30. Setting the Stage
Now, although everyone had arrived, a small, tricky problem arose.
Yes.
The villa Gong Muzhi had bought was a small house with only a few rooms.
She herself could share a room with Feng Lili, but the problem was how to accommodate the rest.
Let’s see…
Miss Gong, Gong Muzhi, Yan Chuyue, Qiu Shui, Chun Lian, Leng Yuli, Lu Xinyao, Xuan Lingling, and Xian’er, who could technically go back into her jar but preferred to wander around.
This was a massive group, practically a team-building exercise. How could they fit into two rooms?
—Actually, strictly speaking, they could. For example, they could just stuff Miss Gong and all her disciples into one bed.
Of course, Miss Gong was both a little excited and a little resistant to this idea.
As for why these two emotions arose, it was a difficult question to answer… so let’s just forget it.
In short!
Although this seemed difficult to handle, there were always more solutions than problems.
As for this solution, it was naturally to let a certain someone who was good at fleecing others experience what it was like to be fleeced.
—
—
“One more thing.”
After reporting on some matters from the memorial, seeing that Murong Jing seemed to be waiting for something, Court Master Mei suddenly cupped his hands and bowed.
“Contact with that Palace Master is already underway, but there is a problem now.”
“A problem?” Murong Jing frowned. “Wasn’t the remuneration already agreed upon? Otherwise, that Palace Master wouldn’t have come.”
“It’s not about the remuneration.” Court Master Mei smiled wryly. “She said she’s only used to her own maids and cooks, so she brought a lot of people with her.”
“But… Gong Muzhi’s place can’t accommodate so many people, so she’s a bit displeased.”
“Just because of this?” Murong Jing was even more puzzled. “What’s so difficult about finding her a place to stay? As the Court Master, can’t you handle such a small matter?”
Court Master Mei quickly shook his head. “If it were anyone else’s request, it would be no problem. But this Palace Master’s request… is a bit too high.”
“She wants a residence in a place with dense spiritual energy, and the courtyard must have at least ten rooms, a back garden, a pond, a quiet environment, but not too far from the bustling city. And no soldiers of the Youhan Dynasty are allowed to come within a hundred meters of it.”
“She also needs the royal family to provide her with various high-grade materials and rare delicacies. Some of these things are even exclusive to the royal family, so I… cannot make the decision.”
These requests were almost like a lion’s mouth, but Murong Jing didn’t care.
After all, in his eyes, this was like using a tiger to swallow a wolf. If he wanted this to succeed, the most important thing was—you had to make the tiger’s life comfortable. Otherwise, before the tiger swallowed the wolf, it might just eat you first.
“Give her the royal villa in the south of the city. If she complains that the spiritual energy concentration is not enough, then throw the spirit-gathering crystal from the spirit-sinking pond into the pond.”
“As for what she needs, you make a list and then go to the treasury to get it. As long as it’s not too outrageous, give her whatever she wants.”
Hearing this, Court Master Mei immediately said, “I know what to do. I will follow your orders.”
—
—
So, in fact, Gong Muzhi herself didn’t really know how exaggerated her reputation was.
If it weren’t for her being in the limelight, those people from the Hundred Paths Mountain wouldn’t have gotten the bad reputation of attacking a pregnant woman. To this day, there were still people who felt that the Hundred Paths Mountain’s actions were inappropriate.
And now that the other party had a request for her, even if this request was a bit outrageous, it was possible to agree.
But…
When Miss Gong arrived here, she found that this place… was actually a bit familiar.
After entering the courtyard, Gong Yiling said to the disguised Murong Yun, “Actually, he already considers you dead, right?”
“Is there a need to say that?” Murong Yun chuckled, not caring much. “In his eyes, all his kin are just tools. Who would care about the life or death of a tool?”
Yes, the place Murong Jing had arranged for them was the same courtyard where Murong Yun had been before. Since Murong Yun “died,” this place had been quietly cleaned up.
Not only had all of Murong Yun’s belongings been completely erased, but this place had even been turned into a place to entertain some honored guests.
—To renovate the place where his dead sister had once lived, an ordinary person really couldn’t learn this.
“Don’t worry.”
Gong Yiling gently patted her shoulder and said, “He won’t be smug for too long. I’ll soon let him taste this.”
And all of this was now ready, just waiting for that east wind that would surely come at that time.
—
—
As the days drew closer, more and more people came to this capital. But for some reason, Murong Jing’s original confidence, which he had prepared for everything, was constantly diminishing.
And not just that, he even had a bad premonition. This premonition grew stronger with time, so strong that it was as if it were a real thing.
As for the reason, it was for no other reason than the two who had not been heard from until now.
His intuition told him that they were not people who would give up easily. The reason they had not caused any trouble for him since they came out of the divine palace was because they were preparing for something big. As for what this big thing was, no one could say for sure.
For several days in a row, he had sent out the imperial guards, the Lingxiao Pavilion, and other royal secret agents to inquire about the news of these two. The closest information he got was that they had once appeared in the border city, but after entering and leaving the border once, there was no more news.
It was not until three days before the banquet that someone came to him—but it was not the two women, but the Elder Zhao who seemed to have a good relationship with them.
“Elder Zhao?” Because of this Elder Zhao’s former position and status, Murong Jing naturally had to address him as Elder to show his respect. “What wind brings you here?”
“Your Majesty’s birthday banquet. Although I have already retired from the court and the Youcang Court, I cannot not come this time.” Elder Zhao, after bowing respectfully to him, said, “And Your Majesty, I came here today to ask for one thing from you.”
“What is it?”
“At the birthday banquet, I hope Your Majesty can leave a place for,” Elder Zhao seemed to have made a great determination before he said, “the Cloud Rainbow Sect.”
