Chapter 400: The Empress Dies

The curtain had fallen on a wedding of unprecedented splendor, but the towering waves it had stirred showed no sign of subsiding.

Before the wedding, people had gone out of their way to ignore it, to treat it as something cold and insignificant.

Now, with equal intensity, everyone seemed almost crazed with attention.

...

Western Garden.

Inside a pavilion half-hidden among artificial hills, the Commandery Princess sat on a stone stool, scattering fish feed into the pond outside.

Western Garden had been designed by craftsmen from Qian. Its workmanship was astonishingly fine. Artificial hills rose in layered clusters, clear water rippled between them, and fish darted through the reflections.

When it came to knowing how to enjoy life, the people of Qian were unquestionably at the forefront of the East no, of the entire world.

“Brother, you’re late,” the Commandery Princess said.

Behind her appeared Li Liangshen, with the plain, ancient-looking greatsword that never left his side.

Li Liangshen himself was much like his sword. There had even been busybodies in the jianghu who argued that, among the so-called Four Great Swordsmen, Li Liangshen deserved his place even less than the Swordsmith of Chu.

The Sword Saint of Jin and Baili Feng of Qian both wielded swords with grace and elegance, exactly matching the image people had of a swordsman: long sleeves billowing, sword qi streaking like rainbows, as though banished immortals had descended with blades in hand to subdue demons.

As for the Swordsmith of Chu, forget for a moment how strong he truly was or whether his reputation had been exaggerated. The swords he forged were undeniably exquisite. Longyuan in the Sword Saint’s hands was something countless swordsmen would spend an entire lifetime pursuing.

Li Liangshen’s sword, by comparison possessed almost no beauty at all.

Many people felt he should not even carry a sword. Replace it with a saber and, visually speaking, nothing much would change.

“Today was the Sixth Prince’s wedding,” Li Liangshen said. “There were many places requiring attention.”

Li Liangshen had once served as Chief Commander of the Zhenbei Army. Now he was the principal commander of the Eastern Camp outside Yanjing.

There were not actually four great camps to the east, west, south, and north of the capital. There were only the Eastern and Western Camps. The Western Camp had later been expanded from the Imperial Guard system, so in combat strength and elite quality it naturally could not compare with the Eastern Camp, whose core consisted of former Zhenbei Army troops.

“It was a very lively wedding,” the Commandery Princess said with feeling.

Li Liangshen nodded.

“Much livelier than mine was last time.”

A faint smile appeared at the corner of Li Liangshen’s mouth.

A daughter was naturally prone to comparison when it came to something as personal as her own marriage.

They were both marrying imperial princes, were they not?

And the man she was marrying was the Crown Prince.

The He family girl was only a butcher’s daughter.

She, on the other hand, was a Commandery Princess.

The last time the Commandery Princess and Crown Prince attempted to marry, the ceremony had also been extraordinarily grand because it symbolized the marriage alliance between the imperial house and the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence.

But compared with today there truly was no comparison.

Money had rained from the sky. Famous courtesans had come out to offer congratulations. One could say that more than half of Yanjing had personally witnessed the Sixth Prince’s wedding.

The Commandery Princess turned her head toward Li Liangshen.

“With a commotion this large, no wonder even the military camps outside the capital were disturbed.”

Seventh Uncle approached carrying tea. He placed one cup on the small stone table and handed another to Li Liangshen.

The Commandery Princess tossed the rest of the fish feed into the pond, lightly dusted her hands, and said:

“Ji Little Sixth really became something extraordinary this time.”

Li Liangshen nodded.

“It almost made people feel as if the Min Clan of old had come back to life.”

Li Liangshen had lived through the Min Clan’s most prosperous years. In those days, caravans flying the Min Clan banner could be found throughout Beifeng Commandery, across the desert, and even in lands much farther west.

“Did the Min Clan ever truly die?” the Commandery Princess asked.

Li Liangshen said nothing.

She continued:

“Back then, His Majesty ordered the Marquis of Jingnan to lead troops and flatten the Min Clan, yet the court never moved against the Min Clan’s businesses and assets outside the ancestral household. Brother, do you think that was normal?

“Our Emperor has always had a large appetite. He never wanted to smash the cooking pot. He only wanted to replace the person sitting beside it with someone from his own family so the meat in the pot could continue being eaten.

“Look at today. Forget everything else. Ning Derong of the Ning’an Escort Agency was a man even Father would once have given three parts of face. Yet Ji Little Sixth gets married, and Ning Derong quietly travels all the way from Beifeng Commandery to Yanjing just to call him ‘Young Master’ and deliver a bridal sedan?”

