The Company

Chapter 41: Heavenly Ruyi

Just like eight years ago when he waited for Lüdi, Ruyi would never return.

1390 AD, Diliu Slope, Jurong County, Yingtian Prefecture

Li Dingyuan was carried in the arms of his chief maid Pipa, drowsily crossing through the Duke's estate garden to reach his grandfather's residence, Xuan Garden.

Though it was improper etiquette to pay respects to his grandfather while still half-asleep, Li Dingyuan had always been the favored one, so no one dared criticize him.

At just ten years old, Li Dingyuan didn't fully understand worldly affairs, but he knew his grandfather was tremendously important. Below the Ming Emperor, the first person in rank was his grandfather Li Shanchang, who formerly served as Left Chancellor, heading all officials. The phrase "second only to the emperor, above all commoners" described his grandfather most fittingly.

While unclear about court matters, Li Dingyuan knew his grandfather had nine sons, fifteen grandsons, and twelve granddaughters, yet he alone was the favorite. He'd never seen his grandfather dote on anyone else - even his second uncle who married a princess received no special treatment. Except for his second uncle's family living in the Princess Residence, all other uncles, aunts, and cousins resided in the Li family mansion in Jiujiang, Jiangxi. Only he was raised by his grandfather's side.

Showered with boundless affection, Li Dingyuan felt somewhat troubled by rarely seeing his parents, but otherwise comfortably enjoyed his so-called spoiled young master's decadent life. Even his morning greetings to his grandfather became a half-asleep formality.

His grandfather lived in an authentic Duke's residence with hall specifications for first and second-rank officials - five bays with nine purlins, imposing and magnificent. Slightly opening his eyes, Li Dingyuan was immediately blinded by sunlight reflecting off the glazed roof tiles and lazily closed them again.

After a short while, noticing Pipa deliberately softening her breathing and smelling strong calming incense, Li Dingyuan knew they'd entered his grandfather's study. Rubbing his eyes, he planned to act spoiled as usual, expecting his grandfather to helplessly take him into his arms, even tolerating him pulling his beard.

But today the familiar warm embrace didn't come. Dazedly opening his eyes, Li Dingyuan found his grandfather sitting grim-faced in a huanghuali official's hat armchair, gripping an underglaze red teacup, staring at him with piercing eyes.

"Look at your disgraceful state! What kind of behavior is this!"

Li Shanchang had been a founding veteran beside Zhu Yuanzhang since the thirteenth year of Yuan Shundi's Zhizheng era. Though his duties resembled those of Xiao He beside Liu Bang during Han times - managing internal military and administrative affairs - and he had retired twenty-two years earlier to preserve himself, his authority remained undiminished. Usually restraining his sternness around his beloved grandson, today he made no effort to conceal it, unleashing an overwhelming pressure that crashed over Li Dingyuan like a tsunami.

Even Pipa holding Li Dingyuan was affected, trembling so violently she nearly dropped the thirteenth young master, instinctively kneeling and prostrating on the floor.Li Dingyuan took advantage of his chief maid's kneeling to stand firmly on the ground. He wasn't frightened by his grandfather's sudden change in expression, instead calmly straightening his clothes until he looked perfectly presentable. Only then did he step forward, properly kneel before Li Shanchang, and bow while offering New Year's greetings.

This set of etiquette was very familiar to Li Dingyuan. During every New Year and festival, he would see his uncles, aunts, and cousins perform these rituals daily. Although he had never performed them so seriously himself, having observed them countless times, he could imitate them quite convincingly. Li Shanchang's special regard for Li Dingyuan wasn't solely because the child was particularly adorable; what Li Shanchang appreciated more was his cleverness, feeling this grandson resembled him most. This was why, even when naming him, Li Shanchang hadn't followed the family tradition of using single-character names with grass radical, instead giving him this imposing name.

After obediently kowtowing, Li Dingyuan remained kneeling upright before Li Shanchang, looking up at him with innocent eyes.

Gazing into those clear black-and-white eyes set in his grandson's tender face, Li Shanchang soon relented. The imposing manner he had mustered vanished like floodwaters breaching a dike, completely draining away. He sighed, pulled the child up, and gently touched his forehead while saying affectionately, "Yuan'er, Grandfather was in a bad mood today. Did you hurt yourself knocking your head? I heard a loud 'thump'." This was the same Li Shanchang whom outsiders saw as the decisive Duke Xuan, whose mere darkened expression could make crowds tremble and kneel. Had those people witnessed this chief minister humbling himself like this, their eyes would have popped out.

Li Dingyuan's large eyes shifted as he inwardly scorned his grandfather's likely foul mood. Having harassed his guards a few days earlier, was he now turning on him? This wouldn't do—tomorrow he must drag his fourth and sixth brothers into sharing this misery, since they lived next door in the princess' residence anyway.

Li Shanchang, who understood this little rascal thoroughly, could tell what he was thinking just from his expression. He spat out, "Planning to drag Xiao Si and Xiao Liu into this again?" For his other grandsons, Li Shanchang always used their birth order for address, sometimes even forgetting their actual names. Thus, his treatment of Li Dingyuan was truly exceptional.

