Ch. 82 – Mistake

Although Ji Chengyue had commanded him to get up, Xue Ren did not comply. He simply adjusted his posture from prostrate on the ground to sitting back on his knees.

Upon sitting up straight, Xue Ren rubbed his red and swollen eyes. The reason for his tears may be fake, but his grievance was genuine.

Xue Ren felt nothing but jealousy and resentment at Ji Chengyue’s favoritism toward Cao Zirui.

However, he was no longer the youth who confided in his master. He was in his thirties, and although he maintained his youthful looks through cultivation, most people at this age would have children who were practically adults.

So he had kept his grievances to himself all the while, but finally let them out today under his master’s suspicion.

Although Ji Chengyue was not incorrect in his suspicions, Xue Ren did wonder why he came to suspect him seemingly out of nowhere. His Master had never done such a thing before Cao Zirui became his disciple.

Then it was all because of Cao Zirui! Just because his master’s precious little disciple got himself injured, he began to doubt Xue Ren!

A sinister glint appeared in Xue Ren’s eyes. Ji Chengyue’s soft heart did not lead him to repent; instead, it made him blame Cao Zirui for everything.

Ji Chengyue had covered his eyes with his hand, and didn’t see Xue Ren’s change of expression.

He only saw the bloody wound on Xue Ren’s forehead dotted with dirt from the floor, and let out a soft sigh.

“Come here,” he called to Xue Ren, his tone no longer as stern as before.

Xue Ren’s eyes flickered. After briefly weighing the situation, he immediately shuffled forward on his knees toward Ji Chengyue.

Ji Chengyue pulled his hand out of his sleeve to reveal a small porcelain bottle.

He performed a very basic spell to condense the water vapor in the air into a fine stream of water, which he used to wash the wound on Xue Ren’s forehead.

The cut hurt a little when it came into contact with the cold water, but this was nothing. It wasn’t even as bad as the wounds one suffered when practicing swordsmanship.

Xue Ren wouldn’t cry out in pain because of this kind of wound, but the moment the water touched his forehead, he let out a soft hiss.

This brief, bitten-off sound made it seem like he could no longer bear the pain, but didn’t wish to make his weakness known.

Ji Chengyue unconsciously softened his movements.

Xue Ren noticed this, and a faint smile appeared on his lips where Ji Chengyue couldn’t see. It seemed he’d made the right move: showing weakness to his master had softened his heart and made him unwilling to pursue the matter.

After rinsing the wound, Ji Chengyue popped open the porcelain bottle, dipped a finger into the cool ointment inside, and gingerly applied it to the wound on Xue Ren’s forehead.

As he applied the medicine, he couldn’t help but lament: “The last time I helped apply medicine for you was probably twenty years ago, when you were injured in a fight. You hadn’t even reached Foundation Establishment stage yet.”

Later, as Xue Ren grew older, perhaps due to the innate independence and strong-willed nature of boys, he no longer confided his troubles to Ji Chengyue, and no longer cried and complained to him when he was injured. He just tried to act like an adult and shoulder everything himself.

Although Ji Chengyue was somewhat reluctant, he gradually let him go. Children inevitably grew up, and would one day have to leave the protection of their master and stand on their own.

He had first observed Xue Ren in secret for a while, and when he found that he was handling himself well, he completely loosened his hold and allowed Xue Ren to go out and travel on his own.

Their companionship while Xue Ren was a youth had fostered a bond between master and disciple that rivaled that of even blood relatives. They had become people who understood one another the best.

But because Xue Ren was often away training after he reached Foundation Establishment stage, their time together became less and less frequent, and the distance between them grew accordingly.

The process was slow, like a gentle spring rain seeping into the ground. Before Ji Chengyue even realized it, a stream had already grown between the two of them, and was difficult to cross.

Today, when he looked at that person across the water, he couldn’t even recognize him.

He suddenly realized that at some unknown point, he had stopped understanding Xue Ren. Even face to face with him, he no longer knew what his disciple was thinking.

And he had never imagined that Xue Ren would instigate someone to murder his fellow disciple.

Looking back on everything from the past to the present, Ji Chengyue could only sigh with complicated feelings.

Xue Ren was moved by Ji Chengyue’s words. In all his years training outside, what he had learned best was scheming and pretense. It had become a habit over time, and he never removed this pretense even after returning to the sect.

But Ji Chengyue’s words brought him back to twenty years ago, reminding him of a time when he would run to his master unhesitatingly and ask him to apply medicine for him if he suffered the smallest scrape.

His mask of pretense crumbled slightly, finally revealing a hint of truth. He complained: “If Shifu had cared about me more, he wouldn’t have missed all of the wounds that required medicine these past twenty years.”

If Ji Chengyue had given him even half the attention he devoted to Cao Zirui, he might not have reached this point.

Sensing the resentment in those words, Ji Chengyue chuckled and shook his head with a smile: “You’re all grown up now. I doubt you would want me to take care of you like a child.”

Xue Ren smiled upon hearing this. His master was correct – he truly didn’t wish to be treated like a child.

Such estrangement would have been a natural process if not for the appearance of Cao Zirui.

Without Cao Zirui, he wouldn’t have grown jealous over his master’s difference in attitude toward the two of them.

Without Cao Zirui, he wouldn’t have resorted to murder out of fear that the position of sect leader would be taken from him.

Without Cao Zirui, he wouldn’t be facing these problems. After all, his master’s care and the position of sect leader should belong solely to him.

So ultimately, it was all Cao Zirui’s fault.

He deserved to die!

Ji Chengyue withdrew his hand from Xue Ren’s head once the medicine was applied, and Xue Ren sat up again with a smile.

These few words had banished much of the tension created by the late-night interrogation, and a sense of long-lost intimacy emerged.

But beneath Xue Ren’s smile lay an even more resolute killing intent.

Completely unaware of this, Ji Chengyue pinched the bridge of his nose and waved for Xue Ren to leave.

However, Xue Ren remained in place. He had no intention of leaving.

This was a rare opportunity for Xue Ren to ask his master some questions in private, and he certainly wouldn’t miss it. 

“Shifu,” he called out again.

Ji Chengyue regarded him with some confusion, only to see Xue Ren frown and abruptly change the subject: “Shifu, during the few days we stayed in North Sea City, I met many cultivators from other sects and overheard them talking about the master of the city, the Lord of the North Sea.”

Hiding under the bed, Hao Chen was rather taken aback to hear Xue Ren mention him. He temporarily stopped grappling with the hand Feng Ye had over his mouth, and listened carefully to see if Xue Ren would say anything bad about him.

Unexpectedly, Xue Ren’s next sentence was: “While they were talking about the Lord of the North Sea, they naturally steered the conversation toward another god.”

Xue Ren paid close attention to Ji Chengyue’s expression as he said word by word: “The God of War, Yinglong.”

Ji Chengyue was slightly startled. It had been a long time since anyone had spoken this name in front of him.

Hao Chen was greatly disappointed by the realization that he was just a conversational stepping stone that Xue Ren was using to steer the conversation toward Yinglong.

He turned his attention back to Feng Ye, only to find him listening intently with an unwavering gaze.

“I am aware of the feud between Yinglong and our sect, but I’ve never quite understood what happened one hundred years ago. There are scrolls in the library that contain records of it, but this disciple was even more confused after reading them.”

Xue Ren feigned a puzzled expression: “When it comes to the information in those scrolls or what disciples from other sects have to say, it all portrays my shishu as an eternal sinner. But after much thought, I still feel that my shishu didn’t do anything wrong.”

Ling Yun was Ji Chengyue’s shixiong, so it was only reasonable for Xue Ren to call him “shishu.”

Compared to most people, who were unwilling to even acknowledge the former sect leader, Xue Ren’s attitude toward Ling Yun was rather unique.

After all, a normal person would want to sever all ties with an elder who had committed a heinous crime, and certainly wouldn’t refer to them with an affectionate ‘shishu.’

Ji Chengyue was somewhat out of sorts. Xue Ren’s words had inevitably summoned back past memories, and he became immersed in that past that he almost didn’t want to remember.

Ji Chengyue was momentarily silent, but even this silence indicated a certain stance.

Xue Ren felt a sense of certainty growing in his heart. He had just addressed Ling Yun as his shishu and spoken up for him, and Ji Chengyue hadn’t immediately refuted him. This showed that…..his master’s true feelings were different from the facade he put on for the world. Although he remained silent in the face of the universal condemnation for Ling Yun, he still believed deep down that Ling Yun was innocent.

Xue Ren continued to probe: “My shishu was such a brilliant and talented person. If it weren’t for that accident, our Lingxiao Sword Sect would definitely be in a completely different league.”

“Shifu, one hundred years ago, there was a great fire in the Eastern Sea. It is said that Jianmu was burned to ashes by heavenly flames, and Shishu also died in the sea of fire. But Jianmu was so big and tall. Was such an enormous tree really so easy to burn down? Wouldn’t there be debris left over from the fire?”

Xue Ren gradually steered the conversation toward his true purpose, and said as if a brilliant idea had suddenly occurred to him: “Shifu, do you think that if Jianmu wasn’t completely destroyed in the fire, Shishu could come back to life through the fragments? After all, his heart was connected to Jianmu.”

Ji Chengyue’s thoughts were inevitably led astray. He pondered Xue Ren’s words for a moment, then suddenly realized what he had just said and immediately scolded: “Enough!”

He stood almost in a panic, and turned his back so that he could no longer see Xue Ren: “Nonsense! Such absurd talk should never be repeated!”

“This disciple was confused.” Xue Ren stood up as well, bowing to Ji Chengyue as he said: “It’s getting late, so this disciple will head back now.”

Ji Chengyue waved a hand behind him, and Xue Ren turned to leave.

But just before opening the door to leave, he glanced back toward Ji Chengyue. He was already seventy percent certain of his master’s stance.

He needed to hurry and go report to that god. With this in mind, Xue Ren closed the door and quickly departed.

The door shut with a creak, and the footsteps in the corridor gradually faded until the room fell completely silent.

Ji Chengyue alone remained standing before the incense table, neither speaking nor moving as the flickering candlelight cast his shadow on the wall like a solitary silhouette.

Although he was only solitary on the surface.

Xue Ren had left, but the two under the bed remained. There were still three people in the room, which was enough to have a lively card game.

Feng Ye’s gaze was focused on Ji Chengyue, but inwardly, he was pondering Xue Ren’s seemingly pointed words.

Xue Ren had asked exactly what Feng Ye wished to know.

First, he tested Ji Chengyue’s attitude toward Ling Yun, and after roughly concluding that he didn’t condemn the man, he probed further to find out if Ji Chengyue might have hidden fragments of Jianmu.

Without Ji Chengyue here, Xue Ren’s words would have sounded absurd. But the sect leader had reacted with panic, as if Xue Ren had inadvertently aired a secret that he had kept hidden for many years.

Feng Ye was now almost one hundred percent certain that Ji Chengyue had part of Jianmu in his possession.

However…..why would Xue Ren be asking about it?

Although he had used North Sea City as a pretext, Feng Ye didn’t believe that Xue Ren asking these questions was merely a result of overhearing other people’s conversations.

It was a big coincidence that he had asked just the right questions when there was an uptick in unusual activity around Jianmu.

Feng Ye was certain that Xue Ren was not the black-robed man he’d met at the exit of the Floating Island Secret Realm. Their eyes were completely different.

But…..is Xue Ren connected to the black-robed man? Feng Ye wondered.

In actuality, the question would have been solved had he just asked Hao Chen.

Although Hao Chen hadn’t heard what Xue Ren and Yinglong discussed, judging from their expressions in the image, they must have reached some kind of agreement. 

Therefore, Hao Chen was not at all surprised to hear Xue Ren mention Jianmu. Yinglong must have been the one to instigate him. Yinglong was attempting to find Jianmu, and had approached Xue Ren for this purpose.

Sending Xue Ren to gather information from Ji Chengyue was the logical step.

But just like the fact that neither side was willing to remove their disguises yet, they weren’t honest about their identities, let alone about what they knew about each other.

However, based on his deductions alone, Feng Ye connecting Xue Ren back to the black-robed man got him fairly close to the truth.

Now that the other side had begun to take action, he needed to pick up his speed as well. The question now was who would find Jianmu first.

Where exactly was Jianmu?

He would have to ask Ji Chengyue.

When the incense stick Ji Chengyue had lit upon his return finally burned out, the man moved at last.

Rather than light more incense, he reached out and picked up the spirit tablet that was placed on the incense table.

Ji Chengyue sat back on the prayer mat with the spirit tablet in his hands. Gazing at the tablet, he murmured to himself: “Did I make a mistake?”

After much deliberation, Ji Chengyue had finally figured out a few key points regarding Xue Ren’s plan to murder Cao Zirui.

Why would Xue Ren kill his own shidi for no reason? The motives for murder were nothing more than conflicts of interest or hatred.

Xue Ren likely possessed both.

As it happened, Xue Ren hadn’t seemed to like his shidi much when Cao Zirui first joined the sect. This didn’t change for an entire year – he maintained a lukewarm attitude and never initiated conversation.

Ji Chengyue noticed this, but never paid it much mind.

Because he hadn’t liked his shixiong very much at first either, always feeling that the boy was willful and arrogant.

Ji Chengyue even felt frustration and jealousy toward the gap between him and his shixiong, and thus kept his distance from Ling Yun and paid no attention to him.

Just like Xue Ren, he had a dual pair of spiritual roots, and his fellow disciple was a one-in-ten-thousand holder of a single spiritual root.

A century apart, the two pairs of fellow disciples were remarkably similar.

Although Ji Chengyue had initially disliked Ling Yun, as he spent more time with him, he gradually discovered a completely different side to him beneath his arrogant exterior.

What was Ling Yun’s reputation like? It was similar to Cao Zirui’s today – a prodigy, aloof and untouchable.

Even worse, while Cao Zirui only maintained an icy expression, Ling Yun had such an arrogant appearance that he seemed to be looking down on everyone.

It could be said that Ling Yun far surpassed Cao Zirui when it came to attracting hatred.

Cao Zirui was doted on by Ji Chengyue, just like Ling Yun was doted on by their master, Xuanxu-zhenren.

One might expect such a person to be domineering and insufferably arrogant.

This description proved correct: his shixiong was indeed like that most of the time.

He dared to stir up trouble no matter how big a mess it made, and was utterly lawless.

But Ling Yun also possessed a heroic spirit reminiscent of chivalrous heroes in traditional storytelling. He never hesitated to share with others, and would readily lend anything from magic tools to spirit stones to whoever asked for them.

There were just as many people who repaid him as there were those who didn’t. Therefore, despite being the sect leader’s personal disciple, Ling Yun still had to ask Ji Chengyue for money on occasion.

Aside from magic tools and spirit stones, Ling Yun also taught his sword techniques to anyone who asked.

Although he might mock someone for being too slow and clumsy as he taught them, he was earnest and patient in his teaching.

Ji Chengyue never took the initiative to ask Ling Yun to teach him, and continued to give Ling Yun the cold shoulder due to his unspeakable jealousy.

Ling Yun was the one who approached him with the offer, though his disdainful attitude throughout the process was incredibly irritating.

Ji Chengyue did try to fight Ling Yun, but was never able to win.

However, Ling Yun’s Lingxiao Swordsmanship was not fully developed at that time, and Ji Chengyue still managed to bruise up his right cheek. Covering his swollen cheek, Ling Yun ran to Ji Chengyue’s room, not to enact revenge, but instead to…..sew up his clothes with needle and thread.

Ji Chengyue was so shocked that he was unable to keep a straight face. He stared, mouth agape, at this perpetually aloof shixiong who now muttered and griped as he helped him mend the robes that had been torn during the fight.

“There are so many holes in your clothes. How am I supposed to explain this to Shifu?” Ling Yun spoke stridently. “He’ll think I bullied you, but you’re the one who started it. Ai, it’s tough being a shixiong. I have to give way to you, no matter what.”

“Who asked you to give way!” Ji Chengyue grew furious upon hearing this. He knew nothing good could come out of this dog’s mouth!

He immediately started another fight with Ling Yun, and this time, their master arrived in time to witness it. When he questioned the two fellow disciples about what had led to this behavior, Ji Chengyue started to step forward and accept the blame, but Ling Yun unexpectedly preempted him and took all of the blame upon himself.

Subsequently, Ling Yun was punished by their master to kneel for the entire night. Ji Chengyue stood in front of Ling Yun during his punishment and asked with a complicated expression: “Why?”

Ling Yun touched his nose and said matter-of-factly: “You’re my shidi. If the little brother makes a mistake, what can the older brother do but take responsibility?”

He treated Ji Chengyue’s cold indifference as nothing more than a little brother throwing a tantrum, and didn’t take it to heart.

He genuinely considered Ji Chengyue to be his little brother, but Ji Chengyue had never regarded him as a sibling in return.

But Ji Chengyue gradually changed his attitude toward Ling Yun after this incident, and began trying to treat him as an older brother. If he couldn’t treat him like a biological brother, he could at least treat him like one he picked up off the street.

They went through much together after that. For example, when Ji Chengyue lost to a disciple of another sect in a martial arts tournament, Ling Yun came onstage after him and knocked that disciple out of the ring with exactly the same move he had used to defeat Ji Chengyue.

Or when hunting for treasures in some secret realm, Ling Yun abandoned the treasures in favor of saving his shidi.

When Ling Yun underwent the sect leader trial and Ji Chengyue was guarding the last step, he was even able to openly ask Ling Yun to give way to him rather than clinging to his pointless pride.

And he was able to sincerely say, “As always, I’m not as good as Shixiong,” without a single trace of jealousy in his voice. He was genuinely proud of Ling Yun’s achievements.

The position of sect leader rightfully belonged to his shixiong. He himself was inferior.

Hadn’t these two fellow disciples with a bad relationship in the beginning gradually worked things out? Thus, Ji Chengyue thought that Xue Ren and Cao Zirui would do the same.

However, Ling Yun was different from both Cao Zirui and Xue Ren.

Only now did Ji Chengyue realize that he had been too presumptuous.

Not every conflict could be resolved through spending time with one another and gradually adjusting; some conflicts only became sharper and more deadly.

The conflict of interest stemmed from Xue Ren’s desire to become the sect leader, as well as his jealousy over Cao Zirui’s talent and Ji Chengyue’s favoritism toward him this year. These were the roots of his hatred.

These factors had catalyzed and eventually became the situation they were facing today.

Looking back on his own actions over the past year, Ji Chengyue acknowledged that he had been somewhat biased.

But it wasn’t because he disliked Xue Ren. He just…..just…..desperately wanted Cao Zirui to become the next Ling Yun…..

He had served as the sect leader for nearly one hundred years, and although he had managed to preserve Lingxiao Sword Sect, it had remained at the bottom of the rankings for the entire century.

Since its founding, Lingxiao Sword Sect had never been brought so low.

He had already proven through his own experience that his talent was not enough to lead Lingxiao Sword Sect back to its peak. But his shixiong could have done it.

Ling Yun definitely could have done it.

But Ling Yun was dead, so he could only hope that Cao Zirui possessed the same potential as Ling Yun.

Ling Yun had hoped to lead Lingxiao Sword Sect to truly soar to the heavens, and wasn’t this also Ji Chengyue’s wish?

He was too eager, too urgent, to the point that he neglected Xue Ren and focused all of his energy on Cao Zirui in the hopes that he would grow up quickly.

He just wanted to improve Lingxiao Sword sect quickly, so as not to disappoint his master and his shixiong. Had he make a mistake?

Ji Chengyue voiced this question as he gazed at the spirit tablet, hoping to receive a reply from the deceased.

He waited a short while, but there was no response.

Of course there wasn’t.

But upon asking this question, he already knew the answer.

Had he made a mistake?

Yes, he had.

Xue Ren was his disciple, and he was Xue Ren’s master. “A teacher for a day is a father for life; if a child is not taught, the father is at fault.”

Xue Ren had made a big mistake, and it was Ji Chengyue’s fault.

But Xue Ren ultimately failed in his endeavor, so there was still a chance to salvage the situation.

He didn’t expose Xue Ren this time, but he would also not sit idly by and watch Xue Ren continue to make mistakes.

He already had a plan in mind. All he had to do was wait until dawn, at which point he would announce his decision to those who held authority within the sect.

At this moment during the brief interval between dusk and dawn, he touched the name engraved on the spirit tablet and sighed: “If only you were still here…..”

“Shixiong…..” Ji Chengyue called out softly.

Feng Ye opened his eyes slightly where he was hiding under the bed, observing Ji Chengyue’s actions as the man split the overly-heavy spirit tablet in two.

The name Ling Yun was clearly written on a second spirit tablet hidden beneath the first one.

The tablet was made so perfectly that even upon close inspection, he was unable to make out the seam between the two.

Ji Chengyue’s usual attitude was indeed a facade. It wasn’t that he didn’t miss his shixiong, but that he didn’t dare to reminisce about him when others were present. He only dared to hide his shixiong’s spirit tablet behind his master’s and mourn him in secret.

A multitude of thoughts immediately occurred to Feng Ye, along with a sudden realization.

He may have made the mistake of overlooking something that was right under his nose. The most dangerous place could also be the safest. Ji Chengyue likely hadn’t hidden a Jianmu fragment in a secret room or behind a mechanism, but had rather placed it out in the open, in the most conspicuous place.

The spirit tablet engraved with Ling Yun’s name might contain a Jianmu fragment!

Feng Ye was somewhat excited at the thought. After searching for so long, he finally had a clue. He just needed to wait for Ji Chengyue to leave, and then he could investigate the spirit tablet.

Dawn was approaching, and a faint light already shone through the cracks in the door and windows.

There was a thud, as if something had hit a wooden board.

Ji Chengyue’s gaze abruptly shifted toward his bedroom, zeroing in on the bed.

Realizing that he had hit his elbow on the bedboard, Feng Ye tried to quiet his movements – but it was already too late. It was so quiet in here that Ji Chengyue couldn’t possibly have missed that sound.

Feng Ye glared at Hao Chen. He had instinctively pulled his hand back from Hao Chen’s mouth when he felt a warm, wet sensation on his palm, as if it had been lightly licked, only to smack his elbow into the bed. 

Hao Chen wore a look of complete innocence, as if he had done nothing wrong.

Feng Ye wished he could grab Hao Chen by the collar and drag him out for a fight right this moment, but this was no time to settle accounts. It was more important to make a quick escape.

A teleportation array? No, there wasn’t enough time. An illusion array? That might not be fast enough either……Feng Ye quickly brainstormed as he listened to Ji Chengyue’s approaching footsteps.

Hao Chen, completely unaware of what was happening, nudged him and opened his mouth as if to speak.

Before he could say a word, Feng Ye flipped him over and pinned him down, using his weight to keep Hao Chen from moving.

At the same time, he used one hand to cover Hao Chen’s mouth and nose to make sure the fish wouldn’t make any more noise, and used the other to draw an array pattern in the air. Even if there wasn’t enough time, he had to try. He was desperate!

Feng Ye’s heart raced as he stared at Ji Chengyue’s boots, which had already reached the bedside.

He heard the sound of rustling fabric, as if the man was crouching down.

It’s over, Feng Ye thought to himself. He hadn’t finished drawing the illusion array.

Ji Chengyue’s face appeared in front of Feng Ye, but rather than the shock and anger upon finding two people hiding under his bed, he wore a look of puzzlement.

There was clearly nothing under the bed, so what had made that noise?

Rather than moving away immediately, he continued to crouch in front of the bed as he inspected it, and even tentatively reached a hand inside.

Feng Ye and Hao Chen held their breath.

The only thing separating them from Ji Chengyue was a curtain of water.

Before Ji Chengyue crouched down, Hao Chen had finally managed to pull out his fan under Feng Ye’s weight and unleash a curtain of water.

On this side of the curtain, they could clearly see Ji Chengyue.

But all Ji Chengyue could see was an empty space beneath the bed.

However, this hastily-created water curtain was not very reliable, as it was only an illusion. If Ji Chengyue reached forward a little more, he would touch it and find that his hand had become wet inexplicably.

Even a fool would realize that something wasn’t right.

The two of them watched Ji Chengyue’s movements with some tension, his hand groping just in front of the water curtain, just a hair’s breadth away…..

The sound of footsteps outside the door resolved their crisis.

“Sect Leader, Elder Zhou wishes to see you.” A disciple had come to relay a message.

Ji Chengyue paused. With one more glance under the bed to make sure there was actually nothing there, he then withdrew his groping hand.

“Understood,” he replied while straightening his sleeves.

Then he turned to leave the bedroom.

But before leaving, he hesitated for a moment in front of the door, seemingly lost in thought. Abruptly, he returned to the incense table and stuffed the two spirit tablets that had not yet been reconnected into his storage bag. 

The door closed with a creak.

At last, Feng Ye and Hao Chen breathed a sigh of relief. They hadn’t been discovered.

But there was no reason to celebrate, because the spirit tablet that likely contained a Jianmu fragment had been taken away by Ji Chengyue.

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Chapter 81 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 83

Ch. 81 – Unable to Bear It

The furnishings in the room had not shifted since he’d departed. Ji Chengyue entered his bedroom as usual and closed the door.

Having returned home late at night only a shichen before dawn, he should have taken advantage of this time to get some sleep. But Ji Chengyue had no intention of resting, and went to the incense table to light the candlestick.

But as he lit it, he experienced a moment of doubt. Had this candlestick been here when he left?

Why did he remember it being on the desk……

Feng Ye held his breath where he was watching this scene from beneath the bed. Hao Chen, who was lying next to him, did the same. Ji Chengyue had returned so suddenly that they hadn’t had time to put the candlestick back in place. They were only able to hastily hide themselves under the bed.

Presently, they could only hope that Ji Chengyue’s memory wasn’t very good. The two observed Ji Chengyue’s actions nervously.

Fortunately, after a moment of confusion, Ji Chengyue went on to light the candlestick, thinking that he had been too busy recently and forgot.

But that recent business would come to an end tonight.

Ji Chengyue stared at the tablet on the incense table for some time. He picked up a stick of incense, lit it with the help of the candle, and bowed to the spirit tablet. Then he inserted the incense stick emitting white smoke into the incense burner.

