The first half of the year 775 was destined to be an eventful season, with earth-shattering incidents following one after another. The surging river of history looked back with uncertainty, watching with concern the great noble families and imperial power of the Great Xia Dynasty. The eyes of the common people across the land converged on the imperial capital. Their simple minds might not yet comprehend the politicians' schemes and intrigues, but their survival instincts honed through years of warfare made them keenly aware: the era of great change might be approaching. The remnants of clouds roared at the horizon as winds rose and clouds scudded across the sky.
They gazed upon the winding and uncertain path ahead, anxious about their own tomorrows.
The Great Xia Dynasty had endured for three hundred years, with its political foundation tracing back over a thousand years. Throughout this period, it had weathered numerous calamities including rebellions, foreign invasions, divisions, national wars, internal strife, and military coups. Yet the imperial power of Great Xia had stubbornly persisted until now. In the eyes of the world, this iron-willed, martial regime stood as the most solid symbol. They possessed a formidable national army and loyal Hongchuan soldiers. On this harsh land of the Hongchuan continent, their ancestors had carved out vast territories with their teeth, blood, and tears. Through a thousand years of wind and snow, no one could shake it in the slightest—neither clans like the Muhe Clan, nor the self-proclaimed orthodox Eastern Land imperial families such as Tang and Song.
However, no one could have imagined that precisely on the night of May 20th, from a remote corner southwest of the imperial capital, the furious roar of ten thousand desperate officers and soldiers would nearly shatter the thousand-year rule of the Great Xia Dynasty.
On that day, the eagle banners of Yanbei fluttered in the wind, roaring like lions, shaking the entire world.
**
"Your Highness!"
The court lady, dressed in elaborate court attire with fine blue phoenix patterns on her sleeves and her hair arranged in a high chignon, rushed anxiously to the main gate of the inner palace. Grabbing the young girl's arm, she said in panic, "The ceremony is about to begin! Why are you still here? Ministers He, Song, and Lu from the Ministry of Rites are all waiting at the princess's residence, and several titled ladies are kneeling in the Lily Hall!"
"Aunt Miao," the young girl in bright red ceremonial dress clutched the court lady's hand in distress. "What should I do? The appointed time has passed, but he still hasn't returned. Could something have happened?"
The court lady, though only in her early twenties, appeared quite mature. Comfortingly embracing Zhao Chun'er's shoulders, she said gently, "The common folk outside the palace are celebrating joyfully right now—it's inevitably crowded. A slight delay is understandable. You needn't worry."
Zhao Chun'er bit her lower lip, unable to shake the worry in her heart. She persuaded herself to follow the court lady's advice and not overthink, then followed behind her toward the rear palace.
In the darkness, the court lady's brows gradually furrowed. All royal ceremonies followed fixed schedules—how would ordinary people dare obstruct the imperial procession? Something unforeseen must have occurred that they were unaware of.
Just then, the sound of a galloping horse suddenly echoed through the palace gates. Zhao Chun'er immediately turned to see a soldier rushing disheveled through the palace entrance, his horse's hooves beating urgently, only to be stopped by the palace guards.
"I have urgent news to report to His Majesty! Let me through!"
The guards stood firm as mountains, blocking the soldier's path as they said in low voices, "Please present the Emperor's handwritten order or token."The soldier, drenched in sweat, roared furiously, "This is a matter of grave importance! If it's delayed, even ten of your heads wouldn't be enough to pay for it!"
"What is it?" Zhao Chun'er frowned and immediately strode forward.
"Your Highness?" With just one glance at Zhao Chun'er's attire, the soldier recognized her identity. Startled, he hurried forward and whispered urgently into her ear, "Your Highness, something terrible has happened! The Heir of Yanbei, Yan Xun, has raised the banner of rebellion in the southern part of the city and is leading the troops of the Southwest Garrison Commander to attack!"
Thud!
The hand warmer in Princess Chun's hand instantly fell to the ground. The young princess, once the pride of heaven, turned deathly pale, her lips turning blue and purple, too shocked to speak.
"Their men have taken control of the roads leading to the Elder Council and the Capital Magistrate's office. The elders and generals are all still in the palace, Your Highness. This matter must be reported immediately, and decisions must be made quickly! Your Highness? Your Highness?"
"Ah, yes, you're right." Princess Chun snapped back to reality, nodding stiffly, the terror slowly receding from her face as she forced herself to remain calm. "Follow me."
