The back mountain training ground of Qingcang Mountain was filled with the crunching sounds of walking stiffs gnawing on corpses, a noise that made one’s scalp tingle. Jiang Chenbi stood on the training ground, countless bodies scattered at her feet, the entire grassy area dyed red with blood.
Mo Xiang walked over from not far away and said, “Palace Lord Jiang, sorry, we’re late.”
Jiang Chenbi’s gaze shifted away from the red-clad woman. She had already stood up and was lifting her skirt to board the carriage.
Jiang Chenbi looked at Mo Xiang and curled her lips. “General Mo arrived just in time. I just wonder why the Western Border Army suddenly appeared here?”
Mo Xiang laughed heartily twice, her expression unchanged as she explained, “Although our army is under the Western Border Army’s banner, we’re different from them. Previously, His Majesty specially selected elites from various armies to form our Golden Armor Army, tasked with guarding Luozhou.”
Jiang Chenbi nodded and continued listening. “Palace Lord Jiang must know that there are indeed people with extraordinary skills under your command, so our army’s armor is inscribed with red talismans precisely to counter such situations.”
“Tonight, while patrolling the city, we noticed unusual celestial phenomena over Qingcang Mountain and hurried over.”
Jiang Chenbi lowered her eyes and smiled, casually mentioning, “Thank you for your assistance, General Mo. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been confident in defeating the demon god summoned by Han Wu. I just wonder about the origins of that zither player wearing the fangxiang mask—how could they use the music to clear a path?”
Mo Xiang raised her eyes to glance at the carriage stopped in the distance and said, “This is someone His Majesty specially invited to handle these demons and ghosts in the army. I’m not clear on the specifics.”
Jiang Chenbi smiled and said, “Once the cleanup is done, I plan to host a banquet at Yellow Path Palace. Would General Mo and your soldiers do me the honor? And that zither player as well.”
Hesitation flashed across Mo Xiang’s face. Jiang Chenbi was not only the Palace Lord of Yellow Path Palace but also the Empress.
She glanced toward the carriage again. Noticing Mo Xiang’s expression, Jiang Chenbi’s eyes darkened slightly as she subtly scrutinized the carriage.
It appeared to be an ordinary carriage, but it bore patterns related to talismans, likely for protecting the zither player’s safety.
Mo Xiang turned back to Jiang Chenbi and smiled. “The zither player might have to leave; she doesn’t seem to be in good health. But I can accompany Palace Lord Jiang for a celebratory drink.”
Jiang Chenbi curled her lips, not pressing the issue. “Then thank you, General Mo. Could I go over to personally thank the zither player?”
Mo Xiang knew it would be inappropriate to refuse now, so she steeled herself and said, “Of course.”
The two walked to the carriage. Jiang Chenbi respectfully bowed and said, “Thank you for your help today, zither player.”
She had felt it—when she went to chase Han Wu earlier, the intensified zither music had weighed down. Without golden light protecting her, Jiang Chenbi had relied solely on the music to suppress the yin qi on Han Wu, forcibly clearing a path to her.
There was no response from inside the carriage for a long time. Jiang Chenbi raised an eyebrow and looked at Mo Xiang.
Mo Xiang gave an awkward laugh and said, “I forgot to mention earlier, Palace Lord Jiang. She previously offended enemies who destroyed her throat; she can’t speak anymore.”
As she finished speaking, three knocks came from inside.
Mo Xiang hurriedly said, “See? That’s her saying no need to be polite; it’s what she should do.”
Jiang Chenbi pretended not to notice the oddity and let the matter drop. “Alright, then zither player, rest well on your way back.”
The back mountain training ground was quickly cleaned up. Yellow Path Palace prepared a banquet—first to celebrate the victory, second to thank the Golden Armor Army and City Protection Army for their help.
The group drank until dawn. In the resting area of the temporary palace, Jiang Chenbi arranged accommodations for the soldiers before heading to the bamboo grove where Cui Wangshu had once danced with her sword.
Fish-belly white appeared on the horizon, and the morning sun slanted onto the bamboo leaves, filtering through the gaps to illuminate Jiang Chenbi’s face.
Jiang Chenbi tilted her head back, closed her eyes, and listened to the rustling of the wind through the bamboo leaves.
She remembered that rainy night five years ago when Cui Wangshu had danced her sword here. She had known Cui Wangshu didn’t want her to see, but she still went to hold an umbrella for her.
Later, there had been such a heavy rain at Zhongnan Mountain too, the bamboo grove outside rattling in the downpour. Jiang Chenbi had wondered then if it was raining in the capital.
Cui Wangshu had become the Female Emperor. From now on, there would always be someone to hold an umbrella for her; she no longer needed to worry.
She took a deep breath of air, catching the faint fresh scent of bamboo. Opening her eyes, sunlight pierced her pupils, and Jiang Chenbi frowned slightly before lowering her head and leaving the bamboo grove.
Yellow Path Palace needed to reform its rules, and the life gu that had lost contact needed replanting.
The next day at noon, Jiang Chenbi sat in the high seat, looking at the crowd below with a complex mood.
After a long while, she spoke. “Some of you have followed me for over ten years, and the life gu on you has already been removed. I’ll give you a choice.”
“If you want a peaceful life, I’ll give you ten times the usual gold and silver. Take it and live your lives, but never mention Yellow Path Palace again.”
The crowd remained silent; they couldn’t guess the Palace Lord’s intentions. What if this was just a test of their loyalty?
