The Consort Is Coming

Mid-August. Autumn had yet to arrive, and the summer heat still blazed fiercely.

The pond in the rear garden of the Baosu Marquis Residence had baked beneath the sun all day. By dusk, a thin mist rose from its surface, mingling with the fresh scent of lotus leaves and lingering before the pavilion.

Lin Longyue stood in the open space before the pavilion, practicing her palm techniques.

Today, she wore only a black fitted martial outfit, its cuffs tightly bound. With one palm strike, a sharp crack burst through the air, like a bamboo joint splitting in fire.

Yunhe Commandery Princess sat on a stone bench within the pavilion, holding a cup of chilled tea.

Lin Longyue struck out again, this palm heavier than the last.

Where her palm's edge passed, visible ripples formed in the air, spreading outward in rings like stones cast into still water.

Yunhe Commandery Princess set down her teacup and slowly applauded. "Longyue, the speed of your progress is truly astonishing."

There was genuine admiration in her voice. "A few months ago, you had only just entered the Silver Bones realm. Now, you wield Bone-Penetrating Force with such mastery. Your foundation for completing Silver Bones is already solid."

Lin Longyue took the handkerchief Liuzhu offered her and wiped her hands before entering the pavilion and sitting across from Yunhe Commandery Princess.

"I must also thank Consort Chun for bestowing that Wind-Riding Elixir." She lifted her teacup and took a sip. "Without the elixir's aid, it would have taken me at least another year to condense the silver marrow throughout my body."

"Speaking of that Wind-Riding Elixir..." Yunhe Commandery Princess's eyes shifted slightly. "Is the servant who won that elixir for you still in your residence?"

"Of course he is," Lin Longyue answered casually.

Yunhe Commandery Princess nodded. "Come to think of it, that servant of yours is rather interesting.

More than thirty beast fighters entered the Beast-Fighting Palace together. Even Qiu Chihu, son of the Capital Guard Commander, went in. Yet in the end, your servant was the only one who came out alive."

She paused. "Not only did the Crown Prince refrain from questioning him closely, he even allowed him to leave with you.

The son of a third-rank official with real power died, yet there has been no reaction at all from the capital. That is truly abnormal."

"If I did not know Chen Lingxi was an official slave from a confiscated household, with a background as clear as day, I would truly think he had some extraordinary backing."

Lin Longyue said nothing.

Yunhe Commandery Princess waited for a moment. Seeing that Lin Longyue was unwilling to speak further of Chen Lingxi, she did not press the matter.

But Lin Longyue suddenly turned to her, unable to suppress the excitement in her eyes. "I heard that Consort Chun's tour will be coming to Yuan River Prefecture?"

"That is indeed the case." Yunhe Commandery Princess set down her teacup. "Her Ladyship has been feeling weary of late. The imperial physicians advised her to travel and relax, so His Majesty permitted her to leave the capital for a tour. Several prefectures in the Capital Circuit are on the route, and Yuan River Prefecture is among them."

The excitement in Lin Longyue's eyes grew even more obvious.

She rose to her feet and paced twice through the pavilion. Then she abruptly turned back, speaking faster than usual. "Commandery Princess, Consort Chun has never visited Yuan River Prefecture.

The Yuan River Imperial Residence was demolished for the construction of the canal and has yet to be rebuilt.

Within Yuan River Prefecture, when it comes to status and birth, my father stands highest. In that case..."

She drew a deep breath, her gaze burning as she looked at Yunhe Commandery Princess. "Could I receive the consort's procession at the Baosu Marquis Residence?"

Yunhe Commandery Princess froze slightly. A flash of wariness crossed her eyes, like a civet cat lurking in the shadows suddenly discovering that its tracks had been seen.

Yet that expression existed for less than a breath before she concealed it.

She lowered her eyes and placed her teacup on the stone table, lightly stroking its rim as though weighing the matter deeply.

After several breaths, she shook her head. Her tone was measured with utmost care. "The Marquis is currently devoted to the study of the Dao and has been in seclusion for a long while. If the consort comes, would that not disturb the Marquis's quiet cultivation?"

