Chapter 83: Discussing the Wedding Date!
After the passing of the dark clouds, the evening sky seemed all the clearer, not dim at all, but instead a lucid blue. Beyond the capital, the thousand-mile canal shimmered with a faint luster under the setting sun.
Cheng Guang glanced at the gleaming water, unable to see through to the monsters lurking beneath, and so, with Lin Cheng and Xu Hongfei, he returned to the Duke Protector's residence.
Tonight, the entrance of the Duke Protector's mansion was markedly different. Usually, only two guards stood at the gate, but this evening there were four more. These four were clearly not household guards; rather, they looked like seasoned veterans straight from the battlefield. Though they wore plain black clothing, each carried a horse-chopping saber on their back. Even at a distance, Cheng Guang could sense the chilling aura emanating from their blades.
“These men are all hardened warriors who survived the battlefield, their martial skills are formidable—each one is a true brave,” Cheng Guang thought. He knew these guards likely served under Duke Protector Cheng Shiyuan himself. Did their presence mean Cheng Shiyuan had returned?
Cheng Guang considered the possibility, but found it unlikely. The Duke Protector was almost always stationed near the borderlands and would not leave unless for extraordinary circumstances. So why were these veterans here? Was there another reason? He couldn’t make sense of it and, ultimately, didn’t care. His mind at present was occupied with the matters of the demon clans and the missing Crown Prince. The situation with these old soldiers was of little importance.
Entering the vestibule, Cheng Guang felt their piercing gazes, as if probing and assessing him. He met their eyes calmly, undaunted. These men were not household staff, yet they dared look at him so?
Just as he was thinking this, the four veterans’ expressions softened. A look of appreciation flickered across their faces, and they bowed slightly, showing respect.
“Young Master, General Qin has arrived and wishes to discuss the wedding date with you,” one of them said, stepping aside to let Cheng Guang through with deference.
General Qin? Wedding date? These men were brought by General Qin?
Suddenly, Cheng Guang remembered the marriage his parents had arranged for him—the one with the cold beauty, Qin Yanqiu. So this General Qin was his future father-in-law, and these old soldiers were his retinue. Instantly, everything became clear.
General Qin had come to discuss the wedding date with Cheng Zhihai and the others; the marriage was now settled. Such matters required little of his involvement—the custom of the era was for parents to handle these affairs. All he had to do was wait quietly for marriage.
Cheng Guang nodded and entered the vestibule. The four veterans who moments ago scrutinized him now respectfully made way.
Returning to Myriad Phenomena Garden, Cheng Guang saw Qingluan busy in the side room, already preparing his meal. For days, he had been out working on the demon case and hadn’t spent much time with her. Yet Qingluan never complained, always ensuring his meals and hot water for bathing were ready for his return.
A gentle warmth filled his heart. “Qingluan, you needn’t fuss. Just have the servants bring something simple to eat.”
Upon entering, Qingluan fetched hot water for him to wash his hands.
Cheng Guang smiled, “I’ve been out investigating every day. No need to wait up for me—if it’s late, go to bed early.”
Qingluan shook her head stubbornly. “How can I sleep before Young Master returns? At least let me see to your bath before I rest.”
Cheng Guang could only smile wryly, not sure what to say.
Qingluan’s eyes sparkled with an idea. “Why not let me accompany you on these investigations, Young Master?”
Cheng Guang was both amused and exasperated. “Nonsense, how could I bring a young lady with me on such matters? Everyone else is a rough fellow—it would be most inconvenient.”
“But after these days, I’ve already found significant clues about the demon clan’s whereabouts. This matter should be resolved soon.”
Qingluan’s pretty face showed surprise. Tilting her head in curiosity, she asked, “You’ve been investigating the demon clan this whole time? I thought you were searching for the missing Crown Prince. What does investigating the smuggled demons have to do with him? Or are you looking for Bai Shuxuan?”
Cheng Guang chuckled. “That’s something you don’t understand.”
Qingluan let out a soft “hmph,” her eyes still bright with curiosity, hoping for an explanation. But Cheng Guang offered none, lapsing into enigmatic silence once more.
Annoyed, Qingluan puffed her cheeks, her lips pouting. She wanted to pinch Cheng Guang’s waist but didn’t dare, so she just sulked in silence.
Cheng Guang found her reaction amusing. Just then, the steward Wang’s voice came from outside.
“Young Master, the master asks you to come to the main hall. General Qin wishes to see you.”
Qingluan was momentarily startled, then quickly recovered and ushered Cheng Guang to his feet. “Ah, I nearly forgot—General Qin arrived early this morning, but you were out investigating and didn’t know. He’s here to discuss your marriage with the family and has waited all day. You should go see him, it wouldn’t do to keep him waiting.”
