Chapter 168: The Emperor's Thoughts
In just a short while, Scholar Lü had already poured tea for Magistrate Lou, his movements so swift and efficient they hardly resembled his usual self.
Meanwhile, Magistrate Lou was warmly chatting with Li Dazui, exchanging family news.
Everyone in Qixia Town knew that Magistrate Lou was Li Dazui's uncle by marriage. But they also knew how little he usually thought of Li Dazui, so no one had ever taken their familial ties seriously.
But today was different. The moment Magistrate Lou arrived, word spread quickly about how the Tongfu Inn had wiped out a demon.
This wasn't some trivial matter—it could even influence Magistrate Lou's future in officialdom. At this moment, Li Dazui was no different than his beloved nephew.
The two chatted merrily, like long-lost father and son, until the mood was broken by Tong Xiangyu's arrival.
Tong Xiangyu had already changed into formal attire and came down the stairs with Guo Furong. She walked up to Magistrate Lou and greeted him politely. Only then did he finally release Li Dazui's hand and reach for Tong Xiangyu's instead…
"Manager Tong is both elegant and wise, and all your staff are remarkably capable. With talents like yours, Qixia Town is bound to prosper!"
Magistrate Lou's tone shifted to that of a leader offering praise—a necessary part of protocol. After the formalities, he began presenting imperial rewards on behalf of His Majesty.
Everyone knelt down.
Tong Xiangyu suddenly remembered something and hurriedly said, "There's one more person in the backyard."
Magistrate Lou paused, then nodded. "Go call him quickly. This is a matter of great importance. If he misses this, it'll be a lifelong regret."
Tong Xiangyu was about to get up when Guo Furong tugged her back and shook her head. "Don't bother. My senior brother won't come. He's hated occasions like this since we were kids."
"How could that be?!" Tong Xiangyu exclaimed. "Ordinary people go their whole lives without even seeing an imperial reward. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity!"
"We've got tons of this stuff at home," Guo Furong said as she stood up, clearly bored. She grumbled, "When I was little, my dad used to beat me with these things. I'd dodge them like the plague. I don't want any of it."
Magistrate Lou was a seasoned official. Just by observing her composure, he could tell she wasn't lying. So he asked curiously, "Your esteemed father is…?"
Guo Furong casually revealed her father's name: the renowned Hero Guo.
Since her time roaming the jianghu was basically over, there was no reason to keep hiding it.
Given Six Gates' intelligence network, Hero Guo probably already knew what had happened last night. Guo Furong figured he was likely already on his way.
After her reveal, the entire inn fell silent for a moment before the sound of people drawing sharp breaths filled the room.
Even the composed Magistrate Lou couldn't help but look stunned.
He had expected she might have some background—but this was way more than he'd imagined!
His eyes flickered, and he quickly broke into hearty laughter. "Forgive me for the offense! So you're the daughter of Hero Guo. I've long heard that Hero Guo has a beautiful and talented daughter. Seeing you today, your reputation is clearly well-deserved."
Guo Furong's face lit up with a smile. Praise was always nice to hear.
Old Xing looked at Magistrate Lou with admiration, as if he were seeing a personal idol. In such a short time, he'd already learned the secret to climbing the official ladder.
Compared to Magistrate Lou's flattery, his own skills were nothing.
To make someone feel so flattered and pleased in just a few sentences—clearly, Lou had mastered the art.
"I'll pass on the imperial reward. You all take it," Guo Furong said again. "Anything from the Divine Constable Division leaves a bad taste in my mouth."
Considering the deep-rooted enmity between Six Gates and the Divine Constable Division, Magistrate Lou immediately understood and didn't press her. Instead, he bestowed the reward upon Tong Xiangyu and the others.
In that moment, they had brought honor to their ancestors.
Not only did Bai Zhantang desperately need this recognition—for Scholar Lü, this imperial reward meant that even with his mediocre exam scores, he could still earn a government post and fulfill the hopes his family had placed on him.
At the same time, just as Guo Furong predicted, Hero Guo was already en route to Qixia Town.
And he wasn't the only one—several other factions were also on the move.
Such a grand mobilization wasn't for just anyone.
It was for Prince Chu Yang.
Capital City.
Forbidden Palace.
The Imperial Study.
Inside the room sat three people.
His Majesty was seated at his desk, reading intelligence reports concerning Chu Yang, while flanking him stood two eunuchs of immense influence.
One was Cao Zhengchun, Director of the Eastern Depot.
