Chapter 76

In late summer, a riot broke out at the firewood warehouse on the west side of the Capital City; it was the biggest jianghu slaughter of the year. The screaming went on for an entire morning, and every household kept its doors shut, afraid of getting dragged into it.

By the time the soldiers arrived to stop it, the warehouse was already burning, and the people inside were still killing each other. No matter what they tried, the soldiers could not get in.

What’s more, it had rained for days in the Capital City, yet on the very day of the jianghu slaughter, the sun came out. Fed by the wind, the blaze burned fiercer and fiercer. No one could stop the massacre, as if it had been fated, something impossible to escape.

When the fire finally died down and the soldiers counted the dead, there were more than two thousand bodies. It was almost the same scale of death as a battle between great armies on a battlefield. The common people all sighed that this was more than merely the biggest jianghu slaughter; it was practically no different from killing enemies in open war.

It was said that the stench of blood in that warehouse could not be washed away even after three days. Burnt odor and the smell of blood mixed together, and that nauseating scent seemed to stab straight to the crown of the head, as if to tell of a slaughter no one had witnessed, yet one that still inspired terror.

By the time the fire was put out, many of the corpses were so badly burned they could no longer be identified. Some could barely be recognized by appearance, yet no one came to claim them. After investigation, it was discovered that these people had come from outside the city over the past few months, and had no family in the Capital City.

With more than two thousand bodies unclaimed, they were collectively cremated outside the city one week later. A great many people came to watch, and it took five full days and nights to burn all the bodies.

Even the emperor was alarmed. Furious, he declared that under the feet of the Son of Heaven, such audacity was intolerable, and ordered the Censorate and the Ministry of Justice to investigate together, demanding that they uncover both the culprit and the reason.

But before the Censorate had even produced results, all kinds of stories had already spread through the streets and alleys. In a teahouse, a burly man spat as he boasted that the martial world was about to hold a grand gathering to elect a martial alliance leader, and that these martial artists had rushed into the Capital City to plot in secret, intending to defeat the Wangshu Sect, only for matters to spiral into a brawl the moment words failed.

On the roadside, a few matrons huddled together while choosing vegetables and whispered that the various sects had come to the Capital City to negotiate private affairs, only for a disagreement to spark a fight; in the end, everyone was bloodied and no one would yield.

There was also a drunken swordsman in a wine shop whose tongue was so loose he could barely speak clearly, insisting that the emperor had sent assassins to lure them in and wipe them all out in one sweep, so as to uphold the ban on martial arts. That version spread the fastest of all, and martial artists everywhere were saying the emperor was crying thief while catching thief; it was utterly contemptible.

Rumors flew in every direction. In an instant, the incident became the topic of every restaurant and teahouse across the Capital City. Even the children at the street corners were saying a few words about it, then picking up sticks and beating at each other as they played at being heroes.

While the Censorate busied itself searching the entire Capital City for the killer that day, the emperor was also occupied with this matter, and for several days he had not gone to Consort Liu’s quarters.

Inside Golden Phoenix Palace, Helian Shaohua listened to Shen Zhuiying’s report. She held a teacup in one hand, her little finger tipped with a gilded nail guard slightly raised, the cup tilting slightly; with the other hand she lifted the lid and sipped.

“Oh? He secretly left the palace?”

Helian Shaohua raised a brow. Her expression was as lively as the tip of a brush touched to paper; then she smiled. “Looks like he’s panicking.”

“Your Majesty, there are still two groups in the east of the city. When should we move?”

Shen Zhuiying asked. The smell of killing still clung to her, as if not even the wind over the past few days could blow away the intent to slaughter that she had picked up in the warehouse that day. It was an impulse she still could not suppress. Ever since she had come out of the assassin camp, as soon as she saw blood, murderous intent would surge through her, and in her heart there was even a hard-to-explain thrill.

She didn’t dare tell Helian Shaohua about this at all; she was afraid Helian Shaohua would think she was a monster.

“Don’t rush. This time, he should be going to appease those people. After all, once the rumor spreads that the emperor is the culprit, those jianghu people, with their straightforward temperaments, will naturally be easy to divide and will no longer remain loyal.”

Helian Shaohua set down her teacup and calmly savored the tea fragrance before continuing, “Have the people of the Xie household urge the Censorate to get to work. On one side the emperor is trying to placate them, while on the other he’s arresting people; such an explanation to the jianghu will surely not hold.”

“Understood.”

Shen Zhuiying nodded and suppressed the urge to go kill people in the east of the city. It looked like she would have to copy the Diamond Sutra several more times tonight.

“If Tinglan were here, that would be much better. Then I wouldn’t need to give such specific instructions.”

