Love and Crown

Manor Lord Wen agreed to have the Phoenix Come Pavilion transport this batch of goods and warmly prepared carriages and horses to see us off.

Yet, beneath that refined and worldly demeanor, I could see an unmistakable fear and revulsion he couldn’t hide.

After all, sprawled across the hall of his manor were the remains of a notorious overlord who had dominated the Yangtze River for over a decade, and those severed limbs belonged to the once-feared twenty-eight assassins of the Martial World. Now, they had been wiped out as easily as dust—annihilated in an instant. The mighty river transport faction, Seven No Dock, had been destroyed by a single flash of sword light. Such terrifying power was bound to make anyone tremble in fear.

Xiao Huan and Su Qian paid no heed to Manor Lord Wen’s unease. It seemed as long as their goal was achieved, nothing else mattered.

Outside the manor, the carriages prepared by Manor Lord Wen awaited. Before Xiao Huan could speak, Su Qian commanded, "The Pavilion Master and I will take the carriage. The rest of you ride on horseback."

"I’m injured and dizzy. I can’t ride," I quickly interjected.

Su Qian frowned. "So what—"

"Let her ride with us," Xiao Huan said indifferently, bending to enter the carriage first.

I immediately followed. Su Qian said nothing more, and the rest of the group mounted their horses. Our party set off once more into the night.

After a long night, the eastern sky was beginning to lighten. The manor gradually receded into the distance as lush fields and trees passed by outside the carriage.

Xiao Huan leaned silently against the carriage wall, gazing out at the swiftly passing landscape—distant mountains and nearby trees like an ink-wash painting. In the faint dawn light, the remaining bloodstains on his pale cheeks stood out starkly.

I pulled a handkerchief from my sleeve and handed it to him. "Wipe your face."

He paused slightly before accepting it, carefully cleaning the blood from his skin.

Finally, I couldn’t hold back any longer. "Why kill them? Couldn’t you have just subdued them? Why did they have to die?"

He held the bloodied handkerchief before his eyes, his dark gaze devoid of emotion, his tone calm and detached. "If they could have been subdued, they wouldn’t have needed to die."

I fell silent. I knew he was right, yet I couldn’t reconcile myself with such brutality from him.

The carriage continued on its way, and neither of us spoke again.

After some time, commotion arose outside. The driver pulled the carriage to the roadside and stopped. Su Qian lifted the curtain and leaned out to ask, "What’s going on?"

"Bad luck. Seems someone in this village has died," the driver replied.

Beside the road was a small village. A crowd had gathered in front of one household at the village entrance, all wearing expressions of grief.

Xiao Huan, who had been indifferently watching the scene, suddenly frowned and said quietly, "Xiaoqian, go take a look."

Su Qian nodded, dismounted, and walked over. After speaking to someone, she returned and reported, "A woman in this household died in childbirth. It seems she’s already passed."

Xiao Huan’s brow furrowed. Suddenly, he braced a hand against the carriage wall and stood. "I’ll go see."

"Pavilion Master..." Su Qian called softly but then relented. "Very well."

She ordered two disciples to inform the family before following Xiao Huan as he approached.

The family, having believed the woman beyond saving, hurried out in surprise upon hearing a physician had come to examine her.

When they saw Xiao Huan, a young man—likely the woman’s husband—hesitated awkwardly. "Great Healer, you’re a man... Isn’t this improper...?"

Knowing time was of the essence, I stepped forward and stopped him. "Which is more important—propriety or your wife’s life?"Xiao Huan had already entered the courtyard, his head slightly lowered. The small yard was splattered with blood, and the faint scent of blood lingered in the air. He asked someone beside him, "Where is the mother in labor?"

The person quickly pointed to the side room. Su Qian went over and dismissed the others.

After stopping the husband of the mother, I hurriedly followed. Inside the room, I saw the woman lying on a bed soaked in blood.

Xiao Huan stood by the bed, swiftly pressing his fingers along the Acupoints from her forehead to her navel. After a moment of contemplation, he said, "The baby is in the wrong position. Bring the surgical tools."

Su Qian hesitated slightly before speaking up, "Pavilion Master..."

Xiao Huan had already moved his fingers like lightning, pressing the Acupoints all over her body. He nodded. "It's fine."

Su Qian said no more and retrieved the appropriate surgical tools from a disciple nearby.

After sterilization, the tools were brought into the inner chamber. The cotton curtain hanging at the door was drawn shut. Xiao Huan and the midwife worked behind the curtain to save the mother. Su Qian and I took turns carrying in boiling water and disposing of the bloodied water. A full hour passed before we heard the faint moans of the mother.

Another half-hour later, a weak cry came from inside. The midwife emerged, carrying the newborn wrapped in its amniotic sac, her blood-stained face creased with joy like a chrysanthemum. "A miracle doctor, truly a miracle doctor! In my half a lifetime, I’ve never seen anyone bring the dead back to life."

Xiao Huan still had to suture the mother’s wounds, so it was much longer before he finally came out. His hands were covered in blood, his blue robe even more soiled than before. Fatigue was evident on his face, but his voice remained calm as he addressed the waiting family at the door. "There’s no immediate danger to her life. I’ll prescribe a remedy for gradual recovery. She should be fine."

The midwife continued to marvel. "I’ve never seen anyone like this miracle doctor. Most men fear being tainted by a woman’s blood and stay far away. Yet such an elegant gentleman doesn’t shy away or fear the mess."

Xiao Huan didn’t respond to her. Amid the husband’s endless gratitude, he walked toward the desk by the window. But as soon as he took a step, he staggered and had to brace himself against the wall.

Su Qian rushed forward. "Pavilion Master!"

He steadied himself against the wall and raised a hand to wave her off, signaling that he was fine.

The husband and family members surged in from outside, oblivious to what had just happened.

Xiao Huan moved through the crowd to the desk. I quickly laid out paper and brush, handing him an ink-dipped pen.

He wiped the blood from his hands with a towel Su Qian handed him, took the brush, and after a brief pause, began writing: Ginseng, six qian; white atractylodes, five qian...

