Chapter 78: Emperor Mingde’s Hidden Ailment, Shen Tian Awakens
The Gu family, as one of the three great powers behind the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, had a long and storied heritage, with profound foundations.
As the current generation’s direct descendant, she had shown exceptional talent since childhood and had been deeply cherished and favored, never once suffering real setbacks or trouble.
After entering the Bureau of Immortal Inspection, she repeatedly solved extraordinary cases.
Coupled with the family’s backing, she had managed, in her early twenties, to become an Immortal Officer—a path that would have taken others decades to achieve.
Before this, she had never imagined that the abduction of Shen Yanzhou would lead to such an entanglement of complications.
In the end, even she had been drawn into the matter.
Upon returning to the capital, she first went to her family to report, conveying Shen Yanzhou’s message, and also sought a way to remove the Ten-Thousand Gu Heart-Piercing Pill.
Unexpectedly, even within the Gu family’s vast and boundless library, there was not a single record of it.
Unwilling to give up, she came to the Bureau of Immortal Inspection and sought out one of her family’s elders, who served as Vice Ritual Superintendent—someone of high authority, capable of mobilizing any Immortal Officer at will.
Yet even this elder of hers failed to detect anything amiss within her body.
Could it be that from now on, she could only remain at Shen Yanzhou’s mercy?
“Shen Yanzhou…”
“The power of the Dragon-Elephant, how strange and mysterious—what heavenly treasures in this world could possibly grant him such divine might?”
After dismissing the young attendants, the Feather-robed Elder shook his head with a faint smile.
“Third Grandfather, what has happened?”
Gu Ruoxi had not yet heard what occurred today at the Dragon-Tiger Institute.
Upon hearing Shen Yanzhou’s name, she instinctively asked.
“A rather interesting matter. You mentioned before that Shen Yanzhou himself admitted his abduction had been orchestrated by the Demon Suppression King—that those slain retainers and offerings were sacrifices meant to kill him?”
The Feather-robed Elder asked.
Gu Ruoxi nodded.
She had already reported this to the family.
“If so, then the relationship between Shen Yanzhou and the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion is far from harmonious. The rumors spread today were likely meant to push him into the storm’s eye. It seems even those within the Prince’s Mansion were unaware that this man had concealed his strength so deeply.”
“Some may even suspect that he obtained a fortuitous encounter within Hidden Moon Mountain, which explains his current power.”
“As for Shen Yanzhou’s visit to the Dragon-Tiger Institute today, there may be yet another layer of meaning behind it.” The Feather-robed Elder’s eyes narrowed, gleaming faintly with insight.
Gu Ruoxi pondered aloud, “Third Grandfather means… Shen Yanzhou intends to ally with others against the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion?”
“Something like that. He’s a clever one.”
“Ruoxi, you should find a chance to bring him here to meet me. Matters in the Southern Border may require his involvement.”
“If you can make him work for you, all the better.”
The Feather-robed Elder spoke with calm authority.
“……”
Gu Ruoxi’s alluring peach blossom eyes fluttered slightly; she nearly choked on her breath.
Me?
She was still racking her brain on how to escape from Shen Yanzhou’s grasp!
“What, you’re unwilling?” The Feather-robed Elder looked toward her.
Gu Ruoxi naturally dared not mention the fact that Shen Yanzhou had planted the Ten-Thousand Gu Heart-Piercing Pill within her.
Forcing a smile, she obediently replied, “Rest assured, Third Grandfather, Ruoxi will see it done.”
——
Meanwhile, in the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion, within the Emerald Bamboo Courtyard, Yu Chenyu had shed her usual languid demeanor and sat upright on the couch.
Before her lay a somewhat broken wooden comb.
“The Empress’s birthday is drawing near…” Yu Chenyu murmured to herself, then carefully put the comb away, her gaze turning deep and unreadable.
——
With Zhao Qingchan accompanying him, Shen Yanzhou easily registered his identity at the Martial Institute and received an Inner Court disciple’s token.
He was also assigned a personal courtyard.
However, students born in the imperial capital like him rarely stayed overnight at the academy; most returned home after lessons.
He merely took a brief look at the courtyard before leaving.
As an Inner Court disciple, each was granted a separate residence, so there was no shared lodging.
On the way out of the academy, Zhao Qingchan did not pry into his secrets as she had upon their first meeting.
Instead, she spoke casually of academy anecdotes, a faint smile softening her features.
Shen Yanzhou understood her ambition.
She was drawing near deliberately to win him over, waiting for the right time to reveal her true intent.
Within the Dragon-Tiger Institute, Zhao Qingchan was well-liked.
Her methods were the reason—though she appeared serene and aloof, her actions tended toward decisiveness and dominance.
“I wonder who that true heir really is?”
At parting, Zhao Qingchan suddenly remarked, half in curiosity, half in thought.
