Dreams of the Ancient Mountain: The Cat's Masquerade | Chapter 54 | The Azure Envoy | Novela.app

Chapter 54 - The Azure Envoy I marveled at the strict, imposing guard of honor lining the third floor, clicking my tongue in quiet wonder. Suddenly, the long blast of a horn echoed from the Great Avenue outside. A wave of movement rippled through the hall as the gathered crowd knelt in unison; the Emperor had arrived. Lu Kaifeng reached out, snagging his sister’s sleeve to pull her down beside him. Fearing her restless nature might draw unwanted attention, he kept a gentle but firm hand atop her head, pressing it down. I lowered my body, shielding my brow with one hand while surreptitiously releasing my Illusionary Vision. I watched the procession of mortals emerging from the palace with unbridled curiosity. Since this was a festival intended for "rejoicing with the people," the imperial family was dressed in elegant but informal attire. The Emperor possessed a pale complexion and a short, neat beard; his expression was warm and benevolent as he wore a brown, wide-sleeved summer robe embroidered with the sacred *wan* character. He personally supported the Empress Dowager as they made their entrance. The female members of the court—the Empress and various consorts—were in full regalia. While they did not all possess the ethereal beauty of celestial maidens as I had once imagined, they appeared incredibly, almost impossibly, young. Among the throng of palace attendants following the imperial carriage was an elderly, beardless man with hair as white as snow. He did not resemble a typical eunuch in the slightest; instead, he carried the dignified air of a high-ranking official who had retired to a life of poetry and wine. Though his back was slightly stooped with age, he stood with the stability of a mountain and the grace of a deep pool. There was not a trace of sycophancy or vulgarity in his bearing. To my utter astonishment, this was Feng Zhen—the very man the common folk reviled as a treacherous, power-hungry eunuch! After the initial shock, I realized it made sense. After all, a man with the courage to employ a singular talent like Wei Qingming and entrust her with such heavy responsibilities could hardly be an ordinary person. The Emperor assisted the Empress Dowager onto the Phoenix Throne before turning to wave a hand. Thanks to the spiritual arrays woven into the tower’s architecture, his voice resonated clearly in every corner of the vast space. "Rise." The suffocating tension in the room finally began to dissipate. Over a thousand people stood up simultaneously, the collective rustle of silk garments and the clinking of jade pendants creating a soft, rhythmic roar. My Second Senior Sister, who lacked the patience for such formal obeisance, sprang up the moment her brother’s hand lifted, her movements the swiftest in the entire hall. Lu Kaifeng and I shared a look of helpless amusement. Fortunately, the first performance of music and dance had already begun. I spent my time alternating between watching the celestial dancers on stage as they swayed their slender waists and using my Illusionary Senses to eavesdrop on the imperial party above. An attendant presented the play list, which Feng Zhen took with his own hands before offering it to the Empress Dowager. Her expression was cold and severe, marking her as a woman of rigid, humorless character. With a casual gesture, she selected *Beheading the White Snake* and *Mulian Rescues His Mother*. The Emperor, currently smiling as he chatted with a consort behind him, flipped through the pages and chose scenes from *The Dream of Linchuan*. Feng Zhen then presented the list to the Empress. Having recently given birth, she was cradling a chubby infant in her arms and could not reach for the booklet. She scanned the titles over Feng Zhen’s hand and remarked, "Most of these are familiar favorites. I cannot think of anything fresh at the moment." Feng Zhen smiled. "This servant has heard that the Northern Troupe has written a new play. All who have seen it are deeply moved by the hardships of a mother’s labor and upbringing. Would Her Majesty be interested?" "Oh?" The Empress teased the child in her arms with a smile. "Bringing this little fellow into the world certainly put me through my paces. Let it be that one, then." Feng Zhen took up a vermilion brush and circled the scene *Nurturing the Son* from *The Tale of the White Rabbit*. At that moment, the consort who had been speaking with the Emperor gave a faint smile. "I have two favorites in mind, but choosing