Chapter 115: A Perfect Match

Jing Tianlie rode his horse back home, entered his chamber, and stripped off his court robes and inner garments.

Sun Hongyan walked in and took his clothes, only to find them soaked with sweat. She assumed Jing Tianlie had been off cavorting with Bai Qiulian again, and her heart filled with resentment.

"Your clothes are drenched, yet you don't even know enough to change them," she muttered under her breath.

Jing Tianlie knew exactly what she meant. His temper flared instantly, and he snapped, "What do you know? I was just in the palace having an audience with the Empress."

Sun Hongyan did not believe him. She held up the sweat-soaked undershirt and challenged, "If you were seeing the Empress, why are your clothes soaked through?"

Jing Tianlie sighed. "I was reckless. I must restrain myself in the future. The Empress still possesses her cultivation; she remains the sole Imperial Sovereign."

Sun Hongyan felt a tremor in her heart. "Did the Empress fly into a rage? Her cultivation hasn't declined?"

Jing Tianlie nodded. "Fortunately, I didn't assassinate Long Chengen. I followed every court protocol to the letter; otherwise..."

"The Empress has agreed to a public trial of the Shui Han case in the marketplace tomorrow. I must eliminate Long Chengen."

Sun Hongyan hurried to fetch a fresh set of clothes for him to change into.

"Ever since Long Chengen appeared, the Empress's attitude toward the Jing family has changed. That eunuch must be done away with." As the lady of the house, Sun Hongyan was keenly aware of the shifting stance of the Empress.

"I must go to the Censorate. Nothing can go wrong tomorrow."

As Jing Tianlie headed toward the door, Sun Hongyan interjected, "Isn't it the Ministry of War?"

Jing Tianlie stopped and looked back at her. Sun Hongyan lowered her head, silenced. Jing Tianlie snorted coldly and rode off toward the Censorate.

...

The capital, the Marketplace.

This was the largest marketplace in the Daughter City. Both the Sifang Building and the Hidden Dragon Hall maintained offices here, and merchants from all corners of the world traded in its stalls. Even with snow falling in the dead of winter, the stream of horse caravans and camel trains was endless, with merchants and customers coming and going in a constant flow.

In the center of the marketplace sat a semicircular plaza. During major trade fairs, famous merchant guilds and traders would display their wares there. Whenever Long Chen developed a new product, the World Association would hold its launch events in this very spot.

Today, however, the marketplace and the plaza were packed with soldiers and plainclothes spies. Court officials in their formal robes arrived one after another, and the local populace had long since gathered, crowding the marketplace to the point of being impassable.

At the Banyue Pavilion, Hong Qi bowed as he entered the small room on the top floor. The association leader, Ji Ba, sat cradling a plump woman, a coal brazier warming the space before him.

"Did she come to watch the spectacle as well?" Ji Ba asked coldly.

Hong Qi replied, "It seems she has arrived."

Ji Ba sneered, "Still so fond of joining in the excitement."

Hong Qi smiled but offered no response.

...

The Western Palace, Qiuxing Hall.

Long Chen rose early today. Zhang Qian had risen even earlier, preparing everything and concealing a dagger in her sleeve while wearing a blade at her waist. Xuan Yi and Qing Yue were also fully armed, wearing fine chainmail beneath their outer robes with blades at their sides.

"My Lord, please be careful. Jing Tianlie is so wicked," Xiang Ning said with reddened eyes as she helped Long Chen adjust his attire.

"Why are you crying? The one who will have a miserable day today is Jing Tianlie, not me." Long Chen pinched Xiang Ning’s cheek.

"My Lord, you can still laugh, but there is so much danger." Seeing Zhang Qian and the others fully armed with grave expressions, Xiang Ning knew today was fraught with peril.

"What danger could there be? Troops have entered the city, and the Imperial Guards have been mobilized. Jing Tianlie cannot turn the heavens upside down."

Di Luoxi walked in, dressed in her court robes. Zhang Qian and the others immediately bowed. Long Chen finished dressing and said, "Let's go."

Di Luoxi led the way, with Long Chen following behind. Zhang Qian and her two companions guarded the flanks, while the Western Palace elite guards cleared a path as they exited the palace toward the marketplace.

Upon reaching the marketplace, the roar of the crowd was deafening. The guards cleared the way, and Di Luoxi and Long Chen rode their horses almost side-by-side, while Zhang Qian and the others followed behind, vigilant of their surroundings.

