Yun Houxing fled as if escaping, leaving the Prince's Mansion. The coffin and Yun Yujiao's corpse were naturally taken away as well.
The Demonic Daoist Wuji was burned to ashes, leaving nothing behind. The Living Dead Demonic Daoist Wushuang was useless, so she was buried along with him.
Every wrong has its source, every debt has its owner. Yun Qingwu's ghost naturally followed to collect her debt.
The Star Picking Institute suffered a great fire. Although there were no casualties, it was obviously no longer habitable.
Qing Wu said with disgust, "This place is too shabby, it doesn't suit me. I want to live in a large courtyard."
Xiao Chenyan asked, "Where does the Princess Consort wish to reside?"
"Iris Courtyard."
Xiao Chenyan's expression remained unchanged, but Bai Sui's face fell, and he almost spoke.
"Are you sure?"
"Uh-huh, is Your Highness reluctant?"
"Alright."
Qing Wu smirked, "Thank you. Oh, right, don't arrange too many servants; I prefer peace and quiet."
After speaking, she yawned and left, looking as if she was very familiar with the Prince's Mansion.
Xiao Chenyan stared intently at her retreating figure, his thoughts unreadable.
"Your Highness, how could you let her live in Iris Courtyard? That place isn't..." Bai Sui said anxiously, but was interrupted before he could finish.
"Situ Jing," Xiao Chenyan said, tightly twisting his Prayer Beads, "Does a ghost truly exist that can borrow a corpse to revive?"
Situ Jing rubbed his nose and said, "I've never seen one, anyway. Even if there were, it would have to be a Vengeful Ghost with a hundred years of cultivation, right? If such a Vengeful Ghost were to borrow a corpse to revive, wouldn't it wreak havoc?"
"You think the Princess Consort is human?"
"She certainly doesn't seem human," Situ Jing lowered his voice. "But looking at her today, she clearly wants to kill Yun Houxing. Perhaps it really is Yun Qingwu coming back from the dead."
"After all, she was turned into a Living Fiend, and yesterday was the Ghost Festival. It's normal for her to have a fierce aura."
"But..." Situ Jing frowned, "That Demonic Daoist suffered a backlash from borrowing the might of Zhu Rong, yet she was unharmed. This doesn't make sense. Ghosts fear fire, and the Fire God Zhu Rong specifically counters Evil Ghosts. By rights, he shouldn't have let her go."
Xiao Chenyan's eyes held a mocking glint. Specifically counters Evil Ghosts?
Then what was the Demonic Fire that burned over a hundred people in the Eastern Palace all those years ago?
"Since she wants to seek revenge on Yun Houxing, it aligns with our objective."
Xiao Chenyan said in a deep voice, "Using this opportunity, we will thoroughly frighten Yun Houxing and, before he dies, find the evidence of his framing of the Marquis Zhenguo back then."
Ten years ago, the Former Crown Prince was falsely accused of colluding with the Marquis Zhenguo in treason. The Former Crown Prince 'self-immolated' in the Eastern Palace, and the Marquis Zhenguo's entire family died in battle.
Yun Houxing, a relative of the Marquis Zhenguo, was the quartermaster for that battle. He was also the one who stepped forward to accuse the Marquis Zhenguo of treason, climbing his way to the position of Minister of Revenue over the corpses of loyal ministers and brave generals.
Xiao Chenyan had been in hiding for ten years. His return to the capital this time was to reinvestigate the old case, to clear the name of his deceased father, the Former Crown Prince, and to wash away the grievances of the Marquis Zhenguo's Estate!
"Your Highness, you should take care of yourself. Your Cold Illness is most severe during these few days of the Ghost Festival."
Situ Jing chattered on, "Our estate now has an additional Fiend God. That Demonic Daoist was right; a Ghost Heart is hard to fathom. She only wants to kill Yun Houxing now, but that doesn't mean she won't attack others. You..."
"Xiao Chenyan! What are you doing!" Situ Jing's voice suddenly rose.
He saw the man actually tear off his Cloak, which he never took off regardless of the extreme heat or cold. Situ Jing quickly picked up the Cloak to put it back on him, "Are you trying to die? This Fire Fox Cloak can suppress the Yin Sha Qi within your body, you..."
"I'm not cold."
"What?"
Xiao Chenyan's gaze was deep. "Today, I don't feel cold."
To be precise, it had been like this since last night.
He hadn't noticed it at first, but after half the day, the feeling had become obvious.
The Yin Sha Qi was still there, but it wasn't like before, eroding his bones every moment.
