Chapter 55 Xingguofang Needs Justice for Meeting the Emperor
“Yesterday, during the imperial sword-testing ceremony, I heard… Xingguo Fang lost.” Mu Chenbi broke the silence.
Guan Ye tilted her head and looked at him. "You know how to test swords? You buy corundum and Kunwu stone, do you perhaps have a foundry at home?"
Mu Chenbi paced slowly, hoping that the passageway would be longer and longer. "Rongdu has not had any external workshops for many years. My family does not have a foundry. It's just that I have loved it since I was a child and bought it to satisfy my craving."
“Not only did we lose,” Guan Ye said with sorrow, “our sword broke in two. The swordsman was determined to die, and we barely managed to stop him. The shop owner is bedridden and we don’t know when he will recover.”
The passageway was pitch black, with only the girl's eyes sparkling like stars. Mu Chenbi gazed into those eyes and whispered again, "Did you forge this sword?"
"No," Guan Ye denied. "But I bought the diamond sand, and I came up with the idea of fusing it with the black iron. Although I didn't forge the sword, I came up with the method... The swordsman asked me how confident I was, and I said... the inner workshop... is nothing to fear..." Guan Ye's voice fell into sorrow. "Perhaps it was this sentence that made him underestimate his enemy."
"You're trying to appease him, not harm him. It's none of your business," Mu Chenbi quickly reassured him. "You think the broken sword is strange, and Kunwu Stone—why did you come to the Ghost Market to find Kunwu Stone?"
The man beside her looked remarkably like Ajiu, but her identity remained unknown. Rongdu was fraught with peril, and Guan Ye certainly wouldn't reveal everything to a stranger. When he asked her the crucial question, Guan Ye tightly closed her lips and remained silent. The quiet passageway was filled only with the soft sound of their footsteps.
As the sun grew brighter, Mu Chenbi knew that once he left the passageway, Guan Ye would leave him and return to Xingguo Ward. After today's parting, he didn't know when he would have the chance to see her again. Rongdu was the capital city of the emperor, and the West Street and the palace were only a few streets apart, but seeing the person he wanted to see seemed to be separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, which was not an easy task.
“Kunwu stone can cut jade like mud, and its hardness surpasses that of corundum and black iron.” Mu Chenbi pondered. “You suspect that someone tampered with the sword during the test, using the power of Kunwu to cut the precious sword, is that right?”
Guan Ye stopped in her tracks. What this man said was exactly what she had been wondering about. He had come to the Ghost Market today to find the Kunwu Stone... "Who exactly are you?"
“Like you, I’m someone who wants to uncover the truth.” Mu Chenbi said calmly, “You are cautious in your actions, but think about it, if I were your rival, why would I come looking for Kunwu Stone? I would hope that there would be no more Kunwu Stone in Rongdu.”
“But,” Guan Ye said warily, “you might also be trying to collect all the Kunwu Stones in Rongdu so that I can never find them again.”
Mu Chenbi chuckled softly. The girl's naivety was heartbreaking. Mu Chenbi secretly resolved to keep Xingguofang and Guan Ye here.
"The outcome of the sword trial is already decided. The inner workshop is a government-run workshop. Even if you uncover the truth, to protect the court's reputation, this evidence cannot be presented openly." Mu Chenbi spoke earnestly, and seeing Guan Ye listening attentively, he continued slowly, "What we seek is not to reverse the tide, but for..."
"Fairness," Guan Ye and Mu Chenbi said in unison.
"That's right." Seeing that Guan Ye was on the same page as him, Mu Chenbi was overjoyed. "It's all for the sake of fairness. Xingguo Fang can't lose without a clear explanation."
“This isn’t the first time.” Guan Ye’s eyes showed resentment. “Pei Chong’s Golden Sword was also broken before the Emperor. After a hundred years on this deserted island, Xingguo Ward needs justice.”
“If you trust me,” Mu Chenbi glanced at Guan Ye’s expression, “I am willing to work with you to restore justice to Xingguo Ward.”
"How can there be so many injustices in the world?" Guan Ye seemed to be asking a question, or perhaps talking to herself. "To give Xingguofang justice, there are countless other injustices, but who can give them all..."
"What kind of justice do you want?" Mu Chenbi asked with interest. "Why don't you tell me? Maybe... I can help you."