Helian Shaohua sighed, looking toward the chessboard on the table not far away. She really did miss Xie Tinglan a little. With her around, she always felt at ease.

“Still, that Ri Xi handled things quite steadily; she just lacks tacit understanding with me.”

After complaining twice, Helian Shaohua waved Shen Zhuiying off to get it done. Only after Shen Zhuiying’s back disappeared from view did Helian Shaohua withdraw her gaze. She rose and walked to the chessboard where no one sat opposite her, her fingertips brushing over one piece after another, her eyes deep and dark as endless night.

Tinglan, I think I have a weakness now too. It feels good and bad at the same time; how strange.

**

Inside the study in Tinglan Pavilion at the Xie residence, “Xie Tinglan” was twirling a brush that had not been dipped in ink, lying half over the desk like a bored puppy, blinking as she watched Ri Xi concentrate on reviewing official documents.

“Ri Xi, Ri Xi, I’m so bored. Come play with me.”

“Xie Tinglan” spoke in a voice indistinguishable from the real Xie Tinglan’s, but the tone was soft and childish. Ri Xi shuddered; no matter how long it had been, she still hadn’t gotten used to it.

“Xiao Jing, I’ve told you; don’t use an adult’s voice to say things like that. It sounds... really weird.”

She couldn’t quite explain what was so strange about it. Wearing Xie Tinglan’s face, imitating Xie Tinglan’s voice, yet saying things Xie Tinglan would absolutely never say—the split, jarring tone gave Ri Xi goosebumps. It was all because Huan Jing’s imitation was too good. So good that as long as she didn’t speak, Ri Xi felt like she truly was Xie Tinglan.

Huan Jing giggled, then started playing with the paperweight on the desk. This time she finally used her own voice. “It’s so boring. I can’t go to court these past few days because I’m pretending to be sick, and I can’t bicker with those old fossils. Life has no fun at all.”

Ri Xi couldn’t help shaking her head with a bitter smile after hearing that. “You need to be more careful in court. Don’t go too far. If you make a mess of things, let’s see how you explain it to Lord Xie.”

“Don’t worry, I won’t overdo it. Absolutely won’t.”

Just then, footsteps sounded outside the door. Huan Jing immediately fell silent. A voice from outside said, “My lady, the steward from Rain & Mist Pavilion and Miss Shen have both come to visit the residence.”

Steward? Shen Zhuiying? Why had these two come together so coincidentally?

Huan Jing straightened at once. She closed her eyes for a moment; when she opened them again, her gaze had turned sharp and somewhat disdainful, exactly like Xie Tinglan’s.

“Bring them in.”

Ri Xi watched Huan Jing use Xie Tinglan’s voice, even her tone imitated almost perfectly, and she couldn’t help glancing at her. No matter how many times she saw it, she still had to marvel at it; Huan Jing’s disguise skills really were unmatched under heaven.

“I understand Miss Shen’s coming, but what’s that steward here for?”

Huan Jing could not sit still. Thinking of that steward made her feel uncomfortable all over. Before, after being exposed by her, she had still followed Xie Tinglan’s instructions and sent a gift of thanks.

At the time, Huan Jing had even been teased by the steward, who said there is always someone better, and told her not to let her guard down; even a fleeting, lightning-fast smile could be enough for someone to see through her.

Naturally, Huan Jing had been unconvinced by the steward’s lecture. Xie Tinglan had called her the ever-changing lieutenant by the Eldest Princess’s side, but before she had truly seen her real ability, Huan Jing refused to accept it no matter what.

Unconvinced was one thing; still, whenever she thought of the steward’s eyes seeing through her, as if looking at some childish trick, Huan Jing still felt a chill crawl all over her.

Before long, Li Yun brought the two of them in, and they entered the study together.

Today, Huan Jing was wearing Xie Tinglan’s black cross-collared robe, edged with silver cloud-pattern trim. Black cloud motifs were also embroidered across the garment; only in sunlight could the exquisite stitching be seen.

The steward wore deep purple. Her posture was graceful, and as she walked her waist swayed subtly, boneless as if she had no bones. Even the curl of her lips seemed provocative. Shen Zhuiying on the side did not so much as glance at the steward; she silently handed over a letter, then turned and left.

The steward turned her head to watch Shen Zhuiying’s departing back and clicked her tongue twice. “Is that girl mute or something?”

Ri Xi: “...”

Huan Jing: “...”

At that moment, both of them had exactly the same thought in their heads: are all the people from Rain & Mist Pavilion this sharp-tongued?

Fortunately, Shen Zhuiying was emotionless; otherwise she would at least have looked back at the steward upon hearing that, and whether she would have made a move was another matter.

