Chapter 69: The Heavenly Bond—I Claim It!

Emperor? An imperial edict?

Given his own origins and his aunt’s warnings, Li Guanyi had always been wary of the Chen imperial family; yet he still replied, “...Alright.”

His mind filled with countless thoughts.

He was specifically named to be present.

Did they know he was here? No, that couldn’t be it—if they did, they wouldn’t send a eunuch inspector, but at least a Night Galloper of the Second Tower, or even a Third Tower expert who could condense Qi into weapons to kill him outright.

Stay calm. Think about the situation.

It must be that Master Wang Tong and the others have finished their affairs in the capital, and the power struggles have finally settled. That’s why, after so many days, the Emperor has finally brought up the matter of Yicheng.

Li Guanyi took off his weapon sack and handed it to Zhao Da, then stuffed the travel pass inside as well. He tucked in his seventh-rank Zhenwei Captain’s badge, was led to change into seventh-rank official robes, and tugged at the robe and leather belt, filled with distaste.

Like a green toad.

He entered the Listening Wind Pavilion; as he walked into the inner courtyard, imperial elite guards stood on both sides of the path.

All clad in armor, gripping swords, their aura thick and powerful.

The empire’s elite troops were all Second Tower; military captains held that rank. The palace guards, however, had to be at least Cultivators who had entered the realm, clad in fine armor, wielding superior swords and crossbows, mostly from military merit families—not necessarily skilled in combat, but their base stats were always among the highest.

As Li Guanyi entered, he saw Xue Daoyong smiling warmly, with Xue Shuangtao and Xue Changqing standing beside him. Before them stood a man, pale-faced and beardless, wearing a round-collar narrow-sleeved robe of purple, with a horizontal hem beneath, holding a yellow scroll, and smiling as he said:

“Is this the Zhenwei Captain Li Guanyi?”

“Truly a young hero, full of vigor and spirit.”

“Everyone is here. Please receive the imperial edict. Hahaha, His Majesty says Xue Lao is his wife’s father; this visit is merely a verbal message, not an edict. Please sit.”

Across all nations, the Emperor’s decrees came in several categories.

Admonitions, edicts of appointment, imperial commands, imperial instructions, proclamations, announcements, declarations, and imperial orders.

Only two required kneeling to receive: one, the appointment or dismissal of Princes or Chancellors.

The other, imperial edicts sent from the capital to all provinces.

Ordinary commands did not require kneeling. Confucians held that “rites do not extend to commoners”; elaborate rituals were not imposed on the people. There was once a monarch who, angered by a commoner’s disrespect, ordered his execution—but the official in charge of law refused.

A regular imperial decree only required standing respectfully. Today, this eunuch smiled and told Xue Lao to sit and drink tea.

The three juniors—Xue Changqing, Xue Shuangtao, and Li Guanyi—though the eunuch said they could sit casually, naturally did not dare. The eunuch unrolled the edict and spoke without solemnity, merely mentioning Yicheng: “That brute Yue Qianfeng keeps harassing us—it’s a headache.”

“If he keeps acting like this, even if I want to spare his commander’s life, I can’t save face.”

“The Chancellor and ministers are roasting me over a fire; this brute is adding fuel. Either side makes me a bad emperor.”

“What a foul brute—he’ll get three hundred lashes when we catch him, come autumn.”

“Thank you, Father-in-law, for stopping him. I heard assassins targeted you—how are you? The imperial sacrifices have been too burdensome, but the state and ancestors are matters of utmost importance. Only now, after all this time, have I had the chance to write you this letter.”

The eunuch finished delivering the edict.

It was unmistakably the tone of a family letter—even the Emperor referred to himself as “son-in-law.” His tone was calm. Xue Daoyong smiled as he accepted the edict and handed over a heavy pouch. The eunuch’s smile grew sincere.

But how much of this was truth, how much falsehood? Li Guanyi couldn’t tell.

