During the previous emperor’s reign, the forty-first year of Yongjia.
Jinling City, Fudu Manor.
A deeply buried memory suddenly surged up. Wei Li was in a trance, returning to nine years ago.
The Great Sheng Dynasty had a saying: “The winds and clouds of the jianghu all converge in Jinling.”
The winds and clouds of the jianghu also referred to the Winds and Clouds Rankings, which recorded young masters under thirty years of age. Every ten years, a major reshuffling would occur.
As for Jinling, it was the place where chivalrous spirit was most intense. Wielding swords on white horses, drinking and singing, tales of love and vengeance—naturally it harbored countless wistful jianghu dreams.
The martial artists of this world were divided into six levels based on internal energy and mental state: Mortal Realm, Yinyuan Realm, Kaiyang Realm, Tianheng Realm, Tianquan Realm, and Tianshu Realm.
Unless one was exceptionally talented, breaking through each realm required several years or even over a decade.
Jinling City naturally had many jianghu factions entrenched there. Though Fudu Manor had been extremely low-key and secluded for many years, the jianghu still respected and revered it.
Therefore, the massacre at Fudu Manor in the forty-first year of Yongjia—two hundred thirty-seven lives brutally slaughtered in a single night—enraged the entire jianghu.
The rain fell harder.
Lian Shenwei waved his hand, having the Black Armored Guards escort the others to the front hall. Only Tian Nan holding the umbrella for him and the severely shocked Lord Wei remained.
Wei Li collapsed on the ground and shuffled back a step, his suspicion and fear evident. “You… you are! You’re from Fudu Manor?! Right—your surname is Lian?”
“What’s your relationship to the master of Fudu Manor?!”
His mind raced through the events of that year.
The master of Fudu Manor had only one son and one daughter with his beloved wife. It was a martial arts family. The eldest daughter was Lian Youwei, the youngest son Lian Yubai. They were said to be purely kind and carefree—nothing like the person before him who seemed like an evil ghost without internal energy.
Moreover, everyone at Fudu Manor had clearly all died—all two hundred thirty-seven people, not one missing.
Lian Shenwei smiled and tried to help him up, but before he could touch him, Wei Li fearfully dodged away.
His slender hand paused in mid-air. After being drenched by the rain, it held no warmth—pale and cold.
The world only knew that those who struck against Fudu Manor were the famous assassin organization Falling Moon Flow. Their method of killing was highly distinctive.
During that time, the jianghu was awash in blood. Countless righteous heroes pursued and hunted the people on the Assassin Rankings.
Yet no one knew that the mastermind who had hired Falling Moon Flow wasn’t from the jianghu but the imperial court. It was also the court that wanted to massacre Fudu Manor.
Seeing his lack of tact, Lian Shenwei unhurriedly withdrew his hand and tugged at his soaked sleeve, folding both hands within.
“What is Lord Wei afraid of? Back then, wasn’t this matter decided by you and several court ministers together with the critically ill previous emperor? Fudu Manor was already extinguished nine years ago. I’m merely the treacherous minister in your mouth—naturally I have no connection to them.”
Wei Li was dazed by his words for a moment, then frantically shook his head. “No! You absolutely have a connection to Fudu Manor! Lian Shenwei! What exactly are you trying to do?!”
Lian Shenwei made a gesture for silence and said gently, “Listen.”
From the front hall suddenly came the weeping and screams of women from the inner chambers and servants. Though Wei Li was old, his eyesight was still good—he saw the blood washed over by rainwater from the front hall.
His eyes instantly filled with blood. Trembling, he roared, “Lian Shenwei—!!”
“You! You! Even if this old official truly was the mastermind behind the Nan’an cheating scandal, the crime would absolutely not warrant the extermination of my entire family! You’re settling personal grudges under official pretenses! You’re abusing your power! Aren’t you afraid of people cursing your name?!”
Lian Shenwei avoided those aged hands trying to grasp at the hem of his robe. He lowered his eyes, his tone still smiling. “Lord Wei has already called this Prince a treacherous minister. How could this Prince disappoint Lord Wei’s expectations?”
Wei Li’s eyes were bloodshot. He opened his mouth wide, his throat emitting meaningless mournful howls. The earthy smell of splattered ground filled his nostrils. Tears and saliva dripped into the water.
The Regent Prince’s eyes closed slightly as he said softly, “Listen—can you hear the sound of heads falling in the front hall?”
“Your wife, concubines, illegitimate daughters… they’re terrified. They’re complaining about why you’re not by their side…”
“Wasn’t the scene at Fudu Manor that night just like this?”
“Lord Wei, can you still place your hand on your conscience and say you’ve never done anything against your conscience?”
Wei Li said, “…Our ancestors long ago decreed that imperial princes and grandsons were forbidden from any entanglements with jianghu people, much less… This old official wronged Fudu Manor in this matter, but if given another chance, the previous emperor, this old official, and the other ministers loyal to the imperial family would absolutely have no regrets!”
