Chapter 133: Fire of the Divine Palace (Part Two)

In the early morning, at the卯 (Mao) hour, the newly minted Imperial Bodyguard Aide, Quan Ce, took his post at the sentry station of the Wonders of Creation Palace and began his duty.

His immediate superior, General of the Eastern Capital Imperial Bodyguards Hou Sizhi, came to the Wonders of Creation Palace to inspect the guards. He paced back and forth in front of Quan Ce countless times, his constant swaying dizzying Quan Ce to the point of utter intolerance. Taking advantage of a sharp turn Hou Sizhi made, Quan Ce suddenly thrust out a leg and tripped him.

Hou Sizhi tripped over his own feet, stumbling forward several steps before halting his momentum. He twitched the corner of his mouth, turned back, and punched Quan Ce lightly on the shoulder. "When you go off duty, report to the camp for training. Once you're done, come to my house; your sister-in-law wants to invite you to dinner."

Quan Ce stood as steady as a rock, rolled his eyes twice to indicate he understood.

Hou Sizhi laughed heartily and departed. Having successfully scrambled ashore from the treacherous waters of the Lijing Gate, his mood was noticeably much better.

Under normal circumstances, the Wonders of Creation Palace was merely for show. Apart from the palace maids and eunuchs who swept and cleaned, human footprints were rarely seen here. Yet the guarding specifications were exceptionally high: alongside Quan Ce, there were three other Imperial Bodyguard Aides, six left and right guards-in-waiting, and another twelve bodyguards—a full twenty-two men in total. Coupled with the Uniformed Guard stationed outside the Ganyuan Gate, this decorative establishment boasted a garrison force of over a hundred.

Even as they spoke of how rare human visitors were, Shangguan Wan'er arrived accompanied by a little palace maid. By now, it was nearly midday, and Quan Ce's shift was approaching the time for relief and meals.

"Dalang, this was bestowed by Her Majesty. Eat it while it's fresh." Shangguan Wan'er retrieved a porcelain bowl from the lacquer tray held by the little palace maid; inside was a serving of almond and mutton broth.

"Your subject expresses gratitude for Her Majesty's heavenly grace." Quan Ce bowed toward the north, lifted the mutton broth with both hands, and wolfed it down in large gulps. In no time at all, he licked the bowl clean and handed the porcelain vessel back. "Sorry to trouble you, Lady Draftsman."

Shangguan Wan'er pursed her lips into a smile, her eyes shifting with overflowing charm. As she took back the porcelain bowl, her slender fingers traced a lingering circle across the back of Quan Ce's hand, stroking every inch from his knuckles right down to his fingertips.

A tingling warmth rushed through Quan Ce's limbs, and a surge of heat pooled in his lower abdomen. Hastily releasing his grip, he averted his face. The suddenly ripened Shangguan Wan'er made his heart flutter with a sense of trepidation.

"Chuckle." Shangguan Wan'er let out a soft laugh and lowered her voice. "Wan'er's eyes have grown weary of gazing down the spring waters in Sigong Lane; when will Dalang come to pluck the zither and strum the lute?"

True to being a talented woman, a mere sentence left one's thoughts wandering in wild disarray. Quan Ce gathered his wits and responded with a foolish grin, watching her face bloom like peach blossoms, her skin as tender and white as water, her thin cherry lips radiantly rosy, and her rising and falling bosom captivating the soul. Her graceful allure had already begun to blossom.

At the thought of the spring winds and autumn rains at that residence in Sigong Lane, the trace of romantic fantasy that had just arisen instantly vanished without a trace. The fairy had already descended into the mortal world; the days of quiet companionship and pure affection would probably never return. A nameless melancholy washed over him, and Quan Ce blurted out a soft recitation, "At the time, we only thought it was ordinary."

Shangguan Wan'er's alluring aura was instantly shrouded in desolation. Tears the size of beans fell in a patter, and she hurriedly raised her wide sleeves to wipe them away, speaking to cover her embarrassment, "This winter is just so hard to endure, the wind is too fierce. Fortunately, the Spring Festival is only a few days away. You bodyguards suffer through the wind and sun, which is truly hard work. The Directorate of Palace Food has newly produced a batch of spring pancakes, so Wan'er took it upon herself to distribute some to you all. I hope you won't disdain them."

"Many thanks, Lady Draftsman," everyone bowed in unison to express their gratitude. Quan Ce had already adjusted his mood and expression, appearing as calm as usual.

Shangguan Wan'er glanced at him once more, swaying her slender waist as she gracefully departed.

In the blink of an eye, it was time to go off duty. Quan Ce led the men to the Xuanren Lane garrison, where they shared a meal from the same pot and rested for half an hour before afternoon drills and training commenced.

"Dalang, you've been wandering outside for so long, let's see if you can still handle this!" Han Zhai shook his head self-importantly, exuding an air of overwhelming superiority.

