Edict of Peace 99
Chapter 99: Empress Xue’s Grand Gift!
As the patterns on the bronze tripod became clearer, the mark of the Qilin (Chinese Unicorn) was imprinted on it. However, it didn’t manifest as a Law Physique, but rather transformed into a purely protective force. Li Guanyi wasn’t sure if this force wasn’t meant to become a Law Physique, or if…
the Qilin’s state was too weak to achieve that.
The bronze tripod hummed, then slowly fell silent.
The Qilin’s voice arose in Li Guanyi’s heart, filled with weariness:
“This city is not a safe place.”
“My power can protect your life once.”
“You… leave.”
“Don’t come back.”
Li Guanyi was anxious, and said in his heart: “Wait! You are now—”
The Qilin’s aura abruptly severed its connection with Li Guanyi.
Utterly resolute.
It truly refused to speak with Li Guanyi again.
It only hoped the young man could be safe, its own well-being not a consideration.
But on the bronze tripod, the imprint formed from the Qilin’s power remained incredibly clear. The Four Images Sealing Spirit Array shifted and changed, and the core array point Li Guanyi had spent several hours finding had mysteriously moved.
This place had become a malevolent location. If one continued to attempt entering the array from this place’s aura…
they would be discovered by the Four Images Sealing Spirit Array.
Inviting killing intent and attack.
This was the array left by one of the top three masters of the Heavenly Yin-Yang School. Even if this was merely a creation from his thirties, even if Si Wei wasn’t currently controlling the array, even if Li Guanyi knew the array diagram, the moment the array changed, Li Guanyi struggled to keep up.
Although Li Guanyi felt a surge of anxiety, he could only stop using the *Huangji Scripture* at this time and refrain from contacting the array. Before the array’s energy nodes completed their transformation, he casually took a half-step forward, tilting his head to gaze at the constellations in the sky.
The ripples of the Four Images Sealing Spirit Array washed over him. The young man’s hand behind his back clenched tightly, his fingers turning white, yet his expression remained composed. He softly said: “There’s a different kind of beauty in observing the stars here.”
Qibi Li looked at the sky, and said:
“Yes, the wind, grass, trees, and water of Jiangnan are unbelievably beautiful. Where we live, we don’t have such beautiful trees, nor such beautiful water. We also have willow trees, a kind of wood called red willow. It’s not pretty, but its leaves can feed cattle and sheep.”
“Its branches can be woven into baskets to hold things, and its dead roots can be used as the best firewood. The willow trees in our desert are life-saving, unlike those in Jiangnan.”
Li Guanyi, looking at the young man who spoke with such fondness of his homeland, curiously asked:
“Then why did you come to Jiangnan?”
“Me?”
The young man thought for a moment, and replied earnestly:
“We don’t want to live like that anymore. We want the support of the sage emperor. If possible, even merging into the Central Plains wouldn’t matter. Our people are hardworking farmers, and can pay taxes to the emperor; our men are heroes on horseback, skilled in riding and hunting.”
“As long as our children don’t have to be slaves to others…”
“I will give my life and my sword.”
Li Guanyi immediately understood why the Chen Kingdom emperor had sent Qibi Li to the palace.
The Tiele people were few, but the survivors were all elite.
Several thousand households, if each household had two adult males, would number over ten thousand.
Now lost to the annals of history, one of the peaks of light cavalry in the world was the Tiele’s Golden Scimitar Cavalry. They wore leather armor, or sometimes none at all, riding agile Western Region horses. When charging in formation, they kept their bodies low, their scimitars slicing through the wind.
Before the enemy could react, they would have their throats cut.
This was an army even General Xue praised, and they were being used as Li Guanyi’s first enemy.
Ten thousand Tiele men, fighting for their parents and wives.
As long as the logistics kept up…
they would instantly become a ten-thousand-strong light cavalry army.
However, Li Guanyi thought about the Chen Kingdom emperor’s balancing act. He had a guess, and said:
“Are you the only one on a night visit to the imperial palace today?”
Qibi Li replied: “There’s also a Western Region Living Buddha, and the Partyang Prince.”
Li Guanyi understood.
It was still a balancing act.
The Chen Kingdom emperor had chosen the Partyang people, but didn’t want them to grow too powerful. He wanted to use the young Tiele Khan to counterbalance the Partyang, telling them that Chen Kingdom had other options, to keep the Partyang in line.
This also meant that unless the Partyang and Chen Kingdom turned against each other…
the Chen Kingdom emperor would never side with the Tiele.
This young man, who had traveled thousands of miles on a donkey for his people, was destined to return empty-handed. This had nothing to do with the hardships of his people or his personal bravery; in the eyes of the monarch, he was merely a pawn.
Qibi Li took off his waterskin, which contained milk wine, and drank it down. This simple Khan, a young man whose eyes reflected the stars in the sky, spoke to Li Guanyi in accented Mandarin about his homeland, about the lovely people there, about stealing sheep and encountering wolves.
