Chapter 465: A Royal Decree 10
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
Eastern Ling.
Daliang City.
News that Pang Juan was dead had also reached Daliang City. Daliang City had always been considered Pang Juan’s home and he enjoyed staying there all year round. His relations.h.i.+p with the Shen family was also pretty good and he had received no shortage of favors from them. Now, Pang Juan was dead. Everyone in Daliang City, from the servants in the vintries and inns, to the vendors who set up vegetable stalls on the roadside, to the diners and ordinary folk were all filled with immense anxiety.
“There are plenty of rumors outside now saying that Mr. Pang is dead. ”
“…”
“If Mr. Pang is really dead, Daliang City would be in danger.”
Everyone began to feel utterly wretched.
“What’s the danger? You speak as if Northern Liang would dare to attack us.” Those who did not care much for the state of the country tended to live a very relaxed life.
“Even if they don’t attack us, Daliang City no longer has anyone to call for support in the future.” Those who were worried about the nation’s situation, however, were rife with worry.
“Who says?”
“Who else is there who could protect this city?”
“Don’t we still have the Shen family?”
The Wanbao Chamber of Commerce controlled by the Shen family was more powerful than the Senluo Chamber of Commerce, the top chamber of commerce in Northern Liang. This was because Eastern Ling always bested Northern Liang, be it in terms of economy or military strength. Hence, the Wanbao Chamber of Commerce’s overall power ranked third on the wealth list even on the entire continent.
The first…would be the Qilin Administration of the Ghost Organization.
The second would be the Lanyin Chamber of Commerce of Daming.
The fourth was the Yongxin Chamber of Commerce of Dazhou.
As for the Senluo Chamber of Commerce, even though it was the first in Northern Liang, it only ranked fifth in the entire continent.
This was a story to be recounted later.
The point was…
Every individual in Daliang City was also very wealthy thanks to the Shen family’s existence. Outsiders would say that there was never a beggar on the roads of Daliang City because everyone lived a good life. When disasters occured in other places, Daliang City would take the initiative to open up storehouses for disaster relief and help the refugees as the economic city of Eastern Ling. Hence, whether in the hearts of the local people or those in other Eastern Ling capitals, Daliang was a capital city that had incited much admiration in other parts of the nation.
In this capital, the Shen family’s existence was the most important.
Everyone knew that the Shen family was in power behind the scenes of Daliang City; Pang Juan was the city’s protector behind the scenes.
“The Shen family is still the Shen family. It’s likely that they are more nervous than us now with Pang Juan’s death!”
“The Shen family still has one first-cla.s.s rank-nine archer. Gao Zhongcan is known as the saint of arrows! Pang Juan’s death does not affect them at all.”
“…sigh.”
How could the grand master just die?
It really…made one not know how to feel.
…
…
In the Yunwu Mountains of Eastern Ling, there was an old man in a gray robe. After hearing the news of Pang Juan’s death, he looked at the misty mountain and fell into a long period of contemplation.
s.h.i.+ye.
He was also one of the seven grand masters.
He really did not think that Pang Juan would die.
That someone had the power to kill a grand master… This both excited and terrified the old man.
That was the extremely complicated emotion that was intertwined inside his heart.
…
…
The morning glow of the early morning fell upon the Northern Liang Palace, projecting a harshness on the black palace.
In the upper study.
After the morning court ended.
The little empress sat in the study reviewing memorials.
After a while, right as she was planning to take a break.
A little eunuch ran in from outside with a secret memorial in his hands.
After entering, he said, “Your Majesty, this is a secret memorial that has been delivered with the utmost urgency.” Glancing at the handwriting on it, Little Lizi hurriedly reported to Her Majesty the Empress, “This servant has taken a look at it, it seems to be the Head Grand Secretariat’s handwriting.”
The little empress’s brows instantly rose. Her entire face seemed to glow and her eyes looked like they were s.h.i.+ning more than ever.
“Is it Master Jiang’s handwriting?”
The little empress was in a very good mood and said a little eagerly, “Hurry up and let me take a look.”
Little Lizi presented the secret memorial with both hands.
The little empress opened the secret memorial excitedly. However, she could not help but curse just after reading through the first line of words.
“Nonsense!”
