Chapter 559: Make a Bigger Deal if You're Going to Make One

## Chapter 555: If You're Going to Make Trouble, Make It Big

At this moment, the Lamp Guardian reported:"Crown Prince Chiyan has arrived and is waiting outside the building."

The Demon Emperor paced back and forth again, looking out at the sky. Night had fallen."Let him in."

Even before sunset, the common people of Spirit Void City had begun to finish work and return home, leading to a rush hour on the main thoroughfares and for the deer carriages. City regulations stipulated that during the Mao (5-7 AM) and Shen (3-5 PM) hours—one hour each in the morning and evening—only horse (beast-of-burden) carriages, deer carriages, and demons were allowed on the main street to prevent traffic congestion. Those who could ride in horse or beast-of-burden carriages were either rich or noble. Simply put, these two periods restricted commoners from using private vehicles; they could only take public deer carriages.

The deer carriage He Lingchuan was riding in was packed with forty people. Forget about seats, there wasn't even standing room. Pressed against him was a stout auntie whose head was buried directly in his chest. The joy of everyone being intimately close during rush hour, just like in his previous life, had returned.

The main road was full of vehicles and horses, so the deer carriage could only move in fits and starts. The journey was only ten *li*, but it took over half an hour of bumpy travel. He Lingchuan finally reached his stop and had to exert considerable effort to squeeze off the deer carriage. The auntie behind him looked a little wistful. After walking for another quarter of an hour and asking three passersby, He Lingchuan finally reached his destination.

He looked up at the shop sign in front of him: Songyang Manor.

The facade of this branch office was larger and more splendid than the main headquarters of Songyang Manor in Stone Citadel, Yuan Kingdom. After all, in the most prosperous city in the world, the grander and more prestigious the display, the higher the status of the clients it attracted. Entering through the eight double doors, a two-zhang tall spirit screen was carved with a map of Wolong River. The waterfall appeared to flow, the cranes to fly, and the clouds to drift, vividly encapsulating the magnificent river scenery within a single wall. Most miraculously, it also had sound effects. The waterfall roared like thunder, and the flying birds chirped clearly. Although repetitive, the sounds were captivating. Many passersby unfamiliar with the place would stop to watch. By showcasing their master craftsmanship here, Songyang Manor attracted more customers than any solicitations from their clerks outside. He Lingchuan greatly appreciated this huge spirit screen. As long as he walked behind it, any prying eyes from outside would be blocked—if there were any.

A clerk smilingly came forward: "Is this your first visit, honored guest? May I introduce our services?"

There weren't many customers in the shop. He Lingchuan pulled out his Poison Fang dagger and placed it on the counter under the clerk's watchful eye: "This knife was custom-made for me by Songyang Manor, and it's blunt. I heard the maker is here, so I specifically came to have it sharpened."

The clerk examined the Poison Fang dagger: "Whose masterpiece is this?"

He Lingchuan smiled: "Take it to the back; someone will recognize it."

The clerk, half-believing, half-doubting, took the knife and left. He Lingchuan browsed around the shop, but secretly kept an eye on the entrance. Several customers entered one after another; none of them looked like secret agents. About ten *xi* later, the clerk hurried back, his smile even more eager: "Honored guest, please follow me!"

This branch office also had a front section for sales, a middle section for appraisals, and a back section for the workshops. However, the front section was the largest, and the middle and back sections were smaller than those in Stone Citadel. In other words, the facade was impressive, but the back areas were not as spacious. After all, this was the main district of Spirit Void Lower City. The rent for this shop for two or three days would be enough to cover the entire month's expenses for He Chunhua's family of four.

He Lingchuan went up to the second floor of the workshop and saw Li Qingge. She wore a plain thin blouse with a peach-colored vest over it, perfectly complementing the fiery red Virginia creeper outside the window. He Lingchuan momentarily couldn't tell if she was a person in a painting or a painting beside a person.

The clerk quickly left. Li Qingge smiled: "Come, come, please have a seat, Special Envoy!"

He Lingchuan sat down and saw a bright red drink on the table, the color of blood. "Is this for me, or for Fu Shanyue?"

"You don't like pomegranate juice?" Li Qingge pulled half a pomegranate from somewhere and shook it at him. "This season, the pomegranates in Spirit Void City are the sweetest and reddest." Indeed, the pomegranate seeds in her hand were a deep purplish-red. Incidentally, her pretty face was also fair with a hint of red. He Lingchuan then watched her open a paper packet and pour light yellow powder into the cup. He almost stared blank-eyed: "You're adding ingredients right in front of me? Are you not even bothering to hide it?"

"What are you thinking?" Li Qingge chuckled. "This is orange powder; it enhances the flavor. Would you like to try it?"

What kind of fruit juice do men drink? He Lingchuan still picked up the glass and took a sip: "Mmm, it's good." Too sweet, he didn't like it.

"How were Lord and Shi Er on their journey?"

He, Li Qingge, and Boss Shi Er had parted ways in Tai'an City, Chiyan Kingdom. The two groups continued their journey towards Spirit Void City, with He Lingchuan going to investigate Fu Shanyue's case.

"Very well. As expected, after we separated from you, the journey was peaceful."

He Lingchuan could only give a wry smile at her conclusion. It seemed to be true.

"Is Boss Shi Er still in Spirit Void City? Have you seen him?"

He Lingchuan shook his head: "Not yet."

"Should I tell him?"

"No need. It's better if he doesn't get involved in my affairs right now." Boss Shi Er knew part of He Lingchuan's background. Now that Bai Ziqin was watching him closely, it wouldn't be good if Shi Er was tracked down through him.

