Chapter 1378: United as Autumn Frost

Standing amidst the clouds and mist, the white fox fur coat piled like stacked snow.A rare gleam of moisture graced Jiang Wuqi's face. His noble yet cold eyes swept lightly across the four directions, as if surveying his mountains and rivers, his land."The Kingdom of Equality, through insidious means, plotted against this Orphan. This Orphan shall exterminate them!"Each word burst forth like a silver vase shattering, like swords and spears clanging in unison.He let out a long cry, "Who else dares come?"He spoke of this moment, yet not merely of this moment.Zhang Yong's weeping at the Ancestral Shrine was a conspiracy by the Kingdom of Equality to defile the Emperor's name. He was implicated, unable to recover. His foundation lay in the imperial court, and even more so in the Emperor's favor. To lose the Emperor's heart was nigh equivalent to losing everything.And today marked Jiang Wuqi's counterattack!At this time, silence reigned across the wilds, the clouds halted, and the wind grew still.He suppressed the might of two Divine Projections with a turn of his palm, as if even this mountain of clouds and mist was awed into submission."Your Highness, you've injured me!"厉Youjiu's voice echoed from within the palm.Jiang Wuqi remained silent, stepping on the clouds and mist, turning to descend the mountain.The experts of the Kingdom of Equality chose to assassinate him today, and 厉Youjiu, who "coincidentally" was on duty in the nearby area, how could he be innocent?Even the records of 厉Youjiu adjusting his patrol area were already in Jiang Wuqi's hands long ago.Of course, 厉Youjiu could offer many reasonable explanations...But he would not listen.He, Jiang Wuqi, used himself as bait, and the ones he sought to lure were naturally not limited to these. Throughout the entire Qi Kingdom, this thread was to extend... The Longevity Palace had made ample preparations for this day!It was merely that at Cloud Mist Mountain, only these gains were to be had.After all, what he had always displayed was merely Inner Mansion cultivation. Even being the Palace Lord of the Longevity Palace, the fish that could be directly lured out could only be of this level. How large the hook, so large the fish.Thus, he turned.The plank road beneath his feet was empty. Qiao Er, a Divine Projection, and 厉Youjiu, also a Divine Projection, had both been suppressed with a flick of his hand.At that time, the morning sun had just risen, its rosy light暈ed at the horizon, shyly gazing upon the beautiful young man in the human world.The scion, draped in a white fox fur coat, stepped into the air, the clouds and mist parting for him.He would be difficult to see again, both in the heavens and on earth.All the extraordinary cultivators who witnessed this scene on Cloud Mist Mountain were struck speechless!The world knew that the Eleventh Prince of Great Qi, Jiang Wuqi, possessed peerless talent, and with unimaginable perseverance and innate ability, had reached his current position as Palace Lord of the Longevity Palace despite the congenital limitation of the cold poison entering his life.But the world did not know that Jiang Wuqi could be so brilliant!From the Inner Mansion to Divine Projection in one step, and upon entering Divine Projection, he easily fought two opponents, suppressing two Divine Projection experts in the flick of a palm!Was this truly within the reach of human ability?The same morning light fell upon different parts of Linzi.It awoke the shallow dreams of some, and comforted some disheartened souls.The scenery is ever similar, the people ever different.The Xiu family's residence was the most imposing in Jinxian Ward, rising because of Xiu Yuan, and growing desolate because of Xiu Yuan.It was still that quiet room, still that pot of tea.Still Yan Tu and Xiu Yuan sitting opposite each other.Both of ordinary background, both possessing astonishing talent and brilliance, both joining the military, both rising rapidly through the ranks.These two commanders of the Military Affairs Department, whose life experiences were so similar, had long ago established an enviable friendship. Counting the years, the duration was already difficult to measure.Their tacit understanding was far beyond that of ordinary people, and they spoke more freely in private than with others.But today, a long silence reigned.Until a peddler's cry sounded two blocks away—"Sharpening scissors!"Though so distant, the sound was naturally heard by Yan Tu.He picked up the teacup and drank it down like an ox.The teacup clinked on the table."I won't drink anymore, I'm full of frustration!"Yan Tu rose directly, "I'm leaving!"And Xiu Yuan still sat upright, cross-legged, looking down at the teacup. In the white cloud-patterned teacup, a single upright tea leaf seemed to bloom on a branch, rising and falling like a dance in the boiling water.He seemed to be