Chapter 10: The Mystery of Origins

Bang!

Two maids smashed the door, tumbling heavily onto the floor as the Fourth Princess, Di Luoxi, stormed inside with Xuan Yi and Qing Yue in tow. Moments earlier, when Long Chen was seized, a young eunuch in the Western Palace had witnessed it and hurriedly informed Qing Yue, who immediately reported to Di Luoxi. Incensed, Di Luoxi burst into the Southern Palace.

Di Xingwan, seeing her own attendants beaten, demanded angrily, "Fourth Sister, what is the meaning of this?"

"Meaning? You snatched my Little Dragon, and you ask me what I mean!" retorted Di Luoxi.

Little Dragon? Long Chen was surprised that his name could sound so adorable.

"Snatched him? Steward Long came here on his own, how is that me snatching him? Isn't that right, Steward Long?" Di Xingwan shot Long Chen a threatening look.

Di Luoxi replied furiously, "Stop your nonsense! My people saw everything! If you don’t return him today, I’ll tear your Southern Palace apart!"

Di Xingwan was equally enraged. "Do you have the ability?"

Di Luoxi threw her cloak to the ground with a sneer, "You may excel at reading, but I surpass you in martial arts!"

Both sides squared off, ready for a showdown.

At that moment, Shadow Phoenix, the Empress's personal maid, entered from outside, smiling, "Are the two princesses about to settle things with fists?"

"Her Majesty commands: Steward Long, upon entering the palace, is assigned to the Fourth Princess. From now on, he serves at her command. No need for further dispute between you two," she announced.

Long Chen breathed a sigh of relief. The Fourth Princess Di Luoxi was a Martial Emperor, while the Second Princess Di Xingwan was a Sovereign. If they fought, the consequences would be disastrous. He himself had only just reached the martial artist realm—not enough to avoid disaster, and could easily lose his life.

He needed to hurry and cultivate, or else he’d keep being tossed around like this—how humiliating.

Di Luoxi strode forward, grabbed Long Chen, and rushed off, Xuan Yi picked up the clothes from the floor, and they immediately returned to the Western Palace.

Di Xingwan sat down in a rage.

Shadow Phoenix advised, "Second Princess, he’s just a eunuch. Not worth it."

Di Xingwan snorted, "What do you know? He’s the greatest scholar in the land."

Shadow Phoenix offered an awkward smile, paid her respects, and withdrew from the Southern Palace.

Returning to Phoenix Song Palace, the Empress was reviewing memorials.

"How did it go?"

"It nearly turned into an all-out brawl."

"Utter nonsense."

"Steward Long has become the greatest scholar in the world. Both princesses value his talent."

"Have you investigated his background?"

"I have. No one knows where he’s from. He claims to be from a scholarly family in Southern Liang, exiled after the emperor confiscated their property, and wandered to Eastern Zhou."

"Then he was beaten unconscious by a local tyrant and sent to the cleansing chamber, sold for six taels of silver."

This was the information Shadow Phoenix had uncovered—quick work indeed.

"How much can be verified, and how much cannot?"

The Empress wanted detailed, reliable information; what Shadow Phoenix reported was far from thorough.

Shadow Phoenix replied, "Apart from him being beaten and sold to the cleansing chamber, nothing else can be verified."

"However, he seems particularly familiar with Old Wu from the cleansing chamber."

The Empress frowned, "Old Wu?"

Shadow Phoenix nodded, "Yes, his name is Wu Jian. I checked—he was a cavalry captain in the Long Family Army. After the Battle of White Wolf Mountain, he ended up in Eastern Zhou and has worked in the cleansing chamber for over half a year."

The Empress set aside her memorials, her expression shifting, muttering to herself, "Long Family Army, surname Long, at that age—could it be..."

Shadow Phoenix whispered, "I suspected as much, but his appearance doesn’t match any of Long Ye’s five sons, and his cultivation is almost nonexistent."

