A Thousand Years of Elegance Discussed in Laughter (Complete) - 16

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Volume 24, Chapter 1: The Emperor's Disciple, Zhi Qiuwu.

Ren Xiaoyao pressed his lips to Long Feiyun's ear, gently blowing air. Long Feiyun felt a strange stimulation; her entire body convulsed and trembled. Ren Xiaoyao, taking advantage of the situation, pinched her earlobe and licked it with his tongue. Waves of pleasure flowed to the center of his body. The beautiful
Long Feiyun was extremely shy, her face flushed, her breath quickening, and her cloud-like hair damp with fragrant sweat. Ren Xiaoyao's left hand remained on her nipples, while his right hand gradually moved down, from her lower abdomen, along her thigh, all the way to her groin.
"Ah..." Long Feiyun instantly lost control, almost crying out. Ren Xiaoyao's kneading of her firm breasts had already caught her off guard; now, with her lower body also being rubbed, the strange sensations from three places simultaneously made her feel as if she were being gnawed by insects; her elastic, soft leg muscles twitched uncontrollably.
"Ah... I can't take it anymore..." Long Feiyun moaned shyly. Ren Xiaoyao, also stirred by the fiery passion of the stunningly beautiful girl beneath him, was about to thrust in when he accidentally touched his chest wound, letting out a cry of pain.
Startled by Ren Xiaoyao, Long Feiyun snapped back to reality, shoved him away, threw on her clothes, and jumped off the bed.
Ren Xiaoyao wasn't about to let the woman he had won escape; he grabbed Long Feiyun's arm, trying to pull her back into his embrace.
Long Feiyun tried to retaliate, but her body went limp and she couldn't muster any strength. She cried out, "I told you, you're not allowed to touch me before the wedding, otherwise I... I'll never speak to you again!"
Seeing her resolute attitude, Ren Xiaoyao didn't dare to force her and said softly, "Feiyun, you can leave, but at least you need to help me think of a plan for tomorrow morning."
Long Feiyun hurriedly put on her clothes, her cheeks flushed, and said, "Just say that on the way back from the yamen, I was ambushed by someone from the Absolute Assassins. I'll add a few words to their side, and they won't suspect anything." After saying that, she tidied her disheveled hair and hurriedly ran out.
Watching her charming figure, Ren Xiaoyao smiled helplessly. Before
7
PM, Qian Yi, his large belly protruding, paced back and forth in the main hall. Although Fan Jian's plan last night seemed flawless, and today they had even hired over a dozen underworld figures to guard the courtyard, Qian Yi still felt uncertain. He didn't even have the heart to supervise their setup of the traps and sentries; he just kept praying to God for protection.
"Master, everything is arranged!" Fan Jian called respectfully from outside the window.
"Oh, so fast." Qian Yi's mind stirred slightly, and he strode outside.
In the large open space before him, a dozen wooden crates were lined up side by side. On both sides, nearly a hundred burly men in black stood attentively, each holding a torch, illuminating the space within a radius of several dozen feet. Eight teams of archers stood or half-crouched in two rows, facing the wall, pointing towards the rooftops and eaves in the four corners of the house.
Not far away, a man in black with prominent cheekbones, hawk-like eyes, and a sinister, fierce expression paced back and forth with his hands behind his back. Beside the wooden box, in a nanmu armchair, sat a burly old man in brocade robes, his expression imposing, his hair and beard thick and white. His hands were withered, thin, and long with prominent knuckles, tightly gripping a pair of gleaming silver steel writing brushes, yet his demeanor was relaxed and composed, as if he were resting with his eyes closed. Beside him stood a middle-aged man with a full beard, fierce and ugly, his sharp gaze sweeping from left to right and right to left without ever pausing for a moment.
"Master, this is Chief Zheng of Qingfeng Village," Fan Jian introduced, pointing to the middle-aged man. "Next to him is 'Golden-Eyed Eagle' Old Master Sun, and pacing back and forth over there is the infamous lone thief Feng Shiqi. These men are renowned in the underworld, and I went to great lengths to invite them."
"Thank you all for your hard work. After today's matter is settled, I will certainly reward you handsomely!" Qian Yi said with a cupped hand and a smile.
"Not at all, not at all. As long as we can thwart the reputation of the dashing thief, I am more than satisfied." Chief Zheng and Old Master Sun hurriedly stood up to return the greeting, but Feng Shiqi seemed not to hear them and continued pacing as if nothing had happened.
Qian Yi looked displeased and was about to lash out when Fan Jian quickly whispered in his ear, "Master, please don't take offense. People in the martial world are all a bit extreme in their personalities."
Qian Yi thought about it and agreed, nodding, "Continue, I want to know the layout of the guard posts."
Fan Jian led Qian Yi to the wooden crates and respectfully said, "Master, please look. These thirteen wooden crates are all firmly locked with thick iron chains and fixed to the ground. Ten of them contain silver, each containing twenty thousand taels, and the other three contain gold and silver jewelry, also reinforced with lead blocks. They are quite heavy. Even if Ren Xiaoyao has a way to open the chains, he absolutely cannot move the crates by himself... Hehe, back then when he stole treasures from Fengming Pavilion, Shenhuo Hall, and Yaoyue Tower, he only obtained easily portable items. Tonight, I want to see how Ren Xiaoyao will handle this several-thousand-pound behemoth."
Qian Yi tried it himself and saw that it was indeed as Fan Jian had said, and his anxiety immediately subsided.
Fan Jian continued, "As per your orders, the guards responsible for protecting the yamen tonight are all your trusted men. In addition, there are the men brought by Chief Zheng and Master Sun's apprentice. As for the traps, besides the commonly used crossbows and lassos, there are also the Flaming Sun Brands personally set up by Feng Shiqi. As soon as Ren Xiaoyao appears, the specially made firework shells will be launched in three waves. No matter how good 'Romantic Thief' is in lightness skills, he won't be able to avoid them."
Qian Yi was overjoyed upon hearing this and rubbed his hands together, saying, "Good, well done! I will reward you handsomely after it's done."
Fan Jian smiled broadly and bowed obsequiously, saying, "Even Ren Xiaoyao has lost to you, Master. Who else in the world would dare to provoke you... Brothers, be on high alert and don't give the other side any opening."
The open space immediately fell silent. Everyone was on edge, waiting quietly for Ren Xiaoyao to appear.
Time ticked by, and the previously composed Chief Zheng and Old Master Sun both broke out in a sweat. Even Fan Jian, who had been brimming with confidence, began to tense up, fearing some oversight.
"Clang, clang, clang—the weather is dry, be careful with fire!" The clear sound of the watchman's drum came from outside the wall.
Whether it was from his usual wicked deeds or from being intimidated by Ren Xiaoyao's reputation, Qian Yi was trembling with fear, shouting at the top of his lungs, "Everyone guard the courtyard! Don't leave even a step! Tonight our goal... our goal is to protect the treasure! We'll ignore everything else!"

(Volume 24: The Emperor's Disciple Zhi Qiu Wu, Chapter 2: A Masterful Hand Punishment of Evil)

"Master, it's terrible! The stables are on fire!" "A servant stumbled up to him, his voice trembling.
Before Qian Yi could speak, Chief Constable Miao Gui, accompanied by three constables, rushed into the manor, panting, and said, "The people in the eastern suburbs have gathered and rioted, openly attacking the granary. I have too few constables under my command and simply cannot suppress them."
"It's over...it's over...what should we do?" Qian Yi was extremely anxious and panicked. He couldn't ignore the fire in the stables, otherwise, with the wind, the entire prefectural government office might be in danger. He couldn't neglect the granary either, because if the hundreds of thousands of dan of official grain inside were lost, it would be a serious crime of dereliction of duty. Even with his godfather's protection, he might still lose his head. But if he transferred all the constables away, he couldn't do anything to Ren Xiaoyao with just Chief Zheng, Old Master Sun, and Feng Shiqi's gang.
"Master, this is Ren Xiaoyao's trick to lure us away from our mountain stronghold. We must not fall for it!" "Fan Jian said in a deep voice.
"Prefect, if the granary is lost, neither of us will be able to escape the consequences." Miao Gui said anxiously.
"You...you gather all the constables on leave and those who have resigned from their posts in the yamen, and they must defend the granary to the death." After thinking it over, Qian Yi finally came up with a compromise and ordered, "Steward, take the old, weak, women and children from the yamen to the stables to put out the fire...In short, not a single one of my men can be missing!"
"Sir, just a dozen or so..." Miao Gui was about to say something more when Qian Yi suddenly roared, "Stop talking nonsense, go now! If the official grain is gone, I will hold you responsible first!"
"Yes!" Seeing that the prefect was angry, Miao Gui did not dare to stay any longer and awkwardly led the constables away.
A tense atmosphere instantly filled the room, and everyone felt a chill run down their spines, fearing that Ren Xiaoyao might have some even more terrifying tricks up his sleeve, making it impossible to defend against.
At that moment, the moon shyly hid behind the clouds, and the surrounding scenery instantly dimmed.
Old Master Sun gripped his judge's pen tightly, stood up abruptly, and said in a deep voice, "Everyone be careful..."
Before he could finish speaking, a hearty laugh suddenly came from behind the eaves in the southeast corner: "Hahaha, I didn't expect that such a small Yangzhou government office would be full of hidden talents, easily seeing through my feint."
Everyone's expression changed, and the archers immediately drew their bows and nocked arrows, pointing them intently at the top of the eaves. Chief Zheng and Old Master Sun simultaneously leaped forward, each holding a weapon to guard several nearby landing points. Feng Shiqi went even further, his gloomy eyes flashing with a sharp light. With a "whoosh," he drew his long sword, did a somersault, and leaped onto the roof, rushing towards the source of the laughter, disappearing from everyone's sight in an instant.
Grandpa Sun was shocked and stamped his foot, exclaiming, "Not good! We're welcoming the snake out of its hole!"
Before he finished speaking, a scream rang out, and Feng Shiqi, sword and all, fell backward at an even faster speed than when he had leaped over the wall, crashing to the ground like a lifeless sandbag. He rolled twice before coming to a stop, motionless.
The crowd exchanged bewildered glances. Chief Zheng trembled with fear, speechless for a long time. He and Feng Shiqi were close friends, and he knew that with his martial arts skills, he wouldn't last thirty moves against Feng Shiqi. Yet, in the blink of an eye, the latter had been killed on the spot by Ren Xiaoyao. The shock he felt was unimaginable.
"Fatty Qian, is this the expert you invited to help? Hmph, a bunch of trash, not good enough to dirty this Marquis's sword!" Ren Xiaoyao's chilling voice, filled with murderous intent, rang out again, initially from the east, but suddenly from the west. The two people were several dozen feet apart, and it seemed as if one person shouted and then the other followed, but the voices were undoubtedly from Ren Xiaoyao, and they continued uninterrupted from east to west, demonstrating his incredible speed.
As everyone looked at each other in astonishment, Qian Yi's legs went weak and he slumped down. With such lightness skill, the so-called eight teams of archers and their crossbows, lassos, and sun-branding weapons were practically useless; they couldn't possibly touch even a hem of Ren Xiaoyao's clothes.
"Hahaha, scared already!? When you were committing crimes and plundering the people in Yangzhou, did you ever think that this day would come!" After the long roar, Ren Xiaoyao finally appeared in everyone's sight. His sword-like eyebrows reached his temples, his demeanor was composed, and his hawk-like eyes contained a profound insight. His snow-white night clothes stood out conspicuously in the dark night, and his entire being exuded an aura of aloof arrogance and domineering power.
"Ren Xiaoyao, if you have the guts, come down here!" Chief Zheng shouted, trying to remain calm.
"Alright, I'd like to see just how capable your Thirteen Swords of Qingfeng really are." Ren Xiaoyao smiled slightly, then suddenly leaped up, swooping down from the eaves like a meteor.
"Quick, fire the arrows!" In desperation, Fan Jian didn't care whether the arrows would be effective or not, shouting hoarsely.
A hail of arrows rained down, dense as locusts, seemingly about to riddle Ren Xiaoyao with bullets. But a disdainful smile appeared on his lips. He crossed his feet, suddenly rising several meters into the air. A series of complex movements—springing up, dodging, and shifting—were completed almost in the blink of an eye. Ren Xiaoyao's robes billowed as he rapidly spun in the air, performing four consecutive somersaults, each higher than the last, before landing steadily in the center of the open space.
The onlookers felt a chill run down their spines. If they hadn't witnessed it with their own eyes, they would never have believed that such lightness skill existed in the world. Forget about the Thirteen Swords of Qingfeng; even Chief Zheng and Old Master Sun were speechless, frozen in place.
"Demon...demon magic!" Qian Yi, who knew nothing of martial arts, cried out in shock.
"I used Flying Immortal Transformation, not demon magic, remember that?" Ren Xiaoyao smiled and walked to the wooden box, patting Qian Yi's shoulder with a leisurely laugh.
"Lord...Lord, you old..." Qian Yi shakily managed to stand, but Ren Xiaoyao's touch caused him to collapse back to his knees.
"Hmph, do I look old?" Ren Xiaoyao's gaze was like lightning, coldly asking.
"No, no...what I meant was..." Qian Yi's words trailed off as his crotch became wet.
"Ren Xiaoyao, don't be so arrogant." Old Master Sun barely managed to compose himself, strode up to Ren Xiaoyao, and scolded in a low voice, "There are over a hundred of us here. Can you handle this all by yourself?"
"Sun Chuanting, a native of Jianghuai, studied under Liu Yuanzong, the leader of the Huaihai Gang, in his youth. At the age of twenty-five, he seduced his fellow disciple Wei Xia. Within three days, the affair was exposed, and he was expelled from the Huaihai Gang. He then became a disciple of Wu Gui, a notorious figure in the underworld, and trained diligently for twenty years. Finally, he personally killed Liu Yuanzong, destroying the Huaihai Gang's nearly century-old foundation." Ren Xiaoyao turned around like a whirlwind and said coldly, "Ten years ago, you helped your own son, Zhu Yongjie, rise to power, making him the leader of the Salt Gang..."
"This... these things, you... how could you know?" Old Master Sun's face drained of color, and he said incredulously. Ren Xiaoyao might be able to find out a little about his past through his extensive network of connections, but the fact that Zhu Yongjie, the leader of the Salt Gang, was his son who had changed his name was a huge secret, and there was no way Ren Xiaoyao could find out.
"I truly admire Old Master Sun's audacity. Back then, a shipment of goods belonging to the Salt Gang was seized in eastern Sichuan. Ren Xiaoyao went to great lengths to ask Tang Dingnan for help, and finally managed to get the goods back. But you, sir, instructed your son to give half to the gang, while you kept the other half for yourself, even making up the excuse that it was a tribute to the Tang Clan in Sichuan. Brilliant, truly brilliant!" A cold smile appeared on Ren Xiaoyao's lips as he calmly said, "I also have a fairly close relationship with Tang Jue, the sect leader . If I were to write him a letter... you are a smart man, you should be able to guess what I'm going to say next.
" Old Master Sun's face turned pale and then red, revealing a look of utter despair and dejection. He sighed bitterly, "Ren... Sect Leader Ren, I've lost today. I beg you to show mercy and let this old man go." After saying this, he led his disciples away from the prefectural government office without looking back.
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with a sharp light. He took out a bronze token from his robes and casually tossed it to Chief Zheng, muttering to himself, "Before leaving Xunfeng City, I asked my third brother for a Tianya Token. It's said that seeing this token is like seeing him, granting the command of any outlaw in the seven southern and sixty-three northern provinces. I wonder if it's true."
Chief Zheng's lips twitched slightly as he smiled obsequiously, "What Chief Ren says is true. Holding the Tianya Token is like the Chief himself; how dare we disobey?"
Ren Xiaoyao shrugged nonchalantly, saying casually, "That's good. You're done here. Chief Zheng, take your brothers and go back to the stronghold to rest."
Chief Zheng nodded hastily in agreement, and the dozens of people from Qingfeng Village vanished in an instant.
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes flashed with a strange light, then quickly subsided. He swept his gaze over the archers, his imposing aura causing them to involuntarily lower their bows and obediently retreat to the side.
Ren Xiaoyao stood proudly with his hands behind his back and said calmly, "Prefect Qian, now that things have come to this, do you think it's still necessary to hold on to the bitter end?"
Qian Yi stammered, not daring to speak, his eyes constantly glancing at Fan Jian.
Fan Jian took a deep breath, his pale face returning to normal. He gritted his teeth and forced himself to remain calm, saying, "My lord, you are a renowned figure in the martial world; you should keep your word
, shouldn't you?" Ren Xiaoyao stood tall and straight, smiling, "Of course. A true man's word is his bond."
Fan Jian cautiously asked, "You wrote in the Xiaoyao Note that you would come to steal the treasure at Hai hour tonight, but now..."
Ren Xiaoyao feigned sudden realization, saying casually, "Oh, you mean what I'm doing now is robbery, not burglary, right?"
Fan Jian bowed and scraped, smiling obsequiously, "Yes...yes..."
Ren Xiaoyao's gaze turned cold, and he said icily, "To tell you the truth, I never intended to touch the gold and silver treasures Qian Yi amassed. I only sent the Xiaoyao Note last night to scare you."
Qian Yi exclaimed in astonishment, "My lord, you...you're not joking, are you?"
Ren Xiaoyao's face hardened, and he said in a deep voice, "Do I look like the kind of person who speaks carelessly?"
Qian Yi hurriedly said, "No, of course not, Your Excellency, you are wise and powerful..." He used all his charm to utter a long string of flattering words, fully confident that he could protect all those dozen or so chests of gold and silver jewelry.
Ren Xiaoyao asked with a smile, "Tell the truth, the things in the chests are all things you usually embezzle."
Qian Yi dared not hide it and replied, "Yes, it was what I plundered..."
Ren Xiaoyao's face darkened, and he interrupted, "Speak louder, I can't hear you."
Qian Yi honestly shouted, "Reporting to Your Excellency, the gold and silver jewelry in the chests are all mine."
Ren Xiaoyao laughed heartily, "Good, well said, Lord Xu, you can come out now."
The door suddenly opened, and the person who pushed the door open was none other than Xu Ren, the Commander of Jingyang.

