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Chapter 280: The Relationship Between the Emei Sect and the Shu Kingdom's Royal Palace
Chapter 280: The Relationship Between the Emei Sect and the Shu Kingdom's Royal Palace
"No wonder," Su Shaoying nodded.
Ma Xiuzhen turned to her, "Wonder about what?"
"No wonder Huo Xiu mentioned to Master that he envied him and Yan Boss," Su Shaoying smiled. "Back in the Jinpeng Dynasty, Huo Xiu was the Minister of Officials, the head of the civil officials, while Yan Boss was merely an eunuch in charge of the royal treasury."
"But after coming to the Central Plains, Yan Boss established the Zhu Guangbao Pavilion, doing business with various royal palaces, while Huo Xiu has become nothing more than a money-making agent for high-ranking officials. It's no wonder he feels overshadowed," Su Shaoying added.
Dugu Yihe replied calmly, "The path he chose was his own decision."
"It's a pity, even if he makes money for those people, they won't include him in their activities," Su Shaoying shook her head.
"Indeed, he's too naive," Dugu Yihe agreed. "The affairs of the court and the affairs of the jianghu are two different matters. They can cooperate, but once you try to involve yourself in the other, you've crossed a line."
"Did Huo Xiu cross that line?" Shi Xueux asked.
"He didn't just cross it, he also formed the Qingyi Lounge," Dugu Yihe said gravely. "He involved himself too deeply and was too greedy."
Shi Xueux nodded, only partially understanding, while Ma Xiuzhen's interest was piqued by another matter. "Master, since Huo Xiu makes money for those officials and Yan Boss does business with the royal palaces, do we have any cooperation with the court?"
Dugu Yihe laughed at the question, "Are you foolish?"
Ma Xiuzhen blinked, "What do you mean?"
Dugu Yihe shook her head, still smiling. "Don't you remember, the head of the guards at the Shu Kingdom's royal palace is your Uncle-Master."
Ma Xiuzhen hit her forehead. "Generations of head guards at the Shu Kingdom's royal palace have been members of our Emei Sect, and many of our sect members serve as guards there. I've just become accustomed to it."
Dugu Yihe nodded. "The Emei Sect protects the Shu Kingdom's royal palace from troubles in the jianghu, and the palace protects our sect from official troubles. That is true cooperation."
Su Shaoying laughed, "As for whether the Shu Kingdom's wealth flows through Huo Xiu's hands..."
"...is none of our concern!" Dugu Yihe finished, shaking her head.
Su Shaoying nodded, understanding the importance of maintaining a certain distance, only getting involved when necessary. This was the foundation of the Emei Sect, one of the Seven Great Sword Sects of the Central Plains, and the reason for its enduring prosperity.
Shi Xueux shook her head. "I have no desire to serve in the royal palace."
Su Shaoying glanced at her, "Your services won't be needed there anyway."
Shi Xueux noticed Su Shaoying's disdainful look and couldn't help but grit her teeth and ask, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Ma Xiuzhen and Sun Xiuqing hugged Shi Xueux and laughed. "With your seemingly quiet but actually fiery temperament, if you went to serve in the royal palace, wouldn't you bring trouble to our Emei Sect?"
Dugu Yihe nodded. "There are hundreds of disciples in Emei Mountain, each with their own path. With your exceptional talents, you are meant to roam the jianghu and bring glory to our Emei Sect."
The three women immediately composed themselves and bowed respectfully, "Yes!"
As their voices trailed off, the three women felt a sense of melancholy. After all, one of the 'Three Heroes and Four Beauties' of the Emei Sect was already gone.
"That bastard Huo Tianqing!" Shi Xueux cursed once more, then noticed Su Shaoying's gaze. "Why are you looking at me like that again?"
"I think you have a clear sense of justice, and you curse well!" Su Shaoying gave Shi Xueux a thumbs up.
Although Ye Xiu Zhu had betrayed the sect, among the remaining three, Ma Xiuzhen was the smartest and most sensible. While she admired Lu Xiaofeng, she didn't express it as openly as Shi Xueux and Sun Xiuqing, truly living up to her position as the eldest disciple.
