3: Chapter 3 Xia Jin Returns to the Capital, the Prestige of the 'Underworld Emperor'

Great Xia Imperial Palace, inside the Hall of Mental Cultivation.

The contemporary Emperor, Emperor Xia Yu, sat behind the imperial desk, his face as dark as water.

He held a memorial in his hand, his expression somewhat gloomy.

"Bang!"

The memorial was ruthlessly thrown onto the golden brick floor, sliding several feet until it stopped right in front of the kneeling man.

"Hmph!" Emperor Xia Yu's voice was not loud, yet it carried a bone-chilling coldness. "It is one thing for the Qingyun Sect to threaten My Great Xia, but since when have the remnants of the Demonic Cult dared to come and wreak havoc in the Capital? Commander Qin Hu, tell Me, how have you been performing your duties as Commander!? What are you Imperial Guard good for? Are you unable to even deal with these remnants of the Demonic Cult?"

Upon hearing Emperor Xia Yu's cold voice, cold sweat soaked the back of Imperial Guard Commander Qin Hu's clothes.

"Your subject... Your subject is incompetent!" Commander Qin Hu's voice trembled. "Please, Your Majesty, punish me! I have already dispatched more men to pursue them day and night, it is just that..."

"Just what?" Emperor Xia Yu coldly interrupted. "Is it that the opponent's methods are clever? Or is it that you Imperial Guard have no way to deal with them? Commander Qin Hu, what I want is results, not excuses!"

Commander Qin Hu lowered his head. "I deserve death! Please, Your Majesty, give me one more month. If I cannot wipe out these remnants of the Demonic Cult within the Great Xia territory, I am willing to die to atone for my crimes!"

"One month!?" Emperor Xia Yu stared fixedly at the kneeling Commander Qin Hu. After a long while, he slowly let out a breath. "With your capabilities, can you clear out these remnants of the Demonic Cult in one month? Remember, do not easily make promises to Me if you are not certain."

"That is enough, get up." He waved his hand, his tone carrying a trace of exhaustion.

Commander Qin Hu felt as if he had been granted an amnesty, but he dared not actually stand up, only straightening his back slightly while remaining on his knees.

Emperor Xia Yu lifted his eyes to look at the heavy night outside the hall.

"In the end, you people are unreliable. Very well! Three days from now, Big Brother will return to the Capital. When the time comes, you go to the city gate for Me and properly welcome him back."

Upon hearing this, Commander Qin Hu's entire body stiffened abruptly.

He slowly raised his head, his face filled with a trace of awe. "Your Majesty, could it be... Prince Jin?"

Emperor Xia Yu glanced at him, his gaze like a knife: "Nonsense, besides him, what other Big Brother do I have?"

"But, but..." Commander Qin Hu asked suspiciously, "Did Prince Jin not say that he would recuperate in Qingzhou from now on and that if there was nothing important, we should not disturb him?"

"Hmph! I wrote that letter myself." Emperor Xia Yu glared fiercely at him. "If not for the Qingyun Sect and these matters regarding the remnants of the Demonic Cult, do you think I would disturb Big Brother? What is it, Commander Qin, do you think there is anyone else besides Big Brother who can resolve the two matters I just mentioned?"

"No... No!" Commander Qin Hu quickly shook his head, only feeling a chill rushing from the soles of his feet to the top of his head.

That person is coming back...

That Prince Jin, who once made the entire court tremble in fear, made the feudal lords of Great Xia fear the wind, and was secretly known as the "Emperor of the Underworld," is returning to the Capital!

"Remember," Emperor Xia Yu's voice pulled him back to reality, "the arrangements for receiving him must be thorough. Big Brother likes quiet, the spectacle need not be too grand, but there must be absolutely no negligence. If there are any mistakes..."

Emperor Xia Yu did not finish his sentence, but Commander Qin Hu had already grasped the weight of it.

"This subject obeys the decree! I will certainly do my utmost and will not shirk from death!" Commander Qin Hu kowtowed heavily.

"Go on." Emperor Xia Yu waved his hand. "Remember to let those imperial relatives and nobles in the Capital behave themselves. During the time Big Brother is back in the Capital, I do not wish to see any more trouble. Otherwise, if they want to seek death themselves, I cannot help them."

