Mistake from the start
At that time, she just stubbornly felt that if she liked someone, she should at least stay by his side.
Who would have thought that the "Purple-Clad Immortal" from a prestigious family once acted recklessly and innocently, relying on her youth?
Even so, as proud as she is, she still insists on constantly placing herself between her senior sister and senior brother An. Over time, she will start to feel intimidated.
Therefore, she always dragged Chu Yuanyi, that silly girl, into it. This made all the banter and jokes feel less stiff and awkward.
She thought it would be wonderful if the four of them could just stay like that, laughing and joking, for a long, long time.
Until the day of the sect meeting.
Zhongli Wuyan still clearly remembers that day when her senior sister stood out from the crowd in a white dress. The sunlight fell on her, and suddenly she felt that she could no longer see her face clearly.
The gazes of the crowd toward the senior sister held a mixture of regret, emotion, and an indescribable feeling.
For her, it was like being struck by lightning. She had never imagined that one day her senior sister would be so resolute, leaving the sect without warning.
She couldn't help but look at Senior Brother An, whose eyes were also filled with inexplicable shock.
Unlike her, he slowly stood up.
Then, he uttered the same words as his senior sister, word by word.
Many people later believed that the Four Stars of Tianji were bound by pre-arranged agreement. When they were in the same sect, the four were of one mind and had a very close relationship; later, when the Heavenly Mechanism was activated and the Hidden Guards were summoned to the palace, the four of them gave up their titles and power and went into hiding in the palace together.
Their friendship and indifference to fame and fortune have been regarded as a legendary tale of righteousness in the martial arts world for the next forty years.
But in fact there was no agreement.
The eldest sister chose to enter the palace on her own initiative, without revealing any prior information to them.
Upon learning of this, Senior Brother An immediately and resolutely decided to follow him.
And what about her?
She just felt that the sunlight streaming into her eyes from outside the door was particularly dazzling at that moment.
She suddenly couldn't imagine how desolate the sect would be without her senior sister and senior brother An.
The mountains and rocks remain the same, the springs still murmur, and the green trees and red shade may remain unchanged year after year, but she believes she can never smile again.
Without the brilliant and talented "elegant scholar" Rong Yuexian and the refined and elegant "master flute master" An Shihe, how lonely must the sect be with only the "purple-clad immortal" and the "wind and thunder slasher"?
Her only thought was: No, she didn't want to be left behind here.
Left behind in the vast, desolate mountain gate, where people are far away and only half a lifetime of youthful memories remain.
The wooden beads twirled and lingered between the tiger's mouth. Each bead was like the flickering thoughts that had been swirling before the Buddha over the years.
She realized she was wrong. Wrong from the very beginning.
So where exactly did we go wrong?
Should she not have joined the Heavenly Mystery Hall, but instead lived a carefree and leisurely life in the deep mansion of a noble family as the young lady of Zhongli, or should she not have... fallen in love with An Shihe?
But within the sect and in the martial world, countless women are fond of An Shihe. Even without her, would Senior Sister really end up with Senior Brother An?
I can't figure it out, I can't figure it out. The past years pile up in my heart, leaving only confusion and an ever-increasing heaviness.
She felt she had already paid the price for her youthful ignorance.
She had become a concubine, and she had become a nun. From the day she entered the palace, she no longer had any hope or illusions.
Even though An Shihe would go to Banyue Lake every month to play the flute, she only dared to secretly listen from the lakeside and would no longer carelessly reveal her identity and pester him as before.
She resolved to disappear into the gray ink of history, hoping that everyone would never see her again and forget her.
Even the deep longing and occasional hope in my heart have never faded away.
It's all her fault.
Suddenly, the white candle in front of the Buddha flickered and sparked, making a crackling sound.
At the same time, the old prayer beads that Zhongli Wuyan had used for decades suddenly broke and fell to the ground.
For a moment she was dazed, unsure whether she had used the wrong force or whether the string of beads had become worn and broken on its own.
But in the next instant, almost instinctively, she leaped up from the prayer mat and rushed out the door.
Because she heard the sound of the Tianji Hall's signal rocket.
