Chapter 168: The Emperor's Thoughts!

In just a short while, Lu Xiucai had already poured tea for Lou Zhixian, moving so deftly it was unlike his usual manner.

Meanwhile, Lou Zhixian held Li Dazui's hand and chatted about family matters.

Lou Zhixian is Li Dazui's uncle‑in‑law, and everyone in Qixia Town knows that, yet everyone also knows how much Lou usually despises Li, so they didn't take it seriously.

But today was different; with Lou Zhixian's grand arrival, everyone along the way learned of the Tongfu Inn's extermination of demons.

This is no small matter and could even affect Lou Zhixian's official prospects; at this moment, Li Dazui was indistinguishable from Lou's own nephew.

The two chatted merrily, like a father and son reunited after years apart, until Tong Xiangyu's arrival broke the atmosphere.

Tong Xiangyu had already changed into appropriate attire, and she pulled Guo Furong down the stairs, approached Lou Zhixian and greeted him; Lou finally released Li Dazui's hand and instead grasped Tong Xiangyu's hand…

"Manager Tong, beautiful inside and out, and all the staff under your hand are capable; with talents like you, Qixia Town can only improve!"

Lou Zhixian, in a leadership tone, began to console everyone—a procedural step—and after the formalities, he started to bestow the Reward Order on behalf of the present sovereign.

The crowd knelt down.

Tong Xiangyu seemed to recall something and hurriedly said, "There's another person in the back courtyard."

Lou Zhixian was startled for a moment, then nodded, "Then call him quickly; this is a big matter—if we miss it, it will be a lifelong regret."

Tong Xiangyu was about to stand, but Guo Furong held her back, shaking her head, "Don't waste time; my senior brother won't come. He's hated such scenes since childhood!"

"How can that be?!" Tong Xiangyu exclaimed excitedly, "Ordinary people never get to see a Reward Order in a lifetime; it's a rare chance!"

"We have plenty of those things at home," Guo Furong stood up, finding it somewhat boring, and quipped, "When I was little, my father often used such items to spank my butt; I couldn't even dodge them, and I never wanted them."

Lou Zhixian, a seasoned official, could tell from Guo Furong's demeanor that she wasn't lying, so he curiously asked, "Your father is…?"

Guo Furong openly blurted out Guo Juxia's name.

Anyway, this foray into the jianghu has come to an end, so there's no need to keep hiding.

With the Six Gates' intelligence, Guo Juxia surely learned of last night's events before Lou Zhixian; Guo Furong thought he might already be on his way here.

After Guo Furong announced her family, the inn fell into a brief silence, then a series of sharp inhalations broke the stillness.

Even the composed Lou Zhixian couldn't help his complexion turning pale.

He thought the other party might have some background, but didn't expect it to be so solid!

Lou Zhixian's eyes flickered, and he laughed aloud, "My apologies; so you are Guo Juxia's beloved daughter. I've long heard that Guo Juxia has a daughter as beautiful as a flower. Seeing her today, the reputation is truly deserved."

A smile spread on Guo Furong's face; being praised always makes her happy.

Old Xing's gaze at Lou Zhixian was like looking at an idol; in just this short time, he learned the path to promotion.

His flattery skills compared to Lou's were like a minor witch facing a great witch.

To butter the target so smoothly in such a brief span, one can only say Lou Zhixian is seasoned and experienced.

"Take this Reward Order, you all want it; I'll step aside. Taking something from the Divine Capture Office makes me uneasy."

Guo Furong refused again.

Recalling the irreconcilable rivalry between the Six Gates and the Divine Capture Office, Lou Zhixian immediately understood and stopped pressing, bestowing the Reward Order upon Tong Xiangyu and the others.

At that moment, the few of them could claim to have brought glory to their families.

Not only does Bai Zhantang need this, but for Lu Xiucai, having the Reward Order means that even with mediocre imperial exam results, he can still become an official and fulfill his ancestors' expectations.

Meanwhile, just as Guo Furong had anticipated, Guo Juxia was already on his way to Qixia Town.

And besides him, several other groups were also on the road.

Raising such an army was for no other reason.

It was precisely for Prince Chu Yang.

Capital City.

Inside the Forbidden City, the Imperial Study.

There were three people in the room.

The current sovereign sat at the desk reading a memorial about Chu Yang, while two of the most powerful grand eunuchs stood beside him.

