Love and Crown

When I woke up, the sky outside the window was dim, making it hard to tell whether it was morning or evening. The noise outside was overwhelming, with the shouts of various vendors blending together.

I realized I was in a lavishly decorated yet gaudy room, the air thick with the overpowering scent of powder. This kind of decor, this kind of fragrance—I must be in a brothel in the bustling market district.

Holding my heavy head, I sat up and saw Xiao Qianqing slumped over a nearby table, asleep. Moving my limbs, I felt no discomfort, so I got out of bed and patted his shoulder. "Still not awake?"

Xiao Qianqing lifted his head with difficulty. To my surprise, his face was frighteningly pale, his thin lips devoid of any color, as if he had suffered a severe injury.

Clutching his chest, he stood up. His white robe was dotted with bloodstains and creases, though he seemed past caring about such trivialities. Mumbling, he said, "You’ve slept enough? Then let me lie down for a while…" With that, he staggered toward the bed.

I quickly steadied him. "What’s wrong? Are you hurt?"

He turned and gave a faint smile. "Young miss, look around. We’re no longer in the Forbidden Palace. Did you really think the Empress Dowager and that old bastard surnamed Gui would just let us walk out? I fought my way out alone with you in tow. The fact that we’re still alive is nothing short of divine protection."

"Thank you," I said hurriedly, then remembered to ask, "What about Hong Qing and Ying?"

Xiao Qianqing stopped and looked at me with amusement. "You don’t even ask how badly I’m hurt, and instead ask about Hong Qing and Ying? How heartless." Despite his complaint, he answered, "They didn’t make it out. They were captured, but they probably won’t be killed immediately."

Seeing how unsteady he was, I urged, "Go lie down. Do you need me to get you some medicine?" As I spoke, I moved to open the window to see the view outside.

Noticing my intention, Xiao Qianqing took a hurried step forward. "Don’t—"

Before he could finish, I had already opened the window and seen the scene outside.

On the street, whether it was taverns, inns, shops, or homes, white cloth hung from every doorframe. The crowds bustled about as usual, but the men wore white bands around their heads, and the women had white paper flowers pinned in their hair.

I understood why he hadn’t wanted me to open the window. This was national mourning—the emperor had passed away.

The crisp, cold wind brushed my face. I turned back to Xiao Qianqing with a smile. "What? Are there ghosts outside waiting to devour us? Or can’t you stand the breeze?"

Xiao Qianqing also smiled and turned to lie down on the bed. "Pretend I never said anything."

I sat down at the table and chuckled. "Xiao Qianqing, what’s the date today?"

He paused. "The twenty-third of the twelfth month."

"Then only a day has passed," I said with a faint smile. "Xiao Qianqing, it wasn’t until yesterday that I remembered—we actually met when we were children."

I didn’t specify who, and he didn’t ask. I continued, "I was only five or six then, just brought to the capital from the countryside in Henan by my father. I still had a rustic accent, and the other noble girls looked down on me, refusing to play with me. So I ended up tagging along with my brother, roughhousing all day like a tomboy. Once, when the late emperor held a hunt at the Hailuo Hunting Grounds in the auxiliary capital Daiyu, I had my brother disguise me as a little attendant so I could go along.""My brother went hunting with the older boys, so I ended up mingling with those young noble brats. Somehow, the kids started arguing, and they said many belittling things to me. In a fit of anger, I lunged at them. How could I possibly fight so many kids alone? I ended up pinned to the ground, getting beaten up. Then a rather delicate-looking boy, even more girlish than me, walked over. Someone shouted 'Crown Prince!' and they all scattered.

"It was a bit chilly that day, and the boy's face was very pale. He walked over, handed me a handkerchief, and smiled, saying, 'A girl shouldn’t let her face get so dirty. Wipe it.' I rudely snatched the handkerchief and asked, 'How did you know I’m a girl?' He just smiled and said, 'I just knew.' I thought he was slick-tongued and turned away, ignoring him.

