Chapter 944

At dawn, the two had already arrived outside Kangdu; Hu Xiaotian was not in a hurry to enter Kangdu but chose to rest briefly at an inn outside the city, booked a room, and entered it with Murong Feiyan. Before going to the Imperial Mausoleum to look for Murong Feiyan, Hu Xiaotian had made full preparations: he took out a human-skin mask and handed it to Murong Feiyan, and produced a set of clothes for her to change into. While Murong Feiyan washed up and changed, he quietly went to the tea stall outside to gather information; just as he sat down, he saw from the direction of the capital a large troop marching toward the site of the Imperial Mausoleum in mighty array.

The tea-drinking customers around also began to inquire; judging from the number and scale of the troop, there were at least twenty thousand. The capital dispatching such a force must mean something major had happened. The surrounding customers did not know what had happened at the Imperial Mausoleum, and they all chattered.

Hu Xiaotian prick up his ears to listen, but after a while he heard nothing of value. At that moment he saw a handsome young man stride over and sit down beside him; upon closer look, it was Murong Feiyan in disguise. Hu Xiaotian couldn't help but smile: this mask was far easier to obtain than his own painstaking face-changing, and also more pleasing to the eye. He had practiced the art of changing his appearance for a while, but each time he made himself uglier; if he could become more handsome, that would be nice.

Murong Feiyan picked up the teapot and poured a cup of tea, gazing at the troop passing from ahead, and said in a low voice, "It seems the court has already been stirred."

Hu Xiaotian nodded, glanced around, and lowered his voice: "A storm is inevitable." As he spoke, distant thunder rumbled across the sky; Hu Xiaotian instinctively looked up, only to see dark clouds gathering, a violent storm imminent. He turned to Murong Feiyan, who sat dazedly holding her Chazan, lost in thought. "Let's go," Hu Xiaotian said. "We'll talk back." The procession of over twenty thousand would take some time to pass, and there was no rush to return to the capital; they would leave after the troops had departed.

Back in the room, they could still hear the orderly footsteps outside. Murong Feiyan bit her lip and said, "Xiaotian, I'm afraid I've caused trouble this time."

Hu Xiaotian laughed: "We've seen all kinds of trouble on our journey; when have you ever been afraid?" He reached out and grasped her delicate hand to reassure her not to be afraid.

Murong Feiyan asked, "How did you know I was at the imperial mausoleum construction site?"

Hu Xiaotian replied, "I am now the Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard; gathering information on you is no trouble at all."

Murong Feiyan said, "Could it be he who told you?" She then shook her head, saying, "Impossible; having me guard the Imperial Mausoleum was also his idea. He doesn't want me to see you, so why would he tell you about me?" The 'he' she referred to was naturally her father, Mu Rongzhan.

Hu Xiaotian smiled: "These details don't matter. The most important thing is that I have found you, and from now on I will never let you leave my side."

Murong Feiyan's heart warmed; she seized his big hand and pressed it to her face, whispering, "I'm tired."

Hu Xiaotian said, "If you're tired, sleep in my arms; I will guard you."

Murong Feiyan nodded, leaned into Hu Xiaotian's embrace, and at that moment the sound of dense raindrops came from outside as a torrential downpour arrived as expected.

Hu Xiaotian naturally knew what Murong Feiyan was worried about. She feared not only for herself but also for Mu Rongzhan. Laohuangdi attached extreme importance to building the Imperial Mausoleum, to the point that it surpassed his concern for the Dakang state; he believed that even after death he could achieve immortality through the mausoleum, or perhaps be resurrected someday. Now the Imperial Mausoleum had been burned by the rebels who rose up with poles. This amounted to extinguishing Laohuangdi's hope, making him likely to become furious and act in some unknown, crazy manner.

As one of the main leaders of the Imperial Mausoleum Guard, Murong Feiyan was certain to face the death penalty, and Mu Rongzhan might also be implicated because of this.

Hu Xiaotian gently stroked her soft hair, but saw a clear tear slowly trickle from the corner of Murong Feiyan's eye. He lowered his head and lightly kissed her forehead, whispering, "Don't worry; I am here for everything."

The Imperial Mausoleum was burned, and fifty thousand laborers rose up in revolt. After they slaughtered the troops of the Imperial Mausoleum Guard, the fifty thousand marched mightily toward the northwest. The news of the laborers' rebellion at the Imperial Mausoleum shocked the court and the nation. Long Xuan'en, upon hearing it, was so startled he nearly fell from his dragon throne, and he roared, "Do these scoundrels still have any regard for the law? They have rebelled! All of them have rebelled!"

Zhou Ruizhen and Wen Chenghuan, who had rushed over upon hearing the news, dared not speak, for to do so while the Emperor was in a fury would likely draw fire upon themselves and provoke his wrath against them.

Long Xuan'en bellowed at Wang Qian, "Go, bring Hong Beimo and Mu Rongzhan before me!"

Jiang Shaoli

Long Xuan'en trembled with rage, his hands shaking, his gaze falling on Zhou Ruizhen and Wen Chenghuan: "Why aren't you speaking? Huh? Why aren't you speaking?"

Wen Chenghuan said, "Your Majesty, please do not be angry; you must take care of your dragon body. The news from the Imperial Mausoleum has not yet been confirmed, the exact losses are unclear, and perhaps the situation is not as bad as imagined."

