Chapter 62: A Storm Over the Imperial City
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Chapter 62: A Storm Over the Imperial City
Ransoming Yu Ningsheng, one of the Three Great Beauties of the Imperial City?
This was an event that would shake the entire Imperial City to its core.
And now, it was happening.
Ru Yizhi had already stepped out of the Jade Viewing Pavilion when he heard the commotion inside. He paused and saw people rushing out, so he asked, "What major event has occurred in the Jade Viewing Pavilion?"
The man replied, "It’s earth-shattering news! Someone is offering an astronomical sum to ransom Yu Ningsheng, one of the Three Great Beauties of the Imperial City!"
"Someone wants to ransom Yu Ningsheng?" Ru Yizhi was stunned.
This was a thought that had likely crossed the minds of every man in the Imperial City, yet no one had ever dared to act on it.
First, the price to ransom Yu Ningsheng was exorbitant—far beyond what an ordinary person could afford. Even someone of Ru Yizhi’s status, wealth, and cultivation would find it incredibly difficult to produce hundreds of millions of Small Coins in one go.
Second, those with the means to ransom Yu Ningsheng were mostly nobles and princes. Such individuals valued their reputations highly and would not lightly tarnish their names by purchasing a woman. Besides, men of their stature could have any woman they desired—why spend a fortune on a courtesan? It simply wasn’t worth it.
Third, even if someone were willing to pay the sky-high price, Yu Ningsheng herself had to agree. If she disliked the person, she would likely prefer to remain in the Jade Viewing Pavilion.
Ru Yizhi’s expression shifted with intrigue, and suddenly, he felt an intense curiosity about the person attempting to ransom Yu Ningsheng. Without hesitation, he turned and re-entered the Jade Viewing Pavilion.
Inside, the atmosphere was electric, and even the Jade Viewing Pavilion Master had been roused from seclusion.
Most of the pavilion’s daily affairs were managed by Yu Youyan, while the Pavilion Master’s identity remained shrouded in mystery. Those who frequented the Jade Viewing Pavilion knew only that the master was a figure of immense prestige—someone not to be trifled with.
At this moment, the Jade Viewing Pavilion Master sat at the head of a long table, clad in a voluminous black robe with a fur-lined hood. His entire being exuded an aura of darkness, as if ink-black Profound Qi swirled around him, radiating an eerie, chilling presence.
Ning Xiaochuan sat calmly across from him, his expression unreadable, his gaze steady as he studied the Pavilion Master. Yet, no matter how hard he looked, he could discern nothing—not even the master’s gender.
The surrounding martial artists recoiled from the Pavilion Master’s oppressive aura, keeping their distance. Only Ning Xiaochuan remained composed, unshaken in his seat.
"Who is this kid? To sit so calmly across from the Jade Viewing Pavilion Master—he’s no ordinary man!"
"Joking aside, only someone extraordinary could offer 800 million Small Coins to ransom Yu Ningsheng. Such boldness and extravagance rival even the nobility!"
"E-eight… 800 million? Good heavens! Is he the son of the God of Wealth?"
"If I had 800 million Small Coins, I could buy a hundred beauties! Who would be so foolish as to spend that much to redeem a courtesan? The world of the rich is truly unimaginable. Even a statue made of Green Gold probably wouldn’t sell for 800 million Small Coins!" someone remarked bitterly, their voice dripping with envy.
...
Yu Ningsheng, her face veiled in white gauze, and the brothel madam Yu Youyan stood on either side of the table.
Yu Youyan was utterly speechless. When she first met Ning Xiaochuan, she had merely taken him for a prodigal spender. But as she gradually got to know him, she realized he was actually a decent man. However, when Ning Xiaochuan declared he would spend 800 million Small Coins to redeem Yu Ningsheng, she was completely stunned.
Any courtesan faced with such a "generous patron" would find it hard to remain composed.
"Ningsheng, you’ve truly met your benefactor this time. I… I’m so envious of you! To marry such a handsome, wealthy young master—you’ll surely live in splendor for the rest of your days. You must come back and visit your Sister Youyan often," Yu Youyan said, tears streaming down her face, overwhelmed with emotion. In her heart, she wondered why fate hadn’t dropped a man like Ning Xiaochuan into her life to take her away as well.
