Imperial Cultivation

Chapter 12: Chapter 11 Visit

At noon, he sensed something unusual outside and left the western side of Mingwu Hall to the courtyard next to the martial arts training ground.

This courtyard was a small martial arts training ground.

The personal eunuch Zou Fang and the eunuchs of other princely heirs and princes were here waiting, most of them practicing martial arts without rest.

Zou Fang stopped his martial arts posture, lightly floated to Chu Zhiyuan, and said softly with clasped fists, ”Young master, there is a message.”

He took out a post from his sleeve.

The cover was azure, with a white cloud floating at the top left corner, set against the blue sky, simple and elegant in style.

Chu Zhiyuan raised an eyebrow and pursed his lips.

Zou Fang opened the post and presented it to him: ”Superintendent Feng handed over this post at the palace gate.”

Chu Zhiyuan scrutinized the invitation.

”At the first quarter of the hour of You*, third floor of Liuyun Building, await the grand arrival of the princely heir, respectfully presented by Jiang Qiuge of the Military Suppression Department.”

This Jiang Qiuge moves quickly indeed.

”That’s enough practice for today, let’s head back early.”

He gestured for Zou Fang to keep the invitation, and turned back to the martial arts training ground.

Under the midday sun, on the empty martial arts training ground of Mingwu Hall, only Chu Zhichuan was wielding a sword, the sword posture dense, the sword light gentle and bright like a waterfall.

Chu Zhiyuan called out loudly, ”Tenth brother, let’s go.”

”Fourth brother, you go on ahead.” Chu Zhichuan replied without stopping his sword posture.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

This Chu Zhichuan is indeed competitive, practicing so hard, aiming to defeat me in the next contest.

When he arrived at the South Palace Gate, Feng Xi and Guo Chi were already waiting with eight innate masters.

As Chu Zhiyuan walked, he asked, ”How’s it over there?”

”Experts from the Military Suppression Department have taken over, sending out four grandmasters.”

In the midst of being surrounded by everyone, Chu Zhiyuan returned to the Prince Mansion.

There was no one following along the way.

Not only had the Military Suppression Department withdrawn, but another stalker was also nowhere in sight, bringing a complete calm and relief.

The two groups of stalkers hovered over like two clouds looming over his mind, making him wary and oppressed, constantly feeling threatened and uneasy.

It always reminded him of his weakness.

This feeling was extremely unpleasant.

——

The tinkling sound of a zither echoed over the misty lake.

In Yaoyue Pavilion, two beautiful maids in snow-white attire played the zither.

Their eyes were bright like water, and they frequently glanced towards Chu Zhiyuan, who was on the opposite Arhat bed, with smiling faces and radiant charms.

The zither sound had a profound, serene mental realm, possessing the wondrous ability to clear the heart and calm the mind.

The fragrance of the two women wafted within the small pavilion, adding a touch of romance.

Zou Fang stood as usual at the entrance of the small pavilion, holding a White Jade Dust Brush motionlessly, as if easily overlooked like a piece of wood.

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged on the Arhat bed, scrutinizing a Longsword like a pool of autumn water, his left hand forming a sword technique sliding back and forth along the sword.

The cold light reflected off the sword onto his sharp sword eyebrows.

He focused and delved into the interior of this Longsword.

If it were an ordinary Treasure Sword, his focus would make everything inside the sword visible with utmost clarity, down to every single grain.

However, this sword seemed to have an invisible force blocking his sense.

Finally, he shook his head helplessly.

In the Postnatal Realm, Inner Qi cannot be externalized and can only circulate within his own body, otherwise directing the Inner Qi into the sword and the Super Sense following would make everything clear.

Without reaching the Innate Realm, Inner Qi cannot be released externally and does not count as a true Martial Artist.

He blinked and disappeared from the Arhat bed, appeared at the railing of the small pavilion, and thrust the Longsword into the night sky dozens of times before sheathing it, then assumed the Dragon Subduing Stance.

The two women, seeing him like this, altered the zither sound to be even and relaxed to avoid abruptly disturbing him.

As he reached a good stage, he suddenly opened his eyes and turned his head.

The thin, tall figure of Chu Minghou appeared on the lakeside corridor.

Gray robes floated, a clear beard under his chin, steps slowly, exuding an ethereal, immortal aura.

Chu Zhiyuan retracted his Dragon Subduing Stance and greeted out of the small pavilion: ”Father King.”

”Yuan’er.” Chu Minghou smiled and stepped into the small pavilion.

The zither sound abruptly stopped.

The two maids in white stood up and bowed gracefully.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

They gracefully exited the small pavilion and gracefully departed.

”Father King, Master Li Moqing hasn’t come today?”

”Mr. Moqing will come in the afternoon, Yuan’er, I want to discuss something with you.”

”Father King, please instruct.”

