Immortalis

Dark Residence 7

Yang Wujian had specifically confirmed that Shen Qingshi was still in her room before going out to drink under the moonlight. Little did he know that on this night, he wasn't the only one with an appointment.

When they arrived in Jingyang City, Shen Qingshi had secretly contacted Cao Zhao. Unexpectedly, Cao Zhao happened to be handling affairs nearby and immediately replied that they could meet.

Thus, shortly after Yang Wujian left, Shen Qingshi met with the Bi An Envoy at another inn.

"Brother Cao, have the matters at Zhaoming Division been settled?"

Shen Qingshi still remembered that when she left previously, Cao Zhao had been ordered to secretly investigate Minister of Works Hu Lian together with the Ya Zi Envoy Tu Yuanliang.

Although Hu Lian himself was law-abiding, his youngest son Hu Rui had been missing for a long time. Rumors said this son had once been engaged to the daughter of a disgraced official. Because of this matter, Hu Lian was frequently impeached by memorials.

Cao Zhao smiled: "This isn't the first time we've investigated Minister Hu. There are only so many officials in the cabinet. Whenever the Emperor receives memorials, he always orders investigations. It's nothing serious. Come, I knew you were coming, so I ordered some cold marinated dishes."

Cao Zhao called her over and poured her some mare's milk wine unique to Jingyang City, smiling as he said: "Last time you mentioned you're traveling with others. Have you figured out the backgrounds of the other two?"

Since childhood, Shen Qingshi had been raised by Cao Zhao.

That year, she had been wandering the streets for a long time when she heard an old beggar say that a richly dressed person was selecting children on the streets. If chosen, one might enter the palace and live a good life.

Shen Qingshi couldn't remember how she found her way there. By the time she realized what was happening, Cao Zhao was already standing before her.

At that time, he was only twenty years old, but because he had fully supported Prince Qi's uprising, he eventually became one of the Four Envoys of Zhaoming under Emperor Yongzhao.

Cao Zhao looked at her, not minding her dirty and smelly condition. He simply handed her a knife and told her to kill a rabbit in front of him.

Other children had taken the knife before, but facing that white, fluffy rabbit, none could bring themselves to do it. In the end, they all timidly returned the knife to Cao Zhao.

No one expected that when Shen Qingshi took the knife, she showed almost no hesitation before directly plunging the blade into the rabbit's throat.

Her movements were swift and decisive, just as in her vague memories. Immediately, a large amount of blood splattered all over her, even scaring away the surrounding children who had been watching.

Shen Qingshi still remembered those blood droplets hanging from her eyelids, and Cao Zhao stood there behind that curtain of blood, smiling at her.

"Will you come with me?"

Cao Zhao finally extended his hand to her.

In the blink of an eye, over ten years had passed.

Officially, Cao Zhao was Shen Qingshi's superior. Personally, however, he was also her master and elder brother. Because of this, Cao Zhao always treated her with great familiarity during their private interactions.

Shen Qingshi drank some wine and said: "One is the young master of White Rainbow Tower, one of the Four Seas Alliance. The other claims to be a descendant of the Crescent Moon Blade, but..."

"What, is there a problem?"

"I'm still investigating, but I suspect she might be capable of voice changing and bone shrinking. Therefore, her true form might not be female."

Shen Qingshi spoke with complete seriousness, but this made Cao Zhao laugh heartily: "Then isn't she quite similar to you? Qingshi, you've been in the martial world these days. The Emperor mentioned to me the other day that many concubines in the rear palace miss you, asking when you'll visit the rear palace again."

"Is this a good thing? Wouldn't the Emperor become suspicious because of this?""The Emperor holds you in high regard. After all, you are the only one who can share his burdens regarding the affairs of the inner palace. Those eunuchs all have their own hidden agendas—do you think the Emperor is unaware? It's just that, Qingshi, your body is special. As the so-called Stone Core, you are neither male nor female. Even if the Emperor wishes to entrust you with important responsibilities, he must consider the opinions of others in the Zhaoming Division."

Cao Zhao sneered coldly, "Many are less skilled than you, yet they look down on you and scheme to pull you from your position. Qingshi, have you never hated them?"

"Hate?"

Shen Qingshi replied indifferently, "Brother Cao, you should know that I do not understand love or hate. If you believe I should hate, then I can hate."

Shen Qingshi was not joking.

Ever since the year she was brought into the palace, when the matron discovered she was a Stone Core, people had noticed her peculiarities.

Though she had a female form, she could not engage in intimate relations nor conceive. Her temperament was extremely aloof—she neither laughed nor cried. No matter what was said to her, Shen Qingshi would only stare silently at the speaker without uttering a word.

Moreover, they later discovered that Shen Qingshi could not eat hot food or even bathe in hot water. The slightest heat would cause her heart to palpitate uncontrollably, truly like a stone that could never be warmed. Hence, she was given the name Shen Qingshi.

Under the candlelight, Cao Zhao studied her for a moment and indeed found not a trace of emotion in her eyes. He then smiled and said, "They say you are a blank slate, and you truly are. It's just as well. If you hated them, it would only bring you unnecessary trouble. After all, the Zhaoming Division is not the martial world—you can't just kill as you please."

Later, Shen Qingshi reported on the progress of joining the Four Seas Alliance. Cao Zhao laughed, "These martial sects are quite cunning. They drag out the Longevity Palace just to form an alliance, yet the tedious task of finding the Longevity Palace falls to you three juniors."

