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墨書 Inktalez
Junjou has a population of nearly 9,800 households and governs the three counties of Wudang, Yunxiang, and Fengli. It is located 900 miles northwest of Chang'an, 885 miles northeast of Luoyang, 240 miles east to Dengzhou, and can be reached by water to Xiangzhou in the southeast, while to the south lies Fangzhou, and to the west is Gold State.
Within the state, there is the famous mountain Taihe (Wudang Mountain), situated 80 miles south of Wudang County, rising 2,500 zhang high. It is said that the Earth Immortal Yin Changsheng attained enlightenment and ascended here.
Forty miles northwest of the county flows the Han River, which has an island in its waters called Canglang Isle. To the southeast are the Salt Pans, and Yunxiang County is known as the land of the Ancient Elk Kingdom. The county features the Western Mountains and borders the Han River to the south.
During the Sui Dynasty, Fengli County belonged to Gold State, but it was transferred to Junjou during the Zhenguan period. Within this county lies a mountain named Heavenly Heart Mountain, which spans a hundred miles and resembles a city with gates on all sides, said to be inhabited by celestial beings.
After being demoted to Junjou, Li Chengqian seemed to find great relief, spending his days wandering through mountains and waters, discussing philosophy with immortals in the mountains, reveling in fields of flowers, and focusing on literary works, living quite freely.
However, his attentive Maid occasionally noticed him shedding tears as he gazed northwest at sunset, sitting alone under a dim lamp at night, unable to find rest.
Though life here is not affluent, the local customs are rich; families pass down poetry and literature, with ink fragrance filling the streets. Children can often recite verses well, while many elders are devoted to cultivating their spirits, frequently gathering on Taihe Mountain to dine on clouds and drink dew, deeply exploring the ways of heaven and humanity.
It must be said that such a place is very suitable for Prince Li Tai.
One day, Li Chengqian planned to explore the Western Mountains but ultimately took his Guard with him to the banks of the Han River.
Although these Western Mountains lack the grandeur of Wudang, they are full of spirit. Their shape resembles a treasure cover—somewhat majestic yet subtly elegant. However, because they resemble a treasure cover, Li Chengqian had no choice but to abandon his visit to the Western Mountains for fear that someone might use it against him. Living so cautiously truly evokes pity.
Due to concerns that Li Chengqian might stir up trouble, his dignified Guard was also quite tense. However, this place has simple folk customs and many believers in Daoism; despite their poverty, they leave their doors unlocked at night and do not pick up lost items. Thus, there was little for Li Chengqian to worry about.
Li Chengqian should have been handsome and charming; although he had a large belly, it did not overshadow his elegance. Yet at this moment, he was filled with sorrow; his brows were furrowed with hidden melancholy as he gazed at Canglang Isle in the middle of the river and glanced at his Guard, softly reciting:
"With aspirations like clouds and dragons, who knows my hidden treasures? Better to return to the mountains than delay my grooming until tomorrow..."
This poem expressed unending frustration but could only serve as quiet solace. These guards were said to protect Li Chengqian, but they were more like watchers; if this poem were to spread, someone would surely claim that he still harbored treacherous intentions.
The air after rain was refreshing; river winds caressed the reeds, stirring up clouds of white fluff. The misty sandbanks mirrored his past life—watching it all became dull. Thus, he turned back home.
Just as the Guard returned to the street in front of the palace, he noticed something unusual!
The street was eerily quiet, with not a single passerby in sight!
The palace gates were tightly shut, and a sweet scent lingered in the air.
The Guard Commander was a seasoned middle-aged man. He raised his hand slightly, and the soldiers quickly moved to protect Li Chengqian, while the Commander placed his hand on the hilt of his sword and slowly approached the palace door.
"Thud!"
His leather boots stepped into a pool of blood, and even through the boots, he could feel the warmth of the blood!
"Boom!"
The Commander slowly pushed open the heavy gates, and streams of blood flowed over the threshold, spilling out onto the street like serpents of crimson.
"Protect the King…!"
The Commander turned and shouted, but he saw that the soldiers were staring blankly behind him!
He suddenly drew his sword, and upon looking back, his hand trembled uncontrollably!
In the courtyard behind the palace gate, the surroundings were filled with corpses; the courtyard had almost turned into a sea of bodies and a pool of blood. A group of black-armored Demon Mask warriors was finishing off the enemies on the ground!
The Xu Zhen wiped her long sword against her wrist guard with a hiss as she sheathed it, then walked step by step to the palace gate, removing her fearsome Demon Mask to reveal a face as resolute as if carved from stone.
"King, do you still remember Xu Zhen?"
Li Chengqian was momentarily stunned, seemingly shocked to see Xu Zhen. However, this emotion was quickly replaced by a wave of intense sorrow.
Although exiled, he was still very aware of the changes in the court. Moreover, Xu Zhenzhi's name resonated throughout the Tang Dynasty, making him an idol for many young men. News about Xu Zhen's promotion spread quickly and was known to the public in no time.
This was also the reason for Li Chengqian's sorrow. In his heart, Xu Zhen's presence here perhaps had only one purpose.
"You... are you... sent by him to kill me..."
The "him" that Li Chengqian referred to could be either Li Zhi or Li Shimin; no one knew for sure. However, the bitterness and sadness in his eyes made Xu Zhenxin feel inexplicably uncomfortable.
Recalling the past, he had high hopes for Li Chengqian. If it weren't for the concern that history might change, he would have truly wanted to help Li Chengqian ascend to the throne. Unfortunately, everything had turned out like this.
