Chapter 701: Imperial Capital Artisans

Before dawn, the Yangxin Palace was already lit up brightly.

“You damned bastards!”

With a roar, the emperor swept a green jade paperweight off his desk—it shattered on the floor.

Emperor Xiao Qixuan gazed down, his voice like frozen ice: “You tell me—how did my dragon vein’s sacred ground become a place where charlatans come and go as they please?!” [78] “Zhao Qingxu hid there—not just to conceal the Fiend Goddess Wangmu and demonic qi, but I have no idea what method he used.” [83] Li Yan sneered: “Then the Great Xuan’s empire won’t survive either!”

Vice Minister of Rites Pei Zongti, Prince Shunyang, Head of the Imperial Clan Office, and Commander of the Jinwu Guard Jiao Wanbao…

All three were powerful figures in the capital, yet now they dared not even breathe.

Prince Shunyang, Head of the Imperial Clan Office, felt a deep sense of grievance.

The Imperial Clan Office of Great Xuan was led by five princes, all holding the rank of First Rank.

The Left and Right Clan Heads oversaw the imperial genealogy, discipline, rituals for marriages, funerals, and daily affairs like stipends.

The Left and Right Clan Ministers primarily managed imperial ancestral rites, including the upkeep of clan Daoists and the dragon vein.

As for me, the Clan Director, I oversee everything.

Normally, these matters were handled by others; I merely kept overall control.

Just moments ago, I was asleep when I was summoned to the palace—I only learned of this on the way.

So though I’m furious, I still try to defend: “Your Majesty, calm down—the earth vein’s disturbance was merely an external evil intrusion; the Imperial Clan Office responded promptly and eliminated all the demons—there is no longer any danger…”

“An ‘external evil’?!”

Before he finished speaking, Emperor Xiao Qixuan erupted in rage, silencing Prince Shunyang instantly.

Xiao Qixuan’s gaze turned dark and menacing: “This is the capital, the heart of the dragon vein—and you’ve been so negligent, your guilt is unforgivable.”

“Issue orders: Prince Pingyang and Prince Luchuan shall immediately resign from their Clan posts, forfeit three years’ stipend, and remain confined to their mansions to reflect on their failings!”

At this point, Prince Shunyang had calmed down.

On his way here, he’d been puzzled: “Jiumen Yin Xu” had been breached, yet outsiders knew nothing—the men sent to handle it kept tight lips; the only flaw was that the Jinwu Guard failed to capture anyone, only finding a courtyard reduced to ashes.

This could easily have been covered up—why did the Emperor know before I did?

Only when he heard that Prince Pingyang and Prince Luchuan had been stripped of their posts did he finally understand.

Emperor Xiao Qixuan was using this mishap as an opportunity to strike.

The Imperial Clan Office managed all imperial family affairs; though it didn’t interfere in court politics, its voice carried weight.

The Emperor’s recent reduction of princely domains had angered many.

Earlier this year, after the Emperor fainted during court proceedings, they seized the chance to urge him to settle the succession.

He knew Xiao Qixuan best of all—everything must be under his control.

This failure by the Imperial Clan Office was the perfect pretext.

Removing the Left and Right Clan Heads would mean replacing them with obedient imperial clan members.

He, the Clan Director, would be completely isolated—no one would listen to him anymore.

Though he understood the reason, it was too late—he could only bow bitterly: “Your servant obeys.”

Xiao Qixuan glanced at him coldly, then turned his gaze toward Commander Jiao Wanbao: “What have you found?”

Jiao Wanbao was his trusted confidant, so Xiao Qixuan’s tone softened somewhat.

“Your Majesty,”

Jiao Wanbao bowed and replied solemnly: “That courtyard was purchased by a merchant from Yuezhou. Since he rarely stayed in the capital, he entrusted it to a broker who sublet it. The tenant was experienced and never showed his face—he used the broker again to arrange the lease, leaving no trace.”

