Chapter 131 Since one is already unparalleled, why bother with building a nation?
It was Wushuang. Mu Chenbi recognized Wushuang. When they first met in the inner quarters, Mu Chenbi saw that the rebellious Mu Lexiu was obedient to this woman named Wushuang. Mu Chenbi knew that this woman was not simple. She had also plotted to break Xingguofang's sword with Kunwu stone, which not only almost drove the swordsman Lou Cangyu to his death, but also destroyed Xingguofang's lofty ambitions. The Pei family had already suffered a great humiliation a hundred years ago. If they were to suffer it again, I'm afraid everyone in Xingguofang would die to prove their loyalty with their blood.
Wushuang's actions may seem like a short-term victory, but his real aim is to drive Xingguofang to its doom. Wushuang... Mu Lexiu said that Xingguofang's origins are unpredictable, but isn't Wushuang, who descended from the sky, the same?
As she pondered, Wushuang suddenly looked up at the Mu brothers on the white marble steps. A cold wind blew by, lifting Wushuang's flying black hair. The strands of hair brushed against her face, making her skin appear even whiter than snow. Her clothes fluttered in the wind, half-concealing her like a mountain spirit or ghost.
“She is unparalleled, a woman without equal in the world.” Mu Lexiu stared in a daze and murmured, “She is a treasure bestowed upon the Great Jin by Heaven.”
Mu Chenbi looked at his younger brother in shock, as if he were a madman under a spell.
The yellow carriage following closely behind the inner workshop also stopped. Ajiu jumped down from the carriage, and Guan Ye leaned out from behind, holding the sword box and standing alone for a moment. Suddenly, she opened the sword box, looked at the top-quality sword she had selected in the box, and then gently closed the lid.
Raising her eyes, Guan Ye also saw the woman in the white fox fur coat. Although she couldn't see her face clearly, Guan Ye recognized her as the mysterious person who had escorted Lou Cangyu out of the inner quarters with an umbrella. The soft, thick fox fur coat covered her figure, but the faint outline of her face still resembled the person Guan Ye had in mind.
—Guan Ye, can you feel her watching you?
Guan Ye's heart skipped a beat, but her hands holding the sword box remained calm. Ajiu followed her gaze and said, "She is... the swordsman who cut the Golden Sword? That day... the one you saw... was also her."
"It's her, her name is Wushuang." Guan Ye walked towards Wushuang with the sword box in her hands, her footprints in the snow following without hesitation.
Jiang Muyun of Canglang Island walked onto the Heavenly Furnace before everyone's eyes. Ajiu saw her throw herself into the blazing furnace, like a moth drawn to a flame, instantly turning to ashes. Wushuang, several feet away from Guan Ye, did indeed bear a resemblance to Jiang Muyun in her posture, but Jiang Muyun was dead. Her flesh and blood fused with the meteorite, forging a peerless divine weapon, which the Emperor carried with him daily, cherishing it dearly.
Jiang Muyun is dead, so Wushuang couldn't be her.
"Wushuang." Guan Ye met Wushuang's gaze, their eyes meeting silently in the snow.
"Guan Ye?" Wushuang's words were cheerful and carried an unstoppable sharpness.
Guan Ye, dressed in red like a burning flame, walked head-on towards Wushuang Qing's blade, her steps steady and not at a disadvantage.
Guan Ye couldn't see the face beneath the mask. Her eyes were hidden behind her delicate eyelashes, her gaze calm and cold as ice. As she watched Guan Ye approach, she blinked gently, a shimmering coldness spreading across her eyes, seemingly containing a hint of a smile.
Guan Ye still remembers the last time Jiang Muyun left her. She stood fearlessly atop the furnace, surveying the frozen faces of the foundry workers, and suddenly smiled. Her white dress seemed to gleam like snow. As she leaped into the furnace, she glanced at Guan Ye. In her last look, Guan Ye saw the raging, inextinguishable flames. The furnace had burned Jiang Muyun to death, but the white flames that Jiang Muyun had ignited were about to incinerate the entire world.
Jiang Muyun's eyes blazed with sparks, while Wushuang's eyes... were filled with frost.
“This is really interesting.” On the white marble steps, Mu Lexiu couldn’t help but laugh. “I can’t wait.”
Mu Chenbi stood with his hands behind his back, calmly watching the two approaching Prince Zetian. "Wushuang...do you know Guan Ye?"
Mu Lexiu didn't even blink. "Guan Ye came to the inner workshop to see Wushuang, saying she wanted to ask her for guidance. Her aura was quite something."
"Please enlighten me, Wushuang?"
She asked Wushuang, "Of the ten virtues of a gentleman, which one is the most important?"
