Chapter 43 The Fire of the Heart: Nothing Needs to Be Rushed Tonight
In the backyard foundry, the Heavenly Furnace was more than half-built. Guan Ye looked up and felt as if she had returned to Canglang in a dream. When she first saw it, she was amazed by the grandeur of the Heavenly Furnace. Now, seeing the red bricks being piled up, she was even more moved by the hardship involved. Whether it was Tianhu Workshop or Xingguo Workshop, they were doing the same thing in the cycle of reincarnation.
"What are you looking at?" Ajiu followed Guan Ye's gaze. "The Heavenly Furnace? I heard from Steward Pei that the furnace fire will be reignited in three to five days."
"The flame is passed on, life continues, that's how it is." Guan Ye lowered her eyelashes.
“Although Tianhu Workshop is no more, its skills live on. Though dead, it lives on. Your loved ones in heaven will surely be comforted.” Ajiu’s eyes were deep as he wiped the sweat from Guan Ye’s forehead with his sleeve. Guan Ye showed no trepidation while examining the stone in front of everyone. Only he could see that Guan Ye was also a little scared. Guan Ye knew a lot, but she had never verified anything before. The method of draining water was also a first for her.
“I originally thought your surname was Lu.” The two of them leaned against the old tree and slowly sat down, looking up at the crescent moon in the night sky, which reflected the dark patterns on their clothes. “But you said your surname is Guan. Even if the workshop master gave you the surname Pei, you wouldn’t care. I’ve been wandering since I was a child, moving from city to city. I’ve seen the wanted posters at the city gates. Guan Xiaotian, the blacksmith of Tianhu Workshop, is your father, right?”
"Your parents' wanted posters are posted at the gates of every city. Your father has a rugged face and hawk-like eyes. He doesn't look like you at all. You look more like your mother." Ajiu glanced at Guan Ye and examined her closely. He still remembered the woman's appearance in the portrait. She had an elegant temperament, a delicate face, and a simple and honest air. Guan Ye's appearance resembled the woman in the painting, but her demeanor was more in line with that man's. Her brows were filled with a heroic spirit. At the first glance on the ship, although he didn't know what she was carrying, the tenacity in her eyes had already made Ajiu realize that she was different from others.
“You’re quite bold.” A-Jiu looked around the foundry. The traces of Tianhu Workshop had gradually disappeared, but the old friends from the workshop had quietly returned. They walked every day in the places where her father had once been, reminiscing about everything. “Guan Ye, although you weren’t born when the Blood Crossbow incident happened, it was a serious crime punishable by the extermination of nine generations of your family. Your father was very influential in Tianhu Workshop, otherwise the wanted posters on the city gates wouldn’t have been posted for so many years. Aren’t you afraid that one day someone will discover your identity and settle old scores with you?”
“Tianhufang was wronged, and so was my father. They didn’t do it,” Guan Ye said firmly. “My father told me this himself. How can you pin something on them that they didn’t do?”
"Could it be that you want to..." A thought flashed through Ajiu's mind, "It's an old case that's been going on for over ten years. The people involved are either dead or have disappeared. The case has been reviewed by the three judicial departments and the verdict is already set. If you want to overturn the case, it's probably as difficult as climbing to the sky."
“Young Master said that if we don’t leave, we can’t do anything.” Guan Ye lowered her voice. “I escaped from Rongdu while I was still in my mother’s womb. This time… I don’t want to escape again.”
“Young Master is exceptionally intelligent; he saw through your origins long ago.” Ajiu smiled with lowered eyebrows. “If I’m not mistaken, you went to forge the Meteor Sword under his guidance.”
Guan Ye spread her hands and stared at her palm. "I also want to know if I can do it."
"A-Jiu..." The crescent moon hung high in the sky. Guan Ye gazed up at the night sky, softly calling A-Jiu's name, "If one day they discover me, that Xingguo Ward harbored a serious criminal... I will make everyone suffer because of me..."
Ajiu lifted her up, his thin lips lightly touching her damp forehead. "Silly girl, I was just teasing you. The day we reunited on the island, Pei Bi told us that someone was going to storm Canglang Island. As long as people are here, the island will stand. There are so many people on the shore; even if they all die that day, no one will say a word against it. A great calamity doesn't come from anyone doing anything wrong; it's just that the one who brings the calamity wants some people to die."
"Aren't you afraid of dying?"
Soft lips traced the contours of Guan Ye's face and slowly landed on the tip of her nose. Ajiu opened her lips with difficulty, "I am but a life and a sword, what is there to fear?"
"And what about that person who looks like you? Aren't you afraid?"
