The Lord of the Division

Chu Zhiyuan was halfway along the path when Feng Xi suddenly appeared.

"Young Master, a Grandmaster has appeared," Feng Xi said softly. "This servant took the liberty of ordering the three of them to withdraw."

Chu Zhiyuan nodded. "Mm, Old Feng, you did the right thing. A Grandmaster..."

A Grandmaster's killing power was astonishing, beyond ordinary imagination, and the Prince's Estate could only deploy the three present—the others had their own duties and could not be moved lightly.

When Grandmasters were involved, one had to be exceedingly cautious.

Xiantian Masters facing a Grandmaster had almost no power to resist. The crushing weight of realm suppression was no empty talk; it was an iron law proven by rivers of blood.

To be safe, he needed external help.

The Imperial Clan Court or the Town Martial Division?

The Imperial Clan Court was the yamen specifically responsible for the affairs of imperial princes and grandsons, handling everything from daily needs to life and death for imperial princes and grandsons.

No matter how fallen Prince Qing's Estate was, it was still a Prince's Mansion. A single word would have the Imperial Clan Court increase their guards, even summoning Grandmasters from the Grandmaster Residence.

As for the Town Martial Division, it also bore the duty of protecting the imperial clan. Sending word would bring experts to reinforce them.

Should he choose the Imperial Clan Court, the Town Martial Division, or both?

Chu Zhiyuan thought for a moment. "Let's do this—I'll write to the Town Martial Division for aid. Who should I contact?"

Feng Xi said, "For the Town Martial Division, go directly to the Central Division Master?... Below the Division Chief are five Division Masters. The four Masters of East, South, West, and North are outside the capital; the Central Division Master sits in Jade Capital. Seeking the Central Division Master should be correct."

"Then I'll seek the Central Division Master. I won't be turned away at the door, will I?"

"Does the Young Master know this Central Division Master?"

"How would I know him?" Chu Zhiyuan gave a wry smile. "Besides, he probably doesn't want to know me either."

Guo Chi sneered. "Young Master, the Town Martial Division has indeed grown too arrogant. They've forgotten rank and order!"

Feng Xi nodded slightly. "With so many experts at their command, their confidence naturally runs deep."

Guo Chi snorted, unconvinced. "They belong to the court, and the experts belong to the court. Everything they have was given by the court."

"Not necessarily," Chu Zhiyuan said with a wry shake of his head. "They feel their positions are earned by their own efforts."

The Town Martial Division held an independent, transcendent status, directly subordinate to the Emperor—truly the Emperor's hounds.

The court had no authority over promotions or appointments within the Town Martial Division.

The Emperor appointed the Division Chief; the remaining five Division Masters and all positions below them were won by personal skill and merit.

Months ago, when Chu Zhiyuan studied the Town Martial Division, he had marveled at the Great Jing Dynasty's Founding Emperor. His confidence was immense—wasn't he afraid of backlash?

He guessed that the Founding Emperor kept the Town Martial Division relatively independent both as a spur to future emperors and as protection for the Division itself.

The Division Chief of the Town Martial Division was critically important. First, he had to enjoy the court's absolute trust. Second, he had to be strong enough to control the Division and not be sidelined.

The Division Chief was often a Grandmaster, one deeply trusted by the Emperor.

But the current Division Chief position had been vacant for ten years. The previous Chief had gone to the Four Great Grotto-Heavens a decade ago seeking a method to break through to the next realm.

Without a Chief to restrain them, the five Division Masters each acted on their own, reporting directly to the Emperor—effectively elevating their power another level.

At this thought, he shook his head.

This was likely a deliberate move to divide power. It seemed his Imperial Grandfather was a suspicious man, unwilling to trust anyone in that seat.

--

Before the evening meal, Chu Zhiyuan went to the study and wrote a letter, handing it to Feng Xi.

By the time Feng Xi returned, Chu Zhiyuan had finished dinner and was playing the zither on the lake in the rear garden.

The lake water rippled gently, bright and heavy.

The moon reflected in the water seemed to drift ceaselessly.

In the small pavilion at the lake's center, lanterns blazed brightly.

The clear, crisp sound of the zither drifted from the pavilion, spreading far across the lake's surface.

Chu Zhiyuan sat cross-legged before the zither, eyes half-closed, lightly plucking and stroking the strings.

Zou Fang, clad in a blue robe and holding a white jade horsetail whisk, stood at the pavilion's entrance, motionless as a wooden post, blending into the pavilion so thoroughly he was easy to overlook.

Two beautiful, colorfully dressed maids sat beside Chu Zhiyuan, their graceful figures exuding a faint fragrance.

Their bright eyes sparkled, their limpid glances flowing, as their slender jade fingers either picked up a pastry to feed him or plucked a grape to place in his mouth.

Chu Zhiyuan had learned the zither since childhood from his mother, Princess Consort Bai Ningshuang, and his skill was already profound. Through playing, he could tune his heart.

The heartstrings were like zither strings, needing adjustment between tension and relaxation. Playing the zither to tune the heartstrings was an excellent and swift method.

