Chapter 651: 哎哟你就是……

Chapter 646: Oh, You're…

Who needs such fierce guards? I’ve been going in and out of the Imperial Academy for years and have never needed them.

Gao Jilin tried to ask, "He, do you have any enemies in Lingxu City?"

"Yes," He Lingchuan sighed deeply. "Many, and every single one of them wishes me dead."

Everyone was puzzled.

He Lingchuan called a waiter over again and told him, "Bring four good dishes for the four-person table by the door."

The waiter went as instructed.

At this moment, several people descended the stairs from the second floor, all dressed in brocade robes. One of them scanned the room and his gaze immediately fixed on He Lingchuan.

He quickly walked over, patted He Lingchuan's shoulder, and exclaimed, "He Xiao! What are you doing here?"

His voice wasn't particularly loud, but it was clear enough for everyone in the surrounding two or three circles to hear. The smile on his face was also especially sincere.

He Lingchuan's hand paused.

How does he keep running into Fang Canran everywhere he goes?

"Just having drinks with some friends." His "real name" suddenly revealed, he could only give an awkward laugh. "Grand Steward Fang, what are you doing here?"

"Just finished dinner with some clients," Fang Canran replied. "I'm heading to Peach and Plum Pond to relax. Want to join?"

Peach and Plum Pond is a bathhouse and spa that, besides bathing, offers comprehensive services like haircuts, shaves, and massages. It's named "Peach and Plum" because it's located next to the Imperial Academy.

During their conversation, the surroundings suddenly fell silent.

Upon hearing the name "He Xiao," everyone stopped talking.

He Lingchuan saw the change in everyone's gazes and could only give a wry smile. "No need," he said. "I have other things to do. You all enjoy yourselves."

Fang Canran was exceedingly astute and immediately sensed the subtle shift in the atmosphere in the hall.

Jiang Tao couldn't help but exclaim, "He Xiao? You mean his name is He Xiao?"

Fang Canran seemed to freeze for a moment. He looked at everyone, then at He Lingchuan, and without answering, just patted He Lingchuan's shoulder with an apologetic smile. "My apologies!" he said. "I'll be going now."

After speaking, he indeed greeted his clients and turned to leave.

But this action was as good as a definite confirmation to Jiang Tao.

Fang Canran hadn't even stepped out of Xiangman House when, behind him, the place erupted in an uproar!

"You're He Xiao? *The* He Xiao?"

"No way, no way, no—way!"

In recent days, whoever mentioned important affairs in Lingxu City couldn't help but mention He Xiao. Such a famous figure, seemingly as distant as the horizon, was now right before their eyes?

The crowd's first reaction was disbelief.

This young man was only seventeen or eighteen. Could the special envoy from Chiyan really be this young? Bear in mind that some students in the Imperial Academy and other academies were already over forty.

They looked at him, then at themselves, wondering if their years had been lived in vain.

"Didn't he just say he had too many enemies? If it's truly He Xiao, then that makes sense."

"Hey, hey, that was just something the person who just left casually said! Who was that, anyway? Can we believe him?"

Another young noble immediately interjected, "That was the Grand Steward of the Golden Horn family, his name is Fang! You know about the Dunyuan Auction, right? He organizes every single one! I just saw him at the auction a few days ago."

A buzzing hum filled the air as everyone spoke at once, no one knew who was following up on whose comment. The entire tavern became as lively as if a ladle of boiling water had been poured into hot oil, creating a commotion that nearly overwhelmed He Lingchuan.

Seeing that everyone was talking over each other and missing the point, Du Shan simply stood up and walked to the four-person table by the door. He asked the several Tongxin Guards, "Excuse me, him—" He pointed at He Xiao. "Is this truly He Xiao, the special envoy from Chiyan?"

The exquisite appetizers He Lingchuan had ordered had just been served by the waiter. The Tongxin Guards looked at He Lingchuan, exchanged glances, and nodded.

"And who are you all?"

The men gravely replied, "South City, Tongxin Guard."

Their mission was supervision, not secrecy.

The Tongxin Guards' words immediately confirmed He Lingchuan's identity. Guests in Xiangman House quickly looked towards them, but He Lingchuan was surrounded, with a circle of people completely blocking him from view.

Jiang Tao tugged at He Lingchuan's sleeve and, raising his voice to express his disbelief, asked, "You're really He Xiao?"

Gao Jilin sighed, "You kept us in the dark for so long!" Earlier, when they went to Mount Xu together, this fellow clearly called himself "He Yun." But Old Ge the Gibbon's attitude towards him was uniquely different, unusually patient. That old man was someone who always stepped on the low and flattered the high!

Thinking about it now, that explained everything.

He Lingchuan gave a bitter smile. "I just wanted to sneak out for a couple of drinks, is that wrong?"

That scoundrel Fang Canran must have done it on purpose!

"He admitted it, he admitted it!" Jiang Tao waved his hands at the crowd. "Alright, alright, everyone calm down and ask one question at a time! Don't let people think the Imperial Academy is just a bunch of rabble."

He yelled himself hoarse, and the clamor in Xiangman House indeed subsided.

"I'll go first, Brother He! Is the mastermind behind the Elixir of Immortality case truly in the Green Palace?"

He Lingchuan didn't know whether to laugh or cry. These students were too bold. Could they just ask such a question, and could he just answer it?

However, everyone's eyes were burning with curiosity, clearly very interested in the answer.

"Without evidence, how can I speak carelessly?" He had investigated the first half of the Elixir of Immortality case, and given his special status, he was even more reluctant to speak rashly.

