Chapter 10: Chu Jiuli, accept the imperial decree.

"Hmph, such public displays of conduct are truly lacking in decorum!"

The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old (Jiu Qian Sui) furrowed his brows slightly. A flicker of disdain and impatience passed across his deathly pale face, clearly indicating a lack of interest in the squabbles of officialdom's wives. Just as he was about to lower the carriage curtain, his gaze inadvertently caught sight of Chu Jiuli, who stood amidst the crowd with a cold and stern expression. Her bearing and aura were so striking that they seemed like a fleeting, ethereal shadow, causing him to pause in his indifference. He looked at her a second time, his eyes brimming with growing curiosity.

"Who is that girl?" he murmured. His voice was soft yet carried an undeniable air of authority. As he spoke, he flicked his orchid-shaped fingers, adding a touch of effeminate grace to his posture.

A guard hurriedly scurried off to inquire, returning shortly to report, "Reporting to the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old, that woman is Chu Jiuli of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery's estate. It is she who is in conflict with Lin Wan'er of the Marquis of Changbo's estate."

"Oh?" A hint of surprise flashed in the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old's eyes, followed by a meaningful smirk. "So, it is one of our own fighting another? That is fine; it saves me quite a bit of time."

With that, he pondered for a moment, his slender fingers gracefully smoothing the wrinkles on his robe. He then placed his pale hand upon the arm of a young eunuch and stepped out of the carriage with steady, measured movements, slowly walking toward the Cuiyu Pavilion. Eight guards dismounted in unison, following him with solemn and grave expressions.

As they drew closer, everyone’s attention converged upon them. The leader held a horsetail whisk; though not tall, he wore a four-clawed python robe, and with the guards flanking him, his extraordinary status was evident—he was clearly a personage of immense power. The crowd, struck with awe, hurriedly cleared a path to show their reverence.

The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old walked through the crowd without casting a glance to either side; everyone lowered their heads in fear, not daring to look directly at him. He merely cast a casual, uninterested glance at Lin Wan'er, who was being slapped so miserably.

When he reached a spot three paces from Chu Jiuli, he tilted his head slightly, a smile slowly surfacing on his face—a smile that seemed to hold hidden depths. "Forgive my presumption, but might you be the Ninth Daughter of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, Chu Jiuli?"

Chu Jiuli remained as calm as still water, though she thought to herself, "For a eunuch to possess such an imposing air, he must truly be the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old. But looking at him, why is he still so young? And his questioning, his scrutiny... why does it feel as though he has come specifically for me?"

Legend had it that the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old was over one hundred and twenty years old. He had served the sovereign since the founding of the Great Xia Dynasty, and the title "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old" was bestowed upon him by the founding emperor himself. The title carried two layers of meaning.

The first was a wish for his longevity, that he might endure throughout the courts and palaces. The second was that since emperors always hope to live for ten thousand years, the "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old" must also live for a long time, so that he might serve the throne through the ages.

As it turned out, he had outlived three generations of monarchs.

Looking at him now, he appeared to be no more than thirty or forty years old, his stature still vigorous and showing no signs of age; at this rate, he might well outlive a fourth generation of rulers. Because of his profound seniority, his rank within the palace was incredibly high—truly one person beneath the Emperor and above ten thousand others.

He was deeply trusted by successive emperors and, by constantly attending to their sides, was able to participate in the deliberation of major military and state affairs, exerting an influence on imperial decisions that could not be ignored. Within the imperial court, the ministers held him in great awe; even the current Prime Minister would not dare to easily provoke him.

At the same time, he controlled a vast intelligence network, with his loyal henchmen and pawns spread throughout the palace and the government. Whether it was the promotion of officials or the implementation of policies, he could intervene at will. He could truly turn the clouds and rain with a flip of his hand. His status was so noble and his power so prominent that he could shift the very landscape of the imperial court.

Chu Jiuli knew well that this man was not to be trifled with. Despite being filled with suspicion and caution, she maintained her composure. She performed a slight curtsy, her voice respectful yet cool: "It is I. May I ask what business the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old has with me?"

*The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old?*

The moment those words were spoken, it was as if a thunderclap had struck. The surrounding crowd instantly bowed in unison, their voices rising in a rhythmic chorus: "Greetings, Nine-Thousand-Year-Old! Greetings, Nine-Thousand-Year-Old!" The sound was deafening, filled with terror and awe.

Lin Wan'er, who had been beaten to the brink of death, felt as if she had seen a glimmer of dawn in the endless night upon hearing of his arrival. Her dim eyes instantly ignited with hope. Enduring the pain, she used every ounce of her strength to break free from Baoling’s grip, crawling and stumbling toward the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old.

"Nine-Thousand-Year-Old, please, save me..."

Her wails were shrill and wretched. With tears and blood staining her face and her hair in disarray, she looked utterly pathetic. "Chu Jiuli is acting recklessly! She is using the Marquis's power to bully me! I beg the Nine-Thousand-Year-Old to decide this matter for me!"

She threw herself at his feet, clutching his legs tightly, disregarding her status and dignity as the daughter of a Count. The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old looked down at Lin Wan'er, his brows knitting slightly. A flash of disgust crossed his eyes, yet he did not immediately shake her off.

His gaze passed over Lin Wan'er and settled on Chu Jiuli once more. His curiosity and intrigue deepened, as if he were pondering exactly where Chu Jiuli had found the audacity to discipline the daughter of a Count in the middle of the street—and to have handled her so severely at that.

Chu Jiuli stood firmly, watching Lin Wan'er's ugly display with cold eyes. Internally, she remained on guard, wondering how this favorite of the Emperor would resolve the conflict.

The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old was silent for a moment before his lips curled into a smile that was impossible to decipher. "Miss Chu, rest easy. I am certainly not here to make things difficult for you today. On the contrary, I have good news to share with you."

Chu Jiuli was not the type for circuitous talk. She raised her phoenix eyes, looking him straight in the face with a gaze full of courage and frankness. "Nine-Thousand-Year-Old, if you have something to say, speak plainly. There is no need for such roundabout tactics!"

The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old chuckled, a trace of genuine appreciation flickering in his smile. "Miss Chu is truly a tiger's daughter from a military house—quick-witted and sharp-tongued. I happen to favor such a straightforward nature."

With that, he turned slightly. The young eunuch at his side understood and hurriedly presented an exquisite golden tray, upon which a scroll of bright yellow imperial silk rested quietly. The scroll emitted a majestic luster under the sun, causing the surrounding crowd to avert their eyes in fear.

The Nine-Thousand-Year-Old handed his whisk to the eunuch, picked up the imperial decree, and slowly unfurled it. Then, he raised his high-pitched, piercing voice to announce:

"Chu Jiuli, daughter of the Marquis of Loyalty and Bravery, receive the decree!"