Chapter 883: Little Ruoyu Aves the Capital

Chapter 883: Little Ruoyu Shakes the Capital

Ling Ruoyu had no idea why Her Majesty, her aunt, looked at her with such a meaningful gaze...

Everyone else doted on her quite a bit. Logically, the ones who hated Ye Wuming the most were Aunt Jiuyou and Aunt Piaomiao, yet they were both very kind to her. After all, they had a hand in turning Xinghe into Ling Ruoyu, as if admiring their own handiwork, and treated her with a certain fondness. Even if they muttered about Ye Wuming inwardly, they wouldn't take it out on the younger generation—that would be beneath the dignity of top-tier demon gods.

Only Her Majesty, the Empress, looked at her like she was a mistress.

The situation didn't allow Ling Ruoyu to analyze Aunt Empress's attitude further. No matter what her status was within the family, to outsiders, the thirty-year reign of the Tianhan Empress, whose might had shaken the world, was no joke. No one dared to act presumptuously before her. Xia Chichi's arrival instantly brought order to the scene. Silence fell, and everyone waited for her to take charge.

Xia Chichi stood atop the city gate tower, her gaze sweeping lightly over the scene below, pausing pointedly on Zhao Changhe, who was hiding in the crowd. Finally, she spoke: "Young girls these days are truly spirited... Back when I first entered the martial world at this age, backed by the Four Symbols Sacred Sect and the support of the Vermilion Bird Venerable, I still walked with caution. I wonder whose backing these youngsters rely on now."

Ling Ruoyu: "..."

That was quite provocative...

She was subtly mocking that her backing was strong, that Ye Wuming and Yue Hongling were more formidable than the Vermilion Bird. Ling Ruoyu wondered what Aunt Vermilion Bird, who had returned with them on the same boat, thought of that.

The onlookers didn't catch the subtext. Someone flattered, "Your Majesty came of age in turbulent times, but under Your Majesty's rule, the Great Han enjoys peace and prosperity. That's why young girls today can grow up without weathering storms. This is the fruit of the predecessors' labor, Your Majesty's achievement."

Beside Xia Chichi, Cui Yuanyang's head popped out.

The flatterer quickly added, "Ah, and of course, the contributions of the Prince of Zhao and Chief Cui as a couple."

Xia Chichi glanced at him, her smile amiable: "Minister Dai speaks well. Go copy the Great Han Code three times."

Minister Dai: "?"

Everyone knew the current Empress loved punishing people by making them copy books, but no one knew what offense he had committed. Could it be that the wild histories claiming the Prince of Zhao had debauched the palace, with the Empress and Empress Dowager sharing his bed, actually held some truth?

Come to think of it, with the court's current control, not even banning such wild histories was a bit...

Xia Chichi cleared her throat and said lightly, "Saying she hasn't weathered storms is an exaggeration... Just a few days ago, this Miss Ling escorted the blade south, fighting twenty or thirty battles in a single day. Reckless, yes, but quite reminiscent of the Prince of Zhao. This challenge, though arrogant, also follows the precedent set by the Prince of Zhao. It shouldn't be faulted."

Zhao Changhe: "..."

Are you insulting me?

Xia Chichi continued, "Miss Ling has rendered meritorious service in escorting the blade and deserves commendation. Whether in the capital or the provinces, all are my subjects. The people of the capital should show magnanimity. Since this young lady challenges the capital's martial artists, let them respond with their skills—it will be a rare and fine tale in today's martial world. Do not gang up on her, lest you ruin the spirit of the warrior."

The Empress didn't punish the audacity but instead praised the service. Yet the praise came with no tangible reward, only a promise to maintain fairness and prevent a mob attack. Those atop and below the city gate couldn't tell if the Empress was praising or something else—truly, the sovereign's heart was unfathomable.

But at least the tone was set: she intended to watch this young lady challenge the capital's Human Roll alone.

Huang Youde then said, "Blades and swords have no eyes. If she gets hurt..."

Xia Chichi glanced at him: "I will protect her. No one is to harm her."

In her heart, she thought, *This is to protect you. You are my subjects, after all, and can't be casually chopped. In my day, someone like you would have been fed to the Star River... Let's just say it's you who are sheltered from storms, while that Zhao fellow is training his kid.*

Huang Youde had no idea of the Empress's inner monologue. He felt a bit disappointed but turned to Ling Ruoyu and said, "Miss Ling, you must know that beyond the mountain, there is always another mountain. The heroes of the capital are beyond the knowledge of a young girl like you. Today, you will learn your lesson."

Ling Ruoyu had been watching the drama and analyzing her aunt's attitude for a while. She thought, *Finally, time for business.* Without further ado, she cupped her hands and replied, "Please."

