Not Know the Immensity of Heaven and Earth

The moment the words left his mouth,

Li Yan saw the steel whip in the other’s hand glow with a dazzling light. Although it didn’t strike down, an overwhelming pressure surged forth!

This sudden movement

drew curious gazes from the students of the Guozi Jian.

Watching Li Yan being blocked by the gatekeeper, someone sneered, “No pass token, yet you want to barge into the Guozi Jian? Is this guy crazy?”

“Could he be here to cause trouble?”

“Impossible. Who would be crazy enough to stir up trouble here and not fear General Zhang Dan’s wrath?”

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd,

cold sweat broke out on Li Yan’s forehead.

Seeing Zhang Dan ready to strike at any moment, Li Yan dared not hesitate. He hurriedly pulled out a jade token, unsure if it would work, and forced himself to show it to the gatekeeper, saying, “I... I have urgent business with an esteemed person.”

The instant the jade token appeared before everyone’s eyes,

the entire area outside the Guozi Jian fell into sudden silence, so quiet that even the rustling of wind through the grass could be heard clearly.

The crowd seemed petrified.

Every student studying within the Guozi Jian recognized this jade token.

The Guozi Jian was the highest academy in Great Xia.

In other words, it was the number one sect in Great Xia. Apart from the presiding Jiujiu stationed in the capital, the highest authority belonged to the heads of each academy.

They were also called the “Chief Seats.”

And the jade token in Li Yan’s hand was a token that only a Chief Seat could wield!

Especially since it was engraved with the character “Jiang.”

The Chief Seat surnamed Jiang in the Guozi Jian.

At that moment, everyone’s minds went to that breathtakingly beautiful figure in white. Zhang Dan’s once arrogant expression froze instantly, cold sweat trickling down his forehead.

He abandoned his previous disdainful posture.

His whole body trembled as he clasped his hands together and bowed fearfully to Li Yan, “I was rude and offended you, Sir. I beg your forgiveness!”

The students gathered around were equally shocked, whispering in disbelief, “Who is this person? How does he have the jade token of our Chief Seat Jiang?!”

“No idea! He looks so shabby, like some fallen pauper!”

“Bah! You don’t understand. This is what they call ‘simple in appearance, profound in essence’—the demeanor of ancient sages!”

“Exactly!”

Li Yan, who moments ago had been mocked as a “pauper,”

now, after showing the jade token, was instantly transformed into an “ancient sage.” He himself realized the weight of this jade token.

Eager to seek help from the woman in white to save Yang An,

Li Yan anxiously replied to the gatekeeper with a respectful nod, “Thank you, Sir. Please help me to notify the token’s owner.”

Zhang Dan hurriedly waved his hand, “No need for such formalities, Sir!”

He then called over two soldiers, “You two, escort this gentleman to the honored guest chambers and prepare some tea.” After giving the order, he took the jade token from Li Yan’s trembling hands.

“Please wait here, Sir. I will deliver your message immediately.”

Holding the jade token, Zhang Dan did not dare to delay for a moment.

He practically ran into the Guozi Jian.

Inside the Guozi Jian, everywhere was bathed in the warmth of spring, except for one elegant two-story pavilion, which remained shrouded in unmelted ice and snow.

Jiang Chunxi, dressed in a white gown, reclined against a green bamboo couch.

In front of her was a small table.

The entire table was piled high with books, and the floor around it was also covered with heaps of them, leaving barely any space to set foot.

At a glance, there were hundreds, if not thousands, of volumes.

From the titles and the open pages, it was clear these were all collections of poetry.

Jiang Chunxi and Keke, mistress and servant, were the only two in the small attic room.

By now, no one knew how long they had been there. Keke, clutching her jade flute, lay exhausted amidst a pile of books, dark circles shadowing her eyes.

Her pink lips still glistened with drool.

She looked utterly worn out, as if she had been played with until she was broken.

And it wasn’t just her.

Jiang Chunxi, having sat for far too long, felt the ache in her shoulders. Her once straight waist had bent over, her full weight pressing heavily onto the cluttered desk.

