Chapter 97 Chaoge: We will protect our country with all our might, even at the cost of our lives…
Mu Chenbi sheathed his sword, but still held it tightly in his hand. "What difference does it make whether I go or not? They might not even want to see me."
Luo Yichen clearly disagreed with this statement. He patted his chest and said, "Your Highness is wrong. Whether they want to see us or not, we still have to go. For example... the other day when I went to Gongcheng Money Exchange, Miss Mei didn't want to see me either. She kicked me out before I even entered the door. I was puzzled too. So, I plan to go again tomorrow when I have some free time."
"Why would the Mei family kick you out for no reason?" Mu Chenbi asked suspiciously. "Didn't you help Young Master Mei? Or did you... flirt with other women and anger Miss Mei?"
Luo Yichen was so angry he almost twisted his nose. People could say whatever they wanted about him, but no one could say he was promiscuous. As the leader of the Eagle Guard and the youngest sixth-rank military officer in Jin, who would believe that he had never even drunk wine and women? But he really hadn't.
Mu Chenbi glanced at Luo Yichen, whose face was flushed, and said, "I was wrong. You are not romantic and would never be involved with other women."
Luo Yichen couldn't yell at the Crown Prince, so he could only sulk and fum in frustration. Mu Chenbi put down his sword and asked in confusion, "We've already kicked you out, are you going back tomorrow? Aren't you afraid of being kicked out again?"
"Your subordinate really has something to do." Luo Yichen pointed to his pocket. "Your subordinate needs to deposit the salary money. I can't carry it around all the time; it's too heavy."
Mu Chenbi laughed, a rare occurrence. "That's true. If I chase you away again, you can go back the day after tomorrow. If I repeat this process, you'll be able to see Miss Mei more often..." As Mu Chenbi spoke, he suddenly realized something... Couldn't he do the same thing when he went to Xingguo Ward?
"Your Highness." Even the usually taciturn Luo Yichen could see Mu Chenbi's feelings for Guan Ye. "I heard that the twenty blacksmiths in the inner workshop were originally dissatisfied with Xingguo Workshop, especially since they were being ordered around by a woman. After all... the weapons industry hasn't had a female blacksmith for many years. Miss Guan showed them her skills on the spot, and the inner workshop masters were all full of admiration. Huangpu Ying immediately called her Master Guan..."
“Huangpu Ying is a master craftsman in the inner workshop,” Mu Chenbi said with a smile. “If Guan Ye didn’t have real skills, he would never be convinced.”
"Your Highness?" Luo Yichen probed again, "Love is getting to you? You seem to have lost weight these days?"
Unrequited love? Mu Chenbi's phoenix-feathered eyelashes fluttered; it should be unrequited love on her part.
“You’re right…” Mu Chenbi hesitated for a moment, as if she had already made up her mind, “I really do have business to attend to in Xingguo Ward. What’s wrong with officials and merchants of the court coming and going? The Mei family can’t stop you from depositing silver, and Xingguo Ward can’t stop doing business with the court?”
“Yes.” Luo Yichen exclaimed, then suddenly realized that he was the one who was worse off. “There’s something else…” Luo Yichen lowered his voice as he thought of something, “This afternoon, the Emperor summoned Ajiu again.”
"—They've already entered the palace?" Mu Chenbi frowned slightly, a thought arising in his mind. "Are they going to the Imperial Study?"
"I reckon they're heading in the direction of Cheng'en Hall."
Chengen Hall… Mu Chenbi’s mind was filled with the face of Ajiu that looked just like his own. His father’s favor towards him had been announced to everyone. Many days had passed since he returned to the palace from Xingguo Ward, and his father had not summoned any of his sons. But today, he summoned Ajiu again, and they went to Chengen Hall.
Cheng En, Cheng En, I am deeply grateful for the Emperor's grace. Hasn't A-Jiu received enough imperial grace? How many times have I hesitated outside Cheng En Hall, afraid to enter without permission? And A-Jiu, a swordsman from the weapons workshop who came from a deserted island, why did Father summon him to Cheng En Hall?
I heard from my mother that Chengen Hall is not much different from other halls in the palace. The only difference is that there is a sword hanging in the hall. The Emperor cherishes that sword very much.
—How is the sword in Chengen Hall different from an ordinary sword?
