Seeing Zhao Chengyun’s expression, Luo Xing seemed to think of something and asked tentatively, “You… don’t tell me you’ve already started suspecting…”
“If I said no…” Zhao Chengyun smiled bitterly, “…Daoist Master probably wouldn’t believe me either.”
“…”
‘This attitude of yours really makes you look more and more like a villain!’
“Daoist Master…” Zhao Chengyun made a “please” gesture. “Please, discuss this over here.”
***
In the rear garden, Zhao Chengyun dismissed the attendants and poured a cup of tea for Luo Xing.
“Daoist Master, forgive my impertinence…” Zhao Chengyun’s expression was serious, his tone heavy. “Since you’ve already become suspicious of our Tianyan royal family, what are your thoughts?”
‘For instance…’
“Is there a direction or target you suspect?”
“It seems you also think it might be someone from the Tianyan royal family.” Luo Xing picked up his teacup and took a sip. “But… aren’t you afraid I’ll suspect you first?”
“I stand upright and sit straight. If I didn’t do it, I didn’t do it. I believe Daoist Master won’t frame me with false charges.” Zhao Chengyun smiled and shook his head. “Besides, even if I didn’t say anything, wouldn’t you still suspect that I did this deed?”
“Yes.”
Luo Xing’s bluntness startled Zhao Chengyun…
‘No… I was just being polite, and you actually suspect me?’
“But not entirely…” Luo Xing set down his teacup. “I suspect you a bit, but not completely.”
From the moment Zhao Chengyun privately contacted him and Hong An at Zhenyue Tower, Luo Xing had already begun to suspect him, and later, Zhao Chengyun’s many eager actions only caused Luo Xing’s suspicion to rise.
“In that case…” Zhao Chengyun was even more puzzled. “Why did Daoist Master come to discuss this with me?”
‘Aren’t you afraid…’
“If you really did it, then you should be well aware that I would trace it back to you, so whether I tell you or not, you would be prepared.” Luo Xing said indifferently. “So instead of that, it’s better to discuss it directly with you…”
If Zhao Chengyun was indeed involved behind the scenes, then he would more or less reveal some clues. If not, then he would be a rare and valuable ally.
“Then does Daoist Master… trust me?”
“Fifty-fifty.”
Zhao Chengyun smiled with relief. “Then I thank Daoist Master for his trust.”
“First, tell me how many people are in your family.” Luo Xing nodded. “Skip the newborns and those who can’t even talk yet.”
“Mm, excluding the Crown Prince, our Tianyan royal family totals…”
After listening to his explanation, Luo Xing’s expression turned extremely unpleasant…
‘Twenty-some sons? Thirty-some daughters? And then the various princes and nobles, even more, reaching triple digits?’
“No… I just don’t understand…” Luo Xing was very puzzled. “Is your father really that idle?”
‘Does he do nothing all day but focus on making babies? Although he knew the royal family valued spreading branches and many children for blessings, but this… Can’t he consider his physical condition? At his age, can he still manage?’
“Uh… this…” Zhao Chengyun looked embarrassed, reached up to scratch his cheek, like a junior choked by an elder’s embarrassment. “Daoist Master, forgive me… this matter… uh…”
Actually, considering the age of his father Zhao Qian, he really shouldn’t be able to have so many children, but who let them have the Starsoul Sect backing them? Besides protecting the Tianyan Kingdom, the Starsoul Sect would also send some low-grade elixirs to them every so often, and it was by taking these elixirs that Zhao Qian could maintain his vigor.
“What about state affairs?” Luo Xing said with a dark face. “He doesn’t care about them anymore?”
‘Just focusing on having kids?’
“As for state affairs…” Zhao Chengyun’s eyes darted nervously, with a dry laugh. “My eldest brother is in charge now…”
Crown Prince Zhao Chengzhou began personally overseeing the government at seventeen, and after that, Zhao Qian could not be restrained…
“…”
‘Alright… fine… very royal…’
“Forget it, forget it…” Luo Xing didn’t want to keep complaining about this matter. He waved his hand and said, “Let’s talk about the main issue first…”
“Main issue? Daoist Master, haven’t I already said it? My father he…”
“Why are you telling me about the one he had yesterday?” Luo Xing rolled his eyes. “Do you think a child who still needs to be fed milk can do something like this?”
‘What? Is this child some reincarnated demon sect overlord?’
“Oh… sorry…” Zhao Chengyun gave an awkward smile. “I was careless… haha…”
Luo Xing looked at him speechlessly…
‘On some matters, he’s as sharp as anything, but on this, he needs to be taught? How can he be so dumb? Could it be that you’re really involved, and deliberately trying to mislead me?’
After being scolded by Luo Xing, Zhao Chengyun screened the possible suspects again, but there were still over ten people…
“…”
‘I don’t want to deal with this damn thing at all…’
“Screen again…” Luo Xing silently poured himself a cup of tea. “Find those who live in seclusion and rarely interact with outsiders.”
“But… the royal members are mostly in the palace, rarely going out…”
“Then find those who have nothing to do all day, wander around, but aren’t easily noticed.”
“Uh… in that case… then we…” Zhao Chengyun was about to say that such people basically described all of them, but upon seeing Luo Xing’s murderous glare, he had to swallow the words that had just reached his lips. “There are indeed a few who qualify…”
Crown Prince Zhao Chengzhou can be directly excluded, after all, he’s busy with state affairs and very tired. That leaves only the Second Prince Zhao Chengyan, the Third Prince (himself), and the Sixth Prince Zhao Chengyuan…
“But my second brother is devoted to sword practice…” Zhao Chengyun rubbed his chin and analyzed. “It should be unlikely…”
Luo Xing, hearing this, recalled the foolish enthusiasm Zhao Chengyan had shown when challenging him to a spar that day…
“Then let’s look at the Sixth Prince…”
“The Sixth Prince huh…” Zhao Chengyun tilted his head and thought. “But he likes traveling and sightseeing, and recently seems to have gone to the Xingxiao Empire…”
“So you want me to investigate you then?” Luo Xing’s eyes practically rolled to the sky. “I’m now seriously suspecting that this business was done by your royal family!”
‘A bunch of them don’t meet the requirements, and those who do are all impossible… Are you messing with me? I really think you look more and more like a villain!’
“Uh… hehe… Daoist Master… calm down, calm down…” Zhao Chengyun waved his hands repeatedly. “This… ah! There is! One more person!”
If they searched according to Luo Xing’s requirements, after excluding all the impossible people, only one would remain…
“One more person?” Luo Xing frowned. “Who?”
***
Yueluo Palace.
The vermilion on the palace walls had faded entirely, withered vines crawled between the mottled plaster, and through the ajar palace gate, one could see the messy weeds and slippery moss on the ground.
“Why did you bring me here?” Luo Xing asked Zhao Chengyun beside him.
‘This looks like a cold palace, doesn’t it?’
“Ahem…” Zhao Chengyun coughed twice, then waved for the accompanying eunuch to enter and announce them. “Daoist Master Luo, if we exclude everyone, then the only possibility… would be… my Eighth Brother, Zhao Chengzhou.”
“…”
‘Your father really can breed…’
Just as he couldn’t help but want to complain, the eunuch happened to walk out of Yueluo Palace, followed by a plainly dressed young man. Luo Xing took a glance and realized that this young man was the same one he had seen hiding in a corner secretly watching him on the day he was about to leave the palace…