Chapter 350: The Secret of the Yao Family

.He must have been practicing all the time.He should have taken advantage of his good attitude to learn more, but thinking about having to get up early tomorrow, Gu Huanxi ultimately didn't have the h...Xú Huáiyì, upon hearing this, felt a stir within him. An idea suddenly sparked in his mind. He feigned curiosity and asked, "What kind of person can't reincarnate and becomes a vengeful spirit"

Zhao Sanyou mysteriously said, "If a person dies with too much resentment and unwillingness, it is said that they will become a vengeful spirit and refuse to reincarnate. They will wait to take revenge on their enemies."

What does it mean to have too much resentment

For example, those who have suffered unfair treatment or great injustice, and those who died with hatred in their hearts, have very heavy resentment. That's why there's the saying "die without closing one's eyes." Such people are unlikely to reincarnate normally.

Xu Huaiyi nodded seriously, "Learned."

Zhao Sanshou chuckled dryly, "What's this That... Huaiyi, why are you asking about this"

Xu Huaiyi pondered, "I'm trying to figure out what kind of ghost appeared at the Yao family last night. Was it a vengeful spirit or one seeking justice"

Zhao San'yu was taken aback for a moment, then excitedly slapped the table, "That's right! Now we know the ghost's origins and the reason. Why would it target only the Yao family It must have a grudge against them! First, they robbed them, then they injured someone. Hahaha, the second master of the Yao family was hurt so badly that he's living worse than dead. This grudge must be nearly settled now, right"

Su Zhe's eyes flickered. "So, what happened to the Yao family last night was all because of Old Master Yao II"

Zhao Sanyou said, “Come on, it’s not his fault. Why would a vengeful ghost single him out”

Su Zhe slowly fanned himself, "That's right, Yao Er Ye deserved this fate, he is not worthy of sympathy."

Zhao San readily nodded and sighed, "It's not gentlemanly to hold a grudge without revenge. That's why so many people say 'Even if I become a vengeful spirit, I won't let you get away with this' before they die. It seems like such things really happen."

Su Zhe twitched the corner of his mouth and looked at Xu Huaiyi, "Huaiyi, do you believe in ghosts and spirits"

Xu Huaiyi nodded without hesitation.

Su Zhe raised an eyebrow. "Really"

Xu Huaiyi said, "Of course, I witnessed it with my own eyes. You forgot about the miracle that happened in our Hulou Village What else could that be besides divine intervention And just recently, the Changle Hou Mansion was struck by lightning from the heavens, and almost all the people in the capital city saw it. Couldn't that have been real Anyway, I believe it. Evil is met with evil, good is met with good. It doesn't mean it won't be avenged; it just means the time hasn't come yet. So we should do more good deeds."

Su Zhe saw his confident and composed demeanor. Even though he still had some doubts in his heart, he couldn't confirm them. After all, he couldn't figure it out himself. It was easy for someone to pretend to be a ghost, but to do so convincingly and fool everyone in the Yao family was beyond comprehension. Especially the descriptions that came from the Yao family - elusive, appearing and disappearing without a trace. Even skilled martial artists wouldn't be able to achieve that, would they

So, it's really a vengeful ghost Unrelated to Xu Huaiyi

Back in the dorm room, with only two of them left, Li Yun Ting directly asked, "The Yao family's affair, wasn't it you who did it"

Xu Huaiyi showed no signs of guilt, spreading his hands and saying, "Do you think with my current skill level, I could achieve that kind of elusive state"

Li Yun Ting shook his head and said honestly, "No."

Xu Huaiyi shrugged, "So how could it be me I've only been learning light kung fu from my master for a few days. I can barely nimbly climb over a wall, let alone walk on rooftops or disappear without a trace. I don't have that kind of skill. Besides, according to the news spreading from the Yao family, several large jade ornaments were missing from the study, weighing a couple hundred pounds together. I would struggle to carry them, let alone evade the guards and escape the mansion."

Li Yunting frowned. "Indeed, it's impossible."

"Besides, if it were me, I wouldn't be stupid. I could have gotten into the study easily. Why would I bother stealing those jade artifacts instead of looking for something to blackmail the Yao family With leverage, I could bring them down, but just making them lose a little money is too cheap." Xu Huaiyi looked very self-assured and calm.

He wasn't afraid of Li Yunting's suspicion, anyway, even if he suspected it again, he wouldn't find any evidence.

Li Yun Ting pondered, "You're right, could it really be a vengeful spirit seeking revenge against the Yao family"

"When you eliminate the impossible, whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be true." Xu Huaiyi finished and added, "This isn't my saying; it's from a book."

What book

"Well, that's a story."

Li Yunting glanced at him, didn't ask about the storybook anymore, and turned back to the previous topic, "If it was done by a vengeful spirit, then it could be considered that it indirectly helped you out. The Yao family suffered a lot this time, not only losing money but also injuring people and damaging their reputation. I asked, and Yao Changyuan didn't come to school today."

Xu Huaiyi said, "What you sow is what you reap."

