The throne was a foot away, a mere leap for her. Although the Northern Di emperor was surrounded by warriors, their breathing was so mixed and unclear that it was impossible to see clearly in the dark. Everything was progressing perfectly, so why was her eyelid twitching?
Left eye twitching means good fortune, right eye twitching means bad luck, right eye twitching...
She suddenly glanced up and met a pair of distorted old eyes.
"Years ago, your father fought a Northern Di man one-on-one. Ah Niu knows that your father is incredibly skilled and powerful, but I beat that man so badly that he was left crawling on the ground. That disfigured man was ugly!"
Her father's wild laughter echoed in her mind, and she instinctively clutched the book to her chest.
This ugly face, this old face—Xianyu Shirong.
This man is the Grand Preceptor of the Northern Barbarians, how could she forget? How could she forget!
Her right eye twitched uncontrollably. Afraid of revealing her guilt, she braced herself and met the man's probing gaze. Her heart was filled with unease, but her eyes remained open and honest. Father, she had truly mastered the art of forbearance, reaching its pinnacle.
His moon-shaped eyes were like two clear springs, seemingly bottomless. Xianyu Shirong was taken aback at first, his old eyes, like those embedded in a tumor, revealing a hint of uncertainty. Just as he was about to give up, he suddenly caught sight of a blood-red earring.
Seeing his gaze shift, seemingly landing on her cheek, Yu Zigui's eyes flickered, and her heart suddenly turned cold.
The tourmaline on her ear...
A murderous aura gradually gathered. She reached for the long sword at her waist, waiting for Xianyu Shirong to make his move. Laughter filled the air, time flowed quietly by, and she waited, then waited some more. Until the old man looked away, she didn't understand.
With that kind of gaze, Xianyu Shirong couldn't possibly have failed to recognize her, but why did he let her go?
Her gaze shifted slightly, landing on Xianyu Shirong's seat. So that's it. He was a member of the Southern King's faction, a prized student, and the Southern King's only son. No wonder this old man let her go; when the snipe and the clam fight, the fisherman benefits. Compared to the crisis facing the Northern Di Emperor, Xianyu Shirong clearly had other interests. His old eyes gleamed as he stared intently at the defense map in Shangguan Yi's hand.
Her eyes widened, and she gripped the long knife tightly.
Xiao Kuang and his men were responsible for annihilating the enemy, while she was responsible for killing the king. But what if Xianyu Shirong attacked Ziyu? If they abandoned the killing to save Ziyu, everything would be over once the fire started. Even if Xianyu Shirong didn't reveal her true identity, with just a blank map, the six of them would have a hard time escaping.
To abandon one's child is foolish...
The thought sent a piercing pain through her chest. The only time she could recall experiencing something like this was ten years ago, a time when she thought she would never feel pain like this again.
You are foolish, you are foolish.
She gazed at him with lingering eyes, only to see Shangguan Yi stand up, as if to present the fake picture, and then he flicked his sleeve.
The pre-arranged signal was given: the fire was extinguished.
The night was pitch black, devoid of any light. Everyone around stood frozen in place when a dark figure, like a duck spreading its wings, swept towards Shangguan Yi. Yu Zigui didn't even glance at the Northern Di Emperor; his steps were instantaneous as he shielded Shangguan behind him, unleashing a full-force palm strike.
"It really is you." The distorted, ugly face was inches away. "Today, this old man will act on behalf of the Prince and Geng'er..."
Too much talk! With a spinning kick imbued with true energy, she forced Xianyu Shirong back several feet. Then she grabbed Shangguan Yi and pushed him into a corner.
"Do not come out before the light."
She was about to leave after giving her instructions when Shangguan Yi grabbed her wrist.
"If I get hurt, will you feel sorry for me?" he asked softly.
His handsome eyes seemed to meet hers yet not quite. She knew he couldn't see her, but she still glared at him fiercely. "You'll be alright," she said emphatically.
As the palm strike approached from behind her head, she shook off Shangguan Yi's grip, turned around to block, and missed the precise focus in his dark eyes.
"So you can feel sorry for me." Shangguan Yi smiled slightly, glancing at the Northern Di emperor on the throne.
Yu Zigui barely managed to bend over, the wind from her palm grazing her cheek. She drew her long sword from her waist, the tip falling to the ground, and using the blade's resilience, she sprang up upside down. Before Xianyu Shirong could react and raise his head, she delivered a leg sweep and a straight chop, slamming it hard into his twisted old face.
A crisp crack echoed from the throne. The guard beside the emperor paused slightly, then tried calling out, "Khan?"
The only response they received was the chaotic murmur of men and women below. Unable to contain their impatience, the warriors peered into the darkness toward the throne. The exposed skin was still warm, though their necks were bent at an odd angle.