“Useless fools!”

Xiao Qixuan snapped coldly: “The Peach Banquet demons have stirred chaos in the capital—how can you all be so incompetent?”

“Issue my decree: from today, the capital is under curfew—until the demons are caught!”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Jiao Wanbao quickly bowed low.

“You two may go. Pei, stay.”

Xiao Qixuan gave a dismissive order; Prince Shunyang and Jiao Wanbao hurriedly took their leave.

Once they were gone, Xiao Qixuan turned to Pei Zongti: “Pei, what do you think?”

Pei Zongti hesitated: “Your Majesty, this matter is too grave—I lack the authority to…”

“Nonsense!”

Xiao Qixuan cut him off: “You oversee all Daoist affairs across the realm—if you lack the backbone, what good are you?”

“I have failed—please punish me, Your Majesty.”

Pei Zongti quickly begged for punishment, yet still offered no opinion.

He had served for decades, risen to this position—how could he be a fool?

And this Emperor had one trait: if he cursed you, it meant nothing.

If he truly meant to punish you, he wouldn’t even see you.

But he kept me here—this means I’m involved.

Seeing Pei Zongti remain silent, Xiao Qixuan let out a cold snort and waved his hand.

An old eunuch beside him immediately spoke: “At the Rouyuan Post, the Twelve Celestial Branches all departed last night—they used a Daoist trick to deceive the postmaster.”

The speaker was hunched, white-haired, with cold hawk-like eyes and a vermilion mark between his brows—Zhao Wujiu, Head of the Directorate of Ceremonial.

Pei Zongti’s forehead instantly broke into cold sweat.

These lawless bastards!

Though he cursed inwardly, he still forced a pained expression: “Your Majesty, I know them—they mean no harm.”

“I know that.”

Xiao Qixuan said grimly: “When you came to court earlier requesting an investigation into Jiumen Yin Xu, I immediately guessed it was them when it happened.”

“Truly, these Jianghu folk have no discipline!”

Pei Zongti hurried to agree: “Your Majesty is right—these Jianghu folk act recklessly; I will deal with them severely.”

“But Your Majesty, hear me out—they pursued Jianmu, cracked major cases one after another—they’re truly concerned for the fate of Shenzhou!”

“Enough of this nonsense!”

Xiao Qixuan’s face darkened: “Ask them what they’ve found—and report back to me immediately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty!”

Pei Zongti didn’t dare delay—he rushed out of the palace.

Soon after, he arrived at Rouyuan Post with Luo Mingzi and others.

Li Yan’s group had already returned and pretended nothing had happened, sleeping in their rooms.

“Stop pretending—you’ve caused a massive disaster!”

Pei Zongti summoned them all out, his face as dark as soot.

Luo Mingzi kept signaling frantically, but Li Yan was Li Yan—he still feigned confusion: “Your Excellency, I don’t understand what you mean…”

“Enough of this act!”

Pei Zongti had no time for games—he said grimly: “We’ll deal with this later—what did you find in Jiumen Yin Xu? Did Jianmu tamper with the dragon vein? Tell me quickly—the Emperor is still waiting in the palace.”

Seeing he couldn’t hide it, Li Yan still tried to stall: “I just had a dream…”

He then recounted everything he’d witnessed in “Jiumen Yin Xu.”

Zhao Qingxu hid there—not just to conceal the Divine Mother and demonic qi, but I have no idea what method he used.

Pei Zongti listened, stunned inwardly, and warned: “Keep this secret—this minister will return to the palace and report to the Emperor.”

He’d taken a few steps when he turned back, speaking gravely: “Since it’s come to this, no need to hide it—those demons have been warned. Follow any leads you have. Luo Daozhang will stay to assist. This concerns the fate of Shenzhou—I’ll take responsibility for any problems.”

Saying this, he turned and hurried away.

