The Beginning

He returned to the estate that evening when the moon hung high in the sky.

Yujing City's streets and alleys were still bustling, even livelier than during the day. The laughter and chatter from the taverns drifted far into the distance.

Chu Zhiyuan strolled along at an unhurried pace amid the escort of his guards, shaking his head.

Did these people never sleep?

Why was the night even more bustling than the daytime?

Could it be that martial artists were so full of energy? But martial artists needed rest too—more importantly, they needed cultivation.

He truly could not understand the way these people lived.

Then, amid the crowd, he spotted Huang Shirong surrounded by two White-Clad Girls.

Huang Shirong remained cool and aloof, her appearance still breathtakingly beautiful.

Dressed in an apricot-yellow gauze robe, she swayed with graceful elegance, like a frail willow bending in the wind. Yet the longsword at her waist still made people's hearts leap into their throats, as though it might snap that slender waist in two.

She spotted Chu Zhiyuan from afar as well, suddenly quickened her pace, and lightly threaded through the crowd to arrive before him.

Chu Zhiyuan waved a hand.

Guo Chi tactfully stepped back and made way.

Carrying a faint, secluded fragrance with her, Huang Shirong came before Chu Zhiyuan. She cupped her fists and smiled radiantly. "Heir Apparent."

"Hall Master Huang, I trust you have been well." Chu Zhiyuan smiled.

Huang Shirong smiled. "The Heir Apparent is in quite the mood tonight?"

"I bought a residence near Bright Moon Tower," Chu Zhiyuan said. "I'll go there occasionally for a change of scenery."

Huang Shirong nodded lightly.

Under normal circumstances, a luxurious and imposing princely estate was enough to live in for a lifetime. There was no reason to buy another residence elsewhere.

But the Fourth Heir Apparent was different. Having been imprisoned in Prince Qing's Estate for twenty years, he likely harbored a vague revulsion and fear toward the estate.

Speaking of which, this Fourth Heir Apparent was quite pitiful. Wounds of the heart were the hardest to mend; perhaps it would take a lifetime to slowly heal them.

"Have you figured out why it's so lively?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Huang Shirong's delicate brows immediately drew together. "More and more experts have been pouring into the city lately. They say they've come to watch the spectacle."

"What spectacle?"

"The Great Zhen Envoy Mission is entering the capital. They've come to see the people of Great Zhen."

Chu Zhiyuan raised a brow. "They're here for revenge, aren't they?"

Huang Shirong nodded gently, her expression grave.

They claimed they had come to see the people of Great Zhen, but clearly, they were all itching to avenge themselves upon Great Zhen.

Great Zhen and Great Jing had once enjoyed a honeymoon period, but during the reigns of the last two emperors, they had been at war almost without interruption.

Great Zhen had secretly allied itself with Great Meng. The two had been exchanging flirtatious glances and working in perfect tacit understanding against Great Jing, causing Great Jing to suffer far too many losses.

This time, Great Zhen intended to forge a marriage alliance with Great Jing, and far too many people opposed it.

The friends and relatives of those who had died in the wars between Great Zhen and Great Jing bore blood-deep enmity toward Great Zhen. How could they tolerate Great Jing letting Great Zhen off?

Even though an alliance with Great Zhen would be more beneficial in dealing with Great Meng.

But what did ordinary commoners care about such things? They only wanted to avenge their wrongs and repay their hatred.

This brought enormous pressure and burden upon the Town Martial Division and the City Patrol Guard. One misstep, and a great disaster could erupt.

If anything happened to the Great Zhen envoys, it would certainly affect the alliance between the two nations. No one in the Town Martial Division could bear that responsibility.

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head. "Just thinking about it gives me a headache."

Huang Shirong sighed softly.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "Still, Division Chief Jiang is no ordinary person, and Hall Master Huang, you're ice-and-snow clever as well. It won't stump you."

"I'll borrow the Heir Apparent's auspicious words, then." Huang Shirong smiled bitterly.