The Commandery Princess rose.

“That means Ji Little Sixth took over the Min Clan’s inheritance a very long time ago. In the eyes of those old chief shopkeepers, he is their Young Master, the sole remaining bloodline of the Min Clan. Serving him is only natural.

“And Ji Little Sixth genuinely possesses ability. He can make people submit willingly.

“But I refuse to believe that, after suppressing Ji Little Sixth for so many years, His Majesty knew absolutely nothing about any of this.”

Li Liangshen shook his head.

The Commandery Princess continued:

“In my view, this is obviously a tacit understanding between father and son.

“As expected of men surnamed Ji.

“One kills his wife and destroys his father-in-law’s clan. The other calmly takes over everything his mother’s clan left behind.

“In the end, everything belonging to the Min Clan was simply changed to the surname Ji.”

Li Liangshen said:

“Money truly is a useful thing.”

If someone claimed he did not love money, that usually meant he already possessed plenty of it.

But one fact could never change: most people in this world were always short of money.

“Rich” would forever describe only a minority.

Money might not be enough to move you personally.

But if it moved everyone around you, then whether you yourself moved no longer mattered very much.

Li Liangshen continued:

“Besides, His Majesty has always wanted to campaign south against Qian again. The reason he has now sent envoys to restore relations with Qian is that, after several consecutive years of warfare, the state treasury and the people have both reached the edge of exhaustion. He had no choice but to stop.

“In my view, His Sixth Highness’s suppression in earlier years was not false. But when he returned to Yanjing at the beginning of this year, that itself meant His Majesty was unwilling to remain constrained by money, grain, and national strength. He wanted someone to reorganize the Ministry of Revenue.

“His Sixth Highness carried the reputation of an idle prince for many years, but His Majesty should always have known what he could do.”

Hearing this, the Commandery Princess smiled.

“So this is what they mean when they say no one knows a son better than his father?”

“Perhaps.”

“Brother, if this were only about money and grain, I would not care much. Merchants are merchants, after all. At worst, Ji Little Sixth becomes a Prince of the First Rank in the future and manages the Ministry of Revenue for the court.

“The Min Clan was once that prosperous, and yet the Marquis of Jingnan still destroyed it the moment he was ordered to.

“But today— those dozens of newly selected Presented Scholars actually came together before Ji Little Sixth and bowed to him as their Patron.

“And those are only the men retained in Yanjing as capital officials. A large number were already posted outside as local officials. Heaven alone knows how many of those men also belong to Ji Little Sixth.

“This time, Ji Little Sixth placed all his pieces openly on the board. He is plainly telling the world that he is entering the game.

“He intends to compete.

“So what exactly has the Crown Prince’s supposed position as Examination Patron been worth all this time?

“Didn’t people once spread that saying about all Great Yan’s talented common-born scholars entering his gate? That the Eastern Palace would establish a foundation for Great Yan lasting ten thousand generations?

“Doesn’t his face hurt?

“People flattered him for so long, telling him those men were all his disciples.

“And then every one of them ran over to Ji Little Sixth and called *him* Patron.

“I feel embarrassed for the Crown Prince just thinking about it.”

Li Liangshen said:

“They are only scholars who have just entered officialdom.”

He had once personally commanded troops in the destruction of the great clans.

Those graceful young masters of aristocratic houses, those literary prodigies overflowing with brilliance beneath cavalry hooves, all became dust.

So to Li Liangshen, these scholars did not count for much.

The atmosphere of the State of Yan still placed military merit above everything else. Between civil and military officials, military commanders plainly held the higher status.

The Commandery Princess said:

“But Father once said the imperial examination will become a law Great Yan passes down through the generations.

“Ji Little Sixth has tied these people to himself. That means His Majesty, and those ministers at court who came from humble origins and were promoted by His Majesty years ago, can no longer casually move against him.

“They have to fear smashing the vase while striking the rat.

“These new Presented Scholars call him Patron.

“But in reality, they have become Ji Little Sixth’s protective talismans.”

Li Liangshen laughed.

“Say it. What do you want me to do?”

Li Liangshen was not a man who enjoyed long conversations.

Men who truly used swords rarely liked excessive talk. Straightforward methods suited them better.

The Commandery Princess stepped back two paces and sat again.

Then, word by word, she said:

“Brother.

“I want you to help me kill Ji Little Sixth.”

Li Liangshen’s brow lifted slightly.

Seventh Uncle remained standing to the side, expressionless.

Silence began accumulating inside the pavilion.

Before it could grow heavy, Li Liangshen broke it.

“His Majesty wants His Sixth Highness to manage the realm’s finances.”