waiting for it to sink, but this tea leaf never did."The operation failed, didn't it?" Xiu Yuan asked.Yan Tu, who had already reached the door, suddenly turned back, "What do you mean?"Xiu Yuan lightly turned the rim of the cup with his thumb and forefinger, "I've been wondering why I valued Cui Zhu so much? Before the Grand Master's ceremony, why did he always seem to please me? He wasn't that kind of person, yet he seemed to be cast perfectly in the mold of someone I admired."He didn't look up, but asked, "Can you tell me the answer, Brother Yan?"Yan Tu's face darkened, "We've been friends for so many years, and you suspect me?""Yes... we've been friends for so many years." Xiu Yuan sighed, "With your help, Cui Zhu could naturally cater to my preferences. Because of our friendship, no one would think twice about your guidance to him. It just so happened that the Rain-Severing Army was on duty in the capital region, so even if Xia State sent a high-ranking member of the Kingdom of Equality, the clue would be quickly cut off. The Northern Courtyard and the Rain-Severing Army searched the entire city, and all they caught were insignificant figures...""Talking nonsense like this, I could come up with hundreds of unique individuals. Don't you think it's far-fetched?" Yan Tu was furious, "Xiu Yuan, has being imprisoned ruined your mind!""Far-fetched?" Xiu Yuan finally looked up at him, his gaze very unfamiliar, "I just feel sad. We've been friends for so many years, have you always worn a mask with me? Even now that I'm under house arrest, you still come to use me to clear suspicion. Although the Rain-Severing Army was on duty in the capital region, the commander of the Rain-Severing Army was drinking tea at my mansion when His Highness had trouble! Do you think that's appropriate, Brother Yan?""I don't know what you're talking about, nor do I know who has bewitched you. But Xiu Yuan, you have greatly disappointed me today! Is our decades of friendship meant for you to harbor suspicion?" Yan Tu turned away in anguish, "You should calm down properly!""I am very calm, it is you who are not calm enough." Xiu Yuan said coldly, "You have lost your composure."Yan Tu stood still, took a deep breath, and pointed a finger, actually slicing off a corner of his sturdy skirt armor.It hit the ground, emitting a metallic sound."Since you have never trusted me, this friendship can end!"Xiu Yuan looked at his unusually heavy back and couldn't help but shake his head, then laughed self-deprecatingly, "Your Majesty said you have a rough exterior but a meticulous interior. How could you be merely that? You are practically 'with a face like an iron tower, but within, carved with the oxen and horses of sentient beings.' Even at this moment, seeing your performance, I actually doubted myself for a moment. Yan Tu, Yan Tu, if not for His Highness's reminder, I truly would not have realized. I, Xiu Yuan, have truly lost more than a single move to you, Yan Tu!"In the years they were friends, whether drinking, practicing military drills, or fighting, Xiu Yuan never admitted defeat, always striving to be first.The phrase he said most often was—Yuantu, Yuantu, the word "Yuan" comes first, the word "Tu" comes after.Today, he admitted his inferiority. What he was inferior in was naturally this temperament that used decades of friendship as a bargaining chip.Thus, his laughter was so desolate."Unreasonable!" Yan Tu's face was ashen, and he was about to leave directly."Sharpening scissors!"Xiu Yuan suddenly shouted this from behind him, every word, every tone, exactly the same as the voice from two blocks away.In other words, Xiu Yuan had also heard it.In other words, the seal on Xiu Yuan... had long been lifted.This was a trap, a trap specifically aimed at him!A dangerous signal exploded in his heart, and Yan Tu quickly realized where the problem lay.Xiu Yuan said that it was the Eleventh Prince who reminded him, and only then did he begin to suspect something was wrong.That meant that everything that happened today was entirely within Jiang Wuqi's control. This opportunity to assassinate Jiang Wuqi was given by Jiang Wuqi himself.The moment they conceived the idea of assassinating Jiang Wuqi, they had already fallen into the trap.Knowing Jiang Wuqi's whereabouts, understanding the defenses of the Longevity Palace, mobilizing forces to cooperate seemingly naturally with this action, from the Blue Plaque constables to the military on duty in the capital region making commensurate responses... All these actions, they could indeed carry them out very covertly. Their organization always acted cautiously and without leaving a trace.But if this process was closely monitored by a pair of eyes, then there would be flaws everywhere!What a ruthless person.The Kingdom of Equality implicated Jiang Wuqi in the Zhang Yong weeping at the Ancestral Shrine case, and Jiang Wuqi, in