between them is a struggle. Master Feng, you are an expert in lyrics and melody; perhaps you could advise me?" Feng Zhen bowed slightly to show his attentiveness. The consort continued, "If we want something lively, *The Mountain Gate* from *The Tiger-Skin Quiver* is excellent. Yet, I also adore the lingering sentiment of *The Palace of Eternal Life*, especially the scene *Offering the Hair*. The lyrics and the emotion are so beautiful I never tire of them. What say you, Eunuch Feng?" Feng Zhen narrowed his eyes slightly and immediately smiled. "If Your Ladyship wishes for both, I have a suggestion you will surely like. Why not choose a scene from *The Green Frost Sword*? The sword dance is magnificent, and the singing is grand and heroic. It tells of a woman seeking vengeance for love—a story most capable of moving the heart." The consort’s face lit up with a smile. Just as she was about to nod, the Emperor laughed and critiqued, "My Great Companion is far too cunning. Arong clearly couldn't choose between the two, but your silver tongue has coaxed her into discarding both." The consort covered her mouth in realization. "If not for His Majesty’s reminder, I truly would have been hoodwinked by Master Feng." The Empress chimed in with a laugh, "It cannot be changed now! My interest has been piqued; I must see this play today. I remember Consort Rong’s sword dance was the finest in the land; I wonder if the performer in the play can match even a fraction of her grace?" I listened to this exchange with a sense of bewilderment. I could sense the layers of subtext and hidden agendas, yet I couldn't quite grasp the nuances. Shaking my head, I decided I had no desire to watch any more of this complex, hypocritical courtly drama. I returned to scanning the crowd for familiar faces. Suddenly, Yang Yang emerged from the golden bell on my wrist. She perched near my ear and whispered, "Qing!" After two or three months, Yang Yang had finally developed the ability to understand and speak human language, though she still spoke in short, child-like bursts. She had always used that single, intimate syllable to refer to Wei Qingming. I huffed softly, "You see her?" Yang Yang gave a mischievous grin and took flight. "I’ll take you." "How did you find her?" I asked, puzzled. Yang Yang widened her innocent green eyes and, imitating Wei Qingming’s mannerisms, gave a little shrug as if to say she wouldn't tell. Then, she grabbed my sleeve and began pulling me forward with all her might. Her frantic impatience left me helpless. "Bad Yang Yang!" I called out. "I am your master! You aren't allowed to be so close to her!" "Qing!" Her voice was sweet and tender, slightly slurred in a way that made it impossible to tell if she was saying "Qing" or "Dear." I gave my Senior Brother a quick word of explanation before slipping out of our screened booth. I followed Yang Yang through the second floor and down to the first, eventually entering the rear courtyard where the various performers were busy preparing. People were rushing to and fro, and Yang Yang was flying too fast. Being a tiny creature less than half a palm in size, she soon led me into a state of total disorientation. Just as I was about to call out to her in frustration, a familiar arm reached out and pulled me expertly from the crowd. Wei Qingming was dressed in the black-and-gold official robes of an Envoy. She wore a white silk veil that obscured her face, leaving only her cold, sharp eyes visible. She looked every bit the alert officer on duty. I flinched, fearing I had disturbed her during a mission, but her eyes immediately softened. The fine, handsome lines of her "lying silkworm" undereye muscles crinkled slightly as she smiled. "Did Yang Yang bring you?" "Wait, you knew?" I narrowed my eyes at her threateningly. "What sort of secret dealings do you two have?" Yang Yang’s wings flashed as she hid behind Wei Qingming, though she couldn't resist poking her head out to stick her tongue out at me. Wei Qingming explained, "Actually, her golden bell was originally one of a pair. The other was damaged and is currently in my possession, so there is a natural resonance between them." As she spoke, she leaned in, her voice a low murmur against my ear. "That is also how I can always find my A-Zhi." So that was it. No wonder she was able to locate me with such precision every single time. The cool, smooth silk of her veil brushed against my ear, sending a tingle through me that made my ears burn even hotter. I turned my head away and said softly, "I won't disturb you then. I’ll