Imperial Bestowal

Chu Zhiyuan wore a look of longing.

Given Consort Rou's intelligence, she should have known to pass the news on to the Emperor. The only question was how the Emperor would respond.

It would be wonderful if he truly bestowed a Dragon Pearl.

Chu Yi asked curiously, "Big Brother, what do you need a Dragon Pearl for? Is it fun?"

"It helps with cultivation."

"Oh." Chu Yi immediately lost interest, then grew excited again. "Lady Suyue from the Flying Flower Sword Sect came today. She's incredibly impressive!"

"How so?"

"She's amazing at growing flowers and plants—she knows even more than I do. She's incredible!"

"Her martial arts are better than yours too."

"Biiig Brooother!"

"While you have spare time to tend flowers and plants, practice more martial arts. Things aren't like they used to be." Chu Zhiyuan said, "There are still dangers outside the estate."

"It's not like I don't have guards."

"You can't place your life entirely in someone else's hands." Chu Zhiyuan said, "Starting today, you'll practice martial arts."

"But I still have etiquette lessons."

"The two aunties said your etiquette is already good enough." Chu Zhiyuan said, "You'll begin martial arts training this afternoon."

"..." Chu Yi's face was full of resistance.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "Otherwise, don't expect me to keep searching out rare flowers and exotic plants for you."

"Fine, fine." Chu Yi surrendered at once.

Bai Ningshuang and Chu Minghou watched with smiles, saying nothing.

"By the way, Mother, I'll be attending Fourth Uncle's birthday banquet this time," Chu Zhiyuan said.

"You've come around?" Bai Ningshuang immediately beamed. "That's more like it!"

"When I went to Bright Martial Hall this morning, Third Brother formally invited me. There was really no way to refuse, so I could only agree," Chu Zhiyuan said.

He had gone to Bright Martial Hall early that morning. When the rising sun changed from red to gold and its radiance blazed forth, he had been preparing to leave for the Ministry of Rites Office to report for duty.

At that moment, Chu Zhiyao caught up with him and invited him to attend his father's birthday banquet.

Seeing his hesitation, Chu Zhiyao said that Chu Mingxuan, Chu Zhiting, Chu Zhichuan, and the others had also been invited. Everyone from Bright Martial Hall would be going.

They would gather around several tables, have a lively time, and there would be no outsiders.

Chu Zhiyuan could only agree.

Refusing under such circumstances would not only slight Chu Zhiyao, but also Prince Xuan. One still had to observe the ways of the world.

Bai Ningshuang set down her bowl and chopsticks, saying excitedly, "No, I need to look through your clothes. You have to dress up smartly."

At Prince Xuan's birthday banquet, there would not only be members of the imperial family, but also dukes, earls, marquises, and their families from the Duke's Mansions, Earl's Mansions, and Marquis's Mansions.

Such an occasion was both a gathering of the powerful and noble and a grand event for the young.

If two people took a liking to each other and their family backgrounds matched, a marriage proposal could be made.

"Mother, there's no need for that," Chu Zhiyuan said.

"You don't understand these things. There's every need." Bai Ningshuang rose and hurried away, her steps brisk and light.

Chu Minghou smiled. "Your mother has been muttering all along that you wouldn't go. Now it's fine. She can finally put her mind at ease."

Chu Yi scooted over with a grin. "With Big Brother there, I'm relieved."

She truly did not want to go anywhere crowded. She was unaccustomed to it, and merely thinking about it made her nervous and pressured.

Now that she heard Chu Zhiyuan was going, she relaxed at once.

With Chu Zhiyuan by her side, she felt grounded and was no longer so nervous. At the very least, she would not need to speak with anyone else; she could simply talk to Chu Zhiyuan.

"Don't forget your martial arts practice," Chu Zhiyuan said.

"I know, I know." Chu Yi waved a hand. "Big Brother, you're so naggy!"

"I'll nag a few more times. First, I'll teach you some martial arts. Come on." Chu Zhiyuan rose.

