Chapter 15

Chapter 15

The rumors of Ying Changchuan's serious injury grew more convincing.

More and more courtiers began to inquire about the Emperor's whereabouts, and even the Zherou tribes on the northern border showed signs of activity.

Their patience was running thin.

Yue She Mountain, towering a thousand feet high, stood above the Yi River Plain. Seen from afar, it looked like a horizontal scabbard, quite spectacular.

The Ting Tian Pavilion was built halfway up this mountain, offering a serene view of the entire plain.

At the hour of Wei, Jiang Yuxun arrived at the Ting Tian Pavilion with an attendant.

Instead of going to the main hall, he was directly led by a shaman to a small courtyard on the south side.

As he approached, Jiang Yuxun caught the scent of a strong floral fragrance.

The small courtyard was filled with jasmine plants, where Shang You, dressed in a lead-white ceremonial robe, was pruning them.

Seeing Jiang Yuxun, Shang You smiled and put down his shears, "Minister Jiang, welcome. My apologies for not greeting you earlier."

"One does not strike a smiling face," Jiang Yuxun also nodded in response, "Greetings to the Lesser Diviner."

The Listening Sky Pavilion was filled with rare birds and exotic animals, and during their conversation, a gazelle emerged from the bushes.

Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but frown — the Yi River area was not suitable for gazelles; it probably wouldn’t survive long here.

“Lord Jiang, please, no formalities,” noticing Jiang Yuxun’s gaze on the gazelle, Shang You casually said, “If you like it, feel free to take it with you.” He then motioned for someone to catch it.

“No need,” Jiang Yuxun gently shook his head, looking at Shang You, “Surely, Diviner Shang didn’t invite me to the Listening Sky Pavilion just for these trivialities. Please speak your mind directly; there’s no need for circumlocution.”

Jiang Yuxun’s reputation for integrity and steadfastness was well-known throughout the court and country.

He had always been at odds with the Listening Sky Pavilion, and a sudden change in attitude now would only arouse suspicion.

Truly the real manipulator behind the Listening Sky Pavilion.

Shang You’s emotions were indeed much more stable than those of the Grand Diviner.

He smiled and, rather than getting angry, directly stated his purpose as Jiang Yuxun had requested:

“I asked Lord Jiang here to know, after the heavy rains in Zhao Du and the breach of the Yi River, you have established prestige among the people. Isn’t it too modest for you to remain a mere Junior Minister without leveraging this prestige for personal gain?”

Finally, getting to the point!

Shang You’s words were not solely about winning him over.

He wanted to gauge Ying Changchuan’s current situation based on Jiang Yuxun’s reaction.

“Should I abandon my post as Junior Minister to join the Listening Sky Pavilion instead?” The young man’s tone carried a hint of disgust.

Hearing this, two witch doctors not far away exchanged glances.

——The Emperor’s health is probably in a dire state.

The two thought disdainfully:

Jiang Yuxun is just a man seeking fame and rectitude; such people care most about their “good reputation.”

No matter what he thought internally, the more critical the situation, the more obstinate he became.

"If he were even more steadfast, he might even consider sacrificing himself for the country."

At this moment, Shang You also reached a conclusion in his mind.

He casually plucked a jasmine petal, smiling, "It seems I was judging the noble by the standards of the petty."

Jiang Yuxun looked up at the sky, "Is that all Diviner Shang wishes to discuss? I have some official duties yet to attend to, and if there's nothing else, please excuse my early departure."

Currently, disaster relief is the utmost priority. Shang You summoning me to the Listening Sky Pavilion for these trivial matters is indeed a waste of time.

"I have asked all I wanted to," Shang You discarded the jasmine in his hand and spoke leisurely, "Doesn’t Lord Jiang have anything he wishes to say to me?"

Jiang Yuxun, about to leave, suddenly paused in his steps.

Ying Changchuan wasn’t with him at the moment, so his debuff wasn't active.

Logically, he could simply keep quiet to avoid trouble.

But at this moment, the young man felt compelled to ask Shang You a question on behalf of the people living in this land…

"Indeed, there is one matter."

The attendant beside Jiang Yuxun looked at him slightly anxiously.

...Why does Lord Jiang still have something to say? Should I interrupt him?

Shang You picked up his teacup and took a sip, “Lord Jiang, please, speak freely.”

Jasmine is not native to Huaxia, having just been introduced to the Great Zhou recently, and a single plant is worth a fortune.

As for the gazelle, it is even rarer and harder to raise.

