Fourteen thousand and fourteen

Several major events unfolded once again in the city of Bianjing in March. Two of these incidents were closely tied to the Six Doors Bureau.

One involved a change in personnel among the Four Great Constables. Last year, Lianyun Village had been wrongfully accused as a bandit haven, prompting the imperial court to dispatch troops to suppress the outlaws. Eventually, their innocence was proven, and the village was officially pardoned and integrated into the regime, seemingly settling the matter. However, since then, Tie Shou Tie Youxia—one of the Four Great Constables—became deeply confused about the blurred lines between constables and bandits. Taking advantage of Lianyun Village’s pending reconstruction, he resigned by petitioning the divine Marquis Zhuge.

According to rumors circulating in the teahouses and taverns of the capital, a promising constable had turned rogue to become a bandit leader. Were it not for Lianyun Village’s official pardon and recognition, which prevented it from being simply labeled a bandit den, the commotion in the capital would have been far greater.

Even more astonishing was that Qi Shaoshang, the former village chief of Lianyun, entered the Six Doors Bureau and swapped positions with Tie Shou. Upon assuming office, his first task was to accompany the ruthless Chief Constable in storming the mansion of Prime Minister Fu Zongshu—this was the second major event.

During the bloody Lianyun Village incident, numerous village chiefs were killed, and Qi Shaoshang himself lost an arm, mostly due to orders from Fu Zongshu. Yet, Fu Zongshu was a man who understood the art of sacrifice; before the scandal could engulf him, he carried out “righteous justice,” handing over all principal culprits responsible for the attack on Lianyun Village to the law—including his adopted son, Gu Xichao. This effectively exonerated him from the affair.

So when the ruthless Chief Constable and Qi Shaoshang arrived at Fu Zongshu’s door, the Prime Minister even taunted Qi Shaoshang, remarking that donning the new uniform did not make him look like a true constable. Little did he know, they weren’t there to settle old scores but to demand the surrender of two individuals who had set up a martial contest for marriage within Bianjing.

Fu Zongshu’s expression at that moment was as if he had just made a wild strike in broad daylight, only to miss entirely. Yet what surprised him even more was what happened afterward.

Just as the Mu family father and daughter were about to be escorted out of the mansion, they unexpectedly encountered his wife. Upon meeting, the man who called himself Mu Yi suddenly changed expression, claiming that the Prime Minister’s wife had once been his own, separated by the chaos of war years ago.

If it had been only his assertion, it might have been dismissed. But Madam Bao, who had lived a life of privilege all these years, immediately recognized this man as her presumed-dead husband, Yang Tiexin. She had never forgotten the deep love they shared and, upon seeing her returned husband, refused to remain merely the Prime Minister’s wife. Her sole wish was to leave the capital with her son Fu Kang—or rather Yang Kang—and reunite with Yang Tiexin.

Had this dramatic reunion happened solely within the Prime Minister’s household, given Fu Zongshu’s power and formidable martial skills, no one could have thwarted him. Unfortunately, the ruthless Chief Constable, known for his impartiality, was also present.

Thus, the matter of recognition became a formal legal case under the jurisdiction of the Six Doors Bureau. Both Madam Bao, now revealed as Yang Xiruo, and Yang Kang, along with Yang Tiexin and the Mu father and daughter, were all taken into custody by the ruthless Chief Constable.

According to the statement released by the Six Doors Bureau, after thoroughly investigating the old case that separated Yang Tiexin and Bao Xiruo, and once both parties had calmed down from the shock of their sudden reunion, they would reexamine and decide on rightful custody.

Of course, before that, Yang Kang’s kidnapping of Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci into the mansion was a prior offense under Bianjing law and required legal processing.

The full details were not disclosed widely among the city’s populace, but the headline alone—“Ruthless Chief Constable’s Raid, Prime Minister Fu Loses Beloved Wife and Son”—was enough to stir public fascination.

If Fu Zongshu ultimately failed to reclaim both his wife and son, it would mean he had lost two sons consecutively, both due to the ruthless constable.

It was said that in his earlier years, when he failed to become Prime Minister, Fu Zongshu had cultivated an image of personal integrity by having few concubines and only two children, neither of whom survived to adulthood.

Although Fu Kang was not his biological son, having been raised from birth under his care, Fu Zongshu regarded him no differently from a true heir. In fact, Fu Kang was far more important to him than his adopted son Gu Xichao and was treated as such in public.

