Hidden in blue robes
He was tall and slender, wearing a faded blue robe, with a simple and honest face. Only the deep lines on his cheekbones revealed his thoughtful nature.
This person's attire and demeanor made him seem like a scholar, or even someone who had worked as a staff member for many years.
Only his hand, holding the sword and remaining perfectly still, displayed precision and stability that clearly indicated he was a skilled swordsman, and that the sword itself was an inseparable part of him, like the shadow of his soul.
He had just easily deflected her "Hundred Qilin Techniques," but judging from his expression, he hadn't even considered how to deliver the strike.
His mind was probably still on other things; he simply and casually deflected her sword.
A swordsman who lives with his shadow.
For some reason, this sentence suddenly flashed through Sima Yao's mind.
She was almost instantly and intensely attracted by the mysterious and complex aura emanating from the other person.
It was an indescribable surge of emotion, like the Yellow River bursting its banks, like snow meeting the sun, or pine trees meeting the mountains.
We admire the lofty mountains and follow the virtuous path. Though we may not reach their heights, our hearts are set on them.
After his sword was broken by the "Hundred Absolutes of the Qilin", the young man immediately rolled backward. At this moment, he straightened his clothes and jumped up, brushing off the dust that had just covered his body. He did not feel the slightest bit embarrassed about losing face. Instead, he respectfully held up the book hidden behind his back and said, "The book has been purchased. Please, Your Excellency, see it."
When the words "Grand Secretary" rang in her ears like a thunderclap, Sima Yao finally understood who was standing before her.
The one who embodies the will of the people of the Great Huan Dynasty and single-handedly created the current state of revival is Shangguan Jin, the Grand Secretary, who is regarded as the foremost figure in the Southern Dynasty.
A man in green robes, wielding a sword, embodies a lofty and unassuming spirit.
Aside from his literary and military talents, his swordsmanship was also renowned. However, no one had ever seen him draw his sword.
But today, she saw it.
Shangguan Jin seemed to finally snap out of his thoughts, frowning as he looked at the young man and said, "I asked Xiao Lang to come and buy books, so why did you get into a fight with someone in the street?"
The young man named Xiao Lang said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "It was not that I insisted on taking action. It was this young lady's servant who insisted on taking this book in the shop. I remember that the Grand Secretary ordered that this book was necessary, so I dared not give in. Then it was this young lady's servant who made the first move."
Sima Yao seemed to snap out of her daze and immediately retorted, "You stared at me for quite a while just now, being so rude. Why didn't you say anything then?"
She was usually so arrogant, but when facing Shangguan Jin, the number one person in the Great Huan Dynasty, even though he was clearly in the wrong, she couldn't show any of her usual arrogance and could only argue a few words.
Shangguan Jin seemed to understand something, and looked at the man again. The man was also taken aback, and then bowed and said, "Reporting to you, sir, Xie Lang did not look at this young lady rudely. It was just that at a glance, he noticed that the gold hairpin in her hair and the earrings under her ears seemed to be the same as those worn by the young lady, so he was a little puzzled."
Shangguan Jin's gaze finally turned to Sima Yao.
Sima Yao's mind went blank instantly. She panicked and didn't know what to do. She didn't dare to look at him at all and only dared to look down at the ground.
Shangguan Jin's voice rang in her ears, unhurried and leisurely: "This young lady's swordsmanship is astonishing. Swordsmanship is usually known for its lightness and agility, but your swordsmanship takes a different approach, winning with its heaviness and power. Your sword is also unique, exceeding the weight and length of ordinary swords. If other people's swords encounter yours, they will only break. If the sword is the gentleman among weapons, then your sword is the king of swords. What's most remarkable is that you have such skill at such a young age, which is truly extraordinary."
Sima Yao lowered her head, unable to answer a single word. She only heard the other party praising her swordsmanship, and she felt both happy and embarrassed. She thought to herself: It's not as good as you say, at least it can't compare to the sword in your hand.
She didn't even consider that Shangguan Jin was a peerless swordsman, possessing the appearance of an immortal, and was also a generation older than her. In the past hundred years of the Southern Dynasty, there was only one swordsman like him.
Shangguan Jin's voice remained neither too loud nor too soft as it rang in her ear: "Although there are many martial artists in Jianzhang, there is only one who can stand out with a heavy sword, and that is Sima Jun, the Prince of Langya. Moreover, the pearl hairpin in your hair and the earrings in your ears should both be imperial gifts, so your identity is self-evident."
Sima Yao was surprised that Shangguan Jin recognized her identity immediately from the two things: the heavy sword she was using and the golden hairpin bestowed by the emperor.
Although his heart was in a panic, he had no choice but to bite the bullet and bow, saying, "Sima Yao of the Langya Prince's Mansion greets the Grand Chancellor."
As the Princess of Langya, forcibly snatching a book from Shangguan Jin's servants and even resorting to murderous tactics to injure someone in the street would surely result in severe impeachment if it reached the ears of the court officials.
If that were all, she wouldn't necessarily be that afraid—not that she disregards human life, but rather that Sima Yao has always been bold and responsible. If she had really hurt Xie Lang just now and had to pay with her own life, she wouldn't have even batted an eye.
But when she met Shangguan Jinwen's gentle and composed gaze, she felt as if she were being pricked by needles; it was utterly humiliating.
The young man, Xie Lang, suddenly realized something and said, "So you are Princess Langya, no wonder." He then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Sima Yao and said humbly, "I did not recognize you as Princess Langya. I only thought the style of your hairpin was unusual, so I was offended."
