Chapter 496

Outside Anyang City, thirty li to the south, more than ten small lakes are linked in a line, absolutely beautiful; their shores are lined with thousand‑year‑old peach trees that bloom year‑round without fading.

Translation: Outside Anyang City, thirty li to the south of the city, there are more than ten small lakes linked in a line, absolutely beautiful; the lakesides are full of thousand-year-old peach trees, blossoming year-round without fading.

Note: "more than ten", "linked in a line", "absolutely beautiful small lakes", "the lakesides are full of thousand‑year‑old peach trees", "blossoming year‑round without fading".

Elegant pavilions are dotted along the lakeside and among the peach woods; the pavilions are far apart, and the thousand‑year‑old peach trees grow extremely dense, with high walls and bamboo groves blocking the view, so each pavilion forms its own secluded world, enjoying tranquility and privacy.

Translation: Elegant pavilions are dotted along the lakeside and among the peach woods; the pavilions are far apart, and the thousand-year-old peach trees grow extremely dense, with high walls and bamboo groves blocking the view, so each pavilion forms its own secluded world, enjoying tranquility and privacy.

Note: "Elegant pavilions", "are dotted along the lakeside and among the peach woods", "the pavilions are far apart", "and the thousand‑year‑old peach trees grow extremely dense", "with high walls and bamboo groves blocking the view", "each pavilion forms its own secluded world", "enjoying tranquility and privacy".

These pavilions are renowned in Anyang City; they are the finest academy halls.

Translation: These pavilions are also famous in Anyang City; they are the finest academy halls.

Note: "famous", "the finest academy halls".

Near Nine Bend Creek Hall is a favored spot for Anyang City's top‑rich youths to feast; countless young men in fine clothes and spirited horses, and noble‑born ladies, revel there day and night, making a great uproar.

Translation: Near Nine Bend Creek Hall is a favored spot for Anyang City's top-tier rich youths to feast; countless young men in fine clothes and spirited horses, and noble-born ladies, revel there day and night, making a great uproar.

Note: "Near Nine Bend Creek Hall", "is a favored spot for Anyang City's top‑rich youths to feast", "countless young men in fine clothes and spirited horses, and noble‑born ladies, revel there day and night", "making a great uproar".

Meanwhile, this nameless lakeside and this superb peach grove's academy halls serve as the leisure retreats of those of status.

Translation: Meanwhile, this nameless lakeside, this superb peach grove's academy halls, are the leisure retreats of those of status.

Note: "this nameless lakeside", "this superb peach grove's academy halls", "are the leisure retreats of those of status".

A pitch‑black, utterly unremarkable carriage rumbled out of the peach grove.

Translation: A pitch-black, utterly unremarkable carriage rumbled out of the peach grove.

Note: "A pitch‑black, utterly unremarkable carriage", "rumbled out of the peach grove".

Linghu Qingqing, her face slightly flushed, sat in the carriage, playing with a pure white silk scarf embroidered with several chasing, frolicking little fish in silver thread.

Translation: Linghu Qingqing, her face slightly flushed, sat in the carriage, playing with a pure white silk scarf embroidered with several chasing, frolicking little fish in silver thread.

Note: "Linghu Qingqing, her face slightly flushed", "sat in the carriage", "playing with a pure white silk scarf", "embroidered with several chasing, frolicking little fish in silver thread".

The scarf's embroidery is superb; the little fish are lifelike, truly like several live fish darting and leaping.

Translation: The scarf's embroidery is superb; the little fish are lifelike, truly like several live fish darting and leaping.

Note: "The scarf's embroidery is superb", "the little fish are lifelike", "truly like several live fish darting and leaping".

Usually she keeps her face tense and her aura gloomy and lethal, but Linghu Qingqing rarely smiled, slightly narrowing her eyes as she gently touched the little fish on the scarf.

Translation: Linghu Qingqing, who usually keeps her face tense and her aura gloomy and lethal, rarely smiled, slightly narrowing her eyes as she gently touched the little fish on the scarf.

Note: "who usually keeps her face tense", "and her aura gloomy and lethal", "Linghu Qingqing rarely smiled", "slightly narrowing her eyes", "as she gently touched the little fish on the scarf".

In the peach grove there is a retreat called Solitary Moon Dwelling, where the girls are famed for their mastery of music; Linghu Qingqing, the esteemed Left Minister of the Great Jin Divine State, is a regular patron of Solitary Moon Dwelling.

Translation: In the peach grove there is a retreat called Solitary Moon Dwelling, where the girls are famed for their mastery of music; Linghu Qingqing, the esteemed Left Minister of the Great Jin Divine State, is a regular patron of Solitary Moon Dwelling.