Xia Chichi pursed her lips. This wasn't just about Ye Wuming—her bearing, her movements, her tone—it was far too much like Yue Hongling.

She really wanted to bully her.

"Clang!" Huang Youde drew his sword and pointed it at her: "Miss Ling, draw your sword."

Ling Ruoyu's usually calm, almost profound gaze suddenly sharpened. She said coolly, "For you, no need to draw."

Xia Chichi: "?"

Good, you can really put on airs. Your master and father taught you nothing else, but they taught you how to act.

On the other side, Huang Youde was already trembling with rage: "Then your challenge ends here!"

"Whoosh!" Sword light streaked toward her.

Zhao Changhe took out his gourd and took a sip of wine.

As he tilted his head back, the sword light reached Ling Ruoyu's throat. Her body swayed slightly, her footwork shifted, and her right hand, holding the scabbard, moved abruptly.

"Clang!" The sword sprang halfway out, the hilt precisely striking Huang Youde's wrist. Huang Youde clearly saw her movement, the trajectory plain as day, but strangely, it was as if he had delivered his wrist to her. It hit without a doubt, numbing his wrist and causing his sword to fall.

Ling Ruoyu's sword slid back into its scabbard, and Huang Youde's sword hit the ground. The sounds were almost simultaneous, and at the same moment, Zhao Changhe's gourd returned to its place.

Huang Youde stared in shock at his numb wrist and the fallen sword, still unable to understand how he had been hit.

The scene fell silent. Everyone stared blankly at the upright young girl.

A battle on the Human Roll, and she hadn't even drawn her sword—half a move decided it. This was no longer a Human Roll battle; even an Earth Roll crushing a Human Roll couldn't compare, could it?

People couldn't even grasp the beginning and end of the fight. The movements were clear, nothing mysterious, but why couldn't Huang Youde, who was supposedly of equal strength, break through such a simple attack?

Xia Chichi whispered to Cui Yuanyang beside her: "This prediction of the opponent's sword path, making him charge into her like that—is that a new technique from Yue Hongling? It's not her style."

Cui Yuanyang said leisurely, "No. We watched her practice swordplay these past two days; it wasn't this style. It's said that when she went south, Zhao Ge taught her while pretending to be a pig. I think this time, it's not just prediction; it involves a bit of space-time manipulation. Otherwise, with mere prediction, a martial artist of that level wouldn't be completely helpless."

Xia Chichi was silent for a moment: "Even though the Secret Vault has opened the connection to heaven and earth, using space-time is still very difficult..."

"So she is Xinghe. Even if she doesn't use Xinghe's power, her innate intent is her greatest cheat. Ordinary people can't fight her. All she needs now is experience—lots of practical experience."

Xia Chichi nodded and announced, "This match, Ling Ruoyu wins. Who else wishes to challenge?"

The scene was momentarily awkward.

Originally, a sixteen-year-old girl coming to the capital with big talk made the capital's elite think she was asking for a beating. Now they realized she was a confirmed Human Roll rank eighteen, having fought her way up the canal from the Hidden Dragon Roll's first place. She had the right to be arrogant.

At that moment, Ling Ruoyu suddenly drew her sword, its ring like a dragon's roar: "Is there any other hero willing to instruct me?"

A breeze blew, and her long hair fluttered.

"Carefree, what of it? Arrogant, what of it? Just like her father back in the capital." In the distance, Huangfu Qing, wearing a Vermilion Bird mask, stood atop the city wall, her gaze filled with nostalgia.

For a long time, no one answered the challenge. Xia Chichi revealed a faint smile and pointed at Minister Dai: "Minister Dai, are you ranked thirtieth on the Human Roll?"

"Uh, Your Majesty, I'm twenty-ninth now. I was promoted a couple of days ago."

"Then you go."

"Ah?"

"What, because your rank is lower, you dare not challenge a higher-ranked one? If the martial spirit of the Great Han declines like this, it won't be far from ruin."

Minister Dai immediately said, "That's not what I meant. I'll go at once."

Xia Chichi then pointed to others: "You, you, and you—all on the Human Roll. Go."

They exchanged glances. Minister Dai hadn't wanted to go earlier because it was awkward for an official to go down and duel a civilian girl. Winning was fine, but losing would be disgraceful. Now, it seemed the Empress was personally dispatching court officials to give the girl a trial.

Was the Empress truly unafraid of tarnishing the court's prestige?

Cui Yuanyang said with a smile, "What expressions are those? This young lady is a jade token agent of our Demon Suppression Bureau. Either way, the court wins. Go."

"..."

The three had just leaped down from the city wall when sword light flashed ahead. Minister Dai, who had descended first, retreated in defeat, having not lasted three moves against Ling Ruoyu's sword.

