Chapter 69: Heaven

Emperor? An imperial decree?

Due to his own origins and his aunt's warnings, Li Guanyi had always been wary of the Chen royal 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 so, 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 Wang Tong's affairs in Jingcheng have concluded, and the power struggles have finally settled—so after all these days, the Emperor finally brought up the matter of Yicheng.

Li Guanyi took off his weapon sack and handed it to Zhao Da Bing, then stuffed the travel pass inside too, tucking in his seventh-rank General Zhenwei badge, before being led to change into seventh-rank official robes; he tugged at the robe and leather belt, filled with distaste.

Like a green toad.

He went to Tingfeng Pavilion; when he entered the inner courtyard, palace elite guards lined both sides of the path.

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

The empire's finest troops were all Second Tower; military Captains were that rank. 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 martial noble families—not necessarily skilled in combat, but their base stats were unquestionably among the highest.

As Li Guanyi stepped inside, 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, smiling as he said:

"Is this the General Zhenwei Li Guanyi?"

"Truly a young hero, vigorous and splendid."

"Everyone is here. Receive the imperial decree, ha ha! The Emperor says Xue Lao is his wife's father; this visit is merely an oral message, not an imperial decree—please sit."

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

Admonitions, edicts, imperial commands, proclamations, announcements, declarations, royal strategies, and imperial orders.

Only two required kneeling: appointments of princes or chancellors.

The second was imperial edicts sent from Jingcheng 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, the 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 decree, speaking without solemnity, merely saying: "General Yue Qianfeng, that crude soldier, keeps causing trouble—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 crude soldier is adding fuel—I can't be a good emperor no matter which side I choose."

"What a filthy soldier—he'll get three hundred lashes come autumn when we catch him."

"Thank you, Father-in-law, for stopping him. I heard assassins attacked you—how are you? The state sacrifices have been too burdensome, but ancestral rites and the state's foundation are paramount matters; only now, after all this time, have I found a moment to write you this letter."

The eunuch finished delivering the decree.

It was unmistakably the tone of a family letter—even the Emperor called himself "son-in-law"; his tone was calm. Xue Daoyong smiled as he accepted the decree and handed over a heavy pouch; the eunuch's smile grew far more sincere.

But how much of this was true, how much false? 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 decree, Wang Tong and Master Siming had gained the upper hand.

Li Guanyi stood quietly, composed and calm in thought; the eunuch's gaze fell on him, smiling as he said: "Captain Li, please come forward to receive the decree."

Li Guanyi steadied himself and bowed slightly forward.

The eunuch said: "The Emperor heard that Jiangzhou produced a young hero who can ride into battle and dismount to write poetry, and was greatly admired by Master Wang Tong. Our Chen state needs such vigorous talents—hence, we bestow upon you a rhinoceros-horn belt with pendants and a soft armor."

"Forty-five days from now, the Great Sacrifice of Chen—only Jingcheng officials may enter."

"Special grant: General Zhenwei Li Guanyi, permitted to enter the palace with the Xue family to participate in the Great Sacrifice."

Li Guanyi's heart sank slightly.

His charge-out that day had drawn attention; combined with his status as a Xue family guest, young men with martial prowess and ties to the imperial in-laws were prized by all nations—yet this goodwill clashed with Li Guanyi's own intentions.

Even in Chen, officials handling travel passes had wanted to ship him out as fast as possible.

To clear his position.

Now that the Emperor had mentioned inviting him to serve as a court attendant during the Great Sacrifice, they wouldn't dare let him leave—even if he tried to depart, they'd report his intentions upward, inviting unnecessary trouble.

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

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

Only officials of third to sixth rank could use rhinoceros horn.

The eunuch smiled as he said: "Please receive the decree."

Li Guanyi steadied his emotions, reached out to take the items—but the eunuch didn't release them, still smiling at Li Guanyi; Li Guanyi met his gaze. The eunuch's eyes flickered with surprise and displeasure. Then, a faint scent of perfume passed—Xue Shuangtao stepped forward half a pace, removed a jade pendant from her waist, and handed it over.

The jade was of excellent quality.

