ATPnovel Chapter 837 - 524: He Died
Chapter 837 - 524: He Died
Chapter 837: Chapter 524: He DiedA moment of brief daze later, Xu Yuan instinctively stood up, his voice tinged with puzzlement:
"She... Didn’t she go to the State Preceptor’s Mansion to celebrate the New Year today? Why is she still in the mansion?"
As he spoke, Xu Yuan rubbed his dizzy head and walked towards the direction of the inner courtyard’s gate. However, he was genuinely drunk; even walking a straight line in the flat hall, he could make three turns, and the spinning surroundings made it difficult for him to stabilize himself despite running the Blood Essence Meteoring Art, and he barely avoided collapsing by hurrying a few steps and grabbing onto a beam column for support.
Wind and snow gently brushed the black robe, Xu Yinhe stood at the entrance of the hall, looking back at Xu Yuan’s slightly amusing actions, his voice was steady:
"It’s almost approaching the hour of the ox."
The hour of the ox?
His thoughts churned a little, and Xu Yuan then realized that the hour of the ox came just after the hour of the rat. The distance between the State Preceptor’s Mansion and the Prime Minister’s Mansion wasn’t too far; a regular beast carriage ride would take about a quarter-hour, and surely less for Ran Qingmo. However, he heard from his father that Ran Qingmo had already been outside wandering for nearly half an hour...
Thinking this, Xu Yuan, leaning on the beam column, sighed lightly:
"She... probably came back after celebrating the New Year with the State Preceptor."
"Most likely so."
"Heh..." Xu Yuan chuckled lightly and then fell silent.
"Aren’t you going to see her?"
"...."
Thoughts processed very slowly when drunk, and rationality was easily shattered, but Xu Yuan hadn’t reached that stage yet. After a moment of silence, he glanced at the flying snow under the dark Sky Dome and said softly:
"If I were to see her tonight, why would there be a need to hide anything in the first place?"
But after a moment of quiet, Xu Yuan spoke again:
"Father, how long... must I maintain this feigned death?"
Xu Yinhe, his eyes deep, glanced towards the direction of the Palace City and said:
"At least until his death."
Xu Yuan’s eyes slightly hardened:
"Li Yaoxuan?"
Xu Yinhe’s voice was very light:
"Besides him, there shouldn’t be anyone else within the Imperial to be referred to with the word ’death’."
"I see..."
Xu Yuan’s voice was slightly disappointed.
Xu Yinhe hesitated a moment, then still explained:
"He will definitely make his move against the Prime Minister’s Mansion before his death; I am not afraid, but you are not up to it."
Xu Yuan gently shook his head:
"I suddenly recall that Jiatiange said Li Yaoxuan was supposed to die last year."
Xu Yinhe glanced at Xu Yuan with slight surprise, reminding:
"Such unsubstantiated speculative prophecies should not be trusted."
"I know."
Xu Yuan softly responded, but his eyes held a trace of melancholy.
According to the timeline in the Cangyuan Chronicles, the prophecy from Jiatiange was quite accurate; the Emperor actually did die in the forty-sixth year of Jiaying.
However, after pausing a moment later, Xu Yuan tried to stand up straight, and glancing towards the direction of the inner courtyard gate, he said:
"Father, may I ask you for something?"
Xu Yinhe’s expression remained unchanged, his words still incisive:
"Regarding the Sword Sect?"
Upon hearing this, Xu Yuan smiled:
"You really can’t hide anything from you."
A hint of helplessness flashed in Xu Yinhe’s eyes:
"Ever since you returned to Jingjiang the first time, you have been
Xu Yinhè did not immediately agree and pondered for a moment before asking:
"What if your plan fails?"
"I will personally destroy the Sword Sect."
"..."
"..."
After obtaining his father’s promise, Xu Yuan staggered out of the inner courtyard’s main hall, braving the wind and snow. On his way back to his own courtyard, he inevitably passed the main gate of the inner courtyard.
The snow on the ground had risen past his ankles during the past hour; his crunching footsteps echoed far in the silent night.
His gaze lingered on the thick, wide gate for a moment, but Xu Yuan silently withdrew his gaze without any intention of stopping.
Ran Qingmo should be right behind that gate.
On this long New Year’s Eve, she probably wanted to come to the inner courtyard to ask if he was coming home for the holidays, but she was afraid to disturb their family gathering.
He could even imagine Big Ice Lump pacing and hesitating whether to knock on the door behind that gate.
A smile unconsciously formed on Xu Yuan’s lips, but his footsteps did not halt.
His crunching steps should be audible to Big Ice Lump.
With only a door separating them, Ran Qingmo would only need to use her Will-spirit to check slightly and she could see him.
Yet, Xu Yuan was not worried at all.
Because her master said it was impolite.
Thus throughout her travels, Big Ice Lump never used her Will-spirit to recklessly explore other people’s courtyards.
Contemplating these things, Xu Yuan had unknowingly passed the grand gate of the inner courtyard and, with his eyes downcast, returned to his own yard.
Yet, whether it was an illusion from being tipsy, just before he stepped into his courtyard, he heard the inner courtyard door seemingly being opened from the inside.
...
...
...
Xu Yinhè’s gaze calmly swept over the snow-flecked doorstep covered in footprints, landing on the dark-robed young girl standing at the doorway.
The girl, seeing the suddenly opened door and the middle-aged man appearing at the entrance, instinctively froze, her black eyes wide.
She had not expected someone to suddenly open the door from the inside.
But upon recognizing who it was, her mind cleared.
She had been discovered...
Silence for a moment,
Ran Qingmo looked at the middle-aged man at the door, tentatively asking:
"Uncle... did Xu Yuan come home today?"
"..."
Without immediately responding, the middle-aged man quietly stared at the dark-robed girl as if considering something.
After a good while,
As Ran Qingmo watched with hopeful eyes, Xu Yinhè gently said:
"He... has already died."
"..."
"..."
Silence fell, snow audible.
With her cautious expression frozen on her face, Ran Qingmo blinked her eyes, her bright black eyes gradually widening, ruby fingertips clenched beneath her sleeves, lips parting as if to say something, but no words came out.
She was not foolish,
She immediately thought of all she had seen and heard in the Prime Minister’s Mansion these days.
None of the servants or Guest Elders had ever mentioned Xu Yuan.
It was unreasonable.
Truly unreasonable...
"Cre-aak."
Amidst silence,
She subconsciously took a step back into the snow, her gaze towards the man in the black robe changing from serene to tumultuous, her breathing becoming more rapid, her voice filled with bafflement and confusion:
"He... he died?"
Observing the girl’s reaction, Xu Yinhè sighed inwardly, his expression unchanging, maintaining a firm, even tone:
"Yes, Changtian himself said so."