Chapter Seven: Revisiting the Nation-Guarding Sword

Outside the Hall of Intentions, the midday sun scorched the earth, the heat oppressive and stifling.

Ren Ye hurriedly arrived outside the hall, glanced around, and was about to dash after the princess consort’s carriage.

Unexpectedly, a maid named Lian’er, waiting at the foot of the steps, spoke first: “Your Highness, the princess consort left a message. She requests that you come to her bedchamber this evening after bathing and changing clothes at the hour of the Dog.”

Ren Ye paused, looking up at the carriage carrying Xu Qingzhao as it disappeared into the distance, a thoughtful expression crossing his face.

He had intended to catch up with Xu Qingzhao to have a proper conversation with this “wife” who seemed so reckless.

Just now in the hall, Xu Qingzhao’s behavior had been utterly abnormal, a far cry from the image of a “monk” he remembered.

However, for Ren Ye, whether she had wanted to use him or to kill with a borrowed knife, it was undoubtedly a positive sign.

After all, he had no teammates now; if someone wanted to use him, it at least showed he still had value. Whatever happened, the situation couldn’t be too bad...

Moreover, where there is abnormality, there must be something amiss. Ren Ye had suspected Xu Qingzhao might be a player. Her sudden “help” might relate to her own mission.

If that were true, it meant she currently did not want him to be too passive; some contact would do no harm.

Most importantly, since she had just “helped” him, taking the initiative to talk to her wouldn’t seem too abrupt.

Who would have thought she wanted to invite him as well? Well, that was good—it meant she was being more proactive. Tonight, he could play dumb and wait for her to make the first move.

After a moment’s thought, Ren Ye turned back and asked Lian’er, “Did she say anything else?”

“The princess consort gave no other instructions,” Lian’er blinked, then added, “But Miss Xue’er specially reminded that you must bathe and change before attending the appointment.”

At her words, the surrounding eunuchs and maids showed gossiping expressions.

Hmm? She insists I bathe and change? Does she want to deepen our marital bond?

Fine, though I haven’t been aroused in over three years, the foundation remains, and my technique is ever improving...

Suddenly, heavy footsteps interrupted Ren Ye’s thoughts.

“Your Highness!!! Commander Wang was wrongfully killed! Please give the order, and I will chop off Chief Clerk Li Yan’s dog head immediately!” A burly young man clad in a white python robe and black crown rushed over, knelt abruptly, and burst into tears without warning.

Ren Ye recognized him at once. His real name was Hong Jiadi, nicknamed Er Leng. He was a chief flag officer under Wang Jingzhong of the personal guard battalion.

Within the entire Huai Wang Mansion, aside from Wang Jingzhong and his close eunuchs and maids, Er Leng was the only one trustworthy and dependable.

Er Leng was from the southern border, a martial prodigy brought into the mansion at six by the late king. Skilled with a single saber, swift and fierce, he grew up alongside Zhu Ziguai, their master-servant bond solid, almost too close.

In Zhu Ziguai’s memory, Er Leng was utterly loyal, no chance of betrayal.

Even in his youth, Er Leng often said just two things:

“Young Lord, who shall we chop?”

“Young Lord, where shall we go today to bully men and women?”

After the late king’s death, Zhu Ziguai assigned Er Leng to the personal guard battalion, intending to secretly rally the troops and amass strength.

“Though Wang Jingzhong died unjustly, Minister Li’s straightforward admonition was his duty. Don’t speak nonsense,” Ren Ye looked at the earnest youth. “Stand up and speak.”

“It was that dog Li Yan’s doing! If Your Highness is unwilling to kill him, I can bind his lawful wife and sell her to the southern barbarians’ camp to tend horses, or bind his eldest son to be a eunuch!” Er Leng gritted his teeth, proposing fiercely, “I’ll handle it quietly with no leaks.”

Ren Ye was speechless for a long moment, nearly breaking down inside. Zhu Ziguai, Zhu Ziguai, look at the people you keep around—just eunuchs, maids, or crude brutes.

“Proceed to the Hall of Intentions,” Ren Ye said, striding off.

...

The Hall of Intentions, located among the rear sleeping quarters of the mansion, was where the late king conducted daily affairs, akin to the emperor’s study.

As the carriage moved forward, Ren Ye pondered how to escape his passive predicament, while Er Leng sobbed quietly the entire way.

This showed that although straightforward, Er Leng was deeply sentimental and had a good relationship with Wang Jingzhong.

Arriving at the ancient, elegant Hall of Intentions, Ren Ye passed through the dim corridor and stood at the main hall’s entrance, ordering, “Lian’er, station guards here. Er Leng, come with me inside.”

“Yes,” Lian’er replied.

Ren Ye turned to Er Leng, still sniffling, and snapped, “Stop bawling, come in.”

Er Leng, feeling wronged, pushed open the door and entered with Ren Ye.

Once inside, Ren Ye casually surveyed the surroundings. Though clean and orderly, there was an inexplicable chill in the air, a coolness that sent shivers down his spine.

In his memory, after the late king’s death, Zhu Ziguai completely gave up, no longer interfering in mansion affairs, so he rarely came to the Hall of Intentions.

Ren Ye scanned the room and ordered Er Leng, “Search with me.”

