Chapter 91: Haunted

"Do you know what 'drinking flower wine' means?" Ning Changjiu retorted.

Ning Xiaoling, twirling a copper coin between her fingers, smiled slightly and said, "Of course I know! It's going to a brothel to drink, spending a fortune, having the ladies sing and dance, and then, at night, finding a beauty, ah..."

Ning Xiaoling clutched her head. Ning Changjiu withdrew his hand from tapping her head and chuckled, "My junior sister certainly knows a lot."

Ning Xiaoling said indignantly, "I only heard it from a few senior brothers on the peak! They all said they're going to drink flower wine together after Lunar New Year's Eve, and that immortal masters get excellent treatment at brothels and don't even have to spend much money."

Ning Changjiu advised earnestly, "In the future, listen less to your indulgent senior brothers. They'll only lead you astray. You should learn more from your senior brother or your master."

Ning Xiaoling let out a long "Ohhh."

"Besides," Ning Changjiu asked, "brothels generally don't allow young girls like you inside."

Ning Xiaoling's eyes lit up. "Senior brother, how do you know that?" she asked.

Ning Changjiu paused, then explained, "Because brothels... don't cater to your needs."

Ning Xiaoling asked, confused, "Needs? What needs? I just want to watch pretty ladies dance! Isn't that what everyone else wants?"

Ning Changjiu was silent for a moment, then suddenly asked, "How's your practice of the Daoist Concealment Art I taught you last time coming along?"

"I've been practicing it, but I can't quite get the hang of it. The way the spiritual veins circulate is so different from our sect's internal breathing method," Ning Xiaoling complained, then added, "Senior brother, you're changing the subject again."

Ning Changjiu patted her head, saying gently, "Cultivation is the most important thing for cultivators, and you, junior sister, are the one I care about most, so of course, I must always be concerned."

These words were quite touching, but Ning Xiaoling didn't fall for it at all. She scoffed, "Hmph, if senior brother had said that a month ago, I would have been deeply moved. But now that I've seen a bit of your true colors, I don't believe your nonsense."

This time, it was Ning Changjiu's turn to feel a bit wronged. "What true colors?"

Ning Xiaoling didn't answer, simply saying, "Still, what senior brother just said made me a little happy. When we have dinner later, I'll give you an extra piece of meat."

Ning Changjiu sighed, "Thank you for your kindness, junior sister."

Ning Xiaoling suddenly asked, "When are we going to find Sister Xiang'er?"

Ning Changjiu replied, "Probably on the eve of Lunar New Year's Eve. The imperial city will definitely be much livelier than here. Then your Sister Xiang'er can treat you to a state banquet."

***

Imperial City of Zhao.

Zhao Xiang'er stood before the golden steps of the imperial palace, clad in a black dragon robe with gold embroidery.

With Lunar New Year's Eve approaching, she had little rest. The affairs of the imperial court grew more numerous, dealing with military matters, battlefields, stipends, adjustments for various positions, and security issues during the festival. Even she felt some fatigue. Of course, such emotions could not be shown. Standing before the hall, she was like a dark banner, symbolizing the unyielding faith of Zhao today.

However, after witnessing the magnificent splendor of the Three Thousand Worlds in the Western Kingdom, she found herself genuinely lacking much interest in these mundane earthly matters.

Initially, she had thought that reclaiming the lost territories of the Jin State would be a simple matter of overwhelming force, especially since the Jin State's top ten masters were all dead, and the Zhao State had received a spiritual energy rain from the fall of a Spirit Devourer above the Five Paths.

With this ebb and flow, as long as the cultivators of Zhao State slowly rose, they might even reclaim those lost territories without shedding a single drop of blood.

But once she truly began to tackle these tasks, she realized how difficult they were. Ordinary cultivators, when entering the army, were merely tiny specks of dust, unable to stir up significant waves. Every triumphant victory was built upon countless accumulated details.

