AEOGA CH92

The offer of amnesty proceeded with remarkable smoothness, bringing Dugu Ye into their fold without sacrificing a single soldier. Once the two sides established their partnership, Xie Chongjin moved at top speed to deal with the Wolong Prefect and his cohort of cronies.

It was no rare occurrence for the court to transport military grain to Wolong. The Wolong Prefect had assumed he could act as he usually did: rely on the Yelang Gu Master colluding with him to hypnotize and control the inspecting imperial envoy, causing the official to overlook the distribution of military grain and the anomalies in Wolong City, allowing them to pull the wool over the court’s eyes and return to Yujing none the wiser.

Who could have guessed that a trick that had worked a hundred times before would suddenly fail?

The court officials who arrived this time… did not seem simple at all.

The two individuals who came were both paragons among men in appearance and bearing, inspiring guilt in the Wolong Prefect the moment he saw them, along with a terrifying sensation of being seen through.

One possessed the imposing majesty of a supreme ruler, his sharp phoenix eyes looking down as if taking in the whole world, leaving the prefect feeling as humble as an ant, trembling so under the pressure that he dared not raise his head. The other appeared gentle on the surface, yet his eyes were as cold as frost, seeming able to pierce through human hearts; it sent a chill down the prefect’s spine, leaving him terrified to look him in the eye.

Trembling with fear, the prefect felt a sudden impulse to drop to his knees.

What grand figures had the imperial court dispatched this time? They certainly did not look like people who could be easily duped.

Yet no matter how difficult to fool they were, they surely could not withstand the miraculous methods of Yelang.

Forcing a calm front, the prefect hosted the imperial envoys according to routine and signaled the Yelang Gu Master, disguised as a subordinate, to step forward and hypnotize Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao.

“This lower official will surely deliver every single grain to the hands of our soldiers without fail. May the two envoys return to court immediately to report your mission.”

“May the two envoys return to court immediately to report your mission.”

“Return to court immediately…”

Enduring the immense pressure, the Gu Master stared into the eyes of the two men, endlessly repeating the phrase.

Leave immediately. Do not stay in Wolong City to inspect, lest you discover the anomalies.

Hypnosis was a craft he knew like the back of his hand; it was only that these two possessed eyes far too clear and sharp. Merely looking directly into them required tremendous courage, to say nothing of breaching their mental defenses to hypnotize them.

Even so, he remained full of confidence. He was no half-baked amateur; he was one of the top Gu Masters in Yelang, personally dispatched by his sovereign to infiltrate Changli’s border without alerting the Changli court, boasting an unbroken track record of success.

Having finished the hypnosis, the Gu Master waited with absolute confidence for the envoys before him to reveal bewildered expressions and obediently set off on their return journey.

It had always gone this way in the past. Against these so-called inspecting envoys, there was no need to even use Gu; a simple psychological suggestion was enough to make those of weak willpower obey submissively.

If someone possessed strong willpower and hypnosis alone proved ineffective, he would simply plant a Gu bug.

The reason Yelang was so powerful lay in their thorough execution of the philosophy that “all’s fair in war.” Who said battles had to be fought with real blades and spears? Using Gu poison, hypnosis, curses, and various forms of psychological suggestion or physical control to kill invisibly could win wars just the same while minimizing casualties. Not only against enemies—if necessary, they would use such methods against their own people without a second thought.

They were most adept at these crafts and accustomed to taking shortcuts through despicable yet effective means.

Changli, on the other hand, was open and honorable—the price of which was being outmaneuvered and wiped out a century ago, suffering heavy casualties from which its military strength had still not recovered enough to match Yelang.

Against dishonorable scoundrels, honorable gentlemen would only suffer total defeat.

Yet Xie Chongjin did not show the dazed expression he anticipated. He merely stared back cold and detached, the corners of his lips curving into a mocking smirk: “Why repeat so much nonsense? Why are you in such a hurry to send us back—do you have something shameful to hide?”

Both the Gu Master and the prefect froze simultaneously.

The hypnosis had failed.

