Martial Arts Competition to Delight the Heart

Atop the phoenix throne sat a woman of regal elegance. Her slender, fair fingers moved rhythmically in time with the music of strings and flutes, and the golden phoenix hairpin in her hair swayed gently, producing a melodious chime. She was luxuriating in the pleasures of life as Empress Dowager.

A gentle smile played at the corners of Yun Feiyue’s lips as she stepped slowly into the Garden of Blossoms. “Your Majesty, Empress Dowager; Lady Yun, Lady Hua…” she greeted each of them in turn, relying on her memory.

“Oh, it’s Yue’er! Come, sit quickly,” the Empress Dowager Nangong called out with great warmth.

Yun Feiyue smiled sweetly. “Yue’er thanks Your Majesty for your kindness.”

The Empress Dowager laughed behind her hand. “Yue’er, you grow ever more sensible and thoughtful! But I’ve heard that lately, there’s been some discord between you and Yan’er?”

Yun Feiyue turned her head to look at Gongsun Ziyan, who stood not far off, and shook her head. “There’s nothing of the sort. My relationship with Miss Gongsun is just as it has always been.”

“Oh?” The Empress Dowager regarded Yun Feiyue with suspicion, but after a moment she nodded. “If that’s so, then there’s nothing to worry about. Yue’er, it’s been over three years since you left the capital, hasn’t it?”

Yun Feiyue nodded. “Indeed, it will be four years in just a few months.”

The Empress Dowager’s gaze shifted to the small child beside Yun Feiyue, the one she had already heard much about from Gongsun Ziyan—a child so astonishing he seemed almost otherworldly.

She extended her finger, encased in an ornate guard, pointing at the boy. “And who is this little fellow?”

The boy smiled and bowed to her. “Your Majesty, I am Little Mumu.”

The Empress Dowager beckoned him. “Little Mumu, come sit with me, won’t you?”

Little Mumu glanced at Yun Feiyue. Though his heart was reluctant to leave his mother’s side, he was compelled to step into the arms of the old crone. He forced a bright smile and made his way slowly toward the Empress Dowager.

She studied him carefully, then pursed her lips in a smile. “This little one is quite the fresh-faced beauty. I hear from Ziyan that he’s already reached the fourth tier of martial cultivation—a true prodigy!”

Little Mumu shook his head, eyes wide with feigned innocence. “But I’m only three! I don’t know anything at all. What is martial cultivation? Is it something you can eat?”

Gongsun Ziyan’s expression shifted at these words. This little rascal was at it again, feigning innocence and playing cute!

Just as the Empress Dowager reached out to test Little Mumu’s abilities, Lady Yun suddenly interjected, “Come here, Mumu, let Aunt hold you!” With a forced smile, she swiftly pulled the boy away from the Empress Dowager’s grasp.

Lady Yun was Yun Hen’s younger sister and thus Yun Feiyue’s aunt by blood. She had resided in the palace for many years, mother to the Eighth Prince, now titled Duke of Chu and charged with defending the borders.

Though the Empress Dowager was displeased with Lady Yun, she dared not show it in public. She forced a laugh, her gaze flickering with a trace of malice.

At that moment, Gongsun Ziyan rose and approached Yun Feiyue with a smile. “Sister Yue, I have offended you often in the past. Now that I recognize my errors, I hope you won’t hold a grudge. This cup of wine is my apology to you.”

She took a cup from a maid’s tray and offered it to Yun Feiyue.

Yun Feiyue glanced at the wine and saw the faint expectancy in Gongsun Ziyan’s gaze—immediately sensing something amiss.

She pushed the cup away. “Ziyan, I’m sorry. Since my health faltered, I’ve stopped drinking. You drink it yourself.”

Gongsun Ziyan forced a smile, her tone insistent. “Sister, this wine is my apology. If you refuse it, it means you look down on me.”

