Chapter 411: A Sword Pierces Through Eighteen Gates, Witnessing Tai'an City in Western Chu

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"Vertical and Horizontal" by Fenghuo Xizhuhou

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In the Hall of Middle Harmony, the second of the three main halls on the central axis, when proclaiming the crown prince, the emperor first had to arrive at this hall, don his dragon robe and imperial crown, and then proceed to the front hall to ascend the throne. The current emperor looked at Empress Zhao Zhi, who was not far from him, and smiled gently, everything unspoken. Originally, the Empress and the Emperor shared the same surname, which was against custom. However, when the Emperor was still an unregarded prince, he treated this woman, who now managed the imperial harem, with great respect, considering her a confidante. He had privately sworn that once he ascended the throne, he would establish her son as the crown prince. Zhao Zhi favored her youngest son, Zhao Zhuan, and the Emperor did not hesitate to go against the ancestral tradition of establishing the eldest legitimate son rather than a younger one. This shows Empress Zhao Zhi's significance in the heart of an emperor renowned throughout the court and country for his wisdom and martial prowess.

Given this choice, not a single remonstrance official or upright scholar, unprecedentedly, raised any doubts. It was evident that the Zhao family's control over the empire had reached an unprecedented level of power. The consorts who had borne adult princes also maintained their usual expressions, not daring to show any unusual emotions. Among the six princes, only the youngest, the Sixth Prince Zhao Chun, who was twelve years old, could remain in the capital until he came of age. The other four princes, who had no hope of becoming crown prince, were enfeoffed as kings today and would depart the city for their fiefdoms three days later. Before their departure, they had to bid farewell to the new Crown Prince, kowtowing three times as a grand ceremony to display the Crown Prince's veneration.

Inside the Wuying Hall, the six princes quietly awaiting the morning court meeting subtly divided into two groups. The First Prince, Fourth Prince, and Sixth Prince gathered on one side. Zhao Wu was about to be enfeoffed as the King of Liao and granted the title of General Pacifying the North, allowing him sole command of military power among the princes.

The Second Prince, Zhao Wen, was enfeoffed as the King of Han. His mother, Consort Shu Nie Yuanzhen, hailed from Jiangnan and was not from a powerful aristocratic family. She observed strict etiquette in the imperial harem and lived peacefully, possessing a very disciplined and gentle nature. Prince Zhao Wen was also quite gentle, modest, and temperate, with an elegant literary style. He was praised for having a "spirited brush and divine wrist," often discussing philosophy with Prime Minister Zhao Danping, known for his Daoist-influenced prose, thus living up to the character "Wen" (culture/literature) in his name.

The Third Prince, Zhao Xiong, was also enfeoffed as the King of Han and would immediately depart for his fiefdom in Jizhou, on the border. His mother, Consort De Peng Yuanqing, was a daughter of the Peng family of Liaodong, one of the leading figures among the northern noble families. Zhao Xiong was also the most troublesome among the princes for the imperial family, with street rumors claiming he had repeatedly caused trouble for Prince Zhao Kai. The Fifth Prince, Zhao Hong, was enfeoffed as the King of Yue. His mother, Xue Quan, was not among the imperial consorts, being merely a Jieyu (a lower-ranking concubine) with an unremarkable family background.

Among the imperial consorts, Yan Dongwu's hand was consistently held by the Fourth Prince, Zhao Zhuan. Her hand was as cold as frost, and her beautiful face appeared somewhat restrained, while the gentle-smiling Zhao Zhuan's palms were covered in sweat, perfectly complementing each other. While chatting quietly with his elder brother Zhao Wu, he constantly turned his head to smile at her.

For some reason, when she first came to the capital to marry into the imperial family, she felt content with marrying the Fourth Prince, who was not highly regarded by the public. Their life as a couple was blissful. However, when she realized that things were not as straightforward and simple as she had imagined, Yan Dongwu became increasingly cautious, as if treading on thin ice. Especially when she left the palace half a year ago for a family visit and saw her father's weathered face, unable to hide his excitement no matter how he tried, and watched him weep with joy without saying a word, Yan Dongwu began to realize that the situation was spiraling out of control. After returning to the palace, she became even more taciturn, speaking and acting with extreme caution. Every time she visited Empress Zhao Zhi, her "mother-in-law," with her husband, it felt like a silent battle. This left Yan Dongwu bewildered and confused, yet she showed no hint of secret delight at becoming the Crown Prince's consort. This lack of elation was noticed by Empress Zhao Zhi, who was recognized by both court and commoners as invincible in palace intrigues, and it pleased the Empress even more, though Zhao Zhi naturally would not voice this praise to her daughter-in-law.