"What do you think?" another person asked. "I heard Cen Boqing was apprehended because of your relentless pursuit."

He Lingchuan shook his head. "What I think isn't important. Cen Boqing was caught because there was a complete set of human and material evidence. Now that the Green Lotus Temple has burned down, the evidence related to the case is incomplete."

Wang Mao also asked, "I heard Madam Cen rushed to Baisha Jue and brought a witness with her, hoping to reduce her husband's sentence. Is that true?"

He Lingchuan only said, "Brother Wang, your sources are truly well-informed."

Everyone understood.

Gao Jilin also joined in the excitement, "Are the clues for the Elixir of Immortality case truly all broken now?"

"The case has already been taken over by Envoy Bai. I have no authority to participate, and only he knows the details best." He Lingchuan picked up his wine cup and cleared his throat. When becoming the center of attention, it was crucial not to show complacency, but to appear calm and collected.

"During the investigation, details are not publicly disclosed, so as not to affect further proceedings."

He also needed to speak with appropriate official formality.

Watching everyone surround the young man, speaking over each other, Zheng Zewu remained silent.

He was just recovering from his shock.

Seventeen or eighteen years old, and already famous throughout Lingxu. How many students diligently pursued such a goal?

To become famous overnight, ah, how could it be so easy? Lingxu City was vast, with countless talented individuals, yet in this ocean, they couldn't even make a ripple.

Ten years of obscure study was the norm!

This young man before them had already navigated the currents of the capital's officialdom several times, riding the waves. How many noble families, openly and secretly, were willing to extend an olive branch to him?

His life was set. As long as his talent matched his fame, a meteoric rise was only a matter of time.

But what about Zheng Zewu? He was merely the top scorer in one spring exam at the Imperial Academy, and he had been so smug about it.

His heart felt empty, and the feeling was indescribable.

Du Shan gripped his cup, taking a silent gulp of Qinxian Spring wine. Suddenly, he said, "He Xiao, how are you still alive?"

His voice was soft, but the content was sharp.

The volume of the surrounding chatter immediately lowered.

Indeed, how did He Xiao make a name for himself in Lingxu City? Besides achieving results in the Elixir of Immortality case, most importantly, he had been attacked twice within less than a month of arriving in Lingxu City!

Ordinary people wouldn't receive such attention, nor would they face such dangers.

If one were to count, how many powers had he offended? The Grand Minister of Agriculture, the Zhongsuns, the hidden forces that dared to openly blow up the imperial guesthouse, and Prince Huan, the future successor of the empire, who dared to act in broad daylight!

Not to mention the master of the Green Palace. The spearhead of this case pointed directly at the Green Palace.

These magnates, at least the students present couldn't afford to offend them, could they? Talking was one thing, but actual hands-on action was another entirely.

Yet He Xiao was still sitting here, completely intact, drinking with everyone.

As Du Shan said, how did this fellow survive in such treacherous undercurrents?

Thinking of this, some people were no longer envious.

If fame had to be exchanged for one's life, was it worth it?

"Pure luck," He Lingchuan said calmly. "The first time the imperial guesthouse exploded, I happened to step out to get something, otherwise, I would have died in my room. The tables and chairs also had potent poison on them, and the officers who came to inspect the fire unfortunately got poisoned and nearly died."

Gao Jilin asked curiously, "Why both poison and an explosion? Double insurance?"

Du Shan shook his head. "Perhaps there were two groups of people attacking He Xiao simultaneously."

He Lingchuan immediately said, "That's my inference too."

"Inference?" Jiang Tao was very sharp this time. "They weren't caught?"

"Never," He Lingchuan said with a bitter smile. "The person who laid the poison was also silenced. Just like with the Elixir of Immortality case, the clues abruptly ended."

Everyone gasped, feeling a chill down their spines.

"As for the second time, Prince Huan came to Pan Mountain Residence to set fire. Prince Yue and I happened to be out, and as a result, the servants suffered terribly."

Situ He quickly asked:

"Was Madam Cen the instigator?"

There were listeners around who hadn't grasped the situation and hadn't understood earlier. They now finally asked, "Madam Cen? Which Madam Cen?"

So, someone immediately explained it to them.

"Cen Boqing actually had such a powerful backer?!"

Despite this, He Xiao was still able to bring down Cen Boqing, which was no easy feat.

"Later, Prince Yue was summoned by the Emperor, and Prince Huan vehemently denied that Madam Cen had instigated him. He claimed he had heard palace servants gossiping and, out of anger, personally came to teach us a lesson." These were no secrets among the upper echelons, so He Lingchuan felt no psychological burden in revealing them.

Wasn't Lingxu City known for its freedom of speech?

If students could speak, what couldn't he, a commoner, say?

But for the scholars, the firsthand information from the person involved was new, and they wanted to hear every single word.

Du Shan said, "So, the masterminds behind both attacks on you haven't been found?"

"As of now, I haven't heard of anyone being apprehended."

"They won't be found," Du Shan said bluntly. "If they were truly found, it would provide an explanation for you, but it would be bad for others. Rather than that, it's better to let you suffer a little."

Offend the powerful or offend commoners? There was no choice to make.

Immediately, some people felt righteous indignation on He Lingchuan's behalf.

Zheng Zewu couldn't help but say, "If that's truly the case, where does Lingxu's dignity lie?"

In truth, everyone knew he meant, where did the Emperor's and Lingxiao Palace's dignity lie?