Sure enough, Kangxi quickly said, “We plan to choose a day to make Miss Ma the Concubine Hui and Miss Yang the Concubine Ping. It’s just that Miss Ma has a special identity, and she and Miss Yang are both Han Chinese, which violates the rule that Manchus and Hans cannot marry in our ancestral system. We are afraid that there will be many voices of opposition in the court, you should help me find a solution. How do you think should I deal with it?”
Song Qingshu’s heart sank, and he couldn’t help but glance at Xia Qingqing. The other party lowered her head, as if she was feeling bashful, but Song Qingshu knew that she was just acting, and her revenge plan was finally about to succeed.
If Xia Qingqing had just taken refuge under Kangxi as a subordinate, even if she could get close to him, it would be impossible for her to assassinate Kangxi relying on her second-rate martial arts. But, becoming Kangxi’s concubine was an entirely different matter. Those masters who were secretly protecting Kangxi would never stand and watch when Kangxi would be enjoying himself with his concubines. The time spent alone with Kangxi on the bed was Xia Qingqing’s only chance for revenge. (G: As if the protagonist will let that happen…)
Song Qingshu figured out all of this in the blink of an eye. On the one hand, he admired Xia Qingqing’s unswerving determination to avenge her deceased husband, but on the other hand, he was annoyed that she didn’t consider her relationship with him at all.
“Did Official Song think of a good solution?” Kangxi asked suspiciously when he saw Song Qingshu’s expression change.
“It’s not difficult at all,” Song Qingshu took a deep breath, and slowly said, “The daughter of Ji Ayuxi, the third-class Duke of Horqin, was accepted into the palace when she was young, and died a few days ago before she was canonized. Your Majesty can make Miss Ma recognize Ji Ayuxi as her father and replace his daughter. Ji Ayuxi will definitely not refuse to have one more imperial concubine as his daughter. Similar method can be applied for You… Miss Yang. The minister of the guards, Cheng Engong’s daughter also entered the palace since she was a child, and unfortunately passed away some time ago, Cheng Engong is the Emperor’s confidant, so it shouldn’t be difficult to make him to recognize Miss Yang as his daughter.”
Hearing Song Qingshu almost say Youyou, Xia Qingqing’s eyelashes trembled, and she silently sighed in her heart, ‘I have no fate with you in this life, but in the next life, even if I become your sla*ve, I am willing…’
Kangxi was overjoyed, “We really did not make a mistake when we put Official Song in charge of the Pole Arms. We didn’t expect Official Song to keep tabs on all the big and small matters in the imperial city. In the future, We will definitely have the best intelligence organization in the world. “
“Yes!” Song Qingshu lowered his head. No one was able to clearly see the expression on his face.
“Official Song is tired from the journey, so you may leave and rest.” Kangxi looked at him with a smile.
*****
After returning to the room, Su Quan sighed, “At first I had a headache, thinking how to deal with Hongli, but I didn’t expect the problem to be solved like this, but why can’t I feel happy at all?”
Song Qingshu stood by the window, looking into the distance with his hands behind his back, and spoke with an indifferent expression, “Before, Kangxi, Hongli and Wu Sangui were keeping each other in check, so the Mystic Dragon Cult could naturally benefit and live freely. But now the balance of power has been broken. Wu Sangui is busy facing the Khitan God of War Xiao Feng, and his energy is all but spent. Facing Kangxi’s covetous eyes, it is a matter of time before he surrenders, and the Mystic Dragon Cult also has only one way left to survive.”
“What are your plans?” Su Quan came to Song Qingshu’s side and asked softly. She understood very well in her heart, that the situation of the Mystic Dragon Cult was the same as Song Qingshu’s current situation.
“I was thinking about what Ouyang Feng told me on the island. Now it seems that I have indeed fallen into Kangxi’s scheme from the very beginning, and the gap in strength between the two sides is getting bigger and bigger.” Song Qingshu sneered.
“Song Lang doesn’t have to worry too much. If you are unhappy to stay as Kangxi’s subordinate, with your and my martial arts, we can be a major force anywhere in the world.” Su Quan put her arms around Song Qingshu’s waist from behind, and pressed her pretty face tightly against his back. (G: She is referring to him as “Láng/郎” which is an intimate form of referring to one’s beloved. Doesn’t really have an equivalent in English.)