The white smoke twisted and turned through the air, emulating his current mood. Ji Chengyue sat cross-legged on the cushion in front of the incense table.

But rather than facing the incense table, he sat with his back to it.

This was not a normal sitting posture, but more like…..he was waiting for someone.

Just as this thought occurred to Feng Ye, footsteps could be heard out in the corridor.

Knock knock. The owner of the footsteps knocked politely upon arriving at Ji Chengyue’s door.

Ji Chengyue’s thoughts were obscure. He looked in the direction of the door, but didn’t answer. Rather than saying “please come in,” or “go away,” he just stared at it.

“Shifu?” the person standing outside called out with some puzzlement.

The voice was not Cao Zirui’s. Cao Zirui often appeared in Feng Ye’s presence these days because of Fang Yang, so he was very familiar with his voice.

Since it wasn’t Cao Zirui calling out for his shifu, then it could only be Xue Ren.

Why had Ji Chengyue called Xue Ren to his rooms so late at night? Was there something that couldn’t wait until daytime? Could it be…..

A guess occurred to Feng Ye, and he continued to observe in silence.

“Come in,” Ji Chengyue said at last.

But he closed his eyes as he spoke, as if he didn’t wish to see the person who opened the door.

Xue Ren carefully closed the door after entering the room, then paced to the opposite side from Ji Chengyue and bowed: “Shifu summoned me so suddenly in the middle of the night. Is there some sort of urgent matter?”

Ji Chengyue did not answer Xue Ren’s question. He spoke only two words: “Kneel down.”

Xue Ren was dumbfounded. He hadn’t yet lowered his hands when he looked up blankly to see Ji Chengyue’s face under the candlelight, looking much more grave than it had during the day.

Ji Chengyue still had his eyes closed, and Xue Ren couldn’t see the emotions within them, but he had a bad feeling just by looking at the man’s frown.

“Kneel down!” Xue Ren had frozen in shock, and Ji Chengyue raised his voice as he sternly commanded him a second time.

The sound brought Xue Ren back to his senses. He quickly lifted his sleeves and touched his knees to the floor, kneeling straight in front of Ji Chengyue.

His eyes flashed and his mind raced.

Although they were master and disciple, Ji Chengyue didn’t really pay much attention to etiquette, and the act of kneeling and bowing was only performed on a few very important occasions. Normally, Xue Ren would just give a simple bow when greeting his master.

But this time, Ji Chengyue had called him to his rooms late at night to talk, and told him to kneel the instant they met. He looked so serious. Could it be about…..that matter?

A bead of cold sweat trickled down Xue Ren’s forehead, and he inwardly dismissed the idea. There was no way to verify that Xue Ren had ordered Lu Chengye to kill Cao Zirui. How could his master possibly know?

He couldn’t afford to lose his composure. Perhaps his master had summoned him for something else…..it was best to test the waters first.

With this in mind, Xue Ren remained kneeling on the floor, head bowed as he asked Ji Chengyue: “This disciple doesn’t know what he did to upset Shifu…..”

“You don’t know? You don’t even have an idea?” When Ji Chengyue finally opened his eyes, they were aflame with a fury that seemed liable to burst forth.

“This disciple doesn’t know.” Compared to Ji Chengyue’s loss of composure, Xue Ren maintained a normal tone, as if his conscience was clear.

However, no matter how he pretended, the cold sweat collecting in his clenched palms betrayed a hint of his inner panic.

“Good! Good! Good!” Ji Chengyue said three times in a row, so angry at Xue Ren’s denial that he was almost incoherent.

Smack. 

Xue Ren’s face jerked to the side slightly under the blow, but he didn’t utter a sound.

Ji Chengyue pointed at the ledger he had just tossed away and questioned: “What did you do with the 100,000 spirit stones you embezzled from the sect a month ago?”

100,000 spirit stones might seem like a lot to a normal person, but for a sect – especially one in the top ten – it was a paltry amount.

Although Ji Chengyue had tasked Xue Ren with managing some of the sect’s affairs, he himself was not entirely clueless when it came to accounting matters.

He simply hadn’t interfered. After all, Xue Ren was his disciple, and he didn’t usually do such things. He was probably just short of money at the moment, so Ji Chengyue didn’t confront him about it.

However…..the night Cao Zirui emerged from the Floating Island Secret Realm, he’d sensed that something was off about Xue Ren’s attitude.

Without explanation, and with evident urgency, Xue Ren had labeled Cao Zirui’s pursuer a demonic cultivator.

What was he so anxious about?

Ji Chengyue had maintained a facade of calmness as he asked after Cao Zirui’s injuries, but in reality, he was keeping a close eye on Xue Ren. And the more he observed him, the more he felt that he was in a very abnormal state.

He had seemed both impatient and nervous.

Although Xue Ren concealed it well, just as Cao Zirui had been raised by Ji Chengyue, so too had Xue Ren.

Ji Chengyue knew Xue Ren extremely well, and his suspicions grew as he noticed the subtle movements that even Xue Ren was unaware he was making.

Cao Zirui had mentioned that an outer disciple named Lu Chengye had hunted them ceaselessly in the jungle, right on their heels like an inescapable ghost. Ji Chengyue’s supposition was thus: the fact that they were unable to shake him off their trail meant that the other party had something with which to track Cao Zirui.

Aside from a few unorthodox methods that relied on scent or similar tracking techniques, the most common involved two connected magic tools capable of pinpointing someone’s location.

When the Floating Island Secret Realm first opened, despite the fact that everyone had been randomly transported from the entrance, Lu Chengye had located Cao Zirui with remarkable accuracy.

Ji Chengyue had been to the Floating Island Secret Realm himself. Tracking someone over such a large island by scent or similar means was virtually impossible, because it was impossible to predict where the target would be transported to.

With the tracking distance so great, scent-tracking and other means would naturally fail.

Therefore, it was most likely that Lu Chengye had utilized a magic tool to determine his location, but this method required there to be two interconnected magic tools. The fact that Lu Chengye was able to track Cao Zirui meant that the latter must be carrying one of the tools as well.

How could an outer disciple who rarely got to see Cao Zirui’s face have an opportunity to plant such a tool on him?

At that moment, Ji Chengyue’s gaze had drifted toward the bell tied to Cao Zirui’s waist. He had also noticed Xue Ren’s attitude toward Cao Zirui. To be honest, Ji Chengyue was quite surprised when Xue Ren suddenly gifted Cao Zirui the bell before he entered the secret realm.

But on the heels of his initial surprise came relief, as well as a sense of pride that after a year of cultivating together, the two sect brothers had finally developed a level of intimacy reminiscent of his own with Ling Yun.

Little did he know that this bell was actually a deadly trap…..Ji Chengyue revealed no suspicion in front of Xue Ren, because he didn’t want to unjustly accuse his disciple, especially of such a vicious crime as trying to murder his shidi.

Thus, he waited until Xue Ren and Fang Yang left, and Cao Zirui was the only one who remained. Then he reached out to examine the bell, and what he found caused his heart to sink even further. This bell was indeed one of a pair of mother and child bells. Although the half connected to this child bell was nowhere to be found, it was easy to guess that it had been left behind in the Floating Island Secret Realm with Lu Chengye.

This bell already implicated Xue Ren in the crime of instructing Lu Chengye to murder Cao Zirui, since it was Xue Ren who had given him the bell.

But Ji Chengyue had refused to believe it. He tried to exonerate Xue Ren in his heart, thinking that perhaps Xue Ren had been unknowingly tricked into obtaining the bell, and had then given it to Cao Zirui.

He attempted to clear Xue Ren’s name, but the deeper his investigation went, the more shaken he became.

In Cao Zirui’s account of his pursuit, there was one other detail: a bow engraved with a dark red totem.

That bow must be of extraordinary origin for a low-level Qi Refining disciple like Lu Chengye to be able to destroy an earth-grade magic weapon with it in a single blow.

Using this bow as a clue to follow, Ji Chengyue expanded his search in all directions. He had been busy with matters in North Sea City these past few days, and today, he finally had results.

This so-called Burning Sky Bow had been sold at an underground auction in Yunzhou a little over a month prior.

Although the Burning Sky Bow was a Heaven-grade magic weapon, it seemed to have fallen into a dormant state for some unknown reason, making it no different than an ordinary bow.

Therefore, the final selling price was a low 200,000 spirit stones, which was practically a bargain for a Heaven-grade magic weapon.

After many twists and turns, Ji Chengyue had finally located the buyer today and completely lost his ability to defend Xue Ren.

The truth was now clear: after obtaining the Burning Sky Bow, Xue Ren had somehow managed to awaken the divine bow from its dormant state. Furthermore, he lent it to Lu Chengye and instructed him to intercept and kill Cao Zirui inside the Floating Island Secret Realm.

Ji Chengyue was fully aware of everything, but didn’t confront his disciple about it directly. Instead, he used the matter of the 100,000 misappropriated spirit stones as a pretext to give Xue Ren a chance to confess.

And after Xue Ren confessed, he would…..

What would he do? In truth, Ji Chengyue didn’t know.

After discovering the truth, he had immediately sent someone to wake Xue Ren and call him to his rooms in a fit of pent-up rage.

But when it actually came to the point of exposing everything, he was somewhat afraid to face it.

Murdering a fellow disciple was a crime so heinous that it wouldn’t be excessive to strip him of his cultivation and expel him from the sect entirely.

But this was Xue Ren, his disciple of twenty years, ah…..

Could he really bring himself to punish Xue Ren in such a way?

After throwing the ledger at Xue Ren’s face, Ji Chengyue shut his eyes once more.

Xue Ren stared at the ledger on the floor, his mind racing. Ji Chengyue had never been a stingy person. It was only 100,000 spirit stones. Even if his master was angry that he had embezzled sect funds, he wouldn’t go so far as to call him over in the middle of the night to scold him. 

Ji Chengyue must have discovered the reason he embezzled those 100,000 spirit stones, and that he had possessed the Burning Sky Bow, which meant…..

Xue Ren had never expected Ji Chengyue to investigate the matter from this angle, because he never imagined that his master would suspect him. He had covered his tracks perfectly!

But dwelling on it now was pointless. He was indeed the buyer of the Burning Sky Bow, so the fact that it was in Lu Chengye’s hands directly implicated him.

However…..this couldn’t be considered conclusive evidence……

Xue Ren instantly concocted a story in his mind. He raised his head from its lowered position and looked directly at Ji Chengyue: “Shifu, it’s true, the Burning Sky Bow in Lu Chengye’s hands was mine.”

Ji Chengyue let out a long breath. The moment he dreaded facing had arrived.

Unexpectedly, Xue Ren changed direction and asked him in turn: “Shifu suspects me? Does he suspect that I gave the Burning Sky Bow to Lu Chengye and ordered him to kill my shidi?”

Ji Chengyue opened his eyes to look at Xue Ren. What did he mean by that? Was Xue Ren really going to try to deny it even in the face of such evidence?

“I was worried that I would be suspected, which was why I never told Shifu that the Burning Sky Bow was mine.” Xue Ren gave a self-deprecating chuckle. “It was indeed mine, but it was stolen the day the Floating Island Secret Realm opened. Shifu, since you found out about the auction, you should know that this Heaven-grade magic weapon is only nominally Heaven-grade. In reality, it’s completely unusable, no different from a piece of firewood.”

“I naturally wouldn’t carry around a magic weapon that takes up so much space, and always kept it in my room. That day, after hearing my shidi recall his ordeal of being hunted, I had a vague feeling that Lu Chengye’s bow sounded a lot like mine.”

“But I thought that was unlikely, because I had clearly put the Burning Sky Bow in my room, so how could it have ended up in Lu Chengye’s hands? So I supposed that it must just be a similar-looking weapon, and didn’t speak up at the time.”

“It wasn’t until we returned to the sect that I went looking for the Burning Sky Bow, and was shocked to find that it was gone. I was deeply disturbed and filled with remorse. It was all my fault that Lu Chengye had managed to obtain such a magic weapon and used it to hunt down my shidi. But I feared that I would be accused by Shifu, and dared not admit it.”

“But in the end, the outcome that I feared most still came about…..” As Xue Ren spoke, his voice began to unconsciously tremble with emotion.

Although his story was entirely fabricated, that last sentence came from the bottom of his heart.

The discovery of his shameful deeds was indeed the outcome he feared most.

His tearfulness was not feigned. Rather, it was during his narration that he fearfully realized the extent of the consequences he might face, and it all burst out under his master’s questioning, along with the grievances he had been nursing throughout the years. 

Why would his master investigate him? This was simply because he had never trusted him.

He didn’t intend to hide this grievance. He knew that his words were only barely plausible, and could not truly prove his innocence. Similarly, there was no conclusive evidence to support Ji Chengyue’s speculations.

Faced with two outcomes, if he wanted Ji Chengyue to choose to believe him, he must truly move his master’s deeply suspicious heart.

Xue Ren, having accompanied Ji Chengyue for over twenty years, was well aware of this.

“Shifu!” Xue Ren shouted abruptly, startling Ji Chengyue.

Before Ji Chengyue could react, Xue Ren slammed his forehead against the floor. Seemingly oblivious to the pain, he relentlessly banged his head onto the stone.

There was a dull thud from the impact, after which Xue Ren remained kneeling. When he raised his head slightly, his brow was covered in blood.

Tears were welling up at the corners of his red, swollen eyes, and threatened to fall.

He murmured to Ji Chengyue: “Shifu doesn’t believe me……”

As he uttered those words, the tears in his eyes finally rolled down his cheeks and dripped to the floor. 

Ji Chengyue watched this scene in silence.

Hao Chen, who had been watching the entire performance from under the bed, couldn’t help but discuss the plot with Feng Ye beside him.

He first poked Feng Ye in the shoulder, and when he turned his head to look at him, Hao Chen mouthed silently: “Do you think Ji Chengyue will believe him?”

But before he could finish his sentence, Feng Ye reached out and covered his mouth.

Hao Chen: “……”

Having silenced Hao Chen with a hand over his mouth, Feng Ye then turned to intently observe the master and disciple in front of him.

After a long silence, Ji Chengyue finally gave a response. He whispered to Xue Ren where he was kneeling and staining the floor with his tears: “Get up.”

It seems he’s chosen to believe Xue Ren, Feng Ye thought.

But when he got a look at Ji Chengyue’s eyes, he discarded this notion.

If Ji Chengyue believed Xue Ren, he would at least feel some guilt for his prior suspicions, but there was only sadness in his eyes.

What saddened him was that after committing such a malicious, shocking act, he still tried every means to exonerate himself and refused to confess.

Although he didn’t know when it had occurred, at some point, the disciple he raised had turned out like this. 

But Ji Chengyue hadn’t exposed Xue Ren’s deceit, mainly because…..

He couldn’t bear to.

---

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Chapter 80 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 82

Ch 19 – Sweet and Dangerous Memories

Yu Xi wanted to learn more about Facai, but neither Kersz nor Tau could accurately explain the system’s specific origins, and it was also unclear if this system possessed an emotion module.

At least Kersz had some prior contact with Facai. Tau, however, had never had the opportunity to interact with it, and only knew that such a system existed.

Neither of them were clear on the situation, and knew even less where Facai’s control center was located.

Kersz felt that all of this seemed a bit too coincidental. How had he ended up right in Yu Xi’s lap after picking a random space jump point? And why was the name of this “Facai” system in the language of the ancient humans?

Had the two of them really never been in contact with each other?

Kersz attempted to subtly probe for details from Yu Xi, but Yu Xi was simply unable to locate anything in his memories.

“Have you really never seen him?” Kersz pressed.

“In any case, he’s not present in my existing memories,” said Yu Xi.

“Existing memories?” asked Kersz.

“A segment of my memory has been erased. I’ve tried many times, but I’ve been unable to restore it.” Yu Xi explained, “I’m not certain of the timeframe of that memory segment, because for me, it was just like falling asleep one day and waking up the next. There was no adjustment period at all. It was only after I discovered that my energy level had dropped significantly that I discovered the gap in my memory.”

Yu Xi typically paid no attention to his energy level. After all, when this energy was first allocated to him, he believed that he was facing eternity.

A road that seemed to have no end.

“Then do you think you might have met him in those missing memories?” Kersz couldn’t shake the feeling that Yu Xi was hiding even bigger secrets.

“I don’t know…..” Yu Xi shook his head. “But I’m certain that I’m the only one capable of erasing my memory.”

He used to frequently delete parts of his memory in order to watch movies and TV shows again as if it was his first time seeing them.

If he had really met this Facai or an existence anything like him, he would have surely been over the moon even if they had done nothing but chat. For Yu Xi, who had been residing on a living corpse of a planet for years on end, it would have come as an incredible surprise.

If Kersz’s conjecture was correct, and Yu Xi had indeed come into contact with Facai directly or indirectly, then why would he have erased those memories?

Yu Xi couldn’t fathom what he must have been thinking. After all, those memories were a blank slate for him.

Kersz noticed a faint greenish glow flicker in Yu Xi’s eyes, only to dim in the next moment.

“What’s wrong?” Kersz asked Yu Xi.

“I…..I feel that I don’t understand myself well enough.” Yu Xi felt a peculiar sense of self-betrayal. Some very interesting memories that might have alleviated his loneliness had been hidden away by his own hand.

Then could it be possible that he had long since experienced some extraordinary events and undergone personal changes himself?

“They probably weren’t very pleasant memories.” Kersz reached out and rested a hand on Yu Xi’s back.

“But every experience is valuable in some way.” Yu Xi felt that this method was too extreme, and that erasing his memory was simply a form of escapism.

“That may be true in principle, but if the ‘me’ of years ago had this ability, I probably wouldn’t have become a space pirate,” said Kersz.

“You want to seal away your memories too?” Yu Xi asked.

“Maybe in the past I would have, but I have no plans to do so now,” Kersz said with a smile.

“Why not?” asked Yu Xi.

Kersz’s heartbeat began to quicken, though he didn’t appear to be angry: “On the day my life was destroyed, I wished I could erase my memories and pretend I knew nothing at all, to just go on living in blissful oblivion.”

“If the sealing of your memories wasn’t an accident, then something must have happened that you absolutely couldn’t bear to deal with.” Kersz didn’t feel that there was any need for Yu Xi to recover those memories.

He could understand how he must have been feeling.

Yu Xi: “…..Do you think I might have broken down?”

“I’m not sure, but I think you should prepare yourself.” Kersz rubbed his hand up and down over Yu Xi’s back. “Sometimes we can’t really tell if what we want is the truth or a lie.”

Yu Xi’s eyes slowly widened, and Kersz patted him on the back.

Yu Xi continued to dwell on this matter all the way up until bedtime.

If he really had erased his own memories, then something must have happened that he was absolutely unable to accept.

Just how severe had that “unacceptable thing” been? Yu Xi didn’t know.

But after Kersz’s warning, Yu Xi began to fear that truth.

After all, he had only just begun to learn how to deal with human malice.

As he ruminated, Yu Xi went to sleep.

He had a dream, and it was one he knew very well – still in the form of a robot vacuum cleaner, he wandered around the house, but this time, the big fat cat didn’t make an appearance.

Yu Xi diligently went back and forth, cleaning the floor. Suddenly, he heard a crash as a glass on the dining table was knocked to the floor. Yu Xi was startled, and spun around to look in that direction.

Standing there were a small calico cat, a large white dog, a crocodile, and a big wild boar.

The dining table stood right next to the window, which they had clearly climbed through to get in.

These little animals were all wearing uniforms, and looked very serious.

“Look! That’s an image of the legendary supreme apes!” As it spoke, the crocodile pointed with a short front limb toward a photograph on a storage cabinet.

Supreme what? Supreme ape?

Yu Xi turned his body to look at the photograph, which bore the image of his household’s masters.

The calico cat exclaimed: “They really do look a lot like us.”

Alike?

Yu Xi disagreed.

“The legends are actually true.” The big white dog wore a solemn expression. “We once lived under the protection of the supreme apes, free from the need to work or worry about the future. The supreme apes would always provide us with food and shelter.”

The big wild boar sighed: “How I wish I had been born in an era where the supreme apes were still around.”

Yu Xi: ……

If the “supreme apes” these creatures brimming with chuunibyou energy were referring to were the humans, living as a pig in human society would have been a bit perilous.

“Oh!!” The calico cat caught sight of Yu Xi. “There’s actually a living being over there!”

A living being? Him? Yu Xi felt that with his round shape, he more closely resembled a manhole cover than he did a living being.

“Hello!” The calico cat jumped down nimbly from the table. “Can you understand what we’re saying?”

Yu Xi felt a bit self-conscious, and wanted to hide behind something to conceal his figure.

His disc-like self inched back slightly, swaying awkwardly from side to side.

“Are you shy?” The big white dog jumped down as well.

“Yu Xi. My name is Yu Xi.” His voice was incredibly faint.

All four animals let out exclamations of surprise at this reply, giving Yu Xi a shock. His first instinct was to flee, but he ended up fleeing no further than behind the coffee table, where he trembled in fear as he cautiously peered out at the four animals.

“I’m sorry, we scared you.” The crocodile scratched its head with its short claws. “We just didn’t expect that we’d share a common language.”

The big wild boar took a couple of steps forward: “Are you a supreme ape?”

Yu Xi: “I’m not…..I’m a robot vacuum cleaner.”

“But you really are similar to a supreme ape,” said the calico cat.

He seemed like a human? Yu Xi felt a little pleased when he heard this.

“Do you know where the supreme apes went?” the big white dog asked him.

Yu Xi didn’t know, but he didn’t say this outright.

With a strange premonition, he turned back to the photograph of the family of three and felt a wave of sadness sweep over him.

Yu Xi said: “They left.”

The four animals looked at him, and Yu Xi felt a little self-conscious under their gazes: “It’s just me here. I’m a robot vacuum cleaner, and I’ve always worked here.”

“You’ve been here all alone?” The big wild boar’s tone was rather gentle.

“En.” Yu Xi swayed back and forth again. He didn’t like this answer, but there really wasn’t a second person here to keep him company.

“Then would you like to come and play with us?!” The big white dog pawed at the floor in excitement. “You can tell us stories about the supreme apes.”

Yu Xi edged closer to the four animals. Then, as if he had suddenly remembered something, he backed a short distance away again.

“Do you want to come play with us?” The crocodile extended a short little paw.

“I – I really want to, but I don’t know if you all will like me,” said Yu Xi.

“I think we’re going to like you very, very much.”

Yu Xi hesitated, but ultimately made his way over to the group of animals at a slow pace.

He awoke from his dream.

Yu Xi opened his eyes, his gaze unfocused.

“Mr. Yu Xi?” Kersz called out from where he was lying nearby.

Yu Xi was given a fright. His pupils suddenly constricted, then dilated again: “Kersz?! You’re awake?”

Kersz gave a hum: “You got some pretty big news today. A human likely wouldn’t sleep well under such circumstances, and I wasn’t sure if the same applied to you.” For this reason, he had been waiting for quite a while.

Yu Xi gave an “oh,” then clutched the blanket tightly. “I had a dream, and it was a little different…..I think my memories might not have been erased completely.”

Kersz didn’t immediately offer a response. He knew that Yu Xi’s momentary pause was because his mind was in turmoil.

“The scene in that dream wasn’t real, but I feel like such an event might have happened.” Yu Xi was somewhat curious, and a little expectant, but more than anything else, he was afraid. 

“Did I mess up a relationship?” Yu Xi asked Kersz uncertainly.

“I doubt it. You have a very good personality,” Kersz reassured him.

Yu Xi looked at Kersz: “Really? But I did mock your pronunciation. I even wanted to capture you and a bunch of other humans and take you back to live on my planet. Plus, I always speak really bluntly, and whenever you’re with me, your heart starts racing…..it’s the same with Tau too…..”

Kersz: “In any case, your feelings are very sincere. Anyone can see it.” Kersz felt that even if Yu Xi managed to anger someone, the prevailing sentiment in their reaction would be a sense of helplessness.

Still, managing to piss off an Illegitimate was actually pretty impressive.

Yu Xi covered the lower half of his face with the blanket.

“Do you want to just delete those memories?” Kersz asked.

“A little bit. I just feel like they contain something I can’t accept,” Yu Xi answered truthfully.

“If worse comes to worst, just pretend like none of it ever happened. You can make a fresh start now,” Kersz said.

“But surely there must be some happy memories during that time. I would only be sad if there was happiness too…..I don’t want to cast aside the people I once cared about – or rather, the small animals.” Yu Xi had a feeling that these small animals were creations of the ancient humans.

Kersz gazed up at the ceiling, which featured a projection of the starry sky.

He didn’t want to forget?

If I were to forget them, would it stop hurting so much?

No, that’s not fair, they did it for me.

They died. In his memory, Kersz slapped his head over and over. Remember! Kersz, they’re dead. You need to imprint them in your mind. They’re gone and they’ll never come back again. You need to remember.

From now on, I won’t be able to talk with them about those boring, trivial things anymore. I won’t be able to say a single word to them. They’re dead.

“Do you think I was very sad?” Yu Xi asked.

Kersz: “I hope not.”

---

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Chapter 18 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 20

Qin Chuan seemed like someone who liked to speak his mind, and it turned out to be true.

Chu Jiubian, who spent his days in the capital navigating all kinds of complicated schemes, found it quite refreshing to encounter such frankness, and spoke straightforwardly as well: “There is indeed something I need you to do.”

It was unknown what Qin Chuan thought about this, but he simply said: “Please give me your orders, High Priest.”

Chu Jiubian was somewhat surprised.

He hadn’t even done anything yet, but Qin Chuan had already agreed to work for him?

Although he was puzzled, he said frankly and without hesitation: “Go to Southern Zhili and verify the characters of these people.”

A piece of paper with over a dozen names written on it appeared on the table, and Qin Chuan picked it up.

The moment he touched the smooth, pristine paper, a faint light flashed in his eyes.

Upon closer inspection, the writing on the paper was small and delicate, and although it had a sharp, precise quality, it was definitely not written with a brush.

Was this what they called a divine artifact?

It was indeed extraordinary.

