Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 759 (1): Spring of the Northern Lands

When they returned to the capital, it was the height of the Lunar New Year celebrations.

By the time they left Chang’an, the snow had already stopped. But upon arrival in the imperial capital, a light snowfall dusted the streets. It was not heavy, just enough to paint a picturesque scene. There were children in felt hats resembling a tiger’s head running about, building snowmen, while firecrackers crackled across the city, filling the air with festive fervor.

The three of them chose not to disturb the city’s defenses, instead descending into a secluded area from above. They led Snow-Treading Crow through the streets, smiling as they took in the sights of the capital.

It had been some time since they’d last been here. Back when Lu Jianzhang and his ilk had courted death, the city had been eerily quiet. Now, the atmosphere had begun to thaw, as if the city itself was awakening with the promise of spring. Though it still could not compare to the bustling grandeur of Chang’an, it was finally beginning to show signs of life.

That battle had sent ripples far and wide, yet under Tang Wanzhuang’s careful management, the purge had not spread indiscriminately. Even Qin Dingjiang and his men had been released, and the common folk remained unaffected. For all the bloodshed, it turned out that ninety-nine percent of those slain had been nothing more than parasites.

It was a testament to a simple truth: prosperity was built by the people, not by the so-called aristocratic families that dined on gold and jade.

“Ah—!” A little girl lost her footing in the snow and tumbled forward with a muffled plop, but instead of landing face-first in the slush, she found herself sprawled against a long, elegant leg.

Dazed, she looked up to see a beautiful, gentle-looking young woman crouching down to pick her up. Smiling warmly, the woman brushed the snow off of her and said, “Hey, you have to watch where you’re going... Where are your parents?”

“Mom called me home for dumplings.”

Huangfu Qing chuckled, lifting the girl in her arms and walking towards a nearby alley. “Is it this way?”

“Yeah, yeah~ Auntie, you’re so pretty! And you smell really nice.”

“...Not too long ago, people still called me the little lady of the capital. Call me big sister.”

The girl gave her a once-over and decided she was not convinced.

Huangfu Qing ground her teeth. “Why are people praying in this alley...?”

“Some are praying to Buddha, some to the Four Idols.”

“And which do you think is better?”

“Buddha. He’s round and chubby. He’s really cute.”

“The Four Idols are better. Let me tell you, Vermillion Bird is as pretty as big sister here. And they can light firecrackers without a spark.” Huangfu Qing sneakily slipped the girl a golden spinning monk-top. “See? This is Buddha.”

The girl took the toy and was instantly delighted. “Thank you, big sister!”

“Eh? Aren’t you supposed to believe in the Four Idols now?”

Behind them, Zhao Changhe and Yue Hongling followed in stunned silence, their heads turning in perfect unison as they watched Huangfu Qing disappear into the alley with the child. Then, just as synchronized, they turned to stare at each other—both were still frozen mid-motion, arms half-raised as if they had been about to catch the girl themselves.

Neither had expected Huangfu Qing to beat them to it. freewёbnoνel.com

And they certainly had not expected... whatever this was.

One had to wonder if this child’s family knew that the person returning their daughter was the Empress Dowager herself, what sort of expression would they have? Not to mention the fact that she had just bribed their child with a toy to undermine the Buddhist faith in favor of the Four Idols.

...Where the hell was she even hiding that top?

Is this really the same Venerable Vermillion Bird who once shook the world with her power? I mean, even just a dozen days ago, she bathed Jinzhong in blood, leaving an untold number of corpses in her wake. How is this even the same person?

“...Is my understanding of Big Sister Vermillion Bird somehow flawed?” Yue Hongling was beginning to doubt herself. She turned to Zhao Changhe and asked, “I always heard she was a great demon, but after getting to know her... she doesn’t seem that way at all.”

“What, did you expect her to tear you apart on sight?”

Yue Hongling tilted her head and answered, “Well, yeah. And to be honest, I wanted to tear her apart, too. I thought she’d be terrifying. But it turns out... she’s actually quite easy to get along with.”

Zhao Changhe hesitated for a moment. He wondered if Chichi and Wanzhuang would agree with that assessment. Also, if anyone were to be truly terrifying to Yue Hongling, it was probably going to be Chichi.

As they chatted, Huangfu Qing emerged from the alley, still smiling in that rare, almost maternal way.

Seeing her expression, Zhao Changhe could not help but chuckle. “What, managed to recruit another little follower for the cult?”

Huangfu Qing grinned. “There’s no need for any recruitment. The capital already belongs to the Four Idols. I took a look at what they call Buddhist worship here, and I saw that it’s just a formality. There’s a fat little statue sitting there, and when I asked people which Buddha it was, they all said Vairocana. But in reality, it was the Medicine Buddha Bhaisajyaguru. They don’t even know as much as I do. Meanwhile, every household has carvings or statues of the Four Idols, and they can all recite a few of the cult’s tenets. Looks like they’ve done a good job. Even that damned Tang Clan hasn’t been meddling too much.”

