Quick Travel to the Clouds

Chapter 525 The Princess Who Wants to Compilation 22

The news of Empress Huang Yuqing's return was like a huge rock thrown into the seemingly calm waters of Yujing, instantly stirring up huge waves.

However, this wave was not cheering, but panic.

The remnants of the previous dynasty's "Xuan Jiao" openly attempted assassination, the second and third princesses were in danger, and the empress was furious... These news seemed to have wings, and despite the official strict blockade of details, various distorted and horrifying versions continued to spread wildly in the streets, teahouses, and deep residences of Yujing.

Fear spreads faster than the plague.

When the empress's carriage entered the city, the streets were lined with kneeling civilians and officials, but the dead silence in the air was suffocating.

There were no thunderous cheers as in the past, only a terrifying silence.

People lowered their heads, only daring to glance out of the corner of their eyes at the imperial chariot, which was tightly guarded by the Iron Feather Guards and symbolized supreme majesty and boundless wrath.

Dark clouds covered the city, and the air seemed to smell of blood and rust.

Huang Yuqing, who was sitting on the imperial chariot, had a face as gloomy as water, and her phoenix eyes were filled with a kind of icy cold that had not melted for a thousand years.

Her anger was not diminished at all by the journey, but instead became more solid and fierce the moment she returned to the center of power.

The first order after entering the palace was to establish the "Xuan Jiao Suqing Division", with Xiao Jin, the leader of the Tieyu Guard, as the commander. It has the power to supervise all officials, execute first and report later, and do its utmost to hunt down the remnants of the Xuan Jiao and investigate their accomplices.

In an instant, the world in Yujing changed.

The city gates were under martial law and inspections were more stringent than ever before.

Yamen runners, soldiers, and even spies were everywhere. The gates of a once-prominent mansion could be sealed overnight.

The officials who were once the guests of honor were taken away by the "Purging Department" like evil spirits the next day, and their lives or deaths were unknown.

Rumors got even more out of control, with shocking rumors such as "a token of the Black Dragon was dug out in a certain minister's home" and "the entire family of a certain noble family has been executed" being heard everywhere.

Everyone is in danger and keeps silent.

The noble officials closed their doors to visitors and were cautious even in their daily movements.

The common people were even more terrified, fearing they would be implicated without cause. The entire imperial capital was shrouded in a solemn and perpetually anxious atmosphere.

The solemn and murderous atmosphere brought by the empress's return to the capital covered the entire Yujing like an invisible layer of frost, and temporarily extinguished the swordplay of several princesses.

The Sixth Princess's Mansion, a courtyard that was already turbulent, gained a period of relative calm on the edge of the storm - at least on the surface.

Surrounded by the chilling autumn air of Yujing and the cold armor of the Iron Feather Guards, the Sixth Princess's Mansion seemed like an isolated island separated from the surging waves. The atmosphere was stagnant and depressing, and even the sound of falling leaves seemed abrupt.

The Queen's rage was like a sword hanging over their heads. Everyone in the palace held their breath in concentration, but Yun Chu quietly unfolded her silent chess game of "collecting love points" in this frozen air.

The candlelight cast a flickering halo in the study, and the rosewood desk was covered with complicated account books and an ancient map.

Yun Chu leaned back in a wide chair covered with ferret cushions, unconsciously twirling a chess piece with his fingertips, his eyes lazily sweeping over Gu Tingzhou and Shen Ji who were standing respectfully below him.

"Your Highness," Gu Tingzhou pointed to a section of the account book, his voice steady and clear, with the typical orderliness of an accountant, "Last month, the farm in the western suburbs suffered a flood, and the documents for the repairs have been inserted behind this quarter's shop profits. The compensation items should be sorted separately to prevent confusion in subsequent reconciliations."

His eyes were bright, revealing a sense of accomplishment in bringing order to chaos, and his mind was completely focused on the accounts.

