Blossom In Adversity - Vol. 2

C232. Each Branching Out.

Chapter 232: Each Branching Out

The Great Daqing Dynasty was divided into nine provinces, with the capital city at its center, forming a protective posture.

Jingzhou was located in the southern region, bordering the Yan Kingdom. Due to its proximity to the sea, the people here had an additional livelihood compared to other places, which was the flavor of the wharf that differed from other places. Seafood sold to other places also needed to be transported through the Wei River.

The ship was docking, and shouts were heard everywhere. Hua Zhi stood at the bow of the ship, her skirt fluttering, making her even more outstanding. However, both her expression and demeanor were too aloof, keeping people at a distance. There were many people watching openly and secretly, but only one dared to approach, but this time he failed to reach Hua Zhi.

The Sixth Prince gave a signal to his guards, and two guards stepped forward, blocking Jiang Huanran like a wall.

Jiang Huanran tiptoed and shouted forward, "Miss Hua, Miss Hua..."

Hua Zhi turned her head indifferently and looked at Jiang Huanran as if looking at a stranger. The smile froze on Jiang Huanran's face. He suddenly felt that he had disturbed Hua Zhi, and the person he had disturbed was clearly displeased.

Shao Yao, who was being held by Hua Zhi, also looked back. The veil hat blocked her fierce gaze. If she hadn't been afraid of delaying Hua Hua's important business, she would definitely not have let this kid go. Just wait, wait until she returned to the capital!

"Let's go find an inn to settle in first." Hua Zhi was the first to disembark. Even among the beauties of Yangzhou, renowned for its stunning women, her appearance stood out. And in Jingzhou, where both men and women had darker complexions compared to those from inland regions, she turned countless heads without even noticing.

A carriage service was conveniently located at the dock. Xu Ying immediately went to negotiate, and soon returned with two carriages.

Though Hua Zhi preferred a smaller entourage, their party numbered nine: herself, Bao Xia, Xu Ying, the Sixth Prince's two guards, and two more assigned by Gu Yanxi. She initially planned to have Xu Ying rent a few more horses, but the four guards unanimously refused. Unlike the tall, majestic horses of the north, the short-legged horses of Jingzhou were considered inferior in appearance.

Even the best carriage available at the service was uncomfortable for Hua Zhi. She drew back the curtain and looked out at the bustling crowds. While it seemed prosperous, it was far less so than she had anticipated.

She realized she had made a mistake. Despite Jingzhou's coastal location, the Great Daqing Dynasty was not as powerful as the Ming Dynasty. It was relatively isolated, with no established relations with any overseas nations. People here were unaware of the existence of different cultures and peoples beyond the sea.

The sea was merely a means of survival for them. They fished for various seafood to sell inland, earning them silver. In certain seasons, they endured the wrath of the sea and its devastating natural disasters. That was the extent of their relationship with the ocean.

With no foreign enemies, pirates, or invasions, Hua Zhi sincerely hoped things would remain that way.

"It's much hotter here than in the capital," Shao Yao removed her hat, her face already stained with dirt.

Hua Zhi turned to her, wiping her sweat with a handkerchief. "I've had some thin clothes prepared for you. You can change into them once we reach the inn."

Shao Yao clung to Huazhi's arm. She didn't tell Hua Zhi that she had been to this place before with Yan-ge and that their arrival had caused bloodshed.

"Huahua, how long will we be here?"

"It depends on how smoothly things go. If everything goes well, we can settle matters in a few days. Why?"

Shaoyao grinned mischievously. "Hehe, I'm wondering how long Yan-ge has to wait in the capital."

Hua Zhi tapped her forehead, thinking of that man. Ten days had passed, and he should have been on his way back by now.

However, the reality was different. Gu Yanxi was still in Yuzhou. When the Seven Stars Bureau first received the news, the Celestial Sect had 2,000 members. By the time he arrived in Yuzhou, their numbers had exceeded 4,000, doubling in just a few days. The situation was far more serious than anticipated.

Disguised in a plain appearance, he blended in with the crowd, bowing his head like everyone else. But he slightly turned his body, using his peripheral vision to observe the events unfolding on the high platform.

"Dressed in pristine white robes, the so-called leader of the Celestial Sect had her hair loosely tied behind her head. When she wasn't smiling, she carried an air of divine indifference, as if she looked down upon all mortals. But when she did smile, she was so pure and saintly that one would willingly offer her their heart. Gu Yanxi had followed her for three days, witnessing three of her rituals, and his opinion of the Celestial Sect was constantly changing.

Before coming, he had simply assumed this was another scam, a mere attempt to swindle money from the common people. But this woman was different. She hadn't taken a single copper coin from the people; on the contrary, she had bestowed upon them so-called holy water. After witnessing the sickly recover after drinking the holy water, he had his people rush the substance to Old Yu.

Even as he watched the number of followers rapidly increase, he remained still. To create such a grand spectacle, she must have a purpose, and he had yet to uncover her motives. Such a danger could not be ignored; it was a threat.

"Master," Chen Qing rushed in, "We've lost her again."

This was the third time they had lost her. Gu Yanxi tapped his fingertips lightly with a silver hairpin, "Have you still not found out her origins?"

"No," Chen Qing gnashed his teeth in frustration. This was the first time the Seven Stars Bureau had been unable to trace someone's origins. She couldn't have sprung from a stone, could she?

Even if she had, the Seven Stars Bureau should have dug up that stone!

"Is there any movement from Yuan Shifang?"

"My men have been keeping an eye on him, everything seems normal."

Gu Yanxi raised an eyebrow, "Start your investigation from him."

Chen Qing was taken aback, "But he hasn't shown any abnormalities..."

"Yuan Shifang has the lowest status among the nine stewards, but his abilities are the strongest. A capable steward wouldn't fail to notice such a sect appearing in his territory?

He knows, but he's doing nothing. That's normal for others, but for him, there's something fishy."

Chen Qing acknowledged and was about to leave to make arrangements.

"Wait."

Chen Qing turned around again.

Gu Yanxi lowered his head and pondered for a moment, "Don't move the people watching him. Arrange for new faces to operate externally, and you hide yourself."

Chen Qing was alarmed, "Is there an insider? Didn't we eliminate them all? When did the Seven Stars Bureau become so leaky?"

"Just in case," Gu Yanxi looked down at the gleaming silver hairpin.

He had a feeling that his whereabouts hadn't been concealed from certain people, just like what had happened in Yan Kingdom. But if it was indeed related to those few, he couldn't figure out why.

What benefit would creating such a sect bring them?

Throughout history, those who tried to overthrow a dynasty using such methods never had a good ending.

Moreover, the leader's methods didn't seem like those of an ordinary scammer. They were more like the methods of those celestial masters. The lesson of the First Prince was still fresh, and it hadn't been long. They shouldn't have forgotten so quickly.

Gu Yanxi's eyes turned dangerous. If it was the celestial masters stirring up trouble again, this time it wouldn't be as simple as just driving them away.

But the celestial masters alone couldn't create such a big wave.