Huan Jing muttered inwardly: if they really start fighting, please don’t let them split the stone sculpture I just bought. The last stone sculpture I bought was also shattered by some damned bastard, and it broke my heart.

Only then did the steward turn back. With one hand propped on the wooden desk, before she could even speak, Huan Jing said, “Why have you come?”

During this period, they had no further contact with Rain & Mist Pavilion, so Huan Jing did not know why this steward had suddenly come personally to the Xie residence.

No one goes to the Three Treasures Hall without a reason, and the steward even more so.

“Yesterday I received a letter from my boss saying that... she wanted me to help you. If there’s anything, I can also lend a hand.”

As she spoke, the steward tossed out a letter. Ri Xi picked it up suspiciously and looked it over, only to find that the letter bore not only Mu Xue’s seal but also Xie Tinglan’s seal.

This matter had Xie Tinglan’s authorization.

“Hey, what are you two plotting lately?”

The steward leaned forward. Her thin outer robe slid off her shoulder just like that, revealing a small patch of smooth, rounded skin. Huan Jing saw it and immediately pointed at her shoulder. “So you really aren’t as old as you look on your face!”

The steward looked to be in her forties or so, yet she still had a lingering charm; every smile and glance carried a seductive grace. But when her face went cold, even Huan Jing would feel afraid.

However, her disguise clearly hadn’t accounted for the parts beneath her clothes. The moment her shoulder was exposed, the deception was revealed. Huan Jing was delighted now. For the steward to make such a low-level mistake, it seemed her disguise skills weren’t that impressive after all!

She herself could even copy the scars on Xie Tinglan’s body without missing a single detail; there were no flaws at all!

“Oh? Who said you can’t have such tender skin if you’re in your forties?”

The steward gave a soft laugh, her long lashes trembling as they lifted, carrying an irritatingly alluring air. “Or is it that you’ve never really seen a woman’s body?”

Huan Jing frowned and snorted. “Who says I haven’t? If I hadn’t seen it, how could I have learned disguise?”

The steward clicked her tongue a few times and shook her head in apparent regret. “I meant... the body in the midst of the pleasures of flesh and blood.”

“Cough, ahem!!”

Ri Xi’s face reddened. Afraid the steward would say something even more shameless, she hastily coughed to stop her. Unexpectedly, Huan Jing did not take the hint. She suddenly stood up and planted her hands on her hips. “What’s the difference? They’re still bodies either way!”

The steward first glanced at Ri Xi, as if saying, she doesn’t understand your warning; don’t blame me. Then she said, “There are so many differences. If you haven’t touched it, haven’t kissed it, how would you know the true wonder of the human body?”

At those words, Huan Jing’s face turned red, but she was still unconvinced. “What’s different about it? There’s definitely no difference!”

The steward sighed, pulled her robe back into place, and looked at Huan Jing. With a low laugh, she said, “Children are children. Even wearing Xie Tinglan’s face, you’re still just a child.”

“You...!”

Huan Jing had not even finished speaking when Ri Xi finally interjected, “Enough.”

Ri Xi also stood up and brought the out-of-control situation back onto the right track. “How should we address the steward?”

Ri Xi understood that Xie Tinglan must have met Mu Xue in Qingzhou City; this trip to Qingzhou City had also been for something Xie Tinglan needed from Mu Xue. Since the two seals appeared together, that meant everything had gone smoothly.

Since they could become partners, they couldn’t keep calling her “steward” this and “steward” that; it was somewhat rude.

“Since boss trusts you, then I can tell you my name. My surname is Dan, and my given name is Shuran.”

Dan Shuran did not introduce herself by saying what she was, because once this name appeared, everyone would know who she was.

In those years, the Eldest Princess had five female lieutenants by her side. One of them bore the surname Dan. She had known the Eldest Princess since childhood; they fought side by side and entrusted each other with life and death. She was the sole heir of the Dan family of generals, a true heroine no less capable than any man. She had once ridden alone into a nomad tribe to rescue captured soldiers, and had once, by herself, swept away a hundred mounted nomad troops. With one long whip, she raised dust and severed heads.

If not for the Eldest Princess’s fame before her, her legend alone would likely have become yet another story passed down by word of mouth.

After hearing that name, Huan Jing and Ri Xi both fell silent. They had never imagined that the person standing before them was actually the most legendary of the five female lieutenants. In the rumors, this female lieutenant had died with the Eldest Princess at Broken Head Mountain, ultimately sacrificing herself to protect her lord.

They had never expected that this person, who spoke so indecorously, was actually... such a formidable general?

“You can just call me Miss Dan from now on...”