It wasn’t that he was too busy to write.

It was that the power struggles had reached a balance and settled—only then did the Emperor write.

From the tone of the edict, Master Wang Tong and Master Siming had gained the upper hand.

Li Guanyi stood quietly, composed, lost in thought. The eunuch’s gaze fell on him, a smile lingering as he said: “Captain Li, please step forward to receive the edict.”

Li Guanyi steadied himself and bowed slightly forward.

The eunuch said: “His Majesty heard that a young hero has emerged in Jiangzhou—able to ride into battle and dismount to write poetry—and Master Wang Tong took great notice of him. Chen Guo needs such spirited talents. Therefore, we bestow upon you a rhinoceros-horn belt and a soft armor.”

“Forty-five days from now, Chen Guo’s grand sacrifice begins. Only officials of the capital may enter.”

“Special dispensation: Zhenwei Captain Li Guanyi is permitted to accompany the Xue family into the palace to participate in the sacrifice.”

Li Guanyi’s heart sank slightly.

His charge-out that day had drawn attention, and with his status as a Xue family guest, he was now a target. Across nations, young men with martial prowess and ties to imperial kin were prized. But this favor went against Li Guanyi’s wishes.

Even in Chen Guo, officials handling travel passes had wanted nothing more than to send him away.

To clear his position.

Now that the Emperor had mentioned his name and wished him to serve as a court attendant during the grand sacrifice, they wouldn’t dare let him leave. If he tried to depart, they’d report it upward, inviting unnecessary trouble.

Beside the eunuch, a servant held a tray bearing the belt and armor.

The armor could deflect blade and spear strikes; the belt was a symbol of military rank.

Only officials of the third to sixth ranks could wear rhinoceros-horn.

The eunuch smiled and said: “Please receive it.”

Li Guanyi steadied his composure, reached out to take the items—but the eunuch didn’t release them. He kept smiling at Li Guanyi, who met his gaze. The eunuch’s eyes flickered with surprise, then displeasure. A faint scent of perfume passed; Xue Shuangtao stepped forward half a pace and removed a jade pendant from her waist, offering it.

The jade was of excellent quality.

The eunuch’s smile softened, and he let go at once.

He praised: “Young master, you have talent. Miss Xue, you are clever.”

Having delivered the edict and received his reward, even the servants got silver coins. They departed the Xue household satisfied. Before leaving, the eunuch slowed his pace and whispered beside Li Guanyi: “Captain Li, young hero, this old servant dares to speak up.”

“Lately, His Majesty has spoken highly of you in casual conversation with the ministers.”

Li Guanyi’s eyes flickered slightly.

The pale-faced, beardless eunuch smiled softly: “I dare not say more.”

“But the ministers all have nephews and sons. Many sons of military merit families don’t even attain a ninth-rank military title until sixteen. Yet you, at thirteen or fourteen, hold such a position—and have His Majesty’s praise. The ministers may say nothing, but their young noble heirs will surely resent it.”

“Young men are fiery by nature.”

Li Guanyi understood.

It seemed Master Wang Tong and Master Siming had succeeded, advancing their plan to rescue Marshal Yue. The ministers were bitter and resentful, so the Emperor rewarded the Xue family and himself—to suppress the ministers, and to give them a target to focus on?

The monarch’s balance of power.

Li Guanyi looked at the pale-faced eunuch and said: “Thank you.”

He thought for a moment, reached into his robe, felt the silver, and rubbed it.

He took the larger piece.

Placed it in the eunuch’s hand.

The eunuch laughed, took the silver, then placed Xue Shuangtao’s jade pendant into Li Guanyi’s palm and smiled: “I’ll take the fee for my trouble, but Miss Xue’s jade—you’ll return it for me.”

The eunuch was sharp. He nodded and left with a smile.

As he boarded the carriage, a young eunuch attendant began kneading his legs and shoulders.