Li Dingyuan's fourth and sixth brothers were actually his cousins, named Li Fang and Li Mao, both sons of his second uncle Li Qi and Princess Lin'an. Now thirteen or fourteen years old, they were hardly comparable to the ten-year-old Li Dingyuan. Their mother, Princess Lin'an, was Zhu Yuanzhang's eldest daughter. Li Shanchang had always felt particularly secure because of this royal daughter-in-law, believing that even if Zhu Yuanzhang purged other meritorious officials, he would never harm his own in-laws. Therefore, he maintained closeness with those two grandsons as well, though not to the same degree as with Li Dingyuan.

Rubbing the child's slightly reddened forehead, Li Shanchang's heart softened further. His voice gentle, he said, "This was all Grandfather's fault. What would Yuan'er like? Let Grandfather make it up to you." His words carried indescribable tenderness and pain, though carefully concealed.Li Dingyuan was inwardly speechless, thinking, "Just as I expected! Grandpa is always so shameless! He loves coaxing me like this with gifts!" But after a quick, sly calculation, he decided to give it a try and said, "Grandpa! I want that bronze casket!"

That bronze casket was a treasure Li Dingyuan had long coveted. He had tried countless times before, wheedling and throwing tantrums, but his grandfather would only lend it to him for a look, never relenting to give it to him. While he could have any other treasure he wanted, over time, this bronze casket had become an obsession for Li Dingyuan. He didn’t even know whether he truly liked the casket itself or was just stubbornly determined to have it.

"Alright."

"Grandpa, if you’re reluctant, it’s fine... Huh? Grandpa, you agreed?" Li Dingyuan was stunned.

"Konghou, go fetch that bronze casket for Yuán’er." The child’s rare look of astonishment pleased Li Shanchang. With a wave of his hand, someone immediately went to the study, retrieved the bronze casket, and placed it in Li Shanchang’s hands.

Li Dingyuan couldn’t take his eyes off the bronze casket he had longed for. It was no ordinary casket—though only palm-sized, its exquisite carved patterns and heavy patina revealed its considerable age. The lid was made of glass, and beneath the green, translucent cover, one could vaguely make out a white jade ruyi scepter fixed inside. What fascinated Li Dingyuan was that the bronze casket was completely unopenable! The glass lid was sealed shut, and the only way to hold the small ruyi and play with it would be to shatter the priceless glass cover.

Even someone as careless with money as Li Dingyuan knew better than to destroy a treasure like that. He never understood why anyone would seal a white jade ruyi inside a bronze casket. Was there some hidden mechanism to open it? But every other part of the casket was tightly sealed, and no matter how many times Li Dingyuan examined it, he never found a way in, only fueling his curiosity further.

When his grandfather personally placed the bronze casket in his arms, Li Dingyuan didn’t feel the ecstatic joy he had imagined. Instead, he shifted his gaze from the casket to his grandfather’s face and asked with unprecedented seriousness, "Grandpa, has something happened?"

Li Shanchang’s affectionate expression stiffened for a moment before he smiled and said, "It’s nothing. Grandpa has just been a bit busy lately. How about you go play at the Tangshan villa for a few days? You can keep this bronze casket with you for now, but when you return, Grandpa will take it back."

Puffing out his chubby cheeks, Li Dingyuan hugged the casket tightly, clearly unwilling to let go. He knew his grandfather wasn’t telling him the whole truth, but he also knew that, doting as his grandfather was, he would never allow him to challenge a decision once made.

Li Shanchang patted the child’s head fondly and calmly instructed someone nearby, "Lüdi, I’m entrusting Yuán’er to you." A lean young man immediately knelt and bowed low.

Seeing the young man rise to carry him away, Li Dingyuan turned back in surprise. Wasn’t his head maid, Pipa, coming with him? Only Lüdi would accompany him? Although he knew Lüdi held a high position by his grandfather’s side, the whole situation felt inexplicably strange.Pipa had long handed the packed bundle to Lüdi, then deftly stripped Li Dingyuan of his flower-and-treasure-patterned mandarin jacket and other light, thin silk fabrics, replacing them with plain gray-brown cotton clothes suitable for an ordinary child. She also removed all the precious ornaments he wore, leaving only the inconspicuous white jade Zi-Chen pendant at his waist.

Li Dingyuan was stunned. By the time he reacted and wanted to scold Pipa, he was already back in Lüdi’s arms, swiftly carried away from the rear courtyard. Pipa also bowed respectfully to Li Shanchang, then turned and left with Li Dingyuan’s discarded clothes.

Li Shanchang closed his eyes and sighed deeply. “Dongxiao, do you think if I had died earlier, I could have ensured my family’s safety?”

“Lord Duke…” A middle-aged man emerged from behind the screen and knelt sorrowfully on the ground.

“Human greed is undeniable—who doesn’t wish to live well?” Li Shanchang lamented. “When Yuán’er was born, I wanted to live a few more years to see him grow up. But year after year, the more I watched him, the harder it became to let go. Ah, I am not afraid of death, but if I die now, the Emperor will think I committed suicide out of guilt. Qi’er’s family might be spared, but Yuán’er… I truly cannot bear to part with him…”

“Lord Duke, you still have the imperial-bestowed Iron Covenant, which can exempt you from death twice and your son once…” Dongxiao reminded him unwillingly.

“The Iron Covenant? Who granted it to me? Since it was bestowed, it can also be taken back.” Li Shanchang held no illusions. He understood the old friend sitting on the Dragon throne all too well, just as the other understood him.

