Dan Zhen had never concerned herself with affairs in the capital. Her presence here was partly to evade imperial pursuit and partly to await news from Xuan Li. In her view, everything was already set in stone, with no room for error. Thus, she harbored no worries. Even Yuan Chuan's unusual behavior that day hadn't given her pause—until now, when Xuan Li suddenly appeared before her.
Dan Zhen glanced up at the man. Objectively speaking, Xuan Li wasn't unattractive, and given his methods, he was far from incompetent. But Dan Zhen's heart had already settled on another, and Xuan Li fell far short of that man. Looking at him now, she felt little emotional stir. Still, she knew Xuan Li was their Southern Borderlands' trading partner, so she rose with a smile. "Eighth Prince."
Xuan Li returned the smile. Dan Zhen had met him a few times before and recognized this as his habitual expression. To wear a mask so deeply ingrained that everyone who saw him felt bathed in warmth—Xuan Li had his talents. Today, however, though his face bore the same gentle smile, there was something else lurking within it, an indescribable strangeness.
Dan Zhen's step forward faltered. "What brings the Eighth Prince here?" she asked.
A faint unease prickled at her, though she couldn't pinpoint its source. Her dealings with Xuan Li had always been mediated by Yuan Chuan—a clever man, the sharpest blade in her arsenal.
Xuan Li smiled slightly. "Holy Maiden, I've come to ask you one thing."
"What is it?"
"That Imperial Edict retrieved from the Princess of Brocade Glory—you burned it, didn't you?" Up close, his smile now seemed artificial, stirring an inexplicable revulsion in Dan Zhen. As if it concealed something else. She met his gaze and nodded. "Indeed."
"Oh? Might I ask why you did so?" Xuan Li inquired.
Dan Zhen paused, studying his expression carefully before replying, "Since that edict was an Imperial Decree of Succession for your brother, keeping it would only invite disaster. Sooner or later, you'd have destroyed it yourself. Rather than let the matter drag on, I took the liberty. Given our alliance, I had no qualms handling it."
She believed her words were perfectly diplomatic—for the Holy Maiden of the Southern Borderlands to personally undertake such a task was an immense honor. Were it not for their current pact, she'd never have spoken so frankly. Yet Xuan Li responded with an odd chuckle. "Helping me?"
Dan Zhen hadn't expected this reaction. Displeased, she asked, "What does the Prince mean?"
Xuan Li's tone betrayed neither joy nor anger. "What you burned wasn't the Thirteenth Prince's decree. The name on it was mine."
"Yours?" Dan Zhen exclaimed. In that instant, she understood his demeanor. Most people might have rushed to apologize, but Dan Zhen's first thought was evasion—and a surge of anger.She said, "Your Highness, have you come here to hold me accountable?" Even though the Southern Borderlands had been conquered by the Da Jin Dynasty decades ago, the Holy Maiden, who was originally of royal lineage, was still accorded the highest status and honor by the remnants of the fallen kingdom. No one dared to question or oppose her words, and due to the kingdom's fall, Dan Zhen was treated with even greater kindness. Deep down, Dan Zhen looked down upon anyone she deemed inferior. In her eyes, Xuan Li was merely a prince who had yet to ascend the throne. How dare he speak to her in such an accusatory and disrespectful tone? Immediately, she adopted a haughty demeanor. "When Your Highness asked us to intercept the Imperial Edict, you never mentioned that the name on it was yours. And now you blame me? Did I burn your Imperial Decree of Succession? Besides, you never saw that edict yourself—how do you know it bore your name? Could it be you fell into someone else's trap?"
"Fell into someone else's trap?" Xuan Li echoed slowly.
"Yes," Dan Zhen replied, suddenly seeming intrigued and continuing without pause. "Perhaps you were already ensnared when you had us intercept that edict. Your Highness keeps accusing me, but why not examine yourself? In the end, this is your own fault. You were foolish, made a mistake, and walked right into someone else's trap. You burned your own edict and cut off your rightful path to the throne. I merely acted on your orders—what does this have to do with me? The one you should truly blame is yourself!"