"Yes!"

When Commander Qin Hu exited the Hall of Mental Cultivation, his steps were somewhat unsteady.

He dared not delay and returned to the Imperial Guard office overnight.

Sure enough, the next morning, the news that Prince Jin was about to return to the Capital swept through the entire Capital.

Duke Jings Mansion.

The old Duke, who was over sixty, was practicing swordsmanship in the courtyard. Upon hearing the steward's low report, the long sword in his hand suddenly paused.

"Pass down the order," the old Duke sheathed his sword, his expression grave. "Everyone in the mansion, especially those few good-for-nothing boys, must behave themselves during this period! Stay inside and study, and do not go out unless necessary. If anyone dares to cause trouble... they will be dealt with by family law!"

"Yes!" The steward bowed and hurriedly retreated.

The Prime Minister's Mansion.

The current Chief Councilor Yang Wenyuan was eating breakfast. After listening to his confidant's report, he gently set down the silver chopsticks in his hand.

"Prince Jin returns to the Capital..." he muttered to himself, a complex expression flashing in his eyes. "It is an eventful autumn."

After a moment of silence, he instructed: "Pass the word to the First Young Master, the Third Young Master, and all branches of the Yang family to restrain their words and actions starting from today. There will be changes in the imperial court recently; do not get involved in any disputes."

"Also, in my name, send a post to Prince Jin's Mansion, saying that I will pay a visit on another day."

The Ministry of Rites, the Ministry of Revenue, the Marquis of Weiwu's Mansion, the Earl of Anping's Mansion...

Almost all the noble mansions in the Capital, large and small, received similar news at the same time and made similar reactions.

"Have you heard? That person is coming back!"

"Which person?"

"Who else could it be! The one who turned everything into a river of blood three years ago!"

"Hiss—Prince Jin?! Isn't he in Qingzhou?"

"Who knows. However, with that person returning to the Capital, it will be interesting now. I am afraid the water in the Capital is about to get even murkier."

"Murky? I think everyone will have to tuck their tails between their legs and behave! You all know that person's temper..."

In tea houses and taverns, whispers were incessant, but no one dared to speak loudly. Occasionally, if an ignorant Jianghu traveler or merchant from out of town asked, they would be hurriedly stopped by others.

"Quiet! Do you not want to live?"

A person's name is their shadow.

Xia Jin's title of "Emperor of the Underworld" was not without foundation.

For a time, the atmosphere of the entire Capital became subtle. The usually arrogant and domineering playboys suddenly became reclusive, various factions temporarily restrained their sharpness, and even disputes in the streets became much less frequent.

The officers of the City Defense Department and the Patrol Battalion found that their duties had suddenly become much easier—after all, no one dared to cause trouble at this time.

Three days later, outside the South Gate of the Capital.

Commander Qin Hu had long led hundreds of elite Imperial Guard to wait here. He wore his Commander's official uniform, his back straight, and his expression solemn. But if one looked closely, one could discover a trace of nervousness deep in his eyes.

"Uncle." A voice came from beside him.

Beside Commander Qin Hu, another young man wearing the uniform of an Imperial Guard Battalion Commander leaned closer and handed over a plain silk handkerchief, his face filled with undisguised curiosity: "Is that Prince Jin... really that scary? This is the first time I have seen you this nervous."

Commander Qin Hu took the handkerchief and wiped the cold sweat from his forehead vigorously, then snapped at the other person's head: "Shut up, Luo Qiao! Do not blame your uncle for not warning you—today, without my permission, you are not allowed to speak casually. Otherwise, even if your mother comes forward to plead for you, I will break your legs!"

Luo Qiao was stunned by the knock, shrank his neck, and quickly nodded in agreement.

He had followed Commander Qin Hu for many years and had seen Commander Qin Hu dominate the court and be ruthless in the imperial prison, but he had never seen him so... awestruck.

Yes, it was awe.

That kind of dread from the bottom of his bones made Luo Qiao feel inexplicably nervous as well.

Commander Qin Hu tidied his clothes, took a deep breath, and looked toward the end of the official road.

At the third quarter of the Chen hour, dust began to rise on the distant official road.

A troop of black-armored cavalry surrounded a black Dragon-patterned carriage and drove slowly forward.