Before Dan Shuran could finish her sentence, her gaze once again landed on the dumbstruck Huan Jing. She smiled. “Have I earned a little more respect from you?”

“No.”

Huan Jing answered honestly. Then she composed herself and said, “I just didn’t expect you and Mu Xue to both be so improper. Your military style must be terrible too.”

Dan Shuran: “...”

She was silent for a moment, then straightened up and said solemnly, “I am Dan Shuran now, not a general. Don’t lump the two together. Our discipline is strict, and our military style is proper.”

Seeing this, Ri Xi quickly said, “All right. Let me read the letter Miss Shen brought first.”

This was Helian Shaohua’s instruction; it must not be delayed. Only then did the two of them stop talking. Huan Jing still could not help sizing up Dan Shuran. It was truly hard to imagine how this fairy who walked as if she had no bones could wield a long whip and fight so heroically.

After Ri Xi finished reading, the crease between her brows tightened. Then she glanced at Huan Jing. “That person needs you to do something.”

Huan Jing immediately turned serious upon hearing that. Deep down, she was afraid of that person.

She was very good at observing people: every movement, every expression, every detail of a face, every detail of body language, she would remember them all.

Only Helian Shaohua was someone she could not see through. Helian Shaohua hid too deeply; Huan Jing could imitate her surface, but not the occasional fierceness that flickered in her brows and eyes. It was like a calm lake that would sometimes reveal a beast’s horns.

Too complicated—that was Huan Jing’s first thought. On top of that, she rarely had contact with Helian Shaohua, so it was difficult to grasp her thoughts. Let alone her; even Shen Zhuiying, who always wore no expression and said little, was impossible for her to read.

“Pressure the Censorate to investigate the case. Make sure those martial world people know that the emperor is cracking down hard on this kind of jianghu slaughter.”

As soon as she finished speaking, Huan Jing immediately said, “Leave it to me.”

“Ah, this is interesting. Count me in.”

Dan Shuran’s eyes lit up. They curved cunningly like a fox’s, the faint wrinkles at the corners of her eyes carrying the calculations of an old fox. “I can disguise myself as you and stay by your side. If anything happens, I can still cover for you.”

She paused there, then turned to Ri Xi. “Then you can go do other things. Why not?”

Ri Xi naturally would not trust a newly joined companion completely, but in the end, Dan Shuran was someone who had rolled through battlefields. Her skill and experience could help Huan Jing maintain her almost perfect disguise.

“If you won’t show your true face, how am I supposed to believe you?”

Huan Jing still did not let go of Dan Shuran’s proud disguise skills; she wanted to see what kind of face lay beneath this one.

“Oh? That’s easy.”

As she spoke, Dan Shuran removed three extremely fine silver needles from behind her ears, beneath her jaw, and at her hairline. Then the skin at the edge of her face began to curl outward, and the whole mask peeled off, only to be caught in one hand.

Huan Jing was shocked. Inwardly she cried: how is that possible? The silver-needle disguise method needs at least four needles; she actually completed the disguise with only three, and without a single flaw. How is that possible!

What appeared before the two of them was a face both tender and heroic. The two qualities were not contradictory; blended together in her features, they formed a unique beauty. Seen this way, she looked to be no more than just over thirty. She had plainly painted herself older than she really was.

Dan Shuran’s true face was now revealed before them. Her features were spirited, her long brows swept into her temples, and her pair of phoenix eyes were large and bright. Her nose was narrow and straight, and the corners of her thin lips curved slightly with a touch of amusement as she pursed them toward Huan Jing, like she had blown her a kiss from afar.

Huan Jing suddenly shivered. It felt as if something had slammed heavily into her chest. She pointed at Dan Shuran. “You, you lecher!”

“How am I a lecher? Weren’t you the one who said you wanted to see my face?” Dan Shuran said, unconcerned. She glanced toward Ri Xi, who seemed to be watching the show, and then kept teasing Huan Jing.

“You just did that, like this, like this!”

Huan Jing repeated Dan Shuran’s puckered-lips, kiss-sending gesture. But whereas Dan Shuran had done it with endless charm, Huan Jing looked like she was putting on a monkey act.

Dan Shuran burst out laughing. Glancing at Ri Xi, she flicked her sleeve and said helplessly, “You see? This is how lightly the people of the Xie residence treat me.”

Ri Xi: “..."

Huan Jing: “..."

The pot calling the kettle black!

TL Note:

Censorate (御史台) = the imperial watchdog office that investigated officials and major cases.

No one goes to the Three Treasures Hall without a reason (无事不登三宝殿) = a saying meaning people usually only visit when they want something.

Diamond Sutra (金刚经) = a Buddhist scripture; here she copies it to calm herself and restrain her murderous urges.