Tome of Troubled Times-Chapter 651: Its Time to Get Down to Business

Vermillion Bird had never imagined that she would one day share a man with another man, much less compete with her side by side. If someone had suggested such a thing to her years ago, they would have undoubtedly faced her wrath and ended up torn in half.

But if she had to accept someone, if there was no other choice, perhaps it could only be Lady Three.

After Xia Chichi’s mother died, Lady Three became Vermillion Bird’s closest friend... her only friend, in fact.

When Vermillion Bird first debuted in the world, she was just a young girl. At that time, Lady Three was already an experienced woman, skilled in martial arts and full of stories. She was a spirited, carefree figure who had seen much of the world. Her laid-back demeanor and readiness to defy convention made her instantly appealing to Vermillion Bird.

Back then, the leadership of the Four Idols Cult was utterly inadequate. The primary reason for this was that most of their members were remnants of an overthrown dynasty. They were a ragtag collection of exiles. The cult was in a state akin to the remnants of the failed Southern Ming dynasty[1]. Xia Chichi’s mother, a former princess, was merely above average in terms of ability and intelligence, yet that had been enough to make her a pillar of the cult.

Vermillion Bird, however, was different. Huangfu Yongxian, her father, had been a general of the fallen dynasty. Unlike many others of the previous dynasty, he had already pledged loyalty to the Great Xia and wanted nothing to do with the cult’s doctrines. Yet, after a few years of witnessing Xia Longyuan’s shortcomings, he turned a blind eye as his young daughter was “coaxed” into the cult—leaving an escape route for the future.

It was thus no surprise that someone of military lineage and immense talent like Huangfu Qing would stand out in the Four Idols Cult like a crane among chickens. As soon as her excellent leadership qualities were revealed, responsibilities came to be piled onto her shoulders. As the feeble previous generation of the Four Idols Cult fell to infighting or imperial purges, and the former White Tiger Saintess perished at Luo Family Village, the burdens on the young Vermillion Bird only grew heavier and heavier.

Lady Three’s arrival was like a shot of adrenaline for Vermillion Bird. One pushed forward while the other held the line. One handled warfare while the other managed internal affairs. They were both selfless, making them a perfect pair. The cult’s rise over the past decade was due to these two stars shining brightly. The Four Idols Cult rising to become the most formidable cult of this time was not Vermillion Bird’s achievement alone. Black Tortoise, though seemingly without any legendary achievements, was invaluable.

Lady Three’s reputation for idleness was mostly misleading. She simply disliked power struggles and preferred to focus on her own tasks. In fact, her efforts at funding the cult alone were equivalent to ten Vermillion Birds. Furthermore, Lady Three’s martial prowess, though understated, surpassed even Vermillion Bird’s. When she did get serious, the results were earth-shattering, scattering enemies in awe and terror. Countless times, she had quietly averted crises for the cult.

Her value truly was beyond measure.

Vermillion Bird had gone from a blossoming maiden to a magnificent woman. Yet, just as it had been back then, whenever she found herself overwhelmed, whenever she encountered a dilemma she could not solve, the first person that would come to her mind was always Lady Three. She was the unshakeable pillar Vermillion Bird relied on most. If there were ever a word to describe the Black Tortoise in her heart, it was “steadfast.”

Who knew that steadfast pillar would one day turn into this...

When Vermillion Bird beat up Lady Three that morning, she did so with genuine fury. However, she was now unsure whether Lady Three conspiring with a man to conquer her or Lady Three daring to steal that same man away enraged her more.

And yet, here they were, sharing the same man. To her surprise, Vermillion Bird found herself more emotionally accepting of this outcome than she had originally anticipated. At the very least, she felt that it was better than sharing Zhao Changhe with Chichi, and definitely far preferable to sharing him with Tang Wanzhuang. She even began to understand the mischievous delight Lady Three took in this arrangement.