Note: "In the peach grove there is a retreat called Solitary Moon Dwelling", "where the girls are famed for their mastery of music", "Linghu Qingqing, the esteemed Left Minister of the Great Jin Divine State", "is a regular patron of Solitary Moon Dwelling".

A few months ago, Solitary Moon Dwelling introduced several newcomers; among them was a girl whose musical skill was ordinary but whose embroidery was superb, called Silver Fish Girl. For some reason, Linghu Qingqing locked eyes with this lass, and she, too, for some reason, stirred the stagnant pool‑like state of Linghu Qingqing's heart.

Translation: A few months ago, Solitary Moon Dwelling introduced several newcomers; among them was a girl whose musical skill was ordinary but whose embroidery was superb, called Silver Fish Girl. For some reason, Linghu Qingqing locked eyes with this lass, and she, too, for some reason, stirred the stagnant pool-like state of Linghu Qingqing's heart.

Note: "A few months ago", "Solitary Moon Dwelling introduced several newcomers", "among them was a girl whose musical skill was ordinary but whose embroidery was superb, called Silver Fish Girl", "For some reason, Linghu Qingqing locked eyes with this lass", "and she, too, for some reason, stirred the stagnant pool‑like state of Linghu Qingqing's heart".

With Linghu Qingqing's methods, Silver Fish Girl's background was quickly uncovered in a short time, revealing no issues; she is simply an orphan adopted by Solitary Moon Dwelling, carefully cultivated and then presented as a courtesan.

Translation: With Linghu Qingqing's methods, Silver Fish Girl's background was quickly uncovered in a short time, revealing no issues; she is simply an orphan adopted by Solitary Moon Dwelling, carefully cultivated and then presented as a courtesan.

Note: "With Linghu Qingqing's methods", "Silver Fish Girl's background was quickly uncovered in a short time", "revealing no issues", "she is simply an orphan adopted by Solitary Moon Dwelling", "carefully cultivated and then presented as a courtesan".

This girl's skill in music, the specialty most famed at Solitary Moon Dwelling, is woeful; consequently she is sidelined and suppressed there, yet Linghu Qingqing took a liking to her.

Translation: This girl's skill in music, the specialty most famed at Solitary Moon Dwelling, is woeful; consequently she is sidelined and suppressed there, yet Linghu Qingqing took a liking to her.

Note: "This girl's skill in music, the specialty most famed at Solitary Moon Dwelling, is woeful", "consequently she is sidelined and suppressed there", "yet Linghu Qingqing took a liking to her".

After several months of association… now the Great Jin Divine State and the Great Wu Divine State stand on the brink of all‑out war, a battle that could erupt at any moment; yet Linghu Qingqing still finds time to visit Solitary Moon Dwelling, sit awhile, drink some tea, and watch Silver Fish Girl embroider a scarf in person……

Translation: After several months of association… now the Great Jin Divine State and the Great Wu Divine State stand on the brink of all-out war, a battle that could erupt at any moment, yet Linghu Qingqing still finds time to visit Solitary Moon Dwelling, sit awhile, drink some tea, and watch Silver Fish Girl embroider a scarf in person……

Note: "After several months of association…", "now the Great Jin Divine State and the Great Wu Divine State stand on the brink of all‑out war", "a battle that could erupt at any moment", "yet Linghu Qingqing still finds time to visit Solitary Moon Dwelling, sit awhile, drink some tea, and watch Silver Fish Girl embroider a scarf in person……"

Clearly, Linghu Qingqing is very fond of this girl.

Translation: Clearly, Linghu Qingqing is very fond of this girl.

Note: "Clearly, Linghu Qingqing is very fond of this girl".

"Difficult, difficult, difficult… if I really were to bring her into the household… I fear all the descendants would be embarrassed." Linghu Qingqing fiddled with the scarf, brows furrowed in annoyance. He truly liked Silver Fish Girl and wanted to take her back to the Linghu household, giving her a status.

Translation: "Difficult, difficult, difficult… if I really were to bring her into the household… I fear all the descendants would be embarrassed." Linghu Qingqing fiddled with the scarf, brows furrowed in annoyance. He truly liked Silver Fish Girl and wanted to take her back to the Linghu household, giving her a status.

Note: "Difficult, difficult, difficult… if I really were to bring her into the household… I fear all the descendants would be embarrassed.", "Linghu Qingqing fiddled with the scarf, brows furrowed in annoyance.", "He truly liked Silver Fish Girl and wanted to take her back to the Linghu household, giving her a status."