He frowned, shook his head, crossed out the words, and wrote instead: Angelica sinensis, three qian, soaked in wine and lightly stir-fried; ligusticum chuanxiong, two qian; white peony root, three qian; prepared rehmannia, five qian, steamed with wine. Below, he added instructions: Take three qian per dose, with one and a half cups of water, boiled down to eight-tenths. Remove the dregs and take warm on an empty stomach before meals.

His strong, precise calligraphy flowed from the brush. But as he wrote the final stroke, his wrist trembled slightly, nearly piercing the paper with ink. Standing closest, I quickly reached out to steady him. "Pavilion Master?"

He set down the brush, leaned on my arm to stand, and murmured, "Let’s go."

Before his words fully faded, he released my arm and strode toward the door.

Inside, everyone was focused on the newborn and the resting mother. No one noticed our departure.Outside the door, the chilly morning breeze still lingered. Xiao Huan didn’t speak further and bent down to board the carriage, followed by Su Qian and me.

Since getting on the carriage, Xiao Huan had been leaning against the wall with his eyes closed, as if asleep. Su Qian, too, remained silent, arms crossed and eyes shut as she reclined against the wall. The atmosphere inside the carriage was stifling.

Exhausted from the night’s ordeal and injured, my eyelids were already heavy with fatigue. Soon, I also dozed off against the carriage wall. The ride was bumpy, and before long, my head jolted against something.

Startled awake, I realized I had bumped into Xiao Huan’s body. I quickly apologized, “This subordinate didn’t mean to…”

There was no response. He was slumped against the wall, his forehead and cheeks glistening with fine beads of sweat, damp strands of hair clinging to his skin. As if disturbed by the impact, he coughed lightly, covering his mouth with a handkerchief as he bent forward.

I hurriedly steadied his shoulders. “Pavilion Master?”

He didn’t answer but suddenly broke into violent coughing. When he moved the handkerchief away, dark red blood spilled from his pale lips, staining his robes and sleeves. The coughing wouldn’t stop.

My breath caught, my body trembling as I held him tightly and shouted, “Stop the carriage! Stop it now!”

The carriage halted swiftly, but his coughing only worsened, his body shaking uncontrollably.

Su Qian leaned in, her face pale. She swiftly sealed the major acupoints on his chest and pressed her palm against the Spirit Platform Acupoint on his back, channeling her Inner Force into him. The moment she exerted pressure, he coughed up another mouthful of blood.

“My cape… pocket…” he finally managed to gasp between coughs.

Understanding, Su Qian quickly retrieved a small porcelain bottle from his cape’s pocket. In the chaos, the bottle slipped, spilling its pale golden liquid onto the felt carpet lining the carriage floor. Instantly, the compartment was filled with an intoxicatingly sweet and mellow fragrance.

The scent felt vaguely familiar. A jolt of recognition shot through me, and I blurted out, “Ecstasy Aroma!”

This was actually that nerve-numbing Ecstasy Aroma!

Xiao Huan gripped my shoulder, struggling to sit up. His deep eyes, however, burned even brighter. “Give it… to me… or I… won’t make it… to the main hall.”

Su Qian hesitated, but I didn’t. I snatched the bottle of Ecstasy Aroma and flung it out of the carriage.

“You—” Xiao Huan coughed, so furious he nearly passed out.

Wasting no time, I barked at Su Qian, “Knock him out!”

This time, Su Qian acted without hesitation. Her hand struck like lightning, targeting the major acupoint on his neck.

His body went limp in my arms. I held him close, finally allowing myself a small sigh of relief. “Where are his usual medicines?”

Su Qian hurriedly pulled out another porcelain bottle from her robe, shaking out a few white pills and handing them to me.

I took one and examined it, sniffing it before asking Su Qian, “Did the Pavilion Master formulate these himself?”

Su Qian seemed puzzled by my question but nodded. “Yes.”

I brought the pill to my lips and licked it—sweet.

A cold laugh escaped me, my teeth aching with anger. Of course—the white coating was sugar! To disguise the pill’s surface with sugar… How could he think of such a thing!

I pressed further, “After taking this, does the medicine take effect slowly?”

Su Qian nodded. “Sometimes, when the Pavilion Master’s Inner Force is too weak and the medicine works too slowly, I have to use my own Inner Force to help dissolve it.”Without another word, I placed the pills one by one into my mouth, biting off the outer layer of sugar with my teeth, then stuffed the now pockmarked black pills into his mouth. Taking the water flask from Su Qian, I carefully lifted his head to help him swallow the medicine.

Whether it was difficulty swallowing or an unconscious aversion to bitterness, his brows furrowed slightly, and a few pills mixed with blood were spat back out.

Sweating with anxiety, I held Xiao Huan’s head, placing one pill at a time into his mouth and feeding him water to wash it down.

This time went much better. Though some water still spilled out, the pills were finally swallowed. Slowly, I fed him a few more this way.

After finishing the medicine, I watched Xiao Huan’s face for a while. Though still pale, his ragged breathing seemed to have steadied somewhat.

Somewhat relieved, I looked up and asked Su Qian, “Where are we? What’s the nearest place?”

She paused in thought. “We’re near Tangshan, about sixty li from the main hall.”

“Tangshan? The Tangshan with hot springs?” My eyes brightened. “He won’t make it sixty li. We can’t return to the main hall—we’ll go to the Imperial Villa in Tangshan.”

Su Qian quickly leaned out to instruct the driver to change course.

When she returned, she looked at me and asked, “You… who exactly are you?” Her gaze shifted to Xiao Huan’s unconscious face, her voice tinged with bitterness. “Or rather, who is he?”

I hesitated. “He didn’t tell you?”

Her eyes dimmed, and I hurriedly laughed it off. “It’s fine. If he didn’t tell you, I will.”

Su Qian smiled faintly. “The Pavilion Master has never mentioned his real name or background. I thought if he didn’t speak of it, there might be reasons. Perhaps it’s better if I don’t know.”

I studied her. “You’ve never asked him what his real name is or what he used to do, have you?”

Su Qian gave a small smile, her lovely face tinged with melancholy, and nodded lightly.

I sighed. “If you asked, he would tell you. Though he doesn’t want many to know his true identity, if it were you asking, I think he’d answer.”

She tilted her head, her gaze flickering. “You know the Pavilion Master well?”