Showing no outward expression, Qin Chuan casually read through the names one by one, and the more he read, the faster his heart began to beat.

The day before yesterday, he had received a letter from the palace instructing him to personally make a trip to Southern Zhili.

That letter had also included a list of names; Qin Xiao wanted him to go to Southern Zhili and investigate the backgrounds and characters of these people.

Qin Xiao didn’t distrust Wei Yi. It was only that some secrets could only be uncovered by leveraging the connections of people from the jianghu.

The waterway transport matter was of paramount importance, and he needed to ensure that everything proceeded flawlessly.

And the names the High Priest had just given him were, without exception, all on the previous list!

And the task the High Priest had for him was exactly the same as the task given to him by Qin Xiao!

Qin Chuan didn’t believe in coincidences.

His thoughts inevitably turned to Grand Tutor Chu in the capital.

Chu Jiubian definitely knew of Qin Xiao’s plans, so was it possible that the High Priest and Chu Jiubian were…..

Qin Chuan put down the list and looked up at the god: “Why ask me specifically?”

“We were destined to meet,” Chu Jiubian said mysteriously. “And you possess the necessary capabilities.”

“May I ask why you are investigating these people?”

Rather than answer, Chu Jiubian said: “If you succeed, I will grant you a precious item.”

He didn’t yet know what Qin Chuan needed, so he would put off giving him this item for now and simply buy something from the System later.

Chu Jiubian knew he would agree.

Because given Qin Xiao’s personality, in order to ensure that everything was foolproof, he would definitely send someone to investigate in secret in addition to the investigation conducted by Wei Yi. 

And Qin Chuan was the most suitable candidate.

Thus, Chu Jiubian suspected that Qin Chuan had already received this list from Qin Xiao.

Qin Chuan was already planning to investigate this matter, so taking on Chu Jiubian’s task was a highly-profitable deal.

As long as Qin Chuan wasn’t a fool, he was certain to accept this task.

As expected, Qin Chuan said after a moment of silence: “This one will carry out this task on your behalf…..”

Chu Jiubian raised his eyebrows.

He had only said half of what he wanted to say. Was the other party trying to negotiate with him?

Qin Chuan carefully considered his words before continuing: “But I wonder what kind of precious item you’re referring to?”

It sounded like he wanted something from him.

“What do you want?” Chu Jiubian asked with interest.

Qin Chuan detected the keen interest in his tone and couldn’t help but carefully examine the tall, majestic form hidden within the mist.

His specific features were unclear, but it could be vaguely seen that the deity had long, silver-white hair.

Just like Chu Jiubian.

Did all gods look like this, or just Chu Jiubian and the High Priest?

With this sudden shift in thought, Qin Chuan said: “The High Priest possesses supernatural abilities, and the treasures he bestows must be unparalleled in this world. As I travel the jianghu, I inevitably suffer injuries – sometimes serious ones.”

His eyes were bright as he asked: “I wonder if the High Priest could bestow upon me a life-saving elixir?”

Chu Jiubian: “……”

He asked in his mind: “System, does such a thing exist?”

[It does, Host, but you do not have permission to purchase it.]

“Why not?”

[The items Host can purchase in this world can only be things that exist in this world’s past or future. For example, the fine salt you purchased earlier, and other similar items, are things that would naturally appear in this world’s future. When you purchase such an item, you are only accelerating the time of its appearance, not creating something out of nowhere.]

[Life-saving elixirs exist in the world of cultivation, but neither the past nor future of the world you currently inhabit contains any immortal cultivation techniques. Therefore, you are unable to purchase such items.]

Chu Jiubian immediately extracted the key points from this information and asked: “Then if Qin Chuan or any of the other Believers were to be seriously injured, could I use future medical technology to save them?”

[Yes, Host will just need to purchase the relevant books and medications in order to master them. The range of medical skills available for purchase includes those from Host’s former world, as well as those from interstellar worlds hundreds of years in the future.]

The selection was that broad?!

Chu Jiubian was pleasantly surprised.

It seemed he would need to find some time to read through the descriptions of all the medical books in the System Mall so that he could buy them immediately when the need arose.

“What if surgery is required? Is there a sterile environment available?”

[Surgery can be performed in the Divine Realm under special circumstances, but it will cost Host 500 points.]

Five hundred points?!

Although Chu Jiubian’s points were still increasing, they were rising much more slowly than at the outset, and he also had more expenses to cover.

Even now, he had less than a thousand points in his possession.

If he really needed to perform surgery, it wouldn’t just be those five hundred points that he lost. There were still the books and surgical instruments that would have to be purchased…..

In other words, if he agreed to Qin Chuan’s request, he must keep at least six hundred points in reserve to be on the safe side.

Chu Jiubian had a bit of a headache.

Compared to Qin Chuan, the three Believers before him were practically little angels!

However, Qin Chuan had a special status, and Chu Jiubian didn’t expect to win him over easily.

After some thought, he said at last: “Fate is predetermined, and I cannot bring the dead back to life. But if you still have one breath left in you, I will be able to save you.”

Qin Chuan felt a little nervous after asking this question.

Potions of immortality and life-saving elixirs – those were all things invented by daoist priests and storytellers.

But what had he just heard?

The High Priest actually said that if he only had one breath left, he could bring him back to life!

Qin Chuan’s heart was pounding wildly, but he continued to maintain a composed expression. Then, pushing his luck a little, he asked: “What if I want to ask you to save someone other than myself?”

“It can be done. But you will only have one chance,” Chu Jiubian said.

Qin Chuan immediately stood up and knelt deferentially before Chu Jiubian, bowing three times as if he were worshiping at a temple or a daoist shrine.

When he finished bowing his head for the third time and looked up, he found that the scene before him had completely changed.

Gone was the ethereal Divine Realm, gone were the roars of dragons and cries of phoenixes, and gone too was that magnificent, towering figure. All that remained was the intricately carved frame of a bed in a guestroom.

He abruptly sat up and cast his gaze around.

Sure enough, he had returned. 

He took out and lit a tinderbox, and noticed a piece of paper sitting on the bedside table from the corner of his eye. He picked it up and read it.

He didn’t even need to take a close look at the contents; just by touching it, he knew that this was the divine paper he had touched in his dream!

Something from his dream had actually appeared in reality! Incredible!

Qin Chuan folded the piece of paper into a square, then got up and went to the table, where he lit the oil lamp and began to quickly grind ink.

He intended to send word back to the capital and inform Qin Xiao of his meeting with the High Priest. 

As for whether the High Priest had learned of the waterway transport candidates from Chu Jiubian, or simply through his supernatural abilities, Qin Xiao could investigate that himself.

Qin Chuan unfolded some rough, yellowed paper and dipped his brush in ink.

In a dream, I encountered a god and received…..

He had only written the fifth character when he suddenly stopped, his eyes fixed on the words on the paper.

Those characters were slowly beginning to dissolve.

The ink blurred and spread, and very soon, the writing was no longer visible.

His heart skipped a beat. He began to write again, but no matter how carefully he chose his words or how subtly he phrased them, the words on the paper would disappear.

He set aside the ink-stained piece of paper and started on a new page, writing: Is my elder brother well?

He waited when he was done writing, but the words remained unchanged.

After those few words, he tried writing further: I have arrived in Southern Zhili. And I had a dream last night…..

The characters started to melt again, but this time, it only affected everything starting with ‘and I had a dream last night.’

Qin Chuan felt cold sweat break out on his back as he stared at the cluster of ink stains.

He put down his brush and walked to the window, where he pushed it open and took out a whistle. After blowing it only once, he stepped back a few paces and then stood in place.

The whistle was as clear and crisp as a bird’s call, and in just two breaths, a dark figure silently leaped through the window and dipped into a respectful bow.

“Just now, I…..” Qin Chuan could feel the words on the tip of his tongue, but couldn’t manage to say them.

It wasn’t that he had gone mute, but that he was unable to even form the words with his mouth!

His subordinate looked up at him and asked: “What are your orders, Alliance Leader?”

Qin Chuan’s throat bobbed, and he finally said after a few breaths: “Tomorrow, go to the prefectural city of Ruyang and visit the owner of Ruihua Tower. Remember to buy some of her favorite pastries.”

Ruihua Tower was located in Ruyang Prefecture’s capital city, and was the largest brothel in all of Southern Zhili. The owner was Lady Ruihua, who was renowned throughout the jianghu and privy to all sorts of intelligence throughout Southern Zhili.

Naturally, she was also a close friend of Qin Chuan’s.

After receiving the message from Qin Xiao, Qin Chuan had led his people to Southern Zhili. He had just met with some old friends in the city of Suiyuan today, and asked them for help investigating and keeping an eye on several students on the list from the local area.

He was currently staying at a friend’s house, and planned to go to Ruyang Prefecture tomorrow.

His subordinate bowed at once, saying: “This subordinate will obey.”

When his subordinate left, Qin Chuan walked back to the table. The ink on the paper was still there.

He burned both pieces of paper.

The flickering light of the fire reflected in his deep-set eyes.

He was unable to tell anyone about matters relating to the Divine Realm, including his closest relative.

*

*

Inside the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian sat with his legs crossed, resting his chin on one hand as he watched the image displayed on the card screen.

It seemed that Qin Chuan really wouldn’t be able to tell Qin Xiao about what happened inside the Divine Realm.

Chu Jiubian had waited so long before summoning Qin Chuan because he wasn’t confident that he could persuade the man to serve him.

He had hinted to the other party that he had a connection with Chu Jiubian and stood together with him, which by extension meant that the High Priest and Qin Xiao were also on the same side.

Therefore, as long as it didn’t interfere with Qin Xiao’s interests, Qin Chuan would remain a very useful Believer for the High Priest.

But at present, Chu Jiubian had no intention of allowing Qin Xiao to meet his other Believers.

Other than Lu Yao, this superhuman being who needed Qin Chuan’s protection.

Furthermore, Qin Chuan could not reveal Lu Yao’s identity to Qin Xiao at this time. That way, even if Lu Yao were to pass the Imperial Examinations, Qin Xiao wouldn’t know that he was connected to the High Priest.

Onscreen, Qin Chuan had given up on writing the letter, and turned to go to bed.

Chu Jiubian turned off the screen and, as a matter of routine, asked the System: “Is Lu Yao still not sleeping?”

[Yes, Host.]

Chu Jiubian: “…..”

If the System wasn’t so reliable, he would start to think that Lu Yao wasn’t even human. 

However, he also knew that there were varying degrees of difference between people, both in terms of intelligence and physical ability.

Some people simply possessed the ability to remain alert at all times, but it wasn’t that they didn’t sleep at all – they just compressed and broke down their rest time into short, fleeting moments.

In an instant, they could enter a state of extremely deep sleep.

And immediately after, they could regain consciousness with perfect clarity.

For example, after an hour of intense mental activity, they would give themselves a one-minute period of deep sleep, and then drift off to sleep for a second or two every few minutes. After a day of this, they got just enough sleep to meet their body’s requirements, but their health was still harmed on some level.

And Lu Yao was only nineteen years old. He was still very young, and needed to take better care of his health. He shouldn’t squander it in his youth.

Once he summoned this person, he must stipulate that he sleep five to seven hours every night.

Chu Jiubian withdrew from the Divine Realm with a yawn, then rolled over and fell asleep.

There would be much to discuss at tomorrow’s morning court session. 

The rain that had been falling for several days had stopped, and the past few days had been sunny.

Early in the morning, all of the officials gathered outside the palace gates.

The follow-up matters in Hexi Prefecture had mostly been handled, with only a few minor matters remaining. Those could be handled by the newly appointed county magistrate, Han Yuandao.

Hexi Prefecture was currently lacking a Prefect, and Han Yuandao, a mere agricultural official, had suddenly become the highest-ranking authority in the prefecture. It went without saying how much pressure he was under.

Meanwhile, Minister of Works Jian Hongzhuo, who had been stationed there to oversee the work, along with Liu Junqi, the newly-appointed Deputy Minister of Works, had returned to the capital yesterday before the city gates were locked.

Therefore, it was the entire contingent of officials who had arrived this morning.

Everyone exchanged pleasantries, but it was unclear how many of them were genuine.

Minister of Rites Wang Zhiyuan looked over at Xiao Huaiguan – the man seemed to be in considerably better spirits, which he couldn’t help but find somewhat strange.

This old man had previously looked as if he was on the verge of death, but now, he seemed to be getting more energetic by the day. Could he have found some kind of miracle elixir?

Xiao Huaiguan noticed his attention and turned his head to look at him with a smile: “What is Minister Wang looking at me for?”

“Lord Xiao looks even younger now,” Wang Zhiyuan said with a faint smile. “Could it be that because there are no younger Xiao family members left in the Imperial Court, Lord Xiao had to beg the heavens for a few more years of life?”

There were naturally still members of the Xiao family in the Imperial Court, and many of them held positions of the fifth rank or higher.

But without the exceptionally capable Xiao Wendao, Xiao Huaiguan found himself truly isolated, with a dearth of support in the Imperial Court. 

Xiao Huaiguan’s thoughts were unknown. He revealed no anger on the surface, and instead gave a gentle smile: “I naturally cannot compare to Minister Wang, who is enjoying such great success. The entire Imperial Court is practically under the control of your Wang family.”

“Lord Xiao’s words are not quite accurate,” Wang Zhiyuan said with a smile. “The members of my Wang family have always been just and upright, and we solely serve His Majesty.”

“Indeed,” said Xiao Huaiguan. “I had previously heard that the head of the Wang family and his heir were not on good terms, but that must have been a false rumor, right?”

As the saying went, family secrets should not be aired in public. What these powerful families feared most was outsiders accusing them of internal discord, as it would make their family members seem petty and quarrelsome.

It was truly improper for public display.

Suffice it to say that the Wang family, who were known for their attention to etiquette, would consider this a great disgrace.

However, Wang family head Wang Huanzhi insisted on doing things his own way, gradually creating more and more distance between himself and his heir. At present, the two factions within the Wang family were basically at each other’s throats.

Wang Huanzhi was determined to replace Wang Qichen as his heir and install his second son, Wang Wenyao, in his place.

He was able to have such thoughts because the Wang family had always chosen the most outstanding individual from the members of the younger generation to inherit the position of family head.

Even the heir himself could be replaced.

But aside from Wang Pengyi, who held a high official position, there were actually very few outstanding individuals among the younger generations of the Wang family.

However, once someone entered officialdom, they no longer had the energy to spare to handle family affairs. Therefore, the head of a powerful noble family and a high-ranking official in the Imperial Court could never be the same person.

Since Wang Pengyi had already entered the Imperial Court, it was impossible for him to serve as head of the family.

Furthermore, Wang Pengyi was soft-hearted and easily swayed, and was sometimes prone to acting on emotion, so he was decidedly not suitable for the position of family head.

Even within the Imperial Court, he was never able to be as sharp and assertive as Xiao Wendao.

That being said, apart from Wang Pengyi, the Wang family was truly unable to find anyone else suitable to take on the role of family head.

But recently, things had changed.

Wang Qichen had completely reversed his previous spoiled and frivolous demeanor. He actively interacted with his close relatives and wrote many eloquent articles, gradually revealing a brilliance that suited the family heir.

But rather than feeling proud, Wang Huanzhi was furious.

He was like a clueless fool who was determined to fight against his own son, and now this family scandal had become common knowledge among the capital’s elite.

Wang Zhiyuan could barely maintain his smile as he listened to Xiao Huaiguan’s taunts.

“What outsiders see is just baseless rumors and speculations,” he said with faux nonchalance. “The position of Wang family head has always been held by the most capable person, and some harmless discussion and debate is perfectly normal.”

Right as he was speaking, the palace gates began to open.

Wang Zhiyuan felt a sense of relief wash over him.

Xiao Huaiguan glanced over at him, the gentle smile on his lips fading slightly.

The Wang family was currently in a state of turmoil and internal conflict.

But the Xiao family wasn’t in a much better situation.

The head of the Xiao family, Xiao Yao, had damaged his health while attempting to quit mandala, and was still recovering. None of the family’s younger generations were capable of taking over, and with Chu Jiubian keeping a careful eye on the Ministry of Personnel, it would be difficult for Xiao Huaiguan to use his influence to promote Xiao Wendao again.

For now, they could only wait for an opportunity, and try to find a way for Xiao Wendao to perform a meritorious service so that they could promote him legitimately.

But how could Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian possibly give them such an opportunity?

Regarding the marriage between Jiannan-wang and Su Xi’er, Xiao Huaiguan had no good expectations for it from the very beginning. However, Xiao Yao said there was no harm in trying, since his Xiao family and Su Sheng, that loyal official, were already at odds. If it worked out, excellent. If it didn’t, then it didn’t matter if they offended him.

Unable to persuade him, Xiao Huaiguan could only observe with a cold expression.

And the final outcome was exactly as he had expected: the marriage alliance fell through, and the young emperor was given an opportunity to protect his subordinate. He was already so intelligent at such a young age, able to vaguely discern the political situation in the court, and thus, was able to garner the trust and loyalty of a group of loyal officials.

It would be no exaggeration to say that rather than gaining an advantage, they had suffered even greater losses.

Xiao Huaiguan may have claimed that the Wang family was plagued by internal conflict, but in reality, his own Xiao family was the same.

This Minister of Revenue was somewhat estranged from family head Xiao Yao, and there was no true reliance or trust between them.

Even the other members of the family had their own ambitions and schemes.

As a tree grew taller and its branches spread, so too did people’s hearts and minds tend to drift apart.

Xiao Huaiguan let out a slow exhale, then made his way toward Fengtian Hall.

Meanwhile, Minister of Revenue Su Sheng, whom he had just been thinking about, was not having an easy time of it either these days.

Outwardly, he remained a loyal official who was devoted to the emperor, but Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian had already begun to suspect that the emperor was not his true “master.”

After the Imperial banquet, he specifically took the time to review how he could have been exposed.

But no matter how hard he thought, he couldn’t figure it out.

He had considered the possibility that Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian might be harboring suspicions about him without any basis, but he didn’t dare take the gamble.

What if those two actually had some evidence in their hands?

This worry left him unsure of how he had exposed himself and whether he had implicated his backer. Due to this, he had been acting with much more caution lately, and it felt as if he was walking on thin ice.

And then there was Su Xi’er.

His beloved daughter had, in the end, been sent away from the capital.

He harbored resentment against the Xiao family, but there was nothing he could do.

The Xiao family was a powerful and influential entity, and were on a completely different level than the exiled Zhao Qianhe.

Each absorbed with their own thoughts, the officials arrived at Fengtian Hall and were unsurprised to find Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian already there.

The morning court session commenced.

Liu Junqi, the newly-appointed Deputy Minister of Works, stepped forward and spoke of the dam construction in Hexi Prefecture, as well as the post-disaster relief efforts.

The human and material losses from this disaster were enormous, but fortunately, it had finally reached its end.

The common people had already begun rebuilding their homes, but the friends and loved ones they lost would never return.

Subsequently, several other officials came forward to speak of local matters.

For example, there were reports of a significant decrease in silk production in the Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, and the troops on the northwestern frontier had submitted another petition requesting military supplies and provisions.

Almost every report was a complaint about receiving less money despite rising expenses.

Once the majority of these matters had been reported, Chu Jiubian finally raised his eyes to look at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao exchanged a subtle glance with him, then said: “This lord also has something he would like to discuss with all of you gentlemen.”

Only when everyone had given him their attention did he go on: “The day before yesterday, a memorial was received from the southern regions. It stated that the middle section of the canal has silted up, making navigation difficult for merchant ships.”

At the first mention of the canal, Minister of Justice Qiu Heng sensed that something was amiss.

Since the responsibility for waterway transportation had been entrusted to the Qiu family for so many years, no one understood the problems facing the canals more than him. 

Qin Xiao looked at Qiu Heng and said mildly: “The number of merchant ships traveling by canal have increased in recent years, but with lax management, there have been frequent incidents of piracy.”

Qiu Heng’s brow furrowed slightly.

He thought to himself, so this is what it’s really about.

It was true that there were sometimes bandits on the canal, but if they paid enough tribute money to the Qiu family, these merchant ships could fly their official banner, which the bandits wouldn’t dare attack.

As for those who declined to offer tribute money, or whose transported goods did not meet the Qiu family’s approval, they would not receive an official banner.

Bandits could then freely plunder those ships. The stolen goods would be divided between them and the Qiu family, with the Qiu family receiving 60% of the haul.

Over the years, the Qiu family had amassed so much wealth using these methods that it was almost impossible to calculate.

However, neither Emperor Chengzong nor Emperor Yingzong took these matters seriously, especially since the Qiu family paid the most taxes to the Imperial Court each year.

But just because those two foolish emperors didn’t know the truth didn’t mean that Qin Xiao was unaware.

Although the Qiu family paid a hefty sum in taxes each year, the amount they received from the Imperial Court through the waterway transport system was even greater.

They consistently employed the strategy of making small concessions to achieve greater gains.

But now, what were Qin Xiao’s intentions in bringing up the canal?

Did he want the Qiu family to pay more taxes to fill the gaps in the treasury, or did he intend to seize power from the Qiu family directly?

If it was the former, it was simply a matter of losing money to prevent a greater disaster.

But if it was the latter, Qiu Heng dared not imagine how great the losses for the Qiu family would be.

“Minister Qiu,” Qin Xiao addressed the man.

Qiu Heng quickly stepped out of the ranks and gave a respectful bow, saying: “My Lord.”

Qin Xiao said calmly: “During Emperor Wuzong’s reign, you were granted authority to oversee the waterway transport system. Now, more than thirty years have passed, and the money the Qiu family provided to Emperor Wuzong to aid him in conquering the empire has been mostly repaid.”

His words implied that the Qiu family had embezzled a huge amount of money from the waterway transport business.

But this was precisely the truth.

Qiu Heng, however, couldn’t admit to this. He immediately said in a fluster: “This subordinate wouldn’t dare! Having received His Majesty’s favor, the Qiu family has diligently managed the waterway transport system, never daring to slack in our duties or seek any personal gain.”

“Bandits have been rampant around the canals for quite some time now,” Qin Xiao said. “If my memory serves me correctly, this has been the case for at least ten years.”

Qiu Heng pursed his lips tightly, not daring to speak a word.

Qin Xiao continued: “In the past ten years, not only have the bandits not been suppressed – they have even become more rampant. Since your Qiu family is so incompetent, you should no longer be involved in the management of the waterway transport system.”

---

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Chapter 57 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 59

There was silence in the room.

Qin Xiao leaned back against the soft couch’s backrest, trapping Chu Jiubian’s legs between it and his lower back.

Chu Jiubian glanced at his legs, then up at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao was looking back, his expression calm and composed.

“The Qiu family’s last salt transport caravan has yet to return, but since they manage the waterway transport system and their delivery of goods is both fast and convenient, they should be able to bring back a shipment sometime this month,” Qin Xiao said casually.

Chu Jiubian sat up and withdrew his legs, then sat down cross-legged.

“Wine is best when it’s aged, and I don’t have a lot of good wine right now.” Sitting directly opposite Qin Xiao, he asked: “I’ve always wondered – why did the responsibility for waterway transportation fall into the hands of the Qiu family?”

The Great Ning Dynasty had begun constructing canals and waterways during the reign of its founding emperor, and in the late period of the previous dynasty, the Imperial family had spent lavishly and burdened the common people by constructing and opening numerous waterways for transportation.

As a result, the state of Great Ning’s water transport system was undeniably excellent.

The canal system was extensive, and connected the northern regions to the south.

The importance of these canals was evident, as it not only facilitated trade between the north and south, but also allowed for the rapid and large-scale transportation of supplies during wartime.

Why would the Imperial Court delegate such a significant project, and such a potentially lucrative “business,” to a powerful noble family?

“This is due to Elder Qiu Hongkuo of the Qiu family,” Qin Xiao said.

Chu Jiubian knew of this person.

Minister of Justice Qiu Heng and Qiu family head Qiu Xuanzheng were brothers; one served in the Imperial Court, while the other managed the family’s affairs.

But in reality, neither of them was the real decision-maker in the Qiu family.

The one who was truly in charge was their uncle, Qiu Hongkuo.

This man had a disability affecting his legs, so he rarely appeared in public. Chu Jiubian had never seen him with his own eyes.

Qin Xiao said: “During the reign of Emperor Wuzong, the head of the Qiu family was still Qiu Hongkuo’s father, who was also the Minister of Revenue. But by that time, Qiu Hongkuo had grown into a fifteen or sixteen year-old boy, and it would be no exaggeration to call him an exceptional talent.”

This person, however, disliked court life and preferred commerce, so he often traveled with the merchant caravans.

Only after he injured his legs did he shift his focus from the wider world to the affairs of the Imperial Court.

Emperor Wuzong was on the throne at that time, and he spent more than half a year campaigning abroad. The war was a drain on resources, and the Imperial Court was running at a deficit. They simply could not afford to continue fighting.

However, Qiu Hongkuo suggested to his father that the Qiu family should take responsibility for providing supplies to the military.

“It is no exaggeration to say that the Qiu family was wealthy enough to rival a nation. They indeed relieved Emperor Wuzong of his worries, and never made any complaints.” Recalling the old stories his grandfather had told him, Qin Xiao said: “Emperor Wuzong therefore favored and trusted the Qiu family, and even felt some guilt toward them.”

“After retaking the southern regions, he decided to cease military operations for the time being and give the common people the chance to recover and rebuild their lives.”

“And to compensate the Qiu family for the money they spent, Emperor Wuzong specially established a “Waterway Transport Bureau” to manage waterway transportation. He then chose the Minister of Revenue at that time, Qiu Hongkuo’s father, to be the Waterway Commissioner.”

Subsequently, Chengzong and Yingzong successively ascended the throne. Each was more incompetent and useless than the last, and neither bothered to deal with such a “trivial matter.”

It could be said that these two emperors bore undeniable responsibility for the four great families being able to exert complete control over the Imperial Court.

Chu Jiubian said with a frown: “So since then, control over the waterway transport system has remained in the Qiu family’s hands?”

“That’s right.” Qin Xiao nodded. “The current Waterway Commissioner is an elder from the Qiu family known as Qiu Shan.”