He wanted to calm his mind properly.

Suppressing the other princes and young masters with the Great Avalanche Sword Art—no matter how he pretended to be composed, excitement and pride were inevitable, a pride welling up from the depths of his heart.

Besides, during the evening meal, his mother Bai Ningshuang had been radiant, his Little Sister Chu Yi beaming with joy, and even Chu Minghou, who usually paid no heed to worldly affairs, had been cheerfully smiling.

The afternoon's competition at Bright Martial Hall had spread like wings, swiftly reaching every prince's estate. Bai Ningshuang had been chatting with Consort Rou when she heard the news.

It had lifted their spirits and made them hold their heads high.

Chu Zhiyuan couldn't help but be affected, but he knew he must not grow restless. He had to continue sinking his heart deep into cultivation, acting with deliberation and careful thought.

Amid the sound of the zither, Feng Xi appeared outside the small pavilion.

"Zheng—!"

Chu Zhiyuan pressed down on the strings, cutting the music short.

Feng Xi stepped into the pavilion and bowed. "Young Master."

"How did it go?" Chu Zhiyuan asked.

Feng Xi shook his head helplessly. "I couldn't see the Central Division Master."

"Oh?"

"I was blocked by the guards. They said the Central Division Master is busy—any audience requires a prior appointment, and unless it's a matter of utmost urgency, no one is received." Feng Xi said, "Your servant has already submitted the letter."

"Then we wait."

Chu Zhiyuan shook his head.

This was precisely why the princes and heirs of the Great Jing Dynasty could not simply live as idle rich.

Even as a prince, if one lacked sufficient power, one still had to swallow grievances and endure humiliation—neither carefree nor at ease.

The Town Martial Division bore the duty of protecting the imperial family, yet now a mere Division Master could treat an heir with such disdain.

Would the Imperial Clan Court be better?

But choosing the Imperial Clan Court would stir up too much, even alarming the entire royal clan.

More importantly, the Imperial Clan Court's methods differed from the Town Martial Division's. The former would only send guards, while the latter would dig deep into the matter.

Chu Zhiyuan cast these thoughts aside in an instant and asked, "What are the three of them like in character?"

Feng Xi sighed. "Full of bad habits—they've all turned into old foxes."

"Have Liang Guanjie come over."

"Yes."

Feng Xi withdrew from the pavilion.

Chu Zhiyuan pushed aside the zither, rose, and stood before the railing, lifting his head to gaze at the bright moon in the night sky.

The moon was bright, the stars sparse.

A gust of cold wind blew in but was blocked by the felt curtain hanging from the north side of the pavilion, unable to enter.

The two maidservants obediently fell silent, standing quietly to the side, their limpid eyes fixed on him.

Zou Fang remained silent at the pavilion's entrance.

Chu Zhiyuan stared at the bright moon, his thoughts scattering.

Finally, he shook his head.

With his own cultivation weak, the estate's power meager, and his status low, relying on others' strength was indeed awkward.

Borrowing momentum was ultimately not as good as relying on one's own power. He still had to cultivate diligently.

Liang Guanjie, belly protruding, strode swiftly through the corridor and entered the pavilion, cupping his fist in salute. "Young Master."

"Old Liang, how is it?"

"The Tenth Prince and Thirteenth Prince's heirs have no one tailing them."

"No one..." Chu Zhiyuan frowned.

So it was only aimed at him.

Not an enemy of the imperial clan, but an enemy of Prince Qing's Estate?

"...Those three friends of yours have no shortage of minor faults. If they become your subordinates, can you keep them in line?"

"Absolutely no problem!" Liang Guanjie thumped his chest without hesitation.

"Won't you be held back by old ties?"

Liang Guanjie grinned. "Young Master, rest a hundred percent assured. When I was in the Eagle Soaring Camp, I could keep them in line, and I can now. Taming them is a piece of cake."

"Then they're assigned to you." Chu Zhiyuan tapped the railing. "The four of you will specialize in covert tracking, not included in the daily patrols."

"Many thanks, Young Master!" Liang Guanjie was overjoyed.

This meant a promotion in status.

He could finally put his skills to use.

Having to patrol like an ordinary guard was unbearably stifling. Only in the shadows did he feel at home, at ease, and truly able to unleash his strength.

Chu Zhiyuan said, "If they cause trouble, I'll hold you accountable!"

"Yes!" Liang Guanjie nodded solemnly.

Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand.

After Liang Guanjie clasped his hands in farewell and left, he leaned on the railing and looked up to admire the moonlight.

A dark cloud was drifting toward the bright moon.

After a long moment, Chu Zhiyuan turned and left the small pavilion.

Zou Fang carried a lantern to lead the way ahead, with two maidservants following behind him, as they all returned to the Listening to Waves Courtyard.

Back in the courtyard, Chu Zhiyuan waved his hand, telling Zou Fang to go rest and not attend to him.

Zou Fang withdrew respectfully.

Chu Zhiyuan then began his cultivation practice.

Time waits for no one—his current situation made him extremely uncomfortable, and the only way to escape it was to improve his cultivation. How could he afford to slack off?