The Bad Guys: Everyone, let’s revive the Tang Dynasty together!

Chapter 528 Standing atop the First Peak of Wu Mountain (Part 9)
Raozhou Poyang, Xuanwu Mountain Celestial Master's Mansion.

The chill had not completely dissipated by mid-March, especially in the Jiangnan region where rivers meander and lake breezes blow. Xuanwu Mountain was shrouded in layers of swirling mist, and the usually serene Taoist holy site was now filled with a chilling atmosphere, even blurring the outlines of the rocks in the fog.

The dark mass of armored soldiers had completely blocked all the paths leading up and down the mountain. The sound of horses' hooves grew louder as a group of officers and soldiers escorted the Poyang military commander as he rode up and reined in his horses before the mountain gate.

The military commander looked up at the mountain gate hidden in the mist, where the three large characters "Celestial Master's Mansion" could be seen faintly. His gaze was cold and deep. After a moment's thought, he waved his hand.

"Get in!"

At the command, the soldiers behind him surged into the mountain gate like wolves. The clatter of footsteps and the clanging of metal armor suddenly filled the once tranquil courtyard of the Taoist temple. Startled, the forest birds flapped their wings and flew away in panic, leaving the forest even more desolate.

The military commander did not dismount, but remained seated on his horse, seemingly leisurely surveying this orthodox Taoist sect that had survived Zhu Wen's siege and still enjoys a worldwide reputation.

The emperor of Yangzhou and Prime Minister Xu personally led an expedition to Ezhou, and the water and land troops of Poyang were also in the relief force. As the military commissioner of Poyang, he should have been in Jiangzhou to receive the emperor. The reason he was here was because he had received a death order from Xu Wen.

Thinking of Xu Xiang's orders, the military commander's eyes grew even colder.

The disappearance of those women in the suburbs of Yangzhou is said to have kept Prime Minister Xu up at night, and even the elite troops he sent to hunt them down have vanished without a trace, neither alive nor dead. The whole affair is suspicious.

The military commander knew that Prime Minister Xu was in a difficult situation recently. Yangzhou was in chaos, and even Minister Zhang had died. Everyone knew that Prime Minister Xu had a great feud with the emperor, but now the northern army was pressing in, and the country was on the verge of collapse. Even the greatest personal grudges could only be put aside for the time being, and dealing with the current crisis was the most important thing.

However, as Xu Wen's confidant, this military commander of Poyang knew that Xu Wen was not without other plans, and to have a way out, one must make corresponding preparations. The Celestial Master's Mansion, a place that seemed detached from worldly affairs but had close ties with the "emperor" in Yangzhou, naturally became the primary target and the purpose of his visit.

The charges against the Celestial Master's Mansion have been settled. Harboring a wanted criminal is a minor offense, while secretly colluding with the Northern Dynasty is a major one. Not to mention Xu Wen, even the military commander of Poyang vaguely feels that Jiangnan is as naked as if it were not wearing pants in front of the Northern Dynasty, with almost no secrets to keep. With so much intelligence being leaked, the Celestial Master's Mansion is probably implicated and must be taken down to pry their mouths open.

However, just as the soldier was pondering this, his brows furrowed even more deeply.

The mountain was too quiet. Apart from the noise made by his men, there was not a single human voice inside the mountain gate. There was not even a panicked question or reprimand, not even a Taoist boy's exclamation.

This is definitely not the reaction a normal Taoist temple should have.

Not right.

"What's going on?" The military commander's voice was low and clearly displeased. His gaze swept over a subordinate general beside him who was responsible for monitoring the movements of the Celestial Master's Mansion. "How were you keeping watch? Where are the people inside?"

The adjutant's face paled, and he hurriedly bowed, saying, "General, when I changed shifts yesterday evening, I saw Taoist boys coming and going, and the cooking smoke was still burning. This... I really don't know what happened overnight..."

Soon, a captain came running back, panting, and shouted in astonishment from afar, "General...it's inside! There's no one inside! Not a single person!"

The military commander's heart sank. Without waiting for the captain to approach, he immediately dismounted, gripped the hilt of his sword at his waist, and strode across the threshold. A group of officers and soldiers hurriedly followed him.

A group of officers escorted him through the main hall where the Three Pure Ones were enshrined. The incense burner on the altar was cold, and the altar was spotless, with even traces of careful wiping visible.

