Chapter 1334: Father and Son Playing Go
Editor: Atlas Studios
Xiahou Qing had always agreed to Ling Yun’s requests, but this time, he decisively refused.
“On account of how much they take care of you, I can choose not to kill them or torture them, but I can’t let them go.”
The matter was more serious than he had imagined… Ling Yun’s expression did not change as he asked, “Why?”
Xiahou Qing said seriously, “This matter concerns the future of the entire Thousand Mountains Island. It can’t be made up for by a personal relationship.”
Ling Yun looked at him sharply. “Is it the future of Thousand Mountain Island or your personal ambition and selfish desires?”
Xiahou Qing’s expression darkened.
Su Xiaoxiao tugged at Ling Yun’s sleeve imperceptibly.
Ling Yun knew Xiahou Qing too well. It was useless to call him father today. Even if he knelt down and begged him, he would not be merciful.
“You keep saying that you want to make it up to me, but it turns out that you won’t even let my two friends off.”
Xiahou Qing frowned and said patiently, “I can give you anything else, but this is not child’s play. Don’t be insensible. Everything in my future is yours. I’m doing this for your own good.”
Ling Yun said sarcastically, “For my own good? You’re making it up to me not because you dote on me, but to make yourself feel better. In the end, the only person you really care about is yourself. My mother really erred in her judgment back then. Or she wouldn’t have known you, let alone risked her life to give birth to me!”
Xiahou Qing slapped the table. “How dare you!”
Su Xiaoxiao immediately took a step forward and glared at Ling Yun. “You’re really too much. How can you say such angry words? You’ve clearly been worried sick about the City Lord these past few days, but you’re throwing a tantrum again!”
As she spoke, she gave Ling Yun a look.
Ling Yun clenched his fists and did not continue.
Su Xiaoxiao immediately turned to look at Xiahou Qing. “City Lord, he should have changed his bad temper a long time ago. Mother has been angry with him many times, but he’s not in good health and can’t be slapped.”
Thinking of his weak body, Xiahou Qing’s anger subsided.
Su Xiaoxiao said to Ling Yun again, “Seriously, didn’t the two of them just save your life? She gave you her son’s life-prolonging medicine willingly, not because you forced her.”
Ling Yun continued seamlessly, “If not for her, I would have died in the Western Jin! Someone wouldn’t have a son anymore!”
Xiahou Qing was furious. “You…”
Su Xiaoxiao said seriously, “Alright, alright, alright. I know that she has given you a new lease of life, but the City Lord also has his difficulties. A father and son don’t have overnight grudges. Don’t always anger your father.”
Ling Yun turned away.
Su Xiaoxiao continued to be the peacemaker. “City Lord, I don’t know anything about your Xiahou family, and Ling Yun doesn’t know either. You’ve never let him partic.i.p.ate in anything or even told him. How can he understand your ambition?”
Xiahou Qing fell silent.
Su Xiaoxiao said to Ling Yun, “Brother, talk to the City Lord. I’ll wait for you outside.”
Soon, only Xiahou Qing and Ling Yun were left in the room.
Xiahou Qing looked at Ling Yun’s thin figure and thought of Yun Xi. He sighed deeply. “Come over. I’ll tell you the background of the Xiahou family.”
… .
An hour later, Ling Yun came out.
Su Xiaoxiao looked around and walked out with him. At the same time, she asked softly, “How is it?”
Ling Yun sighed. “He still doesn’t agree to let them go, but I know the use of the dragon crystal.”
Su Xiaoxiao raised her eyebrows. “Oh?”
Ling Yun said, “It’s used to open Emperor Wu’s tomb. There are a total of four. He’s looking for the one in our hands. He suspects that the dragon crystal is in the hands of another descendant of Emperor Wu.”
Su Xiaoxiao said, “Does he know that the other descendant of Emperor Wu is from the Wei family?”
Ling Yun nodded. “Yes, he knew six years ago, but in recent years, the Wei family has declined, so he didn’t think of the Wei family as a threat. Not long ago, he obtained a treasure map that recorded that four dragon crystals were the key to opening Emperor Wu’s tomb. Only then did he know that there were more than three dragon crystals and suspected that the last one was in the hands of the Wei family.”
Su Xiaoxiao was enlightened. “I see. I knew it. The martial arts compet.i.tion happens every three years. Why did it change to going to Dragon Mountain to get dragon crystals this year?”
