Chapter 414: Son

Li Huowang sat silently in a corner of the guest room, observing the discussions among the people from Great Qi.

They seemed to be arguing whether to win over some eunuchs from the palace in order to smoothly clear the periphery. One faction believed all palace eunuchs were the same, while another argued that past connections within the palace could still be exploited.

Li Huowang’s attention, however, was not focused on them, but mostly on Zhuge Yuan, who was nearby. Zhuge Yuan sat calmly, sipping tea like a mere spectator, offering no opinions. Even with his esteemed status in Great Qi, a single word from him could quell the dispute.

Li Huowang walked over and sat beside him, asking in a low voice, "They're arguing so fiercely. Aren't you going to intervene? We can't proceed without a leader right now."

Zhuge Yuan replied, "It's fine. With Old Qin here, they won't argue for long. I estimate they'll make their move by tomorrow at the latest. The young emperor isn't the key; the Empress Dowager, who rules from behind the curtain, is the most crucial figure."

"I hope so," Li Huowang said, standing up. "I'm going to relieve myself." He walked out towards the courtyard. Upon reaching the deserted courtyard, Li Huowang didn't wait long; he immediately left the Liang Residence.

As soon as Li Huowang left the grounds of the Liang Residence, a faded paper window decoration on the wall suddenly spoke. "Why haven't you acted yet? All of us are waiting hard outside, even Lord Jiancheng."

Li Huowang frowned, speaking to the layered window decoration, "I haven't even figured out where Zhuge Yuan keeps his old almanac. Why are you in such a hurry?"

"Furthermore, acting rashly now would only alert him. You all know how powerful Zhuge Yuan is."

The window decoration urged, "Try to be quick. This is a crucial moment; we can't afford to be slow."

"I know," Li Huowang replied. "Don't worry. The moment Zuo Wang Dao troubles Zhuge Yuan again will be our chance to act. When facing Zuo Wang Dao, Zhuge Yuan will definitely use his old almanac."

"Are you so sure Zuo Wang Dao will make a move?"

"Absolutely. Zhuge Yuan and Zuo Wang Dao are already at odds; it's either kill or be killed between them. Zuo Wang Dao has ambushed him twice before, so there will definitely be a third time. Alright, I'm heading back now, otherwise Zhuge Yuan will become suspicious."

After speaking to the figure, Li Huowang didn't wait for any further response and quickly walked back towards the Liang Residence.

As the window decoration became still, several miles away in a residence, a stout woman holding a pair of red-string scissors crumpled the paper decoration into a ball and threw it into a brazier. She then turned to Jiancheng and recounted everything that had just transpired.

Jiancheng's eyes were half-closed, as he allowed two youthful, beautiful girls to massage his legs and shoulders. Noticing that the incense stick beside him had burned out, the stout woman immediately walked over, ground fresh powder, and meticulously lit a new stick.

Just as a wisp of white smoke began to rise again, Jiancheng spoke, "Give the order: release those two Zuo Wang Dao members from the prison. Have them relay a message to the other 'Wind Plaques' and 'Arrow Plaques': tomorrow at 1:45 PM, launch a joint attack to encircle the storyteller. The Supervisorate of Heavenly Affairs wants nothing but the Six-Star Almanac."

The stout woman seemed startled by his command. Zuo Wang Dao had always been a mortal enemy of the Supervisorate of Heavenly Affairs, yet Jiancheng intended to strike a deal with them! "Lord Jiancheng, will they agree?"

"I know these swindlers," Jiancheng replied. "They will. You all think they're reckless madmen, but in truth, they also have things they care about; they just hide them very well."

As he spoke, Jiancheng seemed to feel a touch of weariness. He stood up and walked towards the bed. Hearing his footsteps, the two young girls, dressed only in bellybands under the covers, quickly pulled back the quilt. As Jiancheng lay down, the two girls immediately moved to the foot of the bed, cradling his cracked, peeling feet in their arms, pressing them tightly against their soft skin.

Jiancheng sighed, and with effort, turned over in bed. "Go," he said. "Remind me when the action begins tomorrow. This matter is too important; I will personally oversee the battle."

"Yes, Your Lordship. Your servant obeys."

The stout woman picked up the red-string scissors and snipped them towards the oil lamp, plunging the room into instant darkness. She bowed slightly towards Jiancheng's bed and slowly backed out of the room.

The next day, Li Huowang rose early, skipping breakfast. He paced uneasily in the courtyard, feeling a persistent sense that something was about to happen.

People from Great Qi came and went, discussing various matters around him. Li Huowang had initially ignored them completely, treating them as mere background noise. After all, the matters concerning Great Liang were undoubtedly many times more important than those of Great Qi.

However, with the arrival of a carriage, Li Huowang's gaze was involuntarily drawn to it. A eunuch surprisingly disembarked. This eunuch was plump and fair-skinned, younger than the Grand Secretary. He wore no gold or silver, instead clutching a string of Buddhist beads.

Upon entering, he didn't even go inside the house, instead beginning to speak right there in the courtyard. "Esteemed sirs, please stop your efforts," he announced. "My godfather said he cannot help you with anything. Pretending not to see is already enough to repay his favor."

Qin Mengzhe, the Grand Master of Great Qi, clearly wouldn't let go of this potential palace aid. "Eunuch, Master Zhuge is also here. Are you truly not going to reconsider? If this succeeds, it would be a monumental achievement!"

The eunuch glanced at Zhuge Yuan, then quickly bowed respectfully. Immediately afterward, he said with a self-mocking expression, "Master Qin, what do you think is most important to us palace servants?"

This rhetorical question immediately stumped the others. The woman from Miao Jiang spoke with hesitation, "Gold?"

"Wrong! It's sons! This is something you cannot help with, but the Buddha can!" As he spoke, the eunuch unbuttoned his clothes, revealing a bulging, veiny belly, shaped like an arrowhead. As if showing off, he exclaimed with great excitement, "Who says we eunuchs are destined to be childless just because we've lost our 'treasure'?! See this? Do you know what's inside? My son!"

The eunuch repeatedly stroked his veiny belly with the hand wrapped around the Buddhist beads, as if in response, something inside pressed a faint little handprint onto the taut skin.

This sight sent chills down Li Huowang's spine. What was going on in Great Qi? How did the monks of Zhengde Temple make this eunuch pregnant, and was that truly a living person inside his belly? Compared to Zhengde Temple in Great Liang, Zhengde Temple in Great Qi was clearly far more powerful.

Qin Mengzhe, witnessing this scene, was so furious his hands trembled. "Those are demon monks from Zhengde Temple! Colluding with them will bring no good outcome!"

"Who cares if they're demon monks or even demons, as long as they can help us, the 'rootless,' carry on our lineage?!"

After saying this, the eunuch carefully wrapped his belly with his clothes.