Xu Qi An turned his head and saw a pair of sparkling, alluring peach blossom eyes – beautiful eyes that could enchant anyone.
The eyes are the windows to the soul and the most important facial feature. Women who can make one forget worldly concerns usually possess eyes brimming with spirit.
Lin An had a beautiful pair of peach blossom eyes. When she gazed at you, her eyes would become misty, making her especially alluring and affectionate.
But when such eyes looked at you, you couldn’t bear to tease her. You would be willing to cut out your own heart and give it to her.
Xu Qi An, who had originally planned to tease her, changed his mind and chuckled softly, “No, I wrote the military treatise. It has nothing to do with Duke Wei.”
Biao Biao smiled with delight, having received the satisfying answer she wanted.
“Then why did you lie to Huai Qing?” Lin An asked cheerfully as she hopped, her red dress swirling like waves of fire.
“Because Princess Huai Qing is overly confident. It’s hard to change her mind once she’s decided on something. And I hadn’t previously demonstrated any knowledge of military strategy, so it was reasonable for her to believe the treatise came from Duke Wei,” Xu Qi An explained.
“She just doesn’t trust you. I trust you completely. I believe everything you say,” Lin An said proudly with a humph.
There are benefits to being naive… Xu Qi’an thought to himself.
If a naive girl met a good man like him, she would be fortunate. But if she encountered a scoundrel, her heart would be toyed with.
Xu Qi An never toyed with girls’ hearts. He preferred their bodies.
Before leaving the Imperial City, Xu Qi An looked back at the deeper parts of the palace.
If there was a secret passage to the palace from the outside world, where could it be?
And what secret had Master Heng Yuan discovered that compelled Emperor Yuan Jing to go to such lengths to have him captured?
…
Outside the Imperial College, a student in Confucian robes stood on a platform, vividly recounting what he had witnessed at the literary gathering, spittle flying as he spoke:
“That barbarian called Pei Man Xi Lou was truly learned. He discussed astronomy, geography, classics, and policy essays with the nobles of the Hanlin Academy without falling behind. When the nobles of the Hanlin Academy were at a loss, the great scholar Zhang Shen, also known as Zhang Jin Yan, from the Cloud Deer Academy arrived…”
The crowd of commoners listening below was engrossed. At this point, they finally breathed a sigh of relief and said with smiles:
“Now that the great scholar from Cloud Deer Academy has arrived, isn’t it a sure victory? The barbarian won’t be able to be so arrogant anymore.”
“Indeed, everyone knows the great scholars of Cloud Deer Academy are highly learned, as high as the Star-Gazing Tower.”
The student on the platform shook his head and said helplessly, “No, even the great scholar Zhang Shen from Cloud Deer Academy lost. Who could have imagined that barbarian would produce a military treatise, and Great Scholar Zhang Shen conceded defeat after seeing it.”
The commoners below were shocked and furious, creating an uproar.
“Even the great scholar from Cloud Deer Academy lost?”
“Did he lose to a barbarian? Damn it, are all the scholars in Great Zhou useless?”
“This makes me even angrier than last year’s Buddhist delegation.”
The common folk cursed without restraint.
The student on the platform gestured for calm: “Everyone, please settle down. If we had truly lost the literary gathering, how could I be standing here?”
Hearing this, the gathered commoners not only didn’t quiet down but clamored even more loudly.
“Hurry up and tell us, don’t keep us in suspense.”
“Even the great scholar from Cloud Deer Academy lost, so who defeated the barbarian in the end?”
The Imperial College student smiled and said, “Don’t rush, let me continue. At this point, a young official from the Hanlin Academy stood up and said he wanted to debate military strategy with Pei Man Xi Lou. This young official is called Xu Xin Nian, and he’s the cousin of Constable Xu…”
He vividly described how Xu Xin Nian took out a military treatise and convinced Pei Man Xi Lou.
The surrounding commoners cheered excitedly after hearing this, praising how the Xu brothers were both outstanding talents.
The Imperial College student deliberately paused, watching with amusement as the commoners praised Xu Xin Nian. When the time was right, he suddenly changed tack and loudly asked, “Do you know who authored that military treatise?”
The commoners stopped and looked at him in confusion.
The Imperial College student proclaimed loudly: “It was Constable Xu, our Great Zhou’s poetry champion Constable Xu!”
Faces filled with shock, which then transformed into excitement and wild joy.
Thanks to the Imperial College students’ lavish praise and promotion of Xu Qi An, the news that Xu Qi An’s military treatise had convinced the barbarian quickly spread throughout the capital.
The common folk didn’t care about Pei Man Xi Lou’s knowledge. They only knew this barbarian had been extremely arrogant recently, even defeating the Imperial College.
They had originally hoped the great scholars of Cloud Deer Academy would step forward to curb the barbarian’s arrogance. But the news that came was that even the great scholars of Cloud Deer Academy had lost.
People who heard this news were shocked and angry, lamenting the scholars’ misfortune and raging at their incompetence. But in the next moment, they almost unanimously turned from anger to joy upon hearing that Constable Xu had his cousin present a military treatise that instantly convinced the barbarian.
