Chapter 00219: Duel of Spells Across the Void
# Duel of Spells Across the Void
Chapter 219
Novel: After the Immortals Disappeared
Chapter 219: Duel of Spells Across the Void
"Sick?" Li Zhao stroked his white beard, "Sick at this time?"
So many people are waiting to meet the new steward.
"According to the plan, he should have entered the territory of Xiazhou yesterday. With this delay, who knows when he will arrive in Dunyu," Shu Qian said.
"The small faction of rebel troops led by Nian Zanli has bypassed the front lines and plundered nearly a hundred miles into Xiazhou. Several shops belonging to my family and the Zhan family have been robbed, resulting in significant losses. I see that the Zhan family is already considering leaving; although you warned them, they have been secretly selling off their assets these past few days."
Old Master Li sighed, "When it rains, it pours. Since they do not have faith in Dunyu, let them go."
Shu Qian cursed the old fox in his heart.
The Li family warned the Zhan family in vain and then lowered the purchase price to a level that was almost breaking through the cellar.
Yet, the Li family is the most domineering local tyrant in Dunyu; no matter what price he offers, who would dare to offer higher?
If the Zhan family sells at such a low price, it would be akin to cutting flesh and gouging out eyes, losing seventy percent of their years of hard work.
Even if they manage to leave Dunyu, they would only have a bloody skeleton to show for it.
Now the Zhan family must hate the Li family to the bone, especially since they have produced talents in recent years, rising through the ranks in the Wang Court, and the family’s stature has also been bolstered, allowing them to speak more boldly.
Last year, they even wanted to wrestle with the Li family.
The Li family intends to take this opportunity to teach them a harsh lesson, reminding them that Old Master Li is still Old Master Li.
Alas, this old man with the surname Li is not just a fox; he is a vulture, a jackal.
"Do you have such high hopes for the new steward?" This was what the head of the Shu family wanted Shu Qian to inquire about, "Can he really join forces with General Zhao Pan to fend off Nian Zanli's attack?"
The hearts of the people in Dunyu are unsettled, and the prominent families inevitably consider leaving.
If they delay too long, and Nian Zanli's army marches south, turning everything to rubble, all their hard-earned efforts over the decades would turn to dust.
"This Steward He does have some talent; he killed Sun Fuping and wiped out the rebel army. Recently, it seems he even saved Ke Jihai's life in Shihuan City; otherwise, the western front would be in trouble. He was appointed to take charge of the defense of Xiazhou in a time of crisis, so he should have some skills," Li Zhao said in one breath, taking a moment to breathe.
The maid beside him immediately served tea, which was neither too hot nor too cold, just right.
"The Minister has instructed that Dunyu is the foundation of the Li family's prosperity; we cannot leave easily."
He only said "cannot leave easily," but did not say they would not leave or that they definitely would not leave.
Dunyu is very close to the southern border, making escape relatively easy.
Shu Qian hesitated, "Will Steward He also inquire about the granary fire?"
"The case has been investigated, and the criminals have been sent to the capital. The most important thing is that all the grain has been burned; what else can he investigate?"
In the hall hung a birdcage, with two green-headed, red-beaked, yellow-bellied lovebirds inside.
Outside, snow fell in flurries, but inside it was warm as spring, and the two little birds were quite lively.
Old Master Li walked over, personally added food to the cage, and said, "For Steward He, cooperating sincerely with the four great families is the most important thing going forward."
Otherwise, He Chunhua would be hindered in his actions here, just like all the other officials, past and present.
The four great families are like iron, while the officials are like flowing water.
"Since he has come to be an official, he will need to fight; he will inevitably come to us for money, grain, or manpower," Shu Qian glanced at the lovebirds and noticed that they had very thin strips of paper tied around their ankles, not knowing what they were for.
"Then it will depend on how Steward He performs," Old Master Li teased the lovebirds, smiling confidently, "Cooperation between officials and the people requires sincerity."
"Then, everything will proceed as usual?" Just like the previous new officials taking office, "I will go back and discuss with my elder brother to send Steward He an additional generous gift."
Shu Qian stood up.
Old Master Li smiled, "That is only right."
First, toast him.
After Shu Qian left, the smile on Old Master Li's face also disappeared.
Dinner was still lavish, but he only took a few bites.
His two sons were somewhat worried and kept asking.
Old Master Li saw through their concern and felt even more blocked in his heart.
If only these sons could inherit even a fraction of his true teachings and reduce some internal strife, the vast Li family would not have to be solely supported by him.
After all, he was seventy years old, getting old.
The only comfort was that his sixth grandson had good talent; if he were cultivated well for another two years, perhaps he could take over his position.
The sixth grandson was the child of the second branch, and the eldest son, seeing his father's thoughts, had been trying hard to suppress his brother.
Alas, the family is unfortunate.
In fact, Old Master Li did not have high hopes for Dunyu; strictly speaking, he did not have high hopes for the Wang Court.
Old men of his age might still be immersed in the past prosperity and glory of the Great Wang, but his eyes were not blurred, nor was his heart blind.
The national power is declining.
Old Master Li secretly sneered.
The Li family does not act as ostentatiously as the Zhan family, selling land and properties that everyone in the city knows about.
When the enemy comes, will the land still hold value?
In the past two years, the Li family's wealth has been secretly transferred inland; he and Minister Li have already discussed a place of refuge.
If the flames of war spread south, they would immediately relocate as a family.
The warmth of the fire in the room made him feel drowsy again.
