Chapter 10: Quirk

Shen Sheng usually rode a horse when she went out, but Anu preferred riding in a carriage. Thinking about how they’d talk, Shen Sheng got into the State Preceptor Manor’s carriage without a second thought.

Her familiar, practiced actions left the subordinates utterly confused. The carriage driver was Qiu Fengqing from the Second Gate, who stared directly at Shen Sheng.

“Is Young General Shen treating our State Preceptor’s carriage as her own?” asked Qiu Yueming, who had been checking the horse’s hooves in front. She stood up upon hearing this, only to see the carriage door swaying slightly shut. “The State Preceptor was away from home a month ago just to find Young General Shen.”

“I get it. The State Preceptor has her eye on Young General Shen.” Qiu Fengqing’s brows and eyes were full of smiles. Seeing it was getting late, she urged, “Done with the inspection yet?”

Qiu Yueming nodded. “Yes, let’s go.”

There were ten people in the Second Gate. Apart from Qiu Fengqing driving the carriage, the rest all flipped neatly onto their horses’ backs in unison.

The winter air was biting cold. Their exhaled breaths turned to white mist, showing just how freezing the temperature was.

Inside the carriage, Shen Sheng noticed the entourage following them, her eyes brightening even more. They were all trained fighters, with considerable martial prowess.

The corners of Shen Sheng’s lips curled up. She blinked. “Which gate’s people are they?”

“The Qiu family of the Second Gate.” Anu glanced at the person who was practically radiating delight. “What are you so happy about?”

“Their foundations are extremely stable. Their skills are excellent.” Shen Sheng turned her head to look at Anu, and her gaze met Anu’s cool and indifferent eyes. Those eyes were as chilling as winter snow, instantly freezing the heart.

She immediately explained, “I wasn’t trying to probe your secrets. I was just curious about their martial arts.”

Anu watched as Shen Sheng’s delicate face flushed a deep red, her eyes darting around nervously, and even her adorably round earlobes turned pink. Anu shifted slightly, deliberately turning away from that bashful expression and said, with feigned coldness, “There’s nothing secret to probe. Everyone knows about them.”

As soon as the words left her lips, the carriage suddenly lurched violently, tilting to the right in an instant.

Shen Sheng was on the right, Anu on the left. The sudden disturbance caught them both off guard. Anu pitched towards the right, and Shen Sheng, with practiced ease, caught her in her arms.

Face to face, nose brushing nose. In an instant, that oceanic scent enveloped her, and Shen Sheng uselessly blushed again.

The distance between them suddenly closed. If it weren’t for the sound of blades clashing outside, it would have been a tender, locked gaze.

Qiu Yueming and her people steadied the carriage, preventing it from tipping over. Qiu Fengqing at the front leaped off the carriage, instantly drawing the soft sword at her waist and shouting, “Who dares to attack the State Preceptor’s carriage?”

“We’re here to kill the monster Jiang Buwan!” came a brazen reply.

Inside the carriage, Shen Sheng heard the word “monster” and immediately thought of her mother’s words—the State Preceptor’s methods were ruthless, killing without blinking an eye.

Once the carriage was stable, Anu sat up straight on her own, her aura cold and frosty, clearly not taking the words outside to heart.

The carriage slowly set in motion again, not very fast. A bloody stench drifted in with the cold wind. Shen Sheng, recognizing it, asked with concern, “Why are they trying to kill you?”

“Why did the Song Family plot against you? Why did those people in the forest try to kill you?” Anu didn’t answer, instead asking her back.

Shen Sheng couldn’t answer. No one is perfect; no one can be liked by everyone, like silver coins.

The carriage suddenly sped up. The driver said, “The assassins have been left behind. State Preceptor, please rest assured.”

Shen Sheng lifted the curtain and looked back. On the road, blades flashed relentlessly. Amidst the flying swords and glinting shadows, many people had fallen, indistinguishable as friend or foe.

Yet the Anu inside the carriage remained calm and composed, not appearing the least bit afraid.

It was more like someone who had experienced this many times.

As she pondered, the carriage entered the palace gates without stopping for inspection—a clear display of the State Preceptor’s power in the court.

