The aura of the Bureau of Heavenly Masters?

Xu Qi'an was stunned for a moment, unable to ask any questions, and Yang Qianhuan's figure disappeared before his eyes. Then, the desolate bird's cry outside also disappeared.

Afterwards, the figure of the white-robed sorcerer returned to the cabin. He still had his back facing Xu Qi'an, but he lowered his head, as if examining something in his palm.

"My teacher sent me the Rebirth Pill," Yang Qianhuan's voice sounded confused and puzzled.

"The Rebirth Pill?" Xu Qi'an asked in response.

"Oh, do you know the story of breaking out of the cocoon and becoming a butterfly?" Yang Qianhuan said.

"Breaking out of the cocoon and becoming a butterfly is not a story, it's just a cliché, like a well-known bedtime story. Yang Senior, just get to the point," Xu Qi'an waved his hand, interrupting Yang Qianhuan's pretentiousness.

Yang Qianhuan's pretentiousness was both embarrassing and boring.

"Oh..." Yang Qianhuan didn't mind, he was actually a casual and gentle person, without the arrogance and airs of those high-ranking experts, he just liked to show off a bit.

"The main ingredient of the Rebirth Pill is the cocoon of the Nine-winged Golden Silkworm, combined with a secret recipe to refine it into a pill. Taking it can prolong one's life and undergo rebirth.

"Rebirth is not a lie. After taking this pill, within half an hour, one will enter a deep sleep, like a silkworm spinning a cocoon. All vitality in the body will converge, and the person will be in a state of false death, even the primordial spirit will be extinguished.

"During this process, the old body is like a cocoon, nurturing a new body. That's why it's called the Rebirth Pill. However, this pill is a life-saving elixir and can only be taken when the body is severely injured and on the verge of death."

I wonder if taking this pill means I will be a virgin again? Xu Qi'an exclaimed, "Is it that amazing?"

"It's amazing, but not very practical," Yang Qianhuan shook his head. "Those who can kill me would never give me the opportunity to take the Rebirth Pill. High-ranking warriors always fight to the death."

"What about taking it normally?" Xu Qi'an asked.

"It can only prolong one's life, and at most improve the condition of the body. Although it's not bad, compared to its high refining cost, it's quite mediocre. My teacher has been refining it for a century and has only produced one furnace, containing only three pills."

Xu Qi'an nodded in realization and wondered, "Why did the Bureau of Heavenly Masters give this to you..."

Before he could finish speaking, Xu Qi'an froze.

Yang Qianhuan also froze.

The two remained silent for a while before saying in unison:

"It can't be for me, right?"

"Could it be for you?"

Another moment of silence.

"My teacher asked me to go to Yunzhou to take care of Xu Qi'an, and now he has sent the Rebirth Pill... but I don't need this at all. Even low-ranking sorcerers like Caiwei Junior Sister wouldn't need it... If it's not for Xu Qi'an, then who else could it be for?"

Coincidentally, Xu Qi'an died and came back to life, and he was wondering how to explain the reason, and then the Rebirth Pill arrived...

Thoughts flickered in Yang Qianhuan's mind.

The Rebirth Pill was obviously tailored for me, which happens to solve the current problem... but Senior Brother Yang doesn't need this kind of elixir at all... But how did the Bureau of Heavenly Masters know that I needed the Rebirth Pill?

He knows my current situation, he knows that I died and came back to life. So, the Bureau of Heavenly Masters probably also knows about the severed arm of Monk Shen Shu inside me.

In that instant, Xu Qi'an's mind raced, and many details of the Sangbo case flashed through his mind.

There are hidden demons in the Official Brothel Sector, but the Bureau of Heavenly Masters turns a blind eye.

Monk Shen Shu's severed arm escaped from Sangbo, and the Bureau of Heavenly Masters pretended to be sick and stood by.

Heng Hui went on a killing spree in the capital, destroying the Pingyuan Marquis's mansion. Although he had a device to shield his aura, can the Bureau of Heavenly Masters, who can shield the aura of a first-grade sorcerer, really be unaware?

The remnants of the Ten Thousand Demons Kingdom released Monk Shen Shu's severed arm, but secretly sent it to my residence to let it parasitize me and nurture the arm... This means that only I can nurture Monk Shen Shu in the capital... and the biggest secret on me is my strange luck.

In other words, the demons know about the strangeness on me, but in this life, besides encountering a reptile and a gray fox, I haven't had much contact with demons.

Wait!

The Bureau of Heavenly Masters knows about the strangeness on me. He gave me the Black Gold Long Blade and secretly sent me the ultimate skill "Heaven and Earth One Blade"... Damn, this is terrifying when I think about it.

