DEMI GODS AND SEMI DEVILS Book 1 of 5 (Adventures of The Youth) by Jin Yong

Descendants Into The Courtyard Part 4

The South-Subduing Prince was the first to enter. After taking only one step, the Sage of Hollow Jade suddenly came to a halt. Her eyes suddenly reddening, tears began to fall. Half pushing, half tugging, Duan Yu escorted his mother through the gate. He said, "Father, your son has brought mother home! This is a deed of great merit. What award do you have for me?" His heart filled with happiness, the South-Subduing Prince replied, "Ask your mother for a reward! Whatever your mother wishes to reward you with, I will comply!" The Sage of Hollow Jade smiled between her tears. "I'll reward you with a good caning!" Duan Yu stuck out his tongue.

Upon reaching the great hall, Gao Shengtai rose to his feet. The South-Subduing Prince said, "Younger brother Tai, you are injured. Please, sit down." Duan Yu said to Mu Wanqing, "Rest here for a bit. After I pay my respects to the Emperor and the Empress, I'll come keep you company."

Mu Wanqing was unwilling to let him leave her, but had no way to stop him. All she could do was nod her head unhappily. She took a seat at the head chair. Everyone else remained standing. It wasn't until after the South-Subduing Prince and his wife had entered the inner hall that Gao Shengtai finally sat down. But Chu Wanli, Gu Ducheng, Zhu Danchen, and the rest all remained on their feet.

Mu Wanqing paid them no attention, her eyes focused on that great hall. She saw a large horizontal plaque upon which were written the four words, "Pillar Which Supports the Nation". It was signed by the "Imperial Pen of Dingmao". The pillar was covered with calligraphy. It would be difficult to read it all in a short time, and some of the characters, she didn't even recognize.

A servant brought green tea, respectfully offering it to her on a plate. Mu Wanqing thought to herself, "These people really are weird." She saw that only herself and Gao Shengtai had been offered tea. Zhu Danchen and the others, when fighting off the enemy, had been awe-inspiring figures, but upon reaching the South-Subduing Palace, became so quietly respectful. They didn't even dare breathe too loudly, much less have the aura of heroes who were highly skilled in martial arts.

After waiting for some time, Mu Wanqing became impatient. She loudly shouted, "Duan Yu! Duan Yu! What are you doing in there? Why haven't you come out yet?"

The great hall was filled with people, but none of them had dared make so much as a peep. With Mu Wanqing's sudden shout, everyone was startled for a moment. Gao Shengtai laughingly whispered, "Miss, be patient. The young prince will be back soon." Mu Wanqing asked, "Young prince? What young prince?" Gao Shengtai responded, "Young master Duan is the son of the South-Subduing Prince. Of course he is the young prince." Mu Wanqing mused aloud to herself. "Young prince...young prince. That bookworm is a prince? He doesn't look the part!"

A eunuch exited the inner hall. "The Emperor has issued a request. Will the Marquis of Virtuous Enlightenment and Mu Wanqing please enter the hall." Upon seeing the eunuch enter, Gao Shengtai had already respectfully risen to his feet. Mu Wanqing remained seated. Upon hearing the eunuch utter her name, she wasn't happy. She muttered to herself, "He doesn't even address me as 'Miss'. Is my name so casually called out by the likes of you?" Gao Shengtai said, "Miss Mu, let us go pay our respects to the Emperor."

Even though Mu Wanqing feared neither heaven nor earth, upon hearing that she was to go meet the Emperor, she was still a bit uneasy at heart. All she could do was follow behind Gao Shengtai. They passed through a long corridor and a large courtyard. It was as though they were walking through an unending room. But at last, they arrived outside a flower pavilion.

The eunuch reported, "The Marquis of Virtuous Enlightenment and Mu Wanqing have come to pay their respects to the Emperor and Empress." Then he left.