“Father—!”
A young man’s anguished scream came from the front hall, then immediately fell silent.
“My son!” Wei Li’s eyes were about to split with rage.
He was like a candle flickering in the wind. After this cry, he lowered his head, his cheek pressed against the muddy ground, already in a dying state.
“Lian Shenwei… your heart is so cruel…”
He hadn’t harmed him in the slightest, yet made him listen to his beloved youngest son die, his family and wife dying one by one in the front hall.
Wei Li murmured, “In the future, the history books will write that my Wei family were all loyal martyrs who died at the hands of a treacherous minister. You will be cursed by ten thousand people…”
Before dying, his cloudy eyes turned as he reached for the long hairpin that had fallen in the mud—the hairpin men used to bind their hair.
Wei Li gripped it with difficulty and, prostrate on the ground, panting heavily, arranged his hair and inserted the long hairpin.
Then his hand fell to the ground, his eyes wide open, without a sound.
Tian Nan sighed softly, “Since ancient times, official families who received the emperor’s grace have valued appearance before death. Having not a hair out of place and wearing the long hairpin to the grave signifies pure virtue and loyal bones. This long hairpin is also called the Gentleman’s Hairpin by literati.”
“Is that so?” Lian Shenwei smiled, then drew the sword from Tian Nan’s waist and sliced off the topknot and hairpin together from Wei Li’s head.
The long hairpin clattered on the ground, breaking into several pieces.
“Then I refuse to fulfill his wish of being loyal bones.”
Lian Shenwei no longer looked at Wei Li on the ground and turned to leave.
Tian Nan quickly caught the sword his master tossed to him, stunned for a few seconds.
He was at least a Tianheng Realm master, yet when his master had drawn his sword just now, he hadn’t reacted at all.
Not daring to think further, Tian Nan hurried to catch up.
The remaining people from the Wei Manor kneeling in the front hall were all still alive and well, their mouths gagged. Many had fainted from fright. Several buckets of chicken blood had been splashed on the ground—the strong bloody smell had been diluted considerably by the rain.
The captain of the Black Armored Guards said, “Lord Regent Prince, following your instructions, the brothers have done as ordered.”
Lian Shenwei nodded.
“Tian Nan, have people feed them Meng Po Soup and throw them in a manor far from the capital. I don’t want to see them again.”
Tian Nan replied, “Yes!”
Meng Po Soup was a medicinal wine developed by Feng Ke that could make people forget their past. One cup down, and everything experienced would be like a dream—upon waking, all would be forgotten.
The people from the Wei Manor were pulled into carriages and transported out of the city. Immediately after, prepared corpses from mass graves were brought over and arranged in the front hall according to the Wei Manor’s population—not one missing.
All the valuable items in the manor were removed. Bucket after bucket of oil was poured, and Lian Shenwei tossed a torch. The houses were all wooden—even in the rain, the flames spread rapidly.
Tian Nan said quietly, “Master, I don’t understand. You could have simply killed them directly.”
Though he didn’t know his master’s past, his master had never hidden anything from him, so over time he could guess a few things.
Lian Shenwei rubbed the metal thumb ring, silent.
He had only enraged Wei Li to death and hadn’t touched the others.
It wasn’t that he didn’t want to vent his anger on them, but rather he was giving face to Ying Jingjue. That brat occasionally studied at the Wei Manor, and Wei Li’s wife had given him much motherly care.
For this reason alone, he couldn’t strike.
However, even if these people’s memories might someday be restored, they could never return to the capital, because everyone from the Wei Manor had died tonight.
These people from the mass graves would be buried in the Wei family ancestral tomb in their place.
How deeply ironic.
“Leave a few people to clean things up. Prepare the carriage—we’re going to the palace.”
Tian Nan asked, “At this hour?”
“Any later, and many people will likely be sleepless tonight.” As Lian Shenwei walked, his heart suddenly constricted. His limbs abruptly went weak, and his vision darkened.
“…”
“Master!”
Tian Nan cried out softly, catching him in time.
Dense, needle-like stifling pain came from his heart meridian. Lian Shenwei’s brows knitted tightly, his breathing heavy. His already bloodless face turned pale as paper, his forehead covered in what couldn’t be distinguished as rain or cold sweat.
Tian Nan instantly realized, “Is this the adverse reaction from the new medicine Physician Feng had you try?”
He remembered Physician Feng saying that during the medication period, one must avoid emotional turmoil or it would cause stifling pain in the heart meridian. Yet he clearly hadn’t seen any emotional fluctuation on his master’s face just now.
Tian Nan couldn’t help but say anxiously, “Master, I’ll take you back to the manor!”
Lian Shenwei raised his hand to stop him.
After a moment’s rest, he suppressed the memories of the past, opened his eyes, and said quietly, “I’m fine. Go to the palace.”
However, as he’d said, tonight would be a sleepless night.
