Re-entry into Hualin Garden

October 28th, night.

Jiankang Palace, Southern Secretariat.

The imperial road in front of the palace.

Historically, the Southern Secretariat was not an institution that existed long-term like the Department of State Affairs or the Secretariat.

The Southern Secretariat was a temporary decision-making body established by Emperor Wu of Liang in the seventh year of Tianjian, based on the Department of State Affairs and reporting directly to the Emperor himself.

Its leadership was composed mostly of members of the Xiao Liang royal family.

For instance, in the tenth year of Tianjian, the Prince of Poyang, Xiao Hui, the younger brother of Emperor Wu of Liang, Xiao Yan, was summoned to the capital and granted titles such as "Attendant Gentleman, General of the Protector Army, Commander of Shitou Garrison," and authorized to appoint staff and relocate to the Southern Secretariat to assist in governance.

Zhu Yuanzhang arrived a bit later this time than before.

By now, Yang Kan and Fu Qi had already moved to the woods on the right side of the official road to avoid the eyes of the sparse crowds emerging from the Secretariat.

And this time, because there was no interruption from Minghe.

The conversation between the two was much more profound than before.

"Hou Jing's reason for raising his army is to 'remove the evil from the side of the monarch.' If Zhu Yi is not killed, how can the doubts in the hearts of the soldiers be quelled?"

Under the layers of tree shadows, the moonlight was incomplete, giving Fu Qi's expression a touch of ferocity.

"If Hou Jing is not killed, Taicheng will fall into enemy hands sooner or later. By then, I fear the entire Xiao Liang royal family within the city will be captured by Hou Jing."

"Commander Fu."

Wearing a Tiger-Skin Monk Robe and silently reciting the Sangqiwo Jataka Secret Mantra, Zhu Yuanzhang watched everything quietly.

He watched Fu Qi, who even now was attempting to use the opportunity of the siege by Hou Jing to topple his political rivals.

Zhu Yuanzhang seemed to understand what Fahui meant when he said that the "game of gods and ghosts" would eventually turn into a "game of interests and desires between men."

Initially, Zhu Yi was one of the few civil officials of Xiao Liang who had defied public opinion to support Emperor Wu of Liang in accepting the defection of Hou Jing from Northern Wei.

He had claimed: "The sage reigns over the world, responding to the heavens above. Among the displaced people of the northern lands, who does not admire us? They simply lacked the opportunity to reach our heart. Now that Hou Jing has brought the greater part of the Wei state to return to our holy dynasty, if we do not accept him, I fear we shall extinguish all future hope."

He ultimately succeeded in "persuading" Emperor Wu of Liang to accept Hou Jing's defection.

Yet, ironically, the very man who theoretically was a benefactor to Hou Jing had become the excuse for Hou Jing's uprising.

"Kill Zhu Yi! Remove the evil from the side of the monarch!"

Above his head, labeled as [Left Guard Commander of the Crown Prince Yang Kan], the warrior—clad in full armor, holding his helmet, and with a sword at his waist—shook his head.

"Zhu Yi is the trusted confidant of His Majesty and a pillar of the state. How can he be killed arbitrarily?"

Upon hearing this, a look of disappointment appeared on Fu Qi's face.

"The General prides himself on being a loyal subject of the state! How can you sit by and watch the destruction of the Xiao Liang royal family?"

But Yang Kan's expression remained firm.

"It cannot be done."

"Alas! If Zhu Yi is not killed, Taicheng will surely fall! The state will surely be in peril!"

Fu Qi sighed toward the heavens.

Then, under Yang Kan's somewhat guilty gaze, Fu Qi shook his head and spoke.

It was as if, because of Yang Kan's lack of cooperation, he had made an extremely difficult decision.

"The only plan now is to send a member of the Xiao Liang royal family out of the city to prepare for the worst."

"Which of the princes in Taicheng does Commander Fu think is most suitable?"

Seeming to want to make up for his own mistake, Yang Kan asked eagerly.

"The grandson of Crown Prince Zhaoming! Xiao Dong."

After stating the answer, Fu Qi stared at Yang Kan without blinking.

Yang Kan lowered his head, his expression shifting as if he were undergoing an intense internal struggle.

"Very well."

"Good!"

Fu Qi replied quickly upon receiving the answer.

It was as if he were afraid the other party might go back on his word.

"Schemes," it was all just "schemes."

Zhu Yuanzhang, who was hiding his presence with the Sangqiwo Jataka Secret Mantra on the side, felt the corner of his mouth twitch.

