novelden Chapter 1880 Fishing in troubled waters
Chapter 1880 Fishing in troubled waters
Shangguan Wuji hurried through Nanluoguxiang. The lively atmosphere of the alley that he usually admired only made him feel very anxious and uneasy.
It wasn't until the black sedan parked in the shadows at the alley entrance appeared that he regained a sense of familiarity and felt a little more at ease.
Surprisingly, Shangguan Wuji did not sit in the main seat in the back as usual. Instead, he quickly opened the back door and let his seemingly ordinary attendant, who had always followed him, get into the car first.
His movements carried an almost instinctive respect that was completely out of character for him.
Then, Shangguan Wuji followed and got into the passenger seat. After closing the door, he didn't even dare to turn his head to look at the back seat. He just stiffly looked ahead, his hands gripping his knees, waiting for something.
Inside the car, a series of sharp, dense crackling sounds, like dry wood exploding in a raging fire, rang out.
The once thin and unremarkable attendant suddenly seemed to come alive, his bones expanding and stretching with slight yet intense writhing.
In a matter of seconds, the attendant's clothes, which had originally fit him well, were quickly stretched out, his shoulders broadened, his chest thickened, and even his neck became thicker.
In just a few breaths, a burly, middle-aged man with a refined aura replaced the previous thin and timid figure and took over the back seat.
The man slowly moved his neck and shook his head from side to side, and a dull thud could be heard as his bones collided. His originally submissive and obedient gaze instantly became deep and sharp, as if it could pierce through people's hearts.
"Sir, although I have heard of your amazing skills many times, every time... it still leaves me in awe!" Shangguan Wuji silently wiped the sweat from his forehead with a handkerchief.
If I hadn't witnessed this incredible bone-shrinking technique firsthand multiple times, I probably would have thought that no one else in the world possessed it.
He was amazed by the vastness and wonder of China, while simultaneously feeling a deep, inexplicable chill.
There was no response from the people in the back seat, as if they didn't care about such praise.
After the unpleasant sound stopped, Shangguan Wuji turned slightly to the side, his tone unusually humble, and asked in a low voice, "Sir, having experienced this whole situation, what are your thoughts on the Li family?"
The gentleman did not answer directly. His deep gaze was fixed on the bustling street outside the window. His fingers unconsciously twirled a string of smooth Bodhi beads on his wrist. His voice was calm and his tone detached.
"What you see is what you see, what you hear is what you hear. Flowers in a mirror, the moon in the water—are they real or illusion? Wuji, you already have the answer in your heart, why ask me again... why ask me again!"
He paused almost imperceptibly, quickly omitting a certain title, his words filled with Zen-like wisdom, making him unfathomable.
Shangguan Wuji was taken aback by these ambiguous words. Although he was dissatisfied, he dared not show it and had to suppress his temper and state his judgment.
"Although we didn't get any concrete information from Li Xiangnan this time, it wasn't a complete loss! At least we've confirmed that Li Dequan has returned home, and... I'm 60% sure that cough from the inner room was from Mu Huanying herself! She has definitely secretly returned to the capital and is hiding behind that curtain!"
As if finding corroborating evidence, he said with absolute certainty, "Otherwise, given Li Xiangnan's restless nature, why would he stay in this small courtyard house without moving an inch? He's not the type to stay still!"
The man opened his half-closed eyes and looked ahead. "Wuji, do you think he stays at home because of his grandmother?"
"Otherwise what?" Shangguan Wuji said with great certainty, "This is a family reunion, four generations of the Li family under one roof. Nothing is more heartbreaking than seeing his grandmother. Li Xiangnan definitely wants to spend more time with his grandmother!"
"..." The man's eyes suddenly filled with pity.
A person without affection for their children, a person without feelings, indeed has a very narrow view of things.
Shangguan Wuji seemed completely oblivious to his master's gaze, and asked urgently, "By the way, master, you have such discerning eyes, do you think that person in that room is indeed Mu Huanying?"
The man still didn't answer directly, but calmly said, "Obsessions are like an abyss; if you can't see through them, they become obstacles! Does it matter whether it's right or wrong right now? What matters is that you believe!"
Shangguan Wuji was taken aback, his thoughts raced, and his eyes suddenly lit up.
But then the man changed his tone, his voice slightly somber, "Those eyes you planted were all silently removed by the Song family, causing such a significant delay in information. We're in such a passive position today, and we've even alerted them. How are we supposed to proceed from here?"
Mentioning this, a shadow of gloom and anger flashed across Shangguan Wuji's face, and his fists clenched unconsciously.
"The Song family again! If I weren't wary of them, I would have taken action against them long ago! These people have overstepped their bounds! The Li family must be on alert now. It will be difficult for us to secretly investigate them closely in the future!"
His voice was filled with frustration. Many things could only be seen through the dark, but now some plans had failed due to external interference.
"To obtain a great treasure, how can one avoid twists and turns?"
The man's voice remained calm, as if everything was under control. "That ledger is of great importance. This turmoil is merely a necessary tribulation! The Song family's involvement has added variables, but it may not be all bad!"
"What do you mean by that, sir?" Shangguan Wuji frowned, puzzled.
"When the water is murky, it's easier to catch fish!" the gentleman said meaningfully, then asked, "What do you think of Li Xiangnan's lavish banquet for the baby's full moon celebration?"
A glint flashed in Shangguan Wuji's eyes, and a sinister look once again appeared on his face.
"That fellow is trying to lure the snake out of its hole. Think about it, the Li family is hosting a grand banquet. With such a big event, Mu Huanying will definitely show up! At that time, all eyes in the city will be on them, and all those who coveted the account books back then will surely be mobilized. The situation will be in complete chaos! This is our golden opportunity!"
He became more and more excited as he spoke, and a hint of domineering and greed quickly appeared on his face.
"But right now, only our Shangguan family knows this information and has concrete clues that Mu Huanying may have already returned to the capital. We must seize the initiative!"
The man nodded slightly, his fingers, which had been moving the prayer beads, stopped, and a mysterious glint flashed in his eyes.
"Surrounded by wolves, only then can the hunter's true nature be revealed. Chaos is the beginning of the reorganization of order. Wuji, what do you plan to do?"
Shangguan Wuji took a deep breath, a resolute expression on his face.
"Sir, whether you said it or not is not important. What's important is that I believe it! Since I believe it, others will naturally believe it too. As long as we do our preliminary preparations well, we can just follow Li Xiangnan's line of thinking and turn the tables on him!"
He smiled slyly, "Since Li Xiangnan wants to make this a big deal, then we'll help him make it a big deal! Not only will those who need to know know, but we'll also let those who shouldn't know but are actually beneficial to us know this news!"
He looked at the endless stream of people outside the window, his eyes suddenly turning cold.
"Since this pool of water is already murky, let it get even murky! I want to see how long Mu Huanying and the secret she's been guarding can keep it hidden from everyone's eyes! Hahaha!"
Upon hearing this, the gentleman's lips curved into a very faint, almost imperceptible smile. He slowly closed his eyes, as if entering a meditative state.
The wheels turned and drove away, and silence fell inside the car.
This upcoming full moon celebration is destined to be more than just a simple wedding banquet.