Li YunTing nodded. "You're right, it's all self-inflicted. Will you fight back"

Xu Huaiyi pondered for a moment, "Not for now. The Yao family is currently in the midst of a storm. If I make a move at this time, I would easily attract attention. I've already arranged for someone to infiltrate the Yao family and keep an eye on them. If anything happens, they can alert me in advance. However, I feel... since the Yao family has been haunted by a malevolent spirit, the misfortune won't just be limited to last night's incident. They are most likely going to suffer further calamities in the future. I shall wait and see how it unfolds."

"Do you think last night was just the beginning and there will be more to come"

"Wait and see."

He didn't have time to go into the motorhome and chat with his wife at noon, so he could only wait until evening. By afternoon, news of Yao's family had spread throughout the academy, especially the saying that a vengeful ghost was seeking retribution. Most people believed it, thinking that the Yao family had done something wrong and therefore deserved to have ghosts calling at their door.

But the Yao family was not the only one who did wrong. As a result, some people were inevitably frightened and worried that they would follow in the footsteps of the Yao family. Therefore, Taoists suddenly became very popular, and everyone secretly searched for highly skilled ones to invite home to exorcise ghosts.

At the same time, the previous ghost story at the academy was mentioned again. Now, that courtyard is still empty and no one dares to live there. This old story was almost forgotten, but now that the Yao family has also reported a haunting, well, it's all connected. Privately, many students are speculating about what Xiang Chao and his companions did back then to provoke the ghosts. They are also secretly warned to never create any grievances in the future, otherwise, if a vengeful spirit comes to seek revenge, they will definitely not be able to escape.

In this way, unintentionally, many souls on the verge of 'falling' were saved, and there were fewer people who committed crimes afterward.

Xu Huaiyi was overjoyed upon learning this.

Of course, that came later. Right now, Xu Huaiyi was thinking about the letters and ledgers he had stolen from the Yao family. He couldn't wait until night fell. After getting into the car, he eagerly asked, "My wife, tell me, you're killing me with suspense..."

Gu Huanxi organized the important information and wrote it on a piece of white paper, then handed it to him. "You can take a look first," she said.

Xu Huaiyi took it over, the more he looked, the wider his eyes became, and he muttered in his mouth, "Good fellow, really a good fellow, I didn't expect the Yao family to be so capable. A mere fifth-rank official could cause such a stir, hiding so deep indeed..."

After he finished reading, Gu Huan asked with interest, "What are your thoughts"

Xu Huaiyi patted his chest, “Let me catch my breath for a moment, I’m jumping around like this. It really shows that one should never judge by appearances. One must never underestimate anyone in the officialdom, even an insignificant clerk. Perhaps at a critical juncture, they can play a pivotal role, just like a lowly soldier; no matter how inconspicuous, they can decide life and death with a single step.”

He rambled for a while before finally calming down. He grabbed a piece of paper and, leaning against his wife, half-lay down. "Let's talk about the discrepancies in this ledger first. Look at these records – they go back over ten years! That means he started keeping tabs ever since he entered the government. What a cunning and farsighted man…"

"How many of these names do you recognize"

Most people know, my master had previously explained to me all the officials who could enter the court. I don't know about those who were sent out of the capital. Look at these from a long time ago, they have all become Minister of Rites and Left Servant of the Ministry of Personnel...

"Well, it seems he bribed these people to stay in the capital and work, even getting into the Ministry of Rites and rising to the rank of a fifth-rank official."

"These are common, offering gifts to Shangguan officials, especially those in the Ministry of Officials, is practically a well-established custom. Otherwise, with so many Jinshi waiting to be assigned positions, why would they be assigned to you Either through connections or by bribing them, I'm surprised by this..."

Gu Huanxi sighed, “Indeed, when I first saw this, I was also quite surprised. A daughter of the Yao family entered the Meng family's residence in Pingyuan Bo, and a daughter of the Meng family entered the Grand Prince's residence. But look at this account book, the Yao family has never sent any favors to the Grand Prince's residence, but they have given this King Chu…again and again, over a period of time that is not short. I calculated it, at least seven years! What does this mean”

Xu Huaiyi murmured, "It seems that Yao Changjun has long been a member of King Chu's faction. With the eldest daughter of the Yao family marrying into the Pingyuan Bo Mansion, it's possible that everything was part of King Chu's plan. Although Pingyuan Bo had been declining in recent years, he was still a force to be reckoned with. It was necessary to woo him. Look at how he was deceived! The Meng family produced a peaceful county lord who has gained recognition in the capital. They are now a considerable force. No wonder that last time I ate at Chunshui Lou, I saw Meng Zhonglou by King Chu's side..."

"Meng Chonglou The father of Ping'an County Lord Meng Yao Wasn't he a wastrel Even the Prince of Chu would play with him"

"To avoid drawing attention, playing with him is the only way to prevent people from suspecting anything. If I were to play with Meng Chongshan, it would be too obvious a form of recruitment, wouldn't it"

Gu Huan looked thoughtfully.

Xu Huaiyi asked, "What are you thinking about"

Gu Huanxi looked at him, "Miss Meng Yao of Ping'an County."