The Empress Dowager said that in her eyes there was no difference, but in your father's eyes there was a big difference. When he stared at the sword, it was as if he was staring at someone.
—When he stared at the sword, it was as if he were staring at a person.
Mu Chenbi picked up the sword Guan Ye had forged for him again. The two blades met, resembling the dimples on the blacksmith's face. He gazed at the sword, as if... Guan Ye were standing in front of him, smiling at him.
What kind of sword is hidden deep within the Chengen Hall? Mu Chenbi is determined to find out.
This was the first time that the Grand Eunuch Chang Lu had led a group to Chengen Hall. When he first met Ajiu, she covered half of her face, just like the Imperial Preceptor Cui Jin. When Cui Jin first entered the palace, he also wore a gilded mask. Cui Jin said that he was blind in one eye and his face was covered with ink, and he was afraid of startling the nobles in the palace. Later, the Emperor asked Cui Jin to remove his mask, and from then on, Cui Jin also became a noble in the palace.
Today, Changlu met Ajiu again, and Ajiu unveiled half of the gilded mask, revealing a face that would astound the world. Changlu had followed Muyou since childhood and had experienced many thrilling events. Ajiu's face heralded the prologue to another story, or perhaps, the continuation of an old tale.
In the Chengen Hall—Chang Lu knew that A Jiu's favor had only just begun.
"Cheng'en Hall," Ajiu read aloud, looking up. "Eunuch Chang, isn't the Emperor in the Imperial Study?"
Chang Lu smiled humbly, "Your Majesty can go wherever you want in the entire palace. Today it's here, but perhaps another day it will be somewhere else."
Ajiu understood. As Changlu stepped into this mysterious palace, Ajiu had been in and out of the palace several times. Unlike the Imperial Study, which was bustling with people and palace servants, Chengen Hall was not far from the main hall, but there were very few palace servants along the way. It was unusually quiet. Ajiu was curious, but she could not ask too many questions.
"Your Majesty, Ajiu has arrived," Changlu whispered cautiously into the tightly closed palace doors.
"Come in and talk," Mu Yousha said in a low voice.
Changlu gestured to Ajiu that he was not in a position to go in, and asked Ajiu to push open the door and meet the emperor herself. Ajiu nodded, paused for a moment, and then pushed open the heavy palace door.
On the soft couch, Mu You raised his eyebrows upon hearing the sound, gazed at A Jiu's familiar face, and beckoned him to come closer.
"A-Jiu greets Your Majesty." A-Jiu knelt on one knee.
Mu You gently raised the back of his hand. "There are no outsiders here, so there's no need for those useless formalities. Get up."
Ajiu calmly stood up and saw two swords lying horizontally beside Mu You. He recognized one of them as the Meteor Sword forged by Guan Ye, and the other looked like an ordinary black iron sword. How could the emperor, a man of noble birth, use an ordinary sword? Either he was unaware of the treasure, or... this sword held an irreplaceable position in the emperor's heart.
Seeing Ajiu staring at his sword, Mu You smiled and said, "You are a swordsman, so you must know about swords. Come closer and examine the sword with me."
Ajiu approached the soft couch, and Mu You leaned against the cushion, picked up the Meteor Sword and handed it to Ajiu. "I asked Pei Yuan how he melted the meteorite. It's something no one has ever done before. How did he manage to do it? Pei Yuan is a deep thinker and insists that it was melted in the Heavenly Furnace. I know that the mystery is more than just a furnace. Ajiu, would you be willing to tell me how Xingguo Workshop did it?"
Ajiu took the Meteor Sword, but dared not draw it. Jiang Muyun's Demon Shadow Lock Blade was locked, and if she drew her sword rashly, she would surely lose her composure in front of the emperor. Ajiu held the sword horizontally and stroked the scabbard, and said in a low voice, "Ajiu only saw the meteorite enter the Heavenly Furnace. The Pei family's secret technique is something that even a swordsman like me can hardly fathom."
Mu You smiled faintly, "Of course I know. The Pei family's secret techniques are naturally only known to the Pei family. But it was just a casual question, so you don't need to take it to heart." Mu You then picked up another sword, "You've tried the Meteor Sword before. Today, I want you to try this one."
