598: Chapter 598 The Manor of Creation: The Crown Prince's Secret Visit

"Jiang Chen, is this your residence? It is truly elegant and bright." Houtu looked around, her eyes full of approval.

Nuwa also nodded with a smile—looking across all the realms of the Earth Star, this place was indeed of the highest quality.

"By the way, Nuwa, you cultivate the Dao of Creation. Why not enlighten this land and add some Life Qi?"

"Mm." She responded softly, lifting her fingertips slightly as green light spread like mist.

In an instant, the plants and trees in the manor sprouted vibrant green branches, birds flapped their wings and chirped clearly, and fish flicked their tails, shimmering; even the ten thousand acres of fertile fields outside the manor seemed to be brushed by a spring breeze, with the seedlings standing tall, their veins glistening, and vitality surging forth.

Jiang Chen and Houtu closed their eyes for a moment. When they opened them again, they felt their breath crisp and their ears clear, and even the wind brushing past their ears carried a gentle warmth—this was the power of Creation, silent and subtle, yet reaching straight to the Origin.

"Sister, you have such great ability! Now even the wind seems to have come alive." Houtu held Nuwa's wrist, beaming with smiles.

"Sister, you flatter me. This little bit of skill is merely a trifling trick; how could I deserve the word 'amazing'?" Nuwa lowered her eyes and smiled faintly, her tone humble.

"Do not be humble. This sense of comfort is genuine, and it is very good." Jiang Chen was concise, but every word carried weight.

The two women nodded gently upon hearing this, saying no more. They then rolled up their sleeves and entered the garden, bending down to tend to flowers, prune branches, and channel water. Jiang Chen also rolled up his robe, picking up stones to pave paths and straightening fences. The three figures moved between the winding paths and corridors; they spoke little, but their laughter was like wind chimes under the eaves, ringing incessantly.

"Useless trash! You cannot even take down a single manor, what else are you good for?!" A roar exploded inside the tent. The Crown Prince kicked over a table, his face livid, and the veins on his forehead throbbing violently.

"Your Highness, please calm your anger! It is not that this subordinate is afraid of battle; it is that the manor is sinister! That rain came strangely, the sky was as dark as ink, and there was no thunder, yet it made one's bones turn cold... If we had not retreated in time, I fear the entire army would have been wiped out!" The general kowtowed on the ground, his voice trembling.

"Sinister? If you are afraid of death, just say so!" The Crown Prince grabbed a porcelain vase from the table and threw it fiercely. "Get back! Give me a fire and burn it to the ground!"

The porcelain shards flew past his ear. The general dared not dodge, enduring the impact directly. Blood oozed from his forehead, yet he remained prostrate, as if only pain could suppress the panic in his heart.

The Fourth Prince hurriedly stepped forward and grabbed his older brother's wrist: "Big Brother! It is not worth ruining your health over anger. If the manpower is insufficient, just send more. Fight steadily, and you will eventually break the deadlock."

The Crown Prince's chest heaved violently, and he finally let go. How could he not know—the Second Brother had military merits as high as a mountain. Although their Imperial Father had stripped him of his military power, the frontier soldiers still followed his lead. On his own side, the old generals were as slippery as loaches, and the new recruits had never seen battle; one slight mistake would mean total ruin.

"Fourth Brother, what do you understand? The Second Brother wins every battle he fights. If I cannot even clear out a single manor, even if Father passes the throne to me, how will the officials submit? How will the common people see it?" His voice was low and hoarse, "It is difficult..."

"Big Brother, precisely because it is difficult, we must be even more cautious. One wrong step is an abyss."

The Crown Prince remained silent for a long time, finally raising his hand to rub his brow: "...Let us put this matter aside for now. Regarding Hedong, is the manpower ready?"

"Big Brother, the timing is about right. But even if we really make a move, those great noble Families in Hedong may not necessarily respond—right now they are twisted into a single rope, as solid as an iron plate. Besides, they have long established themselves among the common people, and they manage their own descendants strictly; those playboys do not even dare to breathe loudly. To be honest, I cannot figure it out: why is it that within these Families, they can change faces as soon as they say so, and set rules as soon as they say so? It is as if they have become completely different people."

