Chapter 416: The Hong Residence in Uproar
After Feng Xun returned to normal, the order in Feng Residence was also quickly restored.
Privately, Feng Xun told Lan Cai'er that Ye Lingyue was still alive, which swept away Lan Cai'er's gloom, and even led her to harshly scold Little Wuya for concealing the news.
Since Ye Lingyue was alright, Lan Cai'er decided to immediately return to Daxia; Feng Xun prepared horses and carriage, and ordered her servants to escort them out of Beiqing.
Knowing that Feng Xun had returned to normal, the happiest was Xue Pianran; it seemed Ye Lingyue was just so in Feng Xun's heart, only a few days passed and Feng Xun had already forgotten the grief.
Compared to Xue Pianran's joy, the scene was quite different in the Dan Palace.
During the trip to Xingxiu Cave, Chen Hongru originally hoped that Wen Xu and others could bring out the Yi God's Void-breaking Bow, but unexpectedly, not only did they fail to bring out the Spiritual Artifact but also lost many people.
Especially Ghost Emperor Wu Chong, his sudden infiltration into the Dan Palace made Chen Hongru very uneasy.
Ghost Emperor Wu Chong, normally, why would he be interested in Cave Number One of Xingxiu Cave, Chen Hongru suspected Wu Chong had even sneaked into Xingxiu Cave.
But Elder Wang, who guarded the entrance of Xingxiu Cave, categorically stated that aside from when the cave was opened, no one else entered the cave, let alone the Ghost Emperor Wu Chong.
The real secret of Chen Hongru and even Dan Palace was indeed the Cave Number One in Xingxiu Cave, because it hid the Chaos Heaven and Earth Array left from Ancient Times; Chen Hongru's achievements today were inseparable from the Chaos Heaven and Earth Array.
Even Chen Hongru himself, unless his cultivation had reached a certain level, could not enter the Chaos Heaven and Earth Array at will.
To confirm whether Wu Chong had infiltrated Xingxiu Cave, Chen Hongru later carefully inquired Wen Xu and even Cong Lv, and even used the Nine-star Soul Searching Technique, but there were no traces that Wu Chong had been there.
Their consistent statement was that Ye Lingyue used the Yi God's Void-breaking Bow and perished together with the Sky Demon Bei.
Only then did Chen Hongru let go of his suspicions, what he did not expect was that Wu Chong had already altered the memories of Wen Xu and Cong Lv.
After Lan Cai'er and Little Wuya returned to Daxia, to deceive the public, they still put up a very grief-stricken appearance, the Lan Residence and Ye Huangyu even conducted a fake funeral to cover up Ye Lingyue's whereabouts.
Similarly, the Hong Residence was also conducting a funeral.
The expedition to Xingxiu Cave had also been a heavy blow to the Hong Residence; Hong Yuying died inside the cave, and not even her corpse was brought back.
Zhuge Rou and Hong Fang inevitably felt sorrowful.
Especially Zhuge Rou, losing her beloved daughter had made her temper very bad these days, and she even became somewhat hysterical.
Hong Fang, early on due to that matter in the Imperial Palace, had always had thorns in his heart, and had only moved back to his room under the orders of Hong Qingyun, these few days were made very difficult by Zhuge Rou's recurring outbreaks, eventually finding an excuse, he slept in the study, and the relationship between the couple worsened further.
Although Hong Mingyue and Hong Yulang managed to leave Xingxiu Cave unharmed, they were injured, especially the pampered Hong Yulang, who fell ill after returning to the mansion and had not recovered.
The funeral of Hong Yuying was hastily dealt with, and the Hong Residence erected a ceremonial mound for her; Zhuge Yi and Luo Song temporarily stayed at Hong Residence to recover.
Late at night, Hong Qingyun and Hong Fang, father and daughter, sat in the council hall together, along with the Hong Residence male members including the Princely Heir, Hong Mingyue was the only woman present.