Ajiu put down the Meteor Sword and reached out to take the other sword from Mu You's hand. Mu You stroked it for a long time, reluctant to let go. Ajiu waited for a while before Mu You reluctantly handed the sword over. His unfathomable, sunken eyes darted back and forth across Ajiu's face, his eyes filled with deep meaning.
"Can you tell what kind of sword this is?"
Although Ajiu was only a swordsman, he had spent several years in Xingguofang and had some knowledge of forging techniques. Especially by Guan Ye's side, he had learned a lot from her. So, if asked about this sword, Ajiu could still tell you something.
Ajiu weighed the sword in her hand, drew it out halfway to examine its color, tapped the blade lightly to listen to the echo, and affirmed, "Black Iron, it's a Black Iron sword."
Mu You remained calm and asked again, "What do you think of this sword?"
The sword was drawn from its sheath, its blade gleaming brightly. Its sharpness was palpable even without testing it. It appeared ordinary, no different from the heavy black iron swords used in the army. But if it were truly just an ordinary black iron sword, why would Mu You have kept it by his side and even invited him to join him as a minister…
Ah Jiu calmed himself down and carefully examined every part of the sword. Suddenly, his dark eyes stopped. In the groove of the hilt, there seemed to be two blurry characters engraved on it: "Chaoge".
"—Chaoge," Ajiu murmured, "Chaoge..."
The words "Chaoge" seemed to possess a magical power when he uttered them. Mu You felt as if he were in a dream within a dream. The sword reflected his image, and the image overlapped. In particular, when he held the Chaoge sword, he looked exactly like the old friend who had given him the sword years ago.
When the old friend presented the sword, he said, "If the world is at peace, we are willing to forge swords and spread our skills, aiming high; if the prosperous age is about to collapse and the abyss is approaching, we will do our best to protect the country, even at the cost of our lives."
She added, "I should have gone with you. I also wanted to see Eagle's Ridge Road, but unfortunately, I have more important things to do. This sword will stay by your side in my place. When you return in triumph, I will lead the five wards of Rongdu to welcome you at the city gate."
Mu You accepted the sword she had forged for him, but he never saw her again.
"A-Jiu," Mu You's voice trembled slightly, even to his own surprise, "would you be willing to test this sword for me?"
"Here?"
"Right here, right before my eyes."
Holding the Chaoge Sword, the longsword gleamed brightly in his hand. Standing in the hall, he seemed like an old friend reappearing. The sword light was sharp and agile, like a dragon in flight. Ajiu leaped into the air and spun around, unleashing a dazzling sword curtain, like stars from the Milky Way falling to earth. Mu You stared in a daze, his heart suddenly empty. Ajiu's sword light shot straight up, like a silver dragon weaving through the air. He rose up with a flick of his sword, his clothes fluttering, overlapping with the sword posture of the person in Mu You's heart, as if they were one person. This gave Mu You an illusion for a moment that his old friend had not left him, but had returned to his side in another way.
After using up a set of sword techniques, Ajiu gracefully finished her move, sword energy swirling around her body, as if she were returning on the wind.
"Your Majesty," Ajiu knelt on one knee, placing the Chaoge sword in her palm, "this is indeed a rare and fine sword."
"How could the sword she forged for me be bad?" Mu You seemed to be saying to Ajiu, but also seemed to be talking to himself. He was lost in thought and forgot to call Ajiu to get up.
“The person who forged this sword for you must be very important to you.” Ajiu looked at the blade again.
Mu You suddenly came to his senses and gestured for Ajiu to get up. "How did you figure that out?"
Ajiu slowly rose, sheathed the sword, and respectfully returned it to Mu You's side. "When Your Majesty looked at this sword, it was not as if he were looking at an object, but as if he were looking at a person, someone who is very important to you."
Mu You scrutinized Ajiu's composed face. Unlike Crown Prince Chenbi's high spirits, Ajiu was reserved. His turbulent past made him wary of everything around him. Even after obtaining the fish tally, he was still cautious when walking through the palace. When speaking to him, he was even more careful with his words, afraid of saying the wrong thing. Only when testing the sword just now did he suddenly forget himself and forget that the person beside him was the Emperor of Great Jin, just an ordinary person reminiscing about the past.
"Then do you even know who she is?"
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