He spoke of when his puppy was lost as a child, how he climbed the mountain to look for it.
He finally found a cave at night, reached in, and pulled out a skull. He wasn’t scared at his young age, so he threw it away and reached in again. He pulled out another one, then on the third try, finally found his dog, an old mother dog pregnant with a wolf’s pups, giving birth in the cave. He carried home three wolf-dog pups.
Finally, with a drunken blush on his face, he gestured, softly saying:
“The sage emperor of Chen Kingdom uses one hundred and fifty duck tongues in a single soup, throwing away the rest of the meat. If such meat were given to us, each person would have a little meat, a treat only for festivals!”
“I heard that in the imperial palace, during autumn and winter, the trees are adorned with beautiful silks, resembling a spring landscape. After a few days of wind and sun, when the silk fades, they are taken down and discarded to be replaced with new ones. Such extravagance!”
“We only have a few thousand households, but each one is a skilled archer and rider.”
“I think it will be fine.”
“We are willing to die for him, we only ask for a piece of land, a peaceful life. Aren’t several thousand brave and fearless cavalry worth this? Are our lives worth less than discarded meat? The sage emperor of the Central Plains should settle this account!”
The Tiele language wasn’t difficult to learn; Li Guanyi had picked up some when he was beaten. He understood about six or seven tenths of Qibi Li’s words. He finally understood that Qibi Li hadn’t simply come to seek aid. He clearly understood the truth of the world, knew this was a time of chaos, yet he still came.
He saw the chaos, knew the importance of military strength in chaos.
Therefore, he staked his life in this chaotic world as a bargaining chip.
Only to leave a better future for the children of his tribe.
Li Guanyi said: “It should be possible. I wish you success.”
This came from his heart.
He paused, then spoke in Tiele: “If the worst happens and you need help, you can find me at the Xue family.”
“Just say you want to spar with me.”
The young man patted Qibi Li’s shoulder.
Using the strength of the Tiele Third Prince’s Golden Scimitar.
Qibi Li’s slightly drunken eyes sharpened, instantly clear. He stared intently at the young man from the Central Plains. This valiant youth, whom he had seen upon entering the city, understood the subtleties of their Tiele martial arts?!
The eunuch said: “Gentlemen, if you’ve rested enough, you should continue.”
“The other two honored guests have arrived at the Imperial Garden.”
Li Guanyi said: “It’s a meeting between the Western Region Living Buddha and the Partyang Prince, regarding the Western Regions.”
“Then I won’t go.”
The young man smiled slightly, saying: “We’ve chatted for quite a while. Any longer and Old Master Xue and my aunt will worry. Brother Qibi Li, if you have time later, come find me for a drink.”
The eunuch breathed a sigh of relief.
It was indeed inappropriate for outsiders to be present at the subsequent talks.
Therefore, his smile became much warmer. He said: “Good, then I’ll have someone escort Junior Officer Li back to Empress Xue’s palace; Khan, please follow me to the Imperial Garden, the honored guests are waiting there.”
Li Guanyi and Qibi Li parted ways, arranging to meet and drink later.
Li Guanyi left.
He didn’t look back, his expression calm, as if nothing had happened, as serene as the starry sky above. Yet, intense emotions surged within him. He wanted to see the Qilin, he needed to know its current state.
Li Guanyi subtly raised his gaze—
The Imperial Guards.
However, Li Guanyi hadn’t expected to encounter the court eunuch again on his way back. The court eunuch was also surprised to see Li Guanyi, smiling, saying: “I came to hurry along my useless godson. He’s leading the way so slowly. I didn’t expect to run into Junior Officer Li.”
“So Junior Officer Li knows the Tiele Khan.”
“Since he’s already taken the Khan to the Imperial Garden, I won’t rush him. It would make our great Chen Kingdom seem petty. You go ahead. I’ll take Junior Officer Li back.”
He instructed the young eunuch, smiled, and carrying a lantern, led Li Guanyi towards the palace. Li Guanyi’s mind was calm, continuing to deduce the Qilin Palace’s array. However, the *Huangji Scripture* and the Four Images Sealing Spirit Array that Li Guanyi had learned could only handle fixed patterns.
This change made things quite difficult.
He was also worried that impulsive deduction might invite negative consequences.
Therefore, he remained quiet. The court eunuch carried the lantern, slowing his pace. He softly said:
“Junior Officer Li, I have something to say, perhaps it won’t sound good, but after much thought, I must tell you. I originally intended to say it when I escorted you out of the palace, but since this opportunity presented itself, with just the two of us, I’ll take the liberty.”
Li Guanyi said: “Please, Your Excellency.”
The court eunuch paused, then said: “General Yu Wen Lie might still harbor resentment and hostility towards you, Junior Officer. If their crown prince or prince invites you to a banquet, be cautious. Though they are among the most influential nobles in the land, if you can avoid it, do so.”
