Jiafu had not seen her son for three days and was virtually under house arrest, unable to step beyond the Banana Garden. Although palace servants brought daily updates about Ci’er, assuring her that he was safe and well, sharing meals and lodging with His Majesty, Jiafu remained deeply anxious. It wasn’t her son’s safety that troubled her—it was the emperor’s intentions behind this move that eluded her.
Finally, on the eve of the twenty-sixth, Li Yuangui arrived in person, bearing a message from the emperor: tomorrow, His Majesty would take Ci’er to appear together on the Noon Gate Tower during the Trophy Presentation Ceremony. Once the ceremony concluded, Ci’er would be returned to the Banana Garden, and Jiafu need not worry.
Jiafu was stunned, frozen in shock.
Li Yuangui delivered his message and withdrew.
Jiafu stared at his retreating figure before suddenly chasing after him, blocking his path. “Eunuch Li, I must see His Majesty!”
Li Yuangui bowed. “Please wait, madam. This servant will relay your request.”
In the Imperial Study, Ci’er sat on a specially made high chair while Xiao Lie stood behind him, bending forward to guide the boy’s hand as they slowly wrote in vermilion ink on a memorial: “Reviewed and approved by the Emperor.” Setting down the brush, Xiao Lie examined the characters, stroking his beard with a smile. “This is how we review memorials. If we agree, we respond thus. If not, we write our objections and return it to the Six Ministries and their Departments for revision. Do you understand, Ci’er?”
Ci’er nodded vaguely.
“Are you tired, Ci’er?”
Rubbing his eyes, the boy murmured, “Grandfather Emperor, I miss my mother. I want to go back to her.”
Xiao Lie softened his voice. “Stay with Grandfather Emperor one more night. After tomorrow’s ceremony, I will take you back to your mother. Is that alright?”
After a hesitant pause, Ci’er nodded.
Xiao Lie took his hand, preparing to escort him to the imperial bedchamber, when Li Yuangui entered and whispered something in the emperor’s ear. Xiao Lie summoned Cui Yinshui, who hurried forward to carry Ci’er away, soothing him in hushed tones.
Jiafu entered and knelt. Xiao Lie, seated behind his desk reviewing memorials, gestured for her to rise.
She remained kneeling. “Your Majesty, Eunuch Li conveyed that you intend to take Ci’er to the Trophy Presentation Ceremony tomorrow. Is this true?”
“Naturally. Ci’er is already asleep. After the ceremony, I will return him to the Banana Garden. You need not worry.”
“Your Majesty! This must not happen! Ci’er is unworthy of such honor!”
Xiao Lie looked up, meeting her gaze before slowly setting down his brush.
The atmosphere in the Imperial Study grew heavy.
Jiafu did not flinch under his scrutiny. “If Your Majesty summoned Ci’er to the capital merely to enjoy familial bonds, this humble subject would never dare oppose. But tomorrow’s ceremony is of grave importance. Ci’er is too young to understand. As his mother, I must speak—I beg Your Majesty to revoke this decree and allow me to take him back!”
Xiao Lie studied her in silence for a long moment.
“Zhen, I assume you are aware of the past. Let me be clear: Ci’er is the heir to Great Wei’s throne. This is not only my long-held decision but also the will of Heaven.”
Jiafu’s heart pounded violently. “Though undeserving of Your Majesty’s favor, such a destiny would be Ci’er’s greatest fortune. Yet his status is neither proper nor justified—how can he be the heir? I implore Your Majesty to reconsider!”
Xiao Lie replied, “These concerns are not yours to bear. I have already decided.”Jiafu barely steadied her emotions and looked at Xiao Lie: "Though this humble wife's words carry little weight, I dare to say one more thing—this matter is of utmost importance. Ci'er's father will inevitably learn of it, and I fear he too would not dare to accept it gladly!"
Her words were like a challenge, laced with a veiled warning. Though brief, they were profoundly audacious.
Yet Xiao Lie remained impassive. "I shall wait for him to come then," he said, picking up his brush again and opening a new memorial. Lowering his head, he added, "You may withdraw."
How could Jiafu possibly withdraw?
Xia Lie intended to pass the throne to her son, to make Ci'er emperor. Though others might see this as an incomparable blessing, as long as her husband was unwilling, she would not yield.
And her husband would never be willing. No one knew this better than she did.
"Your Majesty! Ci'er's father left to guard the border for the sake of Great Wei, entrusting his child to me before his departure. If this were any ordinary matter, this humble wife would never dare to defy Your Majesty. But this concerns something far too grave! I cannot refrain from pleading! I beg Your Majesty—whatever happens tomorrow, please wait until Ci'er's father arrives before making a decision!"
She kowtowed to Xiao Lie, who sat upon the throne.
Xiao Lie looked at her in surprise, as though seeing her for the first time. He studied Jiafu for a long moment but did not grow angry, merely furrowing his brow before tossing down his vermilion brush and rising. "Enough. If you refuse to leave, then I shall." With that, he clasped his hands behind his back and strode out.
Jiafu's heart was in turmoil.
She finally understood the emperor's scheme.
