Chapter 489 – Schemes Behind the Curtain, Undercurrents Beneath the Plot - Part 2

Deep within the palace, inside Clear Mind Hall, Xie Wei felt the distant tremor ripple through the walls. She tilted her head slightly, her brows drawing together for a brief moment before smoothing out again. Her long legs were wrapped in a dark-gold phoenix robe.

That deep color was meant to reflect the Empress Dowager’s dignity and composure. But when worn by Xie Wei, it only made her more alluring. Power and beauty, twined together in a way that ignited something primal in the hearts of those who looked upon her.

Swish!

A corner of her robe slipped from her shoulder.

Xie Wei’s starry eyes narrowed slightly.

𝚏𝕣𝕖𝚎𝚠𝚎𝚋𝚗𝐨𝐯𝕖𝕝.𝕔𝐨𝕞

That sudden burst of fire in the distance—the golden giant towering above the rooftops, its glow cutting through countless palaces and pavilions—was enough to make any martial artist feel their blood run cold. Even a fourth rank martial artist wouldn’t be immune.

Xie Wei was only sixth rank. She

should

have felt fear. But she didn’t. Some people were broken by chaos. Others were awakened.

A sultry smile flickered across her lips. Her expression softened into something beguiling as she raised a hand to her cheek and began reapplying her makeup before a bronze mirror, painting a golden floral motif between her brows.

The Xie Clan of Bright Moon Prefecture had been wiped out more than half a year ago. Every trace vanished, every trail cold. Yet no one had managed to uncover a single clue.

The Mountain Hall had sent no small number of experts to pledge their allegiance to her. But many of them were just waiting...waiting for better, higher quality meat fields to help them break through to the next realm.

Right now, the Jade Capital housed a single third rank meat field and four fourth rank ones. They were the lifeblood that fed the Ocean Province’s armored cavalry, Flying Bear Army, imperial guard, shadow guard, Mountain Hall, and the eight powerful provincial governors stationed in the city, not to mention a long list of Jianghu sects and shadowy forces.

In short, the land had already been bled dry.

If she wanted to harvest new strength—if she wanted to extract the resources of that precious third rank meat field to nurture her elites—then she needed to

open up new land

. Only then could she gather enough power to build new trump cards...and push deeper into the hidden mysteries of the world. But where would that new land come from?

She was still pondering when she heard the sound of boots hitting the courtyard stones.

A broad-shouldered man in yellow armor strode in. He had a close-cropped head of white hair and steady, stormless eyes. His solid and massive hands gave the impression of great shields, immovable and sure.

A battle cloak billowed behind him, lending him a certain martial grandeur.

This was none other than Shi Shanbai, the former hall master of the Mountain Hall, once one of the five figureheads of the Five Elements Alliance.

His name sounded refined. But the man himself was anything but delicate.

He was steady. And he

knew

how to win a woman’s heart.

Most of the women who’d crossed his path, no matter how worldly or guarded, would find themselves drawn in. First by his appearance and presence, then by the intoxicating sense of safety he exuded. A danger wrapped in comfort. A trap disguised as sanctuary.

Shi Shanbai didn’t barge into Clear Mind Hall. He stopped respectfully at the threshold and said in a low voice, “I request an audience with the Empress Dowager.”

“Enter.” A voice echoed from within.

He strode forward. The moment his eyes adjusted to the light, he saw

her

, the most powerful woman in the empire. A woman at the very center of the storm. And yet, rather than being crushed by it, she had become all the more dazzling.

A flicker of admiration flashed in his eyes...along with a shadow of desire.

His gaze brushed briefly past the slit of her gown, where a sliver of snow-white skin peeked through. But he didn’t linger.

Instead, he said in a low, calm voice, “Empress Dowager, Apparel Atelier has expanded. The imperial guard is already investigating the cause.”

The imperial guard, originally born from the shadow guard, had grown into a formidable force. And behind it all...was none other than Fish Guts.

“I already know,” Xie Wei said calmly.

But Shi Shanbai lowered his voice and added, “What the Empress Dowager may

not

know is that just last night, a new fourth rank meat field appeared in Smallstar Valley. It has the potential to nurture more powerful warriors for you, Your Majesty.

“This information came by chance. One of our Mountain Hall elders happened to be nearby and discovered it. We’ve already sealed off the area. No one else knows of its existence. I’ve always known how hard Your Majesty works. That’s why I came personally, to help ease your burdens.”

“...” Xie Wei gave no response at first.

Instead, she shifted slightly, crossing one long leg over the other. The dark-gold hem of her phoenix robe rippled like a wave, revealing a flash of flawless, lotus-white thigh.

That teasing glimpse was swiftly hidden again as her legs closed with seamless precision. The lines of her figure flowed upward from slim waist to full curves, to the proud arch of her snow-pale neck, and the subtle sheen on her slightly parted red lips.

