The imperial city, with its red walls, yellow tiles, and magnificent golden splendor, served as the residence of the Son of Heaven, radiating solemnity and majesty from every corner.
Upon entering the imperial city for the first time and witnessing such dazzling prosperity, Meng Ren nearly wept with hot tears of emotion.
Clapping a hand onto Meng Ren’s shoulder, Yu Xingliang offered words of comfort, “Alright, I know you’re excited, but in this kind of public place, crying like this looks ridiculous. Quickly pull yourself together.”
Wiping away his tears, Meng Ren nodded vigorously, repeating to himself internally: I must not bring shame to Yichuan!
“Ha! What a disgrace, a grown man blubbering like a baby!”
A tall man dressed in a turquoise-green robe, with a thunder-patterned precious sword strapped to his waist, swaggered over in an arrogant manner, flanked by two attendants.
In his memories, Yu Xingliang instantly matched the face to a name: the Green-Robed Thunder, Huang Zilan, head constable of Xialing in the Southern District. Because he had never managed to defeat Gu Shaoyuan in the Southern District, he had always treated Yichuan’s Gu Shaoyuan as his ultimate arch-rival.
Halting right in front of Yu Xingliang, Huang Zilan wore a look of utter contempt.
With a smile, Yu Xingliang bowed and asked a deliberately obvious question, “Could this brother happen to be the divine constable of Xialing?”
Casting a disdainful glance at the two of them, Huang Zilan kept silent.
One of his attendants sneered from behind, “Count yourself lucky to have some eyes. Our head constable is none other than the divine constable of Xialing, Huang Zilan. To think that mere constables from tiny Yichuan actually recognize him, quite unexpected indeed.”
Wagging a finger, Yu Xingliang denied the claim, “Ah! My good man, although Brother Huang has yet to make his name known across the four seas, Xialing is still the largest city in the Southern District after all, so this younger brother naturally would have heard a thing or two.”
His retort left the attendant momentarily speechless, unable to figure out how to reply.
Everyone knew that while Xialing was several times larger than Yichuan in area, the title of the Southern District’s number one divine constable belonged to Yichuan’s Gu Shaoyuan, whereas Xialing’s constable was left with nothing more than the pugilistic nickname Green-Robed Thunder.
“You…”
“Azu, that’s enough!” Huang Zilan called out to stop the attendant who was still trying to pick a fight with Yu Xingliang, muttering an angry reprimand under his breath, “Haven’t you embarrassed us enough?”
“Yes!” Glaring furiously at the smiling Yu Xingliang, Azu scurried off closely behind Huang Zilan.
Politely waving goodbye to Huang Zilan’s furiously retreating back, Yu Xingliang called out, “Safe journey!”
Filled with admiration, Meng Ren praised, “Boss! You were so amazing just now, you completely shut him up with your words!”
Dropping his smile, Yu Xingliang adopted a serious tone, “I had no intention of provoking Huang Zilan in the first place, but for him to open his mouth and insult Yichuan is something I simply cannot tolerate.”
It was just like traveling abroad; if anyone dared to speak ill of his great motherland, he would march right up and give them a thorough and resounding lecture.
“As expected of the Southern District’s number one divine constable.”
Following the voice, a man dressed in the ornate ceremonial robes of a divine constable, his hair secured with a wooden hairpin and holding a folding fan, walked over with a smile.
“Southern Shaoyuan, truly lives up to your reputation!” The man bowed politely and saluted Yu Xingliang with utmost courtesy.
“The Eastern District’s number one divine constable, Peng Liuhui, I’ve heard your great name for a long time!” Yu Xingliang returned the bow respectfully.
Hiding the lower half of his face behind his fan, Peng Liuhui looked utterly astonished and asked, “How did you recognize me?”
Yu Xingliang replied, “Eastern Liuhui doesn’t use sabers or swords, but excels in using sedatives and incense. After all, that is something the entire world knows.”
Peng Liuhui praised, “To identify me simply by noticing I wasn’t carrying a blade, Brother Gu is truly formidable.”
Coughing lightly and gesturing toward Peng Liuhui’s attire, Yu Xingliang slowly added, “Actually, it’s mostly because you’re wearing the divine constable uniform of your Eastern District’s Songqin.”
Looking down at his own clothes, Peng Liuhui burst into hearty laughter. “Brother Gu, you really are interesting! I’m making friends with you.”
The Meixiao Hall in the imperial city had gathered talented figures from every district. Their chatter and murmurs made the originally solemn hall sound like a bustling marketplace.
