Upon realizing that Lang Jiuchuan might have drawn a great calamity upon herself, Jiang Che panicked terribly. It had not even been a month since the corpse demon incident — the dust had barely settled — and now another disaster had arrived. This was simply not letting anyone live in peace!

Jiang Che panicked, but Lang Jiuchuan remained remarkably composed. Fu Qi looked at her and asked, “Are you not afraid?”

Lang Jiuchuan looked up at him and said, “We have not even confirmed whether things are as we’ve said. From just one map, the truth cannot yet be determined. What is there for me to fear? And even if the city truly was used as a formation to trap souls, that was done by someone else. You cannot very well take that out on me, can you?”

“And if I did take it out on you?”

Lang Jiuchuan showed her teeth in a grin. “Then why don’t you try?”

Fu Qi rubbed his nose, thinking to himself that this smile was even more unsettling than his own, and turned his gaze back to the map. “As that White Tiger said — grievances have their origins, debts have their debtors. I am not one to vent anger on the innocent. Rest assured. I am not particularly abundant in the virtues of a sage, but I do observe them to a point. There is only one thing I need to ask: if it truly is the case that this city was used as a formation to trap souls, and if the one behind it turns out to be connected to someone in the present nation of Great Dan — what will you do?”

Jiang Che also looked over. Indeed — Lang Jiuchuan herself had said that whoever went to such lengths to lay so great a formation was not acting out of mere vendetta, but was pursuing far greater ends. If it was linked to someone in the present nation, how would she choose?

“Soldiers may have their heads cut off, their blood spilled, their lives taken in service of their nation, but loyal souls should not be denied peace even in death — and they certainly should not be deliberately exploited by others.” Lang Jiuchuan said: “Regardless of what comes to light, I will guide them safely to the Underworld to be reincarnated. But I will not allow you, General, to harm the innocent. If you insist on doing so, then I will have no choice but to commit an act of great insubordination.”

What that “great insubordination” meant, those who understood would understand.

Fu Qi fixed his gaze on her for a long moment and said, “Is it because you too are of a military family’s lineage that your character is this unyielding?”

“I am merely a ghost inhabiting this body. My temperament has little to do with the bloodline of this mortal shell.”

Fu Qi: “…”

There was simply no continuing this conversation.

Lang Jiuchuan then said, “Guiding souls onward is one matter. But as for your posthumous reputation, General — how it might be set right — do you have any thoughts?”

Fu Qi was taken aback. His expression went distant and detached. After a long silence, he gave a self-deprecating smile. “The former dynasty fell more than two hundred years ago. I have long since been dust and bone. There are not even any descendants of the Fu family left. Who would remember a warrior like me? What does it matter whether my name is set right or not?”

“That is not quite how one ought to see it. There is a phrase for enduring fame through the ages, and there is an equally fitting phrase for infamy that lingers just as long. As long as historical records exist, they determine how future generations will regard you — whether your name will be remembered with honor or with contempt. Of course, if you truly don’t care, that is entirely your prerogative.”

Fu Qi opened his mouth, because of course he cared — yet more than two hundred years had passed since that era of history. To revise it would be no simple matter. And where would the evidence come from, to prove that his deeds and conduct had truly been worthy of the Liang Kingdom?

In the end, he said nothing. The matter was too difficult. There was no point forcing it.

He was already dead. Even if his name was dragged through infamy for eternity, he would not be there to hear it.

Yet even so, his heart felt weighted down and suffocating — as if he had swallowed a fly and could not rid himself of the discomfort.

Lang Jiuchuan knew when to stop. As for whether his name could be set right, she could not think of how to go about it either. She was not capable of reversing the flow of time and going back to alter history. This matter would have to be pursued gradually, step by step.

What stood as the most pressing priority for now was still to guide those three thousand loyal souls onward to their rest.

And this Nine Palace Eight Trigrams City…

Lang Jiuchuan’s brows knitted into a deep furrow. If it truly was a deliberate act on the part of the Tantai Xuan Sect clan, what was their purpose?

……

The next day.

Lang Jiuchuan had just completed a full cycle of her cultivation when Jian Lan came rushing in urgently to summon her, saying that a palace attendant had arrived from the imperial palace bearing an imperial decree, and that the entire household was required to be present and kneel to receive it.

It was most likely the decree Anbei had been hoping for day and night — the one confirming the succession to the earldom.

