Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 883 (2): Little Ruoyu Shakes the Capital

Minister Dai looked caught between laughter and tears. He turned to glance back only to see his three colleagues, who had just entered the field, already approaching Ling Ruoyu. Her sword hummed as it drew a sweeping circle around them. “You may come at me all at once.”

Xia Chichi’s smile faltered just a touch. You cheeky little thing... Are you trying to humiliate my court?

The three officials looked back at the Empress in a silent plea, waiting for her decision. Her expression hardened. “She asked for it herself. All three of you, go.”

The people of the capital were thus treated to a rare sight: renowned officials of the imperial court ganging up on a sixteen-year-old girl. One of them was even ranked twelfth on the Ranking of Man, higher than Ling Ruoyu herself.

What shocked them most was that even with three against one, the battle dragged on without a clear victor.

Cui Yuanyang stepped in to smooth things over. “Since this is three against one, perhaps we could set a time limit? If Miss Ling can hold out until then, that should count as a win.”

Xia Chichi nodded. “That is reasonable. One stick of incense, then. Bring me the Azure Dragon ceremonial incense.”

Moments later, a massive incense stick, half a foot in diameter and over three meters tall, was planted atop the gate tower.

“Pffft!” Zhao Changhe sprayed wine from his mouth.

All across the walls and streets, countless spectators from the capital covered their faces.

This is absurd. Her Majesty herself is presiding over a gang-up on a teenage girl? What’s happened to the world?

Surrounded by three powerful opponents, Ling Ruoyu whirled in the melee like a lantern spinning in the wind, strands of sweat-slicked hair clinging to her brow. Her breath came quick, her sword arm trembling slightly from the exertion.

She had not expected this. They were all just Ranking of Man, yet one of them had already reached the second layer of the Profound Mysteries Realm. Not too long ago, even a first-layer Profound Mysteries expert could break into the Ranking of Earth. Now, a second-layer Profound Mysteries cultivator could only crawl below the top ten of the Ranking of Man.

It was a sign of the times. As central authority consolidated power and channeled more resources into its ranks, stronger warriors were increasingly drawn to the court. Those who joined were rewarded with elite training. These three were far more formidable than rogues of the jianghu like Huang Youde. Their foundation was simply rock-solid.

She had hoped to beat them three-on-one, but that was now clearly impossible. All she could do was endure and see how long she could last.

Maybe I bit more than I can chew... Should I draw the River of Stars?

Mid-fight, she stole a glance at the crowd, specifically at Zhao Changhe.

He met her gaze with a faint smile and transmitted, “Chichi isn’t bullying you. She’s just helping temper you. Don’t use River of Stars. Endure until the incense burns down, and Master Zhao will give you a reward.”

Something surged within her. A second wind. Her sword energy erupted in a brilliant wave, drawing her opponents into its current.

“The Sunset Divine Sword!” someone cried out. “So she’s Yue Hongling’s personal disciple? I didn’t know she had one! No wonder she’s this strong!”

“That explains it! She definitely has the right to be arrogant!”

“Not only is the Sunset Divine Sword beautiful and badass, but her disciple is just as beautiful and just as badass.”

No one noticed that, atop the wall, Her Majesty’s expression had turned thunder-cloudy. Even Bureau Chief Cui’s face had gone an unsettling shade of green.

Ling Ruoyu, however, felt a twinge of guilt. Her master had explicitly told her not to reveal her lineage. Yue Hongling feared that if word got out, others might shy away from challenging her, thus ruining her chance to gain real experience in the jianghu.

And now? In the heat of battle, she had unveiled their signature technique without thinking. Will Master scold me for this?

That tiny crack in her resolve showed. Her grip slackened ever so slightly. Saber light slipped past her guard, and her parry landed weakly. She stumbled and tumbled to the ground, and for a moment, it looked like defeat was imminent.

But at that very instant, Xia Chichi’s voice rang out, “The incense has burned through. Though Ling Ruoyu has lost the battle, she has endured until the time limit. Shall we call it a draw?”

Ling Ruoyu clutched her sword and bowed. “It’s my loss.”

But the three warriors of the imperial court respectfully cupped their fists and said, “Miss Ling, you are too modest. We were the ones bested.”

“I said it’s a draw, so it’s a draw,” Xia Chichi declared, rising to her feet. “Arrange a guest house for Miss Ling. Starting tomorrow, you’ll continue to fight. Once you defeat these three simultaneously, you may come to the palace to see me.”

Ling Ruoyu exhaled like she had been holding her breath for hours.

So Her Majesty really was sharpening her skills, she wasn’t just trying to embarrass me.

But still, surely the trial isn’t going to last days on end, right? Why can’t I come see you at the palace at night? Why do I have to win before being allowed into the palace?

The Empress and her party withdrew. The people of the capital, having witnessed a spectacle for the ages, returned to their own matters in satisfied droves.

No matter how the Empress had ruled on victory or defeat, in the eyes of the public, Ling Ruoyu had won.

A lone girl on horseback had challenged the entire Ranking of Man within the capital. The Empress herself had presided. Tens of thousands had watched. And she had stood against the empire’s elite.

If this was not legendary, then what was? And her beauty just served to exemplify how legendary she was.

