Not a single person present wanted to voice a word about the injustice for Yun Zhonghe.
Because, the way everyone saw it, this meritorious contribution had nothing to do with Yun Zhonghe in the first place.
And Blue Immortal was definitely a much better candidate than the crazy beggar, Yun AoTian, who had just arrived, to claim the credit for this.
Strolling in an idle manner, as though walking through a courtyard, Blue Immortal arrived at the front of the castle that was situated in the valley.
At that time, the entire castle was heavily fortified. More than a few hundred elite soldiers kept the entire castle so tightly guarded that it was impossible for anyone to break through their defense.
Upon arriving at the main gate of the castle, Blue Immortal saluted dashingly and said, "I am Blue Immortal, and I have come to seek an audience with Lady Ning Qing."
The one guarding the gate was a middle-aged woman, Ning Que. She was Ning Qing's confidante, and she was extremely highly skilled in martial arts.
Ning Que said, "I'm sorry, Lady Ning has stated that she will not be meeting anyone at this time."
Blue Immortal said, "Please take my name card and this item to Lady Ning Qing. She will see me."
Ning Que said, "I need to check it first. May I?"
Blue Immortal said, "Of course."
Ning Que took the calligraphy painting and opened it a little. Instantly, there was a slight change in her expression.
It was very clear that she knew her master the best. Mister Taia's works were simply her master's weak spot.
These days, there was no telling how many waves of people had come to visit her master.
There was the Mo Clan of the City of Washed Jade, and the Qiu Clan of the City of Autumn Waters. There was even an envoy sent by the Tantai Clan, the family of the First Lord.
And the one with the greatest urgency was undoubtedly the Jing Clan of the Valley of Torn Gust, for this investigation report would directly affect the fate of the Jing Clan.
But regardless of which powerful clan the visitor represented, Lady Ning Qing had not seen a single one of them.
Now it definitely seemed like an exception was going to be made.
Because these treasured pieces of Mister Taia's, the calligraphy paintings and poetry, were simply irresistible.
Who was this old man standing in front of her? He could be said to have found the right trump card against her master.
"Dear distinguished guest, please wait for a moment while I go in to make a report," Ning Que said. "Someone, bring a chair here for this old gentleman. Serve him some fine tea and see to it that he doesn't feel the least bit neglected."
That was really the first time someone had enjoyed such treatment.
A moment later, someone brought over a chair as well as a tea table where there was not only fine tea but also several kinds of exquisite cakes.
Blue Immortal leisurely sat down to enjoy the tea and cakes.
Even if it were a difficult mission, he, Blue Immortal, would still be able to complete it confidently and effortlessly.
Once he had accomplished a meritorious achievement, how should the monarch, Jing Zhongyue, repay him? He, Blue Immortal, did not have anything for himself. But he had to seek justice for his disciple, Lan Yu.
Lan Yu was appointed as the centurion of the Embroidered Guard Division, and yet, he had been openly beaten up by Yun AoTian in the street. That matter could not be left unresolved and needed to be concluded.
At the very least, Yun AoTian should be stripped of his title. That guy absolutely could not be allowed to rise. He had to be nipped in the bud.
Blue Immortal did not wait long.
He had not even finished his cup of tea when Ning Que came out.
Blue Immortal rose up in a reserved manner, waiting for the other party to invite him in.
However, Ning Que directly handed the name card and Mister Taia's works back to him and said, "I'm sorry, the master cannot see you."
Blue Immortal was taken aback.
Why?
Was it not the case that Ning Qing was completely defenseless against any of Mister Taia's calligraphy paintings and poetry?
Now she was actually refusing him with such a firm and impervious attitude?
Ning Que went on to say, "Please don't send any more people here to seek an audience, and don't even send any more gifts. Be mindful that in doing so, the outcome may turn out to be just the opposite of what you wish to accomplish."
"Understood!" Blue Immortal said with a gloomy expression.
***
More than half an hour later, Blue Immortal appeared inside Jing Zhongyue's magnificent tent.
It was truly a disgraceful return after that failure. But his expression did not seem all that awful.
The entire inside of the tent was enshrouded in a layer of haze.
Blue Immortal said, "Lady Ning Qing wants me to relay this. We should stop sending people to seek an audience with her, and we should not send any more gifts. We have to be mindful that in doing so, the outcome may turn out to be just the opposite of what we wish to accomplish."
As he said those words, Blue Immortal shifted his gaze towards Yun Zhonghe.
He was clearly telling Jing Zhongyue not to send Yun Zhonghe to seek an audience with Ning Qing.
With Ning Qing's aloof and proud character, if they were to send a lunatic like Yun Zhonghe over, he was truly afraid that doing so would bring misfortune to the Valley of Torn Gust.
"The widow, Ning Qing, has already given a very serious warning. I implore my Lady to please think twice about it!"
"My Lady, let's return to the City of Torn Gust first, and then we can make plans."
"My Lady, we must never allow Yun AoTian to take any more risks. It will really bring us great calamity."
Jing Zhongyue closed her eyes. She had already heard about it.
