237: The long sword given by the old supervisor...

Li Shengyuan gently patted Shen Xinrong's back, which was trembling from crying, letting her tears soak his clothes. He didn't disturb her, just quietly provided a shoulder to lean on.

After a long while, Shen Xinrong's sobs gradually turned into low sniffles. Her emotions had calmed down a bit, but she still clutched his clothes tightly, as if she would lose this support if she let go.

Once her breathing steadied, Li Shengyuan said softly, "It's alright, Aunt Rong, don't cry anymore. Save your tears for your enemies. What we should be thinking about is how to make them pay a heavy price. Let's go out now, Princess Pingyang and the others must be getting anxious."

Shen Xinrong then realized her lapse in composure and quickly got up from his embrace, a blush rising on her pretty face. She clumsily wiped away her tears with her sleeve. This was the first time she had shown such a vulnerable side in front of Li Shengyuan.

Her voice was still thick with a nasal tone: "Was... was I very rude just now...?"

Li Shengyuan smiled and handed her a clean handkerchief: "It's nothing, just a genuine display of emotion. Let's go."

The two walked out of the study, one after the other.

In the courtyard, Princess Pingyang, Yue Xiyan, and Yue Qingmeng indeed looked over with concern.

When they saw Shen Xinrong's slightly red and swollen eyes, their teasing smiles instantly vanished, replaced by worry and inquiry.

"Xinrong, what's wrong?"

Princess Pingyang was the first to stand up and greet her, linking her arm through Shen Xinrong's, "Did Shengyuan bully you?"

As she spoke, she gave Li Shengyuan a reproachful glare.

Yue Xiyan also walked over, her gaze gentle and inquisitive:

"Xinrong, are you alright?"

Although Yue Qingmeng didn't speak, she handed over a cup of warm tea, her eyes full of concern.

Shen Xinrong took the teacup, shook her head, and took a deep breath, trying to steady her voice:

"No... nothing, I just remembered some... sad events of my Shen family."

At the mention of the words "Shen family," her eyes couldn't help but redden again.

Seeing this, Li Shengyuan briefly explained his plan to go to Jiangnan to avenge the Shen family.

As soon as he said this, the courtyard fell silent for a moment.

Princess Pingyang immediately clutched Shen Xinrong's hand, her pretty face filled with righteous indignation:

"So that's it! Those damned villains! Xinrong, don't worry, this revenge must be taken! Count me in!"

Although her cultivation was not high now, she was loyal to her sisters and very willing to contribute.

Yue Xiyan nodded gently, her clear, cold voice carrying a reassuring power: "Xinrong, every wrong has a cause, every debt a master. If there is anything needed in Jiangnan, Xiyan and Qingmeng are also willing to do our best."

Yue Qingmeng, behind her, also nodded firmly. Although her strength was not as good as her master's and Li Dage's, she could still help out.

"Right! We'll all go! With my title as a princess, I want to see which officials in Jiangnan dare to feign compliance when we tell them to investigate the case!" Princess Pingyang said angrily.

Feeling the unreserved support and warmth from her sisters, Shen Xinrong's recently stopped tears threatened to burst forth again.

But this time, it was no longer pure sadness; it was more enveloped by warmth and emotion.

Although her childhood home was gone, her current large family was also very warm.

Shen Xinrong looked at the sincere faces before her and nodded forcefully:

"Thank you... thank you all..."

Li Shengyuan looked at the scene before him, his heart slightly warmed, and he spoke:

"This trip may have risks, you all..."

"What's there to be afraid of with risks?" Princess Pingyang interrupted him, raising her chin, "Xinrong's matter is our matter, just a little risk!"

Yue Xiyan also smiled faintly: "Shengyuan, don't worry, with me here, no one can harm Xinrong and Princess Pingyang."

Seeing their firm attitude, Li Shengyuan no longer tried to dissuade them. What he was actually worried about was King Wei and the demonic cult forces behind him.

But now, Yue Xiyan's strength was not to be underestimated; a Second-Rank who had passed the Nine Heavenly Tribulations would make anyone tremble!

Without a First-Rank, few were worthy of being her opponent!

Moreover, having them go along could also serve to somewhat lull the opponents, taking female companions would make these people think he was going to Jiangnan for a relaxing trip...

He then smiled and nodded: "Alright, then we'll go together. Consider it a change of scenery and a way to resolve a long-standing concern for Aunt Rong!"

"Specific details will be discussed tomorrow. It's getting late, you should all rest early."

After comforting Shen Xinrong a few more times, they all returned to their rooms to rest.

Li Shengyuan's courtyard was large enough, and there were plenty of rooms. Although guest rooms in other courtyards were arranged, they all stayed here to rest.

As night deepened, the Grand Secretarys Courtyard and even the entire capital city returned to tranquility.

Li Shengyuan returned to his room alone. He didn't sleep but walked to his desk. With a thought, an ancient longsword appeared in his hand—the very sword given to him by Chancellor.

The sword's body was dull, even somewhat old, with obscure, strange patterns carved on it. It was cold to the touch, yet one could faintly feel a powerful, indescribable force contained within it, though this force seemed to be in a dormant state.

He would be going to Jiangnan soon, and mastering this sword would still help improve Li Shengyuan's strength.

Although he was strong enough now, having an extra source of power was always good.

Li Shengyuan's fingertips gently brushed over the sword's body, attempting to inject a trace of Pure Yang Power into it.

His inner energy was like a mud ox entering the sea; the ancient sword showed no reaction.

He then tried to probe with his divine sense, but was gently blocked by a tough, invisible barrier.

"Chancellor gave me this sword. For it to catch his eye and be used as a Second-Rank expert's personal sword, it must be no ordinary item."

Li Shengyuan muttered to himself, his gaze sharply examining every pattern on the sword, "These patterns seem to conform to some kind of formation or the ultimate truth of the Heavenly Dao, but they are also incomplete..."

"Pure Yang Power doesn't work, then I'll try the power of gods and demons!"

As soon as his voice fell, the pupils of Li Shengyuan's eyes displayed different colors.

When the ancient divine power was injected into it, the longsword finally reacted...