knife

Chapter 158 Reunion with Li Huo
Chang'an has the Star-Picking Tower.

Danyang has the Bronze Sparrow Terrace.

The bright moon hangs high in the sky, and the stars are like brocade. The moonlight and starlight are scattered on the Bronze Sparrow Terrace. Thanks to the special design, the terrace is as bright as day without the need for artificial lighting.

The Zhaixing Tower offers a panoramic view of the entire city of Chang'an, while the Tongque Terrace provides an unobstructed view of Danyang.

At this moment, in Jiang Qian's field of vision, several flames shot into the sky, and the faint sound of drums and gongs could be heard. Cavalrymen holding torches passed through the streets and alleys like a long dragon.

For countless people, this night was the last night of their lives.

"Why bother!" Jiang Qian flung her sleeve and turned away. "Isn't it better to live a peaceful life? Why do you have to be so eager to die!"

The riot in Danyang lasted only a short time, and by the third watch of the night, it had completely subsided. However, some of the once magnificent houses and buildings had been reduced to ruins, some of the valiant soldiers had become headless corpses, and some high-ranking people had been locked in shackles and led into prison like dogs.

The current emperor, Xiong Kuo's, biological father had been plotting to seize power for over a year, but in Jiang Qian's eyes, it was no different from a child's game; she could easily crush him with a pinch of her two fingers.

From then on, the emperor truly became a lonely figure.

"Your Majesty, Minister Lin has arrived!" The eunuch turned up the lamp on Jiang Qian's desk.

"Let him in!" Jiang Qian said while reviewing the memorials.

Before the Empress Dowager came to power, Lin Yunqi was just a minor official of the seventh rank, in charge of a small department in the Ministry of War. However, during the years that Jiang Qian was in power, he rose rapidly through the ranks, becoming a high-ranking official of the third rank, holding the title of Vice Minister of War, in just a few years.

Although Lin Yunqi was suddenly promoted, his abilities were evident to all. Moreover, in the past three years, Jiang Qian had promoted too many young officials and generals, and it was these people who together built the foundation for Jiang Qian's current rule over Southern Chu.

Lin Yunqi is the sharpest knife in the Empress Dowager's hand, and the Great Chu Heavenly Net is now under Lin Yunqi's command.

"Empress Dowager!" Lin Yunqi, who strode over, bowed to Jiang Qian. Lin Yunqi, who was in his thirties, had sword-like eyebrows and bright eyes, and was quite handsome. When he first rose to power, many people maliciously speculated that the reason he was given important positions was not because of his abilities, but because he was good-looking and thus gained the favor of the Empress Dowager. After all, there is always gossip around a widow, and there is even more gossip around a widow like Jiang Qian.

Jiang Qian smelled the blood on Lin Yunqi.

"You did it yourself?" Jiang Qian frowned slightly.

“Sun Jun’s martial arts cultivation is quite good; he has already crossed the threshold of the ninth rank!” Lin Yunqi said. “The Tianluo capture team lost several people but still couldn’t capture him. Luckily, I went over, otherwise this guy would have gotten away!”

"Were there any who slipped through the net?"

"Even Sun Jun couldn't escape, so where can the others run to?" Lin Yunqi laughed. "We've been raising fish for over a year, and this time we've caught them all in one fell swoop. From tonight onwards, Danyang truly belongs to Your Majesty!"

Jiang Qian smiled slightly, "Disorder has already broken out in the Qin Dynasty. The Black Ice Guard's bloody massacre in Luoyang has triggered a backlash in several places in Hedong and Bohai. Once armed uprisings begin, they will follow one after another, and the weakness of the Qin state will slowly be revealed in these uprisings. For us, this is the best time. Naturally, we should first clean our own house as thoroughly as possible. Then we can prepare to share this feast."

“He Zudao has been released. It seems he will be the one to suppress these riots!” Lin Yunqi said.

Jiang Qian smiled, revealing her teeth: "Qin has unleashed a tiger, and it will surely regret it in the future! He Zudao is truly suffering. By the way, how is Linghu Ye doing outside the pass?"

"Your Majesty, speaking of Linghu Ye of the Northern Protectorate of Qin, I just received some intelligence from outside the Qin border a couple of days ago. However, I was busy dealing with Xiong Qingxian's rebellion and haven't had time to present it to Your Majesty yet!"

"Is something happening outside the pass?"

"Drastic changes in the area beyond the Great Wall!"

Danyang is far too far from the border region; it's at least eight thousand li, if not ten thousand. Jiang Qian had little interest in such a remote and isolated place. It was only because Linghu Ye, who aspired to rule the world, lived there that Jiang Qian turned her attention there.

Lin Yunqi took out a file from his pocket and handed it to Jiang Qian.

After quickly skimming through the book, Jiang Qian's expression became much more serious. She closed the book and looked at Lin Yunqi: "Do you think this is a good thing or a bad thing for us?"

“This matter needs to be viewed from several perspectives!” Lin Yunqi said, “Back then, we believed that Linghu Ye would inevitably lead his troops into the pass at some point and disrupt the entire Qin Dynasty. This would certainly be a good thing for us, because we would have the best foundation to unify the world. In recent years, under the leadership of Your Majesty, the Great Chu has gradually recovered its national strength and the country has become stable. If the Qin state falls into chaos, it will be our opportunity.” Jiang Qian nodded slightly.