It was not just them who were confused; even the Emperor Li Yuan, who sat in Chang'an, was completely bewildered. What was the situation in Hedong in the early years? Those who forcibly abducted women, hoarded goods, or pretended to do good deeds—which of these were lacking? But what about now? The sky had truly changed. The secret report wrote clearly: if any Young Master dared to act recklessly, they did not need the government to intervene; Family law would be enforced on the spot.

In these times, the clan came first, and Family rules were sometimes more important than the law. By the time a case reached the magistrate, it had already been suppressed by the clan without a trace. Because of this, Hedong was as clear as a mirror, becoming the most conspicuous clean land in the country. When wars broke out everywhere, it collected grain and taxes as usual; where bandits ran rampant, it was as stable as a rock; even the national treasury could account for it. The abundance of grain and the prosperity of the markets in that place made the Imperial Family jealous, yet they could only stare helplessly, unable to reach out.

Do not think that the Emperor's golden words can make one walk sideways. How many years has it been since the Sui Dynasty fell? If Li Yuan were to force it, I fear it would be another cataclysm. Moreover, the other side had money, people, and a momentum that no one could pry—the Imperial Court truly had no way to deal with them.

"Your Highness, Prince of Qin, the people sent by the Crown Prince have failed. It is just as you expected; is that place really such a tough nut to crack?"

"Indeed! The Prince of Qin devises strategies in the command tent and wins battles from a thousand miles away; how could the Eastern Palace compare? We should have thought of this earlier."

"Alright, alright, stop flattering me. This matter, Wang Shichong tried it back then—he sent a troop of elite soldiers there, and what was the result? A thousand people crushed ten thousand troops in the blink of an eye, so fast that they couldn't even see the flags clearly. I wanted to recruit them at the time, but they didn't even pay attention to me. Not only did they ignore me, but the other great Families in Hedong, upon seeing that manor, all bowed their heads and bent their waists, respecting it as if they were worshipping their ancestors."

"What exactly is their background? Why is everyone afraid of them? According to the secret report, the 'Chen Nei Xiaoyao Manor' has existed for at most thirty or forty years; its Foundation is very shallow. Yet, it is precisely this place that has turned the entire Hedong region into something brand new—when the common people speak of local noble Families, there is light in their eyes; when they mention the people in the manor, regardless of age, they all show deep respect."

"Is this Qi field even stronger than the one in the palace? Is it too conspicuous?"

"It is not conspicuous. It is because they truly have weight. By the way—how did the Crown Prince's troops retreat?" Emperor Li Shimin was most concerned about this, fearing hidden ambushes and wanting to gauge just how deep the other side really was.

"Regarding this matter, we only know rumors. We only know that the various Families of Hedong did not get involved at all, and instead, the Crown Prince mobilized tens of thousands of troops to surround 'Chen Nei Xiaoyao Manor'. And the result? A strange rain suddenly arrived, and the entire army was washed away. Not a single person died, and there were hardly any injuries, but they lost all face. Is there something fishy inside? The Crown Prince's side has sealed it tight, and outsiders know nothing. Your Highness, what do you think of this..."

Emperor Li Shimin listened, only nodding slightly, his brow furrowed, while seven or eight possibilities turned over in his mind: a rain, coming at just the right time, hurting no one, only forcing a retreat—it was too coincidental.

The hall was silent. No one spoke again, sitting with their eyes lowered, eyelids half-closed, waiting for his next words.

"This matter is strange. It is better to go there in person. Do not alert the troops; a secret visit is best." As his words fell, his decision was made—no dragging or pushing, he had to see it with his own eyes.

"Your Highness, absolutely not! If the manor harbors evil intentions and even the Imperial Court's army cannot deal with it, if you go with only light cavalry, isn't that putting yourself in danger?"

Someone immediately spoke up to stop him. With lives at stake, who would be willing to gamble their heads on some ethereal "sincerity"?

"Precisely because of this, I must go. If I do not go, my heart will not be at peace. Leaving such a force squatting in our heartland—if there are changes in the future, should we kill them all? Or invite disaster upon ourselves? No more discussion—prepare the horses immediately, and set off for Hedong. I want to see for myself what this 'Chen Nei Xiaoyao Manor' really looks like."

Seeing his steady gaze and that there was no room for negotiation, everyone had to answer in unison: "Yes."

Within three days, the group quietly arrived at Hedong.

"Young Master, Hedong City is just ahead. The manor is outside the city; shall we head to the manor first, or enter the city first?"

