Chapter 191: 191. Chapter 191: The Emperor's Memories!

191. Chapter 191: The Emperor's Memories!

As the largest wealthy merchant in Jiangnan, the Hua family also had its own fleet in Jinling City. For this return to the capital, Chu Yang and the others took the Hua family's luxury boat.

Hua Manlou didn't go to the capital with them; he had to go home to inform his father about the Datong Bank.

The Mid-Autumn Festival was naturally to be spent with family, so he couldn't follow Lu Xiaofeng to join in the fun.

The two sides parted ways, which Lu Xiaofeng regretted quite a bit.

After seeing off Hua Manlou, Li Xunhuan also prepared to say goodbye. He had returned this time with the intention of traveling through the beautiful mountains and rivers, but he was forced to Jinling City by the Dragon Guarding Villa.

Being an official was impossible; Li Xunhuan would never bind himself to the court in his life.

Taking advantage of the fact that Duan Tianya and Gui Hai Yi Dao were not there, he could leave the surveillance of the Dragon Guarding Villa.

Before leaving, Li Xunhuan reminded Chu Yang again not to act impulsively, and then watched Chu Yang leave by boat.

"Master, where are we going next?"

"Since we are here, let's go see an old friend."

Tie Chuanjia looked at Li Xunhuan with great surprise.

"The Prince said I am a bird without freedom. Thinking about it, it is indeed so. Some things are time to make a complete break."

The usually indecisive Li Xunhuan became decisive for once. The Demon Race attacking the city gave him no small stimulation. If it weren't for Chu Yang turning the tide, the commoners of the city would have been in danger, and he himself would have been hard to escape death.

Life and death can make people understand many things, and Li Xunhuan also felt the regrets he had had for a long time.

So this time, he wanted to give himself an explanation.

"What after seeing the old friend?"

"Perhaps go to the capital? Taste if the taste of Daughter Red has changed."

Li Xunhuan was suddenly looking forward to it, but he didn't know if Chu Yang would have time to accompany him for a drink then.

How things will be in the future, we can only talk about it later.

Chu Yang, who was returning to the capital by boat, didn't know Li Xunhuan's thoughts at this time. The luxury boat sailed very fast, and in the blink of an eye, Jinling City was left with only a blurred outline.

Chu Yang stood at the highest point, looking out over the railing, his fingers tapping lightly on the railing, his eyes deep.

Lu Xiaofeng stood behind him.

"Prince, who do you think can win between Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng?"

"Of course it's Ximen Chuixue."

"Oh? Ye Gucheng's Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens is famous all over the world. Does the Prince not look favorably on him?"

"A swordsman who doesn't believe in the sword in his hand can be powerful?"

"Ye Gucheng doesn't believe in the sword in his hand? What does that mean?"

"He feels that power and conspiracy can kill people better than Flying Immortal from Beyond the Heavens. The White Cloud City Lord who has fallen into the mortal world, his sword heart is no longer pure."

Lu Xiaofeng was confused, his brows furrowed, unable to figure out what Chu Yang was talking about. That feeling of pointing at something made him scratch his head.

Seeing him like this, Chu Yang laughed. The feeling of being a riddle-maker was very interesting, especially fooling smart people like Lu Xiaofeng was even more interesting.

The Peak of the Forbidden City was a huge conspiracy. This duel was a joke from the beginning, and Chu Yang returned to the capital just to watch this joke.

What if...

Ye Gucheng really succeeded, wouldn't it be more interesting? "You like to manipulate power, you like to play with everyone in the palm of your hand. If you finally die on the word conspiracy, I don't know what you should think when you close your eyes?"

Chu Yang whispered softly.

Lu Xiaofeng, who was confused, wanted to continue asking, but Chu Yang stopped talking, making him feel like ants were crawling all over his body.

Leaving Baidi in the clouds in the morning, returning to Jiangling in a thousand miles in a day.

Five days later, the luxury boat docked. To go to the capital, they had to walk a section of land. For convenience, Chu Yang and the three borrowed a few horses from the Hua family and chose to ride into the capital.

There were still two days until the Mid-Autumn Festival, and there was plenty of time. The three of them were not in a hurry, walking and stopping along the way, seeing many martial arts people.

All sects and factions, traffic like water.

No one wanted to miss the duel between the two top swordsmen.

Whether it was a kid who had just started or a senior master who had been famous for a long time, as long as they became spectators of this duel, they would have the capital to brag about in the future.

"Do you know about the Peak of the Forbidden City?"

"I have seen the duel between Ximen Chuixue and Ye Gucheng with my own eyes!"

What happened here will be passed down by these people today for a hundred or ten years.

This is the martial arts world.

"Making such a big noise, more than half of the martial arts world has come. Whoever loses this duel will never be able to lift their head for a lifetime." Sikong Zhaixing sighed.

Lu Xiaofeng touched his mustache, his face worried. He was a good friend of Ximen Chuixue, so he naturally didn't want the other party to lose, but "White Cloud City Lord" Ye Gucheng was not a false name, but one of the few Grandmaster masters in the world.

