Chapter 559: A Son in His Old Age

The “secret location” referred to the mountain village where Meng Shanming and the others had once hidden.

Niu Youdao nodded. He had heard, but his thoughts seemed to drift elsewhere. He asked instead, “Tell me, isn't Shao Pingbo formidable? Even while he was in Beizhou with poor access to information, he somehow managed to judge that Chao Shenghuai over at Myriad Beasts Sect was under my control.”

Niu Youdao himself had only learned about this later from Dachan Mountain.

Dachan Mountain had not volunteered the information. There was no evidence, and the matter involved senior figures of Myriad Beasts Sect, so Dachan Mountain would not casually speak of it. He had instead stumbled upon the detail while questioning Dachan Mountain closely in Beizhou about everything surrounding Shao Pingbo's escape, hoping to infer where Shao Pingbo had gone.

At the time, Shao Pingbo's deduction had genuinely astonished him. It had only strengthened his determination to hunt the man down.

Unfortunately, Shao Pingbo had still escaped.

Guan Fangyi did not understand why he had suddenly brought this up. “You mean Shao Pingbo might interfere?”

“With no evidence, even if he wants to interfere, he'll have to weigh the matter carefully. Besides, his main attention isn't on me right now.” Niu Youdao said, “Whether he interferes can wait. Chao Shenghuai, on the other hand, is probably getting frantic. He may throw caution to the wind and come looking for me. Notify the people back home. If Chao Shenghuai arrives, send him to me.”

Guan Fangyi gave a sound of acknowledgment, then said, “There's another matter. Song Shu hadn't even reached the capital before the imperial court released him.”

“According to the Prince's report, not long after he was escorted out of Nanzhou and handed over to Dingzhou, Dingzhou released him. The Prince specifically noted that the Song clan extermination case still hasn't been resolved. Without instructions from the imperial court, Provincial Inspector Xue Xiao of Dingzhou would never have dared do this.”

“The Prince's eyes also noticed that Xue Xiao openly sent men to escort Song Shu toward the capital.”

Niu Youdao chuckled. “Not even the slightest attempt to hide it. Looks like the imperial court can't wait to tear apart all pretense with Nanzhou. They aren't giving us any face at all.”

“Contact Xiaoyue Pavilion. Have them intercept the group on the road. Kill Song Shu and Xue Xiao's men together. Bring the heads back and throw them at Xue Xiao.”

Guan Fangyi frowned. “If you're going to kill them, just kill them. Is there any need to go through all that trouble?”

“Once we openly fall out, Dingzhou will be the forward base for any attack on Nanzhou. Giving Xue Xiao a warning and a little fright won't hurt.”

“The imperial court wants to slap me in the face, so I need to show the necessary strength in return. Do they think a man I hand over is theirs to release whenever they please?”

Guan Fangyi said, “You're gathering Xiaoyue Pavilion's people over here, and at the same time you're ordering Xiaoyue Pavilion to intercept and kill people on the road. What do you take Xiaoyue Pavilion for? Why should they listen to you?”

“It isn't a question of whether they'll listen to me. They want to bind me to them for good.” Niu Youdao said, “Don't worry. Xiaoyue Pavilion will do its best. They'd love nothing more than to gather a little more leverage against me.”

“Have you considered what will happen once they hold that kind of leverage over you?”

“Hongniang, our strength is too weak. The situation we're about to face doesn't allow us to obsess over every gain and loss. I don't want to hand anyone leverage either. But if we're unwilling to make any sacrifice and refuse to suffer even the slightest loss, we'll end up suffering a much greater one.”

“Enough about that. When will Xiaoyue Pavilion's people be in position?”

“Soon, probably. They'll send word once they're ready.” Guan Fangyi asked, “Why are you gathering Xiaoyue Pavilion's people here? Are you worried Hai Ruyue will settle accounts with you?”

“Hai Ruyue won't come after me. But so long as I dare show my face here, someone else may start thinking about me.” Niu Youdao's mouth curved faintly. “No harm in testing the waters and laying some groundwork for the future.”

“From what Fang Zhe said, just as expected, envoys from the various states are basically all on their way to Jinzhou to offer congratulations. We can't sit around waiting for the imperial court to make the first move and then respond passively. We might as well take the offensive as our defense.”

“Take the offensive as our defense?”