Lin Longyue did not care in the slightest. Waving a hand, she said, "For the consort to lodge here would be an honor countless people could only dream of. What does it matter if it disturbs his cultivation a little? Though my father favors the Dao, he is not someone who fails to understand what is important."

After considering it, Yunhe Commandery Princess said again, "The Baosu Marquis Residence is now under your elder brother's authority. Would he agree to this?"

Lin Longyue frowned, as though something had occurred to her.

She sat back down on the stone bench. After several breaths of silence, she finally said, "Now that you mention it, it is rather strange. My elder brother used to be arrogant and overbearing. He was especially fond of places of pleasure, a frequent guest of the flower boats on the Yuan River, and he enjoyed throwing around the authority of the household head.

But for some reason, over the past year or two, he has changed completely. I hear that he cultivates in the South Courtyard all day, no longer takes pleasure in whipping the residence's servants, and never visits those places of pleasure anymore."

She paused, and the confusion in her eyes deepened. "He even seems... not to care much about the Baosu Marquis Residence itself.

Nearly everything in the residence has been handed over to Zhao Yong, while Wang Chu handles all affairs, great and small, in the South Courtyard.

Other than inviting highly accomplished figures into the residence as retainers, he hardly involves himself in anything at all."

Yunhe Commandery Princess raised her brow slightly upon hearing this, then smiled. "Is that not a good thing for you?"

Lin Longyue nodded lightly, but she did not smile.

Then she suddenly said, "Precisely because of this, I have already submitted a memorial in the name of the Baosu Marquis Residence, and my elder brother has not stopped me.

If Consort Chun is willing, I will clear out the East Courtyard, which has stood vacant for so long, arrange it properly, and receive the consort there."

A trace of panic immediately appeared in Yunhe Commandery Princess's eyes.

Though she suppressed it in an instant, Lin Longyue was immersed in her excitement and did not notice.

After several breaths, Yunhe Commandery Princess looked around. Outside the pavilion, apart from Liuzhu and two maidservants waiting at a distance, there was no one else.

She suddenly leaned forward and lowered her voice. "You have acted somewhat rashly in this matter."

Lin Longyue's brows furrowed slightly as she was about to speak, but Yunhe Commandery Princess continued, "Consort Chun is now in His Majesty's favor, and with the Mirror Listening Art, she holds the power of life and death over many officials. Catching the consort's eye would indeed bring endless benefits."

She paused, lowering her voice even further until it was almost a whisper. "But... there are countless people under heaven who hate Consort Chun. Of the nineteen rebel kings, twelve have raised the banner of cleansing the sovereign's side!

Who do you think they mean to cleanse from the sovereign's side? I need not say more.

No one knows how many figures are watching Consort Chun's tour like tigers from the shadows. Though it is within the Capital Circuit, people such as Xiao Changlü and Wu Mohe certainly will not let such an opportunity pass."

But Lin Longyue only gave a cold laugh and shook her head. "Though the Baosu Marquis Residence cannot compare to the residences of those founding generals and kings in the capital, there are still several Golden Body experts in our residence.

That old steward who tends the lamps at my father's side is even more extraordinary.

And Consort Chun's tour will surely bring many powerful experts with her. Could we truly fear those rebel kings?"

As she spoke, a sharp gleam flashed through her eyes. "Besides, if someone truly attempts an assassination and the Marquis Residence can protect the consort's procession, that would count as a merit."

Seeing her insistence, Yunhe Commandery Princess knew there was no point in persuading her further. She set down her teacup, and her expression had already returned to normal.

"Oh, right." Her tone became languid and casual once more. "Yang Zhuri, son of General Chiri, once asked me about that Chen-surnamed servant of yours. He asked me to convey his question: would you be willing to transfer that servant to him?

He enjoys flower arranging in his spare time. He heard that the bottle flowers arranged by that servant had once been bestowed by the consort, and it piqued his interest."

