Chapter 7: The Return of the Nation-Stabilizing Sword

Outside the Hall of Sincerity, the scorching midday sun baked the earth, creating a stifling heat.

Ren Ye hurried out of the hall, glancing around before preparing to chase after the princess consort’s departing carriage.

Unexpectedly, the maidservant Lian’er, waiting at the foot of the steps, spoke first: “Your Highness, the princess consort has left a message for you. She requests that you bathe and dress formally tonight at the hour of the Dog (7–9 PM) and visit her chambers for a discussion.” [Chinese zodiac]

Ren Ye froze momentarily, raising his head to watch Xu Qingzhao’s distant carriage as thoughts swirled in his mind.

Moments earlier, he had intended to catch up with Xu Qingzhao to have a proper conversation with this enigmatic “wife.”

Her behavior during the court session had been far too unusual, utterly out of character for the “silent ascetic” image he remembered.

For Ren Ye, though, whether her actions were an attempt to manipulate him or a calculated plan to use him as a pawn, it was a positive development.

After all, he currently had no allies. Being used by someone at least meant he still held value, and things couldn’t get much worse.

Moreover, something so unusual surely held hidden motives. Ren Ye had briefly wondered if Xu Qingzhao might be another player. Her sudden “assistance” could be tied to a task of her own.

If that were the case, it further indicated that she had no desire to see him fail. Engaging with her posed no immediate risk.

Most importantly, she had just “helped” him. Initiating a conversation wouldn’t seem overly abrupt.

But who would have expected that she wanted to meet him as well? He chuckled to himself. This arrangement was even better—it showed her willingness to take the lead. He could feign ignorance during the meeting and let her make the first move.

After pondering briefly, Ren Ye turned back to Lian’er and asked, “Did she say anything else?”

“The princess consort gave no other instructions,” Lian’er replied, blinking before adding, “However, Xue’er specifically reminded me to tell Your Highness to ensure you bathe and dress formally before the meeting.”

At these words, the eunuchs and maids around them exchanged knowing, gossip-filled glances.

What? Insisting I bathe and dress formally? Could she actually be interested in improving our marital relationship?

Fine. It’s been over three years since I’ve had the chance, but I still have my foundation, and techniques have only improved…

A sudden clamor of heavy footsteps interrupted Ren Ye’s wandering thoughts.

“Your Highness!!! Commander Wang was wrongfully killed! Please issue an order, and I shall decapitate Chief Historian Li Yan myself!”

A burly young man in a white mang robe and black crown stormed over, collapsing into a kneeling position before bursting into tears without warning.

Ren Ye immediately recognized the man. His real name was Hong Jiadi, nicknamed “Second Fool.” He was a captain under Wang Jingzhong in the Royal Guard.

Within Prince Huai’s estate, aside from Wang Jingzhong and the trusted eunuchs and maids around him, this “Second Fool” was the only other person Ren Ye could rely on.

Second Fool hailed from the southern borderlands and was a martial prodigy. At the age of six, he was brought to the estate by the previous prince and excelled in wielding a single blade with extraordinary speed. His bravery and strength were unmatched. He had grown up alongside Zhu Zigui, forming a master-servant bond that was almost unnervingly close.

In Zhu Zigui’s memories, Second Fool was the kind of loyal dog who could never betray him.

Even as a child, Second Fool had two go-to phrases:

“Your Highness, who do we cut down?”

“Your Highness, where are we bullying people today?”

After the previous prince’s death, Zhu Zigui assigned Second Fool to the Royal Guard, intending to have him secretly rally troops and gather strength.

“Although Wang Jingzhong died wrongfully, Chief Li’s remonstrations are part of his duty. Do not speak recklessly,” Ren Ye said, eyeing this loyal simpleton. “Stand up and speak properly.”

