The Empress's No.1 Lackey

Chapter 1057 - 585: The Second Prince Returns to the Mortal World

The Empress, however, did not have much confidence. She had a premonition that since the female temple priest had hidden away, Mr. Zhao’s second hypothesis might be the most likely.

The secret left by the Grand Ancestor probably still awaits certain conditions to be met before it surfaces.

But before that, attempting to unlock this mobile phone is also a direction.

"Alright, you go and handle the aftermath first, I shall wait for you in the Capital." After Xu Zhenguan said this, his figure gradually faded away, wrapped in a cluster of starlight, and soared into the night sky, disappearing.

Mr. Zhao watched the Empress leave and heaved a sigh of relief. This time, they had passed the biggest crisis without danger, but what followed was an even larger mystery.

And the answer to all mysteries might be hidden in the cultivation murals of the Martial God Path.

"Well, some things can’t be rushed. But, old Xu, what exactly do you intend to do?" Mr. Zhao gazed at the night sky, lost in thought for a while, before his figure also dispersed and vanished.

...

Yunfu Road, Zhengyang Mountain.

When Mr. Zhao walked out of his room, it was already near dusk. In the courtyard, Zhong Pan, Yu Xiu, Jin Jian, and Mr. Zhengyang were sitting around a stone table, chatting casually.

Seeing him walk out, they all looked over.

"Where is Heavenly Master Zhang?" Mr. Zhao nodded to a few people and then inquired.

Zhong Pan explained, "The master is cultivating at the mountain top."

His explanation was vague, but Mr. Zhao guessed that the Old Heavenly Master was "digesting" the Sorrow God.

He nodded and said, "Next, I plan to return to Jingchuan City. What are your plans?"

After Xu Jingtang’s death, the curses on the people disappeared, and their cultivation was restored.

Jin Jian, who was munching on melon seeds, was the first to stand up, adjusted a new pair of glasses on his nose, and stared at him: "I’m going back with you, don’t think you can skip out!"

The Young Priestess still remembered the promise of bonuses based on her contribution to this hunting action.

That money-grubber... Mr. Zhao’s mouth twitched, and he helplessly said, "Alright, alright, you won’t be shorted."

Yu Xiu looked at him with a smile: "Mr. Zhao, about the matter of my sister the Shadow Guard..."

Before the action, Mr. Zhao promised to completely free Nie Yurong.

He listened intently with the demeanor of a governor: "Eh... What Shadow Guard? Tributor!"

"Tributor?!" Yu Xiu widened her eyes, not understanding.

"Haha, just a joke," Mr. Zhao said vaguely, "Once in Jingchuan City, I will issue the order to fulfill this matter."

Yu Xiu sighed in relief and smiled, saying, "Then I’ll follow you back first."

Previously, Nie Yurong had saved Zhao Shixiong’s daughter and returned to Yongjia. Later, when the army marched south, she followed within the army.

Yu Xiu was certainly heading back to Jingchuan City.

Zhong Pan saw this and smiled faintly: "The master can send you back; I’ll rest here for a while."

His single-horned horse had run to exhaustion and needed a rest.

Mr. Zhao nodded and then looked towards Mr. Zhengyang, seriously saying, "With Xu Jingtang dead here, the court’s army will attack Yunfu, but within Yunfu Road, there are still remnants of power. Sir, it would be best to hide to avoid being affected."

Mr. Zhengyang, who only had brief academic discussions with Mr. Zhao in the Capital, cupped his hands and smiled slightly: "Thank you, Scholar Zhao, for the reminder. However, with Little Heavenly Master residing, Zhengyang Mountain will not be disturbed by military disaster."

Mr. Zhao was taken aback, then smiled as he realized that Zhong Pan chose to stay to protect the scholars of Zhengyang Mountain.

Exiting the courtyard, Mr. Zhao walked up the mountain. By the time he reached the top, the sun was setting on the horizon.

Looking down from the peak, the golden clouds at the horizon rolled across the sea, with the afterglow of the sunset, a serene scene of vastness.

Zhang Yan Yi sat cross-legged at the mountain peak, gazing at the setting sun, swiftly putting away the spread out Heavenly Book, resuming the pose of a high-order person.

He did not want Mr. Zhao to see the line of words he had just etched hastily on the Heavenly Book, "Act with a will unbounded by rules."

"I must trouble the Heavenly Master to send me, Yu Xiu, and Jin Jian back to Jingchuan City," Mr. Zhao spoke as he arrived from behind.

Although in Yunfu, if the Heavenly Master Mansion did not participate, his own success rate in assassinating Xu Jingtang’s eldest son wasn’t high, nor significant.

In comparison, returning swiftly to Jingchuan City to report Xu Jingtang’s death and the court’s stance to the army was more urgent.

Thinking of the reactions waiting in Jingchuan City when Zhao Shixiong, Prince Huaian, and others learn of Xu Jingtang’s fall, Mr. Zhao couldn’t help but anticipate.

Zhang Yan Yi, in a celestial demeanor, just nodded lightly: "Good."

At the peak of Zhengyang Mountain, two gigantic celestial cranes flapped their wings and flew from the sea of clouds.

...

...

The Eastern Front of the Huai River, the base camp of the Jiancheng Army, inside a military tent.

At dusk, the high ranks of the Jiancheng Road rebel army gathered, and a high-ranking meeting presided over by Prince Jing commenced.

"According to the latest intelligence from the spies, the court’s west line army moved southward, led by Zhao Shixiong and Yuan Feng, occupying Jingchuan City two days ago, defeating the Yunfu Army. The Mu Prince Xu Jingtang is suspected to have fled back to Yunfu, Mr. Zhao once appeared in Jingchuan City and disappeared, currently whereabouts unknown... Prince Huaian Xu An has changed flags and clearly aligned with the court..."

With an official reading the latest military information loudly, the atmosphere in the entire tent turned heavy.

Deathly silence fell.

Each military general and civil officer was anxious and fearful, even though they had anticipated today’s result when they learned of Zhao Shixiong’s defection days ago. Yet, they didn’t expect the Yunfu Rebel Army to fail so swiftly!

The Princely Heir Xu Jinglong carefully looked towards the main seat in the tent, seeing his father, Prince Jing, in noble purple clothing, seated expressionlessly.

Behind Prince Jing, Lu Yaner from the Prince Jing Mansion stood silently.

"Yunfu has fallen," after the civil officials finished reading, Prince Jing slowly uttered from his throat. His face, so similar to the late Emperor’s, was full of fatigue, yet his eyes were glaringly bright.