Unarmored | Chapter 39 | Riddles of the Past | Novela.app

“Wait a moment.” Wu Xing paused, looking confused. Xiao Nanhui leaned in to examine the map more closely, her suspicions growing certain. Bailao had a sharp memory; there was indeed a secret passage within the Zou Residence, located in a side courtyard toward the western edge of the estate. The map she had held previously had been too stained to see clearly, but now the details were unmistakable. The location of that side courtyard looked remarkably familiar—it seemed to be the very servants' kitchen where the five of them had hidden that night. A particular point of confusion had been gnawing at her. After the five of them had reached their consensus that night, Hao Bai had been the first to leave. Since he was already a guest staying at the Zou Residence, his movements were far more convenient than those of the outsiders. She and Bailao had left next; despite their formidable martial arts and having studied the map beforehand, it had still taken them a great deal of effort to slip away. Zhong Lijing, however, possessed no martial arts. Even if Ding Weixiang had the skill to pluck the stars and moon from the sky, it was highly unlikely he could have spirited away a man who couldn't even scale a wall without alerting a single guard—unless they had a different way out. Just now, a possibility had struck her: could Zhong Lijing and Ding Weixiang have departed through the secret passage marked on this map? But such a hidden detail—how could they have known about it? “Xiao Nanhui? Have you been possessed?” She snapped back to reality. Yao Yi was glaring at her from the side. Ignoring his unfriendly gaze, she turned to Wu Xing. “Sir, please wait. There is one more thing...” In the span of a single cup of tea, Wu Xing had experienced such emotional highs and lows that his heart felt frail. He couldn't take much more. “What is it now?” She quickly offered a reassuring smile. “Don't be nervous, Sir. I only wanted to ask: before this map was lent to me, had anyone else seen it?” Without a second thought, Wu Xing shook his head. “Certainly not. Such an obscure collectible is known to very few, let alone sought out for viewing.” “Then is it possible that before this map entered the archives...” “This map has been in the Liao family archives longer than I have lived, and I have been the head archivist there for over thirty years. If anyone else saw it, it would have been at least three decades ago. Furthermore, before my time, very few people ever visited that archive.” Xiao Nanhui fell silent. Perhaps the knowledge Zhong Lijing possessed didn't come from this map at all. The map didn't specify where the passage led, yet Zhong Lijing knew. He might have even entered the residence from the other end of that very passage. Xiao Nanhui felt a faint chill; the more she thought about it, the more unsettling it became. “I see the character ‘Hu’ written in the center. What does it mean?” “If you asked anyone else, they likely wouldn't have an answer. However, in my spare time, I have studied some miscellaneous records on the subject.” Wu Xing loved researching obscure histories. Perhaps feeling that Xiao Nanhui had asked an insightful question, he set aside his previous displeasure and spoke with a touch of pride. “The surname Hu was once that of a great noble clan in Huozhou. Along with the Shen, An, and Long families, they were known as the Four Tyrants of Huozhou. All were powerful families whose influence, at their peak, rivaled the nobility of the Imperial City. But when the dynasties changed, only the Shen clan managed to survive the transition. The other three fell because their prominence invited trouble. The An and Long clans were nearly exterminated to the last soul. Among them, only the Hu clan vanished without a trace, seemingly disappearing from their estate overnight, leaving behind only an empty mansion. It was decades before anyone took over the property—the very medicinal merchant, Zou, whom you visited.” The An clan? Wasn't that An Lu’s family? “Are there any records explaining why the An and Long clans were slaughtered?” A look of lament passed over Wu Xing’s face. “The official histories record nothing. But because there is no record, it is not hard to guess. Combined with the evidence of the timeline, the reason most likely concerns Qiu Feiyu passing through Huozhou with the Imperial Seal all those years ago.” “But wasn't it said that the Imperial Seal was eventually lost in the marshes? Why would there be further complications?” “That, no one knows. Regardless of whether the truth involves the Seal, when a new king replaces an old dynasty, he never needs a reason for the life or death of the former subjects.” Xiao Nanhui remained silent. Nearby, Yao Yi poured the cooled tea from the pot onto the charcoal embers. “Though this is a fine private room, the soundproofing may not be as good as one imagines. It would be better for you two to speak less and appreciate the tea more.” The tea hissed sharply against the hot coals, sending up a plume of white steam. Wu Xing seemed to come to his senses and sheepishly fell silent. Xiao Nanhui opened her mouth but ultimately swallowed her lingering questions. *** When Xiao Zhun requested an audience with the Emperor, he hadn't expected the request to be granted. After all, the Emperor of Tiancheng was famously reclusive. Unless a private audience was requested days in advance, there was a ninety-nine percent chance of being turned away. Typically, the officials who came to refuse the ministers were the red-clad eunuchs. If the sun rose from the west and the Emperor agreed to a meeting, a black-clad attendant would appear instead. Thus, when a figure in black approached along the palace path, Xiao Zhun was somewhat surprised. “His Majesty requests your presence. Marquis of Qinghuai, please follow me.” As was customary, Xiao Zhun was led to the side hall adjacent to Yuanhe Hall. The Emperor seemed to favor this place, often receiving ministers here. Xiao Zhun, however, did not care for it. The layout of Yuanhe Hall was cramped and circuitous, and the lighting was poor, leaving it in a perpetual state of twilight. Composing himself, Xiao Zhun performed the customary salute. “Greetings, Your Majesty.” The Emperor was half-hidden behind a gauze screen, leaning over a desk as if tinkering with something. “Ah, the Marquis of Qinghuai has arrived? There is a box over