Little Lizi, ???
What was written in the secret memorial?
He dared not ask.
The little empress continued reading.
After she was done.
Her expression was getting uglier and uglier. Her entire face had changed from a colorful radiance to a layer of ice.
“Your Majesty?” Little Lizi opened his mouth carefully and asked, “What did the Head Grand Secretariat say to incite your anger?”
“Jiang Yeqian…wishes to resign,” the little empress answered expressionlessly.
“Resign????” Little Lizi could not believe his ears.
The little empress threw the secret memorial onto the ground. Furious, she said, “Little Lizi, this secret memorial must be a forgery, someone is definitely pretending to be Jiang Yeqian!”
Little Lizi, “…”
The second day.
During the morning court, the courtiers felt that the empress’s temper seemed unpleasant, which confused them. They were thinking that Eastern Ling and Daming were no longer going to attack them and a youth who was above grand masters.h.i.+p had appeared in their country. They ought to be happy so why did the empress look worried? Could it be that Dazhou would attack again?
The courtiers still did not dare ask her by the time the morning court ended.
The little empress sat in the upper study reticently as she continued perusing the memorials.
Little Lizi did not dare wait on the empress inside the study today either and stood on standby outside.
Not long after.
There was another secret memorial force into his hands.
He sighed.
Then he entered the upper study.
Little Lizi did not dare look up. Gaze facing downward, he reported, “Your Majesty, there is another secret memorial from the Head Grand Secretariat.”
“…”
The little empress looked up, her gaze somewhat impatient.
The little emperor accepted it.
Then took a look at it.
Little Lizi gulped and asked nervously, “Your, your majesty, is he still asking to resign?”
“It’s his handwriting, he wrote it himself,” said the little empress suddenly.
Little Lizi, …
‘Could you have really thought that the secret memorial yesterday was fake?
‘Or are you unwilling to face the truth?’
The little empress’s expression clouded after she read the secret memorial.
“Does the Head Grand Secretariat really wish to resign?” Little Lizi silently wiped the sweat from his forehead and said in a low voice, “Your Majesty, would you like to send the Head Grand Secretariat a reply? This servant could request someone to deliver it to Qingzhou City with the utmost haste.”
“No need,” the little empress replied in a deep voice.
She sat there, expression ugly, as she continued reviewing memorials.
Little Lizi, “…”
The little empress gritted her back teeth and said, “He has made his reason for his resignation very clear in his letter.”
Little Lizi, !!!
Just what was the reason?!
The third day.
After the morning court adjourned.
The little empress continued looking through doc.u.ments and before long, Little Lizi brought in a secret memorial once again.
His voice was even smaller now.
“Your Majesty, it is once again a secret memorial from the Head Grand Secretariat.”
“…”
The little empress thrust her hand out with a displeased expression.
Little Lizi pa.s.sed the memorial over. “The…the Head Grand Secretariat’s seal has also been delivered back.”
“He is determined!!” The little empress was so furious she flung the secret memorial onto a black and gold lacquered table.
Little Lizi, …
The little empress was fuming, she even wanted to demand Jiang Yeqian explain what tantrum he was throwing this time. However, she endured and read the secret memorial till the end.
Little Lizi felt that being close to the emperor was like standing next to a tiger.
He wiped his sweat and said, “Your Majesty, you shouldn’t be angry either. If the Head Grand Secretariat wants to resign because of something he cannot disclose, it is definitely because he does not wish to worry you.”
The little empress noticed the Head Grand Secretariat’s seal and fumed even more. “As if this would not worry me! I will not allow his resignation.”
“Your Majesty, you still have the State Preceptor you can use.” Little Lizi knew what the little empress thought of the Head Grand Secretariat. After all, the Head Grand Secretariat was not bad-looking and he was a well-known young talent in the capital. He was also a clean-living and honest sort…
“The State Preceptor?” The little empress heard the mention of this person and could not help shaking her head. “The State Preceptor is now blind in one eye.” He looked ordinary to begin with and his temperament was gentle at best. Now he was even blind in one eye. Was he even worth looking at now?
Little Lizi did not know what the empress was thinking and hurriedly said, “In the last secret memorial, wasn’t it stated that the Head Grand Secretariat had also injured his leg? This servant thinks that his injury is probably quite serious and that the Head Grand Secretariat wants to resign because he wishes to recuperate properly.”
