Volume One: The Hidden Dragon in the Abyss, Chapter 98: Radiant Beauty

“If only someone would rise and rally us, we would gladly follow in his wake!”

“...”

And so the whole lot of them really did go off in high spirits together.

Yang Hao and the eunuch merely looked on coldly, showing no reaction at all, as though it had nothing to do with them.

And in truth, it did not.

Kneeling before the palace gate to remonstrate with the emperor? That was the sort of thing civil officials loved to do. For years on end, they might never even see the emperor’s face, yet they would still go on shouting outside every day, all passion and fervor.

Soon after, another official passed by and stepped in to take a look, likewise wearing a cold, detached expression.

The eunuch seemed a little more polite toward him, calling him some kind of supervisory minister.

Yang Hao was left somewhat dazed and bewildered.

That crowd of officials had already entered the palace, raising their arms and crying out whatever it was they were shouting.

“The foundations of the realm are shaking, and treacherous villains are slandering the righteous! They must be put to death!”

“The Great Summer is on the verge of collapse. We have nurtured men of learning for a hundred years; to uphold duty and die for righteousness is the task of this very day!”

Every passerby turned to stare. The noise rang like thunder, shocking and astonishing all who heard it.

...

None of this had anything to do with him anymore. Yang Hao climbed down from the ladder, and the chief steward came over again and again to apologize.

He said that those officials loved nothing more than empty theories on paper, had never accomplished anything practical, and would submit memorials at the slightest disagreement.

But later the emperor stopped even looking at the memorials, so they began to make desperate remonstrances instead.

At first the emperor was displeased and dealt with a batch of them, but like leeks they grew back in wild profusion.

Those men even took pride in it, thinking it the greatest honor for a civil official, enough to go down in history for all time.

Even the emperor grew tired of them and shut himself away, refusing to come out.

They were the most troublesome group of people to offend.

It might well have had nothing to do with Prince Wang Chuan at all; they had simply made a great fuss out of it.

“Where has His Highness gone?”

The moment the official called Chen Ying spoke, Yang Hao was struck with alarm.

...

“Who was that man?”

After he had gone, Yang Hao still felt a lingering unease.

Just now, standing before that man, he had felt as though every last thing about him had been seen through.

It had been a long time since he felt that way. The last time had been before Wang Chuan.

Still, no one in the world could compare with Wang Chuan.

At any rate, the lies he had told in front of that man had seemed so absurd that he had even felt ashamed.

Only then did he realize how weak everyone he had faced before had been. Today, at last, he had seen the true master.

“Chen Ying. He is a capable official,” the chief steward said. “Yesterday he tried to stop Prince Wang Chuan, but Prince Wang Chuan thought highly of him.”

“He has already met His Highness?” Yang Hao exclaimed.

“Yes. Last night, after Prince Wang Chuan entered the palace, that crowd went to block the palace gate. It was Lord Chen Ying who stepped forward then,” the steward told him.

“What happened last night?” Yang Hao asked, even more shocked.

Wang Chuan had said nothing about last night. Presumably he felt it was nothing important.

Yang Hao did not ask further.

“Someone tried to kill with a borrowed blade. That man must also know Prince Wang Chuan’s temperament well: when he is angered, blood can run like a river. Fortunately, Chen Ying stepped in and persuaded His Highness.”

The steward briefly recounted what had happened the night before.

Yang Hao fell into deep thought upon hearing this.

So was there a sovereign of Jin behind all this, stirring the matter from the shadows?

Had Wang Chuan initially intended to go along with events and act in their interest?

Or perhaps the truth no longer mattered at all.

But he still knew nothing. How, then, was he to become a help to His Highness?

Investigate.

He had to investigate to the very end.

...

Ancient trees stood thick and dark in the mountain. Between their layered leaves, a narrow stream wound its way down the slope.

The water had receded, revealing the jagged stones that had been submerged before, scattered in all sizes throughout the ravine. Even in midsummer, the place carried a trace of coolness.

“Brother, brother, do you see any fish?”

