Could What Qi Yuan Said Be True?

Aunt Qin would rather Jin Li not sit upon that throne. Yet she knew it was impossible. "Rapacious wolf!" she spat, glaring at Sima Ting, her eyes ablaze with fury. "Colluding with the Northern Han Court—your crime warrants death!" The Northern Han Court and Southern Qian were bitter, sworn enemies. Every autumn during the harvest season, the iron cavalry of the Northern Han Court would storm the passes and raid Southern Qian's borders to forage and plunder. Between the two nations lay a sea of blood and vengeance. "That is precisely the difference between you and me," Sima Ting said, holding his head high. "Between nations, there is only interest. Only mere brutes babble of gratitude and grudges. "Madame Qin, I advise you to know your place and hand over the key to the treasury. Otherwise..." Sima Ting's tone dripped with threat. As the lawful wife of the late Great General, Aunt Qin held the key to the imperial court's treasury. And that key was what could open the Heavenly Fortune Lock and retrieve the Heavenly Fortune Jade Seal. If Sima Ting wished to usurp the throne, he had to obtain the Heavenly Fortune Jade Seal to claim legitimacy and harness the national fortune of Southern Qian. "In your dreams." Sima Ting stared at Aunt Qin without another word. After all, Aunt Qin was the widow of that Great General. Moreover, Senior General Tianqi, who currently held the front line, had once been as close as a brother to the late Great General. If Sima Ting killed Aunt Qin, matters would become troublesome. Yet Aunt Qin was the Empress's greatest pillar of support, forcing him to act and inflict grievous injuries upon her. Without her, the Empress would be stripped of claws and fangs. "Madame Qin, look out for yourself," Sima Ting said coldly. "Three days from now, the Crown Prince of Southern Feng will arrive. Ten days from now is the appointed duel. How do you intend to face it?" With a flick of his sleeve, Sima Ting strode away. A spark of wrath flashed in Aunt Qin's eyes before fading into desolation. She was severely wounded, her very foundation damaged. Healing in such a short time was virtually impossible. In that duel, defeat was the only outcome. *** "Your Majesty, there are seven volumes here in total, all recording matters concerning the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground." A palace maid presented the books with both hands, placing them upon the jade table before the throne. "Very well." Jin Li nodded and took up one of the books, reading it carefully. Hearing Qi Yuan mention the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground earlier had piqued her curiosity about it. At present, Aunt Qin was gravely injured. In ten days, the Crown Prince of Southern Feng would reach Southern Qian's imperial capital, and their State Preceptor would face Aunt Qin in an agreed duel. If they lost, Southern Qian's dignity would be thoroughly swept away, and her own fate... would be precarious. Ten years ago, when Jin Li's imperial father passed away before her accession, Southern Qian was thrown into turmoil. Southern Feng had amassed two hundred thousand troops along the border, clearly intending to invade Southern Qian while it was vulnerable. Chancellor Sima Ting had traveled to the border, representing Southern Qian to strike an agreement with Southern Feng. In doing so, he had laid a trap for Jin Li. If Southern Qian lost this upcoming duel, she would have to marry the Crown Prince of Southern Feng. How could she, a reigning Empress, marry another nation's crown prince? That was the trap Sima Ting had set. Because ten years ago, before her coronation, Sima Ting's agreement with Southern Feng raised few objections at the time. It merely traded an imperial princess for border peace. Now, Aunt Qin was grievously hurt. For her to have any hope of winning the duel, her injuries had to heal first; only then would she have the strength to fight. The Four Great Forbidden Grounds abounded with spiritual treasures; perhaps there were medicinal herbs capable of healing her. After leafing through just a few volumes, Jin Li discovered that the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground indeed harbored rare spirit herbs possessing all manner of miraculous properties, such as healing wounds and prolonging life. "Nine-Flower Brocade?" As she turned the pages, Jin Li's expression stirred. According to the ancient records, the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground contained a spiritual medicine known as the Nine-Flower Brocade. This miraculous herb bloomed with nine petals, giving off nine distinct heavenly fragrances, and was hailed as an Imperial Herb. *If Aunt Qin obtains this spirit herb, not only will her injuries vanish completely, but... she might even break through to the Sovereign rank!