Chapter 5 of 10

Chapter 5

8 min read2,016 words

In the Weiyang Palace, Changsun, who had just taken off her clothes and fallen asleep, was startled awake by a series of urgent knocks at the door. In the entire Weiyang Palace, only Qingning could come here without prior notice. Changsun knew Qingning's character; if it wasn't something important, she wouldn't be so anxious and disregard the rules.

"Come in," Changsun got up, put on her clothes, and said calmly.

Even without her elaborate makeup, Changsun remained beautiful, with a touch less of her usual nobility and a bit more of her gentle side. Though she was over thirty, time had not left many marks on this beautiful woman; instead, it made her even more captivating after thirty years of experience.

"Your Majesty, something has happened," Qingning rushed in, looking at Changsun on the bed, and said urgently.

"Don't be in a hurry, tell me slowly," Changsun, who had experienced much in her life, naturally had a more composed demeanor than Qingning, and she calmly advised.

"Your Majesty, please come and see," Qingning pushed open the window, helped Changsun to the window, and pointed to a bright, blood-red star in the southern sky.

"Xinxiu, the imperial star, what's wrong?" Changsun, not understanding, asked in return.

"Look, isn't there another red star next to it?" Qingning pointed again and said.

"Yinghuo (Mars) guarding Xinxiu? No, these two stars haven't met yet, and Yinghuo's light is so dim, it's not the sign of guarding Xinxiu," Changsun was first startled, then shook her head. If Yinghuo guarded Xinxiu, the two stars would shine brightly, and the sky would be filled with red light. Now, only Yinghuo is shining brightly, and although the two stars are very close, they haven't met yet.

"Your Majesty, they will meet tomorrow," seeing Changsun's disbelief, Qingning became even more anxious and said.

"Hmm?" Changsun sensed something was amiss. Qingning didn't understand astrology and wouldn't pay attention to these things. What was going on today?

"Who told you this?" Changsun's eyes flashed with a dangerous coldness. Qingning didn't understand, but if someone intentionally guided her, it would be a different matter.

Sensing the coldness in Changsun's words, Qingning was startled but had to answer, "Ningchen."

"That little guy?" Changsun was slightly surprised. She thought it was the Empress of the Western Palace who had deliberately misled Qingning, but it seemed not to be the case.

Qingning recounted everything Ningchen had said tonight, including their encounter, without holding back any details.

When Changsun heard about Ningchen climbing onto the roof to count stars, she couldn't help but laugh. However, as she listened to the rest, her expression gradually became serious.

Xinxiu is the imperial star, and Yinghuo represents disaster. When the two meet, it foretells the arrival of a disaster.

"Bring Ningchen here immediately," Changsun made a decision and instructed.

...

In the room, Ningchen had just returned, glanced at the freshly bathed Muchengxue, enjoyed the view, and then hummed a tune as he went back to his bed to sleep. As for Muchengxue, the large room was all hers.

"Bang, bang, bang"

The sound of the door being pounded made Ningchen jump. He quickly looked at Muchengxue and found that she had already disappeared from the room, so he secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

"Recently, I've done too many bad things and keep getting scared," Ningchen patted his head in frustration, then walked to the door and saw Qingning standing there. Just as he was about to speak, he was pulled out by her.

Only at this moment did Ningchen realize what it meant to walk briskly. They were clearly walking, but it felt like they were flying. It was a long distance, but they arrived in just a few breaths.

Ningchen felt like he was experiencing motion sickness. He stood on the ground, swaying, and in a daze, he was pulled to Changsun by Qingning.

Changsun's eyes carefully examined the young man in front of her, as if trying to see through him.

Unfortunately, even with her extensive experience, Changsun couldn't figure out what Ningchen was thinking or what he was planning.

"Ningchen"

"Uh, ah?" Hearing someone call him, Ningchen snapped out of his daze. Seeing Changsun, he immediately took a step back, almost shouting.

Prevent fire, prevent theft, and prevent Changsun. Ningchen had long decided that Changsun was a devious woman who not only took his money but also wouldn't let him go.

Is the Empress' territory easy to navigate? Of course not.

"You're very afraid of me," Changsun said curiously. Could her reputation be so bad that it made people so afraid?

Could Ningchen tell the truth? Would he tell the truth? Of course not, unless he wanted to be done for.

"Your Majesty's virtue is well-known. I was just pulled by Qingning and my legs are a bit numb," Ningchen flattered while also complaining about Qingning, saying she always bullied him. Is it great to have martial arts skills? Is it great? Is it great?

Qingning, standing nearby, gritted her teeth. If Changsun wasn't there, she would have beaten this little guy to death.

"Ha ha"

Changsun, of course, could see through Ningchen's little tricks, but she didn't point them out and just smiled lightly.

"Is everything you told Qingning true?" Mentioning this, Changsun's expression became serious again. This matter was significant, and if it were true, it would be troublesome.

Because just today, the Emperor of Xia seemed to have made up his mind to launch a military campaign. He might issue the official order tomorrow. At the time, she and the Empress of the Western Palace, Wan Guifei, were both present and had seen the Emperor's determination.

"What did I say?"

Ningchen was confused by Changsun's question. He had said so much to Qingning, and most of it was nonsense. How could he know which part she was referring to?

"Do you understand astrology?" Changsun asked again.