"That boy seemed frail, unable to ride or hunt like the other boys, so we sat on the grass and talked. We talked about many things that day—which pastry shop we liked, which teacher’s lessons we hated. At one point, he said girls should be gentle and quiet, or they might get into trouble and be bullied. I retorted, 'So what? Some boy will come protect me.' When I was little, my father always told me that girls were born to be protected by boys. Hearing it so often, I truly believed it.

"Hearing this, the boy laughed heartily and asked, 'So, have you found someone to protect you yet?' I shook my head and said, 'Not yet, but someday I will.' Then I looked at him and added, 'You’re quite good-looking. Why don’t you be the one to protect me?' To my surprise, he readily agreed: 'Little girl, it’s a deal. I’ll protect you for the rest of your life.'

"That one sentence—he remembered it all these years." I smiled faintly. "But I had long forgotten. If he hadn’t brought it up today, I might never have recalled that there was once a boy who told me… he would protect me for a lifetime."

I laughed, my eyes dry, without a single tear. "Only thirteen days passed after he returned from Shanhai Pass. Thirteen days… Why is the time given to us always so short?"

Xiao Qianqing fell silent for a moment before suddenly saying, "Stop thinking about it."

I smiled. "Afraid I’ll go mad? Don’t worry. I’m just talking. After all, there’s still so much left to do." I looked at him with a grin. "Xiao Qianqing, you want to be emperor, don’t you? I’ll help you."

He studied my eyes for a long moment before finally smiling and explaining the court situation: "Your father, Ling Xuefeng, has been placed under house arrest by the Empress Dowager after the mourning period. The Empress Dowager advocates for Prince Yu’s succession, but most civil officials oppose it." He smirked. "They all support me instead."

"Prince Yu, Xiao Qianhong—only eleven years old?" I sneered. "The Empress Dowager has quite the scheme. Does she also plan to rule from behind the curtains?" I glanced at Xiao Qianqing. "If the ministers all back you, you must have quite the network in court, huh?"

"Not at all," Xiao Qianqing replied lazily. "Don’t always assume I’m so cunning. My reputation is actually quite good.""Enough, seeing is believing." I shook my head and continued, "Do you still have the Imperial Edict he gave you?"

Xiao Qianqing nodded, "Of course."

"Then it's simple." I smiled slightly. "I'm confident I can persuade my father. With our combined efforts, dealing with the Empress Dowager will be a sure thing."

Xiao Qianqing raised an eyebrow, "Alright, what are your terms?"

Talking with someone this clever was convenient, so I didn't hold back. "First, after you ascend the throne, my father remains Chief Grand Secretary."

Xiao Qianqing agreed readily, "There's no one in court more suited to be Chancellor than Ling Xuefeng. I agree."

"Second," I paused, "I want you to serve as Regent Prince for one year first... I'll announce to the world that I'm already carrying the bloodline of the Xiao Clan Vermilion Bird Branch. You'll act as regent until the imperial heir is born, and the Virtuous Blessing era name will remain unchanged."

"That's a bit far-fetched," Xiao Qianqing mused. "So if you give birth to a son, I'd have to abdicate to him?"

"It's a lie..." I propped my chin on my hand and laughed. "I'm not pregnant. The regency is just a pretense. After a year, the throne will still be yours... By then, you'll have consolidated your power. Would you still fear me breaking the agreement?"

Xiao Qianqing nodded somewhat helplessly, "This humble subject obeys Her Majesty the Empress's decree." After speaking, he suddenly smiled and asked, "You should dislike me quite a bit. Why help me?"

"Who knows?" I smiled, standing up again and walking to the window. "Maybe I just don't want the Empress Dowager to be too comfortable."

Outside the window, the crowd bustled endlessly, the white mourning flowers and filial headbands swaying with their movements. In principle, all commerce was prohibited during national mourning, but with the New Year approaching, the common people, having toiled all year, wanted to celebrate properly. Even if banned, it probably couldn't be fully enforced.