Without nearly any hesitation, Lin Longyue shook her head. "Please tell Young Master Yang that Chen Lingxi is teaching me the art of flower arranging. He cannot be transferred."

Yunhe Commandery Princess stared at her for a moment, then suddenly burst into laughter. "Then can you transfer him to me?"

Lin Longyue raised an eyebrow slightly and looked at Yunhe Commandery Princess, a trace of puzzlement flashing through her eyes.

But Yunhe Commandery Princess waved her hand, her smiling eyes curving into crescents. "I was merely joking. Do not take it seriously. How could I make you part with something you love?"

Only then did Lin Longyue's brows relax. She lifted her teacup and took another sip.

Dusk gradually deepened. Lanterns lit up one after another throughout the garden, their dim yellow halos swaying gently in the night breeze.

Yunhe Commandery Princess rose to her feet, smoothed her skirt, and gave Lin Longyue a slight nod. "It is getting late. I should return."

Lin Longyue rose to see her off, escorting her all the way to the moon gate of the West Courtyard.

Yunhe Commandery Princess's carriage was already waiting there, its curtains hanging low while two maidservants stood with their hands lowered beside it.

Yunhe Commandery Princess boarded the carriage, lifted a corner of the curtain, and waved to Lin Longyue before letting it fall again.

The carriage rumbled out through the marquis residence's side gate and vanished into the night on the long street.

The carriage did not head for the commandery princess's palace. Instead, it turned through several streets and stopped at the rear gate of a secluded residence.

Yunhe Commandery Princess got down and entered the residence directly.

In the garden, moonlight fell upon an artificial mountain piled from Taihu stones, illuminating the jagged rocks in stark layers of light and shadow.

A person sat beside the stone table by the artificial mountain.

He wore a moon-white brocade robe, a white jade belt around his waist, and a jade crown atop his head. His features were handsome, and beneath the moonlight, his peach-blossom eyes glimmered with a faint, shadowy light.

It was Yang Zhuri.

Yang Zhuri asked, "How did it go?"

Yunhe Commandery Princess shook her head.

Yang Zhuri frowned slightly. A trace of displeasure flashed through those peach-blossom eyes. "I am not as fortunate as you, able to obtain such a great medicine as Lin Longyue."

His voice was quiet and his tone calm, but beneath that calm lay an undisguisable agitation. "My medicine has already run out."

There was no trace of charm left in those peach-blossom eyes now. Instead, they were rather cold. "I had taken notice of Chen Lingxi as early as the Beast-Fighting Palace.

I observed him with the art of reading qi. The misty aura around him rose and curled, lingering in the air. That quality—he is absolutely a fine great medicine."

Yunhe Commandery Princess frowned slightly. "Have you asked the Crown Prince?"

Yang Zhuri smiled and shook his head, his smile carrying a touch of indifference.

"He is only an official slave. Why ask the Crown Prince?"

He paused, and a sharp gleam flashed through his eyes. "Besides, the Crown Prince did not throw him into prison. Perhaps he has been reserved for medicinal use. I will seize him for now and raise him into a great medicine. If the Crown Prince wants him later, it will conveniently become a merit."

He picked up his teacup and slowly took a sip before continuing, "With the qi-devouring method taught by the Crown Prince, cultivation is much easier. It is only that great medicines are difficult to find.

Now that I have found a candidate for a great medicine, and he is merely a servant, this is fate."

He raised his eyes to Yunhe Commandery Princess, and the smile in them deepened. "If Lin Longyue is unwilling, then take him in secret."

Yunhe Commandery Princess was somewhat absent-minded. She nodded faintly, then suddenly said, "Lin Longyue said she intends to receive Consort Chun at the Baosu Marquis Residence."

Yang Zhuri frowned. "The consort?"

A trace of apprehension flashed through his eyes. "Could the consort's Mirror Listening Art detect some clue about a great medicine?"

Yunhe Commandery Princess did not answer.

Yang Zhuri lowered his head and thought for a moment. "Report this to the Crown Prince first."