The Commandery Princess nodded.

“What does that have to do with me?”

Her slender finger tapped repeatedly against the stone table.

“I once told Ji Little Sixth that if he remained obedient and peaceful, I could tolerate him spending his entire life as a carefree idle prince.

“But he did not.

“Since he has now openly announced that he intends to cultivate his own wings and set his sights on that position, I can no longer pretend I do not see him.

“Kill him.

“End everything cleanly.”

She was speaking about murdering an imperial prince of the current dynasty.

Yet her tone remained simple and decisive.

As though the target were not Ji Little Sixth but some sixth chicken waiting for the butcher’s knife.

If Count Zheng were here and heard these words, he would not be surprised at all.

He himself had once nearly become a sacrifice beneath this woman’s hand.

More accurately it had been this woman who first tore open Zheng Fan’s eyes to what kind of world he had entered.

Seventh Uncle now said to Li Liangshen:

“Later today, the palace will send female officials over to inspect the ceremonial arrangements again. Most likely, the Commandery Princess’s wedding will be held before long.”

The previous wedding had been delayed because of war.

Now the fighting had settled.

The Sixth Prince was already married.

There was no longer any reason to continue delaying the Crown Prince’s wedding.

Li Liangshen asked:

“Are you afraid your own wedding will be overshadowed?”

The Commandery Princess shook her head.

“Brother, I am not that childish.

“What bothers me is that if something was agreed from the beginning to be mine, nobody is allowed to take it away without my consent.

“I intend to become the Crown Princess.

“Not the wife of a deposed Crown Prince.

“Ji Little Sixth already has momentum. Brother, you spend your years outside leading troops and fighting wars. Outside warfare, there are things you do not see as clearly as I do.

“The Crown Prince’s position is already unstable.

“And Ji Little Sixth has only been back in Yanjing for a little more than half a year.

“What happens after another year?

“Two?

“Three?

“Will there still be any place at court where the Crown Prince can plant his feet?

“If the man I am supposed to marry is useless, then I can only act for him.

“Otherwise I’ll marry into the Eastern Palace and immediately begin swallowing grievance.”

Being called a coarse soldier who understood little beyond war and swordsmanship did not anger Li Liangshen.

Nor did the Commandery Princess’s proposal to murder an imperial prince shock him.

Everyone remained remarkably calm.

Li Liangshen asked:

“What about the consequences?”

A commander measured advantages and disadvantages.

Often in the most extreme sense.

To a commander, even the soldiers beneath him could become numbers to sacrifice.

“Yes. Ji Little Sixth is extremely useful to His Majesty now. Without him, His Majesty’s lifelong wish to campaign south against Qian may have to remain shelved.

“But if I disappear, the Zhenbei Army and His Majesty will split apart.

“His Majesty is a very realistic man.

“No.

“All men of the Ji Clan are realistic—and cold-blooded.

“The Marquis of Jingnan crippled Third Brother.

“Why can the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence not cripple Sixth Brother?

“Ji Little Sixth is already using his value to hold his imperial father in check.

“We can copy his method exactly.”

“When?”

“Now.”

“That is very rushed.”

“Brother, even you think it is rushed. Then perhaps they will never imagine we would act this directly either.”

“That is true.”

“Brother, I cannot wait any longer.

“Father has already dismantled the Zhenbei Army. The Marquis of Zhenbei Residence’s influence over the army is constantly slipping away.

“Brother Bao died in battle. Li Fusheng has already entered the Marquis of Jingnan’s command.

“The cards in our hands are becoming fewer and fewer.

“Ji Little Sixth’s cards, by contrast, will only increase.

“Forget money and grain.

“Forget commerce.

“Forget those Presented Scholars growing and being promoted.

“At Snow Sea Pass he has another Count Pingye whom he personally supported.

“And Count Pingye is the great favorite before the Marquis of Jingnan.

“Even the Young Marquis himself...”

The Commandery Princess closed her eyes and drew a breath.

Then continued:

“One side rises as the other falls.

“One side rises as the other falls.

“I have to seize this chance.

“Since Father and His Majesty already arranged my fate, I can accept it.

“But I must become Crown Princess.

“Afterward, I must become Empress.

“And later still—

“I must become Empress Dowager and rule from behind the curtain!”

“Brother, you may think I’ve gone mad.

“You may think I’m possessed.

“But I believe this is the only chance I have left.

“In fact—

“I do not even know whether, after today passes, I will still possess the courage tomorrow morning to ask you to kill an imperial prince.

“Maybe tomorrow—

“I won’t dare anymore.”

Li Liangshen picked up the tea on the stone table and slid it toward her.

