Great Jin, Jingtai Year Nine, June 14th.

A full day had passed since Chen Yuan ascended to the position of Heavenly Envoy of the Heavenly Inspection Department, and everyone in the capital who should and shouldn't know about it, knew.

Chen Yuan's popularity was unparalleled.

No,

To be precise, ever since Chen Yuan returned to the capital from Liangzhou, his popularity had been unmatched. He was the center of discussion for idle people in the capital, truly living on 'hot searches'.

It's not that everyone paid attention to him, but those who did were definitely not few.

For a time, the capital was shaken again.

Chen Yuan himself felt that the people of the capital were numb with shock...

And this, in the eyes of some people, was far from reaching its peak. The clamor and discussion in the capital, and the information coming from the palace, basically made it certain that the Emperor intended to recruit Chen Yuan as his son-in-law!

Princess Pingyang, who had always been very resistant to marriage, did not issue a clarification about this, which was clearly a sign that good things were about to happen.

Adding to this the fact that Chen Yuan was ennobled as a Marquis of Ten Thousand Households, and now has become a Heavenly Envoy of the Heavenly Inspection Department, further fueled speculation.

Was the Emperor preparing for recruiting a son-in-law?

If that were the case, this Chen Yuan would be extraordinary, and would likely become a true pillar of the dynasty in the future.

Making many who saw through this envious.

To have the Emperor's appreciation, immense power, a reputation that shook the Jianghu, and to be able to obtain the assistance of a wife like Princess Pingyang, who was both cultured and martial, virtuous and talented.

Wasn't this the epitome of a successful life?

But Chen Yuan, who was envied by so many people, never thought so. The higher one stands, the harder one falls. He had to be cautious in his words and actions these few days in the capital.

Especially since he didn't intend to marry Pingyang.

He could already imagine the scene of Jingtai's rage.

As a subject, defying the Holy Will, perhaps very few in the court dared to do so, but he had no choice. He didn't want to be a dog of the Sima family.

He wanted the Sima family to be his dogs.

He couldn't fall for Jingtai's trick and be forced to make a Dao oath!

During this day, in addition to deepening his relationship with several envoys and understanding some of the Heavenly Inspection Department's offices and powers, Chen Yuan was also planning for himself.

With his current status and power, it was very easy to find out about the Nine River River, Dragon Gate Ford, and Rock Mountain.

He had already learned about the Nine River River before. Although his understanding was a bit one-sided, there was no need to go too deep to obtain the opportunity. His main focus was on Dragon Gate Ford and Rock Mountain.

Rock Mountain, as the name suggests, was different from ordinary mountains. Its main structure was very hard rock. It was said to have once been a relatively rare mine, but it had long been hollowed out.

However, the texture was still very hard, otherwise it wouldn't be able to withstand the scouring of the nine rivers that converged here.

Dragon Gate Ford was located in the river channel of Rock Mountain, and its origin was related to the second line of the prophecy: 'Carp fragrant on June 15th'.

According to his investigation, every year in June, the carp from the nine rivers gathered, especially on June 15th. Although carp were not the only fish, they were the most numerous and the most popular with the people.

Therefore, at this time of year, the people on both sides of the rivers began to catch carp, and this was also when the carp were the fattest.

This would attract people from Lin'an Prefecture.

Carp gathered and would leap from the nine rivers into the Nine River River, at a place where water gathered at Rock Mountain, which gave it the elegant name of Dragon Gate Ford.

When those carp first scrambled to leap over the Dragon Gate, it attracted the attention of many Jianghu people, who thought there might be treasures here, but after careful searching, they found nothing but mud.

Gradually, after many years of development, Dragon Gate Ford became a large gathering for ordinary people.

Because the carp leaping over the Dragon Gate was a legend, it was regarded as auspicious. Many young men and women also declared their love while enjoying the moon, similar to a lantern festival.

But this was only what most people thought. At least, having already obtained the guidance of the opportunity, Chen Yuan understood that those carp leaping over the Dragon Gate on the night of the full moon must be more than just that.

It was likely related to the Flood Dragon Pearl indicated by the opportunity.

And tomorrow was June 15th!

Naturally, Chen Yuan couldn't be late. He didn't have any specific responsibilities at the moment, and he was in a high position, so he was very free. No one would care about him.

Even if they did, he could refuse on the grounds that he was injured.

