Chapter 184: Ice Snake Attack

Chapter 184: Chapter 184: Ice Snake Attack

Chu Xiong watched Old Master Jiang, who was putting on a display of meekness. He sneered inwardly.

This old fellow certainly knows how to be tactful.

He spoke kindly, “How has your health been lately, Sir Jiang?”

Old Master Jiang put on an expression of being overwhelmed by an unexpected honor. He stood up, offering up both hands in a salutation, “Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty. I am old, and I am afraid my frail body will not last much longer.”

After signaling for Old Master Jiang to sit down again, Chu Xiong feigned concern, “You must take care of your body, dear minister.”

Old Master Jiang scoffed internally.

Take care of my health? He summoned me to the Imperial Palace on this freezing day and didn’t even consider my old age and feeble state. Hmph! So adept at putting on airs. He’s a far cry from the Late Emperor, not just by a little bit.

“Thank you for your concern, Your Majesty.”

“I remember that one of your daughters is married to General Xiao, isn’t she?”

Ah, so it’s about that matter.

Old Master Jiang felt uneasy. Eleven years ago, Xiao Ce abruptly left the capital with his family, and he had no idea where they ended up. Furthermore, in the eleven years since, he had not received any news from that ungrateful daughter of his.

Old Master Jiang stood up again and clasped his hands together, “Your Majesty, I do not know where my unfilial daughter has been or where she is now since she left the capital eleven years ago.”

Chu Xiong stared intently at Old Master Jiang’s somewhat cloudy eyes. There was no sign of deception, nor any of guilt.

This old fellow is telling the truth. But then again, after serving as Chancellor of the Imperial Academy for so many years, he certainly wouldn’t lose his composure so easily.

“Sir Jiang, your daughter really seems to have forgotten about you!”

He’s even stooping to sow discord within his ministers’ families!

Old Master Jiang inwardly despised this Emperor even more. On the surface, however, he managed to hide his disdain, looking sad and distressed, and sighed, “Alas, once a daughter is married off, she is like water that’s been thrown away; I cannot interfere with the Xiao Family.”

In other words, even I, her father, can’t meddle, so what right does he, the Emperor, have to interfere with a mere concubine’s daughter who has been married off for years? What on earth is this Emperor up to, being so inquisitive all of a sudden? Could it be that my wayward daughter has somehow offended His Majesty? Or perhaps it’s Xiao Ce? After disappearing for all these years, what could they have possibly done to attract the Emperor’s attention?

“Haha… You’re right. It’s just that I’m overly concerned. By the way, I remember your grandson’s name is… Xiao, what is it?” Chu Xiong tapped his forehead. “Ah! Xiao Yunjing?”

Old Master Jiang’s heart sank.

So the Emperor is after Yunjing! I guessed every possibility but this one. Back then, apart from Old General Xiao’s family, I was the only one who knew about Yunjing. Otherwise, why would I have retired so early from my post as Chancellor of the Imperial Academy? Our family has been living a low-key life ever since. Could the Emperor have found out? No, if he was certain, he wouldn’t have summoned me to the Imperial Palace for questioning.

Upon realizing this, Old Master Jiang feigned astonishment, “Does Your Majesty know where my grandson is?”

Hmph! So his name really is Xiao Yunjing.

The corners of Chu Xiong’s eyes narrowed, and he laughed, “You probably don’t know, Sir Jiang, that the current Grand General of Yanshan Pass is named Xiao Yunjing.”

Old Master Jiang’s murky eyes suddenly became clear and bright. Excitedly, he asked, “Is what Your Majesty said true?”

“Of course.”

“Then… then… my heartfelt thanks to Your Majesty for the news.” Old Master Jiang was so thrilled that he started to stutter, showing his excitement brilliantly.

I’d give myself full marks for that performance. To think, even at my age, I still have to act in front of the Emperor.

Chu Xiong just watched him from above, and after a long while, he said, “You should go and tell your family quickly, Sir Jiang.”

