Imperial Cultivation

69: Chapter 67: Scheming

69 -67: Scheming

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The middle-aged man in the green robe felt helpless and resigned as he thought about it.

He was just a small centurion, not qualified to advise him, much less qualified to teach the Princely Heir how to handle things.

Cheng Tianfeng said, “I want to see this young lady of the Duke An Mansion.”

The green-robed middle-aged man hurriedly said, “Princely Heir, this Miss Xiao rarely leaves the mansion, she’s there all day long.”

“Doesn’t leave the mansion?” Cheng Tianfeng pondered, “Then lure her out, who does she care about the most?”

“…It should be Duke An.”

“Forget about Duke An.” Cheng Tianfeng waved his hand, “A Grandmaster Perfection is not someone you can easily deal with, who else?”

“That would be the young lord.” The green-robed middle-aged man thought, “The wife of Duke An passed away early, the young lord was raised by his sister; their relationship is naturally extraordinary.”

“Does this young lord often leave the mansion?”

“…Not really.” The green-robed middle-aged man said, “This young lord is somewhat introverted and doesn’t like socializing.”

“As a young lord, no matter how introverted and uninterested in socializing, one still needs to socialize, right?”

The green-robed middle-aged man scratched his head.

His thoughts raced as he racked his brain on how to lure Xiao Ruoling out so that Cheng Tianfeng could have a look at her.

Cheng Tianfeng stared at him, his eyes sharp as if seeing through his heart.

The green-robed middle-aged man thought it over, then slowly said, “If the Princely Heir really wants to meet her, then we can only take a risky move.”

“How?”

“Write a fake invitation to lure her out.”

Cheng Tianfeng pondered for a moment, then shook his head, “Forget it, it’s difficult for you too, and it wouldn’t be good if it got exposed, that would be my fault.”

“…Princely Heir, it’s worth a try.”

“Can you manage it?

Don’t force yourself.”

“…I can!” The green-robed middle-aged man gritted his teeth.

Bitterness filled his mouth.

He might lose his life.

If the Princely Heir truly acted recklessly and wanted to forcefully take Xiao Ruoling, who knows what trouble would follow, and he might lose his head.

Given this, he could only take a gamble, cling to the thigh of the Princely Heir, hoping he would remember his contributions and skills and not abandon him.

“Then tomorrow morning.”

“…Morning…

Is!”

This endeavor was fraught with risk.

To successfully invite Xiao Ruoling, he needed to find friends she was very close to, promptly going back to sift through who they were.

It should also be someone from any of the Duke Mansions or Princesses.

The young ladies of these Duke Mansions usually mingled with those of similar status, rarely stepping out of this circle.

However, these families’ invitations had unique designs to prevent imitation.

The gatekeepers and stewards of the Duke Mansions could distinguish real from fake at a glance.

Therefore, creating these invitations was extremely difficult, and it was easy to expose spies within each mansion.

Moreover, invitations were often sent ahead of time, rarely delivered on the same day as the event.

Especially not for tomorrow morning.

It was already getting late.

This meant the invitation had to be delivered tonight, and sending it too late would be impolite.

The difficulty of this undertaking was enormous.

But it was only through great difficulty that he could demonstrate his talent and seize the opportunity to rise by clinging to the Princely Heir!

The so-called “wealth is found in danger”—it was worth the gamble!

However, this Prince Ying’s Heir was indeed as rumored, not compassionate, a ruthless person.

——

Chu Zhiyuan sat on his bed, reflecting on what he had witnessed earlier.

He deduced Cheng Tianfeng’s strength through details, as well as compared the depths of the two Great Grandmasters and Chu Qingfeng’s cultivation.

If there was a way to get Cheng Tianfeng’s Jade Token, there might be a chance to gauge his depth, but that opportunity was slim.

Cheng Tianfeng had Great Grandmasters around him, rendering all demons and specters in vain.

There was only the option of a direct confrontation.

Currently, he was at the Innate Ninth Layer, had reached the third stage of the Dragon Transformation Technique, achieved mastery in the Washing Sword Technique, and was proficient in both the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique and the Near and Far Steps.

With the activation of twenty apertures, his True Qi operated at about five times that of an ordinary person, which meant the power of the Great Snow Avalanche Sword Technique and the Near and Far Steps was amplified several times.

Even against a Grandmaster, he could still hold his ground in a fight.

No need to worry excessively.

With that thought, he took out the Phoenix Pendant, gazed at it until exhausted, then fell asleep.

——

At Duke An Mansion

At dawn, in the courtyard of Fragrant Sky, Xiao Ruoling, in a white combat uniform, was slowly practicing martial arts, her figure graceful and charming, captivating all who watched.

