My Enemy Became My Cultivation Companion-Chapter 742 - 472: The People Are Gone, The Building Is Empty (Two in One)_2

Thinking of this, Yin Tingxue curled her lips into a slightly mischievous smile.

Using Chen Yi to manipulate Zhou Yitang on one hand, and Zhou Yitang to manipulate Chen Yi on the other, making both of them like her—plus Lu Ying—wouldn't this mean her good days would come three times in two?

And surely, no one would notice this little scheme, right?

Yin Tingxue imagined Zhou and Chen both following her commands and couldn't help but chuckle secretly.

She hugged the book and walked toward the small building, but after only a few steps, a sound suddenly came from behind.

Click.

She stopped in her tracks and quickly turned around, only to see Chen Yi's face right in front of her.

Yin Tingxue jumped in fright, the book falling to the ground. She hurriedly picked it up and said, "You… why are you here?"

She swallowed nervously and looked at him dejectedly.

"Why so nervous? I'm here to find you because I remembered someone." Chen Yi paused and asked, "How is Min Ming?"

In the past few days, Chen Yi had been busy arguing with Zhou Yitang over Lu Ying every time he came up the mountain. Other than that, his focus was all on the little fox, and he had momentarily forgotten about Min Ming's existence.

Moreover, Min Ming's temperament made her someone who was easily forgotten. Although she owned a deadly weapon, it was always wrapped in clothing, and no one had truly seen it.

"Why are you looking for Sister Min?" Yin Tingxue first asked and then explained, "She's currently working as a housekeeper for odd jobs."

Yin Sword Mountain was the largest Taoist sect for women in the north, with hundreds of disciples across its inner and outer peaks. With such numbers, the corresponding odd-job team needed to be almost the same scale. After all, even just for eating and drinking, considerable manpower was needed. Though the Daoists could fast, that was only after achieving a certain level of cultivation.

Aside from proper women, the odd-job workers were mostly the female relatives of inner sect disciples. With Zhou Yitang's status, arranging for Min Ming to work as a housekeeper wasn't difficult. However, it's unlikely Zhou personally arranged it—it was more likely an order from the Sect Leader.

Chen Yi nodded slightly and said, "Alright, I'll go find her later."

"You… why are you looking for Sister Min?" Yin Tingxue asked curiously.

"I heard from Min Ning that she knows how to make Kongming Lanterns. I'm going to ask her to teach me," Chen Yi said.

Kongming Lanterns…

Yin Tingxue's eyes lit up. Without even thinking, she knew who it was meant for...

As if sensing Yin Tingxue's reaction, Chen Yi promptly said, "It's for you."

"For me?"

Yin Tingxue was a little surprised before suddenly understanding.

"Ah, yes, it's for me." 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

"Glad you know."

"Then… I want a flower painted on my lantern."

"What flower?"

Yin Tingxue answered confidently, "Peony, of course. I love peonies the most."

Chen Yi turned his face away, unsure of what to say. He simply smiled helplessly and replied,

"Okay."

...…

Nightfall cloaked the Capital City.

With winter arriving, Yuan Chun Hall lit the underfloor heating early, making it intensely warm. The palace maids passing through the palace walls wore no thick clothing, as a few runs back and forth could make their garments drenched in sweat.

The Yuan Chun Hall that had hosted grand banquets in previous years now saw a procession hurriedly moving through. At the forefront was the lady official Su Xin, who held a dispatch letter in her hands. She passed through the palace walls and approached the outside of Yuan Chun Hall.

In the dense night, as the palace maids reported her arrival, Su Xin took a deep breath and wiped at the sticky sweat on her neck—uncertain if it was hot or cold—before being summoned into the hall.

"Your Majesty, a dispatch from the south has arrived, detailing the matters of the White Lotus Sect,"

Within the deep palace hall, the Queen of the Land sat high behind her desk, encapsulated in darkness. Casually, she pushed aside the red jade pixiu paperweight, her eyes betraying no emotion.

Su Xin nervously took a breath.

Was it a mere illusion, or had the Queen's aura grown increasingly imposing over the past year? During her sessions with the court, all officials would bow in unison toward the densely curtained throne. The Queen gave an impression of an awe-inspiring majesty that demanded reverence.

"You've already looked it over; just give me a summary," came the voice from the desk.

"Understood," Su Xin paused before responding. "The White Lotus rebels have been wreaking havoc in Hu-Guang for over two months now. Several counties in Yongzhou Prefecture, such as Dong'an, Ningyuan, and Lingling, have fallen into their hands. Following the river upstream, their forces have reached Hengzhou Prefecture and Changsha Prefecture. Although both prefectures have long been on high alert, the rebels are fierce. Hengzhou Prefecture has lost three counties, while Changsha Prefecture has only one county fallen into enemy hands. However, sightings of White Lotus Sect members have been reported further east in Ji'an and Fuzhou, and even Dragon and Tiger Mountain has sealed itself off. It's likely the rebels' scope of activities extends even beyond the reported areas."

"What a Hu-Guang rebellion," the Queen commented, her face unmoving as she gently placed a memorial submitted by governors, circuit supervisors, and several Capital Commanders before Su Xin.

"It's filled with requests for rewards,"

Pausing for a moment, her voice came hauntingly soft, "All of them grand victories!"

Su Xin glanced down at the memorial, her pupils shrinking in disbelief: "Yongzhou Prefecture has been recovered? Such utter corruption!"

The Queen let out a chuckle, though hidden in shadows, no one could discern how much anger lay beneath the laughter. She spoke unhurriedly, "The White Lotus rebellion, at its core, is just a matter of a few leaders with luck and some legacy. They can be suppressed easily enough, merely a surface affliction. However, the local officials' deceit and pretense run deep, like a disease in the bones."

Reporting defeats as victories was not unheard of, even during the time of the founding emperor. But for a massive defeat to be turned into a resounding victory—that was an entirely different matter. Having worked within the Chief of Staff's inner bureau for years, assisting in administrative matters, Su Xin could hardly fathom the level of corruption in the provinces. If even Hu-Guang was like this, then what of the southern regions, like Liang-Guang? She feared the day rebel forces reached the gates of the Capital City, and yet each province would still claim grand victories.

"Su Xin, tell me—what is to be done? I shall hear your thoughts." The Queen's voice was deliberate and measured.