The Eastern Depot chief, Cao Zhengchun, and the Imperial Secretariat scribe eunuch, Wei Zhongxian.

"Even if he behaves wildly in his daily life, he was enfeoffed as a prince by my father when he reigned; he is my imperial brother!"

"If I do not allow him to die, he cannot die!"

The emperor, seated at the desk, erupted in fury and slammed the memorial to the floor! A fine prince nearly perished at the hands of demons; spreading that would disgrace the royal house, so how could he not be angry! Wei Zhongxian, standing beside the emperor, whispered with a smile, "Your Majesty, calm down; Prince Xianwang has always been reckless, but fortunately divine thunder descended to eradicate the demons—truly a blessing in misfortune."

"Xianwang? Hmph!" The emperor seemed to have a sensitive spot touched; his complexion changed sharply, his gaze fierce, "Back then my father had not yet appointed a crown prince, yet he impatiently enfeoffed him as Xianwang. Ha, what a Xianwang! That was my father's youthful title."

"Thus we see my father's intention then; had it not been that sudden illness, my current fate would still be unknown."

Seeing the emperor in a bad mood, Wei Zhongxian quickly flattered, "Your Majesty need not be troubled by past events; the Xianwang is now a useless person and poses no threat to you."

Cao Zhengchun raised an eyebrow, gave Wei Zhongxian a dead‑man's stare, then immediately lowered his head.

The next second, the emperor fixed his cold gaze on Wei Zhongxian and said, "If he is a waste, then what am I as the emperor's elder brother? And what of my father?"

Seeing the emperor's voice grow even colder, Wei Zhongxian immediately knelt, trembling, and said, "It is my fault, my lord!"

The emperor inhaled deeply, instantly returning to his usual composure, "Go down and receive fifty lashes; with your physique, you should be able to endure it."

"Thank you for your great grace!" Wei Zhongxian knelt frantically, silently left the Imperial Study, and obediently went outside to receive his punishment.

Seeing his disheveled state, Cao Zhengchun's mouth curled into a cold sneer.

The emperor's anger, though fierce, was a family matter; it was not for a servant to meddle! Wei Zhongxian had been promoted by Cao Zhengchun, but after becoming the Imperial Secretariat scribe eunuch, he began to ignore Cao, seemingly trying to establish his own faction, and was now regarded by Cao as a political rival.

The more such mistakes Wei Zhongxian makes today, the better!

"Cao Zhengchun!"

"Here I am!"

"How is the luck of this imperial brother of mine?"

"Prince Xianwang has his own heavenly favor, but once he steps into a gambling house, it's a different story."

"Hahaha, he has lost enough money since childhood to open hundreds of gambling houses!"

"Your Majesty should advise the virtuous prince."

"Forget it! Eating, drinking, prostitution and gambling are his lifeblood; even if the late emperor returns, it won't help!"

At this point, cold sweat was already trickling down Cao Zhengchun's forehead; he dared not continue the conversation and silently prayed that the topic would pass.

However, after a brief silence, the Emperor suddenly spoke, and a single sentence made Cao Zhengchun's heart pound.

"Do you think that demon was truly struck down by a divine thunderbolt from the heavens?"

When he left the Imperial Study, Cao Zhengchun's back was already soaked; trembling, he glanced back at the door and fled without looking ahead.

The entire Imperial Study seemed like a ferocious beast that chose its prey.

Among the civil and military officials, only he and Wei Zhongxian knew the true nature of the present sovereign; even the two princes the Emperor most relied on were unaware.

Thus, only in private meetings between the two of them would Cao Zhengchun tread so cautiously.

Most people thought the Emperor was timid, soft‑eared, and gullible—worse than weeds on a wall—shifting support from one faction today to another tomorrow, making the court's power structure as tangled as a spider's web.

Yet no one realized that despite the infighting among so many factions, the Emperor's grip on power remained untouched…

Back at the Eastern Depot, Cao Zhengchun still couldn't shake the recent fear; the Emperor's lingering question echoed in his ears—these years he had actually been tasked with monitoring Chu Yang.

Everyone in the capital knew the virtuous prince was always absurd, so what was there to monitor? After a while, Cao Zhengchun grew too lazy to waste time on him.

Compared to a virtuous prince who couldn't even stir a ripple, he had far too many important enemies to deal with.

For example, Yu Huatian of the Western Depot and Brocade Guard Commander Zheng Dongliu—both were his mortal enemies.