“It was that dog Li Yan’s doing! If Your Highness cannot act directly, I can first kidnap his wife and sell her to the southern barbarians’ camp to serve the soldiers! Or perhaps take his eldest son and make him a brothel keeper!” Second Fool gritted his teeth and viciously suggested. “I can handle it discreetly, and no word will get out.”

“…!”

Ren Ye was speechless for a moment, his mind almost collapsing. Oh, Zhu Zigui, Zhu Zigui, just look at the kind of people you’ve surrounded yourself with. Eunuchs, maids, and crude hotheads—what a brilliant selection.

“Prepare the carriage for the Hall of Tranquility,” Ren Ye said, striding forward.

The Hall of Tranquility was situated within the prince’s rear chambers and served as the previous prince’s workspace, akin to the emperor’s imperial study.

As the carriage trundled along, Ren Ye considered how to extricate himself from his current passive position, while Second Fool continued to sob uncontrollably.

Clearly, despite his straightforward nature, Second Fool was deeply sentimental, having shared a strong bond with Wang Jingzhong.

Upon reaching the hall’s ancient yet refined architecture, Ren Ye strode through the dim corridor and stopped at the main entrance. “Lian’er, wait here with the others. Second Fool, come with me.”

“Understood,” Lian’er replied.

Ren Ye turned to Second Fool, who was still sniffling. The sight nearly broke his composure. “Stop crying already. Get in here.”

Second Fool, looking aggrieved, pushed open the hall’s doors and followed Ren Ye inside.

Once the doors shut, Ren Ye casually surveyed the surroundings. While clean and orderly, the hall exuded a peculiar, chilly aura that sent shivers down his spine.

In Zhu Zigui’s memories, after the previous prince’s death, Zhu Zigui had completely given up and stopped involving himself in the estate’s affairs, almost never stepping foot in the Hall of Tranquility.

Ren Ye scanned the area and instructed, “Help me search the place.”

Second Fool wiped his tear-streaked face. “Search for what?”

“A secret edict from the late emperor,” Ren Ye replied with a frown. “Turn over anything that can be turned over.”

The second task given by the Stellar Scar Gate was to find a way to restore the divine abilities of the imperial brush. The clue to this task pointed to a secret edict, and Ren Ye’s first thought was the Hall of Tranquility, where the previous prince often stayed.

“Understood,” Second Fool nodded.

The two divided their tasks clearly. Ren Ye searched the desk and bookshelves, while Second Fool rummaged through the area where the former prince rested and drank tea. All the while, Second Fool couldn’t stop sobbing.

Initially, Ren Ye didn’t want to bother with him, but considering this was the only subordinate with exceptional combat prowess, some cultivation of him was necessary. As he sifted through the bookshelves, he asked softly, “Are you grieving deeply over Wang Jingzhong’s death?”

“Of course! Apart from the late Prince and Your Highness, only Uncle Wang treated me like his own…” Second Fool wailed, his eyes swollen.

“Do you know what I’m feeling right now?” Ren Ye muttered as he flipped through various old and dusty official documents, his head buzzing.

Second Fool pondered for a moment but ultimately shook his head.

“Besides the emotional aspect, he was also my right-hand man,” Ren Ye said flatly. “When it comes to sorrow and heartbreak, can yours compare to mine?”

Second Fool fell silent.

“Today’s shame will be repaid tomorrow; if not tomorrow, then in three years, five years,” Ren Ye said, frowning. “But for revenge to be possible, we must first survive. If you genuinely send Chief Historian Li’s legitimate wife to tend to the warhorses, do you think you’d live much longer? Remember, harshness spoken aloud is not true harshness; the kind kept in your heart is.”

Second Fool was dumbfounded for a long time before blurting out, “Your Highness… you… you’ve never spoken like this before!”

“Just consider the old me dead.” Finding nothing in the bookshelves, Ren Ye knelt on the ground and started searching under the desk. “Let me ask you this: you’ve been in the Royal Guard for some time. If a great upheaval were to happen in the palace today, how many would obey your orders?”