Shi Xueux had a fiery temper, and although she might not have deep feelings for Su Shaoying, they were still fellow sect members, and in the original novel, she was the first to draw her sword for the original body. She had the personality of a younger disciple.
It was a pity that without the poisoning incident, her fate with Xi Men Chuixue was likely destined for heartbreak. With her cheerful and gentle personality, Sun Xiuqing could act as a bridge between fellow disciples, as long as she didn't fall for the wrong person in the future.
Hearing Su Shaoying's praise, Shi Xueux hummed, feeling that this senior brother, whom she had once found annoying in every way, had suddenly become somewhat tolerable.
Ma Xiuzhen, however, noticed the subtle glance Su Shaoying gave Shi Xueux and, seeing that Dugu Yihe was in a good mood, decided to ask a question she had been curious about. "Master, is that Hua Manlou related to the Hua family of Jiangnan?"
At the mention of Hua Manlou's name, Shi Xueux immediately pricked up her ears.
Dugu Yihe nodded. "Yes, he is the seventh young master of the Hua family."
"I've never heard of the Hua family having a disciple who is..." Sun Xiuqing trailed off, surprised.
"Blind?" Dugu Yihe finished with a smile. "The Hua family kept it a secret to protect him from gossip and slander in the jianghu. When Hua Manlou was young, he was ridiculed by some of his relatives because of his blindness, so he left the main clan and lived in a rural area."
"Was that how he met Lu Xiaofeng and Zhu Ting?" Su Shaoying asked suddenly.
Dugu Yihe shook her head. "I'm not sure about that."
Shi Xueux's maternal instincts stirred within her, and she exclaimed, "How pitiful!"
Dugu Yihe shot Shi Xueux a sideways glance. "Pitiful? Nonsense. The Hua family's rural estate is just as luxurious as their main residence, and his parents are the head stewards of the clan. Who would dare mistreat him?"
Shi Xueux: _()
"Anyway, after we return to Emei, we'll have to leave Sichuan and make our own way." Su Shaoying raised an eyebrow at Shi Xueux. "You can go to Jiangnan to look for Hua Manlou."
Shi Xueux hummed noncommittally, but her mind was already racing with possibilities.
Sun Xiuqing's thoughts were also racing, and she could already picture a figure clad in white as pure as snow.
Ma Xiuzhen, on the other hand, studied Su Shaoying with her phoenix-like eyes, her gaze flicking back and forth.
Dugu Yihe turned to Su Shaoying. "What are your plans?"
"What arrangements has Master made?" Su Shaoying asked immediately.
"First, we return to the mountain. Let your senior uncles and aunts see your sword skills." Dugu Yihe's eyes held a hint of fatigue. "I'm getting old. It's time for me to step down."
Su Shaoying's eyes widened in shock. "You don't mean to pass on the position of Emei's leader to me, do you?"
Dugu Yihe rolled her eyes. "In your dreams."
Su Shaoying patted her chest in relief. "In that case, I'm reassured."
Dugu Yihe glared at her. "Are you saying you don't want it?"
Su Shaoying shook her head. "No, I don't. Being the leader is too tiring. I think Big Senior Brother is both intelligent and skilled in martial arts. It would be better for you to pass it on to him."
The 'Big Senior Brother' Su Shaoying referred to was Zhang Yingfeng, one of the 'Three Heroes and Four Beauties'.
"His martial arts are not yet strong enough to uphold the reputation of Emei," Dugu Yihe said. "I had originally intended to pass on the leadership of Emei to your Senior Uncle Xu Wen."
Xu Wen, Dugu Yihe's junior brother, was also one of the top experts of the Emei Sect.
"But now that your sword skills have surpassed the ordinary, I plan to hold on for a few more years." Dugu Yihe spoke calmly. "I'll first give you the title of successor to the Emei Sect's leadership. Are you willing to accept it?"
Su Shaoying smacked her lips. "Do I have a choice to refuse?"
"What do you think?" Dugu Yihe asked as she reached for the sword hilt.
"Then I'm willing," Su Shaoying agreed with a nod.
(End of Chapter)
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