The official in charge of waterway transport possessed not only power, but the ability to reap enormous profits.

Currently, the entirety of the waterway transport system was managed by a single authority, and there were no specific taxes or restrictions based on different types of goods or the weight of the cargo. But it could be said that other than providing convenience for official and merchant ships, the canals had no further “profitable ventures.”

Leaving aside the Imperial Court’s official ships for a moment, in order for merchant ships belonging to private businesses to travel safely on the canals, it was absolutely essential to bribe and curry favor with officials from the Waterway Transport Bureau.

This must have involved countless transactions of immeasurable value, so much so that it was impossible to determine the extent of the benefits the Qiu family received from them.

“You want to take back power from the Waterway Transport Bureau?” Chu Jiubian asked.

Qin Xiao wouldn’t bring up the matter of the waterway transport business in casual conversation; he must have a plan in mind.

“Yes,” Qin Xiao answered without hesitation. “Several regions in the north and south suffered from natural disasters this year, so the Imperial Court has exempted them from taxes for a period of three years. Then there are the ships borrowed from Hexi Prefecture and the expenses for the Imperial Examinations and maintaining the army. There isn’t a single aspect that hasn’t required money.”

The Imperial Treasury would indeed earn a considerable amount of silver from the refined salt transport. 

However, there was an interminable list of things that required money, so it was still necessary to find ways to increase income and reduce spending.

Historically, the simplest way to fill the Imperial Treasury had always been through confiscating the property of wealthy individuals. But currently, Qin Xiao had no one he could extort money from, so he could only turn his attention toward the waterway transport system.

If a tax system could be established for the canals, it would undoubtedly be an extremely lucrative business.

But before that, the management of the waterway transport system must be brought under the control of the Imperial Court.

Chu Jiubian was familiar with the Great Ning Dynasty’s waterway transport system, and asked upon hearing this: “What do you intend to do?”

“I intend to manage the canals in sections,” said Qin Xiao.

Chu Jiubian raised his eyebrows: “That’s a good idea.”

The main canal stretched almost the entire length of the country from north to south, but also branched off toward the southwest and southeast, forming a comprehensive and interconnected system of waterways.

Previously, branch offices were established in counties and prefectures that were suitable for the logistics of moving goods, but all of them were under the overall management of the bureau. 

What Qin Xiao intended to do was to transform these branch offices into independent organizations, each responsible for a specific section of the canals.

Each section would be under the jurisdiction of a different branch of the Waterway Transport Bureau, with separate “canal superintendents” appointed for each, thus avoiding one person being in charge of the entire waterway.

At the same time, a Director-General of waterway transport should be appointed in the Imperial Court to oversee the work of these branch offices.

With all of the above, they could strip the Qiu family of their power and return control of the waterway transport system to the Imperial Court.

Furthermore, the Imperial Court would issue decrees requiring merchant ships travelling on different sections of the river to pay different levels of taxes. The process would also involve applying for specific documents, specifying the quantity of goods, the amount of taxes to be paid, when the merchant ships would depart, and when they were expected to return, and so on.

Each of these smaller steps would undoubtedly involve some degree of personal connections and favors, but just as clear water had no fish, it was necessary to allow those below to benefit somewhat in order to ensure that they served the Imperial Court effectively.

As long as things didn’t get too out of hand and the Director-General of the Waterway Transport Bureau didn’t find out, the Imperial Court would turn a blind eye.

And if someone truly overstepped the boundaries, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian could use them as an example to deter others.

“These canal superintendents must be our own people. Where can we find them?” Chu Jiubian asked.

The Imperial Examinations had not yet begun, and the candidates were still on their way. This process would take at least three months, at which point it would be November.

And even after recruiting these people, he would still need to provide further training and personally observe the characters of these students.

Given how lengthy the process would be, it would probably take until after the New Year to finish.

But the Imperial Court was in urgent need of funds, and Qin Xiao’s proposal to reform the waterway transport system would certainly not be able to wait that long.

“I’ve read the list of candidates from Southern Zhili for the Imperial Examinations, and there are quite a few scholars who are already somewhat well-known.” Qin Xiao had clearly thought everything through. “I’ll have Wei Yi carefully screen them again, and then send people to further investigate the backgrounds of those students. If possible, they can be allowed to enter officialdom without having to take the examinations.”

Chu Jiubian’s heart skipped a beat.

Entering officialdom without taking the Imperial Examinations was no small matter.

But other than this method, there didn’t seem to be a better solution available.

Governor-General Wei Yi of Southern Zhili was one of Qin Xiao’s people, and would indeed be able to handle this task well for him.

An idea suddenly occurred to Chu Jiubian.

Wei Yi was certain to thoroughly investigate the backgrounds of these students, but this presented a good opportunity for Chu Jiubian.

He hadn’t dared to use the character card belonging to Qin Chuan, because he didn’t know how to gain the man’s trust, and could only wait for a suitable opportunity.

Now that the opportune moment had arrived, he could summon Qin Chuan and send him to Southern Zhili to help investigate the true characters of those students.

Qin Chuan controlled a large portion of the jianghu and possessed an underground intelligence network, so investigating this matter would be well within his area of expertise.

Most importantly, the other party would definitely know that Qin Xiao had instructed Wei Yi to investigate those students.

Since both the “High Priest” and Qin Xiao were investigating the same matter, and their objective was the same, didn’t that mean that the High Priest might be helping Qin Xiao?

Even so, Qin Chuan might not entirely trust the High Priest.

But with this preconceived notion, whatever happened afterward, he would certainly lean toward thinking that the High Priest and Qin Xiao had the same objectives.

Trust would be built gradually and unknowingly.

Chu Jiubian’s thoughts raced.

Qin Chuan was a valuable asset, but also a dangerous one.

If the time ever came when he was truly forced to confront Qin Xiao, Chu Jiubian would decide whether or not to use Qin Chuan based on the circumstances. But for now, all he needed to do was reveal his existence to the man.

There was also his fifth Believer, Lu Yao, the extraordinary man who “never sleeps and is always busy.”

The person in question was not a well-known scholar. Not only had the four great families and other forces failed to take note of him, but even Qin Xiao only sent one secret guard to protect him.

The difference between him and Tan Yuzhu, who was protected by eight secret guards, was rather significant.

In other words, only Chu Jiubian knew of the other party’s soaring intelligence level, yet he was still unable to make contact with him. This was unacceptable.

Therefore, he planned to have Qin Chuan pay him a visit in person.

It would be best to find another way to get this superhuman being to sleep, so that he could bring him into his Divine Realm.

Chu Jiubian quickly thought everything through. On the surface, he simply appeared to be deep in thought over the matter concerning the waterway transport system, so Qin Xiao was unable to discern anything unusual. 

“What about the Director-General of waterway transport?” Chu Jiubian asked, looking at Qin Xiao again. “That official position should be at least second-rank.”

The position of Director-General of Waterway Transport would be a powerful, high-ranking one, carrying an immense amount of responsibility.

A righteous and upright minister would be needed to fill the role, preferably one who was both loyal and capable.

Ideally, that person should have some kind of background influence or power behind them, which would give them the confidence to stand firm against others and effectively fulfill their supervisory responsibilities.

Without even having to think hard about it, one person immediately came to Chu Jiubian’s mind – they were perfect for the position.

Qin Xiao regarded him with a smile: “Does the Young Master have anyone in mind?”

Their eyes met, and Chu Jiubian knew that they were both on the same page.

“Who has My Lord taken a liking to?” Chu Jiubian asked with a smile.

Qin Xiao said: “ The Censorate already exercises supervisory responsibilities, so it is perfectly reasonable for them to also hold the position of Director-General of Waterway Transport.”

Chu Jiubian nodded: “My thoughts exactly.”

Deputy Censor-in-Chief Qi Zhili was an upright and incorruptible man. And with the support of Jiang Shuoye, General of the Mobei Army, he was truly an excellent candidate.

At the thought of Jiang Shuoye, Chu Jiubian asked Qin Xiao as if by some strange impulse: “What do you think of Jiang Chifeng as a person?”

Qin Xiao thought carefully for a moment, then said: “I’ve never met him before, but I’ve heard that he is a formidable general, possessing both superior martial skills and strategic abilities. He is a born leader.”

“Are you not wary of him?” Chu Jiubian asked again, his eyes fixed on the man before him.

Qin Xiao met his gaze directly and said: “The common people of the northern frontier have not seen war in the past eight years.”

This single sentence revealed his trust in Jiang Shuoye and the Mobei Army.

No matter how powerful the Mobei Army might be, at least for now, the forces under Jiang Shuoye’s command were protecting the common people well, and that was enough.

Chu Jiubian had initially thought he would mention that there were former Qin Family Army commanders in the Mobei Army, and that a general who could exert authority over people like them must be a virtuous and capable general who served the country and its people.

Unexpectedly, what Qin Xiao cared about the most were the common people.

Once again, it came down to the common people.

Chu Jiubian stared at Qin Xiao, trying to detect the slightest hint of insincerity or other emotions in his eyes, but could glean nothing.

There were no signs of “acting” in Qin Xiao’s behavior.

Chu Jiubian was somewhat uncomprehending.

While in Hexi Prefecture, he believed that Qin Xiao genuinely cared about the common people.

But later on, he considered that Qin Xiao was perhaps just putting on a show for him, and that for someone who was designated as the cruel, ruthless villain of the book, power and status were likely what he valued most.

But now, he sensed that Qin Xiao genuinely cared about the common people and was truly dedicated to the country and its citizens…..

Chu Jiubian’s thoughts were somewhat muddled. The ringing in his ears returned, and the piercing noise caused pain in his eardrums and even the veins in his neck.

When Qin Xiao saw the vacant look in his eyes, his heart skipped a beat.

“Chu Jiubian,” he said, and reached out to grip the young man’s left wrist with slight force.

Chu Jiubian gave a slow blink. His pupils refocused.

“You –” Qin Xiao began to speak, but Chu Jiubian interrupted him.

“Guess which ear is ringing.”

Qin Xiao paused, then said: “The right ear?”

Chu Jiubian immediately laughed: “You guessed right! Here’s a reward for you.”

As he spoke, he took out a piece of candy. He leaned forward slightly, and with his free right hand, placed the grape-flavored candy into Qin Xiao’s mouth.

Then, he ate one himself. It was also grape-flavored.

At that moment, they both had the same taste on their lips.

Qin Xiao lightly brushed his tongue over the candy in his mouth, his gaze sweeping subtly across the young man’s smooth, rosy lips.

Chu Jiubian noticed that Qin Xiao’s fingertips were lightly stroking the inside of his wrist.

He lowered his eyes to look, and Qin Xiao followed his gaze.

The other’s inner wrist was smooth and fair. He had gained a small bit of weight due to eating well lately, so rather than feeling bony to the touch, it felt rather soft.

“Your – has your divine power been restored?” Qin Xiao asked.

Chu Jiubian was momentarily taken aback, and then nearly burst into laughter.

How could Qin Xiao still remember that spur-of-the-moment lie?

Seeing his half-smiling expression, Qin Xiao couldn’t control the upward curve of his lips: “What about other places?”

“What?”

Qin Xiao’s gaze fell toward the young man’s chest.

Since it was a day off work, he was wearing pure white robes. The collar was slightly disheveled, revealing the white undergarments beneath.

Qin Xiao still remembered the first time he saw him wearing only his undergarments. Bloodstains had spread across his chest like red plum blossoms, and his slightly gaping collar had revealed several messy scars on his fair skin.

Chu Jiubian lifted a hand to touch his chest. He vaguely recalled something like that happening.

His long lashes fluttered slightly as he looked down and said: “Do you want to see?”

The two exchanged a long glance, then Qin Xiao withdrew his hand and said: “Shall we go for a walk?”

This was a straightforward invitation, and it would be convenient to go to Yangxin Hall for dinner afterward. 

“Okay,” Chu Jiubian agreed.

As the two walked through the palace gate, Qin Xiao raised a question: “Why did you ask me to guess which of your ears was ringing just now?”

“If you guessed correctly, something good would happen,” Chu Jiubian said.

With a strong, sweet taste lingering in his mouth, Qin Xiao said in a low voice: “Indeed.”

*

*

That night, Chu Jiubian once again summoned Jiang Shuoye into the Divine Realm.

The other party was now quite familiar with this process, and this time, instead of jumping down on his own, he finally boarded the “express train.”

The last time he entered the Divine Realm, he had seen Wang Qichen arrive on an actual golden phoenix.

Although Wang Qichen wasn’t exactly a martial artist, he did possess some qinggong ability and wouldn’t be injured by jumping down from a height.

So that golden phoenix was originally meant to transport Believers…..and by jumping down directly the first time, he had missed out on it for so long.

Jiang Shuoye dismounted from the golden phoenix and bowed to the High Priest.

Chu Jiubian responded coolly: “Have a seat.”

Jiang Shuoye agreed and went to the table, where he noticed that the chair to the left of where he had sat last time had changed.

It was pale purple, with swaying flower branches.

Chu Jiubian had already determined much of this person’s personality and preferences, so when he walked to his seat, an idea suddenly struck him.

Just as Jiang Shuoye was about to sit down, he noticed that the chair in front of him was also changing.

A hint of emerald green appeared on the white jade surface, followed by a carved jade pine tree that materialized on the backrest of the chair, standing tall and verdant.

Jiang Shuoye’s eyes lit up slightly, and he lightly touched the pine tree. Its smooth, jade-like texture blended seamlessly with the seat, a masterpiece of craftsmanship.

It truly lived up to the name of a divine artifact.

Fearing that he would delay the High Priest’s important business, he didn’t linger to admire it further, but instead took his seat. After a moment or two, he looked up and asked: “The High Priest summoned me here. Does he have any instructions?”

“This is a gift for you. Take it and put it toward steel production.” When Chu Jiubian finished speaking, three large boxes, all filled to the brim with silver, appeared on the table in front of Jiang Shuoye.

Jiang Shuoye had been scrimping and saving for many years, and when so much money suddenly appeared in front of him, he almost couldn’t believe his eyes.

When he regained his composure, he quickly stood up and expressed his gratitude.

Chu Jiubian said nothing more, just waiting for Jiang Shuoye to ask.

But the other party didn’t ask after the silver’s origins. He picked up one of the coins and examined it, saying with some concern: “High Priest, this is all official government money.”

“En.”

“To be honest with the High Priest,” Jiang Shuoye said, “since your name has become known across the Northern Desert, people have been coming to inquire about you, but they haven’t discovered any clues. However, if this official money is put to use, it might bring trouble to your door.”

There were some differences between the official government-issued silver and the silver that circulated amongst the general public.

The general public silver could be cut into pieces of varying sizes, or it could be kept in its original form. However, official government silver was primarily used for transactions related to businesses managed by the Imperial Court.

For example, salt and iron transactions used official currency, and the majority of the gold and silver stored in the treasuries of the four great families was official currency as well.

Such a large amount of government funds being spent would inevitably raise suspicions.

Chu Jiubian, however, didn’t seem to care. He said: “It won’t be a problem.”

Anyone who wished to investigate could go right ahead. His biggest worry before had been that Qin Xiao would discover his relationship with the High Priest, but he didn’t really care if anyone else found out.

After all, the High Priest’s purpose in gathering Believers was not to confront other forces, but to be able to oppose Qin Xiao if necessary. 

But the political situation in the capital was currently in chaos, and Qin Xiao had never given up on investigating his connection with the High Priest. Therefore, Chu Jiubian decided to stop playing innocent and simply allow Qin Xiao to discover that they were indeed connected.

However, he could not be allowed to know that they were the same person.

“If anyone asks, it is fine to reveal some details of my relationship with the Divine Lord,” Chu Jiubian said.

Jiang Shuoye lowered his eyes and nodded in agreement.

The High Priest had previously mentioned his relationship with Grand Tutor Chu in the capital, describing it as one of mutual dependence and coexistence.

These silver coins, it seemed, had been given to the High Priest by Grand Tutor Chu.

“High Priest, this subordinate has another question.”

“What is it?”

Jiang Shuoye looked up at the towering, ethereal image of the god and said solemnly: “Does this subordinate need to recruit more soldiers?”

Chu Jiubian raised an eyebrow, his eyes glinting with a hint of appreciation.

He hadn’t even said much, just giving him the task of producing extra steel and revealing his relationship with “Grand Tutor Chu,” yet Jiang Shuoye had already guessed what would happen next.

To become the general of an army at such a young age, he was certainly not a simple person.

“There is no need for the time being,” Chu Jiubian replied.

That was something that might need to be handled at some point in the future.

Jiang Shuoye understood. He received his orders, then departed from the Divine Realm.

*
*

Several more days passed.

August 23rd, in the western courtyard of Yangxin Hall.

The weather had cleared up after the past few days of rain, and the moon shone very brightly tonight. Even without lighting an oil lamp, one could still make out the furnishings in the room with the window open.

It was late at night.

Qin Xiao stood at the window, gazing out at the distant silver moon.

A few steps behind him, Qin Chaoyang reported: “My Lord, news has arrived from the Northern Desert region.”

His tone was somewhat cautious as he looked at Qin Xiao’s back: “The official silver you gave the Young Master did indeed appear in the Northern Desert, originating from General Chifeng.”

This incident provided sufficient proof that Chu Jiubian did indeed have a connection to the Northern Desert.

His connection with that mysterious “High Priest” was even more complicated – it was even possible that the Young Master himself was the High Priest.

Qin Chaoyang felt cold sweat drip down his back. He was utterly terrified.

The capital was several days’ journey from the northern frontier, and the Young Master had not left the capital during this period, nor had he made contact with anyone unknown to them.

Therefore, it was impossible for Chu Jiubian to have sent someone to deliver the silver to the Northern Desert.

The fact that this silver had inexplicably ended up in the Northern Desert, coupled with the earlier incidents where Chu Jiubian seemingly conjured grain out of thin air for Hexi Prefecture and Nanjiang, left Qin Chaoyang in a state of complete astonishment.

Supernatural powers!

The Young Master was actually a god!

In the quietness of the room, Qin Xiao remained silent.

Qin Chaoyang glanced up to see him standing at the window, his figure silhouetted by the moonlight in a way that created a sharp contrast with the dimness of the room. It made him look particularly lonely. 

Qin Xiao gazed into the distance.

Toward that distant, unattainable silver moon.

*

*

Meanwhile, at Yaotai Residence.

Chu Jiubian lay down in bed and closed his eyes, then entered the Divine Realm.

News had just arrived from Southern Zhili that Wei Yi had selected over a dozen students who were suitable for managing matters related to the waterway transport, and he was currently evaluating each of their characters. 

Since there were now suitable people available, Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian should bring up the matter of reorganizing the waterway transportation system at tomorrow’s morning court session.

At last, Chu Jiubian was able to summon his fourth Believer.

He wasted no time upon his arrival in the Divine Realm, and immediately said: “System, summon Qin Chuan.”

[It has been detected that Believer Qin Chuan is in a sleeping state and may be summoned.]

[Summoning successful.]

Chu Jiubian raised his eyes and gazed into the mist.

A dark figure descended from the sky.

That person was agile, and reacted instantly to the feeling of weightlessness, pushing off empty air with his toes and landing safely a moment later.

His light, agile movements suggested that his martial arts skills, qinggong in particular, were even better than Jiang Shuoye’s.

With his ability to see everything within the Divine Realm, Chu Jiubian could naturally see the other’s face…..

Which bore a striking resemblance to Qin Xiao’s!

As expected of brothers, although they looked alike, their personalities were completely different.

Qin Xiao was more reserved and melancholic, occasionally even displaying a hint of sinister intent, but Qin Chuan had a more relaxed demeanor and a carefree, uninhibited temperament.

Previously, his three other Believers had each reacted differently.

Qin Chuan seemed like an easily adaptable person. Even when he abruptly appeared in the Divine Realm, he showed no signs of wariness, and his demeanor remained completely at ease.

Noticing movement ahead, he proceeded to walk slowly and leisurely. Anyone watching would think he was just out for a casual stroll.

The reactions of his Believers were all quite interesting, and Chu Jiubian found them rather amusing.

Qin Chuan emerged from the mist step by step and approached the long white table.

Chu Jiubian didn’t want him to know how many Believers he had, so he’d put away all of the other chairs, leaving only one that was devoid of decorative carvings.

The current scene should be the same as when Jiang Shuoye first entered the Divine Realm.

Qin Chuan glanced around at his surroundings, then looked up at the giant, ethereal figure of the deity, his eyes narrowing slightly.

Was this a dream?

“Welcome to my Divine Realm,” Chu Jiubian said in a cold, clear voice.

Divine Realm?

Recently, two famous “deities” had appeared in Great Ning.

One was Grand Tutor Chu of the Imperial Palace, the reincarnation of the Sacred Star God. The other was the High Priest, who had appeared in Jiang Shuoye’s dreams to impart knowledge to him.

And the person before him was naturally – Qin Chuan’s heart stirred. He straightened his expression and bowed respectfully to the illusory figure: “Qin Chuan greets the High Priest.”

It came as no surprise to Chu Jiubian that he was able to guess his identity.

“Have a seat,” he said.

As expected, he was right.

An odd glint flashed through Qin Chuan’s eyes. After expressing his gratitude, he made his way over to the chair and sat down.

He placed his hands on the long table and felt to trace of man-made carvings, yet the table was undeniably inscribed with numerous runes or totems.

It was rumored that Jiang Shuoye had received instructions from the High Priest in a dream, and thus obtained the knowledge of how to create stirrups and saddles.

Why had the High Priest sought him out now?

And what was the relationship between the High Priest and Grand Tutor Chu?

He simply asked his question directly.

“May I ask why the High Priest has appeared in my dreams?”

---

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Chapter 56 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 58

T/N: These extra chapters are for ♪(๑ᴖ◡ᴖ๑)♪. Thank you for the Kofi donation!

Sorry for the wait, everyone. Had a minor surgery (a bigger one coming up in a month or two, ugh), and I haven’t looked at my computer in a week. Doing good now though!

---

Due to the flooding incident, the Xiao family had lost control of both Hexi Prefecture and the position of Deputy Minister of Works. Jiannan-wang was subsequently put under house arrest, and Fan Ze, the magistrate of Guizhou, died in prison.

It was one thing after another. While it wouldn’t be accurate to say that they were completely devastated, their power had clearly weakened and they urgently needed to expand their influence in the Imperial Court.

There were some elders who suggested that a few recently-matured daughters in the family should be married off to the households of officials of the third rank or higher.

The direct descendents of these prominent families either married within the family or among their disciples, or directly married into the Imperial family. However, there were no such restrictions on members of the family’s collateral branches.

Such relationships allowed families to band together and stand united when their interests aligned, maintaining a more secure position within the Imperial Court.

And when there was a conflict of interest, there was no need to fear severing ties with these collateral branches. 

However, almost all of the officials in the Imperial Court above the third rank currently had intricate connections with the four great noble families.

These elders proposing such a marriage alliance would not solve the Xiao family’s current predicament.

After all, these high-ranking officials already had their allegiances, so how could they possibly abandon the powerful connections they had relied on before just because they married a girl from the Xiao family? 

Therefore, if the Xiao family wanted to gain influence, they could only focus their effort on those “loyal officials.”

There were very few truly loyal officials in the Imperial Court. After much deliberation, it was the family head, Xiao Yao, who ultimately spoke up and suggested that Jiannan-wang marry Su Sheng’s youngest daughter.

Everyone in the capital knew how much Su Sheng cherished his youngest daughter.

He surely hoped his daughter would marry well, so when rumors circulated in the capital about Su Xi’er marrying An Wuji, nobody was surprised.

However, after what happened on the day of the auction, Su Xi’er and An Wuji’s marriage was completely out of the question.

Su Xi’er was now sixteen years old, the age when she should be considering marriage. If Jiannan-wang were to marry her as his princess, then both the prince himself and the Xiao family would gain a powerful ally in Su Sheng, and the Xiao family would gain even more influence than before.

Of course, Xiao Yao would have never risked making this decision before.

But now that the capital was in chaos, there was no harm in resorting to drastic measures.

When the Empress Dowager received Xiao Yao’s message, deep down, she was actually displeased.

The current situation in the capital was turbulent, and as a loyal official, Su Sheng had a natural connection to the emperor. Even if Su Xi’er married Jiannan-wang, Su Sheng would never wholeheartedly support the Xiao family.

But after seeing the way Jiannan-wang had looked at Chu Jiubian just now, Xiao Ruohan could no longer sit still.

Compared to being deceived and manipulated by Chu Jiubian, marrying Su Xi’er was absolutely the right decision for Jiannan-wang.

If the Empress Dowager publicly bestowed a marriage upon them at the Mid-Autumn Festival banquet, no one but the emperor had the authority to object.

And even the emperor himself couldn’t just refuse outright; if news of discord within the Imperial family were to spread, the fact that the Empress Dowager and the Emperor were at odds would not be a good thing for Bai Lihong.

Xiao Ruohan smiled gently at Su Xi’er, who stood in the middle of the hall with her eyes downcast.

She was indeed a beautiful girl, and her temperament and virtue were impeccable. There were very few young ladies in the capital who could compare to her in quality.

Therefore, the more Xiao Ruohan looked at her, the more her satisfaction grew. She couldn’t help but cast a glance at Bai Lihai, who was sitting beside her.

The young man was wearing a mild expression. He had experienced a moment of surprise upon hearing about the marriage arrangement, but quickly composed himself and sat there obediently, revealing no signs of displeasure or resistance.

Xiao Ruohan’s smile deepened.

Under the stares of countless pairs of eyes, Su Xi’er had grown deathly pale.

How could it be like this?

She had simply performed a talent act like the other girls, so how had she ended up being betrothed?

She had never met Jiannan-wang, but she had heard that his incompetence had led to the flooding in Hexi Prefecture, resulting in the deaths of a great many common people.

He was also closely connected to the Xiao family, so if she were to marry him, wouldn’t she be forcing her father to take sides?

For a brief moment, she was in a trance. It was as if she had returned to that horrifying auction, to the day Zhao Xi died.

At the end of that brief suicide note, it had read: 

I was powerless to resist being dragged into the game and pushed forward.