Jiang Chenbi naturally knew what they were thinking and rarely explained again. “The restructured Palace Council will develop differently from before; many things need relearning. Consider my words carefully—there’s no second chance.”
After she spoke, the people below fell into contemplation. After a long time, a woman who appeared around forty hesitated. “Palace Lord, can I choose to leave?”
Jiang Chenbi’s expression was indifferent. “Go to Ying Lan to collect your money.”
The woman hesitated, bracing for the possibility of losing her head the next second. But when she left Yellow Path Palace with the heavy money pouch, she realized the Palace Lord meant it.
In that moment, relief and regret flashed in her heart. She turned back for a long look at the grand palace hall of Yellow Path Palace before leaving Qingcang Mountain.
The remaining people watched her actually leave. Some of the older ones pursed their lips and spoke up one after another. Jiang Chenbi approved each, letting them go.
When no one else wanted to leave, few remained in the hall. Jiang Chenbi curled her lips. “Anyone want to reconsider? This isn’t a place you can join or leave at will. Don’t give up this chance lightly.”
Liu Yao gritted her teeth, annoyed at those leaving but respecting their choices. She said, “Palace Lord, I love Yellow Path Palace. I joined not for money. I’m Yellow Path Palace in life, Yellow Path Palace ghost in death—my tombstone will bear those three words. I won’t leave.”
She had always been proud of joining the Palace Council and becoming an inner cabinet member. They said the Palace Lord’s temperament was unpredictable, but since five years ago when Jiang Chenbi told her and Ying Lan to leave first, facing He Yin alone, she knew Jiang Chenbi was not heartless.
Her affections were deeply buried. In danger, she never let her subordinates take risks; she was always the first to charge forward, standing in front.
For such a person, once you’d truly followed her, you’d understand why people were willing to do anything for her, even give their lives.
Because she was truly that good.
Jiang Chenbi looked at Liu Yao and curled her lips, recalling how fearful she had been when first joining the inner cabinet. She said, “What about the others?”
Everyone in the hall shook their heads, voices rising one after another. “I won’t leave. I’ll follow the Palace Lord forever.”
The Mountain Lord looked at Jiang Chenbi without a word. It had followed her the longest, seeing her as a confidante and friend, so serving her was habit. It didn’t care what she said.
No matter what, it wouldn’t leave.
Since they didn’t want to leave, Jiang Chenbi said no more, only stating, “You’ve seen what the Palace Council is now. I’m never afraid of starting from nothing. Are you willing to rebuild with me?”
She was only thirty; her life was just beginning. Even if the Palace Council ended up empty today, she had the confidence to start over.
The people below had no intention of leaving and, hearing they could rebuild with the Palace Lord, the young ones surged with enthusiasm, eyes burning as they stared at Jiang Chenbi, eager for tasks.
Jiang Chenbi chuckled and walked down from the high seat under their fervent gazes, stopping before the Mountain Lord and curling her lips. “You’re exempt, you sticky plaster.”
The Mountain Lord: “…”
What did Jiang Chenbi mean? It just coveted treasures a lot.
She walked to Liu Yao, chuckling as she curled her lips. “Good acting; you’re getting better.”
With that, Jiang Chenbi pulled her close for a gentle hug and whispered near her ear, “Ying Lan’s dense; bear with her.”
Liu Yao’s eyes trembled lightly, her voice tight. “Thank you, Palace Lord.”
Jiang Chenbi patted the back of her head and moved to the next. “Your dual blades are impressive. You did well on the Huangzhou mission. Did you get the ointment I left on your desk?”
Shock flashed in the girl’s eyes. The Palace Lord remembered? She’d thought it was from Protector Ying. What virtue did she have?
Jiang Chenbi pulled her into an embrace and patted her back.
Looking at the next girl with expectant eyes, Jiang Chenbi chuckled. “Yuan Yuan?”
Yuan Yuan pursed her lips, eyes heating. “Palace Lord…”
Jiang Chenbi curled her lips. “Kid, eat more. How can you swing that axe if you’re so skinny?”
Though said so, Yuan Yuan looked at Jiang Chenbi’s slender shoulders and suspected it was a plot to make her fat.
Though Jiang Chenbi rarely interacted with those outside the inner cabinet, it didn’t mean she forgot them. She assigned every mission and silently observed their growth and changes.
Ying Lan watched her back and sighed inwardly. The Palace Lord was always like this.
You think she’s ten points bad, and she shows you a hundred, telling you that’s who she is.
You think she’s one point good, but she’s already done ten for you in secret, without you knowing—and she never says.
Even she had only realized later how much more Jiang Chenbi loved her than she thought. In the five years without her, she’d lived in regret and longing.
Ying Lan’s gaze fell on the happy faces below, and she shook her head inwardly. She suddenly understood why Cui Wangshu always wanted to control Jiang Chenbi, why she was always jealous.
Jiang Chenbi’s care and love for everyone wasn’t fake. Though different from her love for Cui Wangshu, people are greedy. Getting a sliver makes them want it all.
Especially Cui Wangshu—she wasn’t a subordinate. A sliver wasn’t enough; she and Jiang Chenbi shared love.
And love is possessive and exclusive by nature.
But that didn’t mean Ying Lan would speak for Cui Wangshu. These years, she’d had enough of her suffocating surveillance and control, wishing the Palace Lord would deal with her soon so she could investigate without dodging her spies.
Suffocating!
