Changsun's Interrogation

In Weiyang Palace, Changsun had just undressed and gone to sleep when a rapid pounding at the door woke her. In the entire Weiyang Palace, only Qing Ling could come here directly without being announced. Changsun knew Qing Ling's temperament; unless something truly important had happened, she would never be so anxious that she disregarded protocol.

"Come in." Changsun rose, draped a robe over herself, and spoke calmly.

Even without her Huazhuang, Changsun remained beautiful. She had lost some of her noble bearing and gained a little more gentleness. Though she was already past thirty, the years had not left much wear and tear upon this beautiful woman. Instead, the experiences accumulated over thirty years made Changsun all the more captivating.

"Empress Dowager, something has happened!"

Qing Ling pushed open the door and hurried inside, looking at Changsun on the bed.

"Don't panic. Tell me slowly. What happened?"

Changsun had experienced far too much in her life. Her composure was naturally beyond Qing Ling's, and she instructed her in an even tone.

"Empress Dowager, come and look."

Qing Ling pushed open the window and helped Changsun over to it, then pointed toward the bright blood-red star in the southern sky.

"The Heart Constellation Emperor Star. What about it?" Changsun asked, not understanding.

"Look—isn't there another red star beside it?" Qing Ling pointed again.

"Yinghuo Shouxin? No, the two stars have not yet met. Besides, Mars's glow is so dim; this is not the sign of Yinghuo Shouxin."

Changsun was startled at first, then shook her head. When Yinghuo Shouxin appeared, the two stars vied in splendor, their crimson light filling the heavens. Now, only Mars shone brightly. Though the two stars were close, they had not yet met.

"Empress Dowager, they will meet tomorrow." Seeing that Changsun did not believe her, Qing Ling grew even more anxious.

"Hm?" Changsun sensed that something was amiss. Qing Ling knew nothing of astrology and would never have noticed such things. What had happened today?

"Who told you this?" A dangerous chill flashed through Changsun's eyes. Qing Ling might not understand, but if someone had deliberately guided her, that was another matter entirely.

Sensing the coldness in Changsun's words, Qing Ling's heart skipped a beat, but she had no choice but to answer. "Ning Chen."

"That little fellow?"

Changsun was slightly taken aback. She had thought that woman from the Western Palace had deliberately sent someone to mislead Qing Ling. It seemed that was not the case.

Qing Ling told Changsun everything Ning Chen had said that night, including how the two had met. She held nothing back, not even the smallest detail.

When Changsun first heard that Ning Chen had climbed onto a roof to count stars, she could not help but laugh. Yet as she listened further, her expression gradually turned solemn.

The Heart Mansion was the Emperor Star, while Mars governed calamity. When the two met, it foretold the descent of disaster.

"Bring Ning Chen here at once," Changsun ordered decisively.

Inside the room, Ning Chen had just returned. He glanced at the freshly washed Mu Chengxue, treated his eyes to the sight, then hummed a tune as he headed back to his own bed. As for Mu Chengxue? The room was so large—it was all hers.

Bam! Bam! Bam!

The sound of someone battering the door rang out. Ning Chen jolted in fright and hurriedly looked toward Mu Chengxue. Seeing that she had already vanished from the room, he secretly sighed in relief.

"I've done too many bad things lately. I keep getting scared out of my wits." Ning Chen slapped his forehead in annoyance, then walked to the door. He saw Qing Ling standing there prettily and was just about to speak when she grabbed him and dragged him away.

Only then did Ning Chen understand what it meant to walk as swiftly as flying. They were clearly walking, yet it felt as though they were flying. The distance had been so great, but they arrived in less than a few breaths.

Ning Chen felt as though he had gotten airsick. He swayed on the ground, and in his dazed state, Qing Ling dragged him before Changsun.

Changsun's eyes swept over the young man before her, as though she wished to see straight through him.