Sima Yao thought bitterly, "So Xie Lang is also polite. Just now, he either treated me like I didn't exist or looked at me like Liu Zhen, which was extremely offensive and hateful!"
Shangguan Jin smiled and said, "Princess, please don't take offense. Xiao Lang is now serving by His Majesty's side. You may not have met him, but His Majesty recently bestowed upon our Yanxiu a pair of gold hairpins and earrings that are exactly the same as yours. It was he who delivered them to the mansion. Perhaps because these pearls are so rare, Xiao Lang did not expect to see them here, so he took a few more glances at them."
Sima Yao suddenly remembered that when her brother bestowed these gold hairpins and earrings upon her, he seemed to have mentioned that these pearls were rare, and even in the vast and resource-rich Southern Dynasty, only two sets had been made. She had jokingly asked her brother then who he had given the other set to, but he only smiled and did not answer. She assumed he had bestowed it upon some beautiful woman, and did not ask again.
Now we know that it was given to Shangguan Yanxiu, the future Empress of the Great Huan Dynasty. This makes perfect sense.
Sima Yao finally calmed down and returned the greeting, saying, "It turns out it was all a misunderstanding. I was too heavy-handed just now, please forgive me, young master."
Xie Lang said neither humbly nor arrogantly, "Your Highness's martial arts are unparalleled, and it is normal that I am no match for you. However, Your Highness and your family should not resort to violence in the streets in the future, as such behavior violates the laws of our Great Huan."
Sima Yao had barely caught her breath when Xie Lang's words immediately turned her face pale. This was a direct accusation that she had failed to properly manage her servants and had violated the law by using force. However, with the Grand Secretary Shangguan Jin right in front of her, although she was used to being arrogant and resentful, she dared not utter a single word of dissent.
The facts are clear: no matter what Xie Lang says, he only glanced at her a few more times, yet she took his life with a single move. Even if we were to speak to Sima Yan in the Golden Palace, he would be in the wrong.
When A-Qiu heard this, he was also taken aback.
It turns out that the current emperor, formerly the Left General of the Central Army Xie Lang, was just as formidable in his youth.
Given his loyalty to Shangguan Jin and his fearless attitude towards power at that moment, it is easy to understand why he was later able to gain Sima Yan's favor in the palace and rise rapidly in rank.
Shangguan Jin changed the subject, saying, "It seems the princess had a conflict with Xiao Lang just now because of this book?"
Sima Yao dared not even glance at the beautifully bound "Illustrated Treatise on Mountains and Rivers" in his hand, and simply lowered his head and said, "Sima Yao was unaware that this book was requested by the Grand Secretary, and thus dared to offend you. If I had known that the Grand Secretary was here, Sima Yao would never have dared to take it."
Shangguan Jin sighed and said meaningfully, "Does this mean that if I hadn't been here today, I wouldn't have been able to stop the princess's sword strike just now, nor would I have been able to stop her from demanding this book?"
Sima Yao was taken aback, not understanding what he meant, but simply answered truthfully, "...probably, that is indeed the case."
If it were someone else, she would either use force to seize it or invoke the name of the Langya Prince's Mansion to coerce them with her power. In any case, she would definitely get her hands on the book, and at most, she would give the other party some more money afterward to settle the matter.
Otherwise, wouldn't her trip today have been in vain?
Upon hearing her answer, Shangguan Jin paused slightly and remained silent.
Confused, she looked up and met Shangguan Jin's gaze for the first time.
But Shangguan Jin's eyes did not show any blame, but rather a thoughtful look, as if he was looking at her, but more likely he was thinking.
She was very uncomfortable being stared at like that, as if she weren't a person, but a problem.
Xie Lang calmly said from the side, "Nowadays, it is common for powerful families to seize by force and bully others. Princess, you have grown up in such an environment, it is difficult for you to remain untainted. For a princess of your status, your servant did not come up to me with punches and kicks today, but instead spoke to me with kind words, which is already quite polite."
Sima Yao was a little confused by his words. Xie Lang seemed to be speaking well of her, but how could every word sound like he was subtly trying to trick her?
Before she could react, the servant Li Wen, a seasoned veteran, understood perfectly. His face was full of anger as he sneered, "If we're talking about relying on power, if Young Master Xie weren't relying on the power of the Grand Secretary, why would he not even lift an eyelid after such kind words from a lowly person in the shop?"
Actually, it's a bit hard to explain if you really want to get to the bottom of this.
Since Xie Lang is a member of the Xie family, one of the prominent families in Jianzhang, and holds a position in the palace, why should he be polite to a servant of a powerful family, listen to his persuasive words, and be overly enthusiastic in his dealings with Shangguan Jin?
But if Xie Lang is really just an ordinary commoner, would he really dare to ignore Li Wen's relatively polite and respectful verbal exchanges?
Unexpectedly, Xie Lang said calmly, "I know that your envoy's intentions are not good, but I absolutely cannot give up this book. What difference does it make whether you try to reason with me or not? In the end, you will still have to take action."
This answer greatly surprised Sima Yao and Li Wen. It turned out that Xie Lang was not arrogant because of his official position and family background, but because he had already made the judgment that things could not be resolved peacefully at that time. Therefore, he decided not to linger and to make a quick decision to get away.
This also shows that Xie Lang has a pragmatic and tough style.
Li Wen's expression changed again, and his hand was already on the sword at his waist, indicating that things were not going to end well today.
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