Gao Shengtai gave Mu Wanqing a meaningful look, then entered the flower pavilion and knelt before a man and a woman who were sitting in the center.

Mu Wanqing did not kneel. Seeing that the male had a long beard and wore a golden robe, with a clear and intelligent appearance, she asked, "So you are the Emperor?"

The man who sat in the middle was indeed the Emperor of the country of Dali, Duan Zhengming. His imperial reign name was "Baoding". The country of Dali was established in the second year of Heavenly Fortune, of the Later Jin dynasty of the Five Dynasties period. Thus, it was actually founded twenty three years before Zhao Kuangyin founded the Song Dynasty.

The people of Dali's Duan dynasty was originally from the Wuwei region. Their first ancestor was Duan Jianwei. He assisted the Nanzhao's Meng clan and became known as the "Official of Pureness and Peace." Six generations later, his descendant Duan Siping became the governor of Tonghai. In the 'Dingyou' year, Duan Siping founded the nation, and became the Great Ancestor of the Duan dynasty, known as the 'Saintly Emperor of Martial Prowess and Learning'. Duan Zhengming was the fourteenth Emperor in the line, which had been in power for a hundred and fifty years.

At this time, the Northern Song was ruled by Emperor Zhezong in the city of Bianliang [now known as Kaifeng]. Being young in years, the Empress Dowager attended to state affairs. She appointed and trusted famous statesmen and repealed severe laws, resulting in the rejoicing of the common people and pacifying the land. She was the most brilliant and humane female lord in Chinese history, which would proclaim her as being the 'female Yao and Shun' [famously benevolent Chinese emperors].

The country of Dali was located in southern Xinjiang, and thus every Emperor was a devout adherent to Buddhism. Even though they had raised themselves to the level of being a ruler, towards the Song dynasty, they were always deferential and unfailingly patient, never raising arms against them. Emperor Baoding had reigned for eleven years and espoused three precepts. To protect order, to uphold peace, and secure the blessings of heaven, creating a heaven-like place to live. The borders were safe, the country was prosperous, and the people lived in peace.

Emperor Baoding, upon seeing that Mu Wanqing not only did not kneel, but even cheekily asked him directly if he was the Emperor, couldn't help but laugh. "I am indeed the Emperor. Do you find the city of Dali to be a fun place?" Mu Wanqing replied, "As soon as I entered the city, I was brought to come see you. I haven't explored it yet." Emperor Baoding let out a slight smile. "Tomorrow, Yu'er will take you out to tour the city and show you the sights of Dali." Mu Wanqing replied, "Great. Will you be coming with us as well?" After she said this, everybody present couldn't help but laugh slightly.

Emperor Baoding turned to look at the Empress who sat by his side and merrily asked, "Empress, this little sister wants us to accompany her sightseeing. What do you think?" The Empress smiled a little, but did not respond. Mu Wanqing cast a few glances at her. "Are you the Empress? You really are quite pretty." Emperor Baoding roared with laughter. "Yu'er, this Miss Mu is very innocent and naive. How amusing!"

Mu Wanqing asked, "Why do you called him "Yu'er" [child Yu]? Are you the 'uncle' which he kept on talking about? He snuck out of the city to have some fun, and was very afraid that you would be angry at him. Don't beat him, okay?" Emperor Baoding laughed. "I was going to give him fifty hard strokes of the cane, but since you ask for mercy on his behalf, I'll spare him. Yu'er, quickly thank Miss Mu!"

Seeing that Mu Wanqing had put the Emperor in a merry mood, Duan Yu was happy. He knew that his uncle had an even temperament. Duan Yu bowed deeply towards Mu Wanqing, and said, "Many thanks to Miss Mu for asking for clemency on my behalf!" Mu Wanqing returned his bow and whispered, "As long as your uncle has agreed to not beat you, my heart is at ease. There's no need to thank me." Then she immediately turned towards Emperor Baoding and said, "I always thought that Emperors were really fierce and scary people. I never would have imagined that you...you...you are very nice."

