Chapter 19: Changing Occupations to a Messenger

Three days later, in Chang’an City, at the Duke of Jin’s residence, the Broken Sword Hall.

The Broken Sword Hall was where the Jin Duke’s apothecary, Moke, practiced his swordsmanship. Its name signified “resting only when the sword is broken.” Inside, dozens, even hundreds, of broken swords were displayed, a testament to Moke’s rigorous training in years past. However, since he took over as regent and was busy with state affairs, he had not entered the hall for years. It wasn’t until three years ago, when Apothecary Yuan requested the space to establish the Embroidered Uniform Guard, that the hall once again echoed with the sound of whistling winds.

The Embroidered Uniform Guard was not an official institution of the Great Zhou Empire; few in Chang’an even knew of its existence. Apothecary Moke paid it little mind, but Apothecary Yuan, keen to cultivate elite assassins in secret, pursued her plan regardless.

Using her father’s wealth and resources, Apothecary Yuan quickly made the Guard formidable. Great Zhou was not short of exceptional talents, only lacking a discerning eye to recognize them. Apothecary Yuan merely provided a ladder for ambitious individuals to climb social ranks, and many scrambled to ascend. To date, the Guard boasted 220 “Iron Embroidered” rank members at the lowest level, 16 “Bronze Embroidered” first-class members, and 3 “Silver Embroidered” second-class members—a considerable force around Chang’an.

Now, three Silver Embroidered members knelt in the Broken Sword Hall, faces flushed with shame, unable to meet the eyes of their leader who had raised them.

“Three days ago, you said within three days you would uncover the spies in Anguo Temple,” Apothecary Yuan said calmly. “Now that three days have passed, do you have any leads?”

“Commander,” one Silver Embroidered spoke, “we reviewed the temple’s monk roster over the past year. Aside from a forty-year-old monk transferred from the county three months ago and three monks who passed away this year, there have been no other changes or suspicious newcomers.”

“Anything suspicious otherwise?”

The three exchanged glances. “There is one matter we are unsure about…”

“Speak!”

“We found that at intervals, several nobles visit Anguo Temple overnight, only leaving the next day. Among them, Duke Qin visited most frequently, followed by the Thousand Gold Duke and the Earl of Huairen County.”

“Do you have a list?”

The Silver Embroidered quickly handed over a list. Apothecary Yuan glanced at it; it detailed names and the number of late-night visits to Anguo Temple. Duke Qin Moke topped the list with ten visits in the past six months.

She knew Duke Qin well—greedy, ruthless, deceitful, and treacherous—yet he was the younger half-brother of the current emperor, born of the same mother. If Duke Qin’s example lacked weight, the names Yuwen Xuan, Li Bao, Helan Ken, and others on the list were even more formidable, notorious for their fierce and unscrupulous reputations. Such a gathering could never bode well.

Yet at the bottom of the list was a name she knew best—

“Duke of Jin, once.”

At that moment, Apothecary Yuan recalled a conversation from a year ago. When the Embroidered Uniform Guard received rumors of human trafficking at Anguo Temple, she saw it as an opportunity to strike Buddhism. Excitedly, she discussed it with her father, who sternly warned her to cease all investigations into Anguo Temple, or he would withdraw his support for the Guard.

After a brief silence, Apothecary Yuan placed the list over a candle on the table. Once the paper burned to ashes, she said coldly, “You may leave.”

The Silver Embroidered hurried out, as if pardoned.

Apothecary Yuan turned her gaze to the battle sword displayed at the highest position in the Broken Sword Hall.

It was the only sword not broken—a rusted, scarred blade with many notches along the edge, the weapon her father wielded in his first battle, bearing witness to his fierce initial combat.

She used to regard this sword with deep respect, as a symbol of her father’s valor; now, all she saw was wear, decay, and degradation.

“Father, I will not allow the Apothecary clan to be disgraced,” she said with deliberate emphasis, “never.”

Back in her chambers, Apothecary Yuan summoned two maidservants to help her apply makeup and bind her chest. When finished, her appearance had changed drastically. Layers of padded armor concealed her figure, making her look like a weary young man from the streets.

Since the theft operation required exposure, concealing her true identity offered a tremendous tactical advantage. If she could uncover the true identities of the other three, the Thieves’ House would be hers!

First the Thieves’ House, then Chang’an, then Great Zhou, until the entire realm was firmly in her grasp.

The first step: inheriting the ancestral blade of the Zhou dynasty founder—the Bingzi Jiaolin!

Whispering “Thieves’ House” to herself, Apothecary Yuan vanished from the room.

…

Nightless City.

Ying Rushi sat in a carriage heading toward the palace but was soon forced to stop. The driver said, “County Duke, there’s a carriage blocking the road ahead.”

“Go around it.”

“We tried, but every time we do, they follow—always blocking us.”

Ying Rushi lifted the curtain and saw that the occupant of the other carriage also lifted theirs. They locked eyes; the man’s face bore a fake, insincere smile.

“County Duke of Lecheng, what a coincidence. Also headed to see His Majesty? Need me to clear the way?”

“Yes, Master Yu,” Ying Rushi replied calmly. “If you have urgent matters, please proceed.”

The carriage blocking a member of the royal family was occupied by Yu Sun, a court entertainer. Despite her own noble status, Yu Sun’s carriage and entourage appeared far grander, and he brazenly blocked her path with impunity. Ying Rushi could do nothing.