Xu Wei lifted her skirt and walked barefoot through the stream, full of eagerness.

Especially after her recent hard practice, the Dragon-Grasping Claw had grown even more formidable, and today she felt certain she could snatch a fish clean out of the water.

Wang Chuan was carrying her shoes and cloth socks, following behind her with gentle steps. He could not help telling the truth.

“You’ve already scared them all away. They’re hiding.”

“Huh?” The girl stared blankly for a long while, then puffed up her cheeks. “So mean. Brother, can you catch them?”

“I’m all right, but stop playing around,” Wang Chuan said.

This was not a proper picnic where one simply skewered something on a stick and roasted it. They had no seasoning at all, and Wang Chuan had never personally handled such a meal.

At present, only the fire posed no difficulty for him.

Better not make a fuss of it. If he started and failed halfway through, it would only spoil the mood.

“Then you come down and play too.” Xu Wei waved to him.

“I can now keep my clothes and shoes from getting wet. Playing at this sort of thing has no meaning for me, and I can’t even appreciate the fun in it.” With that, Wang Chuan casually stepped into the pool.

He too wore shoes and boots, yet for some reason not a drop of water touched them.

Xu Wei stared in astonishment, eyes wide with wonder.

The moment his shoes entered the water, an unseen force seemed to part the currents around them.

“It reminds me of old memories. When I was a child, a whole group of us would also go into the water together, playing and splashing for amusement. But once we grew up, of course that sort of easy pleasure was gone,” Wang Chuan said.

“I’ve never played like that before,” Xu Wei said happily. Then she asked, “Brother Chuan, when will I be as amazing as you?”

“Don’t go thinking nonsense. Martial cultivation has its limits,” Wang Chuan said, sweating slightly. Then he added, “You, too, have many strengths that I cannot match.”

“Really? I don’t see them.” Xu Wei wrinkled her small nose.

“It doesn’t matter. Girls like you are liked by many people. That’s a very good thing, actually. I envy it too,” Wang Chuan said earnestly.

Only he himself, perhaps, would one day become a lonely soul standing by himself.

He treasured these days beyond measure.

“Brother, brother, when can we go back to see Mother Empress?” Xu Wei asked him again. “I miss her too. Didn’t we say we were going to return to your parents’ home?”

“Then why don’t you call me your husband? How else am I supposed to take you back?” Wang Chuan said with a smile.

She had only said it once, on the night of their wedding.

“H-husband?” Xu Wei blushed, her voice soft and coy.

Then she hurried over and pressed herself against Wang Chuan, simply leaping onto his back.

Wang Chuan carried her afterward. “This year, I’ll definitely take you back once. We may even need to make a trip to the Tang Kingdom, but that’s all right. We can spend the New Year at your home.”

“Okay, okay.” Xu Wei nodded quickly. “Then let’s also go see the Tang Kingdom.”

Wang Chuan carried her gently, shielding her with care.

Inside, he only felt something flowing quietly through his heart.

“Brother Chuan, I want to wear men’s clothes. Is that all right?” Xu Wei asked him again.

“We’ll buy some when we enter the city. I’ll take you wandering around for a while, and we’ll play for a few more days, just the two of us,” Wang Chuan said quickly. “We came away in a hurry this time, so I didn’t bring any for you.”

“Hehe, all right.” Xu Wei nodded repeatedly.

She was not a willful or spoiled girl. On the contrary, she was obedient and well-behaved.

Though she had always been pampered, and at home there was also Wang Chuan, who would always satisfy her every request and every desire.

Even so, her feelings remained sincere and pure.

“Are you hungry? Should we find something to eat?” Wang Chuan asked.

“No, but I’m afraid I’ll be hungry soon.” Xu Wei said hastily. She stretched out a small hand and tried hard to feel Wang Chuan’s abdomen. “Why doesn’t Brother Chuan ever get hungry?”

“By refining the vital energy of heaven and earth, the body no longer needs to draw energy from food,” Wang Chuan said. “If I spend two more days guiding your training, you can be like that too.”

“But I still want to eat,” Xu Wei said.