These items were all procured by the supporters of the Listening Sky Pavilion, exchanged for gold and silver offerings.

Thinking of what he had seen and heard by the Yi River these past few days...

Jiang Yuxun finally couldn’t hold back and asked, “I wonder, has Diviner Shang ever felt any pangs of conscience?”

The witch doctors guarding the corner of the courtyard instantly drew their swords hanging at their waists, “What do you mean by that?!”

Unlike them, Shang You’s smile remained unshaken, “As a diviner blessed by the heavens, all that the Listening Sky Pavilion possesses is grace from the heavens. Why feel uneasy enjoying heavenly grace?”

His tone was so matter-of-fact, it seemed he truly believed in what he was saying.

The atmosphere suddenly became tense.

The attendant beside Jiang Yuxun immediately stepped forward, drawing his sword to shield him.

“A-Jiu, it's alright,” Jiang Yuxun said with unwavering confidence, “They wouldn’t dare to kill me.”

The “attendant” Jiang Yuxun brought was Gu Yejiu, who had been sold into the Jiang family as a human sacrifice, later rescued by him, and sent to train in the Xuan Yin Monitoring Bureau’s Right Division.

The young man was exceptionally talented, and though he hadn’t been at the Xuan Yin Bureau for long, he was already adept at using various communication tools.

After receiving the “invitation” from the Lesser Diviner, it was decided that Gu Yejiu, who had recently joined the Xuan Yin Bureau and had not yet made a public appearance, would accompany Jiang Yuxun to the Listening Sky Pavilion in the role of an “attendant.”

“Yes, my lord.” Gu Yejiu gritted his teeth and stepped back, clutching the hilt of his sword tightly.

Should Jiang Yuxun face any danger, he would be ready to strike at a moment's notice and send out a signal.

Shang You casually picked up the pruning shears and continued with the jasmine, speaking as if making small talk, “Is Lord Jiang always this confident?”

The witch doctors immediately stepped forward, encircling Jiang Yuxun with their swords, “Lord Jiang, it’s time to stop being stubborn.”

Jiang Yuxun ignored the witch doctors and looked straight at Shang You, “I rode here along the official road to the Listening Sky Pavilion, seen by countless common folk. Diviner Shang should consider how he would explain this to the people before laying a hand on me.”

Unless they were prepared to abandon their facade of benevolence and generosity, they would not dare kill him here.

The afternoon sun spilled down like shattered gold from the sky.

Its rays didn’t touch the ground but seemed to envelop the young man completely.

Having said this, Jiang Yuxun walked straight towards the witch doctors.

Seeing the Lesser Diviner remain silent.

The witch doctor hesitated for a moment, then actually cleared the way to the door.

Reaching the doorway, Jiang Yuxun suddenly stopped.

He turned to look at Shang You and said with a smile, “Since Diviner Shang truly believes that all he possesses is a blessing from the heavens, perhaps he should wait and see if the Xuan Tian deity will continue to favor him in the future.”

After saying this, he left without looking back.

A moment later.

Shang You, standing in the center of the courtyard, suddenly picked up the pruning shears again.

The smile on his face finally faded.

The witch doctors looked at each other, pale-faced, not daring to make the slightest noise.

Unlike before.

Shang You no longer tended to the flowers with care, but slowly split a jasmine plant into two halves at the stem.

——Jiang Yuxun's words had reminded him of the rain by the Yi River.

The glaring water stain on the carriage curtain, like a hidden thorn, perpetually lodged in his heart.

“Prepare the sacrifices,” Shang You put down the shears and walked through the bushes towards the depths of the Listening Sky Pavilion, “We will offer to the heavens at the hour of You.”

“Yes, Diviner Shang!” The witch doctors hurriedly followed, exchanging a glance in the shadows... Shang You's sudden decision to offer sacrifices likely indicated his troubled state of mind.

It seemed the days ahead would be difficult for everyone.

-

Stepping out of the Listening Sky Pavilion, Jiang Yuxun finally took a deep breath: "...That scared me to death."

He paused for a moment, regretting slightly, “Had I known this would happen, I would have prepared a sword in advance.”

Saying this, he mounted his horse and, together with Gu Yejiu, started down the mountain.

“Were you afraid just now, my lord? Then why...” Why be so bold.

Gu Yejiu didn’t finish his sentence when Jiang Yuxun suddenly pulled the reins and stopped.

——On another mountain path, dozens of common folk had gathered, straining their eyes to look towards the Listening Sky Pavilion.

