Chapter 1398: Seventeen Years

"Most elders are like this. They have experienced too much, living most of their lives in this manner, hence they are actually more stubborn."The tall Li Fengyao walked through the Marquis's garden, her presence dimming the splendor of the myriad flowers. Her usually cold and distant voice held a hint of softness towards Jiang Wang: "They hope you won't step into the pitfalls they've fallen into, and won't repeat the mistakes they've made. They wish for you to possess the beauty they've witnessed, and stubbornly believe that with their life experiences, they can arrange everything for you. But the world is changing, and everyone's life is different... You needn't dwell on it too much."

"Ah, I won't."In front of Li Fengyao, Jiang Wang was a little flustered, not knowing what to say.For him, the image of Li Fengyao was initially built upon the descriptions of Li Longchuan and Xu Xiangqian. These two were thoroughly subjugated by Li Fengyao, seeing her as a mouse sees a cat. As their close companion, Jiang Wang was inherently one step below Li Fengyao.Every time he saw her, he was respectful and cautious.Although Li Fengyao had not treated him as brutally as the rumors claimed, nor had she ever given him a stern look...Compared to Marquis Jiang, Li Fengyao herself was composed and generous, speaking as she walked: "Which star domain did you choose for your Outer Tower?"The topic changed so abruptly that Jiang Wang was momentarily stunned."What's wrong?" Li Fengyao stopped and looked at him with those frost-cold beautiful eyes: "Am I not worthy of discussing cultivation with you, the Great Qi's foremost talent?""Not at all!" Jiang Wang hastily explained: "I was just thinking about the case... Yuheng, it's Yuheng."A hint of a smile flickered in Li Fengyao's eyes. She turned her head and continued walking forward: "The Blue Guards have their duties. You shouldn't be discussing the case with me.""Yes, I'll just think about it in my heart, I won't speak it aloud." Jiang Wang was so restrained at this moment that he was like a child just entering school, fully understanding the feelings of Li Longchuan and Xu Xiangqian.This Elder Sister... has too strong an aura."But we can discuss cultivation. After all, the Great Dao is a long journey, we can verify things with each other." Li Fengyao looked up at the sky, and immediately saw two brilliant stars, echoing each other from afar.Since the trip to Seven Star Valley, he had never seen Li Fengyao display her strength again.Only today did Jiang Wang discover that Li Fengyao had quietly erected two Star Towers!Upon careful reflection, it shouldn't have been surprising.As early as Seven Star Valley, when he was still in the Tenglong realm, Li Fengyao was already in the Divine Ability Inner Mansion realm. At that time, he had heard that the divine ability she had seized was not suitable for combat, but was beneficial for cultivation.After the Seven Star Valley secret realm ended, she had been cultivating on Ice Phoenix Island, and hadn't returned to Linzi for long.And this Elder Sister Fengyao is a ruthless character who changed her own name in the Shimen Li Clan's genealogy!Even though she was deeply favored by her elders, without exceptional talent, how could she change the Li clan's rules at this age?"The Star Tower is the foundation for expounding the Dao, and the Outer Tower realm is the realm of expounding the Dao." But regardless of Li Fengyao's realm, when discussing cultivation, Jiang Wang immediately became much more composed.He was awkward around 'Elder Sister', but fluent when speaking to a 'Dao Companion': "It's nothing more than summarizing one's past life understanding. Even if it's shallow, it must be close to reality, for reality is the foundation of seeking the Dao. Taking Yuheng as an example, I've been thinking, what kind of 'Dao' can stand proudly in the universe, unshaken in all directions? Where do I wish to go, what do I seek..."Li Fengyao clearly hadn't expected him to actually discuss cultivation, but she listened attentively. Only then did she say: "Speaking of the Outer Tower realm, my father commands the Vanishing Wind, one of the Nine Legions. There is a General in the Outer Tower realm named Gu Xing in the army who left a deep impression on my elderly father."Jiang Wang likewise didn't understand why Li Fengyao suddenly brought up a General in the Vanishing Wind Army, but he maintained an attentive posture: "This person is very strong?"Li Fengyao glanced at him: "Probably not as strong as you are now. However, this person... a long time ago, probably in the year 3920 of the Dao Calendar, resigned from his military position and went out to sea to roam for many years. Now he is the Island Master of Overlord Horn Island.""Is this person important in the Vanishing Wind Army?" Jiang Wang asked."If he were important, why would he leave? And why would Vanishing Wind let him go?" Li Fengyao said lightly: "It's just that I thought of him today... Isn't it strange? He had a fellow countryman, I don't know if they were friends, but they were acquainted. His surname was Du, and his given name was Fang. He was a constable in the Northern Yamen, and also in the Outer Tower realm of cultivation. This constable, in the process of apprehending a suspect in the Tenglong realm, actually perished together with the