Before he could board the carriage, the sound of hoofbeats came from the street, followed by a rough shout, “Stop!”
The old Marquis of the Loyal Righteousness Marquis Manor sat on horseback, looking at the Wei Manor engulfed in roaring flames with shock and fury. He roared, “Put out the fire! What are you all standing around for?!”
The Imperial Guards he’d brought hesitated, looking toward the black-robed young man standing before the manor.
The Loyal Righteousness Marquis naturally saw him too.
The three-part smile that usually seemed imprinted on the young man’s face was gone. His complexion pale and indifferent, when he glanced over, he called out, “Old Marquis, it’s been a long time.”
The old Marquis snorted coldly, “Never mind him—go in and rescue people! If you don’t dare offend that man surnamed Lian, do you dare offend me? Don’t forget under whose command you serve!”
Three years ago, he’d lost a lower leg in that battle at the frontier. His realm had fallen, so he’d returned to the manor to retire. Afraid of frightening children, he’d stayed in the manor and rarely gone out.
Only today had he received a secret letter from the Crown Prince asking him to rescue Lord Wei’s family. Only then did he realize that the capital was now completely under Lian Shenwei’s control.
Hatefully, he was still a step too late!
The guards searched inside and quickly returned to report, “Reporting to the old Marquis, inside… there are no longer any living people.”
All were burned to char, their original appearances unrecognizable.
The old Marquis called out, “Regent Prince!”
Lian Shenwei was helped into the carriage by Tian Nan. The carriage slowly moved forward, stopping beside the old Marquis. He lifted the curtain. “The Wei Manor suddenly caught fire. When this Prince arrived with people, they were already gone.”
The persistent weakness coming from within his body made him unwilling to entangle further with irrelevant people. His tone was indifferent, and to others’ ears, it carried three parts disdain.
The old Marquis was furious beyond measure. He drew his long saber and swung it toward the carriage. His powerful internal energy was blocked by Tian Nan with a cold expression before it could reach the carriage.
“You dare!”
Tian Nan leaped onto the horse, gripping the reins tightly, firmly guarding the carriage’s side. He glared sternly, “Out of respect, I call you old Marquis—don’t push your luck!”
The old Marquis was stunned, then snorted coldly, “Tianheng Realm? With such abilities, why do you pledge loyalty to someone with wicked intentions? A true man should stand tall between heaven and earth—why not serve at the frontier?!”
“Bah!” Tian Nan’s face was stretched long. “You’re the one with wicked intentions, and you’re meddling way too much. At this time, trying to recruit others—I see you didn’t value Wei Li that much after all.”
He and Ming Zhu were only loyal to their master. Screw the imperial court—they had quite the wishful thinking.
The old Marquis had probably never been so bluntly cursed before. His face flushed red.
Indeed, he felt nothing for Wei Li. The conflict between civil and military officials seemed innate. Three years ago in the frontier battle, reinforcements were delayed, causing many soldiers to die. Later, he heard it was because the civil officials were quibbling that so many frontier warriors had died in vain.
To say he bore no resentment would be a lie.
His expression darkened. “Public and private matters—this old official can distinguish them clearly. If the Regent Prince undermines the nation’s foundation, even at the cost of my life, this old official won’t let you go. Just you wait for tomorrow’s court session—this old official will definitely report truthfully to His Majesty!”
Lian Shenwei coughed lightly twice. “As you wish. Tian Nan, let’s go.”
–
The Imperial Palace.
Hall of Mental Cultivation.
When Chief Eunuch Li came forward, seeing the Regent Prince completely drenched, he was immediately shocked and quickly had someone bring a cloak and hand warmer. “Why did Lord Regent Prince get caught in the rain? Quickly, quickly, put this on first. Catching a cold on this early spring rainy night would be terrible.”
Lian Shenwei acknowledged and, holding the hand warmer and draped in the cloak, entered the hall.
The scent of ambergris wafted from the incense burner. There were no serving palace maids or eunuchs in the hall. Emperor Jingcheng stood with his back to him before the bookshelf, sighing with some weariness.
“You’re here?”
“Spring brings returning cold, the chill persists, yet the jade sandalwood plum blossoms bloom worse each day. After today’s spring rain, who knows how many more will wither? What I plant can never compare to what Weier grew.”
Lian Shenwei lowered his brows, fiddling with the tassel on the hand warmer, his tone cold.
“I’ve said not to let me hear you call Elder Sister’s name again.”
“Elder Sister would find it disgusting.”
***
Author’s Note:
Here it is.
That’s right, this world stacks the three cold buffs of court politics + wuxia + no CP for a wish-fulfillment arc (hands on hips jpg.)
I only dare write such cold subject matter in these slow-transmigration mini-worlds. I wouldn’t dare attempt it in other full-length novels—I’d freeze to death writing it (whispers quietly)
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wannaberecluse On SRTT Chapter 50.1