The second day after the spring rain brought clear skies.
The new emperor's ascension ceremony had long been prepared, and by the third watch, civil and military officials were already gathered at the entrance of the altar.
As the auspicious hour arrived, the enthronement rites began, marking the start of the grand Fengshan ceremony.
The worship of Heaven followed the rites of the Supreme Unity, with a three-tiered altar surrounded by the altars of the Five Emperors—blue, red, white, black, and yellow. Sacrificial offerings included white deer, pigs, and white yaks, while the divine tablets were made of three-ridged grass from the Jianghuai region, sealed with multicolored earth. Rare beasts and precious birds were released across the mountains as auspicious omens.
Amid the resonant beats of drums, the harmonious tones of the Taihe, and the melodies of flutes, a young man stood atop the towering altar, clad in bright yellow robes embroidered with soaring dragons. His expression was serene, yet his gaze was sharp and profound as he held the imperial jade seal.
Directly below him, the high-ranking minister Xiao Shao, dressed in an official robe of red with white python embroidery, solemnly recited the late emperor's edict, proclaiming the enthronement decree word by word. Though usually taciturn and cold, his voice now rang clear and steady, each syllable striking the hearts of those present like iron—a silent yet unwavering support that sent tremors through their souls.
Court musicians played as a senior eunuch assisted the new ruler of the Da Jin Dynasty in ascending the dragon-and-phoenix-carved throne. The moment he took his seat, all music ceased. The officials bowed deeply in unison, proclaiming, "Long live His Majesty—ten thousand, ten thousand, ten thousand years!"
The young emperor sat regally upon the throne, his gaze sweeping over the bowed heads of his ministers—a look of supreme dominance. Even without raising their eyes, the officials could feel an indescribable pressure emanating from him. Then, his voice rang out, clear and commanding: "Rise, my lords."
As the ministers lifted their heads, the young emperor's refined features had shed the last traces of his usual harmless nobility—or rather, the last remnants of pretense—revealing an edge as sharp as a blade. Like a once-languid young beast baring its fangs, a mere flick of his claws radiated lethal intent.
This was the authority of a ruler, the composure of one accustomed to grand spectacles—yet it was all embodied in a mere teenager. Many among the officials who had harbored doubts now found a singular thought echoing in their minds: this youth was a born sovereign, cunning, decisive, ruthless, benevolent, and innately aloof.
This was the aura of a true monarch.
The Da Jin Dynasty had welcomed its new ruler. Seated upon the throne, the young emperor's voice still carried the clarity of youth, yet his tone was grave, brimming with unshakable authority as he declared:
"By the grace of this grand ceremony, we decree amnesty for all under Heaven—"
"Those who submit shall prosper; those who defy shall perish—"
"We are the Son of Heaven; we are the realm itself—"
Three sentences, each resounding like ancient proverbs echoing from the dawn of time, reverberating across the land. The Da Jin Dynasty had no other master. This youth was its sovereign—the once-dismissed prince, Xuan Pei!The golden dragon on the hem of his robe seemed ready to soar into the heavens. A faint smile curled at the young man's lips—clear yet elusive, sending an involuntary chill through the hearts of those who saw it. None could fathom the thoughts of the Son of Heaven. The Grand Tutor standing to the right wore a complex expression. This move had been the right one after all; the young man indeed possessed the aura of a true dragon, just as he had surmised, though he was even more deeply concealed than imagined. Yet, he felt no regret. In one's lifetime, there were perhaps only one or two occasions to live for oneself, and supporting Xuan Pei's ascension to the throne was what he had desired.
At the very moment the coronation ceremony concluded, the leader of the Imperial Guards burst in, shouting, "Your Majesty, disaster! The Eighth Prince has rallied a faction of ministers to rebel! Half the Imperial Guards have defected, and they are now advancing from outside the city to encircle the capital!"
The young emperor seated on the high throne smiled faintly, as though unsurprised by the news. Xuan Li's absence from today's coronation had been an unspoken truth known to all. As the defeated party, it was impossible for him to watch the throne fall into another's hands without resentment, let alone witness the coronation proceed unchallenged. But to strike at this very moment—was it impulse, or had he prepared thoroughly? It was nothing short of audacious.