The other, Wei Zhongxian, Chief Attendant of the Directorate of Ceremonies.
"No matter how unrestrained he acts in daily life, he was conferred the title of Prince while Father was still alive. He is my royal brother!" the emperor roared, slamming the report to the ground.
"I won't allow him to die—therefore, he cannot die!"
A noble prince, nearly killed by demons—how humiliating for the imperial family! How could he not be furious?
Wei Zhongxian let out a soft chuckle. "Please calm your anger, Your Majesty. His Highness the Virtuous Prince has always been a bit wild, but thanks to divine intervention, the demons were struck down by heavenly lightning. A blessing amid misfortune."
"Virtuous Prince? Hmph!" The emperor's face darkened at the mention, eyes sharp and cold. "Before Father even appointed a crown prince, he hastily named him Virtuous Prince. Ha! And that just so happened to be Father's own title in his youth."
"It's clear what Father intended. If not for that sudden illness, who knows what position I'd be in now."
Sensing the emperor's mood darkening, Wei Zhongxian quickly tried to smooth things over. "Your Majesty, why dwell on the past? The Virtuous Prince is now a mere wastrel. He poses no threat to your rule."
Cao Zhengchun raised an eyebrow, casting a sidelong glance at Wei Zhongxian as if he were a dead man walking, then immediately lowered his head.
Sure enough, the emperor turned icy.
"A wastrel, is he? Then what does that make me—his elder brother? And what of our father?"
Hearing the increasingly frigid tone, Wei Zhongxian immediately fell to his knees, panicked. "Your humble servant misspoke!"
The emperor took a deep breath and returned to his usual calm demeanor. "Go administer fifty lashes to yourself. With your constitution, you should survive."
"Thank you for Your Majesty's boundless grace!" Wei Zhongxian kowtowed repeatedly and crawled out to receive his punishment.
Cao Zhengchun smirked coldly as he watched.
No matter how much the emperor hated Chu Yang, it was still a family matter—not something a servant should comment on.
Wei Zhongxian had been handpicked by Cao himself, but after becoming Chief Attendant of the Directorate of Ceremonies, he'd grown distant, like he wanted to strike out on his own. Cao now saw him as a political rival.
The more blunders like today's Wei made, the better.
"Cao Zhengchun."
"Your servant is here."
"What do you think of my royal brother's luck?"
"His Highness the Virtuous Prince must be protected by the heavens. But once he steps into a gambling den, it's a different story…"
"Hahaha! He's lost enough money since childhood to open hundreds of gambling houses!"
"Perhaps Your Majesty should advise him to change his ways."
"No use! Eating, drinking, whoring, and gambling are his lifeblood. Not even Father could fix him!"
At that, sweat began to bead on Cao Zhengchun's forehead. He dared not continue the topic and silently prayed for the conversation to shift.
But after a brief pause, the emperor suddenly spoke again—just one sentence, but it made Cao's heart hammer in his chest.
"Do you really believe that demon was killed by a divine thunderbolt?"
When Cao Zhengchun finally exited the imperial study, his back was drenched in cold sweat. He cast one fearful glance back at the doors before hastily departing.
The Imperial Study felt like a beast ready to devour the unwary.
Among all the court officials, only he and Wei Zhongxian knew the emperor's true nature. Even the emperor's two most favored marquises were completely in the dark.
That's why in private audiences like this, Cao was always walking on a knife's edge.
Most believed the emperor was timid, easily swayed, and weaker than a blade of grass—backing this faction today, and another tomorrow—allowing the court to become a tangled web of rival factions.
But no one realized that despite all the infighting, the emperor's grip on power remained absolute…
Even after returning to the Eastern Depot, Cao Zhengchun couldn't shake the fear that clung to him. The emperor's chilling question echoed in his ears. He had been the one overseeing surveillance of Chu Yang all these years.
Everyone in the capital knew the Virtuous Prince was a disgrace. What was the point of monitoring him?
Eventually, Cao Zhengchun had stopped bothering to keep tabs on him.
Compared to that good-for-nothing prince, he had far more pressing enemies.
Like Yu Huatian of the Western Depot, or Zheng Dongliu, commander of the Embroidered Uniform Guard—both were deadly rivals.
Not to mention the Iron-Guts Divine Marquis of Dragon-Guarding Villa, with whom he'd clashed when the previous emperor still lived. He had enemies on all sides.
He was barely surviving—how could he spare attention for a useless prince?
