Chapter 630
The Royal Family Invited Him to Cause a Scene
This force is what the Chi family, and other forces that participated in dividing up the Lin family back then, truly fear.
What they fear is not you as a person, but that your return might disrupt the existing balance in the Forbidden City, or... touch upon some past events they are unwilling to mention.
The royal family's attitude was a thorn in their side; they dared not openly disobey, yet they were absolutely unwilling to let you return smoothly. This is why they carried out the previous ambushes and the unauthorized actions of Chi Zangfeng today.
"Which member of the royal family is it?"
Jiang Xuan pressed for an answer.
"do not know."
The old man said frankly.
"The royal family is rife with complex relationships and factions. No one can be sure which prince or His Majesty this force that wants you to return comes from. Perhaps you will only know when you actually step into the Forbidden City and when they show up on your own initiative at the right time."
He looked at Jiang Xuan, his tone becoming serious.
"What I know, I have told you today. As for the rest of the truth, the complete picture of the incident more than ten years ago, the real experiences of your parents, the whole inside story of the Lin family's destruction, and the reasons why the royal family is paying attention to you... you will have to find out and uncover these things yourself in the days to come."
Because only you are at the center of that vortex, and only you have the potential to access those deliberately buried fragments and piece together the complete past.
Jiang Xuan remained silent. The old man's words were like a key, unlocking a door to a deeper darkness and more complex mystery. The road ahead was fraught with unknown dangers, but it also held clues to unraveling all the mysteries.
He recalled his journey from Donglin City to Yanxia City, and then on to the Forbidden City. The protection and guidance of Old Man Xuejin, the secret assistance from the Obsidian Temple, and the two times the old man before him saved his life... Without these help, he would probably have died halfway there.
"Thank you for your care and guidance along the way, senior."
Jiang Xuan bowed deeply to the old man with heartfelt gratitude.
The old man smiled slightly, waved his hand, and without saying anything more, simply pointed ahead.
"Look, we've arrived."
Jiang Xuan looked in the direction the old man pointed.
It was dusk, and the afterglow of the setting sun painted the sky a magnificent tapestry of gold, red, and purple. Beneath this breathtaking backdrop, at the edge of the horizon, stood a city of indescribable grandeur and antiquity, its imposing presence beyond words, silently rising from the earth.
The Forbidden City!
Even from a considerable distance, the magnificent, profound, and awe-inspiring aura, seemingly enduring through countless ages, was already overwhelming!
The entire city seemed to be shrouded in a faint, misty purple aura, which, under the glow of the twilight, presented a dreamlike purple-gold color, as if a miracle had descended to earth.
As the old man's beam of light rapidly approached, the details of the Forbidden City became increasingly clear.
The first thing that catches the eye is the massive city wall, hundreds of feet high and resembling a mountain! The wall is not made of ordinary bricks and stones, but is forged from a special kind of dark red metal and spiritual materials that seem to have been soaked in countless years and wars. Its surface is covered with ancient and mysterious defensive spiritual patterns, which shimmer with restrained brilliance in the setting sun.
The city gates are majestic, like the open mouth of a giant beast, swallowing and spitting out the endless stream of people and vehicles.
But this is only the part above ground.
What truly shocked Jiang Xuan was the sight of things suspended in mid-air inside the city walls!
Above the vast interior of the Forbidden City, there was not nothing but hundreds of mountains of different sizes and shapes floating in the sky!
These mountains are shrouded in a misty, ethereal atmosphere; some are lush and verdant; some are rugged and imposing; and some are cascading waterfalls and flowing springs, surrounded by cranes.
Some palaces stretch endlessly, their precious lights soaring into the sky... They are distributed in the air according to some mysterious pattern, at different heights, like floating fairy islands, forming the unique aerial spectacle of the Forbidden City.
“That is… ‘the mountain of powerful clans’.”
The old man's voice rang out at the right moment, carrying a hint of introduction.
"The Forbidden City is the true core of power and the location of top-tier resources. There are seventy-two such sites, corresponding to seventy-two mid-level or higher aristocratic families. Only those forces whose strength, foundation, and achievements are recognized by the empire and who rank among the top are qualified to occupy one of them as the fundamental stronghold of their family or sect within the Forbidden City."
They constitute a world of their own, with spiritual energy far denser than on the ground, and are heavily fortified with arrays and restrictions, making it impossible for ordinary people to enter. Lower-ranking clans and most mid-ranking clans can only build their residences on the ground, having no chance to reside in these 'sky-high realms'.