By bringing Ci'er to the capital and presenting him at tomorrow's grand ceremony for the prisoners of war, he would effectively declare the boy's status as heir to the world. After that, even if Pei You'an rushed back, it would be too late—the deed would be done, and the spilled water could not be gathered again.
Jiafu clenched her teeth. Suddenly, as if possessed by an unknown courage, she scrambled up from the floor and strode to the imperial desk. Seizing a sharp paper knife from the brush stand, she pressed it against her own throat.
"This humble wife has but one demand—if Your Majesty insists on this course, you must first inform my husband! Otherwise, I shall take my own life here and now!"
Xiao Lie whirled around, glaring at Jiafu as anger slowly twisted his features. "How dare you! Put that down at once!"
"My death is of little consequence, but if I die, Your Majesty will lose Pei You'an as a son and Pei Yiyuan as a grandson forever! These are no idle threats! The choice is yours to weigh!"
Li Yuangui, hearing the commotion, rushed in, aghast. "Madam, do not act rashly! Put down the blade!"
Jiafu showed no fear. With a slight movement of her wrist, the knife's tip pierced her delicate skin, drawing a thin line of blood.
Xiao Lie's eyes bulged with fury as he stared at her, his hand trembling as he pointed. "You... you..." His voice shook, unable to form words. His face grew increasingly pallid, then suddenly—his body swayed, and with a heavy thud, he collapsed backward onto the floor.
"Your Majesty!"
Li Yuangui cried out in horror, leaping forward. Seeing the emperor's eyes shut and his breath faint, he shouted in panic, "Summon the imperial physician—!"
Jiafu, too, was stunned by the sudden turn of events.She had only wanted to prevent the emperor from taking her son up to the Meridian Gate the next day. Driven to desperation, she resorted to this most foolish—yet perhaps the only effective—method. But she never expected the situation to take such a sudden turn, with Xiao Lie collapsing in a rage right before her. Seeing this, she hastily set down the scissors in her hand and rushed forward. The emperor’s face was ashen, already unconscious, and she was terrified. Hurriedly, she helped Li Yuangui and the young eunuch who had rushed in upon hearing the commotion to carry the emperor onto the nearby couch.
Soon, the night-duty physician, Hu, arrived in haste. Shocked by the sight, he immediately administered acupuncture for emergency treatment. After much effort, the emperor’s throat rattled, and he spat out several mouthfuls of dark blood. Slowly, his eyes finally opened, but they were dull and lifeless, staring blankly upward, his expression utterly drained.
"Your Majesty! Your Majesty! How are you feeling?"
Li Yuangui kept calling softly, even trying to feed the emperor water, but it only trickled down the corners of his mouth.
"Your Majesty—"
Tears fell from Li Yuangui’s eyes.
Jiafu’s emotions were in turmoil. She slowly knelt on the ground, watching as the physicians and palace attendants hurried in and out. By the third watch of the night, though the emperor’s face remained deathly pale, his condition seemed to have stabilized somewhat. The physician withdrew first, and Li Yuangui dismissed the attendants, standing guard by the door himself.
The emperor lay on the couch, slowly opening his eyes. After a dazed moment, he murmured weakly, "Rise. You should go back and rest too. You understand You’an’s heart—you were protecting him. I won’t blame you."
"My decision stands—when You’an arrives, I will make everything clear to him myself—"
Having said this, Xiao Lie closed his eyes again, as if utterly exhausted, and fell silent.
"Madam, please return now," Li Yuangui approached and said softly.
Tears welled up slowly in Jiafu’s eyes. She didn’t even know why she was crying, why she felt such overwhelming sorrow.
Perhaps it was because of Xiao Lie’s words: "You understand You’an’s heart—you were protecting him. I won’t blame you."
Perhaps it was because of her own helplessness—no matter how hard she tried, in the end, she still couldn’t do anything to help Pei You’an.
She rose from the floor and walked away slowly.
...
The next day, the twenty-sixth day of the third month in the sixth year of Manifest Peace, coincided with the fiftieth birthday of the Great Wei Emperor. In celebration, the court issued a general amnesty, pardoning all prisoners except those guilty of the Ten Abominations—such as treason, rebellion, murder, and grave disrespect—or those convicted of intentional homicide. The people rejoiced in gratitude. In the capital, citizens celebrated with even greater fervor. Those with new clothes wore them; those without donned freshly laundered garments. Every household burned incense and bowed in reverence, praying to heaven on behalf of the Son of Heaven for longevity. The main street leading from the southern gate to the imperial palace was packed shoulder-to-shoulder with crowds eagerly awaiting the procession of prisoner carts carrying captured Japanese Pirates.
That day, the sun shone brilliantly, its rays climbing higher and illuminating the grand tower of the Meridian Gate, the golden tiles of its double-eaved roof glinting resplendently.Over fifteen hundred Great Han Generals stood in formation across the square flanking the Noon Gate Tower, their ranks stretching hundreds of feet. Each warrior stood tall and imposing, clad in gleaming armor with military sabers at their waists and long halberds in hand, the sunlight reflecting brilliantly off their polished plates. Five hundred court officials—from the heads of the Six Ministries and Nine Courts down to those of the fourth rank and above—stood solemnly in civil and military order. They wore court robes and Winged Goodness Crowns, holding Jade Tablets reverently as they awaited the emperor's appearance atop the tower.