The eunuch's smile softened instantly, and he let go.

He praised: "Young master, you have talent; Miss Xue, you are clever."

Having delivered the decree and received his reward, even the servants got silver beans; they left the Xue household satisfied. Before departing, the eunuch slowed his steps, whispering beside Li Guanyi: "Captain Li, young hero, this old servant dares to speak out of turn."

"Lately, when the Emperor chatted with ministers, he spoke highly of you."

Li Guanyi's eyes flickered slightly.

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

"But among the ministers, each has nephews and sons; many sons of martial nobles only attain ninth-rank Wu Sanguan at sixteen. Yet you, at thirteen or fourteen, hold this position—and have the Emperor's praise. The ministers may not speak, but their young noble heirs will surely resent it."

"Young men are always fiery, always full of pride."

Li Guanyi understood.

It seemed Wang Tong and Master Siming had succeeded, advancing the rescue of General Yue further; 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 eunuch with his hairless face and said, "Thank you."

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

He took the larger one.

Placed it in the eunuch's hand.

The eunuch smiled, accepted the silver, then placed Xue Shuangtao's jade pendant into Li Guanyi's hand and said with a grin, "I'll take this as my hard-earned fee."

"Please, Captain Li, return the Young Lady's belongings."

The eunuch, sharp-witted, nodded with a smile and left.

As he departed, he boarded the carriage, and the attendant young eunuch began kneading his thighs and rubbing his shoulders, saying:

"Dry Father, why are you so kind to that Li Guanyi?"

"Why even remind him?"

The Director of Ceremonies smiled and said, "Foolish. Outside, what do you call me?"

"My lord."

"What do you mean by 'I reminded him'?"

"I am nothing but a mouth, a fleshly pen—His Majesty ordered me to say this."

"He said that since ancient times, young talents have been eagles and wild horses, needing to be tempered."

"Only then will they obey, only then will they be useful."

"He intends to use the sons of aristocratic military families to temper this young talent, and use this young talent to inspire the military; young generations' conflicts need not involve their elders; conveniently, Master Wang Tong has entered court and become a Grand Academician, while Grandfather, a scholar in retirement, has been elevated to Doctor of the Imperial Astronomical Bureau—this has left the court officials seething."

"At such a time, something must be given to them—this is how the Xue family came into play."

"The Xue family must not grow too powerful, nor too weak; the officials need to rely on them, yet the generals must be suppressed; though suppressed, they must not allow the civil officials to dominate alone—thus the aristocrats, the officials, the imperial in-laws, and the common scholars balance each other, while the Sage sits in the Peony Pavilion, watching it all."

"Throw a handful of fish food, and all the heroes under heaven will scramble for it—this is how the Sage proves his wisdom."

The young eunuch still did not understand, only said, "What if this Captain Li's spirit is broken?"

The Director of Ceremonies lowered his eyes slightly, thinking of the Sage who painted and was admired by the officials.

The Sage's casual words were still hard for him to fathom; he murmured softly:

"Then he simply lacks the fortune."

Casual words.

For no reason, the young eunuch suddenly felt a bone-chilling cold, and shivered.

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

… Emperor, Jiangzhou.

For any scion of an aristocratic family or a respectable household, imperial praise and gifts were good things.

But such praise was an obstacle for Li Guanyi.

The Emperor's command—even a single mention—would be strictly followed by those below.

To leave, he must wait until the end of the Chen Kingdom's Grand Sacrifice, yet the Chen royal family…

Li Guanyi thought of the three major possibilities of his origins and felt visiting the palace was no good thing—it was like a whirlpool, and with the Emperor seemingly using him as a target, entering Jingcheng would surely attract arrogant nobles to cause trouble.

Xue Shuangtao lightly bumped Li Guanyi and said, "When palace people come out to do business, everyone prepares gifts for them."

"It's hard-earned money."

"You must remember next time."

"This time, I'll pay for the jade pendant—but next time, prepare it yourself."

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

"Young Lady, what do you think this is?"

Xue Shuangtao widened her eyes as she saw Li Guanyi loosen his grip, his fingers pinching a red cord.

The jade pendant fell, swaying slightly.