"You?" Seeing his serious expression, Guan Ye almost burst out laughing. "This is too big of a deal for you. I was just kidding. The world is clear and just, there's no injustice, and we've just restored justice to Xingguo Ward."
As she stepped out of the passageway, the sudden sunlight dazzled Guan Ye's eyes. She covered her eyes with her hands, and through her fingers, she saw a man who looked remarkably like A Jiu smiling at her. In the daylight, she suddenly felt that this man was different from A Jiu. His smile was too pure, and he seemed to know no bitterness. He must be loved by everyone and had no defenses against anything in the world. Wherever he went, there would be people protecting him and keeping him safe.
Just as they emerged from the passageway, the black-clad guards quickly surrounded them again. Guan Ye lowered her head and kicked a pebble at Luo Yichen with her toe. Luo Yichen nimbly dodged it, and just as she was about to speak, she saw Mu Chenbi throw a glance at her and hurriedly waved her hand to dismiss the guards.
"Whose young master are you?" Guan Ye lowered her hand. "Even my young master doesn't have your kind of pomp and circumstance."
"Pei Chu, Young Master Pei?" Mu Chenbi's brows were gentle. Luo Yichen had been following him for so long, and this was the first time he had ever seen him so gentle.
Guan Ye looked at his straightforward and honest face with suspicion, "You even know my young master's name?"
Mu Chenbi nodded and chuckled, “There are only a few workshops left in Jin State. Xingguo Workshop is famous far and wide. Anyone who knows a little about casting techniques knows the Pei family. I would like to have the chance to see the Heavenly Furnace of Xingguo Workshop.”
"What's your name?" Guan Ye looked up at him directly. He was him, and A Jiu was A Jiu. They were clearly two completely different people, so she didn't need to be reserved.
Mu Chenbi looked around. Luo Yichen raised her arm, signaling the black-clad guards to retreat another half a zhang. She leaned against the stone wall, observing Guan Ye. After several chance encounters, it seemed the Crown Prince was destined to be with her. But... Luo Yichen bit her nails. How deep could the fate between a woman from an arms workshop and His Highness the Crown Prince be? What did this have to do with her? Luo Yichen spat out her nails and tapped her forehead a few times with her knuckles.
"My name is... Mu Chenbi."
"You also have the surname Mu?" Guan Ye smiled, revealing dimples. Upon seeing her smile again, Mu Chenbi felt as if a gentle breeze was blowing on his face.
"Who else has the surname Mu?"
Guan Ye took a few steps forward. "I don't remember. I think I heard the shop owner mention it. It's not a rare surname. There are many people in the world with the surnames Mu and Guan. Mu Chenbi, I'll remember that."
Seeing Guan Ye about to leave, Mu Chenbi hurriedly chased after her, "You promised to give Xingguo Ward justice, are you just leaving already?"
Guan Ye didn't turn around. Instead, she gripped Kunwu tightly in her palm and raised it above her head. "Wait until I forge another sword just like it, and then we'll be together again."
"Three days, is three days enough?" Mu Chenbi shouted uncontrollably.
"Three days later, here again." Guan Ye waved her clenched hand. "Wan Qixi's stall. If Kunwu Shi is up to something, we'll overturn his stall."
"It's a deal!" Mu Chenbi stopped in his tracks with difficulty. "Guan Ye, don't forget."
"I can't forget it, Xingguofang on West Street. If you can't forget it, go there and catch me."
Mu Chenbi's dark eyes followed Guan Ye's retreating figure. Even after Guan Ye had walked quite a distance, Mu Chenbi remained rooted to the spot. Seeing Luo Yichen staring intently at him, Mu Chenbi's expression turned slightly embarrassed. "About today..."
"What's going on?" Luo Yichen approached, sword on his shoulder. "Has anyone seen what happened?"
"It's nothing, it's nothing." The Eagle Guards chuckled and looked around.
“Actually…” Luo Yichen leaned closer and said, “The road back to the palace and back to Xingguo Ward is the same. We can give Miss Guan a ride.”
Mu Chenbi's eyes suddenly turned cold, and Luo Yichen felt as if Mount Tai was pressing down on him. He clasped his hands in a fist and dared not say another word. This imposing aura was completely gone just now. He was so submissive to Guan Ye. Was he still the high and mighty Crown Prince of Jin? Of course, he could only think this, and even if he had the courage, Luo Yichen would never dare to say it out loud.