Su Xi’er hadn’t understood, and had been holding resentment in her heart over Zhao Xi’s actions.

Only at this moment did she truly empathize with the other girl and understand the helplessness and pain she had felt at that time.

In this game of chess, no one could remain completely detached from it. Sooner or later, they would be drawn into this swirling vortex of madness, powerless to escape.

I ask that you take care of yourself and stay away from the capital. Do not follow in my footsteps.

This was the last sentence of Zhao Xi’s suicide note.

Su Nian’er had also said: “I wish you would leave the capital.”

But Su Xi’er had no intention of leaving, and only wished to remain with her family. She no longer even dreamed of marrying the man she loved; all she wanted was to pass the Imperial Examinations, enter the Imperial Academy, and become a female official serving the country.

But now, she finally realized that staying in the capital may not have been a wise decision.

She looked up toward the front and saw her father’s tall and imposing figure, like a towering mountain, always standing firm in front of her and their family, sheltering them from the wind and rain.

This was where she differed from Zhao Xi.

Zhao Xi’s father, despite being a high official of the second rank, was helpless to protect her and even used her as a pawn in his schemes.

But Su Sheng was different – he was an excellent father.

And as a high official of the first rank, he would definitely be able to protect his daughter.

Su Xi’er felt a sense of calm settle over her, yet at the same time, it felt as if something was burning inside her.

She didn’t want to hide behind her father. She wanted to stand alongside him, to become her father’s pride and someone to lean on!

From his high vantage point, Su Sheng’s eyes carried a chilling coldness.

He maintained his bow, the veins on his forehead bulging.

The Xiao family had actually set their sights on his daughter – what a wicked and malicious scheme!

Chu Jiubian narrowed his eyes slightly, his gaze fixed on Su Sheng.

Qin Xiao was also watching this “loyal Minister of Revenue.”

They didn’t hurry to tell Bai Lihong to speak up and defend Su Xi’er, mainly because they wanted to see how Su Sheng would react.

Behind him stood an unknown vassal king, and if the Emperor didn’t speak up during the current situation, Su Sheng might have to rely on this powerful connection to save Su Xi’er.

Alternatively, he might abandon his daughter and continue to conceal the existence of his backer.

Lord Su, this renowned loyal official in the capital…..what choice would he make?

At this moment, Su Sheng neither agreed nor disagreed. He was waiting.

He was waiting for Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian’s response. On the surface, he was a loyal official who always upheld the Emperor’s rule, so the Emperor should naturally come to his aid when he encountered difficulties.

Otherwise, the other remaining loyal officials in the court would become disheartened.

I worked for you and you wouldn’t protect me and my family. A wise bird chooses its tree; why shouldn’t I seek shelter elsewhere?

Therefore, although Su Sheng was angry, he was not panicked.

Right now, it all came down to who could remain the most calm and composed.

The hall was eerily quiet. Bai Lihong had long since put down his chopsticks, no longer munching on the small cake on the table.

He swept his gaze over everyone, his small head working hard to process everything. He only had a vague grasp of what was happening, but couldn’t put it all together or understand the implications of the events unfolding before him, let alone comprehend what these people were thinking. 

One breath, two breaths…..

After an unknown amount of time, a voice finally echoed throughout the hall: “Could it be that Minister Su is simply overcome with joy? Is that why he has forgotten how to express his gratitude?”

The subtle, almost imperceptible gazes directed toward him immediately swung toward the source of the voice.

Bai Lihai rose from his seat with a smile on his face, walking over to take Su Sheng’s arm. “There is no need for formalities, My Lord. It is truly my great fortune to be able to marry your daughter.”

Su Sheng glanced at Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian from the corner of his eye. The two of them remained completely unmoved, as if they had no intention of helping him refuse this marriage proposal.

How could this be happening?

Could it be that they already knew there was another force behind him?

But how was that possible?

He had always been cautious and prudent, and was confident that he had never given anything away.

But if they didn’t know, then why were these two standing by and doing nothing while he faced ruin?

Su Sheng’s heart sank. It suddenly felt as if he was left with only two options.

One path was to protect his daughter but expose his backer; the other path was to abandon his daughter and use her to protect his backer, and thus the entire Su family. 

Between one daughter and the entire Su family, there seemed to be no need to even consider the options.

But…..

Su Sheng’s breathing was heavy, and his eyes stung.

His lips trembled slightly, and when he spoke, his voice was hoarse beyond belief: “Your Highness is too kind…..”

Just as he was about to say more, a clear, childish voice sounded from the main seat: “Jiannan-wang, please stop joking around.”

In an instant, Su Sheng’s legs went weak and he almost collapsed to his knees.

His clothes were soaked through with cold sweat, and the feeling of having narrowly escaped doom left him with a mixture of relief and profound unease.

The Emperor had finally spoken.

But Su Sheng knew that he had once again incurred a debt of gratitude to both Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

And at the same time, he became certain that these two had discovered his connection to another force.

There was no concrete evidence, so they decided to play along and test him. He just wasn’t sure whether or not he had passed their test.

Would there be more attempts like this to sound him out?

At last, Su Sheng straightened up again, his back firm.

Bai Lihai turned to look at Bai Lihong, his smile unchanged: “Your Majesty, this subject is not joking.”

The interruption of Su Sheng’s words just now had been orchestrated by Hong Fu, who had covertly passed instructions to Bai Lihong after receiving a signal from Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

He had only been given this one sentence to say, and now, facing Bai Lihai, the child didn’t know what to say next.

Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian exchanged glances. Just as they were about to speak up, the child raised his voice again.

“The late Emperor and Empress have just recently passed away.” Bai Lihong had a pair of large, round, bright eyes, so clear and unsullied that they seemed untouched by any sort of impurity. “Jiannan-wang hasn’t even come of age yet, but he can’t wait for the three-year mourning period to be over?”

The child’s voice was pure and innocent, and his question was asked with genuine sincerity.

He had heard from Jiujiu that after the death of one’s parent, children were supposed to observe a period of mourning.

During the mourning period, it was best to avoid eating meat or fish, holding elaborate banquets, or discussing marriage arrangements.

Only if that parent or elder left behind a “dying wish” that their child marry could they do so during the mourning period, and thus earn a reputation for “exemplary filial piety.”

Rules should be applied based on the circumstances – and the Imperial family’s circumstances were unique. Various important banquets were still required to be held, and children like Bai Lihong shouldn’t be completely deprived of meat and other rich foods, lest they suffer from malnutrition.

However, Jiannan-wang was the son of the late emperor, and the late empress was nominally his stepmother. And now, only three months after their deaths, he was already thinking about marriage.

This was wrong.

Bai Lihong’s question directly hit the nail on the head, and the entire hall fell silent.

The child could sense the strange atmosphere, and instinctively looked toward Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

Seeing that the two of them were still calm and composed, he immediately puffed out his chest, knowing that he was right.

From the moment Xiao Ruohan proposed the marriage arrangement to when Bai Lihong posed this question, all anyone saw was Hong Fu briefly whispering something in the Emperor’s ear.

In such a brief moment, he had likely only been told to interrupt Su Sheng before he could finish speaking.

Therefore, Bai Lihong must truly be improvising.

The officials sitting nearby were all experienced and shrewd, and their hearts sank when they realized this fact. 

Dozens of gazes fell upon Bai Lihong, then Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, followed by Eunuch Hong, who was perpetually at Bai Lihong’s side.

These three lords alone were each more difficult to deal with than the last.

But now, they had discovered that this young emperor was no ordinary child.

However, upon further reflection, everyone understood. Bai Lihong, who had the blood of the Qin family flowing in his veins, having inherited the legacy of Grand Marshal Qin and having been taught by figures such as Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, could by no means be an ordinary person.

All at once, everyone felt as if they were under immense pressure.

The mountain pressing down on them seemed to be growing ever more heavy and looming.

Looking into the child’s bright eyes, Bai Lihai maintained his gentle demeanor as he explained: “Your Majesty, this subject isn’t getting married immediately, just engaged.”

Bai Lihong looked toward Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, blinking his big, innocent eyes.

This was a cry for help; the child didn’t know what to do next.

Chu Jiubian’s lips curved into a smile, and he lowered his gaze, taking a sip of wine.

Qin Xiao leaned back in his seat and said: “Marriage requires mutual consent and involves formal proceedings such as a matchmaker and betrothal gifts. Jiannan-wang must observe three years of mourning, but does that mean he must leave a young lady waiting for three years?”

Bai Lihai turned his head to look at him: “Miss Su is only sixteen years old. Even three years from now, she will be in the prime of her youth, the perfect age for marriage.”

“If there is a genuine intention to marry, then even without a formal engagement, the girl will wait for you for three years.” Qin Xiao didn’t give him even a little face. “If there is no intention to marry, then the prince is using coercive business practices.”

The Xiao family was known for their coercive and unfair business practices, but while everyone was aware of this, they wouldn’t dare say it out loud.

But not only did Qin Xiao say it, he even went on to explain it more clearly: “This sort of reputation must not be spread. We don’t want people saying that our Great Ning’s Imperial family uses its power to bully others.”

A shrewd man, Su Sheng immediately played along and said: “Lord Ning-wang is exaggerating. I believe that both Jiannan-wang and the Empress Dowager mean well, but my daughter is mischievous and unworthy of such affection and esteem. Therefore, this marriage arrangement is indeed unsuitable. Please don’t allow that girl of mine to cause any trouble or bring shame to the prince’s reputation.”

Now that things had been made so clear, if the Xiao family still insisted on pursuing the marriage, it would certainly be a case of force and coercion.

Xiao Ruohan exchanged a glance with Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan, who had remained silent throughout this process. Then she smiled and said: “Alright, alright. I just took a liking to the Su family girl, and in a moment of impulse, I caused all of this trouble.”

“Since things are like this, I won’t speak of this marriage further,” she said. “However, Miss Su has indeed caught my eye. When she has some free time, she can come to the palace to keep me company and talk.”

Su Sheng quickly bowed in agreement.

Su Xi’er, who had been standing below the platform this entire time, bowed along with her father. Her posture was graceful, and although her face was somewhat pallid, she appeared calm and composed.

She is someone who can keep herself together, everyone thought.

Since Xiao Ruohan had spoken, Bai Lihai couldn’t possibly keep pressuring Su Xi’er as if he was desperate to marry.

Everyone returned to their seats, and as the banquet continued, other young women rose one after another to perform.

Perhaps having been frightened by what happened, they all made rather poor showings.

Sitting in her seat, Su Xi’er belatedly realized that her back was drenched in cold sweat. Madam Su sitting in front of her had her trembling hands clasped together, and her face was even more ashen than Su Xi’er’s.

It was evident that she was terrified.

Su Xi’er felt a pang of sympathy, but there was no comfort she could offer in this situation.

Apart from this minor incident, the palace Mid-Autumn Festival banquet proceeded rather smoothly.

When the banquet ended and they returned home, Madam Su immediately took her daughter’s hand and led her into her courtyard, then instructed the servants to begin packing her belongings.

“Mother, what are you doing?” Su Xi’er asked anxiously.

Madam Su gripped her hand tightly. Her eyes were red-rimmed, and her voice was choked with emotion as she said: “Take all of your belongings and leave at the break of dawn for your maternal grandparents’ house in Suzhou. I’ll write a letter to your grandmother. Stay there from now on, and do not come back to the capital!”

The events of today had terrified her.

Although Jiannan-wang was known for his virtuous reputation, she had heard from Su Sheng that this prince was definitely not as gentle as he appeared on the surface.

She was ignorant of the intricacies of officialdom, and didn’t care about the power struggles between the major families. She simply didn’t want her daughter to marry someone as two-faced as Jiannan-wang.

She also didn’t want her daughter to become involved in the turbulent affairs in the capital.

Therefore, making her leave was the best option!

“Mother, I’m not leaving!” Tears immediately welled up in Su Xi’er’s eyes and flowed down her face. “I want to stay, I want to be with you all!”

“Dear child, you must listen to your mother this time,” Madam Su said firmly.

She knew that Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan would inevitably find an opportunity to bring Xi’er into the palace in the future; that woman hadn’t given up scheming against her daughter!

Su Xi’er burst into tears and threw herself, sobbing, into her mother’s arms: “I won’t leave. Mother, I won’t leave!”

After leaving the palace, Su Sheng spent some time exchanging pleasantries with other officials before heading home. Upon arriving, he went directly to his daughter’s courtyard.

When he caught sight of the servants busily packing luggage, he paused for a moment before making his way into the inner chamber, where he found the mother and daughter sitting together, both wiping away tears.

“Father.” Su Xi’er rose and bowed.

Su Sheng quickly waved his hand and told her to straighten up, then went and sat down beside her.

But then he just looked at his daughter, unable to bring himself to speak.

Madam Su choked back her tears and fought a losing battle to keep them suppressed. She glared at him, saying: “Su Sheng! Are you satisfied now?”

Never before had she called her husband by his full name like this. Her fury was evident.

Su Xi’er was shocked, and quickly grabbed her mother’s hand.

Su Sheng simply looked at his wife and remained silent.

“Why did you hesitate today?!” Madam Su’s teeth ground together. “If His Majesty hadn’t spoken up, would you have agreed to this marriage?!”

Su Sheng’s hesitation and agony were very well-concealed, but Madam Su had been married to him since they were youths and knew him too well. She knew he was considering his options.

Naturally, Su Xi’er was aware of this too.

If His Majesty hadn’t interrupted her father’s unfinished words, perhaps he would have…..

But she didn’t blame her father. His concern and affection for her were genuine, so in that situation, he must have been the one suffering the most.

“You’re always busy with this and that, always thinking about the Su family as a whole, but what about our daughter?” Madam Su’s tears flowed profusely. “For the sake of those outsiders and your backer, you were willing to sacrifice our daughter’s entire life!”

“Is the child that woman left behind more important than the child I gave birth to?!” Even in her fury, Madam Su made an effort to suppress her voice so that those outside wouldn’t overhear.

Su Sheng remained silent throughout, his expression sorrowful.

He took one last, long look at Su Xi’er, then stood up and walked away.

But before stepping through the door, he stopped and said in a hoarse voice: “Once things settle down here, I will bring you home.”

Having said that, he walked out the door without looking back.

Su Xi’er stared blankly toward the doorway, her heart pounding in her chest.

She slowly shifted her gaze until it fell upon her mother, who was sobbing uncontrollably. Fighting back tears, she said softly: “Who is ‘that woman?’ Father, he hasn’t…..”

He was not a loyal minister.

As it turned out, the Su family was not the upright and virtuous family they claimed to be at all!

They were the same.

It turned out that everyone was the same!

Su Xi’er gave a soft chuckle and wiped her tears.

“I’ll go.”

What Imperial Examinations, what bringing honor to the family, what serving the common people – even if she were to enter officialdom, she would be an ignorant pawn in the hands of some other force.

From an insignificant speck of dust, she would transform into an expendable “pawn” who was always under someone’s control.

She had no desire to be controlled, nor to act against her own conscience.

Leaving might truly be the best option. 

*

*

Early the next morning.

Chu Jiubian dressed in his court attire and went to Yangxin Hall for breakfast, only to hear that Su Xi’er was already preparing to leave the capital.

He wasn’t very surprised.

After just two brief encounters, he could tell that she was an ambitious girl – otherwise, she wouldn’t have registered for the Imperial Examinations.

For a spirited and ambitious young woman like her, what mattered most was the realization of her self-worth.

However, the actions of Xiao Ruohan and Jiannan-wang last night had directly negated Su Xi’er’s value as a talented and ambitious “person,” effectively relegating her back to the confines of her private chambers.

They had used her marriage as leverage, exploiting the power behind her while intending to restrict her as a human being. 

As factions clashed, her life and marriage were on everyone’s lips.

But from beginning to end, no one had ever asked her opinion.

She must have realized that despite growing up, she was still far from being able to make her own decisions.

After all, if even her father, a high-ranking minister in the court, sometimes found himself powerless, how could a young, inexperienced person like her expect anything different?

Her desire to secure a better future for herself seemed to have become a joke because of this absurd farce.

She couldn’t save the common people or benefit society. She couldn’t even save herself.

She was merely a transient figure in this powerful current of events, someone whose name wouldn’t even be remembered.

Nobody knew her as Su Xi’er.

Therefore, her departure was actually the most suitable option.

Leaving the capital city would open up a wider world for her, and perhaps she would find a chance to start anew.

The departure of a young lady from a prominent family sparked discussion in the inner quarters of various households for two or three days, but after that, everyone lost interest.

On the evening of the third day after the banquet, Chu Jiubian received the first installment of profits from the refined salt trade.

Wearing light, loose-fitting robes, he casually reclined on the soft couch in Yaotai Residence, his legs stretched out to occupy the entire couch.

Three large boxes filled with gleaming silver coins sat on the floor, shining with an alluring luster.

The palace servants had all withdrawn after delivering these items, and even Xiao Xiangzi wasn’t present in the room to attend to him.

Chu Jiubian raised his eyes toward the man standing next to the boxes, his gaze shifting subtly.

“Who is all of this from?” he asked.

Qin Xiao paced over to him and sat down right next to his legs.

Chu Jiubian gave him a look. He drew his legs inward slightly, but didn’t withdraw them completely.

“The Qiu family just sent over their portion of the profits, saying they were worried that the Imperial Court might need it urgently, and that they will send the rest once the trade caravans return.”

Chu Jiubian gave a light scoff: “They finally did it.”

“What a waste of those two excellent jars of wine.”

“Ten jars,” Chu Jiubian corrected.

Qin Xiao smiled and said: “En, consider this as the payment for this lord’s portion of the wine.”

“It’s not enough.”

“Then consider me in debt for now.” Qin Xiao turned his head toward him and asked with a smile: “Would you like me to write a letter of guarantee?”

Chu Jiubian ignored him.

Then Qin Xiao said: “The salt trade should have yielded you a larger share of the profits, but the Imperial Treasury is currently short of funds. I will certainly compensate you later.”

They hadn’t actually discussed the details of profit sharing before this.

Chu Jiubian had just tacitly acquiesced to putting all of the dividends received into the Imperial Treasury first, in order to be used for the Imperial Examination system and infrastructure development.

He truly hadn’t expected Qin Xiao to send him money.

But no one disliked money, and Chu Jiubian was naturally delighted to see all of this silver.

It was so much money – enough to last him a couple of years.

If it was all given to Jiang Shuoye for steel production, he would likely make faster progress.

However, these were all government funds, and putting them to use would leave a trail. Qin Xiao would definitely find out that it had all been used in the Northern Desert region, and then Chu Jiubian’s connection with the region would cease to be hidden.

Chu Jiubian rested his chin on his hand and turned his head to regard the other man, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

Had Qin Xiao genuinely given him this money to spend, or was he waiting to see where he would spend it?

---

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Chapter 55 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 57

Ch. 80 – Sneaking In

At a villa atop the mountain of Lingxiao Sword Sect.

There was an open space in the courtyard, where a young man was currently dancing with a sword. Metal reflected in the sunlight, emitting a dazzling silver gleam.

The sword danced, swift and graceful like a silver snake, soft and undulating, yet containing an explosive inner strength.

“Good!” Ji Chengyue couldn’t help but shout, having arrived at the villa at some point.

Only then did Cao Zirui notice his master’s arrival, and sheathed his sword after finishing his current move. Ignoring the sweat dripping from his forehead, he walked to Ji Chengyue with his sword in his hands and saluted.

His cultivation was still at the ninth level of Qi Refining, and he had never forgotten Ji Chengyue’s warning not to use his spiritual power recklessly. But after playing in North Sea City for a few days, Cao Zirui had felt a little guilty.

He was different from Feng Ye, who could feel at ease not cultivating or practicing his swordplay, and didn’t want to get out of bed. Cao Zirui felt uncomfortable all over after not training for three days. 

So today, he took advantage of the pleasant sunshine to practice his swordplay, not expecting his master to catch him practicing.

Even though Ji Chengyue was pleased with his diligence, he still rebuked him with some disapproval: “Your internal injuries haven’t healed yet. It is more important for you to recuperate.”

“I understand, Shifu.” Cao Zirui bowed his head and admitted his mistake.

“Your Lingxiao Swordsmanship has improved a bit since your journey to the Floating Island Secret Realm. It seems that adventure wasn’t entirely a disaster,” Ji Chengyue commented, recalling the sword techniques he had just witnessed.

Cao Zirui’s swordsmanship was different from that of everyone else in Lingxiao Sword Sect. He was learning Ling Yun’s original sword style, which Ling Yun had once used to reach Hedao stage and become number one in the cultivation world. 

The power of Lingxiao Swordsmanship had also become famous throughout the land along with Ling Yun’s name, and was unparalleled. However, not long after Ling Yun’s death, this unparalleled sword technique had vanished.

In the eyes of outsiders, Ling Yun had kept this sword technique tightly hidden. No one had ever learned it apart from Ling Yun, not even his fellow Lingxiao Sword Sect disciples.

Neither did Ji Chengyue.

But it was not Ling Yun’s secrecy that had kept him from learning it.

In fact, judging by the Jianmu incident, it could be seen that Ling Yun was not a narrow-minded person. After planting it, rather than keeping it to himself, he had invited cultivators from all over the world to ascend to the heavens together.

He had acted in such a way regarding the sacred Jianmu that reached the sky. So although he was the one to create Lingxiao Swordsmanship, he would not treat it as a secret, hiding it and refusing to pass it on.

On the contrary, he was actually very happy to teach it to his fellow disciples.

One hundred years ago, before Ling Yun became the sect leader, his swordsmanship had already developed into a very unique style as his Lingxiao Swordsmanship began to take shape.

But Ji Chengyue, who cultivated alongside him, was still practicing the sword techniques taught to them by their master in a very rigid manner. Ling Yun couldn’t help but want to teach him how to use his own sword techniques. 

It wasn’t that Xuanxu-zhenren’s techniques were bad – it was just that Ling Yun was such a talented swordsman, and that the swordsmanship he had honed was more powerful than the techniques Xuanxu-zhenren had taught them.

But swordsmanship was not just about power. It also depended on the qualifications of the person learning it. For example, if a woman was not naturally strong, she could not be forced to learn vigorous and aggressive sword techniques, as she simply would not have the strength to keep up. 

Ji Chengyue’s aptitude was suboptimal. He had dual spiritual roots, which was second only to a single spiritual root. But even so, he was unable to learn Lingxiao Swordsmanship from Ling Yun.

Because Lingxiao Swordsmanship was created entirely by Ling Yun based on his own comprehension of swordsmanship. He had a one-in-a-million top-grade single spiritual root, and his spiritual power was simply incomparable to that of cultivators on the same level.

And he had always been a proud person who pursued excellence. With every move he made with a sword, he took himself to the limit of both his body and his spiritual power. 

This resulted in the fact that, other than those with the same level of talent as him, others could only learn the basics of his swordsmanship and were completely unable to grasp the essence of it.

So after realizing this, Ling Yun did not promote his swordsmanship within the sect, because teaching it would be useless.

Ji Chengyue knew this very well. He had also never considered teaching this sword technique to Xue Ren, because like him, Xue Ren had dual spiritual roots, and neither of them were capable of it due to their limited talent.

Only Cao Zirui, who had a single spiritual root like Ling Yun, was able to learn it. Cao Zirui’s figure as he danced with a sword just now had vaguely resembled Ji Chengyue’s deceased shixiong.

Ji Chengyue was distracted for a moment and failed to hear Cao Zirui’s reply, coming back to his senses when Cao Zirui called out with some confusion: “Shifu?”

He didn’t explain what was on his mind just now, simply saying to Cao Zirui: “Oh, right, I had someone refine the Ice Grass. It was made into two pills, one for you and one for him.”

Hearing this, there was some unconcealable joy in Cao Zirui’s eyes despite his persistent icy face. He had fallen back to Qi Refining from Foundation Establishment, and although he had never said anything, he was still somewhat upset about it.

Now that he could finally recover his cultivation, he was naturally very happy.

Cao Zirui accepted the porcelain bottle containing the elixirs and said: “Thanking Shifu.”

Ji Chengyue patted Cao Zirui on the shoulder with a smile: “After taking the pill, find a safe place to retreat and digest it. And if you need help refining the spiritual energy in the elixir during your retreat, go to Elder Zhou. You can bring your little friend with you and ask Elder Zhou to stand watch over you.”

Cao Zirui was a little puzzled: “Is Shifu leaving?”

Ji Chengyue would normally take care of this sort of thing himself, and it was abnormal for him to instruct Cao Zirui to seek out Elder Zhou. This could only mean that Ji Chengyue had matters to attend to that would take him outside the sect.

Ji Chengyue nodded.

Cao Zirui asked again: “Is Shifu very busy?”

He and Fang Yang had played around in North Sea City for three days, during which time his master had been absent. He only appeared now and then, and nobody knew what he had been doing. He had only just returned to the sect, and now he was leaving again.

Ji Chengyue was silent for a moment before replying: “I am almost finished. The results will be out soon.”

Cao Zirui didn’t question him further. He watched his master leave, then took the porcelain bottle and set off down the mountain to find Fang Yang.

But before departing, he realized that the accumulated sweat from sword practice was a bit unsightly, so he retraced his steps to wash up and change into clean clothes before going down the mountain.

When he actually descended and located Fang Yang, he realized that he had worried entirely too much.

Sweat was not so unsightly at all. Fang Yang was holding a broom, his face and hands coated in filth.

Ignorant of his state, Fang Yang threw down the broom when he spotted Cao Zirui and ran over, patting Cao Zirui’s clean clothes with his dirty hands as he said in greeting: “Why did you come down?”

Cao Zirui glanced at the dirt stains on his shoulder and remained silent: “……”

What a waste.

Fang Yang then realized what he had done. He smiled apologetically and reached out to help Cao Zirui wipe it off. Of course, the more he wiped, the dirtier it became.

Before Fang Yang could turn him into a clay figurine, Cao Zirui quickly stopped him and explained: “I came to deliver something to you.”

As he spoke, he pulled out the porcelain bottle his master had given him.

Fang Yang examined it carefully and asked: “What is this?”

Cao Zirui said succinctly: “The Ice Grass.”