She tidied Cheng Guang’s clothes—there was no time to change out of his Lamp Department uniform, so he simply went as he was. The uniform was presentable enough.
Leaving the courtyard, Cheng Guang headed straight for the main hall.
Inside the guest hall of the Duke Protector’s residence, many were already gathered.
“General Qin, please wait a moment. Guang’er has been summoned and will arrive shortly,” Wu Yuemei, seated at the head, said gently.
Beside her, Cheng Zhihai was all smiles as he addressed General Qin, “Qin Beifeng, this must be your first time meeting my son? He’s been making quite a name for himself lately. I don’t know if you’ve heard, but during the recent martial competitions between Wei and Zhou, he stood out among the academy students.”
Cheng Zhihai shamelessly boasted, not missing a beat.
General Qin—Qin Beifeng—nodded occasionally, but his attention was on the doorway, as if waiting for someone.
When he saw a tall figure approaching, his eyes lit up. He stood up and strode forward.
“So this is Guang’er? Truly, he is striking—much more so than his father! When I first saw your portrait, I could hardly believe you were the old Duke’s grandson, Cheng Zhihai’s son.”
As Qin Beifeng spoke, he scrutinized Cheng Guang’s features. He noted that even when facing him, Cheng Guang’s gaze was steady and unyielding—a quality that pleased him greatly. But more than the young man’s looks, it was his demeanor that impressed Qin Beifeng. Despite being heir to the Duke Protector, standing at the zenith of power in Great Zhou, he bore none of the arrogance or frivolity one might expect. Instead, his smile was warm, as gentle as a spring breeze.
Qin Beifeng was all the more satisfied. If the Duke’s heir had been crass or spoiled, he would have regretted marrying his daughter to him, despite having already agreed to the match. But now, he felt his choice was justified.
Qin Beifeng was warm and enthusiastic, and as he studied Cheng Guang, Cheng Guang did the same. Qin Beifeng appeared to be in his early thirties, tall and upright like a pine, exuding an imposing and resolute presence. His attire was simple—a dark green battle armor inlaid with gold patterns, a sword with a faint bloodstain at his waist, its blade catching the sunset in points of glimmering light.
His presence was extraordinary, his strength formidable. Cheng Guang realized that it wasn’t only because of the daughter’s beauty that he would gladly accept this father-in-law; such a man was a valuable ally in his own right.
“Uncle Qin,” Cheng Guang greeted respectfully after a brief appraisal.
Qin Beifeng quickly reached out to support him, not standing on ceremony.
They exchanged pleasantries, Qin Beifeng praising Cheng Guang’s looks while denigrating Cheng Zhihai’s, to which the latter took no offense, only smiling.
Cheng Guang, for his part, complimented Qin Beifeng’s commanding presence. Having learned the art of flattery from many colleagues in his previous life, he was even more adept than the old hands at court. Qin Beifeng, a straightforward military man, was soon beaming with delight.
Wu Yuemei, unable to contain her laughter, quickly intervened—if left unchecked, the two would spend all night praising each other.
Qin Beifeng, though reluctant, stopped, feeling as if he’d found a kindred spirit in Cheng Guang, wishing they could talk for days.
“Guang’er, this is your Uncle Qin—a general who served under your grandfather. His daughter, Qin Yanqiu, is your fiancée,” Wu Yuemei said gently. “We’ve just decided your wedding date: one month from now, after the royal festival. Before then, we can’t host a grand celebration, lest it overshadow the imperial event and draw criticism from the court.”
Cheng Guang nodded, understanding.
Cheng Zhihai asked, “Guang’er, do you have any questions about the date? If you think it’s too soon, we can postpone. We’d hoped you and Yanqiu could meet today, but she couldn’t make it due to unrest on the border.”
Cheng Guang shook his head—he had no objections. Qin Yanqiu was by all accounts an excellent match; to marry such a woman was a great stroke of luck. If anything, an earlier wedding would be no problem.
At this, Qin Beifeng sighed, his brow furrowed, a touch of helplessness in his gaze.
“Yanqiu is nothing like us, Guang’er. After marriage, please be understanding of her. She’s just shy, not unwilling to come.”
He made an excuse for his daughter but was still embarrassed.
Wu Yuemei reassured him, “It’s all right. I know Yanqiu’s temperament—aloof outside, warm within. If she didn’t come, it must be for a good reason.”
“She wouldn’t dare be rude to you,” Qin Beifeng protested, “If she were, I’d break her legs myself!”
Wu Yuemei chuckled. “No need, she’ll be our daughter-in-law. We wouldn’t have you injure her.”
Cheng Zhihai laughed, “Qin Beifeng, I know you too well. You dote on that girl—if you ever broke her legs, the sun would rise in the west!”