“I’ll say something audacious and treasonous. The world is not yet at peace.”
“For our Chen Kingdom, you are a young hero, but for Ying Country, you are a thorn that must be removed. Over the years, countless young talents have fallen victim to assassination from other countries.”
“Ying Country has done things to our Chen Kingdom, and I suspect our Chen Kingdom hasn’t been gentle to them either.”
The court eunuch hesitated, looking around, to strengthen his persuasion, worried that the young man was too impetuous and unyielding, and gave an example, softly saying:
“To give you an example,”
“More than a decade ago, the General Taiping died during a grand festival, didn’t he? Some say his death was connected to Ying Country. It’s not unreasonable to consider this. The ones who benefited most from General Taiping’s death were the Turkic and Ying Country.”
“At that time, Yu Wen Lie was only a young general, the same age as General Yue Pengwu.”
“He was almost knocked unconscious by General Taiping’s spear.”
“General Taiping’s illustrious reputation was built by conquering the southwest, pacifying foreign territories, resisting Ying Country, and slaying three renowned generals of the Yu Wen family in three years. Such a top-tier general, died suddenly at the height of his power. I simply don’t believe there’s no foreign hand in it.”
The court eunuch fell silent, sighing, saying: “As for why I think so…”
“The fifth greatest Divine General of that time…”
“Was General Taiping.”
!!!
Li Guanyi felt a ripple in his heart. He said: “…I will remember this, thank you, Your Excellency.”
“However, my aunt and great-uncle won’t let him lay a hand on me.”
A perfectly timed blend of arrogance and humility graced the young man’s face as he smiled: “Though I am far inferior to General Taiping, the Xue family is a prominent clan, and I’ve practiced martial arts for ten years, proficient in archery and horsemanship. Yu Wen Lie, though strong, wouldn’t dare to do anything to me in Great Chen!”
“My Xue family won’t stand idly by!”
“Nevertheless, thank you, Your Excellency.”
The court eunuch smiled amiably: “Your Excellency? What did Your Excellency just say?”
The young man reached into his bosom.
He first grasped the silver.
Then put it down, picked up the gold given by the Turkic Seventh Prince, and handed it to the court eunuch, smiling slightly:
“You said the imperial palace is strictly forbidden, that I must be careful and not trespass.”
The court eunuch’s smile was much warmer. He said: “Then, Your Excellency, I shall take my leave.”
“Junior Officer, feel free to summon me if you need anything.”
Li Guanyi bowed, walking towards Empress Xue’s palace under the starlight. The court eunuch watched silently, holding a secret message from a maid in Empress Xue’s palace, detailing Empress Xue’s skillful conversation about Li Guanyi earlier.
Thinking back to the young man’s reaction, he softly murmured:
“Not General Taiping’s offspring.”
Reaching this conclusion, he didn’t know whether to relax or feel regret.
The palace had instructed him to investigate the young man’s background, testing his credentials, using spies, and probing, numerous times, to confirm this point.
The court eunuch recalled the Divine General who had made a princess barefoot greeting him.
Back then, he was only a small eunuch; only that general would thank him. After getting drunk and being helped onto his horse, he’d raise his wineskin inviting him to drink, calling him “brother,” to which he’d humbly decline. The youth would laugh heartily.
Saying that men should have courage, and not care what others thought.
He softly said: “Not your offspring, General Taiping; good, not your offspring.”
“No need to be watched.”
“But why isn’t he your offspring?”
“Let this servant know that your bloodline still exists in this world.”
“But if he were your offspring, would I report it to His Majesty? I don’t even know myself.” This eunuch, who once bravely rushed into a fire and witnessed the last moments of the General, bowed, turned, and walked away, his figure shrinking in the palace.
He seemed smaller than when he was beaten and bullied years ago.
Li Guanyi returned to the palace, his mind at peace, gradually adjusting his state. Tomorrow was the Imperial Guard selection. Thanks to Yu Wen Lie, the martial arts families of the capital were all eager, intending to test their skills against Li Guanyi in the Imperial Guard selection!
The officials of the Ministry of Personnel said they had never seen such a scale.
It was a challenge-and-response method. Li Guanyi felt that those martial arts families would closely target him.
They would probably fight for three days straight!
Empress Xue saw Li Guanyi return, smiling: “My Qilin has returned. I didn’t expect you to have a connection with the Tiele Khan.”
“Come, look at your aunt’s gift, see if you like it?”
Li Guanyi thanked her, and opened the gift box.
The young man’s expression slowly froze. Inside the box was a token; a tiger swallowing the token on the back, and the three characters “Imperial Guard” on the front.
Imperial Guard status!
Empress Xue smiled, saying: “How is this gift?”
The Empress reached out to adjust the young man’s collar, her voice calm and noble, saying softly:
“My Qilin, why lower yourself to play with those martial arts families?”
“A bunch of indolent wastrels.”
“Are they worthy?”
(End of Chapter)
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