In the past, he needed the Prayer Beads and the Fire Fox Cloak to suppress the chill, but today, wearing the Fire Fox Cloak, he was actually starting to sweat on his back.
Situ Jing and Bai Sui looked at each other in bewilderment.
"Investigate the Demonic Daoist Wuji thoroughly. I want to know what connection he has to the great fire in the Eastern Palace."
"Also..." Xiao Chenyan paused. "Send Lu Qiao and Hong Rui to serve in Iris Courtyard."
After speaking, he strode away.
Bai Sui's eyes were about to pop out.
Situ Jing hissed, "You're actually sending Little Hong and Little Lu? Little Bai Sui, I remember you three were all rescued from human traffickers by His Highness..."
Bai Sui grumbled an affirmative, his face grim. "I'll go find Sister Hong and Sister Lu right now. Make sure they keep a close eye on that woman and don't let her run wild in Iris Courtyard!"
"I was just about to ask, what's so special about Iris Courtyard?"
"It's not that it's special, it's just that the courtyard is where the Little Miss used to live," Bai Sui muttered softly. "How could His Highness let someone else live there..."
"Which Little Miss?" Situ Jing slapped his head. "The little County Princess from the Marquis Zhenguo's Estate who died young?"
Bai Sui glared at him.
Situ Jing figured it out, stomped his foot, and cursed, "No wonder he just asked me about borrowing a corpse to revive! Xiao Chenyan, that lunatic, what is he thinking!"
Not to mention that the Marquis Zhenguo's Princess Qing Wu died ten years ago, and the little girl was only twelve when she died.
Even if she borrowed a corpse to revive, she wouldn't have the demeanor of the Fiend God in the mansion after waking up~
Ten years ago, Xiao Chenyan was only seventeen, right?
..
Over at Iris Courtyard.
Since the blooming season had passed, the rows of irises in the courtyard only had leaves. However, carvings of iris flowers could be seen everywhere on the bricks, tiles, stone, and even the window frames and door frames.
This courtyard was clearly designed with great care.
Qing Wu admired it as she walked, feeling a sense of nostalgia. It was preserved exactly as it was when she lived there before.
The Judge's Brush roared, "You did this on purpose, didn't you!! You promised not to reveal your identity!"
Qing Wu replied, "Where did I reveal myself?"
"This Iris Courtyard must be related to you. I knew it! Back then, when you were below, you always drew these irises for no reason!"
"That just means Xiao Chenyan and I have similar tastes."
"Keep bragging. The way he looked at you just now was clearly not right."
Qing Wu chuckled, her gaze drifting to an Iris Lantern hanging from the eaves, lost in thought.
A deep male voice came from behind her.
"Yun Qingwu."
Qing Wu's eyes moved slightly, but she didn't turn around.
The Judge's Brush shrieked, "What did he call you? He called you Yun Qingwu, not Yun Qingwu, right?!"
Qing Wu lowered her eyes. As she turned around, her expression was one of confusion, "Your Highness, were you calling me just now?"
Qing Wu stood under the corridor, out of the sun's reach, her eyebrows and eyes alluring, her expression puzzled. She looked like a seductive Glamorous Ghost from the darkness, both wicked and languid.
Xiao Chenyan studied her features intently, not missing a single detail.
The woman before him was beautiful. Judging solely by her features, Yun Qingwu's current physical body bore a few resemblances to how Qing Wu would look when grown up.
Xiao Chenyan had imagined countless times what that bright, sun-like Little Bean would look like if she had lived to grow up.
"Who exactly are you?"
Qing Wu played with her silk hair. "Didn't I already tell you? Your Princess Consort, Yun Qingwu~"
"How would Yun Qingwu know about the existence of Iris Courtyard?"
"I heard about it," Qing Wu giggled coquettishly. "Although Your Highness hasn't been in the Capital City for a long time, there are plenty of eyes watching every move in this Prince's Mansion."
Xiao Chenyan looked at her for a long time, then suddenly pulled at the corner of his mouth as if mocking himself.
He must have been crazy before to have had the thought that it might be that Little Bean borrowing a corpse to revive.
If it were truly that Little Bean, no matter how much she changed, she wouldn't have become this wicked and alluring being.
But since he had already agreed to let the person before him move in, there was no point in going back on his word.
The warmth in Xiao Chenyan's eyes gradually faded, and his voice turned ice cold, "Do not touch a single blade of grass or tree in Iris Courtyard, especially this lantern."
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