Hong Yuying had just been buried today, and Hong Yuying was still dressed in plain white mourning clothes, and a white chrysanthemum was pinned in her hair, making her look very elegant.
Since returning from Xingxiu Cave, Hong Mingyue has changed a lot, and it is unknown whether it was the death of Hong Yuying or because of the news of Ye Lingyue and Sky Demon Bei perishing together that stirred her.
Hong Qingyun did not care too much about the death of Hong Yuying.
Among the grandchildren, Hong Yuying was never particularly favored by Hong Qingyun. She was haughty and her talent was mediocre at best.
By comparison, Hong Qingyun valued Hong Yulang and Hong Mingyue more, Hong Yulang because he is male and can inherit the Hong Mansion's legacy and expand its lineage.
And Hong Mingyue, even more so, was the most beloved granddaughter of Hong Qingyun. In his view, whether or not the Hong Mansion could genuinely rise depended on Hong Mingyue's future achievements.
Over the past decade, this is what Hong Qingyun had always believed, until the appearance of Ye Lingyue made him doubt his judgment for the first time.
Fortunately, Ye Lingyue died in Xingxiu Cave.
Ye Lingyue was indeed dead, of which Hong Qingyun harbored no doubts, not only because the Lan Residence had already arranged for Ye Lingyue's funeral, but also because on the very day Ye Lingyue disappeared, her name vanished from the Qing Province Elixir Ranking.
The sudden disappearance of her name from the Qing Province Elixir Ranking had only two possibilities: either Ye Lingyue had broken through to the Reincarnation Realm or she had died.
It was impossible for Ye Lingyue to have broken through to the Reincarnation Realm in such a short span of time, so the only remaining possibility was death.
This was what Hong Qingyun, and indeed many people in Daxia and Beiqing, believed.
But they all overlooked another possibility — that Ye Lingyue was not on the Qing Province Continent at this time.
Cave Number One, which even Hong Meng Heaven could isolate, or the Chaos Heaven and Earth Array, was in essence an existence detached from the Qing Province Continent.
Just a few days ago, Hong Qingyun, who had lost two granddaughters, displayed not a hint of sorrow.
Recalling Ye Lingyue's disrespect towards him, Hong Qingyun sneered coldly; death ends all, Ye Lingyue, no matter how talented you are, you could never compete with our Hong Mansion.
"Since she is dead, there is no need for excessive sorrow. Son, what do you plan to do about your father-in-law's matter?" Hong Qingyun drew back his thoughts and started questioning Hong Fang.
When Hong Mingyue brought back Zhuge Yi, Hong Qingyun was somewhat surprised. This Outer Sect Elder from the Heavenly Armor Sect, who had always held himself in high regard in front of the Hong Mansion, proposed this time to stay in the Hong Mansion for a long period.
Upon making inquiries, Hong Qingyun found out that it was widely rumored outside that Zhuge Yi had betrayed the Heavenly Armor Sect and now the members of the sect were searching for his whereabouts.
Hong Fang frowned, having already heard about Zhuge Yi from Hong Mingyue.
His own father-in-law, usually sensible, how could he be so foolish this time?
He didn't even cleanly handle such a simple matter as killing to silence others.
"Father, after all, he is Rou'er's father. He is injured, and it's not appropriate to hand him over at this time," Hong Fang, who had managed to establish himself and rise quickly in the Hong Mansion with essential support from Zhuge Yi and Zhuge Rou behind him.
Now, as Hong Fang's reputation in Daxia was already bad enough, he certainly couldn't afford another scandal of ingratitude.
"Keeping him? Do you want to wait for the Heavenly Armor Sect to come knocking on our door? Isn't the situation in the mansion already chaotic enough?" The Heir Hong seized the opportunity to add fuel to the fire.
"Who dares to send away my father!" The doors to the council hall were suddenly pushed open, and Zhuge Rou stormed in, her face flushed with anger.