The soldier, overjoyed, followed behind Princess Chun, intending to enter.
The palace gate guard frowned, and the braver one stepped forward and said sternly, "Your Highness, this is against the rules."
"What rules?" the female official snapped angrily. "Does Her Highness need your permission to bring someone in? Whose subordinate are you, to have such audacity?"
"Aunt Miao, say no more." Zhao Chun'er, pale-faced, turned and headed toward the Fang Gui Hall in the inner palace, where the wedding ceremony was to take place that evening. By now, all the court officials had already gathered.
The group followed her, filing through the palace gate one by one. The gate guards furrowed their brows and exchanged glances with the other guards. A cold, mournful wind swept through the eaves.
Passing by the Spring Flower Pavilion and the Wisteria Corridor, then through the Sage Gate, they reached the Imperial Garden. The sky was pitch black, and the wind lamps flickered in the silence. Zhao Chun'er suddenly halted, her face frighteningly pale. She turned and beckoned to the soldier, saying, "Come here, I have something to ask you."
The soldier hurried forward, bowing and keeping his head respectfully lowered.
Zhao Chun'er stepped closer, almost pressing against the soldier. The female official behind her frowned and was about to speak when suddenly a sharp cry of "Ah!" pierced the air. The soldier lunged violently, delivering a fierce kick to the princess's abdomen. The young girl tumbled to the ground, her luxurious robe snagging on the corridor railing and tearing with a loud rip.
The female official was horrified and screamed, "Assass—"
Her voice was cut off abruptly. The soldier, covered in blood, convulsed and struggled on the spot. Zhao Chun'er scrambled up from the ground clumsily, like an awkward puppy, and crawled forward. Raising the golden dagger in her hand, she plunged it fiercely into the soldier's chest!
Blood splattered, drops of crimson spreading, and thick, warm, bloody streams filled the air with their metallic scent. The young girl's clothes and face were stained with blood, yet she continued to strike relentlessly. The sound of the blade piercing flesh echoed around, chilling to the bone.
"Your Highness! Your Highness!"
The female official, stunned and sobbing, crawled forward and clung to Zhao Chun'er's body, desperately holding her hand as she cried out repeatedly, "He's dead, he's dead."With a sharp clatter, the dagger fell to the ground. The young woman’s eyes widened as she slumped into her seat, her hands and feet trembling uncontrollably.
“I killed someone… I killed someone…”
“Your Highness, what happened? Did this person offend you?”
“Aunt Miao!” Zhao Chun’er tightly grasped her hand, her eyes reddened, and said in a low, urgent tone, “Leave the city immediately. Go to the southern part of the city and find Young Master Yan. Tell him not to act rashly, not to do anything foolish, not to bring about his own ruin. He doesn’t want this—I know, I understand everything. I won’t force him anymore. I’ll go speak to His Majesty right now.”
“Your Highness, what are you saying?”
“Go now!” Zhao Chun’er flared up in anger, leaping to her feet. “Find him at once and relay my message. Tell him I’m going to request an imperial decree from His Majesty. I won’t marry him anymore. I won’t force him.”
“Your Highness…”
“Aunt Miao, I’m begging you.”
Tears streamed down Zhao Chun’er’s face. Her complexion was as pale as paper, her lips tinged with blue, and her eyes were bloodshot. The young princess bit her lower lip hard, struggling to hold back her sobs. Stains of blood still marked her neck, and her hands clutched the court lady’s arm so tightly it seemed as if her nails would pierce the other’s flesh.
The court lady, still young herself, was so frightened she began to cry, nodding repeatedly. “Your Highness, don’t worry. I will find Young Master Yan.”
“Good,” Zhao Chun’er wiped away her tears and nodded. “Then go quickly. It’s chaotic outside the palace—be careful.”
“Yes, Your Highness, rest assured.”
After a brief exchange, the two turned and hurried off in opposite directions—one heading north, the other south.
A cold wind howled, sweeping up dust and fallen leaves. The court lady quickened her pace, taking a shortcut at a near-run. But as she rounded a decorative rockery, a flash of white blade-light sliced through the air. Her eyes widened in shock, but before she could identify her attacker, she collapsed into a pool of blood.
From the shadows, several men emerged slowly. The one leading them was unmistakably the guard who had been stationed at the city gate earlier.
“Brother Yu, about Princess Chun…”
“Don’t worry, she won’t talk,” the man said with a resolute expression. “Seal the north gate. Head to the west gate to rendezvous with the young lady.”