Not to mention that when the late emperor was alive, he had also clashed with the Iron‑Guts Divine Marquis of Hulong Villa, making enemies everywhere.

He could barely protect his own morning; who had time to bother with a useless man! Yet at that moment, Cao Zhengchun began to realize: in the Imperial Study the Emperor was killing a chicken to warn a monkey, Wei Zhongxian was the innocent chicken, and he himself was the target of the Emperor's warning.

It was all because of the virtuous prince! I ordered you to handle it, and Wei Zhongxian gets the beating today; tomorrow the one who loses his head will be you, Cao Zhengchun! With that thought, cold sweat poured down Cao Zhengchun like sitting on a bed of needles, and he immediately ordered his men to fetch the Eastern Depot Chief.

After roughly the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Dust‑covered Cao Shaoqin came from outside, knelt on one knee, clasped his fists, and respectfully saluted Cao Zhengchun.

Cao Shaoqin's father was Cao Zhengchun's older brother; during the famine, the Cao family kept the eldest son to continue the lineage and sent the second son into the palace, never expecting Cao Zhengchun to thrive there.

Seeing Cao Zhengchun rise, the Cao family immediately sought to curry favor, and Cao Zhengchun, being ruthless, gave them a dilemma: if they wanted to gain his goodwill, they had to send the family's sole heir into the palace to accompany him.

Since the whole family were ruthless, Cao Zhengchun's elder brother and father agreed without hesitation, so Cao Shaoqin entered the palace as a child, was trained by Cao Zhengchun, and became today's Eastern Depot Chief.

Regarding this nephew, Cao Zhengchun held nothing back, passing the complete TianGang Boy Skill to him.

Cao Shaoqin was exceptionally talented, loved studying sword techniques, fought with ruthless cruelty, and combined the TianGang Boy Skill's formidable defense; his offense and defense had no weak points, and few in the two Depots and the Brocade Guard could surpass him.

Western Depot Chief Ma Jinliang also excelled with swords—dual swords, in fact—and the two often clashed secretly, yet most of the time Cao Shaoqin held the upper hand.

"Uncle, what matters do you wish to instruct Shaoqin?"

"Go out, and be sure to personally bring the virtuous prince back to the capital. Remember! I said personally!"

"Uncle, how did the virtuous prince leave the capital in good health?"

"I heard he was tricked out by the Guo family's eldest daughter. That brat yells all day about roaming the Jianghu, but his kung‑fu can't even match a single toe of his father's. If it weren't for his father's face, I'd have killed her!"

"Uncle, calm down; the Eastern Depot already has enemies on all sides, making an enemy of Guo BuJing would be unwise."

"Hmph! No need for you to point that out; the Guo family is clever, never makes enemies, shows no emotion, does exactly what the Emperor orders—truly flawless…"

"Uncle once said that an honest man who ignites a fire is the most terrifying."

After issuing orders for a while, Cao Zhengchun was about to wave Cao Shaoqin away when a thought flashed in his mind; he asked, "Do you think that after all these years the virtuous prince might have hidden something?"

Cao Shaoqin froze for a moment, then shook his head decisively: "I've seen the virtuous prince practice; honestly, he has no talent at all, and on top of that he's naturally lazy—at most a few days a month. Even mastering the basic 'Surging Wave Palm' is a miracle."

Hearing that, Cao Zhengchun's tension finally eased, his tone became casual, "Then hurry up. Remember, no matter who blocks you, only the Eastern Depot can bring the virtuous prince back to the capital!"

"Understood, nephew!" Cao Shaoqin bowed deeply, turned, and left, his great cloak flapping in the wind.

When the Eastern Depot moved, the rival Brocade Guard also stirred, and their actions could not escape the notice of the Western Depot that oversaw them.

In an instant, the small capital became bustling with rumors and intrigue.

At the North Town Office, a plaque reading "Justice Lies in the Hearts of Men" hung in the main hall.

Zheng Dongliu, hands clasped behind his back, stared at the plaque as a thousand‑household official entered from outside.

"Commander, Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang have already left the capital. Should we also dispatch a team?"

"Let the left thousand‑household official watch the spectacle."

"I'll go notify the left thousand‑household official at once."

"Wait! Tell Li Ge Xiao as well."

"Sir… Li's brother is no longer with the Brocade Guard; doing this might not be proper."