Eager to distance herself from the entire affair, Dan Zhen hastily pinned all the blame on Xuan Li. Under normal circumstances, such words might have been brushed aside, but today, every syllable struck Xuan Li's sore spots. It was true—from the very beginning, Xuan Li had fallen into someone else's scheme. His own arrogance had led him to misjudge, mistaking the Imperial Decree of Succession bearing his name for one meant for Xuan Pei. But Xuan Li was a man of immense pride, unable to tolerate any blemish on his record or any questioning of his competence. Dan Zhen's words were a direct slap to his face—how could he endure it? Moreover, there had still been room to salvage the situation—had he only produced his own edict. But Dan Zhen, like a troublemaker, had burned his last chance to ashes. And not only that—she showed not a shred of remorse, instead adopting an aggressive stance.
A surge of fury suddenly rose in Xuan Li's heart.
He looked at Dan Zhen and said slowly, "You're absolutely right."
Dan Zhen had merely been venting her usual temper and hadn't expected Xuan Li to admit his mistake so readily. She found it odd, but since Xuan Li was known for his honeyed words and deceptive charm, she didn't dwell on it. Instead, she said, "Well, it's not entirely your fault. But you really shouldn't have pinned all the blame on me..."Before she could finish her words, she suddenly felt a chilling coldness in her chest, followed by an unfamiliar pain that spread from her chest and seeped into her bones. She lowered her head in shock, staring at the short knife embedded in her chest, its hilt firmly gripped by Xuan Li. He smiled at her, the fury in his eyes intensifying as he deliberately twisted the knife slowly, the sound of flesh tearing almost audible.
"If I shouldn't blame you, then I should thank you. How about I send you off as a token of my gratitude?" Xuan Li's voice was light, yet laced with a bone-chilling coldness. Dan Zhen stared at her wound in disbelief. She wanted to scream for help, to call for Yuan Chuan, for Qi Man, for the servants outside—but no sound escaped her lips. Her body was unbearably cold, her mouth opening and closing without strength.
The tip of the knife was poisoned. Xuan Li leisurely pulled the blade from Dan Zhen's chest, and in that instant, blood spurted out. He took out a handkerchief from his sleeve, wiped the blade clean, and sheathed it again. Looking down at the woman lying dead on the floor with eyes wide open, he admired the corpse as if it were a painting before finally smiling slowly. "I should have killed you from the start, fool."
He turned and walked out of the room.
Dan Zhen's body lay sprawled on the floor, the blood from her chest gradually staining the ground beneath her. Until her last breath, she never imagined Xuan Li would turn on her. Perhaps she never realized the magnitude of her mistake, nor how much more ruthless Xuan Li was than she had believed. But what she failed to grasp most of all was that she wasn’t as indispensable as she thought. Her confidence had stemmed from the belief that Xuan Li needed her alliance and the power of the Southern Borderlands. Yet she forgot—she wasn’t the only one who could command the Southern Borderlands. She was the Holy Maiden, but the Southern Borderlands also had a princess, Qi Man, who was smarter, more patient, and far better at negotiating with Xuan Li. When someone was no longer the only option—when a better alternative existed—eliminating her became a simple matter.
Dan Zhen never imagined her life would end so abruptly. She never got to see Jiang Ruan suffer a fate worse than death, nor did she witness Xiao Shao bowing to her in submission. Instead, she died by Xuan Li’s hand—all because of an Imperial Edict. How bitterly unfair. Perhaps, in her final moments, she had a fleeting moment of clarity—why Jiang Ruan had misled her into believing the Imperial Edict had indisputably named Xuan Pei. It was all to manipulate her into burning that edict, exploiting her temperament to force a final rupture with Xuan Li. Jiang Ruan might have even anticipated Xuan Li’s reaction—knowing his fragile pride would never tolerate defiance, sealing Dan Zhen’s fate.During her time in the Southern Borderlands, Dan Zhen had heard that Jiang Ruan was a woman skilled at reading people's hearts. Dan Zhen had dismissed this notion, but that very dismissal ultimately cost her her life. From the very beginning, Jiang Ruan had set up an intricate trap—she wanted Xuan Li's ambitions for the dynasty, and she also wanted Dan Zhen's life. She did nothing overt, merely stirring Dan Zhen's emotions lightly, and thus created a situation that spiraled out of control. Truly, she was a woman adept at exploiting the weaknesses of the human heart—a terrifying woman.
But Dan Zhen's realizations could only fade away with her life on the soil of the Da Jin Dynasty. Conquering the skies where eagles soared and the lands where wolves roamed—these were now impossible dreams.
