Meister der Mehrdeutigkeit

Kapitel 148

Upon hearing this, Wang Wenqing nodded with a smile, "It's been many years since we last met. Brother Jiang's 'Taiyi Heart Sutra' has become even more profound. I humbly admit defeat."

"Don't be so polite with me. I'm a generation younger than you, I can't accept the title of 'brother'. As for internal strength..." Jiang Ji flicked his right hand, "The Celestial Master's 'Nether Thunder Palm' is no less formidable."

Wang Wenqing smiled, then looked up at the military carriages.

Jiang Ji noticed his gaze and said with a smile, "What, is the Celestial Master here to protect the Emperor as well?"

Wang Wenqing said, "Brother Jiang, I just have some things to say to the Emperor."

Jiang Ji snorted coldly and said, "Even if you want to say it, he might not be willing to listen. I advise the Celestial Master not to stop me from doing my work."

Wang Wenqing shook his head and smiled, "I have also been in and out of the palace. I know better than anyone what kind of ruler His Majesty is. I have different political views from the late Emperor, but His Majesty understands my thoughts. Otherwise, why would he have summoned me back, and why would he have arranged such a grand reception for me?"

"Wang Wenqing, how dare you speak ill of the royal family..." the eunuch shouted upon hearing this.

However, before he could finish speaking, a hand reached out from the carriage, signaling him to stop.

The hand was fair and clean, with only the gold dragon pattern on the cuff revealing the owner's status.

Upon seeing this, the eunuch stepped back to the front of the carriage, bowed, and remained silent.

Wang Wenqing turned around, without kneeling, but simply clasped his hands in greeting and said, "This humble Taoist greets Your Majesty." After speaking, he stood up on his own and said, "Your Majesty has come in person, presumably because you are troubled by the matter of the 'Nine Emperors.' This humble Taoist is willing to share Your Majesty's worries and difficulties, and earnestly requests Your Majesty to have a heart-to-heart talk with me."

"Holding hands in conversation?" Xiao Xiao was so surprised when she heard this that her jaw almost dropped. The Celestial Master truly lived up to his name; to start a conversation with someone so intimately—this was incredibly audacious! And the person in that carriage was none other than the Emperor.

However, the eunuch, upon hearing the instructions from inside the carriage, said, "Respectfully invite the Heavenly Master."

Wang Wenqing nodded slightly, then turned his head, glanced at Xiao Xiao, and smiled slightly. He then looked at Lian Zhao before stepping forward towards the carriage.

Wang Wenqing boarded the carriage, and a eunuch lifted the curtain for him, inviting him inside.

The moment Wang Wenqing stepped into the carriage, the surroundings fell silent again, as if everything around the Taoist temple had frozen in time. Everyone remained in their original positions, no longer daring to move an inch. Even Jiang Ji stood quietly with his hands behind his back, watching the unfolding events.

Xiao Xiao didn't know how long she had been kneeling or waiting. The deep darkness of the night began to melt away little by little. The cool air gradually dispelled the thin mist, and when the first rays of dawn pierced through the clouds, Xiao Xiao felt a sense of profound change, as if the world had transformed.

She rubbed her eyes, and when she looked up again, she suddenly smelled the fragrance of osmanthus blossoms. Yes, it was already late autumn.

Six months ago, gazing at the azalea-covered mountains, she was prepared to rob someone with only three coins. How could she have imagined such a fate? Life is unpredictable, and the world is ever-changing, but whether good or bad, joy or sorrow, one must experience it all to truly understand. Her past six months have likely surpassed many people's entire lives.

She turned her head to look at Lian Zhao kneeling beside her. Lian Zhao noticed her gaze and turned his head as well. He reached out, took her hand tightly, and whispered, "Are you cold?"

Xiao Xiao smiled and shook her head upon hearing this.

It turns out that this moment of deep affection is worth a lifetime. That's enough. What Zuo Xiaoxiao wanted and could get, she has had enough today.

At this moment, the curtain of the carriage was gently lifted, and Wang Wenqing slowly stepped down.

The soft morning light enveloped him. He stepped down, ethereal as a fairy. He walked through the crowd and went directly to Xiaoxiao.

He looked down at Xiaoxiao with a smile and said, "The world is so vast, yet I still can't find a single person who can understand my great Dao..."

After he finished speaking, he laughed loudly.

The laughter was filled with helplessness and melancholy, but gradually, it was also relieved.

Wang Wenqing put away his smile and recited: "My body is false, my pine branches are not real, I firmly wear worldly clothes, and leap out of the mortal world."

He finished speaking, let out a long sigh, and made no further move.

Xiao Xiao looked up at him in confusion. After a long while, one of the Shenxiao disciples around her spoke up: "Congratulations on the Celestial Master's ascension."

Upon hearing this, all the Shenxiao disciples spoke up and bowed, saying, "Congratulations on the Celestial Master's ascension!"

