Chapter 44: The Guest Staying at the Inn Was Zhu Shou—What Does It Have to Do with Emperor Guan? (Revised)
About half an incense stick's time later, the inn was surrounded by a group of Tiance soldiers.
“Bang! Bang! Bang!”
The loud pounding on the door struck Wang Yuyan, Abi, and the others like a hammer blow to their hearts, throwing them into utter confusion.
Before they could react, the door was forcefully pushed open.
“W-what do you want?”
“Take them away.”
Ignoring Wang Yuyan and the others’ resistance, several female guards from the palace guard forcibly dragged them out.
...
That night, countless people tossed and turned, unable to find rest.
The stronger one’s power, the keener their perception. Even from thousands of miles away, they could faintly sense it.
Zhu Jinzhen’s sword intent dominated the world, stretching across a thousand miles.
Many were alarmed, especially those who had reached the Divine Immortal realm on land or those with supreme swordsmanship. They could deeply feel a presence that transcended both realm and sword momentum—something close to the Dao itself.
Ximen Chuixue was the first to sense it.
Having just left Jiayuguan with Lu Xiaofeng and being a peerless swordsman obsessed with the Way of the Sword, he felt Zhu Jinzhen’s sword intent most profoundly.
“One with sword and self, the sword mind is without self.”
“The Five Realms of Swordsmanship of the Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai.”
“Ye Gucheng’s ‘Flying Immortal Beyond the Heavens’ is an ultimate sword technique—one with sword and self.”
“But before His Highness Prince Su’s swordsmanship, even these must bow and pale. What kind of sword realm could that be?” Ximen Chuixue stood by the window ledge, hands behind his back. The bright moon hung overhead, casting pure light, yet it could not illuminate his path.
Today was the first time Ximen Chuixue realized that the breadth of swordsmanship could be as vast as the boundless heavens, as profound as the earth’s thickness. All things and laws of the mortal world could become the sword.
Hua Manlou sipped his tea gently, a smile gracing his face.
Yet, upon closer inspection, a lingering sorrow shadowed his brows.
“Lu Xiaofeng, I hope your journey goes smoothly,” Hua Manlou silently wished. He already knew whom Lu Xiaofeng was to meet when they left Jiayuguan with Ximen Chuixue.
...
The emperor, Zhu Houzhao, was traveling incognito.
Yet, while the emperor trusted Lu Xiaofeng, he did not trust Ximen Chuixue or Hua Manlou.
Hence, only Lu Xiaofeng was sent alone.
Hua Manlou and Ximen Chuixue waited at the inn for news from Lu Xiaofeng.
...
Lanzhou Prefecture, the Prosperity Inn.
After exhausting three swift horses and traveling day and night, Lu Xiaofeng finally shook off all pursuers and arrived at the designated place to meet the emperor who had entrusted him to investigate the truth.
When Lu Xiaofeng was led into the inn by several figures, he was somewhat surprised.
Politely clasping his fists, Lu Xiaofeng then grabbed the tea on the table and gulped down several mouthfuls, as if instantly revived.
“A minor recluse hides in the wild; a great recluse hides in the city.”
“Your Majesty, staying so openly at the Prosperity Inn—aren’t you afraid of exposing your whereabouts?”
Lu Xiaofeng addressed the young man sitting opposite him.
Zhu Houzhao smiled. “The one staying at the Prosperity Inn is Zhu Shou; what does he have to do with the emperor?”
Lu Xiaofeng shrugged. Such self-deceptive words pleased the emperor, and that was enough.
Before witnessing the terrifying undercurrents of Prince Su’s manor earlier that day, Lu Xiaofeng wouldn’t have thought the emperor’s actions inappropriate. But after seeing the fearful foundation of Prince Su’s estate and the appearance of secret guards, Lu Xiaofeng suddenly felt the emperor might be outsmarted by his own cunning.
“You’ve traveled so arduously; could it be that the matter I sent you to investigate has some clue now?”
Lu Xiaofeng hesitated before answering uncertainly, “There’s something.”
Before the emperor could reply, a shadow nearby snorted coldly, “If there’s, there’s. If not, not. What’s the use of saying ‘something’?”
Zhu Houzhao waved his hand. “Ah, it doesn’t matter.”
“I’d like to hear what ‘something’ really means!”
“I met Prince Su at Jiayuguan.”
Lu Xiaofeng composed his words carefully and recounted everything—the meeting with Zhu Jinzhen, the observations, the question-and-answer exchanges—in meticulous detail.
Zhu Houzhao pondered deeply.
...
After a long silence, Zhu Houzhao asked abruptly, “Lu Xiaofeng, what do you think?”
“Prince Su is well-informed. As soon as I arrived, he had already received the news and was summoned directly to the Tiance Headquarters. Nothing has been confirmed yet.”
“But regarding the treason and collusion charges, I personally believe this is a premeditated frame-up.”
“A premeditated frame-up?” Zhu Houzhao chuckled softly. “Lu Xiaofeng, do you know the crime of framing a prince? Who in the Ming dynasty would dare such audacity?”
“Your Majesty, do you already suspect someone?”
“Yes!”
Zhu Houzhao didn’t hesitate to point to himself. “This entire affair appears to be a conspiracy where various forces vie and cooperate to eliminate Prince Su Zhu Jinzhen. But the ultimate target is me, my throne, and the realm of the Ming.”
“The Eastern and Western Bureaus, the Hulong Manor, the Six Doors, the Embroidered Uniform Guards, the Baolong clan—few could simultaneously deliver such news to them. As the Son of Heaven, I am the most capable of orchestrating this.”
“No substantial evidence is needed. Once this suspicion reaches Prince Su and spreads among the people, with some provocation, I would be painted as a ruthless tyrant who discards allies after crossing rivers, a ruthless ruler who kills loyal followers once they’re no longer useful. Worse, it would create a rift between Prince Su and me.”
“If a villain distorts what appear to be my decisions and feeds them to Prince Su, even for self-preservation, he would not sit idly by.”
“That would lead Zhu Jinzhen, in a desperate bid for survival, to raise troops even if framed for treason. Then, with the combined forces of Cangyun, Tiance, and the Twelve Guards of Shaanxi—totaling a million troops—sweeping through Shaanxi and its millions of people, they would storm the Ming.”
“Faced with such a situation, I must either fight to the death with Zhu Jinzhen, or die trying.”
“There is no other path.”
Sadly, Zhu Houzhao felt that whether he or Zhu Jinzhen emerged victorious, the Ming, barely recuperated, would suffer grievous wounds again and invite exploitation from foreign powers.
“Tigers and wolves lurk all around. The schemers who sow discord between Prince Su and me, and the Ming, harbor such malicious intent it is infuriating.”
Lu Xiaofeng listened silently, neither interrupting nor commenting, as if deaf.
The simplest motive analysis revealed that all conspiracies boiled down to two words: ‘interest.’
Framing Prince Su for treason and collusion to eliminate his manor most benefited Emperor Zhu Houzhao, followed by other forces Lu Xiaofeng speculated were behind this in Zhu Jinzhen’s court.
Yet, Lu Xiaofeng would neither say these words before Zhu Jinzhen nor before Zhu Houzhao.
As a wise man, sometimes playing deaf and dumb is the better choice.
Lu Xiaofeng had mastered this art.