Large, silvery-white fireworks bloomed in the night sky, resembling the Udumbara flower from the Western Regions.
The location is precisely above the Cloud Dragon Palace, where the emperor's carriage will be staying tonight.
Without a second thought, she quickly removed her disguise and sped towards the Cloud Dragon Palace.
Because the Udumbara flower is the unique mark of Senior Sister Rong Yuexian.
When Zhongli Wuyan arrived at the jade steps of the Cloud Dragon Palace, she was horrified to see the most shocking scene of her life.
Shangguan Jin, the most important minister of the Great Huan Dynasty and a renowned Grand Secretary, stood facing the two men with bloodshot eyes, disheveled hair, and a sword in hand.
The sword he held in his hand was none other than the renowned gentleman's sword, "Binghuang".
Zhongli Wuyan had seen Shangguan Jin before. When she was still a Consort, there were occasional banquets where the emperor and his ministers dined together. Even though she sat in a very remote corner, she had caught a glimpse of the famous prime minister of the Great Huan Dynasty. He was described as having a slender and elegant figure, a refined and dignified appearance, and being a scholar with a dignified and composed demeanor.
It is said that Shangguan Jin served in the palace for fourteen years without ever making the slightest mistake. He remained calm and composed regardless of honor or disgrace. It was precisely this demeanor of a top-class swordsman that earned him unanimous praise and acclaim throughout the court.
She also knew that the Shangguan family's civil officials did not agree to military affairs, so although Shangguan Jin's sword was known as "capable of conquering the entire Jiangnan region," no one in the capital had ever actually seen him wield the sword since he entered officialdom.
The gentleman's sword "Binghuang" at his waist is more of a symbol of the Shangguan family's century-long tradition of integrity, and a constant reminder of self-discipline for him as the guardian of the Shangguan family's tomb.
But at this moment, he drew his sword, Ice Bamboo, and held it in his hand, the tip of which was pointing directly at the gate of the Cloud Dragon Palace.
The person blocking his way was none other than Senior Sister Rong Yuexian.
This was the first time in many years that Zhongli Wuyan had seen Rong Yuexian's true face again.
Rong Yuexian stood tall, her black hair shimmering like a waterfall, dressed in white, a folding fan with an inscription in her hand gently waving, her eyes gleaming with a hidden light, a manifestation of her innate Daoist cultivation reaching its peak.
Zhongli Wuyan glanced at him and knew that if Rong Yuexian hadn't appeared to stop him and secretly used the rhythm of her folding fan to lock onto the invisible sword energy that Shangguan Jin was constantly unleashing, Shangguan Jin would probably have already relied on the power of his sword to break through the central gate of the Cloud Dragon Palace.
An Shihe had already quietly stood aside, holding a jade flute, to support Rong Yuexian.
His gaze was serious, ready to strike at any moment, a far cry from his former easygoing and carefree demeanor, clearly indicating that he had encountered a formidable foe.
With a single glance, Zhongli Wuyan knew the situation was dire. An Shihe was on high alert because he dared not be distracted for even a moment. If his momentum faltered, Shangguan Jin could focus all his efforts on Rong Yuexian, who would then be directly confronted by the sharp edge of the ice bamboo and would surely die.
Because the sword intent that Shangguan Jin was unleashing at this moment was filled with a resolute and tragic determination that meant certain death.
Rong Yuexian and An Shihe were already renowned leaders of the righteous path in the martial arts world decades ago. As they grew older, their skills only improved. Now, facing Shangguan Jin, a junior, they dared not relax for a moment, which shows how pure the Ice Bamboo Sword Intent of the Shangguan family had been honed in Shangguan Jin's hands.
She immediately let out a silvery laugh, intending to distract Shangguan Jin and also to let her senior sisters and brothers know that she had arrived, saying, "Shangguan Thirteen, what's wrong with you?"
Upon hearing her voice, Rong Yuexian and An Shihe immediately showed signs of relief.
The crime of regicide is no small matter. Regardless of whether Sima Yan in the Cloud Dragon Palace behind him deserves to die, if he dies at the hands of Shangguan Jin now, the situation will become uncontrollable.