Walking around to the backyard, the doors of the alchemy room, guest room, and dining hall were either pushed open or were already open, and all the rooms were empty. The beds were neatly made, the tables and chairs were wiped clean, the scriptures on the bookshelves were arranged in an orderly manner, and there wasn't even a spark or ember in the kitchen stove.

Everything maintained an excessive neatness and tranquility, as if the people here were not fleeing in haste, but rather embarking on a leisurely collective journey.

But how is that possible? How could the entire Celestial Master's Mansion, from top to bottom, have been so thoroughly and cleanly extricated?

A surge of anger mixed with unease welled up in the military commander's heart. His face turned ashen, and he roared, "Search! Search every inch of the ground! Every inch of the floor, every wall, behind cabinets, under beds—look for secret rooms and passages. I don't believe they can sprout wings and fly away!"

The soldiers dared not delay and immediately sprang into action.

In an instant, the entire Celestial Master's Mansion was filled with the sounds of rummaging through chests and cabinets. Futons were kicked aside, scriptures were torn down, and walls and floors were pounded on in an attempt to find any hidden mechanisms or gaps.

However, these actions, besides stirring up more dust and creating even greater chaos, yielded nothing. This century-old Celestial Master's Mansion seemed to have been completely hollowed out overnight, leaving only a perfect empty shell.

An anger and sense of powerlessness, as if being manipulated by an invisible hand and having all his actions calculated by others, instantly enveloped the military commander.

He stood in the center of the empty hall, looking around. The deathly silence was even more unsettling than the shouts and cries of battle on a battlefield.

“General,” a junior officer stepped forward cautiously, handing over a plain note found on the incense table, “this was the only thing we found on the table.”

The military commander grabbed the slip of paper. The ink on it had long since dried, and it was a line of plain, unremarkable regular script: "The Way follows nature, and cause and effect are repaid in due time."

There was no salutation, no signature. But these eight seemingly random characters were both a prophecy and a cold mockery, sending chills down one's spine.

The envoy stared intently at the handwriting, his grip on the note tightening unconsciously, before suddenly pressing down on the hilt of his sword and looking around.

In that instant, he seemed to sense that the person who wrote those words had already anticipated his arrival and was standing somewhere unseen, calmly watching his current futility and embarrassment.

How did the people from the Celestial Master's Mansion manage to do that? Under their close surveillance, how could so many people leave so quietly without leaving a single clue?
Could it be that Xu Xiang's every move has already been seen through? Beneath this seemingly peaceful Jiangnan landscape, how many unknown undercurrents and passages still lurk? And those Jinyiwei of the Northern Dynasty... do they really have eyes and ears everywhere?!
A flurry of thoughts rushed through his mind, causing a cold sweat to break out on the back of the Poyang military commander.

He turned around abruptly, inexplicably no longer daring to linger on the mountain, and strode away.

"Immediately send a messenger to report this situation in detail to Prime Minister Xu, without omitting a single word!"

------

Meanwhile, in Yueyang City.

The vast expanse of Dongting Lake stretches for eight hundred li, its waters and sky merging seamlessly. Early spring sunlight filters through the thin mist, casting shimmering golden ripples across the boundless lake.

The distant mountains are like dark eyebrows, and Junshan Island is only a hazy silhouette in the rising mist. The lake breeze carries dampness and a slight chill, blowing the "Tang" banner on the top of Yueyang City, making it flutter loudly.

On and around the city walls, laborers and soldiers were still busy cleaning up the aftermath of the battle, moving broken stones, and filling in the deep trenches. The air still faintly carried the lingering smoke of gunpowder and the faint smell of blood, but the outcome was already decided. The Northern army had captured Yueyang two days earlier, and the Chu general Qin Yanhui had committed suicide.

Then, this city welcomed its true master. At this moment, the group is slowly ascending the stone steps of Yueyang Tower, which has stood majestically despite the ravages of war.

The young man at the head of the group wore a scarlet round-necked robe and a black turban. He glanced at the stone carvings and eaves along the way from time to time, walking with a calm and unhurried pace, without the slightest hint of arrogance due to being in newly conquered territory.