But Linghu Qingqing's position is too exalted, and the interests involved are too vast.

Note: "But Linghu Qingqing's position is too exalted", "the interests involved are too vast".

Translation: But Linghu Qingqing's position is too exalted, the interests involved too vast.

Bringing her back to the manor would surely cause a great uproar.

Note: "Bringing her back to the manor", "would surely cause a great uproar".

Translation: Bringing her back to the manor would surely cause a great uproar.

Not bringing her back to the manor, but keeping her in an outer residence?

Note: "Not bringing her back to the manor, but keeping her in an outer residence?"

Translation: Not bringing her back to the manor, but keeping her in an outer residence?

Linghu Qingqing gave a cold smile, closed his eyes, fearing Silver Fish Girl wouldn't live a month!

Note: "Linghu Qingqing gave a cold smile", "closed his eyes", "fearing Silver Fish Girl wouldn't live a month!"

Translation: Linghu Qingqing gave a cold smile, closed his eyes, fearing Silver Fish Girl wouldn't live a month!

Linghu Qingqing felt a bit troubled; despite his authority, strength, and the terrifying power he wielded, he could not properly settle a little girl… truly, eight or nine out of ten things in life go against one's wishes.

Note: "Linghu Qingqing felt a bit troubled", "despite his authority, strength, and the terrifying power he wielded", "he could not properly settle a little girl…", "truly, eight or nine out of ten things in life go against one's wishes."

Translation: Linghu Qingqing felt a bit troubled; despite his authority, strength, and the terrifying power he wielded, he could not properly settle a little girl… truly, eight or nine out of ten things in life go against one's wishes.

The carriage rumbled on; the driver, an old man with white hair, looked rather worn out, a feeble old coot.

The carriage rumbled on; the driver, an old man with white hair, looked rather worn out, a feeble old coot.

Translation: The carriage rumbled on; the driver, an old man with white hair, looked rather worn out, a feeble old coot.

Note: "The carriage rumbled on", "the driver, an old man with white hair, looked rather worn out", "a feeble old coot."

The carriage was also unremarkable, and the white horse pulling it wasn't particularly divine either—just an ordinary, unnoticeable horse.

Several burly men dressed in black with crimson sashes around their waists suddenly darted out from the darkness beside the road; one of them grabbed the white horse's reins with a single palm and barked in a low voice, "Old fool, stop, stop—what are you doing? It's so late—where are you headed?"

The coachman, old Linghu Ayi, had been Linghu Qingqing's trusted servant all his life; he had seen much, and all the worldly grit on him had been worn away to nothing.

Seeing the men's fierce, demonic looks, Linghu Ayi spoke unhurriedly and evenly: "Of course, we're heading back to the city."

The men all snorted coldly: "Back to the city? Even the heavenly king couldn't get through An'yang's sealed gates—where do you think you're going? How would you get back? You're sneaking about; this is surely no good."

Linghu Ayi said nothing, and Linghu Qingqing inside the carriage couldn't be bothered to speak. What if An'yang's gates were shut? Putting it exaggeratedly, even if Lord Sima Xian were locked out at night, he'd have to wait until dawn, following the rules, before the gates opened to enter.

But what about Linghu Qingqing? It's just a word from him—what's the big deal about opening a gate? Aren't all those gate‑guarding generals his Linghu clan's cultivated lackeys in the army?

One burly man reached out to lift the carriage curtain, wanting to see who sat inside.

Linghu Ayi let out a soft sigh, flicked his whip lightly—*crack*—and the whip struck each of the men across the face, nearly tearing the skin from their cheeks and spraying blood all over them.

The men howled in pain, clutching their heads and faces as they rolled on the ground.

Linghu Qingqing's good mood was ruined by those thugs; he neatly folded the silk handkerchief in his hand, slipped it into his sleeve, and then spoke deliberately: "Go find out what's going on. An'yang has rules—these lowly scum are acting wildly; who gave them the gall?"

From the darkness, dozens of twisted, flickering silhouettes darted out, swiftly dragging the howling men back into the shadows.

The carriage continued forward at an even pace to the outskirts of An'yang's gate, when a figure appeared out of thin air beside it and whispered, "Sir, we've found out… it's people of Princess Jingcheng. She contacted several of her lovers, mobilized their households, and surrounded An'yang to block those coming from Yuzhou—possibly retainers of the Lord of Yuzhou."

Linghu Qingqing stared, then snorted coldly: "Nonsense, Princess Jingcheng… what's she jumping about for now? Hmm? Yuzhou? They're blocking Yuzhou's people? I've heard Yuzhou has been in an uproar these days—what is she trying to do?"