To Yu Youyan, since Ning Xiaochuan was redeeming Yu Ningsheng, it naturally meant he intended to marry her—whether as a wife or a concubine.
Yu Ningsheng thought the same, though she remained outwardly calm, a trace of melancholy lingering in her eyes. "Can I really leave the Jade Viewing Pavilion?" she murmured.
"800 million Small Coins! A full 800 million! The Pavilion Master will surely agree!" Yu Youyan exclaimed.
...
Jian Pavilion Marquis House
While Ning Xiaochuan was negotiating with the Jade Viewing Pavilion Master, news of the incident spread like wildfire throughout the Imperial City, drawing hordes of young martial artists toward the Jade Viewing Pavilion.
"What? Xiaochuan went to the Jade Viewing Pavilion to redeem the famous courtesan Yu Ningsheng?" Ning Qiancheng burst into laughter upon hearing the report from a servant. "Hah! His way of doing things is just like Third Brother’s!"
"What’s so good about it? I’ve already agreed to the marriage between Xiaochuan and Princess Qianqian. The entire court knows of it! And now, at this critical moment, he goes to redeem a courtesan? What will Princess Qianqian think? What will the Great Golden Roc King think?" the Old Marquis snapped.
Ning Qiancheng immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. A single misstep could ruin the alliance between the Jian Pavilion Marquis House and the Golden Roc Prince’s Manor—even jeopardize the ongoing imperial reforms. "I’ll go stop him," he said.
With a thunderous gust of wind, Ning Qiancheng vanished from the spot.
...
Cloud Marquis Manor
"Ning Xiaochuan went to the Jade Viewing Pavilion to redeem Yu Ningsheng?" Yue Wuyang stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the courtyard, gazing at the moon with a faint smile.
His towering figure exuded an imposing aura, as if he could punch the moon out of the sky with a single strike.
This was the Aura of a Noble!
Ji Hanxing, standing nearby, was also taken aback by the news. How could a sickly weakling with no martial prowess possibly produce 800 million Small Coins to redeem a courtesan?
A man clad in black armor knelt on the ground and reported, "Not long ago, Ning Xiaochuan fought Xiao Li at the Golden Roc Auction House, and the battle ended in a draw. This completely contradicts the intelligence we previously had. We all thought..."
"We all thought he couldn’t cultivate at all, yet it turns out he’s a remarkable martial genius," Yue Wuyang said calmly. "It seems that after tonight, Ning Xiaochuan’s name will be impossible to ignore."
Ji Hanxing, however, gritted her teeth in frustration. That damned Ning Xiaochuan had been pretending all along—and she had actually been fooled by him!
Yue Wuyang smiled faintly. "The Great Golden Roc King and the Jian Pavilion Marquis House wanted to use a marriage alliance to pressure His Majesty into retracting the Feudatory Reduction Policy. Well, now that Ning Xiaochuan refuses to marry the princess and instead wants to wed a courtesan, let’s go help him out. Come, we’re heading to the Jade Viewing Pavilion."
---
At the Golden Roc Prince's Manor, Yu Qianqian sat blankly by her bronze mirror. Ever since learning about her arranged marriage to Ning Xiaochuan, an inexplicable emotion had stirred in her heart.
Yet another political marriage!
As the princess of the manor, she understood perfectly well that her marriage could never be as carefree as an ordinary person’s—it would always be tied to the interests of the manor. So, upon hearing the news, she hadn’t put up much resistance.
In her eyes, Ning Xiaochuan might not be such a bad choice. At the very least, she didn’t dislike him. Perhaps... she even felt a tiny bit of fondness for him.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!" Ping'er burst into the room, panting heavily.
Yu Qianqian frowned. "What is it?"
Ping'er said, "Young Master Ning went to the Jade Viewing Pavilion to redeem the courtesan Yu Ningsheng, who’s famous throughout the Imperial City! This... this is simply outrageous!"