At least it was better than the previous twentieth-ranked fighter. It didn't disgrace the court too much. Xia Chichi wasn't offended and laughed, "Not bad. There's a reward. You don't have to copy the Great Han Code three times."

Minister Dai was at a loss for words. He turned to see the three colleagues who had just descended being encompassed by Ling Ruoyu's single sword: "Gentlemen, you may all come at once."

Xia Chichi's smile stiffened. *Little brat, are you overdoing it? Doesn't my court need face?*

The three officials looked back at the Empress for instructions. Xia Chichi nodded stiffly: "Since she asked for it, then all of you go together."

The people of the capital were fortunate to witness a group of renowned court veterans besieging a sixteen-year-old girl, including one ranked twelfth, higher than Ling Ruoyu. What was horrifying was that even three against one, the battle dragged on, and they couldn't gain the upper hand.

Cui Yuanyang pulled the bias: "With three against one like this, we can set a time—if Miss Ling holds out past a certain point, she wins."

Xia Chichi nodded: "My beloved minister speaks sense. Let it be one incense stick. Someone, fetch my Azure Dragon Sacred Incense."

Moments later, a giant incense stick, half a foot in diameter and a full zhang tall, stood atop the city wall.

"Pfft..." Zhao Changhe spat out a mouthful of wine.

Above and below the wall, countless citizens of the capital covered their faces.

Was this the emperor leading a pack of capital men to bully a young girl? What had the nation come to...

Ling Ruoyu, surrounded by three strong fighters and battling like a spinning lantern, was already drenched in fragrant sweat, her hair in disarray.

She never imagined that among the Human Ranking, there were already those at the second level of Secret Treasury. Back in the day, even the first level could squeeze into the Earth Ranking, but now the second level only ranked in the teens of the Human Ranking...

Moreover, since the central government had grown more centralized and resources more abundant, the world's strong had increasingly been gathered for the court's use. After joining the court, they received even more cultivation support, making the court's fierce generals far stronger than the wilds of the jianghu. This duel made it clear: the court's strong were far more solid than Huang Youde.

She truly couldn't fight three alone; all she could do was see how long she could last.

She had been too arrogant... Should she draw the Star River Sword?

In the midst of her frenzy, she stole a glance at Zhao Changhe among the crowd. He wore an encouraging expression and was transmitting his voice: "Chichi isn't bullying you; she's helping you hone your skills. Don't use the Star River—just survive this incense stick, and your master's master will give you a reward."

Suddenly, Ling Ruoyu felt strength surge through her. Her sword radiance exploded, sweeping her opponents into the fray.

"Sunset Divine Sword!" Finally, someone knowledgeable recognized it: "So this girl is Yue Hongling's direct disciple! No wonder she's so strong!"

"I see! She's worthy of being arrogant!"

"Sunset Divine Sword herself is both beautiful and fierce, and her disciple is the same."

No one noticed that atop the city wall, the emperor's face had darkened like the bottom of a pot, and even Chief Cui's face had turned green.

Ling Ruoyu, on the other hand, grew a bit uneasy. Her master had forbidden her from publicly claiming this identity, fearing that others would avoid trouble out of respect for Yue Hongling's name, robbing her of jianghu experience. But in the heat of battle, she had revealed her ultimate technique. What would happen to her future training? Would her master scold her...

Her spirit wavered, and her hand softened by three parts. A blade flashed beside her; Ling Ruoyu parried weakly, rolled awkwardly on the ground, and seemed on the verge of losing.

But Xia Chichi's voice came at that moment: "The incense stick is done. Miss Ling lost the bout but held out the time. How about a draw?"

Ling Ruoyu clasped her sword and bowed: "I lost."

The three court fierce generals all bowed in admiration: "Miss Ling is too modest. It is we who lost."

"I said it's a draw, so it's a draw." Xia Chichi rose to her full height: "Arrange an official residence for Miss Ling. Starting tomorrow, you'll keep fighting. When you can defeat their three-on-one siege, come to the palace to see me."

Ling Ruoyu let out a breath as if drained.

Her Majesty, her aunt, had a sharp tongue but a soft heart—she was indeed helping her train.

But the trial didn't need to last all day. Why couldn't she enter the palace to see them tonight? Why did she have to win first? The girl sank into deep confusion.

The emperor led the crowd away. The capital's citizens, having witnessed a grand spectacle, entered the city content. No matter how the emperor judged the battle's outcome, in the people's hearts, Ling Ruoyu had won thoroughly.

Alone on horseback with a single sword, she had challenged the capital's Human Ranking. The emperor himself attended, thousands watched, and she fought through court and country.