Chu Yi let out a mournful sigh and followed Chu Zhiyuan away with her head hanging.

That afternoon, Chu Zhiyuan first went to the Ministry of Rites Office. Seeing Gao Lingfeng waiting outside his room, he beckoned him inside to speak.

"My lord, Grandmaster's Mansion has acted." Gao Lingfeng's expression was grave as he sighed. "I hear they've already captured that thief and recovered the item."

"And after recovering it?"

"The Imperial Court took it back, saying it was an item the Imperial Court had lost long ago. It was later acquired by an ancestor of the Thick Earth Sect, and now it has returned to its rightful owner."

Chu Zhiyuan could not help laughing.

Gao Lingfeng gave a cold laugh and said disdainfully, "Didn't the Thick Earth Sect insist on returning things to their rightful owners? Well, now the Imperial Court is the true rightful owner. It's been reclaimed by the Imperial Court, so no one else can even think about it."

Chu Zhiyuan clapped his hands and laughed. "Splendid!"

The Imperial Court truly lived up to being a powerful Imperial Court.

Using their own move against them had left the Thick Earth Sect speechless.

But what about the Flying Flower Sword Sect?

"The Flying Flower Sword Sect must be deeply unwilling to accept this as well," Gao Lingfeng said. "Who knows whether they'll cause a disturbance."

"The Imperial Court must have considered that. They should have a solution," Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.

After all, they had to show the Grandmaster respect. The Imperial Court would not go too far against the Flying Flower Sword Sect; it would certainly compensate and placate them.

As the two spoke, a minor official outside reported that an imperial eunuch had come from the Imperial Court to seek the Assistant Director.

Chu Zhiyuan rose and left the room with Gao Lingfeng.

In the open space outside stood a middle-aged eunuch in red robes, White Jade Duster in hand. He wore a smiling expression, yet stood as still as an abyss and as imposing as a mountain.

The red-robed eunuch was lean, with a gentle bearing and a fair, lustrous face. He was clearly a master martial artist.

Two young eunuchs in blue stood behind him. Each held a square sandalwood tray covered in golden silk, its luxury apparent even through the cloth.

When Chu Zhiyuan emerged, the middle-aged eunuch in red clasped his fists and bowed. "This servant, Huang Cheng, greets Heir Apparent Yuan."

Chu Zhiyuan returned the gesture with a smile. "Eunuch Huang, what errand has His Majesty sent you on?"

"His Majesty has ordered this servant to accompany Heir Apparent Yuan to the Flying Flower Sword Sect and deliver an edict."

"Oh? What edict?"

"His Majesty is bestowing two treasures upon the Flying Flower Sword Sect. One is the Glazed Dragon Pearl, and the other is the Evil-Breaking Sword."

"Then I should take a look." Chu Zhiyuan smiled. "All right, Eunuch Huang?"

This move by the Emperor was truly interesting.

"If Heir Apparent Yuan wishes to see them, then by all means," the red-robed eunuch said with a smile.

Chu Zhiyuan glanced at Zou Fang.

Zou Fang walked up to the two young eunuchs in blue and used the White Jade Duster to lift the golden silk from the trays.

Beneath the golden silk lay a small Sandalwood Box and an ancient long sword. An ancient, weighty sense of vicissitude washed over them.

Both the small Sandalwood Box and the Ancient Sword bore a golden seal engraved with the character "Edict," showing that they had been crafted by Imperial Artisans under the Emperor's command.

Chu Zhiyuan tipped his chin.

Zou Fang stepped forward and gently opened the small Sandalwood Box. A dark green pearl lay quietly within.

It was the size of an egg, like it had been carved from dark jade, crystalline and warm, as though spring water flowed inside it.

Chu Zhiyuan immediately felt the Dragon Transformation Technique whirl wildly, as if it had gone mad.

He pretended to be indifferent and waved a hand without interest.

Zou Fang closed the box, then drew the long sword from its scabbard.

Clang...

Amid a dragon's roar, the long sword left its scabbard. Its blade gave off a chilling gleam, and Cold Qi swiftly spread outward.