* These accounts originated from a supreme Sovereign. By some stroke of fortune, that supreme Sovereign had managed to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground. He had spotted the spirit herb and intended to pluck it, only to be besieged by the Demon Kings within. Outnumbered and overpowered, he fled the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground and never found another opportunity to enter. *So there are many Demon Kings inside the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground?* *As for Demon Sovereigns... that remains unknown,* Jin Li pondered. If there were no Demon Sovereigns, then relying on Demon Kings' senses alone, sneaking in quietly might actually allow someone to harvest the medicine. *Unfortunately, there is no mention at all of how to actually enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground.* Each of the Four Great Forbidden Grounds presented its own perils. And for the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground, the greatest difficulty lay in finding a way inside. *Could it truly be just as Qi Yuan said—carrying a ladder inside on your back?* At the thought of Qi Yuan, a smile couldn't help but tug at the corners of Jin Li's lips. Naturally, that was impossible. The notion was simply too absurd—or rather, completely devoid of logic. Yet Qi Yuan had no reason to lie to her. Deep down, she trusted him. Otherwise, she would never have ordered the palace maids to gather records on the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground in the first place. Over the next dozen volumes, Jin Li read with utmost concentration. Regrettably, none contained any information on how to enter the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground. Suddenly, however, a passage caught her eye, and she read it aloud unawares: "Within Xuanyuan dwells a strange monstrosity, shaped like a fox's tail yet resembling a brush. Frantic and mad, it delights most in launching nocturnal ambushes." This entry had also been penned by that supreme Sovereign. Jin Li froze. The words Qi Yuan had spoken earlier surfaced before her mind's eye. *A Mad Brush, exceptionally sinister, loves turning into a brush at night and dishonorably ambushing people.* *Could this be the exact same ferocious beast?* Countless thoughts flashed through Jin Li's mind. *The supreme Sovereign who left these records was once a Grand Enshrined Elder of Southern Qian.* *These writings have always been preserved in the Imperial Archives, never circulated outside.* *How could Qi Yuan possibly know about it?* *Could Qi Yuan be a member of our imperial clan?* Jin Li's heart was in utter turmoil. *No!* *He knew the beast's name was Mad Brush!* *Could it be... that Qi Yuan truly visited the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground?* Jin Li retrieved the Exquisite Jade Tide and hurriedly sent off a message: "Qi Yuan, have you really been to the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground? Carrying a ladder... to get in wasn't a joke, was it? "I have an urgent matter... I need to go inside." Though Qi Yuan was often unpredictable and fond of spouting nonsense, she feared that if he saw her message, he might answer offhandedly, which was why she mentioned going herself. She was wagering her life on this. Surely Qi Yuan... wouldn't joke about that. Yet after she sent the message, no reply came from Qi Yuan. "It's a pity the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground is so far away, otherwise... sigh." Jin Li sighed, her gaze hardening with resolve. "Someone come! Make preparations. I shall leave the palace tomorrow." There was no time left. She decided to leave the palace on the morrow and head straight for the Xuanyuan Forbidden Ground. She had no choice. Remaining in the imperial capital was merely waiting for death. Recalling something, however, she gave another order: "Dispatch a squad of Qilin Guards to head for the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground. See if anything unusual has occurred there." Qi Yuan claimed he was heading to the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground. If Qi Yuan was truly an expert of great renown, the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground would certainly be thrown into turmoil. She sent the Qilin Guards to scout for news of the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground. Meanwhile, within the Robe and Crown Forbidden Ground. Carrying his great golden sword on his shoulder, Qi Yuan gazed at the bizarre creatures before him, curiosity gleaming in his eyes.