Imperial Cultivation-Chapter 62 - 60 Decisions

62: Chapter 60 Decisions

62 -60 Decisions

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Sitting cross-legged on the couch, the open pavilion window outside revealed a bright moon.

Several drifting clouds were illuminated silver by the moonlight.

Chu Zhiyuan looked up, staring intently at the bright moon.

The Flying Dragon Ball activated the third layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique, circulating its energy, tiny strands of aura diffusing, strengthening the bones bit by bit.

At the end of the day, he felt his bones grow harder.

With every slight hardening of the bones, the speed and strength of the body increased slightly.

This tiny increase seemed insignificant, but at a critical moment, it could decide life and death.

He let the Dragon Transformation Technique circulate while observing the Jade Tower at his throat.

Only five layers of the Jade Tower remained; the seven layers that had been breached left mere shadows, no longer hindering the flow of True Qi.

The remaining five layers of the Jade Tower were larger, thicker, and more resistant to impact.

Ten Binding Dragon Ropes couldn’t break through.

Preliminary estimations would be twelve ropes needed.

Even though the perfection of the first layer of the Dragon Transformation Technique had already strengthened the meridians to a sufficient degree, further enhancement seemed impossible.

But it was still not enough.

The only option was to use the Blood Purification Technique, but unlike the Dragon Transformation Technique, it had no shortcuts to accelerate it and must be done little by little.

The progress suddenly slowed down.

Unless more Dragon Blood Stones appeared, allowing him to open more orifices, the more orifices, the faster the True Qi would circulate, and the faster the Blood Purification Technique would proceed.

After a night had passed, in the early morning, he first went to the Mingwu Hall.

As soon as he arrived at the Martial Arts Training Ground of Mingwu Hall, Chu Mingxuan and the others immediately started making faces.

Even the always serious Chu Zhiyao showed a strange smile.

But before they could tease him about his affair with Xiao Ruoling, Chu Qingfeng silenced them, telling them to focus on their training and not waste time.

Chu Zhiyuan assumed the Purple Sun Stance and practiced the Great Purple Sun Technique.

Once the sun was high, he went to the Ministry of Rites office, took attendance, and went straight to the Inspection Department.

Ma Tianhe quickly ran out to greet him.

Chu Zhiyuan followed him into the courtyard and, upon reaching a small hut, asked, “Master Ma, do you have the dossiers of the State Duke Mansion?”

“Yes,” Ma Tianhe hesitated, “but…”

Chu Zhiyuan said, “I don’t currently have the authority to read them?”

Ma Tianhe hesitated for a moment, then gritted his teeth, “Which Duke’s Mansion would the Princely Heir like to see?”

“If all the Duke Mansions are possible, that would be best.

If not, then the Duke An Mansion,” Chu Zhiyuan said.

“If that’s not feasible, then just the records from the past hundred years.”

Ma Tianhe forced a smile, “The Princely Heir, please wait a moment, I’ll go look.”

“Thank you,” Chu Zhiyuan nodded.

He watched Ma Tianhe hurriedly leave the house, running through two inner courtyards before stopping in a quiet small courtyard.

The courtyard was elegantly arranged, with rocky outcrops and flowing water.

A middle-aged man was pacing by the stone table in the pavilion, a heroic face showing a sense of gravity.

Ma Tianhe ran to the steps outside the pavilion and bowed with clasped fists, “Director, the Fourth Prince wants to review the dossiers of the Duke An Mansion.”

“Only the Duke An Mansion’s?”

“Yes, only the records from the past hundred years of the Duke An Mansion.”

“…Give it to him then.”

“Yes!”

Ma Tianhe retreated from the courtyard with his head lowered.

Chu Zhiyuan touched his chin, his eyes sparkling.

This middle-aged man was Leng Nanfeng from the Inspection Department, named Director, but his status was virtually the same as the Director-in-chief.

The Director-in-chief of the Inspection Department was under the control of the Grand Eunuch of the Forbidden Palace.

However, the Grand Eunuch often stayed in the palace serving the Emperor, so outside matters needed to be handled by the Director, the nominal second-in-command but the actual first.

