Chapter 59: Cang Yuan Marquis Mansion

The side hall of Tianqian Palace was brightly lit with candles, not a sound of rain reaching from outside.

Emperor Yuanwu gazed through the bamboo curtain at the retreating back of Fu Qiwén, then turned his eyes to a dark shadow that had appeared unexpectedly to his left front, and said:

“What have you found out about the Eighth Imperial Prince?”

The shadow bowed its head and replied:

“Your Majesty, no such person exists.”

Then the shadow added:

“Perhaps the individual left after escorting the Eighth Imperial Prince to the Tianjinwei Headquarters, or perhaps his concealment technique is too refined for this servant to detect.”

Emperor Yuanwu’s expression remained unchanged; he waved his hand, and the shadow vanished before his eyes.

At that moment, the old eunuch standing nearby, like a candle flickering in the wind, spoke slowly:

“Your Majesty truly agrees with Fu Qiwén’s suggestion—to strike at Luoshen Peak?”

Emperor Yuanwu’s face was stern, his emotions unreadable, and he said:

“If he has the audacity to make decisions for me and has sealed his fate with death, what reason do I have to refuse?”

The old eunuch’s silver eyebrows furrowed slightly as he asked in a hoarse voice:

“What if he fails?”

Emperor Yuanwu fell silent for a moment, then said:

“If he fails, I will not touch any martial sects within five years. If he succeeds, I will eradicate all martial sects within the Da Li borders within three years.”

The old eunuch gazed at the figure seated cross-legged on the bed and nodded gently:

“Then how many men does Your Majesty plan to send to aid the Tianjinwei?”

Hearing this, Emperor Yuanwu looked at the old eunuch and shook his head coldly:

“Wu Daban, I will send not a single man. I will not help Fu Qiwén.”

“If he can lead the Tianjinwei to destroy Luoshen Peak, it proves the court has the power to wipe out the martial world at once. If not, even my aid would be useless.”

The old eunuch’s cloudy eyes flickered, and he nodded slightly, as if understanding Emperor Yuanwu’s intent; then he asked:

“Then what shall be done with the Eighth Imperial Prince?”

Emperor Yuanwu’s gaze grew deep and still:

“This boy knows not what he relies on—he is fearless of death. Still, I will do my best to ensure he does not die.”

Hearing this, the old eunuch ceased asking further questions.

…

The Six Shan Gate Headquarters.

In a room of ancient charm, fragrant with sandalwood incense, Guan Shanxue suddenly jolted upright, her eyes wide open and bloodshot.

She blinked hard at her dry eyes, then activated the newly unblocked qi within her body, letting it flow through every meridian.

“Cang Yin Yue, wait for me!”

Guan Shanxue raised her now-flexible arm and rubbed her pale, beautiful face fiercely, gritting her teeth.

She moved in an instant, becoming a gust of cold wind rushing toward the door.

After questioning several constables within the Six Shan Gate, Guan Shanxue’s frosty expression darkened.

Her meridians had been sealed for a full day; none of the constables could unseal them. Her father, the Divine Constable, came to see her once, nodded, and said only:

“Good. Let her rest quietly for a while.”

Then he left without looking back, ignoring her entirely.

During the day she lay immobilized, Cang Yin Yue had become the talk of the town.

She captured three major fugitives and killed a Da Qi remnant who had caused chaos in the Jiguang Pavilion.

Rumor had it her Divine Constable father even considered promoting Cang Yin Yue to Gold Medal Constable.

“You, a former defeated foe, used some strange acupuncture technique to ambush me and humiliated me. Now that I’m prepared, I’ll freeze you for three days.”

Guan Shanxue stormed out of the Six Shan Gate Headquarters, face like ice, determined to confront Cang Yin Yue—when she happened upon a servant speaking with the guards at the gate.

“My second young lady’s wedding is imminent. The Marquis has ordered her to remain within the Marquis Mansion to prepare for the ceremony; she will not report to the Six Shan Gate for the coming months. Here is the Marquis’s personal letter.”

The servant handed a sealed envelope to the guard constable, but Guan Shanxue caught sight of the characters written on it: “Cang Yuan Marquis.”

“Cang Yin Yue, you finally realized you’re afraid. But do you think hiding in the Marquis Mansion makes you safe from me?”

Guan Shanxue’s gaze turned icy; she snorted and turned into the pouring rain.

…

Night fell.

After a full day of torrential rain, the downpour finally ceased by nightfall.

The dark clouds gradually parted, revealing scattered stars against the black sky.

Yet tonight’s moon was hazy, and the rain-soaked Shangyang City still carried a chill.

Li Muxian moved in silence, slipping out of his quarters without a sound.

Soon, his figure landed atop a rooftop within the Tianjinwei Headquarters.

Li Muxian narrowed his eyes at the dark corner below, where a figure sat cross-legged in the shadows, facing the room he had previously occupied.

Yet the figure had not noticed Li Muxian standing above him.

“This man has been shadowing me since earlier. He must be a skilled operative sent by the palace.”

“His strength is at the half-step to Tianren level—decent enough.”

Li Muxian glanced at him once, lost interest, and turned his attention to a thread of invisible qi in his hand.

He recalled how earlier today, Han Li of the Tianjinwei had approached him, asking him to assist in investigating the assassination case against him.

But he had no interest in such work, and had flatly refused on the spot.

Though the moment had been awkward, it made Li Muxian realize: though he was now an imperial prince, he had no one at his side to handle such trivial matters.

So he thought of Cang Yin Yue.

This girl was a talent—she handled duties for both the Six Shan Gate and the Hidden Spy Bureau, excelling at both. Her abilities were unquestionably outstanding.

So… he planned to poach her from the Six Shan Gate and the Hidden Spy Bureau.

“But why is her direction wrong?”

Li Muxian frowned slightly, staring at the qi thread in his hand.

He remembered Cang Yin Yue lived in Lanshan Ward, yet her current location was far off—and she wasn’t working overtime at the Six Shan Gate.

“Hmm, wouldn’t have guessed—this girl’s nightlife is quite lively.”

Li Muxian nodded lightly and vanished along the path of the qi thread.

…

Meanwhile, at the Cang Yuan Marquis Mansion.

Beneath a rock garden in the back courtyard lay a secret chamber, privately built.

The chamber’s walls were cast with molten iron, and its entrance sealed by several iron doors forged from refined iron.

Under the dim yellow glow of oil lamps lining the corridor, Cang Yin Yue sat up from a pile of straw and surveyed her surroundings.

“That wicked woman has reinforced the chamber!”

Cang Yin Yue’s expression darkened; her gaze fell upon the iron chains securing the door.

Several heavy iron locks hung from them—her only hope of escape.

Otherwise, she would be trapped here, reaping what she had sown.

In the past, Cang Yin Yue had often been locked in such chambers and left hidden escape methods—but all had now been sealed, useless.

“First, I must escape. Only then can I find the manual.”

Cang Yin Yue pulled out her hairpin and stared at the locks.

(End of Chapter)