"Oh?" Mu Chenbi's phoenix-feather eyelashes fluttered slightly. "What do you mean?"
Mu Lexiu glanced sideways at his elder brother, the Emperor. This was the first time he had seen Mu Chenbi show interest in his words. "Wushuang said that Heaven and Earth are ruthless, treating all things like straw dogs. She believed that the greatest of the ten paths is the path of benevolence."
"—What did Guan Ye say?"
Mu Lexiu deliberately paused and remained silent. His elder brother kept mentioning the woman named Guan Ye, and when he mentioned her name, there was an urgency in his voice that even he himself did not realize. As perceptive as Mu Lexiu was, he had already seen through it.
"What did she say?" Mu Chenbi asked again.
Mu Lexiu continued, "Guan Ye said that a gentleman acts with utmost sincerity. He should uphold sincerity in everything he does, and the most important of the ten principles is sincerity."
Mu Chenbi chuckled in relief. What a stubborn Guan Ye! Unable to avenge the loss of Kunwu Stone, she still decided to go to the inner workshop to fight back and use Cheng Dao to attack Wushuang? Mu Chenbi clicked her tongue in admiration. Only she would do something like that.
“Your Majesty is very concerned about Guan Ye’s matter,” Mu Lexiu suddenly said. “Are you acquainted with her?” As he spoke, Mu Lexiu’s gaze slid down, his narrow eyes landing on the sword at Mu Chenbi’s waist. “I remember that Your Majesty never carries a sword with you. This sword… was it a gift from Father?”
"No." Mu Chenbi placed his palm on the hilt of the sword. "How could Father Emperor easily give away something he cherishes? You're overthinking it."
"Oh." Mu Lexiu drawled out, his eyes still scanning the sword.
Your Highness Zetian, the people of Xingguo Ward also saw the group from the inner ward. Shen Ao, wrapped in a golden brown cloak, hurriedly greeted Pei Yuan, his sly eyes narrowed into slits as he clasped his hands and said, "Master Pei, it's been a long time."
"Steward Shen?" Pei Yuan cupped his hands in a respectful gesture, his voice tinged with doubt. "What brings you here?"
"Today is a special day for Xingguo Ward. The Eagle Guards' swords are truly enviable." Shen Ao glanced at the carriages in Xingguo Ward, gave a thumbs up, and said, "A hundred Flowing Gold Swords! Even if it's snowing, I'd still come to see them. Look," Shen Ao pointed to Wushuang in the snow, "I even brought the swordswoman from the inner ward so she can broaden her horizons too. I hope Master Pei won't mind."
"Of course not." Pei Yuan knew that Shen Ao's intentions were ulterior, but he forced himself to maintain his composure as the head of the workshop and replied, "Each workshop has its own strengths, and we should discuss and learn from each other from time to time. Manager Shen, please come and visit Xingguo Workshop when you have time. I will be waiting for you at any time."
Shen Ao's face beamed with joy. "You said it yourself. I'll go whenever I have time, and even if I don't, I'll squeeze in a moment. If I go too often, Master Pei, don't get annoyed." He then called to Wushuang, "Wushuang, come and greet Master Pei of Xingguo Warehouse."
Wushuang smiled at Guan Ye and said, "I'm going to see your shop owner. Do you want to come with me?"
"Wushuang," Guan Ye called out to her, "You didn't come to the Inner Palace today just to see our Golden Sword, did you?"
The wind rose and blew, its light swaying in a perfect arc, before landing heavily just before Guan Ye caught a glimpse of her face. "Are you afraid I'll fight you for it?"
Guan Ye lowered her eyes and glanced at the sword box in her arms. "I am not Lou Cangyu."
Upon hearing the name "Lou Cangyu," Wushuang chuckled. "Yes, you are not Lou Cangyu. When Lou Cangyu first met me, he couldn't even utter a complete sentence. You are better than him."
As Wushuang spoke, she walked toward the group in Xingguo Ward. Guan Ye, holding a sword box, turned around and said, "A gentleman acts with utmost sincerity. The carriages in the inner ward must also be carrying weapons."
Wushuang suddenly turned around, her clothes fluttering, her eyes deep, her red lips slightly pursed in a light smile, as if she had seen through everything in the world. "People chase fame and fortune, but in the end it's all for nothing. Weapons each have their own strengths, so why fight? Why must we fight to see who is better? Guan Ye, you're looking at things too shallowly."
Each weapon has its own strengths, so why insist on arguing about which is better? Guan Ye seemed to be deep in thought, and was about to speak when Wu Shuang's gaze swept over her like a breeze, her mask fell off, and her smile flashed like a streak of light in the dark night, leaving everyone breathless.