turn, used himself as bait to uproot the Kingdom of Equality's arrangements in Qi Kingdom!Yan Tu was very sure that there was no ambush at Cloud Mist Mountain. As a high-ranking member of Great Qi's Military Affairs Department, and in charge of the defense of the entire capital region, what large-scale operation could be hidden from him?Jiang Wuqi had truly thrown himself into a deadly situation. Only by doing so could he truly lure out the big fish.Otherwise, this operation would not have been approved by him, nor by the Prince Zhao, who was temporarily in charge of Eastern Region affairs.At Cloud Mist Mountain... how did it fail?Qiao Er, a Divine Projection, was responsible for the assassination, and 厉Youjiu, also a Divine Projection, helped control the situation as a Blue Plaque, obstructing rescue. Capturing Jiang Wuqi alive was difficult, but killing an Inner Mansion cultivator should have been foolproof.Could it be that a True Person who was not previously in Linzi had been lurking and struck? Or even that a True Lord was watching the scene?Why had he, the commander of the Nine Garrisons stationed in the capital region, not received any inkling?Could it truly be as Xiu Yuan said, that he had been suspected beforehand?These were all questions Yan Tu had to consider. Only by thinking clearly could he make fewer mistakes in the subsequent responses.Of course, by now, the choices before him were not many.Yan Tu stepped out the door calmly, not reacting to Xiu Yuan's call, merely saying, "姓修, you and I sever our ties today. From now on, each of us shall look out for ourselves!"But his military boot stopped after just one step.For right in front of him, a white lantern pierced through space and extended horizontally."General Yan, please stay your steps." The blind old man who stood fixed before him spoke thus.His figure was hunched, yet he seemed to fill the heavens and the earth. He trembled, yet he was like a deep abyss, a vast sea.The Night Watcher, who directly served the Son of Heaven!His function was to supervise the long night and eliminate all evil and wickedness.Suddenly facing this blind old man, there were few in the entire Qi Kingdom who would not feel fear.But Yan Tu stepped forward instead, his aura surging, "I am the commander of the Nine Garrisons, I have fought for the country my entire life, my name is listed in the Military Affairs Department of Great Qi! How dare your Night Watchers apprehend me without cause?"The old man holding the white paper lantern spoke slowly, "Then this old man shall tell you why.""The person sharpening scissors is perfectly normal. He simply had a dream last night. That dream influenced him, making him hear different speeds and emphases in the peddling call when he passed by the fried dough stick stall, depending on whether he saw three or five fried dough sticks.The person selling fried dough sticks is also perfectly normal. It just so happened that someone passed by at that time and happened to buy a lot of fried dough sticks, leaving only three on his stand.The person who bought the fried dough sticks is also perfectly normal. Someone gave her some Knife Coin, just enough for her to buy that many. And when she went to find the person who asked for her help after buying the fried dough sticks, that person was already gone.Our clue also ends at this link. We haven't found the person who gave her the Knife Coin... What a very cautious organization.""That sounds very complicated." Yan Tu said, "But what does that have to do with me?"The blind old man asked, "Tell me, with such a great effort, what message were they trying to convey? What did that peddling sound represent?"Yan Tu scoffed, "How should I know?""We don't know what it represents, but we can be sure that it must have its meaning, it is certainly not ordinary."The blind old man said unhurriedly, "Taking that person sharpening scissors as the center, we investigated everyone within three blocks of the vicinity. Ranked by cultivation, there were a total of four hundred and seventy-one people who could have heard that sound at that specific time..."Yan Tu looked at the white paper lantern in the blind old man's hand, and actually felt it was like a fluttering, soul-summoning banner, swaying before his eyes.And the old man's voice in his ears continued to sound—"As you might expect, we thoroughly investigated all four hundred and seventy-one of these people. As of this moment, only three people could not be cleared of suspicion, and General Yan, you are one of them."Yan Tu shook his head, expressing admiration, "Truly a brilliant process.""His Highness the Eleventh Prince has a saying that I deeply agree with—'In the face of the most foolish method, even the cleverest person cannot hide. Because clever people are only used to dealing with clever people.'" The blind old man said, "So we used this foolish method to find you, this