Two guesses emerged in Xu Qi'an's mind: First, the Bureau of Heavenly Masters colluded with the demons. Second, the Bureau of Heavenly Masters knew about the demons' plot, but for some reason chose to stand by.

Xu Qi'an leaned more towards the first guess, because if it wasn't for the Bureau of Heavenly Masters revealing his secret to the demons, how would the demons know about his uniqueness? He hadn't had any intimate contact with the demons in his life.

If Xu Qi'an would be grateful and at ease with Wei Yuan's gifts, then the Bureau of Heavenly Masters' gifts, using a popular phrase:

All the gifts of fate have already been priced in the dark.

Yang Qianhuan flicked his finger, and the Rebirth Pill fell into Xu Qi'an's arms. "After taking it, you can safely return to the capital. When someone asks, just say that this is a pill gifted by the Bureau of Heavenly Masters. You know that life and death are uncertain, so you took the Rebirth Pill in advance.

"Then the effect of the pill will take effect, entering a state of rebirth. It will appear as if you have died in battle. Zhang Prefect and others will think you died, but in reality, you will only be in a deep sleep."

"This is the best solution for now. Thank the Bureau of Heavenly Masters on my behalf," Xu Qi'an picked up the translucent orange Rebirth Pill, held it in his palm, and did not consume it. Instead, he took out several letters and smiled, "I will probably sleep until I reach the capital. The clever Sea King would definitely not let himself experience social death."

Pausing for a moment, Xu Qi'an added, "At least not for the second time."

After speaking, his aura shook, and the letters turned into scattered pieces of paper.

The official ship sailed through the snow curtain, breaking through thin ice, slowly heading towards the capital.

.......

At the ninth hour, the snow that had fallen for a day and night finally stopped.The Crown Prince, wearing a fox fur cloak, walked through the snowy scenery. He was handsome and had a good appearance.

Although Xu Qi'an had once criticized Emperor Yuan Jing's sons, none of them could fight... Xu Dalang's reference point was not himself, but his younger brother Xu Erlang.

But in fact, the Crown Prince was a handsome guy. Emperor Yuan Jing was handsome when he was young, and Chen Guifei was a stunning beauty. That's why they had such a beautiful daughter like Biao Biao. As the elder brother, the Crown Prince naturally wouldn't be inferior.

Arriving at Chen Guifei's palace, the Crown Prince took off his fur cloak and handed it to the palace maid who came forward.

Entering the room, the interior was warm like spring, and a refreshing fragrance filled the air.

Chen Guifei, accompanied by two palace maids, smiled and greeted him, "Why didn't Lin'an come?"

The Crown Prince waved his hand and sat down by himself, drinking and eating under the service of the palace maids.

"Hmm... this wine tastes good," the Crown Prince said in surprise.

"It's Bai Ri Chun sent by the Empress, nourishing and good for health. You should drink more," Chen Guifei said kindly, instructing the palace maid to pour wine.

The mother and son chatted and ate, and the atmosphere was harmonious.

Because Emperor Yuan Jing was obsessed with cultivating immortality and had no interest in women, the harem had long been stagnant and boring. Even if the consorts wanted to fight, they couldn't find a reason to start a war.

Therefore, the Crown Prince and Lin'an often came to visit the mother and consort, accompany her for meals and chat to alleviate her loneliness.

"Is Lin'an feeling unwell? I sent someone to invite her, but they reported that Lin'an is hiding in her room and not seeing anyone," Chen Guifei furrowed her brows.

"She..." The Crown Prince sighed, "Mother, do you think Lin'an is of marriageable age?"

Chen Guifei was taken aback and nodded helplessly, "His Majesty is obsessed with cultivation and doesn't care about your marriage matters. The Empress, as your stepmother, lives a secluded life and doesn't even care about the Fourth Prince and Huai Qing. Not to mention Lin'an."

The Crown Prince chewed his food and nodded, "I think it's better to marry Lin'an off as soon as possible."

Chen Guifei carefully observed the Crown Prince and furrowed her brows, "Why do you say that, Crown Prince?"

The Crown Prince didn't answer and drank his wine in silence.

He was extremely certain that Lin'an had developed some feelings for that copper gong. At the age of a young girl in her springtime, Lin'an was the kind of girl who appeared spoiled and willful but actually had a simple mind, making her the easiest to be deceived emotionally.

No one dared to get close to her usually, so there had been no signs. But once a man who suited her taste appeared, that affection would grow and flourish.

Lin'an's recent melancholy was evidence of this.

Fortunately, that copper gong had already died, but the Crown Prince also realized that Lin'an had reached the age to get married.

"Drink less, drink less..." Chen Guifei frowned and advised.