He Lingchuan took a small cloud brocade flag from his storage ring: "In a few days, please give this flag to Lord Shi Er. He will understand." When he had left the Demon Lair Swamp and sought a merchant caravan to Spirit Void City, he had made an agreement with the Shimen Chamber of Commerce: once he arrived in Spirit Void City, he would give them Zhu Erniang's pass. From then on, the Shimen Chamber of Commerce would be able to pass through the Demon Lair Swamp and act as agents for the burrowing spiders' exclusive business. However, there had been many changes along the way. He Lingchuan had even separated from the Shimen caravan in Tai'an Town, Chiyan Kingdom. Now that he was in Spirit Void City, he needed to fulfill his agreement with the Shimen Chamber of Commerce.

Li Qingge didn't ask further. She took the flag and put it away, then sighed: "You're afraid of troubling Shi Er, but you're not afraid of troubling me?"

He Lingchuan smiled: "Songyang Manor has a branch here, and I'm here to buy things."

Li Qingge continued to observe him: "I've also heard about Young Master He's actions in Baishaqu."

"That fast?" He Lingchuan was pleased. This wasn't Yuan Kingdom, yet Li Qingge's information was still very well-informed. For him, being unfamiliar with the place, this was good news.

"Zhongsun Mou's disappearance in Baishaqu, the arrest of the Grand Minister of Agriculture's son-in-law, and the complete burning of Qingfu Temple—these stories have been circulating in Spirit Void City's upper circles for the past few days," Li Qingge said with a smile. "Tell me, are all these events connected?"

"Yes." He Lingchuan didn't elaborate. "How much do you know about the details of Zhongsun Mou's disappearance?"

"What I heard is that Zhongsun Mou was abducted by a monster in Baishaqu, and that monster was a subordinate of Cen Boqing."

"And what else?" He Lingchuan pointed to himself. "Was I mentioned?"

"Hmm—no," Li Qingge thought for a moment. "What I heard was that Zhongsun Mou wanted to handle this case as an espionage case, but he was repeatedly obstructed by Crown Prince Chiyan. As for you, the great contributor, you were made invisible." Who was He Lingchuan to be put on the gossip table of Spirit Void City? "If you ask me, this is good for you." Ordinary people should stay away from the whirlpools of the imperial capital.

"Where did Lord get this information?"

"It's common knowledge," Li Qingge said, amused. "What, you're trying to probe my sources?" Young Master He was always a very discerning person.

"Rumors always have many versions," especially a big piece of news like this.

Li Qingge said meaningfully: "From beginning to end, I've only heard this one version."

"Then perhaps someone is deliberately spreading it to keep the story consistent."

"Who knows?" Li Qingge adjusted her posture, appearing more relaxed.

"So, does that mean the Zhongsun family might not know about me?"

"Hard to say. Didn't Zhongsun Mou bring attendants to Baishaqu?"

"He did."

"If those attendants return to Spirit Void City, your conflict with Zhongsun Mou will be exposed." Li Qingge picked a pomegranate seed, put it in her mouth, "Are you afraid they'll cause you trouble?"

"I'd like to ask Lord for a favor," He Lingchuan smiled. "Let them know that I have arrived in Spirit Void City."

Li Qingge's chewing stopped, and she looked at him with some surprise. He Lingchuan's answer was truly unexpected.

"You want to inform them?" The Zhongsun family had some influence in Spirit Void City.

"Yes," He Lingchuan asked her, "Will it be very difficult?"

"It can be done, but in the process of transmitting the message, others might also find out."

He Lingchuan frowned. Li Qingge thought he found it difficult, but to her surprise, He Lingchuan then clapped his hands and laughed: "Excellent, Lord's reminder is excellent! It's best if everyone in Spirit Void City knows! Why didn't I think of that before?"

If you're going to make trouble, make it big.

Li Qingge put down the pomegranate and said seriously: "Young Master, playing with fire is very dangerous."

"I am already in a dangerous situation; one step back is an abyss." He Lingchuan also dropped his smile. "The more public this matter becomes, the more people who know about me, the safer I will be." He thought for a moment: "What is Zhongsun Mou's reputation like in Spirit Void City?"

Li Qingge covered her mouth and chuckled: "His great-grandfather, Zhongsun Chi, was quite famous. In his early years, he even persuaded two aquatic tribes on behalf of Beijia to surrender, greatly increasing Spirit Void City's underwater power. But as for Zhongsun Mou's generation, he's just an ordinary official's son, nothing exceptional." A merman who swims in water, named "Chi" (gallop/speed), He Lingchuan found that truly interesting.

"Zhongsun Mou was also appointed as an Imperial Inspector." He Lingchuan wasn't very familiar with the official system of Spirit Void Kingdom, but seeing Zhongsun Mou with this title, even Fu Shanyue didn't dare to kill him. If it weren't for the fugitive Mai Xuewen's intervention, Zhongsun Mou could have essentially swaggered unimpeded through Baishaqu.

"How can the son of an official become an official without experience?" Li Qingge's research into Spirit Void City was quite thorough. "Three or four hundred years ago, an Imperial Inspector would have to be a trusted confidant of the Emperor or a Censor. They would go to inspect local areas, observe the public's sentiments, and verify policy guidelines to prevent officials from misleading the Emperor. However, the greater the power of the Imperial Inspector, and the more disputes they interfered with, the more uneasy the Emperor became with them. By today, the Imperial Inspector is merely an honorary title. The Emperor has long since adopted other methods to inspect local areas."