**
Late at night, Deputy General Cheng of the Elite Cavalry Camp was deep in slumber. Having shared drinks with the soldiers at the southern barracks earlier, he now slept soundly, embracing a voluptuous military courtesan.
“Sir! Sir, wake up!”
An orderly shook his arm urgently. Deputy General Cheng frowned, his eyes snapping open in irritation as he glared at the orderly. “This had better be important.”
“Sir, Commander Hua of the Southwest Garrison is here. He seems very anxious and says he has urgent business with you.”
“Hua Jie?”
Deputy General Cheng sat up swiftly, his tone grave. “What does he want with me?”
“I don’t know, sir, but Commander Hua looks panicked, as if something serious has happened.”
“Let’s see what it is.” Deputy General Cheng dressed quickly and strode out of the bedchamber. The young military courtesan slowly opened her eyes, her gaze sharp and cunning, like that of a silver fox.
“General Cheng, you’re finally awake.”
“My apologies for keeping you waiting, Commander Hua. What brings you here so late at night?”As the commander of the Southwest Garrison, Hua Jie held the same official rank as Zhao Che and Zhao Qi. However, due to the long-standing decline of the Southwest Garrison, his position as commander carried little prestige. Although Deputy General Cheng was only a deputy commander and thus one rank below him, he did not fear Hua Jie. After brief pleasantries, they got straight to the point.
"General Cheng, a disaster has struck!" Commander Hua exclaimed with a panicked expression, speaking gravely. "Yan Xun has rebelled! He's leading ten thousand troops from the Southwest Garrison to attack the Holy Gold Palace and has already reached Changshui Street!"
"What?" Deputy General Cheng was shocked, leaping to his feet and demanding sharply.
"Deputy Commander He Xiao from our army has joined Yan Xun with all his forces. They've killed two training units from the Elite Cavalry Camp who were following Lord Ba Lei. I just received this intelligence from my subordinates. I've already sent messengers to the Holy Gold Palace, the prefectural government office, the Northern and Southern Military Offices, and the Green Camp Army. General Cheng, you must mobilize your troops immediately—any delay will be too late!"
Deputy General Cheng was stunned, wondering if he had misheard, and quickly nodded. "I understand, Commander Hua. Your loyalty and bravery will surely be rewarded by the empire."
"Rewarded?" Hua Jie gave a bitter smile. "Right now, I'm trying to atone for my crimes. I only hope I won't be charged with negligence."
Deputy General Cheng's lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but in the end, he remained silent. Like Hua Jie, he could already foresee this man's bleak future.
"I must go now—I still need to visit the Green Camp Army. General Cheng, you must hurry. Time is of the essence; we're already a step behind. The safety of the capital rests on your shoulders alone."
Deputy General Cheng stood at attention and replied, "I will not fail your expectations."
At that moment, he suddenly felt a newfound respect for this incompetent commander nicknamed "Hua the Sniveler." Watching his figure disappear through the doorway, Deputy General Cheng returned to his room, donned his armor, and said gravely to his orderly, "Notify all battalion commanders to assemble in the main tent immediately. Sound the assembly call and have the entire army stand by on the training ground."
The orderly nodded and replied, "Yes!"
No sooner had he spoken than the orderly's eyes suddenly widened, bulging from their sockets. He let out a miserable groan, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth. Deputy General Cheng froze, staring in horror as a sharp arrow pierced through the orderly's chest, blood oozing gruesomely from his heart. The arrowhead was vicious, thirsting for blood like a wolf's fang.
With a "thud," the orderly collapsed to the ground! Behind him stood a camp courtesan, her figure graceful and voluptuous, still wearing a charming smile on her face. In her hand, she held a small crossbow. She grinned brightly, revealing teeth as white as strung pearls, then gently pulled the trigger.
"Whoosh!" The arrow whistled through the air. At such close range, there was no time to resist or evade. Deputy General Cheng watched helplessly as the crossbow bolt pierced his heart. His strength rapidly drained away, and without even a scream, a large spray of blood erupted from his chest. The man grunted and fell heavily onto the warm bed.