“…” The little empress’s eyes suddenly lit up.
However, she remained silent, fuming as before.
Right now, she was missing some of the usual arrogance of an empress.
She had more of a lady’s coquettishness.
Little Lizi said nervously, “Your Majesty, this servant has another theory.”
“Speak,” said the little empress, her expression taut.
Little Lizi said, “Could it be that, with the introduction of the young grand master and the State Preceptor’s injury despite being rank nine, these events made him want to properly cultivate further, which is why he wishes to resign. On that note, there are many martial artists who are easily disturbed by mundane things and have too many distracting thoughts in their minds, which makes it very hard for them to break through.
“…” Huh, that made sense.
Little Lizi noticed that the little empress’ expression was a little more relieved and continued, “The Head Grand Secretariat definitely does not want to leave the court, or leave the empress! He must be holding on to the thought of breaking through into grand masters.h.i.+p to better devote his heart and soul to Your Majesty.”
“You make a good point.” A very good point, in fact. He had certainly given this some thought. The little empress instantly became happy again. She pursed her lips and said, “Really, this man. Why did he not just inform me directly? He had me thinking he really wanted to leave me.”
Her tone was like a coy little girl.
Little Lizi knew about some of the empress’s thoughts for the Head Grand Secretariat…
The little empress said cheerfully, “Wait, I shall pen out a reply to him. I wish to inform him that even if he wishes to resign, the Jiang residence manor will still be his and I will forever leave the position of Head Grand Secretariat to him.”
Little Lizi replied with full admiration, “Your Majesty is kind and merciful.”
Her Majesty was truly benevolent and merciful…he definitely dared not jump to conclusions.
Nevertheless, for her majesty’s benevolence and mercy toward him was certain.
…
…
Qi Residence.
Qi Qingyao had been tossing and turning within the mansion for the past few days.
One night.
Steward Zhang said that Miss Gu had entered through the back gate and was secretly looking for her, even requesting to not disclose this to the public.
Qi Qingyao walked to the stables at the back gate doubtfully. Gu Shanshan was wearing a hooded cloak and was standing in front of the stable. She was wrapped up somewhat tightly.
“Why have you come?” She even came through the back gate. Qi Qingyao was somewhat curious and she pulled Gu Shanshan over as she said, “Come with me quick, let’s take a seat inside the house.”
Gu Shanshan shook her head and pulled her back to the stables. She looked at the horses in the shed and said, “I…I can’t stay for too long.”
“What happened?” Qi Qingyao stood in front of her and realized that Gu Shanshan, who was typically lively, was now very solemn.
Gu Shanshan looked down, fixing her gaze on the tips of her feet that poked through beneath the white robes. “I’m leaving…”
“Where are you going?” Qi Qingyao did not understand the reason.
Gu Shanshan replied, “I’m going home.”
“Back to Eastern Ling?” asked Qi Qingyao.
“Yes.” Saying this, Gu Shanshan raised her gaze and looked into Qi Qingyao’s eyes. She said, “My second grandfather wrote a letter, saying that he wanted my brother, as well as brother Xiao and brother Ye, to go back.”
Qi Qingyao, …
Could it be because of Pang Juan’s death?
Gu Shanshan’s next words answered her doubts.
“Old sir Pang died and the situation in Eastern Ling isn’t good. The emperor is afraid that Northern Liang would invade. In the letter, my second grandfather said that the emperor even suspects that Si Jin is a powerhouse stronger than a grand master who was deliberately cultivated by the Ghost Organization.”
“Huh?” What and what? Si Jin was one of the Ghost Organization’s? What kind of theory was that?
Gu Shanshan asked swiftly and mindlessly, “So you’re not actually from the Ghost Organization’s?”
Qi Qingyao’s jaw almost hit the floor. Speechless, she replied, “This is outrageous, how could I be one of the Ghost Organization’s people?”
Gu Shanshan’s tone was a little dull as she said, “My second grandfather also wrote in the letter that the emperor knows everything about you, that the Qi Qingyao back then was an idiot, and that it was impossible for her to be able to design architectural blueprints, and that it’s also impossible that she would know how to treat illnesses. Which means you and Si Jin must be talents who were secretly cultivated by the Ghost Organization.”
