A new generation rises
When Ah-Chiu entered the newly established building with the plaque "Tai Le Shu" hanging on it, even she, with her indifference, couldn't help but feel a surge of emotions.
She never imagined that one day her name would be recorded in history in this way.
Assassins always operate covertly, using code names to mark their movements in the martial world. Even when they enter the imperial court, they only strike once and retreat. More often than not, after that strike, regardless of success or failure, what awaits them is not a triumphant retreat, but a gruesome death.
Judging from this, Master Wanqiqing's foresight in planning far surpasses that of all his predecessors and patriarchs.
A Qiu's senior brother, Gongyi Xiu, is the Left Chancellor of the court, already at the pinnacle of officialdom. As he grows older, his faction will inevitably become a force to be reckoned with, influencing the overall situation of the court.
Gongyi Xiu had nine subordinates, known as the "Nine Cauldrons," who were part of his one-man government. A Qiu had never met any of these nine people, but he assumed they were already infiltrating the court and local government.
She herself entered the palace as a musician and dancer, and within just a few months rose to the position of Grand Master of Music. The court even specially established the Imperial Music Bureau for her to inherit and promote elegant music. This was unprecedented not only for a musician who came from a slave background, but also a groundbreaking measure in the current dynasty.
Although the Grand Master of Music may seem to have no real power, he holds the most important "psychological warfare" aspect of politics and is the architect of the rules of rites and music. These rules of rites and music are, in fact, specific communication methods among the aristocratic class. Whether a military general, a high-ranking official, or a regional governor, once he is regarded by the central core power group as a person who does not understand the rules and is disrespectful, or who usurps the throne, he will inevitably be regarded as a traitor and will eventually be expelled from the group that holds power.
Moreover, as the Grand Master of Music, she was regarded by the court and the public as Gu Yi's successor.
She had perfectly fulfilled Wan Qiqing's initial purpose of sending her to infiltrate the palace, as she had successfully entered the core of the ruling group and gained the trust of promising young talents such as Xie Tiao, Shangguan Yuqi, and Pei Yu.
But what neither she nor Wan Qiqing expected was that, in terms of the mission, although she had succeeded, in terms of her "heart," she had ultimately broken away from Lanling Hall and was no longer the assassin "Jing Ke" who followed her master's orders as if they were the ultimate truth.
A Qiu couldn't help but think that she hadn't expected this change in herself, but for her master, it was probably not an accident, but something that was expected.
This is because he must have personally witnessed the growth and transformation of Gongyi Xiu and Moyi Mingyue. He could also imagine that once these three disciples were released into the martial world, they would be like dragons returning to the sea, and would never again be the devout disciples of Lanling Hall who bowed and scraped before their master.
Although A Qiu had been struck three times by Wan Qiqing outside the Martial Saint Shrine and had publicly declared that their master-disciple relationship was over, at this moment, facing the plaque of the Tai Le Department, he felt a heartfelt gratitude for his master's foresight and magnanimity.
The Master nurtured them, never treating them as pawns to be controlled or loyal to him, but rather giving them free rein to soar.
This magnanimity alone surpasses that of countless kings, generals, and martial arts masters throughout history.
A clear, cold voice sounded behind her: "The new office specially established by the imperial court for the Grand Music Master looks quite impressive."
A Qiu didn't need to turn around to know that it must be Shangguan Yuqi coming. She couldn't help but smile and reply, "If Miss Shangguan is envious, she can set up a Flying Phoenix Guard in the palace and have it stationed there permanently. I'm afraid His Majesty and His Highness the Crown Prince would be more than happy to do so."
Shangguan Yuqi exclaimed, "I envy you? Let me tell you the truth, in my eyes, this is just a newly painted birdcage, perfect for trapping a power-hungry woman like you."
In truth, A Qiu was not unaware that Shangguan Yuqi remained in the palace only because of her unwavering belief in the truth of her aunt Yanxiu's death. The day the mystery was solved and the truth revealed would be the day she left the palace. Therefore, establishing a special office within the palace was clearly unthinkable for Shangguan Yuqi.
Therefore, how could Shangguan Yuqi possibly agree to let the scheming and cunning Prince Ning, Huli Guang, become a princess in the Northern Qiang?
If Shangguan Yuqi were to truly marry, Aqiu would rather she marry Xie Tiao and become the Crown Prince's consort. This isn't because of power, but because Xie Tiao is far more honest and kind-hearted than Hulü Guang, and genuinely loves and cherishes Shangguan Yuqi. Shangguan Yuqi would naturally be much happier marrying him.
As A Qiu hesitated, just about to mention Hu Luguang's request, Shangguan Yuqi had already stepped in front of her and said, "Hurry up and go, everyone is waiting for you, the new official, to take office."
She walked in the direction of the main gate of the Tai Lok Shu (a government office for music and dance).
Ah Qiu hadn't expected that she wasn't just passing by, but had come specifically for this purpose. She caught up with her in surprise and asked, "What's wrong, Miss? Is there something you need at the Tai Le Department?"
Shangguan Yuqi turned her back to look at her, both amused and annoyed, and said, "I know that the Grand Master of Music is busy, accompanying His Highness the Crown Prince to meet foreign guests, but the music of 'Shao' and 'Wu' is related to the face of the country, so we must act quickly. Therefore, we have already made arrangements with the guidance of Duke An. What, have we neglected the Grand Master of Music by acting without asking?"