"Officials and soldiers of the Da Jin Dynasty, today we face the rebellion of treacherous subjects. In the previous reign, the Eight Princes rose in revolt, and it was the Hongxi Crown Prince who quelled the rebellion single-handedly, even at the cost of his life. Now, history repeats itself on this day of coronation. As the reigning Son of Heaven, I shall stand with you in battle. Take up your arms! For the peace and prosperity of Da Jin, drive out the traitors and secure our dynasty! My empire shall not be tainted by those with ill intent. Whoever covets my throne, I shall trample beneath my feet. Mighty Da Jin, its majesty unrivaled under heaven!"
Not once did he show panic or disarray at the sudden news. Instead, he seized the moment to rally the morale of his civil and military officials. Drawing parallels to the Hongxi Crown Prince of the previous dynasty, his every word radiated the young emperor's confidence and resolve. Yet, far from sounding boastful, his bold declaration rang with such conviction that it seemed he could deliver on his promises. In no time, a general cried out, "We pledge our lives to defend the land of Da Jin! We pledge our lives to follow Your Majesty!"
As if the first voice had broken the dam, more and more were swept up in the fervor, their blood boiling with uncontainable passion. They knelt one after another, clamoring to join the fight, their shouts growing louder until they pierced the heavens. In the end, the altar echoed with the thunderous voices of hundreds of men: "We pledge our lives to follow Your Majesty!"
Xuan Pei smiled in satisfaction and rose slowly to his feet. The golden dragon on his robe glared fiercely as he declared in a firm voice, "To battle!"
To battle!
…….Xuan Pei won over the people's hearts much faster than anyone had anticipated. Not only did this young man gain the support of the common folk, but he also quickly established his authority among the civil and military officials. Not long after the coronation ceremony, a secret was revealed—it turned out that a certain shop in the Da Jin Dynasty had been aiding the poor every year, known as the greatest benefactor. Who would have thought that the master behind these shops was none other than Xuan Pei? Naturally, the people were deeply grateful, for having a benevolent ruler was better than anything else. Moreover, this Emperor had been appointed by the previous Emperor's Imperial Decree of Succession, so they leaned toward him without hesitation. Xuan Li's rebellion was already an act of treason, and the war around the capital had caused the people much suffering. Xuan Pei sent supplies to comfort the wounded, swiftly earning even more public favor.
As for the court, there were already some senior ministers who supported Xuan Pei, so his days were not too difficult. Besides, he had his own unique methods of winning people over. For those officials who still harbored discontent, he balanced rewards and punishments, achieving remarkable results. The longer the officials interacted with this newly ascended ruler, the more they unanimously sensed one thing—Xuan Pei did not seem like a young emperor who had just taken the throne. Everything he did, including his methods of handling state affairs, resembled those of a seasoned political veteran. Even the most challenging situations were deftly resolved in his hands. It felt as though he wasn't a first-time emperor but had ruled for many years. His proficiency was so natural that he didn’t even need guidance from the surrounding ministers. With this realization, the officials grew more cautious in the Emperor's presence, and thus, the relationship between ruler and subjects became even more stable.
What these officials didn’t know was that Xuan Pei had already died once before. In his previous life, though he had been a useless prince, he had spent many years by Xuan Li's side, observing his methods. After being reborn, he had long been preparing for this day, so everything now went smoothly for him. Unbeknownst to him, his actions in the eyes of his ministers only reinforced the belief that he was the True Dragon Son of Heaven, destined to rule.