Just as Dongxiao was about to offer more persuasion, commotion arose in the front courtyard, accompanied by the faint, orderly sound of marching footsteps.

“To even mobilize the Imperial Guards—they certainly think highly of me.” Li Shanchang smiled contemptuously and calmly straightened his attire. Dongxiao rose to his full height, standing steadfast behind him, his earlier anxiety replaced by an expressionless calm.

As Lüdi carried Li Dingyuan out through the side gate of the Duke Xuan’s residence, they saw squads of Imperial Guards marching swiftly past. Rows of armor and steel spears exuded a murderous aura, sending an involuntary shiver down Li Dingyuan’s spine and stirring uncontrollable fear within him.

For he realized these Imperial Guards were heading straight for the Duke Xuan’s residence.

“Don’t look,” Lüdi whispered, pressing the boy’s head down.

“Not looking would make people suspicious,” Li Dingyuan retorted confidently. He was thoroughly familiar with the guards and maids around his grandfather and saw no need to stand on ceremony with them.

Lüdi was taken aback. Despite the grand spectacle, though passersby bowed their heads in terrified silence, they still stole curious glances. After all, this involved the residence of a duke—one that had seemed unshakable.

In the next moment, Li Dingyuan nearly cried out in shock. He spotted Pipa slipping furtively out from the side gate, clutching a seven- or eight-year-old child in her arms. The clothes were unmistakably the ones stripped from him earlier, making the child resemble him at first glance. Pipa stared in terror at the nearby Imperial Guards, then immediately fled in the opposite direction with the child. Noticing her, the guards quickly dispatched a small squad to pursue.Even if Li Dingyuan were the dullest person, he would have realized by now that something must have happened to his grandfather. Otherwise, why would Pipa be sent to carry out this fish-eyes-for-pearl deception?

"I must go back!" Li Dingyuan gritted his teeth and struggled. But Lü Di held him tightly, moving away from the area at an inconspicuous pace, weaving through the streets and alleys of Yingtian Prefecture.

"Thirteenth Young Master, this is the Duke's order," Lü Di whispered as they walked, "I'm afraid the Duke's situation looks grim this time."

Li Dingyuan's fingers dug into the bronze box hidden in his robes with such force that he nearly broke his nails. He wished this was all just his grandfather's excessive caution, but the hurried imperial guards in the streets and the occasional passing Embroidered Uniform Guard members wearing feiyu uniforms with xiuchun swords at their waists made his young face grow increasingly pale. Those Embroidered Uniform Guards were demons in Yingtian Prefecture who could make children stop crying at night. Although the Embroidered Uniform Guard had been officially abolished three years ago, in reality, it was merely the emperor's superficial gesture to appease his ministers. Behind the scenes, the guards still moved like shadows in their embroidered uniforms, secretly gathering intelligence.

Li Dingyuan clenched his jaw, mustering all his strength before barely managing to speak: "Don't call me Thirteenth Young Master anymore. Just call me... Jie'er." Li Jie was originally the name his father had given him following the generation naming convention. But later his grandfather had decreed that Li Dingyuan be recorded in the family registry, so this original name remained unknown to anyone.

Lü Di nodded inwardly, admiring how the Thirteenth Young Master—the Duke's favorite—could so quickly compose himself and identify potential oversights. Lü Di turned left and right through the alleys, somehow procuring a carriage from nowhere and placing Li Dingyuan inside. Unable to see outside, the young Li Dingyuan grew even more frightened, yet he restrained himself from making any noise. Lü Di finally circled through the city until nightfall before arriving at a dilapidated residence.

According to Lü Di, this was a civilian house his grandfather had acquired years earlier. It had been left unrepaired for many years to avoid suspicion. After Li Dingyuan hastily ate some food, Lü Di said he needed to go gather information about the Duke's residence. Anxious himself, Li Dingyuan insisted he would be fine alone and urged Lü Di to hurry. Though uneasy, Lü Di knew bringing in another person to care for the Thirteenth Young Master would risk exposure. He understood staying with Li Dingyuan was his duty, but years of loyalty to the Duke made him restless.

Ultimately, Lü Di still left. And in the pitch-black ruined house, Li Dingyuan hugged the bronze box, trembling.

He didn't dare light a lamp, knowing that any sudden activity in a long-abandoned house would surely alert the ever-watchful Embroidered Uniform Guards to something amiss.

He sat quietly in the darkness, thinking of his grandfather, his parents, his uncles, his siblings, and the happy days of the past, feeling his heart gradually grow colder.

Watching the sun rise and set several times, Li Dingyuan finally understood—Lü Di would never return.

"Don't... don't leave me alone..." he murmured, before everything went black and he fell unconscious.The bronze casket in his embrace fell to the floor, its priceless glass lid striking the bluestone pavement and shattering into fragments with a crisp sound. The white jade ruyi scepter inside the casket rolled out, emitting a soft white glow under the moonlight.

"A clear female voice echoed through the dilapidated room. A ten-year-old girl with pigtail braids tilted her head as she haltingly read the proclamation in her hands. On the bed beside her, a gaunt boy sat propped against the wall, wrapped in a tattered quilt, his parched lips pressed into a tight line.

