Qiankun Hall.
Shi Xuan raised her eyes to stare at the hall door. Hanging right in the center of the lintel was a black-lacquered, gilded imperial plaque. The golden characters were written with bold, vigorous strokes, exuding a stern and imposing aura.
A woman dressed as a palace maid bowed to Shi Xuan and led her through layers of winding inner corridors, reaching Chu Ling’s bedchamber in the rear palace.
Most of the items in the palace had been replaced with new ones, still giving off a weird glint. Shi Xuan suddenly rubbed her arms, unexpectedly feeling a sinister, chilly wind inside the hall that sent a creeping coldness up her spine.
“Grand Master, Her Majesty is resting behind the screen. I will wait outside the hall; please instruct me if you need anything.” The maid bowed respectfully and withdrew from the hall.
Shi Xuan narrowed her eyes. Through the silk screen embroidered with gold thread plum blossoms, she could indeed see a faint, bulged contour on the couch.
Just as she was hesitating whether to disturb Chu Ling’s sleep, the person on the couch sat up on her own the very next second.
“Is that you?” A childish voice sounded.
“It’s me,” Shi Xuan smiled, not forgetting to tease, “Haven’t seen me for a few days—did you miss me?”
Chu Ling didn’t speak, pausing for a moment before saying, “Come over here.”
“Yes, Your Majesty.” Shi Xuan’s tone was still laced with laughter.
Behind the screen, the little girl’s hair was messy, and she wore only a white inner garment embroidered with tiny, pale red flowers. Shi Xuan glanced over and saw the clay doll the girl had once disdained resting beside her soft pillow.
“How about I braid your hair?” Shi Xuan casually sat on the couch.
Chu Ling didn’t throw a tantrum, yielding to the movements of Shi Xuan’s hands.
“I didn’t expect my hands to be so deft—it actually looks pretty good.” Shi Xuan admired her masterpiece with satisfaction. Then, suddenly remembering her status, she put on a troubled front and said, “Your Majesty, I am but a commoner. Being the Grand Master is quite a stretch for me, and I don’t know how to teach the art of emperorship either. What should we do about that?”
Shi Xuan didn’t actually expect this young child to answer, but the child’s response caught her off guard: “It’s not a stretch.”
“Quite reasonable, aren’t you?” Shi Xuan stood up, thinking of wandering around, and happened to spot a wall of books beside the soft couch.
“…”
“These books… can you read them?” She was a bit suspicious.
“I’ve been reading them since I learned to recognize words.” Chu Ling put on her outer robe. Compared to before, this outfit was slightly more majestic. Unlike ordinary women’s clothing, it carried a touch of imperial presence, though looking from front to back, she still seemed like just a young child.
Shi Xuan was pleased and said with a bright smile: “That’s great then, I won’t have to put in too much effort.” After a pause, she added, “The couch in your hall is softer than mine. Can I bring dancer girls over in the future…”
“No.” Chu Ling suddenly grew serious, her subtle eyebrows flattening without a trace of emotion.
“Then how about swapping your couch with mine? An old soul like me sleeps better on a softer couch,” Shi Xuan pressed on.
However, no matter what she said this time, Chu Ling ignored her completely. After tidying herself up, the young empress ran outside the hall and didn’t return until noon.
Shi Xuan wasn’t one for formalities either. Disregarding royal etiquette, she reclined haphazardly on that coveted soft couch, closing her eyes and sleeping through the entire morning.
“Wake up.”
While fast asleep in a daze, Shi Xuan felt a force kicking her lower leg. She rubbed her eyes, sat up, and stared face-to-face with Xue Shen for a few seconds before her mind cleared.
Xue Shen was in no rush to speak. Instead, she sized Shi Xuan up with a look of utter disbelief, then spoke with difficulty: “What on earth are you wearing?”
“Ah, the Grand Master uniform here is too ugly, so I just found a few pieces I liked and put them on. How is it? Does it look good? Isn’t this color super eye-catching?”
Xue Shen silently looked at the luxurious purple robe on Shi Xuan, the corners of her mouth twitching.
“Suit yourself.” Xue Shen adjusted her expression, returning to her usual stern and dignified composure before speaking: “Miao Hua woke up recently and her body has improved a bit. She said she wants to see you…”
“Not going back,” Shi Xuan interrupted, straightening her wide, gold-trimmed sleeves.