There was no knowing how many envoys had gone to seek an audience with Ning Qing, but all had been rejected. Whether it was the City of Washed Jade, the City of Autumn Waters, or even the envoys sent by the First Lord's Tantai Clan, none had been able to see Ning Qing.
It could be seen that Ning Qing's attitude was really resolute to the extreme.
And who was Yun Zhonghe?
A gangster, a beggar of a humble and lowly background. Also, he was one who had never received any education, had attained nothing in life, and was only capable of crazy talk.
Whereas Ning Qing was born a noblewoman, a legendary woman of great talent. She was a strong contrast to Yun Zhonghe. The two of them were completely like heaven and earth, with simply nothing in common to speak about at all.
Letting Yun Zhonghe execute this mission to strike a successful deal with this woman? That was just too crazy, was it not?
It might really be like what everyone said, that it would completely anger Ning Qing and bring a great calamity to the Valley of Torn Gust.
But to return like this, with nothing accomplished?
It was less than five days away from the deadline for Ning Qing to submit her report.
Jing Zhongyue opened her stunningly beautiful eyes and said, "Yun Zhonghe, are you confident?"
Yun Zhonghe said nonchalantly, "Yes!"
"Yun AoTian, don't you make such irresponsible remarks. Your death will not be anything worth lamenting. But, if you anger Lady Ning Qing and bring calamity to the Valley of Torn Gust, then even if we sentence you to death by a thousand cuts, there would still be no way to salvage the situation."
"My Lady, don't ever allow this to happen."
"My Lady, this Yun AoTian is a lunatic through and through. What if, the moment he sees Lady Ning Qing, he says things about wanting to sleep with her? Then it really would be game over for us. There is no turning back for us!"
Several of Jing Zhongyue's aides, who were also her confidantes, hurriedly knelt down and implored her.
She continued to look at Yun Zhonghe and asked, "Are you sure? Are you confident?"
"Yes," Yun Zhonghe said.
The moment he said yes, the crowd became utterly disdainful.
You're just boasting carelessly, right?
How many people have sought audiences with Lady Ning Qing these days?
There were great scholars, benefactors, students, talented people, and even her own people from the Ning Clan.
But not a single one had succeeded in seeing Ning Qing.
Just now, Blue Immortal had failed as well, even though he had gone with Mister Taia's calligraphy painting.
You, a mere beggar, want to change the will of Lady Ning Qing? This is absolutely fool's talk.
Jing Zhongyue said with an apathetic tone, "Then go get yourself prepared. Once you are ready, get going with your mission immediately."
The moment that was said, everyone's expression changed drastically.
The several aides, Blue Immortal, and the others present hurried to speak up and admonish her.
"Get out!" Jing Zhongyue's expression was cold as she pointed outside. Then she said, "Don't make me repeat myself."
All of a sudden, there was a murderous aura that filled the entire inside of the tent.
At times like that, when Jing Zhongyue exploded in rage, no one would dare to continue with their admonishment. Otherwise, she would really start killing people.
Over the past year since her ascension, how many people had she killed?
It was uncountable.
Instantly, everyone made their way out of the tent, albeit with great reluctance, as they looked at Yun Zhonghe with eyes that spoke of their extreme eagerness to tear him to bits and pieces.
And every single one of them was criticizing what had happened in their hearts.
It would not do for a woman to take up the role of a monarch. At the most critical moments, she would just be too stubborn and foolish.
The foundations of the Jing Clan would most likely be destroyed in the hands of this castellan.
Old castellan, why did you lose consciousness so suddenly? Our Valley of Torn Gust is in danger.
***
Inside the tent, only Yun Zhonghe and Jing Zhongyue were left.
"Yun Zhonghe, you saw the situation just now, right?" Jing Zhongyue asked.
"Yes."
Jing Zhongyue said, "You should be able to imagine what will happen to you if you fail, right?"
Yun Zhonghe said, "Even if you don't kill me, the others in the Valley of Torn Gust will still tear me apart."
Jing Zhongyue said, "Then, are you sure you still want to go? Are you still able to say that you are confident?"
Yun Zhonghe said, "Yes!"
Jing Zhongyue said, "Here is a wooden barrel already filled with boiling hot water. Take a bath and change your clothes. Regain your handsome appearance, then go meet this widow, Ning Qing."
Yun Zhonghe said, "No need. I will go see her looking like this."
Jing Zhongyue's beautiful eyes narrowed.
With the way he looked right now? He had the look of a destitute beggar, with tattered and worn-out clothes, and weed-like hair that caused anyone that saw him to suspect that a flea might pop out of it at any moment.
To go meet the widow, Ning Qing, with such an appearance?
Are you courting death?
"Are you sure?" Jing Zhongyue asked.
"I'm sure," Yun Zhonghe replied.
Jing Zhongyue said, "Then go. I will wait to hear from you. If you fail, you will probably never get to see me again anyway."
Yun Zhonghe said, "My moon, please wait for my triumphant return."
