Marquis Liu with Jade Face
Since A Qiu entered the palace, Gongyi Xiu applied for night duty at the Ministry of Personnel for the next half month.
Although A Qiu's martial arts skills were superb, the palace was not a place for murder and arson. As his senior brother, he still had to keep an eye on things so that he could provide support at any time.
But what he didn't expect was that, with A-Qiu's "Earth Concealment" technique, which had made him impossible to find, and his impatient nature, he hadn't come looking for him even after two days.
He was also somewhat uneasy.
The palace is different from the martial arts world. Although A Qiu is clever, she may not be able to figure it out so quickly.
He was immediately alarmed when he heard a clear whistling sound coming from the night sky, and got up to go outside.
The Lanling Whistle, which goes from weak to strong and then back to weak, seems to be only one sound, but it has three changes in tone and intensity. It is a specific signal used by this hall to transmit messages.
Upon hearing the roar of the Lanling horn, disciples of this hall who are nearby must immediately go to provide support and assistance.
Who else could have unleashed a nighttime roar of Lanling from within the palace but the audacious A Qiu?
A Qiu soared through the air like an owl, pouncing with every strike, giving Sikong Zhao no room to retaliate. He fought in close quarters, his left hand shifting between fists and palms to confuse the enemy, while his right dagger delivered a series of thrusts and parries, each aimed at Sikong Zhao's vital points such as his waist, abdomen, neck, and eyes. His movements were as fast as lightning, his dagger flashing with a cold light, each move fierce and ruthless, all aimed at mutual destruction.
To put someone in a life-or-death situation before they can live is the assassin's only way to survive.
Only then did Sikong Zhao realize that A Qiu had not lied to her.
Each mace is three feet long, and a certain amount of space is required to use them effectively. However, with A Qiu moving so close to the enemy like a snake spitting its tongue, always looking for openings, and her dagger never leaving vital points, the maces' ability to block attacks is practically rendered useless, and it also severely hinders her reaction speed.
General Sikong Zhao of the White Horse came from a military family. His unique skills were originally derived from battlefield combat. "Qin King Whip Stone" and "Sweeping Through a Thousand Armies" can be used in mounted combat and can also break through encirclements, but they may not have an advantage in a two-on-one confrontation.
Sikong Zhao herself was a martial arts master and knew the difference between battles in the army and duels between masters. Therefore, after she was promoted to "White Crane" in the royal secret guard "Flying Phoenix Guard", she specially improved the exquisite double mace, changing the original hexagonal heavy pole used for smashing, swinging and sweeping into a sharp six-edged blade, which was equivalent to opening six edges on the double mace.
The battle formation has no sharp edge because it mostly encounters heavily armored opponents, whose armor, even if sharp, cannot penetrate. And the elite have no sharp edge because they mostly face assassins and killers, whose mere touch can leave a long, bloody gash.
With Sikong Zhao's innate strength and reaction speed, an ordinary assassin could be killed in a single encounter with her mace. Just by looking at how she was able to launch a sneak attack on A Qiu with a mace weighing forty jin without making a sound beforehand, it is clear that wielding these maces is an easy task for her.
But she was facing the king of assassins, and any mistake or disadvantage would be magnified to the extreme.
When A Qiu launched a series of attacks from high above the cervical ridge, Si Kongzhao's disadvantage was already sealed.
In that instant, she suddenly understood why Ah Qiu had been fleeing towards higher ground.
That was not just an escape, but also a way to gain a strategic advantage.
Her double maces weigh eighty pounds together. The most energy-efficient way to use them is naturally to swing, smash, sweep, and chop them from top to bottom, while also moving her body forward and backward. With her own weight plus the weight of the maces, a single strike can shatter the enemy's skull and leave their bones strewn on the ground.
However, when the enemy occupies a high position, it becomes quite disadvantageous—not only do you have to lift the eighty pounds with your own strength, but you also have to rely entirely on your arm strength to control the direction and accuracy when you strike upwards.
