Chapter 101: The Revival of the Withered Tree
“Not yet. They probably won’t be back for another two days.”
The Nameless Sect had dispatched secret guards to Linjiang City to open the coffin and conduct a postmortem, aiming to confirm Shui Han’s true cause of death.
Jing Tianlie nodded. “Once they return, we’ll know what really happened.”
He was certain Shui Han had not died at the hands of Shangguan Wei but was killed by Di Luoxi and Long Chen, with the Empress herself orchestrating the whole affair behind the scenes.
Many in the court were allied with Jing Tianlie. Without a proper explanation for Shui Han's death, those followers would surely turn against him.
“Go,” Jing Tianlie said, rising from his study and heading toward the back courtyard. He intended to discipline Lady Sun—to prevent such absurdities from happening again.
...
The quarrel between Sun Hongyan and Li Junjun spread like wildfire throughout Daughter City. Officials at the yamen and the common townsfolk all gossiped, claiming Bai Qiulian and Jing Tianlie were entangled in a scandal.
They also called Sun Hongyan bizarre, pointing out that instead of confronting the adulteress, she blocked Li Junjun at the door—truly eye-opening behavior.
What was once the dignified General’s Mansion suddenly became fodder for idle chatter, and Jing Tianlie’s reputation plummeted.
...
Phoenix Cry Palace.
The Empress sat cross-legged on the heated kang bed, reading the inquiry documents sent by the Censorate.
On the kang was a small tea table, where Ying Feng had brewed water over a small red clay stove and steeped a pot of tea.
“Minister Long is truly a genius, inventing this heated kang,” Ying Feng said, feeling that winter was no longer cold with the warmth beneath her.
The Empress smiled. “It wasn’t that we hadn’t thought of it before, but we dared not imagine it.”
During the Eastern Zhou era, wood was scarce; even cooking fires were rationed. Who would dare burn the kang for warmth?
After coal mining began in Hell Mountain and briquettes became available, heating became affordable, making the heated kang possible.
Ying Feng laughed. “The three princesses all have heated kangs now; nobles and wealthy officials have followed suit. Good things spread quickly.”
The heated kang had spread from the palace to the common folk; even the Western Xia royal palace had started to adopt it.
After finishing the document, the Empress shook her head with a smile. “This Long Cheng’en’s writing is a mess—disconnected and riddled with holes.”
Ying Feng chuckled. “Long Cheng’en is as cunning as a ghost. There can’t be any real loopholes—unless he meant it that way.”
The Empress tossed the inquiry aside. “Let him make a fuss. Only he can truly challenge Jing Tianlie.”
Ying Feng nodded slightly, pouring the Empress another cup of tea.
Only Long Chen had both the ability and the boldness to confront Jing Tianlie head-on.
Other ministers, even if not sycophantic, treated Jing Tianlie with respect and fear.
“I heard Sun Hongyan and the secretary Li Junjun quarreled at the Censorate’s gate. Bai Qiulian severely injured Li Junjun, and the rumors about Jing Tianlie and Bai Qiulian have become a laughingstock.”
At the mention of gossip, Ying Feng suddenly perked up.
Gossip was a woman’s nature, and Ying Feng was no exception.
The Empress laughed. “I’ve heard it too. A person’s dignity is worn down by idle chatter.”
She took a sip of tea and felt that this winter was not so cold after all.
...
Autumn Inspiration Hall.
Heavy snowflakes drifted from the dim sky, blanketing the tree trunks and ground in white.
Long Chen stood bare-chested, wielding his iron spear with the grace and power of a dragon twisting through the snow.
Snowflakes landing on him melted instantly, rising as white mist.
As he moved and shifted, the mist and the silver spear danced unpredictably, sending snow swirling around.
Di Luoxi, draped in sable fur, and Zhang Qian watched nearby, their faces flushed.
“Little Dragon is amazing!” Qing Yue clapped and cheered.
“If only Little Dragon were a man,” Xuan Yi said to Di Luoxi.
Di Luoxi sneered, “A man? If he were, I would have killed him the first time we met.”
Zhang Qian laughed, “True, given the princess’s temperament, he’d have been killed a thousand times over.”
Qing Yue smiled, “Remember the first time we saw him in the bath? We nearly gouged out his eyes.”
Xuan Yi laughed, “Good thing we didn’t, or he’d be a blind eunuch by now.”
The three chatted animatedly, but Di Luoxi fell into thought.