“Yes, yes, I’ll leave at once. I… I take my leave.”

Old Master Jiang paid his respects before happily leaving the Imperial Palace in a hurry.

Upon returning home, Old Master Jiang immediately called his eldest son, Jiang Zhongliang, to his study.

Jiang Zhongliang, in his forties, was the epitome of a scholar and currently served as a Master at the Imperial Academy. It could be said he was following in his father’s footsteps, and Old Master Jiang hoped that one day he too would become Chancellor of the Imperial Academy.

“Father, you seem to be in a hurry. What’s the matter?” Jiang Zhongliang asked in a low voice as he dismissed the servants, closed the door, and entered the study.

Father was summoned to the Imperial Palace? I only just heard. He never meddles in court affairs, so why would the Emperor summon him now?

“Sit down, I have something to tell you today.”

Jiang Zhongliang nodded and sat down across from Old Master Jiang.

Old Master Jiang took a deep breath, then said, “You know about your second sister’s family, don’t you?”

“I know a little. Did His Majesty summon you to the Imperial Palace today to inquire about my second sister and her family?”

“Yes.”

Jiang Zhongliang furrowed his brow, “Why would His Majesty take notice of my second sister’s family, who left the capital so many years ago?”

Second Sister’s family left so mysteriously back then; even I, her elder brother, knew nothing about it.

“It’s about Yunjing. His Majesty said that the current Grand General of Yanshan Pass is Xiao Yunjing.”

“What does that mean? If that child Yunjing has managed to become a general, that’s a testament to his own ability, isn’t it? Is there something else going on here?”

Old Master Jiang nodded, “I called you here to tell you about Yunjing.”

“About Yunjing?”

“Yes.” Old Master Jiang gestured for his son to listen.

He said, “That boy Yunjing is the current Emperor’s ninth younger brother, the son of the late Concubine Xiao. He did not die in that great fire back then. Old General Xiao smuggled him out of the Imperial Palace and had your second sister raise him. In our family, only I, your father, knew about this. Today, His Majesty inquired about the matter, presumably because he has grown suspicious.”

“What?!”

Jiang Zhongliang was stunned.

If this gets out, the Xiao Family will be guilty of a crime punishable by the extermination of their entire clan, down to the ninth degree! Smuggling a prince out of the Imperial Palace… this…

Jiang Zhongliang felt a numbness creep over his entire body from the shock, and he could only clench his fists tightly to keep himself composed.

This… this is too outrageous!

“Father, then… then what should we do now?” After quite a while, Jiang Zhongliang finally regained his senses, knowing that since his father had told him this, he surely had a plan.

Old Master Jiang was quite pleased with his eldest son’s composure; he hadn’t been so frightened as to lose his bearing.

“You need to arrange for someone to go to Yanshan Pass immediately. Officially, they will be there to visit relatives, but in reality—” Old Master Jiang explained his intentions to his son.

“Alright, Father, I’ll arrange it now.”

Considering the gravity of the situation, Jiang Zhongliang sought out his third younger brother, Jiang Zhongcai, who held no official post, and had him set out for Yanshan Pass with a group of men.

On the Icefield, Gu Qingli and her party had been walking for ten days without seeing a single person or even a ghostly shadow. Moreover, visibility was becoming increasingly limited.

SWOOSH, SWOOSH, SWOOSH…

Just as they were about to rest, suddenly countless thumb-sized Ice Snakes flew towards them from all directions.

“Protect the Young Lady!” Wuyou shouted, pulling out his soft sword and flying toward the attacking Ice Snakes.

Yun No. 20 and Yun No. 18 immediately guarded their respective directions, not letting any Ice Snakes penetrate their defensive circle.

Wushuang and Wuxin quickly put Gu Qingli down. Wuxin stayed to guard her while Wushuang joined the fray.

Gu Qingli’s scalp tingled at the sight of the dense swarm of Ice Snakes.

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