Chapter 45

After the onset of summer, the rain was abundant in the central plains of Zhongzhou, and the air in the capital city, Shendu, was filled with the earthy scent of damp soil.

As the first light of dawn broke, it illuminated the muddy road leading to the Shen Gao Palace. Sedan chairs bearing the emblems of various clans passed through the Imperial Street amidst the shouting of their bearers, heading towards the Purple Gold Gate.

Today was the day of the regular court assembly.

Only on this day, when the capital of Shendu, already replaced by the Southern Land Immortal Capital, could so many immortal families gather.

When Nan Gongjing descended from the sedan chair, a group of officials in official robes had already gathered outside the Tai Chu Hall, surrounding a tall figure as they flattered and exchanged pleasantries.

The young man had an aura of cold elegance, and his smile made his jade-like features appear even more refined. His official robes draped over his slender frame, adding to his ethereal charm, with his bones and spirit exuding a sense of clarity.

Suddenly, Jiu Fang Zhanghua seemed to sense something and turned toward Nan Gongjing, cupping his hands in greeting:

“Greetings, Chancellor.”

The officials turned around at the sound.

The woman they saw wasn’t striking, but because of the heat, she had foregone her official hat. Her long hair was tied into a simple bun, and even the stray hairs were neatly arranged. She wore only a translucent jade hairpin, with no other adornment.

In an era where even men were fond of applying makeup, Nan Gongjing’s plain attire was quite unconventional.

But then again, she was Nan Gongjing.

Even if she stepped into Shen Gao Palace in rough hemp clothes and straw sandals, no one would dare speak a word against her.

“Greetings, Chancellor—”

The chorus of officials’ greetings came in waves, startling Yin Shan Zhan Zhi, who had just dismounted from the sedan.

After a servant helped him steady himself, Yin Shan Zhan Zhi looked at the scene before him, feeling a deeper respect for his aunt.

No wonder rumors said that their Yinshan clan was just half a step away from the throne.

Her arrival today felt almost as grand as the Emperor’s.

Nan Gongjing lowered her gaze and gave a polite nod to her colleagues, then exchanged a look with Jiu Fang Zhanghua. The officials promptly scattered, heading toward the Tai Chu Hall.

Jiu Fang Zhanghua glanced at Yin Shan Zhan Zhi, who was trailing behind, and gave a gentle nod in greeting.

Yin Shan Zhan Zhi, feeling somewhat uneasy since entering Shen Gao Palace, brightened slightly upon seeing a familiar face. He almost wished he could approach Jiu Fang Zhanghua for a conversation to relieve his tension.

But Jiu Fang Zhanghua quickly turned his attention back to Nan Gongjing, walking beside her as he spoke:

“I heard that your teacher has arranged a position for Zhan Zhi in the Immortal Path Bureau. The bureau manages the world’s household registers and genealogies, which is important but not of much use to the Yinshan clan. Given Zhan Zhi’s talents, it’s a bit of a waste.”

Liuyu’s appearance was not like Nan Gongjing’s, but her eyes had some striking resemblance to hers.

Nan Gongjing smiled lightly, her eyes sparkling.

“Zhan Zhi is young and weak. If he were to take on such responsibilities right away, I would be worried—are you still representing your father at court today?”

“Yes, my father…” Jiu Fang Zhanghua paused, “My father is ill and can’t endure the journey.”

Nan Gongjing smiled even more deeply, walking with her hands behind her back:

“Your father is at the peak of the Nine Realms. What illness could take him down? Don’t hide it from me—he’s just afraid. It’s a sunny day, in the capital of Zhongzhou, and I am only at the Third Realm. I don’t know what he’s afraid of.”

Behind them, Yin Shan Zhan Zhi lowered his gaze and noticed Nan Gongji’s younger brother, Nan Gongyao, guarding the palace gates. He quickly cupped his hands in respect.

Nan Gongyao was Nan Gongjing’s younger brother and Liuyu’s uncle.

A practitioner at the Nine Realms, he served as a palace guard, overseeing the gates of Shen Gao Palace and ranked among the Nine Ministers.

Yin Shan Zhan Zhi wiped away his sweat, thinking to himself that aside from the Murong family, the Yinshan clan was the most powerful family in Zhongzhou. Even the Jiu Fang family wouldn’t dare to come to court here.

He then glanced at Jiu Fang Zhanghua.

Of course, Zhanghua was an exception.

Though he was the eldest son of the Jiu Fang family, he had been raised in the Yinshan household since childhood.

Back when the two families had a good relationship, things were fine. But now, with a growing sense of estrangement, Zhanghua found himself caught in the middle, unable to please either side. Even if something happened to him, it wouldn’t cause significant harm to the Jiu Fang family.

Yin Shan Zhan Zhi thought of his cousin, who had married into the Nine Nether clan.

He had heard that there had been some stir in the Nine Nether recently. He wondered how his precious cousin was faring in such harsh circumstances.

If only his cousin hadn’t married into Nine Nether and Zhanghua had married into their family instead—everything would have worked out perfectly.

