Chapter 426: Trouble Comes All at Once

Luo An watched the flying mount disappear and said, "Marshal, it looked like people from the palace."

He had not clearly seen who was standing on the bird, but he had caught a glimpse of scarlet lining inside a cloak. It looked familiar.

In the past, Luo An had served beside Prince Ning, Shang Jianbo, and had seen the clothing of palace personnel many times. He knew the style. Meng Shanming was old now, and his eyesight was not as sharp as Luo An's. He had not seen clearly. Hearing this, however, a thoughtful look appeared on his face. He did not know what palace people would be doing here at a time like this...

The flying mount had barely landed on an open patch inside the city when more than a dozen Tianyu Sect disciples came skimming over. Ga Miaoshui, dressed in palace official robes, leaped down.

He flung his cloak behind him, its scarlet lining flashing as it settled, and strode forward without so much as acknowledging the hostile stares of Tianyu Sect's disciples. Two guards jumped down behind him and followed on either side. The flying mount beat its wings and rose away. Flanked by Tianyu Sect disciples, the group made its way directly toward the yamen. Feng Lingbo received the report inside the yamen but did not go outside the main gates. He stood in the courtyard within and waited.

Tianyu Sect disciples guarded the surroundings both openly and in secret. Feng Lingbo was puzzled as well. What had Ga Miaoshui come here for? Even the imperial court had no way to deal with this side now. Had Ga Miaoshui come merely to court humiliation?

No matter what, Nanzhou was still part of the State of Yan, and Feng Lingbo was still an official of the State of Yan. Unless absolutely necessary, he still had to receive someone sent by the court. He also wanted to see what this sudden visit was about. Footsteps sounded outside.

Ga Miaoshui, wearing the official cap of a palace eunuch and trailing a long cloak, gradually came into view above the outer steps. He strode straight into the courtyard with an imposing air, the scarlet lining of his cloak flashing from time to time. Nor did he fear that coming with only a few people might put him in danger. Unless this side intended to rebel openly, they would not dare touch him.

Before the five lower commanderies attacked Nanzhou, they had at least known enough to smear Zhou Shouxian as a treacherous minister and claim they were suppressing wickedness. The fact that they still bothered inventing a pretext showed they did not yet possess the courage to revolt outright. Host and guest finally came face-to-face. Their eyes met. A smile gradually appeared on Feng Lingbo's face. He cupped his hands.

"Director of Imperial Carriage Office Ga Miaoshui honors us with his presence. Forgive me for failing to welcome you from afar."

Ga Miaoshui wasted no words. With a flick of his cloak, he produced an imperial decree written on yellow silk.

"His Majesty has issued a decree. Bring Commandery Prince Yongping, Shang Chaozong, out at once to receive it!"

Feng Lingbo froze briefly, then laughed.

"Commandery Prince Yongping has gone out on an inspection. I'm afraid he cannot receive the decree for the time being."

That did not matter to Ga Miaoshui. Shang Chaozong being under control had long been expected. All he needed was to deliver the decree here. His voice turned cold.

"Who is presently in charge here?"

Feng Lingbo smiled. "For the moment, this official is handling affairs."

"Since Commandery Prince Yongping is absent, I'll trouble Governor Feng to convey the decree on his behalf."

Feng Lingbo smiled without warmth. "That doesn't seem to conform to the rules, does it?"

Ga Miaoshui ignored him. He opened the imperial decree and began reading it aloud in public... Once he finished proclaiming the decree, Ga Miaoshui did not linger for even a moment. He turned and left. Feng Lingbo stood with a livid face, murderous intent flashing in his eyes as he watched Ga Miaoshui depart. He did not even offer a perfunctory word of farewell.

"Lingbo, what is this about?" Peng Yulan asked beside him.

"What else could it be? They want to disgust us and manufacture conflict inside Nanzhou so they can profit from the disorder!"

Feng Lingbo sneered.

"Those petty men at court have no other ability. They're experts at this kind of scheming. The State of Yan was ruined in the hands of people like them!"