“Please quiet down!” A eunuch dressed in a camel-colored python robe, holding a horsetail whisk and supported by two junior eunuchs, slowly ascended the jade high platform with a stern expression.
Everyone instantly quieted down and looked toward the platform.
“This humble servant’s official name is Mei Sanyue, though you may address me as Eunuch Mei. This recruitment of Dragon-Guarding Envoys was proposed by Prime Minister Cao and personally approved by His Majesty.”
Casting a sideways glance to sweep his gaze across the talented figures gathered below, Eunuch Mei said, “You are all celebrated heavyweights across the realm, so this humble servant will dispense with excessive pleasantries. The selection for the Dragon-Guarding Envoys will be divided into two stages: a martial trial and a literary trial. As long as you pass both stages, you will become the Emperor’s Dragon-Guarding Envoys.”
Everyone below broke into excited applause upon hearing this.
Eunuch Mei continued, “The preliminary trial is the martial trial. The primary duty of a Dragon-Guarding Envoys is to protect His Majesty’s safety, making the preliminary trial the most crucial step. As long as you pass tomorrow’s martial trial, the literary trial will consist of teachers personally appointed by His Majesty to instruct you in court etiquette and the history of our dynasty. One month later, as long as you pass the written examination, you will officially become a Dragon-Guarding Envoys.”
A man raised his hand to ask, “Does that mean as long as you pass the martial trial, you’re guaranteed to become a Dragon-Guarding Envoys?”
Eunuch Mei covered his mouth and chuckled, “Indeed. However, before that, all you heroes must also sign a life-and-death contract.”
A group of young eunuchs carrying ink brushes, ink sticks, paper, and inkstones walked into the hall, with a subservient junior eunuch stationing himself beside every single candidate.
Someone shouted loudly, “What does Eunuch Mei mean by this? Isn’t this entirely disrespectful toward us?”
“That’s right!”
“A life-and-death contract, does that mean we have to risk our lives for this trial?”
The crowd buzzed with voices, protesting this unfair requirement.
Eunuch Mei announced, “Everyone, please calm yourselves! His Majesty possesses a body of supreme worth, and becoming a Dragon-Guarding Envoys naturally requires protecting the Emperor with one’s life. The Emperor’s Dragon-Guarding Envoys must be the bravest individuals under heaven. Of course, if anyone is afraid of dying, they are entirely free to leave the imperial city right now. But if you wish to participate in the martial trial, this life-and-death contract is the mandatory first step.”
Instantly, the area beneath the high platform fell into absolute silence.
“Bah! What’s there to be afraid of! The moment I aspired to become a Dragon-Guarding Envoys, I already surrendered my life to His Majesty. I’ll sign!” The speaker was broad-shouldered, dark-skinned, and as tall as a tree.
Applauding admiringly, Eunuch Mei said, “Splendid! Truly worthy of being the Western District’s number one divine constable, Hesha’s Zeng Yong!”
Having finished signing, Zeng Yong tossed his brush down domineeringly.
He proclaimed loudly, “I eat the emperor’s grain! Fulfilling His Majesty’s decree is something I will do without a second thought!”
Covering his lips with his fan, Peng Liuhui whispered quietly to Yu Xingliang beside him, “This Hesha divine constable is deliberately making it impossible for the two of us to back down.”
With a faint smile, Yu Xingliang picked up a writing brush and boldly signed his own full name onto the life-and-death contract.
Seeing this, Meng Ren hurriedly signed his name as well.
Eunuch Mei said, “As expected of the Southern Shaoyuan!”
Everyone else looked uniformly toward Gu Shaoyuan. Left caught between a rock and a hard place, Peng Liuhui awkwardly whispered, “Brother Gu, oh Brother Gu, you really do just march to the beat of your own drum.”
Gu Shaoyuan merely smiled without answering.
Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, Peng Liuhui smiled wryly and picked up his brush to sign.
“Hmph. What’s there to be afraid of!” Turning back with a look of disdain, Huang Zilan picked up the brush and signed his name.
Thus, under the heavy atmosphere, everyone in Meixiao Hall signed the life-and-death contract in a trance-like state, with not a single person spared.
Led by two junior eunuchs, Yu Xingliang, Peng Liuhui, and Zeng Yong walked side by side toward the quarters specially prepared for the divine constables.
Along the way, Peng Liuhui joked, “Our treatment really is different. Everyone else has to share a room between two people, but the three of us each get a private room to ourselves.”