Qin Beifeng was unbothered, only grinning.
They chatted a while longer. As night fell, Qin Beifeng prepared to leave. Before going, he looked at Cheng Zhihai and asked, “You seem troubled lately. Is it about the missing Crown Prince? If you need my help, just say the word.”
Cheng Zhihai, half-amused and half-exasperated, replied, “You’re no help in investigations, you brute. Leave it to the Lamp Department.”
Qin Beifeng laughed, “Just as well. But if you’re forced into retirement, you can always keep me company while I dote on my future grandson.”
Cheng Zhihai’s face darkened. He had no retort.
Qin Beifeng, with a final thought, handed Cheng Guang a token. “Young Master, this will let you contact Yanqiu any time, even over a thousand miles. Spend some time getting to know each other before the wedding.”
With that, he departed, taking his veteran soldiers with him, riding a beast as black as night into the sky, vanishing in a blink.
Though not yet of the Celestial stage, Qin Beifeng’s cultivation was at the apex of the Martial Emperor realm—only a step away. If not for his post at the border, he would have held a high ministerial rank in the court.
After his departure, Cheng Guang returned home with Wu Yuemei and Cheng Zhihai. Wu Yuemei lamented missing Yanqiu, who she hadn’t seen in years. Cheng Zhihai seemed distracted, lost in thought, only responding absently.
As they neared their courtyard, Cheng Guang called his father aside.
Cheng Zhihai, puzzled, asked, “Guang’er, why are you following us? You’re too old to be sleeping with your parents!”
Cheng Guang waved him over. “Father, I have something to discuss.”
Noting his son’s serious expression, Cheng Zhihai sent Wu Yuemei ahead, then followed Cheng Guang to a pavilion.
Pouring tea, he asked, “What is it, Guang’er?”
Cheng Guang didn’t drink, fixing his gaze on his father. “I think I’ve found where the demon clan’s been smuggling themselves into the city. It’s not a simple matter—there’s likely a connection to the black-robed man, the missing Crown Prince.”
At these words, Cheng Zhihai’s expression changed. He knew the frequent demon crossings had been a ploy to lure him from the capital and facilitate an attempt on Cheng Guang’s life. When that failed, the recent turmoil at the martial contests of Wei and Zhou further distracted him from the demon smuggling issue. Now, with the Crown Prince’s involvement, everything seemed to connect.
He realized: the assassins and the disruptors at the contests were likely the same group. Thus, the demon crossings, the Crown Prince, and the black-robed figures were all interlinked.
Recalling the case files, something clicked in his mind—though still elusive.
In any case, these smuggled demons were certainly connected to the Crown Prince.
He asked, “Where did you discover their crossing point?”
Cheng Guang, now calm, sipped his tea. “The canal.”
“The canal?” Cheng Zhihai frowned. That had never occurred to him. The demon attacks had always happened far from the canal. But on reflection, every location was near a tributary.
The canal was vast, with numerous branches. No one had thought to connect the demon sightings with the waterways. But now, with Cheng Guang’s insight, he saw the pattern: too many coincidences are no coincidence.
He fell into deep thought, fingers tapping the table—a habit Cheng Guang shared.
He was no fool; as the head of the Lamp Department, he was shrewd indeed. Only his lack of focus had kept him from seeing it sooner. Now, with this clue, he realized the crossings and the canal were inextricably linked.
“Have you pinpointed the location?” he asked.
Cheng Guang nodded. “I have the general area.”
Cheng Zhihai was astounded—he hadn’t expected Cheng Guang to have come this far in just a week on the job. Even if others in the Lamp Department were also investigating, their results paled in comparison. If this proved true, it would be a major achievement—enough to earn a promotion.
He pressed, “Where is it?”
Cheng Guang produced a map, spread it on the stone table, and circled a spot.
“Here.”
Cheng Zhihai was taken aback—it was so close to Crane Island and the capital itself. He’d passed that stretch of canal many times, never suspecting anything amiss.
Was this a case of “darkness beneath the lamp”?
He stroked his chin, face darkening. The orchestrators of the demon crossings were supremely confident, believing themselves invisible to the Lamp Department and the city’s mighty. Even the emperor might be fooled.
But why were they so confident? The missing Crown Prince was not, in and of himself, that formidable. Could it be that more than just the Crown Prince was involved? Perhaps he’d allied himself not only with the demon clan, but with their Demon Emperor?
The thought made Cheng Zhihai’s scalp tingle. He gripped Cheng Guang’s arm tightly. “You didn’t investigate further yourself, did you? That’s no place for you.”
Cheng Guang reassured him. “I stopped once I found the general area.”