In just a few days, Li Dingyuan had become emaciated beyond recognition. His once plump cheeks had sunken, his chin had turned sharp, completely altering his appearance. Even his family would hardly have recognized him as the thirteenth young master, the most beloved grandson of the Duke.

His grandfather, it was said, had been granted white silk by the Emperor to hang himself that very day. His family members had been arrested from Jiujiang, Jiangxi and publicly executed three days earlier. He had forced himself to witness the entire process, watching as his familiar relatives fell one by one, heads rolling, blood flowing like a river. Seventy people? Far more than seventy! Various ministers and marquises connected to their family had also been implicated. It was said the Emperor had used this as pretext to execute over thirty thousand meritorious officials and their family members. Yingtian Prefecture seemed shrouded in a blood-red haze, the entire capital permeated with an oppressive smell of blood that lingered for a long time.

"Jie'er, are you hungry again? I have some steamed buns here!" The girl put down the proclamation and reached out her small hand to worriedly pat Li Dingyuan's stomach.

"Ruyi, I'm not hungry." Li Dingyuan forced a faint smile for the girl, traces of warmth appearing in his cold eyes. He had been unconscious in this house for several days waiting for the law flute, and when he woke up, he found Ruyi. She was lovely as jade and snow, though dressed in ordinary boys' clothing, her speech and demeanor revealed noble upbringing. Li Dingyuan was certain Ruyi must be like him - a descendant of some implicated aristocratic family who had managed to escape. Otherwise, how could an ordinary ten-year-old girl be literate? Moreover, when asked her surname, she never answered. Perhaps her family name wasn't as common as his Li.

During his illness, he had relied on Ruyi's careful nursing. The thought that her family had been destroyed because of his family's involvement made Li Dingyuan feel increasingly guilty. But this guilt soon transformed into hatred.

Yes, his grandfather had done nothing wrong! The fault lay with the person sitting on the Dragon throne!

"Jie'er, are you upset because the bronze casket broke?" Ruyi carefully brought the casket before Li Dingyuan, asking with caution."No." Li Dingyuan glanced at the bronze box he had brought from home, but no longer felt the affection he once had for it. The crystal lid of the bronze box was shattered, and the white jade Ruyi inside had disappeared—whether it had rolled away somewhere or been stolen by burglars during their absence, he couldn't tell. He vaguely remembered throwing the box to the ground during his severe illness, but none of that mattered now. "Ruyi, read the proclamation to me again."

Ruyi nodded, secretly placing the bronze box in an inconspicuous corner, a smug little smile appearing on her face.

Li Dingyuan didn't notice Ruyi's small action, as her clear voice began to resonate once more.

"Li Shanchang, implicated in the Hu Weiyong faction, is accused of treason. As a distinguished statesman and imperial relative, he failed to report the conspiracy, hesitated in observing, harbored duplicitous intentions, and committed unforgivable acts of great impiety..."

Li Dingyuan clenched his fists, his eyes burning red.

Great impiety... great impiety... How dare they accuse his grandfather of great impiety! Then he would show them what true impiety looked like!

Year 1398

After confirming he had shaken off the pursuing Embroidered Uniform Guard and deliberately taking several detours, Li Dingyuan scaled the wall and slipped into a secluded residence.

This was no longer the dilapidated residence where Lü Di had originally placed him. Eight years ago, he and Ruyi had endured extreme hardship—two children without silver coins, lacking even food and clothing. The white jade Zichen pendant he kept was exchanged for some silver taels, but the funds were quickly exhausted. Later, Ruyi dug up a chest in the backyard of that shabby house, filled with banknotes and gold leaf, which finally improved their situation. Over these eight years, they had pretended to be children who came to Yingtian Prefecture to seek relatives but found no success, moving from place to place. Although he knew the capital had become a slaughterhouse, Li Dingyuan had no intention of leaving.

Eight years earlier, he had learned that not all his family members were executed. His second uncle and two cousins, owing to Princess Lin'an's influence, were spared by the emperor but forbidden to remain in the capital, forced to reside in Jiangpu on the outskirts of Yingtian Prefecture. Soon after, they were relocated to Nanchang County in Jiangxi. Princess Lin'an accompanied them, but Li Dingyuan knew his second uncle and the princess would share a bed with different dreams, their small family maintaining a facade of harmony. Blaming others, though irrational, was an emotional impulse hard to resist.

He dared not reveal himself to his second uncle's family, aware that Embroidered Uniform Guard agents were surely watching them. Even though his appearance had changed from his former plump self, and he had grown from a child to a youth, any slight anomaly in his relatives' behavior toward him could invite fatal consequences.

Moreover, he had to stay in Yingtian Prefecture to avenge his family!

Recalling the aborted assassination attempt tonight, Li Dingyuan seethed with killing intent. It didn't matter; this time was an improvement over the last, and he would strive harder next time. Clutching the wound at his waist, he slipped into the shadows under the trees as moonlight bathed the ground. With a creak, a lit window was pushed open, and a cold female voice said flatly, "Come in."

Li Dingyuan hunched his shoulders. Ruyi was angry. If he tried to argue about propriety between men and women now, she'd likely explode in the next moment... The youth's murderous aura vanished completely as he meekly bowed his head, bent his waist, and pushed the door open to enter.