Long Xuan'en snapped, "I have repeatedly urged that the Imperial Mausoleum's safety be ensured, yet now this situation has arisen! Do you people even have my concerns in mind?"

Zhou Ruizhen secretly sighed, the Emperor only remembered his imperial mausoleum; why not think more of the common folk? If he did, the uprising would not have occurred. Dakang's foremost problem is famine, not building mausoleums. People are born to die, and in the end they are merely dust returning to dust, earth to earth. During life you may roam the world, but after death you occupy at most a few feet of ground—why should the Emperor obsess over posthumous affairs and refuse to repent? These thoughts Zhou Ruizhen kept to himself; he would never dare utter them in Long Xuan'en's presence, let alone while the Emperor was furious.

Mu Rongzhan hurried over; he had just received news of the rebellion at the imperial mausoleum worksite, his heart filled with both panic and worry. He panicked because many of the imperial mausoleum guards had been recommended by him personally, and now that such a major incident had occurred there, the Emperor would surely hold him responsible. He worried because he had sent his daughter there to be overseen by his disciple Jiang Shaoli, and her fate was unknown; he felt extreme regret, thinking that if he had known this would happen, he would never have sent his daughter there under any circumstances. If his daughter came to any harm, how could he face himself thereafter?

Long Xuan'en saw Mu Rongzhan arrive, and all his pent-up fury poured onto him, pointing at Mu Rongzhan he roared: "Mu Rongzhan, what a fine thing you've done!"

Mu Rongzhan fell to his knees with a thump before the Emperor, clasping his fists and said: "Your Majesty, I acknowledge my guilt! I am willing to accept any punishment!"

Long Xuan'en said coldly: "Even if I killed you, could you guarantee the imperial mausoleum remains unharmed? The commander of the imperial mausoleum guards, Jiang Shaoli, was recommended by you personally. You said his martial prowess was superior and his wisdom outstanding, that under his command the guards would surely protect the mausoleum without fail. Now how do you explain this to me?"

Mu Rongzhan said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to personally lead a team to the imperial mausoleum to uncover the truth, and I will not let a single culprit who damaged the mausoleum escape."

Long Xuan'en snapped angrily: "I am not interested in assigning blame; I want the imperial mausoleum safe and sound! If you truly had that ability, last night's incident would not have happened!"

A look of shame appeared on Mu Rongzhan's pale face.

From outside the hall came a steady voice: "Your Majesty, only the above-ground parts of the imperial mausoleum have been burned; the underground palace should remain undamaged." The speaker was Hong Beimo of the Bureau of Heavenly Secrets, who had come together with Wang Qian. Hong Beimo's expression was far calmer than anyone else's, showing no difference from his usual demeanor.

Long Xuan'en said: "Can you be certain?"

Hong Beimo replied: "I can be completely certain. The completed sections of the underground palace are sealed off layer by layer; those laborers could not possibly open them. At most they burned only the surface structures, so the loss should not be great."

Long Xuan'en's expression eased slightly.

Hong Beimo glanced at Mu Rongzhan kneeling on the ground and said: "The rioters number over fifty thousand, while the imperial mausoleum guard has only a thousand troops. Though they are well-trained and fully armed, they are outnumbered and cannot stand against the mob. Commander Mu Rongzhan has done his utmost for the mausoleum affairs, but Your Majesty may not know that his own biological daughter also serves in the mausoleum guard; at present, the one most likely to be worried about is Commander Mu Rongzhan himself."

Long Xuan'en furrowed his brows; hearing Hong Beimo say the underground palace's loss should be minor, his heart settled a little, and he said softly: "Please rise."

Only then did Mu Rongzhan rise to his feet.

Wen Chenghuan said: "Your Majesty, the rebellion of over fifty thousand rioters is no trivial matter; you must give it sufficient attention."

Long Xuan'en sneered: "I have already sent twenty thousand Feathered Forest Guards, and the ten thousand garrison troops of Chong'an County have also set out in pursuit. I do not believe those fifty thousand rioters can withstand thirty thousand well-trained Dakang warriors."

Zhou Ruiyuan said: "Your Majesty, they have been heading northwest all the way, likely aiming for Xingzhou to join forces with the rebel Guo Guangbi there. The hotter the pursuit, the faster their marching speed will become; we should send forces to intercept them midway and cut off their route to Xingzhou. Guo Guangbi of Xingzhou has been in rebellion for a year, gathering over thirty thousand rebels; the court has launched several encirclement and suppression campaigns, yet failed to eradicate them, and instead they have grown ever more arrogant. If these fifty thousand rioters manage to reach Xingzhou smoothly, Guo Guangbi will undoubtedly gain wings like a tiger, and he will likely become a grave internal threat to the court."

Mu Rongzhan performed a salute and said: "Your Majesty, I am willing to personally lead troops to go and suppress them; I will surely crush the rioters' delusion of marching to Xingzhou."

Long Xuan'en said calmly: "Your martial arts may be strong, but this is about leading troops in war; deploying forces and arranging formations is not your forte. I have already sent Su Yuchi to take command, and I believe he has the ability to quell this popular uprising." He paused, his face filled with a gloomy killing intent: "Convey my decree: in dealing with these rioters, show no mercy—kill them all."

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