With thoughts in his mind and worries about his younger sister's emotional issues, the Crown Prince unknowingly got drunk. He felt a burning sensation in his lower abdomen.

The palace maids around him, who were beautiful and delicate, now seemed tempting.

"Mother, I'm going back first," the Crown Prince burped and stood up to bid farewell.

The cold wind blew, and the outdoor air was fresh. The Crown Prince felt much more comfortable.

He returned with his guards. On the way, he saw a palace maid waiting by the roadside. When she saw the Crown Prince and his entourage, she immediately approached and saluted, "Crown Prince, the Furen invites you for a meeting."

........

Shao Yin Palace.

Biao Biao pushed open the window and saw the snowy courtyard covered in pure white. Her eyes were swollen like peaches. She had just read the letter sent by the dog servant and cried again.

The words in the letter were serious but mixed with humor, and she could imagine the dog servant's appearance and laughter.

But Lin'an knew that she would never see that smile again. That person died in Yunzhou, lying in a cold coffin, drifting thousands of miles away, silently returning to the capital.

What made her even more sad was that, as a princess, she couldn't even attend his funeral.

The cold wind blew on her face, freezing her to the bone. She reached out and found that tears were flowing again.

"Why cry? It's just the death of a dog servant... clearly, it's just the death of a dog servant..." Biao Biao angrily wiped away her tears, but the more she wiped, the more tears flowed.

"Your Highness, Your Highness..."

An anxious voice came from outside, and Lin'an's personal palace maid, with a loud bang, pushed open the door.

Her face was frozen blue by the cold wind, and her thick cotton shoes were covered in dirty water stains and snowflakes.

Lin'an quickly turned her head, hurriedly wiping away her tears, but the maid's next words stunned her.

"The Crown Prince has been imprisoned."

A bolt from the blue, Lin'an exclaimed, "What?!"

........

Imperial Study.

Emperor Yuan Jing sat high on the dragon throne with a gloomy expression. The Minister of Justice, Wei Yuan, and the Minister of Punishments stood in the hall. The three represented the highest three judicial departments of the Great Feng.

Wei Yuan was the Left Imperial Censor of the Metropolitan Inspection Department.

"Your Majesty, this is the autopsy report given by the forensic examiner. Please have a look," the Minister of Punishments handed over the autopsy report of the Furen.

The eunuch took the autopsy report and handed it to Emperor Yuan Jing, who only glanced at it expressionlessly and asked, "Was the Furen defiled?"

"This..." The Minister of Punishments whispered, "The forensic examiner only conducted a rough examination and didn't dare to disturb the Furen's body. Your Majesty, please have the old palace maid in the palace verify it."

Emperor Yuan Jing said in a deep voice, "Send that beast to the Ministry of Punishments." He gave the three a sharp glance, "I want the results within three days."

"Your Majesty, this matter is of great importance. I'm afraid three days won't be enough," the Minister of Punishments said.

"I'll only give you three days," Emperor Yuan Jing said coldly."Your Majesty, there are many talented individuals under Wei Gong's command who have repeatedly solved major cases. It might be better to transfer this case to the Ministry of Justice," suggested the Minister of Justice.

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice agreed.

"Who are these talented individuals, Minister?" Wei Yuan calmly glanced at the two ministers and then looked at Emperor Yuan Jing. "The capable individuals have already died in Yunzhou."

The Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice exchanged glances. The copper gong, who had solved many strange cases, had died in Yunzhou. They had secretly praised him just a few days ago.

Now that the scapegoat was gone, the Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice suddenly felt complicated.

The Empress Dowager had died, suspected to have been violated by the Crown Prince. Overwhelmed with shame and anger, she had jumped from the attic, breaking through the railing and falling to her death.

The course of events was as follows: in the afternoon today, the Crown Prince returned from Consort Chen's place after drinking. Somehow, he ended up in the palace garden of the Empress Dowager.

Shortly after, the Empress Dowager was found dead, her clothes disheveled, having fallen from the building.

This matter not only affected the royal family's reputation, but if the Crown Prince's guilt was confirmed, it would involve a struggle for the throne and complex interests behind it. The Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice were unwilling to take on this hot potato.

Emperor Yuan Jing frowned. He knew that Wei Yuan was referring to Xu Qi'an, the copper gong who had died in Yunzhou. He had always found that copper gong annoying and disliked him.

But now that there was a case, Emperor Yuan Jing suddenly realized that the copper gong's role was actually significant. It was such a pity that he had died.

"Bang!"

Emperor Yuan Jing slammed the table and cursed angrily, "In The Great Feng, where there are many talented individuals, can't we solve a case without that copper gong?"

"Your Majesty, please forgive us."

The three ministers bowed simultaneously.