“Not really,” I admitted honestly. “There’s much about him I don’t understand. Often, I can’t be sure what he’s thinking. His knowledge and insights far surpass mine, and our ambitions and temperaments differ. We certainly don’t share common ground in matters of governance. Honestly, I don’t know him that well.”

Su Qian turned to study my face intently, then smiled softly. “Even so, you still knew he would tell me his real name?”

I grinned. “Can’t help it—just had a feeling.”

She laughed again and fell silent.

After a pause, I spoke. “His surname is Xiao, given name Huan.”

“Xiao… Huan?” Even Su Qian’s calm voice wavered. “The Virtuous Blessing Emperor? Then you are…”

“Ling Cangcang,” I said cheerfully. “I don’t care for aliases.”

“Ling… the Empress?” Su Qian’s expression turned odd, and she actually burst into laughter. “You’re the Empress?”

Like ice thawing, I saw Su Qian laugh for the first time—radiant as the new moon emerging from clouds, luminous as pearls glowing in the dark. Her smile was breathtakingly beautiful.Su Qian smiled briefly, the upturned corners of her lips quickly retreating, yet a glimmer of amusement still lingered in her eyes. "I truly didn’t expect it, you know? Everyone says Empress Ling is decisive and astute, with ruthless methods. I never imagined it would be you."

Decisive and astute? Ruthless methods? Is that how people describe me? I felt my lips twitch and forced a dry laugh. "Word of mouth isn’t always accurate."

"I’ve heard other rumors too," Su Qian continued, smiling. "Widely spread among the common folk—they say Emperor Virtuous Blessing was actually murdered in a conspiracy between Empress Ling and the Regent Prince of Chu. They even claim the Empress and the Prince had an affair long before, that they killed the Emperor, forced their way into the palace, imprisoned the Empress Dowager, and seized power together in a vile partnership."

Such outrageous tales have spread too? Truly, three men make a tiger—gossip is terrifying. What utter nonsense!

"Well?" Su Qian blinked at me. "Is it true?"

This icy mountain of a woman finally revealed a girlish side, her face alight with anticipation for juicy rumors... But what exactly was she hoping for?

"Nonsense!" I exclaimed hastily, hugging Xiao Huan tighter in my arms as if to prove my point. "I only love Brother Xiao."

Su Qian sighed, waving a lazy hand. "Fine, I get it."

I blinked and asked her, "What about you? Do you love Brother Xiao?"

"I do," Su Qian answered immediately, surprisingly straightforward. I hadn’t expected someone like her to speak so openly of love.

She raised an eyebrow with a faint smile. "I adore the Pavilion Master deeply—perhaps no less than you do."

I admired her boldness in love and hate, nodding. "Understood." After a pause, I added, "If you truly love him, you should take the initiative. He’s too reserved. Otherwise, with his temperament, you’ll never get anywhere."

The moment I finished speaking and saw the spark in Su Qian’s eyes, I immediately regretted my words. Had I just taught her how to seduce Xiao Huan?

Noticing my dismay, Su Qian gave a radiant smile.

The carriage continued to jolt. I cradled Xiao Huan’s body in my arms, cushioning him to minimize the impact of the bumps on his already fragile condition.

Brushing aside the sweat-dampened strands of hair clinging to his forehead, I hesitated before asking, "Has his health always been this poor?"

Su Qian shook her head. "Though the Pavilion Master has never been in the best of health, this severe illness is due to internal injuries he sustained just days ago. He set out on this journey before fully recovering, which worsened his condition."

"Injured?" I frowned. "With so many people in Phoenix Come Pavilion, how could you let him fight and get hurt?"

Su Qian glanced at me. "Haven’t you noticed his temperament during this trip? Whenever enemies appear, if he can still fight, the Pavilion Master will never let his subordinates take action." She smiled faintly. "Phoenix Come Pavilion has strict rules—those who kill indiscriminately in battle have their martial arts stripped away. The Pavilion Master once told us, 'When you raise your sword, be cautious. Every life taken is a sin. If you lack the resolve to bear that sin, you’d best not draw your blade.' So, whenever situations like last night’s massacre arise, the Pavilion Master usually handles them personally."

"He personally handles massacres?" Watching Su Qian’s calm expression, I suddenly understood the implication. My arms tightened around Xiao Huan instinctively, and I took a sharp breath. "Who did he fight against to get injured?""Emei Sect Leader Jing Qing," Su Qian sneered. "A leader of a renowned orthodox sect, yet resorts to despicable methods no better than petty thieves. That day, Jing Qing came to visit, claiming she wanted a fair duel with the Pavilion Master to resolve the feud between Emei and Phoenix Come Pavilion. After the Pavilion Master agreed, Jing Qing somehow learned of his extreme sensitivity to cold and ambushed him with Ice Needles infused with freezing energy. Though in the end, she didn't gain any advantage—the Pavilion Master forcibly dispersed all her accumulated power."

"Damn it! One day I'll send troops to raze her wretched mountain and see if she dares touch Brother Xiao again!" I was so furious my head spun.

Su Qian gave me a calm glance. "If only it were that simple."

I fell silent... Indeed, martial artists could never be completely eradicated. Wipe out one group, and another would rise. Thus, matters of the Martial World couldn't be resolved with military force—interference from the court would only make things worse.

Looking down at my unconsciously clenched fists, for the first time in my life, I resented the weakness of my hands. If only my martial arts were as strong as Su Qian's, perhaps I could do more for him.

We soon arrived at Tangshan. The Imperial Villa was built on the mountain's eastern side, adorned with carved beams and painted rafters, nestled among trees, occupying the finest hot springs.

I handed Xiao Qianqing's seal to the local commander, instructing him to quickly notify the Imperial Bodyguards. Meanwhile, Su Qian had the disciples who accompanied us return to Jinling.

At the villa, we moved Xiao Huan from the carriage to a bed. He remained unconscious.

I managed to feed him some of the medicine and held his hand, counting the minutes. Fortunately, shortly after our arrival that morning, two riders arrived in haste that afternoon.

Li Mingshang and Ban Fangyuan entered the room, covered in dust. Li Mingshang only knew I'd urgently summoned him but not the reason. As he stepped in, he casually brushed dust off his shoulders and cheerfully set down his medicine box to rest. "Little girl, what's the rush?"