Volume 24 The Emperor's Disciple Knows Autumn Enlightenment Chapter 3 Deceit and Intrigue

Qian Yi was immediately struck dumb, his whole body trembled, and his face turned ashen. Ren Xiaoyao's so-called midnight theft was nothing more than a trick to get all the ill-gotten gains from his years of embezzlement, chaining them up in the open space of the yamen, while secretly inviting Xu Ren to recover all the stolen money.
Ren Xiaoyao clasped his hands and said, "Lord Xu, the thirteen chests of gold and silver jewelry in front of you are physical evidence. All the yamen runners present heard Qian Yi's exact words clearly. Now that we have both witnesses and physical evidence, let's see how he denies it."
Xu Ren cupped his hands and smiled, "The Marquis of Champion's strategy is truly beyond the reach of ordinary people like us. I admire him greatly." After saying that, he gave a wink, and two
attendants beside him immediately grabbed Qian Yi's hands and dragged him forward. "Lord Xu, please... please spare me!" Qian Yi was already terrified by the sudden turn of events, hanging his head and crying and begging.
Xu Ren roared in fury, "You scoundrel who has brought ruin to the country and its people, you still expect me to show you mercy... Let me tell you, today is the day your heinous crimes will be exposed!" Fearing that Wang Ruoqin would bring in the Crown Prince to protect Qian Yi, he planned to have him executed at noon.
Ren Xiaoyao smiled and said, "Lord Xu, the evidence against Qian Yi is irrefutable; no one can save him. Rather than sending him directly to the King of Hell, we should try to extract more information from him..." He lowered his voice and whispered a few words to Xu Ren, who nodded repeatedly.
Xu Ren gestured to his men to drag Qian Yi into the main hall, then turned to Fan Jian and said coldly, "Master Fan, now, do you want to live or die?"
Fan Jian nodded vigorously, repeatedly saying, "Live...of course I want to live."
Xu Ren's face darkened, and he said coldly, "You've been an accomplice to Qian Yi, and you've done no small amount of evil. It won't be easy for me to spare you, unless..." He deliberately paused here.
Fan Jian hurriedly said, "Sir, I'm willing to testify and identify Prefect Qian...no, Qian Yi."
Ren Xiaoyao said in a deep voice, "There are dozens of witnesses here. One more or one less won't make a difference."
Fan Jian was shrewd enough to immediately understand their meaning, and said anxiously, "I understand. I'll immediately bring you the ledger of Qian Yi's bribes, and ask the Marquis of Champion and Master Xu to investigate." With that, he scrambled into the study.
Before long, he brought out several small ledgers, each about an inch long, and presented them with both hands, explaining in detail: "The Marquis of Champion has the income ledger, which records every single embezzled sum Qian Yi has embezzled since he was promoted to magistrate of Gaoyou County. Lord Xu has the expenditure ledger, including the list of gifts Qian Yi gave to his superiors during festivals, weddings, and funerals. As for the summary ledger, it's hidden in a secret room, and only he can access it."
Ren Xiaoyao and Xu Ren casually flipped through a few pages, exchanged a smile, and Xu Ren announced loudly, "Guards! Throw Qian Yi and Fan Jian into jail! The rest of you, go home! No one is allowed to leave Yangzhou without my order!" The constables, who had hoped to pull strings, were surprised that the commander let them go. They immediately scattered, leaving only Ren Xiaoyao, Xu Ren, and their men in the large prefectural government office.
Ren Xiaoyao raised his Ice Soul Frost Sword and severed all the chains. Xu Ren waved his hand, and the men immediately lifted the wooden box and marched out in unison.
Just as they were about to exit through the gate, a large group of men suddenly rushed in from afar, completely blocking the way.
Xu Ren's expression changed slightly, and he shouted, "Who goes there, daring to block my path!"
The men immediately parted to the side, and the middle-aged scholar leading them rode up on a tall horse, coldly saying, "I say, Lord Xu, don't you even recognize me?"
Xu Ren smiled nonchalantly, "So it's Lord Wang. What brings you here?" This middle-aged scholar was none other than Wang Ruoqin, Qian Yi's godfather, a favorite of the Crown Prince, and a Vice Chancellor. He was a handsome man with a lean face and long limbs, but a hooked nose gave him a fearsome expression and a cold, ruthless air. What was most unforgettable about him wasn't his tall, slender figure, his flawless, jade-like skin, his high cheekbones, or even his somewhat pale but handsome face, but rather his perpetually narrowed, icy, and ruthless eyes, which conveyed a chilling, cold-blooded, and sinister aura.
Wang Ruoqin sized Xu Ren up and down, then sneered, "Lord Xu, we both received the imperial decree from His Majesty. Surely you understand my purpose?"
Everyone's expression changed at the question, except for Ren Xiaoyao and Xu Ren, who remained calm. The latter stroked his long beard and said indifferently, "Imperial decree? What imperial decree? Lord Wang, are you joking?"
Wang Ruoqin's eyes flashed with a light that seemed to see right through Xu Ren, and he rebuked, "How dare you, Xu Ren, spout such nonsense! Do you know..." "This is a crime of deceiving the emperor!"
Xu Ren's eyes flashed with unfathomable wisdom as he went straight to the point: "It is you, Wang Ruoqin, who fabricated the imperial edict and deceived the emperor!"
Wang Ruoqin laughed loudly, his eyes flashing with a cruel and hateful light that could chill anyone's heart. He coldly stared at Xu Ren and said, "Good, although you are an imposter, you were not intimidated by my empty threats. On the contrary, you remained calm and answered fluently. It seems that my godson has really gotten himself into trouble." "An ordinary opponent."
Xu Ren was shocked, but showed no sign of it on his face. He smiled and said, "Lord Wang, we do have a history of discord, but there's no need to use such a lame excuse to slander me."
Wang Ruoqin's eyes flashed with murderous intent, but his tone remained strangely calm, which could make one's heart tremble. He sighed and said, "Hmph, your disguise is indeed flawless. Xu Ren and I have been scheming against each other for seven or eight years, and we know each other very well. Yet I still can't see through your disguise. What a pity, what a pity. The real Xu Ren will be here soon. You'd better remove your disguise and confess."
Xu Ren remained calm and said slowly, "Lord Wang, although your position is above mine, it's not something that can be done in a few days to frame me and take the opportunity to rescue Qian Yi. I think you should give up on that idea and not end up losing more than you gain."
The sound of rapid hoofbeats came from afar, and someone was approaching.
Wang Ruoqin laughed loudly, filled with smugness. The fierce glint in his eyes was replaced by an excited, fanatical expression. He slowly said, "I'll give you one last chance. If you still don't admit it, don't blame me for being ruthless!"
Xu Ren smiled nonchalantly, "Is that so? In that case, let's invite the real Lord Xu to come forward for a chat." As soon as
he finished speaking, a real Xu Ren actually walked in from outside the door. Compared to the man before him, the two were almost identical except for their clothing; their build, appearance, demeanor, and expressions were virtually indistinguishable.

(Volume 24, Chapter 4, "The Emperor's Disciple Knows Autumn's Understanding")

Ren Xiaoyao was the first to be dumbfounded. The fake Xu Ren's expression also changed drastically. The rest of the group, needless to say, were all completely innocent.
Wang Ruoqin said sarcastically, "Lord Xu, someone is impersonating you to swindle people. What do you think should be done about it?"
Half a month ago, he heard that Xu Ren was going to investigate Qian Yi's embezzlement and corruption. He feared the scandal would be exposed and he would be implicated, but he didn't want to directly interfere for fear of gossip. His years in officialdom hadn't been for nothing; on a whim, he proactively exposed Qian Yi's acceptance of bribes, requesting an imperial decree to investigate in the south
. His plan was to stall Xu Ren for months, preventing him from finding any evidence, and then report back that Qian Yi's embezzlement case was a false accusation, thus ending the matter once and for all. Xu Ren went to Yangzhou under the pretext of inspecting defenses, reporting his itinerary to the court well in advance. Wang Ruoqin, without lifting a finger, found Xu Ren three days prior, obtained the Crown Prince's edict, and forced him to assist in the investigation. Xu Ren was well aware of Wang Ruoqin's scheme, but since the man held the imperial edict, he dared not disobey even if he had the audacity.
Wang Ruoqin's original intention was to delay as long as possible, giving Qian Yi more time to manage the accounts and prevent Xu Ren from discovering anything amiss. However, he received a message from Qian Yi via carrier pigeon the previous night, saying that thieves were planning to steal his treasure that night (Qian Yi was very shrewd, fearing that revealing Ren Xiaoyao's name would cause his godfather to ignore him, only saying it was a recently offended figure in the martial arts world). Knowing Qian Yi's indecisiveness, Wang Ruoqin guessed he was likely in trouble, so he led his troops on a non-stop journey for most of the day, finally appearing at the last minute.
Seeing that the other party was impersonating Xu Ren, Wang Ruoqin was overjoyed. The prefectural government office was currently surrounded; barring any major incidents, rescuing Qian Yi was no problem. He could then use this opportunity to frame Xu Ren, implicating him in the entire impersonation incident, and pinning the charge of false accusation on him, thus eliminating this thorn in his side.
Xu Ren, having risen to the high position of Commander-in-Chief, was no ordinary man. He wouldn't be easily framed by Wang Ruoqin. He calmly said, "Lord Wang, we are here on imperial orders to investigate Qian Yi's embezzlement case. Other matters seem to be the responsibility of the local authorities; it's not our place to interfere."
Wang Ruoqin laughed heartily and coldly replied, "Whether Qian Yi accepted bribes is still unknown, but we witnessed this group impersonating high-ranking officials and attempting to harm local officials. According to the law, they should at least be sentenced to exile." "A thousand miles."
Xu Ren, with his left hand behind his back and his right hand hanging down, strode down the steps and stood about two zhang in front of the fake Xu Ren. His eyes shone brightly, and he smiled, "Gentlemen, do not be afraid. As long as Qian Yi's crimes of embezzlement and bribery are proven, you will not only be innocent, but you will also be meritorious—meritorious to the country and the court!"
Ren Xiaoyao regained his usual nonchalance and chuckled, "Lord Xu, you have come at just the right time. We have irrefutable evidence of Qian Yi's embezzlement. Please take a look." He then handed two ledgers to Xu Ren.
Wang Ruoqin's expression changed drastically. He strode to the center of the two men and hissed, "Guards! Take these two charlatans away!"
Xu Ren pleaded, "Lord Wang, what do you intend to do?"
Wang Ruoqin gave a signal, and several of his confidants immediately surrounded Ren Xiaoyao and the fake Xu Ren. He sneered, "The imperial edict clearly states that I am the Imperial Envoy, with full authority to handle all affairs of Yangzhou Prefecture. The Crown Prince has also issued an oral order for you to assist me in handling the case. How can you object to me arresting two people? Get out of the way!"
Xu Ren's lips twitched slightly, then he suddenly stamped his foot and retreated. Wang Ruoqin invoked the imperial edict and used the Crown Prince's name, leaving no room for objection.
A cold smile appeared on Wang Ruoqin's face as he gestured, "Lock them all in the dungeon and torture them severely."
The followers rushed forward, oblivious to the danger, and pounced on Ren Xiaoyao.
Ren Xiaoyao didn't care at all. With a casual wave of his hand, the first seven or eight people rushed over were immediately thrown out with screams, rolling on the ground, groaning.
Wang Ruoqin put on his official authority, pointed his halberd and shouted: "You audacious madmen, how dare you openly resist arrest! Execute him on the spot..." Before he could finish the word "execution," he suddenly felt a cold glint in his eyes, and a gleaming green sword was pressed against his throat.
Wang Ruoqin was shocked and stammered, "You... what are you going to do?"
Ren Xiaoyao gave a mischievous smile and said coldly, "Of course, I'm going to capture you, Lord Wang, and take you hostage."
Wang Ruoqin struggled to rouse himself and said in a trembling voice, "You... do you know that kidnapping a high-ranking official is a capital offense?"
Ren Xiaoyao, with an air of certainty that Wang Ruoqin was already his for the taking, said, "Does Lord Wang know that disrespecting the princess and insulting a marquis is a crime of deceiving the emperor? At best, it means the extermination of three generations of one's family; at worst, it means the extermination of nine generations!"
Wang Ruoqin's eyes widened like copper bells, and he stammered, "You... you are..."
Ren Xiaoyao sheathed his Ice Soul Frost Sword, looked up at the stars and moon in the sky, his deep eyes shining brightly, and slowly said, word by word, "This leader of the sect is the Marquis of Champion, bestowed by His Majesty. What are you, daring to shout at me like that?"
Wang Ruoqin was stunned and said, "My lord, I..."
Ren Xiaoyao interrupted him and said calmly, "You have no respect for this marquis ..." "Respect is one thing, but to dare to shout at Princess Fengwu... Hmph, I don't need to tell you what the consequences will be."
Wang Ruoqin was even more shocked and exclaimed, "The princess... isn't she in Xunfeng City?"
The fake Xu Ren removed his disguise, revealing himself to be Long Feiyun, who smiled sweetly and said, "I am the Marquis's betrothed, so naturally I have to follow him wherever he goes."
Wang Ruoqin had been navigating the officialdom for over a decade and was a favorite of the Crown Prince, so he was well-versed in the art of flattery. He quickly calmed down and said in a deep voice, "The Marquis and the princess's arrival in Yangzhou is an honor for our humble prefectural office. The reason I was so rude just now was because the Marquis and the princess did not reveal their identities in time. Otherwise, even if I had the audacity, I would not have dared to overstep my bounds. As the saying goes, 'ignorance is no excuse,' and the Marquis and the princess are magnanimous and surely will not blame me."
Ren Xiaoyao cursed Wang Ruoqin's cunning inwardly and said calmly, "That's true. I don't need to bother with you. " "Comparatively."
Wang Ruoqin changed the subject, smiling meaningfully, "The princess impersonating Xu Ren, although it's for the sake of the investigation, is still... is still disrespectful to the dignity of the court. As the saying goes, 'The prince is subject to the same laws as the commoner'..."
Long Feiyun's beautiful eyes shone, and she suddenly interrupted, "If I remember correctly, three years ago, when Lord Wang accompanied the Crown Prince on an inspection tour, passing through Jiangning Prefecture, he punished the local bully, impersonating the Left Attendant-in-Ordinary Cai Zixun—it is said that the idea came from you, Lord Wang, and you were the one who carried it out, is that right?"
Wang Ruoqin's mind stirred slightly, and he smiled, "The Left Attendant-in-Ordinary is my subordinate, so it's reasonable to use his name to handle the case."
Long Feiyun smiled happily, "Oh, so impersonating a subordinate is fine then."
Wang Ruoqin, unaware of the trap, blurted out, "Exactly."
He paused, then added, "The late Prince Zhongyong was a General of the Cavalry and a Grand Master of the Three Departments, and all the soldiers of our court... " "The horse obeys orders, but that doesn't mean Lord Xu is the princess's..."
Before he could finish speaking, Long Feiyun gave him a look, and Xu Ren immediately knelt down, respectfully saying, "Xu Yinghua, Commander of Ninghai Army under the Qilin Hall of the Tianji Sect, pays respects to the Sect Leader and Hall Master Long. Xu Ren, Commander of Jingyang and General of Ningyuan, pays respects to Princess Fengwu and Marquis Guanjun."

