Chapter 50 – I’ll Make You Kneel Before Me Forever

Jin Beiyun and the Fifth Prince of the Great Wei Kingdom had waited an entire day.

Not only did they fail to hear news of Mu Nanjin’s sudden death, but the very next morning, they saw her lively and energetic, skipping about right in front of them.

Jin Beiyun quietly leaned toward the Fifth Prince. “Didn’t you say she’d die within a day? Why is she perfectly fine? Are you sure you actually put that poisonous creature on her?”

The Fifth Prince took a deep breath. “Look at what’s on her right middle finger.”

Jin Beiyun snuck a glance and saw a small green ring. “It’s a ring.”

“Look closer.”

He looked again and froze.

The “ring” was moving.

On his third look, he finally realized it wasn’t a ring at all, but a tiny green snake, so small it could easily be mistaken for jewelry, clinging to Mu Nanjin’s finger and persistently gnawing at her skin.

Jin Beiyun stiffened. “That… that’s your poisonous creature?”

The Fifth Prince nodded. “It seems Mu Nanjin has cultivated some kind of Diamond Body Technique, so the creature can’t pierce her skin. But no matter. I’ll find another chance to poison her.”

Jin Beiyun: “…”

While the two men plotted, officials from the Ministry of Rites arrived with the envoys of the four nations and led them to the Wansheng Garden.

Captain Liu’s eyes lit up when he saw the words “Wansheng Garden.” “I’ve been an officer for fifteen years, and this is my first time coming here.”

Chen Liangli said proudly, “We’ve been here a few times already.”

Every year, whenever envoys or vassal princes visited the capital, they would tour Wansheng Garden, and the Jinyiwei were assigned to ensure their safety, giving them the rare chance to enter as escorts.

Captain Liu’s eyes gleamed with envy.

The Right Division really did have the better posts.

Unlike the Left Division, which always lurked in the shadows, doing the dirty work no one saw.

Chen Liangli patted him on the back. “Come on, I’ll show you the divine bird later.”

Captain Liu’s eyes brightened. “Alright!”

Mu Nanjin asked curiously, “What exactly is Wansheng Garden?”

Deng Xingchao explained, “It’s where His Majesty keeps rare and exotic animals.”

“Oh.”

【So basically… a zoo.】

Chen Liangli and Jiang Buzhi exchanged a look. “You don’t sound the least bit excited. Don’t tell me you’ve been here before?”

Mu Nanjin shook her head without hesitation. “No.”

The two men: “…”

Deng Xingchao turned and scolded, “Everyone’s gone inside already. Stop chatting at the gate!”

Captain Liu eagerly said to Chen Liangli, “Lord Chen, where’s the divine bird? Show me!”

Chen Liangli nodded and led him in.

Through the entrance lay a courtyard filled with rare flowers and plants. Behind it stood an elegant pavilion for entertaining guests, but no one stopped there. Everyone was too eager to see the beasts beyond the tall, thick wall.

The wall was not only high but as thick as a city rampart. Its massive wooden gate was heavy and reinforced, impossible for even large beasts to break through.

As the guards pushed open the gate with effort, the sight that greeted them was a thousand-year-old tree, its branches home to dozens of brilliantly colored birds.

“Wow…”

The envoys from every nation were dazzled.

Then, one of the birds suddenly chirped, “Welcome! Welcome!”

The envoys gawked.

“It can talk?!”

The Minister of Rites smiled smugly. “This is our Great Qian’s divine bird. It understands human speech.”

Captain Liu was thrilled. “I’ve heard of such a divine bird but never believed it. Now I finally see one with my own eyes!”

But then Mu Nanjin’s voice sounded:

【Isn’t that just a parrot?】

【Parrots have special vocal organs. Their tongues are flexible, their throat muscles well developed. They can reproduce human sounds precisely and remember phrases easily with training.】

【So it’s not divine. Just a regular bird that knows a few words.】

【I thought I’d see a phoenix. How disappointing.】

The Minister of Rites nearly spat blood. His pride was crushed under her calm, factual tone.

Captain Liu’s excitement also evaporated.

Deng Xingchao silently thanked heaven that the foreign envoys couldn’t hear Mu Nanjin’s inner thoughts. Otherwise, Great Qian would have become the laughingstock of the continent.