The Gu Master was one of Yelang’s premier masters; otherwise, he would not have been assigned such a vital mission. His skills were extraordinary, and even those with the firmest willpower found it difficult to escape his hypnosis. This was his very first failure.

Xie Chongjin’s willpower had been forged through endless rebirths without ever losing himself or collapsing; how could he possibly be bewitched by a mere Gu Master?

Gritting his teeth, the Gu Master prepared his contingency plan despite his shock. A tiny insect quietly crawled out from his sleeve—he prepared to use a Gu bug for control.

However, his subtle movement was caught by Lu Xuechao, who had been watching him all along. Lu Xuechao knew such small insects better than anyone.

Narrowing his eyes, Lu Xuechao suddenly grabbed the Gu Master’s wrist, flinging the Gu bug onto the ground before stepping on it, crushing it into a lump of squelched mud under his boot.

The Gu Master’s heart bled with grief—nurturing a Gu bug was no easy task! Otherwise, he would usually stick to hypnosis and only resort to Gu control when left with no alternative.

“So this is how you controlled the imperial envoys sent to inspect in the past,” Lu Xuechao remarked unhurriedly, using a snow-white handkerchief to wipe his fingers clean, as if touching the Gu Master’s wrist had rendered his hand so filthy he needed to shed a layer of skin.

“Prefect, can you explain why an official in Changli—where sorcery and Gu are capital offenses—has a subordinate skilled in Gu? And why you were in such a hurry to conceal things from the imperial envoys and send us back?”

Lu Xuechao’s voice was gentle: “Are you trying to conceal the Yelang army stationed at the foot of Wolong’s southern mountain?”

The prefect’s face turned deathly pale.

All his schemes—every single one—had been discovered…

The imperial troops dispatched by the court had already surrounded the prefect’s manor.

Xie Chongjin issued the command: “Apprehend them all.”

–

Xie Chongjin acted with swift, decisive force. The Wolong Prefect’s treasonous collusion with the enemy was backed by irrefutable evidence; he was ordered to be beheaded, and all his associated accomplices were thrown into prison.

Unaware that the matter had been exposed, Yelang had set up no defenses. The Yelang troops stationed at the foot of the mountain were ambushed and wiped out by the Changli army, with Night Young Villa contributing significant effort to the event.

The forces that had crossed the border were merely a scattered unit of Yelang troops; their main force had not crossed, rendering them unable to resist. They suffered defeat after defeat and quickly retreated back into Yelang territory.

That the imperial court and the rebel forces would actually join hands against a foreign enemy was something Yelang had never anticipated.

The Changli soldiers stationed at the Wolong border could not act rashly without orders from their commander. Previously, when Grand General Qin was stationed in the capital, the temporary leader assigned to replace him was a crony planted by the prefect. Lacking the support of the troops, he also fell during this purge. The border soldiers had previously been left leaderless, and all letters reporting Wolong’s anomalies back to Yujing had been intercepted by the prefect. Having suffered harsh treatment for so long, their resentment had long been brewing; now, in driving out the Yelang soldiers, every single one of them fought with fierce bravery.

The one capable of commanding the army was, of course, Xie Chongjin, who had revealed his identity as the Emperor.

Only then did Dugu Ye realize that the identities of these two were so extraordinary.

Heaven knew that when he led Night Young Villa to provide support and heard the Changli soldiers chanting “Long live His Majesty! May Her Majesty the Empress live for a thousand years!”, he was so shocked he nearly tumbled off his horse.

Should he call this imperial couple foolish or bold? Possessing such status, how had they dared to climb the mountain alone to negotiate—were they not afraid that rebels like them would detain and kill them right there on the mountain?

Thinking about how he had now become their helper, Dugu Ye had to admit that those two were far from foolish. They were immensely clever, having completely anticipated his agreement.

Even though he was the one who had made the decision, he felt as though every step had been orchestrated by them… It was truly an unpleasant feeling.

……

Night Young Villa.

Dugu Ye looked askance at Shadow Guard: “We’re on the same side now, and I already know your master’s identity. Can you tell me your name now?”

