"Among the countless people in the world, the National Preceptor has been secluded for so long. Why, just after coming down the mountain, do you take issue with my wife?"
Yan Zhao wore a faint smile that didn't reach his eyes. "If word gets out that an elder like you, based on hearsay, ruins a junior's reputation, it won't sound good."
Mo Xun's hand holding the teacup paused. It was hard to tell whether it was because of Yan Zhao's audacious words about "elders and juniors" or his brainless "act of protecting his wife".
"You really protect her tightly."
He took a meaningful sip of tea, his expression normal as if he wasn't provoked by Yan Zhao.
"Wanwan is my wife. As her husband, it's only right that I protect her."
Yan Zhao chuckled, meeting Mo Xun's inquisitive gaze. "The National Preceptor may not know this. After all, you're not married yet and don't understand the affection between husband and wife."
As the National Preceptor, one must remain a virgin.
So even though Mo Xun was over a hundred years old, he had always been alone.
But coming from Yan Zhao's mouth, it didn't sound so nice.
However, Mo Xun didn't seem to mind. He slowly placed his teacup on the stone table.
"It's your business if you want to protect her. But if she has done evil deeds, I, the National Preceptor, won't stand by idly."
A killing intent seemed to emerge in the cold air.
Yan Zhao straightened his back. "I'll say it again. If the National Preceptor has no evidence, don't believe hearsay and ruin my wife's reputation."
"You want evidence?"
Mo Xun seemed to be waiting for Yan Zhao's words. He stood up and motioned for Yan Zhao to follow.
The little page behind him secretly glanced at Yan Zhao with a complex look in his eyes. But in an instant, he returned to his obedient and well - behaved self and followed Mo Xun.
The two of them left the South Courtyard one after the other without looking back, fully confident that Yan Zhao would follow.
Sure enough, Yan Zhao let out a soft sigh and took a step forward.
"My lord?"
A Da called out softly. "A Er and I will go with you."
The twin brothers were one enthusiastic and the other aloof, but their eyes were filled with worry.
The National Preceptor didn't say they couldn't bring anyone, and Yan Zhao didn't stop them. He just whispered for Lian Zi and the other three to wait for Ning Yuwan to return in the South Courtyard.
"Yes!"
A San replied, hand on his sword. A Si put away his playful smile and dragged A Wu to wait by the Fairy Lake for the princess of the heir apparent.
"Your Highness, be careful in everything."
Lian Zi whispered her reminder. Her martial arts were not as good as A Da and A Er's.
She could only remind Yan Zhao on behalf of the absent Ning Yuwan.
Mo Xun didn't walk fast. Maybe he was deliberately waiting for Yan Zhao.
When Yan Zhao led A Da and A Er out of the South Courtyard, Mo Xun just glanced at them casually and said nothing, as if he didn't care about one or two more people.
After walking around for a while, Mo Xun and the little page finally led the three of them to a small cave.
It wasn't really just a cave.
After all, it was quite spacious inside, comparable to the main house in the South Courtyard.
But there seemed to be low growls from the depths, like some wild animal gasping heavily.
A Da and A Er quietly approached Yan Zhao, protecting his back.
"Your Highness..."
In front, Mo Xun didn't stop walking.
Yan Zhao waved his right hand gently, signaling the two of them not to act rashly. Instead, he followed Mo Xun's steps.
After walking another dozen meters or so, they saw what seemed to be something lying on the flat ground.
The heavy gasps and low growls were all coming from it.
It wasn't really just "something".
Because the thing was wearing a precious and gorgeous purple long dress, beautiful and exquisite.
But if it was a person, it didn't look like one.
Although it had two hands and two feet, the limbs and belly of this "person" were extremely swollen, as if filled with air.
And under the swollen skin, one could seem to hear the sound of liquid sloshing.
It was as if everything inside had rotted away.
What was the reason for Mo Xun to bring him to see this "thing"?
Yan Zhao was slightly confused and frowned. This thing looked a bit familiar.
Not only the purple dress on her, but also the bloated face with the faintly discernible features of eyebrows, eyes, nose and mouth.
"Does the Heir Apparent recognize her?"
Mo Xun tapped his finger, and a pill went into the thing's mouth. It swallowed it whole. Soon, the swelling on her body visibly subsided a little.
But only a little.
Obviously, the pill only treated the symptoms, not the root cause.
Yan Zhao's eyebrows twitched. "Chu Yuanyuan?"
It was indeed Chu Yuanyuan who had been missing for a long time.
That night, after she boldly "flirted" with Ning Yuwan, she said she was going to leave Fang Mountain.
Unexpectedly, they met again in this place.
And she herself had become a hideous "ball".
"Does the Heir Apparent know why she became like this?"
Mo Xun nodded. He accidentally found Chu Yuanyuan by the lake.
At that time, she wasn't so swollen yet. Only her hands were slightly swollen.
But in just one day, the swelling spread to her limbs, then to her belly and face, until she ended up like this.
He had already fed his last pill to Chu Yuanyuan, but her condition didn't improve.
If the spell wasn't lifted, Chu Yuanyuan would eventually explode and die.
But unfortunately, Mo Xun couldn't solve this spell.
Yan Zhao snorted. The astonishment in his eyes turned into unruly arrogance. "The National Preceptor isn't going to pin the blame on my wife based on hearsay again, is he?"
"Chu Yuanyuan has been cast with a demonic spell." Mo Xun paused. "I've studied the notes of the previous National Preceptors. Only a thousand - year - old great demon can use such a demonic spell."
A thousand - year - old great demon?
Yan Zhao snorted and didn't respond to his words.
Mo Xun wasn't embarrassed either. He continued, "I spent a day tracking and found that the thousand - year - old great demon is your wife, Ning Yuwan."
If it was said by an ordinary person, everyone would think it was nonsense.
But Mo Xun was the National Preceptor respected by the Chu Dynasty for generations. He was proficient in Taoism and compassionate.
His words were like the will of heaven, and everyone believed them.
But in front of Mo Xun was Yan Zhao, a man who didn't believe in the will of heaven.
He sneered. "If the National Preceptor is so idle, you'd better go back to the palace to assist the wise emperor and stop trying to stir up trouble and slander."
Yan Zhao didn't believe in the will of heaven because when the emperors of the Chu Dynasty ascended the throne, the National Preceptor would always divinate for good omens.
Although the current National Preceptor hadn't left the mountain, the Emperor of Chu had gone to ask him for divination when he ascended the throne.
And the reason the Emperor of Chu was able to ascend the throne was that the National Preceptor had calculated that he was a wise emperor.
But in fact, was the Emperor of Chu really a wise emperor?
Would a wise emperor do things like humiliating his officials' wives, seizing and framing them?
Mo Xun seemed to be able to see through Yan Zhao's thoughts. He frowned and said in a low voice, "I'm not trying to stir up trouble. If the Heir Apparent doesn't believe me, are you brave enough to make a bet with me?"
"If I win, you'll hand over Ning Yuwan."
Yan Zhao's eyes were cold. "Wanwan isn't a stake for people to bet on."
But Mo Xun seemed not to hear and continued, "Is the Heir Apparent afraid or just lacking the courage?"
Afraid? Lacking courage?
Yan Zhao had long known that Ning Yuwan wasn't human. He just thought she was a lonely ghost wandering in the world, who by some strange coincidence had possessed a body and become his wife.
But Mo Xun said she was a demon!
A thousand - year - old great demon!
With evil intentions and causing chaos to mortals.
His mind was filled with memories of Ning Yuwan and himself. Her gentle smile, her flamboyant confidence. She was more alive than any human.
How could she be willing to harm others?