Before her,
there was no one left.
Zhao Shuning stared into the air, dazed for quite a while before finally coming to her senses.
There were so many things
she hadn't had the chance to say.
Luo Qiu had fled in a hurry.
Zhao Shuning turned around
and returned to the Inviting Moon Tower.
At this moment,
the Water and Moon Envoys were waiting for Zhao Shuning.
Seeing her come back, they heaved a sigh of relief.
"Master, this time it took a bit long," one of them said.
Zhao Shuning untied the robe behind her and placed it on the screen beside. She said casually, "I ran into an acquaintance and exchanged a few words."
"Why didn't you invite that person into the Inviting Moon Tower, Master?"
Zhao Shuning just gave a charming smile
and didn't reply.
She looked at Kong Ye lying on the bed.
Her eyes became a bit complicated.
"Ashui and Ayue, I'd like to ask a favor of you," Zhao Shuning said.
Ashui and Ayue naturally agreed immediately.
Zhao Shuning continued, "After Kong Ye wakes up, I hope you can send him back to the Misty Rain Tower. Kong Shishuang is waiting for him."
The two exchanged a glance.
There was a bit of hesitation in their eyes.
Zhao Shuning then said, "Don't worry. After tonight, no one should cause you any more trouble. You just escort Kong Ye back."
The two let out a long sigh of relief.
"Master, rest assured. We will surely send Master Kong back to the Misty Rain Tower safely."
They had wanted to do this for a long time, but they were afraid of the other party's power and didn't dare to act openly. However, now that the master dared to say such words, she must be fully confident. So, they would surely escort Kong Ye back to the Misty Rain Tower safely.
Zhao Shuning nodded in satisfaction.
Ashui asked, "Master, aren't you going back to the Eastern Marsh Wilderness with us?"
Zhao Shuning tightened her grip on a demon core in her sleeve. It was left behind when the black - clothed man died before.
Also,
she hadn't fully figured out the images in Kong Ye's mind.
In the last moment,
that place.
Zhao Shuning felt it was familiar.
It was the palace of the Sea Spirit Kingdom. That was the mansion where her aunt, Gu Qingqing, had died. Zhao Shuning had seen it in Xia Qingyan's memories.
She was going to the palace of the Sea Spirit Kingdom.
Zhao Shuning always felt that there must be more secrets hidden there.
In Kong Ye's memory, that place had just flashed by.
This made Zhao Shuning even more curious.
"I'm going to the palace of the Sea Spirit Kingdom," Zhao Shuning said as she looked at the distant capital of the Sea Spirit Kingdom.
"Ashui, Ayue, you two have been in the Sea Spirit Kingdom for quite a while, right?"
"For more than twenty years."
"Then tell me about the current situation in the Sea Spirit Kingdom or any interesting things."
If it were five hundred years ago,
due to Gu Qingqing, she was still somewhat related to them.
Even if the current monarch ascended the throne, if he saw Zhao Shuning, even if he didn't call her an ancestor, he would surely address her as a senior.
"Back to the master, the newly ascended monarch in the Sea Spirit Kingdom is also from the Xia family. But the monarch is still young and has no real power. We can say that all the power in the Sea Spirit Kingdom is in the hands of the Duke's family."
"The Duke of the Sea Spirit Kingdom is called Xia Rui. He and his wife have a son and a daughter. The daughter has been missing for a long time. They had a son named Xia Jingning after losing their beloved daughter for many years. Speaking of the young master Xia Jingning, he and the little princess of the Tianli Kingdom, Dongfang Yinuo."
Zhao Shuning reached out her hand to stop them.
"I know these. Just tell me the important points."
Ayue then continued, "Anyway, after the Tianli Kingdom and the Sea Spirit Kingdom fell out, the young master of the Sea Spirit Kingdom started to study all kinds of strange cultivation methods and didn't care about politics. The state affairs are basically in the hands of Duke Xia Rui. They are too busy to manage the young master properly."
"Originally, everything was going smoothly. But in recent years, many spiritual pharmacists in the capital have died for no reason. No one knows why. They always die in the suburbs."
Speaking of this,
Ayue said more mysteriously, "Moreover, when those spiritual pharmacists died, they were all holding black frost flowers in their hands."
Zhao Shuning asked, "Has the cause not been found?"
Ashui and Ayue both shook their heads.
Was it that they couldn't find out? Or did they find out but no one dared to say?
"Does Xia Jingning have an ancestor named Gu Qingqing?"
Hearing the name Gu Qingqing,
Ashui and Ayue were greatly shocked and stared at her with wide - open eyes.
Ayue quickly said, "Master, this name can't be mentioned. In the hearts of the people of the Sea Spirit Kingdom, she is like the founding grandmother."
"What?"
Aunt's name?
Now it couldn't be mentioned?
No wonder when she was in the Eastern Marsh Wilderness, she often flipped through her master's ancient books but never saw the name Gu Qingqing. Maybe the Sea Spirit Kingdom had blocked the news and didn't allow anyone to mention it.
"Yes, master may not know. In the Sea Spirit Kingdom, there was a very virtuous monarch. He was originally just a small prince of the Sea Spirit Kingdom. After the previous monarch abdicated due to his immorality, he ascended the throne and created a prosperous era for the Sea Spirit Kingdom."
"Is the person you're talking about Xia Qingyan?"
"Master, in the Sea Spirit Kingdom, you can't call Emperor Huiyuan by his name directly."
Zhao Shuning shut her mouth.
Ayue then said mysteriously, "Master, the person you mentioned before, that Gu—she is Emperor Huiyuan's biological mother."
Looking at Ayue's expression at this moment,
this seemed to be the biggest secret in the Sea Spirit Kingdom.
Zhao Shuning nodded calmly.
Ashui and Ayue looked at her in surprise.
"Master, you know this earth - shattering secret?"
Zhao Shuning nodded again.
"I know. So what?"
The two swallowed their saliva.
Zhao Shuning then said, "If there's no problem, I'll continue talking about the previous matter."
Ashui and Ayue nodded.
"What I mean is, has someone in the capital already found out the truth, but no one dares to say it?"
"This—we dare not make wild guesses. But there's a secret rumor. We don't know if it's true or not."
Zhao Shuning motioned for Ayue to continue.
Ayue then continued, "It is said that it was done by a noble in the Sea Spirit Kingdom because his ancestor was a witch. But master, this is just hearsay on my part."
Ayue looked around, lowered her head, and was just about to speak.
But Zhao Shuning suddenly spoke.
"That witch's name is An Yun. She was the step - wife of Emperor Huiyuan's father. And the thing you want to say, the deaths of those spiritual pharmacists, should be related to the young master Xia Jingning, right?"
The two were even more surprised.
"Master is truly a divine being!"
Zhao Shuning couldn't help but roll her eyes.
"Master, how did you know this? And how did you connect the young master with this whole thing?"
"What you said was quite obvious," Zhao Shuning said.
Ashui and Ayue looked at each other.
Zhao Shuning said, "You specifically mentioned the young master for no reason. So, in your opinion, the young master should be related to the deaths of these spiritual pharmacists."
The two gave a simple and honest smile
and scratched their heads.
They were extremely simple - minded.