Then, with practiced grace, she adjusted her robe and replied, her tone once again dignified and composed.

“You have my thanks.”

Shi Shanbai had seen many beauties in his life. But none quite like the woman before him. And besides, he had a mission.

A secret directive from the powerful force backing him from behind the scenes.

The mission was simple. That was to make the Empress Dowager his woman.

She didn’t have to become his pawn completely. But if she could be made to listen, even a little, that would be enough.

And if he succeeded, the power behind the curtain had promised to reveal the path forward, toward the elusive third rank breakthrough.

When

ambition

and

desire

intertwine, not even the hall master of the Mountain Hall was immune.

With a charming smile, Shi Shanbai said, “You shoulder the fate of the empire alone, Empress Dowager. It troubles me deeply to see Your Majesty carry such weight. I only hope this new power can help lighten the load.”

A faint shift appeared in Xie Wei’s expression, something warm blooming beneath the layer of imperial decorum, like frost quietly melting under spring sun.

“You’re so considerate of my needs,” she said softly. “It truly pleases me.”

“I’ve observed Your Majesty working tirelessly day after day. Your inner meridians are clearly blocked. The shadow blood within your body isn’t flowing properly,” Shi Shanbai added. “As it happens, my Mountain Hall possesses a secret art to assist with this. It was once passed down only to our most trusted disciples, to support their cultivation.

“But now that I stand beside Your Majesty, I would never dream of keeping such things hidden. If Your Majesty would allow me to approach, I could help you clear the blockage. With this, Your Majesty may even be able to break through to fifth rank far more quickly.”

To Shi Shanbai, it was a no-brainer. He was a fourth rank martial artist; the Empress Dowager was merely sixth rank.

Offering her such a gift, how could she refuse?

Sure enough, he watched the imperial dignity melt completely from her face, replaced by a blooming radiance, a glimmer of delight. But just as quickly, it vanished again, smoothed away behind the practiced mask of royalty.

Shi Shanbai, ever graceful, stood calmly in place. Not pushy, not impatient.

His voice was gentle, filled with warmth. “I already belong to Your Majesty. It’s only right that I do everything I can to bring you comfort.”

A trace of hesitation appeared on Xie Wei’s face, just the faintest flicker, as if she were on the verge of saying yes, yet held back by something unspoken.

At last, her expression returned fully to one of serene composure. Her voice was steady as still water.

“I appreciate the kind offer.”

Shi Shanbai’s brows drew together slightly. “Does Your Majesty not trust me?”

Xie Wei slowly shook her head.

“I am, after all, a widow,” she said. “I once belonged to the late Emperor. How could I allow another man to come so close?”

Shi Shanbai smiled lightly. He had plenty of patience. He’d already seen the hesitation in the Empress Dowager’s eyes. And hesitation meant temptation. Temptation meant a crack in her defenses. And a crack, sooner or later, could be split wide open.

Of course, he wouldn’t rush. Couldn’t rush. So he offered a gentleman’s praise instead.

“Your Majesty’s principles are truly admirable. Very well. I’ll return and write the skill into a scroll. Another day, I’ll have one of my female disciples deliver it to you.”

Xie Wei rose to her feet and offered a graceful, measured bow.

“I am merely sixth rank,” she said gently. “Yet the hall master shows me such regard. I am deeply grateful.”

Her eyes sparkled with charm, then quickly gathered themselves back into composure.

Shi Shanbai smiled again but didn’t step forward. He returned her bow from a respectful distance, leaving the impression of a refined and courteous man.

Then, without another word, he turned and departed.

As he walked away, something caught his eye.

A tall, broad-shouldered palace attendant with delicate features was hurrying along the cobbled path of the inner court toward Clear Mind Hall. The man looked like an ordinary court eunuch, the kind commonly found in any corner of the palace.

Shi Shanbai’s brows twitched ever so slightly.

He didn’t stare, but he

felt

the man. Extended his senses after him, into the residence.

Nothing suspicious happened. The handsome eunuch merely delivered a few scrolls, behaved with flawless decorum, and left without incident.

But just as the man passed him on his way out, Shi Shanbai called out, “What’s your name?”

The eunuch bowed deeply. “This humble one is Chang Xin. Greetings, my lord.”

Shi Shanbai said nothing at first. Then, in a tone full of gravity and hidden meaning, he said, “Her Majesty bears heavy burdens. You attendants must serve her with utmost care. No laziness. No mistakes.”

The one called Chang Xin bowed again and promised obedience.

Only then did Shi Shanbai finally leave the palace.

˙·٠✧🐗➶➴🏹✧٠·˙

Several days later.

Deep into the night, the Clear Mind Hall was quiet.