Shadow Guard wanted to say “nothing to comment,” but remembering Empress Lu Xuechao’s order, he hesitated for a moment before saying, “Shadow Guard.”

A secret guard was a shadow; his existence was a secret. His code name needed no one’s knowledge, nor did he require any social ties or friends—his entire body and soul existed solely for his master.

Yet after Dugu Ye returned him to the Emperor, His Majesty had asked him with a solemn expression why he had tried to take his own life.

He had answered truthfully that serving his master with his life was his bounden duty.

His Majesty had told him that his life belonged to himself—not to the royal family, nor to his master. He was an individual possessing an independent personality and human rights. Working for the royal family in exchange for compensation was a mutually beneficial relationship; there was no need to treat his life as a worthless consumable out of so-called loyalty, and he was free to have his own life outside of working hours.

…After hearing such a long speech, it had only made him want to risk his life for His Majesty all the more.

Having been a shadow for so long, he did not know how to step out into the sunlight, nor was he accustomed to it.

It was then that Empress Lu Xuechao had given him a swift, decisive order: he was required to make a friend within three days, excluding his fellow secret guards.

Lu Xuechao saw right through him. Xie Chongjin could preach a mountain of principles, but Shadow Guard, accustomed to hiding in the shadows, would not know how to take the first step. It was far better to issue a direct command, as secret guards were best at obeying orders.

Once he had his first friend, taking subsequent steps would be much easier.

Shadow Guard indeed obeyed the order. However, his social circle was pathetically narrow; aside from his fellow secret guards, the only person he could talk to seemed to be the man in front of him.

Making friends always had to start with exchanging names.

His Majesty had allowed them to choose names for themselves rather than retaining cold code names. Yet Shadow Guard had never picked one. He had no friends, and even if he picked a name, no one would call him by it, so why bother?

At this moment, he could only state his code name.

Hearing it, Dugu Ye furrowed his brow: “What kind of name is that? So gloomy.”

Shadow Guard could not help himself: “Your name isn’t particularly bright either.”

Shadows only existed where there was light; without light, there was only the complete darkness of a long night. By any standard, Dugu Ye sounded even gloomier than he did.

Dugu Ye said, “What’s wrong with the night? The night has clouds, the moon, and flowers, as well as beautiful scenery; one can be the light that others follow, rather than a shadow that follows others.”

Shadow Guard clenched his fists: “…” He felt mocked.

Shadow Guard said indifferently, “As a mere shadow, I am indeed unworthy of comparison with you.”

With that, he turned to leave. He would rather find someone else to befriend.

A secret guard was not supposed to have personal emotions, yet this man was truly infuriating.

Dugu Ye lazily called out to stop him: “When the clouds part and the moon emerges, flowers toy with the shadow—even a shadow can have clouds, the moon, and flowers.”

“Who stipulated that a shadow must have nothing at all?”

–

With the amnesty of Night Young Villa, the expulsion of the Yelang soldiers, and the punishment of the local officials, the Wolong City incident drew to a close. Though things appeared to have settled, a storm was gathering.

With Yelang acting so brazenly, Changli would hardly swallow its pride.

In June, news arrived from Xifeng: the Empress Regnant and the Second Princess had died unnaturally in quick succession. The First Princess and Fourth Princess, who had recently made frequent moves to vie for the Crown Princess position, both fell under suspicion. During this period, Helian Yu had been secretly stoking the conflict between the First and Fourth Princesses, leaving both sides suspecting the other while Helian Yu remained completely blameless.

When the Empress Regnant passed away, plunging the public into panic, and the First and Fourth Princesses fought bitterly to mutual destruction, Helian Yu led the troops of the Wen family to launch a coup. Helian Xi led troops from Changli to reinforce her, aiding Helian Yu in seizing the throne in one fell swoop.

Only then did the First and Fourth Princesses realize they had been played for fools by Helian Yu. They cursed her furiously for colluding with foreign enemies, committing treason, and deserving ten thousand deaths.