If this wasn't legend, what was? Especially since the little lass was so beautiful.

Ling Ruoyu had no idea how much she had shown off. Many of her boastful words and actions were pure instinct, not deliberate—she only wanted to train. Unlike her master's master back in the day, who did it purely for show.

When the crowd dispersed, Ling Ruoyu quietly found her master's master hiding by the city wall. Hanging her head, she asked, "Master's master, did I cause trouble? Exposing the Sunset Divine Sword in public—will I have no more training opportunities? Was I too arrogant..."

Zhao Changhe laughed: "Since the end of the Tiger Hill battle, there's nothing left in this world for you to train on. The capital fight is your last taste of worldly arrogance. After this, we'll change places."

Ling Ruoyu's eyes sparkled: "Change to where?"

Zhao Changhe smiled faintly: "Roam the ancient times, seek out gods and demons to test your sword. How about that?"

Ling Ruoyu was overjoyed: "Can we?"

"Of course... but to avoid stirring up karmic chaos, we might not need to take that path. I have other ideas—I'll confirm them later." Zhao Changhe patted her head: "You did well today. What reward do you want?"

"I don't want anything else—just let Dragon Sparrow play with me for a day."

Dragon Sparrow: "...Get lost."

Zhao Changhe pulled Dragon Sparrow from his ring and flicked it: "How do you talk to your little sister?"

Dragon Sparrow wanted to cry but had no tears. You think this is a sweet little Ling sister? She wants to hit me, hit me...

The master could clearly sense Dragon Sparrow's thoughts, but he seemed not to believe its tattling. He untied Dragon Sparrow and handed it to Ling Ruoyu, then went into the palace to find Chichi.

Ling Ruoyu hugged Dragon Sparrow in her arms, bared her teeth in a grin, and said, "I lost today. I'm in a bad mood."

Dragon Sparrow turned to fly away, but Ling Ruoyu grabbed its hilt and dragged it back.

The capital's citizens watched as the girl who had just made such a splash at the city gate dragged a huge broadsword nearly as tall as herself all the way into the official residence. Soon, sounds of chaos came from within, then gradually faded into silence.

Zhao Changhe sat in the emperor's bedchamber, brewing tea with Xia Chichi.

Xia Chichi looked up at the sky and asked curiously, "The Heavenly Book isn't giving her kid a backdoor? This fight today—though she didn't fully show off—should still let her rise a few ranks, right?"

"Thanks to your giant incense stick." Zhao Changhe chuckled: "If it had been ordinary incense, she'd have held out and won, and that blind bastard would have bragged. But your giant stick dragged her to the brink of losing, barely making it a draw—even the blind bastard has to follow order."

Xia Chichi nodded: "You know her so well..."

Zhao Changhe: "...No, I'm just praising your handling. You gave Ruoyu training without losing the court's face."

Xia Chichi ground her teeth: "Even the two venerable ones were considerate enough to leave us alone. Don't you have anything to say to me? Your mouth is full of Ling Ruoyu."

Wasn't it you who started talking about Ling Ruoyu's ranking? Zhao Changhe dared not argue. He forced a smile: "How's the child? What's the name? Did you buy a school district house yet..."

Xia Chichi said, "How did you know I've been feeling a bit nauseous these past two days?"

Her expression—whether resentment or showing off—seemed to glow.

And so Zhao Changhe's face glowed too.

After Chichi had endured the strange phenomenon of a thirty-year pregnancy, she might have gotten used to it, but for Zhao Changhe, their intimate union on the Tianhe was only a dozen days ago. It felt no different from any normal man discovering his wife was pregnant.

Who would have thought, after all these years on the jianghu, he would truly have his own child?

Xia Chichi leaned gently into his arms, took his hand, and placed it on her belly, smiling: "Leaving a seed before you went to seek death—there are unexpected benefits. The ministers know I'm pregnant; though they find this strange fetus hard to understand, they dare not speak out. Anyway, the Four Symbols Sect's doctrine backs it up—it can only be a sacred fetus. With a sacred fetus in my belly and me looking like I'll live forever, no one has made a fuss about the succession these years. No one pressures me to marry. It's like you left a calming pill before you left, or I'd have endless trouble."

Zhao Changhe had never considered that aspect. Now he thought about it—perhaps Piaomiao had foreseen this back then. It was about the stability of the state, so it happened in one shot.

"This child, boy or girl, is destined to be the future emperor. I'll abdicate as soon as possible." Xia Chichi said leisurely, as if a great weight had been lifted from her heart: "I see your recent actions—you'll surely go beyond the Nine Heavens in the future. I don't want to be left alone in this world. This time, even if you want to die, you'll take me with you."