Chu Zhiyuan cupped his fists. Huang Shirong tactfully took her leave.

By the time he returned to the estate, all of Prince Qing's Estate had gone quiet, with only the guards conducting crisscrossing patrols.

Prince Qing's Mansion Street was as bright as day.

Rows upon rows of ornate lanterns bearing the character "Qing" lined both sides of the street. Their gathered light flooded the entire avenue, making the freshly painted gates and golden studs gleam brilliantly.

Chu Zhiyuan entered the estate gates and returned to his courtyard. With a wave of his hand, he sent Mo Yi and the other three girls—who had fallen asleep sprawled over the table—back to rest.

Just then, Zou Fang came in to report that Liang Guanjie had been waiting all along. He had waited for most of the night and insisted on seeing the Heir Apparent before leaving.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

A moment later, Liang Guanjie lifted the curtain and entered the study, cupping his fists in salute.

Chu Zhiyuan waved a hand. "It's late. Make it brief. How did it go?"

Liang Guanjie's Maitreya-Buddha-like smile was gone. His expression was solemn as he said quietly, "Young Master, we've already investigated it. The guards at Prince Jing's Estate are jointly handled by the City Patrol Guard and the Town Martial Division, with the Supervisory Department involved as well. There is one grandmaster stationed in each of the east, west, south, and north sections of the estate. This subordinate suspects that a Great Grandmaster may be stationed there too... No one inside the estate is allowed out. All purchases are handled by the Department of Martial Affairs, then passed to specialized Imperial Palace guards, and finally handed over to eunuchs."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned. "It's still this tightly guarded?"

Thirty years had passed. Why would Prince Jing's Estate, whose occupants had been confined, still require such strict security?

If it truly stemmed from dissatisfaction and anger toward the Second Prince, then after thirty years, that anger should have long dissipated. They ought to have been too lazy to bother with him.

For the security to remain so tight was truly abnormal.

Liang Guanjie said solemnly, "This subordinate also learned that these guards are replaced once a year, and never are the same people used again."

Chu Zhiyuan slowly nodded, his gaze flickering.

Liang Guanjie said, "This subordinate suspects there is a Great Grandmaster there, so I did not dare investigate further. There was no way to uncover anything more."

"Did you see Second Uncle?" Chu Zhiyuan asked slowly.

Liang Guanjie nodded. "I stole a distant look. Prince Jing appears to be in good spirits."

"What about the others?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Liang Guanjie said, "Prince Jing's Princess Consort passed away three years ago. Only one County Princess remains, about the same age as our County Princess."

Chu Zhiyuan frowned. "Anyone else?"

"Prince Jing has no secondary consorts or concubines. In that enormous estate now, it seems there are only Prince Jing and the County Princess."

"What about the servants in the estate?"

"They are far inferior to those in our estate." Liang Guanjie shook his head. "Their vigor is gone. They're all lazy and slack."

Chu Zhiyuan fell silent.

Liang Guanjie said softly, "Young Master, should we contact Prince Jing?"

"Wait a little longer. Have your people withdraw first... You weren't discovered, were you?"

"Rest assured, Young Master. There is no possibility that they discovered us."

"Get some silver and spiritual pills from Steward Feng. Go into seclusion at the manor outside the city, then return in half a month."

"Yes."

Liang Guanjie cupped his fists and withdrew from the study.

Chu Zhiyuan paced with his hands behind his back and shook his head.

Though his father dearly wished to visit Prince Jing, the situation now seemed highly abnormal. It was better not to visit, lest they set themselves on fire.

If they truly wished to visit, they should wait until he became a grandmaster.

They had waited thirty years already. Another year or half a year made little difference.

The next morning, when the first light of dawn appeared, he went to Bright Martial Hall to train with Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhichuan, Chu Zhiting, and the others.