suspect."Jiang Wang was silent for a moment before saying: "It is very strange."Only then did he react.The year 3920 of the Dao Calendar was the 38th year of Yuan Feng!Li Fengyao wasn't discussing cultivation in the Outer Tower realm at all; she was providing him with clues to that case from back then!"Alright. We've strolled for so long, we can both call it a day." Li Fengyao rarely smiled.Such an incomparably beautiful ice-cold beauty, with just a light smile, seemed to melt the chill of the entire winter. Even the winter moon became brighter because of it.Even though Jiang Wang's mind was swirling with the turbulent and angry case, he was momentarily stunned by this light smile."Let's go back," she said."Alright, alright," Jiang Wang obediently replied."Then I won't see you out," Li Fengyao stopped: "Grandmother is very fond of you, come see her more often.""Okay," Jiang Wang said softly: "Elder Sister Fengyao."Then he turned and walked along the flower path, leaving this deep-courtyarded Marquis of City Breaker's mansion.Speaking of the connection with the Shimen Li clan, it had begun with Li Longchuan early on.When they first met in the Heavenly Abode secret realm, Jiang Wang's attitude towards the Shimen Li clan was actually cautious.Mainly because of that poem - "All the world praises Shimen Li, yet who knows Fengxian Zhang?"As equally top-tier prominent families, descendants of those who had restored the nation. Why could the Shimen Li clan stand firm, while the Fengxian Zhang clan fell to this point?While feeling regret for the Fengxian Zhang clan, he couldn't help but view the Shimen Li clan with a bit more scrutiny.Later, he delivered the Qiushan Bow to Li Longchuan on behalf of Chong Xuan Sheng, and with Xu Xiangqian's assistance, they finally formally established a connection.What kind of prominent family was the Shimen Li clan?Their ancestors enjoyed the merit of restoring the nation, and their spirit shrine was erected in the Hall of Guardians of the Nation, in the foremost position!Throughout these many years, they had produced renowned generals and never lacked talent, always standing among the top-tier prominent families of Great Qi.Jiang Wang, a rustic fellow from a remote small country, had never felt an ounce of arrogance in his interactions with such a renowned family. Whether it was Li Longchuan, Elder Madam Li, Li Fengyao...From the beginning to now, all he had felt was respect.It was like this now, and it was like this even when he was far from being famous.So why could the Shimen Li clan enjoy long-lasting glory?Perhaps this was the reason.Sitting in the carriage on the way back to his manor, Jiang Wang was silently contemplating.A prominent family of the Shimen Li clan's caliber could naturally disregard many rules.But Jiang Wang, as a member of the Blue Guard system, had to be cautious when participating in the important cases being investigated by the Blue Guard.Li Fengyao wouldn't mention the year 3920 of the Dao Calendar without reason, much less mention Gu Xing without reason.To put it unpleasantly, a mere figure in the Outer Tower realm, how could he be worth remembering by the Shimen Li clan?Only Gu Xing's later whereabouts were quite intriguing.Overlord Horn Island is an island controlled by the Tian clan overseas.When Gu Xing resigned from Vanishing Wind back then, did his decision to go out to sea have something to do with the Tian clan?And the Blue Guard constable named Du Fang, whom Li Fengyao specifically mentioned, who perished together with a suspect in the Tenglong realm with his Outer Tower cultivation, what role did he play in that major case back then?Li Fengyao wouldn't just casually bring up this person without a reason.With every additional clue, one gets closer to the truth.Jiang Wang had a premonition that he was not far from it.Just as he was thinking, the carriage curtain suddenly moved, and a figure flashed inside.Jiang Wang was startled but not flustered. He spread his large hand, crushing the Dao Yuan, his soul power surged fiercely, and his left eye had already turned crimson...All this happened in an instant and faded away in an instant.His outstretched fingers had already pressed against the opponent's face, hovering for a moment, then retracting."I almost killed you!" he frowned.Lin Youxie, who had sat down in the carriage, still had her hair tied with a blue square scarf and was dressed in men's clothing. Her expression was calm as she said: "If you can't even control this, then you are not worthy of being called the Great Qi's foremost talent. Unless, you truly wanted to kill me."To be able to approach within this distance with a cultivation far inferior to his... one could only say she was indeed Lin Kuang's daughter.There must be many unique secret techniques like "Nian Chen"..."Master?" the coachman said from outside the curtain."It's alright," Jiang Wang replied.Casually sealing the sound within the carriage, Jiang Wang said with a headache: "If you wanted to visit me openly, you could have presented a visiting card and come to the door. If you wanted to visit me secretly, why did you get into my carriage on the street?""Because if I presented a visiting card and came to the door, your butler would have to inquire about my background, and I would have to consider your mood, whether you were willing to see guests," Lin Youxie said as if it