Chapter 240: Water and Fire

Chapter 240: Water and Fire

In Tang Wanzhuang's presence, Zhao Changhe naturally had to distance himself from any connection with the imperial consort: "Where did your mind wander? Isn't it just human nature to take a second look at someone beautiful? Common sense, common sense..."

Tang Wanzhuang stared at him without a word.

Zhao Changhe ventured cautiously: "Actually, I stared at you even longer back then—didn't you notice?"

Tang Wanzhuang instinctively glanced left and right, then replied expressionlessly: "Remember what you once said."

She meant to remind him that they had agreed they had no interest in marriage alliances, so he shouldn't go back on his word.

Zhao Changhe rolled his eyes. Back in Gusu, they could still tease each other a bit, but now in the capital, it had started again. Yet she was still so thin-skinned, unwilling to let anyone else take her place.

Tang Wanzhuang ignored his expression and pressed on: "Stealing a few glances at her is one thing, but is it also 'common sense' for you to insist on staying at the Huangfu residence?"

"I have nowhere to stay—can I stay here with you?"

Tang Wanzhuang: "..."

She realized she had no ground to argue and could only say: "Regardless of whether you acknowledge your identity, she is still the imperial consort. Even if you were just a commoner, you wouldn't dare covet her—watch your head. And given that identity, even more so..."

Zhao Changhe felt a bit guilty and said helplessly: "Where is this going? What's gotten into you today, dragging everything into this? Isn't it just a couple of glances? Is this the perspective our Chief Tang should be taking?"

Tang Wanzhuang also felt she had lost her composure. She adjusted her mood by lowering her head to sip tea, then slowly said: "Because I know that this so-called imperial consort—she doesn't take it seriously, and neither does His Majesty. So I'm a bit overly cautious."

Zhao Changhe grew interested: "What do you mean?"

Tang Wanzhuang hesitated for a while. Such matters were certainly not to be casually discussed, but with Zhao Changhe, could it be considered a family affair in some sense? Perhaps it was better for him to know.

After a long hesitation, she finally said: "The Huangfu family is a northwestern military clan, originally not residing in the capital. After several of their sons died in battle, His Majesty ordered Marquis Jingyuan to return to the capital for retirement, bestowing upon him exceptional favor..."

Zhao Changhe said: "Afraid of his achievements overshadowing the throne? Or worried that General Huangfu, having lost so many sons, might lose his composure? Calling it retirement in the capital was actually stripping him of his military power, uprooting him from his ancestral garrison, and keeping him caged in the capital."

"Perhaps... a little." Tang Wanzhuang found the words unpleasant but defended the emperor: "But His Majesty has never killed any meritorious officials, which is rare in history. Having a military clan stationed permanently on the frontier is not ideal either... And the Huangfu family were surrendered officials from the previous dynasty—it's understandable for a ruler to be cautious."

The previous dynasty... Zhao Changhe realized for the first time that such a concept existed. The Great Xia had been established for decades, and the notion of the previous dynasty had long faded from the people's minds—he hadn't heard it mentioned in all this time.

Come to think of it, given the Huangfu family's circumstances, it was quite natural for Lady Huangfu to harbor rebellious thoughts, though he didn't know what her family thought. That was probably why she joined the Four Symbols Sect. He wondered if her father knew... At least for now, the Demon Suppression Bureau didn't seem to know, or Tang Wanzhuang wouldn't be acting like this.

He didn't comment: "And then?"

"The Huangfu family moved to the capital over a decade ago. Back then, Huangfu Shaozong was still in diapers, and Huangfu Qing was in her prime—her beauty was renowned throughout the capital..."

"Where were you then?"

"..." This question was indeed the precise entry point for cracking several cases.

Tang Wanzhuang really didn't want to answer but had to reply expressionlessly: "Roaming the martial world... studying in the capital."

Zhao Changhe barely suppressed his laughter.

Similar age, similar beauty, comparable family backgrounds, probably similar talents—though you might be stronger in martial arts. Zhao Changhe hadn't yet realized that Yi Huo She was Zhuque, or he'd know even that was comparable.

One was a gentle, refined woman from the water country, proper and serious; the other was a spirited tiger from a military clan, fiery and possibly a little mischievous.

One was a pillar of the court, the other a secret rebel.

They were like water and fire, light and shadow. It was almost certain they had been at odds since their maiden days, and the rivalry had become second nature—the entire capital was used to watching the show.

Time passed, and one became a chief, the other an imperial consort, still locked in their habitual strife...

If Zhao Changhe could connect Zhuque, he would recall that back at the Luo family manor, amid the tense atmosphere of massacre and annihilation, Zhuque's first words to Tang Wanzhuang were: "The name 'Spring Water Sword Technique' is a bit vulgar, but it's still pretty to look at."

The subtle flavor in those words was truly beyond outsiders' understanding.

Tang Wanzhuang's expression darkened: "What's that look supposed to mean? Do you think I'm warning you away from her because we can't stand each other?"