Under a distant corridor, Xiang Ning, Little E, Xiao Daiyu, and a group of palace maids also gathered to watch.
Long Chen’s handsome features, muscular build, formidable skills, and gentle demeanor made him adored by all the palace maids.
“Have you found the herb I asked about last time?” Di Luoxi suddenly asked.
Xuan Yi shook her head. “No. The Imperial Medical Department said it’s very rare, found only in the extreme cold regions.”
“Why does the princess want such a strange herb?” Di Luoxi waved her hand dismissively. “Nothing much. Just interested in learning medicine.”
“Little Dragon’s talent is impressive. Looks like he’s about to break into the King realm.”
It had only been a little over a year. If he truly broke into the King realm, he would be a prodigy.
Zhang Qian was surprised. “No way, it’s been so short!”
Di Luoxi adjusted her fur coat. “It depends on his aptitude. The leap from the King’s peak to Martial Emperor is a great divide—some never cross it in a lifetime.”
Below the King realm, one can achieve progress through hard work; Martial Emperor is attainable only by geniuses.
“Little Dragon’s aptitude has always been excellent, hasn’t it?” Zhang Qian couldn’t help but say.
Who could say Long Chen was lacking in talent?
Di Luoxi gave a dry laugh. “To break the Martial Emperor realm, one must concentrate martial energy—the women gather it at the sternum chakra, men at the dantian. The key is the ‘primer.’”
The three listened intently; all had reached the King realm and needed to advance to Martial Emperor.
“What’s the primer?” Qing Yue asked.
Di Luoxi sighed lightly. “It’s the purest strand of martial energy gathered within the body—yin water for women, yang fire for men.”
Hearing this, the three suddenly fell silent.
The primer is yang fire, but Long Chen is a eunuch—does that mean he can never break through?
“Is there no other way?” Zhang Qian asked stubbornly.
Di Luoxi’s expression turned helpless yet somewhat sly. After a long pause, she said, “Make it grow back!”
Ah... this...
Xuan Yi and Qing Yue suddenly blushed. “Princess, can it really grow back?”
“Then can we still sleep with him?”
“Oh my, it’s so embarrassing! If it grows back, we... ah... so shy!”
Their expressions were utterly lecherous, causing Di Luoxi to frown and scold, “Don’t say such things! I found that book in the Martial Archives. That medicine is very hard to concoct.”
Xuan Yi had mentioned seeing a medicine in the Martial Archives that could regenerate eunuchs’ organs, and Di Luoxi had actually searched for it—and found it.
Xuan Yi suddenly understood why the princess sought so many strange herbs—it was to prepare the regeneration medicine.
“Princess, you often say that if Little Dragon weren’t a eunuch, you would...” Qing Yue chimed in.
The princess flushed, scolding, “You little hussies, stop it or I’ll rip your mouths off!”
Zhang Qian giggled. “Princess, don’t—you rip their mouths off, but Lord Long is tearing them apart at night too.”
Xuan Yi stuck out her tongue. “Then we dare not write the character for ‘Lü’ anymore.”
“Why not write the character ‘Lü’?” Di Luoxi asked.
Zhang Qian giggled. “Because ‘Lü’ has two mouths—one on top, one below.”
Qing Yue laughed. “Little Dragon says he’s the ancestor Lü—mouth on top and bottom.”
Di Luoxi muttered, “No more living with Long Cheng’en from now on—you’ve all become what?”
Long Chen sheathed his iron spear, grabbed a towel, wiped his chest, and walked over. “What are you all talking about?”
They quickly said, “Nothing, nothing.”
Long Chen looked at them suspiciously. “I can tell you’re hiding something. What’s this shameful business?”
They all looked embarrassed, unwilling to tell the truth.
Di Luoxi said, “We’re talking about Bai Qiulian and Jing Tianlie’s scandal.”
Long Chen wiped the sweat from his body, but his pants were soaked. When he stopped moving, the chill set in.
“You’re such gossips. My pants are drenched in sweat. Come bathe with me.”
He grinned roguishly, wrapping his arms around Xuan Yi and Qing Yue.
If this were before, they would have eagerly agreed, but after talking about his regeneration, they suddenly became shy.
“Ew, who wants to bathe with you?”
“Yeah, shameless.”
Long Chen found it strange—had these two little hussies suddenly turned into chaste maidens?
“Are you okay?” Long Chen looked at Di Luoxi.
She waved her hand. “We’re busy. Find someone else.”