Without answering, I grabbed his sleeve and pulled him toward the inner chamber. At first, Li Mingshang shook his head amusedly, but before we even reached the bed, he suddenly yanked his hand free.

In a flash, he crossed the distance and pressed his fingers to Xiao Huan's pulse. His expression shifted several times before finally relaxing with a sigh.

I cautiously approached. "How is he?"

Without looking up, Li Mingshang said, "As long as there's a breath left, no one dies under my care." As he spoke, his grip on Xiao Huan's wrist suddenly tightened. Even unconscious, Xiao Huan's brow furrowed slightly. When Li Mingshang released his hand, pale bruises had already formed on the pallid arm.

Li Mingshang snorted. "Faking death is one thing, but daring to hide it from me? And dragging this wreck of a body back? Utterly reckless."

Xiao Huan's medicine would undoubtedly be extremely bitter in the coming days—agonizingly so.

Though I knew better than to provoke Li Mingshang, my heart ached. I cradled Xiao Huan's arm, gently stroking the bruises, then suddenly remembered something. "Mr. Li, will Brother Xiao need to... um... strip completely like last time...?"

Li Mingshang shot me a bland glance. "This brat's body is too weak now. Doing that would kill him.""Oh." With a disappointed sigh, I unexpectedly heard someone else sighing faintly in disappointment nearby—it was Su Qian standing by the window.

She had been waiting in the room all along, but Li Mingshang and I had entered in such a hurry that we hadn't noticed.

Noticing our attention, Su Qian walked over confidently and cupped her hands in salute to Li Mingshang: "You must be the legendary Silver Needle Physician, Senior Li? This junior is Su Qian, currently serving as the Hall Master of Net Moon Hall under the Pavilion Master."

"Pavilion Master?" Li Mingshang frowned.

I explained: "Brother Xiao is currently using the alias Bai Chi Fan and serves as the Pavilion Master of Phoenix Come Pavilion."

Li Mingshang made an "oh" sound, sizing up Su Qian carefully: "You're the Old Monster of Tianshan's..." He suddenly stopped, shaking his head before continuing, "It's good that you could leave the Tianshan Sect to follow this kid."

Su Qian smiled faintly and said nothing more.

Li Mingshang also fell silent, placing his fingers back on Xiao Huan's pulse points. I'd never seen him take a pulse so seriously before—after the first reading, he insisted on checking a second time.

Seeing the grave expression on Li Mingshang's face, I quietly pulled Su Qian out of the room.

Not only was his pulse diagnosis cautious, but Li Mingshang also prescribed medicine with unusual care, revising the formula repeatedly. Even during the acupuncture session to promote blood circulation, he worked up a sweat.

To help Xiao Huan regain his vitality, Li Mingshang sealed his acupoints with golden needles. As a result, it wasn't until the third day that Xiao Huan fully awoke. Discovering he'd been lying in the Imperial Villa for three days, he looked somewhat resigned but said nothing.

We stayed at the villa for two more days, with Li Mingshang continuing to cover Xiao Huan's body with needles daily while strictly confining him to bed rest.

With little to do, Su Qian and I wandered around the villa. Su Qian would disappear daily for martial arts practice, while I occasionally checked on Xiao Huan.

It wasn't unnecessary worry—Xiao Huan had a peculiar habit of disliking attendants around him normally, and even more so when ill. He'd often drive everyone away to seclude himself in his room.

In his current condition, if I didn't periodically barge in to force water, medicine, and meals on him, I genuinely feared he might starve to death in bed.

After noon that day, a light rain began falling, bringing a damp chill. I went to check if Xiao Huan's bedding could withstand the humidity.

Pushing the door open, I found him already up and seated at the desk, holding several letters delivered from Phoenix Come Pavilion's headquarters.

Annoyed, I set the porridge I'd brought on the table and scolded: "What did Mr. Li say? Who allowed you out of bed?"

He smiled but asked me instead: "How's the wound on your arm?"

"That? Almost healed." I'd forgotten about the injury these past days. Though Li Mingshang had berated me severely after seeing the reopened, bleeding wound, the bandaging and medicine had long since eased the pain.

Hearing this, he reached out to pull my hand over, rolling up the sleeve to reveal blood-speckled bandages. His expression darkened: "I told you not to exert that arm—the wound still hasn't closed!"

I laughed it off: "I'm tough—what's a little injury? Some bleeding doesn't matter."

"The harm of depleted qi and blood only manifests in old age. Don't neglect care just because you're strong now." Genuinely angered, he coughed before continuing, "At Shanhai Pass, you were the same—walking around before your chest wound had healed."

Not daring to argue, I stuck out my tongue: "Old age can wait—I'm perfectly lively now."

His brow furrowed deeply: "No evasions—you must take proper care!"I was slightly taken aback by his unusually stern and serious tone.

I gave a soft "Mm" in response. Just then, a commotion erupted outside the door. Su Qian blocked the entrance, demanding, "Who are you? What are you doing here?"

"You ask who we are? We're... members of the imperial family. And who might you be?" a clear, melodious voice retorted.

That voice—it was Ying!

I quickly opened the door to find Ying and Hong Qing standing side by side, both drenched. Ying's face lit up when she saw me, immediately looping her arm through mine and sweetly calling, "Sister-in-law."

Startled, I glanced at Hong Qing, who gave her an approving look before bowing to me. "Your Majesty, the Empress." It seemed Ying's address had been his idea.

I hugged Ying. "Good, your sister-in-law is very happy." Suddenly remembering Xiao Huan inside, I hastily blocked the doorway. "No more poisoning your brother. You're not allowed to kill him."

Ying smirked slyly. "Sister-in-law, what are you talking about? My emperor brother's imperial coffin is already in the Hall of Ancestral Worship. How could I kill him now?"

I blinked. "So you're not going to kill him anymore?"

Ying laughed, as if deeming further explanation beneath her, and tugged me inside while calling out, "Brother? Are you awake?"

Seeing her, Xiao Huan actually seemed pleased too. He turned and nodded. "I'm awake."