The cold, ethereal aura she usually carried seemed to have faded a little.

But in its place was a certain languid grace.

Lying buried in the books, Keke spoke weakly, “Miss, we’ve searched through so many poems already. Isn’t there even one that satisfies you? Actually, there are a few with decent imagery here. If nothing else, maybe you could just make do.”

Jiang Chunxi perked up slightly.

She said seriously, “How can martial cultivation be ‘made do’ with? Besides, those few poems are too clumsy, lacking in artistic conception.”

“But the famous works on the market—you’ve already used all the good ones. All that’s left are these mediocre poems. If it really doesn’t work, Miss, perhaps you should consider switching to a different spiritual cultivation method.”

“Changing methods every time you hit a roadblock? What will you do when you encounter bottlenecks again in the future?”

“But just searching endlessly isn’t a solution either!”

Suddenly, Keke had an idea. She pushed aside the books covering her and stood up. “Miss, since you find these poems too clumsy, how about this: the academy entrance exam is coming up in a few days. You could change the poetry topic to ‘Cold.’ Most candidates are young and passionate—maybe their poems will be useful.”

Jiang Chunxi thought it over seriously.

“That makes sense.”

Keke’s face lit up with joy, thinking they might finally escape this sea of books. But then Jiang Chunxi added, “Still, let’s finish reading through these books first. If we really can’t find anything suitable, then we’ll consider it.”

Keke: …

Like a dying fish, she flailed desperately a couple of times.

Then she sank back into the sea of books.

Suddenly, there was a knock at the door outside the attic.

“Miss, General Zhang Dan says someone outside is here with your jade token.”

Someone came with my jade token?

Recalling Yang An from the Wang family bank, Jiang Chunxi thought to herself: Could it be that man’s sister or brother-in-law?

Before she could respond,

Keke, who had been so drowsy from reading she was nearly “self-destructing,” seized the chance to escape.

She sprang up from the pile of books with a leap!

Dashing out the door in a flash.

“Miss, you’re busy. Don’t worry about this trivial matter. I’ll go check it out for you!” She snatched the jade token from the maid’s hand and ran toward the courtyard.

Jiang Chunxi: …

Leaving behind the mountain of books in the attic,

Keke basked in the sunlight and sweet fresh air outside. She seemed to come alive again.

Playing with the jade token in her hand,

She said, “In all of Yunzhou, only that big brother’s family has a jade token like this.”

“Could it be that big brother has come?”

“Is he still alive?!”

Keke was ecstatic. She hurried all the way to the waiting room of the Imperial Academy, kicked open the door, and just as the words “Big brother” were about to escape her lips,

She saw a big, dark-faced man with a heavy, solemn expression.

Keke: …

The lively brightness on her small face vanished instantly.

In a calm tone, she said, “So it’s the Black-Faced Uncle. What brings you to see my lady?”

Li Yan recognized the girl, who was about the same age as Manman, as one of Jiang Chunxi’s maids. He quickly explained the situation honestly—that Yang An had been captured by the Wu Hou Guards.

Then, he clasped his fists and pleaded earnestly, “My brother-in-law has been taken for quite some time now. I fear for his life!”

“I beg you, honored one, please intervene and save him!”

At first, Keke was a bit puzzled, turning her little brain, trying to recall who Yang An was.

Soon enough, she realized.

Yang An was that especially handsome big brother!

He wasn’t dead!!

He was really still alive!!!

Keke was so happy she almost wanted to cheer out loud.

But when Li Yan said that the Wu Hou Guards had taken Yang An away, Keke found it hard to understand and asked him in confusion, “Why would the Wu Hou Guards arrest big brother? And when did they get so bold? With this jade token in their hands, how dare they capture anyone?”

Keke opened her small palm.

She shook the jade token in her hand.

Li Yan: ?

What?!

This jade token is that powerful? Just showing it to the Wu Hou Guards is enough to keep you safe?!

Li Yan felt a surge of old blood choke in his throat.

His face darkened with frustration.

Seeing his reaction, Keke looked shocked and said, “You wouldn’t have forgotten to show them the jade token, would you?”