Volume 24, Chapter 5, "Failure at the Last Step,

" Wang Ruoqin was shocked, his eyes flashing with disbelief, and he said sternly, "Lord Xu, you..."
Xu Ren smiled leisurely, "Lord Wang doesn't know, does he? Most of the military commanders in the court come from the Tianji Sect. There are at least seven or eight like me who serve as commanders."
Long Feiyun smiled happily, "Uncle Xu has to take time to return to the Tianji Sect every year to report on his duties, so the number of times he meets with me is not small. Otherwise, no matter how good my disguise is, I wouldn't be able to impersonate him so perfectly."
Wang Ruoqin stood there stunned, speechless.
Ren Xiaoyao pressed his advantage, saying, "Lord Xu, all the bribes Qian Yi received are here. Please take a look." He then personally opened one of the wooden boxes.
Inside were neatly arranged ingots of silver, each fifty taels, totaling at least twenty thousand taels.
Wang Ruoqin's expression changed again, and he said in a deep voice, "Marquis of Champion, these stolen goods truly belong to Qian Yi."
Ren Xiaoyao replied solemnly, "That's right. If Lord Wang doesn't believe me, you can confront him face to face."
Wang Ruoqin's cunning eyes darted around, and he chuckled sinisterly, "Alright, then bring him here." His men
immediately shoved Qian Yi forward. Ren Xiaoyao glared at him fiercely and demanded, "Qian Yi, with these dozen or so chests of gold and silver jewels before you, what do you have to say?"
Qian Yi scrambled to grab Wang Ruoqin's robe, pleading, "Godfather, save me! Save me!"
Wang Ruoqin coldly replied, "Although you are my adopted son, the law of the land is paramount. If your crimes of embezzlement and perverting the law are true, you should be tried according to the laws of the court, and no one can save you. If it is a false accusation by someone else, your godfather will stand up for you, and no one can kill you." He deliberately drew out the last part of his sentence, the implication clear to everyone.
Qian Yi hurriedly cried out, "Injustice! Lord Xu, I have been wronged!"
Ren Xiaoyao sneered, "Injustice?" "The gold and silver jewelry was seized from your residence. You just admitted that it was the proceeds of your embezzlement. The evidence is irrefutable, and you still want to deny it!"
Qian Yi, unable to catch up, stammered, "I...I...Godfather..."
Seeing this, anyone would know the situation was beyond saving. Wang Ruoqin was preoccupied with his own problems and had no time to care about Qian Yi. He sternly rebuked, "Fine, I misjudged you. Embezzlement, abuse of power, how dare you!"
Seeing that he was trying to sacrifice a pawn to save the king, Qian Yi panicked and blurted out, "Godfather, you can't abandon me! Most of the gold and silver I plundered was given to you..."
Wang Ruoqin's eyes flashed with murderous intent, but quickly subsided, clearly suppressing his anger. He loudly rebuked, "Shut up! You, Qian Yi, even on the verge of death, you still want to drag me down with you... Hmph, I was blind to have taken someone like you as my godson! Drag him away! Drag him away!"
Xu Ren urgently stopped him, "Wait!" "Lord Wang, I doubt that a mere prefect like Qian Yi would dare embezzle hundreds of thousands of taels. In my opinion, someone must be directing things behind the scenes. Let's hear what he has to say."
Wang Ruoqin rolled his eyes and coldly said, "I am the imperial envoy. I say how to handle the case, and that's how it will be handled.
" Long Feiyun interjected, "Coincidentally, this princess also wants to know the whole story. Lord Wang
, you won't object, will you?" Wang Ruoqin's face immediately turned liver-colored, and he said awkwardly, "Since the princess has spoken, this humble official naturally dares not disobey."
Ren Xiaoyao coldly pressed, "Qian Yi, tell me honestly. If you dare to conceal even a single word, this marquis will not spare you!"
Qian Yi hurriedly nodded and said, "Actually, these thirteen boxes of gold and silver jewelry..."
Wang Ruoqin suddenly interrupted, "Oh, I remember now, these thirteen boxes of gold and silver jewelry were entrusted to me by the Crown Prince to be kept at my son's place." "He called Qian Yi 'my dog' again, clearly fearing he would betray him, and had no choice but to speak up for him.
Ren Xiaoyao coldly said, 'The things belong to the Crown Prince? My lord, you've gone too far with your joke.'
Wang Ruoqin pretended to be serious and said, 'My lord, you may not know this, but half a year ago, there was a flood in Huguang. The court spent a lot of money to strengthen the border defenses and was unable to take care of the disaster victims. The Crown Prince then ordered me to transport his savings over the years to Jiangnan, intending to use them to relieve the people. Unexpectedly, when the goods arrived, Lord Kou had already transferred tax revenue from Sichuan and Lingnan for emergency use. The Crown Prince was afraid that something might happen in the future, so he simply asked me to store these gold and silver treasures with Qian Yi, so that they could be used in case of natural disasters or man-made calamities.'
Long Feiyun questioned, 'Is the Crown Prince really so generous as to give away hundreds of thousands of taels for nothing?'
Wang Ruoqin stroked his beard and laughed loudly, 'Hahaha, the Crown Prince will inherit the throne sooner or later. What is there to worry about in relieving his own people?'" On the surface, he was answering Long Feiyun's question, but in reality, he was subtly reminding her: the matter involves the Crown Prince, and even if you investigate thoroughly, it will be difficult to find out the truth. If you really push him too far, the Crown Prince will definitely make you suffer when he ascends the throne.
Ren Xiaoyao was not easily intimidated by him. He smiled and handed the account book to Xu Ren, saying nonchalantly, "Lord Xu, please read the entries recorded in the account book." Xu Ren casually flipped open the book and loudly read: "
On the eighth day of the third month, the land tax was collected, increasing from one-fifteenth to one-twelfth, yielding 2,400 taels; on the twelfth day of the third month, Cao An, a wealthy man from the south of the city, presented ten precious pearls, and his son's murder charge was overturned as manslaughter; on the nineteenth day of the third month, during the imperial examinations, Zhang, the owner of Fu Ren Rice Shop, secretly gave his nephew one hundred taels of gold to change his exam paper, and he passed the examination..." These words were amplified with superior internal force, clearly audible within a radius of several dozen feet.
Ren Xiaoyao slowly walked to Wang Ruoqin's side and whispered in his ear, "Lord Wang, you're out of options this time, aren't you?"
Wang Ruoqin smiled nonchalantly, "Don't worry, it's still early." After speaking, he suddenly raised his voice, pointed at Fan Jian kneeling to the side, and scolded, "Bold Fan Jian, Prefect Qian has treated you well, yet you dare to fabricate an account to frame him! You are simply audacious!"
Fan Jian was utterly shocked that Wang Ruoqin would pin the blame on him. Terrified, he stammered, "My lord, I...I'm innocent..." Qian
Yi, seeing a glimmer of hope, impatiently interrupted, "Yes, yes, Master Fan, we were classmates after all. If you want to be the prefect, just say so. Why resort to such despicable methods of framing?"
Even the cunning and treacherous Fan Jian was at a loss for words, only repeatedly kowtowing and begging for mercy, crying out his innocence.
Wang Ruoqin sneered, "Shameless scoundrel, what's the point of keeping you alive!" He pulled a dagger from his robes and lunged at Fan Jian.
Ren Xiaoyao, however, wouldn't allow Wang Ruoqin to kill him to silence him. With a flick of his sleeve, he sent Fan Jian staggering backward, coldly saying, "Trying to kill him without proof? Not so easy!"
Wang Ruoqin's intentions were exposed, and he said awkwardly, "My lord, I was in a moment of panic and almost made a grave mistake..." Ren
Xiaoyao ignored him and turned to Fan Jian, asking in a deep voice, "Master Fan, you are merely an accomplice in the embezzlement case. If you can voluntarily confess and atone for your crime, you might only be sentenced to three to five years."
Fan Jian, like a drowning man grasping at a straw, said urgently, "My lord, please understand, I... I will confess immediately and dare not conceal anything."
Qian Yi suddenly shouted, "Fan Jian, Sanyan Alley!" Before the words
were even finished, Fan Jian trembled violently, his face drained of color.
Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun exchanged a glance, simultaneously guessing that the Sanyan Alley Qian Yi mentioned must be Fan Jian's home address. They were using this to threaten Fan Jian, saying that if he didn't confess and take responsibility alone, they would target his family.
Xu Ren urged, "Master Fan, hurry up and tell us about the embezzlement case..."
Fan Jian let out a long breath, as if to release the pent-up resentment in his chest. As he seemed to calm down, tears suddenly welled up in his eyes, and he said in a hoarse voice, "It was me, I did it all, it has nothing to do with Prefect Qian."
Long Feiyun said urgently, "Master Fan, you must take responsibility for your statement."
Fan Jian bit his lower lip, revealing a sad and exhausted expression, and shook his head, saying, "Princess, there's no need to say more. Fan Jian's mind is made up. The account book was indeed forged by me, with the purpose of framing Qian Yi and seizing the position of Prefect."
Wang Ruoqin was overjoyed and said, "Good, did you hear every word Fan Jian said clearly?" "
The confidants echoed in unison.
Ren Xiaoyao rushed to say, "Master Fan, I will send the Tianji Army to protect your wife and children. There's no need to fear Qian Yi's threats." Before he could finish speaking, Fan Jian coughed up blood, his head lolled to the side, and he collapsed to the ground like a rag doll.
Wang Ruoqin laughed loudly, "Hahaha, Fan Jian bit his tongue and committed suicide! His last words were ironclad proof that Qian Yi was framed and suffered an injustice!"
Xu Ren stamped his foot and sighed, cursing, "Wang Ruoqin, you...you're so ruthless!"
Wang Ruoqin coldly replied, "Lord Xu, Qian Yi committed suicide out of fear of punishment. What does that have to do with me? Don't make false accusations and follow in his footsteps in slandering court officials." Seeing Wang
Ruoqin force a witness to his death right before his eyes, ruining the investigation into the embezzlement case, Ren Xiaoyao was furious. He said fiercely, "Lord Wang, you are indeed ruthless and capable of anything. It seems I'll have to make a visit to your residence in a few days."
Wang Ruoqin's eyes gleamed with a sharp light, and he laughed arrogantly, "Very well, this humble official will await the arrival of the Champion Marquis at any time." Unlike Qian Yi, he used all his silver to cultivate relationships with officials everywhere, and his mansion contained neither treasures nor stolen silver. Even if Ren Xiaoyao came in person, he would not be able to find any clues.
Ren Xiaoyao coldly said, "The net of heaven is vast, and though its meshes are wide, nothing escapes it. If I don't investigate this matter thoroughly today, I won't be a chivalrous thief!"
Wang Ruoqin laughed, "Very well, Champion Marquis, please continue your investigation if you wish. However... this humble official must return to the capital to report. Qian Yi and these dozen or so boxes of gold and silver jewels... oh, and all the people involved in the case in the yamen must be taken away so that His Majesty may be informed."
"Lord Wang, don't be too happy yet!" A soft whistle suddenly sounded outside the door, and dozens of people holding torches walked briskly toward the prefectural yamen.
Wang Ruoqin, full of vigor, shouted sternly, "Who dares to be here..." Midway through his sentence, he suddenly caught sight of the two people in front of him and was immediately terrified, his expression changing drastically as he cried out, "Eighth...Eighth Prince! Lord Kou!"
Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun looked closely and were also stunned into silence. The "Eighth Prince and Lord Kou" that Wang Ruoqin spoke of were none other than the middle-aged scholar and the white-bearded old man they had seen in the restaurant last night!

Volume 24 The Emperor's Disciple Knows Autumn Enlightenment Chapter 6 Confessing Crimes and Accepting Punishment

The Eighth Prince, surrounded by dozens of attendants, walked to Wang Ruoqin's side, his eyes gleaming brightly, and said calmly, "Lord Wang, you said that the gold and silver treasures in Qian Yi's mansion belong to the Crown Prince—good, I'll remember that. This time when I return to the capital, I will ask Aheng for his opinion in person." "Aheng is the nickname of Crown Prince Zhao Heng. In the current world, apart from Zhao Guangyi, only the Eighth Prince dares to call him that, which shows his extraordinary and high status in the court."
Wang Ruoqin smiled awkwardly and dared not answer. However, he was having a fierce internal struggle. The Eighth Prince and the Crown Prince were like brothers and might not be willing to cover for him. Even if he could get through this, if Kou Zhun brought it up in court, he would be guilty of deceiving the emperor. But there were too many parts of the account book that involved him. If Qian Yi were to confess and submit to the law, the consequences would be unpredictable. Not to mention himself, even the Crown Prince might not be able to escape the consequences.
As soon as Kou Zhun saw Wang Ruoqin's expression, he knew that something was wrong. After briefly asking Xu Ren about the situation at the scene, he asked knowingly, "The amount involved in this case exceeds 400,000 taels. According to the precedent, all the relatives of the main culprit must be imprisoned. How come you have time to shout here, Lord Wang? Is it because you are a Vice Minister of State Affairs and in charge of the Ministry of Justice and the Ministry of Personnel that you can bend the law for personal gain?"
Wang Ruoqin hurriedly explained, "It was I who exposed Qian Yi's embezzlement case, so His Majesty sent me to Yangzhou to investigate thoroughly." The
Eighth Prince solemnly said, "Lord Wang, as the presiding judge in this case, has a father-son relationship with the offending official. Although you are acting on imperial orders, it's best to avoid any appearance of impropriety. Here's what we'll do: from now on, this case will be handed over to Lord Kou. You, on the other hand, will obediently spend two days in prison. If it's found that you have nothing to do with this, I will personally bring you out."
Wang Ruoqin's face immediately flushed red, and he stammered, "Your Highness..."
The Eighth Prince's expression suddenly changed, and he coldly said, "What, do you not trust me, or do you not trust Lord Kou?"
Wang Ruoqin, like a mouse seeing a cat, stammered, "But His Majesty..."
The Eighth Prince interrupted again, "Uncle, I will inform him myself, so you don't need to worry." Wang
Ruoqin's heart skipped a beat. The Eighth Prince always kept his word. He would throw him into prison and then question the Crown Prince upon his return. How could he not find out the truth?
Kou Zhun's smile faded, and a thoughtful expression appeared on his face. He pressed his advantage, saying, "Your Highness is absolutely right. Lord Wang, I'm sorry to trouble you with a few days of prison food. Rest assured, I will investigate thoroughly and will not wrong any innocent person... Of course, I will not let any..." At this point, he suddenly raised his voice, staring intently at Wang Ruoqin, and slowly said, word by word, "Those treacherous and petty officials who deceive their superiors and fabricate stories!"
Wang Ruoqin's expression changed drastically. His face turned pale, and he knelt on the ground, trembling as he said, "Your Highness, my lord, I... I am guilty." "
The Eighth Prince and Kou Zhun exchanged a smile. The latter, with his hands behind his back, calmly said, 'Lord Wang, you jest. You have rendered meritorious service by reporting Qian Yi, and you have gone to great lengths to personally investigate in Yangzhou. What crime have you committed?'
Wang Ruoqin pounded his head vigorously, his words slurred, 'This humble official...this humble official had a few too many drinks tonight and took what happened in my dream as fact, making up nonsense here.'
Ren Xiaoyao seized the opportunity to press, 'How much nonsense are you making up?'
Wang Ruoqin completely broke down, trembling as he said, 'The thirteen chests of gold and silver jewelry in Qian Yi's mansion are...not the Crown Prince's. This humble official was confused for a moment and misspoke. I hope Your Highness will forgive me, and Lord Kou will forgive me.'
Kou Zhun said in a deep voice, 'You mean these things are all bribes received by Qian Yi?'
Wang Ruoqin nodded repeatedly, 'Yes, exactly! Qian Yi...Qian Yi is corrupt and lawless, he deserves to be punished with the death penalty to set an example for the people.'"
Seeing his godfather's sudden change in attitude, Qian Yi knew he was doomed. His eyes rolled back, and he fainted from fright. Kou Zhun coldly said, "
Lord Wang, although you meant no harm, your words were still slanderous and disruptive to the investigation. I think you'd better remove your official hat and voluntarily go to the prison cart."
Wang Ruoqin hurriedly nodded, "Yes, yes...this humble official..."
Kou Zhun looked displeased and coldly snorted.
Wang Ruoqin was so frightened that he immediately changed his tune, trembling, "This official knows his crime and willingly accepts punishment." "But in his heart, he was seething with rage, secretly thinking that one day when he, Wang Ruoqin, gained power, he would make Kou Zhun suffer a terrible death. "
Seeing that the situation was settled, the Eighth Prince gave a signal to his followers, and several trusted men immediately rushed forward, bound Wang Ruoqin and Qian Yi tightly, and took them away.
Ren Xiaoyao cupped his hands in thanks, saying, "Fortunately, the Eighth Prince and Lord Kou appeared in time, forcing Wang Ruoqin to confess his crimes and submit. Otherwise, these two scoundrels who brought disaster to the country would have really escaped."
Kou Zhun smiled happily, "The Marquis of Champion is brilliant, catching them red-handed. The Prince and I only did a little bit of work. The real credit should belong to you, Marquis."
Long Feiyun moved closer to the Eighth Prince, her slender hand holding his right arm. She was as beautiful and charming as a little bird, and said sweetly, "Eighth Uncle, you won't blame your niece for not recognizing you and Lord Kou at the restaurant last night, will you?" "Long Yinxiao is the adopted son of the founding emperor. He is on very good terms with the crown prince and the Eighth Prince, and they are very close. Long Feiyun often played at the Eighth Prince's residence when she was young, and the Eighth Prince
doted on her. However, ten years have passed, and Long Feiyun has grown up. The once handsome and dashing Eighth Prince has also matured a lot, so he didn't recognize her. The Eighth Prince smiled and said, "No wonder, of course not. When you were playing in my orange grove, I felt that you didn't look like a boy at all. Well, I guessed right, didn't I? Yinxiao's precious child is indeed a princess." He laughed heartily, showing the gentle kindness of an elder.
Ren Xiaoyao asked curiously, "Are Your Highness and Lord Kou also secretly investigating Qian Yi?" "
The Eighth Prince said solemnly, "Yes, we rushed to Jiangnan to requisition provisions and supplies. Half a month ago, the Emperor issued an edict saying that the Northern Expedition was temporarily suspended, and the matter of provisions and supplies should be put aside for now. He ordered us to return to the capital immediately to receive orders. We thought that we couldn't leave Jiangnan for nothing, so we planned to take care of a few corrupt officials along the way, so as to rectify the bureaucracy of the court."
Kou Zhun continued, "Qian Yi's actions in Yangzhou have already been secretly reported to Your Highness by the Imperial Censor. We originally planned to investigate secretly and arrest him after collecting enough evidence, but we didn't expect that the Marquis would beat us to it... Hehe, that's good too. It's better to cut the Gordian knot quickly and not delay Your Highness and me."
The Eighth Prince patted Ren Xiaoyao on the shoulder and laughed heartily, "I've long heard that you, Xiaoyao, are extremely intelligent and resourceful. Seeing you today, it's indeed true. It seems that Yelü Xiezhen's defeat at your hands was not unjust at all." He didn't address Ren Xiaoyao as Champion Marquis or Master Ren, but simply called him Xiaoyao, which immediately shortened the distance between the two of them.
Ren Xiaoyao was particularly struck by the extraordinary approachability of this prince, who was second only to the emperor. He laughed like a child, saying, "Your Highness flatters me. Most of the strategy this time came from Feiyun; I only contributed a little."
Kou Zhun teased, "Then why don't you immediately submit a memorial to express your gratitude to the Emperor for bestowing upon you such a wise and courageous wife?"
Long Feiyun's pretty face immediately flushed red. She shyly lowered her head, then patted her chest, displaying the charming demeanor of a naive young girl, and said bashfully, "Lord Kou, please don't tease me." Kou
Zhun laughed heartily, saying happily, "What, you've married such a wonderful husband and you're afraid I'll bring it up?"
Long Feiyun's cheeks suddenly flushed crimson, and she stammered, "I..." "And Xiaoyao...they're not married yet."
Kou Zhun stroked his beard and laughed, "'Without destroying the Xiongnu, how can I have a home ?' Since the Marquis of Champion wants to emulate Huo Qubing, I, this old man, also look forward to the day when all nations pay homage and all barbarians submit."
The Eighth Prince interjected, "If Xiaoyao isn't in charge of the sect affairs in Xunfeng City, how did he come to Yangzhou with Feiyun?"
Ren Xiaoyao respectfully replied, "Senior Dugu entrusted me to travel south by sea to invite several martial arts elders to return to the Central Plains."
The Eighth Prince showed a look of sudden realization and sighed, "Family affairs, national affairs, martial arts affairs, world affairs—the burden on your shoulders is not light. Remember, health is the foundation for achieving great things; never overwork yourself.
" A single word of advice stirred a surge of passionate emotion in Ren Xiaoyao, his eyes welling with tears as he said, "Your Highness's teachings will be etched in my heart." Kou
Zhun solemnly replied, "The Liao army suffered a crushing defeat in the Battle of Xunfeng City. I believe there will be no further fighting in the border region for the time being. Marquis of Champion can rest assured in handling matters of the martial world."
The Eighth Prince added, "The Qian Yi embezzlement case will be handled by Lord Kou in conjunction with this prince. Xiaoyao, please go south without worrying about him escaping punishment."
Ren Xiaoyao cupped his hands and said, "I have a favor to ask, and I hope Your Highness will grant it."
The Eighth Prince smiled readily and said, "Please speak freely. As long as it is within my power, I will grant it."
Ren Xiaoyao briefly recounted the events in the eastern suburbs... The people were in dire straits. Finally, he said, "The so-called 'taken from the people, used for the people'—most of Qian Yi's embezzled funds came from the people. Could you consider…"
He was interrupted midway by Kou Zhun's sudden burst of laughter, "Hahaha, great minds think alike! The Marquis of Champion and Your Highness have the same idea."
Ren Xiaoyao's eyes shone brightly, and he said with emotion, "Could it be that Your Highness…"
The Eighth Prince said casually, "I have long planned to use these ill-gotten gains to help the people. The 400,000 taels of silver alone are enough to build a large number of houses in the eastern suburbs. As for the jewelry sold, it will be used to pay two years' worth of taxes."
Ren Xiaoyao and Long Feiyun exchanged a glance, both overjoyed.