At this moment, a eunuch hurriedly arrived outside the study, not crossing the threshold and bowing his head.

This meant that something had happened outside. Emperor Yuan Jing's position faced the door, so he could see the eunuch, but whether to summon him or not was up to Emperor Yuan Jing's decision.

"What's happening outside?" Emperor Yuan Jing's voice was filled with suppressed anger.

The chief eunuch quickly summoned the eunuch outside into the study.

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Princess Lin'an requests an audience," the eunuch said.

Princess Lin'an coming to see him at this moment, it was clear that it was about the Crown Prince's matter.

Emperor Yuan Jing pinched his brow. "Let her go back. I won't see her for the next few days."

...

The eunuch went out and arrived outside the study. Under the high steps, Princess Lin'an, wearing a red fox fur cloak, with a round face and a charming and affectionate temperament, anxiously waited.

She was accompanied by two palace maids.

"Second Princess, His Majesty does not wish to see you. You should go back," the eunuch said in a low voice.

Princess Lin'an bit her lip stubbornly and refused to leave.

She waited outside the study, and not long after, the head figure of the Three Law Departments came out, the Minister of Justice, who exclaimed, "Your Highness, it's freezing cold. You shouldn't be stubborn. Take care of your precious body and don't catch a cold."

The Minister of the Ministry of Justice echoed, "The coldest time is when the snow melts. Your delicate body can't withstand the cold. What are you two doing standing there foolishly? Hurry and take Her Highness back."

Princess Lin'an shook her head and refused to leave.

The two palace maids were in a dilemma.

Wei Yuan wrapped his robe around himself and walked up to Princess Lin'an. Her nose was red from the cold, but because her skin was fair, it appeared pink and somewhat cute.

The Grand Eunuch spoke gently, "I have a few questions to ask Your Highness."

Wei Yuan was one of the few powerful figures who dared to refer to himself as "I" in front of the royal nobles.

Princess Lin'an's slightly dazed eyes moved, and she said, "Please speak, Wei Gong."

"Do the Princess and the Crown Prince often visit Consort Chen?"

"I often accompany my brother to accompany our mother." Princess Lin'an sniffled.

"Do you also drink alcohol?"

"Yes."

"Do you often get drunk?"

"Not often, but my brother does tend to drink a lot."

"In the past, did you have any contact with the Empress Dowager? Does the Crown Prince often wander around other places in the palace?"

"Of course not," Princess Lin'an said loudly. "My brother is aware that he is not the legitimate son and has always been cautious. How could he commit such a treasonous act?"

Wei Yuan bowed and left.

The Minister of Justice and the Minister of the Ministry of Justice followed.

The cold wind howled, and Princess Lin'an shivered. Biting her lip, her shoulders were thin, and her red clothes stood out against the white snow, creating a beautiful yet desolate scene.

She waited for two hours.

Her body gradually froze, her legs lost sensation, her lips turned blue, and Princess Lin'an's heart seemed to freeze as well.

"Why are you still here?" a familiar voice came from behind.

She stiffly turned her neck and looked back. It was Huai Qing, who was annoying.

Huai Qing was wearing a beautiful white palace dress embroidered with beautiful plum blossoms. With a slender waist and a cold temperament, she perfectly blended with the white snow.

She seemed like an ethereal fairy who was not part of the mortal world.

Although she didn't have a bronze mirror, Biao Biao knew that she looked like a pitiful quail trembling in the cold wind.

The difference was clear.

"Are you here to laugh at me?" Biao Biao turned her head in grievance, not letting her tears fall.

Huai Qing's expression was cold as she looked at the two palace maids and said, "How have you been serving the Second Princess? Take them away and execute them by caning."

"Yes!"

The guards behind Huai Qing immediately stepped forward.

"Stop!" Biao Biao turned around abruptly, intending to stop them, but she overestimated herself. Her legs were stiff from the cold, and she stumbled, falling to the ground.

Biao Biao panicked and cried out, "Huai Qing, how dare you kill my people?"

Huai Qing walked over, looking down at her from above, and said indifferently, "Incompetent palace maids can be killed by me now, and Father won't say a word."

"I'll give you two choices. Either continue standing here, and I won't bother with you, but I will kill the people. Or go back and stop embarrassing yourself here."

With the support of the palace maids, Biao Biao stood up. Perhaps due to her mentality of not wanting to lose in front of Huai Qing, she wiped away her tears, pushed away the two palace maids, and stared at Huai Qing."I don't believe the Crown Prince would do such a thing."

"What does it have to do with me?" Huai Qing said coldly.

Biao Biao choked, biting her lip, stumbling forward. After a few steps, she stopped without turning back, unwillingly saying:

"If he were still here, he would definitely clear the name of the Crown Prince."

