Chapter 52: Chapter Fifty-Two: Misfortune Appears, Misfortune Shifting

Liang region, Beiyang.

Beiyang Province is one of the fourteen provinces of Liang.

The terrain is open and flat, a vital corridor linking the capital to the northern lands.

Roads lead in all directions, drawing together a flood of merchants.

Every day, caravans pass like a long dragon.

This is a prosperous region; the deposed emperor was granted the title of Prince of Beiyang, and Beiyang Province was upgraded from a provincial capital to a princedom—clear evidence of the court’s favor toward the deposed emperor.

The tax revenue of Beiyang alone is enough to sustain the deposed emperor’s lavish, indulgent lifestyle.

After the attack by Blood Hand Jin Sanming, the rest of the escort journey passed peacefully until they reached Beiyang, where Dou Changsheng finally felt anxiety.

For the past several days, every time Dou Changsheng sought an audience with the Prince of Beiyang, he was denied.

This made Dou Changsheng wonder whether the Prince of Beiyang even existed.

After yet another failed attempt, Dou Changsheng knew that if he continued like this, he would never get the chance to meet the Prince of Beiyang.

The Prince of Beiyang is a deposed emperor—his status is sensitive; naturally, he cannot receive outsiders like ordinary feudal lords. Once inside the Prince’s mansion, he would never leave again.

The horsemen won’t stop you; the real authority lies with your own younger sister.

She is capricious, her moods shifting unpredictably, and as she herself said, her dark thoughts are at work—whether this is true is worth pondering.

Dou Changsheng had no desire to meet Dou Taizhen, but now he had no choice.

The Grand General’s mission remains unfinished; Dou Changsheng is a man of honor and would never accept rewards without fulfilling his promise.

Dou Taizhen lay lazily on a long chair, her white gauze dress accentuating her curves, eyes closed in meditation, while the elderly swordwoman stood behind her, kneading her shoulders.

As Dou Changsheng approached, threads of light began to emerge, shaping a phantom figure.

The light was pure and translucent, like luli, profoundly illusory; its face was holy, and the black mole on its brow resembled a closed heavenly eye, radiating divinity.

It glanced at Dou Changsheng, then walked slowly toward the heavens, gradually vanishing.

The child swordwoman stepped forward, blocking Dou Changsheng’s path, her youthful voice ringing out: “On the first day of the tenth month this year, the Jixia Academy will hold its once-in-a-decade Wanfa Assembly; the master has been invited to serve as lecturer and expound the Way of Yin and Yang.”

“Don’t even think about it—the Wanfa Assembly is presided over by Lu Sheng, ranked ninth on the Heavenly List; all participants are Masters of the Earth List.”

“Next decade, the first-ranked on the Heavenly List, Master Jin, will be invited to teach; you might have a chance then.”

Dou Changsheng’s mouth snapped shut, then twitched slightly open—but before he could speak, the youthful voice rang out again: “The master knows why you’re here.”

“The master forbids you from meeting the young emperor, and there is her reason.”

“If you can’t even grasp this, you lack even one-third of Chen Qingyao’s wit—you won’t live long.”

The girl’s cold voice spoke: “The matter of the deposed emperor is not as simple as it appears.”

“This young emperor is not one to accept obscurity; he will rise again.”

“The master doesn’t want you drawn into this mess, nor does she wish to involve herself further in imperial intrigues. In the end, Yu Yun is too naive, but Chen Qingyao is different—his heart twists and turns nine times, eighteen bends; no one in the world has more scheming cunning than he does.”

“If Yu Yun knew the young emperor’s thoughts, how could he possibly hide them from Chen Qingyao?”

“Your escort of the young emperor was surely pushed forward by Chen Qingyao’s covert maneuvering.”

“These sordid affairs need not concern you. Once the young emperor is delivered to the mansion, leave Beijin entirely and head west to Qin or east to Qi—you can unravel Chen Qingyao’s schemes entirely.”

“If Yu Yun demands an explanation, give him one.”

“Among the Nine Adopted Sons, one is Chen Qingyao’s spy; it was this traitor who deliberately provoked outrageous actions, causing the young emperor to harbor distrust toward Yu Yun, triggering this entire chain of events.”

“Don’t ask who.”

“I won’t say more.”

“The hint is so obvious—if you still can’t figure it out, or refuse to believe it, then the problem lies with Yu Yun.”

“Don’t get involved further; the Empress Dowager and Yu Yun cannot defeat Chen Qingyao.”

“In battle, ten Chen Qingyaos are no match for Yu Yun—but in conspiracy and deceit, few in the world can rival him.”

After the girl’s cold voice faded, the youthful voice spoke again: “The master said.”

“Do not enter the grasslands unless you are on the Earth List.”

“The best destination is Qin. Since the Legalist Li Yan entered Qin, the state’s power has grown daily, yet Qin’s laws have grown ever stricter, growing harsher toward cultivators: without imperial approval, no one may carry a sword; those who resort to violence privately face branding at best, execution at worst.”

“From diet to travel, everything is regulated; anyone who dares to overstep will not escape the Qin law’s blade.”

“Everyone must act according to the law.”

“You are not a rule-breaker; Qin’s laws do not affect you.”

“On the contrary, Qin’s customs will broaden your horizons.”

“Don’t even mention Nan Chen—the Demon Master alone holds the nation in check, and demons run rampant; with your Qingyang Secret Art, you won’t survive three days.”

“In Dong Qi, a hundred schools flourish, the most open of all—but precisely because of this, orthodox and demonic forces converge, just as in Nan Chen; those who covet your Qingyang Secret Art will be countless.”

Dou Changsheng sighed inwardly.

Under the Wang family’s protection in Beijing, most demons and monsters could be held at bay—but Chen Qingyao’s ambition would not die; knowing your younger sister’s identity, he would surely exploit it.

You are not a true Wang family disciple; the Wang family will not assign a pure Yin or pure Yang master to guard you daily.

You must flee far away for safety—and the best destination is Qin.

Qin’s laws are strict; everything must follow the rules—there is no soil for demonic cultivation here.

The world is in turmoil.

Beijin has a powerful minister stealing the state.

Qin’s reforms have strengthened it significantly; Dou Changsheng recalled that the Wolf Lord once invited a Western Regions living Buddha, who traveled ten thousand miles to the royal court precisely because Qin was attacking the Western Regions.

Qin’s military law is severe: if a command is disobeyed, the commanding general is executed first, then the deputy, then all officers in the unit are held jointly responsible.

The hardest period has passed; the reforms have taken root, and now, with their campaign against the Western Regions, generals and soldiers alike fear neither death nor sacrifice, winning battle after battle.

The former emperor died suddenly, the young emperor was deposed, the minister usurped the throne, the Empress Dowager manipulates power—everywhere, signs of a collapsing state.

This Great Jin is finished.

Dou Changsheng suddenly had this thought.

Dou Changsheng exhaled a long breath and said: “I will write a letter to the Grand General.”

“Once the Prince of Beiyang enters the mansion, I will prepare to head west to Qin.”

“I just wonder… will you come with me?”

The aged voice replied: “No need.”

“Every year at Jingzhe, spring thunder appears, and the master must enter hibernation—but lately, for reasons unknown, thunder has begun gathering ominously.”

“The master must enter hibernation now.”

“How strange.”

“Shouldn’t the situation be improving?”

“Why is it worsening?”

What a good sister she is!