I crossed my arms, utterly baffled. "You two siblings are really something else."

Ying shot me a glance. "Never mind. There's too much you don't know. Explaining would be pointless."

In just a few days apart, she'd already picked up such a patronizing tone—definitely Hong Qing's influence. I glared at her indignantly before recalling my question. "By the way, that Ecstasy Aroma on your brother's hand—did you prepare it for him?"

Ying shook her head innocently. "Not me. I haven't seen him at all. He probably made it himself."

I stared at Xiao Huan in disbelief. "You know how to make that?"

Before he could answer, Ying cut in. "You didn't know? Brother taught me everything I know. Though I was the one who formulated Ecstasy Aroma, he only needed to see it once to deduce the recipe." She sighed and shook her head. "Like I said, there's too much you don't know. Explaining is pointless."

My face twitched, and I remained silent. It wasn't that I knew too little—it was that the relationship between these two siblings was just too bizarre.

Hong Qing followed us in and stood in the room, smiling at me. "Your Majesty, the Empress, we came with His Highness the Prince Regent."

I paused and looked toward the door. On the stone steps outside stood a figure in white, folding his oil-paper umbrella. When he turned with a smile, his pristine features were as pure as lotus petals, and that fleeting expression felt like a glimpse from another lifetime.

"Xiao Qianqing," I called out, momentarily at a loss for words before managing a smile. "What brings you here?"

Handing his umbrella to an attendant, he replied with a faint smirk, "Your Majesty asks such strange questions. Am I not allowed to come?"

I quickly shook my head. "That's not what I meant."

Xiao Qianqing brushed past me into the room and greeted Xiao Huan from afar. "Your Majesty, it's been a long time."

Xiao Huan nodded courteously. "Indeed it has. How fares the Prince of Chu?"

"As Your Majesty can see, though not thriving, I manage well enough," Xiao Qianqing replied coolly. "I lack Your Majesty's carefree spirit—vanishing without a trace half a year ago, leaving me to truly believe you had passed. The grief was unbearable."Xiao Huan's tone grew even colder: "Is that so? How thoughtful of Prince Chu."

The moment the two of them spoke, the temperature in the room seemed to drop several degrees. I could feel cold sweat trickling down my spine. I pulled Xiao Qianqing to sit by the table, calling for someone to bring him tea, and busied myself with meaningless pleasantries: "Xiao Qianqing, you must have rushed here from the capital? You look travel-worn. Should I have someone prepare the hot springs for you to relax?"

Suddenly, my hand was grasped. Xiao Qianqing smiled lazily, like a cat with ulterior motives: "Cang Cang, why don't you join me?"

My ears burned, and I quickly shook off his hand: "What are you saying?" As I spoke, I stole a glance at Xiao Huan. He kept his eyes lowered, seemingly oblivious to the scene.

"Ah, I forgot we're in His Majesty's presence," Xiao Qianqing drawled with a lazy smile. "Of course, the Empress wouldn't agree."

I withdrew my gaze from Xiao Huan and gave a noncommittal hum. For a moment, silence filled the room.

Hong Qing, who had been standing by the side holding Ying's hand since entering, suddenly stepped forward and knelt on one knee: "This humble servant dares to request His Majesty to step outside."

Xiao Huan nodded and rose with the support of the table. I quickly fetched his outer robe and draped it over his shoulders, steadying him.

He didn't refuse, leaning on my arm as we walked outside. Suddenly, he stopped at the top of the steps.

Below the steps outside the door, the courtyard was densely packed with black-clad Imperial Bodyguards kneeling in rows. The small courtyard couldn't contain them all, so they extended onto the stone path beyond.

Hong Qing also descended the steps and knelt in line with Shi Yan and Ban Fangyuan at the front.

The metallic ring of drawn swords echoed as the kneeling bodyguards simultaneously unsheathed their blades. Shi Yan, Ban Fangyuan, and Hong Qing raised their swords overhead with both hands, while the others planted theirs point-down into the ground.

"Shi Yan, Li Hongqing, and Ban Fangyuan, eleventh-generation descendants of the Four Noble Houses of Huaiyin, along with our families, hereby pledge our loyalty to the eleventh-generation head of the Xiao Clan Vermilion Bird Branch. In times of prosperity, we shall assist; in times of peril, we shall protect. The flame shall never extinguish; in life or death, we shall not part."

The solemn vow of dozens reverberated through the misty rain, its echoes lingering long after.

Xiao Huan's chest rose and fell several times before he spoke: "What is the meaning of this?"

Hong Qing kept his head lowered as he replied: "Since joining the Imperial Bodyguard battalions, our oath of loyalty was never to the Emperor of Great Wu, nor to whoever could grant us titles and stipends. It was always to the head of the Xiao Clan Vermilion Bird Branch. As long as this lineage endures, we shall protect it with our lives. To do otherwise would shame us before heaven and earth, leaving us unworthy to face our ancestors in death."

He paused before continuing: "During the palace upheaval half a year ago, we obeyed the Empress Dowager's orders and drew swords against Your Majesty. If this act has wounded Your Majesty's heart, you may refuse our pledge. In that case, we shall follow protocol and take our own lives in atonement."

Xiao Huan was silent for a moment before saying: "Rise, all of you."

The steps remained silent. Frowning, Xiao Huan turned his head: "Shi Yan, order them to rise."

"I often wonder why Your Majesty didn't kill me that day," Shi Yan spoke hoarsely, characteristically disobeying Xiao Huan's command for the first time, each word strained. "Drawing my sword against you was an unforgivable crime. If Your Majesty insists on refusing our pledge, Shi Yan has no choice but to die today."

"You—!" Xiao Huan seemed genuinely agitated now, his breathing uneven as he coughed lightly.

Hong Qing continued without raising his head: "We beg Your Majesty to trust us once more.""Your Majesty, just grant them their wish," Xiao Qianqing interjected coolly from the side. "The moment these men heard you were here, they abandoned their posts and rushed over. When I threatened to strip them of their titles, they simply said 'go ahead'—such unwavering loyalty indeed..."

"Of course," Hong Qing responded without hesitation. "We serve the Xiao Clan's Vermilion Bird Branch, not some lesser lineage. Knowing His Majesty is here, how could we continue serving another?"