Having decided to go, Chen Yuan didn't hesitate. Delay would breed change. Anyway, staying in the capital was just idle, so he might as well go and see this somewhat famous Dragon Gate Ford.

Just as Chen Yuan was about to set off, a familiar guest came to his mansion.

It was Zhang Yantong's second daughter, Zhang Wanshu.

"Why is Second Sister here?"

Chen Yuan invited her into the mansion and ordered someone to serve tea.

Zhang Wanshu said with some concern:

"I heard from my father that you were accidentally injured a few days ago. How are you now? Is it still serious?"

"It's just a minor injury. Thank you for your concern, Second Sister."

Chen Yuan smiled faintly.

"Oh."

Second Sister Zhang responded, her eyes lowered, as if she was thinking about something. Seeing this, Chen Yuan knew that Zhang Wanshu might have something to ask. Then, he directly asked:

"Second Sister, is there something you came here for?"

"Mm."

She nodded slightly.

"If there's anything that Chen can help with, I definitely won't hesitate to assist." Since she came, she must have come for him. If it was within his power, he certainly wouldn't refuse.

Not to mention the favor of Second Sister Zhang having given him a divine talisman before, but just for the sake of Zhang Xuan and Zhang Yantong, Chen Yuan would do his best to help.

However, he really couldn't understand. With Envoy Zhang Yantong around, what could she possibly need to ask him for?

"Really?"

Second Sister Zhang raised her head, looking at him with hope.

"Really."

"You won't lie to me?"

Seeing Second Sister Zhang reveal this girlish demeanor in front of him for the first time, Chen Yuan couldn't help but laugh and cry. He quickly said:

"Second Sister, don't worry, I definitely won't lie to you."

Zhang Wanshu hesitated for a moment and whispered:

"I've always lived in the capital and rarely been to other places. A few days ago, I heard from the steward of the mansion that there will be a lantern festival in Lin'an Prefecture tomorrow, and the beautiful scenery of carp leaping over the Dragon Gate...

I heard that this year's leap over the Dragon Gate will be the grandest in nearly ten years. I... I don't want to miss it."

As she spoke, Zhang Wanshu's face suddenly turned red.

After all, she knew very well that it was a little... shameful for a girl to invite a man to attend such a lantern festival, but who told Chen Yuan this guy to be so oblivious?

If she didn't look for him, he would always pretend to be deaf and mute.

The things she had heard outside the door before had strengthened her resolve. Even if the capital said that Chen Yuan would become the Emperor's son-in-law, as long as he didn't want to, she would believe it.

"This..."

Chen Yuan was stunned for a moment, a little suspicious and uncertain.

Second Sister Zhang would actually invite him to Lin'an Prefecture, and the destination was Dragon Gate Ford!

His main concern was not the invitation itself, but the destination. How... how could it be such a coincidence? He had just had this thought, and she actually came!

His heart couldn't help but tremble, his thoughts scattered.

He was completely sure that no one would know about his intention to go to Lin'an, which proved that this was indeed a coincidence. Did that mean that

Even if he hadn't received that guidance of opportunity, he would still have a chance to obtain the opportunity?

Predestined?

No, it shouldn't be.

He wasn't the type to seek pleasure. If there was no guidance of opportunity, there was a good chance he would refuse to go to Lin'an Prefecture.

He was a suspicious person, and this coincidence really made him a little doubtful.

"What's wrong? You... you just said you wouldn't lie to me."

Seeing Chen Yuan's stunned expression, Second Sister Zhang thought he didn't want to agree.

"Oh... no... it's nothing, I was just thinking about something." Chen Yuan quickly regained his composure, not showing so much surprise.

"The guards in the mansion can't spare any time these days, so..."

Chen Yuan stared at Zhang Wanshu and smiled.

Can't spare any time?

This was a really lame excuse. How could the daughter of a current Third Rank official not be able to spare a few guards? However, he didn't expose her, but just said:

"Oh."

"Then why don't you go with me?"

"I..."

"You just said you wouldn't lie to me."

Staring at her watery eyes, Chen Yuan sighed softly. He wouldn't even bother with anyone else, but Second Sister Zhang was different after all.

"I can go with you, but you have to listen to me in everything."

There shouldn't be any danger on this trip. Although Second Sister Zhang's cultivation was only at the Solidifying Gang realm, she wouldn't be a burden. Besides, he had already agreed before, and breaking his word was not what a man should do.

