Even though the festive atmosphere of the New Year had already swept through the capital of the Da Jin Dynasty, the palace was unexpectedly lifeless, even more so than usual. After the Crown Prince suffered severe injuries, he had been beyond the help of medicine, but thanks to the personal treatment of the miracle healer Xia, the Golden Mausoleum Master Hand, his life was spared. However, though his life was saved, he would remain an invalid for the rest of his days. This meant the position of Crown Prince was inevitably lost. The Empress seemed to have aged ten years overnight. Though she still held the title of Empress, she now spent day and night in the prayer hall chanting sutras and praying, seemingly preparing to relinquish her position.
In the past, such a move by the Empress would have thrown the imperial harem into chaos, regardless of how the court viewed it. Noble ladies would have fought tooth and nail to claim the position, as the mother of the nation represented the most exalted woman in the realm. Yet now, no one dared to make a move, solely because the Emperor was furious over the Xuan Hua incident. The Fifth Prince, who had attempted to assassinate the Crown Prince, was executed. De Fei, who had always appeared the most composed, had taken monastic vows. Among the newly promoted consorts, Jiang Dan was beaten to death, and Wang Lian'er suddenly contracted a mysterious illness. Anyone with eyes could see something was amiss, and no one dared court misfortune at such a critical juncture, no matter how tempting the prize. Moreover, the Emperor's mood was truly foul.
Among the princes who had once seemed poised to contend for the throne—aside from the Crown Prince, who had long been deemed unfit—Xuan Hua's sudden downfall had a profound impact on the court. The courtiers had already split into two factions, not in secret but openly: one supporting Xuan Li, and the other rallying behind the suddenly ascendant Xuan Pei. With the addition of Xuan Hua's former subordinates, the latter faction now rivaled Xuan Li's, even showing signs of surpassing it.
Nevertheless, the New Year's Eve celebrations had to proceed, though they were far from lively—indeed, rather desolate.
In the Cining Palace, Empress Dowager Yide reviewed the list in her hands and nodded slowly. "Proceed as written. Additionally, add a red jade ruyi scepter with aloeswood."
Yang Gugu bowed in acknowledgment, handed the list to a nearby palace maid, then circled behind the Empress Dowager to carefully massage her shoulders. "Your Majesty is sending New Year's gifts to the Brocade Hero King Manor. If others were to see..." These gifts were all destined for the Brocade Hero King Manor. In previous years, ever since learning of Xiao Shao's true origins, Empress Dowager Yide had adhered to the principle of protecting him, limiting herself to discreet concern and avoiding any actions that might arouse suspicion. This was the first time she had openly sent gifts to the manor for the New Year.
"Do you think they wouldn't know if we didn't send them?" Empress Dowager Yide glanced at Yang Gugu with a faint smile. "This Dowager has long wished to do this. After tiptoeing around for so many years, if I don't act now, I fear I may never have the chance again."
Her words were understated yet carried a chilling implication. Yang Gugu was startled and immediately knelt before the Empress Dowager, disregarding all else. "Your Majesty must not speak such words!""Enough." Empress Dowager Yide waved her hand. The hall was now empty of others. Her eyelids seemed to droop slightly, yet her voice remained clear: "The weather is changing. The wind sweeping through the tower heralds a coming storm. Wan Niang, you and I have lived most of our lives—what haven't we seen? Would we be dazzled by such a gust?" She sighed deeply. "Yet, there are still many wishes I have yet to fulfill. I once thought there was plenty of time, but in the blink of an eye, most of my life has passed."
Yang Gugu kept her head bowed, listening quietly, as Empress Dowager Yide continued, "Has the Emperor's health shown any improvement?"
"According to Eunuch Li, it seems to have worsened," Yang Gugu replied hesitantly. The Emperor's grave illness was known only to a few trusted confidants and Empress Dowager Yide. For days, the palace had assumed the Emperor's gloom and seclusion were due to his distress over Xuan Hua's death. In truth, his body was failing rapidly—illness strikes like a landslide but recedes like silk being spun. Even the ruler of a nation could not escape the ravages of time. With Xuan Hua's death already destabilizing the court, news of the Emperor's condition would only invite greater calamity, hence the secrecy.