“Father, why are you so kind to Li Guanyi?”

“Why warn him?”

The senior eunuch smiled: “Foolish. Outside, what do you call me?”

“Your Excellency.”

“What do you mean by ‘I warned him’?”

“What am I? Just a mouth. A flesh pen. The Emperor told me to say this.”

“He says that since ancient times, young prodigies are like eagles and wild horses—they must be broken in.”

“Only then will they obey, only then will they be useful.”

“He uses the sons of noble military families to temper this young prodigy—and uses this young prodigy to inspire the younger generation of martial clans. Minor conflicts among youths mean the elders need not intervene. Meanwhile, Master Wang Tong has entered court as Grand Secretary, and Grand Master, once a scholar in seclusion, has become Imperial Astronomer. The ministers are seething.”

He intended to use the scions of noble martial families to temper this young prodigy’s character, and to use this young prodigy to spur the martial nobility; youthful conflicts need not involve the elders. Coincidentally, Master Wang Tong entered court and became Grand Secretary, while the elder’s scholarly peers in the wild ascended to become Imperial Astronomer, leaving the courtiers seething with resentment.

“The Xue family must not grow too powerful, nor too weak. The ministers need to rely on them, yet the generals must be suppressed. Suppressed, but not so much that the civil officials dominate. Thus, the clans, ministers, imperial in-laws, and common scholars balance each other—and His Majesty sits in the Peony Pavilion, watching it all.”

“Throw a handful of fish food, and all the heroes of the land will scramble for it. That’s how a wise sovereign rules.”

The young eunuch didn’t understand. He only asked: “What if this Li Guanyi’s spirit is broken?”

The senior eunuch lowered his eyes, thinking of the Emperor—the one who painted and was admired by ministers.

The Emperor’s casual words were still beyond his grasp. He whispered softly:

“Then he simply lacks the fortune.”

Casual. Dismissive.

For some reason, the young eunuch suddenly felt a bone-deep chill, shuddering.

Watching the palace emissaries depart, Li Guanyi held the edict in one hand, the armor and rhinoceros-horn belt in the other, frowning slightly.

Watching the imperial envoys depart, Li Guanyi held the imperial edict in one hand and the soft armor and rhinoceros-horn belt in the other, frowning slightly.

For any scion or good-family youth, imperial praise and reward were blessings.

But for Li Guanyi, this praise was an obstacle.

The Emperor’s command—even a passing mention—would be strictly enforced.

To leave, he must wait until after the grand sacrifice in Jiangzhou. But the Chen imperial family…

Li Guanyi recalled the three major possibilities of his origins. Going to the palace felt like stepping into a whirlpool. And the Emperor seemed to have made him a target. Entering the capital would surely draw arrogant noble heirs to trouble him.

Xue Shuangtao lightly bumped Li Guanyi. “When palace people come out on errands, everyone prepares gifts for them.”

Xue Shuangtao lightly bumped Li Guanyi and said, “When people from the palace come to do business, everyone always prepares gifts for them.”

“Remember next time.”

“This jade pendant, I paid for you. But next time, prepare your own.”

Li Guanyi smiled, raised his eyes, and extended his hand. “Is that so?”

“Miss Xue, what do you think this is?”

Xue Shuangtao’s eyes widened as she saw Li Guanyi loosen his fingers—his thumb and forefinger pinched a red cord.

Xue Shuangtao widened her eyes and saw Li Guanyi release his grip with one hand, his fingers pinching the red rope.

The jade pendant fell down, swaying slightly.

Xue Shuangtao widened her eyes: “You—you—you got it back?!”

“You’re even taking back the tip for the palace people?”

There was wonder in her eyes.

As if to say, it could really be done like this!

“No wonder it’s you!”

Li Guanyi heard the teasing in her words and replied irritably: “I bought it back!”

“Bought it back!”

