Tome of Troubled Times

Chapter 244: The First True Meeting

Jin Nine, accompanied by the coquettish dealer with a mischievous smile, swiftly left and casually closed the door behind them as they wished for Zhao Changhe’s well-being.

Meanwhile, Zhao Changhe looked helplessly at Vermillion Bird. She was glaring at him with her hands on her hips, and he could not fathom what had her so worked up.

“Why are you glaring at me?” Zhao Changhe finally spoke up. “I’m all wet and need to take a bath. Will you join me?”

As soon as the words left his mouth, he pursed his lips, realizing that perhaps such advances were not appropriate given her status.

Vermillion Bird, however, did not seem to mind his advances. Instead, she retorted, “What? Are you disappointed to see me? Were you really looking forward to having that scantily clad wench help you bathe?”

Zhao Changhe shrugged. “Yeah, since you won’t join me, can’t I find someone else who will?”

Vermillion Bird crossed her arms, sneering. “Is that all that’s on your mind? With such a one-track mind, do you really think you’re fit to swagger around and act all arrogant and brazen?”

“Well, I’ve already said to Venerable Vermillion Bird that since your cult venerates the four idols, why go against the harmony of the two polarities? Your venerable might think me too lowly to discuss such matters with her, but that does not change my opinion on the matter. I’m even pondering if the emperor’s missteps might be because he’s been abstaining from women. Look at how he used to be the greatest when he and the empress were happily producing heirs. Now, with his celibacy, he’s completely different, is he not?”

“What nonsense. Xia Longyuan is definitely engaged in a secret struggle with some mysterious forces...”

Zhao Changhe gave her a sidelong glance. “You seem to know a lot. Even organizations specialized in intelligence don’t know as much as you do.”

Vermillion Bird said angrily, “This is not the place to talk. We don’t know if there are any eavesdroppers here. Stop with your nonsense. Why did you choose to stay in this place for no reason?”

Zhao Changhe said casually, “Because this place is actually safer, even safer than the Huangfu residence.”

Vermillion Bird asked curiously, “Why is that?”

“For example, just now, I received a summons to the palace supposedly coming from the empress. However, it’s possible that the empress did not in fact summon me at all. I’m highly suspicious that the imperial noble consort wants to kill me. With that in mind, why would I willingly walk into a possible trap like the Huangfu Clan?”

So he is aware... Vermillion Bird sneered, “Why would the imperial noble consort want to kill you? What would her motive even be?”

“Eh? Isn’t this obvious? I even suspect that she killed the crown prince, so what would be strange about her wanting to kill me?”

“Right, right.”

“When I entered the city and went to Huangfu Shaozong’s place, it was originally just to approach the military. At that time, I had no idea that he had the imperial noble consort behind him. If I had known, I never would’ve even thought of staying there. Moreover, First Seat Tang is upright and loyal to the nation. When I saw the imperial noble consort and First Seat Tang having such a fierce confrontation, it made her look like a classic villainous concubine in my eyes. What if she really wants to kill me...”

“Then go and die!” Vermillion Bird was furious, but she could not tear into him here. She grabbed his collar angrily and said, “I have a place here too. Just stay with me. Stop wandering around like a stray dog.”

Zhao Changhe blinked innocently. “But I didn’t know where you were until now.”

“Well now you do!” Vermillion Bird dragged him out of the room. “Come with me!”

“Wait, I haven’t bathed yet...”

“I bet you just want to ogle at that pretty female dealer!”

Their voices faded into the distance as they argued, leaving Jin Nine to emerge from the adjacent room, hands clasped, looking extremely perplexed, “Is that really the Fire Serpent of Yi?”

“Look at her ceremonial robe, it’s of a status a notch lower than Vermillion Bird’s, so it can’t be her.”

“Well, that’s a relief. If someone told me that it was Vermillion Bird who just grabbed a young man by the collar and dragged him out, I’d feel as if the world ended.”

“Is it really that unbelievable...”

“What do you know?! The fifth lord once tried to pursue Vermillion Bird, and she flew into a rage and nearly beat him up. I got caught in the crossfire that time, and I’ve still got burns on my arm from back then.”

“Uh, why haven’t we heard about this before?”