“You… fine.” Xue Shen choked on her words and gave up.
“In a few days, the Heavenly Emperor will lead troops to campaign against several small, rebellious tribes, and he specifically requested that you tag along. Don’t get so caught up in playing that you forget the time,” she warned sternly.
“Got it, I’ll remember.” Shi Xuan stared at Xue Shen, “Why is the Heavenly Emperor launching military campaigns so frequently? Logically speaking, small tribal matters could be resolved by sending a few low-ranking soldiers and generals. Why must he do it in person?”
Xue Shen raised her eyes, seemingly having reservations: “You’ve been in the mortal realm these past days; you should have sensed something.”
“Yes. No matter how much the Register of Fate glitches, it shouldn’t cause this Zhaoning Kingdom—which has prospered for a century—to suffer such sudden turmoil. I heard that quite a few people died both inside and outside the palace,” Shi Xuan shifted the topic, “Could it be…”
“I also suspect demonic energy is behind this chaos. My trip to the mortal realm this time is specifically to investigate this matter, but just in case, you come with me.” Xue Shen turned around.
“Should’ve said so earlier! I’ll change my clothes and come right away.” Shi Xuan was more than willing.
“Handle the matters at hand first… and stop wearing those blinding, eccentric outfits of yours. It’s truly… scandalous.” With that, she left Qiankun Hall.
“What do you mean? Are you questioning my aesthetic tastes? How is this scandalous?” Shi Xuan looked down, only then realizing that after her nap, her collar had somehow ended up gaping open. She casually straightened it, “This isn’t anything major, is it?”
Outside the city gates.
Xue Shen held a compass in her palm, walking back and forth along the moat several times, her brows furrowed and the dark circles beneath her eyes growing increasingly pronounced.
“Hey, what kind of compass is that? I can tell it’s no ordinary artifact,” Shi Xuan stood leaning against a camphor tree with her arms crossed.
It was the third lunar month. The camphor tree’s new leaves overlapped the old ones, creating a lush canopy of deep green. Growing vigorously by the water, its branches spread out like an umbrella, shading the riverbank.
Tired, Shi Xuan leaned against the tree, a tender twig dangling from her mouth, casting glances at Xue Shen every now and then.
“The Evil-Slaying Luopan,” Xue Shen replied without looking up, her eyes glued to the compass face.
“Oho, a supreme artifact for tracking demonic energy! Looks like you had to trouble yourself with a trip to the Cangyi Immortal Manor, Immortal Lord Siming.”
This time, Xue Shen finally raised her head to look toward the distant mountain peak. Suppressing her aura slightly, she muttered a incantation, gestured with two fingers, and stowed the artifact away.
“The Royal Mausoleum,” both of them voiced at almost the exact same moment.
“Zhaoning Kingdom places great importance on ancestral sacrifice rituals, choosing desolate sites based on the Five Elements, with the central earth anchoring the four directions. The tombs have many intricacies. Besides, over the past century, countless royal nobles have been interred there… I’m afraid it won’t be easy to search.” Xue Shen murmured a few spells before adding: “You’ve been in the palace recently—have you heard whether the royal relatives who suffered misfortunes during the recent coup have already been buried in the mausoleum?”
“I didn’t pay much attention. Not many people talk to me in the palace; the only one who did was that child… Why? Does the demonic energy hiding in the royal mausoleum still need to pick a spot?” As a martial general, Shi Xuan truly didn’t understand these intricate setups. Completely bewildered, a hint of regret even rose in her heart—if she had known, she would have read more documents during the armistice.
Xue Shen remained silent, letting out a sigh.
“Follow me.” She walked toward the direction of the royal mausoleum. “The true state of this demonic energy chaos is still unknown. The Heavenly Emperor only sent me privately to investigate, and the deities of the Nine Heavens are unaware of it. If we run into anything inside the tomb chambers, mind your bounds.”
“I understand.” Shi Xuan nodded, keeping close behind Xue Shen.
As they drew closer to the royal mausoleum, the mist grew thick and the sky turned dark and gloomy, a stark contrast to the spring scenery in the main city.
In places invaded by demonic energy, all plants were withered. Among the weeds lay the stark white bones of birds and beasts, along with a few rotting, waterlogged corpses of tomb guards soaked by rain.