Niu Youdao did not answer. Instead, he looked Guan Fangyi up and down in her peasant woman's clothes and smiled. “You look rather good dressed like this. Your skin's a little too fair, though. Doesn't quite fit.”

He himself looked no more convincing.

He was dressed as an ordinary peasant farmer. Both of them had altered their appearances and were posing as a married couple who had come to stay with relatives. Without disguising themselves this way, they would stand out far too much in a village like this.

“Get lost!” Guan Fangyi spat.

...

Inside the Provincial Inspector's Residence of Jinzhou, Zhao Sen stood in the courtyard in the formal robes of a eunuch, a cloak draped over them. Several attendants stood behind him.

Across from him, a row of Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion disciples remained on alert.

Li Wuhua emerged from the rear compound. He stood at a distance and watched for a while before finally walking over and cupping his hands. “Eunuch Zhao has honored us with a personal visit. Forgive me for failing to welcome you sooner.”

Zhao Sen said coldly, “I came on the Empress Dowager's orders to visit the Grand Princess. Is this how you treat a guest? Do you hold the Empress Dowager in contempt, or are you planning to rebel?”

“Eunuch Zhao speaks too seriously.” Li Wuhua waved a hand with an apologetic smile. “It isn't that we refuse to let you see the Grand Princess. She is weak after childbirth and cannot withstand the slightest chill. The physician instructed her to remain in bed and avoid receiving guests.”

“I imagine the Empress Dowager would also think first of her daughter's health and follow the physician's advice. Wouldn't you agree, Eunuch Zhao?”

It was naturally only an excuse.

Until they had determined the depth and abilities of everyone Zhao Sen had brought with him, they did not dare casually allow those people near Hai Ruyue. They feared something might happen.

It was hardly a secret that Hai Wuji bore no goodwill toward this side.

Hai Ruyue was now Li Wuhua's wife and had borne him a son. How could he possibly not take her protection seriously?

Zhao Sen fell silent for a moment.

Those above had sent him precisely because his identity carried sufficient weight. He had not expected that even he would be denied a glimpse of Hai Ruyue.

Still, he did not force the issue.

He knew forcing it would accomplish nothing. The harder he pressed, the more suspicious the other side would become, and the less likely they would be to let him see her. If he pushed too far, he might ruin the entire affair.

So he asked instead, “The Grand Princess has given birth at such an age. I need to know how her health is now, so I can report back to the Empress Dowager.”

Li Wuhua chuckled. “She is somewhat advanced in age for childbirth, but fortunately the Grand Princess has a good constitution. Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion is not without resources either. Under careful recuperation, she is doing very well.”

“Please tell the Empress Dowager that everything is fine and there is no need to worry.”

Zhao Sen lifted one hand over his shoulder and beckoned.

Two attendants behind him stepped forward, each presenting a box.

“These are congratulatory gifts the Empress Dowager ordered me to bring to the Grand Princess. Please pass them on to her.”

“Of course.” Li Wuhua nodded and beckoned as well. Two disciples immediately came forward and accepted the boxes.

As a daughter, Hai Ruyue had no reason to refuse gifts sent by her mother to celebrate the occasion.

Accepting them was one thing.

How they would actually be handled afterward was naturally for this side to decide.

Once the gifts had been received, Li Wuhua did not bother being subtle. He asked directly, “I hear Eunuch Zhao is currently touring the realm on His Majesty's behalf. You must be busy. When do you intend to leave Jinzhou?”

The words were plainly meant to drive the guest away.

He genuinely wished Zhao Sen would leave as soon as possible.

Zhao Sen replied calmly, “The Empress Dowager gave me an order. Her advanced age makes it inconvenient for her to leave the capital, so she cannot personally attend her maternal grandson's full-month banquet. She ordered me to offer congratulations in her place.”

“I cannot leave until I have attended the banquet for the Empress Dowager's grandson.”

Li Wuhua felt a wave of irritation.

The other side was plainly determined not to leave without seeing Hai Ruyue.

On the day of the full-month banquet, Hai Ruyue would certainly have to appear with the child to receive guests. Even if they somehow refused to let Zhao Sen see her then, his request to attend the celebration on the Empress Dowager's behalf was entirely reasonable. They had no grounds to refuse.

Now they could not even drive him away.

Li Wuhua could only smile. “Someone, escort Eunuch Zhao to Liufang Guesthouse and see that he is properly settled.”