were a matter of course.Jiang Wang: ..."Furthermore," Lin Youxie said: "If one is composed enough, daytime is actually more hidden than nighttime. Suddenly getting into your carriage on the street is also much more secretive than knocking on your back door in the middle of the night..."Facing Jiang Wang's complex gaze, she summarized: "A little piece of case-handling knowledge, I hope it helps you.""You came here today just to give me a lecture?" Jiang Wang asked darkly.Lin Youxie was silent for a while, then said: "I already know who the murderer is."Jiang Wang's expression became serious: "The murderer in the case of Consort Lei?""Actually, Feng Gu left many clues," Lin Youxie said: "Right in front of us.""For example?""Feng Gu hanged himself in the mourning hall, facing the northeast corner when he died. On the first day of the Eleventh Prince's funeral, who was standing there in the mourning hall... Do you remember?"Jiang Wang thought for a moment and said seriously: "At first it was the Mistress of Hua Ying Palace, and later... Her Majesty the Empress.""This is the first clue Feng Gu gave, facing the Empress!" Lin Youxie said: "This was a clue for those who were also present at the time, of course including you, Marquis Jiang.""That's too far-fetched," Jiang Wang shook his head: "The funeral lasted for three days, countless people entered the mourning hall to pay their respects.""But there were very few people who could stand in that position, almost no one else.""How can the direction the deceased is facing be considered a clue?""Feng Gu committed suicide. This was a carefully planned suicide, every detail was the result of his careful consideration. Generally, when hanging oneself, one faces either the main door or the direction one wants to see. Feng Gu was clearly the latter case."As someone who had also been present on the first day of the funeral, Jiang Wang actually already had a vague belief in his heart.Because he had also been thinking, what clues had Feng Gu left him!But he still said: "This is not convincing.""So there is a second clue," Lin Youxie asked: "Do you remember the bowl of medicinal soup the Eleventh Prince had?"Jiang Wang looked at her.Lin Youxie said: "I have already told you the ingredients in that bowl of medicinal soup. Besides me, the Northern Yamen also had a pharmacist examine it, and the ingredients were exactly the same. But I didn't mention the time.""Time?""One herb was newly added. It was added after the medicinal soup had already cooled for at least one to two days. Besides Feng Gu, I can't think of anyone else who would do this. This herb is Red-bellied Spider Leg."Jiang Wang was silent.He usually only pretended not to understand in front of Chong Xuan Pang, but regarding Red-bellied Spider Leg, he truly didn't understand much.If there was something wrong with this herb, why didn't Zheng Shi, who also heard the ingredients of the medicinal soup that day, react?"It is also a spiritual medicine that resists cold poison, and it is not special in this bowl of medicinal soup. But the red-bellied spider itself is very special," Lin Youxie continued: "It has another name, called 'Child-Eating Spider'. This spider lays eggs and eats its offspring. It hatches ten spiders at a time, eats nine of them, and leaves one.""Why did Feng Gu specifically add such an herb? The Eleventh Prince is no longer here. This bowl of medicine was not for drinking, but for showing. Who was it for? Perhaps me, perhaps you. The Eleventh Prince's birth mother is already dead. Who this child-eating spider refers to... I think it is already self-evident."Jiang Wang was moved!If Feng Gu had indeed intended to hint at something, then these hints combined were indeed enough...Then, the murderer in the case of Consort Lei's assassination in the 38th year of Yuan Feng was actually the current Empress?If the mastermind was truly the Empress, then it is perfectly understandable why this case was suppressed so heavily.If it was a shadow cast by the current Empress, Feng Gu, as the chief eunuch of the Chang Sheng Palace, could indeed only use his death to bring attention to the case!But...Jiang Wang quickly withdrew from the shock and calmly said: "But these at most can only show Feng Gu's hatred. He can believe that the current Empress is the murderer who killed Consort Lei, but his suspicion is not evidence."The meaning Jiang Wang wanted to convey was simple -With just these, it is far from enough to expose the case of Consort Lei's assassination.To put it unpleasantly, Feng Gu was merely a dog of the Chang Sheng Palace. Compared to the Empress, what was he?His bite was neither painful nor itchy.His suspicion was insignificant.Not just Feng Gu?What was the difference between the suspicion of him, Jiang Qingyang, and Lin Youxie, and Feng Gu's?Only irrefutable evidence could possibly shake the Empress's authority.Otherwise...If they rashly voiced their suspicions, all that awaited them was death!He hoped that Lin Youxie crashing into the carriage today and discussing this matter was because she had brought evidence,But Lin Youxie shook her head: "How could there be evidence?"Her voice was extremely bitter: "So many years have passed. How could someone who could carry out such a major case leave evidence until now?"Time preserves nothing for anyone.Hence, these seventeen years held a heavy despair.