Back at the Imperial Capital. After returning to his temporary residence at the relay station, Song Zining began going through the documents after dinner.

Late in the quiet night, someone knocked on the door and entered without waiting for a reply.

He closed the door carefully and sat down beside Song Zining’s table. “Marshal Song, you instructed me to come here in secret. Is there anything you need?”

The one before him was, surprisingly, Duke Wenyuan. He had been in the Imperial Capital during this period, waiting for his crimes to be pardoned.

Song Zining said, “Duke Chen, you really contributed a lot in the recent period.”

Chen Tongqi replied, “It was always Sire Qianye fighting at the forefront. We merely followed him and picked up some benefits, it’s no big contribution.”

Song Zining nodded. “Duke Chen, your crime warranted the execution of your entire clan and confiscation of properties. After risking life and limb in Blacksun Valley, your contributions were just about enough to cancel out your charge.”

Duke Wenyuan was shocked. “What? Were there new variables?”

Song Zining replied, “Of course there are, it depends on how you act. I wonder how you see Qianye?”

Chen Tongqi said, “Sire Qianye is a rare genius with a good temperament. After you and Marshal Jundu were injured, the Empire only regained a series of victories after his arrival. Although I’m also a divine champion, I am vastly inferior and won’t even last three moves against him.”

After a brief pause, he said emotionally, “Frankly speaking, Sire Qianye killed his way through countless enemy defenses and marched us straight into the central region. With two thousand men, he forced a force hundreds of times the size to cower in their fortress. Why were his accomplishments wiped away? Won’t this demoralize the three thousand men who walked into hell with him?”

Song Zining knocked on the table. “Duke Chen, forgive me for being blunt. Your charges haven’t been cleared at the moment, so you’ll invite trouble on yourself if you speak recklessly.”

Chen Tongqi said casually, “I already have enough troubles, no? What if I invite a bit more? Besides, how can I call myself a warrior if I don’t even dare speak up for Qianye’s contributions?”

Song Zining asked, “Back then, Qianye sent Liu Chengyun back to the Empire and canceled his contributions. When you and Duke Minghai returned, later on, the man shared a fair bit of his own contributions with you two. Why is that?”

“Are you investigating me?”

“This issue is related to your future at this point, I hope you can tell me the truth.”

Chen Tongqi said after some thought, “Liu Chengyun was the first to shrink back when Qianye was selecting men to charge with him. He had also acted against orders several times before that, so he had to be punished. Duke Minghai and I followed Sire Qianye to the end without the slightest bit of cowardice. We dared not refuse the reward he granted us, and we dared not say no when he asked us to leave. We would only drag him down by staying behind.”

Song Zining nodded. “This is the reason for your new crime.”

Chen Tongqi was puzzled. “What’s the crime?”

Song Zining placed a document in front of the man. The latter cried out after a mere glance, “Colluding with other races and submitting false contribution reports?”

He slammed the table furiously. “Which other race? Who did this duke collude with?”

The surrounding scenery shifted ever so slightly as Song Zining deployed his domain, isolating the inside environment. After everything was safe, he said, “That other race… is Qianye.”

Chen Tongqi was startled for a moment. He then stood up, livid, and slammed the table again. “Preposterous! Sire Qianye accomplished so much for the Empire. How dare you people treat him like that after his death? Do you not have a shred of conscience? There’s simply no way the Empire could’ve gained a foothold in Blacksun Valley if it wasn’t for him.”

Song Zining replied calmly, “This letter was penned by Liu Chengyun. It has already been rejected.”

Chen Tongqi’s expression darkened, and his voice grew cold. “Old Liu must be tired of living. At first, he could’ve lived for a couple more years, but I don’t mind sending him on his way!”

“Why would you go so far?”

“These despicable people. Ruining my life is fine, but he’s trying to ruin Sire Qianye’s name! Every day he’s alive is another day of injustice.”

Song Zining said slowly, “Duke Wenyuan, you’re determined, but you must be wary of your strategy. You wouldn’t be in such a state if you hadn’t been so rash. From what I know, you weren’t a part of the core schemers.”

Duke Wenyuan’s expression shifted slightly. In the end, he said with a sigh, “My temper has always gotten me in trouble all these years. I owe the Profundity Monarch for recognizing me, how could I betray him? I didn’t utter a single word no matter how they interrogated me, and that landed me where I am now.”

Song Zining put away the document, saying, “There are people pulling the strings. Liu Chengyun was merely pushed onto the stage to be the gunman. Your past crime, though, can only be reduced and not completely acquitted.”

Duke Wenyuan said, “I’m sure you have a plan, can you give me some advice?”

Song Zining said slowly, “My advice is to admit to the charges.”

Duke Wenyuan was surprised. “This… what about my family members?” Some charges couldn’t be easily admitted to.