"Whether Li Ge Xiao is with the Brocade Guard is up to me!"

Amid Zheng Dongliu's roar, the unlucky official bolted out like a fire‑lit butt.

Qixia Town.

Chu Yang slept for an entire day, emerging from the back house near dusk.

A familiar scolding voice rang out from the main hall.

"You can be reckless sometimes, but this time you almost killed someone!"

"I tell you, if a demon kills you, you deserve it, but don't drag innocent people into it!"

The harsh words pierced Guo FuRong's heart like a sharp sword.

She had expected her father to soothe her, but only heard mockery and ridicule.

Guo FuRong knelt on the ground, sobbing softly, while those beside her dared not utter a word.

Guo BuJing's fury stemmed from Guo FuRong dragging Chu Yang into the matter; if the virtuous prince died in Qixia Town, the Guo family would be wiped out entirely.

The only thing that gave Guo BuJing some comfort was that Guo FuRong was willing to sacrifice herself at the last moment to save others, at least sparing him embarrassment.

And Chu Yang…

He had always looked down on the unlearned virtuous prince, but after last night's events his heart was undeniably shaken.

Just as Guo Bujing was about to properly discipline Guo Furuong, Chu Yang was already standing in the hall, smilingly looking at him.

Guo Bujing was about to bow, but seeing Chu Yang shake his head slightly, he immediately changed his motion.

Only the experienced Bai Zhantang noticed this scene, his heart suddenly jolted! "My goodness, what background does Miss Guo's senior brother have?!"

"Master, please calm down and forgive Junior Sister; she already did quite well last night!"

"If we don't punish her properly, she'll harm people again next time."

"Let's change the way we punish; what era is this, still using corporal punishment?"

"You're right; from today onward, I will expel her from the household."

Lao Guo spoke the harshest words in the gentlest tone, directly leaving Guo Furuong without household registration; for her, this was indeed a top-tier punishment, and she looked at Chu Yang with a murderous gaze.

Chu Yang shrugged, smiling narrowly, and said, "No need to thank me."

Guo Furuong instantly cried even louder.

Chu Yang said reassuringly, "Junior Sister looks quite moved; she must have sensed the master's painstaking efforts. Let her cry a while, then we'll go upstairs to talk."

Lao Guo nodded, not even glancing at Guo Furuong, and led the way upstairs.

Chu Yang patted Guo Furuong's head, "Don't cry; your father was just scaring you, but for now don't think about going home—find a place to stay for a while."

Guo Furuong, sniffling and tearing up, "I can't even go home—where else can I go?"

Chu Yang said in surprise, "Aren't you still wanting to wander the martial world?"

Guo Furuong quickly shook her head, "I'm not playing anymore; demons are far scarier than I imagined. If I meet them again, I'll truly die at their hands. The demons that Senior Brother Zhui Feng and the others described to me before were nowhere near this terrifying—just foxes or dogs, or maybe cats…"

Chu Yang said helplessly, "Then just find any place to stay; this inn is fine, we're all in the same boat."

"Yes, yes!" Tong Xiangyu took Guo Furuong's hand to comfort her, "Don't be afraid; just stay here for now. When your father calms down, you can go back."

"Thank you, boss!" Feeling the care, Guo Furuong wailed loudly.

Chu Yang shook his head and turned to go upstairs.

After he left, Bai Zhantang sneaked over to Guo Furuong and asked cautiously, "Little Guo, what background does your senior brother have?"

Guo Furuong, eyes red, glanced at him and replied blankly, "I don't know; why are you asking that?"

Bai Zhantang, having gotten no answer, gave a dry laugh, "Just asking casually; I feel your father treats him with considerable respect."

"Oh dear, Zhantang, what nonsense are you spouting?" Tong Xiangyu glared at him with reproach, "He's a master; who in the world would describe a master's treatment of a disciple as 'respect'?"

Bai Zhantang kept apologizing.

Guo Furuong thought this person was a bit odd, but upon reflection, she indeed usually felt that way.

Meanwhile, Guo Bujing was already kneeling on one knee in the room, and no matter how Chu Yang pulled, he wouldn't get up.

"This girl deserves death; she put the prince in a life‑or‑death peril, and I am ashamed before the prince!"

"Enough, I, the prince, am unharmed; let's drop this matter. Later, have those few unify their statements and exclude Furuong from this affair."

"How can that be? According to Ming Empire law, she should be punished criminally."

