Chapter 565: Hidden Currents Surge

Within the vast imperial palace, several sovereign and ministers stood in the imperial study.

Hai Wuji's hair and robes were arranged without the slightest flaw. His expression was cold as he stood with his hands clasped behind his back, facing several ministers with the desk behind him.

Jinzhou's sudden decision to publicly announce Hai Ruyue's poisoning had genuinely caught this side somewhat unprepared. None of them believed Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion would ordinarily do such a thing, and they were gathered together trying to fathom Jinzhou's intentions.

“The Empress Dowager arrives!”

The eunuch outside suddenly called out in a shrill voice, seemingly warning those within.

The ministers turned toward the doorway.

An elderly woman of dignified bearing and luxurious dress appeared there. Her features were stately. Though age already showed on her face, one could still glimpse beneath her comfortable fullness the beauty she had possessed in youth.

It was Shang Youlan, Empress Dowager of Zhao.

“Greetings, Empress Dowager!” The ministers bowed.

“Mother Empress!” Hai Wuji quickly went to the doorway and respectfully supported his mother's arm as she entered.

“I haven't interrupted your discussion of state affairs, have I?” Shang Youlan asked.

Hai Wuji smiled. “Not at all.”

“Good.” Shang Youlan nodded. Her gaze swept over the others, and beneath her measured tone lay an authority difficult to conceal. “This dowager has words for the Emperor. All of you withdraw for now.”

A mother honored through her son—at that moment, the saying was displayed in full.

Hai Wuji immediately waved the others away as well, looking every inch the dutiful son.

“Yes!” The ministers bowed and withdrew one after another.

An elderly eunuch with graying hair and a stooped back also shuffled toward the exit. His eyes were cloudy, and he looked so old he could barely walk steadily.

This was Zhuge Chi, Chief Steward of the Inner Palace.

Shang Youlan called after him, “Old Zhuge, I didn't tell you to leave. I have a matter I want you to judge fairly.”

Zhuge Chi stopped and raised his head, looking first at Hai Wuji's reaction.

Hai Wuji smiled. “Mother Empress, what is there to judge? Who has angered you now?”

Anger suddenly surfaced on Shang Youlan's face. “How long are you planning to keep this from me?”

Hai Wuji sensed something was wrong, but feigned surprise. “Mother Empress, what do you mean?”

Shang Youlan said furiously, “I'm asking you: was Ruyue's poisoning your doing?”

Hai Wuji's face sank slightly. Anger rose in his heart. He had deliberately hidden the matter from his mother, yet someone had failed to keep his mouth shut. Whoever it was, they had better pray he did not find out.

He forced himself to argue, “Mother Empress, where did you hear such a rumor?”

Shang Youlan shook her head in bitter disappointment. “Earlier, you came asking me for things Ruyue used when she was a child. I thought it strange even then. You still want to deceive me? I am not senile yet! She is your only blood sister. How could you bear to strike her down so viciously?”

Hai Wuji's face hardened. He held himself in for a while before finally saying slowly, “Mother Empress, I have my difficulties.”

“Difficulties? I know you have difficulties.” Shang Youlan patted her chest, her emotions surging. “You rule all beneath Heaven. I understand sacrificing the small family for the greater realm. You want to drive your sister's household into ruin, and I have closed one eye to it. If you want Jinzhou, then take Jinzhou. But why must you insist on taking her life? Could you not leave her one road to live?”

“Will you only be satisfied once she is dead? Back when you were held hostage in Yan, you pushed her forward to please others just to protect yourself. Do you think I didn't know? I knew. I simply never spoke of it. How much humiliation did she endure for your sake? If my nephew Shang Jianbo had not protected her...”

“After you returned and took the throne, in order to secure Xiao Huang, you forced her to marry that sickly son of his. Have you ever thought about how bitter her life has been?”

“You were the one who pushed her step by step to where she is today. Now you find her inconvenient and strike at her with poison. How can you bring yourself to do it? What will all beneath Heaven think of me, her mother? What will they think of you? Is it truly impossible even to leave her a single path to survival?”

