hotmtlnovel Chapter 50 Liu Qingci: Cao Cao, you've been exposed!
Chapter 50 Liu Qingci: Cao Cao, you've been exposed!
Going home to sleep is out of the question.
While Yu Luosha and Huang Shang could go home and sleep, the masters of the various factions were unlikely to be able to sleep.
The duel between two supreme grandmasters, the exchange of skills between a royal retainer and the leader of a demonic sect, was thirty-five miles outside the capital. This event was a hundred times more important than the Dragon-Slaying Saber.
The value of the Dragon Slayer Saber lies in its symbolic meaning.
The main reason is the slogan "Supreme in the martial arts world, the Dragon-Slaying Saber, commanding the world, none dare disobey." In terms of weapon attributes, it can only be rated as "excellent".
Even in the original story, as one of only two divine weapons in the world, the Dragon Slayer Saber did not show any performance advantage when facing top masters.
In the world of martial arts, there are countless masters and even more divine weapons. But if we disregard the symbolic meaning of the weapon, the Dragon Slayer Saber only has two attributes: sharpness and toughness.
However, "sharpness" and "toughness" are the basic attributes of divine weapons. Which bladed weapon is not capable of cutting through gold and jade and slicing through iron like mud?
Which powerful force doesn't have a divine weapon that suits its leader? Especially in the capital, the Dragon Slayer Saber is too eye-catching.
Aside from Hua Baifeng, a demonic witch from the cult who clearly wants to cause trouble, who would "auction" the Dragon Slayer Saber?
In comparison, the impromptu sparring between Yu Luosha and Huang Chang is more worthy of attention from all sides.
The most powerful force in the capital was, of course, the imperial court.
Huang Shang tested his apprentice and found that his muscle-bound apprentice had found a somewhat talented man. Satisfied, he went back to sleep, completely ignoring the mess.
Surrounded by the three major forces of the Eastern Depot, Western Depot, and Embroidered Uniform Guard, Liu Qingci, with a bitter face, went to the palace to tell Liu Dinghuan what had happened, and also brought Xu Qingya along.
Xu Qingya can't escape.
Liu Dinghuan was quite interested in Xu Qingya and had mentioned her to him privately a few times. Liu Qingci had been somewhat jealous in the past, but given the situation tonight, it was impossible for him not to go to the palace.
Yang Yan was like an "incompetent wife," watching helplessly as Liu Qingci brought Xu Qingya into the palace. Seeing this, Liu Qingci felt no more resentment.
Qin Nanqin complained softly, "Miss! I advised you to make your move sooner, but you insisted on being reserved. If it were me, I would have already stuffed you in a sack, beaten you up, and tied you up in your room..."
Yang Yan: "Hindsight is 20/20..."
Qin Nanqin stomped her foot in anger: "Miss, one should have a conscience! When we first met Young Master Xu, I suggested that we send a clever and beautiful maid to serve him."
"If you had listened to me back then, I would have already occupied all the spare rooms in Young Master Xu's house. At that time, you could have come and gone as you pleased, stayed as you pleased..."
Qin Nanqin looked at Yang Yan with disappointment, thinking to herself, "Could it be that my determined and decisive young lady has been bewitched? How did she become so indecisive?"
Doubao lay at Yang Yan's feet, whimpering softly. Tangdun accompanied her, while Laojiu came over, bristling and shaking his head.
……
This was Xu Qingya's first time entering the palace.
The imperial palace, the central hub of power in the world, represents the largest, strongest, and most terrifying authority in the world. In the eyes of the world, the imperial palace has no real majesty!
A former emperor who went mad and insane in his pursuit of the elixir of immortality, and who auctioned off official positions in the imperial court;
A prince who neglects sleep and meals for the sake of a wooden bird, spending all his time in the carpenter's workshop, and who cares about nothing else;
What authority can a court that favors sorcerers, indulges in extravagance, sells official positions, is rife with infighting and chaos, have? It's nothing but a sick tiger!
For any specific gang, sect, or force, the imperial court held great authority, and neither the Six and a Half Hall nor the Golden Wind and Fine Rain Pavilion would dare to provoke it.
However, if the target was only underworld figures like Lei Sun and Su Mengzhen, the imperial court's authority would have been completely lost when the prime minister was auctioned off.
The Golden Wind and Drizzle Pavilion, the Six and a Half Hall, fear the imperial court.