Actually, this was for the best. Let everyone remain busy and festive like this. Whether in mourning or not, the living must go on living.

I reached my hand out the window and caught a snowflake drifting down from the eaves. Unnoticed, it had begun to snow again.

Today was the twenty-third day of the twelfth lunar month. Seven days remained until the New Year of the ninth year of Virtuous Blessing.

On this day, known in folk tradition as Minor New Year, the empire's situation took an unexpected turn following a dramatic upheaval in the palace.

On the twenty-sixth day of the twelfth month of the eighth year of Virtuous Blessing, the third day of national mourning, the court officials petitioned the Empress Dowager to select a new emperor, citing that the throne should not remain vacant for long.

On the twenty-seventh, Prince Yu Xiao Qianhong was urgently summoned from his fiefdom to the capital. This eleven-year-old prince was hastily thrust into the empire's center of power.

That same day, five branches of the Xiao imperial clan led loyalist armies to the capital, stationing themselves outside the city and demanding to pay respects to the late emperor's spirit in the Hall of Ancestral Worship where his coffin lay.

On the twenty-eighth, after prolonged failed negotiations, the imperial clan princes broke with the Empress Dowager. The loyalist armies faced off against the ten imperial guard regiments defending the capital outside the city walls, bringing them to the brink of war.

On the twenty-ninth, the newly subjugated Chengjin State, having surrendered to Da Wu less than a month prior, once again dispatched its cavalry to press against Shanhai Pass, casting the empire back into crisis.

Also on this day, Prince Yu Xiao Qianhong's enthronement ceremony was hastily conducted in the Forbidden Palace. The child, wrapped in robes that had clearly been altered at the last minute to fit his small frame, received the officials' congratulations in the Central Ultimate Hall.However, before the ceremonial cannons and music could commence, a group of unidentified guards stormed into the Forbidden Palace. As the court officials were herded into corners by the glint of cold steel, trembling in fear, they finally understood the true nature of power—it was nothing more than these merciless blades.

Leaving Xiao Qianqing behind, I strode step by step toward the Empress Dowager, my armor clanking with each movement. The dull thud of my leather boots echoed along the Imperial Way.

I pressed my blade against the Empress Dowager’s fair, plump neck. "You've lost," I said, my voice hoarse from days of relentless riding. I had just returned from Shanhai Pass, where I had not only secured Kumoer’s hundred thousand cavalry but also won Qi Chengliang’s support with Xiao Huan’s handwritten imperial edict. At my command, Qi Chengliang would open the gates and lead the Jurchen cavalry straight to the capital.

I knew I was mad, but in this moment, I could command everything without fear—even the destruction of the empire.

The Empress Dowager’s face was deathly pale. She stared at me without a word.

I sheathed my blade, turned away from her, and stepped past Xiao Qianhong, who cowered in terror, before walking out without a second glance.

Sporadic clashes still echoed within the inner palace—my brother and his men were locked in combat with the two battalions of Imperial Bodyguards.

Fresh snow had fallen, and patches of it still lingered on the vast, empty square outside Qianqing Gate. I crossed the square and headed toward the Hall of Ancestral Worship.

The grand hall was draped with massive mourning banners. Behind them stood a towering black coffin, flanked by hundreds of eternal lamps flickering in the faint, icy breeze.

The hall was silent. Most had gone to the outer court for the celebratory enthronement ceremony, leaving only a few young maids to keep vigil by the imperial coffin.

I took a few more steps inside and heard faint sobbing from a corner. Rounding the coffin, I found a young maid curled up, weeping quietly. Her stifled cries echoed hollowly through the empty hall.

Hearing my footsteps, she hastily wiped her tears and scrambled to her feet. When she saw me, she froze.

It was Wu Lianming—the same Wu Lianming I had once teased. After Xing Yiyong framed her, she had been stripped of her title and relegated to serving in a remote palace as a lowly maid.

Finally snapping out of her daze, she hurriedly bowed. "This humble servant greets Her Majesty the Empress."

