Returning to the Imperial City

Little White Horse's mournful neigh still rang in his ears, yet Ning Chen's heart was like stone, so cold that nothing could shake it.

When all was said and done, Ning Chen was the most ruthless person in this world, whether toward others or himself.

The black wheelchair rolled onward, crushing over stone slabs and piled snow, leaving behind two long tracks that stretched beyond sight.

Two days later, Ning Chen returned to the imperial city after being away for more than three months.

There were people here he trusted, people he feared, people he disliked, and people he wanted to kill.

The imperial city still carried his legends, repeated hundreds of times in streets and alleyways.

The marriage alliance between Great Xia and Zhenji Kingdom had been a success. Ning Chen thought of the woman named Xia Miaoyu—clever-hearted and eloquent, deeply hidden, blessed with talent that did not lose to anyone's.

He still remembered the stunning sight of those slender hands catching the arrow that had been meant to kill him. Such a woman could not remain silent forever. Zhenji Kingdom was too small to trap a phoenix that had already spread its wings for long.

The emperor of Great Xia was no simple figure. Ning Chen had always believed this. Otherwise, how could he have suppressed the several brilliant princes of Great Xia's past until they could not raise their heads?

Within the imperial palace ahead, the person he truly feared was the Xia Emperor. More than once, he had thought that the Xia Emperor had wanted to kill him for a long time.

The reason was simple. He possessed things that surpassed this era, and he had displayed them before the Xia Emperor twice.

Perhaps no one had paid much attention the first time, but the second time, before so many people, the entire Zhengqi Hall had nearly been blasted to ruins. It was impossible for the Xia Emperor not to have noticed.

Back then, in order to leave the palace, he had been unable to care about so much. He had planted the seeds of disaster, and they had become the greatest reason for his fear upon returning to the palace this time.

Returning to the palace was no simple matter for him now. If he dared swagger into the palace, he probably should not expect to see Changsun again for the rest of his life.

With no solution for the moment, Ning Chen planned to wait at Lingyan Pavilion for two days first. There were quite a few people in the imperial city qualified to enter the palace, and he had to find a way to get word inside.

If Qing Ling could leave the palace once, then it would not matter whether he entered the palace or not.

When Ning Chen arrived at Lingyan Pavilion, it was still noon. Li'er was sitting on a stool in the main hall, dozing off, her little head bobbing again and again in an utterly adorable sight.

After so many days apart, the little girl had not changed at all. Her delicate little face bore a trace of a young girl's innocent charm, somewhat foolish-looking.

There was another woman in the pavilion. Upon seeing the youth in the wheelchair, she was immediately startled and forcibly swallowed the yawn that was only half out.

Ning Chen grinned. He recognized her as the woman who had brought him brush and ink when he beat up Changsun Yunxuan that day. She was very beautiful, though rather timid.

The woman froze in fright, not knowing whether to laugh or cry. Then her face reddened, and she turned to head upstairs.

Ning Chen was helpless. Was he really that frightening?

In that brief moment, Li'er also woke groggily. She glanced ahead, stood without reacting, and took two steps before her body suddenly stiffened. With a startled cry of "Ah," she froze.

"Li'er."

Ning Chen smiled softly and called to her gently.

Li'er's little mouth puckered, and tears immediately spilled down her face. Her pitiful appearance was enough to break anyone's heart.

"Be good, Li'er. Don't cry."

Ning Chen wheeled himself forward, gently rubbed the little girl's head, then wiped the tears from her face.

Li'er sniffled and managed to stop crying. Only then did she notice that Ning Chen was sitting in a wheelchair. Tears involuntarily flowed again as she anxiously asked, "What happened to your legs?"

"It's nothing. I fell."

Ning Chen smiled faintly and spoke softly.

Li'er relaxed a little and wiped her tears. With rain-washed pear blossoms still on her face, she asked, "Did you see a doctor?"

"I did."

Ning Chen answered patiently. Not only had a doctor seen him—even a Xiantian expert had seen him.

"When did the doctor say you would get better?" Li'er asked with concern.

"Soon."

Ning Chen answered casually. If the Xia Emperor were willing to give him a Xiantian Pill, then it probably would indeed be soon.

But that was just like him heading north alone and taking down that Xiantian expert of the Northern Mongol Royal Court—a pure daydream in broad daylight.

"Young Master Ning, I hope you have been well."

