Chapter 14 – A New Beginning

Whether the others left to seek refuge with the lords or to inform on them to Li Mao, Zhan Changfeng didn’t care. She took only the remaining hundred or so people and quietly slipped out of the Imperial City, heading toward Yizhou.

Along the way, Jiang Wei kept stopping himself from speaking, furtively tugging at Zero-Four’s sleeve — the other shadow guards were accustomed to hiding in the shadows, but Zero-Four remained visibly at her side as a personal bodyguard. “Has Your Highness truly encountered an immortal?”

Zero-Four replied with an air of profound mystery, “Take a look at our Highness — isn’t he handsome? Isn’t he impressive?”

Jiang Wei couldn’t bring himself to lie. “Handsome. Impressive.”

“That’s because he was blessed by an immortal!” Zero-Four was thoroughly proud, radiating honor by association. The pride in his voice was so overwhelming that Zhan Changfeng couldn’t help but mentally shut her ears.

And Jiang Wei actually believed it. The look of envious awe he directed at her made her feel rather bemused.

Zero-Four’s tall tale was really on par with her own. If people believed that, then they’d certainly believe what she herself said.

With that thought, Zhan Changfeng felt a few degrees more cheerful.

During the days they traveled toward Yizhou, a certain rumor began to spread among the common people.

By the time they arrived in Yizhou and sat down in a teahouse, they could hear the people at the nearby tables whispering excitedly among themselves.

“I heard the Duke of An persecuted the Emperor and the Crown Prince — he wants to rebel.”

“Of course, everyone knows the current little Emperor is his son.”

“I heard the Crown Prince escaped.”

“Yes, yes! And the Crown Prince himself said that the realm is about to fall into chaos, and that the true Son of Heaven is somewhere in the southeast.”

“Who’s in the southeast? There’s Governor Wu Zimao of Quanyao Commandery, Marquis of Donglin Xu Yishan — quite a few people, aren’t there?”

“The General Who Conquered the South could be considered southeastern too, and she’s an Imperial Princess, no less.”

“Hey, what are you all talking about? Didn’t they say the Crown Prince killed the Emperor and was forced to flee?”

“The Crown Prince is only nine years old. Even if he killed the Emperor, could he hold down the court? Besides, what reason would the Crown Prince have to kill the Emperor? Only those ministers who do nothing but flap their lips would believe that.”

“Don’t be so quick to dismiss it — hasn’t a little Emperor suddenly appeared, with an imperial edict from the late Emperor in hand? Maybe the late Emperor wanted to change the heir, and someone got so enraged and humiliated they snapped.”

Jiang Wei’s blood boiled as he listened. He grabbed for his blade, but Zhan Changfeng lightly flicked her teacup, sending a droplet of water flying into the back of his hand. The sharp sting made him release his grip on the hilt.

“Be still,” she said calmly.

Jiang Wei rubbed the red mark on the back of his hand and didn’t dare say more, only muttering quietly, “Don’t listen to their nonsense, Your Highness.”

That traitorous Li dared to murder the Emperor yet didn’t dare to openly usurp the throne — instead, he concocted a fake imperial edict and a fake imperial grandson. It was truly revolting.

After the coup, Jiang Wei had followed the Crown Prince and fought the enemy side by side. He had witnessed with his own eyes the Emperor about to bestow the Son of Heaven’s Sword upon her. Had it not been to dispel her resolve to die for the country, why would the Emperor have taken back the Son of Heaven’s Sword and driven her away?

In Jiang Wei’s heart, no one but the Emperor and the Crown Prince could ever be called true sovereigns.

“Right and wrong don’t matter,” she said. What mattered was controlling right and wrong.

Zhan Changfeng picked up a pastry and looked at Jiang Wei with an expressionless face. “Master Jiang, this place is not to your benefit.”

At this moment, Jiang Wei was dressed in pink silk and satin, his fingers adorned with golden rings and jade bands, powder applied to his face, while the twenty soldiers from Zhan Changfeng’s unit stood behind him all decked out as bodyguards in a neat row.

Blindingly conspicuous.

Zhan Changfeng, on the other hand, wore an all-black Daoist robe, with white eyebrows, a white beard, and white hair. She already carried a gravitas that far exceeded her peers, and somehow she truly pulled off this disguise — like some otherworldly figure with a youthful face and aged hair, bearing the bearing of a transcendent Daoist immortal.

Jiang Wei suppressed his discomfort and his urge to laugh. He slammed his fist on the table, furious and flustered. “You, Daoist — don’t tell me you’re deceiving me!”