"Ao Daqi (Imperial Physician), come this way quickly! Khan... Khan?"
The emperor is injured? The Eighth Prince, who was originally about to flee, suddenly stopped. In the eerie darkness, you can't see me, and I can't see you, yet our hearts are connected across the distance.
It was pitch black—kill him, and I'll become emperor!
Drawing their decorative scimitars, the eight kings, each with their own thoughts, advanced in the darkness. Almost simultaneously, all six swords were raised high, and then—
"Khan!" A startled roar erupted from the throne.
The slaughter began. Blades flashed in the pitch-black night, first a single strike, then a continuous barrage of shadows. Screams echoed all around, but no one could see them, or if they did, they pretended not to! The men were bloodthirsty, knowing only that if they didn't wield their blades, they would be the ones to die.
With a heavy blow to the abdomen from Xianyu Shirong, Yu Zigui knelt on one knee and slid several feet.
Damn it! Why didn't Father say that this old man gets all worked up when he gets slapped in the face? She barely managed to take a few hits before finally getting kicked. She couldn't hear the chaos around her anymore; all she wanted was to inflict a second destruction on that ugly face. She sprang to her feet with incredible speed and vanished in an instant.
Xianyu Shirong was stunned, a white blade already thrust across his neck. Like a shadow, Yu Zigui was right behind him, holding a long sword horizontally in his left hand, and pulled back with a swift motion, but... the sword broke.
His old skin was as hard as iron armor. Xianyu Shirong chuckled and grabbed her left hand, throwing her to the ground with a shoulder throw. The scenery changed before her eyes, and she landed heavily. The intense pain jolted her awake.
Juque acupoint, Juque acupoint! "There is only one fatal acupoint on the whole body, and that is six inches above the navel—Juque."
Seeing the old man's ferocious face contort as he attacked, she remained motionless. In terms of martial arts, she was no match for Xianyu Shirong, but everything should be planned before acting. If she could understand his methods, a surprise victory was not out of the question. Having already anticipated being seriously injured by using herself as bait, she watched quietly.
In her eyes, Xianyu Shirong's movements were as slow and clear as water, the palm strike already upon her, yet the method remained concealed. Her moon-shaped eyes widened, then widened again, and Xianyu Shirong finally formed a claw from his palm. A surge of joy filled her heart, preparing to accept this vicious blow. But, to her surprise, the pain did not arrive as expected.
Yu Zigui stared in disbelief at the figure blocking his way.
"Zi... Ziyu!"
She caught his soft body in her arms. His dark eyes were still unfocused. Shangguan Yi smiled gently: "I caught him..."
Upon hearing this, Yu Zigui looked at his abdomen, where there was a sticky, dark stain, and he was tightly gripping the iron claw that was struggling desperately. His handsome face showed no sign of abnormality, and his intoxicating black eyes were still smiling, as if he were calm and undisturbed, as if he felt no pain at all.
With his true energy about to burst forth, Yu Zigui formed a blade with his palm and plunged it into Xianyu Shirong's Juque acupoint. Then, he pulled it horizontally, and the hoarse scream was buried in the surrounding carnage.
"Finally..." Her graceful body slowly slid down.
"You fool!"
She withdrew her bleeding hand and embraced the warm body. "Ziyu...Ziyu..." Hot tears streamed down her face; she was panicked beyond control, desperately channeling her inner energy into him. "My kung fu is good, so what if I'm injured? Why did you run out...why did you run out..."
A soft voice said, "It hurts me to see you hurt."
Tears streamed down her face. In that moment, she truly saw only him. Only him, her heart and eyes were filled with him. Even if the world were to crumble, even if the sun and moon were to dim, he would be all she saw.
She carefully held him to her chest, lowered her head, and whispered in his ear again and again, "Ziyu, I want to go to Jinling with you."
"good."
Springtime scenery filled his dark eyes, and peach blossoms fell to the ground...
Volume Two Completed
The ospreys cry, on the islet in the river.
A beautiful and graceful woman is the object of a gentleman's affections.
The water plants grow unevenly, flowing to the left and right.
A beautiful and graceful woman, I long for her day and night.
I cannot obtain what I desire; I yearn for it day and night.
Leisurely and carefree, yet tossing and turning in bed.
The watercress grows unevenly; pick it from both sides.
A graceful and virtuous lady, a virtuous and loving companion.
The watercress grows unevenly, and is gathered from left to right.
A graceful and beautiful lady, celebrated with bells and drums.