“You and I can’t do that.” Song Qingshu let out a soft sigh.
“By the way, what’s going on between you and that Miss Yang?” Su Quan smiled slyly and looked up at him.
“What’s going on?” Song Qingshu pretended not to understand.
“Hmph, I’m not jealous, so why bother to hide it from me,” Su Quan snorted in dissatisfaction, “Anyone with a discerning eye will know that the two of you have something fishy going on. You are quite courageous, even the future imperial concubine is your lover!”
“It’s not as dirty as what you said, there is nothing between me and her.” Song Qingshu said with a wry smile.
Su Quan opened her eyes wide, looked at him for a while, and saw that he didn’t seem to be lying, then suddenly realized, “I understand, it’s because you have feelings for her, but it’s a pity that you haven’t succeeded.”
While talking, Su Quan suddenly became depressed, “If I knew that Hongli had died, I wouldn’t have given you my body so hastily. You men are not good things. What you can’t get is always more coveted.”
“What are you talking about?” Song Qingshu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry, “I have something to do now, you should have a good rest.” His figure quickly disappeared outside the door without waiting for Su Quan’s answer.
Su Quan was so angry that she resentfully stomped her feet, “You also might say that there’s nothing between you two, but you still can’t hide your restless expression.”
*****
In a secluded place in the imperial palace, Song Qingshu looked at someone in the shadows and smiled wryly, “You really came too.”
The Sunflower Ancestor gave a dry laugh, and his voice sounded like a broken bellows, “It seems that you didn’t want me to come.”
Song Qingshu looked the Sunflower Ancestor, and subconsciously searched for flaws in him, and after a long time, he suddenly asked, “Do you think I can beat you now?”
“You can try it.” The Sunflower Ancestor put his hand in his sleeves and said with a faux-smile.
A flash of eagerness ran across Song Qingshu’s eyes, but he hesitated for a moment, and finally shook his head, “Forget it, I always respect the old and cherish the young.”
The Sunflower Ancestor gave a creepy laugh and said, “Boy, if this old man is sensing correctly, you have Huang Chang’s ‘Nine Yin Scripture’ and Fan Dan’s ‘Eighteen Dragon Subduing Palms’. There is also a shadow of Dugu Qiubai as well, and it seems that you have recently learned the Tantric ‘Joyful Meditation Method’. It’s no wonder you just had the idea of making a move.”
“It is all just miscellaneous but not refined, broad but not pure. So it will naturally seem laughable in front of a master like the Ancestor.” Song Qingshu said with a wry smile.
“Boy, you don’t have to belittle yourself. The last time I saw you in the Forbidden City, you really had that problem.” The Sunflower Ancestor frowned with a puzzled expression, “I didn’t expect that you would change so much after going to the Mystic Dragon Cult. It almost seems as if you were reborn. It’s really strange. Is there really something in the Mystic Dragon Cult that can make you improve to a higher level?”
Song Qingshu knew that it was Ouyang Feng’s words, which suddenly enlightened him. After sweeping away his overcalculated, complex-thinking style of dealing with things, he had a feeling of being reborn again. It helped him to have a deeper understanding of the essence of martial arts. Naturally, his realm would be different from before.
“If I remember correctly, the Ancestor once said that you were staying with Kangxi just to cultivate with the help of the so-called True Dragon Qi?”
Song Qingshu quietly looked at the other party, waiting for his answer.
“There’s nothing embarrassing about admitting it. I am getting old and don’t want to die, so I can only use that method to prolong my life.” The Sunflower Ancestor nodded with a smile.
“The Ancestor’s martial art has reached the realm of sublimating heaven and man, and with the help of the True Dragon Qi, you might be able to ascend in the future, right?” Song Qingshu asked as if to confirm something.
“Ascension…” A look of fascination appeared on the face of the Sunflower Ancestor, but his expression soon darkened, “That’s just an illusory legend, not to mention that although Kangxi’s True Dragon Qi is powerful, it is limited after all. I would be satisfied if it can continue to preserve my life.”