there; open it and take a look.” A slender hand reached out from behind the screen, pointing unhurriedly toward a chest placed in the center of the hall. Xiao Zhun hesitated for a moment before rising and walking to the chest. It was a lacquered wooden box with copper-bound corners, devoid of decoration or even a lock. A strange scent lingered in the air. Xiao Zhun paused, then lifted the lid. Despite being mentally prepared, his pupils constricted when he saw the bloodied head inside. The figure behind the screen picked up the object he had been fiddling with—an incense burner. He began to pace, allowing the draft through the hall to carry the scent of the incense, dispersing the foul stench in the air. “Does the Marquis recognize who that is?” The head in the box was swollen and decaying, emitting a putrid odor. It could only be vaguely identified as a man with disheveled hair. “This subject cannot identify him.” “Never mind. The weather is turning warm faster than expected. When the box first arrived, one could still just barely recognize the likeness of Prince Kang.” So, this was the assassinated Prince Kang. His killer was bold indeed, sending the head all the way to the capital—a blatant provocation. Xiao Zhun’s thin lips pressed together. “May I ask Your Majesty... was this the work of the Bai clan?” The man behind the screen set down the incense burner and took a few steps toward Xiao Zhun. His shadow flickered against the gauze, appearing to look down upon him from a height. “Whether it was or wasn't, nothing will change my decision to level Bijiang.” He paused, then continued, “I wish to know, in the Marquis’s estimation, what kind of sharp weapon killed Prince Kang?” The corpse in the box had been severed cleanly at the neck. The cross-section revealed the spinal column cut straight through; aside from the seeping marrow and gore, the cut was remarkably smooth. Xiao Zhun did not rush to answer. “There is only a head here; I cannot judge if there were other fatal wounds on the torso. However...” His gaze fell on the even edges. “The cut on Prince Kang’s neck is rare. It was likely not caused by an ordinary blade or sword.” “Oh?” The voice behind the screen rose with meaningful intrigue. “If not a blade or sword, then what manner of weapon?” Xiao Zhun hesitated visibly before replying calmly, “I am no coroner; I cannot tell at a glance.” “Mmh. I was merely asking in passing. However, I have heard it said that there is a weapon in the martial world made of fine threads, which, when used with great force, can sever metal and stone. I wonder if the Marquis has heard of such a thing?” The composure on Xiao Zhun’s face slowly fractured, though his body remained motionless. Had they not been face-to-face, no one would have seen his current turmoil. In a daze, a memory from the depths of his mind seemed to rush past like a vast flock of crows—mingled with the sound of chaotic hoofbeats, the heavy gasping of a youth, the thick scent of water in his nose and mouth, and that relentless, soul-crushing silver net that filled the sky... “Marquis?” Xiao Zhun lowered his head further, his voice as calm as ever. “This subject has never heard of it.” “Oh? It seems they were truly just rumors then.” The person behind the screen seemed to lose interest instantly. He turned back to his desk, his voice cooling. “I have a mountain of dossiers to review. Does the Marquis have further business?” In truth, from the moment Xiao Zhun entered the courtyard, he hadn't been given the chance to state his purpose. He wondered if the Emperor had done this intentionally. Steeling his resolve, he spoke. “My foster daughter, Xiao Nanhui, is still young. I fear she cannot shoulder the heavy responsibility of Right General and may cause trouble for Your Majesty.” “Does the Marquis know that she was the one who killed the three bandit leaders of Mount Zhong?” Xiao Zhun was stunned for a moment before replying, “I did not know. She never mentioned it. I expect she happened upon them while she was causing mischief in Huozhou recently.” A low chuckle came from behind the screen. Xiao Zhun rarely heard this man laugh, and he always felt there was little joy in it. “There is no need for the Marquis to be so modest. A brave father does not have a cowardly daughter. In my eyes, she is doing quite well.” These words sounded somewhat strange. Before Xiao Zhun could parse their deeper meaning, the voice spoke again: “A month ago, you came to the side hall to solve the Nine-Turn Exquisite Casket. Have you made any progress?” This was a signal that the topic of Xiao Nanhui was closed. Xiao Zhun knew further words were useless and answered the current question. “I have solved seven or eight layers. With another hour or so, I should be able to undo it entirely.” “Very good.” The Emperor tapped lightly on the desk. The black-clad attendant, who had vanished like smoke earlier, reappeared from nowhere. In his hands, he held an object—the Nine-Turn Exquisite Casket. “This casket was left by my late mother. I brought it out previously merely to pass the time. If you can solve it, consider it fulfilling a wish she had in life. I shall grant you one request. Have you thought of what you desire?” Xiao Zhun’s eyes were fixed on the intricate, fist-sized object. After a long silence, he finally nodded. “I have decided. I ask Your Majesty to consider appointing me as the lead commander for the campaign to reclaim Bijiang.” The Emperor’s silhouette swayed behind the gauze, like a shadow shifting upon the surface of a lake. “I grant it.” *** **Glossary** Chinese | English | Notes/Explanation ---|---|--- 扈 | Hu | A surname; one of the former four great noble families of Huozhou. 霍州四霸 | Four Tyrants of Huozhou | The four powerful noble families of Huozhou: Hu, Shen, An, and Long. 元和殿 | Yuanhe Hall | A hall within the imperial palace where the Emperor often receives officials. 九转玲珑龛 | Nine-Turn Exquisite Casket | A complex, multi-layered mechanical puzzle box or reliquary. 康王 | Prince Kang | A member of the imperial family who was assassinated. 碧疆 | Bijiang | A border region or territory the Emperor intends to reclaim. 冢山 | Mount Zhong | Literally "Grave Mountain"; the location where Xiao Nanhui killed three bandit leaders. 赤衣内侍官 | Red-clad Attendant | Palace eunuchs or officials who wear red, typically handling routine matters. 黑衣常侍 | Black-clad Attendant | High-ranking personal attendants to the Emperor who wear black.