“No shit you didn’t, the fifth lord’s face pretty much got dragged through the mud back then, so why would we casually talk about it?”

“But you just did...”

“It’s different now. The fifth lord has long severed his affection for her. Otherwise, he would not have been able to break through the third layer of the Profound Mysteries. If he had not, we would not be talking about this right now. Anyway, we don’t have any connection with the Four Idols Cult, we can’t even say that there’s a grudge between us. We’re just strangers to one another.”

“I see. Some people speculate that the imperial noble consort might be Vermillion Bird...”

“Only fools would think that. Vermillion Bird is too proud and aggressive, she would not go after men like White Tiger did back then,” said Jin Nine. But then a hint of uncertainty crept into his tone, “But then again, you never know. If she had other motives besides getting close to men... Vermillion Bird is a fanatical follower of the demonic path, her mindset is different from ordinary people. She probably would only care for the reputation as Vermillion Bird rather than that of the imperial noble consort. She would probably have no problem tarnishing other identities besides her identity as Vermillion Bird.”

The subordinate was left speechless. You’ve already said everything there is to say; what am I supposed to add to that? “So how should we record this matter?”

“This will be information exclusive to us: Zhao Changhe is having an affair with the Fire Serpent of Yi of the Four Idols Cult, and they’re even indulging in debauchery together. It is also suspected that Venerable Vermillion Bird may have replaced the White Tiger Saintess with the Fire Serpent of Yi. From this, a stronger connection is possible between Zhao Changhe and the Four Idols Cult. Hmm... This matter must be reported to the fifth lord. He’ll find it very interesting.”

“Why would the fifth lord be interested in this kind of thing?”

“He will be interested in why Vermillion Bird made such a choice.”

*

There was an inner lake in the capital called the Seven-Li Pond. It was a place where officials and wealthy people sought respite and enjoyed the scenery.

There were pavilions around the lake, and Zhao Changhe was dragged into one. Along the way, he sensed many fluctuations bearing the flavor of the Four Idols Cult’s cultivation techniques. It seemed that the surrounding servants were all elites.

However, he did not have the chance to observe them closely as he was swiftly dragged to a lakeside residence by Vermillion Bird. One side of the house faced the lake, offering a beautiful view of the rain hitting the lake’s surface.

Inside the house, a tub filled with hot water had already been prepared, and steam could even be seen rising from it. A group of curious maidservants stared at Zhao Changhe with interest.

Vermillion Bird waved her hand, “You may all leave.”

“Yes,” The maids covered their mouths and giggled, then they all left with smiles on their faces.

These maids seemed quite different from those seen in the Cui and Tang Clans. They seemed... coquettish, maybe even a bit devilish.

It seemed that this place was a residence openly used by the Four Idols Cult to host its allies. On the surface, it likely had no connection with the imperial family or the Huangfu Clan. It probably truly belonged to Vermillion Bird herself.

Thinking about it, it was actually quite understandable. With her status as the imperial noble consort and the daughter of the Marquis of Jingyuan, it would only be too easy for her to make use of her power and influence in the capital. Zhao Changhe now felt that the regular forces of the Four Idols Cult might have already taken shape secretly. The grand plan they weaved in the court and among the people far surpassed that of the Maitreya Cult. It looked like they really were just waiting for Xia Longyuan to perish before sweeping across the world and taking it for themselves.

Now that I think about it, why would Vermillion Bird send such an important young lady from their cult to stick to me? Did she make a mistake? Did she think that because the Fire Serpent is the imperial noble consort, there wouldn’t be a problem?

While he was in thought, Vermillion Bird, with her arms crossed, spoke coldly, “What are you thinking about, touching your chin like that again and again? The way you look when you’re deep in thought is really annoying.”

Zhao Changhe said helplessly, “Don’t you know that it’s good to use your brain, Big Sis Piggy?”

Underneath her mask, Vermillion Bird’s eyebrows twitched. “What did you just call me?”

“I’m just trying to get closer to you...”

“Stop spouting nonsense,” Vermillion Bird said. “We can speak freely here. Tell me seriously, what do you think of the empress and the imperial noble consort? There’s no need to pretend here. I want to hear your honest thoughts.”

