Martial Cultivator

Under the starlight in the academy, in front of the ancestral hall of the Xie Family, and in the White Dew Garden of the imperial city, stories were being told.

”I’ve said it before, a person like you shouldn’t be bound by worldly matters. What’s the point of being the emperor? You have to think about so much every day, competing with others in intelligence. You focus all your thoughts on these things, but what can you gain from it?” ”Having ten thousand people kneel before you doesn’t seem all that meaningful to me. It would be better to focus on cultivation. If you weren’t entangled by these matters, I believe you’d have already taken another step forward.”

The young girl in white sat in the pavilion of White Dew Garden, the moonlight cascading down upon her, enveloping her in a faint glow, making her look as if she were a celestial maiden who walked out of the Moon Palace.

The Great Liang Emperor smiled but said little more.

The young girl in white had been there for quite some time. Long before the Great Liang Emperor chose to head north, she had already arrived at the palace. For reasons unknown, she did not leave after taking a glance at the Great Liang Emperor, who held the highest nominal power in this world. Instead, she chose to stay. She had spent a long time in the Divine Capital, visiting many places, but ultimately chose to remain in the imperial city, watching the Great Liang Emperor.

There were few interesting people in the world, but the Great Liang Emperor before her certainly counted as one.

The young girl in white asked, “I’ve heard many things in the past few days. Many people are guessing how you’ll choose, and I’m also curious about your choice.”

Recently, rumors had been rampant in the Divine Capital. Many people were engaged in various activities, and describing the current situation as a hidden undercurrent might not do it justice. If things went awry, the greatest trouble awaiting the Great Liang Emperor after his ascension would be whether he would be overthrown from the throne, which was hard to say.

At his level, being deposed from the throne would inevitably lead to death.

The Great Liang Emperor was naturally aware that the current situation was not as simple as it seemed, but he did not pay it much mind. He merely looked at the girl and said, “There’s no rush. Let’s wait and see.”

The young girl in white furrowed her brows and asked, “Have you never thought that things might slip out of your control and leave you in a passive position?”

The Great Liang Emperor said calmly, “Such is the way of the world. The final outcome is only known in the end.”

The young girl in white frowned and said, “You’re really uninteresting.”

The Great Liang Emperor remained silent.

The young girl in white continued, “These matters are easy for cultivators to choose, but it seems difficult for you.”

The Great Liang Emperor glanced at the girl, shook his head, and said, ”Actually, it’s an easy choice, it’s just right or wrong.”

The girl in white raised her eyebrows. ”Is it really that simple?”

The Great Liang Emperor smiled and said, ”What difference is there?”

The girl in white wanted to say something but hesitated.

The Great Liang Emperor turned to glance at her, ”It is indeed a little different. We owe him something, so We won’t step in to help him.”

The two ”him”s in his words seemed to refer to different people. But who were those two?

……

……

The Third Prince was the last of the three princes to leave the palace. Before he did, the First and Second Princes had already boarded their carriages to return.

At the palace gates, the First Prince, who had been suppressing his cough all night, finally allowed himself to cough freely. In the quiet night at the gates of the imperial city, the sound of his coughing was extremely loud and jarring.

The Second Prince looked at his elder brother, remained silent for a moment, then smiled and said, ”Imperial Elder Brother, your health is so poor, take good care of yourself.”

The mountain-like First Prince turned to look at his younger brother. His face was flushed from the violent coughing, but his eyes were calm. Although he understood the hidden meaning in the Second Prince’s words, he did not respond. He simply smiled, took out a handkerchief, and wiped his mouth.

After that, he turned and boarded the carriage.

The guards standing nearby all kept their heads down, pretending they had not heard anything.

The Second Prince did not press the issue either and climbed into his carriage.

However, before the carriage had even moved, the First Prince lifted the curtain and looked at the Second Prince. “Second Brother, as your elder brother, I advise you: some things shouldn’t be done. Otherwise, it’s hard to say who will die before whom.”

The Second Prince’s face stiffened, but he quickly recovered. ”Your younger brother and subject, is certain I’ll live longer than you, Imperial Elder Brother.”

This time, the First Prince said nothing, merely letting the curtain fall.

Then, the horse carriage slowly began to move, heading into the distance.

The Second Prince thought for a moment, then also lowered his curtain.

On the street, the sound of hooves echoed, crisp and clear.

……

……

The Dean finished saying everything he had to say, then left. Chen Chao looked up at the star-filled sky, waiting for Xie Nandu’s return.

Her glabella showed a hint of weariness, as if she had traveled a long distance. But obviously, no matter how large the Divine Capital was, it could not be that far. She must have simply expended a lot of effort.

Chen Chao glanced at the sweet potato nearby and said softly, “It’s already gone cold.”

Xie Nandu did not mind and said, “Just roast another one.”

Chen Chao nodded, “That makes sense.”

Hence, he started a fire again and began roasting the sweet potato.

The two of them sat in front of the stove without speaking for a while.

Soon, the sweet potato was ready. Chen Chao peeled off the skin and handed it to Xie Nandu, saying, “No matter how tasty a sweet potato is, it’s still not worth much.”