“Indeed, it’s good you know yourself. I do look down on you,” Yun Feiyue replied, rubbing her forehead, tired of being forced to speak the truth.

The smile froze on Gongsun Ziyan’s face, her hand trembling. Yun Feiyue, don’t be so arrogant!

“Very well, then let it be said I’m asking for trouble myself. Oh, woe is me, I know Sister looks down on me, yet I still try to win her favor…” Gongsun Ziyan put on a wounded expression and looked toward the Empress Dowager.

The Empress Dowager looked at her with fondness. “Yan’er, never mind. Yue’er has always been like this—proud and aloof, the sort of foolishness only youth can afford.”

Lady Yun immediately picked up the thread. “Indeed, our Yue’er is like a snow lotus blossoming on the Tianshan peaks: proud, cold, and beautiful—no weed or roadside wildflower could compare. Wild grass grows everywhere and may lack character, but the snow lotus is a rare treasure. How could it not be proud?”

Her meaning was clear: Yun Feiyue was the snow lotus, Gongsun Ziyan nothing more than wild grass or a common flower.

Gongsun Ziyan, future daughter-in-law to the Empress Dowager, could hardly accept such an insult. “Even wildflowers and grass have their worth.”

Lady Yun covered her mouth and laughed. “Oh, absolutely! Wildflowers and grass are there to be trampled. If they can’t even accept that, then truly, they have no value at all.”

The Empress Dowager bit her lip in anger; it was obvious that Lady Yun had won this round.

“Hmph!” The Empress Dowager gave a cold laugh and turned to Yun Feiyue. “Yue’er, the new ranking for the Heavenly Martial List is about to begin, and as the top of the Azure Martial List, you must represent our Chu Kingdom in the heavenly rankings. The kingdom’s honor is at stake. Are you prepared?”

Yun Feiyue didn’t know why the Empress Dowager asked, but given her nature, it was certainly not out of concern, but some ulterior motive.

Yun Feiyue answered honestly, shaking her head. “I am not prepared. I forgot to discuss this with Your Majesty. My third brother, Yun Feng, will compete in my stead. You need not trouble yourself with these matters.”

The Empress Dowager looked at Yun Feiyue in shock. In the past, Yun Feiyue had been fiercely competitive, never giving up on any match, even when gravely injured. Had she truly changed?

“Yue’er, I have always placed great hopes on you. You are a rare talent for our Chu Kingdom. If you do not participate in the ranking this time, and something goes amiss, would that not bring shame to our nation?”

Yun Feiyue rubbed her temples. “Your Majesty, surely the honor or shame of Chu Kingdom has little to do with me? When I was ambushed years ago and nearly died, I never saw anyone from Chu come to my aid. Now that my health is poor, these rankings mean nothing to me. Whoever wants first place can have it! As for the Heavenly Martial List, I have no strength to contend for it.”

A mocking smile tugged at Gongsun Ziyan’s lips. “Once, Sister Yue was the unrivaled number one in the land—no one dared challenge your authority. To see you fall from the Azure Martial List now… oh, how it pains me!”

“Then pain is something you’ll just have to get used to,” Yun Feiyue said, picking up a pastry and about to eat it, but something felt off. She put it down and looked up at Gongsun Ziyan, who was watching her intently.

At last, Gongsun Ziyan spoke. “Sister Yue, you know that if someone wants to relinquish their place on the Azure Martial List, there’s only one way—by being defeated. I understand your wish to leave the list, so I propose a match. If I win, you’ll naturally fall from the rankings. Sister, will you accept my challenge?”

Gongsun Ziyan knew that Yun Feiyue was now unable to fight; if they competed, her victory was certain.

Yun Feiyue let out a derisive laugh and shook her head. “Sorry, I refuse.”

At that moment, the Empress Dowager interjected. “Yue’er, since Ziyan has so sincerely invited you and it’s for your own good, you should not decline. Today, I command it: you and Ziyan will have a friendly match. A little martial contest is good for the spirit, after all.”