Zhao Changhe smiled apologetically and said, “As soon as I saw her at the Huangfu Clan, I felt that the imperial noble consort was incredibly beautiful. I even got distracted and ended up staring at her a bit too long...”

A smile formed on Vermillion Bird’s lips. “So, do you actually think that the imperial noble consort wants to kill you?”

“I’m certain that Empress Wang wants to kill me. Whether that old eunuch is under her or not, there’s already no turning back when it comes to my relationship with the Wang Clan. I don’t need to consider anything else, just one thing—any enemy of the empress is my friend, so the imperial noble consort is also my friend.”

Vermillion Bird thought to herself: That might not necessarily be the case. I really wanted to kill you two months ago. Who told you that the enemy of your enemy is your friend? The empress and I aren’t vying for favor, so whoever her enemies are have nothing to do with me.

But hearing Zhao Changhe say that, she was quite satisfied. “Then which faction do you think the eunuch belongs to?”

“He probably is really under the empress. Since others will likely suspect that he was sent out by the imperial noble consort to frame the empress, so the empress just needs to send someone out to directly remove suspicion on herself and it will almost seem certain to others that the eunuch is one of the imperial noble consort’s underlings. She’s taking advantage of others’ smarts. There’s no need to overly complicate many things. Generally, the simplest answer is actually the correct answer.”

Vermillion Bird gave him a sidelong glance, “Interesting, what else?”

Zhao Changhe also gave her a sidelong glance. He was unsure of what to say for a moment. I don’t even dare to tease you now. What do you want me to say?

Their thoughts couldn’t be clearer to one another.

When Vermillion Bird went back to the Huangfu Clan, she had no idea that Zhao Changhe was there, so she did not even change her voice or scent. Actually, even if she had known, it would have been strange for her to inexplicably change her tone in front of her younger brother. Facing someone like Zhao Changhe, who seemed rough on the surface but was actually quite perceptive, the Fire Serpent of Yi and the pig mask were just decorations. She knew that he had probably already figured out who she was.

He had just made up some reasons to make it seem as if it was natural for him to believe that the imperial noble consort was not out to harm him, but in reality, they were just that, made-up reasons. The only reason he could be certain of it was that he knew she was the imperial noble consort, and he trusted her.

For some reason, Vermillion Bird felt an inexplicable sense of shame when he found out her identity. That was why she had inexplicably gotten angry just now. She had been disgusted by his smug, analytical look.

This meant that her identity had been uncovered now, and it would be difficult for her to just have the Fire Serpent of Yi disappear or die. After all, the imperial noble consort could not just do so.

She now had no idea how she would end this farce.

She was unsure whether her identity as Vermillion Bird was still secret, but she could be sure that her identities as the imperial noble consort, the Fire Serpent of Yi, and Huangfu Qing had become known to him. At the end of the day, though, she was fine with these identities being tarnished to any extent, as long as her identity as Vermillion Bird remained hidden.

Thinking of this, she finally softened a bit and said softly, “There’s no need to continue acting if you’ve already figured it out. There’s no one else here.”

Zhao Changhe finally said, “Then... Can I cash in on that bet that’s a month late?”

Vermillion Bird looked at him intently for a while before slowly removing her pig mask.

This might be the first time Vermillion Bird and Zhao Changhe had truly met.

Zhao Changhe’s heart could not help but skip a beat.

Why had Tang Wanzhuang looked like she was facing a great enemy and scolded him for staring at the imperial noble consort too much?

Because she was truly too beautiful.

When the hostility faded from between her eyebrows, all that was left was a blazing flame in the wind, and a heroic demeanor similar to that of Yue Hongling.

She was the noble daughter of a marquis, a noble concubine of the inner palace, and the leader of a cult. She exuded a calm demeanor and majesty, and she held some amusement in her eyes similar to that of an older sister looking at their younger brother, similar to when Tang Wanzhuang looked at him.

She also had a charm to her, as if a hint of Chichi had been added to her, the version of Chichi back then during the beginning of summer.

That might not even be enough to explain her appearance... There’s also a touch of mystique to her, similar to a god looking down from the distance, similar to the blind woman.

Zhao Changhe could not take his eyes off her. He could hardly imagine how so many different qualities could blend perfectly into one person. Can she really just be one of the Twenty-Eight Mansions?