"Such is fate." Empress Dowager Yide's voice betrayed neither joy nor anger. "A new Crown Prince must be appointed sooner or later, and the demons beneath will soon begin to stir."
Having served the Empress Dowager for years, Yang Gugu was privy to many matters others were not. Their bond was nearly without secrets. Hearing this, Yang Gugu ventured, "Does Your Majesty intend to preside over the court in person?"
If the Emperor's condition continued to deteriorate, the truth could not remain hidden forever. The palace was full of watchful eyes, many keen and discerning. Once the secret was out, chaos would ensue—if not outright rebellion, then at least significant turmoil. In her youth, Empress Dowager Yide had ruled with decisive authority, even holding court from behind a screen. Only after the Da Jin Dynasty stabilized and the throne was secure did she withdraw from court affairs. If matters came to that point again, her return to governance would be justified.
"What would I do in court?" The Empress Dowager's smile was cold, her silver hair gleaming with a frosty sheen under the golden hairpins. She toyed with her ruby nail guard. "If the pond isn't stirred into murkiness, how can we catch the culprits? I, too, wish to see who covets this empire." She lowered her gaze slowly. "To think I am powerless, trapped in the inner palace—what a farce."
Yang Gugu probed cautiously, "But His Majesty's intention was to...""Originally, I also thought this position was prepared for him, that he would rightfully inherit the Da Jin Dynasty's throne. But now it seems he has no interest in it. He shares his father's temperament, even more stubborn than his father was. I cannot control him—no, it's more accurate to say I am afraid to." The stern elderly woman rarely showed signs of exhaustion. Outwardly, she appeared glorious and wielded decisive authority, but in her early years, she endured her husband's suspicions, the collapse of her maternal family, and the loss of both her son and daughter in middle age. Some wounds could never be spoken of, no matter how well concealed; the pain remained hers alone. She believed she had wronged Hongxi Crown Prince and naturally would not trouble his son. It must be said that Hongxi Crown Prince's tragic end was partly her fault. To avoid repeating the past, she had no choice but to relent. She sighed deeply. "The Emperor wishes to follow his own will, but even an emperor has limits to his power. Both I and the Emperor owe him. No matter what the Emperor thinks, I will help him."
"But what if he refuses?" Yang Gugu hesitated, cautiously probing. "According to Your Majesty's intentions, which side should we support?" The throne would always belong to the Xuan family. If that person refused, either Xuan Li or Xuan Pei would have to become the future heir of the Da Jin Dynasty. Empress Dowager Yide had not shown particular favor toward either grandson, yet her stance was undeniably crucial.
"Wanniang, don’t you understand yet?" Empress Dowager Yide smiled, though the expression struck Yang Gugu as peculiar. "My delay in taking a stance is precisely to observe their actions. The Da Jin Dynasty's throne will always belong to the Xuan family. But now, outsiders seek to claim a share. The stage is already set—I want to see who the true players are in this drama."
Yang Gugu shuddered, instinctively raising her eyes to the Empress Dowager. In that moment, the elderly woman, who had weathered the storms of the Da Jin Dynasty, witnessed its turbulence and eventual peace, and had seemingly retired from worldly affairs, suddenly radiated a sharp, ruthless intensity. It was as if she had returned to the days of war and steel, her youth undimmed, her sword unsheathed—unyielding and merciless.
Outside, the faint sounds of New Year's Eve fireworks could be heard, likely set off by the imperial concubines and ladies of the palace seeking festive cheer. After all, no one knew of the Emperor's grave illness, assuming instead that his absence from the New Year's banquet was due to a foul mood. Left to their own devices, these women sought amusement where they could. Empress Dowager Yide closed her eyes, as if drifting into sleep on the couch. Yang Gugu quietly fetched a blanket and draped it over her, trimmed the candle wick, and then silently withdrew from the bedchamber.
...