Frowning, Linghu Qingqing murmured, "Princess Jingcheng's son died, and she hasn't been this agitated… how did the Lord of Yuzhou provoke her?"

The figure whispered, "In the Imperial Domestic Affairs Office, Princess Jingcheng has her fingers in everything—she's taken a large slice of Yuzhou's annual profits. These past days, several mansions managing her affairs in Yuzhou have been raided… Princess Jingcheng is furious!"

"Well, her son was killed—she could ignore that—but mess with her private purse and she flies into a rage." Linghu Qingqing chuckled "hehe": "Back then, His Majesty wanted to marry Princess Jingcheng into my Linghu clan; fortunately I turned it down—such a woman, tsk!"

"Let them make a fuss, let them go." Linghu Qingqing said coldly, "Keep a close watch on the Yuzhou side. Hehe, Colonel of the East Garden, our Majesty—do you think he's truly clueless, or is he feigning ignorance to eat the tiger?"

The figure outside the carriage made no sound; a night breeze blew, and he vanished silently into the wind.

An'yang's heavy gate opened silently, widening just enough for the carriage to slip through; Linghu Ayi gave a light flick of his whip, and the carriage crept slowly into the city.

When the sky grew bright, he resumed his true appearance, donning a deep‑purple first‑rank duke's robe, a jade belt at his waist, and a jade seal hanging from it—Wu Tie rode forth on a double‑horned dragon steed, surrounded by hundreds of Five Elements Spirits masters likewise mounted on exotic war beasts, and strode out of An'yang.

All the war beasts came from the mountains and forests of Daze Prefecture, powerful ferocious creatures raised by the Five Elements Spirits.

All the war beasts and Five Elements Spirits masters were loaded by Wu Tie using the Five Elements Divine Light he carried, into his personal Five Elements Space; the petty tricks of the black‑clad thugs along the way, even the probing power of the mirrors at An'yang's gate, could not possibly detect the existence of that space.

The cavalcade rode their ferocious, sturdy, exotic war beasts through the streets, Wu Tie's ducal robes already eye‑catching, while the Five Elements Spirits, whose forms differed greatly from humans, all wore the heavenly‑armor heavy gear reserved for high‑ranking generals of the Great Jin; as they paraded through the market, who knows how many were left dumbstruck or had their eyes blinded.

The streets erupted in chaos—countless toughs in tight‑fitting garb ran and jumped about, and some shouted curses at the top of their lungs.

Moreover, some unfurled portrait after portrait in the street, holding them up close to compare the depicted faces with Wu Tie's, and sharp slaps rang out incessantly.

With so many people surrounding An'yang from all sides, it's astonishing that the 'Lord of Yuzhou' managed to bring so many living souls into the city… those toughs already guessed how furious their masters would be and how grim their own fate would become.

Wu Tie was like a huge stone thrown into a deep pool, sending ripples spreading rapidly outward.

Many who received the news wondered: Why would the Lord of Yuzhou sneak into An'yang? How did he get in? Whom did he meet there, what did he do, and was he plotting something?

More importantly, the Divine Emperor Sima Xian immediately bestowed a generous enfeoffment upon the Lord of Yuzhou, 'Huo Xiong'—yet this lord didn't go to the imperial capital to audience and thank him, but instead led a large force out of the city.

This is completely contrary to common sense!

Especially the officials of the Rites Hall who oversee Great Jin's rites—early that morning they were all left bewildered in the wind.

"'The Lord of Yuzhou came to An'yang, yet instead of following convention by submitting a memorial to the Rites Ministry and awaiting Emperor Sima Xian's summons, he took his people out of the city'?"

Such a thing has never happened before.

Previously, those newly ennobled lords—wasn't each of them anxiously crouched in the Rites Hall's lodging, waiting for Emperor Sima Xian's call, then entering the capital to kowtow and give thanks, speaking fine words of loyalty and service to the state?

The proud disciple of Gongyang Sanlü, the current head of the Great Jin Rites Hall—likewise a commoner-born Mei Shengxue—upon hearing the subordinate's report, supposedly smashed his teacup on the spot and slammed the table, denouncing it as 'absurd'!

Within An'yang there are no secrets; Mei Shengxue's two‑character assessment of the Lord of Yuzhou instantly spread throughout the city.

Wu Tie couldn't care less about the winds and rains inside An'yang; Sima Wuyou granted him carte blanche and even gave him a Divine Emperor's order that could represent Sima Xian's personal presence—what did he have to fear?