"Well, it's up to you." Yun Chu's voice carried a hint of laziness after a short afternoon nap, but her eyes seemed to pass over Shen Ji inadvertently, "Mr. Shen, are the locations of these county marks different from the records in the "Southern Border Scenery" that you mentioned before?" She pointed to a corner of the map.

Shen Ji, who was named, was slightly startled, and quickly restrained the complex emotions surging in his eyes.

Ever since he was held tightly in Yun Chu's arms in the enclosure, every time he was in the same room with Yun Chu, he was always tense and had a hint of hidden anticipation.

"Your Highness," he stepped forward, his gesture gentle, his fingertips carefully pointing to the map, "Here, the book records an additional branch of the river. This must be the topography before the previous dynasty changed the course. The old map marked it a little to the east."

His voice was clear and full of the certainty that came from careful study.

Yun Chu's attentive listening made him unconsciously feel a sense of satisfaction of being valued, and even the deep hatred from his previous life was slightly diluted in this focused academic exchange.

He didn't realize that while he was speaking, his body had inconspicuously moved half a step closer to the desk.

"I see." Yun Chu smiled, his smile dispelling the coldness hidden in his eyes. "It seems that discussing military strategy on paper is far inferior to exploring it in person. You two, one of you can clearly calculate the profit and loss, and the other has found the real mountains and rivers. Both of you are treasures of this palace."

Her tone was natural and her appreciation was sincere.

Gu Tingzhou bowed hurriedly: "Your Highness, you are too kind. It is my duty." A warm feeling rose in his heart because of the words "treasure of the mansion", and his loyalty to his master became even deeper. Although it had nothing to do with love, he was willing to serve him like a dog.

Shen Ji's heart skipped a beat.

The words "the treasure of the mansion" and the bright light that flashed in Yun Chu's eyes when he looked at the map were like stones thrown into the lake of his heart, creating subtle but continuous ripples, and the warmth in that complex feeling quietly increased.

The martial arts training ground is open and spacious in the autumn afternoon. The wind blows up the golden fallen leaves and also brings the faint and subdued noise of the city in the distance.

Yun Chu was wearing a plain tight-fitting outfit and holding a long sword with a cold glow in his hand. He was correcting Bai Mo's sword-holding posture.

Her hand naturally covered the back of Bai Mo's cold hand, adjusting the angle of his wrist. Her movements were smooth and without a trace of intimacy.

"Strength comes from the waist and spine, not the wrists." Her voice was close, carrying unquestionable instruction. "Your arms are too tense, and your lower body is weak. Try again."

Bai Mo's body stiffened for a moment when she approached.

The terrifying power that Weichang Yunchu had unleashed had been lingering in his mind. Now, feeling up close the powerful aura and delicate control hidden beneath the other's calm face, he became even more determined to explore the matter.

Who is she?

What kind of purpose is hidden under this strong body?

"Yes, Your Highness." He lowered his eyes, adjusted his movements as instructed, and swung his sword. The blade pierced the air, emitting a clear whistling sound.

"Not bad, you've made progress." Yun Chu's gaze was filled with scrutiny and praise, piercing through people's hearts like a sharp sword. "Swordsmanship is like painting, 'the idea comes before the brush'. Resemblance is easy, but capturing the spirit is the most difficult. You can convey the spirit in your paintings, and so should you with your sword."

She skillfully channeled his sensibilities from painting into kendo.

Bai Mo's heart skipped a beat. She had actually noticed his obsession with painting?

Even with this analogy?

This insight... far surpassed that of any high-ranking "noble" he had ever come into contact with.

It was not a polite gesture to appease the servant, but a genuine effort to see, note, and understand his strengths.

The cold shell was cracked open by this precise knock, leaving an imperceptible crack. No one had ever been able to hit the mark so deeply in his heart for his pursuit of "divine charm". Even though this concern was for the purpose of scrutiny, it gave him a sense of being "understood" for the first time.