Zeng Yong declared, “This is the supreme grace of His Majesty, and you and I ought to feel profoundly grateful!”
Peng Liuhui nodded repeatedly, “Yes, yes! Brother Zeng speaks with absolute wisdom. Brother Zeng, the way you signed your name just now was truly heroic, I’m making a friend out of you!”
Throwing Peng Liuhui a sidelong glance, Zeng Yong said sternly, “This is what we ought to do as subjects to set an example, what need is there for praise?”
Finding himself rebuffed, Peng Liuhui turned around, intending to strike up a conversation with Gu Shaoyuan instead.
“Divine Constable Gu, you have arrived,” the junior eunuch said respectfully.
Lifting his gaze, Yu Xingliang saw a small courtyard enclosed by red brick and green tile walls, featuring a sandalwood plaque hanging above the main entrance with three characters written in golden ink: Qingxin Pavilion.
“Thank you for your trouble.” Yu Xingliang nodded in gratitude to the junior eunuch, then turned back to bow to Peng Liuhui and Zeng Yong, “I’ll head inside first, the two of you take your time.”
Returning the bow, Zeng Yong said, “Have a good rest, Divine Constable Gu. I am particularly looking forward to competing against you properly in the arena.”
With a smile, Yu Xingliang replied, “It would be my utmost honor.”
Peng Liuhui chimed in, “Brother Gu, I’ll go tidy up my quarters first and come find you for a chat later.”
With a look of fiery indignation, Zeng Yong snapped, “This is the imperial city! Do you think this is your Songqin?! How can you just wander around as you please?!”
“You…”
Sensing that Peng Liuhui and Zeng Yong were about to start bickering, Yu Xingliang quickly intervened, “Divine Constable Zeng makes a very valid point. Brother Peng should prioritize the martial trials.”
Returning the earlier bow, Peng Liuhui summoned one of the junior eunuchs and swept his sleeves away in a huff.
“Hmph!” Zeng Yong’s gaze toward the departing Peng Liuhui was filled with utter contempt.
Once Peng Liuhui was out of earshot, Yu Xingliang asked, “Why do you hold such a low opinion of Brother Peng?”
Zeng Yong explained, “Among our four districts, East, South, West, and North, the North District has long been dominated exclusively by the North Prison Hall, leaving us unable to officially crown a North District number one divine constable. Meanwhile, the East District actually chose this weak-as-a-chicken fellow from Songqin who only knows how to play tricks with perfumes and scents. It genuinely fills Zeng with indignation!”
Smiling, Yu Xingliang offered some persuasion, “I fully understand your desire to look out for the realm as a whole, Brother Zeng, but Peng Liuhui is also a divine constable selected through the Eastern District’s rigorous successive trials. He earned his position through his own ability, so there’s really no need to target him so severely.”
Zeng Yong retorted loudly, “Not at all! Brother Gu, you don’t know the whole story. Back in the day, Songqin clearly had a young man named Tong Luyun who possessed both moral integrity and artistic talent. Yet for reasons unknown, he not only failed to show up for the Eastern District’s number one divine constable selection tournament, but he also vanished completely.”
Yu Xingliang’s eyes lit up. According to Gu Shaoyuan’s memories, the Eastern District’s Songqin indeed boasted a handsome young man whose name was Tong Luyun.
Prompted by this, he asked, “Is that the Tong Luyun known as the number one beauty of Songqin?”
Zeng Yong answered, “Indeed! So Brother Gu has heard of him!”
Nodding with a smile, Yu Xingliang recalled how, in Gu Shaoyuan’s memories, people constantly compared him, the number one beauty of Yichuan, against the number one beauty of Songqin.
“I’ve heard a thing or two, I’ve heard a thing or two.” Curious, Yu Xingliang asked further, “Tell me, do you suspect Tong Luyun’s disappearance has something to do with Peng Liuhui?”
Zeng Yong replied, “No. I once sparred in martial arts with Tong Luyun; his martial prowess is exceptionally high, and this Peng Liuhui wouldn’t even be able to get close to him. I simply have no respect for a mediocre martial artist who relies entirely on perfumes to become the Eastern District’s top constable.”
“Brother Zeng, I don’t know if I should ask this.” Hesitating for a moment, Yu Xingliang finally voiced the question he was most eager to have answered: “In your opinion, between this face of mine and Tong Luyun’s, who is better looking?”
Zeng Yong: “……”