“Then I’ll eat with you,” Wang Chuan replied, looking around and preparing to head back toward the city.

Suddenly he stopped and looked up toward the narrow path hidden behind the reeds.

He did not want some random troublemaker appearing here, or Wang Chuan’s mood would sour.

“Brother, it smells so nice. Someone is coming.” Xu Wei quickly said it out loud.

Wang Chuan had also sensed someone approaching. Only after hearing her words did he notice it himself, and then he caught a faint fragrance drifting in the air.

He could not help pausing. “Your sense of smell has become a lot sharper recently.”

“Huh? I don’t know either.” Xu Wei thought about it. “Maybe after my tail came out...”

At once she reached back instinctively to touch her bottom, relieved that it was still hidden and she had not let it show through in a moment of excitement.

She giggled secretly.

Wang Chuan then looked toward the riverbank, where a jade-white hand reached out, followed by a wrist as fair as snow. A young woman could be seen holding a water flask, bending down and trying to draw water from the pool. She leaned forward carefully, stretching her arm to the limit as she reached.

The young woman had painted brows and eyes, and skin as lustrous as jade, with a beauty of peerless grace.

Then suddenly she turned her face and met their gaze.

“Sister, I’m thirsty too,” Xu Wei said, blinking.

With a sharp cry, the girl jolted in alarm as if startled, and recoiled backward.

The water flask also slipped from her hand and crashed to the ground.

“Sorry. Did I scare you?”

Wang Chuan stepped forward, lifted a hand in the air, and drew the flask up as if grasping it from afar before handing it back to her.

“T-thank you,” the young woman said, after a brief daze, instinctively taking it from him.

“Yu Qing, what happened?”

At that moment, another voice rang out, and someone hurried over. It was a woman’s voice.

There was a rustling of grass and branches, and Wang Chuan saw a young woman approaching with a sword in hand. The instant she saw him, she raised her blade in reflexive defense.

But then she noticed Xu Wei on Wang Chuan’s back, and forced herself to halt.

“Nothing. It was just my own carelessness,” the first young woman said quickly.

The girl who had just arrived had a more valiant air about her. Her skin was like snow, and her eyes were as clear as a pool of water. She possessed a natural elegance and nobility that made others feel awed, ashamed of themselves, and unwilling to profane her.

Her plain clothing outlined a tall, slender figure. With her long hair tied up and dressed in simple attire, she was spirited and dashing in every way.

“Sister, you’re amazing. I’ve never seen a woman so skilled in martial arts,” Xu Wei said with boundless admiration.

“Uh...”

Wang Chuan was left sweating and speechless.

Xu Wei on his back began clamoring to be put down, so he carefully lowered her onto a large rock and helped her put on her shoes and socks.

“What are you doing here?” the sword-bearing young woman asked.

“Brother...” Xu Wei did not know how to answer at once, and kept looking back toward Wang Chuan.

“We got lost,” Wang Chuan said.

“Lost. Where are you trying to go?” the young woman asked again.

“Into the city,” Wang Chuan replied.

“Follow this road. Turn left, and then just keep walking straight,” the girl said, pointing the way for them. “You two siblings be careful.”

“Siblings?” Wang Chuan blushed slightly. “We’re not. We don’t have that sort of relationship. Don’t say things so carelessly.”

The other girl was just about to answer, exasperated.

Then she saw Xu Wei staring at her sword and immediately became interested in it.

“Brother, where is my sword?” Xu Wei suddenly remembered.

She usually practiced only fitfully, and after buying a sword she had promptly forgotten all about it.

“It’s in the room. I didn’t bring it out,” Wang Chuan said.

At that moment, he felt relieved that he had not brought it. He was also afraid that, on a whim, she would want to spar with someone.

It was enough for her to wave it around at home; no need to make a fool of herself in public.

“Sister, let me tell you this. My Brother Chuan also knows swordsmanship, and he’s very powerful,” Xu Wei said seriously to the other girl, then glanced back at Wang Chuan. “The most powerful in the world!”

Uh...

Very powerful.

The most powerful in the world!