At mid-morning, the harmonious tolling of bells and drums resonated from the pavilions flanking the central gatehouse of Noon Gate, their deep tones lingering solemnly. A Dragon Carriage, escorted by ceremonial guards fore and aft, was carried to the northern entrance of Noon Gate.
As the carriage halted, the emperor finally emerged onto the walkway leading up to the tower. Adorned in the Twelve-Symbol Emperor's Robe embroidered with sun, moon, stars, mountains, flames, and pheasants, and crowned with the twelve-beaded Emperor's Crown, he ascended step by step.
His face was ashen, eyes bloodshot. The moment he stepped down from the carriage, his footing faltered slightly, the beads of his crown swaying precariously until Li Yuangui steadied him.
"Grandfather Emperor, are you unwell?"
Ci'er had sensed something amiss since morning and now asked softly, unease creeping into his voice.
"Grandfather is fine."
Xiao Lie smiled, gently pushing Li Yuangui aside before lifting Ci'er from the carriage and setting him down. The child gazed up at the imposing tower ahead, even at his tender age feeling the weight of its formidable presence. Hesitating, he whispered, "Grandfather Emperor... may I truly go up there?"
Xiao Lie extended his hand. "Do not fear. Come with me."
Hand in hand, they approached the tower and climbed its steps. At last, two figures—one tall, one small—appeared simultaneously before the prearranged imperial seats atop the tower.
The dual seating, initially unnoticed due to their height, drew startled murmurs from the officials below as they glimpsed the emperor and the child standing together. Officials strained on tiptoe, craning their necks for a clearer view.
Once the emperor and Ci'er took their seats, a herald standing at the tower's parapet bellowed a command. The order rippled down through two guards, then four, then eight, multiplying swiftly until over five hundred officials and a thousand Great Han Generals turned northward and knelt in unison. The metallic clang of armor and blades accompanied their thunderous cry of "Your Majesty," deafening in its intensity.
Seated on his smaller throne, Ci'er clutched the armrests tightly with both hands, his wide eyes unblinking.A procession of troops gradually entered through the Gate of Heavenly Succession, arriving before the Upright Gate. At a single command, a towering, bearded man clad in battle armor—a formidable Great Han General—led a thousand valiant soldiers through the Upright Gate in perfect formation. They marched proudly onto the grand plaza before the Noon Gate Tower, where the distant figures on the tower above were barely visible. Raising his voice, the general proclaimed:
"Your humble servant, Dong Chengmao, Pacify-Pirates General of Great Wei, having received Your Majesty's divine mandate to eradicate the Japanese Pirates of the southeast, and with the united efforts of coastal soldiers and civilians, has after three years fulfilled his duty and vanquished the pirate scourge! Today, I present two hundred and twenty-three pirate leaders, great and small, for Your Majesty's judgment, to proclaim the might of Great Wei!"
Having delivered his report, he rose with his soldiers and divided them into two columns. Behind them, hundreds of captive Japanese pirates were brought forth, each manacled at the neck, hands, and feet. As they were marched to the center of the plaza, the thunderous cries of "Kill! Kill! Kill!" surged around them, shaking the heavens. These once-feared warriors now paled in terror, collapsing weakly to the ground.
The Minister of Justice, holding an imperial decree delivered from the tower, strode swiftly to the center of the plaza—an arrow's flight from the wall—and loudly recited the charges. Once finished, he turned and awaited the emperor's command from the distant tower.
Xiao Lie slowly rose, lifting Ci'er in his arms, and stepped forward to the tower's edge. Beneath the countless astonished gazes below, he turned to the child and said, "Give the order."
Ci'er clenched small fists tightly, raising a voice still tinged with youth, and cried out: "Execute!"
This command was relayed in unison by the guards beside them, echoing down until it reached the plaza's center. Fifteen hundred Great Han Generals roared in response: "Execute!" The pirates were dragged by executioners out through the Upright Gate to the Gate of Heavenly Succession, where a prepared execution platform awaited. Under the watchful eyes of the gathered masses, the executioners' blades fell in unison.
"Long live Your Majesty! Long live! Long live!"
The deafening roar surged once more before the Noon Gate Tower, mingling with the whistling of pigeons as flocks of white doves, kept near the Gate of Heavenly Succession, took flight into the sky.
Dong Chengmao knelt with the assembled civil and military officials, kowtowing toward the distant emperor. When he lifted his head, an indescribable complexity flickered in his eyes.
Pei You'an, covered in dust, galloped like the wind to the outermost Gate of Heavenly Succession of the imperial palace. What met his ears was the thunderous chant of "Long live!" resounding from within the gates.
He reined in his horse, standing motionless amidst the lingering echoes, gazing up at the dark silhouettes of circling pigeons above the distant tower. His figure froze, utterly still.
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