These two figures were truly eye-catching. When they had first entered the teahouse, the entire room had fallen silent in shock, and only gradually had the attention faded. Now that Jiang Wei raised his voice, it easily drew everyone’s gaze once again.

Then everyone heard the eccentric Daoist speak in an unhurried tone: “Your ancestors accumulated too many sins. Their descendants are thin in fortune, and many die young. The fact that you’ve lived to this age is no small feat — but this is as far as it goes. As for the matter of karmic retribution, human effort can no longer stop it. Only by borrowing the forces of heaven, earth, and terrain can it be suppressed, but the feng shui here simply won’t do. Look further.”

Most of those straining to listen couldn’t quite make out exactly what she was saying, yet they felt a strangely melodic rhythm in her voice that made them involuntarily inclined to believe her.

Jiang Wei’s face turned red as he struggled to refute her but found no way. “But I’ve already searched over a dozen commanderies and counties! Can’t you give me a definitive answer? I don’t want to die.”

“Who can be blamed for that? No place in the world can hold down your ancestors’ coffin lids.” Zhan Changfeng unhurriedly tasted a pastry, then set it down with distaste. “Let’s go. We’ll keep looking.”

Zhan Changfeng carried a feng shui compass and led the group wandering through the main streets. At first glance, their procession was imposing and grand, drawing passersby to stop and stare. More than a few busybodies followed closely behind, pointing and speculating.

From morning to dusk, from the east of the city to the west, from the market streets to the outskirts — even the most idle onlookers eventually ran out of patience, spat a few curses, and drifted away one by one. In the end, only a few bored street ruffians remained.

A man named Li San was one who habitually loafed about. When his pockets ran dry, he’d swindle someone here, con someone there, and cheat his way to a bit of small change.

Right now, he was staring at the rings on the fingers of the nouveau riche Jiang Wei, swallowing greedily, yet intimidated by the broad-shouldered and thick-waisted bodyguards standing all around him and not daring to approach.

When the chilly wind of the outskirts blew past, half a grand manor emerged from behind a grove of trees, appearing and disappearing in the shadows. His eyes lit up suddenly. He slapped his companion on the shoulder and laughed wildly, “Look at that foolish rich man.”

His companion had barely formed a puzzled expression before his shoulder was sharply pinched.

Li San shot a glance toward the manor. His companion caught on and quickly said, “Rich men these days truly are all fools with too much money. They’d probably help someone count the coins after being swindled!”

“Ha! Losing money is the least of it — they might end up losing their lives too!”

Li San’s mocking remarks drew furious glares from the bodyguards. The genuine killing aura that had been forged through real battles gave him a fright, his legs going a little weak.

But as a swindler, he had his professional composure. His face maintained a perfect sneer — as calm and unruffled as could be — and he simply waited for the foolish rich man to take the bait.

Sure enough, the wealthy patron called out, “What do you mean by that, young fellow? Speak plainly!”

The patron wore silk and satin, powder on his face, dripping with jewelry — the only thing missing was the words “I am rich” written on his forehead. Yet his manner and speech were crude, his voice carrying a ferocity, like a bandit who had come down from the mountains and dressed up as a wealthy gentleman.

No amount of disguise could conceal the air of a parvenu.

Li San inwardly sneered — this kind of person was the easiest to swindle.

“This lord may not be aware,” he said, pointing toward the distant mansion. “That is one of Yizhou’s most infamous haunted houses. Over the past hundred years, sixteen households have moved in — three hundred and sixty people in total. Two hundred and forty died, ninety-eight went mad, and the rest either fled or were left crippled. When I saw this Daoist leading you here, my heart nearly leapt out of my chest.”

“Exactly, exactly! Don’t let yourself be deceived!”

“We’re not making things up — go ask anyone on the street and you’ll see.”

Could such a place actually exist?

Jiang Wei looked questioningly at Zhan Changfeng. Li San read the look as an accusation and pressed his advantage, adopting a seemingly casual tone. “You’d best be careful — if this Daoist isn’t a swindler, then he’s after your life.”

After saying this, Li San also “quietly” whispered to the person beside him, “For matters of feng shui and grave sites, you really need to find Master Huang.”

His gaze slid sideways toward the Daoist.

Zhan Changfeng shook her head. “You’re wrong. This is an auspicious dwelling.”

Huh?

Li San’s intent to swindle money was genuine, but his words had also been true — that really was a haunted house.

He stared at Zhan Changfeng and secretly marveled. Now this — this was the pinnacle of the con artist’s art. Contradicting the facts outright, yet doing so with composure and total serenity.

Li San clicked his tongue twice and stopped trying to interfere.

Too much was as bad as too little. Once they had suffered the consequences of the house, he would bring in Master Huang — at an even higher price.