Guan Ye didn't dare to move rashly when he touched her. A Jiu suppressed the pounding in his heart. The night was alluring, and he was afraid that he might do something wrong and scare the young girl beside him. A Jiu leaned back against the tree trunk and breathed heavily, saying, "If such a person really exists, he should be the one who is afraid of me."
Guan Ye was a little flustered by the sudden stop. She imitated A Jiu and stared at his face. She hadn't done anything, so why was he breathing so heavily? A Jiu's eyes were half-open and half-closed, as if he were taking a nap, or perhaps he was peeking. Seeing that A Jiu was not acting strangely, Guan Ye yawned and stood up. "Sleepy, aren't you going back?"
That's it? Ah Jiu couldn't hide his disappointment. If he had known this would happen, he shouldn't have let the girl go so easily. Guan Ye reached out her hand to him, and Ah Jiu smiled. He took Guan Ye's wrist and jumped up. His large hand naturally slid down and intertwined with hers. They still had a long time ahead of them, and there was no need to rush things tonight.
Inner Workshop Jingwu Pavilion
This wasn't Mu Lexiu's first time in the Inner Workshop. His mother had told him that when he was seven, his father brought him there, along with his elder brother, the Crown Prince. Mu Chenbi had entered the Inner Workshop at five, two years younger than him, an age when he could barely speak properly. In the fiery foundry, sparks flew everywhere, yet he hadn't cried. Whenever his father mentioned it, he would praise the young Mu Chenbi, then look at him. Though his father still looked kind, Mu Lexiu could sense the deep disappointment hidden within him.
The Empress Dowager said that before he even entered the inner courtyard that day, the clanging and banging sounds had already frightened him so much that he burst into tears. The carriage stopped outside the courtyard, and he pulled on the reins, refusing to go inside.
How did I get into the inner workshop?
Your elder brother, the crown prince, pried open your fingers and dragged you through the door.
Mu Lexiu loathed the pungent smell of charcoal. The imperial physician said that inhaling it too much was harmful to one's health. Many elderly blacksmiths suffered from chronic lung disease and died from coughing up blood. Mu Lexiu valued his life and would not put himself in such a harmful environment. However, the Jin Kingdom valued martial prowess, and his father had become the crown prince by quelling the rebellion at Xiguan. His elder brother was exceptionally brave and skilled in weaponry. When his father looked at him, his eyes were practically overflowing with satisfaction. Mu Lexiu was disdainful, but he was not stupid.
Frosty halberds lined the imperial steps, the sound of silk and bamboo instruments filled the long corridor, blood-stained crossbows startled the magnificent pavilion, and craftsmen harbored treacherous intentions. Mu Lexiu disliked those crude blacksmiths and swordsmen wielding knives and swords.
But today, Mu Lexiu came to the inner quarters again. He didn't pull on the reins to avoid entering, but instead resolutely lifted the carriage curtain and walked in without the slightest hesitation.
Shen Ao said that Wushuang had entered the inner palace and had become a swordswoman there.
Inside the elegant pavilion, the female swordswoman stood unrestrained, looking at herself with an air of ignorance and fearlessness. Mu Lexiu had seen all the actors and performers who came to Rongdu, but he had never seen such a remarkable person who, despite being reduced to performing for a living, still shone so brightly. Moreover, her swordsmanship was unique, without any murderous aura, only a graceful and elegant demeanor. Although her long sword was sharp, it did not diminish her serene and beautiful appearance in the slightest. That day, when he watched her from upstairs, he felt as if she were a fairy descended to earth, making everything else pale in comparison.
The clanging of the blacksmith was noisy and bothersome, but the young woman in the green dress in the courtyard was like the deepest, most secluded sea. Her clothes fluttered in the wind, her feet never touching the dust, as if she were about to ride the wind back home. She was admiring a newly forged sword, her fair hands caressing it for a long time. Mu Lexiu suddenly felt a pang of pity. Such a person should be painting with a brush and holding a fan, displaying elegance and grace, rather than being accompanied by ironware and getting tainted with a disgusting smell of rust.
Sensing someone approaching, Wushuang nimbly turned around, unleashing a flurry of sword strikes that resembled a galaxy falling from the night sky. She gripped the hilt with both hands, aiming directly at Mu Lexiu's throat.
Amidst the gasps of the crowd, Chen Ao stumbled and rushed out. The new swordswoman dared to draw her sword against the prince; she had no desire to live, but Chen Ao herself did not want to die.
"No, no!" Shen Ao stood in front of Mu Lexiu, his face pale. "Miss Wushuang, this is the Second Prince. No, absolutely no!"
With a backhand flourish, Wushuang slew the blade back into its sheath. Tilting her head, she looked at Mu Lexiu's calm face and spoke in a melodious voice, "The sword was pointed at your throat, yet you remained unfazed. So you are the empress."
