All of Emperor Yuanjing’s anomalies were related to something that happened in the 26th year of Zhende, and all were connected to the Earth Sect Leader…
I wasn’t wrong. The Earth Sect Leader is the thread that connects all the clues. He must be involved with what happened back then. With this in mind, the next step of investigation and where to investigate has become clear.
The next target of inquiry is the royal hunting ground—the Southern Park!
In their youth, Prince Huai and the young Yuanjing encountered a beast attack in Southern Park. Most of their guards were killed or injured, and ultimately Prince Huai tore apart the bear with his bare hands to resolve the crisis.
This description has too many holes. Among the guards of the two princes, there must have been experts and quite a few of them. What kind of bear could kill all the palace’s top fighters?
A demon bear?
I thought it wasn’t quite reasonable at the time, but without clues to compare before and after, looking at this information alone couldn’t explain much.
After all, the Imperial Chronicles can be altered. We can’t rule out the possibility that the chroniclers or the previous emperor were exaggerating to build up Prince Huai’s image. The royal family has done too much of this kind of historical revision to forcibly elevate their image.
Thoughts flashed through Xu Qi’an’s mind, but outwardly, he gradually suppressed his shock and returned to normal. He looked at Li Yuchun: “Chief, let’s go. I’ve got the answer I wanted.”
Li Yuchun nodded.
The old woman watched the two men step out of the courtyard gate, their figures disappearing at the entrance. She held her grandson tightly and muttered, “Since when did these government dogs grow a conscience?”
She then turned to her daughter-in-law, seeing her still staring at the gate. Anger surged to her head, and she scolded shrilly:
“You little hussy, seeing a handsome man and you can’t even keep your legs closed. As long as I’m alive, don’t even think about remarrying or taking a lover. You’ll remain a living widow until I’m dead.”
…
After saying goodbye to Li Yuchun, Xu Qi’an mounted his beloved mare and quickly returned to the Xu residence.
He rushed back to his room and found the Imperial Chronicles of the previous emperor left by Er Lang on the bookshelf. He flipped through the pages with a rustling sound, stopping at the 26th year of Zhende.
He couldn’t understand the cursive script content, but he could barely make out the dates.
“I didn’t remember wrong, it was indeed the 26th year of Zhende. That year, the Earth Sect Leader entered the palace. That year, Marquis Pingyuan officially began supplying people to the palace. That year, Prince Huai and Yuanjing encountered a bear in the Southern Park…
“Also, the Imperial Chronicles end in the 30th year of Zhende, which means the previous emperor passed away four years later. Hmm, I haven’t read the history books, I should ask the scholars.”
Xu Qi’an sat down at the desk and took out the Earth Book fragment. He was about to send a message when his finger suddenly paused. He changed to a private chat, his spiritual power connecting with the Number One Earth Book fragment.
Number One ignored him and gave him a “slap.”
Xu Qi’an persisted in initiating the private chat. Seeing this, Number One no longer refused and accepted his message: [What is it?]
[Three: When did the previous emperor pass away?]
[One: The 30th year of Zhende. Why are you asking this?]
[Three: Of course, it’s related to the investigation. I have more questions. Tell me about the specific situation of Southern Park, the more detailed the better. Especially the situation in the 26th year of Zhende. Also, what was the previous emperor’s physical condition when he was alive? Did he have any hidden illnesses? What did he die from?]
[One: The Southern Park is the royal hunting ground, located in the southern suburbs of the capital, covering an area of 260 li. There are four temporary palaces in the Southern Park, named after the east, south, west, and north gates. The Southern Park is a restricted area, almost uninhabited, and uncultivated, with only sea households responsible for management.]
Sea households? Heh, professional fish farmers? Then as a player, I’m also a sea household… Xu Qi’an chuckled and sent a message:
[Three: What are sea households?]
[One: Eunuchs who can’t be accommodated in the palace.]
Xu Qi’an crossed his legs: “…”
[One: As for the situation in the 26th year of Zhende, I’m not sure, at least I can’t answer you now.]
After a few seconds, Number One sent another message: [The year before the previous emperor passed away, his health was already very poor. He held on for a year before dying of illness. Regarding hidden illnesses, I need to check the archives to answer you.]
[Three: I’ll leave this matter to you then. I hope you can give me an answer as soon as possible. I’ve found some clues on my end, but I can’t be completely certain until I get your feedback.]
With Huai Qing’s strong curiosity, she would do her best to complete the task and then obtain case progress from him.
This was the advantage of Huai Qing. If it were Biaoiao, she’d forget everything once she started reading her little novels.
…
Of the three northeastern countries, Jing State was the northernmost, adjacent to the territory of the northern demons. Yan State was in the central position, directly facing the three provinces of Da Feng. Kang State was in the south, a country bordering the sea.
Each of the three countries had its characteristics. Jing State’s iron cavalry was unparalleled in bravery. After the Battle of Shanhai Pass, the northern barbarians fell from the throne of the number one iron cavalry in the Nine Provinces, and Jing State took the supreme position.