The door was pushed open, and Yuan Chuan's voice rang out: "Holy Maiden—" His words abruptly cut off as his gaze fell upon the lifeless body lying on the ground.
Yuan Chuan froze, as if stunned, unable to move forward. Only after a long moment did he seem to finally comprehend what had happened. He strode over, knelt down, and gathered Dan Zhen into his arms. But what he held was only a cold corpse, devoid of any trace of life. Yuan Chuan was utterly dumbfounded.
"How… how could this…" Yuan Chuan murmured, his voice low as he called out, "Holy Maiden… Holy Maiden!"
Only silence answered him. Dan Zhen's blood stained his robes, the dark, purplish hue of it spreading. Suddenly, he cradled Dan Zhen's head against his chest, his low, anguished sobs escaping uncontrollably.
Had anyone from the Southern Borderlands passed by at that moment, they would have been shocked by Yuan Chuan's expression. This man, who had always concealed his true face behind mystery, whose methods were notoriously ruthless—every person who served under him feared him from the depths of their hearts, for this man's moods were unpredictable, as though he simply reveled in killing and bloodlust. Yet now, this devil of a man was weeping uncontrollably for another, his grief palpable.
He whispered, "Didn't you say I was your most loyal servant? The sharpest blade in your hand? I was supposed to help you fulfill your ambitions… How could you die now…?"
Yuan Chuan's gaze grew feverish, his kisses landing chaotically on the face of the one in his arms, his expression bordering on madness. He had always known his place—before Dan Zhen, he was nothing more than a biting dog. He also knew who occupied Dan Zhen's heart. So what if she treated him like a dog? If Dan Zhen wanted him to bite someone, he would bite. In this world, only one person could command his absolute loyalty. Even if there was not the slightest place for him in this woman's heart, he would still gladly serve her.
She was the Holy Maiden, descended from the heavens to save sinners, while he was but a lowly sinner, unworthy even of the dust beneath her feet. The Holy Maiden was still human, with human desires and emotions, yet she could never indulge them. He was willing to be the blade in her hand—if blood was dirty, then let it stain his hands alone. He would clear every obstacle from her path, so that she could remain the pure and untarnished Holy Maiden.But now, the person in his arms was nothing more than a lifeless corpse. Everything was gone—his faith, the one he had vowed to follow for a lifetime. Yuan Chuan slowly laid the body down and reached up to remove the mask that had never left his face. Beneath it, half his face was ravaged with deep scars, remnants of past wounds. The other half, once concealed, bore the seared mark of the character "prisoner", branded with a red-hot iron.
It was the mark of his great crime—whipped with leather lashes, branded with the scorching iron. Just as they were about to brand the other side of his face, an ethereal voice had called out, "Stop."
The torment ceased abruptly. He looked up and saw a figure in a red dress, eyes like rare jewels, a woman as graceful as a celestial maiden. She had merely said, "He is not beyond redemption. Spare him."
His crime had never been grave—merely offending a noble. Her words had saved him. From then on, Yuan Chuan could never forget her. Eventually, he found another chance to meet her and pledged his lifelong devotion.
Yuan Chuan was clever, ruthless, and perceptive—qualities Dan Zhen valued. Over the years, they had relied on each other for survival. To him, Dan Zhen was his salvation. The world was too filthy, too dark—only this woman, beautiful beyond mortal measure, made it seem slightly less vile. He had witnessed her loneliness and isolation, how it twisted her soul. Even if he became a demon, he would never regret it.
Yuan Chuan traced the rough, uneven skin of his scarred face, his expression gradually calming. Softly, he murmured, "You gave me a name, you gave me life. Holy Maiden, I will send them to accompany you." He bent low, performing a solemn Southern Borderlands ritual over Dan Zhen's body, then rose slowly. Without another glance at the corpse, he walked out the door.
...
At the Eighth Prince's residence, the atmosphere was unlike before. Alongside his usual advisors, many high-ranking court officials—all loyal to Xuan Li's faction—were gathered. The leading minister spoke, "Your Highness, the Thirteenth Prince's coronation is imminent. If we—"
"If the Imperial Edict has already been proclaimed to the world," Xuan Li said coldly, "then we proceed without it." The thought of the burned edict still made his chest ache as if splitting open.