You only said to bring out the jade token when in trouble and come to the Guozi Institute!

You never said it could be shown to others!

Li Yan silently shouted in his heart.

He was beginning to understand the situation.

Keke, a bit exasperated, instructed a nearby maid, “Go inform the lady and tell her that I’ve rescued the big brother we met at the Wang family bank. I’ll be back before afternoon.”

The maid, in her twenties, responded respectfully to the ten-year-old Keke, “Yes, Sister Keke.”

“Black-Faced Uncle, let’s go.”

Keke gripped the jade token and stepped outside.

Li Yan accepted the nickname without protest and followed behind her. Unease churned in his heart—he wasn’t sure if this little girl was capable.

But there was no other choice now.

The two walked out of the Guozi Institute, one ahead and one behind. Li Yan untied the fine horse he had ridden in on and led it to Keke.

He glanced at Keke, then at the horse, hesitating as he asked, “Miss Keke, would you like to ride?”

No carriage?

Keke looked helpless, lifted her skirt, and turned back into the Guozi Institute.

After a moment,

A carriage made of bronze emerged from the Guozi Institute.

Pulling the carriage was not a horse, but a white deer more than ten feet tall, its hooves wrapped in misty white clouds, resembling a mount from the celestial realms.

Seeing the carriage,

The students on the road all stopped and bowed respectfully.

Riding in Jiang Chunxi’s personal carriage, Keke poked her little head out of the window and said, “Black-Faced Uncle, let’s hurry. If we’re late and big brother gets bullied, that won’t be good.”

……

Yunzhou Prison.

Sun Ming and Liu Mang, after capturing Yang An,

didn’t even bother with an interrogation. They immediately dragged him to the death cell.

Yang An’s upper clothes had been completely torn off,

his upper body bare,

tightly bound to an iron frame. In front of him lay an assortment of torture instruments, along with a blazing brazier.

The iron rods embedded in the brazier glowed red-hot.

Sparks crackled and popped as they flew off the fire.

Yang An was starting to feel numb by now. His brother-in-law was definitely going to the Imperial Academy to seek help from the woman in white holding the jade token—so why hadn’t they shown up yet?

It would have been one thing if they simply didn’t come.

But that woman—the dog woman!

Where was the beautiful and kind Princess Anle? She had cursed me with the Five-Day Heartbreaking Gu and even assigned Manman to protect me. Though I didn’t understand her motives, there was no way she would let me die such a miserable death!

If she still hadn’t come by now, was she messing with me?

Creak.

The prison gate swung open.

Yang An looked up, his heart sinking slightly. It was Sun Ming and Liu Mang who walked in.

Liu Mang wiped the bench clean with his sleeve.

Sun Ming sat down in front of Yang An.

He took out a written confession and read aloud: “I, the vile Yang An, driven by greed, on the twelfth month of this year, conspired to murder fourteen people, including Wang Gou'er, the owner of Wang’s Money Shop, and Zheng Huaiyi, the owner of Huichuntang. Aware of the gravity of my sins, I willingly admit my guilt.”

When he finished reading,

Sun Ming threw the confession onto the table in front of Yang An and said, “See these instruments of torture? You have two choices now. First, endure each of these devices one by one, then sign your name.”

Yang An glanced at the instruments laid out on the table.

Steel needles, rusted saws, old tiger pincers—stained by years of blood, their rust had turned into a chilling, blood-tinged reddish-brown.

A brazier was glowing nearby.

A cold shiver ran down Yang An’s spine.

He asked decisively, “And the second choice? If I sign the confession, I won’t have to endure the physical pain, right?”

Sun Ming and Liu Mang burst out laughing as if they’d just heard the funniest joke.

Sun Ming, still seated, looked at Yang An with eyes full of mockery, as if he were a worthless ant to be crushed at will. He sneered, “You like standing up for others, don’t you? Remember when you stood up for that pancake vendor? You were so proud back then.”

“Thought you were something special.”

“But turns out, you’re just a fool who doesn’t know his place.”

“But I do enjoy tormenting fools like you. The second choice is to sign the confession first, then have these instruments used on you one by one.”