Su Mengzhen and Lei Sun held only contempt for the imperial court.
I can't beat you, but I look down on you!
—Because you don't deserve my respect!
Even Yin Susu was no exception.
Why did Yin Susu dare to provoke Liu Qingci? It wasn't out of jealousy or rivalry, but rather a subconscious underestimation of the imperial court.
The Eagle Cult originated from the Ming Cult and is a branch of a certain doctrine of the Ming Cult. Its ancestors had a century-long history of rebellion.
As the eldest daughter of the Eagle Cult, she was exposed to nothing but the absurdities of the late emperor and the grand history of rebellions. It would be a miracle if she respected the imperial court.
Xu Qingya was even more indifferent to the palace.
In Xu Qingya's eyes, the value of the palace was roughly equivalent to a part-time job: you pay me, I do the work.
Having just acquired the Liancheng Treasure, and with the imperial court still quite wealthy, they shouldn't be in arrears with salaries. The benefits for imperial bodyguards are quite good.
How did Liu Dinghuan establish his authority?
She needed to achieve a resounding victory that would expand the territory and proclaim the court's rebirth.
Let Zhuge Zhengwo think of other solutions!
Anyway, Zhuge Zhengwo loves working overtime the most in his life!
Xu Qingya shook his head and swayed as if he were on a trip.
Liu Qingci whispered, "Xu Qingya, don't talk nonsense when you see your sister later!"
Xu Qingya laughed and said, "What do you mean by 'nonsense'? Can you define the scope of 'nonsense'?"
"Although I don't understand what you're talking about, I have a feeling you're up to something! My master just returned to the capital, be careful he doesn't teach you a lesson!"
"Actually, I wanted to ask..."
"What do you want to ask?"
Is proposing marriage considered "nonsense"?
"Xu Qingya, I'll fight you to the death! Do you even know where you are? This is the Imperial Palace! Believe me, I'll summon 100,000 Imperial Guards and throw you into the Heavenly Prison!"
"Qingci..."
"I am the king of one-shoulder tops!"
"Your Highness... since ancient times, catching a thief requires seizing the stolen goods. If you want to throw me into prison, you must have a reason, right?"
"You're carrying a knife! Who gave you permission to bring a knife into the palace? Are you trying to assassinate me?"
"Your Highness, I have come across a precious sword that can cut through iron like mud, and I wish to present it to you!"
Xu Qingya struck a pose as if Cao Cao were presenting his sword!
"As expected of the traitor Cao Cao, seize him!"
Liu Qingci gently stroked his belly, playing the role of Dong Zhuo.
Unfortunately, Dong Zhuo's weight was at least three times that of Liu Qingci, so no matter how hard he tried to fake it, he couldn't.
"First of all, you don't live in the palace. Secondly, you may have forgotten, but I am a fifth-rank imperial bodyguard, appointed by you personally. I am qualified to bring a sword into the palace!"
"Xu! Qing! Ya!"
"Complaining to Scholar Huang won't work! Scholar Huang prefers handsome and talented men, and I happen to fit that description. Considering all aspects, I'm more suitable than you to be Scholar Huang's personal disciple!"
"I'm going to take you down with me!"
"Yu Jin was defeated by the Spring and Autumn Sword Technique!"
"Um?"
"Read more books!"
Xu Qingya patted Liu Qingci's head.
Liu Qingci was completely dumbfounded and speechless. Only after Xu Qingya had gone far away did she let out a roar like a tiger roaring in the mountains, as if the White Tiger God had descended to earth. She wanted to beat Xu Qingya until he was foaming at the mouth and about to collapse!
The roads leading to the palace are not complicated.
First, the basic structure of the palace is a symmetrical structure with horizontal and vertical lines, so that one can see the whole ocean from a small part of it.
Secondly, three and a half years ago, the palace coup in the capital was a bloodbath that turned the world upside down. Most of the palaces were destroyed, the national treasury was empty, and there was no money to repair them. So they simply leveled the ruins and decorated them with artificial hills and corridors.
Finally, while drinking with Zhui Ming, Zhui Ming described the layout of the palace. The only value of Liu Qingci's "guidance" was to prevent the imperial guards from rushing up to arrest people. These people are so idle, they dream of catching assassins.