"What?!" Yu Qianqian’s heart instantly burned with fury. She stomped her feet angrily, as if someone had stolen the prized hen she’d been raising for months—just when it was about to lay eggs!
Only now did she realize that perhaps she truly did have feelings for that damned Ning Xiaochuan. Otherwise, why would she be so furious?
"Ping'er, quickly gather a group of experts for me. We’re going to the Jade Viewing Pavilion to beat that little vixen who dares to seduce someone else’s fiancé!" Yu Qianqian clenched her delicate fists, her teeth grinding in rage.
---
At this moment, Ning Xiaochuan, seated inside the Jade Viewing Pavilion, had no idea that his simple act of trying to redeem Yu Ningsheng had stirred up a massive storm across the entire Imperial City.
The Jade Viewing Pavilion had become the eye of the storm, with everyone converging toward it.
The Jade Viewing Pavilion Master pondered for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice, "She cannot be redeemed."
Everyone was stunned. 800 million Small Coins, and still Yu Ningsheng couldn’t be freed?
Yu Ningsheng, however, seemed to have expected this outcome. She showed little surprise, only a faint sense of disappointment in her heart.
Ning Xiaochuan abruptly stood up, his heart unsettled. "Why?" he demanded in a low voice.
From the darkness outside, a deep, resonant voice echoed from afar, "I’ll tell you why—because she is the daughter of a disgraced official!"
Yue Wuyang sat in his luxurious carriage, six streets away from the Jade Viewing Pavilion. From within the carriage, a wisp of emerald Profound Qi flew out, coalescing into a Martial Soul Avatar.
This Martial Soul Avatar possessed the ability to traverse the void. With a single light step, it appeared within the Jade Viewing Pavilion in the next instant.
Yue Wuyang's Martial Soul Avatar also carried an overwhelming majesty, with the Aura of a Noble surging forth. Profound Qi in the shapes of Fierce Dragons and Divine Qilins flowed around his body, forming a spectral and divine manifestation.
As the noble arrived, the entire Jade Viewing Pavilion knelt in reverence.
Ransoming Yu Ningsheng, one of the Three Great Beauties of the Imperial City?
This was an event that would shake the entire Imperial City to its core.
And now, it was happening.
Ru Yizhi had already stepped out of the Jade Viewing Pavilion when he heard the commotion inside. He paused and saw people rushing out, so he asked, "What major event has occurred in the Jade Viewing Pavilion?"
The man replied, "It’s earth-shattering news! Someone is offering an astronomical sum to ransom Yu Ningsheng, one of the Three Great Beauties of the Imperial City!"
"Someone wants to ransom Yu Ningsheng?" Ru Yizhi was stunned.
This was a thought that had likely crossed the minds of every man in the Imperial City, yet no one had ever dared to act on it.
First, the price to ransom Yu Ningsheng was exorbitant—far beyond what an ordinary person could afford. Even someone of Ru Yizhi’s status, wealth, and cultivation would find it incredibly difficult to produce hundreds of millions of Small Coins in one go.
Second, those with the means to ransom Yu Ningsheng were mostly nobles and princes. Such individuals valued their reputations highly and would not lightly tarnish their names by purchasing a woman. Besides, men of their stature could have any woman they desired—why spend a fortune on a courtesan? It simply wasn’t worth it.
Third, even if someone were willing to pay the sky-high price, Yu Ningsheng herself had to agree. If she disliked the person, she would likely prefer to remain in the Jade Viewing Pavilion.
Ru Yizhi’s expression shifted with intrigue, and suddenly, he felt an intense curiosity about the person attempting to ransom Yu Ningsheng. Without hesitation, he turned and re-entered the Jade Viewing Pavilion.
Inside, the atmosphere was electric, and even the Jade Viewing Pavilion Master had been roused from seclusion.
Most of the pavilion’s daily affairs were managed by Yu Youyan, while the Pavilion Master’s identity remained shrouded in mystery. Those who frequented the Jade Viewing Pavilion knew only that the master was a figure of immense prestige—someone not to be trifled with.