The woman in red walked away unsteadily.

Watching Lin An's figure gradually disappear into the distance, Princess Huai Qing let out a sigh of relief.

"Your Highness, the Second Princess doesn't appreciate your kindness, why bother?" the chief guard said helplessly.

"Do I need her appreciation?" Huai Qing snorted.

"Your Majesty is really heartless, making the Second Princess stand outside for so long," the chief guard said.

Huai Qing's eyes suddenly sharpened. "Go back and give yourself fifty lashes."

The chief guard suddenly realized, cold sweat forming on his back in the middle of winter. "I deserve it."

......

When the snow melted, the official ship carrying the remains of the deceased Nightwatchers arrived at the Qu'e Pass outside the capital. After inspection, it entered the capital through the canal and docked at the capital's pier.

Three bronze gongs on the official ship moved the coffins containing the bodies of their colleagues off the ship. They hired several carts for transportation and a few porters.

Yin Luo Minshan squinted his eyes, standing on the pier, looking at the still bustling capital. He couldn't help but feel a sense of vicissitudes, as if the world had changed while he remained the same.

With this trip to Yunzhou, they lost a few more comrades.

Fortunes and misfortunes change in the human world, and fate is ever-changing, leaving people helpless.

They returned to the yamen and handed over the five coffins to the department responsible for receiving the deceased. Yin Luo Minshan entered a side hall and poured himself a cup of hot water.

In the inner hall where the coffins were placed, several officials pushed open the coffins, and a faint smell of decay filled the air.

Due to the freezing weather, the bodies were well-preserved, but they had still begun to decompose.

The officials, accustomed to seeing corpses, took antidote pills and covered their noses and mouths with handkerchiefs as they verified the identities and chatted.

"Three Nightwatchers died at once. It's a heavy loss."

"Yunzhou is in rebellion, this is already a small loss. But it's a pity about Xu Bronze Gong."

"Yes, although he had only been in office for a few months, he was already a prominent figure in the yamen. Everyone knows that Wei Gong valued him. And now he's gone."

"Ah, did you know that the courtesans in the Official Brothel Sector know about Xu Bronze Gong's death? How do you think they will react?"

"What sense of loyalty and righteousness can there be for women in the pleasure quarters?"

"But Fu Xiang was Xu Bronze Gong's lover."

"Why do you even know about Fu Xiang being Xu Bronze Gong's lover?"

"Everyone in the capital knows."

"Huh... Xu Bronze Gong's body is the most intact, with no foul smell."

"Let me see... Oh, the skin tears with just a touch, cover it back up, cover it back up."

After burning an incense stick, the officials washed their hands and faces and found Minshan. They said, "Yin Bronze Gong, the number of belongings matches the list, the identities have been verified, you can leave now."

Minshan nodded slightly and walked away.

Hao Qi Tower.

The sound of footsteps echoed as a black-clad official ascended the tower. After whispering a few words to the colleague guarding outside, he turned and went downstairs.

The guard outside came in and respectfully reported, "Wei Gong, the official ship from Yunzhou has arrived. The remains of three Bronze Gongs and two Silver Gongs have been sent back to the yamen, their identities verified and confirmed."

Wei Yuan looked up, remained silent for a moment, and nodded. "Send them to their respective families."

He didn't mention the matter of the relics, even though he knew that the fragment of the Earth Book was on Xu Qi'an.

........

Bureau of Heavenly Masters, Eight Trigrams Platform.

A figure in white appeared on the platform, accompanied by a clear and melodious chant, "With the moon in hand, I pluck the stars, in this world..."

The voice suddenly stopped, unable to continue.

After a few seconds, Yang Qianhuan weakly said, "Master, I'm back."

"Mm," the head of the Bureau didn't turn around.

The master and disciple stood back to back, without embracing.

"Xu Qi'an has safely returned to the capital. This trip to Yunzhou was eventful but without danger," Yang Qianhuan said, and seeing that the head of the Bureau didn't speak, he asked, "What's the deal with Xu Qi'an? How can he die and come back to life? Why do you attach such importance to him?"

"And, there's actually a third-grade sorcerer in Yunzhou. Well, at least third-grade. Besides our Bureau of Heavenly Masters, where else can you find sorcerers of such level?"

The head of the Bureau smiled and said, "You don't need to worry about Xu Qi'an. I have my own judgment."

What Cai Wei Junior Sister said is right, you really are a rotten old man, so bad... Yang Qianhuan secretly complained.

"As for that person in Yunzhou, you don't need to worry about him. Even if I tell you, you won't be able to hear it," the head of the Bureau said.

Yang Qianhuan was about to leave when he heard the head of the Bureau's helpless voice from behind, "Let Song Qing out for me."

