Chapter 94: Chichi In Danger

Chapter 94: The Lingering Peril

Tang Wanzhuang’s thoughts had long been fraught with contradiction, as evident from her every action—caught between two difficult paths.

She wished for the empire to have a stable heir, to quell certain undercurrents that should not exist, yet she dreaded the emergence of some unknown imperial prince, forcing her once more into discussions of marriage.

Tang Wanzhuang’s heart belonged to the realm; she had no intention of marrying anyone. Whether it was raising a family with a husband or taking in a live-in son-in-law to rule her own household, she had no interest.

Or perhaps one could say that no man in the world was worthy of her gaze.

Thus, she had endured past her mid-twenties without marriage, a rare phenomenon in this era—especially for a great aristocratic clan, more astonishing than ancient lost secrets.

Alas, the world does not bend to one’s will. By her mid-twenties, her family was frantic with worry. Only because Tang Wanzhuang held high rank and formidable cultivation did her kin dare not press too hard, resorting instead to negotiation. Dare you wait until thirty? Who would care about your status then? What of family, nation, and realm? Is marriage not more important!

Moreover, her identity and beauty were truly rare commodities, capable of securing greater capital for her clan. To let her remain single was to squander a priceless treasure.

Last year, at twenty-seven, if she did not marry soon, no one would want her. Just then, the crown princess died of illness. Though being a successor wife was somewhat shameful, she could still become empress. Her family could no longer bear it and began maneuvering. And then, by ill fortune, the crown prince died… Tang Wanzhuang had no time to dwell on her own affairs; her first instinct was to rush to the Luo Family Village, to bring that suspected imperial prince, Luo Zhenwu, to the capital before anything else.

But Luo Zhenwu died too, right before her eyes.

Tang Wanzhuang did not know whether to mourn for the empire or breathe a sigh of relief for herself. Duty called, so she first ordered a manhunt for the murderer. Yet when she returned with Luo Zhenwu’s corpse and searched, there was no token of identity. She took his blood and tested it against the emperor’s—it did not match.

Tang Wanzhuang’s heart skipped a beat. She searched every corpse in the ruins of Luo Family Village but found no token. Her gaze fell upon the two survivors: the woman was irrelevant; the man—if it were him… Could killing Luo Zhenwu have been motivated by this? To prevent another from usurping his identity?

She deliberately steered the Cui family in that direction, knowing they were imperial loyalists. Let the Cui family investigate first; if it suited them, please proceed.

But Cui Yuanyang seemed to have taken a liking to him, yet the Cui family drove him away, even gifting him a Longque that danced before his face. Please?

The choice lay before her again. Tang Wanzhuang hesitated, sending subordinates to invite Zhao Changhe for discussion, to hear his thoughts. But he put on airs, demanding she come in person.

Come in person she would; nothing was more important than this. Tang Wanzhuang’s mind was consumed with one thought: if he truly acknowledged his imperial lineage, what would become of her? Would she really have to discuss marriage with him?

Yet he said, “Don’t go grazing on young grass; I’m not interested in you.”

His defiant expression was just as before—the killer, Zhao Changhe!

Tang Wanzhuang suddenly had a thought: if Great Xia truly had such a crown prince, the realm would be secure. For her personally, if he became crown prince, she would have fewer troubles. Even if he were a fraud, at this moment, Tang Wanzhuang was inclined to prop him up as the real one.

Tang Wanzhuang’s mood gradually calmed. The earlier urge to cough from agitation faded, and she even smiled faintly: “Had I known this earlier, I would have come to meet you long ago, young master.”

Zhao Changhe said, “So you thought I really coveted you?”

Tang Wanzhuang shook her head: “Not necessarily that you coveted me. The situation was such that many would go with the flow, but few could refuse… For the gains were too great, a matter of human nature.”

Zhao Changhe said, “Did it never occur to you that I might not be the imperial prince? That’s why I dared not falsely claim the title.”

“That is unimportant.” Tang Wanzhuang began to brew tea again, regaining her calm elegance: “Since Your Highness remains resistant to this identity, let us compromise and discuss a plan acceptable to both?”

Zhao Changhe gave up arguing over her use of “Your Highness.” It was futile; let her think what she would. Solving the problem was paramount. He said, “Coming to see you was precisely my intention. Do you have any ideas for this awkward situation, First Seat?”