Seeing Jiang Yuxun emerge, they finally showed expressions of immense relief.

Everyone knew that Jiang Yuxun had offended the Grand Diviner and the Listening Sky Pavilion.

These commoners had spontaneously gathered here upon hearing that Jiang Yuxun was summoned to the Listening Sky Pavilion, to ensure his safety.

Jiang Yuxun smiled at them and waved from afar.

Speaking softly to Gu Yejiu, he said, “They are concerned about my safety. Naturally, I should also voice their concerns and ask the most crucial question on their behalf.”

The young man was momentarily stunned.

In that moment, he suddenly recalled the day Jiang Yuxun took him to the temple to search for his parents.

……Lord Jiang’s actions today were not impulsive.

He has always been such a person.

“Let’s go.” Jiang Yuxun withdrew his hand and gripped the reins again.

His purpose for this visit was accomplished, and it wouldn’t be long before the news of “Ying Changchuan being gravely injured” would spread throughout the court and country from here.

Saying this, Jiang Yuxun urged his horse to descend the mountain, “Let’s return to Xianyou Palace before dark.”

“Yes, Lord Jiang!”

As they descended the mountain, Jiang Yuxun couldn’t help but look down from the edge of the cliff.

At noon, the vast Yi River plain was bathed in warm golden light.

The river channel was being dredged.

Temporary shelters for the disaster-affected farmers were set up along the farmland.

Countless officials and soldiers were working alongside farmers to clear the fields, while simultaneously sowing this summer's crops of millet and corn.

Amidst the hustle, it seemed no one had the time to pay attention to the minor incident at the Listening Sky Pavilion...

-

At night, in Xianyou Palace.

Soon after returning to the palace, Jiang Yuxun received a summons — Ying Changchuan invited him to the "Zangrui Hall" of Xianyou Palace.

...What would he want at this late hour?

Despite his curiosity, the young man arrived at the hall on time.

Zangrui Hall, located behind the Liuyun Hall, was usually deserted, with only a few lanterns lit at night.

Jiang Yuxun cautiously pushed open the door and the next second, he saw Ying Changchuan standing beneath a wall covered in swords and looking at him.

Wait... Zangrui?

Jiang Yuxun finally realized that "Zangrui Hall" was actually the armory of Xianyou Palace!

The head of the Xuan Yin Bureau must have compiled a report based on Gu Yejiu's account of today's events at the Listening Sky Pavilion and presented it to the Emperor.

Ying Changchuan knew about his desire to carry a sword.

As expected, the Emperor said to him, “My dear official, see if there is a sword here to your liking.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.”

Jiang Yuxun didn’t stand on ceremony and began to carefully scan the swords on the wall.

The lights in Zangrui Hall were dim.

But this did not prevent the swords from shining brilliantly under the lantern light.

...Most of these weapons were forged in the previous dynasty, including the commonly seen ring-pommel sabers, ceremonial swords, broadswords, and various types of bronze and iron swords, each exquisitely crafted.

The most conspicuous among them was a bronze sword placed at the very center of the armory.

Newly made and not yet oxidized or rusted, the bronze sword gleamed like gold.

The blade was slender, straight, and adorned with lapis lazuli and turquoise, forming a complete dragon motif.

Jiang Yuxun: !!!

His eyes lit up immediately upon recognizing the pattern on the sword.

Ying Changchuan had actually brought it to the temporary palace!

This sword belonged to Ying Changchuan. It's nameless, later generations simply called it the "Zhou Sword."

The "Zhou Sword" wasn't practical, never once brought to battle by Ying Changchuan. It was more a symbol of identity and power.

Most importantly...

After Ying Changchuan passed away, the "Zhou Sword" was destroyed in a great fire and did not survive to the present day.

Jiang Yuxun never imagined that he would witness this sword in his lifetime.

Worth it, traveling through time was totally worth it!

...I wonder if the sword is heavy to lift?

Are there any inscriptions on the blade?

I really want to take a closer look!

The youth's eyes shone brightly.

Ying Changchuan paused, then casually took the sword off its rack.

Fearing he might seem covetous of this symbol of status and power, Jiang Yuxun quickly explained, "Your Majesty, I know this is your personal sword, not a blade without an owner."

"Oh? Then why do you keep looking at it?"

The Emperor's sword is of unparalleled nobility, not to be touched by commoners.

But...

Still, Jiang Yuxun couldn't help but speak out, both hopeful and rebelliously, "Your Majesty, may I touch your sword?"