The maid beside him noticed and softly said, "Old Master, it is time to rest."
Old Master Li nodded, and she went to the outer room to take down the birdcage and hang it in front of the bed curtain.
Two thirteen-year-old maids had already warmed his bed, and tonight they would still curl up at his feet.
Before getting into bed, Old Master Li habitually checked the bed curtain.
Hmm, the two copper tokens tied to the hanging rope were still there.
These are the Evil-Blocking Tokens; if any evil entity approaches, it would be confused by the tokens, unable to see him or smell his presence.
He pointed to the top of the bed, and the maid immediately took down a red sachet from the canopy.
Li Zhao personally opened it and saw a yellow talisman hidden inside; the talisman was indeed correct.
"Put it back," he said.
Now he could sleep soundly.
Over the years, he had offended many people, and he had become accustomed to being cautious.
￥￥￥￥￥
The weary money steward arrived in Ruxian once again and met with He Chunhua.
"Is Steward He ill?"
The door was closed, and there was no one else.
He Chunhua stood up, wiped his face with a towel, and the waxy yellow hue on his face fell away.
"Where does the illness come from? I have been waiting for good news from the money steward."
Steward Mo brought in warm tea; the money steward was thirsty and drank several mouthfuls before smiling, "I did not disgrace my mission."
He took out a blue cloth bundle tightly bound with five flowers and opened it.
Inside, it was wrapped in two layers of oil paper.
After unwrapping the oil paper, there were two layers of straw paper.
In the center of the straw paper lay a porcelain vial the size of a pinky finger.
With the size of this vial, it was just right for administering poison.
"What is this?"
He Chunhua wanted to take it, but the money steward quickly reminded him, "It smells foul; be careful, Steward."
The steward hesitated a bit, "I thought you brought hair or nails or something."
The charcoal basin in the room was warm, and the money steward, having come in from the icy outdoors, was even sweating slightly on his forehead:
"I wish it were so. But Old Master Li is very suspicious; last autumn, a master diviner told him that he would face a great calamity this year, and if he passes it smoothly, he could live to eighty-eight. So the Li family is particularly cautious; the nails and hair cut off from Old Master Li are specially collected and burned. It is said that he even wears a talisman made of heavy gold that he sought with great effort. Enemies trying to harm him from behind or cast curses will find it ineffective!"
He Chunhua laughed, "Indeed, they have done many wicked deeds and are feeling guilty."
If they were not feeling guilty, why would they be so cautious?
There is only a saying that a thief can be a thief for a thousand days; how can one guard against a thief for a thousand days?
"I originally wanted to use two warm bed maids to get a bit of his hair."
After all, Old Master Li is old, and in the cold winter, his feet get cold while sleeping, and he dislikes the hot water bottle, so he bought two thirteen or fourteen-year-old maids to warm his bed, "But as soon as these two maids leave the room, they have to change clothes for inspection; they are not allowed to take the master's belongings out, not even a single hair."
"Helpless, I could only bribe the servant who delivers the night fragrance," the money steward spread his hands, "but those who do this work are all temporary workers, and it took some effort to find the right person."
He then handed over a note: "This is Old Master Li's birth date and time. Last year, his thirteenth grandson came to my shop to order a birthday outfit, and at that time, his mother was very proud, saying that the child was born on the same day and month as Old Master Li, only half an hour later. I confirmed this several times."
With this calculation, it is not difficult.
He Chunhua took it and asked again, "Is there still a rift between the Zhan family and the Li family?"
"There is; there has always been. In recent days, the Zhan family wants to sell their property and leave Dunyu, while the Li family is sending people to pressure the price down, pushing it to the brink, and others dare not offer a higher price. The Zhan family is so furious they are spitting blood. Before I set off, the families of Zhan and Li were arguing incessantly and even came to blows."
"How is this different from the behavior of village bumpkins?" He Chunhua shook his head, "Their descendants are all officials in the Wang Court; do they not feel ashamed?"
He personally took out a gold bar and pushed it over: "Old Zhu did not exaggerate; you are indeed his most capable subordinate."
The money steward smiled, "I dare not claim that!"
"However, this matter is confidential…"
"Rest assured, I will keep my mouth shut," the money steward did not hold back, swearing on his mother and ancestors for eighteen generations that if the secret leaked, the ancestors of the Qian family would fall into eternal damnation.
"Good, in the future, there will be many places where I will rely on you and the Zhu family," He Chunhua smiled, "Looking forward to the future."
After the money steward left, He Chunhua returned to his room to rest for an hour, replenishing his energy.
These past few days, he had been busy until late at night, sleeping separately from Madam Ying.
The hour of the rat arrived.
Steward Mo closed the doors and windows, and He Chunhua took out a blue candle, lit it, and placed it on the table.
He had moved the table beforehand so that it was in the center of the room.
In the sealed room, the candle flame was straight, almost motionless.
He Chunhua took out a piece of orange-yellow paperweight and pressed it into Old Mo's hand, then sat down, murmuring incantations.
This paperweight was carved from Shoushan stone in the shape of a kite, yet it was completely transparent like honey, much more stable in color than jade, with internal patterns resembling fine blood vessels.
The kite was entirely yellow, with only its eyes being blood-red, adding a touch of eeriness to its overall elegance.
Steward Mo stood behind his master, guarding him.
As He Chunhua recited faster and faster, the smoke rising from the candle began to gather and not disperse, and surprisingly, it was blue in color.
(End of this chapter)