I smiled and motioned for her to rise. Running my hand along the cold coffin, I asked, "Everyone else has left. Why are you still crying?"

Wu Lianming shook her head, tears glistening as they rolled down her cheeks. "These past few days, everyone has been busy with other matters. There aren’t enough hands here, so I stayed to tend the lamps… and keep His Majesty company."

"You’ve worked hard," I said gently.

She wiped her tears and shook her head again. "I do it willingly. His Majesty has so few to accompany him now—he must be so lonely. I was foolish in life and failed to serve him well. Now, I only wish to offer this small comfort, hoping his spirit in heaven won’t feel alone."

"Silly girl," I chuckled. "Death is the end. There’s no such thing as a spirit in heaven. As long as you remember His Majesty in your heart, that’s enough."

Wu Lianming nodded, still sniffling. After a pause, I asked, "Would you like to leave the palace?"

She blinked in surprise, looking up at me in confusion."According to the rules, all childless concubines in the harem should be sent to the cold palace, but I can let you leave the palace. Would you like to go?" I asked.

Wu Lianming stared at me blankly, the tears in her eyes gradually giving way to a glimmer of hope. She asked cautiously, "Your Majesty the Empress... can we really... leave?"

"My word is good," I smiled. "Go out into the wider world, meet more people, see more places. Perhaps you might even find someone else you like? How does that sound?"

Wu Lianming nodded vigorously, tears now streaming down her face and dripping onto her robes.

She wiped her tears and suddenly spoke up, "Your Majesty the Empress... His Majesty never actually... lay with me."

I paused and stopped walking to look at her.

Her face was streaked with tears, but she continued, "I know that among all the concubines in the harem, apart from Your Majesty and Consort Du, I was the only one His Majesty ever summoned. But when I went to the Hall of Mental Cultivation, His Majesty did nothing. He just let me rest for a while before having someone escort me back.

"I've never told anyone this... The first time His Majesty summoned me was because that day in the imperial garden, I got into an argument with some of the other attendants. They tried to bully me because their families were more prominent than mine, so of course I fought back. As we were arguing, His Majesty happened to pass by. He didn't say anything, just stared at me for a long time. That night, he summoned me.

"That night, His Majesty did nothing. Just before I left, he said to me, 'Be more gentle in the future, don't let others bully you.'"

As she spoke, tears fell again: "I was so foolish back then. Instead of listening to His Majesty's words, I became even more arrogant because I'd been summoned... Only now do I understand that by not taking me, His Majesty was leaving me a way out. His Majesty... did he foresee this day long ago?"

I smiled and looked up at the empty hall. This was so like Xiao Huan's nature—no matter what he did, he thought far ahead, and no matter how he acted, he always left people a way out.

Perhaps it wasn't just Wu Lianming. Even Du Tingxin... remembering how she had spoken to me, maybe Xiao Huan had never touched her either.

I bent down to hug her, then turned and walked out of the hall without looking back at the massive coffin.

Outside, the Empress Dowager was standing, flanked by the soldiers escorting her, along with Xiao Qianqing.

The Empress Dowager looked at me coldly and sneered, "How composed Her Majesty the Empress is, able to speak and laugh without restraint before her husband's coffin."

Xiao Qianqing chuckled beside me and said, "I think you still have something to say to Her Majesty the Empress Dowager."

I took a deep breath and gestured to him. He smiled and led the two soldiers aside.

Once they had moved away, the Empress Dowager sneered, "Before Huan'er's coffin, how dare you still have the face to speak to me?"

I smiled and looked up at the gloomy sky beneath the layered eaves. "You must be thinking that even though I didn't strike the blow, it was still me who killed him, right?"