“The pills are ready?” Fang Yang’s eyes lit up when he heard this. He immediately turned and reported the good news to Feng Ye, who was still cleaning nearby: “Shixiong, the Ice Grass is finally ready!”

Feng Ye and Hao Chen, whose own bodies were not very clean, temporarily put down their work and approached Fang Yang.

In fact, simply sweeping up fallen leaves wouldn’t have created such a mess.

But these two would likely never be willing to honestly sweep the floor. They would always resort to some overt or underhanded tricks, which had led to this miserable situation.

Administrator Zhang was wrong. Working as a couple did not make the work less tiring. Instead, it became more tiring the longer they worked.

When Fang Yang finished cleaning the meditation hall he was responsible for, these two had not yet finished half the area they had been tasked with. The enthusiastic Fang Yang had joined the cleaning team with a broom in hand, so the three of them were close by in the same square.

Feng Ye and Hao Chen came over quickly. Upon hearing Fang Yang’s good news, Feng Ye nodded and congratulated him: “Then you’ll be able to recover your cultivation.”

“Hehe.” Fang Yang smiled happily as he held the porcelain bottle.

“Oh, right, before Shifu leaves, he wants us to go find Elder Zhou to protect us while we refine the elixir.” Cao Zirui repeated his master’s instructions.

Fang Yang nodded in understanding: “When should we go?”

“Let’s go tonight,” Cao Zirui suggested. The sooner they recovered their cultivation, the better.

Fang Yang was of the same opinion, to recover early in order to train early.

Although the two teenagers weren’t as tall as the two adults next to them, they crushed Feng Ye and Hao Chen in terms of diligence.

And when these two men saw how eager they were to recover their cultivation, they showed no signs of being ashamed.

Hao Chen was brazen due to his thick skin, and Feng Ye had other things on his mind.

The key point Fang Yang took from Cao Zirui’s words was that they would take the elixir and go to Elder Zhou for protection, but Feng Ye only heard the words, “Before Shifu leaves.”

Cao Zirui’s shifu was, of course, Sect Leader Ji. And now that he was gone, there would be nobody in the sect leader’s rooms tonight.

Feng Ye’s mind suddenly sprung into action. The trip to the Floating Island Secret Realm had fully cut off the possibility of there being a second Jianmu seed, so the only remaining clues lay with Ji Chengyue.

Although he had sneaked into Ji Chengyue’s rooms before, he now thought that he might have missed something, and wanted to go check again.

Ji Chengyue rarely went out, so tonight was the perfect opportunity.

Therefore, although Feng Ye was listening to the conversation between Fang Yang and Cao Zirui with a smile on his face, his thoughts had already flown toward tonight’s infiltration plan.

Hao Chen secretly observed Feng Ye’s thoughtful expression.

The day ended quickly, and once the sun set, Fang Yang went up the mountain with Cao Zirui to seek Elder Zhou’s support.

And Feng Ye returned to his room, preparing to shut the door and pretend to sleep.

But as expected, before he could close it, Hao Chen obstructed him once again. This fish just couldn’t leave his bed. He was clearly restless the last time he slept with him, and there was no telling what was going on in his brain now.

Feng Ye really didn’t understand, and wasn’t going to let Hao Chen climb into his bed a second time. Just like the day before, he slammed the door shut and unconditionally refused to let a certain fish inside.

Having been turned away again, Hao Chen touched his nose awkwardly outside the door. He didn’t leave immediately, but instead lingered by the door and listened to the movement inside.

Feng Ye naturally knew that the unwilling fish hadn’t left. So he went to the bed, kicked off his shoes, and fell onto it, closing his eyes and pretending to be asleep.

If he wanted to perform a play, he had to go all-in.

After a while, the sound of receding footsteps could be heard outside the door. Feng Ye opened one eye and glanced at the wall in the direction Hao Chen had left.

He didn’t act immediately. It was only just getting dark, and most people weren’t asleep yet, so it wasn’t the best time for him to act.

Feng Ye lay in bed with his eyes closed and rested until midnight. When it was late enough that everyone was asleep, with only the chirping of insects outside the room, Feng Ye furtively slipped out the door.

Before going up the mountain, he glanced at the nearby room where Hao Chen resided. It was silent. The person inside seemed to be soundly asleep.

But Feng Ye still refused to let down his guard. He made his way carefully through the dormitory area, even more carefully than when he later entered the heavily-guarded mountaintop.

There were nine defensive arrays inside and outside the peak, plus patrolling disciple guards – but in Feng Ye’s opinion, this watertight defense was far less difficult than bypassing one Hao Chen.

Although this fish was extremely unreliable, he was, after all, the Lord of the North Sea, and his perception should not be underestimated.

But this time, Hao Chen didn’t seem to notice.

Feng Ye easily climbed through the window into Ji Chengyue’s room without being spotted.

The room was dark.

The owner of the room was out, so the oil lamps were naturally unlit. Although there were no disciples patrolling nearby at the moment, Feng Ye cautiously forwent lighting candles.

The moon was bright enough to allow for a rough overview of the interior.

Thus, Feng Ye began his search in the dark.

Ji Chengyue’s quarters were divided into an inner room and an outer room. The inner room was furnished with a wardrobe and a bed, while the outer room held an incense table and several cushions.

The rooms couldn’t be said to be small or large, and the area was only so big. Feng Ye thoroughly examined places like the corners and under the bed, where there might be hidden mechanisms, but his search turned up nothing.

This result was identical to that of his last search.

But this shouldn’t be the case. Feng Ye stood in the middle of the outer room, stroking his chin as he was lost in thought.

Apart from Ji Chengyue, who could have hidden a part of Jianmu without anyone noticing?

Plus, according to his inquiries from various sources, Ji Chengyue had nowhere to hide Jianmu other than in his rooms.

Putting himself in the sect leader’s shoes, something like Jianmu, which was inconvenient to show others but held great importance, must be constantly monitored in order to ensure that it wasn’t discovered or stolen away. Only then could he feel at ease.

So the possibility of a hiding hole dug in the wilderness was ruled out, the only possibility left being somewhere Ji Chengyue often went to.

But as sect leader, Ji Chengyue was responsible for all kinds of matters and it was impossible for him to leave the sect often. If he really was in possession of Jianmu, he had most likely hidden it within the sect.

Among all of the buildings and pavilions in the sect, his bedroom was by far the best hiding place.

But although Feng Ye searched the place twice over without leaving a single inch untouched, he found nothing.

He had left Ji Chengyue’s rooms after not finding anything the first time, but he didn’t rush out at present. Instead, he sat down on a cushion in front of the incense table.

He hadn’t been sure that Ji Chengyue had Jianmu the first time, but now he had no other leads apart from the sect leader, so he must discover a clue here.

Feng Ye crossed his legs and rested his elbows on his thighs, supporting his chin as he wracked his brains.

The cushion beneath him was sagging in places due to frequent use. After sitting for a while, his butt began to slide down and he adjusted his position.

Feng Ye couldn’t help but think about this frequently-used cushion.

Why would Ji Chengyue sit here so often?

Feng Ye craned his neck to look around, before ultimately focusing on the incense table before him. This was the only thing that would draw anyone to sit here.

The decorations on the incense table were very simple, just an incense burner and…..a spirit tablet.

Spirit tablets were for the dead, and it was not unusual to place them in the bedroom.

Many people had taboos when it came to death, but when it came to deceased relatives, they would inevitably want to pay tribute to them. Thus, they would set up a spirit tablet where they could see it every day and burn incense to commemorate the deceased.

The name written on this tablet was naturally not Ling Yun’s, but Ji Chengyue’s master, Xuanxu-zhenren.

Ji Chengyue never spoke his shixiong’s name, so how could he set up a tablet for him in his rooms?

There were mixed opinions about Ling Yun even within Lingxiao Sword Sect. Administrator Zhang, for example, was extremely disdainful of the deceased sect leader.

If Ji Chengyue set up a tablet for Ling Yun in his rooms, he would inevitably be criticized.

So no matter what Ji Chengyue’s true feelings were, he could only allow his shixiong to turn to dust and sink into obscurity, without even a spirit tablet bearing his name.

But Ji Chengyue’s attitude toward Ling Yun had always been confusing. In fact, according to Administrator Zhang, Ji Chengyue may not hate his shixiong very much. Hatred could not be concealed. If Ji Chengyue really hated Ling Yun, how could he never speak a word against him in front of others?

Even though the dead should be respected, a few complaints wouldn’t be excessive. 

But Ji Chengyue had not done so. 

And he also showed no signs of commemorating Ling Yun, appearing to feel nothing for him.

These two completely opposing attitudes being present in one person meant that…..Ji Chengyue must be deliberately hiding something. One such attitude must be a facade to pull the wool over the eyes of others.

The question was…..which one was fake…..

Feng Ye stared absentmindedly at the spirit tablet in front of him. After some thought, he suddenly got off the cushion and approached the spirit tablet to inspect it.

Most spirit tablets were made of wood, and this one was no exception.

Feng Ye took in the words “Late Master Xuanxu-zhenren” carved on the tablet and reached out to touch them. It was very commonplace nanmu wood.

The tablet was also square, with the thickness of a thumb joint.

It looks a little too thick, Feng Ye thought as he measured its depth. But he didn’t know much about the dimensions of spirit tablets, and couldn’t tell if such thickness was normal.

The moonlight was a little dim, so Feng Ye went to light a candle in order to study the tablet more closely.

However, before he could light it, firelight suddenly appeared in the room.

It was coming from behind him. Feng Ye spun around the moment the fire flared and punched out, attempting to take the opponent down in one blow before they could make any noise.

The person who had snuck up behind him to light a candle was very agile, and raised an arm to block Feng Ye’s punch.

With his initial attack thwarted, Feng Ye exchanged several moves with his opponent in an instant. He spotted an opening and kicked the other’s right knee, causing him to briefly lose his balance.

Feng Ye seized the opportunity and grasped the other’s right hand, which was holding the candlestick. Raising his elbow forward, he pressed it against their neck and pushed them back.

Once he had the person pressed firmly against the wall with his elbow firmly lodged against their throat at an angle, Feng Ye finally had time to look at the person who had snuck up on him unnoticed. 

“Wu.” The person tried to speak, but Feng Ye’s elbow bore down heavily. A little more force would crush the other’s throat, and they were completely unable to say a word.

But even though they couldn’t speak, Feng Ye was still vaguely aware of something under the moonlight.

Holding the other’s wrist, he moved the candlestick upward.

Candlelight illuminated the other’s face – a very familiar face that seemed to be smiling at him despite being unable to get enough air.

Feng Ye: “……”

He’d thought he had successfully pretended to be asleep, but was unaware that the other party was also a character in his play, and that Hao Chen had also been pretending to sleep.

Not long after he ascended the mountain, Hao Chen had also slipped out of his room and followed Feng Ye all the way up.

Feng Ye slightly loosened his grip to allow the other to breathe freely, but didn’t let him go entirely. He continued to hold Hao Chen against the wall as he whispered: “What are you doing here?”

“Cough, cough.” Hao Chen took a deep breath, then replied unhurriedly: “I saw Fellow Daoist Feng Ye going out alone at night and worried that you would run into someone with ill intent, so I followed in order to protect you.”

Feng Ye: “…..” He had the nerve to talk about protecting him? Clearly, his stalker-like behavior made him look like a person with ill intent.

The expression on Feng Ye’s face was obvious, but Hao Chen still feigned unawareness, maintaining a look that said “I’m doing this for your own good.”

Feng Ye was speechless. He didn’t know what to do about this fish.

He was a little unwilling to just let him go. Hao Chen had abruptly appeared behind him and startled him, so he couldn’t just let him off. But there really wasn’t anything he could do to Hao Chen.

Caught in a dilemma, Feng Ye remained motionless for a stretch of time.

At this moment, Hao Chen was also a little distracted.

His thoughts were focused on where their skin touched.

In a sense, the intimacy of close combat could be compared to that of a romantic couple. It was still close contact, although one was for the purpose of love, and the other for violence.

At this moment, Feng Ye’s left hand held his right wrist with an inescapable force unique to men. And with Feng Ye’s forearm placed across his neck, tense muscles pressed against the jut of his throat.

Such a fragile, vital area.

Hao Chen’s throat rolled up and down, and he felt the other’s heat against his skin.

His attention was somewhat distracted. With Feng Ye pressing him against the wall, he could even hear the other’s breathing. The body was the best weapon to suppress his opponent, and Feng Ye had utilized this in order to render Hao Chen unable to resist in the shortest possible time.

But Hao Chen had no desire at all to resist, and rather enjoyed this sort of closeness.

After all, getting close enough to Feng Ye to take liberties with him was incredibly difficult.

It’s worth a beating! Hao Chen thought happily.

“You…..” Feng Ye finally came to a decision. He planned to tell Hao Chen to leave, while he himself remained behind to continue searching.

However, just as he spoke the first word, he and Hao Chen simultaneously turned their heads toward the corridor outside the room, where light footsteps could be heard.

Someone was coming.

They both realized this at the same time.

They glanced at each other subconsciously, and their eyes moved in tandem to look down at the very conspicuous flame.

Poof. Hao Chen blew out the candle in their hands.

When Ji Chengyue opened the door, the room was empty.

---

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Chapter 79 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 81

The lights flickered outside Haiyan Hall, making it impossible to discern the identities of the approaching figures. 

But it was a matter of course that the only two people who would appear at such a time were Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

In the midst of profound silence, the two figures stepped over the high threshold and entered the hall. 

The warm light haloed them in a soft, gentle glow, clearly illuminating their forms and features.

Lord Ning-wang, dressed in black and gold embroidered robes, wore a tranquil expression and walked with an unhurried gait. His overall demeanor and air of authority were so imposing that no one dared to look him directly in the eye, and those present averted their gazes.

But in contrast, the young man at his side was tall and graceful, with long silver hair that cascaded over his shoulders and back, complementing the vibrant pink robes he wore in a way that created a stunningly beautiful sight. 

His clothes and hair seemed to shimmer with a soft, jade-like glow as he moved. Even the cranes embroidered over his chest seemed incredibly lifelike, as if they could spread their wings and soar away at any moment.

The young man possessed a flawlessly beautiful face, so stunningly handsome that it was almost unworldly.

Everyone’s gazes lingered on him unknowingly, and many people were left speechless. Even officials who saw Chu Jiubian nearly every day couldn’t hide the hint of astonishment in their eyes.

Many even recalled the day of the coronation ceremony, when the young man, clad in magnificent robes, seemed to fall from the heavens into the mortal world, appearing disheveled but aloof, making it difficult for anyone to approach him.

Possessing such grace and looks, he truly exhibited the bearing of an immortal being.

With Chu Jiubian’s identity as a true immortal, these people would no longer be able to praise their juniors for having “immortal-like grace.”

Chu Jiubian’s expression was cool and distant as his emotionless light-hued eyes swept over everyone present, from the officials to their female family members.

The officials all deftly hid their emotions. After that fleeting moment of astonishment, only expressions of respect remained on their faces.

But just as Chu Jiubian had anticipated, once the women’s attention strayed from his face, it became fixated on his robes and couldn’t be diverted. 

After being accustomed to seeing clothing in subdued colors, no woman would dislike such a beautiful pink hue.

Especially since this silk had been improved – its luster and drape were a notch above those of previous fabrics, and as the wearer’s movements reflected the light, it looked as if light and shadow was rippling across it.

Chu Jiubian’s professional work had also included shooting commercials and doing magazine photoshoots, so showcasing the advantages of the clothing and jewelry he was wearing was incredibly easy for him.

When he saw the undisguised admiration in the eyes of those women and young ladies, Chu Jiubian felt that if he were to produce a batch of silk identical to what he was wearing, it would be snatched up in no time at all.

And naturally, there were some among those officials who were especially fond of beautiful things, and took a few extra glances at his clothes.

The most conspicuous among them was Deputy Minister of Revenue Wang Pengyi, whose eyes were slightly glazed over.

Chu Jiubian looked away and walked with Qin Xiao to the uppermost platform.

The family members on the lowest platform remained silent, not daring to offer greetings as they stood on either side of the main hall. They lowered their eyes and assumed respectful postures as the two approached, not looking up. Chu Jiubian even had the illusion that they were students in a classroom, fearful of being called upon by the teacher.

It wasn’t until they reached the second level that the officials bowed and offered their respects.

“Greetings, Lord Ning-wang. Greetings, Grand Tutor.”

Chu Jiubian glanced around and found that they were all familiar faces.

At today’s palace banquet, everyone was in compliance with the dress code. For example, officials of the first rank had cranes embroidered on their clothing, and the robes of second and third-rank officials were embroidered with pheasants. Military officers from the Ministry of War also wore garments embroidered with various motifs such as qilins and lions.

None of them, however, were wearing their official robes. Their clothing was more colorful and varied than their official attire, making these old men look younger than they usually did.

Chu Jiubian’s gaze lingered on Minister of Revenue Xiao Huaiguan for an extra moment.

This old man loved to take advantage of his age. Previously, he had seemed to be in poor health, but he had been particularly spirited lately, and even his hunched back had straightened up a bit.

It certainly couldn’t be a final burst of energy before death.

A slight smile appeared on Chu Jiubian’s lips, but his eyes grew even colder.

If you’re willing to court disaster, then go right ahead.

The two of them walked past the collection of officials, offering them slight nods in greeting.

Chu Jiubian’s rank was actually equal to those of the six ministers, but the position of Grand Tutor was inherently independent of and superior to the Six Ministries. Furthermore, Chu Jiubian’s status as an “immortal” put him a step above the others.

Therefore, even if he acted more prestigious than Qin Xiao, no one would find it out of place.

The two of them reached the topmost platform.

There were only five seating arrangements here, each consisting of a low table and cushion, along with armrests.

Two seats were set up on the east and west sides, facing each other. The two seats on the west side belonged to the Empress Dowager and Jiannan-wang, while the two on the east side belonged to Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

Since the Empress Dowager was a woman and was unable to sit cross-legged, her seat was consequently equipped with a footrest.

On a slightly elevated platform in the center was the emperor’s seat, with a thick, soft cushion that Eunuch Hong had personally supervised the making of. The seating arrangement was tall and comfortable, ensuring that the young boy could reach everything on the table in front of him.

Chu Jiubian turned to face the audience, smoothly taking in their various expressions.

The hall had fallen silent from the moment they entered it, and even when they took their seats now, nobody spoke a word.

Before long, a eunuch would begin announcing their arrival in succession. The emperor and the empress dowager would enter together, and Jiannan-wang would naturally follow behind them.

Everyone immediately straightened their robes, lowered their eyes, and adopted a solemn and respectful demeanor.

Even the ministers of the Six Ministries showed great deference, ensuring that there was no possibility of someone detecting the slightest disrespect in their countenances.

Chu Jiubian and Qin Xiao naturally wouldn’t do otherwise on this occasion, both of them willing to go to great lengths to give the child face.

Just outside the palace hall, Bai Lihong had encountered the empress dowager and Jiannan-wang. The two had been waiting for him before going in, and upon seeing him, they greeted him with both respect and warm affection.

With big, clear bright eyes, Bai Lihong stared intently at the two for a few seconds before smiling with pearly white teeth. “Rise,” he said, then took the lead and walked toward the main hall, Eunuch Hong following along naturally at his side.

Xiao Ruohan’s gaze lingered on the child’s back, and she maintained her affectionate smile.

The look in that child’s eyes just now seemed to see through everything, and she almost thought she was looking at that woman, Qin Feng.

Quite suddenly, she realized that Bai Lihong was no simple-minded fool.

This young emperor absolutely could not be allowed to continue growing in power! 

Bai Lihong quickly walked into Haiyan Hall on his short legs. The first thing he did was look up at the highest point, and only when he saw Jiujiu and Xiansheng did his tense body finally relax.

He was now in the mood to pay attention to the people around him.

However, he didn’t recognize any of these family members, so there really wasn’t any point in doing so.

Despite his eagerness to stand alongside the two of them, he remembered Xiansheng’s teachings and maintained his composure instead of breaking into a run.

Only when he reached the highest platform did the child’s steps slow down.

Chu Jiubian lowered his gaze and subconsciously smiled at the child as he walked past, his eyes carrying a hint of affection that even he was unaware of.

The young emperor sat on the highest seat, facing the palace gate.

“Present your greetings!” Eunuch Hong shouted loudly.

Qin Xiao led everyone to stand in several long, orderly lines in the middle of the hall, from highest status to lowest. 

“Wishing Your Majesty a long and prosperous life,” Qin Xiao recited, and everyone followed suit to repeat his words.

Bai Lihong remained seated, looking up at Qin Xiao.

Standing behind Jiujiu was the empress dowager, and behind them were Xiansheng and Jiannan-wang. Even farther behind them were the other officials.

As shouts of “long live the emperor!” subsided, Qin Xiao led everyone to kneel down and bow reverently.

The empress dowager was no exception. Although she was nominally Bai Lihong’s elder, there was a generational gap between them. According to the laws of Great Ning, only Bai Lihong’s actual parents, Emperor Yingzong and Qin Feng, were exempt from bowing to him.

As for everyone else, whether they were uncles, aunts, grandfathers, or grandmothers, they were all considered “subjects.”

Chu Jiubian alone did not kneel, but bowed deeply with clasped hands.

However, none of the court officials saw anything wrong with this; they even believed that if Chu Jiubian were to kneel before someone, that person’s life might be nearing its end.

Even the emperor didn’t deserve obeisance from a god, let alone anyone else.

“You may rise,” the child said.

“Thanking Your Majesty.” Qin Xiao rose to his feet, and the others followed suit.

Hong Fu said loudly: “You may be seated.”

There were over a hundred guests in the hall, and including all of the servants, the total came to several hundred people. Everyone moved in sync and made no noise other than the faint rustling of their clothes, indicating that they were all maintaining the utmost composure and etiquette.

Qin Xiao turned and paced to the seating area, then glanced to the side.

He watched as the young man lightly lifted the hem of his robes to take his seat, his wide sleeves tracing a beautiful arc through the air as his long hair swayed gently with his movements.

His voluminous robes spread out behind him as he sat, and his silver-white hair cascaded over the pink silk in a way that made it impossible to tell which was softer or more lustrous.

Chu Jiubian looked up at him and raised an eyebrow.

Qin Xiao gave him a faint smile and sat down as well with a straight, upright back.

Jiannan-wang Bai Lihai, dressed today in resplendent golden dragon robes that only princes of royal lineage were allowed to wear, sat down opposite Chu Jiubian with a wide aisle separating them.

He had spotted Chu Jiubian the instant he entered the hall.

It was the second time he had met this immortal being, and he found him even more stunning than the first time.

The first time had been during a morning court session; he’d been wearing official crimson-purple robes, his demeanor much more stern and imposing.

Today, the light pink robes he wore lended him a touch of softness and elegance, making his striking features and pale skin even more captivating.

And also…..more tempting.

Chu Jiubian sensed the attention upon him and looked up.

When Bai Lihai met his gaze, he lowered his eyes in embarrassment, his long lashes fluttering slightly as a blush spread across his face.

Like an innocent, naive youth, he appeared genuinely shy.

Chu Jiubian pursed his lips.

Such terrible acting.

Qin Xiao sent Bai Lihai a cool glance.

On the table in front of the young emperor was a small bronze wine vessel. Eunuch Hong sat down a little behind him and poured him a cup of fruit juice.

Chu Jiubian had squeezed it fresh just that afternoon, using white sugar he redeemed from the system, which he blended with crisp, sweet apples. The child absolutely loved it.

Bai Lihong raised his small wine cup, and Hong Fu shouted loudly: “Let the banquet begin!”

Eunuchs relayed this message down the ranks, and the massive bronze bell outside the palace was struck by two Imperial Guards.

Its reverberation filled the air.

At the first chime of the bell, everyone in the hall raised their cups almost simultaneously. After Bai Lihong tilted his head back and drank his juice, everyone followed suit to drain their own cups.

Upon tasting the wine, they were all inevitably surprised.

The taste was rich and fragrant, with a spicy kick that wasn’t hard on the throat, warming them all the way down to their stomachs.

Great Ning’s winemaking technology was still very stunted, and could even be described as primitive. The resulting wine not only had a low alcohol content, but had a cloudy consistency that earned it the commonly-used name of “cloudy wine.”

But the wine in these cups was vastly different.

These lords who were fond of drink instantly smelled the rich, savory aroma of the wine as soon as it was poured. And after tasting it, they nearly lost their composure enough to exclaim, “what a fine wine!” and barely managed to restrain themselves. 

Having tasted the sweetness of this wine, as soon as the servants refilled their cups, they immediately picked them up again to take a small sip, savoring the flavor.

This taste was simply divine, like a delicacy from the heavens!

At this thought, everyone subtly shifted their gazes upward toward that striking pink figure.

This wine, they suspected, had actually been brought down from the immortal realm.

They were fortunate enough to partake in the wine of immortals!

Among the highest-ranking officials seated close to the emperor, Minister of War Lu Youwei and Minister of Justice Qiu Heng were the biggest wine connoisseurs. 

Chu Jiubian glanced down at them, and couldn’t help but chuckle inwardly when he saw them eagerly take another sip with expressions of great enjoyment.

This was 15-year-old Maotai wine. It had cost him twenty points for ten bottles – far too good for the likes of them.

Wang Ziyuan usually preferred tea, finding wine to be somewhat cloyingly sweet and sour, and therefore not particularly pleasant to drink.

But this wine truly had an entirely different flavor.

It tasted a bit spicy on the front end, but the spiciness gradually faded, to be replaced by a rich, lingering flavor.

The more he tasted it, the more he liked it. He couldn’t help but look up at Chu Jiubian, who was seated in a place of honor, and ask: “Was this wine brewed by Lord Chu?”

Chu Jiubian asked back: “Do you find it to your liking?”

“This wine is truly delicious,” Lu Youwei said. “I wonder if it will be available for sale in the future?”

Qiu Heng’s heart stirred when he heard this, and he immediately said: “My Qiu family has already transported the fine salt to the border regions, and I expect the profits from it will soon return to the capital. If this wine can also be sold, our caravans can take it to regions beyond the northern border on our next journey. The Imperial Treasury will surely become even more abundant.”