Zhao Zhi approached her two sons and meticulously straightened the collars and cuffs of both Zhao Wu and Zhao Zhuan. The First Prince, Zhao Wu, grinned. Zhao Zhuan, who was about to be proclaimed Crown Prince to the world, retained his usual irreverent and roguish nature. He took his mother's hand and rubbed it on his face, which made the young Sixth Prince feel that his Fourth Imperial Brother was even more childlike than him, and he chuckled wryly. Zhao Zhi withdrew her hand and lightly tapped Zhao Zhuan's forehead, feigning anger, "Look how old you are, still so shameless." Zhao Wu put his arm around his brother's shoulder and interjected, "No matter how old he gets, he'll always be Mother's son."

Zhao Zhuan softly said, "Mother, why not let Eldest Brother leave the capital a bit later?"Zhao Zhi glared angrily, "Nonsense!"The thick-skinned Zhao Zhuan remained unfazed. He stuck out his tongue and ruffled the young Zhao Chun's hair, "Luckily, little Chun'er is staying in the capital to play with me."The young prince tugged at Zhao Zhuan's sleeve, eagerly asking, "Fourth Brother, Fourth Brother, when will you give me that 'Invincible General' (a cricket)?"Yan Dongwu pinched the Fourth Prince, who had solemnly promised her he would no longer engage in cricket fighting. She then gently smiled at Zhao Chun, "Little Chun, I'll give them all to you later. If your Fourth Brother dares to hide one, you tell on him to me."The young prince flashed a bright, mischievous grin at his long-faced Fourth Brother, then pretended to bow deeply to the designated Crown Prince's consort, "Chun'er thanks Sister-in-law for her great kindness."Zhao Zhi's eyes and brows curved with a smile.

For some reason, His Majesty the Emperor, already dressed in his imperial yellow dragon robe, arrived beside them. Seeing this warm and harmonious scene of everyone getting along, he was filled with satisfaction. Facing Yan Dongwu, he spoke with authority yet the tenderness of an elder, "Dongwu, from now on, discipline Zhuan'er however you see fit. If he dares to disrespect you, I will support you and take care of him! Zhuan'er is a lazy rogue who only moves when prodded, but there's one good thing about him: like me, his father, he might make his wife work hard, but he will never allow her to suffer ill-treatment."

Yan Dongwu was about to respectfully express her gratitude, but Zhao Zhi held her arms, saying, "We're all family. Just be polite in front of outsiders."Zhao Zhuan complained, "Father, Mother, I finally found a good wife who speaks up for me. Don't you dare corrupt her! Otherwise, I'll complain to you every day!"The Zhao Emperor smiled without speaking. Empress Zhao Zhi raised her hand as if to strike him, "Don't be smug after getting what you want."The First Prince, Zhao Wu, gloated, "Fourth Brother, you're truly miserable. I won't have the chance to drink away sorrows with you anymore. Go find Sixth Brother."The Sixth Prince, Zhao Chun, quickly waved his hand, "No, no, no! I get drunk just by smelling alcohol."The Emperor let out a hearty laugh, then looked around and sternly said to all the princes, "This enfeoffment of you as kings is for you to guard various regions and assist the imperial family. When you leave the capital for your fiefdoms in the future, do not show the slightest slackness!"All the princes, except Zhao Zhuan, meticulously bowed and acknowledged the command.

The two imperial consorts and one Jieyu almost simultaneously looked towards the Crown Prince. For many years, he had been amiable to everyone in the palace, even showing them great respect, and even their trusted palace maids felt quite close to him. Everyone had originally thought he was a frivolous noble without grand ambitions, content to live out his days in a fiefdom. As they collectively looked at him, the Fourth Prince, Zhao Zhuan, gazed back with clear eyes, slightly nodded his chin, still showing no hint of arrogance or impetuousness despite his newly elevated status. This made some of the three imperial consorts, who were still somewhat unwilling to concede, feel a bit helpless. Facing such an opponent, whom they genuinely couldn't bring themselves to detest, they truly couldn't direct their resentment and anger at their own sons for being unaccomplished.

At today's morning court, perhaps pleased with nearly twenty years of civil and military achievements, the Liyang Emperor graciously allowed the Grand Academicians of the imperial colleges and the senior pillar-of-state civil officials to slightly transgress protocol. Several veteran generals holding the titles of "Four Garrisons" and "Four Expeditions" were permitted to carry swords to court. Among the military generals, Gu Jiantang notably wore the rarely seen Nanhua saber, and Chen Zhibao was particularly striking, carrying a plum wine staff. As usual, Xu Fengnian, the Heir Apparent of Northern Liang, had the plain Northern Liang saber hanging from his waist.