But now, it all made sense.
Back in the study, the emperor had used Wei Zhongxian as a sacrificial lamb to deliver a warning.
And the one he was truly warning—was him.
Because of Chu Yang.
You failed the task I entrusted to you.
Today, Wei Zhongxian gets flogged. Tomorrow, it could be your head on the chopping block.
At that thought, Cao Zhengchun broke into a cold sweat and sat stiffly like a man on pins and needles.
He immediately summoned the chief archivist of the Eastern Depot.
About a cup of tea's time later…
Covered in dust from travel, Cao Shaoqin entered from outside, dropped to one knee, clasped his hands in salute, and respectfully bowed to Cao Zhengchun.
Cao Shaoqin's father was the elder brother of Cao Zhengchun. Back in the days of famine, the Cao family chose to keep the eldest son at home to carry on the family line, sending the younger one into the palace. No one had expected that Cao Zhengchun would end up rising to great heights there.
Once the Cao family saw that Cao Zhengchun had gained power, they immediately sought to curry favor. But Cao Zhengchun was a ruthless man—he offered them a difficult choice: if they wanted to build a connection, they had to send the only remaining male heir of the Cao family into the palace to accompany him.
The family, also made of hard-hearted folk, didn't hesitate. Cao Zhengchun's elder brother and father agreed without a second thought. And so, at a very young age, Cao Shaoqin entered the palace, raised and trained by Cao Zhengchun himself, eventually becoming the current Head Archives Officer of the Eastern Depot.
Cao Zhengchun held nothing back when it came to this nephew—he passed down the entirety of the Heavenly Gang Child Technique to him.
Gifted by nature and passionate about swordsmanship, Cao Shaoqin was merciless in combat. With the Heavenly Gang Child Technique's formidable defense, he was nearly flawless on both offense and defense. Among the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard, few could best him.
The Western Depot's Head Archives Officer, Ma Jinliang, was also a skilled swordsman—he used dual blades—and the two had clashed both openly and behind the scenes. Most of the time, however, Cao Shaoqin had the upper hand.
"What instructions do you have for me, Uncle?" Cao Shaoqin asked.
"I need you to go out and personally escort His Highness the Worthy Prince back to the capital. Remember! I said personally."
"Uncle, why did the Worthy Prince leave the capital in the first place?"
"I heard he was tricked by the eldest daughter of the Guo family. That little brat is always blabbering about roaming the jianghu, but her skills aren't even on par with a single toe of her father's. If not for her father's sake, I'd have killed her by now!"
"Uncle, please calm down. We've already made enemies on all sides in the Eastern Depot. It wouldn't be wise to antagonize Guo Bujing too."
"Hmph! You think I need you to tell me that? That Guo fellow is no fool—he's never picked a fight with anyone. You can never tell what he's thinking. Whatever the Emperor commands, he carries it out to the letter—leaves not a drop behind…"
"You once said, Uncle, that when an honest man finally explodes, he's the most dangerous of all."
After giving orders for some time, Cao Zhengchun was just about to wave Cao Shaoqin away when a thought suddenly flashed through his mind. He asked, "Tell me, after all these years, could the Worthy Prince have hidden something from us?"
Cao Shaoqin froze for a moment, then decisively shook his head. "I've seen His Highness training. To be honest, he has absolutely no talent. On top of that, he's naturally lazy—at most, he trains a few days a month. The fact that he managed to even get a grasp of the Surging Waves Palm is already a miracle."
Hearing this, the tension in Cao Zhengchun finally eased. His entire posture relaxed, and his tone grew casual. "Then get going. Remember, no matter who tries to interfere, the only one who can bring His Highness back must be the Eastern Depot!"
"Understood, Uncle." Cao Shaoqin bowed deeply and turned to leave, his cloak billowing in the wind.
Once the Eastern Depot moved, their arch-rivals, the Embroidered Uniform Guard, moved as well. Naturally, their actions didn't escape the attention of the Western Depot, which was tasked with monitoring both sides.
In an instant, the quiet capital of the Ming Dynasty became rife with undercurrents—things were about to get lively.
Northern Constabulary Command
In the center of the grand hall hung a plaque reading Justice Resides in the People's Hearts.
Zheng Dongliu stood with his hands clasped behind his back, gazing at the plaque. A low-ranking commander walked in from outside.
"Commander, both Cao Shaoqin and Ma Jinliang have left the capital. Should we also send someone?"
"Let Zuo Qianhu go watch the show."