If there was anything unusual, it was that Xuan Li's forces proved far more difficult to deal with than expected. Though it was known that he had secretly bribed many people, the sheer number now emerging was still shocking. Among them were many veteran officials who had served two dynasties, pillars of the court. Even half of the Imperial Guards were now under Xuan Li's control. This was why the conflict had dragged on for so long. Moreover, their scattered forces across the land were converging—not just in the capital, but many regions were also seeing the rise of rebel troops. Among them were Southern Borderlanders, who had long been lying in wait and now emerged in full force. Most of the Southern Borderlands' military strength had quietly shifted into position. It was clear that Xuan Li had invested heavily in this rebellion.Xuan Pei sat in the imperial study, surrounded by mountains of unread memorials piled to one side. Even in these chaotic times, he still found the patience to review each petition one by one. Jiang Ruan had once told him that in the face of uncertainty, one should remain composed and let things take their natural course. As the ruler of a dynasty, if he were to panic, the entire court would descend into turmoil. He was naturally calm, and moreover, he believed that Xuan Li would never be able to break this deadlock. He trusted that Xiao Shao was capable of resolving the situation—after all, a ruler's duty was to delegate, not to act personally. Now, he had delegated well. Though Xuan Li appeared to have the upper hand on the surface, in reality, he was already at a disadvantage.
At the moment, what worried Xuan Pei the most was still Jiang Ruan. There had been no news of her, and that was precisely what troubled him. He had eventually learned of Jiang Ruan’s plans—just as she had told Qi Feng, Xuan Li would inevitably try to use her as leverage in a deal with Xiao Shao. Now that Xuan Li had openly raised the banner of rebellion, his next step would naturally be to trade Jiang Ruan for concessions from Xiao Shao. What Xuan Li wanted was nothing more than control over the Brocade-clad Guards. Yet several days had passed, and there was still no movement from Xuan Li. In such a critical moment, patience was not a virtue—every second counted, every moment was a matter of life and death. Xuan Li should have been eager to strike a deal with Xiao Shao. The lack of action could only mean one thing: Jiang Ruan was not in his hands at all.
Why would Jiang Ruan not be in his hands? There were only two possibilities. First, she might have escaped on her own, leaving Xuan Li unable to find her. This aligned with what Jiang Ruan herself had said—she had mentioned she would find a way to escape. The second possibility was that she was now in some kind of danger, the very scenario Xuan Pei least wanted to consider. He reminded himself that Jiang Ruan was clever and cunning, always the one outmaneuvering others. The most likely outcome was that she had tricked her captors and escaped. Yet his thoughts couldn’t help but drift toward the worst-case scenario. What if things weren’t as he hoped? If Jiang Ruan had truly escaped, why hadn’t she found a way to contact them? Where was she now?
As he pondered, a restless unease settled in his heart. Suddenly, he beckoned to Mingyue, who stood nearby, and asked, “What has Xiao Shao been doing lately?”
Mingyue replied, “The young master is pursuing Yuan Chuan.”
“Yuan Chuan?” Xuan Pei frowned, recalling that Yuan Chuan was the masked man who often accompanied Dan Zhen. “Why is he chasing Yuan Chuan? Has there been news about the princess consort?”
“No,” Mingyue answered patiently. “Recently, the Brocade-clad Guards reported that Xuan Li’s men are also hunting Yuan Chuan, who is currently on the run. The young master suspects there’s something unusual about this and believes Yuan Chuan might hold the key to turning the situation around. That’s why he’s been pursuing him.” Mingyue was Xiao Shao’s subordinate, but Xuan Pei had grown accustomed to relying on him. Regarding Jiang Ruan’s situation, Xiao Shao had instructed that there was no need to hide anything from Xuan Pei, so Mingyue disclosed everything he knew without reservation.
“Xuan Li is also hunting Yuan Chuan?” Xuan Pei straightened in his seat, his expression turning grave. “Why?”
...The night was as dark as ink, yet two riders galloped along the steep and treacherous mountain path. The one in front was clearly panicked, desperately whipping his horse to charge forward at full speed, while the rider behind seemed much more at ease. The horse beneath him had a glossy coat and powerful strides—a truly exceptional steed.
The rider in black, nearly blending into the night, suddenly leaped into the air, tapping the horse's back with his foot before soaring forward. The man ahead sensed danger and tried to yank his horse in another direction, but the black-clad figure, mid-air, flicked a stone from his hand. It struck the horse's leg, causing it to buckle and collapse, throwing its rider to the ground. In a flash, the black-clad figure landed before the fallen man, pressing a dagger to his throat before he could react.