Unfortunately, even Changsun, who had seen countless people, could not tell what Ning Chen was thinking or what he sought.

"Ning Chen."

"Mm, ah?" Hearing someone call him, Ning Chen finally snapped out of his daze. The moment he saw Changsun before him, he jumped back in fright, nearly crying out.

Guard against fire, guard against thieves, guard against Changsun. Ning Chen had long decided that Changsun was a black-bellied woman. Not only had she taken his money, but she would not even leave his person alone.

Was the Empress's territory so easy to get by in? Of course not.

"You are afraid of me?" Changsun asked curiously. Could her reputation outside truly be so bad that people feared her this much?

Could Ning Chen tell the truth? Would he tell the truth? Of course not, unless he no longer wanted to survive here.

"The Empress Dowager's virtuous name is known to all. This lowly one was merely dragged too quickly by Sister Qing Ling, and my legs have gone numb."

While flattering her, Ning Chen did not forget to lodge a complaint against Qing Ling. She was always bullying him. So what if she knew martial arts? Was that such a big deal? Was it? Was it?

Beside him, Qing Ling ground her silver teeth. If Changsun were not present, she would definitely beat this brat to death.

"Hehe."

How could Changsun fail to see through Ning Chen's little scheme? She smiled lightly but did not expose him.

"Were all those things you told Qing Ling true?" At the mention of this, Changsun's expression grew solemn once more. The matter was of tremendous importance. If it was true, things would become troublesome.

For just today, the Xia Emperor seemed to have made up his mind to dispatch troops. He would likely issue the decree formally tomorrow. At the time, both she and Consort Wan from the Western Palace had been present, and both had seen the Xia Emperor's resolute intent.

"What things?"

Changsun's question left Ning Chen confused. He had said so many things to Qing Ling, and nearly all of them had been nonsense. How was he supposed to know which sentence she meant?

"You understand astrology?" Changsun asked again.

"I don't," Ning Chen answered honestly.

Crack. Qing Ling abruptly clenched her delicate hand, and her gaze nearly chopped Ning Chen into eighteen pieces.

Hearing Ning Chen's answer, Changsun frowned as well. If not for her lifelong self-restraint, she would have been unable to stop herself from kicking someone.

"Then why did you tell Qing Ling that Mars and the Heart Constellation Emperor Star would meet tomorrow?"

As she spoke, Changsun fixed her eyes tightly on Ning Chen. This was no child's play. If he uttered even half a lie, she would certainly not show mercy or indulgence.

Common sense, Ning Chen thought disdainfully. Naturally, he only dared to think such words inwardly. Outwardly, he replied with great respect, "Reporting to the Empress Dowager, when I was young, I once heard an expert mention the strange sign of Yinghuo Shouxin. That is why I knew."

"Are you certain?" Changsun asked again with a frown.

"Eighty to ninety percent," Ning Chen answered modestly.

Changsun's brow furrowed even more deeply. Clearly, she was dissatisfied with that answer. Eighty to ninety percent meant there was still at least a one-in-ten chance of an exception, but how could affairs of state permit even the slightest accident?

Seeing Changsun's beautiful eyes continue to stare at him, Ning Chen felt helpless. Did she not understand modesty? She truly had no eye for talent.

"It will definitely happen." Though he secretly scoffed, Ning Chen obediently changed his answer.

"One hundred percent?" Changsun asked in a low voice.

"One hundred percent!" Ning Chen answered solemnly.

"Good. I believe you!" Changsun stood. A trace of determination flashed across her beautiful face. "Qing Ling, prepare to depart for Heavenly Edict Hall."

"Yes."

Changsun and Qing Ling left, while Ning Chen was left dumbfounded. How was he supposed to get back? Gritting his teeth, he cursed the two women as he walked. It had taken only a few breaths to get here, but the return trip nearly cost him his life. Weiyang Palace was not small, and after winding east and west, he nearly could not find where he lived.