Meanwhile, Brocade Hero King Manor was unusually lively that day.The day before, Jiang Ruan had brought Xiao Shao back to the General's Residence to visit Zhao Guang and his family. While the men of the Zhao family were quite displeased that Xiao Shao had quietly whisked away their daughter without a word, the women of the family were extremely satisfied with him. This was solely because Xiao Shao was exceptionally handsome in appearance, and though his temperament was cold, he was steady and reliable. Moreover, he didn’t even have a single bedroom maid by his side, which pleased the Zhao women the most. If there was any drawback, it was his somewhat tarnished reputation. But seeing how carefully Xiao Shao attended to Jiang Ruan, even this seemed unimportant.
Though Xiao Shao appeared indifferent on the surface, his manners were impeccable, leaving no room for criticism. Coupled with Jiang Xin Zhi and Jiang Ruan’s natural charm in smoothing things over, the Zhao family’s reservations were quickly resolved. They soon regarded Xiao Shao as their rightful son-in-law. Today, however, was New Year’s Eve, and they were to celebrate at the Brocade Hero King Manor. Jiang Ruan had initially thought it would just be the two of them, as Xiao Shao had no other relatives. Unexpectedly, while he had no family, a group of his martial brothers showed up.
Guan Lianghan had naturally gone to accompany his parents, but Mo Cong, Xia Qing, and Qi Feng arrived uninvited. Mo Cong, likely driven to desperation by his family’s relentless pressure to discuss marriage, had even fled on New Year’s Eve. After some thought, he decided there was nowhere else to hide and casually made his way to the manor’s doorstep.
Xiao Shao naturally didn’t say anything, and Jiang Ruan wouldn’t turn them away. Butler Lin, on the other hand, was delighted—the more people there were, the livelier the manor felt, brimming with prosperity. In his excitement, he secretly added several rare and expensive dishes to the New Year’s Eve feast behind Jiang Ruan’s back, even dipping into his own savings. However, the servants of the manor were always well-off, and as the head butler, he didn’t mind spending a little extra. When Mo Cong saw the dishes, he exclaimed exaggeratedly, "I’d say even the imperial kitchen’s fare is no match for this! Third Brother, you’re truly living in decadent luxury!"
"Utter extravagance!" Xia Qing nodded in agreement while stuffing his face with food.
Mo Cong shot him a disgusted look. "Mind your table manners. We came from the same sect, and you’re a man of reputation—how can you eat like some uncouth country bumpkin?"
"What do you know?" Xia Qing, ever unrestrained, frowned. "The essence of all things under heaven lies in returning to one’s true nature. Why bother with all those tedious formalities? They’re nothing but illusions!"
"Well then—" Mo Cong grinned at him, knowing full well Xia Qing was no match in a war of words. He deliberately drawled, shaking his head, "I heard the eldest daughter of the Lin family’s historian is a bookworm. Scholarly families are the most particular about rules and etiquette."
"Y-you’re talking nonsense." Xia Qing faltered, a hint of guilt in his voice. "Miss Lin isn’t that rigid."
"Oh, suit yourself. Everyone in our capital’s circles knows exactly what Miss Lin is like. If you don’t believe me, fine—tomorrow, I’ll have my third sister mention you to Miss Lin. I’ll say you disregard external formalities and propriety, that you eat with the utmost freedom and unrestraint, completely uninhibited..."
The crystal shrimp dumpling in Xia Qing’s mouth plopped out. Left with no choice, he turned to Xiao Shao for help. "Third Brother..."
Qi Feng stuffed a bun into his mouth, laughing as he scolded, "What an idiot."Luzhu was outside building a snowman, while Lianqiao crouched on the ground setting off fireworks. Tianzhu stood with her arms crossed, watching the two of them. What she once dismissed as frivolous girlish pastimes now didn’t seem so contemptible after all, and the corners of Tianzhu’s lips curled slightly upward. Luzhu’s snowman was a haphazard mess, barely recognizable as human-shaped, with a head larger than its belly. As she grumbled and adjusted it, Jin Er walked over and burst into laughter. “Oh, building a replica of yourself to play with?”