"Your Highness means to... rebel?" another minister ventured cautiously.
"What do you mean by 'rebel'?" Xuan Li countered, his face no longer the picture of refined elegance but shadowed with a sinister madness. "This empire was always meant to be mine. The victor becomes king; the loser, a bandit. Whoever wins takes all. Never speak of 'rebellion' again. This is a purge of traitors within the palace!"
The ministers fell silent. The common people were no fools—the Imperial Decree of Succession had already been issued. Calling this a "purge" was self-deception, a thin veil everyone saw through. Still, action was better than inaction. In terms of military strength, Xuan Li's forces were no weaker than Xuan Pei's. And then there were the Southern Borderlands allies.A military officer spoke up, "Your Highness has already negotiated with the Southern Borderlands, but after all, they are outsiders. I fear they may cause trouble in the future. For now, it's merely a forced cooperation due to circumstances. But in the long run, Your Highness might find it better to... avoid complications." The officer hesitated, unable to finish his sentence. Collaborating with another country to act against one's own land was unsettling at heart, especially since the Southern Borderlands had once been conquered by the Da Jin Dynasty. It was hard to believe the Southern Borderlanders harbored no ulterior motives. How could peaceful coexistence be possible with those who had hidden agendas? If not for the need to counter Xuan Pei's faction, why would they even engage in such dealings with the Southern Borderlands?
"A temporary measure, nothing more," Xuan Li said coolly. "Once our goal is achieved, the Southern Borderlands will naturally be dealt with. There's no need for concern." He had long since decided to discard them after use—the Southern Borderlands were merely a tool to him. Yet, as Xuan Li recalled Dan Zhen's actions, a surge of anger rose within him. Because of that woman, everything had been thrown into chaos, creating unnecessary complications. Now, only Qi Man remained in the Southern Borderlands. She seemed far more manageable and much smarter—hopefully, she would prove more cooperative than Dan Zhen.
Hearing Xuan Li's words, the assembled officials first breathed a sigh of relief, but then someone asked, "Where does Your Highness plan to begin this campaign?"
"As previously discussed," Xuan Li replied, "but this time, instead of moving from the palace outward, we'll advance from the outside inward, forming a four-sided encirclement. The Southern Borderlanders will provide support at the capital's outskirts. First, we'll seize the Imperial Guards stationed outside the palace, creating a siege. Then, we'll scorch the earth and set the imperial palace ablaze."
He spoke as if it were nothing, but those around him broke into a cold sweat at his words. Scorching the earth and burning the palace meant no one would be spared—including Empress Dowager Yide. The officials couldn't decide whether to feel fortunate or uneasy. Fortunate, because they had sided with Xuan Li—otherwise, they might have been the ones reduced to ashes. Uneasy, because their seemingly gentle and refined master was, in truth, ruthlessly decisive. Serving under such a man might not bode well for their future. Their expressions grew complex, torn between conflicting emotions.
"When will this take place?" someone asked.
"During the coronation ceremony," Xuan Li answered.
The officials fell silent. To avoid drawing attention, they soon dispersed, leaving one by one. Once everyone had gone, Xuan Li remained alone in the hall, resting his forehead on one hand, his expression indescribably desolate.
In the end, he had been forced into the worst possible course of action. He had thought everything could be carefully arranged, that the throne would come to him rightfully—all he needed was to ensure Xuan Pei could never claim it legitimately. But who could have expected Xuan Pei to play such a hand? Now, the one facing defeat was Xuan Li himself, and he had no choice but to resort to rebellion to seize power.Rebellion. Xuan Li smiled. What he valued most in his life was his reputation. The moment the word "rebellion" was uttered, regardless of whether he ultimately prevailed or failed in the struggle, he would forever be branded as the very Traitorous Subject he despised most. Even if he eventually ascended the throne, this stain on his name could never be washed away. The common people might refrain from speaking out of fear, but who could know what they truly thought in their hearts? It was impossible to slaughter every last citizen in the capital just to silence their tongues. Thus, from the moment he made this decision, this disgrace would be deeply imprinted on Xuan Li, a mark he could never erase in his lifetime.