"What did Song Qing do this time?"

"He did something personal."

"...," Yang Qianhuan clicked his tongue in surprise. "To be able to develop alchemy to such a level, Song Qing is truly the first person in history."

Then he criticized, "But his character flaws are too great, stubborn temper, unwilling to advance."

Where are you any better... the head of the Bureau twitched his mouth.

"You keep an eye on him for me, don't let him do anything foolish. In a few days, your Fifth Junior Sister will come out of seclusion. With your Second Brother not in the capital, take care of your junior brothers and sisters," the head of the Bureau said.

"Fifth Junior Sister is coming out of seclusion? Like me, she successfully advanced to the Fourth Grade and became a Formation Master?" Yang Qianhuan exclaimed in surprise.

"Still a long way to go."

"In that case, is Fifth Junior Sister risking her life?" Yang Qianhuan was shocked.

"The opportunity for her advancement has arrived," the head of the Bureau said meaningfully.

........

Xu Residence.

A white soul banner hung on the front gate, and the red lanterns were replaced with white ones.After receiving the funeral money, the Xu family began to arrange the funeral. However, they didn't know the exact time when the eldest son's remains would be sent back to the capital, so the family members had not yet put on mourning clothes.

These past few days, the atmosphere in the Xu family was very heavy. The master became silent, the madam occasionally shed tears, the second son pretended to be calm but often spaced out. Miss Lingyue lost all her spirit, while Miss Lingyin became thin with a melon seed-shaped face.

In the first two days, Little Dou Ding often woke up crying in the middle of the night, shouting to find his older brother.

In a child's world, there are only a few family members. Suddenly losing one, the world becomes incomplete.

On this morning, the Xu family finally received the eldest son's remains. He lay in a coffin and was transported back to the family estate.

Upon receiving the news, Xu Pingzhi rushed out of the house like a madman. However, when he saw the coffin on the cart, he suddenly couldn't bring himself to approach.

Xu Pingzhi walked to the side of the coffin and reached out, pressing down on the coffin lid...

The copper gong responsible for delivering the remains glanced at him and whispered, "Master Xu, let's go inside the estate first."

Xu Pingzhi snapped back to reality and took a deep breath, "Hmm."

Once they saw the eldest son's remains, the family would likely not be able to bear it. Crying and mourning at the front gate would be undignified for both the living and the dead.

When the coffin arrived at the mourning hall, the atmosphere inside made the Nightwatcher feel suffocated. Unwilling to stay any longer, he clasped his fists and said, "Master Xu, I will take my leave."

Xu Pingzhi hoarsely responded, "No need to see you off."

Inside the mourning hall, Aunt, the second son, and the Xu sisters silently stared at the coffin, not uttering a word, as if waiting for something.

Xu Pingzhi knew that as the head of the family, there were certain things he had to do. For example, facing his nephew's remains directly, facing the overwhelming sadness.

The coffin lid was slowly pushed open, and Xu Qi'an lay inside. His skin was dry and devoid of luster, his lips devoid of color.

He had been dead for a long time.

The tiny sliver of hope in their hearts shattered. Despite being mentally prepared, at this moment, the overwhelming tide of grief still engulfed the entire family.

Aunt and Miss Lingyue sobbed loudly while supporting the coffin. Uncle Xu struggled to stand steady, his lips trembling. Second Brother Xu turned his head away, refusing to look at his older brother's face. His hand inside his sleeve clenched into a fist, knuckles turning white.

Little Lingyin leaned forward slightly, peering and opening her hands behind her, letting out a wailing cry towards the coffin.

So noisy... Who the hell is disturbing my sleep... Xu Qi'an thought in his heart.

He felt as if he were floating in an endless void, unable to reach the heavens or the earth, with nothing to rely on. The only thing he could hear was the clamor of crying.

I should be going home... Is this crying Aunt's? Huh, Aunt is actually crying for me? Isn't her usual catchphrase: "Xu Ningyan, you little brat, you're my nemesis from a past life. I'll make you pay in this lifetime..." Xu Qi'an thought drowsily.

He could distinguish Aunt's and his two sisters' cries from the crying.

The crying lasted for a long time, then turned into sobbing, and then into choking sobs.

Time passed, and it became dark outside.

Xu Qi'an learned this through the conversation between Uncle and Second Brother.

The relatives and friends of the Xu family would come to pay their respects to the eldest son tomorrow. Tonight, the family would keep vigil for him.

This should be my second death, the first one being alcohol poisoning... Damn it, I didn't delete the 120G wife. It's embarrassing to think about it... Fortunately, this world doesn't have computers and cell phones. Oh, this world has brothels and official brothel sectors, but my hard drive wife has no use here.