The imperial guards, who had been hiding in the shadows, had hoped to make a great contribution and get a promotion and a raise, but when they saw Xu Qingya and Liu Qingci flirting, they retreated in frustration.
Seeing this, Xu Qingya felt a little regretful. He had captured Feng Qiwu too quickly. If he had captured him now, he could have treated these guards to duck leg rice and roast goose rice!
Feng Qiwu isn't from Guangdong, but his roast meat skills are top-notch even among the locals. A roast goose leg, a few pieces of crispy pork, and a bowl of rice—on this chilly night, it's a meal even the gods wouldn't trade.
After the meal, out of respect for Liu Qingci, these imperial guards could become "good friends"!
……
"Bang!"
Liu Qingci pushed open the door to the Imperial Study.
Liu Dinghuan is reviewing memorials.
She wore a brocade robe as white as clouds, over which was a dark cloak embroidered with gold dragon patterns. The collar was adorned with pearls, each one gently reflecting the curve of her neck.
What's most striking about her are her eyebrows and eyes.
Her eyebrows are like distant mountains shrouded in mist, her eyes like deep pools of autumn water. When she lowers her head, a thousand thoughts linger; when she raises it, her eyes sparkle with light. She possesses both a clear understanding of the world and a tenderness that cannot be described in words. A single glance can last a lifetime.
She sat upright on the heavy dragon throne, her back straight as a bamboo, every line of her body exuding an inviolable majesty. On the dragon desk in front of her were two stacks of memorials as large as small mountains, resembling the "Wangwu and Taihang Mountains".
Seeing Liu Qingci's energetic appearance, Liu Dinghuan sighed helplessly. His younger sister was practically invincible. She couldn't remember being hit, she couldn't understand being scolded, she was more active than a monkey, and she was also naturally intelligent. She understood the principles that needed to be understood more thoroughly than anyone else.
I just hope she can find a good husband...
Liu Dinghuan saw Xu Qingya.
Xu Qingya was originally walking in front, with Liu Qingci chasing after him, but they were blocked by Mi Cangqiong halfway through.
Mi Cangqiong sent Liu Qingci in first to sound out Liu Dinghuan's opinion, and then sent Xu Qingya to meet the emperor.
—Anyone who works overtime until midnight and is about to wash up and rest will not be in a good mood if a big task is suddenly added. If they anger the emperor, they may be sentenced to exile to Lingnan because they entered the door with their left foot first.
The moment they entered, their eyes met.
"Hiss~~"
Both of them gasped simultaneously.
They locked eyes, but neither could utter a word.
Liu Qingci leaned forward, waved her hand in front of Xu Qingya's eyes, then sat on the dragon desk and waved her hand randomly in front of Liu Dinghuan's eyes. She looked left at her sister and right at Xu Qingya, feeling that she seemed a bit superfluous.
"Aren't your eyes dry, you two?"
Liu Qingci managed to squeeze out a sentence.
Liu Dinghuan gave an awkward smile.
Xu Qingya bowed and said, "Your Majesty, please forgive me. I am a man from the mountains and have never seen such a noble person before. Today, I have been greatly shocked by Your Majesty's appearance and am speechless."
Liu Qingci curled her lip: "Pah! Am I not a noble person? I'm a prince!"
Liu Dinghuan waved his hand: "Please stop joking! I have long heard that Minister Xu is highly skilled in martial arts and extremely talented, especially in calligraphy and painting. I have some knowledge of calligraphy and painting, and if I have some free time, I will ask Minister Xu for guidance."
"I only have a superficial understanding; it's not worth mentioning!"
"Xu Aiqing's paintings of ladies are worth a fortune; how can this be considered mere 'slight knowledge'?"
Liu Dinghuan pointed to the painting behind him.
When Xu Qingya went to Jingzhou to dig up the Liancheng treasure, he painted a few pictures for Liu Qingci on a whim. Liu Qingci took the paintings to the palace to show off, and Liu Dinghuan said that his imperial study was missing a few paintings, so he should just hang them on the wall!
Liu Dinghuan's talent in academics surpasses Liu Qingci's talent in martial arts. He can see that Xu Qingya's paintings are neither artistic nor meticulous, but they are very beautiful. They make full use of the strengths of the figures and make subtle adjustments to the eyebrows and eyes. Everyone is a perfect 100!
"Looks good" is the strongest psychological effect.
Even the emperor was no exception!