A Qiu hurriedly clasped her hands and said, "Thank you for your help, Miss. How could I possibly blame you?" She stuck out her tongue, made a face, and laughed, "Actually, when it comes to music, I only know how to dance. I'm not proficient in anything else. With your help, I can finally relax."
As Shangguan Yuqi walked, she said, "Although my dancing skills are not as superb as yours, I have practiced my family's sword dance. Besides you, I am the only person who has personally witnessed the murals of the previous generation's 'Shao' and 'Wu' in Wuyang Mausoleum, as well as the dynamic dance movements performed by the Divine Lord of Liyang. If you are not here, I naturally cannot shirk my responsibility. Don't worry!"
As she spoke, she gently tapped Ah Qiu's brow with her right index finger, her expression carrying a hint of reproach.
A Qiu had never seen Shangguan Yuqi like this before. She was stunned for a moment, then suddenly stepped forward and said, "Miss, did your aunt treat you the same way you treated me?"
Shangguan Yuqi merely touched her brow before turning her back. Hearing her words, she paused, then said forlornly, "I've almost forgotten what happened back then. But strangely, being with you always reminds me of my aunt. Oh well."
She turned around and smiled, "As long as you don't do anything bad, I will protect you just like I would protect my aunt."
A Qiu found Shangguan Yuqi's words "You don't do bad things" strange. Occasionally, a flash of inspiration would strike her, and she would recall past events: being rescued in the West Market, revealing the "assassination of Qin" in the Qiwu Forbidden Room... Clearly, her identity had been exposed to Shangguan Yuqi many times, and she could have easily exposed it with a flick of her finger, but Shangguan Yuqi seemed to ignore it.
It seems she wasn't unaware of Ah Qiu's questionable identity. Hence, she uttered the line, "As long as you don't do anything bad."
A warm feeling welled up in A Qiu's heart, and she immediately replied, "I will protect you just like your aunt!"
Actually, this is ridiculous. When Shangguan Yuqi needed Yanxiu's protection, she was just a five or six-year-old girl. If Yanxiu were still alive today, Shangguan Yuqi would probably be the one protecting her. But Aqiu said it so confidently and without thinking, as if he couldn't express his feelings otherwise.
In truth, she was thinking that Hulü Guang's confident arrival must have been well-prepared, and she absolutely could not allow him to run into Guan Yuqi.
Shangguan Yuqi was slightly moved, but only smiled and said deeply, "You're still young. Just take good care of yourself."
As the two talked, they passed through the courtyard and arrived at the rehearsal hall. When A-Qiu saw the scene before her, she was immediately stunned, feeling both surprised and amazed.
Fifty-six imposing young men stood in neat rows, arranged in seven columns and eight positions, all dressed in white training uniforms with crimson trim and belts around their waists, awaiting orders. They were all spirited and full of vigor.
This was the first time that A Qiu had seen the soldiers of the Divine Hound Camp without their uniforms and armor. Compared to their usual cold and stern demeanor, they appeared more gentle and refined.
Moreover, the dancers she was used to seeing were all young girls from the music bureau's dance troupe. She had never imagined that men could also dress up and wait to be trained in dance and music. And to be honest, even in the Southern Dynasty for nearly a hundred years, this was probably unprecedented. Therefore, she was not the only one who had never seen such a scene, but rather the entire populace of the Southern Dynasty.
The practice of nobles studying music has existed since ancient times. The ritual music for ancestral temples, used to worship heaven and earth, was traditionally performed by noble men. However, due to war and the southward migration of the royal family, this tradition had long been broken. Unexpectedly, it has finally been revived today.
Pei Yu was still dressed in her usual fiery red robes, her hair bound with a golden crown. She leaned against a pillar with her arms crossed, noticing A Qiu's shocked expression, and said with a half-smile, "What's wrong? Has the Grand Master of Music never seen so many handsome men lined up in a row before?"
A Qiu immediately averted his gaze, took a deep breath, and said seriously, "I just feel that before, when I looked at soldiers, because of their uniforms and armor, I only saw them as a dark mass of heads. But when they take off their uniforms, I feel that they are all living, breathing individuals, and surprisingly pleasing to the eye. This makes me feel a sense of awe for the cruel machine of war, because once it starts, it will sweep away so many fine men, leaving no trace of their bodies."
The officers of the Divine Hound Battalion, dressed in their dance costumes, were initially quite embarrassed by Ah Qiu's scrutiny. This was the first time in their lives that they had been put to such a public display, and they finally began to understand, to some extent, what it felt like for a dancer to be treated as a plaything. Ah Qiu could not possibly look at them as playthings, but even so, they still felt rather awkward.
But after hearing what A-Qiu said, they were all moved. It turned out that A-Qiu was not looking at their appearance, but at the living, breathing individuals beneath their skin, and was lamenting the fate of soldiers.
But if war breaks out, it won't just be soldiers who suffer. The land will be devastated, and countless families and innocent civilians will suffer even more.
Pei Yu sneered, "This is what is meant by 'a kind heart cannot command an army.' If you want to control and use an army, you cannot treat people as people, but as a sharp knife in your hand. You must have only calm strategies and calculations in your mind, and you must be willing to sacrifice the part to save the whole. This applies not only to soldiers, but also to generals. When necessary, they must be prepared to sacrifice themselves."
Shangguan Yuqi interrupted, "This is why everyone hopes for a peaceful and lasting world. Normal people hope that men farm and women weave, and that their families can live a simple and ordinary life together. As a benevolent army, the purpose of war is for peace, not for killing."
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