"That reincarnator"

“Well, every step she takes seems to be intentional. For example, she used the Oracle's favor to gain the attention of the Meng family and even secured herself the title of County Lord. She also arranged for a Meng family daughter to marry into the Crown Prince's mansion, securing a position as a concubine in the palace. Each step is carefully calculated, isn't it”

Xu Huaiyi nodded, utterly confused. "Yes, so what Didn't she just use her extra lifespan to gain an advantage by exploiting information asymmetry We do fall short in that regard, but by keeping an eye on her and analyzing her content, we can still glean some useful information."

"Yes, it's all about information asymmetry. This is her most important bargaining chip. She knows from her past life that the eldest prince ascended to the throne, so right now when no one favors the eldest prince, she sends the Meng family girl in, even if it means becoming a concubine. But why would she also have her own father follow Prince Chu"

Xu Huaiyi's eyelids twitched, "Could it be that King Chu secretly supported the eldest prince He thought the eldest prince was soft-tempered and easy to control, intending to support him to the throne and then become regent himself So, the eldest prince ultimately defeated the other princes and ascended the throne, not by chance but through King Chu's efforts And Meng Yao knows all these inside stories. She knows that even after becoming emperor, the eldest prince has little real power and must curry favor with King Chu beforehand"

Gu Huanxi was speechless. "Since King Chu has the ability to support the eldest princess's ascension to the throne, why not just ascend to the throne himself"

Xu Huaiyi said matter-of-factly, "Having a bad reputation Right now, Emperor Jianxing has six surviving sons. Who knows how many more he might have in the future Even if they all died, there are still princes like Prince Qin, Prince Ping, and Prince An. Together, their legitimate and illegitimate children number in the dozens. If King Chu wants to ascend the throne, how many people would he have to kill If so many people from the royal family die, only King Chu's lineage remains. You tell me, would the officials throughout the court and the people of the entire country look upon him favorably Could he possibly sit securely on the throne"

Gu Huanxi pondered for a moment and said, "What you say makes sense, but I still feel it's not quite right."

"Don't you think King Chu could possibly ascend the throne Wouldn't the eldest prince have just been overthrown after a few years"

It could also be that they were murdered.

"Huh"

Seeing his terrified expression, Gu Huan said with displeasure, "Is it that surprising Haven't you watched enough palace intrigue dramas It's not unusual for someone to die in the imperial palace. Consorts, princes, and even the emperor himself are all easy targets, you know"

"Right, our little fish..."

Gu Huanxi frowned, "So we can't be hasty. We need to take it step by step. If the ultimate winner is King Chu, and the Crown Prince is just a stepping stone for him, then we absolutely cannot reveal Xiao Yu's identity."

Xu Huaiyi nodded eagerly, "Yes, yes, it's too dangerous..." Thinking of something, his tone faltered, "Wife, didn't I tell you before, suspecting someone tricked the disaster victims into becoming private soldiers I never found out who it was. The people sent by the second prince were led around in circles. My master reminded me not to get involved in this matter, and the two of us even guessed about it once. Now that I think about it, you said wouldn't it be King Chu"

Gu Huixin smiled bitterly, "It's possible..."

So how did he end up in power He didn't bloody the palace to seize the throne, did he

Gu Huan shook her head, "I don't know. Looking at Yao Changjun's letters, there was nothing about the Chu Wangfu."

"King Chu is definitely cautious. Writing a letter can easily leave traces. If you have any orders, just send a trusted confidant to deliver the message."

“Well, you're right. Yao Changjun must have received orders to contact those officials who were transferred out. This is for Chu Wang to cultivate his power base. There are already several of them, and their positions are not low. Even our Tongxian county magistrate is one of them. Isn't that amazing”

Xu Huaiyi thought of his astonishment when he first saw the two characters "Tongxian" and sighed, "Amazing, how can it not be amazing It seems that we have a long history with the capital. I suspect that wherever Shenglong Pavilion is located, it's most likely within Chu Wang's sphere of influence. The glazed object we made at the beginning was probably given to Chu Wang."

What are you going to do

“King Chu wouldn’t be a good emperor. No matter how well his reputation is managed, his actions behind the scenes are far from honorable. Just look at the people he has gathered around him, like the Yao family—they can't possibly be good people. And what about the county magistrate of Tongxian During the drought, he didn’t achieve any political achievements and was a mediocre official who didn’t care about the people. If his subordinates are like this, how could their lord be any better”

So what

"We can't let him take power, or it will be a hardship for the people."

Gu Huanyi's speechless rant, "Just the two of us Do you look down on King Chu or overestimate yourselves"

Xu Huaiyi smiled and said, "I didn't say I would bring him down immediately. We need to plan slowly. Besides, there's still the eldest prince as a buffer. Let's start by eliminating his influence. For every bit of power he cultivates, we'll cut it back proportionally. Then we'll see how he rebels afterwards. Since the current emperor is still around, let them fight it out. Otherwise, once the eldest prince takes the throne, he definitely won't be a match for him."ried to appear unremarkable and ordinary in every way.However, some people's brilliance is impossible to conceal from birth.The other party took his answer sheet and didn't rush to look at it. He just...