Rather than saying someone harmed him...
It would be more accurate to say that the heavens above were leading him step by step toward madness.
Xiahou Dan felt a turbid breath collide within his chest, his internal organs trembling with the lingering echoes, yet what escaped his lips was nothing more than a whisper: "Poor wretch!"
Yu Wanyin looked somewhat peculiar as she grasped his hand. "Misfortune won't last forever. He met us."
For a moment, Xiahou Dan didn’t even understand who this "us" referred to.
His confusion must have shown on his face, because Yu Wanyin added, "You and me."
As expected, nothing could be learned from the Little Crown Prince.
Knowing his life was already ruined, he greeted everyone with a sinister smile—one that sometimes eerily resembled the Empress Dowager’s.
Xiahou Dan issued an edict stripping him of his title as Crown Prince, ordering him to reflect in seclusion. Contrary to what he had declared to the Empress Dowager, he didn’t execute him. Instead, under the guise of imprisonment, he sent people to protect him.
This was mainly to spite Prince Duan.
With this deposed Crown Prince still alive, even if Prince Duan succeeded in regicide, he couldn’t legitimately inherit the throne. The court would naturally see the rise of a Crown Prince faction, ready to challenge him for several more rounds.
And if they managed to eliminate Prince Duan, they could always settle accounts with the Crown Prince later.
Another question in Yu Wanyin’s mind was soon answered.
The answer came from Xie Yong’er: "Yes, they all think you’re pregnant. This rumor started circulating on the day you were crowned Empress. The so-called evidence was that after you exerted yourself a little that day, the Emperor couldn’t wait to whisk you away. Not many believed it at first, but then he suddenly deposed the only Crown Prince. Everyone says it was to make way for the child in your womb..."
Yu Wanyin: "..."
Yu Wanyin was at a loss for words. "Wasn’t the Crown Prince deposed for his lack of virtue?"
"People only believe what they want to believe. The ancients’ default mindset is ‘a mother’s status rises with her son,’" Xie Yong’er analyzed matter-of-factly. "But I suspect someone is exploiting this mindset to spread rumors—part of the information warfare."
"Prince Duan?" Yu Wanyin was puzzled. "What’s the point?"
"Hard to say for now. Just be careful."
Even so, Yu Wanyin couldn’t exactly announce to the world, "I’m not pregnant." With no immediate opportunity to clarify, she had no choice but to let it be.
Knowing that Prince Duan’s reinforcements were on their way, they couldn’t afford to sit back and wait for him to prepare fully.
So the Imperial Observatory suddenly calculated a once-in-a-millennium auspicious burial date—just three days away. Xiahou Dan frowned deeply before the assembled court officials, appearing torn. After a long pause, he said, "Traditionally, the mourning period should last seven days. But since our mother was blessed with such extraordinary fortune to coincide with this rare date, we shall make an exception. The mourning period will be shortened to three days, and she will be buried early."
Not a single word of dissent came from the former Empress Dowager faction—instead, they competed to praise his filial piety.
All condolences were compressed into three days. Xiahou Dan donned mourning attire and personally kept vigil.
On the day the Empress Dowager passed, rumors had spread that the Emperor had fallen ill. But now, with all the officials seeing him kneeling properly in the mourning hall, those rumors were dispelled.
After seeing off a wave of imperial relatives, Yu Wanyin returned indoors, her robes dusted with snow, and immediately stamped her feet. "It’s so cold—how can it be this cold? Is this sudden drop in temperature also part of Prince Duan’s scheme?"
Xiahou Dan rose, rubbing his knees. "Good point. He must have invented localized refrigeration.""Perhaps the Empress Dowager's resentment runs too deep. Don't you feel an eerie chill in here... It just occurred to me that her final night of lying in state happens to be New Year's Eve! With her death, she's dragging the entire nation into mourning during the New Year—what immense resentment..." Yu Wanyin muttered to herself.
Xiahou Dan said, "Come here, I have something for you."
"What is it?"
From beneath his wide mourning robe, Xiahou Dan pulled out an object and pressed it into her hands. "Hold this."
It was a hand warmer.
Yu Wanyin smiled. "You're something else, no wonder you can kneel here so steadily."
Xiahou Dan lowered his voice. "Any movement outside?"
Yu Wanyin shook her head.
Though the memorial hall appeared empty, countless Shadow Guards were hidden all around.
According to Xu Yao's records, Prince Duan had two plans.
The first was to send assassins to kill Xiahou Dan during his vigil, leaving no wounds, creating a supernatural scene.
The second was during the funeral procession. Following the Great Xia customs, the Emperor would escort the coffin through the final stretch before entering the mausoleum. This path passed through a valley at the foot of Bei Mountain. If boulders were pushed down from the mountain to simulate a landslide, those in the valley would have no escape.
Both plans shared a common point—they could be blamed on the vengeful spirit of the Empress Dowager, aligning perfectly with the previously spread rumors of "the Tyrant's lack of virtue inviting divine retribution."
Xiahou Dan's plan was to set ambushes in both the memorial hall and Bei Mountain beforehand. If they could catch the perpetrators red-handed before they acted, removing Prince Duan with justified cause would be the best outcome. If the other side proved too cunning to capture, or if they were caught but no evidence linked back to Prince Duan, they would still eliminate him. As for public opinion and the people's sentiment, they could rebuild it slowly once they survived.
Thus, over these past few days, any suspicious activity would be reported immediately by the Shadow Guards.
However, perhaps because the surrounding ambush was too tight, alerting Prince Duan, they had waited a full two days in the memorial hall without seeing even a ghost.