“…” What was this?
How was she supposed to explain herself to make things clear?!
Qi Qingyao felt that it was too hard to clarify things.
Gu Shanshan asked, depressed, “Tell me, are you or are you not?”
Qi Qingyao immediately held her hands up in resignation and said, “If I am one of the Ghost Organization, let the thunder strike me dead.”
“You saying that puts me at ease.” Gu Shanshan instantly smiled.
“…” This person was so simple it was cute. One oath and she already believed her. Although she was not from the Ghost Organization, those from the w.a.n.gyue Administration of the Ghost Organization were all proficient in deception. How could there be any truths from them?
Gu Shanshan sighed.
“I won’t ask where Si Jin came from, I think everyone has their own secrets.”
After a pause, she looked at Qi Qingyao and said, “Including you.”
Qi Qingyao nodded slightly. “Yeah.”
“You have a lot of secrets on you,” Gu Shanshan pointed out.
“Yeah.” Qi Qingyao did not know whether to laugh or cry.
Gu Shanshan pursed her lips. Her tone was a little coy but also sounded like she was complaining. “My brothers bought information about you from the Zhaixing Administration. The information is vague. They aren’t even clear about where your three children came from or who the father is.”
Qi Qingyao whispered, a little aggrieved, “I don’t know either.”
Gu Shanshan’s eyes widened. Although she found what Qi Qingyao said strange, she just believed her…
Gu Shanshan said, “Qi Qingyao, did you know that you garnered a lot of attention from many forces on the mainland because of your relations.h.i.+p with Si Jin?”
“Is that so?” Qi Qingyao asked back.
“That’s right.” Gu Shanshan’s tone became a little more serious. “That’s why, you will certainly die one day if you can’t cultivate.”
Qi Qingyao, “…”
“If the four major nations have already taken notice of you, then the Ghost Organization definitely has a closer eye on you.” Gu Shanshan inserted a bit more thoughtfulness on top of her usual joyfulness. “I’m afraid that if the Zhaixing Administration is constantly unable to uncover information on you, then there is bound to be a day when the advisers of the Wenchun Hall will start devising the most sophisticated plan for your a.s.sa.s.sination or capture. They may send out hitmen from the Xuanwu Administration to catch you or even kill you.”
Qi Qingyao, “…”
Gu Shanshan continued, “My brother said that the Pili Hall’s torture methods are very harsh, and that no one who leaves that place ever comes out with their humanity intact.”
“…” The Pili Hall of the Ghost Organization, huh?
“I fear that a lunatic from the Ghost Organization will catch and torture the truth out of you,” Gu Shanshan said anxiously.
Qi Qingyao did not know how to thank her, so she could only hold onto Gu Shanshan’s hand and say seriously, “Thank you.”
Gu Shanshan smiled and said, “Don’t trust Lu Yan so simply. I might be a little stupid but my brother and brother Xiao have a.n.a.lyzed the situation and they say that the Ghost Organization have definitely infiltrated the Lu family. That’s a certainty. Just like how our Gu family has also likely been infiltrated by the Ghost Organization.”
Qi Qingyao, “…”
This person always looked like a rich young lady who only cared for eating and did no scheming.
In reality, however, her mind was still very sharp.
Gu Shanshan said, “If you become the target of public criticism, they will not hesitate to expose their secret trump cards to get relevant information about you. So, you have to take care of yourself.”
Qi Qingyao said, “Shanshan, you’ve said too much to me.”
“You and I really hit it off well. I don’t want you to die so easily.”
Under the moonlight, a brilliant smile appeared on Gu Shanshan’s face.
…
…
The next morning.
Qi Qingyao received a letter.
It was sent by Gu Shanshan.
She opened the letter and there was only one sentence.
[By the time you read this, I will have left Qingzhou City, take care.]
Qi Qingyao once again thanked Gu Shanshan in her heart.
Just as she put away the letter.
Qi Qingyao noticed the change in Si Jin’s expression as he was having his meal.
Immediately after that, he looked as if he was suffering from constipation.
Then he hurriedly left the dining table.
Qi Qingyao, ???
What was going on?