Ma Tianhe led people to bring in dozens of boxes of dossiers, which Chu Zhiyuan carefully examined.

…

Two hours later, Chu Zhiyuan put down the last scroll of dossiers and stood by the window.

Zou Fang wisely stepped forward and opened the window.

The bright sunshine and chilly wind hit his face at the same time.

Chu Zhiyuan’s mind cleared, his spirit invigorated.

He had read all the records of the Duke An Mansion from the past hundred years.

He saw the rise and fall of the Duke An Mansion over the century and the fates of each person in the mansion.

Among them was Xiao Ruoling.

Xiao Ruoling had stayed in the Duke An Mansion all along, never going out or taking a master, practicing only the family-inherited martial arts of the Duke An Mansion.

The Eight Dukes’ Mansions each had their legacies, all world-class legacies.

The legacy of the Duke An Mansion was the Jinghai Unlimited Scripture.

This generation’s Duke An had ordinary talent, reportedly grinding his way to Grandmaster, but the twelve-year-old Young Lord had extraordinary gifts, already achieving an introduction at a young age.

Chu Zhiyuan recalled the shy young man beside Xiao Ruoling from last night.

Judging a book by its cover can be misleading.

Never would one have thought that this silent, seemingly withdrawn young man had mastered the Jinghai Unlimited Scripture.

Vigorous, rigid and mighty, converting softness into strength, and imposing force to dominate, unstoppable.

Violence is the fundamental characteristic of the Jinghai Unlimited Scripture.

The previous Duke Ans were robust and generous, but this generation’s Duke An was refined and gentle, failing to conform to the extremity, thus he didn’t master the Jinghai Unlimited Scripture.

Yet the shy and quiet Xiao Ruoyu managed to master it, which was astonishing.

He tightened his sword-like eyebrows.

The Super Sense couldn’t detect any anomalies in Xiao Ruoling, so the Inspection Department couldn’t either, reasonably.

Originally planning to verify through other means, now it seemed unfindable.

This Xiao Ruoling became all the more remarkable.

The Duke An Mansion was vast, slightly inferior only to the Prince Qing Mansion; the Super Sense’s coverage was insufficient to spy on the daily details.

He thought for a moment, ultimately shook his head, and bid farewell to Ma Tianhe.

——

Duke An Mansion

Backyard

Upon the expansive lake was a semi-large colorful painted boat, gently undulating with the lake’s waves.

A young boy in green walked tiptoe on the lake’s surface, gracefully crossing two hundred meters as if on flat ground, like a drifted leaf slanted into the painted boat.

The interior of the painted boat was arranged elegantly and simply, a delicate beast burner emitting wisps of smoke that refreshed the mind.

By the pavilion table at the window, an exquisite beauty was engrossed in reading a scroll, like a white jade statue of a beauty.

Her large azure robe, draped with black glossy hair, made her face even more jade-like, and her deep-set eyes like an abyss.

Two young maidservants in green stood aside, occasionally changing the incense in the burner or replacing the cooled tea with new tea, moving softly and silently.

“Sister.” The youth in green lifted the bead curtain and entered, “It’s time to eat, father is waiting.”

The exquisite beauty put down the book, stretched, and the vast robe subtly revealed undulating curves, “Xiaohu, what hour is it?”

“It’s already noon, I’m starving, hurry,” Xiao Ruoyu said.

Xiao Ruoling stood up, “I got too engrossed, let’s go, is father feeling better?”

“He’s completely sobered up,” Xiao Ruoyu shook his head, “I really don’t understand what is enjoyable about alcohol, drinking so much.”

Xiao Ruoling gave a faint smile, tousling his hair, “Little Tiger is not yet grown, when you grow up, you’ll like drinking.”

Xiao Ruoyu hurriedly shook his head, dodging her jade hand, “Sister—!”

Xiao Ruoling laughed, “Alright, I won’t touch your head, Little Tiger has grown, you can’t touch his head.”

Xiao Ruoyu complained, “And sister, your tone, like coaxing a child!… Why did father drink so much last night?