As they entered the marketplace, officials stepped forward to bow and pay their respects. The commoners, however, were whispering with great interest about the scandalous rumors involving Long Chen and Di Luoxi.

"They say this Long Chengen isn't actually a eunuch, but a paramour for the Fourth Princess."

"I heard he is exceptionally skilled in those matters, gifted with rare talents, and that even the Empress favors him."

"I heard long ago that Long Chengen was handsome and had a fine physique. Seeing him today, it’s true."

The men discussed the rumors about Long Chen and the Princess, while the women envied the Princess for having such a handsome male pet. Long Chen vaguely caught the drift of their chatter and thought to himself: *I told you people to spread rumors about Jing Tianlie; how did it end up on me?*

Long Chen scanned the crowd of onlookers and spotted Li Junjun in a corner, leaning on a crutch. It seemed the rumors that Bai Qiulian had given him a sound beating were true after all.

Di Luoxi paid no mind to the gossip and walked straight into the semicircular plaza. The First Princess, Di Yuwei, and the Second Princess, Di Xingwan, sat on one side of the upper tier, and Di Luoxi took her seat as well. As princesses, their status was different, and so were their seats.

Long Chen sat among the ministers. Many officials had already arrived: Minister of Personnel Baili Bing, Minister of Rites Wang He, Minister of Justice Xu Zhong, and Censor-in-Chief Bai Anning were all present.

Only Baili Bing nodded to Long Chen; Wang He and Xu Zhong wore sneers, while Bai Anning looked grave.

At the Banyue Pavilion, the World Association leader, Ji Ba, watched Long Chen through the window.

"Long Chengen is quite a looker." This was Ji Ba’s first time seeing Long Chen, and he found his appearance quite pleasing.

Hong Qi nodded. "That is why the Fourth Princess keeps him as her private treasure."

Ji Ba then glanced at Di Luoxi and praised slightly, "No wonder Jing Tianlie covets her. This Fourth Princess is quite beautiful as well."

Hong Qi echoed, "A perfect match of talent and beauty."

Ji Ba laughed. "Long Chengen is a eunuch. What talent and beauty match is that?"

Hong Qi gave an awkward smile, not knowing how to reply.

At the entrance, Minister of War Bai Qiulian rode into the arena, followed by Vice Minister Wang Wei. Bai Qiulian shot a cold, mocking glance at Long Chen from her horse. After dismounting, she sat among the ministers, exchanged a few pleasantries with Wang He and Xu Zhong, and waited for the others to arrive.

Outside, the sound of warhorses neighing announced the arrival of Jing Tianlie, who entered with several dozen Scarlet Flame Guard attendants, his son Jing Heng trailing behind.

As Jing Tianlie entered, the atmosphere turned heated. Officials stood to welcome him, and his front guards went so far as to use horse whips to clear the path. Jing Tianlie dismounted, exchanged brief words with a few ministers and high-ranking officials, and then took his seat at the very front.

Jing Heng sat down next to Long Chen, his face twisted with resentment. He leaned in and sneered, "Long Chengen, you dared to trick me!"

Long Chen laughed. "What do you mean by that? You wanted the Ministry of Revenue, and I gave you the Ministry of Revenue. How did I trick you?"

Jing Heng raged, "The Ministry of Revenue is empty! There is no money at all!"

Long Chen feigned surprise. "What do you mean by that? Did you go to the Ministry of Revenue just to embezzle? My lords, what do you say?"

Long Chen deliberately drew the other ministers into the conversation, specifically asking Bai Qiulian, leaving Jing Heng in a state of extreme embarrassment.

Jing Tianlie, hearing the commotion from the front, glared back at Jing Heng. Before leaving home, he had told Jing Heng to sit quietly and not provoke Long Chen. Jing Tianlie knew all too well that his son was no match for Long Chen.

Jing Heng immediately lowered his head and stopped speaking to Long Chen.

Up at the Banyue Pavilion, Ji Ba could not hear what was being said, but he could read lips.

"I heard long ago that Long Chengen had a sharp tongue; it appears to be true. Jing Heng is asking for trouble by engaging in a war of words with him."

Hong Qi chuckled, "The ignorant are fearless."

Below them, the sound of hoofbeats signaled the arrival of the Empress’s procession.