Tomorrow, the whole village will come to my house for a meal... Huai Qing and Lin'an are princesses, so it's inconvenient for them to come. They probably won't be able to make it... Caiwei will definitely come. If she doesn't, I'll divorce her as soon as I wake up... Will Fu Xiang come? Oh, she probably doesn't know about my "death" yet.

"Mother, you should go back to your room and rest. Second Brother and I will stay here to keep vigil for Big Brother," Miss Lingyue's tearful voice.

Then Aunt spoke, "After drifting on the river for so long, he has finally returned home. We can't let him be alone anymore. Mother, you stay here."

"When your father entrusted him to me, he was only this big," Aunt continued, gesturing with her hand. "At that time, I had no experience taking care of a child. Your father was a soldier, and we didn't have much money to hire a wet nurse. I cooked sheep's milk for him to drink and struggled to take care of him day by day..."

At this point, Aunt broke down in sorrow.

Xu Qi'an suddenly realized that Aunt actually loved him, despite the later strained and unpleasant relationship between them.

Xu Qi'an was moved.

"The older he grew, the more annoying he became. Among the three of you, he was the ugliest and the most mischievous. Whenever I showed concern for you and Second Brother, he would get jealous, thinking I treated him poorly, as if he were an orphan..."

"Stop talking," Uncle Xu angrily interrupted.

"Why can't I say it?" Aunt screamed. "I raised him with my own hands, changing his diapers and taking care of him day after day..."

Saying this, Aunt burst into tears.

"Master, Madam." Old Zhang, the gatekeeper, hurriedly ran over and stood outside the mourning hall. "A girl has arrived outside, saying she wants to keep vigil for the eldest son."

Who?

This question flashed through Xu Qi'an's mind and also through the minds of Uncle, Aunt, and the others.

"She said her name is Fu Xiang," Old Zhang said.

Uncle Xu and Xu Qi'an's faces darkened simultaneously.

Not going to the theater, Xu Qi'an, the upright gentleman Second Brother Xu, and the devoted wife Xu Pingzhi... Xu Qi'an bitterly smiled in his heart.

Uncle Xu glanced at his wife and nodded slightly, "I'll go out and see her."

Aunt looked at her husband's back, wiped away her tears, and asked her son beside her, "Er Lang, who is Fu Xiang?"

Just from the name, she wasn't a girl from a decent family.Xu Erlang had a strong nasal voice and said, "Fu Xiang is the courtesan of the Official Brothel Sector. It is said that she greatly admires Big Brother's poetry."

Xu Lingyue, who had a gentle and virtuous demeanor, frowned. The later it got, the more unusual it was for someone to come to pay respects, especially for someone like Big Brother. Their relationship was probably not ordinary.

Xu Ershu saw Fu Xiang in the front hall. She was dressed in a plain white dress and wore a white flower on her head.

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At the sight of Fu Xiang, Xu Ershu's anger suddenly dissipated. This woman had a sorrowful expression, with pink eyes and a hint of sadness that couldn't be faked.

"Miss Fu Xiang, why are you visiting so late at night?" Xu Ershu said in a deep voice.

"Sir Xu, I want to pay my respects to Xu Lang..." Fu Xiang stood up and bowed.

"This is not appropriate." Xu Ershu refused on the spot.

Although the Xu family was not a scholarly family, they still had rules and dignity. Fu Xiang had no status or position, so why should she be allowed to pay respects to Xu Lang?

"When I entered the mansion, I sent away the attendants from the Official Brothel Sector. Now I can't go back to the inner city, and it's not safe outside the city. If Sir Xu insists on driving me away, then I will leave." Fu Xiang spoke softly and gently.

...Xu Pingzhi sighed. This woman truly had deep feelings for Xu Lang.

When she arrived at the memorial hall and saw Xu Qi'an's face, Fu Xiang, who had been trying to remain calm, finally broke down. She had just received news from the brothel madam that Xu Qi'an had died in the line of duty.

She fainted on the spot and cried for a long time after waking up, intending to accompany Xu Qi'an on his final journey.

Listening to Fu Xiang's mournful cries, Xu Lingyue suddenly realized the relationship between this woman and Big Brother.

Fu Xiang did not stay to pay respects at the Xu residence. She left obediently. Xu Pingzhi had intended to let her stay overnight, but he didn't expect that Fu Xiang's words just now were a lie. How could the Official Brothel Sector let a courtesan out of their sight?

The reason Fu Xiang said that was because she was afraid that the Xu family would not allow her to see Xu Qi'an one last time.

...

The next day, relatives and friends of the Xu family came to offer condolences.

