Meanwhile, the petty official carrying the message galloped all the way, rushing toward Xizhuang on Maji Street. Near Donghua Gate, there was a natural mountain called Mount Wanshou.
Located in the northeast, Mount Wanshou stood across from Kaifeng Prefecture with the Imperial Palace between them. Encircled by Yuan Lake, it had been planted with ten thousand plum trees and thousands of divine herbs east of its foothills by order of the founding emperor upon his ascension.
When those plum blossoms bloomed, Mount Wanshou was blanketed in a vibrant array of colors and rich fragrance, the proud and fierce spirit of the plum blossoms wafting between heaven and earth.
It was said that wild ducks played upon Yuan Lake, white cranes spread their wings, and thousands of brocade carp swam amidst countless fragrant lotuses.
Water from the Jinglong River had been diverted up the mountain to construct waterways that nourished thousands of spiritual herbs, shrouding the peak in a perpetual misty, ethereal fog.
Since the previous dynasty, this land had been allocated to the Demon Suppression Division. Later, Shangqing Baolu Palace, Xiangyun Nunnery, and the Demon Suppression Monastery were built here. Thus, common folk often jokingly referred to the mountain as "Demon Suppression Mountain" or "Subduing Demon Mountain."
During the Qingming Festival and the Ghost Festival, incense burned continuously as countless devotees gathered. The clouds of incense smoke rose straight into the sky, making the place resemble an abode of immortals when viewed from afar.
On ordinary days, the main gates of the Demon Suppression Monastery remained wide open, with a steady stream of demon suppressors coming and going.
Yet, although the people of Bianjing frequently saw members of the Demon Suppression Division walking the streets, very few ever had the chance to step inside.
The petty official rode hurriedly onto Maji Street and saw the majestic Yamen of the Demon Suppression Monastery towering before him. Its upturned eaves reached toward the sky, roof ridge adorned with Chaofeng swallowing mist, and the plaque above the entrance gleamed with gold paint, exuding regal splendor.
Even the two stone lions guarding the entrance were a full size larger than those at Kaifeng Prefecture, their sculpted fur standing on end as if poised to devour anyone who approached.
Its opulence made it look less like a demon suppression Yamen and more like a royal palace.
The stone tiles on the ground were swept spotlessly clean. Eight guards stood at the entrance holding saber hilts, looking exceedingly formidable.
Plucking up his courage, the petty official dismounted and led his horse forward to deliver the report. Just then, the grand doors of the monastery swung wide open, and a squad of young men and women dressed in purple robes rushed out.
“Hurry up, everyone! Don't let that cat from Kaifeng Prefecture beat us to it!”
The young maiden leading them barked sternly:
“What on earth are those useless birds at Feiluan Pavilion doing? They only sent word after the people had already entered the city! If we lose face for the Demon Suppression Division this time, every single one of you can strip off your official robes and go into the mountains to feed pigs when we get back!”
The young woman possessed a face like a delicate flower and skin like white jade. Clad in purple robes with a golden heart-protecting mirror hanging over her chest, a red cloak draped over her shoulders, and a string of purple gold bells at her waist, every movement produced a pleasant, crisp jingle.
She looked strikingly handsome and valiant.
The petty official recognized her at a single glance—this leader was none other than Second-class Arrest Officer Lady Xu Zi of the Demon Suppression Division.
—As for the "cat" she mentioned, it naturally referred to Guard Zhan of Kaifeng Prefecture.
Walking with long, swift strides, Xu Zi cast a sudden glance at the petty official as she passed him:
“Someone from the Transport Office? That superior of yours is quite a sharp one, hedging his bets on both sides.”
With that, she hurriedly mounted her horse and galloped away with her small squad of demon suppressors.
Before the young official could recover from his astonishment, a grey-eyed demon suppressor emerged, smiling politely:
“You've had a long ride from the docks to deliver the news. Thank you for your hard work. Our superior already knows about it. Come inside and have a cup of tea, little brother. Let your horse rest and have some fresh water and fodder as well.”