Half a step behind him stood a woman, also simply dressed but whose beauty was undeniable. Her phoenix eyes swept over him as she carefully observed this man of unparalleled elegance. Behind them followed several other beautiful women, each with their own unique charm, dressed casually but quietly accompanying them.

Reaching the top floor and standing by the railing, the view suddenly opens up. The vast Dongting Lake stretches out before you, and on its surface, the warships of the Northern Army Navy patrol in an orderly fashion, their oars cutting through the blue waves, leaving trails of white.

Near the lake shore, in the shallow waters, the remains of the former Chu naval camp still stand. In some areas, charred wooden stakes protrude from the water, telling the story of how tragic the naval battle that decided the fate of Chu half a month ago was.

Xiao Yan placed his hand on the railing, gently stroking the smooth wooden surface that had been worn smooth by countless ancestors and eroded by the wind and rain of time, and then swept his gaze over the landscape he had just come under his control.

A lake breeze blew in his face, fluttering the jade pendant at his waist and bringing with it a moist and refreshing mist.

"Two years ago, I passed by this place and always felt that there was plenty of time in the future and that I would have the opportunity to climb the tower and see the magnificent view of 'the mist rising from the Yunmeng Marsh' sooner or later. However, I missed it in a hurry because of military affairs."

His voice was calm, as if he were chatting with the empress beside him, or as if he were talking to himself: "I never thought that I would actually be standing here today, only to find this scene before my eyes."

The Empress stood beside him, her phoenix eyes also gazing at the vast lake, and said softly, "The landscape remains the same, but the world has changed. The clouds that Dongting Lake has swallowed and exhaled have probably witnessed more rises and falls than are recorded in history."

Xiao Yan nodded slightly, turning his gaze from the lake surface to the lakeside of Junshan Island, as if searching for something.

After a while, he casually mentioned, "Speaking of which, the lakeside mansion where I stayed on the island when I returned to Changsha from Raojiang last time was quite beautiful. Especially the pavilion, which had a wide view, facing Yueyang Tower across the lake, and the view from the window was full of lake scenery. Unfortunately, the pavilion has been destroyed in this fierce battle."

He said this in a normal tone, and it seemed as if he didn't mean anything by it.

Ji Ruxue, who was gazing at the lake in a daze, couldn't help but tremble slightly upon hearing this, and a faint blush appeared at the base of her ears. However, she did not turn her head, but lowered her eyelashes, staring at the fine wood grain of the floorboards. She gently pursed her lips, quietly hiding the sudden smile or embarrassment, as if there was something extremely interesting under the floorboards.

How could she forget that attic? She would never forget it. The moonlight that night, the first flutter of her heart and the tenderness, were all gently connected by his seemingly casual remark, "Opening the window reveals a view of the lake."

Thinking of this, Ji Ruxue finally couldn't help but secretly raise her eyes and give Xiao Yan a light glare. This scoundrel, he's always been good at playing tricks on people like this…

A little later, Qianwu's lips also curved slightly. She was thoughtful and her gaze swept over Ji Ruxue's slightly flushed neck before casually looking away at the lake, without saying a word.

Xiao Yan took in Ji Ruxue's forced composure and barely concealed embarrassment. Seeing her secretly glaring at him, he chuckled and shook his head, saying nothing more, as if he were truly just lamenting the passing of a beautiful scene.

Upon hearing this, the Empress simply smiled and naturally followed up, "If Your Majesty feels regretful, why not order the local government to rebuild that pavilion on its original site according to the old system after the situation stabilizes? That way, we can keep a memento."

Xiao Yan turned around, leaning against the railing, facing the crowd, the slight melancholy on his face gone. He waved his hand and said gently:
"No need. My words came on a whim; how could I possibly initiate construction on them? The value of a pavilion lies in whether it is needed by the people living here. If Yueyang prospers in the future, the people live in peace and contentment, and tourists come to visit, then even without my decree, funds will naturally be raised to build new pavilions and towers—that would be a truly vibrant scene. If the people are impoverished and suffering, even if I issue an edict to build magnificent palaces, they will be nothing more than empty buildings that no one cares about and that waste money and resources. The rise and fall of a building should follow the trend of the times and the will of the people, not depend on my personal likes and dislikes at the moment."

As he finished speaking, the Empress seemed to be deep in thought, and slowly nodded, her eyes revealing a deep sense of approval.