The courtesan's smile vanished as she swiftly dressed, lifted the tent flap, and stepped outside. The camp was eerily quiet, with a large, round moon hanging high in the sky. The woman took a signal flare from her waist and launched it into the air. A blue flame exploded high above, dazzling and brilliant. Amid the festive night, under a sky full of fiery trees and silver flowers, it aroused no suspicion.In an inconspicuous residence in the western city, a woman dressed in snow-white robes stood in the courtyard, gazing up at the azure flames in the sky with an indifferent expression. After a long while, she spoke coldly to her subordinates, "Spare no effort. Within one hour, completely paralyze the four major camps: the Green Camp Army, the Elite Cavalry Camp, and the Northern and Southern Army Bureaus."
Xia Zhi and Xi Rui, among others, responded in low, solemn voices. Bian Cang stepped forward and reported, "Miss, everything is peaceful in the palace. The eastern and northern city gates are under our control. Miss Chu's plan has succeeded."
"Mm," Miss Yu nodded. "Operation Fireworks begins now."
The moonlight was as cool as water, its silvery glow spilling across the ground. That night, the entire Zhenhuang City was immersed in wild joy and celebration. Yet, unnoticed, a beast was slowly approaching, stealthily extending its ferocious claws toward the empire's most vulnerable spot.
The spies planted over the years by the Great Alliance Society began a frenzied campaign of extermination, silently crippling the empire's communication networks. That night, the Great Alliance Society, which had always advocated equality, peace, and universal love, bared its sharp and terrifying fangs. Under the orchestration of Chu Qiao and Miss Yu, a series of bloody assassinations unfolded without restraint. The empire lost countless elites, and the extent of the damage was beyond calculation.
Wang Baiyang, the staff officer of the Second Division of the Elite Cavalry Camp, was forcibly fed arsenic in his sleep and died of acute poisoning.
Jiang Meng, the deputy commander of the Green Camp Army, was strangled to death by his concubine.
The staff officers of the Third, Fifth, and Ninth Divisions of the Green Camp Army—Lü Yang, Xiao Qian, and Huyan Sheng—were ambushed by assassins on their way home after drinking. They were shot to death by a volley of arrows, and all thirty of their guards were wiped out, with no survivors.
Xue Shijie, the commander of the Northern Army Bureau, died in his own latrine for unknown reasons, with the perpetrator unidentified.
The water supply of the Southern Army Bureau was poisoned. That night, the entire camp fell into a deep coma and was completely paralyzed, unaware of the events outside. It was only three days later, after the chaos in the capital had subsided, that they were discovered. By then, half of the soldiers in the Southern Army Bureau had already perished.
One hour later, a group of black-clad riders swiftly entered the western gate of the imperial city. The gate guards acted as if they saw nothing, not uttering a single sound.
"Zuoqiu, send word to His Highness. Everything is proceeding smoothly. Proceed as planned."
"Yes, Miss," the loyal subordinate departed from the imperial city. Chu Qiao removed her blood-spattered black night attire, revealing the exquisite brocade robes beneath. She strode quickly toward a palanquin hidden among the flowers. The bearers lifted the palanquin without a word and strode forward.
A short while later, the palanquin stopped at the gate of the Fanggui Palace. Outside, in the darkness, slaughter continued unabated, yet the imperial city remained immersed in a sea of extravagance. From afar, the melodious strains of music and laughter drifted over.
"Miss, we have arrived," the attendant said softly, bowing his head.
Chu Qiao stepped out of the palanquin, her light blue gown fitting her perfectly. The young woman's eyes were as clear as water, gazing steadily ahead. Her back was straight, showing no trace of fear, and she lifted her foot to stride toward the palace hall.
"Miss," a low voice suddenly called from behind. The four bearers knelt in unison. The young woman paused, hearing a hoarse voice speak from behind. The man said in a suppressed tone, "The road ahead is unpredictable and treacherous. Please, for the sake of the Great Alliance and for His Highness, take care of yourself."Chu Qiao trembled slightly, an inexplicable emotion surging in her chest. Years of anticipation and waiting burned through her spirit like a raging fire. The trials and hardships weathered through storms had made her gaze clearer, her spine straighter, and her shoulders more resilient. She firmly believed she possessed the strength to persevere. Just like the lion-like vow that young man had roared in a life-and-death crisis years ago: "I believe Heaven will not abandon our Yanbei."
Ideals didn't matter, grand utopias didn't matter—everything stemmed from that initial promise.
"Shall we return to Yanbei together?"
"We shall return to Yanbei together!"
Suddenly, a fierce wind lifted the edges of her billowing skirt. The young woman raised her head high and strode firmly toward the Fanggui Hall!
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