Second Fool thought seriously before replying, “The Royal Guard’s situation is complicated. When Uncle Wang was here, I had some confidence…”

“Skip the preamble and get to the point,” Ren Ye interjected, rolling his eyes.

“I do have close ties with some flag officers in the Royal Guard…” Second Fool began choosing his words carefully.

“Stop wasting time! Just tell me how many people would actually follow you after two years of infiltration!”

“Uh… I can only guarantee one person will completely obey me,” Second Fool bent his back slightly.

“Just one? A bigwig?” Ren Ye frowned. “Who is it? The Deputy Commander?”

“Only myself. I can fully follow my own orders,” Second Fool admitted truthfully.

“Fuck your mother!” Ren Ye couldn’t help but swear.

“Your Highness, why insult my mother?”

“Shut up! Don’t talk to me anymore.” Ren Ye’s patience was at its limit, feeling he should never have had any expectations for this brute. “Hurry and find the secret edict. If you don’t, I’ll assign you to tend to the warhorses. An entire battalion of them!”

At this point, the two tacitly stopped talking and focused on their tasks. They nearly turned the entire main hall upside down.

As the afternoon approached, their efforts remained fruitless. The hall contained nothing but mundane official documents, books, antiques, and paintings.

Exhausted, Ren Ye slumped into the “father prince’s” chair, staring at the ceiling. He thought to himself, My assumptions should be correct. If a secret edict truly exists in the palace, it must be in the former prince’s office.

Why wasn’t it there?

Not far away, Second Fool was still rummaging around. He wasn’t particularly interested in the secret edict—he just wanted to avoid tending to the warhorses.

Annoyed, Ren Ye glanced at him before standing up slowly. His eyes inadvertently fell on the Nation-Stabilizing Sword displayed behind the throne.

The sword was a heavy golden blade, its scabbard encrusted with gemstones on both sides, exuding extreme luxury. The hilt was carved into the shape of a dragon’s head, lifelike and majestic.

When they first entered the hall, Ren Ye had noticed the sword. However, based on Zhu Zigui’s memories, the latter had once tried to lift the sword but failed.

Zhu Zigui was too weak, and the sword didn’t recognize him. In the earlier urgency to find the edict, Ren Ye hadn’t paid much attention to it.

“Second Fool, let’s check the sleeping quarters again,” Ren Ye said as he stepped forward. He decided to see if he could lift the Nation-Stabilizing Sword, as it was also mentioned in the mission.

“Your Highness, don’t rush! Let me search a bit more…” Second Fool, frightened by the thought of tending to the horses, pleaded, his legs trembling. “Just give me one more quarter-hour!”

Ren Ye walked around the throne, grabbed the hilt of the Nation-Stabilizing Sword, and lifted it slightly.

Boom!

The moment the blade left the stand, it felt as if a bolt of heavenly lightning struck Ren Ye’s mind, splitting apart the murkiness in his thoughts. His entire soul quivered.

Slash!

A thin sword light flashed, slicing Ren Ye’s right palm. Hot blood gushed out, spilling onto the sword and reigniting its dimmed brilliance.

Bang!

A sharp, unstoppable aura burst from the blade, surging toward the heavens.

Buzz!

The shockwave caused the main hall to tremble, but intricate runes and radiant barriers soon emerged, suppressing and containing the phenomenon before it could spread outside.

[Ding~ Congratulations to Prince Huai for reclaiming the Nation-Stabilizing Sword. May your martial fortune flourish, and may you remain invincible.]

The cold voice echoed in Ren Ye’s ears as he felt a subtle connection forming between himself and the sword.

Meanwhile, Second Fool, who was kneeling on the ground and utterly bewildered, watched as the wall behind the throne split open, revealing a hidden passage.

At Prince Huai’s Palace.

The other ten players simultaneously heard a notification ringing in their ears.

[Ding~ Congratulations, a player has triggered a significant inheritance storyline. The main quest is now unlocked.]