The envoys, oblivious, eagerly began interacting with the “divine bird.”

Just then, a parrot fluttered toward Mu Nanjin.

She raised her hand for it to perch on her wrist. “Come on, say this: ‘May your journey be smooth, dragons soar, rams bring prosperity, four seasons of peace, five blessings at your door, sixfold success, seven stars shine, eight fortunes flow, nine hearts united, ten perfections complete.’”

The parrot: “???”

【Can’t even repeat that? Amateur bird.】

The Great Qian officials: “…”

Miss Mu, you’re here to protect our guests, not humiliate our empire.

Trying to salvage the mood, Chen Liangli said soothingly to Captain Liu, “Next, I’ll take you to see the giant beasts. They’re over two zhang tall. You’ll be too scared to even get close.”

Captain Liu’s eyes widened. “That tall?”

“Mm.”

As the envoys finished admiring the birds, the Minister of Rites led them to the next exhibit.

Before they even arrived, the ground began to rumble.

The envoys’ guards surrounded their masters, tense and alert.

The Minister laughed. “Don’t panic. That’s just the sound of the giant beasts walking. Their bodies are so massive and heavy that even the earth trembles when they move.”

One envoy asked, “Giant beasts? Then they must be truly enormous to earn that name?”

“Indeed. They’re over two zhang tall, spoils we captured when conquering the Western Kingdom.”

The envoys exchanged startled looks. They had heard rumors of such creatures but had never seen them.

If Great Qian could subdue them as trophies, its military might was truly formidable. A flicker of unease crept into their hearts.

Noticing their expressions, the Minister of Rites smiled with satisfaction.

When they finally saw the creatures, towering over two zhang high, every envoy gasped in shock.

“Heavens! I’ve never seen anything like it!”

“One stomp and we’d be crushed! Do they… eat people?”

Mu Nanjin eyed the enormous animals with long trunks and flapping ears. “It’s a… mmph?!”

Before she could finish, Captain Liu, alarmed by what she might say, snatched a pear from a nearby maid and shoved it into her mouth.

She pulled it out, frowning. “What was that for?”

“You’ve walked a long way. You must be thirsty. Have some fruit,” he lied smoothly.

“Oh.” She nodded, taking a bite. “Thanks.”

【Miracle! Captain Liu is suddenly so considerate. Who knew he could care about people?】

Chen Liangli and Jiang Buzhi discreetly gave Captain Liu a thumbs-up.

Captain Liu: “…”

He had long mastered the art of diverting Mu Nanjin, mostly because she was so easy to fool.

Her master’s life motto had always been: If a fist can solve it, don’t bother using your brain.

Mu Nanjin munched on her pear while watching the beasts.

【I’ve seen elephants before, but never ones this big.】

【They’re herbivores, not man-eaters. The largest land animals, “giant beasts” suits them.】

【Good thing these envoys are bumpkins. Otherwise, they’d see right through the act.】

The Minister of Rites nearly choked trying not to laugh.

An envoy asked, “My lord, are you alright?”

“Ah, yes. Just caught a chill last night,” he lied.

Captain Liu sighed. All his excitement was gone, deflated by Mu Nanjin’s offhand commentary.

“Mu Nanjin, you don’t seem interested in Wansheng Garden. Why don’t you rest in the pavilion? We’ll finish the tour and come find you later.”

【This place is boring anyway. I’d rather nap.】

【Why doesn’t the Minister take the envoys to a brothel instead? That’d be much more entertaining.】

The Minister of Rites: “…”

Who in their right mind would take foreign envoys to a brothel?!

【Maybe I should bribe the Minister with some silver so he’ll do it tomorrow.】

The officials: “…”

Captain Liu quickly interrupted before she could get more outrageous. “So, are you going back or not?”

Mu Nanjin nodded. “Then…”

“Good. I’ll have someone escort you.”

“But…”

“Whatever it is, save it for later,” Captain Liu said, gesturing to a guard. “You, take her back.”

“Yes, sir.”

Mu Nanjin obediently followed the guard away.

【You’re the one who stopped me from speaking. Fine. When you come find me later, it’ll be too late. The Fifth Prince will have already poisoned the giant beasts. That venomous bastard destroys anything that threatens the Great Wei Kingdom.】

What?!