“This Minister Pei actually has some backbone…” Sha Lifei shook his head. Luo Mingzi sighed: “You’ve got balls the size of boulders—if you’d slipped up even slightly, no one could’ve saved you.”

Li Yan sneered: “Then the Great Xuan’s empire won’t survive either!”

“Now I understand why Jianmu has grown stronger step by step—so many factions in court block every move. How can anything get done?”

Luo Mingzi sighed: “It’s always been this way since ancient times—it’s not up to us.”

“Forget that for now—what other leads do you have?”

Li Yan thought for a moment: “The capital truly hides dragons and tigers.”

“The method to enter ‘Jiumen Yin Xu’ was revealed by a certain ‘Old Ghost of the Capital’—his identity is likely no ordinary man.”

“Also, I encountered the Rabbit God there, guarded by ‘Mao Hou’ spirit soldiers—someone is aiding the Rabbit God. Daozhang, do you know any high-level figures in the capital skilled in this?”

Luo Mingzi’s eyes lit up instantly: “I know who you mean—let’s go now.”

“One more thing.”

Li Yan said gravely: “When I fought Zhao Qingxu, his technique was strange—I’ve never seen anything like it. He controlled spirits with money, using ‘jiaozi’ as talismans, marked with ‘Yizhou Jiaozi Bureau’ and ‘Maritime Trade Office’—investigating this might reveal his origins.”

Luo Mingzi immediately turned to Kong Shangzhao, who had followed them: “In the Daoist Sacrificial Office’s archives, there are records of past Daoist affairs—this will require your help, Master Kong.”

“It’s my duty.”

Kong Shangzhao bowed slightly, his eyes alight with excitement.

He agreed to assist Luo Mingzi for two reasons: one, to protect his family; two, he coveted the Daoist Sacrificial Office’s ancient archives.

These texts were all secret—never did he expect the chance to come so quickly.

With the plan set, everyone immediately split up.

Kong Shangzhao took several Enforcement Hall experts back to the Daoist Sacrificial Office to search the archives.

Luo Mingzi, meanwhile, led Li Yan and the others toward Xicheng.

“His name is Kuai Dayou—he’s a descendant of Master Kuai Xiang.”

Luo Mingzi walked while introducing.

“Descendant of Master Kua?”

Upon hearing this, everyone’s interest stirred.

This Master Kua was no ordinary man.

He came from a family of craftsmen; his father, Kua Fu, was the “Master Carpenter” of Jinling and a patriarch of the Craftsmen Sect.

Master Kua himself had trained in craftsmanship since childhood, mastering the five arts of wood, stone, lacquer, bamboo, and clay. Even as a youth, he revealed extraordinary talent—he could draw two dragons simultaneously with both hands, their patterns fitting perfectly. More importantly, he was an Xuan Gate craftsman and a Grand Master of Earthcraft.

Excluding combat prowess, his status was equal to that of the Ten Great Masters of Shenzhou.

At eighteen, he led the design of Chengtian Gate—the same as Tiananmen in his past life—completing the model in just one month and finishing construction in three years. He was called “Kua Lu Ban.”

During his lifetime, he served as Vice Minister of Works, and the imperial court granted his descendants hereditary rights to the craft title.

The famed Craftsmen Sect “Xiangshan Gang” has always been led by Kua’s descendants.

Li Yan grew curious. “This ‘Kua Dayou’ is very skilled?”

“Skilled? That’s an understatement.”

Luo Mingzi marveled: “This prodigy’s talent rivals Master Kua’s, even surpassing it. From childhood, he displayed astonishing gifts—he mastered the Kua family’s Palace Puppetry techniques at age five, learned the Wood-Bone Paper-Skin method, and crafted puppet figures to perform in the palace during the Yuan Ye Festival.”

“The Emperor greatly admired him, calling him ‘Kua Ghost Hand,’ saying he would one day inherit his grandfather’s post as Vice Minister of Works…”

“Wait!”

Sha Lifei stared in disbelief. “You mean this young Master Kua is still a child?”