At this moment, the Jade Viewing Pavilion Master sat at the head of a long table, clad in a voluminous black robe with a fur-lined hood. His entire being exuded an aura of darkness, as if ink-black Profound Qi swirled around him, radiating an eerie, chilling presence.
Ning Xiaochuan sat calmly across from him, his expression unreadable, his gaze steady as he studied the Pavilion Master. Yet, no matter how hard he looked, he could discern nothing—not even the master’s gender.
The surrounding martial artists recoiled from the Pavilion Master’s oppressive aura, keeping their distance. Only Ning Xiaochuan remained composed, unshaken in his seat.
"Who is this kid? To sit so calmly across from the Jade Viewing Pavilion Master—he’s no ordinary man!"
"Joking aside, only someone extraordinary could offer 800 million Small Coins to ransom Yu Ningsheng. Such boldness and extravagance rival even the nobility!"
"E-eight… 800 million? Good heavens! Is he the son of the God of Wealth?"
"If I had 800 million Small Coins, I could buy a hundred beauties! Who would be so foolish as to spend that much to redeem a courtesan? The world of the rich is truly unimaginable. Even a statue made of Green Gold probably wouldn’t sell for 800 million Small Coins!" someone remarked bitterly, their voice dripping with envy.
...
Yu Ningsheng, her face veiled in white gauze, and the brothel madam Yu Youyan stood on either side of the table.
Yu Youyan was utterly speechless. When she first met Ning Xiaochuan, she had merely taken him for a prodigal spender. But as she gradually got to know him, she realized he was actually a decent man. However, when Ning Xiaochuan declared he would spend 800 million Small Coins to redeem Yu Ningsheng, she was completely stunned.
Any courtesan faced with such a "generous patron" would find it hard to remain composed.
"Ningsheng, you’ve truly met your benefactor this time. I… I’m so envious of you! To marry such a handsome, wealthy young master—you’ll surely live in splendor for the rest of your days. You must come back and visit your Sister Youyan often," Yu Youyan said, tears streaming down her face, overwhelmed with emotion. In her heart, she wondered why fate hadn’t dropped a man like Ning Xiaochuan into her life to take her away as well.
To Yu Youyan, since Ning Xiaochuan was redeeming Yu Ningsheng, it naturally meant he intended to marry her—whether as a wife or a concubine.
Yu Ningsheng thought the same, though she remained outwardly calm, a trace of melancholy lingering in her eyes. "Can I really leave the Jade Viewing Pavilion?" she murmured.
"800 million Small Coins! A full 800 million! The Pavilion Master will surely agree!" Yu Youyan exclaimed.
...
Jian Pavilion Marquis House
While Ning Xiaochuan was negotiating with the Jade Viewing Pavilion Master, news of the incident spread like wildfire throughout the Imperial City, drawing hordes of young martial artists toward the Jade Viewing Pavilion.
"What? Xiaochuan went to the Jade Viewing Pavilion to redeem the famous courtesan Yu Ningsheng?" Ning Qiancheng burst into laughter upon hearing the report from a servant. "Hah! His way of doing things is just like Third Brother’s!"
"What’s so good about it? I’ve already agreed to the marriage between Xiaochuan and Princess Qianqian. The entire court knows of it! And now, at this critical moment, he goes to redeem a courtesan? What will Princess Qianqian think? What will the Great Golden Roc King think?" the Old Marquis snapped.
Ning Qiancheng immediately grasped the gravity of the situation. A single misstep could ruin the alliance between the Jian Pavilion Marquis House and the Golden Roc Prince’s Manor—even jeopardize the ongoing imperial reforms. "I’ll go stop him," he said.
With a thunderous gust of wind, Ning Qiancheng vanished from the spot.
...
Cloud Marquis Manor
"Ning Xiaochuan went to the Jade Viewing Pavilion to redeem Yu Ningsheng?" Yue Wuyang stood with his hands clasped behind his back in the courtyard, gazing at the moon with a faint smile.
His towering figure exuded an imposing aura, as if he could punch the moon out of the sky with a single strike.
This was the Aura of a Noble!