Wasn't it?

Zhao Changhe sat obediently, lowering his head to drink tea.

Tang Wanzhuang tapped the table: "What does this have to do with me? I'm talking about what happened after the Huangfu family moved to the capital! Don't change the subject!"

"Yes, yes, and then?"

Tang Wanzhuang glared at him for a long moment before finally returning to the main topic: "Anyway, in subsequent battles against the barbarians, the court suffered repeated defeats, and many elite border troops were lost. What they call His Majesty's misguided policies in his later years leading to chaos under heaven—this counts as one. Marquis Jingyuan could no longer sit idle and repeatedly requested to lead campaigns."

Zhao Changhe said: "So sending his daughter into the palace was meant to reassure him? How could a daughter reassure him? Useless. It would have been more meaningful to keep Huangfu Shaozong in the capital."

"Clearly, the real hostage was Huangfu Shaozong himself, not Huangfu Qing. I wonder if Huangfu Shaozong himself realizes that."

"...So Huangfu Qing had no need to enter the palace at all."

"Exactly, no need, utterly meaningless. In this matter, it's very likely that Huangfu Qing and Marquis Jingyuan's family are viewed separately... At most, it gave Marquis Jingyuan a better pretext to lead troops as a relative of the emperor, rather than holding his son hostage in the capital. But I still think it was Huangfu Qing's own decision."

"So Old Xia was lustful and forced her into the palace?"

"No, His Majesty has not been interested in women for at least ten years, perhaps longer. He hasn't even selected imperial concubines in twenty years." Tang Wanzhuang said seriously: "In fact, for cultivators who have reached His Majesty's level of harmony with heaven and earth, such things no longer hold any appeal. I've never seen any Celestial List expert interested in them. For example, Cui Wenjing—since Cui Yuanyang was born, he probably hasn't touched his wives or concubines. The reason His Majesty has only one crown prince is also due to this. According to my informants in the inner palace, His Majesty hasn't touched Empress Wang in at least fifteen years. Perhaps the Luo family affair was his last burst of interest..."

"..." Although this matched the judgment that Huangfu Qing was still a virgin, Zhao Changhe's brain was about to overheat.

Since entering the palace meant nothing to the Huangfu family, why did she do it? To seduce the emperor? The emperor had long lost interest in women—many people knew that, so how could she not? And seduction didn't seem like something Yi Huo She's personality would do.

Perhaps she entered the palace with some purpose, like assassinating the emperor—that made sense. But then Xia Longyuan's actions didn't add up. If he wasn't even selecting concubines, why would he suddenly take an imperial consort? Wasn't he causing trouble for himself? Maybe even his son was killed by her, and he didn't care?

Fortunately, this probably didn't require much brainwork. He could just ask Huangfu Qing directly later—she would likely tell him.

Hell, he might even use joining the sect as a bargaining chip.

Tang Wanzhuang said: "In short, His Majesty and Huangfu Qing are definitely not in a relationship of emperor and consort. It must be just a nominal arrangement for some collaboration. His Majesty's motive might be explained as promoting a consort to check Empress Wang, but I really can't figure out Huangfu Qing's purpose. She can't have a son—what is she after? Assassination? In any case, this woman is very dangerous, especially given your identity..."

She paused, frowning: "You shouldn't have come to the capital. Your arrival is almost like announcing your claim to the throne. What will Empress Wang think? What will Huangfu Qing think? What about the officials' attitudes? His Majesty's own attitude? The troubles stirred up here—I can't even begin to predict them. Why now? It's not the right time."

Zhao Changhe's mind flashed with the shadow of Xia Chichi. He knew that his coming to the capital this time wasn't entirely due to Yi Huo She's coaxing—that reason wasn't that important.

The real reason was Xia Chichi's sigh. She felt her father was dying, yet she didn't even know his condition.

Zhao Changhe took a deep breath: "The Wang family is stirring. I think Empress Wang has leaked some serious information to them. I want to know His Majesty's true condition. Once I know, I'll leave. You said you have informants in the inner palace—can you give me a definite answer?"

Tang Wanzhuang shook her head: "According to my information, His Majesty's complexion is still fine. I don't know how the Wang family judged it. He even held court this morning and sent more troops south—nothing seems wrong at all."

Zhao Changhe scratched his head, thinking to himself that if she wouldn't let him contact Huangfu Qing, that might be impossible now. He had to ask Huangfu Qing about this no matter what...

Just as he was thinking this, a report came from outside from a Demon Suppression Bureau officer: "Chief, Young Master Huangfu is outside, inviting Zhao Changhe to a banquet."

Zhao Changhe looked at Tang Wanzhuang with pitiful eyes. Tang Wanzhuang shot him an exasperated glare, then shook her head with a faint smile: "Go on, go on. Since you're here, how long can you hide? Let's see if the splendor of the capital lives up to your expectations."