Outside the perimeter, a few eunuchs and palace maids had been spotted peeking around. If these were also Prince Duan's people, it seemed almost childish—less like "preparing to act" and more like "pretending to prepare to act." Fearing a diversion tactic, the Shadow Guards kept watch on the memorial hall while sending even more personnel to investigate near Bei Mountain.
This was the most oppressive New Year Yu Wanyin had ever experienced. With music forbidden during mourning, the palace was lifeless, its inhabitants keeping to their quarters. The impending sense of disaster loomed like a mountain, even the snowflakes falling slower than usual.
The only comfort was that Xiahou Dan's condition seemed to be improving.
Xiao Tiancai slipped in daily to examine him, meticulously observing, listening, questioning, and checking his pulse while taking extensive notes to deduce the composition of the poison in his system. Xiahou Dan appeared relaxed, claiming only that his headaches hadn't worsened. Strangely, the wound on his chest was healing rapidly—now he could turn and raise his arms without issue.
Yu Wanyin said, "I have a bold theory."
Xiahou Dan: "What is it?"
"Think about it—Tuer clearly claimed this wound wouldn't heal, yet on you, it inexplicably did." Yu Wanyin analyzed solemnly. "And after this headache episode, it's healing even faster. Doesn't that strike you as odd?"Xiao Tiancai chimed in, 'Now that you mention it, it is rather unusual.'"Experienced web novel reader Yu Wanyin asked, "Does the medical text you studied mention the concept of 'fighting poison with poison'?"
Xiao Tiancai replied, "Ah."
After pondering for a moment, he nodded. "If both poisons originated from the Qiang people, it's indeed possible their medicinal properties counteract each other."
Greatly encouraged, Yu Wanyin said, "Go research it. My intuition tells me this is the right solution."
Xiao Tiancai agreed but hesitated before taking his leave. "Your Highness, may I speak with you privately?"
Yu Wanyin was taken aback, her heart sinking. When a doctor asked to speak privately, it usually wasn't good news.
Xiahou Dan, however, patted her shoulder with a smile. "Go ahead."
Reluctantly, Yu Wanyin walked out. Without eyes in the back of her head, she couldn't see the threatening look Xiahou Dan cast at Xiao Tiancai behind her.
Once they reached a side chamber, Xiao Tiancai turned to her and got straight to the point. "Your Highness, do you remember your earlier promise?"
Yu Wanyin had been waiting for him to disclose Xiahou Dan's condition, so his question caught her off guard, instantly reviving her spirits. "Oh, about releasing Consort Xie? Pfft, I thought it was something serious. No problem at all. Once we settle things with Prince Duan, I'll personally ensure her safe departure from the capital."
But Xiao Tiancai seemed hesitant.
Yu Wanyin: "?"
Xiao Tiancai appeared to be racking his brain for the right words. "His Majesty is naturally blessed with good fortune... but Prince Duan is cunning..."
Yu Wanyin understood.
What he wanted to say was: What if Prince Duan wins? Wouldn't Xie Yong'er be unable to leave then?
Yu Wanyin hadn't considered this before. The old her might have agreed on the spot and let Xie Yong'er go early. But times had changed. Having witnessed the world's cruelty, she couldn't help but wonder: What if Xie Yong'er joined Prince Duan after leaving? Even if Xie Yong'er truly wished to retire, would Prince Duan easily let go of such a valuable source of information?
"Here's what we'll do," she said slowly. "On the day of the Empress Dowager's funeral, after Prince Duan follows the procession out of the city, I'll send someone to escort Consort Xie out through the opposite gate." By then, it would be too late for Prince Duan to find her.
She expected Xiao Tiancai to argue further, but the young man proved remarkably reasonable. He immediately knelt and bowed deeply. "Your Highness's great kindness is something this humble servant will never forget."
Yu Wanyin hurriedly helped him up. "Don't be like this—I don't deserve it. I promised before to let you leave with her, but right now, with His Majesty's poison still lacking an antidote, we truly still need your help."
Xiao Tiancai fell silent for a moment before replying gently, "This servant never intended to leave. As long as Consort Xie lives peacefully for the rest of her days, I have no other wishes."
Yu Wanyin couldn't help but look at him with admiration, as if beholding a saint of love. "You know, you could have other wishes. No one would mind."
Xiao Tiancai stiffened, lowering his head awkwardly. "This servant... knows he is unworthy of her gaze, let alone her heart. Rather than grow to resent each other, it's better to let her go. In the vast world beyond, whenever she sees mountains and rivers, perhaps she'll remember an old friend."
A true saint of love indeed.
Yu Wanyin regarded him with solemn respect. "Rest assured, I'll make the arrangements."
With her assurance, Xiao Tiancai left, expressing endless gratitude. As he departed, he hunched his shoulders, not daring to let her see the guilt on his face.
His urgency to send Xie Yong'er away wasn't solely due to fear of Prince Duan. He also feared Yu Wanyin might discover that even if he stayed, his value was limited.
The Emperor's threatening look earlier had been a reminder not to say anything he shouldn't.For instance, the toxins in his body had been accumulating since before his birth, reaching a point of no return. The massive dose of poison triggers the Little Crown Prince had ambushed him with was the final straw that broke the camel's back.
And then there was the Empress Dowager's dying words, which were actually four characters: "This poison has no cure."
In the mourning hall, Xiahou Dan watched the two figures depart before immediately finding a chair to sit in. He pressed his hands against his forehead with such force it seemed he meant to crush it.
Amid the relentless pain, fragmented memories suddenly resurfaced before his eyes. He saw again his imperial grandmother from years past, gasping for breath on her deathbed. In the month before she finally passed, the poor woman had screamed deliriously every day. At the time, no one had understood what she was shrieking about.
If the same fate awaited him...
Xiahou Dan let out a derisive laugh.
That kind of ghastly scene—he had no intention of letting her see it.
OpenNovel