The lamp in his room had already gone out. Ning Chen thought for a moment. It seemed the candle had still been lit when he left, and it should not have caused any trouble if it burned for half the night.

He gently pushed open the door and quietly walked to his bed. Seeing an alluring figure already asleep there, he immediately pointed at the bed with his right hand, trembling with rage.

The bed is mine, and so is the blanket!

Ning Chen screamed inwardly. He dearly wanted to throw this ungrateful woman off the bed, but the moment he thought of the vast gap in their martial prowess, he immediately wilted.

Were they going to let him live or not? Were they going to let him live or not?!

Ning Chen fiercely waved his fist at Mu Chengxue. Why were all women so hateful? Qing Ling was a bad person, Changsun was a bad person, and Mu Chengxue was a bad person too.

Ning Chen considered squeezing onto the bed and suffering a little, but he was afraid he might lose out, so in the end, he decided not to give this woman the chance to take advantage of him.

Clack.

He found four stools and pieced them together into a temporary simple bed, laid a thick cotton cushion over them, and then happily lay down. Ning Chen let out a comfortable breath and spoke from the bottom of his heart:

"I really am a talented man. No, I really am a genius."

"That woman just now had very high martial arts. Be careful," Mu Chengxue suddenly said flatly, opening her eyes from the bed.

"Mm, I know," Ning Chen answered subconsciously. Then he moved, fell to the ground with a bang, and cried out in shock, "You weren't asleep?"

"I woke up when you were about to enter the room," Mu Chengxue said with her eyes open.

"Hehe, hehe." Ning Chen gave two dry laughs. How had he forgotten? This woman was ruthless enough to dare assassinate the Xia Emperor. How could she possibly fail to hear his footsteps?

Ning Chen climbed back onto his makeshift bed, then suddenly recalled what Mu Chengxue had just said. He could not help asking curiously, "Are you stronger, or is she stronger?"

"Me," Mu Chengxue answered truthfully.

She really doesn't know what modesty is, Ning Chen thought, curling his lip.

"However, if she wished to harm you, a hundred of you would not be her match," Mu Chengxue added, driving the knife in deeper.

As her words fell, Ning Chen's chest tightened, as though an iron hammer had crashed down upon it and ten thousand horses were galloping through his heart. That tiny scrap of self-respect was trampled a hundred times, a thousand times in an instant.

Turning his head, Ning Chen decided to ignore her. She was far too hateful.

"If she did not intend to hurt you," Mu Chengxue added, stabbing him again.

Ning Chen said nothing, pretending he had not heard.

"To her, you are too weak," Mu Chengxue struck with another blade.

Ning Chen endured again. I am a genius. Who am I afraid of?

"What a pity. She is a woman," Mu Chengxue said, every word drawing blood.

With a whoosh, Ning Chen sat upright and glared viciously at Mu Chengxue. "I want to learn martial arts!"

Mu Chengxue froze on the bed, then calmly uttered six words. "You are not cut out for it!"

Ah! Ning Chen felt as though he were about to explode. Too hateful! Too crushing!

"I am a genius!" Ning Chen hypnotized himself.

"You are not." Mu Chengxue mercilessly shattered that beautiful dream.

Ning Chen glared fixedly at Mu Chengxue in fury. In the darkness, his eyes were like two lanterns lit by rage.

"I am going to sleep." Mu Chengxue turned over, pretending not to see him.

Ning Chen remained unmoved, still staring straight at Mu Chengxue, intending to use his powerful mental strength to suppress his opponent.

After the time it took to drink a cup of tea...

Ning Chen was still holding on, his gaze sharp as a sword.

Half an incense stick later...

Ning Chen's will remained unbroken, his gaze still fierce.

One incense stick later...

Ning Chen rubbed his eyes and gritted his teeth as he persisted.

One hour later...

Ning Chen's eyes brimmed with tears, and he yawned again and again.

Another half hour passed...

Ning Chen unwillingly fell asleep.