The Empress Dowager snorted but didn't answer."When you found out we were captured by Xiao Qianqing and that he only had a few days left to live, you simply stopped caring about his life or death. You just ordered people to charge in and kill both me and Xiao Qianqing to vent your anger." I spoke, withdrawing my gaze from the sky and lowering my head to look at her. "At that time, all you thought was that I had caused his death. You hated me and wanted to kill me. But you didn’t consider that even if he was dying, he was still alive. As long as he was alive, he could feel joy and sorrow, anger and grief. Did you ever think how it would hurt him to see his own mother pointing at him, telling others that 'your Emperor is already dead,' or being forced to raise his hand against his most trusted subordinates?

"You once told me that his feelings were always hidden too deeply—was it because of this that you took it for granted he was a man without blood or tears, existing only for your dynasty, your empire? The moment something happened to him, your first thought wasn’t about how he would feel, but about how your dynasty would be affected… Can you honestly tell me, when he died, were you grieving more for the loss of a son, or for the loss of an emperor?"

The Empress Dowager slowly shifted her gaze over my shoulder, fixing it on the coffin in the hall. For a long time, she did not speak.

"I’ll tell you—your empire and dynasty aren’t worth a single coin in my eyes," I said, a faint sneer curling my lips. "I dragged you down from that coronation ceremony and made you stand here just to make you understand one thing: some things, no matter how insignificant you think they are in the grand scheme of your empire, should never be disregarded."

The Empress Dowager remained silent, gently closing her eyes without another word.

I walked to the door and motioned for Xiao Qianqing to come over. "Confine the Empress Dowager in the Palace of Compassionate Tranquility."

Xiao Qianqing signaled the two guards to escort her away, then smiled. "You can stay here a little longer. I’ll handle the rest."

I shook my head. "No need."

Xiao Qianqing paused, glancing at the dimly lit hall before smiling wryly. "That day, when he fell from the railing, he stopped breathing. I wanted to bring him out with me, but Gui Wuchang snatched his body away. The Empress Dowager must have searched for it too, but it hasn’t been found to this day."

So what lay here now was an empty coffin?

I lowered my head and laughed. Maybe it was better this way—at least I wouldn’t have to see a cold corpse, wouldn’t have to search for traces of that young man in a body that had long lost its warmth.

These past few days, my eyes had been aching, dry and sore, but no tears would come.

Without another word, I descended the steps and walked out.

Taking over so many affairs in such haste, not to mention the elaborate funeral rites that had to follow protocol, left me overwhelmed. Fortunately, Xiao Qianqing had already summoned my father from home. With his decades of prestige in court, we managed to handle everything.

The rear palace had given my brother quite a struggle due to the Imperial Bodyguards’ staunch defense, costing us many skilled fighters. However, with the two commanders of the Escort Battalion absent, their strength was greatly diminished. Moreover, many still held loyalty and affection for Xiao Huan and weren’t truly willing to fight to the death for the Empress Dowager, so it wasn’t too difficult in the end.After breaching the inner palace, my brother found Ying and Hong Qing in a side hall. Hong Qing had been injured by Gui Wuchang, with Ying tending to him. Shi Yan was also discovered there—Xiao Huan's sword had only severed his blood vessels without hitting any vital organs. Though he'd lost considerable blood, his life wasn't in danger.

What surprised me most was that my brother actually located Xiaoshan and Jiao Yan in the Palace of Gathered Elegance. That day, Hong Qing hadn't killed them—he'd merely knocked them unconscious.

I summoned all the imperial consorts and informed them they were free to leave the palace if they wished. Those who chose to stay would be relocated to the cold palace but would continue receiving stipends according to their original ranks. Many consorts were still young, unwilling to spend their lives confined to the cold palace, and one after another, they requested to depart. Only a handful with nowhere else to go remained.

As for Du Tingxin... I haven't seen her since I returned, but a woman like her probably doesn't need my concern.

After finishing my tasks, I went to visit Hong Qing and Shi Yan. Shi Yan was in poor spirits, sitting on the bed almost like a stone statue, motionless.

Hong Qing was doing slightly better. When he saw me, he managed a smile. Ying sat obediently by his bedside like a little kitten, occasionally fetching things for him or adjusting his pillow.