It was an extremely simple boudoir, sparsely furnished and arranged, its only highlight the young woman sitting at the table, chin propped on one hand. Her features were picturesque and delicate, and though dressed in plain clothes with a thorn hairpin, her beauty remained undiminished. Her skin, especially, was as fine and lustrous as white jade, dazzling his eyes in the dim oil lamp light.

Only when the young woman glared at him with those beautiful eyes did Li Dingyuan realize he had been staring at Ruyi dumbstruck again. He quickly lowered his head to hide his embarrassment, just in time catching sight of her feet exposed beneath the table.

They were natural feet—unbound, as she had roamed east and west with him all these years. This was something Li Dingyuan appreciated most, for because Ruyi had unbound feet, despite her striking beauty, few came to propose marriage. When pestering suitors persisted, they resorted to their final tactic: moving away. Of course, he would never disdain Ruyi for this; having once accidentally glimpsed her natural feet, he found those perfect jade-like appendages utterly breathtaking.Li Dingyuan couldn't explain the psychology behind it, but from the moment he began introducing Ruyi to outsiders eight years ago, he never once considered pretending they were siblings.

They weren't siblings anyway!

He had seen her feet—didn't that mean he had to take responsibility? Once their vengeance was achieved, he would formally propose to her!

Ruyi narrowed her eyes, watching Li Dingyuan's face gradually redden before her, suddenly realizing this young man wasn't reflecting on his actions at all. She stood up and, under the youth's astonished gaze, directly pulled open his night-walking outfit and tore off the bandages. When she saw the gruesome wound, she couldn't help but freeze momentarily.

"I've already applied medicine and treated it myself," Li Dingyuan explained softly, knowing Ruyi was worried about him. If he were still bleeding, he definitely wouldn't have been able to evade the Embroidered Uniform Guard.

Ruyi slowly closed his clothing, lowering her eyelashes as she murmured: "Why must it always be like this? He's already seventy years old—he won't live much longer. You're still young; he can't possibly outlive you."

Li Dingyuan's eyes turned icy cold, his fists clenching tightly: "It's not the same."

"Is revenge... really that important?" Ruyi lifted her head, her flower-like youthful face filled with confusion.

"Extremely important," Li Dingyuan said, enunciating each word slowly and heavily, as if trying to convince Ruyi while also convincing himself. "I can't take the imperial examinations because all successful candidates must have their family's household registration checked for three generations. I don't even qualify to take the exams. Becoming a palace guard is equally impossible. Joining the military is an option, but it would take many years to rise through the ranks. I originally planned to observe the political situation in Yingtian Prefecture and incite other officials to rebel, but three years ago, even Feng Sheng—the last surviving member of the six founding dukes—was executed. The entire court is utterly cowardly; I doubt they'd dare even pass gas during court ceremonies."

Ruyi frowned delicately, though whether it was due to Li Dingyuan's crude analogy or his unwavering determination over all these years remained unclear.

Under the lamplight, the young woman's slightly furrowed brows and worried expression made Li Dingyuan's heart soften. Having grown up with Ruyi, though he didn't know her true identity, he could guess she came from a prominent family. When he was eleven and realized the path of scholarly examinations wasn't feasible, he had sought everywhere to find a master to teach him martial arts. Upon learning his wish, Ruyi directly gave him a martial arts manual, answered all his questions when he was confused, and later found him an exceptionally sharp Qingming Sword. Though many generals who fought alongside Zhu Yuanzhang were martial arts experts, Li Dingyuan never pressed Ruyi about her background since she seemed reluctant to discuss it.

"Is your wish still to take revenge? To what extent exactly? Do you want to kill that person with your own hands? Or... completely overthrow the Great Ming dynasty?" Ruyi parted her vermilion lips, her tone calm yet uttering words serious enough to warrant capital punishment.Although Li Dingyuan was certain there was no one around the house, he still shuddered nervously. He imagined for a moment and murmured to himself, "Killing him with my own hands would be too merciful. He destroyed my entire family—I'd rather make his descendants turn against each other... Toppling this dynasty is beyond my ability, I know that well. But if I could create some thorny troubles for his rule... Hah, it's nothing but wishful thinking."

"Even if it's wishful thinking, you still want it deep down, don't you?" Ruyi teased with mild annoyance.

Li Dingyuan nodded solemnly—this truly was his desire.

His grandfather, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins... all had died filled with injustice in a single night. For eight years, he had hardly slept peacefully. Whenever he closed his eyes, he seemed to see the wronged souls of his loved ones crying out to him, waking each time from nightmares drenched in boundless bloodshed. He was alive, yet tormented by agony. Hatred gnawed at his soul like bone-eating venom, leaving him no peace, day or night.

Over these eight years, he had often wondered: if his grandfather hadn't ordered Lü Di to carry him away at the last moment, allowing him to die alongside his family, perhaps that would have been a happier fate.

But he couldn't die so weakly. Though his grandfather protected his escape merely hoping he would live—not expecting anything in return—he couldn't pretend nothing had happened and feign normalcy.

Even if his future would be mired inextricably in the mud of hatred, he had to grit his teeth and endure.

At this thought, Li Dingyuan felt a chill run down his spine as if he'd fallen into an ice cellar. Just moments ago, he had imagined proposing to Ruyi once their vengeance was achieved. But was such hatred so easily avenged? How many years could his Ruyi wait for him? How could he bear to drag her into that filthy mire alongside him...