In three years, a woman had risen to such a position. It was truly terrifying.

Shen Sheng buried her head in thought. Don’t even mention three years; even if she had thirty, she could never achieve what Anu had.

She probed, “Princess Anle mobilizing troops yesterday… did you know about it?”

“I knew,” Anu said, her tone flat.

Shen Sheng grew a little angry. “Why didn’t you stop her? She wanted to kill me.”

Anu glanced at her and replied, “Since you wouldn’t die, why should I stop her?”

Shen Sheng: “…”

“What if she had succeeded in killing me?”

“There is no ‘what if.’ It simply wouldn’t happen.” Anu closed her eyes, as if hearing a foolish question, too lazy to continue speaking.

Shen Sheng had her enthusiasm met with a block of ice, so angry she could only glare. What did she mean ‘it simply wouldn’t happen’? Blades have no eyes—how could she be so sure of ‘simply’ not happening?

Fuming, she scooted towards the carriage door, putting distance between herself and the State Preceptor.

The carriage traveled for half an hour before stopping in front of a palace. A eunuch brought a step stool and invited the esteemed guests to alight.

The State Preceptor, being of higher status, got off first.

When it was Shen Sheng’s turn, she jumped down herself.

After clearly seeing the name of the hall, she was a bit incredulous. “Cinnabar Peak Palace? His Majesty is refining elixirs inside?”

Anu did not answer. Instead, she led Shen Sheng inside as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The guard at the entrance was Moon Among Clouds, a person from the Three Gates family. Moon Among Clouds stepped forward to bow and report in a low voice, “His Majesty is not inside. He was invited by Princess Anle to watch ice skating.”

The State Preceptor nodded, and still led Shen Sheng into the hall.

The moment they crossed the threshold, a wave of heat hit them, seeping into their necks and making their whole bodies shudder.

In the instant of switching from cold to hot, goosebumps rose all over.

After entering the hall, Shen Sheng scrutinized the interior. What drew the most attention was a cauldron as tall as two men. A great fire blazed beneath it. Walking closer, she saw strange insignias carved on its body.

Looking closely, it resembled twin phoenixes circling the sun. She stared at the twin phoenixes, finding them peculiar. “His Majesty is a True Dragon. Why use phoenixes, then?”

“This cauldron wasn’t forged by him. It’s not up to him,” Anu said lightly. The blazing fire cast a red glow on her face, even making her eyes appear red.

Shen Sheng endured the intense heat and took two steps closer. Phoenixes circling the sun, below which countless mortals paid worship.

“Why are they worshipping twin phoenixes?”

“They are worshipping the God of the South River,” Anu explained.

Shen Sheng turned her head to look at her. “You come from the South River?”

Anu fell silent. Flames leaped out, casting a hot, intense light upon her figure. The light illuminated the patterns on her Daoist robe, sketching out lifelike phoenixes.

Shen Sheng saw the phoenixes, her surprise immense. But Anu found it too hot, retreated two steps, and turned to leave. “Let’s go find His Majesty.”

“Anu.” Shen Sheng didn’t even have time to think before following her footsteps out.

After crossing the threshold, she stopped again and turned back to look at the cauldron. Her heart jolted—the cauldron seemed to be summoning her.

“Shen Sheng?” Anu, ahead, urged her when she noticed Shen Sheng had stopped.

That one call brought Shen Sheng back to her senses. The strange summoning sound vanished.

His Majesty was watching ice skating at Shanglin Garden.

In the freezing cold, red plum blossoms were in full bloom. A hundred flowers bloomed across the ice surface. Palace maids holding up various flowering trees skated back and forth, scene after scene, breathtakingly beautiful.

Anu arrived, leading Shen Sheng. The palace servants respectfully led the way, explaining, “Princess Anle is leading a troupe of dancing girls in a performance. Dancing on ice, they are like light butterflies fluttering—truly a splendid sight.”

Halfway there, Anu stopped, and the palace servants also halted. She said, “Inform His Majesty that I have some matters to consult with Young General Shen. We are leaving.”