Xiao Qianqing let out two cold laughs, folded his arms, and turned away, refusing to engage further.

Xiao Huan finally steadied his breathing but leaned on my arm as he turned, his voice equally icy: "Do as you please."

Before he could fully turn, a flash of cold light—Shi Yan, kneeling at the front, didn't hesitate to draw his sword and slash it across his own neck.

A blur of green shot past, and my hand suddenly empty, Xiao Huan moved like lightning, barely managing to flick Shi Yan's blade aside with his fingers. Even so, the edge left a bloody gash on Shi Yan's neck.

Xiao Huan's face paled as he coughed up a mouthful of blood, his gaze shifting as he spoke word by word: "Are you all here to force my hand too?"

"Brother Xiao!" I panicked, rushing down the steps to support his trembling body.

Shi Yan shuddered, staring blankly at the blood Xiao Huan had spat onto the ground. The iron-willed man's eyes glistened with unshed tears as he bowed deeply, his voice hoarse and shaking: "Shi Yan... wouldn't dare."

Holding Xiao Huan, I felt his body quivering uncontrollably in my arms and quickly tried to mediate: "Since Commander Shi and the others are already here and have knelt for so long, why not let them swear their oath by breaking the sword? As for whether they stay in Phoenix Come Pavilion afterward, we can discuss that later." I shot Hong Qing a meaningful glance.

Catching on, Hong Qing immediately added, "We don’t insist on staying in Phoenix Come Pavilion. As long as Your Majesty still acknowledges us and trusts us—if you can forgive our past actions... Otherwise, if Your Majesty condemns us as disloyal traitors, we have no choice but death."

Xiao Huan remained silent, his gaze sweeping over the kneeling crowd. After a long pause, he finally spoke slowly: "I don’t blame you in the slightest. I accept your oath. But after breaking the sword, you may stay in Phoenix Come Pavilion or leave." He paused, then continued, "The path of the Martial World is one drenched in blood. I hope you’ll consider carefully."

With that, he nodded wearily at Shi Yan. "Raise your sword."

Shi Yan froze, then jerked his head up, his eyes already red-rimmed. "Yes!" he declared loudly, voice trembling as he lifted the sword overhead with both hands.

Xiao Huan formed a sword gesture with his fingers, channeling his true energy to use his hand as a blade, preparing to strike Shi Yan's raised sword.

A flash of green light cut through the air—Xiao Qianqing tossed something toward Xiao Huan with a laugh. "Catch."

Xiao Huan caught it and blinked in mild surprise. It was King Wind.

After the palace upheaval, Xiao Qianqing had found the lost King Wind in the Hall of Mental Cultivation and had carried it with him ever since. Now, he was returning it to Xiao Huan.

"Don’t overexert your true energy. Use this instead," Xiao Qianqing said casually, leaning against a wooden pillar on the corridor. "Since neither Imperial Bodyguard camp will acknowledge me as their master, why should I keep this sword?" His gaze flicked toward me, deliberate or not. "Besides, hasn’t Yang Liu Feng already been broken?"Feeling quite uncomfortable under his gaze, I took the umbrella Hong Qing handed me and held it up to shield Xiao Huan from the rain.

Xiao Huan grasped King Wind and, without further words, unsheathed the sword. With a swift motion, he carved a mark onto Shi Yan's blade.

Hong Qing and Ban Fangyuan knelt in turn, allowing Xiao Huan to etch similar marks onto their swords.

This was the token of oath—the mark carved onto their personal swords—by which the two battalions of Imperial Bodyguards pledged allegiance to the current head of the Xiao Clan Vermilion Bird Branch.

It was said that every new emperor, before ascending the throne, had to first receive the oath of these two battalions of Imperial Bodyguards.

During the ceremony, the Imperial Bodyguards would kneel on one knee before the new emperor to swear their loyalty. If the emperor chose to trust them, he would carve a mark onto their swords with King Wind—a ritual known as "Breaking the Sword to Seal the Oath." From then on, the emperor would place complete faith in those whose swords bore the mark, and they, in turn, would serve their new master with unwavering loyalty. However, if the emperor refused to mark someone's sword, the untrusted individual was bound by tradition to immediately take their own life with their blade as proof of their purity.

Though I had heard of this ritual, its solemn and secretive nature meant it had always been conducted in utmost privacy throughout history. Even high-ranking officials, let alone palace eunuchs, rarely witnessed it. I never imagined I'd see it with my own eyes today.

So, it was the four noble families of Huaiyin who were swearing their oaths, and the one receiving them was the head of the Xiao Clan Vermilion Bird Branch. No wonder the two battalions of Imperial Bodyguards existed outside the empire's bureaucratic system, holding a unique status—they were retainers of the Xiao Clan, not subjects of the state.

After the three commanders' swords were marked, the remaining Imperial Bodyguards came forward one by one to receive their own.

Holding the umbrella, I stayed by Xiao Huan's side as he finished carving the marks on all the swords. Sheathing King Wind, his expression softened slightly as he turned to Hong Qing. "Using the 'Breaking the Sword' ritual to pressure me—this was your idea, wasn't it?"

Hong Qing flushed slightly and chuckled sheepishly. "This humble servant awaits Your Majesty's punishment."

Xiao Huan also smiled faintly, though with a trace of resignation, before lowering his head to cough lightly.

Hong Qing quickly said, "Your Majesty should return to your chambers and rest."

I looked up and noticed the worried expressions on the faces of the Imperial Bodyguards standing in the rain. "Are you tired?" I asked Xiao Huan. "Let's go back inside."

Xiao Huan gave a slight nod but had only taken a single step when he paused, the weight leaning against my hand growing heavier.

Hong Qing moved silently to his side and took his arm. "Your Majesty, are you exhausted?"

Xiao Huan smiled at him. "A little."

Hong Qing then supported him as they walked toward the inner chambers.

Thinking to give them a chance to speak privately, I stopped following.

Suddenly, a cold laugh came from behind me. I turned to see Xiao Qianqing leaning against a pillar, most of his body exposed to the rain outside the corridor. The icy downpour had drenched him thoroughly, droplets cascading from his hair and sleeves.