Volume Twenty-Four: The Emperor's Disciple, Chapter Seven: The Emperor's Disciple.

Under the bright sunshine and clear breeze, two uninvited guests suddenly appeared outside the magnificent Bianjing Palace. Leading them was an elderly man with dragon-like eyebrows and white hair, wearing a tall crown and wide belt, dressed in white robes. Although his face was wrinkled, he still possessed a refined and handsome appearance. Following behind was a dashing young man in a light blue, wide-sleeved robe. He was exceptionally handsome, with an imposing presence. A barely perceptible smile played on his lips, conveying both arrogance and disdain for others. His eyes, perched atop his straight nose, shone brightly, seemingly containing inexhaustible wisdom.
The imperial guards at the city gate immediately stepped forward to stop them, each wielding a weapon and surrounding the two, shouting, "Who dares to trespass on the forbidden palace grounds?"
The elderly man in white smiled slightly, took out a token from his robes, and waved it in front of the leading imperial guard captain.
The Imperial Guard captain's attitude changed abruptly. He gave a wink to his soldiers, signaling them to put down their weapons, and said respectfully, "Please wait a moment, gentlemen. I will go and fetch Commander Wu." With that, he turned and left.
Before long, Wu Haoming, the commander of the Imperial Guards, arrived with lightning speed. He bowed respectfully to the white-robed elder and said with delight, "Senior Dugu, you've finally arrived! His Majesty has been eagerly awaiting your arrival..." As he spoke, he turned his gaze to the handsome young man and said in a deep voice, "Hmm... May I ask who this gentleman is...?"
The white-robed elder smiled and said, "Ye Zhiqiu, the leader of the Green Forest Alliance in the seven southern provinces and sixty-three northern provinces."
Wu Haoming was moved and said, "So you are the renowned Aoxue Han Sword, I have long admired you!"
Dugu Yu and Ye Zhiqiu followed Wu Haoming into the capital through the Lizheng Gate. The Lizheng Gate was ornately decorated, with vermilion doors adorned with gold nails and copper tiles on the roof, engraved with dragon, phoenix, and celestial horse patterns. It shone brightly from afar. The city tower on the gate wall was where the emperor held general amnesties, and it was extremely magnificent.
With guards leading the way and following behind, even though he was used to being surrounded by attendants after becoming the chief, Ye Zhi Qiu still felt quite strange in the solemn and imposing imperial palace, making him somewhat unnatural. In contrast, Dugu Yu seemed completely at ease, clearly having visited more than once or twice.
The imperial palace was divided into two parts: the Imperial City and the Palace City. The Imperial City surrounded the Palace City on the south, west, and north sides, forming a concave shape, with the Palace City facing it from the east. All the city walls were double-walled, further enhancing its defensive capabilities.
Within the Imperial City, four east-west streets intersected with two north-south main roads. The central avenue was the central axis, with halls, pavilions, studies, towers, terraces, verandas, and other structures scattered along the sides, like stars surrounding the moon, never far from the imperial palace.
This was Ye Zhi Qiu's first time setting foot in the capital. Walking along the imperial road stretching for several miles from Lizheng Gate to Xingsheng Gate, he was awestruck by the magnificent buildings lining both sides, speechless and almost breathless.
This imperial road alone was enough to amaze him. It was wide enough for eight horses to ride abreast, with imperial moats on both sides, lined with locust and willow trees. Countless pavilions and towers could be seen hidden among the swaying shadows of the trees. According to Wu Haoming's introduction, there was Zhongmei Hall for viewing peonies, Canmei Hall for viewing crabapple blossoms, Chengbi Hall surrounded by water, and Huijing Hall built of agate stones.
After passing through Xingsheng Gate, the three of them finally entered the palace city. The palace city was rectangular, six or seven miles long and twenty miles in circumference, with a corner tower at each of the four corners. The main gate of the palace city was Chongtian Gate, and a water channel drawn from outside the palace flowed in front of Chongtian Gate. The palaces and pavilions, with their towering buildings, jeweled halls
, and picturesque landscapes, were a masterpiece of craftsmanship. Pomegranate, orange, locust, and poplar trees lined the ground, their verdant green and vibrant red creating a breathtaking and picturesque scene. A grand hall stood before them, its eaves upturned and its decorations magnificent. Its base alone was several meters high, and the roof finials stretched for nearly twenty meters. The windows were vermilion, inlaid with gold thread, and the window frames were carved with cloud and dragon patterns, covered with a layer of gold and covered with jade and paper. Guards stood watch on all four sides of the hall, their presence amplified by the surrounding side halls.
Wu Haoming explained, “This is the Zichen Hall, where the Emperor conducts his daily affairs, whether it's receiving officials or holding court assemblies.”
In front of the Zichen Hall was a large square of over a hundred acres, paved with smooth, gleaming paving stones. Various trees surrounded the hall, their verdant foliage creating a scene that felt almost otherworldly.
Ye Zhi Qiu looked around, observing closely and from afar, seeing only gardens and pavilions. He couldn't help but ask, "Commander Wu, how many palaces and buildings are there in the palace?"
Wu Hao Ming replied solemnly, "You might not believe it, but there are over eight hundred palaces in total. The palaces on the east side include Yi Qing, Hui Ning, Cheng Ping, Rui Mo, Ning He, Kun Yu, and Qun Yu; the pavilions include Hui Fu, Bao Qiong, Pan Tao, Chun Jin, Die Qiong, Fen Fang, Li Yu, Han Xiang, Fu Yun, Yan Gai, Cui Bao, Qian Ying, Yun Jin, Lan Xun, and Zhai Yu; the palaces on the west side include Fan Ying, Xue Xiang, Pi Fang, Qian Hua, Qiong Hua, Wen Qi, and Jiang E; the pavilions include Qiong Hua, Lü Qi, Yao Bi, Qing Yin, Qiu Xiang, Cong Yu, Fu Yu, and Jiang Yun. In addition, there are many royal gardens independent of the palace city, such as Ju Jing Garden, Yu Jin Garden, Fu Jing Garden, Ping Shan Garden, Yu Hu Garden, Qiong Hua Garden, Xiao Yin Garden, Ji Fang Garden, and Yan Xiang Garden."
The group headed towards the Wende Hall, located between the Zichen and Chuigong Halls. This hall served as a resting place for the emperor before and after court sessions. As one of the most magnificent buildings in the Jiankang Palace, the Wende Hall comprises twelve bays, symbolizing the twelve months of the year. It is flanked by north and south halls. The main hall is ten zhang high, thirty-four zhang long, and twelve zhang wide. Guards stood watch on all four sides of the corridors. All the guards were carefully selected, each a burly, imposing figure with considerable martial arts skills.
The officer leading the group was Hou Cuihan, the Commander of the Palace Guards. He was clearly familiar with Dugu Yu, and after a respectful bow, he led the way without even requiring the two to remove their weapons, guiding Dugu Yu and Ye Zhiqiu across the threshold into the Wende Hall.
The interior of the hall wasn't as luxurious as imagined. A row of more than ten armchairs stood by the window, separated by tea tables. Seated in the center was a middle-aged man in a bright yellow casual robe, slender and well-proportioned, with a robust and upright physique. He appeared to be only in his thirties, his simple and unassuming appearance revealing no inner emotions.
Ye Zhi Qiu immediately recognized him as Zhao Guangyi, the supreme ruler of the Song Dynasty. This was not only because he was alone in the hall and seated in the central position, but also because of his leisurely demeanor and the unparalleled regal aura emanating from his very being.
Zhao Guangyi's expression was somewhat weary. Beneath his thick eyebrows were a pair of bright, deep eyes, their gaze stubborn and resolute, brimming with powerful confidence, and revealing a rather indescribable longing and pursuit of certain beautiful things. Even at their first meeting, Ye Zhi Qiu keenly sensed that he could manipulate events at will, his wisdom and martial arts skills certainly no less than any renowned master in the martial arts world.
Even seated, Zhao Guangyi's posture remained straight and firm, making his imposing physique even more imposing. His long, steady hands, holding a teacup and sipping tea, exuded an air of dominance and self-assurance; the Emperor of the Song Dynasty certainly possessed extraordinary bearing.
Ye Zhiqiu's intuition told him he disliked putting on airs, but he still knelt and kowtowed respectfully, saying, "This humble subject, Ye Zhiqiu, greets Your Majesty."
Zhao Guangyi gracefully set down his teacup and said calmly, "Rise! General Hou may leave."
Ye Zhiqiu was swept by his sharp gaze and suddenly felt a strange sense of déjà vu, but he couldn't recall when or where he had seen him before. Hou Cuihan withdrew from the hall as ordered, while Xu Ziling and Xu Tu stood up, hands at their sides, to show respect.
Dugu Yu sat down in the armchair next to Zhao Guangyi and said with a smile, "You said you wanted to meet some famous young heroes in the martial arts world. I originally planned to invite the Four Heroes of the Martial World, but Xiong Xiaotian was too busy with his affairs, Xiao Xingchen was eager to find his mentor, and Ren Xiaoyao went south to sea to invite Yi Tianhan and Meng Fei to come out of seclusion. So I only invited Ye Zhi Qiu." He didn't address Zhao Guangyi as "Your Majesty" but as "you," which showed that the two had an unusual and special relationship.
Zhao Guangyi smiled meaningfully and said, "Senior Dugu, you probably already saw through the clues, so..."
Dugu Yu stroked his white beard and slowly said, "Alas, it seems that nothing can be hidden from you."
Zhao Guangyi laughed heartily and said with a smile, "Hehe, it should be I who say that."
Ye Zhi Qiu was completely confused by their exchange, but dared not ask any questions and could only stand there and listen obediently. Zhao Guangyi whirled around, his eyes, shining like the brightest star in the darkest night sky, fixed intently on Ye Zhiqiu. He smiled and said, "Commander Ye, this isn't a formal occasion; there's no need for such formality." Normally,
the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance operated without capital, carrying a certain degree of opposition to the imperial court. Ye Zhiqiu, as the leader, was already fortunate not to have been captured on the spot, yet Zhao Guangyi treated him with such kindness. Overwhelmed with gratitude, he respectfully said, "Thank you for your grace, Your Majesty."
Zhao Guangyi displayed imperial arrogance, letting out a long laugh, and said, "Come closer, let me see you."
Ye Zhiqiu walked tremblingly to the side of the main seat, finally getting a close look at Zhao Guangyi's imperial face. Suddenly, his body trembled violently, and he cried out in uncontrollable shock, "Master…Master!"
The one who rescued Ye Zhiqiu from the execution ground ten years ago, taught him his skills, and imparted martial arts to him was none other than the reigning emperor, Zhao Guangyi!

Volume Twenty-Four: The Emperor's Disciple, Chapter Eight: A Beauty of Unparalleled Grace. Zhao Guangyi stroked his beard and let out a long sigh,

saying with delight, "Ten years! A full ten years! I never imagined you would still remember me." Ye Zhiqiu knelt down again , tears welling in his eyes, and choked out, "Master... Your Majesty has given me a second life, a debt I will never forget in this lifetime." Zhao Guangyi personally rose from his seat, helped Ye Zhiqiu up, and after carefully examining him for a few moments, sighed, "I remember you were just a little kid back then, and in the blink of an eye you've grown into a handsome, dashing young swordsman. Time truly flies, and life is full of trials and tribulations." He then turned to Dugu Yu, asking with interest, "How did you guess, senior, that I am Zhiqiu's teacher?" Dugu Yu smiled slightly and said solemnly, "In my opinion, the current..." There are only seven or eight people skilled in swordsmanship, and among them, only I and Fu Longyuan could teach a disciple as outstanding as Master Ye. Master Ye's martial arts style is arrogant and unruly, with an air of domineering arrogance. It is clear that he did not learn the Nine Dragon Techniques, which are known for their speed and agility, but it is somewhat similar to your Heavenly Dao Divine Skill. So I asked Master Ye about his martial arts training, and after some analysis, I finally concluded that he is very likely your successor. Zhao Guangyi asked casually, "I invited you to the capital for a gathering, but you also brought Zhi Qiu along. I suppose it's not just to prove your conjecture." Dugu Yu nodded slowly and asked curiously, "Since the Chenqiao Mutiny and the donning of the yellow robe, Kuangyin and you have not set foot in the martial arts world for decades. How come... " "In his later years, he suddenly began teaching disciples." Zhao Guangyi sighed, as if falling into a deep abyss of memories, and slowly said, "Back then, I personally led a large army to fight against the Liao Kingdom. The Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun were within reach. Who knew that the Shura Sect and the Absolute Killer would suddenly launch an attack? The Central Plains Martial Arts Alliance was in imminent danger, and I had to withdraw the Tianji Army to reinforce Wuyun Mountain. Yelü Xiezhen seized the opportunity and launched a sudden attack, coordinating with the Liao soldiers who were defending Youzhou, and inflicted a crushing defeat on our army. At that time, I personally led eight thousand elite warriors to cover the rear. After three days and three nights of fierce fighting, we were finally routed. I was exhausted and utterly exhausted. When I retreated alone to Hejian Prefecture, I finally collapsed and fainted on the spot. Fortunately, a local farming couple rescued me. At the critical moment when my life was in danger, they did not hesitate to sell their own land, on which they depended for survival, to buy medicine to treat me." "Wounded." Ye Zhi Qiu said in a trembling voice, "The farmers Your Majesty mentioned...are my parents?" Zhao Guangyi showed a look of remembrance and said softly, "Yes, your parents took care of me tirelessly and pulled me back from the brink of death. Without them, I would never have survived to this day, and the Song Dynasty would not have the peace and prosperity it enjoys today." As he said this, his eyes welled up with tears, and he choked up, "After I returned to Bianjing, I was too busy with government affairs to have the opportunity to visit your parents in Hejian. I sent people to deliver gold and silver to them many times, but they insisted on not accepting them." Ye Zhi Qiu was in tears and murmured, "Father and Mother are honest and hardworking farmers who never expect anything in return for helping others. If...if they had accepted them just once, we wouldn't have suffered from the famine..." Before he could finish speaking, he was already sobbing uncontrollably. Zhao Guangyi recalled, "Ten years ago, I finally found the time to personally visit your parents in Hejian Prefecture. Who would have thought... a famine struck the area half a month ago, and that damned beast, Yang Hong, the Prefect of Hejian, withheld the relief grain, causing your parents to starve to death. He even spared you, a mere child." Zhao Guangyi continued, "At the time, I couldn't reveal my identity, so I went alone to storm the execution ground and rescue you. After that, I asked you if you were willing to come with me and enjoy wealth and honor. But you refused, only asking me to teach you martial arts so that one day you could sweep away all evil in the world with your own strength. I was deeply moved by your words and put aside state affairs to teach you martial arts for three months. Before leaving, I even left behind a sword manual personally written by the Emperor Taizu."