"No," Ningchen answered honestly.

"Snap" Qingning's delicate hand clenched tightly, and her eyes seemed to want to cut Ningchen into pieces.

Hearing Ningchen's answer, Changsun frowned. If it weren't for her long-term cultivation, she would have kicked him.

"Then why did you tell Qingning that Yinghuo and Xinxiu would meet tomorrow?"

As she spoke, Changsun's eyes fixed on Ningchen. This was not a trivial matter, and if there was even a hint of a lie, she would not be lenient.

"Common sense," Ningchen thought disdainfully, but he only dared to think it. He respectfully said, "Your Majesty, when I was young, I heard a wise person mention the phenomenon of Yinghuo guarding Xinxiu, so I knew about it."

"Are you sure?" Changsun frowned and asked again.

"Eight or nine out of ten," Ningchen answered modestly.

Changsun's frown deepened, clearly unsatisfied with this answer. Eight or nine out of ten still left at least a one in ten chance of an exception, but matters of state could not tolerate any surprises.

Seeing Changsun's beautiful eyes still fixed on him, Ningchen felt helpless. Modesty, does she understand it? She really doesn't appreciate it.

"It will definitely happen," though he secretly despised it, Ningchen still honestly changed his answer.

"One hundred percent?" Changsun asked in a serious tone.

"One hundred percent!" Ningchen said solemnly.

"Good, I believe you!" Changsun stood up, a determined look flashing across her beautiful face. "Qingning, prepare the carriage for the Tianyu Hall."

"Yes."

Changsun and Qingning left, and Ningchen was dumbfounded. How was he supposed to get back? He gritted his teeth, cursing the two of them as he walked. It had taken just a few breaths to get here, but going back would be a nightmare. The Weiyang Palace was not small, and he almost couldn't find his room after turning left and right.

The lights in his room were already out. Ningchen thought about it; when he left, the candle was still lit, and it wouldn't have been a problem to burn for half the night.

He gently pushed open the door and quietly walked to his bed. Seeing an alluring figure already asleep, he pointed at the bed with his right hand, trembling with anger.

"The bed is mine, and the quilt is mine," Ningchen shouted in his heart, wanting to throw this ungrateful woman off the bed. But as soon as he thought of the significant martial arts gap between them, he immediately wilted.

Doesn't she let me live? Doesn't she let me live!

Ningchen fiercely waved his fist at Muchengxue. Why are women so hateful? Qingning is bad, Changsun is bad, and Muchengxue is bad.

Ningchen thought about whether to squeeze onto the bed and suffer, but he didn't want to give this woman the chance to take advantage of him.

"Snap"

He found four stools, put them together to form a temporary bed, laid a thick cotton pad on top, and then lay down contentedly. Ningchen sighed in relief, genuinely feeling:

"I am a talent, no, I am a genius."

"Be careful, the woman on the bed has high martial arts skills," Muchengxue suddenly opened her eyes and said calmly.

"Uh, I know," Ningchen responded instinctively, then his body moved, and he fell to the ground with a thud, exclaiming, "You weren't asleep?"

"I've been awake since you were about to enter," Muchengxue said, her eyes open.

"Ha ha, ha ha" Ningchen laughed dryly. How could he forget that this woman was a ruthless person who dared to assassinate the Emperor of Xia? How could she not hear his footsteps?

Ningchen climbed back onto his temporary bed and suddenly remembered Muchengxue's words, asking curiously, "Who is stronger, you or her?"

"Me," Muchengxue said honestly.

"Really, you don't know modesty," Ningchen pouted, thinking to himself.

"But if she wants to harm you, a hundred of you wouldn't be a match for her," Muchengxue added.

Ningchen's chest tightened as if hit by an iron hammer, and his self-esteem was trampled a hundred times, a thousand times.

Turning his head, Ningchen decided to ignore her. She was too hateful.

"Under the condition that she doesn't want to hurt you," Muchengxue added again.

Ningchen didn't respond, pretending not to hear.

"You are too weak for her," Muchengxue added another blow.

Ningchen endured, thinking, "I am a genius, I fear no one."

"Unfortunately, she is a woman," Muchengxue added another cutting remark.

Ningchen sat up, his eyes glaring fiercely at Muchengxue: "I want to learn martial arts."

Muchengxue, lying on the bed, was taken aback and then said calmly, "You are not the right material for it!"

Ah! Ningchen felt like he was about to explode. She was too hateful, too discouraging!

"I am a genius!" Ningchen self-hypnotized.

"You are not," Muchengxue mercilessly shattered his dream.

Ningchen, his eyes glaring at Muchengxue, felt like two angry lanterns in the dark.

"I am going to sleep," Muchengxue turned over, pretending not to see.

Ningchen remained unmoved, staring at Muchengxue, trying to use his powerful mental strength to pressure her.

After a while...

Ningchen was still holding on, his eyes sharp like a sword.

Half an incense stick later...

Ningchen's resolve didn't waver, his gaze still strong.

One incense stick later...

Ningchen rubbed his eyes, gritting his teeth to persist.

An hour later...

Ningchen's eyes were misty, and he yawned continuously.

Another half an hour later...

Ningchen fell asleep, unwillingly.

---

Ningchen felt like he was about to explode, too hateful, too discouraging!