Chapter 52: Chapter 52: Conditions

There is a legend in Jianghu, that the world is now divided into three: Beiqi, East Tang, and Nanxia. Although the Imperial Family holds supreme power, what truly commands respect from all three kingdoms is a mysterious sect. That sect is called the Thousand Mountains and Myriad Buddha Sect.

The oldest, Beiqi, replaced Qin over two centuries ago. East Tang replaced Liang about 130 years ago, while Nanxia, 150 years ago, was succeeded by the young lord of Tianqian Country that had been passed down for over 660 years.

The first emperor of Nanxia was the eighteenth descendant of Emperor Chen Shangguan Beichen from the Tianqian Royal Family. Emperor Chen’s father, Shangguan Qianyu, took the surname of his adoptive father, and even after Shangguan Beichen ascended the throne, the surname remained unchanged until the descendants of Shangguan Beichen restored the surname to Huangfu.

However, the Thousand Mountains and Myriad Buddha Sect has existed for over a thousand years, much longer than the history of the royal families of these three kingdoms, even surpassing the Tianqian Country which preceded Nanxia!

They are not constrained by imperial power, yet they possess the ability to overthrow the world.

Nevertheless, the Thousand Mountains and Myriad Buddha Sect, with “Buddha” in its name, follows the principles of a Buddhist heart, and has historically remained uninvolved in power struggles of the court and does not enter the fray of politics—a Hidden Sect. People from the sect have long ceased to appear in Jianghu, making the Thousand Mountains and Myriad Buddha Sect almost seem like a legend.

But a few years later, someone from the Thousand Mountains and Myriad Buddha Sect appeared. Xia Wenjin had seen him, and it was from him that she saw this pattern.

Xia Wenjin clutched the jade pendant, her playful and cunning gaze turned exceedingly serious, with an added touch of gravity.

Who is Huang Zheng?

What is the origin of this jade pendant?

Huangfu Jingchen returned to his room in a state of turmoil.

This Xia Wenjin, after everything is settled in the Governor Mansion, he planned to stay far away from her.

Luckily, there was quite a bit of gain today!

Thinking of this, he unconsciously reached into his arms.

However, his arms were empty!

Huangfu Jingchen was shocked but suddenly came to his senses. A hint of annoyance flashed in his eyes as he turned abruptly and left the room.

Xia Wenjin, after collecting the jade pendant and the silk book, went to close the window in preparation to sleep.

As she reached the window, her hand paused in mid-air, and she said with a smile, “Brother Huang, is it a long night and you can’t sleep? How about we share a bed, and I’ll warm it for you?”

Huangfu Jingchen extended his hand: “Hand it over!”

Xia Wenjin blinked and said, “What does Brother Huang want?”

“The thing you just took from me!”

Xia Wenjin, innocently, said, “Brother Huang, I didn’t take anything from you!”

“Stop pretending, I know it was you!” Huangfu Jingchen was very annoyed, that little rascal was too slippery, and he had inadvertently fallen for it.

Xia Wenjin spread her hands: “I didn’t take anything. If Brother Huang doesn’t believe, you can search me!”

The words “search me” made Huangfu Jingchen subconsciously step back half a step, his fingertips seeming to still feel the smoothness of her skin, slightly burning.

But that strange feeling lasted only a moment, the importance of the object made him not distracted.

Seeing the gathering storm in Huangfu Jingchen’s eyes, like a storm about to break, is he really anxious? Xia Wenjin’s eyes rolled, she said, “Why don’t you tell Brother Huang, what is it, maybe I’ve seen it and can help you find it?”

Huangfu Jingchen gritted his teeth: “The silk book!”

Xia Wenjin blinked: “I’ve only heard of books, but what is a silk book? Is it for eating or using?”

Huangfu Jingchen, exasperated, gritted his teeth and said, “That silk book records the evidence of Governor Wang’s crimes, the taxes and the lives he has taken over the years!”

Xia Wenjin slapped her forehead and said, “So that’s what you meant!” She walked to the table, crouched down to pick something up, and turned to hand it to Huangfu Jingchen: “Earlier you left in a hurry, I saw this thing on the ground and knew you dropped it, I was going to return it to you tomorrow. Here you are, since it’s so important, you better keep it carefully!”

Huangfu Jingchen took it, flipped through it, and indeed found it to be the evidence he had just acquired.

Xia Wenjin’s demeanor slightly calmed Huangfu Jingchen’s mind, even though he knew Xia Wenjin was lying. He had it well-kept, how could it have fallen?

That rascal had a past record, able to swipe ten taels of silver from him, so taking the silk book was certainly doable.

Xia Wenjin curiously asked, “What use is this thing to you? Governor Wang runs everything here, both the garrison and the City Defense Army are his people! In my opinion, we might as well kill him directly, and use all the wealth he’s hoarded for the people!”

When Huangfu Jingchen heard her mention using it for the people, his expression softened a bit.

He looked at Xia Wenjin and said, “Governor Wang is a court official, even if he deserves to die tenfold, if he dies at our hands, it becomes an extrajudicial punishment, and the court would not ignore the death of a governor, surely they would hunt the perpetrators. We could leave, but what about the people of Yuqing County? They would become our scapegoats. Even if you want to take responsibility, it’s not worth it to die for such a person!”

“Then what do you intend to do?” Xia Wenjin understood the reasoning, but she was no Grand Prince Consort, merely a Jianghu person. Among the people she knew, perhaps Huangfu Yuxuan was the only one connected to the court.

She was quite clear about the upper officials and court bureaucrats, that even though they might show themselves as benevolent caretakers, they loved silver more, and for commoners, even seeing King Yan was easier than confronting petty officials.

Governors held significant power; their superior was the Jiazhou Governor.

Meeting the Jiazhou Governor now seemed unrealistic.

Huangfu Jingchen said, “I naturally have a use!”

“So you’re also after Hua Cheng Villa’s account book for the same reason?” Xia Wenjin didn’t pry further, quickly changing the subject.

Huangfu Jingchen gave her a glance and said, “Didn’t you throw it away?”

Xia Wenjin laughed nonchalantly, patted his shoulder, and said, “Since I threw it, naturally it can be picked back up. Don’t you know such a simple logic? Young man, being so naive won’t do!”

Huangfu Jingchen: “…”

Seeing the contempt in the young one’s eyes, Huangfu Jingchen was speechless.

Xia Wenjin walked to the bed, lifted the pillow, turned around with the thing in her hand, and smiled, “What do you think this is?”

Huangfu Jingchen looked closely, wasn’t this the account book he saw that day? This kid had heart. He relaxed his brows, reached out to take it, and asked, “Where did you hide it? Let me guess, is it in Hua Cheng Villa’s small garden? You went around there once before coming back pretending to be sick. Except for that time, you had no chance to hide it!”

Xia Wenjin’s eyes sparkled as she looked at him approvingly: “Not bad, young man, you have potential! Your observation skills are quite strong, I have high hopes for you!”

Huangfu Jingchen: “…”

A younger person talking to you in the tone of an elder, what kind of bizarre experience is that?

He felt quite strange, but soon realized this kid was just intentionally taking advantage of him. The joy in his heart made him completely overlook Xia Wenjin’s attitude, and he slightly raised the corner of his mouth. Xia Wenjin immediately said, “I’m giving you the account book, but I have one condition!”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep