Mo the Divine Physician was a name that carried great prestige in the martial world. Rumors spoke of his elusive nature and mysterious comings and goings.
Shen Xiuming had only heard of him but had never seen the man in person.
He couldn’t help but ask in astonishment, "You... you’re really Mo the Divine Physician?"
Shen Xiuming was utterly bewildered.
The legendary Mo the Divine Physician of the martial world was actually an official of the Yue Kingdom? And so young at that?
Moxun clicked his tongue and grinned. "Of course not, I was just teasing you—come on, let’s go for a drink. I heard the peach blossom wine at Anguo Temple is clear and fragrant, so much so that even Zhao Yang Princess is fond of it."
...
...
Meanwhile, Shen Mieyue led his squad galloping toward the imperial palace of Qing State. Half a mile from the palace, at a long bridge, Shen Mieyue tightened his reins.
"Dismount," he ordered.
The squad obeyed in unison.
Shen Mieyue’s dark eyes fixed on the towering palace walls in the distance—majestic, solemn, exuding an oppressive aura of authority.
He recalled Sun Qingmei’s repeated warnings before he left Liangzhou City: When you go to see the Emperor, you must not bring your squad, nor any weapons. You must remove your armor.
Shen Mieyue kept this firmly in mind.
He knew Sun Qingmei would never lead him astray.
Shen Mieyue swung off his horse, handed his broadsword to the squad leader, and removed his armor, changing into a proper court robe instead.
He instructed his men, "Wait outside the palace."
After meticulously checking his appearance, Shen Mieyue finally strode toward the palace gates. At the first entrance, the imperial guards bowed respectfully. "General Shen, please wait a moment. His Majesty has already sent someone to escort you in."
Shen Mieyue stood still, waiting.
Having spent years commanding battles in Liangzhou City, he carried an imposing and awe-inspiring presence. The guards stole glances at him, their eyes filled with admiration. One of the squad leaders, Liu Erniu, approached with a cup of hot tea, bowing deferentially. "General Shen, you must be weary from your journey. Would you care for some tea?"
Shen Mieyue waved him off.
But Liu Erniu stubbornly held out the teacup, swiftly slipping a note into Shen Mieyue’s hand as he whispered, "A message from Consort Chen."
Liu Erniu had once saved Shen Wei and Li Yuanjing from an assassination attempt three years prior. Later, he made his way to Yanjing City, joined the imperial guards, and rose through the ranks to become a squad leader.
He was, in a way, one of Shen Wei’s allies.
Today, Liu Erniu had received a letter from Consort Chen and had anxiously waited at the palace gates for this chance to pass the note to Shen Mieyue.
"The heat today is indeed unbearable. I am quite thirsty," Shen Mieyue murmured, his brow twitching slightly as he accepted the tea.
Pretending to sip, he discreetly unfolded the note.
Written in elegant, flowing script were just a few succinct words: Remove your armor, leave your blade, go alone.
Shen Mieyue silently crumpled the note and tucked it into his sleeve. He was surprised—in his memory, his younger sister Shen Wei had always been timid and naive.
On the journey back to Yanjing City, Shen Xiuming had repeatedly lamented how difficult Shen Wei’s life in the palace was, how she was constantly bullied.
So much so that Shen Mieyue had assumed she was living in constant hardship.
Yet today, she had managed to use a mere imperial guard to secretly deliver a message?
"My little sister... doesn’t seem so foolish after all," Shen Mieyue muttered to himself, a glimmer of admiration in his eyes.
Before long, the sound of shuffling footsteps approached the palace gates. The Emperor’s chief eunuch, De Shun, arrived in person to greet him. "General Shen, please follow this servant into the palace."
Shen Mieyue nodded and stepped into the imperial grounds.
The palace corridors stretched wide and endless.
Glancing at De Shun in his embroidered robes, Shen Mieyue recalled Sun Qingmei’s advice.
As a seasoned general, Shen Mieyue had little patience for dealing with palace eunuchs and had always held them in contempt.
But Sun Qingmei had sternly reminded him: Eunuchs are people too. Not all are scheming and untrustworthy—do not underestimate them. Especially those who serve the Emperor directly. Though their rank may be low, their influence is vast. If you encounter a high-ranking eunuch, treat them with courtesy.
Keeping Sun Qingmei’s words in mind, Shen Mieyue showed no trace of disdain. Instead, he asked politely, "May I ask your name, honorable eunuch?"
De Shun replied, "This servant is De Shun, the deputy chief eunuch of the inner palace."
Shen Mieyue retrieved a small pouch and offered it to De Shun. "Ah, Chief Eunuch De Shun. How has His Majesty been lately?"
The pouch had been prepared by Sun Qingmei.
She had given him thirty such pouches, each filled with silver coins and gold leaves, instructing him to carry a few whenever he went out in Yanjing City—useful for tipping servants and officials.
De Shun hastily declined with a smile. "General Shen, you are too kind! This servant could never accept such a gift! His Majesty is in excellent health."
Shen Mieyue had no choice but to withdraw the pouch. He then asked, "And how is Consort Chen?"
De Shun answered, "Consort Chen is also well."
After a pause, De Shun lowered his voice. "Consort Chen asked this servant to relay a message to you: There must be a clear distinction between ruler and subject. Etiquette must be observed. When you see the Emperor, do not act arrogantly, but neither should you be overly cautious. Simply remain composed."
Shen Mieyue was stunned.
He eyed De Shun suspiciously, but the young eunuch wore an earnest expression, his face alight with a kindly smile.
Shen Mieyue marveled inwardly—his younger sister was truly remarkable! Even the deputy chief eunuch by the Emperor’s side willingly acted as her informant. Meanwhile, his foolish younger brother, Shen Xiuming, still naively believed Shen Wei was living a life of hardship. How obtuse.
Following De Shun, Shen Mieyue arrived at Chang’an Palace, where the Emperor handled state affairs. De Shun entered to announce his arrival.
Before long, Li Yuanjing himself emerged from the palace doors, clad in a black-and-gold robe, his voice ringing clear: "General Shen, I’ve been eagerly awaiting your arrival."
Remembering Shen Wei’s warning—[There must be no lapse in propriety between ruler and subject]—Shen Mieyue dropped to one knee, clasped his fists in a formal salute, and declared, "Your humble servant, Shen Mieyue, pays homage to His Majesty, may you reign for ten thousand years!"
The gesture was flawless, the kneeling posture impeccable.
Li Yuanjing’s sharp brows lifted slightly, his hawk-like gaze sweeping over Shen Mieyue. Noting that the general had shed his armor and weapons, donned his court robes, and even executed the salute without fault, the Emperor’s lips curved in satisfaction.
He stepped forward, raising Shen Mieyue with a symbolic gesture. "We are family—no need for such formalities."
Shen Mieyue rose, keeping his gaze respectfully lowered, avoiding direct eye contact with the sovereign.
Li Yuanjing studied the general’s face, finding a faint resemblance—two or three parts—to Shen Wei. His favor toward Shen Mieyue grew.
Once inside, the Emperor granted him a seat and inquired about the border situation. Shen Mieyue answered with composure, his demeanor neither subservient nor arrogant, maintaining both the dignity of a great general and unwavering loyalty to Qing State.
Pleased, Li Yuanjing bestowed lavish rewards upon him, including a grand residence in Yanjing City for the Shen family.
After two hours of conversation, the Emperor finally dismissed him, allowing Shen Mieyue to return home and rest.
In the incense-laden halls of Chang’an Palace, Li Yuanjing sipped freshly tribute spring tea.
A Tiger Guard slipped silently into the chamber, kneeling to report: "Your Majesty, upon General Shen’s return to the capital today, the common folk lined the streets in welcome. Some youths and even children boldly declared their willingness to follow him unto death."
Setting down his cup, Li Yuanjing smiled faintly. "Shen Mieyue hasn’t changed a bit."
Back when the Emperor was still Prince Yan, both he and Prince Heng had tried—and failed—to win Shen Mieyue’s allegiance.
The general was stubbornly single-minded. He refused to meddle in the princes’ power struggles, pledging loyalty only to the sovereign of Great Qing Kingdom. Whoever sat upon the throne commanded his fealty.
Today’s subtle probing confirmed that his stance remained unchanged.
A rare quality indeed.
As for the rumors circulating in the streets, Li Yuanjing pondered briefly, sensing something amiss. He ordered the Tiger Guard, "Investigate who is spreading these malicious whispers, sowing discord between ruler and subject."
The guard bowed. "At once!"
The Emperor’s eyes darkened.
Tuoba Hongchuan, the new ruler of Yue Kingdom, was a man of both literary and military prowess, commanding formidable forces. Fortunately, Qing State had its own valiant generals like Shen Mieyue to counterbalance the threat.
Li Yuanjing needed Shen Mieyue as his stalwart commander, just as Shen Mieyue needed him as a wise sovereign.
Only through mutual trust could the nation know peace.
Yet at this critical juncture, rumors had surfaced in Yanjing City, deliberately driving a wedge between them.
Narrowing his eyes, Li Yuanjing resolved to unmask the instigator and mete out severe punishment.
...
...
Anguo Temple—a place where imperial princes studied, and the royal family’s designated sanctuary.
Princess Zhao Yang had carved out several courtyards in the temple’s rear mountains, sheltering orphans from Yanjing City.
Today, as usual, she visited the children, who swarmed around her, chattering excitedly.
"Princess Zhao Yang, blessings upon you!"
"Elder Sister Princess, I memorized an essay today—let me recite it for you!"
"Sister, I’ve learned to write characters!"
"The pastries were delicious—thank you, Sister!"
Their innocent, guileless faces softened her heart.
"Princess," murmured her maid Yun'er quietly, her voice laced with concern, "General Shen Mieyue and the Yue Kingdom envoy have arrived in the capital. The palace is hosting a welcoming banquet tonight."
Zhao Yang lowered her gaze, exhaling softly. "So soon."
Yun'er fretted, "The Emperor of Yue seeks to marry a princess of Qing State... If you refuse, we could plead with His Majesty again."
The princess remained silent.
Just then, a temple monk arrived to announce that Magistrate Shen—Shen Wei’s younger brother—had come with a Yue Kingdom envoy, requesting an audience.
Zhao Yang received the pair in a quiet meditation chamber. The rear mountains of Anguo Temple offered serene beauty, and the simply adorned room was prepared with tea and refreshments.
Moments later, Yun'er ushered in the visitors. When Zhao Yang’s casual glance fell upon the strikingly handsome envoy, her teacup froze mid-sip.
She sprang to her feet, staring in astonishment. "Mo... Mo... Mo the Divine Physician! What brings you here?"