head back inside." She caught my hand before I could withdraw it. "How could you be a disturbance? It is too sunny here; let us go elsewhere." Leading me out of the courtyard, Wei Qingming brought me to a tea house next door. We went to a private booth on the second floor that directly faced the small courtyard we had just left. From this vantage point, we had a clear view of the area below, and through the gaps in the windows, we could catch glimpses of the performers changing and applying makeup. I watched for a moment before asking, "Are you watching Xu Xingze?" "Mm." She nodded simply. "Everything seems normal so far." In truth, I had no desire to talk about official business. I only cared about whether she was tired or overworked. I had so much I wanted to say, but after watching her remove her veil and take a sip of tea, I settled for a question: "That Pan Yi—or rather, Xu Fuhai—have you found out who he really is?" "The names 'Xu' and 'Xu' sound similar; he was a former servant of the Xu family," Wei Qingming said. "And Xu Xingze is the only grandson of Xu Yingda, a disgraced official from the previous Emperor’s reign." "Xu Yingda..." I mused. "The general who supposedly defected to the Shiying Kingdom?" "He didn't actually defect. He was pursued to the border and destroyed by the National Protection Array," Wei Qingming said, leaning her elbows on the railing as she watched the dressing rooms across the way. "Xu Yingda grew up in the palace alongside the late Emperor; he was the adopted son of Emperor Dezong and later became the late Emperor’s personal guard. Despite his many life-saving services, he still met such an end." I let out a long sigh. It was no wonder Xu Xingze harbored such hatred. The Emperor would not have a peaceful time watching the play today. I still held a sliver of hope that Xu Xingze wouldn't strike. The Yingzhao Temple had discovered the plot early on and mobilized the full strength of the imperial house to counter it; how could he possibly succeed? Besides, the Six Jia Array had already been utterly destroyed, hadn't it? Wei Qingming’s gaze fell back on me, and she suddenly smiled. "You went to all the trouble of finding me just to ask about work?" I opened my mouth, but all I could say was, "It was too stuffy in the tower..." In truth, I wanted to see her even more than Yang Yang did. My longing for her always came without reason, like a dodder vine winding around my heart. Yet, for some reason, I was always afraid to speak such embarrassing words aloud. She gave a light chuckle. "You sound like my superior, coming to check if I am being diligent in my duties." I pressed a hand to my forehead, caught between laughter and tears. "I wouldn't dare be the superior of the Great Envoy." When Lu Kaifeng had explained the history of his grievances with Wei Qingming, he had also given me a clear picture of the Yingzhao Temple’s hierarchy. Agents were generally divided into four ranks: Scout, Investigator, Secret Emissary, and Envoy. The common people usually only encountered the Scouts, who held a rank equivalent to a seventh-grade official; some worked undercover, while others investigated cases openly. Investigators could lead a small team and act with discretion; Captain Zhou and Captain Yuan fell into this category. The identities of Secret Emissaries and Envoys were kept strictly confidential, and their methods and abilities were far more complex. In addition to intelligence gathering, they were authorized to carry out assassinations. There were only a handful of people who held the title of Envoy, and they answered only to the Emperor and the Commander. In emergencies, they could execute officials of the third rank or higher without a formal decree. Even within the Yingzhao Temple, most did not know how many Envoys existed, let alone who they were. After hearing this, I realized that Wei Qingming’s rise from Scout to Envoy in just three years was likely the fastest in history. If the position of Commander weren't reserved for eunuchs, she would probably rise even higher one day. The brilliant and formidable Envoy now produced a box as if by magic. She opened it to reveal a gameboard, casting sticks, and other pieces. "Is this not Liubo?" I asked. Wei Qingming smiled. "It is. Care for a game?" "Master Wei," I said helplessly, "how can you play games while on duty?" She had already set up the board and gestured for me to cast first. "Please." I rolled up my sleeves and gave a menacing huff. "Don't you regret this." I wasn't joking—when it came to Liubo, I was a professional! ---