Chapter 109: The Past

At midday, Feng Yewu and Lu Jue spurred their horses onward, hastening to Langya City, where the Palace of Prince Pingyi was located.

After a brief discussion, the two decided to act at night.

Zheng Tianlan’s main forces still needed half a day to arrive, and Wei Nanxi and the others would only reach in the afternoon.

After all, this was Wang Changgeng’s old stronghold—the very heart of his power. To parade openly in broad daylight would be far too conspicuous. If Wang Changgeng’s men discovered them, the two would likely meet a swift and fatal end.

Feng Yewu and Lu Jue checked into an inn at the city’s gate, the rendezvous point they had arranged with their comrades before setting off.

They ordered some food to be delivered to their room and then ascended to the upper floor.

Inside the room, Feng Yewu feigned casualness as she inquired of Lu Jue.

“You mentioned before that the Saints of the Ye Dynasty are a coalition of three clans. Do you know who they are?”

Lu Jue immediately saw through her move but chose not to expose it. Instead, he smiled lightly and explained.

“When a Saint acts, they summon extraordinary phenomena in an instant. Our dynasty and the three clans have all recorded them carefully. Among the capital’s literati, Master Kong Mo is one; the King of Beichang’s retinue includes a strange man skilled in serpents and poisons, that’s two; and the Western Yue Queen’s household has an ancient clan elder—that’s the third.”

Seeing that Lu Jue had stopped, Feng Yewu asked with suspicion, “That’s all?”

He shook his head with a bitter smile.

“Does His Majesty truly think Saints are as common as vegetables in the market? Each of the three clans has but one Saint. Were it not for the balance of power among them, they would have been wiped out long ago.”

Feng Yewu realized she had overthought it and showed a trace of embarrassment. Then she recalled the name Kong Mo, which stirred a faint impression.

In her previous life, Kong Mo was also a literary giant, authoring books and leaving a lasting legacy, with disciples spread across the land. Could this incarnation also have cultivated martial arts?

“Is Kong Mo a martial artist as well?”

Lu Jue shook his head, his eyes revealing a hint of wonder as he sighed.

“That man, in his sixties, radiated a noble spirit. He entered the Dao through literature, attained the Mandate of Heaven, and nearing a century old, glimpsed his own mortality. He is a local legend.”

Feng Yewu was puzzled.

“So he does not practice martial arts?”

Lu Jue laughed self-deprecatingly and nodded.

“Exactly. Countless martial artists exist in the world. Reaching grandmaster level is already a prodigy’s feat. Saints pursue martial cultivation their whole lives, yet unexpectedly, this scholar-born man attained enlightenment and became a Saint.”

Back then, although his father had entered the capital, Lu Jue was fortunate enough to have met Kong Mo once. The Saint’s dignity and majestic aura remained vivid in his memory.

“You mentioned one of the others serves under Wei Siyuan?”

Feng Yewu’s thoughts turned anxious at the idea of a Saint under Wei Siyuan’s command, fearing a future rebellion.

Lu Jue caught the worry in her eyes and smiled teasingly as he explained.

“That man has a connection with the late emperor. He was sent to the far north by the late emperor himself.”

Feng Yewu frowned, uncertain of the meaning behind Lu Jue’s expression and pressed for more.

“What do you mean?”

Lu Jue then recounted a rumor he had heard.

When the late emperor was young, he fell in love with a wandering woman skilled in poisons, who was nearly at grandmaster level herself. She contended for his affection with that poison-wielding sage.

Eventually, the woman entered the imperial harem, and the late emperor ascended the throne, believing the matter closed.

Yet, the man, heartbroken, broke through to Saint realm. He repeatedly infiltrated the palace, tormenting that concubine.

The Saint’s power was beyond ordinary resistance, plunging the entire Ye Dynasty capital into turmoil.

The poison-wielding Saint even threatened the emperor: if his union with the queen was not sanctioned, he would bring ruin to the entire Ye Dynasty.

In the emperor’s despair, Kong Mo, by coincidence, became a Saint.

It was a strange twist—no other Saints could suppress this poison Saint, but Kong Mo’s righteous spirit was the poison Saint’s natural nemesis.

They battled outside the capital for days and nights. The poison Saint was defeated and submitted to the emperor.

Though the emperor wished to execute him, a Saint could not be so easily killed. Provoking him would only cause more innocent casualties.

In the end, on Kong Mo’s advice, the emperor ordered the poison Saint to the far north to fight the Saints of the Tidi clan.

Feng Yewu was stunned. Such a tale had not existed in her previous life.

Lu Jue smiled faintly.

“Your Majesty need not worry that the poison Saint will aid the King of Beichang. Saints keep one another in check and do not meddle lightly in worldly affairs, lest they be attacked en masse.”

Feng Yewu nodded slightly but remained uneasy.

The existence of Saints was always beyond her expectations. Listening to Lu Jue’s stories, she felt almost dazed, beginning to doubt her understanding of the world.

Having experienced upheaval in her past life, Feng Yewu had believed that once the court was stabilized, the likes of the King of Beichang would never rise again. Yet now, more unknown factors loomed.

“By the way, Your Majesty, do you know why Kong Mo has always lived sequestered in the capital?”

Lu Jue, not waiting for her to ask, took the initiative to explain.

Feng Yewu was taken aback. Had Lu Jue not mentioned it, she would never have considered this.

Lu Jue had grown up in the Northern General’s household and was well acquainted with both the martial world and court affairs. As a scion of a military family, he had also overheard many secrets.

“Kong Mo studied diligently from youth. When the late emperor traveled incognito, they became close confidants. Later, after ascending the throne, the emperor sought to recruit Kong Mo as a minister, but Kong Mo declined. The reason for his refusal has long circulated among the city’s common folk.”

“What is the reason?”

Feng Yewu’s curiosity, stirred by Lu Jue, could not be contained.

“At first, Kong Mo said his temperament was too wild for court life. The emperor then allowed him to attend court only when he wished. The final time, when the emperor personally visited him, Kong Mo said: ‘The emperor needs ministers to share the burdens of governance for a time; I teach and nurture people, willing to pave the way for the Ye Dynasty for a lifetime.’”

Lu Jue finished, and Feng Yewu fell into deep thought, softly repeating Kong Mo’s words.

“Share the burdens for a time; teach and nurture for a lifetime.”

Her respect for Kong Mo deepened.

Such magnanimity—facing the promises of princes and ministers, he remained committed to the dynasty’s prosperity.

A man of such breadth of heart deserved to be a Saint.

Lu Jue watched the pensive Feng Yewu and smiled knowingly.

“So Your Majesty can rest assured. Should the poison Saint truly intend to aid the King of Beichang, the Book Saint Kong Mo would never stand idly by.”

Feng Yewu finally understood why Lu Jue was so unconcerned about the King of Beichang having a Saint’s support.

“Though the Ye Dynasty’s army follows the King of Changwu’s lead, the scholars of all schools admire the Book Saint Kong Mo. As long as Kong Mo remains in the capital, all strategists and scholars will pledge allegiance to the emperor and serve His Majesty.”

Lu Jue chuckled softly, pouring a cup of tea and handing it to Feng Yewu as he spoke.