Chapter 157 Woke Up Half the City

Chapter 157: A Roar That Startled Half the City

After wandering outside for most of the day, Shang Yin returned to the Zhao residence as dusk approached.

Today, the Zhao residence was abuzz with activity, its main gate wide open, welcoming a steady stream of guests.

The Dowager Consort of the Northern Wilderness King had been back in the capital for several days, and the Zhao family's relatives and old acquaintances had long since sent in their calling cards, eager to pay their respects. As the Dowager Consort couldn't meet everyone individually, the Zhao family had chosen this day to host a grand reception.

While some genuinely wished to pay their respects, many more were drawn by a crucial piece of news: the Dowager Consort had returned to the capital with the intention of selecting a consort for the King of Northern Wilderness.

This news struck like a thunderbolt, sending tremors throughout the entire capital.

Though the Prince of Xiling's estate had recently been uprooted, and prudence might suggest keeping a distance from princes suspected by the emperor, people still clung to a sliver of hope.

What if?

The emperor had just dealt with Xiling; he wouldn't easily move against the Northern Wilderness so soon. The Northern Wilderness King's Residence had stood strong for years, flourishing and wielding immense power in the northern territories. The King of Northern Wilderness was young, capable, and held absolute authority. Given the opportunity, who wouldn't aspire to become the Princess Consort of Northern Wilderness?

The Zhao family's spring banquet was exceptionally lively. The young ladies attending, even those from the most modest backgrounds, hailed from at least third-rank official families.

Those with noble titles needed to be at least marquises to avoid being looked down upon.

From a distance, Shang Yin watched wave after wave of elegantly dressed individuals enter the Zhao residence. The Zhao family had always maintained a low profile in the capital, but it was only on occasions like this that one could truly grasp the depth of their influence.

After observing for a while, he took a detour to a side path and entered the mansion through a smaller gate.

By then, the Dowager Consort was no longer in her own courtyard; she was receiving guests in the Zhao residence's Tingxiang Garden. Only the matriarchs of various families were permitted to pay their respects, and the garden was exclusively for women, making it inappropriate for men to enter.

Shang Yin was in no hurry. He simply sent word to the Dowager Consort's personal maid and waited outside Tingxiang Garden.

Some younger passersby glanced at him curiously, but seeing him as unmoving as a stone statue, they soon lost interest.

After waiting for nearly a quarter of an hour, one of the Dowager Consort's personal maids finally emerged. She approached Shang Yin and whispered, "The Dowager Consort wishes to know: did you retrieve the item?"

"I did not."

Shang Yin's answer clearly surprised the maid. Her brow furrowed, showing clear displeasure, but with people coming and going, she couldn't say much. With a cold expression, she told him to return to the Dowager Consort's courtyard and await punishment, then hurried back into Tingxiang Garden.

This matter was of paramount importance; the Dowager Consort had been preoccupied with it for two days and could not afford any delay.

At that moment, the Dowager Consort was speaking with the wife of the Minister of Rites, who had brought her two daughters to the banquet. The elder daughter was elegantly understated, while the younger was vibrant and charming, each possessing her own unique appeal.

The other families were much the same. Only the legitimate daughters, impeccable in both status and upbringing, were presented before the Dowager Consort.

After a brief conversation, the various ladies noticed that the Dowager Consort wasn't overly concerned with physical beauty. In fact, she seemed to prefer a more understated appearance, likely because she didn't want the King of Northern Wilderness to be swayed by mere looks, but rather sought a virtuous consort.

When the Dowager Consort began inquiring about the elder daughter of the Minister of Rites's daily habits, the hearts of the other ladies immediately tensed, secretly regretting not having daughters of differing temperaments.

Just then, the maid who had stepped out earlier returned and whispered a few words to the Dowager Consort.

The Dowager Consort's smile remained warm, but her interest in idle chatter had vanished.

Fortunately, the Zhao family's First and Second Madams were present, preventing the atmosphere from becoming awkward.

After sitting a while longer, the Dowager Consort excused herself to change and left Tingxiang Garden with her maid.

Only once outside did her face completely harden. She turned to the maid and asked, "Where is Zhao Yin?"

"This servant instructed him to wait in your courtyard."

The Dowager Consort said nothing, quickening her pace towards her living quarters. In that short distance, her face held no trace of a smile, and her eyes were filled with icy coldness. The maids following behind her dared not make a sound, fearing her displeasure.

Upon entering the courtyard, the Dowager Consort saw Shang Yin standing at the entrance.

Without allowing him a word, the Dowager Consort slapped him. Shang Yin remained motionless, showing no reaction. The Dowager Consort slapped him twice more, until her palm reddened, before spitting out two words: "Useless!"

The disgust in her eyes was almost impossible to suppress.

Shang Yin knelt on the ground, head bowed, his expression unreadable.

The Dowager Consort's chest heaved violently a few times. Once her emotions had somewhat calmed, she spoke, "Why didn't you retrieve the incense burner?"

