"Heresy?"
Dean Gu pondered for a moment, "Ever since you mentioned the theft of your Dragon Aura in Yunzhou, Your Highness, I made a point of researching ancient texts on the subject, but unfortunately, heresy is reviled by all, and records about it are scant."
"Come to think of it, why are you suddenly asking about this? Could it be that you've run into trouble in the palace?"
"Something like that," Xie Xun nodded. "I've encountered the person who took my Dragon Aura back then."
Dean Gu was alarmed, "If I'm not mistaken, this person must be a heretical sorcerer who practices the dark arts. How could they freely appear in the palace? Could it be National Master Bai Cheng?"
When the Former Empress had met her end, Dean Gu had suspected Bai Cheng.
After all, it was his words that led Emperor Hongtai to banish the Third Royal Highness from the capital.
However, Dean Gu had no evidence, so this suspicion remained hidden in his heart.
Xie Xun said, "I'm not sure yet, but from now on, we must remain extremely vigilant."
"Master, please move with Madam to King Chu's Mansion. I don't trust the palace guards assigned to protect you, but I have Secret Guardians from Old Master Nie. I will assign some of them to protect you covertly."
"With you and Madam close by, I can be at ease."
Dean Gu understood.
The current situation was that the enemy was hidden while Xie Xun was in the open. If that heretical sorcerer suddenly went mad and used Dean Gu and his wife as hostages to threaten Xie Xun, it would cause great trouble.
Dean Gu smiled, "Since Your Highness is so thoughtful, then this old man will not stand on ceremony."
Xie Xun nodded, "As it should be."
Although the master did not mention it, Xie Xun could vaguely guess that his student Gu Mingfeng's death was related to him.
By affection and duty, he should take responsibility for the elderly couple's remaining years.
They would have to wait for King Chu's Mansion, as Xie Xun and Jiang Xiaoxiao would temporarily stay at Dean Gu's residence.
Lunch was prepared by Madam Song.
Dean Gu took the opportunity to slip into the kitchen and wash some vegetables.
"Madam, let me tell you something."
Madam Song glanced at him, "What good could you possibly have to say?"
Dean Gu hesitated, "His Highness just told me to bring you to King Chu's Mansion to live."
Upon hearing this, Madam Song's motions cutting the meat came to a halt.
Dean Gu washed his hands and walked over to Madam Song's side.
"Madam, I know you're still grieving over Mingfeng's death back then, but in the end, the Third Royal Highness was only three years old at that time. If he could have, he wouldn't have wanted to watch Mingfeng get hurt either."
"Even though we haven't said anything, His Highness is perceptive and must have guessed long ago. By asking us to move in, he's taking care of us old folks for Mingfeng's sake."
"I'm not asking you to let go, but could you not refuse His Highness's kindness?"
Madam Song raised her hand and wiped away her tears.
"Your hands just touched the seasonings, don't rub your eyes." Dean Gu quickly took out a handkerchief to dab her tears.
Madam Song pushed him away.
Dean Gu sighed, "Madam..."
"What 'Madam'? Stop clinging to me like that," Madam Song shouted. "Can't you see we're out of vegetables? Go buy some quickly!"
Dean Gu was stunned for a moment before his face broke into a smile, "All right, what does Madam want? I'll go right now."
"Buy a crucian carp," Madam Song said wistfully. "I remember he loved drinking the crucian carp soup I used to make when he was little. You can decide on the other vegetables yourself."
"Okay, okay, I'm going now."
Seeing Madam Song's change in attitude, Dean Gu's heart bloomed with joy. After leaving, he went to the vegetable market with Yang Ershun.
Lunch was a sumptuous affair with a whole table full of dishes.
For the last course, Madam Song brought out an earthenware pot.
"Your Highness used to love drinking the fish soup I made when you were little. I don't know if it still suits your taste after all these years."
She set the pot on the table and personally served the soup to Xie Xun and Jiang Xiaoxiao.
Dean Gu had told her about the incident where Xie Xun's life fortune was stolen when he was three years old.
Although she had resented it and been furious because of Xie Xun, their son had lost his life at such a young age.
But in the end, the Third Royal Highness back then was just a child who didn't understand anything.
Moreover, the old man had a point.
Whether she could let go or not, Mingfeng would never come back.
But life had to go on.
Xie Xun took the soup bowl, "Thank you, Madam."
Madam Song looked at him, her eyes growing moist before showing a relieved smile, "Eat up!"
After lunch, Xie Xun went out again with Jiang Xiaoxiao.
He needed to meet the Secret Guardians from Old Master Nie and quickly assign some people to covertly protect the master and his wife.
According to the Steward of the Nie Family, he had to go to the Nie Family Cloth Shop and find the manager.
Worried that Dean Gu's coachman might get lost, Xie Xun hired a carriage from outside.
Just as he was about to board the carriage with Jiang Xiaoxiao, a voice called out from not far away, "Hey, you two..."
It was Qin Fengmian.
He quickly approached the carriage and, meeting Xie Xun's profound gaze, shuddered before obediently lowering his head and addressing him as "Master."
Xie Xun asked, "What are you doing here?"
Qin Fengmian looked troubled and spoke cautiously, "Well, when I went to Yunzhou before, it was to recruit Lady Jiang into the Yin Yang Office. It's been so long since we entered the capital, but Lady Jiang still hasn't reported to her master. Shouldn't we put that on the agenda now?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao remembered that the Crown Prince Murong Yuan had proposed establishing the Yin Yang Office, so she felt a bit reluctant.
She remained silent and looked at Xie Xun.
Xie Xun asked Qin Fengmian, "You said before that the Yin Yang Office was established to exorcise evil spirits and dispel demonic presence for Yan Country, right?"
"Of course," Qin Fengmian said. "There have been many cases involving evil spirits that resulted in loss of life. Whenever such things happen, the victims would report the case to the officials."
"But how could the officials handle such matters? That's why establishing the Yin Yang Office was necessary. Cases involving evil spirits that the officials can't deal with will be handled by us."
"Several of my fellow disciples have already passed the examination and been recruited. There's also a group of people from the outside currently being tested. All we're waiting for now is for the Director Lady Jiang to take her position before we can start taking cases."
Xie Xun asked again, "So as the Director, can she make decisions independently, or must she follow the orders of the Crown Prince?"
"Well..." Qin Fengmian scratched his head. "Although the Crown Prince proposed establishing the Yin Yang Office, he doesn't understand magic arts after all. For now, the Yin Yang Office mainly follows the orders of my master."
So the Director wouldn't have full autonomy.
However, as long as Murong Yuan didn't interfere too much, it would be enough.
Xie Xun pulled Jiang Xiaoxiao aside and said in a low voice, "If we take over the Yin Yang Office, we can use their personnel to investigate the people behind Murong Yuan in the future. Why not do it?"
Jiang Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment. Using Murong Yuan's people to investigate the people behind Murong Yuan seemed quite reasonable, indeed a devious scheme that Xie Xun could come up with.
Nodding her little head, Jiang Xiaoxiao said, "Alright, I'll do it."
