They all want to change my future.

Chapter 50 The Empress and the Demon Queen

"Didn't Miss Lin know? Why didn't she tell me?"

Li Zhi raised a question.

After all, Lin Yueyin had been following him all night and had heard the name Lu Jiu, but she hadn't reacted at all.

This is very strange.

How could someone so focused on revenge not even know their enemy?

"I don't know either."

Ji Baizhi shook her head and guessed, "She was probably too young to understand back then."

Ji Baizhi didn't delve too deeply into this topic, continuing her previous conversation by asking, "Does Young Master know why Lu Jiu has 'Lu' as his surname?"

"So this surname didn't exist before?"

Ji Baizhi simply shook her head at Li Zhi's completely uncooperative questioning, thinking to herself that she shouldn't have played this question-and-answer game with the young master.

"Their ancestors were originally servants who raised deer for the Duke of He's mansion."

Ji Baizhi spoke softly, yet each word was clear: "The master bestowed upon us the surname Lu, which has been passed down through generations."

"You mean they are traitorous slaves?"

"Young Master understands immediately." Ji Baizhi nodded.

"Back then, it was the Lu family who came forward to report the Duke of He's treason, which led to the confiscation of their property. The case was handled hastily, and the evidence was far-fetched, but because of their merit in supporting the emperor, the Lu family received a generous reward."

"So they were also the kind of people who spent a fortune to buy a horse's bones," Li Zhi said knowingly, then asked curiously, "So, what is this 'fortune'?"

Ji Baizhi was speechless again. Couldn't you be curious about something else?

It should be noted that the case of the Duke of He was the beginning of a bloody storm, representing the first major case launched by the Empress against Xun Gui.

This also marked the beginning of the empress's reign, a period that would certainly be recorded in history books.

You're actually curious about the reward.

Ji Baizhi was reluctant to continue.

She didn't say anything, but Li Zhi really wanted to ask, so he reached out and tapped Ji Baizhi's shoulder, urging her to speak.

This overly intimate gesture made Ji Baizhi sigh inwardly. She should be happy that the young master didn't treat her like an outsider.

Still heartbroken, the young master, driven by curiosity, truly disregarded all manners.

"As for the reward," Ji Baizhi finally spoke up, "I don't know, but since then, the Deer Garden has nominally belonged to the state, but it is still managed by the Lu family. The Lu family has also changed from being servants of the Duke of He to officials appointed by the imperial court."

"Is that all?"

Li Zhi raised an eyebrow: "Is the Empress too stingy to give them this much, or did she secretly leave them a visualization diagram?"

"The visualization diagram is the foundation of our sect; how could we easily bestow it upon outsiders?"

Ji Baizhi shook her head, "To be able to give them a garden and a future is already an immense favor from heaven. Besides, they have now been freed from slavery and can be considered to have turned their lives around and become masters of their own destiny."

"It seems my future is bleak."

Li Zhi shrugged: "The Lu family has made such a great contribution, and this is all? I, as a traitor, probably don't deserve much either."

Upon hearing this, Ji Baizhi naturally recalled what Li Zhi had just said about Qu Hongxiao's promise.

He came first in the imperial examination and asked the empress for credit, hoping she would grant him a marriage proposal.

Thinking of this, Ji Baizhi's face flushed. Clearly, Qu Hongxiao had not misjudged her.

She certainly wouldn't object if she wanted to.

"Young Master, this is different," Ji Baizhi said softly, almost unconsciously. "If Qu Hongxiao really is that person, her status as Empress is quite different."

After speaking, Ji Baizhi did not hear Li Zhi's reply. She looked up at Li Zhi with some curiosity, only to find that he was also looking at her strangely.

"Young Master, what's wrong with you?" Ji Baizhi asked, frowning.

"Did you just call me Empress?" Li Zhi asked with a mischievous smile.

Ji Baizhi realized she had misspoke and panicked. She quickly emphasized seriously, "Young Master, you misheard me. I called her the Demon Queen."

"Really?" Li Zhi didn't believe it.

"real."

As soon as Ji Baizhi said it, she regretted it. This childish game was a bit of a cover-up.

She quickly changed the subject again: "If I'm not mistaken, the martial art that Lu Jiu learned should be the Duke He's family's secret spear technique, Po Jun."

These words immediately piqued Li Zhi's interest, and he asked directly, "How did you know?"

It seems the young master's method was indeed effective; he used something more interesting to change his mind.

Ji Baizhi felt a little more at ease. "This is no secret. The Duke of He is very good to his subordinates. He has taught this spear technique to many of his retainers and even his servants."

"Even after all this, you still betray him?" Li Zhi's curiosity grew even stronger. "Are you sure there's no hidden story? Like the Duke's cruelty or something?"

"Young master, please don't say such things in front of Miss Lin."

Ji Baizhi rolled her eyes and brought the topic back on track: "Everyone has their own thoughts, how would I know? Speaking of the Po Jun spear technique, it follows a fierce and domineering path. It is said that when mastered to a high level, it has the power to destroy cities."

"I can't think of any way to break this and also make you famous, young master."

Ji Baizhi looked at Li Zhi and said with some certainty, "If Qu Hongxiao can produce it, then I also know her identity."

"Oh?" Li Zhi looked at Ji Baizhi: "You're not going to tell me either, are you?"

"also?"

Ji Baizhi thought for a moment and knew who this was referring to. She shook her head: "I certainly won't hide it from you, young master. However, you've offended Miss Lin again."

"I don't know about that."

Li Zhi shrugged, then urged, "Tell me quickly, what is Qu Hongxiao's identity?"

"The Master of the Star Gazing Tower".

Ji Baizhi didn't hide anything and gave the answer directly:

"The fact that she can speak to the Empress Dowager shows that she must be deeply loved and protected. She can come up with the method to break the Duke's family's secret weapon. She is probably the only one in the entire capital who can control the eyes and ears of the world and collect information from all over the country."

"That reason is quite reasonable." Li Zhi nodded, then looked at Ji Baizhi. "You seemed to be thinking of mentioning the Empress again, didn't you?"

Ji Baizhi paused for a moment, then gave a faint yet captivating smile: "I didn't."

Li Zhi admired it for a moment before nodding and looking away, exclaiming, "Your honey trap is much better than Qu Hongxiao's."

"Young master, you really know how to talk."

Ji Baizhi shook her head helplessly, but a smile appeared in her eyes. Then she saw Li Zhi fall into deep thought, as if he had thought of something.

Immediately afterwards, Li Zhi laughed, a somewhat surprised laugh, which then grew louder and louder.

"Ha ha ha ha!"

This sudden commotion puzzled Ji Baizhi. What was so funny about what she had just said?

Suddenly, Ji Baizhi's gaze turned resentful: "Young Master, what are you laughing at?"

Li Zhi stopped and looked at Ji Baizhi, saying directly, "I've confirmed that Qu Hongxiao is indeed the master of the Star Gazing Tower."

Why?

"On the day you tried to assassinate me, weren't you briefly stopped by a grandmaster?"

Ji Baizhi nodded, indicating that she was right.

Looking at the other person's face, which defied description, Li Zhi sighed, "I guess only Qu Hongxiao would be so free as to glance at you."

what?

Ji Baizhi was taken aback, but she quickly realized what was going on and said with a wry smile, "If that's the case, then it's probably her."

"I'm already looking forward to tomorrow."

Li Zhi stretched and stood up: "I'm going to sleep now, goodnight."

"Yes, good night, young master."

As Ji Baizhi watched Li Zhi's departing figure, she realized that she seemed to have gotten used to living with him.