He would just go once.

Anyway, he had already obtained the position of Heavenly Envoy, and he would be leaving the capital soon.

"Okay, I'll listen to you in everything. I'll do whatever you want me to do and definitely won't cause you any trouble." Second Sister Zhang stared with wide eyes, her face full of joy.

"Then Second Sister should go back and prepare first. We'll set off in a while to avoid wasting time."

"No need, I'm already prepared."

Zhang Wanshu smiled lightly.

Chen Yuan: "......"

......

......

Princess Manor.

Princess Pingyang's expression was cold, her fingers moving slowly on the strings. A solemn and murderous melody enveloped the entire mansion, making many maids tremble with fear.

Ever since the 'Imperial Palace Family Banquet' a few days ago, they had seen that the Princess was very unhappy, especially after going to the Shuanghe Temple.

After a long time, Princess Pingyang stopped plucking the strings, but the sound of the zither still echoed.

The entire small pavilion was empty except for Princess Pingyang, but she turned her gaze to the back.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Princess."

"What is it?"

The man in black knelt on one knee and said in a deep voice:

"Reporting to Your Highness, according to the information gathered by your subordinate, Chen Yuan has left the city with Zhang Yantong's daughter, Zhang Wanshu."

"Zhang Wanshu..." Pingyang frowned slightly:

"What are they doing?"

"Judging from the information gathered from the Zhang Mansion, they should be going to Lin'an Prefecture to watch the fish."

"Dragon Gate Ford?"

"Yes."

"I see."

Princess Pingyang had no other expression, and was cold throughout.

"News came from Liangzhou that a batch of exotic warhorses went missing from the Beiliang Army's horse farm some time ago, and His Majesty seems to be investigating this matter as well."

"Mm."

"The Eldest Prince..."

The man in black kept reporting to Princess Pingyang about the recent situation in the capital and the world, with the air of knowing everything that was happening in the world while sitting at home.

"Anything else?"

"The Heavenly Demon Hall in Xuezhou and the Liangshan Water Village have made some moves. According to the news that came back, two prefectural officials of the imperial court in Xuezhou... were killed again, which should have been done by them."

"I know."

"Your subordinate takes his leave."

"Mm."

Princess Pingyang nodded and continued to pluck the strings of the zither.

Imperial Study, in the capital.

Jingtai drew a picture of a blood moon covering the sky on the table. Below the picture was a very magnificent city. If you looked closely, you could see that it was somewhat similar to the capital.

And that blood moon covered the light of the sun, covering the entire world, giving it a somewhat strange and evil feeling.

Jingtai narrowed his eyes, revealing a trace of coldness, staring at the position of the blood moon, with some eagerness and yearning.

"Your Majesty, Eunuch Cao has arrived."

"Let him in."

Jingtai breathed a sigh of relief, waved his hand to put away the picture of the blood moon covering the sky on the table, and restored it to its original appearance.

Cao Zhengxian walked into the Imperial Study with a solemn face, bowed slightly and said, "Your Majesty."

"It's here?"

"Yes."

"What happened?"

Jingtai stared at Cao Zhengxian and asked.

"The King of Zhennan sent a message that the demon clan in Southern Border is acting strangely. In recent days, more than ten cases of demons entering the country and harming the people have been found. He estimates that the South may not be peaceful in the future..."

As he spoke, Cao Zhengxian's face was extremely solemn.

The Northern Barbarian Iron Cavalry had only raided the border in recent centuries, becoming a major problem in the Central Plains. Before that, the real major problem in the entire Central Plains was the demon clan of the Hundred Thousand Mountains in Southern Border.

The turning point of the matter started five hundred years ago. The emperor of the previous Chu Dynasty gathered and mobilized the power of the entire court in Southern Border to launch a life-and-death battle that lasted for several years in order to completely eliminate the demon disaster.

That battle crippled the demon clan in Southern Border and gained nearly five hundred years of stability. Although there were also demons causing trouble, they were no longer as rampant as they used to be.

However, that battle also damaged most of the elite of the former Chu Dynasty, and the decline of the dynasty had been planted at that time.

However, due to the merits of that generation of emperors, he was posthumously named 'Wu'.

However, although the demon clan had been stable for a long time, anyone with some experience and cultivation knew that the demon clan had only been recuperating in recent centuries.

