Chapter Twelve: The Great Harvest of Points

“Ha! Thank you for your kindness, Your Majesty, but I, Gu Santong, am a man of my word. Years ago, I lost to Zhu Wushi in a duel by a single move. Though I was unwilling, defeat is defeat! I still have a measure of integrity. I promised him I would spend my life in this prison; even if he himself came to set me free, I would not leave!”

Yet beneath his hearty laughter, there was an underlying sense of loss. Whether he truly could not let go of his defeat, or of the woman in his heart, or perhaps his extraordinary abilities, was unclear.

Zhengde smiled faintly at the corner of his mouth. “Gu Santong, what if I told you I have evidence regarding the wrongful massacre of the one hundred and seven martial masters? Aren’t you curious how my royal uncle caught up to you in such a short time? He mastered the Art of Absorbing Energy! If you are willing to serve me, I can not only clear your name, but also grant you whatever else you desire—wealth, fame. Do you really intend to spend your life in this prison? Do you not wish to see Su Xin again, to reunite your family of three? Do you want your skills and bloodline to simply fade into oblivion?”

Each question from Zhengde struck at Gu Santong’s heart. Decades spent in the prison had matured his outlook considerably.

He glanced at Cheng Shifei, who knelt with his head pressed to the ground, and recalled Zhu Wushi’s words from years ago.

“So be it! For my son, for Su Xin, what’s one broken promise from Gu Santong?”

The next moment, a clattering sound echoed as iron chains were shattered and hurled against the wall. Gu Santong, holding Cheng Shifei, approached the cell door. “Your Majesty, please step aside. I will open the door now.”

A look of joy flashed across Zhengde’s face, and he quickly retreated over ten meters before stopping.

Gu Santong unleashed his inner force with his right hand, and the iron bars snapped. Fragments embedded themselves in the opposite wall.

He walked up to Zhengde, set Cheng Shifei down, and cupped his hands in salute. “Commoner Gu Santong, pays respect to Your Majesty!”

He nudged Cheng Shifei with his foot. “Get up and salute His Majesty!”

Cheng Shifei hurried to his feet, grinned at Zhengde, and declared, “Commoner Cheng Shifei, pays respect to Your Majesty. Long live the Emperor!”

Gu Santong grimaced and kicked him again. “Shameful!”

Zhengde waved his hand. “Enough. He was merely a street urchin before; such behavior is expected. In time, you will have ample opportunity to teach him properly. Let us leave now!” With that, he turned and strode toward the prison exit.

Meanwhile, Guihai Yidao’s hand unconsciously gripped his sword hilt.

Zhu Wushi glanced at him. “Yidao, steady yourself. What’s done is done. Knowing the truth now is not too late. Your mother kept this secret for so long because she feared you couldn’t accept it. You are no longer the child you once were.”

Sun Meng also smiled. “The Divine Constable is right! At least this outcome is easier to accept, isn’t it? I believe that with honest communication, your mother’s heart can be eased. And knowing now is better than encountering troubles with your swordsmanship later.”

He looked to Zhu Wushi. “Divine Constable, I have news that may interest you.”

Zhu Wushi sipped his tea. “What news? Is it worth the spectacle you, the great tycoon, have orchestrated?”

He narrowed his eyes; so far, he had yet to discern Sun Meng’s true motive, which unsettled him.

“Haha, Divine Constable. I’ve uncovered clues about the Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom.”

As Sun Meng spoke, his hand rested on the table, beside his teacup. Though he knew it was futile—at such close range, if Zhu Wushi wanted his life, even the Four Ghosts of Xiangxi couldn’t save him.

But Zhu Wushi merely smiled. “With your abilities, you must know I’ve been searching for the Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom, and so has Cao Zhengchun. So, what are you suggesting? Do you know the whereabouts of the third cardamom?”

He drank another sip.

Sun Meng replied directly, “The three cardamoms were all offerings to the late emperor. The late emperor gifted one to the current empress dowager, which is now in Cao Zhengchun’s possession. If the remaining one was truly given away, the most likely place is within the imperial harem.”