Cheng Zhihai relaxed—a little. If Cheng Guang had gone deeper, he might not have come back to report at all.
He pondered: the connection between the missing Crown Prince and the demon emperor suggested their motives were more than just luring him out for an assassination attempt on Cheng Guang. That was only one layer.
What was their true objective?
They’d tried to kill his son, then disrupted the contests, all to throw Great Zhou into chaos.
What else was coming? What was next for Great Zhou?
Suddenly, a thought struck Cheng Zhihai—the royal festival.
The missing Crown Prince must be plotting something for the royal festival. That was why the demon crossing point lay hidden so close to the capital.
A chill ran down his spine. If the demon emperor was involved and chaos broke out at the festival, not even the capital’s defenses might suffice. The strong might survive, but many, like Wu Yuemei, would not escape.
Mass casualties would spell disaster for Great Zhou.
Realizing this, Cheng Zhihai lost all thought of returning to his wife. He now knew the Crown Prince’s likely next move and had to prepare immediately.
He hurried away.
Cheng Guang, alone in the pavilion, sipped his tea and gazed at the moon. The cool silver light draped the earth in a silken veil.
“The demon smuggling matter is nearly resolved. The Crown Prince’s plans will be disrupted, and the disorder at the festival should be lessened. But to root him out entirely will not be easy. If we accuse the Southern Prince directly and he has a way to conceal his identity, we’ll be left empty-handed and the Lamp Department will only earn more enemies among the court.”
He pondered how best to approach the Southern Prince, hoping to find some evidence before the festival. If not, all he could do was wait and see if the prince would betray himself then.
After a while, Cheng Guang returned to his quarters, quickly washed, and prepared for sleep. He hadn’t rested properly in days, but now the matter was largely settled and could be left to Cheng Zhihai.
As Cheng Guang drifted off, Cheng Zhihai’s night was just beginning.
Knowing the demon emperor might be involved, he realized he could not act with just his Lamp Department deputies. He needed a Celestial master.
There were only two or three such experts in all Great Zhou, and the only one in the capital was the emperor himself.
Though reluctant to disturb him, Cheng Zhihai had no choice. He rushed to the palace and summoned the emperor from his bed.
The Great Zhou Emperor, disheveled and with lipstick marks still on his face, looked none too pleased at the interruption. He wondered if Cheng Zhihai was seeking revenge for his efforts to diminish the Lamp Department’s power.
But seeing Cheng Zhihai’s grave expression, he dismissed the thought. What could be so urgent?
Cheng Zhihai paid no heed to protocol. “Your Majesty, the demon matter is solved!”
He added proudly, “Guang’er solved it!”
The emperor was speechless. The demon matter? The recent smuggling? Those were trivial to him. He was about to wave Cheng Zhihai away when the latter continued, “Your Majesty, it’s not so simple. The missing Crown Prince is involved. There may even be a demon emperor behind it.”
At this, the emperor’s mood shifted. The Crown Prince colluding with the demon clan? And a demon emperor involved?
Though it sounded outlandish, nothing was beyond the Crown Prince. If a demon emperor was truly at play, it was a grave threat indeed.
He quickly donned his robes and strode out. “Show me where.”
Cheng Zhihai pointed to the map.
The emperor nodded and set out, Cheng Zhihai following close behind.
Across the capital, figures soared into the sky, their powerful presences converging on the canal.
The Lamp Department was in an uproar—officers were urgently summoned and galloped toward the canal.
The city’s nobles and ministers, roused from their beds, rushed outside in confusion.
“What’s happening?”
“The Lamp Department is mobilized, but even His Majesty is out?”
“Has some noble rebelled? But even that wouldn’t cause such a stir…”
“They’re heading for the canal—why?”
“No idea!”
Everyone was baffled.
In the Lamp Department’s ranks, Chen Qing and his companions made their way to the canal, suspecting the sudden mobilization was somehow linked to the Young Master, who after only a few days on the job, was already causing such commotion.
Xu Hongfei was with them, so all eyes turned to him.
“Xu Hongfei, what’s this about? Does it involve the Young Master?” Chen Qing voiced the question on everyone’s mind.
They all knew Xu Hongfei had recently been following the Young Master. Though unaware of the details, they considered him extremely fortunate.
They didn’t realize that they themselves had once had the same opportunity, which they had foolishly given up—a memory that now filled them with regret.
Xu Hongfei, with a mysterious smile, replied, “I can’t say. But you all underestimate the Young Master.”
Having spent time with Cheng Guang, Xu Hongfei now had the air of a riddle-master himself.
The others ground their teeth in frustration, but before they could complain, the call for silence came from the senior officers.
“Quiet!”
They fell silent and pressed on toward the canal.
…
(End of chapter)