And yet—now that Fu Zongshu had risen to the rank of Prime Minister, on what grounds would he surrender his wife and child to a powerless and insignificant wandering swordsman?

***

“Madam Shi, what do you make of all this commotion?”

Just as Shi Qingruo withdrew her gaze from outside Sanhe Pavilion, she heard Su Mengzhen’s question.

From the outside, the Mysterious Heaven Alliance and the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion were at least on neutral terms; they were neither outright enemies nor close allies. Therefore, this renewed invitation for a meeting could not be held within the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion atop Tianquan Mountain, nor at the recently reactivated Mysterious Heaven Alliance headquarters.

The final choice was the Sanhe Pavilion, where they had previously been attacked by bandits en route to a wedding. After a simple renovation, the damage was no longer visible.

More importantly, this location fell within the Mysterious Heaven Alliance’s territory.

Shi Qingruo, a woman who could not wield martial arts, dared to initiate this invitation. With Su Mengzhen renowned across the world for his Red Sleeve Blade, she was confident he would not fear any tricks.

“How do I see it…” Shi Qingruo’s eyes momentarily clouded before she continued, “People with morals tend to inflict more pain upon themselves.”

Su Mengzhen asked, “Are you referring to the Tie Shou matter?”

“Yes and no,” Shi Qingruo scoffed. “Isn’t it the same throughout Bianjing, even the entire martial world? Those with integrity suffer because the world is in decay. They feel they have failed in their duties as men and knights, seeking a path out but finding none, enveloped in darkness on all sides. Meanwhile, those without virtue continue their wild ways, discarding pawns as needed to live in ease and glory. Don’t you think that’s the truth?”

Su Mengzhen did not respond immediately.

Shi Qingruo’s words reached beyond just Tie Shou. Taking into account the intelligence Zhu Xiaoyao had provided, there were also Fang Yingkan and… Xue Xishen of the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion.

Su Mengzhen’s expression grew solemn as he sighed, “Once the affairs in Bianjing settle, I will give Hubei an explanation.”

Shi Qingruo neither confirmed nor denied, merely replying with a faint expression, “You say you will give Hubei an explanation, not me. That is commendable.”

There was no need to ask why it must wait until after the Bianjing events; the reason was clear.

Xue Xishen was one of the five great spirits of the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion, holding a lofty status within the organization. His capability far surpassed that of many of Su Mengzhen’s subordinates.

Now, amid the intense struggles among factions, punishing Xue Xishen for past deeds would only invite internal strife within the pavilion and risk a counterstrike from the Six and a Half Hall. It was not the right time to hold him accountable.

Shi Qingruo’s purpose today was not to discuss this. “I imagine you agreed to my invitation not merely to hear my thoughts on the matter.”

Su Mengzhen’s gaze fixed steadily. Though their last meeting was recent, his complexion was worse than before. Yet when he looked up, no one could doubt he would not succumb to illness anytime soon.

“You have taken on too many tasks,” he said.

The day he trusted Shi Qingruo with overseeing the personnel the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion placed within the Mysterious Heaven Alliance, he refrained from interfering in her major decisions.

“Distrust no one you employ; employ no one you distrust”—the rise of the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion in Bianjing was a testament to this.

Even Shi Qingruo’s status as the Mysterious Heaven Alliance’s Holy Master’s wife did not exempt her.

But this did not mean that at critical moments, he would not speak up when a teammate lagged behind.

“You want to formally ally with the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion, but what you’ve done recently is far from enough. I see you’re gathering capable people to smooth your operations, and that you understand how to leverage others’ strength, having the ruthless Chief Constable act on your behalf. But neither the domestic troubles in Fu Zongshu’s household nor the murky waters surrounding Fang Yingkan are urgent matters.”

He spoke plainly and decisively. Shi Qingruo responded just as firmly, “But you cannot deny that I have recently acquired several valuable talents.”

Information on Wang Xiaoshi and Bai Choufei had been delivered to both Zhu Xiaoyao and her, and also to Su Mengzhen. Had Shi Qingruo not recruited them first, these two could have been valuable assets for Su Mengzhen as well.