“None of your business!” The moment Luzhu saw Jin Er, it was as if a firecracker had been lit. Especially after hearing that Jin Er had been frequenting pleasure houses on recent missions. At first, she’d been suspicious, but then she witnessed firsthand how Jin Er sweet-talked one of the courtesan’s top ladies—a true veteran of romance. The sight left Luzhu both furious and heartbroken, so she had been ignoring Jin Er these days.
Jin Er rubbed his nose, utterly clueless about what had offended the young lady this time. Seeing that Luzhu truly paid him no mind after her retort and continued building her snowman, he suddenly felt a pang of guilt. After a moment’s thought, he crouched beside her, intending to help. But unlike before, Luzhu didn’t mock him—she just silently piled snow with her head lowered. Jin Er found it odd until he felt a sudden warmth on his hand. Puzzled, he looked down to see a crystal-clear teardrop on his knuckle. Realization struck him, and he quickly grasped Luzhu’s shoulders, turning her toward him. Sure enough, her shoulders were trembling. When he lifted her chin, he was met with a tear-streaked face, pitiful beyond words.
“What’s wrong?” Jin Er panicked, hastily wiping her tears with his sleeve. “I was wrong, alright? Don’t cry. If I upset you, hit me a few times—let me make it up to you?”
Jin Er was usually smooth with women, his silver tongue capable of turning tears into laughter. But faced with Luzhu’s sobs, he was at a loss, unsure of what to say.
Hearing his words, Luzhu only cried harder. “Why come and coax me? Why bother with me at all? Go find your sweetheart and stay away from me!”
Jin Er was stunned, not understanding who this “sweetheart” was. More urgently, he needed to stop her tears. “When did I ever provoke you? How did this suddenly become my fault? Hey, stop crying—I don’t know what to do when you cry like this.”
Luzhu ignored him, turning to leave. Straightforward and street-smart, she wasn’t as coy as other girls—her innocence mingled with a bold spirit. Still weeping, she muttered, “Flirting with this one and that one—you’re really no good! A lecher! A playboy!”
Finally catching on, Jin Er hurried after her, still trying to wipe her tears. “Explain yourself—who else have I flirted with? How am I a playboy? I’m not even married yet, and you’re ruining my reputation for no reason. Be careful, or you’ll have to take responsibility.”Luzhu glared at him, tears still glistening in her eyes, and snapped fiercely, "That top courtesan from the Phoenix Charm Pavilion—don’t you dare say you never flirted with her!" Seeing Jin Er’s stunned expression, Luzhu stamped her foot again and ran off without another word. Jin Er stood frozen for a moment until Tianzhu coolly tossed out a remark from the side, "If you don’t chase after her now, she might just go flirt with the top male courtesan from the pleasure house instead."
Watching Jin Er sprint away, Lianqiao couldn’t help but burst into laughter, momentarily forgetting she was still holding a lit firework. Suddenly, her hand was yanked aside by someone, and the firework shot into the sky with a whoosh. Only then did she snap out of her daze, staring at the remnants of ash on the ground with a shudder. A man’s low, chiding voice sounded in her ear, "Be careful."
Lianqiao looked up to see Ye Feng gazing back at her. Their eyes met, and both felt an inexplicable jolt. Lianqiao hastily withdrew her hand, while Ye Feng coughed lightly and pretended to be absorbed in the fireworks above. Butler Lin happened to pass by with a lantern, witnessing the scene, and immediately teared up with emotion. Clasping his hands together, he closed his eyes and prayed fervently, "Heaven has eyes! At last, our Brocade Hero King Manor will flourish with descendants and peach blossoms aplenty."
"I wonder when this old peach blossom will bloom?" Jin Si teased with a grin, jumping down from the wall with a blade of grass between his teeth.
Butler Lin’s face flushed red as he retorted, "What does a little girl like you know? Back in my prime, I was the most dazzling bachelor in the capital—countless maidens threw sachets and flowers my way. The streets were lined with admirers..."