In the Xu family, Xu Qi'an's grandfather had only two sons. The eldest son had died in battle twenty years ago, and now his son had also died in the line of duty. The incense of this branch of the Xu family had been cut off.

The Xu family members sighed with regret.

In addition to the Xu family members, Xu Qi'an's former superiors, Zhu County Magistrate and Wang Headcatcher from Changle County, also came.

After paying respects to Xu Qi'an's remains, Zhu County Magistrate sighed, "Ning Yan died young, what a pity, what a pity."

Wang Headcatcher and the others had sorrowful and regretful expressions.

"I wonder if Ning Yan left behind any last words?" Zhu County Magistrate asked.

Xu Pingzhi shook his head.

If possible, I would like to experience being carried in a black coffin... Xu Qi'an humorously made a comment. His consciousness was gradually recovering, but his body was still in a state of suspended animation.

"Caiwei, what are you doing?"

Suddenly, Xu Erlang's angry voice came.

Then, Chu Caiwei's voice sounded, "I, I just wanted to confirm..."

Her voice sounded a bit sad.

Jinluo Nangong Qianrou and Zhang Kaitai also came to offer condolences. When they saw Xu Qi'an's remains, Old Zhang sighed, "Such a talented person died prematurely. Wei Gong has been in a bad mood recently, which is inevitable."

Zhang Kaitai was one of the few who knew about Xu Qi'an's talent.

"Bad person."

Xu Lingyin roared at Nangong Qianrou, but was quickly taken away by Lü E.

At this moment, Xu Qi'an suddenly heard a cry of surprise, "I am here to pay respects on behalf of Princess Huaiqing."

Inside and outside the memorial hall, there was a moment of silence, followed by the sound of people shouting "Greetings, Princess" one after another.

The Xu family members were all stunned. What was going on? The funeral of Xu Lang actually had the presence of a princess from the current dynasty?

At this moment, the Xu family members' grief and regret were stronger than ever before. It turned out that Xu Lang even knew a princess. If he hadn't encountered an accident, he would have surely risen to great heights in the future.

The Xu family might become a prominent family in the capital city. At that time, they would be able to bask in the glory of their ancestors, and the entire family would be able to achieve great success.

Biaobiao didn't come, hmm, she was like a canary kept in a cage, not as free as Huaiqing.

My Lotus Girl, three of them gathered together all of a sudden...

Xu Lang inexplicably remembered a joke he had read in his previous life: On the day of a certain rich second generation's funeral, all of his girlfriends came. This one had an abortion for him, that one carried his child, this one had been with him since she was eighteen, and that one left her husband and children for him...

Gradually, the funeral turned into a denunciation meeting for the rich second generation.

Fortunately, the rich second generation was really dead.

"Don't talk about these things, or else it won't be fun even if I come back to life." Xu Qi'an anxiously thought.

What you fear will come true.

Chu Caiwei felt a bit sad. "When he was in Qingzhou, he wrote me a letter, telling me about the local delicacies. After reading the letter, I was so angry that I wanted to stab him with chopsticks, but I never thought he would really die."

Upon hearing this, Xu Lingyue raised her head in surprise, wiped her red nose, and choked, "Big Brother also wrote to me."

Huaiqing said lightly, "I also received one."

After speaking, the three women fell into silence at the same time.

Xu Qi'an: "..."

A thought flashed through Huaiqing's mind, her gaze flickered, and she asked, "Did he leave behind any..."

Just then, a mournful cat's cry sounded, attracting the attention of everyone inside and outside the memorial hall.

A ginger cat with its tail raised passed through the crowd and entered the memorial hall, pouncing on Xu Qi'an's coffin.

A member of the Xu family exclaimed, "Quick, stop the cat! Cats jumping on the dead can bring them back to life."

The other Xu family members' faces turned pale.

Huaiqing, Lin'an Chu Caiwei, and the others who were closest to Xu Qi'an didn't believe this saying, so they didn't stop it immediately.

"Meow~"

The ginger cat flew over Xu Qi'an's head and let out a mournful scream. A voice exploded in Xu Qi'an's mind: "Xu Qi'an, wake up!""Taoist Master Jin Lian has arrived..." Xu Qi'an's soul trembled, feeling his spirit and body beginning to merge and harmonize.

The next moment, he regained consciousness, and once again felt the solid sensation of controlling his body.

He felt an itch on his face, so he raised his hand to scratch, peeling off a large patch of dried blood and flesh.

"I can move..." Xu Qi'an rejoiced, sitting up from the coffin.

Inside and outside the hall, a deathly silence fell.

He, he, he's up?!

This scene was horrifying and terrifying in the eyes of the crowd.

"My, my God... He's really come back from the dead!!!"

Someone screamed.

........

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