Liang Xiao smiled and said, "You know my political rivals better than I do, don't you? Have any of them sought to buy my information from you?"
Chen Yuanwai was stunned and nodded, "Of course! But the information about the Marquis of Anguo was merely trivial matters from his dissolute youth in Yan Province. It wasn't anything substantial. Even if used to attack the Marquis, others would simply see it as the Marquis of Anguo biding his time."
Liang Xiao fell silent.
This Chen Yuanwai was quite adept at speaking differently to different people.
In reality, he was wary of his printing techniques being investigated by the Chen family and leaked, which would affect the Ouyang family's payments.
Chen Xinyue quickly added, "Marquis of Anguo, what my father said is true! The martial artists who travel to Chuzhou speak only in praise of you, revering you more with each passing day. How could they dare to speak ill of you here! As for the Ghost King Liang Xiao, it was a painting by the third young lady of the Zhuo family, the Jinling Painting Immortal, which was then spread by those with ulterior motives, demonizing you. Only the martial artists around Chuzhou in the entire Jiangnan region refuse to believe it!"
Zhuo Xun lowered her head in shame.
Liang Xiao nodded, "The matter of the Ghost King Liang Xiao was a misunderstanding. Chen Yuanwai, I want important intelligence on the Southern King, the Grand Tutor, the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom, and all aristocratic families and sects. As for information on the Spring Revival Sect, your esteemed daughter, having lost a bet, is already compiling it for me. I hope you will not obstruct her."
"If they learn of this, our Chen family will be in a difficult position..." Chen Yuanwai said with a worried expression.
Liang Xiao glanced at Chen Shaoling and Chen Xinyue, then said earnestly, "After they are married, we will be related by marriage. I will also need your family to provide intelligence long-term. What benefit would I gain from betraying you?"
Chen Yuanwai pondered for a moment and then nodded, "Alright! The intelligence the Marquis of Anguo requires, I will provide. There's no need for payment; consider it making a friend of the Marquis of Anguo, and also thanking him for his proposal. I only hope the Marquis of Anguo will not push our Chen family to the front lines for the time being, as I do not wish to offend so many people simultaneously..."
Liang Xiao smiled, "Then Chen Yuanwai, you agree to this marriage?"
Chen Yuanwai glanced at Chen Shaoling and his wife, then nodded helplessly, "The Sword Saint also came to speak with me, and now the Marquis of Anguo has come. How can I refuse! The Marquis of Anguo is also the Sword Saint's son-in-law. With this connection, I believe your political enemies will have to be wary of our Chen family in the future. I hope the Marquis of Anguo understands..."
Liang Xiao nodded solemnly, "You can rest assured."
Chen Xinyue covered her mouth with one hand, tears streaming down her cheeks.
It actually worked out? It finally worked out!
"When did my father come?" Jian Qinwan asked urgently.
Chen Yuanwai examined Jian Qinwan with surprise, "Wearing purple, you are indeed the Qin Immortal... Your father came privately to propose about a month ago, but I did not agree. Recently, he has been seen in the Jinling area."
"My junior brother, who communicates with my master, also sent word that Master has likely been in the southern regions recently," Li Hongshu nodded.
Jian Qinwan nodded happily, then looked at Liang Xiao, a hint of shyness in her eyes.
Could she see her parents with him one last time?
Ever since she learned her father was innocent, Jian Qinwan had been eager to meet him and, at the same time, report the flower thief to him!
With the matter settled and everyone pleased, Chen Yuanwai invited everyone to the reception hall.
Upon learning that Liang Xiao wanted information about the demonic monks of the Spring Revival Sect, Chen Yuanwai reminded him, "We dare not investigate the Spring Revival Sect, but there is a place in Chuzhou that might know everything about it!"
Seeing Liang Xiao's curiosity, Chen Yuanwai chuckled, "It's Liuyun Temple! The Temple Master, Liuyun Zi, is an extraordinary expert, said to be as skilled as the Sword Saint. Liuyun Temple also receives state protection, but the Taoist priests within advocate for purity of mind and detachment from desires, which is diametrically opposed to the doctrines of the Spring Revival Sect. The two sides are like fire and water, and have even clashed several times throughout Chuzhou. Liuyun Temple is certainly the place in Chuzhou that understands the Spring Revival Sect best..."