The Empress nodded, "The Long family was full of talent. Long Ye reached the peak of Martial Emperor, his fifth son, Long Chen, also attained Martial Emperor, and the other four sons were all at the peak as well. I once dueled with them."

"Long Ye’s head is in the hands of the barbarian khan, Yelü Hong. The other four sons’ heads are at the Zhaoti Temple in Western Xia. Only the fifth son, Long Chen, is unaccounted for."

"If he is one of them, it can only be Long Chen."

Shadow Phoenix shook her head, "But Long Chen was a Martial Emperor, and this Steward Long’s cultivation is far too low."

The Empress mused, "Think about the Battle of White Wolf Mountain—if he was gravely injured, his appearance and cultivation could have been destroyed."

Shadow Phoenix thought to herself: Even disfigured, he’s still so handsome?

"What if he’s a spy sent by Southern Liang?"

The Empress shook her head, "Impossible. At the Ming Palace, his gaze towards the four princes of Southern Liang couldn’t have been faked. That was a hatred deeper than blood. He is Long Chen!"

Shadow Phoenix’s eyes flashed with murderous intent, "I’ll kill Long Chen at once, root out the threat!"

Years ago, at the Battle of Riverside City, the Long family father and sons besieged the Empress, and both sides suffered heavy wounds. Now, encountering the last remnant of the Long family, Shadow Phoenix wanted to eliminate him.

The Empress immediately intervened, "No. The Long family were loyal ministers of Southern Liang. They served their country faithfully; they were not in the wrong."

"The past is past. Now that Long Chen is in Eastern Zhou, and has a blood feud with Southern Liang, this benefits us."

"A dragon rises in the wild, unites the world! How fascinating—destiny is destiny!"

Prophecies are sometimes half true, half false, yet falsehoods become reality.

"This matter is confidential. No one is to speak of it. Create a new background for Long Chen, severing any ties with the Long family."

"From today on, he is only the chief eunuch of Eastern Zhou, with no connection whatsoever to the Long family!"

Shadow Phoenix was shaken. Was the Empress suggesting the prophecy might fall upon Long Chen?

"I understand!" Shadow Phoenix replied, and hurried off to carry out her orders.

...

Back in the Western Palace, Di Luoxi’s anger had not abated; she continued to scold Di Xingwan.

"Hmph! Always pretending to be refined, yet resorting to such low tricks—knocking out my Little Dragon and stealing him away."

Qing Yue consoled, "Princess, please calm yourself. Brother Long has returned, and that’s what matters."

Xuan Yi chimed in, "Yes, Princess, he’s back now."

Long Chen rubbed the back of his head, "Luckily the Princess arrived quickly. They were so rough—I nearly ended up with a concussion."

Di Luoxi frowned, blaming him, "You’re too useless; two maids managed to carry you off."

Long Chen replied helplessly, "If I knew martial arts, I wouldn’t have ended up sold to the palace as a eunuch."

Di Luoxi considered this and said, "Qing Yue, go to the Hidden Martial Pavilion and find a powerful manual for Little Dragon to cultivate."

Qing Yue departed at once.

"Mother has spoken—Di Xingwan won’t dare snatch you again. You must focus on your cultivation."

"By the way, are you truly confident you can take Riverside City?"

Long Chen nodded seriously, "If the Princess leads me to war, I guarantee we will conquer Riverside City."

Di Luoxi eyed him suspiciously, "If you fail, I will punish you!"

Long Chen replied swiftly, "If I fail, the Princess can torment me however she wishes—I won’t resist!"

Di Luoxi frowned, grabbed Long Chen, and laughed, "Torment you? What can you do, as a eunuch? If you can take Riverside City, I’ll let you torment me—whatever you want!"

Long Chen exclaimed with delight, "Princess, don’t regret it!"

Di Luoxi giggled, "Regret? Why would I regret? What can you possibly do?"

Long Chen thought to himself: There’s plenty I can do. Want to try?

...

The next day.

The Empress summoned Di Luoxi to Phoenix Song Palace for a council.