"Understood, I'll inform him right away."
"Wait! Notify Li Gexiao as well."
"My lord… Brother Li isn't with the Embroidered Uniform Guard anymore. Isn't this inappropriate?"
"Whether Li Gexiao is with the Guard or not is for me to decide!"
Zheng Dongliu's roar sent the unlucky commander sprinting off like his butt was on fire.
Qixia Town
Chu Yang had slept for an entire day and only came out of the back room in the evening.
Inside the inn, a familiar voice was scolding harshly.
"Your usual mischief is one thing—but this time, you nearly got someone killed!"
"I'm telling you, if you get yourself killed by a demon, that's your own fault. But don't drag innocent people down with you!"
The stern words cut through Guo Furong's heart like a blade.
She had thought her father would comfort her. Instead, all she got were scorn and ridicule.
Kneeling on the floor, Guo Furong sobbed softly, and no one nearby dared to utter a word.
Guo Bujing was furious not just because of her recklessness, but because she had dragged Chu Yang into it. If the Worthy Prince died in Qixia Town, the Guo family would be executed to the last man.
What offered Guo Bujing a sliver of comfort was that in the end, Guo Furong had been willing to sacrifice herself to save others—at least she didn't bring him total disgrace.
And then there was Chu Yang...
He had always looked down on this good-for-nothing prince, but after hearing what happened last night, even he felt shaken.
Just as he was about to scold Guo Furong again, Chu Yang had already walked into the hall, smiling at him.
Guo Bujing prepared to salute, but seeing Chu Yang give a slight shake of the head, he immediately changed his gesture.
Only the sharp-eyed Bai Zhantang noticed this subtle exchange—and he was instantly alarmed.
"Dear heavens... Just who is this senior brother of Guo girl anyway?!"
"Master, please calm down. Forgive Junior Sister—she did her best last night!"
"If I don't punish her properly, she'll endanger others again next time."
"Let's try a different method. Who still uses corporal punishment these days?"
"You're right. Then starting today—I expel her from this house."
With the gentlest tone, Old Guo delivered the harshest punishment, effectively rendering Guo Furong homeless. To her, it was the ultimate blow. She glared at Chu Yang as if she wanted to kill him.
Chu Yang simply shrugged and said with a grin, "No need to thank me."
Guo Furong instantly wailed even louder.
Chu Yang nodded in satisfaction. "Looks like Junior Sister is really moved—she must have realized Master's good intentions. Let her cry a while. Let's go chat upstairs."
Old Guo nodded and headed up without even glancing at Guo Furong.
Chu Yang patted Guo Furong on the head. "Stop crying. Your dad's just scaring you. But don't think about going home anytime soon. Find somewhere to lie low."
Tear-streaked, Guo Furong asked, "If I can't go home, where am I supposed to go?"
Chu Yang looked surprised. "Weren't you talking about roaming the jianghu?"
Guo Furong quickly shook her head. "I'm done! Demons are way scarier than I imagined. If I run into one again, I'll really die! Senior Brother Zhui Feng and the others made it sound like demons were just foxes, dogs, or maybe cats…"
Chu Yang sighed. "Then just stay here. This inn isn't bad. We've all been through the same ordeal."
"Exactly!" Tong Xiangyu quickly took her hand and comforted her, "Don't be scared, just stay here until your father cools down."
"Thank you, Boss Lady!" Overwhelmed by kindness, Guo Furong burst into tears again.
Chu Yang shook his head and went upstairs.
Once he was gone, Bai Zhantang crept over and cautiously asked, "Little Guo, who exactly is that senior brother of yours?"
Red-eyed, Guo Furong glanced at him and replied blankly, "No idea. Why do you ask?"
Bai Zhantang gave a dry laugh. "Just curious. Your dad seems to really respect him."
"Oh, come on, Zhantang," Tong Xiangyu scolded, "He's her teacher. When has a master ever 'respected' their disciple like that?"
Bai Zhantang kept apologizing nonstop.
Guo Furong found him odd but, thinking back, realized she had felt something like that too.
Meanwhile, Guo Bujing was already kneeling on one knee in a private room. No matter how Chu Yang tried to pull him up, he wouldn't budge.
"My daughter is at fault. To have put Your Highness in such mortal danger—your servant is deeply ashamed!"
"Enough. I'm unharmed, so let's leave it at that. Later, have the others get their stories straight and leave Furong out of it."
"But that won't do. According to Ming law, she should be punished."