Ultimately, all of this was Jiang Ruan's fault. After returning, Xuan Li gradually came to understand—even his rage-driven killing of Dan Zhen had likely been part of Jiang Ruan's scheme. Yet he felt no regret. A woman like Dan Zhen would only bring him calamity if she lived another day; better to be rid of her sooner rather than later. Xuan Li had always detested being manipulated, but now, finding himself repeatedly outmaneuvered by Jiang Ruan, he couldn't even muster the energy to demand an explanation.
He was simply exhausted.
If only Jiang Ruan were on his side—would he still be in such dire straits? Would he still have been forced onto this lowest path? With Jiang Ruan's aid, it would have been like adding wings to a tiger, smoothing his path to claiming the vast empire. Xuan Li pondered this. Yet it wasn't as though he hadn't tried to win her over. From their very first meeting, he had maintained an elegant and refined demeanor. While such an appearance might not make every woman flock to him, it certainly shouldn't have repelled her.
From the very beginning, Jiang Ruan avoided him like the plague, even seeming to harbor some disgust toward him. Xuan Li couldn't understand why Jiang Ruan always opposed him, sabotaged his plans, and outright refused without hesitation when he proposed marriage. He wondered if it was his imagination, but sometimes Jiang Ruan even seemed to inadvertently reveal hatred toward him. Xuan Li couldn't fathom what he had done to offend her—no matter how much he pondered, he found no reason.
Later, Jiang Ruan chose Xiao Shao. While Xuan Li appeared indifferent on the surface, inwardly he was seething with rage. Jiang Ruan, the one he could never have, had ultimately been claimed by someone else—and that someone was Xiao Shao, the person he despised and envied most in this world.
Yes, he was jealous. He couldn’t comprehend why the Emperor trusted Xiao Shao so deeply despite him being a Traitorous Subject. Nor could he understand why, among all the disciples of Mount Canaan, Mr. Yaqi favored Xiao Shao the most. He didn’t understand how Xiao Shao could effortlessly achieve what others had to strive for, rendering their efforts invisible under his brilliance.
Xuan Li had always been fiercely competitive, craving constant recognition as the best. But Xiao Shao’s presence shattered that expectation. Even Bai Jiu was the same.
Back then, everyone assumed Bai Jiu liked him, unaware that it was he who had fallen for her. Having grown up in the imperial palace, he was accustomed to schemes and intrigues—how could anyone not be drawn to Bai Jiu’s natural, unpolished innocence? It was his first time harboring such feelings, but before he could confess, Bai Jiu sighed and said fretfully, "Eighth Brother, I like Third Brother. Why does he always ignore me?"
Bai Jiu loved Xiao Shao—she had never loved Xuan Li.
Xuan Li couldn’t fathom why Bai Jiu still adored Xiao Shao despite his cold demeanor. In that moment, he was overwhelmed by fury and a sense of betrayal. He envied Xiao Shao and despised Bai Jiu’s disloyalty. The affection of youth transformed into boundless hatred. What did he do? He said, "If you want to know if he truly cares, see if he gets jealous. Tell him you like me and act closer to me—that’ll test his feelings."
Bai Jiu, trusting him completely, saw Xuan Li as a kind and considerate elder brother and thought his suggestion was sound. From then on, all the disciples of Mount Canaan believed Bai Jiu was in love with Xuan Li. The more affectionate Bai Jiu acted, the more unbearable it became for Xuan Li—he saw it all as humiliation.
Then came that fateful day.
When Bai Jiu was trapped, he hesitated for a fleeting moment, wondering if he should call for help. But in the end, all he could think of was Bai Jiu confessing her love for Xiao Shao. With a cold laugh, Xuan Li turned and walked away.
Bai Jiu died never knowing why Xuan Li had done this. The entire Mount Canaan believed him to be a heartless scoundrel, but only he knew the truth—Bai Jiu had never loved him. She had loved Xiao Shao. And he, above all else, hated Xiao Shao.After all these years, he thought those matters had long been forgotten. The mask had been worn for so long that he could even smile amiably at Xiao Shao. Yet those jealous, dark emotions had never been forgotten for a single day. Xiao Shao was always luckier than him—whether it was Bai Jiu or Jiang Ruan, they always took away what he desired.
Perhaps they were mortal enemies in a past life, destined to settle their score in this lifetime. Xuan Li clenched his fists, and the teacup in his hand shattered instantly. Blood seeped from between his fingers, but he paid it no mind. His expression was eerily twisted, like a beast possessed by madness, utterly frenzied.
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