The envoys from the Great Wei Kingdom were going to poison the beasts?!

All the officials: “!!!”

The Minister of Rites shouted, “Fifth Prince of the Great Wei Kingdom!”

The startled prince jerked in shock. The vial in his sleeve nearly slipped from his hand.

He turned coldly. “Lord Minister, why are you suddenly calling me?”

“Our Emperor learned that one of our ministers offended you yesterday,” the Minister said smoothly, patting his forehead. “His Majesty sent several rare treasures as an apology. I almost forgot until now. Would Your Highness like to inspect them in the pavilion?”

With everyone watching, the Fifth Prince couldn’t act. He suppressed his irritation and nodded. “Lead the way.”

The Minister signaled to his assistant. “Lord Zhou, please escort His Highness.”

Lord Zhou, the Vice Minister, gestured politely. “This way, Your Highness.”

Not far away, Mu Nanjin heard footsteps behind her. She turned, spotting Lord Zhou, and her eyes lit up. “Lord Zhou!”

He twitched. “Guard Mu.”

She immediately fell back in step beside him, squeezing past the Fifth Prince to walk at his side. “You’re heading back too? Got bored already?”

【If you’re bored, we can go drink and visit the girls.】

“Cough, cough!”

Lord Zhou glanced nervously toward the others, relieved they hadn’t heard her thoughts.

“I’m accompanying the Fifth Prince to the pavilion,” he said stiffly.

Mu Nanjin flicked a glance at the prince. “Oh, he’s here too.”

The Fifth Prince’s face darkened. “I’ve been here the whole time.”

Mu Nanjin ignored his anger. “So you’re going back just to chat? Must be bored, huh?”

“No,” Lord Zhou said quickly, unwilling to talk further. He stayed silent for the rest of the walk.

【Aw, why’d he go quiet? I wanted to ask when he’s going to Xiaoqing Tower. Guess I’ll have to wait.】

Lord Zhou: “…”

Mu Nanjin turned her gaze to the Fifth Prince, but he refused to even look her way.

【Ignore me all you want. One day, I’ll make you kneel before me and beg.】

Lord Zhou quickened his pace, pretending he hadn’t heard.

When they reached the pavilion, he ordered the steward of Wansheng Garden to bring out the rarest flowers.

The Fifth Prince, being a master of poisons, immediately recognized their value and accepted them without hesitation. Then his gaze drifted to Mu Nanjin, who stood silently by the window.

She was looking toward the main gate of the garden.

【That tree won’t survive this calamity.】

【If it does, it won’t stay here anymore.】

【And then the divine birds will lose their home.】

Lord Zhou frowned in confusion. “What calamity?”

He followed her gaze and saw the ancient tree they had passed earlier.

Just then, a strong wind blew.

The great tree swayed violently, leaves cascading like rain.

One leaf drifted up to the pavilion, landing before Mu Nanjin.

She caught it gently and tucked it into her robes.

“Sha, sha, sha…”

The rustling of leaves sounded like laughter.

An hour later, the Minister of Rites returned with the others.

He turned to the Fifth Prince. “Your Highness, are you satisfied with the gifts our Emperor sent?”

The prince nodded.

“Excellent, excellent.” The Minister smiled broadly. “Tomorrow afternoon, at the hour of Shen, I’ll escort everyone into the palace for audience.”

Lord Zhou ordered the steward, “Serve the meal.”

By now it was midday, just as Deng Xingchao and his men’s shift ended. He led Mu Nanjin and the others out of Wansheng Garden.

Captain Liu was still sighing in amazement. “I’ve never seen a deer with such a long neck. Was it born deformed?”

Chen Liangli chuckled. “No one knows why its neck is so long.”

Mu Nanjin frowned.

【He’s talking about a giraffe, isn’t he? Honestly, what a country bumpkin. It’s supposed to look like that!】

Captain Liu: “…”

His good mood evaporated once again.

Deng Xingchao turned to Mu Nanjin. “Report to the Command Headquarters tomorrow at noon.”

“Alright.”

She didn’t join their escort back. Instead, she mounted Heitan and galloped straight home.

When she arrived at the Mu residence, the butler greeted her. “Miss, the madam of Xiaoqing Tower came by urgently. She asked that you go there at once.”