"Achoo!" Jin San sneezed, grabbing Jin Si’s arm and dragging him away. "Why are we still listening to this moldy old tale? What’s so interesting about some geezer’s stories?"
"Who are you calling a geezer?!" Butler Lin exploded in fury. "I am a handsome man, a handsome man!"
...
On New Year’s Eve, everyone had their own way of celebrating—some in warmth, others in coldness. Take, for instance, the Eighth Prince’s residence. Though filled with music, dance, fine wine, and delicacies, something still seemed amiss. The man seated at the head of the table wore a gentle smile, as if basking in spring breeze, holding a white jade cup as he clinked it lightly with his guest across the table.
The guest, clad in gray robes with a long veil obscuring most of his face, was none other than Yuan Chuan. He drained his cup in one go and sighed, "The fine wine of the Da Jin Dynasty is truly exquisite—especially here in Your Highness’s manor."
"These are but worldly possessions," Xuan Li replied with a sincere smile, as if addressing a lifelong confidant. "If you admire them, I would gladly share." The implication of his words extended beyond the wine before them, leaving the deeper meaning for the two to ponder.
Yuan Chuan set down his cup, his crimson lips curling slightly. "Speaking of which, with the Fifth Prince gone and the Crown Prince unfit for the grand task, the matter of appointing a new heir is urgent. Your Highness’s great undertaking is within reach—congratulations are in order." With that, he clasped his hands in a formal Da Jin salute.
Xuan Li watched quietly, neither stopping him nor returning the gesture. His smile remained unchanged, as though this were hardly a matter worth mentioning.Yuan Chuan narrowed his eyes slightly. This young man was not foolish—at the very least, his patience was not to be underestimated. Upon hearing this matter, he showed neither a hint of smugness nor the slightest worry, as if he already knew Yuan Chuan had more to say. There was no need to beat around the bush when dealing with intelligent people, so Yuan Chuan made no attempt to conceal his thoughts and smiled. "It's just that Yuan Chuan believes Your Highness still has some concerns."
Xuan Li smiled without speaking. Yuan Chuan continued, "If I may be so bold, the throne of the Da Jin Dynasty rightfully belongs to Your Highness without question. However, among the imperial princes, aside from Your Highness, there is also the Thirteenth Prince. Your Highness is a dragon among men, endowed with unparalleled talent and grace—this is beyond reproach. Even if the Thirteenth Prince has risen swiftly, relying solely on his newly acquired influence, he would hardly be a threat. Except..." He paused, his tone tinged with regret. "He happens to have the backing of the Brocade Hero King Manor."
Xuan Li's fingers twitched almost imperceptibly, but even this subtle movement did not escape Yuan Chuan's notice. With a faint smile, Yuan Chuan said, "The Brocade Hero King Manor commands the loyalty of three hundred thousand troops, and its unshakable foundation runs deeper than one can fathom. There’s a saying—'He who holds the Brocade Guards holds the empire.' Perhaps there is some truth to it."
Xuan Li sighed, his expression carefully composed into one of mild distress. "I once attempted to befriend Xiao Shao, the Brocade Hero King, but unfortunately, no matter what I did, I could not win him over. I don’t know how my Thirteenth Brother managed to gain his favor, securing his covert protection. Perhaps it is the will of heaven."
"Your Highness is mistaken," Yuan Chuan replied with a mysterious smile. "There is no such thing as the will of heaven. The secrets of fate are not altered overnight. This empire was always meant to be yours. In truth, it is not the Thirteenth Prince who has won the Brocade Hero King’s favor—it is the Thirteenth Prince who has won the favor of the Princess of Brocade Glory."
"Would Yuan Chuan enlighten me?" Xuan Li asked with a smile.
Yuan Chuan lowered his head respectfully. "Of course. With the imperial court in turmoil, the Thirteenth Prince is well-protected and difficult to move against. The Brocade Hero King Manor is as impenetrable as a fortress. The only possible opening lies with the Princess of Brocade Glory."
"Oh?" Xuan Li's smile deepened.
"When dealing with women, winning their hearts is the best strategy," Yuan Chuan also laughed.
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