“What if there is a place where the True Dragon Qi is more than ten times stronger than that of Kangxi?” Song Qingshu’s expression became extremely strange.
“What?” The Sunflower Ancestor’s muddy eyes burst out with astonishing light, “Where is it?”
Song Qingshu smiled and said nothing, just quietly looked at him.
The Sunflower Ancestor was taken aback for a moment, but quickly realized, “When you get old, you almost forget the rules of the world. Tell me, what do you need this old man to do?”
“I don’t need you to do anything, I just hope that the Ancestor will leave immediately after hearing about that place.” Song Qingshu looked quite respectful.
The Sunflower Ancestor was taken aback for a moment, and suddenly turned to look at a certain direction, “You finally can’t help it, huh?”
Song Qingshu looked in the same direction, “So you knew about it as well?”
“From the first time I saw you, I knew that there would be such a day sooner or later. I thought you would do it later.” The Sunflower Ancestor smiled, “Could it be because of that woman today?”
Song Qingshu shook his head, “I listened to someone’s advice not too long ago, and it was an enlightening experience. I realized that the longer I dragged on, the lower my chances of winning would be. What’s more, now that he has left the Forbidden City, this is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. As for that woman, although I also care about her, I would still choose to do it even if she wasn’t here.”
“You told me all your plans, are you not afraid that I’ll turn around and tell him the truth?” The Sunflower Ancestor said with a chuckle.
“As the Ancestor said before, you are not loyal to a certain Emperor, you only care about the True Dragon Qi. Whether the Emperor’s surname is Zhu or Lu, it has nothing to do with you. It is precisely because of this, I believe you will not reject my proposal.” Song Qingshu said with confidence.
“Oh, let’s hear it, it depends on whether the conditions you give can satisfy this old man’s appetite.” The Sunflower Ancestor looked at him with burning eyes.
“Do you know about the ‘Sutra of Forty-two Chapters’?” Song Qingshu asked.
The Sunflower Ancestor’s expression changed slightly, “It is said that when the Manchus entered the mainland, they buried all the treasures they had obtained from the looting of the Central Plains in the land of Jurchen’s dragon veins, and the map of this treasure is hidden in the eight part of the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters.”
“The Ancestor had been living in the Forbidden City for a long time, so its normal that they couldn’t hide such secrets from you.” Song Qingshu praised.
“Huh, this old man was practicing in seclusion at that time. By the time I knew the news, it was too late. I only found the copy of one of the parts in the imperial study room. Most of the other seven parts of the Sutra of Forty-two Chapters were missing. In order to track down the whereabouts of the remaining parts, I replaced the sheepskin hidden in the part in the imperial study room, and then put it back. Hehe, I don’t know how long it took, but even that part disappeared.” When the Sunflower Ancestor remembered this, he felt extremely dissatisfied.
Song Qingshu was stunned, he didn’t expect this extra layer of secret, “Ancestor, did you change the sheepskin?”
“Hmph, the sheepskin is hidden in the cover of the scriptures, and it’s not that much of a secret place. I have been in the Wulin for hundreds of years, and I have seen many of such tricks.” The Sunflower Ancestor looked quite complacent, and then looked at Song Qingshu, “Why, what do you want to say? Are the other seven parts with you?”
Song Qingshu smiled wryly, “I thought that I had gathered all eight of them, but I didn’t expect that you would be ahead of me. Hehe, even if I had this treasure map, I wouldn’t be able to find any treasures.”
The Sunflower Ancestor was overjoyed, “Do you really have the other seven parts?”
Song Qingshu nodded, “That’s right, since the Ancestor has one part, we can compare it. Then it would become clear that I didn’t lie to you.”
The Sunflower Ancestor looked very excited, “If you want to do such a big thing, you will naturally not lie to me, hahaha… I didn’t expect that this old man would have a chance to touch the way of heaven in my lifetime. If you give me the other seven parts, I will immediately leave to find the dragon veins of Qing Dynasty. And, I will never interfere with your affairs.”
According to legend, the Qing Dynasty had 268 years of luck, and theTrue Dragon Qi contained in the dragon veins naturally far surpassed that of an Emperor. No wonder the Sunflower Ancestor would choose to abandon Kangxi without hesitation.
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