He tore open the decree and looked over it again. Then, with a slap, he flung it to the ground and ground his foot across it. That one action made his attitude perfectly clear. He did not place the imperial decree in his eyes at all. Nor was he about to hand over the fruit already in his grasp simply because of a decree like this. To him, the thing was a joke. Yet he understood perfectly well that the court was deliberately making trouble.

This would not end with one imperial decree. Leaving everything else aside, once Shang Chaozong's two hundred thousand troops learned that Shang Chaozong had been appointed Provincial Inspector of Nanzhou while Feng Lingbo had stepped forward to seize power, what were those men supposed to make of it? Even for the sake of their own interests, they would have to demand an explanation. Internal disorder in Nanzhou was bound to follow. That alone would give Feng Lingbo more than enough trouble...

Beside a stream beneath a sheer cliff, a pair of exquisitely embroidered shoes had been set neatly side by side. Guan Fangyi sat on a rock with her bare jade-white feet soaking in the clear stream, swaying them gently in the current, her pose languid and alluring. Niu Youdao paced along the water, picking up smooth pebbles. From time to time Guan Fangyi glanced at him. Her instincts told her he was somewhat absent-minded. She had no idea what scheme he was turning over in his head now.

One thing she did understand. The struggle over Nanzhou concerned the interests of many people, including whether the entire Fufang Garden group would be able to establish itself there in the future. Master Dao might look calm on the surface, but she doubted he felt quite so relaxed inside. So she remained quiet and did not disturb his thoughts. From the cliff above, Gongsun Bu skimmed down and landed beside Niu Youdao.

"Master Dao, word is spreading in the capital that the court intends to appoint His Highness Provincial Inspector of Nanzhou."

"Good. The court has moved."

A faint smile appeared on Niu Youdao's face. He had previously worried that the court might have reservations and refuse to act according to his plan. After all, he stood on Shang Chaozong's side. Now, at last, the news had come. He relaxed slightly, turned his head, and tossed the pebble in his hand. It struck the water directly in front of Guan Fangyi and splashed her face.

Guan Fangyi immediately bared her teeth at him. "Are you looking to die?"

Niu Youdao said, "Send word to Old Eight in Jinzhou. Have Jinzhou's forces accelerate their concentration and make it look as though they're preparing to attack Nanzhou."

At the relay station, near dusk, a Goldenwing descended. A secret letter from Yanjing was quickly delivered to the senior members of Tianyu Sect. Gathered together in one room, they passed the message around. After reading it, every face turned grave. News had suddenly spread throughout Yanjing that the court had already appointed Shang Chaozong Provincial Inspector of Nanzhou, causing considerable commotion. The court had made no attempt to deny the rumor. Something was obviously wrong. If this was true, Nanzhou would have no hope of enjoying peace.

While the group was still turning the matter over, another Goldenwing descended from the sky. Another secret letter arrived. This one came from Feng Lingbo. After reading it, Peng Youzai's face turned solemn. He stood staring at the setting sun beyond the window. Behind him, the others passed the letter around. Its contents confirmed the news from Yanjing. Feng Lingbo had already received the imperial decree. The court had formally appointed Shang Chaozong Provincial Inspector of Nanzhou.

"The imperial court harbors malicious intentions. It plainly wants to throw Nanzhou into chaos and then exploit the opening!"

"Yanjing deliberately spread the news because they were afraid the disturbance wouldn't be large enough. Sooner or later Shang Chaozong's troops will hear. You can't stop two hundred thousand pairs of ears. Sect Leader, we can't hesitate any longer. We have to act quickly. We cannot let those two hundred thousand troops create disorder!"

"Act? How? Those are two hundred thousand soldiers, not two hundred thousand cabbages. You can't simply say 'kill them' and slaughter all of them. Even reorganizing them isn't something that can be completed overnight."

"Then deal with Shang Chaozong first. Once he's dead, let the court appoint his ghost!"

"Kill him? What if Jinzhou truly does intend to attack us?"

"That's impossible. Jinzhou would never attack this side."

The senior members of Tianyu Sect argued back and forth but could find no satisfactory solution. Finally, someone turned toward Peng Youzai's back at the window.