Another legendary feat was added to Constable Xu’s record.
Storytellers clapped and cheered in delight. They finally had new material. Although the common folk were fascinated by stories of Buddhist confrontations and single-handedly holding off 8,000 rebels, they had heard these countless times.
Now they finally had something different to talk about.
…
Not long after Xu Qi An and Lin An left, Huai Qing also exited the Imperial City. Riding in an extremely luxurious and expensive carriage, she arrived at the Night Watchmen’s Office.
After being announced, Huai Qing, dragging her skirts with a noble bearing, met Wei Yuan on the seventh floor of the Righteous Spirit Tower.
Wei Yuan stood before a topographic map, examining it intently without turning around. He smiled and said, “What brings the Princess to visit me in her free time?”
Huai Qing curtsied. In front of Wei Yuan, she always behaved as a junior, not putting on airs as a princess.
“I’ve come to request a book,” she said in a cool voice.
Wei Yuan returned to his desk and picked up a brush, saying, “I’ll give you a handwritten note, Princess. You can take whatever book you need from the archives.”
Huai Qing shook her head, her eyes bright with hope: “I want to see that military treatise. Duke Wei, you are proficient in military strategy, yet you’ve never authored a book that’s been circulated. It’s truly a pity. Now that your military treatise has been revealed, it’s a blessing for Great Zhou.”
Wei Yuan slowly shook his head and said gently, “That military treatise wasn’t written by me.”
It wasn’t? Huai Qing’s expression suddenly froze, her eyes staring blankly at Wei Yuan. A few seconds later, her pupils regained focus as emotions surged within her like ocean waves.
The military treatise was written by Xu Qi An. He was so proficient in military strategy, yet had never actively mentioned it before, hiding it so deeply…
Shocked, she also felt a bit resentful. Xu Qi An had deliberately not explained, intentionally letting her embarrass herself in front of Wei Yuan.
Wei Yuan smiled and said, “To be honest, I’m even a bit tempted to take him to the battlefield. With such talent, after a few years of tempering, Great Zhou would have another brilliant commander.”
Huai Qing composed herself and said with a faint smile, “Just take him secretly.”
Wei Yuan lowered his eyes and said softly, “I won’t take him.”
…
At the Eight Trigrams Platform of the Imperial Observatory.
The Observatory Master sat on the east side, while Yang Qian Huan sat on the west side. The master and disciple sat back to back, without embracing.
“Not bad. You’ve initially mastered the formations you should know. In at most three years, you can try advancing to Celestial Mechanic,” the Observatory Master said with a hint of a smile.
“What are the requirements for advancing to Celestial Mechanic?” Yang Qian Huan asked with great interest.
He had been at the fourth-grade boundary for five years and indeed needed to advance further. Imitating Xu Qi An had never succeeded once, which made Yang Qian Huan understand the truth.
Ordinary people have limits. To surpass Xu Qi An, one cannot remain ordinary.
“Observe the stars for three years. If you have some insights, then inscribe formations to conceal yourself for three years,” the Observatory Master said slowly.
“Six years without going out or seeing people?”
“Six years is the fastest speed. If your comprehension is insufficient, it could be six years and another six years, or even until the end of your lifespan, and you still might not advance,” the Observatory Master took a sip of wine and sighed:
“How could transcending ordinary people be so simple?”
Yang Qian Huan said firmly: “Master, I just want to be an ordinary person. Celestial Mechanic, I’d rather not become one!”
The Observatory Master stopped paying attention to him.
At this moment, light footsteps came up the stairs. A small beauty with an oval face in a yellow dress climbed the Eight Trigrams Platform and said excitedly:
“Senior Brother Yang, the literary gathering is over. Our Great Zhou won!”
Yang Qian Huan said indifferently: “Junior Sister Chu Cai Wei, I’m not interested in the boring gatherings of scholars.”
Chu Cai Wei blinked: “Xu Qi An also took action.”
Yang Qian Huan instantly appeared in front of Chu Cai Wei, the back of his head staring at her intently:
“Xu Qi An took action? Did he recite poetry? Hmph, how enviable. However, this literary gathering was about debating military strategy. He was merely a supporting role. Forcibly reciting poetry to highlight his existence is, in my view, a petty act. Xu Qi An has already fallen.”
Isn’t forcibly reciting poetry to highlight one’s existence exactly what you do, Senior Brother… Chu Cai Wei complained furiously in her heart, but outwardly just hummed:
“Xu Qi An didn’t recite any poetry. He didn’t even appear.”
Yang Qian Huan made a sound of confusion.
Chu Cai Wei said in a crisp voice: “He wrote a military treatise and had Xu Er Lang present it at the gathering. After seeing it, Pei Man Xi Lou willingly conceded defeat and even expressed willingness to be his disciple. Now that military treatise has become a highly sought-after classic… Hey, Senior Brother Yang, what’s wrong with you?”