Xue Shuangtao burst out laughing, extended her pale, delicate palm, and stood there gracefully, asking:

“How much did it cost?”

Li Guanyi placed the jade pendant in the girl’s palm and declared confidently:

“Fifteen taels of silver.”

Xue Shuangtao laughed until she couldn’t straighten up.

She tossed the jade pendant back into Li Guanyi’s arms.

Li Guanyi did not reveal his inner worries.

Yet acquiring the soft armor was a good thing—he exchanged his green toad-like official robe for a dark blue everyday robe, tied his hair with a wooden pin, wrapped his waist with a rhinoceros-horn belt, and his brow lifted slightly; compared to before, he now looked far more martial.

The rhinoceros-horn belt bore the seven tools of a military officer.

A long knife, a short knife, a whetstone, a qixin needle, yuejue, a needle case, and a firestone pouch.

The qixin needle was an item from the thirty-six western states, a small needle used for engraving characters.

The yuejue was a tool for untying stubborn knots.

Li Guanyi wore an inner robe beneath the soft armor, over which he draped a dark blue round-collar robe, with the military officer’s rhinoceros-horn belt at his waist—now he carried more of a martial officer’s bearing than before, when he had looked like a guest advisor or idle official; even Xue Daoyong couldn’t help but approve.

He said that if he were just a few years older, riding a horse along the great road of Jiangzhou, noble daughters would toss fruit from their second-story pavilions into his arms.

Now? Not yet.

“Still a bit too young.”

Although some noble ladies do favor boys of this age, if a boy under fifteen secretly pursues them—and especially if he’s a rising military officer at court—it will draw the Ti Qi to smash down your door.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Open up! It’s the night-soil collector!

Xue Shuangtao laughed at the old man’s joke, studied Li Guanyi for a moment, then unexpectedly retorted:

“How could those women possibly be so uncouth—throwing fruit in the street?”

“Even if, well, the guest advisor is quite impressive, he hasn’t reached that level yet, has he?!”

“Besides.”

The girl looked at Li Guanyi, her eyes sparkling with amusement: “This frivolous fellow? Fruit won’t move him. It’d take ten thousand taels of gold, a thousand jin of white jade.”

Li Guanyi felt the young lady misunderstood him.

Xue Shuangtao thought of having just tossed the jade pendant, and grew slightly uneasy.

Li Guanyi finally tucked the travel pass beneath his pillow.

One day, he thought, it will be useful—but now he must raise his strength faster, even if he knew his identity hadn’t been exposed.

Yet the necessity of going to Jingcheng still filled him with urgency.

Jingcheng was where all martial cultivators gathered.

The night-riding cavalry who once hunted him were all at the Second Realm.

He was still too weak; without entering the Second Realm, stepping into Jingcheng left him with a restless unease.

He cultivated his art, while above, the seven stars of Bai Hu blazed brighter day by day, as the Emperor of Chen Guo effortlessly balanced the influence of imperial in-laws, nobles, ministers, civil and military officials, overseeing the Jiangnan and southwestern regions.

The Golden-Winged Great Peng arrived at the border.

The second son of the Ying State Duke saw Li Guanyi’s strategy.

The girl’s eyes flashed with sudden brilliance—but when she saw the passage end at 【This plan…】, she grew frustrated, lightly punched the table, and scolded with a laugh: “Such a strategy, teasing like this, yet cut off right here—damnably annoying!”

“This person is in Chen Guo…”

“Chen Guo!”

The girl paced back and forth, then suddenly smiled to herself:

“Such a strategy—isn’t it an invitation for me to meet him?”

“If I can see such a strategy, isn’t that fate ordained by heaven?”

“I say it’s heavenly fate—it is heavenly fate!”

“Fine. Two months from now, during Chen Guo’s grand sacrifice, I’ll replace my elder brother as envoy.”

“Let’s see what this young prodigy actually looks like!”

?? Stuck on writing today, sorry for the late post (peaceful)