And indeed, it was exactly as she had anticipated. The old Marquis of Kaiping had passed away nearly a hundred days ago, yet no decree had been issued regarding how the title would be inherited. Lang Zhengping had long since been so anxious he was breaking out in fever blisters, and now that a palace attendant had finally arrived with an imperial decree in hand, he was simultaneously overjoyed and flustered.

Overjoyed that the inheritance could at last be confirmed. Flustered because the title would most likely be reduced in rank.

So Lang Zhengping deliberately waited for Lang Jiuchuan, intercepting her with a wringing of his hands as he asked: “Ninth Young Miss, do you feel like saying anything inauspicious today?”

Lang Jiuchuan: “?”

Lang Zhengping glared at her, and seeing that she said nothing, immediately broke into a grin. “Nothing inauspicious to say? Then it must be good news.”

He finished speaking and immediately ran off toward the front courtyard.

Jiang Che clicked its tongue and shook its head. “Such a perfectly sensible man, and an earldom has made a fool of him.”

When the imperial decree arrives, the entire household must attend.

By the time Lang Jiuchuan reached the courtyard, an incense table had already been set up, and the place was packed with people, heads crowded together in a dense mass. Wu Shi pulled her to stand with the female members of the family.

The senior palace attendant — pale-complexioned and beardless, with a kind and refined countenance — held the imperial decree in hand and looked toward Lang Zhengping. “My Lord, is everyone present? If so, this servant will begin reading the decree.”

Lang Zhengping glanced back — all who needed to be present were present — and clasped his hands in a respectful bow. “I thank you for your trouble, Chief Attendant Gui.”

Only then did the senior attendant, Chief Attendant Gui, rise and step before the incense table. He cleared his throat, unfurled the imperial decree, and called out in a high-pitched voice: “By the grace of Heaven and the mandate of the Emperor…”

Lang Jiuchuan knelt on the cold blue-stone floor, listening to the content of the decree, and her eyebrow arched in surprise. There was no reduction in rank — what stroke of luck was this?

The members of the Lang Family were overcome with delight. The reduction in rank would not begin until the next generation — it was as if a great fortune had dropped from the sky, sweet to the point of being overwhelming.

The unexpected windfall left Lang Zhengping’s head buzzing in a daze. Even after Chief Attendant Gui had finished reading, he still had not collected himself — it was only when Lang Caimeng edged forward on her knees and gave his robe a gentle tug that he snapped back to his senses, and hastily cried out his gratitude and long live the Emperor.

Chief Attendant Gui handed him the imperial decree and said, “My Lord, you should enter the palace to offer your thanks in person, and then return home to continue your period of mourning.”

Lang Zhengping called out another “Long live the Emperor,” rose to his feet, and personally handed a thick coin pouch to Chief Attendant Gui. “This humble household has prepared a modest wine. Will you honor us with a cup, Chief Attendant?”

“Your household is in mourning — this servant would not wish to impose. There will always be wine to drink another time.” Chief Attendant Gui then cast a glance toward the women’s section. “Might I ask which young lady here is the beloved daughter of the Anbei General?”

Lang Zhengping was startled and quickly called Lang Jiuchuan forward.

Lang Jiuchuan looked at Chief Attendant Gui, her expression calm and unhurried, and gave a slight inclination of her head.

Chief Attendant Gui showed no displeasure at this. He spoke quietly: “The fourth young miss of the Zhongyong Marquis’s household has passed away. Noble Consort Qi has been deeply grieved. His Majesty had originally decided to reduce the rank of the Marquis of Kaiping’s title — the imperial seal had nearly been pressed to the decree. But then word arrived from the Dao Sect that the ninth young miss is a highly accomplished practitioner of the Xuan arts, and that she had even received the personal commendation of the young head of the Gong family for the great contribution she made in eliminating the demonic threat. His Majesty was greatly pleased, and the decision not to reduce the title was made in recognition of the young miss’s efforts. Looking at her now, the young miss does indeed possess a rare and remarkable appearance.”

As he spoke, he cast a meaningful glance toward Lang Zhengping, and added: “With such a brilliant gem in the household, a change of fortune is coming to the Marquis’s household.”

Lang Zhengping’s heart gave a great jolt, and he smiled broadly, clasping his hands in a bow. “Your gracious words are most welcome.”

Chief Attendant Gui was eager to return to the palace and said nothing more — and since the gratuity had been more than generous, he departed shortly thereafter.

Lang Zhengping personally escorted him to the gate and watched until the carriage had disappeared from sight before turning around with the imperial decree and dashing back into the household. “Ninth Young Miss…”

Wait — where had his household’s auspicious little treasure gone?