Volume One The Youngest Among Three Hundred Chapter Seven Mobilization

Within the Zichen Hall of the Dayang Palace, the thirty-nine-year-old Empress Bai Wan knelt with both knees bent before a shrine, dressed in a deep crimson imperial robe of curved hem, her hair crowned with eight dragons playing with pearls, a blue mark painted between her brows. She bowed again and again, sincerely and earnestly.

Upon the shrine rested not the Taoist Three Pure Ones nor any deity of auspicious fortune and health, but a plaque, its surface sliced cleanly as though a sharp sword had severed it from the whole.

On the plaque, a graceful, clear script inscribed the elegant character for "Courtyard." Amid the dazzling splendor of Zichen Hall, it shimmered faintly with starlight, exuding a refreshing fragrance that uplifted the spirit.

To Bai Wan, perhaps this was the most important object of her life. Yet she noticed that compared to yesterday, the starlight on the plaque was visibly dimmer, and the fragrance drifting from it much weaker.

As she was praying, outside, the young eunuch Feng Yuan spoke from beyond the hall doors, "Your Majesty, the Grand Preceptor has arrived."

"Mm, have him wait in the side hall," Bai Wan replied, her voice clear and resonant with a natural authority.

"At your command!" Feng Yuan withdrew.

Bai Wan reached out, removed the red cloth covering half the plaque, then stood before her mirror to tidy her appearance, before proceeding to the side hall.

There, the Grand Preceptor of the Great Min Dynasty, Dong Zhongxuan, headmaster of the Yingtian Prefecture, awaited her. His hair was tied high, he wore a white feathered cloak, his face aged yet ruddy and hale, his forehead slightly prominent.

Upon seeing the Empress, he gently set down his teacup and bowed with hands cupped, "Your servant Dong Zhongxuan pays respects to Your Majesty."

"No need for formalities," Bai Wan gestured for him to sit, then dismissed her attendants. "Zhongxuan, I summoned you today for two matters."

"First, regarding Princess Changning. It has been three days since her disappearance. The Black Robe Guards, the Criminal Investigation Bureau, and the Blue Flower Attendants all report no progress. Do you have any advice?"

Dong Zhongxuan stroked his goatee and replied, "Your Majesty, I have heard of the matter—it is indeed strange. But please rest assured."

"When I left Yingtian Prefecture this morning, the two golden canaries Princess Changning gifted me chirped happily. I believe there will be good news today."

Bai Wan's furrowed brows finally eased, "That would be best. The second matter—I wish you to interpret a dream. Last night, I dreamt of seven stars dimmed, the moon's radiance extinguished. Does it signify anything?"

Dong Zhongxuan, listening intently, frowned slightly, a flicker of shock passing through his eyes, but his expression remained calm. He replied in a hollow tone of joy, "Congratulations, Your Majesty! Seven stars encircling the moon is a sign of auspicious fortune."

...

Halfway up Mount Daxing, Chen Chang'an crashed into the Sanyuan Temple, shouting louder and louder, "Princess Changning, where are you, Princess Changning!"

"Princess Changning!"

To deal with sneaky thieves, one must act openly—so what if he was here to search for someone? He was full of confidence, fearless!

As he made a ruckus, he came face to face with a blue-robed temple boy carrying a tray and porcelain bowl. The boy hurriedly dropped the tray and sternly rebuked Chen Chang'an, "Where did you come from, you wild brat? How dare you shout in our temple? Get out!"

Meanwhile, his other hand clenched into a fist, secretly gathering strength, ready to strike at any moment.

Such temper! Chen Chang'an tapped the brick floor with his bamboo cane, hands groping ahead as one might do at night, "Master, I'm here to offer incense, to pray."

"You may not know, but I am a humble farmer from the foot of Mount Daxing, living in poverty. Fortunately, Princess Changning visited Sanyuan Temple two days ago to fulfill a vow, passing by my door and gifting me some silver. When I heard she disappeared at the temple, I became worried."

"Let me offer incense to pray for the princess." His attitude was brash, yet his words timid.

"You... are blind?" the temple boy asked, his fist slowly relaxing, his vigilance receding, murderous intent dissipating.