“I heard that your father locked you in the family prison for a while. Have your injuries healed? I brought some medicinal supplements. You can take them with you when you leave later.”

Jiu Fang Zhanghua’s eyelashes trembled slightly.

Even within the Jiu Fang family, not many knew about his time in the family prison.

Nan Gongjing had eyes and ears in the Jiu Fang family.

Though it was not unexpected, with so many great families tangled in complex relations, who didn’t have spies within each other’s ranks?

“Thank you, teacher.”

“No need to thank me,” Nan Gongjing replied casually, “It’s all for Liuyu. You only suffered because of her.”

The scars hidden beneath his official robes burned with pain, but his mind flashed to the hand token he had crumpled that day, the one he never sent out in the end.

Jiufang Zhanghua lowered his eyes and remained silent.

Nangong Jing glanced at the young man beside her, whose expression was obscure and unclear.

She, like Yin Shanze, had watched this child, with his reserved and gentle temperament, grow up.

This child was resilient, talented, and though he could not practice the Jiufang family’s martial arts, he was quite gifted in Yinshan Clan’s jade refining swordsmanship. His appearance was also exceptional, and among the noblewomen of Xiandu Yujing, many secretly admired him.

But he was burdened with too many thoughts, overly cautious, and lacked decisiveness, which made Yin Shanze, who had raised him, quite troubled.

The Taichu Hall had arrived.

Nangong Jing was about to walk toward the front when she suddenly heard Jiufang Zhanghua’s voice from behind.

“—Liuyu, must you really stay in the Nine Hells?”

For a moment, Jiufang Zhanghua almost wanted to tell Nangong Jing about Mo Lin’s plan to form an alliance with the Jiufang family to deal with the Yinshan family.

The scars on his body burned at that moment.

New wounds layered over old ones, and the man holding the restraining whip in the family prison loomed like a mountain over his head, pressing his tongue into stiffness, rendering him immobile.

Jiufang Xinglan had returned to Xiandu Yujing the day before, conveying Mo Lin’s words to his father, Jiufang Qian.

That man, after hearing it, said nothing but instructed that the matter must not be leaked.

Jiufang Zhanghua knew that the warning was meant for him.

No one in the Jiufang family needed such a reminder except him.

Nangong Jing turned around, her gaze filled with mild curiosity as it landed on him.

She didn’t know the conflict in Jiufang Zhanghua’s heart, but she could roughly guess, and she slightly raised her chin, saying:

“I’ve already told you about this matter before.”

Jiufang Zhanghua stiffened.

“Liuyu doesn’t have to go to the Nine Hells. She is stubborn and wants to bear the burden of the Yinshan Clan, but with their resources, her father and I can still carry on for a few more years until she is capable of taking over. That’s why I had you try. As long as you try, I can personally go to the Jiufang family and propose—”

“Zhanghua, it was you who gave up.”

The last sentence seemed like a curse, constantly swirling in Jiufang Zhanghua’s mind.

Even when he returned from the Central Continent to Xiandu Yujing, the servants of the Jiufang family greeted him at the gate, and he still could see the pale expression on his eldest son’s face, even paler than the moonlight.

“Father.”

Inside Jiufang Qian’s bedroom, Jiufang Zhanghua knelt and bowed.

The inner room was small, so much so that it was hard to imagine it being the bedroom of the head of the Jiufang family. There were no windows on any side, and even the moonlight could not penetrate. When the heavy iron doors were shut, it was a complete secret room.

Only a small candle on the desk and the twelve laws above illuminated the room.

“How was today’s court session?”

“The students of the Shentu and Xiangli families both spoke to the Young Emperor, advising him about the Nine Hells matter. They suggested increasing taxes, stockpiling food and troops, and preparing for war. The Yinshan Clan and the imperial family both strongly opposed it.”

“And our Young Emperor?”

“The Young Emperor naturally sides with the Yinshan Clan.”

The flame flickered, and the reed in the man’s hand was burned to ash.

The ash was placed in the law tubes, and the energy from the earth surged upward, causing the ash to flutter in the darkness.

The room was filled with the scent of burning plants. In the dark, a pair of eyes stared at the light ash flying about, then spoke to the person behind him:

“This is the Xiangli family’s method of observing the earth’s energy? What does this mean?”

The person replied, “This year, the earth’s energy is abundant. We can sow the seeds ten days earlier without missing the farming season.”

“The ‘Complete Book of Immortal Agriculture’ is truly profound. Sitting in a secret room, one can know the farming seasons of the world. Remarkable.”

The person looked at Jiufang Zhanghua, still kneeling on the floor:

“Lord, for the gold-thread jade planted in your garden, the amount of celestial liquid should be halved this month to avoid clashes with the earth’s energy when the flowers bloom next month, which might damage the color.”

Jiufang Zhanghua smiled gently. “Thank you for the reminder.”

After a moment of silence, Jiufang Zhanghua spoke again:

“Father, about the Nine Hells matter—”

“Go and have your fourth brother come in. You may leave now.”

The gaze exchanged between father and son lingered before the man spoke to Jiufang Zhanghua:

“Farewell, Lord.”