“Yes, yes. This servant will go and convey the message right away.” The palace servant promptly agreed without the slightest delay.

Anu turned around, smiled slightly, and looked at the performers dancing on the ice. She asked Shen Sheng, “Does it look good?”

“Where’s the appeal?” Shen Sheng couldn’t grasp the enjoyment. “Does the State Preceptor like it?”

“It was only after coming to the capital that I learned such amusing games could exist. People exhaust their minds seeking pleasure, not realizing how truly dull it is.” Anu sighed softly.

A waste of time, nothing more.

She raised her arm, lightly curled her middle finger. Then, the entire ice surface collapsed with a thunderous crash. Screams rang out everywhere.

Everyone on the ice plunged into the freezing water. At the head of them, Princess Anle floundered in the icy river, shouting desperately for help.

Even the Emperor on the viewing platform panicked, urgently shouting for palace maids and eunuchs to rescue them. Zhou Yi, on the viewing stand, tore off his clothes and jumped into the water to save people.

Cries, shouts, and chaos filled the air, rising to the heavens. What pleasure remained?

Shen Sheng turned her head to look at her. “State Preceptor, was that your doing?”

“It was me. Isn’t this much more interesting?” Anu pursed her lips into a smile. Her cool, indifferent gaze reflected Shen Sheng’s stunned face. Shen Sheng looked as if her soul had been drained away—silent and still.

“Young General, are you afraid?” Anu leisurely observed her panicked, unknowing expression.

Shen Sheng was a general who protected her country and people, the young god of war praised by the world. It was her ability to turn the tide that secured the dynasty’s present stability.

Her heart held kindness and concern for the common people, like a small winter sun, radiating light upon the earth and bringing hope for life.

Shen Sheng hesitated for a moment, then shook her head. “Afraid of what? No one died.”

Having said this, she turned and walked away on her own.

One by one, the people were fished out of the icy river. Indeed, no one had died. But the Emperor had lost all interest and returned to Cinnabar Peak Palace in his imperial palanquin.

After enjoying the spectacle, Anu strolled leisurely towards the palace carriage. The person who had arrived first was already sitting inside, waiting for her.

The palace carriage slowly started moving. Shen Sheng’s mood was completely gone; her face was a bit pale.

The carriage traveled back to the State Preceptor Manor, passing the place where they had been ambushed. A large, winding trail of blood stained the ground, the scent of gore lingering, unwilling to disperse.

Once at the manor, Shen Sheng jumped off the carriage, mounted her horse, and simply left.

Anu got off the carriage slowly. At the gate, two small heads were peeking out at her. A red and a gray silk ribbon slowly intertwined. Anu walked forward and untangled them. She gently curved her lips. “She was scared off.”

“What did you do?” Jiang Buyu looked up at the adult. The winter sunlight cast an indescribable softness upon her face.

Anu was startled for a moment and didn’t tell the truth. “She thinks you two eat too much and is afraid she can’t afford to raise you.”

The two little ones exchanged a glance. Jiang Buyan scoffed, “Don’t believe her. She’s lying to us.”

Anu said nothing more. She put her hands behind her back and walked away.

Just as the two were feeling gloomy, the gatekeeper announced that General Shen had arrived. Jiang Buyan immediately took off running. Jiang Buyu, as practiced as ever, stood her ground and raised her eyes to the person striding quickly towards the gate.

She spoke first: “Next time you give candy, remember it should be an even number.”

Shen Sheng had run so hastily she nearly collided with the tiny figure. Hearing this, she asked, puzzled, “Do you have some sort of quirk for even numbers?”

“I just prefer even numbers.” Jiang Buyu’s face flushed red. She turned around and also ran off.

Leaving behind a completely baffled Shen Sheng: “…”

Why had she come back?

Oh, right. To invite Anu to the Shen residence for a meal, to thank her for her help today.

She chased after the girl who had run off. “Jiang Buyan, take me to find the State Preceptor.”

Jiang Buyu heard this and stopped. She tilted her head to glance at Shen Sheng, not particularly pleased, but obediently led the way to the inner courtyard.

Actually, she wanted to say, her name was Jiang Buyu.