Ling Ruoyu had no idea just how dramatically she had stolen the stage. Most of the inspiring comments and glorious posturing were instinctual. She had not meant to show off. All she wanted was to temper herself through real battle.

She was nothing like her master’s husband, after all; he did it all purely for the drama and to look tough.

Once the crowd had dispersed, Ling Ruoyu quietly slipped away to find Master Zhao, who was loitering near the city outskirts. Head lowered, she asked softly, “Did I mess up today? I exposed the Sunset Divine Sword in front of everyone... Does that mean I’ve lost any chance to temper myself properly from now on? I was too arrogant...”

Zhao Changhe smiled. “Since the battle at Tiger Hill concluded, there’s not much left in this world that can temper you anymore. Today’s duel in the capital was your final display of might in the mortal realm. After this, we move on.”

Ling Ruoyu’s eyes lit up. “Move on to where?”

Zhao Changhe’s smile deepened. “To the ancients. It’s time you test your sword against gods and demons.”

Ling Ruoyu beamed. “Can I really?”

“Of course. Though, to avoid stirring chaos, we may not necessarily walk that path. I have a few other ideas. Let me test them out first.”

He then reached out and ruffled her hair. “You did very well today. What reward do you want?”

“I don’t want anything else, just let Dragon Bird play with me for a day.”

Dragon Bird: “...Scram.”

Zhao Changhe fished the saber out of his ring and gave it a flick on the hilt. “That’s no way to speak to your little sister.”

Dragon Bird was inconsolable. You think this is some sweet, innocent little sister? She’s going to beat me. She’s going to beat me!

Zhao Changhe clearly heard Dragon Bird’s inner cry for help, but he just did not believe it. Without a care, he handed Dragon Bird off to Ling Ruoyu and strolled off toward the palace to find Chichi.

Ling Ruoyu hugged Dragon Bird to her chest and flashed a bright, toothy smile. “I lost today, so I’m in a bad mood.”

Dragon Bird tried to fly off in terror, only to be yanked back mid-air by its hilt.

The citizens of the capital turned to watch, one and all, as the very girl who had stunned them all at the city gate casually dragged a giant saber nearly as tall as she was toward her newly appointed lodgings. Moments later, the peace of the guest house was shattered by a clamor of crashing, shouting, and chaos... and then slowly, it quieted again.

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe sat opposite Xia Chichi in her bedchamber, quietly steeping tea.

Xia Chichi glanced up at the sky and mused, “Has the Heavenly Tome stopped giving that child a free pass? She didn’t quite dazzle the crowd today, but it was still enough for her to gain a few ranks, wasn’t it?”

“Thanks to your efforts.” Zhao Changhe chuckled. “If you’d used a normal incense stick, she would’ve lasted easily, and the match would’ve counted as her win. In that case, that smug blind woman might’ve even shown off. But because your giant incense stick dragged the match to the brink of defeat, the outcome was reduced to a draw. Even that damned blind woman respects structure.”

Xia Chichi nodded thoughtfully. “You really do know her well...”

Zhao Changhe: “...Not at all. I was just complimenting you for your judgment. You gave Ruoyu a real trial without compromising the dignity of the court.”

Xia Chichi ground her teeth. “Even the two venerables had the sense to give us space alone, yet all you’ve done is talk about Ling Ruoyu.”

Wasn’t it you who started with whether she’d go up the ranks or not... Zhao Changhe dared not say it aloud. He gave a sheepish smile. “How’s the baby? Got a name yet? Have you picked out where they’ll be studying?”

Xia Chichi narrowed her eyes. “And how exactly did you know I’ve been nauseous these past two days?”

Her expression was a blend of irritation and pride. Her whole face seemed to glow.

And then Zhao Changhe’s face lit up too.

Maybe Chichi had gotten used to it, having carried a child in her womb for the past thirty years due to some strange anomaly. But for Zhao Changhe, it had only been a few weeks since their time together by the Heavenly River. To him, the feeling was exactly like that of a husband discovering his wife was pregnant for the first time.

After all the storms and bloodshed in the jianghu, he had not expected that he was going to have a child.

Xia Chichi leaned into his chest, guiding his hand over her belly with a smile. “You left a seed behind before running off to die. I suppose that’s its own kind of blessing. The ministers all know I’m pregnant. They don’t understand what kind of freak this child is, but they don’t dare say a word. The Four Idols Cult’s doctrine makes for an excellent shield, everyone just calls it a holy fetus. With a holy fetus inside me and me looking all immortal and untouched, no one’s had the guts to question the succession. No one’s pushed me to marry either. It’s like you left a final reassurance before vanishing. Without it, I never would’ve had a moment’s peace.”

Zhao Changhe had never thought of that. In hindsight, even Piaomiao might have foreseen this outcome. Perhaps that fateful night had been no accident. For the sake of stability, perhaps a child really had been needed.

“This child, whether boy or girl, is destined to inherit the throne. I’ll pass the crown soon enough,” Xia Chichi said softly, as if something had finally settled in her heart. “I can tell where your path is leading. You’re destined to walk beyond the heavens, and I won’t be left behind. This time, if you’re set on dying again, then you’ll take me with you.”