Real political struggle was actually this plain, simple, and dull.

"I still lack three or four strongmen to go to Hualin Garden to protect the Prince of Yuzhang. Once we reach Sima Gate, I ask that the General have elite cavalry ready to provide support from the side."

"This... I have no shortage of elite cavalry, but as for strongmen who can enter the inner city and are reliable..."

When Yang Kan said this, a look of difficulty flashed across his face.

"I fear that will be difficult..."

"This humble monk is willing to escort Commander Fu to Hualin Garden."

Zhu Yuanzhang's voice appeared abruptly.

He cast a deep, searching look at Fu Qi.

Clearly, it was not difficult to judge from the conversation just now.

In the previous life, this man had deceived him.

He possessed no reliable warriors or retainers whatsoever.

Otherwise, there would have been no need to borrow men from Yang Kan.

Zhu Yuanzhang raised the Demon-Subduing Pestle and smashed it fiercely into the two-hundred-year-old locust tree beside him.

In an instant, a hole the size of a human head appeared in the upper part of the tree, which was thick enough for two men to embrace.

The entire Demon-Subduing Pestle had been driven deep into the trunk, piercing it clean through.

"Truly a mighty warrior."

Fu Qi's expression shifted slightly.

Yet, he suddenly adopted an air of thirsting for talent.

"Loyalty emerges in times of national crisis. There is no time to lose; I ask that the Chan master depart with me at once to Hualin Garden to meet His Highness the Prince of Yuzhang."

"It should be so."

He did not know if it was an illusion.

Zhu Yuanzhang always felt that this old fellow was calculating against him.

Afterward, just as in the previous life, he quickly persuaded Yang Kan—who had already been persuaded by him—and set off together with Fu Qi.

Hualin Garden.

It was still the same pale lanterns and the flickering ghostly shadows on both sides of the path.

There was also Consort Ding, flying toward them as if suspended in mid-air by white silk.

And that eerie, ancient ballad describing the misfortunes of marriage.

From Fu Qi's mouth, Zhu Yuanzhang learned that the author was the Southern Dynasties poet Bao Zhao, who had written Imitating the Difficult Journey in the style of Han Dynasty yuefu meter.

In this era, it was roughly equivalent to... pop music?

But this time, having realized the other party's identity, Zhu Yuanzhang stated his own purpose directly.

Gripping the Demon-Subduing Pestle, he stepped forward, unfurled his Mountain-Shrinking Fist, and unleashed the Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Fire.

While preparing for battle, he spoke in a loud voice.

"Treacherous villains have infiltrated the Hualin Garden offices to harm the Xiao Liang royal family. We have come to escort His Highness Xiao Dong out of the palace to safety. I ask that the Consort lead us to see the Prince of Yuzhang at once!"

Hearing Zhu Yuanzhang's words, Consort Ding's originally resentful gaze faltered.

A moment passed.

She observed the young monk before her while simultaneously sensing the commotion coming from the Hualin Garden offices behind her.

Then, ten thousand pale palms erupted from Consort Ding's body.

They shot toward the direction of the offices.

The boss had entered her second phase!

Zhu Yuanzhang's prediction had been correct.

That giant black eye and Consort Ding were indeed in a state of hostility.

And this time, knowing that Fu Qi was a weakling, Zhu Yuanzhang did not shield Fu Qi in front of him again.

Instead, he made him stay honestly behind his back.

In the sky, thousands of black mists, ghostly shadows, and pale palms collided.

They emitted bursts of whistling sounds.

By now, Consort Ding had already transformed into a bizarre creature in white robes with ten thousand slender, pale hands.

The moment he saw the "Thousand-Hand Form Consort Ding" hovering above his head, Zhu Yuanzhang suddenly felt a sense of discomfort in his throat.

Several pale, slender palms emerged from his stomach.

They clawed frantically at his mouth, attempting to tear it apart and burst out from within.

"Dingguang Demon-Subduing!"

The True Fire surged forth from his limbs and bones.

The Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Fire scorched Zhu Yuanzhang until he sizzled, much like a salted fish upon a grill.

The burning sensation made stars dance before Zhu Yuanzhang's eyes.

Yet, at the same time, the Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Fire possessed a miraculous effect when dealing with sinister, evil entities like Consort Ding.

After a brief moment, Zhu Yuanzhang felt a sense of relief in his abdomen.

The intense, bloated sensation that had been present vanished in an instant.

Both his stomach and the pale hand within it were reduced to ashes under the searing heat of the true fire.