Hai Wuji had been berated until shame turned to anger. His face could no longer bear it. He said heavily, “Mother Empress, along this road, how much humiliation have you suffered and how much bitterness have you swallowed? You should understand the word ‘helplessness’ better than anyone!”

“The present balance beneath Heaven was deliberately fashioned by certain people precisely so that everyone under Heaven would consume one another without end. For every state, the situation is like rowing against the current: if you do not advance, you fall back. No one is allowed peace. Whoever dares settle for one corner will be destroyed.”

“Only by growing stronger without cease—only by becoming strong enough—can we withstand enough danger. Mother Empress, Zhao has no road of retreat! Your son has no road of retreat!”

With a sharp sweep of his arm, he pointed toward the floor behind him. His final words struck the room like stones.

...

Inside the Hall of Martial Valor, Shang Chaozong and Meng Shanming sat before a hanging map, pointing out positions and discussing the situation.

Meng Shanming sat lower in his wheelchair, holding a slender pointer and indicating places across the map.

Dachan Mountain had only just arrived in Nanzhou and found it inappropriate to hide matters from this side, so they had already disclosed Ga Miaoshui's visit. Nor were Shang Chaozong's people deaf or blind within Yan. The imperial court had already begun gathering supplies and troops.

Add to that the advance warning from Fang Zhe in Jinzhou that Hai Ruyue had been poisoned, and how could they fail to sense a storm approaching?

They immediately began making preparations.

From time to time, dispatch officers entered and left the Hall of Martial Valor, reporting troop movements from various places.

Lan Ruoting strode quickly inside. Once the latest messenger had withdrawn, he reported, “Your Highness, Marshal Meng, Master Dao has sent word back. He says not to panic. He was the one who told Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion to make Hai Ruyue's poisoning public.”

“He says we need not concern ourselves with that matter. Nanzhou should respond exactly as it otherwise would and keep the troops prepared for any sudden change. He will remain in Jinzhou to hold the situation there. If anything develops, he will notify us immediately.”

Meng Shanming nodded. “So long as Master Dao has the situation in mind.”

...

“Hai Ruyue poisoned at a time like this?”

Inside Dachan Mountain's main hall, Huang Lie stood staring at the newly carved statue of the founding patriarch above the spirit tablets and murmured to himself.

Several Elders behind him passed around the secret letter that had just arrived. Every face was grave.

One Elder said, “It appears the Yan court and Zhao court planned this in advance. They're preparing to move against both sides at the same time. Nanzhou is in grave danger!”

Huang Lie turned. “Still no reply from Niu Youdao?”

A disciple answered, “We've sent three messages already. Up to now there has been no response. The news from Qingshan Commandery says nothing unusual is happening at Maolu Villa. The people of the three sects haven't made any unusual moves either.”

Huang Lie frowned. “What is that fellow thinking?”

An Elder said, “Sect Leader, the storm is coming. Should we give Ga Miaoshui an answer?”

Huang Lie waved a hand. “You've all seen that fellow's methods before. He's no vegetarian. I refuse to believe he'll sit there waiting for death. He is certain to respond.”

“Let's first see how he handles this. It won't be too late to decide once the imperial army is pressing our borders. We should start moving around ourselves as well. Go to the provincial capital and hold the situation there so we can respond at any time.”

...

At a residence in Jinzhou's provincial capital, one of Nanzhou's footholds in the city, Chao Shenghuai was tied to a roof beam inside a room.

From time to time his head drooped; then he would lift it again and sigh.

The door creaked open.

Old Eighth Zhu came in carrying a meal and set it on a nearby table. “Brother Chao, eat something.”

Chao Shenghuai shook his head. “I'm not eating!”

Old Eighth Zhu, who had been about to untie him, smiled. “Some water?”

“I'm not drinking either! Where is this place? I want to see Niu Youdao.”

He had reached Qingshan Commandery without finding Niu Youdao. Nor had he been allowed to leave. He had been restrained on the spot and brought here.

He did not know where “here” was. He had been unconscious during the journey. But as someone accustomed to living in the mountains, he could tell the air around him lacked the freshness of deep wilderness. He suspected he was somewhere inside a city.