I walked over and shielded him with my umbrella, chiding, "Standing out here—aren't you afraid of catching a chill?"

He shook his wet hair and flashed a radiant smile. "I don't fall ill so easily. Everyone in this garden is soaked—how many do you think will actually get sick?"

I sighed. "True. Most people wouldn't fall ill so easily. I'm just used to worrying."

He reached up, his hand brushing against mine as he gripped the umbrella handle, his tone half-teasing, half-serious. "Yes, so used to it that your eyes see nothing but him."I was taken aback when he suddenly cupped my face with his cold hands. "But I'm glad you could see me at the end," he said.

I didn't pull away this time. Our faces were close, his features as serene and cold as jade, his pale greenish-gray eyes deep and still like ancient ice.

Why was there no trace of joy on his face when he said he was glad?

Time seemed to freeze. Then he suddenly smiled, leaning close to whisper in my ear, his voice misty: "Don't look like you're about to cry. It hurts me to see that."

Was I about to cry? Why had I felt such sharp pain in that moment? And whose heart had that pain traveled from to reach mine?

The rain pattered softly as his quiet voice continued: "Why can't you come to me? Cang Cang, I like you too."

He released my face and walked away.

The white figure vanished silently at the end of the corridor. I lowered my head and touched my damp, chilled cheek.

Xiao Qianqing said he liked me.

I should have known long ago. Since when had he stopped calling me "Your Majesty" except when angry? Since when had his gaze held so much emotion?

My face was cold, and so seemed my heart. The love this man offered, when finally touched, turned out to be nothing but coldness.

Xiao Huan intended to return to Phoenix Come Pavilion immediately, but Li Mingshang absolutely refused to let him go.

Though Xiao Huan appeared mild-mannered, he was actually quite stubborn. Li Mingshang was even more obstinate. The two had several arguments over two days.

Hearing commotion outside Xiao Huan's room this day, I arrived to hear Li Mingshang shouting inside: "Fine! If I made you cough up blood, then when you die one day, it'll be my fault too!"

He stormed out, face livid, not even glancing at me as he strode away with hands clasped behind his back.

Entering the room, I saw Xiao Huan sitting on the bed clutching his chest, his face paler than the sheets, a dark red stain on the blue handkerchief in his hand.

"Should you lie down and rest?" I hurried over.

He shook his head slightly, coughing before leaning against the headboard.

"Mr. Li means well," I said awkwardly, sitting on the edge of the bed.

After a pause, he smiled faintly. "I know."

"Then why argue with him?" I chuckled. "Look at yourself—who wouldn't worry? Getting angry and coughing blood like this. If I were Mr. Li, I wouldn't let you leave either."

He coughed lightly with a wry smile. "Nearly ten thousand disciples are waiting there. How can I not be concerned?" After another pause and more coughing, he added, "If I hadn't been too lenient with Li Xiyan last time, the Zhong family incident wouldn't have happened."

He always did this—shouldering blame that wasn't his to bear.

After a silence, I smiled. "They'll send urgent matters for your attention. Resting here a few more days won't hurt. If you ruin your health, who will manage Phoenix Come Pavilion then?"

He sighed softly with a smile. "Even if I wanted to return to Jinling, how could I possibly go now?"I also laughed: "Yes, if you push Mr. Li too far, he'll just chop you unconscious with his bare hand." As I spoke, I remembered how it was me who had Su Qian knock him out with a karate chop when we came to the Imperial Villa, and I cleared my throat awkwardly at the memory.

During my days at the Imperial Villa, I thought of some questions I wanted to ask Ying.

When I found her, she was lying on the grass with Hong Qing, her head resting on his lap while he idly waved a willow branch in front of them—a picture of leisure.

I walked over and patted Hong Qing's shoulder with a smile. "Quite comfortable, aren't you?"

Hong Qing looked up and grinned. "Your Majesty, the Empress."

Ying gave a lazy wave in greeting but made no move to get up from her cozy position.

Smiling, I sat down beside them on the grass. "Ying, you're quite close with Gui Wuchang, right?"

She nodded cheerfully. "Yes, Xiao Chang visits me often."

"Do you know where he is now?" I pressed on. "That day in front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony, when he struck your brother twice—he wasn’t actually trying to kill him, was he? He was the one who rescued your brother from the palace, right?"

Ying nodded matter-of-factly. "Of course! Xiao Chang would never kill Brother." She tilted her head thoughtfully. "That day, Brother collapsed at the foot of the steps, completely lifeless. Everyone thought he was dead—even I did. I was devastated. Then Xiao Chang picked him up and carried him away."

Hong Qing added from the side, "Afterward, the Empress Dowager could never find His Majesty’s body, so she placed an empty coffin in the Hall of Ancestral Worship."

I nodded and continued questioning Ying. "So where is Xiao Chang now? Can you find him? I’d like to meet him."

Ying blinked her big eyes. "Sister-in-law, why do you want to see Xiao Chang?"

"To ask about some things I don’t understand," I replied casually before shifting topics. "By the way, what exactly is your relationship with your brother?"

Ying grinned. "Brother taught me Poison Making—he was my teacher. We made a pact: if I ever crafted an incense that could kill him, I’d graduate."

Only the Xiao Clan Vermilion Bird Branch could come up with such an absurd agreement. I shook my head helplessly.

Hong Qing chuckled beside us. "Though others might not know, His Majesty doted on Ying. No matter what materials she needed, he had us gather them for her."

Ying nodded proudly. "Of course! When I told Brother I wanted a quiet, spacious place for Incense Making where no one would bother me, he gave it to me right away. He always indulged me."

So that was why she lived alone in the Hall of Heroic Splendor. I’d assumed she’d been cast aside, but she was actually a pampered princess who got everything she wanted.

I sighed. "And here I was, bringing you winter clothes… You already had some, didn’t you?"

"Those thick cotton robes?" Ying nodded. "I had plenty. Brother had them made for me. But they were so ugly—not elegant at all. I never liked wearing them."

Hong Qing chimed in with a laugh, "His Majesty always had the Imperial Wardrobe prepare pink dresses for Ying, but she never wore a single one."

Ying nodded emphatically. "They were hideous!"