Two pretty young maids stood by, staring in a daze, entranced.

No matter how many times they watched, every time they saw it, they would be enchanted, unable to extricate themselves, a great pleasure.

If they missed watching it one day due to some reason, they would feel an unbearable emptiness all day, only relieved by seeing it the next day.

Footsteps sounded from outside, and Xiao Ruoyu called out, “Sister.”

“Come in,” Xiao Ruoling replied.

Xiao Ruoyu strode in, holding an invitation card, “The second young lady of Duke Kang Mansion has invited you to a flower-viewing.”

Xiao Ruoling continued her movements without stopping.

Xiao Ruoyu stood waiting to the side.

After Xiao Ruoling finished her slow martial arts routine, one of the young maids handed her a towel, and the other a teacup.

Xiao Ruoling sat down in the nearby pavilion, took the invitation card from Xiao Ruoyu, took a glance, and slightly furrowed her slender eyebrows.

Xiao Ruoyu asked, “Do you want to decline?”

He knew Xiao Ruoling’s friendship with the second lady Song was good, they were close friends.

Their relationship was straightforward and free without many formalities.

Xiao Ruoling glanced at him and shook her head.

“Really not going?” Xiao Ruoyu asked, puzzled.

“No, I’m not going,” Xiao Ruoling nodded.

“Won’t it hurt your friendship if you don’t go?” Xiao Ruoyu said.

Xiao Ruoling said, “If she wanted to invite me, there wouldn’t be a need for an invitation card, which is unnecessary, and she wouldn’t use such an invitation card.”

Xiao Ruoyu was taken aback.

Xiao Ruoling said, “Little Tiger, as a young lord, you need to be vigilant at all times and stay alert.”

Xiao Ruoyu, puzzled, asked, “Is this a fake?

…That can’t be right?”

If it were a fake, the gatekeeper would have seen through it with a glance, having that level of discernment.

Therefore, it was a real card, but sent by someone else.

His handsome face darkened, and he sneered, “Is someone trying something sinister?

Why!”

In the mansion, there had been no significant actions over the years, and his father held a quiet position as Left Vice Minister in the Ministry of Rites, taking no unnecessary matters into consideration.

He and his elder sister also did not involve themselves in mundane affairs.

Who would want to harm his elder sister?

Xiao Ruoling said, “Forget it, no need to pay attention.”

Xiao Ruoyu said, “No, we can’t just let this slide!”

If it were aimed at him, he wouldn’t react so strongly.

If it were aimed at Xiao Ruoling, he couldn’t stand it.

He thought: the person behind the scenes would probably try again if one plan failed, constantly scheming against his sister.

If this person was not caught or even killed, it would be endless trouble, extremely dangerous.

Xiao Ruoling asked, “Can’t let it slide, what do you intend to do?”

Xiao Ruoyu fell into deep thought.

How to pursue?

There couldn’t be rash actions within the Duke Mansion; it had to be handled by the Court’s government office.

Should it be the Military Suppression Department, or the City Guard, or others?

In a moment, he hesitated.

Having never encountered such a situation, he was at a loss, knowing only that the perpetrator must be pursued, but not knowing how to do so.

Xiao Ruoling scrutinized him, smiling faintly.

Xiao Ruoyu racked his brain, not wanting Xiao Ruoling to look down on him, not wanting to be taken for a child again.

He snorted, “I’ll go find someone from the Military Suppression Department!”

“Will the people from the Military Suppression Department pay attention to you?

They are very proud.”

“I am a young lord after all!”

“If you were the Princely Heir, they would pay attention; as a young lord, you’re not quite there yet.”

The Military Suppression Department answered directly to the Emperor, known for acting as isolated officials, disregarding both royal nobility and General’s important ministers.

Only the Princes and royal descendants would draw their attention.

Outside of this, they take orders from the Emperor alone.

“Then…

the City Guard?”

“Where do the roots of our Eight Dukes’ Mansions lie?”

“In the military.”

“Then where should you find people?”

“The Imperial Army…

The Imperial Army definitely won’t work; then it’s the Infantry Office!”

“Correct,” Xiao Ruoling nodded, “If you want to investigate, then go to the Infantry Office.

However, the Infantry Office is not good at these matters, …

so it’s pointless to waste effort.”

“Sister, you’ve already thought it through,” Xiao Ruoyu scratched his head.

Am I truly that foolish?

The two young maids beside him saw his confusion and laughed softly, covering their mouths.

One of the young maids said, “Young lord, it’s not that you’re stupid, it’s the young lady who’s too clever!”

“Can we just let it go like this?” Xiao Ruoyu said, unwilling to give up.

Xiao Ruoling gazed at him, half-smiling.