Because the Yang Tiexin family matter had been temporarily handed over to the Six Doors Bureau, Huang Rong and Guo Jing remained within the Mysterious Heaven Alliance. Though not yet her allies, Shi Qingruo was confident she would eventually bring these young martial artists under her banner.

As for Lu Xiaofeng and Sikong Zhaixing—both attended today’s meeting to provide protection, signaling a clear stance.

“It’s too slow. I don’t have that much time,” Su Mengzhen said, coughing heavily.

A normal person might cover their mouth to maintain dignity, but Su Mengzhen was different.

His violent cough seemed to tether his throat and lungs with an invisible thread. As his facial nerves twitched, the pain in his lungs intensified, wrenching every sinew in his body.

Even the hand resting on the table had lost all color from the force of his knuckles, making one wonder if he might cough up his internal organs.

Perhaps the only solace was that no blood was coughed up.

He steadied himself, carefully folding the handkerchief back into his sleeve, then repeated firmly, “I don’t have that much time.”

For a patient, time was the most precious commodity.

From another perspective, Lei Sun would not grant the Mysterious Heaven Alliance so much time to regroup, recruit, and rise. The moment the alliance showed vigor, Lei Sun would act swiftly.

Shi Qingruo knew this well but shook her head in response to his doubt. “If your time were truly so limited, you wouldn’t have met Di Feijing a few days ago.”

Su Mengzhen’s face showed surprise.

He indeed met Di Feijing—a subordinate of Lei Sun and leader of the Six and a Half Hall—recently.

This information was no secret in the capital, so what puzzled him was not that Shi Qingruo knew but how she viewed the matter.

She continued, “If your time were truly short, you wouldn’t bother to ascertain Di Feijing’s character. The rumors are clear: he is a man who knows how to judge talent and read situations. If your health prevented you from signaling him correctly—or worse, misled him—you should have struck decisively instead of first wiping out the Six and a Half Hall’s base on Qionghua Island, then going to negotiate with that as your bargaining chip.”

Su Mengzhen paused, then said, “Madam Shi… you understand me better than I imagined.”

Shi Qingruo’s gaze was gentle, similar to Di Feijing’s, radiating warmth and clarity rather than scrutiny.

Perhaps even more so than Di Feijing, her eyes bore fewer judgments toward people and matters.

Yet this very woman, having arrived in Bianjing only months ago, seemed like an old friend who could pinpoint his state with unerring accuracy.

It was hard not to recall the illusion she had given him when they first met—that it felt as if it wasn’t their first encounter.

Shi Qingruo’s voice brought him back from the fleeting reverie. “No, I don’t truly understand you. At least, I don’t know how someone burdened with multiple terminal illnesses and rare diseases can still live—and live better than most. I don’t think ‘miracle’ alone can explain that.”

Su Mengzhen replied calmly, “Because the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion has not fallen—and I am the Golden Wind and Gentle Rain Pavilion.”

This resolute, powerful statement barely left his lips before he shifted tone. “Enough. Now is not the time for such talk. Since you know what kind of man I am, you should also understand my expectations for this cooperation.”

“Indeed. But speed isn’t judged by current performance alone,” Shi Qingruo smiled faintly. “Besides, I came to see you today with a plan I want to discuss.”

Su Mengzhen nodded, signaling her to continue.

Perhaps unwittingly, by giving this cue, he handed over some initiative to Shi Qingruo.

More precisely, when she first challenged his remark about her slow and scattered actions, she had already shifted the dynamic between them.

“This plan was sparked by a recent night investigation of the Divine Marquis’s mansion. It wasn’t wasted effort,” Shi Qingruo’s smile deepened, as if reclaiming some dignity from the trivial matter.

Su Mengzhen listened quietly as she proceeded.

“Though I heard about this before entering Bianjing and cannot reveal the source, you need not doubt the truth of what I’m about to say.”

“Lei Sun will not easily relinquish a prize he believes is rightfully his. The Divine Marquis’s mansion is not simply guarded by a few brash newcomers. I am well aware of the consequences if I misstep. But if this succeeds, it may trap both factions at once.”

“In a word, my plan can be called—”

She spoke deliberately: “To die in the trap and thereby live.”

Su Mengzhen raised a brow, gazing at her face, which bore the air of a master strategist. Without questioning her scheme, he asked, “Whose death trap are you referring to? Yours or mine?”

Shi Qingruo pointed at herself. “Mine.”