My Lady Always Lacks Ambition-Chapter 944 - 923: You’ve Given Too Much

Yu Linglan watched Qin Liuxi’s back, her eyebrows slightly furrowed, until the Second Prince came to her side.

"What’s wrong with Bo Yin? Who was that just now?" Qi Yuntai glanced at Qin Liuxi, somewhat curious.

Yu Linglan turned up the corners of her lips and said, "The Junior Temple Master of Li City Qingping Temple, a Xuanmen master with profound Taoism. Your Highness might want to investigate her background. If you can recruit her to your service, a great cause might be achieavable."

Qi Yuntai’s heart tightened slightly, a glint of light flashed quickly in his eyes, and he said, "Is there really such a capable person whom Bo Yin holds in such high regard in this world?"

"Because I cannot see through this Xuanmen Taoist," Yu Linglan said softly. "Although she is a Taoist, she was the one who found the General Manor’s young lady missing for several years, along with the disappearance of the young master of the Zuo Family. Your Highness, do you not understand what this represents?"

Qi Yuntai’s eyes flickered rapidly.

"It’s about connections and relationships. If we can gain the assistance of such a remarkable person, Your Highness will surely be like a tiger given wings."

"The Mystic Sect and Buddhist Sect are both part of the Buddhist Sect and are not supposed to meddle in worldly affairs, are they?" Qi Yuntai frowned. These monks claim to have renounced the world and are untouched by mundane affairs, making them the hardest to recruit.

"Even the Buddhist Sect is still a sect and exists in the mundane world. How many genuinely transcend the mundane? Even the Yufu Temple has people who light incense for certain nobles at their mountain gates." Yu Linglan chuckled softly, "Besides, not getting involved doesn’t mean that those who’ve received favors won’t remember them."

Qi Yuntai’s heart itched with desire at these words, and he said in a deep voice, "Who would dare to harm the Great General like this, causing Father to regard us with disdain?"

Yu Linglan’s voice was prolonged, "Indeed, who knows?"

The two slowly departed.

Qin Liuxi looked out from the mourning hall, her brows knitting and then relaxing. She took out the Qiankun Soul Devouring Mirror, looked at herself repeatedly, and said, "Could the Great Emperor have given me a fake to deceive me? A bogus Demon Mirror? It has no response at all!"

Emperor Fengdu: Talking about taking advantage and then complaining, this little rascal is exactly that!

...

As Qin Liuxi anticipated, Zheng Yao’s coffin had yet to be buried when news came from the prison that Luan Bailin was dead, succumbing to an incurable ghost sore. Whether this was truly the case was open to interpretation.

Qin Liuxi lingered for two more days. Before leaving, she performed another acupuncture session for Ming Wang, adjusted the prescription, and even gave a formula for a medicine bath to strengthen muscles and bones. She then went to give acupuncture to the Great General and presented a Detoxification Pill.

"This Detoxification Pill will cleanse the remaining toxins. The hidden injuries of your body will improve if you follow the two prescriptions I’ve left, so take it easy, and life will be better."

The Great General smiled and agreed, "There’s one more thing I wish to trouble you with."

"Please tell me."

The Great General looked at the Steward, who clapped his hands, prompting rustling sounds from outside.

The Great General walked to the window and looked at a group of children outside, saying, "Use your Eyes of Golden Flame to help me select a suitable adopted daughter."

Qin Liuxi looked outside at all the little girls and said, "An adopted daughter? I thought you’d be once bitten, twice shy. If the girl marries someone and brings in another like Luan Bailin, wouldn’t you be wary?"

The Great General spoke softly, "The source of my poisoning is yet to be discovered, but I suspect it’s someone from the Imperial Family. As long as I live or have successors, some will remain uneasy. The precedent is there for adopting a son. But an adopted daughter, with no blood ties, places a layer of separation, and perhaps those people will feel at ease. When she comes of age, I will find her an ordinary and honest husband. He doesn’t need to be exceptionally clever; as long as he can maintain stability, that will do, ensuring someone continues to offer sacrifices to the ancestors of the Zheng Family."

He was silent for a moment and then added, "If the chosen adopted daughter follows in Bu Yao’er’s footsteps, then it proves that our Zheng Family shouldn’t exist."

Qin Liuxi understood; this was his way of showing weakness to the Imperial Family and an entirely strategic move. If the Saint is willing to protect him, safety is assured.

"I’ve spent my life on the battlefield, and what have I gained besides the honorary title of Great General? Only a body full of hidden injuries and the loss of descendants," the Great General said sarcastically. "So, I should learn to be selfish now, to find a well-behaved girl to raise at my side. I’ll provide her wealth, and she’ll ensure offerings and sacrifices for the Zheng Family, a fair exchange. Cultivate another War God? I’m old and afraid!" 𝕗𝗿𝕖𝐞𝐰𝗲𝕓𝐧𝕠𝕧𝗲𝐥.𝚌𝐨𝚖

Qin Liuxi felt somewhat distressed and said, "Besides the honorary title of Great General, you also have the love and respect of the common people and countless merits. Without your past defense of our country at the frontlines, who could say if we would even be alive to enjoy these prosperous times?"

In turbulent times, the common people were like straw dogs, and their peace and prosperity relied on these soldiers brimming with killing aura.

The Great General appeared comforted, his brows relaxing.

Qin Liuxi looked at the children one by one and said, "The third girl from the left in the second row, the one with dark skin and large, clear eyes, is a kind and compassionate one. She has some merit protecting her, a round face, and will live a long life filled with fortune."

The Great General looked and slightly twitched the corners of his mouth, "That child is quite dark."

"It’s a healthy complexion. Look at her balanced physique. With merit protecting her, she will have fewer illnesses and pain, a healthy body, and naturally a long life. Her eyes are honest, and she’s resilient, unlike a delicate flower in a greenhouse, unfit for the Zheng Family."

The Great General acknowledged and called the Steward to instruct him, who swiftly went to handle it.

"That Steward..."

Qin Liuxi heard his meaning and smiled, "You’re not entirely senile yet. Not everyone is like the former Mr. Wu; this Steward is honest-looking and trustworthy."

The Great General sighed, "This is what they mean by once bitten, twice shy."

"No need to be too overly cautious. As they say, the Dao gives fifty, Heaven leaves forty-nine, and one is hidden from humans. There’s always a sliver of hope in everything. If you seize it, there’s a chance to turn things around." Qin Liuxi reassured him, "Some things haven’t happened because the time hasn’t come. Similarly, some retributions haven’t arrived because the time isn’t ripe."

The Great General nodded, then picked up a box from the table and handed it to Qin Liuxi, "There’s two hundred thousand taels here. I hope the Junior Temple Master will light a long-burning lamp for my son and, in her name, perform good deeds to accumulate yin de. Take what incense oil you need; the rest will go to charity."

Qin Liuxi: "...You’ve given too much!"

"Wealth is external; it doesn’t come with life nor go with death. An adopted daughter doesn’t need such a large family fortune; too large, and it becomes hard to manage and easily invites trouble," the Great General said, "Besides these, much of my family’s assets will be donated to the national treasury in exchange for peace. Two-tenths remain, enough for the child to live comfortably."

In that case, if even then the Saint doesn’t protect him, surely the people would deem the Saint unkind.

Qin Liuxi: "The General is indeed very kind-hearted."

The soldiers fight with their lives on the line, but the rewards are equally great; indeed, fortune comes amid peril.