With the two of them working together, it was clear they were no longer confident of stopping Shangguan Jin. However, Shangguan Jin had no intention of harming innocent people, hence the standoff.
Under the light of the Ice Bamboo Sword, Shangguan Jin's face remained unchanged as he said in a deep voice, "This senior is dressed in purple, and must be Zhongli Wuyan, the 'Purple-Clad Immortal' among the Four Mansions. However, I still advise the four of you not to get involved in this mess today, as it is my personal vendetta."
Rong Yuexian also said in a deep voice, "Even if it is your family feud, it is a matter of state if it involves the Emperor. Our duty as the Four Mansions entering the palace is to protect the Emperor's safety. Lord Chancellor, have you considered the families behind you when you act so arbitrarily?"
Shangguan Jin suddenly laughed loudly, and when the laughter subsided, his eyes gleamed as he said, "If a family cannot even protect its own daughters and grandchildren, then what is the point of a bunch of good-for-nothing scoundrels living in this world, scheming and despicable?"
Zhongli Wuyan immediately understood that something must have happened to his niece, Empress Shangguan, within the palace, which had caused Shangguan Jin to be so furious.
Because only two members of the Shangguan clan entered the palace and held high positions in this generation, the one who entered the palace was Shangguan Yanxiu, the niece of Shangguan Jin, who was known as the most talented woman in the Great Huan Dynasty, and the one who entered the court was Shangguan Jin, the Grand Secretary.
Zhongli Wuyan had long heard that the Shangguan family was known for its approachable and friendly family traditions, where people of all ages and genders were treated equally. They did not use seniority to oppress others, but rather guided and taught them as if they were teachers and students, or fathers and sons. Shangguan Jin was a generation older than Shangguan Yanxiu, but he had always regarded this niece in the family as a close friend despite their age difference. The two of them, one working in the inner court and the other in the outer court, were comrades-in-arms who assisted the court and fought side by side.
Shangguan Yanxiu is the jewel in the crown of the Shangguan clan and even the entire Da Huan dynasty's culture of rites and music. If anything were to happen to her, Shangguan Jin, as her uncle and the head of the Shangguan family, would certainly hold her accountable and would not let her off the hook.
An Shihe finally spoke, “If the Grand Chancellor is saddened by the Empress’s passing, please go to Qiwu Palace to investigate in detail. Your delay before the Emperor is truly pointless.”
These words resounded in Zhongli Wuyan's ears, leaving her incredulous and utterly astonished.
She was a concubine of the late emperor. Empress Wen of the Great Huan Dynasty had been in the inner palace with her for many years. Although she was well-known outside and admired by the aristocratic families of the Southern Dynasty, she had never had a strong presence in the inner palace. For many years, she claimed to be ill and lived in seclusion, rarely paying attention to the affairs of the harem. Instead, she was not as prominent as the several beautiful and talented ladies-in-waiting around the emperor.
Even so, her kind and unassuming attitude makes everyone who meets her feel good about her.
Even though she lived remotely in the inner palace and rarely showed her face, no one dared to disrespect her.
Although Empress Shangguan had claimed to be ill for many years, Zhongli Wuyan had also caught a glimpse of her from afar. With her keen eyesight, she did not find Empress Shangguan to be frail or sickly. Moreover, she was in the prime of her youth. How could she suddenly pass away like that?
Zhongli Wuyan couldn't help but recall that when the Empress passed away, the palace should have first rung the bells to announce her death, followed by a great mourning throughout the palace. But that night, she hadn't heard any unusual activity in the palace. Instead, it was Shangguan Jin who stormed into the palace with his sword that had alerted her.
She gradually realized that there must be something fishy about Empress Shangguan's death, and the imperial family also knew that the matter was of great importance and that Shangguan Jin must be informed before any action could be taken. Therefore, before Shangguan Jin and his family accepted this fact, they could not hold a funeral rite.
Shangguan Jin coldly replied, "Investigate what? How can we investigate? Right now, that place is a sea of fire, with no one alive or dead in sight. What's there to investigate?"
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