Chapter 53: Heavenly Brocade Guard

Li Muxian didn’t care whether Sun Changyu believed him.

As for saving his life and such, it was just something to hear and forget; if one took it seriously, it would be pointless.

One day, if his master ordered Sun Changyu to kill him, Sun Changyu would probably still kill him—unless he said a couple of words first:

“The master’s command cannot be disobeyed; your great kindness, I can only repay in the next life!”

…

Seeing Li Muxian give such instructions, the senior eunuch Sun Changyu sat down awkwardly, began fiddling with the tea tray, asked nothing more, and truly focused only on boiling water and brewing tea for him.

This allowed Li Muxian to enjoy, even before becoming a true imperial prince, the privileges befitting one.

On the other side, shortly after Li Muxian’s carriage departed, Song Shanyue, clad in black and masked, arrived at the same long street.

His figure moved through the rain curtain, leaving only a lingering shadow flickering in the mist.

But soon, he abruptly stopped, lifting his head to gaze at the collapsed, ruined street ahead, and the five corpses beyond revival.

“Too late?”

Song Shanyue’s heart sank; he cautiously approached to examine the five corpses.

After inspecting them, his face filled with shock.

He didn’t recognize the two black-clad men, but the two blue-clad swordsmen and the skull-cracking bamboo staff elder were far from unfamiliar to him.

All three were wanted fugitives of the court, notorious in the martial world for their countless murders, and each was a true Grandmaster of Martial Dao.

One of the swordsmen, who called himself the Western Wind’s Second Hero, came from the “Western Abyss Demon Cavern,” a gathering of rogue cultivators and dark sect disciples.

The two excelled in Heji techniques through their “Pure Wind Transforms Demons Sword Scripture,” and though they didn’t truly rival Heaven-Stage experts as they claimed, fighting half-step Heaven-Stage experts posed no real challenge.

The skull-cracking bamboo staff elder was likewise a long-established Grandmaster of Martial Dao, his strength formidable.

Yet now, all these people were dead—apparently slain in an instant.

This left Song Shanyue both stunned and deeply fearful.

Given this situation, had he arrived even slightly earlier, he would have met the same fate as these five corpses.

“That man must have had a martial expert secretly protecting him; this matter can no longer proceed.”

Song Shanyue dared not pursue further; he immediately turned and fled the long street, racing back to the Polar Light Pavilion.

As for Zhang He’s request, he could only abandon it now—or seek another opportunity later.

But he knew that once Li Muxian’s identity was confirmed, assassination attempts would become even harder.

…

Through the rain-drenched long street, a luxurious carriage raced onward, despite the fierce wind, heavy rain, and thunderclaps.

Yet it arrived without incident at the Imperial Capital’s Heavenly Brocade Guard Headquarters.

Senior eunuch Sun Changyu led Li Muxian down from the carriage, and armored soldiers hurried forward to hold up oil-paper umbrellas against the rain.

Meanwhile, Tianjinwei’s Garrison Commander Yu Jin had already received word from the palace and waited at the main gate to greet them.

“Your Excellency, was the journey smooth?”

Garrison Commander Yu Jin’s injuries were clearly not yet healed; his face was pale as he spoke.

Hearing this, Senior Eunuch Sun Changyu gave an almost imperceptible glance at Li Muxian, then waved his hand:

“There were some delays, but I will report them personally to the Guard Commander.”

Upon hearing this, Yu Jin asked no further questions; he glanced at Li Muxian, then led the way inside the headquarters.

Outside the gate, beneath the rain curtain, the carriage driver Cao Gaoshan watched Li Muxian’s retreating back, reached out to touch the hilt of the blade beneath the seat, and wore an expression of deep thought…

Under Yu Jin’s guidance, Senior Eunuch Sun Changyu and Li Muxian arrived at a grand hall.

The Heavenly Brocade Guard’s hall was carved with intricate beams and painted with ornate designs, towering and spacious, radiating solemn dignity.

Yu Jin brought Li Muxian and Sun Changyu to a stop in the center of the hall.

Directly before them stood a heavy official desk, piled high with scrolls; seated in the main chair behind it was a middle-aged man over fifty.

The middle-aged man wore a purple-gold dragon-fish robe and a golden-threaded cap, his eyebrows and hair half-white, deep wrinkles etched across his forehead; he was now bent over, reading a scroll.

On the other side of the desk stood an elderly eunuch dressed in crimson robes.

The old eunuch had white eyebrows and no beard, a white fly-whisk draped over his arm, eyes closed in quiet meditation.

Yet after Li Muxian and the others entered the hall, he slowly opened his eyes.

“My lord, Senior Eunuch Sun and the others have arrived.”

Garrison Commander Yu Jin bowed; Guard Commander Fu Qiwén waved his hand:

“Have a seat.”

“Yes.”

Garrison Commander Yu Jin responded, then led Li Muxian to sit on a grand chair on the eastern side of the hall.

Sun Changyu, after bowing respectfully to Fu Qiwén and Shen Lao, stood to one side like Yu Jin.

Meanwhile, Guard Commander Fu Qiwén lifted his head to look at Li Muxian, and Li Muxian returned the scrutiny.

“Young Master Li does resemble Imperial Consort Jing quite a bit.”

Fu Qiwén nodded gently, his tone mild in evaluation.

His words carried no praise or blame, yet Li Muxian sensed that in this brief moment, the man had scanned his entire being from head to toe.

And Li Muxian’s own objective assessment of this man—the supreme commander of the Great Li Heavenly Brocade Guard, one of Emperor Yuanwu’s most trusted confidants—was:

Acceptable, but still not strong enough.

…

Li Muxian raised an eyebrow, glanced at Fu Qiwén and the old eunuch Shen, and asked:

“When will you begin verifying my identity?”

Hearing this, the old eunuch Shen, standing beside the desk, narrowed his eyes and looked at Li Muxian:

“We can begin anytime, but before that, I have a few questions I’d like to ask Young Master Li.”

Li Muxian rubbed his chin and asked:

“If I don’t answer your questions, you won’t begin verifying my identity?”

“Naturally not—but given the gravity of confirming the Seventh Imperial Prince’s true identity, it’s better to clarify a few points.”

Upon hearing this, Li Muxian simply waved his hand:

“We’re not familiar; skip the questioning. Just verify my identity first.”

Shen Lao froze, then glanced at Guard Commander Fu Qiwén seated behind the desk; the latter gave a slight nod and said:

“Young Master Li is straightforward; no need for questioning—begin immediately.”

Shen Lao frowned but said nothing further; he bowed, then drew from his wide sleeve a jade box, emerald-green and luminous, and stepped before Li Muxian:

“Young Master Li, insert your finger into the jade box and let the jade needle pierce your skin to draw blood.”

Li Muxian studied the jade box, skeptical—wondering if this thing was even reliable, since in his past life, paternity tests weren’t this simple.

Still, he asked no further questions; he reached into the jade box, letting the upright jade needle prick his finger.

(End of Chapter)