His heart felt as if a sharp saw were grating back and forth, aching unbearably.

Why had Ruyi questioned him so intently tonight? Was she tired of this life? Had she already considered abandoning him completely to seek a new life of her own?

His mind in turmoil, Li Dingyuan looked up and met Ruyi's deep, unwavering gaze.

A wistful smile bloomed on the young woman's lips as she raised her hand to gently stroke his cheek, saying softly, "Your wish... will come true..."

Li Dingyuan lowered his eyelids, hiding the reluctance in his eyes.

Her saying this... she must have given up on him completely...

He returned to his room in despair, not to sleep, but to sit in the darkness, staring blankly at the lamplight in Ruyi's room across the way.

She wasn't sleeping either...

He didn't dare dwell on it, afraid he might succumb to the torment and do something he would regret for life. Whatever Ruyi decided, he ought to accept it.

The horizon began to pale with dawn. Only when numbness crept into his legs did Li Dingyuan realize he had sat rigidly through the night. Rising to stretch his stiff limbs, he had just changed out of his nightclothes into ordinary attire and prepared to fetch water for washing before making breakfast, when he saw Ruyi push her door open and step out—then leave through the backyard gate.Li Dingyuan's first reaction was to worry about Ruyi's safety. Although dawn was breaking, the streets remained sparsely populated, and their residence was in a neighborhood of mixed characters. Without hesitation, he immediately followed her.

Having likely absorbed martial knowledge since childhood, Ruyi could recognize acupoints and understood some martial theory, but she had never practiced martial arts herself. Thus, Li Dingyuan found it easy to trail her.

Watching Ruyi's slender figure flicker in and out of view amid the morning mist, Li Dingyuan couldn't help but feel puzzled. Did Ruyi leave every morning before he woke up? How long had this been going on? What was she doing? Or... who was she meeting?

His questions were soon answered. His face pale, he watched Ruyi approach a man at the street corner. Though too far to hear their conversation, he clearly saw the man wearing a feiyu uniform with an xiuchun sword at his waist.

An Embroidered Uniform Guard!

Li Dingyuan almost believed he was dreaming. He pinched his thigh hard, despair washing over him as he confirmed this was all real. The Embroidered Uniform Guard... He didn't even qualify to step forward to compete, question, or test the other party.

He'd clung to a sliver of hope that the guard might mean Ruyi harm, but seeing how familiarly they conversed, he knew this wasn't their first meeting.

Stumbling away with a heart turned to ashes, Li Dingyuan failed to notice the guard's precise glance in his direction the moment he turned, a contemplative gleam in his eyes.

"Have you decided?" The guard withdrew his gaze and asked tonelessly.

Ruyi offered a weak, bitter smile. "What choice do I have... It was his wish..."

"What a fool..."

Li Dingyuan stood dazedly in the courtyard, not even entering the house. He would wait for Ruyi's return to demand answers personally. But from dawn till sunset, he never heard the gate creak again. As the bustling market noises faded with the setting sun, returning the world to silence, a premonition struck him.

Just like eight years ago when he waited for Lüdi, Ruyi would never return.

An icy night wind swept through. Having consumed neither food nor water all day, Li Dingyuan nearly staggered, but the chill sharpened his senses.

No, something must have happened to Ruyi. Otherwise, she wouldn't have vanished without a word.

Regret gnawed at him for leaving so abruptly that morning. If any harm had befallen Ruyi, he would never forgive himself.

Dashing inside to change into night clothes, he had just picked up the Qingming Sword when the courtyard gate rattled. Thinking Ruyi had returned, he flew outside, only to draw his sword warily upon seeing the visitor.

It was the Embroidered Uniform Guard from that morning. The feiyu uniform appeared even more majestic and ornate under moonlight, yet radiated a lethal aura. Previously unable to see the man's features clearly, Li Dingyuan now observed him with prejudice, yet had to admit the young man possessed handsome features more befitting an elegant nobleman than a ruthless guard.

"Where is Ruyi?" Seeing no one behind the man, Li Dingyuan's heart sank. Yet this didn't feel like an arrest—why would he come alone otherwise?"I've come for that bronze casket." The man didn't answer the question, instead stating his purpose directly.

"Bronze casket?" Li Dingyuan was taken aback, taking a moment to recall what the man referred to—it was the very bronze casket he had brought from the Li family years ago. He had long lost interest in it, but Ruyi always carried it whenever they moved, treating it as a precious treasure, though she rarely let him see it. "What do you want with that thing?" Another night breeze swept through, causing the hem of the man's feiyu uniform to flutter. Li Dingyuan caught a glimpse of black robes beneath, and faintly, he thought he saw traces of a crimson dragon, its scales shimmering with light...

It must have been a trick of the eyes—who would dare wear dragon robes? Not even an Embroidered Uniform Guard could!

The man gave a cold laugh, then sighed deeply. "You actually don't know... you actually don't know..."

"What don't I know?" Startled, Li Dingyuan instinctively pressed for an answer.