Er Leng wiped tears from his swollen eyes. “Search for what?”

“A secret imperial edict,” Ren Ye frowned. “Turn over every place you can.”

The second current mission from the Starmark Gate was to restore the divine power of the imperial brush, and the clue was a secret edict. So Ren Ye immediately thought of the late king’s office.

“Yes,” Er Leng nodded.

They divided the work clearly: Ren Ye searched the desk and bookcase, Er Leng searched the late king’s resting and tea area, still sobbing quietly.

At first, Ren Ye ignored him, but considering he was his only physically capable subordinate, he decided to nurture him. While rifling through the bookcase, he softly asked, “You’re sad about Wang Jingzhong’s death?”

“Of course. Aside from the late king and Your Highness, only Sir Wang treated me like family...” Er Leng’s eyes were swollen from crying.

“Do you know how I feel now?” Ren Ye looked at the piles of ancient official documents, his head buzzing.

Er Leng considered carefully, then shook his head.

“Apart from feelings, he was my right hand,” Ren Ye said calmly. “Heartbroken? Pained? Can you compare?”

Er Leng fell silent.

“Today’s shame will be repaid tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then in three or five years,” Ren Ye frowned. “But to repay, we must survive first. If you really send Li Yan’s lawful wife to tend horses, do you think you’ll live? Remember, words of cruelty are empty; true cruelty lies in the heart.”

Er Leng was stunned, then suddenly said, “Your Highness... you didn’t use to say things like this.”

“Consider that... the old me is dead,” Ren Ye began searching under the desk on his knees after no luck at the bookcase. “Tell me, you’ve been in the personal guard battalion for years. If a major upheaval happens in the mansion, how many people will obey your orders?”

Er Leng thought carefully. “The situation in the personal guard is complicated. When Sir Wang was alive, I had some confidence...”

Ren Ye rolled his eyes. “Cut the preamble, just say it.”

“I’m close with some chief flag officers...” Er Leng chose his words cautiously.

“Stop babbling nonsense! Just tell me, after over two years undercover, how many obey you fully?”

“Uh, I can only guarantee one person obeys me completely.” Er Leng bowed.

“Just one? A big shot?” Ren Ye frowned. “The deputy commander?”

“Only myself. I fully obey myself,” Er Leng answered honestly.

“Fuck me.” Ren Ye couldn’t help but swear.

“Why insult my mother, Your Highness?”

“Shut up, don’t speak to me.” Ren Ye’s patience snapped, feeling foolish to have any expectations of this brute. “Find that edict quickly. If you don’t, I’ll make you tend the horses! The whole battalion’s horses!!”

At that, the two tacitly fell silent and worked earnestly, turning the main hall upside down.

Afternoon approached, but they found nothing—only mundane affairs documents, books, antiques, and calligraphy.

Exhausted, Ren Ye slumped into the “father king’s” chair, eyes fixed on the ceiling, convinced his guess must be right: if a secret edict was hidden in the mansion, it should be in the late king’s office.

How could it be missing?

Nearby, Er Leng continued rifling, uninterested in the edict, mainly dreading tending horses.

Ren Ye glanced at him irritably, then slowly rose, his eye catching the National Sword displayed behind the throne.

A heavy golden sword, its scabbard encrusted with gems on both sides, lavishly ornate; the hilt carved with a lifelike dragon’s head.

Ren Ye had noticed the sword upon entering. In Zhu Ziguai’s memory, he had tried to wield it but failed.

That man was useless. The National Sword did not acknowledge him. Plus, Ren Ye was focused on finding the edict, so he hadn’t paid much attention to the sword.

“Er Leng, let’s check the late king’s bedchamber next.” Ren Ye stepped forward, hoping to see if he could draw the sword, since it was mentioned in the mission.

“Your Highness, please wait; I’ll keep searching!” Er Leng, imagining tending horses, was so scared his legs trembled. “Just fifteen more minutes! Only fifteen!”

Ren Ye circled the throne, grasped the sword’s blade, and lifted it gently.

Boom!

The moment the blade left its mount, a thunderclap seemed to strike Ren Ye’s mind, clearing the fog in his thoughts, making his soul tremble.

Pop!

A slender sword light flashed suddenly, lightly slicing Ren Ye’s right palm. Hot blood welled forth, dripping onto the sword, causing its previously dull blade to blaze with dazzling brilliance.

Bang!

Immediately, a sharp, invincible aura surged from the blade, shooting toward the heavens.

A gust of wind rocked the main hall, but intricate formation patterns and a radiant light barrier quickly materialized, suppressing and containing the sword’s anomaly, preventing outside notice.

[ Ding — Congratulations, Lord Huai Wang, on reawakening the National Sword. May your martial fortune flourish and none rival you in the realm. ]

A cold voice echoed in Ren Ye’s ears as he sensed a subtle bond forming with the sword.

At the same time, Er Leng, kneeling in stunned bewilderment, witnessed the wall behind the throne crack open, revealing a secret passage slowly emerging...

...

Huai Wang Mansion.

The other ten players simultaneously heard the Starmark Gate’s prompt in their ears.

[ Congratulations, a player has triggered an important inheritance storyline. You will now begin your main quest. ]