“When the Demon Suppression King brings him back to the capital, won’t we find out?” Shen Yanzhou replied with a smile.
Zhao Qingchan’s charming smile bloomed like a flower as her beautiful eyes lingered on him.
“You’ve suddenly risen to prominence—are you worried that once the true heir returns, you’ll be neglected by the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion?”
“I do have such a concern. After all, I’m merely a stand-in.”
“Perhaps when the time comes, the one betrothed to your Divine Martial Marquis’s Residence will be that man.” Shen Yanzhou sighed deliberately.
Zhao Qingchan chuckled but did not pursue the topic further.
The current Shen Yanzhou indeed possessed the talent and strength worthy of her attention.
But in terms of background, he still could not compare to that true heir.
As for how outstanding the true heir truly was—only seeing him with her own eyes would tell.
——
After they parted ways, Shen Yanzhou left the Dragon-Tiger Institute.
Chunchao and Elder Mo, who had been waiting at the academy gate, joined him in returning to the mansion.
That evening, he dined with Yu Chenyu.
Yu Chenyu asked why he wished to enter the Dragon-Tiger Institute.
Shen Yanzhou’s answer was simple—he wanted to learn more martial techniques and cultivation arts, since the Scripture Pavilion of the Demon Suppression Prince’s Mansion forbade him entry.
Yu Chenyu neither confirmed nor denied his words, but instead mentioned another matter, seemingly in passing.
“The Empress’s birthday is approaching. On that day, the sects and kingdoms of all lands will come to present gifts and pay homage.” Yu Chenyu said.
“This child is aware of it.”
“Will Mother also attend the celebration?” Shen Yanzhou asked, though his thoughts had already turned to the great event soon to unfold.
The Empress Was Attacked.
This event, in the original story, marked the beginning of the chaos within the Imperial Capital.
“In court, all the high ministers and their wives will naturally go to offer their congratulations. How could I be an exception? After all, His Majesty and the Empress share deep affection. He has never taken a single concubine—such devotion has become a beautiful tale, inspiring many ministers to follow his example to this day.”
“If I do not go, I fear it may incur His Majesty’s displeasure.” Yu Chenyu nodded lightly, her tone calm.
Shen Yanzhou sensed that Yu Chenyu would not bring this matter up without a reason.
If his memory served, the attack on the Empress was actually orchestrated by the Path of Communion with the Netherworld of Beiyu’s ancestral spirits.
Although the original story did not explicitly reveal the mastermind behind the assassination attempt, he had his suspicions.
“Wasn’t there a rumor in court?” Shen Yanzhou said after some thought, smiling faintly as he deliberately probed Yu Chenyu’s response.
“They say that His Majesty has never taken another concubine not only because of his deep affection for the Empress and gratitude toward the Cui clan of Hejian for their support, but also for another important reason—His Majesty’s dragon body is… unwell.”
Yu Chenyu’s gaze flickered slightly, but her tone remained indifferent.
“Where did you hear such nonsense? Who dares to speak so recklessly of His Majesty?”
“I don’t know who started the rumor,” Shen Yanzhou replied, “but it’s said His Majesty suffered a bloodline curse—more precisely, a hidden wound left from the battle for the throne back then, leaving him incapable of siring heirs.”
Yu Chenyu’s eyes fixed deeply upon him.
The corners of her lips curved into a faint, ambiguous smile.
“Whether it was truly a bloodline curse and hidden wound from the fight for the throne… or something else entirely, no one knows.”
Shen Yanzhou froze slightly.
This point had never been mentioned in the original story.
Yet Yu Chenyu’s words clearly held a hidden meaning.
The Empress was the daughter of the head of the Cui clan of Hejian, long known for her virtue and benevolence.
The Cui clan of Hejian was one of the Great Qian Dynasty’s most renowned noble families, its lineage stretching back millennia.
Their estates were vast, their industries spread across the land, and their members were embedded within every faction of the court—a towering tree of true power.
Even Emperor Mingde’s ascension to the throne had been achieved with the Cui clan’s backing.
To this day, it was still said that without marrying the Cui family’s daughter in his youth, Emperor Mingde would never have secured his throne.
Back then, Emperor Mingde—whose given name was Xia De—had been merely an unfavored sixth prince.
The strongest contenders for the throne were the Crown Prince, Xia Wen, son of the late Empress, and the Third Prince, Xia Hai, born of the Emperor’s most favored concubine, whose maternal family was equally powerful.
Xia De’s mother had been only a minor consort among the nine—Consort Shu—and she had died young of illness, leaving him without protection.
In a harem rife with intrigue and deceit, the death of a consort was hardly unusual.
Ordinary princes in such circumstances rarely survived to adulthood—many would “accidentally” drown by the lake or succumb to strange illnesses.
Yet Xia De survived to adulthood, establishing his own residence and being granted the title of King De.