Xie Nandu accepted the sweet potato and calmly said, “I like it, and that’s all that matters, who cares whether it’s worth anything or not.”

Chen Chao asked, “Will you always like it?”

Xie Nandu countered, “What do you think?”

Chen Chao smiled, clapped his hands, and said, “I can’t speak for others, I don’t think that you’ll change.”

“Then why ask?” Xie Nandu took a bite of the sweet potato and raised her eyebrow. “Have you already changed your mind?” “But I’ll tell you this, even if you’ve changed your mind now, it’s too late. I’ve already made the decision for you.”

Chen Chao naturally knew what Xie Nandu was referring to and said with a wry smile, “Why did you handle such an important matter so quickly?”

Behind Xie Nandu stood the Xie Family. The Xie Family’s ancestor chose to meet her at this time, naturally intending to ask whether Chen Chao was willing to step up to the table and vie for that seat. If he was willing, then with Xie Nandu’s connection, the Xie Family would undoubtedly be his greatest support. However, this matter had only just begun, and the Xie Family had not yet made a decision. After all, it takes both courage and time to change the course of the world, such decisions are never made easily.

But there was still a spark.

However, Xie Nandu had already blown out that spark.

She had made the decision on behalf of Chen Chao.

Chen Chao said, “It’s just the beginning, and you’ve already decided not to get involved. This doesn’t quite seem like the Xie Family’s style?”

Xie Nandu nodded and said, “For something this big, our opinions don’t matter that much. They naturally won’t listen. I just made things a bit difficult for them.”

Chen Chao said, “They see me as a blade of grass swaying in the wind, whichever way the wind blows strongest, I’ll bend in that direction. And thinking about it, they are the towering trees of the Great Liang Dynasty. It’s no surprise they see me like that.”

Xie Nandu said, “This is the last peaceful night.”

Chen Chao glanced at Xie Nandu.

“By dawn tomorrow, all of the Divine Capital will know that you are the descendant of the late Crown Prince, the younger brother of that deposed emperor.”

Xie Nandu added, “I can’t stop it anymore.”

Chen Chao said, “Knowing is one thing, but having proof is another.”

Xie Nandu replied, “That has never been the issue.”

“There’s someone who knows your identity. Whatever she says, many will believe. As for proof, I’m sure someone has already prepared it long ago.”

Xie Nandu looked into Chen Chao’s eyes and said, “There won’t be any surprises. They will know that you are who you are.”

Chen Chao was silent.

Many already knew about his true identity, but since it had not been exposed yet, everyone could still choose not to do anything. However, once someone revealed it, it would force His Majesty the Emperor to make a choice.

And his choice would affect many others.

Xie Nandu asked, “When I left last time, I asked you how you became the warden of Tianqing County. Now, I want you to tell me.”

Chen Chao responded, “Do you think this matter is important right now?”

Xie Nandu nodded.

Chen Chao thought for a moment and said, “I think you’ve already guessed the answer. I had been guessing as well, but now I’m certain.”

Xie Nandu said, “It seems those qi refiners back then were deliberately guided by someone. It wasn’t just a coincidence. Your appearance in the Divine Capital was only a matter of time.”

Chen Chao shook his head. “I think it was something else, it was just a coincidence. At that time, I was too weak. If I had come to the Divine Capital, and if His Majesty had wanted to kill me, I would have died quietly, without any surprises.”

Xie Nandu thought for a moment, then nodded in agreement. “That makes sense. You were just a pawn in their plans. They would only use you when they needed you the most. But those qi refiners disrupted their arrangements, and you appeared in the Divine Capital earlier than expected. As a result, things started to deviate from their original course. However, there are still capable people among them. They adapted to the changes. In the end, they still intend to make use of you.”

“You’re just a blade in their hands.”

Xie Nandu said, ”You’d better think about whether you have any surviving brothers.”

Chen Chao was a bastard. Even if he was a bastard with imperial bloodline, he was still just a bastard, which meant he was always less important.

Chen Chao shook his head. ”No, there are none.”

The imperial family placed great importance on their heirs, and each descendant was meticulously recorded. If the late Crown Prince had secretly left behind a son who was still alive, that child would certainly be less significant than Chen Chao.

Though Chen Chao was a bastard son, at least his name was in the records. That unknown son would never have the same legitimacy as Chen Chao.

Xie Nandu said, ”Perhaps I’m overthinking it. They just hate His Majesty too much, so they’re willing to use any means.”

Chen Chao nodded. ”Maybe.”

”Ten more days.”

Xie Nandu said seriously, ”In ten days, His Majesty will host a banquet for all the officials. Something is bound to happen then.”

Ten days from now marked a very special day. It was the anniversary of the day, many years ago, when the current Great Liang Emperor ascended to the throne.

So, every year on that day, a grand banquet was held.

Every official in the Divine Capital would be invited.

Chen Chao said, ”Starting tomorrow, I won’t be staying at the academy anymore.”

Xie Nandu looked at him.

Chen Chao smiled. ”I need to know how many people want me dead.”