She found that watching the usually carefree, ever-smiling Lady Three reduced to soft, trembling sighs under a man’s touch was actually... kind of entertaining.

Unable to resist, Vermillion Bird reached out and gave a gentle squeeze to Lady Three’s quivering softness.

She knew full well this might provoke unintended consequences... but she simply could not help herself. As expected, the man misread the gesture as an invitation, and in the next moment, Vermillion Bird and Black Tortoise were entangled together.

After more than a decade of unwavering sisterhood, they now faced each other, bodies intertwined. Each bit their lower lips, heads turned away from one another, unable to meet the other’s gaze.

* * *

“How are you enjoying yourselves, dear venerables?”

No one knew how much time had passed before Xia Chichi sauntered onto the platform, hands clasped behind her back, her steps small yet deliberate.

Her posture betrayed a readiness to bolt at any moment. Ironically, the one who was now least willing to be around the two venerables was Xia Chichi herself.

It was not just a matter of Vermillion Bird being her master, there was also the title of Empress Dowager layered atop it. On the one hand, while they had never formally established a master-disciple relationship, they both acknowledged that relationship and acted accordingly. On the other hand, while the motherly role that Vermillion Bird held was in title only and they had never acknowledged that relationship for a single second, the title was there nonetheless. For all her mischievous bravado, Xia Chichi could not help but feel uneasy. Especially when that shameless Master-Mother had stolen her man.

The satisfaction of having Vermillion Bird serve her tea had long faded, replaced by a growing sense of frustration the more she thought about it.

Thankfully, the “battle” had long concluded, along with whatever unspeakable acts had followed. Zhao Changhe was now discussing serious matters with them. As Xia Chichi approached, all three faced her with composed expressions, utterly unbothered.

They asked in unison, “Finally done with the ceremony, Chichi?”

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Xia Chichi took half a step back, adopting a guarded stance.

“Cough... What’s with that look?” Zhao Changhe asked helplessly. “We’re all dressed properly now...”

“It’s not as if you can’t just strip again. You’re quite good at that, after all.”

“...I’m not some lustful ox.”

“Oh, really? Then let me share some news that might come as a surprise to you. Not only did I finish the ceremony, but I’ve also attended the morning court session.”

The three of them exchanged glances, their heads nearly dropping to their chests in embarrassment.

Zhao Changhe wisely avoided any excuses and cut straight to the matter at hand. “We’ve been discussing the steps that Qing’er should take in order to break through to the Profound Control Realm. She needs more than these indirect attempts. It’s best for her to travel to the extreme south and witness the fire firsthand. But with so many critical matters at hand, we’re debating whether she can afford to leave. The deterrent power of a Profound Control Realm cultivator is immense, so delaying some tasks for this breakthrough might be worth it. What do you think?”

“No,” Xia Chichi replied firmly.

Vermillion Bird was surprised. “Why not? The most immediate tasks of stabilizing the internal affairs and reforming the cult’s administration are already complete. I don’t see many urgent matters left. Compared to everything else, breaking through to the Profound Control Realm is far more important, isn’t it?”

“Because things aren’t just about you. The ones who need to leave the soonest are Changhe and Aunt-Master,” said Xia Chichi with a sigh. “For the past few days, Changhe has been busy forging weapons and taking control of the Imperial Ancestral Temple’s secret realm. These are all critical tasks. Frankly, maintaining our alliance with Tang Wanzhuang is of utmost importance. That’s why neither I nor First Seat Tang—I mean, Tang Wanzhuang—have interrupted you. In fact, we’ve even been supportive of your efforts.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

Vermillion Bird blinked. Wait, did she just imply that she and Tang Wanzhuang are on the same side now? Well, since she’s the empress, I guess that makes sense....

This just went to show how quickly one’s priorities could shift. Vermillion Bird would not be surprised if Xia Chichi one day decided to turn against the veterans of the Four Idols Cult should it be necessary. Still, given their current dynamics, the situation transforming into such a scenario seemed unlikely—after all, the ultimate authority lay with Zhao Changhe, whether for the Four Idols Cult or for Tang Wanzhuang.

