crystals, you won’t be able to find Emperor Wu’s tomb.”
Hearing this, alarms began to ring in Xie Jinnian’s heart.
Instinct told him that he could not listen any further.
Xie Jinnian frowned and said, “Stop talking…”
However, his voice was drowned out by Su Xiaoxiao’s words.
Su Xiaoxiao said in one breath, “The treasure map in your adoptive father’s hand is fake. Half of the real treasure map is in my hands, and the other half is in the hands of your great-uncle, Xiahou Yi. That’s right. Your great-uncle, Xiahou Yi, is unfaithful to the City Lord Manor. Lou Bufan is his trusted aide, and Xiahou Zheng and Xiahou Yu are his trusted aides. Min Ningwan of Heavenly Jade Hall is also in cahoots with him. He wants to get rid of everyone, including me. It might not include you, but it doesn’t matter. After tonight, you would have become a thorn in his side.”
The corners of Xie Jinnian’s mouth twitched.
Xie Jinnian narrowed his eyes dangerously and took a step forward, blocking Su Xiaoxiao against the wall. His dangerous and invasive manly aura surrounded her.
“You’re… cheating!”
What a powerful pressure… She would never say that he was the head of the eunuchs again.
Su Xiaoxiao’s little sweetheart trembled and said weakly, “How is this a scam?”
The two of them were extremely close. Xie Jinnian’s tall figure enveloped her domineeringly, like a ferocious beast that could devour her at any time.
“The price of the dragon crystal is not Yuwen Huai and Yuwen Xi, but to drag me down! To make me my granduncle’s enemy!”
What a fierce head eunuch!!!
Su Xiaoxiao crossed her fingers. “Young Master Jinnian…”
Xie Jinnian said sternly, “Don’t call me Young Master Jinnian!”
Su Xiaoxiao blinked. “Brother Jinnian?”
Xie Jinnian was speechless.