“Your family is small, with little more than a hundred core members. Although the crime itself won’t change, your contributions in the new world are enough to change the punishment. We can go from forced labor and military service to exile. You will remain in the army and serve the Empire.”

“Exile? Where to?”

“The neutral lands.”

Duke Wenyuan started to understand. He said after some thought, “Then I’ll trouble you to take care of my family.”

He had given it some thought. The neutral lands was Song Zining’s domain—there would be no suffering for his family there, but they would be in the seventh young master’s hands. Only then would Song Zining feel assured enough to make him run certain errands.

As expected, Song Zining said, “You’re quite familiar with Blacksun Valley, so I will transfer you over to a new post there. Afterward, I have other arrangements for you. You’ll know when the time comes.”

“I obey.” Duke Wenyuan bowed with cupped fists and left.

Song Zining produced a paper and wrote down several names on it. Duke Wenyuan’s name was on it as well. Most of the names on the list had been marked with only two left.

He took a look at the list, then struck off Ji Tianqing’s name. “I’ll let the elder prince talk to her. It will be whatever he wants to tell her.”

He lit up the list and watched the paper burn to ashes before turning in. An icy blue sword appeared over his neck just after he had laid down.

Song Zining didn’t panic. “I was thinking when I should go see you. Who would’ve thought you’d come to me first?”

Li Kuanglan’s expression was cold. “I should’ve just cut your head off, but I’ll spare you until the situation is cleared. You will answer everything I ask, you can forget about seeing the sun tomorrow if I’m not satisfied with the answers.”

Song Zining pushed the blade a bit out of the way and sat up. “Ask away.”

“Is Qianye… gone?”

Song Zining thought about it for a good while. “No one saw it, but there were heavenly monarchs at the scene. According to them, Qianye should be dead now.”

“I don’t want to hear ‘should.’ I want to know if he’s really…”

Song Zining asked, “Shouldn’t you be asking the Empress?”

Li Kuanglan’s hands trembled for a bit. “I don’t know if she’s really doing things for the child and myself. I really don’t know! I heard you were back, so I came to see you.”

Song Zining sighed. “I might not know more than you do. What I do know is that someone is already making a move on his enterprise.”

A cold gleam appeared in her eyes. “Who?”

“I can’t tell you yet. I’ll handle matters and tell you if I need your help.”

“Okay, I trust you.”

She had always been swift and decisive. Seeing that there was no more information to be gleaned from Song Zining, she turned around and left.

Song Zining could no longer sleep at this point. He simply stood at the window, gazing at the bright moon in the sky.

A clear voice suddenly echoed in his ears, “Not bad, you didn’t say things you shouldn’t.”

Song Zining looked back with a wry smile. “Empress, we’re in the Imperial Capital right now. It’s not too appropriate to run out in the middle of the night, is it?”

The one who had appeared behind him was, quite shockingly, the Empress. She was clad in casual clothing, but that did little to hide her kingdom-toppling beauty.

She said, “I can go anywhere in the capital as long as I avoid those old fogeys.”

Song Zining said respectfully, “Congratulations on the great achievement in divination.”

Empress Li sighed. “So many things have happened of late. There’s no way I can remain in the Empress position if I don’t break through. I saw everything you’ve been planning these days. Don’t let things get too far out of hand, or I’ll have a hard time helping you.”

Song Zining said, “I didn’t sense a thing. Looks like I’m far inferior in terms of divination.”

There was no telling whether or not the Empress believed Song Zining’s humble words. She merely said with a smile, “The Three Thousand Flying Leaves, the three thousand great dao. The art you cultivate is not inferior to the Li clan’s own, it’s not hard to surpass me in the future. Now that you’ve picked this path, there won’t be anyone in this generation to inherit the Art of Heaven’s Mystery.”

Song Zining said, “The Art of Heaven’s Mystery is a divine art, only a handful of people throughout history have managed to cultivate it. Perhaps only a peerless genius like Marshal Lin can reach its peak. I’m still lacking in talents, so it will be beyond difficult for me to cultivate that art.”

Empress Li sighed. “Your talents are not inferior to Marshal Lin’s, but since you’ve chosen your path, no one can force you.”

“Perhaps I might come around one day.”

“I hope so.”

Song Zining said, “You must have a reason for coming to see me late at night. What do you need? I will do whatever is in my power.”

Empress Li said, “There’s definitely something, and there’s no room for you to refuse. Our Li clan has a child of great talent. I’ve been giving this a lot of thought these days, I want to find him a good teacher. After all, the scope of our Li clan’s knowledge is a bit too narrow. Are you willing to fill this position?”

Song Zining went into a daze. “Could it be… that child?”

Empress Li was quite direct. “Qianye and Kuanglan’s kid.”