A man immediately stepped forward and extended a hand. “Please.”

Zhao Sen stared at Li Wuhua and slowly said, “You are, after all, the Empress Dowager's son-in-law. You married the Grand Princess, yet to this day you have never gone to pay your respects to the Empress Dowager. Isn't that somewhat difficult to justify, whether in sentiment or propriety?”

That subject was truly awkward for Li Wuhua.

His smile became painfully stiff.

How could it not?

He was older than the Empress Dowager Shang Youlan, yet by marrying her daughter he had somehow acquired a mother-in-law younger than himself.

Who could he blame?

Only himself for failing to keep what was inside his trousers under control.

He forced a laugh. “There have been too many matters to handle. Once I can spare the time, I will certainly go to the capital and pay my respects.”

He was only saying it.

At present, no amount of beating could make him willingly enter the capital.

He feared that once he went, he would never return. If they detained him there and demanded that he fulfill his filial duty to the Empress Dowager on Hai Ruyue's behalf, even Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion might find it difficult to fish him back out.

Zhao Sen said nothing more.

With a sweep of his cloak, he turned and led his attendants away. Someone from the residence hurried ahead to guide them.

Li Wuhua watched them go and quietly let out a breath.

Zhao Sen's arrival had placed no small amount of pressure on him.

He turned and summoned a disciple, ordering him to verify the identity of every person accompanying Zhao Sen, in case some exceptional expert had been hidden among them.

Then he gestured toward the disciples holding the gift boxes, telling them to inspect everything inside with great care.

...

Deep in the rear compound, the doors and windows of one room were tightly shut.

Hai Ruyue sat beside a cradle with her hair loose over her shoulders and her face bare of cosmetics.

With cultivators from Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion caring for her, and with Li Wuhua sparing no spiritual pills or medicines, she had recovered quickly after giving birth.

She gazed at the sleeping infant in the cradle and drifted into a daze.

She had thought of the son taken away by Ghost Doctor.

She did not know how Xiao Tianzhen was doing now.

Several maidservants stood around the cradle attending them.

The door opened.

Li Wuhua came in carrying one of the boxes under his arm. He walked lightly to the cradle and looked down at the sleeping infant for a while.

A tenderness rarely seen on his face gradually appeared.

The cultivation world was full of wind and rain. No one could say what the future might bring.

When he had been young, he had been too occupied with rising through the ranks even to care properly for himself. How could he have had the mind to drag a wife and children along behind him? He had wanted no such burden.

By the time he truly rose to his present position, he was older, the circumstances were no longer suitable, and he had seen through many things. He had lost any intention of starting a family.

Given Hai Ruyue's old reputation, he would never have married her before.

At first, he had only been playing with her and helping Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion keep control of Jinzhou. He had never imagined he would truly end up with Hai Ruyue.

Yet the appearance of this little fellow had touched the softest place in his heart after all.

For the sake of this mother and son, Li Wuhua had truly cast aside his old face.

He had knelt before his senior brother, the Sect Leader, and begged.

Ignoring Hai Ruyue's reputation, he genuinely married her. In Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, he had lost nearly all the face accumulated over his long years. As an Elder, he had set an extremely poor example.

Whenever he looked at the little fellow in the cradle, unease rose in his heart.

He was old.

If one day he was gone, who would protect mother and son?

The convictions he had once held were gradually beginning to waver.

He had even thought that, while he could still make his voice heard inside Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion, perhaps he should secure the safety of mother and child and let them withdraw from this struggle of interests.

What did power and authority matter?

Was there anything wrong with living out one's life safely and peacefully?

But he knew they had already been pulled into the vortex and there was no road back.

Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion itself would be the first to refuse.

The sect had agreed to let him marry Hai Ruyue precisely because it allowed them to control Jinzhou more securely. Everything had been agreed beforehand.

Now he wanted to regret it and retreat into a quiet family life?

What kind of joke was that?

There was no retreat left for him.

Only after this child's birth did he truly understand the old saying about a son born in one's later years.

The young think youth stretches endlessly ahead and do not know how to cherish it.

For an older man, an unknown fear followed every joy like a shadow: a nameless anxiety about the future.

Once, when he had only himself to worry about, whether he lived well or badly had been easy enough to manage.

Now he truly had a burden.

He had something he could not let go of, someone whose future he had no choice but to consider.

[End of Chapter 559]