Chu Jiubian couldn’t brew Maotai wine, but the Qiu family certainly set in stone the perception that “merchants value profit above all else.”

After the salt transport agreements were signed, the other three families all paid their deposits on time, but the Qiu family had dragged their feet. 

If not for the flooding in Hexi Prefecture and the Ministry of Revenue pressing the Qiu family for payment, they likely would have delayed even longer.

The deposit was indeed paid eventually, but during the flooding, the Qiu family had tried every means to embezzle from the disaster relief funds, forcing the Ministry of Revenue official Chao Shun to feign illness in order to avoid responsibility.

Even the deposit the Qiu family paid was incredibly stingy, and there was no telling what they would do about the huge dividends they were supposed to remit.

Therefore, Chu Jiubian’s willingness to bring out the Maotai wine today was not just for supporting Bai Lihong and giving him face, but to whet the Qiu family’s appetite.

With this highly-profitable wine as bait, the Qiu family would surely hand over the dividends from the fine salt in order to secure distribution rights.

Chu Jiubian didn’t know how to brew wine, nor could he spend the points to buy it – that would be highly impractical.

For that many Faith Points, he might as well just buy a huge cannon and blast anyone he didn’t like.

“Minister Qiu makes a valid point,” Chu Jiubian said softly. “If conditions permit, this wine could certainly be a profitable business.”

He didn’t give a definitive answer, only implying that whether or not it would be permitted was another matter entirely.

But to Qiu Heng and the others, those words sounded like, “I’ll sell if the price is right.”

The profit margin of alcohol was not much different than that of tea.

Therefore, everyone began to have their own ideas, and Qiu Heng naturally had his own plans in mind.

However, an Imperial banquet was no place to discuss business, so everyone tacitly refrained from continuing the topic.

It wasn’t just the men who were surprised; even the women curiously sampled the wine in their cups.

It was sweet and smooth, the subtle hint of alcohol complementing the rich, fruity taste.

This was better than any wine they had tasted before!

After she took a sip, Su Xi’er’s eyes lit up.

She instinctively wanted to share it with someone, but when she looked around, she could no longer find that lively person with whom she could joke and laugh.

The smile on her lips gradually faded.

Her throat felt dry, so she lifted her cup and drank it in one gulp.

Seeing this, Su-furen quickly covered her mouth and gave a light cough. When Su Xi’er looked over, she gently shook her head and whispered: “Don’t drink too much.”

With tears in her eyes, Su Xi’er gave her a reassuring smile and didn’t touch the wine cup again.

The banquet had commenced, and it was time for the dishes to be served.

From the beginning until now, the bell had rung nine times.

Palace servants filed in one after another as it chimed.

They served previously unseen dishes one after another, from stir-fried vegetables and meat, to braised meat and other dishes, and finally, a rich and flavorful chicken soup with various seasonings. 

Each dish emitted a rich aroma, and was absolute perfection in terms of appearance, smell, and taste.

In previous years, no one would truly eat their fill at Imperial banquets. The dishes were always served cold, and consisted of only a handful of familiar dishes that they usually ate at home.

Therefore, everyone ate only a few symbolic bites, and spent most of the time just sitting there or watching the excellent performances of the young ladies.

But at today’s banquet, not only were the dishes served piping hot, but they were also all dishes they had never seen before.

Those present couldn’t resist taking a bite.

The flavors made themselves known at first taste.

When their parched taste buds finally encountered a “timely rain,” they couldn’t help but indulge themselves and take one bite after another.

Chu Jiubian also hadn’t ordered anyone to make dry, plain steamed buns or flatbreads – instead, he had them cook fragrant rice.

Rice was already available, but people in the north still preferred to eat wheat-based foods, which were easier to eat when served with soup and other liquids.

But at present, the soft, fluffy rice was a much better accompaniment to the stir-fried dishes and braised meat.

The taste was divine!

With wine from the immortal realm and delicious food of the same origin, everyone felt as if they had added a couple more years to their lives.

And the thought that Qin Xiao and Bai Lihong might be able to eat this delicious food every day filled them with both ruefulness and jealousy.

Why had Chu Jiubian singled out these two individuals and remained indifferent to offers from other forces?

Was it all because of that so-called love tribulation?

Could that person not be replaced with someone else?

Or was it simply because it was Qin Xiao who greeted him the day he descended to the mortal world, and he latched onto him for that reason?

They could have caught him, ah. They could have caught him securely, and he wouldn’t have fallen like that!

Their minds were in turmoil, but that didn’t stop them from enjoying the celestial delicacies.

They were eating so quickly, taking one bite of rice and then one bite of the other dishes, that before they realized it, half of the food on the table was gone.

Su Xi’er was stunned when she touched her slightly rounded belly. She subconsciously glanced at the others and found that they had eaten as much as she had, and some were still eating, so she didn’t feel too self-conscious.

The other women had never eaten so much in one sitting, but seeing that everyone else was doing the same and that even the lords had finished nearly everything on their plates, they felt more at ease.

They then restrained themselves and put down their chopsticks, only to pick up their cups and take a drink of the sweet fruit wine. They couldn’t be happier.

But with the knowledge that drinking too much would lead to embarrassing behavior, they didn’t dare to drink excessively, and only took a few sips to wet their tongues before stopping.

Unexpectedly, the palace servants came back again bearing trays.

This time, they had brought dessert – a small piece of cream cake.

The servants conscientiously informed these noble ladies that the cake contained milk, and advised that those with an intolerance to it should eat less.

There had always been those with lactose intolerance, and the digestive systems of people in ancient times were indeed more delicate than those of modern people.

Therefore, even though all of the ingredients used, aside from the white sugar, were available in Great Ning, Chu Jiubian still instructed that everyone be informed about dietary restrictions.

When Bai Lihong saw that the cake had finally been brought out, his eyes immediately lit up with delight.

Chu Jiubian couldn’t possibly bake cakes for so many people himself, so he only made the first one, and Qin Xiao whipped the cream. After that, the rest was made by the kitchen staff in accordance with Chu Jiubian’s methods.

Much of the first cake had ended up in Bai Lihong’s little mouth, and he was so enamored with it that he wanted more after finishing it.

But Chu Jiubian was afraid he would damage his teeth, and hadn’t allowed him to eat more. Today was the second time the boy would be able to eat it.

The little cakes were delicious!

Bai Lihong had been waiting for this moment for a long time!

But he remembered Jiujiu and Xiansheng’s instructions and didn’t move restlessly. He sat perfectly still, lips pressed together, and swallowed several times.

Cake was served to everyone’s tables, including his, but while everyone else received a small slice, he received a whole round cake.

It was twice as big as everyone else’s!

Wow!

He smiled sweetly, showing his little teeth.

The child was easily satisfied, and immediately expressed his appreciation to Chu Jiubian. Although Xiansheng worried about him eating too many sweets and damaging his teeth, he still gave him candy or small cakes from time to time.

Chu Jiubian gave him a subtle wink, and as if he had received a signal, the little boy immediately picked up his chopsticks and dug in.

Chu Jiubian couldn’t help but smile, and subconsciously glanced at Qin Xiao.

Qin Xiao was also looking over at him.

“What are you looking at?” Chu Jiubian asked.

Qin Xiao just smiled.

People didn’t eat much at previous palace banquets, and could only entertain themselves by watching the performances.

The noble ladies sitting below had begun showcasing their performances earlier, but today, everyone was too busy eating to pay attention to them.

Xiao Ruohan gazed at the half-eaten cake and dishes on her table. Her expression was gentle, but the ruthlessness in her eyes below her lowered lashes could not be concealed.

So this was the source of the fragrant aromas that wafted through the palace every day. These were truly dishes fit for the heavens!

She prided herself on her extensive experience and unparalleled sophistication, but now, it all seemed like a joke.

She had never heard of these things before, let alone eaten them.

After wrestling down the resentment and anger in her heart, she raised her eyes to glance at Bai Lihong beside her. But when she followed the direction of the child’s gaze, she saw Chu Jiubian leaning over to speak to Qin Xiao. Whatever he said to him, that fearsome Qin Xiao actually smiled.

Chu Jiubian was truly worthy of being called an immortal; even his profile was perfectly beautiful – like a painting. He was even more beautiful than any of the women in the Xiao family.

Members of the Xiao family loved beautiful people, and many of the men in the family had a preference for other men. Xiao Ruohan had long known that her grandson Bai Lihai had a preference for men, but while he could like anyone he wanted, he could not like Chu Jiubian!

That was not just any ordinary person; he could use any situation to his advantage, turning it into a weapon to strike back at his enemies.

If Bai Lihai were to fall under Chu Jiubian’s control, the Xiao family would be plunged into their greatest crisis.

In Xiao Ruohan’s heart, Bai Lihai was naive and inexperienced. This made him even more susceptible to being deceived and taken advantage of, which only increased her worries.

It seemed she would really need to arrange a marriage for him soon.

The Xiao family had sent a letter the previous day asking her to arrange an engagement for Bai Lihai, and even suggested suitable candidates. However, she felt that the current political situation was too uncertain, and that there were more suitable choices for Jiannan-wang. Thus, she never made a decision about whether or not to get an Imperial decree issued for his marriage.

But now, it seemed she had no choice.

In fact, as a prince and a subject, Jiannan-wang’s marriage should be arranged by the emperor. But if Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan were to bestow it in advance and make it public, the emperor would surely have to give her some face.

Otherwise, rumors of internal discord would, to some extent, damage the interests of the Imperial family.

The expression in Xiao Ruohan’s eyes was serene as she cast a subtle glance toward Minister of Personnel Xiao Huaiguan, who seemed to sense her gaze.

Their eyes met. Xiao Huaiguan set down his wine cup and looked in Bai Lihong’s direction, saying: “Your Majesty, today is the Mid-Autumn festival, a rare and precious day for family reunions. My granddaughter at home has some understanding of music; I wonder if she could be allowed to play a celebratory piece for Your Majesty?”

Bai Lihong knew how to handle this. Seeing that Jiujiu and Xiansheng had no objections, he said with a nod: “She is allowed.”

The palace servant who had been serving behind Xiao Huaiguan rose and quickly paced to the side of Old Madam Xiao, whispering to her the conversation that had taken place above.

Old Madam Zhao looked toward a girl sitting in a seat behind her – she was only in her early teens, beautiful and demure.

Under her grandmother’s gaze, she gracefully rose to her feet.

The maid behind her helped her up, then took a pipa that had been resting on a wooden stand behind them and handed it to Miss Xiao.

Although Miss Xiao was young, she revealed no stage fright at all as she walked to a spot near the second platform, pipa in hand. She performed a deferential bow, then offered a series of auspicious greetings.

The palace servants brought over a stool, and she sat down and began to play.

Chu Jiubian had met many child stars before, and was no stranger to children of talent.

It was just that he felt a little helpless, knowing that the purpose of her performance was to kickstart the process of finding a husband.

Marriage discussions would begin when a girl was around thirteen or fourteen, and by age sixteen or seventeen, they would be formally engaged. Families who doted upon their daughter might keep her at home for a couple more years.

However, children from commoner families would typically marry and start their own family by age fifteen or sixteen.

They would get pregnant and give birth that year or the following year, and have to raise a child while they were still practically children themselves. This could cause considerable harm to the body.

It was no wonder that people in this era didn’t live very long. A lack of diverse nutrients was one factor, but the more important factors were overwork and physical strain.

However, Chu Jiubian couldn’t just make a snap decision and declare that young people weren’t allowed to marry before the age of eighteen. He would have to proceed gradually, and focus on developing the Imperial Academy first.

The audience applauded when Miss Xiao finished her performance.

Then, girls came to the platform one after another to showcase their skills. Of the four traditional arts – playing the guqin, the game of go, calligraphy, and painting – only go could not be performed, and the others were all put on display.

Everyone wanted to show their best side, and they all performed exceptionally.

Before long, Chu Jiubian spotted a familiar-looking girl walking forward.

He remembered her. She was Su Xi’er, the daughter of Minister of Revenue Su Sheng.

At the previous auction, she had been tricked and kidnapped by Zhao Xi, the third daughter of then Deputy Minister of Personnel Zhao Qianhe. Qin Chaoyang had followed them, and managed to rescue her.

Third Miss Zhao had hanged herself the day after the incident, and since then, Chu Jiubian had heard no further news of Su Xi’er.

It wasn’t until the list of candidates in the capital who had registered for the Imperial Examinations arrived that Chu Jiubian encountered her name again.

Su Sheng must have powerful backing, most likely one of the seven vassal kings, which was why Chu Jiubian hadn’t wanted members of the Su family to participate in the Imperial Examinations in the first place.

But Su Sheng was a loyal official on the surface, and didn’t belong to any of the great families – plus, only his one daughter had applied.

There were already very few female applicants, and having one more would broaden the path for future women, so Chu Jiubian just had Qin Xiao turn a blind eye to it and didn’t restrict the girl from registering.

Su Xi’er performed a long-sleeve dance, accompanied by a maid playing the dizi.

To the melodious sound of the dizi, Su Xi’er, with a flick of her sleeves, began her graceful dance.

Her long hair was half-up and half-down, with a white jade hair ornament adorning her bun and  pearls dangling from a golden hairpin. She wore a long white dress, the hems and sleeves navy blue.

The layers of her skirts rippled and flowed with her movements, like a swaying, multi-petaled flower.

The sound of the dizi fluctuated in tempo, sometimes slow and sometimes fast, before finally fading away.

Su Xi’er completed her dance routine at this moment.

“Good!”

“So beautiful.”

“She truly lives up to her reputation as a female talent renowned throughout the capital!”

The people of Great Ning had no tradition of expressing their appreciation through applause, and instead did so verbally, with continuous encouragement and compliments.

Su Xi’er had just eaten a lot and was worried that her weight would be off during her leaps, but unexpectedly, the food had given her more energy, and her steps were effortless.

She lowered her eyes slightly and took a few steps forward, bowing to the nobility above as she said: “This daughter apologizes for her humble performance.”

Su Sheng loved his youngest daughter dearly, and felt both relief and pride.

Although the lords in attendance were often at odds with each other, they also maintained a facade of harmony, and for a time, everyone praised Su Xi’er’s talent.

Su Sheng also spoke repeatedly in a humble manner, saying that his daughter was still young and couldn’t compare to the daughters of other families.

He started to tell his daughter to go back and sit down afterward, but Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan suddenly spoke up: “What these gentlemen say is true. This girl is very pleasing to my eyes; just the sight of her lifts my spirits.”

With a kind smile, she took off the jade bracelet she was wearing and handed it to the matron beside her: “Give this to the child to play with.”

The matron took the bracelet and walked down to Su Xi’er, where she held it out with both hands.

One could not refuse a gift from an elder, and in this particular situation, one could not disregard the empress dowager’s wishes.

So Su Xi’er could only accept it, thanking her somewhat nervously.

“Good child,” Xiao Ruohan said with a smile. “I understand that you are not yet betrothed, and I happen to have a good marriage prospect for you.”

She looked in Su Sheng’s direction and said, seemingly oblivious to his sullen expression: “Jiannan-wang is no longer young. His birth mother passed away long ago, and as his grandmother, I am the only one left to make decisions for him…..”

“This official is deeply humbled!” Disregarding etiquette, Su Sheng interrupted the empress dowager and rose to bow deeply in the center of the room. “My daughter is mischievous and ill-behaved; to have earned the empress dowager’s favor is already a great honor, and she should not aspire to anything more.”

Down below, Su Xi’er also understood the Empress Dowager’s intentions, and her face instantly paled. Her hand trembled slightly as she clutched the bracelet, her knuckles turning white.

Su Sheng’s refusal was exceedingly clear. It was practically the same as directly saying, “I don’t agree!”

However, Xiao Ruohan’s smile remained entirely unchanged. She continued as if unable to comprehend his words: “There is no need for Minister Su to be so modest. I believe that your daughter is gentle and virtuous, perfectly suited to being Jiannan-wang’s princess.”

When she finished speaking, the entire hall fell into a deathly silence.

---

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Chapter 54 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 56

Ch 18 – What Did Yu Xi Hear?

Under Kersz’s encouragement, Yu Xi went to visit Tau alone.

The main reason was that seeing him truly disgusted Kersz. He didn’t want to face this fake friend of his every day, then go and report the content of their conversation to Yu Xi.

In addition, Tau had begun to give up on the idea of resisting, and wouldn’t speak a word at all.

Kersz was infuriated by Tau’s attitude, but taking action against him would be too undignified. Either he would kill this person, or he would leave him alone entirely.

Yet Kersz found that his workload hadn’t decreased, because Yu Xi always needed some encouragement from him whenever he went to Tau’s room.

Yu Xi was worried that he might be faced with conflict, but upon finding Tau silent and wearing a blank expression, his worry gained a tinge of relief.

He now felt more comfortable being in Tau’s room.

Tau’s breathing was very soft, and Yu Xi had the illusion that he was the only one there.

In the end, Yu Xi invited Kersz to come to Tau’s room and play, because being alone was very boring and he wanted the company of a friend.

But Kersz felt that doing this would be a bit too strange. Yu Xi respected his choice and didn’t invite him again, resolving to find his own fun.

“Say ‘Great Blue Morpho Butterfly,’” Yu Xi told Tau.

Tau: …..

“Otherwise, I’ll capture your father and make him the queen bee, attracting all the other illegitimate children,” Yu Xi threatened quite smoothly.

Tau: “Gerbumoburfly.”

“Hehehehe.” Yu Xi was amused. The accents of these humans were always so odd.

Tau stared at him, and Yu Xi continued to chatter: “Luckily, you don’t have any sort of inherent nature at all. Really, once you understand someone’s past vulnerabilities and pain, it’s difficult to be so harsh on them.”

“I recently encountered this problem: my friend’s pronunciation no longer makes me laugh, because he’s making an effort to get closer to me.” Yu Xi heaved a sigh.

After a moment of silence, he added: “But I still do laugh occasionally.”

Yu Xi fell silent again.

Then he added further: “I laugh often, but he really doesn’t mind.” At any rate, Kersz’s heartbeat remained steady.

“Could you tell me about your past interactions?” This time, Yu Xi didn’t give Tau a chance to keep silent. “For your father’s sake, it’s best if you add more detail.”

“We didn’t spend much time together. I gave him the information he wanted, and he went crazy. That’s all,” said Tau.

Yu Xi defended Kersz: “I don’t think he went crazy. I think it was a form of rebellion after being oppressed. You know, when everything he cherished was destroyed, he needed an outlet.”

Tau didn’t argue with Yu Xi. He had lost interest in continuing his act. “You’re right.”

“Did you ever resist?” Yu Xi asked Tau.

Tau stared back at him.

Yu Xi: “You don’t want anything to happen to your father, do you?”

Tau immediately got the picture: “No. All those who resisted are dead.”

“Aren’t you curious about where your parents came from?” Yu Xi asked.

“They’re most likely dead. I’ll never have the chance to meet them.” Tau’s answer was so pragmatic that Yu Xi felt a little sorry for him.

“I’ve given you an examination, and your body is healthy. However, there are indeed some rather dangerous devices inside of you. I think they’re used to ‘dispose of’ you illegitimate children.”

Tau had already guessed that this was the case. But when all was said and done, he was alive and well.

“You don’t seem too worried.” Yu Xi tilted his head.

“Do you want me to worry?” Tau felt that something was wrong here.

Yu Xi should ask for more, whether it was information about the Supreme Governor or a request for Tau to do something for him. Yu Xi had to ask for something.

But Yu Xi only wanted him to live.

Yu Xi said that it was out of personal interest, but this was outside the realm of Tau’s comprehension.

Yu Xi felt that Tau was a rather difficult human to deal with: “Are you feeling uncomfortable right now?”

Tau nodded honestly.

Yu Xi: “It’s a good thing that you feel uncomfortable.”

Tau: ?

Yu Xi continued: “Aren’t you very comfortable with pain? You’re in pain right now, ah, and if your current life is causing you pain, you should be quite comfortable with it.”

Tau: …..

Tau felt like his brain had short-circuited.

“Do you need friends?” Unable to resolve his own confusion, Tau began to explore Yu Xi’s needs.

“I’m not looking for friends.” Yu Xi felt that Tau was incapable of being his friend due to his psychological issues.

“But you’ve become friends with that lunatic, Kersz,” Tau said.

“I think Kersz is actually quite normal.” Yu Xi didn’t think his friend was a “lunatic” at all. He was very good, and even cared about Tau.

“Are you calling a starship-piloting serial killer ‘normal?’” Tau asked.

Tau knew very well that he himself was abnormal, but he didn’t think that Kersz was more normal than him.

“In fact, your current civilization is in a state of imbalance. He wasn’t born abnormal – he was simply swept along in the current and became the way he is now,” Yu Xi said in Kersz’s defense.

“So you think he’s normal?” Tau asked.

“Very normal, ah.” Yu Xi nodded repeatedly.

“Then you’re not normal either,” Tau concluded.

“You’re so mean!” Yu Xi frowned.

Tau fell silent. Yu Xi looked through his system in search of a suitable TV program for Tau.

Early childhood education cartoons? Yu Xi personally had a great fondness for these, but he wasn’t sure if Tau’s interests lay in such things.

After a lengthy silence, Tau finally spoke: “Yu Xi.”

He had practiced his pronunciation.

Yu Xi clutched his chest: “I’m so touched.”

“I feel like your name sounds familiar,” said Tau.

Yu Xi: “Ah?”

“The pronunciation of your name seems familiar to me.” Tau sat up straight, looking more like a robot than Yu Xi, who was sprawled across the couch.

Tau continued: “Facai System.” This was standard ancient human language.

Yu Xi: “Ah?” 

“Facai.” Tau observed Yu Xi’s expression.

Yu Xi looked stunned.

“You know the Facai System. This isn’t your first time in our world,” Tau concluded.

Yu Xi: “Facai^[1] was once one of the strongest desires of humans on my planet.”

Tau: …..

Yu Xi translated the meaning of these two characters for him.

Tau suddenly understood. Then he expressed: “This is also one of the strongest desires of the humans here.”

“So does this mean you’re making a wish on me?” Yu Xi was puzzled.

“…..No.” Tau refused to speak again.

Unable to extract any further information from him, Yu Xi could only go back and ask Kersz.

Yu Xi was initially concerned that Kersz was unaware of the system’s existence, but Kersz immediately recognized it upon hearing the name: “Facai is a word from your local language? That explains it. I was wondering why I couldn’t find the origin of this system’s name….but ‘Facai’ is much easier to pronounce than ‘Yu Xi.’”

Yu Xi disagreed: “First of all, pronouncing my name isn’t difficult. Secondly, after studying it for so long, haven’t you already figured out the pattern? You’ve already discovered the connection between me and Facai, haven’t you?”

Kersz froze.

“But you concealed it. Oh~ your heart is beating faster again.” Yu Xi patted Kersz on the back. “Don’t be nervous. I’m not upset.”

Kersz: “Ah?”

“Perhaps you suspected something and wanted to investigate to uncover the truth.” Yu Xi knew that humans could be awkward like this. He and Kersz hadn’t known each other for very long, so it was impossible for Kersz to have complete trust in him.

Yu Xi could respect it.

Kersz looked at him.

Yu Xi tilted his head. He had a feeling that Kersz wanted to tell him something.

“It’s a little strange…..” Kersz pursed his lips. “I actually wanted you to confront me.”

Yu Xi: “Ah?”

“Then I would frantically explain to you that my suspicions arose before our relationship improved, and that I did investigate some things. After we started getting closer, I was afraid that coming clean would make you think I was a treacherous villain, so I was hesitant to confide in you.” Kersz heaved a sigh.

Yu Xi: “I feel like there’s an element of acting in your words.”

“Just a little.” Kersz smiled.

“So what were the results of your investigation?” Yu Xi asked.

“That system called ‘Facai’ is highly advanced, and requires special permissions to access…..actually, I feel it’s a bit like an AI,” Kersz said. “I don’t actually know when it was created, but it controls all of the Interstellar Alliance’s weapons of mass destruction.”

“I saw it once when I was still in the army, when we needed to activate a highly-lethal weapon,” Kersz said. “The form it used to communicate with us was a big white dog.”

“Big white dog?” Yu Xi was astonished.

“I heard it doesn’t like to be called a dog, and thinks of itself as a wolf. But in terms of appearance, it really….hold on a second.” Kersz asked Yu Xi to hand him a modeling panel, and he quickly recreated the system’s visage.

Upon seeing what it looked like, Yu Xi was quite certain that it was not a wolf, but a Great Pyrenees.

“Oh, right, he has a human form too.” Kersz constructed another figure, a man with white hair and black eyes, sporting a pair of large white ears atop his head.

“Does he look familiar to you?” Kersz asked Yu Xi.

Yu Xi shook his head: “I have no memory of him.”

“But his name is ‘Facai’ – that’s the language of the ancient humans….”

Kersz wore a troubled expression: “With all due respect, the humans around here basically only give names like that to their pets.”

“It’s the same with us.” Yu Xi stared at the white humanoid creature Kersz had just constructed. “You say he doesn’t like being called a dog? He has preferences? Feelings?”

Kersz: “I’m not sure. I never had an in-depth conversation with him.”

Yu Xi continued to gaze at that figure.

Kersz waited to the side.

“Your group of humans has domesticated dogs, right?” Yu Xi asked him.

“We have.”

“What about dogs that look like this?” Yu Xi asked.

Kersz: “There are similar ones, but this specific form has no precise name in our world.”

Yu Xi came to a swift decision: “I want to meet him.”

Kersz: “Unauthorized access to its communication system is a felony.”

Yu Xi emphasized: “They won’t catch me. I want to meet him.”

Kersz felt that Yu Xi was being far too impetuous. Especially since he was unable to handle human maliciousness.

But Yu Xi wasn’t going to listen to him. Kersz deliberately pitched his voice high, drawling in a snide, mocking tone: “Oh~ How heroic~”

Upon hearing these words, Yu Xi slowly placed his hands on his hips and tilted his head upward ever so slightly.

Kersz: …..

Was Yu Xi preening?