Not wanting Li Chengqian to worry and grieve further, he clasped his fists and bowed, saying, "Left Tunwei, Xu Zhen, I bring a decree to welcome His Highness back to the capital!"
"So you’re not here to kill me..." Li Chengqian sighed in relief. Only then did he take a moment to survey the sea of corpses around him. Since Xu Zhen was not there to kill him, she must be there to save him. Looking at the bodies scattered everywhere, with only a few being from the royal household, Li Chengqian's intelligence quickly pieced together the situation.
"Close the doors and clean up; I want to catch up with the general."
Although Li Chengqian was under surveillance, he was still a prince, and the commander did not dare disobey him. He quickly ordered people to clean up the battlefield as Li Chengqian walked towards the courtyard on his left. Xu Zhen signaled her Five Hundred Riders with a glance, and they silently exited the royal residence.
The commander instinctively followed behind Li Chengqian, but Xu Zhen's scabbard blocked his chest. Without looking at him, she asked coldly, "What position do you currently hold?"
The commander felt somewhat perplexed. He had taken monitoring Li Chengqian as a matter of course and did not see anything wrong with it. He immediately replied, "Reporting to the general, I am the commander of Puwang Mansion's guards."
Xu Zhen snorted dismissively and glanced at him with an expressionless face before saying, "Since you are just a minor commander, do you think you can listen in on my conversation with His Highness?"
The commander's expression changed as he wanted to argue back. However, sensing the strong smell of blood on Xu Zhen that was thick like honey, he ultimately bowed his head and stopped in his tracks.
A smile appeared at the corner of Li Chengqian's mouth. Although he was just a minor commander, being present was better than being absent; he usually felt quite frustrated but finally felt much more at ease today.
This small building in the courtyard was where Li Chengqian kept his books. The scent of ink wafted through as he casually entered and pointed to a table on his left before saying to Xu Zhen, "The general is welcome to make yourself comfortable."
Xu Zhen, armored and unable to sit comfortably, simply smiled and cupped her hands in greeting, saying, "Your Majesty need not be so polite. Sovereign Dragon Body has been unwell but has recently improved. I have missed you greatly, and thus I was ordered to come and escort you to Chang'an."
Throughout the journey, they faced numerous life-and-death battles, and Xu Zhen had no time for idle chatter with Li Chengqian. However, Li Chengqian had already analyzed Xu Zhen's words over a hundred times in his mind.
"General, we are old acquaintances. I do not wish to waste our mental energy. May I ask why everyone is so eager for me to return to Chang'an?"
In response to Li Chengqian's question, Xu Zhen wanted to reveal the incident involving Fang Xuanling, but her lips moved a few times before she finally managed to say, "I am merely acting on orders..."
Li Chengqian could not hide his disappointment. As he had mentioned earlier, his channels of information were still intact, and he was well aware of what was happening in the Court. The power struggles at higher levels were difficult for ordinary people to see through, but for someone in Li Chengqian's position, all the conspiracies were merely tacit understandings.
He was also a wise and intelligent person. After years of experience, he had become increasingly composed. Thus, he seemed to have guessed about Li Shimin's intentions in summoning him back to the capital.
Li Chengqian slowly sat down and began to grind ink at a leisurely pace. Then he took out a bamboo brush and carefully started writing.
His writing was elegant yet grand, with small characters that were neat and pleasing to the eye, full of spirit. The paper absorbed the ink like mist, while Xu Zhen focused on his eyes.
Tears fell from Li Chengqian, large droplets rolling down and wetting the characters he had written, causing them to blur. Unable to contain his emotions any longer, he wiped his tears with his sleeve and smiled at Xu Zhen.
"I have lost my composure."
He rolled up the letter on the desk and carefully placed it into a bamboo tube. After thinking for a moment, he took it out again and turned to search through the bookshelf behind him. He retrieved an old scroll and gently caressed it before placing it into another bamboo tube along with the letter.
"General, I apologize for troubling you with this trip. As for Chang'an, I will not be going. These two items must be personally delivered to Sovereign. If you find it difficult or fear repercussions, I will not make things hard for you."
After speaking, Li Chengqian lightly pressed his hand on the paper cutter on the desk.
Xu Zhen understood Li Chengqian's intentions well; this Prince of Pu would rather die than return to Chang'an. If Xu Zhen worried about failing her mission and facing punishment, then Li Chengqian was willing to sever ties!
"Your Majesty... why go through such hardship..."
With a light sigh, he felt somewhat puzzled. Before his exile, Li Chengqian had desperately wanted to become emperor, yet now that the Sovereign had given him an opportunity, he rejected it. Could it be that he was truly cultivating on Wudang Mountain and had seen through the worldly affairs?
He knew that the truth of the matter was far from what he imagined, but he also admired Li Chengqian's choices. He took the bamboo tube, stuffed it into the already empty gourd, concealed it properly, tied it to his back, and solemnly bowed to Li Chengqian.
"Since that is the case, I shall return to report."
Li Chengqian did not expect Xu Zhen to agree so readily. If it were someone else, they would have forcibly taken him back to Chang'an.
Perhaps he finally understood why Xu Zhen could remain neutral during his competition with Li Zhi for favor and why the Sovereign valued her so highly.
"I will not see you off."
Li Chengqian said lightly, exchanging a glance with Xu Zhen. Both could feel the respect in each other's eyes.
After Xu Zhen left the room, Li Chengqian slowly knelt down, facing northwest and bowing three times. Meanwhile, in the palace, Li Shimin, looking out towards the southeast from the window, suddenly sneezed.
He frowned tightly and murmured to himself, "Azure Sparrow..."
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