“Finish this cup.

“After you finish it, if you still want me to kill His Sixth Highness—

“I’ll go.”

The Commandery Princess lifted the cup.

She drank in small sips.

At first, slowly.

Then, near the end, her gaze gradually became calm.

She drained the remaining tea in one swallow and placed the cup back on the table.

“Brother, I have a feeling.

“Maybe I am not calm right now.

“Maybe, in your eyes, I am spoiled, unreasonable, willful.

“But somewhere beyond reason—

“I truly feel it.

“If Ji Little Sixth does not die today—then in the future, nobody will be able to stop his advance.

“Not even his imperial father.

“Brother.

“Do you believe in fate?

“I never did.

“But now—

“I want to.”

Perhaps that was what people called a woman’s sixth sense.

The idea was insane.

The action was insane.

Rushed.

Born on impulse.

But the critical points in destiny often arrived exactly this way without warning.

Li Liangshen smiled.

“I told you before.

“You are my little sister.

“I was the one who escorted you to Yanjing.

“And I also told you that, inside this capital, nobody is allowed to bully you.

“I do not believe in fate.

“Give me one final answer.

“Do we kill him?”

The Commandery Princess bit her lip.

Then smiled beautifully.

“Kill him.”

...

Princes’ Residence, rear compound.

“Come, taste this. Pickled crab.”

Ji Chengjue was warmly entertaining Fan Li and the Sword Maid.

Lingxiang had already helped Young Lady He back to her room to rest.

So only four people remained in the small hall:

Ji Chengjue, Fan Li, the Sword Maid, and Eunuch Zhang.

The Sword Maid picked up a crab with her chopsticks and placed it in her bowl. She pulled off one leg with her fingers, bit it lightly, then sucked the meat free.

“How is it?” Ji Chengjue asked.

“Extremely fresh and delicious.”

“Of course. At night, one plate of pickled crab, paired with vegetable congee and two little side dishes—that is what a proper late-night meal should taste like.”

How could a Sixth Prince capable of establishing Quande Restaurant possibly not understand how to enjoy food?

Of course, Ji Chengjue was also something of a strange creature.

He could insist that food never be too refined and meat never be sliced too finely and he could also gnaw cornmeal cakes for months.

Fan Li picked up an entire crab.

He did not crack it open.

He simply shoved the whole thing into his mouth and began chewing.

A perfect demonstration of what it meant to let an ox chew peonies.

Ji Chengjue decisively gave up discussing fine cuisine with Fan Li and turned back toward the Sword Maid.

“The greatest secret to pickled crab is the salt. It has to be sea salt, brought in from Qian. We cannot find that kind in Great Yan.”

The Sword Maid smiled.

“Your Highness, I ate this when I was little.”

“You’re from Qian?”

“Yes. I’m from Qian.”

“When did you meet Zheng Fan?”

“Several years ago, when Yan invaded Qian.”

“Where?”

“Outside Shangjing. My master died trying to stop the Yan army. Master captured me afterward.”

“That sounds... rather interesting.”

“Your Highness, that doesn’t sound very humane.”

“Hahahaha. Zheng Fan and I are somewhat alike. We both like adding a little flavor to life.”

Eunuch Zhang rose and poured wine.

“I envy Zheng Fan,” Ji Chengjue continued. “The sky is high enough for birds to fly, the sea wide enough for fish to leap. That is real freedom.

“Snow Sea Pass truly is a place where the mountains are high and the Emperor is far away.”

The Sword Maid immediately said:

“Your Highness, our Master misses you greatly as well.”

Fan Li had just swallowed a whole crab.

He said:

“He misses the money and grain you send.”

Ji Chengjue did not mind.

Instead, he laughed.

“Your Master really is a bottomless pit. No matter how much you feed him, he is never full.”

On this point, Ji Chengjue had ample personal experience.

Suddenly—

Fan Li, who had been reaching for another crab, stopped.

He frowned and looked toward Ji Chengjue.

“What is it?” Ji Chengjue asked.

“Someone’s coming.”

Eunuch Zhang’s expression changed instantly.

He spread both hands.

Two surges of qi rolled outward, blasting open the closed doors of the hall.

A man stood outside.

In his hand was a sword.

“Seventh Uncle. Did you come to congratulate me on behalf of the Commandery Princess?

“Then I must thank my Commandery Princess sister. As expected, she still treats this younger brother best. No matter what happens, she never forgets me.”

Ji Chengjue rose with a sincere smile.

He did not go forward to welcome the visitor.

Instead, he spoke words of welcome while retreating.

Then Ji Chengjue suddenly discovered something.