"Third Brother, wait for me!" A noisy voice called from behind, followed by the chaotic sound of hooves as a group approached. As they drew nearer, the light of their torches revealed a troop of guards, led by two men not dressed as guards—Mo Cong and Qi Feng.
Mo Cong stepped forward with a torch, but upon seeing the man on the ground, he couldn't help but exclaim, "Third Brother, are you sure this is the Southern Borderlands envoy? I remember him wearing a mask, but he couldn’t have looked like this, could he? Who is this guy? He looks like a ghost!"
The man on the ground wore tattered gray robes, his hair disheveled, but the most horrifying aspect wasn’t his ragged appearance—it was his disfigured face. It looked as though he had been burned, the skin peeling like half-torn wallpaper, patches of flesh exposed beneath. The worst was a scar near his eye, as if the socket itself had been split open by fire. His entire body bore similar burns, untreated and festering, emitting a foul stench of pus.
"Where is she? Why is Xuan Li hunting you?" Xiao Shao ignored Mo Cong’s words, the dagger at Yuan Chuan’s throat unwavering. Earlier, scouts from the Brocade-clad Guards had reported Xuan Li’s men pursuing someone who resembled the former Southern Borderlands envoy. Xiao Shao had personally come to capture him, and indeed, Yuan Chuan was severely wounded—likely by Xuan Li’s men. Had Yuan Chuan not been injured, his cunning nature might have made him harder to catch. Yet many questions remained: the Southern Borderlands and Xuan Li had always been allies, so why would Xuan Li suddenly turn on his own? If their alliance had fractured, why was Qi Man not being hunted? And where was Dan Zhen? No one had seen him in a long time.
Yuan Chuan must know where Jiang Ruan was—after all, it was the Southern Borderlands who had abducted her. Xuan Li had never shown himself directly, leaving her guarded by Southern Borderlands forces. Now that Yuan Chuan was being hunted, could it be related to Jiang Ruan?
At Xiao Shao’s question, Yuan Chuan let out a cold laugh. "Prince Xiao, you want to know why Xuan Li is hunting me? Do you truly wish to know?""Enough talk," Mo Cong interrupted before Yuan Chuan could finish. "Tell us where my sister-in-law is, and I'll make sure your death is quick. If you don't speak... well, you'll regret it."
"I never intended to live anyway." Yuan Chuan raised his eyes to meet Xiao Shao's icy gaze. Under the flickering firelight, Xiao Shao's striking features appeared even more breathtakingly handsome yet chillingly indifferent. Yuan Chuan couldn't help but recall Dan Zhen's infatuation with this very man—a man whose heart belonged solely to that venomous woman, Jiang Ruan. A surge of resentment rose within him, and he flashed an almost provocative smile. "Since Lord Xiao insists on knowing, I'll tell you the truth. You're aware Xuan Li wanted to use your consort as leverage in a deal with you, aren't you? But I ruined that plan. Do you know why?" His lips twisted into a grin, the motion stretching his wounds grotesquely. "Because I killed her. With that woman dead, Xuan Li lost his bargaining chip, which is why he's been hunting me down."
The moment the words left his mouth, he felt the dagger at his throat press forward slightly, a cool trickle of blood seeping from the wound. He closed his eyes, but the blade didn't advance further. Xiao Shao's frigid voice cut through the air: "You're lying."
Both Qi Feng and Mo Cong exhaled in quiet relief. For a moment, they'd feared Xiao Shao's rage would drive him to slit Yuan Chuan's throat on the spot. If there was anything that could unsettle Xiao Shao's composure, it was Jiang Ruan. No man would take kindly to hearing such curses against his wife, let alone someone as fiercely protective as Xiao Shao. Mo Cong snarled, "What nonsense are you spouting? Do you really think Third Brother would believe your drivel? What makes you think you could even lay a finger on my sister-in-law? She could crush you with her little finger—you're nothing but a boastful fool!"
Yuan Chuan suddenly burst into laughter, his mouth filling with blood as he glared at Xiao Shao. Through gritted teeth, he spat out each word deliberately: "And what of it? Not only did I kill her—I killed the bastard in her belly too!"
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