Emperor Li Shimin pondered for a moment and said: "Enter the city first."

The group rode into the city and saw the streets bustling, with no sense of oppression at all. The main street was wide and bright, paved neatly with bluestone, clearly renovated in recent years; passersby walked with leisurely steps, their brows relaxed, and their faces glowing with contentment—seeing such a peaceful atmosphere, one did not need to ask to know that the local customs must be rich and gentle.

"May I ask how to get to Squire Qian's residence?"

An old man on the side of the road heard this and immediately pointed: "Walk another hundred steps forward, and the vermilion gate is it. Squire Qian is our living Bodhisattva in Hedong!"

Before his voice had even faded, he was already talking incessantly, full of praise, his expression so fervent it bordered on piety. Looking around again, there were truly no domineering evil servants or idlers leaning against walls, and not even a shadow of a beggar on the street could be found.

The group cupped their hands in thanks, yet each lowered their heads and said nothing. The slight ripples in their hearts had now quietly surged into an undertow.

Upon arriving at the gate of Squire Qian's residence, an attendant stepped forward to present the name card.

The doorman glanced at it and only said: "Please wait a moment, everyone. The Master is hosting guests; I will go and report this immediately."

Several of Emperor Li Shimin's subordinates immediately looked slightly sullen, but seeing their master silent, they had to swallow their words and stand in place with tense faces.

"Thank you, brother; we will just wait." Emperor Li Shimin, on the contrary, responded with a smile, his tone peaceful.

The doorman turned and went inside, and before long, he returned quickly: "Everyone, please come in."

Although Squire Qian did not come to greet them personally, it was within expectations. It was just that the feeling of being left waiting was like a fine thorn stuck in the heart, impossible to shake off.

Stepping into the courtyard, they saw servants shuttling back and forth, carrying boxes and baskets, serving water and handing out towels, everyone moving quickly, their expressions serious, as if the residence was about to welcome something of great importance. The group looked at each other, and before long, someone quietly inquired and finally heard the reason—

"Your Highness, it turns out that the Master of Xiaoyao Manor has arrived today. Squire Qian, leading dozens of local gentry, prepared the full ceremonial procession early on; the extravagance of the etiquette is not a bit inferior to that of royalty." The one speaking was Qin Qiong. This man had met Emperor Li Shimin in his early years, later joined his command, and was now a trusted aide.

"Oh? Then let us wait and see." Emperor Li Shimin's eyes flickered, his tone indifferent, "I would like to see what kind of person this Master really is."

His heart sank: so they had been mistaken for the Master's admirers, thought to have come specifically to pay their respects.

Sure enough, when the guiding servant brought them to a quiet room in the west corner, although tea and fruit were fully prepared and the seats were not lacking, the surrounding gentry's conversation never strayed from that Master—

"I heard this is the first time the Master has left the manor to visit guests! Back when the manor was built, no one had stepped through the gate, but now, everyone is scrambling to submit invitations. If it weren't for some heaven-defying benefits hidden inside, who would be willing to get up so early and stay up so late?"

"Indeed! The people from Xiaoyao Manor said it themselves—the Master has newly married two wives, who are as beautiful as clouds, with beauty that could topple cities. Those famous actresses and noble ladies of today, in front of them, cannot even compare to a corner of their clothing! The 'Jade-Faced Fairy' of the Martial Forest and the 'Leader of Talented Women' in the boudoirs are not even worthy of carrying their shoes!"

"As for ability, there is nothing better! If the Master were willing to handle worldly affairs, it would be hard to say who would win the world! A few days ago, when the government troops surrounded the mountain, the Master didn't even blink, only letting a mountain-guarding Disciple pass on the message 'Do not disturb the peace', and those soldiers retreated in dismay—daring to offend Xiaoyao Manor? They must be tired of living!"

"Exactly! Thanks to the Master, we live in peace, with enough grain and warm clothes. If anyone dares to touch a hair on his head, I will be the first to grab a knife and go! Perhaps I could even become a founding hero, and my descendants for three generations would have no worries about food and clothing! It is a pity... this Master is too elusive, like a Dragon seeing its head but not its tail!"

These words drilled into their ears without missing a single detail. Qin Qiong and the others had already clenched their fists, but were suppressed by a single look from Emperor Li Shimin, and dared not make a sound.