Now that there are strange movements, perhaps the five hundred years of stability is about to end.

Therefore, Cao Zhengxian looked like he was facing a formidable enemy.

During the period when Chen Yuan was summoned to the capital, Cao Zhengxian had such worries, but now it was even worse.

"Demon clan..." Jingtai frowned slightly and whispered:

"Things... are all coming together."

He had just wanted to start his grand plan, and had just started to gather the power of the court. Everything was still progressing steadily, but the demon clan had such movements.

It also made him wonder if it was because he had done too many evil deeds that even God wouldn't give him a chance to revitalize Great Jin?

"Yes, Xuezhou was still causing trouble not long ago, attacking and killing officials in the two prefectures, causing no small chaos. I didn't expect that the court hadn't had time to deal with these demonic people when the demon clan began to cause trouble."

Cao Zhengxian sighed softly. He was a eunuch, but he was also a Central Plains person, and he couldn't bear to see the scene of demons eating people. Fortunately, the only thing worth celebrating was that the war in the north was over.

Otherwise, if the north and south sides and Xuezhou caused trouble together, the court would definitely not be able to withstand it.

"Issue an order, tell Nangong Lie, the court has supported him so much over the years, he must firmly block these demons outside of Nanzhou for me!

The current situation cannot be messed up."

Jingtai said in a low voice with a gloomy look.

"Yes, this old servant obeys."

"In addition, send an order to the Heavenly Inspection Department, let Grand Governor Xiao sternly order Qingzhou Gold Envoy Jiang He and Shuzhou Gold Envoy Lu Renjia to transfer their forces to support the two prefectures in Xuezhou. This is the face of the imperial court and cannot be lost."

"Yes, this old servant obeys."

"Also, tell Xiao Jing to transfer all the prisoners detained in the Heavenly Prison, no matter what crimes they have committed, to the Imperial Palace Forbidden Prison. I have some uses for them."

Jingtai said solemnly.

Cao Zhengxian was stunned for a moment, but looking at the emperor's solemn and gloomy face, he moved his mouth, but still didn't ask what these powerful suspects would be used for.

Was he going to execute them immediately?

"Hmm?"

"Yes, this old servant obeys the order."

Jingtai took a deep breath and continued:

"Send some treasures from the imperial secret realm to Duke Wei and Duke Zhen. They must not be lost."

"This old servant will do it right away."

"Wait..."

"Does Your Majesty have any other orders?"

"Postpone the court meeting for a few days. I'm not feeling well recently and won't go to court."

"Did Your Majesty encounter a problem in cultivation?"

The emperor was at the Celestial Core realm, immune to all diseases and invulnerable to wind and cold. It was impossible for him to be unwell. Cao Zhengxian thought that there was a problem with his cultivation, perhaps the pressure of national fortune was even greater.

"Yes, that's true." Jingtai nodded and admitted.

"Do you want this old servant to help Your Majesty?"

Cao Zhengxian asked with concern.

At this time when the court was in a bit of danger, if the emperor had a problem, the problems it would bring would be too great!

"No need, I can handle it."

"This old servant understands."

"By the way, what is Chen Yuan doing now?" Jingtai felt unhappy when he remembered that he had given him the position of Heavenly Envoy, but this position could be given to him, but it must be when his plan was achieved.

But now it wasn't, and because of the matter of cultivation, the court meeting had to be postponed, which made him even more uncomfortable.

Cao Zhengxian glanced at Jingtai, quickly took out a sound transmission talisman from his sleeve, and after a moment, was silent for a moment, and said truthfully:

"Reporting to Your Majesty, Marquis Wu'an has left the city."

"What is he doing out of the city? Isn't he recuperating from his injuries?"

Jingtai frowned.

"It is still under investigation, but when Marquis Wu'an left the city, he was with Zhang Yantong's daughter, Zhang Wanshu. They left from the South Gate and should be going in the direction of Lin'an Prefecture."

"I'm racking my brains here, but he's taking a woman out for sightseeing?" Jingtai took a deep breath, even more upset.

"The purpose is still unknown. This old servant will go and investigate."

Cao Zhengxian said quickly.

"No need, do your job and don't focus your attention on him." Jingtai said lightly as Cao Zhengxian was about to walk out of the Imperial Study.

Looking back, Cao Zhengxian bowed and said:

"Yes, this old servant obeys."