"During the reign of Qin Shi Huang, the First Emperor of Qin, there was a rumor: 'There is an imperial aura in the southeast.' To suppress it, the emperor traveled east. When he reached Jinling, he observed that the terrain was a dragon vein—tiger-crouching, dragon-coiling—with steep, perilous landscapes and an overwhelming royal energy. To drain this dragon energy, he ordered the excavation of the Qinhuai River. This is the origin of the 'Qin' in the Qinhuai River of Yingtian Prefecture."

What was all this? Li Dingyuan had no idea why the man suddenly brought this up. Since childhood, he had been doted on, and his grandfather never expected him to achieve greatness, so he hadn't been forced to study diligently. After his family met ruin, he lost any chance for learning, his life consumed by martial training and thoughts of revenge. Yet, the man's few words piqued his interest. Though he felt it had nothing to do with Ruyi, he couldn't help but prick up his ears.

The young Embroidered Uniform Guard glanced at him and continued confidently, "In truth, the First Emperor did more than just excavate the Qinhuai River. He also leveled Tianyin Mountain and buried a treasure at its foot."

"Treasure?" Li Dingyuan frowned, instinctively sensing something amiss.

"During the Three Kingdoms period, Sun Quan excavated the land in Jinling and accidentally unearthed a bronze casket, two feet seven inches long, with a glass lid. Inside was a white jade ruyi, engraved with dragons, tigers, and cicadas wherever held. No one could discern its origin. When they asked Zong, he said, 'Long ago, Qin Shi Huang, believing Jinling possessed an imperial aura, leveled mountains and buried treasures to counteract the royal energy. Could this be one of them?'"

"Bronze casket!" Li Dingyuan was stunned. Could his own bronze casket have such an origin? The sword in his hand dropped weakly, its tip resting on the ground, the only thing keeping him upright.

The young Embroidered Uniform Guard curled his lips into a mocking smile. "Ruyi... do you know what ruyi means? Ruyi, Sanskrit name Anagha, called ruyi in Qin times. Its handle can be about three feet long. If there's an itch on your back that your hand can't reach, you use it to scratch—it follows your wishes, hence the name 'ruyi.' But the heavenly ruyi, condensed from royal energy, can truly fulfill human desires. All these years, have any of the wishes you made to her gone unfulfilled?"

Li Dingyuan felt as if struck by a heavy blow, staggering backward a few steps and nearly collapsing.

Distant memories began to surface in his mind.Eight years ago in that dilapidated house, the last thing a young boy saw before losing consciousness was the shattered bronze casket with its glazed lid falling from his embrace. Facing the white jade ruyi that glowed with a soft radiance, the boy murmured, begging not to be left alone... When he awoke, he saw a little girl.

The scene shifted, still in the same rundown house. The girl gently stroked the boy’s head and asked, "Jie'er, what do you want?"

The boy rubbed his sunken stomach, his face full of misery, and replied, "I don’t want to go hungry..."

"I know where there’s silver!" The girl smiled and led him to dig up a money chest left by his grandfather in the old house. The two children stared in awe at the stack of silver notes and handfuls of gold leaves.

Another shift in time: the boy and girl were a year older. The boy was angrily tearing up the Four Books and Five Classics in his hands, while the girl stood by, tolerating his outburst. When he finally calmed down, she walked over, patted his shoulder, and asked softly, "Jie'er, what do you want?"

The boy rubbed his face and muttered gloomily, "Studying is pointless—I don’t have proper household registration, so I can’t even take the child scholar exams. As for martial arts, I can’t find a good teacher. The martial arts schools only teach superficial techniques for fitness."

The girl smiled and said, "I have a martial arts manual here! And I can find you a sword that suits you perfectly..." She took the boy to a mountain forest, where they dug out a peerless martial arts manual and a sword named Qingming, sharp enough to slice through iron, from a cave.

...

Memories flashed through his mind frame by frame. Whether it was money or martial arts manuals, new robes or delicious food—over the eight years they had spent together, whenever Li Dingyuan expressed a wish, Ruyi would fulfill it effortlessly, always wearing that serene smile.

He had always thought Ruyi was incredibly capable and intelligent, but now... this person claimed Ruyi was that white jade ruyi? And that was why she could grant all his wishes?

That was utterly absurd!

But... had he never harbored even a shred of doubt?

Ruyi never spoke of her own affairs, never complained or made demands of him, never... never let him down...

Could it be... that this was all true?

Li Dingyuan suddenly recalled Ruyi’s lingering smile from the previous night, and his heart shattered with terror.

What wish had he made to her then?

Ah, yes—he had insisted on seeking revenge... Over the years, no matter how many times she asked, he had stubbornly clung to his desire for vengeance...

Li Dingyuan threw down the Qingming Sword, heedless of his beloved iron blade falling into the dirt. Frantic, he grabbed the man by the collar and demanded urgently, "Where is Ruyi? What do you want with the bronze casket?"

Unfazed by the confrontation, the man replied calmly, "She could no longer bear to see you injured. Last night, even with my covert assistance, you were so clumsy. She feared you wouldn’t make it back next time. She had been sealed within the bronze casket, and when you accidentally shattered the glazed lid, you broke the seal. Since then, she has been slowly recovering her royal energy while growing up alongside you. What a pity—such a fine celestial ruyi.""You mean..." Li Dingyuan felt as if struck by lightning.