Zhu Wushi’s hand paused. “Why are you so certain? After my father’s passing, a significant event occurred. I don’t believe you’re unaware.”

Sun Meng smiled; a day’s time had allowed him to organize Shen Wansan’s memories, so he was familiar with the event Zhu Wushi referenced.

“The Divine Constable refers to the rumor of the false crown prince? Though the gossip was convincing at the time, falsehoods remain false, no? Otherwise, neither you nor the Eastern Depot would have spared the prince.”

Zhu Wushi smiled. “How do you know it was false? Even I can’t be sure, for only the current emperor knows the truth. But he doesn’t know the whereabouts of the third cardamom either, which is why there have been no definitive clues all these years.”

He set aside his teacup. “I don’t care why you want these secret manuals, but if you truly have an accurate lead on the cardamom, you must tell me! Yidao, let’s return!” With that, he rose and departed.

At that moment, Sun Meng received a system prompt: “Changed Gu Santong’s fate, gained 500 points.”

A smile played on Sun Meng’s lips. It seemed Emperor Zhengde had succeeded!

Back at the manor, Zhu Wushi sent Guihai Yidao to question his mother about the past, while he himself entered a secret chamber. Gazing at the woman on the icy jade bed, as if asleep, he allowed himself a rare gentle smile.

“Su Xin, I will find the third Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom soon. I will also seize the one in Cao Zhengchun’s possession, and bring you back to life!”

Elsewhere, in a study, Zhengde watched Gu Santong and his son, now cleaned and well-fed. “Gu Santong, if you and my royal uncle joined forces, could you defeat Cao Zhengchun?” The reason he’d maintained a low profile was precisely because of Cao Zhengchun’s formidable power, which was centered on the man himself. If Cao Zhengchun were removed, Zhengde’s own influence could swiftly restructure the court. Previously, he’d mediated the surface conflicts between Dragon Guard Manor and the Eastern Depot, mainly to prevent Zhu Wushi from gaining further renown.

His royal uncle surpassed him in both martial prowess and cunning, limited only by his birth. But if his reputation ever exceeded Zhengde’s, that limitation would mean little, for royal blood remained royal blood.

Now, with Gu Santong as a powerful asset, some plans could finally be set in motion.

Five days passed in the blink of an eye, during which a major incident occurred. The envoy and princess from Izumo were killed, the impersonators were from Fusang.

Though the matter was resolved quickly, it tarnished the Ming Dynasty’s reputation. Meanwhile, Sun Meng, at home, frowned at the system’s prompt after finishing his cultivation.

He had reached the peak of postnatal cultivation; the next step was to break through the innate barrier. It wasn’t that he couldn’t break through, but rather that he couldn’t do so here. He had also realized the Dragon Guard Manor was secretly monitoring him; leaving the city without alerting Zhu Wushi would be difficult.

He glanced at the points rewarded after the Izumo incident, narrowing his eyes. It was time for some maneuvering.

A day later, both Cao Zhengchun and Zhu Wushi received precise news: the third Heavenly Fragrant Cardamom had appeared!

Three elite agents from Dragon Guard Manor, along with Zhu Wushi himself, confronted Cao Zhengchun. Both sides deployed every means, and ultimately it came down to a direct duel.

Three days later, two messages swept across Ming: Cao Zhengchun was dead, and Zhu Wushi was sealed away in Meilong Town, Jiangnan, forbidden to return to the capital for life.

Meanwhile, Dragon Guard Manor gained a new administrator, filling the position of Yellow-ranked agent.

Listening to his subordinates’ report that the emperor planned to campaign against Fusang, and seeing the new system task, Sun Meng smiled.

He had gained eight thousand points, a tremendous windfall. With only three days until the next main quest began, he had no reason to remain. After all, his identity as Wan Sanqian was now known to Zhengde, and he had handed over Wan Sanqian’s network of contacts to him; staying longer would yield little.

A day later, the system announced, “Breakthrough to Stage Two, changed Wan Sanqian’s fate, gained two thousand points.”

Sun Meng raised his eyebrows. “An unexpected bonus. Still, it’s time to return.”