With a groan, Hun Yuan resignedly lay down and said,
"Fine, fine. I never thought I could keep it from you for long anyway. It's the same to tell you now."
After a moment's thought, Hun Yuan carefully chose his words in his mind before opening his mouth.
"The real reason I suddenly left the capital this time was that I found the trace of the mysterious person my master had been tracking down back then at the Palace Banquet for Successful Candidates."
"You two don't know about this, but A Yuan does. Fourteen years ago, a sudden epidemic broke out in the palace, and all the doctors were at a loss. When my master and I were traveling, we heard about it and came to the capital. During the treatment of the epidemic, my master discovered that this epidemic was not a natural disaster but a man - made one."
"Someone was poisoning people behind the scenes, attempting to disrupt the court and our Great Yin Dynasty. At that time, the epidemic was so serious that not only in the palace but also among the elite ministers in the court, the casualties were extremely heavy. Among them, the Liu family suffered the most. Seven or eight out of ten were lost, and they still haven't recovered yet."
"Afraid of causing panic, my master didn't dare to make it public. He only told the late emperor about it and asked him to investigate secretly."
Hun Yuan gave a light cough, took the water Jiang Ning handed him and took a sip, then continued,
"But the late emperor was also suffering from the epidemic at that time and was unable to do much. So he specially made the Lotus Gold Token and granted it to my master to facilitate his actions. Under the unique power of the Lotus Gold Token, the epidemic was gradually brought under control, and my master gradually traced the mastermind behind the scenes through the Liu family, which had suffered the most losses."
"I was too young at that time, and my master didn't let me get involved in the matter of the epidemic. So I don't know exactly what happened on the day he followed the clues to chase that person behind the scenes."
"However, when my master came back that day, he was seriously injured, and his face was even a bit black..."
"Was your master chasing that person behind the scenes on the day he got injured?"
Jiang Ning couldn't help interrupting.
"Didn't you say your master was just hungry?"
Scratching his head, Hun Yuan shrugged helplessly.
"My master told me to say so. I'm just following his order."
"You..."
"Stop,"
Seeing that the two were about to argue again, Ye Xi quickly interrupted.
"Let's talk about the main thing first. What happened later?"
Glaring at Hun Yuan, Jiang Ning lightly punched him.
"Go on."
"Hiss—"
Hun Yuan exaggeratedly gritted his teeth and inhaled, pretending to rub the place where Jiang Ning punched him, and continued,
"My master took a long time to recover from his injury. As soon as he got a bit better, he rushed into the palace to report this matter to the late emperor. But the late emperor was already on his death - bed."
"If such a disaster happened again, the Great Yin Dynasty would be on the verge of extinction. The late emperor held on to his last breath and passed the throne to the current emperor. He also made a rule with my master that the gifted people selected through generations should guard the palace."
"After that, my master strengthened my training. He took me and A Ning traveling around on the surface, but actually we were tracking down the real culprit who had poisoned people secretly."
"Later, A Ning met her parents and went home with them. And I gradually became a qualified 'master'."
"As I grew older, my master told me some things behind the epidemic. On the day before A Ning's coming - of - age ceremony, my master said that he finally found the clue of the person who had started the epidemic again and was going to investigate."
Hun Yuan's voice gradually became lower, and a look of bitterness flashed across his eyes.
"For this, he specially found me and brought me back. He told me my mission and passed his mantle to me, asking me to guard the palace."
"I should have noticed then. That old guy was so powerful that he must have divined for himself before setting off. He knew he couldn't come back, so he was so eager to call me back."
"But I noticed too late. Over the years, I've divined countless times, but I can't find any trace of him. I don't know if he... is still alive."
"I've never stopped looking for that person behind the scenes over the years. I finally got a little clue before, but then it was cut off. Until that day at the Palace Banquet for Successful Candidates, I saw the special tattoo that my master said the real culprit had. So I quietly followed him."
"But that person was extremely vigilant. Soon he found out that I was following him and lured me to the outskirts of the capital, trying to kill me."
As he said this, a look of pride appeared on Hun Yuan's face.
"But I'm so smart. I noticed something was wrong as soon as I left the city gate and immediately retreated. Seeing that I didn't fall for his trick, he took a detour and ran away on a small path."
"I was not willing to let go of such a good opportunity, so I changed my clothes and chased after his trace again. Just like this, I finally saw that person again in a small town near the capital two days ago. I followed him to a remote mansion and heard him talking to two other people."
"The general idea was that they were also looking for someone, and it was related to the epidemic fourteen years ago. They also mentioned my master in their conversation, saying that my master had ruined their good deed."
"From what they said, the person they were looking for seemed to be the one who had injured my master many years ago. I was concentrating on listening when they somehow found my presence and suddenly attacked me. Caught off guard, I was seriously injured by them. Fortunately, I divined for myself before setting off and knew that running to the east was the way out."
"That's how I was saved by you two."
"You're quite proud of yourself,"
Jiang Ning couldn't help getting angry.
"If you had divined for yourself, you should have known this trip was dangerous. Couldn't you find someone to back you up?"
Shaking his head, Hun Yuan said,
"They were already vigilant. I was discovered by that person at the very beginning when I was following alone. If there were more people, wouldn't it be easier to be discovered?"
"It's because your skills are not good enough."
Yi Yuan glanced at Hun Yuan coldly and said.
"I told you before that I could give you a hand, but you just disagreed. If you had let me participate earlier, maybe we would have found Master Qingyi earlier."
Hun Yuan's eyes flashed. He glanced at Ye Xi beside him and said,
"It's not that I didn't let you participate. It was what my master said. Before he left, he repeatedly told me not to let you get involved in this matter. I can't go against my master's order. What can I do?"
"Really?"
Yi Yuan was quite surprised.
"Any reason? Did Master Qingyi say anything?"
"I don't know."
Hun Yuan simply spread his hands.
"Didn't your master divine your fortune before? Maybe he divined that you would be in danger of losing your life if you got involved in this matter. Anyway, it must be for your own good."
Hmm...
This was indeed the truth, and Yi Yuan fell silent for a moment.
Ye Xi had a complex look on her face.
Because Hun Yuan's real thought was -
[The situation of the epidemic back then was extremely complicated. It seemed that the old prince was also involved. Now the old people have passed away one after another, and Yi Zhuo died on the battlefield last year. There are only you and Yi Yaofeng left in the whole palace. How could I dare to let you get involved in this matter.]
[My smart and adorable little junior sister, you mustn't say this.]
[Aren't you able to read minds? It's time to test your ability. Don't fail at this moment.]
Then there was a series of "Don't say it, don't say it, mustn't say it..."
Ye Xi glanced at Hun Yuan helplessly, nodded imperceptibly, and finally kept this matter a secret. She changed the topic and said,
"Why did the Liu family suffer the most losses back then? Were there any little girls of about my age at that time lost or in trouble in their family?"