"Oh stop whining. I'm the prince, or are you the prince now? Don't teach me how to do my job—take the excuse I'm giving you and use it."
If not for this incident, Chu Yang might not have entered the Soul Palace for who knows how long—it was a blessing in disguise.
And really, he didn't believe for a second that Guo Bujing was putting on this act just to send his daughter to jail.
Old foxes playing ghost stories… please.
"My deepest thanks, Your Highness."
Old Guo bowed with heartfelt gratitude.
"You're the only one in the whole capital who still respects this so-called 'good-for-nothing prince.'"
Chu Yang chuckled and shook his head.
At that, the conversation had run its course.
Even someone like Old Guo—a chief constable of the Six Gates and an instructor of the imperial guard—didn't dare say more.
"Your Highness's accident has greatly worried His Majesty. The Eastern Depot, responsible for your safety, will certainly take a scolding. I'm afraid Cao Zhengchun may vent his anger on you—so I've come personally to escort you back."
His concern wasn't unfounded. The Emperor only cared about the royal family's public image—Chu Yang dying outside would damage the crown's reputation, and perhaps reflect poorly on the Emperor himself.
As for whether Chu Yang lost a limb or suffered brain damage from an ambush? The Emperor wouldn't care in the slightest.
The pressure he was putting on Cao Zhengchun wasn't without ulterior motives—he clearly intended to use him to make Chu Yang suffer.
"What a nice way of putting it. Rather than saying you're here to ensure my safety, it's more accurate to say you're here to keep an eye on me. Without the Eastern Depot's years of tireless vigilance, the one sitting on the Dragon Throne probably wouldn't even be able to eat in peace."
"After all, in our Zhu family, brothers turning on each other and uncles bullying nephews is nothing out of the ordinary…"
Chu Yang let out a light laugh, his expression tinged with amusement.
Old Guo felt his scalp go numb. The Prince before him seemed like a different person altogether. In the past, he would never have spoken this way—cautious words and prudent conduct had always been his norm.
"They say people undergo drastic changes after surviving a brush with death. Seeing you today, I'd say that's no empty talk."
Old Guo gently reminded Chu Yang to watch what he said. If this kept up, he might have to slip away himself.
"Sorry to trouble you with the trip, but there's no need to escort me back to the capital. I finally got the chance to leave; I'd like to travel a bit, see a few friends, and then head back."
Chu Yang politely declined Old Guo's good intentions.
"I'm afraid that's not up to you, Your Highness. The Eastern Depot's men are likely already en route. It won't be long before they arrive at Qixia Town. When they do, they won't be nearly as easy to talk to as I am."
Old Guo spoke in a gentle tone, doing his best to appear amiable.
"Then I'll wait for them to arrive. I'll explain everything to them before continuing on my way."
Chu Yang sat down leisurely, picked up the empty teapot on the table and gave it a shake, smiling. "Would you mind pouring me a cup of tea, Master?"
"Your Highness!"
Old Guo felt that Chu Yang didn't understand the gravity of the situation. Anxious, he reached out to grab the prince's arm, trying to pull him away.
But contrary to his expectations, Chu Yang didn't budge. Instead, the force he felt from that arm was oppressively heavy, as though he were trying to lift a massive boulder weighing ten thousand catties.
Old Guo had long practiced martial arts using stone locks of that exact weight, so he knew the sensation well—and it immediately made him uneasy.
"Your Highness?"
Unwilling to accept it, Old Guo summoned all his strength and tried to pull Chu Yang up again.
Veins bulged along his arms, his face flushed red from exertion, and he unleashed strength well over ten thousand catties—yet the other party remained completely unmoved.
"Go pour me a pot of tea."
Chu Yang looked at him with a cheerful smile.
Old Guo instantly reacted as though he had encountered something terrifying. He stumbled backward, a look of disbelief spreading across his face.
"That demon… was it Your Highness who killed it?"
"Yes."
A brief silence fell over the room.
Old Guo took a deep breath and shook his head. "I don't believe anyone's martial prowess can improve this drastically in such a short time. The only possible explanation is that you've been hiding your true strength all along…"
Chu Yang gave it some thought and realized that, from an outsider's perspective, it really would seem that way. His behavior even carried a hint of rebellion. He couldn't help but feel a bit helpless.
And sure enough—
The next second—
Old Guo declared with unwavering resolve, "There's no way I'd ever join Your Highness in rebellion. You'd best give up that idea now!"