The two were one step away from the legendary Great Grandmaster realm. Whoever won this duel would almost be a Great Grandmaster of the sword path.

"I hope as the Prince said..."

Lu Xiaofeng could only comfort himself, believing in Chu Yang's judgment.

After riding for two or three hours, the three of them got closer and closer to the capital, and there were more and more tea stalls on the side of the road, all entertaining martial arts people coming and going.

Sikong Zhaixing, who was dry-mouthed, hurriedly found an empty seat, and as soon as he sat down, he poured tea into his mouth in a hurry.

"Pouring it into your mouth like this, aren't you afraid of being poisoned?"

Lu Xiaofeng said unkindly.

"So many people are drinking, if they die, it's not just me, what's there to be afraid of?"

Sikong Zhaixing replied recklessly.

"You are quite smart."

Lu Xiaofeng snatched the teapot from Sikong Zhaixing's hand, poured a cup for Chu Yang first, and then poured one for himself.

Chu Yang picked up the teacup and fed it to his mouth, but suddenly stopped, silently putting the teacup down.

"Prince, is there a problem?"

Lu Xiaofeng hurriedly picked up the teacup and sniffed the smell under his nose.

"It's not a problem with the tea, someone is coming."

Chu Yang smiled, and as soon as he finished speaking, the road under their feet began to tremble violently.

Rumble! The sound of horse hooves was like thunder! A group of people was rushing toward this side on horseback.

"There are not many forces that can ride horses around the capital with great fanfare..."

Lu Xiaofeng seemed to have guessed the identity of the person coming.

Not long after, there were two distinct groups of people in front of the tea stall, wearing almost the same clothes, with similar temperaments. If it weren't for the obvious hostility between the two sides, they could almost be seen as the same force.

"It's the eunuchs of the Eastern and Western Depots!"

A sharp-eyed martial arts person called out the identities of the two groups.

Once these words were spoken.

The martial arts people of all sects staying at the tea stall retreated for the first time, fearing to be involved with the people of the two depots.

Sikong Zhaixing stood up subconsciously, and then was pressed down by Lu Xiaofeng.

"Are you sick? If you don't leave, you will be targeted by the eunuchs."

"They are here for us."

Sikong Zhaixing glanced at Chu Yang and realized: "Oh, that's fine."

Subsequently, the factory guards suddenly retreated to the left and right, giving way to a path, and two eunuchs wearing cloaks walked slowly to Chu Yang.

Both of them had arrogant expressions, and there was no awe on their faces. Almost at the same time, they cupped their hands toward Chu Yang.

"Slave Cao Zhengchun, Governor of the Eastern Depot..."

"Slave Yu Huatian, Governor of the Western Depot..."

"Pay respects to the Prince!" They said they were paying respects.

But neither of them bent their waists.

The coldness in their words was even more ambitious.

Since Chu Yang cut off the arms of Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang, the two sides had already formed a grudge, not a death feud, but not much different.

It was not surprising that Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian turned their faces in a second.

However, Chu Yang was still a Prince after all, and the two didn't have the guts to draw swords against him in front of so many people. This was a contempt for imperial power.

"The two Governors are busy with official duties, why do you have time to come here?"

Chu Yang smiled and raised his glass to the two.

Cao Zhengchun and Yu Huatian looked at each other, and finally Cao Zhengchun took a step forward and cupped his hands: "The two of us came here naturally to invite the Prince back to the capital."

Chu Yang laughed: "I have already arrived at the edge of the capital, so I am naturally going to enter the capital. Is it possible that I will run away?"

"Why did the two of you run for nothing."

Yu Huatian said coldly: "Times have changed. If the two of us don't come personally, His Majesty won't be at ease."

Chu Yang said playfully: "The Royal Brother is the Supreme, is there anything in

Yu Huatian narrowed his eyes, his hand, white as congealed fat, resting quietly on the hilt of his sword, his entire body's sword intent coalescing into one, ready to strike at any moment.

The intelligence from both agencies had repeatedly stated that Chu Yang's martial cultivation was unfathomable, so he dared not be careless; otherwise, he would never have agreed to join forces with Cao Zhengchun.

Seeing that Yu Huatian intended to make a move, Chu Yang looked him over with interest and said, "Superintendent Yu, life is short."

Having said that, his Conqueror's Haki swept toward Yu Huatian like a golden tide.

Yu Huatian immediately felt the world spinning, let out a muffled groan, retreated several steps, and looked at Chu Yang with lingering fear.

The hand that had been pressing on the sword hilt was lowered unconsciously.

Life is short.

Don't go looking for death!

Having been given a show of force, Yu Huatian's expression grew even colder and sterner as he bowed and cupped his hands: "This servant has been taught a lesson."

The killing intent toward Chu Yang in his heart surged wildly.

Cao Zhengchun looked at Yu Huatian with confusion, then turned to Chu Yang and said, "Your Highness, you have been away for so many days that His Majesty is extremely worried. He specifically sent the two of us to escort you back to the palace for a chat. I hope you will not disappoint His Majesty's good intentions."