Kersz spoke again: “Oh~ How impressive~”

Yu Xi lifted his head a little higher.

He really was preening.

Shit, he forgot. Most of the time, Yu Xi didn’t pick up on sarcasm.

---

[1] ‘Facai’ basically means to ‘get rich.’ ⮐

---

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Chapter 17 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 19

It was the first Mid-Autumn Festival after Bai Lihong’s ascension, and also the first grand palace banquet, so everything had to go off without a hitch.

It was essential that all of the wealthy and powerful families, as well as the common people of Great Ning, saw that Bai Lihong was a legitimate ruler chosen by divine right.

Qin Xiao asked Chu Jiubian’s opinion, and upon hearing that he didn’t mind, he ordered his people to spread the word about everything he had done in Hexi Prefecture.

The natural and manmade disasters had finally subsided, and the most important thing was determining to whom the people owed their gratitude.

They were grateful for the Imperial Court’s disaster relief efforts, and even more grateful to Grand Tutor Chu, who was believed to be the reincarnation of the Sacred Star God.

Thanks to Grand Tutor Chu, they had food to eat, clothes to keep them warm, and medicine to treat their illnesses. Their faith in their divine lord was unwavering.

Through the mouths of these common people, Chu Jiubian’s identity as a “deity” had already spread through Northern Zhili. Now, with Qin Xiao’s simple manipulation and amplification efforts, these rumors spread wider and wider, quickly spreading through the northern regions and then traveling southward. 

For a time, whether they had met Chu Jiubian or not, everyone spoke about the Divine Lord and the emperor with absolute confidence.

“Our current emperor has been acknowledged by heaven itself. It’s because His Majesty cares about us common people that we can triumph over any difficulties we encounter and transform danger into safety.”

“That’s right! The drought in the southern regions and the flooding in Hexi Prefecture were all successfully overcome. Had these things happened at any other time, the consequences would have been unimaginable.”

“Our emperor was sent by the heavens to save us, and the Divine Lord also reincarnated in order to help him govern the country.”

“I’ve heard that too. It’s said that His Majesty was originally a heavenly deity, and upon seeing the suffering of us common people, he voluntarily descended to earth to become emperor. And the Divine Lord, being a close friend of his, also descended to earth to accompany him.”

“Our lives will surely get better and better. Even common people like us now have the opportunity to become officials. Isn’t this a blessing from His Majesty and the Divine Lord?”

“Ai, that’s the truth! We must thank His Majesty properly! And thank the Divine Lord!”

The common people clasped their hands together and bowed toward the heavens, the earth, and also toward the capital city.

Although their lives were still full of hardships, there was a glimmer of hope in their eyes; they carried anticipation for the future, and believed that their lives would continue to improve. 

Such rumors spread for nearly half a month, and a few days before the Mid-Autumn Festival, these claims had become so widespread that they effectively solidified Bai Lihong’s divine right to the throne.

This also proved that Chu Jiubian’s identity as the reincarnation of the Sacred Star God, the Divine Lord, had been accepted by the vast majority of the common people. His Faith Points were also increasing by the day, and he had already earned three more card-drawing opportunities.

On the evening of the twelfth, Chu Jiubian bathed and burned incense, then began his latest attempt at drawing cards.

He didn’t want to waste a single one of his lucky draws.

At present, he had drawn four different keywords: Armed Forces, Charisma, Wealth, and Connections, with two more remaining to be drawn.

Chu Jiubian currently needed to recruit talents, specifically those who could participate in the Imperial Examinations.

He had previously asked Wang Qichen, Jiang Shuoye, and Situ Zhaoling to promote the examinations within their respective spheres of influence, encouraging those with relevant talents to participate. However, due to a lack of familiarity or a systematic vetting process, Chu Jiubian couldn’t fully trust these individuals.

Therefore, it would be reassuring to have highly-capable Believers on his side.

“System, give me a hand,” Chu Jiubian whispered.

[Keyword cards have been prepared for Host. Please draw one. (Only one may be drawn at a time)]

Chu Jiubian reached out and selected a card.

It was a duplicate Armed Forces card.

He drew another, and this time it was a duplicate Charisma.

Chu Jiubian: “……”

It couldn’t happen three times in a row, right? He couldn’t be that unlucky!

This was the last one. New card, new card!

He took a deep breath, and after a long pause, picked his last card.

All of the other cards vanished, leaving this single one in front of him.

Chu Jiubian took the card and rubbed it between his fingertips before gingerly turning it over. His eyes instantly lit up.

It was actually a [Wisdom] card!

Without a doubt, anyone who could be described as “wise” was certain to be a rare and exceptional talent.

It was like a wish come true!

“Good System,” Chu Jiubian said.

[Thanking Host for the compliment. Would you like to draw a Believer?]

“Yes.” 

[Searching for Believers. Please wait.]

[Believer information successfully collected. Please draw a card, Host.]

The keyword card in Chu Jiubian’s hand instantly dispersed into mist, then reformed into nine character cards.

A full nine cards!

This was Chu Jiubian’s first time drawing so many character cards. Even the most composed person in the world would jolt upright in their seat. 

He just didn’t know how many familiar faces would be among them. Hopefully it didn’t go the same way as the Charisma card, because it would be a shame if he couldn’t draw a single one. 

The light engulfing the nine character cards slowly faded away, and Chu Jiubian was able to read the text written on them.

He glanced over them quickly, and his heart skipped a beat.

This System had really given him backdoor access, ah! Besides Qin Xiao, that persistent troublemaker, there wasn’t a single familiar face!

However, he still looked at Qin Xiao’s card first.

[Ning-wang Qin Xiao, age 25. He possesses the talent to govern a nation, and has the wisdom and means to contend with all of the officials in the Imperial Court. Wisdom level: 100%. Choosing him is definitely the right decision! (Not recommended!)]

Chu Jiubian: “ ? ”

One sentence suggested that he choose him, and the next said he wasn’t recommended. Was the System’s code able to contradict itself this way?

But Qin Xiao’s wisdom level was 100%, which was undeniably high.

Chu Jiubian, however, had no intention of choosing him, and instead looked further down the list. The candidates varied in terms of age and location, originating from all over the country and ranging from fourteen at the youngest to forty-three at the oldest.

Wisdom levels varied, but even the lowest score was no less than ninety, indicating that they were all very intelligent people.

But Chu Jiubian was most interested in two of them.

[Tan Yuzhu, female, age 14. Born in Baxian County, she is well-versed in history and the classics. She is morally discerning, skilled in legal affairs, and highly-experienced in human nature and social customs. With a wisdom score of 96%, choosing her is definitely a wise decision! (Recommended!)]

[Lu Yao, courtesy name Zicheng. Male, 19 years old. A natural genius, with a wisdom level of 200%! (If not him, then who?)]

The first contestant, Tan Yuzhu, hailed from Baxian County, and Chu Jiubian had heard of her before.

After news of the Imperial Examinations spread, only a handful of women had registered at the outset, and those who did so only registered for embroidery.

This young woman, who called herself the “Bamboo Rain Scholar,” then wrote an essay urging all women to bravely step out of their secluded homes and seize the opportunity to change their destinies. 

Chu Jiubian had read the essay, and still recalled a few sentences from it: 

“It is said that the wise emperor has issued a new decree, establishing an examination system for the selection of officials without regard to gender, and selecting only those with talent and virtue. This is an unprecedented, historical achievement.”

“There are accomplished young women in every region who are skilled in various fields – some are knowledgeable in classics and history, others are proficient in mathematics or law, and some excel in weaving and embroidery. However, many are confined to their homes, their talents wasted and their lives unfulfilled. Now that our benevolent emperor has paved the way for all women under his rule, why not pack your books and set out on this journey to fulfill your lifelong ambitions?”

After encouraging women to bravely step out of their comfort zones, she then gently urged the fathers and brothers of these families to “facilitate the fulfillment of others’ aspirations,” asking them to give their daughters a chance should they have the desire to serve their country.

“In this way, no talent will be left undiscovered among the women in their inner chambers, and the nation will secure virtuous officials. Regardless of gender or family background, all sons and daughters of Great Ning will jointly defend our divine ruler and create a prosperous era.”

The young girl was well-spoken, and after her essay was widely circulated, more women began to come forward to register.

Although the powerful families and vassal kings had also begun to compete for these talents, they did not establish examinations for women. Therefore, the women of Great Ning who dared to be among the first to “try their luck” could only participate in the Imperial Examinations, which was an unexpected boon to the Imperial Court and allowed them to gain many female talents.

Chu Jiubian really wanted to summon Tan Yuzhu, but he also really wanted to meet this Lu Yao.

A person with a 200% IQ – what kind of “monster” would such a person be?!

Not recruiting such a talent would be an incredible waste.

After much deliberation, Chu Jiubian ultimately chose Lu Yao. His points were steadily increasing, and he could always choose Tan Yuzhu later.

However, when he asked the System to summon him, he was told that this person was still awake and could not be summoned.

Chu Jiubian attempted to summon him again the next morning before dawn, but Lu Yao was still not asleep.

Had he stayed up all night? Was he so hard-working?

Chu Jiubian tried several more times that evening, but each time, he received a message that he was unsummonable. He then tried summoning him during the day, but still couldn’t manage to make him appear.

Speechless, Chu Jiubian asked: “Does he just never sleep?”

[This System has detected that Believer Lu Yao is not currently in a sleeping state. Please try again.]

Chu Jiubian: “……”

He tried again and again at different times, but was never able to get through.

These attempts continued until the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

*

*

Cining Palace.

It was midday, just as the morning court session came to a close.

Exuding prestige, Empress Dowager Xiao Ruohan touched her newly-made ceremonial robes, which were gold in color and embroidered with intricate auspicious cloud designs, along with the character for “longevity.” 

“The Xiao family has been well-behaved lately,” she said slowly.

Matron Liu said: “Now that the Wang family is in such a strong position, our family has been put at a disadvantage.”

Xiao Ruohan: “This is a good thing.”

Silence lingered in the room for a few seconds, and then she said with a sigh: “The Mid-Autumn Festival is the perfect day for a family reunion, ah.”

Matron Liu said: “This servant will help you change clothes.”

Xiao Ruohan smiled, saying as she stood up: “I’ll just go in this. After all, even a new set of clothing can’t conceal a person’s true nature.”

Empress Dowager arrived at Yangxin Hall with great pomp and circumstance, as if to ensure that everyone would witness her arrival.

Indeed, within just fifteen minutes, various rumors had already begun circulating in the capital.

It was said that Jiannan-wang simply had no experience with court affairs, so it was understandable that he would make some mistakes, and he had been reflecting on his actions in seclusion for some time now. He also copied scriptures every day and prayed for the people who died in the flooding in Hexi Prefecture, which showed that he was truly remorseful and had a genuinely kind heart.

It was also said that the Empress Dowager was benevolent, and that when she went to Yangxin Hall to see the emperor during the Mid-Autumn Festival, she surely intended to bring Jiannan-wang to reunite with the emperor, so as to prevent a conflict between brothers.

The emperor was benevolent and magnanimous, and must have taken note of Jiannan-wang’s remorse. He would surely take this opportunity provided by the Empress Dowager to mend his relationship with Jiannan-wang.

It would seem that if the emperor refused, he would be seen as unjust and lacking in compassion.

Chu Jiubian returned to Yaotai Residence after leaving court and listened as Xiao Xiangzi unhappily reported this bit of gossip: “She arrived at Yangxin Hall half a shichen before you returned from morning court, and rather than going in, she waited outside as if she truly loves and respects His Majesty.”

Chu Jiubian was amused by him.

“The Empress Dowager truly holds deep affection for Jiannan-wang,” he said.

He had just passed by Yangxin Hall on the way back, and naturally saw her there. He knew without a doubt what she was up to and couldn’t be bothered to watch her performance, so he came back first.

“Definitely,” said Xiao Xiangzi. “But Jiannan-wang is the only one she has affection for.”

“What do you mean?” Chu Jiubian hadn’t actually looked into the Empress Dowager in detail before.

“You might not know this, but she is actually a formidable character.” Xiao Xiangzi immediately began to chatter on.

During Emperor Chengzong’s reign, despite her high status, Empress Xiao Ruohan had remained childless for a long time while other concubines became pregnant one after another. Therefore, her Xiao family sent her younger half-sister, Xiao Ruojiao, into the palace.

Not long after this half-sister arrived, she also became pregnant.

However, Xiao Ruohan and her half-sister had been at odds since childhood, and the two of them were simply unable to get along inside the palace.

Seeing this, the Xiao family decided to abandon their support for Xiao Ruohan as empress, and instead focused all of their efforts on promoting her half-sister, successfully elevating her to the position of one of four Imperial Consorts.

Unable to accept this situation, Xiao Ruohan took matters into her own hands and eliminated her half-sister, taking the seventh prince, whom her half-sister had given birth to, to raise as her own. 

The Xiao family only wanted the position of empress and a prince with Xiao family blood, so they voiced no objections to Xiao Ruohan’s actions, and instead felt that her decisive and ruthless character was very suitable for the Imperial harem.

However, Xiao Ruohan still harbored hatred toward her half-sister, as well as this seventh prince who was born from her womb.

The child had also inherited the typical Xiao family characteristics – a propensity to hold grudges and seek revenge for the smallest of slights. If he were to ever discover that his mother had been killed by Xiao Ruohan, how could he possibly coexist peacefully with her?

Therefore, rather than letting the seventh prince ascend the throne, Xiao Ruohan preferred to raise a child who was completely devoted to her.

To this end, she devised a plan to send her loyal personal maid, Xiao Mei, to Emperor Chengzong’s bedchambers.

That girl was indeed capable, and became pregnant after being favored by Emperor Chengzong only that one time. And with the secret help of Xiao Ruohan, she successfully gave birth to the eighth prince, who later became Emperor Yingzong – the father of Bai Lihong.

In order to prevent the Xiao family from discovering her true intentions, Xiao Ruohan pretended to break off her relationship with Xiao Mei.

Xiao Mei, a concubine who came from a humble background as a palace maid, was already out of favor and had now fallen out with the empress. Life in the palace was undeniably difficult for her, and the eighth prince, being the most insignificant, was easily trampled upon by everyone.

Yet under these circumstances, Xiao Ruohan secretly took care of them, and was “accidentally” discovered to be the one looking after this mother and son.

Xiao Mei was already fiercely loyal to Xiao Ruohan, and thought she had been maliciously tricked by other people into having an affair with Emperor Chengzong, so she felt very guilty toward her.

Therefore, even when Xiao Ruohan rejected her, she felt that it was her own fault and held no resentment toward her.

Even when she was bullied and persecuted, she endured it in silence. And just when she and the eighth prince were on the brink of despair, a “mysterious benefactor” appeared, not only helping her overcome her difficulties, but also protecting her and her son. Naturally, she was overcome with gratitude.

When she “happened” to discover that the person protecting her was none other than Xiao Ruohan, whom she had served since childhood, she felt even more moved and guilty. She became even more devoted, and the ideas she instilled in the eighth prince every day were all related to being filial to Xiao Ruohan. 

Everything unfolded exactly as Xiao Ruohan had anticipated.

Later, the competition for the throne grew increasingly fierce due to the surplus of capable sons, yet a crown prince had not yet been designated. Ultimately, Emperor Chengzong realized that this was a problem.

Therefore, he appointed as crown prince the seventh prince of the Xiao family, and sent the other princes to their respective fiefdoms, which were now the territories ruled by the vassal kings.

Of course, there were a great many princes at that time, including young Emperor Yingzong, for a total of thirteen.

Later on, five of them died in the struggle for the throne, leaving only Emperor Yingzong and the seven princes who remained today. 

During the most intense period of the succession struggle, Xiao Ruohan outwardly sided with the Xiao family, pretending to be overjoyed that the Seventh Prince, with Xiao family blood, had become the crown prince. But secretly, she hoped that the Eighth Prince born to Xiao Mei would rise to power. 

However, it was incredibly difficult for a powerless and insignificant prince with no resources to stand out among his brothers, all of whom had powerful family backgrounds. 

Unless he could receive some powerful assistance.

Therefore, Xiao Ruohan turned her attention to the Qin family, who were stationed far away on the northern frontier to guard the border.

Although Grand Marshal Qin was advanced in age, he commanded an army of 300,000 elite soldiers, enjoyed immense prestige within the military, and was both courageous and resourceful.

If he would stand behind the Eighth Prince in addition to Xiao Ruohan acting as an insider, they would have a fighting chance in the struggle for the throne.

Therefore, Xiao Ruohan tried every means possible to persuade Emperor Chengzong to grant the Northern Territories to the Eighth Prince as his fiefdom.

However, she was a cautious person who always had a backup plan, so she also promoted a girl from a collateral branch of the Xiao family whom she had aided before. She was given to the Eighth Prince as a concubine, and later became Consort Duan during Emperor Yingzong’s reign.

Xiao Ruohan’s thought process was that if the Eighth Prince were to become emperor in the future, the child born to this Xiao family girl would still be of her bloodline and would be fiercely loyal to her, allowing her to maintain complete control over the Imperial harem.

And when the Eighth Prince went to his fiefdom, he indeed lived up to her expectations. He became involved with the Qin family and even married Qin Feng, the granddaughter of Grand Marshal Qin.

Subsequently, she re-established contact with the Eighth Prince and, before the death of Emperor Chengzong, had him bring the Qin Family Army closer to the capital.

Emperor Chengzong’s health had already been damaged by excessive drinking and indulgence in women, and he died after only a few days of confinement to his bed.

Deciding to go all in, Xiao Ruohan then directly killed the Seventh Prince born to Xiao Ruojiao, forcing the Xiao family to side with her and the Eighth Prince.

After the battle for the throne began, Emperor Yingzong, backed by hundreds of thousands of Qin family troops, quickly captured or killed the four remaining princes with his superior military force.

Having witnessed how formidable the Qin Family Army was, the seven vassal kings realized they were no match for them and that the tide had turned, and they all settled down and returned to their respective territories.

As long as the green mountains remained, there would be firewood to burn.

Ultimately, with the help of the Qin Family Army and the internal support of Xiao Ruohan and the Xiao family, the Eighth Prince successfully ascended the throne to become Emperor Yingzong.

Chu Jiubian truly hadn’t expected there to be such a huge inside story. This empress dowager was indeed bold and resourceful, as well as ruthless, always choosing the path that was most advantageous to herself.

“Actually, did all those princes have women sent to them from the Xiao family?” Chu Jiubian asked.

It was widely known that the Xiao family used its female members to attract and consolidate power. The fact that they could send a Xiao family woman to the Eighth Prince’s fiefdom made it highly likely that they had likewise sent women to the other vassal kings.

Regardless of who ascended the throne, the Xiao family would have connections within the palace.

Xiao Xiangzi nodded vigorously: “My Lord’s guess is absolutely right. The Xiao family did indeed send a daughter to each of the vassal kings, but Nanjiang-wang, Pingxi-Wang, Anhuai-wang, and Dingbei-wang all refused them, while the other three vassal kings accepted them without hesitation.”

Chu Jiubian found this quite interesting.

The Xiao family was truly wise to not put all their eggs in one basket, and this Empress Dowager was indeed skilled at assessing situations and acting accordingly.

She must have gone to Yangxin Hall today in order to lift the restrictions on Jiannan-wang, and Qin Xiao would surely take the opportunity to back down and release him at her suggestion.

Jiannan-wang was a key piece, and could not be removed from the chessboard just yet.

Not only did the Xiao family need him, but so did Qin Xiao.

“By the way, Young Master, the Imperial Clothing Bureau delivered your formal attire for the banquet. Please take a look,” said Xiao Xiangzi.

Chu Jiubian entered the inner chamber and found light pink robes embroidered with silver patterns hanging on one of the clothes racks.

He walked over and touched them lightly; the silk fabric was soft and smooth, far superior to the brocade he had been wearing.

“This fabric is truly excellent, but there was unfortunately only enough to make one outfit each for you and His Lordship. If there had been more, it would have been good to have several outfits that can be rotated in and out as they’re washed.”

Xiao Xiangzi had been becoming increasingly comfortable and familiar when speaking to Chu Jiubian, and no longer put on a pretense of maturity or hid his youthful nature.

Chu Jiubian said: “There will be more of it in the future. At that time, I’ll get some for you to wear too.”

“This servant wouldn’t dare wear such a bright color, as it would be inconvenient for carrying out my work. It’s much better suited to you, Young Master.”

Chu Jiubian simply gave him a smile.

Situ Zhaoling was very efficient in her work, and with her talented younger brother Situ Zhaoyao by her side, although it had not yet established large-scale operations, the dye workshop was progressing well. The brother and sister had already figured out how to produce better silk and dye it.

The fabric before Chu Jiubian was made by the Situ siblings and sent to the Divine Realm, but because it was not yet being mass-produced, it was only available in light pink and light blue.

Upon seeing it, Chu Jiubian chose to keep it and wear it to the palace banquet. He would be like a walking advertisement, and once the fabric from Nanjiang arrived, there would be no worries about selling it.

He had intended for he and Qin Xiao to wear matching outfits, so he showed the fabric to him.

When he saw it, Qin Xiao didn’t dislike the pink color at all, and left the final decision up to Chu Jiubian.

Chu Jiubian wanted to make him wear pink just to see how “delicate” the regent would look, but ultimately decided against it.

At an Imperial banquet, Qin Xiao was required to wear robes that conformed to regulations, which would likely be the black and gold python robes that signified his status.

Therefore, Chu Jiubian would have to wear it alone.

However, he had a light blue outfit made for Qin Xiao, and when he got the chance to wear it later, the effect would be the same.

As Chu Jiubian had expected, Qin Xiao readily agreed to Xiao Ruohan’s request, lifting Jiannan-wang’s house arrest and allowing him to attend the Mid-Autumn Festival palace banquet.

On the day of the Imperial banquet, all officials were given the day off.

When the time for the evening banquet arrived, all officials of third-rank or above and their families entered the palace one after another. 

Today’s occasion was very important for the young emperor, so Chu Jiubian didn’t hold back. He brought out fine salt and thirteen-spice powder, and even taught the palace kitchen maids how to make several new dishes, including braised pork and cakes, determined to ensure that the child would enjoy a truly special meal.

Apart from the guest list and the food and drink, which were the more important matters that required the approval of Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian, everything else regarding the Imperial banquet was handled entirely by Eunuch Hong.

Security fell under the purview of An Wuji, the commander of the Imperial Guard, and the lockdown of the palace and the entire capital city had begun the day before the Mid-Autumn Festival.

All suspicious individuals would be monitored and questioned. An assassin must not be given the slightest opportunity to cause trouble.

Before the start of the banquet, Chu Jiubian changed into his set of light pink robes. The fabric was soft and lustrous, and draped over him beautifully.

Qin Xiao and company were standing at the entrance of Yangxin Hall when they spotted the young man approaching.

The slightly delicate pink robes featured a silver-white overlapping collar and a matching silver belt. The young man’s silver hair stirred in the breeze, giving him an ethereal, almost divine appearance that seemed out of place in this world.

Qin Xiao was clad in black and gold-embroidered robes, his hair neatly tied up in a golden guan. His eyes were deep-set and sharp, giving him a commanding and imposing presence.

The last time Chu Jiubian had seen him wearing these clothes was the day he had first arrived. Seeing him in them again now, although he was handsome and still looked imposing and fierce, he felt like there was something different about him.

He walked past Qin Xiao without stopping or even sparing him a glance. “Let’s go,” he said.

Qin Xiao watched him walk by, then followed with a soft chuckle and walked beside him: “This color suits you very well.”

“Is there a color that wouldn’t suit me?” Chu Jiubian asked.

Qin Xiao thought for a moment, then said: “None have been discovered yet.”

Chu Jiubian just smiled: “My Lord certainly has a way with words.”

Qin Xiao instinctively turned his head to look at him, his gaze slowly sweeping across those smooth, rosy lips.

Would they be sweet?

The Imperial banquet was held in Haiyan Hall, which was used specifically for large-scale banquets within the palace. It was four times the size of Fengtian Hall, and was decorated with dazzling splendor – adorned with gold and silver gauze curtains and illuminated by swaying lanterns, it made a magnificent and breathtaking sight.

The interior of the hall featured three seating levels, each one step higher than the one below it.

The most prestigious seats were originally reserved for members of the Imperial family, but considering the current unusual circumstances, those seats were occupied by the emperor, the empress dowager, Jiannan-wang, Qin Xiao, and Chu Jiubian – a total of five people. 

The emperor sat in the main seat, facing the others below. To his right sat Jiannan-wang and the empress dowager, and to his left sat Qin Xiao and Chu Jiubian.

On the next tier sat officials of the third rank or above, arranged in order of rank and status.

Sitting on the last tier were the family members brought along by these officials. Besides their wives, many of them had brought their daughters – but none of them had brought their sons.

The main reason for this was that today’s palace banquet was not a social occasion, so there was no point in their sons attending. But it was different for daughters. These young ladies from prominent families had all prepared small performances to celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival, firstly to showcase their upbringing and bring honor to their fathers and brothers, and secondly – and more practically – to be seen by eligible suitors.

If their talents and personalities impressed any of the ladies of suitable families, further contact would be made, and if all went well, marriage arrangements could be discussed. 

Therefore, all of the young ladies in attendance today were beautifully-dressed in addition to their exquisite demeanors and etiquette, making them a delight to behold.

And it wasn’t just the young ladies; the noble ladies and officials themselves were elegant and dignified, elevating the magnificence of Haiyan Hall with their very presence.

Since everyone had arrived early, they gathered in small groups to chat rather than taking their seats.

This was the established protocol for Imperial banquets: the more powerful the guest, the later they arrived, with the emperor being the last. Only after everyone paid their respects to the emperor and were given permission to sit would the banquet officially begin.

Now that the six first-rank ministers had arrived, it was likely that the two most powerful officials and the members of the Imperial family would soon make their appearance.

Sure enough, it wasn’t long before everyone caught sight of two figures approaching outside the hall.

The hall immediately fell into complete silence, dozens of pairs of eyes fixed on the hall entrance.

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Chapter 53 << Table of Contents >> Chapter 55