Old Eighth Zhu said, “Master Dao is very busy right now and has no time to see you. When he has time, naturally he will. Why the hurry? Eat something. Your cultivation hasn't reached the legendary point of transcending mortality and shedding the mortal flesh. Don't make your own body suffer. Starving yourself would be pointless.”

Chao Shenghuai flared in anger. “If you want something from me, then say it plainly! Have Niu Youdao come see me, or none of us are going to have an easy time!”

“Shh!” Old Eighth Zhu put one finger before his lips. “Brother, we agreed you wouldn't shout. Otherwise we'll have to turn you into a mute gourd again, and then you'll be the one suffocating.”

...

“You old bastard, just try it!”

At the banquet, Yan envoy Gao Shaoming slammed the table and shot to his feet, pointing at Song envoy Tu Huaiyu as he cursed him.

The night banquet at Liufang Guesthouse was being held to entertain distinguished guests from the various states.

In the middle of the feast, someone suddenly came from the courtyard occupied by Yan's delegation and whispered to Gao Shaoming that men from Song's side had been discovered attempting to seize one of Yan's messenger Goldenwings.

After Gao Shaoming demanded an explanation, the two sides traded increasingly sharp verbal blows across the banquet.

By coincidence, this was the very place where Niu Youdao had once killed Yan envoy Song Long. Tu Huaiyu coolly mocked Gao Shaoming over the old affair and told him to be careful not to follow in Song Long's footsteps.

That immediately enraged Gao Shaoming.

The retainer cultivators stationed outside both pavilions rushed in at once.

Bang!

Li Wuhua slammed the table and rose as well. His voice turned cold. “What do the two of you think you're doing? Do you take Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion for decoration? If you want to fight, leave Jinzhou and fight elsewhere. Otherwise, don't blame me for being discourteous!”

Li Wuhua himself looked unwell. The haggardness on his face was impossible to hide.

He had been made to appear at the banquet precisely because of his status. In the Jinzhou provincial capital, he was the most suitable person to receive honored guests in Hai Ruyue's place.

“Envoy Gao, don't forget that this is Zhao territory. You would do well to restrain yourself.”

Zhao Sen, seated at the banquet, stabbed in the cold reminder. In truth, he was warning Gao Shaoming not to create unnecessary trouble at a time like this, especially not by provoking Song.

Gao Shaoming glanced at him, snorted coldly, then waved for his retainer cultivators to withdraw. He slowly sat down again.

The others at the banquet each harbored their own thoughts.

All knew Jinzhou was unlikely to remain peaceful much longer. A violent storm was about to break.

Wei envoy Sui Pai and Qi envoy Zuo Annian both used the opportunity to warn Zhao Sen. Their meaning was equally clear: Zhao had better not act recklessly, or neither state would sit idly by.

Jin envoy Chu Xiangyu, normally so forceful, instead behaved almost like a peacemaker that night, repeatedly raising his cup and urging everyone to calm their anger.

As for Han envoy Zhuge Xun, he basically sat there cheerfully eating and drinking, eyes occasionally sliding toward one man and then another, looking for all the world like someone watching a show that had nothing to do with him.

Naturally, the guests also repeatedly asked Li Wuhua how Hai Ruyue's health was.

Li Wuhua had nothing to tell them.

The moment the night banquet ended, Li Wuhua went straight back to the Provincial Inspector's Residence.

He came to Hai Ruyue's bedside and looked at her lying there, face ghastly pale, haggard almost beyond recognition. He could not bear to keep watching and turned away.

Then he went to his son's room.

He first thanked several fellow disciples for their hard work. But after only one look at the child lying unconscious, skin faintly blue, tears spilled from his eyes.

He murmured, “What sins have I committed to deserve this?”

He knew his son would not last many more days.

It would happen within the next few.

...

Early the next morning, a commotion spread through the Provincial Inspector's Residence.

Many Myriad Caves Heavenly Mansion disciples leapt onto the rooftops, warily watching a flying beast circling overhead.

A man dressed in white as snow stood upon its back.

He was handsome, fair-skinned, calm and composed, carrying a refined elegance and unrestrained grace. A bamboo basket was strapped to his back. His gaze rested lightly on the residence below.

[End of Chapter 565]