Quan Ce let out a light snort of dissatisfaction. Having left the Eastern Capital Imperial Bodyguards for nearly two years, aside from the scale having doubled twice over and the numbers being somewhat larger, the subjects and requirements of the training drills remained completely unchanged. Both Zheng Zhong and Hou Sizhi, as successive commanders, were adequate at preserving the status quo, but lacked the vision for expansion.

Changing into the specialized training attire of the Eastern Capital Imperial Bodyguards, the moment Quan Ce charged onto the drill field, his demeanor underwent a drastic transformation. Not a shred of gentleness or refinement remained; he looked precisely like a young wolf cub, leaving Wang Hui—also an Imperial Bodyguard Aide—gaping in astonishment. "I used to hear that Dalang marched east and campaigned north, crushing all before him with an invincible vanguard, and often found it hard to believe. Seeing you today, the renown of Dalang's dual mastery of the literary and martial arts is truly no empty boast."

After completing a full cycle of rigorous training, although Quan Ce failed to seize the top spot, he still placed near the front. Though he was breathing heavily, it did not hinder his movements. After bathing and changing clothes, he entrusted Wang Hui with a message to take back to the estate, "Cousin, tell Mother that I have a banquet this evening and will return late. I won't be having dinner at home."

Accustomed to not training quite as hard as Quan Ce, Wang Hui lay sprawled across the training field, trading massages with Han Zhai to loosen up his muscles. "Dalang go ahead; I was just about to pay my respects to my aunt anyway, and Father and Mother are going too."

With the two estates in constant interaction, Quan Ce thought nothing of it. Upon arriving at Hou Sizhi's residence, the general's senior servant was waiting in the porter's lodge. Catching sight of Quan Ce, the servant trotted over eagerly and escorted him into the inner courtyard.

This meal carried the feel of a family banquet, with only Hou Sizhi and his wife accompanying Quan Ce. The dishes on the table were nothing extravagant, mostly home-cooked fare. Madam Hou possessed a heart as exquisite as a hollow bamboo, and the menu featured mostly dishes from the Guanzhong region, yet prepared lightly—very much to Quan Ce's palate.

Over the course of the meal, wine cups were exchanged. Madam Hou was as tranquil as a chrysanthemum, speaking little, only pouring wine and serving food for the "brothers" from the side.

"Worthly younger brother, thanks largely to your help, I was able to escape that quagmire and avoid a life of licking blood from the edge of a blade. When you entered the Plum Blossom Inner Guards some time ago, this brother's heart was truly tormented, believing there was some predestined fate—you saved me, only to plunge yourself in. Seeing you become an imperial bodyguard today fills my heart with boundless joy, boundless joy, hahaha..." After three rounds of drinks, Hou Sizhi's eyes grew hazy with alcohol as he pulled Quan Ce aside to speak from the heart.

Quan Ce listened patiently, which finally cleared up a mystery: the person who had sent him the warning message—"Snooping in the Bureau of historiography brings hidden treachery, concealing things at home brings hidden disaster"—on the streets of Luoyang that day had indeed been arranged by Hou Sizhi's trusted confidants from the Lijing Gate.

Seeing that Hou Sizhi had reached his limit with alcohol, Quan Ce decided to see him through to the end. "Brother Hou is being far too polite. Come, let's drain this cup."

"Clink." Glasses touched, and Hou Sizhi reflexively drained his cup in one go, crashing heavily to the floor.

Madam Hou arranged for maidservants to help him away, poured Quan Ce another cup of wine, and lifted her own cup. Her eyelashes fluttered as if they could speak. "Younger uncle, I too toast you. Not for anything else, but for those lines: 'For her I grow haggard, and think it not rue.' Surveying the past and present, the one who can wield words and capture people's hearts is none other than you."

The alcohol surged to Quan Ce's head, leaving him in a daze for a moment. Only after a long while did he remember he also held the identity of a great talent—having wallowed in bloodshed for so long, he had almost forgotten it entirely. He smiled bitterly, repeatedly declining the praise, and drank his cup dry.

"Is younger uncle doing well? Would you like to stay the night at the estate?" Madam Hou supported him as he rose, pressing him hospitably to stay.

Quan Ce shook his head repeatedly, summoning Juedi and Shatuo Fu. Riding horses was out of the question, so he borrowed a carriage from the Hou residence for transportation.

Upon returning to the estate, Fuqu attended to him with a bowl of hangover soup, which eased his stomach somewhat.

Fuqu wiped down his body, helped him change into light clothing, cradled Quan Ce's head in her arms, and chattered softly, "Today, Uncle Wang and Cousin came by, saying they wanted to borrow money. The sum seemed exceptionally large, but Princess Mother prevaricated and didn't agree... Uncle Wang even called Chisu over and asked how those firecrackers from the other day were made, but Chisu couldn't give a clear explanation either..."

Hearing these few sentences through his hazy state, Quan Ce gave a violent start and bolted upright, the bellyful of wine instantly turning into a cold sweat.

Wang Xu, what is he up to now?