General Sikong Zhao, with his divine strength, could certainly lift it, but—the speed at which he swung it would be slower.
With his agile movements, A Qiu moved like the wind, instantly finding an opening and closing in. From then on, every move he made was aimed at her vital points, extremely vicious and ruthless, and his positioning was often unexpected and bizarre.
No one on the battlefield would aim for their opponent's joints, eyes, throat, or other vulnerable points.
The battlefield is a place of slaughter, but not of dismemberment.
But the assassin will.
Knowing she was in grave danger, Sikong Zhao reacted swiftly, throwing away her double maces and catching the blade bare-handed. This eliminated her chance of victory, but through sheer strength and speed, she could hold out a few more moments.
By this point, she had recognized the "Assassination of Qin" weapon in A Qiu's hand. After all, the "Assassination of Qin" technique was ancient and too famous. The other assassins in Lanling each had their own suitable weapons, but only the leader of the Divine Weapon Hall used the "Assassination of Qin."
She added with a smile, "So it's the esteemed Chief of Lanling, the Master of the Divine Weapon Hall, 'Jing Ke,' who has graced us with his presence! I apologize for my rudeness!"
Gongyi Xiu, with a jade fan adorned with a hundred flowers tucked into his waistband and a jade flute in hand, had already strolled to the outside of the Ministry of Personnel's corridor.
The night sky was filled with stars, and the towering palaces and pavilions stretched far and wide. He turned his ears and eyes and could already discern the faint sounds of fighting coming from the top of Xianyang Hall on the central axis of the palace.
He gasped.
Ah Qiu was openly fighting on the roof of the palace. This was like picking lice off a tiger's head, leaving no room for anyone.
Gongyi Xiu's handsome face was already showing a bitter smile, but he kept walking towards the direction of the fierce battle.
"Lord Zuo Xiang."
A soft, deep female voice rang out from under the eaves, about three zhang behind him.
Gongyi Xiu suddenly stopped and turned around.
A graceful and intelligent female official in a yellow robe stood quietly under the corridor, holding a file in her hand, her expression a mixture of amusement and skepticism as she intently observed Gongyi Xiu.
Gongyi Xiu broke out in a cold sweat instantly.
This was none other than Zhao Lingying, the most favored official in the imperial library, whose pen was responsible for all imperial edicts.
Zhao Lingying excelled in poetry, lyrics, and prose, especially in poems written in response to imperial commands, earning her the title of the most talented woman in the Dayan Dynasty.
At the same time, she is also the "Master of Writing" among the former Flying Phoenix Guards, known for her meticulous planning and resourcefulness.
Legend has it that her weapons were a pair of judge's pens.
Legends are just legends. Since entering the court, Gongyi Xiu had never seen Zhao Lingying's judge's pen, only read her "Ode to the Divine Capital" and "Ode to a Beauty." To be fair, the language is excellent, and reading them is delightful, not to mention the exquisite writing of a beautiful woman.
With both talent and good looks, she should be a standout among the civil service.
However, no one in the Ministry of Personnel liked Zhao Lingying. The reason was simple: who would like the emperor's own people sitting across from them every day, watching them work?
The former Flying Phoenix Four Guards were all Emperor Xie Lang's closest and most trusted personnel.
Gongyi Xiu quickly regained his composure and revealed his signature elegant and refined smile: "I was just thinking of going out for a walk to clear my head. May I ask what brings Consort Zhao here?"
Although Zhao Lingying was a court official, according to the rank of female officials, she was a Zhaorong of the second rank. She was on the same level as him, the Left Chancellor, which shows the emperor's high regard and confidence in her.
Zhao Lingying smiled and said, "I have a memorial impeaching the Imperial Mastiffs of the Capital Region for their unruly horsemanship and damage to farmland. I would like to discuss it with the Right Chancellor."
Gongyi Xiu was even more bewildered by these words. When had Zhao Lingying ever thought so highly of him? If she wanted to discuss something, the person she would discuss it with would be the Emperor himself, not a mere Left Chancellor like him.