—From the Book of Songs, Zhou Nan, Guan Ju
Chapter 1
Jiangnan, a strategically important region, was once the battleground of the Eastern Wu. To the west, Mount Emei served as its bulwark; to the south, the Huai River formed the Yi and Luo rivers. It embraced distant mountains and commanded the great river, controlling lakes and seas and overlooking the vast south. Yellow flags and purple canopies adorned the landscape, a scene of tigers crouching and dragons coiling. It was a place of flourishing arts, literature, and Confucianism, a testament to the abundance of sailing ships and maritime vessels. The people, dressed in their finest attire, gathered in orderly fashion. Nanjing, a true royal land, yet not an imperial residence…
As recorded in "The Wandering Swordsman", although the Great Wei Dynasty was founded in Jinling, it maintained its rule in the north. Emperor Taizu, feeling grateful for the place where he rose to power, established Yingtian Prefecture there, which complemented Shuntian Prefecture in Beizhili. Therefore, under the rule of the Great Wei Dynasty, Jinling was also known as Nanjing.
It was March, the height of spring blossoms in Jinling. On Jiming Mountain, cherry blossoms shone like snow, and the lakeside mountains gradually turned green—a truly beautiful scene of blue sky and water. In a small market town below the city walls, the taverns along the street had just received news from the government that the forty-ninth day memorial for the Holy Emperor had passed, and the white banners that had been hanging for so long had finally been taken down. Seeing this, the scholars who had come to enjoy the spring scenery on the lake couldn't help but discuss it amongst themselves.
"It is said that the late emperor died because of his lack of virtue," said the leading scholar in blue robes, gazing at the fallen banner.
"Brother Wang, you can't say things like that carelessly."
"The sage said: When an emperor loses virtue, there will be celestial signs. Don't you see that first the two rivers flooded, then haze appeared on the winter solstice, and then there was war in the border regions? Look at what happened after the late emperor passed away. The people's rebellion stopped, the haze suddenly dissipated, and the border regions were pacified. The cause and effect are clear. If you still don't believe me, Brother Chen, you can go to the public notice board in the government office. The copy of the late emperor's edict clearly states, 'The chaos in the four seas originated from me.' It is a clear edict of self-reproach."
The listeners around suddenly realized that this was true, but they did not know that the emperor's will was usually drafted by his ministers. In addition, Emperor Shengde was mostly in a coma before his death, so this "sincere" edict that "blamed me" should have come from the hand of the regent.
The regent, who almost lost his life because of Ziyu, why didn't he take action against the Shangguan family in Jinling after his reinstatement?
Yu Zigui felt a slight doubt and slowed his pace. Just then, he heard—
"Oh, who cares about the old emperor or the new emperor? As long as the fish tax is reduced, he's a good lord."
The fishmonger muttered to himself, then, seeing her looking over, immediately smiled broadly. "Young lady, buy a fish, a fresh snakehead, just caught."
She stopped and bent down to look at the plump fish in the basin.
"Look how healthy this fish is! You just came from the pharmacy, is someone in your family sick?"
The fishmonger had a sharp eye; she said, "I'm here to get medicine for my master."
"That girl is quite lucky; snakehead fish is the most nutritious fish."
"Oh? How much is this fish?"
Seeing that she was interested in buying, the vendor became even more enthusiastic. "The big one is seventy coins, the small one is forty coins. If you want both, I'll give you one coin."
"It's much cheaper than last month." She estimated the weight of the two fish. "Just now, the young man said that the market price has dropped by half because the fish fee has been reduced?"
“Young lady, you are truly clever. I only said something casually, and you immediately understood. Indeed, last month the tax official from the river and lake administration sent word that the new emperor is showing compassion to the fishermen and has reduced their taxes by more than half. Truly, the emperor's grace is boundless, truly boundless.”
Seeing his grateful expression, Yu Zigui smiled and said, "That new emperor is truly a good emperor."
"That's right, now that the old man can afford to catch fish and the young lady can afford to eat fish, isn't that a good old man?"
As long as the people are given a way to survive, whether they are a seven-foot-tall man or an infant in swaddling clothes, they are all good emperors in the hearts of the people. The principle of a wise and benevolent ruler in a prosperous era is that simple.
Yu Zigui raised an eyebrow, took out a coin, and said, "I'll take both of them."
"Alright!" Taking the money, the vendor scooped the snakehead fish out of the basin, neatly tied it with straw rope, and handed it to her. "If your master eats my fish, I guarantee he'll be able to eat several large bowls of rice, and his health will improve every day!"
"Thank you for your kind words." The thought of that person being healthy as before filled her with joy, and her smile came from the heart. Her crescent-shaped eyes reflected the lake's shimmering surface, just as a gentle breeze rippled across the water, and her words flowed naturally from her heart.
The vendor was momentarily stunned by Yu Zigui's smile. Only after Yu had walked a short distance away did he hear a sigh behind him: "What a pity she's just a girl..."