Ling Yun said, “I’ll think of another way to save the Princess and the Eldest Prince of the Western Jin.”
–
In the dungeon, Xiahou Zheng was in Yuwen Xi’s cell, forcing her to write a letter to the Western Jin.
Xie Jinnian stood in the corridor outside the cell.
Xiahou Zheng said condescendingly, “Your Highness, I advise you to cooperate obediently and suffer less.”
Yuwen Xi said coldly, “You can take my life if you want to. You can dream on if you want me to be your Xiahou family’s lackey?”
Xiahou Zheng said, “Your Highness, don’t tell me you think I really don’t dare to torture you?”
Yuwen Xi mocked, “I, Yuwen Xi, will take your surname!”
Xiahou Zheng raised his hand.
A guard walked in with an iron bucket burning charcoal and took out a red-hot branding iron from the iron bucket.
Yuwen Xi was drugged and her hands and feet were shackled. She could not resist at all.
She had no intention of struggling.
The guard tore open her clothes, revealing her bruised shoulders.
Yuwen Huai, who was in the next cell, pounced over and grabbed the wooden board of the cell door. He scolded angrily, “Xiahou Zheng, come at me if you have the guts! We’re all men! What’s so good about bullying women!”
Xiahou Zheng said, “Second Brother, teach him a lesson.”
Xie Jinnian sighed. “Brother, I don’t know martial arts. Aren’t you making things difficult for me?”
Xiahou Zheng smiled coldly and took the branding iron from the guard’s hand, imprinting it on Yuwen Huai’s chest.
Yuwen Huai did not dodge and forcefully endured it.
Xiahou Zheng said to Yuwen Xi, “If you don’t write, I’ll continue to torture your brother.”
Yuwen Xi said casually, “He and I are sworn enemies. I have to thank you for torturing him to death.”
The corners of Xiahou Zheng’s lips curled up. He put this branding iron back, took a new one, and walked towards Yuwen Xi.
Yuwen Huai scolded, “Xiahou Zheng!”
Just as he was about to attack, the guard beside the City Lord came over. “The City Lord has ordered that the two of them are not to be tortured.”
Xiahou Zheng frowned. “Why?”
The guard said, “That’s what the City Lord instructed.”
Xiahou Zheng asked, “Who came to see Foster Father today?”
The guard said, “Young Palace Lord Yun.”
Xiahou Zheng’s eyes turned cold. “It’s him again.”
–
In the dead of night, Yuwen Xi was sleepy.
Suddenly, she heard the cell door open.
She woke up with a start.
A sneaky figure scuttled in. She was about to twist the other party with the chain when she heard him whisper, “Hush, Your Highness. It’s me.”
Under the thin moonlight, Yuwen Xi recognized him as one of the prison guards.
“Young Palace Lord Yun asked me to save you. Take this medicine first. It’s the antidote for the Bone Softening Powder.”
As the jailer spoke, he handed Yuwen Xi a pill.
Yuwen Xi looked at him skeptically and took the medicine.
After resting for a moment, she indeed felt that her body was gradually recovering its strength.
The jailer took out a key from his waist and unlocked her shackles. Then, he went to open the door next door and woke Yuwen Huai.
However, Yuwen Huai had endured a lot of torture for Yuwen Xi, and the situation was a little bad.
The jailer panicked. “I can’t wake His Highness up.”
Yuwen Xi glanced at the unconscious Yuwen Huai and carried him on her back.
The prison guard brought the two of them out of the dungeon. “Your Highness, it’s an emergency. Young Palace Lord can’t establish so many connections. I can only trouble you to go through a dog hole.”
Yuwen Xi nodded.
The three of them crawled out of a dog hole in a secluded courtyard.
The carriage had been waiting for a long time.
The prison guard said to Yuwen Xi, “The carriage will bring the two of you to the Hundred Flowers Palace. Your Highness, please knock me out now.”
Yuwen Xi frowned and knocked him out.
Then, she helped Yuwen Huai into the carriage with the coachman.
The coachman said, “Your Highness, sit tight. If anyone chases after us later, I’ll try my best to stop them. You and His First Highness can abandon the carriage and walk east to the Hundred Flowers Palace.”
Yuwen Xi asked in confusion, “Who is your Young Palace Lord Yun? Why did he save us?”
The coachman said, “Young Palace Lord was entrusted by someone. Your Highness will know when you go to the Hundred Flowers Palace.”