Shang Yin's voice was flat and devoid of emotion. He said, "Ji Chan has a second-tier living corpse in her home. The moment I appeared, that living corpse kept its eyes on me. There was no opportunity to act. I fear that if I had even harbored the thought, the living corpse would have retaliated."

"A living corpse?" The Dowager Consort showed surprise, her tone no longer as harsh as before. "Explain in detail."

Shang Yin then recounted every detail of his visit to the incense shop, including every word of their conversation.

"So, you did indeed see the incense burner in Ji Chan's possession?"

"Yes, when I arrived, she was using the incense burner to light incense. The smoke from the incense condensed without dissipating; it was undoubtedly the Yushan Incense Burner."

"And why would Ji Chan have a living corpse in her home? Did you find out the reason?"

Shang Yin replied, "I found out that Ji Chan has a close relationship with Bai Xiuming, the Commander of the Bright Mirror Bureau. The living corpse must have been allowed to remain through the Bureau's channels."

This time, the Dowager Consort's expression finally changed.

She naturally knew of Bai Xiuming. Although the matter of the Prince of Xiling had been swiftly suppressed by Bai Xiuming in the capital without causing much stir, in the Northern Wilderness, it was considered an earth-shattering event.

"A close relationship, what kind of relationship?" the Dowager Consort pressed.

"If the information is correct, it should be... a romantic relationship."

"What is Ji Chan's background, to possess such influence?" The Dowager Consort was very surprised. Even if she was unwilling to admit it, Bai Xiuming's status was comparable to her son's. How could he be interested in an ordinary woman?

"She was originally the legitimate daughter of the Marquis of Jinyang, but was later expelled from the household due to impure bloodline. Now, she runs a shop in Changping Ward."

The Dowager Consort grew a little curious: "Is that all? How does the woman look?"

Shang Yin thought for a moment, then answered truthfully: "Her appearance is outstanding, but not to the point of being breathtakingly stunning."

By "breathtakingly stunning," he referred to A Chan. With such unparalleled beauty before him, no other beautiful face, no matter how praised by others, could compare.

This was also why the Dowager Consort did not prioritize appearance when selecting a consort for the King of Northern Wilderness. She knew she couldn't find anyone more beautiful than A Chan, so she decided to approach it from other angles.

"Then is she exceptionally intelligent?" Before Shang Yin could answer, the Dowager Consort herself dismissed this guess.

If she were truly intelligent, she wouldn't have been so easily expelled from the Marquis's residence, losing her only reliable status.

The Dowager Consort truly couldn't fathom why Bai Xiuming would be interested in Ji Chan, but she quickly stopped dwelling on the matter.

"Never mind. Perhaps it's just youthful indulgence."

Just like her son, who seemed to have lost his mind, daring to defy the world by wanting a demoness to be the Princess Consort of Northern Wilderness.

At least the fox demoness her son fancied possessed unparalleled beauty. Bai Xiuming's taste, by comparison, was far inferior.

"Dowager Consort, what about that incense burner..."

"You handled this well; it was indeed unwise to act rashly." At this moment, the Dowager Consort's thoughts extended beyond just the incense burner. She was also wondering: if Ji Chan and Bai Xiuming truly had an ambiguous relationship, could the incense burner have already been discovered by the Bright Mirror Bureau?

Was the incense burner currently displayed perhaps bait they had thrown out?

But no matter what, the incense burner had to be retrieved. Even if it was bait, they had to take it.

The Dowager Consort narrowed her eyes. If the Bright Mirror Bureau were truly alerted, they would need evidence to make an arrest. As long as the bait was taken and the fish successfully escaped, then the fishing would have been in vain.

"I recall Bai Xiuming has already reached the Fourth Realm?"

"Yes."

"Truly astonishing talent."

The Dowager Consort praised, then began to calculate in her mind. Whether it was for the troublesome living corpse in Ji Chan's home or to guard against the potential appearance of Bai Xiuming, Zhao Yin could no longer be used. They would have to deploy a guard who was also in the Fourth Realm.

The Fourth Realm guard by the Dowager Consort's side was named Huang Lin, left to her by the previous King of Northern Wilderness.

Originally, she had the authority to command all Fourth Realm guards in the Northern Wilderness King's Residence. However, ever since her falling out with her son, only Huang Lin remained willing to obey her orders.

The last time Huang Lin was deployed was to deal with A Chan.

He had failed then and suffered significant injuries. This time, however, the target was an ordinary person, so failure seemed impossible.

Since Shang Yin's reasoning was quite convincing, apart from the initial slap, the Dowager Consort did not punish him further.

"You need not concern yourself with this matter any longer."

"Yes." Shang Yin respectfully withdrew. The Dowager Consort was finally compelled to use Huang Lin; next, it would be A Chan's turn.

As the orchestrator of this plan, Shang Yin felt a mix of excitement and fear.

Having such an enemy plotting in the shadows was truly terrifying.

As he walked out of the courtyard, he even reminded himself inwardly: in the future, he must never offend A Chan, though he might not even have a future.

Not long after leaving, the Dowager Consort returned to Tingxiang Garden. While chatting casually, she seemingly idly asked Lady Ningde, who was conversing with her, "Does Lady Ningde know Lady Jinyang?"