Fan Li and the Sword Maid, who had only moments ago been eating pickled crab at the table had retreated even faster than he had.

“...”

Ji Chengjue.

Only Eunuch Zhang remained where he was, both hands held before him as he stood directly between Seventh Uncle and the Sixth Prince.

“I am going to draw my sword,” Seventh Uncle said.

“Don’t, don’t, don’t!”

Ji Chengjue gritted his teeth.

Then he walked forward again and sat back down beside the table.

Fan Li and the Sword Maid continued retreating.

Without the slightest hesitation.

Seventh Uncle looked at Eunuch Zhang and smiled.

“Attendant Zhang. Step aside.”

Eunuch Zhang narrowed his eyes.

Then slowly moved aside.

There had always been a Seventh Uncle beside the Commandery Princess who never displayed mountain or water.

His cultivation level was not especially high.

But rumor said he had spent his entire life cultivating a single sword technique.

That strike was terrifying beyond measure.

And he could use it only once in his entire life.

Seventh Uncle walked to the table and sat down.

Looking at the pickled crabs, he said:

“My young mistress likes this flavor.”

The Marquis of Zhenbei Residence traditionally raised its sons like soldiers in a military camp, but that rule did not apply to women.

Most women of the household often ended up living much like their husbands anyway. But if one truly wanted to enjoy a little good food, that did not violate the ancestral rules.

With the Commandery Princess’s status, even while living on the edge of the desert in Beifeng Commandery, tasting pickled crab was hardly difficult.

“What exactly did you come here to do?” Ji Chengjue asked.

In truth, the fact that Seventh Uncle had appeared soundlessly at the door of his private hall already explained quite a lot.

The Princes’ Residence did not house only Sixth Brother.

The First Prince had already received a separate residence.

The Second Prince, now Crown Prince, lived in the Eastern Palace.

The Third Prince remained in the Lake Pavilion.

The Seventh Prince was still young and lived inside the palace beside his birth mother.

So the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Princes all continued living here.

Imperial Guards watched the perimeter.

The defenses were strict.

Seventh Uncle answered:

“By my young mistress’s order.

“I came to kill you.”

Ji Chengjue heard the words.

Instinctively closed his eyes.

Then he began smiling.

And cursed:

“That madwoman.

“That fucking lunatic!”

This was absurd beyond belief.

He had just married.

He had just revealed his hidden cards before his imperial father.

He had just demonstrated his abilities in front of that father.

His momentum had only just begun rising and now, on this very night that madwoman had directly sent someone to murder him!

Everyone involved in the struggle was supposed to be civilized.

No matter their age, every man played the old fox, maneuvering across the board.

Then someone suddenly appeared and flipped the entire table over.

There was nothing to do but laugh and cry.

Yes.

That was exactly the feeling.

Helpless laughter.

And after that helpless laughter came a fierce, impotent rage.

Truthfully, even when his imperial father had kneaded and tormented him, Ji Little Sixth had never felt as powerless as he did now.

Because he knew his father would not simply decide without warning to have him silently murdered.

But that madwoman would.

That woman raised inside a honey jar she absolutely would.

The most terrifying thing was not a woman going mad.

It was a woman going mad while several terrifying people around her were willing to go mad with her.

Fan Li and the Sword Maid had continued backing away.

When they heard Seventh Uncle’s concise answer, shock appeared on the Sword Maid’s face.

Fan Li looked delighted.

He even muttered softly:

“Beautiful.”

One night, while the Blind Man and Count Zheng were smoking and talking nonsense, the Blind Man had said that everyone had his own way of seeing the world.

You might look at the people inside an asylum and call them lunatics.

But perhaps aliens observing Earth would think the people outside were the lunatics for locking a group of geniuses inside a prison-like madhouse.

The Commandery Princess’s action was indeed absurd.

But in Fan Li’s eyes it was an exquisite move, one that threw itself into death and found life afterward.

One stone placed and suddenly willows darkened, flowers brightened, and another village appeared.

Because Fan Li, as a Demon King, understood perfectly well what kind of situation might emerge if Master and the Sixth Prince were given several more years to develop.

In spirit, this move was not so different from Fan Li’s old suggestion:

*Why don’t we just chop Master to death?*

Others laugh at me for being mad.

I laugh at them for failing to see.

Seventh Uncle reached into his robe and took out a piece of jade.

It was finely made and valuable enough, but to someone at Ji Chengjue’s level, it looked rather ordinary.

Seventh Uncle tossed the jade onto the table.

Then poured himself a cup of wine and drank it.

He pointed toward the jade.

“Wedding gift.

“And I drank your wedding wine.”