This was because Yu Sun was favored by the emperor, always summoned to sing and entertain during his pipa performances. With the emperor’s grace, ordinary royal kin like Ying Rushi were powerless against him. Even the prime minister or powerful princes dared not offend Yu Sun.

However, Yu Sun’s nephew had once bullied a village woman in Ping City, and Ying Rushi had caught and killed him. Since then, Yu Sun had harbored a grudge, repeatedly slandering Ying Rushi to the emperor, which was why she remained only a county duke.

Ying Rushi could only tread carefully, yielding to Yu Sun’s provocations without anger.

But Yu Sun could only vent his anger in small ways. He barked orders to the driver to hurry, eager to await the emperor’s summons at the palace.

At that moment, the earth beneath Nightless City trembled slightly. The official road was shaken by the thunderous gallop of hooves and a rolling dust cloud hurtling toward Yu Sun and Ying Rushi.

A war chariot charged recklessly along the road, followed by dozens of heavily armored ghostly knights. Their horses were clad in linked heavy armor; despite their small number, they resembled a storm sweeping across the land, causing the earth to quake.

Seated atop the war chariot was a disheveled woman, her hair flowing wildly. The tips of her hair burned fiercely, resembling countless fiery snakes dancing in the air.

The chariot barreled forward without pause, crashing into the carriages. Ying Rushi narrowly dodged, but Yu Sun’s carriage was shattered. Both Yu Sun and the driver were thrown out, unharmed due to near-immunity to physical harm within the capital. Before Yu Sun could rise, slender, graceful hands cupped his head.

Yet Yu Sun screamed in agony.

His face emitted a sizzling sound as though raw meat was searing on a hot iron plate. Helpless, he could only cry out repeatedly, “Your Majesty! I am Yu Sun, Your Majesty! Your Majesty!”

The woman driving the chariot was none other than Ying Le, the ruler of the State of Qi.

She fixed her gaze on Yu Sun. “Do you know what you did wrong?”

“Wh-what?”

“Do you know what you did wrong?”

“I… I deserve death. I shouldn’t have accepted bribes from Prince Gaoyang to speak on his behalf!”

“And what else?”

“I… I shouldn’t have asked Minister Yang to promote my son! Ah, Your Majesty—”

Yu Sun’s cheeks were nearly carbonized by the intense heat, yet Ying Le continued holding his face expressionlessly, asking, “Anything else?”

“I… I don’t know. I shouldn’t have killed. I shouldn’t have committed adultery with my sister-in-law. I shouldn’t have… ahhh!”

Yu Sun screamed as he collapsed, his cheek’s flesh melting away to reveal his snarling teeth, gasping for breath. Ying Le held a bloodied tongue in her hand—she had just inserted her finger into Yu Sun’s mouth, instantly scorching, carbonizing, and severing his tongue as if she had forcibly cut it off.

Nearby townsfolk had long taken refuge indoors; those caught outside knelt trembling. Even within the city blessed by divine protection, they felt utterly unsafe before the Qi Empress.

“What a fine tongue,” Ying Le murmured, kissing it softly. “Such a pity it belonged to a criminal. I will miss your voice.”

“County Duke of Lecheng,” she said without looking at Ying Rushi, still gazing at the tongue. “Do you know what he did wrong?”

Though her tone was casual, as if speaking to a niece, Ying Rushi dared not raise her head. A surge of palpable malice overwhelmed her, as if invading every pore.

She dismounted and knelt, resolutely declaring, “Only officials may ride carriages!”

“Yes, that was the law set by the late emperor. Though I admired him greatly, law is law. If you are not an official, you may not ride in carriages.”

Ying Le stuffed the tongue into her garment and pulled the reins hard. The massive black stallion roared, dragging the steel war chariot out of the city.

Passing Ying Rushi, Ying Le smiled warmly.

“Xiaorushi, I look forward to the Bingzi Jiaolin.”

Ying Rushi remained kneeling until the procession disappeared. She looked at Yu Sun’s corpse nearby. Though he had been her enemy, she felt no joy.

All she thought about was rushing to the Thieves’ House. Even if it was full of strangers, it was easier to breathe there than in Nightless City.

“Return to the residence.”

…

Jiangnan City.

“Brother, do I look good?”

Shang Qia looked up, his eyes lighting up at the sight of his sister. She wasn’t dressed in the fashionable lady’s attire but rather as a female martial messenger—wearing a short skirt layered over a long skirt for ease of movement, exuding youthful energy; her top paired with shoulder and wrist guards and a fitted light breastplate, a blend of practicality and elegance. On her back hung two circular rings—the beloved paired ring weapons she wielded most skillfully.

“You look great!” Shang Qia praised generously.

“I’m heading out!”

“Be careful!”

Shang Qia casually reminded her, then paused for a few seconds before realizing, “Wait, you’re fully armed—where are you going!?”

By the time Shang Qia rushed outside, his sister Shang Xinlei had vanished.

…

Thieves’ House.

Yan Qing crushed a spiritual jade into powder in his hand, then grasped a white iron straight sword. He took a deep breath and swung at a training dummy in the room.

Clang!

A crescent moon-shaped arc sliced through the air, leaving a deep crack in the dummy, which immediately healed.

Yan Qing sighed, though this small measure of power offered little aid in his current predicament.

“I have finally become a messenger.”

At the last moment before the theft mission began, Yan Qing broke through mortal limits and became a messenger capable of wielding extraordinary tokens!