Ascension...

Xiao Xiao looked at Wang Wenqing, unable to express her feelings. However, a trace of sorrow lingered in her heart.

Just as everyone was mourning Wang Wenqing's passing, the eunuch before the imperial carriage announced in a loud voice:

"Zuo Xiaoxiao receives the imperial decree."

Xiao Xiao was greatly surprised, "Me?"

The eunuch ignored her reaction and continued, "There is a young lady named Zuo, who is both talented and virtuous, skilled in both literature and martial arts. She protects the righteous path of the martial world and upholds justice in the Jianghu, making her famous throughout the land and renowned among the people. Now, by imperial decree, she is hereby bestowed the title of 'Leader of the Martial World' in recognition of her virtue..."

Xiao Xiao looked completely bewildered, utterly unsure of what she had heard.

The eunuch continued, "Now there is Lian Zhao, the son of the Grand Master of the Palace, who is both a man of great talent and ability, and a promising young man. He is truly a perfect match. Therefore, we hereby bestow this marriage upon him, and a date will be chosen for the ceremony."

After the eunuch finished reading, he said expressionlessly, "Give your thanks."

Xiao Xiao froze completely, unable to react for a long time.

"Thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty," Lian Zhao replied.

Xiao Xiao looked at him, still completely bewildered.

"Left Alliance Leader?" The eunuch waited a short while before impatiently reminding him.

The little girl stammered and nodded, saying, "Thank you... thank you for your great kindness, Your Majesty."

The eunuch nodded upon hearing this. Then he announced loudly, "Your Majesty, depart!"

At the same time as the words were spoken, the soldiers put away their weapons, surrounded the chariot, and left in a grand procession.

Xiao Xiao stared blankly at everything that was happening before him until Lian Zhao whispered in his ear, "Xiao Xiao, get up."

She snapped out of her daze and looked at Lian Zhao, "This...this is..."

Lian Zhao's expression held a hint of helplessness. He shook his head, unable to explain why, and simply said, "Get up first."

Xiao Xiao looked distressed and said, "Uh...actually...my legs are numb..."

Lian Zhao laughed and reached out to help her up.

Just as Xiao Xiao stood up straight, someone shouted, "Congratulations, Alliance Leader!"

And so the sound spread, rising and falling in waves.

Standing in the autumn morning light, Xiaoxiao listened to the deafening announcement of "Congratulations, Alliance Leader!" A mix of emotions welled up inside her. What to say, what to do, what was really going on—she had no idea. But it was all over…

No enmity

Half a month later, Xiao Xiao sat in the attic of a wine shop in Lin'an City, watching people come and go on the street, and couldn't help but sigh.

That day, after being appointed as the leader of the martial arts alliance, she rushed from Nanfeng to Lin'an to await imperial decree. Lian Zhao, on the other hand, went to the palace to report the whole story of the "Nine Imperial Artifacts" to the emperor. Several days had passed, and he still hadn't returned. However, the emperor had a new idea and wanted her, the newly appointed leader of the martial arts alliance, to parade through the streets to demonstrate his imperial favor.

What strange things are happening... How can the world be so bizarre these days?

Thinking of this, she couldn't help but sigh again.

Upon seeing this, Ye Zhang, who had come to deliver the imperial decree, laughed and said, "Left Alliance Leader, why are you sighing all of a sudden?"

She snapped out of her daze and said, "Uh... Lord Ye, I'm fine. Please don't call me Alliance Leader Zuo."

"You are the martial arts alliance leader appointed by the Emperor. What's wrong with me addressing you like this?" Ye Zhang laughed heartily.

Xiao Xiao could only sigh, "I...I still don't understand why the Emperor would..."

"Will you be appointed as the leader of the alliance and be betrothed?" Ye Zhang stood up with a smile, looking at the people gathered on the street. They were not ordinary people, but representatives of various martial arts sects.

"The secret lies in what the Celestial Master and the Emperor said," Ye Zhang said, frowning slightly.

"What exactly did they say?" Xiao Xiao asked seriously.

Ye Zhang shook his head. "The Celestial Master is omniscient; who in the world can fathom his thoughts? However, given the circumstances at the time, it was only natural for the Emperor to make such a decision."

Is this even reasonable? She, Zuo Xiaoxiao, was already incredibly inexplicable to be pushed into the position of alliance leader by everyone in the first place, and now she's even been officially appointed... What is everyone playing at...?

Looking at her expression, Ye Zhang couldn't help but laugh again. "Leader Zuo, believe me, you truly deserve it." He paused, then continued, "Given the situation in Nanfeng back then, 'amnesty' was the best course of action."

"Recruit the government?" Xiao Xiao blinked.

Ye Zhang nodded. "Since the Left Alliance Leader is supposedly the one who has obtained the Nine Emperors' favor, he not only holds a high position in the martial arts world but also enjoys great prestige among the common people. If we act rashly, we might anger the Nine Emperors, which would be detrimental to the country. Besides, most of the Nine Emperors expressed their willingness to submit to the imperial court that day. In comparison, wouldn't it be better to offer amnesty to control the situation?"