Tang Wanzhuang said, “You refuse to acknowledge your identity, but are willing to do something to offset the debt of the cultivation method and the Longque, correct?”

Zhao Changhe replied bluntly, “Yes.”

Tang Wanzhuang handed him a jade token: “This is a token of the Demon Suppression Bureau’s secret agents. Its rank is quite high. You can use it to mobilize resources from various local bureaus, whether for intelligence or to summon operatives.”

Zhao Changhe knew this was not a gift but a task. He accepted it calmly: “And then what must I do?”

“Currently, unrest stirs everywhere—partly due to foreign tribes stirring trouble, partly due to demonic cults causing chaos. You roam the martial world, somewhat distant from foreign affairs, but you have had much contact with demonic cults, even dabbling in the Blood God Cult yourself… If you were to act as a hidden agent of the Demon Suppression Bureau, focusing on dealing with demonic cults, what say you?”

Zhao Changhe choked, his face turning green: “Do you mean the Four Symbols Sect and the Blood God Cult?”

Would he really have to fight his beloved Chichi? That would be too melodramatic. He wouldn’t do it. Did pinning down a demonic cult woman and kissing her count as dealing with them? If so, maybe.

But Tang Wanzhuang said, “Not just them, but other demonic sects—like the Maitreya Sect, which cloaks itself in ancient guise, and so on. You have only just stepped into the martial world; there are many things you have yet to see. You will encounter them in time.”

Zhao Changhe breathed a sigh of relief. As long as he wasn’t specifically tasked with targeting the Four Symbols Sect, life could go on. If there were other demonic cults, he could focus on them and avoid the Four Symbols Sect. Dealing with demonic cults posed no moral qualms; most were evil. As long as he delivered merits to account for the cultivation method and the Longque, it didn’t matter which cult he targeted.

With that in mind, he said, “That’s acceptable. But I need to confirm one thing…”

Tang Wanzhuang nodded: “Speak.”

“You said this jade token is of high rank. How high? I don’t want some superior bossing me around. I’ve got a rebellious streak; if I end up killing them, don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

Tang Wanzhuang stared at him for a long moment, then pointed at her own nose: “You have only one direct superior—me. And even I won’t order you around arbitrarily; I can only negotiate. If you were to accept that matter, you might even be able to command me.”

“…Never mind.” Zhao Changhe said, “So if I take this job, you won’t keep pestering me about my identity, right? Don’t trick me into working and then still demand I become the crown prince.”

Tang Wanzhuang said, “I can guarantee that for myself, but not for others. For instance, if the Cui or Wang families come to you over this, I cannot command them.”

“That’s fine. Those aristocratic clans think differently—dynasties come and go, but noble houses endure. Who sits on the throne matters little to them. Unlike you, bound by duty, who must have a resolution.” Zhao Changhe said, “Alright, let’s settle this for now. I was out shopping with a friend; it wouldn’t do for me to disappear.”

“Wait.” Tang Wanzhuang rose gracefully, stopping him from turning to leave: “There are demonic cultists in Jianhu City right now, and we know what they intend to do. Disrupting their plan is your first mission.”

Zhao Changhe silently returned the jade token: “I quit.”

A hint of amusement flickered in Tang Wanzhuang’s eyes: “Because Xia Chichi has ties with you? You’ve even slept together?”

Zhao Changhe winced as if with a toothache: “Be elegant, Auntie Tang. That’s not something you should say.”

Tang Wanzhuang’s smile vanished. Her face went blank.

Say that again?

Zhao Changhe gave up and played the fool: “Xia Chichi and I met in humble circumstances. We’re people who would trust each other with our backs. Asking me to sabotage her—I can’t do it. I quit.”

Tang Wanzhuang said coolly, “What if sabotaging this mission is actually saving her life?”

Zhao Changhe’s scalp tingled. He urged, “Explain clearly?”

Tang Wanzhuang sat back down, sipping tea leisurely: “You’ve quit. Why should I tell you?”

“Uh, that… Not Auntie… I mean, First Seat, Sister Tang, I didn’t quit, I was joking.” Zhao Changhe snatched back the jade token, grinning ingratiatingly: “Just give me the mission details, and Zhao Changhe guarantees its completion!”