"That expression—who are you putting on a show for?" The man's words dripped with sarcasm as he mocked freely, "I've seen plenty like you. Even if Ruyi told you the truth, you probably wouldn't change your choice. You might even make an even more difficult wish of her. Hmm? Am I wrong?"

Li Dingyuan clenched the man's collar, veins bulging on his arm from the force, yet he couldn't utter a single word in rebuttal.

Indeed, what right did he have to be angry?

A wave of panic rose in Li Dingyuan's heart—could it be that he truly was as this person said? Would he actually exploit Ruyi upon learning her true identity?

Revenge... or Ruyi... which was truly more important?

A scale teetered precariously in his heart, with images of his tragically slain family members and Ruyi's gentle, smiling face alternating in his mind. Li Dingyuan realized with horror that he truly didn't know how to choose between them.

Had Ruyi seen so clearly into his innermost thoughts?

Was that why she had made such a decision...

"Ruyi, she..." Li Dingyuan struggled to find his voice, but after uttering just three words, he could speak no more.

"I came for the bronze box to give her a peaceful resting place." The young Embroidered Uniform Guard waved aside the stunned Li Dingyuan, frowned as he straightened his feiyi uniform, ensuring the inner robe wouldn't show, then lightly brushed off nonexistent dust from his clothes before saying calmly, "I don't know what wish you made, but she willingly severed her own form, completely cutting off the Dragon energy from Jinling's Yingtian Prefecture. Although the Ming dynasty might continue, this place will likely cease to be the capital within a few years." He scanned their surroundings, his gaze finally settling on one particular spot as he continued, "And hereafter, it will never be a capital city again."

Having said this, he paid no further attention to Li Dingyuan, who had collapsed to the ground, and walked directly into Ruyi's room. Retrieving the bronze box with its broken lid, he departed gracefully.

Completely ignoring the heart-wrenching cries of anguish coming from the small courtyard.

"So this is why Nanjing can't serve as a capital?" The Doctor watched the grief-stricken young man in the courtyard, speaking quietly to Lu Zigang beside him. Though they hadn't arrived early, they had overheard enough of the conversation. They couldn't help but sigh over the unfortunate youth and the determined Tian Ruyi. It was impossible to judge who was right or wrong, as the massacre of one's family isn't something that can be erased with simple words. Tian Ruyi's character was equally unyielding - she would rather shatter like jade than remain intact as a tile. She preferred to fulfill the young man's wish at the cost of her life rather than stay by his side watching him repeatedly take risks.

"From a scientific perspective, we can't really say that, but it's quite uncanny. Since the 3rd century AD, Nanjing has served as the capital for ten dynasties or regimes - Eastern Wu, Eastern Jin, the Southern Dynasties of Song, Qi, Liang, Chen, Southern Tang, Ming, Taiping Heavenly Kingdom, and the Republic of China - yet none lasted long. We're currently in Zhu Yuanzhang's Ming dynasty, and before long his son Zhu Di will move the capital to Beijing." Lu Zigang stroked his chin and remarked with feeling, "Perhaps Qin Shi Huang truly drained the Dragon energy and severed the Dragon vein. Otherwise, there's no reason why such a strategically located place, nestled like a crouching tiger and coiled dragon, should be cursed with every dynasty establishing its capital here being short-lived. The Ming dynasty is an exception, of course, though it might have been in danger too if Zhu Di hadn't moved the capital."

The Doctor felt chills running down his spine at Lu Zigang's words and urged him, "The compass has messed up the timing again, let's hurry back. Speaking of which, when did the Boss serve as an Embroidered Uniform Guard? That feiyi uniform was quite dashing! But I got the feeling the Boss might have noticed us just now?"

"Probably not... Otherwise he would have come to check." Lu Zigang didn't sound entirely confident either. He looked down at the compass in his hand and saw the needle wasn't spinning quickly - it would take a while longer to reset.

"How much longer? I don't want to keep peeping through windows here. What if that young man comes inside, how would we explain... Ah!"The doctor suddenly gasped in a low voice, causing Lu Zigang to look up just in time to see the youth raising a sharp sword horizontally, intending to take his own life. The doctor couldn't bear to witness such disregard for human life and immediately rushed forward to intervene, but Lu Zigang grabbed his arm firmly, his expression stern as he said in a low voice, "Have you forgotten what I told you before we set out? Do not interfere with history that has already happened!"

"But..." The doctor's face flushed with urgency, and he was about to shout to stop the youth's suicide attempt when, before he could utter a word, he saw the youth's sword pause mid-air. The youth then turned and sprinted out of the courtyard gate. The doctor was taken aback, puzzled, and asked, "What happened to him?"

"Let's chase after him and ask for an explanation. He might think the Boss is deceiving him, but based on my experience, the Boss was telling the truth." Lu Zigang shrugged, visibly relaxing. Regardless of whether the youth ultimately took his own life or not, at least it didn't happen in front of them. And frankly, this youth was already a part of ancient history—they were merely observers.

Seeing the doctor's worried expression, Lu Zigang felt a faint unease settle in his heart.

He could easily treat these time-travel journeys as immersive holographic films, but could the doctor do the same?

"What do you think will happen to that youth in the future?" the doctor fretted, pushing his glasses up on the bridge of his nose.

As a white light flared from the compass, Lu Zigang replied calmly, "For us, he's already long dead."

(End of Chapter)