Zhao Guangyi patted Ye Zhiqiu on the shoulder and said with emotion, "Upon returning to the capital, I immediately issued an edict to exterminate Yang Hong's entire clan. All officials involved in this case will be severely punished, which will also comfort the spirits of your parents in heaven... For the past ten years, I have been secretly keeping an eye on your situation. What pleases me is that you have not only mastered all the martial arts I taught you, but also created the Tianya Aoxue Sword, and seized the leadership of the Green Forest Alliance in thirteen provinces, thus becoming one of the Four Heroes of the Martial World. I believe your parents would be pleased if they knew this in the afterlife."
As he was speaking, the palace doors suddenly opened, and a soft, gentle, and melodious female voice called out, "Ah, Father, you have guests."
Zhao Guangyi said softly, "Yes, come, Huayu, meet Senior Dugu and Young Hero Ye Zhiqiu."
Princess Huayu agreed and gracefully walked to her father's side.
Ye Zhi Qiu glanced sideways, and the first thing that caught her eye was a face with exquisitely sculpted features, a face so fair and delicate it seemed almost too beautiful to look directly at. She appeared to be about fifteen or sixteen years old, dressed in a pink floral palace gown with a round neckline and a double-breasted design, over which she wore a jade-green silk shawl. Her skin was as white as mutton-fat jade, gleaming like snow. Her pretty face held an indescribable, melancholic beauty, naturally making her graceful and captivating. However, her expression was cold and aloof, truly an ice queen. Yet, within her beauty lay an indescribable allure. Her eyes, like autumn lake water, rippled gently in the breeze, their watery depths capable of captivating and bewitching anyone who looked upon them. Her beauty was aloof and mysterious, perhaps due to an innate haughtiness that made people hesitant to approach her, yet yearning for her favor. Ye Zhi Qiu was almost certain that this elegant and graceful princess was no less stunning than beauties of the caliber of Long Fei Yun or Nangong Feng Yi.
Ye Zhi Qiu was captivated by her breathtaking beauty, his eyes shining, his mind reeling, standing frozen in shock as if struck by lightning. When Princess Hua Yu bowed to him breathlessly, he surprisingly became nervous, stammering, "This humble...this commoner Ye Zhi Qiu greets...greets the princess."
Princess Hua Yu chuckled, her charm instantly radiating, and said sweetly, "Although I am in the palace, I have long admired the name 'Proud Snow Cold Sword,' but seeing you today, I find you quite different from what I imagined." Ye Zhi Qiu was greatly embarrassed
, unsure how to respond.
Zhao Guangyi's nostalgic gaze softened into tenderness and affection as he smiled and said, "Hua Yu, accompany Young Hero Ye for a stroll around the palace. Senior Dugu and I have something to discuss." (

Volume 24, Chapter 9: The Alliance of Qin and Jin)

Ye Zhi Qiu, completely unable to control himself, followed Princess Hua Yu out of the Wende Hall. After the doors closed, Dugu Yu stroked his long beard and smiled, "Guangyi, what is it you wish to ask me, leaving me behind alone?"
Zhao Guangyi's gaze was intense as he slowly and deliberately said, "Please tell me, Senior Dugu, the true identity of Ren Xiaoyao."
Dugu Yu's thoughts shifted slightly, and he said with emotion, "What, are you also interested in him?"
Zhao Guangyi smiled meaningfully, "The most elite 100,000 Heavenly Army of this dynasty is in the hands of Ren Xiaoyao." "How can I be at ease if I don't understand his background clearly?"
Dugu Yu sighed. "Xiaoyao has been the leader for several months now. Qin Huaiyu and Zhang Jinghong should have already prepared a secret report and submitted it. Could it be that their report wasn't detailed enough?"
Zhao Guangyi said solemnly, "Since the Four Heroes of the Martial World became famous, their every move has been under my surveillance. The contents of the secret report are almost identical to what I knew before, so I had no choice but to consult Senior Dugu."
Dugu Yu smiled slightly and said calmly, "Everyone in the martial world knows that Ren Xiaoyao never mentions his childhood. I only guessed from his martial arts style that his mentor was 'Silver Wing Iron Palm' Meng Fei. As for other information, I may not know as much as you do." "The details of the matter."
Zhao Guangyi suddenly sat up straight, his eyes gleaming, and pondered, "I only have one question to ask: Is Ren Xiaoyao truly Ren Qiaocui's posthumous son?"
Dugu Yu revealed an inscrutable smile, stroking his beard, and said, "To be honest, although Xiaoyao's appearance is seven-tenths similar to Ren Qiaocui, and their temperaments are not entirely the same, he obtained the Ice Soul Frost Sword and the Soaring Sky Sword Technique from the bottom of Yunwu Valley. Apart from that, he has nothing on him that is related to Ren Qiaocui. Therefore, before seeing Meng Fei and hearing him admit it himself, I dare not be certain."
Zhao Guangyi's eyes flashed with a strange light, and he slowly said, "What if I told you that Ren Xiaoyao has this thing?"
Dugu Yu was moved and said, "You mean...?" "
Zhao Guangyi lowered his voice and slowly said, "The Nine Dragon Jade Pendant!"
Zhao Guangyi revealed a look of deep reminiscence and continued, "The Dragon and Phoenix Pendants were originally a token of love between Emperor Taizu and Empress Yuande, and also the key to unlocking the Heavenly Stone on the third level of the Qiande Treasure Vault. Before Emperor Taizu passed away, he passed the Dragon and Phoenix Pendants to Prince Zhongyong, instructing him to take good care of them to ensure the safety of the Supreme Qi Manual. Prince Zhongyong and Ren Qiaocui were close friends, so he gave him the Nine Dragon Jade Pendant from the Dragon and Phoenix Pendants, agreeing that if they each had a son, they would become brothers; if they each had a daughter, they would become sisters; and if one had a son and the other a daughter, they would be forever united in marriage."
Dugu Yu suddenly realized, "No wonder I heard Xiaoyao say that the Dragon Cult Leader had searched everywhere for the Nine Dragon Jade Pendant. " "So he's looking for a son-in-law."
Zhao Guangyi exclaimed, "Like father, like son; a great teacher produces a great student. The Loyal and Brave Prince must have discerned Ren Xiaoyao's background from the Nine Dragon Jade Pendant, which is why he passed the leadership to him without hesitation."
Dugu Yu asked with a smile, "Did you also issue the decree for the marriage because of the Nine Dragon Jade Pendant?"
Zhao Guangyi replied casually, "That's one reason, but what I value most is Ren Xiaoyao's outstanding command talent and extraordinary adaptability. I believe that given time, this man will surely become the second Loyal and Brave Prince... no, perhaps his achievements will surpass those of the Loyal and Brave Prince, and even all military strategists throughout history, establishing unparalleled merits for our Great Song Dynasty."
Dugu Yu scrutinized Zhao... After a long pause, Zhao Guangyi exclaimed in surprise, "The greater the hope, the greater the disappointment. Although Xiaoyao has always harbored the grand ambition of making all nations pay homage and all barbarians submit, so that no one in the world would covet the Song Dynasty or covet the Central Plains, given his unrestrained and carefree nature, asking him to lead the Tianji Army in eastern and western campaigns, southern and northern battles like the Dragon Master, to help the court recover the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, and even pacify the Liao and Western Xia, is perhaps... perhaps very difficult."
Zhao Guangyi's expression suddenly became solemn, and he slowly said, "That's why I appointed Ren Xiaoyao as the Marquis of Champion. I want him to know that he is my Huo Qubing, that protecting the country and resisting foreign enemies is his inescapable duty, and that supporting the nation and subjugating the barbarians is his mission."
Dugu Yuchen Yin said, "Xiaoyao has been trying every means to find out about his background. Now that we've confirmed it, should we tell him everything?"
Zhao Guangyi resolutely replied, "Absolutely not! The hatred for the murderer of one's father is irreconcilable. If he finds out that he is Ren Qiaocui's biological son, he might just raise an army of 100,000 to march on the Western Regions and seek revenge on the Asura Sect. At that time, my painstakingly planned Northern Expedition will be ruined."
Dugu Yu's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and he said in a deep voice, "Speaking of the Northern Expedition, I really think of someone."
Zhao Guangyi blurted out, "'Ice Fox Beauty' Xiao Nao?"
Dugu Yu nodded and said, "Yes, she is a distant niece of Emperor Taizong of Liao, Yelü Deguang. She is proficient in the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra and is also the wife of Emperor Jingzong, Yelü Xian. " "Emperor Yelü Longxu of Liao is seriously ill, and she has taken charge of the Liao government. You are also aware of the entanglement between Xiao Nao and Emperor Kuangyin..."
Zhao Guangyi suddenly slammed his hand on the table and stood up, coldly saying, "Hmph, shameless harlot! She failed to seduce Emperor Taizu, so she turned to hatred out of love and vowed to overthrow the dynasty at all costs. I want to see how she can shake the foundations of my Great Song Dynasty with the Yang family army guarding the borders and Senior Dugu protecting the martial arts world."
Dugu Yu said solemnly, "Xiao Nao is despicable, ruthless, and vicious. With her martial arts... alas, to be honest, Xiao Nao's cultivation is definitely no less than Yelü Deguang's back then. Although I am known as the number one expert in the world, I am, after all, old..."
Zhao Guangyi interrupted, "Xiao Nao is already seventy years old, Senior, there is no need to worry."
Dugu Yu solemnly said, "That is true, but the mysteries of the Heavenly Demon Heart Sutra are far more complex than you and I know. I vividly remember the Battle of Great Liang sixty years ago. Yelü Deguang single-handedly inflicted a crushing defeat on our monk, two companions, and three swordsmen. If Feng Hanqiu hadn't appeared in time, I fear the Khitan cavalry would have already trampled the Central Plains."
Zhao Guangyi frowned deeply and pondered, "I deeply agree with what you say, senior. When Emperor Taizu was in his prime, he made a duel with Xiao Nao, exhausting all the divine power of Heaven..." His skill was only slightly superior. Now, thirty years have passed in the blink of an eye. The founding emperor has passed away, while Xiao Nao's demonic skills have improved day by day. Fortunately, this is no longer the early days of our dynasty when our national strength was weak. I now control four hundred military prefectures and command hundreds of thousands of soldiers. Even if I cannot win through martial arts, I can still compete with him on the battlefield between our two countries. Moreover, the Loyal and Brave King has already passed on his innate supreme qi to Ren Xiaoyao. One day, when his divine skills are perfected, will he care about Ghost Netherworld God, Hatred Heaven, Xiao Nao, or anything like that? "
Dugu Yu murmured, "Mastering divine skills... how easy is that... how easy is that?"
Zhao Guangyi's eyes flashed with intense emotion as he sighed, "I know that cultivating the supreme innate qi is indeed no easy task. My master, with his unparalleled martial arts, devoted his entire life to it but only scratched the surface; Emperor Taizu, a genius of unparalleled talent, gave up after reaching the second level; Prince Zhongyong, in a perilous situation, was forced to continue his studies, ultimately succumbing to exhaustion and passing away. But I trust Ren Xiaoyao, I believe in this novice..." The young hero who forced Yelü Xiezhen to his death in his first battle! I believe he can master the innate supreme qi and become a pillar of our Great Song Dynasty! (

Volume 24, Chapter 10: The

Emperor's Disciple, Zhi Qiu's Enlightenment) Accompanied by Princess Hua Yu, the beautiful Princess Ye Zhi Qiu unknowingly arrived north of Huining Palace. Here stood a small hill made of stacked stones, upon which stood a palace and two pavilions, named Cuiwei Palace, Yun Gui Pavilion, and Yan Qi Pavilion. Yan Qi Pavilion was surrounded by apricot trees and bamboo, possessing a unique wild charm.
Princess Hua Yu sat gracefully before the railing of Yan Qi Pavilion, gazing at Ye Zhi Qiu with a serene expression. She was indeed naturally beautiful, possessing a captivating beauty that could topple kingdoms. Most enchanting was her graceful bearing in every movement; every smile and frown could captivate all beings. For her exquisitely sculpted features and flawless skin, her ethereal beauty was such that any addition or subtraction would ruin her divinely crafted, moon-like face.
Ye Zhi Qiu had barely recovered from his infatuation when Princess Hua Yu began introducing him to the palaces and halls along the way. He mechanically echoed her words, not absorbing a single one. Princess Hua Yu
said softly, "Young Master Ye, why are you ignoring me? Did I say something wrong and upset you?" Her voice was gentle and soft, perfectly complementing her graceful demeanor. Especially now, with a hint of sorrow in her voice, as if she wanted to speak but hesitated, who wouldn't feel pity for her?
Ye Zhi Qiu panicked and stammered, "No...no, Your Highness, what are you saying? I'm just a country bumpkin, I know very little about palace affairs. I was just amazed by the magnificent scenery around me, it was like a masterpiece of nature, and I was momentarily...for a moment lost in thought. I beg Your Highness to forgive me."
Seeing his embarrassed state, Princess Hua Yu couldn't help but chuckle, "Even the mighty Ao Xue Han Jian knows how to blush, did I see wrong?"
Ye Zhi Qiu thought to himself, "I'm not my fourth brother, so dashing and charming, a master at seducing girls." He said shyly, "Your Highness...Zhi Qiu, Zhi Qiu means...sigh, I don't know how to say it."
Princess Hua Yu's beautiful eyes, more alluring than any dream, swept over him, and she said playfully, "To tell you the truth, even in the palace, even Father Emperor and his concubines..." "You wouldn't dare treat me like this. It won't be so easy for me to forgive your disrespect."
Ye Zhi Qiu paused slightly, then asked softly, "Does the princess intend to punish Zhi Qiu?"
Princess Hua Yu's lips curled into a mischievous, barely suppressed smile. She said softly, "It seems Young Hero Ye is quite clever. But don't worry, I won't punish you or lock you up. I just want to hear about the current state of the martial world, especially about your Four Heroes of the Martial World… no, let me ask. You answer whatever I ask."
Ye Zhi Qiu was taken aback. "Your Highness, you've lived in the palace for so long, how could you…"
Princess Hua Yu's beautiful eyes flashed with a cunning light as she interrupted, "I don't care! I just want to hear!"
Ye Zhi Qiu had no choice but to agree.
Princess Hua Yu had a maid serve fragrant tea, and the two sat in the Yanqi Pavilion, chatting for half an hour.
Princess Huayu pestered Ye Zhiqiu with questions, especially about the situation of the Thirteen Forests Green Forest Alliance. Ye Zhiqiu was taken aback and said with a hint of embarrassment, "We Green Forest people do a business of robbery and plunder with no capital. To put it bluntly, we are going against the imperial court. Although we are grateful for the emperor's great grace in not pursuing us, but..." As he said this, his face turned red. He thought about how the emperor was willing to abandon state affairs to stay in Hejian Prefecture to teach him martial arts, but in the end, he became the leader of the Thirteen Forests Green Forest Alliance and did not appreciate the emperor's good intentions at all.
Princess Huayu's delicate corners revealed a smile more gentle and natural than ripples, and she said in her deep, sensual voice, "Young Master Ye, you are mistaken. The founding emperor and my father both came from humble backgrounds and know the hardships of the outlaws. When our dynasty was founded, we received great assistance from the Green Forest Alliance of the Thirteen Provinces. Chief Mu of Muke Village and Old Master Yang of Yandang Mountain were both my father's close friends from humble beginnings. In addition, many heroes of the outlaws helped punish corrupt officials and unscrupulous merchants. How could the court be an enemy of the Green Forest Alliance of the Thirteen Provinces?"
Ye Zhiqiu felt relieved and suddenly felt thirsty. He reached for the teapot, but Princess Huayu did the same. Their hands touched the handles of the teapots and they both exclaimed "Ah!" as they pulled back, but their eyes were drawn together like magnets.
Ye Zhi Qiu only needed to move forward slightly to touch Princess Hua Yu's exquisitely beautiful, jade-like body. Soft sunlight filtered through the trees, illuminating the pavilion and bathing her outward-facing side in a bright, radiant glow, while the side facing Ye Zhi Qiu remained shrouded in darkness. Looking down, her jade-like face, a blend of light and darkness, was breathtakingly beautiful. Her bright eyes sparkled beneath her long, arched eyebrows, and when her lips parted, two charming dimples naturally appeared on her cheeks. Her long, slender, and beautiful neck was alluringly sculpted, and her fair skin, barely visible, accentuated her graceful contours and figure. The contrast between the square fence and her delicate, captivating body created a stunning picture, seemingly blending seamlessly with the gentle sunlight.
Princess Hua Yu's cheeks flushed instantly, and she gave him a slightly embarrassed and annoyed look, saying in a half-scolding tone, "Young Master Ye, you...you're looking..." Her voice trailed off, barely audible.
Hearing Princess Huayu speak at such close range, it felt as if she were whispering in his ear, or like a gentle breeze from a distant, unfathomable place. For the first time in his life, Ye Zhiqiu felt an overwhelming urge to embrace a beautiful woman and kiss her lips. He was momentarily mesmerized.
"Hey, who's sitting in Yanqi Pavilion?" "Judging by her attire, who else could it be but Princess Huayu?" "I mean the young gentleman sitting next to her." "I don't know, perhaps the son of some minister." A sudden commotion arose from the hillside. Ye Zhiqiu jolted, quickly looking in the direction of the sound. He saw seven or eight women in colorful palace dresses walking hand in hand towards Yanqi Pavilion.
Princess Huayu, seemingly wanting to ease the awkward silence between them, said softly, "Oh, it's you ladies." She gracefully stood up, ignoring Ye Zhiqiu, and greeted them with a smile.
Ye Zhi Qiu suddenly felt a void. Looking at the princesses who followed, each possessed her own charm and allure, but compared to Princess Hua Yu's unparalleled beauty, they were like fireflies vying for the moon's brilliance.
Before he knew it, Ye Zhi Qiu was surrounded by the princesses like a star fluttering in the moonlight. When they learned that the handsome young man before them was the renowned Ao Xue Han Jian of the martial world, they were not surprised at all, but rather cheered and excitedly discussed among themselves. Some speculated about the reasons for his entry into the palace; others praised his fame in the martial world; a few quick-witted ones even gossiped about whether Ye Zhi Qiu was the emperor's chosen consort for Princess Hua Yu.
Princess Hua Yu, unable to withstand the pressure, revealed a shy and bashful demeanor, lowering her head to avoid the women's burning gazes, and said with a slight reproach, "Sisters, please don't tease Hua Yu."
Princess Yuande chuckled sweetly and said softly, "Oh my, my dear sister, who doesn't know you're the most beautiful and charming of all our princesses? If you don't marry a handsome, dashing, and promising young man, how can you face Father?"
Hearing this, Ye Zhi Qiu trembled violently, suddenly remembering someone—Shi Shi, Zhao Guangyi's daughter, Shi Shi, the Shi Shi he longed for day and night, the Shi Shi who haunted his dreams. (