Outside the palace gate
The carriage came to a sudden stop. Ajiu knew they had arrived at the palace gate and was about to get off when she saw Cui Jin sitting still. She withdrew and stopped moving. Cui Jin scrutinized the young swordsman, his single eye fixed on the scar on his left eyebrow. "This scar is quite deep."
Ajiu touched her brow bone, "Thank you for your concern, Imperial Preceptor. I'm already fine."
Cui Jinshen smiled sinisterly, "If we go down another half an inch, we'll be the same kind of people."
Ajiu's face was calm as she lowered her hand and said, "The Imperial Preceptor can see through everything with just one eye. What virtue or ability do I have to compare myself to you?"
Cui Jin smiled faintly, "It's a pity that you're disfigured. I'm afraid that if you rashly come to see the Emperor, it will startle His Majesty." As he spoke, he took out half of a gilded mask from his sleeve, "Back then, when the Emperor summoned me to court, in order to prevent the tattoos on my face from sullying His Majesty's eyes, I wore this mask when I entered the palace."
Ajiu hesitated and did not reach out. Cui Jin knew that he was somewhat shrewd and even more wary of her. She smiled and said, "Who knew that when the Emperor saw me, he said that the tattoos on my face were Taoist symbols. He felt calm and did not find them frightening. It is your first time meeting the Emperor. You should be more cautious in everything you do, shouldn't you?"
"Thank you... Grand Preceptor Cui." Ajiu reached out and took the gilded mask, putting it on his left cheek. Cui Jinning looked at his face, which was similar to Mu Chenbi's, and a strange glint flashed in her single eye.
The half-gilded mask perfectly concealed half of Ajiu's face, preventing the palace servants from associating him with Mu Chenbi. The palace was deep and winding, with layers of red walls, carved railings, and jade trees. Ajiu glanced around as if trying to memorize everything around him, or perhaps he already had a premonition that today was just the beginning.
Outside the Imperial Study, Chang Lu saw that it was Cui Jin and hurriedly stepped forward. He then noticed a masked man with a sword beside him and glanced at him suspiciously before whispering, "Is he... from Xingguo Ward?"
"Please trouble Eunuch Chang to go in and inform him that I have brought the swordsman of the Meteor Sword."
"Meteor Sword?" Chang Lu's frail body tensed. Ever since the Meteor Sword was presented, Mu You had been so fond of it that this swordsman was definitely not to be underestimated. Just as Chang Lu was about to turn around, his narrow eyes lingered on the swordsman's face again. "His face? What happened to it?"
Cui Jin remained silent, pointing to his own face. Chang Lu suddenly understood and said as they walked, "It doesn't matter. Many extraordinary people have extraordinary appearances. You are all people with great abilities."
Ajiu removed her ever-present sword, covered her palm with a gilded mask, and looked worried. Cui Jin glanced at her and asked, "What's wrong? Are you afraid the Emperor will punish Xingguo Ward?"
“His Majesty has high hopes for Xingguo Ward. Although we don’t know why the sword broke, a loss is a loss. I will accept whatever punishment His Majesty may impose on Xingguo Ward.” Ajiu said solemnly, “I only hope that His Majesty can give Xingguo Ward another chance.”
“Save these words for the Emperor,” Cui Jin chuckled softly. “Perhaps…” The door opened, and Chang Lu jogged in. “Perhaps the Emperor will reward you with something?”
"A reward to me?" Before Ajiu could react, Changlu, panting, was already in front of her, dusting off his whisk and waving it toward the Imperial Study.
"—Grand Preceptor Cui, His Majesty summons you two to speak with him."
With long, deliberate steps, A-Jiu was only a few steps away from the Emperor of Great Jin. The morning court session had ended. Mu You, dressed in a white brocade robe embroidered with dragons and wearing a white jade crown, had black and white mottled hair that spoke of his tireless dedication to the Great Jin Kingdom. His eyes also held an air of dominance over the world. He sat upright on the golden throne, his eyes filled with imperial majesty. Even without making a move, his noble aura was undeniable. Hearing footsteps entering the room, Mu You pursed his thin lips slightly, glanced at half of A-Jiu's face, and seemed to sigh softly.
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