Jiang Xuan gazed at the seventy-two floating mountains, his eyes flashing.
Is that the layout of the top floor of the Forbidden City? High above, overlooking all living beings. Did the Lin family once own one of them? And now, in whose hands has it fallen?
Just as his heart was churning with emotion, the old man had already lowered him down to the outside of the enormous gates of the Forbidden City.
By this time, it was completely dark, but the Forbidden City and its surroundings were as bright as day. The city walls themselves were inlaid with countless self-illuminating pearls and gems, and the city itself was ablaze with lights.
Countless rays of light illuminated the night sky, and the clamor of voices, the sounds of carriages and horses, and even the faint sounds of string and wind instruments blended together to form a vast and vibrant sound wave that rushed towards us.
Outside the city gate, a magnificent, all-black imperial carriage, with its ancient and imposing design, was already waiting quietly. Pulling the carriage were not ordinary horses, but two strange beasts called "Ink-Scaled Steeds," their bodies covered in fine scales, each with a single horn on its head and a gleaming light in their eyes. They stood there calmly, their presence steady.
A coachman dressed in black, with an ordinary face but a rather sharp aura, bowed deeply upon seeing the old man and Jiang Xuan land, and then handed them a sealed letter with both hands.
The old man took the letter, opened it, and found two sheets of paper of different textures inside.
He glanced at the first letter, raised an eyebrow, and then handed it to Jiang Xuan.
Jiang Xuan took the letter and looked at it in the light of the city gate. The paper was ordinary, but the handwriting on it was strong and powerful, exuding an unquestionable authority.
"Chi Zangfeng left the city without permission, broke the agreement, and recklessly plotted to kill. He has now been captured by the clan elders and punished with three years of confinement at 'Reflection Cliff,' where he is forbidden from stepping out of the Chi family compound. This is to serve as a warning to others."
The signature is a simple "ruler" character mark.
An internal punishment notice from the Chi family? Jiang Xuan looked at the few lines of text, a cold smile curving his lips. Three years of confinement? Forbidden to leave the house?
For a genius like Chi Zangfeng, who entered the Spirit Sea Realm at the age of thirteen, this punishment was less of a severe punishment and more of a protective admonition to prevent him from causing trouble again, or... being retaliated against.
It seems that even the Chi family had to make some outward gestures due to the invisible pressure from the royal family.
"Humph."
Jiang Xuan snorted and casually handed the letter back.
The old man didn't take it. Instead, he looked at the second letter and fell into a brief moment of contemplation, his expression becoming somewhat serious.
"This letter... is for you."
The old man handed over the second letter as well.
Jiang Xuan accepted it with some doubt. The feeling upon handling it was completely different! The letter wasn't paper, but a special jade piece as thin as a cicada's wing, warm to the touch, and shimmering with a faint golden light! On the edge of the jade piece was imprinted a lifelike, intricately detailed purple flower emblem—the Purple Obsidian Flower, the symbol of the imperial family! A royal letter!
Jiang Xuan's heart skipped a beat.
He composed himself and looked at the contents of the jade tablet.
There was only one line of text on it, the handwriting was elegant and unrestrained, yet it contained a kind of indifference that looked down on all living beings and... a hint of playfulness?
"Now that you're in the Forbidden City, you can do whatever you want, even cause chaos. However, if you want to see me, you must first take on the responsibility of being the heir to the Lin family and restore its honor. If you feel that you are not up to the task or that your will is not firm, you can leave now, and I can guarantee you a lifetime of peace, wealth, and worry-free life. Your choice is up to you."
There was no signature, no title, but the purple obsidian emblem said it all.
Jiang Xuan gripped the thin yet incredibly heavy piece of golden jade paper tightly, his knuckles turning slightly white from the force. The words on the jade seemed to possess a certain magic, penetrating straight to his heart.
The meaning of this letter couldn't be clearer.
Once inside the Forbidden City, you can do whatever you want—make trouble, seek revenge, stir up trouble—and even if you turn the place upside down, the person writing the letter won't blame you; they might even be happy to see it happen.
However, if you want to meet this mysterious royal figure and get further help from him/her or uncover more secrets, the prerequisite is that you must first take on the responsibility of the Lin family heir, find a way to revitalize the Lin family, or at least show that attitude and take that action.
If you feel you can't do it, or you're afraid, it's not too late to turn back now. The other party can guarantee that you will live a peaceful and wealthy life, away from all this strife.