The dignified Empress Dowager rested her head on a man’s shoulder. Her tired face had finally softened, her eyes closed in peace.

Not far away, her dark-gold phoenix robe lay in disarray, tossed carelessly onto an ornate table.

“You tell me...what should I do now?” she murmured.

The man holding her, of course, was Li Yuan.

He had come back. He had already made his move. There was no halfway with him. After a few days of silent watching and reflection, he had walked straight into Clear Mind Hall...

And now, here they were.

“Is Yu’er doing well?” Xie Wei asked softly. But it wasn’t really a question; it was a confession.

“Last winter, when the Xie Clan was slaughtered, I was so, so afraid for you. Afraid for Yu’er too. But I knew... I

knew

you’d taken her and left long before that happened.”

She let out a soft sigh. “You must’ve known it was coming, didn’t you?”

“...” Li Yuan said nothing.

A woman like the Empress Dowager didn’t need him to spell it out.

Sure enough, she didn’t press him. Instead, she whispered, “As long as you took her far away, far from this storm, from this place... Then if one day, I die...if my brother dies, my father, the entire Xie Clan here in the capital dies... If that day comes and I can still imagine you and Yu’er living safely somewhere far away... I’ll die with peace in my heart.”

She paused.

“But why did you come back? You’re strong, I know that. But the Jade Capital now...”

Li Yuan leaned in, his lips brushing her ear. In a voice only she could hear, he said, “Behind Shi Shanbai...is an envoy of the Eastern Sea’s Immortal Domain. It was this envoy who orchestrated the destruction of the Xie Clan in Bright Moon Prefecture.”

Xie Wei’s delicate frame trembled slightly. She asked, “Do you have proof?”

Li Yuan replied, “I don’t need proof.”

A flicker of realization passed through Xie Wei’s eyes. “You’re right. In this kind of game, the one with the strongest motive...is usually the one who acts. And if someone tried to frame an Immortal envoy? No one could pull it off. Not yet, anyway.”

She let out a bitter laugh, then wrapped her arms tighter around Li Yuan, her voice low and sultry. “My good senior...now that you’ve used me up, hurry up and go home.”

“I’m here to kill that envoy. If he doesn’t die, the eight provincial governors will never stop pressuring you. And if you, in pursuit of resources, fully support the merging of Yin and Yang...then he’ll use that as leverage. He’ll pressure the governors in the exact same way, force them to push forward with unification too,” Li Yuan said softly.

“ Don’t ask me why. Because if it were me, that’s exactly what I’d do.”

“Oh my, it’s a mastermind versus a mastermind now, is it?” Xie Wei couldn’t help but laugh. “He’s an envoy from the Eastern Sea’s Immortal Domain... And you? What are you? Can you at least tell me the truth? You killed my husband, and now I’m in bed with you. I think I deserve

something

.”

“I’m not any kind of Immortal. I’m not from the Eastern Sea. I’m just a blademaster, one who’s spent his life chasing the Dao of the Blade.” Li Yuan gave a wry smile. “But while passing through Ocean Province, I caught sight of Yu’er...and in that moment, I knew. I wanted to stop running. I thought maybe Bright Moon Prefecture was the place I could finally settle down.”

Right now, he was

synchronizing

the narrative. He couldn’t tell one story to Xie Yu and another to Xie Wei. What if the two sisters ever reunited? A single contradiction, and the whole thing would blow up in his face.

“Unfortunately...I strayed down a crooked path. I grew stronger, yes. But I forgot the blade. My greatest pride, my mastery with the blade, has become something I can no longer wield. I...I...” Li Yuan clutched his hair in anguish, syncing not just data, but emotional cues as well.

“Sister-in-law...I’m actually in a lot of pain.”

With that final line, the

sync

was more or less complete.

But then, he felt the Empress Dowager in his arms fall into a long, heavy silence.

A moment later, she pulled him into a tight embrace and murmured, “I’m in pain too. If I could go back... I don’t even know if I’d choose to sit on this damned throne.”

“Gucheng,” she whispered, “don’t talk to me like a Son of Heaven. Use another name.”

“...” Li Yuan fell silent.

Sister-in-law, you are so not pure.

Compared to her, Xie Yu really was a delicate flower raised in a greenhouse.

Xie Wei’s voice was soft, barely audible. “Gucheng...the late Emperor is dead. He’s dead. Let him stay dead, all right?”

“You...you...”

“Ah...I know it’s wrong. I

know

this isn’t right. But just once. Just this once...all right?” The Empress Dowager, dignified and revered, pleaded like a sorrowful lover.

Much later, after the intimacy and the ache and the silence, the two began to speak again in hushed tones.

Not pillow talk—but quiet, ruthless scheming.

They whispered their desires.

They plotted without words.

They sowed the seeds of bloodshed in the stillness of night.

Waiting for those seeds to bloom.