"Stop nitpicking; I am the prince, or are you the prince? No need for you to instruct me—just take the slope and get down quickly."

Had it not been for this trip, Chu Yang wouldn't have known when he could enter the Soul Palace; it's practically a blessing in disguise.

Furthermore, Chu Yang didn't believe Guo Bujing was genuinely performing a bitter‑plight scheme here just to send his daughter to the great prison.

They're all thousand‑year‑old foxes putting on some Liaozhai act…

"Your subject thanks the prince!"

Lao Guo, face full of gratitude, clasped his fists and rose.

"In the whole capital, only you would respect this clumsy prince of mine."

Chu Yang shook his head and laughed helplessly.

Having spoken this far, the conversation essentially ran its course.

Even Lao Guo, who holds the positions of chief constable of the Six Gates and instructor of the Imperial Guard, dared not continue the exchange.

"If the prince encounters trouble, His Majesty will be deeply worried; the Eastern Depot, responsible for the prince's safety, will surely be rebuked. I fear Cao Zhengchun will take his anger out on the prince, so I personally rushed here to fetch the prince back to the capital."

Lao Guo's worry is not unfounded; the emperor only cares that if Chu Yang dies abroad it will lose face for the imperial house, and it might also affect his own reputation.

As for whether Chu Yang is missing an arm or leg, or was ambushed on the road and beaten into idiocy, the emperor doesn't care.

In imposing such pressure on Cao Zhengchun, he may well have intentionally used Cao Zhengchun to make Chu Yang suffer.

"Your words are actually quite pleasant to hear; rather than saying you're responsible for my safety, it's more like you're surveilling me. Without the Eastern Depot's diligent service over the years, the one sitting on the dragon throne probably couldn't even enjoy his meals."

"After all, in our old Zhu family, brothers turning against each other, uncles bullying nephews—these are everyday occurrences…"

Chu Yang gave a hehe smile, his expression playful.

Lao Guo felt his scalp go numb; the worthy prince before him seemed like a different person—had it been earlier, he would never have spoken such words; prudence and caution were his norm.

"They say people undergo great changes in temperament after facing life‑or‑death danger; seeing you today, it's certainly not empty talk."

Lao Guo tactfully reminded Chu Yang to watch his speech; if he kept going like this, he too would have to slip away.

"Trouble you to make a trip, but there's no need to escort me back to the capital; having finally come out, I'd like to wander around, see a few friends, then return."

Chu Yang politely declined Lao Guo's good intention.

"That's probably not up to the prince; the Eastern Depot's people are likely already on the road, and before long they'll reach Seven Heroes Town—when they arrive, they certainly won't be as easy to talk to as I am."

Lao Guo spoke softly and gently, trying to appear as amiable as possible.

"Then let's wait for them; I'll make things clear with them before setting off."

Chu Yang sat down unhurriedly, picked up the empty teapot on the table, gave it a shake, and said with a smile, "Please, Master, pour me a cup of tea."

"Your Highness!"

Lao Guo felt Chu Yang couldn't tell priorities, and in his haste he grabbed Chu Yang's arm, intending to pull him away from here.

Chu Yang wasn't lifted as expected; instead, the force transmitted through his hand felt heavy, giving him the illusion of supporting a ten‑thousand‑catty boulder.

Lao Guo usually trains by lifting stone locks weighing ten thousand catties, so he's very familiar with this weight, and his mind immediately began to wonder.

"Your Highness?"

Old Guo refused to believe it, exerting all his strength to try to pull Chu Yang up.

Until his arms bulged with veins, his face flushed red, he erupted with over ten thousand catties of force, yet the other showed no reaction at all.

"Go get me a pot of tea."

Chu Yang gazed at him with a gentle smile.

Old Guo instantly seemed to have encountered something extremely terrifying, his steps continually retreating, his face showing an expression of disbelief.

"That demon... was it killed by the Prince?"

"Hmm."

The room fell into a brief silence.

Old Guo took a deep breath, shook his head, and said: "I don't believe a person's martial arts talent could change so dramatically in such a short time; the present situation can only indicate that you have been suppressing it from long ago..."

Chu Yang pondered for a moment, realizing that from others' perspective this was indeed the case; his actions even carried a hint of treason, leaving him somewhat helpless.

As expected.

The next second.

Old Guo then said in a firm tone: "I could never rebel against the Prince; give up that idea!"

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(End of chapter)