"The Longevity Palace has left no traces in recent years. Most of the clues provided by the Boundless Sword Manor are far-fetched, and some are even cases of the thief crying 'stop thief.' I fear that if we continue searching like this, we will never find the Longevity Palace."

Shen Qingshi had long seen through this charade of searching for the Longevity Palace—it was merely a pawn in the internal strife among these sects, no different from the covert conflicts within the four divisions of the Zhaoming Division.

Yet, Cao Zhao did not seem particularly anxious.

"Whether we find the Longevity Palace or not, as long as we can sow discord within the Four Seas Alliance, our goal is achieved. Besides, aren't you accompanied by the young master of the White Rainbow Tower? Let him join the investigation. Whatever is uncovered will implicate the White Rainbow Tower, and when blame is cast, the Four Seas Alliance will descend into chaos."

"I understand."

Though Shen Qingshi lacked emotions, Cao Zhao had taught her everything in meticulous detail since she was young. Now, she was well-versed in these schemes and intrigues.

Cao Zhao added, "These sects have joined forces merely to increase their chances of annihilating the Longevity Palace. But I suspect none of them want the Longevity Heart Sutra to fall into others' hands. So, the day the Longevity Palace is found will be the day the Four Seas Alliance collapses."

Shen Qingshi pondered, "Brother Cao, you also know of the Longevity Heart Sutra?"

Cao Zhao smiled, "Naturally. The palace is not some isolated place. Rumors of the Longevity Heart Sutra existed as early as the end of the Crimson Gold era, but it wasn't until a century later that Qingzhu Daoist Priest compiled the Longevity Heart Sutra into a volume and established the Longevity Palace."

"Then..."Shen Qingshi instinctively wanted to ask—since even the palace knew about this object, wouldn't they want it too?

But as the words reached her lips, she caught the faintly mocking expression on Cao Zhao's face and understood instantly. She immediately declared, "Qingshi will not fail this mission."

Cao Zhao nodded approvingly. "Indeed, when it comes to intelligence, you far surpass the others under my command. After much consideration, I concluded you are the most suitable for this task. You must have sensed it too—Longevity Palace holds connections to your past."

He refilled her wine cup.

"Since childhood, you've told me you remember neither your parents nor your origins, yet you recall being locked in a cage, forced to take medicine and kill. I believe it's time to give you this opportunity to seek out your enemies, isn't it?"

"Thank you, Brother Cao."

A faint smile touched Shen Qingshi's lips.

Though she rarely perceived emotions, even she recognized Cao Zhao's exceptional kindness toward her. Without him, she might have long perished on the streets. Repaying him felt only right.

After they finished the meal and wine, noticing the late hour, Shen Qingshi rose.

"I should return. That Yang Wujian is exceptionally sharp-witted and difficult to handle. I need to investigate her identity further without arousing suspicion."

As she moved toward the window to leave, Cao Zhao stopped her. "Earlier you mentioned the Yin House Case you're investigating might involve Northern Desert people?"

Shen Qingshi answered truthfully, "It's merely Xue Mingchang's speculation. Northern Desert beliefs differ from those in the Central Plains, and the victims' bizarre deaths over the past three years left him with no clues, so he pointed fingers at the Northern Desert."

Cao Zhao pondered briefly before advising, "The frontier has been unsettled these past two years. When the Emperor Beixiang fled back to the Northern Desert without engaging Datong's forces, he took considerable troops and supplies. The Emperor remains deeply concerned. Qingshi, remember—many remnants from the Northern Desert reside in the Central Plains. Exercise extreme caution. If they rebel now, internal and external troubles would only add to the Emperor's burdens."

"I understand."

With a nod, Shen Qingshi vanished from the inn's second floor.

Sprinting back to the Xue residence, she avoided the main gate. Since she intended to probe Xue Mingchang's secrets eventually, why not seize this chance while he remained unsuspecting?

Back in the Zhaoming Division, Cao Zhao had taught her that people's words and actions under fear reveal truth. Thus, even if unused, the tortures in Zhaoming Prison must exist as threats.

Now, with Xue Mingchang terrified out of his wits by the Tongueless Ghost—reduced to praying to deities—his fear-driven actions likely held the key to unraveling the truth.

Shen Qingshi's qinggong was exceptional. Despite the Xue residence hiring numerous guards recently, none detected her as she slipped into the inner courtyard.

As Madam Xue had said, since the Tongueless Ghost appeared, Xue Mingchang struggled to sleep nightly. Only in recent days, after the one-eyed daoist arrived, could he manage an hour or two of rest with calming incense, spending remaining hours in his study.

What was he doing there?

Just as Shen Qingshi prepared to lift a roof tile, distant frantic barking erupted, followed by a familiar cry of alarm.

It was Zhou Huai.

"What's happening? Someone, come quickly!"As expected, Xue Mingchang, who was already on high alert in the study, immediately summoned several men to surround the room upon hearing the noise. Realizing the situation was hopeless, Shen Qingshi had no choice but to crouch down, leap over the roof, and finally land nimbly in the grass. She casually brushed the leaves off her clothes and headed toward their guest room.

Soon after, she saw Zhou Huai, his face deathly pale and his clothes hastily thrown on, rushing toward her in a panic.

"Young Master Shen, something... something seems to have gotten into my room."