Volume 24, Chapter 11: A Love That Could Topple Kingdoms)

After rescuing Ye Zhi Qiu from the execution ground, Zhao Guangyi imparted his life's skills to him within three short months. The hardships and suffering he endured during that time cannot be described in a few words. Ye Zhi Qiu had recently lost his parents, and under Zhao Guangyi's strict supervision, he endured unimaginable physical and mental hardships. He nearly gave up many times, but fortunately, Zhao Guangyi's daughter, Shi Shi, accompanied him through this most difficult period of his life. Although Shi Shi was just a little girl, her love and encouragement became his greatest support, allowing him to persevere. Even ten years later, he still remembered every smile and gesture of Shi Shi as a child.
Upon learning that his long-sought mentor was actually the Emperor, Ye Zhi Qiu should have immediately thought of Shi Shi. However, the appearance of Princess Hua Yu completely captivated him. Only in the moment of emptiness he felt due to Princess Hua Yu's temporary departure did his mind fully return. Then, hearing Princess Yuan De mention the Emperor's many daughters, he finally recalled his unforgettable Shi Shi.
In Ye Zhi Qiu's heart, Shi Shi's position was unparalleled by any other woman. This was not only due to the affection they shared in childhood, but also because his transformation from an orphan who lost both parents to a powerful figure in the martial arts world was inseparable from Shi Shi's help.
Ye Zhi Qiu roamed the martial arts world, renowned throughout the land, yet he had never found a soulmate, nor had any woman of exceptional beauty or virtue expressed her love for him. It wasn't that Ye Zhi Qiu didn't want to experience the joys of love; it was simply that his heart always belonged to Shi Shi, and there was no room for any other woman.
However, the appearance of Princess Hua Yu caused him to momentarily forget Shi Shi, completely immersed in a blissful, intoxicating feeling. At this moment, Ye Zhi Qiu was filled with regret and shame. He hated his own lack of willpower, his inability to maintain the love that had lingered in his heart for ten years; he hated his own fickleness, forgetting his deep longing for Shi Shi in the face of beauty.
Ye Zhi Qiu knew very well that he could easily find out Shi Shi's situation if he just asked, but he didn't have the courage to do so. He represented not only himself, but the face of the entire Green Forest Alliance of thirteen provinces and even the Central Plains martial arts world. Imagine the leader of tens of thousands of Green Forest heroes, immediately inquiring about Princess Shi Shi after entering the palace—what would others think if the news got out?
Even if Ye Zhi Qiu was willing to give up everything for love, what about Shi Shi? Being inexplicably entangled with him would not only damage her reputation, but she might not even remember what happened ten years ago. Was it necessary for him to rashly interfere in her peaceful and happy life?
Just as he was hesitating, Princess Huayu's gentle and melodious voice rang in his ears: "Young Master Ye, I'm here to accompany you in the palace on my father's orders. Could you take me for a stroll outside the palace?"
Before Ye Zhi Qiu could speak, Princess Yuande interjected, "Huayu, you always make excuses and refuse when your sisters invite you out. What's wrong? Now that you have Master Ye protecting you, you're making a fuss about wanting to..."
A delicate blush rose on each of Princess Huayu's fair cheeks. Hongyun, from Da Dian, said, "Sister, usually Father Emperor always sends guards to follow us like shadows when we leave the palace. He won't let us go anywhere crowded, it's so annoying! But this time… hehe, with the leader of the Thirteen Provinces Green Forest Alliance accompanying me, I don't think any bad guys would dare to mess with this princess… Young Hero Ye, don't you think so?"
Her tone revealed an undisguised sincerity, which made Ye Zhi Qiu's heart flutter. However, his mind was still mostly on Shi Shi, and he hesitated to answer.
Princess Hua Yu paused slightly, asking urgently, "Young Hero Ye, will you agree or not?"
Ye Zhi Qiu forced himself to calm down and answered irrelevantly, "Princess… Princess, don't worry, with Zhi Qiu protecting you, your safety is absolutely not a problem." This was indeed true. With Ye Zhi Qiu's current status, whether in the underworld or the legitimate world, who wouldn't give him some face? Ensuring that no one would harass Princess Hua Yu during her trip would be a piece of cake.
Princess Huayu exclaimed joyfully, "Great! Finally, I can go out for some fresh air!" With that, she casually took Ye Zhiqiu's arm.
Ye Zhiqiu felt the youthful vitality and elasticity in Princess Huayu's hand, and at the same time, her alluring fragrance wafted towards him. Ye Zhiqiu's heart fluttered, and he involuntarily forgot all about Shishi.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Bianjing, known as the ancient capital of six dynasties, served as the capital of the Wei state during the Warring States period, the Later Liang, Later Jin, Later Han, and Later Zhou dynasties during the Five Dynasties period, as well as the Northern Song dynasty, bringing Bianjing to its peak of prosperity. Its grand scale and bustling markets were renowned throughout the world.
Bianjing boasted beautiful scenery, a gathering of prominent figures, magnificent city walls, and a thriving economy. Its unique urban planning philosophy featured a grand city wall consisting of an outer city, an inner city, and an imperial city—three layers of walls—and three moats. The city boasted convenient transportation by both land and water, ensuring smooth flow of traffic. Its layout broke away from the closed-off ward system, replacing it with an open street system that combined wards and markets, resulting in a population exceeding one million.
The streets and wards of Bianjing City, described as "Qishu Mingxia Wufenglou, Yimen Zigu Diwangzhou" (meaning "The Five Phoenix Towers Under the Bright Clouds, Bianjing City Since Ancient Times, a Prefecture for Emperors"), resembled a chessboard, with interconnected markets, shops, and grand mansions, creating a scene of ethereal beauty. Thousands of buildings lined both sides, with bell towers and drum towers standing in the distance. Everywhere one looked, inns, taverns, jewelry stores, jade shops, general stores, cotton shops, and fresh fruit shops vied for attention, making it a thriving metropolis. The streets were bustling with pedestrians and carriages, a vibrant spectacle of a bustling metropolis.
Ye Zhi Qiu accompanied Princess Hua Yu as they drove their carriage away from the palace and onto Yongxi Avenue, a street lined with willows and locust trees in the south of the city. Beyond the main imperial road and the imperial highways, secondary streets, like a spiderweb, stretched into the city's neighborhoods, eventually leading to narrow alleys. Houses stretched along the river, with grand mansions, white-walled and black-tiled residences, stone-paved roads, stone arch bridges, floating boats, and stone wharves; boats ply the river, their reflections shimmering on the water, truly deserving of the reputation of "half city of Song Dynasty charm, half city of water."
Princess Hua Yu, experiencing the freedom and unrestrained ease for the first time, blushed with excitement, clinging tightly to Ye Zhi Qiu's arm. Her stunningly beautiful face drew admiring glances from onlookers. Fortunately, Ye Zhi Qiu was also a handsome man among men, otherwise he would have been overwhelmed by countless envious and jealous stares.
Previously, Ye Zhi Qiu had often been puzzled and confused by Ren Xiaoyao's deliberate display of docility in front of his female companions. Now, he finally understood his fourth brother's good intentions. Let alone facing the willful and capricious Shui Furong or the innocent and carefree Lin Yuxiu, even accompanying a gentle and obedient princess required him to be extremely careful and cautious, fearing that a careless action or even a slip of the tongue might displease Princess Hua Yu. But the thought of one day holding Shi Shi's delicate hand, strolling through this bustling market, stirred a deep and lingering emotion within him.
As they passed a fork in the road, a sudden commotion arose from the market on the left, interspersed with indistinct shouts and curses. Although he couldn't make out the specifics, Ye Zhi Qiu could guess that if things continued this way, a fight would be inevitable.
Normally, he would have gone to see what was going on without hesitation, but with the naive Princess Hua Yu by his side, Ye Zhi Qiu couldn't afford to be rash. It wasn't that he lacked confidence in protecting Princess Hua Yu in the event of a brawl, but rather that such violence was unsuitable for a pampered princess raised in the palace to witness, lest it harm her pure and innocent heart.
Ye Zhi Qiu said softly, "Hua Yu, let's go this way." He then pulled Princess Hua Yu towards the other end of the street.
Princess Hua Yu shook her head slightly, her gaze drifting to the left, and said softly, "Young Master Ye, I want to go over there and see what's going on."
Ye Zhi Qiu feigned nonchalance, saying indifferently, "A few thugs causing trouble, nothing worth watching."
Princess Huayu leaned closer, her voice, more melodious than celestial music, uttering, "I just want to do something righteous, will you come with me?"
Seeing her insistence, Ye Zhi Qiu, fearing he might offend her, nodded in agreement. Perhaps he didn't realize that his momentary lapse had forged a love story between him and Princess Huayu that would shake the heavens, move the gods, be fraught with countless hardships, and be passed down through the ages—a love story that would topple kingdoms.

(Volume 24, Chapter 12: The Claws of Lushan)

Arriving at a shop, Ye Zhi Qiu found dozens of people gathered around the entrance, the commotion emanating from them. Ye Zhi Qiu parted the crowd, leading Princess Hua Yu closer. Three Liao men dressed in Khitan attire came into view. The tallest was no more than thirty years old, robust and muscular, with a strong and well-proportioned physique. He had a full beard, sharp features, and a rather ugly face, yet he exuded a sincere and amiable aura, like a towering tree that could stand forever, unafraid of any storm.
The shorter one was as strong as an iron tower, with a rough and rugged face. His broad, thick shoulders made him appear square. A saber hung at his waist, his eyes were sharp, and his hair was trimmed to a mere inch long, stiff as iron needles, like a boar bristle brush. His appearance wasn't handsome, but he possessed a powerful and charismatic air that was endearing.
The man standing in the middle appeared to be only twenty-four or twenty-five years old, with a perfect physique and an upright posture, displaying extraordinary charisma, full of power and confidence. His face was handsome and flawless, his bronze skin shimmering with a dazzling luster, and his legs were as straight as spear shafts, making his majestic body seem to reach for the stars. The cloth robe draped over his body fluttered slightly, as if concealing the most terrifying power in the world.
What was most breathtaking was that he was like a vast ocean full of undercurrents, dynamic yet still, still yet dynamic, making it completely unpredictable. A pair of bright and deep eyes were set on a high, straight nose, their gaze stubborn and firm, filled with powerful confidence, yet revealing no changes or feelings in his heart, making one feel that he could destroy anyone or anything at any time without the slightest remorse. His jet-black hair was tied back in a bun, and his handsome and ancient face was like a bronze statue, without the slightest flaw.
The people arguing with them were the shop owner and seven or eight thugs. After listening to a few words, Ye Zhi Qiu immediately realized that the shop owner had deliberately set a trap, arranging the goods in a flowing pattern. The short Khitan man accidentally touched them, resulting in them all being smashed. The shop owner demanded compensation, but the short Khitan man refused, leading to the argument.
Normally, given the three men's physique and appearance, the shop owner wouldn't dare to provoke them. However, due to the long-standing conflict between the Han and Khitan peoples, and the Liao Dynasty's treacherous plot that killed Long Yin Xiao, the Song people's resentment had reached its peak. Since the Five Dynasties period, the Khitan and Han peoples had been constantly at war, with the Han suffering repeated defeats and harboring deep resentment towards the Liao. However, in the Battle of Xunfeng, Ren Xiaoyao led the Tianji Army to a great victory over 400,000 Liao soldiers, forcing Yelü Xiezhen to commit suicide. The entire nation felt a sense of pride and no longer took the Liao seriously. Now, seizing the opportunity, they naturally tried every means to force the other side to pay compensation.
The thugs and ruffians had long colluded with the shop owner. When the common people saw that the people being extorted were Khitan barbarians, instead of standing up for justice, they shouted and jeered. The two men, tall and short, were determined not to pay, and the situation escalated to the point of almost coming to blows.
Ye Zhi Qiu observed coldly, noticing that the man in the middle hadn't uttered a single word throughout. Occasionally, a restrained smile would appear, revealing his deep-seated cunning and reluctance to reveal his emotions. His sharp, icy gaze further emphasized his aloofness and disregard for everyone and everything.
Ye Zhi Qiu knew the two men were skilled in martial arts, and he refrained from attacking out of consideration for the surrounding crowd and the potential anger of the people. Princess Huayu, unaware of the underlying motives, assumed the shop owner was deliberately humiliating the Khitans. She gracefully stepped forward and softly rebuked them, "Under the Emperor's nose, how dare you be so insolent! You three have only knocked over a few pieces of porcelain; is it necessary to make such a fuss?"
The shop owner, about to erupt in anger at the interruption, suddenly noticed a beautiful, slender young woman with bright eyes and white teeth. His anger subsided considerably, and he said calmly, "Miss, do you know that the goods in my shop are all from Yaozhou, Cizhou, Jingdezhen, Longquan, and Yue kilns? The few pieces they damaged are worth over a hundred taels of silver. If you don't compensate them accordingly, my whole family will starve."
Princess Huayu reached out her slender hand and picked up a few shards of porcelain from the ground. After examining them briefly, her eyes widened in surprise, and her delicate brows furrowed as she spoke softly, "Yaozhou ware is exquisite, with an extremely thin body; Cizhou ware uses magnetite clay as the body, emphasizing white porcelain with black decoration, and a smooth, even glaze; Jingdezhen ware is thin and lustrous, with exquisite whiteness and translucency, making it the best among porcelains; Longquan ware is mostly pale green or emerald green, with a beautiful and bright glaze; Yue ware is thin-bodied, delicately crafted, and has a beautiful luster."
Hearing Princess Huayu's detailed explanation, everyone cast admiring glances at her. Ye Zhiqiu, wanting her to shine, deliberately remained silent, quietly observing the situation from the crowd.
Princess Huayu's beautiful eyes flashed with a glint of light as she continued, "The five great kilns are Ru, Guan, Ge, Jun, and Ding. Among them, Ru kiln is the crown jewel, its glaze primarily a pale blue, with a smooth, lustrous feel. Guan kiln produced porcelain exclusively for the imperial palace, so naturally your shop wouldn't dare sell it. Jun kiln is famous for its colored porcelain, with rouge red being the best, and its onion green and ink-colored porcelain also being quite good. Ding kiln produces porcelain with a fine body, thin yet lustrous, with a moist glaze and a white glaze that resembles powder, known as 'powdered Ding' or 'white Ding.' May I ask, sir, where exactly does this piece in my hand come from?" Having said this, she looked at the shopkeeper with a leisurely air, as if awaiting his answer.
The shopkeeper's face instantly turned a deep purplish-red, his lips twitched slightly, and he remained speechless for a long while.
The short Khitan man, feigning gratitude, loudly mocked, "Boss, now you're speechless! A few ordinary trinkets, worth at most seven or eight coins, I'll give them to you! I'll give them to you, okay?"
The shop owner panicked and frantically signaled to the thugs to come to his rescue.
The thug leader reacted quickly, striding forward and coldly saying, "Miss, don't interrupt our men's business, or I might... hehe... there are too many people here, and I'm too lazy to say some things." As he spoke, his lewd gaze lingered on Princess Huayu's high, firm breasts, a look of intoxicated delight at her beauty.
Princess Huayu blushed slightly, but she wasn't afraid of this mere thug. Her voice turned cold as she slowly said, "According to the laws of this dynasty, any merchant who bullies others and extorts money from the people will be severely punished. At best, their goods will be confiscated; at worst, they will be imprisoned. You're asking for over a hundred taels of
silver; if this goes to the yamen, you'll be sentenced to at least two or three years." The thug's expression changed slightly, and he sneered, "Miss, you...you're quite the sharp-tongued one. Be careful...one day you might be kidnapped on your way home and sold to a brothel on the Qinhuai River to be...to be a prostitute." This petty thug had never seen such a stunning beauty as Princess Huayu. Although he was threatening her, he was captivated by her beauty. He managed to finish his sentence with great difficulty, but as soon as the word "prostitute" left his lips, he regretted it deeply. He felt that it was a great sin to defile the pure and bright young girl before him with such frivolous words.
Princess Huayu was Zhao Guangyi's most favored daughter. No official in the court dared to be disrespectful to her. Now, for the first time, she had been subjected to such vile language, and in the middle of a crowded marketplace no less. Her eyes immediately reddened, her delicate hands tightly gripping the hem of her dress,
looking as if she were about to cry. The two Khitan men, one tall and one short, changed their expressions slightly, seemingly preparing to help. However, the young man in the middle gave them a wink, signaling them to hold back. The two men, deeply respecting him, dared not disobey and obediently stepped back, watching helplessly as Princess Huayu was harassed by the local thugs. The thug leader was
somewhat sensible, but his men, lusting after Princess Huayu's beauty, shouted, "Girl, are you scared now?" "Come on, let your brother touch you, and we'll let you go home." "Don't be shy, you'll have your fun later." As they spoke, their hands and feet began to wander.
Princess Huayu, delicate and frail, could not escape the clutches of the local ruffians led by Lu Shan. Her heart trembled with fear, and her face paled.
Just as his pristine body was about to be touched by the villain, several cries of "Ah!" rang out, and the thugs surrounding him collapsed to the ground in agony. Looking down, one could see that there was no blood flowing from their bodies, only a small red mark on their wrists, yet their screams were louder than pigs being slaughtered, their bodies trembling uncontrollably. Clearly, their tendons had been severed, and their shoulders were essentially useless.
The one who had done this was Ye Zhi Qiu!