I was speechless… I vaguely remembered loving pink dresses in my youth…

Amidst this conversation, Ying at least remembered the main point. "If you want to see Xiao Chang, I’ll try to find him for you. But he drifts around so much—I’m never really sure where he is."I thanked her, and Hong Qing suddenly said to me, "Your Majesty, half a year ago, when Prince Chu entered the palace and threatened me with Ying's life, forcing me to harm His Majesty, I had no choice but to scheme and ambush him."

I didn’t know why he was bringing this up now, so I listened carefully.

Hong Qing continued, "At the time, I thought, how could someone as skilled in martial arts as His Majesty possibly be injured by me? So when I struck that palm strike, I used all my strength, never considering what would happen if I actually succeeded in ambushing him.

"When I truly injured His Majesty with that strike, in that moment, I desperately wished someone would come and kill me with a single sword thrust. That was the person I had known since childhood I was meant to protect. Over a decade of training in martial arts, enduring hardships through all seasons—all for the sake of protecting him. And yet, I was the one who wounded him with my own hands.

"For the next two days, especially after learning my strike had left His Majesty’s life hanging by a thread, it took all my willpower not to take my own life. I had already made one mistake, and even if I died immediately, it wouldn’t make up for it. Someone as deeply sinful as me had no right to end my own life. The danger was still present, and His Majesty still needed my strength. I couldn’t die like a coward—if I had to die, it had to be of some use, to at least slightly offset my guilt.

"Later, when we fled to the front of the Hall of Supreme Harmony and His Majesty stayed behind alone to hold off that black-clad figure, I remained as well. By then, I was resolved to die, hoping only to perish at the enemy’s hands to ease my conscience.

"But His Majesty still saved me. I couldn’t understand why he would rescue even a traitor like me. Shouldn’t I have been someone who deserved to die? So why didn’t His Majesty want me to? How could someone as irredeemable as me be worth his effort to save?

"For a long time afterward, I pondered these questions. Until one day, I finally understood—His Majesty had never once said I should die. The one who had always believed I had to die was me."

Hong Qing finished speaking and gave a faint smile. "Your Majesty, His Majesty is someone who values action far more than words. He may never say anything, but what he does speaks far louder. He never once spoke words of forgiveness to me, yet he acted with forgiveness. He never once spoke words of concern for you, but that doesn’t mean he truly doesn’t care."

I was taken aback. Raising my head, I met Hong Qing’s smiling eyes and exhaled softly. "Thank you... Hong Qing..." Then, clearing my throat, I added, "By the way, from now on, don’t call me 'Your Majesty' anymore. I have a name—Ling Cangcang."

Hong Qing paused, then grinned, the corner of his mouth quirking up. "Well then, no need for thanks... Cang Cang?"

I blinked at him, and both of us laughed.

After sharing a few more casual words with them, I stood up to return to my room.

I hadn’t gone far when, beneath the corridor, I ran into Xiao Qianqing lounging leisurely against a pillar, a wine jug cradled in his arms as he sat on the railing.

The strong scent of alcohol wafted from him. I leaned down to inspect the small jug in his hand—the potent aroma rising from its spout confirmed it was strong liquor. "What are you doing here all alone with a jug of wine?""Can't I drink in solitude?" Xiao Qianqing seemed even more listless today, his white robes slightly wrinkled. After just a few words with me, his Adam's apple bobbed as he raised the wine jug and took a deep swig, letting the liquor spill down his chin onto his collar without care.

Noticing his unusual behavior, I asked, "What's really wrong with you?"

He gave me a faint glance. "My throat itches. Don't want to cough, so I'm suppressing it with wine."

I was at my wit's end with him. "Why does your throat itch?"

"Got caught in the rain yesterday, caught a chill," he answered matter-of-factly, raising the jug for another hearty gulp.

"Who was it that stubbornly claimed they'd never catch cold yesterday?" I was too exasperated to argue further. Seeing not just his flushed cheeks but even the skin beneath his neck tinged red, I pressed my hand to his forehead. "You're burning up! How can you keep going like this? Have you seen Mr. Li yet?"

He arched an eyebrow. "That imperial physician has always had it out for me. If I go to him, won't he just take the chance to make things difficult?" Then he pointed at my hand on his forehead with an impish grin. "Wouldn't this look suspicious if my imperial brother saw us?"

"Suspicious of what?" I raised my own brow. "It's not like we're—"

"Don't say there's nothing between us," he interrupted, no longer passively allowing my touch. Grabbing my arm, he pinned me against the corridor pillar with a light chuckle. "I don't want to hear you say that."

His face was so close I could see the fine blood vessels beneath his fevered skin. His heavy, wine-laden breath warmed my neck as I turned away. "Xiao Qianqing, don't—"

"Just said this would look suspicious if my imperial brother saw, yet here we are..." He suddenly cut off, looking past me with a smile. "Your Majesty, what a coincidence."

I quickly turned to follow his gaze. Xiao Huan was walking slowly down the corridor with Su Qian, speaking in low tones. Noticing Xiao Qianqing and me, he paused briefly with a smile. "What a coincidence."

I hurriedly stood straight. "You're up already? Shouldn't you rest more?"

"Some matters to attend to," he replied softly before continuing past me with Su Qian.

"Seems there really was some misunderstanding," came a light laugh behind me, followed by the gurgle of liquor pouring down a throat. Xiao Qianqing wiped his lips, unable to suppress a cough. "Your Majesty the Empress, should you chase after him to explain that we weren't actually—"

"Enough nonsense," I cut him off sharply, grabbing his collar. "Let's go."

"Where?" He stumbled but still asked languidly.

"To see Mr. Li. Keep drinking like this and you'll turn into a proper drunk." I marched forward, dragging him by the collar.

Xiao Qianqing staggered awkwardly behind me. "Hey—don't pull so hard, I'm losing all dignity here—"

Without turning, I said, "Xiao Qianqing, I'm sorry."

He grunted in dissatisfaction. "What was that?"

"I'm sorry, Xiao Qianqing. I can't come to you yet." I tilted my face upward, letting the breeze lift my bangs. "Because there's still that person—he's waiting for me to go to him."The corridor before me was bathed in the brilliant afternoon sunlight, winding and stretching through the radiant hues.