Luo Mingzi replied: “He just turned seventeen. What a pity…”

“What’s so pitiful?” Li Yan asked quickly.

Luo Mingzi shook his head. “Kua Dayou is a reckless fellow—he secretly took an apprentice under the descendant of Ani Ge.”

Li Yan frowned. “The Golden Tent Wolf State has long fallen. What’s the problem?”

“Ani Ge” was also an extraordinary figure.

His original name was Balubu, a descendant of the royal family of Nepal, and a patriarch of the Craftsmen Sect of the Golden Tent Wolf State.

When Kublai Khan ordered the construction of a golden stupa in Tibet, Nepal selected eighty craftsmen. Ani Ge volunteered as their leader and completed the project in just one year. Later, he restored the Southern Song’s priceless treasure—the Acupuncture Bronze Figure—and built countless Buddha statues and temples, still influencing Buddhist architecture today.

The White Pagoda of Miaoying Temple was his work. After death, he was posthumously granted the titles of Open Court Equal to the Three Excellencies, Grand Master, and Duke of Liang, with the posthumous name “Min Hui.”

“It’s not that simple.”

Luo Mingzi shook his head. “Back then, the Golden Tent Wolf State stood in opposition to the Daxing Dynasty. Ani Ge and the Kua family were known as ‘Northern Heavenly Artisan’ and ‘Southern Lu Ban.’ Their craft duels are still recounted in Xuan Gate circles, leaving behind deep grudges.”

“Though Ani Ge’s disciples were Han Chinese and had submitted to Dayuan, the two families have always been at odds.”

“The leader of the Xiangshan Hui should have been from the Kua family, but due to this conflict, someone interfered. The Kua family lost the chairmanship, and everyone blamed Kua Dayou. Being young and impulsive, he flew into a rage, left the Kua family, and opened a coffin shop near Xilangfang Hutong, refusing to serve in the imperial court.”

“When the Qiankun Academy was founded, Yan Jiuling invited him several times, but he refused every time.”

“As far as I know, the only person who has brought the ‘Mao Hou’ craft to such a level is probably him…”

As they spoke, they arrived at Xilangfang Hutong.

This place was not far from the former Dasha Lan, filled with shops, and inhabited entirely by craftsmen.

As they passed the street corner, Li Yan glanced to his left.

There stood the secret base of Hu Yuanyuan and the Five Immortals Sect.

“Wait here for me a moment.”

Li Yan sniffed the air, frowned, and strode toward the warehouse.

The wooden door had been replaced, and the interior’s aura was faint.

Knock knock knock!

A grumpy voice answered: “Who is it? It’s not even dawn and you’re knocking like a ghost…”

As he spoke, a man opened the door.

He wore a tattered single robe, reeking of sweat and sawdust.

Seeing them, he jumped back, stammering: “L-Lords…”

“Don’t be afraid.”

Li Yan asked sternly: “Where are the previous occupants?”

The man swallowed hard and replied quickly: “I’m a carpenter hired to work. I heard the former owner sold everything cheaply and left the capital. I’m here to repair for the new owner—the floor’s collapsed inside…”

Though wordy, Li Yan understood the meaning.

That old fox still acted as before—vanished without a word.

He must have planned to leave even when he told Li Yan about the Nine Gates Yin Xu.

Perhaps he’s already on his way to the northern frontier…

These people must have secrets.

Li Yan shook his head slightly and followed Luo Mingzi onward.

Reaching the middle of the street, they passed through another hutong, and ahead appeared a coffin shop.

Inside the coffin shop, darkness reigned.

“Something’s wrong.”

Lu San twitched his ears, then whispered: “Something inside is casting a spell.”

His hearing was sharper. Li Yan hadn’t heard it—he immediately formed a hand seal and inhaled deeply.

A familiar scent filled his nostrils. Li Yan’s expression changed slightly:

“Kong Hui was here!”

(End of Chapter)