(Volume 24, Chapter 13: The Emperor's Disciple, Zhi Qiu's

Enlightenment; Princess Hua Yu, overjoyed, cried and threw herself into Ye Zhi Qiu's arms, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a captivating light. She sobbed, "Brother Ye, I...I was so scared, thank you...thank you for saving me!" Her way of addressing Ye Zhi Qiu changed involuntarily, and an indelible mark was etched into her heart.)
Ye Zhi Qiu felt her delicate body tremble without any barrier, and a surge of guilt welled up in his heart. He softly comforted her, "Hua Yu, I'm sorry. My sword always draws blood. At first, I didn't want to hurt anyone, but in the end..."
Princess Hua Yu shook her head frantically, interrupting, "No, I don't blame you." Halfway through her sentence, she suddenly realized her impropriety, quickly pulling away from Ye Zhi Qiu's embrace, her cheeks flushed, and she fell silent. This was
also the first time Ye Zhi Qiu had such intimate contact with a young woman, and he couldn't help but blush slightly. He inwardly scolded himself for being so useless; at over twenty years old, he was still so hesitant and timid when holding a girl, and the atmosphere instantly became extremely awkward.
The Khitan youth bowed respectfully, his polite demeanor and captivating charm inspiring obedience. He said, "Thank you for your righteous intervention, young master; thank you for rescuing us, young lady."
Ye Zhi Qiu returned the bow, about to speak, when Princess Hua Yu interjected, "The Han and Hu people are one family. Only a small minority in Bianjing harbor resentment towards the Khitans. I hope you won't take offense." She resumed her gentle and elegant posture, a sweet smile playing on her lips, her dimples deepening and becoming even more alluring, captivating everyone's attention.
The Khitan youth paused for a moment, then his eyes suddenly flashed with a sharp light, shaking off his infatuated state. Ye Zhi Qiu observed this and sensed that this man was far from simple; his composure alone surpassed his own.
The Khitan youth gazed intently at Princess Huayu's stunningly beautiful face, and said with a smile, "We Khitans never beat around the bush. I find you to be naturally beautiful, a beauty that could topple kingdoms, far surpassing the looks of ordinary Han women. I greatly admire you. May I ask your name?" Princess
Huayu smiled sweetly, her hands behind her back, making her breasts appear even more prominent, and said charmingly, "If you want to ask my name, you should at least tell me about yourself first."
The Khitan youth's eyes brightened, and he said solemnly, "In..." "Yelü Changsheng." Then, pointing to two attendants, she introduced them, "These are my servants, Yelü Lishe and Yelü Ji. We have come to Bianjing to purchase cloth and silk to sell back home. May I ask, young lady…?"
Princess Huayu smiled sweetly, her charm unmistakable, "My name is Zhao Yuhua, and this is my childhood sweetheart, Qiu Zhiye. We were strolling through the market when we happened to witness a shopkeeper setting a trap for someone, so we stepped in to help."
Hearing the words "childhood sweetheart," Ye Zhiye recalled Shishi again, and a pang of pain shot through his chest.
Princess Huayu shrugged her fragrant shoulders, her posture and expression so captivating, and said softly, "It's getting late. Brother Qiu and I still need to go to the west of the city to buy some things. Farewell." With that, she gave a graceful curtsy, took Ye Zhiye's left hand, and pulled him toward the street corner.
Yelü Changsheng watched her beautiful figure disappear into the crowd, muttering, "Good! What a stunning beauty, Zhao Yuhua. It seems this trip to Bianjing was worthwhile."
Yelü Lishe lowered his voice and asked, "Your Majesty, should we...?" He made a "click" gesture and whispered, "...and then send Zhao Yuhua to the manor?"
Yelü Changsheng said indifferently, "No need. With the Song and Liao relations so strained, it's best to avoid doing things we're not confident about."
Yelü Ji said respectfully, "Qiu Zhiye's swordsmanship is excellent, but we..."
Yelü Changsheng sneered, "..." "Don't even mention the two of you, even if all eighteen riders of Yanyun came together, they might not be able to do anything to him."
Yelü Ji said in astonishment, "No way, Qiu Zhiye has no reputation in the Central Plains martial arts world..."
Yelü Changsheng said coldly, "Did you hear Zhao Yuhua call Qiu Zhiye something when she first did?"
Yelü Ji recalled, "It seemed... it seemed like 'Brother Ye,' Brother Ye... Qiu Zhiye... Ye Zhiqiu!"
Yelü Changsheng's eyes flashed with unfathomable lightning, and he slowly said, word by word, "That's right, this person is the leader of the Green Forest Alliance of Thirteen Provinces, 'Proud Snow Cold Sword' Ye
Zhiqiu ." Yelü Li She stammered, "Then...then Zhao Yuhua is also using a false name?"
Yelü Changsheng smiled slightly and nodded, "If I'm not mistaken, she should be Princess Huayu, Zhao Yushi, Zhao Guangyi's most beloved daughter."
Yelü Li She suddenly realized and cautiously asked, "Does this mean Ye Zhi Qiu is allowed to keep such a stunningly beautiful woman as his concubine?"
Yelü Changsheng's eyes flashed with murderous intent, and he said coldly, "Hmph, Ren Xiaoyao forced my father to his death; this is an irreconcilable hatred. Now that I can't find him, I'll start with his sworn brother."
Yelü Ji exclaimed: "Your Majesty intends to..."
Yelü Changsheng sneered, "I intend to use my true abilities to get the women of the Four Beauties of the Martial World into my bed one by one, play with them until I'm satisfied, and then send them to the army for the soldiers to enjoy. As a princess of the Great Song Dynasty, Zhao Yushi is naturally the first to be targeted."
Half a month passed quickly. Under Zhao Guangyi's deliberate arrangement, Ye Zhiqiu spent every day by Princess Huayu's side. However, he did not know that Princess Huayu was Zhao Yushi, the woman he had been longing for. Whenever he faced this stunningly beautiful woman, he had to find a way to suppress his feelings, fearing that he might accidentally fall in love with her.
In fact, Ye Zhiqiu had been trying his best to find out where Zhao Yushi was. This was because Zhao Guangyi doted on this daughter. Ten years ago, after returning from Hejian, he issued an edict to bestow upon her the title of Princess Huayu. From then on, the entire harem addressed her by her title instead of her given name. Ye Zhi Qiu was too ashamed to ask Zhao Guangyi directly, nor was he comfortable inquiring with the other princesses. He could only try to find out from the eunuchs and maids, but so much time had passed that these few servants could hardly remember Princess Hua Yu's name.
That day, Zhao Guangyi invited Ye Zhi Qiu to the palace for tea at Genyue within the imperial city. Genyue was a magnificent palace complex built by Zhao Guangyi after his ascension to the throne, a masterpiece of craftsmanship, resembling a fairyland. Genyue stretched for over ten li, modeled after Phoenix Mountain in Zhejiang, with artificial hills constructed from piled earth. The main mountain, Wansui Mountain (Gen Mountain), contained dozens of large caves filled with realgar and rutin. Realgar was said to repel snakes and insects, while rutin could dissipate yin energy and gather mist, creating an atmosphere as gloomy as a deep mountain valley. Genyue also contained various artificial mountains made of stacked Taihu stones. In the central part of the garden are scenic spots such as Yaoliao, Xizhuang, Chaoyun Pavilion, Bailongyi, Yuelong Gorge, Panxiu Pavilion, Lianguang Pavilion, Kuayun Pavilion, and Luohan Rock. Further west is Wansong Ridge, with Yicui Tower standing on its banks. Beside the tower, two curved pools have been carved into the flat ground. The eastern one is called Luzhu, where Fuyang Pavilion is located; the western one is called Meizhu, where Xuelang Pavilion is located. The water in the pools flows eastward to Yanchi (Wild Goose Pool) and westward to Fengchi (Phoenix Pool). There are several pavilions, towers, and pavilions around the pools. At the foot of Wansui Mountain, there is a path leading directly to Jieting Pavilion at the highest point of the mountain. To the left and right of Jieting Pavilion are two pavilions: Jimu and Xiaosen on the left, and Liyun and Banshan on the right. From the top of the mountain, one can look north over the Jinglong River, from which a branch of the river flows into a mountain stream. To the west of the garden stands the Shuqiong Pavilion, amidst which nestled among the rocks are the Alchemy Pavilion, the Ningzhi Pavilion, and the Huanshan Pavilion. From here, one can see the Gaoyang Tavern and the Qingsi Pavilion beside the Jinglong River. On the north bank of the river, a charming pavilion stands, and a tributary of the river flows towards the villa, known as the Huixi Stream.
Ye Zhiqiu was a clever man and naturally knew that the tea tasting was a pretense, and his true intention was to accompany Princess Huayu. At the same time, he was secretly puzzled. Princess Huayu was the most beautiful woman in the capital, and countless sons of officials and young talents wanted to marry her. He and she had no official status, and their frequent visits to the palace had already been the subject of gossip. Now, Zhao Guangyi not only summoned her with an imperial decree but also sent the Imperial Guard Commander Wu Haoming to visit her in a grand manner, even bestowing upon him a royal horse, as if he wanted the entire city to know.
It took about half an hour to get from the inn to Genyue, located in the imperial city. Along the way, Ye Zhiqiu kept subtly inquiring with Wu Haoming about whether the Emperor had other intentions. Wu Haoming, a straightforward man who usually couldn't keep his mouth shut, remained silent this time, only urging him to hurry.
Passing through Lizheng Gate, Zhongmei Hall, Huining Palace, and Qionghua Garden, Ye Zhiqiu finally arrived at Genyue, known as "the most beautiful place under heaven." Despite being mentally prepared, the scene before him still stunned him.

(Volume 24, Chapter 14: The Emperor's Disciple, Zhiqiu's Enlightenment ) Among those present

were not only Emperor Zhao Guangyi of the Song Dynasty, but also Empress Zhaoxian, née Du; only Princess Huayu was absent.
Zhao Guangyi wore a ceremonial robe and crown only when attending celebrations and important occasions. He wore a cloud-patterned crown with twenty-four tassels on it, one foot high and one foot wide, with twelve tassels hanging down in the front and back. He wore a brocade dragon robe with a red lining, and the collar, sleeves, lapel, and hem were all edged with black. The robe was painted and the skirt was embroidered with twelve symbols: the sun, moon, stars, mountains, dragons, pheasants, algae, fire, rice grains, axe, and axe. He wore a gold and jade belt around his waist, white socks and black shoes, and a sash. The robe made him look domineering and incomparably beautiful.
Empress Zhaoxian wore a dragon and phoenix crown made of coral beads, meticulously crafted to the smallest detail. Her phoenix robe was a deep blue with multicolored pheasant patterns, the collar, sleeves, and hem edged with red cloud and dragon designs. Underneath, she wore a blue gauze undergarment, and a dark blue knee-covering sash. She also wore white jade pendants and jade sash rings, and blue stockings and black shoes with gold phoenix inlays, exuding nobility and elegance.
Ye Zhiqiu keenly sensed that today's events were unusual. After bowing and performing the proper courtesies, he sat respectfully to the side, awaiting the Emperor's words.
Zhao Guangyi stroked his beard and smiled, "What does Zhi Qiu think of the scenery of Genyue?"
Ye Zhi Qiu respectfully replied, "It's like a fairyland, breathtakingly beautiful."
Empress Zhaoxian said softly, "Your Majesty, you know perfectly well what I'm asking. The construction of Genyue consumed so much of the dynasty's manpower and resources. From the Jianlong to the Kaibao era, over ten years, flowers, bamboo, and rare stones from all over the country were gathered here. In the seventh year of Jianlong, transporting a mountain rock several zhang high required thousands of people, digging rivers, breaking bridges, destroying dams, and dismantling sluices. It took several months to transport it to Bianjing. The pavilions and towers everywhere increased month by month, countless in number, hence the reputation of 'a perfect scenic spot unparalleled in the world.'"
Zhao Guangyi smiled and asked again, "Do you know why I... " "Why build Genyue?"
Ye Zhi Qiu cupped his hands and said, "This humble subject is foolish and dares not presume to guess Your Majesty's intentions."
Zhao Guangyi personally rose from his seat, patted Ye Zhi Qiu's shoulder, and slowly said, "Let me tell you, I spared no expense in building Genyue, all for Hua Yu."
Empress Zhaoxian continued, "Your Majesty has more than a dozen daughters, but you love Hua Yu the most. Let alone building a garden in the palace, even if... In short, my husband and I would do anything for her."
How could Ye Zhi Qiu not understand the hidden meaning in the Empress's words? Just as he was about to muster his courage to subtly express his concern for Shi Shi, he suddenly saw Zhao Guangyi and Empress Zhaoxian both turn their heads and look towards Yi Xuan Lake not far away.
Ye Zhi Qiu looked in the direction their gazes were fixed on, and saw a small boat decorated with flowers silently drifting towards them. At the bow of the boat, a young woman in white, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, played a zither with delicate hands, producing a ethereal and profound melody that captivated and enchanted the listener, seemingly gently probing the deepest emotions within each person's heart. It was poetic, rhythmic, dreamlike, and ethereal.
As the boat drew closer, Ye Zhi Qiu suddenly realized that the young woman in white playing the zither was none other than Princess Hua Yu. Her flowing hair cascaded down her shoulders and back like a waterfall, her eyebrows were like crescent moons, her skin was as white as snow, and her peerless beauty was serene and undisturbed, making the surrounding breathtaking scenery pale in comparison. Ye Zhi Qiu was captivated by her beautiful, graceful figure, his gaze fixed on Princess Hua Yu, almost forgetting where he was. He was only jolted awake by Zhao Guangyi's loud call, and awkwardly laughed, "This music should only exist in heaven; it's rarely heard on earth! Zhi Qiu has lost his composure!"
Empress Zhao Xian chuckled, "It's not the melody that makes Young Hero Ye sigh, but the beauty itself."
Ye Zhi Qiu, his thoughts exposed, blushed slightly, feeling a bit guilty.
At this moment, the orchid boat arrived before the waterside pavilion. Two palace maids secured the boat, and Princess Hua Yu gracefully stepped ashore, carrying a mulberry basket—"bound by black silk and hooked by beautiful branches"—like a fairy descended from the deepest, darkest starry sky. With her appearance, the entire waterside pavilion seemed instantly enveloped in a rich, fragrant aroma.
Ye Zhi Qiu's gaze fell upon Princess Hua Yu's breathtakingly beautiful face. Her elegant and intelligent features still carried the melancholy that permeated her expression, giving her a unique, aloof beauty. Despite wearing no makeup, her quiet and graceful demeanor and slender figure could captivate anyone.
Princess Hua Yu's beautiful eyes also drifted towards him. This sideways glance was undeniably alluring and captivating, most strikingly, her eyes possessing a mesmerizing charm that made Ye Zhi Qiu's heart flutter, almost bewitching him.
In front of her father and mother, Princess Hua Yu couldn't openly express her enthusiasm for Ye Zhi Qiu. After a perfunctory bow, she sat down beside Empress Zhao Xian like a dutiful daughter, remaining silent.
Inhaling her captivating fragrance and watching her slender, snow-white fingers deftly press, pluck, and strum the seven strings of the zither, Ye Zhi Qiu nearly lost control, wanting to embrace her and shower her with affection.
Suddenly, the image of Shi Shi flooded his mind, and Ye Zhi Qiu was overwhelmed with intense guilt. He knew he could never let go of Shi Shi, the most important woman in his life, in this lifetime. No matter how he interacted with Princess Hua Yu, it would always be like a fleeting dream, something he could only cherish in his memories. Thinking of this, a bold idea suddenly formed in Ye Zhi Qiu's mind: what would be the consequences if he directly rejected Princess Hua Yu, or simply left and never saw her again?
Zhao Guangyi, being an experienced man, naturally saw his daughter's affection for Ye Zhiqiu. Seeing how quickly their relationship was developing, he assumed Ye Zhiqiu and she had already discussed what happened ten years ago in Hejian Prefecture, and he didn't want to bring it up again. He smiled and asked, "Zhiqiu, what do you think of Huayu? Is she suitable to be a virtuous wife and loving mother?"
Ye Zhiqiu, immersed in her unbearable torment, didn't hear Zhao Guangyi's question clearly. She immediately felt embarrassed, gave an awkward smile, and didn't know how to answer.
At the crucial moment, Empress Zhaoxian tugged at Zhao Guangyi's sleeve, defusing the situation, saying, "Your Majesty, you're being too direct. Huayu is still young, far from marriageable age."
Zhao Guangyi laughed heartily, saying, "You, you just can't bear to part with our precious daughter. Not to mention Yuande and Shuhua, who are about the same age as Huayu, even her younger sisters have already chosen their husbands. If we don't marry Huayu off soon, she'll become an unwanted old maid, and you, her mother, will be the one to blame."
Empress Zhaoxian glanced at Ye Zhi Qiu meaningfully, and said softly, "Huayu is the most beautiful woman in the capital. There are countless men who want to marry her. What we should be worried about isn't our daughter not being able to get married, but how to choose a husband. Don't you think so, Ye—Young—Hero?" She deliberately drew out her words, her meaning self-evident.
Ye Zhi Qiu knew perfectly well that Zhao Guangyi and Empress Zhaoxian were working together to test his willingness to become a prince consort. Moreover, judging from the Emperor and Empress's solemn demeanor, everything was clearly already arranged. If he agreed, an imperial decree of marriage would be issued immediately, leaving no room for negotiation.
Ye Zhi Qiu was in turmoil. If he agreed, he would be betraying Shi Shi; if he refused, he would disappoint Princess Hua Yu. Just as he was caught in this indecisive state, the Grand Eunuch Guo hurried to Zhao Guangyi's side and whispered in his ear. His voice was very soft; Ye Zhi Qiu only vaguely heard the words "Liao Kingdom... delegation... Southern King... requesting an audience with His Majesty."
A fleeting look of shock crossed Zhao Guangyi's face. He stood up abruptly and said in a deep voice, "Guards! Prepare the carriage for the Zichen Palace—Empress, take Hua Yu back to Longfu Palace for now. Zhi Qiu, come with me!" (