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. "A fine sword."

Its bearing surpassed even the Qingying Sword at his waist.

This sword might be sharper and possessed an even more formidable bearing, but one glance at its blade revealed its extraordinary weight. It was not as suitable for him as the Qingying Sword.

He looked at Huang Cheng. "Eunuch Huang, let's go. We mustn't delay Imperial Grandfather's edict."

"Yes, yes." Huang Cheng quickly smiled. "Heir Apparent Yuan, please—!"

Gao Lingfeng watched this with some surprise.

He felt Huang Cheng's attitude was somewhat too fawning.

Since Huang Cheng could come out to deliver an edict, he was no ordinary eunuch. He had to be trusted by the Emperor and wield immense authority.

Yet such a Head Eunuch treated the Heir Apparent of Prince Qing's Estate this way. It was truly rather excessively fawning.

Could this be the method Huang Cheng used to become a Head Eunuch?

Gao Lingfeng sighed inwardly. He did not possess such pliancy of character; he could not act so fawningly.

Throwing away one's dignity was a kind of skill too, perhaps.

Chu Zhiyuan neither approved nor disapproved of Huang Cheng's attitude. He was neither overwhelmed by favor nor excessively arrogant, treating him as he normally would.

The eunuchs within the forbidden palace were willow branches, bending with the wind. Wherever the Emperor's wind blew, they leaned that way. They had no will of their own.

The two walked out together, with Huang Cheng deliberately keeping half a step behind.

They left the Ministry of Rites Office, and a large group set off down the road.

Besides Chu Zhiyuan's guards, there were also Imperial Guards from the palace. Together, there were more than fifty men, and their presence was imposing.

--

By the time they arrived at the residence occupied by the Flying Flower Sword Sect, the people inside had already received word.

Lu Wan led another Elder, Yang Jifan, along with several disciples of the Flying Flower Sword Sect, out to receive the imperial edict.

The disciples' eyes shone as they stared fixedly at Huang Cheng in his red robes.

Yet Huang Cheng did not even glance at them. He merely watched Chu Zhiyuan and remained half a step behind him, displaying Chu Zhiyuan's exalted status.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled and clasped his fists. "Elder Lu, congratulations. Eunuch Huang has brought treasures bestowed by His Majesty from the palace."

Lu Wan's expression turned solemn as she slowly clasped her fists. "Many thanks, Heir Apparent. Many thanks, Eunuch Huang."

Huang Cheng smiled as he clasped his fists, bowing toward the imperial palace. Then his expression became solemn and dignified. "His Majesty said that he has always been watching the Flying Flower Sword Sect. He hopes your sect's disciples will strive harder, not lose their way, accomplish more for the Imperial Court, and not disappoint the great fortune resting upon you or His Majesty's expectations!"

"Many thanks to His Majesty!" Lu Wan solemnly clasped her fists. "Everyone in our sect is deeply grateful. We will surely give our all and not fail His Majesty's profound grace!"

A smile appeared on Huang Cheng's stern face. "I will convey Elder Lu's words to His Majesty."

"Elder Lu, accept these two treasures," Chu Zhiyuan said.

He stepped forward, lifted the golden silk to reveal the small Sandalwood Box and Ancient Sword, then gestured toward the two of them.

The two young eunuchs in blue each stepped forward, presenting their trays.

Lu Wan and Yang Jifan respectively accepted the square trays.

"Open them and take a look," Chu Zhiyuan said with a smile.

Lu Wan had Li Suyue and Xu Wanshan take the trays from them, then opened the Sandalwood Box and drew out the long sword.

Xu Wanshan's eyes were immediately drawn to the Chi Dragon Pearl. He stared straight at it, unable to look away.

Chu Zhiyuan smiled at him.

Huang Cheng directly took his leave, eager to return to the palace and report completion of his errand. Before departing, he once again bowed to Chu Zhiyuan, his smile fawning and warm.

Chu Zhiyuan was in no hurry to leave.