“Xu, Xu Ning Yan’s skill at showing off in public has advanced by leaps and bounds. He has not only reached the pinnacle but mastered it…” Yang Qian Huan said excitedly.
What is Senior Brother saying?! Chu Cai Wei glanced at the back of his head and said:
“He only did this because he offended His Majesty and had no choice. Otherwise, given Xu Ning Yan’s personality, he would be eager to show off everywhere.”
“No, no, you don’t understand!”
Yang Qian Huan refuted vigorously, waving his hands excitedly:
“Truly exquisite showing off in public is exactly like this. The person hasn’t arrived, yet can shock everyone. The person who hasn’t arrived yet can convince the barbarian. He didn’t do anything from start to finish, didn’t say a word, yet stirred up a huge storm in the capital.
“Xu Ning Yan, oh Xu Ning Yan, you are truly my lifelong rival. One day, I will surpass you and trample you underfoot. I will master all your skills. The more high-profile you are, the more I learn. In the future, you will regret it.”
Chu Cai Wei blinked her eyes and said innocently: “Then Senior Brother, you first need to write a military treatise.”
Yang Qian Huan suddenly froze, like a lifeless statue.
After a while, he murmured: “Ordinary people indeed have limits. Master, I… I won’t be an ordinary person anymore…”
The human world is not worth it! The Observatory Master sighed dejectedly.
…
Late at night.
Xu Qi An lay prone on the bed, with the petite Zhong Li sitting on his back. Dr. Zhong used her superb acupoint massage technique to help Xu Qi An circulate his meridians and vitalize his blood, in other words, giving him a Great Zhou-style massage.
“That feels good…”
Xu Qi An praised with a half-sigh, half-moan, and said: “Speaking of which, I’m also very skilled in acupoint massage techniques. It’s just that since Fu Xiang left, no woman has been so fortunate yet. Senior Sister Zhong, are you willing to be that lucky person?”
Zhong Li silently shook her head. Although she didn’t know what he was saying, shaking her head was the right response.
Xu Qi An became a bit angry: “Then don’t sit on me. Your bottom is so big, you’re crushing me.”
“Oh!”
Zhong Li responded softly, getting off him and shuffling back to her small couch in her embroidered shoes.
After sending Zhong Li away, Xu Qi An took out a fragment of the Earth Book. Using the dim candlelight from the table, he wrote: [My eldest brother went to the Night Watchmen’s Office today and discovered that the human traffickers under the Marquis of Ping Yuan have all been beheaded.]
[Two: Hehe, your eldest brother is so great.]
Chu Yuan Zhen didn’t understand Li Miao Zhen’s sarcasm and thought she was praising Xu Qi An’s talent. He wrote:
[, I suspect the military treatise was authored by Wei Yuan, but he used Brother Ning Yan to present it, gifting it away to suppress the barbarian. Hmm, regarding Master Heng Yuan’s matter, after much consideration, if I were Yuan Jing who had captured Master Heng Yuan, but Gold Lotus Daoist was certain Heng Yuan wouldn’t die,
I would seal him in a place where I could see him. So I ask, where is a place Yuan Jing can see but others can’t find?]
[Two: The Imperial Palace!]
The Flying Swallow Heroine answered cleverly.
Chu Yuan Zhen continued writing: [Miao Zhen is correct, but according to Xu Ning Yan’s intelligence, that day, the Marquis of Huai’s spies didn’t enter the palace, or even the Imperial City.]
Xu Qi An’s heart stirred: [Are you saying the secret passage to the Imperial Palace is in the Inner City?]
Chu Yuan Zhen wrote:
[That’s what I think too, but there’s an unexplainable doubt. You’ve all seen the topographic map of the capital, right? Between the Inner City and the Imperial Palace is the Imperial City. Starting from any gate of the Inner City, even riding at full gallop, it would take two quarter-hours to reach the Imperial City. Then from the Imperial City to enter the Imperial Palace, the distance is far. I don’t believe there could be such a long tunnel.]
That wouldn’t be a tunnel, but a passage. It’s indeed impossible… Xu Qi An nodded slowly.
To dig such a passage, it would have to be done secretly. Even Emperor Yuan Jing couldn’t openly carry out tunnel construction.
The manpower and resources required would be terrifying. Moreover, with so many people in the capital, digging a tunnel under people’s homes would have been detected long ago.
Chu Yuan Zhen wrote: [My thought is, could there be some kind of earth traversing magic?]
[Two: First, earth traversing magic is difficult to cultivate, and very few have mastered this skill. Additionally, it can only be used in environments with earth veins.]
[Five: What are earth veins?]
Li Na perfectly played the role of vanguard.
[Two: Earth veins are earth veins. I can’t explain it, but a geomancer can. Geomancers are proficient in feng shui and know what earth veins are. Or, our knowledgeable Number Three knows what earth veins are.]
Miao Zhen knows Zhong Li is in my room, hinting for me to ask her…
The Flying Swallow Heroine is loyal, enduring the awkwardness without exposing me, mwah… Xu Qi An turned his head and looked at Zhong Li on the small couch: “Do you know what earth veins are?”