Ji Hanxing, standing nearby, was also taken aback by the news. How could a sickly weakling with no martial prowess possibly produce 800 million Small Coins to redeem a courtesan?
A man clad in black armor knelt on the ground and reported, "Not long ago, Ning Xiaochuan fought Xiao Li at the Golden Roc Auction House, and the battle ended in a draw. This completely contradicts the intelligence we previously had. We all thought..."
"We all thought he couldn’t cultivate at all, yet it turns out he’s a remarkable martial genius," Yue Wuyang said calmly. "It seems that after tonight, Ning Xiaochuan’s name will be impossible to ignore."
Ji Hanxing, however, gritted her teeth in frustration. That damned Ning Xiaochuan had been pretending all along—and she had actually been fooled by him!
Yue Wuyang smiled faintly. "The Great Golden Roc King and the Jian Pavilion Marquis House wanted to use a marriage alliance to pressure His Majesty into retracting the Feudatory Reduction Policy. Well, now that Ning Xiaochuan refuses to marry the princess and instead wants to wed a courtesan, let’s go help him out. Come, we’re heading to the Jade Viewing Pavilion."
---
At the Golden Roc Prince's Manor, Yu Qianqian sat blankly by her bronze mirror. Ever since learning about her arranged marriage to Ning Xiaochuan, an inexplicable emotion had stirred in her heart.
Yet another political marriage!
As the princess of the manor, she understood perfectly well that her marriage could never be as carefree as an ordinary person’s—it would always be tied to the interests of the manor. So, upon hearing the news, she hadn’t put up much resistance.
In her eyes, Ning Xiaochuan might not be such a bad choice. At the very least, she didn’t dislike him. Perhaps... she even felt a tiny bit of fondness for him.
"Your Highness! Your Highness! Something terrible has happened!" Ping'er burst into the room, panting heavily.
Yu Qianqian frowned. "What is it?"
Ping'er said, "Young Master Ning went to the Jade Viewing Pavilion to redeem the courtesan Yu Ningsheng, who’s famous throughout the Imperial City! This... this is simply outrageous!"
"What?!" Yu Qianqian’s heart instantly burned with fury. She stomped her feet angrily, as if someone had stolen the prized hen she’d been raising for months—just when it was about to lay eggs!
Only now did she realize that perhaps she truly did have feelings for that damned Ning Xiaochuan. Otherwise, why would she be so furious?
"Ping'er, quickly gather a group of experts for me. We’re going to the Jade Viewing Pavilion to beat that little vixen who dares to seduce someone else’s fiancé!" Yu Qianqian clenched her delicate fists, her teeth grinding in rage.
---
At this moment, Ning Xiaochuan, seated inside the Jade Viewing Pavilion, had no idea that his simple act of trying to redeem Yu Ningsheng had stirred up a massive storm across the entire Imperial City.
The Jade Viewing Pavilion had become the eye of the storm, with everyone converging toward it.
The Jade Viewing Pavilion Master pondered for a long time before speaking in a hoarse voice, "She cannot be redeemed."
Everyone was stunned. 800 million Small Coins, and still Yu Ningsheng couldn’t be freed?
Yu Ningsheng, however, seemed to have expected this outcome. She showed little surprise, only a faint sense of disappointment in her heart.
Ning Xiaochuan abruptly stood up, his heart unsettled. "Why?" he demanded in a low voice.
From the darkness outside, a deep, resonant voice echoed from afar, "I’ll tell you why—because she is the daughter of a disgraced official!"
Yue Wuyang sat in his luxurious carriage, six streets away from the Jade Viewing Pavilion. From within the carriage, a wisp of emerald Profound Qi flew out, coalescing into a Martial Soul Avatar.
This Martial Soul Avatar possessed the ability to traverse the void. With a single light step, it appeared within the Jade Viewing Pavilion in the next instant.
Yue Wuyang's Martial Soul Avatar also carried an overwhelming majesty, with the Aura of a Noble surging forth. Profound Qi in the shapes of Fierce Dragons and Divine Qilins flowed around his body, forming a spectral and divine manifestation.
As the noble arrived, the entire Jade Viewing Pavilion knelt in reverence.
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