This is a choice, and even more so, a test. To go forward is to embark on a path of revenge and revival fraught with thorns, surrounded by powerful enemies, and seemingly without hope, but it may also lead to the truth and a higher level of understanding.
Retreat ensures safety and a peaceful life, but all grudges, mysteries, and the past and responsibilities belonging to "Lin Xuan" will be completely buried.
Without the slightest hesitation, Jiang Xuan's eyes sharpened like knives once more, as if that moment of struggle and weighing of options had never existed.
He held the precious golden jade paper in both hands, and his spiritual energy was released slightly.
scoff!
With a soft sound, the jade paper was cleanly torn in two in his hand, and then crumpled into a ball.
"Stability? Wealth?"
Jiang Xuan's voice was calm, yet it carried a resolute determination.
"From the moment I left Donglin City and learned that my parents might not have died in an accident, from the moment I decided to come to the Forbidden City, there was no turning back on this path. Now that I'm here, not even a letter, not even the Heavenly King himself, can stop me from leaving."
He casually tossed the crumpled jade paper fragments on the ground, his gaze sweeping towards the brightly lit yet turbulent depths of the Forbidden City, a cold smile curving his lips.
"I'd really like to see what kind of confidence this big shot has that makes him dare to say something like 'Even if things turn upside down, it's fine.'"
It's time for the heavens above the Forbidden City to change.
The old man watched Jiang Xuan's actions and listened to his calm yet resounding words. A hint of admiration flashed in his eyes, but more than that, it was an understanding that he had already expected.
“Even without this letter, I would still ask you what your plans are.”
The old man said slowly.
"Now it seems there's no need to ask any more questions."
Jiang Xuan turned to the old man.
"Senior, are you friends or enemies with this important royal figure who wrote the letter?"
The old man smiled slightly, a smile that held a deeper meaning.
"Neither enemy nor friend. I was simply doing my duty to someone. Some things, you'll know when the time comes. Get in the car, it's late, time to head into the city."
Jiang Xuan said no more, nodded, and boarded the black carriage with the old man.
The driver silently sat in the front seat and gently shook the reins.
The two black-horned steeds snorted and took steady, powerful strides, pulling the imperial carriage silently through the towering gate of the Forbidden City, which seemed capable of swallowing everything.
The imperial carriage disappeared quickly into the dazzling, bustling lights and traffic inside the city gate.
That night, the Forbidden City appeared as bustling and prosperous as ever, filled with song and dance. But atop those "mountains of powerful families" suspended in the air, and within the secret chambers of those magnificent mansions hidden on the ground, messages, both overt and covert, were being rapidly transmitted.
"He went into town."
"That child... has really come back."
"Lin Wenjing and Luo Qingxun's son... Lin Xuan."
"I heard that kid Chi Zangfeng made a move outside the city and almost succeeded, but was stopped by a mysterious old man."
"There seems to be some movement from the royal family."
Upon receiving the news, some people frowned, looked worried, secretly increased their vigilance, or urgently summoned their confidants for discussion.
Some people simply gave a noncommittal "oh," believing that even if a teenager had some extraordinary experiences, he was nothing more than an ant in the Forbidden City today, and that the Lin family was a thing of the past and could not cause any trouble.
Some people raised their glasses in the darkness, revealing meaningful smiles, as if they were looking forward to a good show.
A wind has risen. Though faint, it has indeed begun, quietly flowing through this ancient and vast city. Beneath the surface of the water, which has been calm for over a decade, unseen currents are surging faster.
As night deepened, the imperial carriage moved smoothly along the wide, flat streets paved with special stone. On both sides of the street stood rows of various buildings, with flying eaves and brackets, brightly lit.
Even though it was late at night, the streets were still bustling with people, and the shops and taverns were noisy and lively, presenting a unique and never-ending scene of prosperity in the core area of the capital. But Jiang Xuan's gaze went through the car window and was cast further into the distance, at those "mountains of powerful families" that floated in the night sky and were shrouded in a hazy spiritual light and mist.
"senior."
Jiang Xuan withdrew his gaze and looked at the old man opposite him who had closed his eyes to rest. His voice was calm and firm.
“Since I tore up that letter, I have made my choice. I will shoulder the responsibility of being the heir to the Lin family. I will investigate and settle the old stories of the Lin family, the hatred between my parents and the family.”
The old man slowly opened his eyes, his gaze revealing no surprise, only a knowing understanding that he had long anticipated this. (End of Chapter)