However, today was different from other days. All civil and military officials were not allowed to rush into the hall; they had to wait until the Emperor, Empress, and princes had all ascended the platform before they could enter. Nearly a thousand people patiently waited on the white jade square outside the main hall but within the city gate. Unlike the newly enfeoffed princes, who had three more days to stay in Tai'an City, the five imperial clan vassal kings had to leave the capital immediately for their fiefdoms after the morning court.

If the Liyang Emperor were to sit high on his dragon throne at this moment and cast a glance, seeing this gathering of heroes, he would certainly feel a majestic pride, as if all the heroes and valiant figures of the world had fallen into his grasp.

Zhao Sui, King of Jiaodong, moved a dozen steps to Xu Fengnian's side. Together, they looked towards the main south city gate, and further south to the outer city, where over eighteen li of road stretched, lined with a total of eighteen majestic gates. Zhao Sui spoke not as if conversing with someone, but rather as if sighing to himself, "Thirty years have passed in a flash. The young men who used to drink and tell crude jokes together have all grown old."

Xu Fengnian calmly replied, "Xu Xiao always said he felt deeply guilty towards you, Uncle Zhao."Zhao Sui laughed casually, "Guilty about what? Just owe a few rounds of drinks. Once you all settle down and start families, and a few more years pass and the old men close their eyes, there'll be plenty of opportunities to drink together down below."Xu Fengnian nodded.Zhao Sui turned his head and said, "If you get a chance to visit Liangliao in the future, remember to look for Zhao Yi. For the past two years, that kid hasn't admired those high-flying martial arts experts; he only admires you. For him, you are, in two words, 'completely impressed.'"Xu Fengnian was bewildered.Zhao Sui smiled slightly, "That's an honest truth, not just polite talk. A few years ago, when he heard what you said on Great Snow Peak about the Heavenly Master's Mansion of Longhu Mountain, that kid started saying 'bullshit' in front of me, his father, every day. Now it's his catchphrase. Whenever someone mentions paying him back, he just says, 'Pay what bullshit!'"Xu Fengnian looked embarrassed.Not far away, Zhao Yi, the Heir Apparent of Jiaodong, also roughly guessed the content of the conversation and gave a subtle smile to Xu Fengnian, who had glanced his way.

Zhao Sui, King of Jiaodong, looked south. "This time, with the establishment of the Crown Prince and the enfeoffment of the princes, we definitely need to guard against Cao Changqing of Western Chu coming to the capital to cause trouble. I just wonder if the 'Second Under Heaven' from Martial Emperor City will be stationed at one of the eighteen city gates." Knowing that the old swordsman surnamed Sui, who had a peculiar fondness for swords, had gone to Martial Emperor City in the East Sea, Xu Fengnian shook his head, "Probably not." Zhao Sui didn't ask for a reason, trusting him completely. He merely chuckled softly, "But I heard that the Old Ancestor of the Wu family, the 'Plain King,' will bring eight hundred swords to guard one of the gates. The other city gates are also heavily guarded by masters. I wonder if they can stop a Confucian Sage, Officer Cao."

A roar of commotion erupted.Xu Fengnian looked up in the direction of the sound.He bit his lip, a faint trace of blood seeping out.At one of the city gates on the central imperial road, nearly a thousand flying swords soared from the ground.A figure in a green robe with wrapped sleeves broke through the sword array, gracefully leaping forward through the gate, ignoring the flying swords chasing behind.Tai'an City was in an uproar.Cao Changqing swept in from inside the city gate with irresistible momentum.Moreover, a young woman of unparalleled grace flew on a sword, passing directly through all eighteen gates.A single sword hovered above everyone.Standing atop that famous sword, which had entered the imperial city in a similar manner some twenty-three years ago.The Great Liang Dragon Sparrow.

Princess Sui Zhu, who had been idly jumping on the steps of the Wuying Hall, a side hall of the Hall of Middle Harmony, stared with wide eyes, her jaw almost dropping. Wasn't that stunningly beautiful woman the same shabby maid from Wudang Mountain who treated a broken-down vegetable patch like a treasure? Her? Capable of the sword immortal's divine power of flying thirty thousand li on a sword?

Cao Changqing swept past the city gate, leaped onto the city wall, and stood beside the sword-riding woman. He announced loudly, "Cao Changqing of Western Chu, accompanying Princess Jiang Si to observe the ceremony in Tai'an City!"

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