The heavy iron doors opened, and the intent to dismiss was unmistakable. Jiufang Zhanghua had no choice but to rise.

Tonight, the waxing crescent moon shone over the tranquil garden.

Jiufang Zhanghua paused slightly.

“What is going on here?”

The garden servant, tending to the flowers and plants, saw the young master’s arrival and respectfully replied:

“The celestial liquid, as per the master’s instructions, is applied once a month. Don’t worry, young master, it’s almost finished…”

Under the moonlight, the youth with a gentle expression scanned the garden of gold-threaded jade, his dark eyes falling on the servant.

“The celestial liquid should be applied on the fifteenth of each month, shouldn’t it?”

The servant, not expecting to encounter the young master so suddenly, felt embarrassed upon hearing his clear, almost musical voice question him.

“This… Young master, forgive me. It’s a special situation. My mother is ill, and I’ve taken leave to take her to the doctor. I won’t be able to return on the fifteenth, so I thought… I thought I would apply the celestial liquid two days in advance. Don’t worry, young master, I’ve been careful as always, following the usual procedures. You can inspect it yourself…”

The servant kneeled on the ground, repeatedly bowing.

The figure before him remained unresponsive.

After a long pause, only a light sigh was heard.

“A mother and child share a heart; how could one not be concerned?”

The servant was about to breathe a sigh of relief when he heard a voice as cold as frost from above:

“When the gold-threaded jade you nurtured with your own flesh and blood grows, I will send someone to break off a few branches and send them to your home, so you may feel the love of mother and child.”

—-

Later that night, in the Extreme Night Palace.

The next day, they were to depart for the Demon Ghost Great Wall. Liuyu intended to settle the accounts for the past few months before leaving. While she was crouched on the bed, organizing the books, she suddenly saw Mo Lin, who had just bathed, change into a wide-sleeved robe and returned to the inner chamber.

Seeing Mo Lin’s figure, her lips involuntarily curved up.

She had been smiling like this all day.

Mo Lin casually grabbed the teapot on the table, poured a cup of tea, and tilted his head back to drink it all. His fingers lightly tapped the cup, and his expression remained indifferent as he said:

“Is it really that funny?”

Liuyu rested her head on her arm, her legs swinging behind her. The corners of her lips still couldn’t help but curve upwards.

“How do you know what I’m laughing at?”

Her smile carried a hint of obvious mockery, a touch of mischief, but with such a captivating beauty, even a smile that seemed a bit wicked felt like a bitter gall steeped in honey—making people both love and hate it at the same time.

“In the past, when I saw the immortal’s Jade Capital, I thought the golden threads and jade flowers growing everywhere were just beautiful, so I casually planted some. Don’t think too much about it.”

“Casually planting? I thought some people planted flowers to see someone else…”

Her voice trailed off, but before Liuyu could finish her words, a hand suddenly lifted the red veil, and a man’s domineering presence came from behind her.

“What’s wrong with planting flowers to see someone?”

In the dim red light, his warm breath brushed against Liuyu’s earlobe.

It seemed like he thought the kiss wasn’t enough; Liuyu could feel his sharp snake-like teeth gnawing at her skin, sending a slight pain through her body.

“I know what you’re trying to say. You’re calling me like Dong Shi copying Ban Zhao, aren’t you?”

His body pressed down on hers, hot and full of energy, but when he spoke, his tone was so light it seemed like a sigh.

The mockery in Liuyu’s heart seemed to disperse with that sigh.

“Don’t guess things you shouldn’t.”

She flipped over and tightly gripped his robe, pulling him a little closer.

Her apricot-colored eyes reflected the flickering candlelight, shining strikingly in the darkness.

“Have I ever said I liked golden threads and jade flowers? Have I ever said that I’m upset that the flowers of the Nine Nether cannot bloom? But you, for the sake of planting this useless flower, spent so much money, and that’s what bothers me even more.”

Mo Lin’s money was her money.

Even if she had a lot of money, it had to be spent wisely. How could it be wasted on flowers that were for looking at but not for eating?

Mo Lin, caught by her gaze, stiffened slightly.

After a long while, he finally spoke:

“…Is money not enough? How much do you need? I’ll find a way.”

Liuyu didn’t expect this answer at all.

“You really are…”

If you said he was impractical, he didn’t even care about the robes he wore, always reusing the same green ones.

But if you said he was practical, he knew perfectly well that the Nine Nether couldn’t grow flowers, yet he stubbornly insisted on trying the impossible, refusing to give up even after hitting a wall.

She was about to show a smile when a thought suddenly crossed her mind.

His insistence on growing golden threads and jade flowers, wasn’t it just like how he insisted on treating her well in her past life?

In the end, the golden threads and jade flowers didn’t bloom in the Nine Nether, and she didn’t stay either.

Liuyu’s smile gradually faded. Her fingers lightly brushed his cheek, and her gaze rippled slightly:

“Rather than nurturing such an illusory flower, I prefer something tangible that can be felt.”

“Besides, the most beautiful flower of Jade Capital, hasn’t it already bloomed in the Nine Nether?”