Volume 24: The Emperor's Disciple, Zhi Qiu's Enlightenment, Chapter 15: The Southern King)

Inside the Zichen Hall, all the civil and military officials were gathered. Led by Huyan Zan and Cao Bin, the generals were all clad in armor and carrying swords. Lü Duan, Wang Ruoqin, and others also wore brand-new court robes. All the ministers were solemn, and no one dared to speak without permission. The atmosphere in the hall was extremely tense.
After the ministers finished their shouts, Lü Duan stepped forward and announced, "The Southern Prince of Liao has personally led the Liao delegation to the capital to draft trade terms with our dynasty. They are currently waiting in the side hall and humbly request an audience with Your Majesty."
Ye Zhi Qiu suddenly understood. So it concerned trade between the Song and Liao dynasties. No wonder Zhao Guangyi had rushed back so urgently.
Before long, the Liao envoys entered the Zichen Hall under the guidance of the eunuch. Ye Zhi Qiu stared intently and was stunned. The person at the head of the procession was none other than Yelü Changsheng, the Khitan youth he had met at the market a few days earlier.
Yelü Changsheng walked to the center of the hall, clasped his hands, and said, "Yelü Changsheng, the Great King of Liaonan, greets the Emperor of Song."
Lü Duan angrily rebuked, "How dare you! Why don't you perform the three bows and nine kowtows before the Emperor, showing the proper etiquette between ruler and subject?"
Yelü Changsheng sneered, "Hmph, even the envoys of a superior nation don't bow to the princes of a inferior one. I, in the Liao Dynasty, am second only to the Emperor, and besides..."
Huyan Zan stood with his hand on his sword, furiously saying, "Absurd! The Liao Dynasty is a tiny, insignificant country; how dare it presume to be so arrogant in my Celestial Empire!"
Yelü Changsheng said arrogantly, "I have come to Bianjing to discuss matters with your Emperor. I do not wish to waste my time arguing with the General over such a trivial matter of etiquette." Before
Huyan Zan could rebuke him, Zhao Guangyi waved his hand... Interrupting, he smiled and said, "The reason I received your delegation in court was solely out of friendship between our two countries. Otherwise, why would such a trivial matter need to be discussed in the Golden Palace? The annual trade revenue between Song and Liao is only three million, less than one-tenth of our dynasty's tax revenue. Your Majesty Yelü can talk if you want, or you can return if you don't." Border trade was of great significance to Liao. They exchanged warhorses and livestock with Song for silk, tea, and even iron pots and teapots, gradually changing their former nomadic lifestyle and settling in the city. Once Song completely banned trade with Liao, they could only rely on foraging for grain to obtain necessities. In the long run, they would definitely be unable to make ends meet, and their losses would be far greater than those of Song.
Yelü Changsheng, his sharp edge softened by Zhao Guangyi's words hitting a nerve, smiled and said, "Of course we must talk, but..."
Before he could finish, Zhao Guangyi interrupted, "Where is Grand Minister Lü Yijian?"
Lü Yijian stepped forward, head held high, and respectfully replied, "Your subject is here."
Zhao Guangyi looked at Yelü Changsheng and smiled leisurely, "Lord Lü is in charge of the dynasty's finances. Discuss the trade terms with him. Once the entire plan is finalized, submit it to me for review." The implication was clear: Yelü Changsheng had no right to negotiate with him.
The Liao envoys all paled, but Yelü Changsheng remained expressionless, standing motionless.
Ye Zhiqiu, initially surprised by Yelü Changsheng's flawless concealment of his identity in the market, was now secretly impressed by Zhao Guangyi's extraordinary political acumen, seeing Zhao Guangyi render Yelü Changsheng speechless with just a few words.
Zhao Guangyi was annoyed by Yelü Changsheng's arrogance and inappropriate remarks, so he simply ignored him and said loudly, "If you have something to say, speak up now; otherwise, the court is adjourned." These words should have been spoken by a eunuch, but they came from Zhao Guangyi's mouth. The officials naturally understood the emperor's intention, and they all lowered their heads and remained silent.
Zhao Guangyi's tiger-like eyes flashed with a sharp light as he coldly swept over Yelü Changsheng's face, and he said loudly, "That's enough for today, court adjourned!"
Yelü Changsheng's heart skipped a beat, and he hurriedly stopped him, "Wait!"
Zhao Guangyi seemed to have anticipated his reaction, and he smiled calmly, "What, is it any of your business, Your Majesty Yelü, to interfere in the affairs of this dynasty?"
Yelü Changsheng was caught off guard and said, "How dare I... how dare I..." As he spoke, his eyes flashed with a sharp light, then he concealed it and said in a deep voice, "However, my primary purpose in coming to Bianjing is to fulfill the mission entrusted to me by the Empress Dowager, and the secondary purpose is—Lishe, bring it here."
Yelü Lishe agreed and respectfully handed a brocade box to Yelü Changsheng.
Zhao Guangyi focused his gaze and slowly said, "What is the King Yelü holding in his hand..."
Yelü Changsheng shrugged nonchalantly and said loudly, "This is a personal gift from me to Your Majesty."
Zhao Guangyi, seeing his sudden change in attitude, became very curious and smiled, "Oh, I'd like to see what treasure the King Yelü has so carefully prepared."
Eunuch Guo took the brocade box from Yelü Changsheng and opened it in front of the entire court. Inside were a pair of exquisitely crafted jade horses. The two steeds, galloping with their hooves out, were agile and vigorous, heads held high and tails swishing. Their heads were slightly to the left, three hooves were off the ground, only their right hind hoof resting on the back of a soaring dragon-bird. The horses' robust and rounded bodies were full of power, yet their movements were so light, brimming with the pride of "heavenly horses soaring through the sky." The swallow seemed to be looking back, astonished by the unexpected encounter with the galloping horses, implying a transcendent state of "wielding the whip to compete with birds in flight." Judging from the quality of the jadeite, it was clearly from Hetian, Xinjiang. It was delicate and warm, like solidified fat, with a full and symmetrical shape, crystal clear, and a vibrant green color.
A chorus of praises immediately rang out in the Zichen Hall. Clearly, all the ministers could see that this gift was extraordinary; even within the imperial palace, such a rare treasure would be hard to find.
Zhao Guangyi's eyes flashed with a sharp light as he stroked his beard and asked, "What is the purpose of Your Majesty Yelü sending me this Flying Horse statue out of nowhere?"
Yelü Changsheng laughed heartily and said loudly, "This Flying Horse statue is merely a token. What I truly wish to give Your Majesty is 100,000 fine horses, 100,000 top-quality horses from the Western Regions."
Upon hearing this, the ministers were deeply moved. Since the end of the Tang Dynasty, the Han people had lost the horse-producing lands of the Northwest, so the Northern Song court had always suffered from a shortage of horses and had to purchase them at high prices. Zhao Kuangyin had once bought horses from the Jurchens by sea from Dengzhou. Zhao Guangyi realized the importance of cavalry and also purchased horses at high prices from the people in the capital and various prefectures. Even so, it was still not enough to meet the needs. Even the Tianji Army, known as the "most elite army in the world," could only equip two main cavalry forces, the Longxiang and Huyi, with less than 10,000 men each. Yelü Changsheng offered 100,000 horses; if he truly commanded them, it would be enough to transform the court's most elite imperial guards into an invincible and ferocious army.
Zhao Guangyi said in a deep voice, "As the saying goes, 'a favor is a favor.' Your Majesty, you've given me 100,000 fine horses for no reason. Do you expect something in return?"
Yelü Changsheng's eyes gleamed brightly, and he replied casually, "Your Majesty is right. I have indeed taken a liking to something in the palace, but fearing Your Majesty might be reluctant, I proposed exchanging 100,000 fine horses."
Zhao Guangyi laughed heartily, "So, Your Majesty, you've been so arrogant before, but now you're so obsequious. You seem to have a favor to ask of me." Yelü
Changsheng said respectfully, "Indeed, I hope Your Majesty will grant my humble request."
Zhao Guangyi's eyes flashed with sharp light as he stared at Yelü Changsheng, saying, "Your Majesty, please speak frankly."
Yelü Changsheng said solemnly, "I wish to exchange Your Majesty for a marriage certificate."
Zhao Guangyi was astonished, "A marriage certificate?"
Yelü Changsheng took a half-step forward... A loud voice proclaimed, "Yes, Princess Huayu's marriage certificate!"

Volume Twenty-Five: Imperial Palace Bestows Treasures, Chapter One: Martial Arts Contest to Win a Wife.

The entire court changed color, but Zhao Guangyi remained composed, smiling as he asked, "I have over a dozen daughters, why did Your Majesty choose Huayu over others?"
Yelü Changsheng laughed heartily, cupping his hands in greeting, "To be honest, I met Princess Huayu once before, and I was immediately captivated by her beauty, an image I still find unforgettable. This time, my return to the capital is partly to fulfill the mission entrusted to me by the Empress Dowager, but mostly to see Princess Huayu's beauty again. I hope Your Majesty can understand my good intentions and grant this beautiful union—if I marry Princess Huayu, I will become Your Majesty's son-in-law, and I will do my utmost to promote a lasting alliance between Song and Liao. Of course, Your Majesty's desire to reclaim the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun is not out of the question."
One hundred thousand fine horses, peace and stability on the border, and the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun, coveted by two generations of monarchs—it was indeed a considerable temptation. The entire court held their breath, too tense to even breathe, quietly awaiting the Emperor's final decision.
Zhao Guangyi stroked his beard and smiled, "King Yelü is very adept at understanding my thoughts, and the conditions he has proposed are hard for me to refuse. Unfortunately…" He then slammed his hand on the dragon throne and roared, "Unfortunately, I am not Emperor Gaozu or Emperor Jing of Han, who need to rely on princesses to exchange for so-called peace. I will emulate Emperor Wu of Han, Liu Che, and expel all enemies who dare to offend the might of the Song Dynasty far beyond the borders, even annihilating them completely!"
The entire court bowed in unison, praising the Emperor's wisdom. Only the treacherous minister Wang Ruoqin revealed a barely perceptible sneer. Yelü Changsheng had long anticipated that Zhao Guangyi would not agree, nor could he produce one hundred thousand fine horses; the so-called return of the Sixteen Prefectures of Yan and Yun was utter nonsense. As for his true… Just as he was about to speak…
Yelü Changsheng remained composed, casually saying, “It seems His Majesty dotes on Princess Huayu, preferring to provoke war rather than use her as a sacrifice in peace talks between the two countries.”
Zhao Guangyi coldly replied, “Hmph, though I am the Emperor of the Great Song, I am also the father of princesses and princes. Don’t even think about taking away any of my daughters, let alone Huayu.”
Yelü Changsheng’s eyes brightened, and he smiled, “In that case, may I, as an ordinary citizen, pursue Princess Huayu?”
Zhao Guangyi asked sternly, “What do you mean?”
Yelü Changsheng slowly said, “I heard His Majesty has already chosen a…” "The Prince Consort... Look, it's Young Hero Ye standing by the golden steps. I wonder if it's true?"
Zhao Guangyi looked at Ye Zhi Qiu meaningfully and said with a smile, "That's right. Zhi Qiu is my heir and a renowned young hero in the martial arts world. Hua Yu marrying him would be a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
Yelü Changsheng said with a startling remark, "That's not true! I believe Princess Hua Yu is a rare beauty, and only a young talent with both wisdom and courage, proficient in both literature and martial arts, can be her match. Young Hero Ye... Hmph, though his reputation is great, he may not have real talent."
Ye Zhi Qiu was surprised to hear that Zhao Guangyi wanted to make him his son-in-law. While ignoring Yelü Changsheng's sarcastic remarks, Huyan Zan couldn't stand it any longer and angrily rebuked him: "Young Master Ye, fresh out of the gate, defeated all the heroes at the Green Forest Gathering and was unanimously elected as the leader of the Green Forest heroes from thirteen provinces. Your Majesty Yelü, you have achieved nothing, relying entirely on inheriting your father's title to reach your current high position above all others. Who is the纨绔子弟 (spoiled brat) and who lacks real talent? I believe everyone here can see it clearly." Yelü Changsheng was the eldest son of Yelü Xiezhen. After Yelü Xiezhen's death, he completely took over his father's position. Although he held a high position in the Liao Dynasty, he had no outstanding achievements. Huyan Zan seized on this point to refute him.
Yelü Changsheng smiled dismissively, a cold expression creeping across his face. He casually asked, "Seeing is believing. Does General Ye dare to spar with me? Whoever loses will abandon Princess Huayu."
Wang Ruoqin's cunning eyes darted around, and he sneered, "Overestimating yourself. General Ye earned his place among the Four Heroes of the Martial World through his swordsmanship. As for Your Majesty... heh, you've been pampered since childhood. You may have learned martial arts well, but your practical experience is nowhere near that of the battle-hardened General Ye. If you agree now but then back down and refuse to fight, it won't just be Your Majesty who loses face, but the entire Liao Kingdom that Your Majesty represents." He had accepted a bribe and deliberately said these words. On the surface, it seemed like he was mocking Yelü Changsheng, but in reality, he was setting a trap to force Ye Zhi Qiu to agree. Otherwise, it wouldn't just be himself who would lose face, but the entire Song Dynasty that he represented.
Zhao Guangyi, unaware that Wang Ruoqin was a Liao spy, cursed him inwardly for his utter foolishness, but showed no outward expression. He gestured, "Zhiqiu, since King Yelü is in the mood, why don't you spar with him?" Ye Zhiqiu, aside from lacking the Heavenly Dao Divine Skill, had mastered everything else; dealing with Yelü Changsheng should be a piece of cake.
Ye Zhiqiu nodded slightly and said calmly, "In that case, please choose a date, King Yelü."
Yelü Changsheng's eyes blazed with murderous intent, flashing with lightning, and he declared loudly, "There's no better day than today! Let's fight today, shall we?"
Ye Zhiqiu's heart skipped a beat. Yelü Changsheng clearly sensed that he was troubled by the arranged marriage and might not be able to exert his full strength in the fight, hence his immediate proposal. It seemed this man possessed not only remarkable composure but also a meticulous mind. Ye Zhiqiu immediately abandoned his usual arrogance, nodding in agreement while secretly devising a counter-strategy.
At the Imperial Guard's training ground, banners fluttered.
Eight thousand well-trained imperial guards in gleaming armor lined both sides of the hall, flanking civil and military officials.
Zhao Guangyi, accompanied by Empress Zhaoxian and Princess Huayu, who had come by imperial decree, sat in the stands closest to the training ground.
Yelü Changsheng, having changed out of his court robes into a more practical outfit, appeared composed and confident, as if possessing an unwavering resolve. Ye Zhiqiu
stood tall and proud, a calm smile playing on his lips.
The two men simultaneously saluted Zhao Guangyi before parting to the left and right.
Ye Zhiqiu's gaze intently scrutinized Yelü Changsheng. His left hand gripped the scabbard, while his right hand swiftly drew Mo Lianfeng sword, producing a resounding clang that shook the entire arena. He then focused his energy, slightly parting his feet, and combined with his imposing, pine-like physique, exuded an unyielding, kingly aura—truly, like master, like disciple.
A deafening roar of cheers erupted from the crowd, further amplifying his imposing presence.
Bathed in sunlight, Mo Lianfeng's sword gleamed and shimmered with a cold light, seemingly a magical artifact imbued with life.
Yelü Changsheng's expression changed slightly as he slowly drew his weapon from its sheath.
Zhao Guangyi was secretly pleased; Yelü Changsheng's sword was merely an ordinary fine steel sword, utterly incomparable to Ye Zhiqiu's Mo Lianfeng.
The Liao delegation was also astonished, never expecting their king to wield such a common weapon, likely unable to withstand many of Ye Zhiqiu's strikes before being cleaved in two.
Yelü Changsheng ignored the sighs uttered by others regarding his sword, tossed the sheath to the ground, and ran his fingertips along the blade. As he moved to the tip, a cold smile played on his lips as he calmly said, "Please enlighten me, General Ye."
Ye Zhiqiu suddenly turned around, his back to Yelü Changsheng, and laughed loudly, "Your Majesty Yelü, feel free to make your move; I, Ye, am never afraid of being attacked from behind." These words were not only bold and unrestrained... It also carried an implicit sense of humiliation, displaying an arrogant disregard for his opponent.
Yelü Changsheng, however, didn't see it that way. He knew that from the moment Ye Zhiqiu drew his sword, he had been secretly launching an attack. If he were to react with anger, he would only fall into Ye Zhiqiu's carefully laid trap.
Everyone present, from Zhao Guangyi, Huyan Zan, Cao Bin, to even the most ordinary imperial guards, felt the impending storm, the tense atmosphere of a battle between masters hanging by a thread.
Everyone involuntarily held their breath, their entire focus fixed on the scene.
"Clang!" Yelü Changsheng flicked his fingertip against the sword's edge, producing a clear, resonant sound, like the roar of a dragon from the abyss, yet not dissipating
. Then, he straightened his back, exuding a heroic air of dominance, a far cry from his previous arrogant and self-important demeanor. He was no less formidable than Ye Zhiqiu. His transformation was sudden, miraculous, and unexpected, full of dramatic tension.
Zhao Guangyi's expression changed drastically. He knew that not only he and the entire court were kept in the dark, but even Ye Zhi Qiu, who was standing in the middle of the room, was also kept in the dark—Yelü Changsheng was not a pampered playboy, but a top-notch master who kept his true abilities hidden!

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