Book 12: Chapter 39

Cold Mountain Temple’s four senior monks were abbreviated as “Feng, Hua, Xing, Jiu,” but their order of ranking was actually the reverse. Mianhua, Ruxing and Doujiu all excelled in certain facets of martial arts. In contrast, Xun Feng, who had yet to turn nineteen, wasn’t equipped with noteworthy martial prowess. The reason he was still ranked alongside the three was attributed to his extensive knowledgebase.

In the past, Xun Feng travelled with his fellow monks to the Western Regions’ Lotus Sect to promote their beliefs. It was during the dangerous debacle that imprinted his name in the memories of other monks. He was able to drop over a dozen dangerous monks in one fell-swoop, and, although “he” won and stopped the havoc, Xun Feng’s accomplishment won him a spot as one of Cold Mountain Temple’s Divine Monks.

Beyond his fame as a public speaker, people were willing to pay fifteen gold for a single poem he wrote in the spur of the moment. Said poem consisted of only four words, “Makes absolutely no sense,” yet the buyer praised it to the high heavens at a brothel. Specifically, he said, “Venerable Xun Feng’s poems are available for viewing everywhere, but when have you seen these four words before? I don’t care if you want to bid for it or take a look. Get in line.”

Suffice to say, rich customers were willing to fork out for a lady’s smile. In the end, it sold for a thousand gold. That was how the “’Makes absolutely no sense’ is Worth a Thousand Gold” became a popular story at a brothel.

Song Chi’s “Jade Gentleman” nickname in Jiangnan alluded to his handsome flower-boy appearance. The imperial court would struggle to find a few employees of theirs who could give him a run for his money. While Song Clan wasn’t famous for their martial arts exploits, Song Chi made a name for himself in the field through his innovations that compensated for the shortcomings in Song Clan’s disciplines. As he held first place alongside Lian Zhuiyue on “Seventeen Hidden Wyrms” rankings, there was a phrase that went, “Southern Song, Northern Zhuiyue.” If he was the one Shen Yiren was engaged to, Emperor Yuansheng would likely have been celebrating every day.

In the pugilistic world, Bai Yumo and Jin Zhaoying were among what they called “Seven Jade Goddesses”, which was a name derived from the fact that all seven of them were members of the Seven Champion White Princes, but it existed to highlight their beauty, prestigious statues and skills.

Emperor Yuansheng didn’t know a lot about Seven Jade Goddesses because he went out of his way to follow their news. He was informed because Black Robe Brotherhood’s member in the group was his daughter – Princess Hongzhuang. Owing to her character, it didn’t take long for her to hit it off with the six other maidens.

The seven maidens formed an alliance to enforce peace in the martial world and participated in philanthropy endeavours. Just recently, they resolved a tough situation in the northwest. Popularity-wise, they were more famous than Seventeen Hidden Wyrms. In terms of strength, if Li Hongzhuang was the measuring stick, then the seven could qualify for a spot on Seventeen Hidden Dragons.

Today was Emperor Yuansheng’s first time meeting Bai Yumo. While she was gifted with an adorable appearance and unlikely to be insanely strong given they were seventeen years old, at most, Bai Clan was infamous for having weird descendants, so… Emperor Yuansheng needed to be on his toes.

Seventeen year old Jin Zhaoying came to the capital seven years ago and entered Daren Academy with the highest academic score, becoming a sensation right away. Two years later, the tutors at the academy all said, “There is nothing we can teach her.” Once she read something once, she’d never forget it. Everyone was surprised when the reticent maiden expressed herself bluntly and showed perspectives most wouldn’t think of on papers; she didn’t mince her words when denouncing the pros and cons of current affairs. When she got into a long debate with displeased scholars across the land, young scholars flocked to the capital to meet her and show off. Many of them wanted to win her affection in order to use Gold and Silver Sect as their launch pad. Unfortunately for them, they ended up becoming her launch pad to stardom.

The academy was designed to nurture talent, and the imperial court didn’t forbid women from working as civil servants. No matter which department, who tried or what they offered, nobody could entice Jin Zhaoying to offer her service.

Five years had passed since Jin Zhaoying rose to frame. Howbeit, she still resided at Daren Academy’s Flower Plucking Palace alone with her attendant.

Ling Shaoxuan’s appearance was still fresh in Emperor Yuansheng’s mind as Ling Ruoyun’s substitute at Luo Ming’s Refining Divine Convention. Of the five, he was the most uneasy for he never explained the reason he criticised Emperor Yuansheng after the fact.

In certain ways, the five were famous. Their backgrounds were nothing to scoff at. Still, the five combined still had no business negotiating with the imperial court. They weren’t even important members of authority in their respective clans. At most, they were potential successors of their factions. A single head of the Seven Champion White Princes amounted to more than all five of them combined. As a head, they had the duty to feed countless people. Therefore, they had a place speaking to a monarch who had the duty to feed everyone under his rule and maintain the peace. No amount of academic excellence or martial prowess could compensate. Since he understood this, Emperor Yuansheng didn’t have the faintest idea what the White Princes were plotting. For what end would they occupy his agents with their heads’ movements so that the five could sneak into the capital?

Song Chi stepped forward.

Trivia

Southern Chi, Northern Zhuiyue – For the privy, it is likely a spin-off of Jin Yong’s Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils’ Murong Fu and Qiao Feng – Northern Qiao Feng, Southern Murong.

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