Then, with a wave of his weed-like hair, Yun Zhonghe swaggered out of the tent and headed towards the castle in the valley below.
Watching the scene unfold, practically everyone around him was shocked, and their attention and eyes were fixated on him.
Was Yun AoTian really so crazy?
Without even bothering to clean himself up a little, he simply intended to pay Lady Ning Qing a visit with this beggarly appearance?
Was this not testing the patience of other people? Was he really that eager to court his doom?
"Go get prepared. If he doesn't die in the castle, when he comes back, feeling all dejected and crestfallen, we will behead him and never let him meet with the castellan again. That man is the bane of our Valley of Torn Gust."
"Yes!"
***
Yun Zhonghe, dressed in his beggar's outfit and sporting a head full of weedy hair, walked towards the castle.
When he was still a few dozen meters away, he was immediately made the target of dozens of crossbows.
"Where did this beggar come from? Scram!"
"If you still don't leave, I'm going to shoot. I'll shoot anything in sight."
Yun Zhonghe raised both hands high up in the air and said, "I'll just say one thing, just one thing."
Ning Que's expression changed, and she said in a cold voice, "You people of the Valley of Torn Gust, are you all really this stubborn? So eager to die?"
Yun Zhonghe raised both hands high and walked towards the main gate.
"Sister, I heard that Lady Ning Qing has a certain rule. Because she is extremely fond and prizes underachieving students, so long as anyone can write a poem that is impressive enough to touch her, that person can be granted an audience with her. Is that right?" Yun Zhonghe said.
"Yes," answered Ning Que, "but that is only for special occasions. Master will not be receiving any guests."
Yun Zhonghe said, "Then I shall also try my hand at writing a poem. When Lady Ning Qing sees this poem I've written, she will definitely meet me."
"Impossible," said Ning Que.
"If I never try, I'll never know," Yun Zhonghe said. "Can I have a piece of paper?"
Ning Que cast one look at the beggar and had only one thought on her mind. That was, to quickly send him away. But she did not want to ruin her master's reputation by giving others a chance to say that her master had ridden roughshod over a mere beggar.
So, she went to take a piece of paper, handed it to Yun Zhonghe, and asked, "Do you need a pen?"
Yun Zhonghe said, "No need. I brought mine."
He took out a worn-out writing brush tucked within his arms. The ink on it had long since dried, so he licked it with his tongue to wet it again.
Seeing this scene made Ning Que's hair stand on ends as she broke out into a cold sweat.
Then, Yun Zhonghe turned his back to her and said, "The poem I write is only meant for the eyes of Lady Ning Qing. No one else can read it."
Ning Que was even more convinced that this beggar in front of her was a nutcase.
Yun Zhonghe seemed to have a copious amount of thoughts flowing ceaselessly in his mind. Very quickly, he composed a poem. After carefully folding it, he handed it to Ning Que and said, "You must personally hand it to Lady Ning Qing. Don't ever sneak a look at it yourself."
Ning Que was filled with antipathy as she took the poem and walked into the castle.
Her master had made it very clear that if anyone had come with a poem, no matter how ludicrously or poorly written it was, it had to be delivered right to her hands.
***
On a couch inside the castle.
A mature and stunningly beautiful woman was lying on her side. Her body's curves were just like undulating rivers and mountains.
What a beautiful woman.
The key was the mature charm that she exuded, which was coupled with the aura of an intelligent and talented woman.
She was simply too charming.
And she was much older than Jing Zhongyue, so she also had a much fuller figure with curves that were incomparably alluring.
But for some reason, she kept her hair wrapped up in a silk scarf. This, in truth, kind of ruined her stunning beauty.
And there was also the smell of blood within the room.
The woman was Ning Qing, the most powerful and influential widow in the Land of No King, and a legendary talent.
The head of the investigation group of the Baronage Alliance.
At that time, there were thick piles of information by the side of the bed. Those were all detailed records about the war between the City of Autumn Waters and the Valley of Torn Gust.
There were also catalogs of geographical features of the two places, as well as battleground marks.
"Master, someone has come to deliver a poem. He said that, after reading this poem, you would definitely meet him," Ning Que said.
Ning Qing replied, "Oh, bring me the poem. As for the man, I'm definitely not going to meet him."
Ning Que handed over a piece of paper and said, "Master, this is written by a beggar. He turned up with an image that was really an unbearable sight to behold. I'm afraid this paper is not clean. Please be careful."
Ning Qing took the piece of paper and unfolded it with a slight sense of anticipation.
She wanted to see it. Exactly what kind of poem was it?
And it turned out, after just one look, she was completely dumbstruck.
Yun Zhonghe's poem was as follows:
Every month, a few days of intense abdominal pain.
Blood, an unending flow that dyed the dress red. You cannot meet anyone for half a month.
A head of hair, shedding every day, too embarrassed to see anyone.
Difficult troubles that you cannot voice, don't worry, the holy hand of gynecology is here to help.
Then, the poem ended.
However, there was a small line of words underneath the poem that read, "Lady Ning Qing, you're not sick, you've been poisoned!"
***