Ji Chengjue drew in a long breath.

“Seventh Uncle truly observes propriety.”

Seventh Uncle shook his head.

“Before His Sixth Highness, who would dare speak of propriety?

“No matter how particular a man is, he cannot outdo you.

“Only today did I learn that so many of Yanjing’s most exquisite money-burning pleasure houses were actually Your Highness’s handiwork.”

“Hahaha. I’ve made Seventh Uncle laugh. Just a few little tricks unworthy of elegant company. A way to earn pocket money.”

Seventh Uncle’s left hand settled on the hilt of his sword.

Eunuch Zhang’s two index fingers immediately extended.

Ji Chengjue shouted:

“Seventh Uncle! Can you give me time for two more sentences?

“If you refuse to listen, you’ll regret it.

“No—the Commandery Princess will regret it!”

Seventh Uncle did not care whether he himself would regret anything.

But anything involving the Commandery Princess mattered greatly to him.

More importantly, at this distance, Seventh Uncle possessed absolute confidence.

His one strike could kill Ji Chengjue easily.

There would be no accident.

“Your Highness.

“Speak.”

Ji Chengjue nodded and pointed at himself.

“I know that sword of yours can definitely kill me.

“But how about this—could you wait until dawn before killing me?”

“Why?”

“I’m waiting for something.”

Seventh Uncle shook his head.

“I am confident I can kill you with one sword.

“But I still do not want unnecessary complications.”

He had come to kill.

The gift and the wine were only incidental.

Without another word, Ji Chengjue walked straight toward Seventh Uncle and sat down pressed against him.

Then he laid his head directly on the table and, with his own hand, pulled Seventh Uncle’s sword across his neck.

“Seventh Uncle.

“Now you can relax, can’t you?”

At this point it was no longer even a question of using that sword technique.

Any swordsman with the slightest cultivation could kill the man in front of him effortlessly.

Or rather with an effortless backhand stroke.

Because his face was pressed to the table, Ji Chengjue had to force his head sideways to look toward the others.

“All of you sit on the floor.

“No moving.

“No sending messages.”

Eunuch Zhang obeyed and sat cross-legged on the floor.

Fan Li and the Sword Maid exchanged a glance.

Deep down, they still wanted to run.

But after hesitating they sat too.

“Seventh Uncle.

“Wait with me until dawn.

“Then you’ll understand.

“Truly.”

Seventh Uncle smiled.

“You think someone will come rescue you?”

Ji Chengjue gave an awkward laugh.

“Seventh Uncle, you’re joking.

“Even if Eunuch Wei were standing inside this room right now—no.

“Even if the Sword Saint of Jin or Baili Feng were here—if you wanted my life, they still could not stop you.”

“You have that much confidence in me?”

“I have confidence in my Commandery Princess sister.

“I know what kind of person she is.

“Spoiled.

“Willful.

“Proud enough to reach Heaven.

“If you did not possess real ability, how could she possibly tolerate an old useless bastard like you wandering in front of her every day for all these years?”

“The words are unpleasant.

“But they do sound rather accurate.”

Seventh Uncle sat down as well.

Then he removed the sword Ji Chengjue himself had placed against his throat and laid it on the far side of the table.

“Seventh Uncle.

“I want to ask something.”

“Ask, Your Highness.

“I can wait a little longer.

“Until the first light of dawn appears.”

“How high can that sword of yours reach?”

“Has Your Highness still not given up?”

“No, no. I have no interest in martial cultivation. It’s too exhausting. I can’t endure that kind of hardship.

“I’m simply curious.”

Seventh Uncle reached for a pickled crab and began peeling it as he answered:

“Martial Artists, swordsmen, Qi Refiners, and so on are all divided by Grades.

“Third Grade marks the summit beneath the true transcendent threshold.”

“That much I know.”

“Rumor says the Sword Saint of Jin once forcibly opened Second Grade outside Snow Sea Pass and cut down one thousand savage cavalry.

“I cannot compare with the Sword Saint.

“I possess only that one strike.

“It can unleash the power of a Second Grade swordsman.

“But it can kill only one person.”

In other words, Seventh Uncle could produce one Second Grade sword strike.

“Heh.

“Feels almost wasteful using something like that on me.”

“Not necessarily.

“I do not have to use that strike on Your Highness.

“That really would be something of a waste.”

“That hurts, Seventh Uncle.

“I’d still like to leave this world with a little dignity.

“Besides, once I die, you’re not getting out alive either.

“I know exactly what my Commandery Princess sister is planning.

“If I die, Father Emperor will choose to let the matter end quietly for the sake of the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence and the Zhenbei Army.