After listening, Xiao Xiao felt there was some truth to it. But then she felt something was amiss. "Uh, Lord Ye, if I may be so bold as to say something, the current emperor..."

"His Majesty's actions are indeed decisive, but... the circumstances that day were different from the past." Ye Zhang sighed. "The leader of the Broken Wind Sect possesses extraordinary martial arts skills, unmatched in the world. Although he cannot defeat a thousand troops, taking a life among them is not difficult. If the Celestial Master had not intervened, things would have been truly difficult to resolve. The Celestial Master's rescue gave himself and His Majesty an opportunity."

Xiao Xiao thought about it carefully and realized that if the emperor had really killed Jiang Cheng, Jiang Ji would definitely have sought revenge for his son. Given the number of disciples in the "Broken Wind Sect," a rebellion would indeed be difficult to resolve. With the Celestial Master's intervention, the emperor would owe him a favor and would have a way to save face.

Ye Zhang smiled as he looked at Xiao Xiao's enlightened expression, and then said, "However, in the end, only when the Celestial Master ascends to heaven can we be safe and sound, as this will be a huge weight lifted from His Majesty's heart."

"Ascension..." Xiao Xiao felt a pang of sorrow. Ascension was merely a euphemism used by Taoism. The Celestial Master, it seemed, had made a deal with the Emperor, risking his life for the sake of the masses. Indeed, what the Emperor had always worried about was not these江湖草莽 (jianghu cao, meaning wandering heroes and outlaws), but rather the "Shenxiao Sect" with its countless followers.

The Celestial Master concluded: "In all the vastness of the world, I still cannot find a single person who can understand my Great Dao..."

Clearly, he had presented his vision of unifying the world and eliminating national borders to the emperor. However, the emperor did not support it. Everyone knew that the emperor was unwilling to launch a northern expedition and preferred to remain in his isolated region. Yet, she still couldn't understand why, if the recovery of the lost territories was a sure thing, he wouldn't do it. Was the emperor truly incompetent and foolish, or was the power politics involved beyond her, a mere commoner, to comprehend?

Xiao Xiao thought about it again and again, but only felt more confused. She shook her head and dismissed those thoughts.

Ye Zhang said, "Actually, after the amnesty, the Left Alliance Leader won't suffer any losses. With the Emperor bestowing a marriage upon you, there's nothing that can stop your marriage to Lian Zhao. Isn't that a good thing?"

Upon hearing this, Xiao Xiao's face flushed red instantly.

“I…he…” she stammered, unable to speak.

Ye Zhang looked at her earnestly and said, "Alliance Leader Zuo, there are some things you still need to keep in mind. The Emperor's bestowal of this marriage is to use the Lian family to restrain you and thus suppress the 'Nine Emperors.' In the future, the Emperor will definitely focus on weakening the strength of the 'Nine Emperors' to eliminate future troubles. The Lian family will be the first to bear the brunt. From now on, Alliance Leader Zuo, you must be careful in your actions."

After hearing these words, Xiao Xiao's bewilderment vanished, replaced by a bright and determined look in her eyes. Her expression was completely different from her previous dejection, and she exuded an extraordinary aura.

Ye Zhang chuckled, glanced at the time, and said, "Alliance Leader Zuo, it's time to set off."

Xiao Xiao then remembered that she still had the task of patrolling the streets. Reluctantly, she got up and went downstairs.

Downstairs, a large crowd of imperial officials and martial arts figures had already gathered. Upon seeing her descend, they all exclaimed, "Leader Zuo!"

Slightly startled and somewhat embarrassed, she waved her hand.

Upon exiting the gate, they saw that a procession of ceremonial guards was already in place. Four servants, dressed in fine robes, stood at the front of the procession, carrying a ten-foot-long plaque. On the plaque were four large characters personally inscribed by the Emperor: "Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance."

Xiao Xiao stared at the plaque, completely unimagining.

"Leader, please mount your horse."

Xiao Xiao turned her head at the sound. Gui Jiu, leading his horse, was looking at her with a smile.

She had always traveled by sedan chair, but as the "Leader of the Martial Arts Alliance," she valued the word "martial," so riding a horse was naturally the best choice. The horse was tall, handsome, and pure white, without a single blemish, its whiteness dazzling. For today's patrol, the saddle and bridle were specially made, the buckles inlaid with turquoise, and adorned with sapphire tassels—exquisitely beautiful.

Xiao Xiao glanced at the horse, then at her own clothes, and immediately felt a sense of disappointment. Is this...is this something for someone to ride?

"Leader, hurry up and mount your horse!" He Zi called softly when he saw that she didn't move.

Xiao Xiao then came to her senses and prepared to mount her horse.