“The demonic energy arrived here not long ago. Looks like the palace people don’t intend to enter the mausoleum anytime soon, which makes things easier to handle.” Shi Xuan took wide strides, doing her best to dodge the foul-smelling mud.
“I found the mausoleum entrance. Over here—there will be traps inside, so be careful not to get hurt.” Xue Shen had pulled out the Evil-Slaying Luopan again, guiding their direction.
“Piece of cake, can’t stump me.” Shi Xuan said confidently.
The moment the two of them stepped half a foot into the mausoleum, a fierce wave of demonic energy surged out from within, possessing a force that could not be underestimated.
“Qingming,” Shi Xuan called out softly, and her bound sword instantly appeared in her hand.
She brandished the sword, executing several consecutive slashes. As soon as the demonic energy touched the Qingming Sword, it turned into wisps of white vapor and drifted away into nothingness.
“Didn’t expect it to handle so smoothly.” Shi Xuan examined her weapon up and down again. “Looks like it’s nothing major; the demonic energy dwelling in this royal mausoleum consists of minor, insignificant forces, likely drawn here by the yin energy of this subterranean residence.”
Xue Shen nodded: “Then it will be easier to manage. The concentration of yin energy lies at the central earth; we just need to head to the center of the mausoleum.”
“The center of the mausoleum… with demonic energy lingering there, won’t it affect Zhaoning’s lifespan? Xue Shen, this might alter the nation’s destiny this time. Are we really going to do this?” Speaking up to this point, Shi Xuan couldn’t help but think of Chu Ling back in the palace.
“That child just ascended the throne, only to walk the path of a fallen kingdom—isn’t that a bit too cruel? Besides, a nation at the peak of its strength rapidly collapsing just because of a palace coup doesn’t sound logical either.”
“I have no other choice.” Xue Shen walked beside Shi Xuan. The tomb passage was low and dark, so Shi Xuan couldn’t see her expression clearly, only hearing her voice wrapped in utter exhaustion: “Hurry up. Once we slay the demonic energy in the central earth, I still have to return to the Nine Heavens.”
“Two years, five years, or ten years—Xue Shen, how many years did you write down this time?” Shi Xuan paused her steps. “I know you were once battle-tested on the frontlines and grew accustomed to life and death, but this time, the blame rests entirely on me. Can you give her a little more time? She just ascended the throne a few days ago and doesn’t even hold real power. Do you have the heart to let her bear the stigma of a subjugated monarch?”
Xue Shen fell silent for a long moment. Then came Shi Xuan’s voice again: “Wait for me here. I’ll be right back.”
She summoned Qingming once more and walked into the depths of the mausoleum alone, sword in hand.
Xue Shen pondered for a moment and ultimately nodded. She guarded outside the tomb for a day and a night, watching the mist drift as night fell, while mournful crow caws echoed periodically through the eerie, ancient forest.
From inside the mausoleum, chilly weeping sounds seeped out from all directions—not loud, sobbing wails, but choked whimpers stuck in throats, lingering and swirling faintly against the tomb walls, impossible to tell whether they originated from the passages or the vaulted ceiling above.
That lonely, desolate figure stood tall outside the mausoleum. The cold wind ruffled the strands of hair by the corners of her mouth, brushing past her expressionless face; the swaying candlelight in her hand seemed to have touched her heart at some point.
Overnight, the surrounding demonic energy dissipated completely. The scenery of nature’s revival ebbed and flowed like a tide, as though nothing had ever happened.
Shi Xuan dragged her exhausted body out of the mausoleum. Seeing Xue Shen standing at the entrance, she smiled: “It’s all taken care of. Hurry back and report.”
“What about you?” Xue Shen spoke, her voice raspy.
“Me? I’ll stay in the mortal realm for a few days first. Don’t worry, I haven’t forgotten about campaigning with the Heavenly Emperor or accepting my punishment.” She patted Xue Shen’s shoulder, her tone lighthearted: “You go back. Once I’ve had my fun, I’ll definitely head back.”
Pausing, she added: “As for you, you’ve been busy all this time and haven’t rested in a long while, right? Don’t worry too much. A demonic leak isn’t something for you to bear alone—the Nine Heavens will find out sooner or later, and when that time comes, everyone will be there.”