“Those who should marry will still marry.

“The man who should remain Crown Prince will remain Crown Prince.

“But you—must die.

“The Son of Heaven’s fury still needs somewhere to go.”

“Mm.”

Seventh Uncle clearly understood his ending already.

The Commandery Princess was the Marquis of Zhenbei’s daughter.

She would not die.

She might even continue with the wedding and become Crown Princess.

Seventh Uncle himself was certain to die.

Even if the Emperor did nothing, the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence would probably send someone to kill him.

Li Liangshen would be convicted and imprisoned as a prisoner instead.

Because Li Liangshen was more useful alive.

The instant the Commandery Princess spoke the words *kill Ji Chengjue* both Seventh Uncle and Li Liangshen already knew how their paths would end.

“True.

“If I do not use that strike on you, I probably will never have another chance to use it.”

It could be used while escaping.

But killing some court expert or expert from the Marquis of Zhenbei Residence on the way out would be meaningless.

Ji Chengjue laughed.

“Fine.

“Then it’s settled.

“A Second Grade sword should be fast.

“Probably won’t hurt when I die.”

“Your Highness fears pain?”

“I fear pain.

“And I fear death.”

“Yet on your wedding day, Your Highness looked extremely high-spirited. There was even a faint sense that you meant to stand opposite His Majesty as an equal.”

“That’s because I know he’s my father.

“Unless I, Ji Chengjue, actually raise a rebellion banner, my father will not simply order someone to chop me down.”

“Such deep affection between father and son.”

“Of course.

“My father and I have always been sweet as honey.”

Ji Chengjue then asked:

“Seventh Uncle, why isn’t Li Liangshen the one here to kill me?”

“Yanjing’s defenses are strict. The instant Li Liangshen enters the city, three Red-Robed Attendants begin watching him.

“It is inconvenient for him.

“However, he probably has not left the city to return to camp either. He should be drinking in an inn right now.”

One stood openly.

One remained hidden.

Li Liangshen was more like a decoy, drawing attention away.

“Seventh Uncle.

“I have another thought.”

“Speak, Your Highness.

“Before sunrise, say as much as you want.”

“If your sword can open Second Grade, why not simply join Li Liangshen, enter the palace, and... mm-hmm... that person?

“Then why would the Commandery Princess bother becoming Crown Princess?

“She could simply become Mother of the Realm.”

If the Emperor died the Crown Prince would immediately inherit the throne.

“Your Highness jokes.

“It is true that the old senior inside the palace has already dispersed his cultivation and died at Tianhu Mountain.

“But do you truly think the imperial palace is a place one enters that easily?

“Have you run out of meaningful things to say?

“Why ask such a question?”

“But he cannot even protect his own sons.

“Fourth Brother and Fifth Brother also live inside this Princes’ Residence.

“If you had not come to kill me tonight and instead went to kill either of them, it would have been just as easy.”

“The Princes’ Residence is still heavily guarded.

“I only managed to enter because I carried the Commandery Princess’s token and declared I had come to deliver wedding congratulations to Your Highness.

“Even Yanjing itself is not a place one can simply enter and leave at will.

“Back when Master Zang of Qian came to Yanjing intending to cut the dragon vein, the city had already detected him before he arrived and prepared in advance.

“What makes tonight possible is simply this:

“I am someone from the Commandery Princess’s side.

“I count as family.

“That is all.”

The strongest fortresses were often broken from within.

Yanjing was the capital of Great Yan.

Unless an army besieged it, even ordinary great experts would find it extremely difficult to enter and act recklessly.

When Baili Feng came to Yanjing in the past, he had only silently gathered the final lotus left behind by Master Zang before departing.

But tonight the person striking was the Commandery Princess herself.

And she had chosen exactly this moment.

Under such extreme circumstances, the capital’s normally tight defenses and warning systems had become nearly useless.

“Truthfully, Your Highness was still too careless,” Seventh Uncle said. “If you wanted to, you could gather several experts around yourself.

“Those great trading houses and escort agencies inevitably raise retainers and martial experts. Bringing them over would require only a word from you.

“Ordinarily, one Red-Robed Attendant Qi Refiner should be responsible for monitoring the Princes’ Residence.

“But because Li Liangshen behaved unusually today—leaving Western Garden but not returning to his camp—that Qi Refiner was drawn away to watch him as well.

“Still, at the root of it, Your Highness was careless.

“A son of a wealthy house does not sit beneath a falling hall.

“You created this opportunity yourself.”

Fan Li, sitting on the floor, nodded deeply.

“Right.”

He immediately thought of his own Master.