By the end of the day, I was quite tired, so I returned to the Palace of Gathered Elegance to rest. I slept until dawn—it was already the thirtieth day of the twelfth month, the final day of the eighth year of Virtuous Blessing.

Due to the national mourning, there would be no New Year celebrations in the palace this year. I had Xiao Qianqing issue an edict allowing the common people to celebrate the New Year on their own, though they were forbidden from making excessive noise.

On this last day, my father, who had been assisting Xiao Qianqing with governance in the former court, came to the rear palace. Standing beside me, he paused for a moment before speaking slowly, "It's going to snow again."

The sky was overcast, heavy leaden clouds pressing down overhead. The first day of the New Year would inevitably bring another heavy snowfall.

I nodded. "There's been a lot of snow this winter."

"The winter your mother left... was just as snowy," my father suddenly said. "I was barely twenty when I met your mother—a proud, penniless scholar. But she was already a renowned swordswoman in the Martial World. When she married me and left the Martial World, many people said she was a fool. How could she spend her life tied to a useless scholar? But your mother said she was happy, and so was I. We were married for five years, had your elder brother, and then your mother was pregnant with you. Our family was always full of joy.

"But in the fifth year, on New Year's Eve, it was snowing. You weren't even due yet, but your mother suddenly said she was leaving and would never return. When I asked her why, she told me I was too useless—she couldn't spend her life with such a pathetic man.

"I nearly lost my mind that day. Your brother was crying from hunger by the cold stove, and I desperately clutched your mother's sleeve, begging her to tell me what it would take for her to stay. Her gaze was so cold then. She said bluntly that the only way she'd ever come back to see me was if I rose to the highest rank in the court.

"She was certain I could never do it. Back then, I didn't even hold a minor official post and knew nothing about politics. Reaching the pinnacle of power was nothing but a pipe dream. And so your mother left, just as she said, never to return."

My father's distant gaze grew hazy. "That same year, I took your brother to the capital for the imperial exams. At the time, I hated your mother with every fiber of my being. Apart from cursing her day and night, I did everything I could to climb the ranks. I swore that even if I ever reached the highest position, I would never acknowledge that fickle woman again.""When I was officially appointed as the Grand Secretary, on the day the Imperial Edict arrived, I set up a banquet in the courtyard of my residence with two sets of bowls and chopsticks, sitting there alone. I thought this news would be known throughout the country, and your mother, no matter where she was, would hear of it. She would surely come to see me as we had agreed. I had prepared countless words to humiliate and berate her, and laid out her favorite wine... That night, I waited until dawn, until it was time for the morning court session, before finally realizing that after all this waiting, with bloodstained hands and groveling in the dirt, all I truly wanted was to see her again—just once would have been enough." Father's voice trembled slightly, and he paused, his arm hanging at his side shaking faintly.

Growing up, I had never heard Father mention my mother. The only exception was every year on the 30th day of the twelfth lunar month, when he insisted my brother and I return home to pay respects to her.

"What happened then?" I asked after a pause. "Did Mother never come to see you?"

"Your mother was already dead." Father had regained his composure and spoke slowly. "Not long after she left home, she gave birth to you in the countryside. Then she went off alone to die. At that time, her old enemies had tracked her down. She couldn't defeat them, so to avoid implicating us, she chose to leave alone.

"After they captured her, she begged them desperately not to seek revenge on her husband and child. They agreed to her request but nailed her to the entrance of their sect with bone-devouring spikes. Her corpse hung on those gates for half a year before being thrown into a deep valley for vultures to feast on. Now, not even her bones remain. This incident was widely known in the Martial World at the time, earning her enemies much prestige."

My fists clenched, nails digging painfully into my palms. "Where are those bastards now?"

"They were the Four Elites of the Tang Sect. They died eight years ago, and the Tang Sect of Shu is no more." Father spoke as if discussing the most mundane matter. "I exterminated the entire Tang Sect. Power can sometimes be quite useful."