Xia Chichi, unaware of her master’s musings, continued, “Externally, we’re still on shaky ground. The movements of the tribes to the north remains the greatest cause for worry for both me and Tang Wanzhuang. Aunt-Master spent a long time at Huangsha Market and is most familiar with the situation at the border, so it would be best if she could go there and take charge.”

Lady Three raised an eyebrow. “Isn’t that what Batu and Uncle Huangfu are there for? What can I even do to help?”

“The problem is that we don’t really know where General Huangfu’s loyalty lies. Just two days ago, troops from Jinzhong arrived in the capital, though Shaozong repelled them. Things are now far more critical than when the Shanxi merchants were merely smuggling grain. And to the west, with Li Gongsi dead, we need to consider what the Li Clan will do. The northern barbarians have already raided Guanzhong once, so can they now bypass it entirely and strike us directly? We need more than just intelligence from Huangsha Market. I also hope you can make contact with Ying Five, since he has deep roots in the northwest.”

Lady Three fell silent.

Xia Chichi sighed and added, “We can at least take some comfort in two things. First, Bo’e is injured, and tensions between him and Timur have been prompted by the Tome of Troubled Times. Second, it’s the dead of winter. Heavy snowfall makes any campaign incredibly difficult. However, we can’t afford to be complacent. We must still prepare for any unexpected strikes. Just because there’s been no movement recently doesn’t mean that they’re idle. The silence can simply be due to a delay in intelligence. After all, despite the chaos we’ve been navigating, only a short time has really passed. A lack of news is perfectly normal... At worst, Batu might already be dead.”

Zhao Changhe: “...”

“Moreover, it’s not just General Huangfu’s loyalty that’s uncertain. There are still other uncertainties internally. The Cui Clan in the south has been unsettlingly silent. They have not even made a formal declaration. We must also consider our next step with regard to the Wang Clan that has retreated to Langya. And further to the south...”

“Alright, alright,” Zhao Changhe sighed and rubbed his temples. “I get it. It looks like I really do need to visit the Cui Clan.”

“If both you and Aunt-Master leave, then the only powerful figure left in the capital would be Tang Wanzhuang, and she alone is not enough of a deterrent force to keep everything in order in the capital. First, Lu Jianzhang and his faction can’t be entirely trusted. Second, the unknown god or demon that Changhe repelled with an arrow might return. The name of Venerable Vermillion Bird alone is a symbol of stability, especially now that you’ve made progress toward the Profound Control Realm. For the time being, we can’t afford for you to leave. If you find yourself idle, the best course of action would be to investigate that unknown god or demon’s origins and whereabouts.”

The three exchanged glances, taken aback by Xia Chichi’s words. They found it hard to believe that this was the same woman who, not long ago, had been sulking over her master stealing her man. Yet at this moment, all three remembered the words she had spoken when she decided to take the throne.

—I won’t just take the reins; I’ll settle his debts with the world.

Perhaps she truly was the person best suited for the position, far more so than Zhao Changhe himself.

Zhao Changhe’s thoughts drifted to the dragon throne from his summoning draw. That had been a location card, marking the starting point of his journey and its link to the throne. He had once thought it was because Xia Chichi was of Xia Longyuan’s blood, that his path had been destined to revolve around this location. But now, it seemed the card had been pointing to Xia Chichi herself.

If that were true, had the blind woman who sent him to her side truly glimpsed the future?

Xia Chichi concluded, “If you’re planning to leave, then make sure you see Tang Wanzhuang before you go. She’s not just someone for you to win over. She’s the Great Wall of this empire.”

1. The Southern Ming Dynasty refers to the remnants of the Ming Dynasty that resisted the Qing conquest of China. It is considered a failed effort due to internal divisions, weak leadership, and the overwhelming military strength of the Qing. ☜