In high spirits, she reached out and playfully scratched Zhao Changhe’s chin, her tone teasing, “It wouldn’t look good for me to wander the streets with you, so I’ll head back and rest. I won’t disturb your so-called noble and heroic mission of investigating the people’s lives with your heroine. Little He~ Take care of yourself tonight.”

With that, she transformed into a shower of sparks and vanished into the palace.

Zhao Changhe wanted to protest that he had no intentions of “investigating the people’s lives,” but before he could get a word in, Huangfu Qing was already gone.

Yue Hongling chuckled. “Then why don’t you take me to your house?”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“What’s wrong?”

“What house? I don’t have one.”

Yue Hongling’s first reaction was admiration. What a selfless warrior, fighting for the empire all this time without even securing a home for himself!

This was followed by realization. Selfless, my ass! He’s obviously staying in the palace, and who knows what kind of nonsense he gets up to there! He probably doesn’t even have a designated chamber, just sleeping wherever he pleases!

Her expression darkened. With a huff, she stomped forward and gave him a hard kick, then stormed off.

Zhao Changhe yelped, clutching his shin as he hopped after her, grinning apologetically.

Yue Hongling shot him a sideways glance. “So, where to now? Back to the palace, Little He?”

Zhao Changhe had half a mind to suggest the Tang Clan’s estate, but seeing Yue Hongling’s sour expression, he quickly changed course and laughed nervously. “Nowhere in particular, just strolling around. Uh... how about we buy a house?”

Yue Hongling burst into laughter. “Can you even afford one?”

Zhao Changhe’s expression stiffened for a moment. He really could not afford it.

No matter where he went, whether it was the imperial palace or the Spirit Tribe, he could take whatever he wanted at will. But when it came to actual money, he had never really carried much. He had always just tossed several ingots of silver into his storage ring, which was enough to get by on the road. After all, there was never a shortage of people in need, and Zhao Changhe himself had little desire for material wealth.

Thinking back, the wealthiest period of his life had actually been right after he left the Cui Clan, which was when his father-in-law had generously provided him with travel funds.

Yue Hongling took one look at his face and could already guess the truth. It was honestly hilarious. Who would have thought that King Zhao, the warrior who had swept across the land to become tenth on the Ranking of Heaven, and now held the highest rank of nobility in the empire, would have nothing to his name but a few bits of silver? He was always carrying just his blades, his bow, and his wine. Was he a man who possessed everything under heaven, or was he just a glorified beggar?

Of course, he could have as much as he wanted at any time, but the fact remained that he had never even thought to accumulate wealth for himself. It was proof that this man had never truly acted out of personal greed.

If there was one indulgence, perhaps it was his wayward heart when it came to women. Aside from that... Yue Hongling sometimes wondered if this man was a saint.

Then again, thinking about it, being fickle in love was not such a bad thing. At least it proved he was still human.

She sighed softly, her previously sour expression easing up as she reached down to hold his hand. The snow fell gently around them as they walked.

“Why go anywhere in particular?” she murmured. “Just walk with me. Let me see... your empire.”

Zhao Changhe said nothing in return. He simply tightened his grip on her hand and walked with her through the capital’s bustling streets.

Firecrackers popped endlessly in the background, and the lingering scent of gunpowder filled the air. It was oddly pleasant. Red banners and Spring Festival couplets adorned every household, lending the city a warm and festive atmosphere.

This was the third Lunar New Year since Zhao Changhe had arrived in this world.

The first, he had spent with Yue Hongling in a mountain stronghold. The second, he had been rushing from place to place, missing the celebrations entirely. The third would have been the same, except now, he could fly. From Beihai at dawn to Cangwu by dusk[1], never again bound by the hardships of travel. And so, he found himself once more walking hand in hand with Yue Hongling. This time, through his city.

Every smiling face they passed filled him with a sense of peace. All the battles fought, the bloodshed endured, it had all been for this. Suddenly, he understood Huangfu Qing’s earlier behavior. It was not that she had become softer. It was simply that Vermillion Bird, the rebel, and Huangfu Qing, the girl who had spent her youth in the capital, were not the same person. Seeing the world she fought for finally take shape, she had found the meaning behind her struggle.

“Eh... isn’t that Yue Hongling?” Finally, someone among the crowd recognized them. Strangely enough, it was not Zhao Changhe they noticed first but Yue Hongling.

A few cautious onlookers began approaching. Their peaceful moment was interrupted, and Zhao Changhe scowled, “You’ve got the wrong person! This is just a knockoff of Yue Hongling!”

“King...” This time, someone recognized him. The approaching footsteps hesitated for a beat but then, rather than retreating, more people began gathering around. “King Zhao can fly now? Wasn’t he in Chang’an just yesterday? How is he already back here today?”

A follower of the Four Idols Cult puffed out his chest and declared, “This is our venerated god, the Night Emperor! A true god! Flight is nothing more than a trivial feat for him!”

1. I believe that the Beihai being mentioned here is the more ancient Beihai, which was in Shandong (around the northeast of China). This statement thus refers to moving across China from the northeast to southwest. ☜