So that was it. The once-flourishing Tang Sect of Shu was massacred eight years ago, erased from existence. It all made sense now.

Father continued, "After learning the truth, I often wondered why your mother had to say such cruel words, why she would rather have me hate her than tell me the truth. Then I realized—after five years of marriage, she understood me best. She knew my pride and stubbornness, knew that without those words, I would never have let her go. She was also afraid that after she was gone... I might follow her."

Father paused before adding, "Hatred is the most enduring thing. Your mother would rather I hated her, hoping that hatred would keep me moving forward."

Slowly, Father turned his head and smiled at me. "Cang Cang, whether it's separation in life or death, the one left behind needs far more strength than the one who departs. Since you were little, I've always seen great courage in you—sleeping alone in an empty house without crying, walking long roads at night to fetch me home. This time, you'll surely manage too. No matter how difficult or long the road, you can walk it alone."

I wiped the tears from my face and nodded with a smile. "I will."

Father also smiled, patting my shoulder reassuringly. "From now on, do whatever you wish. As long as it brings you happiness, that's all that matters."I laughed, then after some thought, said, "Father, since you already know Mother is gone, why do you still cling to the position of Chief Minister? Do you still believe that as long as you remain Chief Minister, you can wait for Mother to return?"

The hand Father had placed on my shoulder suddenly stiffened. Half-angry, he said, "What nonsense are you spouting..."

"Ah... Father is still a sentimental fool." I burst into laughter, pulling his hand as I dodged behind him.

Unable to catch me, Father could only sigh with a smile, "You... you little imp..."

There was nothing left to look forward to that day. As evening fell, I removed my empress's ceremonial robes, changed into a light half-sleeved jacket and skirt, and stepped out of the Palace of Gathered Elegance.

On the path outside the imperial garden, I ran straight into Xiao Qianqing. His smile was faint. "Leaving the palace?"

I nodded without stopping, walking straight past him. "This young lady is off to make her mark in the Martial World..."

He chuckled softly, and just as I was about to brush past his shoulder, he suddenly spoke: "Just the Martial World, nothing more?"

I smiled, continuing forward without looking back.

Passing through the desolate imperial garden in winter, through the long, shadowy gate tunnel, I could already see the gloomy sky beyond the Xuanwu Gate—dark and bitterly cold, like the all-seeing eye of a deity.

This wasn't over yet. I knew.

The icy wind of the twelfth month cut like a knife against my face. Behind me, Xiao Qianqing stood holding a cloak he hadn't had time to offer, his figure turned slightly, his light fur robe white as snow. He said nothing more.

On the streets at dusk on New Year's Eve, pedestrians gradually thinned. Occasionally, shops along the street remained open, their doors hung with white gauze lanterns painted with the character "Mourning," swaying in the cold wind.

I wandered casually to the Fenyang Teahouse in the West Market. This small teahouse was quite famous among those who had traveled the Martial World, a gathering place for news from all walks of life. But tonight, no one was here for information.

At this time, those gathered here were people who couldn't return home for the New Year—singing performers, medicinal herb merchants, and wandering swordsmen of the Martial World.

The teahouse owner had set up a stove in the center of the room, boiling a pot of steaming millet wine. Guests ladled the wine into large celadon cups, carried them to their tables, and ordered a few side dishes. Whether acquainted or not, they sat together, chatting about everything under the sun.

I ordered a few dishes and took a large cup of hot wine to a corner seat by the window.

My alcohol tolerance wasn't high. After two cups, the tables, chairs, and drinkers before me blurred slightly. Hazily, I overheard the neighboring table discussing recent events. One mentioned how the emperor's death had been too sudden, almost suspicious. Another said the emperor had been bedridden for a long time, so his death wasn't surprising—only the timing was odd.

The conversation soon turned to the empress. One praised her and the regent prince for their compassion in allowing the people to celebrate the New Year, calling them wise and benevolent. Another remarked that the empress, working with the regent prince to overthrow the Empress Dowager, was quite shrewd—an extraordinary woman. Others chimed in agreement.