These fragmented tasks often made her want to don heavy armor and splendid robes, raise her sword, and lead the army herself.

Of course, even if she had the ability to do so, she wouldn't, as her current cultivation level was not yet sufficient to support such significant risks.

The Zhao State was currently plagued by years of accumulated problems. It needed her to be a symbol of authority, standing tall in its center like an unyielding pillar, gathering the morale of its people, which had been scattered for many years, like steel.

She was the new Divine Child of Zhao, an authoritative yet mysterious, powerful yet exquisitely beautiful Divine Child within the imperial palace.

Zhao Xiang'er gently rubbed her temples and let out a soft sigh.

"Your Highness."

A woman's voice came from behind her.

"What have you found?" Zhao Xiang'er asked, turning around.

The newcomer was Tang Yu. Everyone in the imperial court now knew she was the most favored person by Zhao Xiang'er. The new empress had even issued an imperial decree directly appointing her a First-Rank female official, a status more esteemed than that of Zhao Shisong. Zhao Shisong, of course, was sensible; ever since that night when he learned she was His Highness's person, he dared not harbor any further thoughts, always keeping his distance. It was just as well to send this "little deity" away now.

He had initially thought that Tang Yu, after achieving such high status, would seek some revenge against him. However, he had been on edge for two months, but nothing had happened.

At that moment, Tang Yu came before the hall, took out a stack of bamboo slips, presented them to Zhao Xiang'er, and said, "These are the lists of dozens of monster hunters and Daoists who came and went from the imperial city two months ago, all organized as Your Highness commanded."

Zhao Xiang'er casually flipped through a few of the slips. The name of the relevant person was carved on the first line of each slip.

"Who was in charge of these matters at the time?" Zhao Xiang'er asked.

Tang Yu replied, "Several old officials, led by Official Song, were responsible for this. Basically, all the slightly renowned Daoists from within and around the imperial city and nearby towns were invited."

"How many people in total?" Zhao Xiang'er asked.

"Twenty-four people," Tang Yu answered.

Zhao Xiang'er then asked, "How many died?"

"Eighteen people," Tang Yu replied.

Zhao Xiang'er's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Her slender, jade-like fingers brushed over the slips, and she asked in confusion, "Why so many?"

Tang Yu was slightly surprised. "Your Highness was unaware of this?"

A faint look of surprise appeared in Zhao Xiang'er's eyes. "I knew something about it before, but I didn't realize so many had died."

Full of doubt, Tang Yu tentatively asked, "Weren't these people...?"

Zhao Xiang'er gently shook her head. "The people who besieged Qianyu Hall that day were secretly killed by my order to Lord Bloodfeather. I then had Official Song exaggerate their deaths and publicize them. But these old Daoists bore no grudge against me. Why would I bother to trouble them?"

Tang Yu thought for a moment and guessed, "Could it be that the old fox has already awakened and acted in secret?"

Zhao Xiang'er said, "The old fox has indeed awakened, but he is in prison, so his influence is limited. Moreover, he would need to expend his energy to place the demonic seed into Ning Xiaoling's body, so he wouldn't engage in such trivial matters."

Tang Yu asked again, "Could it be that the demonic sparrow, being bloodthirsty, acted as well?"

"Unlikely," Zhao Xiang'er still shook her head. After a moment of silence, she said, "Were there any witnesses before those Daoists died? Have them describe their conditions at the time of death, compile them into a report, and let me see it."

"Yes," Tang Yu assented.

Zhao Xiang'er placed the bamboo slips back down and descended the golden steps with light footsteps, her dark robe swaying gently beneath the intricately beautiful coffered ceiling.

"Actually..." she suddenly began, "there's another possibility."

Tang Yu felt the atmosphere shift slightly. After steadying herself, she followed up on Zhao Xiang'er's words and asked, "What possibility?"

Zhao Xiang'er stopped, her sleeves swaying slightly. Her voice was chilling as she said, "During that period, perhaps... the imperial city truly was haunted."