"Sect Leader, you decide."

Peng Youzai slowly turned and looked at Chen Tingxiu.

"Have you found anything wrong with the people at the relay station?"

Chen Tingxiu replied, "They're still being questioned. So far we haven't found anything suspicious. Sect Leader, that investigation can continue separately. We have to deal with this imperial appointment first, or it will cause endless trouble."

Peng Youzai paced back and forth.

"If the two matters were isolated, that would be one thing. What worries me is that they're connected."

Chen Tingxiu asked, "Sect Leader doesn't suspect Niu Youdao is behind the imperial court's move as well, does he?"

Peng Youzai said nothing. He lowered his head slightly and looked at the floor. That was exactly what he suspected. When one had spent so long guarding against a particular person, any suspicious event naturally brought that person to mind first. And now Peng Youzai strongly suspected that Niu Youdao, silent and invisible all this time, had already made his move. Otherwise, why had nothing happened for so long, only for troubles to suddenly come in clusters?

Was that really coincidence?

Chen Tingxiu added, "Can he actually influence the imperial court's decisions?"

"Jinzhou. First verify what's happening in Jinzhou!" Peng Youzai suddenly raised his head.

Chen Tingxiu's words had reminded him. At this point, he was no longer merely worried that Niu Youdao might have influenced the imperial court. He was even more worried that Niu Youdao might have influenced Jinzhou as well... Early the next morning, a Goldenwing descended through the dawn light. The report from Jinzhou had arrived. The thing Peng Youzai feared most had happened. There really was unusual movement in Jinzhou. After receiving the inquiry from this side, Tianyu Sect's agents there had immediately investigated.

They discovered that Jinzhou had already begun quietly mobilizing troops several days earlier.

"How could this happen?"

"Has Jinzhou really lost its mind and decided to attack Nanzhou?"

The senior members of Tianyu Sect erupted in alarm after reading the report. Everyone's nerves instantly tightened.

Peng Youzai stood in the uproar with a dark face for a while before suddenly saying in a deep voice, "Send an urgent message to Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion. Ask them what exactly is going on!"

The message went out. Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion gave no reply. They sent message after message, question after question, but Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion still refused to answer. That was highly abnormal. Instead, Tianyu Sect's agents in Jinzhou sent another report. Jinzhou's troops had suddenly accelerated their concentration. What had begun as a covert mobilization had become open assembly. And the army was moving toward the border between Jinzhou and Nanzhou, gathering there in force.

Its intention was unclear...

A column of more than a dozen riders thundered out of the relay station.

"Peng Youzai left? Where is he going?"

Lan Ruoting stood at the window and spoke in surprise. Shang Chaozong beside him had seen it too. They had watched Peng Youzai personally lead more than a dozen men onto their horses and race away, leaving the rest behind. What they did not know was that Peng Youzai had become desperate. He was personally rushing to Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion in Jinzhou to demand an explanation face-to-face. Until he understood exactly what was happening, the uncertainty was unbearable. The matter concerned Tianyu Sect's very survival.

Knock, knock, knock!

Someone rapped at the door. It opened, and Bai Yao entered.

"Your Highness, pack your things. We depart immediately."

This side had been anxious all along.

Lan Ruoting immediately asked, "Where are we going? Back to Shangping City."

Back to Feng Lingbo?

The three exchanged glances.

Lan Ruoting asked again, "Why are we going back?"

"I don't know. Don't keep everyone waiting long." Bai Yao motioned for them to hurry.

He did not say anything further and turned to leave. He was not qualified to participate in the sect's senior discussions and did not know that Tianyu Sect was now preparing two contingencies. On one side, Sect Leader Peng Youzai was personally rushing to Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion to negotiate. On the other, they had to prepare for a sudden change in circumstances. If Jinzhou truly launched an attack, Tianyu Sect would have no choice but to counterattack in self-defense. Bai Yao did not know exactly what had happened.

But he had seen the expressions on the senior members' faces. Something serious had definitely occurred.

[End of Chapter 426]