It’s the first time I’ve seen him drink this much.”

“He met someone he wanted to drink with.”

“Who?”

“You didn’t see?”

“…That Prince Qing?” Xiao Ruoyu inquired.

Xiao Ruoling nodded.

Xiao Ruoyu frowned, “I really don’t understand what father is thinking, fixating on the Princely Heir of Prince Qing Mansion, I saw him, plain and unremarkable, not worthy of you!”

Xiao Ruoling chuckled, illuminating the cabin.

Xiao Ruoyu said, “If it were the Princely Heir of Prince Ying, he would match you, but he’s already married.”

Xiao Ruoling smiled, “Father has his reasons.”

“Prince Qing Mansion is too inferior, becoming the heir’s wife there will surely invite grievances.”

“You… talk to father like this, and you’ll get scolded.

Don’t speak of this in front of father again!”

“…Alright, I won’t mention it then,” Xiao Ruoyu reluctantly groaned.

Last night, he took the opportunity to raise this idea with his father, which earned him a thorough scolding from Duke An, leaving him aggrieved.

Today, of course, he dared not bring it up again, lest he be scolded again.

Although father is so compliant to elder sister, listening to her in all things, he’s always scolding me and never speaks kindly.

“Let’s go, don’t keep father waiting long.” Xiao Ruoling yanked his arm with her jade hand.

By then, the painted boat had already docked, and after leaving, they headed straight to the front courtyard and front hall.

Duke An was already sitting by a Foo pattern pearl-playing sandalwood round table, looking weary, his complexion sallow, appearing listless.

He had a handsome appearance and a slender build, appearing frail.

Even when unwell, he still exuded a cultured elegance.

“Father.”

The two entered and saluted.

Duke An, Xiao Youping waved languidly, “Eat.”

Nearby maidservants quickly laid out a full table of dishes, the colors and flavor enticing, mostly light with none of the large fish and meat.

While eating, Xiao Youping asked, “Did you meet the Fourth Prince yesterday, Ling’er?

What did you think?”

“I can’t see through him.” Xiao Ruoling gently shook her head, “Father’s insight is impressive.”

Xiao Youping smiled, “Does he have the demeanor of a dragon or phoenix?”

Xiao Ruoling gently nodded, “Indeed, he can be considered the foremost of this generation.”

Xiao Ruoyu widened his eyes, glancing left and right, feeling he didn’t understand their conversation.

“Prince Qing values justice and emotions, and Princess Qing has an excellent family manner.

Their children are not to be worried about in terms of character,” Xiao Youping said.

“It’s not enough for just talent to be good; one’s character must be stable.

He is precisely the husband who resembles you the most, Ling’er!”

“But father…”

“Don’t speak!” Xiao Youping glanced at him, “You understand nothing, just watch and listen obediently.”

“How could I…”

“Xiaohu.” Xiao Ruoling laughed, “Last night, he only glanced at me twice.

Can any other man do that?”

“…Could it be that he doesn’t like women?” Xiao Ruoyu’s face changed.

“Fool!” Xiao Youping was furious, throwing chopsticks at Xiao Ruoyu.

Xiao Ruoyu nimbly dodged, dissatisfied, “I don’t believe any man can resist not looking at elder sister, unless he doesn’t like women.”

Xiao Ruoling reached out with her mutton fat jade-like right hand, catching the mid-air chopsticks deftly, gracefully and accurately, returning them to Xiao Youping, “Father, don’t bother with him.”

Xiao Youping pointed at him, “Stay away from those worthless friends, they’re causing you not to learn anything good!”

Xiao Ruoling said, “Father, Little Tiger is grown now, it’s not surprising that he knows these things.

But don’t worry, Little Tiger, he does like women, he’s just composed, able to control himself, rare as it is.

Just based on this, he can be considered a remarkable person.”

“Then it’s settled,” Xiao Youping said.

Xiao Ruoling gently nodded.

Xiao Ruoyu still wanted to say something, but Xiao Youping glared at him, so he had to close his mouth and return to the table, burying his head in eating.