Whenever Master traveled, A’Ming remained nearby.

The Demon Child stayed inside his chest.

Sha Tuo Queshi lay beneath wherever he lived.

And the next-door neighbor was the Sword Saint.

People really should not mock Master for fearing death.

Look at the situation in front of him.

Fan Li suddenly felt Master was unbelievably wise.

If this old fellow called Seventh Uncle had come to assassinate Master tonight then the result...

Hehehe.

In the middle of such a solemn, oppressive atmosphere—

Fan Li actually let out a foolish chuckle.

Seventh Uncle looked toward him in surprise.

“Good nerve.”

Hearing himself praised, Fan Li scratched his head in embarrassment.

Ji Chengjue sighed helplessly, straightened his somewhat sore neck, poured himself wine, lifted the cup toward Seventh Uncle, and said:

“Come.

“One.”

Seventh Uncle gave him face and clinked cups.

“Truthfully, I really was not careless,” Ji Chengjue said.

“Inside this city, there are probably only two people capable of sending two experts of this level to assassinate one man at once.

“My father.

“And the Commandery Princess.”

One was one of the Four Great Swordsmen.

The other possessed one sword strike that could open Second Grade.

Ordinary nobles could spend a lifetime and still never encounter even one expert of that level willing to serve them.

Once a cultivator reached such heights, there were very few people in the world capable of commanding them.

Unfortunately the Commandery Princess had both.

And unfortunately tonight she had gone mad.

“Your Highness is still struggling over that?”

Ji Chengjue looked toward Eunuch Zhang.

“Truthfully, I did consider keeping more experts beside me.

“But let me put it this way:

“Father Emperor has a habit of shearing wool from me.

“Over the years, the people around me have generally met miserable endings.

“Even those singing girls I once kept at home to perform for me were seized by Father Emperor and thrown into the Imperial Music Bureau.

“I learned my lesson.”

Eunuch Zhang immediately kowtowed.

“Master, this slave is useless.”

“No, no.

“Not your fault.

“Though if I die, you’ll probably be buried with me too.

“So don’t feel guilty.”

Eunuch Zhang actually smiled.

Then nodded.

“Aiya.”

Ji Chengjue looked toward Fan Li.

“If I die tonight, Father Emperor probably will not avenge me.

“What about Zheng Fan?”

Fan Li answered:

“Count Pingye has always deeply admired the Marquis of Zhenbei.”

“Tsk, tsk, tsk.”

Ji Chengjue looked wounded.

But he still poured himself another cup of wine without hesitation.

“Tonight taught me a lesson.

“I always thought myself too clever.

“So I underestimated the enemy.

“I should never have underestimated a woman.”

After that a long period passed.

Those who had been told to sit remained seated.

Fan Li even began snoring softly.

The two men at the table continued drinking slowly.

Every so often, they clinked cups.

And the appointed hour drew near.

One could almost feel the night thinning before dawn.

Ji Chengjue was already slightly drunk.

His eyes were filled with blood.

Seventh Uncle stood.

He picked up his sword.

Eunuch Zhang rose as well, preparing to fight to the death.

He knew perfectly well that if Seventh Uncle could truly unleash a Second Grade sword, there was no way he could stop the man from killing Ji Chengjue.

Fan Li was pinched awake by the Sword Maid.

He wiped the drool from his mouth and opened his eyes wide toward the front.

They had waited so long.

At last, the play had reached its true climax.

He could not miss it.

There were no reinforcements.

No melodramatic scene of someone stopping the sword at the final instant.

When the blade fell—

Great Yan’s Sixth Prince would completely leave this world.

At that moment, Ji Chengjue shook the wine jug.

Empty.

He tossed it down with dissatisfaction and shouted:

“I don’t want to fucking die!

“I haven’t lived nearly enough!

“How can I be finished before that bastard surnamed Zheng?”

Seventh Uncle smiled.

The sword left its sheath.

And then, deep bells began sounding in succession.

*Dong! Dong! Dong! ...*

The sound came from the imperial palace.

It was the Departure Bell.

When the Departure Bells at one of Yanjing’s gates rang, it meant enemies had appeared in that direction of Great Yan.

But when the Departure Bell inside the imperial palace rang first it meant that one of the handful of people possessing the most exalted blood and status in Great Yan had died.

Nine tolls meant the Son of Heaven had passed away.

The bell rang eight times.

Then stopped.

Seventh Uncle’s sword did not fall.

It remained suspended in midair.

He murmured:

“Eight tolls...”

Ji Chengjue narrowed his drunken eyes.

Still sprawled against the table, he said:

“The Empress is dead.”

————

[End of Chapter 400]