They assumed the Violet Sun Stance. They cultivated the Lesser Violet Sun Technique, while he cultivated the Greater Violet Sun Technique.

The True Qi of the Greater Violet Sun Technique possessed countless marvels.

It was supremely yang and supremely rigid, exceptionally pure. Once it entered an opponent's meridians, it carried a special burning effect. Even someone one or two cultivation levels higher would find it difficult to expel or dissolve.

More importantly, the Greater Violet Sun Technique could nourish the body. At the same realm, its practitioners lived longer, and it was an extraordinary art that led directly to the Great Grandmaster Realm.

When ordinary cultivation methods were practiced, they damaged one's foundations and caused deficiencies in essence, energy, and spirit. Even if one's mastery ran deep enough, one could not attain the Great Grandmaster Realm.

This was one reason Great Grandmasters were so rare in the world.

During breaks in training, he gathered with the princes and Heir Apparents to chat idly.

He spoke of what he had seen and heard at the Ministry of Rites, while they shared things they had heard from their parents. They exchanged information and chatted with great enthusiasm.

After the sun rose higher, he bade everyone farewell and went to the Ministry of Rites to report for duty.

He remained at Tongtian Pavilion until noon, then returned to Prince Qing's Estate to have lunch with his family.

During lunch, Chu Zhiyuan noticed Bai Ningshuang beaming with joy, so he curiously asked why.

"In a few days, it will be Prince Xuan's birthday. He has invited me to attend his birthday banquet. Yuan'er, you'll come with us then."

"Fourth Uncle?" Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "Congratulations, Imperial Concubine."

Although, because of his outstanding performance at the Winter Hunt, his entry into the Xiantian Realm, and his position in the Ministry of Rites, people had begun coming to propose marriage.

When she entered the palace, the princess consorts' attitudes had changed as well.

But this was the first time a prince had issued them an invitation.

It was a major signal, marking a new beginning. It was Prince Qing's Estate's first step toward integrating into the imperial clan.

"It's because Yuan'er has made us proud!" Bai Ningshuang beamed. "Otherwise, they would still pretend not to know me!"

She smiled at Chu Zhiyuan. "Yuan'er, come with me."

Chu Zhiyuan hurriedly waved his hands, saying that he was busy.

He truly was busy cultivating. He was still not satisfied with his progress and wanted to advance faster.

Bai Ningshuang glared at him in displeasure.

Chu Minghou persuaded her a few times, telling her not to delay Chu Zhiyuan's serious business. Their son was no idler now; he worked at the Ministry of Rites.

"Duke An's Estate should be invited as well. Perhaps that Princess Xiao will be there. Yuan'er, don't you want to see her?"

Chu Zhiyuan firmly shook his head.

He had no time to divide his attention over such matters. Cultivation was all he wanted.

Bai Ningshuang snorted unhappily. "Fine, then Yi'er and I will go."

Chu Yi's little face immediately crumpled. She looked at Bai Ningshuang miserably, her expression pleading for mercy.

But Bai Ningshuang's heart did not soften in the least. She snorted. "Stop staying in your courtyard all day, fiddling with those flowers and plants. Come meet some people with me!"

"Mother—!"

"Stop babbling. It's settled!"

Chu Zhiyuan turned a blind eye to Chu Yi's pleading gaze and lowered his head to eat.

Today, he intended to make a trip to the Audit Department, personally urge them along, and exchange that Ninth-grade Merit for a Minor Marrow Cleansing Pill.

"Also, I had your grandmother find you a female court official from the palace. Study etiquette with her for the next few days."

Chu Yi protested, "Mother, I don't need to study anymore."

"You've learned it all muddleheadedly. If something goes wrong, you'll make a complete fool of yourself and disgrace your name."

"Mother—!" She turned to Chu Zhiyuan and looked at him pleadingly.

Chu Zhiyuan pretended not to see. He set down his bowl, said, "I'm full," then rose and left. Chu Yi's dissatisfied calls could not halt his departing footsteps.