The Demon Suppression Division had already gotten word?
The petty official was stunned, suddenly remembering a street rumor:
It was said that the Demon Suppression Division possessed extraordinary individuals who understood the speech of birds and beasts. Not a single event, great or small, in the city of Bianjing could be hidden from them.
Seeing that the grey-eyed demon suppressor looked delicate and amiable, with a warm and genial smile, the official felt inclined to show courtesy and quickly followed him inside.
...
Mount Wanshou, Plum Garden.
Although the hottest days of summer had passed, late summer remained. The garden was lush and verdant, complemented by the gurgling of a clear stream that added a tranquil, leisurely charm to the scene.
Crack.
Holding golden shears, a woman in palace attire carefully pruned the branches of a potted plum tree. She worked with meticulous focus, while those waiting nearby held their breath, not daring to utter a word.
“Honestly, you...”
A handsome, bearded man sitting by the stone table stroked his beard and shook his head disapprovingly:
“If Daizi returns and sees you messing with her precious plants again, she'll surely pick a fight with you.”
“If a potted plum tree isn't pruned, it will only grow crooked. A-Zi only knows how to plant trees in this Plum Garden, but has no idea how to tend or maintain them. If I leave them be, we might as well rename this Demon Suppression Monastery to the 'Ten Thousand Plants Garden.'”
Setting down the shears, the noblewoman washed her hands in a basin of clean water brought by an attendant. She then sat down to share tea and conversation with the man:
“If you ask me, it's you two who give me the biggest headache. One is a perfectly fine Supervisory General who changed her name just to run around as a low-ranking arrest officer. The other is an Arrest General in charge of captures, yet spends all day drinking tea and chatting in my Plum Garden without caring in the slightest about the troubles outside. I say it would be far better if the two of you swapped personalities.”
“Though Daizi is unpredictable, she knows her limits. Otherwise, she wouldn't have suppressed her cultivation and changed her name. That is her nature. If she were confined to one place for too long, she would probably die of boredom.”
The man stroked his beard and said leisurely:
“In my opinion, the position of Arrest General should have been hers to begin with. Tracking down people and hunting demons was never Yi's forte anyway.”
“What do you mean 'her nature'? Is it in a tree's nature to pull up its roots and wander about?”
The noblewoman shot him a gentle glare. “You are simply lazy and coaxed Daizi into doing your work for you. Senior Sister Miaoyun sent word from Chenzhou saying Lord Jiao has entered the sea, and she will arrive in Bianjing before long. As for Daoist Qinglong's two prized disciples, they are currently in the Shouzhou region investigating the matter of the demon suppression case being withdrawn.”
“That brother and sister are pure and kind-hearted, but having never traveled in the mortal realm before, they lack experience with such storms. They likely won't discover much, so we should dispatch additional hands.”
The man swirled the tea in his cup, then picked at his ear with his pinky, speaking casually:
“That little demon suppressor coming to the capital seems quite highly regarded by Senior Sister Miaoyun. After meeting just once, Senior Sister Miaoyun willingly gifted her own prayer beads. It's rare to see Senior Sister Miaoyun so generous. Most likely, this little demon suppressor possesses remarkable talent, and she's considering taking her on as a disciple. Sister, what do you think? Should we strike first and snatch her from Senior Sister? Not only is your Records Division desperately short on people, but the Judicial Division is severely understaffed as well. If we don't act quickly and Daizi catches on, she'll be competing with us for her.”
Just as the woman was about to reply, a palace maid arrived in a flurry and hurriedly curtsied to them:
“Greetings, Your Majesty the Empress. Greetings, State Uncle.”
“News has come from the palace! Lord Bao went into the palace this morning and spent over half an hour arguing with His Majesty over the Chenzhou relief efforts!”
Here it went again.
The word "arguing" wasn't quite accurate; it was likely that His Majesty had endured half an hour of scolding and could no longer hold out, prompting him to send someone to summon them.
The man and woman looked at each other, both seeing a trace of helplessness in each other's eyes.
...
Rate on N.U.