This Lady Ningde was the paternal elder cousin of the Second Madam Zhao, so the Dowager Consort was willing to show her some courtesy.

Lady Ningde was quite talkative and, hearing the Dowager Consort's question, immediately became animated: "So, Your Highness has also heard of the Marquis of Jinyang's family affairs?"

"I've only heard snippets; it seems..." She left her sentence unfinished, and the other woman eagerly picked up the thread.

"Speaking of the Marquis of Jinyang's current wife, who knows what spell she cast on him, making him abandon even his own legitimate daughter. Even when she was imprisoned, the Marquis refused to divorce her." By the end, Lady Ningde sounded almost envious.

For families like theirs, without the backing of their maternal relatives, true disaster meant everyone fending for themselves.

"The two of them must share a deep bond," the Dowager Consort commented, then asked, "And what about the Marquis of Jinyang's legitimate daughter? How is she now?"

Lady Ningde clicked her tongue: "That one is no easy opponent either. I heard she used her connections with the Bright Mirror Bureau to have the Marquis of Jinyang's wife directly imprisoned."

"Is that true?" The Dowager Consort feigned surprise.

"Just gossip, but the Marquis of Jinyang has been repeatedly targeted by the Bright Mirror Bureau—there must be some reason for it."

"In that case, this Miss Ji is quite resourceful."

Lady Ningde nodded, speaking somewhat cryptically: "Alas, her mother's family has fallen into decline, and the Ji family doesn't acknowledge her. Her prominence may only be temporary."

Though no one spoke openly of the turmoil in the Marquis of Jinyang's residence, many in the capital were watching closely.

The Dowager Consort nodded. These details aligned perfectly with what Zhao Yin had reported.

The Zhao family's spring banquet lasted until evening. Aside from the brief interlude, the Dowager Consort was in good spirits. She had taken a liking to the legitimate daughters of four families, but these were merely initial thoughts, and she had not yet made a decision.

After all, selecting a primary consort for her son required thorough consideration of lineage, temperament, and virtue.

Upon returning to her own courtyard, she temporarily cast these matters aside. Dismissing her personal maids, the Dowager Consort suddenly spoke: "Huang Lin."

A shadowy figure emerged like rippling water beside her, quickly solidifying into a scholarly-looking middle-aged man. Three scars marred his face, disrupting his refined demeanor and giving him a somewhat gloomy appearance.

"What are your orders, Your Highness?"

The Dowager Consort tilted her head and asked him, "How much do the capital's formations affect you?"

Huang Lin replied truthfully, "My cultivation is suppressed to the Third Realm, but my strength remains. If necessary, I can forcibly break through, though the disturbance would be significant."

"If you encounter an opponent of the same realm, can you guarantee a safe retreat?"

"Your Highness need not worry. The capital's grand formation treats all equally; I believe I would not lose to anyone. Even if outmatched, my Water Escape Art has never failed me."

The Dowager Consort nodded. She had personally witnessed Huang Lin's uncanny ability to appear and disappear. Among the three Fourth Realm experts in the Northern Wilderness King's Residence, his movement techniques were the most formidable.

No matter how much Bai Xiuming was praised, his breakthrough to the Fourth Realm couldn't have been long ago. If Huang Lin were to truly face him, even if he couldn't win, retreating unharmed would not be difficult.

After careful consideration, the Dowager Consort finally said, "I've summoned you for a task."

"Your command, Your Highness."

The Dowager Consort gave him A Chan's address, adding a reminder: "Do it cleanly, without alarming anyone else, and leave no clues."

"Understood."

"If, by any chance, the Bright Mirror Bureau has laid an ambush, then first take the item and leave. The incense burner is paramount."

"I understand."

"Go."

As the Dowager Consort's words fell, Huang Lin's figure dissolved into a small puddle of water, disappearing from the room.

With the pressing matter settled, the Dowager Consort finally felt at ease.

Now, she only needed to wait patiently. Huang Lin had never disappointed her.

Meanwhile, in Changping Ward.

As dusk deepened, A Chan had specifically arranged for Chen Hui to stay at the adjacent shop that night, keeping her from home.

Though worried for A Chan, Chen Hui knew she had her own plans and did not go against her wishes.

When night fully descended, A Chan returned to her room.

She lit the candle on the table and placed a piece of incense into the burner.

This incense was a new creation of hers, recently made. Its scent was somewhat bitter, initially resembling a medicinal broth, but after the initial bitterness, the taste began to turn sweet.

This extreme change in scent was surprisingly popular.

After lighting the incense, A Chan rested her elbow on the table, propping her head with one hand as she gazed down at the Yushan Incense Burner before her.

Time slipped away until the candle flame suddenly flickered, but A Chan didn't even glance up.

Thus, she didn't notice a figure silently emerging from behind her.

Just as that figure solidified and lunged towards her with imperceptible speed, a ripple of dark energy suddenly emanated from A Chan.

A deafening dragon's roar soared into the sky, startling half the city awake.