"Then I must meet this esteemed master," Liang Xiao said with anticipation.
Chen Yuanwai added, "The current Prefect is my student. If the Marquis of Anguo is not in a hurry to find him, I will write a letter and send someone to deliver it first."
Liang Xiao thanked him with joy.
Chen Yuanwai's declaration was clearly intended to align himself with Liang Xiao.
After all, once Chen Xinyue married Chen Shaoling, Chen Yuanwai would be related to him by marriage.
Chen Shaoling and Li Hongshu remained at the Chen mansion, sharing their longing for their reunion with Chen Xinyue and discussing the wedding with Chen Yuanwai.
Liang Xiao and his group returned to the inn with a stack of intelligence on the Spring Revival Sect.
Chen Yuanwai was waiting for Liang Xiao to meet the Prefect before arranging the wedding.
Poring over the intelligence, Liang Xiao's expression grew increasingly solemn, "The scale of this Spring Revival Sect is far greater than we imagined! It's possible their headquarters are indeed in the southwest, or even the Peacock Dynasty."
Among the well-known monks in the martial world, fifteen had been devout followers of the Spring Revival Sect!
And among them, the most famous was the eminent monk honored by the Southern King's mansion.
Zen Master Longyue!
"Longyue," Liang Xiao said, his eyes flashing with murderous intent as he turned the page.
Since this person was in the Southern King's mansion, it was likely related to that Buddhist bead.
Along with Longyue, four other monks were honored by the Southern King's mansion, all of whom were suspects and possibly colluding with the Southern King.
Jian Qinwan and Yue Lian quietly stood by, afraid to disturb his thoughts.
They rarely saw Liang Xiao display such killing intent.
This was the deep-seated hatred from his father and uncle!
"Zuo Wushang, known as the Marshal among the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom, and Zuo Wuji, known as the Deputy Marshal, disappeared sixteen years ago..."
Turning to the last page, Liang Xiao's expression changed, "Zuo Wuji?"
Xiao Qing had also provided him with intelligence about the Great Heng Kingdom, but had not mentioned this person, Zuo Wuji.
Even this intelligence on the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom only described Zuo Wuji with this single sentence.
The activities of the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom had gradually decreased since sixteen years ago.
At this point, Liang Xiao had to believe that Chen Yuanwai's intelligence-gathering capabilities in the southern regions were indeed superior.
According to Liang Xiao's speculation, the disappearance of the princess back then likely led to the disintegration or even internal conflict among the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom!
"Besides guarding against Zuo Wushang, we must also be wary of Zuo Wuji. This person might be lurking in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity to strike," Liang Xiao mused.
It was illogical for a Deputy Marshal to only have a few brief mentions in intelligence.
This indicated that the individual was extremely skilled at concealment!
Now, Liang Xiao was also considering recruiting some of the martial artists from the Chuzhou region.
Yue Lian's eyes were full of worry, yet she dared not speak it aloud.
Her young master had been targeted by the remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom because of her, which was a huge trouble!
These remnants of the Great Heng Kingdom saw her as their princess, yet they could not possibly accept her surrender...
"Yue Lian, you needn't worry about my safety. As long as they don't trample on human lives, I won't recklessly kill them. If they can be successfully persuaded to surrender, it would also be a good thing for the Great Gan Kingdom, making the people more convinced that the mandate of heaven rightfully belongs to Great Gan." Liang Xiao suddenly spoke.
"My young master can even know what I'm thinking without looking at me..." Yue Lian lowered her head shyly, murmuring.
"Because he's the best at deceiving young girls," Jian Qinwan could no longer hold back her teasing.
"Then are you willing to be deceived by this flower-stealing scoundrel?" Liang Xiao smiled playfully.
"I... Hmph, this young lady is merely admitting defeat..." Jian Qinwan looked away guiltily.
Half an hour later, Liang Xiao and his entourage headed towards Liuyun Temple.
In Jinling, within the deep secret chamber of the Southern King's mansion, six figures were cast on the wall.
Five of them were bald and wore prayer beads, clearly monks, kneeling before the one-armed figure seated on the throne.
The one-armed figure roared in fury, sweeping the wine cups on the table, which shattered on the floor.
"Young Master, please calm your rage!"