“However, Linghu Ye’s abandonment of the area outside the pass has given the Northern Yuan an excellent opportunity. The Yuan people will definitely come in, and then Qin will become a hunting ground for various factions to vie for power. Your Majesty, once the Northern Yuan people join, there will be too many variables. It’s hard to say whether we can have the last laugh!” Lin Yunqi said. “For us, the best course of action would be to first unify the North and South, then diligently manage our internal affairs and increase our strength, and finally send troops out of the pass to conquer the Northern Yuan.”

“Now that Xiao Changche and Li Dachui have risen to power, a delicate balance has been achieved outside the pass. It will be much more difficult for Linghu Ye to march into the pass, or even impossible.” Jiang Qian immediately understood the meaning behind Lin Yunqi’s words.

"That's right. If they can't enter the pass, then Linghu Ye can only obediently guard this small piece of land outside the pass. Similarly, it also keeps the Yuan people out of the pass." Lin Yunqi laughed, "I think this is good. With fewer troublemakers, we are more confident in our plan to conquer Qin. This time, the person in charge outside the pass is very astute. He saw this and wants to strengthen ties with the newly established Anxi Protectorate outside the pass, help it increase its strength, and then hold back Linghu Ye and the Northern Yuan for us."

"That's a great idea. What should we call this person in charge?"

“Vermilion Red!” Lin Yunqi said.

Jiang Qian felt the name was somewhat familiar, "Zhu? Gusu Zhu?"

Lin Yunqi smiled and said, "It is indeed the Zhu family of Suzhou. Several years ago, the Zhu family of Suzhou presented Your Majesty with several million taels of silver and 100,000 mu of land."

Jiang Qian laughed as well: "I remember now. We were originally planning to eliminate them, but they were quick to seize the opportunity. Since it was the Zhu family who discovered this, let's leave it to them. It's good if they succeed, but it doesn't matter if they don't."

Lin Yunqi laughed and said, "Opening up a maritime Silk Road would be very expensive, and I'm afraid the Zhu family of Suzhou doesn't have the resources for that now!"

"That's their business!" Jiang Qian said calmly. "Giving them the authority to handle this matter is already the greatest favor. If they do it well, it won't be a big deal if the Zhu family rises again. If they don't do it well, they deserve to fall into ruin and never recover."

"Understood!" Lin Yunqi said. "This Zhu Chi also discovered something interesting."

"Why are you breathing so heavily now?" Jiang Qian looked up and glanced at Lin Yunqi.

"Your Majesty, Zhu Chi discovered that Li Dachui has a subordinate named Li Kaixin, and Li Kaixin's martial arts cultivation is approximately at the ninth rank."

"What's so strange about that? There are countless martial arts practitioners in the world, and among the common people, there are countless heroes and valiant men."

"Your Majesty, what's strange is that this Li Kaixin has cultivated martial arts, seemingly the Phoenix Flame!" Lin Yunqi lowered his voice and said, "Zhu Chi has been working for Tianluo for a long time. In the past, his position was not low. He has read many of Tianluo's secret files and has a certain understanding of the Phoenix Flame and the Moonlit Weak Water. This discovery has really surprised him. The Divine Sect's supreme martial art has actually appeared in such a distant place, and has even been cultivated to this level. It's truly unbelievable!"

Upon hearing the words "Phoenix Flame," Jiang Qian straightened up instantly. "A man, actually managed to refine Phoenix Flame and wasn't burned to death?"

"Your Majesty, that man doesn't seem to be a man!" Lin Yunqi said. "Zhu Chi said that Li Kaixin seems to be a eunuch!"

"This is really interesting!" Jiang Qian laughed. "How could the supreme martial art of the Divine Cult appear in the body of a eunuch thousands of miles away? Do you think this Li Kaixin is Li Dachui's servant?"

"Zhou Zhi, the city lord of Tai'an, is a master of innate cultivation. This Li Kaixin is the steward of the city lord's mansion. However, he is extremely respectful to Li Dachui, like a servant, and Li Dachui treats Li Kaixin in the same way a master treats a servant!"

“This Li Dachui is also a ninth-rank cultivator!” Jiang Qian picked up the file again, looked at it, and asked, “What kind of martial art does he cultivate?”

“Unknown!” Lin Yunqi said, “Zhu Chi couldn’t find out. This Li Dachui is the adopted son of the city lord Zhou Zhi, but his martial arts are completely unrelated to Zhou Zhi’s.”

Jiang Qian stood up and paced back and forth in the main hall, lost in thought. After a while, she suddenly flicked two fingers, and a spark appeared at her fingertips. Staring at the deep blue flame, Jiang Qian said, "The Phoenix Flame doesn't often escape its grasp. Twenty-five years ago should count as one time. And this Li Kaixin, you said he's a eunuch?"

Lin Yunqi said in a deep voice, "Is the Empress Dowager referring to the He Qingqiu incident from back then?"

"He Qingqiu was the Crown Princess of Qin back then, so naturally there were eunuchs around her. Could this Li Kaixin be connected to him? Otherwise, it's really hard to understand where a eunuch would get the Phoenix Flame. Moreover, even for a pure Yin body, if you don't have someone who is well-versed in the Phoenix Flame to help you clear your meridians and protect your cultivation, you won't be able to pass the first hurdle in cultivating the Phoenix Flame."

“If they were truly someone close to He Qingqiu, why would they be enslaved?” Lin Yunqi shook his head and said.

"Investigate, thoroughly investigate Li Kaixin, Li Dachui, and this Tai'an City Lord Zhou Zhi!" Jiang Qian flicked her fingers, and the sparks in her hand multiplied from one to two, then three, then four, eventually forming a blazing flame burning in her hand.

Lin Yunqi felt a slight fear and unconsciously took two steps back.

(End of this chapter)