”In ten days, an important day is coming.”

Chu Zhiyuan was puzzled.

He quickly went over the birthdays of the four-family core members in his mind; none matched, so what important day could it be?

He turned his head to look at Zou Fang.

Zou Fang gently shook his head.

Chu Minghou said, ”Your second uncle’s birthday is coming.”

Chu Zhiyuan’s face slightly changed.

Chu Minghou sighed, raised his eyes towards the misty lake, and sighed, ”Our Prince Mansion is unsealed, yet your second uncle is still confined in there.”

”Father King, watch your words.” Chu Zhiyuan quickly said.

He scanned his surroundings with his eyes.

The reason he liked being on this lake is that there’s no need to worry about ambushes, no concern about eavesdroppers.

Chu Minghou sadly shook his head: ”Is it now that we can’t even mention it?”

”Father King...” Chu Zhiyuan helplessly said, ”We have just been unsealed now, and we need to be cautious in our words and actions, lest make the Imperial Grandfather feel a lack of repentance.”

”...”

Chu Minghou fell silent, his face full of melancholy, and after a moment, he sighed: ”Has the bond between father and son come to this, alas...”

”Father King, why was second uncle confined?”

The confinement of Second Prince Chu Mingren was extremely abrupt, with the Imperial Decree suddenly announced without stating a reason.

Rumors circulated in the streets, the most accepted version being that the second prince violated palace taboos, having an illicit affair with someone in the Harem, discovered by the Emperor.

Chu Minghou frowned.

”Father King, do you not know either?”

”Not clear.”

”...” Chu Zhiyuan was left speechless.

Asking for pardon without knowing the reason?

Second uncle, renowned and capable, mostly expected to inherit the imperial throne, had an excellent father-son relationship with the Emperor, and the sudden decree of confinement could not be due to an ordinary mistake.

What is this recklessness without knowing, isn’t this seeking trouble?

”When I was twelve years old, participating in a hunt, a demon leopard suddenly appeared; if not for your second uncle risking his life to stand in front of me, there would be no you and your sister, your second uncle was seriously injured and almost didn’t survive.”

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded.

Over the years, there was no mention of the second prince in the Prince Mansion, the entire family shunned that name.

”After so many years, your Imperial Grandfather’s anger should have diminished, since our Prince Mansion was unsealed, maybe soon your second uncle’s confinement will be lifted as well.”

”Father King, it’s different.” Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

To be blunt, the Prince Qing Mansion was sealed because of rashness and anger, as aside from that there wasn’t any wrongdoing.

Even so, it was sealed for thirty years, showing how angry the Emperor was.

He probably won’t cool down, it’s likely the confinement will remain.”

”When our Prince Mansion was sealed, there was no way to see your second uncle, now we’re unsealed, we should go see him.”

”Father King, reconsider!” Chu Zhiyuan earnestly said.

”Your mother also advised me, not that I don’t listen to advice, just that I won’t go personally to avoid really angering your father, you go in my place to visit your second uncle.”

Chu Zhiyuan locked his sword-like eyebrows, pondered for a moment, then ultimately shook his head: ”Father King, given our Prince Mansion’s current situation, being cautious is paramount, no need to take risks, otherwise...”

Before knowing what offense King Jing committed to being confined, it’s not advisable to act, in any case, being sealed for thirty years because of it already fulfilled the sense of duty, no one would criticize anything.

To visit King Jing, from the Emperor’s perspective, looking at it the right way it shows loyalty, the wrong way it’s provocation.

”In usual years, not going is fine, but in a few days is your second uncle’s sixtieth birthday, a significant birthday, cold and lonely celebrating alone, truly...” Chu Minghou shook his head and sighed: ”I really can’t bear it.”

Chu Zhiyuan said: ”If visiting second uncle causes us to be sealed again or even confined, would Father King still want to try?”

This father of his has fine qualities, but too benevolent, too valuing of emotions.

This is both a virtue and a flaw.

”Being sealed again isn’t likely.” Chu Minghou shook his head: ”You’re a junior, visiting an elder is proper, there’s no wrongdoing, besides, you’re not the same as before now.”

He smiled.

The reason he dared mention it was due to newfound confidence.

The Emperor values martial arts greatly, and for a direct grandson with amazing Martial Arts talent, he will surely look favorably, be more lenient.

Even if displeased, it wouldn’t be as harshly punished as his direct grandson before.

”I understand Father King feels guilty and uneasy for not visiting second uncle, affecting appetite and sleep, but Father King must think clearly, whether to risk sealing the whole household or even confinement to fulfill brotherhood, or endure guilt to fulfill father-son and husband-wife responsibility.”

Chu Minghou helplessly stared at Chu Zhiyuan, observing his solemn expression, and finally sighed helplessly, shook his head, and walked away.