clever person.""Honestly, your conjecture is brilliant, and His Highness the Eleventh Prince is also very clever. But aren't you taking things a bit too much for granted?" Yan Tu said with suppressed anger, "A person sharpening scissors, had a strange dream, and slightly changed the tone of their call. Just because this general's cultivation is extraordinary and can hear it from such a distance, a dignified commander of the Nine Garrisons is suspected of colluding with the Kingdom of Equality? It's simply preposterous and laughable!""Don't you understand yet? You are not suspected because of this matter. It is because His Highness the Eleventh Prince has long suspected you, and this matter today has merely verified your suspicion! I'm not afraid to tell you, since the crying at the Ancestral Shrine case, His Highness the Eleventh Prince has been investigating your organization. You are merely one of the suspects. General Yan, I am not responsible for resolving your doubts. If you have any other questions, you may as well save them for the imperial prison."The blind old man said, then turned and walked forward, "Come with me, don't waste any more time."There was a wall before him, but he simply walked into the wall.As if walking from one world into another. As if he wasn't afraid at all that Yan Tu would escape.And Yan Tu indeed did not choose to escape. He simply could no longer utter words of defense.At least at this moment, there was no point in defending himself to this blind old man. It was better to think carefully about how to plead his case before the Son of Heaven.Escape was impossible. Since this blind old man had appeared in person, resistance was useless. Although the Rain-Severing Army under his command was currently on duty in the capital region, it was not enough to rely on at such a moment.The Qi court allowed various families to establish clan troops within a certain range, the prefects of each prefecture had considerable autonomy, and the sects within the borders also had freedom under the Qi laws.Only the highest authority of the Nine Garrisons was firmly held by the Qi court.The elites of the Nine Garrisons belonged to the Qi, not to a single family or surname.Just as Chongxuan Chu Liang needed the imperial court to issue tiger tallies to mobilize the Autumn Killing Army.Just as the Spring Death Army was personally commanded by Cao Jie, in that earlier battle at Sword Peak Mountain, Jiang Mengxiong also mobilized it whenever he wished.In the end, the Nine Garrisons were loyal to the Qi. Not to a single commander.Without a dispatch from the Qi court, this commander of the Rain-Severing Army could not mobilize more than a thousand troops.Yan Tu never expected that he would be identified because of an extremely clever information transmission. The Night Watchers, in order to confirm his suspicion, had actually investigated everyone within three blocks of the vicinity at once!Originally, the Cloud Mist Mountain operation, regardless of success or failure, would not have affected him.At what point was he discovered by Jiang Wuqi?Yan Tu thought for a while, then stopped thinking, and stepped forward.The past was full of storms, but there was no regret in his heart.It was just that he didn't know why, at this very moment, the first image that appeared in his mind was a rainy night seventy-six years ago.That dense, melancholic rain...At that time, Qi Kingdom was not yet the hegemon of the Eastern Region. Even Jiang Shu had not yet ascended the throne, merely fighting on the battlefield as the Crown Prince, but already showing signs of heroic bearing. And he, as a core member of the Kingdom of Equality, had joined the iron cavalry of Qi Kingdom's conquest of the Eastern Region.It was a difficult rainy night. He was beaten and abandoned his armor, scattered from the army. In a mountain cave, he encountered Xiu Yuan, who was equally disheveled.The two extremely nervous people met for the first time, greeting each other with swords and spears, each dragging their injured bodies to fight. It was only in the process of fighting for their lives that they learned of each other's identities and turned hostilities into friendship.The two hid in that mountain cave for five days, and that rain did not cease for five days.Until one day, they heard a very bright bird's cry, and when they walked out of the mountain cave, the rain had passed and the sky was clear.Much later, he learned that kind of bird was called "Carrying Rain."According to the Record of Extraordinary Beasts: There is a bird named "Carrying Rain," its feathers divided into three colors, its wings nine feet long. It rises with the wind, carrying the rain as it flies. When this bird cries, the clouds scatter and the rain ceases.He even told this story to Xiu Yuan, but Xiu Yuan insisted that the bird calling outside the cave that day was just a sparrow...The