Yan State was full of dangerous peaks and steep ridges, with most of its important cities built in places easy to defend and hard to attack. Relying on the advantages of terrain for defense, they were as stable as Mount Tai.
In addition, the residents of Yan State lived by hunting and were skilled in archery.
Besides occupying advantageous terrain, Yan State had another ace military unit – the Flying Beast Army.
The “Geography of the Nine Provinces · Eastern Longitude” states: The Eastern Tong Mountain has many pale jades. There is a tree whose appearance is like a poplar but with red grain, its sap is like blood, and it is called Qi. The Qie dogs are fed with this.
Qie dogs were a type of strange beast, with a wingspan of three meters, a dog’s head, and a rat’s tail, capable of flying five hundred li in a day.
The Eastern Tong Mountain was in the central part of Yan State. Like the feather spiders of the Gold Wood Clan, Yan State possessed an air force.
The disadvantage was that the number of Qie dog troops was even rarer than the fire-armored troops, generally used as a trump card.
At the border of Yan State, Dingguancheng.
As a large border city, Dingguancheng had sufficient troops, supplies, and military equipment to defend against the attacks of the Da Feng army. If the Witch God Cult wanted to prevent the army from attacking the Central Plains, Dingguancheng could quickly strike out, as it was always in a state ready for battle.
Two days ago, Dingguancheng entered the highest state of alert, prohibiting merchants from both countries from entering or leaving, prohibiting civilians from entering or leaving. The city’s troops patrolled tirelessly day and night, and scouts outside the city continuously sent back secret messages.
The Da Feng army had arrived!
After years of peace on the northeastern border, the fires of war were finally about to reignite.
Tu Wa Hei, wearing bright armor and a curved saber at his waist, surrounded by his deputy and subordinates, ascended to the top of Dingguancheng’s city wall, looking out at the distant plains.
He was the commander of Dingguancheng, the highest military leader.
The morning sun was rising. Autumn had arrived, and the green mountains now had a touch of faded yellow.
“They say Wei Yuan is Da Feng’s military god. I’ve always wanted to know if Wei Yuan could take our Yan State’s impregnable Dingguancheng,” Tu Wa Hei said calmly.
He was part of the young and strong faction in the Yan State army. During the Battle of Shanhai Pass years ago, he was still a low-ranking officer responsible for guarding the homeland.
He had long heard of Wei Yuan’s fame.
“In terms of strategizing on the battlefield, there’s probably no one who can surpass Wei Yuan. Even Xiahou Yushu, in my opinion, falls far short of Wei Yuan,” sighed the deputy with a full beard, then sneered:
“But battles between armies and siege warfare are different matters. General, if you can make Wei Yuan fail at Dingguancheng, you’ll become a hot figure in the Nine Provinces.”
Since ancient times, warfare has been difficult, with sieges being the most challenging, often requiring ten times or even more than ten times the troops. When encountering cities with advantageous terrain… even the most capable leaders would have headaches and hesitate.
If one insists on attacking, it could even change the outcome of a war.
There are many such examples in history.
Tu Wa Hei smiled and said slowly, “We must not be careless.”
His heart was burning with enthusiasm. He wasn’t confident in defeating Wei Yuan in an open battle, but defense was his specialty. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gained the trust of the Yan ruler and become the border commander.
Dingguancheng had a raging river to its left and steep mountains to its right, making it as solid as iron. To enhance the terrain advantage, Tu Wa Hei had sent people to carve stones in the mountains, spending two years making the areas on both sides of the city walls, except for the main military road, rugged with rocks.
Siege towers and ladders had no chance of getting close, and clearing the rocks would make the attackers easy targets.
“Aooo…”
A deep, thunderous roar came from the distant sky. The officers and soldiers on the city wall immediately recognized it as the call of a Qie dog.
Looking in the direction of the sound, a black shadow flew in from afar, gradually becoming clearer. It was a Qie dog rider.
The flying beast with a dog’s head and a rat’s tail landed on the spacious horse path, folding its wings. Its blood-red fierce eyes fixed ahead, like a human soldier standing guard.
The Qie dog was wrapped in a sturdy leather harness, connected to the scout on its back. The scout unfastened the “safety belts” around his thighs and waist, jumped down from the beast’s back, and hurriedly ran to Tu Wa Hei, saluting:
“Great General, the Da Feng army is only twenty li away from Dingguancheng.”
The faces of everyone on the city wall immediately became solemn.
Tu Wa Hei pondered for a moment, then said, “Convey my handwritten letter: I, Tu Wa Hei, the commander of Dingguancheng, have long heard of your great name, but in my eyes, you are nothing but a fame-stealing eunuch…”
The advisor quickly spread out paper and ink, writing furiously.
Tu Wa Hei’s letter had no other content, it was full of insults to Wei Yuan, calling him lucky to have won the Battle of Shanhai Pass, accusing him of stealing fame, calling him a sterile eunuch, and even cursing his ancestors.
He used the most offensive and vicious language possible.
Finally, he proposed to compete with Wei Yuan, to make the Da Feng military god fail, which translated into plain language meant: Come up if you dare.