Just then, a young woman in moon-white robes approached. Her face was like congealed cream, her eyes like a bright moon. A trace of allure lingered between her brows, though it was well concealed. The newcomer was Yue Hanyi, mistress of Lingyan Pavilion.

After so many days, Ning Chen had no wish to dwell on old matters. He politely praised her, saying, "I have been well. Miss Hanyi has grown more and more beautiful."

"Thank you for the compliment, Young Master." Yue Hanyi stepped forward and smiled sweetly. "I wonder whether Young Master Ning has been well at the academy?"

"Hm?"

Ning Chen narrowed his eyes. The implication in those words was anything but ordinary. There were only a handful of people in the world who knew he was at the academy. How had Yue Hanyi learned of it?

Naturally, he had never expected to hide it from everyone forever. Still, it should not have become common knowledge.

When Sword Enshrined had brought him back to the palace that day, it must have alerted some people within. Every palace had its own spies, but there were absolutely not many capable of planting spies inside Weiyang Palace.

Could it be that Lingyan Pavilion was connected to one of the palaces within the imperial palace? Yue Hanyi had given him another "surprise."

"Miss Hanyi, I seem to have underestimated you before."

Ning Chen replied calmly. Yue Hanyi's words had undoubtedly revealed her position. Lingyan Pavilion, which occupied the most prosperous district in the imperial city, truly was not merely a pleasure house.

"You flatter me, Young Master," Yue Hanyi said with a smile.

"Miss Hanyi, I am somewhat tired. Could you arrange a room for me?"

Ning Chen ended the subject, unwilling to continue discussing it. He did not wish to involve himself in the struggles between the various palaces yet. He had neither the interest nor the time.

Yue Hanyi paused, not expecting Ning Chen to so decisively refuse to continue. She felt slightly displeased, though she showed none of it on her face. Smiling at the right moment, she said, "There is a room in the rear courtyard that has long been prepared for you. Hanyi will take you there."

"There is no need. Li'er can take me."

As soon as he finished speaking, Ning Chen turned his wheelchair toward the rear courtyard. He had lived here for over ten days and was no stranger to it.

Li'er glanced at her mistress, then hurried after him. Her little head could not understand how the two of them had become cross with each other again when they had been getting along just fine.

"This room is not bad."

After Li'er brought Ning Chen into the room, he looked around and gave an objective assessment.

"Not bad, right? I cleaned it."

Li'er raised her little head proudly, claiming credit.

Ning Chen chuckled and wheeled himself to the bedside. Looking at the dazzling array of young girls' hair ornaments and trinkets on the bed, he pointed at them and said, "Don't tell me these were prepared for me too."

Li'er's little face reddened. She hurried forward and gathered up all the ornaments. How had she forgotten about these things?

"These things aren't cheap. Where did you get so much silver?"

Ning Chen asked curiously. She was only a little girl who served tea and ran errands, and her monthly pay was pitifully small. How could she afford such things?

At Ning Chen's question, Li'er showed a hint of embarrassment. Fidgeting, she said, "After that fierce woman took you away that day, Sister Yi decided to temporarily give me your forty percent share of the profits."

Ning Chen could not help laughing. The matter was clear. The little girl had gotten money, and upon seeing beautiful hair ornaments, her heart had surely started itching. Unable to resist for a moment, she had bought them all.

Seeing that Ning Chen did not mean to blame her, Li'er grew even more embarrassed. Fidgeting, she said, "Once I save enough money, I'll pay you back."

"Hehe, save slowly. I'm not in a hurry."

Ning Chen smiled. So much silver was of no use to him anyway. In his eyes, nothing mattered more than the little girl being happy.

Since Yue Hanyi had decided to give the profits to Li'er, he would say nothing more. With this money, should Li'er ever wish to leave in the future, she would at least not have to worry about silver.

At that thought, a stone in Ning Chen's heart temporarily settled. Looking at Li'er, he could not help giving a strange smile. Before he knew it, this little girl had become a little rich girl.

Beside him, Li'er felt uncomfortable under Ning Chen's gaze. She grabbed her ornaments and was about to run. "Rest first. I'll come get you for dinner."

After the little girl left, the smile on Ning Chen's face gradually vanished, replaced by a terrifyingly gloomy expression. He had underestimated the strength of the spies planted in the various palace quarters. It seemed that news of his return to the imperial city had most likely already been exposed as well.

