Transmigrated into a Grandpa, Embracing the Laid-Back Life

Chapter 110: Caught the Fox's Tail

The two auras on the rooftop across the alley vanished.

"They're gone," Su Ming said in his heart.

"Mm, gone," Lin Yu's voice carried a trace of gravity. "Disciple, your counter-surveillance skills are really becoming more and more beyond this teacher's expectations."

Su Ming did not respond.

He could feel that although those two probing gazes had disappeared, a deeper, intangible sense of being locked onto remained. That feeling was like prey being watched by a pack of wolves; even if the wolves temporarily retreated, that chilling, murderous intent had already seeped into the marrow.

"What did they confirm?" Su Ming asked.

"They confirmed you are a 'law-abiding' bookworm," Lin Yu analyzed. "Every day, you either copy books or go home to sleep, not even visiting a brothel. You're practically the moral paragon of the Great Xing Dynasty. Since they can't find any direct connection between you and Xu Qing, they won't move against you for now."

Su Ming slowly let out a long breath. He broke the silence. "Master, this can't go on."

"Hmm?" Lin Yu inquired.

"Passively waiting means forever being the bait," Su Ming's eyes shone startlingly bright in the darkness. "I want to know what fish they're trying to lure out using me. I want to know even more how many vicious crocodiles and giant sharks are lurking in this pond."Lin Yu fell silent.

He knew that his disciple's "cautiousness" wasn't genuine cowardice. It was a form of building momentum, preparing to deliver the most fatal blow at the most critical moment.

"What do you want to do?" he asked.

"Go to the Liu residence again," Su Ming's voice was very calm. "Last time was testing the waters. This time, I want to go and beg for a real key."

"Beg that old fox?" Lin Yu's soul body trembled. "He almost saw through our underwear last time. Going again is too risky."

"The greater the risk, the more genuine it appears," Su Ming stood up, patting the dust off his clothes. "A panicked young man, having discovered a secret he can't afford to mess with, loses all composure and goes to seek advice from the only elder he can trust. That's very reasonable."

Lin Yu smacked his lips.

Alright then, the Oscar-winning actor's script has been updated again.

"And the excuse this time?"

"The Lantai Secret Garden."

The next day was still a Day Off.

Su Ming once again picked up the Gift of Respect he had prepared long ago and walked alone to the quiet alley in the western part of the city. Just like last time, it was the same mottled black lacquered wooden door, the same old servant with muddled eyes.

When the old servant saw Su Ming, that wrinkled face showed a trace of human emotion for the first time—clear impatience.

"Why is it you again?"

"This student Su Ming has an urgent matter and seeks an audience with Lord Liu," Su Ming bowed and presented his Name Card.

The old servant couldn't even be bothered to take the Name Card, turning to close the door. "His Lordship is not receiving guests."

"This student, while organizing archives from the previous dynasty at the Hanlin Academy, inadvertently came across records mentioning the 'Lantai Secret Garden.' It filled me with dread, fearing it might involve forbidden matters, and I couldn't sleep at night. This matter may concern court secrets. This student dares not act on his own. After much thought, I could only seek guidance from Lord Liu. I beg you, Old Uncle, to make an exception!"

Su Ming said all this in one breath. His voice wasn't loud, but each word was clear, his tone filled with just the right amount of panic and anxiety.

The four words "Lantai Secret Garden" acted like a key, inserted into the old servant's rusty mind.

His door-closing motion stopped.

His murky eyes stared fixedly at Su Ming for a long time before he coldly spat out two words.

"Wait."

The door closed again.

This time, Su Ming stood outside the door for the time it takes two incense sticks to burn.

When the door opened again, the old servant's expression was even more unpleasant than before.

He offered no extra words, only saying, "Come in."

of mildew,

stood quietly,

didn't have to wait

figure appeared at

ordinary gray gown, but his eyes were even sharper than last time, like

stood under the doorframe. "Speak, what's going on?" He didn't invite Su Ming to the study, staying right in

and repeated the prepared story,

is dull-witted, I don't

Su Ming could finish, "Who told you to investigate

a thunderclap in the small side

boring into Su Ming as if

Wen? What tricks are they playing now?

authority of long-standing high position, washed over Su

in succession, his back hitting the cold

this student... this student really just saw it by chance..." he stammered, looking on the verge of

chance?" Director Liu sneered, advancing until he was almost face-to-face with Su Ming, his voice like shards of ice. "The Hanlin Academy's archives

Ming's body trembled slightly against the

student thought it was supernatural folklore and didn't pay it mind. But... but yesterday, while organizing battle records from the Black Rong campaign, I saw the two words 'Lantai' on a damaged scroll... Putting the two together, this student became afraid, and so... so I dared to come and

two clues. It fit his job of organizing archives

remained

fell into

A long time passed.

then did Director Liu slowly straighten up, creating

eyes gradually receded, turning back into a bottomless pool of

is the path

to the window, looking at the withered locust tree in the courtyard. His tone was icy and resolute. "The Lantai Secret Garden is not something you should know about." His

against the wall, breathing heavily, his face still wearing an expression

this student... this student understands. Thank you, Your Excellency...

to take his

Liu's drifting voice came from behind him. The voice wasn't loud, but each word

the Hanlin Academy, this old man does not

the hands of

for three years. Apart from Imperial Physician Li, the Vice Director of the Imperial Medical Bureau who diagnoses his pulse,

now nothing but a living

Ming's footsteps paused for

his

realized his back was already soaked with

is he a firecracker? Explodes at the slightest

Lin Yu's grumbling. His

Head of the Academy.

Ill for three years.

Bureau, Vice

Living ghost.

few words connected to

leading to the "Lantai

month later, Yongchang Marquis

heating stove was blazing, creating a world apart from

cloak, was leisurely polishing a

like an autumn pool, reflecting his resolute and stern

Wence, stood respectfully to the side, holding an urgent secret report just delivered from Qingshi

Qingshi Town has

Marquis didn't even look up, just using a piece of

uses a previously unseen new method. The emergence and initial application of

Yongchang Marquis's polishing motion paused. The deerskin stopped at a point one-third along the

"Oh?"

himself, a few years ago, figured it out on his own through self-study and independent experimentation," Wence's voice held a trace

as well as its subsequent rapid expansion, all precisely occurred after Su Ming became Zhou Wenhai's disciple and entered the County School. The

deep breath

Zhou Wenhai, in this matter, was more like a tiger skin borrowed for prestige. The true planner, from beginning to end, was that youth, Su Ming, who

The study fell silent.

stove occasionally emitted

with such cunning?" The Yongchang Marquis finally put down the curved blade, raised his eyes, his gaze

official also found it hard to believe. Therefore, I managed to obtain copies of the essay he wrote when he placed first as a Child Scholar, as well as some

transcribed papers from his