Aside from being praised by his parents when he was a child, for the past ten years, everyone who met Emperor Baoding would be extremely respectful and fearful. Nobody would ever call him "very nice". But he saw that Mu Wanqing was like a piece of muddied gold or uncut jade, totally unaware of propriety and custom, and liked her all the more. He said to the Empress, "Do you have anything to bestow upon her?"

The Empress removed a jade bracelet from her left wrist and handed it over. "I'll give this to you as a gift."

Mu Wanqing accepted the gift and wore it on her own wrist. Suddenly, she laughed. "Thanks! Next time, I'll also find something pretty and give it to you!" The Empress laughed slightly. "Then I'll thank you in advance."

Suddenly, a 'ge' sound could be heard on the roof of the pavilion, followed by another 'ge' sound coming from the top of an adjacent room.

Mu Wanqing was startled and knew that an enemy had arrived. That person had arrived so very quickly. But suddenly, like raindrops hitting the ground, the sound of other people arriving on the roof was heard as well. Chu Wanli's voice sounded out, "Sir, what desire do you have that causes you to arrive at the prince's manor in the dead of night?"

A loud, coarse, husky voice replied, "I came to find my apprentice! Quick, go have my obedient apprentice come out and pay me a visit!" It was the Divine Crocodile of the Southern Seas.

Mu Wanqing's sense of startlement deepened. Although the prince's palace was heavily protected, with guards clustered as thickly as the clouds, and although the South-Subduing Prince, Gao Shengtai, the Sage of Hollow Jade, and Chu, Gu, Fu, and Zhu all possessed excellent martial arts, but the Divine Crocodile of the Southern Seas really was too formidable. If Yun Zhong'e and Ye Erniang, along with that as-yet unseen 'most evil man in the world' appeared, then the Four Evils would be working in harmony, and it would be difficult to prevent them from kidnapping Duan Yu.

Chu Wanli shouted in reply, "Sir, who is your apprentice? How could your apprentice be in the palace of the South-Subduing Prince? Withdraw and depart!" But suddenly, a mocking laugh was heard, and a large hand appeared which ripped apart the large plaque above the room, tearing it in two. Like a shadowy blur, the Divine Crocodile of the Southern Seas suddenly appeared in the middle of the pavilion.

Casting his gaze across the people present, he spotted Duan Yu and laughed loudly, then shouted, "Number four wasn't wrong! My obedient apprentice really is here after all! Quick, beg for me to make you my apprentice, then come with me to learn martial arts!" While speaking, he extended his chicken-claw like hands and reached for Duan Yu's shoulders.

The South-Subduing Prince saw that this claw came swiftly and with great power, and was afraid that his beloved son would be hurt. Immediately, he struck out with a counter-palm. With a 'peng' sound, their two hands collided and he fully blocked the energy of the strike. The Divine Crocodile was secretly alarmed and asked, "Who the heck are you? I came here to take my apprentice away, what business is it of yours?" Smiling, the South-Subduing Prince replied, "I am Duan Zhengchun. This child is my son. When, precisely, did he kowtow and accept you as his master?"

Duan Yu laughed. "He wanted to accept me as his apprentice. I told him that I had accepted another master long ago, but he wouldn't believe me."

The Divine Crocodile looked at Duan Yu, then looked at the South-Subduing Prince, Duan Zhengchun, and said, "The old guy's martial arts is pretty damn good, but the kid doesn't know any at all. I refuse to believe you two are father and son! Duan Zhengchun, we're not bad, but even if he really is your son, you haven't been teaching martial arts properly. Your son really is worthless! What a pity! What a pity!"

Duan Zhengchun responded, "What's a pity?" The Divine Crocodile responded, "Your son is really similar to me. He's an exceptionally rare prospect for studying martial arts. He only needs to study with me for ten years, and I guarantee that he will become an incredible expert in the wulin."