He was virtuous and kind-hearted, making many scholarly friends and earning the respect of the people.
He often gave away his wealth and grain to his retainers, even living frugally himself.
Thus, many were willing to risk their lives for him.
It was around that time that the Demon Suppression King, Shen Jingxiao, became acquainted with Xia De.
One had been an unfavored prince with no hope of succession; the other, a martial prodigy from a declining clan in a remote region who had come to the capital to pursue greatness—their meeting was a union of kindred spirits.
Emperor Mingde’s eventual victory in the struggle for the throne came about because the Second Prince, Xia Hai, conspired with his followers to assassinate the Crown Prince, Xia Wen, and launch a coup at the Purple Pole Gate, attempting to falsify the imperial edict.
At that time, Xia De led his deathsworn followers in storming the Purple Pole Gate, personally slaying the Second Prince, restoring order, and seizing the advantage of heaven’s will and the people’s support.
With the endorsement of the court ministers and the Cui clan of Hejian, he gradually secured his position.
Shen Yanzhou’s thoughts churned.
If Emperor Mingde’s inability to produce heirs had other underlying causes, then perhaps his pursuit of immortality and his decision to let the Crown Prince act as regent were, in a sense, acts of resignation.
Shaking his head, Shen Yanzhou thought that the waters of the imperial court ran deep indeed.
In any case, it had nothing to do with him.
“You’ve made quite a name for yourself in the capital now, and joining the Dragon-Tiger Institute has only added to your fame,” Yu Chenyu remarked casually.
“If the chance arises, you may even be summoned by His Majesty himself.”
She did not linger on the previous topic, instead lazily lifting a strand of hair between her slender fingers, her movements languid yet alluring.
His Majesty?
Shen Yanzhou only had a vague impression—his original self had never met the Emperor whose name resounded across the Nine Provinces.
He fell silent, feeling that Yu Chenyu was deliberately probing him during this meal.
——
The Ten-Thousand-Mile Sword Court occupied the vast northwestern and southern lands of Sword Province.
Beneath the ground, several massive spiritual veins converged, coiling like dragons and tigers.
Spiritual energy surged, misty and radiant, as if the land itself were a celestial realm.
Towering mountains rose in all directions, their peaks verdant and valleys lush, veiled in clouds and mist that glowed with hidden light.
Though it was deep into the night, the sound of sword cries still echoed between the peaks.
Pavilions and halls were scattered across the foothills and mountainsides, while deeper within loomed shadowy palaces and temples.
Occasionally, streams of sword qi cleaved through the heavens, singing in the void, leaving terrifying sword scars upon sheer cliffs.
At this moment, midway up a solitary and lofty peak, stood a serene ancestral shrine within a well-ordered courtyard.
Inside, a delicate young girl with twin ponytails was stifling a yawn.
Suddenly, she sensed something.
Her drowsiness vanished as she hurriedly rushed outside the shrine.
Before her, atop a Soul-Nurturing Platform built from pale spirit stone, a white jade urn pulsed with faint radiance—within it stirred the faint fluctuations of an awakening soul.
“Wonderful! Brother Shen Tian has finally awakened!”
The girl’s hands trembled as she supported the jade urn, her eyes reddening with emotion, nearly crying tears of joy.
The commotion quickly drew others from the courtyard.
A middle-aged beautiful woman, draped in a robe, hurried over.
“The master sent Young Tian’s remnant soul here, and after this period of nurturing, it has finally recovered.”
“Unfortunately, the injury remains severe. Even with constant nourishment from Soul-Nurturing Lotus and Soul-Protecting Pills, this awakening is only partial—the soul is far too fragmented.” The middle-aged woman took the jade urn, examined it, and sighed softly.
Just then, a faint wisp of soul light floated up from within the urn, forming a hazy figure—his appearance identical to Shen Tian’s, though his expression was vacant, devoid of vitality or spirit.
“I wonder what kind of peril Brother Shen Tian faced, to return with only a fragment of his soul left,” the young girl murmured anxiously.
“The Sword Immortal has been in seclusion at the Pure Pavilion, seeing no one. I wonder what truly happened.”
The middle-aged woman shook her head.
“In any case, it is already heaven’s blessing that he could awaken at all. He must now slowly recuperate. When the master emerges from seclusion, her divine power will surely help him regain full consciousness.”
“Shen… Shen Yanzhou…”
As the mother and daughter spoke, a faint, hoarse whisper echoed from the urn.
At first it was halting, but soon it grew fluent—and anyone hearing it would feel a chill crawl up their spine, sensing the deep, seething hatred within.
Both women froze, turning toward Shen Tian’s remnant soul.
From the center of his brow, a thread of golden light emerged—at first faint, then increasingly bright, as a golden sword orb began to spin slowly there.
The next instant, Shen Tian suddenly opened his eyes.