Weapon Seller In The World Of Magic

Imperial Palace, Imperial City;

In the imperial gardens, the Supreme Commander/Commander-in-chief/ Chief General, the great Bai Xun is having tea with a graceful-looking lady. She's in her late forties but looks more like in her mid-thirties.

There were a couple of maids standing behind her and a lot of Royal Knights/ Imperial guards were standing a bit far, so as to not intrude the privacy. If not for the fact that the Emperor cherishes this beautiful woman, Bai Xun would have talked with her in a private chamber because of the sėnsɨtɨvė matter.

But, he doesn't want any silly rumors that can potentially drive the wedge between him and the Emperor. This is the reason the meeting has been arranged in the open.

Not to mention, it is a well-known fact that both of them are like siblings prior to her marriage with the Emperor. But, after she gave birth to the prince, Bai Xun rarely interacted with her to maintain his neutrality in politics.

As the Supreme Commander, his loyalty cannot be sided with any prince. It should be tied only to the throne.

Now that they were having a tea session, the Imperial guards couldn't help but wonder whether this woman is trying to rope in Bai Xun so that her son become the next Emperor.

So, who is this woman?

It's none other than Lan Jingyi, the second Queen Consort of Emperor Shang Fu and the biological mother of Lu Zhen.

"Commander Bai, I heard a rumor that you contacted the Heavens sect for the sake of waking up Song Yun." She took a sip of tea and said to him. Her tone was formal.

"Yes, that's right." Bai Xun nodded, confirming her suspicions.

"Too bad that I can't visit him because it would give a strong indirect message to the Empress," She let out a sigh and further asked, "what about little Yue? How's she faring?"

"She's faring well better, Queen Jingyi." Bai Xun replied to her in patience. In a tea session, one cannot get to the matter right away. First, open with useless talks like these, then, get to the important matter as if it was something normal, and end with other useless talks.

"Poor girl must have been devastated by Zhang Clan's political ambitions. You should have brought her with you." Lan Jingyi looked as if she pitied the girl but her expression says otherwise.

It was only a fraction of a second but Bai Xun captured a smile on her face as if she was delighted by it. As for the reason, probably only she knows.

"It's best if she were left alone, at this moment." Bai Xun replied to her calmly and finally got to the matter. "There's something I'm curious about. It's about your father."

"Hmm? My father?" Lan Jingyi was taken aback by surprise. She didn't expect that Bai Xun is here to talk about her father who had been dead for more than 30 years. "What is it?"

Bai Xun then said, "Nothing serious. I encountered a young man recently. He looked strangely similar to Lan Gengxin. Judging by the difference in age, he could pass off as a grandson. But, then, I remember that you are the only child."

"Eh? Someone that looks like my father?" A frown appeared on her face as she spoke in displeasure, "Are you trying to say that my father had a secret affair with some woman?"

Bai Xun expected this reaction. So, he calmly shook his head and clarified, "That thought never crossed my mind. I believe he truly loved Madam Xian. I was only wondering whether he had any siblings that I wasn't aware of."

"As far as I know, his only brother was also perished along with hundreds of others when the Lan Sect was destroyed, six decades ago." Lan Jingyi shook her head and only gave him a piece of bad news. She then added, "But, who knows, he could have made it alive."

"I see." Bai Xun nodded in understanding. He felt like he needed to deeply investigate Mark.

According to the letter secretly sent by the second prince, Mark killed the dungeon overlord with the power of the 7-circle realm. That would mean his entry to the Imperial City isn't by any means, a simple coincidence.

After talking about the return of the second prince, possible marriage alliance between the Crown Prince and the independent kingdom of Eastern Sun, and a few other things, Bai Xun decided that it's time to return. 

"I'm taking my leave, Queen Jingyi." He got up from the seat. The Queen nodded, "alright."

Just as he turned around and started walking away, the Queen remembered something and stopped him. "Commander Bai?"

"Hmm?" he turned around.

"I forgot to ask that young man's name, the one that reminded you of my father." She said to him.

"Oh, it's Lu Zhen." Bai Xun casually replied and turned around once again.

"Lu Zhen?"

The Queen consort was stupefied on the spot, recalling someone. "Commander Bai."

This time, her voice was loud. No, it was more like a scream, make the Imperial guards flinch for a moment and surprise the Commander. Once again, he turned around only to see the Queen consort's body is shaking uncontrollably.

"Queen Jingyi, are you alright?" He walked towards her in worry.

She supported herself by grabbing the table, "I'm fine. That young man, can you tell me his name, once again?"

Bai Xun was taken aback by her response. He answered, "Lu Zhen."

"Who… who are his parents? Do you know… do you know their names?" She asked him. For some reason, her voice was also shaking.

"Not sure, but according to what we know so far, he was born in a tiny village as the son of the village chief. After the death of his parents, he moved to the town of Shixi before coming to the Imperial City." Bai Xun answered her truthfully. It is what the palace has on him. 

"Village chief?" Lan Jingyi's heart skipped a beat as realization dawned upon her, "this can't be a coincidence."

Trying to calm down herself, she turned her head and looked into his eyes, and said, "Commander Bai, I want to see him with my own eyes."

"Eh?" Bai Xun felt that her behavior was strange. Based on the reaction, he got a strong feeling that this Queen consort might have known about Mark. Nevertheless, he replied, "According to the spies, Lu Zhen's current whereabouts are unknown but he runs a weapon store here. So, he might return, in a few days."

Taking a deep breath, Lan Jingyi then asked, "Commander Bai, please do me a favor. Please confirm whether his parents are named Lu Yimu and Yi Zexi and whether that village name is Huotang."

Bai Xun never heard of those names before. A frown appeared on his face, "do you perhaps know Lu Zhen's parents?"

"Yi Zexi used to be my servant. She was also like a sister to me. The last time I knew, they shifted to a village named Houtang where her husband is the village chief. They had a baby named Lu Zhen who is about my son's age. I wonder whether he's the same person." Lan Jingyi briefly gave him an explanation that is mixed with truths and lies, so that he doesn't get suspicious.

Her explanation also satisfied Bai Xun's curiosity about her sudden outburst. He gave his word that he will find it.

After Bai Xun left, Lan Jingyi collapsed on the seat and grabbed her head, "Is it really him? No, it must be another coincidence. I may be thinking too much. But, what if it's Shang Zhen?"

***

Sui Clan District, Shangwan City, Sui Province;

The Sui Clan District is a neighborhood located in the heart of the Shangwan city where all the members of the clan live with their respective families. No one else is allowed to live here.

While this restricts the clan members, forcing several young people to even leave the city and develop their career in the Imperial City, for the others, it gives a sense of unity. And this is also what made the clan very strong. The entire clan district itself is its Iron Fortress.

At the Sui Clan Mansion where the clan head and his family live, a group of elders was summoned to the entrance hall.

An obese middle-aged man is nervously standing in front of them with sweaty palms behind his back. He is the Patriarch of the clan, Sui Chen. 

However, everyone's eyes are on the young man standing beside him who was standing in complete calmness.