Chapter 818 A Beating

A blind man drinking tea.

Sitting across from him, Shopkeeper Xiao's hands were placed on his knees, sitting upright, his eyes not daring to wander, even though the person sitting in front of him was blind.

But deep down, he had a feeling that the blind man in front of him could see through everything about him.

Thirteen years old.

Thirteen years old.

The blind man was "chewing" on this age.

No longer considered a "kid," but barely, still within the sequence.

If it were an adult, twenty years old, there would be no need to consider it at all, but this age was a bit "awkward."

Awkward not for that side, but for his own side's understanding of "prophecy."

The blind man was a person who liked to ponder.

After all, "blindly pondering."

The matter of finding the remaining demon kings, although there was no next specific piece of information yet, in the blind man's view, there were two major elements:

First, age.

Second, equal distribution.

The Yan Kingdom had a Tiantian, but it was impossible for all the demon kings to be "Yan people." Other countries should also have a few scattered around.

In terms of background, commoners could be allowed, but most should not have poor backgrounds. This determined the starting height of the demon kings. At any time, commoners were only used as a decoration, to show that they existed, just for show.

In addition, there was also one point: they should all be people with luck. It wasn't that these people couldn't be killed, but it was impossible for them to die early from a headache or fever, or be torn apart by robbers who broke into their homes.

The Xie family.

Qian Li Ju (Thousand-Li Colt).

Thirteen years old.

Of the four pillar states of Great Chu, only the Xie family remained intact. Lighting up the Lord's achievement points only required him.

Interesting, a bit interesting.

The blind man originally just wanted to make another casual move. After all, there were too many variables. His own side had just beaten them, so it was possible that they wouldn't believe him or would respond to all changes with inaction. The last one to take the risk was Nian Yao. The next one would have to carefully consider it.

But if the other party was really one of the demon kings,

The blind man felt a bit of confidence in this "cooperation" in his heart.

If so,

Please let me see your abilities.

"Oh."

The blind man suddenly made a sound.

Shopkeeper Xiao's body trembled.

"Is your young master's eyesight good?"

"This, this servant doesn't know what you mean, sir."

"I'm talking about his eyes. Do they work well?"

"Eyes?"

"Yes, no extended meaning, just simply asking about his eyes."

"I haven't heard of the young master suffering from any eye diseases."

"Sigh." The blind man sighed. If he were born blind, that would be a good match, but he himself wasn't born blind.

"Help me pass on another message."

"Please speak, sir."

"Tell your young master to protect his eyes."

Saying that,

The blind man took out an orange from his pocket, peeled it in front of Shopkeeper Xiao, and threw the orange segments to Dai Li.

Dai Li swallowed it in fear and trepidation, his expression blissful.

The blind man pointed at Dai Li,

And said to Shopkeeper Xiao:

"For example, things like oranges that easily cause internal heat, tell him to eat less of them."

…

After being instructed, Shopkeeper Xiao left. He would have his subordinates take care of the business, while he would return as quickly as possible.

As for the blind man, he and his wife, Yue Xin, happily had lunch together.

Because there were only the two of them at home, the food was brought out by his wife from the Wangfu (Prince's Manor) signing room. Therefore, their family didn't really have any rules at the dinner table.

"Husband, my father sent a letter saying that grandfather's health hasn't been very good since winter last year."

Yue Xin's grandfather was Wen Sutong. When Zheng Fan followed Li Fusheng to attack Qian, he entered the city of Chujun. Wen Sutong, as an official who had retired to his hometown, was forcibly recruited by Zheng Fan and served as a "puppet" for a while.

When the Yan people returned, the Wen family moved to the Yan Kingdom with them.

The old man saw the potential in Zheng Fan, not only betrothing his granddaughter to the blind man, but also having the younger members of the Wen family go to Zheng Fan early to help with his work.

It had been several years, and although they had been managed and cleaned up during that time, there were still many Wen family members who were truly capable of working and developing well under the Prince's Manor.

As for the old man Wen himself, he had been staying in Yanjing City as a model of "surrender." When the late emperor was alive, he treated him very politely, and after the new emperor ascended the throne, he continued to receive his grace and honor.

He had no real power, but his reputation was bright.

"Want to go back and see him?" the blind man asked.

"Can I?" Yue Xin was a little expectant.

"If you want to go back, then go back. I'll arrange for someone to send you."

"Thank you, husband."

"Don't be so polite."

After the meal,

While cleaning up the dishes,

Yue Xin said, "Sister Feng asked husband to go over when he has time." Then she added, "There's no rush."

"Then I'll go now."

"Then I'll clean up tonight." Yue Xin washed her hands, put a coat on her husband, and then supported him as they left the house together.

Their home, like the Sword Saint's, was next to the Prince's Manor, strictly speaking, a small courtyard attached to the Prince's Manor.

On the road, they ran into Xue San and Fan Li, who had just come out of the Prince's Manor.

Xue San bowed slightly,

And said:

"Yo, you've eaten?"

Yue Xin performed a half-bow and said, "Yes, we have."

"Going back to work after eating?"

"Work?"

"Yes." The blind man replied, "What about you?"

"A silver mine was discovered in the Tianduan Mountains. A'Li and I are going to take a look."

"Silver mine?"

"I don't know the reserves, and I don't know the difficulty of mining. Don't have too many expectations. After I do a preliminary investigation, if it's really promising, I'll call you to come and see it together."

"Okay."

After separating from Xue San and Fan Li, the blind man went into the signing room first, while Yue Xin went to another yamen to get the afternoon's reports. She was now basically Si Niang's assistant.

When the blind man came in,

Si Niang was reclining on the chair, stroking her slightly bulging belly with one hand while flipping through the reports with the other.