That was fine too. Weiyang Palace would probably learn he had returned before long. He only needed to use those spies to carry some of the words he wished to convey back into the palace.

Changsun was so intelligent that she would certainly understand what he meant.

Ning Chen held a blind faith in Changsun. In his eyes, Changsun was capable of anything.

In the words of his previous life, he was Changsun's brainless fan.

Outside the main hall of Weiyang Palace, Qing Ling accepted a note handed over by a palace maid. After unfolding it and taking one look, surprise flashed across her beautiful face. She immediately strode into the main hall, looked at Changsun seated in the place of honor, and said softly, "Empress Dowager, Ning Chen has returned to the imperial city."

Upon the main seat, Changsun's brows furrowed slightly at the words. "What has he come back for at a time like this? Is he tired of living?"

Worry flickered in Qing Ling's eyes as she said, "Empress Dowager, on His Majesty's side—"

"Silence!" Changsun shouted in a low voice, stopping Qing Ling from continuing.

"Send people to keep watching him. Report immediately at the first sign of movement."

"Yes."

Qing Ling acknowledged the order, then quickly left the main hall to make arrangements.

At Great Xia's Heavenly Edict Hall, the Xia Emperor sat high upon the dragon throne, concentrating on reviewing memorials. He missed not a single word or sentence, scrutinizing every matter once.

The next moment, a figure appeared soundlessly in the great hall, respectfully kneeling below the throne. "Reporting to Your Majesty, Ning Chen has returned to the imperial city."

The Xia Emperor raised his head, his expression calm. He said indifferently, "Send people to watch him. Do not permit him to leave the city by even half a step. If he resists, kill him."

"Yes."

The Dark Shadow Guard accepted the order, then vanished.

In the Western Palace, the most beautiful woman in the world sat behind gauze curtains. Before her, a palace maid knelt respectfully on the ground, a trace of imperceptible fear on her face.

"Are you certain that the Ning Chen who has now returned to the imperial city is the one who took that letter?" A questioning voice came from behind the curtains.

"At the place where the bandits were killed that day, wheelchair tracks and hoofprints appeared. And at the place where Guard Xiao died in battle ten days ago, there were also chaotic wheelchair tracks. If it was not a coincidence, then this person is most likely Ning Chen," the palace maid answered.

Behind the gauze curtain, a faint cold smile flashed across Wan Nishang's exquisite face. She said softly, "How can there be so many coincidences in this world? Judging by the dates, Steward Liao has most likely died as well."

The palace maid lowered her head, not daring to reply.

She had indeed searched in the direction Steward Liao had departed, but the wind and snow had been too fierce these past days, and not the slightest trace remained...

In less than a quarter of an hour, the three most powerful palace quarters within the Great Xia Imperial Palace had all reacted to Ning Chen's return. Their orders differed, and their purposes differed even more.

Ning Chen had also guessed that his movements had been exposed, so there was no need to deliberately conceal himself. After resting briefly, he openly left the pavilion.

There was still some time before nightfall. He needed to visit Du'an Pharmacy.

Continuing to suppress his injuries was not a lasting solution. The shopkeeper was a divine physician, a formidable figure who had once awakened the gravely injured Mu Chengxue with just a few needles. He should have a way.

However, when Ning Chen arrived at Du'an Pharmacy, he ran into the person he had least expected to see.

Yue Ling—the sickly woman who had given him the Ink Sword.

The Yue Ling before him still wore light-blue robes, noble yet not extravagant. A faint smile rested on her lovely but slightly pale face, making her look exceptionally beautiful.

As Ning Chen saw Yue Ling, Yue Ling saw Ning Chen as well. Their eyes met, and they smiled lightly at one another. There was neither awkwardness nor a pretense of familiarity.

"Here to see a doctor?" Yue Ling asked, her voice gentle and clear, exceptionally pleasant to hear.

"To treat an injury," Ning Chen answered.

"What a coincidence." Yue Ling sighed softly and naturally stepped behind Ning Chen, gently pushing his wheelchair.

"It truly is." Ning Chen nodded. He had not expected them to meet again so soon.

Inside the pharmacy, the shopkeeper looked at the two approaching people without paying much attention at first. But the next moment, he suddenly raised his head, stared at Ning Chen in the wheelchair, and shock appeared on his face.

"Brother Ning, what happened to your legs?"