Princess Zhaoling 7

After Zhaoling returned to the imperial palace, she told the emperor what had happened at the First-Rank Tomb, concealing only the matter of the Luomo Ding.

Feng Qing was still very useful, and it was not yet time for the Nanyin people to reveal themselves. She concealed nothing about Di Feisheng, however, including the fact that she had developed some affection for Li Lianhua during her trip to the First-Rank Tomb.

The emperor was increasingly pleased with Princess Zhaoling. She had handled the Inspection Bureau's affairs perfectly. Starting with Jade City, she had dealt with only two cases, yet she had not only curbed the Hundred Rivers Courtyard's arrogance but also gained leverage over it.

He thought little of Zhaoling saying she had taken a fancy to a man. His daughter was of noble birth; whoever caught her eye should count himself honored. If Fang Zeshi had not always been loyal to him, he would not have held his anger in over Fang Duobing's actions for so long.

Now, even though Zhaoling had said she fancied someone else, father and daughter had a tacit understanding and neither mentioned breaking off her engagement to Fang Duobing.

Zhaoling was a princess. She could choose another imperial son-in-law, and no one would dare object. But even if Zhaoling married, as long as they did not speak up to break off Fang Duobing's engagement, he could only bear the status of a prospective imperial son-in-law and grow old alone.

Deep down, the emperor might even have harbored some dissatisfaction with Fang Zeshi. His son had fled the marriage, yet he had done nothing. Was he also showing, in a roundabout way, that he did not approve of the match? The emperor was not dead yet, and Zhaoling was already being treated with such disdain.

As for the succession to the throne, the emperor became even more certain that passing it to his own blood was the safer course.

He said gently to Zhaoling, "I don't care what sort of background the person you fancy has. Once you've made up your mind, though, settle the engagement soon. I'm still waiting to hold a grandchild."

Zhaoling took it as a matter of course. "Don't worry, Father. Having children is an important matter, and I've already begun building up my health lately. I'll be sure to give you a healthy grandchild."

The emperor was even more pleased. He had not expected Fang Duobing's flight from the marriage to have such a benefit: it had actually made the formerly naive Zhaoling mature. "Once you've dealt with the Hundred Rivers Courtyard, go to the Court of Judicial Review. You've done well at the Inspection Bureau, and both deal with criminal cases. You can gain more experience there."

This was an acknowledgment of Zhaoling's abilities, and he was preparing to give her more responsibility. Naturally, she agreed without hesitation.

The higher she stood, the more loyal and devoted the forces under her would be.

Back in her bedchamber, Zhaoling took Guanyin's Tear out of the Chaos Pearl. After carefully checking that there was nothing amiss with it, she swallowed it at once.

After a day and a night in seclusion, Zhaoling's martial arts had advanced greatly. Insufficient internal strength was no longer a weakness of hers. If she faced Di Feisheng again, she would surely defeat him within twenty moves.

Zhaoling marveled that Guanyin's Tear was extraordinary indeed.

She was also glad that the Heavenly Devil Instruction could circulate on its own. Even with another martial art to cultivate, it would not affect her progress in the Heavenly Devil Instruction. She had a faint feeling that she was about to break through the first level. By then, her body would be close to its optimal condition, and cultivating the Void Thought Art would naturally yield twice the results for half the effort.

While Zhaoling reaped a bountiful harvest, Li Lianhua, who had arrived at Pudu Temple, was full of worries.

Setting aside Zhaoling's joking claims that she fancied him, he felt that this formidable princess seemed to be playing a great game of chess. Whether it was him or Di Feisheng, or even the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance and the Hundred Rivers Courtyard, all were her pieces.

While Li Lianhua's thoughts wandered, he heard Master Wuliao repeatedly mention the Hundred Rivers Courtyard. Remembering Zhaoling's words, "We'll meet again," he immediately asked in concern, "Has something happened to the Hundred Rivers Courtyard?"

Only then did Master Wuliao say that the Hundred Rivers Courtyard was holding a sword-viewing gathering, and the sword on display was the Shaoshi Sword, found by Qiao Wanmian and Xiao Zijin.

After Li Lianhua reassured Master Wuliao and found information on Shi Hun, the person most likely to have known the whereabouts of his senior brother Shan Gudao's remains back then, he and Di Feisheng, who was using the name A Fei, infiltrated the Hundred Rivers Courtyard with Fang Duobing's help to attend the sword-viewing gathering.

After the courtyard masters and Qiao Wanmian had finished expressing their remembrance of Li Xiangyi, but before Qiao Wanmian could announce the start of the gathering, a lilting woman's voice reached everyone's ears before its owner came into view:

"Miss Qiao, your words show such deep affection and loyalty. You certainly seem devoted to Li Xiangyi without regret. I have two questions, however, that I would like to ask you."

Before she had finished speaking, Xiao Zijin, who had an arm around Qiao Wanmian, drew Army Breaker and shouted angrily, "What sort of sneaking scoundrel dares play tricks at the Hundred Rivers Courtyard? Could you be a remnant of the Golden Mandarin Duck Alliance?"

The woman did not answer. Instead, two women in fitted martial attire flew out, one using palms and the other fists. In a few exchanges, they beat Xiao Zijin to his knees and slapped him dozens of times. "You showed disrespect to the princess. This is a light punishment to serve as a warning."

Several saber-bearing guards in Inspection Bureau uniforms then brought over clean chairs and a table. The two women who had beaten Xiao Zijin swiftly took out tea-making utensils and began brewing tea.

Only then did a woman in red appear. In the blink of an eye, she was already seated in a chair.

Her hair ornaments were not elaborate; her hair was bound up with a single exquisite and precious jade crown. Her red robes shimmered in the sunlight, and the phoenix patterns on them were woven with gold thread.

Those who knew their fabrics could also see that her red robes were made of cloud brocade reserved for the imperial household.

Zhaoling was in the bloom of youth and beauty and had no need for silks, satins, gold, silver, or jade to adorn herself. Moreover, as the principal commander of the Inspection Bureau, she favored a practical style. Thus, although the ornaments she wore were all precious treasures, they were not elaborate.

Her features, originally pure and lovely, had also acquired a touch of aloof beauty and nobility under the influence of her soul.

Ignoring the inscrutable looks of the martial artists present, Zhaoling took a sip of freshly brewed tea before continuing where she had left off. "Miss Qiao, I have heard that over these past ten years, you have spared no effort in searching everywhere for Li Xiangyi, and that you said you did not believe he was dead. Everyone in the martial world greatly admires your deep affection and loyalty toward him.

"Yet what you said today was plainly spoken as Li Xiangyi's widow, as though you were already certain of his death. Doesn't that seem somewhat at odds with your conduct before?

"Moreover, over these ten years, the heroes of the martial world have treated both the Qiao family and you with great courtesy because they admired your deep affection for Li Xiangyi. Yet what I've seen today is vastly different from the rumors. Miss Qiao, how could you reminisce about Li Xiangyi while leaning in another man's arms?"

She drew a paper fan from her sleeve and pointed it at Qiao Wanmian and Xiao Zijin.

"If Li Xiangyi were still alive and saw how you behaved today, I wonder if he would be so angry that he'd die all over again?"