After a moment's thought, he said, "The Divine Hound Camp is the personal guard of Grand Marshal Pei. If Consort Zhao wants to consult with someone, she should ask the Right Chancellor, Lord Shangguan."
He didn't want to get involved in the mess of the Divine Mastiff Camp. There were plenty of complaints about the Divine Mastiff Camp among the people of the capital, but although he was already a rising star in Jianzhang City, he was still relatively inexperienced and lacked a deep foundation, so he didn't want to stir up trouble at the moment.
He subtly suggested that Zhao Ling should go to the Right Chancellor because the Left Chancellor, Shangguan You, came from the Shangguan clan, the leading aristocratic family in the century-old civil official group in Jiangzuo. If they really wanted to punish the Divine Hound Camp, the Shangguan clan could unite with other aristocratic families to put pressure on Pei Yuanli.
If she didn't want to, then with Zhao Zhaorong's literary talent, it would be easy for her to write a few grand words to refuse, without even needing to ask him.
Although Gongyi Xiu considered himself the most talented man in Lanling, after reading Zhao Zhaorong's poems and essays written in response to imperial commands, he deeply felt that his flattery skills were not even one ten-thousandth as good as those of the talented Zhao Zhaorong.
Zhao Lingying smiled and nodded, seemingly agreeing, saying, "The Left Prime Minister is right."
But she showed no intention of leaving. Instead, she slowly walked to a position next to Gongyi Xiu, gazed at the bright moon above the palace, and said softly, "The moonlight is exceptionally beautiful tonight, isn't it?"
Gongyi Xiu was almost scared out of his wits by her standing so close to him.
Although he prided himself on being a romantic and charming woman, who would dare to touch the emperor's woman?
Unlike Shi Changqing, who was without desires, he still wanted to maintain his official position and career.
So, he secretly wiped the cold sweat that had been beading on his forehead with his pale white brocade sleeve, and took the opportunity to step aside as he turned his head, echoing, "The moonlight is indeed beautiful. This kind of night scene is extremely suitable for Your Highness to write poetry, compose essays, and review memorials."
At the same time, he was furious and held a grudge against A Qiu: if he hadn't been so eager to save this girl, how could he, the dignified "Marquis of Liu," have ended up here being harassed by a female official!
Zhao Lingying gracefully turned away, observing his embarrassed expression, and said calmly, "Then why don't we both return to our quarters and each approve official documents, so as not to waste this beautiful moonlight tonight? What do you say?"
It's not good at all. But there's no other choice.
Gongyi Xiu was practically escorted back to the brightly lit Ministry of Personnel by Zhao Lingying. Sure enough, everyone there was dozing off, exhausted from working on their papers.
He listened intently, but the distant sounds of fighting had already faded away, and going back now would be of no use.
The Four Stars of Tianji have not appeared for a long time. Consort Chen should be in the palace serving the Emperor. Consort Zhao is here. Mu Huaying, the "Black Crane" of the former Flying Phoenix Guards, has long since left the palace to marry. So the one fighting with A Qiu on the roof tonight is most likely General Sikong Zhao, the "White Crane".
That woman is all brawn and no brains; A-Qiu shouldn't suffer any losses.
As he was thinking this, feeling a little relieved, he suddenly heard Zhao Lingying's voice behind him.
"I've heard that the Left Prime Minister is a close relative of the Xun family, a prominent clan in Hejian?"
Gongyi Xiu's vigilance, which he had just relaxed, instantly rose to its peak again.
At this time, entering the court to serve as an official involved the "recommendation and selection" system, where local officials recommended prominent figures to the court. Only those from prestigious families had the opportunity to be selected. The Xun family of Hejian was a powerful clan in the north. His master, through some unknown means, had the clan leader recognize him as his nephew. He first entered the local government as a clerk and then gradually rose to the central court.
This process should be watertight and leave no trace.
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