Chapter 31: Internal and External Affairs
Chapter 31: Internal and External Affairs
Xu Hongyu returned to her Main Hall with a cold expression.
Indeed, she had no intelligence or evidence pointing to He Mingxuan, but such matters required no suspicion. Chen Mu was a Senior Patrol Officer she had promoted, and he hadn't even been transferred to the Headquarters yet. He wouldn't attract any attention, and the fact that so many people could sneak into the Nine Streets, even bypassing Min Baoyi's informants, indicated that there was an insider within the City Guard Headquarters collaborating with them.
Aside from He Mingxuan, she couldn't think of anyone else. With so many complex issues at hand, she had no time to indulge in He Mingxuan's games of calculation. Using this method to forcefully intimidate him was an act of desperation.
"Miss, a message from Inspector Min."
Xu Hongyu returned to her Side Hall, where a maid in a green short robe approached with a note. She addressed Xu Hongyu not as the District Prefect or Lady Xu, but as a familiar term.
This maid had grown up with Xu Hongyu, training in martial arts by her side. Now, she held no official rank or position within the City Guard, but she was Xu Hongyu's most trusted confidant.
"Do you want your sister to go to the Inner City for martial arts training?"
Xu Hongyu took the note from the maid, Xiaohuo, and glanced at it, nodding slightly. "That's fine. Approved. You handle the arrangements. Send her to the Yu Family Martial Academy and tell them she's my person."
Xiaohuo replied softly, "Yes."
"Alright, you may leave. I need to rest for a while."
Xu Hongyu waved her hand, and Xiaohuo bowed slightly before withdrawing.
Xu Hongyu was left alone. She lay down on the short table behind her, her eyes revealing a hint of fatigue. She was truly unskilled in the art of political maneuvering, manipulating various parties, and building influence. It was much simpler to fight and kill with a sword. Sometimes, she really wanted to slash He Mingxuan's insincere smile with her sword, but being in the position of the District Prefect, she couldn't act on this impulse.
Killing with a sword was easy, but afterward, she couldn't explain it, and could only resign in disgrace, giving up her position as the District Prefect. This would be like handing over the entire Southern City Guard to someone else, making it difficult to account to the Yu Family later.
On many occasions, to avoid being used as a pawn, she had to keep a low profile and feign depth.
Fortunately, she still had Xiaohuo to provide her with advice and strategies.
She was waiting for the day when someone more suitable from the Yu Family would take over the position of the District Prefect, and she would be free. Afterward, she would rather escort salt transport convoys, traversing mountains and rivers, fighting bandits and demons, than continue with this tedious task.
She felt mentally exhausted.
...
Meanwhile, Chen Mu returned home.
He mentioned to Chen Yue the possibility of arranging for her to train in martial arts in the Inner City.
The young girl readily agreed, even though she wasn't particularly fond of martial arts. But since it was Chen Mu's arrangement, she would do it well, believing that even if she couldn't help Chen Mu, she shouldn't cause him trouble.
Chen Mu didn't know that Chen Yue thought this way. He assumed she also enjoyed martial arts, as he had been telling her stories for two to three years—stories like Hua Mulan taking her father's place in the army, and the Female Emperor who chose to wait in the mortal world for her brother's return... In any case, he wanted to cultivate a strong and unyielding spirit in the young girl, making it easier for her to pursue either martial arts or academics in the future.
The next day, after Chen Mu finished his morning skin tempering technique, the old servant reported that a woman had come to visit.
Chen Mu thought it was Xu Hongyu herself, and he was surprised. But when he went to greet her at the entrance, he saw a girl dressed in a plain green robe. She didn't possess the cold beauty of Xu Hongyu, but she had the delicate charm of a jade lotus.
Furthermore, from her movements, he could sense that she was skilled in martial arts. Her steps were steady, and her breathing was long and controlled, giving Chen Mu an impression that was no less than that of Inspector Min Baoyi. Such a person was rarely seen in the Outer City, let alone a young woman.
"I am Chen Mu, and this young lady is..."
"I've served the District Prefect since I was young, and without an official position, Elder Chen calls me Xiaohuo. Miss has sent me to escort your sister to the Inner City." Xiaohuo bowed slightly towards Chen Mu, her demeanor graceful and poised.
Chen Mu returned the bow, marveling at Xu Hongyu's noble upbringing. Even her maidservant was exceptional, with her composed and respectful mannerisms, not to mention her hidden martial prowess.
"Yue'er!"
Chen Mu called out to his sister as he turned around.
When the old servant had reported earlier, he had already instructed Chen Yue to prepare.
After calling out, Chen Yue approached the doorway, glanced at Xiaohuo, and blinked, saying, "Is my sister the District Prefect? She's so beautiful."
Xiaohuo smiled gently and said, "I'm just the young lady's maidservant, with a humble appearance. How can I compare to the young lady? But you, sister, are as graceful as flowing water. At your age, it's not too late to start martial training, and you might achieve greatness in the future."
As Xiaohuo observed Chen Mu and Chen Yue, her gaze unmoving, she nodded slightly, thinking to herself that the person Miss had chosen was indeed exceptional. The siblings each had their unique strengths. Chen Mu's demeanor was calm and steady, with a glint of intelligence in his eyes, and his actions were respectful without a hint of overstepping. Moreover, his extraordinary understanding allowed him to cultivate blade aura on his own, indicating a promising future.
As for Chen Yue, although she didn't display any martial prowess at the moment, her eyes didn't reveal her constitution or talent. But beneath her seemingly simple and adorable appearance, her eyes were sharp and lively. Her words, though spoken like a naive girl, seemed to be a mix of genuine thoughts and intention. Having served Xu Hongyu for many years and encountered countless individuals, Xiaohuo, as a maidservant skilled in observing people, could discern that her words were half genuine and half calculated.
If only Miss could also...
Sigh.
Xiaohuo shook her head slightly, then smiled and said to Chen Yue, "If you're ready, let's go, sister. On the way, I'll tell you about the rules of the Yu Family Martial Academy."
Chen Yue opened her big, adorable eyes and asked, "After I go to the Inner City... can I still come back to see my brother?"
Before Xiaohuo could respond, Chen Mu patted Chen Yue's forehead and said, "Focus on your training in the Inner City. I'll visit you there when I have time. Once your skills are honed, you can go wherever you wish."
The Inner City and Outer City were like two different worlds.
As far as Chen Mu understood, the martial academies in the Inner City, especially the main branches of families like the Yu Family, were more akin to the wandering style of chivalrous warriors.
Those who trained in the Inner City's martial academies were either from influential families or wealthy and talented. They often didn't experience the desperate struggles of the Outer City, where even a bun could spark a deadly fight. Thus, their perspectives on the world were vastly different.
In the Outer City, occasional murders would occur, with some gentry members meeting their demise in their own homes.
Sometimes, it wasn't just thugs breaking in at night, but young martial artists from the Inner City 'acting chivalrously.'
Many young martial artists would even venture out of the city to train, hunting down demonic creatures and beasts, and clearing out bandits. They competed for fame, and Xu Hongyu was once among them.
Chen Yue had experienced the hardships of the Outer City and would now enter the Inner City, an environment where she could grow and train. In Chen Mu's eyes, this was a good thing, allowing her to gain a more comprehensive understanding of the world and gradually form her own beliefs.
(End of Chapter)
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