Bringing a large entourage, all the way guests exited An'yang City, following a straight chariot road eastward guests eight hundred li, then turning onto a side road with clear mountains and beautiful water, walked about two hundred li, where a row of low walls enclosed a vast garden—this is the Eastern Garden of the Great Jin royal family.

The Eastern Garden, in the Great Jin Divine State, has a special significance.

Many years ago, before the Great Jin Divine State was founded, the Eastern Garden was where the founding divine emperor of Great Jin once hunted and made a living.

After the founding of Great Jin, the Eastern Garden became the imperial hunting ground; every three years, successive divine emperors of Great Jin would bring imperial relatives, civil and military officials, and elite disciples from all families and clans to hunt in the Eastern Garden, to show they did not forget the hardships of their ancestors' founding.

The Eastern Garden covers a vast area, enclosing a mountain range of ten thousand li in size; it is surrounded by low walls about a zhang high, commoners are strictly forbidden entry, and a standing Eastern Garden garrison is stationed there responsible for patrol and management.

The Eastern Garden has a permanent Eastern Garden Colonel, who holds the rank of a first-grade general, specifically responsible for managing the Eastern Garden garrison and overseeing the Eastern Garden of ten thousand li.

At the founding of Great Jin, the Eastern Garden garrison was the most elite unit of Great Jin, guarding An'yang and the imperial city, worthy of being called the sharpest blade in the hand of the Great Jin divine emperor.

With the passage of time, as the standing main-force legions of the Great Jin Divine State rose, and as the great commander clans emerging from those legions seized military power, the Eastern Garden garrison fell from being the world's premier mighty army to becoming a rag-tag unit.

Once numbering in the tens of millions, the Eastern Garden garrison now shows a paper strength of a million, but its actual strength is likely under a hundred thousand, with a full nine hundred thousand positions eaten up as empty pay.

Today the Eastern Garden garrison's armaments lie in ruin; although it still bears the guise of the premier imperial guard regiment, its combat effectiveness is even inferior to the private armies of minor commander clans. Just a few years ago, there occurred the absurd incident of wandering martial artists sneaking into the Eastern Garden to poach precious demon beasts, beating and seriously wounding hundreds of Eastern Garden garrison soldiers.

In short, the Eastern Garden now appears exactly as Wu Tie sees it.

What a vast expanse of garden, with green mountains and clear waters shrouded in light mist; countless palaces and pavilions are hidden among the hills and woods, yet it lacks vitality.

Several dilapidated flying vessels drift weakly in the air, and the soldiers aboard them… actually have a few lying on the prow at dawn, basking in the sun and dozing off!

Aged, decayed, and permeated with a gloomy, waning atmosphere.

This is the present Eastern Garden, namely the present Eastern Garden garrison, and also exactly what Sima Xian's decree intended: to let Wu Tie, the newly minted Duke of Yuzhou, assume substantive command as the garrison commander of the Eastern Garden garrison.

Wu Tie's mount, the dragon horse, slowly came to a stop at the Eastern Garden's main gate, which is also the outer west gate.

Several tall, seemingly stalwart and fierce soldiers bellowed at the top of their lungs: 'Who gave you the guts to stand there? Do you know what place this is? Who gave you the courage to just stand there waiting to die?'

Wu Tie narrowed his eyes at these soldiers whose cultivation was no higher than the Sensory Profound Realm, and let out a cold snort.

With that cold snort, wind and thunder erupted on the flat ground; the western gate of the Eastern Garden was blown apart with a boom, and several soldiers, together with their nearby watchtowers, were blown away.

The soldiers spat blood, the watchtowers shattered, Wu Tie patted his dragon horse, and stepped forward a few paces.

'Who's in charge here? Get out, all of you… I am Huo Xiong, the Eastern Garden Colonel appointed by His Majesty; today I have come to take office!'

The Eastern Garden Colonel is a post in the imperial guard, directly under the command of the Great Jin divine emperor, and the Great Jin Ministry of War has no authority to restrain him.

Therefore, there was no need to report to the Ministry of War; Wu Tie simply assumed his post directly.

The few soldiers who had been blown up trembled as they lifted their heads, looking at Wu Tie with utter terror.

Suddenly a soldier shouted at the top of his voice: 'Quickly inform the Colonel, the rice-bowl snatchers have come!'

That soldier's shout was sharp and shrill, like the wail of bereaved parents; Wu Tie and the group of Five Elements spirits behind him were all stunned.

What is this thing?

The rice-bowl snatchers have come?

Who is snatching whose rice bowl?

How did the duties of the Eastern Garden Colonel and the Eastern Garden garrison become reduced to a rice bowl?