Chen Chang'an replied with feeling, "Indeed, Master, I am blind. Were it not for Princess Changning's generosity, I would not know how to feed my family. Please, let me in to offer incense for her."

As he spoke, he grabbed the boy's hands, and at that moment, he sniffed a peculiar scent from the other's sleeve.

"Move aside, hurry! I must go to the hall to recite scriptures. Don’t delay me. Princess Changning disappeared on her way back to the palace. Stop talking nonsense or I’ll cut your tongue!"

The temple boy scolded, tossing him aside with force, sending Chen Chang'an sprawling into the tray and porcelain bowl. The leftover spicy oil in the bowl made him cough violently.

Such spicy peppers—hmm, wasn’t the street vendor just saying that Princess Changning liked spicy tiger skin peppers? You little punk, you must be delivering food to the princess!

His mind raced, recalling the scent of cosmetics from the boy’s hands. Chen Chang'an burst out in exaggerated distress, "Quick... Master, I’m choking! Is there a well in the temple? Fetch me some water, please!"

At the mention of a well, the boy’s face tightened, and he launched into a flurry of blows, "You beggar, so troublesome! Get out or I’ll kill you!"

"Out! This temple is for officials and nobles only. Who are you to offer incense?"

"Yes, yes, ouch!"

Too intense a reaction—there must be something to hide. Chen Chang'an grabbed his bamboo cane, covered his head with his left hand, tapped the bricks with his right, and fled the temple in a mess.

"Blind beggar!" The temple boy spat at his retreating back, full of disdain.

Yet Chen Chang'an darted into the woods, his finely carved face breaking into a sly grin, the muscle on his right cheek pulling into a crooked dimple.

Foolish temple boy, you’re about to be caught!

He took out the jade token Li Shu gave him, held it to his mouth, and enunciated, "Princess Changning is in the Sanyuan Temple. Please send reinforcements immediately."

Soon, a hundred meters from the temple, Li Shu in fitted white attire, Wu Yuanheng holding his belly, and Hua Mulan with twin swords at her waist, stood together in the depths of the forest.

---

Clad in the green, white, and red uniforms of the Criminal Investigation Bureau, Justice Bureau, and Arrest Bureau respectively, over ninety men, all equipped with standardized Great Min military blades and crossbows, stood ready, full of spirit.

Hua Mulan’s hawk-like gaze, half hidden beneath her short angled bangs, shifted from the Sanyuan Temple in the distance. She asked hesitantly, "Princess Changning is really inside?"

Chen Chang'an straightened, "If my guess is correct, Princess Changning is now beneath the dry well in Sanyuan Temple."

Hua Mulan flicked her twin gold-inlaid daggers, her tone icy, "And if you’re wrong?"

He chuckled—how could he be wrong? Just being modest, really. He cleared his throat, then answered firmly, "I will not be wrong. Princess Changning is certainly beneath the dry well. I stake my life on it!"

Hua Mulan looked to Li Shu and Wu Yuanheng.

Fat Wu stood at the head of his men, gazing up at a patch of green descending through dense pine needles, and spoke calmly, "Remove what blocks the view, and the blue sky appears!"

Hua Mulan, "..."

Chen Chang'an turned away, what a show-off!

Li Shu raised his thin brows, scrutinizing every detail of Chen Chang'an’s demeanor and subtle movements, even his itching caused by the hot weather. After thorough observation, he resolved to take the risk, "Everyone, prepare to storm Sanyuan Temple."

"Mulan, you and I head straight for the dry well."

Hua Mulan nodded, hands on her twin blades.

"Move!"

At the command, the red, green, and white squads split and advanced, darting and leaping toward the lacquered wooden doors. Li Shu and Hua Mulan led the way, man bold, woman sharp.

Chen Chang'an listened as their footsteps faded into the distance like a fine rain, but Wu Yuanheng’s heavy breathing remained nearby. He asked, "Wu Master, why aren’t you going?"

Wu Yuanheng lifted his twice-as-wide waist, swung his hips, and replied, "I can’t fly!"

Chen Chang'an: "..."