wall in front of him seemed to block everything. He couldn't see the road ahead, nor could he find his memories.Before stepping in, Yan Tu sighed, "Empty valley carrying rain, can it be heard again?"Only then did he take a step out and disappear from the Xiu family's residence.And behind him, there was no response.Since the leader of the Night Watchers appeared, Xiu Yuan had not spoken again, merely slowly rotating the teacup in his hand, silently watching the confrontation between the two.Only at this moment did he shift his gaze to look at the piece of skirt armor lying on the ground, remaining silent for a long time.Others cut their robes, Yan Tu cut his armor.Xiu Yuan shook his head.He had complained countless times about Yan Tu's crude appreciation of beauty, yet at this moment, he also raised his cup and drank down this exquisite tea.Purple Extreme Palace.The court assembly had dispersed, and all the civil and military officials had withdrawn.The Son of Heaven of Qi, however, still remained in the hall.Above the high imperial steps was a huge and magnificent dragon throne.Within the spacious hall, it was empty.The Emperor of Great Qi, rarely today, did not review memorials, nor did he do anything else, but simply sat there fixedly.After a long while, he finally sighed, "Am I sitting too high?"At this moment, the one serving by his side could, of course, only be Han Ling.He did not speak, because the Son of Heaven did not need an answer.Tap, tap.Footsteps sounded outside the Purple Extreme Palace, on the vast white stone plaza.They were not heavy, in fact, but in their ears, they were very clear.The Son of Heaven propped himself up on an armrest, stood up, and walked down the imperial steps.His dragon boots touched the ground, steady and strong.The Son of Heaven walked very slowly, because every step bore the weight of the state.And the footsteps outside the hall were very measured and regular.Within the bounds of "propriety," their speed did not decrease.When the Son of Heaven of Qi finally descended the imperial steps, standing in the hall of the Purple Extreme Palace, he stood at the forefront where the court officials usually lined up.That slender figure wrapped in a white fox fur coat also stood within the massive doorway of the Purple Extreme Palace.The huge doorway, like a heavenly portal, further accentuated his slender form.In the morning light streaming in behind him, he was like snow, his fur coat like snow.Bringing a chilling cold that could freeze hearts to death."Your son, bows to Father Emperor!"Jiang Wuqi pushed down the golden mountain, overturned the jade pillar, and bowed down in the spacious Purple Extreme Palace.He could have gone to the Emperor's sleeping quarters to meet him, but today was a son meeting his father, and also a subject facing his sovereign.Therefore, he chose the Purple Extreme Palace.The Son of Heaven of Qi did not stop his grand salutation. The dangling beads from his Pingtian crown concealed the emotions of this supreme ruler of Great Qi.But the swaying beaded curtain clearly also indicated that his mood was not calm.Finally, the Son of Heaven only asked, "Why bother?"Jiang Wuqi rose properly. Now he stood before the Emperor of Great Qi. He could finally look at his father as a son.This was a special grace granted by the Son of Heaven of Qi.But he observed the rites of a subject, his eyes lowered by two points, and said very seriously, "Father Emperor's great undertaking is imminent, there can be no hidden dangers in the army."The Son of Heaven said, "We have plenty of time..."Jiang Wuqi said, "Time waits for no one.""Wúqì." The Son of Heaven only called out his name, and then fell silent.Han Ling, standing behind the Son of Heaven, remained silent, standing like a silent statue, but his face was sorrowful, tears welling up in his eyes.Only Jiang Wuqi was smiling.He smiled, like a snowflake blooming in the Purple Extreme Palace.In his life, there were rarely such bright, brilliant smiles.Because from the moment he was born, he had already carried too much. While still in swaddling clothes, his end had already been sealed.In the frozen ground of life, how could flowers bloom?"Father Emperor, do you believe your son?" Jiang Wuqi asked.The Son of Heaven remained silent for a long time, and finally said, "A Son of Heaven cannot be without suspicion."Jiang Wuqi's pale, handsome face still wore a brilliant smile, "Now you can believe your son."He seemed determined to make the Son of Heaven of Qi remember his brilliant appearance.So he smiled so radiantly."I just want you to believe me.""Father Emperor, your son has never had a rebellious heart!""Please return the piece of white jade that was taken away, to your son.""Your son has never felt himself to be so healthy. This feeling... is very good..."And his smile, thus, froze.In the early morning of October, it solidified into autumn frost.