"Don't work too hard," the blind man said.

Si Niang smiled and said, "What, advising me to be careful and not move the fetus?"

"I believe in your physical fitness, but it's not easy to get pregnant once, so you should look like a pregnant woman, unless you plan to continue having children."

Hearing this, Si Niang suddenly thought of the words she had shouted with the Lord in the Hulu Temple that day when the old monk bumped his head.

"What's wrong?" The blind man noticed something was wrong.

"It's nothing." Si Niang didn't plan to say this.

"Is something wrong?" the blind man asked again.

"Yes."

Si Niang took out a report and waved it, saying:

"This is for the money, food, military equipment, and troop rotation to be transported to Fancheng in the summer."

"Hmm, what's wrong?"

"There's a lot more money and food."

"Gou Moli is guarding Fancheng. It's not easy."

"You're quite close to him. It's fine if there's more money and food than expected, but why are the rotating troops mostly barbarians again?"

"This makes it easier for him to control. As long as Gou Moli isn't stupid, he won't rebel in Fancheng. Surrender to the Chu people?"

"That's not what I'm worried about."

"Then what?"

"With the extra money and food, and the troop rotation mainly composed of barbarians, the Lord originally meant for Gou Moli to manage Fancheng well, reshape the defense system, and solidify the nail.

But looking at this report, I see another meaning. Is he going to stir up trouble?"

"He only has so many troops in his hands. What kind of trouble can he stir up?"

"I don't know, so I came to ask you," Si Niang said. "Gou Moli is very sensible and wouldn't make requests himself. This report must have been modified by you."

"That's right."

"The Lord hasn't had time to settle the score with you for the last enthronement ceremony. Are you going to stir up trouble again?"

"Stirring it up in the Chu Kingdom is fine."

"Really?"

"What kind of person am I? Don't you know?"

"It's precisely because I know you too well that I'm asking you, and I can confirm that you still haven't told me the truth."

Si Niang smiled,

"I won't approve the report."

The blind man shook his head, sighed, and said:

"I have a discovery."

"Speak."

"The Xie family has a young master, thirteen years old, who can already handle things on his own."

"Can you just randomly find a kid and try to apply it to that?" Si Niang said dismissively.

"We have to try. Look, the cost of trial and error is just a little more money and food, and a little more barbarian troops. The price is very low."

"Blind man, we're family."

"My honor."

"Don't play with fire. If you really anger the Lord, it won't be easy for us to speak up for you."

"Actually, the Lord himself doesn't seem to have much of an idea. I mean, in this aspect, the Lord is vigilant enough, but also lazy enough. We are very powerful now, not us ourselves, but our forces.

But the Zhenbei (North-Pacifying) Prince's Manor has already been 'recruited,' and the westernmost vassal state of the Yan Kingdom has become nominal. A three-legged balance should be the most stable, but when the emperor finishes dealing with the others, we will immediately appear... isolated and helpless.

I didn't have people prepare a dragon robe to force the Lord to rebel immediately. What I'm doing is making sure that the foundation that we've all worked so hard to build together can continue to exist steadily to support our and the Lord's whims."

Si Niang was silent for a long time,

And then said:

"How confident are you about that Xie family one?"

"Have to see. We haven't started testing yet. Once we try it out, then we'll have a focus."

"Alright."

Si Niang nodded.

"By the way." The blind man seemed to have remembered something again. "There's something I think I should remind you about in advance."

"Say it."

"It's still early in the pregnancy, but we need to prepare early."

"Are you afraid of a difficult labor? I still trust Xue San's knife skills, and I can sew cosmetic stitches myself."

"I'm not worried about the birth itself," the blind man continued. "I'm worried about the problems that might arise after a few months, when the pregnancy becomes obvious."

"What do you mean?"

"Your child is bound to be extraordinary. The bloodlines of a few of us are still there, obvious in A'Ming and Liang Cheng. Their strength isn't at its peak, but their bloodline foundation is solid.

So, genetically, your child will have a very high starting point. It's not to say that the child will be born able to fight and make trouble, like a Nezha, that's too exaggerated, but…

You now are no less than another level of 'serious injury' compared to when you were at your peak.

I'm very afraid that after a few more months, your body, your current state, may not be able to handle it."

Si Niang looked at her belly and said, "I understand. I'll prepare."

"I didn't think of this before, so I was still blaming the Lord for holding me back.

Now,

To safely give birth to the child, I can only hope that the Lord can hold me back a little more."

"Hope I what?"

At this moment, the Prince of Pingxi, carrying a bowl of Tremella soup, happened to walk in.

The blind man smiled and said, "I was discussing the child with Si Niang. Your subordinate thinks the child will be more like you in the future."

Zheng Fan held the soup and glanced at the blind man, saying, "Do you think I'm A'Li? So easy to fool?"

"The Lord misunderstood. A'Li isn't easy to fool."

"Heh, a beating you deserve."

…

The imperial carriage procession was still heading towards the capital. After returning from the alliance, the emperor of Great Chu took the opportunity to launch a southern tour in his own country.

Inside the imperial carriage,

The emperor was sitting there reviewing memorials.

A handsome young man sat below, peeling tangerines while reading the reports sent by the Phoenix Nest Inner Guard. The air inside the carriage was filled with the fragrance of tangerine peel.

The Chu Emperor put down his pen, gently rubbed his wrist, looked at the young man below, and smiled:

"Be careful of internal heat if you eat too much."

Xie Yu'an replied:

"Your Majesty, this subject doesn't like eating tangerines."

"Oh?"

"This subject enjoys the feeling of peeling tangerines. It makes this subject very happy."