Xue Shuangtao stared, eyes wide: "Y-you—you got it back?!"

"You're taking back the hard-earned money meant for palace people?!"

Her eyes held astonishment.

As if to say: It could be done like this!

"No wonder it's you!"

Li Guanyi heard the teasing in her tone and replied irritably, "I bought it back!"

"Bought it back!"

Xue Shuangtao burst into laughter, extending her pale, delicate palm and standing there playfully, asking:

"How much did it cost?"

Li Guanyi placed the jade pendant into the girl's palm and declared confidently:

"Fifteen taels of silver."

Xue Shuangtao laughed until she could not straighten up.

She tossed the jade pendant into Li Guanyi's arms.

Li Guanyi did not reveal his inner worries.

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

On the rhinoceros-horn belt hung the seven weapons of a military officer.

Long knife, short knife, whetstone, Qixin needle, Yuejue, needle case, 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 knotted cords.

Li Guanyi wore inner garments beneath, with a layer of soft armor over them, and a deep blue round-collared robe on top, a martial officer's rhinoceros-horn belt at his waist—indeed, compared to his previous appearance as a guest retainer and idle official, he now had several degrees more of a martial officer's bearing, and even Xue Daoyong could not help but offer praise.

He said that with this look, if he were a few years older, riding a horse down the great avenue of Jiangzhou, the daughters of official families would toss fruits down to him from the painted balconies on the second floor.

Right now, though—right now, that wouldn't do.

"Still a bit too tender."

"Although there are some ladies from great houses who like boys of this age, a man under fifteen secretly entangled in affairs, and one involving a newly risen martial official of the court—the imperial secret police would come smashing down the door."

Bang bang bang!

Open up, the night-soil collector is here!

Xue Shuangtao was amused by the old man's teasing. She stared at Li Guanyi for a moment, then, for some reason, retorted:

"How could those women be so lacking in propriety, hurling fruits out in the street?"

"Although, um, a guest retainer is quite something, but it hasn't reached that level yet, has it?!"

"Besides—"

The young girl looked at Li Guanyi, her smile brimming: "This slender lad—fruits couldn't knock him over; it would take ten thousand taels of gold and a thousand catties of white jade."

Li Guanyi felt that the young lady had a misunderstanding about him.

Xue Shuangtao thought of the jade pendant she had just tossed, and felt a bit uneasy.

In the end, Li Guanyi tucked his travel pass beneath his pillow.

There would come a day when he could use it, he thought, but for now he had to raise his own strength even faster—even though he knew his identity had not been exposed.

Still, the necessity of going to Jingcheng gave him a sense of urgency.

Jingcheng was a place where martial men gathered from all quarters.

The night-riding cavalry that had pursued him back then were all at the Second Realm.

He himself was still far too weak; not having entered the Second Realm, going to Jingcheng always left his heart uneasy.

He cultivated his art, while in the sky above, the light of the Bai Hu Seven Mansions grew more intense with each passing day—at the same time that the Emperor of Chen, with effortless ease, employed the Imperial Heart Art to balance the outer relatives, the noble houses, the hundred officials, civil and military alike, gazing down upon the regions of Jiangnan and the southwest.

The Jin Chida roc arrived at the border pass.

The second young master of the Ying State Duke saw Li Guanyi's stratagem.

The young girl's eyes lit up in an instant, but at the end, when she looked at the place where it broke off after 【this take……】, she grew vexed, and could not help but lightly pound her fist on the table, laughing and cursing: "Such a stratagem, dangling before one's eyes, and it just has to break off here—hateful, infuriating!"

"This person is in Chen State…"

"Chen State!"

The young girl paced back and forth, then suddenly laughed and said to herself:

"Could such a stratagem be anything other than an invitation for me to meet him?"

"If I am able to see such a stratagem, is it not a heaven-ordained fate?"

"If I say it is a heavenly fate, then it is a heavenly fate!"

"Good. Two months from now, during Chen State's Grand Sacrifice, I shall go in my elder brother's place as this envoy."

"I must see just what this young prodigy looks like!"

?? Got stuck on writing today, posted late, sorry (peacefully)