From the side, I let out a cold laugh. "What extraordinary woman? Her husband dies, and she happily goes about her business. If you ask me, she's a heartless woman!"The men all turned to look at me. Dressed in men's clothing and with drunken, bleary eyes, I must have been quite a sight. A burly man with a thick beard chuckled, "Little brother, we're just joking around here. Did the Empress somehow offend you?"

I raised an eyebrow and stood up. "The Empress didn't offend me—you did."

The bearded man rolled up his sleeves. "Looking for trouble, are you?"

I kicked the stool out from under him, watching as he fell unceremoniously onto the floor. Laughing loudly, I said, "That's right, I'm looking for trouble. What of it?"

As you might expect, I ended up in a proper brawl with those three burly men. We fought so fiercely that the teahouse owner had to intervene and kick all four of us out.

Those three weren't skilled in martial arts, but their brute strength made up for it. Though I had the advantage in technique, two fists were no match for six, and I took a couple of punches to the face, leaving me bruised and battered.

We tussled through two more streets after leaving the teahouse before finally coming to a stop. Leaning against a willow tree by the roadside, I couldn't help but burst into laughter.

The three men, some standing, some sitting, joined in the laughter. The bearded one clapped me on the shoulder. "Little brother, sometimes a good fight is all you need to shake off your troubles."

Another chimed in, grinning, "Fighting together on New Year's Eve—that's fate, isn't it?"

When my laughter subsided, I pointed at my own nose. "Is my misery really written all over my face?"

Though drunk, they weren't entirely off the mark. They laughed heartily. "You're practically radiating gloom—of course you've got troubles!"

I laughed along with them, and soon we were all roaring with laughter.

After we'd laughed our fill, we exchanged a few idle words as snowflakes began to drift down from the sky.

The men said they had to hurry back to their inn, or they'd freeze to death on the streets by morning. Before leaving, they asked if I had somewhere to go. I told them I was from the capital and that my home was nearby. They joked that if I lived in the capital, yet spent New Year's Eve out drinking and brawling, I must really be troubled.

With arms slung over each other's shoulders, the three of them staggered off, singing folk songs from their hometown.

I stumbled to a corner and vomited everything I'd eaten and drunk, finally sobering up a fair bit.

Just then, firecrackers crackled to life at the street corner, and a group of children cheered and clapped in delight.

It was already past midnight—the first day of the new year, the ninth year of Virtuous Blessing. Not the first year of some new era, but the ninth year of Virtuous Blessing.

Making Xiao Qianqing regent for a year, issuing an Imperial Edict falsely claiming I was pregnant... all of it was just because I wanted the new year to still be the ninth year of Virtuous Blessing.

Not the beginning of someone else's reign, but still the Virtuous Blessing era... like a fool.

As if this way, nothing had changed. As if, any moment I turned around, I could still find that young man—as if I'd never lost him.

I let out a sudden, inexplicable laugh and slumped against the wall. In my daze, something unfamiliar brushed against my hand. I picked it up and brought it into view—it was Yang Liu Feng, the sword that had vanished without a trace after Gui Wuchang took it.

I looked up. The snow still fell thick and fast, and the distant sounds of celebration carried on the wind. But before me, the street was empty—no one in sight.

Lowering my gaze, I slowly drew Yang Liu Feng from its sheath. A sword of snow-white brilliance, yet one that had weathered the ages, witnessing the rise and fall of dynasties, the joy of reunions and the pain of partings.

I ran my fingertip lightly over the inscription on the blade:

"What grieves me most are the partings, year after year." The first heavy snow of the ninth year of Virtuous Blessing drifted down upon this infamous sword rumored to bring misfortune to its master, gradually covering the inscription on its blade. Gripping the hilt, I smiled.

New Year's Day of the ninth year of Virtuous Blessing—though no longer the birthday celebration of the Virtuous Blessing Emperor, this day would still mark the beginning of a new year.