"Miss Wushuang is too kind." Chen Ao wiped his sweat and was slightly relieved to see that Mu Lexiu was not displeased. "Quickly greet the Second Prince."
Wushuang bowed to Mu Lexiu, then turned to examine the sword again. Seeing Mu Lexiu standing still, Chen Ao coughed softly, "People of the martial world are not bound by formalities, Your Highness, please do not take offense."
"It's alright." Mu Lexiu was always proud and valued etiquette. His father's permission for Cui Jin to be unrestrained in the palace had already displeased him. Now, a female swordsman had drawn her sword and pointed it at him in public. Mu Lexiu was annoyed but did not want to get angry. After holding back for a while, he could only squeeze out the words "It's alright." Had he taken the wrong medicine?
"But a swordswoman, she also understands swordsmanship?" Mu Lexiu paced behind Wushuang and asked Chen Ao in a low voice, "Could it be that she's pretending to know what she doesn't?"
Shen Ao chuckled and leaned closer to him, saying, "The sword in Miss Wushuang's hand is one of the finest pieces forged by the inner workshop in recent years. She selected this sword by simply looking at it without ever handling it. The first step in judging a sword is to observe it with your eyes. It seems she is indeed quite capable."
"Perhaps it's just a wild guess," Mu Lexiu said coldly. "Major matters within the inner palace must be handled with utmost caution."
Wushuang suddenly stopped, weighed the sword and pondered for a moment, “Although the black iron is hard, it is too heavy. Forging it is time-consuming and laborious, and the finished product is nothing special. This sword is two and a half feet long and weighs more than three pounds and seven ounces. It is fine for fighting enemies in battle, but I'm afraid it is not suitable for testing swords with other workshops.”
"Two and a half feet? Three pounds and seven ounces?" Mu Lexiu snorted. "Is it really that accurate?"
With a gleam in her peerless eyes, she held her sword horizontally towards Mu Lexiu, saying, "My eyes are the ruler, and my hands are the scale. If you don't believe me, just show me the verification."
With a single glance from Mu Lexiu, Shen Ao hurriedly summoned someone to take the sword. After checking it, it was found to be almost exactly as Wushuang had said. Shen Ao secretly rejoiced, thinking that he had truly found a treasure.
"You really do have some skill." Mu Lexiu rarely praised someone, especially a woman. As soon as he said it, he was surprised himself. Afraid that others would notice his awkwardness, he hesitated and turned his back to Wushuang.
"Our Second Prince rarely praises people," Shen Ao said with an awkward smile as he returned the sword to Wushuang.
"I already told you this sword isn't to my liking, but you forced it on me. If I lose the contest, it's not my fault." Wushuang pushed away the hilt, looked around the vast forge, and sighed regretfully, "What a pity for such a good place, what a pity for the reputation of the imperial workshops, that there isn't a single weapon that can catch anyone's eye."
Shen Ao blushed and was about to retort when Mu Lexiu turned around with interest. "Your words... I feel like I've heard them somewhere before. I remember now, it was my elder brother. He said: 'What kind of things are cast in the inner workshop? Calling them junk is an understatement.' Steward Shen, is that what the Crown Prince said?"
"Yes...yes...no...no." Chen Ao wanted to slap himself. "The Crown Prince has extremely high requirements for casting, but these aren't junk. Miss Wushuang, tell me, can they be junk?"
"More or less." Wushuang smiled radiantly, like a budding flower. "Manager Shen, if the inner workshops do not make any further progress, they will become too dominant and end up being controlled by the outer workshops. Once the power is given out, it will be difficult to take it back."
"Yes, yes, yes." Chen Ao hurriedly agreed, "That's why we invited Miss Wushuang to help the inner quarters turn the tide."
"How can one person contend with an entire workshop?" Mu Lexiu couldn't resist pouring cold water on the idea. "Uncle, don't get carried away just because you have one person."
"A hundred years on a deserted island can hone one's skills, or it can lead to wasted time and ruin. Apart from a celestial furnace, there may be nothing left." Shen Ao slowly coaxed him, "It's just a meteor sword, and its authenticity is still unknown. The term 'wielding a blade' doesn't really count yet."
"The Crown Prince also said it was the Meteor Sword." Mu Lexiu's eyes showed a strange look. "He verified it himself."
"Has Your Highness ever seen the Meteor Sword with your own eyes?"
Mu Lexiu frowned. "I wish I could stay as far away as possible."
Shen Ao approached the two and lowered his voice, saying, "The blacksmith in the inner workshop examined the sword. Although it has the quality of a meteor, the blade contains blood and wanders within it, making it quite evil."
"Why is that?" Mu Lexiu asked, his brows furrowed in surprise.
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