"—Brother, did you see that? Wushuang, this is Wushuang." Ignoring his brother's presence, Mu Lexiu walked down the white marble steps in a daze. "Since there is Wushuang, why bother with Xingguo?"
Guan Ye sensed something and suddenly stopped and slowly turned around. She saw Mu Chenbi watching her from the jade steps. Their eyes met, and Mu Chenbi quietly looked at Guan Ye, picked up the twin swords at his waist, and smiled and nodded at Guan Ye.
Guan Ye held the sword box in her arms higher, glanced at Mu Chenbi again, and turned to walk towards the carriage in Xingguo Ward. The snow was white, but her steps were firm and powerful. Whether it was under the emperor's nose or in a dragon's den or a tiger's lair, Wushuang asked: Are you afraid that I will compete with you? Guan Ye chuckled. Wushuang was the one who was short-sighted.
"Wushuang greets Master Pei." Fox-fur Wushuang raised her eyelids, looking at Pei Yuan's weathered face covered with deep lines, her eyes unfathomable.
Wushuang… Lou Cangyu stepped out from behind the carriage, his gaze suddenly meeting Wushuang's deep eyes. Wushuang glanced instinctively at Lou Cangyu, who had appeared in a flash, and their eyes met. Seeing Wushuang's response, Lou Cangyu was overjoyed. His hand holding the sword trembled involuntarily, and his feet seemed to be pulled forward.
"Lou Cangyu." Xiao Ma raised his hand and brandished his sword to block his path. "What are you doing here?"
Lou Cangyu's soul seemed to swirl, and he abruptly stopped, biting his lip without answering Xiao Ma. Xiao Ma tilted his head and glanced at Wushuang, who was exchanging pleasantries with the shop owner. Then, seeing the flush on Lou Cangyu's cheekbones, Xiao Ma had a general idea of what was going on.
"This is..." Shen Ao looked at the girl carrying the sword who was walking towards him, and waved his hand. "Let me guess. I heard that there is a female blacksmith in Xingguo Ward. She is young but very capable. All the masters in the inner workshop admire her greatly. Guan Ye." Shen Ao waved his sleeve, stirring up the snowflakes on the ground. "She must be Guan Ye."
"Guan Ye greets Steward Shen." Guan Ye held the box and bowed her head, neither humble nor arrogant.
Shen Ao scrutinized Guan Ye, stroking his beard and repeatedly exclaiming, "Such elegance can only be found in Xingguo Ward. Guan Ye of Xingguo is unparalleled in the inner ward. Two beauties descended from heaven, truly an eye-opener."
"You flatter me, Manager Shen." Guan Ye smiled. "The name Wushuang is unparalleled in the world. Since I am unparalleled, how can there be two beauties? I, Guan Ye, am also the one and only."
Shen Ao was stunned for a moment, then pointed at Guan Ye and laughed, "What an amazing Guan Ye! She's skilled at sword forging, and her mouth is just as good. Interesting, getting more and more interesting."
Pei Yuan stared intently at the bulging carriages in the inner quarters not far away. "Manager Shen has even brought the swordsmen from the quarters to meet the Emperor. It seems he was well-prepared for today."
"I wouldn't dare," Shen Ao chuckled awkwardly. "Xingguo Workshop presents its swords to the Emperor, how could the Inner Workshop dare to compete? It's just that..." Shen Ao glanced at Wushuang, "Wushuang is not only a swordswoman, but also knows a little about forging. She has studied for many days and improved the Inner Workshop's Xuan Tie swords. Since she is presenting her swords today, she brought them along for the Emperor to see. The Emperor and the Crown Prince have long had complaints about the Inner Workshop. If the Inner Workshop continues to stagnate, I'm afraid there will be no Inner Workshop left. I hope Master Pei will not take offense."
Xuan Tie Sword? It's Xuan Tie Sword again. The swordsmen looked at each other in dismay. Lou Cangyu's broken sword was still in front of them, and now the inner workshop had brought Xuan Tie Sword to interfere. Judging from Shen Ao's confidence, he must have planned this all along. Could it be that he was planning to steal Xingguo Workshop's peaches in front of the emperor?
"A-Jiu..." Ji Fang said in a low voice, "What should we do..."
Ajiu gestured for Ji Fang to remain silent. Outside the Zetian Hall, yellow curtains fluttered, and golden-armored eagle guards strode out from both sides, forming two neat rows. Their helmets concealed their faces, revealing only pairs of cold, dark eyes that gazed upon the people below. Cui Jin, dressed in black robes, stepped out of the hall, looking up at the snow-covered sky. He narrowed his single eye and let out a low, contented sigh.
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