After the advisor finished writing and dried the ink, he smiled and said, “Great General, is this plan to provoke Wei Yuan?”
Tu Wa Hei nodded: “That’s just one of the purposes.”
The advisor humbly asked, “Are there other purposes?”
Tu Wa Hei sneered arrogantly: “I just want to insult this eunuch.”
The city wall erupted in laughter, dissipating much of the serious atmosphere.
Tu Wa Hei added, “Given Wei Yuan’s level, it might not be so easy to provoke him. So, we’ll insult him once every quarter hour. Everyone join in, more people means more words.”
The deputy laughed, “Being able to humiliate Da Feng’s military god is a joyous thing.”
The laughter on the city wall grew louder.
…
In the capital.
In the Eastern Palace, Lian’an was playing five-in-a-row chess with her Crown Prince brother. The Crown Prince was a bit impatient but endured it to accompany her. Almost no brother could resist doting on a cute, pretty little sister who loved to act spoiled.
“I don’t want to play anymore…”
Lian’an threw away the chess pieces in frustration, puffing her cheeks and complaining, “You’re not even paying attention, Crown Prince brother doesn’t want to accompany me.”
Have novels become less interesting, or is Shuttlecock not fun anymore, or is Huai Qing not annoying enough recently? The Crown Prince mused inwardly, saying helplessly:
“Lian’an, I have many affairs to attend to. How can I have time to play these boring little games with you?”
Lian’an furrowed her little brows: “What’s the point of playing with servants? I want to play with Crown Prince brother.”
Playing with palace maids and eunuchs couldn’t compare to the companionship of family.
When Lian’an was little, she was the Crown Prince’s little shadow, wearing a small dress, a tiny figure following the Crown Prince wherever he went. As she grew older, she was encouraged by Consort Chen to cause trouble for Huai Qing.
At this moment, a eunuch came to the door with small steps and said softly, “Your Highness the Crown Prince, Princess Huai Qing has arrived.”
The siblings exchanged a glance, and the Crown Prince muttered, “What is she doing in the Eastern Palace?”
He immediately had the eunuch lead Huai Qing in. Shortly after, Huai Qing, wearing a plain palace dress, with exquisite features, as beautiful as a painting, stepped over the threshold. She bowed to the Crown Prince, then glanced at Lian’an.
“Huai Qing, what brings you to see me?” the Crown Prince asked in a neither warm nor cold tone.
Huai Qing smiled lightly: “I heard that the Crown Prince has Yan Huasheng’s ‘Autumn Hunt Painting.’ With the autumn hunt approaching, I suddenly felt inspired and wanted to take it back to copy.”
The Crown Prince hesitated for a moment, then said, “I’ll have someone send it to you later.”
Although their mothers were tearing each other apart in the harem, they still had to maintain a facade of sibling affection.
The autumn hunt is coming… Biaobiao’s eyes lit up, and she said happily, “Crown Prince brother, let’s go hunting in the Southern Park.”
Hearing this, the Crown Prince frowned deeply and shook his head, “Why go to the Southern Park for no reason? It’s too far.”
Biaobiao kept twisting her waist, acting coquettishly, “It’s not far at all, not far at all. We can just ride horses. Crown Prince brother, take me, please.”
The Crown Prince was most susceptible to her act, just like Emperor Yuanjing. He said helplessly, “Alright, alright. I’ll make arrangements today, and we’ll go early tomorrow morning.”
He still had things to do, so he took the opportunity to send Lian’an and Huai Qing away.
The autumn hunt was a grand event. Since Emperor Yuanjing became obsessed with cultivation, he rarely held autumn hunts. In recent years, the princes and princesses would go hunting in the Southern Park on their own, only needing to report it.
For Lian’an, hunting was the most joyful thing, regardless of whether she could draw a bow or not.
It was like in Xu Qi’an’s previous life, where some girls were addicted to playing games, regardless of whether they were skilled or not.
After Lian’an returned to her residence, a young palace maid immediately came forward to report, “Your Highness, Princess Huai Qing came looking for you earlier.”
Huai Qing was looking for me? Then why didn’t she say a word to me just now in the Eastern Palace? Lian’an blinked her eyes, putting on a confused expression.
Oh well, never mind. I’ll read my novel first, and tomorrow we’ll go hunting in the Southern Park…
…
Deep in the night.
In his sleep, Xu Qi’an felt as if someone had knocked on his brain. This was a spiritual feedback, not an actual physical knock on his head.
In his room, only one person and one sword could knock on his head. Zhong Li would usually gently kick him and call him in a soft voice.
The Taiping Sword, on the other hand, would “clang clang clang” with its blade tip, not this gently.
A spiritual level feedback, someone’s trying to private chat with me… Xu Qi’an, with his eyes half-closed, reached out to draw the Earth Book fragment. Then, he knew who was trying to private chat with him.
Number One, Huai Qing.
After accepting Huai Qing’s private chat request, he sent a message: [Why are you sending messages in the dead of night? Don’t you have a sex life?]