Seeing the vast expanse of misty waters in Jiangnan for the first time, I couldn't help but come back to my senses.

She looked at Xiao Yan and couldn't help but smile slightly as she followed his words: "Your Majesty is quite right. I have seen many yurts and wilderness, but only today do I realize the magnificence of the landscape in Jiangnan. However, whether it is the felt tents on the grasslands or the pavilions in Jiangnan, their essence is to protect people and support human life. Building in accordance with the needs of the people is the way to last."

As soon as she finished speaking, and the Empress was about to reply, a series of light footsteps suddenly came from the stairs.

Everyone turned their heads and saw Zhong Xiao Kui walking quickly up the stairs, her flying fish dress making her look even more charming.

She stopped a few steps away from Xiao Yan, clasped her hands in a salute, and said, "Your Majesty, the person arrived safely in Puqi yesterday, and the Embroidered Uniform Guard is escorting him to Yueyang."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yan simply nodded casually: "Make sure to take good care of them."

"Yes." Zhong Xiaokui accepted the order, gave a slight bow to the Empress and the concubines, and then quietly withdrew from Yueyang Tower.

This little incident did not break the atmosphere. Xiao Yan continued to lean on the railing with the women to enjoy the view and tell some interesting stories. The building became quiet for a while, with only the faint sound of the lake breeze blowing through the eaves bells and the sound of ships breaking the waves in the distance.

Meanwhile, on the official road from Puqi to Yueyang, several carriages, escorted by a group of Imperial Guards and some Taoist priests from the Celestial Master's Mansion, were speeding westward.

Inside the middle carriage sat Princess Shangrao, Lu Linxuan, and the Celestial Master's wife, Xu Huan.

Princess Shangrao held a swaddled baby in her arms. The baby was fast asleep inside, but Princess Shangrao's face remained pale, and her eyes held a deep sense of unease. She would occasionally peek nervously through the gap in the carriage curtain at the unfamiliar scenery outside.

Lu Linxuan sat beside her, his sword resting on his lap, his expression calm, though he occasionally drifted off into a daze for a long time.

Xu Huan sat opposite her, seemingly resting with her eyes closed, but her brows were slightly furrowed and her fingers trembled slightly from time to time, revealing the turmoil in her heart.

Although the entire Celestial Master's Mansion was safe and sound under the arrangement of the Embroidered Uniform Guard and was hiding in various parts of Jiangnan, she still couldn't help but worry about her husband and son who were trapped in Yangzhou. She only tried her best to remain calm because she wanted to protect the three of them.

Sensing the carriage slowing down, Lu Linxuan said softly, "We're almost in Yueyang."

Upon hearing this, Shangrao instinctively tightened her grip on the child's arms, her voice trembling involuntarily: "Lin Xuan, are we... really going to see... that person?"

Lu Linxuan gently covered Shangrao's hand with his own: "Sister-in-law, there is no need to be too worried. If Ninth Brother really had malicious intentions, he would not have let me go south in Jiangling, nor would he have specially sent people to keep an eye on our safety. The fact that he is willing to see us on his own initiative at least shows that... there is still room for maneuver."

Xu Huan, sitting opposite him, slowly opened his eyes and replied, "Miss Lu is right. Princess, think about it carefully. If the Emperor truly intended to exterminate the ruler, why would he go to such lengths to protect us? The safe relocation of the Celestial Master's Mansion was also due to the covert assistance of the Embroidered Uniform Guard. This summons may not necessarily be a disaster. Moreover, I observe that although the Emperor's methods are swift and decisive, he is not a man of indiscriminate killing. His words and actions are all measured."

Lu Linxuan nodded upon hearing this, and smiled at Shangrao again: "Yes, sister-in-law, if he were truly such an unreasonable person, I wouldn't have felt comfortable bringing you and my niece here. When we meet later, we just need to be frank with each other."

As Shangrao listened to their conversation, her shoulders and neck relaxed slightly. Although unease still lingered in her eyes, she was no longer as panicked as before. She looked down at the young girl in her arms, took a deep breath, and seemed to draw courage from the child's sleeping face.

Lu Linxuan's gaze swept over the approaching outline of the camp outside the window, and he said softly, "Look, we've arrived."

(End of this chapter)