"You servants certainly know how to talk; no wonder you've been favored by the Emperor for so many years. Very well, since the Emperor misses me so much, I shall go and see him."

Chu Yang stood up and said to Lu Xiaofeng, "You and Sikong Zhaixing go to the Prince's Mansion and wait for me first."

Lu Xiaofeng whispered, "Why don't I go with you?"

Chu Yang said, "Come back on the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival; now is not the time to watch a play."

Seeing that Chu Yang would not agree, Lu Xiaofeng could only sigh.

"Your Highness, please board the sedan chair."

Cao Zhengchun called out, and a group of East Depot agents lowered the sedan chair in front of Chu Yang, who then sat inside.

Regardless of how tense the situation was between the two sides, the necessary etiquette could not be omitted.

The East Depot agents carried the sedan chair away.

Cao Zhengchun did not follow immediately, but instead warned Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing with an arrogant expression: "You two, it would be best to have less contact with the Prince in the future. There is a distinction between high and low; do not bring fire upon yourselves."

Lu Xiaofeng crossed his arms and said with a grin, "Eunuch Cao, I, Lu, have always been one to ignore advice. The more people tell me not to do something, the more I insist on doing it."

Cao Zhengchun sneered, "Lu Xiaofeng, your Lingxi Finger is completely useless against my Tiangang Child Art; you had better watch your tongue!"

Lu Xiaofeng did not care at all about Cao Zhengchun's threat and replied with a smile, "Eunuch Cao, I may not be your match, but you should know that I, Lu Xiaofeng, have roamed the Jianghu, and besides having decent martial arts, the most important thing is that I have many friends."

"Just because I can't break a move doesn't mean my friends can't."

"Is Ximen Chuixue qualified enough?"

Cao Zhengchun's expression changed; the hard-body training of the Tiangang Child Art feared sword masters like Ximen Chuixue the most.

A sword cultivator's sword Qi is the sharpest at breaking through an opponent's weak points; it can be said to be a clash of contradictions against a hard-body expert.

"Wait until he survives under Ye Gucheng's sword before saying such things!"

Cao Zhengchun sneered, turned, and left. After walking for a while, he discovered Yu Huatian waiting for him at the back of the line.

"Yo, did the sun rise from the west today?"

"Eunuch Yu is actually waiting for me; how truly rare."

Yu Huatian couldn't be bothered to respond to Cao Zhengchun's sarcasm and solemnly recounted what had happened earlier.

Cao Zhengchun's expression also became grave.

"You say the Prince also understands mental secret arts? The rumors in the intelligence reports that he is a disciple of a Daoist master might be true."

"If that is truly the case, then where did he learn these skills? How could Guo Bujing possibly teach a Daoist master?"

"We must send people to Wudang Mountain and Longhu Mountain to investigate later..."

About an hour later, the agents carried the sedan chair into the capital. With the two great Depot Superintendents on either side, no one dared to block them. Such a grand display naturally attracted the attention of many commoners.

People in the restaurants on both sides of the street also cast sideways glances; they were all Jianghu people who had come to watch the battle, whispering just like the ordinary commoners.

Someone in the crowd said, "The useless Prince is here," and the next second, everyone on the entire street burst into laughter.

Since it was that legendary "Virtuous Prince," even the grandest display looked like a circus to them. For over twenty years, people had long been accustomed to associating him with jokes.

After all, this playboy Prince had done all sorts of embarrassing things.

Only those Jianghu people who had just arrived in the capital and knew nothing about this Prince would curiously ask around, only to hear some ridiculous past events.

In short.

No one cared about the Virtuous Prince's every move.

They didn't even know that more than ten years had passed since the last time the Virtuous Prince entered the palace.

The Imperial Study.

The Emperor was reviewing memorials.

His expression was calm.

But the head eunuch, Wei Zhongxian, who was standing to the side, saw the brush in the Emperor's hand trembling.

He was restless.

Wei Zhongxian felt a chill in his heart.

The older eunuchs in the palace all knew that the Virtuous Prince was a sickness in the Emperor's heart—usually hidden and dormant, but fatal at critical moments.

Because back then...

The throne should have been the Virtuous Prince's.

Everyone had become accustomed to the Virtuous Prince's current absurdity and had forgotten how intelligent he was when he was young, to the point that the late Emperor had long ago regarded him as the heir apparent.

Wei Zhongxian had almost forgotten, too.

But now, memories came rushing back like a tide.

The Emperor was the same.

He had almost forgotten, too! But the moment he learned that Chu Yang had been hiding his martial cultivation, everything from the past surfaced clearly in his mind.

Every day and every night, every hour and every moment, he could remember it.

"Among all the princes, only Yang'er is most like me, hahaha!"

The scene of the memory froze there! Bang! The livid Emperor slammed his desk, and the brush in his hand snapped into two pieces.

"Your Majesty, the Virtuous Prince has arrived."

"Let him in!" (End of chapter)