Helian Yu smiled faintly: “How can this be called colluding with foreign enemies? Changli was clearly an ally made by Imperial Mother. You two imperial sisters harmed Imperial Mother and Second Sister; I merely invited our ally to avenge Imperial Mother. This is true loyalty to the sovereign and love for the country.”

To the victor belong the spoils; the First and Fourth Princesses were thrown into the dungeon. What did it matter if they knew Helian Yu was the true culprit? Helian Yu controlled public opinion, and the outside world believed that the ones seeking matricide and usurpation were the First and Fourth Princesses; no one held a more righteous stance than her.

In spreading this narrative, Changli had been of immense help. Hua Yan had arranged storytellers in every Huaman Pavilion and its subsidiary teahouses and taverns among the populace. Initially telling romantic tales to attract customers, they would speak of allegorical stories concerning current affairs at critical moments, effortlessly steering the direction of public opinion.

The masses merely drifted with the tide, making control over the narrative paramount.

The shift in Xifeng’s political landscape was well within the expectations of Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao; one could even say they were the masterminds behind the curtain. What came as a surprise was that a regime change had also occurred in Leyang—something that had never happened in their past life.

The Fifth Princess of Xifeng, who had married into Leyang, assassinated the Empress Regnant. Meanwhile, the former Crown Princess—who had originally been deposed for having an affair with the Fifth Princess—immediately launched a military coup to seize power. The very first thing she did upon ascending the throne was to override all objections and establish the late ruler’s consort, the Fifth Princess of Xifeng, as her Empress.

All of this was naturally supported by Helian Yu behind the scenes.

Helian Yu was no fool. Forming an alliance with Changli was meant to withstand their greatest threat, Yelang; yet without Yelang, Changli itself posed the greatest threat to Xifeng.

Under circumstances where Changli’s national strength completely outmatched Xifeng’s, a so-called alliance was akin to seeking power from a tiger; Changli could unilaterally tear up the treaty at any time, and Xifeng would be powerless. In international relations, how could she possibly place all her hopes on the moral character of Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao?

To be sure, their character was indeed noble, but if she were truly that naive, she would be unfit to rule.

Thus, she had planned long ago: just as Changli had cultivated her, she would also cultivate the next generation of power in Leyang to jointly check and balance Changli. Among all the princesses of Leyang, the most capable was the deposed former Crown Princess; had she not been blinded by love and carried on an illicit affair with the Fifth Princess, she would not have fallen out of favor with the Empress Regnant. With the former Crown Princess’s capabilities, reclaiming her supreme status was merely a matter of time.

In their past life, Helian Yu was still biding her time at this point, unable even to take care of herself, let alone Leyang. After the affair between Xifeng’s Fifth Princess and the Crown Princess was exposed, the Fifth Princess was cold-shouldered and confined by the Empress Regnant, which ironically made it easier for the two to meet in secret. Later, when the truth came to light once more, the Fifth Princess took her own life to avoid implicating the Crown Princess. Devastated by grief, the Crown Princess reignited her ambition for power; years later, upon ascending the throne, she posthumously honored the Fifth Princess as Empress and never married another.

In this life, affected by the coup in Xifeng, the Empress Regnant of Leyang was unsettled in mind. With Helian Yu secretly assisting, the Crown Princess seized the opportunity to launch a coup while the Fifth Princess acted as an insider from the inner palace, completely altering Leyang’s political landscape.

Xie Chongjin and Lu Xuechao had prompted Helian Yu’s early ascension, thereby altering the situation in Leyang as well.

The flap of a butterfly’s wings had reshaped the global landscape.

While all three nations were surging with undercurrents, Yelang—the most restless of all—appeared the quietest on the surface, despite the turbulence hidden within.

Xie Chongjin would not allow them to keep up the pretense any longer.

In late July, using “Yelang’s encroachment on Changli’s border” as a pretext, Xie Chongjin issued a formal gauntlet of war to Yelang.

In thousands of past lives, it had always been Yelang’s vast armies pressing against his borders, invading the territory of Changli.

A debt of blood must be paid in blood—he remembered every single one.